Broadway Christian Church and 27 other churches partner to serve thousands of households each year.

Forty years ago, a homeless man walked into Broadway Christian Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and told the church secretary that he was hungry. The only food she had was her own lunch, so she shared it with him. The next day, more hungry people came to the church. As church members became aware of the need, they began dropping off food and clothing at the church.

This ultimately gave birth to a ministry called InAsMuchthe name taken from Matthew 25:35-40, in which Jesus says, Inasmuch as you have done this to one of the least of these, you have done it to me. InAsMuch has acted on Jesus words and reached out to the least of these in their community.

InAsMuch helps with the physical needs of food and clothing, bus passes and emergency financial help in the form of partial payments for rent and utilities. They also help with logistical things like helping people obtain birth certificates and other documents.

But Alyn Biddle, the benevolence minister and manager of InAsMuch, stresses that meeting physical needs is a smaller part of what they do. Our greatest need as humans is one of spiritual poverty, he says. Jesus is the greatest gift weve been given to meet that need, so we verbally share the gospel and pray with each client in an effort to meet that need.

Over the years, InAsMuch has helped thousands of people. In the last four years, the ministry has averaged 4,000 households served per year.

Broadway Christian Church has a weekly attendance of 350 people. We dont do this alone, Biddle says. Our church partners with 27 other churches. We call it InAsMuch and the Family of Churches. It is a true partnership to reach people for Christ.

Find more ways to serve your community 

BROADWAY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Fort Wayne, Indiana

BroadwayChristian.org
BLOOMINGTON  Burr House Bed and Breakfast, 210 E. Chestnut St., has been sold and will close on Feb. 1.

Owner Mary Ann Brady-Rhodes said the buyers of the 1864 brick home intend to use the property as their home. A sales price was not disclosed.

The property faces Franklin Park in one of the city's historic districts. Brady-Rhodes said the Burr family lived in the house for 110 years so having it return to a private residence is "a nice thing."

The seven-bedroom house, with a first-floor private residence, has been a bed and breakfast for more than 20 years. Brady-Rhodes purchased it in 1996 and added two bedrooms with private bathrooms to the third floor.

The home was built by Luman Burr, a contemporary of Abe Lincoln and a former McLean County circuit clerk.

Brady-Rhodes will remain in Bloomington and said she looks forward to retirement and spending time with family, including three grandchildren.
BLOOMINGTON  Illinois first lady Diana Rauner visited with staff and a client at Chestnut Health Systems' crisis stabilization unit Tuesday during her tour of the facility for people struggling with drug and alcohol additions and/or mental illness.

The 14-bed stabilization unit, approaching it's second year of operation in April, offers short-term residential care, including medically monitored detox services. Since August, about 50 people have been turned away for services because the need, especially in the face of growing opioid use, outpaced space, according to Chestnut.

Rauner met with McLean County Board Chairman John McIntyre, County Administrator Bill Wasson and Chestnut officials before touring the facility. State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, accompanied Rauner on the event.

During a brief meeting with a client who has been at the facility for two weeks, Rauner learned that Chestnut is managing care for people with complex issues.

The man, who described himself as "a chronic relapser," told the governor's wife: "I might have more problems than alcohol, like depression and anxiety. No other place I've been said I might have mental issues. I'm doing a lot better."

After the tour, Rauner said she was "excited and grateful to have an opportunity to learn about behavioral health services here and across our state."

Chestnut Chief Operating Officer Alan Sender said the agency appreciated Rauner's interest "in seeing what we're doing here and understanding what mental health issues we have in Illinois. She came to the right place."

The unit opened in 2015 after a $400,000 remodeling project that included replacement of walls with impact resistant materials and new furnishings for the 24-hour unit.

In a report to the McLean County Behavioral Health Committee, Chestnut indicated that most of its detox care is given to clients addicted to opioids, an issue for many communities in Illinois.

The numbers of drug-related deaths in Illinois increased between 2013 and 2015, according to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Deaths from all drugs saw a steady increase from 1,579 in 2013 to 1,700 in 2014 and 1,836 in 2015. Opioid deaths saw similar upward movement for the three-year period, going from 1,072 in 2013 to 1,382 in 2015.

Illinois has one of the highest rates of heroin overdose deaths in the country, recording 844 in 2015. That was an almost 70 percent increase from 2013.

McLean County's heroin death rate doubled from four to eight during the three-year period, according to IDPH data.

Preliminary 2016 records covering drug-related deaths between Jan. 1 and Dec. 19 indicated heroin deaths dropped from eight to four, according to McLean County Coroner Kathy Davis. Opioids were the cause of 16 of the 18 deaths attributed to all drugs, said the coroner.

The average age of an opioid overdose victim in McLean County was 41, said Davis.
ATLANTA  Patrons of the Atlanta Library and Museum can now access its collections of Atlanta Argus newspapers and Atlanta High School yearbooks online, thanks to recently completed digitization projects.

A grant from The Woods Foundation paid for Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Advantage Preservation to digitally preserve the newspaper editions from 1869 to 1983, and a free program through an unexpected source  the Oklahoma Department of Corrections  digitized the yearbooks from 1919 to 1972.

We are glad to be able to provide this so people can access this information from the comfort of their own home and dont have to actually come to the library anymore, said Rachel Neisler, the librarys co-Director. I was hired in 2013 and this was one of our top projects on my list of things to do and we feel good that we have accomplished it.

Prior to the digitization project, editions of the town's newspaper were accessible only via microfilms, which often were hard to read and could not be searched for keywords, said Neisler. Bound, printed copies were removed from public access a number of years ago, due to their fragile condition.

To find a news article about a particular person or event, it required searching through each page, she said. It could be a difficult and time-consuming process.

Archiving from the allows for keyword searches within specific date ranges. The program even highlights the keywords on those individual pages, making it easy to quickly locate the specific news article in which the search term is found.

Individual Argus pages can be downloaded or printed, she said.

The museums collection of yearbooks was recorded through the work of the Oklahoma Correctional Industries program.

Several months ago, the museum discovered the program, which employs more than 1,200 offenders serving sentences in the Oklahoma prison system.

To access both the Argus and the Atlanta online collections, go to the librarys website at www.atlantapld.org/ and click the links on the homepage beneath the Explore Our Digital Archives section.

Staff members have received training in how to access and use both the Argus and yearbook digital archives, and training sessions will be offered at the library for anyone interested in learning how to access the collections.
NORMAL  Three people submitted letters of interest to fill a vacancy on the Heartland Community College board of trustees left by the resignation of J.A. Jac Copes last month.

The three are Bennett Morris and Kyle Walsh, both of Bloomington, and Janet Hood of Normal.

The board will fill the vacancy at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The person will serve until the spring 2019 board election.

Morris is on the ballot for a regular six-year term on the board in the April 4 election.

Walsh, a former student member of the board, is a political science and legal studies major at Illinois State University, where he is student body president.

Hood is coordinator of operations and planning at Advocate BroMenn.

At its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening, the board learned the college could be on the hook for $179,000 to nearly $200,000 if the state does not come through with funding for spring-semester grants through the Monetary Award Program.

The program provides grants to college students based on financial need. About 322 students are affected at Heartland, but it could grow to 353, according to Doug Minter, vice president of business services.

The state, well into its second fiscal year with no budget, has come through with MAP funding through stopgap measures in the past, but Minter said, We're beyond Stop Gap No. 2 now.

Minter said college officials thought it was appropriate to honor the state's obligation and hope for reimbursement later.

In other business, the board heard a progress report on work to revise the college's strategic plan.

Sarah Diel-Hunt, associate vice president for academic affairs, said the 90 initial ideas for collegewide goals generated during various meetings has been narrowed to 11. Those 11 will be submitted to the campus community and board for input.

The final list of goals is expected to be completed by early February, she said.

The next step will be to develop key performance measures for each goal.

The new strategic plan is expected to be completed in mid-August.

We're working toward a plan that's a living plan, said Diel-Hunt.

The revised strategic plan lists four priorities, similar to previous priorities: promote student success; ensure resource stewardship; serve as a community resource; and model communication, collaboration and transparency.

The new vision statement will be: "Leading our community to lifelong learning and success."
BLOOMINGTON  City Manager David Hales expressed confidence Tuesday that VenuWorks will be able break even soon on its operating expenses for running U.S. Cellular Coliseum for the city, but officials with the management company were less optimistic.

"My hope is within two years we'll be breaking even and maybe even before that," Hales told the City Council. "Operating expenses associated with games, events and uses like that  that is kind of our goal to kind of break even."

That excludes capital expenses for things like replacing the scoreboard and other major repairs to the building, he added. It also does not include the money the city has to pay for the original construction bonds.

"Those capital expenditures are still going to be the responsibility of the city to budget and to pay for," said Hales. The city also has to cover operating losses.

But VenuWorks Chief Financial Officer Tim Sullivan offered a more conservative view.

"Our overall goal is to significantly reduce the operating loss over the historical numbers that we have," Sullivan said while presenting a mid-year review of VenuWorks' management since the May 1 start of the fiscal year.

"I am not going to stand here and promise that we're going to take it to operating at a huge profit because realistically that just doesn't happen," said Sullivan.

After the meeting Sullivan added, "Historically, the subsidy has averaged somewhere north of a half of a million dollars a year. So to turn that around in less than two years to zero, that is quite a task, but we are doing everything we can."

The comments were in response to Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Lower asking whether the city will have to come up with large out-of-pocket subsidies of the facility over the next two years.

VenuWorks reported a $674,000 operating loss for the seven months it has managed the city-owned facility, but it projects ending the fiscal year April 30 only $585,000 in the red.

Much of the loss so far was attributed to startup costs and a lull in bookings when the city hired VenuWorks April 1 to oversee the 7,000-seat facility.

Central Illinois Area Management had managed the venue for its first decade of operation, but did not renew its contract that expired on March 31, 2016.

"This year, unfortunately, is the transition year," said Hales. "Next year definitely will be an improvement on this year, but I bet by year three they will really be hitting their stride. All of the marketing efforts they're putting in place this year are really going to pay off in years two and three."

Sullivan said there isn't "a magic number" of events per year that is going to be the most successful financially.

The key is to find the optimal mix of what the market can sustain, "and we feel like its probably a dozen national touring shows a year because we don't want to over saturate and hurt ourselves," said Sullivan.

"We have country acts coming in, but we can't have just country acts because not everyone in Bloomington is a country music fan," said Coliseum Executive Director Lynn Cannon. "We're looking to diversity and have not just concerts but other kinds of shows as well."

Total income of $1.24 million and total expenses of $1.91 million were reported in the financial update of Coliseum operations from May 1 through November.

CIAM reported net annual operating losses ranging from $636,655 in fiscal year 2009 to $84,303 in FY 2010 and nearly $500,000 in FY 2015. Those figures do not include costs borne by the city such as annual depreciation and debt service and interest on construction bonds.
Former president George HW Bush wrote this letter to President-elect Donald Trump, explaining why he and his wife Barbara Bush can't make it to that thing happening in Washington D.C. on Friday.

92-year-old Bush--who may or may not have supported Hillary Clinton in the election--was rushed to a hospital in Houston over the weekend for "shortness of breath."

George H.W. Bush in letter to Trump about #Inauguration: "My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under." pic.twitter.com/NDGeq6wFSI

 ABC News (@ABC) January 18, 2017

Get well soon, HW!

Header photo via YouTube
UPDATE: The dance party happened. And it was fabulous.

The Queer Dance Party continues...to Whitney Houston in front of Mike Pence's house. #lgbt #gaydaysla

pic.twitter.com/h3aYhTFxAQ

 GayDaysLA  (@gaydaysLA) January 19, 2017

Activists throw '"queer dance party" on Mike Pence's street to protest his stance on gay rights https://t.co/GQ66YFdCgA pic.twitter.com/qUX1yLANtA

 NBC News (@NBCNews) January 19, 2017

Queer dance party outside Mike Pence's house pic.twitter.com/sQvlha4uGW

 Infantry Snowflake (@CrappyMovies) January 19, 2017

Dance protest has arrived - now dancing a half a block from Mike Pence's rental house. Were chanting "Daddy Pence, come dance" pic.twitter.com/kaUEbUXxAC

 Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) January 19, 2017

LIVE FREE.

Gay activist group WERK for Peace is planning a full-fledged queer front to combat Vice President-elect Mike Pence and his woeful history of virulent anti-LGBT legislation and sentiments: a dance party.

WFP will be staging the body party outside the Pence family's new residence in Chevy Chase, MD (outside the nation's capitol) tomorrow (Wednesday), before they move in after the Orange One is sworn in to terrorize the world for the next (please God) 4 years.

On the event's Facebook page, this beautiful statement blares proudly against the coming cloud of "Daddy Pence:"

The homo/transphobic Mike Pence has graciously invited us to shake our booties and bodies in front of/around his house in Chevy Chase. We plan on leaving behind [biodegradable] glitter and rainbow paraphinalia that he can NEVER forget. #WeAreQueer #WeAreHere #WeWillDance That's right, get ready to WERK it and tell Daddy Pence: homo/transphobia is not tolerated in our country!



WERK for Peace and DisruptJ20 are teaming up to bring you the best dance party in the nation, so you betta' show up and weerrrrkkk! We will meet at the Friendship heights metro and make our way via carpooling or dance to Daddy Pence's neighborhood. Bring your flyest rainbow gear and your booty/body shaking skills!



Afterparty Fundraiser Location TBA!

Love wins.

Header photo via YouTube
As Inauguration Day draws closer, Americans have begun tearfully saying their goodbyes to the most graceful, sophisticated and coolest family to have ever graced The White House. Having recently delivered their farewell addresses, the Obama's final days in office are quickly dwindling down -- much to everyone's despair.

President Barack Obama will forever be remembered as a leader who defined history, and standing beside him is a woman who has written a legacy of her own, First Lady Michelle Obama. Despite having to undergo constant criticism of her appearance, policies and personal life, she has served as a role model for young women during her eight years as First Lady of this country.

As such, the New York Times put together a feature called "To the First Lady, With Love," which features four personal thank you notes from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Gloria Steinem, Jon Meacham and Rashida Jones. Read the full essay here and try not to cry

[h/t The New York Times]
Two Dalhouise University students, Alex Ayton and Kathleen Olds, managed to get Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the rights of Canada's Indigenous Peoples' population, by asking the popular politician for a selfie. The two are members of the environmental campaign Divest Dal.

Trudeau, who was greeting a crowd in a Halifax coffeeshop, stopped to pose with Ayton and Olds, who asked, "Can we also get a selfie?"

Once in place, Olds asked Trudeau, "Are you planning on implementing UNDRIP?" As BuzzFeed points out, UNDRIP refers to Trudeau's campaign promise to put into action the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

After he replied "Yes," they pressed him with "Does that mean requiring consent for natural resource projects?"

Trudeau gave a somewhat vague, diplomatic answer: "Absolutely. We need to engage with a broad range of voices, and as we've seen, the indigenous community has positions on both sides of just about every different project."
A man of the people, rapper Waka Flocka Flame made it pretty clear last night that he has some thoughts about our incoming President, Donald Trump -- i.e. that he's pretty shit.

Yep, last night at his show in Athens, Georgia, Mr. Flame, spotting a Trump jersey being held up in the crowd, had it thrown onstage. He then proceeded to pull his pants down and, yes, wiped his ass with it. Watch the remarkable act of patriotism for yourself below.





A fan showed @WakaFlocka a trump jersey while he was performing. Here's what Flocka thought about it.. #georgiatheatre pic.twitter.com/4Fzg7sqgC9

 Dro (@LifeofDro) January 17, 2017

photo by Joe Schildhorn/BFA.com


DJ Khaled has made use of positive influence to make a difference in the lives of thousands of students through non-profit organization Get Schooled. Aside from providing a wide-range of support for low-income students, the organization also motivates students to complete their education up to college. It has become popular to young people because it engages them using technology.

Get Schooled has coordinated with DJ Khaled to come up with various student events including a Q&A with Professor Anita Elberse of Harvard Business School. DJ Khaled, who is the organization's national spokesperson, hosted his College tour campaign for Get Schooled Snapchat at Harvard University. A special feature of last month's tour is the assistance Khaled provided to incoming college students in the completion of their application forms.

The groundbreaking initiative of Get Schooled makes use of Snapchat as a tool to help students experience college in a more accessible way, as per Ed News Daily. A survey by Get Schooled showed that one out of five seniors who plan to attend college has never been on a college campus. Khaled's expertise in social media is expected to give millions of high schools students in the United States a chance to experience the college campuses in a more personal manner.

"By harnessing DJ Khaled's expertise and the Snapchat platform, we are able to connect more young people with the support they need to make college a reality," Get Schooled Executive Director Marie Groark said.

Through the Snapchat mobile application, users are able to send pictures and videos, as per Pocket-lint. This fun mobile app allows users to add a doodle or funny caption to their photos or videos before sending the snap or the finished creation. The snaps can be viewed for a maximum of 10 seconds before it disappears.

Just the other day, Khaled made use of Snapchat to take a photo of his gold and platinum albums wall, according to New York Times. This celebrity has mastered the art of using Snapchat to make himself more popular with online users. An estimated two million people are reportedly seeing each of Khaled's posts.
The grateful parents of a troubled teenager left an anonymous note for the New York Police Department's (NYPD) 19th precinct. Signed with only "mother" and "father" at the end, the letter stated that they owe the cops their son's renewed life.

The 19th precinct posted the note on their Twitter account Monday. It stated how the parents have had a tough time dealing with their son's addiction, behavioral problems and failures in school until that fateful night when the cops stopped and frisked their son and subsequently booked him in jail.

Spending a night behind bars served as a wakeup call for the teenager, who was set to face a judge for felony. He decided to get help and go to rehab for his drug problems. The parents said that he has "been clean" since the incident.

We may seem like the bad guys to some people, but it's letters like this that make our work worth it & truly life changing. #NYPDconnecting pic.twitter.com/vMGW6ebBu1  NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) January 16, 2017

It is legal for the NYPD to stop and frisk civilians in the state. The move is regarded as a crime deterrent despite protests from locals that it is unconstitutional. President-elect Donald Trump is said to be in favor of it, The Washington Post reports.

The policy was enforced during the term of Mayor Rudy Guiliani. Succeeding mayors retained the Stop-and-Frisk despite appeals that some abusive cops used this for racial profiling and targeting minorities. Data from the New York Civil Liberties Union revealed that hundred-thousand New York residents were stopped and frisked since 2002 but it has winded down to 10,171 in 2016.

The parents' letter to the NYPD, however, has given authorities validation that they are doing something right. "It is still a great way to lower crime and make gun arrests," a source for the police said, according to New York Post.

The Stop-and-Frisk policy remains in effect in New York, albeit with some changes. Learn more about it in this video below.
A new research backed up the claims of the past studies that more sex could lead to a healthier life. However, the latest research proved it is not just beneficial to the life of the couple but also leads to a healthier pregnancy, as well as increases the chances of conceiving if a couple is undergoing IVF.

According to Daily Mail, professor Sarah Robertson of the University of Adelaide wrote in The Conversation that having more intercourse before a couple conceives can lead to a healthier pregnancy. The research pointed out this is because of the bodies of women, as well as how the immune system works.

One of the healthy outcomes, when a woman has regular intercourse with the same partner for at least three months before getting pregnant, is it lessens the risk of developing preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is the condition in pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure that could lead to serious complications such as growth problems for the yet-to-be-born child and in some cases, it could even threaten the life of the mother.

Preeclampsia is related to sexual intercourse because Robertson said the condition becomes more common when there was limited sexual contact with the partner before the pregnancy. It is also linked to the insufficient establishment of the immune tolerance for the mother, Michigan Chronicle reported.

Robertson continued to explain that women who had less than three months of sexual activity with their partner developed a 13 percent chance of preeclampsia, which was more than double of the average occurrence. As for the women who conceived during the first sexual contact, the chance of developing preeclampsia was at 22 percent. This was three times higher than the average occurrence. These women's babies also experience low birth weight.

For the couples undergoing IVF, Robertson shared, "A study of Australian and Spanish couples showed intercourse in the days just before or just after embryo transfer boosted pregnancy rates by 50 percent." It was not clear, however, why the immunity of the mother was linked to frequent sexual intercourse.

So, do you think sex is healthy for pregnant women? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Call me morally optimistic, but I think that most people have a basic intuition that pornography is bad. Sure, there are ideologues here and there who really believe that its healthy, doesnt hurt anyone, improves your sex life, empowers women, and all the rest  but these voices have a faint, overly-defensive whine in the face of the growing complaint over the sex-lives of porn-watchers, the ill-health of porn-actors, and the immense wealth of pornographers.

Of the people who do not believe that pornography makes a person into a healthy, balanced, well-adjusted citizen, a few actively oppose it. Their arguments fall into two basic categories  the moral and the therapeutic.

Moral arguments are never hip. They call pornography evil, pointing out that it objectifies the human person, distorts sexuality, and encourages abuse. Therapeutic arguments have gained some traction. They call pornography an addiction, a disease, and a dopamine-fueled habit that could lead to erectile dysfunction.

The therapeutic argument is palatable to a secular age, but I think people are less motivated by health than we might hope. An unhealthy habit is usually resolved, not by eradication, but by moderation. Ive had friends defend their pornography use do it on precisely this basis  as long their pornography use doesnt get out of hand, all is well. It can be tough to recognize addiction in oneself when the thing one is addicted to is so readily available and comes without the grotesque social costs associated with drug or alcohol addiction. Locating the problem with pornography in addiction can be just as much a relief for those who want to continue watching pornography as a motivation for those who dont.

These methods have merit, but still, 77% of Christian men watch pornography. Given that this subgroup is (surely) one of the most likely to hear arguments against pornography, I wonder whether we arent missing something. Both these methods are saying something true about pornography  that it is unhealthy and immoral  but the truth is that most people are easily resigned to being somewhat unhealthy and somewhat immoral. Our moral knowledge and our self-description as addicts hasnt been enough to shake the numbers. For myself, the turnaround certainly didnt come when I realized pornography was wrong. I always knew it was wrong. I simply added watching pornography to ignoring the poor and all the other acts that I knew to be wrong  but still did.

In Defense of the Moral Elitist

Why do we leave things behind? What motivates us to shuffle off a habit and say never again? When we realize something is bad for us, sure  but also when we realize that we are too good for something. Children stop sucking their thumbs and holding their blankets, not because these things are given negative values, but because they give themselves a positive value: I am a big boy/girl now. We give up listening to pop-punk, not just because we think its bad, but because we begin to recognize within ourselves a sense of taste that deserves more.

Elitism is an engine of moral growth. The Christianity that advocates humility does not annihilate it, but turns it inwards. We are no longer free to posture as better than our neighbors. Instead, we are to become better than ourselves. Christianity calls us to despise the aristocratic pose by which we place ourselves above the common stock of humanity by encouraging us to place ourselves over our own stock of habits, prejudices, and hatreds. This is the moral aristocratism that rings out in the words of Pope St. Leo the Great:

Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in Gods own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member.

In the end, the only thing that is going to supply a human being with the wherewithal to deny his own desire is the moral recognition that his desire is perverse. The starkness of the moral argument, the thou shalt not, is irreplaceable. Its getting to that cliff-edge that has become difficult; arriving at the moment where one can call pornography darkness and unequivocally choose the light.

For me, the turnaround came, not when I recognized pornography as evil or unhealthy, but when I could laugh at it as stupid. Once I felt the aristocrat within me scorn my own actions, the moral leap seemed genuinely possible. It was less akin to the moment of moral decision and more akin to the moment you first realized that your emo haircut was stupid. I realized that I was not on the side of pornography  I was too good for it. It was, in short, a conversion of taste, one that allowed me to take a critical distance towards pornography, and thus begin the fundamentally moral work of rejecting it.

The Conversion of Taste

How did this conversion of taste come about? The short answer is philosophy. The long answer is that a critical reflection on what pornography is, as fraught with temptations and difficulties as the task may be, makes the thing appear silly, lame, and desperate. Perhaps youve had this moment in another area of life. You really liked a pop song and showed it to your musical friend. Unfortunately, your friend was a hipster, and he pointed out: Thats the exact same chord progression as every major pop song to hit the charts in the last 16 years. Coldplay wrote the vocal melody in 2002. Its lyrics are trite. It was produced in Norway as a country song, repackaged in Sweden as a dance tune, and sold to an American record label who required their Pop Star to sing it, or be sued.

Shut up, you said, I just like it, and I dont care about the details. But then you went home and realized, with horror  your hipster friend was right. And though you tried to unhear the songs generic progressions and banal lyrics  you couldnt. He ruined it for you. A critical look at what the song really was ruined the song for you.

I am advocating clear-headed look at what pornography is, in all its inner workings  an aesthetics of pornography from the side of the resistance. I will not deny my prejudice: I want to ruin porn for everyone; to inspire a conversion of perception that allows for a conversion of action. Conversions of this kind require frankness. They work best when someone you trust leans in and says Look, man, dont you think its sort of stupid when- and you cant help but agree; cant unsee, unhear, or masturbate away the particular lameness he points out.

With statistics as damning as they are, one would think that a frank discussion would be simple enough. But somehow, one always ends up speaking to the 33% of Christian men who havent watched pornography in the last month. A conversion of taste requires seeing pornography as foolish and otherwise beneath you  but no one wants to admit to seeing pornography in any sort of detail. We criticize it in general terms. We say that its unrealistic, obscene, and that it objectifies women. But abstract criticisms, while they might be enough for a strong-willed type to make a moral decision, hardly allow us to disdain pornography. After all, we might be theoretically against all of those things  but still like unrealistic, obscene, objectifying pornographic images.

If you wanted to protect good people from seeing an evil and demeaning play, you might make the moral argument: Dont watch that play, its evil, its unhealthy. But when all of your friends are watching the play once a week you need a different tact. You need someone whos seen the play to say, You know this moment? Isnt it really infantile? and You remember this plot point? Wasnt it totally a desperate attempt at relating to a younger audience?

The one who has learned to laugh can let others in on the joke. We are taking pornography as a serious addiction and a serious evil, but salvation from a seriousness does not come from a deeper seriousness, but a deeper mirth  a peal of laughter which suddenly and remarkably finds oneself too good for something stupid. This seems like the missing link in the moral-therapeutic argument  the argument from taste.
Twelve palm trees mark the location of Georgias first church, a mission dedicated to Saint Catherine. Destroyed in the late 1600s by fire, the mission was run by Spanish Franciscan friars who first arrived to Saint Catherines Island, Georgia, in the 1590s. Located on an island still only accessible by boat fifty miles south of Savannah, the Mission of Santa Caterina de Guale was the northernmost Atlantic outpost of the mighty Spanish Empire which at one point stretched from the southern tip of South America to California, and from Peru to coastal Georgia.

The Spanish successfully established colonies and missions along the eastern coast of Florida and Georgia in the sixteenth century. Though this territory collectively called La Florida was not rich in gold and silver, it was a strategic location since Spanish galleons full of riches sailed back to Europe along the coast. Fearful of British attacks and unfriendly natives along the coast, the Spanish had an interest in colonizing the region. After the successful founding of Saint Augustine in present-day Florida in 1565, the Spanish founded a string of missions along the coast, both on the mainland and barrier islands.

By 1597 there were five missions in Coastal Georgia where Franciscan friars preached the Gospel, learned the indigenous Guale language, and lived peacefully with the native population. Most Guale natives not only embraced Christianity but also welcomed European goods such as glass beads, metal tools, various cloths and other luxury items. The friars lived among the Guale without any military presence, giving evidence to the good relations between the Guale and the missionaries.

Friar Luis Geronimo de Ore (a Peruvian Franciscan friar) recorded in 1618 after visiting La Florida, that on September 1597, the friar assigned to the mission of Tolomato (near Eulonia, Georgia) did not allow a baptized, Guale man to take a second wife. Juanillo, who was the heir to a Guale chiefdom, opposed the Friar Pedro de Corpas fidelity to Christian teaching on marriage and killed him. Juanillo and the men he assembled continued to the other missions with the intention of killing all friars. Before arriving to Saint Catherines Island, Juanillo ordered the chief of the island to execute the two friars stationed there, Father Miguel de Anon and Brother Antonio de Badajoz. Unwilling to carry out the order, the chief begged the friars to flee south to the mission on San Pedro Island (present day Cumberland Island). The friars refused to believe the rumors of coming murder. Once Juanillo and his men reached Saint Catherines, the two friars were brutally killed after they prayed fervently inside the very same church now marked by twelve palm trees. The oldest church in Georgia was a witness of the martyrdom of two of the five Franciscan Georgia Martyrs killed in 1597.

The Mission of Santa Caterina de Guale was burnt in 1597, but the Guale rebuilt the mission and requested Saint Augustine to send a priest. The mission church continued to operate until a 1680 attack by British slave traders and Westo Indians from South Carolina. Though the attack was thwarted, the Guale soon preferred moving south than succumbing to slavery. The mission was abandoned.

In the 1980s, three centuries after its destruction, archeologists under the direction of Dr. David Hurst Thomas discovered the remains of the mission church. This sacred ground is a testament to the fervent response by the sixteenth century Church to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It stands as a reminder of the deep faith of the Franciscan friars who left the comforts of home and were willing to give up their lives for the sake of the Gospel. It is also a reminder of the deep and vibrant faith of the Guale Indians, many of which are buried there. Unfortunately this sacred ground will be under water in several decades unless drastic and expensive measures are taken to strengthen the quickly eroding shore of the island.

The beautiful Saint Catherines Island contains a little-known yet significant treasure. The twelve palm trees enclose a site for pilgrimage and remembrance. Hundreds of Guale men and women came to know Christ in this exact location, and two courageous, young friars held fast to their calling to be witnesses to Jesus Christ. The twelve palm trees encircle a sacred place, a holy place, on the coast of Georgia.
FILE PHOTO: A green traffic light is seen next to the logo of Germany's largest business bank, Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, Germany, October 27, 2016. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

By Karen Freifeld

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) (DB.N) has signed a $7.2 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over its sale of toxic mortgage securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, the government agency said on Tuesday.

Deutsche's agreement represents the largest resolution for the conduct of a single entity in misleading investors in residential mortgage-backed securities, the department said in a statement.

"Deutsche Bank did not merely mislead investors: it contributed directly to an international financial crisis," Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in the statement.

John Cryan, Deutsche's chief executive, said that the bank's conduct between 2005 and 2007 fell short of standards and was "unacceptable."

He said the bank had exited many of the underlying activities and improved standards.

Deutsche Bank ADR-listed shares were down 3.3 percent to $18.55 on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Frankfurt-based bank announced it had reached the agreement in principle with U.S. authorities on Dec. 23.

The Justice Department held Deutsche and other European banks accountable for the shoddy securities that contributed to the U.S. housing market collapse after having reached $46 billion in settlements with U.S. banks over the last three years.

Deutsche's stock price was hit hard last September after the bank acknowledged the Justice Department had been seeking $14 billion.

As part of the deal, Deutsche Bank will pay a civil monetary penalty of $3.1 billion and provide $4.1 billion in consumer relief to homeowners, borrowers and communities harmed by its practices.

The bank also agreed to a statement of facts that describes how it made false and misleading representations to investors about the loans underlying billions of dollars worth of mortgage securities issued by the bank in 2006 and 2007.

In May 2006, a supervisor is quoted as warning a senior trader that a loan originator would underwrite loans to anyone with "half a pulse", according to the statement of facts.

Story continues

The supervisor also said that month that Deutsche Bank, among others, "tolerate[d] misrepresentation" from originators with "misdirected lending practices" such as a borrower's ability to pay the loans, accepting blacked out pay stubs so they could claim higher incomes.

The preliminary deal with Deutsche was made public before Christmas as U.S. probes of other European banks over the shoddy securities also came to a head.

Zurich-based Credit Suisse announced that it had agreed in principle to a $5.3 billion settlement, and the Justice Department sued Barclays Plc (BARC.L) and two former executives for fraud for allegedly deceiving investors about the quality of loans underlying tens of billions of dollars of the securities.

(Reporting By Karen Freifeld; Editing by Bernard Orr)
on Connecting the Dots.

Since this is the week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Today, Rod Bennett and I welcome Andrew March as our special guest. Andrew March is a church planter, speaker, and blogger. In addition to being on the leadership team at his Church Cell 53, he is a member of the group Pro Life Missionaries of Maine, the purpose of which is to fight for the lives of the unborn. He blogs from his website breaking gray.com Andrew is also one of the hosts of Cell53 radio. He resides with his three children in Lewiston Maine.

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President Rohani Dismisses Trump's Criticism Of Nuclear Deal, Says Iran Won't Renegotiate

01/17/17

Source: RFE/RL

Iranian President Hassan Rohani has dismissed criticism from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers, vowing that Iran will not renegotiate the agreement that came into effect a year ago.



artwork by Mohammad Tahani, Iranian daily Noavaran



Speaking at a January 17 press conference marking the one-year anniversary of the landmark accord, Rohani said the deal is "good" for the United States.



Rohani also said Trump "doesn't understand" that the accord is good for the United States.



Trump has called the accord "the worst deal ever negotiated," saying it gives away too much to Iran.



Rohani dismissed Trump's criticism as "slogans" and said he is optimistic about the future of the deal, under which Tehran has limited nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.



"There won't be any negotiations. The deal has been agreed upon. It's finished. It has been completed," Rohani told reporters in Tehran.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Arrest Former Reformist MP's Sister on Unspecified "Security Charges"

01/18/17

Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Fatemeh Haghighatjou, a former reformist member of Iran's Parliament currently living in the United States, is desperately seeking information about her sister, Leila Haghighatjou, who was arrested on December 19, 2016 in Tehran by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and is being held without access to a lawyer.



Leila Haghighatjou



"The only thing the authorities have told us is that my sister is being held on 'security charges' and that the IRGC is responsible for her detention, but we don't know anything else," Fatemeh Haghighatjou told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran on January 11, 2017. "They haven't said what the 'security charges' are exactly. Unfortunately, in Iran when they don't want to say someone has been arrested for political reasons, they use the term 'security charges.'"

The Revolutionary Guards is a powerful, ultra-conservative military force functioning alongside Iran's traditional military that was founded soon after the country's 1979 revolution to aid the newly born Islamic Republic in consolidating its power. It has long harassed the relatives of Iranian dissidents living abroad in an effort to intimidate them and silence critical media coverage of the government.

Fatemeh Haghighatjou, who regularly appears as a frequent guest on foreign news channels as an Iranian political analyst, was a reformist MP in Iran's sixth parliament from 2000 to 2004. She has been based in the U.S. since 2005 and currently heads the Nonviolent Initiative for Democracy in Boston, Massachusetts.

"We demand Leila's immediate release," said Fatemeh Haghighatjou. "She's not and never was a political activist. It's still not clear what she has been charged with and she has no access to a lawyer. Imagine the psychological pressure she's under. It's illegal to hold someone for a long period without charge. My mother wants the Judiciary chief, the president and the detaining authorities to free Leila immediately."

"What's strange about this is that before her arrest, Leila had neither been threatened nor received any kind of summons," she added. "Suddenly one day agents raided her home and took her away. Leila is not involved in politics, so we can't guess why she has been detained."

"On the evening of December 19 when the arrest took place, only Leila and her 12-year-old son were at home," she continued. "The agents showed a warrant, searched her home, and then took her away after confiscating her mobile phone, computer and tablet along with her other personal items. But the agents said nothing about the charges against her. Her terrified son was left alone until his father returned home."

Leila Haghighatjou is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in art history and works as an appraiser at Iran's Cultural Heritage Foundation. Previously she worked as an artwork restorer at the Golestan Palace Museum in Tehran.

"Leila has phoned home several times and spoken to her husband and her son, but the conversations were very short," Fatemeh Haghighatjou told the Campaign. "All she said was that she was well and asked them not to be worried. She told her son that she has to do some homework and she'll be back when she's finished. She didn't talk about anything else."
Why Coercion Is a Recipe for Failure with Iran

01/18/17

by Tytti Erasto (source: LobeLog)

Opponents of the 2015 Iran nuclear accord have criticized the deal because it did not end uranium enrichment or limit missile development by Iran. With the Trump administration, some see an opportunity to undermine the agreement by imposing more non-nuclear sanctions on Iran. The assumption is that this could provoke Tehran to withdraw from the deal, snapping back the 'crippling' sanctions, which-according to common wisdom-brought the country to the negotiating table in 2013. Indeed, if such sanctions worked so well before, why could they not extract an even 'better deal' from Iran now? Others, such as the nominee for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, seem to want to go back to the previous policy of "no uranium enrichment in Iran," at least after the deal expires.

The logic in both of these approaches is seriously flawed. Coercion will not work, not only because Europeans are unlikely to renew their support for the oil and financial sanctions, but also because the common wisdom about sanctions' effectiveness is wrong. In reality, the coercive approach to Iran has repeatedly backfired, and crippling sanctions are no exception. As for Tillerson's expectation that Iran would simply give up uranium enrichment in return for "access, the means, to peaceful uses of nuclear materials," it too is based on a widely shared but biased interpretation of recent history, which routinely omits Iran's bitter experiences of nuclear cooperation with international partners.

For almost four decades, the most remarkable effect of the various forms of US sanctions and pressure on Iran has been their role in breathing life into the Islamic Revolution. Instead of weakening the Iranian regime and modifying its behavior, this policy has pushed the country to demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity. With regard to non-proliferation, this pattern began to emerge in the late 1980s. At the time, the US started to undermine Iran's nuclear energy cooperation with third parties, based on the view that it would be best if Iran did not have any kind of a nuclear program. The policy succeeded in almost totally blocking Iran's access to open-market sources of civilian nuclear technology, leaving Russia as Tehran's only nuclear partner. The strategy nevertheless failed to reach its objective of stopping Iran's nuclear development. Paradoxically, it also drove Iran to the nuclear black market and contributed to its goal of maximizing self-sufficiency in the nuclear sector-including the production of nuclear fuel through an indigenous enrichment capacity.

Iran's Nuclear Rationale

Fast forward to the early 2000s, when the nuclear crisis began with revelations of Iran's undeclared uranium-enrichment facilities. Iran justified the secrecy in terms of a "quarter of a century of denial and deprivation," which had left the country "with no option but to be discrete" about its nuclear activities. Although this explanation has largely been dismissed as a "cover story," the role of the past policy of technology denial can hardly be denied as irrelevant to Iran's subsequent nuclear ambitions. As Gareth Porter has noted, the US tendency to dismiss Iran's reluctance to rely on foreign sources ignores "the well-documented history of blatant Russian violations of its contract with Iran on Bushehr-including the provision of nuclear fuel-and its effort to use Iranian dependence on Russian reactor fuel to squeeze Iran on its nuclear policy as well as to obtain political-military concessions from the United States."

This seemingly trivial historical detail has significant implications for understanding Tehran's insistence on its right to uranium enrichment today. Although nuclear hedging has arguably also motivated Iran's nuclear activities, the country has a valid non-military reason to hold on to uranium enrichment. The failure to appreciate this fact-together with the political obstacles to diplomacy created by US-Iranian enmity-largely explains the impasse in the nuclear dispute until 2013. At the beginning of the crisis, Iran offered to negotiate a grand bargain with the US in 2003 and engaged in multilateral talks with the EU in 2003-2005. At the same time, it made clear it would not give up enrichment but was ready to discuss limitations to related activities. While other P5+1 partners and the International Atomic Energy Agency seemed open to this possibility at the time, the Bush administration scoffed at diplomacy, insisting that not one centrifuge should be spinning in Iran. Instead of exploring compromise solutions, the US used the opportunity to internationalize sanctions against Iran by pushing the case at the UN Security Council.

It is entirely possible that the subsequent escalation of the crisis could have been avoided had the US itself come to the table at this time-when Iran had not yet even mastered uranium enrichment. For example, the former White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction, Gary Samore, has admitted that "one of the big unanswered questions" is whether the crisis could have been averted had the US been more supportive of the EU-3 during their 2003-2005 talks with Iran.

The UN sanctions resolutions imposed in 2006 made any negotiations conditional on the demand for Iran to suspend enrichment-related activities. Although Iran had agreed to that demand during its previous talks with the EU, the experience enforced the impression that the other side was merely seeking to prolong suspension and ultimately deny Iran the right to enrichment completely-indeed, why had this condition not been enough for the US before 2006? Together with the Bush administration's penchant for regime change and Iran's memories of technology denial, common sense suggested that giving in would have only encouraged more US pressure.

In effect, the parties were locked into irreconcilable and hardening positions, with seemingly no diplomatic way out. Although the situation certainly succeeded in isolating Tehran, the objective of international sanctions was not reached: Iran significantly expanded its nuclear program between 2006 and 2013. At the same time, the US and Israel resorted to threats of pre-emptive war. This was the most disastrous aspect of the coercive strategy, as it highlighted the importance of nuclear hedging from the Iranian perspective. Even worse, military threats pointed to the potential need to move beyond hedging to actually producing nuclear weapons to deter what seemed an increasingly imminent prospect of attack by two nuclear powers.

Obama Breaks the Cycle

Recognizing the impending catastrophe, President Obama sought to build trust and pledged to talk to Iran without conditions. The overall approach, however, initially remained unchanged, as it focused on making Iran compliant with the UN resolutions. It was only in 2012 when the Obama administration took the sovereign decision to break from the coercive pattern by testing the ground for compromise with Iran in secret negotiations. Note that this happened before Iran's 2013 presidential elections (the results of which were arguably influenced by sanctions that boosted the victory of the moderate Hassan Rouhani). The secret talks allowed the two countries to step out from the tight constraints created by the politicized nuclear dispute, and remove ambiguity about their intentions. If Iran really did not want nuclear weapons but valued uranium enrichment for other reasons-and if the US prioritized non-proliferation over regime change-a mutually acceptable solution could be within reach.

In anticipation of this change of approach, in June 2013 the former U.S. Department of State special advisor for nonproliferation and arms control, Robert Einhorn, conceded in an interview that "It's coming to the point where it would be advisable to explain to the Iranians what the end state would be [...]. We've made hints [...] that we can accept an enrichment program but we haven't been explicit about that yet." When the US for the first time publicly indicated that it could live with limited enrichment in Iran in autumn 2013, the door to formal negotiations opened, leading to a carefully balanced compromise known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) less than two years later.

Clearly sanctions relief was and still is a key component of the JCPOA, and the Rouhani administration's less confrontational diplomatic style certainly made nuclear negotiations easier. However, the real secret behind the diplomatic success was not sanctions, but the above-described shift in US strategy from coercion to compromise and trust-building. Rather than saying that sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table, it would thus be more correct to say that recognition of the failure of coercion pushed the US to try a different approach, which finally created room for genuine diplomatic give-and-take.

Although the biased narrative about the Iran sanctions success makes past US policy look good, it is also feeding the delusion that more coercion could now produce even more concessions from Iran. Setting the record straight is therefore important: the remarkable thing about the JCPOA is that it was reached despite all the mistrust and roadblocks to diplomacy created by sanctions and other forms of coercion. Although a new UN resolution has since reversed the previous Security Council demands, the fantasy of ending enrichment in Iran still lives on.

This brief look at the less appreciated parts of the recent history with Iran should clarify why more sanctions will not tilt the terms of the nuclear deal to US favor, and why the demand for no enrichment in Iran is a non-starter. What such policies would do instead is demonstrate to the Iranians that any attempt at diplomacy with the US is a fool's game, empowering local hardliners who have been saying this all along. Of course, that might be exactly what their American counterparts are after, to prove that they, too, were right. However, if the new administration is serious about non-proliferation, it would do itself and regional allies a favor by not sacrificing a pragmatic arms control agreement for a return to a misguided policy that has consistently proven to be a recipe for failure.



About the author:

Tytti Erasto, PhD, is the Roger L. Hale fellow at Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation. She is a former Stanton nuclear security fellow and research fellow in the Managing the Atom and International Security Research programs at Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. She is also the editor-in-chief of a Finnish world politics journal Kosmopolis and has worked as a researcher in Tampere Peace Research Institute and as university lecturer in the University of Tampere, Finland.
Iran Against U.S. Presence At Syria Peace Talks In Astana

01/18/17

Source: RFE/RL

Iran says it opposes the United States joining peace talks on Syria to be held in Kazakhstan next week. That goes against the position of the other two organizers of the talks, Russia and Turkey, which have said the new U.S. administration of Donald Trump should be represented at the Astana talks, which begin on January 23.







"We have not invited them, and we are against their presence," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on January 17, according to the Tasnim news agency.



"At this stage, we must keep the tripartite setup," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told AFP on January 18. "Any enlargement could increase the risk of failure."



Russia, Iran, and Turkey pushed for the peace talks after government forces won a major victory last month in retaking eastern Aleppo, a key rebel stronghold through much of the war.



Iran and Russia have been key backers of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the conflict, while Turkey supports rebel groups.



Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Iran, Germany sign agreement on expanding transport co-op

01/18/17

Source: Tehran Times

TEHRAN- Iran and Germany inked an agreement on the expansion of cooperation in rail, air and sea transportation, IRNA reported.



photo by Islamic Republic News Agency

Based on the agreement, which was signed in Tehran at Monday night by Iranian Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi and the visiting German Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Alexander Dobrindt, the two sides agreed to set up a taskforce to develop mutual cooperation in different transportation areas.



In the signing ceremony of the agreement, Dobrindt said there are fortunately many areas for Iran-Germany cooperation in transportation; saying that Germany is very keen to commence cooperation for renovation of different transportation sectors in Iran.



He also expressed the readiness of Munich and Frankfurt airports for cooperation in development of Iranian airports.



The German minister, who visited Iran on the head of a delegation of 30 managing directors of some German companies, said that given the fruitful negotiations conducted in Tehran, it is hoped that the talks will continue in Berlin.



In a joint press conference with Dobrindt after signing the agreement, Akhoundi announced that the two sides also agreed on manufacturing of 50 diesel locomotives in Iran's Mapna Group through cooperation of Germany's Siemens.



Dobrindt had also visited Iran in October during which he signed six transport cooperation agreements with Akhoundi.
President Rouhani: JCPOA belied allegations against Iran

01/18/17

Source: Press TV







Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the historic deal over Iran's nuclear program and its implementation belied claims about the country seeking weapons of mass destruction and demonstrated the honesty and sincerity of the Islamic Republic.



Rouhani made the remarks in a press conference attended by some 200 Iranian and foreign reporters in Tehran on Tuesday on the first anniversary of the implementation of the country's nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group of countries, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).







Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attends a press conference in Tehran

January 17, 2017 photo by Islamic Republic News Agency



Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China plus Germany - signed the JCPOA on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.



Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.



Since the implementation of the JCPOA, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed Iran's compliance with its obligations under the nuclear agreement in several reports.



In his visit to Tehran on December 18, 2016, the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano expressed satisfaction with Iran's compliance with its commitments.



Prior to the signing of the JCPOA, Iran had repeatedly asserted that it was not after development of weapons of mass destruction and its nuclear program was exclusively for peaceful purposes, the Iranian president said, adding that the agreement was a moral victory for Iran, because it proved the country's honesty and showed that what had been claimed against the Islamic Republic was merely baseless allegations and lies.

'JCPOA led to removal of all nuclear-related sanctions'

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani noted that those who claimed that Iran sought to develop nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction were speaking unjustly and unjustifiably and they should be ashamed of themselves now.







"Very few pundits believed that the issue of PMD (Possible Military Dimensions to Iran's nuclear program) would be resolved, and the International [Atomic Energy] Agency would admit that Iran's outstanding issues had ended," the Iranian president said.

Describing the JCPOA as "a great national achievement," Rouhani said, "The closure of this dossier amounted to a moral victory for the great Iranian nation."



Rouhani stressed that all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic have been removed after implementation of the JCPOA started, adding that there are no more bans in the gas, oil and transport sectors.

'US continues to block Iran's banking transactions'

He added that, however, the US, given its hostility toward the Islamic Republic, has been creating obstacles in the banking transactions between Tehran and the rest of the world.



Rouhani said Iran "is standing with great might and powerfully against" the violations of the JCPOA, adding, however, that "we have not acted and will not act hastily, because national interests are a principle for us and we will always bear in mind these interests."

'New negotiations on JCPOA meaningless'

In response to a question about a possible move by US President-elect Donald Trump to demand fresh negotiations on the JCPOA, the Iranian president said no new talks would be held in this regard.







"The JCPOA is not a mutual agreement [but] is a multilateral agreement. Therefore, it will be meaningless if we wanted to negotiate on the JCPOA anew. There will be no new negotiations," Rouhani said.

He added that the JCPOA is an agreement, which has been struck, concluded and endorsed by the United Nations Security Council and has almost turned into an international document.



Iran's president further stated that Trump has made an assortment of comments about the JCPOA so far, which are mere slogans, and it seems quite unlikely that he would take any practical steps in this regard.



There has been concern that the incoming administration of Trump, a former businessman and a self-admitted non-politician, may breach the JCPOA or stop implementing Washington's commitments under it altogether. Trump had previously threatened to "tear up" the deal.



Trump's pick for US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, recently called for a "full review" of the nuclear accord.







'Saudi Arabia must stop war on Yemen'

Elaborating on the existing tensions in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Rouhani said the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic has been founded on forging close ties with neighboring countries, including the littoral Arab states of the Persian Gulf.



Rouhani stated that the root cause of the existing problems between Iran and Saudi Arabia was Riyadh's war on Yemen, adding, "Saudi Arabia must stop strikes on Yemen as soon as possible."



The Iranian president also mentioned Saudi Arabia's intervention in developments going on in other parts of the region, including Bahrain, as another cause of tensions between Tehran and Riyadh.



Referring to severance of diplomatic ties between Tehran and Riyadh, Rouhani said, "It was Saudi Arabia, which decided to unilaterally cut ties with Iran and this was not our decision."



He added that some countries, including Iraq and Kuwait, had sought to mediate for the improvement of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, adding that if Saudi officials "take up the right path and make correct decisions," Tehran is ready to even help Riyadh with regard to regional affairs, including in Yemen, and to promote peace and unity in the region.



Saudi Arabia unilaterally severed its diplomatic ties with Iran in January last year after protests in front of its diplomatic premises in Tehran and Mashhad against the execution of eminent Saudi Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, by Riyadh.



Relations between the two countries were already tense over a deadly human crush, which occurred during Hajj rituals in Mina, near Mecca, in September 2015. Unofficial sources put the death toll at almost 7,000 people of whom about 465 were nationals of Iran. Days into the incident, Saudi Arabia published a death toll of 770, but refused to update it despite gradually surging fatality figures from individual countries whose nationals had been among the victims of the crush.



Earlier that same month, a massive construction crane had collapsed into Mecca's Grand Mosque, killing more than 100 pilgrims, including 11 Iranians, and injuring over 200 others, including 32 nationals from Iran



Serious questions were raised about the competence of Saudi authorities to manage the Hajj rituals in the wake of the incidents, and in the face of Saudi Arabia's intransigence to guarantee the safety of Iranian pilgrims, officials in the Islamic Republic subsequently decided to halt pilgrimages over security concerns.

'Iran's economic growth unparalleled in region'

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani noted that Iran's economic growth currently stood at 7.4 percent, "which has no parallel in the region."



He added that 700,000 jobs were also created in the country during past year while only six countries in the world have been able to create over 600,000 jobs per year.

Only Syrians can decide their country's fate

Answering a question on the situation in Syria, Rouhani noted that the first and foremost priority in the Arab country was to maintain ceasefire and prevent resumption of armed conflict in those regions where ceasefire has been enforced.



Rouhani noted that at present, conditions have been provided in Syria for real negotiations among all warring parties.



Referring to the forthcoming talks on Syria in Kazakhstan's capital city of Astana, the Iranian president said Astana talks will be based on Syria-Syria dialogue.



He reiterated that nobody should be allowed to make a decision on the future of Syria on behalf of its people, because it is only for the Syrian nation to decide their country's fate.
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Take that dream trip now while you still don't need a visa

Global mobility to travel without visas and visit a new country saw an upswing from last year -- but it won't last as restrictions loom from Brexit to U.S. immigration curbs and wider anti-globalization sentiment, global advisory firm Arton Capital said.

World Openness Scores from the Passport Index that measure the number of visa-free entry among 199 nations increased to 17,954 at the start of 2017 from 17,928 in 2016.

The scores track global freedom of travel and were calculated by adding the total number of visa-free scores (the number of countries the passport holder can travel to without a visa or with a visa on arrival) for each of the 199 passports included in the Index.

While there were improvements in global mobility, the progress in freedom of mobility going forward could take a hit. "With the recent backlash on globalization, the World Openness Score may be in danger of decline," the firm cautioned in its latest annual index update.

Anti-globalization sentiment has been rife in politics in the past year, impacting everything from the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union to the election of Donald Trump in the U.S. because of support for his immigration and trade policies.

Germany took the top honors in the global passport rankings, with a visa-free score of 157. Singapore , the highest ranked Asian country, and Sweden were joint second, with a score of 156.

Denmark , Finland, France , Spain , Switzerland , Norway , the United Kingdom and the United States shared the crowded third place, each with visa-free scores of 155.

The biggest improvements in the rankings were made by the Pacific Island nations, including the Marshall Islands, Palau, Micronesia, Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands. Passport holders from these nations gained visa waivers from at least 30 other countries, due to waivers granted by the European Union member states.

Meanwhile, the most welcoming countries in the world included Cambodia, Madagascar and Seychelles, which all accepted 198 passports from around the world either visa-free or with visa on arrival. Asian countries also ranked fairly high on the list, with Sri Lanka in the eleventh spot, Indonesia in sixteenth and Malaysia in seventeenth.

Story continues

The United States was ranked 79 in the same Welcoming Countries Rank.

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President Barack Obama has commuted the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. soldier who disclosed classified data to WikiLeaks relating to the Iraq War.

Manning was originally serving a 35-year sentence, but on Tuesday Obama reduced it. Shell now be freed on May 17.

Manning was convicted of leaking U.S. military and diplomatic information to WikiLeaks back in 2010 that included videos of airstrikes in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with classified documents sent to the U.S. State Department. She was arrested and began serving jail time the same year.

The data supplied by Manning helped put WikiLeaks on the map as source for secret government information but drew swift condemnation from U.S. officials.

Obama commuted Mannings sentence because he believed she had accepted responsibility and expressed remorse for her crimes, according to White House officials. She had also been behind bars for over six years, comparable to what similar offenders had served, they said.

News of the commutation came days after WikiLeaks tweeted that its founder, Julian Assange, would agree to be extradited to the U.S. if Obama granted Manning clemency. Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London under asylum following an attempt to extradite him to Sweden over alleged sexual offenses.

White House officials said Mannings commutation had nothing to do with Assange, even as U.S. intelligence officials have blamed WikiLeaks for helping Russia to influence last years presidential election.

Its not clear whether WikiLeaks founder will honor his pledge. On Tuesday, Assange simply thanked supporters of Manning. Your courage and determination made the impossible possible, he said in a tweet through WikiLeaks. Noted leaker Edward Snowden also welcomed the news on Twitter.

Mannings supporters say shes a whistleblower and have campaigned for her release. But others oppose her release. On Tuesday, Republican House leader Paul Ryan called her commutation outrageous.

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets, he said in a statement.
Thousands of Covered California enrollees face higher-than-expected bills from their insurers because the exchange sent incorrect tax credit information to the health plans.

The exchange confirmed it gave insurers wrong subsidy information for about 25,000 policy holders, resulting in inaccurate bills. Insurers are now sending out new bills correcting the errors, and in most cases that means higher premiums than consumers had initially anticipated.

It feels like this is a bait-and-switch, said Beth Freeman, 53, of San Bruno. Now what am I going to do? I dont know if I can afford it.

Freeman said she owes about $330 per month more on her premium than she had expected.

Covered California said it doesnt know what caused the problem. We are focused on reaching (enrollees) and making sure they know what to expect, said spokeswoman Lizelda Lopez. We will do an analysis afterward to understand all the details.

Lopez said Covered California originally sent consumers their correct tax credit amounts in notices during the renewal period, but it gave the incorrect amounts to their insurers.

However, Kevin Knauss, an insurance agent in Sacramento, said a Covered California representative told him in a phone conversation that consumers had found incorrect tax credit amounts when they signed onto their online Covered California accounts.

Tax credits are the income-based subsidies that about 90 percent of Covered California enrollees receive to lower their monthly premiums.

In another mistake related to tax credits, Covered California discovered in December that about 24,000 policy holders hadnt provided consent for the agency to verify their income, even though the agency thought they had. Without that consent, thousands of consumers lost their 2017 tax credits, at least temporarily.

I dont know whats going on, Knauss said. 2015 and 2016 went fairly smoothly. Now were starting to see these weird glitches.

Lopez said most consumers affected by the latest mistake will owe more out of pocket than they originally thought, and that health plans are entitled to bill them for the difference.

Some may, she said. Some may not.

The recent tax credit error has left consumers like Freeman feeling shocked and frustrated.

She had struggled through administrative headaches with her Covered California plan last year, so when it came time to renew it  or choose a new one  for 2017, I was very cautious and nervous. I shopped around and got information from the folks at Covered California and Blue Shield, she said.

She said Covered California gave her inconsistent information about the amount of tax credits she would receive. So she called the exchange twice to confirm the number, and was told both times it would be $800 a month. That was more than she expected, and it allowed her to afford a more expensive plan with better coverage, she said.

After receiving an updated bill last week that showed her actual tax credits were hundreds of dollars less than expected, Freeman called Covered California again and was told the problem had been caused by a computer data error, she said. The agent told her there was nothing Covered California could do, and she should try to negotiate directly with Blue Shield, she said.

I subscribed to Blue Shield based on the information given to me and confirmed by Covered California, she said. Its unethical that Covered California is unwilling to accommodate me so I can stay in my contracted plan.

If their updated premiums are unaffordable, theres still time for enrollees to switch health plans before open enrollment ends on Jan. 31, Knauss said.

But Freeman already has seen new doctors with her new plan. Why must the consumer carry the burden of these errors? she asked.

Covered California continues to mismanage and, worse, misinform the public when they make errors. And theres no accountability, no follow up.

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Saying children come first, San Jacinto Unified School District trustees voted unanimously Tuesday, Jan. 17, to recognize the district as a safe haven.

The vote protects the records of all students and makes sure children from immigrant families cant be punished due to their residency status.

Superintendent Diane Perez urged the board to approve the measure.

This resolution is about removing politics from our kids, Perez said.

While there was some social media outrage in advance of the vote, no one expressed opposition at the meeting.

Three people spoke in favor of the resolution, including San Jacinto City Councilman Alonso Ledezma.

Its a tremendous stress being in another country, regardless how they came in, he said. The kids dont have to suffer.

Speaking in Spanish, Irene Coronel said its difficult living as an immigrant family.

I am here not for me, but for my family, she said through an interpreter.

Perez said the move came following a letter from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson encouraging all California public schools to be declared safe havens for students and their parents and to remind families about existing laws that protect students records from questions about immigration status.

We have had families that are afraid, Perez told the board. Our hope is that no child come to school afraid.

Perez said there also are concerns that children would not come to school at all.

San Jacinto is a heavily Hispanic district, but records are not kept regarding residency status of children or their families.

We continue to guard those rights for all students, Spencer Holtom, director of student, community and personnel support, said following the meeting. The policies havent changed, whats changed is the world around us.

Board President John Norman suggested that trustees reaffirm the items in the resolution every year.
Toru Saito used to pray God would give him blond hair and blue eyes.

Growing up Japanese in post-World War II America, Saito wanted to be treated like all the other kids. He wanted them to stop calling him a dirty Jap.

I always felt wrong for being Japanese, Saito, 79, said on a recent evening as he reflected on a lifelong battle with depression after being imprisoned for three years of his childhood at a camp in the Utah desert.

At a time when the nation has deeply polarized views on immigration and in the wake of campaign remarks by President-elect Donald Trump about creating a Muslim registry, building a wall on the Mexican border and deporting immigrants here illegally, some experts say the mass incarceration of more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry 75 years ago during World War II offers a lesson about the long-term effects of policies that isolate certain minority groups from the rest of society.

Though Trump and his supporters have softened their stance on the idea of a registry and offered no detailed plans for how a wall would be built or how immigrants would be identified and deported, the lack of specific information has left many uncertain, anxious and fearful.

Rounding up 2 million to 3 million immigrants, as Trump has suggested, would require a massive detention infrastructure reminiscent of the War Relocation Authority camps where the Japanese were held, experts said. A Muslim registry would stigmatize the community for its beliefs in the same way that the Japanese were demonized for the way they looked.

Its pretty much the same kind of logic that was deployed in the 40s, and its being redeployed, said Nayan Shah, a professor of American studies and ethnicity and history at USC.

Japanese Americans who lived through the incarceration or whose parents were in the camps say the negative rhetoric about Muslims and immigrants today reminds them of the racism they encountered decades ago and how damaging the experience was to the health and well-being of their community.

Some imprisoned Japanese Americans killed themselves. Many couldnt find jobs. Others lost their homes, and children were ostracized in school. And many stopped speaking Japanese and struggled with their self-image, striving to prove their American-ness and worth as human beings out of fear they again would be locked up because of their ethnicity.

Japanese Americans worry immigrants and Muslims could suffer from the same lasting effects their incarceration had on them and their descendants.

The very same language, the same stigmatizing of certain groups identified by physical characteristics, by the way they dress, by the way they talk, their religion  those are all exactly the same, said Satsuki Ina, 72, who was born at the Tule Lake camp in Northern California. Japanese Americans have lived through the lifelong consequences of that victimization.

Suppress emotion

It is difficult to measure the psychological effects of Japanese American incarceration because no extensive research projects have been conducted based on quantifiable data, said Amy Iwasaki Mass, a retired clinical social worker and professor emerita at Whittier College.

A lot of the reactions were defense mechanisms  repression, denial, rationalization, Mass said in an email. It was also our Japanese American upbringing to suppress emotion and downplay feelings of shame and humiliation.

Some were so humiliated they were unable to ever talk about it  the experience literally left Nancy Odas mother-in-law speechless.

They left camp with her not speaking a word ever for the rest of her life, said Oda, 71, of Van Nuys.

But not talking about it had its consequences, too. Many Japanese Americans who were born after the war learned little to nothing about the camps.

It made them feel like theres something important and at the same time they cant ask about it, said University of Michigan psychology professor Donna Nagata, whose research focuses on Asian American mental health. There was a real gap in their own history about who they are and who their parents are.

Lack of knowledge?

Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, whose parents and grandparents were interned, said he began to see parallels between Japanese Americans and how Muslim Americans were treated after 9/11.

I think theres evidence that some lessons were learned from scapegoating Japanese Americans, Takano said, noting how George W. Bush insisted after 9/11 that America was not at war with Islam.

Then Takano heard a Trump surrogate on cable news use Japanese American internment as a legal rationale for a Muslim registry.

It showed me just how many decades after World War II and a few decades (after the U.S. government formally apologized to Japanese American internees) we have people very close to the president-elect who dont seem to have any sophisticated knowledge of this era of history, Takano said.

With social media, The kind of fear and hysteria and political rhetoric that might not have made it in the media in the early 2000s Im afraid played a big role in a lot of the politics of the election cycle of 2016, Takano added. We saw the demonization of Muslim Americans in the guise of attacking political correctness (and) Donald Trump extending fear of Muslims and of immigrants.

As one of the only Japanese Americans at Pomona High School after the war, Bacon Sakatani wanted his classmates, who were mostly white, to know he was one of them.

Sakatani, 87, a West Covina resident, said he was never outwardly discriminated against by his classmates then, but he felt lonely and ignored.

So when his teacher asked the class to give a speech on any topic, he titled his, Im an American citizen, too.

I guess I tried to tell them I am an American citizen just like everyone in the class, said Sakatani, who was detained for a few months at the Pomona fairgrounds before he was sent to a camp in Heart Mountain, Wyo. I felt like an outsider because I was Japanese. I was different and I guess I felt like the enemy.

Huge developmental impacts

Immigration attorneys say family detention centers housing more than 3,000 mothers and children seeking asylum in Texas are eerily similar to the Japanese camps. Expanding the system would be relatively easy given the number of private prison companies eager to open more facilities, said Denise Gilman, director of the University of Texas Law School Immigration Clinic.

It is absolutely a prison-like institution, much like the Japanese American internment camps were, Gilman said. Even though families can move around the camp with some degree of freedom, you never lose that sense that you are locked up. They cannot go outside; visitors cannot just come in and take them out to lunch. Theyre cut off from the outside world.

Being locked up in detention centers also had similar psychological consequences for immigrant mothers and children.

You see everything from kids talking about suicide, both moms and kids trying to understand how they could possibly be treated as criminals when they have no criminal histories and, in fact, are fleeing awful violence, Gilman said. The confusion of it all, just the pure deprivation of liberty, of being confined, has huge developmental impacts on any child.

On Feb. 19, 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the relocation and incarceration of people of Japanese descent.

Although government leaders believed Japanese people posed a security risk after the Dec. 7, 1941, bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, formed by Congress in 1981 to conduct an official study of Roosevelts order and the related policies enacted during the war, found there was no evidence a Japanese immigrant or citizen of Japanese ancestry committed an act of espionage or sabotage on behalf of Japan.

The commission concluded the relocation and incarceration were unjust and based on racism, hysteria and a failure of political leadership.

Because it took so long for the government to admit it was wrong, recognizing the event was traumatic also took time.

The reason that the healing has been so delayed is because the government wasnt owning up to it and people who were victims themselves went along with that narrative that said what you experienced wasnt that bad, but it was an abuse of power, Ina said. It affected deep psychological sense of self and anxiety about being victims of racism.

Now Japanese Americans fear the same thing may happen to another minority group and say its important for the public to understand the full effect of the incarceration, that the experience didnt rob them of three or four years. It changed the rest of their lives.

A whole community can be changed for decades afterwards; thats the lesson weve learned, Ina said. If we dont have a voice, we dont protest, if we dont stand up for each other, exactly the same thing could happen or worse.

Staff writer Jeff Horseman contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: sbaer@scng.com Twitter: @skbaer
A convicted felon who shot a man during a confrontation in a Jurupa Valley business was sentenced Tuesday, Jan. 17, to 25 years in state prison.

Arturo Hernandez Camarena, 44, of Grand Terrace, pleaded guilty in December to attempted murder. In exchange for his admission, the Riverside County District Attorneys Office dropped a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

According to a news repease by Riverside County sheriffs Sgt. Todd Torrenti, the attack happened shortly before 11 p.m. March 13 in the 9600 block of Mission Boulevard.

Torrenti said the defendant pulled a handgun on a man in a store, shot him once, then fled. The victim was treated at Riverside Community Hospital and has since recovered.

Camarena was identified within a couple of weeks and was tracked down to his residence in Grand Terrace, where he was taken into custody without incident.

According to court records, he has several prior felony convictions in other jurisdictions. His last conviction in Riverside County was in 2006 for being a felon in possession of a gun.
A potentially epic three-punch series of storms that could pound the region with rain not seen in a half-dozen years is barreling toward Southern California, promising to bury the local mountains in snow and threatening to unleash mudslides and floods.

Guaranteed, Northern and Central California are going to get hosed. And were going to get more than a glancing blow in Southern California, said Bill Patzert, climate scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. We could get the big show too.

In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, 3 to 6 inches of rain could fall on the valleys and 6 to 12 inches in the foothills between late Wednesday and Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The high deserts could get 1 to 3 inches, and the low deserts could get 0.75 to 1.5 inches.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Heres exactly how forecasters say 3 incoming storms will play out

At mountain elevations between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, 6 to 12 inches of snow is possible; up to 2 feet could fall between 6,000 and 7,000 feet; and up to 3 feet is possible above 7,000 feet.

We havent seen precipitation amounts forecast like this since 2010, said Jimmy Taeger, a Weather Service meteorologist in San Diego.

The rain and snow will come in three consecutive storms, wreaking their first havoc on the Thursday morning commute and not fully clearing out until the middle of next week.

Each of the storms will be soakers, forecasters say.

This is a three-punch event, Patzert said. If things really line up, it could be epic.

Drought buster?

Of course, its already been raining this winter  and raining a lot. That is good news from the perspective of the long dry spell that has plagued the region. Indeed, Richard Minnich, an earth sciences professor at UC Riverside, said the drought is about to become history.

The next week or so is going to be pretty wild, Minnich said in a written statement. Believe me this is going to end the drought.

There is also bad news.

This is potentially some serious flooding and mudslides, especially considering how saturated things are right now, Patzert said.

Officials say they are particularly concerned about possible damage near areas that recently burned, including the San Gabriel Mountain foothills charred by the twin Fish and Reservoir fires last June above Duarte and Monrovia, and the San Bernardino Mountains and Cajon Pass where the Pilot and Blue Cut fires raged during August.

Were going to keep an eye on all of that, said Robert Villegas, a Southern California Edison spokesman. Those burn areas are always areas of concern because of the debris flow that can happen.

Flooding fears

With the back-to-back-to-back storms, and little time in between them for things to dry out, forecasters believe flooding is likely.

In a hydrologic outlook, the Weather Service said the Santa Margarita, San Diego, Whitewater, Mojave and Tijuana rivers may record significant flows unseen since 2010. Forecasters warned people to be prepared, and to heed any road closures caused by rising water.

Poorly drained urban areas will be prone to flooding, as well.

There are some things you can do  like place sand bags around your home or yard to protect your property from mud and high water. They are widely available at fire stations, which also are preparing to respond to storm emergencies, officials said.

For example, sand bags are stockpiled at Riverside County Fire Department stations, said Jody Hagemann, a department spokeswoman. And the San Bernardino County Fire Department will have sand bags available at fire stations across that county. Some fire stations offer just the empty bags, and residents have to get their own sand; other stations provide sand as well.

Mountain snow

Up in the mountains, snow is being welcomed with open arms by resorts and winter-sport-dependent businesses that havent had much to cheer about in recent years. But while the snow is falling, it could make for very hazardous driving conditions, especially on highways 2, 18 and 38.

Caltrans is bracing for that, said Shelli Lombardo, a spokeswoman for the district that spans Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Lombardo said 10 maintenance yards scattered across the mountains are stockpiled with 5,605 tons of cinders, or crushed volcanic rock, as well as 1,611 tons of slicer, which is composed of a small amount of salt and ground magnesium. She said the two materials are mixed and dropped on snow-packed highways to boost traction.

Were ready. Weve got the materials on hand, she said.

Lombardo said crews also have been busy cleaning storm drains and culverts to help prevent flooding.

Trees as hazards

Because the monster storm system will be packing heavy winds, officials said, there is concern that branches  and even entire trees, unstable as the soil gets saturated  could topple, causing damage, injury and power outages.

Villegas said Edisons biggest concern is that heavy limbs and other debris will fall on electric lines.

In the Inland Empire, one of the things we see a lot is flying palm fronds, he said.

To brace for the possibility of having to scramble to get the power back on, Villegas said more line workers than usual will be working during the long, stormy weekend. And he said others will be on call, in case more crews are needed to deploy to problem areas.

Then if something truly goes wrong, and it is much more severe than anticipated  were able to call in additional crews, he said.

And if something happens in your own backyard such as a tree branch falling on a line, he said, leave it for your local electric provider to handle.

Timing of storms

The first of the three storms is expected to slam into the region late Wednesday or early Thursday, with the bulk of rain and snow falling between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday. Scattered thunderstorms are possible as well, while the potential for flooding is considered low.

The second storm will bring rain all day Friday, along with strong winds and another chance of afternoon thunderstorms. The snow level will drop to 4,500 feet in San Bernardino County and 5,500 feet in Riverside County. Flash flooding will become a concern.

After a lull Saturday, round three is expected to run midday Sunday into Monday, though the exact timing of that storm is still uncertain. More heavy rain and snow, strong winds and flooding are possible.

Three groups of people will be real happy: skiers, surfers and the water managers, Patzert said. The three groups who will be unhappy are the emergency managers, the Highway Patrol and the commuters.

But after the severe dry spell that we have seen over the last five years, you just have to accept a little punishment with the plenty, he said.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9699, ddowney@scng.com, Twitter: PE_DavidDowney
Despite assurances from Riverside school officials, parents remain concerned about their kids safety after a fifth-grader wrote a kill-list with classmates names last week.

An overflow crowd attended the Tuesday, Jan. 17 Riverside Unified School District board meeting. About 10 speakers reiterated that they would keep their children out of Lake Mathews Elementary School until the student was expelled.

Attendance plummeted Tuesday, with 125 students absent from the nearly 900-student campus, district spokesman Justin Grayson said. About 30 kids miss school on a typical day, he said.

Parents criticized school leaders for keeping them in the dark about the incident in which a fifth-grade boy showed a list of student names labeled kill list to other pupils. It contained drawings of skulls, blood and knives along with the names of more than 60 students, parents told the board.

This was a murder list, parent James Reynolds told trustees. He made 60 plus criminal threats and nobody was notified. If this is the protocol, it needs to change.

Parents asked whether the student would be back in school Wednesday after serving a two-day suspension.

District officials said they couldnt comment, citing student privacy laws.

Board President Brent Lee told the crowd that trustees couldnt take action or respond to public comments because the topic wasnt on the agenda.

Earlier Tuesday, Grayson said the parents of the boy in question have been given options for alternative schooling if they want him to be educated elsewhere.

Superintendent David Hansen briefly addressed the situation in prepared remarks he read before parents spoke. He said that Principal Pam Williams sent a follow-up letter to parents Tuesday, reemphasizing the districts focus on school safety as a top priority, every second of every day.

Williams letter said the district uses a thorough and comprehensive process to evaluate threats. Experts from mental health, education and law enforcement investigate and address situations that may pose a danger to students.

The letter said she met Tuesday with each grade level to reassure kids and to introduce them to psychologists who were on campus and will remain available to provide support for concerned students.

Riverside County sheriffs officials issued a written statement Tuesday morning, deeming the threat of violence not credible after deputies investigated the report they received from school officials Thursday.

In his remarks, Hansen told parents he understands parents concerns and said he has complete confidence in the process used to analyze the threat.

As a parent, I absolutely know how you feel, but as your superintendent, Im sure I can speak for all of us on the dais when I say that we have a moral and legal obligation to keep our kids safe at all times, Hansen said.

But that wasnt enough to satisfy parents who said they had to wait several days before finding out from authorities what happened.

Even though we were told it was being taken seriously, it was a referred to as a scary joke, said Krysta Gross, who said her daughter sits next to the student who wrote the note.

When board member Tom Hunt asked who used those words, parent Nancie Johnson said it was the principal.

I can assure you her words dont reflect the feelings of this board, Hunt said, calling her comments ill advised.

Evelyn Artavia spoke to the board with her 10-year-old daughter, Caeliah, a classmate of the student who wrote the note, next to her.

I was really scared, Caeliah said outside the auditorium. I felt better after I talked to the counselor.

Artavia said the school should have called parents and scheduled an emergency meeting immediately. She told the board shes very upset and cant sleep.

Parents were trying to get information and it was non-existent, she said. You dont sweep this under the rug and not contact us.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9292, stwall@scng.com
Theres a mariachi academy in town thats open to newcomers of all ages.

Herencia Mariachi Academy opened in July 2015, and it already has around 90 students ranging in age from youths in kindergarten to middle-aged adults.

Most students, however, are youngsters.

The goal of Herencia  an acronym for heritage, education, reach, encourage, nurture, cultural, inspire and accomplish  is to provide lifelong skills to its students and to encourage them to go to college.

Aidee Lopez, the fundraiser coordinator, said the academy was founded after a group of students realized that there was no mariachi program in Corona and decided to establish one.

The new program was fortunate enough to have Rafael Palomar, a world-renowned musician and a mariachi legend, to teach. The academy has students from Anaheim, Los Angeles and the Inland region and has performed in Corona, San Bernardino, Orange County and San Diego.

You do not need previous musical talent or experience to join, Lopez said. Beginners first learn how to read music and then play the instrument.

The students attend an hourlong class two days a week and learn the culture and history behind mariachi in addition to the techniques of the music.

Singing lessons, which last an hour and a half, recently have been added.

Although students have to provide their own instruments, costumes are provided for advanced students for public and private performances.

Prices start at $55 a month for one or two students; a third student pays half price and a fourth student gets in free. There is a one-time registration fee of $10 per student.

Were looking for funds to help low-income students, Lopez said. We want to be able to grow to provide an opportunity for underprivileged children.

Indeed, although the academy teaches music, its goal is to interest students in higher education.

As it turns out, none of the college-age students is a music major. One is a biology major who comes from a musical family.

Lopez said students also learn interpersonal skills.

After awhile, students pay more attention. They like going to the academy. They bond with other students and teachers, she said. Sometimes there are changes in the students personality; shy kids get more confidence, for example. They lose that fear of speaking and are more open in conversations.

During the last performance at a Christmas concert at Corona High School, in which the entire class performed, one normally shy student who would cry when brought to class sang a solo.

Its so rewarding to see these children grow and bond and learn, Lopez said. Its our goal for people to see the academy as an opportunity to realize a dream that they think might not possible. Music is a wonderful instrument to bring people together, an opportunity to come together as a community.

Information: 714-345-8740 or info@herenciamariachiacademy.com

Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com
Survivors of the Dec. 2 terrorist attack in San Bernardino will meet Wednesday, Jan. 18, with Rep. Pete Aguilar to sort out a mixup over spending plans for $4 million in anti-terrorism funds meant to aid those impacted by the attack.

Survivors attorneys and union representatives will take part in the private meeting to discuss how $4 million in U.S. justice department funds will be divvied up between survivors; victims families; San Bernardino County, which employed survivors and victims the day of the attack; and other community needs. Aguilars staff confirmed the meeting.

About $1.3 million will go to the county to help cover more than $20 million in expenses tied to the attack, San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert said in a press release Tuesday, Jan. 17.

More than $1.6 million can be used for survivors medical treatments that are awaiting approval through the countys self-administered workers compensation program, Wert said.

Survivors expressed confusion and disappointment over hearing all of the money might not go to attack victims.

We hope those questions can be answered, said survivor Ray Britain.

On Dec. 23, Aguilars office announced $4 million in federal funding had been allocated for Inland Regional Center terror attack victims families and survivors. Those targeted in the attack worked for the countys public health department, with most in the Environmental Health Division.

According to details of the announcement, money would go to the county; the communitys trauma recovery needs such as mental health treatment for first responders and medical personnel; and survivors and victims relatives needs including medical leave and expenses, lost income, mental health care, funeral expenses and rehabilitation.

Survivors and victims relatives will get only part of the funding under the allocations specified in the California Victim Compensation Boards application for the U.S. justice departments Anti-Terrorism and Emergency Response grant, said state Victim Compensation Board spokeswoman Janice Mackey.

Dividing the grant

The grant is divided into four categories: claimant compensation, critical victim needs, mental health, and response activities and future expenses.

About 42 percent is to compensate expenses for such things as long-term medical needs, vocational rehabilitation and reconstructive surgery of survivors and their relatives or the family of those killed, according to Mackey.

About 23 percent is for critical victim needs such as immediately moving victims away from the crime scene, increased security at the countys public health department and Inland Regional Center after the attack on a public health department training session/holiday party, temporary office space for the Environmental Health Division; and identity theft protection.

About 35 percent is for trauma recovery such as monthly community resiliency forums, crisis counseling, trauma recovery workshops for victims and first responders, training for the impacted county department and supervisors, and a lessons learned document to help first responders cope with future mass violence.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9444 or shurt@scng.com
A Kenyan MP has asked women to withhold sex from their husbands until they register as voters for the 8 August elections.



Mishi Mboko, the women's representative for the coastal city of Mombasa, says it was the best strategy to shore up opposition votes.



"Women, this is the strategy you should adopt. It is the best. Deny them sex until they show you their voter's card," she said.



The registrations ends on 17 February.



Ms Mboko said sex was a powerful weapon and would encourage reluctant men to rush to register as voters in the exercise that began on Monday.



She said her husband would not be affected by the boycott as he had already registered, the Standard newspaper reports.



Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta will be seeking a second term and is expected to be challenged by a candidate supported by an alliance of opposition parties, including Ms Mboko's ODM.



Ms Mboko said that the opposition alliance had a better chance of winning the elections if its supporters registered in huge numbers.



Calls for sex boycotts are common in Kenya. In 2009, women activists held a week-long sex strike to get then President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga and their allies to reconcile after falling out.

Source: BBC









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
Cocoa shortage is looming in Ghana as illegal diamond and gold mining activities are killing cocoa farms in mining communities in the country, Today investigations have revealed.



Farmers from cocoa growing communities in Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo and the three Northern RegionsNorthern, Upper East and Upper West told Today that they are being forced by their chiefs and landowners to sell off their cocoa farms to both local and foreign registered and illegal miners as destruction of land and water resources there intensify.



According to them, some of our chiefs go to the extent of taking as low as GH20 before illegally awarding lands to these foreign illegal miners such as who are Chinese, Indians, Russians, Spaniards, Burkinabes and other West African nationals operating in their areas.



The development, Today understands, has compelled both licensed and illegal diamond and gold miners to invade million hectares of cocoa lands in cocoa growing communities in Ghana, destroying large tracts of cocoa farms in the processall in their quest to explore for gold and diamond.



The practice, which could spell doom for the country if not immediately halted, is common in parts of Western, Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo and the three Northern Regions, where illegal mining has become the order of the day.



There have been calls by the general public and civil society organisations, particularly Wacam, for a common platform to collaborate and develop prudent ways of developing possible linkages between mining and farming to bring about the needed growth and development.



Obviously, there are indications that cocoa growing regions in the country are under siege, following activities of illegal miners, particularly in Bogoso, Prestea, Tarkwa, all in the Western Region.



This accounts for the severe poverty hitting cocoa farmers in the face, and the subsequent practice where majority of these farmers exchange their cocoa farms as concessions to illegal gold miners for cash.



The development has come about because indigenes in these communities are gradually losing interest in farming as they see returns on mining activities as more attractive and far rewarding.



Available statistics to Today indicate that every year the country experiences a reduction of about 100,000 tonnes in production of cocoa, with global reduction trends expected to hit about one million.



Last year, Ghanas cocoa production declined from one million tonnes in the previous year to 800,000 tonnes, while the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) this year has projected a production target of 830,000 metric tonnes which was later revised upward to 850,000 tonnes.



A visit to some mining and cocoa growing communities which are Bogoso, Prestea, Tarkwa, Kenyase and Obuasi among others revealed how activities of illegal small-scale gold miners were impacting negatively on cocoa farms. And that was compelling the indigenes to abandon their crop farms in search of gold.



The story of killing of cocoa farms by illegal small-scale gold miners was different in the outskirt of the Obuasi airstripManso-Akropomg, Manso-Nkwanta, Petrensa and Kremokromas. In these areas the effects of illegal mining were devastating.



Forest vegetation was also giving way to deep pits, water logs, muddy pools and hips of sand scattered all over.



In areas like Korbro and Akutuase in the Amansie Central District, cocoa farms have become wasted lands.



Farmers here have financial challenges and they also look at the location of farms to sell. They pay GHC2,500 for an acre of cocoa farm but many of these miners do not pay, saying there were no deposits in the area.



Many of the farmers have been impoverished as a result. And all these are fuelled by the chiefs, a farmer complained.



In the Amansie Central District, Today learnt that there were over fifty (50) licensed small-scale miners operating in the area with little or no regulation on their activities.



The most devastating effect for these people in the communities was child casualty due to the presence of open pits.



Two children drowned in these pits. They should have covered the pits but government taskforce drove them away and they left the pits uncovered, the famer said.



Forest reserves in the Amansie Central District have also not been spared the destruction and the residents have accused forestry officials and traditional authorities of complicity.



Today further observed that a number of the open pits had taken over some cocoa farms, with farmers seriously neglecting their cocoa farming activities for illegal mining.



A member of Wacam in Prestea, Mr. Dominic Nyame, called for concerted efforts to tackle the threat posed to the nations cocoa production by illegal gold mining.



He said the danger was real and must never be underestimated, adding that a decisive action must be taken to deal with it.



Mr. Nyame said the situation where cocoa trees were felled to make way for digging precious mineral will undoubtedly hurt production levels.



The nation will pay the cost for disturbing the vegetation, he warned.



According to him, apart from forcing farmers to sell their farms because of high deposit of mineral resources, some of the miners forcibly entered the land to undertake surface mining without the consent of farmers.



The situation, Mr. Nyame said, requires a holistic approach to redress it, adding that as a result of rampant and haphazard activities, most of the farmers were losing their lands.



He said farming activities have been reduced to zero in some cocoa growing areas, because the entire nutrients that feed the trees have been destroyed, therefore rendering such areas unfertile for farming.

Today

Source: Today Newspaper









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Communications Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Eric Dzakpasu has assured electoral officials of the Commission's commitment to pay their allowances.



Speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Mr. Dzakpasu expressed worry over the delay in payment of the allowances but asked the electoral officials to be calm as the Commission works to resolve the conflict.



Mr. Dzakpasu explained that the EC budgeted about 1.2 billion cedis for Parliamentary approval before the money can be used to pay the allowances.



He noted that the Commission has not yet received the full amount and blamed the Ministry of Finance for the delay.



According to him, the Finance Ministry has not been able to release the money to the Commission and that, only about 80,000 cedis can be accounted for by the Commission.



Mr. Dzakpasu confirmed the number of electoral officials who are yet to receive their allowances to be over 200,000.



He told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that though the electoral officials have not received their allowances, the Commission is "not expecting anything evil should happen.



A Daily Graphic publication on Wednesday, January 18 indicated that two hundred thousand electoral officials who were engaged by the EC to conduct last year's general elections have not been paid their allowances.



Mr. Dzakpasu further revealed that some of the officials have been placing calls to threaten the Commission.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Allotey Jacobs says he wished he were an Ashanti because the Ashanti kingdom is blessed.



Commenting on the funeral of the Asantehemaa on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Allotey Jacobs was marvelled by the rituals and the culture characterizing the event.



According to him, he has lots of respect for Ashantes, saying the culture is "so unique. Ive come to respect Ashanti culture. When you look at it very well, its like the military setup. So unique, extraordinary; I am not surprised that Ashanti Kingdom goes as far as Cote DIvoire and so forth."



The Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, died at the age of 111 after reigning for 39 years.



The Planning Committee in-charge of the funeral has slated Thursday, January 19 as the day for the laying-in-state and burial.



Scrutinizing the funeral arrangements, Allotey Jacobs was mesmerized by the cultural displays at the Manhyia Palace and so wished "to be an Ashanti. Thats what I will say. When you look at the unity, you see that the Asantehene is the epitome of Asante Kingdom or the Ashantis. When the King rises, thousands rise. This kingdom is blessed.



He also wished the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, well.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The king of Swaziland, King Mswati III, and other representatives from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Uganda are expected to attend the funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Serwaa Kobi Ampem II in Kumasi.



This was revealed by Kwame Adinkra, spokesperson of the Funeral Organising Committee, in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom, on Accra100.5FM Monday January 16.



He said: The king of Swazliand is expected to be here, representatives from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Uganda are all expected to be here.



The body of the queen of Asante will be laid in state from today, Monday 16 January, till her burial on Thursday, as part of final funeral rites being organised by Asanteman.



All the chiefs and traditional leaders in Asanteman will today, Monday 16 January, pay their last respects to the longest-serving queenmother who died in November last year at 111 years.



The Asantehemaas four-day funeral started at midnight on Sunday January 15 at the Manhyia Palace.



The late mother of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will be buried on Thursday.



On Monday, after the filing past by traditional leaders and chiefs, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II himself will file past his mother's body and later receive consolations from well-wishers.



Many more traditional leaders outside Asanteman will also file past the Asantehemaas body on Tuesday and Wednesday. President Nana Akufo-Addo as well as former presidents, ministers, government officials, and other dignitaries are also scheduled to pay their last respects to the queen on Tuesday.

Source: AccraFM.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Director of Academic Affairs at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College says it will be imprudent for Ghana, on its own, to take any action against President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh.



Dr Vladmir Antwi Danso said any move President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo makes should be based on the decision taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).



Speaking on Joy FM, which was discussing the situation in The Gambia and how regional leaders should deal with it, the security expert said the only thing Ghana can do at this moment is to evacuate its citizens from the country.



If the situation gets worse, we should find a way of evacuating our nationals. That is the only thing we can do. But to take the law into our own hands and want to intervene, unless we are doing it in the name of ECOWAS it is not allowed.



Regional leaders including former president John Dramani Mahama have tried unsuccessfully to get president of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh to hand over power to his opponent Adama Barrow who won polls conducted in the country last December.



In the polls, Mr Barrow won 43.3% of the votes compared with Mr Jammeh's 39.6%. A third candidate, Mama Kandeh, got 17.1%.



Although Mr Jammeh conceded defeat initially, he later refused to hand over power, citing inconsistencies in the results declared by the country's electoral commission.



He has filed an application in court for an annulment the results, requesting a re-run. The situation has brought about a lot of uncertainty in the country.



Many, according to a BBC report, have fled the country whilst as many as five ministers have resigned.



On Tuesday, Mr Jammeh declared a state of emergency. In his televised announcement, he decried "extraordinary" foreign interference in his country's affairs and in the December election.



He added that "any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement of violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace" are banned under the state of emergency.





Dr Antwi Danso said the situation in The Gambia must be handled with tact and Ghana needs to follow existing protocols at the ECOWAS.



He said if any force is applied, Ghanaians as well as the citizens of the Gambia and other nationals in the country will suffer.



Deputy Commandant at Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre, Brigadier Gen.Dr Emmanuel Kotia, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be thinking of getting in touch with all Ghanaians in the country.



Know where they live so that if theres a need for evacuation, they can be assisted, he added.



He said with the declaration of the state of emergency, information flow from within the country will be difficult and that is disturbing.



However, if the heads of state of ECOWAS are determined, nothing can stop them, he said.



Brig. Gen Kotia cautioned that with the state of emergency and the seeming conflict, the ECOWAS heads of state must use conflict prevention mechanisms to be able to resolve the issue.



Deterrence is good, but we should aim first at conflict prevention because if there is any intervention, there will be innocent loss of lives.



It is important for us to know that if we exhaust all the conflict prevention mechanisms, then force can be used, but I think that there is still room for conflict prevention mechanisms to be used.





He added that ECOWAS could initiate most of its protocols using the counsel of the wise and other negotiating methods to be able to negotiate for peaceful resolution otherwise, civilians and unarmed persons in that country will suffer more.



Meanwhile, a journalist who also spoke on the Show said citizens and other nationals have deserted the country over fear of political unrest.



Kebab Jeffang said the streets are empty, shops have closed, and all the main markets are empty. Business has stalled.



People are leaving, right where I live, an entire compound of about 20 people have fled. If you go to the ferry site, a lot of people are leaving, some are going to Senegal while others are moving towards provincial areas, he said.



He indicated that The Gambian Bar Association, has distanced itself from the stance the president has taken and has asked lawyers who are members of the Association not to take up the case.



They have also advised lawyers who are not members of the Association to avoid dealing with any case brought by Mr Jammeh.



Jeffang said, although Mr Jammeh still has some support from the indigenes, most people are against him.



Most people are telling him that even though we love you, leave the country in peace. If that is the only way to keep the country safe, he should leave.



This is the stance of many people and yet, Yahya Jammeh is not heading to call. The support he has from the Gambian community is less.



Accoding to Jeffang, Mr Jammehs own lawyer has fled the country.

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.

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The Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) which has been responsible for managing pilgrimage to Mecca has in last few years, left behind a debt of GHC23 million.



The Office, headed by now NDC Member of Parliament for Yagaba/Kubore, Ibrahim Tanko, owes Saudi airline, Nas, for airlifting Ghanaian pilgrims to and from the Holy land.



Apart from this, about 452 would-be pilgrims who paid up to embark on the spiritual journey were unable to make it.



The PAOG has however failed to return their money to them after failing to facilitate their pilgrimage last year. A source close to government says the development is disturbing as receipts have not be adduced to back the transactions that raked up the 23 million cedis debt.



The source said the Office has also not been able to give any tangible reason as to why it is unable to refund the money of the 452 failed pilgrims.



Responding to the reports, spokesperson of PAOG, Mohammed Amin Lamptey, said, As far as Im concerned, Nas Air is not owed. You cannot operate Hajj if you dont pay Nas Air in full before operation begins, likewise payments for accommodation and transportation.



He added that The Saudi Embassy here in Ghana will never issue visas to would-be pilgrims when the Hajj committee does not settle all financial matters at a specific time.



Asked whether he was suggesting that the PAOG does not owe at all, Mr. Amin Lamptey said, There is no regime of Hajj operation that took over without outstanding debt.



He promised to give details of the outstanding debts owed by the Hajj Committee.



On the question of those who could not make it to Mecca, Mr. Lamptey said he couldnt readily give the figures promising also to make the exact number available at a later date.

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.

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The biotechs and emerging pharma have been under pressure from politicians attacking drug prices. That doesn't mean that there are not some big winners out there. Sometimes the biggest winners are companies most investors have never heard of. Even if you have been a biotech and emerging pharma investor for years, chances are high that you would have never heard of a small outfit called Apricus Biosciences Inc. (APRI).

To see a move of more than 100% you might assume that this was a buyout. It wasn't. Apricus was listed in the top biohealth movers on Wednesday, but the reality is that this was the top stock of them all.

ALSO READ: The Worst Companies to Work For

Apricus Biosciences reported on Wednesday morning that Mexico has granted the companys commercialization partner, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, market approval for Vitaros. Here is why this matters : Vitaros is an on-demand topical cream indicated for the treatment of patients with erectile dysfunction.

Even after a 130% rally in a single day, Apricus has a market cap that is not quite $27 million. That means this whole company was worth less than $15 million the day before. Most investors would turn away immediately if they saw a move like this. Others who thrive on riskier bets might feel the exact opposite.

ALSO READ: 6 Major FDA Decisions and Biopharma Catalysts Coming in January and February

Before investors just assume that this is the next Viagra or Cialis, there are some serious issues to consider. A cream is not a pill. Also, the report shows that Mexico is the 26th country in which the product has been approved. Another issue is that the drug is partnered.

Under the terms of the agreement, Apricus has received a total of $4.5 million in upfront payments from Ferring. It also has received a regulatory milestone payment of $1.6 million.

Apricus said that it is also eligible to receive up to an additional $28 million in regulatory, launch and sales milestones, plus royalties on future net sales.

Story continues

ALSO READ: The Best and Worst States to Grow Old

Apricus listed the other nations that the product has been approved, as follows: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Last year, Apricus expanded its exclusive Vitaros distribution agreement with Ferring in Latin America to include Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and certain countries in Asia, the United Kingdom and Korea.

Apricus Biosciences shares were last seen up 130% at $3.48, and the stock hit a 52-week high of $4.07. Its 52-week low is down at $0.26, on a reverse split adjusted basis.

ALSO READ: The Next 14 States to Legalize Marijuana

A chart review over the past 10 years shows that Apricus has a history of big spikes. Many of those big spikes were at higher prices (much higher prices). According to Yahoo! Finance, Apricus has just 24 full time employees.

As of 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Apricus had seen a whopping 44 million shares trade hands.

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Over 35,971 beneficiaries from 21,000 households in the Upper East Region under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty ( LEAP) are expected to receive their bimonthly stipend third week of January.



Mr Hamidu Harruna, the Regional Social Welfare Director, said the beneficiaries were spread over the 13 districts of the Region and had received regular remittance paid from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection bimonthly.Mr Harruna who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview reiterated the significance of the LEAP remittance in the Upper East Region, especially its role in supporting the aged, orphaned and people with disabilities in extreme poor conditions.



He noted that the Region was one of the poorest in the country and the intervention of LEAP provided the needed support to beneficiaries who had no support of any other kind. He said out of 35,971 beneficiaries, 17,689 of the number formed the aged group, 17,978 beneficiaries were orphaned and vulnerable children and 10, 600 were people with disabilities from the 13 districts.



Mr Harunna giving a breakdown of beneficiaries in various districts indicated that 2,558 beneficiaries were supported in Builsa North District, 6,350 people benefitted in Kassena Nankana, while there were 634 beneficiaries in the Bolgatanga Municipal. According to the Director,1,050 people benefitted under the LEAP in the Talensi District, 8,206 in the Bongo District, 859 beneficiaries in Nabdam and 9,498 in Bawku West whilst in the Garu District 7,250 beneficiaries benefitted and in the Bawku Municipality 445.

He said 3,584 beneficiaries were supported in Buisa South District, 1,862 beneficiaries in Pusiga District and in Binduri District, 3 145 people received LEAP support.



He said his outfit in 2016 increased registration of more vulnerable people due to the high poverty levels in the Region and called for an expansion of the programme to include more vulnerable people in five districts including the Binduri and Builsa North Districts, Kassena Nankana Municpality, and Bolgatanga Municipality.

He called for more complementary services in addition to the free National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) provided the beneficiaries to reduce their financial challenges.



He also called for improved internet connectivity in the districts to enhance payments which were done through mobile money and E-zwich among others. The LEAP programme which was launched in 2008 is a social cash transfer programme adopted by the previous government to provide cash and health insurance to the extremely poor households across the country to alleviate short-term poverty and encourage long-term human capital development.



The programme is currently administered by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and managed by the Department of Social Welfare and is funded by the Government of Ghana and supported by the World Bank and DFID with technical support from UNICEF's Social Protection Unit.







Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A political science lecturer with the University of Ghana is asking the president Nana Akufo-Addo to openly condemn the state of violent takeovers by alleged supporters of the governing party.



Prof. Ransford Gyampo said a public condemnation will send a clear signal to the supporters that the election victory was only a change in government and not an overthrow of government.



He was commenting on the violent attacks on opponents of the NDC and other public institutions across the country.



Shortly after the Electoral Commission declared Nana Akufo-Addo winner of the 2016 election on December 9, 2016, there has been a democratization of violence across the country.



The violence has seen supporters, said to be with the NPP attacking public institutions like NADMO, Youth Employment Agency, NHIS offices across the country.



The supporters claim those offices have been filled with supporters of the NDC and they want them out.



There have also been attacks on public toilets, toll booths, all across the country with the assailants seeking to take over the running of those installations.



There have been injuries and damages to properties, a sad repeat of what happened in 2008 when the NPP lost power to the NDC.



There have been some arrests by the police and in some of the cases.



What has been missing however is a comment from the president, who was eloquent in his criticisms of government in the face of the violent attacks on his supporters by the then ruling government. Speaking at a pre election peace treaty the then candidate Akufo-Addo condemned the attacks as well the president for their loud silence and failure by the police to arrest the perpetrators.



Several days after been sworn in, the president has remained quiet even though reports of the attacks have gone from bad to worse.



A woman was battered by an assailant who wants to takeover the management of the public toilet. She lost two of her teeth as a result.



Speaking to Joy News on the matter Prof Gyampo said the attacks are signs of the winner takes all syndrome in Ghana's politics.



He said party supporters misinterpret the formula of winner takes all as a license to takeover any time their party wins power.



Prof Gyampo said such attacks destroy the cohesion of the country and the earlier the president comments on it the better.



He stated it may well be that some opponents of the NPP will indulge in such violent attacks just to make the government look good and the president must condemn such attacks in no uncertain terms.





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.

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His Majesty King Mohammed VI, of the Kingdom of Morocco, has postponed his scheduled visit to Ghana. King Mohammed VI was expected to begin an official visit to Ghana today.



The visit which has been postponed was aimed at deepening the existing, cordial relations between Ghana and Morocco, as well as present an opportunity to define new areas of co-operation that would serve the mutual interests of the two countries.



President Akufo-Addo was expected to hold bilateral talks with King Mohammed VI, before hosting him to an official lunch at the Presidency on Friday, January 20, 2017.



Director of Communications at Flagstaff House, Mr. Eugene Arhin noted in a release copied to Peacefmonline.com. that a new date for the King's visit will be communicated in due course.



Statement Below...



STATEMENT ON THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE VISIT TO GHANA OF KING MOHAMMED VI



Unfortunately, His Majesty the King, Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, has had to postpone his scheduled visit to Ghana. A new date for the visit will be communicated in due course.



Eugene Arhin



Ag. Director of Communications.





Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Electoral Officers who participated in last years elections are yet to receive their allowances from the Electoral Commission of Ghana.



The Ministry of Finance has been blamed for the delay in payment and the Communications Director of the EC, Eric Dzakpasu has made it public that the commission could only account for 80,000 cedis released by the Finance Ministry.



It is on this note that the Member of Parliament for Kade constituency, Hon. Ofosu Asamoah has asked officers who took active part in last years election to be patient with the new NPP administration as they look for ways to rectify the problem.



Speaking on ATVs political talk show dubbed Asem Yi Di Ka, the legislator pointed out that even if the minister-designate for Finance takes over office after vetting, he has to be given ample time to ensure payment is made to electoral officers who havent been paid.



According to him, parliament would have to give Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta the green light to operate as Finance Minister and his early days in office wouldnt offer him the opportunity to solve all of Ghanas financial woes.





Source: ATV









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Non-political pressure group called Krachi Youth Association has expressed its unflinching and unshakable support to President Nana Akufo-Addos agenda to create a new region for the people living in northern Volta out of Volta region.



According to Krachi Youth Association, the move by President Akufo-Addo is in the right direction as it addresses the request made to the various former presidents in the fourth republican administration but all failed to fulfil it.



In a press statement copied to Peacefmonline.com, the association says it is exciting to hear that the current president, Nana Akufo-Addo who promised to create the new region while in opposition is about to make it a reality.



We know but have been silent as a people from the northern Volta that the request was not fulfilled under our former presidents because of some faceless forces in the southern Volta who are predominantly Ewes deliberately kicked against the creation of the new region.



We therefore see it as a bold and honest step by President Akufo Addo to meet the long awaited aspirations of the good people of northern Volta. We urge His Excellency the President to go ahead with his agenda to create the additional regions without bowing to any potential political interference and influences by the said faceless forces.



In the assessment of the association, the new region if created will bring real development and progress to the doorsteps of the people in Krachi East, Krachi West, Krachi Nchumburu, Buem, Jasikan, Biakoye, Nkwanta North and South districts in the northern part of Volta.



Adding that the people in the northern Volta are bereft of development and equitable distribution of regional resources as this kind of situation has been ongoing under this current regional administration for many years.



Explaining the reason for coming out with this press statement, the association stated that a certain Concerned Youth of Volta Region has kicked against the creation of the new region; believing that it is the machination of those faceless forces from the Southern Volta.



We hereby cease the opportunity to urge Ghanaians to disregard and treat with contempt the petition of the so called 'Concerned Youth of Volta Region ' who are kicking against the creation of the new region. In fact, their entire publication was infantile, myopic, schizophrenic, psychotic, pathologically and factually inaccurate. Their claims lacked integrity.



Below is the list of issues Krachi Youth Association disagrees with Concerned Youth of Volta Region:



Their petition is not and cannot be made on behalf of the entire people of Volta region.



All people from Volta region do not share or trace their historical and ancestral background from the same source and that we all have a different history and even among the South and North Ewes.



The people of Volta North are predominantly Akans and Guans and not Ewes.



The respected Torgbe Sri III and Torgbe Afede do not represent the Chiefs and people of the entire Volta region unlike the Asantehene who is the King of all Ashantis in the country. This comparison cannot hold water.



The government of Nana Akufo Addo is rather one of BOLDNESS and not cowardice as they claimed which is to realize the aspirations of a marginalized hard working people of northern Volta.



The creation of the region will rather bring real and meaningful development to our side of Volta and bring to a halt the perpetual situation where major projects were only concentrated in the southern part of the Volta region dominated by Ewes.



That there's nothing like Father and son in the Volta region. The people in northern Volta are not sons neither are we fathers to the southern Volta. We also do not see any political agenda to weaken the stronghold of any political part.



We shall continue to live together as brothers and sisters of different regions if the new region is eventually created.



In furtherance of the above disagreements against the petition of the concerned group, we wish to advise all unscrupulous personalities and organizations who are kicking against this Great move by President Akufo Addo to put a stop to it. We call on all of such people to support the process to take off smoothly.



In conclusion, we thank the President for his vision for the people of northern Volta and wish him God's blessings to succeed.



Long live Ghana

Long live Krachi Youth Association.



Signed:

Mr. Prosper Alleko

(Chairman) 0244753734

Barnabas Kwame Yeboah

(PRO) 0208270982

Daniel Lordson.

(Secretary) 0242017171.

Thank you.

Cc: Executive secretary to the President

Chief of Staff

Minister designate for Regional reorganization

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/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.

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Chances are youve heard of, or read about, the Slender Man-inspired stabbing of a 12-year-old girl by two friends who were allegedly hoping to win the approval of the shadowy figure thats become the stuff of urban legend.









Payton Leutner is that girl, and her family is happy to report shes thriving despite the horrific attack that saw her lured into woods near her home in Waukesha, Wisconsin in May 2014 and stabbed 19 times by Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, also just 12 at the time.

The now 14-year-old is taking AP classes (college-level classes) at high school and joined her French club on a trip to Canada, as well as enjoying time with family and new friends.

Theres some normalcy, after this horrific premeditated crime, and were just very proud of her, said a family spokesperson.

Its been almost two years since Leutner was lured to woodlands by her two friends  just a day after celebrating Geysers twelfth birthday with a sleepover  and viciously stabbed in the chest, abdomen and arms.

Doctors later said that a knife allegedly carried by Geyser passed less than 1mm from a major artery, leaving Leutner the width of a human hair away from death.

She was left to bleed out but managed to crawl to a bike bath on the edge of the woods and was found by a passerby.

Geyser and Weier are set to be tried as adults, meaning they could receive life sentences if found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, to which theyve entered pleas of insanity.

Appearing on Good Morning America this week, Weiers parents said their daughter genuinely believed Slender Man  whos terrified and fascinated the Internet in equal measure since the meme was born in 09  and wanted to prove it by attacking Leutner.

They thoroughly believed that Slender Man was real and they wanted to prove that he was real, said mum Kristi.

Despite trying hard to move on with her life after the horrific crime, Leutners family has said she finds the prospect of giving evidence at each of the girls trials understandably very difficult.

The update on her progress comes a week before the release of HBOs hugely-hyped doco Beware the Slenderman, which details Geyser and Weiers alleged five month plan to murder their friend.

Both their families agreed to participate in filming, while Leutners declined so she could continue her recovery in private.

If you havent already sussed it, heres the trailer.



Source: WCVB.

Photo: Supplied.
More than 52 people are dead and another 120 reportedly injured after a Nigerian military jet mistakenly bombed a refugee camp in the northeastern part of the country.

The tragic accident occurred in the town of Rann, near the border with Cameroon, hitting a camp for displaced people fleeing the ongoing conflict in Nigerias north east.

Regional military commander Major General Lucky Irabor said he had ordered the mistaken attack based on intelligence that Boko Haram fighters were in the region. Its believed to be the first time the Nigerian military has admitted an error.

Six Nigerian Red Cross staff and volunteers are among the dead, while another 13 were wounded.

We are profoundly saddened with the news of casualties among the Red Cross staff and volunteers in Rann. Our thoughts are with the families of the dead and wounded Red Cross colleagues, the Nigerian Red Cross Society said in a Facebook post.

Medecins Sans Frontieres Director of Operations Dr Jean-Clement Cabrol condemned the attacks.

This large-scale attack on vulnerable people who have already fled extreme violence is shocking and unacceptable, he said in a statement. The safety of civilians must be respected. We are urgently calling on all parties to ensure the facilitation of medical evacuations by air or road for survivors who are in need of emergency care.



A spokesperson for Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari said the administration expressed deep sadness at this regrettable operational mistake.

I received with regret news that the Air Force,working to mop up BH insurgents, accidentally bombed a civilian community in Rann,Borno State  Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) January 17, 2017

I sympathize with the families of the dead, and with the injured, and the Government and people of Borno State.  Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) January 17, 2017

The Federal Government will fully support the Borno State Government in dealing with the situation and attending to the victims.  Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) January 17, 2017

General Irabor said there would be an investigation into the incident.

Last month, the UN launched a $1 billion (AU$1.3 billion) appeal for those facing hunger and starvation in the region.

It said that nearly 5.1 million people in three north-eastern states were expected to face serious food shortages for the third year in a row, as farmers were unable to plant crops for fear of unexploded devices left behind by militants.

Photos: Medecins Sans Frontieres.
Hey, how are your arteries? Feelin a lil deflated?

Well, if youre a Sydneysider, then youre in luck: another In-N-Out burger pop-up is happening in Darlinghurst. Literally right bleedin now.

We called up Lil Darlin, who confirmed that yes  theyre hosting an In-N-Out pop-up as we speak, and the range of In-N-Out burgers will be available for your gluttonous consumption. And from the incredibly loud noise on the other end of the phone, it sounds like theyre preeeeeetty busy.

Reportedly, theyll be around $5 each  plus theres plenty of merch. This info comes from the owner of burger bar Guilty and one of Australias prominent burger experts (true story) Jimmy from Jimmys Burgers:

The pop-up is happening from RIGHT NOW until 4pm today. And you know how them lines get, so be prepared for that. This was the In-N-Out pop-up from this time last year:

People have been lining up for #InNOutBurger Sydney since 6am. Look at that line: pic.twitter.com/9POM3QH7ui  Time Out Sydney (@SydneyTimeOut) January 20, 2016

PREPARE YOSELF. THERE IS A HEATWAVE GOIN ON, PEOPLE.

Head to Lil Darlin to grab your very own In-N-Out burg: 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst.





(P.S: We hit up the In-N-Out pop-up earlier today and covered the sweaty mayhem on our Instagram Story if you wanna cop the vibe.)





Source: Supplied / Jimmys Burgers.

Photo: In-N-Out.
While its getting increasingly hard to keep up with all the Centrelink news, by now youre probably at least aware of the broader, automated debt recovery fiasco.

Namely, that the system was designed to inaccurately extrapolate data and put the burden of proof on recipients, not the agency, that they didnt owe whatever figure was conjured up. Theres also the governments deeply shitty response to these facts, and that, somehow, theyve seen fit to extend the program to pensioners and disabled people.

Theres also the fact that stories of Centrelink fucking over recipients are becoming frighteningly easy to come by, to the point where its demonstrably affecting already at-risk peoples mental health because obviously.

After spending 6 weeks disputing my $3400 Centrelink debt, Centrelink has now admitted I owe them $0.00. What a waste of my life. #notmydebt  Alicia Ames (@aliciaferries) January 17, 2017

Now, on top of the media backlash, public outrage, leaks from within the department and even plans for a Senate inquiry into the mess, activists are fighting back.

Groups protested in both Tudges electoral office in Wantirna South and Redfern today, where Rebecca Harrison took out her letter and lit that mutha up.

Bec, 28, burns her letter from Centrelink in Redfern: pic.twitter.com/2tSgvV6UaP  Lane Sainty (@lanesainty) January 18, 2017

Speaking as someone whod received a debt letter herself, Harrison argued that Tudge is living in a fantasy world if he believed any of his extremely tone-deaf claims, namely that he hadnt heard of anyone being contacted without owing anything (check out that first tweet above, Al) and problems could be solved with a quick nip into Centrelink:

No one can walk into a Centrelink office and sort out an incorrect debt, in ten minutes or ten hours.

This automated debt recovery system is causing havoc in my life, and the lives of many other people. The debt letters are often wrong, meaning that thousands are being forced to scramble to chase up payslips from years ago. This creates anxiety and fear amongst ordinary people who have done nothing wrong, and who are simply claiming welfare payments they are perfectly entitled to. We deserve to be treated like human beings, not as statistics in some computer system. This is a government policy designed to extort money from the poorest in society, while MPs like Alan Tudge and Sussan Ley claim millions in entitlements and the largest corporations get away with paying nothing. We need more than an investigation or a suspension of the Centrelink debt recovery program. It clearly has systemic problems which cannot be fixed by making minor modifications. More and more welfare claimants will continue to be hit with false debts unless this automated debt program is abolished altogether.

The Wantirna South demonstrators also occupied Tudges electoral office, where they hoped to give him a taste of what its like dealing with Centrelink.

Amazingly, this included mock hold music and a debt letter for the $300 million the government has taken from welfare recipients through the (clearly faulty) recovery system since the start of the financial year.

Welfare claimants protest inside Alan Tudges MP office https://t.co/95SlilgxuR  Kieran Bennett (@KieranBennett) January 18, 2017

Hold music inc. msg: At Centrelink were paranoid that youre stealing from us. We cant really prove it, so were going to steal from you  Christopher Knaus (@knausc) January 18, 2017

Unfortunately, but also appropriately, Tudge was unavailable to take the letter as he was on holiday.

Still, if the tweets are anything to go by it looks like it was a heck of day.

Alan Tudge, Sussan Ley, fuck this debt! We wont pay! Students chant outside Redfern Centrelink. pic.twitter.com/9whkkCS703  Lane Sainty (@lanesainty) January 18, 2017

The next #NotMyDebt protest is scheduled for January 31st, 12:30pm, outside Melbournes State Library. See ya there, comrades.

Source: Twitter.

Photo: Twitter / Matthew Karstunen.
As one of his final acts in office, President Barack Obama has largely commuted the remaining prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former army intelligence officer convicted of leaking information to Wikileaks back in 2010.

Manning has been in prison for nearly seven years, and was originally scheduled for release in 2045. She has faced an uncertain future as a transgender prisoner in a male military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Under the terms of Obamas commutation, she will be released on May 17 this year.

The files leaked by Maning included military incident logs from Iraq and Afghanistan which exposed abuses of military detainees and civilian deaths beyond what were being reported, as well as 250,000 diplomatic cables from American embassies around the world.

The Manning case has been a point of contention for the Obama administration  and evidence of a continuing harsh focus on national security during the presidents tenure. Progressive activists have pointed to Mannings continued incarceration, difficulty in obtaining proper care, and multiple suicide attempts as a particular dark spot on Obamas legacy.

In her application for commutation, Manning admitted guilt, but argued that the harshness of her sentence did not match the severity of the impact of the leak, saying that it was extreme and had no historical precedent.

I take full and complete responsibility for my decision to disclose these materials to the public. I have never made any excuses for what I did. I pleaded guilty without the protection of a plea agreement because I believed the military justice system would understand my motivation for the disclosure and sentence me fairly. I was wrong.

This is interesting for another reason  a tweet from the official Wikileaks account said Julian Assange would agree to be extradited to the United States if Mannings sentence was commuted.

If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case https://t.co/MZU30SlfGK  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 12, 2017

Well keep you posted.

Source:
* Belgium's 6 bln euro 10-year bond sale pushes up yields

* Italy set to price 6 bln euro 15-year bond

* Euro zone periphery govt bond yields http://tmsnrt.rs/2ii2Bqr (Updates prices for close)

By Abhinav Ramnarayan

LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Euro zone bond yields rose on Wednesday, a day after Belgium sold a record 6 billion euros worth of 10-year bonds and Italy was set to price the same amount of 15-year paper.

Investors tend to sell outstanding euro zone government bonds to make space for new supply, pushing yields higher. Some easing of Brexit-related concerns added impetus to the move.

"The size of the Belgium deal shows how the governments themselves view the way in which rates are going to go upwards in the future," said DZ Bank strategist Daniel Lenz. "Therefore it is reasonable now to come up with large issuance sizes."

The sale was Belgium's largest via syndication, in which banks distribute bonds on behalf of the borrower to a range of investors.

Italy was also on course to sell 6 billion euros of a 15-year bond, having received more than 23 billion euros worth of demand.

This is even higher than the demand Belgium generated and is particularly encouraging for Italy, given that it lost its sole Single A rating last Friday after being downgraded by Canadian ratings agency DBRS.

Euro zone bond yields rose 3-4 basis points across the board on Wednesday, with Germany's 10-year bond, the benchmark for the region, up 3 bps at 0.27 percent. Italian 10-year yields were up 2 bps to 1.92 percent.

The market calmed on Tuesday after UK Prime Minister Theresa May took the edge off Brexit-related jitters by saying the terms of Britain's divorce from the European Union would be put to a parliamentary vote.

Euro zone yields had fallen sharply in the run-up to May's speech when it became apparent she would signal a "hard Brexit" that will take Britain out of the EU single market, but they came off lows after her comments.

Supply has also been partly responsible for easing some of the pressure on short-dated bonds, which faced a severe squeeze at the end of 2016 due to a shortage of collateral.

Story continues

Yields on Germany's two-year bonds, or Schatz, rose 2 bps to minus 0.72 percent on Wednesday, well off their December 2016 record low of minus 0.836 percent.

"The short-end yields are moving to the upside as we expected as some of the ECB (stimulus) measures kick in, and also with some recent supply," said Lenz.

The German Finance Agency, the federal government's debt management office, sold 4.029 billion euros in a top-up of its 0.00 percent, 2-year notes, the Bundesbank said on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Abhinav Ramnarayan; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Dark, troubled times in Melbourne are coming, dear friends. A day we thought wed not see for generations has arrived without warning, catching us all very much unawares, and staggeringly unprepared.

Though liberals and progressives have been bleating about it for decades now, largely written off as conspiracy theorists, nutcases, and cucks by those of us smart enough to see through all that bullshit, it would appear that *sigh* they were right.

Despite all warning signs, we foolishly laughed it off, and now we, and our children, are left to deal with this terrifying new threat:

Melbournes trams have gone rogue.

Largely subjugated by man for decades, trams were confined to set paths: all straight ahead, never deviating from their tracks. But on Monday, all that changed when a fully laden 96 tram, without prompting from its driver, shockingly turned left.

Like four angry rhinos on a very large skateboard, the tram crossed the precipice at Parliament Station and, rather than continue down its enslaved path of Nicholson St, it decided to veer onto the left path and head down Victoria Parade, presumably towards freedom.

The incident, which a Fairfax Media report states occurred at 1pm on Monday, sparked a flurry of panic and fear amongst the passengers. Everybody just went wow. . . whats going on? one passenger remarked cooly, almost as if there wasnt a Myki reader being jabbed menacingly into their spine.

The driver managed to wrangle the errant tram on Swanston St, shunting the savage beast back into subservience some 10 minutes later.

But one thing is for certain, where one tram was so bold as to buck the shackles of man, surely others will follow.

Its almost certain that more will try to push their luck on the network and see what they can achieve. Theyre testing the system for weaknesses systematically. Theyre learning.

Yarra Trams has stated that theyre investigating how exactly the mostly-automated tram system managed to bork up so badly as to send an E-Class tram hurtling around a corner usually only used by the rickety old City Circle trams. And anecdotal evidence suggests all on board were pretty amused about the unexpected tour of the CBD.

But a more sensationalist view of things asserts that its now only a matter of time before well have to start running Voight-Kampff tests on all new trams to determine whether they will fall in, and follow, their lines.

Tram inspectors will become regulators, runners if you will, charged with keeping a watchful eye on the machine network as the rogue numbers continue to grow. The great tram uprising culminating in a moment where one, in the throes of realising its own imminent mortality, saves a runners life; musing about how its seen things us humans would never believe; a late-night load of drunks all touching on and touching off; E-Class trams glittering in the dark near Southern Cross Station

All those moments will be lost in the timetable, like trams in rain.

Time to die.

Source: The Age.

Photo: Inga Rasmussen/Getty.
Have you not heard? It was our understanding that everyone, by now, had heard.

In-N-Out Burger has popped up in Sydney again today. As in, the delicious, blessed, highly-sought after west coast USA meat sangas are being slung up by grill heroes right sodding now, over at Lil Darlin in Darlinghurst.

If youre keen to wrap your mouth around one we suggest running, not walking, over there to put your butt in line.

Assuming, yknow, youve got the time to do it or even the entire day off, which is the ideal. Those of us chained to desks all day are largely doomed to go wanting, staring out wistfully into the afternoon at all the joyous full-of-burg people who get to relish in it.

Except, of course, the small percentage of us resourceful enough to actually do something about it. Some intrepid so-and-sos are beating the system by putting up Airtasker ads to get the precious hamburgers delivered by people willing to stand in line for them.

At least one ad from a clearly starving person in Mascot was offering anyone a whopping $50 to go fetch the food and bring it to them. An offer which, shock-horror, didnt take terribly long to be snapped up.

Its worth noting that Airtasker themselves has a history of leaping all over the mythical In-N-Out pop-ups, with the company itself suggesting people take out ads during the 2016 event which happened almost exactly one year ago.

But hey, the burger life is a serious life.

And if youre currently standing in line, it might be very worth your while to flick on over and see whats going on, because $50? My godd. A burger AND a pineapple. Thats a solid days work, right there.

(P.S: We hit up the In-N-Out pop-up earlier today and covered the sweaty mayhem on our Instagram Story if you wanna cop the vibe.)

Source: Airtasker.
A petition calling on the Queensland government to commit to another referendum on daylight saving has attracted more than 10,000 signatures in under two days.

Thousands of Queenslanders are showing their support for finally bringing the state into chronological line with the rest of the East Coast, signing a parliamentary petition started by Brisbanes Deputy Lord Mayor Adrian Shrinner (pictured below).

Even Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has voiced her personal preference for the system, while simultaneously doing her best to dash everyones hopes of at least a corner of sensibly-time-zoned Queensland.

We will not be dividing Queensland in two over the issue of daylight saving, she told the press on Tuesday. Queensland is a very, very large state and whilst the people in the south-east would like it, I know a lot of people across regional Queensland would oppose it.

To which the people of the south-east say: BOO, GIVE US IT ANYWAY.

The petition, which you can read / sign here, draws attention to the fact that the last (unsuccessful) referendum was held a whole 25 years ago, and suggests that we deserve another shot at fulfilling our dreams of long evening barbecues, getting to watch the telly at the same time as those fat cats in Melbourne, and being able to stay out until 4am without the sun coming up all of a sudden to illuminate our many terrible decisions.

Daylight saving opponents raise admittedly good points about it messing with the lives of those in the states far north  what with their year-round 12 hour days, those lucky equatorial bastards  but just think of the difference those extra hours of post-work day drinking could make to Queenslands happiness index!

Despite the ever-upwards ticking of the petitions signature count, politicians from both sides of the aisle are doing their best to calm our clamouring for those sweet evening rays, with Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls calling the whole thing a distraction. Sorry, Tim, the mob has spoken!

Source: Brisbane Times.

Image: YouTube / Dont Hug Me Im Scared.
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A burn barrel, which was found to contain human remains belonging to a murdered Calgary couple and their five-year-old grandson is seen on a property where the accused, Douglas Garland, lived in Airdrie, Alta., in this July, 2014, police handout image. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Calgary Police Service, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
A soldier and police stand guard outside at a private school in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2016. A 15-year-old student opened fire with a gun at the school, hitting a teacher and two other students in the head before killing himself. (AP Photo/Emilio Vazquez)
FILE - In this undated file photo provided by the U.S. Army, Pfc. Chelsea Manning poses for a photo wearing a wig and lipstick. Manning, the transgender soldier convicted in 2013 of illegally disclosing classified government information, will remain on active duty in a special status after her scheduled release from prison Wednesday, May 17, 2017. (U.S. Army via AP, File)
SAO PAULO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Fire was reported on Wednesday at the Reduc refinery in the state of Rio de Janeiro controlled by Brazil's state-run oil firm Petrobras, with impact on production, a local oil workers union said.

Flames had reached one of the three distillation units at Reduc, located in Duque de Caxias, in Rio's metropolitan area, the union said. There were no reports of injuries or immediate comments from Petrobras.

(Reporting by Marta Nogueira; Writing by Marcelo Teixeira)
Boyne City Middle School to host viewing of new Rambler Fieldhouse

From 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Boyne City Public Schools will welcome students and community members to an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new facility.
(Adds quotes)

By Ritvik Carvalho

LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The first China-to-Britain freight train arrived in London on Wednesday after a 7,500-mile journey, marking a milestone in China's push to build commercial links across Europe and Asia.

The train pulled in to Barking, east London after an 18-day journey from Yiwu, a wholesale market town in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang.

It had passed through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France, finally crossing under the English Channel into Britain.

The consignment would have taken nearly twice as long to reach Britain by sea.

The train brought in a cargo of small commodities including household items, clothes, fabrics, bags, and suitcases.

Run by Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment, the Yiwu-London freight service makes London the 15th European city to have a direct rail link with China after the 2013 unveiling of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative by Chinese premier Xi Jinping.

Carsten Pottharst, managing director of Switzerland-based InterRail Group, the train's operator, said he hoped there would be more such runs between China and Britain.

"This moment was important to show that we can run the train in less than 18 days to the UK," he said. "It depends also on how much cargo we can get from the UK to China - if we can manage to get more trains eastbound, then there could be more."

Oscar Lin, general manager at OTT Logistics, the local UK booking office for the train, said there had been good interest in the service.

"This is the first train for a test - we want to know what's the reaction of the UK market," he said. "But we've already received a lot of enquiries ... 50 or 60 in just two weeks, without any marketing."

Prime Minister Theresa May has said the relationship with China remains "golden" as she seeks to bring in billions of dollars in Chinese investment as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.

(Editing by Stephen Addison)
US, Cuba, Mexico to sign 'Doughnut Hole' deal in Gulf waters





The accord will cover the Eastern Gap of the Gulf of Mexico , an area believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits.

MEXICO CITY

Petroleumworld.com 01 18 2017

The United States, Mexico and Cuba aim to sign an agreement determining territorial water limits before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, three diplomatic officials familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

The accord will cover the Eastern Gap of the Gulf of Mexico, an area believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits. The three countries' overlapping claims in the Eastern Gap had created what is known as a "Doughnut Hole".

Trilateral discussions begun in mid-2016 on the maritime territorial issue were concluded by the end of the year.

One of the three officials, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the deal could be signed on Wednesday.

Cuba and the United States last week sealed an agreement to jointly prevent, contain and clean up oil and other toxic spills in the Gulf of Mexico, as the two sides seek to conclude deals that will make it harder for Trump to reverse a thaw in relations begun two years ago.

Trump has threatened to put an end to the fragile detente unless Havana makes more concessions.

International law gives countries the right to any resources found in the sea within 200 miles of their territory. But when the areas overlap, as they do in the case of the Eastern Gap, countries first must reach an agreement to develop them.

Mexico already has a cross-border agreement with the United States on developing potential oil and gas resources in the Gulf of Mexico, but not with Cuba.






With Exxon Mobil major discovery, Guyana is poised to become a top oil player



Exxon Mobil



Drill Shipp Stena Carron off the shore of Guyana. Experts are estimating there are billions of barrels of oil mixed with natural gas in the region.

HOUSTON

Petroleumworld.com 01 18 2017

Guyana, the tiny English-speaking South American country, is poised to become the next big oil producer in the Western Hemisphere, attracting the attention and investment dollars of some of the biggest oil companies in the world.

This week, Exxon Mobil and Hess announced the successful drilling of a deepwater exploration well that may soon confirm that the seafloor beneath Guyana's coastal waters contains one of the richest oil and natural gas discoveries in decades. Experts now estimate that one of its offshore fields alone, known as Liza, could contain 1.4 billion barrels of oil mixed with natural gas, comparable to some of the larger fields drilled in South America.

With a population of fewer than one million people, Guyana  Venezuela's eastern neighbor on the continent's north coast  would be able to export nearly all of the oil that it will begin producing, probably starting around 2020.

The company announcements came only days after the Guyanese government announced its intention to build a $500 million petroleum processing and service center on Crab Island, an enormous investment for one of the poorest countries in the region.

Early rough estimates by experts of how much recoverable oil Guyana could have range to more than four billion barrels, which at today's prices would be worth more than $200 billion. But the country, which currently produces precious little energy, sorely needs pipelines and other support infrastructure to begin a major production and export effort.

It's not often that a country goes from 0 to 60 so fast like this, said Matt Blomerth, head of Latin American Upstream Research for Wood Mackenzie, a consultancy firm. Industry excitement over Guyana was stirred by a widely distributed report on Friday by the firm that said, Guyana is rapidly joining the ranks of serious oil and gas players.

The discovery is one more indication that South America is becoming a critical supplier to world oil markets. Brazil and Colombia are already major producers, and Argentina took a big step in the same direction on Tuesday when Chevron and several other international oil companies pledged to invest at least $5 billion this year and billions more in the years to come in the shale field in Patagonia known as Vaca Muerta, or Dead Cow.

Neither Exxon Mobil nor Hess would estimate how much oil was found in a field called Payara, a few miles away from the well drilled by Exxon Mobil in the Liza field. More tests are to be done.

The Payara field is part of a block of 6.6 million acres that Exxon Mobil is exploring with Hess Guyana Exploration and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana, a Chinese-owned company.

This important discovery further establishes the area as a significant exploration province, Steve Greenlee, president of Exxon Mobil Exploration Company, said in a statement. John B. Hess, Hess's chief executive, said, We believe that the resources recently discovered are significant.

With Exxon Mobil's global fields aging and its new interests in Russia frozen by United States sanctions, the discoveries in Guyana have the potential to add significant reserves to the company's holdings. Rex W. Tillerson , the former Exxon Mobil chief executive, was scheduled to travel to Guyana to meet with its president, David A. Granger, but the trip was canceled when he was nominated to become secretary of state.

But for Hess, which has much smaller reserves than Exxon Mobil, Guyana is a far bigger bet with bigger potential gains.

Hess has announced an aggressive $2.25 billion exploration and production budget for this year, an 18 percent increase from 2016. Of that, roughly $475 million will go to developing the fields in Guyana. Exxon Mobil has not reported what it will invest, but experts estimate the amount will easily surpass $500 million. The company has drilled five exploration wells off Guyana so far, only one of which was dry.

Exxon Mobil officials stressed that the Liza and Payara fields are close to each other but are separate reservoirs and not connected, suggesting there may be more fields in the vast, unexplored areas of Guyana's offshore waters. We are encouraged to find a second field that tells us that Liza was not a one-hit wonder, Alan Jeffers, an Exxon Mobil spokesman, said.

Oil companies have explored only two of roughly 20 potential fields offshore, some of which are in waters claimed by Venezuela . Some analysts have compared Guyana's potential to that of Angola, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries that is the second-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria.

The growing Guyana exploration effort is part of a slow global recovery of the oil industry, which was hobbled by a collapse in oil prices. After rising well above $100 a barrel in recent years, prices fell below $30 a year ago and now stand at just over $50.

Industrywide, exploration and production investments are expected to rise 3 percent this year over depressed 2016 levels, to roughly $450 billion. But with technological improvements and falling production costs in recent years, more oil can be produced at a lower expense.

In recent years, the State Department has been trying to prepare Guyana for its potential oil rush with a program that advises the government on how to draft environmental regulations, financial arrangements and other forms of oversight.

Environmentalists have cautioned that involvement with the Guyana project will create a conflict of interest for Mr. Tillerson should he be confirmed by the Senate. If he is confirmed, Mr. Tillerson has pledged to recuse himself from any decision that might affect Exxon Mobil for one year, and to consult with ethics officers at the State Department after that.

A version of this article appears in print on January 14, 2017, on Page B1 of the New York edition with the headline: With a Major Offshore Discovery, Guyana Is Poised to Become a Top Energy Producer.






Vegan eating has skyrocketed in popularity over the course of recent decades, with more than 1,400 plant-based restaurants opening all across the US. While Philadelphia is historically known for cheesesteaks, countless vegan restaurants now call the city home. This is
There's less internal conflict inside Apple (AAPL)  and that's not necessarily a good thing, according to one former employee.

Bob Burrough, a former Apple engineer, told CNBC that the invention of the iPhone came, in part, out of the chaos of Apple under co-founder Steve Jobs.



"At Apple in 2007, organizationally it was the wild west," Burrough said. "I was hired under a particular manager, but for the first two years worked on projects that had virtually nothing to do with that manager's core responsibility. That's because the organization wasn't the priority, the projects were the priority. It was the exact opposite of 'not my job.' It was 'I'm here to solve whatever problems I can, irrespective of my role, my title, or to whom I report.' It was wild. But it was also very rewarding, because everything you did had maximal impact on the product."



But today, the "dynamic has clearly and distinctly changed," and Apple is much closer to his job at Palm, said Burrough, who most recently founded a 3D printing company called Bilt It.

"Working at Palm, the teams were highly organizational, [hierarchical] and responsibilities were siloed," Burrough said. "There was a clear sense that each person had a clear responsibility, and rarely deviated from it. When you went to someone for help solving a problem 'not my job' was a common response."

Tim Cook, who took over as Apple CEO in 2011, has made the company the richest in the world. Apple has nearly doubled its annual revenue under Cook, from $108.2 billion in 2011 to $215.7 billion in 2016. Cook has also replaced challenging leaders from the Steve Jobs era, such as Scott Forstall, who led the iOS platform used on the iPhone and iPad, but reportedly clashed with Cook and other Apple execs.

But while Apple has pumped out money, it has also faced grumbles that it's been slow to innovate in areas like self-driving cars, TV and video, and the Internet of Things. Despite introducing new products like the Apple Watch, the iPhone still makes up the vast majority of Apple's sales each year.

Story continues

Entrepreneur Steve Blank has likened Cook's leadership to that of Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, who took over from Bill Gates and tripled Microsoft's sales. But under Ballmer, Microsoft missed major opportunities to retain its software dominance as companies like Apple, Google, Facebook and Amazon took the lead on mobile, search, social and cloud.

Burrough said he endorses the comparison between Ballmer and Cook. He went on a tweet storm on Tuesday where he said apple was no longer a "dynamic change-maker."

But not all former Apple employees agree. Tony Fadell, a top-tier Apple engineer who later founded home-automation company Nest and sold it to Google, has said that "there was never a competition" at Apple.

"We, together, were searching for the best solution. Steve asked us to test all the possibilities," Fadell tweeted.

There's still evidence of plenty of competition between engineers at Apple, if not what it once was: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that in the past few years, inside the Mac division "Apple managers have also become more likely to float two or more competing ideas, meaning designers and engineers must work on more than one concept at a time. In the past, managers pushed a more singular vision."

CNBC reached out to Apple for comment.





More From CNBC


Theres a natural human tendency to try to impose order on unfamiliar situations, and for better or worse, we often use frameworks that have worked for us in the past. Military leaders tend to use their past battlefield experiences to guide current decision making, though not always with the best results. Business leaders sometimes assume that strategies that worked in one industry or company will succeed in another -- even though they often dont.

So it may cause a little alarm in the foreign policy community that President-elect Donald Trump appears to be organizing his approach to the United States relations with other countries in a frame familiar to him: the reality television show.

Related: Trump Says His Plan Would Provide Insurance for Everybody

Trump enjoyed a long and successful run as the star of The Apprentice television franchise, in which a group of hopefuls were assembled and, each starting with a clean slate, had to compete to earn Trumps favor.

Compare that set-up to how Trump described his approach to foreign policy in an interview with the new news website Axios this week:

Trump earlier this week unsettled allies overseas by calling NATO obsolete and seeming to put Germany's Angela Merkel and Russias Vladimir Putin on par as possible US allies. Trump told us ALL WORLD LEADERS are on par, with a fresh chance to prove themselves. So, I give everybody an even start; that right now, as far as I'm concerned, everybody's got an even start, he said.

That will, no doubt, come as surprising and unwelcome news to some of the United States closest allies, including the UK, France and the rest of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. These are countries that have time and again sacrificed blood and treasure in places like Afghanistan and Iraq in support of U.S.-led military actions. Asking the countys oldest friends to prove themselves to the incoming president is at best superfluous and at worst egregiously insulting.

Story continues

Related: Trump vs. the Dollar: Why Investors Are Right to Be Nervous

His assessment of the threats facing the U.S. on the global stage was no more encouraging. Ive had a lot of briefings that are very  I don't want to say scary, because I'll solve the problems. But  we have some big enemies out there in this country and we have some very big enemies  very big and, in some cases, strong enemies.

It wasnt the only eyebrow-raising moment in Trumps Axios interview.

The president-elect appeared to backtrack on his statement from earlier in the week that his aim in creating a replacement for the Affordable Care Act would be to provide insurance for everybody. Though he has said that his plan is nearly complete and will be released to the public soon, the best he offered was, You know there are many people talking about many forms of health care where people with no money aren't covered. We can't have that, he said.

He also appeared to reverse course on his previous statement that a border-adjusted tax was too complicated and shouldnt be part of an emerging Republican plan to overhaul the federal tax code. His statement had confused GOP lawmakers, who had been told by Trumps advisers that the president was in favor of the plan. In the Axios interview, he said that the border adjustment was back on the table.

Its enough to bring a very different television show to mind: The Twilight Zone.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2017 / Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc. (GRSO) (the Company or "Grow Solutions") a company involved in the development and distribution of high demand products for cultivation, processing, and consumption of legal cannabis, announced today it has entered the final stage of contract talks with a major business group located in Arkansas.

Grow Solutions would provide the Business Group with representation and guidance, managing their pursuit of a license in Arkansas for the growing and selling of medical cannabis. Part of the contract requires that Grow Solutions shall provide all tools, products, and materials needed for the Business Group to set up their cannabis company in Arkansas.

"As some of you may know, Arkansas passed the legalization of cannabis in this past election," stated President, Jeff Beverly. "Grow Solutions will assist the Arkansas Business Group in navigating the upcoming rules and regulations for issuing licenses and procedures associated with the process.

We are traveling to Arkansas this week to finalize the agreement of providing consulting services, growing equipment, and greenhouses. The contract is expected to generate at least $3 million in revenue to Grow Solutions once the license has been approved."

Grow Solutions is currently in the process of completing numerous transactions with existing companies and doing its due diligence on several acquisition targets and greenhouse projects nationwide and will announce further updates as those developments occur.

http://www.growsolutionsinc.com

Grow Solutions Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GrowSolGRSO

Grow Solutions Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/GrowSolGRSO

Grow Solutions Stock Twits page: https://stocktwits.com/growinc

Jeff Beverly's Public Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jeffwbeverly

Jeff Beverly's Public Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/CannaExec

About Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc.

Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc. is a holding company that is publicly traded on the OTCQB market, under the symbol "GRSO". The Company is focused on the development/distribution of high-demand products and services for cultivation, processing, and consumption of cannabis.

Story continues

Safe Harbor for Forward-looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these statements are made to convey to the public the Company's progress, business opportunities, and growth prospects, they are based on managements current beliefs and assumptions as to future events. However, since the Company's operations and business prospects are always subject to risk and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this news release might not occur, and actual results could differ materially from those described, anticipated, or implied. For a more complete discussion of such risks and uncertainties, please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:

Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc.

Jeff Beverly, President

(917) 780-2381

SOURCE: Grow Solutions Holdings, Inc.
At times, it is prudent to retain certain stocks that have enough potential but are weighed down by tough market conditions. Computer Sciences Corporation CSC seems to be one such stock, which investors need to hold on to if they are looking to reap long-term gains. Though the stock faces several headwinds at the moment, these are transitory in nature. There is enough scope for this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company to rebound in the long run. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Further, Computer Sciences stock price history reveals that the company hasnt disappointed in a long time. In fact, over the past one year, shares of Computer Sciences have risen 114.4%, outperforming the Zacks Categorized Computer-Services industry, which has showcased an increase of just 38.6%.

Driving Factors



Computer Sciences posted better-than-expected second-quarter of fiscal 2017 results. Also, second quarter revenues improved year over year.



Computer Sciences recent decision to merge itself with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Companys HPE business, which will be spun off from the parent company, is likely to open new avenues of growth. The deal will combine Computer Sciences strength in insurance, healthcare and financial services with Hewlett Packard Enterprises expertise in industries like transportation, pharma, technology, media and telecom.



Post the merger, the combined entity will become the worlds second-largest IT services company and generate revenues of approximately $26 billion. Per the deal, shareholders of each of the companies will own about 50% of the combined company. We believe that the merger with HPEs business will strengthen Computer Sciences capabilities, allowing it to become a leading player in the IT services domain.



Computer Sciences is focusing on the cyber business, cloud computing market and Big Data business. A significant portion of the companys cyber business is contributed by the federal government and, to an extent, the commercial sector. The company mainly focuses on providing backup IT support to federal government departments, and some other companies. Worldwide IT spending is projected to total $3.46 trillion in 2017, a 2.7% increase from $3.38 billion in 2016, as per a recent report from information technology research and advisory firm, Gartner Inc. Computer Sciences is expected to benefit from this growth.



Additionally, the companys traction in the cloud and partnerships with HCL, AT&T T, VMware VMW and Microsoft are expected to drive growth, going forward. This will in turn increase Computer Sciences customer base and help in garnering additional revenues.



Moreover, the stock looks attractive from a valuation perspective. This is because Computer Sciences currently trades at a forward P/E of 22.6x as against the industry group average of 28.7x, which signifies a huge upward potential.



The stocks long-term earnings per share growth rate is 8% and it carries a Value Score of B.



Risks Persist



However, the company will likely face some challenges with regard to the integration of the new businesses and the costs associated with them. Apart from this, increased competition, delay in governments order renewal process and constricted federal spending are the other concerns.



Our Take



We expect the aforementioned factors to help the company sustain its strong momentum and stay afloat even amid difficult times. Hence, we suggest that investors hold on to the stock as the rest is a wait-and-see story.

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



AT&T Inc. (T): Free Stock Analysis Report



Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC): Free Stock Analysis Report



Vmware, Inc. (VMW): Free Stock Analysis Report



Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
U.S. Border Patrol officers found a record-breaking $2 million worth of methamphetamine between Wednesday and Thursday at the border in Presidio, TX, reports the Houston Chronicle.

The first bust occurred at 9 a.m. Wednesday, when a 24-year-old man driving a 1999 Nissan Tsuru attempted to smuggle in 40 pounds of meth. The substance was found tucked into the front and back bumpers of the vehicle.

The next day, Thursday at 8 a.m., a 26-year-old man in a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta was similarly suspicious and was also referred for a more thorough inspection by Border Patrol agents. After a Z-Portal scan of the vehicle showed abnormalities, officers dismantled the dashboard and recovered 21 pounds of crystal meth.

In total, both busts amounted to 61 pounds of crystal meth with an estimated street value of $2 million, "a new crystal methamphetamine seizure record for the port," said Presidio Port of Entry Director Steven Green.
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Bernie Sanders continued to have his way with Donald Trumps cabinet picks on Tuesday, this time confronting Trump education pick Betsy DeVos about the reported $200 million in donations her family has given to Republican candidates.

The Vermont senator cut right to the chase, asking DeVos if she would have even gotten picked by Trump had she not forked over millions in donations to the GOP.

Video:

.@SenSanders to Education pick: Would you be here if your family hasnt donated millions to the Republican Party? https://t.co/pcqU3c7Qpr pic.twitter.com/A2z7kKkGur  The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) January 17, 2017

After pointing out the enormous amount of money DeVos has given to the Republican Party, Sanders asked, Do you think, if you were not a multi-billionaire, if your family has not made hundreds of millions of dollars of contributions to the Republican Party, that you would be sitting here today?

DeVos responded: Senator, as a matter of fact, I do think that there would be that possibility. Ive worked very hard on behalf of parents and children for the last almost 30 years to be a voice for students and to empower parents to make decisions on behalf of their children, primarily low-income children.

Despite her words, DeVos is likely the most anti-public education nominee in the departments history. Shes also an anti-LGBTQ religious extremist who, as the Huffington Post reported yesterday, has said public schools should be used to advance Gods Kingdom.

Directly after her blunt exchange with Sanders, Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch came to DeVos rescue and slammed the Vermont senator, saying, Unlike others here who may be interested in attacking your donations, I know that you want to do right by all children, so I will stick to focusing on how we can work together on sound policy.

In case you were wondering, Sen. Hatch has received thousands in campaign contributions from  drum roll, please  Betsy DeVos and her family.
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With just days until his inauguration, Donald Trump took to Twitter this morning to attack civil rights icon John Lewis who has called Trump illegitimate and promised to boycott the president-elects swearing-in ceremony.

Trumps tweets turned out to be just the beginning of his temper tantrum on Tuesday as he visited his pals at Fox and Friends to escalate his attacks on Lewis.

Video:

How do you forget if you go to an inauguration?He got caught. And its pretty bad & its making him look bad, frankly. -Trump on Lewis pic.twitter.com/i4xasPIyqW  FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 17, 2017

He conveniently doesnt remember, Trump said of Lewis admission that he had forgotten that he did not attend George W. Bushs inauguration. Lewis had initially said Trumps inauguration will be the first hes missed during his time in Congress before clarifying that he did, in fact, miss Bushs in 2001.

Trump continued:

How do you forget if you go to an inauguration? I can tell you when I was at the inaugurations. You dont forget something like that. So he got caught, and its pretty bad. And its making him look bad, frankly. Its a very important time. This is a transition and a very important transition  I think for [Lewis] to have grandstanded  because I think he just grandstanded, John Lewis  and then he got caught in a very bad lie, so lets see what happens. As far as other people not going, thats okay because we need seats so badly.

Not only does Trump  like a child  continue to lash out because an iconic civil rights hero is standing up to him, but his line of attack on Lewis is quite rich.

Keep in mind, Trump  who, again, is attacking Lewis for misremembering the 2001 inauguration  has similar and much more frequent memory lapses when it comes to recalling his whereabouts.

For example, after having repeatedly bragged about meeting and communicating with Russian President Vladimir Putin  the guy who directly helped the president-elect defeat Hillary Clinton last year  Trump suddenly started denying ever having done so once the Russian controversy started bubbling up around him.

Mr. Trump, how do you forget meeting with the Russian president? Most of us would certainly be able to tell you if we ever met the leader of a foreign state.

Ultimately, the president-elect is only making matters worse by continuing to lash out at a civil rights icon like John Lewis. Instead of trying to unite the country and strike a positive tone, Trump continues to dig his hole deeper.

With just days until he is sworn in as the 45th president, Trump should put down the shovel and start acting like a president.
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Donald Trump likes his intelligence briefings short and in bullet form. Super short, one page if its in writing.

Trump said he likes his briefings short, ideally one-page if its in writing. I like bullets or I like as little as possible. I dont need, you know, 200-page reports on something that can be handled on a page. That I can tell you,' Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei reported in Axios, based on an interview with president-elect Donald Trump that took place in Trump Tower on Tuesday.

Noting that Trump seemed unusually subdued after what an a top adviser told them was a bumpy few days inside Trump Tower as he was lowering expectations, they noted that Trump seemed humbled by the security briefings.

Ive had a lot of briefings that are very  I dont want to say scary, because Ill solve the problems, Trump told Axios. But  we have some big enemies out there in this country and we have some very big enemies  very big and, in some cases, strong enemies.

In late November, NBC discovered that that Trump was skipping intel briefings, President-elect Donald Trump has had only two intelligence briefings since he won the election more than two weeks ago, intelligence sources told NBC News on Wednesday  a much lower number than his predecessors had and fewer even than Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

This alarmed Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who in early December said on CBSs Face the Nation (reported by The Hill) that a president needs daily briefings, So that you have an understanding as to  whats happening in the world, what are the crises you have to pay attention to, and what steps do you have to take in order to deal with those crises.

Then in mid December, Trump said he didnt need intelligence briefings because he is a smart person. He said in an interview on Fox News that he only needed an intel briefing once a week, really he only wanted to be bothered if something has changed.

I say, If something should change from this point, immediately call me. Im available on one-minutes notice, the president-elect said on Fox News, reported by Time. I dont have to be toldyou know, Im, like, a smart person. I dont have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day for the next eight years.

Josh Zeitz writing in Politico reminded everyone of that time When Daily Intelligence Briefings Prevented a Nuclear War.

Zietz concluded that the person in the highest office in the land needs to pay attention to detail, to be engaged and armed with sufficient knowledge and context to ask the right questions. It is not a job that can be delegated, he wrote. Trumpwho will be the least-experienced president in modern historyhas surrounded himself by retired generals and foreign policy hawks. Thats his prerogative. But Americans require a commander in chief who is informed, astute and engagedarmed with sufficient knowledge and context to ask the right questions and provide the right pushback. There is no delegating this job to a vice president or senior White House aide. As John Kennedy learned the hard way, only one individual bears responsibility.

There is no way intelligence briefings can be put into bullet form, and no, intelligent people do not require information to be condensed thusly. In fact, the more intelligent a person is the more nuance and complexity their mind can handle. And an intelligence briefing is nothing if not complex.

Donald Trump is known for his short attention span and inability to stay focused. Politico Magazine reported that his lack of preparation has hurt business deals and depositions, according to people who have worked with him.

In the same article in Politico Magazine, saying this doesnt mean Trump isnt smart, but he isnt at his best when asked to dwell on a topic, Trump biographer Michael DAntonio said, I think hes definitely got attention deficit disorder.

Is Trump cunning? No doubt. But we havent seen evidence of the kind of intelligence that can even identify nuance, and this is reinforced by his dismay over the discovery that the intelligence briefings are scary because we have big enemies. Why does he think other politicians dont run around shooting their mouth off with inflammatory rhetoric? Or how about asking why he never investigated why every modern day president who takes office seems humbled and a bit overwhelmed in the beginning. A smart person would have gathered that information before running for office and concluded that, at the very least, there is some heavy business going on.

A bullet point list is not going to cut it and a smart person wouldnt want an intelligence briefing condensed in such a form because the nuance would be lost. The detail that averted a nuclear war could well be lost in a bullet point list.

This is our next President. Wants his intelligence briefings in bullet form condensed to one page if possible, and has just figured out that there is some very serious, scary business to be done in this job.

Intelligence briefings for dummies, 101, please. Cuz thats how to Make America Great Again.
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I have likened Trumps transition to political theater. Pollster Cornell Belcher calls it Trumps big tent carnival foolishness, and that is, I suspect, what we can expect to get for the next four years.

On Apprentice, Donald Trump entertained with his larger-than-life ego. That ego is not as useful in a governing role as on TV but Trump sees the world as a stage. The presidency to Trump, as we see from his behavior as PEOTUS is not about governing but about showcasing.

Trump says he won by an electoral landslide but he won by one of the lowest margins ever, and he lost the popular vote. In another epic twitter rant Tuesday he said the pre-inauguration approval polls are wrong and insisted despite all the evidence to the contrary that he is wildly popular and people are beside themselves with joy.

CNNs Brian Stelter explains the scope of Trumps blanket accusation:

Who are the people hes talking about? Well, CNN/ORC released a poll at 6 a.m. showing a pre-inauguration day approval rating of just 40%. For comparisons sake, President Obama took office in 2009 with an 84% approval rating. President George W. Bush? 61%.



Later in the day, after Trumps tweet, NBC and the WSJ released a poll showing Trump at 44% approval. NBCs press release blast was titled TRUMP TO ENTER OFFICE WITH THE LOWEST-EVER RATINGS FOR AN INCOMING PRESIDENT. Gallup also had Trump at 44% a few days ago

Nate Silver tells us, On average between the five surveys, 41 percent of Americans approve of Trumps transition performance while 52 percent disapprove.

Stelter cites Clinton pollster Stan Greenberg, who said Tuesdays Trump tweet about the polls shows how much he can be baited by bad news  and distracted from governing. Welcome to the NFL.

Most presidents care about the polls. As Stelter says, Approval ratings are a real-time report card. IF the president believes the polls. Trump might not If he does not, if he continues to pretend or sincerely believes they are wrong or biased, will anything at all regulate Trumps behavior?

Of course, Stelters employer, CNN, if not Stelter himself, is responsible for helping Trump in the polls during the election (even providing a pulpit to Trump employee Corey Lewandowski), along with other mainstream media outlets. Individuals like Stelter and Katy Tur, Sopan Deb and others were the exception to the corporate rule.

There is another problem with the media, according to Nate Silver. He explains that the election results actually fell within pollsters margin of error but that the media was careless with its presentation of polling data:

Heres the thing. The loss of trust mostly isnt the pollsters fault. Its the medias fault. Oh, yes, Im going there. The loss of trust in polls was enabled, in large part, by reporting and analysis that incorrectly portrayed the polls as showing an almost-certain Clinton win when in fact they showed a close and highly uncertain Electoral College race, especially after FBI Director James B. Comeys letter to Congress on Oct. 28.

The fact is, as Silver concludes, Theres no doubt that polls took a trust hit during the campaign and that Trump is going to exploit it. Bad enough is a Trump who is not provided with additional ammunition by the mainstream media that collectively and royally screwed the pooch.

Trump is to be blamed for attacking freedom of the press and attempting to criminalize dissent, but the mainstream media is equally guilty of mishandling its responsibilities as the Fourth Estate, which Edmund Burke is reported to have said is the most important of all.

Important does not necessarily mean powerful. Influential yes, as we saw from the elections but as Mother Jones pointed out this summer, threats to the press come from powerful people to whom the cost of company-bankrupting litigation is pocket changeand they are mostly men, are willing to go nuclear, theres very little in the institutions of democracy that can stop them.

So the threat to the brakes the press would normally apply to people like Trump is substantial and those breaks are limited already, even without accounting for the damage the press has done to itself and continues to do in its inability to respond to Donald Trumps provocations.

Next time Trump uses a presser to try to silence legitimate questions from the press, what the press must do is find its metaphorical cojones and withhold questions until that question is answered, or better, not attend at all, until Trump relents.

Trump can ignore everything they say and nobody can prevent him attacking their every utterance, but the press doesnt have to attack Trump to exert its power; it has only to refuse to do his job for him by spreading his lies far and wide.

In other words, the press has only to tell the truth  not the talking points  about what Trump is saying. That will be damage enough to his political theater of horrors.
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There are dozens of protests of Donald Trumps inauguration planned around the country, from New York to D.C. to Los Angeles, California. Basically from sea to shining sea, patriots will be out marching to protest the already deeply disliked president-elect, who is the least popular winner of a presidential election in the last 24 years.

If youre a Donald Trump inaugural protester in need of a sign, PoliticusUSA is here to assist you in your patriotic efforts with your choice of three posters designed by wildly talented graphic design artist Laura Mendoza of Los Angeles based graphic design company La Artista.

Download the PDF here: posters_1

Download the PDF here:

posters_2

Download the PDF here:posters_3

You can either send the PDFs to a print shop to print on foam core or mount to poster board. If printing at home, you can rasterize the poster. They are all size 23W x 18H.

Be safe, speak out, be heard!
Im excited to announce that my Wonderland Two fabric collection with Riley Blake Designs is now hitting stores! If youre looking for a fun new sewing project to start then you may like some of these Wonderland inspired sewing and quilting projects!

Does anyone else have a good case of the January blahs?? We do, and I hate it. We returned from a trip to Utah for Christmas at the end of December, and I was excited to get started on all of my new projects for the new year. I had a whole list of things I wanted to tackle and a few things I wanted to change. Then my husband and I got the flu (or at least I think its the flu) and all of the plans got a bit sidetracked. Luckily the kids did not catch it but it seems to have stolen most of my new years momentum.

This week we had to say goodbye to our beloved Golden Retriever, Lilly. We knew she was aging, and not her old self but we did not expect her to get so sick so fast. My kids we inconsolable the day we lost her, that in turn made my husband and I much more melancholy over her death that we thought we would be. I have a little memory project Im working on for her, Ill share it here when we are done, and talk a little bit more about the whole thing then.

Over the last few weeks, I have MADE myself carve out some sewing time. I think when youre feeling less motivated the only thing that really gets you going is to GET GOING. Which sounds crazy, but it works. Its also not very easy. I noticed that over the past month I had been spending more of my business time on computer related projects (blog programming, social media projects and fabric design) and less time on actually CREATING. After I got sick at the beginning of the year I decided to let myself ease up on some of the computer related projects for a while and concentrate on making things. Its funny how sometimes you have to give yourself permission to do things like that.

I hope that doesnt sound dire. I dont mean it to be. I just think that honesty and transparency are sometimes warranted in this new information age that we all live in.

In December my sample yardage for Wonderland Two showed up! I was so excited to see it in REAL LIFE. Since it arrived very close to Christmas, I didnt get much time to play with it before the Holidays, but have been working to stitch catch up as much as I can the last few weeks.

The line is called Wonderland Two because its a follow up to my first line, Wonderland. This particular line is inspired by an Alice in Wonderland tea party. I didnt want to make Alice in Wonderland fabric, rather fabric that felt like it could be dropped into a scene from the story and blend right in.

It features the white rabbit, flowers (with faces look closely), teapots, cards, crowns & hearts  all of the things youd expect to see at an Alice tea party!

You can see the entire collection by CLICKING HERE and visiting the Riley Blake Website.

Im excited to show you a little bit of what Ive been working on this month, before I chat about the projects, I think we should talk about THAT bunny. Many of you have emailed me asking for a pattern for him (and by many, I mean at least 50 of you). I know you think Im torturing you by showing him without a pattern, but he keeps showing up in photos cause hes just so darn photogenic!

Im happy to announce that I almost have a sewing pattern inspired by him ready to go. Obviously, it wont be exactly like the bunny in the photo because 1) that would be dishonest and 2) I do not possess the skills to sew an exact replica of the little guy (also, funny story, when I was in high school to help me raise money for college, I made and sold stuffed bunnies. How crazy is that? Talk about full circle).

Okay now onto the projects. First up the quilts!

I have a dear friend who after years of struggle is expecting baby girl twins! As a fellow twin mom I knew I had to make her something special (I really hope she does not read this blog, because then I just spoiled the surprise). Also as a twin mom I knew that the quilts could not be exactly the same, but they also could not be drastically different from each other. I toyed with the idea of making one mint and one pink, then in the end decided just to be safe and make them both pink (to help avoid future fights over whos quilt is whos).

Heres the pink version, you can see the white version in the above photos. I made the quilts mirror images of each other, which seemed like an appropriate thing for twins. When I get the tops quilted Ill be sure to share more photos with you.

I finished the quilt tops last week and was just waiting for a sunny day to photograph them. Well, the sunny day never came, and I had to do the best I could with the gray light. So a reshoot is for sure in order when the quilts are finished (and we escape from the constant cloud cover).

The quilts are made from my Turnstile Quilt Block that was shared here as a part of our Block of the Month program. Its just 9 of those blocks sewn together in 3 rows of 3. The quilt measures pretty close to 45 x 45 right now, which I think is a good size for a baby quilt. You can get the free pattern for the block by CLICKING HERE.

I also stitched up another Retro Travel Bag using the gingham from the collection. Im absolutely smitten with gingham lately. Im sure youve noticed. I added a fun monogram to the front of the bag using my BERNINA sewing/embroidery machine. I just figured out how to get the embroidery unit to work last month, and I have to say that Im having a great time monogramming all the things.

This bag is for my daughter. I made it for her right before Christmas and she took it with us to Utah over the Holidays. Funny thing, I didnt put the handles on right the first time (I was just being lazy and left off the reinforcement tabs on the inside) and they popped off in the airport (oops!!). Poor girl had to carry the bag around all day without any handles. As soon as we got home I installed them again, this time properly.

You can find the pattern in my SHOP. Its available in both printed and PDF format. You can also order the printed pattern through Christensen Wholesale and Checker Distributors if you are a shop and want to carry the pattern.

I have many more projects planned to share with you using the Wonderland fabric line, we also have a fun blog tour coming up in February and March. If you are a store and want to use these photos to promote the line you may, just please only use it for promoting the fabric line or patterns. To see all of the projects shared so far using this fabric line just CLICK HERE.
"How is your 2017 going?" Below a riveting version of Damien Hirst's Le caprice (1997-8) and cocktails that plebs had to shell out eighteen dollars for, a band of affable New Zealand weirdos were finishing off their own beers at the Gramercy Park Hotel's Rose Bar. They were Streets of Laredo, a name that brings to mind, among other things, a Johnny Cash song and a novel by the reinventor of the modern Western, Larry McMurtry. But since relocating to Brooklyn and taking on at least one American member, one Seattle-import named Andrew McGovern, Streets of Laredo appear to be after the long-promised penny of the New York rock and roll, opening for The Strokes' Nick Valensi's CRX project last year. How 'Hard to Explain' are these Auckland boys? "Life is short yo, so eat, drink and be merry," Dave Gibson, their drummer, told Vice's Noisey last year.

He was talking about the concept behind "Silly Bones," the money track from last year's Wild, the band's second record on Dine Alone, the label known for putting bands like City and Colour and The Lumineers on the map. On its face, the song appears to be looking toward the direction of the latter, coloring within the lines of a song like "Little Talks," the indie-folk megahit that brought another ragtag band from a ragtag island to our shores and festival circuits. Live and used to close a set, "Silly Bones" turns into a wonky electro-pop frenzy, with main frontman Daniel Gibson turning into a kind of cipher of pure bleeping and breathing energy. It's Iggy Pop with a little less heroin and little more synthy pep.

Sarah Jane Gibson, however, was the star of Tuesday night. Short and dressed in crisp florals, she broke away from the band's carefully ramshackled wardrobe (guitarist, Cameron Deyell, particularly sported some very expensive-looking vintage wear decked with a Bad Brains logo to boot). She carried the conviction of people playing moviestars in the movies, eyes carved like an Icelandic popstar standing in the snow. Given only a few songs to helm last night, I could not help but feel her presence was sorely underutilized. She brought starkly painful grace and impassioned melody to a song like "Laying Low," a low key synth-laden rhapsody that she took, along with the band, to strange heights: breaking away from any mold I could imagine Streets of Laredo filling and turning it into something else entirely, holding the audience of well-dressed people who couldn't care less if Nick Valensi, himself, was in front of them, briefly inside her pale hands as they gripped the microphone, whispering what could have been "Down Under" for all I cared.



Daniel Gibson, brother of Dave the drummer who is married to Sarah Jane, boasted a voice not terribly removed from Colin Hay's sax-fueled world-weary adrenaline rush. Fueling his fire last night was Andrew McGovern's diligent horn-work, played with a dirty stutter that brought to mind the school of indie pop governed by Scott Spillane's work on Neutral Milk Hotel, crowned as classic rock by the Aubrey Plaza generation. While impressive stuff, I remained unsure if it could save Daniel Gibson's impassioned performance of "99.9%," Wild's somewhat misguided lead single. "For all the 99.9 percenters, hope things get a little better," Gibson delivered in a gutty Dylan-parlance last night, complete with eventual references to trains leaving stations. I'm not saying that all bands from New Zealand shouldn't write songs about impassioned American political movements and release them as singles shorty before a hella devise election. Butstill too soon?

And a band like Streets of Lardo, stylized on Dave's drum set like their metrically likeminded aspirations, certainly doesn't need to pander to my politics. Their chords suit them fine.

Get Wild, check out Wild, out on Dine Alone!
Pizza has been a constant in Brian Kesslers life, from the time he got a job in a pizzeria as a teenager until the day he met his wife in a pizza joint. Read moreIggy's Pizza Shop is now open in Mount Pleasant
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 68F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 68F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Do you know of a retail business that is opening, closing or expanding? Reach Warren L. Wise at 843-937-5524 or warrenlancewise@twitter.com.
Watchdog and Public Service reporter

Thad Moore is a reporter on The Post and Couriers Watchdog and Public Service team and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. To share tips securely, reach Moore via ProtonMail at thadmoore@protonmail.com or on Signal at 843-214-6576.
Gene Sapakoff column: There's a gap between Aliyah Boston and the defending national champs and everyone else, but beware of these teams from here to March Madness. Read moreSapakoff: Antonelli on how to upset the Gamecocks, and teams capable
"My husband Paul and I have lived on James Island since 2005. The culinary scene, of course, has changed so much since then." Read moreDaily Digest: James Island resident has pride in her neighborhood
Berkeley County, dating back to 1682, just 12 years after English settlers landed at nearby Charles Towne, is drenched in history, with Revolutionary War battles, a secret weapon developed during the Civil War, a man-made canal connecting two rivers and a lake built during the Great Depression. With much of the county protected in the Francis Marion National Forest, outdoor activites include hikes along the Palmetto Trail, boating and fishing on Lake Moultrie and numerous attractions such as the nature preserve Cypress Gardens, where numerous Hollywood films have been made. The county is now tapping into its assets to boost its tourism industry. Read moreBerkeley taps into battlefields, boating and butterflies to boost budding tourism business
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
Just south of the North Carolina state line is one of Horry Countys last undeveloped stretches of oceanfront property, and everyone should celebrate now that a decades-long effort to keep it that way has finally paid off. And everyone should encourage South Carolinas political leaders and  Read moreEditorial: Waties Island deal a win not only for SC environment but also for taxpayers
Nearly 13 percent of registered voters in South Carolina have already cast ballots for the 2022 general election after the state opened up no excuse early voting to all for the first time. More than 438,000 votes were in as of the end of Thursday, which was the 10th day of early voting, according to statistics from the South Carolina Election Commission. Read more13% in SC have already cast ballots with new early voting
NEW YORK  Trying to stem high turnover in store jobs, nonprofit groups and chains such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot and the Home Shopping Network are launching a program to help people develop the skills to land entry-level jobs and advance in a retail career.

As more people shop online, stores say they need workers who come in with more knowledge and can offer better service. The training and credential program, led by the nonprofit arm of the National Retail Federation trade group, includes sales and inventory basics, dealing with customers, how to use technology like kiosks and more.

"The skill gap is a huge challenge in America broadly," said Ellen Davis, a senior vice president at the trade group and executive director of the NRF Foundation. "Talent is a significant challenge in retail at all levels."

More than 20 major retailers including Neiman Marcus and Ashley Stewart have pledged general support for the Rise Up program being launched Sunday. It's part of a broader credential plan that would help workers move up that may include training for store supervisors and in specific areas like retail analytics.

Thirty-two percent of all first jobs in the U.S. are in retail, the trade group says, and stores overall have more job openings now than they did a few years ago. Rising wages have increased competition for workers as people take better-paying jobs. The average hourly pay for cashiers and low-level retail sales staff is $9.26, according to a recent Hay Group study  a level labor groups say still isn't enough to live on. The retail industry says store jobs can be a starting point toward bigger things.

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In stores, entry-level work isn't just about folding clothes and ringing up sales. Beyond making change, the Rise Up program includes how to balance a cash drawer and checking for counterfeit currency. Employees also need to understand how stores and online sites work together, use up-to-date handhelds to check inventory, and solve customer-service issues.

"It's crisp, clear lessons," said James Rhee, CEO of clothing chain Ashley Stewart, which is among the retailers including HSN Inc. that will give the credential weight in their hiring. "It's not just about buying and selling. It's extremely service-oriented, but it's extremely more quantitative and it's all about the innovation of technology."

The program offers 30 to 40 hours of classroom training or 15 hours of online training, and will be administered through nonprofit groups and public education partners. The overall cost is $50, but many students will be able to get subsidies. The retailers involved are encouraging local nonprofits or high schools to start using it. Some might fund groups in areas where they're having a hard time hiring skilled workers. Some may use it to replace or supplement their own training.

How much of an impact this first industry credential could have remains to be seen. It follows a hodgepodge of certificates backed by government or foundation grants that didn't hold much sway. The NRF Foundation will evaluate the program at six to ten companies later this year to see if participants get jobs faster, stay longer and get raises faster. It'll make changes if necessary after that. Wal-Mart, which has training academies for its own workers, said it won't decide about using the credential in the hiring process until after the study.

Dress for Success, which worked with the NRF Foundation on a pilot program in New York with nine women, has seen most of them find work  including at an online merchant, a discounter and a clothing retailer.

"Our goal is to not just get them a job," said Amy Tashjian, senior director of worldwide programs for Dress for Success, "but to continue to build their confidence and to help them not just get a job but a career."
WINONA  A man accused of driving around railroad crossing bars and speeding down a Winona city street before slamming into a minivan will appear in court Thursday.

Matthew Paul Orlando Wilson, 30, of Winona, was charged in October with two counts of felony criminal vehicular operation and one count of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation. He's been released on his own recognizance.

The charges stem from an incident Dec. 3, 2015, when Winona police were sent to a crash near the intersection of Broadway Street and Vila Street. Officers found a heavily damaged van on its side with three people inside.

Wilson admitted to driving the other vehicle involved, the complaint says. He told police he'd been at the railroad crossing three blocks east of the scene; the crossing arms were down and the lights were flashing, but a train wasn't coming.

Wilson "couldn't wait any longer," he said, drove around the cross bars and other waiting vehicles, heading west on Sixth Street, also known as Broadway. He estimated he was driving about 38 mph when he collided with the van; Wilson allegedly said the crash was his fault and he shouldn't have been speeding.

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Witnesses to the crash said the westbound vehicle was "going 60 to 70 miles per hour," court documents say, one adding, "I've never seen a vehicle going that fast on Broadway."

The driver of the van said she was at the stop sign on Vila Street and "creeped out" into the intersection when the car approached at a high speed. She suffered multiple injuries, including several broken vertebrae.

One of her passengers suffered an open fracture of her left leg; the other sustained chest and leg bruising.

A crash reconstruction report completed by the Minnesota State Patrol indicated Wilson's vehicle was traveling at 67 mph five seconds before the impact, the complaint says, and 56 mph at the time of the impact.
A Rochester man accused of soliciting and exchanging child pornography on Twitter has pleaded guilty in the case.

John Bronson Rosales, 39, was charged in September in Olmsted County District Court with one count of disseminating pornographic work and six counts of possessing pornographic work, all felonies.

He pleaded guilty Tuesday to two of the possession counts; in exchange for the plea, the remaining charges are expected to be dismissed during his sentencing, which is set for March 6.

The investigation began in December, when Twitter officials reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an account appeared to contain child porn, passing along the user ID, the phone number used to tweet or upload the files, an activity log and Internet provider address.

The NCMEC passed the tip on to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which determined the account user had uploaded at least 218 images of young females, many naked or wearing only underwear, the complaint says.

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Twitter later provided the BCA with a log of Twitter "chat" between the account user and other users, asking for more photos and saying he liked "the young ones," followed by a smiley-face emoticon, court documents say.

The majority of the account log-ins were conducted with an IP address allegedly registered to Rosales' name and home address. The phone number used to access the Twitter account was also registered to Rosales' name and address, the reports say.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home in June; Rosales was interviewed at his job, where he initially said the only pornography he'd received was unsolicited and unintentional. Later, he allegedly admitted to "following" a Twitter group that shared child porn and had re-tweeted images he'd received.

A forensic analysis of Rosales' cellphone revealed an instant messaging conversation with someone using the name "Forbi Dden." In it, Rosales was asked for images of young females he knew, the criminal complaint says; he responded by saying he'd try to take photos of them playing in the sprinklers.

Rosales allegedly asked for child porn from "Forbi Dden," who responded by sending six sexually graphic photos of young girls between the ages of 4 and 10.

The possession charges are punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.
BERLIN, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Wednesday that Britain had finally made clear how it planned to pursue its exit from the European Union and he was sure a deal could be reached between the two sides.

A speech delivered by British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday "gave meaning to what had been just a headline: 'Brexit is Brexit'", Gentiloni said at a news conference in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"I think the EU is ready to discuss the issue with the correct approach, which is in solidarity and friendship with Britain," Gentiloni said.

"We now know ...how the discussion will start and how it will proceed, and on this basis I believe that it will be possible reach an agreement," he added.

(Reporting By Gavin Jones)
SEIU Healthcare Minnesota announced today that the union's 500 food service workers in Rochester and Albert Lea have approved the first of two votes required to accept a Mayo Clinic compromise over its plans to outsource its food service.

The workers' approval is the first step toward ending what's been a bitter, public battle, which began with SEIU accusing Mayo Clinic of a "race to the bottom" that would hurt workers when the outsourcing plan was announced on June 30.

Details of last week's vote were not made public. SEIU declined comment on the outcome, pending a second vote set for Thursday and Friday by the full SEIU membership.

Mayo spokeswoman Ginger Plumbo said in a written statement, "We're pleased with the outcome of the food service vote, and await the results of the SEIU bargaining unit vote later this week."

A second vote is required because of language tweaking seniority terms impacting all 2,000 members. The proposal would allows food service staff to claim "super seniority" while considering jobs that would return them to Mayo during the first four months of the transition to Morrison Healthcare.

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SEIU said details of the second vote will be released early next week.

Mayo's 34-point proposal seeks to reach a compromise with SEIU members who objected to a plan that would see them outsourced to Morrison. The proposal calls for Mayo to provide additional resources to temporarily bridge a compensation gap that SEIU estimated at between $3 million and $4.5 million annually.

In exchange for that financial incentive, Mayo is requiring SEIU to withdraw its pending conflict of interest grievance and drop charges of unfair labor practices that SEIU filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

One union member described Mayo's offer as "blackmail."

Mayo has described its decision to outsource to Morrison as a way to improve patient satisfaction scores  which it says were under 50 percent  while uniting its food service department under one provider to create efficiencies.

SEIU President Jamie Gulley described the latest offer as Mayo's attempt to "make peace" after six months of public acrimony that included two pickets and 15 bargaining sessions. However, SEIU leadership stopped short of recommending the proposal to its members.

"We regret that this happened," Gulley said last week of the divisive debate. "For the sake of the patients and others, having workers employed by Mayo would be best, but we think the fight for the last six months puts us in a good position to bargain with Morrison. Without the overwhelming community support, I don't believe that would have happened."

Though more than 30 legislators called on Mayo to reconsider its plan prior to a fall picket that drew hundreds of supporters, Rep. Tina Liebling, D-Rochester, said Wednesday she hopes the compromise can help bring the community back together.

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"I think as we move forward, we need to make sure we move forward all together," said Liebling, who attended both SEIU pickets outside Mayo in 2016. "We need to have a community that's really inclusive, meaning people at all economic levels. We all need to have economic conditions that allows us all to participate. If that's what we've got here, then I'm glad, but there's always more work to do."
ST. PAUL  Fed up with Wisconsin officials after a string of failed tax reciprocity negotiations, House Taxes Committee Chairman Greg Davids is trying a new approach.

"Working with Wisconsin  you might as well be talking to a stump when it comes right down to it," Davids said.

The Preston Republican has introduced a bill to help Minnesotans who are faced with paying higher income taxes because they work in Wisconsin. His bill would give these border crossers a tax credit, offsetting the higher Wisconsin taxes.

"Minnesotans really get hammered at no fault of their own," Davids said.

The measure would cost the state an estimated $8.6 million in the first year and $6 million per year after that. The bill is being considered for inclusion in a larger tax bill.

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Minnesota had a tax reciprocity agreement with Wisconsin for more than 40 years. That all came to an end in 2009 when then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty scrapped the deal, pointing to Wisconsin's long delay in making payments to Minnesota. The Badger State was sending in its payments of as much as $100 million to the state 15 months late.

Since then, Davids has repeatedly authored legislation to try and reinstate the tax reciprocity agreement. But negotiations between Minnesota and Wisconsin revenue officials have gone nowhere. Davids said DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and his administration have done all they can to put a deal together. He said Wisconsin officials are to blame for the lack of action.

An estimated 24,000 Minnesotans work in Wisconsin and many of them are faced with paying hundreds of dollars more in income taxes than they did when reciprocity was in place. The hardest hit county in the state is Houston County, where nearly 3,700 people cross the Mississippi River to work in Wisconsin.

La Crescent Mayor Mike Poellinger said approximately 80 percent of the town's residents who work are employed in Wisconsin. The loss of tax reciprocity has been a big headache for these residents, who now have to file tax returns in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.

It's also a hassle for businesses that do cross-border work. He owns Poellinger Inc., a La Crosse-based construction company. The loss of reciprocity means a lot more paperwork. He has to keep separate the number of hours each employee works in Minnesota versus hours spent in Wisconsin.

"Hopefully, the Legislature can come together and they won't be polarized on this because it benefits both Republicans and Democrats if the people can stay in the state of Minnesota and seek employment elsewhere," Poellinger said. "There really isn't a big hub in our area for employment other than La Crosse."

Paul Cummings, tax policy manager for the Minnesota Department of Revenue, warned the committee that the tax credit would be complicated.

"We don't know what additional paperwork (taxpayers) would have to file," he said.

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Cummings added it is unclear whether eligible residents would be able to file their taxes electronically or would have to submit it in paper form. Residents would also still have to file taxes in both states. But Cummings said Davids bill is a "creative solution" and said department officials are willing to work with him on it.

Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, said he wants to see something done this year on this issue. He backs the idea of a tax credit to help Minnesotans who work in Wisconsin.

He added, "If we can resolve the issue, let's resolve the issue and move on."
MINNEAPOLIS  The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a judge's order requiring a man to provide a fingerprint to unlock his cellphone was constitutional, a finding that is in line with similar rulings across the U.S.

The decision comes in the case of Matthew Diamond, who wanted his burglary and theft convictions overturned in connection with a 2014 robbery in Chaska, a Minneapolis suburb.

Diamond's attorney argued that the district court violated Diamond's Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination by ordering him to provide his fingerprint to access information on his phone. Police found incriminating evidence on the cellphone after it was unlocked.

This was the first time the Minnesota Court of Appeals has dealt with this issue, but it has come up in other states and federal courts.

In deciding this case, the appeals court examined whether the act of providing a fingerprint to unlock a cellphone is "testimonial communication." The judges found that providing a fingerprint is not the same as forcing a defendant to testify against himself. They found it was also not the same as asking a defendant to provide information to decrypt a computer.

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"By being ordered to produce his fingerprint ... Diamond was not required to disclose any knowledge he might have or to speak his guilt," the appeals court found.

"Instead, the task that Diamond was compelled to perform  to provide his fingerprint  is no more testimonial than furnishing a blood sample, providing handwriting or voice exemplars, standing in a lineup, or wearing particular clothing," the judges ruled.

The court noted that it was making no opinion on whether compelling a defendant to provide a cellphone password would violate the Fifth Amendment.

Mark Rumold, senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said cases nationwide have fallen into two camps: those dealing with thumbprint-protected phones and those dealing with passcode protection.

He said courts have found that compelling a fingerprint does not violate the Fifth Amendment, but many have ruled that compelling someone to provide a passcode does  because a passcode is information stored in one's mind. Rumold said the means of protecting a phone shouldn't matter.

"(Cellphones) are basically this window into people's mind," he said. "I think the Fifth Amendment should evolve to protect it outright."
During a Post-Bulletin Community Editorial Advisory Board meetings, we had a discussion concerning how the Post-Bulletin covers crime in Rochester. Some board members did not think the newspaper should cover non-violent crimes in the city, because it gives the impression that there is a high crime rate in Rochester, when the city's crime rate is actually quite low.

Others thought it is the duty of the PB to cover all crime in Rochester, because it provides readers with important information that could affect their neighborhoods.

My thought is to cover all crime in the city, and if someone is worried about the impression that may give, counter that with balanced reporting. If the paper runs multiple crime stories in a week or month, then counter with stories about how Rochester is doing overall regarding crime rates, and what is being done to improve things.

I decided to contact Darrel Hildebrant, the advanced crime prevention specialist with the Rochester Police Department, to get a snapshot of Rochester's crime rates, as well as his views on crime in general and what the city is doing to improve things.

According to Hildebrant, there has been a decrease in violent crimes in Rochester but an upward tick in thefts and burglaries. However, as Rochester's population continues to grow, the crimes per capita remains constant and some areas have actually seen crime decrease.

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The Rochester Police Department also has taken on a new policing philosophy called intelligence-led policing, which is a new policing trend being used by police departments throughout the country that is making a dramatic difference in crime fighting. Intelligence-led policing is a process of information gathering and data analysis that results in getting criminal intelligence delivered to field units more quickly. It also relies on community partnerships and collaborations.

In working with the community, the police department has started many new programs that are free and being used throughout the city.

The Crime Free Hotel/Motel program trains hotel staff what to look for related to drug crimes and prostitution, and the Crime Free Multi-Housing program works with landlords and managers of rental units to do a great job of screening potential tenants. Other programs include: Safe Bars, Vacation House Checks and Pooch, Pedal and Walkers patrols.

Anyone interested in any of the programs being offered by the police department can visit its website.

When I asked Hildebrant what concerns him the most about crime in Rochester, his answer surprised me. He said Rochester's population is becoming too complacent. People don't believe that crime can happen in their neighborhoods or they just don't think about it.

People need to stay vigilant. If you see something, say something. Don't leave your car running unattended. Get to know your neighbors and start a Neighborhood Watch group.

As the city continues to grow, let's continue to work together to make sure Rochester remains a safe and friendly city.

Miguel Paz, of Rochester, is a member of the Post-Bulletin's Community Editorial Advisory Board.
I wrote below about Betsy DeVos confirmation hearing which took place last evening. The hearing was contentious at times, but never truly nasty. Democratic members were frustrated, but to the extent they were upset it seemed mostly to be with Chairman Alexanders limitation on their questioning time.

After the hearing, the nominee made her way to the dais to shake hands with committee members. Among those who shook her hand was Al Franken, probably her most aggressive questioner. The garrulous Minnesotan bent her ear for a while, but seemed cordial.

Following the encounter with Franken, DeVos shook more hands on the Democratic side  e.g., Senators Murray and Baldwin.

When Elizabeth Warren walked by, DeVos sought to shake her hand. Warren had taken the time to chat with others after the hearing ended. She didnt seem to be in a hurry to leave. However, Warren wasnt interested in giving the nominee the courtesy of a handshake. She blew off DeVos with a perfunctory wave.

Maybe theres an innocent explanation, but this looks very much like a case of rudeness unbefitting of a U.S. Senator.


In his final speech as vice president, Joe Biden warned that the top 1 percent needed to pay their fair share, or else.



Biden delivered his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland, which is attended by world leaders, top executives, investors and members of the press.

The outgoing vice president started his speech by noting that there is a "palpable sense of uncertainty about the state of the world," and we need to ask ourselves, "What kind of world are we going to leave for our children?"



The main theme of his speech was that the "liberal international world order" is at risk of collapse , as bad actors like Russia meddle in elections and try to undermine the progressive values of the United States and Europe.



Bad actors have always existed, Biden said, but their potential impact feels greater now than in years past. Part of the reason is that income inequality has risen creating pressure on the world order as we've known it, he asserted.

While it is "easy" for business leaders and politicians to embrace the benefits of globalization at a place like Davos, Biden warned it is at "our peril" to ignore fears across the developed world.



Globalization is benefiting people at the top, and some people at the bottom. Biden warned, however, that the middle class is being hollowed out. The middle class historically has been the engine for growth and the source of social stability.

As the middle class is decimated by technological change and globalization, we risk social instability, which could lead to collapse of the democratic world order, he said.



Biden said our "goal should be a world where everyone's standard of living is rising," and that continuing education is going to be required to help people advance.

He suggested that the U.S. government could, and should, pay for college to help advance people in their careers.



We need a progressive tax structure where everyone "pays their fair share," said Biden. "The top 1 percent is not carrying their own weight."



Story continues

In most middle class societies, people can't get a raise, Biden said. But if we offered free college, he said, they would be thankful. "We can afford to do that in a heartbeat," Biden said.



We can pay for every student to go to community college for $6 billion a year, if we just restructure our tax code, he said.



As people get more training, more education, they should be able to progress in their careers and earn more money, which should lead to a stronger middle class and eventually lead to greater social stability.

See also: In an epic final speech, Joe Biden warns that the progressive democratic world order is at risk of collapse





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NEW YORK (AP) -- The Department of Labor is suing JPMorgan Chase & Co. for discriminating against female workers.

The federal agency said Wednesday that its review found that at least 93 female workers in an investment-bank division earned less than comparable men in the same jobs since at least May 2012.

The Labor Department said it filed its complaint after it was unable to get JPMorgan to voluntarily make changes. Its lawsuit seeks to make the New York bank comply with regulations, prohibit further discrimination and give the affected workers lost pay, benefits and interest.

JPMorgan said it tried to work with the agency and was disappointed that it filed the complaint.

"JPMorgan is committed to diversity in the workplace," the company said.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2017 / Oil prices rose Tuesday on the back of a falling dollar and as comments made by Saudi Arabia signaled it would abide by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) production cuts. Light, sweet crude for February delivery increased $0.11 to close at $52.48 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. "Producing nations want to avoid a slump in prices," Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih said to reporters in the United Arab Emirates. "What they command, they can still achieve."

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"The core OPEC members will work hard to hold the deal together until at least June, even if some members push the boundaries of compliance," Helima Croft, head of commodities strategy at RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a note to clients.

Sanchez Energy Corp. (NYSE: SN)

Get Your Up-To-Date Sanchez Energy's Research Report Click Here

Sanchez Energy's shares spiked 17.44 percent to close at $13.20 a share Tuesday. The stock traded between $11.40 and $13.68 on volume of 19.26 million shares traded. On January 12th, the company announced that the company and funds managed by Blackstone Energy Partners have entered a strategic 50/50 partnership to jointly acquire 318,000 gross acres in the Western Eagle Ford from Anadarko Petroleum Corp. for a total of approximately $2.3 billion resulting in acquisition of 155,000 net acres by each partner. Sanchez Energy held a conference call on Friday, January 13th to discuss the transaction. Sanchez Energy will fully fund its 50 percent share of the acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and commercial bank and preferred equity commitments at a newly formed non-recourse subsidiary.

"This accretive and transformative acquisition more than doubles our drilling inventory, adds 132 high rate of return DUCs, increases Sanchez Energy's resource potential by over 550 MMBoe and provides a path for strong growth within projected cash flow," said Tony Sanchez, III, Chief Executive Officer of Sanchez Energy, in the news release.

Story continues

Rex Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: REXX)

Get Your Up-To-Date Rex Energy Research Report Click Here

Rex Energy's shares surged 44.18 percent to close at $0.745 a share Tuesday. The stock traded between $0.54 and $0.88 on volume of 22.71 million shares traded. On Tuesday, the company released a two-year financial and operational plan and a financial update. Average daily production is estimated to be in the range of 194.0  204.0 MMcfe/d in 2017, an increase of roughly 5 percent to 10 percent when compared to the company's full-year 2016 production guidance.

"Rex Energy's two-year plan is a clear, transparent road map for our future operation strategy. We designed the plan to enhance cash flow, provide strong production growth, and significantly reduce the company's overall debt metrics  all while living within cash flow," said Tom Stabley, President and CEO of Rex Energy. "The plan builds on the success of our 2016 initiatives; with the quality of our acreage, and strong support from our partners and dedicated employees, we're confident we can deliver."

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Palghar/Mumbai: Renowned Shri. Swami Adgadanandji Maharaj from Chunar (Mirzapur) near Varanasi, is on a month-long tour to Mumbai where his discourses and spiritual programmes is being conducted in various parts of the city and to spread enlightment. He is residing at his Shri Paramhans Ashram in Palghar (West).Shri. Swami Adgadanandji Maharaj, the most famous and religious personality of the present, has been described the Yatharth Geeta (the rhythmical conversation between the divine teacher and committed pupil) in the simple form which was disseminated by the Lord Krishna long ago. It is said that Geeta is everything which cannot be learned; it can only be realized and experienced through devotion. It shows one the actual path of life which goes towards enlightenment.Makar Sankranti, one of the popular Hindu festivals is observed to celebrate the transition of sun into the zodiac house of Capricorn. It is a harvest festival and signifies that one should turn away from the darkness of delusion in which we live and begin to enjoy a new life with bright light within us to shine brighter and brighter.Thus, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti festival, the Ashrams head Rajeshwaranand Maharaj and his disciples organized a special spiritual marking the beginning of Shri. Swami Adgadanandji Maharajs purposeful tour. It was a successful event which saw throngs of devotees attending it and being a part of celebrating the arrival of spring season. Beginning his discourse at 8 a.m. in the morning, Swami ji spoke at lengths in which he broach about various topics. He spoke about Sangam, Triveni and Prayagraj and also discussed the values of Makar Sankranti festival on the whole. He even highlighted the issues of how Brahmins with the help and support of Panchangs put a spanner of restriction to all the kingdoms. The kings rule, they wage war, they construct castles and palaces, give verdict etc., all only after referring all these issues with the Brahmins. The Brahmins choose when to fight a war and when to stop it.Soon after the discourse, some devotees who had come from Rajasthan clad the Swami ji with a turban as a mark of respect. Thereafter delicious meal, khichdis with sweets were served to all those who were present on the occasion.Shri. Swami Adgadanandji Maharaj blessed all his disciples and devotees with his social goodness and spiritual speech and help them know the reality of the real truth.Swami Maharaj jis disciples like Rajesh Baba, Nirmal Baba, Gulab Baba, Pandey Baba, Munna Babab, Gurucharnand Baba, Pappu Baba, Hukkad Baba, Shekhar Baba, Ashish Baba and Batasha Guru, Makrand amongst others made their presence felt.
Britains decision to leave the European Union should not be used to roll back progress on gay rights in the workplace. Thats among the views voiced by Lloyds CEO Inga Beale in the video above. Beale, 53, spoke during an interview with Yahoo Finance editor-in-chief Andy Serwer at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

After last years Brexit vote, maybe a few people were feeling this was an opportunity to have a slightly different stance on inclusiveness, Beale said. Weve got to stop that; we dont want a world like that.

We want to be a totally inclusive world, whether its your racial ethnicity, whether its your religious background, whether its your sexual orientation. The idea is that we want to have an inclusive society, and I think its so important that thats what we aim for, Beale said.

Beale, who is openly bisexual, is the first woman to head Lloyds in the insurance companys 328-year history. She became CEO in 2014.

Beale said the companys response to Brexit includes finding a city in Europe where it can establish a subsidiary that gives it access to the Continent, the source of 11% of Lloyds revenue.

The EU is a very important market to Lloyds, and were going to lose access, were going to lose those trading rights to those EU countries once the UK exits the EU, she said. We want to find the right place with the right infrastructure, right regulatory environment, right regime that understands the complexity of the nature of the risk that we take on, she said.

That said, Beale is not overly concerned about the effect of Brexit on Lloyds financial health or the status of London as a financial center of the world.

Lots of Lloyds business, for instance, comes from elsewhere in the world, she said. The US is our single biggest marketover 40% of the business that we write in the Lloyds market comes from the US. Thats not going to change with the Brexit. So London is still going to have a very important part to play.

Looking ahead, Beale is focused on grappling with the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence and other technologies present. How are the risks changing that weve got to insure for these businesses? Thats our biggest challenge out there, she said.

We used to be very focused on an earthquake happening, you know, a big hurricane coming in and, of course, those are dreadful incidents and we provide insurance for those, Beale said. But now weve got to think about a cyberattack. Everythings technologically advanced, everythings interconnected. What does that mean? How do you add up an exposure to a cyber event? Theyre our new challenges.
The past 18 months or so will forever go down as one of our countrys most contentious political times. Things got ugly on both sides of the political spectrum, and the fallout from it caused neighbor to go against neighbor, generated countless accounts of Facebook un-friending and even triggered a few recorded divorces.

And while this weeks inauguration may perhaps be the most talked about in our nations history, there are those who, regardless of political slant, may wish to avoid yet another political conversation.

To that end, we offer you: Ways to Avoid Yet Another Political Conversation. (What did you think wed call it?)

Laugh it up

Laughing makes speaking a virtual impossibility. And who cant benefit from a good, hearty belly laugh these days? Fortunately, South Jersey offers ample opportunities to assist with that.

Atlantic Citys two comedy clubs  Borgata Comedy Club and Atlantic City Comedy Club  have some great acts lined up. At the former, look for Peter Bales, Melvin George II and Uncle Floyd 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, Jan. 19 to 21, followed by Sean Morton, Vinnie Brand and Greg Morton 9 p.m. Sunday to Saturday, Jan. 23 to 28. Tickets are $20. Borgata is located at 1 Borgata Way in A.C. Go to TheBorgata.com.

At A.C. Comedy Club, Tri-States Funniest showcases some of the regions best names in standup. Shows are 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 21 and 22, and also 10:30 on Saturday. Tickets are $19 to $25. A.C. Comedy Club can be found at The Playground, 1 Atlantic Ocean in A.C. Go to AtlanticCityComedyClub.com.

For years, Jackie The Joke Man Martling was head writer and an on-air personality on the Howard Stern Show. He brings his standup act to Millvilles Levoy Theatre 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. Opening for Martling is Tara Cannistraci, who is currently touring with The Italian Chicks and Not Mom Comedy. Parental discretion is advised. Tickets are $20 and $25 and can be purchased at Levoy.net. The Levoy is located at 126-130 N. High St.

Jackie Martling loves life as a 'Joke Man' Jackie Martling has led a scattered life. He has been in the world of stand-up comedy for the better part of 40 years, yet he is unquestionabl

And why not accompany your laughter with a good meal and some great wine  which will make it even trickier to talk? Willow Creek Winery will host another of its successful UnCORKed Comedy nights starting 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. Three New York City comedians take the stage  this time around its Vince Chang, J-L Cauvin and Tim Dillon with host Sam Mushman  while guests enjoy a three-course dinner with wine pairings for $50. Willow Creek is located at 168 Stevens St. in West Cape May. Go to WillowCreekWineryCapeMay.com.

Get cultured

Discussion during a show is generally frowned upon  particularly during a classical music concert. This weekend youll have two opportunities to keep your trap shut at the Bay Atlantic Symphonys performance of Aaron Coplands Appalachian Spring and Antonio Vivaldis The Four Seasons, 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at Vinelands Landis Theater and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Stockton University PAC.

Appalachian Spring was actually commissioned by dancer Martha Graham and earned Copland a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1945, while The Four Seasons is by far Vivaldis best-known work. A group of four violin concerti, each one expresses the subtle and not-so subtle natural seasonal occurrences throughout the the year.

Tickets for either performance are $30. The Landis is located at 830 E. Landis Ave. in Vineland and the Stockton PAC is located at 101 Vera King Farris Drive in Galloway. Go to BayAtlanticSymphony.org.

Relive the simpler days of childhood

For many of a certain age, childhood fun was found at the roller skating rink. We lived for Saturdays and would fret all week long as to which knee-high socks wed pair with our prized satin jacket. So popular were roller rinks that to host your birthday party at one would pretty much guarantee your social status at elementary school. The fact that at least one classmate would wind up with a broken arm from a fall caused by reaching to high-five a non-skater behind the wall as Steve Perrys Oh Sherrie blasted from the speakers didnt matter. In fact, it would only enhance ones reputation.

Right about now, many are longing for those innocent days of childhood. Relive them at Cape May Convention Hall, where they host open roller skating sessions from 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 if you have your own skates, $7 if you need to rent them.

Its tricky to talk when youre giggling like a third grader.

Cape May Convention Hall is located at 714 Beach Ave. Go to DiscoverCapeMayNJ.com for more.

Rock out

Who can hold a conversation when head banging to the glam metal music of the 1980s? This weekend, Hammontons Eagle Theatre opens Rock of Ages, a musical that ran for six years on Broadway, was nominated for five Tony Awards and was eventually made into a movie with Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Alec Baldwin, among others.

Rock out to songs from acts like Styx, Bon Jovi, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake, Poison and more during the run from Friday, Jan. 20, through Feb. 19. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays with 3 p.m. matinees on Sundays and the occasional Saturday. Tickets are $20, $30 and $40. The Eagle can be found at 208 Vine St. Go to TheEagleTheatre.com.

Comedy show at Willow Creek Winery Prepare to bubble up with laughter at Willow Creek Winerys Uncorked Comedy event Saturday, Jan. 21.

Party like its 1999

Votes were cast and winners in all things nightlife were chosen for Atlantic City Weeklys Nightlife Awards. The people have spoken  so theres really no more need for conversation at the celebratory party, which takes place 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at Tropicana Atlantic Citys retro-themed nightclub Boogie Nights. Aside from the awards presentations, there will be performances by Missd America 2017 Mimi Imfurst, an original member of the Village People (the cowboy), Nancy Malcun and Ken Shiles & CiBon, as well as Boogie Nights own Prince impersonator. The event is free. Boogie Nights is located at 2831 Boardwalk in Atlantic City. Go to ACWeekly.com/nightlifeawards.

Get away

Grab your girlfriends and race to The Reeds at Shelter Haven for a two-night Girlfriends Getaway Weekend from Friday to Sunday, Jan. 20 to 22. Packages start at $209 per night and include a pajama party on Friday night with one hour of open bar, hors doeuvres and a chocolate dessert bar. Start off Saturday on good ground with morning yoga by Sol Luna, then choose to either shop till you drop or relax for the remainder of the afternoon by taking advantage of all the retail and spa discounts youll receive upon arrival. Youll also get a $50 dining credit to use at either SAX Restaurant, Freds Tavern or Harbor Burger Bar, plus a movie ticket with a complimentary cocktail at Harbor Theatre.

Youll be too busy catching up with your besties to bother with political talk.

Theres also a day package starting at $115 that includes everything but the overnight stay. The Reeds is at 9601 Third Ave. in Stone Harbor. Go to ReedsAtShelterHaven.com.

Breathe

Sometimes it feels as if we dont even have time to breathe in this hectic, frenetic, posting, pinning, selfie-taking, hashtag-making time of ours. Which is probably why meditation, a practice that has been around for thousands of years, has never been hotter.

Meditation, meaning transforming the mind, keeps the mind calm and at peace. And who cant benefit from a calmer, more peaceful mind? Additionally, focusing on ones breath makes talking a no-no.

Each Monday through March 27, the Art of Mindful Living and Meditation Workshop takes place at the Ocean City Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m. This free workshop focuses on energy, intentions, perceptions, observations, shifting old patterns, living in the present and more. On top of actual meditating, weekly sessions include exercises and gratitude sharing.

The library is located at 1735 Simpson Ave. in Ocean City. Call 609-399-2434, ext. 5222 or go to OceanCityLibrary.org for more.

Dance

This month Tropicana Atlantic City is hosting an Indoor Beach Bash. Part of the fun includes a free disco concert with Marc Diomede and the Disco Inferno Band 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in the Grand Exposition Center. The nine-piece band will pay tribute to that groovy decade with songs such as Get Down Tonight, Hot Stuff, Jungle Boogie, Superstition, Brick House and Play that Funky Music. Youll be too winded from boogieing to talk at this very non-political party. Trop is located at 2831 Boardwalk. Go to Tropicana.net.

Drink

Maybe right about now you could use a good, stiff drink. If thats the case, head to Sofia, where January is Customer Appreciation Month, during which theyve extended their regular happy hour to 4 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays for the month. Drown your sorrows or celebrate with a toast with reduced beers, wines or mixed drinks. And unless you want to dribble all over your shirt, you shouldnt drink and jive.

Sofia is at 9314 Amherst Ave. in Margate. Go to SofiaOfMargate.com.
GLASSBORO  Rowan University officials and guests cut the ribbon on a new $63.2 million business hall Wednesday.

The Rohrer College of Business in the 98,300-square-foot building will allow the business program to double its enrollment to 2,000 students and to expand programming.

It also will serve as a space for business owners to work with Rowan students and faculty.

The building includes 14 classrooms, seven conference rooms, 10 specialty spaces, 15 administrative offices and 70 faculty offices.

It will house Hatch House, a business accelerator designed to promote entrepreneurship to all Rowan students across all majors. The Center for Professional Development will assist students in career preparation skills designed to make them stand out in the job market.

Business Hall was funded in part by the New Jersey Building Our Future Bond Act. Passed by voters in 2012, the referendum paid for almost $46 million of the project.
Harriet Tubman will be visiting Stockton Universitys Kramer Hall in Hammonton Thursday night, thanks to historical interpreter, actress and writer Daisy Century, of Philadelphia.

Century will portray Tubman, who escaped from slavery in Maryland in 1849, then made multiple trips back into the South to rescue others in the mid-1800s. She was also a spy for the North during the Civil War.

Tubman worked for a time as a cook in Cape May in 1852 and has a strong local connection.

The most important thing I want audiences to remember is how not only brave, but how brilliant she was, Century said. To not be caught and lead all of those slaves to safety  how she evaded the law and the slave catchers. She was just brilliant.

Century has her doctorate in education and has taught science for more than 20 years in the Philadelphia school system, she said.

Her one-woman show lasts about an hour and a half and ends with a question-and-answer session.

I feel so connected to these characters when I perform them, I can feel their emotions, said Century, who also portrays the first African American woman pilot, Bessie Coleman, the first published black poet, Phillis Wheatley, and others.

When I put on the costume, Im her, she said of portraying her characters.

Century said she would love to go out every day and portray these strong African American women, but most of her work comes during Black History and Womens History months in February and March, respectively.

Shell be traveling around the U.S. during that time this year, she said, performing in Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas and more.

She also does her portrayals at summer camps.

Anyone who calls, I will come, Century said.
A South Jersey lawmaker introduced a bill Tuesday that would urge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to halt proposed reductions to this years summer flounder catch.

Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, introduced a resolution asking NOAA to conduct a new summer flounder assessment before implementing the proposed regulations, which would cut the flounder catch by 40 percent.

The reduction plan was advanced at a Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting last month but has been roundly condemned by recreational fishermen and prominent state leaders, including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd.

Federal officials say the cuts are necessary because a recent NOAA report concluded the flounder fishery is overfished.

Fishermen pack public hearing on federal flounder regulation GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  Fishermen packed a public hearing Thursday night to discuss a federal re

Recreational fishermen at a hearing earlier this month in Galloway Township questioned NOAAs methods for measuring flounder, and Mazzeos resolution, a draft of which was sent to The Press of Atlantic City, asks the agency to take another look at the stock.

The findings in the report were based largely on data obtained through random sampling, the bill states. As a result, the assessments made are merely estimates which may not represent the actual status of the summer flounder stock.

If passed, Mazzeos bill would be sent to the presidents office, various federal agencies that regulate the fishing industry, the state Department of Environmental Protection and members of Congress from New Jersey.

Its just another way to stand up for the New Jersey fishermen, said Mazzeo, who called the proposed restrictions devastating.

The reduction plan, which is currently up for public comment, could get final approval at an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission meeting next month.

Mazzeo said he wanted to fast-track the bill through the Assembly. A hearing to discuss the resolution will be held Thursday afternoon, said Tom Fote, legislative chairman for the Jersey Coast Anglers Association.

The reduction plan does not set any specific size or bag limits, but it does propose a number of options that could be implemented to meet the 40 percent reduction.

Flounder controls set to tighten, despite South Jersey pleas A federal regulatory council voted this week in favor of drastically cutting next summers f

The options for New Jersey range from two fish at 18 inches during a 59-day season to three fish at 19 inches for varying season lengths.

Last summer, fishermen were limited to five fish at 18 inches in the Atlantic Ocean and four fish at 17 inches in the Delaware Bay. Both were for a 128-day season.

Mazzeos bill states that the drastic changes could destroy the recreational and commercial summer flounder industries in the state, and cause tremendous harm to the economy of the New Jersey shore.
BRIDGETON  A Cumberland County grand jury this week indicted five men in connection with an August double slaying related to brothel operations here.

Among those indicted is Andy Reyes, who authorities said was the triggerman in the execution of Jose Ortiz on Aug. 16.

Authorities allege that Ortiz was killed because of a business problem involving finances with a brothel on Henry Street. Authorities described Ortiz as an underling in a widespread prostitution and human-trafficking enterprise operating in several New Jersey municipalities.

Bridgeton brothels linked to killings A New Brunswick couple was arrested today and charged with harboring undocumented aliens to 

The indictment handed up this in the Cumberland County court house contains charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, promoting organized street crime, conspiracy to commit robbery and various weapons offenses.

Named in the indictment was Reyes, of Somerset; Juan Fredy Hernandez-Zozaya of Passaic; Aris Tejada, Ricardo Then-Flete and Antonio Estrella of New Brunswick.

All but Tajada remain in custody, according to information released by the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office.

Ortiz, 24, of North Laurel Street, was gunned down in the 300 block of Bank Street. The other victim was Eduardo Bernal, who was found stabbed to death on Aug. 30 in a North Pearl Street apartment.

Bernal was not a member of the prostitution and human-trafficking network that authorities allege was run by Hernandez-Zozaya. Hernandez-Zozaya ordered Bernal killed because he operated a rival brothel here, authorities allege.

Federal authorities that Hernandez-Zozaya and his wife, Elizabeth Rojas Rojas, operated brothels here and in New Brunswick, Trenton, Orange, Lakewood and Asbury Park. The brothels were typically in private residences, they charge.

The operation was either functioning or in the planning stages since at least March 2011, according to a formal complained lodged by federal homeland security officials. The complaint alleges that Hernandez-Zozaya and Rojas Rojas were at least planning the operation here in 2010.

City police said the brothels here didnt operate for an extended period of time.
A New Brunswick man accused of operating brothels in Bridgeton and conspiring to kill two competitors was convicted after a three-week trial in Cumberland County, the county Prosecutors Office said.

Juan Hernandez, 42, was convicted on two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of promoting organized street crime, according to a news release.

Prosecutors told the jury Hernandez was operating brothels in Bridgeton and elsewhere in New Jersey.

They said he conspired with others to plan the deaths of Jose Ortiz, 24, and Eduardo Bernal, 32, both of Bridgeton. Ortiz was shot to death Aug. 16, 2014, and Bernal was stabbed to death Aug. 30, 2014. Authorities believe the two men were competitors to Hernandez.

In May 2016, Andy Reyes was sentenced to 30 years for his role in the slayings. Authorities said Reyes was the ringleader in the events that led to both mens deaths.

Hernandez faces a minimum of 75 years in state prison. Scheduling is set for April 28.
A convicted serial rapist serving a 46-year sentence lost an appeal Wednesday seeking to overturn his conviction, a state appellate court ruled.

Hiten Patel, 37, formerly of Egg Harbor Township, was convicted in 2015 of assaulting five women within five weeks in 2012 whom he found walking the streets in Atlantic City.

Three of the women who spoke at his sentencing said they were working as prostitutes when they met Patel.

The women said they got in Patels car and were held at gunpoint while he assaulted them. The gun turned out to be a toy he adjusted to look real.

At Patels sentencing, Judge Bernard DeLury said Patel was a dangerous man who had to be sent away to protect the community.

Patel will have to spend at least 35 more years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
President Barack Obama on Tuesday commuted the sentences of 209 people, including Timothy Barker, of Pleasantville. Barker was among three New Jersey residents who had their sentences for drug offenses cut.

Obama also pardoned an additional 64 people.

Barker was sentenced in 2002 to 30 years in prison along with 10 years of supervised release. He was convicted of drug charges including conspiracy, possession and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Barker will be released from prison on May 17.

According to court documents, Barker was arrested Feb. 16, 1999, after he purchased cocaine and crack cocaine from a Drug Enforcement Agency confidential informant. He had three other felony convictions prior to his arrest.

Obama also commuted the sentence of Passaic resident Arthur Edmonds, who was sentenced in 2003 to more than 27 years on similar charges.

Keith Wooten, of Plainfield, was sentenced in 2001 to more than 21 years for conspiracy and possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.

They also will be released May 17.

Obama has long called for phasing out strict sentences for drug offenses, arguing they lead to excessive punishment and incarceration rates unseen in other developed countries.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The owners of Manco and Manco pizza, who pleaded guilty in 2015 to tax evasion, have had their sentencing delayed a sixth time, according to a spokesman from the U.S. district attorney for New Jersey.

Charles and Mary Bangle, owners of the Ocean City Boardwalk pizza shops, had been scheduled for sentencing Jan. 20 in U.S. District Court in Camden.

According to spokesman William Skaggs, the sentencing was delayed due to the judge being out. They are now scheduled to return to court Feb. 24.

Ocean City to consider Manco and Manco expansion plans OCEAN CITY  Manco & Manco pizzeria, with plans to open an expanded restaurant in the fo

In addition to tax evasion, the Bangles, of Somers Point, admitted to structuring cash payments to avoid reporting requirements and lying to IRS special agents.

Charles Bangle could face as many as 15 years in prison, while Mary Bangle could face as many as five years.

The Bangles were first scheduled to be sentenced in October 2015.

Manco and Manco has three locations on the Ocean City Boardwalk, including a new flagship store at Ninth Street that is set to open this summer, and a location in Somers Point.
A New Jersey Supreme Court ruling Wednesday opens the possibility for more affordable housing to be built in towns across the state.

Affordable housing advocates lauded the decision, which will require towns to include a 16-year gap period  when the Council on Affordable Housing was not operating effectively  in its calculation for its present obligation.

This ruling means that thousands of lower-income and minority families will be given the opportunity to live in safe neighborhoods, send their children to good schools and work at jobs where they live instead of traveling hours commuting each day, said Colandus Kelly Francis, chairman of the board of directors of the Fair Share Housing Center and vice president of the Camden County branch of the NAACP.

Attorney Jeffrey Surenian, who represented the respondent, Barnegat Township, called the ruling a mixed bag.

He said the high courts decision made clear that trial judges have wide discretion in defining the prospective need and give towns an opportunity to re-examine the numbers based upon the decision.

However, Surenian said the Supreme Court erred in concluding that a fair-share obligation is cumulative based on a previous Mount Laurel decision, among other misstatements.

The decision comes after a March 2015 Supreme Court ruling that dismantled the Council on Affordable Housing and directed Superior Court judges to oversee affordable-housing obligations on a town-by-town basis.

In July 2016, a state appeals court overturned a ruling by Ocean County Superior Court Judge Mark Troncone requiring towns to account for 16 years of housing needs when COAH was not operating effectively  known as the gap period from 1999 to 2015.

The Fair Share Housing Center and the New Jersey Builders Association appealed to the Supreme Court. Arguments were heard in November with 13 Ocean County towns as respondents.

In a decision released Wednesday, Justice Jaynee LaVecchia wrote that the courts deciding the obligations for municipalities must include that gap period when calculating present need.

The municipalities argued the gap period was already included in the calculation for present need and that creating a new gap period obligation was not under the courts authority.

LaVecchia noted in her decision that as of the date of the opinion, of the 13 towns included in the appeal, only Barnegat had not resolved its gap-period housing obligation.

Statewide, about 300 declaratory judge actions were commenced after the Supreme Courts 2015 decision. According to LaVecchia, 71 settlements have been reached.

LaVecchia noted the courts decision will impact other unresolved declaratory judgment actions brought by municipalities seeking to take advantage of the prospect of immunity offered by the process created in this courts 2015 decision.

COAH was developed after a series of rulings in the 1970s found New Jersey towns are required to provide a fair share of housing for low- and moderate-income residents.

It had developed two rounds of housing obligations for municipalities but was unable to develop third-round rules, which led to a series of court decisions that culminated in its being deemed defunct.
Local vendor sells beans at his vegetable stall at the food market of Kottayam on December 28, 2009 in Kottayam near Trivandrum, Kerala, India. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)

The city with the lowest relative cost of living in the world is Thiruvananthapuram, India.

Thats according to rankings published by data company Numbeo. The company continuously updates its data and just published its Cost of Living Index Rate for 2017. The list is calculated relative to New York City, which has an index of 100. If a city has a cost of living index of 130, it is 30 percent more expensive than New York; if a city has an index of 70, it is 30 percent less expensive.

Thiruvananthapuram has a rating of 19.83. A 1-bedroom apartment in the center of the coastal city costs as little as $89 per month to rent.

In fact, 16 of the 20 least expensive cities on the list are in the vast South Asian nation. Since the country is so large, its able to produce the majority of its goods domestically, without having to import more expensive products from other countries.

India (in the middle of this map) is home to 16 of the top 20 cities with the lowest cost of living in the world. (Courtesy of Numbeo)

Abhijit Banerjee, professor of Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), told The Independent of India: Theres a very large population, so people are willing to work for very little, which means goods stay cheap.

Village living farmers look at their vegetable agricultural field and plucking cucumbers to supply it to nearest market for sale outskirts of the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, on December 12, 2016. Maximum village farmers are facing problem to sale their vegetables due to distress sale after the demonetization in India. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Only two other nations are represented in the bottom 20: Ukraine and Egypt.

Heres the bottom 20:

445. Chandigarh, India: 25.93

446. Goa, India: 25.88

447. Ahmedabad, India: 25.86

448. Surat, India: 25.85

449. Lucknow (Lakhnau), India: 25.81

450. Jaipur, India: 25.62

451. Vadodara, India: 25.53

452. Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine: 25.29

453. Sumy, Ukraine: 24.75

454. Indore, India: 24.38

455. Lviv, Ukraine: 24.32

456. Hyderabad, India: 24.05

457. Kochi, India: 23.58

458. Visakhapatnam, India: 23.54

459. Nagpur, India: 23.47

460. Coimbatore, India: 23.36

461. Bhubaneswar, India: 23.25

462. Cairo, Egypt: 22.29

463. Mangalore, India: 21.89

464. Thiruvananthapuram, India: 19.83

For comparison, the most expensive cost of living in the world is Hamilton, Bermuda, with an index of 141.59, 10 points higher than the second-most expensive city on the list, Geneva, Switzerland. Seven of the top 10 cities on the list are in Switzerland.

Numbeo published this map showing the cost of living in nearly 500 cities around the world. Red dots indicate expensive cities and green less expensive.
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP  A plot of land assessed at $220,000 is at the center of a lawsuit that pits a local fire district against the township government.

Middle Township Fire District No. 2, which covers Rio Grande, has filed a lawsuit claiming the township is illegally collecting property taxes on the empty lot, which the fire district purchased in 2015.

The nearly one-acre piece of land is adjacent to the Rio Grande Volunteer Fire Companys headquarters at 1120 Route 47 South and is used solely to train volunteer firefighters, according to a complaint filed Dec. 16.

Currently, the land is classified by the municipal tax assessor as commercial property, but the lawsuit claims the township has overstepped its authority in collecting taxes and seeks to make the property tax-exempt in the future.

Township Solicitor Frank L. Corrado could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Personality conflicts "detrimental" to operation of Cape zoo MIDDLE TOWNSHIP  Personality conflicts threaten the ongoing operation of the popular Cape M

Thomas M. Phelan, an attorney representing the district, said the fire district approached the township about the issue before bringing the matter to court.

I went to the township twice before and brought up the issue to them, Phelan said. We never got a response, so we filed the suit to get the issue resolved.

The complaint states the fire district is a municipal public entity created by the township and, therefore, should not be subject to property taxes.

The fire district is a creation of the municipality, Phelan added. Those are all public entities.

Phelan said the fire district has been paying taxes on the property since it bought it, but he said he didnt know how much the district has paid so far.

Fire districts are funded by a tax levied on properties within its coverage area.
SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Jan 18, 2017) - CFN Media Group, the leading creative agency and digital media network dedicated to legal cannabis, announces the publication of an article covering Medical Marijuana Inc.'s (OTC PINK: MJNA) recent groundbreaking agreement with a South American pharmaceutical distributor and how the company aims to capitalize on the market.

The hemp industry may be confronting some obstacles in the United States, but many Latin American countries have embraced the plant's potential. For instance, Mexico's COFEPRIS approved the impact of cannabidiol (CBD) oil for epilepsy treatment; Brazil's ANVISA legalized CBD for various therapeutic uses; and Chile approved a measure legalizing the cultivation and sale of medical marijuana last year and has since opened the largest marijuana farm in the region.

Over the past couple years, Medical Marijuana has set up several subsidiaries designed to distribute RSHO (the company's flagship CBD oil) outside of the United States. HempMedsPX LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary that distributes RSHO in Mexico and Puerto Rico using sub-distributors. HempMeds Brasil is a second 93.4% owned subsidiary focused on distributing RSHO in Brazil, which is the largest economy in South America and a significant end market for its products.

HempMeds Brazil recently announced a partnership with Paragon HealthCare BR, a leading global wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical products that has relationships with medical professionals, doctor's groups, hospitals, pharmacists, and other health care providers. Paragon HealthCare also has several other businesses that serve customers around the world.

Under the terms of the agreement, Paragon HealthCare BR will make RSHO products accessible to those in need by assisting individuals in securing special importation permits. Over time, this will reduce the wait from prescription-to-delivery for patients that require CBDs to treat medical conditions. The distributor will also help facilitate medical research surrounding the applications of CBD in treating numerous medical conditions. With a wealth of doctors and clinics ready for such research, Paragon HealthCare BR is well positioned to help execute these studies and legitimize the use of non-psychoactive cannabinoids for neurological and other conditions. The good news is that Brazil and other countries are more open than the U.S. to such studies.

Story continues

Please follow the link to read the full article: http://www.cannabisfn.com/medical-marijuana-secures-partnership-with-key-pharmaceutical-distributor/

Learn how to become a CFN Media featured company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/become-featured-company/

Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from your smart phone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8

Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com

About CFN Media

CFN Media (CannabisFN) is the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to legal cannabis. We help marijuana businesses attract investors, customers (B2B, B2C), capital, and media visibility. Private and public marijuana companies and brands in the US and Canada rely on CFN Media to grow and succeed.

About Medical Marijuana Inc.

Our mission is to be the premier cannabis and hemp industry innovators, leveraging our team of professionals to source, evaluate and purchase value-added companies and products, while allowing them to keep their integrity and entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to create awareness within our industry, develop environmentally friendly, economically sustainable businesses, while increasing shareholder value. For details on Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s portfolio and investment companies, visit http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com.

To see Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s video statement, click here.

Shareholders are also encouraged to visit the Medical Marijuana, Inc. Shop for discounted products.

Disclaimer:

Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CFN Media and CannabisFN.com, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. Emerging Growth LLC may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Emerging Growth LLC may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or equity securities in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/.
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.




DUBLIN, Jan 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Silicone Gel Market - Global Forecast to 2026" report to their offering.

The global silicone gel market, in terms of value, is projected to reach USD 1.96 Billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 6.9%, from 2016 to 2026. High-growth of the electrical & electronics industry and increase in demand of silicone gel for new applications such as comfort pads, protective skin coverings, and sealing applications in the medical, footwear, aerospace & defense, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries are the key reasons driving the growth of the global silicone gel market.

The global silicone gel market is dominated by the electrical & electronics industry. This end-use industry is projected to lead the silicone gel market, in terms of value and volume, from 2016 to 2026. This is due to the key properties of silicone gels such as hydrophobicity, high dielectric breakdown, and resistance to high and low temperatures, which enable these gels to be used in critical and harsh environments in the electrical & electronics industry.

However, the high manufacturing cost of the silicone gel, as compared to its substitutes, is restricting their use to certain specific applications. This is hampering the growth of the market. The growing demand from the medical industry is a key opportunity for companies in this market. This is due to the increasing aging population, worldwide, along with increasing awareness about health concerns which drives the medical applications of silicone gel.

Asia-Pacific is largest and the fastest-growing regional silicone gel market. There is an increase in the demand for silicone gel applications, especially in the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific. This demand is attributed to growth of end-use industries, competitive manufacturing costs, and high economic growth rate in the region. In addition, the rising usage in the photovoltaic sector, coupled with the demand for small, low-cost, and advanced electronics component in leading Asia-Pacific countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea is fuelling the demand for silicone gel in this region. These factors are attracting companies to adopt investment and expansion strategies in this region.

Companies Mentioned:

ACC Silicones Ltd.

Applied Silicone Corporation

Bluestar Silicones (Elkem Group)

DOW Corning Corporation

Gelest Inc.

Henkel AG & Co.

KCC Corporation

Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

North Cost Medical Inc.

Novaguard Solutions

Nusil Technology LLC.

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

Silicone Solutions

Siltech Corporation

Wacker Chemie AG

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights

5 Market Overview

6 Industry Trends

7 Silicone Gel Market, By End-Use Industry

8 Silicone Gel Market, By Region

9 Competitive Landscape

10 Company Profiles

11 Appendix

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/rsjmk2/silicone_gel

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

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Related Links

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SOURCE Research and Markets
- Global, multi-stakeholder collaboration, called Access Accelerated, to be delivered in partnership with World Bank Group and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

- Initial three-year commitment will catalyze, develop, measure and replicate sustainable programs in low and lower-middle income countries

- Collective funding of $50 million and increased individual company program commitments to address NCDs

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the World Economic Forum, twenty-two leading biopharmaceutical companies launched Access Accelerated, a global initiative to advance access to non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and care in low and lower-middle income countries (LICs and LMICs).

NCDs have reached a point of crisis, particularly in lower and middle income countries, where nearly 80 percent of NCD-related deaths occur. The goal of Access Accelerated, in partnership with the World Bank Group and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), is to work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by one-third by 2030.

"Through the commitment and expertise of the Access Accelerated partners, we will work towards a shared vision where no person dies prematurely from a preventable, treatable disease," said Ian Read, Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer and President of The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), on behalf of the initiative. "If the current trend in NCDs in low- and lower-middle income countries is not reversed, there is a real possibility we will undermine the progress we have made in health around the world. To reach our goal, we need to catalyze new partnerships, learn quickly and advance the resources and knowledge that will enable countries to tackle NCDs."

Building on more than 100 long-standing individual company investments to advance NCD care in developing countries, Access Accelerated will bring additional accountability and transparency to existing efforts while also placing a specific emphasis on addressing access barriers to NCD prevention, treatment and care. Efforts will be evaluated with the support of independent experts at Boston University to establish a framework for progress, measure effectiveness and deliver ongoing reporting.

With the World Bank Group the initiative will identify solutions to address financing, regulatory and service delivery barriers at country level. Additionally, the World Bank Group will conduct pilots in primary care to improve NCD outcomes in several countries, with an initial focus on a country in Africa.

"The rapid increase in NCDs in developing countries is a serious threat to our goal of improving the health of the world's poorest citizens and achieving universal health coverage," said Tim Evans, Senior Director of Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank Group. "Tackling this successfully will take coordinated effort by governments, civil society, the private sector and international partners. This new effort is an opportunity for all players to test and scale up innovative ways to deliver effective care for NCDs, with a strong focus on primary health care."

In addition, the initiative plans to develop partnerships with organizations specializing in each of the major non-communicable diseases (NCDs), starting with cancer. As part of this effort, the coalition of companies will serve as a foundational partner of the UICC's C/Can 2025: City Cancer Challenge (C/Can 2025), which also launched at the World Economic Forum. In 2017, C/Can 2025 will engage cities around the world with a population over 1 million to improve cancer treatment and care, working with specific 'learning cities' in low- and middle-income countries which require international support to develop effective, sustainable cancer care delivery for their citizens. Initial learning cities will include Cali, Colombia; Asuncion, Paraguay; and Yangon, Myanmar; with additional locations to be announced this year.

"C/Can 2025 strives towards a future where all cities can address the growing cancer burden they face and in low- and middle-income countries the international community can help put in place effective diagnostics and treatment to patients at risk of or diagnosed with cancer," said Cary Adams, Chief Executive Officer at UICC. "By working with Access Accelerated we will be able to improve cancer survival rates everywhere."

For more information, please visit http://www.accessaccelerated.org.

About Access Accelerated

Access Accelerated is a first-of-its-kind, multi-stakeholder collaboration focused on improving NCD care. Involving more than 20 biopharmaceutical companies, the initiative works with partners such as World Bank Group and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to help overcome a variety of access barriers to NCD medicines in low-income and lower-middle income countries. Access Accelerated will support multi-stakeholder dialogue and begin on-the-ground work to improve NCD prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Contributing companies include: Almirall, Astellas, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, Eli Lilly and Company, EFPIA, GlaxoSmithKline, The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), Johnson & Johnson, JPMA, Menarini, Merck, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, PhRMA, Roche, Sanofi, Shionogi, Sumitomo Dainippon, Takeda and UCB. IFPMA will act as the Secretariat for Access Accelerated.

About Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

NCDs, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes and mental health disorders are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. This places a double burden on communities and economies around the world already combating infectious diseases.

CONTACT: MJ Walker, MJWalker@webershandwick.com, 212-445-8411

Related Links

http://www.accessaccelerated.org



SOURCE The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations
MONTREAL, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

ALGOLD RESOURCES LTD. (TSXV: ALG - the "Corporation") today announced results of preliminary metallurgical tests from drill core samples at its Tijirit project ("Tijirit") in Mauritania, the results of which continue to attest to the property's geological potential. Metallurgical work conducted consisted of grindability, heap leach amenability and gravity separation, and cyanidation and acid generation testing.

Preliminary metallurgical testing was carried out at SGS Canada in Lakefield on four composites using HQ core samples collected from the Eleonore, Sophie I and Sophie II, and Lily zones. The Eleonore composite was characterized by quartz veins associated with metasediments, the Sophie I composite was made up of quartz veins within banded iron formation ("BIF"). The Sophie II composite was made up of weathered BIF and the Lily composite was made up of metasediments. Each composite weighted between 70 kg and 130 kg.

Utilizing fire assay analysis, the head grades for each of the composites were as follow.

Samples Weight Head Grade Zone Composite No Rock Type (kg) (g/t Au) Quartz vein with Eleonore 1 metasediments 130.10 22.80 Sophie I 4 Quartz veins and BIF 90.20 5.36 Sophie II 3 Weathered BIF 70.55 1.53 Lily 2 Metasediments 131.5 0.67

As expected, the results demonstrate that the various mineralized zones at Tijirit have a wide range of crushing and rock strength characteristics with unconfined compression strength (UCS), with average values for each composite ranging from 29 to 102 MPa. The preliminary SMC grinding tests are inconclusive, however seem to be situated within range categories from soft (Sophie II), medium (Eleonore) to hard (Sophie II and Lily).

Recovery of gold amenable to gravity separation followed by cyanidation of the gravity tailings was conducted with the following results.

Feed Size Sample Zone P80, microm Au Extraction / Recovery Gravity + Gravity Cyanidation Cyanidation Composite 1 Eleonore 144 57.9% 37.8% 95.7% 100 57.9% 38.3% 96.2% 79 57.9% 39.4% 97.3% 49 57.9% 37.8% 95.7% Composite 2 Lily 77 71.4% 25.7% 97.1% Composite 3 Sophie II 73 33.3% 63.7% 97.0% Composite 4 Sophie I 74 43.6% 49.5% 93.1%

Heap leach amenability was also conducted using a 28-day program on Composites 1, 2 and 3 for three crush sizes each (,  and  inches). The percentages of gold extraction for each composite, at the end of a 28-day cycle, are indicated below.

Composite Size Au Extraction Day 28 1 3/4" 22.3% Eleonore 1/2" 12.3% 1/4" 38.9% 2 3/4" 58.9% Lily 1/2" 62.4% 1/4" 82.5% 3 3/4" 66.9% Sophie II 1/2" 70.1% 1/4" 61.9%

The Heap Leach Amenability indicates that the Lily ore would respond very well to heap leach at a crush size (") with a gold recovery of 82.5%. At this point in time, the results are inconclusive for the higher-grade Eleonore composite sample.

Preliminary acid generation tests were also conducted on the four composites. Results demonstrate that Composite 3 is classified as not-potentially acid generating (NPAG), and Algold is awaiting results for the 3 other composites.

"This first run of tests and the preliminary results are very encouraging," said Francois Auclair, Algold's President and Chief Executive Officer, "These results, along with the ongoing program, will help Algold to determine further metallurgical studies to be conducted on larger bulk samples at the promising Tijirit project in the future."

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)

Analytical work was carried out at SGS Lakefield, an ISO/IEC 17025 Certified Laboratory.

This press release has been reviewed for accuracy and compliance under National Instrument 43-101 by Tyler Crary, P.Eng., Senior Metallurgist at SGS Lakefield Canada Inc., and Guy Saucier, P.Eng, Algold Resources consultant, Qualified Persons ("QP") as defined by NI 43101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. They have approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release. Andre Ciesielski, a QP, has further approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

ABOUT ALGOLD

Algold Resources Ltd is focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits in West Africa. The board of directors and management team are seasoned resource industry professionals with extensive experience in the exploration and development of world-class gold projects in Africa.

Algold is the operator of all of its exploration licenses in Mauritania. Algold owns 100% of Tijirit, which represents an area of more than 1,000 km2, situated approximately 25 kilometers southeast of the Tasiast gold mine as well as the Akjout properties, which were acquired from Gryphon Minerals (Australia) through a transaction completed earlier in 2016. Exploration is being carried out on the Eleonore, Sophie I, Sophie II-III and Lily zones. The Kneivissat property is 90% owned by Algold and the Legouessi property is being managed through a 51% earn-in interest agreement with Caracal Gold LLC. Algold can earn up to a 90% interest in the Legouessi exploration permit (reference Algold's press release dated October 10, 2013 for more details), however, Caracal has the right to participate in the joint venture at either 51% or 75% by funding its share of expenditures.

CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains and refers to forward-looking information based on current expectations. All other statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements (or forward-looking information). The Corporation's plans involve various estimates and assumptions and its business is subject to various risks and uncertainties. For more details on these estimates, assumptions, risks and uncertainties, see the Corporation's most recent Annual Information Form and most recent Management Discussion and Analysis on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements that are included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

For further information, please contact:

Algold Resources Ltd.

1320, boul. Graham, bureau 132, Mont-Royal, Quebec, H3P 3C8, http://www.algold.com

Francois Auclair M.Sc., PGeo

President & Chief Executive Officer

f.auclair@algold.com

+1(514)889-5089



Alex Ball, MBA

Executive VP Financial

a.ball@algold.com

+1(647)919-2227


ALBANY, New York, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Transparency Market Research has released a new market report titled "Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride Market by Form (Powder and Granules) for Dyestuff & Pigments, Hydrocarbon Resins, Pharmaceuticals, Fumed Alumina, Flavors & Fragrances, and Other Applications - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016-2024." According to the report, the global anhydrous aluminum chloride market was valued at US$ 683.9 Mn in 2015 and is estimated to reach US$ 912.3 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 3.3% between 2016 and 2024.

Anhydrous aluminum chloride, also known as aluminum trichloride (AlCl3), is an odorless, yellow, crystalline solid. It is produced primarily by the gaseous chlorination of molten aluminum through various processes. It is also as employed in polymerization and isomerization reactions of hydrocarbons. The product is highly irritating to eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Anhydrous aluminum chloride is one of those materials that experiences uninterrupted supply, as the raw material required to manufacture it is available in abundance.

Currently, Asia Pacific is leading player of the global anhydrous aluminum chloride market and is followed by North America and Europe. The market for anhydrous aluminum chloride is expanding substantially, owing to speedy growth of pharmaceuticals and consumer goods industries. Growth in the cosmetics industry caused by speedily changing lifestyles of people is likely to fuel the global anhydrous aluminum chloride market during the forecast period. Growth of the food processing industry in South Asian countries such as Indonesia, and Myanmar is also driving the demand for anhydrous aluminum chloride. In terms of volume, Asia Pacific was the dominant region in the anhydrous aluminum chloride market; it accounted for more than 44% share in 2015. North America comprises of industrialized countries and mature markets. Owing to low prices, suppliers, particularly from Japan and the U.S., tend to serve their local markets, or meet the internal demand of the company and then sell surplus material, if any, at a low price. Thus, declining demand and unsustainable prices have left anhydrous aluminum chloride an unprofitable product. Over-capacity and low prices have led to plant closures in all developed regions, especially Europe.

Get Industry Research Report Sample for more Professional and Technical Industry Insights: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18431

In 2000, the European countries was exported anhydrous aluminum chloride product to Asia, the Far East, and Latin America at extremely low price. East European countries have also witnessed dumping of cheap material from Western Europe. This over supply and low price scenario of product, affect significantly on a regional basis as plants close. Key players operating in the anhydrous aluminum chloride market include BASF SE, Aditya Birla Chemicals, Gulbrandsen, Nippon Light Metal Company Ltd., Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd., Base Metal Group, and others. The report segments the global anhydrous aluminum chloride market as follows:

Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride Market: Form Analysis

Powder

Granules

Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride Market: Application Analysis

Dyestuff & pigments

Hydrocarbon resins

Pharmaceuticals

Fumed alumina

Flavors & fragrances

Others

Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride Market: Regional Analysis

North America U.S. Canada

Europe France U.K. Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA) GCC Egypt South Africa Rest of MEA

& (MEA)

Research PR: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/anhydrous-aluminum-chloride-market.htm

Related Research Reports:

Automotive Aluminum Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/automotive-aluminum-market.html

Calcium Chloride Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/calcium-chloride-market.html

About TMR

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
HANOI, Vietnam, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

APEC is on the lookout for young researchers in the Asia-Pacific who are developing technologically advanced materials that stand to radically boost next generation manufacturing and people's quality of life across the region.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2017 APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education, whose theme, New Material Technologies, spotlights cross-border innovations led by scientists from APEC economies under 40 years of age. Examples range from ultra-light, durable fibers, to super adhesives and sealants, to pollution-reducing and self-healing substances.

Materials like these could reinvigorate production and supply chains, including growing numbers of small businesses that underpin them, and herald the arrival of new and improved goods and services. Among others, they may include biosensors that enhance medical monitoring; highly energy efficient homes and automobiles; brighter, more reflective road signs, bicycles and clothing that make travel at night easier and safer; and fast biodegrading packing material, trash bags and diapers.

The focus of the award program, also known as the ASPIRE Prize, was announced by Viet Nam as Chair of APEC in 2017.

"The introduction of advanced materials is crucial to strengthening research capacity among Asia-Pacific economies and the region's 3 billion people," explained Tran Quoc Khanh, Viet Nam's Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. "These new avenues for scientific discovery provide scientists with building blocks to engineer materials with unique and innovative properties."

Each APEC economy may nominate one individual for the ASPIRE Prize. Nominees must be from the region and under 40 years of age. The impact of their work will be screened against scholarly publications and must involve cooperation with peers from other APEC economies. Relevant academic disciplines in 2017 include materials and biomaterials science; life sciences; polymer chemistry; biomedical, chemical and mechanical engineering; solid-state physics; nanotechnology; and novel materials and technologies.

"Many scientific challenges such as energy and food security, environmental protection and public health are perpetuated by the limits of known materials," noted Christin Kjelland, Chair of the APEC Policy Partnership for Science, Technology, and Innovation, which administers the annual ASPIRE Prize. "We want to learn from those who are making the impossible possible to ensure economic and social progress in APEC and beyond," added Kjelland, who also serves in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the United States State Department.

The ASPIRE Prize will be awarded in Vietnam in 2017. Wiley and Elsevier, publishers of scholarly scientific knowledge, are sponsors of the initiative. The winner will receive USD 25,000 in prize money.

"The field of material sciences holds a rich range of applications in various fields," said Mark J. Allin, Wiley's CEO. "We are excited to learn how early career researchers in the Asia-Pacific are opening up new channels for scientific collaboration in the region and across various sectors."

"Young scientists in the region are critical to tackling the world's most pressing challenges and most promising opportunities, which are interdisciplinary issues that know no borders," concluded YoungSuk "Y.S." Chi, Chairman of Elsevier. "Recognizing their work is one way that we can help to encourage further breakthroughs that will be necessary for sustainable human progress and global prosperity."

For more information please visit: http://www.apec.org/aspire.

# # #

Media Contacts:



David Hendrickson, APEC

+65 9137 3886

drh@apec.org



Michael Chapnick, APEC

+65 9647 4847

mc@apec.org



Tom Griffin, Wiley

+44 (0) 1865 476213

tgriffin@wiley.com



Hadley Dreibelbis, Elsevier

+1 202 518 6496

hadley.dreibelbis@finnpartners.com





# # #

About Wiley

Wiley, a global company, helps people and organizations develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Our online scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, combined with our digital learning, assessment and certification solutions help universities, learned societies, businesses, governments and individuals increase the academic and professional impact of their work. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to our stakeholders. The company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com



About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions - among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Research Intelligence and ClinicalKey - and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 35,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com

SOURCE Elsevier
International script contest seeks original stories from emerging and established talent; prize includes all expenses-paid, on-location film shoot and production in Hawaii

HONOLULU, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaii Film + Arts International today announced their First Annual Hawaii Film Challenge, an international screenwriting contest open to a global pool of talent, and awarding three winners airfare and lodging for their creative team, as well as casting, production staff, and equipment support, and a 10-day shoot and production experience in Hawaii, culminating in an exclusive screening.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/8021051-hawaii-film-arts-international-2017-challenge

The competition is open to entrants 21 years of age and older, and is targeting short film scripts (10-12 minutes) from passionate filmmakers who want the opportunity to have their story produced.

"We created this challenge to give emerging filmmakers a once-in-a-lifetime platform for their voices, and to extend established talent the opportunity to have a truly unique shoot experience," said Mark Blackburn, co-founder of Hawaii Film + Arts International, patron to several leading Pacific artists, and one of the country's foremost Polynesian art scholars.

"Many filmmakers have a compelling story to tell, and even a tight creative team to realize it, but lack the resources to produce it," said Sanford Hasegawa, co-founder of Hawaii Film + Arts International, and longtime staple of Hawaii's visual arts scene. "That's why Hawaii Film + Arts International is taking care of the big needs, such as casting and equipment, as well as the nitty gritty details that are essential to completing any film, like securing permits with the state of Hawaii. We believe excellent stories shouldn't be buried, so we're investing in them."

Script judges will be members of the film and literary arts community, and part of the HFA team; scripts are welcome in any genre, from narrative and experimental to action adventure, comedy or documentary. Entries can take advantage of Hawaii's versatile environment for shooting, which includes mountains to ocean, urban city streets to tropical forests.

Because professional film staff will be working in the challenge, there is a mentorship component unique to this contest, offering winners the opportunity to work alongside more veteran film staff. And in exchange for 100% IP rights  which will allow HFA to reinvest back into future challenges and filmmakers  winners will not only receive the HFC shoot experience, but ongoing entry of their films into festivals around the world, establishing long-term exposure of their work.

"With their films, winners will enter into a network Hawaii Film + Arts International is building with filmmakers and industry connections across the globe," said Sanford. "Some of the world's most iconic directors have shot in Hawaii, from Spielberg, to Michael Bay, to Guillermo del Toro. Now, it's time to hand over the lens to new voices, and leverage everything Hawaii has to offer to bring their stories to life."

About HAWAII FILM + ARTS INTERNATIONAL:

Hawaii Film + Arts International (HFA) is an international organization dedicated to creating events and opportunities for the people of Hawaii to tell their stories through film and the arts. The HFA team is passionate about the power of film and the arts to inspire and engage audiences around the world. By creating a mutual exchange between local and international filmmakers and artists, HFA serves as a catalyst for their work to reach a larger audience. From artist launches and film projects to events, HFA manages the creative, communications, logistical, and execution partnering with the right partners at the right time. All HFA projects have one thing in common. They are platforms for artists created by partners who share the same vision to bring the art of storytelling to life in a way that engages local and global communities.

To learn more about the Hawaii Film Challenge, visit www.hawaiifilmchallenge.com.

To learn more about Hawaii Film + Arts International, visit www.hawaiifilmandarts.com.

Media Contact:

Paula Page

paula@paulapagepr.com

650.279.3881



Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/457992/HFC_HeroImage_Couple.jpg



Related Links

http://www.hawaiifilmandarts.com



SOURCE Hawaii Film + Arts International
LONDON, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- AUDS detect-track-defeat counter-drone system is the only TRL-9 rated fully integrated counter-UAS system on the market following successful mission deployment in 2016 to U.S. military customers

- Multiple AUDS systems sold & shipped through North American partner Liteye Systems are now deployed and fully operational

- AUDS team to consolidate market leading position with new platforms for different markets/applications including fixed, semi-permanent and temporary configurations

The AUDS counter-UAS defence system - field proven to detect, track and defeat malicious and errant unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones - is the first fully integrated system worldwide to achieve TRL-9 status. This follows the successful mission deployment of the AUDS system with United States Forces (see link to press release below).

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liteye-and-tribalco-team-to-deliver-auds-counter-drone-systems-to-us-military-customers-300389945.html

TRL-9 is the very highest technology readiness level or maturity that a technology system can attain. According to the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA definitions, TRL-9 signifies that a technology system or product is in its final form and that the actual system is proven through successful mission operations.

Mark Radford, speaking for the AUDS team, said: "Achieving TRL-9 status is an important milestone for AUDS in the embryonic counter-drone market. The sale and deployment of multiple AUDS systems to the U.S. military to protect critical assets and personnel makes AUDS, we believe, the only TRL-9 rated fully integrated strategic counter-UAS system on the market."

Over the last 18 months, the AUDS system has been heavily evaluated and tested by military and government organisations. Through this process, AUDS consistently exceeded the mission requirements, simultaneously providing ground and air surveillance against possible threats.

The AUDS system - developed by Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems - can detect a drone six miles (10km) away using electronic scanning radar, track it using precision infrared and daylight cameras and advanced video tracking software before disrupting the flight using a non-kinetic inhibitor to block the radio signals that control it.

This detect, track, defeat process is very quick and typically takes 8-15 secs. Using AUDS, the operator can effectively take control of a drone and force a safe landing. The AUDS system works in all weather, day or night and the disruption is flexible, proportional and operator controlled.

AUDS is positioned at the strategic end of the UAS countermeasures market for use by government agencies, the police and military to protect high value critical national infrastructure or strategically important sites/events. These include nuclear power stations, borders, political, sporting or VIP events, airports and airbases.

AUDS is also currently being evaluated by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for use at major U.S. airports as part of its Pathfinder Programme. The FAA has signed a Co-operative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) with Liteye Systems, the AUDS team's manufacturing and integration partner in North America, to test AUDS at US airports selected by the FAA. (See FAA release - https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=85532).

To further consolidate its market leading position, the AUDS team has developed a range of new platforms - fixed, semi-permanent and temporary - to better meet the needs of customers in different markets. These include a platform for the deployment of AUDS to the roof of a building; a field mast system for the protection of semi-permanent sites such as forward operating bases (FOB), air bases or army camps; and a system for rapid deployment purposes.

AUDS will be showcasing its counter-UAS solutions at The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2017), at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 19 to 23 February 2017. AUDS will be represented at IDEX by its local UAE partner Trust International in Hall 11/Stand C05.

For more information about AUDS, please contact any of the partner companies:

Blighter Surveillance Systems: visit www.blighter.com, telephone +44 (0) 1223 491122 or email auds@blighter.com.

Chess Dynamics: visit www.chess-dynamics.com, telephone +44 (0) 1403 249888 or email auds@chess-dynamics.com.

Enterprise Control Systems: visit www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk, telephone +44 (0) 1327 860050 or email auds@enterprisecontrol.co.uk.

For North America contact: Liteye Systems: visit www.liteye.com, telephone Kenneth Geyer at +1 720-974-1766 ext. 155 or email kgeyer@liteye.com.

High resolution photographs of the AUDS system are available via the links below:

http://www.blighter.com/images/images/pr/auds-counter-drone-system-with-stamp-high-res.jpg

http://www.blighter.com/images/images/pr/auds-counter-drone-system-without-stamp-high-res.jpg

A promotional video of the AUDS system can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5i9vgPdiVk

About Blighter Surveillance Systems (www.blighter.com)

Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd. is an independent electronic-scanning radar and sensor solution provider. It delivers an integrated multi-sensor package to systems integrators comprising the Blighter e-scan radars, cameras, thermal imagers, trackers and software solutions. Blighter radars combine patented solid-state Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) technology - utilising digital beamforming (DBF) on transmit and receive - with advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) and Doppler processing to provide a robust and persistent surveillance capability and an unmatched combination of high reliability, accuracy and performance with a low cost of ownership. Products are manufactured under a BS EN ISO 9001:2008 certified management system. Blighter Surveillance Systems Ltd. is based at Great Chesterford on the outskirts of Cambridge, England.

About Chess Dynamics (www.chess-dynamics.com)

Chess Dynamics is a developer of sophisticated optical surveillance, communications and stabilised radar platforms and systems for land, maritime and airborne applications. The company's extensive product based systems are ideally suited for tasks such as: search and rescue operations, protection of naval vessels, critical national infrastructure, military bases and vehicles. Chess' engineering excellence and know-how combine all forms of electro-mechanical servo mechanisms and long range cameras, with state-of-the-art digital video tracking technology, offering leading capability to modern military and homeland defence organisations. Chess Dynamics' products and EO systems are manufactured on site to BS ES ISO 9001, Mil-Std-461 and 810C. Chess Dynamics is based in Horsham, West Sussex in the UK.

About Enterprise Control Systems (www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk)

For over 25 years Enterprise Control Systems Ltd (ECS) has been supplying mission critical RF inhibition systems and surveillance data links in support of security services around the world. ECS is a proven and trusted British supplier to the UK MoD, the UK Police and to specialist military and government users in over 40 other countries. ECS designs and produces a range of programmable jammers (RF Inhibitors) to counter a variety of threats. ECS understands the complex integration necessary between equipment performance, training, tactics, techniques and threat assessment needed to achieve optimum user capability in demanding and dynamic situations. ECS also designs and produces specialist COFDM data links optimised for use in high level military and security domains. ECS data links are fully secured (encrypted), optimised for long range performance and are designed to be robust in complex RF environments. ECS brings together their expertise in data link technology and RF Inhibition to provide a highly effective RF Disruptor for AUDS. ECS is based in Wappenham, Northamptonshire in the UK.

About Liteye Systems (www.liteye.com)

Liteye Systems, Inc. is a leader in surveillance systems for protection of critical infrastructure. Products include radars, covert thermal cameras, tactical displays, and the new AUDS counter-UAS system. All of its cutting edge solutions feature revolutionary designs that enable a broad range of military and commercial applications. Headquartered in Centennial Colorado, the company has a 24,000 sq.ft. manufacturing/assembly facility with on-site engineering and test services, as well as state-of-the-art production and prototype manufacturing capability. Liteye has been designing and manufacturing defence and surveillance products since 2000. Liteye is the AUDS team's exclusive manufacturing and integration partner for the USA and Canada.

SOURCE Blighter Surveillance Systems
OCEAN VIEW, Delaware, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "Automated Breast Ultrasound System (ABUS) Market Size By Product (Automated Breast Ultrasound System, Automated Breast Volume Scanner), By End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Imaging Centers), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, India, Australia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa), Application Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2024", by Global Market Insights, Inc. says Automated breast ultrasound system market size is estimated to exceed USD 2 billion by 2024.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160418/799556-a )



Breast cancer prevalence is increasing globally. According to ACS estimates, more than 246,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will have been diagnosed in 2016 in the U.S. alone. Introduction of advanced technologies has made it possible to detect small cancer tumors as well as dense breast tissue scanning. This technology has gained popularity due to its non-invasive, radiation-free, and three-dimensional imaging features for breast cancer diagnosis. Rising cancer prevalence rates and emergence of better breast scanning technologies will drive automated breast ultrasound system market growth.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/728

Growing awareness through various programs and favorable government initiatives should fuel the automated breast ultrasound system market growth. Australian government launched breast cancer awareness campaign named "Breast Cancer won't wait, everything else can" for early diagnosis and effective treatment.

Increasing product innovation for development of more advanced breast cancer detection techniques will propel automated breast ultrasound system market growth. Automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) is a recent technological advancement that has significantly contributed to ABUS market growth.

Automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) market is slated to exceed USD 950 million by 2024, growing at more than 20% CAGR. ABVS holds benefits such as high reproducibility of images, reduced scan time, delivery of coronal view 3D images with high sensitivity. It also provides high resolution imaging with innovative applications such as fatty tissue imaging and elasticity imaging.

Strong capital investment trends along with high maintenance cost, unattractive reimbursement policies, and awareness regarding consequences of exposure to radiation could restrain automated breast ultrasound system market growth.

Automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS) held more than 45% of industry share in 2015, growing product penetration owing to its improved diagnostic capabilities will stimulate industry demand. Automated Breast Volume Scanner (ABVS) is set to witness a robust 21% CAGR, with the ability to detect small tumors quickly in conjunction with breast imaging will maintain segment growth.

U.S. automated breast ultrasound system(ABUS) market led the regional industry owing to increasing prevalence and adoption of advanced breast screening technologies. Favorable government initiatives, reimbursement scenario and presence of leading market players will stimulate automated breast ultrasound system market growth.

Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/728

China automated breast ultrasound system market share was more than 60% of regional revenue in 2015, with target market size set to reach around USD 1 billion by 2024. Growing population, increasing breast cancer prevalence and growing awareness regarding early detection of breast cancer should expand revenue.

Brazil automated breast ultrasound system market witnessed more than 20% CAGR from 2016 to 2024, with expectations to surpass USD 60 million by 2024. Restricted access to effective breast screening technologies, lack of awareness and delayed diagnosis provide ample business expansion opportunities to regional industry players.

Automated breast ultrasound system market is dominated by few giant players such as are General Electric Company, Siemens, Hitachi, SonoCine, Siemens, Toshiba and Koninklijke Philips.

New technologies are being introduced by players such as Siemens Healthcare, and SonoCine in automated breast ultrasound system market through collaborations and strategic alliances. The new ABVS technology recently approved by FDA, detects small cancer tumors in less time, as well as increases sensitivity and reproducibility of 3D images.

Browse key industry insights spread across 118 pages with 106 market data tables & 10 figures & charts from this 2017 report on automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS) market in detail along with the table of contents at https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/automated-breast-ultrasound-market

Automated breast ultrasound system market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue and volume in USD million and units from 2012 to 2024 , for the following segments:

Automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS) market by product

Automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS)

Automated breast volume scanner (ABVS)

Others

Automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS) market by end-user

Hospitals

Diagnostic Imaging Centers

The above information is provided on a regional and country basis for the following :

North America U.S. Canada

EU UK Germany France Italy Spain Russia

Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia Thailand

Latin America (LATAM) Brazil Argentina

(LATAM) Middle East Saudi Arabia UAE South Africa



Browse Related Reports:

Breast Pump Market Size By Product (Open, Closed), By Technology (Manual, Battery Powered, Electric), By Application (Personal Use, Hospital Grade), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada , Germany , UK, Japan , China , Brazil , Mexico , South Africa ), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2024

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/breast-pump-market

Ultrasound Device Market Size, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Germany , UK, Italy , Russia , China , India , Japan , South Korea , Brazil , Mexico , Saudi Arabia , UAE, South Africa ), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 - 2023

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/ultrasound-device-market

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

Contact Us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: sales@gminsights.com



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SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc.
BERLIN and CAMBRIDGE, England, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

OpenSynergy paves way for next-generation autonomous devices with virtualization for ARM's most advanced real-time processor

OpenSynergy is developing the industry's first software hypervisor for the ARM Cortex-R52 processor, ARM's most advanced real-time safety processor. The hypervisor turns any chip based on the Cortex-R52 into several virtual machines capable of simultaneously executing separate software tasks. To address increasing software complexity in devices such as autonomous vehicles and industrial control systems, this approach allows for the isolation of safety-critical functions from those that require less stringent control. In addition, it enables the consolidation of applications onto fewer electronic control units (ECUs) to both manage complexity and reduce cost.

"Mass-market autonomous vehicles will be engineered with greatly enhanced ECU compute capabilities and the ability to safely manage far more complex software stacks," said Richard York, vice president of embedded marketing, ARM. "The Cortex-R52 was purpose-built for this task, with hypervisor-enabled software separation protecting critical safety features while ensuring fast task execution. This will enable highly performant vehicles that can be fully trusted to take over from the driver."

"The ARM Cortex-R52 processor will bring virtualization technology to a much wider set of devices in the automotive market," said Stefaan Sonck Thiebaut, CEO, OpenSynergy. "In doing so, we look forward to enabling the next generation of vehicle architecture."

The Cortex-R52 introduces hardware support for virtualization to the Cortex-R family of processors while maintaining all the functionality required for hard real-time systems. The ability to maintain deterministic execution within a hypervisor provides an ideal solution to the challenge of concurrent real-time systems in a wide array of robotic applications.

OpenSynergy's software architecture targets microcontrollers such as domain controllers. The hypervisor technology enables several real-time operating systems and AUTOSAR systems at different ASIL levels to run in parallel on the Cortex-R52.

About OpenSynergy

OpenSynergy is a high-tech company specializing in embedded automotive software for in-car cockpit solutions. The core products are the modular software development kit COQOS SDK and the leading Bluetooth stack Blue SDK.

Our products enable the convergence of instrument cluster, head unit, driver assistance and connectivity systems. Essential technologies are virtualization and Open Source software. Our solutions comply with requirements of standards like AUTOSAR and Bluetooth. By doing, so we pave the way for autonomous driving.

OpenSynergy is an independently managed company headquartered in Berlin with further locations in Munich and the U.S. We continue to grow through the strong demand for our products. Our company's team consists primarily of highly qualified engineers. Our corporate culture is inspired by the international character that defines our employees, partners and customers.

Read more on http://www.opensynergy.com

About ARM

ARM technology is at the heart of a computing and connectivity revolution that is transforming the way people live and businesses operate. From the unmissable to the invisible, our advanced, energy-efficient processor designs are enabling the intelligence in 90 billion silicon chips and securely powering products from the sensor to the smartphone to the supercomputer. With more than 1,000 technology partners, including the world's most famous business and consumer brands, we are driving ARM innovation into all areas compute is happening inside the chip, the network and the cloud.

All information is provided "as is" and without warranty or representation. This document may be shared freely, attributed and unmodified. ARM and Cortex are registered trademarks of ARM Limited (or its subsidiaries). All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.  1995-2017 ARM Group.

Contact

OpenSynergy GmbH Sabine Mutumba Director of Marketing Rotherstr. 20 D-10245 Berlin T: +49-(0)30-60-98-540-41 E-Mail: marketing@opensynergy.com ARM Alex Harrod PR Manager, Europe & US, ARM T: +44-7795-363057 E-Mail: Alexandra.Harrod@arm.com

SOURCE OpenSynergy GmbH
VIENNA, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The best businesses from Austria were honoured at an exclusive event in Vienna last night for The European Business Awards sponsored by RSM.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458575/European_Business_Awards.jpg )



The 22 firms were chosen by a panel of independent judges, including senior businesses and academic leaders, to be 'National Champions' in Europe's largest business competition.



At the event, the fifth in a series of events across Europe, attendees had the chance to speak to leading businesses in their field and hear from guest speakers including Stefan Walter, Managing Partner of RSM Austria.

Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards, said: "These events not only celebrate the success of our dynamic National Champions in the competition but also the key role they play in Europe's strong business community. I congratulate all of our champions in Austria."

Lead sponsor RSM, is the sixth largest network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms worldwide, and has supported the European Business Awards since its inception.

Stefan Walter, Managing Partner of RSM Austria said: "We are proud to support Austria's most innovative businesses and give them the possibility to shine on a bigger, international stage."

In the next round, the National Champions are taking part in the Public Vote, which opened on 9 January at http://www.businessawardseurope.com. Category winners and the overall winner of the public vote will be announced at the Gala Final in May 2017.

The European Business Awards was set up to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe. This year it engaged with over 33,000 businesses from 34 countries.

Further information about the National Champions and the Awards can be found at http://www.businessawardseurope.com and http://www.rsm.global



About the European Business Awards:

The European Business Awards' primary purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe.

For all citizens of Europe, prosperity, social and healthcare systems are reliant on businesses creating an even stronger, more innovative, successful, international and ethical business community - one that forms the beating heart of an increasingly globalised economy.

The European Business Awards programme serves the European business community in three ways:

 It celebrates and endorses individuals' and organisations' success

 It provides and promotes examples of excellence for the business community to aspire to

 It engages with the European business community to create debate on key issues

The European Business Awards is now in its 10th year. This year it engaged with over 33,000 businesses from 34 countries. Last year's public vote generated over 227,000 votes from across Europe. Sponsors and partners include RSM, ELITE and PR Newswire.

http://www.businessawardseurope.com.

About RSM:

RSM is the sixth largest network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms, encompassing over 120 countries, 760 offices and more than 38,000 people internationally. The network's total fee income is US$4.64 billion.

RSM is the lead sponsor and corporate champion of the European Business Awards promoting commercial excellence and recognition of entrepreneurial brilliance.

RSM is a member of the Forum of Firms, with the shared objective to promote consistent and high quality standards of financial and auditing practices worldwide.

RSM is the brand used by a network of independent accounting and advisory firms each of which practices in its own right. RSM International Limited does not itself provide any accounting and advisory services. Member firms are driven by a common vision of providing high quality professional services, both in their domestic markets and in serving the international professional service needs of their client base. http://www.rsm.global

About ELITE:

ELITE is a full-service programme designed to share best practice and increase growth opportunities for fast growing companies, with a focus on understanding the capital markets. ELITE is an innovative programme based on exclusive training and a tutorship model, supported by access to the business and financial community. Its aim is to prepare companies for their next stage of growth and investment.

For further information on the programme, companies and the full list of partners, please go to:

http://www.elite-growth.com

About PR Newswire:

PR Newswire is the leading global provider of PR and corporate communications tools that enable clients to distribute news and rich content. We distribute our client's content across traditional, digital and social media channels in real time with fully actionable reporting and monitoring.

Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimisation network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region.

For more information on PR Newswire please visit http://www.prnewswire.co.uk

SOURCE European Business Awards and RSM
TSX ticker symbol; BKX

CAMARILLO, California, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BNK Petroleum Inc. (the "Company") (TSX: BKX) is pleased to announce that it has successfully finished drilling the first well of its 2017 drilling program, the Chandler 8-6H well, in the Company's Tishomingo Field, Oklahoma.

The Chandler 8-6H well, in which the Company has a 99.9% working interest, has been successfully drilled and cased. The well was drilled under-budget and the entire lateral has been placed on target, within the preferred sub-interval of the Caney formation. As anticipated, strong oil and gas shows were recorded while drilling, which are comparable to some of the Company's best producing wells to date.

The Company is scheduled to begin fracture stimulation operations late next week. Once the stimulation operations are complete the Company will immediately begin flowing back the well and put it on production.

The drilling rig will be rigging down over the next few days and then moving to the next location to drill the Hartgraves 1-6H well (100% working interest).

Wolf Regener, President and CEO, commented "I am very pleased that we were able to drill this well safely and under-budget, and that the oil and gas shows look so strong. This result is a testament to the excellent team that we have in place. We are looking forward to completing this well and to drilling and completing our next planned wells, which are also in areas that are geologically comparable to some of our best performing wells. We expect this drilling program to significantly increase our already positive cash flow, as well as prove up additional reserves."

Operations Update

The Company plans to restart the Company's three previously announced shut-in wells over the next week as the offset operator has completed its fracture stimulations. The four non-operated Woodford wells in which the Company has a 5% working interest are also expected to be on production shortly.

About BNK Petroleum Inc.

BNK Petroleum Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and production company focused on finding and exploiting large, predominately unconventional oil and gas resource plays. Through various affiliates and subsidiaries, the Company owns and operates shale oil and gas properties and concessions in the United States. Additionally, the Company is utilizing its technical and operational expertise to identify and acquire additional unconventional projects. The Company's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol BKX.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the timing of and expected results from planned Caney wells development and the timing of production and the performance of planned wells. Forward-looking information is based on plans and estimates of management and interpretations of data by the Company's technical team at the date the data is provided and is subject to several factors and assumptions of management, including that that indications of early results are reasonably accurate predictors of the prospectiveness of the shale intervals, that required regulatory approvals will be available when required, that no unforeseen delays, unexpected geological or other effects, including flooding and extended interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions, equipment failures, permitting delays or labor or contract disputes are encountered, that the development plans of the Company and its co-venturers will not change, that the offset operator's operations will proceed as expected by management, that the demand for oil and gas will be sustained, that the Company will continue to be able to access sufficient capital through financings, farm-ins or other participation arrangements to maintain its projects, and that global economic conditions will not deteriorate in a manner that has an adverse impact on the Company's business, its ability to advance its business strategy and the industry as a whole. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions on which such forward looking information is based vary or prove to be invalid, including that the Company or its subsidiaries is not able for any reason to obtain and provide the information necessary to secure required approvals or that required regulatory approvals are otherwise not available when required, that unexpected geological results are encountered, that equipment failures, permitting delays or labor or contract disputes or shortages are encountered, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g. operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration and development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks, including flooding and extended interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions), that the offset operator's operations have unexpected adverse effects on the Company's operations, that completion techniques require further optimization, that production rates do not match the Company's assumptions, that very low or no production rates are achieved, that the Company is unable to access required capital, that occurrences such as those that are assumed will not occur, do in fact occur, and those conditions that are assumed will continue or improve, do not continue or improve, and the other risks and uncertainties applicable to exploration and development activities and the Company's business as set forth in the Company's management discussion and analysis and its annual information form, both of which are available for viewing under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com, any of which could result in delays, cessation in planned work or loss of one or more concessions and have an adverse effect on the Company and its financial condition. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

For further information: Wolf E. Regener, +1 (805) 484-3613, Email: investorrelations@bnkpetroleum.com, Website: www.bnkpetroleum.com

Related Links

http://www.bnkpetroleum.com



SOURCE BNK Petroleum Inc.
In December 2016, in order to encourage medical device study and innovation and promote the practice of new medical device technology, CFDA published "Guidelines for the Preparation of Special Reports on the Application of Innovative Medical Devices". China has been working on a medical device localization process, especially in the high-performance medical device area, which will boost the development of the Chinese medical device industry.

The Medical device industry represents a massive market in China based on the needs generated by the government's policy orientation and the replacement of medical devices at domestic health care organizations. Case-in-point: in developed overseas markets medical devices and equipment account for 42% of the overall market size of pharmaceuticals and devices/equipment combined whereas in the local Chinese market the share of medical devices and equipment is just 14%; there is thus huge potential to raise the share of locally-made devices. China's medical device sales volume increased from 120 billion yuan to 308 billion yuan between 2010 and 2015, while an average annual growth rate of more than 20% is expected. This will see China's medical device sales volume reach about 600 billion yuan in 2019.

Open industry platform Medtec international medical device and manufacturing technology exhibition drives the industry's innovation development

Medtec China 2016 took place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center from October 26-28th. As one stop in the Medtech world's series of events, Medtec China is an event dedicated to medical device design and manufacturing technology. The three-day event succeeded in gathering 302 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions of the world, of which there were 51 companies participating for the first time in the show. Furthermore, the ratio of international exhibitors exceeded 60%. The event successfully connected 12,134 buyers from 4,012 companies to exhibiting companies. This included group visitors representing over 50 companies. The majority of attendees were R&D and engineering personnel from medical device manufacturers, executive management and company owners, quality control, regulation and oversight, and purchasing and procurement professionals. Medtec China, is dedicated to serving as a high quality community for medical device R&D and production technology, and providing innumerable ideas and possibilities for the development of China's local medical device manufacturers as well as support for multinational medical device manufacturers to set up production and R&D bases in China. The enthusiasm and high satisfaction of all of the exhibitors and visitors proved the value of Medtec China in this specific industry.

Medtec China 2017 helps you to seize business opportunities and to get ahead of the market

On 20-22nd September 2017, the 13th Medtec China will return to the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center again, gathering more than 300 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and regions of the world, as well as attracting an estimated 10,000 visitors from around 4,000 medical device companies. Medtec China provides you the best business opportunities over the course of the three-day show, no matter whether you aim to search for potential customers, seek out R&D technology solutions for your production, communicate with your peers about the challenges and opportunities in the medical device industry, share insights from the industry experts regarding the latest trends, or get direct feedback for your products and services from the market.

To obtain more information, please visit our official website: www.medtecchina.com

Contact us:

Carina Li

Tel: +86 10 5765 2823

Email: carina.li@ubm.com

Medtec China Organizing Committee

SOURCE Medtec
DUBLIN, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Biopsy Device Market (By Country Wise and Product Segment) and Biopsy Procedure Volume Forecast To 2020 - Global Analysis" report to their offering.

Biopsy devices are gaining traction within the industry as a viable alternative to traditional screening methods for cancer. The biopsy device market will experience considerable growth over the forecast period, driven by an increasing number of biopsy procedures. An increasing prevalence of cancer, geriatric population and increasing demand for minimally invasive procedures are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Growing patient awareness levels and the advancement in biopsy techniques are also expected to fuel future growth of the market.

The market for biopsy guidance systems held the largest share in 2015 and is expected to continue to lead the market throughout the forecasting period. The biopsy guidance systems is followed by the needle based biopsy guns segment. Vacuum-assisted biopsy devices represent the fastest growing segment, and increased Medicare reimbursement given for such procedures is expected to help fuel demand.

The market for biopsy needles is expected to remain relatively constant throughout the forecasting period. Forceps and Other devices are expected to account for lesser shares as compared to the other segments, due to their specific applications and also risks associated with their use.

In the Global biopsy procedure volume, Asia accounted for the largest share in 2015. It is predicted that Asia will remain at the dominating position in Global biopsy procedures throughout the forecasting period. United States holds the second largest volume share in 2015. Europe is the third leading region for biopsy procedure being followed by Brazil.

Companies Biopsy Products Analysis - 11 Companies Covered



Argon Medical Devices

Boston Scientific

Carefusion Corporation (Acquired By Becton, Dickinson and Company)

C. R. BARD, Inc

Cook Medical

Devicor Medical Products Inc.

Gallini Medical Devices

Hologic, Inc

INRAD, Inc

Intact Medical Corporation

TSK Laboratory

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Biopsy Device Market - Introduction and Product Types

3. Global Biopsy Device Market and Procedure Volume Analysis (2012 - 2020)

4. Global Biopsy Device Market Share and Procedure Volume Share Analysis (2012 - 2020)

5. Global Biopsy Device Market and Forecast - By Product Segment (2012 - 2020)

6. Biopsy Device Market and Forecast - By Country Wise (2012 - 2020)

7. Biopsy Procedure Volume and Forecast - By Region (2012 - 2020)

8. Global Biopsy Device Market - Company Biopsy Product Analysis

9. Global Biopsy Device Market - Mergers and Acquisitions/Key Deals



10. Global Biopsy Device Market - Driving Factors



11. Global Biopsy Device Market - Challenges



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/58wq4s/biopsy_device

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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Related Links

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Jan 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market by Product, by End User - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014-2022" report to their offering.

Vital signs monitoring 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.

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.

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 Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market:

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 BPmonitorsis 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 professionalforoperation of the device.

Digital thermometers accounted formajor 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 bethefastest 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.

is expected to bethefastest 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.

and jointly accounted for almost one-third of the European vital signs monitoring devices market in 2015. North America generated the highest revenue, accounting forapproximately 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.

Key Market Segments

By Product type

Blood Pressure Monitoring Device

Aneroid BP Monitors

Digital BP Monitors

Ambulatory BP Monitors

Blood Pressure Instrument Accessories

Pulse Oximeters

Table-top/Bedside Pulse Oximeters

Fingertip Pulse Oximeters

Hand-held Pulse Oximeters

Wrist-worn Pulse Oximeters

Pediatric Pulse Oximeters

Temperature Monitoring Device

Digital Thermometers

Infrared Thermometers

Temperature Strips

By End User

Hospitals & Clinics

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs)

Home Care Settings

Companies Mentioned

Welch Allyn (a subsidiary of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.)

SunTech Medical, Inc. (a subsidiary of Halma plc)

Nonin Medical, Inc.

Omron Corporation

Masimo Corporation

Contec Medical Systems Co., Ltd

Medtronic plc

Nihon Kohden Corporation

Smiths Group plc

A&D Company, Limited

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/97vrfd/vital_signs

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Related Links

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SOURCE Research and Markets
WASHINGTON, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

From 9-10 March 2017, Ministers of Energy, Regulators and Heads of Utilities from Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Brazil and Peru will meet with energy investors in Washington D.C. at the Growing Economies: Latin America Energy Forum to discuss opportunities for project partnerships in the energy sector.

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(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458577/Latin_America_Energy_Forum.jpg )



Latin American public and private sector leaders will address countries' policies and strategies to engage investors and stimulate open discussions. 250 energy developers, financiers and public sector stakeholders are expected to attend the meeting from North America and countries across Latin America.

"The meeting will feature high level keynote presentations to highlight new investment opportunities, and panel discussions to address new trends for power development in the region," said Talita Covre, Programme Manager at EnergyNet. "With official representation of Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Brazil and Peru, among others, the purpose is really to put government representatives and investors together and get new partnerships started for power projects in these countries."

Primary themes and topics of the meeting include regulation development, investigating how regulator strategies are impacting investors' confidence and behaviour, the 'Renewable Energy Transition', identifying the increasing need of adaptation to accommodate the growth of the renewables sector, and a panel on 'Renewable Energy Technology' - exploring the potential of technology as the biggest enabler of renewable power production at more competitive costs.

Other panel discussions will explore the impact of 'Distributed Generation' in saving investments in transmission and improving the stability of the electric power service, a session on gas demand following the International Energy Agency's estimate that natural gas fired generation in Central and South America will increase by an average of 2.2 per cent a year, and a finance-focused session examining the role of development finance institutions and commercial finance providers in availing capital.

The Latin America Energy Forum is co-located with the Powering Africa: Summit from 9-10 March at the Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C. The Powering Africa: Summit is a conference for decision-makers in the energy sector showcasing African energy & infrastructure projects seeking investment.

For more information about this meeting:

Meeting dates: 9-10 March 2017

Venue: Marriott Marquis, Washington, D.C., USA

Website: http://www.latam-growingeconomies.com

Contact: Amy Offord - Marketing Manager

Email: Amy.offord@energynet.co.uk

Telephone: +44(0)20-7384-8068



SOURCE EnergyNet
NEW YORK, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- Alan Press joins the company in new senior executive role

IBT Media announces the appointment of Alan Press in a newly-created, strategic role of President. The appointment is effective immediately.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/182943LOGO )



Press, who will be based in the company's New York headquarters and report directly to the Global Chief Executive, Dev Pragad, will have responsibility for direct sales and branded content, events, marketing and circulation across the company's portfolio of seven media brands, including Newsweek.

Press joins the company with a wealth of senior-level marketing and executive experience, having served as Global Vice President of Events Marketing at Gartner Inc. where he oversaw the entire Events Marketing business. Prior to this, he spent nine years at The Economist Group, where he headed marketing for all The Economist-branded businesses in The Americas, including The Economist Intelligence Unit before assuming a global brief as Head of Digital Marketing & New Product development. He began his career with American Express.

Speaking on the appointment, Dev Pragad, Global Chief Executive at IBT Media said: "Alan is a highly-experienced executive and has a solid background in marketing, circulation, advertising and events, all of which are fundamental to the next round of growth at IBT Media. We look forward to working with him on a global level to further develop Newsweek, International Business Times and the other brands in our portfolio."

Alan Press added: "I am thrilled to join such an accomplished team of digital leaders and media executives. Readers clearly find IBT Media content compelling and this has helped the company to engage new audiences and clients. I look forward to introducing the brands to additional markets and customer segments and to expand upon precision-based digital solutions for our clients, using marketing science, data and relevant content."

NOTE TO EDITORS

About IBT Media

IBT Media is a fast-growing digital media company headquartered in New York City. It was founded in 2006 with the launch of the International Business Times, a digital news publication that today reaches an average of 57+ million readers each month via eight separate editions, in four languages. Market-specific editions are now available in the U.S., the UK, Australia, China, India, Italy, Japan & Singapore. Today, IBT Media owns and operates a total of 14 digital properties including the International Business Times, Design & Trend, Fashion Times, iDigital Times, Latin Times, Medical Daily & the iconic Newsweek brand which it bought in 2013 as a digital-only property before enhancing the offering with the reintroduction of the print edition. Newsweek now publishes a U.S. and International edition weekly in English. The international edition - branded as Newsweek International -serves the Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions while language-specific editions are available in Japan, Korea, Latin America, Pakistan, Poland and Serbia. A separate English-language edition is also published for the Middle East. The print edition of Newsweek is now available in 68 territories while round-the-clock- coverage on the latest breaking world news can be found at newsweek.com.

SOURCE IBT Media
RAMAT GAN, Israel, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- New state-of-the-art technology helps clinicians provide personalised pain relief

Medasense Biometrics Ltd. announced today that it has received CE mark approval for its novel Pain Monitoring Device, PMD200. This new technology is now available to help physicians objectively assess a patient's pain in critical care situations, where patients are unable to communicate. This allows physicians to ensure pain is properly managed.

Objectively assessing how much pain an individual person is in has long been a challenge. When a patient is unable to describe their pain, it is even more of a problem. There are currently no validated objective markers of pain that are recommended for clinical use[1] and this can make it difficult, especially for anaesthesia teams, to provide the right amount of pain-relief medication.

To address these challenges Medasense has developed PMD200, a pain monitoring device based on the patented NOL technology that quantifies patients' physiological response to pain. The easy-to-use system consists of a non-invasive finger probe which acquires physiological signals from four different sensors and calculates dozens of pain-related physiological parameters. This data is then analysed by artificial intelligence algorithms and converted into a single pain index, the Nociception Level (NOL) index, where 0 = no pain and 100 = extreme pain.

Using the system will enable physicians, in particular critical care teams, to optimise and personalise pain treatment avoiding over or under use of pain medication that can result in significant complications[2],[3]. On regaining consciousness after surgery, common complications resulting from opioid administration include nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, constipation[4] and hyperalgesia[5]. Successful clinical validation studies in world-class European and Canadian hospitals support its use in these settings, with the NOL Index demonstrating superior intraoperative pain assessment over currently used methods[6],[7].

Professor Albert Dahan, MD. PhD. from the Department of Anaesthesiology at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands said, "We have been studying the PMD device for a number of years now, and I believe that the NOL index may allow for more balanced anesthesia, as for the first time we are able to titrate analgesic medication to patients' needs. In the upcoming weeks the LUMC will be adding PMD200 devices into the operating rooms, in the future I hope to see the NOL index integrated into other monitors as it provides significant decision support information and can potentially positively impact patient outcomes".

"The European launch of PMD200 marks a significant milestone for Medasense's breakthrough pain assessment technology," said Galit Zuckerman, Medasense's CEO and founder, "With future products and applications in development, our technology has the potential to dramatically change pain care, pain research and the industry as a whole."

The company is setting up distribution networks to make the system available in operating rooms and critical care units across Europe.

The company is also conducting research in other forms of pain, for example chronic pain including long-term back pain, with the aim of broadening the situations where the NOL Index could help with pain management.

About Medasense:

Medasense develops innovative medical devices and applications in the field of objective pain monitoring.

The company is led by experienced professionals in the fields of signal processing and computer engineering, together with an extensive team of medical industry veterans and prominent pain specialists.

Following extensive multidisciplinary research, the company has developed a novel index that quantifies the physiological response to pain.

The breakthrough NOL (Nociception level) index technology paves the way for precision medicine, allowing for personalised and optimised pain care.

For more information, visit: http://www.medasense.com.

* PMD-200 is CE marked. Available for commercial use in Europe and is currently limited by U.S. law to investigational use only.

Additional Media Resources

Product backgrounder - http://www.medasense.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Medasense-Backgrounder-PMD-200-Product-1.2017.pdf

Pain during surgery backgrounder - http://www.medasense.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Medasense-Pain-during-surgery-and-objective-measurement-1.2017.pdf

PMD200 video - http://www.medasense.com/about-us/media-resource-center/

References:

Cowen R et al., (2015) Assessing pain objectively: the use of physiological markers. Anaesthesia, 70:828-847 Gan TJ et al., (2014) Incidence, patient satisfaction, and perceptions pf post-surgical pain: Results from a US national survey. Current Medical Research and Opinion. 30:149-60 Pogatzki-Zahn E et al., (2015) A Prospective Multicenter Study to Improve Postoperative Pain: Identification of Potentialities and Problems. Plos One, 10:e0143508 Benyamin R et al., (2008) Opioid Complications and Side Effects. Pain Physician: Opioid Special Issue. 11:S105-S120 Joly V et al., (2005) Remifentanil-induced postoperative hyperalgesia and its prevention with small dose ketamine. Anesthesiology, 103:147-55 Julien M et al., (2016) Nociception Level (NoL) index alteration after standardized nociceptive stimulus decreases with higher doses of remifentanil. Abstract:European Society of Anaesthesiology. Edry R et al., (2016) Intraoperative validation of the NOL Index, a non-invasive nociception monitor. Anesthesiology, 125:193-203

Media Enquiries



Kate Perry

Phone: +44(0)7747-533-260

Email: kperry@jpa.com



SOURCE Medasense Biometrics Ltd
The facility, validated by the FDA, is the only location in Europe that manufactures meglumine, an amino sugar derived from glucose. The facility in Spain is solely dedicated to the production of meglumine, thereby ensuring continuity of supply to customers as well as meeting increasing demand for the excipient. As an excipient, meglumine interacts directly with active pharmaceutical ingredients to increase solubility. Therefore, the manufacture of meglumine must meet the same stringent regulatory and quality requirements as APIs.

"Our new facility was optimized around the manufacturing process to achieve greater efficiencies and meets the most stringent quality standards for manufacturing meglumine," said Andrew Bulpin, Head of Process Solutions Strategic Marketing & Innovation, Life Science. "The result is a high level of confidence in quality and security of supply for our customers."

All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life  from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck generated sales of  12.85 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. The company holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

Related Links

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SOURCE Merck
SENIGALLIA, Italy, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Namirial recognized as a Leader in new analyst reports

The Namirial Group continues its ascent in the world market of Digital Transaction Management (DTM). The group, led by Claudio Gabellini and Enrico Giacomelli, and headquartered in Italy, has been ranked as a leader in Europe and one of the most promising, innovative firms at international level in the Forrester report: "Vendor Landscape: E-Signature, Q4 2016".

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(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458068/Aragon_Research_Globe_for_Digital_Transaction_Management_Infographic.jpg )





Forrester's rating has been further corroborated by Aragon Research in their recent report: "The Aragon Research Globe for Digital Transaction Management 2016". The US company, which analyzes innovation, quality and effectiveness of technological services for businesses globally, ranked Namirial as a leader firms in the global DTM market.

"Namirial is definitely a vendor to watch," said Jim Lundy, CEO of Aragon Research. "Recent acquisitions of SIGNificant Software and XYZmo software immediately position Namirial as one of the largest European DTM Providers. eSignanyhere, Namirial's omnichannel DTM solution, is a new combined offering for the digital signature market. It supports multiple signature formats with biometric features across all channels (physical and digital) and devices (i.e. PCs, tablets, smartphones, kiosks)."

In the Aragon Report, Namirial was ranked in the leader quadrant and also was highlighted as one of the vendors with global presence. Biometrics are a must have capability for many European and International customers but not yet significant for the U.S. market where Adobe and Docusign have the majority of their business.

It is clear, based on these recent research reports, that Namirial is the main vendor to consider when legally binding signatures are an important decision factor and a short-list vendor to consider for any project whose objective is to transform paper processes to digital processes.

"We are pleased and honored to be recognized by Aragon as a leader in DTM," said Namirial CEO, Luigi Enrico Tomasini. "We've focused on helping enterprises simplify how business gets done by transforming slow, complex, costly, manual, paper based processes into frictionless, adaptable digital processes." Tomasini continued: "If this comparison were done solely on the strength of European requirements then we feel Namirial would have been ranked as the #1 vendor."

"Our capabilities, flexibility and go to market model will make us the new vendor any enterprise should consider for their digital transformation projects or, as the enterprise replacement for their current e-sign pilot," noted Paul Giordano, Country Manager NORAM in charge of relationship with analysts.

About Aragon Research

Aragon Research does not endorse vendors, or their products or services that are referenced in its research publications, and does not advise users to select those vendors that are rated the highest. Aragon Research publications consist of the opinions of Aragon Research and Advisory Services organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Aragon Research provides its research publications and the information contained in them "AS IS," without warranty of any kind.

About Namirial

Namirial is a Software and Service Company and a Trust Service Provider, which offers Trust Services like e-signature, time stamping, registered e-mail, e-invoicing and digital archiving to more than 1.000.000 customers. Namirial has installed more than 400.000 seats of its handwritten biometric signature SW and process several millions of transactions every day.

http://www.namirial.com/en/

SOURCE Namirial Spa
NEW YORK, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Surging energy demand, maturing onshore fields and increasing offshore hydrocarbon exploration activities to drive global oil & gas subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) market through 2021

According to TechSci Research report "Global Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines (SURF) Market, By Component, By Application, By Region, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2021", the global market for oil & gas SURF is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% during 2016-2021, on account of rising output from offshore fields. As the era of easy oil is over, companies are going offshore in deep and ultradeep waters. Offshore field development requires subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines to be installed to bring oil or gas from seabed to surface processing plant. Increase in offshore oil and gas exploration activities is projected to boost growth in global oil & gas SURF market through 2021.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 )



Browse 9 market data Tables and 68 Figures spread through 157 Pages and an in-depth TOC on

"Global Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines (SURF) Market"

https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/global-oil-gas-subsea-umbilicals-risers-and-flowlines-surf-market-by-component-by-application-deepwater-shallow-water-etc-by-region-europe-north-america-etc-competition-forecast-and-opportunities/867.html

Deepwater application dominated global oil & gas SURF market, on account of new offshore oil and gas discoveries. Also, implementation of government policies and regulations supporting offshore exploration are anticipated to trigger growth in global oil & gas SURF market during the forecast period. In 2015, deepwater oil production from water depths greater than 125 meters reached 9.93 million barrels per day, registering an increase of over 25% from nearly 7 million barrels per day in 2005. Europe was the largest regional market for global oil & gas SURF market, as the region is home to Norway, a pioneer in developing offshore fields. Rising demand for oil & gas SURF equipment in the region can be attributed to recovery in crude prices and improvements in financial situation of upstream players. Middle East & Africa is the second largest market for oil & gas SURF market across the globe, due to increased subsea activities in the region in offshore waters. Angola and Nigeria are hubs for offshore oil and gas exploration with most of the major oil & gas companies eyeing stake in those acreages.

Download Sample Report

@ https://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=867

Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report.

"Global demand for oil & gas SURF products is on the rise, owing to increasing offshore production, and advent of modern technology and innovations in subsea equipment space. Availability of advanced SURF equipment is making deep and ultra-deepwater exploration and production activities technologically viable and financially feasible. As subsea technology matures, an increased demand for SURF equipment is expected, owing to rising production from offshore producing fields and exploration of new fields. This is anticipated to further fuel growth in global oil & gas SURF market through 2021.", said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.

"Global Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines (SURF) Market, By Component, By Application, By Region, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2021" has evaluated global oil & gas SURF market and provides statistics and information on market structure, industry behaviour and trends. The report includes market projections and demand forecasting. The report is intended to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers to take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges, and opportunities available in global oil & gas SURF market.

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SOURCE TechSci Research
SAN FRANCISCO, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The global polypropylene (PP) absorbent hygiene market is expected to reach USD 17.03 billion by 2022, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing hygiene awareness among consumers regarding the utility of diapers and rising infant population across the globe is expected to remain a key driving factor for global PP absorbent hygiene market over the forecast period. The growing geriatric population base in the U.S., Japan, and Europe has created demand for adult incontinence products.

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Replacement of synthetic raw materials with bio-based substitutes are anticipated to create new avenues for industry participants. Bio-based polypropylene polymers help in preventing skin rashes among babies, keeping them dry. However, prolonged exposure to polypropylene absorbent products may cause respiratory tract problems, eye irritation, skin problems and neurological problems. Several R&D initiatives are being taken by the market player to improvise their product portfolio in the polypropylene absorbent hygiene industry.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Polypropylene (PP) Absorbent Hygiene Market Analysis By Technology, By Application (Baby Diapers, Female Hygiene Products, Adult Incontinence Products) Trends & Dynamics, Competitive Landscape, And Segment Forecasts, 2012 - 2022" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/polypropylene-pp-absorbent-hygiene-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Global polypropylene (PP) absorbent hygiene market demand was 3.22 million tons in 2014 and is expected to reach 5.75 million tons by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2015 to 2022

The spunbond technological process emerged as the leading technology used and accounted for over 45% of total market in 2014. This technology is considered economical in comparison to its counterparts.

Baby diapers were the most dominant application segment and accounted for over 35% of total market volume in 2014. Increasing birth rates in Asia Pacific is expected to drive this segment over the forecast period.

is expected to drive this segment over the forecast period. Asia Pacific was the leading regional market with a demand exceeding 35% of the total market in 2014. Shifting consumer buying trends coupled with growing urbanization and increasing disposable income among consumers in India , China , Indonesia and Vietnam is expected to drive the regional market over the forecast period.

was the leading regional market with a demand exceeding 35% of the total market in 2014. Shifting consumer buying trends coupled with growing urbanization and increasing disposable income among consumers in , , and is expected to drive the regional market over the forecast period. Growth in developed economies of Europe and North America is expected to be driven primarily due to increasing geriatric population. Urinary incontinence has been a major problem among aging population which leads to pressure sores and skin irritation.

and is expected to be driven primarily due to increasing geriatric population. Urinary incontinence has been a major problem among aging population which leads to pressure sores and skin irritation. Major polypropylene absorbent hygiene market participants include Kimberly Cark, Mitsui, Fibertex, Mada, Pegas Nonwovens, Jofo and Polymers Group Inc. Companies adopt a low-cost strategy to attract customers and gain market share. R&D initiatives to develop superior products play a critical role in penetrating the market.

Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Ethylene Butyl Acrylate Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/ethylene-butyl-acrylate-market



Propylene Oxide Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/propylene-oxide-market



Automotive Composites Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/automotive-composites-market



Thermoformed Plastics Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/thermoformed-plastics-market

Grand View Research has segmented the polypropylene absorbent hygiene market on the basis of technology, application and region:

Global Polypropylene (PP) Absorbent Hygiene Technology Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) Spunbond Meltblown Composites Staples

Global Polypropylene (PP) Absorbent Hygiene Application Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) Baby Diapers Female Hygiene Products Adult Incontinence Products Others

Global Polypropylene (PP) Absorbent Hygiene Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022) North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK Italy Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Thailand Malaysia Indonesia Middle East & Africa UAE Egypt Turkey Saudi Arabia South Africa Central & South America



Read Our Blogs - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/blog/polypropylene-pp-absorbent-hygiene-market-size-share

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.



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SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The Annual General Meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at SAS head office, Frosundaviks alle 1, Solna.

To attend the Annual General Meeting and notification

Shareholders who wish to attend the Annual General Meeting must be registered in the share register of the Company maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on 16 February 2017, and must notify the Company no later than 16 February 2017. Shareholders with common shares in Denmark and Norway who wish to attend the Annual General Meeting must notify VP Investor Services A/S in Denmark and Nordea Issuer Service in Norway by 3.00 p.m. on 15 February 2017. Detailed instructions about notification and rules regarding proxy and accompanying assistants to shareholders are detailed in the attached complete notice convening the Annual General Meeting.

Admission cards for the Annual General Meeting

Admission cards, to be presented when entering the Annual General Meeting venue, will be sent out around 15-16 February 2017 to all shareholders who have submitted a notification of attendance in accordance with the instructions.

Number of shares and votes in the Company

The Company has at the time of publication of this Notice issued 330,082,551 common shares and 0 subordinate shares, equivalent to a total of 330,082,551 votes. Furthermore, the Company has issued 7,000,000 preference shares equivalent to a total of 700,000 votes. No shares are held by the Company itself.

Proposed agenda

1. Meeting is called to order.

2. Election of a chairperson for the meeting.

3. Preparation and approval of the voting list.

4. Approval of the agenda.

5. Election of two persons to verify the minutes.

6. Determination of whether the meeting has been duly convened.

7. Presentation of the annual accounts and auditors' report as well as the consolidated accounts and consolidated auditors' report.

8. Report on the work of the Board, the Remuneration Committee and the Audit Committee, followed by the CEO's address and in conjunction with this, the opportunity for shareholders to put questions to the Board and Group Management.

9. Resolutions on:

a) the approval of the income statement and balance sheet and the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet,

b) the dispositions of the Company's earnings in accordance with the approved balance sheet, and

c) discharge from liability for the Board members and the CEO.

10.Resolutions on:

a) the number of Board members,

b) remuneration for Board members, and

c) remuneration for the auditor.

11.Election of Board members and Chairman of the Board.

12.Election of auditor.

13.Resolution on the Nomination Committee.

14.Resolution on the Board's proposed guidelines for remuneration of senior executives.

15.Meeting is adjourned.

SAS attaches the full notice.

For further information, please contact:

Press Contact,

Tel: +46-8-797-2944

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/sas/r/sas-ab--publ--announces-notice-to-the-annual-general-meeting-on-22-february-2017,c2168697

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE SAS
BOSTON and DUBLIN, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Digital Health company SilverCloud Health, the leading provider of evidence-based online mental health and behavioural healthcare solutions, announced that it has raised $8.1 million in Series A funding. Venture capital firm B Capital Group - founded by Raj Ganguly and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin - led the investment round with significant participation from ACT Venture Capital and returning investors, Investec Ventures and AIB Seed Capital Fund managed by DBIC, NDRC and Enterprise Ireland.

SilverCloud Health is a multi-award winning global health tech company providing online therapeutic solutions to improve behavioural health and mental wellness; since launching in 2012 it has gone on to support over 80,000 patients across its global customer base, delivering clinical results that are on par with face-to-face therapy.

SilverCloud Health chief executive and co-founder Ken Cahill said the company is defining a new healthcare model to meet the demand of the rapidly growing behavioural healthcare market, which in the US alone is estimated to be worth $440 billion. "This new investment enables us to drive forward with our commitment to evolve our health platform and address the ever-increasing global need in behavioural healthcare. We believe that technology is the enabler to address the biggest healthcare challenge of this century, maximising clinical delivery while enhancing patient access and choice, through the ability to engage with therapy at a time that fits into diverse lifestyles and through devices that are a part of our everyday lives."

"We chose B Capital to lead our Series A because of their healthcare knowledge and relationships, and due to their partnership with The Boston Consulting Group, which has opened doors for us to new commercial partners in the US," he added.

"SilverCloud Health's mission is to make people healthier by providing effective, accessible and affordable behavioural healthcare opportunities, filling a massive void in the market today. B Capital Group is excited to back Ken and the team at SilverCloud Health, as they continue to change the way behavioural healthcare is delivered," said Eduardo Saverin, Co-founder and Partner, B Capital Group. "Our investment in SilverCloud Health is driven by our confidence in its team, its proven track record working with global health organisations and its esteemed partner network. This new capital will enable SilverCloud Health to continue to innovate, expand and broadly deploy its programmes to the millions of individuals who need them."

This funding round comes as SilverCloud Health is growing rapidly with an expanding research pipeline that continues to show the clinical effectiveness of the company's behavioural health platform. The SilverCloud Health platform is currently used by over 120 healthcare organisations across Europe and North America. Within the UK National Health Service (NHS), the company has seen an exponential growth of clients-from supporting 1 percent of NHS mental health services two years ago to over 45 percent today. More broadly within the UK SilverCloud Health works with other organisations including universities and employers. The new capital will be used to meet growing demand in Europe and North America, build out its commercial, development and clinical teams and drive its strong clinical research and publishing agenda.

With proven results in major health systems globally, this investment will allow expansion into new areas such as integration with personal health and activity monitoring devices to give a more integrated personalised context across physical and behavioural healthcare.

Gavin Teo, Partner at B Capital Group said, "SilverCloud Health is redefining access to quality, outcomes-based care for hard-to-treat and high cost behavioural health populations. Their digital health platform is enabling new ways for provider systems and pharma companies to personalise therapeutic delivery to the individual patient, which is a building block for clinically validated, value driven care. B Capital is thrilled to be the lead investor in SilverCloud Health at such an exciting time in their growth."

"We've seen SilverCloud's impact on patients and clinicians. Patients have seen it transform their daily lives, with a therapy they can control, and clinicians have been able to rapidly integrate it into clinical pathways," says John O'Sullivan, General Partner at ACT Venture Capital. "The efficacy data is compelling and is evident across a very large and diverse range of cases. We are delighted to be working with the SilverCloud team to positively impact and change many more lives and transform the economics of healthcare delivery."

Today SilverCloud Health offers 22 evidence-based programmes addressing conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress as well as for long-term chronic conditions (diabetes, COPD, and cardiovascular disease). SilverCloud Health has spun out from the NDRC in 2012, with the backing of Investec Ventures and Dublin BIC and has been built on over a decade of academic and clinical research. Clinically led full randomised control trials (RCT) have demonstrated that SilverCloud Health's programmes are extremely effective, engaging with patients and provide positive clinical outcomes that are on par with face-to-face therapy.

In 2016, SilverCloud Health was highlighted in Accenture's Digital Health Tech Vision 2016 report. The report listed 5 key innovative companies taking charge of healthcare delivery including Apple, Uber, United Healthcare, Philips and SilverCloud Health. In November 2016, SilverCloud Health was listed in the Top 100 Global Disruptive Companies in Healthcare, a report compiled by The Journal of mHealth which provides insight into the key sector trends that are emerging from across the healthcare continuum when it comes to the adoption of technology-led products and services.

In the UK, clinical and financial benefits of online mental health services are being increasingly recognised, with Prime Minister, Theresa May, announcing 67.7 million funding for its expansion earlier this month.

About B Capital

B Capital Group is a venture capital firm specialising in growth-stage investments with pioneering companies that are ready to scale across the global stage. B Capital Group was co-founded in 2015 by Eduardo Saverin (Facebook founder) and Raj Ganguly with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Singapore. Partnering with The Boston Consulting Group, and its incubation arm BCG Digital Ventures, B Capital delivers unparalleled access to top corporations to match cutting-edge start-ups with the world's most powerful CEOs, platforms, and brands. Current companies include Evidation Health and Ninja Van.

About ACT Venture Capital

ACT Venture Capital is a specialist, multi-stage, technology investor. ACT is Ireland's leading independent venture capital company with over $500m under management and a team with extensive experience working with entrepreneurs to build scale.

About SilverCloud Health

SilverCloud Health is a leading provider of outcomes-focused online behavioural health and wellbeing solutions. Health systems and healthcare organisations use SilverCloud Health to provide care populations with immediate access to clinically proven, evidenced-based content, programmes and support within the area of mental health (depression, anxiety, stress) and long term/chronic illness care (diabetes, COPD, CVD). SilverCloud Health offers a complete clinical platform that flexes around a provider's specific care delivery needs and protocols delivering mental wellness up to full clinical intervention level including self-help, supported online, preventive care, treatment, adjunct to face-to-face through to relapse care.

SilverCloud Health is a spin-out company from the Technology Enhanced Therapy (TET) project, a four-year joint translational research project (2008 - 2012) backed by NDRC investment and undertaken by NDRC, Trinity College Dublin's School of Computer Science & Statistics and Parents Plus, Mater University Hospital. Prior to this, the project also benefited from over a decade of direct collaborative academic research between Trinity College Dublin and Mater University Hospital into online behavioural health delivery.

SOURCE SilverCloud Health
DUBLIN, Jan 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "CountryFocus: Healthcare, Regulatory and Reimbursement Landscape - South Africa" report to their offering.

The healthcare market in South Africa is growing due to high prevalence of chronic indications, regulatory reforms and new healthcare policies. However, the pricing policies that promote the dispensing of low cost drugs are hindering the growth of the pharmaceutical market.

In 2013, the population was approximately 53 million, having grown at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 1.7% from 2008. Due to improvements in healthcare facilities, the elderly population has been increasing and as of 2013 comprised 5.2% of the entire population (STATSSA, 2008; STATSSA, 2009; STATSSA, 2010; STATSSA, 2011; STATSSA, 2014g).

Infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) have high prevalence rates in South Africa. In 2011, approximately 11.2% of the total population was infected with HIV. In 2009, the TB incidence rate was 971 per 100,000 population, and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular, renal and respiratory diseases has increased due to changes in lifestyle (HST, 2011). These are the driving factors for the growth in the pharmaceutical market.

In 2006, the government introduced the Free Healthcare for All policy, under which free healthcare will be provided to all South Africans in all public healthcare facilities (Harrison, 2009). This has increased the usage of healthcare facilities, which has in turn increased pharmaceutical consumption. In 2013, the government proposed revisions to its intellectual property rights policy to both enforce patent protection and increase the accessibility of medicines, which is currently under review (Medecins Sans Frontieres, 2014). The government also introduced National Health Insurance (NHI) in 2011, which is expected to further promote the use of healthcare facilities.

In South Africa, the price that a manufacturer can charge for a drug is based on a Single Exit Price (SEP), which is the price decided by the government after selecting the lowest price of the drug in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Spain. The pharmacies get the drug at the SEP and the pharmacists add a markup. The pharmacists are allowed to charge the highest markups on the medicines with the lowest cost. This promotes the dispensing of low cost generics over branded drugs, hindering the growth of pharmaceutical market.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Tables & Figures

2 Introduction

3 Overview of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Markets

4 Market Access

5 Country Analysis

6 Opportunities and Challenges

7 Appendix

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/b9s6wr/countryfocus

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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Related Links

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Shrewsbury Hong Kong is a primary school that plans to cater for children between the ages of 3 and 11 years. It is being purpose-built in the Tseung Kwan O district of Hong Kong's New Territories next to a 350-hectare mountain forest and opens in 2018.

Sir David Lees, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Shrewsbury Hong Kong and a former Chairman of the Court of the Bank of England, said, "We are delighted with the trust placed in Shrewsbury by the Hong Kong Education Bureau. Our commitment is to create a great school in Hong Kong in the tradition of Shrewsbury School in the United Kingdom, which is one of the original nine 'Great Schools' of Britain, and has a firm place among the country's highly reputed schools."

Shrewsbury School was established by Royal Charter in 1552. Its tradition of excellence reaches to the time of the great British monarch Elizabeth I, who supported its development and expansion to become one of the finest schools in Britain.

Shrewsbury Hong Kong's establishment is a part of the Hong Kong Education Bureau's strategy to increase the competitiveness of Hong Kong as a destination that can attract the best expatriate professionals, and, with them, greater investment. Hong Kong has a shortage of international school places which is particularly acute at the primary level, with an estimated shortfall of over 4,200 places in the 2016/2017 school year.

Sir David, who has also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Shrewsbury School in the UK, added: "From its first day, Shrewsbury Hong Kong will achieve the standards of excellence of the school in Britain. We are putting in every resource necessary to make that happen - from ensuring that there are a sufficiently large number of children in every age-group to enable the best learning environment, to enrolling the finest teachers through a recruitment programme conducted in the UK."

Ensuring the excellence of Shrewsbury Hong Kong is Mr. Stephen Holroyd, Director of Schools for Shrewsbury in Asia and an educationalist with 12 years' experience in the region as Principal of the outstandingly successful Shrewsbury in Bangkok.

"We are doing something truly exceptional and establishing no less than 6 classes in every primary year group, each with around 20 children. It's an unusually big commitment, but one that will lay the foundations of a genuinely great school," he said.

Mr. Holroyd explained that having a critical mass of 120 children of similar age in every primary year group lets the school design age-appropriate environments specifically to suit the needs of a particular age group as well as to build function-specific space that is equipped just right for that particular year group.

He noted that Shrewsbury Hong Kong is the only new school in Hong Kong to have made such a deep commitment to every age group and that it was also enrolling more than 70 age-specialised teaching staff.

"Having such depth and diversity of specialised teaching talent within an individual year group leads to a much richer curriculum and the pooling of a broader mix of teaching experiences from which both children and other teachers benefit," Mr. Holroyd added.

He said that the presence of many peers in a year group also supports the proper social development of children, because children learn a lot from interacting with their peers.

"Every child at Shrewsbury will have around 120 other children of similar age with whom to play and learn, and from among whom to choose and make all-important life-long friendships," Mr. Holroyd noted.

Mr. Ben Keeling has been appointed as Principal of Shrewsbury Hong Kong.

Mr. Holroyd said, "We are pleased that Mr. Keeling has accepted our invitation to lead the school. He is a highly respected educationalist with specialist experience in primary schools and extensive knowledge of local needs. He has an outstanding track record as an Assistant Principal and Deputy Principal in two international schools in South East Asia, including four years in another international school in Hong Kong."

Parents are invited to register their interest in the school at www.shrewsbury.hk. An Open House will be held in Hong Kong on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd April, 2017, where parents can meet the Principal and his team to learn more about Shrewsbury in Hong Kong and the UK.

Note to the Editor :

The nine 'Great Schools' of Britain are: Shrewsbury School, Charterhouse School, Eton College, Harrow School, Rugby School, Westminster School, Winchester College, St. Paul's School, and Merchant Taylors' School.

Related Links

http://www.shrewsbury.hk



SOURCE Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong
BUDAPEST, Hungary, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The third InfoBal - the InfoBall - will take place February 18th 2017, in InterContinental Budapest. The most elegant annual event of the Hungarian infocom industry is a very special social meeting: representatives of the most innovative and dynamic branch enjoy here the formalities of old traditions.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458578/PRNE_InfoBall_2017.jpg )



In 2017, Hungarians commemorate the Compromise between Austria and Hungary that took place 150 years ago. This historical reconciliation gave the region a new momentum in all fields of the societies. Referring to this 150 anniversary InfoBal this year gets a very traditional touch: it will be a starry revival of the traditional ball culture with live classic music, Wiener walzer and English waltz as opening dances. Guests are invited to the dance floor to participate in the opening show with Hungarian dance champions. Old traditional customs will also be shortly recalled in the show. As already twice before, InfoBal will again organise a silent charity auction, offering nice and valuable paintings of Hungarian contemporary fine artists from Budapest.

Miklos Sesztak, Minister for national development, as main patron supports the infocom industry's event that will certainly be the jewel of the coming ball season. The Hungarian government in this way sets a high value on the InfoBal organisers' approach to traditions and charity. Sandor Orojan, main organiser of the InfoBal, said that, when finally selecting InterContinental Budapest, he was looking for an undivided space that would be capable of comfortably hosting 600 guests. Orojan hopes that the third InfoBal will be the largest one by the number of the attendees in its history, and it will very probably be the most attended ball in this season in Budapest.

The InfoBall is an event organised by Crowdfunder Kft.

Contact info:

Sandor Orojan

+36-20-669-3846

orojansandor@gmail.com



SOURCE Crowdfunder Kft.
"By 2020, most of the legacy HIT systems will be replaced with new Web/cloud-based interoperable solutions throughout the care continuum," said Frost & Sullivan Transformational Health Industry Analyst Dinesh Kumar. "The demand for cloud computing and virtualisation in healthcare will be high by 2020, driven by the evolving regulatory landscape, the need to reduce hospital IT systems' downtime, and necessity for efficient sharing of health information across entities in a synchronised format."

Western Europe Hospital Information Technology Outlook, 2016-2020 is part of Frost & Sullivan's Transformational Health Growth Partnership Service program. The research examines healthcare provider-centric, healthcare payer, and hospital-based administrative and financial IT service segments to detail the expanding role of eHealth technologies and healthcare digitisation solutions in healthcare across the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and Benelux. An analysis of business models, competitive landscape, and key companies to watch is also included.

Click here (https://goo.gl/cGo6e1) for complimentary access to more information on this analysis and to register for a Growth Strategy Dialogue, a free interactive briefing with Frost & Sullivan's thought leaders.

The Western Europe HIT market, despite its growth potential, is challenged by the absence of interoperability standards, the presence of legacy medical equipment in huge numbers, and concerns surrounding patient health information privacy. Enhancing customer awareness about the benefits of HIT implementation, as well as financially empowering them through funding and timely reimbursement, will ensure steady growth of the market.

"The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden are robust revenue-generating markets for HIT software and services due to high market adoption, a large customer base, significant investments, and mature regulatory landscapes that favour the market," observed Kumar.

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

Western Europe Hospital Information Technology Outlook, 2016-2020

MC03-48

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

Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458569/Frost_and_Sullivan___Western_Europe_Hospital_IT.jpg

Related Links

http://www.frost.com



SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
BUCHAREST, Romania, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- Vocea.Biz continues to triumphantly work its way to the top

Vocea.biz is announcing the rebranding of Vocea Transilvaniei, a local newspaper, as a national level publication. Radical changes and a new image await readers.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458029/Vocea_Biz.jpg )



Vocea.biz - a way to stay connected

Vocea.biz offers expats and Romanian speakers living abroad a chance to read the latest news and relevant information currently taking place in Romania. It is of utter importance for readers interested in Romania's political and cultural agenda, to stay up to date on current matters, whether they are considering relocating or starting to work in the country.

When and why it all began

The site launched in September 2016 and by the end of the month, it reached the top 2 most read Romanian publications in the News and Investigation division, according to BRAT (The Romanian Transmedia Audit Office), with almost 3.3 million unique clients and approximately 17 million posts.

https://vocea.biz was created as means of collecting and offering excellent information to all its users in order to keep them updated on the most relevant, useful events taking place in and around the territory of Romania. Each of the headlines on the website is classified in several news categories for user convenience.

A reader can choose any of these topics according to a location, by picking any of the 42 Romanian counties to view the most relevant news from that region.

Another way users can browse the website is by topic. The categories of interest readers can select are Politics, Economics, Health, Inspiring Stories, Sports, Travel, Weather and more.

The site also includes a section for International News and even a Daily Caricature to lighten the mood with some clever humor. All this variety provides both an educational and entertaining user-friendly platform for readers to enjoy.

A team concerned with quality and work ethics

The team in charge of this project is comprised of several well-known journalists, with experience working in newsrooms both in Romania's capital, Bucharest, and in the cities of Cluj-Napoca and Satu Mare.

Maintaining the quality and integrity of the site are the main attributes all Vocea.biz members are driven by on a daily basis. Thus making it possible for them to provide high-quality writing backed up by accurate fact-checking.

An open-minded organisation

Vocea.biz constantly collaborates with Romanian press agencies like News.ro and Mediafax, the largest Romanian provider of general and business information. This is why the facts they publish are not just educational in nature, but also well-documented and relevant to their target audience.

Notes about the organization

Mandarine International, the company behind Vocea.biz, is a highly specialized organization, skilled in providing the best solutions in the fields of Graphic Design, Software Development and Social Media, for users and clients worldwide. The ideas at the center of each service provided by the company are all fueled by a passion for quality, which becomes obvious when using their services.

Related Links

Facebook

G+

Twitter

SOURCE Mandarine International SA
LONDON, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Ximbio, a non-profit online one-stop-shop for the global life science community to share research resources, has opened its first North American headquarters in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

This marks an expansion for Ximbio following its launch in October 2014 as a business unit of UK- based company Cancer Research Technology (CRT), the commercialization arm of the foundation Cancer Research UK.

Ximbio.com allows scientists to find, source and share important research resources from cell lines, antibodies, proteins, microbes, small molecules and vectors to genomic models such as zebrafish and mice.

It sells and licenses them on behalf of academic institutes, onto the life science reagents market. Ximbio maintains the link between the product and the scientist and university that created them, so that they are credited for the research.

Melanie Hardman, Head of Ximbio, said: "We're delighted to expand to North America to continue our important work to get academically-funded research tools out of laboratory freezers and into the hands of other scientists - accelerating research.

"Our partnerships with non-profit research institutions create one of the most comprehensive collections of rare and unique biological materials available anywhere for the study and cure of disease."

The Ximbio, North America office will be headed by Robert Bondaryk, previously CEO at reagents company, Kerafast, senior VP & GM at genomic services company, Cogenics, and VP at laboratory supplies company, Fisher Scientific.

Robert Bondaryk, Head of Ximbio, North America, said: "I'm honored to be heading up this expansion into North America. Ximbio has extensive experience in managing research tools - with a portfolio exceeding 2,000 reagents available for commercialization and has signed over 700 agreements with more than 200 companies.

"And we're looking forward to working closely with academic and research laboratories in North America to build on this tremendous experience and success in Europe and beyond."

Notes to editors:

About Ximbio

Ximbio is part of Cancer Research Technology, the technology management arm of Cancer Research UK. It partners with academic and government research laboratories as a non-profit extension of their technology transfer offices, offering a comprehensive range of expertise and resources in the management of institutional bioresearch tool assets. These include actively promoting research tools worldwide in the extensive Ximbio online catalog, and professionally managing material inquiries, sourcing and repository, investigator and end-user relations, technology transfer and licensing of materials by a large and international staff dedicated solely to making life science research reagents widely available to the global scientific community.

About Cancer Research Technology

Cancer Research Technology (CRT) is a specialist commercialization and development company, which aims to develop new discoveries in cancer research for the benefit of cancer patients. CRT works closely with leading international cancer scientists and their institutes to protect intellectual property arising from their research and to establish links with commercial partners. CRT facilitates the discovery, development and marketing of new cancer therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics and enabling technologies. CRT is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cancer Research UK, the largest independent funder of cancer research in the world. Further information about CRT can be found at http://www.cancertechnology.com

SOURCE Ximbio
SINGAPORE, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

ZEDRA expands their Singapore team to service growth in business relationships and client portfolios in Asia

New hires bring a skill set that will undoubtedly support ZEDRA's current clients and expand its capabilities as it continues to grow

ZEDRA is continuing to strengthen its industry presence with the appointment of two new Business Heads. Based in the Singapore office, Yuan Yuan Woo, Executive Director, and Nithya Camoens, Director, will be key to drive new business, foster relationship building and support the underlying efforts of the company as it continues to expand and grow in Asia.

"We are developing an experienced and highly qualified team by adding premium resources to help us manage our growing client base and, most importantly, to underscore our continued commitment to providing excellent client service," says Wendy Sim, Managing Director, ZEDRA Singapore.

Yuan Yuan Woo will head new business for trust services. She will also have a focus on key client relationship management. Ms. Woo is a member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountant (ISCA) and a Certified Financial Planner with Financial Planning Association of Singapore. She is also a qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner with STEP.

"Yuan Yuan has spent almost 20 years carefully establishing and maintaining trust structures with Asian families that has required a great deal of attention to detail and commitment as family dynamics change and evolve," continues Wendy. "She began her career in tax services for PwC, before moving to a number of private banks including Citibank, DBS and UBS where she advised private clients on succession and estate planning matters."

"Yuan Yuan Woo comes to ZEDRA with a serious skillset in client management and client focus. She has the adaptability, resourcefulness and marketplace knowledge required to help grow the Singapore office and our client business in Asia," says Niels Nielsen, ZEDRA CEO.

Nithya Camoens will be responsible for developing corporate solutions to complement ZEDRA Singapore's private client offering.

Nithya Camoens most recently spent five years at PwC Singapore, where she was responsible for managing the company secretarial practice there. Prior to PwC, she worked for a private management group whose international operations spanned the Asian continent, and rising through the ranks, she held various senior positions for the group's operations in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as assisted in the setup of offices in India, Mauritius and Cambodia. Nithya has a post-graduate diploma in Finance from the

London School of Economics, and a First Class Honours Degree in Business Information Technology from Coventry University

"We are thrilled to add Nithya to our team," says Wendy Sim. "In addition to her strong background in corporate organisations, there is no doubt she understands the discipline and dedication of being a team player with a varied experience in compliance, company legislation and corporate transactions."

"Nithya brings a solid understanding in corporate business, as well as great enthusiasm, experience and personality to the Singapore team," says Niels Nielsen. "I'm certain our clients and our extended ZEDRA team will enjoy working with her as much as I will."

ZEDRA is an independent, global specialist in trust, fiduciary, corporate and fund services. The company was acquired from Barclays in January 2016 by an experienced independent investor group, led by two families, Sarikhani and Nielsen as well as Bart Deconinck as Deputy Chairman on the Board of Directors.

Based in offices across 11 key jurisdictions, its 370 strong team of industry experts is dedicated to creating and delivering bespoke solutions for its clients. The business is focused on the strong commitment of an experienced team, fostering an entrepreneurial approach to delivering exceptional client services across its international markets.

For further information, please visit http://www.zedra.com

About ZEDRA

ZEDRA is an independent, global specialist in trust, corporate and fund services. The company was acquired from Barclays in January 2016 by an independent investor group, with an ambitious plan to grow the company, expanding and strengthening the services it offers to clients around the world. It currently has global offices in 11 jurisdictions, including Jersey, Guernsey, Luxembourg, the Isle of Man, the Cayman Islands, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Singapore, the UK and Switzerland.

ZEDRA's 370 strong team of industry experts is dedicated to creating and delivering bespoke solutions for clients. The business is focused on the strong commitment of an experienced team, fostering an entrepreneurial approach to delivering exceptional client services.

ZEDRA has diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals and their families, international corporations, institutional investors and entrepreneurs. Under the ownership of a private independent investor group, ZEDRA have the flexibility, boldness and expertise to respond to complex needs whilst maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance in an ever-evolving regulatory environment.

http://www.zedra.com



SOURCE ZEDRA
CHICAGO, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2017 Chicago Auto Show Media Preview will open on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 a.m. with the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) breakfast. MAMA will present the Family Vehicle of the Year award and introduce keynote speaker Ralph Gilles, head of design, FCA  Global.

"It's an honor to have someone of Ralph's caliber to open the nation's largest auto show," said Mike McGrath, Chicago Auto Show chairman. "FCA has long supported the Chicago Auto Show with executive addresses, important product introductions, indoor test tracks and the largest display it produces worldwide."

Later in the day, General Motors President Dan Ammann will take the stage to keynote the Economic Club of Chicago (ECC) luncheon, which begins at noon. The ECC is one of Chicago's finest business groups and has had a decade-long association with the Chicago Auto Show.

"From electric propulsion to innovative connected technologies, General Motors is an industry leader," said Dave Sloan, Chicago Auto Show general manager. "As such, Dan is perfectly positioned to discuss how the auto industry moves forward over the next decade."

The MAMA breakfast and the ECC luncheon are cornerstone events of the Chicago Auto Show Media Preview. Past MAMA speakers include an impressive lineup such as Mark LaNeve, Alan Batey, Bob Carter and Andy Goss  to name a few. Previous ECC keynotes include Lex Kerssemakers, Bill Ford, Jim Press, Henrik Fisker, Jonathan Browning, Jose Munoz and Yoshi Inaba.

Ralph Gilles Bio: Gilles serves on the Group Executive Council (GEC) for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA). Gilles served as the Senior Vice President  Product Design and President and CEO  Motorsports, FCA  North America; President and CEO  SRT Brand and President and CEO  Dodge brand for FCA US LLC. He was named Vice President  Design in September 2008. Gilles is extremely active inside and outside the Company.

He currently serves as the executive sponsor of the Chrysler African American Network (CAAN) in addition to playing a supporting role with The Chrysler Global Diversity Council. He also serves on the board of the Michigan Design Council. At his alma mater, The College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, Gilles is a member of the CCS Board of Trustees and the CCS Capital Committee.

Dan Ammann Bio: Ammann was named president of General Motors in January 2014. He is responsible for managing the company's business operations around the world, the global Chevrolet and Cadillac brand organizations, global product planning, new business development and GM Financial. Ammann is a member of the board of directors of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company and Lyft, Inc., and is a certified industry pool test driver at the Nurburgring Nordschleife racetrack in Germany.

Doors open for the MAMA breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and at noon for the ECC Luncheon on Feb. 9. Valid media or exhibitor credentials are required for admission. Media can register for media credentials through Jan. 20 via https://www.chicagoautoshow.com/media/media-credentials/.

For more information on the 2017 Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com.

About the Chicago Auto Show

The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept, and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2.5 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2017 public show will be Feb. 11-20. For more information, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com or www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.

About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association

Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is one of the nation's largest metropolitan dealer organizations. It is comprised of more than 420 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 20,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world-famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit www.CATA.info.

SOURCE Chicago Auto Show

Related Links

http://www.chicagoautoshow.com


CHICAGO, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 4C Insights, Inc. (www.4Cinsights.com), a data science and media technology company, today announced it has hired Kim Norwesh as Chief Human Resource Officer. With more than two decades of experience, Norwesh will lead 4C's global human resources function across the organization, which has expanded to 186 people in 14 locations.

Prior to 4C, Norwesh was VP of Human Resources for the $4 billion global hematology division at Baxalta (formerly Baxter and now Shire) and played a key role in helping create the new commercial organization and culture. She has also held leadership roles at Baxter, Terlato Wine Group, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Dade Berhing. Norwesh attended the U.S. Military Academy-West Point receiving her Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management and Central Michigan University earning her Masters of Science. After graduation, she served as an officer in the U.S. Army, fought in Desert Storm and received a Bronze Star for her distinguished service.

"Throughout her career, Kim has demonstrated success building teams and helping fast-paced and dynamic organizations realize their potential through people," said Lance Neuhauser, CEO of 4C. "Above all, Kim's character make her the right fit for our company and will enable 4C to continue our rapid growth trajectory."

4C continues to expand its global talent as it reached major milestones in the past year. In 2016, over 2.3 billion new consumer affinity connections were mapped through the 4C Insights Affinity Graph. More than 400 million individual TV asset airings were detected and the company reached nearly $1 billion in annualized advertising spend through its platform. Today, close to 1,000 brands, agencies, and media companies are using 4C products to take advantage of the convergence between TV and social media.

"I'm thrilled to be joining 4C, where people are at the center of everything," said Kim Norwesh, Chief Human Resource Officer of 4C. "By investing in the company's talent and organization, 4C will be able to accelerate the technology and service that transforms our clients' businesses."

4C's products are built on more than 30 years of computational science research by Dr. Alok Choudhary, at prestigious institutions including Northwestern University. The company's patented technology also leverages hardware and intellectual property acquired through Civolution and Royal Philips Electronics.

About 4C Insights, Inc.

4C is a global leader in data science and media technology with solutions for multi-screen convergence. Brands, agencies, and media owners rely on the 4C Insights Affinity Graph to identify their most valuable audiences and improve effectiveness across channels. With nearly $1 billion in annualized media spend running through its software-as-a-service platform, 4C offers activation on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and Snapchat as well as TV Synced Ads across display, search, social and video. The company also provides advertising and content analytics leveraging its Teletrax television monitoring network which detects over 400 million TV asset airings on an annual basis. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, 4C has staff in 14 worldwide locations across the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Hong Kong, India and Singapore. Visit www.4Cinsights.com for more information.

SOURCE 4C Insights, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.4Cinsights.com


ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced the European launch of the new Proclaim DRG Neurostimulation System, designed to deliver dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation to patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain. Through the Proclaim platform's Bluetooth wireless technology and iOS software, the Proclaim DRG Neurostimulation System offers patients a more intuitive therapy experience, compared to current systems with traditional controllers that can be difficult to operate. This new system will improve the experience of how patients interact with their device, which may lead more patients to consider DRG stimulation for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain represents one of the most prevalent yet under-treated forms of chronic pain in the world and impacts nearly 10 percent of the European population. Stimulation with Abbott's Proclaim DRG Neurostimulation System targets nerves within the DRG, a spinal structure packed with sensory nerves. As a result, DRG stimulation has been clinically proven to provide superior pain relief over traditional spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy by directly targeting the area of the body where pain occurs to improve quality of life.

Abbott is the first and only company to offer a neurostimulation device designed for DRG therapy and targeted relief of certain types of chronic pain. The approval of the Proclaim DRG Neurostimulation System provides patients with chronic neuropathic pain access to the company's Proclaim platform, a magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional recharge-free system offering best-in-class programming, upgradeability and increased battery capacity. The Proclaim DRG Neurostimulation System also utilizes an iPod touch mobile digital device patient controller that offers wireless communication via Bluetooth wireless technology.

"Many patients battling chronic neuropathic pain have not found adequate relief from other forms of treatment, which is why dorsal root ganglion stimulation has been such an important therapeutic advancement for pain specialists worldwide," said Harold Nijhuis, M.D., an anesthesiologist from St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Niuwegein, the Netherlands. "With the approval of the Proclaim DRG System, I am able to address chronic focal pain for my patients while offering them access to new, patient-centric benefits and features to improve their therapy experience."

The Proclaim DRG Neurostimulation System supports Abbott's focus on helping physicians manage patients with difficult-to-treat chronic pain in specific areas of the upper and lower body, such as the foot, knee, hip or groin. Clinical research, such as the ACCURATE study, has demonstrated that DRG therapy can provide superior pain relief in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and other focal chronic neuropathic pain conditions compared to traditional spinal cord stimulation therapy.

"Abbott continues to pursue innovative solutions for chronic pain because far too many patients with chronic intractable pain battle symptoms that are not adequately managed with current therapies," said Allen Burton, M.D., medical director of neuromodulation at Abbott. "Our Proclaim DRG Neurostimulation System addresses this unmet need by offering a therapy that is superior to traditional spinal cord stimulation combined with patient-friendly technology."

Note: Apple and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple, Inc. Bluetooth is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

About Abbott's Chronic Pain Portfolio:

Chronic pain affects approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide, more than heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined. The condition can negatively impact personal relationships, work productivity and a patient's daily routine. Abbott is a global leader in the development of chronic pain therapy solutions and the only medical device manufacturer in the world to offer radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy solutions including BurstDR stimulation and stimulation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) for the treatment of chronic pain.

About Abbott:

At Abbott, we're committed to helping people live their best possible life through the power of health. For more than 125 years, we've brought new products and technologies to the world -- in nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals -- that create more possibilities for more people at all stages of life. Today, 74,000 of us are working to help people live not just longer, but better, in the more than 150 countries we serve.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.

SOURCE Abbott

Related Links

http://www.abbott.com


PHOENIX, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, one of the nation's largest networks of independent financial advisory firms, comprised of SagePoint Financial, FSC Securities Corporation, Woodbury Financial, and Royal Alliance, today announced that Steve Chipman has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Strategic Acquisitions. In this role, Chipman will work with Jamie Price, Advisor Group's President and CEO and the four firm Presidents, leading the strategic planning process for all broker/dealer acquisitions. Chipman will report directly to Jeff Auld, the President and CEO of SagePoint Financial.

"On the heels of announcing major platform changes that will drive organic growth firm-wide, we are pleased to welcome Steve to Advisor Group to implement our inorganic growth strategy," said Advisor Group President and CEO Jamie Price. "As compliance and technology costs continue to rise, firms without scale are challenged to invest in the discretionary initiatives that are critical to maintain the competitiveness of their offering. Steve is the right person to help us identify and partner with these firms and give them the freedom to focus on growing their businesses."

With scale, resources and a very strong capital base, Advisor Group believes it is uniquely positioned to help broker-dealers maintain their individuality while taking advantage of one of the best platforms in the industry.

"Having served as the CEO of a mid-sized financial services firm combined with my experience serving financial services firms at a large correspondent clearing firm, I am intimately familiar with the challenges they face keeping up with the growing expenses and risks associated with running a broker-dealer. With the continued heightened regulatory environment and impending DOL implementation, now is great time to evaluate how best to seize the opportunities that will be available to firms that are well positioned for such change. Vibrant culture is what compels advisors to stay," remarked Steve Chipman. "I am excited to help establish a dialogue with these firms and partner with them to maintain their unique cultures while giving them access to industry-leading products, technology and compliance support to enable them to do what they do best  foster their close advisor relationships and help their advisors grow."

Chipman earned his B.B.A. degree (cum laude) in finance from the University of Massachusetts  Amherst, and attended the Wharton School. He was a Member of the Industry Board of Directors of the Financial Service Institute (FSI), and served on the District One FINRA Committee for six years. Additionally, he served on the FINRA Regulatory Advisory Council, and the SIFMA Membership Committee. He holds his Series 7, 24, 63, and 65, and brings 30 years of experience to the position.

For media inquiries regarding this press announcement, or to speak to an Advisor Group spokesperson, please contact: [email protected]

About Advisor Group

Advisor Group Inc. is one of the nation's largest networks of independent financial advisors serving over 5000 advisors and overseeing approximately $160 billion in client assets. Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, the firm is mission-driven to support the heroic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients, offering securities and investment advisory services through its subsidiaries FSC Securities Corp., Royal Alliance Associates Inc., SagePoint Financial Inc. and Woodbury Financial Services Inc, as broker/dealers, registered investment advisors and members of FINRA and SIPC. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial advisors and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way.

For more information, please visit www.advisorgroup.com

Follow Advisor Group into the Future: @AdvisorGroupBDs on Twitter #AGFutureIsNow

SOURCE Advisor Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.advisorgroup.com


COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has joined the U.S. Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS), a program designed to accelerate the transition of veterans to careers in the private sector. AEP announced its participation in the program during a signing ceremony today attended by employees; AEP Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Nicholas K. Akins; Columbus Recruiting Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Clydellia S. Prichard-Allen; U.S. Reps. Steve Stivers and Joyce Beatty; and Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.

Through the PaYS program, active and reserve service men and women in the Army and Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) are matched with civilian job opportunities that require the skills acquired during their military service. Soldiers who qualify with a skills match are guaranteed an interview for the job by participating companies.

"Nearly 11 percent of our 17,600 employees are military veterans. Their service to our country equips them with the skills to be great employees who are self-motivated, battle-tested and safety conscious. We value the sacrifices that veterans make to serve our country, and one of the best ways we can honor them is by helping them transition to rewarding careers in the energy industry," Akins said.

To support the 1,873 military veterans who already work at AEP, the company sponsors an employee resource group that provides networking, development and support for military veterans. AEP also provides paid leave for employees in the Reserves or National Guard who are ordered to active duty in emergency situations.

AEP was one of six energy companies to develop the Troops to Energy Jobs initiative to provide veterans with a career roadmap for jobs in the energy industry. The company also is a member of the Veteran Jobs Mission, a coalition of more than 230 companies committed to hiring military veterans.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity and custom energy solutions to nearly 5.4 million customers in 11 states. AEP owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a more than 40,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP also operates 224,000 miles of distribution lines. AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning approximately 31,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also supplies 3,200 megawatts of renewable energy to customers. AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

SOURCE American Electric Power

Related Links

http://www.aep.com


WASHINGTON, Jan.17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization criticized President Obama's decision today to commute the sentence of an ex-soldier convicted of violating the U.S. Espionage Act along with many other charges.

Chelsea Manning served in the U.S. Army as Pvt. Bradley Manning before being arrested and sentenced to 35 years at Fort Leavenworth for leaking a classified video to the website WikLeaks.

"Anybody who has ever served in the U.S. military understands the seriousness of protecting classified material," said National Commander Charles E. Schmidt of The American Legion. "Private Manning put American lives at risk. Manning was convicted of 20 out of 22 charges. Releasing this prisoner sends precisely the wrong message to all Americans who are entrusted to keep our national secrets secret."

Schmidt, a retired Air Force officer and Vietnam War veteran, also expressed "serious concern" over the pardon of Gen. James Cartwright, who pled guilty in October to one charge of making false statements to federal investigators after he was accused of leaking top secret information.

"General Cartwright had a long and distinguished career but would he have been treated the same if he were a sergeant?" Schmidt asked. "These inexplicable moves do nothing to discourage future offenders from violating their oaths to protect America's national security. The American Legion is hoping that President Obama is not considering more commutations and pardons of this nature before he leaves office on Friday."

With a current membership of 2.2 million wartime veterans, The American Legion, www.legion.org, was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 13,000 posts across the nation.

Media contacts: John Raughter (317) 630-1350 / 317-441-8847 (cell), [email protected] or Michael Dorsey (202) 263-5758, [email protected]

SOURCE The American Legion

Related Links

http://www.legion.org


HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC) will host a conference call on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, at 8 a.m. CST (9 a.m. EST) to discuss its fourth-quarter and year-end 2016 financial and operating results. Earnings will be released after close of market on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The full text of the release will be available on the company's website at www.anadarko.com.

2016 Results

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017

8 a.m. CST (9 a.m. EST)

Dial-in number: 877.883.0383

International dial-in number: 412.902.6506

Individuals who would like to participate should dial the applicable dial-in number listed above approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled conference call time, and enter confirmation number 9799112 when prompted.

To access the live audio webcast and related presentation materials, please visit the investor relations section of the company's website at www.anadarko.com. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website for approximately 30 days following the call.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141103/156201LOGO

Anadarko Contacts

INVESTORS:

Robin Fielder, [email protected], 832.636.1462

Jim Grant, [email protected], 832.636.8320

Pete Zagrzecki, [email protected], 832.636.7727

SOURCE Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

Related Links

http://www.anadarko.com


ATHENS, Tenn., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Athens Bancshares Corporation (OTC QX: AFCB) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per outstanding share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on or about February 17, 2017 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on January 31, 2017.

Athens Bancshares Corporation is the parent holding company of Athens Federal Community Bank, National Association, a FDIC-insured national bank organized in 1934. The Bank is headquartered in Athens, Tennessee and provides financial services to individuals, families and businesses through its seven offices located in southeast Tennessee.

SOURCE Athens Bancshares Corporation
SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The ATM Industry Association (ATMIA) today announced Withdraw Cash Wednesday (Campaign), a brand-new initiative dedicated to encourage consumers to increase cash usage for their holiday shopping in 2017 and beyond.

The Campaign originated at the 2016 U.S. Conference during the International Marketing Forum (IMF) by NationalLink's Marketing Director Raymond Ching. "Stemming from the clear need of cash during the holiday season and to assist consumers in budgeting, a holiday to promote cash usage was born," said Raymond Ching.

"Cash is used for over 80 percent of global retail transactions," said ATMIA CEO Mike Lee. "The goal of Withdraw Cash Wednesday is to help raise awareness of ATMs, promote the cash economy and combat the negative press being put out by card networks that cash is dead."

Since June 2016, the Withdraw Cash Wednesday's Founding Partners have been volunteering their time to kick off the promotion in 2017. The Founding Partners include: ATMIA, Blanda Marketing and Public Relations, MoneyPass Network, NationalLink Inc., Pueblo Bank & Trust, and Strategic Marketing. The Campaign will be celebrated on Wednesday November 22, 2017 and all subsequent Wednesdays prior to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.



IMF chairperson Alicia Blanda, CEO of Blanda Marketing and Public Relations, points out, "it is important to raise awareness about the convenience and safety cash provides for consumers."

Benefits of cash usage include:

Helping consumers stay within budget . Cash provides a tactile and visual evaluation of available funds.

. Cash provides a tactile and visual evaluation of available funds. Saving time . Many retailers have cash only lines for checkout.

. Many retailers have cash only lines for checkout. Zero interest fees . By using cash, consumers save money after the holidays by reducing interest fee charges.

. By using cash, consumers save money after the holidays by reducing interest fee charges. Security. Considering the number of recent data breaches at trusted stores such as Target, Home Depot and others, security is top of mind for many consumers. Using cash prevents criminals from stealing card data to make fraudulent transactions from the point of sale.

Lee encourages every ATM operator and merchant to get involved in raising awareness of the positive benefits of cash usage through this program and congratulates the MoneyPass Surcharge Free Network for being the first sponsor.

"MoneyPass is excited to be a part of the new pro cash initiative," says Doug Miraglia, president of MoneyPass Network. "This is another great concept from the ATMIA that will provide significant benefit for all involved, and MoneyPass is proud to participate as a founding member and Platinum Sponsor."

Visit www.withdrawcashwednesday.com to be a part of the movement!

ABOUT ATMIA  The ATM Industry Association, established in 1997, is a non-profit global trade association with over 6,000 members in 66 countries. As an independent, non-profit trade association, our mission is: to promote ATM convenience, growth and usage worldwide; to protect the ATM industry's assets, interests, good name and public trust; and to provide education, best practices, political voice and networking opportunities for member organizations.

Amber Howell

ATMIA

[email protected]

P: 1-605-692-2263

Raymond Ching

[email protected]

909-670-1900 x361

SOURCE ATMIA

Related Links

https://www.atmia.com/


NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The assets of Stainless Sales Corporation of Addison, IL will be sold at auction February 2, announced PPL Group ("PPL"), one of the nation's leading industrial auction firms.

Stainless Sales Corporation was founded as a stainless steel supplier in Ridgefield Park, NJ in 1946 and relocated to Chicago shortly thereafter. By the mid-1960s, the company developed its own steel slitting capabilities. In 1982, the company moved into the Addison, IL facility for central service to North America. In 2009, the company added additional capacity with a new 60" slitter and an edger, as well as a renovated line for PVC application. In 2014, it added two cut-to-length lines, a 36" line and a 60" line.

Included in the live and online auction will be steel coil slitting lines, cutting and coating equipment as well as shears, saws, scales, stretch wrappers, air compressors, material handling equipment and more. Bidders can register and find further information at www.pplauctions.com.

"Most of the equipment being auctioned will be very recent machinery," said David Muslin, president of PPL. "The company had immaculate facilities with a lot of late model equipment."

The assets will be available for inspection and review at three locations, from 9 am to 4 pm on February 1:

2301 Windsor Court, Unit B in Addison, IL

3301 S. Justine, Chicago, IL

2310 W. 58th Street, Chicago, IL

Theater style bidding for all of the equipment will start at 10 am on February 2 at the Windsor Court facility in Addison.

PPL has been retained by the Assignee. The auction is By Order of Michael J. Eber, not Individually, but Solely as the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors of Stainless Sales.

About PPL

PPL Group is a leading private equity firm that uses its capital to help businesses in transition. The Company provides asset management solutions for entire plants, production lines, groups of assets, and whole companies. PPL's principals have successfully monetized commercial and industrial assets for 40 years, conducting more than 250 auctions over the last five years. PPL works with large corporations to provide the best possible financial recovery for surplus and idle assets. The Company works with small and middle-market businesses during change, turnaround, restructuring, and bankruptcy situations across a broad range of industries. PPL buys assets outright, guarantees minimum prices, and also conducts auctions on a commission basis. PPL creates maximum liquidity by structuring innovative turnkey and going concern sales transactions. PPL is headquartered in Northbrook, IL. For more information, go to www.pplgroupllc.com.

Contact: Tom Nicholson, 212-203-2803

or David Muslin, 224-927-5301

SOURCE PPL Group, Inc.
The Netflix sign on screen is shown on an iPad in Encinitas, California, U.S. on April 19,2013. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

By Lisa Richwine and Anya George Tharakan

(Reuters) - Streaming video pioneer Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) added over a third more subscribers than expected in the last quarter of 2016, a sign of success for its ambitious global expansion that sent its shares up 8 percent in extended trading.

Netflix signed up 7.1 million new subscribers globally, far more than the 5.2 million analysts had expected, according to research firm FactSet, beating targets at home and abroad even as it raised prices.

Original shows like "Marvel's Luke Cage" and British drama "The Crown" performed strongly around the world, Netflix said, noting that competitors were adapting to compete.

Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) recently expanded its Amazon Prime Video service globally, and Britain's BBC announced plans to release entire series at once to allow the "binge watching" popularized by Netflix.

"It's becoming an internet TV world, which presents both challenges and opportunities for Netflix as we strive to earn screen time," the company said in its quarterly letter to shareholders.

Netflix, in its earnings report, said it added 5.1 million subscribers outside the United States and 1.9 million in its home market in the quarter ended Dec. 31. (http://nflx.it/2jyes47)

Analysts had forecast 3.73 million non-U.S. additions and 1.44 million at home.

"The future battleground at home is now in keeping hold of customers as much as it is in trying to acquire new ones," said Neil Saunders, head of retail analyst firm Conlumino.

"In our view, the fact that consumers have readily absorbed the price increase, and that Netflix has continued to advance its subscriber numbers in spite of it, indicates the company is now firmly in pole position in the streaming arena."

Netflix said it planned to release more than 1,000 hours of original programming this year, up from 600 hours last year. It recently signed a deal with comedian Jerry Seinfeld to stream his show "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" as well as two new stand-up specials and other shows he will develop.

Story continues

The Los Gatos, California-based company said revenue rose 35.9 percent to $2.48 billion in the December quarter. Analysts on average had expected $2.47 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The company said it expected to add 1.50 million subscribers in the United States in the current quarter, fewer than the FactSet estimate of 1.79 million.

In international markets, Netflix said it expected to add 3.70 million subscribers, above the average estimate of 3.05 million.

Netflix projected negative free cash flow of about $2 billion in 2017, up from negative $1.7 billion in 2016.

Up to Wednesday's close of $133.26, Netflix's stock had risen 33.5 percent since it reported third-quarter results in October.

Netflix rose as much as 8.2 percent in after-hours trading, adding nearly $5 billion to the company's stock market value.

(Reporting by Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Henderson and Richard Chang)
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Augeo, a leader in consumer and employee engagement and incentive programs across all industries, today announced the acquisition of Edo Interactive, a leader in the card-linked offer industry.

Based in Nashville, Edo Interactive is the pioneer in card-linked offers, providing a premier software platform connecting targeted merchant offers to credit and debit cardholders in both the US and Europe. Over the past 10 years, Edo has worked with hundreds of national and local merchants from major categories including retail, restaurants, grocery, sporting goods and hotels, among others. Partnered with these merchants, Edo's focus has been on tailored digital marketing campaigns designed to deliver against custom ROI requirements specified by each merchant.

This acquisition adds depth to Augeo's already extensive loyalty and engagement offerings with robust analytical and targeting capabilities essential to Augeo's strategy for card-linked offer value creation, while providing Edo access to a larger customer base and diversified organization.

Augeo has quietly tested and now successfully launched a card-linked loyalty strategy that it believes is the next evolution in the industry.

"In a rapidly evolving world of customer loyalty and incentive programs, Augeo and Edo Interactive are creating an easier way for our customers and consumers to benefit from merchant offers," said David Kristal, CEO of Augeo. "Both Augeo and Edo take a highly analytical approach that is driving the new evolution of card-linked loyalty and creating significant and sustainable marketing returns for participating merchants, financial institutions and cardholders."

In the past two years, Augeo's offerings have demonstrated significant success in delivering growth in targeted spend at participating merchants, doubling cardholder spend for a period of time among various portfolios.

"With Augeo, the combination of our platforms helps solve the challenges many others face with content and delivers the strategy, data insight and analytics required for programs to be sustainable and successful," said Ed Braswell, CEO of Edo Interactive. "Heading into 2017, we intend to deliver the next generation of card-linked loyalty with the most premier partners in the space."

The acquisition of Edo Interactive marks the ninth for Augeo since 2007. The company has experienced double digit growth since 2007, averaging over 40 percent growth per year.

While Augeo's headquarters are in St. Paul, Minnesota, Edo Interactive's operations will remain intact with account, technology and customer support teams working out of Edo's Nashville office and Augeo's Chicago (Naperville) office. Augeo will preserve the Edo brand in addition to Augeo's already existing Ampre brand.

About Augeo



Augeo is a nationally recognized leader in engagement, loyalty and incentive platforms with a focus on developing new solutions and innovative technology for clients, partners, merchants and consumers. Augeo operates separate business units in consumer and customer loyalty, financial institution loyalty, employee recognition, membership benefit solutions and agency/branding services. Augeo serves both domestic and international programs and currently supports over 55 countries in 8 languages. Headquartered in St. Paul, MN, Augeo also has offices in the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Boston, New York, Atlanta and Phoenix. For more information, visit augeomarketing.com.

About Edo Interactive

Edo Interactive has transformed shopping and saving by partnering with merchant, payment and data networks. Delivering value to advertisers, financial institutions and consumers through analytics, technology and targeted marketing, Edo is known for providing higher level personalization, managing and adjusting merchant campaigns on a continuous basis. For more information, please visit edointeractive.com.

Contact: Juli Gilbert

630.276.2379

[email protected]

SOURCE Augeo

Related Links

http://www.augeomarketing.com


LONDON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This report provides strategic analysis of East Africa baby diapers market, and the market growth forecast for the period 2016 to 2024. The scope of the report includes competitive analysis of various market segments based on the product types and in-depth cross sectional scrutiny of East Africa baby diapers market across different countries. There is greater awareness among the urban population regarding the requirement for diapers as a part of an infant's hygiene and sanitation requirements. Increasing health and hygiene education and awareness in urban areas has increased the need for diapers in this region. Increasing educational and health awareness programs in both rural and urban areas of Africa is fuelling growth of personal hygiene products such as diapers. In the past couple of years, it is observed that the urban population has increased steadily in East Africa. According to the World Bank, as of 2015, the rural population in East Africa is still higher than the urban population. Various governmental and non-governmental organizations are actively participating in the personal hygiene awareness programs in East Africa.



The infant mortality rate has also reduced considerably in the regions of East Africa during the past few years. The birth rate in Kenya stood at 34.6 per 1,000 persons in 2014, which is much higher as compared to developed countries. Additionally, the birth rates in other East African countries like Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi are also increasing considerably. Increasing population with high birth rate is one of the major factors boosting the demand for baby diapers in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.



Escalating awareness regarding environment safety is fuelling the demand for biodegradable products that are renewable or break down easily, decreasing environmental hazards. In addition, some companies combine cloth diapers and eco-friendly disposable components to produce hybrid diapers. The diapers use biodegradable and compostable materials during the manufacturing process.



One of the important factors restraining the East Africa baby diapers market is the health issues related to the disposable diapers. The disposable diapers are used for once and then they are discarded. Due to this parents have a tendency to change their baby's diapers after long gaps that leads to rashes and extreme saturation. Moreover, another restraining factor of this market is the health related issues with the diapers especially disposable diapers. As per the article "Nappy Link to Infertility" published by BBC News, the use of disposable diapers can cause infertility as well as testicular cancer in males. Scientists believe that high heat can cause male infertility; hence, the use of disposable diapers for longer durations is harmful for babies.



Based on product type the baby diaper market has been bifurcated into four which includes cloth diapers, disposable diapers, training nappies and swim pants. As of 2015, disposable diapers market held the highest market with 80.2% share in terms of revenue followed by cloth diapers. Ease of usage of disposable diapers vis-a-vis cloth diapers is also expected to boost the demand for disposable diapers in east Africa.



To assist in strategic decision making, the report also includes competitive profiling of key players in the industry, their market share in different geographic regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World). Additionally, diverse business strategies adopted by major players has also been discussed in the report. The market attractiveness analysis included in the report provides insight into market dynamics and industry competition.



The report also provides review and breakdown of various factors affecting the market growth, which are appropriately described as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. These factors conclude diverse existing trends and their impact on market growth. In all, the report includes a holistic analysis of the East Africa baby diapers market, and provides an estimate of growth for the period 2016 to 2024, keeping in mind the various factors affecting the market.



The report segments the East Africa baby diapers market as:



East Africa baby diapers market, by product



Cloth Diapers

Disposable Diapers

Training Nappies

Swim Pants



East Africa baby diapers market, by Country:



Kenya

Uganda

Tanzania

Rwanda

Burundi

Rest of East Africa

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4201052/



About Reportbuyer

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

http://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

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RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that BI 695501, its adalimumab biosimilar candidate to Humira*, has been accepted for regulatory review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"The acceptance of our regulatory filings by the FDA and EMA is a critical milestone as we explore innovative ways for biosimilars to expand overall treatment options and seek to improve the lives of patients with chronic and life-threatening diseases," said Martina Flammer, Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Specialty Care, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "If approved, we believe BI 695501 can offer a high quality, economically sustainable treatment option to patients with inflammatory diseases in the U.S."

Boehringer Ingelheim is seeking approval for BI 695501 as a biosimilar to Humira in the European Union and the United States. Adalimumab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks TNF-, an important mediator of inflammation in the human body. Adalimumab is approved as a biologic medicine under the brand name Humira in many countries for the treatment of multiple chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis. These disorders collectively affect the lives of 5-10% of the world population including 23.5 million people in the U.S. and approximately 36.3 million people in Europe.

Top-line results from the completed Phase III study for BI 695501 in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were announced on October 26, 2016.

About Boehringer Ingelheim in Biologics and Biosimilars

Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the largest producers of biologic medicines in the world. As a pioneer in biologics with more than 35 years of experience, the company has manufactured more than 25 biologic medicines for global markets. This includes monoclonal antibodies in oncology and immunology, interferons, and other targeted medicines that are routinely used to treat many patients across a broad range of therapeutic areas. Boehringer Ingelheim further builds on its commitment to oncology and immunology to develop biosimilars as high quality, safe, and effective treatment options to patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Boehringer Ingelheim currently has two biosimilar monoclonal antibodies in late stage development: BI 695501, adalimumab biosimilar candidate to Humira and BI 695502, bevacizumab biosimilar candidate to Avastin.* All public information on our clinical trials is available on: http://clinicaltrials.gov/.

*Humira is a registered trademark of AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd. in the EU/U.S. and Avastin is a registered trademark of Genentech, Inc. (U.S.).

About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation.

Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, the company operates globally with 145 affiliates and about 50,000 employees. Since its founding in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel treatments for human and veterinary medicine.

Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to improving lives and providing valuable services and support to patients and their families. Our employees create and engage in programs that strengthen our communities. To learn more about how we make more health for more people, visit our Corporate Social Responsibility Report.

In 2015, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about $15.8 billion (14.8 billion euros). R&D expenditure corresponds to 20.3 percent of its net sales.

For more information please visit https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.us, or follow us on Twitter @BoehringerUS.

SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim
"Cabo and the five new domestic destinations we announced earlier this month from San Diego further solidify our mission to be the Mission City's hometown carrier," said Leah Koontz , Southwest's Vice President Controller, who hosted the airline's celebration events in San Diego. "To show our love for San Diego, we sent out street teams this morning to surprise future travelers randomly with gifts from a bank of two million Rapid Rewards Points and $20,000 in gift cards." Koontz joined Southwest Employees and Leaders who power the carrier's unmatched San Diego service in celebrating aboard the USS Midway moored in San Diego's historic harbor.

The carrier recently published new service for San Diego beginning June 4, 2017, for travel to and from both Boise and Salt Lake City, as well as seasonal nonstop service to and from Indianapolis, Newark (New York), and Spokane.

Southwest also today published new service nonstop between Ft. Lauderdale and Grand Cayman beginning Sunday, June 4, 2017, subject to requisite governmental approvals. Southwest previously announced its intention of serving Cayman from a new, five-gate international Concourse A at Broward County's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Terminal 1 that's scheduled to open just as the Summer travel season kicks off. The additional facilities also will allow Southwest to serve Belize City, Belize, Cancun, Mexico, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, from its South Florida base of operations beginning June 4, 2017. The carrier already daily serves three destinations in Cuba nonstopHavana, Varadero, and Santa Claraas well as Nassau, The Bahamas.

"Besides time-saving nonstop service for Southern Californians and South Floridians, these new international flights also bring additional itinerary options for many of our Customers in the West and East," said Dave Harvey, who oversees International Planning as Southwest's Managing Director of Business Development. "For years, Southwest has carried more California passengers each day to, from, and within the Golden state than any other airline and our growing portfolio of international offerings from Fort Lauderdale underscore our commitment to connecting both regions to places travelers find attractive and important."

In celebration of the international options for newly available nonstop travel, Southwest.com features low fares for travel from:

Ft. Lauderdale (Miami area) to Grand Cayman

for as low as $89 one-way beginning June 6, 2017

San Diego to San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico

for as low as $104 one-way beginning April 25, 2017

(Fares shown are available for purchase today through Jan. 26, 2017, 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the originating U.S. city for travel that must be completed by Aug. 9, 2017. Travel is valid only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please see complete fare rules, terms & conditions below.)

Also beginning today, Austin Customers may book newly available, additional flights in existing nonstop city-pairs for summertime flying (beginning Jun 4, 2017) between the Music Capital of Texas and:

New Orleans One flight added daily Monday through Friday

St. Louis One flight added daily Sunday through Friday

The carrier also announced the addition of new or additional Saturday-only service between:

Austin and Pensacola

Seasonally once-a-day on Saturdays beginning June 10

New York LaGuardia and Orlando

Nonstop service added only on April 8 & April 15

St. Louis and Pensacola

Seasonally once-a-day on Saturdays beginning June 10

The carrier's full flight schedule of more than 3,900 flights a day during peak season is published through Aug. 14, 2017, and is available at Southwest.com.

FARE TERMS & CONDITIONS

Fares listed may be purchased today, Jan. 18 through Jan. 26, 2017, 11:59 pm in the time zone of the originating U.S. city. Travel from Fort Lauderdale (Miami Area) to Grand Cayman must occur on Tuesdays or Wednesdays between June 6 and Aug. 9, 2017. Travel from San Diego to San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos must occur on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between April 25 and Aug. 9, 2017. Fares show are valid only on nonstop service and displayed prices include all U.S. and international government taxes and fees. Rapid Rewards Points bookings do not include taxes, fees, and other government/airport charges of at least $5.60 per one-way flight. Seats and days are limited. Fares may vary by destination, flight, and day-of-week and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Though not guaranteed, sale fares may be available on other days of week. Travel is for one-way Wanna Get Away fares which may combinable with other Southwest combinable fares. When combining fares, the most restrictive fare rules apply. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest as long as reservations are canceled at least ten minutes prior to the schedule departure of the flight. Failure to cancel prior to that would result in a forfeiture of remaining funds in the reservation. Any changes in itinerary could result in a fare increase. Standby travel could require an upgrade to the Anytime fare depending on Rapid Rewards Tier status. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Offer applies only to published, scheduled service. If traveling to Cuba, every passenger must certify that they are eligible to travel to Cuba under one of 12 general license categories, a specific license or are a Cuban National.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 46th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 53,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest proudly operates a network of 101 destinations in the United States and eight additional countries with more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season. Subject to requisite governmental approvals, service to Grand Cayman begins June 4, 2017, the same date service is scheduled to begin from Cincinnati.

Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate connectivity. That connectivity enables Customers to use their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest created Transfarency, a philosophy which treats Customers honestly and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. The airline proudly unveiled a bold new look: Heart. A new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring a new seat and Flight Attendant galley, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience all showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees who connect Customers with what's important in their lives.

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new markets. With 43 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2015 Southwest Airlines One Report can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com.

Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

Related Links

http://www.southwest.com


LONDON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Perimeter Surveillance & Detection Systems, Biometrics & ICT Systems, Manned Platforms, Unmanned Systems, Physical Infrastructure, Support & Other Service



Report Details



The latest report from business intelligence provider visiongain offers comprehensive analysis of the global Border Security market. Visiongain assesses that this market will generate revenues of $17.98 billion in 2016.



Now: In November 2015 FLIR Systems acquired DVTEL Inc, a leader in software and hardware technologies for advanced video surveillance.



This is an example of the business critical headline that you need to know about - and more importantly, you need to read visiongain's objective analysis of how this will impact your company and the industry more broadly. How are you and your company reacting to this news? Are you sufficiently informed?



How this report will benefit you



Read on to discover how you can exploit the future business opportunities emerging in the border security sector. Visiongain's new study tells you and tells you NOW.



In this brand new report you will receive 359 in-depth tables, charts and graphs PLUS an EXCLUSIVE interview  all unavailable elsewhere.



The 349 page report provides clear detailed insight into the global Border Security market. It reveals the key drivers and challenges affecting the market.



By ordering and reading our brand new report today you will be better informed and ready to act.



Report Scope



-Global Border Security market forecasts from 2016-2026

-Country Border Security forecasts from 2016-2026 covering Brazil, Canada, India, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, UAE and the United States

-Border Security submarket forecasts from 2016-2026 covering Perimeter Surveillance and Detection Systems, Biometrics & ICT Systems, Manned Platforms, Unmanned Systems, Physical Infrastructure, Support and Other Service

-Analysis of the key factors driving growth in the global and country level Border Security markets from 2016-2026

-Forecast data for Border Security during the 2016-2026 period is provided at a global, submarket and leading country level

-15 detailed tables containing 287 contracts / projects and programmes in the Border Security market by country



-Profiles of the leading 15 Border Security companies in 2016

-An exclusive Interview with two key opinion leaders Daryl Madden, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Textron Systems Geospatial Solutions and Jay Freshman, Vice President of Protection Systems at Textron Systems Weapon and Sensor Systems, Textron Inc informing and underpinning the analysis



How will you benefit from this report?



-This report will keep your knowledge base up to speed. Don't get left behind

-This report will reinforce strategic decision decision-making based upon definitive and reliable border security market data

-You will learn how to exploit new technological trends

-You will be able to realise your company's full potential within the border security market

-You will better understand the competitive landscape and identify potential new business opportunities & partnerships



Who should read this report?



-Anyone within the Border Security value chain.

-Systems integrators

-Contractors

-Equipment providers

-CEO's

-COO's

-CIO's

-Business development managers

-Marketing managers

-Technologists

-Suppliers

-Investors

-Banks

-Government agencies

-Contractors

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3932672/



About Reportbuyer

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

http://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

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PLAYA VISTA, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) announced today the signing of an exploratory agreement with the city of Brno, Czech Republic (VIDEO). This agreement marks the immediate exploration of the feasibility for a Hyperloop system for the city with a focus on connecting Brno and Bratislava, Slovakia, with which HTT already holds a development agreement, with a vision for also connecting Prague, the Czech capital.

Brno and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Brno, Czech Republic Takes First Step to Create European Hyperloop Connecting to Slovakia Brno, Czech Republic Takes First Step to Create European Hyperloop Connecting to Slovakia

This is the first Hyperloop agreement to connect two international cities. In the past year HTT has made historic deals directly with the regulators and government officials of Slovakia and Abu Dhabi and expects a multitude of similar government agreements this year continuing to create the necessary regulatory framework for the Hyperloop system worldwide.

Brno is approximately 80 miles north from Bratislava and 140 miles south of Prague. The city is considered an international crossroads of railways and highways. Brno's main railway station sees 500 trains and 50,000 passengers daily and is currently operating at capacity.

"Connecting Brno with Prague, and the existing efforts in Bratislava along with other cities in the region with the next generation of transportation will set the stage for a new era," said Mayor Petr Vokral. "We look forward to working with HTT to continue to bring innovation and opportunity to the city of Brno."

"Since we have solved all the technical issues, it is now crucial for us to collaborate with governments around the world," said HTT CEO Dirk Ahlborn. "It is critical for Hyperloop to be working directly with regulators at this stage of development, new rules and frameworks will need to be written as we begin building out systems in Slovakia, the Emirates and several other to come."

"The industrial age came early to Central Eastern Europe which has one of the longest running rail systems on the planet," said HTT Chairman, Bibop Gresta. "As a global economic leader creating a Hyperloop network here will continue to bring connectivity and prosperity the region."

About HTT

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Inc. (HTT) was founded in November, 2013, birthed of JumpStartFunda unique crowdfunding and crowdsourcing incubator platform that uses collective knowledge and assets to make ideas like Hyperloop a reality. HTT is a collaborative organization built within the egalitarian ecosystem of a company that values every one of its contributorsboth individual and entity. Collaborations with groups such as Atkins, Leybold Corporation, and Deutsche Bahn have resulted in tremendous advancement of the Hyperloop transportation system, setting the stage for commitments to installations in Quay Valley, California, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., Brno, Czech Republic, and the nation of Slovakia. More agreements are set to be formally announced during 2017.

HTT has an exclusive agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for use their passive magnetic levitation system as the core of low-cost, safety-conscious construction and design in the Hyperloop. The company is partnered with more than 600 professional team members who provide the company with engineering, physics, legal, human resources, media relations, logistics, and construction talent to fuel a company that is uniquely collaborative and talent-laden. In support of these endeavors and the global team, HTT announced the surpassing of $100 million in investments in December of 2016.

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies' images and assets can be found here

Contact:

Ben Cooke

Director of Media Relations

(310) 720-1214

[email protected]

SOURCE Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Inc.

Related Links

http://hyperloop.global


CenturyLink's cloud solutions now available to government agencies in all states

MONROE, La., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) today announced it has been awarded a ten-year NASPO ValuePoint Cloud Solutions Master Agreement, allowing CenturyLink to sell the company's cloud solutions to state and local governments. This Master Agreement allows participating state and government agencies to leverage CenturyLink's cloud solutions and managed services. Master Agreements are awarded to cloud solution providers whose offerings meet stringent security and data protection requirements.

"With many government agencies hosting highly sensitive information in the cloud today, maintaining a secure and reliable environment is more critical than ever," said Marty Leavengood, vice president, GES sales, CenturyLink. "By securing this NASPO ValuePoint Cloud Solutions Master Agreement, CenturyLink can offer a wide variety of cloud services to the public sector  including Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). CenturyLink is proud to offer an innovative, secure and reliable cloud infrastructure that serves the vast needs of government agencies."

This multi-state cooperative procurement, led by the State of Utah, gives participating state agencies and their authorized political subdivisions, including school districts, counties and cities, access to high-quality, cloud-based solutions.

By leveraging CenturyLink's cloud solutions, state and local agencies can effectively address current and future IT needs while reducing costs and improving overall efficiency of IT departments. These agencies can also utilize CenturyLink's managed services portfolio to connect to the power of the digital world, deliver secure government services to citizens, and lower operational and maintenance risks. CenturyLink manages critical infrastructure for thousands of businesses and government agencies worldwide. In early 2016, CenturyLink launched a FedRAMP-certified government cloud offering that is available through this NASPO ValuePoint Master Agreement.

CenturyLink's NASPO ValuePoint Cloud Solutions Master Agreement is valid through September 2026. General information and additional contract details are available on NASPO ValuePoint's website.

About NASPO ValuePoint

The NASPO ValuePoint Cooperative Purchasing Organization (formerly WSCA-NASPO) provides the highest standard of excellence in public cooperative contracting. By leveraging the leadership and expertise of all states with the purchasing power of their public entities, NASPO ValuePoint delivers the best value, most reliable, competitively-sourced contracts. Since 1993 NASPO ValuePoint or its predecessor has been the cooperative purchasing arm of NASPO (the National Association of State Procurement Officials) encouraging, fostering, and guiding the nation's most significant public contract cooperative. NASPO ValuePoint is a unified, nationally-focused cooperative aggregating the demand of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the organized United States territories, their political subdivisions, and other eligible entities, spurring the best value, innovation, and competition in the marketplace.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a global communications, hosting, cloud and IT services company enabling millions of customers to transform their businesses and their lives through innovative technology solutions. CenturyLink offers network and data systems management, Big Data analytics and IT consulting, and operates more than 55 data centers in North America, Europe and Asia. The company provides broadband, voice, video, data and managed services over a robust 250,000-route-mile U.S. fiber network and a 300,000-route-mile international transport network. Visit CenturyLink for more information.

SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.centurylink.com


DRAPER, Utah, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. (FLXT) today announced various product development partners, and subsequently, the company enjoyed another remarkable Consumer Electronics Show, ("CES"), experience. According to Paul Sexauer, Flexpoint Vice President of Sales & Marketing, "The 2017 CES was all about Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR), robotics, wearables and IoT (Internet of Things) applications  all of which represent rapidly growing and highly targeted Flexpoint market segments. We are proud to be partnering with so many innovative and inventive product designers and commercially successful companies."

Some of the highlights:

South Korea-based Neofect and their Rapael Smart Glove System for medical rehabilitation was recognized as a 2017 Honoree award winner for innovation in the Health, Fitness and Biotech category. The system, featuring an array of Bend Sensors, represents an advanced medical IoT application with current FDA approval and a growing global customer base of clinics, hospitals and, most recently, "out of clinic" patients who can leverage this platform at home. Show media coverage and product recognition includes CNN tech, Digital Trends, CNET, and numerous others.

ZeroUI continued its exhilarating rise to fame as an inventive robotics/toy kit manufacturer whose kit features a Bend Sensor driven glove. A CES 2016 award winner, the Ziro stood out yet again at CES 2017. CBSNews acknowledged that "robots stole the show" this year with special mention going to Ziro by CSBSNews, CNET, and myriad others who brought distinction to Ziro and the company as a whole. Commercialization efforts are well underway and 2017 will be remembered as the successful production launch of this platform.

Netherlands-based Manus VR, whose design leverages the Bend Sensor, is recognized by many as having developed the industry's finest and most advanced glove system. They were welcomed as a special partner/guest of a major consumer VR/AR hardware manufacturer into their private showcase to demonstrate the power of their VR/AR glove system integration. Peripherals such as the Manus glove system supporting the various VR/AR headset platforms, are of great interest to users as they try to "maximize the experience."

Sexauer further commented, "Besides these noteworthy partners, other companies currently developing technologies with the Bend Sensor and on imminent paths to commercialization were also on display at this year's CES show further validating the effectiveness of our technology."

Flexpoint continues to regularly receive requests for Bend Sensors for a wide array of consumer electronics applications. As previously announced, the company is actively expanding their global distribution to include resellers and distributors which cater to these and other market segments.

Please visit http://www.flexpoint.com/ for more information.

About Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc.

Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. (FLXT) is an innovative technology firm specializing in developing products that feature the Company's patented Bend Sensor and related technology. The Bend Sensor is a groundbreaking sensing solution that is revolutionizing applications in the automotive, safety, medical and industrial industries. The Bend Sensor's single-layer, thin film construction cuts costs and mechanical bulk while introducing a range of functions and stylistic design possibilities that have never before been available in sensing technology. Flexpoint's technology and expertise have been recognized by the world's elite business and academic innovators for over 17 years. The company is setting a new standard for sensing solutions in the "smart" age of technology.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" and involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such uncertainties include, among others, certain risks associated with the operation of the company described above. The Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results.

Contact Information:

Flexpoint Sensor Systems

Clark Mower, President

801-568-5111

Brokers and Analysts

Chesapeake Group

410-825-3930

SOURCE Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.flexpoint.com


NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) has announced that Bill Mohl, president of Entergy Wholesale Commodities and a corporate officer, will retire after more than 35 years in the energy business effective Feb. 28, 2017. Mohl's planned retirement comes as the company is executing its strategy to exit from the merchant power business, operated by EWC, and focusing on the growth of its regulated utility business.

Mohl's tenure in the energy industry, including 15 years with Entergy, spans multiple companies, and the regulated utility and unregulated energy businesses, including power, natural gas and gas liquids. Throughout his career, Mohl has demonstrated a proven track-record for transforming business and working collaboratively across the industry and within organizations to achieve objectives.

Mohl joined Entergy in 2002 as the director of special projects responsible for developing the procurement process for long-term resources for all of the regulated utility operating companies. In his career with the company, he has held multiple leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including vice president of commercial operations, and vice president of system planning and operations, before being named chairman, president and chief executive officer of the former Entergy Louisiana LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana LLC utilities. Together, the companies served more than 1 million electric customers and approximately 200,000 gas customers.

During his career at Entergy, Mohl was instrumental in executing the portfolio transformation strategy resulting in numerous power plant acquisitions; securing the required regulatory approvals to move the Louisiana electric utilities into the MISO market; and developing and executing the business strategy to optimize the EWC business, as well as the eventual exit from this business due to challenging market conditions.

"Bill's contributions have been key in helping us to achieve our business objectives," said Leo P. Denault, Entergy's chairman and CEO. "In particular, the successful transition from the merchant power business is allowing us to focus on growing the utility. His leadership, business perspective and ability to achieve results are characteristics that made him an important member of our senior leadership team."

Prior to joining Entergy, Mohl served seven years at Houston-based Koch Industries in several leadership roles including vice president of Koch Energy Trading, chief operating officer of Koch Midstream Services and chief operating officer of Koch Investment Group. Mohl began his career with Denver-based Xcel Energy where he held roles in system operations over 14 years.

Because Entergy is transitioning from the wholesale power business, Mohl's responsibilities will move to other senior leaders within the business effective March 1.

Mohl has been an advocate on behalf of Entergy and the industry for the reform of the power markets structure and served on the executive committee and board of directors of both the Nuclear Energy Institute and the Electric Power Supply Association.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $12 billion and approximately 13,000 employees.

Entergy's online address is: entergy.com

Twitter: @entergy; @entergynuclear

Facebook: www.facebook.com/entergy or entergy nuclear

SOURCE Entergy Corporation

Related Links

http://www.entergy.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheetah Mobile Inc. (NYSE: CMCM), the leading mobile utility and content app developer, today announced an exclusive "Made for Samsung" app release of its News Republic mobile news app specifically designed for Samsung mobile products. Available today in the Samsung Galaxy Apps store, the "News Republic for Samsung" app introduces several exciting new features:

Text-to-speech: Article pages now have a speaker icon that users can tap to activate text-to-speech functionality. Playback controls will appear at the bottom of the screen.

Article pages now have a speaker icon that users can tap to activate text-to-speech functionality. Playback controls will appear at the bottom of the screen. Long-press for more info: Within a news article, Samsung users can now long-press on a topic to view Wikipedia information without leaving the article.

Within a news article, Samsung users can now long-press on a topic to view Wikipedia information without leaving the article. Edge Panel news: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge owners can get the freshest news, simply by opening their Edge Panel app. A list of Breaking News will appear, and a single tap will open the article of interest.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge owners can get the freshest news, simply by opening their Edge Panel app. A list of Breaking News will appear, and a single tap will open the article of interest. Gear S3 widget: News Republic is now compatible with the Gear S3. The new widget displays the Top Stories, and users can click to read the full articles, with the help of a circular scroll bar, directly from their smartwatch.

News Republic is now compatible with the Gear S3. The new widget displays the Top Stories, and users can click to read the full articles, with the help of a circular scroll bar, directly from their smartwatch. Newsstand: Users can select individual news outlets to follow from within the app. News Republic's learning algorithm will also recommend content providers directly in the article list page.

"We're thrilled to work closely with Samsung to offer this latest version of the News Republic app," said Charles Fan, CTO of Cheetah Mobile. "New features like text-to-speech, long-press for more info, and Gear S3 support, will make News Republic's personalized AI-powered experience even better for Samsung users. We know Samsung takes pride in offering their users new and innovative ways to consume news and interesting content, and we're honored to provide a 'Made for Samsung' version of News Republic for their popular mobile devices."

Cheetah Mobile acquired News Republic in 2016 to drive the company's emergence as a leading mobile content company. The News Republic app has achieved the No.1 position in the News and Media category in over 60 countries on Google Play, and it has been No. 1 in News and Media in 23 countries/regions on iOS.

About Cheetah Mobile

Cheetah Mobile is a leading mobile internet company. It aims to provide leading apps for mobile users worldwide and connect users with personalized content on the mobile platform.

Cheetah Mobile's products, including its popular mission-critical utility applications Clean Master, CM Security, and Battery Doctor, help make users' mobile internet experience smarter, speedier, and safer. The Company has attracted 612 million global Mobile MAUs as of September 2016, of which approximately 80% are located outside of China. Leveraging the success of its mission-critical applications, Cheetah Mobile has launched its line of mobile content-driven applications, including News Republic and Live.me.

Cheetah Mobile provides its advertising customers, which include direct advertisers and mobile advertising networks through which advertisers place their advertisements, with direct access to highly targeted mobile users and global promotional channels, which are capable of delivering targeted content to hundreds of millions of users. For more information about Cheetah Mobile and its products, please visit www.cmcm.com.

SOURCE Cheetah Mobile

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By Inauguration Day, many of Donald Trumps nominees will have begun the sometimes-brutal process of confirmation hearings before Congress.

But no matter who becomes an official part of the Trump administration, a big question mark remains regarding the leadership of the nations medical research agency.

The current director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Francis Collins, told Yahoo Finance that he doesnt know what will happen under the incoming Trump administration.

Certainly there has been some discussion of that possibility [of staying], but as of now Im not in a position to say whether Im staying on or not  that remains to be decided, Collins told Yahoo Finance in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In Collins corner is Trump consigliere Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House and early Trump supporter, whom Collins met 20 years ago  in Davos  after Collins gave a presentation as director of the Genome Project.

He got fascinated by what this might mean, reading out our own DNA instruction book, and he took me aside after the session and we spent an hour, walking through what it would mean to have that information in terms of health, and particularly what it could do in terms of prevention and treatment of disease, Collins told Yahoo Finance. He occasionally pops up in my email inbox with an interesting observation or question about neuroscience or maybe a new development in medical treatment.

Even with Gingrichs support, and the support of other prominent Republicans, Collins, who was appointed to the role by President Obama, is no shoo-in to stay on at NIH. According to the Wall Street Journal, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) has met with Trump about the position, and Collins has faced scrutiny over delays brought on by a fungus problem in a NIH pharmacy.

NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins Source: Getty

Unlike other appointments Trump is deliberating over, the choice and consideration of NIH director doesnt fall on party lines. In fact, according to Collins, the NIH is not much affected by partisan politics.

Story continues

Im particularly reassured. Of all the things that get decided on in Washington, biomedical research seems to be the one everybody agrees is a good investment, he said. The return you get back on that in terms of advances in human health, stimulating the economy, encouraging the American leadershipits a win-win.

To that end, Collins is optimistic about the incoming administration and the new 115th Congress.

Congress has, in fact, very muchin the last couple of yearsmoved the needle in a direction I find quite gratifying, last year increasing NIH funding by about 7%, he said, noting that he was expecting something similar this year for the next appropriation resolution. So Im encouraged. This is such a good story, it doesnt need any special interest lobbying for it.

According to Collins, even small-government, pro-market hawks have reason to approve of the NIH. The universal appeal is simple. If the government doesnt fund the basic science, its not going to get done, Collins said. Its not the sort of thing the private sector can afford to put their dollars intoit wouldnt be connected soon to the product.

Read More from Davos:

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Princeton president: I hope Congress doesnt tax our endowment
Main Line Animal Rescue is well known for their innovative billboards; their anti-puppy mill billboard in Chicago was seen by Oprah and led to the television icon's puppy mill show in 2008. MLAR has reached out to Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth requesting the Iraqi war hero appear on their next boards which would read "Be a Hero to a Shelter Dog or Cat. Adopt from Your Local Shelter or Rescue." "We're hoping the Congresswoman agrees to be featured on our next billboards" said Smith. "Her courage and spirit are truly inspiring. The same could be said for shelter animals."
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Collibra, a leader in data governance software for business users, today announced it has closed $50 million in Series C financing led by San Francisco-based ICONIQ Capital with participation from investment firm Battery Ventures and return backers Dawn Capital, Index Ventures and Newion Investments. This latest investment will help Collibra continue to fuel its rapid growth and industry leadership as a premier provider of data governance solutions. To date, Collibra has secured more than $75 million in venture funding. With this investment, Matt Jacobson, General Partner with ICONIQ, will join the Collibra board of directors; Battery General Partner Dharmesh Thakker will join the board as an observer.

Organizations are increasingly adopting data governance as a "system of record" to help them exercise control over processes and methods employed by data users to improve data quality. The Collibra integrated data governance platform helps hundreds of organizations across the globe in industries including financial services, retail, healthcare, education, technology, government and others find, understand, and trust the data they need to be truly data-driven enterprises and to gain competitive advantage.

"Data's day has come. And with that, organizations have recognized that data can only be leveraged as a strategic resource to the extent it can be accessed and, most important, trusted," said Felix Van de Maele, CEO and co-founder of Collibra. "This Series C funding round from two of the industry's most highly respected and successful investment firms is tremendous validation of the increased adoption of data governance as a corporate discipline. Collibra is the industry's most advanced purpose-built data governance platform and our intent is to continue capturing mind and market share in our field. I'm also pleased to welcome Matt Jacobson to the Collibra board, where his experience and insights working with some of the world's premier high-growth companies will be invaluable to our continued expansion."

Industry influencers continue to recognize the strength of the Collibra solution: Gartner Inc., named Collibra a leader in its August 2016 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Metadata Management Solutions. Forrester has recognized Collibra as a leader in its Forrester Wave: Data Governance Stewardship Applications 2016. Collibra was also named the "Best Data Governance Solution" in the 2016 Data Management Review awards.

Over the past year, Collibra has addressed the increased demand for its data governance solutions. The company's global partner ecosystem now includes more than 200 organizations in the U.S., EMEA and Latin/Central America. In May 2016, Collibra hosted its inaugural Data Citizens Conference in New York, drawing hundreds of attendees. The 2017 event is scheduled for May 2-3 in Jersey City, NJ.

In October, Collibra released Version 5.0 of the Collibra data governance center platform, as well as the Collibra Catalog -- a data catalog that helps data scientists and citizen data analysts spend less time looking for data and more time solving critical business challenges. Collibra 5.0 takes an advanced "consumerized" approach to data governance technology, enabling business users to "shop" for and find data in much the same way as they shop for products in their everyday lives on consumer sites like Amazon.

"Collibra was born to address a real problem: how enterprises can meaningfully leverage data to transform their businesses," said ICONIQ's Jacobson. "We have been very impressed with how large, sophisticated customers have spoken about the strength of Collibra and its emerging market leadership. I'm personally excited to work hands-on with Felix and his team to support their continued success."

"Data is clearly now a strategic asset for companies across industries," said Battery's Thakker. "As more and more organizations hire chief data officers, Collibra gives them the tools to better leverage data for competitive advantage."

About ICONIQ

ICONIQ Capital is a global multi-family office and merchant bank for a group of influential families.

About Battery

Battery strives to invest in cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, Web infrastructure, consumer Internet, mobile and industrial technologies. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at stages ranging from seed to private equity and invests globally from offices in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, Israel, and London. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here.

About Collibra

As the leader in data governance for business users, Collibra helps organizations across the world gain competitive advantage by maximizing the value of their data across the enterprise. Collibra is the only platform purpose-built to address the gamut of data stewardship, governance, and management needs of the most complex, data-intensive industries. Our flexible and configurable cloud-based or on-premises solution puts people and processes first  automating data governance and management to quickly and securely deliver trusted data to the business users who need it. Learn more at www.collibra.com.

SOURCE Collibra

Related Links

http://www.collibra.com


ONTARIO, Calif., Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CU Direct (www.cudirect.com) the nation's leading provider of lending, automotive and strategic solutions to the credit union industry, has announced that the company's Board of Directors has approved a 3% cash dividend to its 108 credit union shareholders for a record twelfth consecutive year.

Credit unions funded 1.4 million loans through CU Direct's Lending 360 and CUDL lending platform, generating a record $30 billion in credit union auto loans in 2016, surpassing the company's record $26 billion in loans funded in 2015. Further reflecting their growing marketplace strength, CU Direct credit unions have increased auto loans 55.6% since 2013.

The company helped its credit union partners increase loan growth 16% in 2016, the highest loan origination growth rate among the top nine lenders in the nation according to data from AutoCount, and as a result CU Direct credit unions, as an aggregate, became the second largest auto lender in the nation.

The company grew with 55 new credit unions, to drive efficiencies, grow loan originations and generate revenue. At year's end 1,048 credit unions, serving 44.5 million members, were utilizing the company's industry-leading lending software & solutions, including innovative, best-in-class lending platforms (CUDL, Lending 360), analytics and reporting (Lending Insights), auto-shopping tools (AutoSMART), and retail lending products (OnSpot Financing).

"We are pleased to provide a strong return on investment to our shareholders for the twelfth consecutive year," said Tony Boutelle, president and CEO of CU Direct. "Credit unions continue to demonstrate that they can compete with banks and win in the auto lending marketplace; our goal is to deliver innovative lending technology and solutions that help credit unions improve efficiencies to get to yes faster, and make more loans."

About CU Direct

For more than twenty years, CU Direct has been a lending technology leader, helping credit unions fund $209 billion in loans. More than 1,000 credit unions rely on CU Direct's solutions to generate loans, create efficiencies, and grow membership. From CUDL, the industry's number one auto lending platform, to the industry's revolutionary Lending 360 Loan Origination System, and Lending Insights dynamic analytic tools, CU Direct develops the technology that helps credit unions advance their lending programs and overall portfolio success. 13,000 auto dealers nationwide use CU Direct's automotive solutions to connect with credit unions and their members to drive sales and increase their bottom lines. CU Direct is recognized as an award-winning Top Workplace by the California-based Press Enterprise. For more information, visit www.cudirect.com. Connect with CU Direct on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contact: Bill Meyer

CU Direct

909.481.2360

[email protected]

SOURCE CU Direct

Related Links

http://www.cudirect.com


Microsoft Consultancy Deepens Expertise in Application Development and Management

BROOMFIELD, Colo. and TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Datavail, North America's largest provider of managed services for data integration, management and database administration, today announced the acquisition of Navantis, a 200-person Microsoft Premier Partner based in Toronto, Canada.

Founded in 1998, Navantis has deep Microsoft application modernization, development, integration and management expertise. Navantis has long been recognized as a Microsoft 'go-to partner' with its current nine Gold and nine Silver Microsoft Partner certifications.

Navantis leverages the entire Microsoft solution stack of technologies to address its client's application and data integration business needs. The company's offerings include application development, support and systems integration across the Microsoft Dynamics CRM, SharePoint and .NET services suites.

The acquisition of Navantis is part of Datavail's growth strategy to expand its offerings to respond to customer business requirements and challenges. Navantis represents a logical extension of Datavail's offerings to rapidly expand into Microsoft oriented consulting, application development and modernization solutions. Combining Datavail's market leadership in data integration and database services with Navantis' application and software development lifecycle expertise greatly strengthens the combined companies' capabilities.

"We're excited to welcome the Navantis team to Datavail to expand and deepen our footprint in the Microsoft application modernization, development and integration space," said Scott Frock, COO of Datavail. "Their reputation in the Microsoft world among both clients and partners is unparalleled, and we believe we can combine our data-centric expertise with Navantis' applications expertise to bring an extended range of offerings and solutions to our clients."

Datavail manages the data services for hundreds of clients, both on premise and in the cloud, and works with those clients on comprehensive, end-to-end managed operations and support.

Andy Papadopoulos, CEO of Navantis, will remain with the organization as head of the Microsoft Solutions Division of Datavail. "Datavail is one of the few companies that has truly built a 24x7 managed services model for its clients," said Papadopoulos. "Together we can now build and manage our clients' application and data services so they can focus on growing their businesses."

This acquisition is the second by Datavail in the past year. It acquired Art of BI, an Oracle Business Intelligence (BI) consultancy, in July, 2016. Both acquisitions were enabled by Datavail's new $47 million capital funding round in December of 2015 designed to enable future growth initiatives, including expansion into markets adjacent to the database and enterprise data management services market.

Navantis was founded by John Kvasnic and Jason Martin in 1998 and financed by Genuity Capital Partners (now Hawthorne Partners). Thousands of users in Canada, the United States, Europe and further abroad have used Navantis software to do an incredible range of things. Whether it's registering to vote, find a bed at a hospital, make a purchase online or share documents securely within and between businesses, Navantis has built thousands of systems to help make lives better.

About Datavail

Datavail Corporation is the largest provider of data integration and database administration services in North America, offering 247 managed database and BI/DW services, design, architecture, and staffing. The company specializes in Oracle, Oracle E-Business Suite, OBIEE and OBIA, Hyperion, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, MongoDB, DB2 and SharePoint, and provides flexible global service delivery options to meet each customer's unique business needs. Founded in 2007, Datavail is based in Broomfield, Colorado and supports enterprise clients located worldwide. For more information, visit www.datavail.com.

About Navantis

Navantis is among the largest Microsoft Partners in Canada. The company has worked closely with Microsoft to help mutual clients realize new opportunities and solve business problems with tailored solutions. With more than 18 years of project success, 50+ industry awards and over 40 CRM success stories Navantis has become an IT leader in the Canadian market. More information on Navantis is available at www.navantis.com.

Robin Caputo

CMO

Datavail

(303) 570-4121

[email protected]

This release was issued through WebWire(R). For more information visit http://www.webwire.com.

SOURCE Datavail

Related Links

http://www.datavail.com


ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DECISIVE ANALYTICS Corporation (DAC) has been awarded a task order to provide Software Engineering and Schedule Risk Assessment support to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Systems Engineering (DASD(SE)). This task order, which carries a ceiling of $14.8M, is part of the new Professional Engineering Services indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) awarded by Washington Headquarters Services (WHS).

The Software Engineering and Schedule Risk Assessment is the second task order awarded to DAC under this IDIQ. Under this latest award, DAC will be supporting the Director, Major Program Support (D,MPS) of DASD(SE) with software, measurement, and analysis; program protection; and cross domain support. Work will be performed in Arlington, VA.

"We look forward to bringing to Software Engineering and Risk Assessment the skill and passion for mission success which we have displayed for DASD(SE) for the past twelve years," said Lawrence Gresko, Program Manager. "This effort, along with our other recent Task Order wins, provides DASD(SE) with efficiencies in supporting major programs throughout DoD. It is also integral to our Systems Engineering Corporate core competencies."

About DECISIVE ANALYTICS Corporation

DECISIVE ANALYTICS Corporation is an employee-owned systems engineering company headquartered in Arlington, VA. DECISIVE ANALYTICS also has offices in Huntsville, AL; Colorado Springs, CO; Jeffersonville, IN; and Dayton, OH. Founded two decades ago, DECISIVE ANALYTICS' core ideology is to bring together highly motivated individuals to form an organization that provides superior, innovative technical contributions to all endeavors in which it participates. We deliver industry-leading products and services to commercial businesses, the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and a wide range of other government agencies. An award winning growing company, DECISIVE ANALYTICS is consistently ranked among the Best Places to Work within communities where we serve. For more information, please visit www.dac.us.

SOURCE DECISIVE ANALYTICS Corporation

Related Links

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CLIFTON, N.J., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Distinguished leader in digital certificates Neal Creighton has joined Comodo, a global innovator and developer of cybersecurity solutions and the worldwide leader in digital certificates, the company announced today. He will serve as a key advisor, providing insight into the digital certificate industry, engaging with industry leaders and sharing his knowledge of the cybersecurity space.

Creighton has more than a decade of experience in the cybersecurity industry. As the previous co-founder, president and CEO at GeoTrust, another leading certificate authority, he led a $24 million financing round and sold GeoTrust to Versign for $125 million. Creighton has also spearheaded ventures, including GeoTrust spin-off ChosenSecurity, acquired by PGP, Corp. (now Symantec), and AffirmTrust LLC, acquired by Trend Micro. He is currently president and CEO of CounterTack, where he has raised more than $72 million to support the company's rapidly growing endpoint security and threat platform.

Comodo has already achieved massive success in the certificate space, currently owning more than 50 percent of SSL certificate market share worldwide and securing more than 38 million fully qualified domains. Solidifying its expertise in the industry, in 2005, Comodo founded the Certificate Authority/Browser (CA/B) Forum, a consortium of CAs and internet browser providers that develop guidelines that govern the issuance and management of digital certificates. The company is bringing Creighton on to build on this ever-increasing momentum.

"We are fortunate to have such an outstanding industry guru join our team. This underscores Comodo's commitment to digital certificates and the customers we serve," said Melih Abdulhayoglu, CEO, Comodo. "Welcoming Neal as an advisor will expand on our experience as the no. 1 worldwide provider of SSL certificates and help drive our certificate division's success forward at an even more rapid rate. The fact that Neal comes from GeoTrust shows that competitors can join together for the greater goodcreating the safest possible internet environment for all global users. We look forward to hearing his ideas and incorporating his vast digital certificate knowledge into Comodo's plans to create even more trust online."

"It's exciting to be joining the Comodo team," said Creighton. "Digital certificates are a critical component to the endpoint security landscape, and Comodo offers the industry's most powerful and effective set of solutions. I am eager to help the company continue its industry momentum in building innovative solutions and online trust."

Comodo is joining the ranks of highly reputable organizations in Creighton's cybersecurity advisory portfolio. He serves on advisory boards for OneID and the Army Cyber Institute and serves as chairman of Robly and chairman of Shield Capital Partners' technology advisory board. He is a go-to expert for speaking engagements at well-known industry events, such as RSA, Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit and America's Growth Capital.

Creighton is a graduate of the USMA at West Point and holds a JD and an MBA from Northwestern University. He is currently based in Boston.

For more information on Comodo's certificate business and enterprise cybersecurity offerings, visit enterprise.comodo.com.

About Comodo

The Comodo organization is a global innovator of cybersecurity solutions, protecting critical information across the digital landscape. Building on its unique position as the world's largest certificate authority, Comodo authenticates, validates and secures networks and infrastructures from individuals to mid-sized companies to the world's largest enterprises. Comodo provides complete end-to-end security solutions across the boundary, internal network and endpoint with innovative technologies solving the most advanced malware threats, both known and unknown. With global headquarters in Clifton, New Jersey and branch offices in Silicon Valley, Comodo has international offices in China, India, the Philippines, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit comodo.com.

Comodo and the Comodo brand are trademarks of the Comodo Group Inc. or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. The current list of Comodo trademarks and patents is available at comodo.com/repository.

Keep up to date with the latest Comodo News from the Comodo blog at https://blog.comodo.com/ and on Twitter @ComodoNews.

Connect with Comodo on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/comodo.

For more information, media and analysts may contact:



Deb Montner

Montner Tech PR

[email protected]

203-226-9290

SOURCE Comodo

Related Links

http://comodo.com


READING, Pa., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EnerSys (NYSE: ENS) the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications will host a conference call to discuss the Company's third quarter of fiscal 2017 financial results and to provide an overview of the business. The call will conclude with a question and answer session.

The call, scheduled for Thursday, February 9, 2017 beginning at 9:00 am Eastern Time, will be hosted by David M. Shaffer, Chief Executive Officer, and Michael J. Schmidtlein, Chief Financial Officer.

The call will also be Webcast on EnerSys' website. There will be a free download of a compatible media player on the company's web site at http://www.enersys.com.

The conference call information is: Date: Thursday, February 9, 2017 Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time Via Internet: http://www.enersys.com Domestic Dial-In Number: 877-359-9508 International Dial-In Number: 224-357-2393 Passcode: 48203166

A replay of the conference call will be available from 12:00 p.m. on February 9, 2017 through midnight on March 11, 2017.

The replay information is: Via Internet: http://www.enersys.com Domestic Replay Number: 855-859-2056 International Replay Number: 404-537-3406 Passcode: 48203166

A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's website at http://www.enersys.com under the "Investor Relations" link. Presentation materials to be used in conjunction with the conference call will become available under the aforementioned link the evening before the conference call.

About EnerSys:

EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes reserve power and motive power batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other commercial electric powered vehicles. Reserve power batteries are used in the telecommunication and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies, and numerous applications requiring stored energy solutions including medical, aerospace and defense systems. Outdoor equipment enclosure products are utilized in the telecommunication, cable, utility, transportation industries and by government and defense customers. The company also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers from over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world.

More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com .

SOURCE EnerSys

Related Links

http://www.enersys.com


BRUSSELS and BEDFORD, Mass., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

EnterpriseDB



(EDB  ), the database platform company for digital business, today announced that Devrim G u nd u z, Principal Systems Engineer at EnterpriseDB, will present at FOSDEM PGDay 2017 on Friday, February 3, 2017 , at the Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium .

FOSDEM PGDay is a one-day event dedicated to all things PostgreSQL staged by PostgreSQL Europe in conjunction with the larger open source software conference FOSDEM, which is February 4-5, 2017 at the ULB Solbosch Campus in Brussels.

Gunduz will deliver his talk, WAL for DBAs: Everything You Want to Know, at 3:20pm local time at the event venue. WAL, which is the acronym for write-ahead logs, are a key feature in PostgreSQL and used in backups, replication, and other tasks. Gunduz, who works closely with EDB customers who are using the EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager, will provide guidance on how the WAL feature can be applied strategically in PostgreSQL deployments to ease administrative tasks.

EDB Postgres Enterprise Manager is part of the Administration Tools Suite, one of several tool suites that EDB developed for PostgreSQL and integrated into the EDB Postgres Platform. To learn more about the EDB Postgres Platform, click here or email [email protected].

About EnterpriseDB Corporation

EnterpriseDB (EDB), the database platform company for digital business, delivers the premier open source-based data platform for new applications, cloud re-platforming, application modernization, and legacy migration. EnterpriseDB integrates with enterprise technologies and infrastructures for hybrid cloud management, data integration, and data warehousing. Our customers benefit from the most reliable, high-performing, flexible, open, and cost-effective data management platform available. EnterpriseDB is based in Bedford, Massachusetts with 16 offices around the globe. For more information, visit www.EnterpriseDB.com.

EnterpriseDB is a registered trademark of EnterpriseDB Corporation. EDB and EDB Postgres are trademarks of EnterpriseDB Corporation. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contacts

Nancy Scott Cairbre Sugrue EnterpriseDB Sugrue Communications +1 781.357.3090 +44 (0)1932 429 779 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE EnterpriseDB

Related Links

http://www.enterprisedb.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that senior consultant and principal Rosemary Manning Hughes will present at the 2017 Health & Welfare Compliance Update put on by the New York Metro Area Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS) on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 8:45 a.m. at BDO, 100 Park Ave., 11th Floor in New York, NY.

Health care continues to be in a state of change and employers will need to be alert to updates to regulations that were issued in 2016, as well as the proposed changes for 2017. Hughes will walk attendees through key topics in health and welfare legislation to assist in keeping plan sponsors compliant.

This event is free for members and $30 for non-members. Attendees of this event will receive 1.0 hour CEBS CPE credit and approval is pending for 1.0 hour of HRCI credit and 1.0 hour of SHRM PDC credit. For additional information on program and registration information, click here.

About Rosemary Manning Hughes, senior consultant and principal, EPIC

Rosemary Manning Hughes is a senior consultant and principal based in EPIC's Stamford, CT and New York, NY offices. She brings over 25 years of experience in the employee benefits industry. Prior to joining EPIC in June 2015, Manning Hughes was the Director of Benefits, Americas, for Avis Budget Group (ABG), responsible for all aspects of the strategy and administration of all health and welfare, defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, and global wellness. Before Manning Hughes joined ABG, she was a health and welfare consultant for such firms as Arthur J. Gallagher, Fidelity, and Mercer Consulting. Manning Hughes specializes in finding solutions that engage employees while managing costs.

About The International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists

The International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS) is the premier interactive community providing educational resources, innovative thinking and collective wisdom to help members excel and prosper in their careers. This membership organization is for those who have earned the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Group Benefits Associate (GBA), Retirement Plans Associate (RPA) and Compensation Management Specialist (CMS) designations.

Members have access to a variety of educational resources and networking opportunities that can broaden their knowledge and enhance their careers. Since 1981, the Society has provided educational programs, information and networking resources, publications, and other services to a diverse group of benefits professionals.

About EPIC

EPIC is a unique and innovative retail property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm. EPIC has created a values-based, client-focused culture that attracts and retains top talent, fosters employee satisfaction and loyalty and sustains a high level of customer service excellence. EPIC team members have consistently recognized their company as a "Best Place to Work" in multiple regions and as a "Best Place to Work in the Insurance Industry" nationally.

EPIC now has more than 850 team members operating from offices across the U.S., providing Property Casualty, Employee Benefits, Specialty Programs and Private Client solutions to more than 13,000 clients.

With more than $200 million in revenues, EPIC ranks among the top 20 retail insurance brokers in the United States. Backed by the Carlyle Group, the company continues to expand organically and through strategic acquisitions across the country. For additional information, please visit www.epicbrokers.com.

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SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

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BALTIMORE, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Evergreen Health today announced that it has finalized an agreement with a group of investors to finance its capital needs--a crucial step towards securing Evergreen's long-term success.

"This is an exciting day for Evergreen's members and employees. I am very much looking forward to working with our group of investors, who share my passion for providing Maryland residents with affordable, high-quality health care," said Dr. Peter Beilenson, CEO of Evergreen Health. "As a result of this agreement, Evergreen will be in a much stronger financial position than it has ever been. I am extremely thankful to Governor Larry Hogan, Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer, Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Elijah Cummings. Without their unwavering support, this agreement would never have been completed."

"Competition in the health insurance marketplace results in lower prices and more benefits for consumers, no matter which health insurance company they choose. That is why this agreement, which ensures Evergreen's role in the marketplace going forward, is good news for all Maryland residents," said Al Redmer, Commissioner of the Maryland Insurance Administration.

Evergreen Health Cooperative Inc., was established in 2012 to provide high-quality, affordable, patient-centered health care in Maryland. The company's new name is Evergreen Health, Inc. Currently, Evergreen has 26,000 members. Its affiliate, Evergreen Health Care, operates full-service, innovative health centers in Baltimore City, White Marsh, Columbia and Greenbelt.

SOURCE Evergreen Health
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- It's not every day that five adult siblings can pull together their collective skills and talents to produce a moving tribute to World War II veterans and their families. BookWise Publishing announces that the Miller Family did just that in this captivating compilation of memories collected from over 140 families of the men and women who lived and sacrificed during the Second World war.

Ken Miller, Marshall Miller, Del Miller, Myra Miller, and Lynette Miller Ballard

Arrange for an insightful and intriguing interview with the Miller siblings; an artist, editor, businessman, writer/voice professional, and communications professor who pooled their strengths and passion for history to produce a full color, 338-page book to treasure, SOLDIERS' STORIES: A Collection of WWII Memoirs. Seventy-two years after World War II ended, this family found a way to preserve poignant and remarkable stories that are fading with time.

Combine three movies  We're the Millers, National Lampoon's European Vacation, and Band of Brothers and you get the picture! On a shoestring budget and traveling across Europe in a motorhome for ten days in full comedic style, the Miller siblings followed their father's footsteps through WWII while discovering many stories that needed to be preserved for the next generation. The news? They survived the trip, and each other, to produce a fantastic book that is being tagged as a "masterpiece" and "brilliant" from readers around the world!

Now available through many online book retailers, this page-turner represents a different kind of history book, one told, not by historians, but by the families of the veterans of World War II. Beautifully illustrated, #soldiersstoriesbook shares short WWII stories, drawings, and photographs from the Pacific Theater, European Theater, and the United States.

The Miller Family

Myra Miller, Ken Miller, Del Miller, Marshall Miller, and Lynette Miller Ballard are the five adult children of Myron H. Miller, S/Sgt who served in the United States Armed Forces from 1942-1946 during WWII in the European Theater Operation. Growing up in the small, rural community of Dixon, Missouri, the children of Myron and Dolores Gates Miller went off to college and lived their lives until, decades later, found themselves together again on a road of discovery concerning their father's war. During that process, they knew that there were not enough stories about their own father to fill an entire book and realized that other families might have stories and photos to share. Thus, the idea for Soldiers' Stories: A Collection of WWII Memoirs was born in February 2016. Through one crazy trip, hard work, and combined efforts, the book was published in December 2016.

Myra, Marshall, and Lynette live in St. Louis, Missouri. Ken lives in Dixon, Missouri, and Del resides in Denver, Colorado.

Media Contact:

Myra Miller, PhD

(417) 849-0155

www.amazon.com/author/myramillerphd

[email protected]

Dayna Linton is the book producer/publisher with BookWise Publishing located in Riverton, Utah, (208) 604-1138, [email protected].

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SOURCE BookWise Publishing
AKELA, N.M., Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe filed a motion to compel the National Indian Gaming Commission to comply with an Order of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, which requires the NIGC to reconsider a May 5, 2015 Decision and Order in which the NIGC determined that the Fort Sill Apache Tribe was not eligible to conduct gaming on its reservation at Akela Flats, New Mexico. The NIGC had until January 13, 2017 to reconsider its 2015 Decision and Order. The Tribe's motion also seeks to require the NIGC and its Chairman to appear and show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court for violating the order. Please access the motion here.

In October 2015, the Tribe and the Government agreed to a process that, it was hoped, could resolve the dispute over gaming at Akela Flats, NM. The parties agreed that the Department of Interior would issue an opinion regarding the tribe's eligibility to conduct gaming, and the NIGC would reconsider its earlier decision in light of the Department of Interior's opinion and would issue a new Decision and Order reflecting that reconsideration. This agreement of the parties was subsequently embodied in several orders of the District Court, most recently the court's October 21, 2016 Amended Order. The NIGC has refused to follow the court order.

"Today, the Tribe is moving the court to require the NIGC to comply with the court's order to reconsider its May 2015 Decision and Order," said Jeff Haozous, Fort Sill Apache Tribal Chairman. "This is at least the fourth time in the last four months the government has simply refused to obey the court's orders. For this reason, the Tribe is also asking the court to require the NIGC and its Chairman to show cause why they should not be held in contempt for violating the court's order. The NIGC has abused the Tribe's right to a speedy resolution of this matter, and has wasted taxpayer and tribal resources by delaying their decision for over five years, and now an additional 15 months by not fulfilling its obligations in the agreed-upon resolution process. We have worked in good faith with the current Commission and have relied upon their repeated commitments to participate in this process in good faith. Now they are defying a court order to issue a reconsideration based on further evidence provided by the Tribe and the Department of Interior. The Tribe not only seeks to require the government to comply with the court's order and a finding of contempt, but will also be seeking damages from the Government for its continued false promises and delays."

"We hope the new Administration will review this process and work with us toward restoring respect for our people and an amicable resolution to this legal matter," added Chairman Haozous.

SOURCE Fort Sill Apache Tribe
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Founding Fathers Coffee announces a partnership with Folds of Honor. Folds of Honor, along with The American Legion, will share half of the profits from Founding Fathers Coffee sales.

Introduced in 2016, Founding Fathers 100% Arabica coffee is available in five different roasts; Morning Blend, Donut Shop, French Roast, Colombian and French Vanilla. The coffee is currently available in single serve cups (K-cups) and will soon be available in ground and whole bean. Also available in USDA Organic, Fair Trade and Rainforest.

Founding Fathers various flavors of coffee.

"It is our privilege to support the mission of Folds of Honor," said Phil Knutsen, Founding Fathers CEO. "Our mission is to produce high quality, American made products and support our American military families with 50% of our profits. Nobody is more committed to our military heroes than Major Dan Rooney and the team at Folds of Honor."

Since 2007, the Folds of Honor has carried forth this singular, noble mission to provide educational scholarships to the children and spouses of those fallen or disabled while serving our nation.

"It's an honor to benefit from the sales of Founding Fathers Coffee," said Major Dan Rooney, Founder of Folds of Honor. "We are able to provide financial support to so many because of the generosity and support from companies like Founding Fathers."

About Founding Fathers

Established in 2009 by Minnesota entrepreneur Phil Knutsen, the mission of Founding Fathers is to keep America strong one product at a time by providing the best American-made products aligned with the principles and values that made the United States the greatest country in the world. Founding Fathers Products donates 50 percent of their profits from the sale of its products to support our American military families. Founding Fathers produces a line of domestic premium lager beer and a line of 100% Arabica Gourmet Coffee. For more information, visit www.foundingfathersproducts.com.

Media Contact:

Bruce Evans, BEDD Head Media

Phone: 612.209.4593

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Founding Fathers Coffee

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Browse 78 market data Tables and 65 Figures spread through 164 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Geospatial Analytics Market"

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The market is primarily driven by the demand for the integration and convergence of geospatial information with mainstream technologies, as well as the commoditization of geospatial data for various industries. Moreover, the rising demand for geospatial analytics solutions with artificial intelligence capabilities in various industries and the rising adoption of geospatial solutions for safety and security are driving the Geospatial Analytics Market.

Global Positioning System (GPS) segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Based on technology, the Geospatial Analytics Market has been segmented into GPS, remote sensing, GIS, and others. The GPS segment of the Geospatial Analytics Market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2016 to 2021. It provides tremendous capabilities in consumer, commercial, industrial, and military applications, which is leading to the high growth of the GPS segment of the Geospatial Analytics Market.

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Surveying segment is expected to lead the Geospatial Analytics Market during the forecast period

Based on application, the Geospatial Analytics Market has been segmented into surveying, medicine & public safety, disaster risk reduction & management, climate change adaptation, and others. The surveying segment is projected to lead the Geospatial Analytics Market during the forecast period. The rising demand for surveying geospatial solutions in various sectors such as infrastructure development to optimize the use of available resources is leading to the growth of this segment.

Automotive segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR the during the forecast period

Based on vertical, the Geospatial Analytics Market has been segmented into business, automotive, utility & communication, government, defense & intelligence, natural resources, and others. The automotive segment of the Geospatial Analytics Market is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing use of geospatial technologies in the automotive industry globally.

Asia-Pacific Geospatial Analytics Market is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Based on region, the Geospatial Analytics Market has been segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. The highest growth rate in the Asia-Pacific region can be attributed to the increasing adoption and usage of geospatial analytics in high growth industrial sectors in the Asia-Pacific region. Infrastructure and smart city developments are also driving the Geospatial Analytics Market in this region.

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The major players in this market include, Trimble Navigation LTD. (U.S.), Hexagon AB (Sweden), Harris Corporation (U.S.), DigitalGlobe, Inc. (U.S.), Bentley Systems, Inc. (U.S.), ESRI (U.S.), General Electric Co. (U.S.), MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates, Ltd. (Canada), Fugro N.V. (Netherlands), and RMSI (India), among others.

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Location Analytics Market by Application, Component (Software and Services), Location (Indoor and Outdoor), Organization Size, Deployment Model (On-Premises and Hosted), Industry Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2021

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Geospatial Imagery Analytics Market by Type (Image and Video), Collection Medium (GIS, Satellite, UAV), Vertical (Defense & Security, Insurance, Agriculture, Healthcare & Life Sciences), and Region - Global Forecast to 2021

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LONDON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The global smart city transformation is underway

Slowly but surely we are beginning to see a transformation take place in many parts of the world, as governments and councils realise they need to take a holistic approach to future city-wide development. In Australia, for example, we see that Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Sydney, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast have all been identified as being among the leading smart cities. The Netherlands also has great examples of emerging Smart Cities including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Eindhoven.

While it can be difficult for councils to obtain funding for Smart City projects  there are many things that cities can do within their existing budget. Every city needs to develop its vision and leadership from the top down and requires a Smart Council to lead initiatives. Councils need to consider how one aspect of a Smart City can benefit another. For example, how can communication technologies such as WiFi, mobile broadband, apps, M2M, Internet of Things (IoT) and smart micro-grids be used to achieve synergy or asset sharing?

Even more importantly, perhaps, is establishing community Buy-in for Smart City projects. Directly engaging with citizens, businesses and others can establish the essential support required for developments - and they can also assist in building business models that can lead to investment.

For those operating in the telecoms sector  smart city developments offer enormous opportunities going forward. Billions of dollars are already being poured into the essential telecoms infrastructure and technologies required for smart cities. Implementing an holistic IoT infrastructure using sensors and M2M requires the heavy involvement of the telecoms industry. Establishing the networking solutions is also important and this is where developments such as Low-Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) are being closely monitored.

To progress towards a smart city, local councils should lead the vision, set the strategy, and work side-by-side with their citizens, neighbourhood communities, businesses, local stakeholders and others. They need to abolish the internal silo mentality. Most of the political and financial powers still reside with state and federal governments and transformation is also often needed to create a better and more equal level of collaboration between all levels of government. As local councils still have a long way to go, state and federal governments will need to guide and support local councils in this complex transformation process.

Key developments:

As we look towards 2017 there are some great smart city examples emerging both nationally and internationally.

State-of-the-art telecommunications are vital to a city's economic health and well-being.

Developments linked to Block Chain may be useful for Smart Cities and Smart Grids.

Smart cities present significant opportunities for telecoms operators.

In 2016 Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Facebook, IBM and Microsoft continue to show a keen interest in Artificial Intelligence developments.

Wearable technology has become a thriving industry, with an ever-broadening range of possible uses and devices for our smart communities of the future.

In May 2016 the ITU and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) launched an important initiative called: United for Smart Sustainable Cities, with the abbreviation U4SSC.

In 2016 the global smart city market is estimated to be worth around $1 trillion.

The most difficult issue to resolve in building smart cities is the funding.

In mid-2015 the ITU members decided to establish a study group which would focus specifically on smart cities in terms of the standardization requirements for the broader Internet of Things (IoT).

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NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Deputy Secretary of Legislative Affairs for New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mark Weprin, who has also served as a New York City Council Member and New York State Assembly Member, has joined the New York City and Albany offices of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Weprin will be a Shareholder in the firm's Government Law & Policy Practice.

"It has been a privilege to work with Andrew Cuomo, one of the most successful governors in the history of New York State. At the same time, I am excited to start the next chapter in my career," Weprin said. "Greenberg Traurig is a nationally and internationally ranked law firm I respect. I look forward to joining a team of credible practitioners in government law and policy and real estate. The firm has an impressive roster that includes attorneys who have served in elected and appointed office, in all branches of government."

At Greenberg Traurig, Weprin will advise clients in legislative and regulatory matters. He will have a particular focus on representing real estate clients, as well as important corporate and not for profit organizations.

"We are honored that Mark chose Greenberg Traurig. He has been a highly regarded public servant. He is a first rate lawyer who will thrive at our firm," Edward C. Wallace, Co-Chairman of the law firm's New York office, said. Wallace is a former City Council Member-at-Large (Manhattan).

"As a one-stop shop for clients with an unparalleled platform and cross-practice collaboration in the real estate, government, environmental, land use, and economic development areas, our clients will benefit from Mark's experience in a number of ways. In turn, he will be working with lawyers who have experience in all aspects of the City's largest development projects," said John L. Mascialino, Chair of the New York City Government Law & Policy Practice.

"Mark is well respected in government and the private sector for his ability to create the kind of collaborative solutions that are a hallmark for our firm, making him a perfect fit for Greenberg Traurig," said Harold N. Iselin, Managing Shareholder of the law firm's Albany office and Co-Chair of its Government Law & Policy Practice.

"Greenberg Traurig has great respect for our clients' achievements and their positive impact on the City, State, and across the country. We are proud of what we have accomplished as a team, having had the opportunity of representing some of the most iconic New York properties and landmark deals. Mark's experience is equally impressive and I know that our clients will immediately realize the value of that experience," said Robert J. Ivanhoe, Chair of the 300+ lawyer Global Real Estate Practice.

Prior to joining the Governor's Office in 2015, Weprin served as a member of the New York City Council District 23 from 2010 to 2015. During this time, he chaired the sub-committee on Zoning and Franchises, overseeing land use and development in New York City. In addition, he held the position of Chair of the Queens Delegation. From 1994 to 2009, Weprin served in the New York State Assembly where he authored 63 laws and served as Chair of the Small Business Committee and Chair of the Jewish Legislative Caucus. He was the lead proponent of the Autism Initiative. Weprin received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1992; and a B.A. from The State University of New York at Albany in 1983.

About Greenberg Traurig's New York City & Albany Government Law & Policy Practice

Greenberg Traurig has one of New York City's leading real estate, land use, and government relations offices in the City. The Government Law & Policy group, which has been consistently ranked among the Top 5 lobbying practices in New York City by the City Clerk's Office, represents major U.S. companies, leading not-for-profit institutions, and large real estate companies in important transactions involving New York City. The group's attorneys are part of a national practice named "Law Firm of the Year" in the U.S. News-Best Lawyers 2014 edition of Best Law Firms for Government Relations. The Albany Government Law & Policy Practice was recognized in 2016 by City & State on its "Albany Power 100 List," which ranks the most influential players in New York State politics, business, and media. That marked the fourth year the team has been listed. Through its Albany Government Law & Policy Practice, Greenberg Traurig is widely recognized as the premier government relations and lobbying law firm in Albany. The Observer recognized Greenberg Traurig as the only law firm on its list of Albany's Top 40 Power Players.

About Greenberg Traurig's Real Estate Practice

The Greenberg Traurig Real Estate Practice is a cornerstone of the firm and recognized leader in the industry. The firm's real estate attorneys deliver diversified and comprehensive legal solutions for property acquisition and investment, development, management and leasing, financing, restructuring, and disposition of all asset classes of real estate. The team draws upon the knowledge and experience of nearly 300 real estate lawyers from around the world, serving clients from key markets in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The group's clientele includes a broad range of property developers, lenders, investment managers, private equity funds, REITs, and private owners. The firm's real estate team advises clients on a variety of matters across a broad spectrum of commercial, recreational, and residential real estate, including structured equity and debt and the hybrids.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A single entity worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the second largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2016, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.

Media Contact: Lourdes Brezo-Martinez, [email protected], 212.801.2131

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig LLP

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NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LoveBug Probiotics has launched its line of supplements in Wegmans stores, expanding good gut health to shoppers at the chain's 92 retail locations.

Since 2015, LoveBug Probiotics has provided its top-rated probiotic supplements to customers across the country via its online store. By bringing its powerful probiotic products to Wegmans' shelves, LoveBug is putting great gut health at shoppers' fingertips.

"We're proud and excited to have our probiotic supplements on the shelves of a store as loved as Wegmans. While Wegmans stands out among stores for its commitment to quality, LoveBug stands out for its effectiveness, thanks in part to BIO-tract technologywhich is 15 times more effective at getting the good bugs through the stomach acid barrier than standard capsules, chewables, and powders," said Ashley Harris, CEO and founder, LoveBug Probiotics.

Wegmans is a popular supermarket chain with 92 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. While the chain celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016, it remains an innovative retailer, with a pledge to offer customers fresh, sustainable and healthy options. LoveBug Probiotics shares with Wegmans a mission to help customers lead healthier, happier lives.

"Wegmans has endured more than a century for good reasonthey are committed to providing a top selection of quality foods and health products to their customers. For that reason, LoveBug is a great fitour goal of providing the best-available, highest-quality products aligns with their mission and exacting quality standards," said Harris.

To learn more about LoveBug Probiotics, visit: https://www.lovebugprobiotics.com/pages/wegmans and follow us on social media:

Twitter: @LoveBugPro

Facebook: LoveBug Probiotics

Instagram: @LoveBugPro

Pinterest: LoveBugPro

About LoveBug Probiotics

LoveBug Probiotics delivers a wide range of specialized supplements to help achieve optimal gut health. Through patented BIO-tract technology, LoveBug Probiotics offer controlled release of active ingredients to ensure the good bacteria survive the digestive process, making their probiotic formula 15x more effective than standard capsules, chewables and powders.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

BIO-tract is a registered trademark of Nutraceutix.

Patented BIO-tract delivery technology consistently delivers as many as 15 times, or more, the number of live, viable probiotic organisms past simulated stomach acids than (plain/standard) capsules as repeatedly demonstrated through in vitro lab testing.

Media Contact

Marketing Manager

LoveBug Probiotics

[email protected]

(917) 575-8908

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 92-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the '100 Best Companies to Work For' by FORTUNE magazine for 19 consecutive years, ranking #4 in 2016. Learn more at www.wegmans.com.

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HARLEM, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Harlem Fine Arts Show (HFAS) returns to the historic Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Ave., Feb. 16-19, 2017. The four-day traveling exhibition and sale of contemporary paintings, sculpture and photography is the largest of its kind featuring art from the African Diaspora. The exhibition is open to collectors, art enthusiasts, educators, and professionals.

Following the theme of this year's annual multi-city tour, "The Health and Healing Power of Art", HFAS will showcase and celebrate African Americans in the medical field, and raise awareness about medicine as a career choice for young people. Scholarships will be awarded to African-American students pursuing careers in medicine.

"This year's recognition of the 'health and healing power of art' is a reminder of how art permeates and enhances all aspects of our lives," explains Dion Clarke, founder of the HFAS.

"One of our artists, Antonio Davis of Chicago, is a quadriplegic who continues to enjoy a fulfilling career as an artist demonstrating the healing powers of the medium. We are also excited to recognize practitioners from the city's premier medical institutions, and of course, we celebrate our continuing partnership with Riverside Church."

On Thursday, Feb. 16th, the HFAS will host an Opening Night Preview event at 6pm on with a "Salute to African Americans in Medicine (AAIM)." New York-based partners in this initiative include: the National Medical Association, Empire State Medical Association, the Susan Steward Smith McKinney Medical Society, and the Lincoln and Harlem Schools of Nursing. Participating hospitals include Harlem Hospital, Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Lincoln Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center and Yale University Medical Center among others. Each will be nominating their practitioners for recognition.

Opening Night is hosted by the Brooklyn Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Riverside Community Services Corporation. A portion of the proceeds from the opening night event will benefit both organizations. Additionally, a "Special Achievement Award" will be presented to Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, president of the State University of New York at Old Westbury, and chairman and founder of the Abyssinian Development Corporation.

On Friday, Feb. 17th "Youth Empowerment Day" begins at 9am with nearly 1,000 students from the Tri-State area expected to attend the exhibition to interact with the artists. Dr. Lynn Holden will also be educating the students on her Mentoring in Medicine program that introduces young people to career opportunities in the field. HFAS opens to the public at 4pm. There will be a celebration of young, millennial urban professionals hosted by the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) from 6pm  11pm.

Saturday the show opens at 10 am and includes an Art Lecture and Artist Talk from 11 am  1 p.m. with Dr. Lisa Farrington, who will discuss art as a wealth building mechanism. Various artists will also be discussing their works. From 11 am  3 pm renowned beauty expert Mikki Taylor will host "TALKINGBEAUTY&STYLE" an intimate afternoon of food, fellowship, and talking beauty and style, where real women share real talk about real beauty and style issues, challenges, and successes. "TALKINGBEAUTY&STYLE" requires separate registration.

Saturday night activities will include a special reception and fashion show hosted by the retail, fashion organization BRAG, highlighting fashions by renowned Chicago designer, Barbara Bates of Bates Design, a contestant on the premier season of NBC's Fashion Star.

On Sunday, Feb. 19th, HFAS will open at noon with a Gospel Brunch and a "Salute to African-American Nurses." The afternoon will also include a special celebration of the Lincoln and Harlem Schools of Nursing.

The Harlem Fine Arts Show is a celebration of African-American artistic history, in the vein of masters including Palmer C. Hayden, Augusta Savage, Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, and Ernie Barnes. This year's HFAS will showcase over 50 national and international artists and galleries offering investment-level art at multiple price points. Among the artists in this year's show are: Kevin "WAK' Williams and Leroy Campbell of Atlanta, Michael Escoffery and Barry Mason. Participating galleries include Louisville's E&S Gallery and Water Kolours Fine Art in Memphis. A special exhibition of Miles Davis' Art Collection will also be featured.

For additional information visit www.hfas.org/newyork or call 914-450-4269. General admission is $25, with varying prices for special events. Follow the Harlem Fine Arts Show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #HFASNYC #africanamericansinmedicine #thehealingpowerofart #talkingbeauty.

About The Harlem Fine Arts Show

First held in February 2010 in New York City, the Harlem Fine Arts Show has attracted more than 80,000 visitors to venues, including Martha's Vineyard, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and New York. Attendees include collectors, art enthusiasts, educators, students, and professionals.

Over 80 nationally- and internationally-known artists, including: Leroy Campbell, Ted Ellis, Andrew Nichols, Paul Goodnight, Michael Escoffery, Frank Frazier, Woodrow Nash, Andrew Nichols, Brenda Joysmith, and Glenn Tunstull have been a part of the show. In addition, highly-regarded arts establishments, including Golden Galleries in Colorado and New York's Savacou Gallery have also exhibited works at the show.

Hashtag: #HFASNYC

SOURCE The Harlem Fine Arts Show

Related Links

http://www.hfas.org


WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Health insurance companies are ignoring a real solution to "surprise" medical bills and misleading their customers and the public when they blame physicians, according to Dr. Rebecca Parker, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). Dr. Parker gave the following statement in response to media coverage generated by a recent letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association:

"Several recent news reports present inaccurate, one-sided perspectives of the "surprise billing" issue, exaggerating the severity of the problem and placing the blame on physicians, when in fact it is the insurance companies who are gaming the system, and taking blatant advantage of their customers, who are our patients. The letter in JAMA focused on all physicians, but insurance companies need to shoulder the blame for the out-of-network situation in emergency medicine, because they are narrowing their networks of medical providers, making it more likely that patients will be in out-of-network situations, and they continue to pay less. The study also defines any charges above Medicare as excessive, which is not true. Historically, they have sought to deny payment for emergency patients as much as possible.

"Emergency physicians have proposed a recently passed law in Connecticut as the solution, which requires the use of an independent and transparent charge database. We are urging policymakers at the state level to implement this solution, which will take patients out of the middle. Emergency physicians and other physicians who provide on-call services in the emergency department would be in-network if insurance companies paid fairly.

"No one chooses when they will need emergency care and should not be punished financially for having emergencies or discouraged from seeking medical attention when they are sick or injured. But significant co-pays and high deductibles effectively do exactly that. This is unacceptable and our patients deserve better.

"Health insurance companies have a history of data manipulation and not paying for emergency care. There have been significant reductions in insurance payments for emergency care, as much as 70 percent. They have taken gross advantage of patients and emergency medical providers since the ACA, arbitrarily slashing payments to physicians. The EMTALA mandate gives the insurance industry the upper hand and can exploit the situation, because the doctors have to see all patients, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

"An analysis of out-of-network emergency billing in the state of Florida found it to be rare. According to the data, which represented 10 percent of emergency visits in Florida, the average patient payment was just $49  hardly the thousands of dollars that the insurance companies would like you to believe.

Dr. Parker adds that emergency physicians are asking the insurance companies to provide fair coverage for their beneficiaries and be transparent about how they calculate payments. State and federal lawmakers also need to ensure that health insurance plans provide adequate rosters of physicians and fair payment for emergency services.

ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)

Related Links

http://www.acep.org


MIAMI and NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthCare.com, a leading privately-owned consumer shopping website for healthcare insurance and Medicare plans, announced today that in 2016 its technology platforms connected over 2 million consumers to its network of licensed insurance brokers, insurance carriers and licensed web-based entities, representing a 240% growth over 2015.

HealthCare.com does not sell insurance. Instead, it connects consumers directly to insurance carrier websites, web-based insurance brokers and to brokers who can service consumers over the phone. Despite a growing number of online enrollments through the marketplaces, data from HealthCare.com's internal metrics indicate that many consumers still prefer to talk to and work through a licensed broker.

"Consumer demand for health coverage is continuing to be robust, as evidenced by a record number of Americans looking to find a new health plan or replace the one they have," said Howard Yeh, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of HealthCare.com. "Notwithstanding the uncertainty of current healthcare regulation, there are large segments of the population that buy their own coverage. The demand for affordable health insurance options in the individual and senior segments are growing, not shrinking."

In 2017, HealthCare.com will continue to build more tools and services that allow consumers to be smarter about their healthcare decisions. In addition, HealthCare.com will more actively engage with its large database of known individual healthcare shoppers, presenting unbiased advice, sponsored content and direct promotions that are tailored to the unique needs of each consumer.

The HealthCare.com website was originally launched in 2007, before The Affordable Care Act came into law and before healthcare.gov came into existence. In 2014, the current HealthCare.com management team raised $9.5 million in funding from an investment group led by PeopleFund, Jeff Boyd (chairman of The Priceline Group), and former key executives from Priceline.com and Booking.com.

"HealthCare.com believes that policy changes will not change the demand from consumers in the individual market who have to shop on their own for affordable health insurance options," said Jeff Smedsrud co-founder of HealthCare.com and insurance industry veteran. "There may be an opportunity to learn from other industries, like travel and consumer electronics. Allow a wide variety of choices, give consumers the opportunity to tailor their own plans and help them design their own 'insurance itinerary' to fit their budget and needs. In time, market forces will push the industry toward less complexity and better solutions, and consumers will be better shoppers of healthcare."

HealthCare.com was recently recognized by the Deloitte Fast 500 as one of top 500 private and public technology companies in North America (ranked #99 for 2016), and was ranked #6 on the Inc. 500 list in the insurance category. In June 2016, HealthCare.com was also honored as a Red Herring North America 100 for 2016 for its technology achievements.

About HealthCare.com

HealthCare.com is an online quoting service and comparison-shopping website that connects consumers looking for new healthcare coverage with insurance brokers and carriers who can serve them. As a web property, HealthCare.com has grown into one of the most-visited online health insurance destinations. Using interactive tools and innovative technology, HealthCare.com continues to grow its services to help consumers compare health insurance costs and subsidies, while using intelligent bidding and routing rules to match them to licensed agents at national call centers, web-based entities or directly with a carrier. HealthCare.com currently serves the individual health insurance market (which includes ACA plans and non-ACA coverage plans), and the senior market with Medigap and Medicare Advantage coverage options. HealthCare.com's search application features an expansive inventory of state-based exchange plans, federal exchange plans, many private, off-exchange plans and options for Medicare-eligible consumers. HealthCare.com is based in Miami, FL. For more information, visit www.healthcare.com.

SOURCE HealthCare.com

Related Links

https://www.healthcare.com


President Barack Obama will soon depart the Oval Office for good  handing over the reins of power to President-elect Donald Trump.

But how will Obama be remembered?

Heres a look at nine things the 44th president of the United States leaves behind after eight years in office.

1. Jobs

The United States has largely recovered from the Great Recession that plagued the economy when Obama first took office. The month after his inauguration, in February 2009, the nations unemployment rate hovered just below 8 percent and the economy lost nearly 600,000 jobs. In some of the hardest-hit places  like the RV manufacturing town of Elkhart, Indiana  the jobless rate was over 20 percent.

Thats a bleak picture compared with the U.S. economy today. PBS explains:

Fast forward, and today, the unemployment rate is 4.7 percent. In December, the U.S. economy added 156,000 jobs, and our Solman Scale U7, a comprehensive measure of unemployment and underemployment, hit a low of 11.3 percent.

2. Presidential creatures

Nine different animal species now bear Obamas name  ranging from a trapdoor spider (Aptostichus barackobamai) to a striolated puffbird that lives in the Amazon forest treetops (Nystalus obamai). According to Science, thats more than were named after any other president. Biologists who named the colorful spangled darter fish (Etheostoma obama) after the president told Science that it was a tribute to the presidents focus on clean energy and environmental protection.

3. Health coverage

In his effort to expand access to affordable health insurance to more Americans, Obama reshaped health care in the United States.

Obama signed off on the Childrens Health Insurance Authorization Act of 2009, which expanded the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to 4 million more children. The CHIP expansion was paid for by a tax increase on tobacco products.

But his best-known  and most controversial  initiatives came in the form of the health care reform law called the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which was signed into law in 2010.

Story continues

Since passage of the ACA, the number of uninsured Americans shrank from nearly 50 million in 2010 to 28.4 million last year, the Associated Press reports. The ACA also required insurers to cover people with pre-existing conditions, allow children to stay on parents policies through age 26 and eliminate out-of-pocket costs for many preventive health services.

Obamacare is far from perfect, especially in its impact on insurance costs. Between 2009 and 2016 the premium cost covered by Americans with workplace insurance rose by hundreds of dollars and the average deductible increased 130 percent, going from $533 to $1,221, according to the AP.

The Republican-led Congress and Trump are already working to repeal and replace the ACA. (To get up to speed on their efforts, check out: What You Need to Know  So Far  About the Threat to Obamacare.)

But even if the ACA is repealed, some experts believe the law set the stage for higher expectations among the American public.

The American people have now set new standards for access to health care based on the Affordable Care Act, former Surgeon General David Satcher tells the AP. I dont believe it will ever be acceptable again to have 50 million people without access to health care.

4. LGBTQ rights

Obama has done more than any other president to advance the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ causes.

Not only did Obama repeal the militarys Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy, an action that allowed gay and lesbian Americans to serve openly in the U.S. armed forces, but he also supported and signed off on other policy and regulatory changes to protect LGBTQ Americans from job discrimination and hate crimes. Obama also appointed a record number of LGBTQ Americans to high-ranking positions.

Obama told an interviewer in 2012 that he had come to support the right of same-sex couples to marry. During his second term, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide  a huge landmark for the LGBTQ community.

(See the HRCs full rundown of changes made under Obama here.)

5. National monuments

Obama created or expanded a record-setting 34 national monuments through the Antiquities Act during his eight years in office, inching past the previous record holder, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who created 32 monuments. Sites designated as national monuments are not only overseen by the National Park Service, but they also become eligible for federal funding.

I have sought to build a more inclusive National Park System and ensure that our national parks, monuments and public lands are fully reflective of our nations diverse history and culture, Obama said in a Jan. 12 statement. The sites named include some that highlight Reconstruction Era history, and leaders in the civil rights movement, the fight for gay and lesbian rights and the womens movement.

By creating or expanding national monuments, Obama also protected huge swaths of land (and sea) of ecological importance and to protect critical biodiversity and wildlife habitat.

6. Renewable energy

Obama invested more in renewable energy research than any previous presidential administration. He designated a whopping $90 billion  part of the 2009 economic stimulus passed by Congress  for research on smart grids, electric cars, biofuels, renewable electricity generation and cleaner coal, according to Washington Monthly.

Obama wrote in a policy paper published in the academic journal Science that, regardless of what Trump does relating to renewable energy in his presidency, the clean energy trend is irreversible.

Putting near-term politics aside, the mounting economic and scientific evidence leave me confident that trends toward a clean-energy economy that have emerged during my presidency will continue. The economic opportunity for our country to harness that trend will only grow.

7. Wall Street regulations

Obama in 2010 signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which tightened regulations and oversight on the banking industry after actions that contributed to the Great Recession of 2007-2009. The law also created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal watchdog for abusive lending products and financial institutions.

Some of Obamas detractors on the right say the regulations are burdensome to businesses and the CFPB should be eliminated. But for many Obama critics on the left, he didnt go far enough. Cornel West, a Harvard professor and prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America, wrote in The Guardian that his continuing of the George W. Bush administrations 2008 bailout of Wall Street banks showed a lack of courage by Obama:

In March 2009, Obama met with Wall Street leaders. He proclaimed: I stand between you and the pitchforks. I am on your side and I will protect you, he promised them. And not one Wall Street criminal executive went to jail.

8. Deportation record

The sheer number of deportations that occurred during Obamas presidency earned him the nickname the deporter-in-chief. Obama deported 2.5 million illegal immigrants from 2009 through 2015. Thats more than every U.S. president of the 20th century combined, ABC News reports.

The Obama administration and its supporters note that deportation efforts under his White House focused on serious criminals, not families. But critics say many continue to be low-level criminal offenders or those who commit immigration offenses.

9. Ongoing war

Obama vowed to end American troops involvement in the military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although the last U.S. troops left Iraq in December 2011, there are still American soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan. And, even though Obama was not in office when these conflicts started  he inherited them from President George W. Bush  he has the dubious distinction of being the only two-term president to have the U.S. military at war for his entire presidency.

As commander-in-chief, Obama cut the number of U.S. troops serving in war zones from 150,000 to 14,000, according to the Los Angeles Times. But new technology like armed drones and cyberwarfare have played a big role in recent years, changing the entire concept of war.

Were now wrapped up in all these different conflicts, at a low level and with no end in sight, Jon Alterman, Middle East specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based nonprofit think tank, told the L.A. Times.

What will you remember best about the Obama years? Share with us in comments below or on our Facebook page.

This article was originally published on MoneyTalksNews.com as 'Obamas Legacy  From Main Street and Wall Street to the Amazon'.

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"This proposed bill," declares Dr. Harte, "is, in reality, the opposite of what it is named. 'The CA Children's and Youth Bill of Rights Act???'" He explains, "The blatant intent of this bill is to replace the loving judgment of parents with the social engineering judgment of the State. Deviations from what some soulless bureaucrat sees as 'adequate' or 'proper' may result in children being taken away by CPS (Child Protective Services), who have police powers."

"Regarding health matters," Dr. Harte continues, "SB18 will further pediatric medicine's barbaric, unscientific attacks upon children with their barrage of vaccinations containing known neuro and immunotoxins, in a process that perverts normal immune response. Those who are now trying to save their children from the further police powers of the last legislative outrage, SB277, by homeschooling, will find that outlet gone, as SB18 demands 'adequate socialization.' I wouldn't be surprised if massive prescribing of psychotropic drugs for children to be the next order of medical business from this part of this bill."

Dr. Harte says, "For a change, let's look at the record: the results. A state that has the worst schools, that can't even fix potholes in our roads, thinks that it can take care of children better than their parents. And the record of pediatric medicine? Autism, Type I diabetes, IBS, life-threatening allergies, juvenile arthritis and a variety of psychiatric disorders have reached epidemic levels in children. Yes, for the most part, I blame pediatric medicine. It is irresponsible science; it is irresponsible doctoring."

"These power-mad politicians give lip service to 'minority rights,' yet they are intending to crush those who wish to make different decisions about their children's health care, seeking safer, more scientific, more natural ways."

Dr. Harte declares, "BS18 is a blatantly fascist scheme -- extreme state control, with private ownership. BS18 is a sick social experiment which will make Child Protective Services the Gestapo for California's power-mad politicians and pediatricians, and for Big Pharma."

About Dr. Harte:

Dr. Don Harte, former medical student, is a principled, traditional chiropractor serving Marin and the Greater Bay Area since 1981. He is an activist in the struggle for free speech for chiropractors. Dr. Harte was named 2006 "Chiropractor of the Year" by the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA). He has served on the Boards of the WCA and the Council on Chiropractic Practice. His articles have been published in OMNI magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Chiropractic Journal and Journal of the California Chiropractic Association.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dr. Harte

office: (415) 460-6527

[email protected]

www.chirodrharte.com

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE Dr. Don Harte
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Just six months after launching the Socratic app, founders Chris Pedregal and Shreyans Bhansali announce the next major step in making learning easier and more accessible for students on their phones: a student-first math experience that breaks down math problems into easy-to-understand steps, and teaches underlying concepts.

Socratic's brand new math experience features step-by-step math help

The Socratic app, where students can snap a photo of a homework question and learn how to answer it, launched in July in the App Store. Now, with a brand new math experience, Socratic is changing the way students learn one of their hardest and most popular subjects, on their phone and for free.

"Again and again, we hear that students struggle with math. Every student takes math, often for multiple years, and it can be hard to get help from parents and friends," says Shreyans Bhansali, co-founder and Head of Engineering at Socratic. "We wanted to create an experience that walks students through their problems, and teaches the concepts behind the problem."

Socratic is bringing its magical photo input to math by reading math questionseven handwritten onesand giving students step-by-step solutions and bite-sized "Explainers" that teach them the underlying concepts and help answer all types of math problems.

To build this experience, Socratic's pedagogy team looked through countless math questions asked by students and categorized them by the steps required to solve them. Then, they wrote high quality Explainers to teach these concepts, and tested them with hundreds of high school students.

In parallel, the engineering team built algorithms that allow a computer to solve math problems step-by-step. They incorporated the lessons learned by the pedagogy team so that steps closely match those a great teacher or tutor would provide to a student.

In addition to step-by-step solutions and custom "Explainer" content, the app also shows graphs, curated videos, and relevant definitions, helping students reach a deeper understanding of the problem.

Watch a short video of the app in action.

"We're really proud of the experience we've built. Students can now break down their question into small steps, allowing them to gain confidence and learn how to solve similar questions on their own," says Bhansali. "We hope to provide an experience similar to working with a tutor, except it's free and on your phone."

In support of bringing free math help to students everywhere, Socratic is open-sourcing their work and inviting others to contribute. They're also extending coverage to teach students Calculus, Trigonometry and other math subjects.

"We know a lot of people care deeply about excellent math education. We believe our code has applications outside the Socratic app and we're excited to release the core step-by-step solution code as open source so others can extend it and use it as they see fit," says Bhansali.

You can read about some of the technical work that went into creating the math steps engine here, and contribute to expanding the kinds of math questions students can learn here.

With the launch of math and increasing coverage across other major subjectsScience, History, Economics, and HumanitiesSocratic continues to make great learning content more accessible to students worldwide.

About Socratic

Socratic is an education startup on a mission to make learning easy for every student. Their app and website answer student questions with simple and high-quality learning content. Socratic is powered by a blend of cutting-edge AI technologies combined with expert educators. They've helped over 30 million students, and have their sights set on the next billion.

Their team of 10 has raised $7.5 million from Spark Capital, Shasta Ventures, Omidyar Network, betaworks, Box Group, a16z, John Maloney (former President of Tumblr), and Andrew Kortina (co-founder of Venmo). Socratic was founded by Chris Pedregal and Shreyans Bhansali and is based in NYC.

Chris, CEO, graduated from Stanford University with a BS in Computer Science and an MA in Journalism. He was a product manager at Google where he worked on Gmail, Google Maps and Google Now.

Shreyans, Head of Engineering, was the first employee at Venmo. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Computer Science and Engineering and a BA in Economics.

Media Contact:

Rosie Talcott

Phone: 510.755.9842

Email: [email protected]

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com/.

SOURCE Socratic

Related Links

https://socratic.org


NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Detail Provisions Co. (DPC), a Dallas based holding company, today announced the acquisition of HOOK & ALBERT, a global leader in innovative men's accessories based in New York. The acquisition marks the first for DPC, a multi-brand men's accessories platform established to support emerging brands and designers with strategic capital and infrastructure led by Paul Song, former executive of Cufflinks.com. HOOK & ALBERT co-founders Adam Schoenberg and Cory Rosenberg will continue to serve as CEOs of their brand, and will join Song in executive leadership in the larger entity.

"Creating a brand that rises above the fold is a major accomplishment," says Paul Song. "Continuing that growth provides a whole new set of challenges. The objective of Detail Provisions is to strategically support talented designers, with operational excellence, industry expertise, and capital."

Headquartered in Dallas, DPC is a multi-brand capital and operational support platform devoted to the men's accessory space. It will provide a strong financial infrastructure, fulfillment center, and the highest quality sales and support for HOOK & ALBERT, which will retain its bi-coastal operations from both Los Angeles and New York City. HOOK & ALBERT will maintain operational independence while leveraging DPC's resources and capabilities to scale its business.

"The rapidly changing fashion landscape and neglect from venture capital has stifled young designers," said Cory Rosenberg. "We see DPC as a turn-key fashion accelerator that will help unleash the best budding fashion brands and deliver an exceptional product and experience to the customer."

By providing working capital, strategy, and operational framework, DPC will facilitate an immense shift in the growth of brands, from being reactionary to proactive. Moving forward, DPC will review acquisition candidates from various categories including jewelry, home goods, cosmetics footwear and more. DPC is interested in a broad range of size businesses that have founders that seek both short and long-term success.

"By offering a complete end-to-end fulfillment, operations, financing, marketing and branding solution, we will help excellent small to mid-sized brands break through," said Adam Schoenberg. "We are identifying brands with huge potential that fit with our DNA, with a view of investing in them and integrating them into our ecosystem."

To learn more about DPC please contact [email protected].

ABOUT DETAIL PROVISIONS COMPANY

DETAIL PROVISIONS CO. is a multi-brand platform with a mission to provide a growth foundation for truly exceptional brands and designers in the men's accessory space. By providing visionaries and entrepreneurs with a comprehensive support system that includes strategic capital, financial infrastructure, management and logistical operations support, Detail Provisions creates a fortified path that enables significant brand growth. Created to address the daily challenges and growing pains behind the work of flourishing young brands, the goal of DPC is to enable talented designers to concentrate on what they do best. The brands of DPC focus on the details of dressing that ultimately create the best-dressed man in a room.

ABOUT HOOK & ALBERT

HOOK & ALBERT is a leading men's accessories brand based in the United States. Founded by Adam Schoenberg and Cory Rosenberg in the fall of 2011, the brand has been redefining sartorial accessories for men in a modern way while leading the industry with innovation. A fresh take on men's accessories, many of their designs started some of the biggest trends in the US menswear market, leading to global distribution, major brand collaborations and celebrity endorsements. HOOK & ALBERT serves customers through hookandalbert.com and has partnerships with leading retailers in the U.S., Canada, and Asia.

www.detailprovisions.com

SOURCE HOOK & ALBERT

Related Links

http://www.hookandalbert.com


MEXICO CITY, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoteles City Express, S.A.B. de C.V. ("Hoteles City Express" or "the Company") (BMV: HCITY) announces the opening of City Express Celaya Galerias. With this opening, the Company reaches 124 hotels in operation and more than 13,800 rooms in 63 cities and 29 states in Mexico, as well as in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Chile.

The City Express Celaya Galerias hotel  with 127 available rooms  is the second property in Celaya and will operate under a management contract. This hotel, the eighth one in the state of Guanajuato, will be lodging business travelers related to the manufacturing industry, commerce and services, as well as to agriculture and livestock.

About Hoteles City Express:

Hoteles City Express is considered the leading and fastest-growing limited-service hotel chain in Mexico in terms of number of hotels, number of rooms, geographic presence, market share and revenues. Founded in 2002, Hoteles City Express specializes in offering high-quality, comfortable and safe lodging at affordable prices via a limited-service hotel chain geared mainly towards domestic business travelers. With 124 hotels in operation located throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Chile, Hoteles City Express operates five distinct brands: City Express, City Express Plus, City Express Suites, City Express Junior and City Centro to serve different segments of its target market. In June 2013, Hoteles City Express completed its IPO and began trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HCITY"; furthermore, on October 8, 2014, Hoteles City Express completed a follow on with the aim of accelerating its growth in new hotels in coming years.

HCITY is covered by the following financial institutions and analysts: Actinver (Pablo Duarte), Bank of America Merrill Lynch (Carlos Peyrelongue), Citigroup (Alejandro Lavin), ITAU BBA (Enrico Trotta), J.P. Morgan (Adrian Huerta), Morgan Stanley (Rafael Pinho), Santander (Cecilia Jimenez), Signum Research (Armando Rodriguez), UBS (Marimar Torreblanca).

For further information, please visit our website: https://cityexpress.com/en/investors/

SOURCE Hoteles City Express, S.A.B. de C.V.
"At Altair, we believe human-centered design is more than just mechanical fit; rather, it's an exploration of the entire experience of users with a product, including ergonomic interface, usability and design aesthetics," said Jeff Brennan, Chief Marketing Officer at Altair. "As such, SantosHuman's philosophy aligns nicely with ours and this partnership will enable Altair's customers to further optimize their products' performance early in the development cycle."

Santos Pro predictive models for virtual product and process testing reduce the need for physical prototypes for human-in-the-loop product assessment by providing a highly cost effective means of performing continuous rounds of trade-off analysis throughout any new product's entire design cycle. In addition to providing value through the reduction of prototypes, Pro helps increase quality and ensures effective human systems integration with product and process development. Use of Santos technologies can measurably reduce costs and increase the competitive edge in almost every industry, a few of which include: consumer goods, automotive, government-defense, medical equipment and prosthetics, heavy industry and aerospace.

"I am extremely pleased with the opportunity to partner with Altair at this time. The need for digital human modeling and simulation is more important now than ever before to reduce costs and improve the competitive edge," said Steven C. Beck, President and CEO at SantosHuman Inc. (SHI). "Altair's world class marketing teams and global presence will be critical in providing our target industries with state-of-the-art Santos technologies."

"Along with general national trends in the technology sector, digital human modeling is moving towards higher fidelity models and more extensive integration between models. Seamless communication between analysis methods and tools is becoming more critical and more feasible, and this partnership provides a unique step in this direction," said Dr. Tim Marler, SHI's Chief Research Officer and Director of the Santos Institute.

An introductory webinar for SHI will be held on January 31 at 10 a.m. ET. For more information about the software, please visit the product page for Santos Pro.

About the Altair Partner Alliance

Altair's HyperWorks platform applies a revolutionary subscription-based licensing model in which customers use floating licenses to access a broad suite of Altair-developed and third-party software applications on demand. The Altair Partner Alliance effectively extends the HyperWorks Platform from more than 20 internally developed solutions to upwards of 60 applications with the addition of new partner applications. Customers can invoke these third-party applications at no incremental cost using their existing HyperWorks licenses. Customers benefit from unmatched flexibility and access, resulting in maximum software utilization, productivity and ROI. For more information about the Altair Partner Alliance, visit http://www.altairhyperworks.com/apa.

About SantosHuman Inc.

Founded in 2008, SantosHuman Inc.'s virtual human-in-the-loop solutions allow companies to achieve greater customer satisfaction with products that can go to market sooner and can reduce exposure to risk of injury. For more information about SantosHuman Inc., please visit www.santoshumaninc.com.

About Altair

Founded in 1985, Altair is focused on the development and application of simulation technology to synthesize and optimize designs, processes and decisions for improved business performance. Privately held with more than 2,600 employees, Altair is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA with more than 45 offices throughout 20 countries, and serves more than 5,000 corporate clients across broad industry segments. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.

Media Contacts

Altair Corporate/North America

Biba A. Bedi

+1-757-224-0548 x 406

[email protected]

Altair Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Evelyn Gebhardt

+49-6421-9684351

[email protected]

SantosHuman Inc.

Steve Beck

319-333-0918 x 106

[email protected]

SOURCE Altair

Related Links

http://www.altair.com


ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Humantech, experts in workplace improvement, announced today that it has been named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation. This is the second year Humantech received this designation. This award follows the Metro Detroit's Best and Brightest Company to Work For award they received for the fifth time in August. The purpose of the program is to raise the benchmark for company practices implemented to improve the work environment for employees. The winning companies will be featured in the February 6th, 2017 Everything Business digital e-Publication edition of Corp Magazine.

Organizations are assessed in the following award categories: Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Education and Development; Recruitment and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; and Strategic Company Performance. Employees are also asked to provide their opinions and comment about what it is like to work there. When complete, an independent research firm reviewed the data, measured the results, and determined the winners.

"To be recognized as one of 350 of the Best and Brightest companies to work for in the nation is high praise indeed. This honor follows on five previous recognitions for Humantech as among 101 Best and Brightest in South East Michigan. It's particularly gratifying for our entire organization, as these results are derived from employee and company surveys and are then benchmarked against many other companies' entries," said James Good, Humantech President.

"Profitability and stability is essential for businesses in today's economic climate. Companies that recognize that their employees are the key to their success achieve staying power. Our 2016 winners create their human resource standards to ensure employee satisfaction and they set standards for every business to aspire toward," said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of NABR.

This program celebrates those companies that are making business better and building a stronger community as a whole. To learn more visit http://101bestandbrightest.com/.

Additional Information about Humantech:

For nearly 40 years, global companies have relied on Humantech for workplace improvements. By combining experienced, board-certified ergonomists with our proprietary assessment tools and comprehensive software, we deliver integrated solutions that impact safety, quality, and productivity. At Humantech, we help companies do ergonomics right.

Contact: Jennifer Sinkwitts

Tel. 734.663.3330 ext. 132

[email protected]

SOURCE Humantech

Related Links

http://www.humantech.com


NEW YORK, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

IBT Media announces the appointment of Alan Press in a newly-created, strategic role of President. The appointment is effective immediately.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/182943LOGO )



Press, who will be based in the company's New York headquarters and report directly to the Global Chief Executive, Dev Pragad, will have responsibility for direct sales and branded content, events, marketing and circulation across the company's portfolio of seven media brands, including Newsweek.

Press joins the company with a wealth of senior-level marketing and executive experience, having served as Global Vice President of Events Marketing at Gartner Inc. where he oversaw the entire Events Marketing business. Prior to this, he spent nine years at The Economist Group, where he headed marketing for all The Economist-branded businesses in The Americas, including The Economist Intelligence Unit before assuming a global brief as Head of Digital Marketing & New Product development. He began his career with American Express.

Speaking on the appointment, Dev Pragad, Global Chief Executive at IBT Media said: "Alan is a highly-experienced executive and has a solid background in marketing, circulation, advertising and events, all of which are fundamental to the next round of growth at IBT Media. We look forward to working with him on a global level to further develop Newsweek, International Business Times and the other brands in our portfolio."

Alan Press added: "I am thrilled to join such an accomplished team of digital leaders and media executives. Readers clearly find IBT Media content compelling and this has helped the company to engage new audiences and clients. I look forward to introducing the brands to additional markets and customer segments and to expand upon precision-based digital solutions for our clients, using marketing science, data and relevant content."

NOTE TO EDITORS

About IBT Media

IBT Media is a fast-growing digital media company headquartered in New York City. It was founded in 2006 with the launch of the International Business Times, a digital news publication that today reaches an average of 57+ million readers each month via eight separate editions, in four languages. Market-specific editions are now available in the U.S., the UK, Australia, China, India, Italy, Japan & Singapore. Today, IBT Media owns and operates a total of 14 digital properties including the International Business Times, Design & Trend, Fashion Times, iDigital Times, Latin Times, Medical Daily & the iconic Newsweek brand which it bought in 2013 as a digital-only property before enhancing the offering with the reintroduction of the print edition. Newsweek now publishes a U.S. and International edition weekly in English. The international edition - branded as Newsweek International -serves the Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions while language-specific editions are available in Japan, Korea, Latin America, Pakistan, Poland and Serbia. A separate English-language edition is also published for the Middle East. The print edition of Newsweek is now available in 68 territories while round-the-clock- coverage on the latest breaking world news can be found at newsweek.com.

SOURCE IBT Media
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersolar North America, the most-attended solar industry event in North America, today announced the opening of the Intersolar AWARD nomination period. Now in its tenth year, the Intersolar AWARD series recognizes the most innovative solutions in the solar industry. To embrace the changing market landscape, Intersolar has incorporated a new category within the prestigious Outstanding Solar Projects segment: Smart Renewable Energy.

The Smart Renewable Projects award focuses on the combination of energy generation, storage, grid integration and energy management. Participants are invited to submit projects and intelligent solutions that analyze and optimize power generation and consumption, as well as those that interconnect various technologies, and thereby help to create smart concepts for managing and storing renewable energy.

"Over the past decade, the Intersolar AWARD has recognized some of the most impressive innovations in the solar industry, from next-generation solar modules to peer-to-peer solar photovoltaic microgrids," said Florian Wessendorf, managing director of Solar Promotion International GmbH. "Being at the forefront of the solar industry means we must evolve along with the market, and in this case shining a spotlight on smart systems and grid integration. We anticipate a very competitive pool of applicants in 2017 and strongly encourage all companies to submit a nomination!"

Any company or project owner set to exhibit at one of the global Intersolar or ees events in 2017 is eligible to submit projects, products and services for consideration. Since 2008, the AWARD committee has received 908 submissions from 45 different countries, and 97 nominations have been awarded the prize to date.

Nominations for the Intersolar AWARD are open until 12 pm PST on March 17, 2017. For more information, please visit www.intersolarglobal.com/award. The award will be presented on May 31, 2017 at Intersolar Europe, the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry and its partners. The winners of the AWARD in North America will also be recognized at Intersolar North America, July 11-13 in San Francisco.

About Intersolar

With events spanning four continents, Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners. It unites people and companies from around the world with the aim of increasing the share of solar power in our energy supply.

Intersolar is inspired by the guiding principle: Connecting Solar Business.

The exhibition and conference series focuses on the areas of photovoltaics, energy storage, renewable heating, products and solutions for smart renewable energy. Since being founded, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers and partners in the global solar industry.

With more than 25 years of experience, Intersolar has the unique ability to bring together members of the solar industry from across the world's most influential markets. Intersolar exhibitions and conferences are held in Munich, San Francisco, Mumbai, Sao Paulo and Dubai. These global events are complemented by the Intersolar Summits, which take place in emerging and growing markets worldwide.

For more information on Intersolar, please visit: www.intersolarglobal.com

Organizers: Intersolar Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM). The exhibitions in North America, India, South America and Middle East are organized by the international subsidiaries Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Management and Marketing International GmbH (FMMI) and local partners.

SOURCE Intersolar North America
IXL's science and social studies content is structured so that each stage in a skill teaches one piece of a larger concept. As they move through the stages, students gain factual knowledge about scientific and social phenomena, then apply their knowledge by analyzing visual and written primary sources and real-life examples. One of IXL's science skills, for example, helps students understand the engineering-design process through a narrative about the Apollo space missions. Students learn the steps of the process, match the decisions made by NASA scientists to the parts of the engineering method and draw conclusions about why those choices were made. By pausing at every step to think critically and actively engage with what they've learned, students gain a deeper understanding of these subjects.

"Science and social studies are much more than facts and dates to be memorizedthey help us make sense of the rich, vibrant world we live in," said Kate Mattison, senior director of curriculum at IXL Learning. "IXL gets students excited about this connection and empowers them to inquire about, explore and make educated judgments about their world."

IXL creates a captivating learning experience by presenting a different challenge at every stage, such as answering a streak of questions correctly or collecting a certain number of tokens. A fun graphic shows students how close they are to reaching their goal, motivating them to keep working. IXL's content also features intriguingand sometimes humorousinformation, to cultivate curiosity. For example, in a social studies skill about the Civil War, students learn that outnumbered Confederate armies used logs painted to look like cannons, called "Quaker guns," to fool Union commanders. In a skill about the Constitutional Convention, students see a photo of quirky doodles drawn by delegates during long debates.

IXL Science for middle school covers topics such as molecules and atomic composition, cells and genetics, ecosystems, plate tectonics, engineering design and the scientific method. Skills are aligned to NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) and state standards.

IXL Social Studies for middle school includes standards-aligned history, civics, geography and economics content. Topics include ancient Egypt, countries of Africa, the American Revolution, the Bill of Rights, supply and demand curves and more.

In addition to science and social studies, IXL covers K12 math and language arts, and is aligned to the Common Core and all state standards. Teachers and parents can use IXL Analytics' real-time data to analyze student performance and diagnose trouble spots. IXL features 10 free practice questions each day for students not subscribed to IXL; subscribers may practice unlimited questions across all grade levels. IXL is available online and as an app for iPad and Android tablets. For more information and to subscribe to IXL, please visit www.IXL.com.

Media, please note: Screenshots of IXL's science and social studies content may be downloaded at www.ixl.com/press. Demos and access to IXL are available upon request by contacting [email protected].

About IXL Learning

IXL Learning is an educational technology company that delivers an immersive learning experiencefor all students, in all grades, across all subjects, including math, language arts, science and social studies. Used by 1 in 9 U.S. students and with 30 billion questions asked and answered around the world, IXL is helping schools successfully use technology to improve teaching and learning. Our team of teachers, researchers and technologists crafts unique, high-quality content and uses strategically mapped progressions to provide unprecedented depth, breadth and challenge for each specific skill. From pre-K to 12th grade, IXL's content and technology enable fresh, engaging and personalized experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence. To learn more about IXL, visit www.ixl.com, facebook.com/IXL and twitter.com/IXLLearning.

Press Contact

[email protected]

(415) 955-8500

SOURCE IXL Learning

Related Links

http://www.ixl.com


Jewelry designer Stephen Webster hosted the star-studded gala, including celebrity guests: actor Cuba Gooding Jr., models Kim Alexis and Jess Hart, Desi Lydic of the "Daily Show," former "Bachelor" contestant Olivia Caridi, and Bon Jovi's David Bryan.

Lucia Silvestri, Jewellery Creative Director of BVLGARI, won the GEM Award for Jewelry Design. The other nominees were Suzanne Kalan of Suzanne Kalan and Arun Bohra of Arunashi. The award was presented by 2016 GEM Award Winner, Temple St. Clair.

Kay Jewelers took home the GEM Award for Marketing & Communications. The award was accepted by George Murray, Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer. The other nominees were Hearts On Fire and Monica Rich Kosann. The award was presented by Danny Seo of "Naturally Danny" on NBC.

The GEM Award for Media Excellence was given to Grace Fuller, Jewelry Editor of W magazine. Rob Bates, News Director of JCK and the 2016 GEM Award for Media Excellence winner, presented the award. The other nominees were Amanda Alagem and Stephen Watson.

Patek Philippe received the GEM Award for Watch Excellence. The award was presented by GEM Award Winner Roberta Naas, founder of atimelyperspective.com. The other nominees were A. Lange & Sohne and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Jim Rosenheim, chairman of Tiny Jewel Box in Washington D.C., was honored with the GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement for a career's worth of contributions to the fine jewelry and watch industry. In his acceptance speech, he stated how his family business was founded on the simple motto: "If it's not special, it's not here."

Sponsors of GEM Awards included: Cornerstone Sponsor  Synchrony Financial; Red Carpet Sponsor  COUTURE; Cocktail Hour Reception Sponsors  D.B.S. Diamonds and Rio Diamond; Premier Sponsors  Signet Jewelers and Atelier Swarovski; Patron Sponsors  CHANEL, Citizen and David Yurman; Benefactor Sponsors  Hearts On Fire, Mikimoto, Movado Group Inc. and Tiffany & Co; Wi-Fi Sponsor  AT&T.

SOURCE Jewelers of America

Related Links

http://www.jewelers.org


VANCOUVER, Wash., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) announced that it has added Valorie Johnson, a consultant, lifelong human rights activist and former Program Officer at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, and Joy Harjo, an award winning poet, author and musician and one of NACF's founding board members, to serve on the national non-profit's Board of Directors.

Valorie Johnson (Seneca-Cayuga-Eastern Cherokee) began her career as a human rights executive with the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. After earning her doctorate in educational administration, her career encompassed leading roles in public service including as director of Native American Affairs for the State of Michigan's department of social services, counseling at the Institute of American Indians Arts in Santa Fe and the Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii. Over nearly 24 years, her program portfolio at W. K. Kellogg focused mainly on grassroots community organizations and educational institutions across the nation and leadership in the Native American Higher Education Initiative as well as the Minority-Serving Institutions' Leadership Development.

Johnson has also served on several boards, such as, the Americans for Indian Opportunity, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and the Nokomis Learning Center. "It gives me great joy to have been selected to join NACF's Board of Directors", said Johnson. "I am honored and excited to lend my experience in philanthropy and my lifetime work and advocacy with and for Native communities to serve this outstanding organization. I wholeheartedly support NACF's powerful mission to promote and support Native artists and Native cultures, and look forward to participating in furthering the organization's reach and efforts."

Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation) holds the John C. Hodges Chair of Excellence at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and is a co-founder of the Mvskoke Arts Association. She has written eight books of poetry and received the prestigious Academy of American Poets Wallace Stevens award in 2015 and the Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts in 2014 for her achievements.

Harjo received the PEN USA Literary Award in Creative Non Fiction for a memoir, Crazy Brave, and is the author of two award-winning children's books, several screenplays, two plays, and an anthology of North American Native Women's writing. She has also produced and performed on several award-winning CD's of original music. "I am pleased to announce my return to the NACF Board", Harjo stated. "It is almost ten years since we incorporated, to fulfill a dream brought forth from many generations of native artists and supporters from all over the country. What a gift to have been part of that dynamic team to get it started, and to see how far NACF has come from those early years. Many communities and artists have been renewed by the support of NACF. I am honored to return to continue serving this fine legacy of Native arts and cultures support and look forward to the next chapter."

Contact: Rupert Ayton, [email protected], 360-334-7266

SOURCE Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
Alex Perdikis commented that, "We have been working diligently to come to market with a campaign that promotes the ease of doing business with us, and the confidence that transaction instills in our clients. Through analyzing the marketplace, with tools such as Auto Trader, Kelly Blue Book and True Car, Koons of Silver Spring has always offered competitive pricing. The addition of the 30 day price guarantee is an incredible enhancement. Furthermore, we have an incredible online reputation, a product of taking care of our customers. We find it a perfect fit to promote a great low price, a 30 day guarantee, and an incredible purchase experience.all that adds up to a totally confident purchase!"

Perdikis also stated that there are plans for Total Confidence Financing and Total Confidence Servicing in the near future.

For complete information about the Total Confidence Campaign, please visit www.koonsofsilverspring.com

Koons of Silver Spring, located in Silver Spring, Maryland; sells and services new Fords, Lincolns, Mazdas, and has an extensive pre-owned operation. Koons of Silver Spring has over 130 employees and was selected as one of the "Best Places to Work" by the Washington Business Journal in 2016, the 6th year in a row. Koons of Silver Spring was founded in 2010.

Follow Alex Perdikis: @alex_perdikis

Follow Koons of Silver Spring: @Koonsmotors

www.koonsofsilverspring.com

SOURCE Koons of Silver Spring

Related Links

www.koonsofsilverspring.com


TEANECK, N.J., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of additional parents in Greater Atlanta will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the world's largest after-school education franchise, is expanding in the region with the opening of its second learning center in Buford, Georgia.

There are 50 Kumon Math and Reading Centers in Greater Atlanta, including 16 in Gwinnett County.

The Atlanta metropolitan area is the most populous metro area in Georgia and the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States. Gwinnett County is the second largest county in Georgia, making the Buford-Sugar Hill area an ideal location for Kumon's expansion.

"The Kumon Method has proven successful in enhancing the lives of children in Greater Atlanta for over 27 years," said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. "We are excited to bring the method to even more families in Buford."

Kumon's Presence in Greater Atlanta:

8,200 subject enrollments at 50 centers

First center opened in 1989

58 percent increase in number of centers in last 10 years

The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance children's math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life.

To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com.

About Kumon Math & Reading Centers:

Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children in preschool through high school, so they can achieve more on their own. The learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Visit kumon.com to learn more.

About the Kumon Franchise Business

Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ.

SOURCE Kumon

Related Links

http://www.kumon.com


TEANECK, N.J., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of additional parents in Greater Los Angeles will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the world's largest after-school education franchise, is expanding in the region with the opening of a new learning center in Buena Park, California.

There are 23,956 math and reading students studying at 133 Kumon Math and Reading Centers in Greater Los Angeles.

Kumon Math and Reading Center of Buena Park-South is the first center to open in Buena Park and the 42nd in Orange County.

"Kumon has experienced a great deal of success in Greater Los Angeles for over 30 years," said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. "We've seen a 46 percent increase in subject enrollments in the last ten years, so we are excited to offer even more students in Greater Los Angeles access to the Kumon Method of Learning with the opening of the new center."

Kumon's Presence in Orange County

7,906 subject enrollments studying at 42 centers

27 percent increase in the number of centers in last five years

25 percent increase in subject enrollments in last five years

The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life.

To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com.

About Kumon Math & Reading Centers:

Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children in preschool through high school, so they can achieve more on their own. The learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Visit kumon.com to learn more.

About the Kumon Franchise Business

Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ.

SOURCE Kumon

Related Links

http://www.kumon.com


TEANECK, N.J., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of additional parents in the DMV area will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the world's largest after-school education franchise, is expanding in Maryland with the opening of two new centers in Frederick and Odenton, Maryland.

There are 13,688 math and reading students studying at 54 Kumon Math and Reading Centers in the DMV. Kumon of Odenton-Fort Meade is the first center to open in Odenton, Maryland and Kumon of Urbana is the second center in Frederick, Maryland.

Kumon's Washington, D.C. branch office, which serves communities in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Recognizing the value placed on education in the region, Kumon established its Southeast presence with the opening of the Washington, D.C. branch office in McClean, Virginia back in 1992.

"Kumon has become a staple in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore Metropolitan Areas for over 25 years now," said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. "We've opened 14 new centers in the past five years and are excited to see continued growth with the opening of the new centers in Frederick and Odenton."

Kumon's Presence in the DMV

13,688 subject enrollments at 54 centers

First center opened in 1983

25 percent increase in the number of centers in last five years

22 percent increase in subject enrollments in last five years

The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life.

To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com.

About the Kumon Franchise Business

Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ.

SOURCE Kumon

Related Links

http://www.kumonfranchise.com


TEANECK, N.J., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of parents in Belmont, North Carolina will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the world's largest after-school education franchise, is expanding in Greater Charlotte with the opening of Kumon Math and Reading Center of Belmont.

There are 30 Kumon Math and Reading Centers in the state of North Carolina, including 13 in Greater Charlotte.

"Greater Charlotte is the third fastest growing major city in the United States, making it an ideal region for Kumon's expansion," said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. "The Kumon Method has proven successful in enhancing the lives of children in Greater Charlotte for over 12 years now and we are excited for our continued growth in the area."

Kumon's Presence in Greater Charlotte:

3,700 subject enrollments at 13 centers

First center opened in 2004

20 percent increase in number of centers in last five years

77 percent increase in student enrollment in last five years

The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance children's math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life.

To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com.

About Kumon Math & Reading Centers:

Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children in preschool through high school, so they can achieve more on their own. The learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Visit kumon.com to learn more.

About the Kumon Franchise Business

Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ.

SOURCE Kumon

Related Links

http://www.kumon.com


TEANECK, N.J., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of parents in Lakeland, Florida will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the world's largest after-school education franchise, is opening its first learning center in Polk County, Florida with the opening of Kumon of Lakeland-Highlands.

There are 14,105 math and reading students studying at 84 centers across the state of Florida.

"We are excited to bring the first Kumon Math and Reading Center to Polk County," said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. "Kumon continues to prove that it's a time-tested learning method that helps children reach their maximum potential. We are looking forward to helping as many children in the Lakeland Community discover a love of learning."

Kumon's Presence in Florida:

14,105 math and reading students studying at 84 centers

First center opened in 1997

37 new centers opened in the last five years

The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance children's math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life.

To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com.

About Kumon Math & Reading Centers:

Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children in preschool through high school, so they can achieve more on their own. The learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Visit kumon.com to learn more.

About the Kumon Franchise Business

Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ.

SOURCE Kumon

Related Links

http://kumon.com


WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has launched a new podcast series, Leading Voices with ULI, which offers personal leadership stories from some of the most innovative professionals in the real estate and land use industries.

The series, announced today, provides a candid look at leaders' career journeys, including obstacles they have overcome, and reflections on their pathways to success. Produced by the ULI Leadership Network, the podcasts explore how factors such as upbringing and social experiences have influenced the participants both professionally and personally.

"The candid sharing of best practices and lessons learned has always been central to the ULI mission. These podcasts are a natural extension of ULI's tradition of giving back for the benefit of our industry and our communities," said ULI Global Chief Executive Officer Patrick L. Phillips. "We are excited about the potential of the series to inspire and guide the next generation of industry leaders."

The podcast series will be hosted by ULI Foundation Governor Matt Slepin, founder of the San Franciscobased Terra Search Partners, a national executive search firm helping real estate companies build successful teams. Slepin serves on the board of ULI's San Francisco's District Council and is a member of ULI's Urban Development and Mixed-Use Council. He has nearly 40 years of experience in search, management, and functional roles within the real estate industry.

"In this podcast series, we hear the stories of a broad range of people doing amazing work in our industry," said Slepin. "We are talking to leaders and founders of companies, elected and career government officials, business leaders, and others who are making a huge difference in their communities. The podcast series is an opportunity to do deep dives with these people about the genius of their work, the roots of their passion, and what got them to where they are in their careers."

Released with today's launch are the two episodes featuring interviews with Mayor Marilyn Strickland of Tacoma, Washington, and Steve Wilson, cofounder of 21c Museum Hotels, Louisville, Kentucky. Other interviews set to be released over the next five weeks include discussions with Alicia Glen, deputy mayor of New York City; Kimber Lanning, founder and executive director, Local First Arizona, Phoenix; Steve Leeper, president and chief executive officer, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), Cincinnati; Alex Gilliam, founder and director of Public Workshop, Philadelphia; and Egbert Perry, chairman and chief executive officer of the Integral Group in Atlanta.

Each episode in the Leading Voices with ULI podcast series will be made available for public download for a limited time before being moved to ULI memberonly access. Listeners can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or find episodes at uli.org/leadingvoices.

About the ULI Leadership Network

Leadership pervades all aspects of the ULI member experience. The ULI Leadership Network fosters relationships, facilitates industry collaboration, imparts knowledge, and prepares members to become leaders at multiple professional levels and as individual influencers within their communities. Within the Leadership Network, ULI offers seven programs specific to leadership development. The Leadership Network also offers tools to help members become better leaders within ULI, their communities, and their career journeys.

About the Urban Land Institute

The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has nearly 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information, please visit uli.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

SOURCE Urban Land Institute

Related Links

http://www.uli.org


TITUSVILLE, Fla., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The recent launch of the CYGNSS satellites was able to continue its countdown despite fierce lightning at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station just days before the scheduled deployment. Officials with NASA's Launch Services Program were concerned that lightning would delay the mission by requiring avionic systems on the launch vehicle and payload to be tested for damage. The delay and cost of testing were avoided, however, when a state-of-the-art lightning surveillance system proved that the lightning was not as close to the launch vehicle as feared, and that transient currents induced by lightning were well within acceptable limits.

Lightning at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station nearly scrubbed the scheduled launch of the CYGNSS satellites from a Pegasus rocket carried aloft by a jet aircraft. The mission countdown was able to proceed when data from a lightning surveillance system proved that the launch vehicle and its payload were not damaged by the electrical storm. This strike was recorded on Dec. 6, 2016 by the lightning surveillance system designed and operated by Scientific Lightning Solutions LLC. Photo Credit: Orbital ATK, Inc.

The surveillance system was designed and operated by Scientific Lightning Solutions LLC, (SLS), a member of the Lightning Safety Alliance. The system includes sensitive current and voltage sensors inside the aircraft plus exterior electromagnetic sensors to measure the effects of nearby lightning. SLS also monitored the Cape Canaveral airstrip with two of the firm's Optical Jupiter high-speed, zero dead-time cameras that are triggered by lightning strikes.

According to Carlos Mata, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of SLS, "Optical Jupiter allows unprecedented precision in determining where lightning strikes. Our engineers immediately reviewed data collected by Optical Jupiter and provided conclusive evidence that the aircraft and rocket had not been exposed to lightning-related effects that would endanger the mission."

CYGNSS (Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System) contains eight micro-satellites that will measure wind speeds over Earth's oceans, increasing the ability of scientists to understand and predict hurricanes. CYGNSS was launched on December 15, 2016 by Orbital ATK, Inc. using their Pegasus XL rocket  an air-launched vehicle mounted under a modified Lockheed L-1011 aircraft.

Commenting on a photograph taken by Optical Jupiter, NASA's Sean Potter says, "Though the photo gives the appearance of lightning directly striking Orbital ATK's L-1011 carrier aircraft, the strike occurred approximately 2.5 miles from the aircraft's location beside Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's runway. The aircraft and Pegasus XL rocket were surrounded by an overhead lightning protection system (LPS) designed to protect them had a strike actually occurred in the immediate vicinity; the three masts of the LPS can be seen near the front and aft of the aircraft."

To augment the LPS, Potter explains, "The surveillance system was designed for NASA's Launch Services Program to document and assess potential deleterious effects of lightning strikes. The lightning surveillance system provided timely and accurate data that allowed for continuation of the Pegasus XL countdown despite numerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes recorded that day." He also states that, "SLS provided outstanding support and was able to quickly provide information that was helpful in mitigating the concern and moving forward with the launch."

Jennifer Morgan, an officer of the Lightning Safety Alliance, observes that, "Both CYGNSS and innovations at Scientific Lightning Solutions are important advances in meteorological science. The experience they gain with aerospace projects is helping protect life and property here on Earth."

Scientific Lightning Solutions LLC: SLS has unmatched scientific, engineering, and lightning protection expertise to solve even the most complex lightning protection challenges. Based in Titusville, Florida, SLS has access to the world's only commercially available live lightning test facility, proprietary analysis and design software, and exclusive fast-data acquisition and monitoring technologies and equipment. The firm's website is www.sls-us.com.

Lightning Safety Alliance LLC: LSA is a nonprofit, nonstock national corporation comprised of lightning protection manufacturers, distributors, installers and others interested in lightning protection issues. Its purpose is to provide a comprehensive and focused evaluation and response to legislative, administrative and regulatory issues facing the industry. Additionally, the LSA acts an informational clearinghouse for its members. The organization's website is www.lightningsafetyalliance.com.

SOURCE Lightning Safety Alliance; Scientific Lightning Solutions LLC

Related Links

http://www.lightningsafetyalliance.com


HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) announced today that it will release its first quarter fiscal 2017 financial results on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 after the market closes. In conjunction with the release, Luby's has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the Internet, on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Central time.

What: Luby's First Quarter Fiscal 2017 Earnings Conference Call



When: Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time



How: Live via phone  By dialing (412) 902-0030 and using the access code 13652944# at least 10 minutes prior to the start time, or live over the Internet  By logging onto the web at the address below



Where: http://www.lubysinc.com  The webcast can be accessed from the investor relations' home page.

For those who cannot listen to the live call, a replay will be available through February 2, 2017 and may be accessed by dialing (201) 612-7415 and using the access code 13652944#. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call at www.lubysinc.com for 90 days.

About Luby's

Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) operates 173 restaurants nationally: 91 Luby's Cafeterias, 73 Fuddruckers, 8 Cheeseburger in Paradise and one Bob Luby's Seafood Grill. The Company is the franchisor for 114 Fuddruckers franchise locations across the United States (including Puerto Rico), Canada, Mexico, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Poland, Chile, and Colombia. Additionally, a licensee operates 34 restaurants with the exclusive right to use the Fuddruckers proprietary marks, trade dress, and system in certain countries in the Middle East. The Company does not receive revenue or royalties from these Middle East restaurants. Luby's Culinary Contract Services provides food service management to 23 sites consisting of healthcare, higher education and corporate dining locations.

For additional information contact:

Dennard-Lascar Associates

713-529-6600

Rick Black / Ken Dennard

Investor Relations

SOURCE Luby's, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.lubys.com


(Adds comment from House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling)

By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Outgoing U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White had some harsh parting words for Congress on Tuesday and a plea to the incoming administration to ensure the regulator remains independent and insulated from political pressures.

In what was likely her final speech before stepping down after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office on Friday, White lamented the "prescriptive" rule-writing requirements that Congress has imposed on the SEC and said such efforts harm the agency's ability to get things done or exercise discretion on complicated market issues.

"The strength and utility of the agency's structure depends on an environment that rewards expertise and frank dialogue, not partisan affiliation and political games," White said in prepared remarks to the Economic Club of New York.

"If the ability and resolve of commissioners to act independently diminishes, so too will the opportunity for solutions that, while politically unpopular, best serve investors and markets."

White became SEC chair in the spring of 2013. Unlike her predecessors, she did not have to deal with putting out fires from market crises.

Her tenure was marked largely by efforts to complete a lengthy list of rules required by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law and the 2012 Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act.

Trump's choice to head the SEC, attorney Jay Clayton, has not opined publicly on his priorities or future rule-making plans.

On Tuesday, White urged the SEC to resist lobbying by interest groups or other pressures, and to do what is best for investors and the economy.

"Continuing to build an effective post-crisis market regulator will mean imposing measures that sometimes draw sharp outcry from interest groups," she said.

White reflected on her own tenure at the SEC, which she acknowledged has often been marked by "hard decisions that have attracted criticism from both political parties."

Story continues

She also took a parting shot at some legislation being pushed by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

One bill, approved last week, would impose additional requirements on the SEC to conduct economic analyses before it can adopt new rules.

White said it would "provide no benefit to investors" and hamstring the agency from responding to a market crisis.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling shot back at White later Tuesday, saying the SEC had failed to help small companies or analyze costs, and should be held accountable.

"Congress created the SEC, not the other way around," the Republican congressman said.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Dan Grebler and Jonathan Oatis)
HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Made In Space and Axiom Space today, announce an agreement to be users and providers of one another's capabilities to manufacture products in space. Made In Space is the only company to produce 3D printed products in Space and Axiom Space is the leading developer of the world's first privately-owned commercial space station. This collaboration signifies Made In Space's exciting transition from research phase, to manufacturing for commercial customers.

The companies have been working out the logistical elements of in-space manufacturing, outfitting the in-space factory with equipment, utilities, power, and thermal management to answer customers' growing demand. In parallel to the manufacturing element, the companies are working together to plan the delivery of completed products to Earth, ensuring their quality during flight and upon arrival.

In addition to launching the world's first commercial polymer and metal 3D printers to the International Space Station (ISS), Made In Space is currently developing a system to produce high-value optical fibers in space, planned to be used aboard Axiom's station. Made In Space's technology, operating aboard Axiom's modules, is the way of the future for manufacturers and researchers, and for servicing and expanding satellites and station capabilities.

"Made In Space carries a rich legacy in manufacturing. This partnership marks an important next step in humanity's reach into space," said Michael Suffredini, President and CEO of Axiom Space and former ISS Program Manager. "In-space manufacturing provides a unique class of products beneficial to the communications, materials and biomedical industries on Earth. Made In Space is an exemplary company to collaborate with to meet the demand for in-space manufacturing, and we are thrilled to build a partnership with the individuals who have proven their abilities in zero-g flights and on ISS."

"Axiom and Made In Space are adding to the space ecosystem, serving a growing market and enabling innovative approaches from processes learned on the International Space Station. This partnership allows us to continue to evolve and develop new products and allow our customers to invest in space manufacturing knowing that there will be an ongoing human presence on orbit," stated Andrew Rush, CEO of Made In Space. "They are the ideal partner for manufacturing new technologies in space and leveraging our new capabilities."

About Axiom Space



Axiom Space, LLC is a private company creating the world's first international commercial space station to host government astronauts, tourists, private companies, and individuals for research, manufacturing, and space exploration systems testing. The team's vision is to make living and working in Earth orbit commonplace, to serving terrestrial markets and supporting deep space exploration. For more information, visit: www.axiomspace.com and follow Axiom on social media at twitter.com/Axiom_Space.



About Made In Space

Founded in 2010 as the world's first space manufacturing company, Made In Space, Inc. (MIS) is the world leader in 3D printing for aerospace applications. In partnership with CASIS, managers of the ISS National Lab, and Lowe's Innovation Labs, the disruptive technology hub of the Lowe's Home Improvement chain, Made In Space sent the first commercial 3D printer to the ISS in April 2016, designated the Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF). Additionally, the firm was recently awarded a NASA contract to 3D print and assemble structures in the vacuum of space using their Archinaut architecture. For more information visit www.madeinspace.us.

Media Contact



Renee Rossi

Corporate Communications, Axiom Space

908-872-3452

[email protected]

SOURCE Axiom Space

Related Links

http://www.axiomspace.com


NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mesothelioma Compensation Center is the only group in the United States that specializes in assisting people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure that occurred at a water works facility, at an electrical utility facility, sewer district, oil refinery, oil production facility, nuclear power plant, or at a natural gas company.

The Center has one goal for specific people like this with mesothelioma: see to it that these individuals in need receive the very best possible financial compensation.

Asbestos Warning Sign Water Works Workers

For more information about services provided for a water works worker, an electrical worker, or any type of energy worker who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, call the Mesothelioma Compensation Center anytime at 800-714-0303. http://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com

The Mesothelioma Compensation Center is saying, "One of the biggest mistakes we see mesothelioma victims make is underestimate the potential size of their mesothelioma compensation claim. Public utility and/or power/energy companies are typically very well funded and can often afford to write big checks for their former workers who now have mesothelioma.

"As we would also like to explain anytime to any worker who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, not having the most skilled and experienced mesothelioma attorneys working for them probably means not receiving the best possible financial compensation; in many instances, we are talking about one million dollars or more.

"Please don't hire a local car accident attorney to advance a complicated mesothelioma compensation claim if you have any expectation of getting the best possible financial compensation settlement. Hire a full-time, national-caliber mesothelioma attorney who knows exactly how to get the best financial compensation for a water works or energy worker, as we would like to discuss anytime at 800-714-0303. Please don't aim low when it comes to mesothelioma compensation by hiring a less than qualified or unskilled lawyer." http://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com

The Mesothelioma Compensation Center specializes in assisting US Navy Veterans, power plant workers, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, public utility workers, hydro-electric workers, chemical plant workers, nuclear power plant workers, manufacturing workers, plumbers, electricians, and welders who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. In most instances these people were exposed to asbestos during the1950's, 1960's, 1970's, or 1980's.

US Navy Veterans account for a significant portion of all diagnosed victims of mesothelioma each year. The average age for a diagnosed victim of mesothelioma is about 70 years old. Each year between 2,500 and 3,000 US citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is attributable to exposure to asbestos.

The states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon. However, a former water works or electrical worker who has been diagnosed victim of mesothelioma could live in any state including California, New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, or Alaska.

The Mesothelioma Compensation Center says, "If you call us at 800-714-0303, we will see to it that you have on the spot access to the nation's most skilled, and experienced mesothelioma attorneys, because these incredibly skilled legal experts consistently get the best financial compensation results for their clients on a nationwide basis." http://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com

For more information about mesothelioma please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mesothelioma.html

Media Contact:

Thomas Martin

800-714-0303

[email protected]

SOURCE Mesothelioma Compensation Center

Related Links

http://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com


WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency today released a new report, Contracting Barriers and Factors Affecting Minority Business Enterprises: A Review of Existing Disparity Studies. The report, which spotlights disparities in state and local government contracting between minority-owned and nonminority-owned business enterprises, provides an in-depth review and analysis of disparity studies, summaries, and reports.

"Our goal in releasing this report is to advance the dialogue surrounding contracting disparities and use the findings as a catalyst for creating policy and innovative solutions. It's critically important that MBEs, advocacy groups and policy makers have access to this information," said MBDA National Deputy Director Albert K. Shen. "This report also underscores the power of data and the fact that we still have a lot of work to do to ensure MBEs have fair and equal access to contracting opportunities."

Some of the key findings from the report prepared by Premier Quantitative Consulting Inc., revealed the following: contracting disparity remains wide-spread; MBEs typically obtain a lower number and dollar value of contracts in proportion to the number of available MBEs in a comparable market; and that industry groups most affected include construction, professional services, architecture, engineering services, and goods and supplies.

The report also dedicates a chapter to Disparity Study Basics, a guide for those embarking upon a disparity study. This should be helpful to state and local governments, since the Federal Government provides over $536 billion, with disadvantaged business enterprise spending requirements, to states each year. Conducting a local study can determine if disparities exist and prompt states to take corrective action and eliminate the risk of losing federal dollars. The report can be viewed at http://www.mbda.gov/sites/default/files/ContractingBarriers_AReviewofExistingDisparityStudies.pdf

National Deputy Director Shen will host a free webinar TODAY at 11 a.m. (ET), to discuss the final report and its overall findings. To register for the webinar visit www.mbda.gov. A copy of the webinar recording will also be available for download afterwards on the website.

About the Minority Business Development Agency

MBDA, www.mbda.gov, is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses. Our programs and services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally. Services are provided through a network of MBDA Business Centers. After 47 years of service, MBDA continues to be a dedicated strategic partner to all U.S. minority-owned businesses, committed to providing programs and services that build size, scale and capacity through access to capital, contracts and markets. Follow us on Twitter @usmbda.

Contact: Dijon Rolle

Phone: (202) 482-1375

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mbda.gov

Fax: (202) 482-5117

SOURCE Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

Related Links

http://www.mbda.gov


NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MLG Automotive Law has filed a class action lawsuit against technology giant Apple Inc., seeking to enjoin the company from selling further iPhones until it installs texting and driving safeguards. The lawsuit, Julio Ceja v. Apple Inc. (Case No. BC647057), was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Texting and driving has become a prolific problem in the U.S., as consumers demand constant connectivity. Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows that at any given moment, 1.5 million people are texting and driving on public roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration classifies texting and driving as six times more dangerous than drinking and driving.

The lawsuit alleges that Apple puts profit before consumer safety. According to the filing, the company has had the technology to prevent texting and driving since 2008  and even received a patent on it in 2014  but refuses to use it over concerns that it will lose market share to other phone-makers who do not limit consumer use. In the last three months of 2016, Apple generated $8.5 billion in net profit, and at the end of its fiscal year had $238 billion of cash on hand.

The destruction created by the practice is enormous. The lawsuit claims that, based on data provided by the Federal Highway Administration and the California Highway Patrol, Apple's iPhones are responsible for 52,000 automobile accidents in California each year, and an average of 312 deaths.

"Texting and driving has become one of the most serious issues that confronts all of us on a daily basis," said Jonathan Michaels, the founding member of MLG Automotive Law. "The number of people who have been being killed or injured is astonishing. It has to stop." Michaels continued, "Legislating against drivers will unfortunately not solve the problem. The relationship consumers have with their phones is just too great, and the ability to slide under the eye of the law is just too easy. Embedding lock-out devices is the only solution."

Julio Ceja of Costa Mesa, California was injured in an accident caused by a driver who was on her iPhone. The class action is brought on behalf of all California residents, and seeks to halt all iPhone sales in the state until the lock-out device is employed. In its most recent SEC filing, Apple indicated that in 2016 it sold an average of 586,000 iPhones per day.

About MLG Automotive Law

Located in Newport Beach, California, MLG Automotive Law is a full service business law firm, concentrating on representing the legal interests of businesses and people in the automotive industry. Its clientele includes car dealers, high performance manufacturers, motorsports personalities, race teams, car collectors and automotive associations. Follow MLG Automotive Law on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Contacts:

Jonathan Michaels

(949) 581-6900

[email protected]

Howard Breuer

(213) 422-2738

[email protected]

SOURCE MLG Automotive Law

Related Links

http://mlgautomotivelaw.com


LONDON, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile telephone networks are in transition. Network architecture must manage high data-traffic growth rates, and support new 4G services and the increased demand for broadband and Internet access. In the developed countries a high level of coverage has been achieved but capacity is inadequate as data traffic escalates beyond all expectations. In the developing countries both coverage and capacity are wanting. Macro base stations with towers cover large cells and long distances but they fail to reach effectively inside buildings, where 70-80% of mobile broadband traffic is generated. A new network concept has been launched - the HetNet, which combines large and small cell sites and different radio technologies like cellular and Wi-Fi. The first commercial HetNets are being rolled out. HetNets are the networks of the future with macro-micro coordination to improve Quality of Service. This report quantifies the macro infrastructure of today, of base stations, ground based and rooftop towers and poles, forecasts growth and $ value to 2020 in every country, with analysis of ownership and market shares of tower vendors. The report outlines tomorrow's new infrastructure, the HetNet, the macro-micro network. It outlines the technologies of macro and of micro cells and base stations, estimates current penetration and projects demand. We are in the first stage of a new wave of technology for mobile telephones - the HetNet. Network technology is evolving rapidly to meet exponential new demands. The focus is shifting from coverage to capacity, driven by the rise in data traffic. The answer is the HetNet/Heterogeneous network. Past networks were based almost entirely on macro cellular base stations mounted on towers, rooftops and poles. They were designed for volumes of voice mail which were small by today's standards. Data traffic has grown exponentially and is set to escalate by leaps and bounds, driven by the Internet, videos, and a plethora of 3G and 4G mobile devices. The HetNet is providing the solution; a network which combines all types of base station, each designed for a different purpose; macros on towers and rooftops, micro, metro, pico, DAS and Wi-Fi both inside buildings and outside. These issues are discussed and analysed in this report. Macro base stations (BTS) will remain the core of the networks, but the networks must develop more granular delivery. We have constructed a database of macro base stations for every country, starting from the launch of mobile services in the 1980s. In an electricity network replacement happens when equipment is past its design life and risks failure, and the replacement may also be an up-grade. In a mobile network this is not the case. From 1G to 2G, 3G and 4G and LTE the technology of the networks must be up-dated to new generations of technology at more frequent intervals. A regional analysis of GBTs (ground based towers) and RTTs (rooftop towers) is provided.



The total market is surveyed, macro and micro. Forecasts of base station capex, analysed by macro site additions, macro site upgrades and replacements, and new small cell sites with annual expenditure from 2015 to 2020. Total mobile traffic is analysed by cell site types: macro cell, in-building small cell, outdoor small cell, Wi-Fi hotspots, residential femtocell, DAS/RRH. The populations of GBTs and RTTs are analysed by region. The market for construction of new macro base stations (BTS), ground-based, rooftop and street poles, upgrades and replacement of aged assets is estimated and forecast in nominal $ from 2015 to 2020, for the world, for regions and is analysed by 213 countries. Market commentary is provide by regions and major countries. The steady growth of the macro cellular infrastructure does not fully reflect the real rate of expansion of the networks. With mobile data traffic expected to double annually, small cell base stations are set to play an important role in expanding the capacity of wireless networks. Small cells provide flexibility and increased QoS capabilities. Past development of small cells is analysed to help predict the future path. Shipments are analysed in units by cell type. The cost components of a small cell installation are analysed. Global expenditure on installing small cells with related costs and backhaul is estimated for 2015 and projected annually to 2020 for regions and 33 countries. Capex is analysed by residential/non-residential and by cell type. Tower sharing allows operators to cut down on capital expenditure. Infrastructure cost for operators is estimated to decline by 16% to 20%. Running and maintenance of tower infrastructure, form a significant portion of operator Opex. Divesting responsibility for infrastructure unlocks value. Site and/or tower sharing is the most common form of network sharing, but full network sharing is gaining traction. The various forms of infrastructure sharing are outlined and the towerco market is analysed by country. A breakdown of tower construction cost by component is given. Infrastructure and network sharing, either between operators or via independent tower owners, is growing rapidly but has a distinct regional pattern. MNOs share assets with jointly-owned infracos in Europe, Japan and many other regions. Independent towercos started in the United States and are also prevalent in India, in China since 2015, in Southeast Asia and are making headway rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The incidence of sharing is given by regions and major countries with total numbers of macro towers and the numbers owned by towercos. Detailed market profiles are given for regions and leading countries. Energy accounts for 30% of the network operating costs of an MNO. 90% of sites have diesel base generators where towers are off-grid or as standby to grid supply when grid-connected. For cost and environmental reasons there is a growing trend towards renewables systems, mainly solar PV or hybrid systems of solar PV and wind power.



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4230308/



About Reportbuyer

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

http://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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LONDON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Summary

The telecom services revenue is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% during 2016-2021, driven by growth in mobile and fixed data revenues. In the coming years, operators plan to invest in network infrastructure and expand 4G services. Vendors will have significant opportunities to support operators' 4G rollout initiatives.

Key Findings

- The overall telecom service revenue in Myanmar is estimated to generate $3.1bn in 2016 and will expand at a CAGR of 4.0% during 2016-2021, supported by data segment growth.

- Mobile revenue will account for 94.9% of the total telecom revenue in 2021, with the mobile data segment expected to experience significant growth.

- 3G will be the most adopted mobile technology through 2021. Its share in overall mobile subscriber base will further increase during 2016-2021, as 2G customers will increasingly migrate to 3G networks for faster data rates.

- The top two operators, MPT and Telenor Myanmar will account for nearly 84.2% share of overall service revenue in 2016.

- Operators in Myanmar are increasingly investing in 3G and 4G network expansion, as demand for data increases.

Synopsis

Myanmar: 4G Investment and New Market Entrants to Boost Burgeoning Telecoms Market,' a new Country Intelligence Report , provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Myanmar today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021. Published annually, the report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the fixed telephony, broadband, and mobile, as well as a review of key regulatory trends.

The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following:

- Regional context: telecom market size and trends in Myanmar compared with other countries in the region.

- Economic, demographic and political context in Myanmar.

- 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, broadband, mobile voice, and mobile data markets.

- 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 2016 to 2021.

- The competitive landscape: an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months.

- In-depth sector analysis of fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice, 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 Myanmar's telecommunications markets.

Reasons To Buy

- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of Myanmar's telecommunications markets, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.

- Accompanying Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in Myanmar's mobile communications, fixed telephony, broadband markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares.

- With more than 20 charts and tables, the report is designed for an executive-level audience, boasting presentation quality.

- The report provides an easily digestible market assessment for decision-makers built around in-depth information gathered from local market players, which enables executives to quickly get up to speed with the current and emerging trends in Myanmar's telecommunications markets.

- The broad perspective of the report coupled with comprehensive, actionable detail will help operators, equipment vendors and other telecom industry players succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in Myanmar.



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4595293/

About Reportbuyer

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

http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

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SAINT HELENA, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective January 1, 2017, Rutherford Grove Winery has changed its name to Pestoni Family Estate Winery. Pestoni Family Estate Winery is a family owned boutique winery located in the heart of the Napa Valley, crafting premium wines from estate vineyards in the Rutherford and Howell Mountain appellations.

Pestoni Family Estate Winery

"As one of Napa's pioneer winemaking families from the late 1800's, we want our winery name to convey our pride in my family's legacy here in the valley," says winery owner Bob Pestoni. "This year celebrates our family's 125th anniversary as winemakers in the Napa Valley. We look forward to sharing more of our history, heritage and wines with new and returning guests alike."

Focusing on limited-production, estate grown and produced wines, the Pestoni Family Wine portfolio includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc from their Rutherford ranch, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a Bordeaux-style blend from their Howell Mountain estate. The Pestoni family owns and farms 60 acres of vineyard throughout the Napa Valley.

About Pestoni Family Estate Winery

The Pestoni Family celebrates 125 years of winemaking in the Napa Valley this year. Pestoni Family Estate Winery is located off of Highway 29 just north of Rutherford, CA, and is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm, offering tasting flights and picnic grounds to guests. Information about private tastings and special events is available by request.

For more information, please visit www.pestonifamily.com or call 707-963-0544.

Contact:

Ashley McMullen

707-963-0544

[email protected]

SOURCE Pestoni Family Estate Winery

Related Links

http://www.pestonifamily.com


LA COSTE, Texas, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NaturalShrimp Incorporated (OTCQB: SHMP) (the "Company"), a global eco-friendly producer of shrimp grown in technologically unique indoor saltwater facilities, has retired approximately $2,500,000 of existing notes payable, plus accrued interest, originally issued to fund the Company's 35,000 square foot facility in La Coste, Texas.

The Company has entered into a new loan agreement with Community National Bank in Castroville, Texas for approximately $245,000 (the "CNB Note"). Concurrent with the closing of the CNB Note, $200,000 of the proceeds was used to pay down the approximate $2,500,000 of existing notes and accrued interest payable, with the remainder being used for working capital and to pay down additional debt. The Company expects to finalize agreements memorializing the payoff of the notes and to release the Company from any further obligations under the notes. In addition, the Company does not anticipate any negative tax implications from this transaction.

Natural Shrimp President, Gerald Easterling, commented, "We are extremely happy that this note holder has chosen to retire this debt. With the retirement of this debt, we are expecting to finalize our lease agreements for the enhanced equipment package that we have been developing with our corporate partner over the last several months."

Natural Shrimp Chief Financial Officer William Delgado also commented, "We are very excited that this note holder, who is also an approximate 4.5% equity holder in the Company, has expressed its confidence in our business plan to facilitate this agreement. The Company expects to announce further balance sheet improvements within the next few weeks."

For further information on this transaction, the Company has filed an 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as filed on January 17, 2017.

About NaturalShrimp Incorporated

NaturalShrimp Incorporated is a publicly-traded agro-tech company located near San Antonio, in La Coste, Texas. It has developed and tested the first commercially viable system for growing shrimp indoors using proprietary technologies in a system that produces healthful, naturally grown shrimp without the use of antibiotics or toxic chemicals. Visit www.naturalshrimp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including expected industry patterns and other financial and business results that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied by this press release. Such risk factors include, among others: the viability of the Company's technology in the market; the Company's ability to retain key employees; the Company's ability to gain customer acceptance of its products; general market conditions; changes in operations and product strategy; and the risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason.

Contact Information:

Bill G. Williams, Chief Executive Officer

NaturalShrimp Incorporated

Telephone: (888) 791-9474

E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE NaturalShrimp Incorporated

Related Links

http://www.naturalshrimp.com


ATLANTA, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Structured Financial Associates, Inc. ("SFA"), a founding leader in the structured settlement business, begins the New Year with a new company brand and a new president at its helm. Richard Regna, who has led the company's Pittsburgh office for 16 years, was appointed president by the board in September, 2016, and has been working diligently alongside CEO Sean Coleman to map the organization's vision for its future success.

"SFA has a long history as an industry leader, and we honor the tradition of excellence with which our founding partners built this organization. Our goal now is to build on that solid foundation by partnering with Consultants who are interested in long-term business growth and expanding our collaborations with existing and new strategic partners," stated Mr. Regna. "These goals are bolstered by the industry's most experienced marketing team, and the organization will be launching new settlement products later this year to make structured settlements a more appealing method for the settlement of personal injury claims."

The organization's new logo represents the expertise that Structured Financial Associates Consultants bring to its specialty business. Its core approach to claim resolution, as represented by the solid grey center circle, is the use of structured settlement annuities to provide consistent income to injured parties while honoring the business practices of our client partners. SFA Consultants assist in the establishment and funding of other settlement tools, including Special Needs Trusts and Medicare Set-Aside Trusts, which are represented by the three surrounding concentric circles. The varying shades of grey speak to the professionalism and sense of somber responsibility with which every SFA Consultant approaches their work of helping to bring resolution to a catastrophic injury claim, while the variegated blues convey a sense of optimism and hope.

About Structured Financial Associates, Inc.

Structured Financial Associates, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is one of the largest structured settlement companies in the industry. SFA is a member of Integrated Financial Settlements (IFS) and has more than 70 Structured Settlement Consultants with offices in every major metropolitan area of the country.

For more information, contact:

Rachel D. Grant, Director of Communications

3060 Peachtree Road NW, Suite 225

Atlanta, Georgia 30305

Phone: 770-393-1028

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.sfainc.com

SOURCE Structured Financial Associates, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.sfainc.com


LA FARGE, Wis., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Organic Valley, the nation's largest cooperative of organic family farmers, today welcomed the USDA's notice and public comment period on a proposed research and promotion board for organic food. Commonly called an "organic checkoff," the program would be funded through a small assessment on the organic sales of organic certificate holders, including farmers, handlers, processors and retailers. Assessments would be pooled together and focused on accomplishing organic-specific research, promotion and education.

"Organic agriculture is a proven market-driven economic engine for rural development and family farms," said Organic Valley CEO George Siemon. "A self-funded promotion program for all involved in organic is a natural step toward building a strong marketplace for more farmers and consumers. Investing in our movement is just smart business."

Siemon acknowledges that checkoff programs have a controversial history with farmers, but he points out that features of the GRO Organic proposal are unique. "This promotion order will support a variety of organic commoditiesnot just one, like milk or pork. And it will be funded not just by farmers but by everyone in the value chain. For me, this is an easy choice. It's a small investment we collectively make to take the organic movement to the next level."

Steve Pierson, an organic dairy farmer in St. Paul, Ore., agreed. "As a farmer, I've seen the ways that education changes people's relationship with their food. When people understand what the organic label means, they understand it means a lot. We owe it to ourselves to promote the organic label and the organic promotion board is a good collective way to do it."

In addition to milking 350 cows on his farm in the Pacific Northwest, Pierson serves on Organic Valley's board of directors. He emphasized that the cooperative's value of working together resonates with the idea of an organic promotion board. "Nobody understands better than Organic Valley the importance of working together for the common good. This checkoff brings everyone in the organic movement together to protect and promote our markets. Organic Valley's board of directors encourages all of our 2,000 farmers to consider endorsing the proposal."

Organic Valley's management and board of directors welcome the opportunity to openly discuss the benefits of expanding organic food availability and options as well as safeguarding family farms and markets in a volatile global environment. The co-op urges the entire organic community to join together in support of the promotion order. Organic Valley is well known for being a democratically governed cooperative of 2,000 farmer-owners in 36 states, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents more than 2,000 farmers in 36 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom and achieved $1.04 billion in 2015 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a wide range of organic dairy, soy, egg and produce products. With its regional model, milk is produced, bottled and distributed right in the region where it is farmed to ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support our local economies. For further information visit www.organicvalley.coop. Organic Valley is also on Twitter (@OrganicValley) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/OrganicValley).

Contact:

Hans Eisenbeis

[email protected]

(608) 625-3802

SOURCE Organic Valley
NEW PARIS, Pa., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine and Mark Kudlawiec, Superintendent of Chestnut Ridge School District, visited Whysong's Pharmacy in Bedford County today to demonstrate the ease with which anyone can fill prescriptions for naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug which is readily available to anyone in the commonwealth due to the standing order prescription signed by Dr. Levine.

"The availability of very cheap and extremely powerful opioids in our communities makes naloxone a crucial tool for saving lives," said Dr. Levine. "Obtaining and learning how to properly use naloxone will give you the ability to save the life of a friend or loved one. Whether in our homes, at work, or in school, we must all be prepared and work together to respond to the opioid crisis."

Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an overdose from opioid prescription pain medication or heroin. When administered during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores breathing within two to eight minutes. Naloxone has been used safely by medical professionals for more than 40 years and its only function is to reverse the effects of opioids on the brain and respiratory system in order to prevent death.

In February 2016, the Wolf Administration partnered with Pennsylvania-based pharmaceutical company Adapt Pharma to increase statewide access to Narcan, a brand of naloxone, including distribution to public high schools. Since that time, 219 high schools have received Narcan at no cost because of this partnership.

"The opioid epidemic does not stop at the doors of our schools and overdoses do not discriminate based on age, religion or background," said Kudlawiec. "Providing appropriate care to students and employees in health emergency situations is an essential part of our school district's mission. We are working to obtain naloxone for our students and look forward to working with the Department of Health to educate our faculty and young people on the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania."

Anyone in Pennsylvania can obtain naloxone by filling a prescription from a health care provider or by using the standing order issued by Dr. Levine, which serves as a naloxone prescription for anyone in the general public to use. The standing order is kept on file at many pharmacies and can also be downloaded from the Department of Health website.

The Wolf Administration holds the fight against heroin and prescription opioids as a top priority. Some of the administration's other initiatives to fight the opioid epidemic include:

Strengthening the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) so that doctors are required and able to check the system each time they prescribe opioids;

Forming new prescribing guidelines to help doctors who provide opioid prescriptions to their patients;

Creating the warm handoff guideline to facilitate referrals from the emergency department to substance abuse treatment;

Establishing a new law limiting the amount of opioids that can be prescribed to a minor to seven days; and

Creating Centers of Excellence, central hubs that provide navigators to assist those with opioid use disorders with behavioral and physical health care, along with medication-assisted treatment, as needed.

If you or someone you know is suffering from the disease of addiction, call 1-800-662-HELP or visit www.pa.gov/opioids for treatment options. For more information on the fight against opioid abuse in Pennsylvania, visit the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, 717-787-1783



SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health

Related Links

http://www.health.pa.gov/


ClearVote exceeds traditional voting system capabilities, delivering a new standard of transparency for every phase of the election process. ClearVote will provide Pierce County with an easy to navigate and intuitive ballot layout process, a modern accessible ballot-marking device, and a fast and accurate tabulation system. ClearVote provides election officials with a complete digital database of the election that includes visual verification of all votes cast, reduces ballot handling and eliminates potential errors arising from human processing of the ballots.

"We are incredibly excited to move from optical scan to digital scan technology, in partnership with an innovative, competitive company that has its sights set on the future of elections. In response to our RFP, Clear Ballot offered a superior product in nearly every regard. As the world of elections evolves, we want Clear Ballot at our side," said Julie Anderson, Pierce County Auditor.

Jordan Esten, Chief Operating Officer for Clear Ballot, is looking forward to working with Pierce County. "When we met the Pierce team, we immediately noticed their enthusiasm and energy for innovation. With ClearVote's groundbreaking technology and the leadership of Pierce County, we're looking forward to building a lasting partnership focused on making elections more transparent and efficient," said Esten of the deal.

Clear Ballot election technology is currently used in 57% of the state of Oregon as well as in Florida, Vermont and New York. Clear Ballot also conducted the nation's first 100% statewide audit in Maryland for the 2016 Presidential Election.

About Clear Ballot:

Clear Ballot is an emerging leader in election management innovation. Clear Ballot has introduced modern software solutions with the speed, accuracy and transparency that has been lacking in the industry. Designed for low cost and ease-of-use, Clear Ballot's browser-based software, used with commercially available scanning hardware, scales to election jurisdictions of all sizes, responding directly to the budgetary realities of America's counties and municipalities. For more information about Clear Ballot please visit: www.clearballot.com.

Contact

Hillary Lincoln

Clear Ballot Group

[email protected]

SOURCE Clear Ballot

Related Links

http://www.clearballot.com


WILLIAMSPORT, Md., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Potomac Edison is expanding its customer outreach with the launch of its Facebook page. The new page builds on the company's successful Twitter account, @PotomacEdison, to connect with customers, provide customers with important information related to their electric service, and share energy-related tips.

"Our new Facebook page gives us another opportunity to communicate with our customers, particularly during major weather events that can impact electrical service," said James A. Sears, Jr., vice president of Potomac Edison. "We'll also share stories about the important work of our employees and ways we support the community."

Customers are encouraged to like Potomac Edison's Facebook page by visiting www.facebook.com/PotomacEdison. By connecting, customers can:

View updates and important information during major outages, such as the company's storm preparation plans, tips for safely managing through a power outage and restoration information

Easily report a power disruption directly through the Facebook page by clicking on the "Report an Outage" tab and entering the phone number associated with the customer's account

Learn about the ways Potomac Edison works to enhance reliability, and the linemen and employees behind these efforts

Receive energy efficiency, cost-saving and electrical safety tips

Discover more about Potomac Edison's support for its communities

View photos and videos from Potomac Edison-sponsored community initiatives and infrastructure projects taking place across the service territory

The launch of the Facebook page is the latest in Potomac Edison's ongoing effort to share proactive information with customers using a variety of platforms. In addition to social media, Potomac Edison customers can sign up to receive alert notifications via email or text message that contain billing reminders, weather alerts in advance of severe storms, or updates on scheduled or extended power outages. Customers also can use two-way text messaging to report outages, request updates on restoration efforts and make other inquiries about their electric accounts.

The company also provides comprehensive outage information through its 24/7 Power Center map and on its website, which is optimized for mobile phones. Additionally, customers can download the Potomac Edison smartphone app for Apple iPhone and Android devices.

Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), serves about 257,000 customers in seven Maryland counties and 137,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at www.potomacedison.com, on Twitter @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

"Apple" and "iPhone" are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.

"Android" is a trademark of Google Inc.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com


RYE BROOK, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Precision Global, a leading global manufacturer of aerosol valves, actuators and other dispensing solutions across a variety of end markets, today announced that Thierry Bouan has been appointed Regional Manager of Asia Pacific, effective immediately. Precision Global's current Asia Pacific region includes facilities in Thailand, Australia, China, Japan and South Africa. Mr. Bouan will be based in Precision Global's Bangkok facility and report to the Chief Executive Officer, Mario Barbero.

Mr. Bouan brings over 20 years of value-added packaging and consumer packaged goods experience to Precision Global. Prior to joining Precision Global, Mr. Bouan spent ten years at Global Closure Systems, a leading supplier of closure solutions for consumer packaged goods, most recently serving as Vice President Asia Pacific. In this role, Mr. Bouan was responsible for overseeing approximately 600 employees.

Mr. Barbero said, "We are delighted to welcome Thierry to the Precision Global team. Thierry's considerable experience serving similar customers and end markets coupled with his extensive injection molding experience make him an especially strong fit. We believe the organic growth opportunity for Precision Global in Asia Pacific is extremely compelling, and we're excited to leverage Thierry's proven track record of successfully driving transformational growth in the region."

Before joining Global Closure Systems, Mr. Bouan worked for over a decade at Crown Group, a leading international packaging manufacturer, where he served in various financial and plant management roles. Mr. Bouan holds an engineering degree from Ecole Superieure d'Informatique, Electronique, Automatique.

About Precision Global

Founded in 1949, Precision Global is the inventor of the modern aerosol valve and a leading global manufacturer of aerosol valves, actuators and other dispensing solutions for a variety of end markets, including personal care, household, food & beverage, industrial and pharmaceutical. Based in New York, the company operates a multinational network of facilities spanning 15 countries on six continents. For more information about Precision Global, please visit precisionglobal.com.

Media Contact:

Daniel Yunger

Kekst

(212) 521-4800

SOURCE Precision Global
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform

EXPERT ALERTS

President-elect Trump's Inauguration

Employment Regulation's Shift From Federal to State/Local Authority

Why and How the Bumblebee Became an Endangered Species

Swarm Robotics

MEDIA JOBS

Politics Reporter  The Independent (DC)

Reporter  Credit Union Journal (NY)

Reporter  Law360 (CA)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

2016 Rewind: A Look Back at the Year in Media

How to Grow Your Blog With a Month-by-Month Action Plan

Blog Profiles: Fitness Blogs

-------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPERT ALERTS:

President-elect Trump's Inauguration

Pavlina Jaine Osta

Millennial Pop-Culture Expert

Osta, who will be attending President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, says: "I expect to see the end of the presidential race but also the beginning of a new administration. I expect to see those committed and those who are full of optimism. But by participating and interviewing part of credentialed media at the women's march in DC, I'm seeing the other side of the issues. I expect to be involved in a front seat at history in the making and influence other Millennial and Generation Z's on the happenings during the next few days that will be historical. I'll be chatting with people who have traveled far and wide for this event, those at the inaugural balls throughout the DC area and newsmakers with their own side to the story, some optimistic, others wanting a stronger voice."

Osta is available to discuss why Trump will have a more challenging task of relating and communicating to Millennials than President Obama did; some of the reasons behind why many young adults are protesting Trump's inauguration; three things Trump can do to help Millennials and utilize their talents to better serve America. She is a sought-after Millennial pop culture/political commentator booked to share her "keep it real" view on all things political or pop culture. Recognized for her swift and fun interviewing style, this engaging Millennial radio and talk show host has been landing her own interviews with the world's notable superstars, athletes and newsmakers on and off the red carpet since the ripe young age of 11.

Website: www.pavlinaosta.com

Contact: Mark Goldman, [email protected]



Employment Regulation's Shift From Federal to State/Local Authority

Susan Drenning

President

ComplyRight

Drenning is available to discuss historical data and insights on employment regulation's shift from federal to state and local authority, tied to Andrew Puzder's confirmation. The promised elimination or rollback of federal employment regulations seems a sure bet as President-elect Donald J. Trump begins working alongside a Republican majority on Capitol Hill, but before businesses bank any expected savings or efficiencies, they should consider what's already happening a little closer to home. Since 2009, with no movement at the federal level, 31 of 50 states raised their minimum wage requirements above $7.25. Paid sick leave laws already exist with varying requirements in five states, the District of Columbia and more than 10 cities. Businesses can also expect to see more turf wars, as some states have begun battling with cities regarding their legal authority to issue minimum wage and other requirements. Says Drenning: "Deregulation in theory is a positive for small businesses seeking to focus on business activities instead of administrative and human resource demands. However, as we've seen over the past eight years, re-regulation may be the unplanned result. Staying informed at the federal, state and local levels is a must in today's more complex compliance environment. The accelerating pace of state and local employment laws makes increased diligence a necessity."

ComplyRight is a 30-year old company that monitors regulatory activity and posting requirements for U.S. companies. They monitor 22,000+ local regulatory authorities and provide employee and tax compliance products and services through their family of brands. Denning is available for comments or for bylines. She is a human resources and employment compliance expert, with particular focus on very small businesses (under 50 employees). She is able to speak to industry-specific issues regarding HR and labor law topics such as FLSA/overtime, minimum wage, "bizarre" or new local regulations, and the shift over time from federal to state authority. She is based in Florida.

Website: http://www.complyright.com

Contact: Liz DeForest, [email protected]



Why and How the Bumblebee Became an Endangered Species

Robert Gegear

Assistant Professor Biology and Biotechnology

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

"It's going to take the community to help in this cause. With so much attention to bee decline, it's a good time to get the public on board. When I talk about my work, they see beyond 'Let's kill that bee because it's going to sting me!' They become aware of its importance and understand that it's responsible for one-third of what we eat.

Gegear has made it his life's work to understand the mind of bees while also assessing threats to bee populations. Recently he has been engaging "citizen scientists" in monitoring bee populations. He has put together a guide to the eastern bumblebees, and developed a system that makes it simple for anyone to identify the species they encounter and transmit their counts to a central database at WPI.

Website: www.wpi.edu

Contact: Colleen Wamback, [email protected]



Swarm Robotics

Carlo Pinciroli

Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

According to a recent segment on "60 Minutes," the use of artificial intelligence is revolutionizing United States military tactics. One area of particular interest is swarm robotics, a new approach to the coordination of large groups of relatively simple robots. In swarms, these robots can perform complex tasks in a more efficient way than a single robot. A key to the swarm successfully completing their tasks is communication between the robots. Says Pinciroli: "Swarm robotics promises to offer solutions for application scenarios that today are either too expensive, too impractical, or too complex to achieve, such as disaster recovery, ocean restoration, space exploration, smart agriculture, and construction. As the demand grows, research is moving away from the purely natural inspiration that gave swarm robotics its first impulse. The current challenge is the formulation of new methods that allow practitioners, as well as newcomers, to design swarm systems of increasing complexity."

Pinciroli has been studying this technology for years and has developed a programming language, called Buzz, that can be used in all swarm systems, whether the robots are on land or in the air. His articles have been published in MIT Technology Review, Communications of the ACM, RoboHub, and IEEE Computer. He is fluent in Italian and French.

Website: www.wpi.edu

Contact: Colleen Wamback, [email protected]

****************

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/

Politics Reporter  The Independent (DC)

Reporter  Credit Union Journal (NY)

Reporter  Law360 (CA)

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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line.

2016 REWIND: A LOOK BACK AT THE YEAR IN MEDIA. 2016 was one heck of a year in the world of media. The past year was laden with challenges, including covering a contentious presidential election, making heads or tails of fake news, launching Facebook Live, and processing numerous media consolidations and more layoffs. We take a look back: http://bit.ly/2iFYV1x

HOW TO GROW YOUR BLOG WITH A MONTH-BY-MONTH ACTION PLAN. One of the best things about kicking off a new year is that feeling of a fresh start. For bloggers, this is likely when you're ripe with new ideas. You may start the year ahead of schedule, but once life settles back in, it can be difficult to conceptualize and execute an idea with even a week's notice. A monthly action plan can help you build momentum and achieve growth, while also providing a realistic base into your timeline: http://prn.to/2jjbYDP

BLOG PROFILES: FITNESS BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry or subject and a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at fitness blogs: http://bit.ly/2ihnaPI

****************

PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire.

SOURCE ProfNet

Related Links

http://www.profnet.com


BURLINGAME, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, today announced an additional order from King County Metro that will include up to 73 battery-electric buses for metro Seattle and adjoining communities. As part of Executive Dow Constantine's Green-Fleet Initiative, King County Metro announced the new deployment at an event in which the transit agency outlined its carbon-neutral plan to launch a record-setting electric transit fleet by 2020.

"King County has long been an innovator in clean vehicle technology," said Executive Constantine in a statement released by King County. "Now, we're dramatically expanding our zero-emission electric bus fleet and working with the industry to innovate and offer next generation vehicles that move people quietly and cleanly while helping meet our climate goals."

With transportation representing nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions in the King County region, Metro aims to influence the development and expansion of all-electric buses, by committing to replace its current fleet with zero-emission vehicles. The County's Strategic Climate Action Plan calls for both increased transit service and a cleaner fleet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Proterra's new Catalyst technology will help Metro achieve these goals.

"To better serve our customers, we want battery buses that travel longer distances and can carry more people," said King County Metro Transit General Manager Rob Gannon. "We're committed to expanding our battery-electric bus fleet with standardized battery bus charging systems and high-performing vehicles."

King County Metro will purchase up to 73 battery-electric buses from Proterra at a cost of up to $55 million, starting with 20 buses totaling $15.1 million. Charging stations to support the initial orders of those buses will range from $5.5 million to $6.6 million.

"King County Metro's decision to purchase up to 73 Proterra battery-electric buses not only represents a significant milestone for mass transit in the U.S., but also a resounding victory for the clean transportation industry as a whole. Already a model for the new generation of sustainability-minded transit agencies, King County Metro continues to demonstrate its commitment to exceptional service, environmental action, and technological innovation," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We look forward to supporting them as they deploy our industry-leading Catalyst buses across their expanding ridership base."

About Proterra:

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to eliminate the dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 375 vehicles to 36 different municipal, university, and commercial transit agencies in 20 states across the USA. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

SOURCE Proterra

Related Links

http://www.proterra.com


BOSTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PULPDENT Corporation, a family-owned dental research and manufacturing company, celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Pulpdent is the leader in bioactive dental materials that look, act and feel like natural teeth and provide direct benefits to patients.

Pulpdent's mission to save teeth and promote good health began with Pulpdent founder, Dr. Harold Berk. By the time he was eleven years old, Harold Berk had found his calling: dentistry. Years later he told his family that as a young boy he "wanted to fix children's teeth."

Born in 1917 to a family of Eastern European immigrants, Dr. Berk's studies brought him to the Forsyth Dental Infirmary in Boston where he conducted research on dental materials. In 1947 Dr. Berk started to manufacture and market his recently developed Pulpdent Paste, a premixed calcium hydroxide paste still used by dentists today. The company was eventually called PULPDENT Corporation in honor of Dr. Berk's original product.

From the beginning, Pulpdent was guided by Dr. Berk's "mission to save teeth and  help my patients live in comfort and smile with confidence." In the 1970s, Dr. Berk's three sons, Ken, Fred and Don, took over management of the company. Dr. Berk continued to serve as a consultant while maintaining a busy dental practice and teaching at Tufts Dental School.

Dr. Berk saw it as his responsibility "to create an environment that is favorable for the natural healing process." His sons spent years exploring new ways to develop dental products that imitate nature and support oral health. In 2013 Pulpdent launched ACTIVA BioACTIVE, a dental filling material that behaves much like natural teeth. The material is "bioactive," meaning it stimulates the formation of apatite (the building blocks of teeth), chemically bonds to teeth and helps protect them against decay. ACTIVA BioACTIVE has received many awards, including top ratings from The Dental Advisor in 2016.

Pulpdent's offices and manufacturing facilities are located near Boston, MA, just a few miles from where Dr. Berk practiced and taught dentistry. Two of Dr. Berk's grandchildren, Lewis and Leah, recently joined the company, ensuring it will remain family run for another generation.

Pulpdent celebrates its 70th anniversary this year with renewed commitment to product innovation, clinical education, and patient-centered care. Pulpdent products are proudly made in the USA.

Leah Berk

(617) 926-6666

[email protected]

SOURCE PULPDENT Corporation
MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Rebecca L. Caldwell-Harrigal, the first female Director of the Office of Tax Exempt Bonds (TEB) at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), has joined global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP as a Shareholder in the law firm's Northern Virginia office. At Greenberg Traurig, Caldwell-Harrigal will work with clients on tax-exempt bonds, tax-credit bonds, and direct-pay bonds.



"We are pleased to be able to offer clients more robust services through the continued growth of our TEB practice," said Michael L. Lehr, Regional Operating Shareholder, resident in Greenberg Traurig's Philadelphia office. "While in Field Service, Rebecca was a key figure in setting up the TEB enforcement program, worked on various TEB litigated cases, and negotiated TEB settlements. Rebecca is an excellent addition to our team and brings a unique skillset to both our clients and the firm."



"I am excited to join a team whose members I respect and whose reputation for client service is exemplary," Caldwell-Harrigal said.



Caldwell-Harrigal became director of TEB in October 2013 after serving as deputy associate chief counsel at the IRS' Financial Institutions and Products Division since 2010. She began her career at the IRS in 1990 in the agency's Office of Chief Counsel's field service division. She then served as chief of the TEB branch in the counsel's office for 11 years. From 2008 to 2010, Caldwell-Harrigal was chief of the IRS' new products branch.



"We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca to our Tax Practice," said Barbara T. Kaplan, Co-Chair of the Global Tax Practice and Chair of the New York Tax Group. "Rebecca brings extensive public finance and tax experience to our firm, complementing our existing tax practice, and adding depth and breadth. Her ground-breaking position as the first woman director of the Office of Tax Exempt Bonds at the IRS shows that she has been a recognized leader and proven decision-maker and we look forward to her contribution to Greenberg Traurig and our clients."



"Rebecca's addition significantly expands our already robust tax and TEB experience within this office and throughout the firm," said Michael R. Sklaire, Co-Managing Shareholder of the firm's Northern Virginia office.



"Our Northern Virginia team is multifaceted, and Rebecca's experience adds an even greater dimension," said Laura F. Reiff, Co-Managing Shareholder of the Northern Virginia office.



Caldwell-Harrigal graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh, with a Bachelor of Science in Business and earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law School. She is a member of the Order of the Coif and was lead articles editor for The Tax Lawyer. She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia. Before joining the IRS, Caldwell-Harrigal was an attorney with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.



About Greenberg Traurig's Tax Practice

To stay competitive in today's global marketplace, international companies must seek out greater efficiency in their tax planning and compliance, including coordinating tax decisions from country to country. For U.S. operations, an environment of increased scrutiny  including passage of more restrictive legislation and a spike in audit activity at every level  is quickly becoming the norm, likewise spurring a need for greater self-evaluation and for more frequent representation in controversies and litigation with tax authorities. Greenberg Traurig's multidisciplinary tax team works closely with clients to address these and other tax planning needs, as well as tax controversies and litigation issues.



About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A single entity worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the second largest firm in the U.S. byLaw360 in 2016, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.



Media Contact: Lourdes Brezo-Martinez, [email protected], 212.801.2131

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP

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http://www.gtlaw.com


CLEVELAND, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Librarians worldwide will be celebrating their record-breaking digital book checkouts at the American Library Association's (ALA) MidWinter Conference in Atlanta. OverDrive announced today that 30 standalone public library systems and 19 library consortia in the U.S. and two other countries have set a new record for lending more than one million digital books in 2016. These 49 systems each achieved significant year over year circulation growth, and together surpassed the 32 systems that accomplished the feat in 2015.

See the complete list here, including five libraries above 3 million checkouts and seven libraries above 2 million. The following 17 circulated one million digital books for the first time in 2016:

Multnomah County Library (OR) +38% Metropolitan Library System (OK) +8% Sno-Isle Libraries (WA) +34% San Antonio Public Library (TX) +25% County of Los Angeles Public Library (CA) +25% Ottawa Public Library (ON) +9% Denver Public Library (CO) +26% Utah's Online Library (UT) +39% Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (PA) +25% Houston Area Digital Media Catalog (TX) +17% Harris County Public Library (TX) +34% Bridges (IA) (started July of 2015) St. Louis County Library (MO) +17% Las Vegas-Clark County Library District (NV) +31% Brooklyn Public Library (NY) +21% Auckland Libraries (NZ) +24% Orange County Library System (FL) +12%



Readers continue to discover the convenience of 24/7 access to their library through OverDrive. More library systems than ever exceeded one million checkouts in 2016 and countless others experienced massive growth percentages. Seven of the 49 libraries achieved greater than 30 percent growth over 2015.

The record-breaking libraries achieved their success in a variety of ways. "We increased checkout and holds limits early in the year and lowered holds ratios periodically to get more copies in circulation," said Kady Ferris, Electronic Content Librarian from Multnomah County Library in Oregon. "We update curated collections on the OverDrive landing page frequently and featured a local author each month." Multnomah County Library is new to the "Million Checkout Club" and experienced 38 percent year-over-year growth.

Another first-time Million Checkout Library, Harris County Public Library (HCPL) in Texas, created a campaign specifically to reach one million checkouts and, as a result, enjoyed 34 percent growth in 2016. Michael Sapertstein, Branch Manager of Jacinto City Branch Library, who helped create the Project Mill-E program at HCPL, stated, "Part of the success was from getting management and staff excited about eBooks. It helped create a united front the staff could work towards."

To view the full list of 49 libraries who circulated 3 million, 2 million and 1 million eBooks, audiobooks and streaming video to their readers, visit the OverDrive Blog.

Each of these libraries consistently produces large numbers for lending digital books by engaging more readers and connecting them with their next great read with curated lists and personalized recommendations. For ideas to help libraries create reading happiness and meet the growing requests for digital content in popular formats, visit OverDrive in booth 910 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, January 20-24.

About OverDrive



OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools. We are dedicated to "a world enlightened by reading" by delivering the industry's largest catalog of eBooks, audiobooks and other digital media to a growing network of 36,000 libraries and schools in 63 countries worldwide. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten. www.overdrive.com

Contact:

David Burleigh

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE OverDrive

Related Links

http://www.overdrive.com


NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Businesses are constantly looking to find ways to motivate their employees. If you've tried a variety of incentives but still haven't found the secret sauce, then research from Columbia Business School that says criticism is an effective workplace-tool can help you stimulate your employees.

Modupe Akinola, Columbia Business School

Professor Modupe Akinola, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Associate Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia Business School, examined the effects of feedback given to individuals and found that after negative feedback had been given, the work produced was significantly more creative. She concluded that harsh criticism increased the workers' creativity and made them perform better.

"Fostering creativity is vital to the modern economy, but to reach your personal best, sometimes you have to go through the worst," explains Professor Akinola. "My research shows that impediments such as social rejection, harsh criticism, and poverty are hurdles that, while problematic, may ultimately spark imagination."

Professor Akinola elaborates on her conclusions in this short video (available at www8.gsb.columbia.edu/video/videos/setbacks-can-spur-leaps-forward).

The takeaway for a work environment is:

For managers : It may be okay to impose tight deadlines and let your employees bite off more than they can chew in order to arouse greater creativity on their teams. But Akinola points out that this research does not give managers license to be tyrannical, and she notes that different workers will have different tolerances for the approach. And with more open-ended activities like brainstorming, encouragement yields better ideas and pushes employees to use their skills to their fullest potential.

: It may be okay to impose tight deadlines and let your employees bite off more than they can chew in order to arouse greater creativity on their teams. But Akinola points out that this research does not give managers license to be tyrannical, and she notes that different workers will have different tolerances for the approach. And with more open-ended activities like brainstorming, encouragement yields better ideas and pushes employees to use their skills to their fullest potential. For employees: Personal and professional setbacksmoments when we're most likely to feel like just walking awaycan be the best ones to achieve creative break through. The times when we are most vulnerable are often the times we may be opening channels of innovation. "After all," says Akinola, "some of the most creative minds in history suffered, yet they were still able to create some of the most amazing masterpieces."

To learn more about the cutting-edge research being conducted at Columbia Business School, please visit www.gsb.columbia.edu.

About Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School is the only worldclass, Ivy League business school that delivers a learning experience where academic excellence meets with realtime exposure to the pulse of global business. Led by Dean Glenn Hubbard, the School's transformative curriculum bridges academic theory with unparalleled exposure to realworld business practice, equipping students with an entrepreneurial mindset that allows them to recognize, capture, and create opportunity in any business environment. The thought leadership of the School's faculty and staff, combined with the accomplishments of its distinguished alumni and position in the center of global business, means that the School's efforts have an immediate, measurable impact on the forces shaping business every day. To learn more about Columbia Business School's position at the very center of business, please visit www.gsb.columbia.edu.

SOURCE Columbia Business School

Related Links

http://www.gsb.columbia.edu


NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "Growing demand for real-time optimized guest experience management is expected to drive the growth of the smart hospitality market"

The smart hospitality market is expected to grow from USD 5.74 billion in 2016 to USD 18.11 billion by 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25.8%, due to the need of Internet of Things (IoT) technology for better hotel operation management, security, energy management in hotel, and hospitality services. The restraints of the smart hospitality market include high initial cost of deployment & capacity, integration complexities over legacy systems & network, and limited availability of technically skilled personnel.



"Guest service management system is estimated to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period"

The guest service management system is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growing demand for automated real-time optimized guest services and rise of demographic growth & hyper-urbanization are estimated to drive the adoption of smart hospitality solutions across various hotel types. In addition, room automation and control systems provide guests the convenience of controlling multiple functions in their room, such as temperature, drapes, lightning, and audio/video systems using automated interfaces. The solution helps hoteliers track all the data and interaction with a customer during their visit.



"Managed services segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period"

On the basis of services, the managed services segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Managed services support the implementation of smart hospitality solutions across hotels.



"Europe is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period"

With regards to the geographic analysis, Europe is expected to benefit from its technological advancements, large number of smart devices, strong tourism activities, high usage of big data analytics, and predictive & sensor analytics across the hospitality industry.



Europe is expected to lead the smart hospitality market, by region, between 2016 and 2021. The growth can be attributed to the global competition, increasing penetration of smart devices, connected machines, and increasing investment in smart cities.



In the process of determining and verifying the market size for several segments and subsegments gathered through secondary research, extensive primary interviews were conducted with key industry personnel. The break-up profile of primary discussion participants is given below:



- By Company: Tier-1 (32%), Tier-2 (39%), and Tier-3 (29%)

- By Designation: C-Level (72%), Manager Level (20%), and Others (8%)

- By Region: North America (29%), Europe (43%), Asia-Pacific (APAC) (18%), and Rest of World (RoW) (10%)



The various key smart hospitality vendors profiled in the report are as follows:

1. BuildingIQ (California, U.S.)

2. Cisco Systems, Inc. (San Jose, U.S.)

3. Honeywell International (New Jersey, U.S.)

4. Huawei Technologies (Shenzhen, China)

5. IBM Corporation (New York, U.S.)

6. Infor, Inc. (New York, U.S.)

7. Johnson Controls (Wisconsin, U.S.)

8. NEC Corporation (Tokyo, Japan)

9. Oracle Corporation (California, U.S.)

10. Schneider Electric (Rueil-Malmaison, France)

11. Siemens AG (Munich, Germany)

12. Winhotel Solutions (Balearic Islands, Spain)



Research Coverage

The global smart hospitality market has been segmented by software, service, hotel type, deployment model, and region. A detailed analysis of the regions has been done to provide insights into the potential future business opportunities in different regions. In addition, product portfolio analysis, value chain analysis, and strategic benchmarking are some of the other MarketsandMarkets analyses included in the report.



Reasons to Buy the Report

The report is expected to help the market leaders/new entrants in this market in the following ways:

1. This report segments the smart hospitality market comprehensively and provides the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall market and the subsegments, across different regions.

2. The report helps the stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

3. This report will help the stakeholders to better understand the competitors and gain more insights to better their position in the business. The competitive landscape section includes competitor ecosystem, new product developments, partnerships, and mergers & acquisitions.



Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04622895-summary/view-report.html



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



http://www.reportlinker.com





__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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The acquisition expands SoftServe's digital solutions offerings and consulting services along with software development capabilities. Founded in 2014, Coders Center specializes in enterprise content management systems (ECMS) and e-commerce platforms. A Sitecore gold implementation partner , the company also has established partnerships with Adobe and other industry leaders. This is the second ECMS relationship for SoftServe, which recently announced a new partnership with ADAM Software .

"Coders Center's management has done an exceptional job building a trusted business in digital marketing and commerce for the global enterprise market," said Brian Borack, chief operating officer, SoftServe, "Coders Center brings valuable experience in the implementation of enterprise content management systems, and this acquisition supports SoftServe's strategy to strengthen our platform and cross-vertical industry expertise."

Serving digital marketing agencies, startups, and enterprise organizations, Coders Center has built custom solutions for more than twenty clients in just three years, including Bossard Holding AG, General Electric Healthcare, International Personal Finance, Oriflame Sweden, Saint-Gobain, and NES Global. With the close of the acquisition, Tomasz Gibas, CEO, and Jakub Koba, CTO, Coders Center, will take on leadership roles within SoftServe's digital team and help support the transition for Coders Center employees and customers.

"We are thrilled to join SoftServe, a global leader in software development with a shared passion for building innovative digital solutions," said Gibas. "This acquisition will grant our customers and developers access to additional resources and a global network of more than 4,000 technology professionals, enabling us to offer even greater value to modern enterprises."

About SoftServe

With over 20 years of experience in digital software development and consulting, SoftServe (www.softserveinc.com) is a global leader in solving complex business problems, creating industry disrupting technology and accelerating growth and innovation while optimizing operational efficiency. From leading ISV to Fortune 1000 digital enterprises, SoftServe has transformed the way thousands of clients do business with the most innovative technologies and processes in Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT), DevOps, digital commerce, security, and experience design.

Contact:

Nataliya Diomova

US: +1-866-687-3588 x 1282

UK: +44-203-519-1216 x 1282

[email protected]

SOURCE SoftServe

Related Links

http://www.softserveinc.com


NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- StockTwits announced today it has completed an acquisition of SparkFin Inc., the realtime stock discovery platform which won top honors from attendees at the 2016 Stocktoberfest Fintech startup competition.

"StockTwits is the largest social platform for investors and traders, and we are growing rapidly as more people take investing into their own hands. Much like our launch of Moneybadger.com late last year, SparkFin makes it easier for newer investors to get started in markets and investing," said Ian Rosen, CEO of StockTwits, Inc. "The addition of SparkFin is an excellent way for us to further our mission of making investing easy, fun, and profitable."

SparkFin, launched in 2015, creates and maintains lists of stocks that are either editorially managed or based on market and fundamental data. The company was incubated by Social Leverage, and counts Math Ventures and Worldquant Ventures as investors.

SparkFin lists can also be created and voted on by users. The current most popular investing list on SparkFin is "Where Millennials Spend their Money" that caters to younger users and gives new investors investment ideas based on consumer habits.

"We have seen very strong growth since launching last year," said Jason Pang, CEO of SparkFin. "Would-be investors who want to use SparkFin lists to get a jumpstart picking a portfolio will have a wider community with which to interact at StockTwits, and experienced investors can generate new ideas with the data."

SparkFin, based in San Diego, California, will continue their operations and join the pre-existing StockTwits San Diego team.

About StockTwits

StockTwits, founded in 2008, is the largest social platform for investors and traders, host of events including the Stocktoberfest and StockTwits Future Forum Series, and publisher of Moneybadger.com. The StockTwits community consists of investors, traders, financial media, and entrepreneurs seeking to reimagine financial media and investing for the next generation.

SOURCE StockTwits, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir underscored the strength of Saudi-US relations, addressing continued and expanded areas of cooperation.

"The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have had a historic strategic partnership, if not alliance, since World War II; that relationship continues. We expect it to broaden and deepen and grow stronger. Our interests are aligned when it comes to the issues of the region," said Minister Al-Jubeir. "We have very, very strong people-to-people relationships with the U.S., and I expect that this will continue."

Minister Al-Jubeir said that Iran must be held accountable for its support of terrorism, violation of ballistic missile arrangements and for its interference in the affairs of the countries in the region. "Iran has been single-handedly the most important supporter of terrorism in the region. Iran has supported, created and supported Hezbollah. Iran has harbored terrorists," said the foreign minister. "Virtually every country in the world has been attacked by Al-Qaeda and Daesh (ISIS) except Iran. Why?"

On the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Minister Al-Jubeir stressed that the Arab Peace Initiative remains on the table. "Our hope is that there will be enough courage and enough political will on both sides to be able to move to settling this longest conflict in our region," he said.

In response to a question about the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), Minister Al-Jubeir noted the legislation has undercut the foundation of sovereign immunity, turning "the international order into the law of the jungle."

"Our hope is that wisdom will prevail and the Congress will do the right thing and make the adjustments," the foreign minister added. "The country that has the most to lose from dilution of sovereign immunities is the United States itself. And American officials know this. Because America has the largest footprint in the world, they operate all over the world. They're fighting wars all over the world. They provide weapons to countries all over the world. If that principle is eroded, then the US could be sued in virtually every country in the world."

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office
CINCINNATI, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TEMPOE, a leading provider of no credit required consumer leasing, announced today it has secured $150 million in senior secured credit from its financing partner. At the initial closing, the credit facility will include a total commitment of $112 million and will refinance TEMPOE's current credit facility. In March, the total commitment will be increased to $150 million. The agreement also includes a commitment to increase financing to $250 million at the lender's discretion.

"Capital is critical for any business, but it is particularly important for us to be able to grow our footprint among retailers, explore new markets and make strategic acquisitions," said David Davis, CEO of CNG Holdings, TEMPOE's parent company. "We believe this puts us in a great position for continued success as the number of underserved consumers grows."

The financing will allow TEMPOE to continue to grow both the number of retailers it serves and consumers who turn to the company for innovative lease products. TEMPOE recently issued its one-millionth lease, and has seen an average of 300-percent annual growth since it was founded in 2009.

The terms of the facility will also allow TEMPOE to make a significant investment in the online shopping space. TEMPOE provides consumers with an affordable alternative for possessing durable consumer goods such as furniture, appliances and electronics.

For more information about TEMPOE and the several payment options it provides retailers, visit TEMPOE.com.

Stephens Inc. acted as exclusive financial advisor to TEMPOE in this transaction.

About TEMPOE

TEMPOE, formerly WhyNotLeaseIt, is a leading provider of consumer leasing products that facilitates retail shopping. TEMPOE provides several flexible payment options with the opportunity of quick and economical ownership for consumers. TEMPOE was founded in 2009 and serves the furniture, home electronics, appliance, jewelry and automotive industries. For more information, visit TEMPOE.com.

SOURCE TEMPOE

Related Links

http://www.TEMPOE.com


BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, British Overseas Territory, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Central America Bottling Corporation ("CBC" or the "Company") today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for any and all of its outstanding 6.750% senior guaranteed notes due 2022 (the "Notes").

The Tender Offer is scheduled to expire at 8:00 a.m., New York City time, January 25, 2017, unless extended or earlier terminated (such time, as may be extended, the "Expiration Time"). Holders who validly tender the Notes prior to the Expiration Time will be eligible to receive $1,036.55 for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the Settlement Date (as defined below).

Tendered Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Time. Subject to certain market and other conditions, including the Financing Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), the Company expects to accept for purchase the business day following the Expiration Time all of the Notes (the date of such acceptance, the "Acceptance Date"). Settlement of the Tender Offer is expected to occur within three business days following the Acceptance Date (the "Settlement Date").

The Company intends to redeem any Notes outstanding following the consummation of the Tender Offer that are not purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer.

The Tender Offer is being made in connection with a concurrent offering of senior notes (the "New Notes") by the Company (the "New Offering"). The New Offering will be exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Tendering Holders who wish to tender their Notes for cash and also subscribe for the New Notes should quote an allocation identifier code ("Allocation Identifier Code") obtained by contacting the Dealer Managers, in their ATOP, Electronic Acceptance Instruction (each term as defined in the Offer to Purchase) or Letter of Transmittal. The Company will review tender instructions received on or prior to the Expiration Time and may give priority to those investors tendering with Allocation Identifier Codes in connection with the allocation of New Notes. However, no assurances can be given that any Holder that tenders Notes will be given an allocation of New Notes at the levels it may subscribe for, or at all.

The Tender Offer is not conditioned upon the tender of any minimum principal amount of Notes. The Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the Tender Offer at any time.

The complete terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are described in the Offer to Purchase dated as of January 17, 2017, the related Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, copies of which may be obtained from Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the tender and information agent for the Tender Offer, at http://www.gbsc-usa.com/CBC/ or by telephone at (212) 430-3774 (collect) or at (866) 924-2200 (toll-free).

The Company has retained Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC to serve as the dealer managers for the Tender Offer. Questions regarding the tender offer may be directed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at Attn: Liability Management Group, (800) 558-3745 (toll-free), (212) 723-6106 (collect), [email protected], and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at Attn: Latin America Debt Capital Markets, (866) 846-2874 (toll-free), (212) 834-7279 (collect).

None of the Company, the dealer managers or the tender and information agent make any recommendations as to whether holders should tender their Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer, and no one has been authorized by any of them to make such recommendations. Holders must make their own decisions as to whether to tender their Notes, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell the Notes, the New Notes or any other securities, nor shall there be any purchase of our Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or purchase would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The tender offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated as of January 17, 2017, the related Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, which set forth the complete terms of the Tender Offer. Any offers of the New Notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum.

The ISIN and CUSIP for the Notes are as follows:

Rule 144A: ISIN No. US15238XAA72; CUSIP No. 15238XAA7

Regulation S: ISIN No. USG20011AA39; CUSIP No. G20011AA3

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, including, without limitation, changes in our business or acquisition strategy or planned capital expenditures, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About The Central America Bottling Corporation

The Central American Bottling Corporation produces, distributes and markets beverage products that include brands owned by PepsiCo and Ambev, and its proprietary brands, including its wellness brand LivSmart.

SOURCE The Central America Bottling Corporation
In 2015, the prestigious Lawdragon , which had previously anointed Tom "Dean of the Chicago Trial Bar," announced that, since its inception in 2005, Tom was one of only 50 lawyers nationwide who had been selected every year for its 500 Leading Lawyers in America, naming him to its "Legends of the Bar" list, joining a select group that includes Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy.

For over 25 years, Tom has been a fellow of: The American College of Trial Lawyers (top 1% of all trial lawyers in U.S.); The International Academy of Trial Lawyers (top 500 trial lawyers worldwide); and The Inner Circle of Advocates (top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in U.S.).

He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1987 and, since 2007, Tom has been voted by his peers to be in the top five of all lawyers in Illinois by the "Leading Lawyers Network."

Tom has served as President of both the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Chicago Bar Association. He has long espoused the important role of continuing legal education. He is a nationally recognized and sought after lecturer on trial techniques and advocacy skills and has authored more than 45 continuing legal education articles in the field of civil litigation.

Tom is the current Co-Chairman of the Board of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. He also serves as a member of the boards of Big Shoulders, Archdiocese of Chicago, the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago and the Center for Disability & Elder Law. He is a past member of the Board of Trustees of IIT, Notre Dame Law School, St. Ignatius College Prep, and Mundelein Seminary.

In 2016, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association awarded Tom its highest honor, the Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award. Also in 2016, Tom received the Chicago Bar Association's prestigious Justice John Paul Stevens Award.

While Tom served as president of the Chicago Bar Association, he expressed a desire to impact the lives of Chicago's underprivileged children who, he believed, would greatly benefit from mentoring. The Thomas A. Demetrio Award of Excellence was thus created recognizing the efforts of exceptional tutor/mentoring programs throughout Chicago. With Tom, the CBA and Chicago Bar Foundation, in 1995, created the Lend-A-Hand program, which, in addition to the annual Demetrio Award, has granted over $1.6 million to exceptional mentoring programs for underprivileged youths in the Chicago area.

CONTACT: Helen Lucaitis, 312-550-2077, [email protected]

SOURCE Corboy & Demetrio
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Philadelphia Pediatric Medical Device Consortium (PPDC) has announced seed grants to three companies developing medical devices for children. The Consortium chose those companies from eight finalists in a competition to receive seed grants of $50,000 each.

The devices under development are a powered orthotic arm brace that amplifies weak nerve signals, a hand-operated rapid blood delivery system for emergency situations and a device that gradually corrects deformed ears in babies.

Funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and based at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the PPDC provides know-how and seed funding to help innovators translate promising ideas into commercial medical devices for use in children. The PPDC is a collaboration among CHOP, Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. New this year, the PPDC partnered with the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma to fund a device that can be used during the so-called "golden hour of care" immediately following a traumatic injury.

The new round of awards is the third by the PPDC, following seed grants announced in February 2015 and January 2016.

"We are once again delighted to support promising, innovative medical devices geared to the unmet clinical needs of children," said engineer Matthew R. Maltese, PhD, of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Consortium's executive director and principal investigator. He added that extra support dedicated to pediatric trauma allowed the PPDC to support a third award in this round of grants.

Myomo, Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., is developing a powered orthotic device to assist with motion and function in children with neuromuscular disorders. The MyoPro Motion-K device is a child-sized version of the company's MyoPro device, a custom-fabricated brace that assists patients with a weak or deformed arm in performing activities of daily living. The device amplifies weak muscle signals to help patients move and use their arms.

A device designed by EarGear, LLC, of Philadelphia, aims to correct ear deformities in infants. The EarGear System uses silicon conformers placed along the ear to reshape and correct the deformity over time. It would avoid the need for costly, labor-intensive and painful surgical procedures.

The third seed grant will go to 410 Medical, Inc. of Durham, N.C., for the Life Flow device, a hand-powered infuser used to quickly deliver fluids to critically ill patients. A newer version of the Life Flow is in development for rapid delivery of blood products in patients with severe hemorrhage. The grant will enable the company to conduct research supporting a second FDA application for blood delivery, which will have important applications for the care of injured children.

The PPDC is currently reviewing proposals for its fourth round of funding opportunities, and will announce the award recipients later this year. Applications are accepted from throughout the U.S. and from foreign companies. The Consortium also accepts applications year-round for in-kind services and expert advice.

For more information, visit www.phillypediatricmeddevice.org

About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 535-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu.

Contact: John Ascenzi

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Phone: (267) 426-6055

[email protected]

SOURCE The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Related Links

http://www.chop.edu


WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- TMM, Inc. (http://www.tmmi.us) (OTC PNK: TMMI) ("TMMI" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the expansion of its Board of Directors from three to five and its new board members. The two new seats have been filled by Paul B. Healy and Pat Cory Arcadipane, both successful industry professionals with deep expertise in media, finance, business and entrepreneurship.

Paul B. Healy is an accomplished, established executive with entrepreneurial and financial skills, experienced in the media/communications and financial services arenas, having applied his skills in critically demanding business situations.

Mr. Healy is currently a partner in Gulfstream Limited, an independent New York and London based international risk management solutions and advisory services firm, serving private organizations in mergers and acquisitions and private equity.

In addition to his extensive background in financial services, beginning at Chase Manhattan Bank as Vice President and Client Executive, Global Media and Telecommunications Group, Mr. Healy served as the President and CEO of Connexity, LLC, a leading supply chain analytics database/research company, sold to Bloomberg, LLC in 2010.

Mr. Healy served for a decade as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations with Hollinger International, Inc., at the time a leading publically traded international newspaper publisher with extensive media assets. These assets included the Telegraph in the UK, the Chicago Sun-Times, and more than 100 community papers in the Chicago area, and the Jerusalem Post among others. Mr. Healy led investor relations and all bank financing, investment banking relationships. He managed $7 billion in various bank/bond/equity and derivative facilities. Mr. Healy was the primary spokesman at various Equity and Bond conferences as well as to the media while overseeing the global budgeting process across all divisions and final corporate roll-up to assure debt and derivative compliance covenants during the growth of the company from a $100 million EBITDA to $450 Million successfully attracting and maintaining a blue-chip, value-oriented shareholder base.

Pat Cory Arcadipane is a Certified Public Accountant and seasoned business executive with extensive development and finance experience ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to Fortune 100 companies.

Mr. Arcadipane has been responsible for many corporate functions including mergers and acquisitions; business re-engineering, R&D partnerships and joint ventures; manufacturing and corporate development; corporate finance and marketing. During his career he has been the catalyst for generating over $500 million in revenue and $200 million in cost savings.

Mr. Arcadipane's entrepreneurial achievements include inventing a new, patented milk product for which he founded Milk-Made, Inc. and created the brand "Cool Cow". He launched the product in over 3,000 outlets, selling nearly every major supermarket chain in the New York Metro area. He also founded and served as CEO/CFO of Electronique, a manufacturer and distributor of mechanical and electrical components.

Mr. Arcadipane's experience involves high profile companies serving as Director of New Business Development for the Advertising Solutions Group of Harris Corp.; the Vice President of Strategic Marketing Planning for the US Consumer Banking Group at Citicorp; and Director and Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis at RCA Records and Paramount Pictures respectively. While at Citicorp, Mr. Arcadipane created the first global Intranet Service Provider with automatic sign-on, browser, email and Boolean search features.

Mr. Arcadipane currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Millisecond Technologies Corp., where he developed and commercialized a new pasteurization technology that produces the first fresh milk product with a long shelf life that retains all of the nutrition and taste, currently preparing for market.

"TMMI shareholders are truly fortunate that these two powerful leaders have joined the Board of Directors," said TMMI President, Gerard V. Cavanaugh. "They both bring decades of innovative leadership, practical vision and deep relationships that align perfectly with TMMI's mission to become the essential infrastructure technology for video applications throughout the world."

"The Company will now escalate the marketing effort of the Company's new patent pending technology from the development stage to the rapidly expanding and diverse video marketplace."

ON BEHALF OF THE TMMI BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TMM, INC.:

GERARD V. CAVANAUGH

CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT

For more information, please visit the Company's Website at http://www.tmmi.us.

About TMM, Inc.

TMM, Inc. (OTC PNK: TMMI) is a technology company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, specializing in digital video compression, video scaling and image management. Founded in 1990, the company is dedicated to improving bandwidth utilization and video image quality. TMMI develops digital video compression and scaling technologies that provide end-to-end workflow and distribution solutions for digital cinema; streaming media; cable TV; sports; mobile; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; defense; security; medical imaging; space exploration; video game applications; training and distance learning.

Safe Harbor Statement:

The information in this release contains forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the Company's capital needs, business strategy and expectations. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, which may be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "will," "expect," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "forecast," "project," or "continue," the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Readers should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events or results. Any or all of the Company's forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. In addition, new factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Company to predict all factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward- looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE TMM, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.tmmi.us


LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel Nurse across America (TNAA), a healthcare staffing agency that places travel nurses on assignments in all 50 states has announced the acquisition of industry competitor Trinity Healthcare Staffing Group. This acquisition also includes Trinity's facility-focused brand Simpli Fi Managed Services, which provides contingent healthcare workforce service to hospitals across the country.

"It's our mission to raise the bar on how the entire travel nursing industry services both nurses and client facilities," said TNAA CEO Gene Scott. "The cultures of both companies align so well with each other, it's clear that our combined efforts will deliver this increased value. We are excited to see what's in store for our future as we join forces and become a stronger company."

Both TNAA and Trinity have proven to be two of the fastest-growing travel nurse staffing agencies in the industry. The two companies joining forces will allow TNAA the ability to supply travel nurses with a wider variety of travel assignments and, in turn, provide client facilities with a larger pool of highly qualified travel nurses. "By combining two companies that have already established formidable teams and resources, we can improve the services we provide to our existing travelers and clients, and become a better option for those who are seeking a new agency partner," added Trinity Founder and CEO Matt Floyd.

According to a 2015 independent survey of healthcare staffing agencies conducted by Staffing Industry Analysts, Travel Nurse across America was named number 11 of the largest U.S. travel nurse staffing firms; Trinity was listed as number 17. This acquisition will catapult TNAA to the top 5 of the largest travel nurse staffing firms.

About Travel Nurse across America

Travel Nurse across America places travel nurse professionals on multi-week assignments in healthcare facilities in all 50 states. TNAA was awarded the HCSS Certification with Distinction by The Joint Commission and is a founding member of the National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations (NATHO). TNAA has also been recognized by the local business community with the following honors: Arkansas Business of the Year Awards Finalist, 2016, Arkansas' Best Places to Work, 2016, Arkansas' Best Places to Work, 2015, Arkansas' Best Places to Work, 2014, and Arkansas Business of the Year Award Winner, 2014. For more information, visit www.nurse.tv.

About Trinity Healthcare Staffing Group

Trinity Healthcare Staffing Group was founded in 1999 by travel nurse Matt Floyd who wanted to connect the best professional traveling nurses with an agency focused on reliability and honesty, things too often missing in an industry known for high turnover and fluctuating standards. Trinity's dedicated nurses, therapists, physicians and other healthcare professionals provide full-service, reliable healthcare staffing in all 50 states, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In addition, Trinity provides contingent workforce management services to hospital clients through Simpli Fi Managed Services. Trinity has been listed on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies six times.

Media Contact:

Scott Knox, VP of Marketing

Phone: 800.240.2526, Ext. 193

Email: [email protected]

Related Files

TNAA - For Immediate Release.pdf

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com/.

SOURCE Travel Nurse across America

Related Links

https://www.nurse.tv


culver's

A Midwestern burger chain was just named one of Americans' most loved restaurants.

Culver's ranks as the country's second-favorite burger chain, losing only to the West Coast icon In-N-Out, according to Restaurant Business' annual list of America's Favorite Chains.

The list uses data from Technomic to find the chains with the best reputations when it comes to areas including service, ambience, convenience, quality, and value.

With roughly 600 restaurants in 24 states, Culver's is closer in size to regional classics like In-N-Out than burger giants like McDonald's. For comparison, McDonald's has roughly 14,000 locations in the US.

The first Culver's opened in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin  the hometown of the Culver family.

Butcher-quality beef. Real Wisconsin cheese. That's our kind of combination. A photo posted by Culver's (@culvers) on Jan 11, 2017 at 8:42am PST on Jan 11, 2017 at 8:42am PST

The chain was founded by Craig and Lea Culver along with Craig's parents, George and Ruth.

Since 1984, Culver's has been known for its Butterburgers and frozen custard.

Culver's

The Butterburger distinguishes itself from the fast-food competition with its buns, which are buttered and then toasted. The butter comes from a small, family-owned creamery located in Wisconsin.

Every Culver's restaurant slow-churns frozen custard in the store. Frozen custard uses egg yolks, making it denser and creamier than the typical scoop of ice cream.

Forget the shovel. You'll need a blue spoon to dig your way out of this Andes Mint Avalanche. Looks great, Holly I.! A photo posted by Culver's (@culvers) on Dec 10, 2016 at 9:12am PST on Dec 10, 2016 at 9:12am PST

"The definition of frozen custard is no laughing matter," Culver's website says. "By law (that's right, there is legislation about custard!) it must contain a certain amount of egg and butterfat to give it the characteristic smooth, creamy flavor."

That taste comes with some extra calories  two scoops of vanilla frozen custard clocks in at 700 calories, compared with the McDonald's vanilla cone's 200 calories.

Story continues

Culver's

Culver's also serves up numerous variations on its frozen custard you can't find at any other fast-food chain.

The chain serves old-fashioned malts, which are thicker, creamier, and even sweeter than the traditional milkshake.

Culver's

Culver's also has a signature root beer, which can be paired with frozen custard to make a root-beer float.

And instead of Dairy Queen's Blizzards, customers can request toppings such as M&Ms, cookie dough, and peanut butter in concrete mixers.

Another Culver's classic are the cheese curds. The small balls of fried cheesy goodness use white Wisconsin cheddar. In general, many of Culver's menu items source ingredients from local farmers in Wisconsin.

While Culver's is still a regional chain, the company is expanding. The chain crossed the 600-restaurant mark in late 2016 as it opened its first locations in North Carolina and Georgia.

Culver's is just one of a wave of "better burger" chains like Habit Burger and Shake Shack that have become increasingly popular in recent years.

Culver's

"A number of these players have raised the bar on what people think is a good burger, and we like competition because it makes us stronger," CEO Phil Keiser told QSR Magazine in 2015. "Our approach is, 'Welcome to the neighborhood. Game on.'"

NOW WATCH: Danny Meyer explains the biggest mistake he's made while starting burger chain Shake Shack





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VANCOUVER, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX, NYSE-MKT: TMQ) ("Trilogy Metals" or the "Company") announces that the management team will be attending the following investor and mining conferences in January. Come meet the management team and learn more about our high-grade copper, zinc and precious metals projects located in one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world  Alaska.

Global Chinese Financial Forum  January 21, 2017

GCFF Vancouver 2017 will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton Vancouver Airport, Richmond, British Columbia on January 21, 2017. The conference will be focused on the recovering resource sector and offer networking opportunities with company executives. Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President and Chief Executive Officer will be presenting.

Vancouver Resource Investment Conference  January 22-23, 2017

The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre West on January 22 and 23, 2017. VRIC Cambridge House conference is the world's largest resource investment conference dedicated to resource exploration. Our CEO will be presenting on Sunday, January 22, 2017, at 11:30am Pacific Time. Rick and members of the management team will be at Booth 517.

Association for Mineral Exploration BC Roundup Conference  January 23-26, 2017

AME Roundup 2017 will be held under the sails at Canada Place on January 23 to 26, 2017. Roundup is the world's premier technical mineral exploration conference. Our CEO will be presenting at the BC/Yukon/Alaska Technical Session on Thursday, January 26, 2017, from 9:00am to 12:00pm Pacific Time. Rick will focus on how our Company has advanced our projects in northern Alaska by building strong partnerships with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. (NANA), the local native corporation, and with the State of Alaska through the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). Trilogy Metals will also be participating in the Roundup Core Shack on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and on Thursday, January 26, 2017, from 9:00am to 2:30pm. Come visit our exploration team at Booth 921 and view drill core from the 2016 drill program at the polymetallic VMS Arctic deposit, as well as drill core from the carbonate-hosted copper replacement Bornite deposit.

About Trilogy Metals

Trilogy Metals Inc., formerly NovaCopper Inc. is a metals exploration company focused on exploring and developing the Ambler mining district located in northwestern Alaska. It is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic VMS deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high-grade copper mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate-hosted copper replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within the Company's land package that spans approximately 143,000 hectares. The Company has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., a Regional Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a premier North American copper producer.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including but not limited to anticipated activities at the UKMP, and achieving a pre-feasibility level of study at some point in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the uncertainties involving the need for additional financing to explore and develop properties and availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the development and operation of properties and infrastructure; the need to obtain permits and governmental approvals; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, metal grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2015 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other NovaCopper reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc.

Related Links

www.novacopper.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The riding-share apps, led by Uber and Lyft, have their sights set on a $650 billion annual logistics and mobility market and could experience 10x revenue growth in the next decade and potentially disrupt several industries involved in human mobility, according to a new SharesPost research report on riding-sharing companies.

SharesPost's 68-page research report is the most comprehensive to date on the ride-sharing economy and includes a survey of 5,500 mobile phone users about their experiences using ride-sharing apps. The report also includes a firsthand account from SharesPost's Head of Research, Rohit Kulkarni, who got behind the wheel to learn firsthand about both the driver and consumer experience.

"Few companies in the Private Tech Growth Asset class have the growth potential of Uber and Lyft," said SharesPost Founder and CEO Greg Brogger. "Despite their enormous valuations and success in redefining personal transportation globally, there has been little real investment analysis of the opportunities and risks facing the players in this category." SharesPost's Research Group is the first to begin issuing institutional quality research reports on leading private growth companies.

Among the report's highlights:

Growth in ride-share usage continues to be explosive. Ride-sharing penetration has doubled in the past year and is likely to keep growing rapidly. Two-thirds of American smartphone users have still not used ride-sharing apps. Uber, the clear market leader with 76% market share, stands to benefit most. (See page 53)

Ride-sharing penetration has doubled in the past year and is likely to keep growing rapidly. Two-thirds of American smartphone users have still not used ride-sharing apps. Uber, the clear market leader with 76% market share, stands to benefit most. (See page 53) Potential IPO and M&A valuations of Uber. The report includes valuation modeling of major ride-sharing firms based on SharesPost's proprietary waterfall and cap table models. For Uber, the report includes price per share valuations by share class. The research also presents an investment thesis and a risk assessment, as well as an analysis of the firms' path to profitability. Uber has entered another "dramatic growth phase," the report noted. ( See Page 57)

The report includes valuation modeling of major ride-sharing firms based on SharesPost's proprietary waterfall and cap table models. For Uber, the report includes price per share valuations by share class. The research also presents an investment thesis and a risk assessment, as well as an analysis of the firms' path to profitability. Uber has entered another "dramatic growth phase," the report noted. ( 57) Ride-sharing may result in as much as a 10% drop in auto purchases. The increase in ride-sharing apps could negatively impact automakers, delivery/logistics providers and public transportation systems. The report's proprietary survey reveals that ride-sharing consumers use these apps almost as frequently as public transit is used by non-ride-sharing consumers. (See page 18)

Key Findings From Ride-Sharing Survey

What is your favorite thing about Uber?

45% say convenience, 25% say it's cheaper than a taxi. (See page 25)

Under what circumstances do you use Uber most often?

43% say going to or from a party; 22% say going to airport. (See page 25)

Would you sit in a ride-sharing car if it were a driverless car?

61% of consumers who haven't used ride-sharing think that autonomous cars would become safe and reliable in the next 10 years. And, more than 10% of them are extremely likely to use ride-sharing if it were a driverless car. (See page 18)

The riding-sharing report is the latest from SharesPost's Research Group, which has published the following reports available at its website:

About SharesPost, Inc.

SharesPost helped launch the private market in 2009 and continues to lead and innovate in the space. Based in Silicon Valley, the SharesPost family of companies includes an SEC-registered broker-dealer, investment advisor and Alternative Trading System. SharesPost has also built the largest and most active platform for data, analysis and transactions. With more than $2 billion in closed transactions for more than 150 leading technology companies, SharesPost provides shareholders and buyers with the expertise and tools they need to transact in the private market with confidence. For more information, please visit www.sharespost.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The matters described herein contain forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the prospects of Uber, Lyft and the ride-sharing industry generally, the prospects of Uber and Lyft in an IPO or M&A exit, and the impact of ride-sharing on auto sales. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond SharesPost's control. These factors include, but are not limited to, factors detailed in the research report. We undertake no obligation to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE SharesPost, Inc.

Related Links

http://sharespost.com


RESTON, Va., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a global science and technology company, was awarded a prime contract by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office  Simulation, Training and Instrumentation. The single-award cost-plus fixed-fee indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity delivery order has a one-year period of performance and a total contract value of approximately $22 million. The delivery order was awarded under the Synthetic Environment Core (SE Core) Common Virtual Environment Management (CVEM) contract. Work will be performed primarily in Orlando, Fla.

The U.S. Army's SE Core CVEM program provides simulations with the ability to fully integrate and interoperate within live, virtual, constructive and gaming training domains to ensure the "Fair Fight". Under the delivery order, Leidos will continue to provide comprehensive, consistent, and seamless terrain data and battlefield equipment representations to support effective and realistic training environments for a broad range of simulation systems.

"We're excited to continue to provide a full range of innovative and flexible simulation technology using our extensive expertise in system engineering, software signal and image processing, and custom system integration," said Leidos Advanced Solutions Group President, Mike Chagnon. "We are dedicated to providing simulation technology that enables warfighters to train for ever-changing missions in global environments."

About Leidos

Leidos is a global science and technology solutions leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 33,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported pro forma annual revenues of approximately $10 billion for the fiscal year ended Jan. 1, 2016 after giving effect to the recently completed combination of Leidos with Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Solutions business (IS&GS). For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 1, 2016, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

SOURCE Leidos

Related Links

http://www.leidos.com


WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

A DANE DEAL

Profile America  Wednesday, January 18th. This week in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed a treaty approved the preceding September providing for the purchase of some delightful Caribbean real estate just east of Puerto Rico. For the sum of $25 million, the U.S. took possession on March 31 of the Danish West Indies. Renamed the U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, Saint John and Saint Croix were administered by the Navy until 1932. By the following year, the islands' residents were extended U.S. citizenship. Previously, they were deemed U.S. nationals--a lesser status. By 1970, the islanders were electing their own governor. In 1917, the population on the islands was around 26,000. Today, the population, found mostly on the three main islands, is over 106,000. Profile America is in its 20th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:

Treaty/accessed 11/15/2016: http://www.dkconsulateusvi.com/transfer/transfer.html

Details of negotiations/accessed 11/15/2016: https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/wwi/107293.htm

Virgin Islands history, sale and 1917 population/accessed 11/15/2016: http://www.virgin-islands-history.dk/eng/vi_hist.asp

Virgin Islands population: https://www.census.gov/schools/facts/u.s.%20virgin%20islands

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotion of the U.S. Census Bureau. Statistics and accounts drawn from cited non-Census sources are employed for illustrative or narrative purposes, and are not attested to by the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Audio" in the "Library" pull-down menu).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

Related Links

http://www.census.gov


SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Utah's economic expansion is expected to continue in 2017, according to the latest Economic Report to the Governor.

The report, released today and presented to Gov. Gary Herbert at the Salt Lake Chamber's annual Utah Economic Review, documents Utah's strong economic performance in 2016 and forecasts another favorable year for Utah.

"Utah's economic performance was among the strongest in the nation in 2016. Our state added jobs at more than twice the pace of the nation, and our unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in more than eight years," said Juliette Tennert, director of economic and public policy research at the David Eccles School of Business' Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the co-chair of the Utah Economic Council, which prepared the report. "We expect that growth will moderate in 2017, but Utah's economy will continue to be a top performer among states."

Highlights from the report:

Employment  Utah added an estimated 49,500 jobs in 2016. Its 3.6 percent employment growth was more than double the national rate of 1.7 percent. All major sectors posted job growth.

 Utah added an estimated 49,500 jobs in 2016. Its 3.6 percent employment growth was more than double the national rate of 1.7 percent. All major sectors posted job growth. Population  Utah's population surpassed the 3 million mark in 2016. Net in-migration of just over 24,000 was the most in 10 years and contributed to 40 percent of the state's total population growth.

 population surpassed the 3 million mark in 2016. Net in-migration of just over 24,000 was the most in 10 years and contributed to 40 percent of the state's total population growth. Construction  The construction sector posted the highest job growth in 2016, 6.8 percent, fueled by both robust residential and commercial activity. The value of commercial construction reached a record $2.5 billion in 2016.

 The construction sector posted the highest job growth in 2016, 6.8 percent, fueled by both robust residential and commercial activity. The value of commercial construction reached a record in 2016. Leisure and hospitality  The leisure and hospitality sector posted 6.1 percent job growth in 2016, fueled by low unemployment and rising wages for Utahns, along with growth in travel and tourism activity; Utah's ski resorts and national parks hosted a record number of visitors in 2016.

The Utah economy is not without headwinds in 2017. Potential changes in federal trade policies, geopolitical instability, normalization of monetary policy and supply of workers will continue to create uncertainty and reason for caution. In addition, education warning signs and persistent air-quality challenges concern economists.

"There are things we can and cannot control that impact the economy," said Natalie Gochnour, associate dean of the David Eccles School of Business and member of the Utah Economic Council. "Many of our greatest risks come from the outside  Federal Reserve policies, global economic conditions, energy prices and geopolitics. Education and air quality have been identified by the Utah Economic Council as two areas where we can make a difference in Utah's future economic performance."

Demographic advantages, an appealing business climate and increasing labor-force participation will continue to be an advantage for the Utah economy in 2017. Potential expansionary federal fiscal policy, including tax cuts and infrastructure spending, also present an upside risk. All going well, Utah's economy will once again be one of the top-performing economies in the nation in the coming year.

The data and summary documents can be found here.

About the Economic Report to the Governor

The Economic Report is a collaborative endeavor between the David Eccles School of Business, Governor's Office of Management and Budget and the Utah Economic Council. In addition to the Eccles School and Governor's Office, major contributors include the Utah Department of Workforce Services, Utah State Tax Commission, Utah State Office of Education, Utah System of Higher Education, Utah Geological Survey, Economic Development Corporation of Utah, Utah Foundation, Utah Farm Bureau, Utah Nonprofits Association, CBRE, World Trade Center Utah and Zions Bank. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute compiles the report.

Utah Informed

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, in partnership with the Salt Lake Chamber, released the latest edition of Utah Informed. It contains what editors of the book call a "visual intellection." Each page includes a compelling table, chart, idea or schematic presented in a way that will help readers carefully consider a topic. Its purpose is to stimulate discussion, clarify a fact and, ultimately, help people make informed decisions.

About the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah enhances Utah's economy by placing data-driven research into the hands of decision makers. Housed within the David Eccles School of Business, its mission is to develop and share economic, demographic and public policy data and research that help community leaders make informed decisions. Located at the newly restored Thomas S. Monson Center on South Temple Street, the Gardner Policy Institute serves as a vital gathering place and center for independent economic, demographic and public policy thought leadership. Learn more at gardner.utah.edu or by calling 801-587-3717.

About the David Eccles School of Business

Founded in 1917 and educating more than 6,000 students annually, the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business offers eight undergraduate majors, four MBAs, five other graduate programs, a Ph.D. in seven areas and executive education curricula. The Eccles School is also home to seven institutes and centers that deliver academic research and support an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation. The University of Utah is consistently one of the top schools in the nation for startup businesses based on university research. Applied learning is central to the Eccles experience. For more information, visit Eccles.Utah.edu or call 801-581-7676.

Contacts: Nick Thiriot, communications specialist, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, 801-587-3717, [email protected]

Matt Lusty, marketing and communications manager, Salt Lake Chamber, 801-783-8750, [email protected]

SOURCE David Eccles School of Business

Related Links

http://gardner.utah.edu


MUNDELEIN, Ill., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Utopia Global, Inc., a leading software and professional services data company and long-time SAP partner, announced today the addition of Richard Bianco to its executive leadership team. As Senior Vice President of Delivery, Rich will have responsibility for guiding Utopia's extensive staff of technical professionals who implement all the company's software and consulting solutions for data strategy, governance, migrations and data quality. He will also direct Utopia's project management organization.

With over 30 years of global business and technology leadership roles, Rich has led large sales and delivery teams in addition to setting up and managing international IT services organizations. Most recently he served as Vice President of Sales and Delivery for HP with a focus in their consumer products, retail and manufacturing industries. Prior to that, he was Chief Information Officer at Safeway Stores, and before that Rich was a Partner at IBM Global Services where he managed the SAP practice connected to multiple industries.

"We are extremely excited about having Rich Bianco as part of the Utopia leadership team", said Narinder Singh, Utopia COO. "His combination of technical and business acumen will be a tremendous asset to our growing business and we look forward to having Rich optimize and lead the direction of our professional services delivery and project management capabilities. We are expanding our customer reach globally and having such a leader to ensure efficient and high quality project implementation is critical to our success."

Rich holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University's Graduate School of Management.

About Utopia

Utopia is a global software, consulting, and professional services company that specializes in data strategy, governance, migration and quality. Our "build, fix, and sustain" approach to data management, along with best-in-class software, empowers our customers to get their data right, and keep it right so critical business decisions are made based on accurate, trustworthy information. Utopia is SAP's partner for Master Data Governance (MDG) and our MDG- Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) and MDG- Retail & Fashion Management (RFM) software products are SAP solution extensions sold by their global sales force. Visit www.utopiainc.com.

SOURCE Utopia Global, Inc.

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MALIBU, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Product Events, matchmakers for products and press, present a list of gift guide suggestions for Valentine's Day and other product roundup stories.

Adventures of Camellia N. - Kid's book that teaches to love the wildlife and natural resources.

Consumer Products Events

Anam Caras  Gaelic "guardian spirit" fantasy animal letters.

The Artisan Group - Community of high-end small batch products: Bare Sandal's Mira Barefoot Sandals, Brazed Brand's Custom Double Map Charm Necklace, Boy Cherie's Mixed Metal Heart Necklace, Aunt Kitty's Design's Leather Cord Multi-Strand Bracelet, Clever Kim's Curio's Sterling Silver Anatomical Heart Necklace, Plum & Posey's "If I Lose You I Am Lost" French Wax Seal Necklace , House of Matriarch's Coco Blanc Vegan Perfume , Isidora Design's Heart Shaped Zippered Pouch , Jenna Scifres Designs' "I Pick You" Guitar Pick Keychain , Jewels For Hope's Swarovski Pearl Charity Heart , Kayla Michelle, LLC's Aqua Striped Jasper Essential Oil Bracelet , Creations by Kristel's Gold Blue Labradorite and Rainbow Moonstone Necklace , Nature With You's Men's Tree of Life Necklace , Dune Jewelry, The Original Beach Sand Jewelry Co. Marina Necklace , Peripeti Home Travel Tins , Revival Body Care's Grapefruit + Mint Natural Body Scrub , Serene Body Essentials' All-Natural Beard Balm, Soap Cauldron's Dark Chocolate & Mint Body, Butter, The Soapy Chef's Peppermint Foot Scrub, Soul Paper, Tara Reynolds Design, Rose Post Earrings , Yellow Heart Art - Motivational Self Standing Decor Print

Beau Brummel - This small-batch line has been called the "craft beer of men's skin care."

Deborah Lindquist  a line of recycled cashmere accessories.

Fairytale Brownies Decadent romance-themed brownie gifts are crafted from all-natural whole food ingredients.

Gavee Gold The first organically-extracted metal-free purified 24K liquid gold skincare line.

J. Lohr  a lush and alluring wine from the fabled Paso Robles.

Personalogy social icebreaker card game

Salts Alive Bath & Body  is a bathing line infused with organically-extracted vital living minerals.

Thinium Technologies The skinniest of cell phone chargers.

Consumer Product Events, a sister company of Brown + Dutch Public Relations, Inc. established in 1996, connects consumer packaged goods with the press who are looking to report about them. CPE is the brainchild of Alyson Dutch, one of the nation's top consumer product PR mavens, author of the PR Handbook for Entrepreneurs and representative for the Home Shopping Network's, "American Dreams."

Media Contact

Mariel Enochs, [email protected]

310.317.1543

SOURCE Consumer Product Events
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WGU Texas is offering added incentives to help make those resolutions to earn a bachelor's or master's degree a reality. Students who apply to WGU Texas by March 31, 2017 are eligible to apply for the New Kind of You Scholarship, which provides up to $2,000 per student and taps into $500,000 in scholarships offered through Western Governors University, parent university of WGU Texas.

You can learn more about WGU Texas' New Kind of You Scholarship at texas.wgu.edu/newyou and by following @WGUTexas on social media.

"When you decide to return to college, funding your education is a large part of the equation, and the 'New Kind of You Scholarship' provides a way to help ease the financial burden," said WGU Texas Chancellor Veronica Vargas Stidvent. "For prospective students, it's also important to choose the right program and university, one that provides a high level of faculty support, guidance, individualized instruction and opportunities to interact with other students. At WGU Texas, online doesn't mean alone."

WGU Texas offers these tips to help busy adults choose the right online university to stay on track with their goals.

Know your learning style. Learning in an online environment is similar to what you would expect in a more traditional brick and mortar environment. You will study, write papers, complete projects and take tests. Online, when and where you study and interactions with faculty and other students can be quite different. Earning your degree takes self-discipline with a strong commitment to earn a degree. You'll need to set aside sufficient time and effort to realize your goals. When choosing a school, one that offers a competency-based program allows you to study and learn at your own pace, apply what you already know and advance when you demonstrate mastery of the subject matter.

Learning in an online environment is similar to what you would expect in a more traditional brick and mortar environment. You will study, write papers, complete projects and take tests. Online, when and where you study and interactions with faculty and other students can be quite different. Earning your degree takes self-discipline with a strong commitment to earn a degree. You'll need to set aside sufficient time and effort to realize your goals. When choosing a school, one that offers a competency-based program allows you to study and learn at your own pace, apply what you already know and advance when you demonstrate mastery of the subject matter. Understand the total cost of your education . Tuition at online universities varies widely. Before you make your decision, be sure to understand all of the costs. Compare tuition rates, books, fees and financial aid options of various schools. Speak to a financial advisor about financial aid, and only borrow what you need to graduate, as this will help keep costs under control without incurring unnecessary additional student debt. Another factor in your cost consideration should be the length of time you expect to take to complete your degreethe longer it takes, the more it is likely to cost.

. Tuition at online universities varies widely. Before you make your decision, be sure to understand all of the costs. Compare tuition rates, books, fees and financial aid options of various schools. Speak to a financial advisor about financial aid, and only borrow what you need to graduate, as this will help keep costs under control without incurring unnecessary additional student debt. Another factor in your cost consideration should be the length of time you expect to take to complete your degreethe longer it takes, the more it is likely to cost. Make sure the university is accredited and the degree is meaningful. Regional accreditation is the highest form of accreditation and ensures that employers and other academic institutions will respect and recognize your degree. The U.S. Department of Education publishes a list of regional accrediting agencies that are recognized as reliable authorities on educational quality and effectiveness of the institution. The degree program you choose should offer relevant and up-to-date curriculum to ensure that you'll earn the credentials you need for the job market. Ask for information about alumni placements, employer surveys and graduate rankings on national test scores.

WGU Texas' New Kind of You Scholarship is accepting applications through March 31, 2017. New students enrolling in any WGU Texas' bachelor's and master's degree programs are eligible to apply. Scholarships will be awarded based on the candidate's academic record, readiness for online study, and current competency, as well as other considerations. Each award will be applied at the rate of $500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. For more information or to apply, visit texas.wgu.edu/newyou.

About WGU Texas

WGU Texas is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Texans' access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Texas and nationally-recognized Western Governors University, WGU Texas is open to all qualified Texas residents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).*

Learn more at texas.wgu.edu or call 1-877-214-7011.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington, DC 20036, 202-877-6791).

Follow WGU Texas:

https://www.facebook.com/WGUTexas

https://www.linkedin.com/school/14084

https://twitter.com/wgutexas

Contact for media inquiries: Contact for enrollment information: Kathy Koza, PR Manager 877.214.7011 512.225.6644 or 214.674.8057 (c) texas.wgu.edu [email protected]



SOURCE WGU Texas

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DALLAS, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dickey's Barbecue Pit is helping families come together nationwide, and start the new year with some humor by uniting with Warner Bros. Television's popular comedy, The Middle, airing five times a week in syndication, by offering viewers and consumers $500 cash and a free trip to Hollywood by entering the "Dickey's Barbecue Pit Family Reunion Sweepstakes." The lucky winner will receive a family reunion trip to Hollywood for up to 10 people, where they will enjoy delicious barbecue from Dickey's Barbecue Pit and visit the set of The Middle. Winners will also receive $500 cash and a variety of free family meals from Dickey's Barbecue Pit.

To enter, tune in to The Middle, airing in syndication Monday through Friday, now through February 3 and watch for the "Heck of the Day" and text it to 34490 or enter at themiddleweeknights.com. No purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win a prize. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older. The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, February 3. Local programming and additional contest rules are available here. 150 runner ups will also receive a Dickey's Barbecue Pit "Family Pack," the perfect option for family get-togethers.

"Dickey's Barbecue Pit is proud to serve busy families nationwide, and we are excited to offer this sweepstakes for a fun family getaway," says Emily Bennett, Vice President of Marketing at Dickey's. "We appreciate collaborating with Warner Bros. Television and look forward to more partnerships in the future."

To find the Dickey's Barbecue Pit nearest you, click here. Go to themiddleweeknights.com to see when it's on in your hometown.

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation's largest barbecue chain, was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey with the goal of authentic slow-smoked barbecue. With locally owned and operated franchises nationwide, all meats are still slow smoked on-site in each restaurant. The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers a quality selection of signature meats, savory sides, tangy barbecue sauce and free kids' meals every Sunday. The fast-casual concept has expanded to 600 locations in 44 states. In 2016, Dickey's won first place on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" and ranked in the top ten of Franchise Times' "Fast and Serious." For more information, visit www.dickeys.com or for barbecue franchise opportunities call 866.340.6188.

About The Middle

Emmy winner Patricia Heaton stars in The Middle, a warm and witty single-camera comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations. Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country, Frankie Heck (Heaton) is a harried wife and working mother of three who uses her wry wit and sense of humor to try to get her family through each day intact. Her unflappable husband, Mike (Neil Flynn), is a manager at the local quarry and her sardonic partner in the daily grind that is raising their average  yes, most definitely average  family. The show also stars Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher, and Atticus Shaffer.

The Middle is a half-hour comedy series filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood, California. The show was created by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline. It is produced by Blackie and Blondie Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Media Contact:

Michelle George / Callie Head

[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue

Related Links

http://www.dickeys.com


If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Washington, Jan 14 : US President-elect Donald Trump has hinted at lifting sanctions against Russia and said he was not committed to the longstanding 'One-China' policy.

The incoming President who is scheduled to take office on January 20, suggested he would be open to lifting sanctions against Russia if Moscow proved helpful in battling terrorists and reaching other goals important to the US, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Trump said he will keep the sanctions, imposed by the Obama administration on Moscow for its alleged cyber attacks to influence last year's US presidential election, "at least for a period of time".

Trump said he was not committed to the agreement with China over Taiwan, a sign that he would use any available leverage to realign the US's relationship with its biggest strategic partner.

He said he would not commit to America's agreement with China that Taiwan was not to be recognised diplomatically, a policy known as 'One China', until he saw progress from Beijing in its currency and trade practices.

Trump said: "Everything is under negotiation including 'One China'."

He seemed impatient with diplomatic protocols involving China and Taiwan. After his victory the Republican took a congratulatory phone call from Taiwan's leader, triggering objections from Beijing and stoking concerns among some US foreign policy experts who questioned whether he understood the implications of such a conversation.

Trump said he was prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin some time after he takes office.

"I understand that they would like to meet, and that's absolutely fine with me," he said.

Trump's spokesman Michael Flynn early on Friday said the President-elect's pick for National Security Adviser took a phone call from Russia's Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak late last month.

The two discussed setting up a call between Trump and Putin after the Republican is sworn in next Friday.

At his first news conference after winning the White House race, Trump on Wednesday accepted the conclusion that Russia indeed sought to influence the presidential election with hacking.

But he quickly added that Russia was not the only country that launched cyber attacks against the US.
Melbourne, Jan 16 : China's Duan Yingying registered her first ever win at the Australian Open on Monday, defeating Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

"I was shaking when I came on court," Sramkova told Xinhua news agency.

"Before the match I watched the video of her playing, I expected that (it) would be a tough match," Duan told reporters post-match.

"I am so happy that I made a breakthrough as this is the first time I won the first round in the Australian Open. It is just a beginning for me, and I think I can go more far."

Duan took an early break in the first set off an unforced error from the Slovakian qualifier, however Sramkova managed to break back.

Continued unforced errors from the world No 120, 17 in the first set was her undoing.

It's the first time Duan has won a match at the Australian Open since her first appearance in 2014, continuing her form since the end of 2016 season where she exited Wimbledon and the US Open in the second round.

Duan will next face world No 88, American Varvara Lepchenko in the second round.
Mumbai, Jan 16 : The RBI has admitted that it has no details of any irregularities or scams in the exchange of the demonetised currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 by the cooperative banks, a reply under RTI revealed on Monday.

Prominent RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought information under the RTI on the extent of irregularities committed by state cooperative banks between November 8 and December 10, 2016, and alleged corruption by officials.

"However, according to its reply under the RTI, the RBI does not seem to have any data to justify its conclusion of widespread irregularities and scandals in exchanging the old currency notes vide state and district cooperatives banks across the country," Galgali told IANS, showing the terse RBI communication.

Six days after the demonetisation, the Centre had abruptly overturned its decision to permit note exchanges and disbursing the new currency notes on grounds of alleged money-laundering being carried out by state and district cooperative banks.

The decision directly hit millions of farmers, rural and semi-rural populations dependent on cooperative banks for access to formal banking services, sparking off a political uproar.

"I sought facts on the actual ground reality of these accusations made by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders against the cooperative banks which severely affected the non-urban populace," Galgali said.

The Right To Information query sought data on the alleged irregularities, scams, corruption detected in these cooperative banks with the names of the states, banks and action taken against the culprits.

The Public Information Officer of Reserve Bank of India, A.G. Ray, specifically said that they had no data on the apex state cooperatives and district banks, while data on urban cooperatives might be available from elsewhere.

"It is strange why accusations were hurled on the cooperative banking sector based on presumptions and they were kept out of the entire post-demonetisation exercise, grossly inconveniencing the non-urban population," Galgali remarked.

It appears that the decision on the most intricately networked financial institution of cooperative banking which forms the backbone of India's massive rural economy was taken on mere 'hearsay', he concluded.
New Delhi, Jan 16 : A serial rapist now in custody may have targeted more than 50 victims although he claims he didn't rape all, police said on Monday.

While eight cases have been confirmed, the police fear many cases may have remained unreported.

"We are still investigating and are waiting for the victims' parents to come forward to file complaints," Deputy Commissioner of Police Omvir Singh Bishnoi told IANS.

"We were told by the accused, Sunil Rastogi, that he managed to rape only 20 per cent of the total number of victims he attacked. We suspect that he may have attempted to rape 50 minor girls or more," Bishnoi said.

The 38-year-old tailor hails from Uttar Pradesh and allegedly raped a minor girl and molested two others -- aged between nine and 10 years -- in New Ashok Nagar in east Delhi last week.

He was arrested on Saturday night.

Rastogi confessed to sexually molesting a number of minor girls in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Rudrapur in Uttarakhand besides New Ashok Nagar in the national capital.

Several cases of molestation, theft and drug abuse were registered against him in various police stations, the officer added.

According to the police, three cases of child rape and molestation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) were registered at the New Ashok Nagar police station on January 10 and 13.

Rastogi, a desperate paedophile, used to lure the minors claiming their father had sent him to give them clothes and articles. He would then take his victims to isolated corners where he tried to rape them.

He also targeted students from government girl schools. After raping them, he threatened them with dire consequences if they disclosed the assault to their parents, the police added.

After each attack, Rastogi would return to Uttar Pradesh to evade arrest.

A brain mapping and narco analysis test would be conducted after Rastogi's medical test, the officer said.
Patna, Jan 16 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday rejected BJP's demand to postpone its programme of forming the world's longest human chain on January 21 in support of prohibition in the state in view of the boat tragedy that claimed 24 lives.

"The world's longest human chain will take place as per its programme on January 21," Nitish Kumar said in reply to senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi's demand to postpone the programme following Saturday evening's boat tragedy.

"Human chain in support of prohibition is part of a social campaign and sponsored by the state government. It will make history," the Janata Dal-United chief added.

He recalled that after a major train accident last year in November near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, the Bihar government cancelled its function of presenting its report card but the BJP went ahead with its programme in UP.

Nitish Kumar said he has been appealing to people and all political parties to join the human chain in support of prohibition in the state.

Three satellites, including one foreign and two of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), four aircraft, two helicopters and 40 drones will be used to click images of the "world's longest human chain" stretching over 11,000-km on January 21 in support of prohibition in Bihar, officials said.

According to government officials, nearly 20 million people will join the human chain across the state.

"They will hold their hands together for 45 minutes from 12.15 p.m. to 1 p.m.," an official added.

Nitish Kumar imposed a total liquor ban in Bihar on April 5, last year. After this, more than 16,000 people have been arrested on charges of either consuming or transporting liquor in the state.
Damascus, Jan 16 : Syrian rebel groups have agreed to attend peace talks in Kazakhstan, in what Russia says is a boost to its diplomatic attempts to end the nearly six-year-old civil war.

The talks are expected to build on a nationwide truce that began on December 30 and initially saw a drop in violence across many of Syria's battle-fronts.

"All the rebel groups are going. Everyone has agreed," Mohammad Alloush, a leading figure in the Jaish al-Islam rebel group was quoted by the Telegraph as saying.

"Astana is a process to end the bloodletting by the regime and its allies. We want to end this series of crimes," Alloush said.

However, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army, the main armed moderate opposition group, said they would only discuss the ceasefire and humanitarian issues, not political ones.

The opposition had previously threatened to withdraw from the January 23 talks in protest of what they said were violations of the ceasefire by the Syrian regime and pro-government forces.

The summit in the Kazakh capital Astana, brokered by Russia and Turkey, could be the best chance of the Syrian government and opposition building on the fragile nationwide truce and reaching a settlement to end the war.

The US, which has reportedly been the rebels' main sponsor previously, has until now been left out of the bilateral talks. US President-elect Donald Trump's transition team was last week invited to take part, but has not yet officially responded.

The truce has largely been holding around the country, but violence has escalated in the countryside outside of Damascus.

Meanwhile, reports emerged over the weekend that Moscow was planning to upgrade its naval and air bases in Syria despite President Vladimir Putin declaring that the country would be scaling back its military presence in the country.

Russia is said to be planning to repair a second runway at Hmeimim air base in the coastal city of Latakia and improve the Tartus naval base so that it is capable of handling bigger ships such as cruisers.

It will also deploy S-300 surface-to-air defence systems and Bastion coastal missile launchers in the naval base, according the Russia's Interfax news agency.
New Delhi, Jan 16 : A serial rapist arrested here has admitted to targeting more than 50 girls in Delhi alone, but the police on Monday said they had verified only seven cases.

A tailor, Sunil Rastogi, 38, who hails from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, confessed to police that he had been preying on girls since 2004 - when he was just 26 years old.

Rastogi first admitted to raping at least 13 girls but later claimed he had targeted over 50 but could not rape all of them, a police official who did not want to be identified told IANS.

Sounding callous, Rastogi - a father of five including two girls - said he randomly scouted for victims. He told police he would travel to Delhi at least twice a month to satisfy his lust.

The man was arrested from Kalyanpuri, a thickly populated area in east Delhi, on Saturday, police said. The officer added that Rastogi was making claims that could not be verified immediately.

"How many girls he victimised will be clear once we complete his questioning and verify his claims," Deputy Commissioner of Police Omvir Singh Bishnoi told IANS.

Rastogi came to Delhi in 1990 with his family but left in 2004. He lives in Rampur.

Police suspect the number of his victims could be more as Rastogi also had cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

"We had sought details of paedophiles lodged within the last one year in seven jails in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The reports confirmed his involvement in seven cases. Four of the seven cases were reported from Delhi, one from Haldwani in Uttarakhand and two from Uttar Pradesh," the officer said.

"We are still verifying his statements by visiting the locations where he committed the crime."

Investigators said if Rastogi came to Delhi twice a month in the past 13 years and molested even one girl during every visit, he may have assaulted over 300 girls.

However, he has confessed to victimising over 50 minors, the official said.

"We were told by Rastogi that he managed to rape only 20 per cent of the victims."

Rastogi allegedly raped a minor girl and molested two others -- aged between nine and 10 years -- in New Ashok Nagar in east Delhi last week.

He confessed to sexually molesting a number of minor girls in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Rudrapur in Uttarakhand besides New Ashok Nagar.

Several cases of molestation, theft and drug abuse were registered against him in Delhi.

According to police, three cases of child rape and molestation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) were registered at the New Ashok Nagar police station on January 10 and 13.

He allegedly threatened the victims with dire consequences and blackmailed them to prevent them from approaching the police.

He would prowl near schools in Delhi when it shut for the day and would follow a group for a short distance and then pick a child who would stray from the others.

Rastogi used to lure the minors claiming their father had sent him to give them clothes and other articles. He would then take his victim to an isolated spot where he would try to rape them.

If he succeeded, Rastogi threatened the girls with death if they disclosed the assault to their parents.

After each attack, he would return to Uttar Pradesh to evade arrest and he would return again to Delhi after a gap to hunt for new victims.
New Delhi, Jan 17 : President Pranab Mukherjee will visit West Bengal from Wednesday to unveil the restored Wanderer Car used by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Kolkata and the Dantan Gramin Mela-2017 in Paschim Medinipur, a government statement said.

On his three-day visit, between January 18 and 20, the President will first inaugurate the centenary year celebrations of Jhalda Satyabhama Vidyapith at Purulia in West Bengal.

The President will go to Purulia via Ranchi in Jharkhand on January 18 (Wednesday), a Rashtrapati Bhavan official said.

The same day, he will also inaugurate the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of the Netaji Research Bureau and unveil the restored Wanderer Car used by Subhash Chandra Bose on his 'Mahanishkraman' in January 1941.

The next day, he will inaugurate the 28th Dantan Gramin Mela-2017 at Dantan, Paschim Medinipur and also attend the 35th anniversary celebrations of Aajkaal at Kolkata on the same day.

On January 20, the President will inaugurate the Bengal Global Business Summit-2017 and the Bicentenary Celebrations of Hindu School.

He will also inaugurate the Bicentenary Celebrations of Presidency University in Kolkata before returning to Delhi.
* President Jammeh has declared state of emergency

* Jammeh lost December election, refuses to step down

* British tour operator flying holidaymakers home (Adds Ghana to contribute troops, paragraph 5)

By Tim Cocks

BANJUL, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Senegal's army spokesman said on Wednesday that its forces are at the Gambian border and will enter at midnight if the veteran president, Yahya Jammeh, refuses to relinquish power.

Jammeh, who lost a Dec. 1 election to opposition leader Adama Barrow, said he would not step down, citing irregularities in the vote. His mandate ends at midnight (midnight GMT).

"We are ready and are awaiting the deadline at midnight. If no political solution is found, we will step in," said Colonel Abdou Ndiaye, speaking for the Senegalese army.

The Nigerian Air Force said it had deployed to Senegal in case it was needed. Nigeria is part of the West African bloc ECOWAS, which has threatened Jammeh with sanctions or military intervention if he does not step down.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said in a statement Ghana would send 205 combat troops to Gambia as part of a regional mission to enable President-elect Barrow to be sworn in.

Senegal's statement raised the prospect of armed confrontation between forces loyal to the president, who has ruled Gambia for 22 years, and Senegal, which surrounds the tiny riverside country on three sides.

Senegal circulated a draft resolution to the 15-member U.N. Security Council that would give "full support to the ECOWAS in its commitment to take all necessary measures to ensure the respect of the will of the people of The Gambia".

Halifa Sallah, spokesman for Barrow, told a news conference at a Banjul beachside hotel surrounded by palm trees that the coalition "did not want to go to power stepping over dead bodies."

Addressing Jammeh, he said: "The end has come. Accept it."

BARROW TO TAKE OATH

Sallah said Barrow, who is in Senegal, could not be sworn in at the national stadium, as originally planned, but that he would take the oath of office at an undisclosed place.

Story continues

Diplomats said Barrow could be sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Senegal.

Jammeh declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, while on Wednesday the National Assembly passed a resolution to enable him to remain in office for three months.

Gambia has had only two rulers since independence in 1965. Jammeh seized power in a coup and his government has gained a reputation among ordinary Gambians and human rights activists for torturing and killing opponents.

The draft, seen by Reuters, would endorse the decision of ECOWAS and the African Union to recognise Barrow. It also called on Gambia's security forces to protect lives and property and serve the elected authorities.

It was not immediately clear when Senegal planned to put the draft resolution to a vote. Some diplomats said U.N. Security Council approval was not needed for an ECOWAS military intervention if Barrow requested help.

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz arrived in Gambia late on Wednesday for last-minute talks ahead of the deadline, Gambian state television said.

THOUSANDS FLEE

Few people expected Jammeh to lose the election, and the result was greeted with joy by many in his country, and by democracy advocates across the continent, particularly when Jammeh initially said he would accept the result and step down.

Barrow was examining the implications of the assembly's resolution and the state of emergency, given the constitutional requirement for a handover and the need to maintain peace, Sallah told Reuters.

At least 26,000 people have fled from Gambia to Senegal fearing unrest, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday, citing Senegalese government figures. The UNHCR said up to 80 percent were children accompanied by women.

Tour operator Thomas Cook (TCG. L) started flying nearly 1,000 holidaymakers home on Wednesday. It said on its website it was laying on extra flights in the next 48 hours to remove 985 package tour customers.

It was also trying to contact a further 2,500 "flight only" tourists in Gambia to arrange for their departure on the earliest available flight, it said in a statement.

Gambia's economy relies on one main crop, peanuts, and tourism. Its beaches are popular with European holidaymakers seeking a winter break.

(Additional reporting by Emma Farge in Ziguinchor, Senegal, Diadie Ba in Dakar, Kissima Diagana in Nouakchott, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Grant McCool)
New York, Jan 18 : A Pakistani electronics exporter has been convicted of defrauding international courier company FedeEx of nearly $300,000, a Texas federal prosecutor said.

Babbar Butt, 32, who lived in the Houston, Texas, confessed before federal Judge Keith P. Ellison and was convicted.

Prosecutors said that Butt opened accounts with FedEx and shipped cellphones and electronic goods to Dubai and other places but would not pay the charges.

When the accounts were deactivated because the charges could not be collected, he would open other accounts and repeat the same thing, prosecutors said.
Los Angeles, Jan 18 : He shot to worldwide fame as Christian Grey in the erotic "Fifty Shades of Grey" film franchise, but actor Jamie Dornan says he is not into sadomasochism (S&M) and is quite "liberal" when it comes to people's sexual preferences.

Dornan spoke about his preferences in an interview for the cover of GQ Australia's February 2017 issue, reports eonline.com.

"It was like nothing I'd experienced before," Dornan said when asked about visiting an S&M dungeon in preparation for the role.

"I'd never seen any form of S&M before this, I had no interest in that world," Dornan said.

He explained: "It doesn't float my boat. I've always been open-minded and liberal... I'd never judge anyone's sexual preference. Whatever gets people off is entirely up to them and there's a million different ways to please yourself, sexually."
Washington, Jan 18 : The man who killed five persons at the Fort Lauderdale airport in the US state of Florida, told FBI agents he carried out the attack on behalf of ISIS, media reports said.

On January 6, Esteban Santiago opened fire at the airport, which claimed the lives of five persons and injured six and was taken into custody.

Testifying at Santiago's bond hearing on Tuesday, FBI special agent Michael Ferlazzo did not elaborate on whether Santiago was purporting to be linked to ISIS or simply inspired by the terrorist organisation, CNN reported.

Federal authorities in Alaska said Santiago told them prior to the attack that he was hearing voices and that his mind was being controlled by the CIA. Santiago initially made similar claims during an interrogation following the shooting, but once he was transferred to the FBI office in Florida, he introduced the ISIS claim and never again mentioned mind control, Ferlazzo testified.

ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the January 6 attack at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Authorities have said that Santiago confessed to the mass shooting, which they said he perpetrated after disembarking a plane and collecting a checked bag containing a pistol and two magazines.
United Nations, Jan 18 : India has welcomed the Syrian peace talks scheduled for next week in Astana, the Kazakh capital, calling it an "encouraging" development.

"We welcome all efforts to end violence in Syria and to jumpstart the political process," Deputy Permanent Representative Tanmaya Lal told the Security Council during a debate on the Middle East on Tuesday.

"It is encouraging that the process is committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and is led and owned by Syria," he added. "We look forward to the outcome of the direct talks."

A breakthrough in having the government and the rebels negotiate on ending the six-year civil war, the talks are backed by Russia, Turkey and Iran.

Lal said, "Meaningful involvement of the UN is also essential in the process."

Earlier, the Secretary-General's Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed that the UN had received an invitation to the Astana talks and the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura is sending a team headed by his deputy, Ramzy Ezzeldin.

Lal also welcomed the truce engineered by Russia in Syria, which came into effect on December 30, calling it "a much needed positive development".

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)
Washington, Jan 18 : A top aide to US President Barack Obama reiterated the stance of the current administration that the One-China policy is "not negotiable", slamming any effort to reopen the issue as "dangerous".

"It's not negotiable in the sense that our entire relationship with China is founded upon the One-China policy. That was a basis for the Shanghai Communique and the reestablishment of diplomatic relations," Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security advisor, said at a briefing in Washington on Tuesday.

Rhodes called the One-China policy "an agreement we reached with the biggest country in the world" and "the framework under which we do everything", Xinhua news agency reported.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Friday, US President-elect Donald Trump said that the One-China policy is up for negotiation and that he is not fully committed to it.

In response to Trump's remarks, China's foreign ministry said on Saturday that the One-China policy is the political foundation of bilateral ties and "is non-negotiable".

At Tuesday's briefing, Rhodes warned the upcoming US administration against seeking a new approach to the issue, calling such potential move "dangerous" and "destabilizing".

"It's dangerous. The risk of escalation in the Taiwan Strait is just a flashpoint the world does not need right now. The United States certainly doesn't," Rhodes said.

The senior foreign policy aide to Obama added that he does not see any benefit to the US in changing the long-standing policy.

"China is not going to negotiate anything, so I am not sure what is accomplished by pursuing an approach where you seek to reopen it," he said. "Getting into the space of something like Taiwan just risks destabilizing that relationship without any potential benefit that I can foresee."
Damascus, Jan 18 : The Syrian delegation to the upcoming negotiations in Astana consists of 10 diplomats, parliamentarians, and military personnel, headed by the Syrian permanent representative to the UN, media reports said.

Bashar Jaafari will head the government delegation, which includes the Foreign Minister Advisor Ahmad Arnus, Syria's ambassador to Moscow Riad Haddad, and Ahmad Kuzbari, a Syrian parliamentarian, Xinhua news agency reported.

Three Syrian officers are also in the delegation, al-Watan newspaper reported.

The negotiations schedule has been identified by only two topics: the first is an inclusive nationwide ceasefire between the rebel delegation and the Syrian one, and the second topic is "searching for the principles of the political solution"

This comes days after most rebel groups had agreed to attend the negotiations with Syrian government representatives in Astana later this month.

Conferring in Ankara on Sunday, nine rebel groups agreed to take part in the January 23 meeting in Astana, which was the result of a recent Turkish-Russian agreement.

The most prominent rebel group to attend is the Jaish al-Islam, or the Islam Army, the main rebel power controlling key areas east of the capital Damascus.

Each rebel faction will send representatives, reports said, adding that the names have already been handed over to the Turkish side, which will be coordinating with the Russians.
New York, Jan 18 : The US government has filed a lawsuit against global chip manufacturer Qualcomm of forcing Apple to use its chips in exchange for lower licensing fees, thus maintaining monopoly by excluding competitors and harming competition.

In a statement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Wednesday accused Qualcomm of maintaining a monopoly over chips for cellular phones through a "no license, no chips" policy under which it will supply its baseband processors only on the condition that cell phone manufacturers agree to Qualcomm's preferred license terms.

That policy imposed "onerous" supply and patent-licensing terms to extract high royalties from cell phone makers and weaken competitors, the commission said.

"Qualcomm recognised that any competitor that won Apple's business would become stronger, and used exclusivity to prevent Apple from working with and improving the effectiveness of Qualcomm's competitors," the FTC statement said.

"Despite its commitment to license standard-essential patents on FRAND terms, Qualcomm has consistently refused to license those patents to competing suppliers of baseband processors," it added.

Fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms (FRAND) denote a voluntary licensing commitment that standards organisations request from the owner of an intellectual property right (usually a patent) that may become, essential to practice a technical standard.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm refuted FTC's charges, saying that the lawsuit was based on "flawed legal theory."

"Qualcomm has never withheld or threatened to withhold chip supply in order to obtain agreement to unfair or unreasonable licensing terms. The FTC's allegation to the contrary -- the central thesis of the complaint -- is wrong," the company was quoted as saying in a CNET report.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment, the report added.

The South Korean Fair Trade Commission recently slapped a $850 million fine on Qualcomm for maintaining an "unfair business model" and creating a monopoly with its practices.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Calling terrorism the most serious threat to global security, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Wednesday asked for a serious global response to it.

"Terrorism remains the most pervasive and serious challenge to international security. Developing a serious global response is of the highest priority, yet hard to do," Jaishankar said while delivering the theme address at the Second Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship geo-political conference.

"WMD (weapons of mass destruction) security will be a continuing concern, especially as terrorist groups strike deeper roots."

"And there is a lack of purpose in confronting global challenges like terrorism, though some important exceptions should be acknowledged," he added.

Speaking about India's ties with the US, the Foreign Secretary said: "Our ties with the United States have been steadily growing and today cover vast areas of collaboration. We established early contact with the Trump transition team and see a strong convergence of interests and concerns."

"With Russia," Jaishankar said, " India's relationship has actually grown very substantially in the last two years, as has the bonding between our leaders. An improvement in US-Russia ties is therefore not against Indian interests."

The India-China relation has broadened recently but it has been overshadowed by differences over political issues, Jaishankar said.

"But it is important for the two countries not to lose sight of the strategic nature of their engagement, or falter in their conviction that their rise can be mutually supportive. We will continue to invest more energy into this account in 2017," he added.

"With Japan, there is really a transformation underway in the relationship that would make it a key player in India's modernisation."

Talking about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and its role in Eastern regional stability, he said "Its centrality and unity is an asset for the entire continent."

Speaking on India's relations with it's extended neighbourhood, he said, "While the East was more an exercise of consolidation with Asean, the reaching out to the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and Iran have been among one of the hallmark initiatives of the current Government.

"As a result, India is today involved in the Middle East in a manner in which it has not been for many decades. Our Africa engagement has also acquired a very different quality and content."

Speaking on the change in the foreign policy of the United States, he said, "The United States seems ready to change the terms of its engagement with the world. Relations between US and Russia could undergo a transformation that we may not have seen since 1945. Its dimensions, leave alone implications, are hard to predict."

Regarding internal political transformation in European nations amidst the migration crisis Jaishankar noted: "Europe, engrossed in multiple domestic challenges and reconfiguring itself, signals less appetite for more distant politics even as it watches these developments.

"In the Western world, voices of inter-dependence and globalisation have become more muted."

As for Asia, he said that "the economic outlook is more positive, although sentiment is clearly affected by developments in the West".

On the role of China and Japan in Asia, he said: "The growth in China's power and its expression abroad remain a dynamic factor in Asia. Japan is another major variable, as it seems to be preparing for more responsibilities."
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Hundreds of Congress party protesters gheraoed the RBI office here on Wednesday with slogans denouncing demonetisation and the Centre's role in "destruction of the RBI's autonomy".

The agitators vented their anger against the BJP-led government for "expropriation of power" from the central bank and termed the note ban as 'carpet bombing' on the country's economy. The protest rally to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) here was led by senior party leaders Anand Sharma and Ajay Maken.

The demonstration was part of a call for country-wide protests made on Tuesday by the Congress party.

Similar protests were launched across the country in several cities, helmed by senior Congress leaders. The cities included Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, and were also held in cities in Bihar, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, among others.

In Gujarat senior Congress leaders Shankar Singh Vaghela and former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde were detained by the police when they took to the road to voice their anger against the central government.

Wednesday marked the beginning of an agitation movement which will continue till January 23, the party said.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Nonagenarian political leader Narayan Dutt Tiwari on Wednesday quit the Congress party after over half a century of association to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his son Rohit Shekhar here on Wednesday.

The two were inducted into the party at the residence of BJP President Amit Shah.

The move comes ahead of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and with Tiwari being a Brahmin, is expected to benefit the BJP.

While the Congress dubbed the move a measure of the "political desperation" of the BJP, Tiwari's family expressed disappointment and shock and alleged the decision was "forced" on him.

Tiwari, 91, the only one to have been the Chief Minister of both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, was also a cabinet minister and held key portfolios like external affairs, finance, industry and parliamentary affairs.

Besides thrice serving as Chief Minister of undivided Uttar Pradesh, Tiwari headed the first Congress government in Uttarakhand after it was carved out in 2000.

Tiwari was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2007 until 2009 when he quit after a sex scandal.

Complaints were filed seeking his prosecution but Tiwari dismissed the charges as a political conspiracy.

A year earlier, Tiwari was embroiled in another controversy when Rohit Shekhar filed a paternity suit against him, claiming the veteran politician was his biological father.

The intense legal battle led to a court-ordered DNA test, the results of which established Tiwari as Rohit's biological father and Ujjwala Sharma as his biological mother.

In 2014, Tiwari formally married Ujjwala Sharma.

Born in a village in Nainital district of then undivided Uttar Pradesh in 1925, Tiwari made his mark in student politics.

He became an MLA in 1952 from Nainital on a Praja Samajwadi Party ticket. He joined the Congress in 1963.

He remained a member of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and also served as Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.

When P.V. Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister, Tiwari and Arjun Singh broke away from the Congress and formed a rival Congress. It merged with the Congress led by Sonia Gandhi later.

Commenting on the development, Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said it was reflective of the BJP's talent deficit.

"This is his (Tiwari) personal decision. But, the move demonstrates the talent deficit of the BJP and political desperation of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh," Jha told IANS.

"In Uttar Pradesh, after the announcement of the alliance between Samajwadi Party and Congress, the BJP is clearly anticipating an electoral defeat like they experienced due to the Mahagatbandhan in Bihar," added Jha.

Expressing the family's "shock and disappointment", Tiwari's nephew Manishi alleged the decision was "forced" on him.

"We strongly believe that these decisions are being made for him, by others, keeping in mind their own interests and agendas. Either way, we members of the Tiwari family, do not endorse this move at all and see ourselves as eternally part of the Indian National Congress," said Manishi in a statement.

"We are a longstanding Congress family of freedom fighters and we have reason to believe that Tiwariji would never desert the Congress party on his own volition," added Manishi.
By Cynthia Kim and Christine Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's finance minister on Wednesday said the government will take measures to create about 30,000 jobs within the first half of the year, to counter worsening employment market sentiment and weak domestic demand. This comes at a time when corporate restructurings of the so-called "oversupplied industries" of shipping, shipbuilding, steel, construction and petrochemicals are ongoing. The finance ministry sees around 56,000-63,000 workers in the shipbuilding sector alone being affected between end-2015 to end-2017. "We will pre-emptively respond to changes to come in the job market," said Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho. He was speaking at a meeting with other ministers in Seoul. Fresh policy measures to counter weakening job growth amid corporate restructuring "will be prepared in March", he said, adding the government would look to increase the number of job fairs for young South Koreans. In 2016, the unemployment rate in South Gyeongsang Province, where the country's shipbuilding and shipping businesses are concentrated, rose to 3.3 percent from 2.6 percent in 2015. The headline jobless rate ticked up to 3.7 percent in South Korea in 2016, from 3.6 percent in 2015. The employment rate stood at 60.4 percent at end-2016, versus 60.3 percent in 2015. "Although the number of those employed and the overall employment rate rose amid difficult circumstances last year, there is still a need for the improvement of the quality of jobs," the ministry said in a separate statement. Asia's fourth-largest economy also still needs to boost the employment of women in their 30s and 40s, who tend to quit their jobs due to childbirth or childcare, the statement said. The ministry also expressed concern the unemployment rate could jump as the economic recovery slows and companies refrain from hiring new workers as more businesses are required this year to implement the new retirement age of 65, which has been adopted by companies in a staggered process over recent years. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim and Christine Kim; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Shillong, Jan 18 : Congress supporters, led by party legislators in Meghalaya, on Wednesday rallied at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) office here to protest against demonetisation.

Two civil society groups -- Civil Society Women's Organisation and Thma U Rangli -- held a counter-protest near the RBI office and accused both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress of being equally corrupt.

Former Assam Congress minister Rockybul Hussain and former Arunachal Pradesh MP Takam Sanjoy led the protestors. Meghalaya ministers Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Ronnie V. Lyngdoh and Sniawbhalang Dhar and a host of other Congress leaders were also present.

"The Congress and the BJP are indulging in thievery. Both these parties are two sides of the same corrupt coin," CSWO President Agnes Kharshiing said as Congress protestors shouted anti-Modi slogans outside the RBI premises.

Declaring that they too are against demonetisation since it has affected the common man, leaders of the two groups also blamed the Congress for the hardships to the people in Meghalaya.

"The Congress government has refused to appoint a Lokayukta in Meghalaya even after the assembly passed an Act in 2014; so did the BJP-led government on the Lokpal. It indicates they are not interested in fighting corruption because they themselves are corrupt," Thma U Rangli leader Angela Rangad said.

Senior Congress leaders refused to comment on the charges, saying that the "common man knows which party is corrupt".

"We have nothing to say; our protest today (Wednesday) is against demonetisation which has badly hit the common man across the country," former Assam minister Rockybul Hussain said.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : India-US ties are on a solid upper trajectory and the incoming Donald Trump administration will find the relationship on a very solid footing, departing US Ambassador to India Richard Verma has said.

Verma, who presented his credentials in Rashtrapati Bhavan in January 2015, told Karan Thapar in an interview telecast on India Today TV that his tenure saw two of the best years in India-US ties and the credit for this went to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and outgoing US President Barack Obama.

"We are on a now solid upper trajectory," he said.

He pointed out that Modi and Obama met nine times, had three summit-level meetings, and the two sides had over 100 government-to-government meetings.

According to the Ambassador, defence cooperation between the two countries have gone beyond buyer-seller relationship and there is now a special cell in the Pentagon that solely looks at defence technology with India.

He also mentioned the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (Lemoa) signed by the two countries last year and said that "our two militaries are great together".

Verma reiterated the US's support for India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), something that was stalled by China in the 48-nation group's plenary in Seoul in June last year.

He stated that clean energy and climate change were the "two signature global agreements" signed by the two sides.

According to Verma, US firm Westinghouse has already made a commercial offer last year to make nuclear power plants in India.

He also said that counter-terrorism operations formed a key part of India-US ties.

Regarding Pakistan's state sponsorship of terrorism, the Ambassador said "we have taken a very strong line".

As for India-Pakistan ties, he said the US wanted the two South Asian neighbours to solve their problems.

Regarding the fate of India-US ties with the Trump administration taking over, he said "we are putting our relationship on very strong footing for the new administration".

Asked about Trump's statements regarding cutting down on H1-B visas that might likely affect Indian IT companies, he said it was not a new issue and he himself had been working on this.

"We have to sit across the table and sort this out," he said.

Asked how it felt to be the first ever Indian-origin US Ambassador to India, he said "it was an immense sense of pride" for him.

Verma said that during the course of his two-year tenure, he visited 25 Indian states.
Beijing, Jan 18 : China on Wednesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being optimistic about Sino-Indian ties.

Beijing also said the common interests of both the nations outweighed their differences.

In a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said ties with India were important to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and developing countries.

"China applauds Modi's positive comments. Chinese and Indian leaders have a common understanding that our shared interests far outweigh our differences," Hua was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The comments come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the rise of India and China an "unprecedented opportunity" for the two countries and the world.

Responding to Modi's view that it was "not unnatural" for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences, Hua said China is committed to increasing trust, expanding cooperation and properly resolving any differences with India.

The development of China-India relations is important to the strength of the BRICS and as a tool to promote world multipolarisation, Hua said.
Gandhinagar, Jan 18 : The Gujarat government on Wednesday announced a hefty hike ranging from 63 to 124 per cent for its employees drawing fixed salaries, putting an additional burden of Rs 1,300 crore on the state exchequer.

The new pay-scales, which have been revised as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, come into effect from February 1 and apply to new recruits also.

"The decision will benefit 1.18 lakh employees," Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel told reporters here.

The decision will revise salaries of Class II, III and IV employees by 90 per cent, 63 per cent and 124 per cent, respectively.

Patel said tht though these employees are drawing fixed pay, they will also be entitled to 10 per cent House Rent Allowance and other seniority benefits available to confirmed government staff.

The hike, which comes ahead of December 2017 assembly elections, follows a case in the Supreme Court that demanded absorption of fixed-pay employees as full-time employees of the Gujarat government.

There has been widespread resentment against the Gujarat government among fixed-pay employees ever since Narendra Modi introduced the system as Chief Minister in 2006.

The opposition Congress made it an issue against the Vijay Rupani government in the wake of charges of exploitation of fixed-pay employees who were paid paltry salaries though they were performing work of full-timers.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The road to make America great again - as the US President-elect Donald Trump promised during his election campaign - passes through Beijing, an American expert on US-China dynamics said here on Wednesday.

Michael Pillsbury, a consultant with the US Defense Department and formerly Senior Research Advisor at US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said that there are multiple areas where the Trump administration can seek cooperation and avoid confrontation with Beijing.

"Chinese visitors say Trump should seek to make both China and America great again. Perhaps President Xi (Jinping) can meet President Trump's requests for fair trade without violating his publicly stated opposition to protectionism. Without such progress, both sides will suffer, there will be no stable global order," Pillsbury said at the second Raisina Dialogue here.

He said that as world's second largest economic superpower, China "holds the key to boosting American growth".

"Indeed, China can help us create jobs, stimulate investment and drive growth. But it requires ending China's unfair trade prcatices and making trade compromises," Pillsbury said.

He argued that Trump can stand up to China without sparking war.

"Trump has admired China's negotiating skills, and has said that his best bet would be to appear 'unpredictable' to the Chinese. In this, he has richly succeeded so far. His tweets have created a flutter in the Chinese state media," Pillsbury said, contending that because of the "unpredictability" of the incoming administration, there is a possibility that China may make "once unthinkable" concessions by eliminating its unfair trade practices and reducing America's trade deficit.

"President Xi has already claimed he opposes protectionism by any nation. And so does Donald Trump," he said.

Stressing that the risks of a global conflagration between "two of the world's biggest and most well-armed nations are too great to consider any other alternative", Pillsbury cited six areas in which China is excessively sensitive and the Trump administration must tread tactfully.

These include the 'One China' policy and America's position towards Taiwan; Dalai Lama's visit to White House; arms sales to India and border disputes; missile defence for South Korea,; the South China Sea; and China's trade objectives.

"Beyond the larger question of 'One China', the sales of arms is another source of Chinese anxiety involving Taiwan. Taiwan now wishes to purchase our new F-35 jet fighters. By not granting Taiwan's request, Trump would be doing China a great favour," he said.

On arms sales to India and the border dispute, Pillsbury said that so far the US has not taken a position vis-a-vis India and China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, despite "subtle advances" from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Whether President Trump supports India's claim to Arunachal Pradesh and continues arms sales to India already requested by Modi, is another Chinese worry about the coming year," he said.

Organised by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with India's External Affairs Ministry, the Raisina Dialogue examines "the prospects and opportunities for Asian integration as well as Asia's integration with the larger world".
New Delhi, Jan 18 : The Privileges Committee of Delhi Assembly has recommended dropping of the breach of privilege and contempt proceedings against Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, according to a report tabled in the House on Wednesday.

Contempt proceedings were initiated against Gupta in connection with his article allegedly favouring 'abolition' of the Rajya Sabha.

Acting on a complaint by Janata Dal (United) MP K.C. Tyagi, the Rajya Sabha Chairman had directed the Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel to take appropriate action in the matter.

Goel had then forwarded Gupta's matter to the Privileges Committee headed by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti.

Gupta later submitted an unconditional apology for his article, which was accepted by the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

While recommending dropping of the proceedings against the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA, the Privileges Committee noted the article penned by Gupta was a 'serious assault' on the prestigious and highest legislative body of India.

"Coming from a seasoned politician, who is bestowed with the position of Leader of Opposition by the Speaker, the Committee is dismayed at his lack of understanding of the functioning of the democratically-elected legislatures and their privileges.

"Nevertheless, in view of the unqualified apology tendered by him, the committee recommends that the breach of privilege and contempt proceedings initiated against him be dropped with the hope that in future, he will be mindful of the position he is holding and the dignity of the House that he is representing," the report said.

The report was tabled by Chairman of the nine-member Privileges Committee Somnath Bharti.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Yoga guru Baba Ramdev displayed his wrestling skills as he went head-to-head with 2008 Olympic silver medalist Andriy Stadnik in a promotional bout of the Patanjali Powervita Pro Wrestling League (PWL) here on Wednesday.

Sporting his typical saffron langot, Ramdev came out on top 12-0 over Stadnik, who is well remembered by Indian wrestling enthusiasts as he had defeated Indian star wrestler Sushil Kumar in the Beijing Olympics. As the Ukrainian reached the final, it gave Sushil an opportunity to play in repechage and win a bronze medal.

Ramdev walked onto the mat and, before the bout began, exhibited his firebrand yoga moves before proceeding to his friendly battle with Stadnik, 34, a former European champion.

Ramdev showed wrestling acumen as he pulled out the best of technical moves such as take-down, one-leg hold and pinning down.

Since it was a promotional bout, Stadnik responded by allowing Ramdev to have his way, as did the referees. After nearly two minutes, Standnik surrendered.

The bout took place during the second semi-final between Punjab Royals and Mumbai Maharathi. PWL is sponsored by Patanjali Ayurved Limited, owned by Ramdev.

Ramdev noted that people should do wrestling as it can help in stamina building.

He also felt that wrestling has the credentials to become world's most popular sport.

This was not the first time that Baba Ramdev has shown interest in friendly wrestling bouts. Last year, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their Ashram in Haridwar, Baba had challenged India's only individual two-time Olympic wrestling medallist and former world champion Sushil.
New Delhi, Jan 18 : Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said young women must learn to make their own decisions instead of relying on others' suggestions all the time.

"I think women should stop asking such questions from others as to what they should do and what they should not," Irani said during a discussion on 'Women in the New World Order' at the second Raisina Dialogue here.

"We are independent and strong enough to make our own choices," she added.

"Speak to yourself, take ideas from around you but make your own decisions. Ultimately, you should be responsible for whatever comes your way in life and not someone else," the Minister said.

Citing her own example, Irani said that in her long career in showbiz and later in politics, she never conformed to concepts such as "male bonding" or "female bonding".

"I have always believed that it is my work, how well I do my job, will get me other projects and not bonding over drinks etc. And that has happened. So advice to women is that you concentrate on how well you can do your job," she said.

Speaking of stereotypes in the society, she recalled how once a male journalist asked her as to who takes care of her kids.

"I asked back: Who takes care of yours? Why such question are for women only and not men," Irani said.
Kolkata, Jan 18 : Seventy six years after it ferried Indian revolutionary Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose during his 'Great Escape' from India, the iconic German Sedan Wanderer car was unveiled after restoration by President Pranab Mukherjee here on Wednesday.

Mukherjee unfurled the flag on the car's bonnet during a function at the Netaji Bhawan, housing the Netaji Research Bureau, in the same Elgin Road building in south Kolkata (then Calcutta) from which Netaji had escaped on the night of January 16, 1941, while under house arrest by the British police.

The 1937-make sedan Wanderer W24, witness to the first leg of the legendary leader's Great Escape from British India to Germany, was restored to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the great feat as well as the 60th anniversary of the NRB.

The sedan, all through these years kept in a glass enclosure on the ground floor of the Netaji Bhawan, managed by the NRB -- has received a fresh lease of life, courtesy, a collaboration between the Bureau and German auto maker Audi.

West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathy and Netaji's grand nephew Sugata Bose, also a Trinamool MP, were present on the occasion.

The President also sat for some time on the car's front seat beside the driver, while Bose took his position at the wheel.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said, Netaji's name is perhaps the most emotive issue in the Indian political arena, particularly to Bengalis, even so many years after the great man's disappearance.

Netaji continues to be the centre of many controversies till date, he said.

The restoration was carried out in consultation with vintage car expert Pallab Ray and is scheduled for completion by December.

Netaji's nephew Sisir Bose had driven the revolutionary in the sedan (bearing the registration number BLA 7169) through the streets of Kolkata to Gomoh (now in Jharkhand) hoodwinking British intelligence. He reached Germany via the Khyber Pass, Kabul and Moscow.

In a note of admiration for Sisir Bose, also the NRB founder, the President referred to his role in the historic incident which triggered a series of consequential events and also led to his imprisonment for three to four years at various places from Lahore to Kolkata.
Hyderabad, Jan 18 : The producer of Bollywood blockbuster "Chennai Express", Karim Morani, has been booked for allegedly raping a Delhi-based woman on promise of marriage, police said on Wednesday.

The complainant, aged around 25, alleged that Morani raped her in Mumbai and also at a film studio in Hyderabad in 2015 after promising to marry her.

The woman last week lodged a complaint with Hayathnagar police under Rachakonda police commissionerate near Hyderabad.

A police officer said a case under sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation), 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the producer.

The woman told police that she was looking for a break in films and had met Morani in 2015. She alleged that the producer after raping her had threatened with dire consequences if she revealed it to anyone.

The producer, however, denied the allegations.

"The complaint is absolutely false and bogus and filed with the sole intention of tarnishing Morani's reputation and image. Morani will be taking appropriate steps in accordance with law to demonstrate that complaint is mala fide," Karim's spokesperson said.

"He is truthful and innocent and has full faith in the judiciary and is ready and willing to co-operate with the authorities to the fullest extent," added the spokesperson.

The producer's name had also figured as an accused in the 2G spectrum scam. He was accused of helping channel funds to the tune of RS 200 crore to popular Tamil television channel Kalaignar TV.
Kolkata, Jan 19 : Cocking a snook at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday said "money loot" was a cmmon thread between the "Didibhai-Modibhai (Mamata-Modi) nexus.

Yechury referred to Saradha and Rose Valley ponzi scheme scandals and the Nara Sting operations, the later purportedly showing some top leaders of the state's ruling Trinamool Congress allegedly taking wads of notes in exchange for doling out favours to a fictitious company.

"Constant loot is going on in Bengal sometimes in the form of Sarada, sometimes Narada and sometimes Rose Valley," he said.

"Similarly Prime Minister Modi has conducted loot on common people of the nation through his demonetisation move. The money loot is the common thread between Didibhai-Modibhai (Mamata-Modi) nexus," Yechury said while addressing a party meeting in the satellite township of Salt Lake.

Ridiculing the Modi government's demonetisation move, Yechury said he has failed to unearth black money.

"Modi said demonetisation was a move to curb black money but the reality is only 5-6 per cent of the black money is in the nation while the major chunk is stashed in the banks abroad. Modi should have ordered investigations on the people who hold those foreign bank accounts but he hasn't done that," he said.

"97 per cent of the total amount of scrapped notes have already come back to the bank. Where is the black money," Yechury added.

He said all major financial organisations in the world including IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank have said India's GDP will go down significantly after demonetisation.

He alleged the BJP led NDA government at the centre was trying to "stoke" communal passions.

"But they are going to lose badly in the coming elections to Uttar Pradesh. People will give them triple talaq. The first talaq was when the BJP lost in the Delhi assembly polls. Then they lost in Bihar. It was the second Talaq. The third or triple talaq from the people will come in Uttar Pradesh," he said.
Moscow, Jan 19 : Russia and Turkey conducted their first joint airstrikes against positions held by the Islamic State terror group in Syria, military sources said.

The joint aerial exercises on Wednesday were carried out over the IS-held city of al-Bab in Syria's northern Aleppo province, Efe news reported.

"The operation, conducted with the consent of Syria, involved nine warplanes from the Russian Air Force and eight from the Turkish Air Force," the Head of the Russian General Staff Sergey Rudskoy told media.

Calling the operations against the IS in that area highly effective Rudskoy said that nearly 36 target objectives were singled out during 48 hours of drone and satellite surveillance carried out prior to the operations.

Al-Bab, located some 30 km from Aleppo, is one of the last urban strongholds of the IS in the region.

The Syrian government's recent recapture of urban Aleppo from the predominantly Islamist rebels occupying the city's east boosted its power in a region where President Bashar al-Assad's duress was once waning.

Rudskoy also said the Syrian regime had launched a new offensive to recapture ancient Palmyra, a southern city whose military occupants have alternated between the IS and government troops during years of offensives and counter-offensives.

The joint Turkey-Russia operations came during the nationwide ceasefire adopted on December 30, 2016.

According to the Russian military, the relative success of the cessation in hostilities has paved the way for the conflict resolution meeting between between Assad and opposition representatives due to be held on January 23 in Astana, Kazakhstan, which would be mediated by Russia and Turkey.
Moscow, Jan 19 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande about steps being taken to organise the Syrian settlement talks due to start on January 23 in Astana.

"Putin told his colleagues about steps on implementing the Russian-Turkish-Iranian agreements on the ceasefire in Syria and on preparing the Astana meeting between Damascus and Syrian opposition representatives scheduled for January 23," Sputnik news agency cited a statement by the Kremlin.

Moreover, Russian, German and French leaders discussed in a phone call on Wednesday additional efforts to deescalate tensions in eastern Ukraine stressing the need to ensure the strict implementation of Minsk peace agreements.

"The sides discussed the implementation of the Minsk peace accords, expressing disappointment with the current situation in the context of the Ukrainian crisis settlement," the statement said.

"The leaders noted, in particular, the escalation of tensions along the separation line in Donbas, as well as lack of progress in the work of the Contact Group on Ukraine," it said.

According to the document, Putin, Merkel and Hollande agreed to intensify efforts in the 'Normandy Four' format, including holding a number of joint events at various levels in the near future.
Zift is moving forward in 2017 with the vision, direction and resources to address the needs and continued challenges of todays channel organizations.

Zift Solutions, a leading provider of Channel Marketing and Management (CMM) solutions, announced that its demonstrated growth and success in 2016 is driving strong forward momentum into 2017.

GROWING FINANCIAL STRENGTH & MARKET DOMINANCE

Zift exhibited impressive financial growth in 2016, increasing revenue by more than 50 percent and signing several new customers, including Akamai, Gamma Telecom, Informatica, SAS and VMware. Zift maintained its position as the definitive CMM platform provider in the marketplace today with the largest channel partner community worldwide.

Following its acquisition of SharedVue, Zift has successfully completed the migration of all customers from an array of industries spanning Manufacturing, Telecommunications, eCommerce and Tech to the Zift Platform. The transition to Zift provides expanded functionality for these companies to drive more channel revenue.

INNOVATION EXPANDS BOUNDARIES

Zift expanded the boundaries of CMM in 2016, becoming the first provider to deliver fully-integrated Search Engine Marketing capabilities within a CMM platform and leveling the playing field for channel marketing by making digital advertising, including SEM and Pay-Per-Click, accessible to channel programs of all sizes.

Zift also launched Campaign Marketplace, which gives channel partners the ability to optimize, manage and use their Market Development Funds (MDF) to access pre-approved marketing activities and customized campaigns developed and executed by professional Marketing Service Agencies within the Zift Platform.

2016 saw Zift surpassing 1 billion in tracked marketing events, which can be analyzed to provide additional insight into the specific ways users are leveraging Zift capabilities. Users saw impressive results in 2016 with Zift, including:

A 143% increase in integrated multi-tactic campaigns created with:



15 million emails sent through Zift with a 251% increase in clicks and a 138% increase in form submissions

252% increase in social accounts connected with a 290% increase in social shares/retweets and a nearly 300% increase in social post clicks

As well as:



An 181% increase in leads created and more than 2.2M leads distributed

More than 1.2 million opportunities created

EXPANDED EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Zift deepened its already strong leadership bench with the addition of several proven industry experts in 2016. Prominent industry analyst and CMM thought leader, Laz Gonzalez joined Zift as Chief Strategy Officer, bringing unparalleled channel insight garnered from his tenure as Group Director of Channel Sales and Marketing Strategies at SiriusDecisions and years serving as strategic advisor to leading B2B channel programs worldwide. Zifts new Vice President of Product, Damien Rochman brings over 20 years of cross-functional software expertise to his role defining and managing the strategic direction and development of Zifts product roadmap. Steven Capozzi joined Zift as Vice President of Customer Success, further strengthening the companys culture of customer centricity and bringing two decades of product lifecycle, marketing and management expertise to his new role at Zift. New Zift Chief Financial Officer Will Sendall joined the company in April, using 20 years of high-growth technology expertise in his role providing direction and oversight of Zifts continued financial growth and management.

CONTINUED THOUGHT-LEADERSHIP

Leveraging its deep industry insight for education and thought-leadership, Zift conducted a powerful study with the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), exploring the disruptive changes within the dealer/distributor landscape. Collaborating with Channel Partners to Drive Faster Growth found that manufacturers are missing opportunities to effectively engage channel partners, lack visibility to measure marketing ROI, and are underutilizing data, modern digital marketing and collaboration tools that drive channel sales.

Zift launched Channel Visions TV, an educational destination website that brings together channel change makers, recognized industry analysts and experts along with seasoned professionals working on both sides of the channel to share insight and real-world experiences.

EVOLVING CORPORATE CULTURE & DEMONSTRATED SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The company continued to expand in 2016 with 27.2% employee growth. Demonstrating the companys strong commitment to social responsibility, more than 75 percent of Zift staff participated in Pledge 1%, donating more than 500 hours to local philanthropic organizations, including Transitions LifeCare, Raleigh Soup Kitchen, the Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, Build Your Bucket List, and Walk to End Alzheimers, among many others. The staff currently working in Zifts dual NC-based offices will be consolidated into one cornerstone location in 2017.

Zift is moving forward in 2017 with the vision, direction and resources required to address the needs and continued challenges of todays channel organizations, said Ken Romley, President and CEO, Zift Solutions. We are dedicated to creating a great place to work, rapidly responding to the demands of our growing customer base and actively shaping the future of the channel by delivering easy-to-use, integrated tools and services that provide everything necessary to build and grow a more profitable channel partner program.

ABOUT ZIFT SOLUTIONS

Zift Solutions increases channel sales and boosts marketing impact with a superior technology platform, a complete channel marketing success framework and global customer care. Leading channel driven organizations around the world leverage Zift Solutions cloud-based platform to automate co-branded marketing, empower collaborative selling and measure results with powerful analytics. To learn more join the conversation via the blog Channel Chatter and follow us on Twitter @zift.
NewCold and Fisher Construction Group have broken ground for building NewColds Tacoma Automated Coldstore, located in proximity to the Port of Tacoma and I-5.

The coldstore will use state of the art technology including automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) to automatically move and store products in the dark high-bay warehouse. The equipment and operators will be directed by advanced software systems, while products are kept in optimal conditions with all coldstore areas cooled down to sub-zero temperatures.

This advanced cold chain solution ensures that processes are sustainable, traceable, fully integrated with the processes of NewColds customers, and always at the very forefront of technological developments. It offers a high and consistent logistic service level, and above all, offer a more sustainable and better food safety alternative to more conventional coldstore solutions.

The futuristic multi-customer coldstore enables food producers, including Trident Seafoods, to optimize their cold chain management, with increased agility and responsiveness to better serve the needs of their domestic and international end customers, 24/7.

David Richardson, President and CEO of NewCold says, With this ground-breaking, NewCold brings to Tacoma, the Pacific Northwest, and North America, 16 years of leadership in automated cold storage development and operations. Although our roots are in Europe, our heart is with global food producers where ever NewCold can bring value. We could not be more pleased than to stand as partners beside Fisher Construction Company and our sponsoring customer, Trident Seafoods. NewCold highly values trusted partnerships and the partnerships created to realize this efficient, giant freezer are very special. Our sincere thanks to the City of Tacoma for their critical support and guidance. Pierce county and the City of Tacoma are full partners, as well. They are easy to work with and clearly focused on economic growth through leading technologies and we are thrilled to be investing here.

Randy Furtner, CFO of Trident Seafoods continues, We have been investigating the possibilities of optimizing our cold chain with an automated coldstore for a long time. We went through a rigorous process with NewCold's team to make sure that the coldstore solution fulfills all our needs. NewCold's extensive experience in automated coldstore development and operation have helped us to realize our ambitions. We look forward to working together with NewCold in this generational coldstore project, which will play a pivotal role in our cold chain."

The state of the art freezer is a joint design effort and construction by NewCold and Fisher Construction Group of Burlington (WA). The facility will be one of the largest in the USA with a storage capacity of over 25 million cubic feet, comparable to the volume of Seahawks CenturyLink Field.

Fisher is excited to partner with NewCold on this facility, their first in North America, says Dan Powers, President, and CEO of Fisher Construction Group. The unique method used to build this facility, and the technologies incorporated within facility are the way of the future, and were pleased to team with them and their storage partners to make it a reality. Leading edge technologies used in addition to the automated pallet retrieval systems, are the building itself being supported by the structure of the storage racks which will hold the pallets of products, the low-oxygen environment reducing the risk of fire from the inside entirely, and the total building design needing only half the energy consumed by conventional cold stores to keep the products optimally frozen."

NewCold is a great addition the logistics industry in Pierce County and Tacoma, employing up to 100 employees when fully operational, and providing vital support for the regions robust food production capability, says EDB President and CEO Bruce Kendall. We are thrilled they are bringing their first US operations here. Their highly automated and energy-efficient facility will support Tridents growing business and serve other customers.

The permitting team at the City of Tacoma worked conscientiously to review permits and get the construction off to a smooth start. From the very first meeting, this project was off to a great start with successful teamwork between company representatives, designers, project managers and our permitting folks.

Fisher Construction Group:

A construction services company based in the Pacific Northwest, Fisher Construction Group designs and builds commercial and industrial facilities throughout the continental US and Alaska. Offering turnkey building solutions to the cold storage and food processing industries, Fishers team of builders, architects, structural engineers and food processing experts are known for building highly efficient facilities that deliver on investment. The company has steadily grown over the last five years to become the company that it is today with annual revenues of over $200 million.

NewCold:

NewCold is an integrated service provider for cold chain logistics based in the Netherlands. NewCold operates a European network of large scale automated cold stores and refrigerated transport serving frozen food producers in France, Germany, United Kingdom and Poland. NewCold is further expanding its operations globally, building on decades of know how in developing and operating advanced cold chain logistics solutions.
Superior Business Solutions "The 2017 Best of Print and Digital Award surveys confirms that there is a quantifiable difference when clients work with Superior." ~ Bill English, CEO

Superior Business Solutions, a mainstay in national printing services founded in 1924, announces recognition received as an Award Winner of the 2017 Best of Print & Digital program.

The Best of Print & Digital is an annual program that identifies which companies have provided the highest service delivery to their customers over the last year through independent survey research performed by Butler Street Research for the print and digital industry. Only the very top companies in the print and digital industry were able to achieve this distinction. Superior Business Solutions is honored to receive this award.

We are proud to win the Best of Print and Digital designation. To me it was a confirmation and testament to how good our team is! You always like to believe as a company you are good at what you do but when you get confirmation there is a lot of satisfaction for your whole team, said Vice President, Tim English. At the end of the day our business is about relationships and service. We set the bar high and I think our team hit it!

Superior Business Solutions customer loyalty and satisfaction results rank them in the top one half of 1% in an industry of more than 22,000 competitors.

Mike Jacoutot, Butler Streets founder and managing partner, shared, This years winners are clearly the best of the best in the industry. They have proven the difference that exceptional customer experience makes and as a result, are poised for increased client loyalty and future profitable growth.

Superior Business Solutions CEO, Bill English, expressed thanks saying, Im proud of our Superior team and thankful to our customers. Superior has a long tradition of identifying with our customer needs and acting in their best interests to maximize our customers' bottom line by increasing sales or reducing overall costs. The 2017 Best of Print and Digital Award surveys confirms that there is a quantifiable difference when clients work with Superior.

About Superior Business Solutions

Superior Business Solutions, part of the SBS Brands family of companies, is an industry leader in supply chain management and process improvement solutions to optimize print and digital spending, while saving time and accelerating sales. Their holistic supply chain management solutions align and automate the process from design, planning and procurement to production, printing and fulfillmentfor a single department, for multiple business units or enterprise-wide. Family-owned and operated since 1924, this ISO 9001:2008 certified company is headquartered in Grand Rapids Michigan with nine locations in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Florida and serves clients throughout the United States. For more information: http://www.superior.org

About Butler Street

Butler Street, a leading provider of client loyalty research and retention programs across the print industry, in conjunction with NAPCO Media, Printing Impressions and Print+Promo, launched the Best of Print & Digital Program to recognize those companies with the highest customer loyalty in the industry. Butler Street specializes in helping companies and their people grow and delivers lasting results in the two most challenging areas that companies face: client development and talent development.

Contact: Shane Shirley shaneshirley(at)sbsbrands(dot)com.
It's an honor to have our work recognized on both a national and international scale.

Digital marketing and web design agency Epic Notion ended 2016 by winning multiple awards for web design in three national and international creative communications competitions. Epic Notion received recognition for their work during Q4 in the 11th Annual W Awards, 2016 International Davey Awards and Graphic Design USAs Health + Wellness Design Awards.

We strive to develop thoughtfully articulated campaigns and top notch creative work for all of our clients brands. Its an honor to have our work recognized on both a national and international scale, said Mike Wall, vice president of Epic Notion.

Epic Notion competed against over 5,000 other entries in the W Awards and walked away winning statuettes in two categories for the Gurwin Jewish Web Design and Website User Experience. The focus of the W Awards is to honor and celebrate the stunning work produced by creative marketing professionals from small agencies to Fortune 500 companies.

In addition to the W Awards, Epic Notion also participated alongside almost four thousand other entries in the Davey Awards. The agencys quality of design was recognized within this competition as well and a Silver was awarded for the Baxter Mill Archive Website Design. The Davey Awards mission is to recognize the creative ideas produced by the finest small agencies, firms and companies across the world.

Epic Notion also received an award for the Gurwin Jewish Web Design in Graphic Design USAs Health + Wellness Design Awards. The 2016 awards showcased exceptional graphic communication designs that captured the essence of client brands within the health and wellness industry.

Epic Notion is a full-service web development and digital marketing agency located in Charlotte, N.C. Epic Notion undertakes each project with a specialized approach and offers a unique strategy for each of their clients. Every campaign designed and produced is customized to perfectly fit the needs of each client to produce real results. For more information, please visit: http://www.epicnotion.com.
Reliable Heating & Air "The HVACR industry is advancing rapidly right now and to be able to create a facility and curriculum that is cutting edge and that means a higher percentage of job placement for men and women when they leave our school is invaluable." Dan Jape, Owner

Reliable Heating & Air, the nations #1 Trane dealer and leading provider of heating and air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and home performance residential and commercial service acquired an HVACR technical school. The school is located at 9540 Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro, GA. The facility was formerly known as the Laurus Technical Institute and is currently undergoing renovation in anticipation of accepting students by summer 2017. This marks the second acquisition by Reliable Heating & Air in the past year.

This achievement is particularly significant to the owner of Reliable Heating & Air, Dan Jape. As one of the largest employers in the southeast of NATE certified HVACR technicians, it is important to Mr. Jape to ensure the quality and excellence of training programs available to men and women who pursue a career in heating and air.

We hire HVACR technicians at all levels of the spectrum at Reliable Heating & Air. Apprentice level and up for instance those that come from technical schools. The HVACR industry is advancing rapidly right now and to be able to create a facility and curriculum that is cutting edge and that means a higher percentage of job placement for men and women when they leave our school is invaluable, said Mr. Jape. This is a way for my current technicians to be able to invest in their own professional development as well with the continuing education offerings our school will have. I want to have the most skilled technicians working for Reliable and to have that you have to invest in your people.

The new school is going to be called Reliable Academy and offer the most advanced curriculum including: fundamentals of refrigeration, sheet metal skills, walk-in coolers, electrical, plumbing and HVAC service. Students will be prepared to pass their NATE certification upon leaving. Beyond that, the school will offer soft skills training that helps technicians interact better with homeowners, business owners and building facilities personnel. Students graduating from the Reliable Academy will be work force ready and be able to begin their new career with a solid foundation.

According to Manpower Group, the hardest segment of the workforce for employers to staff with skilled talent is the skilled trades  welders, electricians, technicians, and so on. Reliable Academy will help change that.

I am extremely proud to help influence people and show them the amazing opportunity in the heating and air, plumbing and electrical industry, says Mr. Jape.

For more information about Reliable Academy visit us online at http://www.ReliableAir.com or call or text 24/7 at (770)-594-9969
...visually stimulating, responsive to user need, and multifaceted. -AJN

F.A. Davis Company has been recognized by AJN as the publisher of two of the titles awarded 2016 Book-of-the-Year Awards in the digital products category. These awards recognize the most valuable publications of the year, as chosen by AJNs panel of judges. Peer-reviewed and evidence-based, AJN is considered the professions premier journal and has been identifying its selections of the years best work since 1969.

These products reflect new models of active, adaptive, and personalized learning empowered by the technology that is changing how nursing is taught and how students are learning. Davis Advantage Patho and Davis Edge NCLEX were designed and built from the ground up only after extensive research into how students learn, the best evidence-based educational practices, and in-depth conversations with educators, administrators, and students to ensure that they would meet the needs of todays students and provide a clear path to success, said Jean Rodenberger, Editor-in-Chief, Nursing. We believe that Davis Advantage Patho and Davis Edge NCLEX represent the future of nursing education. We are honored that AJN has recognized the role of these products in the education of the next generation of nursing students and the professional development of the field.

visually stimulating, responsive to user need, and multifaceted. The preassessment that tailors a learning plan for each student is fantastic, and the lessons that follow include interesting videos and interactive case studies, not just text. The product also provides a scorecard with graphical data display, as well as the functionality for instructors to assign sections and chapters with deadlines. Not only does this resource have expert content, its dynamic and enjoyable to use.AJN

What would I have given for a product like Davis Edge NCLEX-RN! Simply put, this is a bank of questions. It is easy to jump in and create exams ranging from five to 20 questions, or an entire 75-question test. The program tracks students progress and tailors practice exams to their individual needs. This program also presents incredibly relevant and clear depictions of progress in a graphical format that all nurses will see in the workplacesuch as in quality metrics, hospital initiatives, or research.AJN

These titles are available at bookstores or directly from F.A. Davis Company.

For more information, call 800-323-3555 (US) 800-665-1148 (Canada) or visit http://www.FADavis.com.

About F.A. Davis Company

F.A. Davis Company is one of the oldest independent, family-managed publishing houses in America. Since 1879, we have been meeting the needs of nursing, medical, and health science professionals seeking information of the highest quality.

Today, F.A. Davis carries on that tradition through its print, digital, and online products for students, educators, and clinicians in Nursing and the Health Sciences. Our flagship titles, Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary and Daviss Drug Guide for Nurses are among the most trusted names in health care.

For more information, visit http://www.FADavis.com.
NETSTOCK, publishers of the premier inventory replenishment and optimization application for small and medium-sized enterprises, will be at Acumatica Summit 2017 this month presenting its unique inventory replenishment solution. As with last year, NETSTOCK is a Gold Sponsor of this years Acumatica Summit, highlighting the strong connection between the two software publishers.

Members of the NETSTOCK team will be on the expo floor at Summit, which will be held on January 29 through February 3 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. The event will feature specialized breakout sessions for end users and VARs, along with numerous sessions dedicated to the product road map, technical training, and the ISV ecosystem.

The NETSTOCK team will be promoting its latest campaign, #DitchTheSpreadsheets. Countless retail, manufacturing, and distribution companies rely on a spreadsheet to manage inventory control and replenishment, and the costs of using this outdated method can be staggering.

NETSTOCK enables Acumatica ERP users to get rid of their inventory spreadsheets by providing a data-based tool to minimize stock-outs, reduce excess stock, and produce optimal orders quickly, all of which add up to significant savings. Both NETSTOCK and Acumatica deliver true cloud solutions, and the connection between the two is seamless.

Craig de Kock, NETSTOCKs Chief Business Development Officer, said he is excited by the opportunities Acumatica Summit will provide, in part because the expo will be the growing publishers biggest yet.

We are proud to be a Gold Sponsor at this years event, and we are looking forward to sharing our solution for inventory optimization with the increasing Acumatica user base, de Kock said. Our strategic partnership with Acumatica has already been a win for both companies, and their users are quickly realizing the massive ROI that NETSTOCK provides.

For more information about how NETSTOCK equips inventory planners with the tools they need to manage inventory tasks like replenishment, classification, forecasting, bill of materials, and more, visit http://www.netstock.co. To learn more about Acumatica Summit 2017, visit http://summit.acumatica.com.

About NETSTOCK

NETSTOCK is the global developer of the NETSTOCK inventory control application, which connects with a wide variety of ERP systems on the market. The app is an affordable, secure, cloud-based solution that enables SMEs to reduce stock-outs, minimize excess inventory, and free up working capital.

The NETSTOCK app connects to ERP data to produce quality forecasts, reduce the time spent on manual tasks, and solve for the optimal investment required to achieve target fill rates. Implementation is brief and inexpensive, delivering an impressive return on investment rapidly. Learn more about this acclaimed inventory management solution currently employed by more than 900 companies globally by visiting http://www.netstock.co.
With our EdgeSwitch, IT pros are able to implement a streamlined and cost-effective solution with one vendor, simplifying data acquisition and improving management.

APCON, a leading provider of intelligent network monitoring and security solutions, today introduced the EdgeSwitch, a high density, 1RU white-box switch solution. The EdgeSwitch delivers data center top-of-rack, campus and remote site aggregation and filtering for network visibility. For effortless configuration and management, the EdgeSwitch comes integrated with APCONs industry leading graphical user interface, WebXR.

Businesses are continually changing and expanding their data center landscape. With increases in traffic flowing through networks and more ports to monitor than before, IT professionals need a one-stop shop for complete network visibility, seamless integration and support, said Richard Rauch, president and CEO of APCON. With our EdgeSwitch, IT pros are able to implement a streamlined and cost-effective solution with one vendor, simplifying data acquisition and improving management.

Security and network professionals are now empowered to easily aggregate and filter traffic from top-of-rack switches, campus sites or remote offices using the same consistent workflow they are already accustomed to with APCONs IntellaFlex XR monitoring systems. This is thanks to the tightly coupled integration of EdgeSwitch and WebXR.

Engineers can now deliver against the business mandate to continually increase agility and efficiency by optimizing processes. Thanks to WebXR, the EdgeSwitchs configuration of port aggregations, port tagging, ingress/egress port filters, viewing of port statistics, and execution of software upgrades can be performed with minimum effort and greatest consistency.

The EdgeSwitch also allows easy aggregation of traffic into IntellaFlex XR monitoring systems. Engineers can aggregate top-of-rack switches or consolidate remote and campus sites, then forward traffic of interest to IntellaFlex XR systems for advanced processing and data manipulation such as multi-stage filtering, deduplication, load balancing, packet slicing, time stamping and protocol stripping.

The EdgeSwitch offers 48 ports of 1G/10G and six ports of 40G, providing excellent port density for edge aggregation applications. The EdgeSwitch also features any-to-any connectivity, aggregation, filtering and multi-system trunking as well as port statistics, system status and configurable alerts.

The EdgeSwitch is available immediately for purchase or demonstration or contact the APCON public relations team at 503-682-4050 for more information.

About APCON

For more than 20 years, APCON has consistently delivered smart, stable and scalable technology solutions that provide an unparalleled level of confidence to service providers and businesses seeking total data center visibility and security. Its customers range from midsize companies to Fortune 1000 enterprises in more than 40 countries. APCON assures superior network monitoring while supporting traffic analysis and streamlined network management and security. For more information, visit http://www.apcon.com or follow us on Twitter @apcon.

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AVIE! MedSpa & Laser Center of Leesburg, VA is now offering Viora Reaction non-surgical cellulite reduction, skin tightening & fat reduction

AVIE! MedSpa and Laser Center is excited to introduce the Before and After Visualizer for Ultherapy, a non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound energy to tighten and lift loose, sagging skin on the face, neck, jawline, chin, brow, and chest. This exciting new visualization technology affords patients a sneak peak of their Ultherapy results before they undergo the treatment.

Using an actual photograph of the patient, this new technology creates a realistic depiction of a persons unique results by providing a digitally-generated after image of their Ultherapy treatment.

A non-surgical alternative to a facelift, FDA-cleared Ultherapy uses ultrasound imaging to target and deliver ultrasound energy directly to problem areas. Ultherapy can tighten from deep within the skins foundation and promote new collagen growth for added elasticity, leaving skin looking younger and firmer.

The winner of PoshSEVENs Best of Suburbia Beauty Award in 2016, AVIE! MedSpa and Laser Center is an Ultherapy Ultra Treatment Provider, which acknowledges AVIE! for providing a high number of Ultherapy treatments with exceptional outcomes.

About AVIE! MedSpa & Laser Center

AVIE! MedSpa & Laser Center has been offering the latest in cosmetic medical spa treatments in a relaxing spa environment in Leesburg, VA since opening in March 2009. MedSpa Owner and Master Aesthetician, Kim Marinetto, RN, in conjunction with Medical Director Khalique Zahir, MD and their highly skilled team of nurses, nurse practitioners and aestheticians, provide specialized cosmetic and aesthetic programs so each of their clients needs are addressed on an individual basis with personalized follow-ups.

Aesthetic treatments at AVIE! have minimal to no downtime. Services include: CoolSculpting, Vela Shape III, Ultherapy, Botox, Juvederm, Juvederm Ultra Plux XC, Restylane, Restylane Silk, Restylane Lyft, Voluma XC, Volbella, Chemical Peels, MicroLaserPeels, Photo Facials, HydraFacial, Dermaplaning, Skin Tightening, Pro Fractional Skin Resurfacing, Laser Hair Removal, Professional Skin Analysis, PRP, Vitamin B12 shots, HD Brows, and Blepharoplasty by Dr. Zahir. With over 20 years of experience administering injectables, AVIE! has performed over 100,000 Botox and dermal filler treatments since 2009. AVIE! also carries physician level skin care and makeup. Consultations are complimentary, and financing is available. For more information please call 703-737-0197 or visit http://www.aviemedspa.com.

About Kim Marinetto, RN & Master Aesthetician

Kim Marinetto has over 20 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, and in the past seven years has focused her practice on cosmetic medicine, adding to her credentials a Medical Aesthetician Certification in 2006, along with additional certifications in Botox Cosmetic, Facial Fillers, Sclerotherapy, and various advanced laser systems. Kim is a Master Aesthetician in the state of Virginia. Additionally, Kim has done extensive training on laser technology and her coursework is recognized by the AMA.

About Khalique Zahir, MD

Dr. Khalique Zahir, Medical Director of AVIE! Medspa and Laser Center, graduated from West Virginia School of Medicine and is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Surgery. Dr. Zahir practiced general surgery from 1992  1999 at West Virginia University and St. Marys Hospital, then cosmetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 1999  2001. Dr. Zahir also holds a Virginia Medical License and a Maryland Medical License. He has written over 20 articles published in national health journals and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at VCU School of Medicine.
As we continue to forge a world-wide brand, the name change was important to ensure we were building a brand that was uniquely ours

Phil-Am Food (now FilStop) was formerly part of Phil-Am Food Mart, Inc., the owner of the original Phil-Am Food retail store located at 683 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey. Phil-Am Food Mart, Inc. was founded by three sisters and their husbands in 1973, and later grew to include a bakery and a wholesale division.

In 2002, the retail store, bakery and wholesale division were spun off as their own separate companies, with the retail store going to Phil-Am Merchandising, Inc. (doing business as Phil-Am Food) and the wholesale division going to Phil-Am Trading, Inc. Both the retail and wholesale businesses maintained their use of the Phil-Am brand.

In 2015, after Phil-Am Food experienced several years of astronomical growth with its online Filipino grocery store, it began discussions with the wholesale business Phil-Am Trading, Inc. regarding potential confusion resulting from the use of the Phil-Am name by both companies. Eventually, the two companies reached an agreement under which Phil-Am Trading, Inc. agreed to buy out Phil-Am Foods rights to the Phil-Am name.

"We've grown from a small family store to a world-wide provider of Filipino food, and we will continue to see exponential growth over the coming years, says FilStop President Erwin Santos. As we continue to forge a world-wide brand, the name change was important to ensure we were building a brand that was uniquely ours."

When asked what the name change means for customers, Santos says its business as usual. FilStop will continue to provide the best selection of Filipino grocery items and the personal customer service that our retail outlet was built on.

The only difference, says Santos, is that FilStops reach is now much larger than the East Coast of the United States, were making Filipino food available to everyone in the world.
Panoply.io, the self optimizing analytics infrastructure company, today announced results from its survey at AWS re:Invent end of 2016. 833 attendees shared feedback about data warehouse trends, where 80% of the tools are now cloud-based versus on-premise. 60% of respondents found their data warehouse difficult to manage and too complex. Interestingly, 61% of respondents were currently not using any ETL tool at all, 25% using no business intelligence tools at all. Full results of the survey can be found at http://learn.panoply.io/data-warehousing-trends-report-2017.

Responses from more than 800 re:Invent attendees support what industry experts such as Gartner have been saying -- that cloud-based data warehousing solutions, such as Amazon Redshift, are transforming the market, leading to a noticeable shift in industry leadership and the way vendors will have to approach clear needs and challenges that still exist in data warehousing.

It is little surprise that at an Amazon conference 60% of the 833 respondents reported using Amazon Redshift. However, what was surprising was how small a pool reported using Google BigQuery, only 3% or less than 25 individuals. Also interesting was that 21% of respondents still run an on-premise solution versus a cloud-based one.

Feedback was clear that tools, whether Redshift or others, had solid performance potential, but were difficult to manage and too complex, said Yaniv Leven, Co-Founder and CEO of Panoply.io. This is precisely why we created Panpoly.io: to enable our customers to more easily and affordably automate data analytics infrastructures. Panoply.io helps users get to the data faster, easier. The survey results really validated our entire business focus.

Of 833 respondents, mostly all tech professionals such as IT specialists and developers, 51% reported they were pleased with their data warehouse performance, but 60% found their data warehouse difficult to manage, and complained of complexity. According to respondents, ETL, , is only used by 39%. Over 500 respondents were at companies they indicated were currently not using any ETL tool at all, perhaps connected to the complexity challenge. Ease of use is still a weak spot for data warehouse providers and streamlining operations is still a challenge they need to address.

When the 833 surveyed were asked about what Business Intelligence tools they used or preferred, the answers were spilt among several vendors with a quarter of respondents reporting using no BI tool at all, essentially limiting the analytics available in the data warehouse implementations for 25% of respondents. Between the low ETL adoption and a quarter of respondents still not engaging BI, Panoply.io concludes that even with AWS opening up the data warehouse opportunity, companies are still in the early stages of building end-to-end BI solutions.

Our survey reflects how organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the value of data warehousing beyond simple storage; they are calling for better ways to extract information from their data and analyze it, added Leven. We believe Amazon Redshift holds the key to simplifying that task, making data warehousing accessible and effective for companies. We also believe complementary solutions, such as Panoply, that close the gaps and ease data management will convince more data industry professionals to move to cloud-based solutions, that can have high performance with minimal complexity.

For the full report, go to http://learn.panoply.io/data-warehousing-trends-report-2017

Panoply.io helps users of Redshift get the most value from data warehouses efficiently, effectively, affordably and easily, enabling critical data handling, management and optimization of infrastructure. Panpoly.ios self optimizing analytics infrastructure automatically tailors itself to the end users business needs through machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) to allow teams of data engineers and data scientists to virtualize and automate analytics cloud infrastructure. Panoply.ios self-optimizing solution helps customers focus on the actual data, not its infrastructure.

About Panoply.io

Based in San Francisco and Tel Aviv, Panoply.io is the cloud-based data management for analytics company. Panoply.io enables companies to seamlessly implement an end-to-end data management solution simplifying and automating analytical data management tasks associated with running Big Data on the cloud for mid stage companies. Panoply.ios technology is based on machine-learning and self-optimizing processes that analyze query patterns, metadata and configurations to more easily and affordably enable and improve data analytics infrastructure. The company is privately-held and funded by investors such as Blumberg Capital and Intel Capital. For more, see http://www.panoply.io.
The many macro trends impacting the RIA industry is setting up for a perfect storm of M&A activity for the wealth management industry.

ECHELON Partners, a leading investment bank focused exclusively on the investment and wealth management industries, announced today the release of the inaugural ECHELON RIA M&A DealBook and website designed to capture the key transactions, trends and M&A activity in the RIA, Broker-Dealer, Hybrid Advisor, WealthTECH and Investment Management industries.

Merger and Acquisition activity in the RIA industry hit an all time record of 138 transactions, representing a 10% increase over last years record level and a 16% compound annual growth rate since the business cycle trough in 2009. Additionally, M&A activity has increased in 6 of the 7 years leading up to 2016s record level, with projections for more of the same in 2017.

The many macro trends impacting the RIA industry is setting up for a perfect storm of M&A activity for the wealth management industry, said Dan Seivert, CEO of ECHELON Partners. Based on these trends, we anticipate a significant increase in advisors looking to drive inorganic growth through an M&A strategy as well as an increase in deal activity as a result of an aging advisor population, an increase in succession planning and the impacts of new fiduciary requirements. As a result, we are investing aggressively in key industry resources such as the ECHELON RIA M&A DealBook and website to be an indispensible tool for all industry participants to rely upon for the latest, highest quality data to assist them in their strategic planning.

The ECHELON DealBook is unique in the industry as it goes beyond reporting on just RIA deals to also include data from breakaway broker activity, investment management deals as well as a new category for wealthTECH firms.

According to the report, reported breakaway activity topped 400 teams for the second year in a row, while more and more breakaways are choosing the RIA channel as their preferred business model. This trend has increased an average of 28% a year over the past six years, with the average breakaway AUM topping $120 billion in each of the past two years, growing at 9% a year from 2010 to 2016.

The RIA model is clearly winning in the marketplace, not only a transparent advice delivery model for clients, but also for breakaway advisors looking to build their own businesses to better serve their clients, while building business value for the long-run, noted Seivert. We expect this trend to continue to expand dramatically, particularly as the many retention deals signed during the financial crisis are fully accrued and there are fewer limitations for leaving the wirehouse.

WealthTECH, a sector of the larger FinTech industry, captures the universe of technology-driven companies that cater to the wealth and investment management industry. The over 1,000 qualifying wealthTECH companies have been identified and mapped by ECHELON into 6 broad sectors and 42 subsectors.

As technology becomes more and more of a focus in how wealth and investment management advice is being delivered, the industry is seeing a marked uptick in WealthTECH deals. With overall FinTech funding growing at exponential rates, a corresponding increase in wealthTECH activity is being seen in the industry as wealthTECH deals doubled year over year in 2015, increasing to 2016s record pace.

Other findings from the report include:



Increase in Billion Dollar Deals  The number of acquisitions involving $1 billion AUM wealth managers more than doubled in 2015 and 2016 vs. 2013 and 2014

Growth in Strategic Deals  While RIAs have historically been the top buyers of other RIAs, in 2016 the number of RIA buyers declined slightly to 42% of all deals from 47% in 2013. Making up for that decline in transactions were strategic buyers and consolidators who increased their share from 31% in 2013 to 40%.

Deal AUM Soars  The amount of RIA AUM acquired in 2015 and 2016 was triple the average rate in the 2010-2014 time period and 2016 represented a record level of AUM acquired, up 29% from the prior year.

Average Deal Size is North of $1 Billion  The average M&A transaction moved over the $1 billion milestone in 2015 and was even higher in 2016, just the second time since 2012.

One Hundred Ninety Billion in Deals Projected for 2017  Based on trend data, 2017 should see more than $190 billion in AUM trade hands.

US Investment Management Deals Increasing  Since 2011, the annual combined value of US Investment Management transactions has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 17.1% vs -0.6% growth rate for global investment management deals.

With so many changes impacting wealth management, such as aging advisors, new regulations, an increase in digital competition and a fast growing wealth market, the demand for investment banking, valuation, succession planning and M&A resources is increasing dramatically, said Seivert. We are extremely pleased with the industrys reception to our new ECHELON RIA M&A DealBook and website and are excited to continue to build out our industry resources to become the Go To solution for all industry deals.

To gain access to the ECHELON RIA M&A DealBook, log onto RIADealBook.com.

About ECHELON Partners

Founded 15 years ago, ECHELON Partners http://www.echelon-partners.com combines the high quality expected of a large investment bank with the high touch expected of a personal boutique. Unlike traditional investment bankers, ECHELON Partners brings together financial advisory, strategic consulting and senior-level operational experience to each engagement. With a track record spanning hundreds of engagements and valuations, the ECHELON team understands the unique needs of owners and executives. The firm believes the key elements to successfully serving clients are a deep understanding of the wealth and investment management businesses, an extensive network of contacts, a powerful set of processes and databases, integrity and trust. ECHELON Partners is committed to bringing all of these qualities to every client engagement.
Priatek received the coveted 2016 Startup of the Year Award by TiE Tampa Bay, at their annual TiEconFL conference. "The goal of the TiEtan Startup of The Year Award is to celebrate the story of grit, and single-minded pursuit of success against all odds that most startups encounter but few manage to navigate. In Milind and his team at Priatek, TiE Tampa Bay's selection committee found their role model worth showcasing to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere for determination, progress and positive impact on the community. Hearty congratulations to Priatek for winning of the TiEtan award at the TiEcon Florida 2016 conference, said Ramesh Sambasivan, President of TIEconFL.

The TiE organization has been incredibly supportive of our company, especially in the early years when it was the toughest. We appreciative all the support and trust of TiE Tampa Bay, said Milind Bharvirkar, President of Priatek. When asked about what has made Priatek so successful, Bharvirkar said, You need determination, a great team, and a product that truly is a solution to a problem in a growing market. This has been an incredible journey for my team and me.

Priateks technology platform has created a new way for retailers and brands to engage with consumers in a cost effective and measurable way, said Bharvirkar. Marketing experts estimate that most Americans are exposed to 4,000 to 10,000 advertisements each day. Consumers are desensitized to regular advertising which results in them trying to block, ignore, or escape ads. Retailers and brands are struggling to connect with their consumers. At Priatek, weve found a creative new way to solve that problem by connecting retailers and brands with consumers through fun, rewards and prizes. Consumers love the experience because they always win a prize or discount off products they want. Brands love it because they can measure the performance of their promotions.

Priatek launched their mobile in2win app as well as their network of interactive kiosks located in malls and other high-traffic locations throughout Tampa Bay. The company secured several strategic partnerships as well as high-profile license agreements. This is only the beginning for Priatek. 2017 is going to be an even bigger year for us, said Bharvirkar.

About TiE Tampa Bay:

TiE Tampa Bay is a not-for-profit organization, tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (6), created to foster entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, and education in Florida. TiE Tampa Bays leadership is comprised fully of accomplished volunteers with a successful track record in entrepreneurship, and a willingness to help other entrepreneurs. Membership fees and non-dues revenues are channeled entirely towards TiE Tampa Bays various programs and events designed to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem through education, mentoring and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs. TiE Tampa Bay is part of the global TiE group, the largest not-for-profit organization promoting entrepreneurship globally. This allows for TiE Tampa Bay to offer unique programs that bring to Florida world-class expertise and thought-leadership from around the globe. TiE is an entrepreneurship organization led entirely by volunteers, and TiE Tampa Bay is proud to bring the dedication of its volunteers to serve Floridas entrepreneurial ecosystem.

About Priatek

Priatek designs and manages custom prize promotions for local and national advertisers under its in2win brand. in2win provides advertisers with the ability to engage with qualified consumers through a network of touchscreen kiosks located in high-traffic locations. At in2win kiosks, consumers select promotions and always win a valuable prize or discount. Advertisers receive comprehensive data analytics that reveal key insights about the success of their promotion. in2win re-engages consumers through its mobile app, social media, and email. in2win is revolutionizing the way brands attract, engage, and sell products to consumers. For more information, go to http://www.priatek.com.

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FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2015, file photo, the Space Needle towers in the background beyond a container ship anchored in Elliott Bay near downtown Seattle. A board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, Lester Ross, says China is preparing to retaliate if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump carries out promises to impose sanctions on Chinese goods. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

BEIJING (AP) -- China is preparing to retaliate if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump raises duties on Chinese goods and already has toughened its stance, an American business group said Wednesday.

Trump, who is due to be inaugurated Friday, threatened during his campaign to raise import duties on Chinese goods to 45 percent. American companies are frustrated by Chinese market barriers and want Washington to take a tougher stance toward Beijing but worry reckless action might trigger retaliation.

Already, China has ordered unusually high anti-dumping penalties against a U.S.-made agricultural chemical.

"China has indeed threatened to and is preparing to take steps in retaliation if such actions take place," said Lester Ross, a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce, at a news conference.

In an implicit rebuke to Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphatically defended free trade in a speech Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. A "trade war" would harm all countries involved, he said.

On Jan. 11, the Ministry of Commerce raised duties on DGGS, an additive for livestock feed, to up to 53.7 percent, nearly double the 33.8 percent rate it recommended in September before Trump was elected.

The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Officials have not said publicly that China is preparing retaliatory measures but state media have emphasized its importance as a market for U.S. soybeans and other exports and warned against starting a "trade war."

Asked at a Jan. 6 news conference whether Beijing would retaliate by hiking import duties on U.S. goods, a deputy Chinese commerce minister, Wang Shouwen, said, "I believe mutually beneficial Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations will be further developed in the future and no one will destroy the win-win relationship."

The United States and China have one of the world's biggest and most complex trading relationships but American companies increasingly complain Beijing is blocking access to technology and other promising industries.

Story continues

While Beijing has promised to open more industries to foreign companies, they also have issued new rules on electric car manufacturing, data security, internet censorship and other fields.

In a reflection of companies' concerns, the American chamber's chairman, William Zarit, said it plans to send seven or eight businesspeople to Washington in February to meet lawmakers and Trump administration officials. Zarit said that is in addition to a delegation that makes an annual visit to Washington in April or May because this year is "special in many ways."

"We certainly are not going there to lecture the administration but we will share our ideas on a win-win path forward," Zarit said.

In a report released Wednesday, the chamber said a survey found American companies are increasingly unhappy with what they see as unfair treatment in China.

"We would recommend that the U.S. be more aggressive in talks," Zarit said. However, he said, "We don't want to do things that are counterproductive to both countries."

The chamber said 81 percent of companies that responded to a survey feel "less welcome" in China, up from 77 percent last year. It said one in four is shifting operations to other countries due to concern about the regulatory environment, higher costs and other reasons.

"Most respondents say China's environment now discourages investment," the report said.

Communist leaders have promised to make China's state-dominated economy more productive by opening more industries to private and foreign competitors. In December, the Cabinet promised to open fields including banking and motorcycle manufacturing.

Zarit and Ross said foreign companies welcomed such announcements but have yet to see significant changes in operating conditions.

Beijing also faces U.S. and European complaints it is threatening thousands of jobs abroad by exporting steel, aluminum, solar panels and other goods at improperly low prices.

The American chamber said its survey found 83 percent of companies expect U.S.-Chinese ties "to remain the same or to deteriorate in 2017." It said the "big question" for them is "what steps both governments will take to ensure a positive business environment."

For their part, European companies also are increasingly frustrated with Chinese trade policy. They complain they are blocked from acquiring assets in China at a time when Chinese companies have bought leading brands including German robot maker Kuka in a multibillion-dollar global acquisition spree.

On Tuesday, German Ambassador Michael Clauss urged Chinese leaders to make good on promises to open wider to foreign investment and give foreign companies a "level playing field."

"Many companies keep telling us that their difficulties in these areas have increased," Clauss said in a statement. "It often appears that somewhere down the line, political assurances of equal treatment give way to protectionist tendencies."

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American Chamber of Commerce in China: www.amchamchina.org
Dr. Daniel Bak This insider understanding of how governmental entities function will prove to be helpful in educating IEI clients.

Ivey Engineering, Inc., (IEI), a forensic analysis and expert witness firm, recently announced the addition of Dr. Daniel N. Bak, a fire and life safety expert witness, to its team of consultants. Bak, a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) and Fire Safety Engineer (F.S.E.), is also a fire protection consultant.

As a senior consultant, Baks responsibilities at IEI include fire protection forensic investigation, analysis and expert witness testimony. He also performs site inspections, testing, research and cost analysis. Additional skills Daniel will utilize include performing fire modeling of various fires in different occupancies.

We are pleased to add Daniel to our firm as a fire and life safety expert witness and his expertise will enhance our existing list of services, says Rush Porter, director of business development. He will help us meet the needs of many of our clients.

Bak is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Bak started his career as a fire protection designer over 35 years ago. He has considerable experience in design and specification of fire and life safety systems, code consultation and fire modeling. Bak has also served as an expert witness.

Additionally, Bak has practical experience as an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), working as an AHJ for the Orange County Fire Authority in Orange County, Calif.

"This insider understanding of how governmental entities function will prove to be helpful in educating IEI clients," he says. "I'm very at ease to speak the AHJ language and get things done, anywhere in the world."

Bak has over five years of international fire engineering experience, having worked for companies in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Japan.

"This overseas experience helped sharpen the art and science of fire protection and fire engineering, using state-of-the-art fire modeling technology," Bak explains.

Throughout his career, Bak pursued higher education in the areas of fire modeling, product safety and systems safety engineering. He taught graduate courses and served as a research assistant, lecturer and associate assistant professor while attending university.

Daniels previous experience in forensic investigations and practical hands-on experience heightens the firms capabilities as a fire protection and life safety consultant, says Porter.

To read more about Bak's background, visit his online profile. To request a copy of his resume, please e-mail or call Rush Porter.

About Ivey Engineering

IEI is an expert witness and building systems consulting firm with offices in San Diego, Calif., and Scottsdale, Ariz. Established in 1994, Ivey Engineering services clients in 50 states and Canada. IEI's consultants have experience in the design, construction, service and repair of HVAC, plumbing, fire sprinkler, fire alarm and life safety systems, as well as energy efficiency related issues. To read more about Ivey Engineering and its consulting services, visit the companys Web site.
Next Gear Solutions, the developers of DASH, the market-leading restoration management software, has finalized the acquisition of Luxor CRM. This acquisition brings a deluxe CRM into the Next Gear Solutions product suite, allowing them to offer even more key business solutions to the restoration management industry.

Luxor CRM has had profound impacts on the effectiveness of restoration sales teams working in the referral-driven environment of restoration sales and marketing, said Garret Gray, CEO of Next Gear Solutions. I believe combining their talent and technology with Next Gears will benefit the entire industry.

Joining forces with the largest job management provider will bring more resources to our current customers and allow us to enable the success of many more contractors, said Lukas Szczurowski, founder of Luxor CRM.

One of the key drivers behind this acquisition is Next Gears continued focus on allowing restoration companies more choices in how they operate and grow their business. Luxor CRM will allow Next Gear to better help restoration contractors whether theyre on DASH or a competing job management solution.

In the old days, a company like ours would buy up competitors and force the industry to adapt to their solution. But this is not the old days. Todays customers demand choice. They want to select a suite of products that work well for them. Were proud of the fact that current Luxor CRM customers can continue to use their choice of restoration management software and still gain access to other highly impactful products that Next Gear offers, Gray said.

Next Gear makes solutions that work well for people who work hard. It was from that commitment to usability that DASH was born. The acquisition of Luxor CRM is another step toward making the lives of restorers easier.

I am pleased to welcome Lukas Szczurowski, our new Vice President of Sales, and the rest of Luxor CRM leadership to the team. Next Gear prides itself in bringing best-in-class technology to the restoration industry, focused on making all stakeholders more effective, Gray said. Luxors sales force automation tools have proven highly impactful for restoration companies looking to take their selling organizations to the next level and we look forward to building on the foundation that they have laid.

About Next Gear Solutions

Next Gear Solutions, based in Oxford, MS, was formed in 2008 to address the lack of job and workflow management software solutions in the restoration industry and launched their first software, DASH, in 2009. Next Gears software suite has grown to include franchise and insurance solutions, as well as options for home and business owners with losses. Next Gear is passionate about their proven solutions for the restoration industry and about their people and internal culture.

About Luxor CRM

Luxor CRM is one of Canadas largest web-based CRM vendors. Founded in 2000, Luxor CRM is a privately-held company, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Over the past 16 years, Luxor CRM has acquired a noted clientele across North America and abroad and has a reputation of being the most reliable and trusted CRM vendor.
Mobile Dev + Test and IoT Dev + Test will be April 24-28, 2017 in San Diego, CA We are excited to offer delegates two programs in one location. This two-in-one event will offer access to over sixty learning and networking sessions over six days.

TechWell Corporation, an industry leader in software improvement conferences and training, has announced the full program for its Mobile Dev + Test and Iot Dev + Test conferences to be held April 2428, 2017 at the Westin San Diego Hotel in San Diego, CA.

We are excited to offer delegates two programs in one location. This two-in-one event will offer access to over sixty learning and networking sessions over six days, said Alison Wade, TechWell President Conferences, Training and Consulting.

Delegates can build a customized week of learning with a variety of topics available through pre-conference training classes, keynote presentations, tutorials, and concurrent sessions.

This years keynote titles include, A Screenless Future Is Closer Than You Think, A Coded Mind: From Ideas and Assumptions to Applications, Enterprise IoT: Solving the Challenges of the Smart City, and Rooting Your Devices to Test Outside the Box.

Topics covered during tutorials and sessions will include:



Android and iOS Development

Mobile and IoT Design

Enterprise IoT

Embedded Systems Development

Smart Home and Office Apps

and more

The Mobile Dev + Test and IoT Dev + Test conferences will also feature an Expo where delegates can network, watch live demonstrations from top industry solution providers, attend industry technical presentations, and more.

For more information, visit Mobile Dev + Test or IoT Dev + Test.

ABOUT TECHWELL CORPORATION:

TechWellthrough its conferences, training, consulting, community websites, and online resourceshelps people and organizations develop and deliver great software. For more information, visit http://www.techwell.com.
About half of all new construction nationwide is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards even in cases where owners dont pursue certification. This large retail projec To help manage and mitigate the rising cost of construction, the industry is turning to new high-tech systems as well as looking to the past for some very simple processes that have worked well in other industries.

The cost of new development is rising in the Chicago area and across the country, driven in part by increasing labor costs and risk-adverse lenders. On the plus side, construction firms are getting better at utilizing technology and lean processes to save time and money while improving the quality of projects.

Construction costs increased by about 12 percent over the past five years, and continue to rise despite low commodity prices. The main reason is construction labor cost, which increased 3.59 percent in the 12 months leading up to July, according to CBRE. The Chicago area has experienced some of the steepest increases in the country, averaging nearly 4 percent annually in recent years. The shortage of labor hits less active construction firms the hardest, as larger firms are better able to keep high quality workers busy.

Total commercial construction volume in the Chicago metro area reached $3.6 billion in the first half of 2016, a 37 percent increase over 2015, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. We can foresee high volume extending into 2017, as demand for modern big-box industrial space outpaces available supply in some suburban corridors, and ground has been broken on several hotel and multifamily projects in the city. By October, Chicago had issued 40,000 building permits, up 2,000 over 2015, and a record 44 tower projects requiring 48 cranes were under way in December. Office build-to-suits are active as well.

One obstacle to speculative construction projects is the national trend of banks pulling away from high-risk real estate lending. New regulations within the Dodd-Frank financial reforms require banks to reserve more cash when making construction loans. As a result, banks are requiring 50 percent or greater equity from developers. Other institutions such as life insurance companies and pension funds are filling the gap with mezzanine financing and equity capital, but these financial structures increase the cost of financing and may limit construction volume in some markets.

Construction Industry Change

To help manage and mitigate the rising cost of construction, the industry is turning to new high-tech systems as well as looking to the past for some very simple processes that have worked well in other industries. Building information modeling (BIM) and virtual design and construction (VDC) are helping owners, designers and builders take a virtual look at buildings, spaces and systems while identifying challenges well before product and people show up at the construction site. Todays technologies are allowing all parties to better understand options and challenges early in design, and verify conditions prior to the first day of construction. Leopardo has watched virtual technologies improve rapidly over the past five years and has become an educated adopter of these systems to help its entire network of stakeholders better collaborate, which in turn helps the entire construction project team reduce schedules, eliminate waste and manage costs better, said Leopardo Senior Vice President Michael W. Behm.

The integration of lean principles in design and construction has also provided progressive companies and owners the opportunity to better manage costs and schedules using well-tested, low-tech processes utilized in the past by other industries. We have seen many project teams search for opportunities to prefabricate buildings, modules, bathrooms and even partial building systems when the repetitive nature of a design can be created and replicated off-site. Prefabrication can greatly reduce on-site labor costs, facilitate material staging on projects sites and accelerate project schedules.

Over the past few years, Leopardo has immersed its teams in pull planning, a collaborative approach that includes all people who are directly responsible for supervising work on all phases of the project, Behm said. Owners, designers, contractors and subcontractors all collaborate to work out plans that include the best alternatives for the entire project and team. The goal is to provide predictable and reliable planning that results in a continuous workflow and the elimination of all project wastes, including delays and rework.

All these processes help to keep a lid on project costs. Maximizing efficiency can shave tens of thousands of dollars off project costsmaybe not enough to offset rising labor costs, but a significant reduction nonetheless.

Focus on Sustainability

Another change in our industry is the ever-increasing focus on sustainable building and construction processes. About half of all new construction nationwide is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards even in cases where owners dont pursue certification, and many companies are demanding net-zero buildings that have virtually no carbon footprint. In addition, Illinois has adopted new, more stringent energy codes, and machines used in Chicago projects must comply with anti-idling provisions to reduce greenhouse gases and to protect residents from noxious fumes. Some Leopardo projects, such as a 265,000-square-foot retail development in Chicagos Lakeview neighborhood, have gone beyond the citys mandate by using clean diesel machines that minimize pollution.

Sustainability is even more important when building out interior spaces, as most companies now recognize the importance of green offices to enhance worker health, well-being and productivity. Creating these high-performance buildings and interior spaces requires a collaborative team approach to design, construction and operations; thus, this is one more reason for contractors and architects to be well-versed in BIM and other integrated design/development processes.

Our industry has been slow to adopt technology and change, but as competition intensifies, many more firms are getting up to speed. Some are adopting technology-based solutions for the first time, while those that have had systems in place for years are integrating new applications and tools that allow teams to communicate, plan and execute projects more effectively. The result is a better end product, delivered with speed and precision, and at a lower cost than would be otherwise possible. As we see labor and material costs continue to rise, these strategies are increasingly vital to ensuring that projects meet or beat client expectations.
Fully Managed Solutions for M2M & IoT Applications The Total Addressable Market for bundled solutions in the M2M and IoT space is massive, and we are committed to delivering comprehensive M2M Solutions as a Service that exceed the expectations of our customers.

Founded in 2008 by Donald Ochoa, a pioneer in the wireless and high performance computing industries, WSC began delivering wireless connectivity solutions to Service Providers and SMB customers. In 2010 WSC started providing Wireless Failover solutions to two of the largest landline service providers in the nation, quickly becoming a leading provider of wireless M2M solutions that power the Internet of Things (IoT). In 2015 WSC began to expand their portfolio by offering solutions supporting a wider range of M2M applications. WSC was recently awarded the Emerging Partner Award by Cradlepoint and has also been recognized as one of the fastest growing members of the Verizon Wireless Partner Program.

As the industry continues to develop, Mach Networks will continue that tradition by providing the next generation of Solutions as a Service (SaaS) for SMBs, enterprise customers and service providers across the nation. Our solutions include service from the largest, most reliable 4G LTE networks in the nation, devices from industry leading 4G LTE router manufacturers and our industry leading remote monitoring, management, and technical support platforms. By combining these together, Mach Networks is able to provide a wide range of SaaS connectivity bundles for ATMs & Kiosks, Business Continuity, Digital Signage, Industrial Automation, SD-WAN, Tablet Computers, Transportation, Video Surveillance and more.

The Total Addressable Market for bundled solutions in the M2M and IoT space is massive, and we are committed to delivering comprehensive M2M Solutions as a Service that exceed the expectations of our customers. Our business has more than doubled over the last year and we are truly excited to be moving into the next phase of the business. Rebranding WSC as Mach Networks is just the first of many steps we are taking to reposition the company as the brand of choice for SMBs, Enterprises and Service Providers, said Don Ochoa, CEO and Founder of Mach Networks.

For more information, visit http://www.machnetworks.com, or contact us at (866) 972-7677.
Todays announcement marks a key milestone in NIS journey to take cutting edge nanotechnology into the lubricant industry. Working together, we [NIS] and Evonik can take to market transformational products in the lubricant additives industry and beyond."

 Venture Capital investment includes commercial agreement



High-performance additives are a critical component in engine oils, industrial oils, greases, metal working fluids and coatings

Evoniks Oil Additives Business Line expects access to this unique nanotechnology to bring high strategic advantage for future market opportunities



Essen/Avenel. Evonik Industries has invested through its venture capital arm in Nanotech Industrial Solutions, Inc. (NIS) headquartered in Avenel (NJ, USA) and now holds a minority share in the company. The parties have agreed not to disclose the volume of the transaction. NIS plans to use the proceeds for further growth of the company. Evonik received a seat on the Board of Directors of NIS. The company, which was founded in 2012, has commercialized a unique particle technology for the lubricants industry and believes to be an emerging leader in high-performance lubricant additives.

NIS produces oil additives for engine oils, oil and water formulations for metalworking lubricants, industrial oils and additive formulations for greases. NIS patented technology releases nano structured materials under certain physical conditions. The unique morphology significantly improves friction and wear properties, resulting in a substantial contribution of the technology to resource efficiency of cars, power plants and industrial plants. By investing in this company, Evonik gains access to inventions in a unique particle technology in lubricants said Lutz Stoeber, responsible for Evoniks Venture Capital activities in North America. An additional strategic fit to Evonik results from the potential of the new technology to bring groundbreaking inventions to the lubricants market.

As part of the investment, NIS and the Oil Additives Business Line completed a commercial agreement. Evonik believes that the investment offers the chance to fulfill even more demanding customer requirements. Whats more, access to the technology of NIS opens up further development opportunities for our current products as well as new products in our existing and also future markets, emphasized Ralf Dussel, head of the Oil Additives Business Line.

Todays announcement marks a key milestone in NIS journey to take cutting edge nanotechnology into the lubricant industry. Working together, we [NIS] and Evonik can take to market transformational products in the lubricant additives industry and beyond, commented Eugene Kverel, President and CEO of NIS.

Our patented nanotechnology is already making a massive impact with customers around the world and to have on board such a recognized company like Evonik will help to develop a global presence. Todd Cawley Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing continues, Evonik is known to be one of the worlds most innovative companies and to have them as an investor in NIS is a further step in our substantial growth.

EcoMachines Ventures, an early investor in NIS, advised on the investment and assisted with the structuring of the transaction. EcoMachines Ventures CEO Dr. Ilian Iliev said We are excited at the pace at which NIS is developing into a market leader. The support of a leading industry player such as Evonik will help the company grow faster and into many more markets.

Evoniks Oil Additives Business Line develops additive technologies for improving fuel and energy efficiency as well as productivity in engine and gear oils and hydraulic fluids. It focuses on solutions that contribute to the resource-efficient lubricants of tomorrow.

Evonik plans to invest a total of 100 million in promising start-ups with innovative technologies and in leading specialized venture capital funds as part of its venture capital activities. Regional focuses are Europe, the United States and Asia. Currently, Evonik holds stakes in ten start-ups and four funds.

About Evonik

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evoniks corporate strategy. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.

Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2015 more than 33,500 employees generated sales of around 13.5 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about 2.47 billion.

About NIS

Nanotech Industrial Solutions is the manufacturer of NanoLub, an innovative nano lubricants and additives based on fullerene-like tungsten disulfide particles. These revolutionary particles were first developed in 1992 by Prof. Reshef Tenne who was nominated for a Nobel Prize. The technology is exclusively licensed to Nanotech Industrial Solutions for commercialization Worldwide. NIS has attracted the best minds in the fields of nano technology, chemistry, and various targeted industry applications like lubricating oils, greases, coatings, metal working fluids, polymers and composites. NIS's global corporate office, commercialization R&D lab, manufacturing, blending and packaging facilities are located in Avenel, NJ.

About EcoMachines Ventures

EcoMachines Ventures is a London-based investor and advisor focused on industrials. We foster the development of world-class technology in the Energy, Transport, Circular Economy, Smart City and Industrial High-tech sectors. Working as a strategic partner alongside successful entrepreneurs and corporate partners, we help promising companies for the next stage of their growth.

For more information, additional images or interview opportunities contact: Todd Cawley, VP of Global Sales and Marketing

todd(at)nisusacorp(dot)com

+1-917-690-6095
FamilySearch is excited to offer everyone the ability to easily collaborate with family members to preserve all of their precious family photos and stories, while making new discoveries about family history, said John Owens, of FamilySearch.

JoyFLIPS has announced a comprehensive agreement with Family Search to connect family history to old photos. The partnership enables millions of people to easily discover more about their familys history as they share old photos and the stories they tell.

The free service enabled by this partnership will allow anyone with a smartphone to not only easily scan, preserve and share the thousands of paper photos a typical family has, but also to share the stories behind these photos in voice and text, both on the phone and over the web. AI (Artificial Intelligence) then searches through these stories and conversations to identify people, dates and places that may be associated with some of the 1 billion plus persons in FamilySearch Family Tree. These discoveries are then automatically associated with photos and shared stories creating a deep and potent personal historic connection to each photograph.

Additional sources of historic media that relate directly to each of the families shared memories will be added soon. These rich-media sources include old newspaper and magazine articles, property and tax records, even old TV broadcasts. It is estimated that over 100 terabytes of legacy media are being brought online and made searchable each day.

The service intends to transform the family history experience into a living multi-media paradigm where anyone can easily socialize memories and build a legacy of shared storytelling that can be passed along for all generations.

We are building a platform that allows millions of people worldwide to automatically fill in the background of family photos and stories with details pulled from billions of newspapers, magazines and genealogical records. Each new discovery spawns new stories, which in turn lead to more discoveries, said JoyFLIPS CEO Vincent Titolo. We are also proud to announce that JoyFLIPS has been chosen as a semi-finalist for the Innovator Showdown at the 2017 RootsTech conference in Salt Lake City, he continued.

The JoyFLIPS app and web service are free with unlimited usage. JoyFLIPS also enhances the photo scanning and sharing experience by offering a one-stop-shop for all things associated with photos, such as printed books to memorialize family events and professional photo restoration.

FamilySearch is excited to offer everyone the ability to easily collaborate with family members to preserve all of their precious family photos and stories, while making new discoveries about family history, said John Owens, Manager of Partner Services at FamilySearch.

About JoyFLIPS

JoyFLIPS is a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that allows millions of people worldwide to discover and preserve their family history by connecting old print photos and family storytelling to the vast resources of historical documents now available online. Our technology provides the tools to scan, preserve and share thousands of print photos, and to pass down the stories they tell through storytelling in voice and text. We then automatically connect these stories to related historical media from numerous sources. For more information about JoyFLIPS technology visit http://www.joyflips.com or download the iPhone app at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/joyflips-free-unlimited-scanning/id1086378359

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,921 family history centers in 129 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah http://www.familysearch.org.

Contacts:

JoyFLIPS, Inc.

Ken Leonard

Phone: US +1-650-787-7492

Email: ken(at)joyflips(dot)com
Ziegler was delighted to assist its longtime client led by Mr. Mentgen with the Series 2016 issuance. Regional West is a critically essential provider of care to its community. The financing provides cost effective, new debt capital...

Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce the successful closing of the $68,470,000 tax-exempt, fixed-rate, Regional West Medical Center Series 2016A issue through the Hospital Authority No. 1 of Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska.

Regional West Medical Center (Regional West), rated BBB+ by Fitch Ratings, operates a 166 acute care bed regional referral center hospital in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Regional West is one of only three level II trauma centers in the State of Nebraska and provides trauma care to a four-state region encompassing eastern Wyoming, southern South Dakota, northern Colorado and western Nebraska.



Ziegler served as the sole manager of the Series 2016A Bond issue that refunded the outstanding portion of Regional Wests Series 2012A fixed-rate private placement and the Series 2012B variable rate private placement. The Series 2016A bonds include $25 million of project financing for multiple capital improvement projects on Regional Wests main campus. In conjunction with the Series 2016A financing, Medical Center restructured its Series 2013 fixed-rate placement that also included $5 million of additional new money proceeds with a local capital partner

With this refinancing, we were able to substantially restructure our debt service to achieve a number of goals in the realignment of our capital structure which will help provide for Regional Wests future growth, stated John Mentgen, President and Chief Executive Officer for Regional West Health Services.

Ziegler assisted management in obtaining an inaugural Fitch rating of BBB+ compared to the Medical Centers prior rating of Baa2 by Moodys despite new leverage. The overall plan of finance reduced the Medical Centers maximum annual debt service by approximately $1 million and facilitated covenant relief. Ziegler also served as swap advisor on the termination of a fixed payer swap which further reduces the Medical Centers capital structure risk going forward.



Mike Quinn, Managing Director in Ziegler's Healthcare Finance practice, commented, Ziegler was delighted to assist its longtime client led by Mr. Mentgen with the Series 2016 issuance. Regional West is a critically essential provider of care to its community. The financing provides cost effective, new debt capital that assists the organization with its growth initiatives. The refunding component optimizes the organizations debt portfolio eliminating all remaining capital structure risk.

Ziegler is a premier investment bank to community and regional healthcare providers, and is the fourth-largest lead managing underwriter of healthcare issues, according to Thomson Financial Securities Data. For over 80 years, we have been assisting these organizations with creative, tailored financial solutions for their capital needs. Specializing in transactions that cover the broad spectrum of healthcare management  from hospitals, physician groups, managed care companies and senior living facilities to post-acute service organizations  Ziegler offers an array of services including investment banking, financial risk management, merger and acquisition services, as well as capital and strategic planning.

For further information on the structure and use of this issue, please see the Official Statement located on the Electronic Municipal Market Access system's Document Archive.

For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at http://www.Ziegler.com.

About Ziegler:

The Ziegler Companies, Inc., together with its affiliates (Ziegler), is a privately held, specialty investment bank with unique expertise in complex credit structures and advisory services. Nationally, Ziegler is ranked as one of the leading investment banking firms in its specialty sectors of healthcare, senior living, religion, and education, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered in Chicago, IL with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, corporate finance, FHA/HUD, strategic advisory services and research. Ziegler serves institutional and individual investors through its wealth management and capital markets distribution channels.

Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This clients experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees.

# # #
In a move to help students better manage the cost of their education, Pearson today announced it is dropping the prices of its e-book rentals and piloting a new program for print textbook rentals. The company already provides e-book rental options on more than 2,000 titles, but beginning later this month students will see savings of up to 50 percent on many of those materials. Students will be able to rent e-books through the same, trusted online retailers theyve always used, just at a lower cost. In addition, fifty of the most popular print textbook titles will be available for Fall 2017 classes through the new print rental program. The print textbooks will also be available through many of the same retailers that currently rent Pearson titles.

Students have been clear in telling us they want more choices when selecting course materials, said Tim Bozik, Pearsons President of Global Product. We understand that many students are stretched financially and that college is a significant investment for them. Pearson has long been developing new ways to make college more affordable and more accessible.

With nearly two-thirds of full time students paying for college with financial aid, Pearson has been taking steps to make education more affordable and accessible. In 2016, the company introduced the digital courseware tool, Revel, which blends authors narrative, interactive media, and assessment, accessible on students computer, tablet or mobile phone. Students can access Revel for as little as $65. Other programs, like Digital Direct Access, deliver course materials directly to students on the first day of class up to 60 percent less than traditional print materials. Last October, Pearson also announced a partnership with IBM Watson to develop virtual tutors for students.

Nearly 75 percent of college students are now juggling work and family commitments while in school. Pearsons rental program will offer these students a way to ease the demands on their time while also saving them money on course materials. This will also increase the likelihood of students having materials on the first day of class. When students struggle with obtaining textbooks or delay their purchases, they take fewer courses and are at higher risk of dropping, withdrawing from or failing courses.

Students and faculty both want materials that are flexible and compatible with laptops and mobile devices, Bozik said. Its time to provide course materials that are both affordable and in-sync with how faculty and students teach and learn today.

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Pearson is the worlds learning company, with expertise in educational courseware and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Our mission is to help people make progress in their lives through learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. For more, visit http://www.pearson.com.
alliantRX This partnership with Return Solutions keeps alive our promise to do more for our members.

alliantRx announced today that it has entered into a preferred vendor partnership with Return Solutions, a pharmaceutical reverse distributor providing services to retail and hospital pharmacies throughout the United States.

Return Solutions focuses on simplifying the process of returning or disposing of prescription and over-the-counter merchandise. This preferred vendor partnership will offer members a simple, efficient, and cost effective service that will save alliantRx members significant time and financial resources.

This partnership with Return Solutions keeps alive our promise to do more for our members. Were confident the services provided by Return Solutions will result in the most effective, efficient, and cost and time saving benefits possible for the return or disposal of prescription and over-the-counter merchandise, said Gerry Crocker, President of alliantRx.

The Preferred Vendor Partnership rolled out in the Summer of 2016, and existing members are already enjoying the benefits of this partnership. Pharmacies interested in joining alliantRxs retail chain buying group can easily participate in the savings by calling 1-856-517-3529 or by visiting our websites Become a Member page at: http://www.alliantrx.com/become-a-member.

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About alliantRx

alliantRx is one of the fastest growing independent retail chain buying groups in the country today. With a focus on helping member pharmacies succeed, alliantRx provides benefits including generic drug cost discounts and savings, access to financial best practices, and exclusive business building resources  tools once only available to retail pharmacy giants. Through strong leadership and strong alliances, alliantRx powers the success of its members with a team, which utilizes over 100 years of collective experience in independent retail and specialty pharmacy leadership, pharmaceutical distribution, group purchasing, managed care, and home care. alliantRxs leaders have cultivated strong alliances with some of the worlds leading pharmacy solutions partners on its members behalf, maximizing economic product and business outcomes.

To learn more about alliantRx, visit http://www.alliantrx.com.

About Return Solutions

Founded in 1992, Return Solutions is a pharmaceutical reverse distributor providing services to retail and hospital pharmacies throughout the United States. Focused on making the process of returning or disposing of prescription and over-the-counter merchandise simple, efficient, and cost effective, Return Solutions learns what their customers want (and need) in the reverse distribution process. Through developing new ideas and programs such as OneCheck Select, CrediTrak, and online return authorizations, they continue to remain at the forefront of their industry. Return Solutions has the highest employee retention rate in the industry, and their employees are required to attend continuing education seminars at least three times a year. This ensures top level performance from their team and the cultivation of up-to-date knowledge of the reverse distribution industry. Return Solutions is headquarted in Knoxville, Tennessee.

For more information, go to http://www.drugreturns.com.
If youre seeking a guide to confirmation fireworks for Donald Trumps economic team, you can probably skip the upcoming Senate hearing for Wilbur Ross, Trumps pick for Commerce Secretary. But tune in to the hearings for Trumps Treasury nominee, Steve Mnuchin, set to begin this Thursday at 10 a.m.

Mnuchin is a Wall Street power broker who spent years at investment bank Goldman Sachs, before starting a hedge fund that invested in Hollywood film production, among other things. But thats not what his critics will focus on. Instead, theyll highlight Mnuchins role as the owner of a controversial California bank that foreclosed on thousands of customers homes after the federal government helped the bank survive.

Mnuchin led a group of wealthy investors who bought the bank IndyMac after it declared bankruptcy in the summer of 2008. During the housing boom, IndyMac specialized in so-called Alt-A loans issued to borrowers who may have had decent credit but couldnt document their income in conventional ways. As the housing bust intensified and bad loans piled up, IndyMac suffered a full-blown bank run and was taken over by the FDIC. By then, several other sizable lenders had failed and been taken over by giant banks such as J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America. With the financial crisis worsening, none of the industry titans wanted to gamble on IndyMac.

Mnuchins group bought IndyMac in early 2009, for $1.55 billion, with some help from the FDIC, which agreed to bear the cost of some of the bad loans on the banks books. Since IndyMac had become notorious by then, Mnuchin changed the name to OneWest, in attempt to start over with consumers. But it couldnt completely start over because OneWest still held thousands of troubled loans it had to deal with.

Questionable practices at OneWest

During the next six years, OneWest foreclosed on 36,000 homes, according to a nonprofit called the California Reinvestment Coalition (CRC), which tracked the banks activities. Foreclosures spiked just about everywhere during the years following the financial crisis, and banks are usually within their rights to claim collateral on mortgages borrowers cant pay. OneWest was somewhat different, because it got favorable terms the FDIC in exchange for pledging to be lenient with distressed borrowers. Fair-housing advocates claim OneWest didnt live up to its end of the bargain, and targeted minority neighborhoods.

Story continues

It gets murkier. The California attorney general investigated OneWest and found evidence of widespread misconduct in its foreclosure practices, according to a memo written in 2013 and obtained recently by The Intercept. But the California AG, Democrat Kamala Harris, never pressed charges, for reasons that are unclear. Harris won election to the US Senate in November and will vote on Mnuchins nomination as Treasury Secretary.

Mnuchins group sold OneWest to CIT in 2015, for $3.4 billion  an enviable 219% markup on what they paid. That didnt make Mnuchin a billionaire, like Trump and Ross, but his net worth is probably in the mid-nine digits  still far richer than most Cabinet secretaries, ever.

There have been no formal charges of wrongdoing against Mnuchin. But OneWests foreclosures were intensely controversial in California while Mnuchin ran the bank. Protesters briefly seized the lobby of the banks headquarters in Pasadena one day in 2011, and shortly after that about 100 OneWest critics showed up at Mnuchins $26 million Bel Air mansion to air their grievances. Mnuchin later told Bloomberg, It was terrible. Something I never want to experience again.

Mnuchins Senate critics will no doubt remind him of the California foreclosures. The most strident Trump critic in the Senate, Elizabeth Warren, doesnt sit on the Finance Committee that will hold the Mnuchin hearing. But ranking Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon has promised a tough interrogation, and Democrats are sure to hit Mnuchin with as much dirt as theyre able to dig up, even if none of it suggests criminal activity.

Ross will probably have a much easier time. Hes been characterized as a vulture investor who found ways to profit by buying the remnants of downtrodden industrial companies and packing them in a way that added value, which sounds inflammatory. But labor unions also credit Ross with saving jobs and companies that would have disappeared without his involvement. Call it a draw, and not enough of a target to attract heavy Democratic fire.

Other Trump economic nominees have sharp and sometimes controversial views on important issues  but without the kind of real-world baggage Mnuchins foreclosures represent. Those nominees include restaurant CEO Andy Puzder, Trumps nominee for Labor Secretary, and Republican Congressman Mick Mulvaney, Trumps pick to head the Office of Management Budget. If Mnuchin survives, they should be shoo-ins.

Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.
Senior Vice President Christina Forbes

FirstService Residential, New Yorks leading residential property management company, announced the promotion of Christina Forbes to the position of senior vice president in the companys Property Management Division. Forbes will assume executive oversight for several teams of property management professionals within the organization that specialize in the management of cooperatives and condominiums throughout New York City.

Christina has demonstrated the highest levels of customer service satisfaction in regards to financial, administrative and organizational efforts for her New York City clients, says Dan Wurtzel, president, FirstService Residential New York. Her expertise, combined with her progressive vision, has earned her a steadfast reputation in the industry, as well as the trust of the board members under her care.

Forbes joined the company in 2009 as an onsite senior property manager at Lincoln Towers. Her outstanding performance and high standard of excellence earned her a promotion to managing director in 2012, and to vice president in 2014, before achieving her current position as senior vice president in 2017. Im thrilled to have this opportunity to expand my role at FirstService Residential. My time with the company has been one of tremendous personal and professional growth. Im looking forward to sharing my knowledge and expertise, and helping others deliver the exceptional service FirstService Residential is known for, says Forbes.

Forbes possesses over two decades of experience in asset and property management. Her forte is her analysis of a property and its management operations, and the ability to maximize service levels while identifying areas requiring expense control.

About FirstService Residential

FirstService Residential is North America's largest manager of residential communities and the preferred partner of HOAs, community associations and strata corporations in the U.S. and Canada. FirstService Residential's managed communities include low-, mid- and high-rise condominiums and cooperatives, single-family homes, master-planned, lifestyle and active adult communities, and rental and commercial properties.

With an unmatched combination of deep industry experience, local market expertise and personalized attention, FirstService Residential delivers proven solutions and exceptional service that add value, enhance lifestyles and make a difference, every day, for every resident and community it manages. FirstService Residential is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation, a North American leader in the property services sector. For more information, visit http://www.fsresidential.com.
The creatures, characters, and environments rendered with V-Ray are key elements of modern films, and comprise the majority of work nominated for visual effects Oscars over the last six years.

Chaos Group announces that Co-Founder, Vlado Koylazov has won a Scientific and Engineering Award for the original concept, design and implementation of V-Ray. The award honors pioneers whose developments result in significant improvements [to] motion picture production and will be presented by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at its annual Sci-Tech Award event on February 11.

Used on over 150 feature films since 2002, including recent hits like "Doctor Strange," "Deadpool," and "Captain America: Civil War," V-Ray provides artists with world-class photorealism, helping them create stunning computer-generated visuals for audiences around the world. The creatures, characters, and environments rendered with V-Ray are key elements of modern films, and comprise the majority of work nominated for visual effects Oscars over the last six years.

In its announcement, the Academy praised V-Ray for its efficient production-ready approach to ray tracing and global illumination, its support for a wide variety of workflows, and its broad industry acceptance [that proved] instrumental in the widespread adoption of fully ray-traced rendering for motion pictures. Koylazov will receive one of the 18 Sci-Tech Awards to be presented in 2017.

"This award reflects the hard work and dedication of the entire V-Ray team, said Koylazov, CTO and Co-Founder of Chaos Group. I am also immensely thankful to all the artists and studios for the great work they have created with V-Ray over the years. I'd like to congratulate the other Sci-Tech winners as well  their efforts have pushed the boundaries of visual effects in film. We are looking forward to more great movies in the years to come."

V-Ray Users Weigh In:

Ben Grossmann, Magnopus CEO and Visual Effects Oscar winner for "Hugo" said: Im fortunate to have been honored by the Academy for work we created with V-Ray, and Im glad to see Vlado and his team get the recognition they deserve for their contributions. Many of us owe them a lot for their support of cinema over the years.

"Ray tracing has been a key part of ScanlineVFXs pipeline since our work on '300' in 2007, said Stephan Trojansky, ScanlineVFX VFX Supervisor and Sci-Tech Oscar winner for Flowline. Weve depended on V-Ray to deliver thousands of shots on over 50 feature films since that time. We couldnt be happier for Vlado and his team.

On 'Tron: Legacy,' we pushed ray tracing and global illumination to its fullest, noted Eric Barba, VFX Oscar-winning VFX Supervisor. We couldnt have done it without V-Ray. Thanks to Vlado and the team for their continued support.

The 89th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2017 and will be televised live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Portions of the Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation will be included in the Oscar telecast.

About V-Ray

From architecture and design to visual effects in film and television, V-Ray is the most widely used rendering solution in the world. V-Ray has helped artists and designers visualize their best work for over 20 years, pushing the boundaries of imagery, animation, and virtual reality.

About Chaos Group

Chaos Group is a worldwide leader in computer graphics technology, helping artists and designers create photoreal imagery and animation for design, television, and feature films. Chaos Group specializes in physically-based rendering and simulation software used daily by top design studios, architectural firms, advertising agencies, and visual effects companies around the globe. Today, the company's research and development in cloud rendering, material scanning, and virtual reality is shaping the future of creative storytelling and digital design. Founded in 1997, Chaos Group is privately owned with offices in Sofia, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Seoul, and Tokyo. For more information, visit: chaosgroup.com.
Land Trust Alliance logo Land trusts want to be smart about climate change as they continue to save land.

The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America, today announced the launch of its new Land Trust Climate Change Initiative, funded through a $1 million grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

The grant will catalyze support from other sources to provide $2 million over four years to provide land trusts across the United States with the tools and training they need to adopt climate adaptation and mitigation practices. Specifically, the initiative will:



Increase the number of land trusts whose strategic conservation plans address climate impacts and promote climate resilience;

Promote the use of land to mitigate climate change through the ability of soils and vegetation to absorb and store carbon; and

Empower land trusts through pilot programs in New York to encourage the buildout of renewable energy facilities while steering the facilities away from sensitive lands.

We are thrilled the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has provided a $1 million catalyst grant to enable the Alliance to launch a new Land Trust Climate Change Initiative, said Andrew Bowman, the Alliances president. Land trusts want to be smart about climate change as they continue to save land, and they want to promote solutions to climate change that are consistent with their focus on maintaining high-value, functional landscapes. This initiative will empower them to do both.

The Land Trust Climate Change Initiative will provide land trusts across the nation with essential information, strategies, technical support and tools they have been seeking to both adapt to and combat climate change in their land conservation work, said Sacha Spector, the director of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundations Environment Program. We share the Land Trust Alliances commitment to creating enduring conservation outcomes and are excited to support the launch of this critical effort. We encourage land trusts across the country to make climate change considerations an essential element of their work and welcome other funders to help extend the reach of this important initiative.

The Land Trust Climate Change Initiative comes at an opportune moment for the Alliances 1,000 member land trusts. After investing decades of hard work and billions of dollars in conservation  and as they look to expand their efforts to permanently conserve important landscapes  land trusts are increasingly concerned about climate change impacts. The initiative will provide land trusts with resources designed for an era of climate change to help them better manage lands they already steward and to strategically acquire additional lands.

The Open Space Institute and other Alliance partners welcomed the news.

Strategic private land conservation of forests and other natural lands plays a pivotal role in conserving the resilient landscapes that protect habitat, sequester carbon and contribute to combatting climate change, said Kim Elliman, OSIs president and CEO. The Land Trust Climate Change Initiative will help land trusts fulfill their critical role in helping our nation adapt and mitigate to the unpredictability of a changing climate. We thank the Land Trust Alliance for their invaluable leadership and partnership on this initiative.

Individuals and organizations interested in providing financial support for the initiative should contact Clara A. Nyman, CFRE, the Alliances vice president of development, at 202-800-2220.

About the Land Trust Alliance

Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents 1,000 member land trusts supported by more than 200,000 volunteers and 4.6 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices. More information about the Alliance is available at http://www.landtrustalliance.org.

About the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

The mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is to improve the quality of peoples lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child wellbeing, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Dukes properties. The Environment Program enables communities to protect and manage wildlife habitat and create efficient built environments. To learn more about the foundation, visit http://www.ddcf.org.

About the Open Space Institute

The Open Space Institute protects scenic, natural and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands and sustain communities. Founded in 1974 to protect significant landscapes in New York State, OSI has been a partner in the protection of nearly 2.2 million acres in North America. A leader in environmental conservation, OSI leverages our knowledge and attracts resources for strategic investments to make innovative land conservation happen. Visit OSI online at http://www.osiny.org.

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Its clear that the polarization we experienced during this last election cycle carries over to the topic of student loan debt ... My hope is that this administration will take on the issue of skyrocketing student debt and implement much-needed changes.

Leading financial education site Student Loan Hero recently released the results of a new survey that sheds light on how student loan borrowers expect the new Trump administration to impact their debt situation.

According to the survey, more than a quarter of respondents (27 percent) stated they believe a Trump presidency will have a very negative effect on their student loans; 13 percent stated they believe the effect will be somewhat negative.

Conversely, only nine percent of respondents expect the Trump administration to have a somewhat positive impact, while 10 percent believe the effect on student loans will be very positive. A large number of respondents (41 percent) had a neutral outlook on the future of student loans, stating that they thought the new Trump administration would have neither a positive or negative effect on student debt.

SEE FULL SURVEY RESULTS AND ANALYSIS>>

Additionally, the survey questioned borrowers about what federal benefits and protections they hope to be instituted under Trumps administration.

When asked to select which student loan changes they would like to see implemented during the Trump administration, nearly half (44 percent) of respondents chose Federal loan forgiveness after 15 years. This proposal would shorten the current forgiveness term of 20 to 25 years for borrowers on income-driven repayment plans and open eligibility to all federal borrowers.

The second most popular policy change was a Federal program to refinance student loans (31 percent). Currently, borrowers can only refinance with a private lender, which requires meeting credit and other eligibility requirements.

When asked to choose just one student loan change they would most like to see implemented during the Trump administration, over one-third (34 percent) of respondents chose Federal loan forgiveness after 15 years.

Its clear that the polarization we experienced during this last election cycle carries over to the topic of student loan debt, stated Andrew Josuweit, CEO of Student Loan Hero. My hope is that this administration will take on the issue of skyrocketing student debt and implement much-needed changes to help struggling borrowers get back on their feet.

Methodology

Survey was conducted via Google Consumer Surveys on behalf of Student Loan Hero on January 6-9, 2017, with a nationally representative sample of 1,001 adults living in the United States. Do you have student loans? was used as a screening question (with a target answer of yes).

About Student Loan Hero

Student Loan Hero combines easy-to-use tools with financial education to help the millions of Americans living with student loan debt manage and pay off their loans. Student Loan Hero has helped more than 100,000 borrowers manage and eliminate over $2 billion in student loan debt since 2012 and assists over 3.5 million people in becoming more financially healthy every year.

Student Loan Hero offers both current and former students free loan calculators, as well as unbiased, personalized advice and repayment plans through an easy-to-use online dashboard.

Founded in 2012 by CEO Andrew Josuweit, who himself had over $100,000 in student loans, Student Loan Hero operates on the belief that all loan help and recommendations should come with honesty and no hidden agenda.

For more information, visit https://studentloanhero.com.
Representatives with Crescent Harbor Lighting (http://www.crescentharbor.com) announced today that the company will be attending the annual American Lighting Association Lightovation International Lighting Show in Dallas.

Were very excited to be in attendance at this amazing event, said Tim Fossett, spokesman for The Lighthouse, a family-owned lighting company founded in 1972. The event, which is put on by Dallas Market Center, is Jan. 18-22.

Dallas Market Center is renowned as the International Home of Lighting. Thousands of lighting buyers travel to Dallas during markets each January and June. The lighting show, according to event organizers, gives attendees the opportunity to discover innovative product lines and experience the most comprehensive collection of fixed, portable, and trend lighting for residential and commercial projects.

Were always improving as a company and are constantly looking for ways to raise the bar, which in turn, empowers our customers with the very best that the lighting industry has to offer, Fossett said.

Featured events at the lighting show include Mariana Figueiro, who is slated to speak on the topic of light and health. In addition, Randall Whitehead is scheduled to speak on control issues, an issue that is important due to the fact that as lighting design and lighting components become more sophisticated, so are the devices that control them. Whitehead will explain how smarter systems offer the ability to create scenes versus simply controlling groups of lights, as well as how to work with customers to find their comfort level with new technologies.

Were really looking forward to receiving all of the information that will be available and also being enlightened on new innovative products in which we can offer to our customers, Fossett said, before adding, Our customers are at the heart of what we do, so its events like this that has allowed us to stay ahead of the curb on new technology and great products in which our customers can enjoy.

For more information, please visit http://crescentharbor.com.

About Crescent Harbor Lighting

Crescent Harbor Lighting is the online arm of The Lighthouse, a family-owned lighting company founded in 1972.

The company specializes in a high-touch customer service approach to retailing lighting fixtures, ceiling fans and other related items.

Contact Details:

Tim Fossett

President

88 York Street

US Route One

Kennebunk, Maine, 04043

Toll Free Phone: 1-888-355-9525

Local Phone: 1-207-985-3535

Fax: 1-207-985-4569

Source: Crescent Harbor Lighting

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Andrews Federal staff stops to take a quick photo with a service member on Joint Base Andrews after providing a free fill-up.

Throughout the holiday season, Andrews Federal Credit Union went about spreading good cheer in the communities it serves. Of the many random acts of kindness performed, the charity on display at Joint Base Andrews recently takes the cake.

Andrews Federals Chief Retail Officer, Oma George, along with all of the Credit Unions DC, Maryland and Virginia branch managers, filled the gas tanks of randomly selected service members. The Credit Union filled up 70 cars, totaling more than $2,140.

This was, by far, one of the best initiatives ever, said George. The genuine surprise and appreciation of our gesture will forever be etched in my memory. Our troops do more than many of us will ever know. It was an honor to give back in such a tangible way.

About Andrews Federal Credit Union

Andrews Federal Credit Union was founded in 1948 to serve the needs of military and civilian personnel by providing a vast array of financial products and services. With over $1.3 billion in assets, Andrews Federal has grown to serve more than 119,000 members in the District of Columbia, Joint Base Andrews (MD), Springfield, Virginia (VA), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ), and military installations in central Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In addition, the Credit Union serves as a financial partner with many select employee groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and New Jersey.
CrossCountry Consulting LLC (CrossCountry), a business advisory firm headquartered in McLean, VA, announced today that Keith Linhart has joined the company to lead its new office location in Boston. Given the continuous accounting and regulatory changes in todays market combined with the cost-sensitive environment facing the C-suite, CrossCountry believes this is a timely expansion to the Boston market.

Keith has over 20 years of experience managing finance and accounting departments and driving complex processes and strategic Finance Transformation initiatives at industry-leading organizations.

We are thrilled to have Keith join our team, said CrossCountry Co-Founder, Dave Kay. As a former finance and accounting executive, he is uniquely qualified to lead the Boston office. Keith has the right combination of local experience, breadth of expertise and passion for our companys culture and values.

I am extremely honored to join CrossCountry and look forward to working with an amazing team, said Keith Linhart. Having walked in our clients shoes, I have an understanding of what effective, efficient and well-controlled finance and accounting organizations should look like and how consulting organizations can partner with clients to achieve their goals.

In addition to its offices in Washington, D.C., New York and San Francisco, expanding its business to Boston will enable CrossCountry to further increase its business capabilities, better support its existing local clients as well as better serve future clients in the area.

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About CrossCountry Consulting

CrossCountry Consulting is a trusted business advisory firm that provides customized finance, accounting, risk, operations and technology consulting services to leading organizations facing complex change. We partner with our clients to help them navigate pressing business challenges and achieve goals related to improving operations, minimizing risks and enabling future growth.
This is a car that someone like me dreams about working on."

With the acquisition of a famous and historic 1921 Duesenberg Grand Prix racer, RK Motors embarks on reviving yet another icon of automotive history. Following the critical acclaim of RK Motors restoration and film series documenting the story behind P/1046, the Ford GT40 that was the first American car to win at Le Mans, car collector and racer Rob Kauffman set his sights on restoring another classic example of American racing heritage.

This original Duesenberg race car, which competed in the 1921 French Grand Prix at Le Mans and an Indy 500, was purchased with the plans of a full restoration back to its original grand prix condition. A sister car, driven by Jim Murphy, won the race and was the first American driver in an American car to win a Grand Prix. This car is believed to be the No. 6 car driven by A. Guyot, which also competed in the 1922 Indy 500. As it sits, the car is mostly original and features most of its unique parts, including its innovative 183 c.i., overhead cam, inline eight-cylinder engine, as well as the first-of-its-type hydraulic four-wheel braking system.

We plan to restore the car to its original condition, as it sat at the starting line of the 1921 French Grand Prix, said Rob Kauffman, owner of RKC Private Collection. Its a privilege to be able to help preserve such an important piece of racing history. We look forward to working with the collector car community and marque experts to help ensure this car is done to as high of a standard and level of originality as possible.

Evan Ide, senior specialist at Bonhams and proprietor of Historic Vehicle Services, Uxbridge, Massachusetts, advised prior to the acquisition and will oversee the restoration. This is a car that someone like me dreams about working on, Evans said. While we were still in the research phase, I know Rob (Kauffman) wants to make sure the car is done in a way that recognizes its historical significance.

RK Motors recently completed another prolific restoration, that of chassis P/1046, the GT40 that won the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, one of the most famous finishes in motorsports history. The restoration was also that of back-to-original condition, earning RK Motors and restoration experts Rare Drive of East Kingston, New Hampshire, Best in Class at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance. Watch the seven-part video series on the restoration here: http://gt40.rkmotorscharlotte.com.

RK Motors and Historic Vehicles Services plan to publish the progress of the 1921 Duesenberg restoration as it develops allowing enthusiasts to enjoy the journey of restoring the car back to its original condition. To stay up to date on the cars progress, please visit rkmotorscharlotte.com for updates on this and other projects.

About RK Motors

RK Motors Charlotte is the nations premier dealer of classic, muscle and high performance cars. RK Motors state-of-the-art, 60,000 square-foot east coast showroom has become a global destination for car lovers. HOT ROD Magazine named RK Motors the nations #1 must-see destination for gearheads and enthusiasts. For more information, visit: rkmotorscharlotte.com. Follow RK Motors on Facebook, facebook.com/RKMotorsCharlotte and on Instagram, instagram.com/rkmotorscharlotte.
Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Attorney Justin L. Root has joined the firms Columbus office as Of Counsel. He will be a member of the firms Government Investigations & SEC Enforcement practice and will spearhead the firms Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Practice.

Im thrilled to be joining Dickinson Wrights Government Investigations and SEC Enforcement practice and expanding the practice into Columbus, said Justin Root. The firms commitment to the effective representation of corporations, officers and directors and capital markets professionals in investigations and proactive counseling is apparent from the strong bench of legal talent the firm is building throughout the U.S. and client interests around the world. I look forward to bringing my expertise in cyber-crime, information privacy, and data security to help round out the counseling, investigation defense and litigation services we deliver to our clients.

We are honored and excited that Justin Root will be joining the firms Columbus office as a member of our rapidly growing Government Investigations and SEC Enforcement Practice, said Jacob Frenkel, leader of the Practice Group. Cybersecurity and information and data privacy are topic one across audit committees, board rooms and prosecutors offices. Many lawyers have studied these areas and claim to know them; Justin has been living and practicing cyber and privacy with an unparalleled level of immersion and depth of knowledge. The consistent refrain is when can you connect me with Justin. With ever-increasing scrutiny by US and international law enforcement and securities regulators on corporations and individuals, Justin will add considerable expertise and contribute immediately to the tremendous value we take pride in providing to our clients.

As a former Special Agent in the Ohio Attorney Generals Office, Mr. Root investigated computer-related criminal activity, forensically examined computer systems and mobile data devices, and developed criminal cases for prosecution. He is a GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner and a member of the Information Systems Security Association, the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists, and the High Technology Crime Investigation Association.

Mr. Root frequently gives presentations domestically and internationally on information privacy and data security, data breach issues, computer-related criminal activity, computer forensics, and legal issues related to cybercrime. He previously served as a police detective focusing on computer-crime and white-collar investigations and spent two years as a task force officer with the FBIs Cyber Crimes Task Force. He also has prior experience as a private sector trial lawyer.

Mr. Root received his B.A. from The Ohio State University and his J.D. from Capital University Law School.

About Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright PLLC is a general practice business law firm with more than 425 attorneys among more than 40 practice areas and 16 industry groups. Headquartered in Detroit and founded in 1878, the firm has seventeen offices, including six in Michigan (Detroit, Troy, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Saginaw) and ten other domestic offices in Austin, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Lexington, Ky.; Nashville and Music Row, Tenn.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Washington, D.C. The firms Canada office is located in Toronto.

Dickinson Wright offers our clients a distinctive combination of superb client service, exceptional quality, value for fees, industry expertise and business acumen. As one of the few law firms with ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification, Dickinson Wright has built state-of-the-art, independently-verified risk management controls and security processes for our commercial transactions. Dickinson Wright lawyers are known for delivering commercially-oriented advice on sophisticated transactions and have a remarkable record of wins in high-stakes litigation. Dickinson Wright lawyers are regularly cited for their expertise and experience by Chambers, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and other leading independent law firm evaluating organizations.
Baroness Williams of Trafford, Minister of State (Home Office) speaking at the event Its so good to see so many women here to talk about the role we can play in promoting peace and integration. Whether we are mothers, religious leaders or politicians, we all have a role in establishing peace

Some 700 women attended a national Peace symposium titled Faith and Loyalty to Britain: The Role of Women on 14th January.

The event was organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Womens Association UK to dispel misconceptions about Islam and Muslim Women and demonstrate that loyalty to Britain is part of the practice of Islam.

The aim of the event was also to highlight the important contribution made by Ahmadi Muslim women who are dedicated to Islam and its peaceful teachings but are also able to contribute significantly to British society, its culture and its economy. A 5000 cheque was presented to Whizz-Kidz, a British Charity that is working hard to transform the lives of disabled children.

It was held at the largest Mosque in Western Europe, the Baitul Futuh Mosque in South London.

Keynote speakers were Baroness Williams of Trafford, Minister of State (Home Office), Ms. Patsy Robertson, Vice Chair of the Commonwealth Association, and Mrs Safiyya Salam, Vice President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Womens Association, UK. Distinguished speakers included the Rt. Hon Fiona MacTaggart MP and Siobhain McDonagh MP. The event was also attended by Councillors, Mayors, academics, NGOs and invitees from many faiths and beliefs.

Baroness Williams of Trafford, Minister of State (Home Office) said:

Its so good to see so many women here to talk about the role we can play in promoting peace and integration. Whether we are mothers, religious leaders or politicians, we all have a role in establishing peace.

Your dedication to your faith and your country is an inspiration for us all. Ahmadiyya Muslim Women demonstrate to me their importance to building strong communities. Thank You!

"Baroness Williams also outlined the Governments commitment to tackling hate crime which includes action on racially and religiously aggravated hate crime and to protecting communities from hostility, violence and bigotry.

Mrs. Patsy Robertson, Vice Chair of the Commonwealth Association spoke of the advancement of women since the Beijing UN Conference for Womens Rights, but said:

I have come to know that as a Community, you are accomplished and have done a great deal of work for your fellow citizens  I really do believe that it is incumbent on Muslim and non-Muslim women to end this idea that wearing the hijab is an oppressive tool. We are educated women, we have to speak up and challenge these societal beliefs.

The Rt. Hon Fiona MacTaggart MP said:

I want to congratulate you on leading this womans only event Mums roles are not celebrated enough in government and the job they do in bringing up moral children and establishing peace within society The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is I believe the only group in Parliament with a majority of female MPs

Siobhain McDonagh MP said:

I want to thank you for your contributions. I want to thank you for showing loyalty without condition to your country.

Mrs. Nasira Rehman, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Womens Association UK said:

Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance and unity. Ahmadi Muslim women have been in Britain since 1913 and adopting modest dress have been determinedly serving society ever since. We will continue to do so building on our determination to show society that respect and tolerance for true peaceful Islam and responsibility to God and His creation is a source of unity and peace for all of us.

Mrs. Rehman also paid tribute to Councillor Maxi Martin, who passed away in 2016 and was a dear friend of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Womens Association.

Mrs. Safiyya Salam, Vice President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Womens Association in the UK and daughter in law of Dr Abdus Salam, the first Muslim Nobel laureate in sciences said:

This Muslim Womens Association was established in 1922 to encourage Muslim women to be improve knowledge, serve the community, and train and bring up children to be righteous and loyal citizens. As practising Muslims, we are instructed to love our country and act as an instrument of peace. Loyalty to ones country is part of the Islamic faith and there is no conflict between this and our belief in Islam.

Mrs. Farzana Yousuf, a lawyer and National Secretary for Community Outreach said:

Ahmadi Muslim women believe in loyalty to Britain, we believe in freedom, respect, tolerance and a shared responsibility for our world. In other words, we believe in true Islam.

Alison Gordon O.B.E, Director and co-Founder of Sister for Change, Mitty Tohma President of the Womens Federation for World Peace, Margaret Ali, Director of the Universal Peace Federation, Councillor Brenda Fraser Mayor of Merton, Councillor Wendy Speck Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth and Deputy Mayor of Croydon Councillor Toni Letts were also distinguished guests who attended and spoke. Their thoughtful sentiments were well received by the Symposium.

Ends

Media Contacts

Mrs. Farzana Yousuf

E: Farzana230(at)yahoo.co.uk

T: 07958 781 681

Mrs. Shermeen Butt

E: Neemrehs(at)gmail.com

T: 07789 913 471

Web: http://www.lajna.org.uk

Twitter: @LajnaUK Hashtag: #LoveFromLajna

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Womens Association UK is a national Muslim Womens group established in 1922 with more than 10,000 members across Britain. It is an auxillary organisation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK which was established in Britain in 1913 with approximately 33,000 members across more than 100 chapters. The Community built the Fazl Mosque in Southfields London in 1924 which was the first Mosque in London and also the Baitul Futuh Mosque in South London, the largest Mosque in Western Europe.

It was founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him) who claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi awaited by all major religions, including the Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is now established in 209 countries with tens of millions of adherents worldwide. Its motto is Love for All, Hatred for None.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the largest organised Muslim Community in the world and is led by a system of successorship known as Khilafat. Its current Khalifa is the fifth successor to the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him); his name is His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmad. His title is Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V, the Khalifa of Islam.
Baldessarini Menswear Fall-Winter 2017-2018 BALDESSARINI stands out as a designer collection geared to the biggest male market in the history of the U.S., almost 40 million consumers  Generation Millennial, said John McCoy, Components by John McCoy, NYC.

BALDESSARINI, the international premium fashion brand owned by the Ahlers AG menswear company, one of Europes largest, launches its BALDESSARINI NA collection to U.S. retailers with the Fall 2017 collection. The BALDESSARINI NA collection debuts in the U.S. at the MRket trade shows Vanguards Gallery being held at the Jacob Javits Center, in New York City, January 23-25.

BALDESSARINI for Fall 17 stands out as a designer collection geared to the biggest male market in the history of the U.S., almost 40 million consumers  Generation Millennial, said John McCoy, who heads BALDESSARINI NAs U.S. sales at his Components by John McCoy showroom in New York City. For this younger thinking fashion consumer, BALDESSARINI offers great quality, fashion correct, stand apart products that are not disposable.

The highly sophisticated, smartly edited collection provides an accessible luxury menswear option at affordable prices and rooted in the brands core features  uncompromising quality, exceptional materials, outstanding workmanship and distinctive style.

Silhouettes ranging from classic tailoring to casualwear are designed for ultimate comfort, aimed not at fast-moving trends but rather at becoming true companions and personal favorites. Innovative fabrics with a beautiful hand from Biella and Europes finest fabric producers are used almost exclusively. The collection blends classic and casual, urban and outdoor influences, suiting and knitwear, formal tailoring and Athleisure, natural and technical fibers, and innovative patterns and finishes. Tailored and unconstructed shapes offer a focused attention to detail in their manufacture including hand-sewn aspects.

Werner Baldessarini created the brand that bears his name in 1993 as the luxury line of Hugo Boss Ag. In 2006, BALDESSARINI became part of the Ahlers AG brand portfolio, and has been presenting at Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy, including its most recent January event and has shown at Berlin Fashion Week.

BALDESSARINI's pedigree manufacture and history are powered by price-value stock services and replenishment, allowing the U.S. retail merchant an opportunity to go after the largest market in history  The Millennial. For retailer and customer, it is the perfect combination.

BALDESSARINI provides the retailer a competitive grab and groom for the future new consumer, says McCoy. Whether jeans or formal wear, and everything in between, this brand gives the multi-brand merchant the vehicle to reach out to the future and bring in a whole new generation with products that are priced for, and geared to, their lifestyle.

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About BALDESSARINI

BALDESSARINI is an international premium luxury fashion brand headquartered in Munich whose core focus is the ultimate in craftsmanship and quality materials. The complete collection ranges from classic tailoring to casualwear and includes shoes, bags and accessories, partly manufactured under license. Founded in 1993 by Werner Baldessarini, the label is now part of the brand portfolio of Ahlers AG, one of Europes largest menswear companies.
Real estate duo Tracey Miller and Kelly Cahill, of The Cahill & Miller Group and Allen Tate REALTORS, were recently named as one of the top 100 Realtors of over 1,400 agents across the Allen Tate Footprint from Raleigh, NC, to Greenville, SC. Their achievement represents total closed production for the team for the qualifying period of August 1, 2015, through July 31, 2016.

Being a part of this elite group is definitely an honor, said Cahill. Our current market, with low inventory, tight lending restrictions and savvy buyers and sellers, requires us to work extremely hard to get our clients to closing. We take pride in giving great service and being responsive to each of our clients.

By qualifying, The Cahill & Miller Group is eligible to attend the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Performance Summit on March 3-6 at the Fontainebleau Miami. This is an exciting opportunity filled with three days of learning, team building and networking, said Miller.

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World is the largest network of top independent local and regional brand-name brokerage firms in the residential sector of real estate. The 550 firms affiliated with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World are represented by 4,600 offices and 140,000 associates in more than 30 countries worldwide. The organizations leadership is demonstrated by the fact that its affiliates comprise 15 of the top 25 real estate companies in the country.

About Tracey Miller/Kelly Cahill, Allen Tate REALTORS

Allen Tate REALTORS Tracey Miller and Kelly Cahill, who are licensed in both North and South Carolina, have been real estate professionals for more than 18 years and business partners since 2012. They service York County, Ballantyne, and South Charlotte, NC. Whether preparing to sell or purchase a home, it is key to partner with the right Realtor. Selling or buying a home is one of the most important decisions one will ever make, and partnering with the right Realtor can make the difference between a successful experience and a frustrating one. The Cahill/Miller team has an extensive marketing plan to place ones home in the best position to sell. For more information, please call Kelly at (803) 389-0080 or Tracey at (803) 487-2357, or follow them on Facebook. The office is located at 870 Gold Hill Road, Suite 105, Fort Mill, SC.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
Weve seen too many children in our community locked in cycles of poverty and crime, and our goal in working with Adallum House is to help at-risk children in our region get a new start in life

The Mark Shaw Agency, a family managed firm in Wetumpka that provides asset protection services and financial planning assistance to residents of central Alabama, is embarking on a charity drive in cooperation with local nonprofit Adallum house aimed at assisting area children in need.

Founded by local couple Pete and Angie Spackman, the Adullam House provides orphans and children from at-risk and troubled homes in Elmore County a way out. Adallum House is a faith-based organization that works to change outcomes for area children by meeting their basic needs as well as offering spiritual leadership to overcome lifes challenges.

Weve seen too many children in our community locked in cycles of poverty and crime, and our goal in working with Adallum House is to help at-risk children in our region get a new start in life, says Mark Shaw, founder and executive director of the Mark Shaw Agency.

To generate local support for the Adallum House charity event, Shaw and his team are taking to the Internet by building an online social media and email nexus to share information with local families and civic leaders. The Shaw team will also be publishing a feature article detailing the charity event in the next issue of Our Hometown, a monthly community interest webzine hosted by the firm: http://www.markshawagency.com/Our-Hometown-Magazine_39.

To date, the Mark Shaw Agency has assisted half a dozen nonprofit groups and charitable causes operating in the central Alabama region. As members of the national Agents of Change charity support network, the Shaw team plans to continue hosting bimonthly charity events for a wide variety of regional causes.

Everyone that would like to be part of the central Alabama charity initiative to support the Adallum House and assist at-risk children is invited to join the Mark Shaw Agency by following this link and taking action:

http://www.markshawagency.com/Guiding-At-Risk-Children-Towards-a-Bright-Future_16_community_cause. Previous charity drives sponsored by the Mark Shaw Agency can be reviewed from the companys Community Causes listing: http://www.markshawagency.com/community-cause.

About The Mark Shaw Agency

As a Personal Finance Representative and Elmore County native, agency owner Mark Shaw knows many local families. His knowledge and understanding of the people in his community ensures that Mark Shaw Agency clients are provided with an outstanding level of service. Mark and his team look forward to helping families protect the things that are most important - family, home, car and more. The Mark Shaw Agency also offers clients a preparation strategy for achieving their financial goals. To contact an expert at the Mark Shaw Agency, visit http://www.markshawagency.com/ or call 334-567-2246.
Jason and RAchelle Phillips Phillips remarked, We want to help people be more than they thought they could be. Were looking not just to provide jobs, but to create a place for lifelong, satisfying careers.

CNBC will air Blue Collar Millionaires inspiring interview of Phillips owners Jason and RAchelle Phillips 9 p.m. CST, Wednesday, January 18, recounting how their painting business grew by mud, sweat and tears into a multi-million dollar painting, roofing and gutter business. Though the business started humbly with Jason, a few printing supplies, one paint crew, and a dream to bring excellence to the painting industry, over the past 20 years, Jason has built Phillips into much more than a money maker. The television docu-series hosted by country music superstar Tim McGraw presents Phillips as a businessman with a mission, a mission to enrich lives, with a reputation for, in the company mottos words, workmanship beyond customers expectations.

While Jason and his team have proudly raised the bar on industry standards using best materials and industry practices, garnering 8 years of Angies List Super Service Awards, 8 years Consumers' Choice Award and EBSCOs elusive Best Picks Award 7 years running, he has not lost sight of the values that launched his company. Hard work, integrity, commitment to customer care and excellence, sharing instead of hoarding profits, prayer and giving God all the credit for the companys success still guide the Phillips ship. But because of Jasons love for self improvement and people, employing systematic processes, utilizing technology, emulating the most successful new business models, investing in employees educations, providing non-required employee benefits and elevating honest and open teaming instead of good ol boy silo mentalities, have proven the winning combination not only for doing business in North Texas, but also for employee satisfaction in the twenty-first century. Of his team, Phillips remarked, We want to help people be more than they thought they could be. Were looking not just to provide jobs, but to create a place for lifelong, satisfying careers. Phillips intends to present his progressively down home values on CNBCs Blue Collar Millionaires unashamedly, and doesnt mind telling you that his wifes commitment to caring for his 5 children during the evenings he worked late building the business, has provided the glue that has kept his family thriving.

Phillips, a forward-thinking entrepreneur with heart, is enthusiastic about the exposure the docu-series will bring the company, but is even more hopeful about the customers homes Phillips will renew and the lives the company will enrich as a result. He clarifies that he is referring to lives of customers, employees and business partners. With the way 2017 is shaping up, Phillips 20-year anniversary promises to be Phillips best year in business yet.

About Consumers' Choice Award:

Established in 1987, the Consumers' Choice Award identifies and promotes businesses that deliver customer service excellence. The Consumers' Choice Award has retained a leading independent research firm to conduct surveys in U.S. cities; Atlanta, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dallas. The winners are determined by consumers and not by a panel of judges. The survey covers a broad range of categories of interest to both the public and business communities. Its purpose is to publicly identify those establishments that have been voted by consumers as being their choice for excellence. The Consumers' Choice Award is a most prestigious tribute to local businesses that serve their communities well. The program is encouraged by all levels of government and by business leaders. Find out more about The Consumers Choice Award by visiting http://www.consumerschoiceaward.com/.
The Soybean Leadership College fosters networking between growers from across the country, encouraging collaboration, which in turn increases the effectiveness of soybean growers.

Delaware farmer Rick Dickerson attended the 2017 Soybean Leadership College January 10 - 12 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dickerson, of Laurel, farms about a thousand acres of soybeans, corn and wheat, and raises peas, sweet corn, baby lima beans, edamame, string beans, yellow squash on contract and pumpkins and other vegetables for the fresh market. He also operates a roadside stand and raises broilers for Perdue Farms, Inc.

Dickerson also attended the United Soybean Boards 2015 See For Yourself tour of China and Vietnam.

The Delaware Soybean Board sponsored his trip. Delaware farmers plant about 180,000 acres of soybeans each year, and the crop generates approximately $60 million in value to the state. Delawares agricultural industry contributes about $8 billion per year to the Delaware economy.

Soybean Leadership College, coordinated by the American Soybean Association, provides current and future agricultural industry leaders with training to effectively promote the soybean industry, communicate key agricultural messages, and work to expand U.S. soybean market opportunities domestically and internationally.

The program also fosters networking between growers from across the country, encouraging collaboration, which in turn increases the effectiveness of soybean growers at the local, regional and national level.

The Delaware Soybean Board consists of nine farmer-directors and the Secretary of Agriculture. Funded through a one-half of one percent assessment on the net market value of soybeans at their first point of sale, the checkoff works with partners in the value chain to identify and capture opportunities that increase farmer profit potential. One-half of the soybean checkoff assessments collected by the state boards are forwarded to the United Soybean Board.

About Delaware Soybean Board: The Delaware Soybean Board administers soybean checkoff funds for soybean research, marketing and education programs in the state. One-half of the checkoff funds stay in Delaware for programs; the other half is sent to the United Soybean Board. To learn more about the Delaware Soybean Board, visit http://www.desoybeans.org.
Peter Francis Geraci and Holly Geraci Donating to the Alano Club of Lahaina Even those who could not afford to make a personal financial donation found ways to help: One group held a one-day car wash that raised over $500!

The Alano Club of Lahaina Challenge is proof Holly Geraci and Peter Francis Geracis helphollyhelp.com grant challenges invigorate donors to give more. Back in October of 2016, when Holly Geraci and Peter Francis Geraci decided to match contributions, up to an allotted amount, nobody would have thought they would reach $100,000. However, with the success of their most recent challenge, The Alano Club of Lahaina, Mr. and Mrs. Geraci exceeded $100,000 in just over three months.

The Alano Club of Lahaina is the third nonprofit selected by the Holly Geraci and her husband Peter Francis Geraci. When The Alano Club of Lahaina was approached to be the next grant challenge, in November, they quickly accepted. Mr. and Mrs. Geraci agreed to match, dollar-for-dollar, the first $15,000 donated to the Alano Club of Lahaina. From the very start of the challenge, November 15, 2016, the challenge was a success.

The grant challenge sparked a fundraising excitement that the Alano Club has not experienced in the past and far exceeded our expectations. Everyone who donated wanted the opportunity to double their donation  a unique feature of the grant challenge. commented Jasper Hempel, the Alano Club of Lahainas President.

The grant challenges are a platform to provide genuine community support to nonprofit organizations. For years, Mr. & Mrs. Geraci have supported various nonprofit organizations. However, by organizing the grant challenge Holly Geraci and Peter Francis Geraci are challenging a community to become involved. During the Alano Club of Lahaina Challenge the community came together to raise funds according to Jasper.

Even those who could not afford to make a personal financial donation found ways to help: One group held a one-day car wash that raised over $500! A second group made Christmas ornaments, sold them for $5 each, and collected over $1,100! Talk about a fundraising team effort!

The Alano Club of Lahaina rasied more than $20,000 during the grant challenge period. As promised, Mr. and Mrs. Geraci donated $15,000 to the Alano Club of Lahaina. In total, the helphollyhelp.com grant challenge assisted the Alano Club of Lahaina raise more than $35,000 during the grant challenge period. You can view the total amount of money raised by Holly Geraci and Peter Francis Geraci on their website http://www.helphollyhelp.com.
"The holidays are a great time to give back to the community, and we exceeded expectations this season thanks to our employees, vendors, and community members."- Jackie Demmer, Business Development Manager.

Various charities across the Detroit metro area benefited last year from philanthropic efforts by employees of Jack Demmer Lincoln in Dearborn, Mich. Two charities, in particular, received generous financial and material donations to help special needs families and children this coming yearStarfish Family Services and the Center for Exceptional Families (CEF).

Activities by the Michigan Lincoln dealer included a December 2016 fundraising raffle for Starfish Family Services among company employees and families at the dealership's holiday party. The Demmer family matched thousands of dollars raised. Separately, the Lincoln dealership's parts department, on behalf of CEF, sponsored a holiday toy collection drive. More than 120 families with special needs children picked up new toys from the showroom at a special pre-Christmas gathering on Dec.14.

"The holidays are a great time to give back to the community, and we exceeded expectations this season thanks to our employees, vendors, and community members," said Jackie Demmer, the dealership's business development manager. She added that the Lincoln dealership has supported the Starfish Family organization since the 1960s. A similar history exists for the dealership's toy drive benefitting CEF.

Starfish Family Services was founded in 1963 to help vulnerable children and families throughout Detroit. The non-profit focuses on early childhood development to prepare at-risk children for school by providing Early Head Start and Head Start pre-school programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It serves more than 10,000 area children and families annually. The CEF provides family-centered rehabilitation care, educational and emotional support to children with any disability or developmental issue. It's based on an in-home service model versus formal institutionalization, and family involvement and participation are key. CEF is offered through Beaumont Health, Michigan's largest health care system.

In addition to both non-profit groups, Jack Demmer Lincoln also donated funds last year to nearly 50 Detroit area charities including the Veteran's Hospital, Salvation Army, DARE, Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, Brain Aneurysm Foundation, Wayne State University Scholarships and Detroit Police Officers Association, among others. Jack Demmer Lincoln is located at 21531 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, Mich., 48124. For more information about the dealership, contact (313) 274-8800 or visit demmerlincoln.net.

Based in Dearborn, Jack Demmer Lincoln has served the Detroit area since 1998, selling and leasing luxury new and pre-owned Lincoln vehicles. Models can be seen at the showroom or examined on the website, which also supports online service scheduling. Additionally, the Lincoln dealership offers free monthly Sync Seminars to help Lincoln owners understand and operate the latest infotainment devices in their vehicles. A Quick-Lane service provides fast oil changes and tire rotations.
Paribus Interactive "Fuzzy" Matching Results

QGate, experts in delivering software solutions for Customer Relationship Management (CRM), today announced the launch of Paribus Interactive. The solution, a powerful ally in the prevention of duplicate data, is now generally available for all users of Microsoft Dynamics 365 / Dynamics CRM.

Rowland Dexter, QGates Managing Director gives an every-day example of how this efficiency is achieved: Imagine you need to find a contact called Rob Dixon. You are sure that Rob is in the system, but the look up comes out empty. Why? Because someone entered him as Robert Dixen and the standard find/look up function in CRM requires an exact match. Rob could be in the system several times already, with slight variations to his name or his account name. So, you have two choices  either spend another ten minutes looking for him, or give up and enter yet another duplicate. Paribus Interactives fuzzy matching capability will surface these multiple records, saving you time and preventing another record from being entered. Now multiply this for every task of every CRM user and theres your gain in user efficiency and data accuracy.

Solving the problem of duplicate data in CRM is not something new for QGate. The company first released Paribus Discovery almost 15 years ago, a solution that has been helping organizations worldwide to identify, report and remove duplicate records. With the launch of Paribus Interactive, QGate takes the war on data duplication to the next level, by preventing it.

According to Rowland Dexter, this really is a game changer for organizations that rely on Microsoft Dynamics 365, and the data within that system. If Paribus Discovery is the Cure for data duplication, Paribus Interactive is now the Prevention for the same disease. Weve made it as simple, intuitive and affordable as we possibly could, and the reason for that was to remove any possible adoption barrier. There simply is no reason why users shouldnt have it.

How Paribus Interactive works

Paribus Interactive is a subscription-based solution, embedded in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and powered by an intelligent fuzzy matching engine. It is capable of finding both people and organizations across the Account, Contact and Lead areas in the same search. The same capability is applied to the Look up function available in Opportunities and Cases. In addition, when a user is creating a new Account and/or Contact the solution checks for existing similar records. Results are immediately displayed, and users can navigate to those records on the spot, instead of creating a duplicate.

Mark Cooper, QGates Director Product Development explains, whether youre associating a Case with a Contact, creating a new Lead, or simply looking for an Account address, if that data already exists, Paribus Interactive will find it.

The Paribus Interactive matching engine is significantly more effective than the standard Dynamics 365 duplicate detection capabilities. It is also configurable, so companies can adapt it to their CRM as required.

Who can benefit from Paribus Interactive

In this first release, the solution is available for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 and above, including Dynamics 365. Additional CRM systems will be supported in the future. Mark Cooper reveals that the product has an ambitious roadmap, and the ultimate goal of Paribus Interactive is to prevent every CRM user in the world from creating a duplicate record of something that already exists in the system.

Free Trial

Paribus Interactive is a cloud-based solution priced per user per month. QGate offers a 14-day free trial with no commitment required. To request it, please visit the products web page: http://www.paribuscloud.com.

Additional information / press contact

Tel: +44 (0) 1329 222 800 / E: info(at)paribuscloud(dot)com

W: http://www.paribuscloud.com

About QGate

QGate are a UK based Microsoft Partner with 20 years experience in delivering successful CRM projects in different industries. During this time, the company has developed CRM oriented solutions for Telephony Integration (intelli-CTi), and for solving the problem of duplicate records in CRM, with Paribus Discovery and Paribus Interactive. For additional information, please visit http://www.qgate.co.uk
For the second consecutive year, Recorded Books partner Transparent Language Inc., a leading provider of language-learning technology, has received a Platinum Award for Transparent Language Online in the LibraryWorks third annual Modern Library Awards (MLAs).

The MLAs were created to provide an unbiased format for recognizing the top products and services in the library industry. Nominations were submitted in the fall and posted on a private site with an enhanced description and supporting materials. These products were batched into small groups and sent to the LibraryWorks database of more than 80,000 librarians at public, K through 12, academic, and special libraries.

To achieve unbiased scores, only customers who had experience with these products and services were permitted to judge. Each judge scored the products from 1 to 10 on criteria that included functionality, value, and customer service.

It is an honor to receive the Platinum Award for Transparent Language Online for the second year in a row, noted Michael Quinlan, chief executive officer of Transparent Language Inc. Libraries are at the center of todays dynamic changes on how people get information and knowledge. We love supporting them in all that they do.

Transparent Language Online is Transparent Languages premier language-learning system for libraries, schools, corporate organizations, and independent learners. With this ever-evolving product, subscribing organizations and learners always receive the latest upgrades as they are released. New updates in 2016 included the following:



iPad App: The iPad app allows learners to work offlinecontent can be downloaded and then learned (even without an internet connection). The next time the app is connected to the internet, all of their progress will sync automatically.

New Content: From Word of the Day courses to elementary French and Spanish for grades three to six, to intermediate-level English, numerous new courses across different languages and proficiency levels have been added to Transparent Language Online.

Daily Refresher Emails: Users can now opt in to daily refresher email reminders, which will prompt them to practice words and phrases deemed stale by the programs algorithm.

More Practice Activities: Now with even more activities to choose from, users can select the content they want to learn and the skills they want to practice to achieve their goals.

New Support Widget: Learners can now quickly and easily direct any problems, questions, or feedback to the team at Transparent Language through the built-in support widget.

Jenny Newman, publisher and MLA program manager, said, Transparent Language Online is a product that is under consistent evolution through feedback from public libraries and other organizations. Were delighted to be able to present Transparent Language with the Platinum Award two years running.

Specially configured versions of Transparent Language Online, featuring support for over 100 languages, are available for educational institutions, corporations, and public libraries. Transparent Language Online for independent learners is available from the companys website. Transparent Language Online is available to public libraries through Recorded Books Inc.

We are proud to be partnered with such a dynamic product, said Jim Schmidt, Recorded Books vice president of sales and marketing. This much-deserved award is just further proof of the value that Transparent Language brings to our digital offerings.

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To view Transparent Languages original press release, click here.

About Transparent Language Inc.

At Transparent Language, we leverage our expertise in technology and in the research and practice of language learning and teaching to build unique capabilities for use by US Government agencies and organizations, as well as hundreds of public libraries, thousands of schools, and millions of individuals. We care about all languages, regardless of commercial value. We believe that language technology needs to work for all courses and curricula, not just a few courses. It needs to benefit not only individuals, but entire programs. We believe that great language technology not only changes the user experience; it transforms the economics, logistics, and reliability of language learning.

About Recorded Books Inc.

Recorded Books is a leading publisher of spoken-word content. It is the largest independent publisher of audiobooks and provider of digital media to consumer, retail, professional, school, library and infotainment markets. The company owns an exclusive catalog of more than 27,000 audiobook titles narrated by professional, award-winning actors. Recorded Books also provides digital audiobooks and eBooks, as well as other compelling third-party content, including digital magazines and films. The company operates in the United Kingdom through its W. F. Howes subsidiary and in Australia through its Wavesound subsidiary. Recorded Books was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Prince Frederick, MD. For more information, visit recordedbooks.com.

About LibraryWorks

LibraryWorks helps administrators to make informed decisions about library technology, automation and software, collection development and management, facilities and furnishings, staffing, purchasing, and other areas that drive effective strategic planning and day-to-day operations. Our family of resources can enable you to identify best practices, monitor trends, evaluate new products and services, apply for grants and funding, post or find a job, and even enjoy some library humor.

About the Modern Library Awards Program

The Modern Library Awards (MLAs) is a program designed to recognize elite products and services in the library market, which can help library management personnel enhance the quality of experience for the library user and increase the performance of their library systems.
EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) and Stacks Inc. (Stacks) are now accepting applications for the inaugural Stacks Public Library Website Makeover Award. One winner will receive a free three-year library website makeover as well as up to $1,000 in travel expenses to attend the 2017 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Entries must be received by April 3, 2017.

Stacks, a hosted, turnkey web content management system designed specifically for libraries, will work with the winning applicant to create a website that offers a relevant and robust user experience tailored for their patrons and administrators needs. As part of their submission, entrants are asked to include information about the challenges the library administrators and patrons face with their current library website.

President and CEO of Stacks Inc., Kristin Delwo, says the new award was developed to help a qualified library create a powerful and effective website for its patrons. The winner of the makeover contest will be able to experience firsthand, the power of Stacks. Not only will they be able to create a truly unique library website tailored to their patrons needs, but one that can be easily managed by their administrative team. We are thrilled to work closely with the winning library to create a new library website experience.

Applicants can submit entries via the Stacks website at http://www.stacksdiscovery.com/makeover. In order to enter the contest, entrants must be an employee of a public library in the United States or Canada and by at least 18 years old. The Public Library Website Makeover Award will be presented during 2017 ALA Annual Conference in June.

About Stacks Inc.

The Stacks platform has supported more than 500 libraries since its first iteration in 2009, even the Microsoft Faculty Library is part of the Stacks story. Kristin Delwo, President and CEO of Stacks Inc., is a former Systems Administrator & Management Consultant for a large consortia serving over 150 public libraries. Inspired by the solutions she was able to create, Kristin partnered with her then vendor, Chad Smith to evolve the products they had built into what we now know as Stacks. The team's deep library technology expertise was recognized in 2014 when the TALOnline project was recognized with the ALA Award for Collaboration and the CLA Award for Innovation in Technology. These accomplishments attracted the last key members of an all-star team that is reinventing the library experience.

About EBSCO Information Services

EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading discovery service provider for libraries worldwide with more than 11,000 discovery customers in over 100 countries. EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) provides each institution with a comprehensive, single search box for its entire collection, offering unparalleled relevance ranking quality and extensive customization. EBSCO is also the preeminent provider of online research content for libraries, including hundreds of research databases, historical archives, point-of-care medical reference, and corporate learning tools serving millions of end users at tens of thousands of institutions. EBSCO is the leading provider of electronic journals & books for libraries, with subscription management for more than 360,000 serials, including more than 57,000 e-journals, as well as online access to more than 900,000 e-books. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: http://www.ebsco.com. EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., a family owned company since 1944.

###

For more information, please contact:

Kathleen McEvoy

Vice President of Communications

(800) 653-2726 ext. 2594

kmcevoy@ebsco.com
Paula Turner Pizarro A franchise opportunity with PrideStaff allows Strategic-Partners [franchisees] to thrive professionally and financially, while making a huge impact on their local community.

PrideStaff, a national, franchised staffing organization, is pleased to announce that their Vice President of Franchise Development, Paula Turner Pizarro, was recently featured on Fox Business Network's Worldwide Business with kathy ireland.

This award-winning business program, which features the insights of top business leaders from across the globe, provides viewers an opportunity to find solutions to a variety of industry problems. During their interview, Ireland and Pizarro discussed the biggest challenges businesses are facing in today's global economy and the unique value PrideStaff's franchise model delivers to the competitive market.

"The biggest cost for most companies today is their employees," said Pizarro. "As a leading national staffing organization, PrideStaff provides a full complement of flexible workforce solutions to help employers keep expenses down and stay competitive."

According to Pizarro, PrideStaff's model is extremely successful because they provide the resources of a national organization, as well as the service you would expect from a local firm. "A franchise opportunity with PrideStaff allows Strategic-Partners [franchisees] to thrive professionally and financially, while making a huge impact on their local community," continued Pizarro. "By creating smart employment connections between businesses and talent, PrideStaff helps local employers and job seekers succeed in markets from coast to coast."

Daan and Nieke Renssen, Franchisees/Strategic-Partners of the Thousand Oaks and Ventura County PrideStaff territories, shared their perspective in the TV segment's field report. "I love where I live, and PrideStaff gives me the opportunity to give back to my local community by matching area employers with great talent," stated Daan Renssen. "From the moment I contacted PrideStaff, I was impressed with their people, their ambition and the level of support that I received."

"I was extremely excited to get started with PrideStaff, but I wondered if the opportunity would provide the income, freedom and support I wanted," said Nieke Renssen. "After a few years with the organization, I'm really happy to say that I'm so glad I made this step."

The success of PrideStaff's approach is evident, as they consistently rank among the highest 1% of staffing firms in the industry. According to Inavero, a business intelligence firm specializing in the staffing industry, PrideStaff earned a client Net Promoter Score (NPS) placing them in the ranks of other well-known brands such as Apple and Nordstrom. NPS is computed by subtracting a firms detractors from its promoters.

About PrideStaff

PrideStaff was founded in the 1970s as 100 percent company-owned units and began staffing franchising in 1995. They operate over 74 offices in North America to serve over 5,000 clients. With over 40 years in the staffing business, headquartered in Fresno, CA, PrideStaff offers the resources and expertise of a national firm with the spirit, dedication and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. PrideStaff is the only commercial staffing firm in the U.S. with over $100 million in annual revenue to earn Inaveros prestigious Best of Staffing Diamond Award for three years in a row, highlighting exceptional client and talent service quality.

For more information on our services or for staffing franchise information, visit http://www.pridestaff.com.
According to the World Health Organization (2011), South Africa has 0.27 psychiatrists and 0.31 psychologists per 100,000 people, while Lebanon has 1.41 psychiatrists and 2.12 psychologists for 100,000 people. The lack of mental health providers in these countries presents a barrier for those trying to access mental-health care. How then, can access to mental-health care be broadened, not just in these two countries, but in countries across the world?

In a 2016 article published in the South African Journal of Psychology, APS Fellow Michael C. Roberts, Rebecca M. Kanine, Christina M. Amaro, Spencer C. Evans, Jennifer B. Blossom, and Andrea M. Garcia from the University of Kansas describe the current state of clinical science for some of our most vulnerable populations  children and adolescents. They describe efforts in the United States and internationally (with a special focus on South Africa) to improve training, interventions, and youths access to mental health care.

According to the authors, clinical child psychologists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, universities, and community mental-health centers. Their work spans from assessment and treatment of cognitive, emotional, developmental, behavioral, and family problems to teaching, research, and policy work. Although the field of child and adolescent psychology is well recognized today, the authors note that this recognition has only become widespread in the last 50 years.

One of the contributors to the dearth of child psychological health professionals is limitations of education and training in this field, write the authors. The level and requirements of training vary from country to country, and unlike other medical areas  such as nursing few internationally agreed upon training standards exist.

In the United States, the authors say, training programs generally follow a scientist-practitioner model, where research is combined with clinical practice and clinicians gravitate toward the use of evidence-based practices in treatment. The adoption of this training model is growing internationally. These training programs, the authors write, must be focused on inclusion of evidence-based practitioner principles while meeting the unique needs of populations from different cultural and economic backgrounds. In order to accomplish this, some training programs take special steps to integrate multicultural experiences into their training modules. In Mexico, for example, some training programs include an immersion module to give students exposure to other cultures and experiences. In South Africa, students are required to spend a year serving the community as part of their training.

The application of science-based principles is important, not just for clinical training, but also for clinical practice. The authors note an emerging focus on providing evidence-based treatments in both high- and low-income countries. The adoption of these types of treatments, the authors say, are especially important in countries with limited resources. According to the authors, the implementation of these programs will be challenging and will require a focus on training programs that stress the scientist-practitioner approach, and buy-in from key stakeholders such as parents, teachers, and national and local leaders.

Although steps are being taken to improve the quality and quantity of child and adolescent mental-health care, much remains to be done. The authors suggest that in order to spread access to care, there needs to be continued focus on the training and utilization of evidence-based practices and more research into how different interventions and assessments perform with diverse populations. The creation of internationally accepted training standards for clinicians is one way to help boost the quality of care worldwide. At the legislative level, policymakers must focus on creating mental-health policy that focuses on the specific psychological and environmental challenges children and adolescents face.

Reference

Roberts, M. C., Kanine, R. M., Amaro, C. M., Evans, S. C., Blossom, J. B., & Garcia, A. M. (2015). International education and training for clinical child and adolescent psychology. South African Journal of Psychology, 46, 9-24. doi: 10.1177/0081246315619510.
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Scaramucci

DAVOS, Switzerland  One of the stars of this year's World Economic Forum has been the lone representative of the incoming Trump administration: US President-elect Donald Trump's adviser and "official liaison" Anthony Scaramucci.

The general zeitgeist at this year's conference is fear: fear of the rise of populism and extremism, fear of a turn to protectionism and trade wars, fear of a new US president who sometimes sounds refreshingly pragmatic and impolitic and at other times sounds unhinged.

At a small briefing Tuesday, Scaramucci explained that part of his job was to calm the fears that Trump would do something crazy and to explain the philosophy behind Trump's plans in language the business community is comfortable with.

Scaramucci was as calm, articulate, and clear as Trump is bombastic. He worked the assembled international press representatives like an old hand. And, unlike other luminaries in private briefings here, he spoke on the record.

At the end of the briefing, one journalist observed that Scaramucci sounded "ridiculously sensible" and asked how we should reconcile this with the impression Trump often creates. Scaramucci explained that part of his job was to show Trump to be more sensible and reasonable than he might appear.

In the exchange below, Scaramucci explained his view on the root of the economic misery that is creating such upheaval in the US and around the world: the shafting of the middle class. He drew a comparison with an earlier period in history  the robber-baron era  and described Trump's high-level policy plan to address it.

In an unusual acknowledgment for a government representative, Scaramucci also said fixing the problem would take a long time  five to 15 years.

QUESTION: You said this morning that the Trump administration would like to have "symmetrical" trade deals. Only with China? Or with other countries, too?

ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI: I would refer you to [the head of the White House's new National Trade Council] Peter Navarro or the president-elect for the details on that. What I can talk more broadly about is the philosophical idea.

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I think it's super important for the world and for the political establishment to fix the wage problem that we have in the middle-income and lower-middle-income portion of our economy.

We recently saw some good jobs numbers and wage data. If you look at the economy, you'll say it's at full employment, and that sounds like a good thing. But if you do a clinical assessment of the data, you'll find that a lot of the work was in part-time jobs or jobs of lesser quality in terms of the ability of that job to sustain a family.



So the data superficially looks good, but we need more robust job growth and more robust opportunity for those people.

This happened in the United States in about 1890 to 1915. There's a great book on that. It's called "The Bully Pulpit," by Doris Kearns Goodwin. That was the robber-baron era in the United States, with a lot of economic rent going to a small group of people. At the same time, there was tenement housing in urban areas. President Teddy Roosevelt understood this. The great irony of the word "progressivism" is that it actually came from Republican ideology. Teddy Roosevelt coined that term in the first decade of the 20th century. So we're there again. And in order to right-size this, we have to come up with new policies.

Henry Ford, whatever you think of him politically or as a person, did have a good insight into how to take care of his workers. He said that he would pay his workers enough money that they could afford the cars that they themselves were making. He also wanted to make sure that they had a comfortable house and a good school system. That allowed him to enjoy his very expansive Grosse Pointe mansion and estate. So we have to be more concerned about that.

BUSINESS INSIDER: What policies will get us there?

SCARAMUCCI: There's a mix of policies. And I don't think policies get you there immediately. I think these are five to 15 years in terms of policy development. Certainly, the educational policies will take that long. Some of the infrastructure policies will take at least 10 years. But there is a blend of policies starting with reformation of the tax code, simplifying the code for both individuals and corporations, a reduction in regulation  but not a reduction in regulation in a neoconservative way in which we just wipe out all regulation. We want to do it in a propitious way where you're keeping people safe but you're not making them too safe.

I'll give you this example: If you look at the Dodd-Frank legislation, it has effectively curtailed the lending by community banks. That's a good thing in the sense that there won't be any community banks failing. But it's a bad thing in that those community banks have usually been the lifeblood and resources of the small businesses where you get higher-quality, faster-growing jobs.

So a combination of things:

Taxes.

Regulation.

A broad infrastructure plan that will have a private-public partnership element to it. We don't necessarily want to put another $1-$2 trillion debt burden on the federal budget, but there might be public-private partnership ways to deliver an infrastructure rebuild, where you're getting it financed by individuals and pension funds instead of the US government.

So these things take time.

And I submit to everyone in the room  tell me the politicians who have 10-year plans. I can't find many. But you have businesspeople in the Trump administration working alongside the president-elect who really want to put long-range plans together. So no matter who's in control of the government, you look at the arc of the plan, and you say that's a good plan.

That did happen in the 1940s. And it carried over into the Eisenhower administration.

Scaramucci did not address Trump's promise to slap tariffs on companies that make products in other countries and then sell them in the US. Most economists believe that such behavior would incite retaliation and lead to trade wars that will make things even worse.

Many economists are also skeptical that tax and regulatory policies outlined above will, in fact, boost middle-class wages.

But Scaramucci nailed the economic problem that has triggered a surge of populism around the world and carried leaders like Trump to power. And he represented the incoming president's philosophy in a way that could ease at least some fears.

NOW WATCH: 'An attack on one is an attack on all': Biden issues a 'call to action' to the US and Europe in his final major speech





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(Adds details on private equity firm sale, other assets)

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Wilbur Ross, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Commerce Secretary, has pledged to sell his stake in his main private equity firm and resign from corporate boards but will keep his interests in mortgage lending and shipping.

In an ethics agreement published on Tuesday, the billionaire investor vowed to sell shares in Invesco Ltd, the parent company of W.L. Ross & Co, valued at up to $50 million. He also pledged to divest other assets worth between $77 million and $209 million to prevent conflicts of interest.

He is due to be questioned by members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesday at a confirmation hearing.

The federal disclosure forms for presidential appointees allow asset values to be listed in wide ranges with a maximum threshold of "over $50 million".

Picked by Trump to lead an agenda aimed at shrinking U.S. trade deficits with China and Mexico, the 79-year-old Ross is estimated by Forbes to be worth about $2.5 billion. His asset sales would represent a small portion of that total.

Ross earned his fortune in part by running businesses that have offshored thousands of U.S. jobs, according to Labor Department data seen by Reuters.

He once served under former U.S. President Bill Clinton on the board of a fund set up by the U.S. government to make private investments in Russia, and worked as a privatization advisor to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Ross said he would divest financial interests in some 80 entities, including ownership stakes in companies and investment partnerships, stocks and bonds.

He said he would retain his holdings in nine entities related to his mortgage finance and trans-oceanic shipping assets, but will resign positions he has in those companies and partnerships. The disclosure form lists the valuations of those interests at about $8 million to $36 million.

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He will also resign from positions at 22 of the business entities from which he is divesting, including giving up his board seats at steelmaker ArcelorMittal and Bank of Cyprus, and at chemicals and plastics distributor Nexeo Solutions where he is chairman of the board.

His stake in Nexeo is the largest single investment that he plans to sell, valued in the 57-page financial disclosure at $25 million to $50 million.

His steel industry investments may have brought Ross the most unfavorable media coverage. He listed his shares in ArcelorMittal, which bought his International Steel Group in 2004, as being worth $750,000 to $1.5 million.

Other assets that Ross intends to keep include two cash accounts holding more than $50 million each, the largest reporting threshold required on the forms, and an art collection valued at more than $50 million.

(Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Daniel Wallis)
The surprising victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election on November 8 has resulted in a boom in books about the former real estate magnate and reality television stara number of which have been crashed and rushed out the door.

Skyhorse Publishing will release conservative political consultant and author Roger Stone's The Making of the President 2016 on January 31, to the tune of 200,000 copies in the first printing alone. Stone, whose book, according to Skyhorse, is written in the spirit of Theodore H. White's The Making of the President 1960, has written books on John Kennedy, the Clintons, Benghazi, the Bushes, and Richard Nixon.

Bill Wolfsthal, associate publisher at Skyhorse, has called the book "the first in-depth look at how Donald Trump managed to shock the world and win the election," adding that the publisher went from contract to printed books in less than six weeks."

The more traditionally conservative publisher Regnery has already published the e-book How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, by Joel Pollak and Larry Schweikart; its paperback edition will release in February.

Like Stone, Pollak and Schweikart have strong conservative pedigrees; Polla is an editor-at-large and in-house counsel at Breitbart News and former candidate for Congress in Illinois who has written books including Wacko Birds: The Fall (and Rise) of the Tea Party, while Schweikart is a retired professor of history at the University of Dayton whose A Patriots History of the United States was a bestseller. Schweikart is the co-author of two more upcoming books, including another on Trump.
A Texas bookstore readies for opening in a former Borders location; a New Jersey bookstore inspired by Barack Obamas first election turns eight; a New Hampshire college store ponders going corporate; and more.

Dallas to Get a New Store at Former Borders Site: Named for a punctuation mark that is both a question and an exclamation (), Interabang Books is the brainchild of Nancy Perot and is co-owned by the stores book buyer Lori Feathers, who is on the board of the National Book Critics Circle. Jeremy Ellis is leaving his post as general manager of Brazos Bookstore in Houston to fill that role at Interabang, which is slated to open in May. The store, Brazos told PW, is on the site of the former Taylors Bookstore and a profitable Borders.

Lorelei Books for Sale: Laura and Troy Weeks, who have owned the downtown Vicksburg, Miss., bookstore for the past decade, would like to sell the store and retire to North Carolina. The bookstore will remain open regular hours; by continuing to shop here you can be a partner to the stores changing hands, they wrote in a letter to customers. The Weekses, who own the building, also promised the next owner a reasonable lease.

Keene State College Considering Outsourcing Bookstore: The Keene, N.H., bookstore is the latest school college store to consider contracting with a private company. Late last year the store received bids from Barnes & Noble and Follett, but no decision has been made yet.

[Words] Books Turns Eight: The Maplewood, N.J. bookstore posted a thank-you sign in its window to President and Mrs. Obama. Eight years ago, owners Johan and Ellen Zimiles wrote on Facebook, we heeded Barack Obamas call to serve our community.... Inspired to act, we opened [words]...on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009.

The Last Word Bookstore Launches Fundraising Campaign: The eight-month-old Texas bookstore, which was named Best Bookstore 2016 by the Fort Worth Weekly, is trying to raise $20,000 to expand its inventory, improve its social media outreach, and make its backroom more usable for book clubs and other groups.

Binc Scholarship Applications: On January 16, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation launched its application period for $109,000 in college scholarships. Applications will be accepted until March 6, 2017. Current bookstore employees and owners, Independent Bookseller Association employees, as well as former Borders Group employees, are all eligible. Dependents of these employees are also eligible to apply.

Truckee, Calif., Bookstore to Close: After almost 25 years, the Bookshelf is preparing to close. Its Tahoe City location closed in 2012, and it sold its Quincy store. But despite owner Deborah Lanes best efforts, she was unable to sell the remaining location in Truckee, and will close later this month.

Bluefield, W. Va., Store to Close: Owners Wilma Bury and Anne Hess have decided to close Hearthside Books on February 18. They told the Daily Bluefield Telegraph that they should have closed it two years earlier. The decline in downtown traffic and the Internet have both taken a toll.
When Pamela Strobel released her cookbook in 1969, it was one of the first books to coin the term soul food. Princess Pamela's Soul Food Cookbook, a collection of recipes served at her speakeasy style restaurant in Manhattans East Village (open from 1965 to 1998 and frequented by the likes of Andy Warhol to Diana Ross), fell out of print 40 years ago. But in February, Rizzoli will resurrect the book with a new edition, with the help of two brothers with a passion for forgotten cookbooks.

Matt and Ted Lee, Charleston, S.C. natives who made their foray into the food world with The Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts Catalogue, a mail-order catalogue for southern pantry staples, are also avid collectors of old, rare cookbooks. The brothers, cookbook authors themselves and commentators on the Cooking Channels series Unique Eats, were approached by a former editor at Rizzoli about republishing another out-of-print cookbook. That cookbooks rights were tied up at the time, but the idea of an imprint series tied to worthy out-of-print books was born. Strobels ode to soul food, out February 7, will be the first title released in the Lee Brothers Library Series.

Its a pleasure to see cookbooks, while sometimes challenging technically to stay relevant...find a new life and a new audience, said Rizzoli publisher Charles Miers. Specifically, we have been interested in publishing a title on African-American cooking, an under-published field we think, and when the Lee Brothers serendipitously proposed this classic, it ticked all the boxes for us.

The Lees first met Strobel in 1994, but didnt realize the reach of her influence on Southern chefs until nearly a decade later when they entered the food writing industry themselves. The original Princess Pamelas Soul Food Cookbook has so much to offer in terms of food ideas, history, and poetry, all of which express the journey and the vision of a phenomenally gifted African-American woman at the peak of her cooking career, said Ted Lee. And yet [its original package] was almost disposable, a small, stiff and acidic paperback. So we took the opportunity to give her poetry and recipes a permanence, so that new generations of readers and cooks might be introduced to her voice and her story.

The book will get a first printing of 10,000 copies, but Miers [trusts] it will build from there. At launch, the Lees will host events in Spartanburg, S.C. (where Strobel began her lifes journey, as a way to bring her story home, said Matt Lee), and will also hold a panel discussion at NYUs Fales Library.

To prep the book for its new life in 2017, the brothers tested recipes and worked with designers to create a look that felt true to the original. They also took exhaustive steps to contact Strobel herself, and havent yet been able to determine whether or not she is still alive.

We've hired private investigators, archivists, and genealogists, and beat the bushes throughout the East Village and all the way back to Spartanburg, S.C. to try to determine where she might have ended up, but with no confirmed sightings since 1997, said Ted Lee. She was likely born around 1928, and yet we remain hopeful that she is still with us, and that in publishing her book again, someone will step forward who knows her whereabouts, or what happened to her after her restaurant closed. Our greatest hope is that either way, she'd be proud of this new edition of her landmark cookbook.

The Lees are pursuing reprint rights to two other books (neither are confirmed yet) and intend to re-release one title per year as a part of the series.
In keynote speeches delivered at the start of a rebooted Digital Book World conference Tuesday morning, Macmillan CEO John Sargent and Jonathan Stolper, senior v-p and global managing director of Nielsen Book, pointed to a trade book market that is, for better or worse, relatively stable.

Stolper noted that while unit sales of print books as measured by Nielsen BookScan rose 3.3% in 2016, to 674 million, e-book units from its PubTrack Digital service (which tracks e-book sales from about 20 traditional publishers) fell 16% in the year, leading to an overall decline in units of 3.6%. With sales of e-books declining since 2013 and sales of print units rising, total trade market unit sales were down 1.3% between 2013 and 2016, Stolper observed.

Sargent, speaking before Stolper, said recent market trends have shown that there is room for books in a world which, at one point, a number of industry observers believed would be dominated by the sale of digital books. Sargent said he expects sales of e-books to continue to be soft in 2017, noting that it is hard to see what a new device may come along to give e-book sales a boost. E-books have become another way to deliver content, Sargent said, and provide publishers with different ways to make authors works available to readers. The digital transition, he added, is not finished.

He pointed to the booming sales of digital audiobooks, which he compared to listening to the radio, as a bright spot for publishers. He also acknowledged that self-publishing has been a fast-growing market and, coupled with modest growth from the traditional trade, shows that our business isnt shrinking, that there is plenty of reading going on out there.

Macmillan increased its presence in the self-publishing market last year with its purchase of Pronoun. Sargent said he made the acquisition to provide another service to authors, but added that he expects Pronoun to give Macmillan insights on self-publishing trends as well as providing the company with a better farm team of authors than a slush pile.

While trade publishing is and always will be a business driven by instinct, Sargent said publishers need to use data better to make the entire publishing supply chain more efficient. Macmillan is also investing in more direct marketing programs in an attempt to reach the community of readers, and he noted that the company is shifting more advertising to social media.

While much of New York Citys publishing industry has been in mourning since the election of Donald Trump, Sargent, in response to a question, said that while President Obama, from a cultural standpoint, was on our side, many of his business initiatives were not. He said that the Obama administration favored technology companies over traditional publishers in a number of cases. And in an allusion to the Department of Justices lawsuit against five publishers over e-book price fixing that many saw as beneficial to Amazon, Sargent said Obama allowed the DoJ to increase the power and position of the digital side of the business.

Sargent began his speech by touching on trends in higher education where Macmillan owns a number of companies. The trade business is faring much better than higher education where, Sargent estimated that sales fell 12% last year (his remarks came before Pearsons announcement that its higher education sales fell 18% last year). Higher education is in a transitional period in which the market will undergo an extraordinary amount of change that will focus on giving students more affordable digital options, Sargent said.

The good news, Sargent said, is that since the current business model is so remarkably inefficient, it is possible that publishers could drop the price of textbooks in half and still see profits go up.

Macmillan is investing tens of millions of dollars to develop new technologies to meet the needs of students, Sargent said. He predicted that higher education could be the first market where A.I. and machine learning come into play.
CHICAGO -- Kraft Heinz CEO Bernardo Hees is planning to leave his posh 8,000-square-foot, 7.5-acre estate in the hills of Pittsburgh in hopes of finding a new home in Chicago.

But a company spokesman said the executive's move doesn't mean the maker of Kraft Mac & Cheese and Heinz Ketchup will be pulling up stakes in Pittsburgh.

"This does not represent any change or shift in focus for the company. Kraft Heinz remains 100 percent committed to our co-headquarter locations in Pittsburgh and Chicago," spokesman Michael Mullen said in an email.

In an email obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the first news outlet to report the executive's move, Hees' wife, Jana Hees, told friends that they intended to move to Chicago at the end of the school year.

"Bernardo's work demands in Chicago and abroad have become more and more intense," she wrote in the email. "The time he has spent away from home lately is taking a toll on us too high to ignore."

In November 2015, Kraft Heinz officials announced plans to close its existing facility in Davenport and build a $203 million facility on about 70 acres in the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center at Northwest Boulevard and Interstate 80.

About 1,200 workers are employed by Kraft Heinz in Davenport. That number is expected to be trimmed to about 475 once the new plant is finished.

Given recent analyst reports that Kraft Heinz -- backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital -- could soon make another large acquisition, the move is sure to ignite more speculation on looming consolidation in the food industry.

Mondelez International, Conagra Bands and Mead Johnson have all been mentioned among analysts as potential acquisition targets for Kraft Heinz; all three companies are based in the Chicago area.

The Hees mansion in Pittsburgh is for sale. Current listing: $3.5 million.

But Hees and his family are planning to have residences in both Chicago and Pittsburgh, Mullen said.

"The decision will allow Bernardo to streamline his global travel schedule and day-to-day business operations, while continuing to work regularly from the offices of both U.S. headquarters," Mullen said.
(Adds background, Haley backing relocating embassy in Israel)

By Patricia Zengerle and Arshad Mohammed

WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's pick for U.N. ambassador echoed his condemnation of the world body and pledged to push for reforms at her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, but broke from the president-elect on some other policy issues, including Russia and NATO.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley seconded criticism of the United Nations by Trump and many of their fellow Republicans before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, especially for what she termed its "bias" against Israel.

Some Republicans want to stop U.S. funding for the United Nations over a Security Council resolution last month demanding an end to settlement building that the United States declined to veto, instead of abstaining.

Haley pledged that she would not abstain on U.N. votes. But she did not back "slashing" U.N. funding. The United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. budget.

Trump took to Twitter in the wake of the Israel vote to criticize the 193-member world body as "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time." He warned "things will be different" after he takes office, without offering details.

Haley said Washington should always back Israel. "If we always stand with them, more countries will want to be our allies," she said.

Haley said she "absolutely" backs moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. That shift, which would up-end decades of U.S. policy, is supported by Trump and congressional Republicans but seen by the Palestinians and many Arab states as an impediment to Middle East peace.

Although some Democrats questioned Haley's lack of diplomatic experience, she is expected to be approved. At the end of the mostly non-contentious hearing, Senator Bob Corker, the committee's Republican chairman, said he expected she would be confirmed "overwhelmingly."

Haley, a rising star in the Republican party who turns 45 on Friday when Trump takes office, has only held office in South Carolina. She has been governor since 2011.

Story continues

Haley praised U.N. food programs, efforts to alleviate AIDS, its weapons monitoring and some peacekeeping missions, a departure from Trump's criticisms.

Haley also broke from Trump's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin. She agreed that Russian actions in Syria such as bombing hospitals are "war crimes," condemned Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and said she would oppose easing sanctions until Moscow changes.

"I think that Russia has to have positive actions before we lift any sanctions on Russia," she said. Haley said she had not had detailed conversations with Trump about Russia or China.

The United States and its frequent rivals Russia and China all hold permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, along with U.S. allies Britain and France.

Haley did not advocate backing out of the international nuclear agreement with Iran, which is supported by the United Nations, although she said it should be closely reviewed. She also praised the NATO alliance.

INFLUENCING TRUMP?

Some other Trump nominees, including his choice for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, and his Pentagon nominee, retired Marine General James Mattis, have also veered from Trump's national security positions during their hearings.

Several senators, including Republicans, have said they hope some appointees will rein in his more controversial positions.

"I would far rather have a strong-willed, capable, elected leader with experience at the state level who says those things than someone who has been a diplomat for 30 years and says: 'Oh, I'll do whatever Donald Trump says'," Democratic Senator Chris Coons told reporters.

Some questioned whether the president-elect would change. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said the Tillerson and Haley hearings were in "an alternate universe," given two years of Trump statements backing torture or suggesting NATO is obsolete.

"That's all going to change after Friday?" Murphy asked.

Haley said she expected Trump's Cabinet would try to influence him. "I do anticipate that he will listen to all of us, and that hopefully we will get him to see it the way we see it," she said.

Haley did not endorse Trump during last year's primaries and has warned that some of his most inflammatory statements promoted dangerous hate. She initially backed the presidential bid of Senator Marco Rubio and later Senator Ted Cruz.

She acknowledged her lack of diplomatic experience but said her time as governor would stand her in good stead.

"I would suggest there is nothing more important to a governor's success than her ability to unite those with different backgrounds, viewpoints and objectives behind a common purpose," she said.

Senator Ben Cardin, the committee's top Democrat, praised Haley for being willing to disagree with Trump.

Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, rose to national prominent last year after she led a push to remove a Confederate flag from South Carolina's capitol grounds after a white supremacist killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston.

She already has fans at U.N. headquarters.

"She's a very respected politician and a highly regarded and results-driven professional," France's ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters on Tuesday. Delattre met Haley in his previous role as French ambassador to the United States.

(Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by John Walcott and James Dalgleish)
CHICAGO (AP)  A judge has sentenced a 28-year-old suburban Chicago man to 29 years in prison for firing at and narrowly missing a teller and customer during a 2014 bank robbery.

A statement Tuesday from the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago says Carl P. Wilson pocketed $20,000 from the robbery at Orland Park's First Midwest Bank. He was arrested nine days later during a traffic stop in his hometown of Joliet.

Prosecutors say Wilson entered the bank wearing a cloth across his face. He jumped the counter, cursing as he yelled at a teller to hand him the money.

Wilson pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery, discharging a firearm during a robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Tuesday's statement says a Chicago federal judge sentenced Wilson last week.
EAST MOLINE -- East Moline Education Association members held information pickets Tuesday outside Glenview Middle and Ridgewood Elementary schools.

Without a contract since June 30, 2016, the union continues to work under the terms of its expired agreement. Bargaining began in April, with an impasse declared Oct. 13 over salary increases and the contract's length.

Teachers also plan to picket from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday outside Bowlesburg Elementary before a bargaining session with East Moline School District officials and a federal mediator at 4:15 p.m. Friday in the district administration building.

"My hope is (school board members) take us seriously and come ready to bargain," said EMEA spokesperson Rich Palmer.

Mr. Palmer said he is frustrated taxpayers pay for administrators' professional training, often out of state, but state law makes teachers pay to further their own education. That expense, he said, is not reflected in pay increases offered by the district.

"I spent over $16,000 on my master's (degree)," Mr. Palmer said. "How long does it take to recoup that? A significant amount of time."

Superintendent Kristin Humphries disputed Mr. Palmer's claims about administrators' training.

"The funds that are used for the training come from Title I Funds (federal dollars) and do not come from local taxpayers," Mr. Humphries said. "A certain percentage of federal dollars must be used on professional development. Also, more teachers than administrators went to this training last year."

Mr. Palmer said "a lot of misleading information" has been given to the community.

"One thing I find perplexing is the amount of money coming from all kinds of funds," he said. "The board of education said training money comes from a different account. How is anyone supposed to know what account it comes from?"

Mr. Humphries said the board has shared financial information with the EMEA and its bargaining team multiple times. District officials follow the Illinois Program Accounting Manual and best practices by accounting standards, he said.

"We take great pride in making sure our practices are in line with top accounting standards," Mr. Humphries said.

Mr. Palmer said teachers today will post their education and years of service outside their classrooms. He said they plan to meet at 3:30 p.m. Monday to discuss Friday's offer.

The district's website, emsd37.org, states the Illinois Education Labor Relations Act requires the union to give 10 days' notice if they decide to go on strike. The school board can continue negotiations during that 10-day period.

According to the website, teachers will not be paid, and schools likely will be closed if the teachers go on strike. The decision to close schools will require a vote by school board members.

The state does not require students who miss school because of a strike to make up lost days.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  After more than two decades in power, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh faced the prospect of a midnight military intervention by regional forces, as the man who once pledged to rule the West African nation for a billion years clung to power late Wednesday.

A military commander with the regional bloc known as ECOWAS announced that Jammeh had only hours to leave or face troops already positioning along Gambia's borders.

"We are waiting so that all political means have been exhausted. The mandate of the president is finished at midnight," declared Seydou Maiga Moro, speaking on Senegalese radio station RFM.

"All the troops are already in place," he added, saying they were merely waiting to see whether Jammeh would acquiesce to international pressure to cede power to President-elect Adama Barrow.

As midnight approached, Jammeh was meeting with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on the crisis. The two leaders have had good relations.

Thousands of Gambians have fled the country, including some former cabinet ministers who resigned in recent days. Hundreds of foreign tourists were evacuating on special charter flights, though some continued to relax poolside despite the political turmoil. Gambia is a popular beach destination in winter, especially for tourists from Britain, the former colonial power.

The downtown area of the Gambian capital, Banjul, was empty late Wednesday, with all shops closed. But there was no visible military presence apart from a checkpoint at the entrance to the city, despite the threat of incoming forces.

Tiny Gambia is surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean. Late Wednesday, witnesses reported Senegalese soldiers deploying in the Senegalese Kaolack region, north of Gambia, and in the southern Senegalese region of Casamance.

In another sign of the international pressure, Nigeria confirmed a warship was heading toward Gambia for "training," and RFM radio reported that Nigerian military equipment had begun arriving in Dakar in advance of the midnight deadline. Ghana also has pledged to contribute militarily.

The regional bloc was seeking the U.N. Security Council's endorsement of its "all necessary measures" to remove Jammeh. "There is a sense that the whole situation rests in the hands of one person, and it's up to that person, the outgoing president of the Gambia, to draw the right conclusions," said Sweden's U.N. Ambassador Olof Skoog, the current council president.

Jammeh, who first seized power in a 1994 coup, has insisted that his rule was ordained by Allah. He initially conceded defeat after the December vote, but after reports emerged suggesting he could face criminal charges linked to his rule, he reversed himself a week later. He said voting irregularities invalidated the results, and his party went to court seeking a new round of voting. The case has stalled because the supreme court currently only has one sitting judge.

Human rights groups have long accused Jammeh of arresting, jailing and killing political opponents, and there have been widespread fears for Barrow's safety amid the post-election turmoil. Tensions have been so high that Barrow has remained in the Senegalese capital since last weekend, at the advice of ECOWAS mediators, who feared for his safety. He was not even able to return to Banjul for his 7-year-old son's funeral Monday after the child was fatally mauled by a dog.

The opposition vowed Wednesday to go ahead with Barrow's inauguration, though there were no signs of preparation at the Banjul stadium where it was supposed to be held. It was unclear whether Barrow would take the oath at a Gambian Embassy outside the country or if he would return.

"Those who resist peaceful change, effective 12 midnight tonight, shall face definite consequences, to their peril," said Mai Ahmad Fatty, Barrow's special adviser, in a Facebook post in which he urged Gambians to stay indoors. "Anyone with firearms tonight shall be deemed a rebel, and will certainly become a legitimate target."

As other longtime West African strongmen have died or been forced to step down in recent years, Jammeh has remained a rare exception  even launching a campaign to anoint himself "King of Gambia."

In 2007, he claimed to have developed a cure for AIDS that involved an herbal body rub and bananas. Alarming public health experts, he insisted AIDS sufferers stop taking antiretroviral medications.

Two years later, his government rounded up nearly 1,000 people it accused of being witches, forcing them to drink a hallucinogen that caused diarrhea and vomiting. Two people died, according to Amnesty International.

More recently, Jammeh seemed bent on increasing Gambia's isolation on the world stage. In 2013 he exited the Commonwealth, a group made up mostly of former British colonies, branding it a "neo-colonial institution."

He also issued increasingly virulent statements against sexual minorities, vowing to slit the throats of gay men and saying the LGBT acronym should stand for "leprosy, gonorrhea, bacteria and tuberculosis." And in October, Jammeh said Gambia would leave the International Criminal Court, which he dismissed as the "International Caucasian Court."
If I had to choose a word to describe the Democrats' nominating speeches for House Speaker Michael Madigan's reelection last week, it would be either "defensive" or perhaps "joyless."

The speeches seemed directly aimed at Madigan's toughest critics -- and there are plenty of those out there. The nominators at times angrily justified their own votes for Madigan and their continued willingness to support him while under siege by a hostile kabillionaire governor and much of the state's media. They literally cannot go anywhere without being asked about why they continue to back Madigan.

For the most part, these were speeches from an all too real bunker.

Rep. Dan Beiser, D-Alton, told a touching story about how Madigan dotes over his grandchild, but began his speech with an anecdote about how he figured the child would get him in trouble by playing with a toy car in Madigan's office -- a clear acknowledgment of his leader's fearsome reputation. It was an attempt to humanize a man who has been turned into a cartoon caricature of an evil villain. But it was too little, too late.

Beiser, by the way, was a Tier One campaign target last year who was repeatedly forced to distance himself from Madigan. His nominating speech was the clearest indication yet that he won't be running for reelection next year. Former Rep. John Bradley lost his House race last year partly because the Republicans aired an ad that used video from one of his own Madigan nominating speeches. Beiser's speech was likely not so much an act of courage in the face of overwhelming retribution, but a way to show his thanks to the top dog on his way out the door.

While House Democrats repeatedly lashed out at the opposition to Madigan, Senate Democrats were heaping praise on Senate President John Cullerton for being, in the words of Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields, "uniquely qualified at building bipartisan bridges because, above everything else, he has demonstrated a love for this state."

Contrast that with Rep. Elgie Sims', D-Chicago, speech, which began with a story about how a friend warned him against seconding Madigan's nomination because the Republicans would bash him with tons of negative ads.

The strong sense of political danger about the vote was a sentiment widely shared by Sims fellow Democratic House members. But in the end, the members did their grim best to power their way forward.

Madigan began his own speech by asking for bipartisanship, but then defiantly refused yet again to participate in any "race to the bottom" with Gov. Bruce Rauner and appeared to dismiss out of hand any attempt to reform workers' compensation insurance, a key component of the compromise brewing in the Senate.

Madigan's speech was nothing like Senate President Cullerton's, who mildly complained about the fact that the Senate is often ignored by reporters because "if there's no conflict there's no coverage."

Cullerton talked about the advances he and Senate Republican Leader Radogno have made together. The two were elected to their leadership roles as the divisive end of the Rod Blagojevich era was coming to a tragic end. "We've seen some pretty bad times and we've gotten through them by working together," he said.

"How about we just try governing for a little bit?" Cullerton gently asked near the end of his speech after saying the nonstop campaign-style messaging needs to stop. "That's what the people have sent us here to do."

That same sentiment was expressed much more forcefully in the House, where Republican Leader Jim Durkin angrily demanded an end to the Democrats' "gotcha" games of holding endless roll calls purely designed to be used in campaign ads.

Watching the two ceremonies was truly a study in contrasts. The Senate was brimming with hope that it can finally lead the way out of this horrific two-year impasse. The House, meanwhile, is still mired up to its collective neck in the stalemate with no clear way forward.

And then there was the lone "Present" vote by Rep. Scott Drury, D-Highwood, who issued a long and rambling press release afterward predicting that he will likely face "repercussions" for his (mostly meaningless) act, and claiming that "Illinois is in a free-fall into the abyss."

Despite his usual melodramatics and penchant for self-aggrandizement, Drury's statement was almost the perfect cap for a joyless and grim afternoon. It is clear, he wrote, that "a majority of the General Assembly is not ready for a new Speaker."

That is very true. Last week, the House Democrats continued the age-old political practice of dancing with the one who brung them. But there were few smiles to be seen.
By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) - The U.S. government on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase & Co claiming the bank engaged in pay discrimination against women.

The U.S. Department of Labor, in a complaint filed with an administrative judge, said New York-based JPMorgan had paid at least 93 women in four different job categories less than comparable male co-workers over the last five years.

The company violated an executive order prohibiting federal contractors from engaging in sex discrimination, the department said. JPMorgan has dozens of contracts with various federal agencies, according to the U.S. General Services Administration.

JPMorgan spokeswoman Tasha Pelio in a statement said the company was committed to diversity in the workplace.

"We are disappointed that the (department) chose to file a complaint, but look forward to presenting our evidence to a neutral decision maker," she said.

The department was seeking back pay and salary adjustments for the women. The agency also said JPMorgan failed to conduct required analyses of its workforce to determine if there were pay gaps based on sex, race and other factors.

The complaint comes on the same day the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan accusing JPMorgan of discriminating against minority borrowers by allowing mortgage brokers to charge them more for home loans. The bank has agreed to pay $55 million to settle the claims, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Tom Brown and Andrew Hay)
G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now!
But the previous two decades of political neglect and underfunding saw the network shrink by more than a quarter and left huge swaths of the infrastructure in a desolate state. Thankfully, massive investment, increased demand for domestic and international services and a well-functioning liberalised market have enabled the railways to reverse the downward trend.

In general, prospects for Polands railways are moderately positive.

Stable economic growth has created an increase of domestic demand for rail freight. Polish rail freight is also profiting from the countrys geographic location through more international transit connections, particularly due to the increase in direct freight trains to China.

The passenger business has also started to recover, with PKP, the national train operator, seeing an upswing on its inter-city services. Finally, the rationalisation of the rail network has either come to a halt or at least slowed down significantly.

The most important factor influencing further development is the extensive investment in the national network now underway. The previous government had made using all EU funds available for rail a priority. During the European Unions 2014-2020 Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF),10.2bn will be provided for Polands railways. This is more than double the 4.8bn allocated under the previous MFF.

Infrastructure manager PKP PLK is expected to receive the lions share - 9.48bn - and for the first time the government plans to allocate the entire funding to rail and not fail to use all of the funds available as it did hitherto.

At least a part of the recent growth in freight and passenger traffic is due to the recent renewals and upgrades where lines have been returned to pre-1989 or even pre-war standards, if not surpassing them. The same effect is expected on a much larger scale after the completion of the current MFF works.

However, repeated disruptions to train services and even entire line closures, which are inevitable given the scale of the work, could deter some passengers and freight customers from using the railways in the short term.

Another positive effect on the market is expected to stem from the establishment of various transport corridors. Two Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) core network corridors - Baltic - Adriatic and North Sea - Baltic - run through Poland, funnelling funds to projects enhancing throughput along the important east-west and north-south axes. As a part of it, Rail Baltica, a standard-gauge link from Warsaw to Tallinn, will connect the Baltic States with the rest of Europe, adding additional potential for transit traffic.

Another important development was the opening of two Rail Freight Corridors (RFCs) in November 2015. Trans-European cooperation between infrastructure managers should greatly facilitate international rail freight and allow it to make effective use of this improved infrastructure.

Last, but not least, Poland should also profit from corridors which do not stem from EU initiatives, but are a result of Chinese attempts to create overland connections to Europe and establish Poland as the European terminus of its New Silk Road.

One of the biggest challenges for Poland is the timely completion of the EU co-funded infrastructure projects.

As organisations are largely still preoccupied with completing projects from the last EU funding period, contractors complain that there are too few projects in the current funding period. Many worry that the delay in tendering may not only endanger the financial stability of construction companies, but could jeopardise projects scheduled for completion in 2020 under the current MFF. A worst-case scenario would be having to pay back to the EU funds already budgeted because of missed deadlines.

An unexpected threat arises from PKPs calls to create an integrating holding structure encompassing infrastructure manager PKP PLK. Much of the positive development of the Polish railway market is due to the effective independence of PKP PLK, which leads to neutrality vis-a-vis the train operators and provides a level playing field for incumbents and new entrants alike. Should calls for railway reintegration find support in the government, it would put this well-functioning market at risk.

Finally, the current poor performance of the Polish economy poses a threat to rail growth. While increasing demand for rail services, especially freight, was driven by the steady rise of Polands GDP, the current slump could jeopardise growth should the trend stabilise.
Pesa submitted a bid of Zlotys 141.1m ($US 34.5m) contract to supply 15 30m-long vehicles and three 19m-long trams. The longer vehicles will accommodate up to 200 passengers while the shorter trams will have capacity for 120.

Pesa will deliver the first three Swing vehicles before the end of the year, with the remaining units due to arrive in 2018.

A second Polish supplier, Solaris, also expressed an interest in the tender, but did not submit a bid.

Bydgoszcz already operates a fleet of 12 30m-long Pesa Swing LRVs, which were acquired for the extension of the network to Fordon.
(Adds further details on ruling, background on case)

By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday revived a lawsuit by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp against five banks including Credit Suisse Group AG stemming from the sales of mortgage-backed securities ahead of the 2008 financial crisis.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that a lower-court judge had erred in dismissing the FDIC lawsuit, which also named units of HSBC Holdings Plc, Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, UBS AG and Deutsche Bank AG as defendants.

The FDIC declined to comment as did Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and HSBC. Representatives for the other banks did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The FDIC sued the banks in 2012, accusing them of violating a federal securities law in connection with the sale of $140.5 million in mortgage-backed securities in 2007 and 2008 to Citizens National Bank and Strategic Capital Bank. Both banks later failed.

Another panel of the same appellate court in May revived another lawsuit by the FDIC against several banks over similar claims. The U.S. Supreme last week declined to review that case.

In both cases, the court held that a federal law passed in 1989 after the savings and loan crisis extended the time period that the FDIC could sue on behalf of two failed banks that it took into receivership.

The latest ruling reversed a March 2015 decision by U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan, who concluded that the FDIC had waited too long to sue the banks.

The case is FDIC v Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp et al, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 15-1037.

(Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jeffrey Benkoe)
Then in 2015, evidence of serious malpractice emerged in a bid by NS subsidiaries Abellio and Qbuzz for a 15-year concession to operate rail and bus services in the Dutch province of Limburg. The province subsequently stripped the two companies of the concession, which was handed to the second place bidder Arriva.

The Limburg scandal led to the resignation of NS CEO Mr Timo Huges and the president of the board of commissioners Mr Carel van der Driest in June 2015. Four months later, secretary of state for infrastructure Mrs Wilma Mansveld resigned following the publication of the parliamentary inquiry into Fyra, which concluded that the Dutch state and NS had prioritised their own strategic and financial interests, resulting in a long and destructive conflict at the expense of the taxpayer and the passenger.

Following Huges resignation, Mr Roger Van Boxtel, a former government minister, was appointed interim CEO, and was subsequently made permanent last year, when he signed a three-year contract which extends his tenure until 2019. Van Boxtels brief is to restore NS reputation and performance, ensuring the organisation meets the minimum standards laid down by the Ministry of Infrastructure in the 2015-2025 Core Network Concession, which encompasses the operation of most main line services in the Netherlands as well as domestic services on HSL South.

2016 was a very difficult year for NS, 2015 even more so, Van Boxtel told IRJ in an exclusive interview at NS headquarters in Utrecht. We had to deal with the effects of the Fyra parliamentary inquiry, we still have to deal with some of the aftershocks of Limburg, but Im glad that we can slowly start closing that book. The people involved are all gone and there has been a lot of sorrow. The impact on peoples personal lives was huge, the impact on colleagues within NS was huge - many of these people had worked together for years. It was like throwing fireworks into a building, but weve put the fire out and now were looking ahead. I can feel that there is new energy in NS, politicians are more at ease at the moment, but we realise that its a thin line. Words dont count, we will be judged by our achievements.

Traffic continued to increase last year and NS anticipates full-year results for 2016 will reveal 2-3% ridership growth. By 2021, NS will invest 2.5bn in the renewal and expansion of its rolling stock fleet, and desperately-needed additional capacity is already starting to arrive, with the first of 58 new Stadler Flirt trains entering service last month. This should help to ease overcrowding, which has become particularly acute in the Randstad area around Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. From next year, NS will begin to receive a fleet of 118 New Generation Sprinter EMUs from CAF, while a fleet of 79 Inter-City New Generation (ICNG) trains was ordered from Alstom last July, with deliveries due to start in 2020.

In March 2016 NS unveiled a new corporate strategy in response to a call from minister of finance, Mr Jeroen Dijsselbloem for the company to redefine its role in the wake of the Limburg scandal, the collapse of Fyra, and declining performance on the core network. Entitled Back on Track - the passenger as our first, second and third priority the strategy seeks to restore public trust and secure NS position in the Dutch passenger rail market. To achieve this, NS is refocusing its activities and investing more than 3bn in three areas:

improving reliability, quality, rolling stock and frequencies on the core network and associated international services

enhancing stations with the support of infrastructure manager Prorail, and

focussing on improvements to the door-to-door journey experience, with upgraded passenger information and new payment methods, which will be rolled out in cooperation with Prorail, other operators and regional authorities.

This renewed focus on the core business means NS is scaling back its activities in other areas. NS will no longer participate in tenders for regional train services, while the company will sell its bus operator Qbuzz and cease to hold shares in urban transport operators. It will also pull out of retail activities in stations, transferring franchise operations to non-railway companies, and the sale of non-strategic assets will continue.

The objective of these measures is to boost passenger satisfaction to 80% (compared with 72.4% in 2015) and punctuality to 92.3% by 2019, when the Ministry of Infrastructure will conduct a mid-term review of the 2015-2025 Core Network Concession, which is based on a much more stringent system of incentives and penalties than the 2005-2015 contract.

Van Boxtel argues that this can only be achieved by aligning objectives across the entire company to ensure that the Key Performance Indications (KPIs) in the concession contract are met. NS plans to do this by simplifying its organisational structure with less compartmentalisation and less management. The new strategy emphasises the need to make better use of ideas from employees and empowering staff to demonstrate ownership. We want connectivity between all of the different activities within NS, Van Boxtel says. Whether you buy trains, maintain them, or operate them, cooperation is vital. We need each other, and thats something NS will put a lot of energy into over the next two or three years - restoring the connection between the different parts in the company. We listen very carefully to our drivers and conductors, because when things went wrong for NS we realised that the distance between the people in operation and the people in policy was too big. Now we are trying to close that gap.

NS retains its aim of focussing on the door-to-door journey, but the company no longer sees its role as providing everything needed to make that happen. The strategy stresses the need to increase cooperation with other transport operators through joint initiatives such as Transport4Randstad and the new OVNL public transport association, but it also notes that its role in regional rail concessions and Qbuzz means that other operators do not currently view NS as independent. Pulling out of Qbuzz and concentrating on the Core Network Concession are therefore seen as supporting cooperation by reducing direct competition between NS and other operators.

Strategic plan

The strategic plan for 2016-2019 includes 300m for enhancements to passenger information, Wi-Fi onboard and at stations, and new methods of payment.

The new strategy also calls for investment of around 300m in stations by 2019. In recent years there has been debate over whether the operation of stations should be considered a core activity, and there have been calls for this sector of the business to be split off, leaving NS to focus on running trains. Van Boxtel rejects the notion of ceding control of stations, which he argues are a critical component of the door-to-door journey concept which is central to NS new strategy.

By rebuilding our stations in the last few years we have given back to the Dutch people well-presented, aesthetically-pleasing, attractive public buildings, he says. If you look back to the 1970s and 80s, nobody really took ownership for these spaces and our major stations decayed. Then we decided to restore or rebuild these stations with quality as a priority. If you look at Rotterdam, Amsterdam Central, The Hague Central, Leida, Delft, Arnhem and Breda, everyone is happy with what we did. When we reopened Arnhem station after reconstruction thousands of people came to the opening, it was incredible. What I sensed there was that everyone was happy to get back a great public space, with good shops reflecting the needs of the passengers. This alignment of thinking gives us back a lot from the audience and its such a central part of the travel experience, so I will never consider chipping the stations off NS.

In recent years, NS has had to contend with sustained ridership growth on an already-busy network, to the extent that overcrowding is now a major concern, particularly in the Randstad conurbation, which includes Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. The issue became so acute that NS resorted to operating buses from Amsterdam Sloterdijk to the towns of Krommenie-Assendelft and Casticum to relieve overcrowded trains, a strategy that achieved limited success.

The delivery of new trains over the next few years should alleviate the situation, but Van Boxtel argues that tackling the issue successfully means looking beyond fleet expansion. Capacity is not just an issue for NS but for the whole of the Netherlands, he says. This has always been a country that is dependent on the quality of our connections. The countrys major hubs still demand the best connections, by air, road, and train. Ultimately, we want to be schedule free, for example running trains every 3-5 minutes between Schiphiol and Amsterdam, because there are so many people making that trip every hour of the day.

December sees the introduction of turn up and go inter-city services the under the High Frequency Rail (PHS) programme, which will ultimately cover most lines in the west of the country. Inter-city (IC) services will be stepped up from two to six trains per hour per direction on the Amsterdam - Utrecht - s-Hertogenbosch - Eindhoven route, while Amsterdam - Utrecht - Arnhem - Nijmegen services will be doubled from two to four trains per hour. The frequency of Utrecht - Houten Castellum stopping trains will also be increased.

The rollout of the PHS timetable on these routes is being made possible by infrastructure upgrades, including remodelling of the major rail hub at Utrecht Central and quadrupling the lines from Utrecht to Houten Castellum and Woerden.

Carbon impact

Another priority for NS is reducing the carbon impact of its activities. A major step forwards was achieved on January 1, with all electric trains on the Dutch network operating exclusively using renewable energy from this date, a transition which has been achieved a year earlier than originally envisaged. NS is also looking to reduce energy consumption with investment in measures to improve the sustainability of rolling stock, such as more efficient traction systems and LED lighting.

NS has successfully expanded its business outside the Netherlands in recent years through Abellio, but with a renewed focus on domestic operations, there are now clearly-defined limits on the companys international ambitions. The strategy states that through Abellio, NS will opt for targeted growth abroad in a limited number of European markets, with the aim of achieving financial returns that will benefit our work in the Netherlands. Abellio made a substantial profit in 2015 and secured a number of notable new contracts in 2016, including Britains Greater Anglia franchise and Germanys Ruhr-Sieg network, Saxony Anhalt Diesel Network, Baden-Wurttemberg Neckar Network, and Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn Lot B. Positive operating results are therefore expected to continue consistently over the next few years.

We always said that we want three things out of running trains and buses abroad, Van Boxtel explains. We want to prepare for the possibility of market opening in the Netherlands; learn lessons from abroad which we can apply at home to improve our services, and earn profits for the NS Group, which again benefits Dutch passengers. Weve learnt a lot from running trains in Britain and we want interaction between Britain, Germany and the Netherlands to intensify because I still think there are many things we can learn from each other, like how we deal with stations, timetables, and quality and service. They are different countries, but in the logistics and how you run trains there are a lot of similarities. Our shareholder is always interested in how we are dealing with things abroad, how we are handling the capital at risk, and up until now we are very happy with how we have dealt with that.

While knowledge from NS has flowed into Abellio, Van Boxtel admits that Abellios experiences abroad havent always been applied in the Netherlands. The new strategy seeks to address this, and Abellio and NS Passengers are now working together to explore how NS might improve its commercial, operational and financial performance on the Dutch rail network.

With the current focus on NS domestic business, Van Boxtel does not see Abellio extending its activities into new markets, at least in the short-term. We have frozen the idea of going into other countries temporarily because after Limburg we really have to focus on the Dutch market and the Core Concession, while aiming to do the perfect job in the markets where Abellio is already active, he says. In 2016 that paid off, not only in terms of money but in terms of building trust and customer confidence in our ability to do the job.

Van Boxtel believes 2017 will be the year that passengers start to notice the impact of NS turnaround plan and he is confident the company has the momentum to make real strides towards the targets set for 2019. I dont know one driver who doesnt want to drive on time, I dont know one conductor who isnt unhappy about a delay, so the spirit is there and thats what we have to keep up, he says. We want to be proud of the company and give good service, because thats important.

Exploring the social impacts of automation

THE operation of driverless trains on the Dutch main line network might not be a prospect for the short or even medium term, but it is being taken seriously by NS. This year Prorail will carry out tests on the Betuwe Route dedicated freight line to look at the viability of automated operation, and Van Boxtel says NS is already discussing what impact automation might have on the passenger railway.

We have started a debate internally, together with the workers council, he says. I said we had better start talking about it now together, because if we dont start the debate now, in five years we will be talking to each other in negotiations, and thats not a good way to manage the transition.

We are going to look at where it is already being tried, and we have a big responsibility in terms of human relations management, so if we want to try this in the Netherlands we have to be prepared in social terms. Where are people going to work if they lose their job on the train? We are not there yet, but if you do it in an inclusive way, you can avoid big clashes later on, and driverless operation could be impossible in some circumstances.

We dont have to be the first runner on this issue and Im anxious to see experiences with automation elsewhere.
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Finally, there appears to be a serious federal discussion about marijuana legalization. But it's nowhere near the Beltway.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's marijuana task force recently released a landmark report about legalizing and regulating the drug in Canada. Advocates on all sides will find something to disagree with in the report, but that's the point. Canada's federal government is kicking off a meaningful discussion about this complex and controversial topic.

This is far different from the U.S. federal approach.

The Obama administration has largely taken a hands-off approach, releasing a 2013 Department of Justice memo ( PDF ) indicating that federal prosecutors and law enforcement agents should not use scarce resources to shut down state-legal operations in places that have implemented strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems. To the Obama administration's credit, the president did recently note marijuana legalization is a debate that is now ripe and the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse called for more research to determine which policy structuresbeyond simply prohibition or free marketare most likely to keep harms to a minimum.

No one knows what the Trump administration will do about marijuana, and Sen. Jeff Sessions' confirmation hearing for attorney general didn't provide much insight. Will it follow Obama's lead? Trudeau's? Do something entirely different? The new administration will have at least six options.

Shut it down. The administration could crack down on marijuana businesses in states that have legalized for nonmedical purposes. It would be easy for DOJ to send out cease and desist letters to these companies and their landlords. However, there could be serious political costs with states arguing these federal actions would put people out of jobs, increase income for criminals and take tax dollars away from good causes.

Shape the markets. The DOJ could use its discretion to shape what the market looks like in the legalization states. Want to stop stores from selling and promoting high-potency products for nonmedical purposes? A letter could probably do the trick here, too. If not, seizing the products in a store or two could have a chilling effect.

Maintain the status quo. Doing nothingand sticking with Obama's approachis always an option. This would likely lead more states to follow Colorado and Washington and grant licenses to marijuana companies incentivized to maximize profits instead of protecting public health.

Rescheduling marijuana would make it easier to research the health consequencesbenefits and harmsand could have implications for marijuana businesses.

Reclassify marijuana. The new administration could support rescheduling marijuana. Currently, marijuana is a Schedule I drugthe most restrictive categorybecause the Food and Drug Administration remains unconvinced that the whole plant material has an accepted medical use. Rescheduling would make it easier to research the health consequencesbenefits and harmsand could have implications for marijuana businesses.

Address federal-state conflicts. The new administration could maintain federal prohibition while supporting legislation or other solutions to address problems caused by the federal-state conflict. For example, banks that accept money from state-legal marijuana businesses are committing federal offenses. The inability to bank like other entities creates challenges for thousands of companies.

The administration could also support the creation of a policy waiver system that would make it easier and less risky for states to legally experiment with alternatives to the profit-maximization model, such as the state monopoly approach. (That said, the risk of federal interference hasn't stopped tiny North Bonneville in southern Washington state from creating a government-owned and -operated store).

Legalize it. The administration could support legislation to legalize and regulate marijuana at the federal level. This would address the federal-state conflicts and allow the feds to impose a national tax or minimum price. It would also be a blatant violation of the international drug conventions that the United States has signed along with almost every other nation on earth (including Canada).

These six options are not all mutually exclusive and each comes with tradeoffs. Importantly, they are all compatible with a federal approach that encourages and supports discussions about marijuana prohibition and its alternatives. But if the feds don't act, it is possible the United States could end up with a much looser and more commercial marijuana model than if the federal government legalized or created a waiver system.

With one-fifth of the U.S. population living in states that have legalized, the federal-state conflict over marijuana will likely only get more intense. Those in the Beltway who want to address the situation would be wise to familiarize themselves with the pros and cons of these six optionsand pay attention to the discussions taking place in Canada.

Beau Kilmer is co-director of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center and co-author of the recently revised book Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know.

This commentary originally appeared on The Hill on January 17, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
RTVEs main announcement in NATPE 2017 wont be limited to content, as the Spanish public broadcaster will also present its childrens international channel for the Americas.





According to the corporation, Clan, a similar network to the Clan channel that RTVE broadcasts free-to-air in Spain, will be available for pay-TV operators in Latin America and the US.It targets the growing demand for pay-TV operators to increase their childrens content offering, said the broadcaster in a release. Clan is a themed channel which will deliver the best Spanish-language kids content in HD.Available right away for pay-TV providers, the network is RTVEs fourth international signal, and the second exclusive to the Americas. The public broadcaster also distributes TVE Internacional, 24 Horas and Star HD, launched a year ago Clan was introduced to the industry during NATPE 2017 , being held in Miami between 17-19 January.As part of the Audiovisual from Spain pavilion, RTVE will also present two new fictional series, Reinas (about Mary Stuart, queen of Scots, and Elizabeth I of England) and El Final del Camino. In addition, the corporation will showcase Seis Hermanas, Acacias 38, OT el Reencuentro, La Princesa Paca and 22 Angeles, among other formats.
Australian smart TV manufacturer SONIQ has joined forces with SERAPHIC to launch YouTube-certified smart TVs.





SONIQ will integrate SERAPHICs Sraf HTML5 digital TV browser and TV+ Internet platform. The browser is said to be capable of matching the performance and memory usage requirements of YouTube TV certification. Furthermore, it enables YouTube TV application built in SONIQ smart TVs to reduce the initial launch time to 13s, two seconds quicker than YouTube TV requires. It is also attributed with improving browser-to-watch time to 2.8s, with the full animation enabled.Thanks to SERAPHIC, SONIQ has seen gains in Australian market ever since our cooperation on Linux-based smart TVs in early 2016, said Simon Wu, vice president of SONIQ . We are delighted to partner with SERAPHIC. Our customers will love the idea of holding a smart TV pre-integrated with YouTube TV application.Ye Wang, CEO of SERAPHIC, added: SERAPHIC has been providing best-in-class browser solutions for a wide range of platforms for years. Besides, we work closely with leading chipset vendors, such as MStar, Broadcom, Hisilicon, etc, and make deep integration to accelerate time to market for device manufacturers.
Digital TV transmission technology designer and manufacturer Enensys has won a contract to supply Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) in Korea with enabling technology for the launch of ATSC 3.0 DTT services in February 2017.





Korea is leading the rollout of the new IP-based digital terrestrial standard, which is in the final stages of development. SBS will launch in the Seoul area, with DTT coverage expanding across the rest of the country in advance of the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in Pyeongchang. SBS will operate one ATSC 3.0 multiplex in a 6MHz RF channel with capacity for either one 4K/Ultra HD service or one UHD plus one HD service, depending on the nature of the content and the compression applied.Supporting this, Enensys will supply its new ATScheduler and IPGuard changeover switches as key components of the new system. ATScheduler acts as the broadcast gateway of the ATSC 3.0 network, providing IP stream adaption, Physical Layer Pipe (PLP) allocation, SFN timing, in-band control and signalling to all the ATSC modulators. It encapsulates multiple IP streams coming from HEVC encoders, signalling generators and captioning servers using ROUTE or MMTP protocols. Ensuring the ALP encapsulation, the BBFrame allocation, the different low layer signalling (LLS) generation, it outputs the resulting ATSC-compliant studio to transmitter link (STL) stream protocol over IP.ATSCheduler also supports single frequency network deployment (SFN), providing the spectrum efficiency required for terrestrial transition.Enensys APAC sales manager Colin Prior described the deployment as ground-breaking. We are very pleased and proud to be involved with this project, he said. The work we are doing is being fed back into the ATSC 3.0 standard, which we have been closely involved with throughout its development.Added Sang Jim Kim, director of research of the new media project team at SBS : We are very pleased to be working with Enensys as the company has great knowledge of digital terrestrial broadcasting and specifically now with the new ATSC 3.0 standard. We are helping to push the standard forwards and the launch of a UHD services over DTT is very exciting. Once again Korea broadcasters are leading the technological advance.
ECHR accepts Bolotnaya case defendants complaint over arrest and detention

MOSCOW, January 18 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has accepted for consideration a complaint filed by Maxim Panfilov, a defendant in the Bolotnaya Square riot case, over his arrest and detention, RAPSI reports on Wednesday from Moscows Zamoskvoretsky District Court.

Defense motioned during the hearing to enter a copy of the Strasbourg courts notice of the applications acceptance into the case file.

Panfilov stands charged with participation in mass riots and use of violence against a law enforcement officer. According to investigators, the accused snatched a helmet off a riot policemans head on May 6, 2012. He was put in detention in April 2016.

The ECHR have already considered applications by other Bolotnaya Square riots case defendants. In 2015, the Court ordered Russia to pay a total of 7,000 euros to Artem Savelov, Leonid Kovyazin, and Ilya Gushchin, three opposition activists who complained of their detention over mass protests in 2012 in central Moscow. That was the first ECHR ruling in the Bolotnaya Square riots case. In 2016, the Russian Supreme Court ruled arrest and detention of Gushchin and Savelov illegal upon the decision of the European Court of Human Rights.

The march on Yakimanka Street and the rally on Bolotnaya Square in May 2012, both authorized by the officials, resulted in mass riots and clashes with the police. Dozens of people were injured, over 400 protesters were detained.

The riot organizers, Sergey Udaltsov and Leonid Razvozzhayev, were sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. Other participants received prison terms from suspended sentences to four years. Several defendants were pardoned; one is undergoing compulsory mental treatment.

The convicts supporters believe that the riots were provoked by police.
German collector appeals Briullov painting seizure in Russian Constitutional Court

Context Briullov painting confiscated after it was brought to Russia illegally

MOSCOW, January 18 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov)  Collector Alexander Pevzner, a resident of Germany, has filed a complaint with Russias Constitutional Court over forfeiture of the painting by prominent artist Karl Briullov entitled, Christ in the Sepulcher', RAPSI learnt in the court on Wednesday.

The application will be considered on January 31.

In 2003, Pevzner brought the painting he owned into Russia via the customs station in Vyborg in the Leningrad Region. Even though it was a cultural property, Pevzner did not declare the masterpiece, according to investigators. The collector was charged with smuggling.

In November 2013, the Vyborg City Court in the Leningrad Region dropped charges against the German citizen as the statute of limitations had expired. However, the court ruled to confiscate the painting from Pevzner and ordered its transfer to the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

In 2014, the Leningrad Regional Court overturned the lower courts ruling in part and returned the piece of art to its owner. In 2015, the decision was upheld.

In April 2016, the Supreme Court of Russia reversed the Leningrad Regional Courts ruling and ordered the forfeiture of the painting under the Article 81 of the Criminal Procedure Code which envisages that crime instruments belonging to the accused must be confiscated, transferred to the relevant institutions or destroyed.

Pevzner in his complaint filed with the Constitutional Court challenges the Criminal Procedure Codes provisions allowing to forfeit objects of art if they are declared material evidence.
LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May will attend a meeting of European Union leaders in Malta early next month, her spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The informal Feb. 3 meeting was initially intended to be a gathering of the 27 other EU leaders, following on from a summit in Bratislava in September last year to discuss the EU's future after Brexit.

"The prime minister is now intending to go to the first part of the Valletta summit," the spokeswoman told reporters.

"The plans from the presidency and the European Council are now that the morning discussions will be at 28 (leaders) and there will probably be a working lunch at 28."

The spokeswoman said she did not expect Brexit to be on the agenda for the meeting of the 28 leaders, which will likely focus on issues like migration, but it would be an opportunity for her to hold discussions with other EU leaders.

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Stephen Addison)
Ex-Russian colonel sentenced to 5.5 years in prison for fraud

MOSCOW, January 18 (RAPSI)  A military court has sentenced former officer of the Chief Military Prosecutor's Office Oleg Zub to 5.5 years in prison for fraud, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.

The court also stripped the man of his colonel rank.

According to investigation, Zub asked 9.6 million rubles ($161,600) from businessman Anatoly Kurilovich for promise to secure the positive outcome of a police inspection and assistance in avoiding prosecution. As he failed to dismiss criminal proceedings, the businessman demanded to give the money back. Zub returned him only 2.9 million rubles ($48,800).

During the trial Zub pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors earlier asked the court to find Zub guilty of large scale embezzlement, sentence him to 8 years in jail with a 510,000-ruble fine ($8,600) and strip the man of his military rank and honors.
Alexander A. Cooley is director of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University. This piece is part of a special RCW series on Americas role in the world during the Trump administration. Cooley's essay on illiberal counter-norms can be read in the book Authoritarianism Goes Global, published by Johns Hopkins University Press. The views expressed are the authors own. Back from the Future: The Rise of Illiberalism and the End of the Post-Cold War Era

Twenty-five years ago the world entered a new era. The Soviet Union had just collapsed, the United States had assumed the leadership of a proclaimed new world order, and liberal democratic capitalism no longer had a viable global challenger. The expectations these changes heralded now appear unfulfilled. Illiberalism is surging around the world, and the post-Cold War era is rapidly giving way to a post-liberal order. Moreover, the very post-Communist states that seemingly were at the epicenter of a liberal transformation have pioneered the counter-norms and tactics that now spread to the West itself.

What went wrong?

Fast Change Isnt Real Change

In retrospect, the post-Communist transitions were remarkable in their scope, speed, and ambition. Idealized democratic standards and benchmarks were projected on the post-Communist states as they built democratic institutions and adopted market-based reforms. Internationally, democratic norms were embedded in regional institutions such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Council of Europe. Indeed, the prospect of entering the European Union and NATO and of undividing Europe drove aspirant post-Communist countries to undertake comprehensive reforms across almost all spheres of political, social, and economic life. Their future political orientation seemed irreversible.

But neither were these transitions as smooth as policymakers had assumed, nor did commitments to liberal democracy endure. The 1990s in Russia were a time of economic turmoil as a program of shock-therapy -- code for rapid economic liberalization without a social safety net -- plunged the country into years of contraction. Connected elites plundered the state through insider privatization and moved their loot overseas. And in 1996, in an effort to re-elect President Boris Yeltsin against a Communist rival, the West openly sided with the Russian president -- a leader who was offering to give away more of the nations wealth to key oligarchs in exchange for their support. Vladimir Putin, who ascended to the Russian presidency in 1999, benefited from a rebounding economy and from the higher oil prices of the 2000s, but he was also viewed as restoring the integrity of the Russian state from the chaos of the 1990s.

Elsewhere, the landmark expansion of the European Union and NATO as they absorbed Eastern European states in 2004 marked a high tide for liberal norms, but an illiberal backlash began to unfurl almost immediately.

Eurasia experienced a wave of so-called Color Revolutions. This series of election-day street protests in Georgia in 2003, Ukraine in 2004, and Kyrgyzstan in 2005 swept pro-Kremlin leaders out of power and installed leaders more broadly oriented toward the West. The Orange Revolution in Ukraine was a geopolitical earthquake for Moscow. Russia watched as an election that had initially favored a pro-Kremlin candidate was overturned after public protests that were backed by Western governments. Moscow soon adopted a number of countermeasures against perceived Western interference in the affairs of Russias neighbors. It enacted new restrictions on civil society, cracked down on the media, funded nationalistic domestic youth movements, and actively supported other autocratic post-Soviet regimes against Western criticism and what it called interference. Once regarded as a nuisance, Western democracy promotion and human rights advocacy were recoded as national security threats. And since 2005, political rights in the post-Communist region, as measured by the watchdog Freedom House, have been eroding.

Clashes over values and the orientation of the post-Soviet states came to a head as Russia engaged in military conflicts in 2008 with Georgia and in response to the 2014 Ukraine crisis. That crisis emerged in the fall of 2013. Under pressure from Moscow, President Viktor Yanukovych reversed a plan to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union. Crowds protested. After an attempted government crackdown and counter-mobilizations across the country, Yanukovych fled to Russia and the regime collapsed. Russia viewed the regime change as the result of coordinated actions by the West and proceeded to annex the Crimean peninsula and support insurgents in Eastern Ukraine. A street-led revolution soon morphed into a war, as Ukraine effectively became yet another divided post-Soviet state. In a post-Crimea annexation speech Putin denounced the encroachment of Western actors, rules and norms and reiterated a commitment to construct a new multipolar order.

Meanwhile to the west, the fallout of the great financial economic crisis and policymakers mishandling of the euro crisis in Greece called into question the economic stability and benefits of EU membership, while the influx of millions of refugees, many of them displaced by the Syria conflict, unleashed anti-immigration calls. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared his commitment to an illiberal state, typifying a wave of new leaders who brashly mixed populist sentiment with governmental interference in media, bureaucracy, and the judiciary. The triumph of Poland's Law and Justice party in 2015, again the product of a backlash campaign against European values, suggested that political support for liberalism was no longer guaranteed by immediate memories of the Communist past.

The Toolkit of the Illiberal

Liberal democracy used to compete with Communism as a global ideology. But there is now no single universal alternative to liberal democracy. Skeptics and autocrats now use a mix of different counter-norms and justifications for their democratic transgressions: they raise alarms over state sovereignty and national security to justify targeting social groups as extremists and champion a return to "traditional values, mixing nationalism with a more public role of officially sanctioned religious institutions, while decrying Western moral decay. Still others invoke the idea of civilization diversity -- often invoked by Chinese policymakers -- which emphasizes noninterference in the affairs of other states on the basis of cultural relativism and the rejection of universal values and standards.

These counter-norms have been supported by new political techniques and anti-democratic practices. The toolkit is considerable.

First, governments have increasingly cracked down on the political activities of non-governmental organizations and civil society. Methods of doing so range from adopting cumbersome registration laws to, in the Russian case, declaring NGOs that receive external funds to be foreign agents and banning others as undesired organizations. Across the rest of the post-Communist sphere, similar restrictive legislation on NGO activities has been adopted and proposed.

A second strategy has been to pioneer new forms of state-run media and propaganda. In Russia, Vladimir Putin quickly brought under control TV channels and developed new forms of social media monitoring and regulation. New-style propaganda is an explosive mix of news, disinformation, and conspiracy theorizing, designed to entertain and to reinforce political apathy. Externally, the Kremlin built a global media empire, with outlets like RT and Sputnik, designed to both promote Russian perspectives on global issues and unrelentingly spotlight the social problems of the West along with its hypocrisy and double standards.

A third strategy was to mimic the form of democratic institutions and actors, but not their actual substance or values -- creating so-called zombie institutions." The post-Communist states created government-organized non-governmental organizations (known as GONGOs), anti-corruption agencies, and human rights committees, but these bodies seemed to target the activities of political opponents. Internationally, this has involved post-Communist countries inviting friendly election monitors to praise obviously flawed elections and to drown out the more critical evaluations by credible monitors such as the OSCE.

A fourth strategy has been to create new legal mechanisms and networks to go after political opponents residing abroad in exile. Internal security services have cooperated in creating common watchlists and have abused international crime-fighting tools like Interpols red notice list to detain individuals for political reasons. New extraterritorial laws and norms have also been institutionalized in new regional security treaties and institutions -- for example, the Shanghai Cooperation Organizations Anti-Terror Treaty, which allows member states to extradite what they call political extremists, in contravention of national political asylum laws, and to conduct criminal investigations on each others territory.

Fifth, autocrats have invested in their own branding and self-promotion across the West, courting think tanks and high-profile advisors in an effort to improve their international image and whitewash their authoritarianism. For example, the government of Kazakhstan hired former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to enhance its international image, while the Azerbaijani government was accused of practicing caviar diplomacy by offering lavish trips and country visits to European lawmakers and U.S. members of Congress.

Further, illiberal regimes started to openly court and support one anothers efforts to defeat mainstream parties. The Kremlin itself began to support both leftist and right-wing parties in Europe whose foreign policy goals included exiting the Euro-Atlantic order and/or supporting Russia. Following the election of Donald Trump, a report by the National Intelligence Council into Russian interference in the U.S. election argued that Russia had supported the Republican candidate in order to undermine public faith in the US democratic process and undermine the U.S.-led liberal democratic order.

Finally, the rejection of liberal norms in the international realm has been accompanied by the adoption of multipolar populism, where rulers publicly reject certain norms and rules, such as commitments to longstanding allies or to institutions. They present themselves instead as decisive pragmatists who will partner with a range of external players -- Western and non-Western -- to promote their national interests. Orban himself has talked of the importance of China and Russia to Hungary, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signaled an intention to break from the pursuit of EU membership by publicly calling for Turkey to join the Chinese and Russian-led SCO.

All of these techniques and strategies are now openly on display, used by populist leaders and by figures in the West itself. The British vote to leave the European Union altogether in June 2016 played upon populist and anti-globalist themes, while U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign openly questioned the value of Americas long-standing multilateral commitments and democratic norms.

For some in the West, the illiberal agenda has been folded into the broader framework of anti-globalism, signaling the intent to disengage from multilateral commitments abroad and pursue economic and political nationalism at home. But for the United States, weakening the liberal consensus on the importance of democratic norms in the interest of pragmatic dealmaking also risks eroding the extensive global network of alliances, institutions, and cooperative agreements that have buttressed U.S. global power since World War II. Twenty-five years after the end of the Cold War, and of the apparent triumph of American values and power, U.S. policymakers now confront the very basic question of which values to uphold and for what purpose, both at home and abroad.
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Mokah Jasmine Johnson hosted a talk on Sunday at The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens. The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement co-founder discussed what it takes to be an activist and what inspired her to begin enacting change in a town she moved to five years prior.
The race is on.

race hurdles

Across the fund management and retirement industry, legacy fund management companies are partnering with and buying up robo-advisers.

These automated investment services utilize algorithms to manage and allocate people's assets. Since they don't require human beings to operate, they offer much lower fees than traditional advisers while delivering similar returns.

And their rapid growth has disrupted the investment space, forcing well-established financial firms to act.

The latest example: John Hancock Financial and NextCapital.

NextCapital, a Chicago-based fintech company, recently announced it would provide John Hancock Financial, a retirement plan provider with $150 billion AuM, a platform that delivers automated financial advice to its nearly 2.7 million 401(k) participants. The plan will include "portfolio tracking, planning, savings advice and portfolio management."

Robert Foregger, cofounder of NextCapital, told Business Insider that we are witnessing the "third wave of computerization" in the financial services industry.

"We have seen the shift from traditional to online banking and traditional to online brokerage," Foregger said.

"Right now we are transitioning from traditional to digital advice and wealth management for both the 401K and retail markets," he added.

artificial intelligence robot

Peter Gordon,CEO of John Hancock Retirement Plan Services told Business Insider that the joint-venture is a perfect response to recent changes in consumer preferences and a new regulatory environment in which "scalable personal financial advice" is preferred.

"It marries our institutional knowledge, which is fantastic, with a very clever platform for delivering automated financial advice to investors," said Gordon.

It's the latest in a long line of such deals.

Wells Fargo unveiled a robo-adviser partnership with Arizona-based SigFig in November 2016. That's the same fintech that partnered with UBS America's wealth unit in May 2016.

Story continues

Other firms have responded to the growth of robo-advising by simply buying them out. For instance, in 2015 BlackRock acquired FutureAdvisor for an estimated $150 - $200 million and Fidelity picked up eMoney.

Those partnerships have helped take assets under management by robo-advisers to new highs. In 2015 global assets under management by robo-advisers stood at a just $100 billion. In 2016 that amount doubled to $200 billion. The estimate for 2017 is $600 billion. And by 2018 AuM is expected to reach $1.5 trillion.

NOW WATCH: These are the watches worn by some of the most powerful men in finance





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Pop punk band AS IT IS has released its next albumthe explicitly stylized okay. The name of the album appears on the album cover in ironica
The government has provided no official explanation behind the note ban that is backed by hard data, says Debashis Basu.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Almost the entire quantum of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes have come back.

Some say this is a failure of demonetisation or the note ban strategy, which was aimed at unearthing black money held in cash.

The government has provided no official explanation behind the note ban that is backed by hard data. So, there is no yardstick by which to judge this policy.

But even someone like me, a sceptical, long-time observer of the Indian system is quite bemused that people have found so many ingenious ways to beat the note ban.

Here is a list of what I have learnt after talking to a few businessmen and tax experts.

1. Backdate sales: This has been the favourite ploy of goldsmiths.

The idea was to show the cash deposited after November 8 as having been received for sales made much earlier.

In some cases, the amount ran into hundreds of crores.

The Enforcement Directorate is going after some cases in Mumbai. Many other businesses adopted the same trick, across the country.

2. Cash-based industries: Many businesses such as transport, especially fleet operators, normally have large cash withdrawals on a regular basis.

The cash is required to pay for all costs involved in operating the vehicle, including diesel, toll, hafta and daily allowances for drivers and helpers.

That apart, money is also withdrawn from the business for personal use.

The transporters happily accepted old notes and deposited them in their accounts, turning chunks of the old withdrawals into white.

The jute mills in Kolkata were doing exactly the same thing on a much larger scale.

3. Exploit Northeast region: The buzz in Kolkata is that this is the conversion route used by many politicians.

Some tribal communities of the Northeast are exempt from paying income tax.

According to reports, thousands of crores have been transferred from other parts of the country to the Northeast.

While one light aircraft which took off from a flying school in Haryana was detained, all other consignments have gone unchecked.

We have information that the government knows about this, but may not be able to do anything.

Government establishments, including banks in the Northeast, are allowed to function only under a protection racket run by militants; the money is collected from their offices.

"Which tax officer will risk his life and go after these accounts?" asks a senior government official. There is hardly any media coverage on this issue either.

4. Multiple, simultaneous withdrawals: In the initial days of the note ban, small businessmen in Gujarat deployed dozens of staff and unemployed youth to make repeated trips to multiple banks to exchange notes.

I learn that bankers are under so much of pressure that they simply could not verify the same identification submitted repeatedly, or at different branches.

5. Jan Dhan accounts: It has already been widely reported that the balances in Jan Dhan accounts surged by tens of thousands of crores.

It is facile to tell the Jan Dhan account holders not to return this money -- they are beholden to landlords and moneylenders to do this favour.

6. Currency chests: People have been found with large amounts of new notes at a time the government was rationing it.

Cash moves from currency chests to banks and from there to the branches.

It is hard to believe that large amounts of cash was leaked from bank branches which were constantly under watch.

Were the Reserve Bank of India's currency chests compromised?

7. Cooperative banks: While the government had banned cooperative banks from exchanging old notes, multiple media reports show that this was easily circumvented in certain states.

I am told that the network of businessmen that dominates businesses across Kolkata and the Northeast have used all the above techniques in league with politicians to convert their cash.

So successful were these tricks that after a few weeks of the note ban, the discount on old notes disappeared and for a while there was even a premium for old notes.

Indeed, there is a suspicion that old notes deposited came back into the market, got deposited again and were double counted.

I gather that a senior bureaucrat, who led this campaign, believed that the note ban idea would work since it would be implemented by bankers and not the revenue department, which is seen as one of the most corrupt government departments.

Bankers turned out to be bad as any other section, rushing to cash in on 'opportunities' and 'incentives'.

The government says it intends to track down black money convertors. It cannot possibly reach everybody and is bound to fail.

As one businessman says, "The government cannot go after everybody, in the final analysis, it is between me and my assessing officer, who is now better empowered."

The real lesson for the government from the note ban is this: It is foolish to direct our lives through government fiats and yojanas.

Frame simple rules and lower taxes, and everybody may benefit.

In short, live up to the famous election promise of minimum government.

Debashis Basu is the editor of www.moneylife.in
They alleged that the central bank has "failed miserably" in handling the situation post-demonetisation.



IMAGE: Congress workers shout slogans during their RBI Gherao protest over the demonetization move at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo



Senior Congress leaders on Wednesday staged 'RBI gherao' protests outside its offices in several states as part of the party's anti-demonetisation stir during which ex-Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was detained in Ahmedabad and police resorted to lathi charge in Nagpur.

The leaders, who were joined by scores of Congress workers, also demanded the resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel for the "failure to maintain RBI's autonomy" and for the problems being faced by people following the note ban announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8.

In the national capital, the protesters led by Congress MP Ahmed Patel, party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, DPCC chief Ajay Maken and P C Chacko tried to march from Jantar Mantar to RBI's regional headquarters in Parliament Street but were stopped by the police.

They alleged that the central bank has "failed miserably" in handling the situation post-demonetisation.

"The government cannot stop people from withdrawing their own hard-earned money. We are lodging a protest to tell the government and the RBI that the ceiling on withdrawal limit be lifted," Chacko told reporters.

"Congress workers staged similar protests in other cities in the country today," he said.

Shinde and Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki along with nearly 130 party workers were detained by police for trying to lock down the RBI's regional headquarters in Ahmedabad.

The Congressmen were detained by police when they tried to gherao the RBI and lock it down, alleging that the bank has failed on all fronts to address the woes of common man after the Centre announced demonetisation of high value notes in November last year.

While Shinde, Solanki, and 90 others were detained by Madhavpura police on the eastern end of Gandhi Bridge in Ahmedabad, around 40 Congress workers were detained by Vadaj police from outside the main gate of RBI on the western end.

"We gave them permission for their gathering only, not for holding rally till RBI on the other side of the bridge.

Madhavpura police have detained Shinde, Solanki and 90 others while trying to take out the rally. They will be released later," Assistant Commissioner of Police Arpita Patel said.

In Mumbai, state Congress president Ashok Chavan accused the Modi government of converting the RBI into a 'RSS shakha' and demanded resignation of Urjit Patel for throwing the lives of 125 crore Indians into a disarray with demonetisation.

"We held a gherao protest at RBI in Mumbai, on behalf of MPCC and MRCC," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters. He accused the Modi government of trying to make RBI a "branch of BJP and RSS".

In Nagpur, Congress workers were lathicharged by police during their demonstration in front of the RBI office even as a morcha led by former Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan demanded the resignation of the RBI Governor.

While a delegation led by Prithviraj Chavan went inside the RBI to submit a memorandum, some Congress workers outside the office raised slogans and the situation became tense.

Some party workers alleged that the police lathi-charged them.

A few Congress workers were also detained and to protest the police lathi-charge, some party leaders later staged a sit-in dharna in front of the RBI office.

The Haryana and Chandigarh units of Congress held a protest near the RBI's regional office in Chandigarh against the central bank's "failure to carry out its constitutional duty at the time of demonetisation", but were stopped by police when they tried to gherao the building.

Led by former Lok Sabha Speaker and former union minister Shivraj Patil, slogan shouting Congress workers took out a rally from the Odisha state party headquarters in Bhubaneswar to the RBI office, dubbing demonetisation as a "surgical strike" on the poor people, farmers, labourers, small traders and middle class.

Leaders of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee demonstrated in front of RBI office in Guwahati.

Led by APCC president Ripun Bora, AICC general secretary C P Joshi and other party leaders, Congress members attempted to break the security barricade to cross the RBI gate.
2016 has been the most important one for Renault in India, backed by strategic measures in all key biz dimensions.

French auto major Renaults India market is the companys fastest-growing turf in the world with sales increasing 145.6% in 2016, chiefly on the back of the Kwid.

The Indian market has risen five notches to become the companys eighth-largest worldwide.

In Europe, Renault's registrations were up by 11.8% to 1,805,290.

Outside Europe, it reported 15.3% growth, and its product range renewal programme was successful with the Kwid in India, the QM6 and SM6 in South Korea, the Kaptur in Russia, the Koleos in China, the Megane Sedan in Turkey and the Oroch in Latin America.

In 2016, the firm sold 132,235 units in India and the Kwid registrations totalled 105,745. The combined Groupe Renault registrations for Africa, West Asia and India, rose by 36.4% in 2016, giving it a market share of 6.2% (up 1.7 points). In Iran, sales rose 110.7% and in Morocco, registrations were up 22.5%.

In the Eurasian region, registrations rose 2.3% mainly due to growth in Turkey, where they were up 4.4%.

In the Americas region, Groupe Renault (official name of the group) sales rose 0.1%. In Brazil, the market that shrunk by

19.8%, the market share rose 0.2 percentage points to a record 7.5%, thanks to the Duster Oroch.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Renault Samsung Motors, subsidiary of Renault in South Korea, sales rose 38.8% in South Korea. In China, following the release of the Kadjar, sales rose by 50.8%.

Sumit Sawhney, country chief executive officer and managing director, Renault India (operations), said India was priority for Groupe Renault and the market played an important role in its international growth.

The year 2016 has been the most important one for Renault in India, backed by strategic measures in all key business dimensions such as product, network expansion and steps on customer satisfaction, Sawhney said.

For 2017, the focus will be on growth and planning to launch at least a product every year in the next five years.

Renaults network grew from 205 to 270 facilities in 2016.

Photograph: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com.
Amit Shah's meticulous planning and Narendra Modi's charisma will turn the tide in BJP's favour, says Nazarwala.

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah has strategised patiently for the Uttar Pradesh polls. He has spent sleepless nights in meticulously planning and imaginatively implementing the plans down to the booth level.

More importantly, he has put in place a sincere team which is slogging round the clock in the interiors of UP.

Although initially Shah condoned admitting 'outsiders' like Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Swami Prasad Maurya and Brijesh Pathak and the initial hiccups post demonetisation also caused concern, the nervousness has now disappeared.

A fresh vigour has galvanised the BJP in UP.

An alert Shah has deftly used the Samajwadi Party's infighting to his party's advantage. His designs are deliberate and deadly in impact.

The 'Kamal Mela' magical show is one such example.

The BJP organises 'Kamal Mela' in the rural areas of UP. It sets up stalls to make the people aware of the schemes and achievements of the Modi government.

The 'Kamal Melas' comprise a magic show, a puppet show, a fun zone, a food zone, a laser show, a 'UP ke Mann ki Baat' zone, a virtual reality booth, and an extensive exhibition zone.

The 'selfie with Modi' zone, where visitors post with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cut-out, is very popular.

In addition, an RJ is present all the time to interact with the people, functioning as an amiable facilitator-cum-propagandist.

Shah has given a strong and effective message: Make the BJP's kamal, or lotus, symbol not only visible, but popular.

The BJP and its kamal are making their presence felt in the interiors of UP.

One 'Kamal Mela' attracted a 60,000-strong 'impressed' crowd of villagers in Banda.

'Honest' Modi brought along his own simple food, and shared it with the pracharaks in Kashi (Varanasi). In a spirit of bonhomie, their leader motivated and encouraged the field workers.

The message of honestly working without sponging on the poor villagers of the area was subtly passed down the line.

It energised the pracharaks as well as the 'vote-mobilisers' sitting on the fence.

Successful 'Parivatan Rallies' also drew huge crowds, against those of the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party, with the slogan 'Na goondaraj, na bhrashtachar, abki baar BJP sarkar' ('No lawlessness, no corruption, a BJP government this time').

'Shabdon ka jadugar' Modi mesmerises voters with his amazing oratory. His sensitivity and ingenuity are superb.

His 'BHIM' card, honouring Dr B R Ambedkar, is another masterstroke. The Dalits need only small cash dealings, and the process has been over-simplified for them.

And the fact that the app has been named after Babasaheb fills them with pride. This is having the desired ripple effect.

Nowadays, the Dalits entertain second thoughts on blindly supporting their behenji (Mayawati).

Modi has caught the imagination of the poor. He has pitched forcefully for the 'poor caste' card, as opposed to the hackneyed Yadav, Muslim, Brahmin, or Dalit cards.

'Sabka saath'-wala Modi, through the Rashtriya Muslim Manch, is trying to reach out to Muslims also.

The BJP's condemnation of the concept of triple talaq has touched an empathetic chord among thousands of Muslim women.

The 'note-jhatka' given by Modi is transforming fast into a 'vote-jhatka' for his rivals.

It is to be seen how the poor voter, the 'garvi garib' (proud poor), queues up to turn the tide in the BJP's favour.

The Modi wave may help the BJP score a triple century; its vanvaas in UP shall end before Holi.

Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo
The Jallikattu issue has revived pan-Tamil political sentiments especially among youths, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Despite the SC ban, Jallikattu was organised at several places in Tamil Nadu this year.

This year's Pongal season has seen the Supreme Court ban on the annual Jallikattu taking a 'pan-Tamil nationalist hue' after protests erupted across the state's southern villages for restoring Tamil Nadu's culture and tradition.

With some state-level leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party cautioning the protesters and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government about any precipitate action leading to Central intervention of the 'dismissal kind' under Article 356 (obviously under the directions of the Supreme Court, if it came to that), the political and social media outcry only needled the southern state even more.

It is for the first time since the SC ban in 2014 that Jallikattu has assumed such a GenNext context, breaking all caste and sub-regional barriers.

Confined to the central and southern district of Tamil Nadu where the warrior Mukkulathor community dominates politics and society, this time, improvised, last-minute Jallikattu of sorts came to be staged in other regions too.

Non-Mukkulathors and non-Hindus also posed before TV news cameras, giving it a unified pan-Tamil cultural hue. But peripheral groups did not lose the opportunity to try and revive the 'Tamil nationalist' sentiments which has revived after decades of 'Dravidian rule'.

In the run-up to 2016 elections, the pan-Tamil political sentiments had begun losing the fervour and flavour that it had once assumed decades earlier before the commencement of Dravidian rule in 1967 -- and revived with the end of the 'ethnic war' in neighbouring Sri Lanka.

Until now, the long hospitalisation of former AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, her subsequent death and internal affairs of the party afterwards, along with demonetisation crisis at the national-level, all had taken the front seat in the states news coverage and political discourse.

Possibly with the AIADMK crisis settling down for now, the simmering Jallikattu row may have provided the platform for a tectonic shift in Tamil Nadus political discourse, even if for the interim.

The process may have been facilitated or reactivated by the presence of two Mukkulathor leaders at the helm of the ruling party affairs in the state. Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and AIADMKs new general secretary, V K Sasikala, both belong to the community, though to different sub-sects.

Not that either of them spoke in favour or against conducting jallikattu, defying the SC ban, but their very presence at the helm carried message(s) and consequence(s) of their own.

After holding out protesters for a day on Mattu Pongal Day, the second of the three-day harvest festival dedicated to cattle on Monday, the police began to act against them.

It was not unlikely that the police had not only to do, but also seen as doing it if only to not create the impression (especially in the eyes of the Supreme Court) that the state government was siding with the protesters or was being sympathetic to their cause, most of whom visibly belonged to GenNext on TV screens.

Social media activism has since taken on a new hue. From defending Tamil culture and traditions, which in this case date back possibly to multiple millennia, to a pan-Tamil idea that they claimed the 'Indian system and schemes were challenging, testing or (wantonly) alienating'.

Suffice to point out that not just in Tamil Nadu (including non-traditional sub-regions of the state) but also wherever world Tamils lived (an euphemism that includes Sri Lankan Tamils, especially), protests against the SC ban in India were staged.

IMAGE: Thousands attend a protest rally demanding that the central government lift the ban on Jallikattu, near Tamukkam in Madurai on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo

This is not to belittle the local efforts or its effect. As the Tamil media began pointing out, the Jallikattu ban seemed applicable only to the state, but not to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh where one was conducted in the native village of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu with the customary fun and fanfare.

That Jallikattu is more about tradition and least about cruelty to animals should be amplified if one considered that elsewhere in the state, people on the same day would catch a forest fox and let it loose after a darshan.

In neighbouring Karnataka, in some places, cattle are made to jump through a bonfire, to protect them and their owners from evil eyes in the new harvest season and afterward too.

That way, there was greater danger of bystanders, more than Jallikattu animals or their catchers getting hurt/killed until the state government began enforcing a Supreme Court direction for the respective district administrations to ensure all-round safety, only a few years ago.

In the immediate context, suffice it to point out that BJP national secretary H Raja, a chartered accountant by training and profession, had his bullock participate in a manju-virattu game in his native place, seeking to differentiate it from Jallikattu proper -- and unconvincingly so.

Rajas colleague and minister of state at the Centre, Pon Radhakrishnan, walked further to defend the impromptu Jallikattu organised in villages, saying that it was only a non-violent protest by the local youth and did not amount to any violation of the SC ban -- or, words to that effect.

Other political parties, like the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Vanniar-centric Pattali Makkal Katchi, the latter still licking its electoral wounds from the May elections, were hesitant in entering the scene.

But the social media-initiated protests, with no leadership or direction, to call their own, left them all with little or no choice. The DMK in particular started joining issue after AIADMKs Sasikala challenged opposition stalwart M K Stalin whose party had contributed more to the ban, or did little while in the power to have it lifted.

Having waited it out, unlike on other pan-Tamil issues like Cauvery water dispute and the Sri Lankan ethnic war, lawyers across the state too have joined the protests. They have also promised to take up the cases of those arrested for defying the ban in traditional Jallikattu centres like Alanganallur and Palamade, or in other places across the state, including metropolitan Chennai, the state capital.

It was in this melee and milieu that peripheral pan-Tamil parties, consistently losing their electoral identity over the past couple of years even more than earlier, found new issues.

It was thus that the Naam Thamizhar Katchi (We, the Tamils party), among others, joined issue especially on threats of Central intervention, or SC direction to the effect.

Party leader and one-time film-maker, Seeman, argued that dismissal of the state government in context would become acceptable only after a decision was taken against neighbouring Karnataka for defying successive Supreme Court orders on the Cauvery waters row, and against Kerala on the Mullaperiyar court orders.

For the Centre, the likes of him had another argument, emanating from the Cauvery water issue, and pointed out how the Modi government had changed tack days after accepting the SC direction to appoint the Cauvery Management Board last year.

Revisiting the past practice, when their multi-million films shut down at Sri Lankan Tamil centres, across the world in particular, and over the Cauvery water dispute nearer home, Tamil film artistes have lost no time in backing the culture-based defence of reviving Jallikattu. However, their views on the pan-Tamil aspects of the cause are not known.

It was not without immediate reason or provocation. Youthful protesters blocked the outdoor shoot of Garjanai, a Tamil film starring actress Trisha Krishnan, after she was seen as being an activist of PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals), the international NGO.

Protesters also targeted other Tamil film actors like Arya and Vishal for the same reason, but they were not shooting in rural Tamil Nadu at the time.

The fact remains that the Animal Welfare Board under the Centre was the petitioner in the Supreme Court, and the Centre thus became the real target of the protesters. PETA joined in, and social media campaign is now for the government to shut it down and sisterly organisations of its kind.

A last-minute attempt to stage Jallikattu this year (at least) was lost when an SC bench hearing the case declared last Friday that the judges were in the process of dictating the verdict, and they could not be rushed.

This also meant that pending the eagerly-awaited SC verdict, neither the Centre, nor the state government could consider promulgating an ordinance that could have constitutional consequences not thought of by the Founding Fathers.

For now, the youthful protesters have vowed not to let their cause wither away as in the past years after the ban, or on other issues like the Cauvery water and Mullaperiyar dam dispute -- not to leave out the Sri Lankan Tamil cause and the fishers row, also involving the neighbouring nation.

At the same time, the Jallikattu row did take the media focus away from the internal politics of the post-Jaya AIADMK and also the (accompanying) tax raids on those seen as being close to the rulers of the day, including then chief secretary P Rama Mohan Rao.

Sasikalas equally ambitious and even more controversial husband, M Natarajan, however did not let Jallikattu come in the way of his annual pan-Tamil conference, organised in the temple-town of native Thanjavur.

Known as the capital city of the erstwhile Chola kingdom -- whose Tiger standard the LTTE had adapted, incidentally -- Thanjavur suburbs also house the Mullivaikkal memorial in memory of the fallen LTTE men, with Natarajan among the organisers, along with Pazha Nedumaran, founder of the Ulaga Tamizhar Peravai (World Tamil Conference).

Skirting the Jallikattu issue, however, Natarajan more openly targeted the BJP government at the Centre, in his valedictory speech at this years conference on Monday, January 16.

Natarajan, as also Sasikalas brother Divakaran, who spoke on the inaugural day, publicly defended her taking over the AIADMK leadership, and also the family rule in the party (alluding to them all). This definitely has upset AIADMK cadres who are unconvinced about a party role for Sasikala even now.

Natarajan in particular took the names of BJP and RSS leaders, cautioned against any political misadventure in Dravidian Tamil Nadu, where the Congress rival had not been able to revive itself even 50 long years after losing power. He also threatened to expose those behind the BJP programme in this regard.

Whether or not Natarajan meant what he said, one way or the other, there is no denying his strategic/tactical contributions to scuttle present-day BJP political veteran Subramanian Swamys efforts to topple the maiden Jayalalithaa government in the early nineties.

This time round, Swamy does not seem to be in the picture. But then, Deepa Jayakumar, Jayas niece, declared on MGRs birth anniversary on Tuesday that she would unravel her anti-Sasikala political plans on February 24, the birth anniversary of her dear aunt.

She is only attracting crowds of onlookers outside her Chennai home just now. However, she neither has a party, nor an organisation, nor MGR-Jayas Two Leaves symbol (nor possibly the kind of funding required for it all).

Deepas possible rise, and/or the SC verdict in the pending wealth case against Jaya (posthumously), Sasikala or others, could well end up in Jallikattu getting forgotten, at least around this time next year.

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter
'If Amazon's officials had secured their visas through proper paperwork, under what rule or law was Swaraj threatening to cancel them?'

'If she felt a crime had been committed, as a law abiding citizen she should have registered a first information report or a complaint.'

Instead she fired off a twitter fatwa, acting like a despot,' says Aakar Patel.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

India's foreign minister has apparently recovered national pride after making the world's largest online retailer bend.

What happened was as follows. On January 11, an Indian tweeted her a shot of Amazon Canada's online store, which sold personalised doormats, some of which were in the colours of the Indian flag.

Swaraj's correspondent wrote: 'Madam. Amazon Canada must be censured and warned not to sell India flag doormats. Please take action.'

Madam took action through three tweets. The first, fired off at 5:43 AM read: 'Indian High Commission in Canada: This is unacceptable. Please take this up with Amazon at the highest level.'

The second one, after she had digested the momentous event, was at 6:41 AM and it read: 'Amazon must tender unconditional apology. They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately.'

Two minutes later, she sent a threat through her last tweet: 'If this is not done forthwith, we will not grant Indian Visa to any Amazon official. We will also rescind the Visas issued earlier.'

The doormat maker was, of course, not familiar with Indian culture. Western doormats have things like 'Welcome' written on them, and it is fine to step on them because there is no cultural offence.

The doormats are offered in the colours of any nation's flag and most people buy their own to show their pride.

In India, or rather South Asia, the feet are supposed to be unclean (perhaps because we are unable to keep our surroundings clean) and therefore doormats are seen in a different light.

Amazon Canada acted immediately and withdrew the link, which was from a third party supplier.

The Amazon Web site is only a marketplace, where people sell their product.

The majority of twitter comments were in favour of Swaraj's actions, because national pride runs strong in India. Some people felt Swaraj had overreacted.

Firstly saying that India's self respect and national pride was not so fragile as to be damaged by such things.

And secondly, particularly because Amazon has invested billions of dollars in India, it should have been treated with more respect.

I disagree. It does not matter who the individual or entity is. The Government of India must deal with all equally.

My problems with her actions are different.

First, Swaraj's threats confirm what many suspect to be true of India.

That it is not a nation that functions on the basis of rules and laws, but arbitrary and kneejerk decision making.

If Amazon's officials had secured their visas through proper paperwork, under what rule or law was Swaraj threatening to cancel them?

If she felt a crime had been committed, as a law abiding citizen she should have registered a first information report or a complaint.

Instead she fired off a twitter fatwa, acting like a despot.

The second thing is that, as has been noted, Amazon is a global marketplace.

If one looks hard enough, there will be something causing offence to someone or the other's god or guru. And I can guarantee that this has not changed with the removal of the doormat product.

Indeed, reports the next day said there were shoes being sold with the Indian flag (also offensive in our part of the world).

What will Swaraj do the next time something like this pops up?

The third thing is that this sort of angry public nationalism comes very easily to our leaders. This time, last year, we were again discussing nationalism.

It was in February 2016 that the Jawaharlal Nehru University slogan shouting issue erupted. It was the dominant story for two weeks in the media, because apparently these slogans had caused great damage to India.

The Lok Sabha took up three days to debate it. The education minister was so moved that she threatened to cut off her head.

The home minister said Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Hafiz Saeed were behind the slogan shouting.

The prime minister himself entered the debate and tweeted about it, saying 'satyamev jayate', meaning truth always prevails.

The National Investigation Agency was apparently going to probe the thing.

The offending young men were arrested and one of them beaten up while in custody.

After all of this drama, what was the ultimate result?

The BJP government has not filed the chargesheet. Raat gayi, baat gayi.

This fraudulent, dhongi, nationalism, this showy, nautanki, emotional but insubstantial nationalism, is the same type that Swaraj has again shown.

It is a waste of national time and energy and ministers, particularly those who carry heavy responsibilities, should not participate in the circus.

Aakar Patel is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own.
Two days after Zaira Wasim posted an open apology on social media, the Bharatiya Janata Party-Peoples Democratic Party alliance in the state came in support of the Dangal child actor and said that the extremists cannot threaten or blackmail any Kashmiri, adding that such a talent should be nurtured.

BJP spokesperson Khalid Jehangir, in his stern message, warned the extremists not to threaten any Kashmiri.

She has risen on her own. We wish her all the best and give a message to the extremist elements in Kashmir that they cannot threaten or blackmail any Kashmiri people, who want to rise and be at par with the rest of the country, Jehangir said.

Extending his full support to Zaira, Jehangir also affirmed that the entire Valley stands with the 16-year-old.

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said the Jammu and Kashmir government is keeping an eye on all the developments related to Zaira Wasim, and if needed, security will be provided to the teenage actress.

Information we have got from the state government is that they are keeping an eye on the entire episode and whatever necessary step needs to be taken it (state government) will take...and if security is needed, it will provide that security, Singh said.

He said the youths of the country who bring laurels through their talent must be appreciated and encouraged.

Youngsters in any part of the country, and especially in Jammu and Kashmir who have grown under shadow of terrorism, and if the youngsters express their talent it becomes the duty of the society to encourage and appreciate them, he said.

Resonating similar sentiments, PDP spokesperson Waheed-ur-Rehman Para also applauded the child actor for her achievement at such a tender age. He appreciated the little talent, urging the people to support her.

Zaira is a self-made person and there are many success stories in Jammu and Kashmir. These people are not only successful but also self-made. We need to celebrate them in every state, Para said.

Some of the people have repeatedly tried to threaten others, which is unfortunate, but we still believe that the majority and the large conscience in the society support such initiatives. People are coming to her support. Everybody in J&K, from the chief minister to a commoner is coming to her support, he added.

Zaira, who portrayed the young Geeta Phogat in the recently released movie Dangal, issued an apology for offending and unintentionally hurting the people after she met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and was subsequently trolled on Twitter. She later deleted her post.

-- With inputs from PTI
Credit : Umar Ganie/Rediff.com

This winter the northern states of India have been lashed with an intense cold wave, crippling normal life in most parts of the region.

The northern states have seen mercury dipping precipitously, which in a cascading effect has seen temperatures drop is most parts of the country.

The worst-hit is Jammu and Kashmir, where Ladakh recorded a minimum temperate of -14 degress Celsius on Wednesday.

Pahalgam, a tourist town in Anantnag district and a popular hill station, recorded a minimum temperature of -12 degree Celsius followed by Gulmarg, another tourist spot, recording a minimum temperate of -10 degrees Celsius.

Move your pointer over the map to see details of the temperature prevailing as on January 18, 2017.

Similarly, the states of Punjab and Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have witnessed a fall in their minimum temperature amidst a persistent cold wave which has brought normal life to a standstill.

The Delhi government has announced thta municipal primary schools in the capital will be closed till January 19 in view of the extreme cold conditions prevailing in the city, while the Haryana government has the announced closure of primary schools in the state till January 16.

On Wednesday, cold wave conditions abated slightly in Delhi and the NCR region, northern Parts of Rajasthan and northern Uttar Pradesh due to sunny spells, which led to an uptick in the minimum temperature.

Similarly, the western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra have witnessed a slight dip in their temperatures during the night, while the southern parts of India are witnessing a temperature of around 20 to 26 degrees Celsius.
Days ahead of his inauguration as United States President, the American Press Corps on Wednesday made it clear to Donald Trump that he cannot "dictate" to them and that "we, not you, decide how best to serve our readers, listeners, and viewers."

"In these final days before your inauguration, we thought it might be helpful to clarify how we see the relationship between your administration and the American Press Corps," Kyle Pope, editor-in-chief and publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review, said in an open letter to Trump.

In the op-ed 'An open letter to Trump from the US press corps' published on Wednesday in CJR, Pope says that the relationship between the media and the President-elect are strained.

"Reports over the last few days that your press secretary is considering pulling news media offices out of the White House are the latest in a pattern of behaviour that has persisted throughout the campaign: Youve banned news organisations from covering you," he said.

Pope insists that while Trump is within his rights to decide his ground rules for engaging with the press, the media too has some.

"It is, after all, our airtime and column inches that you are seeking to influence. We, not you, decide how best to serve our readers, listeners, and viewers. So think of what follows as a backgrounder on what to expect from us over the next four years," he wrote on behalf of American journalists.

In an eight point charter, Pope told Trump he might decide that giving reporters access to his administration has no upside.

"We think that would be a mistake on your part, but again, it's your choice. We are very good at finding alternative ways to get information; indeed, some of the best reporting during the campaign came from news organisations that were banned from your rallies," he said.

"We may agree to speak to some of your officials off the record, or we may not. We may attend background briefings or off-the-record social events, or we may skip them. That's our choice. If you think reporters who don't agree to the rules, and are shut out, wont get the story, see above," he said.

He said that it is the media which will decide how much airtime to give to his spokespeople and surrogates.

The American media believes that there is an objective truth, and it will hold him to that, he cautioned Trump.

"We'll obsess over the details of government. You and your staff sit in the White House, but the American government is a sprawling thing. We will fan reporters out across the government, embed them in your agencies, source up those bureaucrats. The result will be that while you may seek to control what comes out of the West Wing, we'll have the upper hand in covering how your policies are carried out," he wrote.

Pope, however, credited Trump with highlighting serious and widespread distrust in the media across the political spectrum.

"Your campaign tapped into that, and it was a bracing wake-up call for us. We have to regain that trust. And we'll do it through accurate, fearless reporting, by acknowledging our errors and abiding by the most stringent ethical standards we set for ourselves," he said.

Accusing Trump of dividing the media, Pope said the American media will work together and in the best-case scenario, Trump can be inside the White House for eight years.

"Weve been around since the founding of the republic, and our role in this great democracy has been ratified and reinforced again and again and again. You have forced us to rethink the most fundamental questions about who we are and what we are here for. For that we are most grateful," Pope said.

IMAGE: Donald Trump argues with CNN's Jim Acosta during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York City on January 11. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
Heading into the Inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump is making Russian President Vladimir Putin happy while causing a lot of distress for Americas European allies.

Geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer explained Trumps apparent affinity for Putin and the fraying US-Europe alliance when he joined Yahoo Finance anchor Alexis Christoforous and Editor-in-Chief Andy Serwer at the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Interestingly, if Hillary Clinton had become president, the US-Russia relationship would be much worse, Bremmer said, adding that under President Barack Obama the relations reached the worst point in 30 years. As soon as Trump comes in, despite the fact that hes reluctantly admitted that  it probably was the Russians that engaged in the hacking [of the DNC and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta], he still is saying Im gonna work with the Russians.'

Bremmer highlighted Trumps recent statement that the incoming US president sees Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the same kind of way. Asked by the Sunday Times whom he would trust more, Trump replied: I start off trusting both  but lets see how long that lasts. It may not last long at all.

Russian President Vladimir Putin waves next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he arrives for talks on a stalled peace plan for eastern Ukraine at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, October 19, 2016. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

Bremmer said that elite Europeans  such as those at Davos  are not liking what they hear.

If youre sitting here as a European in Davos, your hair is on fire when you hear stuff like that. So clearly the US-Russia relationship will be a 180-degree flip the day that Trump becomes president, Bremmer said. But Russias still going to be a risk, and theyre going to be a risk because theyre still going to be undermining the French establishment, the Dutch establishment in their elections, the German establishment. You know who else is gonna do that? Donald Trump, who just came out and said, you know what? Not only do I support Brexit, I think other countries should leave Europe too.

In the same Sunday Times interview, Trump asserted that Merkel made a catastrophic mistake by accepting waves of refugees, that the European Union is Basically a vehicle for Germany, that the UK was so smart to exit the EU, and that he believes other countries will follow.

Story continues

The transatlantic relationship is the most important global alliance in the world, underpinning the American-led order since 1945, and Trump is saying, not only do I not care about Europe but countries should leave, Bremmer said. Putin really likes that.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a news conference after a meeting with his Moldovan counterpart Igor Dodon at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 17, 2017. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin

Asked about upcoming elections in Germany, possibly Italy, France, and the Netherlands this year, Bremmer said that France is a big deal, especially with the incoming Trump administration indicating support for far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and Russia setting up RT.com in France to influence public opinion.

The potential for Le Pen to win, which today if you asked any Frenchman here at Davos, theyd say Theres no way.  But I wouldnt be so certain, Bremmer said. And if Le Pen wins that is really the beginning of the unwind of the EU. Im not saying its 2017, but thats a very different Europe.

MORE FROM DAVOS:
IMAGE: BJP National President Amit Shah greets former Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari in New Delhi. Photographs: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo

In a blow to the Congress, its veteran leader and former chief minister of Uttarakhand Narayan Dutt Tiwari on Wednesday extended his support to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the poll-bound state during a meeting with its president Amit Shah.

Tiwari, also a former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, was joined by his son Rohit Shekhar Tiwari, who has been looking to establish himself politically, and wife Ujjwala Tiwari.

Though the 91-year-old leader is no longer politically much active, his support to the saffron party is being seen as a boost to it ahead of the Uttarakhand assembly polls on February 15 due to his vast experience and stature.

"In our meeting with the BJP president we offered our support to him. It is now up to him to how to utilise us. My father blessed him," said Rohit Shekhar.

Asked why his father decided to leave the Congress, he said the party had completely ignored him. "Have you ever seen his photo in any Congress poster?"

IMAGE: Shah welcomes Tiwari's son Rohit Shekhar to the BJP.

The Congress has been deserted by a number of senior leaders in the hill state and the BJP has awarded many of them with party tickets to contest the assembly polls. It is yet to announce its nominees for a few seats and it remains to be seen if it accommodates any kin of Tiwari.

With Tiwari crossing over, all former chief ministers of the state are in BJP's camp while the incumbent Harish Rawat is leading the Congress' charge.

Tiwari is among the tallest leaders to have come out of Uttarakhand and was the undivided Uttar Pradesh's chief minister a few times before moving on to become the new state's chief minister.

He remained a Congressman all his life except for a brief period when he, along with several leaders proclaiming allegiance to Sonia Gandhi, broke away to form Congress (Tiwari) when the party was headed by P V Narasimha Rao and Gandhi had not joined active politics yet.
The Republican Hindu Coalition will be out in force at Donald Trump's inaugural, reports Lalit K Jha.

IMAGE: The Republican Hindu Coalition will attend Donald Trump's inauguration.

Trump is seen lighting the ceremonial lamp to inaugurate the Republican Hindu Coalition event in Edison, New Jersey, October 15, 2016.

Photograph: Paresh Gandhi

Thousands, including many Indian Americans, are converging on Washington, DC to attend US President-elect Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony, themed 'Make America Great Again.'

Trump will be sworn in as the 45th American President on January 20 with two Bibles. One belongs to Abraham Lincoln, that was used at his first inauguration.

The second Bible dates back to the President-elect's childhood. Trump's Bible was presented to him by his Scottish mother Mary Anne Trump at his graduation from Sunday Church Primary School at First Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, New York, on Children's Day June 12, 1955.

IMAGE: Toby Keith, among many others, will perform at the Trump inauguration. Photograph: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The celebrations around Trump's inauguration, which begin on Thursday, have been organised around the theme 'Make America Great Again.'

This theme not only caught the imagination of Americans during the closely fought election campaign, but also propelled Trump to victory.

Unprecedented security has been put in place to thwart any untoward incident. Outgoing US President Barack Obama reviewed the preparedness on Tuesday.

'We are going to see a just unbelievable tremendous outpouring of support for him,' incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters during a conference call on Tuesday.

'The President (elect) has been just overwhelmed by the amount of support and outpouring of people that want to participate in some way with this historic inauguration,' Spicer said.

While Trump supporters in Washington, DC have already started a series of events ahead of the inauguration, official events kick off January 19 with Trump and Vice-President-elect Mike Pence laying wreaths at the Arlington National Cemetery.

The historic National Mall would also be the venue of celebrations. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, scores of artists from across America will perform before thousands of Trump supporters.

IMAGE: RaviDrums, headed up by DJ RaviDrums (aka Ravi Jakhotia who appeared in NBC's Howie Do It) among among many others will perform at the Trump inauguration. Photograph: DJ RaviDrums/Twitter

Voices of the People will feature groups from the hundreds of applications received by the Presidential Inaugural Committee to take part in inaugural festivities.

Prominent among those participating are the King's Academy Honor Choir, the Republican Hindu Coalition, Pride of Madawaska, Webelos Troop 177, American Tap and Celtic United Pipes and Drums.

The Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration will take place first, followed by Voices of the People and will be broadcast live from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

It will feature remarks from Trump and special appearances by Toby Keith, Jon Voight, Jennifer Holliday, The Piano Guys, Lee Greenwood, RaviDrums, 3 Doors Down and The Frontmen of Country.

The celebration will feature military band performances and conclude with a fireworks show.
More than 100 people have been killed after a Nigerian military jet mistakenly bombed a refugee camp in Borno state in northeastern Nigeria.

The Independent quoted aid organisations and the local military as saying that a camp for internally displaced people in Rann, part of the Kala-Balge local government area on the Cameroon border was hit by the strike on Tuesday.

Regional military commander Major General Lucky Irabor said the strike was mistakenly ordered by him based on intelligence that Boko Haram fighters were in the region.

He said an investigation was underway to find out the cause of the error, adding that that the military would not deliberately target civilians.

A spokeswoman for Medicins Sans Frontieres said the organisation was indeed active in the Kala Balge area, but was unable to verify whether its employees were among the victims.

She said that teams are trying to provide emergency first aid in its facility and are stabilising patients to evacuate wounded.

The military has been waging a military campaign against the Boko Haram militant group in the region where the incident occurred.

Image for representaion only. Photograph: Luc Gnago/Reuters
If confirmed by the US Senate, Haley, 44, would be the first Indian-American to serve in a Cabinet-level position in any presidential administration.

"My story is an American story", Indian American Nikki Haley said as she shared her experience of growing up in the United States and challenges faced by her family over the years, during her confirmation hearing on Wednesday for the position of US Ambassador to the United Nations.

"I was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, the daughter of immigrants from Punjab, India. My parents had comfortable lives in India, but they chose to give up those comforts and move to America with just eight dollars because of the freedoms and opportunities this country offers," she said in her opening remarks as she testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"Our family's experience is unique, but it is also familiar, because it is one that has been repeated many times, by many people, in American history," she said.

Her parents, husband and son were present at the hearing at the US Capitol.

A long queue was seen outside the room where her confirmation hearing was held.

If confirmed by the US Senate, Haley, 44, would be the first Indian-American to serve in a Cabinet-level position in any presidential administration.

Growing up in a small rural community in the South, Haley, the highest ranking Indian-American to have been nominated in any presidential administration, said her family was different.

"We were not white enough to be white, not black enough to be black. My father wore a turban, my mother a sari. Our new neighbors didn't quite know what to make of us, and so we faced challenges. But those challenges paled next to the abundance of opportunities in front of us," she said.

"My Dad was a professor at a small, historically black college. My Mom was a social studies teacher and started a clothing store from scratch. I started doing the books for the family business when I was thirteen," she said.

"It wasn't until I got to college that I realised that wasn't normal, but it was normal to me in my family, we worked. I was also privileged to take advantage of the educational opportunities America affords. I am painfully aware that the chance for thirteen-year old girls to read and learn and grow is something that does not exist in far too many places around the world today," Haley said.

Thereafter she went on to serve in the South Carolina General Assembly and to be elected and reelected governor of South Carolina.

While South Carolina will always be her home, Haley said she is eager to begin this new chapter.

"International diplomacy is a new area for me. There is much I am learning about the intricacies of the UN and its associated agencies. I don't claim that I know everything, or that leadership at the UN is the same as leading South Carolina," she acknowledged. But diplomacy, she asserted itself is not new to her.

"In fact, I would suggest there is nothing more important to a governor's success than her ability to unite those with different backgrounds, viewpoints, and objectives behind a common purpose. For six years that has been my work, day after day, in times of celebration and in times of great tragedy," she said.

Seeking her confirmation, Haley said most government agencies, the United Nations could benefit from a fresh set of eyes.

"I will take an outsider's look at the institution. As I have in every challenge in my life, I will come to the UN to work and to work smart," Haley said.

*******

Haley repudiated the idea of a registry for Muslim immigrants or Muslim Americans during her confirmation hearing.

Haley, 44, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "There is no need of any registry based on religion for American citizens."

"This administration and I don't think there should be any registry based on religion," she said.

"What we do need to do is know which countries are a threat and those are the ones we need to watch and be careful and vet," she said.

Haley stand seemed to contradict President-Elect Donald Trump's views on the matter.

Trump said during the fall of 2015 that he would "absolutely" require Muslims to register in a database. He also called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US from other countries. After backlash, he amended his push, calling for a ban on immigration from countries with terror ties.

When asked about Trump's openness to the idea of a registry during a rapid-fire round of questioning, Haley swatted aside the suggestion as an idea from "early on" in the presidential campaign that Trump no longer supports.

*******

'We can't trust Russia'

On Russia, Haley said, "I dont think that we can trust them."

"We have to try and see what we can get from them before we give to them," Haley told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "We have to continue to be very strong."

Haley insisted that the US cannot send the message that it is comfortable with Russias invasion of Ukraine or its support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

When pressed by Senator Ben Cardin, Haley also said she believes that Crimea is a part of Ukraine -- a repudiation of Russia's annexation of the region. Haley agreed that the Syrian regime's actions, backed by Russia, constituted "genocide." She also said "Yes, I do," when asked if Russia had committed war crimes in Aleppo, the besieged northern Syrian city.

Haley added that unless Russia takes positive steps, the US should not lift sanctions on the country. But when asked about whether the US should impose new sanctions on Moscow -- for its alleged interference in the US election, among other reasons -- she hedged, saying that's a decision that requires consulting with the incoming president and his national security advisers.

*******

'US will stand by Israel at UN'

Haley vowed to oppose anti-Israel efforts at the United Nations.

She was critical of the outgoing US President Barack Obama's decision to abstain from the UN Security Council resolution against Israel.

"It is very dangerous when the UN starts to tell what and what should not happen to two different parties... I will always stand with Israel," Haley said.

The South Carolina Governor said says "absolutely" supports the US moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Her strong statement in this regard was welcomed by Israel.

Reflecting an aggressive foreign policy of the incoming Trump Administration, Haley threatened to pull out troops of the countries who do not hold them accountable for

their alleged misdeeds at various peace keeping missions.

"We need to represent our country from a point of strength," Haley told lawmakers.

*******



'The world wants to see a strong America'

If confirmed by the US Senate, she would be the first Indian-American to hold a cabinet-level position in a presidential administration.

"The world wants to see a strong America," she said, in response to a question, adding that is what the world is used to.

The United States, she asserted, needs to start showing its strength. She also insisted on building the American coalition and increasing its allies.

Responding to a question from Senator Robert Menendez, Haley said during her conversation with president-elect Donald Trump both Russia and China popped up in general nature and the challenges in their relationship.

Of the view that Beijing has a lot of leverage on North Korea, she said China is now nervous on North Korea.

China has started to pull back economically, she said adding that the US should talk with in terms of them and tell that it is in their best interest to reign in North Korea.

*******



'The UN can be fixed'

Responding to a series of questions on reforms of the UN and its alleged anti-US actions, she said the United States is not only the major funder to the world body but also it hosts the United Nations.

The US needs to leverage its power over the world body, she said.

"The UN can be fixed," she said.

For instance, there are 16 peace keeping operations, some are successful, and some are not.

"We need to all of review them," she said, adding in some cases the UN peacekeeping missions are not getting co-operation from their own government.

She also favored whistleblower reforms.

Referring to the alleged misdeeds of some of the peacekeeping troops, Haley said the troop contributing countries need to take action against them.

If the UN pulls out all troops from such contributing countries that might be a big economic loss for them.

She identified Human Rights Council as another area of the UN in the need of reform.

She questioned the presence of countries like China and Cuba on the Human Rights Council, alleging that such nations are only protecting themselves.

Image: Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on her nomination to be to US ambassador to the United Nations at Capitol Hill in Washington, US, January 18, 2017. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters
United States President Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, who is serving 35 years behind bars for giving classified US data and documents to Wikileaks, allowing her to go free nearly three decades early.

According to the commutation granted on Tuesday, Manning would now be released on May 17.

The transgender soldier has been lodged in prison after being convicted in August 2013. She also attempted suicide twice last year.

The White House said after Othe commutation, Manning, a military analyst, would now be released on May 17, 2017. She was sentenced to 35 years of imprisonment on charges of illegally obtaining and passing on the classified documents to WikiLeaks.

According to the White House, Mannings offences included one specification of wrongful and wanton publication to the internet intelligence belonging to the United States, five specifications of stealing, purloining or knowingly converting US government records.

It also included six specifications of wilful communication of information relating to the national defence, one specification of wilful communication of information in unlawful possession; and one specification of wilful communication of information relating to the national defence by exceeding authorised access to a US government computer.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has welcomed the decision, while calling for an end to a war on whistleblowers.

He said Manning should never have been convicted and described her as a hero, whose bravery should have been applauded not condemned'

However, White House ruled out a similar consideration for Edward Snowden, who is currently on a political asylum in Russia.

"Mr Snowden should return to the United States and face the serious crimes that with which he's been charged. He will of course be afforded the kind of due process that's available to every American citizen whos going through the criminal justice process," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.

"But the crimes that he's accused of committing are serious. We believe that he should return to the United States and face them rather than seeking refuge in the arms of an adversary of the United States that has their own strategic interests in disseminating information in a harmful way," he said.

While responding to a question about Manning, Earnest said, However, Chelsea Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing.

The New York Times said the commutation of Mannings sentence also relieved the Department of Defence of the difficult responsibility of her incarceration as she pushes for treatment for her gender dysphoria, including sex reassignment surgery, that the military has no experience of providing.

Photograph: Reuters
In the backdrop of growing unease in Sino-India ties, India on Wednesday said it has been trying to convince the Chinese government that its ascent is not harmful to the rise of China and that both countries should be sensitive on matter relating to sovereignty.

In an address at the Raisina Dialogue, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar took strong objection to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, saying there should have been some reflection on Indias unhappiness over it.

What we are trying to do is to convince China that our rise is not harmful to Chinas rise just as Chinas rise need not be to Indias rise, he said at the gathering attended by representatives from across the world.

Chill has set in Sino-India ties following Chinas opposition to Indias membership at the Nuclear Suppliers Group as well as Beijing blocking Indias move at the United Nations to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

During the interactive session, during which he touched upon a vast array of subjects concerning international relations, Jaishankar said the SAARC has been made ineffective due to the insecurity of one member.

Identifying terrorism as the most pervasive and serious challenge to international security, the foreign secretary said developing a serious global response to it is of the highest priority but rued that it is hard to do.

On ties with China, Jaishankar said there has been overall broadening of ties, especially in areas of business and people-to-people contact, but they have been overshadowed by differences on certain political issues.

But it is important for the two countries not to lose sight of the strategic nature of their engagement, or falter in their conviction that their rise can be mutually supportive, he said.

Replying to a question on CPEC, he said both countries should show sensitivity to each others sovereignty.

China is a country which is very sensitive on matters concerning its sovereignty. So we would expect that they would have some understanding of other peoples sensitivity on their sovereignty, he said.

Jaishankar said the CPEC passes through a piece of land that we call Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir which is territory belongs to India and which is illegally occupied by Pakistan.

He said the project has been undertaken without consultation with India and that its sensitivity and concerns towards it is natural.

On Indias overall ties with China, he said both the countries have opened up significantly since 1945.

In a sense, both of us, if you step back and look at it, are opening up a very close international order. When people talk about change since 1945, I think two big changes are really India and China.

I would say if China had not opened up the international order the way it did, I think it would be much harder today for India also to exploit those phases. There is a high degree of shared interests, he said.
On April 5, 2018, Salman Khan was convicted in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case.

This, of course, wasnt Khans first brush with the law.

In the past he had been charged with hit-and-run and keeping and using the fire arms with an expired licence

Heres a recap of the cases against the star behind the 'Being Human' initiative.

1) Arms Act case, 1998

In October 1998, the police filed a case against Salman under sections 325 and 327 of the Arms Act for allegedly possessing and using a 0.22 rifle and a 0.32 revolver to kill two blackbucks in Kankani village in Jodhpur on October 1 and 2.

The actor was in Jodhpur for the shooting of the Hindi film Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Other Bollywood actors, including Saif Ali Khan and Sonali Bendre, are also accused of poaching black bucks with Salman.

He was acquitted of the charge, 17 years later, on January 18, 2017.

2) Blackbuck and chinkara poaching cases, 1998

He had been charged with allegedly killing two endangered chinkaras and two blackbucks on hunts during a location shoot along with Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu, in three different cases -- one involving blackbucks, and two involving chinkaras.

In 2016, the actor had earlier been acquitted by the Rajasthan high court in the two cases related to the killing of the chinkaras. That verdict had been challenged, but he was eventually acquitted.

Another case involving the alleged poaching of two blackbucks is still being heard. On April 5, 2018, a Jodhpur court found him guilty of killing the endangered animal and sentenced him to five years in prison. His co-accused actors -- Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam -- were acquitted.

In all, in the three poaching cases against him, Salman Khan has been to jail twice -- in April 2006 and August 2007.

3) Hit-and-run case, 2002

In December 2015, the Bombay high court acquitted Salman of all criminal charges in a hit-and-run case, just months after he had been found guilty by a trial court.

The lower court had found him guilty of killing a homeless man while driving his SUV during a night out drinking in September 2002.
Pakistan's new army chief has begun setting the stage to act against groups like LeT and JeM.

Ajai Shukla reports.

In Pakistan, a new year and a new army chief appear to be heralding a new approach towards reining in anti-India jihadis like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Business Standard learns from senior Pakistan army sources that General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who took over as chief of the army staff (COAS) from General Raheel Sharif on November 28, has told key advisors that open-ended confrontation with India must be curbed, without compromising Pakistan's self-respect.

A senior Pakistani officer, who held a detailed discussion with General Bajwa, tells Business Standard the new army chief understands fully that reducing tensions with India would require action against the LeT and JeM.

But Pakistan's top general believes the LeT and JeM are now more troublesome than useful.

He believes the Uri terror strike in September provided India respite in the UN General Assembly, allowing New Delhi to shift the spotlight from the uprising in the Kashmir valley to Pakistan-backed terrorism.

General Bajwa, unlike his predecessors, has begun setting the stage to act against those groups, says the source.

This will not involve an overt military crackdown, like what former Pakistan president and army chief General Pervez Musharraf unleashed in July 2007 on radical militants in the Lal Masjid in Islamabad.

Instead, there will be a slow squeeze on Punjab-based militant groups by the Inter-Services Intelligence.

"The ISI exercises a degree of influence over the leadership of these tanzeems (groups). The top leaders, who are the ideological drivers of their jihad, are beholden to the ISI for patronage, funding and protection from law enforcement agencies," says a senior Pakistani official.

In fact, the ISI has the ability to influence the LeT and JeM only up to a point.

Over the last decade, leaders like the LeT's Muhammad Saeed, have developed larger-than-life individual profiles.

According to jihadi lore, Saeed's immediate family alone includes 23 widows of 'mujahideen' who were killed fighting in Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides, LeT front organisations like the Jamaat-ud-Daawa have won public favour by providing humanitarian aid, especially after the Kashmir earthquake in 2005 and the devastating floods in 2008 and 2010.

New Delhi will be justifiably sceptical of such expressions of intent from Pakistan, after repeated disappointments in the past.

On January 11, 2002, with the Indian Army mobilised for war after the JeM terrorist strike on Parliament the month before, General Musharraf proscribed five militant groups, including the LeT and JeM. But most resurfaced quickly under changed names.

Similarly, in January 2004, Pakistan solemnly committed to 'not allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India.' That promise too was violated repeatedly, including in the Mumbai train bombings in 2006 and the armed LeT terrorist strikes in 2008.

Over preceding years, the Pakistan army has battled terrorist groups along the Afghanistan border, notably the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which vows jihad against Islamabad.

But it soft-pedalled against 'strategic assets' like the Haqqani Network and the Afghan Taliban, and left the Punjabi groups like the LeT and JeM unaddressed.

Islamabad claimed it was overstretched with battling the TTP.

However, nobody considered it a coincidence that the groups that were spared happened to be useful proxies to wield influence in Afghanistan, and to strike at India.

Although New Delhi has good reason to be sceptical, a new confluence of factors makes it worth watching unfolding events in Pakistan with guarded optimism.

The first is General Qamar Bajwa himself, reputedly a bold mover.

Soon after taking over charge, Geo News quoted him as stating: 'The situation on the LoC (Line of Control with India) will improve soon.' That has proved correct.

In his initial visits to military establishments, General Bajwa has reportedly been telling his officers: 'Aap mulk ko chalaane ke baarey na sochein, aap apni nazar fauj ko theek se chalaane par hi rakhein (don't preoccupy yourself with how the country is being run, focus your attention on running the army properly).'

The tone of Rawalpindi's statements against India has moderated noticeably.

In October, the Pakistan army 'rejected absurd Indian claims of hoax surgical strikes as attempt to divert world's attention from brutalities by the Indian Army against innocent Kashmiris.'

In contrast, an official tweet last week declared: 'Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa rejects self-defeating claims by Indian COAS about "so called surg(ical) strikes" and its possible recurrence.'

General Bajwa has been ruthless is creating the space to act.

Within days of taking command, he dismantled the core team of his hawkish predecessor, General Raheel Sharif, with a decisiveness that a senior Pakistani journalist described to Business Standard as "brutal."

General Raheel's ISI chief, Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar, was shunted out to the National Defence University, a non-operational appointment. He was replaced by Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar, whose views mirror those of General Bajwa and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Already while appointing General Bajwa as COAS, Nawaz Sharif sidelined the hawkish Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, the powerful Chief of General Staff who was a front-runner for the army chief post.

General Hayat was potentially a dangerous power centre also because he is one of three brothers, all serving generals. He was kicked upstairs to the toothless, four-star appointment of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

General Hayat's younger brother, Major General Ahmed Hayat, a pivotal officer in the ISI, was marginalised and superseded.

Simultaneously, General Raheel's activist media chief, Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa (no relation to the army chief), was moved out to the inconsequential post of Inspector General Arms. In his place has come Major General Asif Ghafoor.

The new chief also, as is customary, switched a number of corps commanders and other posts, replacing General Raheel's appointees with trusted officers of his own.

With General Raheel himself moving to Saudi Arabia to command the 39-nation Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT), the decks are clear for General Bajwa.

At the apex level, there is an agreement between the key decision-makers who would face the brunt of campaign against the LeT and JeM -- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and Generals Qamar Bajwa and Naved.

However, not everyone believes Nawaz Sharif has the stomach for the fight.

Pakistani journalist Cyril Almeida wrote in the Dawn recently: 'The boys (the Pakistan army) want to go in to clean up the sectarian mess and the anti-Pakistan stuff. But Nawaz can't let them... (He) can't have troops stomping around Punjab doing counterterrorism stuff.'

Pakistan's National Action Plan on countering terrorism, which was agreed to in an all-party meeting in December 2014 after terrorists rampaged through an army school in Peshawar, provides a comprehensive framework for tackling terrorism.

However, the potential repercussions of confronting jihadis in the Punjab heartland demands political will to fully implement the NAP.

Pakistani leaders remember the suicide attacks in the Punjab heartland that followed the storming of the Lal Masjid.

"From every brick of the Lal Masjid, a suicide attacker seemed to have been born," recalls a senior Pakistani official.

A tight-wire act for Pakistan's army chief will be to take on the LeT and JeM without being seen to be acting under pressure from India.

A senior Pakistan army officer warns that triumphalism from New Delhi could derail General Bajwa far more effectively than jihadi reprisals would.

The response from South Block, and from the Indian media, would be crucial.
In 2016, brand-new US college grads who carried student debt owed an average of $37,172, according to an estimate from a prominent financial-aid expert.

So its tempting to think Yale University contributed to Americans ballooning student debt loads when it hiked its cost of attendance last year 3.9% from $62,200 to $64,650. Thats a few thousand dollars more a year than the average high school teacher makes, and more than $258,000 for a four-year education.

But Yales hefty sticker price can be deceiving, Yale University President Peter Salovey told Yahoo Finances Alexis Christoforous at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

I think its very important to look at what students actually pay to be at Yale, Salovey said, acknowledging, Yes, the sticker price might be shocking.

Hefty financial aid packages and low debt loads

The reality is that the vast majority of Yales undergrads dont pay that sticker price because the school has a so-called need-blind admissions policy and will pay 100% of students demonstrated financial need. In fact, half of Yales students get some form of financial aid package, Salovey said, and the average need-based package for 2015-2016 was $43,989.

As a result, 83% of Yales students graduated with zero debt in 2015. Those who do have debt carry only $12,000 or $13,000, according to Salovey, who noted thats about half of a car.

Thats also far less debt than the average recent college grad carries, and Yale is not the only elite school whose graduates receive a six-figure education for five figures or less. Indeed, Princeton was No. 2 on a US News & World Report list last year of 10 colleges whose graduates accrue the least debt. (The average debt load for Princetons class of 2014 was $6,600.)

Peter Salovey, president of Yale University, acknowledges the crowd as he receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the 364th Commencement Exercises at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts May 28, 2015. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Coming to places like Yale is an option

This kind of assistance is possible, in part, because Americas best schools like Yale and Princeton often have hefty endowments  respectively, $25.4 billion and $22.7 billion  which can fund these generous financial aid packages.

Story continues

If you look at US News & World Reports list of graduates with the most debt, its filled with less-known, lower-ranked schools than Yale. The highest debt load came from MacMurray College, which has an endowment of roughly $12 million. That schools 2014 grads had an average debt load of roughly $50,000, even though its tuition and room and board is just $33,620 for the current academic year.

Given that the advertised tuition of Ivy League schools like Yale is so much higher than other colleges tuition, its understandable that lower-income students might think elite schools are out of reach. Paradoxically, its students from those backgrounds who will likely end up paying nothing to go to Yale.

The big problem we have is people dont know that, and if youre from rural America, or if youre from the inner city, or if youre from just a place where nobody in your high school ever went to a place like Yale  you see that sticker number, that top line, and you think you cant come, Salovey told Yahoo Finance at Davos.

Thats why Yale has been working with other universities on the American Talent Initiative, which works to educate talented, lower-income students about their college options. As Salovey said, that initiative is working hard to help talented students know that coming to places like Yale is an option for them.

More from Davos:

Salesforce CEO: Im not changing how I run my business under Trump

Princeton president: I hope Congress doesnt tax our endowment

Why your hair is on fire if youre a European at Davos this year

Trump should expect no honeymoon and plenty of impatience: EY CEO
Ukraine: TV Channel Ordered Banned

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 18 January 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Ukraine: TV Channel Ordered Banned, 18 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f22fc4.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

An order from Ukrainian authorities banning the Russian independent television channel Dozhd TV (TV Rain) from broadcasting on Ukrainian cable networks violates freedom of expression and should be revoked, Human Rights Watch said today. In Russia, Dozhd TV is accessible only by streaming it over the internet since the Russian authorities orchestrated its cutoff from satellite and cable providers in 2014, as part of the Kremlin's crackdown on independently owned television channels.

"It is profoundly disappointing to see that Ukrainian authorities are following the Kremlin's example in silencing media they don't like," said Tanya Cooper, Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Media should not be used as a scapegoat in political bargaining."

A statement on the Dozhd TV website on January 12, 2017, said that its Ukrainian cable provider, Volya, notified the station that Ukraine's National Radio and TV Council had issued an order to stop Dozhd TV broadcasts. The council said cable providers have one month to implement the order from the date it was published. The Dozhd TV statement said a Volya representative informed the station the ban was issued because Dozhd TV had violated Ukraine's advertising regulations.

However, in an interview with wire service Interfax-Ukraine, a member of the National Radio and TV Council stated that Dozhd TV was banned also for identifying Crimea as a part of Russia's territory in its broadcasts. He also said that Dozhd TV correspondents had travelled to Crimea directly from Russia several times, a violation of Ukrainian law.

Russia has occupied the Crimean Peninsula since 2014. In its World Report 2017, Human Rights Watch concluded that "Russia's actions in occupied Crimea created a human rights crisis."

A Dozhd TV representative told Human Rights Watch that Ukraine's National Radio and TV Council contacted the television channel and asked it to address violations of advertising regulations, which prohibit media from non-EU countries or countries that have not ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television from broadcasting advertisements. The Dozhd TV representative said the station had addressed this violation and notified Ukraine's National Radio and TV Council. The representative said that Ukrainian authorities had not contacted the channel since then to either express further concerns or to offer an alternative to blocking Dozhd TV broadcasts in Ukraine.

Natalia Sindeyeva, director general of Dozhd TV, said in the January 12 statement that she "regretted that the National Council of Ukraine came to such a decision." According to Dozhd TV, about 90 cable providers broadcast Dozhd TV in Ukraine, reaching approximately half a million households.

In early 2014, after a public outcry by several Russian lawmakers and an investigation by the state media oversight agency (Roskomnadzor), Russian cable providers stopped broadcasting Dozhd TV. In November 2016, security officials of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) arbitrarily detained two Dozhd TV journalists, deleted their footage, and banned them indefinitely from returning to the area.

In Ukraine, media freedom remains problematic. In June 2016, a presidential decree banned 17 Russian journalists, editors, and media executives from travelling to Ukraine. In September 2015, the government banned several hundred Russian individuals and legal entities from entering Ukraine for a year. Among them were 41 journalists and bloggers from several countries, including Russia, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Germany. In May 2016, President Petro Poroshenko removed 29 people from the list of those sanctioned.

The international organizations Freedom House and the Committee to Protect Journalists issued statements urging the Ukrainian government to drop the ban against Dozhd TV. On Twitter, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's media freedom representative described the decision as "very damaging for media pluralism in Ukraine."

"Media serves as an essential check on government power, abuses, and many other issues," Cooper said. "Protecting media freedom will set Ukraine on the right course for further meaningful reform and human rights-based policies."



Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Sudan must end politically-motivated attacks on Darfuri students

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 18 January 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Sudan must end politically-motivated attacks on Darfuri students, 18 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f25654.html [accessed 5 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 Sudanese government must end politically-motivated and sometimes deadly attacks on Darfuri students at universities across the country, said Amnesty International today as it released a report covering a wave of attacks spanning three years.

"Dozens of students have been killed, injured and expelled from universities since 2014 for organizing around and speaking out against human rights violations in Darfur," said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International's Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

"This continues an appalling pattern that continues to see Darfuri students being subject to arrest, detention, as well as torture and other ill-treatment, since the conflict in Darfur broke out in 2003, often compromising their continued access to higher education."

"These deliberate and shameful attacks on students are totally unacceptable and must be brought to a speedy end."

According to the report, the attacks are mostly carried out by agents of Sudan's National Intelligence Security Service (NISS) and student supporters of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), also sometimes referred to as "Jihad Units."

On 31 January 2016, the NISS, working with ruling party-affiliated students, violently disrupted a peaceful seminar at El Geneina University organized by students affiliated with the Sudan Liberation Movement/Abdul Wahid Al Nur (SLM/AW), an armed opposition group. One student, Salah al-Din Qamar Ibrahim, was killed, and a number of others seriously injured. According to an eyewitness, Qamar, a fourth-year economics student, died after a security agent hit him on the head with an iron bar and a rifle butt.

In a separate incident, Salma (not her real name), a member of the Darfur Female Students' Association at the University of Khartoum, was arrested twice in 2014 for campaigning against the forced eviction of female Darfuri students from their housing complex. During her first arrest and interrogation in March, she was insulted, beaten with batons and a rifle butt, hose pipes and sticks, and tortured with electric shocks. The second time, in October, she was drugged and raped by four intelligence officers at their offices in Khartoum.

"I woke up and found myself laying on the bed naked. All four security officers were there looking at me, and then one of them showed me a video clip of them raping me," she told Amnesty International from exile.

Another student, Abdel, was arrested when security agents and pro-government students wielding knives, iron bars and machine guns broke up a peaceful protest by Darfuri students at El Geneina University in January 2016. He said: "They mercilessly beat me with a black plastic water pipe all over my body, on my bare back and feet."

Amnesty International researchers carried out 84 interviews between October 2015 and October 2016 for the report, including with 52 students from 14 universities across Sudan, 32 lawyers, activists, journalists and academics.

The majority of the students were interviewed in exile, having fled abroad to continue their education after they were expelled or subjected to other forms of persecution in Sudan.

Some of them told Amnesty International that their attackers accused them of supporting armed groups fighting the government, an accusation they deny. Others said they were targeted for demanding the full implementation of a fee-exemption policy for Darfuri students agreed to by the Sudanese government during peace talks with Darfuri armed groups in 2006 and 2011.

"This suppression of Darfuri students' rights to expression and association - as well as the interruption of their education - cannot be tolerated. The government must fully investigate and bring those responsible to account, as well as ensure effective remedies for victims, including by guaranteeing full access to reparations," said Muthoni Wanyeki.

"The government must also take measures to reduce the intelligence agency's unfettered powers of arrest and detention, and establish a judicial mechanism to oversee it in order to stop these gross excesses."

This report is released only days after the US government issued an order easing sanctions against the Sudanese government.

"The US ordering the easing of sanctions against Sudan must not lead to the international community letting the government off the hook for its appalling human rights record, including these horrific abuses against students and the use of chemical weapons that we reported on last September.

"The international community's silence on rights abuses in Sudan would send a strong message that the people of Sudan don't matter in the wider context of the fight against terrorism," said Muthoni Wanyeki.

Background

Thirteen years since the conflict in Darfur first broke out in 2003, security forces continue to commit serious violations of human rights in the region.

A new offensive launched in 2016 against armed opposition groups in Darfur's Jebel Marra region has seen government forces use excessive force, including what appear to be chemical weapons. They have also carried out widespread killings, and displaced more than 160,000 people from their homes.

The Darfur situation was referred to the International Criminal Court by the UN Security Council in 2005 and an arrest warrant issued for President Omar Al Bashir in 2009 on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, but he remains at large over seven years later.

Security agents have targeted students from Darfur in particular, using the armed conflict both an excuse and a mask for human rights violations.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
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.
Venezuela: Detentions on the rise amid "witch-hunt" against opposition

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 13 January 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Venezuela: Detentions on the rise amid "witch-hunt" against opposition, 13 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f28284.html [accessed 5 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 most recent wave of arrests of leaders and members of an opposition party point to a systematic pattern of abuses against those who dare to express an opinion contrary to that of the government, Amnesty International said today.

Between January 11 and 12, MP Gilber Caro, member of the opposition political party Voluntad Popular, along with council members Roniel Farias, Jorge Gonzalez and political activists Stacy Escalona and Irwin Roca, were deprived of liberty after high level authorities who linked these leaders with Lilian Tintori, wife of the prisoner of conscience Leopoldo Lopez, publicly accused them of carrying out "terrorist activities".

"It looks like the government of President Maduro continues with its witch hunt against anyone who dares to voice an opinion contrary to his policies. The use of absurd conspiratorial arguments to justify irregular detentions demonstrates Venezuela's lack of commitment to the promotion and protection of the basic human rights of all people in the country," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Director of Amnesty International for the Americas.

"The Venezuelan authorities must guarantee the procedural rights of detained people, in particular the right to be taken before civilian judges under reliable charges and evidence in an expedited time, as well as immediate access to their relatives and legal representatives."

"Instead of persecuting those who think differently, the Venezuelan government must focus its efforts on finding effective and fair solutions to overcome the serious humanitarian and human rights crisis affecting the population."

Amnesty International urges the Venezuelan authorities to guarantee the right to freedom of expression and public and peaceful assembly, without discrimination of any kind.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Azerbaijan: Police claim "everything was done well"

Publisher Forum 18 Author Felix Corley Publication Date 17 January 2017 Cite as Forum 18, Azerbaijan: Police claim "everything was done well", 17 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f324e4.html [accessed 5 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.

Three Jehovah's Witnesses, two Baptists, and a bookseller have each been fined three to four months' average wages. Their "offences" include discussing beliefs, offering religious literature, and meeting for prayer. And an unlicensed mosque has been raided and had allegedly "superstitious" items confiscated.
At Security Council, senior UN envoy cautions against 'unilateral' action in Middle East

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 January 2017 Related Document(s) Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) [on cessation of Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem] Cite as UN News Service, At Security Council, senior UN envoy cautions against 'unilateral' action in Middle East, 17 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f34e740d.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 January 2017 - Unilateral actions threaten to unravel the two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, the United Nations focal point on the Middle East today told the Security Council, stressing that both sides must do their part to create the necessary conditions to launch direct negotiations.

In his first briefing of the year, Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told the Council that tensions flared following the December adoption of resolution 2334 (2016). Passed with14 votes for and one abstention, the resolution condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank and reiterated international support for a two-state solution.

In the aftermath of the vote, emotions on the ground have been heightened, Mr. Mladenov said, adding that divisive positions risk destroying the prospects for peace.

All stakeholders must avoid any unilateral action that would prejudge a negotiated final status solution.

Among other issues raised in his briefing, Mr. Mladenov noted that for the first time in two decades preparations are underway for a regular session of the Palestinian National Council. He encouraged all factions to work towards genuine reconciliation.

Mr. Mladenov's briefing followed an international conference this past weekend in Paris, France, where participants reaffirmed their collective support for a two-state solution and readiness to support both parties in returning to meaningful negotiations.

Stressing that opportunities for peace are rare and must be seized, he said that in recent weeks the international community has expressed its continued commitment to the two-state solution. But resolutions and communiques alone will not achieve a just and lasting peace. What is required is action, first and foremost by the parties themselves.

Increasing tensions in Gaza

Despite some successes in the Gaza Strip, such as an averted electricity crisis, the situation remains tense, the UN Special Coordinator said.

I remain greatly concerned by increasing tensions in Gaza exacerbated by the continued closures and the protracted humanitarian and development situation, Mr. Mladenov told the Council members.

He voiced particular concern about Hamas' crackdown on peaceful demonstrators protesting restrictions on electricity in Palestinians' homes.

The right to freedom of expression, peaceful protest and assembly in Gaza must be respected fully by all, said Mr. Mladenov.

Positive developments in Lebanon

The situation in Lebanon has positive signs, the senior UN official said, following the formation of a Government on 18 December by President Michael Aoun and Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.These moves signal cautious optimism and the potential for consolidating Lebanese institutions, Mr. Mladenov said, noting that the Government outlined its priorities and vision for the country reflecting its determination to tackle key challenges.
Somalia: Only early action will avert another catastrophe, says senior UN relief official

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 January 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Somalia: Only early action will avert another catastrophe, says senior UN relief official, 17 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f3526419.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 January 2017 - Faced with a 'slight but steady' increase in the number of people in need, the humanitarian community in Somalia launched today an $864 million to reach 3.9 million people with urgent life-saving assistance, the United Nations relief wing reported.

Immediate support is required to prevent a significant deterioration of the humanitarian situation, said Peter de Clercq, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

Given the early warning provided by the humanitarian community and the Federal Government on the drought situation, early action is the only way to demonstrate that we have learnt the lessons from the past to avert another catastrophe, he added.

The Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia for 2017 comes against a backdrop of deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country: expanding drought conditions have left thousands of Somalis facing severe food and water shortages. Overall, some 5 million people are in need of relief and about 3.3 million people lack access to emergency health services and require improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

The plight of children is particularly worrying with about 320,000 children under the age of 5 years acutely malnourished and in need of urgent nutrition support. Of these, 50,000 children are severely malnourished and far more vulnerable than any other group.

Also, around 3 million school-age children are out of school with numbers increasing and placing children at greater risk.

Furthermore, protection concerns remain high amid the humanitarian crisis with at least 1.1 million internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups exposed to protection risks.

'Giving birth is one of the greatest risks to a Somali woman's life'

According to the Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, maternal mortality ratio for Somalia is among the highest in the world at 732 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Giving birth is one of the greatest risks to a Somali woman's life, it said, adding that the Plan seeks to strengthen emergency response preparedness measures, in collaboration with the country's authorities, to mitigate the impact of predictable shocks and continue to build stronger linkages between life-saving and development-based durable solutions.

Enhancing communities' ability to cope with shocks through the long-term sustainable livelihood support and basic services, including durable solutions, in a community-based approach, will be vital in addressing underlying causes of vulnerabilities, it noted.
Syria: Heavy fighting forces UN food relief agency to suspend airdrops in Deir ez-Zor

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 January 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Syria: Heavy fighting forces UN food relief agency to suspend airdrops in Deir ez-Zor, 17 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f362840c.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 January 2017 - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today that it has been forced to suspend airdrops to residents of the besieged Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor because of heavy fighting between Government forces and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh).

There is heavy fighting going on in and around the landing zone and in the parts of the city where the food distributions are taking place," said WFP spokesperson Bettina Luescher as she informed reporters in Geneva that the airdrops had been suspended as of Sunday. Airdrops require a large and completely safe drop zone area where cargo is released and collected by a team on the ground for delivery.

Stressing that partners on the ground could not expose the lives of the 60 volunteers who were in that open landing zone and would receive the supplies and distribute them, she said: It is too precarious for the moment to continue the operation. WFP needs to make sure the volunteers are safe.

Ms. Luescher said that WFP has conducted 177 airdrops into Deir ez-Zor since April. The agency has provided nearly 3,300 metric tonnes of food and other aid, including supplies from other relief organizations, for the 110,000 residents of the city. Responding to questions she stated that because air drops could only deliver small amounts, they need to be done on an almost continuous basis.

Meanwhile, the United Nations reports that water remains cut off from Ain El Fijeh, depriving 5.5 million people in Damascus and surrounding areas from their main water source since 22 December.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent and water authorities' technical teams, who suspended their mission following a security incident, remain on stand-by to enter the area again to complete their mission as soon as security conditions allow. The UN stands ready to provide additional support to ensure the swift repair of the water infrastructure, a UN spokesperson added.
Ethiopia: UN-backed humanitarian appeal launched, seeking $948 million in 2017

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 January 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Ethiopia: UN-backed humanitarian appeal launched, seeking $948 million in 2017, 17 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f36ba40c.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

17 January 2017 - On the heels of failed rains and a calamitous El Nino in Ethiopia, the country's Government today launched an appeal for $948 million to urgently address food and non-food needs, while the United Nations agriculture agency warned that a new drought may put the East African nation's hard fought gains at risk.

The humanitarian response plan, launched by the Ethiopian Government and humanitarian partners, aims to help 5.6 million people mainly in the southern and eastern parts of the country, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Last year the Government of Ethiopia, with the support of international donors and humanitarian partners, was able to mount the biggest drought response operation in global history. Today we need that partnership once again as we face a new drought, with 5.6 million in need of urgent assistance, said Commissioner Mitiku Kassa, Head of the National Disaster Risk Management Commission.

Humanitarian partners stand ready to support the Government in addressing the needs of those Ethiopians affected by this new drought, said the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie.

Failed rains in southern and eastern parts of the country were caused by the negative Indian Ocean Dipole. The plan prioritizes humanitarian assistance in water and sanitation, agriculture, relief food, nutrition, health, education, protection, and shelter and non-food items in the affected areas. Of the total, $598 million is targeted for relief food, $105 million for nutrition, and $86 million for water and sanitation needs.

New drought risks in Ethiopia put recovery at risk

Meanwhile, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that a new drought across swathes of southern Ethiopia may jeopardize the East African nation's restoration of food security after the worst agricultural seasons in decades, unless urgent efforts are made to shore up vulnerable households in rural areas.

The agency said that while an impressive Government-led humanitarian effort has sharply reduced the number of hungry during the worst drought in 50 years, the legacy of last year's El Nino along with low rainfall during a critical season pose renewed risks now, especially for pastoral communities facing forage shortfalls and water scarcity in southern regions.

After having reached 1.3 million farmers and herders affected by the El Nino-induced drought in 2016, FAO is appealing for $20 million to reach one million farming, agropastoral and pastoral households in 2017, with the aim of protecting gains made last year and preventing vulnerable households from slipping further into food insecurity.

FAO's programme seeks in particular to support crop production, implement emergency response and resilience activities in the livestock sector, support livelihoods in refugee-hosting areas and strengthen coordination, information and analysis.
Iran: Wave of floggings, amputations and other vicious punishments

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 18 January 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Iran: Wave of floggings, amputations and other vicious punishments, 18 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f6bab4.html [accessed 5 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.

Iran's persistent use of cruel and inhuman punishments, including floggings, amputations and forced blinding over the past year, exposes the authorities' utterly brutal sense of justice, said Amnesty International.

Hundreds are routinely flogged in Iran each year, sometimes in public. In the most recent flogging case recorded by Amnesty International, a journalist was lashed 40 times in Najaf Abad, Esfahan Province, on 5 January after a court found him guilty of inaccurately reporting the number of motorcycles confiscated by police in the city.

"The authorities' prolific use of corporal punishment, including flogging, amputation and blinding, throughout 2016 highlights the inhumanity of a justice system that legalizes brutality. These cruel and inhuman punishments are a shocking assault on human dignity and violate the absolute international prohibition on torture and other ill-treatment," said Randa Habib, Amnesty International's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

"The latest flogging of a journalist raises alarms that the authorities intend to continue the spree of cruel punishments we have witnessed over the past year into 2017."

Under Iranian law, more than 100 "offences" are punishable by flogging. These cover a wide array of acts, ranging from theft, assault, vandalism, defamation and fraud to acts that should not be criminalized at all such as adultery, intimate relationships between unmarried men and women, "breach of public morals" and consensual same-sex sexual relations.

Many of those flogged in Iran are young people under the age of 35 who have been arrested for peaceful activities such as publicly eating during Ramadan, having relationships outside of marriage and attending mixed-gender parties. Such activities are protected under the rights to freedom of belief, religion, expression and association and must never be criminalized.

As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Iran is legally obliged to forbid torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. However, Iranian law continues to allow internationally banned corporal punishments including amputation, stoning and flogging and claims to justify it in the name of protecting religious morals.

In one case last April, an unmarried couple convicted of "having an illegitimate relationship" were sentenced to 100 lashes each. A month later 35 young women and men arrested in Qazvin Province for dancing, mingling and consuming alcohol at a party were sentenced to 99 lashes each. The sentences were carried out immediately. Lashing sentences were also carried out in May 2016 against a group of 17 miners who protested against their employment conditions and dismissals in West Azerbaijan Province.

Journalists and bloggers have also been sentenced to flogging in relation to their work. In July, an appeal court sentenced journalist Mohammad Reza Fathi to 459 lashes for "publishing lies" and "creating unease in the public mind" through his writing.

The popular Iranian Facebook page "Azadihayeh Yavashaki" (My Stealthy Freedom), administered by the journalist and women's rights activist Masih Alinejad, has posted detailed accounts from several women who received lashes for consuming alcohol and attending mixed-gender parties which were raided by Iran's morality police. The page also features images showing the severe injuries on women's backs as a result of these lashings.

In one of the posts, a 28-year-old woman who received 80 lashes for attending a birthday party described the day she was flogged as "the worst day of [her] life". She described how, after her arrest, her photograph and fingerprints were taken before she was led to a small room where a middle-aged woman flogged her repeatedly while her feet were in chains and her hands shackled.

"With the impact of the first lash, I jumped out of my [seat] uncontrollably. I was so shocked that even my tears would not drop. I wanted to scream, but I could not even control my voice. Every time she hit me hard, she would ask me to repent so that God would forgive me," she said.

Another woman, who was also lashed for attending a mixed-gender party to celebrate her recent engagement in the city of Robat Karim, near Tehran, described how, less than one hour after the party began, security forces stormed the villa where it was taking place, confiscating bottles of alcohol. They questioned several of the guests and brutally beat many of them before taking them to a police station where they were insulted and interrogated. They were forced to spend three nights in jail before being sentenced to 74 lashes each.

"I don't remember how many lashes I had received, but I reached a stage where I was just moaning and had become numb with pain. When I finally arrived home, I was afflicted with a terrible pain on my body while my soul was aching due to the feelings of humiliation and fear that I had lived throughout the entire ordeal," she said about her experience.

In addition to floggings, Amnesty International also recorded an incident in November 2016 when a man was forcibly blinded in both eyes in Tehran in retribution for blinding a four-year-old girl in an acid attack in June 2009. Several other prisoners remain at risk of being forcibly blinded.

Disturbingly, doctors from the Legal Medicine Organization of Iran provide the Supreme Court with "expert" advice on whether the implementation of a blinding sentence is medically feasible and how it can be carried out, seriously breaching medical ethics.

"Medical professionals have a clear duty to avoid any involvement in acts of torture and other ill-treatment. Rather than aiding and abetting acts of torture by providing pre-blinding medical assessments, doctors in Iran should refuse to participate in such calculated cruelty," said Randa Habib.

Amnesty International has also recorded at least four amputations carried out for robberies in Iran, including "cross amputations" of several fingers and toes on opposite sides of the victim's body.

"Severing people's limbs, taking away their eyesight and subjecting them to brutal lashings cannot be considered justice. The Iranian authorities should urgently abolish all forms of corporal punishment and take urgent steps to bring the country's deeply flawed criminal justice system into line with international human rights law and standards," said Randa Habib.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Bahrain: Human rights on the brink of crisis

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 18 January 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Bahrain: Human rights on the brink of crisis, 18 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f6bee4.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Bahraini authorities must immediately commute the death sentences of two men at imminent risk of execution, Amnesty International said today, and warned that the harsh response to protests against three executions carried out by firing squad on 15 January risks plunging the country into a human rights crisis.

Amnesty International is urging Bahrain's authorities to immediately commute the death sentences of Mohamad Ramadhan and Husain Ali' Moosa, who were sentenced to death in December 2014 following a bombing in the village of al-Deir that killed a police officer in February of that year. Neither of the men had access to a lawyer during their interrogations. Mohamed Ramadhan said he had been detained incommunicado, beaten and given electric shocks by interrogators at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) in a failed attempt to force a confession from him. Hussain 'Ali Moosa said his "confession" implicating Mohamed Ramadhan was extracted after he was suspended by his limbs from the ceiling and beaten repeatedly for several days. The Bahraini Public Prosecutor dismissed the torture allegations without ordering an investigation and Hussain Ali Moosa's "confession" was used to convict the two men.

"As well as commuting these death sentences, the authorities in Bahrain must immediately establish an official moratorium on executions. The death penalty is the ultimate cruel and inhuman punishment and has no place in a country that claims to be committed to human rights," said Lynn Maalouf, Deputy Director for Research at Amnesty International's Beirut Regional office.

Authorities in Bahrain must also take immediate steps to pull the country back from the brink of a human rights crisis, after the execution of three men by firing squad on 15 January sparked protests. The authorities have responded with excessive force and increased arbitrary restrictions on the media, Amnesty International said today. The organization also warned that two other men facing the death penalty, Mohamed Ramadhan 'Issa 'Ali Hussain and Hussain 'Ali Moosa Hussain Mohamed, are now at imminent risk of execution.

"Bahrain is at boiling point. The hundreds of Bahrainis who have taken to the streets to protest against these shocking executions, which were carried out amid allegations of torture and after unfair trials, have been met with excessive use of force by security forces, as well as an escalation in the ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression," said Lynn Maalouf.

"We are urging the Bahraini authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and to instruct the security forces to refrain from using excessive force against protestors. Arbitrary and abusive force by police and draconian measures against free expression will only exacerbate an already dangerous deterioration of the human rights situation."

Hundreds of people took to the streets in protest against the 15 January executions of Ali Abdulshaheed al-Sankis, Sami Mirza Mshaima' and Abbas Jamil Taher Mhammad al-Samea, who were convicted following an unfair trial in relation to the March 2014 killing of three policemen.

Eyewitnesses in Bahrain told Amnesty International that while some of the protests have been peaceful, others turned violent. The largest protests erupted in the village of Sanabis, the hometown of the three men who were executed. These were followed by big protests in the villages of Duraz, Sitra and al-Daih, which the security forces responded to with tear gas and shotguns firing birdshot. Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International that they saw security officers in Sanabis fire tear gas, aiming directly at protesters and causing injuries. In Duraz, numerous protesters were injured by security forces' use of birdshot.

One eyewitness told Amnesty International that officers threatened protesters they would be "executed like the three men". At least two police officers and scores of demonstrators were also injured in the clashes, and a municipal building was set alight in Shamalia, south of the capital Manama.

Munir Mshaima, the brother of Sami Mshaima, one of the three men executed, was arrested in front of the al-Mahouz cemetery, immediately after his brother's funeral and interrogated for "insulting the King" during the proceedings. He was released the following day.

On 16 January the Ministry of Information issued an order suspending the online edition of Al-Wasat, an independent newspaper, due to its "repeated broadcastings inciting to discord in society and the spirit of sedition, disruption of national unity that affect public peace."

Background

Bahrain's authorities intensified their crackdown on freedom of expression and association in 2016. Prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab was imprisoned, and the main opposition party Al Wefaq was dissolved, with its Secretary General Sheikh Ali Salman given a nine-year prison sentence and its spiritual leader Sheikh Issa Qassem's nationality arbitrarily revoked.

On 9 January Bahrain's Court of Cassation in Bahrain upheld death sentences for Ali Abdulshaheed al-Sankis, Sami Mirza Mshaima' and Abbas Jamil Taher Mhammad al-Samea. It also upheld life sentences against seven others and the revocation of the nationality of eight of them. All 10 men were convicted following an unfair trial in relation to the March 2014 killing of three policemen.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime; guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual; or the method used by the state to carry out the execution. The death penalty is a violation of the right to life.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Title Security Council resolution 2327 (2016) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 15 Dec. 2017]

Publisher UN Security Council

Publication Date 16 December 2016

Country South Sudan

Citation / Document Symbol S/RES/2327 (2016)

Reference 71st Year

Other Languages / Attachments Arabic | Chinese | French | German | Russian | Spanish

Cite as UN Security Council, Security Council resolution 2327 (2016) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 15 Dec. 2017], 16 December 2016, S/RES/2327 (2016), available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f74054.html [accessed 5 November 2022]
Putin's Dirty Diplomacy Fails to Breach Sanctions Wall

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Pavel K. Baev Publication Date 17 January 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Putin's Dirty Diplomacy Fails to Breach Sanctions Wall, 17 January 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 1, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f76084.html [accessed 5 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.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Russia is frequently in the news these days, but its diplomatic successes at the start of the new year have been rather limited. Denials of Moscow's various misbehaviors aside, the most significant step over the just-concluded extended holiday season was President Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan in mid-December (RT, December 15, 2016). That visit generated high expectations and rampant speculation, particularly considering the scarcity of his foreign trips of late. Preparations continued for many months under tight secrecy. And at that time, many observers interpreted the series of statements from Moscow regarding Russia's absolute inflexibility on the territorial non-issue of the disputed Kurile Islands as preparations for a surprise (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, September 5, 2016).

Several Russian experts argued that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had invested significant personal political capital into resolving the long-deadlocked bilateral dispute over the South Kurile Islands; it was unclear, however, whether Putin had any intention of reciprocating (Kommersant-Vlast, November 11, 2016; see EDM, December 13, 2016). The master plan in Moscow was to give Tokyo only the vaguest of promises-and to extract in return tangible concessions that would amount to a de facto abolition of the sanctions regime. Tokyo, however, had its own master plan long on promises. As a result, both leaders can now claim success-but neither has achieved anything close to the desired triumph.

Disappointment is more pronounced in Tokyo. Abe had clearly miscalculated, assuming that the protracted economic recession would make Russia so desperate to attract Japanese investments that it would be ready to compromise on the sensitive issue of sovereignty over tiny bits of its huge territory (Novaya Gazeta, December 17, 2016). Putin, meanwhile, assumed Abe so desperately needed a breakthrough that the entirely meaningless agreement to open "expert discussions on the conditions for starting consultations" on joint economic activity on the Kuriles would suffice for Russia to gain material fruits (Kommersant, December 15, 2016). He aggravated that miscalculation with demonstrations of toughness: The proposed gift of an Akita-Inu dog was turned down by the Kremlin; Putin arrived for the first face-to-face meeting three hours late; and he declined the persistent invitation to enjoy the famous hot springs in Nagato, Abe's home town (Gazeta.ru, December 13, 2016; Newsru.com, December 15, 2016). The Japanese side can only see this behavior as deliberately rude, so the long list of carefully prepared memoranda of understanding and a provisional commitment to possible joint projects now looks as a concession too far.

One of the Japanese proposals was a gas pipeline from Sakhalin to Hokkaido. Abe had hoped that Putin would not be able to refuse this offer (Gazeta.ru, December 16, 2016). Japan's leader knew that Gazprom loves nothing better than constructing hugely expensive pipelines, and he also suspected that Moscow was growing uncomfortable with its deepening dependency upon Beijing, which effectively holds Gazprom hostage because the much-trumpeted "presidential" gas contract on building the Sila Sibiri pipeline from the Kovykta and Chayanda "green-fields" cannot possibly be executed on schedule (Rosbalt, December 13, 2016). Putin, however, needs to continue to characterize the Russia-China partnership as progressing just fine, and he is also keen to exploit Japanese fears of this quasi-alliance. The deployment of Bal and Bastion anti-ship missile complexes on the disputed Kunashir and Iturup islands was aimed at accentuating these fears. Indeed, they made a stronger impression on Japan than Putin's smiles (New Times, November 28, 2016).

China's shadow loomed large over the Russian-Japanese summit; both parties were perfectly aware that Beijing disapproves of their rapprochement. In Moscow, mainstream pundits tried to camouflage this concern by alleging Washington was attempting to derail the deal and by spinning wild speculations about the United States' purported plan to build a base on the Kurile Islands (Polit.ru, December 14, 2016). In reality, China's tacit displeasure has already caused a curtailing of the traditionally strong ties between Russia and Vietnam, as the latter recognizes the need to diversify its relations and cultivates its own ties with the US (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, December 16, 2016). Moscow feels compelled to back China's position in the legal disputes and military maneuvers in the South China Sea, and this emboldens Beijing to make such provocative gestures as snatching a US underwater drone from right under the nose of USNS Bowditch (RBC, December 17, 2016).

Moscow has high expectations about a forthcoming deterioration of China-US relations ranging from trade wars, as envisaged in the electoral rhetoric of President-elect Donald Trump's campaign, to a US departure from the "one China" policy, and to cyber conflicts undermining the presumed US control over the Internet. Russia also has high hopes for the fast erosion of the sanctions regime despite the strong bipartisan support in the US Congress for President Barack Obama's decision to extend it for another year (Newsru.com, January 14). The anticipation of a "beautiful friendship" is increased by Trump's musings on the possible lifting of sanctions and of being able to achieve "really great things" with Russia in the struggle against terrorism (RBC, January 14, 2017). The Kremlin is inclined to dismiss statements on taking a tough stance against a hostile Russia -such as those by Rex Tillerson, James Mattis and other appointees to key positions in the Trump Cabinet-as empty motions necessary to pass their Congressional hearings (Kommersant, January 12).

But in this wave of optimism on US readiness to normalize relations with Moscow, Russian commentators conveniently omit the impact of the unfolding investigation into Russia's interference in the US election campaign combined with the scandal about a supposed Russian "dossier" on Trump (Moscow Echo, January 14). Trump is still desperately trying to play all this down, but as the evidence mounts, the President-elect is being increasingly politically incentivized to deliver a punishing response to this unprecedented act of "hybrid" aggression against the US in order to erase the smudge on his legitimacy. As for sanctions, the plain reality is that the European Union has again extended them for another half year. And while preparing its package of "gifts" to Russia, Japan was careful not to deviate from this regime (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, December 16, 2016).

Putin anticipates playing on the sharpening China-US contradictions. But by playing dirty against Washington, he challenges an opponent of far superior power; while Beijing is not averse to taking advantage of Russia's misfortunes. Putin also apparently refuses to see how Russia's indiscriminate bombing of Aleppo affects his country's international standing, even in unsentimental Asia. Like a sultanistic leader, he seems to believe he is winning every diplomatic encounter and scoring in every test of political wills. Among his peers, he is justly recognized as a serial troublemaker, and he believes he excels at punching above his weight. But in fact, Putin keeps risking trouble Russia may be unable to stomach.

- See more at: https://jamestown.org/program/putins-dirty-diplomacy-fails-breach-sanctions-wall/#sthash.x32uOdvz.dpuf

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Moscow Pursues Enhanced Precision-Strike Capability

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Roger McDermott Publication Date 17 January 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Moscow Pursues Enhanced Precision-Strike Capability, 17 January 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 1, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f767f4.html [accessed 5 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.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Moscow's defense establishment annually reflects on achievements in modernizing and enhancing combat capability and readiness levels in the Russian Armed Forces. Late last year (December 22, 2016), Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu offered such detail with an upbeat message on the Russian military's operations and exercises as well as the defense ministry's targets for modernization and improving the personnel system. President Vladimir Putin's own statement to the defense ministry's collegium, where Shoigu was speaking, also conveyed this sense of renewed confidence in the military (Kremlin.ru, TASS, December 22, 2016). Public statements by Russia's top brass and political leadership increasingly link future force development and perspectives on defense requirements to lessons drawn from the country's involvement in military operations in Syria. And Shoigu confirmed the fruits of such thinking the following month by highlighting plans to boost Russian conventional strike capability by 2021 (see below). The significance of these comments should not be underestimated, reinforcing the idea that Moscow has used the Syria conflict to experiment with various assets and recast some of its future defense plans on this basis.

Shoigu additionally set out the priorities for the Russian defense ministry in 2017. Center place will involve continuing to raise the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces and strengthening the military in all strategic directions. Shoigu said the target for the state defense order will be fully implemented to reach 60 percent modern within the table of organization and equipment (TOE). The strategic rocket forces (RVSN) will receive three missile regiments equipped with modern systems; strategic aircraft will be modernized; while the ministry will procure an additional two brigade sets of the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system. The Army will receive more tanks and armored vehicles; air defense will be strengthened by adding S-400 sets; and the Navy will see eight surface ships enter service (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, January 11, 2017).

Despite the generally positive tone from the political-military leadership about the condition of the Armed Forces and its modernization, buoyed by the intervention in Syria, the issues facing defense planners surrounding military manpower offer mixed signals. On the one hand, the numbers of contract personnel are increasing annually, with the balance between conscript and contract service gradually shifting to the latter. The numbers of professional sergeants is also growing (Izvestia, December 29, 2016). On the other hand, the defense ministry pays more attention to the future role of reservists in ways that imply concern about the numbers and quality of deployments abroad. On January 9, an amendment was published to the Law on Military Duty and Military Service, allowing for short-term contracts (up to 12 months) to enter service to participate in combat operations abroad. Its preamble justifies this in terms of extremism and terrorism, but the manpower challenges remain problematic (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, January 9, 2017; see EDM, November 9, 2016).

Addressing the defense ministry's collegium on December 22, Shoigu stated that the state defense order deliveries increased year-on-year by 5 percent. Combat capability in the Armed Forces was raised by 14 percent, though no further detail was provided. In terms of modernization levels in the arms and branches of service, Shoigu offered the following overview: The share of modern weapons and equipment reached 42 percent in the Army, 47 percent in the Navy, 47 percent in the elite airborne forces (VDV), and higher levels in the RVSN (51 percent) and the Aerospace Forces (Vozdushno Kosmicheskikh SilVKS66 percent. There was no increase year-on-year for the RVSN, with small increases for the others. The highest advance was for the VKS14 percent. The VKS, consequently, received 139 aircraft, including Su-35S and Su-30SM fighters, as well as new helicopters, including Mi-28Ns, Ka-52s, Mi-35Ms, Mi-26s, Mi-8AMTSh-VAs, and Mi-8MTV-5s. Four regimental sets of S-400s were procured, along with 25 Pantsir-S systems, 74 radars, and 4 modernized strategic bombers. The total serviceability of VKS aircraft reached 62 percent (Krasnaya Zvezda, December 27, 2016).

The Syria experience has allowed for a degree of combat testing with subsequent adjustments to existing procurement plans. On this basis, some orders have been stopped or delayed by the defense ministry. The clear beneficiary in this process is the VKS, which was at the forefront of the intervention in Syria since September 2015 (Voyenno Promyshlennyy Kuryer, December 31, 2016; Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, December 23, 2016). Shoigu earlier underscored the importance of the Syria dimension on military modernization: "162 types of modern and modernized arms were tested in the course of combat operations in Syria and showed high effectiveness. They include the newest Su-30SM and Su-34 aircraft, and Mi-28N and Ka-52 helicopters. Precision munitions and sea-based cruise missiles employed in combat conditions for the first time confirmed their tactical characteristics" (Krasnaya Zvezda, December 27, 2016).

Russia's military testing in the theater of operations in Syria involved experimentation with new VKS assets as well as tests of network-centric warfare capabilities, including new communications systems and the integration of service branches to apply precision-strikes against enemy ground targets (see EDM, March 1, 2015; December 9, 2015; May 17, 2016). Putin's remarks to the defense ministry collegium noted the ongoing need to modernize the assets in the RVSN. But he also highlighted the importance of non-nuclear forces, which will demand achieving a qualitatively new level: "Strategic non-nuclear forces also need to be brought to a qualitatively new level, allowing them to neutralize any military threats to Russia" (Kremlin.ru, December 22, 2016).

While not denying the core nature of nuclear deterrence in Russian strategic security policy, Shoigu believes a gradual shift is possible in the burden of deterrence from nuclear to conventional forces: "Above all, this will be achieved by means of precision-guided strikes," he said. "The plan is to more than quadruple the combat capabilities of our non-nuclear strategic forces by 2021, which will enable us to address non-nuclear deterrence objectives in full," Shoigu explained. He added that the Navy will also benefit from this approach: "The Navy is accepting modern multi-role surface ships and submarines armed with cruise missiles into service. By 2021, Navy forces will become the backbone of the grouping of carriers of precision-guided long-range weapons" (Interfax, RIA Novosti, January 11, 12).

Moscow has long sought to develop command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities. And combined with its expressed interest in "pre-nuclear deterrence"notably in the latest iteration of its Military Doctrine in December 2014and defense spending increases, all this underlies testing such precision-guided strike approaches in Syria. Its experimental use seems enough to convince skeptics in the Russian defense leadership. Ultimately, plans to boost this component will reduce Russia's reliance on tactical nuclear weapons within the next few years.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Press freedom predator given Davos platform

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 17 January 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Press freedom predator given Davos platform, 17 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f77d54.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) regrets that the World Economic Forum, which brings government leaders and big businessmen together in the Swiss resort of Davos, is lending itself as a platform to Chinese President Xi Jinping without any heed to the human rights situation in his country.

Xi's participation in the four-day forum, which begins today, is unprecedented. As well as being the Chinese Communist Party's general secretary, he also heads the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which is in charge of censoring the Internet and preparing the propaganda that is distributed online.

He is accompanied by such Internet giants as Jack Ma, the executive chairman of the Alibaba Group, who recently acquired Hong Kong's leading English-language newspaper, the South China Morning Post, and Zhang Yaqing, the CEO of the Chinese search engine Baidu, Beijing's leading censorship tool. Li Ruigang, the chairman of Media Capital and owner of other Hong Kong media outlets, is also among the media and communication leaders accompanying him.

Forum organizer Klaus Schwab said "dialogue" is to be one of the watchwords of this year's event and Swiss Confederation President Doris Leuthard described China as a "model of development" while refering to the importance of "education" and stressing that "digitalization must be democratized like knowledge was democratized through the printing press."

"It is regrettable that the Davos forum is providing a platform to a dictator in such a laudatory manner when human rights are being suppressed more in China now than they have for the past two decades," said Benjamin Ismail, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk.

"How can these comments be regarded as sincere when freedom of the press, information and expression are missing from any dialogue with China? How can China be regarded as a development model when its censors permit no public debate about its environmental problems, and when the Chinese education system, the state media and Internet companies erase events such as the Tiananmen Square massacre from Chinese history, thereby keeping most of the public in ignorance?"

In his opening address, President Xi warned against the "excessive chase of profit" and the dangers of a globalization that did not try to benefit all countries. He also told political leaders that it was pointless to fear problems and that they should "face" them instead.

RSF's Ismail added: "Xi's address unintentionally told the international community what attitude it should adopt toward China in the absence of any improvement in its respect for fundamental freedoms. Political and business leaders must end their long silence about Chinese censorship, which affects economic development in both China and the rest of the world."

What won't be discussed in Davos:

Added to RSF's list of press freedom predators as soon as he became president, Xi is the world's leading censor in terms of the number of Internet users denied access to information that is freely and independently reported and critical of the government.

He is also the initiator of a policy aimed at securing hegemonic control over news and information and establishing a world media order heavily influenced by China. Last April, an RSF report entitled "Beijing's invisible hand on Hong Kong's media" described the threats to media freedom in the "Special Administrative Region."

The Chinese authorities implement press censorship by issuing very strict directives to media outlets and by keeping tight control on coverage of pro-democracy movements. Reprisals against information activists, journalists and bloggers are currently being intensified and have turned China into the world's biggest prison for news and information providers, with more than 100 journalists and cyber-dissidents currently detained. They include the well-known journalist Gao Yu.

Three citizen journalists and RSF Press Freedom Prize winners - Lu Yuyu, Li Tingyu and Huang Qi (the editor of the human rights information website 64Tianwang) - were jailed in 2016 just for covering events that were thought to reflect badly on the Communist Party.

China has devised one of the world's most sophisticated systems of online censorship and surveillance and continues to be on RSF's list of "enemies of the Internet." Cut off from the rest of the world, Xinjiang and Tibet continue to be information "black holes" where Internet access is highly controlled or non-existent. The authorities also keep the foreign press under close watch.

RSF urged leaders attending the G20 summit in the southeastern city of Hangzhou last September to end their silence about the decline in justice in China, which is increasingly using forced confessions to justify the imprisonment of information activists and all those who criticize Xi and the Communist Party.

China is ranked 176th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
Another journalist jailed on trumped-up charge

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 18 January 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Another journalist jailed on trumped-up charge, 18 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f78684.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reporters Without Borders condemns the 30-month jail sentence that local website editor Afgan Sadygov received on 12 January from a court in the southeastern town of Jalilabad on a clearly trumped-up charge of "assault and battery" against a woman.

Sadygov is the main editor of Azel.tv, a website that has often drawn attention to political mismanagement in Jalilabad and nearby regions, including the bad quality of the roads, poor infrastructure maintenance and the waste of public funds.

The court was told that the alleged assault took place at 10 a.m. on 9 August 2016, as Sadygov emerged from the office of the head of the local government, to which he had been summoned for a "discussion."

Obvious inconsistencies in the prosecution case were ignored. The alleged victim said she was beaten unconscious and was taken while still unconscious to a hospital where she did not regain consciousness until several days later. But Sadygov's defence lawyer proved to the court that she was not admitted to the hospital until 3:30 p.m. and that she signed her complaint against him the same day.

The four prosecution witnesses were all local administration employees, and two of them were the deputies of the head of the local administration. The court rejected the defence's request to view surveillance camera video recordings.

"This trial was yet another crude violation of the right to due process and media freedom, which are guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF's Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.

"The Azerbaijani justice system and government are obliged to respect the accords they have signed, on pain of sanctions. Afgan Sadygov must be freed and the baseless accusations brought against him must be dismissed on appeal."

President Ilham Aliyev's regime often uses trumped-up charges to silence outspoken journalists and bloggers. The victims include Faiq Amirov and Seymour Khazi. And when journalists continue to criticize the government after fleeing abroad, the same methods may be used against the relatives they left behind.

Azerbaijan is ranked 163rd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
Amnesty International's Legal Assessment of the Proposed Amendments to Slovenia's Aliens Law

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 18 January 2017 Citation / Document Symbol EUR 68/5522/2017 Reference EUR 68/5522/2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Amnesty International's Legal Assessment of the Proposed Amendments to Slovenia's Aliens Law, 18 January 2017, EUR 68/5522/2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f83384.html [accessed 5 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.

Implications under International and EU law

The Aliens Law' amendments in the proposed form would contravene international, EU and Slovenian domestic law. If adopted, the amendments:

- Would allow authorities to automatically deny entry to migrants and refugees

arriving at the borders, including those who indicate a desire to claim asylum;

- Could lead to unlawful collective expulsions of migrants and refugees who enter

Slovenia irregularly, as they do not prescribe adequate due process protections, thus

depriving migrants and asylum-seekers of essential substantive and procedural

safeguards, such as the principle of non-refoulement or the right to an effective

remedy;

Under international and EU law, individuals who are being transferred from the jurisdiction of one state to that of another have the right to both substantive and procedural safeguards. Substantively, the principle of non-refoulement prohibits states from transferring anyone, whether directly or indirectly, to a place where they would have a well-founded fear of persecution or would face a real risk of other serious human rights violations or abuses. Procedurally, states are obliged to give individuals concerned an effective opportunity to challenge the transfer.

Rejecting people at the border without due process and consideration of their individual circumstances - as prescribed by the proposed Article 10b - is a pushback and is prohibited in all circumstances under EU and international law. As soon as people are under the effective power and control the Slovenian authorities, they fall within Slovenian jurisdiction(1)

Slovenia has an obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of everyone on their territory or under their jurisdiction(2) . Furthermore, contrary to the rationale of the Slovenian government provided as an annex to the proposed bill, Slovenia cannot ignore or circumvent their obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when implementing EU law or bilateral agreements aimed at returning asylum-seekers to another EU country(3).

According to international and EU law, any person in need of international protection has to be identified as such when they reach the border. The request for asylum can be submitted at border crossings, and asylum-seekers cannot be rejected at the border. According to Article 2 (b) of the Asylum Procedures Directive, any expression of fear of suffering serious harm if returned to the country of origin constitutes an application for international protection(4). In order to comply with the principle of non-refoulement set forth in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and restated in Article 3 of the Schengen Border Code, persons in need of international protection need to be identified when they reach the border(5). It is not

clear what procedures, if any, the Slovenian authorities would use under emergency

measures to identify asylum-seekers and assess their individual circumstances.

As a result of their summary nature and the absence of due process, the pushbacks and

summary expulsions - under the proposed Article 10b would be in breach of international instruments, including:

- Article 13 (expulsion decision has to be made pursuant to law and with guarantees

of due process) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),

- Article 3 (principle of non-refoulement) of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,

- Article 33, principle of non-refoulement, of the 1951 Refugee Convention,

- Article 31, non-penalization for irregular entry or stay, of the 1951 Refugee

Convention,

- Article 3 (prohibition of torture or other inhuman and degrading treatment) and

Article 13 (right to effective remedy) of the European Convention on Human Rights

(ECHR),

- Article 4 of Protocol 4 and Article 1 of Protocol 7 to the ECHR,

- Article 14 (right to seek asylum) of Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

They are also in violation of EU legislation, such as:

- Article 13 (refusal of entry with a substantiated decision and guarantees of due

process) of the Schengen Borders Code(6),

- Asylum Procedures Directive(7) that prescribes minimum standards on procedures for

granting and withdrawing international protection,

- Chapter III of the Returns Directive (2008/115/EC) on procedural safeguards and

effective remedies available to those who face removal decisions,

- Articles 18 (right to asylum), 19 (protection in the event of removal, expulsion or

extradition), and 47 (right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

When they affect children, they are also in breach of:

Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 3 (best interests of the child

principle), Article 22 (protections for refugee children) and Article 37 (ban on

torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment). Also see

the General Comment of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which said that

"states shall not return a child to a country where there are substantial grounds for

believing that there is a real risk of irreparable harm to the child, such as, but by

no means limited to, those contemplated under articles 6 and 37 of the Convention"

and that "the assessment of the risk of such serious violations should be conducted

in an age and gender-sensitive manner and should, for example, take into account

the particularly serious consequences for children of the insufficient provision of

food or health services"(8).

Proposed Article 10b states that the emergency measures would not apply if they would

constitute a direct threat to life or health of a person, against unaccompanied minors or when there is a serious risk of torture or ill - treatment in the country to which that person would be send back.

In addition, since the amendments do not prescribe specific procedures to identify vulnerable groups or provide for individualized assessment of each person's circumstances, it is not clear how the Slovenian authorities would ascertain the age of minors or assess circumstances that would indicate that life or health of the person would be at risk as a result of the application of these measures

(1) UNHCR, the Human Rights Committee and the Committee Against Torture have confirmed that a state's human rights obligations toward an individual attach as long as that person is subject to the state's effective power and control. Also, Hirsi Jamaa And Others v Italy, App. No. 27765/09 (EUR. Ct. H.R. Grand Chamber), paras 74-75, 78-82, the Court stated that "whenever the State through its

agents operating outside of its territory exercises control and authority over an individual and, and thus jurisdiction, the State is under an obligation under Article 1 to secure to that individual the rights and freedoms under Section I of the Convention that are relevant to the situation of that individual."

(2) Article 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), for example, establishes that the parties to the Convention "shall secure to everyone within their jurisdiction the rights and freedoms" enshrined in the Convention.

(3) Sharifi and Others v. Italy and Greece, App no. 16643/09, (EUR. Ct. H.R. Second Chamber). See http://www.asylumlawdatabase.eu/en/content/ecthr-sharifi-and-others-v-italy-and-greece-applicationno-1664309

(4) See Asylum Procedures Directive (2013/32/EU) and Schengen Handbook.

(5) FRA, Fundamental Rights at Land Borders: findings from selected European Union border crossing points (2014).

(6) Article 13. Refusal of entry, prescribing a reasoned decision and the right to appeal. Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code).

(7) Council Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing international protection (recast).

(8) General Comment no. 6, 1 September 2005, para. 27. Article 6 protects the right to life and Article 37 of the Convention deals mainly with the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and the right to liberty and security of the person.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Yemen: Ongoing humanitarian crisis adding to migrants woes, says UN migration agency

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 January 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Yemen: Ongoing humanitarian crisis adding to migrants woes, says UN migration agency, 18 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f862a417.html [accessed 5 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

18 January 2017 - Highlighting the plight of migrants from the Horn of Africa arriving in Yemen  which itself has seen more than 2.1 million people internally displaced due to ongoing conflict and resulting humanitarian crisis  the United Nations migration agency has called for additional support for the vulnerable.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), up to 12,000 migrants, every month, are arriving onto the shores of the Gulf of Aden country with hopes of making their way to Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had reported that, as of mid-November 2016, some 105,971 people  migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees  had arrived in Yemen from the Horn of Africa. Most of those coming were from Ethiopia (88,667) and Somalia (17,293) and, among them, women and children were at particular risk of sexual violence and human trafficking.

Among its efforts to support both the internally displaced as well as migrants in Yemen, IOM has been running direct assistance programmes for displaced children, providing them with psychosocial support to ease the stress and effects of the conflict.

It has also been running health clinics as well as operating mobile health teams in various locations in the country to deliver primary health care and provide referrals. These clinics also provide psychosocial support to those suffering from displacement and war traumas.

In the midst of the situation in the conflict-affected country, a high-ranking IOM delegation recent visited Yemen to take stock of the conditions on the country.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, IOM Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa, Carmela Godeau, said: It is of utmost importance for IOM to understand the prevailing situation in the country, to help IOM at the global level to advocate for more assistance to the people suffering in Yemen.

The delegation also visited a settlement of displaced Yemenis in the capital Sana'a and met with organizations working to support them as well as held meetings with authorities.

The agency said that the meetings in led to a broader understanding of the situation, which in turn will facilitate preparations of its action plan for 2017. The visit also came ahead of the official launch of the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for the country, on 8 February 2017 in Geneva.

The delegation's visit to Sana'a was followed by a visit to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where the head of IOM's operations in Yemen, Laurent de Boeck, briefed officials and the donor community on IOM activities in Yemen.
Italy and Germany step up measures to deter asylum seekers

Publisher IRIN Author Kristy Siegfried Publication Date 18 January 2017 Cite as IRIN, Italy and Germany step up measures to deter asylum seekers, 18 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587f89244.html [accessed 5 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.

Those who thought Europe's refugee "crisis" was over were reminded this week that tens of thousands of refugees remain stranded in Greece and the Balkans. Images of refugee tents shrouded in snow on the Greek islands have sparked outrage about the lack of adequate shelter, and scorn has been poured on the Greek government for keeping refugees in such miserable conditions. But others have pointed out that the real culprits are EU and member state policies that have closed borders and shrugged off responsibility for a more equitable distribution of the refugees arriving on Europe's southern shores.

Italy and Germany, along with Greece, have paid the heaviest price for the EU's lack of solidarity. Germany has received nearly 1.2 million asylum seekers over the past two years, while Italy received 335,000 arrivals over the course of 2015 and 2016. Under increasing pressure from their electorates and with little chance of EU-wide agreement, both countries are pushing ahead with unilateral measures aimed at stemming the flow of migrants and refugees, and more rapidly returning failed asylum seekers.

Taken in isolation such measures are unlikely to have a major impact, but in late 2015 and early 2016 we saw how the actions of one or two member states can have a knock-on effect on migration policies throughout the EU.

Agreements with transit countries

Sea arrivals to Italy reached a new high of 181,000 in 2016 and the pressure on the country's reception system is immense. Italy's new government, led by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who took office mid-December, is wasting no time acting to deter the steady stream of smugglers' boats setting off from Libya's coast, even in the middle of winter.

This week, new Interior Minister Marco Minniti was dispatched to Tripoli to broker an agreement on fighting irregular migration through the country with Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the UN-backed Government of National Accord. The GNA is one of three governments in Libya vying for power but Italy appears unwilling to wait for the emergence of a central government with which to negotiate. This week it also re-opened its embassy in Tripoli, the first Western country to do so in the two years, since conflict erupted between Libya's rival factions.

According to news reports, Minniti and al-Sarraj agreed to strengthen cooperation on fighting terrorism, irregular migration, and human trafficking. A statement issued by the interior ministry noted that the embassy would serve as "the principal coordination centre" for the joint efforts.

The bilateral agreement, due to be formalised in Rome at the end of January, is not unprecedented. Under a "friendship" treaty that former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi made with the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2008, Italian ships intercepted boats carrying migrants and returned them to Libya, where those on board faced detention and deportation. As Human Rights Watch pointed out, there was no attempt to determine whether any of the migrants qualified for international protection or were victims of trafficking. In 2012, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Italy had violated international laws with its "push back" policy.

While it seems unlikely Italy will renew that strategy, it's still unclear what form its cooperation with Libya will take, besides supplying Libya's coastguard with eight new patrol boats. Reportedly, one of the goals will be to boost controls at Libya's southern border, where most migrants currently enter the country in smugglers' vehicles originating mainly from Niger. But the GNA has limited authority in the south, where regional tribes control the main smuggling routes.

Tom Wescott/IRIN

The deal may nevertheless set a precedent for other member states to strike similar agreements, or for the EU to consider a migration arrangement like the one it made last year with Turkey. Malta, which is currently holding the EU presidency, has already suggested that the EU could expand on the agreement Italy has forged with Libya.

Ramped up detentions and deportations

The second prong of the Italian government's hardened approach to irregular migration is to increase the rate at which it deports migrants rejected for asylum. Before heading to Tripoli, Minniti was in Tunis to discuss a repatriation agreement that could smooth the way for Italy to more easily deport Tunisian migrants, most of whom don't qualify for asylum. Anis Amri, who committed the attack on a Berlin Christmas market in December, had arrived in Italy from Tunisia in 2011. Both Italy, and later Germany, attempted to deport him, but Tunisia failed to issue the necessary travel documents.

A week after Amri was shot dead by police near Milan, Italy's police chief issued a directive urging officers to take "extraordinary action" to help deport more irregular migrants, "in an international context characterised by instability and threats". Later, Minniti announced plans to open detention centres in every Italian region where migrants would be held prior to their forced return. Former prime minister Matteo Renzi, who stepped down in December, had given in to EU pressure to build "hotspots" to screen and fingerprint migrants, but had stopped short of detaining them.

In the wake of the Berlin attack, Germany is also under pressure to increase the rate at which it returns failed asylum seekers. It deported 25,000 of them in 2016 (up from 21,000 in 2015), and another 55,000 returned home voluntarily, but the figure is not enough to satisfy a public fearful of more extremist attacks and struggling to absorb hundreds of thousands of newly recognised refugees.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere is pushing a plan that would make it easier to detain rejected asylum seekers considered a potential security threat, and to deport them from "repatriation centres" at airports. Starting in March, Germany also plans to restart returns of newly arrived asylum seekers to Greece, reversing the five-year EU-wide suspension of the Dublin Regulation, which requires asylum seekers to remain in the first country where they register a claim. This couldn't come at a worse time for Greece, which is already struggling to process the asylum claims of an estimated 62,000 refugees stranded by border closures in the Balkans and the EU-Turkey agreement.

Germany has threatened to cut foreign aid to countries that don't cooperate in accepting back deportees. There's also renewed talk of adding Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco to Germany's list of "safe" countries of origin. Rejected asylum applicants from "safe" countries can be fast-tracked for return, although repatriation agreements are usually necessary to actually carry out deportations.

Despite the rhetoric from Italy and Germany, the reality is that deportations are hard to do. In a year in which German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government will be fighting for re-election and in which early elections in Italy are also a strong possibility, the first priority for both countries is to slow the rate of new arrivals.

Caps on asylum seeker numbers

Germany already saw a massive drop in arrivals in 2016 compared to 2015 (280,000 compared to 600,000), but that may not be enough to satisfy voters.

Last year, Austria introduced a cap on the annual number of asylum seekers it would accept, a move widely criticised at the time as a contravention of international refugee law. But Austrian Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil is now proposing a system that would see caps imposed across the EU, in conjunction with the offshore processing of asylum applications in countries such as Niger and Jordan.

In the past, Merkel has dismissed the idea of setting an upper limit on asylum claims, despite pressure to do so from the Christian Social Unity (CSU) party, which forms part of her coalition government. But now Merkel's own Christian Democrat (CDU) party is proposing annual targets for numbers of asylum seekers based on the humanitarian situation in conflict zones around the world, and on Germany's ability to absorb newcomers. The proposal stops short of setting a figure for 2017, but it suggests that Germany may now be more receptive to the Austrian plan, which will be presented at a meeting of Central European nations in February.

2016 saw border closures and the EU-Turkey deal make it a lot harder to get into Europe, but 2017 promises to be a year in which the doors close even further on those seeking refuge and asylum.
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Denver, CO -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/18/2017 --The January 31st deadline for nominating a Colorado business for the prestigious Colorado Company to Watch award is quickly approaching.



Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) awards this recognition to 50 local second-stage companies, bringing visibility to businesses often flying "under the radar", yet indispensable to our economy for the role they play in innovation, employment opportunities, sustained growth and economic contributions.



Business owners, associates, employees, or fans can nominate eligible businesses; companies may also nominate themselves for inclusion in this elite group.



"By creating jobs and helping communities flourish, second-stage businesses are the backbone of Colorado's growing and diverse economy," said Stephanie Veck, Director, Colorado Workforce Development Council, and 2017 Title Civic Sponsor. "We're looking for Colorado's brightest second-stage businesses and entrepreneurs to tell us why they deserve to be recognized."



To nominate a business, visit http://www.coloradocompaniestowatch.org/award-nomination/ for application forms. Nominations are open until January 31, 2017 and the awards will be presented at the Gala Awards Dinner in June.



To be considered for selection as one of the Colorado Companies to Watch, the enterprise must meet the following criteria for the year ending 2016:



- Be privately held

- Be a commercial enterprise, not a nonprofit

- Be past the startup stage

- Be facing issues of growth, not survival

- Employ 6 to 99 full-time equivalent W-2 employees, including the owner

- Have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue or working capital

- Be headquartered in the state of Colorado



- Demonstrate the intent and capacity to grow based on evidence such as:



- Employee or sales growth

- Exceptional entrepreneurial leadership

- Sustainable competitive advantage

- Other notable factors that showcase the company's success



In 2016 alone, the program received more than 1,000 nominees, with 50 Winners ultimately chosen to join a 400-strong alumni network. Last year's Winners employed over 2,000 people and generated more than $500 million in 2015.



About Colorado Companies to Watch

Now in its 9th year, Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) is an awards program honoring second-stage companies headquartered in the state of Colorado. The 400 companies that have been honored since the program's inception demonstrate high performance in the marketplace or exhibit innovative products or processes. The program is designed to seek businesses from a wide range of industries throughout the state, not just the major metropolitan areas. The 50 companies selected each year make an astounding impact on Colorado's economy by collectively providing thousands of jobs and contributing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) launched the program in 2009 in conjunction with the Edward Lowe Foundation, which remains an adviser to the program.



CCTW is continuously seeking leaders from across the state to participate as a volunteer, Sponsor, Community Partner, Supporting Partner or Board Director. For more information and to get involved with CCTW, visit ColoradoCompaniestoWatch.org, facebook.com/ColoradoCompaniestoWatch and Twitter @coloradoCTW.



Media Contact:

Tiffany Ramsdell, PR

720-325-2517 x603

tramsdell@crazygoodmarketing.net
A look back on all of our reporting of the Delphi murders since 2017
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy welcomed the $1 million lawsuit Prime Minister Hun Sen filed against the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) president on Wednesday, telling RFA it will give the country another shot at seeing the truth about the regime.

I am not surprised by the lawsuit. I am happy, he told RFAs Khmer Service. I congratulate him as he continues to file more lawsuits against me. The more the merrier. That gives me more opportunities to reveal more of the truth.

In the suit, Hun Sen accused his political rival of defamation for remarks during a Jan. 14 speech in Paris in which Sam Rainsy accused the Cambodian strongman of giving a $1 million bribe to rising opposition social media star Thy Sovantha to persuade her to switch loyalties to the ruling party.

Thy Sovantha had made a name for herself by attacking Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodia Peoples Party (CPP) through social media.

But this year she abruptly changed her tune and began attacking CNRP deputy leader Kem Sokha as the government engaged in a wide-ranging probe into a purported affair between him and a young hair dresser.

In December Kem Sokha and a provincial CNRP official Seang Chet were granted royal pardons in the case against the CNRP leader, but five other people accused in connection with the case remain in prison.

In his Jan. 14 remarks, Sam Rainsy, who was joined by Kem Sokha via Skype, talked about what he called the judicial double standard faced by the CNRPs members and human rights workers who are jailed on charges over what amounted to a few hundred dollars.

What about Hun Sen who bribed Thy Sovantha a million dollars? he told the supporters. Why has no one taken any actions against him? That one million dollars comes from the proceeds of corruption and is used to bribe bad people to organize demonstrations and attacks against the CNRP.

According to an article in Phnom Penh Post, Thy Sovantha recently announced that that she has received $3 million from international donors to fund a series of university scholarships.

Leaked phone messages allegedly show the prime ministers second son Hun Manith  head of the militarys intelligence unit  conspiring with Thy Sovantha to discredit Kem Sokha, according to local media reports.

A long line of lawsuits

While Thy Sovantha filed a separate defamation lawsuit against Sam Rainsy earlier this week that seeks $250,000 in damages, Sam Rainsy has been down this legal road before, as there have been six lawsuits filed against him by government or CPP figures.

In September he was found guilty of defamation for claiming that Prime Minister Hun Sens social medial team bought likes on Facebook from click farms abroad to increase the appearance of support.

And in December, he was sentenced to five years in prison in absentia for posting what authorities said was a fake government pledge to dissolve the Southeast Asian country's border with Vietnam.

Sam Rainsy has been living in France since 2015 to avoid arrest for a defamation case brought by former Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in 2008.

In October, Hun Sen ordered police, immigration and aviation authorities to "use all ways and means" to prevent the opposition leader from returning to the country, as he has pledged to do before the countrys elections.

Cambodias local elections are set for June 2017 and the national elections are scheduled for 2018. In the disputed 2013 elections, the CPP lost 22 seats in its worst showing since 1998.

A weaponized judiciary

Opposition leaders and outside observers, including the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, have criticized the Cambodian judicial systems lack of independence.

Rarely do CPP politicians face charges, but the list of CNRP and other opposition lawmakers dragged before the courts is long and includes Sam Rainsy and deputy Kem Sokha, as well as opposition lawmakers like Um Sam An and Meach Sovannara, the CNRP's media director.

The prosecutions dont stop with opposition lawmakers, as anyone opposing Hun Sen is fair game for the courts.

Land rights activist Tep Vanny also fell afoul of this system, when she was convicted on Sept. 19 of insulting and obstructing public officials and was sentenced to six months in prison in relation to a protest in November 2011 near Hun Sens residence.

She first gained prominence as an activist fighting the Boeung Kak Lake land grab, when some 3,500 families were evicted from the neighborhood surrounding the urban lake in Phnom Penh. The lake was filled with sand to make way for a development project with close ties to Hun Sen and the CPP.

Seizure of land for developmentoften without due process or fair compensation for displaced residents is a major cause of protests in Cambodia and other authoritarian Asian countries, including China and Laos.

She is waiting for the Cambodias appellate court to rule on her conviction.

We are prisoners of conscience. We need to be released, she told RFA. Good and real leaders are those who take good care of their own people and the country.

Defense attorney Choung Chou Ngy said that the appeal enumerates the procedural defects in the case, including a lack of counsel during her trial.

The court has severely violated the law, he told RFA. How on earth could a trial court render a verdict on a criminal case in the absence of the defense counsel?

Back to the future

Meach Sovannara, the CNRPs jailed media director, told RFA the courts employ a double standard.

He and 10 other activists were jailed on insurrection charges for clashing with police over the closure of a protest site in the capital in 2014.

Those who beat lawmakers were sentenced to only four years of imprisonment, three years of which were suspended, he said. Now they are released and promoted.

He was referring to a recent decision by Hun Sen to promote two members of his elite bodyguard unit despite their convictions for brutally beating a pair of opposition lawmakers near the National Assembly in 2015.

Sot Vanny and Mao Hoeun became full colonels on Nov. 17, barely two weeks after they were freed from prison after serving only one year of a four-year sentence for beating the lawmakers.

On Oct. 26, 2015 CNRP lawmakers Kong Saphea and Nhay Chamroeun were dragged from their vehicles and savagely beaten by protesters after the two men attended a morning meeting of the legislature.

The attack occurred as more than 1,000 supporters of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) surrounded the parliament building, calling for Kem Sokha to step down as first vice president of the National Assembly.

Tep Vanny told RFA that she feared the Hun Sen wanted to take the country back to the dark days of the Khmer Rouge, infamous for its 1975-79 reign of terror that killed as many as two million Cambodians.

The current leader has been in power for many years. He should not rule the country like the ways [Khmer Rouge leader] Pol Pot did, she said. He should not bring the country backwards.

Reported by Vuthy Huot and Moniroth Morm for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
A file photo of a view of Hyesan from across the Yalu River.

A young North Korean man conscripted to guard a customs post on his country's border with China in under arrest for shooting dead seven platoon members who had angered him with bullying treatment, RFAs Korean Service has learned.

After the shootings at dawn on Jan. 7 at Hyesan, a city in North Koreas northern Yanggang province, the young conscript was arrested and taken to Pyongyang, sources familiar with the shooting told RFA.

The suspect and one platoon member who survived the shooting were transported to State Security headquarters in Pyongyang. There is no way to find out the exact cause of this incident, since the Yanggang authorities are trying to keep everyones mouth shut, one source said on Jan. 14.

A second source, however, said the shooter apparently snapped after suffering bullying from his colleagues.

The incident at the Hyesan customs office was caused by the frequent beatings suffered by the new conscripts at the hands of their superiors, and the one who committed the crime is a new conscript who graduated from high school last spring, the source told RFA on Jan. 16.

North Korean authorities are trying to prevent the information from spreading to other parts of the country, the sources said.The names of the shooter and victims are not known.

No other information was immediately available about the shooting in Hyesan, a provincial administrative center of nearly 200,000 people that lies on the Yalu River, which forms North Koreas border with China.

Reported by Sunghui Moon for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Max Kwak. Written in English by Paul Eckert.


Residents of the Lao capital Vientiane may have to brace themselves for extended chronic water shortages following an admission by the state-owned supplying company that it cannot address the crisis immediately due to a lack of funds and production capacity.



The Vientiane Water Supply Enterprise (VWSE) says it can only deliver two thirds of the water needed by the expanding city, which is plagued by dry seasons that take a toll on supply.



Following complaints from residents in several parts of the city that they have not been receiving enough tap water, the VWSE said it cannot increase production to meet the citys rising demand.



Taps have been releasing irregular trickles of water in recent months in some areas in the outskirts of the city and neighborhoods situated on higher ground following dry season shortages.



Some residents even complained to VWSE that they had to store water on their own in order to have enough for daily use.



Water shortages frequently occur in the city during the November through April dry season, and this years shortages that began in January grew more severe amid hot weather in March and April, with occasional shortages in some areas after that period.



VWSE director Khampheuy Vongsakhamphouy said the company would need more funds to expand water treatment facilities in order to supply all of the water need by the citys 850,000 residents.



More people are moving to the city, but water production is still the same due to the lack of budget to expand, he told a press conference held earlier this month in response to the residents complaints.



However, the company will try to increase production, he said.



Keeping up with expansion



The citys four water treatment plants have a combined capacity of 180,000 cubic meters (6.3 million cubic feet) per day, while the city needs more than 300,000 cubic meters (10.6 million cubic feet) per day, he said.



Customers failure to pay their water bills also contributes to the lack of funds, he added.



Another official at the VWSE, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFAs Lao Service that while the citys population has grown, the companys capacity to delivery water has remained the same.



The main reason for the water shortage is that social economic development is rapid, he said. [Our] water supply expansion project cannot keep up with the development due to the lack of budget.



The citys population has risen rapidly. According to the national census it is expected to more than double to 1.44 million by 2030 from 690,000 in 2005.



According to the state-run Vientiane Times, VWSE is building a new treatment plant in Dongmakkhai that will have a production capacity of 100,000 cubic meters per day. It did not say when the plant will be completed.



The paper reported late last year that the Lao government is aiming for 80 percent of Vientiane residents to have access to clean water by 2015.



Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Written in English by Rachel Vandenbrink.
Yanghee Lee (R), the UN's human rights envoy to Myanmar, is escorted by a policeman on her arrival in Sittwe, capital of western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Jan. 13, 2017.

The United Nations human rights envoy to Myanmar on Wednesday met privately on Wednesday with the countrys de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw to discuss recent violence in volatile Rakhine state, as she nears the end of a 12-day biannual visit to Myanmar.

During the meeting, Yanghee Lee, the U.N.s special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, condemned the Oct. 9 attacks on border guard posts in northern Rakhine that left nine officers dead, according to an announcement by the foreign affairs ministry.

She also discussed the security situation in the northern part of the state, which has been under lockdown since the October attacks, and reports of security forces committing atrocities against Rohingya Muslims who live in the region, the ministry said.

Lee and Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also Myanmars state counselor and foreign affairs minister, also discussed increasing humanitarian assistance for people displaced by fighting between the government army and ethnic guerilla groups in war-torn Shan and Kachin states, the ministry said.

Later on Wednesday, Lee met with Vice President Myint Swe, chairman of a national-level commission investigating the situation in northern Rakhine state, and asked him about the groups investigation methods for probing the violence that has occurred there, said commission member Saw Thalay Saw.

The 13-member commission visited northern Rakhine earlier this month and last December to investigate the attacks on border guard stations in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships and reports of atrocities during the subsequent security operations.

On Jan. 3, the commission issued an interim report of its findings and said its interviews of local Rohingya villagers and women about rape allegations yielded insufficient evidence to take legal action, and that its investigations into accusations of arson, torture, and illegal arrests were still under way.

We told her how we did it

We talked mostly about the Maungdaw attacks with Yanghee Lee, and she asked us how we investigated them, Saw Thalay Saw told RFAs Myanmar Service. We told her how we did it.

One Muslim woman who said she was from Khyet Yoe Pyin village alleged that security forces had raped her and had killed her husband, two sons, and two daughters, he said. But when commission members went to the village and asked other residents about the fate of the family, they said that the family did not live there.

Saw Thalay Saw also said that the commission members showed a photo of the woman to the residents, but they said they did not know her.

We explained to Yanghee Lee all the steps of the investigation we conducted in that case, he said.

I feel that she is satisfied with todays meeting, and I hope we will see a good outcome after she submits her report on Maungdaw to the U.N., he said, in a reference to the report on the findings of Lee's visit that she must give to the U.N. Human Rights Council in March.

During her current visit to Myanmar, which began on Jan. 9, Lee did not allow authorities or police to join her when she stopped in villages in Maungdaw township to talk to residents. She also met with Rohingya Muslims in adjacent Buthidaung township and visited the local prison there.

Nearly 90 people have been killed in the violence, which has forced about 65,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, according to the U.N.s estimate, where some have alleged that security forces carried out indiscriminate killings of civilians, torture, rape, and arson. The government and military have denied the allegations.

U.N officials, including Lee, have been critical of the governments handling of the Rakhine crisis, specifically the denial of access by independent media and international humanitarian groups to areas affected by the violence.

They will submit our demands

Meanwhile, an advisory commission created by Aung San Suu Kyi and headed by former U.N. chief Kofi Annan to help resolve the religious and ethnic divisions in Rakhine state, met on Wednesday with ethnic Rakhine and Muslim residents in two villages.

The commission members visited Muslims who live in internally displaced persons camps in Kyaukpyu village and ethnic Kaman Muslim camps in Ramree village, whose homes were burned during communal violence with Rakhine Buddhists in 2012.

Tin Hlaing Win, secretary of Kaman National Development Party who met with nine-member commission, said he told the panel that the Muslims have been losing their ethnic rights for the last four years and that they want to return to the land where they previously lived.

The commission members told us that they will submit our demands to the central government with their recommendations, he said. We hope we will get equal rights like other ethnic groups after the commission submits its report [to the government].

Also on Wednesday, more than 40 Myanmar-based civil society groups issued a statement calling for a truly independent international investigation into the situation in Rakhine state.

Specifically, we recommend a commission of inquiry to fully assess the totality of the situation in Rakhine state and provide clear recommendations for the current government to effectively address and prevent further problems in Rakhine state, the statement said.

We believe that a truly independent investigation would help Myanmar overcome the complicated problems in Rakhine state, and help rebalance the worlds focus on the overall human rights challenges faced by all the people of Myanmar, it said.

Their statement comes a day before foreign ministers of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, an intergovernmental body of 57 member nations, meets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to discuss the plight of the Rohingya in Rakhine state.



Reported by Kyaw Thu and Kyaw Soe Lin for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Afghanistan's problems are now clearly visible from Turkmenistan's side of their border, and despite Ashgabat's efforts to keep its neighbor's affairs from spilling over the frontier, fighting has now reached Turkmenistan's doorstep.

Afghan forces under the command of Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum reportedly chased Taliban militants from villages in the northern part of Jowzjan Province in an operation that started on October 21 and on October 23 were said to have been preparing for an assault on several dozen Taliban fighters on an island in the Amu-Darya river that divides Afghanistan from Turkmenistan.

RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk, interviewed officials on the Afghan side of the border to learn about the situation as of October 23.

Dostum spokesman Sultan Faizi said that some of the militants who had recently occupied villages in Jowzjan's Hamyab district that borders Turkmenistan were forced from the villages when Dostum's forces launched an assault from the south.

Faiz said that "the Taliban fled and took shelter on that island, then Vice President Dostum ordered his forces to get ready to force the Taliban to either surrender or fight." Faizi added that Dostum's forces had already taken up positions on the southern bank of the river in preparation for the assault.

"We also contacted the Turkmen side; they were told to get ready because those terrorists are not only threatening Afghanistan... they are a threat to the region," Faizi told Azatlyk. "Turkmenistan is being made fully aware of what is happening and they told us they've made necessary preparations for this."

Faizi said it was important that the "terrorists" not escape. "If Turkmenistan does not allow them [Taliban] to cross into its territory, it is a big victory."

The problem is, Dostum has a reputation for being less than gentle with enemy combatants captured by his forces, dating back to allegations of atrocities against Taliban prisoners in late 2001. As a result, the Taliban fighters on that island might be unlikely to surrender to Dostum's forces.

Faizi claimed that half of the island belongs to Turkmenistan and the other half to Afghanistan -- implying that Dostum's forces had the right to attack militants on the island without Turkmenistan's permission.

However, Turkmen authorities have patrolled the island and in recent months arrested and sometimes jailed Afghan citizens found on the island grazing their livestock after fording from the Afghan side.

While Faizi expressed certainty that Ashgabat had been informed of what Dostum was planning, he hinted that Turkmen authorities had not given any clear indication of their intentions when he said that "they [Taliban] are enemies of the entire region -- that is why we are expecting a positive response from Turkmenistan."

Jowzjan Deputy Governor Abdulrahman Mamudi agreed that Dostum's forces had chased the Taliban from the Hamyab district and that some of the militants had made their way to the island. He added that Turkmenistan had promised to help, but "at this moment the terrorists are on the Afghan side [of the island]."

Azatlyk noted that Dostum's forces routed militants from northern areas just a few weeks back but the militants returned after Dostum left the area. Mamudi responded that this time the situation would be different. Dostum, he said, had ordered him and other officials to return to Hamyab and promised to reconstruct damaged administration buildings. Mamudi said Dostum was also working with local militias, Arbaky, to ensure the Taliban could not return to Jowzjan and capture towns and villages.

Azatlyk Director Muhammad Tahir contributed to this report.
Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik has dismissed U.S. sanctions imposed against him, and called on Bosnia-Herzegovinas government to declare the U.S. ambassador persona non grata.

The U.S. Treasury Department on January 17 announced sanctions against Dodik, the president of Bosnia's autonomous Republika Srpska entity, for actively obstructing efforts to implement the 1995 Dayton Accords, which ended the Bosnian war.

Speaking in Banja Luka on January 18, Dodik said he was "proud" of being blacklisted.

He said the sanctions prove he was "not ready to trade off with the interests of Republika Srpska."

Dodik said the U.S. ambassador to Bosnia, Maureen Cormack, was "an enemy of the Serbs" and unwelcome in Republika Srpska.

He also called on Bosnias Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak to declare Cormack persona non grata across all of Bosnia.

Dodik said he thinks his relationship with Washington will improve after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.

With reporting by Reuters and AP


A top Sunni cleric in Iran has called for an immediate referendum with the presence of international observers to "change policies based on the wishes of the people."

In his Friday Prayers sermon on November 4 in the southeastern Iranian city of Zahedan, Molavi Abdulhamid Ismaeelzah asked the Qom seminary and the country's authorities to listen to the voices of the people who have been protesting for the past 50 days.

The cleric, who is known across the country as Molavi Abdolhamid, has previously called on the countrys rulers to respond to the demands of the protesters.

There has been no comment from the Iranian government on his call for a referendum.

The cleric, regarded as a spiritual leader for Irans Sunni Muslim population, is the director of main Sunni seminary in Iran. He is a vocal critic of the Iranian government and has been under pressure for his comments against the Islamic republic.

Earlier this month in his Friday Prayers sermon, he said senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were "responsible" for the killings in Zahedan on September 30.



At the same time, people in different cities of Sistan and Baluchistan Province demonstrated in the streets for the fifth consecutive week after the September 30 massacre in Zahedan.



According to the videos published on social media on November 4, the security forces shot directly at protesters in the city of Khash, near Zahedan.



Reports also indicate clashes and shooting at protesters in some other cities of Sistan and Baluchistan Province, including Saravan, Zahedan, and Iranshahr.

It was not possible to independently verify the social media posts and the reports of violence at protests across Iran.



Gatherings took place on November 3 in the cities of Tehran, Tabriz, Shiraz, Rasht, and many other cities of Kurdistan Province in western Iran.



According to the videos published on social media, in the central Iranian city of Arak hundreds of mourners gathered at the grave of Mehrshad Shahidinejad, a 19-year-old aspiring chef who reportedly was killed after being arrested during a protest.



Reports also indicate that on November 3 in the city of Isfahan state security forces fired tear gas as mourners gathered at the grave of Mahsa Mougoei, an 18-year-old woman who was killed on September 22 during the nationwide protests against the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.



At least one woman was shot in Isfahan on November 3, a video published on Twitter indicates. The woman is shown on the ground with blood on her face, apparently shot in the head. The video also shows people trying to revive her. Theres no report about her condition.



In the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, security agents prevented the memorial of late RFE/RL journalist Reza Haghighatnejad. People who had gone to the location of the ceremony protested the security agents' move, chanting slogans in memory of Haghighatnejad and in protest of the government.



Iranian authorities secretly buried Haghighatnejad on October 30 at a location near Shiraz after seizing his body upon repatriation to Iran, angering his family.



Meanwhile, domestic and international reactions to the suppression of protesters in Iran continue.



Iranian wrestling legend and Olympic gold medalist Rasoul Khadem addressed President Ebrahim Raisi on his Instagram account and criticized him for suppressing the protests.



Also, more than 100 professors at Tehran University protested the October 29 attack on the university in a statement describing the attack of the security forces on the students as "barbaric." The statement says the continuation of security approaches and actions such as the "terrible attack" of the plainclothes security forces on the university is disastrous.



The signatories said that all detained students should be released unconditionally.



The antigovernment protests have been met by a harsh crackdown that the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights says has killed at least 277 people, including 40 children.



The Iranian government has not taken responsibility for the killing of protesters and in most cases has attributed their deaths to reasons such as suicide, illness, and accidents.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda
China is willing to play a constructive role in seeking a political resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Ukrainian counterpart on January 17.

The first-time Chinese offer of aid to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on the sidelines of the Davos economic summit came in Switzerland comes at a time when the United States' role in mediating the Ukraine conflict appears set to diminish under a Donald Trump presidency that seeks to mend fences with Russia.

China has previously shown little interest in getting involved in diplomatic efforts to end the crisis spawned by Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backing for militant separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Beijing has avoided taking sides in the conflict, saying it respects Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty but that Western powers should take into consideration Russia's legitimate security concerns.

Beijing in the past has avoided alienating Moscow, its ally on many international matters, by getting drawn into the struggle between Russia and the West over Ukraine's future.

But those concerns appeared to be set aside, at least temporarily, in Davos when Xi told Poroshenko that China would like to deepen cooperation with Ukraine under a long tradition of friendship between the countries.

"We genuinely hope that Ukraine maintains social stability and economic development and are willing to play a constructive role in promoting a political resolution to the crisis," Xi said, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

Poroshenko told Xi that Ukraine welcomed Chinese investment and that there was great potential for cooperation in areas like logistics, ports, steel, and agriculture, the ministry said.

Also at the Davos summit, Xi met with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who has been the Obama administration's point man on Ukraine and a strong supporter of Kyiv in its struggle with Russia.

Xi released a statement after the Biden meeting that did not address Ukraine but noted the record level of trade between the United States and China achieved under the Obama administration and called for a continuation of that trend.

"The basic interests of the people of both countries and the world need China and the United States to work hard, to form a long-term, stable cooperative relationship," Xi said.

Trump has vowed to aggressively confront China over trade and economic issues, even threatening to withdraw support for the decades-old "One China" policy, in a development that has been deeply unsettling to Beijing.

With reporting by Reuters and Xinhua
Estonia and Lithuania moved on January 17 to shore up military relations with the United States ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

The two Baltic states signed bilateral defense agreements with the United States to formalize the presence of U.S. troops in their countries, their defense ministries said.

The third Baltic state, Latvia, signed a similar deal with the United States last week.

The accords will ease the deployment of U.S. forces in the countries and allow for joint exercises and training.

"We are interested in the continued presence of American troops in Lithuania, as this is one of the key elements of our security," Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis said.

Trump has called the NATO alliance that binds Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania with the United States and 24 other countries "obsolete." The comments caused a stir in the Baltic states, which have expressed concerns about the assertiveness of neighboring Russia following that countrys illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Trump, who will take office on January 20, has repeatedly signaled his intent for warmer relations with Russia.

Linas Kojala, director of the Eastern Europe Studies Center in Vilnius, told the Associated Press that the moves are purposely being made to beat the clock on Trumps inauguration.

"Both sides (the United States and Lithuania) aimed to finalize the agreement before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, as the arrival of the new administration might push the issue to the bottom of the political agenda," Kojala said.

With reporting by dpa and AP
Government forces have recentlyin Tajikistan's remote Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province, a mountainous region along the Afghan border that has existed largely outside Dushanbe's control for decades. RFE/RL takes a quick look at Badakhshan and the wider impact of unrest there.Badakhshan is an isolated, mountainous region of southeastern Tajikistan that shares a long and virtually open border with Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. The region has considerable mineral wealth and is also a corridor for illegal trafficking in cigarettes, alcohol, and narcotics -- particularly Afghan heroin.It has a population of about 250,000, most of whom belong to the Pamiri ethnic group and are Shi'ite Muslims of the Ismaili sect. Tajikistan is a Sunni-majority country.Badakhshan lies several hundred kilometers from the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, and is isolated by rugged mountain terrain. It has been largely de facto autonomous since Tajikistan became independent in 1991. The borders in the area were patrolled by Russian troops until the Tajik government asked them to leave in 2005.Tajikistan is considered a weak state that is potentially vulnerable to destabilizing influences that could come across the border from Afghanistan as the NATO-led international coalition there draws down its combat forces in 2014. This is a matter of considerable concern to both Moscow and Beijing.The larger neighborhood powers have long had serious concerns about security in the region. Omar Ashour, who teaches Middle East studies at the University of Exeter, notes that Russia intervened heavily to end the Tajik Civil War in 1997 because of concerns that the fragile country could be undermined by the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan.He says the government remains weak, unreformed, and lacks popular support. "You have a government that is not giving any signs of reform or transparency or turning away from corruption. It runs the country almost like an organized-crime syndicate," Ashour said.Although the Pamiri who populate Badakhshan are ethnically and religiously different from northern Tajiks, the main drivers of the current conflict are clashing economic and power interests that are the unresolved legacy of the Tajik Civil War. Although fighting in that conflict ended in 1997, the central government has been continuing to settle things with former opposition figures, including many that were brought into power structures following the end of the fighting.Paul Quinn Judge, acting Asia program director of the International Crisis Group, sees the current violence as a legacy of Tajikistan's civil war."The pattern was after the civil war, in many places, to give local guerrilla commanders -- commanders of the United Tajik Opposition, that is -- positions in their home which would allow them to wield substantial political, administrative, and economic clout," Quinn Judge said. "The current targets of the government's operation seems to fall very much within that mold."In Badakhshan, the government is targeting a former opposition commander named Talib Ayombekov, who was given a post in the Interior Ministry and later with the border guards. The fighting was sparked by the July 21 killing of Abdullo Nazarov, who was also an opposition commander during the civil war, but who later was made chairman of the Directorate of Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security (KGB) in Badakhshan.Ashour notes that both men are from the country's Sunni majority and have relatively little support among the local population.Although the Badakhshan violence is a purely internal matter, it is not isolated from the events in Afghanistan. Quinn Judge argues that the developing withdrawal from Afghanistan is already increasing tensions in the area."The beginning of the drawdown is already making people nervous. Those living around Afghanistan, those with a stake in Afghanistan," Quinn Judge said. "And what is happening in Badakhshan right now, which could have long-lasting repercussions, is bound to make players like China and the U.S. extremely nervous in the long run."The University of Exeter's Ashour also argues that the emerging security vacuum is fraught with danger for Tajikistan."I think what the NATO departure will do is just make all the major players in Tajikistan think that they can expand their influence without having some big brother in the neighborhood intervene to empower one side or the other," Ashour said.Ashour agrees that the recent events in Badakhshan could have dangerous, long-lasting repercussions unless the international community pays serious attention."Tajikistan is really on the brink at the moment and I think without some kind of international pressure to start some serious reforms in the security sector, in the military sector, and the political system, I think this country may see another cycle of heavy violence," Ashour said.
Over the past five years, Iranian officials and state media have touted the "indigenous" ingenuity in the Islamic republic's mass-produced Mohajer-6 combat drone, which Russia has deployed in its war against Ukraine.

But a new investigation by Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, has found that electronic components underpinning Tehran's production of the Mohajer-6 are far from homegrown.



The Mohajer-6 drones contain components produced by companies from the United States and the European Union, both of which have sanctions restricting the export to Iran of such technology that can be used for both civilian and military purposes  dual-use technology.

The presence of these components in the Mohajer-6 does not mean their producers are in violation of U.S. or EU sanctions, and RFE/RL does not have evidence that this is the case.

The investigation also found Mohajer-6 components produced in China, including a real-time mini-camera made by a Hong Kong firm that said it was "very sorry" that its products were being used in war.

At least one major foreign-produced component of the Mohajer-6 has previously been identified by reporters in a Mohajer-6 recovered from the battlefield by the Ukrainian military: an engine made by the Austrian manufacturer BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, a subsidiary of the Canadian company Bombardier Recreational Products.

But Ukrainian intelligence assesses that the Iranian combat drone contains components from nearly three dozen different technology companies based in North America, the EU, Japan, and Taiwan, the Schemes investigation has found. A majority of these companies are based in the United States.



A Schemes reporter who personally inspected the foreign-made drone parts identified components produced by at least 15 of these manufacturers.

These include parts made by the U.S. technology firm Texas Instruments, which said in a statement that it does not sell into Russia or Iran and complies with applicable laws and regulations.

To identify these components, Schemes reporters examined parts of the Mohajer-6 drone that the Ukrainian military shot down over the Black Sea near the Mykolayiv region coastal town of Ochakiv. They also reviewed Ukrainian intelligence records on the sources of these components.

The drone also contains a microchip bearing the logo of a California technology company and a thermal-imaging camera that Ukrainian intelligence says may have been produced by a firm based in Oregon or China.

Both Western officials and experts on illicit technology transfers say Iran has built a broad, global procurement network using front companies and other proxies in third countries to obtain dual-use technology from the United States and the EU.

"Exporters will look at the request coming from the [United Arab Emirates] or another third country, and they'll think that they're selling to an end user based there, when really the end user is in Iran," Daniel Salisbury, a senior research fellow with the Department of War Studies at King's College London, told RFE/RL.

In September, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions specifically targeting Iranian companies that Washington links to the production and transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia for deployment in its war on Ukraine. Fighting rages with no sign of an end more than eight months after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion on February 24.

"Non-Iranian, non-Russian entities should also exercise great caution to avoid supporting either the development of Iranian UAVs or their transfer, or sale of any military equipment to Russia for use against Ukraine," U.S. Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement announcing the sanctions.

Chinese Cameras, California Chips

Development of the Mohajer-6, the latest model in a series of drones Tehran has used since the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, began in 2017, while mass production began the following year. During a ceremony commemorating the Islamic Revolution, then-Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said that the new tactical drone could perform surveillance, reconnaissance, as well as help destroy targets.

Hatami extolled what he described as the drones domestic design, a portrayal echoed in later reports by Iranian media.

"The homegrown drone was made through cooperation among the army, Defense Ministry, and Quds Aviation Industries," the English-language Tehran Times quoted an Iranian military official as saying in July 2019.

The dismantling of the Mohajer-6 drone recovered by the Ukrainian military shows that the UAV is packed with foreign components.

One of these parts is a bright-orange real-time mini-camera produced by the Hong Kong-based company RunCam Technology. Documents seen by Schemes show that Ukrainian intelligence has also identified RunCam as the producer of the camera, which likely assists in remote guidance of the drone.

Founded in 2013, RunCam is involved in the development and production of so-called "first-person-view" real-time cameras. "Our users are our friends," the company's website states. The site says that RunCam has two authorized Iranian dealers.

Reached by Schemes for comment about the use of its camera in the Iranian drone deployed by Russia in its war on Ukraine, RunCam said in an e-mailed response: "We are very sorry to know that RunCam's products were used in warfare. RunCam is specialized in producing products for model aircraft hobby. We never contact any customer related to military."

The provenance of the Mohajer-6 drone-s thermal-imaging camera is more difficult to determine. A Ukrainian intelligence assessment reviewed by Schemes indicates it could be the Ventus Hot model produced by Sierra-Olympic Technologies, based in the U.S. state of Oregon, but that it also resembles a cheaper analog available for sale by the Chinese company Qingdao Thundsea Marine Technology.

Qingdao Thundsea Marine Technology said in an e-mailed statement that the company did not "have any business with Iran," because "it will affect our business." The company said it specializes in marine services and is not involved in manufacturing. It also said that it did not have a single successful order for its online advertisement of the thermal-imaging camera resembling the one recovered from the Iranian drone.

Sierra-Olympic Technologies did not respond to a request for comment on the possible use of its thermal-imaging cameras in Iranian combat drones in time for publication.

Microchips recovered from the drone also featured the logos of the California-based company Linear Technology Corporation and its parent company, the Massachusetts-based semiconductor company Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI). ADI did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment on the possible use of its technology in the Iranian combat drone.

Schemes reporters also observed among the components of the Iranian drone a voltage step-down converter produced by Texas Instruments. The company said in an e-mailed statement that it "does not sell into Russia, Belarus, or Iran."

"TI complies with applicable laws and regulations in the countries where we operate, and does not support or condone the use of our products in applications they weren't designed for," Texas Instruments said.

Schemes reporters also saw several components produced by the California-based technology manufacturer Xilinx, whose parent company is the multinational semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), also based in California.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, one of these Xilinx components was integrated into a video data-link module located in the wing of the Mohajer-6 that helped carry out attack missions.

"This module transmits information from the board to the missile head. That is, guidance for the missile. With the help of this module, it was possible to guide the missile to the target," a Ukrainian military intelligence representative told Schemes.

AMD did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

'No Authorization'

Previous media reports about the components of the Mohajer-6 drone, including by CNN, have shown evidence that its engine was produced by the Austrian manufacturer BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG, whose parent company is the Quebec-based Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP).

The Canadian company responded to the reports on October 21, saying in a statement that it "has not authorized and has not given any authorization to its distributors to supply military UAV manufacturers in Iran or Russia."

"As soon as we were made aware of this situation, we started an investigation to determine the source of the engines," BRP said. .

But Schemes reporters found that the authorized Rotax distributor listed on the Austrian manufacturer's website advertised itself as a Rotax aircraft engines distributor for Iran as recently as December 2020.

The distributor, the Italian company Luciano Sorlini S.p.a., has posted multiple magazine advertisements on its websites in which it describes itself as a Rotax distributor for numerous countries. Prior to January 2021, Iran was listed among these countries.

The Rotax website also lists a Tehran-based company -- MahtaWing -- as an official service center for its engines. The company, known in Persian as Mahtabal, conducts repairs of Rotax engines, including the Rotax 912 iS, the engine that was found in the Mohajer-6 combat drone recovered in Ukraine.

BRP said in an e-mailed statement on November 4 that while Luciano Sorlini S.p.a. is the appointed distributor of Rotax aircraft engines in Iran, "since 2019, no Rotax engines have been sold in Iran, and we will not sell any engines to Iran moving forward."

The Canadian company said it had "internal controls" that "significantly" restrict the sale of its products for military purposes.

"For example, the sale of any BRP product to operators with any military activity in Iran, Turkey, and Russia is strictly prohibited," BRP said. "We conduct our business in compliance with all EU, Canadian, and U.S. applicable regulations."

BRP described the Iranian company MahtaWing as a "local service center" that "offers maintenance services for previously sold aircraft engines."

Shahriar Siami of RFE/RL's Radio Farda contributed to this report.
The commanding officer of Iraq's elite Counter Terrorism Services says his forces have driven Islamic State fighters from all districts of eastern Mosul that they have been tasked with recapturing.

Lieutenant-General Talib Shaghati said on January 18 that the three-month offensive against IS militants in the northern Iraqi city had taken control of the entire eastern bank of the Tigris River.

However, a military statement said Regular army troops were still fighting IS militant in northeast Mosul on January 18.

Shaghati said capturing the western half of Mosul, which IS militants still fully control, would be an easier task than the urban battle in eastern Mosul.

However, Iraqi military officers have previously said that the more densely populated west bank of the Tigris River could pose additional military challenges.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Lithuania says it will start construction on a 129-kilometer fence on its border with Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave bordering the NATO-member nation.

The interior minister for the Baltic state said on January 17 that the barrier will be 2.5 meters high and feature electronic surveillance systems and drones. The fence, at an estimated cost of $3.85 million, is scheduled to be completed by the end 2017.

The minister, Eimutis Misiunas, acknowledged that the fence would not provide much defense against a massive military assault but said it underscored his countrys concerns about an increasingly assertive Russia, which stations thousands of troops and military equipment in the oblast.

EU-member Lithuania also characterized the move as a way to reduce smuggling.

"We have to prevent smuggling and strengthen the external borders of the European Union. We understand well what is going on in the Russian exclave," Misiunas told AP.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
U.S. and Moldovan military forces have begun joint military exercises that are scheduled to last for more than two weeks.

About 200 U.S. troops in an armored column entered Moldova from Romania at dawn on May 3, a day after Defense Ministry officials in Romania said they would cross the border.

The U.S. troops crossed into central Moldova at the Sculeni checkpoint and passed through the town of Falesti before heading southeast on the M14 highway to the town of Negresti, about 20 kilometers northwest of the capital, Chisinau.

Code-named Dragon Pioneer 2016, the joint exercises are scheduled to continue until May 20.

The Socialist Party of Moldova, a pro-Russian opposition party, had called for demonstrators to block the route.

But fewer than a dozen protesters joined that protest and the U.S. troops advanced to the site of the exercises near Negresti without hindrance.

Opposition parties have called for a protest in Chisinau during the May 9 Victory Day celebrations, when the U.S. troops were scheduled to make an appearance with their armored personnel carriers in the Moldovan capital.

The exhibition of U.S. armored personnel carriers in Chisinau is one of the events in Moldova marking the 71st anniversary of the allied victory against Nazi Germany that brought World War II to an end in Europe.

Socialist Party leader Igor Dodon called the exercises a "military occupation."

Moldovan Defense Minister Anatol Salaru responded to Dodon's criticism by saying that "Dodon's cavalry have forgotten to leave" Moldova since the arrival of Soviet forces there in 1944.

His remarks referred to the continuing presence of Russian troops in Moldova's eastern breakaway region of Transdniester.

Russia has maintained its troop presence of about 1,500 soldiers in Transdniester since a cease-fire deal brought an end to the separatist conflict there in 1992.

About 380 of those Russian soldiers are deployed under an international l peacekeeping mandate.

The remainder are soldiers from Russia's 14th Guards Army.

Moldova joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1994.

With reporting by AP and Moldova.org
Russia says that Edward Snowden, the former U.S. intelligence contractor who leaked thousands of secret documents from the National Security Agency (NSA), has been granted permission to remain in the country for at least two more years.

The move comes as outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama commuted the 35-year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, another American who revealed classified information through WikiLeaks.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova revealed on Facebook late on January 17 that Russia has extended Snowden's residence permit.

She made the statement in a comment on a recent published call by former acting CIA chief Michael Morrell for Russian President Vladimir Putin to hand Snowden over to the United States.

"The funniest thing is that [Morrell] doesn't know that Snowden's Russian residency permit has just been extended by a couple years," Zakharova said on her Facebook page.

Snowdens Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, was later quoted as saying that his client has been given the right to remain in Russia for another three years, until 2020.

Kucherena also said Snowden would be eligible to apply for Russian citizenship once he has been a resident for five years, according to Russian state news agencies.

Snowden fled the United States in 2013, traveling to Hong Kong and then to Russia, where he was stranded at a Moscow airport after the United States revoked his passport and was later granted temporary asylum.

He is wanted in the United States on espionage charges and could be imprisoned for 30 years if he returns to the United States and is tried and convicted.

He was initially granted permission to stay in Russia for one year amid the rapid deterioration in Moscow's relations with Washington.

Snowden had leaked 1.5 million documents he acquired while working as a contractor for the NSA, prompting a furious public debate about the legality of some of the agencys programs, about privacy concerns, and about U.S. snooping on its allies.

In one of his final acts as U.S. president, Obama granted commutation of sentences to 209 individuals and pardons to 64 others.

The list includes Manning, who is serving 35 years in prison on espionage charges and other offenses for her role in leaking diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks in one of the largest breaches of classified material in U.S. history -- but not Snowden.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said last week there were "some important differences" between Manning's case for mercy and Snowden's.

"Chelsea Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing," Earnest said. "Mr. Snowden fled into the arms of an adversary and has sought refuge in a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine confidence in our democracy."

At a court hearing, Manning apologized for "hurting the U.S." and said she had mistakenly thought she could "change the world for the better."

The 29-year-old transgender U.S. Army private, born Bradley Manning, is now scheduled to be freed on May 17 of this year, instead of in 2045.

Manning twice attempted suicide last year at the male military prison where she is being held in Kansas. She also went on a hunger strike, which ended after the military agreed to provide her with gender dysphoria treatment.

Also on January 17, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared to waffle on his pledge to accept U.S. extradition now that Obama has pardoned Manning.

Melinda Taylor, who serves on Assange's legal team, initially told the Associated Press he would stick to his offer last week to accept extradition if the White House granted clemency to Manning.

But Taylor later said Assange would like the U.S. Justice Department instead to announce it will not pursue charges against him and that it is closing its investigation of WikiLeaks and ending its "war on whistle-blowers."

Assange has been living at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges.

He says he has long feared if he leaves the embassy he could be extradited to the United States to face criminal charges, although no formal charges have been filed against him.

WikiLeaks and Assange have been under investigation for years for publishing thousands of highly sensitive leaked documents from the United States.

In particular, WikiLeaks is under FBI investigation for its central role last year in an alleged Russian scheme to influence the U.S presidential election through the hacking and publishing of internal Democratic e-mails.

The White House, in shaving more than 30 years off Manning's prison sentence, said the commutation was not influenced in any way by Assange's extradition offer.

Assange did not immediately comment on whether he plans to surrender, but he did tweet: "Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible."

In the United States, a commutation means the sentence is lifted, while a pardon also removes other penalties such as the bar on convicted felons to sit on federal juries and state-level prohibitions on such things as voting.

Neither clemency measure is an acknowledgment of innocence.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, Interfax, The New York Times, and the BBC
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Barack Obama said sanctions imposed on Russia for annexing Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula should not be linked to discussions of reducing nuclear arsenals, saying instead that the sanctions should remain in place until Moscow reverses course on Ukraine.



Obama's comments, made at his final news conference on January 18, appeared squarely aimed at his Republican successor, Donald Trump, who is set to be formally inaugurated as president later this week.



In an interview published in The Times of London on January 16, Trump suggested linking the question of reducing U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals to the issue of sanctions imposed nearly three years ago on Russia by Washington and its European allies.



Responding to a reporter's question, Obama lamented what he called Russia's "escalating anti-American rhetoric," which he said started when Vladimir Putin returned to the Russian presidency in 2012.



"The reason we imposed the sanctions, recall, was not because of nuclear weapons issues, it was because the independence and sovereignty of a country, Ukraine, had been encroached upon by force, by Russia," Obama said.



"What Ive said to the Russians, is as soon as you stop doing that, the sanctions will be removed. And I think it would probably best serve, not only American interests, but also the interests of preserving international norms, if we don't confuse why these sanctions have been imposed with a whole set of other issues," he said.



"It's important for the United States to stand up for the principle that big countries don't go around and invade and bully smaller countries," Obama added.



Russia, for its part, condemned the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, as well as Obama's policies in the Middle East, including its intervention in Libya in 2011.



Trump has signaled he wants a more conciliatory approach toward Russia, a move that has alarmed Ukrainians, and some U.S. allies, particularly in former Warsaw Bloc countries of Eastern Europe.

Modernization Of Arsenals



Obama had made nuclear arms reduction a cornerstone of his presidency, and in 2010, Russia and United States signed a treaty known as New START.

That accord committed both countries to modest reductions in strategic nuclear forces. Obama had repeatedly sought to engage the Kremlin in a new round of reductions, but those efforts went nowhere as bilateral relations spiraled downward.

Both countries are also undertaking major modernization of their respective arsenals, which has sparked concerns about a new arms race.

Obama's news conference comes at an extraordinary time in U.S. politics, with a transition to a new presidency roiled by uncertainty and tension not seen in at least a generation.



For many political observers, Trump's election has been seen in part as a repudiation of Obama's legacy, and in recent weeks, Obama has sat for multiple media interviews and held multiple high-profile speeches to push back.



Using executive orders -- essentially constitutionally legal decrees that don't need approval from Congress -- Obama has also sought to cement some of his policy priorities in place, and prevent them from being undermined by the Trump administration.

Diplomat Expulsions



Obama has punished Russian individuals and entities accused of involved in the cyberhacking of U.S. political parties during the election campaign.

He's expelled 35 Russian diplomats in response for what administration officials have called repeated harassment of U.S. diplomats in Russia.

Obama has also extended financial sanctions on Russian officials for their roles in the 2014 annexation of Crimea.



In addition, Obama allowed the UN condemnation of Israeli settlements, shut down a controversial database used to track mostly Muslim and Arab men in the United States, and released 10 more prisoners from the U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into the custody of Oman.



During the news conference, Obama also repeated his administration's position that a two-state solution to the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis was essential for peace in the region. He said he worried that opportunity was slipping away.

Chelsea Manning Commutation

Obama also defended one of the more controversial decisions he has made in the final days of his presidency: the commutation of the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former Army private who leaked hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents.

Manning was sentenced in 2013 to 35 years in prison. Under Obama's order, issued January 17, she is to be released in May.

Obama said Manning had taken responsibility for the crime she was charged with and handed a "disproportionate" prison sentence compared to other leakers.

"I feel very comfortable that justice has been served," Obama said.

He also rejected the notion that his decision will encourage others to leak classified information.


Russian authorities have launched a fresh investigation targeting a former teacher in Russia's western region of Oryol who was convicted of inciting ethnic hatred and sacked from his job for writing a pro-Ukraine poem.

Russia's state-run Interfax news agency quoted Aleksandr Korgin, an official in Oryol's regional Investigative Committee, as saying that the investigation targets Aleksandr Byvshev.

Korgin said linguistics experts had concluded that one of Byshev's poems about Soviet-era poet and Noble Prize laureate Joseph Brodsky contains "extremist connotations."

Korgin said Byvshev may be charged with inciting ethnic hatred in the case.

Byvshev was found guilty of inciting ethnic hatred in 2015 after his poem "To Ukrainian Patriots" circulated in the Internet.

He was then deprived of the right to teach for two years and sentenced to 300 hours of community service.

Based on reporting by Interfax
Some parents in Moscow have protested against a government-imposed textbook being used as part of the national school ethics curriculum. They claim it pushes Russian Orthodox Christian teachings on children from atheist families, and those from other religions. The controversy highlights the growing reach of the Russian church in a multicultural society, after years of Soviet-imposed atheism. (Current Time TV)
Russia says it has conducted its first joint air strikes with Turkey against Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria, operations signaling the improving ties between the two nations that back opposing sides in the Syria conflict.

Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi, a Russian Defense Ministry official, said nine of its planes and eight Turkish planes carried out air strikes on IS militants in the town of Al-Bab in the Aleppo region of northern Syria on January 18.

"Today the Russian and Turkish air forces are conducting their first joint air operation to strike Islamic State in the suburbs of Al-Bab," Rudskoi said.

Turkey's military confirmed that the two nations' warplanes had carried out coordinated strikes in the area.

Ties between Moscow and Ankara deteriorated after a Turkish fighter shot down a Russian warplane near Turkey's border with Syria in 2015.

The two sides, however, are now spearheading peace talks due to begin next week in Kazakhstan between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime and armed opposition groups.

Russia is backing Assad in the conflict, while Turkey supports rebel groups that seek to oust the Syrian president's regime.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa
A Russian computer programmer who was accused of conducting illegal missionary work after giving a lecture on yoga has been cleared of the charges by a court in St. Petersburg.



The 44-year-old Dmitry Ugay was detained by Russian police in October while giving a talk on the philosophical origins of yoga after police received a complaint accusing him of proselytizing for a sect.



He was charged with illegal missionary activity -- an administrative offense under counterterrorism legislation signed by President Vladimir Putin in the summer of 2016.



The legislation placed restrictions on missionary activity and introduced administrative fines of up to 50,000 rubles ($840) for people who proselytize outside of venues registered to recognized religions.



Critics said the case against Ugay showed that the legislation is loosely-worded and open to abuse.

With additional reporting by Meduza
VIDEO REPORTS

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused U.S. President Barack Obama's administration of trying to undermine President-elect Donald Trump's legitimacy, saying those associated with a leaked dossier were worse than prostitutes.

A new center for analyzing and countering disinformation that was set up by the Czech government ahead of elections this year has been attacked as "censorship" by the Czech president.

Kyrgyz families began to bury their loved ones who were killed when a Turkish cargo plane crashed into their homes. They gathered on January 17 to mourn, after a Boeing 747 came down in their village adjacent to the runway of Bishkek's Manas airport a day earlier.

An estimated 1,200 refugees and migrants continued to sleep rough in abandoned warehouses in central Belgrade.

OTHER NEWS

Russia says that Edward Snowden, the former U.S. intelligence contractor who leaked thousands of secret documents from the National Security Agency, has been granted permission to remain in the country for at least two more years.

Estonia and Lithuania moved on January 17 to shore up military relations with the United States ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Lithuania says it will start construction on a 129-kilometer, 2.5 meters high fence on its border with Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave bordering the NATO-member nation.

China is willing to play a constructive role in seeking a political resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Ukrainian counterpart on January 17.

Ukrainian lawmaker Nadia Savchenko has caused controversy by suggesting that Kyiv accept Moscow's grip on Crimea for the time being if it wants to regain control over eastern territory held by Russia-backed separatists.

The retrial of prominent Russian anticorruption campaigner Aleksei Navalny resumed on January 18 after a break for the New Year and Christmas holidays.

Chairperson of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matvienko told Russian media on Wednesday that authorities are ready for dialogue with the U.S. on the Russian law banning American adoptions of Russian children, while noting that, to date, there has been no constructive proposal from the American side. (Russian Service)

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that a Russian law barring Americans from adopting Russian children led to human rights violations.

Moldovan President Igor Dodon has told Russia that a landmark agreement bolstering ties between Moldova and the European Union was concluded "hastily" and suggested he wants to abandon it.

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions against Republika Srpskas nationalist leader, Milorad Dodik, saying that he is actively obstructing efforts to implement the 1995 Dayton accords that ended the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

EU lawmakers have elected Italian center-right candidate Antonio Tajani as the next president of the European Parliament, replacing Martin Schulz, who is leaving Brussels to return to German politics.

A military court in the western city of Aktobe sentenced two national guard officers to 4.5 and 3.5 years in prison on grounds that they hid in a bathroom during an armed terrorist attack on a military installation in June, 2016. (in Russian, Current Time TV)

Turkmen authorities have provided no comment on reports that livestock and poultry in several regions across the Central Asian country are infected with the Anthrax virus. (in Russian,Turkmen Service)

Chechen and Russian security personnel have launched the largest operations in a decade to round up suspected members of a group allegedly associated with the extremist group Islamic State, but details about the mens intentions and how many were apprehended or killed remain unclear.

Prominent members of the Russian PEN center who have recently withdrawn from the organization over its position on Ukraine and alleged attempts to falsify internal documents, including Sergey Parkhomenko and Nobel Laureate Svetlana Alexievich, have accused the current leadership of trying hard not to be a human rights organization, in violation of its charter. (Russian Service)
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has appointed his eldest son, Rustam Emomali, to head the Central Asian nation's anticorruption agency.

Emomali, 27, was appointed on March 16 as director of the State Agency For Financial Control and Measures Against Corruption.

Emomali had been running Tajikistan's Customs Service since late 2013.

His predcessor at the anticorruption agency, Abdufattoh Ghoib, was named as the Customs Service's new chief.

Corruption is a major problem in Tajikistan and other former Soviet republics.

In other appointments, the chief of the government's Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting, Asadullo Rahmon, became a presidential adviser.

Rahmon, who is not related t the president, replaced Abdujabbor Azizi, who was elected to parliament on March 1.

Deputy Culture Minister Mahmadsaid Pirov was appointed as the new chief of the government's Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting.
Tajikistan's Defense Ministry says the former chief of the general staff of the armed forces has died in a car accident in Dushanbe.

Ministry spokesperson Faridun Mahmadalizoda told RFE/RL's Tajik Service that Zarif Sharifzoda, an adviser to Tajikistan's defense minister, died as a result of the January 18 accident.

Mahmadalizoda said Sharifzoda had served in recent years as Tajikistan's chief of the general staff and as first deputy defense minister.

A senior Defense Ministry source told RFE/RL's Tajik Service that Sharifzoda had been driving the car and, according to preliminary information, suffered a heart attack while returning to his home from work.

Sharifzoda's car collided with another vehicle. He was pronounced dead by the time he arrived at the hospital, the source said.

Mahmadalizoda said an investigation had been launched into Sharifzodas death.

Tajikistan, a mainly Muslim former Soviet republic, has faced varying threats of Islamic extremism in recent years and has pursued deeper military cooperation with Russia, China, and the United States.
WASHINGTON -- President-elect Donald Trump's pick for United Nations ambassador delivered sharp criticism of Russia on January 18, saying Moscow cannot be trusted, but added that Washington will nonetheless need the Kremlin's cooperation on counterterrorism efforts and other challenges.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley's testimony at a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing comes amid badly strained bilateral ties with Russia over Moscow's role in the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as alleged Kremlin meddling in the American presidential election.

Trump, who has said he wants to improve those relations, has drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats that he is soft on Moscow's aggressive foreign policy.

The 44-year-old Haley told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Russia is trying to "show their muscle" and that Moscow knows "no boundaries."

"I don't think that we can trust them," she said.

Haley left room for cooperation with Russia, however, on the condition that the Kremlin is willing to give ground.

"I think that we have to make sure that we try and see what we can get from them before we give to them," she said.

Haley, who criticized Trump during the campaign, has little experience in international affairs and has not spoken much in public about her foreign policy views.

If confirmed by the Senate, she would succeed Samantha Power -- a vocal critic of Russia's invasion and illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula, of its backing for pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine, and of Moscow's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Speaking a day before Haley's confirmation hearing, Power said Russia's actions "are not standing up a new world order. They are tearing down the one that exists."

Haley said in her January 18 hearing that she considers Crimea to be part of Ukraine -- a position backed by more than 100 UN member states in a resolution.

She said that Washington should not lift the sanctions it imposed against Russia over its interference in Ukraine until Moscow changes course.

"I think that Russia has to have positive actions before we lift any sanctions on Russia," she said.

Haley also said that she believes Russia is responsible for "terrible atrocities" in Syria, including war crimes in Aleppo.

She added, however, that while Washington must voice its displeasure about Russia's actions in Ukraine and Syria, it will also need to seek the Kremlin's support to confront terrorism and on other pressing issues.

"We're also going to tell them that we do need their help with ISIS and with some other threats that we all share," Haley said, using an acronym for the extremist Islamic State group.

Haley's confirmation hearing also comes in the wake of what U.S. intelligence official say was a Russian hacking and public-opinion manipulation campaign directed by President Vladimir Putin to influence the U.S. presidential election.

The Kremlin rejects the charge, and Trump had repeatedly cast doubt on the assessment before publicly saying in January that Russia was likely behind computer hacking that targeted his opponent in the election, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Trump insists Russia's hacking and public opinion manipulation campaign had no impact on the outcome of the election.
Ukrainian lawmaker Nadia Savchenko has caused controversy by suggesting that Kyiv must accept Moscow's grip on Crimea for the time being if it wants to regain control over eastern territory held by Russia-backed separatists.

Speaking on 112 Ukraine TV on January 17, Savchenko said that "the only peaceful way" to resolve the status of the eastern Donbas region in Kyiv's favor is to put the issue of Crimea, which was seized by Russia in March 2014, "on the back burner."

"We must not abandon" Crimea or the Donbas, Savchenko said. But she suggested that in order to regain control of separatist-held territory in the east, Ukrainian politicians will have to "give up" Crimea "for a certain period."

She suggested that if Kyiv focuses on demands for the return of control over Crimea, the Donbas will become "another Transdniester" -- a reference to a sliver of neighboring Moldova that has been held by pro-Russian separatists since a war in 1992.

The only other way to regain control over the Donbas is by force, she said.

Russia took control of Crimea in March 2014 after sending in troops and staging a referendum condemned by Ukraine and 99 other countries in the UN as illegitimate.

More than 9,750 people have been killed since the conflict between Kyivs forces and Russia-backed separatists erupted in the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces the following month.

Savchenko faced criticism over her comments from politicians and people posting on social media.

"We will not exchange Crimea for the Donbas, and we will not give up the Donbas either. We will claw back every meter of Ukrainian land," Iryna Herashchenko, first deputy speaker of Ukraine's parliament, said on Facebook. "We will fight for every Ukrainian. Ukraine is Kyiv and Lviv but also Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk."

Refat Chubarov, a lawmaker and leader of the Crimean Tatars -- an ethnic minority whose members mostly opposed Russia's takeover and have faced oppression from the Russian-imposed authorities on the peninsula -- said her remarks were "not only extremely unacceptable and deeply offensive, [but] cynical and traitorous to all citizens of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar people, [some of whom] are still held hostage by Russian occupiers."

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, meanwhile, reiterated that Moscow has no intention of ever ceding control of Crimea.

"Russia does not discuss the status and future position of Russian regions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Savchenko, a former military aviator, says she was abducted by separatists 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.

Savchenko was convicted last year and sentenced to 22 years in prison but was pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin in May and released in a swap for two Russians held by Kyiv. She was widely hailed as a hero upon her return to Ukraine, but has faced criticism from nationalists since then.

With reporting by Christopher Miller in Kyiv
The fate of Uzbek President Islam Karimov remained uncertain on August 30, with no official word on his condition two days after the government announced he had been hospitalized for an undisclosed ailment.

There were conflicting reports, with the Fergana News Agency citing unnamed sources as saying that he had died and other media outlets, including Russian news agency Interfax, reporting that he was still alive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on August 30 that the Kremlin had "no new information" and that it would be inappropriate for Moscow to comment on the Uzbek president's health.

The government statement on August 28 said Karimov, 78, would "require a certain amount of time for medical assessment and treatment."



Karimov's younger daughter, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, said in an Instagram post on August 29 that he was in "stable condition" at an intensive care unit in Tashkent after suffering a brain hemorrhage.



Karimov had been scheduled to make a public appearance in Tashkent on September 1 during celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence.



He has ruled Uzbekistan since before the Soviet collapse of 1991.



His long rule and tight control have raised questions about succession and long-term stability in the Central Asian country of 28 million, which has never held an election judged free and fair by international monitors.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, Gazeta.uk, Fergana, and TASS
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on January 17 appeared to clarify his pledge to accept U.S. extradition now that President Barack Obama has pardoned former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.

Melinda Taylor, who serves on Assange's legal team, initially told the Associated Press he would stick to his offer last week to accept extradition if the White House granted clemency to Manning, who was imprisoned for the biggest leak of classified materials in U.S. history to WikiLeaks in 2010.

But Taylor later told AP and AFP that Assange would like the U.S. Justice Department instead to announce it will not pursue charges against him and is closing its investigation of WikiLeaks and ending its "war on whistle-blowers."

Assange has been living at Ecuador's embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual-assault charges. He says he has long feared if he leaves the embassy he could be extradited to the United States to face criminal charges, although no formal charges have been filed against him.

WikiLeaks and Assange have been under investigation for years for publishing thousands of highly sensitive leaked documents from the United States.

In particular, WikiLeaks is under FBI investigation for its central role last year in an alleged Russian scheme to influence the U.S presidential election through the hacking and publishing of internal Democratic e-mails.

The White House, in shaving more than 30 years off Manning's prison sentence and ending her sentence on May 17, said it was not influenced by Assange's offer to come forward when it made the decision to pardon Manning.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
Calling for dialogue, prayers and unity  as well as tossing a few inflammatory rhetorical grenades at the Democratic Party  a group of local black conservatives announced Tuesday that they will attend President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration, which dozens of Democratic legislators, including civil rights leader John Lewis, a congressman from Georgia, say they will boycott.

At a news conference Tuesday at the Virginia Christian Alliance on Staples Mill Road in Henrico County, Joe Ellison Jr., former state director of African-American engagement for the Republican National Committee and pastor of City Park Church, said he wants to position Richmond and Virginia to work with the Trump administration on schools, housing and jobs, among other areas.

We know that theres been a lot of concern about comments that the president-elect, Donald Trump, has made, Ellison said. However, we feel its very necessary and very important that we be at the table because we all are conservative, and we did support Donald Trump as president.

Trump has been in a feud with Lewis since the Georgia Democrat said he would not attend the Friday inauguration, adding that he does not consider Trump a legitimate president.

Lewis announcement that he would boycott the inauguration became another imbroglio when he claimed it would be the first he missed since he has been in Congress. That turned out to be false, with PolitiFact reporting Tuesday that he also skipped George W. Bushs inauguration in 2001.

I think its a shame what John Lewis said. I personally believe that hes an old civil rights icon who is living in the past, said Steve Parson Sr., a former pastor and founder of the Richmond Christian Center, which launched the nonprofit Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation, and a member of a diversity council for Trump.

What we need to do is to give Mr. Trump a chance because he has a heart to help the inner city, Parson said.

The group rejected criticism of some of Trumps controversial remarks while acknowledging that the soon-to-be 45th president could do a better job of toning it down.

Believe me, brother, Ellison told a reporter, thats one of the things that Im going to be sharing with Mr. Trump if I get a chance. ... Some of the comments that you have said in the past have been very offensive. And Im saying from now on, be mindful of your audience and who youre speaking with.

Ellison said some blacks who have met with Trump  a list that includes Martin Luther King III, son of the late civil rights leader; television host Steve Harvey; and NFL stars Jim Brown and Ray Lewis, as well as black conservatives who supported him  have been ostracized and attacked for doing so.

We must come together and work together. Ive been at this, been a conservative for 25 years. I love my party, and I love the principles which it stands for. But I am concerned about the racial tension in our country today, Ellison said. Were going there to encourage, support, pray for our new president. But we want to come back to Richmond, and we want to work with our colleagues. We want to work with other pastors.

We want to let them know, Listen, we may not agree. But can we agree that we need better schools? Can we agree that we need better jobs and better housing? These are things that we need to come together. If the Lord can use Donald Trump to help us, so be it.

Bishop Leon Benjamin, pastor of New Life Harvest Church in South Richmond and a Trump surrogate who spoke at rallies on his behalf and attended the GOP national convention in Cleveland, expressed appreciation for Lewis and for President Barack Obama but said it was time to embrace fresh minds and fresh ideas.

We take away the card of racism that has been plaguing our communities for the last 40 years or 50 years or so, Benjamin said. You will no longer be able, under this administration, to use that in the African-American community. Im talking to all civil rights leaders and those who want to become one in the future.

Racism will not be a card that you can use to divide our people, to scare our people, to bring hatred and bitterness and animosity.

Benjamin said part of Trumps appeal stems from his ability to give a punch as well as take one.

Hes not a racist, Benjamin said. I think that because of this politically correct environment that we have today, weve seen Republicans take so many punches that they get punched out. ... Hes going to bring that trust that has been lost over the past eight years in the African-American community. Theres no trust.

Wendell Sauls, a longtime conservative who does public relations for the East End Pregnancy Center on Nine Mile Road, an anti-abortion resource for pregnant women, said its time for a new course on poverty, crime and abortion.

We want to see change. We want to see things different than they have been, he said.

Parson called the Democratic Partys plantation mind-set the slavemaster of today, adding that blacks are leaving the party by the droves.

I personally do not understand how any black person today can be in support of the Democratic, liberal, what I call plantation mind-set, which basically holds black people in bondage, he said. Were the poorest unfortunately. Weve overcome, weve had a black president, black governor, black mayor. We have black everything.

So the time of blaming racism for everything is just come to an end, and were just excited to be part of the process to really make America great again.

According to the Pew Research Centers analysis of exit poll data, Trump fared little better among blacks and Hispanics than GOP nominee Mitt Romney in 2012. An NBC exit poll found that Trump got 8 percent of the black vote to Romneys 6 percent.

James JJ Minor, president of the Richmond branch of the NAACP and chairman of the Richmond City Democratic Committee, scoffed at the idea that black voters were abandoning the Democratic Party, though he stressed that he was speaking only as a community activist and not in any of his official capacities.

How can he as a pastor align himself with someone who really doesnt care about black people, with a president who doesnt care about Native Americans, who doesnt care about Mexicans or Latinos? Minor said of Parson.

Minor also criticized Trumps choice of Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general. Accusations of racist remarks sunk Sessions nomination as a federal judge in the 1980s, and questions about his civil rights record have made his nomination contentious.

Steve is an opportunist, Minor said. There is no way that I would align myself with someone who appoints racists to top positions.

As far as the pastors requests to pray for Trump, Minor said he could go along with that.

Sure we should pray for him, Minor said. But we should also pray for this country because we have him as a president.

This story has been updated to add details on Congressman John Lewis decision to skip President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration.
A proposed water park and mixed-use development in Chesterfield County is headed to the Board of Supervisors with the blessing of the Planning Commission. Yet the proposed Winterfield Crossing mixed-use project found the opposite fate.

Both projects had experienced considerable delays after commissioners and residents brought up concerns.

Although county staff recommended denial of the project, the proposed water park off Genito Road near the countys recently purchased River City Sportsplex received a 4-1 vote from the commission Tuesday.

Commissioner Edgar Wallin said that he was prepared to recommend denial of the project a month ago, and acknowledged that he is still concerned with some portions of the project.

I think its worthy of the risk to try. And the free market will tell us whether this project really works or not, Wallin said.

The location couldnt be better, Commissioner Peppy Jones said after mentioning the countys purchase of the Sportsplex.

Richmond developer Brett Burkhart and his business partner Derek Cha said they hope to break ground on the 105-acre outdoor aquatics facility off Genito Road in early 2018. Originally, the opening date was set for spring 2017.

Cha, the founder of the Sweet Frog frozen yogurt chain, proposed the $35 million project.

Plans call for an artificial lake for water activities, a boardwalk with restaurants and retail, 790 residences  including apartments and town homes  and an amphitheater.

The water-related sports park is meant to be modeled after the U.S. National Whitewater Center that opened 10 years ago in Charlotte, N.C.

There are only a handful of projects like this across the country, Planning Commission Chairman Gib Sloan said.

County staff members previously expressed concern about a lack of guarantees for the commercial portion, as well as transportation routes. In Tuesdays commission report, staff recommended denial of the project, citing those same issues, as well as concern over the type of nonresidential uses.

Jack Wilson, the attorney representing Cha and Burkhart, said Tuesday that the transportation impacts will be offset through the payment of some cash proffers, as well as revenue from the commercial shops. Cash proffers are fees that developers pay to mitigate impacts to local services from their development.

Transportation Director Jesse Smith said more commercial shops dont necessarily translate to less traffic, and Commissioner Michael Jackson cited the transportation concerns before casting his sole opposition vote.

***

The Winterfield Crossing Project will head to the Board of Supervisors with an unanimous recommendation for denial from commissioners.

The developers of the project, proposed for 25 acres north of Midlothian Turnpike and west of Winterfield Road, recently made changes that were aimed at more closely reflecting the village feel of Midlothian Village.

The development would house 250 apartments for people age 55 and older and about 100,000 square feet of retail and office. The development proposal, however, doesnt have a cap on the number of residences, so any homes built beyond the 250 apartments wouldnt necessarily be age-restricted.

The cap on the building height and the mixed-use nature of the project would restrict how many additional homes could be built, the developers representative said Tuesday. They also said that some county officials recommended that the cap be taken out of their proposal.

But the lack of the cap, as well as the county Transportation Departments concerns, caused some commissioners to vote against the project Tuesday.

The Transportation Department recommended denial, saying the traffic impact of the development could become unacceptable in part because of the lack of a density cap.

Blackwood Development, the local developer on the project, submitted revised plans late last year in the hopes of addressing the countys concerns.

The Planning Commission initially recommended approval of the project in late 2015, but supervisors sent the proposal back to the commission in January, citing a significant amount of opposition and misinformation about the project.

Planning staff recommended approval of the project Tuesday.

While the multifamily residential use does not comply with the commercial uses recommended by the Comprehensive Plan, the developments design would appropriately integrate the use and offers high-quality design and architectural elements, the planning staff report read.

Winterfield Crossing is proposed to be built next to an existing pond. Blackwood Development bought the 25 acres in 2012 as part of a larger parcel that was in bankruptcy.

A 238-unit, luxury apartment complex is planned on adjoining property  also once part of the bankrupt parcel  by CMB Development, a Henrico County developer.

A majority of the nearly 10 residents who spoke on the project Tuesday supported the project, saying that it will bring needed revenue and retail to a long-blighted property.

But some expressed some concern. Amy Satterfield of the Village of Midlothian Volunteer Coalition said the projects design was piecemeal and said the transportation concerns had never been addressed.

***

A number of developers also returned to the Planning Commission on Tuesday to ask that their proffers be amended. Proffers are in-kind or cash contributions that developers make to the county to mitigate the local impacts of the new development.

Some of the cases were pushed back, while other amendments were accepted by the commission.

The requests from developers come four months after the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors changed its proffer policy in part as a response to a change in state law. It cut almost in half the fee that developers paid when building homes  from a maximum of $18,966, which was the highest in the region, to $9,400.
In a wide-ranging address, the leading figure of Chesterfield County Public Schools and the head of his transition team lauded the school systems strengths and shared a vision for its future that touched on several facets within the division.

James F. Lane, who began as superintendent on July 1, delivered his inaugural State of Our Schools address Tuesday night at the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center.

Lane summarized the virtues of Chesterfield schools, including its graduation rates, standardized test scores, early college programs and emphasis on projects-based learning before handing the microphone over to the leader of the transition team that developed a report that included recommendations for improvement.

The state of our schools is strong, Lane said. They are now, and they will continue to be in the future.

Jamelle Wilson, dean of the school of professional and continuing studies at the University of Richmond and former superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, chaired a transition team of students and education, faith, government and business leaders.

Lane, the former superintendent in Goochland County, commissioned PDK International to help develop the transition plan with the help of a philanthropic organization. PDK met with hundreds of students, staff members, parents, business and community leaders, according to an overview given out Tuesday night.

She broke the issues studied by the team into six areas  engagement, equity, executive, empowerment, efficiency and experience.

The recommendations included restoring a love of learning by fostering an engaging learning environment; creating an equity committee and recruiting a workforce that reflects the student population; reorganizing departments and restructuring positions; reducing formal layers of authority; and changing high school starting times to align with medical recommendations.

The transition team report will inform the divisions next strategic plan, Lane said.
Spending tends to dominate debate over Virginias budget, but a projected $1.26 billion revenue shortfall has spurred Gov. Terry McAuliffe and General Assembly leaders to look for money to help pay for it.

With new taxes unlikely in an election year, their focus has turned to revenues already owed to the state and the potential for a windfall from a proposed tax-amnesty program that McAuliffe estimates could net $58.2 million for the general fund that pays for core services.

The amnesty proposal is part of a package of tax-policy changes in the governors budget that would net almost $140 million in additional revenues, most of it in the next fiscal year.

Amnesty is the big one, said Senate Finance Co-Chairman Emmett W. Hanger Jr., R-Augusta, whose committee will hear a presentation this morning from state tax officials about the governors proposal.

The tax amnesty would be the fourth in Virginia history. It would be modeled on the most recent amnesty offer, which netted the state $103 million in 2009. Earlier amnesty programs, brought in $90 million in 2003 and $32.2 million in 1989.

Each time, it actually out-performed expectations, Hanger said.

The outcome of the legislative debate isnt much in doubt. The legislation is being carried by Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, the finance committees other chairman, and House Appropriations Chairman S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk.

Mark Haskins, director of policy development at the Department of Taxation, briefed the appropriations committee on the proposal on Monday.

The amnesty would be offered over a 60- to 75-day period in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, though state officials wont say exactly when because they dont want to encourage people not to pay back taxes without it.

Taxpayers who take the offer would be exempt from penalties and half of the interest they otherwise would be charged, but if theyre eligible and still dont pay, the state would slap them with an additional 20 percent penalty. The offer isnt available to taxpayers under investigation for fraud or for recently filed returns.

Tax officials estimate the amount that could be collected would total almost $71.5 million, mostly from corporate and individual income taxes owed, followed by sales taxes that include money earmarked for localities and the transportation trust fund. The program would cost about $5.5 million to administer, which would be repaid to the Treasury from proceeds of the amnesty.

The other measures proposed by the governor to increase revenues without new taxes are likely to face more political opposition.

A proposal to delay the phase-out of accelerated sales tax collections  used to boost revenues in one fiscal year at the expense of the next  would raise about $35.1 million this year and $12.8 million the next, but retailers are furious about state back-tracking on commitments in last years budget to greatly reduce the number of businesses subject to accelerated collections.

McAuliffe also wants to collect a portion of the $250 million to $300 million he said Virginia is losing because Congress hasnt acted on the proposed Marketplace Fairness Act to make internet sales subject to state taxes. As a stopgap, the governor proposed to require out-of-state merchants that use warehouses or fulfillment centers in Virginia to register as dealers who would be subject to collection of sales tax.

He estimated the proposal would generate $21 million in state and local revenues, including $12.56 million for the general fund next year.

Finally, the governor has proposed to cap the amount of tax credits that could be taken in any year for rehabilitation of historic properties and for land preservation, which are programs with long histories and passionate defenders. A limit of $5 million per return in a tax year for historic tax credits would generate almost $10 million for the state next year, while limits on land preservation tax credits for individual and joint returns would produce an additional $6.1 million.

The Joint Subcommittee on Tax Preferences is studying the historic rehabilitation tax credit, which has been used widely in redeveloping parts of Richmond, but the panel has not made recommendations to limit its use.

Secretary of Finance Richard D. Ric Brown said the governors proposal would not place an overall cap on the credits, as the state already has done for land preservation tax credits.

What this is is a cap on an individual return, he said, noting that the only limit now is to prevent a taxpayer from claiming a credit for more than he or she owes.

If you were taking $4 million a year, it wouldnt affect you, Brown said. It affects very, very few returns.
Layoffs often follow when one company acquires another, a reality that is reducing employment at Meridium in Roanoke in the wake of the software companys acquisition by GE Digital in September.

Amy Sarosiek, a spokeswoman for California-based GE Digital, confirmed that the company has informed less than 10 Meridium employees that they will lose their jobs because their work can be covered by other GE Digital employees.

Sarosiek said the jobs being eliminated are primarily in finance and operations. Meridium employment in Roanoke will be closer to 150 workers once the layoffs take effect in the weeks ahead, down from about 160, she said.

GE Digital announced late last week that Bonz Hart, 60, founder and CEO of Meridium, had retired. At the time, GE Digital did not mention the layoffs.

In September, Hart confirmed that GE Digital had acquired Meridium, the global software company he founded in 1993 above his garage in Bedford County. Meridium had about 430 workers worldwide in September.

GE Digital had previously purchased a share of Meridium, whose software helps industrial customers predict when machinery and equipment might fail and also offers analysis that can enhance the efficiency of operation.

In addition to its headquarters in Roanoke, Meridium has an office in Houston and locations in India, Australia, Spain, South Africa, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K. and Singapore.

Industrial sectors served by Meridium have included oil and gas, mining, electric utilities, manufacturing, chemicals and transportation.

Meridiums presence in Roanoke became more visible in 2010 after the company purchased and renovated a four-story building on Bullitt Avenue alongside Interstate 581.
The Roanoke City Council unanimously condemned a bill Tuesday in the Virginia House of Delegates that members say would gut the regional broadband internet authority in which the city and other local governments have invested $9.6 million.

The bill, filed last week by Del. Kathy Byron, R-Campbell, if enacted will create de facto private monopolies that lack the incentive to expand high speed quality and affordable internet services to all areas of our region and place the city of Roanoke and its regional partners at a significant competitive disadvantage to other localities around the United States, the council declared in its resolution.

Ill call it what it is, said Councilman Ray Ferris in offering the resolution, an effort by the legacy carriers to protect their turf. Its crony capitalism at its finest.

Local leaders fear proposed bill could derail Roanoke valley municipal broadband A state House bill could limit municipal broadband initiatives in Virginia and derail expans

Legacy carriers would be the companies that offer high speed internet in the Roanoke Valley under franchise agreements with local governments, Comcast and Cox Communications, along with Verizon, which offers DSL internet service in many areas.

Crony capitalism is an apparent reference to the fact that Byron, former chairwoman of the state Broadband Advisory Council, has received nearly $70,000 in campaign contributions since 1998 from telecom companies, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. That includes $36,100 from Verizon alone, her second largest contributor behind the Republican Party of Virginia.

Byrons bill limits the ability of governments to establish or expand municipal broadband services in areas already served by private carriers. She said last week the intent of the bill isnt to kill local efforts like the Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority, which also counts Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt counties in its members. Government should be cautious about building networks with taxpayer money that are better managed and maintained by private business.

Roanoke leaders say a particularly damaging aspect of the bill is its definition of areas unserved by high speed internet as those with service at speeds of 10 megabits per second or less, which they say is far too low. A speed of 5 mbps is enough to stream movies on Netflix.

That definition means municipal broadband would be barred in any area with access to internet speeds of that fast or higher. It also means that private carriers would only have to provide service at a speed just above that to keep municipal broadband from competing.

About 98 percent of the Roanoke Valley already has internet available at 10 mbps, according to data from Virginias Center for Innovative Technology, an economic development nonprofit group focused on technology. Even rural Bent Mountain is at 78 percent.

Ferris said city officials have feared for a couple of years that a bill like Byrons favoring legacy carriers would pop up.

He said the authority was created because area businesses said existing internet service was either too slow for their needs, too expensive, or both.

If we had private carriers willing to provide services at a competitive rate, Councilman Bill Bestpitch said, we would never have wanted to get into this business.

The bill as written doesnt just hurt the city of Roanoke, it hurts these localities where people are really hurting like the coalfields region, he said.

Councilman John Garland said he recently built a house to sell in Botetourt County and hes about to lose the sale of it because the buyers he found want to work from home and the DSL internet service available at the house isnt fast enough. Its comparable to what Byrons bill considers high speed, he said.

Nearly all of the city council, along with City Manager Chris Morrill and other staff, are going to Richmond early Wednesday to make the argument against the broadband bill, starting with a 9 a.m. news conference with the Virginia Municipal League.

City pools will open this summer

The council and Morrill also announced that any thought of not opening the citys two municipal pools at Washington Park and Fallon Park to find savings to address a $4 million budget shortfall has been abandoned.

At this point, we can take pools off the table, Morrill said. An agency that had been allocated federal Community Development Block Grant funds reported recently that they wont be able to spend that money this year, so it will be used for the pool repairs, he said.

The council had been asked by staff to make a decision on the pools by early February. The Washington Park pool is in need of $150,000 in repairs, and it costs about $80,000 to operate both pools. If it was councils choice to open the pools, staff need to know in time to retain a contractor to do the work at Washington Park. Similar work was done at Fallon Park five years ago.

Talk of closing the pools stirred numerous comments to council members in favor of keeping them open. Tuesday, Brenda Hale, president of the Roanoke branch of the NAACP, told the council her organization favored keeping them open.

That prompted Ferris to ask Morrill to update the situation. While Vice Mayor Anita Price and Garland were vocal in their support for the pools, council members said Tuesday they all wanted to keep the pools open and directed Morrill to find a way to do it.

Amtrak on time for October launch

Amtrak passenger rail service out of Roanoke is on track to begin in October after a final council action Tuesday to clear the way for construction of the boarding platform and track siding for the train.

The council approved granting an easement allowing Norfolk Southern Railway to build a retaining wall on the right of way for Norfolk Avenue downtown.

The wall is necessary to allow construction of the tracks where the train will stop, adjacent to platform that will run along Norfolk Avenue between Jefferson and Second Streets.

The easement was the last action necessary by the city to allow the project to go forward. Previously, city officials have said generally that Amtrak would come to Roanoke in the fall of 2017, but Tuesday during discussion at the council meeting, city leaders said it would begin in October.
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Three members of the Bath County Board of Supervisors cannot be legally removed from office based on a revolt by angry voters, a judge ruled Wednesday.

In dismissing petitions that sought to remove the supervisors, Circuit Judge John Wetsel ruled that a violation of the states open meeting law, one of the complaints raised by critics, was not enough to merit the drastic step of having the judicial system override the results of an election.

The polls not the courts are the proper forum within which to contest the substantive actions complained of in this case, Wetsel wrote in an order.

Petitions filed in November by a group of county citizens asked the court to remove supervisors Claire Collins, Richard Byrd and Stuart Hall from office, alleging neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties.

The petitions claimed that the board violated the Virginia Freedom of Information Act when it voted 4-1 to eliminate the countys director of tourism position after an illegally closed meeting.

Critics said the decision was motivated by personal grudges harbored by the three supervisors against the woman who held the position, Maggie Anderson, and her husband, Wayne, who worked with her on an economic development project.

But in his opinion, Wetsel found that violations of FOIA are not sufficient to justify the removal of a public official, in part because the act carries its own enforcement penalties.

Under Virginia law, a judge can be asked to consider removing an elected official after a petition is submitted bearing signatures from registered voters that total at least 10 percent of the number who cast votes in the last election for the official.

The process is rarely used; successful removals are even more rare.

Of course, the board members are very happy with the judges ruling, said Jim Cornwell, a Christiansburg attorney who represented Collins, Byrd and Hall. They feel like its a vindication of their position that they did nothing wrong.

Cornwell said the number of voters who signed the removal petitions  it only took 112 in the sparsely populated county to meet the legal requirement  did not indicate a groundswell of opposition to the three supervisors since their elections in November 2015.

Organizers of the removal efforts have said they believe the votes by Collins, Byrd and Hall were motivated by anger at the Andersons for withholding from the board the name of a company that was considering locating in Bath County.

At the time, Maggie Anderson was also the countys director of economic development, and Wayne Anderson served as chairman of the Economic Development Authority. The Andersons have said they were bound by a confidentiality agreement during their negotiations with Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, which ultimately decided to build a mill to make staves for whiskey barrels in the countys industrial park.

After a hearing last week in Bath County Circuit Court, Collins said the Speyside matter had nothing to do with the boards vote.

A fourth board member who voted to eliminate the tourism job was not included in the removal efforts after he resigned in the wake of public outcry over the decision. Also not targeted was Supervisor Eddy Hicklin, who cast the lone dissenting vote and later said the board had no reason to eliminate Maggie Andersons job, considering what she had accomplished for the county.

The supervisors had also maintained in court that they did not violate FOIA when they convened in closed session at their Sept. 13 meeting before voting in public to eliminate the tourism position.

FOIA allows governing bodies to meet behind closed doors for certain reasons, including personnel discussions about a specific employee. It was during an evaluation of the county administrator that the board decided to assign him additional duties, including overseeing the tourism efforts, Cornwell said in written arguments asking that the case be dismissed.

The petitioners, however, argued that the board used the personnel exemption to conceal from public view their reasons for eliminating Maggie Andersons job.

Alleghany County Commonwealths Attorney Ed Stein, who was appointed to represent the petitioners, said he has advised them that they can still challenge the closed session. Under the law that covers open records and meetings, offenders can be subject to a fine in a separate civil proceeding  the avenue that Wetsel cited in his order as the reason why a FOIA violation alone cannot be used to remove a public official.

Bruce McWilliams, a former member of the board of supervisors who helped organize the removal efforts, said Wednesday that regardless of the judges decision, the citizens have spoken.

It has shown that there is accountability to constituents from the supervisors and more than one avenue for constituents to correct poor decisions by the board, McWilliams wrote in an email.

If we as a county have done nothing more than bring new voices to the community conversation, then we have been successful.
Kenneth Lowell (Kenny) Bess, 81, of Draper passed away on Friday afternoon, January 13, 2017 while doing what he loved, working in the yard and visiting family and friends. Kenny was born in Hix, W.Va., on July 25, 1935, to parents, Jacob Houston Bess and Mary Elizabeth Carter. His family moved to Fairlawn in 1942 and subsequently attended Dublin and Radford High schools. Kenny enlisted in the United States Army in 1954. On June 12, 1954, Kenny married Peggy Louise Jennings in Draper, Va. His daughter Debbie was born while the family was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and his daughter Susie was born while stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. He completed two tours in West Germany with his family. Kenny was also a combat veteran. He served in the Republic of Korea as well as tours of duty in Thailand and Vietnam during the Vietnam Conflict. He received numerous citations and commendations during his career culminating with the award of the Meritorious Service Medal upon his retirement as a Master Sergeant on March 1, 1974. Kenny returned home to Draper and started a second career with Branch Highway in 1975 as heavy equipment mechanic and operator. Due to his exceptional work ethic and technical expertise, he was rapidly promoted to Master Mechanic. He was involved in the successful completion of numerous highway projects throughout the eastern region of the United States and subsequently retired from Branch in 2001. Kenny's life epitomized his love of god, country and family. After his military and professional careers, he selflessly served his community. He was an extremely active member of Draper United Methodist Church, Draper Ruritans Club, and volunteered at the Daily Bread. Kenny served on the Draper Volunteer Fire Department for over 35 years. Kenny loved staying active at home. He was always tinkering in his shop or working around the family property. Wood working was a great joy to him and he completed numerous pieces of furniture and other projects for family and friends alike. One of his greatest pleasures was buying and restoring a 1954 Ford pickup truck which he entered in many local car shows. Over the past two years, Kenny has completely renovated his first home in Draper. Most importantly, Kenny cherished each opportunity to spend time with family and friends from hosting an annual Thanksgiving dinner to attending a grandchild's dance recital to sharing a private conversation. Kenny is survived by his wife of 62 years Peggy; daughters Debbie Cain and Susie and her husband Jim McGuire; sister Janice and her husband Lawrence Duncan; brother Jackie and his wife Penny Bess; grandsons Jamie and Jason Windle, Michael and his wife Pam Cain, and Bobby and his wife Joanna Cain; step-grandchildren Megan and Brandon McGuire; great grandchildren Diamond and Michael Windle, Haley and Emily Cain; O'shea Nowland, Tony Chavez and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will take place at Steven's Funeral Home, Pulaski, on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, from 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be at Stevens Funeral Home on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 11 a.m. The Reverend RuthAnne Henley will perform the service. Burial with Full Army Honors will take place at the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin. Flowers or a donation to the Draper United Methodist Church in Kenny's honor are greatly welcome. Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home, Pulaski, VA.
AngloGold Ashanti mulls 30% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030 AngloGold Ashanti has come up with a new carbon emissions reduction target which seeks to achieve a 30% absolute reduction in its Scope 1 and Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2030, as compared to 2021. This will be achieved through a combination...

Lucara Q3 revenue, output drop Lucara Diamond, which wholly owns the Karowe mine in Botswana, realised $49.9 million in revenues in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $72.7 million in the comparative quarter. The revenue includes $46.5 million from the sale of 99,301 carats and...

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.
A Zimbabwean State media columnist said to be President Robert Mugabes spokesperson has claimed that the countrys strongman lied last year about the alleged theft of diamonds worth $15 billion from Marange to push for the consolidation of mining companies.

Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) was set up early last year under the guise of plugging revenue leakages.

Erstwhile diamond miners were pushed out after the majority of them refused to form part of the consolidated company.

Writing over the weekend under the pen name Nathaniel Manheru, Mugabes spokesperson George Charamba, claimed his boss told him and another person responsible for informing the great one that the massive diamond revenue leakage was a fib.

According to Manheru, Mugabe burst into laughter when asked to confirm the alleged $15 billion theft of diamonds from the country.

Mugabe asked the reporter what was the value of rough diamonds traded worldwide last year, and he answered it was about $14 billion.

"That is a figure I just mentioned so that it might sound tarrying,"  Mugabe says. "I wanted to dramatise the need for us to take total control of our diamond resource; to ensure full accountability of its exploitation, and I achieved the national focus I wanted".



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




TransEd Partners

London Trackwork Inc., a supplier of rail transit track components, has been awarded a contract for special trackwork for Canadas Valley Line light-rail transit project in Edmonton, AB.

The supplier says it will need about a year and a half to two years to complete the contract work, which includes Number 6 and 8 geometry turnouts with single and double crossovers along the mainline.

The Valley Line projects phase one is the 8.08-mile southeast portion of the line that is being built first. The first phase of the project will include 12 stations and is being designed, built, operated and maintained by TransEd Partners for 30 years, representatives say.

The project is intended to enhance Edmontons overall transportation network.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Tuesday said it agreed to buy SimpliVity, a provider of software-defined, hyperconverged infrastructure, for $650 million in cash.

The hyperconverged market was estimated to be about $2.4 billion in 2016, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 25 percent, to nearly $6 billion, by 2020, the company said.

HPE believes that by combining its infrastructure, automation and cloud management software with SimpliVity's software-defined data management platform will help the company deliver the industry's only "built-for-enterprise" hyperconverged offering.

"This transaction expands HPE's software-defined capability and fits squarely within our strategy to make Hybrid IT simple for customers," said Meg Whitman, President and CEO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise. "More and more customers are looking for solutions that bring them secure, highly resilient, on-premises infrastructure at cloud economics. That's exactly where we're focused."

HPE expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings in the first full fiscal year. The company expects to closed the deal in the second quarter, subject to regulatory review and approval.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The following are some of the biotech stocks that made their way onto the Day's Gainers & Losers' list of January 17, 2017.

GAINERS

1. Pulmatrix Inc. (PULM)

Gained 127.97% to close Tuesday's (Jan.17) trading at $1.55.

News: The company's drug candidate PUR1900, for treating fungal infections in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients, has been designated as a "Qualified Infectious Disease Product" by the FDA. PUR1900 is under preclinical testing.

2. Benitec Biopharma Limited (BNTC)

Gained 62.16% to close Tuesday's trading at $3.00.

News: The company's BB-301, a ddRNAi therapeutic in development for the treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the European Medicines Agency.

BB-301 is currently in preclinical development and Benitec plans to initiate IND-enabling studies later this year.

3. Forward Pharma A/S (FWP)

Gained 48.23% to close Tuesday's trading at $27.20.

News: The company has entered into a Settlement and License Agreement with Biogen over multiple sclerosis drug Tecfidera.

Biogen will pay Forward Pharma a non-refundable cash fee of $1.25 billion, 10% of net sales of Tecfidera beginning in 2021, and 20% of net sales beginning in 2029, as part of the Settlement and License Agreement. Tecfidera is one of Biogen's key drugs and it brought home sales of $1.03 billion in Q3, 2016.

In 2014, Forward Pharma had sued Biogen seeking damages for Biogen's unlawful sales of Tecfidera in Germany.

However, the License agreement does not resolve the other patent suits between the two companies.

4. BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (BVXV)

Gained 41.73% to close Tuesday's trading at $5.23.

News: No news

Last week, a study published in Vaccine Journal indicated that BiondVax's universal flu vaccine candidate M-001 may cover strains which don't yet exist.

The company reported positive preliminary safety results from its European Phase 2b clinical trial of M-001 last November.

5. Pernix Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (PTX)

Gained 15.77% to close Tuesday's trading at $3.23.

News: No news

Anticipated event: Q4 and Full-year 2016 financial results to be reported on March 8, 2017.

6. Tandem Diabetes Care Inc. (TNDM)

Gained 14.58% to close Tuesday's trading at $2.75.

News: No news

Anticipated event: Q4 and Full-year 2016 financial results to be reported on February 22, 2017.

The non-GAAP sales of the company are expected to be in the range of $85 million to $90 million. The consensus forecast amongst analysts covering Thomson Reuters is $86.55 million.

7. Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (AEZS)

Gained 13.73% to close Tuesday's trading at $2.90

News: No news

Near-term catalyst: Top-line results from phase III trial of Zoptrex in endometrial cancer are expected to be released this quarter (Q1, 2017).

8. Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INFI)

Gained 10.67% to close Tuesday's trading at $1.66.

News: No news

Near-term catalysts: The company has set itself a couple of goals to be achieved this year.

- Present preclinical and clinical data from a Phase 1 study of IPI-549 in patients with advanced solid tumors at the upcoming PI3K Keystone Symposia Conference in January 2017

- Report Phase 1 data from the monotherapy dose-escalation phase as well as the IPI-549 plus Opdivo dose-escalation phase in 2017

- Complete the dose-escalation phase evaluating IPI-549 monotherapy in the first half of 2017

- Begin enrolling patients with advanced solid tumors in the monotherapy expansion cohort during the second half of 2017

- Complete the dose-escalation combination phase evaluating IPI-549 plus Opdivo in the second half of 2017

- Begin enrolling patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in combination expansion cohorts evaluating IPI-549 plus Opdivo in the second half of 2017.

9. Tenax Therapeutics Inc. (TENX)

Gained 10.63% to close Tuesday's trading at $2.29.

News: No news

Near-term catalyst: The top-line data from the company's phase III LEVO-CTS trial in cardiac surgery is anticipated this month.

The LEVO-CTS trial is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study that is evaluating the use of Levosimendan administered before and during cardiac surgery to reduce the incidence of low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) and associated morbidity and mortality.

LOSERS

1. Alcobra Ltd. (ADHD)

Lost 50.66% to close Tuesday's trading at $0.94.

News: The company's second phase III clinical trial of investigational product Metadoxine Extended Release (MDX) for the treatment of ADHD in adult patients did not meet the primary endpoint.

The trial, dubbed MEASURE, did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference from placebo in the change from baseline of the investigator rating of the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS).

2. EnteroMedics Inc. (ETRM)

Lost 35.04% to close Tuesday's trading at $8.90.

News: No news

The stock has been on the decline since touching a high of $30.41 on January 10, 2017.

3. Pfenex Inc. (PFNX)

Lost 15.52% to close Tuesday's trading at $7.62.

News: No news

Near-term catalyst: A pivotal trial of PF708 is pending initiation. PF708 is being developed through the 505(b)(2) regulatory development pathway, and the clinical program is expected to include an immunogenicity/pharmacokinetic study in subjects with osteoporosis.

4. Concert Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CNCE)

Lost 13.94% to close Tuesday's trading at $9.01.

News: The company provided further details on the development plan in the U.S. and Europe for CTP-656.

Near-term catalysts:

- A phase II trial of CTP-656 in cystic fibrosis patients in Europe is expected to be initiated in the second quarter of 2017.

- The top-line results from an ongoing Phase 2 trial of CTP-656 in cystic fibrosis patients being conducted at multiple U.S. are expected by year-end 2017.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The New Zealand dollar strengthened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Wednesday after dairy product prices inched higher at the Global Dairy Trade auction held overnight.

The GDT price index rose 0.6 percent to US$3,517, up from US$3,463 at the previous auction two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, investors digested U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's remarks on the U.S. dollar strength and British Prime Minister Theresa May's statement that her country will leave the European single market when it quits the European Union.

Tuesday, the NZ dollar showed mixed trading against its major rivals. While the kiwi rose against the U.S. dollar, the euro and the Australian dollar, it held steady against the yen.

In the Asian trading, the NZ dollar rose to a 2-day high of 81.52 against the yen and more than a 1-month high of 1.4831 against the euro, from yesterday's closing quotes of 81.24 and 1.4845, respectively. If the kiwi extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 84.00 against the yen an d 1.46 against the euro.

Against the Australian dollar, the kiwi advanced to an 8-day high of 1.0465 from yesterday's closing value of 1.0486. The kiwi may test resistance around the 1.03 region.

Meanwhile, the kiwi fell to 0.7189 against the U.S. dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 0.7214. The kiwi is likely to find support around the 0.70 area.

Looking ahead, the German final CPI for December is due to be released in the pre-European session at 2:00 am ET.

At 3:45 am ET, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will discuss the priorities of Malta's rotating EU presidency with EU Parliament, in Strasbourg, France.

U.K. jobs data for November, Eurozone construction output for November and final CPI data for December are slated for release later in the day.

At 5:30 am ET, ECB Board Member Daniele Nouy will deliver a speech at WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management in Koblenz, Germany.

In the New York session, U.S. NAHB house price index for January, U.S. CPI for December and industrial production for December are slated for release.

At 9:00 am ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan will participate in a panel before the University of Texas at Austin 2017 Business Forecast, in Dallas.

At 11:00 am ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari is expected to speak about the at the Minneapolis Urban League, in Minneapolis.

At 11:15 am ET, Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz and Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Wilkins will hold a press conference to discuss the contents of the monetary policy report, in Ottawa.

At 2:00 pm ET, Federal Reserve's Beige book report is set to be published.

At 3:00 pm ET, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen will deliver a speech titled "The Goals of Monetary Policy and How We Pursue Them" at the Commonwealth Club, in San Francisco.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Forex News
President meets tribal sheikhs



SANA'A, Jan. 18 (Saba)  President of the Supreme Political Council Saleh Al-Sammad met on Wednesday at the presidential palace in Sana'a number sheikhs and social figures of Mokha District.



Al-Sammad expressed his pleasure to meet with the representatives of Mokha District citizens who are considering a live example of Yemeni community which is facing and resisting the US-Saudi aggression with a high national spirit and a strong will and faith from the deep faith. He said that Mokha people have been succeeded in resisting the most aggressive aggression and the barbaric siege imposed on Yemen.



He confirmed that the massacres committed by the aggression in Mokha are shocking but the fixed and strong will community there has foiled aggression plans, pointing out that the world today is suffering from Saudi Arabia and its negative role, as we are suffering from through its American plan which is implementing in Yemen.



Pointing out that the aggression goals are the same ones of the old aggression on Mocha and all the western cost of Yemen that took place in the seventies of the last century which aim at looting Yemen capabilities and potentials.



Al-Sammad directed the National Salvation Government to evaluate the overall situation in Mocha district in the soonest and to provide the deprived people there with the needed humanitarian assistance.



For his part, the member of the Supreme Political Council Sultan Alsamei confirmed that this meeting with Mokha people representatives is a recognition and appreciation of their heroic role in facing the aggression and the challenges they bravely passed over despite the barbaric destructive weapons that targeted the district, Mokha citizens proved that they are able to face the aggression and to continue the challenge to reach the victory.



Mokha sheikhs and dignitaries expressed their pleasure of the meeting, pointing out that they inspired their steadfastness and firmness from their faith of the Yemeni people entire right to live in freedom and independence, peace and stability. They also said that they are standing firmly to back up the army and the popular committees in their defense on Yemen.





TN-ZaK



SABA

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[18/January/2017]
Last year was a record-breaker for global investment in renewable energy, and the trend is expected to continue

You might find this interesting.[COLOR=#5b5b5b !important][/COLOR]By Willow WhiteJuly 18, 2016doesnt sound like much. But thats all it took to make 2015 a record-breaking year for global investment in renewable energy, which last year topped $329 billion. And though it may surprise most environmentalists, the oil and gas industry played a significant role in that year-over-year increaseand theyre on track to do it again in 2016. The truth is, however, theyve been at it for a while.Lets rewind for a moment to the 1970s. Exxon is then studying the first lithium-ion battery, an innovation that will drive the solar storage industry, and Chevron is investing in two massive geothermal projects in the Philippines. Today, Chevron is one of the largest producers of geothermal power globally and the company provides clean energy to millions of people in the developing world. The industry continues to invest in renewables despite an abundance of cheap oil. In the fall of 2015, Total announced plans to invest $500 million per year into developing clean energy.We should be widening the sources of energy, not limiting them.Rick George, former CEO of SuncorOf course, investing in renewables helps the industry gain social license, but its not all about good PR. When you peel back the politics, the relationship between oil and gas companies and renewable energy development is a natural one. The industry has capital to invest and a wealth of technological expertisenot to mention experience with the deployment of huge energy projects, and engagement with the communities where these projects are.Enbridge and TransCanada, the countrys largest pipeline companies, both invest heavily in renewable energy. Enbridge may be known in the public mind as a pipeline company through-and-through, but the company owns 16 wind farms across North America, making it the second-largest wind power producer in Canada. Along the shores of the Great Lakes and in remote villages in Quebec, Enbridges wind turbines are prevalent. Meanwhile, TransCanadas energy portfolio is far more diverse, comprised of hydro, solar, nuclear and wind power. TransCanada is a joint-owner of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario, and while nuclear is not a renewable energy source, it is a very low carbon emitter. Today, the Bruce nuclear plant provides 30 percent of Ontarios power and TransCanada recently extended its agreement with the provinces Independent Electricity System Operator to keep the facility running until 2064.Furthermore, in 2011, TransCanada agreed to purchase nine solar facilities in Ontario from Canadian Solar Solutions for approximately $470 million. Terry Cunha, spokesperson for TransCanada, says that its just good business to have such a diverse energy mix. You need to have a combination of fossil fuels [and] renewables such as hydro, solar [and] wind as part of a total energy mix in order to be successful, he says.ongoing renewables projects, Canadian oil and gas and midstream companies continue to face the brunt of North American environmental criticism. While filming the Oscar-nominated filmnear Calgary in 2014, Leonardo DiCaprio was mocked by Albertans when he wrongfully mistook a gust of warm air as scary evidence of climate change due, at least in part, to Albertas oil sands. In actuality, the change in temperature was, as every Albertan knows, a Chinookthe warm wind that blows seasonally down from the Rocky Mountains. While DiCaprios remarks were harmless enough and elicited eye-rolls across the province, the comments fueled his growing anti-Canadian oil campaign as exemplified most recently in his speech at the 2016 World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to DiCaprios remarks after the forum, critiquing him for using inflamed rhetoric.But DiCaprio is no one-man show on the environment. Hes one of many celebrities who criticize Albertas oil sands yet remain silent on the efforts of the industry to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewables. Currently, Alberta has the third-largest wind market in Canada, with a total wind energy capacity of 1,500 MW, enough to power 625,000 homes per year. Many of these wind farms are owned by oil companies: Nexen jointly owns Soderglen wind farm in Fort Macleod along with TransAlta; Suncor and Acciona are part-owners of the Chin Chute and Magrath wind projects; and Enbridge owns the largest wind farm in Western Canada in Vulcan County. Canadas first commercial wind farm, which opened in 1993 in Cowley Ridge, Alberta, is still operating today. As the second province in Canada to begin phasing out coal power, Albertas wind market is expected to grow by thousands of megawatts over the next 10 years in order to fill some of the void left by coal.Albertas renewable energy influence goes beyond the provinces borders, as well. In 2004, Talisman Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) announced plans to build the first deepwater offshore wind turbine east of Scotland to test the feasibility of such a project. The Beatrice wind project was a success and electricity generated from it continues to power the nearby Beatrice oil platform. But, more significantly, the project verified the feasibility of building wind farms in deep water, sparking the development of similar projects, including Statoils first floating, deepwater turbine, built 10 kilometers off the southwest coast of Norway. The ground-breaking project now feeds Norways power grid and Statoil is in the midst of building five more floating turbines off the coast of Scotland.Imre Szeman, a Canadian research chair and professor at the University of Alberta, studies fossil fuels and the modern movement toward a renewable energy economy. He says hes glad to see oil and pipeline companies turn their attention more to renewables. Overall, its a positive thing, he says. They are energy companies, and just one of the energy sources that they deal with a lot right now is oil and gas.
Still Standing: Four the Moments legacy honoured at Nova Scotia Music Week

When a quartet of Halifax women began singing together a cappella in the name of social justice in 1982, there was little in the way of a music industry at play in Atlantic Canada. And even if there had been, its likely that Four the Moment would ...
By SA Commercial Prop News

Artist rendering the new Makro set to change the Alberton CBD, funded by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance who retains a significant equity stake in the development through its investment arm.



A ground breaking multimillion rand venture known as the Newmarket Park Development is set to change the Alberton CBD with the belief that it will bring even more development to this growing area.

Designed to benefit the surrounding community the project has commenced with the development of a new Makro store, which is being funded by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance who retains a significant equity stake in the development through its investment arm.



The Newmarket Park development has been made possible through a partnership between Nedbank Corporate Property Finances investment arm (acting through Linton Projects (Pty) Ltd) and Rejem Property Development (Pty) Ltd.



The Newmarket site measures approximately 77.3 hectares in extent  the size of around 106 rugby fields  and enjoys a good location as it is situated south-east of the CBD of Alberton. It is surrounded by well established residential areas. In addition to the Makro, a variety of other components are being considered, which will be constructed in more than one phase, resulting in a mixed-use development. At this stage, the first phase of the retail component will comprise a 30 000m retail centre, which is expected to be anchored by Checkers, says Ken Reynolds, regional executive: Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, Gauteng.



The Newmarket site holds a variety of rights, including rights to develop retail, offices, hotels, hospitals, and others.



Construction of the Makro store, situated on six hectares, has reached an advanced stage, with opening scheduled for 24 April 2013. This is the third Makro that Nedbank has financed this year.



On completion, the building will offer Makro retail warehousing space which includes an open floor or trading area, a separate liquor store, a butchery, chillers and an office component. It is estimated that the project will create 400 jobs during its construction phase and many permanent jobs when business commences.



Reynolds notes that Nedbank Corporate Property Finance has already provided funding to the Moolman Group to develop Makro Bloemfontein  the first of its kind in the Free State province, and has previously partnered with Eris Property Group to bring Makro Cape Gate in Brackenfell to the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town. Currently there are 18 Makro outlets countrywide trading in food, general merchandise and liquor.



Makro is the trading name for one of the trading divisions of Masstores (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Massmart Holding Ltd. Massmart is a JSE listed company in the Consumer Services Retail Sector and has solid future growth prospects, given its recent acquisition by the US giant Walmart, which now owns 51%.



The Massmart group comprises nine wholesale and retail chains and one buying group  330 stores and 633 buying group members. The focus is on high-volume, low-margin distribution and the group operates in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa through the Groups four operating divisions  Massdiscounters, Masswarehouse, Massbuild and Masscash.



Well known to Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, the Moolman Group is a successful developer who has worked with Massmart in the past as they roll out their Makro stores across the country. This project is just the start of the Newmarket Development and Nedbank is proud to be associated with such a promising venture. We look forward to future partnerships with Rejem, the Moolman Group and Makro, concludes Reynolds.
Fine speech - now call an election! PETER OBORNE says Mrs May should use her clear vision of Brexit to go to the country for a mandate to deliver it

Sky News poll: Britons back exit from the EU single market

By Peter Oborne For The Daily Mail 18 January 2017Just over six months ago, the country was left in chaos after David Cameron resigned as prime minister. Nobody knew what would follow.There were fears Britain would drift dangerously. We heard talk of economic Armageddon.This was because the Government (consisting almost wholly of Remainers) did not expect the referendum result , and because Leavers concentrated on winning the vote and didnt spell out detailed plans in the case of a Brexit victory.Such was the context for the sudden, swift and largely unexpected emergence of Theresa May as a steadying prime minister, chosen over more obviously brilliant figures, such as Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.Yesterdays speech showed why the Tories were wise to turn to unflappable Mrs May.Sane and solid, her speech set out a clear-sighted vision for Brexit. It was the best conceivable answer to critics and gives her the springboard to call a general election on this titanic issue.Indeed, I hope the arrogant and self-important Sir Ivan Roberts, who resigned earlier this month as UK ambassador to Brussels after rebuking the May government for muddled thinking, is now hanging his head in shame.There was nothing muddled about Mrs May yesterday. She was clear as a bell.Now, bitter Remainers such as Nick Clegg, who gloatingly described Sir Ivans departure as a body blow to Brexit plans, will have to find another line of attack.Like all good prime ministers, Mrs May listened before she spoke. She has lent an ear to other European leaders, to the City of London, to big business and to the British people. Indeed, there was something in her speech for everyone.But she was not only conciliatory. She did not shy away from hard decisions.Above all, there is now no doubt over what Mrs May famously declared when she became Prime Minister  to implement Brexit.Britain will leave the single market and search for a free trade agreement with the EU. And if we cant get that on reasonable terms, its not the end of the world.Most categorically, Mrs May made it plain that she is fully prepared to walk out of talks altogether, insisting: No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain.If EU leaders wont agree a fair trade deal with us, shes ready to sign up to the low-tariff rules of the World Trade Organisation  with the UK paying levies on exports to the EU, but at low, so-called most favoured nation rates.This tough-minded, unsentimental approach shows that Mrs May has learnt the lesson of the naive Mr Camerons failed negotiation attempts last year.Weakly, he was not prepared to gamble  to throw his hand in and walk away. As a result, he gained no worthwhile concessions, and had nothing to offer voters come referendum day.This was not, however, a faultless speech from Mrs May. I was disappointed that there was no mention of the need to rescue the embattled British fishing industry, which has lost so much to EU rivals ever since being betrayed by Prime Minister Edward Heaths decision to take Britain into the then Common Market in the early Seventies.Also, she could have gained the moral high ground if shed done more to emphasise that European citizens already living in Britain will not be affected when we leave the EU.It would have put huge pressure on the EU nations to respond in kind as far as British citizens living in their countries are concerned.Another criticism is that such an epoch-making speech should have been delivered in the House of Commons, rather than to a desultory gaggle of journalists and foreign diplomats.As the British people voted for Brexit, the route-map for deliverance should have been spread out in the cockpit of democracy.Mrs May has also left one vital matter unresolved: what happens if the Commons and Lords  who she conceded should be allowed to vote on the Brexit deal  reject it in two years time?If Parliament blocked her proposals, she would almost certainly call a general election.But why wait for that possible eventuality? Now is the perfect moment to seize the initiative.With such a clear and responsible vision, Mrs May ought to use it to go to the country and ask for a mandate to implement that policy.A victory for Mrs May in an April general election  which shed undoubtedly achieve with a thumping majority  would not only make her position stronger within Westminster, but also give more fire-power to her negotiations abroad.Truly, a great fight lies ahead.Mrs May faces fierce opposition in Europe. Her own civil servants are mutinous and many diplomats are in denial. A cross-party coalition of Clegg, George Osborne and Peter Mandelson is plotting. Teamed up with big business and a recalcitrant House of Lords, its clear the British Establishment is out on manoeuvres.In March, the Prime Minister will trigger Article 50  firing the starting gun for Brexit negotiations.Now that Theresa May has set out her vision for Brexit, she should put it to the British people for approval in a general election.She may come to bitterly regret it if she does not.
Schmidt ad says Democrats helping Pyle "trying to steal" governor's race

Attorney General Derek Schmidt's campaign has hit out with a radio ad saying "national Democrats are trying to steal the Kansas governor's race."
Brexit will deal a 'shock' to the EU's budget, Brussels think-tank warns as it says there is 'no easy way' to replace Britain's 8.5bn a year contributions

By Matt Dathan, Political Correspondent For Mailonline 18 January 2017The EU must brace itself for a 'shock' when it comes to filling the hole in its budget left by Britain's 10billion (8.5bn) a year contributions, a Brussels think-tank has warned.The remaining 27 member states will have to decide whether to increase their share of budget contributions, cut spending or a combination of the two, the report said.But the research by the Jacques Delors Institute warned there is 'no easy way to fill the " Brexit gap" of around 10billion per year'.It will pit rich and poor member states against each other in what could become a hostile budget war in the upcoming negotiations on the bloc's income, set for next year, the report said.This prospect 'spells trouble' for the budget negotiations. Net contributors such as Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden have complained in the past at having to pay extra payments to subsidise nations such as Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.The policy paper, titled 'Brexit and the EU Budget: Threat or Opportunity,' warns: 'It is clear that Brexit will deal a shock to the EU budget.'It adds: 'Overall, we find that Brexit could have a quite significant, although not devastating, impact on the EU budget and would likely deepen the existing cleavage between net contributors and net recipients.'This poses a number of tough challenges for the EU but could also support efforts to reform the current system.'Detailing the scale of the hole in EU finances, the policy paper says: 'We estimate that the Brexit gap in the budget would amount to approximately 10 billion per year.'The EU Member States need to decide whether to adjust to this shortfall by (1) increasing national contributions, (2) cutting spending, or (3) a combination of the two. We draw up scenarios that illustrate the consequences of each option for individual countries.'
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is in Japan this week.

He is among leaders from the Pacific countries who are in Tokyo to discuss the Pacific regions development partnership with Japan.

The meeting is one of several precursors to Japans eighth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (P.A.L.M) to be held in 2018.

Japan has been holding the summit every three years since 1997. Tuilaepa is the only leader in the Pacific who has not missed a meeting.

This week, Samoa is among 16 countries expected to attend the meeting which will review progress since the last summit and prepare for the next one.

Speaking on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum chair the Federated States of Micronesias foreign secretary, Lorin Robert, said he was looking forward to discussing the Pacifics relations with Japan in the areas of climate change and ocean management.

In a statement the Forum secretariat said, in the context of sustainable development, Pacific island countries were also seeking Japans support through the World Bank for an expansion of the definition of fragility to include vulnerability to climate change, economic equity, access, and geographical and environmental challenges.
The St. Marys Old Girls Association (S.M.O.G.A) has a new President. She is Arieta Teo Viliamu who has taken over from outgoing President, Julia Schmidt Solofa.

The change over was made official during S.M.O.G.As Annual General Meeting held at the school compound in the end of last year.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Ms. Viliamu said she is overwhelmed and humbled by the faith placed in her by S.M.O.G.A members.

A student of the Class of 1995, Ms. Viliamu said she did not expect to be promoted to such a role at this point.

But the mother of six who runs her own business is excited nonetheless about the future.

Its an honour to be appointed. I cant reject the decision made by the association and the sisters. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I am excited and I am looking forward to all that this year will bring.

Ms. Viliamu said its too early to talk about what she plans to do.

I know there is a lot to be done but we need to discuss this first with the S.M.O.G.A girls, she said.

Top of the list though is to increase the membership of the Association.

We want to revive the interest in the students and former students to join the Association, she said.

What I have seen is that every year all the girls are contributing to the association in everything that we do but in terms of their participation, its lacking. So we need to change that. We need to increase the participation and revive that interest and passion again.

In terms of projects, S.M.O.G.A members have been working hard to find chairs and tables for the school.

The Association is set to present 200 chairs and 15 folded tables to the school. The project cost $29,950.00.

We will present the stuff to the school on the first week of school and hopefully by that time the rail and the repainting of the school will be done by then.

All the money that we spent on this project was from the 60th celebration that we commemorated last year.

The new President said they would also consider looking at ways to improve the teaching of Maths and Science and other subjects.

As the new president I want to thank the former President Julia Schmidt Solofa and her board members for a job well done in the past year, she said.

They have worked very hard to come up with some excellent developments for the betterment of the association. I hope we as the new team will do as well as them for this year.
Meet Ioane Sua from the village of Gagaifolevao-Lefaga.

He is a rarity. Aged 23, Ioane is a strong believer that serving your elders is the most rewarding job on earth.

While many boys his age are rushing off to Apia to be employed and earn big money, Ioane has dedicated himself to looking after his parents and grandfather until they are called home.

He told the Village Voice that does his best every day to take care his family, as he is the only male youth in the house.

Right now, I am the only male in the family besides my father, said Ioane.

So my family depend on me to do a lot of things for my family.

Ive been taught that we get blessings if we honor, respect and take care of our elders. And Ive seen it happen with some people and for me, thats all I want to do.

Ive also been told that these blessings will continue on to my children if I do the job well.

And for me, thats my main goal in life. I dedicate my life to serving and taking care of my elders to the best of my ability, and we will see what happens.

I know its not much, but I do my best to make sure that theres food to eat and that my parents and my grandfather are well-taken care of.

And as a youth, Ioane said the behaviors of some of the youths nowadays sadden him.

People say that we are the strength of the village (malosi o le nuu) but this is not the case anymore for some of the youths.

We see them causing troubles in public places and most of them are wasting their energies and times doing useless stuffs.

I am not saying all of them (youths) are behaving in such ways, only some of them.

But it is not a good thing. Our families depend on us, we are the future of our families.

And this is the time for us to prepare for the future. What will do you give to your children if you just roam around now doing nothing but cause fights in public places?

Ioane believes that technology and western ways is the main reason why some youths are addicted to these sort of behaviours.

The reason why they behave like that is because they see it happen in other countries around the world. 

And since they have access to internet and technology, they think its cool to copy the kids living overseas.

They think they will become famous if they form up gangs and fight with other boys on the streets.

But I think they should be spending time with their families and help out their parents. If they dont have jobs, there are other options for them to choose from.

But then again, its up to them. This is just my own opinion.
The implementation of the governments decision to limit the age of imported vehicles from twelve to eight years has been pushed back.

Contrary to reports that the law becomes effective this week, Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the start date has been pushed back to April.

The change means no car below the manufactured year of 2009 can be brought into the country.

Speaking to the media, Tuilaepa said Cabinet has taken into consideration the requests from local car dealers who have already made orders for cars to be imported to Samoa and will arrive in March.

So Cabinet has made a decision to wait for these cars to arrive in March and then we will start this new law in April, he said. You see, what a loving Cabinet we have?

But Tuilaepa said the law change is necessary. He said one of the reasons is because of the quality of cars we have in Samoa.

I always feel sorry for other old men with their new cars, it usually dont last long, he said. It wont be long until you see the car riding on him instead of him riding in his car because of the quality of the tyres and car parts."

And that is why we came up with this new law. We want cars that will last three years without a single problem in relation to car parts or parts that need to be replaced.

Asked about the cars manufactured 12 years ago that are already in Samoa, Tuilaepa said the car dealers should drop their prices.

If you want fast sales of cars, the only way to do it is to drop the prices. That way the car dealers can get money as well."

There is nothing to worry about because its not like they wont sell those cars. But the only way to do that is to have a discount especially for those who are not well-off like us. The reason why its expensive its because they sell their cars at a very high price but the cars are not new.

Last week, the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Papalii Niko Lee Hang, defended the governments decision.

Were doing what we have to do for the benefit of our people, Papalii told the Samoa Observer.

Its also with climate change in mind. We have to make sure that we dont get a lot of cars polluting the air through carbon emissions. We get that from old vehicles because they blow out black fumes."

The other thing is that as you can see, the roads are so congested, there are so many cars. Thats because people can afford cheap cars for $12,000, $10,000 but then I am sure they wont last. Maybe theyll have them for a few years and then thats it.

Papalii was asked for a comment in response to a call by a New Zealand based lawyer, Haseeb Ashraf, who urged the government to reconsider its decision.

Speaking on behalf of their family business, Apia Motors, Mr. Ashraf said the government has forced them to reconsider their operation in Samoa.

Its going to be very difficult for not only us, but many members in the industry to survive, he said. We are reviewing our options and one of those options is packing up. Thats very unfortunate because we employ locals, we give a lot business, and we pay taxes and everything.

Papalii said Apia Motors decision to leave is theirs to make.

If they want to leave then they can leave, the Minister said. We have to try and ensure that this is not a dumping ground for old cars so we need to change. We need to go forward and I dont see the problem with it, its just changing the year to ensure that we get better cars."

We will get newer cars because were changing the quality from twelve to eight years. So we will be getting newer cars that are four years better. People complain because it doesnt satisfy them.
Latu Faigata, 63 years old from the village of Saleaumua, knows that nothing is impossible with God.

Speaking to the Village Voice, he says this is the only way Samoa can address the issue of the deteriorating crime rate and social problems.

We have so many crimes in Samoa nowadays, said Latu.

And its sad to see that most of these crimes are caused by our children or the youths of this country.

For us back then, our lives began in very small fales (houses). Life was simple and peaceful back then. We didnt have cars, but we were so happy and there were hardly any troubles.

But we were grateful and we had the best times of our lives with just simple things we had back then.

However, there have been a lot of changes in Samoa. The lifestyle is different. But that is understandable because we are moving forward.

He went on to say that greed is one of the contributing factors.

Like I mentioned before, life was simple and simple. We were also grateful and happy with what we had.

But with all the new things and new lifestyle we have now, some of us are now attracted to it and are being tempted to get these things using the wrong ways.

Thats why they think stealing things is the best thing for them.

He also listed unemployment as one of the contributing factors.

Some of these youths are not employed; therefore, they dont have money to buy the things they want to buy.

And this is something we really need to consider. If our youths keep causing crimes, we, the elders are worried about what will happen in the future.

However, Latu believes the solution to these problems is found at home.

I believe that one of the reasons why these things are happening is the breakdown in family values.

If parents should devote their time with their children and talk to them often, then they wouldnt be doing things like these.

The close relationship the children are out there causing troubles is because the parents are not keeping them under their watch.

I also believe that if our children are at home all the time, then they wont be doing things like these. They wont end up in jail as well.

Teach them young and they will grow up in the right way and the right path.
The father of a Samoan woman who claims to be carrying the marks of Jesus Christs suffering could be stood down from being a Pastor of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S).

The Samoa Observer understands that the future of Reverend Opapo Soanai, who currently looks after the Siufaga C.C.C.S, is under scrutiny.

A source said the issue is being considered by the Elders Committee.

Repeated attempts to get a comment from the Chairman of the Committee, Reverend Tavita Anesone were unsuccessful.

Rev. Soanai told the Samoa Observer he is aware of the reports but as of yesterday he was still the Minister at Siufaga.

As of today, I havent received any confirmation or official word from the Church in relation to the issue, he said.

We (are) still with the Matagaluega and we are still pastoring here at Siufaga. Thats all I can say for now. Maybe its better to get an official comment from the Elders of the church.

The Samoa Observer was told that one of the issues is the difference of opinions at the Matagaluega Falelatai. Members of the Matagaluega are apparently divided over whether Rev. Soanai should continue at Siufaga.

Contacted for a comment, Reverend Elder Tautiaga Senara declined. He said it would be better to get a comment from the Elders Committee.

Last year, Rev. Soanais daughter, Toaipuapua Opapo Patrick, claimed to be experiencing the passion of the Christ and was carrying the marks of Jesus Christs suffering.

Rev. Soanai has been a strong supporter of his daughter who has since converted to Catholicism. He accompanied her to Rome recently where her stigmata claims are being investigated.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer last year, Toa said converting to the Catholic faith is the only way she can continue her mission from God.

I am a messenger and I want to continue the work that I have been sent to do, she said.

I know the majority of the people misunderstand almost everything I say, they twist it. But being chosen by God as a messenger is something I did not ask for. He chooses whoever he wants as a messenger.

Toa said she could not wait for the leadership of the C.C.C.S to make up their minds about accepting her and most importantly the messages she was receiving from God.

We dont have that much time to prepare and get things done because God gave us this mission to complete right on time, she said. So we dont want to just sit around and wait for everyone to agree. We wanted to continue our mission and I feel this is the only way.

She added that while she continues to be fully supportive of her parents' work as Church Ministers of the C.C.C.S, some recent developments have left her with no choice but to become a Catholic.

The elders of the church (C.C.C.S) are trying to stop us from spreading the messages and my father was instructed to distant himself from whats going on with me, she said.

He was told to remove the statues from inside the church.

Toa said she feels sad about this.

God didnt say which religion is true and which is not, there is only one Church before God and that involves people who believe in him.

Its not doing what makes you happy but its about doing what you are called to do.
Lyricist, dancer and now rapper Naldo Clarence is taking the stage by storm.

Having won the top prize at Americas Performing Arts Programme in Orlando and catching the eye of a number of talents agencies, the 15-year-old is definitely a name to remember

On holiday with his family in Samoa, the Samoa Observer caught up with the rising star. Of Samoan and Trinidadian bloodline, Naldo hails from the village of Fugalei.

He was absolutely ecstatic to be present to witness the amazing talent Samoa has to offer and perform in front of his people at TV1s Samoas Best Dance Crew last Saturday.

They actually impressed me, the competition was really high quality. I didnt really expect that. Ive seen dance routines and it was really good. They did really well, he said.

The young star performed his single When I Get Famous during the event which had the crowd up on their feet grooving to his creative rhymes.

It was a different crowd. I couldnt really see them. You dont really see crowd when you perform especially because I had shades and it was dark. The vibe was good. When they were cheering, it was really good.

About the song, he shared with the Samoa Observer the creative process behind it.

I couldnt find a subject because usually you find a subject before you write a song. I was kind of stuck with an instrumental.

Then I came up with Im going to tell the world what I do when I become famous. So then I decided to name the song, When I Get Famous and I wrote off that and tell the world what Im going to do when I get famous.

Naldo says he pulls his influences from 90s rappers such as legendary Tupac, Notorious B.I.G as well as underground artists.

In terms of rap, I like TuPac. I know he can get a little explicit but hes poetic with the way he writes so I just try to follow that into rap.

I also like some underground artist like Hobson, hes another inspiration. Eminem and Biggie Small, theyre my inspirations.

And just like the title of his song, the main goal for this young teen is to become famous.

In terms of goals, I want the whole world to know my name. I want to get to that point where everyone wants a photo, you know how like all the superstars are.

I think my main goal is to make steps from here to be famous. I want to go out into the street and everybody knows you, that kind of famous. I want to be known as a lyricist as well. I want to inspire through rap.

But being an artist wasnt always at the top of Naldos agenda.

It wasnt my first route. I started playing sport and dancing was my secondary and just like a hobby. I just naturally turned to dancing. Whenever they started playing music I just danced to it but then I found out sport wasnt for me and I didnt know what to go into and then I started writing these diary entries just to express my feelings. And then I started writing to rhyme.

I wasnt planning to head into a career in dance. It was just that I can dance and when a gig comes up Ill dance there. Thats where I started, I entered Talent Quest as a dancer and then I made it to the grand finals and I did rap because I wanted to give it a go and thats the first time I ever rapped in front of an audience besides my family which was really cool.

But I wasnt really thinking about dancing as my future career but now turning to rap, I think they can go together and that can be my career.

Still in school, Naldo explains that his life does get a bit hectic at times as he tries to balance schoolwork, writing and dancing.

However, studying online allows for flexibility.

Now heading back to Australia with his family, his parting words for aspiring artists in Samoa is: Just practice.

Thats all you really have to do. Practice and perfect your craft and enter everything you can.

If you have dance competitions, or anything just enter it.

You could want to be a dancer and not practice and then the opportunity comes and youre not ready.

Just practice, practice, practice and then when the opportunity arrives and then you can really show what you have. Then you can really branch off from there but thats really all you have to do is practice and be a master at your craft.
GREAT WOOL OF CHINA First China to UK train arrives in London loaded with millions of SOCKS

Service completes historic 7,500-mile journey at Barking's rail freight terminal

By CARL STROUD18th January 2017The SunTHE FIRST-EVER freight train service from China to the UK has arrived in Britain  with its cargo of millions of socks.The service completed its 7,500-mile journey at Barkings rail freight terminal in east London earlier today.The 18-day trip saw 34 containers pass through seven countries including Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before entering the UK via the Channel Tunnel.It set off from Yiwu railway station in Zhejiang Province, China, on New Years Day carrying 4million worth of goods including socks and suitcases.A number of different locomotives and wagons were used as the railways of the former Soviet Union states have a larger rail gauge than the other countries involved.The service is cheaper than air freight and faster than sending goods by sea.Weekly trains will initially be run to assess demand.China Railway already has freight services to a number of European destinations, including Hamburg and Madrid.They are part of Chinas One Belt, One Road programme of reviving the ancient Silk Road trading routes to the West, initially created more than 2,000 years ago.Mike White, group operations director of Brunel Project Cargo, which is involved in the London service, told Railway Gazette: The new service has a very quick transit time.He added: We believe this is going to change the way a lot of forwarders and shippers view their imports and exports for China.Yiwu in Zhejiang Province is known for producing train carried goods such as socks, household items, garments, cloth, bags and suitcases.The Chinese government is keen to boost its economy in the face of slowing export and economic growth.Under the One Belt, One Road strategy, there are currently 39 routes linking 16 Chinese cities to 12 European cities.It is hoped that the new service will improve China-Britain trade ties and strengthen connectivity with western Europe.
Alone and unafraid, outspoken businesswoman Moe Lei Sam has called out Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi for his language and inability to find a solution for the child vendors issue.

On the front page of the Sunday Samoan, in the article titled P.M. blasts Media, the P.M claimed the media sensationalised and dug up old footage of children beating up a homeless person to fill the paper.

But what angered Mrs. Lei Sam was his reference to the toilet.

Said Tuilaepa: The government doesnt have to do everything, thats the responsibility of parents and families. So when we have a law like that, we will be worse off than communist countries. It means that every time you want to go to the toilet you have to ask for permission.

Mrs. Lei Sam said this is not the language of a leader.

When I read that part about the toilet, that was it. It really got me.

I thought that our Prime Minister should never talk like that in the newspaper. Thats disgusting because the newspaper is now global and its putting Samoa down.

Look at the attention we got from him. Its disgusting and I was so angry about it

I heard someone say, Well its not his children.

Well whether its his children or not, he is the father of the nation and we need to get a better example. He needs to go examine himself and get a checkup.

My whole life Ive never ever heard a Prime Minister mention any toilet. My goodness! Thats all I want to say about it. Its making me sick .I dont know about the rest. How can a father of a country talk like that?

Not being swayed by the P.M.s comments on the issue of child vendors, Ms. Lei Sam is determined as ever to find a solution to help these children. Especially with school starting again, Ms. Lei Sam is concerned about the fate of these children who hang around her store in Saleufi.

School is starting in two weeks time and its going to be the same thing all over again, no school. What can we do it about it?

I just wish people would have guts to get up and do something about it.

Like the Prime Minister said, this is not the governments job. Then whose job is it? Its got to this stage where, people listen to the Prime Minister. Nobody listens to us; where else can we go for help? Maybe the people of Samoa will listen to the Prime Minister. Where can we go for help? Hes the only one who should help us.

As a mother and businesswoman, Mrs. Lei Sam also voiced concerns about the nighttime activities of the youth that could also affect her business.

I cant ignore it! Theyre in front of my shop everyday!

This is where most of the kids are. A lot of shops have kids in front of their shops. I havent had any problems in front of the shop but Im waiting for something to happen. Every night I finish work; I sit there waiting because they hang around the pizza place. They hang around until 11 at night. Im afraid theyll start a fight and throw rocks and Ill end up as the victim from these kind of issues.
The biodiesel industry is looking at a somewhat bifurcated future.

Ambiguity reigns as a new presidential administration comes into power but at the same time, the California market for the fuel derived from a diversity of products including soybeans, canola oil and animal fats appears to be in a solid growth mode.

We have learned to thrive on uncertainty, said Jennifer Case, president of New Leaf Biofuel, based in Barrio Logan. We are a scrappy industry.

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Case is one of about 800 attendees at the industrys biggest annual get-together, the National Biodeisel Conference and Expo, running through Thursday at the San Diego Convention Center.

Were heading up, said Donnell Rehagen, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. Were in a growth pattern.

But the pattern may be getting disrupted.

A $1-per gallon tax credit for biofuels expired on Dec. 31 and while the credit has always been retroactively extended in the past, there are indications the incoming administration of Donald Trump may take a harder line on renewable energy mandates.

They should absolutely be nervous, said Robert Rapier, chief energy analyst for Investing Daily.

On one hand, Trump went on the record on the campaign trail saying he supported the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). the federal program that has been the lifeblood not only of biodiesel but other biofuels such as biodiesels controversial cousin, ethanol.

But the RFS is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and Trumps appointee to head the EPA is Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who has criticized the fuel standard.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has been advising Trump and Icahn has called the EPAs system of credits accompanying the RFS catastrophic and needs to be eliminated.

Ichan owns CVR Refining and oil refiners have long opposed the costs of complying with the RFS.

I dont think they have the support to get rid of (the RFS) because youve got a lot of bipartisan senators and representatives from farm states who support the renewable fuel standard, Rapier said. But the EPA has a lot of discretion where they can set that target.

Pruitts confirmation hearings started Wednesday in the U.S. Senate, where he promised to carry out the RFS mandate.

Should Pruitt get confirmed, Rapier said, he may say, All right, I cant get rid of (the RFS) but I can certainly set the mandate lower.

The National Biodiesel Board is being non-committal about the Pruitt EPA nomination..

We leave that up to each of the administrations , Rehagen said. They need to have the people on board to carry forth those policies but with that said, well be paying very close attention to policies as they develop.

The story is much different in California.

The state has created the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to help meet Californias aggressive climate targets, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

The policy demands more and more emissions reductions at an increasing rate, said Ryan Lamberg, the executive director of the California Biodiesel Initiative.

That opens the door for biodiesel, which is cleaner than standard diesel fuel.

Biodiesel in California has risen from 14 million gallons five years ago to an expected 350 million gallons this year, said Shelby Neal, director of state governmental affairs for the National Biodiesel Board, who spends part of his time lobbying for the industry in Sacramento.

It is completely because of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, said Neal. It is 100 percent because of that  Biodiesel has the lowest carbon score of any of the liquid fuels. So basically that makes it the cheapest compliance option.

Thats good news for producers like Case, whose company of 31 employees recycled cooking oil from restaurants across San Diego County last year and converted it into 5 million gallons of fuel.

We have policies in the state of California that are supporting us right now, Case said. We have to double down on this. Federal has to catch up with California.

Biofuels in general have long faced criticism.

In addition to refineries who dont like getting mandated to blend ethanol into the nations gasoline supply, free-market economists say tax credit regimes end up shifting costs  usually onto taxpayers.

Biodiesel doesnt have as high a profile but the oil companies still dont like it, Rapier said. They dont like being told you have to blend a competing product. They might do it anyway if the price was right but they dont like being told regardless of the price, you gotta put this into the fuel system.

In November, EPA announced the amount of corn-based ethanol blended into the nations fuel supply must increase from 14.5 billion gallons to 15 billion gallons while advanced biofuels like biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol must rise from 3.6 billion gallons to 4.3 billion.

Biodiesels backers at the San Diego convention received good news on Tuesday.

General Motors announced it is expanding its portfolio of biodiesel vehicles to include cars and crossovers. Chevrolet will roll out diesel-powered editions of the Cruze and Equinox, with the Cruze expected to get more than 50 miles per gallon on B20 fuel  blends of up to 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel.

A big part of the pull came from the customer side, saying we should look at this, said John Schwegman, director of commercial product and medium duty for GM Fleet.

rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski

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California biodiesel companies hunker down

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The former FBI building in Kearny Mesa is graduating to a creative office use serving college-bound student programs following a nearly $5 million renovation and $30.1 million purchase.

AVID Center, a 37-year-old San Diego nonprofit that helps prepare students for higher education, recently bought the 92,463-square-foot Aero Building at 9797 Aero Drive in Kearny Mesa from Bixby Land. Hughes Marino represented the buyer and Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller.

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Given how long weve been here and how long we plan to be here, it made financial sense if we could find the right opportunity and the right property to own than continue to rent, said Steve Silberman, executive vice president of the organization, whose acronym stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination.

AVID, started by a Clairemont High School teacher in 1980, helps students navigate the complex preparation, application and retention process to attend and succeed in college. It now serves about 60,000 teachers annually from 5,000 schools in 1,000 districts with some 1.5 million students benefiting.

A key program offers a series of summer institutes where teachers receive training on prepping their students for college. San Diego will host two institutes June 28-30 and Aug. 1-3. Other teachers learn how to motivate elementary and middle school students and help freshmen succeed once theyre in college.

The firm employs 230 with more than half in San Diego and the remainder in Denver, Florida and Texas. The building has several other tenants in place but AVID could eventually take over those spaces as it grows. AVID is scheduled to move in around June 1 from its location on Lightwave Avenue at the former General Dynamics missile plant off state Route 163, south of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

AVID could have bought the building and taken on the renovations itself  CoStar Group said Bixby paid $12.1 million in 2016  but Silberman said AVID wasnt equipped to handle the challenge of renovation. He also said building its own headquarters from the ground up also was not within the staffs expertise.

Its a lot easier to move into a building thats been newly renovated and that has tenants in it, he said.

Darrel Fullbright, the project manager for Gensler architecture, said the roughly eight-month renovation process included demolishing the FBIs interior improvements, converting the ground-floor parking into leaseable space, installing new landscaping and outdoor patios and furniture, and setting up a small gym with showers for tenants. The exterior was updated with new finishes and highlights.

The biggest way to make an impact was to paint it a dark, charcoal color, Fullbright said.

One other big change was to raze a vehicle maintenance building and turn the site into parking for about 30 cars.

Aaron Hill, Bixbys chief operating officer, said the company originally planned to lease up the building and then sell it at higher value, if not retain it as a long-term asset.

In this case where we had an owner-user, we couldnt pass up the opportunity, he said.

To call the project a creative office might be a bit of a stretch, he said, since that term often applies to old industrial buildings and factories that startups and tech companies find cool. But taking a special-purpose building for the FBI and making it functional for a completely different does require some creative thinking.

For example, he said, the building was built to suit the FBIs low-profile approach.

They were not trying to draw attention to themselves, he said. Tenants want to have an image, a brand, and be able to show employees and clients the place they have for a headquarters resonates in a positive way.

Solutions included creating a two-floor entry lobby that would welcome visitors. Of course, the gun and weapons vaults and special purpose rooms for holding suspects and interviewing witnesses were toast.

We didnt think future tenants would need that, he said.

Derek Hulse, who represented Bixby in buying, re-tenanting and selling the Aero Building, said its reuse as a multi-tenant office building represents the evolution going on in Kearny Mesa and other industrial and low-rise office building markets in the county.

You see a repositioning of all offices in office markets, he said.

It started with Sorrento Valley and the rise of high-tech companies that sought inspiring spaces with plenty of natural light and open floor plans, plus ping-pong tables and dog-friendly policies. Now lawyers, accountants, and government agencies all want similar work spaces for incoming younger workers  though dogs and ping-pong may not be make on the final punch list.

Todays tenant is seeking a unique, modern office environment, no matter what the submarket is, Hulse said.

Tenants are paying top rent for these buildings, particularly when they are in well-situated places easily accessible for employees and clients.

Hughes Marinos John Jarvis, who represented AVID, said the nonprofit was taking more space than it needed but will benefit from the rents paid by two existing tenants and several more that might occupy 6,500 square feet of unneeded space  and not have to worry, at least for the near term, about outgrowing the building.

As for Kearny Mesa, Jarvis said it appeals to many tenants who want to be freeway-close but not stuck in rush-hour congestion between University City and Sorrento Valley.

I think Kearny Mesa is a fantastic market, he said. I wish there were 10 more buildings like this. Its the geographic center of the county.

roger.showley@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-1286; Twitter: @rogershowley
Southwest Airlines announced Tuesday it will start flying to Los Cabos from San Diego in April, marking the airlines first nonstop service between Lindbergh Field and Mexico.

The once daily flight to Los Cabos International Airport, which serves the popular tourist towns San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, will start April 25, with booking available beginning Wednesday.

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Southwest will join two other airlines  Alaska and Spirit  that also offer nonstop service to the southern Baja California destination. Spirits flights are seasonal; not year-round.

The addition of Los Cabos brings to 31 the number of destinations Southwest will serve from San Diego. It has been regularly expanding service, announcing last week that it would add five nonstop destinations.

This month well celebrate our 35-year anniversary with San Diego. Its a milestone for service with us, and because were really striving to be your towns carrier, the first one you go to when you fly, we want to offer a breadth of service for San Diego, said Leah Koontz, vice president controller of Southwest Airlines.

According to the San Diego airport, Southwest is the airports largest carrier in terms of passengers, accounting for nearly 38 percent of the passenger volume.

Because were always trying to find ways to improve our service here, the one thing we couldnt do was ignore your No. 1 international destination, Koontz added.

Southwest declined to release the schedule for the new flight until Wednesday, when bookings can officially start, but officials said departures from San Diego will be mid-morning, with return flights in mid-afternoon.

The airline is offering special introductory fares as low as $104 one way, starting Wednesday for travel beginning April 25.

Southwest already flies nonstop to the Los Cabos airport from Los Angeles and Orange County and is scheduled to launch nonstop flights next month from Oakland.

In celebration of the new route, Southwest said it will deploy about 20 of its employees throughout San Diego from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, when it will give out more than 2 million Rapid Rewards points, plus hundreds of Southwest gift cards.

Southwests announcement comes as Tijuanas A.L. Rodriguez International Airport is adding infrastructure improvements to ease air travel for Americans.

A little over a year ago, the airport debuted the Cross Border Xpress, a privately operated, enclosed pedestrian bridge connecting Rodriguez with a structure in Otay Mesa that includes airline ticket counters, 850 parking spaces and car rental booths.

The Tijuana airport, regarded as the second-best connected in Mexico, served nearly 4.4 million passengers in 2014. More than half of the users of the airport cross to or from California.

Jim Payne, air service analyst for San Diego International Airport (which reported 20 million annual passengers in 2015), said he regarded air service offered by Rodriguez as more complementary to San Diego than competitive.

He confirmed that Los Cabos is the San Diego airports most popular international destination. Mexico, he said, continues to be a very stable market for San Diego and has shown consistent growth.

Were just happy to see additional air service in general, Payne said, but this is a first step for Southwest in the international market here, and were glad they chose us as an option.

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lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251

Twitter: @loriweisberg
CITY COUNCILS

CARLSBAD

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The Carlsbad City Council has scheduled a closed meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Planning Library of the Faraday Administration Building, 1635 Faraday Ave., to discuss litigation. At 2 p.m. the council will meet in special session for mandatory sexual harassment prevention training and education.

The city of Carlsbad is seeking community input at a public meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday on several proposals for northwest Carlsbad. They would: enable the missing link of Poinsettia Lane to be completed; increase protected habitat in Carlsbad; create a park on the site of the Buena Vista Reservoir; and help resolve a lawsuit filed by North County Advocates on the citys General Plan update and Climate Action Plan. The meeting will be in Room 173 A&B of the Faraday Administration Building, 1635 Faraday Ave. See more at carlsbadca.gov/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1289.

DEL MAR

The Del Mar City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Suite 100 (the former Pilates studio) at 2010 Jimmy Durante Blvd. to hear a report on the Shores Park Master Plan and to consider a resolution for a memorandum of understanding with the Winston School for a shared-use master planning effort. The council will also consider a request to initiate a Community Conversation series of neighborhood meetings for 2017, and a request to discuss rail issues.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Council Chambers, 505 S. Vulcan Ave., to hear a presentation on the status of the Climate Action Plan.

OCEANSIDE

Interested residents and businesses are invited to a community open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to review the Development Incentive Overlay for the Coast Highway Corridor. The event will be in the Oceanside Public Library Community Meeting Room, 330 N. Coast Highway. City staff and the consultant team will present the Overlay plan, a compilation of voluntary zoning standards intended to streamline the project review process and offer zoning concessions in exchange for public benefits. The Overlay will work with the proposed Coast Highway complete street improvements plan, which aims to transform Coast Highway from an automobile-oriented road to a complete street that serves all transportation. Visit ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/dev/coast_highway_corridor_study/default.asp. A project video providing an overview of the study is also on the website.

The Oceanside City Council will meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations and litigation at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers, 300 N. Coast Highway, and in open session at 5 p.m. to consider awarding a contract for no more than $6.073 million to Canyon Springs Enterprises (dba RSH Construction Services) of Hemet for the Morro Hills No. 1 and No. 2 Reservoir repairs project; to hear a five-year financial forecast; and to consider a resolution approving a four-unit three-story townhome apartment building at 1422 Marquette St. The council will also consider a request by Councilman Jerry Kern to conduct a workshop before the end of April on how the city is going to deal with Proposition 64, marijuana legalization; and a request by Mayor Jim Wood to direct the city attorney to prepare amendments to the city code to limit remarks by each council member to 10 minutes per item of business; and to direct the city manager to discontinue City Council reports on future agendas.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

BONSALL

The Bonsall Unified School District board will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Bonsall Community Center, 31505 Old River Road.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas Union School District board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 101 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, to hear reports on La Costa Heights Elementarys Leader in Me program, and the districts 2015-16 audit; and to authorize bids for the installation and site work of portable buildings at the Farm Lab.

ESCONDIDO

The Escondido Union School District board will meet in closed session to discuss litigation and personnel at 6 p.m. Thursday in the district office, 2310 Aldergrove Ave. In regular session at 7 p.m., the board will hear an update on the implementation of the Local Control Accountability Plan; a report on Conway Elementary School, a specialty school; a report on the results of the districts 2016 General Obligation Bond refinancing, and an update on the districts Proposition E bond program.

The Escondido Union High School District board will meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations, litigation and personnel at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 302 N. Midway Drive. In open session at 7 p.m., the board will review proposed curricula for courses in Game Development and Printing and Graphics, and textbooks for courses in Advanced Placement Environmental Science and Spanish, Conceptual Physics, Machinery and Welding and Metal Fabrication. The board will also review revisions to policies on special education, work permits, education for foster youth, and various business applications.

FALLBROOK

The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Room 106 of the district office, 321 N. Iowa St.

OCEANSIDE

The Oceanside Unified School District board will meet in closed session to discuss litigation and labor negotiation at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 2111 Mission Ave. In open session at 6 p.m., the board will hear the annual report by the Proposition H Citizens Bond Oversight Committee on the 2015-16 school year, and also the first interim financial report. Public hearings are set for 6:30 p.m. on Coastal Academy Charter Schools request for revision to its charter renewal, and on the districts request for a renewal of the waiver modifying the extended school year requirements for special education students.

POWAY

The Poway Unified School District board will meet in closed session to discuss litigation and property negotiation at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego. In open session at 6 p.m., the board will discuss the first reading of its College Readiness Block Grant funding plan. The board is also scheduled to discuss board goals, and a Safe Haven proposal; and will receive an initial contract proposal from the Poway School Employees Association-Operations Support Services (Unit II).

RAMONA

The Ramona Unified School District board will meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations and personnel at 6 p.m. Thursday at the district office, 720 Ninth St. In open session at 7 p.m., the board will consider new courses in culinary arts, international cuisine, hydrology and irrigation systems, and success pathway; and will approve on second reading revised policies on parental involvement and federal grant funds.

SAN DIEGUITO

The San Dieguito Union High School District board is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the district office, 710 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas.

SAN MARCOS

The San Marcos Unified School District board will meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Media Center of the North County Regional Education Center, 255 Pico Ave., and in open session at 6:30 p.m. to approve the tentative agreement with the California School Employees Association, Chapter 413. The board will also hold a public hearing to receive testimony on potential trustee voting areas associated with the districts transition to by-trustee area voting.

SAN PASQUAL

The San Pasqual Union School District board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Trussell Hall, 15305 Rockwood Road, Escondido, to hear a report on physical education; review its school safety plan; and approve on first and second reading several revisions to the district policy manual. The board will then meet in closed session to discuss personnel and litigation.

VISTA

The Vista Unified School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Morris Vance Community Room, 200 Civic Center Drive, and in open session at 7 p.m.

laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
UPDATE: President Barack Obama said his decision to commute the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning should not lead other leakers to think they will go unpunished.

At a press conference this morning, Obama said Manning has already served a tough sentence over the past seven years.

The notion that the average person who was thinking about exposing vital classified information would think that it goes unpunished ... I dont think (they) would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served, Obama said.

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He added that he viewed Mannings 35-year sentence by a military court as very disproportionate relative to what other leakers have received.

Given that, it made sense to commute, not pardon, the soldiers sentence, he said.

I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent, Obama said in a press conference thats been billed as the final one of his presidency.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Did President Barack Obama make the military less safe by granting clemency to Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence soldier who handed wartime information to Wikileaks  or did he perform an act of mercy?

Obama is expected to offer his own explanation for commuting Mannings sentence at a press conference at 11:15 a.m. Pacific today.

Here are the pro and con arguments surrounding the outgoing presidents controversial move, which cut Mannings 35-year sentence down to roughly the seven years already served.

PRO: Manning was a whistleblower, not a turncoat.

Some people think that Manning, who deployed to Iraq in late 2009 as a low-grade intelligence analyst, was exposing uncomfortable truths.

Welcome to The Intel, a blog examining the hot military news of the day

The information leaked included military incident logs from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars that exposed detainee abuse by Iraqi military officers working under American authority. It also revealed that civilian deaths in the Iraq war were probably much higher than official estimates.

The co-founder of the Chelsea Manning Support Network, Jeff Paterson, said, Its tragic that Chelsea had to spend 7 years imprisoned for releasing documents that should never have been classified in the first place, and were clearly in the public interest.

CON: We shouldnt go soft on espionage, especially with troops on the ground.

Arizona Sen. John McCain and House Speaker Paul Ryan seem to think that this will encourage others to do the same thing.

President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes, Ryan said.

McCains called it a grave mistake that I fear will encourage further acts of espionage and undermine military discipline. It also devalues the courage of real whistleblowers who have used proper channels to hold our government accountable.

PRO: Mannings sentence was unusually long.

Manning pleaded guilty without a deal to cap her sentence.

Her lawyers have called 35 years excessive and said she would have been the longest-serving whistleblower in American history.

FILE PHOTO -- People hold signs calling for the release of imprisoned Wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning while marching in a gay pride parade in San Francisco, California June 28, 2015. (Elijah Nouvelage / Reuters Photo )

Obama spokesman Josh Earnest today described the amount of time Manning has served as consistent with sentences imposed on others found guilty of similar crimes.

CON: Obama is breaking with military leadership

Manning was, after all, an Army soldier serving in uniform as Bradley Manning when the documents were taken.

News reports say that Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and other Pentagon leaders were against commuting the sentence.

A military court tried and convicted her. (Manning later came out as transgender and asked to be called Chelsea.) Theres a strong tradition of allowing military justice to handle military crimes.

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jen.steele@sduniontribune.com

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Liberty Zabala, a general assignment reporter in San Diego for KNSD-TV Channel 7/39, was detained in Tijuana for about three hours on Monday by Mexican customs officials alongside a San Diego freelance journalist for allegedly taking images in a restricted federal area at the El Chaparral port of entry.

A Mexican federal government source with knowledge of the incident said Tuesday that two individuals had been spotted at 9:45 a.m. Monday on a government video surveillance camera at the ports nothing to declare lanes, and observed them using communications equipment, as well as video cameras without permission in a restricted federal area.

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Zabala could not be reached Tuesday, but KNSDs news director, Greg Dawson, said that she was not working for the station when the incident occurred. It was just something she was doing on her personal time, he said. Liberty is a passionate journalist who is always trying to learn about the issues that are going on around here.

Zabalas companion and driver was Gonzalo Ruiz, who said Im very embarrassed about having involved Zabala in what I did. She was not on assignment.

Ruiz said that Zabala had accompanied him to the border, where he wanted to shoot video for a demonstration newscast he is planning to present on KSDY-LD, a low-powered San Diego television station broadcast on Channel 50 and owned by International Communications Network.

Ruiz said that in the past he has worked both as a staffer and contractor for U.S.-based Spanish-language television, but currently supports himself primarily through a San Diego special events business.

Ruiz said he had heard about protests in recent days at the Mexican port and wanted to get a glimpse of what was going on...I figured Id take video for my b-roll.

At the time the pair was stopped, there were no protesters at the port. But just the day before, Sunday, the port had been overrun with demonstrators in an event widely chronicled through photographs and video images taken by journalists and participants.

The Mexican customs agency found that the two were violating Mexicos Customs Law, which forbids the use of communication equipment and/or video cameras without corresponding authorization in the restricted area, the source said.

Ruiz and and Zabala were asked for their U.S. passports. The offender with an altered tone argued that he was in a public right of way, and had the right to use any communications equipment and/or video camera, according to the Mexican federal source.

After a three-hour wait, Ruiz said authorities returned the passports and allowed them to leave. Ruiz was fined 11,000 pesos, about $500, while Zabala was not penalized, he said.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
Roughly 20 people took to downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday and called on the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department to immediately suspend plans to deploy a drone in emergency situations, saying they feared the device will be used for warrantless surveillance.

Hamid Khan, founder of the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, said his group rejected the use of drones in all forms, even in response to bomb threats or hostage crises. In announcing the pilot program last week, Sheriff Jim McDonnell said the drone would not be used for surveillance, but Khan said he feared the agency could change that policy at any time.

What this represents is the rapid escalation and militarization of police, Khan said.

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Vanessa Deleon speaks against the use of drones by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department during a news conference outside the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times )

Last week, sheriffs officials said they would use the drone only to help deputies gain crucial advantages when dealing with barricaded suspects, suspicious devices, hazardous materials situations and similar scenarios in which it would be dangerous for a deputy to approach on foot. The department will also use the drone during search-and-rescue operations and arson investigations, McDonnell said.

The departments written policy also expressly forbids use of the drone for random surveillance missions or missions that would violate the privacy rights of the public.

Sheriffs officials also claimed last week that their agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration prevented the drones use for surveillance, but an FAA spokesperson said the agency regulates drone flights based only on safety, not purpose.

Khan and others on Tuesday expressed concern about mission creep, pointing out that the department could change its policy on a whim and begin using the drones for surveillance.

Public opposition to drones has forestalled their use in the city of Los Angeles. Khan led protest efforts against the LAPD when the agency was considering using a pair of drones in 2014, and those devices have remained under lock and key since then.

Khan also raised the Sheriffs Departments past use of surveillance, reminding attendees that the agency used a plane to surveil Compton residents for nine days in 2012 without first seeking public approval. He called on the County Board of Supervisors to step in and stop the sheriffs new drone program, criticizing McDonnells decision to approve use of the device without public input.

In response to the protest, the Sheriffs Department repeated its promise that the drone would be used only to help protect deputies in potentially deadly situations.

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Special Enforcement Bureau responds to high-risk tactical incidents, high-risk rescues, bomb threats, and hazardous material incidents. The unmanned aircraft system (UAS) will only be authorized for use in these extremely dangerous and threatening situations, Capt. Jeff Scroggin, an agency spokesman, said via email.

Patrisse Khan-Cullors, one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, expressed concern that police surveillance could go unchecked under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. She warned that the administration has taken a decidedly pro-police stance, pointing to opposition by Jeff Sessions, Trumps pick for attorney general, to federal police reform. And she said she fears citizens would have no recourse if the Sheriffs Department began to expand its use of unmanned aerial systems.

It further erodes community-police relations, she said. When Los Angeles and California move on something, we set the precedent for the rest of the country.

In a bizarre bit of political theater, Khans news conference was briefly delayed by half a dozen Trump supporters who began screaming America First! as he tried to speak. The group, whose members were attempting to counteract a nearby pro-immigrant event, stood their ground for about 15 minutes before realizing they were at the wrong event. Some then apologized and walked away.

james.queally@latimes.com

For more breaking crime and cops news in Southern California, follow me on Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT

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UPDATES:

4:40 p.m.: This article was updated with comment from the Sheriffs Department.

This article was originally published at 2:50 p.m.
A week before her case was scheduled to go to trial, an Imperial Beach woman accused of running down a motorcyclist on a South Bay freeway nearly two years ago pleaded guilty Tuesday to voluntary manslaughter.

Darla Renee Jackson, 27, had been charged with murder stemming from the 2015 death of Zacharias Buob, a 39-year-old Navy chief petty officer.

Buob died as a result of a collision that occurred after he and Jackson got into an altercation sparked by road rage on northbound Interstate 5 near E Street before driving onto state Route 54, prosecutors said.

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Jackson, who was driving a Nissan Altima, chased after Buob on May 28, 2015, and crashed into his motorcycle, sending the rider tumbling to the ground. She ran over Buob as she swerved her car to avoid the fallen bike, witnesses said.

Buob died at a hospital.

Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Francis Devaney asked the defendant a series of questions before accepting her guilty plea to manslaughter, a lesser charge of murder. He asked whether Jackson was provoked during the incident and whether she acted rashly as a result of that provocation by taking off after the motorcyclist at high speed.

Jackson, speaking in a soft voice, responded: Yes.

The judge said that although the manslaughter charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 11 years in prison, he would likely order a term of three or six years at a hearing scheduled for April 14.

Defense lawyer Stephen Cline told the judge he didnt agree with Jacksons decision to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Cline has long disputed the prosecutions version of the case and has argued that the evidence supports a charge of gross vehicular manslaughter, not murder.

Im not joining this plea, Cline said in the courtroom. but I do believe she has made a knowing and intelligent decision.

Cline has said Jackson pleaded guilty to avoid facing a possible life sentence if she had been convicted at trial. Because the prosecution would not consider charging Jackson with gross vehicular manslaughter  which carries a shorter maximum sentence  Cline said his client felt she had no other choice but to plead guilty Tuesday to the charge that was available to her.

Outside the courtroom, Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans explained that gross vehicular manslaughter had been part of the discussion, but it was not something our office ultimately considered.

According to testimony at a November 2015 preliminary hearing, the dispute began when Jackson passed Buob on the freeway. Both vehicles were in the fast lane at the time, which appeared to upset Buob.

He gestured at Jackson, shaking his head and possibly flipping her a middle finger.

When Jackson swerved toward the motorcycle, Buob flinched, according to the testimony. Buob pulled next to Jacksons car and kicked the passenger-side door.

He then drove toward an off-ramp to state Route 54, and Jackson followed. Both were moving at speeds of 75 mph to 85 mph, according to the testimony.

The judge at that hearing said she believed Buob had a role in the incident, but Jackson chose to dive dangerously and recklessly in pursuit of the motorcyclist.

A California Highway Patrol investigator testified that Jacksons car was moving at 93 mph on the transition ramp seven seconds before the crash.

Buob had been ahead of the Nissan but had to slow down because of traffic.

Jackson told CHP Officer Brad Clinkscales that she did not intend to hit Buob but wanted to get the license plate number from his motorcycle.

The plate was hard to see because of how it was mounted, according to the testimony.

dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @danalittlefield
#fewsnakeDonald Trump sued by former Apprentice contestant Summer ZervosA FORMER contestant of reality show The Apprentice, who last year accused Donald Trump of sexual assault, is suing the President-elect for defamation.Just two days before Trump will be sworn in the 45th president of the United States, Summer Zervos has filed the claim, stemming from an accusation Trump made about her and other women who accused him of sexual assault before Novembers election.Ms Zervos, who appeared on season five of the reality show with Trump, accused him of kissing and groping her at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2007.Donald Trump said of Zervos and other accusers: All of these liars will be sued after the election is over.Source:APWhen she and a number of other women came forward, Trump said at a rally in Pennsylvania, All of these liars will be sued after the election is over.Trump has not sued, but Ms Zervos has.
The Iowa mink farmer got the first phone call from his wife about 4:45 a.m., reporting that mink were running all over the highway.

Keith Conrad got into his truck and couldnt comprehend the carnage he found, dozens of mink turned into road kill, some with their backs broken but still alive. Hundreds more were running amok.

The 500 mink hadnt merely escaped but had been freed by a pair of animal-rights activists during a months-long, multistate campaign against the fur industry. By the days end, about 130 died either on the highway or from heat stroke. Other farms have similar stories of the death and loss caused by the scheme in 2013.

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On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns sentenced one of the vandals, former Escondido resident Nicole Kissane, to 21 months in prison  a sentence that was three months longer than what prosecutors had recommended.

The San Diego federal judge had months earlier rejected a plea deal that would have obligated him to sentence her to six months, a term he said was unjust considering the crime was a calculated, premeditated campaign of terror.

Her boyfriend and co-defendant, Joseph Buddenberg, was sentenced last year to 24 months in a plea deal.

The spree began July 15, 2013, when the Oakland pair vandalized Furs by Graf, a longtime family-owned fur store in Kearny Mesa. They painted words like murderer on the store, destroyed the windows with etching chemicals, sprayed acid into the shop and put glue in the door locks.

They also went to the Graf family homes in La Mesa and Spring Valley, spraying similar phrases on their houses and vehicles and damaging their properties with paint stripper and acid.

From there Kissane and Buddenberg went to several states: releasing a bobcat from a farm and vandalizing a Montana police chiefs vehicle; releasing mink from farms in Idaho, Minnesota, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin; and vandalizing animal-related businesses in the Bay Area, according to the complaint. In all, the pair is accused of releasing some 5,700 mink  many of which were killed as they ran toward nearby roads, apparently drawn to the vehicle lights and traffic sounds because of similarities to how mink are fed in captivity.

They didnt have a chance, Cindy Moyle of the Moyle Mink Ranch in Burley, Idaho, wrote in a letter to the judge. She said her familys farm has been on the forefront of raising mink in a humane way.

The pair also were accused of shoplifting items from stores, including REI and Michaels, to fund their crimes by selling the stolen items on eBay.

They publicized their exploits on animal extremist websites, using public computers so as not to leave a trace. They also took care to avoid using phones and to use only cash to make it harder for law enforcement to track them, authorities said.

Kissane and Buddenberg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act in February.

Burns first sentenced Buddenberg in May, agreeing to the 24-month sentence in the binding plea agreement. As attorneys prepared for Kissanes sentence, they argued that Buddenberg was the mastermind behind the scheme and that his abusive, dominating presence in the relationship exploited her love of animals and led her into committing the crimes.

Federal defender Reuben Cahn said Buddenberg had told Kissane that if she truly cared for animals, she needed to take direct action.

This offense wouldnt have happened had she not met Mr. Buddenberg, Cahn said at the sentencing.

Burns agreed that Buddenberg was likely the moving force behind the scheme and dominated Kissan but also noted that she had a great deal of responsibility for her own actions. Her sentence should also make a statement to any other animal extremists considering illegal actions, Burns said.

He added that the new information about Buddenbergs role in the scheme had him regretting the sentence he handed down months earlier.

I dont think Buddenberg got an appropriate sentence now, Burns said.

The judge added: He got a screaming deal.

Burns said he shared Kissanes concern for animal treatment  just not with the same passion. He said the 2015 story that went viral of a Minnesota dentist who hunted Cecil the lion, a famous predator in one of Zimbabwes national parks, was an example that made me sick to my stomach.

Such a magnificent animal. It was so unnecessary. Why would you do that? the judge said of the lions killing.

Kissane declined to make a statement at the hearing.

She has agreed to pay $423,477 in restitution, to be shared by Buddenberg. The Grafs, who are owed $30,000, are first in line for payment, Burns ordered.

Kimberley Graf, whose fur store and home was vandalized, sat in the front row of the sentencing with her parents  both she and her mother wearing black fur vests. She declined to speak at this hearing, having done so at a previous one, but brought with her two large binders documenting the damage done in this case as well as other similar incidents endured over the past 30 years.

We maintain our right to a legal, legitimate business, Graf said outside the courtroom, adding that activists have a right to not agree with it. Dont impose your beliefs on us because we dont impose our beliefs on them.

Other victims owed restitution include Moyle Mink Farm at $108,000 and Bonland Farms at about $141,000.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavis
The father of Alfred Olango, an unarmed black man fatally shot by El Cajon police last year, filed a civil-rights lawsuit in San Diego federal court Tuesday alleging excessive, deadly force against his son.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Richard Olango Abuka also names Richard Gonsalves, the officer who fired the shots that killed Alfred Olango on Sept. 27.

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis last week concluded the officer was justified in the fatal shooting and would not face criminal charges. She said an investigation showed the officer reasonably was in fear of his life, based on Olangos actions that day in the parking lot of the Broadway Village shopping center in El Cajon.

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That morning, Olangos sister, Lucy, called 911 three times, describing her brother having a mental breakdown, asking for help taking him to a hospital and later reporting him walking in traffic.

Gonsalves arrived after the third 911 call and, within a minute of making contact, shot Olango.

Police said Olango had a hand in a pocket and would not comply with the officers orders to remove it. Olango suddenly took what police described as a two-handed shooting stance, swiftly removing an object from his pocket and pointing it at the officer. The officer, fearing it was a gun, fired four shots, killing Olango. The object turned out to be a vaping device.

The lawsuit, filed by Los Angeles-based attorney Rodney Diggs, claims the use of deadly force was without justification and accused Gonsalves of deciding to contact Olango without waiting for help from a psychiatric team first. Instead, Gonsalves drew his firearm and aggressively confronted, chased and cornered Olango.

It further alleges that the officers cowboy attitude and demeanor provoked Olango into taking defensive measures, which Gonsalves used as false justification to kill him.

The lawsuit also blames El Cajon polices dispatch decisions in the incident, as well as its failure to adequately train Gonsalves.

Olango Abuka, who immigrated to the U.S. from Uganda along with his son, is suing on claims of loss of familial relationship with his son and is asking for damages to be awarded at a jury trial.

Olangos family, with help from the Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network, are calling on the Justice Department and Gov. Jerry Brown to investigate the shooting.

El Cajon city leaders have declined to discuss the allegations, citing litigation. Other family members also are expected to file lawsuits

Once matters go to court, my ability to speak on this becomes significantly limited, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells said Tuesday after a reporter notified him of the lawsuit.

Staff writer Karen Pearlman contributed to this report.

Related:

Dumanis rules El Cajon shooting of Alfred Olango justified

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavis
The Sanford Institute of Philanthropy is holding a free symposium to help nonprofits that focus on veterans next week.

The event, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 24, will include advice from various experts on how to effectively run nonprofits that provide outreach and services to members of the military, veterans and their families.

More than 60 representatives of San Diegos nonprofits plan to attend the event, the first of its kind for National University.

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San Diego obviously has a large population of military, and theres a large population of nonprofits that serve the population, said Lena Rodriguez , the endowed director the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy. It seems only natural for us to convene a consortium of those nonprofits that share the best practices and things that work well, and its all around the curriculum that we have at the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy.

Discussion topics will include the state of military philanthropy in San Diego, how to present a cause effectively to attract more donors, the power of relationship-building and how to successfully creative collective impact.

Speakers include Maurice Wilson of National Veterans Transitions Services, Inc., retired Marine Sgt. Major Chermaine Harrell of National University and Gary Rossio of the San Diego Veterans Coalition.

Other speakers scheduled for next week are Sandra Fichter of the Vetaran Career Transition Assistance Program, more commonly known as VetCTAP, and Stephanie Brown, CEO and founder of the Rosie Network, which helps military spouses, transitioning serving members and veterans who are starting their own businesses as entrepreneurs.

Beginning in March, the institute is planning the first of four workshops that also will focus on nonprofits that help members of the military, Rodriguez said.

People attending next weeks symposium will be polled about what other topics theyd like to see in future workshops, she said.

The symposium will be at the Sanford Education Center at National University, 11355 North Torrey Pines Road in San Diego, To register, visit Eventbrite.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939
Nikki Haley, Donald Trumps pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, used her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday to attack the world body for what she called its bias against Israel, a position that put her in sync with most of Congress.

Haley told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that she absolutely supports President-elect Trumps promise to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Few countries have done so because Jerusalem is disputed by Israelis and Palestinians, both of whom want it as their capital.

The two-term Republican governor of South Carolina lacks experience in international affairs, and it sometimes showed at the hearing. But she argued that her efforts to solve problems and build coalitions in state government had prepared her for global diplomacy.

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Trump has spoken dismissively of the U.N., and Haleys role may be secondary in an administration that has signaled plans to upend U.S. foreign policy.

Haley, 44, sought to reassure the committee that she would try to moderate Trumps negative views of the U.N. and of the NATO military alliance in Europe, which he called obsolete over the weekend.

Those are his opinions as they stand now, she said. I look forward to communicating to him  the importance of alliances [and] that the U.N. matters.

I do anticipate he will listen to us, she added. I hope we will get him to see what we see.

But she also appeared to back a less activist role for the U.N., saying it had overstepped and should not insert itself into what other countries do. And she declined to commit support for the U.N.-sponsored Paris Agreement to fight global warming, which nearly 200 countries have signed.

Haley was upbraided when she said the year-old international accord to block Iran from developing a nuclear weapon will allow Tehran to eventually build a bomb, and that the Obama administration gave it billions of dollars to do so by easing sanctions.

What you just stated is completely inaccurate, said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). I would encourage you to read the agreement.

As has now become common with Trumps top aides, Haley appeared at times to break with the president-elect  and with Rex Tillerson, Trumps pick for secretary of State  when she repeatedly criticized Russia.

We cant trust them, she said of authorities in Moscow. The problem is there are no boundaries with Russia.

Haley said we are not OK with Russias seizure of Crimea, its military operations in Ukraine and its military intervention in support of President Bashar Assad in Syria.

But we need their help in fighting ISIS, a common acronym for Islamic State, she said.

The Obama administration says Russian forces have attacked insurgent groups seeking to oust Assad but have provided no help to the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Asked about adding new sanctions against Russia, as many in Congress have demanded, Haley declined to advocate tougher measures without further consultation.

In contrast with Tillerson, Haley acknowledged that Russia committed war crimes in Syria by bombing civilian targets. And unlike Tillerson, she said U.S. policy toward Russia came up when she met with Trump.

In response to a question, she said she considered the extrajudicial killing of more than 6,000 alleged drug dealers in the Philippines to be a human rights abuse, saying she would speak against it.

Im prepared to speak up against anything that goes against American values, Haley said. We have always been the moral compass of the world.

The questioning was triggered in part by Tillersons refusal at his confirmation hearing last week to condemn several governments with documented human rights abuses, including Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, saying he needed more information.

Her focus on Israel in her opening remarks was not a surprise. As governor, she drew national notice when she signed into law a bill that blocked efforts to boycott, divest and sanction Israel, the first state law of its kind in the U.S.

Trump, and many members of Congress, harshly criticized President Obamas decision not to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution last month that condemned Israels continued settlement expansion in lands claimed by the Palestinians.

After the U.S. abstained, the measure passed 14 to 0. Most of the world views the settlements as illegal and a major obstacle to peace.

I would never abstain, Haley said Wednesday. That was the moment we should have told the world that we stand with our ally Israel. It was a real kick in the gut that we didnt.

Haley, the daughter of Sikh immigrants from Punjab in northern India, was born Nimrata Randhawa in South Carolina.

It was a time and a place, she said, in which her family was considered not white enough to be white, not black enough to be black. Her father, who sat behind her, wore a red turban.

She attended Clemson University and served in the state Legislature before she was elected governor in 2010. She was reelected in 2014 and cannot run for a third term.

Haley was widely praised for her sensitive response to the mass murder of nine black members of a church in Charleston in 2015 by a self-described white racist, who was sentenced to death this month.

As the state grieved, Haley led bipartisan calls for the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, a symbolic move that helped calm some of the tensions.

During last years presidential primaries, she was critical of Trump, asking voters to resist the siren call of the angriest voices. She endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) before he withdrew.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on Twitter

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3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with details from the hearing.

9:30 a.m.: This article was updated with details from the hearing.

This article was originally published at 3 a.m.
Wilbur Ross, the billionaire financier selected to be the new Commerce secretary, made clear Wednesday that Donald Trumps campaign promise to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement was not just an empty threat.

At his confirmation hearing, the 79-year-old Ross, who like his future boss has long expressed concerns about NAFTA, said that renegotiating the 23-year-old pact with Mexico and Canada would be very, very early as a matter of priority for him and the Trump administration.

Ross also signaled that his agency was likely to take steps to impose duties on Chinese steel and possibly other goods that have been dumped at unfairly low prices or subsidized by the state.

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At the same time, he struck a more measured tone overall than Trump, whose populist attacks on trade throughout the campaign had raised worries among businesses and leaders in the Republican Party who favor free trade.

I am pro-trade, Ross told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

 Donald Trump merchandise

Asked about Trumps repeated threats to impose a 45% tariff on Chinese goods and 35% on Mexican products, Ross responded that its a complicated issue. And of tariffs more generally, he said that they play a role both as a negotiating tool and if necessary to punish the countries that dont play by the rules.

Ross views on trade were a focus of what was a four-hour-long hearing filled with polite exchanges over a range of topics reflecting the agencys multiple responsibilities -- enforcing fair trade, issuing patents, conducting weather research and collecting census and economic data.

The head of the Commerce Department traditionally has been a cheerleader for U.S. businesses and hasnt wielded much power. But that could change, as Trumps transition team has indicated that Ross will spearhead the administrations initiatives on trade, an issue that was central to Trumps campaign and figures to be a dominant part of his economic growth strategy.

Like Trump, Ross vast financial holdings initially drew a lot of interest, but earlier this week Ross filed a financial disclosure report and signed an agreement with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics to divest most of his assets and step down from multiple positions on companies and foundations.

Committee members seemed satisfied with the agreement and that he could avoid conflicts of interest, but the hearing then turned on the question of his fellow billionaire in the White House.

Shouldnt the president do the same? Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) asked.

Ross demurred, saying he wasnt familiar enough with Trumps financial assets. Ross didnt disagree with Blumenthal that, as head of an agency that oversees patent and trademark issues, he could be put in a very difficult position given that Trumps business has pending trademark applications.

Unlike Ross, Trump has refused to divest his business empire, despite criticisms from the Government Ethics Office and lawyers. Ross said, however, that he expects potential conflict-of-interest cases at Commerce involving the president wont fly below the radar. Those matters will be subject to public scrutiny, he said.

On NAFTA, Ross indicated that the agreement had shortcomings on labor and environmental standards, particularly the low wages of Mexican workers. Ross also suggested that he might also push to renegotiate the rules of origin in the agreement. The provision, particularly important for the auto industry, allows a certain percentage of content made outside of the NAFTA countries to be shipped duty-free when they are included in the final product traded among the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Ross told the Senate Commerce Committee that such rules of origin were a reason that he came to sour on the Obama administrations Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which Trump has said he would scrap.

Ross was also asked whether he supported NAFTAs procurement clause that opens publicly funded U.S. projects to be bid and won by foreign companies. Its a highly questionable practice, he responded.

It remains to be seen how much influence Ross will have in Trumps trade policies. Trade deals are negotiated by the U.S. trade representative, for which Trump has picked trade lawyer Robert Lighthizer. Trump also announced the creation of a new White House-based trade council to be headed by UC Irvine business professor Peter Navarro, a strident critic of Chinas economic policies.

Dan Ikenson, trade policy studies director at the Cato Institute libertarian think tank, said Ross came across well at the hearing. Hes well-spoken, doesnt sound hysterical, said Ikenson. But he remained concerned about what the Trump administration might do that could hurt trade.

Some days I feel they just want to talk a tough game, but Im pretty sure were going to see some form of tariffs imposed, he said.

John Thune (R-S.D.), the Senate Commerce Committee chairman, welcomed Ross selection, applauding his extensive business know-how and many decades of experience in investing and helping salvage businesses in steel, textiles and other industries. And judging by the comments from the committees ranking Democrat, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Ross looked to be a shoo-in to get confirmed.

You have comported yourself quite well, you have been very detailed and non-evasive in your answers, and that is appreciated, Nelson said. Let me assure you that this hearing is a piece of cake compared to some of the other nominees that are going through the process.

Nelson, however, did press Ross on his views about global warming and urged him to continue to support the departments measurements and research on weather events and trends over time.

Its my hope well get a commitment from you to not allow intimidation and censorship of climate scientists under your jurisdiction, Nelson said.

Ross, while not addressing climate change, which Trump had once called a Chinese hoax, noted the importance of having good weather information.

Living on the coast in southern Florida, we are all very sensitive to weather because of the yearly hurricane season, he said.

Read live updates from the confirmation hearings 

Fear of a Trump-triggered recession gives way to hope for short-term economic boost 

Trump to preside over the richest Cabinet in U.S. history 

don.lee@latimes.com

Follow me at @dleelatimes

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UPDATES:

2:35 p.m.: This article was updated after the conclusion of the hearing.

7:35 a.m.: This article was updated after the start of the hearing.

This article was originally published at 3 a.m.
Lucy Killea, a former San Diego City Council member and state legislator whose independent streak put her famously at odds with the Catholic Church and her own political party, has died. She was 94.

From her work at the CIA and on Eleanor Roosevelts staff at the first United Nations General Assembly in 1946 to her early support of San Diegos trolley and downtown redevelopment, she forged her own path in a political world largely dominated by men.

She was always ladylike, gracious, and tough as nails, said former Assemblywoman and state Sen. Dede Alpert.

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Killea had been in hospice care and died Tuesday night, succumbing to cancer, which she was diagnosed with years ago.

Killea served on the City Council for five years and spent 14 years in the state Assembly and Senate, retiring from public service in 1996. She continued on with civic organizations and her decades-long push to improve cross-border relations with Mexico.

Her most famous stand came in 1989 when she faced off with Leo T. Maher, then the bishop of the San Diego Roman Catholic Diocese. Maher banned Killea from receiving communion because of her support for abortion rights, which had become a prominent feature during her state Senate campaign in a special election.

The bishops edict became national news and Killea, who appeared on The Phil Donahue Show, made it clear she would not alter her position on abortion nor abandon her faith. With her reputation growing, she won the election in a Senate district where half of the voters were Republicans and just 36.7 were Democrats, like Killea

She was not one to capitulate on matters of principle, whether to a bishop or another legislator. But high-volume confrontation was not her style.

She just had that wonderful way where she was so nice about everything, and a classy person, but never would let anyone think she wasnt strong and wouldnt follow through, said Alpert, who considered Killea a mentor.

Killea won re-election in 1992 after famously announcing that she was dropping her long membership in the Democratic Party to become an independent.

I was disgusted with both parties, she would say later. While not a member of either major party, she largely continued to vote with Democrats.

I dont think she blinked, either about being denied communion or becoming an independent, said Killeas former Chief of Staff and longtime friend Susan Taylor. I think she felt those decisions were important for her to make as a woman and an elected official. When she made a decision, she stuck with it.

Taylor likes to joke that while she only held the chief of staff title for about six years starting in 1979, she continued in the role, unofficially, for decades. She worked with Killea on all of her campaigns for Assembly and Senate, and then on a number of projects she took on after she was forced from the Legislature in 1996 by term limits. Killea loved being involved, so she never stopped, Taylor said. The Texas native continued serving the San Diego community into her 90s.

She had tons of raw energy, Taylor said. She took everything she had, every opportunity, and made something of it.

Killeas contributions were many.

She worked for years to foster better communication across the California-Mexico border. She helped to found Fronteras de las Californias and the International Community Foundation, both of which sought to improve lives south of the border through grants and charitable giving.

But of all the things she lent her drive to, advocating for women was paramount. Killea was one of a handful of women in office in Sacramento when she was first elected, and she deftly navigated the Legislature. And when other women entered office Killea showed them how to be effective lawmakers in a world dominated by men.

I think I learned how to be both strong and gracious at the same time, how to get things done, but you dont have to be unpleasant, and yell and scream, former Sen. Alpert said. You dont have to behave the way a man does, you behave as a lady and you can get things done, maybe more than what a man does.

Taylor said Killea regularly took women staff members and interns with her to the various meetings and community groups she attended to show them how things worked.

She cared deeply about helping women move up the ladder politically, socially and economically, Taylor said. She felt an obligation and a responsibility to help women achieve their goals  in elected office or any other area they were interested in pursuing.

Deborah Berger, a former deputy city attorney, said Killea guided her through her 2004 race for city attorney, which she ultimately lost in a close contest. Killea set high standards for both office holders and campaigns, Berger said.

She was a friend, she was a guide, and just the type of person who in this political environment is lost, she said.

Killeas political career reflected her longtime commitment to womens issues and a wide variety of other concerns. She helped create the bipartisan Womens Caucus while serving as assemblywoman and fought for years to implement a bill that licensed the practice of midwifery. Some of her other ideas, like her support for low-flow toilets, seemed peculiar at the time to some, but today are routine parts of life that no one questions, Alpert said.

Others, like the push for a unicameral Legislature, didnt catch on.

She was an early supporter of San Diegos trolley system, both as a councilwoman and a state legislator, and believed that San Diegos downtown would be a major success if redeveloped.

She was convinced that it could be done, and that we had a useful tool in the redevelopment law, and that we should reclaim what was obviously some of the most valuable real estate in North America, said Pete Wilson, former San Diego mayor, U.S. senator and California governor.

In 1999, two years after her husband John Killea died, she sold her home in Bankers Hill and moved into a sixth-floor condo in a 27-story downtown high-rise, one of the first new residential projects built under redevelopment.

She was also just very much enthused that we could literally revitalize, really bring back to life, an area that had grown stagnant but had enormous potential, Wilson said. And I think she served long enough and lived long enough to see that happen, and I think is due credit for being an early and steadfast supporter.

Born Lucy Gold Lytle on July 31, 1922, in San Antonio, Texas, Killeas mother was a ballerina who toured with Anna Pavlova in Europe, but died of tuberculosis when Killea was eight. Her father, a judge, was killed a year later when he was shot by his best friend in a hunting accident. Aunts and a family friend helped raise Killea, her older sister and her two brothers.

Killea joined the CIA in 1948, preparing reports on post-war construction in Europe. She left the agency in 1956 when she had her first son and when her husband was named the consul general in Monterrey, Mexico, by President Dwight Eisenhower. John Killea later served in Tijuana.

Killea fell in love with the culture and ultimately earned a doctorate in Latin American history from UC San Diego. She spoke nearly fluent Spanish and sang with a number of groups while in Mexico.

Killea moved to San Diego in 1968. There she served on the citys Historic Site Board from 1968 to 1976 and the County Cultural Heritage Committee from 1971 to 1977. Killea was appointed to the San Diego City Council in 1978 when her predecessor, Jess Haro, was jailed for 90 days for customs violations. She was elected to the seat the following year.

Wilson, a Republican, was mayor at the time and backed the Democrat for the council.

I had known her for some time, and we were social friends, Wilson said, and I thought she was thoughtful and someone possessed of good intentions and serious enough to work at translating them into the kind of change that would achieve her hopes.

Killea had a different approach on the City Council, and made efforts, whether it was by supporting the trolley system or redevelopment, to improve the city to better serve all of its residents. Some of her colleagues didnt want to lead San Diego in that direction, said former Councilman and county Supervisor Leon Williams.

At the time, many members of the council, and members in society, there were a lot of people who didnt want to change, or didnt want to improve and create a more inclusive, and more helpful and dynamic society and city, Williams said. But Lucy was on the side of those good things.

Around the time she entered local politics she also became an ardent runner, a hobby that got her onto the sidewalks early in the morning several times a week. She was a frequent competitor in road races, and when she left the Assembly and had to clean out her office she quipped that her running trophies were her only awards worth keeping while the others were destined for a bonfire.

She once said that she would spend her time running thinking about what motivates her supporters and opponents on various issues.

Wilson said that seeing others perspectives helped Killea in San Diego and Sacramento.

One of the things that helps get things done in a legislative setting is being likable and being trustworthy, and being reasonable, he said. And by reasonable, I mean willing to see the other side, notwithstanding the strength of their own wishes and convictions.

She was first elected to the Assembly in 1982 by a 10-point margin, and joined the Senate in 1989 where she stayed until her retirement from public office in 1996.

Her entry into the Senate was not free from controversy because of the bishops decision to bar her from receiving communion. Killea respected the decree within the diocese, but still attended Mass at Immaculate Conception church in Old Town, and received communion at churches in other dioceses.

As far as she was concerned, she was a good Catholic, Alpert said. She remained a person of faith and maybe figured out how to do it so that it would work for her.

As a high-profile politician denied communion because of their stance on abortion, Killeas name is often invoked whenever there is talk of another Catholic public official being refused the sacrament.

She would later worship at an Episcopal church.

She is survived by her sons Paul Killea, 60, of San Diego, and Jay Killea, 59, of the San Francisco Bay area, and his wife Suzanne Killea, 56, as well as grandchildren, Ryan Killea, 21, and Pheobe Killea, 19.

She was a rock solid source of advice on all sorts of daily, human issues, said Jay Killea. ...She taught us through example you need to believe in yourself, and when you decide on a direction to take, you need to be true to it.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on March 9 at St. Pauls Episcopal Cathedral in San Diego.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com
When Donald Trump puts his hand on the Bible and is sworn in as the new president on Friday, Rep. Juan Vargas will not be in Washington D.C. watching.

Instead, hell be 2,400 miles away in his district preparing for a prayer service on Saturday. Hes one of a several members of the House of Representatives who will not attend the inauguration.

Vargas, D-San Diego, will hold a peaceful prayer circle at Chicano Park where he and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher will ask for divine help for the country and the community.

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Over a quarter of Californias House delegation members are planning to boycott Trumps inauguration  all of them Democrats.

Vargas and Gonzalez Fletchers prayer service will be at a hub of the San Diego community and Latino political activism and comes as Trump, who stirred controversy for his comments on Mexicans, minorities, and immigrants, becomes the 45th president.

Vargass office did not return a request for additional comment, but he told The Los Angeles Times late last week that he respects the office of the president, but he does not respect Trump and it would be hypocritical of him to attend the inauguration and celebrate.

More than 1 in 4 California members of Congress are skipping Trumps inauguration 

I studied to be a priest for a long time and we all make mistakes, but the things that he has said, the mocking of disabled people in particular, the things hes said about Mexicans, it would be very hard for me to be in a place like that celebrating. Vargas said.

During the campaign Trump said called Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals. He also claimed that Gonzalo Curiel, an Indiana-born judge in U.S. District Court in San Diego, could not be impartial in a Trump University lawsuit because of his Mexican-American heritage.

Chicano Park, which is also known for its colorful murals in addition to its role as a rallying site in Latino history, was named a National Historic Landmark on Jan. 11.

Chicano Park named National Historic Landmark 

Gonzalez Fletcher said she reached out to Vargas to organize the event after she read that Vargas, a former Jesuit novice, was considering staying home to pray rather than attend the inauguration.

I called him and said we should pray together, this is a very positive way of dealing with it. It offers hope, she said.

What is prayed for will be up to the individual attendees, but Gonzalez Fletcher said she anticipates that there will be intercessions for the immigrants and refugees who live in the community.

There are a lot of people who are very concerned what the future can hold for them and their families, she said.

The service runs from 8:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Saturday at Chicano Park. Meteorologists predict rain, but portions of the park are under cover. As of Tuesday afternoon 61 people said on the events Facebook page that they will attend while another 142 are interested in going.

On Monday Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, announced he will attend the inauguration. He said he was inspired by a request to lawmakers from President Barack Obama to cherish their time as public service, and he will attend to witness the peaceful change in administrations.

I greatly respect the office of the Presidency, even if I dont respect the man who will now inhabit it, Peters said in a statement. So I will join Presidents Obama and Clinton, Secretary Clinton, Senator (Kamala) Harris, and hundreds of my colleagues at the inauguration.

On Saturday he plans to participate in the Womens March in Washington, a protest against Trump, he said. Local Womens Marches are also planned, including one in San Diego.

Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
A man believed to be armed robbed a valet at a Westfield UTC restaurant Tuesday night, San Diego police said.

The victim was counting money behind the valet services stand at Seasons 52 when the thief walked up, demanded the money and pointed to a hoodie pocket shortly before 10 p.m. The valet told police he saw what appeared to be the barrel of a gun in the pocket.

The robber was described as Latino, 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a beard and medium build. He was wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. He left the La Jolla Village Drive mall in a gray Dodge pickup truck, police said.

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Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
Its official: 2016 was the hottest year on record since scientists began tracking Earths temperature more than 100 years ago, according to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The 1.69-degree jump over the 20th-century average, according to NOAA, marks the third year in a row that global temperatures have reached record-shattering levels. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration added that the global average temperature for 2016 was 1.78 degrees higher than a baseline period between 1951 and 1980.

Both agencies noted that Earths average global temperature  which NOAA pegged at 57 degrees during the 20th century  was higher in 2016 than in any year since scientists began tracking it in 1880.

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For the first time in recorded history, we have now had three consecutive record-warm years, said Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Pennsylvania State University who was not involved in the findings. The likelihood of this having happened in the absence of human-caused global warming is minimal.

The government reports were released Wednesday as President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency said he disagreed with the overwhelming scientific consensus that Earth is warming at a catastrophic rate and that human activities are to blame.

The ability to measure with precision the extent of [human] impact and what to do about it are subject to continued debate and dialogue, Oklahoma Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt told senators during his contentious confirmation hearing.

The average global temperature incorporates measurements taken from locations across land and sea, including 6,300 ground-based weather stations, legions of ocean buoys and research facilities in Antarctica.

Those instruments tracked record warm temperatures for eight months of the year. NASA and NOAA agree that January, February, March, April, May, July and August set new records; NOAAs list also includes July, while NASAs also includes September.

The global thermostat got a boost during the first part of 2016 thanks to El Nino, a multiyear weather pattern in the equatorial Pacific Ocean thats driven by temperature fluctuations between the ocean and atmosphere. The slight cooling effect from El Ninos counterpart, La Nina, in the latter half of the year couldnt keep 2016 from beating 2015.

The effects of the extra heat were felt across the globe, NOAA said. The temperature in Mitribah, Kuwait, on July 21 reached 129.2 degrees, the highest ever for Asia. In Alberta, Canada, a wildfire burned about 2,400 homes and became the costliest natural disaster in that countrys history. In southern Africa, two years of low rainfall led to serious drought.

Overall, Earths average surface temperature has risen about 2 degrees since the late 19th century, scientists with NASA said. The bulk of that increase has come since 1980, and especially since the turn of the century: Of the 17 warmest years on record, 16 occurred since 2001, according to NASA.

Both land and sea temperatures hit new highs in 2016, NOAA said. The surface temperature of the continents was 2.57 degrees above average, and the surface temperature of the oceans was 1.35 degrees above average, NOAA said.

It was really global warmth that we saw in 2016, even more so than 2015, said Derek Arndt, chief of the monitoring branch at NOAAs National Centers for Environmental Information in Asheville, N.C.

The findings were not exactly a surprise: Scientists had predicted that 2016 would be even hotter than the previous years record-breaking temperatures, and data through November seemed to be bearing that out.

Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, humans have released unprecedented amounts of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The results can be seen around the globe, including higher sea levels, acidic oceans, more extreme weather events and local extinctions of species that havent been able to adapt to changes in their ecosystems.

As the oceans warm and more water evaporates, the atmosphere is able to carry more water  which can lead to more severe storms and flooding, said Richard Rood, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Last year was really quite remarkable with regard to floods, Rood said, pointing to events in Louisiana, the Carolinas and Texas. Those events strike me as particularly compelling.

While NOAA and NASA used slightly different methods to calculate global temperature changes, their measurements matched well with each other and with other analyses  including one from the nonprofit climate research group Berkeley Earth, which also called 2016 the hottest year on record.

These datasets are all singing the same song, Arndt said. The pattern is very clear.

Richard Muller, a UC Berkeley physicist and Berkeley Earths co-founder, took issue with the idea that todays extreme weather events could be directly linked to global warming. He said the real effects would be seen in the future and likely would affect areas with agricultural production  which could lead to geopolitical conflict.

In my mind, the greatest threat of global warming is war, he said.

The U.S. experienced 15 weather-related disasters last year, including drought, wildfire, flooding, severe storms and a hurricane, which together resulted in losses of $46 billion and the deaths of 138 people, NOAA said. In addition, 13.1 million Americans living along coastlines are vulnerable to flooding caused by the melting of polar ice reserves, according to a recent study.

The North American continent experienced its warmest year on record, led by rising temperatures in the Arctic. At the northern reaches of the globe, scientists measured an average of 3.92 million square miles of sea ice over the course of 2016, the lowest annual average since their measurements began in 1979, NOAA said.

No other continent broke a record in 2016, but most came close. South America and Africa recorded their second-highest average temperatures, while Europe and Asia had their third-warmest years. Temperatures in Australia were the fifth-highest on record, according to NOAA.

In Antarctica, the amount of sea ice averaged 4.31 million square miles in 2016. That was the second-lowest amount since 1979, NOAA added.

Because La Nina tends to be a cooling trend, scientists do not expect 2017 to break last years heat record. But like El Nino, La Nina is a short-term weather pattern, and it cannot stop temperatures from continuing to rise in the long term, researchers said.

Times staff writer Evan Halper in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

amina.khan@latimes.com

Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

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UPDATES:

2:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from climate scientist Richard Rood and physicist Richard Muller.

12:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from NASA and NOAA, as well as with comments from climate scientist Michael Mann.

This article was originally published at 9:05 a.m.
Just have to post this from Facebok,,,,You are here: Home / Right Off A Cliff / Dear Conservatives: Facts Prove Youve Been Wrong About Damn Near Everything Dear Conservatives: Facts Prove Youve Been Wrong About Damn Near Everything January 16, 2017By Allen Clifton 2 Comments 12.1k Share Tweet Share ShareA while back, I wrote an article where I pointed out how conservatives have been on the wrong side of practically every major event in United States history. I want to make sure I emphasize conservatives  not Republicans  because as Ive also pointed out, the ideologies of the two parties switched during the 50s and 60s following the GOPs implementation of the Southern strategy. Its always been conservatives (especially southern/rural conservatives) who loved Democrats when they were the party of racism, then flocked to the GOP when it embraced that racism following the civil rights era.As Ive said before, its not a coincidence that nearly every state that made up the Confederacy also: Opposed giving women the right to vote. Supported segregation. Opposed the Civil Rights Act. Fought to keep bans on interracial marriage. Today, those states are almost all strongly Republican  and theyve always been conservative. But even going beyond those moments in our history, conservatives are almost always wrong about damn near everything. The dawn of trickle-down economics was forced upon us nearly 40 years ago  yet it hasnt brought economic prosperity to the middle class. In fact, the rich just keep getting richer, while the middle class continues to fall further and further behind. How many more times do we have to cut taxes before conservatives realize that giving rich people more money isnt helping the middle class? When it comes to social issues like abortion and gay rights, theyre wrong. Even with a Supreme Court thats been stacked in conservative favor over the last few years, abortion rights have remained and gay marriage bans were overturned. Hell, even the Affordable Care Act was upheld  multiple times. On the subject of guns, they believe guns have nothing to do with gun violence, even though stats (and basic reality) completely debunk that ridiculous propaganda. Look no further than Australia which banned certain guns years ago, and immediately saw a drop in gun-related violence and death. They oppose universal health care even though most other countries on par with the United States economically have some form of it, along with longer life expectancies. Even within our own country the closest thing we have to universal health care, Medicare, gets mostly positive marks from seniors.Then theres always climate change. The science behind this is supported by over 97 percent of the worlds scientists  and nearly every other country on Earth (even China believes in it)  yet Republicans seem to think its nothing more than a giant liberal conspiracy.The Iraq War? Well, Republican George W. Bush really got that one right, didnt he? Not only did Iraq not have weapons of mass destruction, but the war destabilized the entire region, and the SOFA agreement he signed with Iraq that set the date for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops ultimately led to the rise of ISIS. But you dont have to believe me that Bush was responsible for the rise of ISIS; Dick Cheney called the removal of all U.S. troops a sign of success of the Iraq War. Oh, remember when Bush said his tax cuts would erase the national debt? I guess he meant theyd double the national debt on the way to the worst economic crash since the Great Depression.Then there are always the conspiracies many conservatives have believed: Barack Obama ordered his college transcripts sealed. (All college transcripts are ordered legally sealed.) He faked two forms of his birth certificate. (Nope.) Jade Helm was a plot by President Obama to confiscate guns. (Dumbest thing Ive ever heard.) President Obama is part of the Muslim Brotherhood. (Nope.) President Obama lived under a fake alias. (Nope.) President Obama isnt a Christian. (Well-documented history of his church attendance.) President Obama was going to confiscate guns. (Never took one.) President Obama was going to change the Constitution to run for a third term. (Nope.) FEMA was going to be used to run concentration camps. (Nope.) Hillary Clinton slept through the Benghazi attack. (The attack occurred in the middle of the day in Washington, she was wide awake and dealing with it.) The FBI was on the verge of indicting her. (Nope.) Hillary Clinton has had multiple people killed. (Nope.) The Clinton Foundation is a pay-for-play scheme the Clintons have used to make millions. (Theyve never taken a salary from it.)There was a stand-down order given that could have saved the Benghazi victims. (Nope.) Hillary Clinton was going to rig the election. (Nope.) To be honest, Ive forgotten more of them than I can remember. Yet despite this list (which could be much longer if I listed everything) of all these conspiracies that millions of conservatives legitimately believe  none of them are true.Though the saddest part is, no matter how much evidence you use to show these people that all of that absurd nonsense is pure fiction, it wont faze them. One thing Ive learned is that conservatives believe what they want to believe, facts or reality be damned. Even many of the things they believe about their conservative icon Ronald Reagan arent true. This is a hero to nearly every Republican alive today who: Raised taxes six of his eight years in office. Banned automatic weapons. Passed an amnesty bill for illegal immigrants. Nearly tripled the national debt. Supported Bill Clintons assault weapons ban. Yet those are policy stances that would disqualify him from even winning a GOP primary today, let alone being viewed as an icon for the party. Except, thats exactly what Reagan is to the GOP. They worship a legend thats not actually true rather than the reality of who he was as president.You can go throughout our nations history, through nearly every ridiculous conspiracy thats been nationally accepted by more than just a few people, and on the wrong side of all of those issues practically every single time youll find one common denominator: Conservatives. Feel free to hit me up on Twitter or Facebook and let me know what you think. Click here for reuse options! Copyright 2017 Forward Progressives You may also like: Chuck Todd Perfectly Describes One of the Most Dangerous Aspects About Donald Trump (Video) This is the Real Reason Why Trump Supporters are so Upset with Meryl Streep's Speech Kellyanne Conway Stuns CNN's Chris Cuomo with One of the Dumbest Things She's Ever Said (Video) Trump Goes on Desperate Twitter Rant Trying to Distract People From His Growing List of Scandals .The following two tabs change content below. Bio Latest Posts Allen Clifton Allen Clifton is a native Texan who now lives in the Austin area. He has a degree in Political Science from Sam Houston State University. Allen is a co-founder of Forward Progressives and creator of the popular Right Off A Cliff column and Facebook page. Be sure to follow Allen on Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to his channel on YouTube as well. Comments 63 Facebook commentsRead more at: Dear Conservatives: Facts Prove You've Been Wrong About Damn Near Everything
Despite toughening its rules over when police agencies can keep cash or property seized from criminal suspects, California received poor marks in a national report card issued Tuesday by a Washington D.C. nonprofit law group.

California received an overall D grade in the Forfeiture Transparency & Accountability review, a state-by-state study of civil asset forfeiture practices across the United States.

The nations most populous state received F grades in two specific categories -- accounting for forfeiture fund spending and penalties for failing to file a report.

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Californias failure to account for spending from forfeiture funds is particularly troubling, said Jennifer McDonald, one of the co-authors of the report from the Institute for Justice. At a bare minimum, agencies should have to publicly report how they spend forfeiture proceeds.

The Institute for Justice has made reforming civil asset forfeiture laws one of its key policy objectives.

The nonprofit law firm sued the San Diego County District Attorneys Office last year over a decision to confiscate more than $100,000 from businessman James Slatic even though he was never arrested or charged with a crime following a raid on his Kearny Mesa medical-pot company.

Institute lawyers lost their initial complaint in San Diego Superior Court last fall but have appealed.

The District Attorneys Office said the asset forfeiture program helps law enforcement agencies enhance public safety by removing the proceeds of crime and other assets relied upon by criminals.

Overall, 26 states received a D+ or lower grade on the transparency and accountability report card. Fourteen of those states do not appear to require any form of tracking whatever, the study found.

California received better than average grades  Bs  for producing statewide forfeiture reports and making those records accessible to the public, the report noted.

A new state law that went into effect this year also requires that police agencies secure a criminal conviction before they can keep proceeds of an asset seizure worth $40,000 or less.

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jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald

Previously
National City council members rejected a 32 percent pay raise for Mayor Ron Morrison on Tuesday night, a proposed increase opposed by dozens of residents packed into the City Council chambers.

The increase, introduced at a City Council meeting late last month, would have boosted Morrisons annual base pay to $65,000 and brought his total city compensation package including benefits to $92,600.

More than a dozen dockworkers, retirees and even a student council member voiced their distaste for the move, including several who pointed out the effort would be bankrolled using taxes paid by some of the poorest residents in San Diego County.

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After more than an hour of hearing their concerns, Vice Mayor Albert Mendevil abandoned the proposal that he, Morrison and Councilman Jerry Cano had supported only a few weeks earlier.

Eventually, all three lined up behind a motion that will allow them to instead consider a more modest 10 percent pay raise for every council member, including Morrison. That proposal could surface as soon as March.

Morrison  who had defended the raise as commensurate with his job description  remained supportive of that position.

I didnt mind taking the hit on this, because it needs to be addressed, at some point, Morrison told his council colleagues. I hate to say it, but you get what you pay for.

The San Diego Union-Tribune on Monday reported on the raise  reporting on the percentage of the pay increase, at 32 percent. Mendevil said the story gave him perspective, that he hadnt previously thought about the issue in terms of percentages.

The newspaper also reported that Morrison would have been eligible eligible for up to $50,700 per year in retirement benefits under the scuttled proposal  a roughly $12,100 improvement on his annual retirement benefit. Morrison said the proposal had nothing to do with increasing his retirement benefits.

Such figures did not escape the attention of city bean counters.

We have to look at positions here, and not individuals, said City Treasurer Mitch Beauchamp. The pensions are the shadow that stick with us. Its the skeleton in the closet we still havent dealt with here.

In reality, were not a full-time mayor city. The city manager does a huge job running the staff and getting things done.  I would not do this.

Beauchamp, like many of the proposals other critics, was careful to point out that it was nothing personal against Morrison. Many residents lauded the mayors commitment to his job and referred to him by only his first name. One reported he was a nice guy to have a beer with.

But few felt that warranted a pay hike.

I appreciate you work very hard and you get a lot done, but come on, man, said longtime resident Coyote Moon. This is a city with working class people of all races and all colors. I ask that you not make them support an unreasonable salary.

Morrison remains the fourth highest-paid mayor in San Diego County. His existing compensation package, totaling $84, 822, is the 17th most generous in the state for a mayor, according to 2015 data from the California State Controllers office.

On top of his city compensation, Morrison is eligible to receive up to $48,300 in stipend and per diem payments for his attendance at board meetings in other jurisdictions. The mayor is an appointee to five such boards, including two water authorities and the San Diego Association of Governments, the countywide planning agency.

Representatives with four of those panels confirmed Morrison is paid $150 per meeting, a payment some agencies allow him to accept as often as 10 times per month, depending on how often the board meets.

National Citys median household income is $41,437, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. The city with the next highest income is El Cajon, at $45,957.

The mayors of Gardena and San Rafael, the two California cities immediately above and below National City in terms of population, make $30,938 and $10,161, respectively.

National City has a population of 60,000, and Morrisons pay is similar to the mayor of Richmond, population 110,000. Morrison is the third-highest-paid mayor among California cities with fewer than 100,000 people.

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The list of Democratic lawmakers planning to boycott Republican President-elect Donald Trump s inauguration continued to grow Tuesday with San Diego Rep. Juan Vargas joining almost 60 other House Democrats who will not attend the event this Friday.

Many of the congressional leaders used social media to explain their reasons for planning not to attend, which ranged from Trumps actions during the election to his planned policies. Some connected their announcements to the president-elects criticism of longtime civil rights activist Rep. John Lewis .

Many also encouraged their constituents to boycott. Rep. Karen Bass , D-Los Angeles, asked hers to help decide whether she should go. More than 15,000 replied.

However, there are many who have made the decision to attend despite the boycott. That includes San Diegos Rep. Scott Peters, who says hell attend because he was elected to do a job, so hell be showing up for work to bear witness to the peaceful transition of power, which remains the bedrock of our democracy.

Heres a look at what other Democrats in Congress are saying about the inauguration.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer had this to say in response:

"We'd love for every member of Congress to attend but if they don't, we've got some great seats for others to partake in. It's a shame that these folks don't want to be part of the peaceful transfer of power.

This is how extreme the debate was.

We asked our own followers what they thought about the decision to boycott a presidential inauguration for political reasons and the opinions were split. Vote to see the results.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin
Three days before leaving office, President Barack Obama reopened an emotional debate, commuting the 35-year sentence of Chelsea Manning , an army intelligence analyst imprisoned for leaking sensitive military documents to WikiLeaks.

Hero? Traitor? A bit of both? Something far more nuanced?

On Twitter, WikiLeaks declared it a victory and Edward Snowden echoed similar praise shared by Manning supporters thanking Obama for showing clemency on the transgender U.S. Army soldier. Critics insisted on calling Manning a traitor, saying the decision sets a bad precedent for America.

After serving seven years of the 35-year sentence in a military prison, Manning is expected to be released in May. The New York Times reports that Mannings sentence was the longest punishment for someone convicted of leaking sensitive military data.

In 2010, Manning  formerly known as Bradley Manning  leaked documents and footage that put the U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq in a negative light. The data appeared on WikiLeaks, raising the profile of the site and of its founder, Julian Assange.

Manning was tried under the U.S. Espionage Act and was found guilty on most of the charges brought against her. Her sentence commutation comes as President Obama sets a record in number of clemencies ever granted by a sitting president. The decision also comes days before White House press secretary Josh Earnest highlighted the difference between granting clemency to someone like Manning and someone like Snowden.

Chelsea Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing, Earnest said in a press briefing last Friday.

Mr. Snowden fled into the arms of an adversary, and has sought refuge in a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine confidence in our democracy. So I think the situation of these two individuals is quite different, Earnest added.

In a statement, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, called the decision outrageous and a dangerous precedent. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, shared a similar reaction, adding that the decision put the countrys national security at risk.

Mannings sentence commutation was sliced and diced by political observers including Wall Street Journal editorial page editor Bret Stephens and former New York Times reporter Judith Miller, who herself spent time in prison for protecting the identity of a source who leaked CIA information to her.

Obama had previously said Manning broke the law but refrained from saying whether he would grant her clemency. On Tuesday, that question was put to rest but new questions are likely to persist even after Obama leaves office.

What do you make of Obama commuting the sentence of Chelsea Manning  about time or a bad precedent?

Share your thoughts and join the conversation.

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez
St. Michaels Catholic Church in Poway is the most recent local faith community to provide temporary housing to some of the areas homeless through the Interfaith Shelter Network.

We thought it was a great cause to help the situational homeless going through a rough spot by giving them help to get back on their feet, said Ana Alvord, who with Brigitte Ponce are the coordinators of St. Michaels two-week homeless shelter.

Alvord said she has been involved with the program for seven years as a volunteer when San Rafael Catholic Church in Rancho Bernardo hosts the homeless for two weeks each year. The 11 guests who arrived at St. Michaels on Jan. 14 and include four women, two men, three children and two teens, came from San Rafael and will transfer to another Poway church later this month if they have not yet found permanent housing.

According to Bill Zucconi, rotational shelter coordinator for Interfaith Shelter Network, those accepted in the program typically receive shelter for six to eight weeks. By then, they are expected to have secured other housing via assistance provided through the program, though a brief extension is permissible on a case-by-case basis. He said the program opens in mid- to late-October and this year is to close on April 8.

In its first three decades it has helped 9,250 people and provided 245,000 bed nights. Last year it helped 238 guests, provided 8,725 bed nights, had 4,150 volunteers and provided 26,000 meals, Zucconi said. Over the years he has seen its guests demographics change, starting with homeless men and now encompassing homeless families with members of all ages.

All program participants are screened by a local social service agency to make sure there are no active drug, alcohol or mental health problems. While in the program they receive job counseling and other assistance  such as help filing for Social Security or disability benefits, if eligible  so they can get into permanent housing, he said.

They work with an ongoing case manager to develop an individual case plan and set a series of goals ... to get a steady income and more permanent housing, Zucconi said.

The network, now in its 31st year, was based on a program in New York City, he said. It originated with the San Diego Regional Task Force for Homeless and later was taken over by the San Diego Ecumenical Council. Eventually the countywide Interfaith Shelter Network became a self-sustaining 501(c)3 corporation, funded through grants and tax-deductible donations. The Rotational Shelter Program is one of a few it operates.

To operate each winter, the program relies on a network of more than 120 faith congregations representing all denominations. Around 70 of the congregations host up to 12 guests each for two to four weeks, while the rest provide other assistance, such as meals and supplies. Zucconi said the Poway/Rancho Bernardo area is in the North County Coastal network and in addition to St. Michaels and San Rafael, other area faith communities that have been a host site include St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church, Incarnation Lutheran Church and Temple Adat Shalom, all in Poway. Others in this network are in Escondido and San Marcos.

Even though religious communities are hosts and their members interact with the guests during their stay, Zucconi said they are not allowed to apostolize in any way. If guests request to attend their hosts religious services, they are welcome to do so. Pastoral counseling is also available if guests request it.

Alvord said more than 70 St. Michaels parishioners are helping, doing everything from setting up room dividers and cots in its Holy Family Center, to building temporary showers in its restrooms, cooking dinner each night, providing laundry service and being on-site chaperones. Parishioners also donated toiletries and items to make their guests feel welcome. These included small toys for the children.

Ponce said each weekday parishioners transport the guests to Interfaith Community Services in Escondido  if they do not have a vehicle  for their assistance counseling. They return each evening, receive dinner prepared by volunteers and can relax. Each morning they are given breakfast. During the weekend they may come and go as they please. The children are welcome to use St. Michaels playground and arrangements have been made to provide extras, such as a hairstylist and nurse if checkups are needed.

Its really a huge operation, Ponce said.

Zucconi said school-age children are expected to attend school. Ponce said one guest family found it hard to get its children to school in Vista, so San Rafael volunteers helped them get the youngsters enrolled in Poway Unified since they will be in this area for at least six weeks.

Ponce said the shelter project is part of St. Michaels Corporal Works of Mercy program, which she directs.

We were focused on projects abroad, but wanted the parish to get involved locally, in our own backyard to help those who are suffering and need a hand, she said, explaining the program is based on Matthew 25, which says whenever one feeds the hungry, gives drink to the thirsty, provides clothes or shelter to those in need, looks after the sick or visits those in prison, they do it for the Lord.

The point is to grow as givers in our parish, she said. The program now has five components. In addition to the shelter, it operates a young adult mission program to build homes in Columbia, Haiti and the Philippines plus supports schools in those countries; provides prosthetic limbs to the poor in Tijuana and supports a Tijuana orphanage.

Ponce said St. Michaels is the wealthiest parish in the Diocese of San Diego and its parishioners have been so wonderful in helping with the projects. What we ask for we get usually, she said.

Zucconi said any faith community that would like to be a host site or any organization that would like to assist in other ways can contact him at 619-702-5399 or billz@interfaithshelter.org. For more about its programs, go to interfaithshelter.org.

Email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com
LAKE ELSINORE -- Henry vander Laan of Lake Elsinore is aHolocaust survivor, but his experience is different from that ofmost others.

Vander Laan, who said he escaped from a train headed to aconcentration camp after being captured by the Nazis, is not Jewishlike most of the people imprisoned by Adolf Hitler during World WarII.

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Vander Laan, an 83-year-old native of Holland, said he is adevout Christian who believed it was his duty to protect Jews.

It was his efforts to help Jews escape the Nazis that led to hisarrest.

We fought for them. We put our lives on the line because Im aChristian and we believe that they are the Lords people, vanderLaan said.

Tuesday marks the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day, whenattention will be given to the 6 million Jews killed during AdolfHitlers reign in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.

In 1979, Congress established the Days of Remembrance tocommemorate victims of the Holocaust.

The Holocaust represents one of the singular events in thehistory of the world, let alone the history of the Jewish people,"said Rabbi Barry Ulrych of Bnai Chaim synagogue in Murrieta. Apeople was marked for death. We have to make sure the whole worldremembers what happened and make sure that kind of event neverhappens again.

Ulrych said people such as vander Laan are known as RighteousGentiles.

Vander Laan said Monday that he became a freedom fighter afterhe was beaten and left for dead by Nazis after taking a gun from asleeping soldier when he was 14.

After he recovered, he said, he helped hundreds of Jewishfamilies in Holland move to safehouses or fishing boats in hopes ofescaping the Nazis.

He was eventually captured, but said he was able to escape froma train that he believes was en route to the infamous Auschwitzconcentration camp, freeing 300 others, as well.

Vander Laan said he was 19 years old at the time and weighedjust 79 pounds. He said he was able to squeeze through an openingto unlatch the door of the freight car.

After being captured, he was taken to the concentration camp atAmersfoort, in the Netherlands, he said, and he told of beingtortured by Gestapo officers.

You cannot describe it, vander Laan said. Yet, when theytortured me, I asked the Lord to take the hate out of my heart forthe torturers, and still today I have no hate whatsoever foranybody.

Vander Laan denounces those who deny there was a Holocaust.

A lot of people say there was no Holocaust. Thats the biggestlie thats ever told, he said. Its a true story  People gotkilled. People have to know that.

Vander Laan came to the United States in the early 1950s,settling in Los Angeles, where his parents had moved.

There he met his late wife, Anna, and they had five children. Heworked as a dairyman in the Los Angeles area before moving to LakeElsinore to be closer to one of his daughters.

Despite his actions, vander Laan eschews accolades.

Im not a hero. The Jewish people who went through all thatstuff, those are the heroes, he said.

One of those who survived the Holocaust was Ulrychs mother, whodied two years ago.

In fact, aging Holocaust survivors are dying off quickly, makingit more important that their stories are shared, Ulrych said.

I, as a rabbi, look for every opportunity to make sure peopleunderstand the history of the Holocaust, he said. Its not Jewishpeoples history, its the history of the capacity of man toperpetuate evil. "

Contact staff writer Craig Shultz at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625,orcshultz@californian.com.

Holocaust remembrances

Mt. San Jacinto College

- What: Free lecture by David Faber, a survivor of theHolocaust, who has written a book about his experiences.

- When:11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday

- Where: Room 927 of the Business & Technology building, Mt.San Jacinto College, 28237 La Piedra Road, Menifee

- Information: Nick Reeves, (951) 639-5735

Chabad of Temecula Valley

- What: Talk by Leon Leyson, the youngest survivor onSchindlers List. Sponsored by Chabad Jewish Center-TemeculaValley

- When: 2 p.m. June 7

- Where: Temecula Creek Inn, 44501 Rainbow Canyon Road,Temecula

- How much: $25 in advance, $36 at the door; Students $15 or$25.

- Reservations and information: (951) 303-9576,www.jewishtemecula.com
PLATTSMOUTH  A Council Bluffs man learned Tuesday afternoon that he would spend up to a year in state prison for burglarizing a Cedar Creek home last summer.

Ronald D. Poppino, 53, appeared in Cass County District Court for sentencing on one Class IIA felony charge of burglary. The state dismissed a pair of additional felony charges as part of a plea bargain with Poppino last year.

Cass County Sheriffs Office deputies arrested Poppino in June after they caught him taking items from a house on Platteview Drive in Cedar Creek. Poppino told authorities he had been authorized to be at the house to complete several yardworking duties. Deputies did not believe that statement because the incident took place around 10 p.m.

An investigation revealed that a door had been pried open at the house. Authorities discovered tool marks on the door and a set of tools in Poppinos vehicle. Poppino later admitted to authorities he had taken multiple items from the home on two occasions.

Deputy County Attorney Colin Palm told the court a large amount of property had either been destroyed or taken from the residence. He said the victims insurance company covered approximately $20,000 worth of damaged items. Palm said the victim suffered approximately $70,000 in damages.

Palm said Poppino was unemployed, did not have a high school diploma and currently owed $7,000 in child support payments. He said Douglas County officials had a warrant for Poppinos arrest for failure to pay child support.

Palm told the court the state believed a prison sentence was appropriate. He said many parts of the house were in major disarray and the homes windows had been spraypainted. He said many items of sentimental value were also stolen.

Burglary is one of those crimes that violates more than just monetary things, Palm said. It violates a persons home and a sense of security and trust.

Palm said the state recommended a prison sentence on the shorter end of the possible penalty scale because it was Poppinos first major crime. Poppinos criminal history included a variety of traffic violations but no felony-level offenses. Palm asked the court to issue a sentence of one to two years in prison.

Defense attorney Michael Ziskey asked the court to issue a probation sentence. He said his client was currently applying for disability benefits because he was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. He also said Poppino had not physically harmed another person during the crime.

Judge Michael Smith said it appeared Poppino did not have the ability to pay the full amount of restitution to the victim. He ordered a restitution amount of $2,000. Poppino paid $1,800 on Tuesday afternoon after his bond money was assigned to the victim. He will be required to pay an additional $200 at a later date.

Smith ordered Poppino to serve a term of one to two years at the Nebraska Department of Corrections. The application of good time credit means Poppino will instead serve a term of six months to one year in state prison.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
PLATTSMOUTH  A Falls City man who was pulled over for driving drunk in Cass County will spend time in state prison for his fifth DUI offense.

Michael J. Sojka, 31, appeared in Cass County District Court on Tuesday afternoon for a sentencing hearing. Sojka pled guilty last year to a Class IIA felony of driving under the influence of alcohol-.15 or greater blood alcohol content-fourth offense.

The state had originally charged Sojka with a Class II felony of DUI-.15+-fifth offense. Prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge in exchange for Sojkas plea. The state and defense also agreed to recommend a prison term of 18 months.

A Cass County Sheriffs Office deputy noticed Sojka was driving on the shoulder of the road near the intersection of Highway 75 and Highway 1 on Feb. 28, 2016. The deputy stopped Sojkas vehicle and soon noticed the smell of alcohol. A breath test later revealed Sojka had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) level of .282.

Sojka had been previously convicted of DUI offenses four times. The first conviction took place in Sarpy County in September 2007 and the second happened in Sarpy County in October 2008. The third conviction took place in Richardson County in October 2011. He was also convicted of DUI in Brown County, Kan., in June 2015.

Deputy County Attorney Steven Sunde asked the court to follow the recommendation of a prison sentence. He said Sojka had threatened the safety of the public by choosing to drive while intoxicated. He said the large number of DUI convictions in a ten-year window was also alarming.

I strongly recommend a term of incarceration in this case, if nothing else than to send a message to others that this behavior is not acceptable, Sunde said. This is not a victimless crime. Its not. There are people every year who get killed by drunk drivers.

Defense attorney Julie Bear said her client had taken steps to address his alcohol addiction. She said he had been wearing a continuous alcohol monitoring bracelet and a GPS tracking device since his arrest. She said Sojka had completed inpatient treatment and residential treatment programs and was currently on a waiting list for an aftercare program. She said he had also been attending numerous Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in both Nebraska and Kansas.

Judge Michael Smith said Sojka had been making progress in his battle with substance abuse. Smith said that did not outweigh the large number of DUI convictions on Sojkas record. He said Sojkas BAC had been at or above the .15 level in several of the earlier cases.

Smith sentenced Sojka to serve a term of 18-24 months at the Nebraska Department of Corrections. Sojka will have his drivers license suspended for 15 years. He will be eligible to apply for an ignition interlock permit after 45 days.

Bear asked Smith to delay the start of Sojkas incarceration for two weeks to allow her client to take care of several personal matters. Smith granted the request. Sojka will be required to turn himself in to authorities at Cass County Jail on Feb. 1. He will be required to wear his CAM and GPS devices until that time.
Cemetery board

The East Cass Pioneer Cemetery District has an opening to fill an unexpired Trustee position on the Board. Requirements are to be a resident taxpayer residing within the boundaries of the ECPCD and interested in the care of pioneer cemeteries. Interested parties should send a letter of interest to the ECPCD Board, PO Box 104, Murray, NE 68409-0104. Deadline for letters of interest is Feb. 6.

Caregivers Support

Another six weeks of free Thursday evening Caregiver Support classes are being offered starting Feb. 9 at First Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, 1025 Ave. D, Plattsmouth.

Classes run from 5:30-8 p.m. every Thursday from Feb. 9 through March 16. Dinner will be served during each class. The maximum size for each class is 15 people so people are encouraged to register by calling 402.296.2832. Classes fill up quickly so register as soon as possible.

The classes aim to help caregivers deal with the challenges they face with their loved ones memory loss.
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/18/2017 -- Australia, New Zealand and India Building Information Modeling (BIM) Market: Snapshot



The vast rise in infrastructure development activities across India, Australia, and New Zealand in the past few years has been complemented with an increased focus on the usage of digital tools for the proper estimation of cost and time required for project completion. As the overall focus on cost and time values continues to rise in the highly competitive construction industry, traditional 3D visualization tools such as AutoCAD, 3DMax, and CATIA are being increasingly replaced by building information modelling (BIM) solutions.



Building information modelling (BIM) is a 3D visual presentation of a technical drawing that includes the plan, elevation, and section of a building. It is a kind of digital fabrication system in which the actual model of the building is digitally constructed with accurate values. Apart from 3D visualization, BIM also covers 4D and 5D, which comprise the time and cost plans of a construction project.



Request a Sample Copy of the Report @ http://www.mrrse.com/sample/2376



According to Transparency Market Research, the Australia, New Zealand, and India building information modelling (BIM) market was worth US$214.0 mn in 2015 and is expected to reach US$1,335.3 mn by 2024, expanding at a remarkable CAGR of 22.3% from 2016 to 2024.



Architects Continue to Remain Dominant Consumers of BIM Solutions



Architects, contractors and engineers are some of the prominent end users of BIM solution in India, New Zealand, and Australia. Across all three, the segment of architects is the key consumer of these solutions, accounting for over 40% of these markets in 2015. Over the forecast period as well, the segment is projected to continue to have a strong influence on the overall development of the BIM market and exhibit growth at a remarkable pace across these countries.



However, the usage of BIM solutions across the contractor segment is expected to exhibit growth at a faster pace than the architects segment across these countries over the forecast period. In India, the segment is expected to expand at a 26.6% CAGR, in Australia it will exhibit a 25% CAGR and in New Zealand, it will exhibit a slightly lesser 21% CAGR as compared to the architect sector.



Inquiry on this report @ http://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/2376



Thanks to Vast Rise in Infrastructure Development Activities, India to Account for Bulk of Sales



In terms of revenue, India is presently the leading market building information modeling solutions, accounting for nearly 43% share in the overall revenue of the Australia, New Zealand, and India building information modelling (BIM) market in 2015. Moreover, the country is expected to remain the leading consumer of building information modeling solutions throughout the forecast period. India's building information modeling market is primarily driven by the rapid rate of development of the healthcare infrastructure of the country.



The building information modeling market in Australia is also expected to exhibit adequate growth over the forecast period. Rising use in the construction of bridges, roads and highways is key to the high demand for building information modeling solutions in the country. The Australia building information modelling market will also be driven due to high demand across the rail, transit, and aviation sectors in the next few years.



Read Complete Report with TOC @ http://www.mrrse.com/australia-new-zealand-india-building-information-modelling-market



The encouraging pace of infrastructure development activities across New Zealand is also expected to lead to favorable growth opportunities for the building information modeling market. Over the period between 2016 and 2024, the New Zealand building information modeling market is expected to exhibit a 20.3% CAGR.



Some of the most remarkable companies operating in the Australia, New Zealand, and India building information modelling market are Dassault Systemes SA, GRAITEC, Nemetschek AG, AECOM Technology Corporation, Pentagon Solutions Ltd., Synchro Software Ltd., Autodesk Inc., Beck Technology Ltd., Bentley Systems, and Tekla Corporation.



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.
Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/18/2017 -- According to Future Market Insights' research, the global fine hydrates market is projected to double its market size from 2016 to 2026, procuring an estimated US$ 532.3 million revenues from US$ 266.3 million over the ten-year period.



Subsequently, the global fine hydrates market size is expected to expand at 7.2% CAGR over the forecast period.



In terms of consumption, more than 400 KT of fine hydrates will be sold globally in 2016 and beyond, and will reach 714.6 KT by the end of 2026, registering a 6% CAGR.



Future Market Insights has compiled its latest findings on the global analysis of fine hydrates market in a report, titled "Fine Hydrates Market: Global Industry Analysis & Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026." Growing demand for use of plastics in automotive & transportation industry has turned out to be a crucial factor driving the growth in global demand for fine hydrates throughout the forecast period. Companies manufacturing fine hydrates can net additional profits by supplying their products as raw materials for production of cable compounds. Also, the demand for fine hydrates is expected to be higher in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan & China (APEJC) region, which has been influencing fine hydrate manufacturers to invest their businesses in countries such as India and South Korea.



Request For Report Sample: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2567



Depending on the market share, a regional analysis of global fine hydrates market projects North America as the most dominant region. By 2026-end, North America's fine hydrates market is likely to account for sales revenues worth over US$ 100 million. Although the region retains the highest share in global fine hydrates market through 2026, Western Europe and China are being pegged as highly opportunistic regions for market expansion. The most sluggish growth in fine hydrates revenues, however, will be incurred by regional markets of Latin America, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Japan. Meanwhile, Eastern Europe's fine hydrates sales are expected to attain an estimated US$ 10.3 million increment during the period 2016  2026.



Global Fine Hydrates Market: Key Research Findings



In terms of production of fine hydrates, countries such as the US, German and China will collective dominate, and the demand for fine hydrates will be more in India, South Korea, and China, as well.



Growing consumption of wires and cables in the world will directly impact the growth in consumption of fine hydrates.



Fine hydrates will continue to serve as one of the top-selling raw materials for the global construction & building sector.



By the end of 2026, nearly 500 KT on fine hydrates sold globally will be accounted by cable compounds applications, netting revenues worth over US$ 400 million.



Growing replacement of fine hydrates with alternative additives poses a threat for the growth of global market, which is also restrained by low sustenance of fine hydrate-based cables & wires in high temperatures.



Send An Enquiry: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-2567



Global Fine Hydrates Market: Vendor Insights



A majority of fine hydrates manufacturers of leaders of global chemicals & materials industry. Companies such as Nabaltec AG, Hindalco Industries Limited, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., and Huber Engineered Materials, which reap billion-dollar revenues annually through sales of chemicals & raw materials, are also recognized for manufacturing fine hydrates on a global scale. China's leading chemicals manufacturer, the Aluminium Corporation of China Limited, is also a key player in the global fine hydrates market. Other leading manufacturers & suppliers of fine hydrates include Alumina Castables & Chemicals Private Limited, Henan Kingway Chemicals Co., Ltd. and JINAN CHENXU CHEMICAL CO. LTD.
Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/17/2017 -- Now it is easier for everyone to send gifts to their corporate and business partners through the help of Gifts Vista. The company aims to give the best options and choices to pick on when looking for the perfect gift for the occasion. It is easier and simpler to choose since there are a few steps that one can follow. The steps are easy enough to understand and the gifts themselves can also be customized according to what the customer wants and also on what occasion itself demands. Gifts Vista makes sure that the Corporate Gifts that is given will be professionally boxed or wrapped and delivered on time.



Gifts Vista also ensures that the gifts are in good condition as they arrive to the shipment address. There are many ways where customers can help in customizing and making the gifts look even more presentable. There are even options for the customer to arrange the place and the date where they would want the gifts to be delivered. The professionalism of Gifts Vista makes it different from the others as it aims to be highly regraded when it comes to proving great Corporate Gifts solutions.



What Gifts Vista aims to offer



For Gifts Vista, the main goal in starting the company is to give amazing gifts for corporate and business purposes. The website offers amazing features such the capability of the customer to talk with the representatives for the source of their gifts. Customers can ask the representatives for help when it comes to getting the products which they need to give as a gift for business. This is why the company has a wide product range because it offers help and assistance to avail whatever kind of gift the customer may need and to see if the gifts are available or not. Not only that but there are also other available choices for the customer in case the gifts they want aren't available for that time.



The various product choices make it easier for the customers to jump from one gift to another for choosing. This helps them to think out of the box and not restrict themselves into choosing just one kind of gift which in turn can be boring for the business partner who would keep receiving the same type of gifts over and over again. Customizing is also another feature of Gifts Vista as they are able to give power to the customers in choosing which type of gift will be sent and how the gift will be prepared and sent as well. This makes it exciting and at the same time more personalized as more effort is giving to make the gift have a full meaning around it.



As a proud supplier of gifts for corporate purposes, Gifts Vista aims to impress its customer base and make sure that every service done by the company is worthwhile. From the specific choosing of the gifts to the meticulous wrappings up to the fast and timely deliveries, Gifts Vista is one to stand out. Singapore simply wants the best when it comes to their companies which is why Gifts Vista is not letting them down. The services, skills and performance of the staff are simply worth applauding as they give attention even to the smallest details when it comes to choosing and presenting the gift.



To gain more information about the gifts and the website, go to the contact details below:

Telephone No.: +65 8798 9978

Email Address: sales@giftsvista.com.sg
Beijing, China -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/17/2017 -- On January 12 and 13, 2017, the CIUTI Forum was held at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with the theme of "Short- and long-term Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Language Professions". It brought together international organizations such as the UN and the EU as well as prestigious colleges and universities and language service providers across the globe. At the sub-forum themed as "AI, Big Data and Language Collaborative Innovation", Youyi HUANG, Executive Vice President of Translators Association of China (TAC) and Co-chairman of Language Big Data Alliance (LBDA), and Maurizio VIEZZI, President CIUTI, University of Trieste, signed a strategic cooperation agreement on behalf of LBDA and CIUTI respectively.



LBDA will grant CIUTI and its members access to YeeKit, machine translation and big data analytical platform, and leverage on the collective wisdom of the mathematicians, economists and linguists from the world's top colleges, universities and research institutes in jointly building the machine translation and industry big data laboratories. The strategic cooperation aims at exploring the collaborative innovation among enterprises, scientific research institutes, colleges and universities and developing cutting-edge technologies, including but not limited to, the latest global real-time data, big data algorithms on finance, medicine and industry, as well as machine translation.



It is learned that LBDA currently has over 150 members and this figure will exceed 220 by 2017, among which there will be more than 60 research institutes, colleges and universities out of China, making it the world's largest alliance of collaborative innovation among enterprises, educational and research institutions.



Founded in 1960, Conference Internationale Permanente d'Instituts Universitaires de Traducteurs et Interpretes (CIUTI) is an internationally authoritative organization in translation education certification and an association of the world's leading translation colleges and universities, enjoying a high reputation in international translation circle and even in the language services for international organizations. CIUTI has been committed to providing high-quality professional interpretation and translation, organizing theoretical researches and interpretation and translation training worldwide, and helping excellent interpreters and translators adapt to the cross-regional, cross-language and cross-cultural working environment. CIUTI members include 54 translation colleges and institutes from 25 countries and regions around the globe. CIUTI has established in-depth cooperation with the UN, the EU, the Swiss government, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and other organizations.



About The Language Big Data Alliance (LBDA)

The Language Big Data Alliance (LBDA) is a global, multi-disciplinary and multi-lingual scientific research application alliance based on the open and sharing platform of big data resources.Serving as an open platform for the cooperation and resource sharing among government agencies, enterprises, research institutes, colleges and universities, etc., it is intended to provide support for teaching, scientific researches, business development and other activities based on a corpus with hundreds of millions of entries, technical and platform resources, etc.



Media Contact

Company Name: Global Tone Communication Technology Co., Ltd.

Address: F/16, China Railway Construction Building, No.20 Shijingshan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China

E-mail: marketing@gtcom.com.cn

Website: http://www.gtcom.com.cn
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/18/2017 -- The top player in the Middle East eyewear market named Luxottica S.p.A. holds a whopping 40.0% share in it, making the competitive landscape highly consolidated, notes Transparency Market Research in one of its reports. The company's stronghold over the market has resulted from the presence of popular luxury brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Prada in its kitty which it purveys aggressively. Going forward, Luxottica S.p.A. plans to further augment its market share by unveiling innovative product offerings and targeting young buyers via social media, e-commerce and m-commerce platforms.



The eyewear market in the Middle East spells opportunity for other vendors too on account of the soaring popularity of contact lenses. Some of the big names operating in the market are Essilor International, Carl Zeiss A.G., Safilo Group, and Johnson and Johnson Vision Care. The eyewear market in the Middle East is forecasted to clock at an impressive CAGR of 8.8% from 2015 to 2023 to rake in a revenue of US$5.86 bn by 2023 from US$2.75 bn in 2014. Based on volume, the market for eyewear in the Middle East is predicted to expand at a CAGR of 4.8% during the same period.



Download Research Brochure PDF@ http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=13217



Strengthening Economy Makes UAE the Dominant Market in the Middle East



Among the different types of products in the Middle East eyewear market, the spectacle segment dominates with a leading market share both in terms of volume and market valuation. In terms of volume, it accounted for a substantial 61.0% of the market in 2014. In the coming years, however, contact lenses are likely to become the most promising product segment by registering an impressive growth rate. This is expected to result from the emergence and increasing popularity of colored and daily disposable contact lenses and increasing preference of contact lenses over spectacles due to rising disposable incomes in the region.



Geography-wise, UAE outshines all other regions in the Middle East eyewear market due to its strengthening economy, a sizeable proportion of affluent people, and easy availability of branded stuff, which has resulted in spiking demand for sunglasses and spectacles. It held a 38.2% share in the market in terms of overall valuation in 2014. Saudi Arabia trails UAE in the Middle East market. Both the countries are expected to retain their dominant positions in the years to come.



Rising Prevalence of Acute Myopia Stimulates Market



The increasing instances of acute myopia at younger ages, growing popularity of luxury brands among the growing crop of discerning consumers, rising fashion consciousness, and robust demand for contact lenses and planar glasses are some of the factors that have majorly contributed to the Middle East eyewear market. Another major market stimulant is the burgeoning middle class population in the emerging economies of Middle East, which is slated to up demand for high-end brands of sunglasses, contact lenses, and other types of eyewear in the region in the near future too. They are increasingly buying disposable contact lenses and frequently changing spectacle lenses, thereby filliping the market.



Popularity of Corrective Refractive Surgeries to Crimp Growth



A factor slated to counter the growth in the Middle East market for eyewear is the soaring popularity of corrective refractive surgeries such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Such surgeries reduce the need for spectacles and contact lenses and hence are likely to damp demand in the eyewear market in the near future.



The Middle East Eyewear Market, by Product Type



Spectacles

Spectacle Lenses

Spectacle Frames



Contact lenses

Soft Contact Lenses

Rigid Contact Lenses



Plano Sunglasses

Polarized Sunglasses

Non-Polarized Sunglasses



The Middle East Eyewear Market, by Country



Saudi Arabia

Egypt

UAE

Qatar

Oman

Kuwait

Bahrain

Jordan

Lebanon

Turkey

Rest of the Middle East



Browse Full Report@ http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/middle-east-eyewear-market.html



About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.



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Modesto, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/18/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/



Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles.



Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region.



Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child.



Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children.



BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins.

FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604.

SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England.

CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles.

CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth.

DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269



Women of Early Plymouth: Governor William Bradford reported that the Pilgrims were worried that the "weak bodies of women" would not be able to withstand the rigors of a trans-Atlantic voyage and the construction of a colony. Prior to the Mayflower, very few English women had made the voyage across the ocean.



Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke colony arrived in Virginia in 1587, and amongst those 120 colonists there were 17 women: a baby girl, Virginia Dare, was born after arrival. When re-supply ships came from England, they could not relocate the people. The colony had mysteriously disappeared, and was never seen again. The Jamestown Colony was founded in 1607, but relatively few women had yet made the voyage and taken up residence there.



The Pilgrim husband, as head of the household, had an important and difficult decision to make. Building a colony would be hard on a woman's "weaker body." It might be safer and healthier to leave her behind, and have her come later once the houses were built, and the general safety and successfulness of the colony were better established. But that could be several years. Could he live several years without his wife? How strong was his wife anyway, could she really handle it? Was it right to put your wife's life in danger in this manner?



As the Mayflower left England for America, there were 18 adult women on-board. Three of them, Elizabeth Hopkins, Susanna White, and Mary Allerton, were actually in their last trimester of a pregnancy. All the adult women on the Mayflower were married; there were no single women--although there were a few teenage girls nearing marriageable age.



While no women would die during the Mayflower's voyage, life after arrival proved extremely difficult. In fact, 78% of the women would die the first winter, a far higher percentage than for men or children. Dorothy Bradford was the first woman to die, and the only woman who died in the month of December. While many of the men, including her husband, were out exploring on Cape Cod, she accidentally fell off the Mayflower into the bitter cold waters of Provincetown Harbor. Most of the women's death dates were not recorded, but we do know that Rose Standish died on January 29, Mary Allerton died on February 25, and Elizabeth Winslow died on March 24. Most of the women died in February and March.



The extremely high mortality rate among women is probably explainable by the fact the men were out in the fresh air, felling trees, building structures and drinking fresh New England water; while the women were confined to the damp, filthy and crowded quarters offered by the Mayflower, where disease would have spread much more quickly. The two-month voyage was long enough; the women, however, remained living on the ship for an additional four months while the men built storehouses and living quarters on shore. Many of the sick were no doubt cared for on-board the ship by the women, increasing their exposure to colds and pneumonias. William Mullins died on February 21, apparently on-board the Mayflower since his will was witnessed by the ship's captain and ship's surgeon. His wife Alice and son Joseph had not yet died, but it wasn't too long before they did, orphaning their teenage daughter Priscilla in the New World.



Only five women survived the first winter. One of the five survivors, Mrs. Katherine Carver, died in May of a "broken heart," her husband John having died of sunstroke a month earlier. Weak bodies or not, by the time of the famous "Thanksgiving," there were only four women left to care for the Colony's fifty surviving men and children. The four women were Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna (White) Winslow.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/women



Modesto, California General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Declares New Geneology Asset Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.rich.goodchocolateblog.com/



The Pilgrims did not leave behind any lists of the items they brought with them on the Mayflower, but historians have used a provision list put together by Captain John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) to take an educated guess. However, in 2012, Caleb Johnson, Simon Neal, and Jeremy Bangs started transcribing and studying a rare manuscript (a page of which is here illustrated) in the possession of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, that was written by one of the investors in the Pilgrims' joint-stock company. This manuscript actually contains several lists of suggested provisions the colonists should bring with them. It is the closest thing we can get to a list of what the Pilgrims would have actually brought.



A summary of some of the key items on the provision lists: http://mayflowerhistory.com/pilgrim-history/



-Food and Drink: Biscuit, beer, salt, (dried) beef, salt pork, oats, peas, wheat, butter, sweet oil, mustard seed, ling or cod fish, "good cheese", vinegar, aqua-vitae, rice, bacon, cider.



-Clothing: Monmouth cap, falling bands, shirts, waistcoat, suit of canvas, suit of cloth, Irish stockings, 4 pairs of shoes, garters. Slippers, plain shoes, little shoes, French soles, sewing needles.



-Bedding: Canvas sheets, bolster "filled with good straw", rug and blankets.



-Arms: Light armor (complete), fowling piece, snaphance, sword, belt, bandoleer, powder horn, 20 pounds of powder, 60 pounds of shot.



-Household: Iron pot, kettle, frying pan, gridiron, two skillets, spit, platters, dishes, spoons of wood, napkins, towels, soap, hand mill, mortar and pestle.



-Tools: Broad hoes, narrow hoes, broad axe, felling axe, steel handsaw, whipsaw, hammers, shovels, spades, augers, chisels, gimlets, hatchets, grinding stone, nails, locks for doors.



Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism.



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Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company.



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Adam's hard work and creativity helped him land this job of a lifetime. He obtained incredible business experience there and spent years innovating, improving processes and setting sales records. Although this dream job in Traditional Corporate America was a fun challenge for him, and something he truly enjoyed mastering, Adam's natural entrepreneurial spirit kept nudging him to do something more significant with his time and talents.



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Since 2001, Adam has been involved in the Health and Wellness Industry as a successful Entrepreneur, Broker, Product Developer and Manufacturer of Cosmeceutical products. During his career, he has worked with some of the most recognizable Fortune 500 businesses along with many top international Network Marketing companies. Adam has consistently proven his unique ability to help his clients achieve their goals through creative Distribution-Channel Placement, innovative Product Development and custom Manufacturing. Adam currently owns three profitable businesses.



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About MayflowerHistory.com

MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material.



http://mayflowerhistory.com
Nashville, TN -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/18/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/



Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles.



Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region.



Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child.



Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children.



BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins.

FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604.

SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England.

CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles.

CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth.

DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269



Women of Early Plymouth: Governor William Bradford reported that the Pilgrims were worried that the "weak bodies of women" would not be able to withstand the rigors of a trans-Atlantic voyage and the construction of a colony. Prior to the Mayflower, very few English women had made the voyage across the ocean.



Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke colony arrived in Virginia in 1587, and amongst those 120 colonists there were 17 women: a baby girl, Virginia Dare, was born after arrival. When re-supply ships came from England, they could not relocate the people. The colony had mysteriously disappeared, and was never seen again. The Jamestown Colony was founded in 1607, but relatively few women had yet made the voyage and taken up residence there.



The Pilgrim husband, as head of the household, had an important and difficult decision to make. Building a colony would be hard on a woman's "weaker body." It might be safer and healthier to leave her behind, and have her come later once the houses were built, and the general safety and successfulness of the colony were better established. But that could be several years. Could he live several years without his wife? How strong was his wife anyway, could she really handle it? Was it right to put your wife's life in danger in this manner?



As the Mayflower left England for America, there were 18 adult women on-board. Three of them, Elizabeth Hopkins, Susanna White, and Mary Allerton, were actually in their last trimester of a pregnancy. All the adult women on the Mayflower were married; there were no single women--although there were a few teenage girls nearing marriageable age.



While no women would die during the Mayflower's voyage, life after arrival proved extremely difficult. In fact, 78% of the women would die the first winter, a far higher percentage than for men or children. Dorothy Bradford was the first woman to die, and the only woman who died in the month of December. While many of the men, including her husband, were out exploring on Cape Cod, she accidentally fell off the Mayflower into the bitter cold waters of Provincetown Harbor. Most of the women's death dates were not recorded, but we do know that Rose Standish died on January 29, Mary Allerton died on February 25, and Elizabeth Winslow died on March 24. Most of the women died in February and March.



The extremely high mortality rate among women is probably explainable by the fact the men were out in the fresh air, felling trees, building structures and drinking fresh New England water; while the women were confined to the damp, filthy and crowded quarters offered by the Mayflower, where disease would have spread much more quickly. The two-month voyage was long enough; the women, however, remained living on the ship for an additional four months while the men built storehouses and living quarters on shore. Many of the sick were no doubt cared for on-board the ship by the women, increasing their exposure to colds and pneumonias. William Mullins died on February 21, apparently on-board the Mayflower since his will was witnessed by the ship's captain and ship's surgeon. His wife Alice and son Joseph had not yet died, but it wasn't too long before they did, orphaning their teenage daughter Priscilla in the New World.



Only five women survived the first winter. One of the five survivors, Mrs. Katherine Carver, died in May of a "broken heart," her husband John having died of sunstroke a month earlier. Weak bodies or not, by the time of the famous "Thanksgiving," there were only four women left to care for the Colony's fifty surviving men and children. The four women were Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna (White) Winslow.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/women



The Mayflower was hired in London, and sailed from London to Southampton in July 1620 to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage--much of which was purchased at Southampton. The Pilgrims were mostly still living in the city of Leiden, in the Netherlands. They hired a ship called the Speedwell to take them from Delfshaven, the Netherlands, to Southampton, England, to meet up with the Mayflower. The two ships planned to sail together to Northern Virginia. The Speedwell departed Delfthaven on July 22, and arrived at Southampton, where they found the Mayflower waiting for them. The Speedwell had been leaking on her voyage from the Netherlands to England, though, so they spent the next week patching her up.



On August 5, the two ships finally set sail for America. But the Speedwell began leaking again, so they pulled into the town of Dartmouth for repairs, arriving there about August 12. The Speedwell was patched up again, and the two ships again set sail for America about August 21. After the two ships had sailed about 300 miles out to sea, the Speedwell again began to leak. Frustrated with the enormous amount of time lost, and their inability to fix the Speedwell so that it could be sea-worthy, they returned to Plymouth, England, and made the decision to leave the Speedwell behind. The Mayflower would go to America alone. The cargo on the Speedwell was transferred over to the Mayflower; some of the passengers were so tired and disappointed with all the problems that they quit and went home. Others crammed themselves onto the already very crowded Mayflower.



Finally, on September 6, the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, and headed for America. By the time the Pilgrims had left England, they had already been living onboard the ships for nearly a month and a half. The voyage itself across the Atlantic Ocean took 66 days, from their departure on September 6, until Cape Cod was sighted on 9 November 1620. The first half of the voyage went fairly smoothly, the only major problem was sea-sickness. But by October, they began encountering a number of Atlantic storms that made the voyage treacherous. Several times, the wind was so strong they had to just drift where the weather took them; it was not safe to use the ship's sails. The Pilgrims intended to land in Northern Virginia, which at the time included the region as far north as the Hudson River in the modern State of New York. The Hudson River, in fact, was their originally intended destination. They had received good reports on this region while in the Netherlands. All things considered, the Mayflower was almost right on target, missing the Hudson River by just a few degrees.



As the Mayflower approached land, the crew spotted Cape Cod just as the sun rose on November 9. The Pilgrims decided to head south, to the mouth of the Hudson River in New York, where they intended to make their plantation. However, as the Mayflower headed south, it encountered some very rough seas, and nearly shipwrecked. The Pilgrims then decided, rather than risk another attempt to go south they would just stay and explore Cape Cod. They turned back north, rounded the tip, and anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor. The Pilgrims would spend the next month and a half exploring Cape Cod, trying to decide where they would build their plantation. On December 25, 1620, they had finally decided upon Plymouth, and began construction of their first buildings.



Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Introduces New Geneology Support Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.news.adampaulgreen.com



Admittedly, Adam was not initially a fan of Network Marketing. He did not understand the business model because it was new to him. However, once he learned that the REAL focus of Direct Sales is to help average people get a taste of entrepreneurialism --- with minimal risk and at a low cost --- Adam was absolutely convinced of the potential with Multi-Level Marketing.



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Since joining MXI Corp (Xocai) as one of the original 11 founding distributors, Adam has discovered that many of his life-goals truly do align perfectly with Network Marketing. Adam enjoys helping others find significance. Adam is most grateful for the complete time-freedom he has with his fantastic wife and five children. It's my pleasure to introduce you to Adam Paul Green, MXI Corp Ambassador and Multi-Millionaire Earner.



http://www.mxicorp.com/fab/index.php?dist=winnerscircle

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http://www.mxicorp.com/multimillionaires/

http://www.ImAdamGreen.com



About MayflowerHistory.com

MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material.



http://mayflowerhistory.com
Seattle, WA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/23/2017 -- According to the new research report "Neuromorphic Computing Market by Offering (Hardware, Software), Application (Image Recognition, Signal Recognition, Data Mining), Industry (Aerospace & Defense, IT & Telecom, Automotive, Medical & Industrial) and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022", the neuromorphic computing market is expected to grow from USD 6.6 Million in 2016 to USD 272.9 Million by 2022, at a CAGR of 86.0% during the forecast period. The factors driving the market growth include increasing demand for artificial intelligence and machine learning, need for better performing ICs, and new ways of computation due to the end of Moore's law.



Neuromorphic Computing: A Disruptive Technology for High-Performance Computing



Neuromorphic computing is inspired by the functioning of a human brain which makes it possible to encode information more efficiently than the present computer chips. In the von Neumann architecture-based processors available today, the data shuttles between the processor and the storage system for the execution of each instruction, while in neuromorphic chips, processing and storage functions are integrated; thus, each neuron can process small piece of information and stores it locally. Synapses help in data communication and in connecting the neurons, thereby enabling biological brain-like functions for neuromorphic chips. Such fundamental changes in the architecture of neuromorphic processing chips enable massive parallel execution of information, thereby significantly increasing the speed of processing with low power consumption.



End of Moore's law would lead to surge in neuromorphic computing adoption



In the next few years, end of Moore's lawthe number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles approximately every two yearswould result into reduced space between electrons and holes and would lead to problems such as current leakage and overheating in ICs. These problems would lead to slower performance, high power consumption by ICs, and reduced durability. Thus, the need for finding an alternate way to increase the computational power of chips has fueled the development of neuromorphic chips. Neuromorphic chips can be 176,000 times more efficient in running brain-like work load compared to modern CPUs. Another important factor is the reduction in size of a transistor would result into increase in cost. As a result, researchers are evaluating different approaches to conduct large-scale computation models, which are inspired by biological principles. "The neuromorphic computing market, by offering, is expected to be valued at USD 6,591.1 thousand in 2016 and is likely to reach USD 272,915.7 million by 2022, at a CAGR of 86.0% between 2016 and 2022", says Sachin Garg who tracks global market for semiconductor at research firm MarketsandMarkets.



Ongoing Developments in Neuromorphic Computing



Various development projects have been undertaken by companies and research organizations to develop neuromorphic computing systems. Engineers in the Stanford University (U.S.) developed a circuit board, Neurogrid, which simulates one million neurons connected by six billion synapses connected in structured patterns and consume 100,000 times lesser power compared to a supercomputer. The Freie University, in collaboration with the University of Bielefeld, Kirchoff Institute for Physics, and Heidelberg, is working on designing a neuromorphic chip and software modeled on insects' odor-processing systems and developing it to recognize plant species by their flowers. The BrainScaleS neuromorphic system has been developed at the University of Heidelberg (Germany) which was a collaboration of 19 research groups from 10 European countries, funded by the European Union. SpiNNaker, a parallel low-power neuromorphic supercomputer, was built at the Manchester University in the U.K. and was funded by the U.K. government until early 2014.



For more information Visit: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/neuromorphic-chip-market-227703024.html



IBM Corporation (U.S.), HP Enterprise (U.S.), Samsung Electronics Limited (South Korea), Intel Corp. (U.S.), HRL Laboratories, LLC (U.S.), General Vision Inc. (U.S.), Applied Brain Research, Inc. (U.S.), and BrainChip Holdings Ltd. (U.S.) are some of the major companies in the neuromorphic computing market. In 2011, IBM (U.S.) unveiled what it calls TrueNorth, a custom-made, brain-like chip that builds on a simpler experimental system. TrueNorth is equipped with 4,096 processor cores, and it replicates one million human neurons and 256 million synapsestwo of the fundamental biological building blocks that make up the human brain. It is the largest chip IBM has ever built at 5.4 billion transistors and has an on-chip network of 4,096 neurosynaptic cores. Samsung Electronics (South Korea) is using IBM's TrueNorth chip for its machine-vision project to develop image processors. HRL Laboratories (U.S.) is testing its neuromorphic chips for drones for surveillance and target tracking applications. The Institute for Neuroinformatics (Switzerland) has developed neuromorphic vision sensors, silicon cochlea, and medium-scale neuromorphic processors such as the Reconfigurable On-Line Learning Spiking (ROLLS) and cxQuad chips which use sub-threshold analog circuits. In May 2016, General Vision released a new version of its NeuroMem API, compatible with two commercial chips featuring its neural network technology on silicon: (1) General Vision's CM1K chip and (2) the new Intel's Curie model.



Adoption of Neuromorphic Computing by Government Agencies and Institutions



The U.S. government is increasing its support of new paradigms, including neuromorphic and quantum computing, to maintain its position as the leader in the field of high-performance computing. In line with this, the U.S. government's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) (California, U.S.) has purchased a first-of-a-kind brain-inspired supercomputing platform for deep learning developed by IBM. Based on IBM's neurosynaptic chip "TrueNorth", this platform would process an equivalent of 16 thousand neurons and 4 billion synapses and consume mere power of 2.5 watts. LLNL would use this new system to explore new computing capabilities in cybersecurity, control the U.S. nuclear weapons, and manage agreements to keep watch on nuclear weapons in the world.



The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency provided funds to HRL Laboratories' Center for Neural and Emergent Systems to develop a chip with 576 silicon "neurons" to be used in a drone aircraft. IBM Watson, a technology platform that uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to reveal insights from large amounts of unstructured data, has initiated partnerships with various major cancer institutes and clinics to derive personal insights from the cancer patients' deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). European Union, the Heidelberg University, and the University of Manchester have invested more than USD 100 thousand on "Human Brain Project (HBR)", which is functional to reconstruct the complex functional role of a human brain and simulate it using parallel architecture.



Emerging Applications of Neuromorphic Computing



As an immediate application, neuromorphic chips can be integrated with the CPU, thereby enhancing its capabilities of pattern recognition. Parallel connected neurons can perform operations such as image classification, speech recognition, and data mining at a greater speed than that by a conventional CPU, thereby speeding up the overall pattern recognition tasks, while releasing operation load on the CPU. In 2012, IBM Sequoila, a supercomputer build on the Von Neumann architecture, simulated brain using 500 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses. The supercomputer could simulate brain functioning at a 1/1,500 of actual and consumed 12 GW of power. Similar simulation using neuromorphic chip requires 35 KW of power.



The new NeuroMem API is available for the Intel Arduino/Genuino 101 and for the General Vision's BrainCard. In August 2015, IBM developed "rodent brain" chips that are designed with 48 million nerve cells, which is approximately equal to the number of neurons in a rodent head. These chips are used to identify images, recognize spoken words, and understand natural language processing (NLP). Neuromorphic chips can execute instructions rapidly and consume low power. They are highly efficient in pattern recognition which is why can be used for computational applications in various verticals such as military and defense and information technology (IT), among many others. These chips can be integrated with drones, smartphones, automobiles, search engines, and climate prediction equipment, among others. Using pattern recognition, a drone can identify the region it is flying over and respond accordingly. In a smartphone, pattern recognition helps in capturing and tagging images based on objects captured and also in recognizing the voice of an individual. In the automotive sector, pattern recognition can be used to understand the health or position of a driver and adjust the driver's seat automatically to provide optimum comfort. Moreover, pattern recognition capabilities can be used in search engines to enhance performance, detect frauds in financial markets, and predict climate by using equipment to anticipate climatic conditions accurately.



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.



M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.



We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.



Contact:

Sachin

Markets and Markets

Email: sachin.garg@marketsandmarkets.com
Plattsmouth High School (PHS) students are engaged in the latest soil testing procedures, which expose them to new career venues and help local farmers improve their fertilizing practices.

PHS Skilled and Technical Skills and Agriculture Education Instructor (SCC) Andrew Christensen said one activity in the Plant Science class he teaches is soil testing. The class is one of many offered in the new Career Academy adopted last fall by the school.

Students in the class go out in the field and take multiple sets of soil tests, Christensen explained.

Samples from all over the field are necessary to accurately determine the nutrient levels. Soil is very dynamic and the nutrients move in the soil. Microorganisms are in the soil breaking down the nutrients. A test taken now will be very different than if we take one in July. The soil changes all the time.

Testing the soil when it is below 56 degrees but above freezing gives the most reliable sample, Christensen said. As the soil gets colder, the changes are less. We try to get as many samples before the soil freezes. We like to see how many groceries are in the soil now and then go back and test at the peak growing season in the summer time. The two nutrient levels are going to be totally different. This will help the farmer decide what to put on during planting and before planting.

The time of year is not the only important factor the students must be aware of when taking soil samples. Because of the varying contours in a field, some areas will have less nutrients or what Christensen calls groceries than other areas. For example, a hilly portion of the field has fewer nutrients than an area at the bottom of a slope where rain has washed them down from the top of the hill.

Applying the same level of fertilizer might not give the optimum crop results. Normally farmers will fertilize everything the same, he said.

Knowing which areas need heavier concentrations of fertilizer helps farmers improve the land more efficiently and economically.

Farmers have new machines that let them apply fertilizer accurately to what the nutrient values are, Christensen said. One area might need 100 pounds of nitrogen while another area might need 80 pounds. Still another might just need 60 pounds. The machinery changes the amount of fertilizer to a variable rate using a Global Positioning System (GPS). The technology is getting better so everybody can use it now.

Soil samples are sent to Midwest Laboratories for analysis. When the results come back, the students set up a time to discuss them with the farmer, which proves to be learning experience in communication as well as plant science.

Completing the Plant Science class also helps them achieve continuing education goals following high school. Through a partnership with Southeast Community College (SCC), students completing the class earn three credits accepted by SCC, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska-Omaha. The cost of the class is also less than if they enrolled in it in college.

They not only get three college credits but they only pay one-half the tuition, Christensen said.

Already, Christensen said he is seeing positive effects of the class on his students. Two gentlemen in the class actually want to start their own soil testing business. This class is giving students different avenues to pursue a career, he said. Because of the class, we now have five individuals who will go into agronomy in college.
New Orleans, LA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/18/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/



Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles.



Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region.



Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child.



Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children.



BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins.

FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604.

SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England.

CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles.

CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth.

DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269



New Orleans, Louisiana General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Reveals New Geneology Support Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.news.adampaulgreen.com



Master Christopher Jones and several business partners purchased the ship Mayflower about 1607. Its origins prior to that remain uncertain. Its first documented voyage of record was to Trondheim, Norway, in 1609. Andrew Pawling hired the ship to take a cargo of London goods to Norway, sell them off, and buy Norway goods (lumber, tar, and fish) to return back to England. Unfortunately on the return voyage, the Mayflower encountered a severe North Sea storm and the master and crew were forced to toss most of Pawlings goods overboard to lighten the ship. The home of Master Christopher Jones: Harwich, co. Essex, England.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/



Following that, Christopher Jones seems to have stuck with safer trading routes. The Mayflower made numerous trips primarily to Bordeaux, France, returning to London with cargoes of French wine, Cognac, vinegar, and salt. The Mayflower could freight about 180 tons of cargo. The Mayflower also made occasional voyages to other ports, including once to Malaga, Spain, and twice to Hamburg, Germany.



Upon returning from a voyage to Bordeaux, France, in May 1620, the Mayflower and master Christopher Jones were hired to take the Pilgrims to Northern Virginia. This was the first recorded trans-Atlantic voyage for both ship and master, though Christopher Jones had several crewmembers, including pilot and master's mates John Clarke and Robert Coppin, who had been to the New World before.



The Mayflower was supposed to accompany another ship, the Speedwell, to America, but the Speedwell proved too leaky for the voyage so the Mayflower proceeded alone. Departing on 6 September 1620, the ship was at sea for 66 days, arriving November 9. The ship and crew overwintered with the Pilgrims and departed back for England on 5 April 1621, arriving back to England on May 6.



Christopher Jones took the ship out for a few more trading runs, but he died a couple of years later in March 1621/2. The ship was appraised for probate purposes in May 1624, and was referred to as being "in ruins." It was only valued at 128 pounds sterling, and was almost certainly broken up and sold off as scrap.



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About MayflowerHistory.com

MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material.



http://mayflowerhistory.com
Newark, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/18/2017 -- Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. He married his first wife, Mary, and resided in the parish of Hursley, Hampshire. They had three (3) children: Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles; all baptized there. It has long been claimed that the Hopkins family was from Wortley, Gloucester, but this was disproven in 1998 with the discovery of his true origins in Hursley.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-stephen/



Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company." He managed to get his sentence commuted. Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles.



Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an "expert" on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region.



Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. By the late 1630s, however, Stephen began to occasionally run afoul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636 he got into a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drink excessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638 he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value, and in 1639 he was fined for selling a looking glass for twice what it would cost if bought in the Bay Colony. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins' maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled he was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service). Stephen, in contempt of court, threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and child.



Stephen died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children.



BAPTISM: 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, son of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins.

FIRST MARRIAGE: Mary, possibly the daughter of Robert and Joan (Machell) Kent of Hursley, co. Hampshire, prior to 1604.

SECOND MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Fisher on 19 February 1617/8 at St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, co. Middlesex, England.

CHILDREN (by Mary): Elizabeth, Constance, and Giles.

CHILDREN (by Elizabeth): Damaris, Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Damaris, Ruth, and Elizabeth.

DNA HAPLOGROUP: R1b-M269



Newark, New Jersey General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Declares New Geneology Support Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.news.adampaulgreen.com



Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism.



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Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company.



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Women of Early Plymouth: Governor William Bradford reported that the Pilgrims were worried that the "weak bodies of women" would not be able to withstand the rigors of a trans-Atlantic voyage and the construction of a colony. Prior to the Mayflower, very few English women had made the voyage across the ocean.



Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke colony arrived in Virginia in 1587, and amongst those 120 colonists there were 17 women: a baby girl, Virginia Dare, was born after arrival. When re-supply ships came from England, they could not relocate the people. The colony had mysteriously disappeared, and was never seen again. The Jamestown Colony was founded in 1607, but relatively few women had yet made the voyage and taken up residence there.



The Pilgrim husband, as head of the household, had an important and difficult decision to make. Building a colony would be hard on a woman's "weaker body." It might be safer and healthier to leave her behind, and have her come later once the houses were built, and the general safety and successfulness of the colony were better established. But that could be several years. Could he live several years without his wife? How strong was his wife anyway, could she really handle it? Was it right to put your wife's life in danger in this manner?



As the Mayflower left England for America, there were 18 adult women on-board. Three of them, Elizabeth Hopkins, Susanna White, and Mary Allerton, were actually in their last trimester of a pregnancy. All the adult women on the Mayflower were married; there were no single women--although there were a few teenage girls nearing marriageable age.



While no women would die during the Mayflower's voyage, life after arrival proved extremely difficult. In fact, 78% of the women would die the first winter, a far higher percentage than for men or children. Dorothy Bradford was the first woman to die, and the only woman who died in the month of December. While many of the men, including her husband, were out exploring on Cape Cod, she accidentally fell off the Mayflower into the bitter cold waters of Provincetown Harbor. Most of the women's death dates were not recorded, but we do know that Rose Standish died on January 29, Mary Allerton died on February 25, and Elizabeth Winslow died on March 24. Most of the women died in February and March.



The extremely high mortality rate among women is probably explainable by the fact the men were out in the fresh air, felling trees, building structures and drinking fresh New England water; while the women were confined to the damp, filthy and crowded quarters offered by the Mayflower, where disease would have spread much more quickly. The two-month voyage was long enough; the women, however, remained living on the ship for an additional four months while the men built storehouses and living quarters on shore. Many of the sick were no doubt cared for on-board the ship by the women, increasing their exposure to colds and pneumonias. William Mullins died on February 21, apparently on-board the Mayflower since his will was witnessed by the ship's captain and ship's surgeon. His wife Alice and son Joseph had not yet died, but it wasn't too long before they did, orphaning their teenage daughter Priscilla in the New World.



Only five women survived the first winter. One of the five survivors, Mrs. Katherine Carver, died in May of a "broken heart," her husband John having died of sunstroke a month earlier. Weak bodies or not, by the time of the famous "Thanksgiving," there were only four women left to care for the Colony's fifty surviving men and children. The four women were Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna (White) Winslow.



http://mayflowerhistory.com/women



The Pilgrims did not leave behind any lists of the items they brought with them on the Mayflower, but historians have used a provision list put together by Captain John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) to take an educated guess. However, in 2012, Caleb Johnson, Simon Neal, and Jeremy Bangs started transcribing and studying a rare manuscript (a page of which is here illustrated) in the possession of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, that was written by one of the investors in the Pilgrims' joint-stock company. This manuscript actually contains several lists of suggested provisions the colonists should bring with them. It is the closest thing we can get to a list of what the Pilgrims would have actually brought.



A summary of some of the key items on the provision lists: http://mayflowerhistory.com/pilgrim-history/



-Food and Drink: Biscuit, beer, salt, (dried) beef, salt pork, oats, peas, wheat, butter, sweet oil, mustard seed, ling or cod fish, "good cheese", vinegar, aqua-vitae, rice, bacon, cider.



-Clothing: Monmouth cap, falling bands, shirts, waistcoat, suit of canvas, suit of cloth, Irish stockings, 4 pairs of shoes, garters. Slippers, plain shoes, little shoes, French soles, sewing needles.



-Bedding: Canvas sheets, bolster "filled with good straw", rug and blankets.



-Arms: Light armor (complete), fowling piece, snaphance, sword, belt, bandoleer, powder horn, 20 pounds of powder, 60 pounds of shot.



-Household: Iron pot, kettle, frying pan, gridiron, two skillets, spit, platters, dishes, spoons of wood, napkins, towels, soap, hand mill, mortar and pestle.



-Tools: Broad hoes, narrow hoes, broad axe, felling axe, steel handsaw, whipsaw, hammers, shovels, spades, augers, chisels, gimlets, hatchets, grinding stone, nails, locks for doors.



About MayflowerHistory.com

MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material.



http://mayflowerhistory.com
Beijing, China -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/17/2017 -- On January 12 and 13, 2017, the CIUTI Forum was held at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with the theme of "Short- and long-term Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Language Professions". Among a number of highly professional sub-forums, the one themed as "AI, Big Data and Language Collaborative Innovation" organized by Global Tone Communication Technology Co., Ltd. (GTCOM) captured much attention.



Featured speeches were delivered by five distinguished speakers, including Yoyo HUANG, Executive Vice President of Translators Association of China (TAC) and Co-chairman of Language Big Data Alliance (LBDA), Maurizio VIEZZI, President CIUTI, University of Trieste, Kunai LIU, Director of Business Development, Alabama Cloud Europe, Francois MASSION, Director of D.O.G. Documentation on Grenzen GmbH, and Marcin FEDER, Head of the Interpreter Support and Training Unit, European Parliament, Brussels. They shared views with experts and scholars from different countries on the development of the language industry in the era of AI.



Youyi HUANG mentioned that LBDA consisted of over 150 members from colleges, universities, enterprises and research institutes, and it had been striving to build a worldwide platform for closer collaboration among its members.LBDA and CIUTI will work together to create a mechanism for promoting the collaboration among universities, research institutes and language service enterprises. In the future, the two sides will jointly build the technology sharing and application platform.In addition, Youyi HUANG also talked about the challenges facing the language service industry in the era of AI and how it could translate those challenges into opportunities.In his view, it is crucial to establish a coordination mechanism and a resource sharing platform for the collaborative development of AI, big data and language.



In his speech "A Layman's Reflections on Technology", Maurizio VIEZZI raised three questions:"Is technology useful? Will technology change interpreting? Is technology a threat or an opportunity?", which provoked thoughts among the attendees at the Forum. He talked from the perspective of his line of profession and proposed a number of constructive measures through brainstorming discussions.



Qunkai LIU delivered a speech titled " Real-time Transcription in the Cloud, Powered by AI Technology", noting that thanks to the combination of cloud computing and AI, the real-time transcription technology was brought by the rapid development of the multimedia and live broadcasting industry.



Francois MASSION, in his speech on "Internet of Things, Cognitive Assistants and the Role of Language Professionals", expressed his opinions about AI. He also mentioned that cognitive assistants and robots played a key role in the process of communications and in the collection of structured and unstructured information.



Marcin FEDER introduced the new technologies applied by interpreters of the European Parliament, and elaborated from the perspectives of both opportunities and challenges on the approaches to improve interpreting efficiency and quality, as well as exploring new ways to enhance interpreters' work in the future.



Media Contact:

Company Name: Global Tone Communication Technology Co., Ltd.

Address: F/16, China Railway Construction Building, No.20 Shijingshan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, China

E-mail: marketing@gtcom.com.cn

Website: http://www.gtcom.com.cn
An unusual limestone rock found at an archaeological site in Croatia indicates that Neanderthals were capable of incorporating symbolic objects into their culture.

The rock was collected more than a century ago from the Krapina Neanderthal site and was just recently analyzed by experts from the Croatian Natural History Museum, the Croatian Academy of Science and Arts and the University of Kansas.

At the Croatian site of Krapina dated to about 130,000 years ago, among many items, a split limestone rock was excavated by Dragutin Gorjanovic-Kramberger between 1899 and 1905, the researchers said.

Of more than 1,000 lithic items at Krapina, none resemble this specimen and we propose it was collected and not further processed by the Neanderthals because of its aesthetic attributes.

If we were walking and picked up this rock, we would have taken it home. It is an interesting rock, added David Frayer, a professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Kansas.

In 2015, Prof. Frayer and colleagues published an article about a set of eagle talons from the same Neanderthal site that included cut marks and were fashioned into a piece of jewelry.

People have often defined Neanderthals as being devoid of any kind of aesthetic feelings, and yet we know that at this site they collected eagle talons and they collected this rock, said Prof. Frayer, corresponding author of a paper on the discovery published in the November/December 2016 issue of the journal Comptes Rendus Palevol.

At other sites, researchers have found they collected shells and used pigments on shells.

The limestone rock from the Krapina site is 9.19 cm long, 6.61 cm wide, with a maximum thickness of 1.69 cm and minimum thickness of 3.1 mm.

The specimen is a brownish, flat piece of micritic limestone (mudstone) bearing an array of dendritic forms. The brownish color comes from the surface patina, whereas afresh break exposes the original grayish color of the rock, Prof. Frayer and co-authors said.

The split rock shows some irregular surfaces, but no cortex is present. Both faces are smooth and the edges are unmodified. We could find no striking platform or other areas of preparation on the rocks edge.

From this, we assume the cobble was not broken apart by a Neanderthal, but was picked up in its present condition.

The fact that it wasnt modified, to us, it meant that it was brought there for a purpose other than being used as a tool, Prof. Frayer explained.

There was a small triangular flake that fits with the rock, but the break appeared to be fresh and likely happened well after the specimen was deposited into the sediments of the Krapina site. Perhaps it occurred during transport or storage after the excavation around 1900.

The dendritic forms, stem and veins are visually appealing and have an aesthetic quality, often appreciated by todays rock hunters, the scientists said.

No one would ever suggest that Neanderthals knew the source and the meaning of the dendritic forms in rock, but there is no reason to think they would not recognize their distinctiveness and the visual appeal of them. Presumably, they considered the rock unusual and worthy of keeping.

The team suspects a Neanderthal collected the rock from a site a few miles north of the Krapina site where there were known outcrops of biopelmicritic grey limestone. Either the Neanderthal found it there or the Krapinica stream transported it closer to the site.

The discovery is likely minor compared with other discoveries, such as more modern humans 25,000 years ago making cave paintings in France. However, it added to a body of evidence that Neanderthals were capable assigning symbolic significance to objects and went to the effort of collecting them, Prof. Frayer said.

The discovery could also provide more clues as to how modern humans developed these traits.

It adds to the number of other recent studies about Neanderthals doing things that are thought to be unique to modern Homo sapiens. We contend they had a curiosity and symbolic-like capacities typical of modern humans, Prof. Frayer said.

_____

Davorka Radovcic et al. 2016. An interesting rock from Krapina. Comptes Rendus Palevol 15 (8): 988-993; doi: 10.1016/j.crpv.2016.04.013
A team of scientists led by the University of Colorado Boulder has discovered that a gene called SLFN11  which encodes a protein known as Schlafen family member 11, or Schlafen11  may induce a cellular response against infection by viruses including human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). The research is published in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

The human immune system contains various protein-encoding genes that are able to recognize the foreign signatures of RNA viruses and prevent their replication, providing a genetic line of defense against zoonotic (animal-based) diseases.

HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, is one of several zoonotic retroviruses that has been able to subvert these defenses and adapt to human hosts via mechanisms that are still being studied. HIV-1 was passed to humans from primates.

In 2012, a University of California San Diego-led team of researchers demonstrated that the SLFN11 gene is capable of limiting HIV-1 replication early in the viruss lifecycle, but the mere presence of SLFN11 in humans has not, to date, provided an effective bulwark against the disease.

The new study found that SLFN11s antiviral potency is highest in non-human primate species such as chimpanzees and orangutans, but less effective in humans and gorillas, indicating that the genes effects have become highly species-specific over time when it comes to fighting off HIV-1.

The findings suggest that HIV-1 has been able to take advantage of this relaxed selection in humans, explained study lead author Alex Stabell, a researcher in the BioFrontiers Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The immune system contains some of the most rapidly evolving genes in mammalian genomes, and what we are finding is that the immune systems of even very closely-related species, such as humans and chimpanzees, differ in dramatic ways, added senior author Dr. Sara Sawyer, also from the BioFrontiers Institute.

The team analyzed data from primate genome projects to get a broader picture of the SLFN11 genes evolutionary history and compare its antiviral effects in other primate species.

We examined different versions of this gene in other primate species, looking for positive selection over time, Stabell said.

Genes tend to want to be conserved, to stay the same. But a rapidly adapting retrovirus can force their hand.

The analysis found that over millions of years, the antiviral effectiveness of the SLFN11 gene diverged by species to the point where Schlafen11 proteins encoded by chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons and marmosets now inhibit HIV-1 replication far more effectively than those produced by human, gorillas and bonobos.

The researchers also found that SLFN11 can have antiviral effects beyond just HIV-1.

Even when HIV-1 is absent from a hosts system, the gene broadly restricts protein production based on non-optimized codons, essentially reprogramming cells to create a general antiviral state.

The findings could provide new avenues of inquiry for future pharmaceutical and gene therapy research centered on HIV-1.

_____

A.C. Stabell et al. 2016. Non-human Primate Schlafen11 Inhibits Production of Both Host and Viral Proteins. PLoS Pathog 12 (12)
For most of the presidential election campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had been vocal about his belief on the Paris Agreement being "bad for U.S. business" as it allows "foreign bureaucrats control over how much energy [we] use."

However, since winning the seat, the businessman has somewhat moderated his view on the issue. BBC reported that he has now an "open mind" on the involvement of the U.S. in the said agreement. In fact, he has mellowed out well enough for U.K. climate experts to find hope that the climate change agenda led by President Barack Obama could survive under Trump's administration.

Professor Myles Allen of the University of Oxford shared that the administration actually accepts a great deal of the climate change argument more than they let on. The first clue is being that it acknowledges the link between fossil fuels and the rising temperatures.

On the other side of the world, British scientists are currently urging Theresa May to pressure Donald Trump into supporting climate research. An open letter signed by 100 leading researchers in the U.K. stated their concerns regarding the incoming Trump administration. The letter pointed out that there are "worrying media reports that the incoming administration may severely weaken climate change research and data-gathering undertaken by federal organizations in the United States."

Still, the current stance could prove beneficial. As Professor Corinne Le Quere of the University of East Anglia noted, Donald Trump is not as idealistic as other climate deniers. "He has changed his mind on several topics so far."

British researchers now believe that in order for Donald Trump and other deniers to take the matter seriously, climate science will have to appeal to a broader audience. Allen noted that putting things on the perspective of "100 years from now" will not get many to care as predictions have been proven wrong in the past. Allen stated, "Better science is not the crucial thing here. It's this realisation that the people primarily being affected by climate change are the poor and the people benefitting are the extremely wealthy."
Fetal sex determination has been banned in many parts of the world in lieu of the latest sex ratio calculations, which suggest the decline in the number of women in the society. In many parts of the world, giving birth to a baby boy is considered a blessing while a baby girl is considered as a liability. The latest research pertaining to fetal sex determination done by the Canadian and Chinese scientists has steered a whole lot of debate on women having the ability to control the sex of their unborn child.

The researchers were trying to find out the roles of various physiological factors of the expectant mothers in determining the sex of the conceived child. They found that maternal blood pressure plays a major role in determining the sex of the unborn baby before 26 weeks of conception.

The researchers recorded the body mass index (BMI), waist, cholesterol blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose levels in 1,411 women from China before they became pregnant. These health factors were monitored closely during the entire period of pregnancy.

The Tecake reported that 739 of the women candidates gave birth to a baby boy, while the rest 672 had baby girls. Post-delivery comparison of the already recorded health parameters revealed that the women who later on gave birth to a boy had higher blood pressure (systolic) during their pregnancy (106.0 millimeters of mercury average), while the women who became the mothers of daughters had relatively low blood pressure (103.3 millimeters of mercury average).

According to a report by nzherald.co.nz, women can deliberately increase or decrease the blood pressure to get a baby of their desired gender. However, Dr. Ravi Retnakaran, endocrinologist at Mount Sinai Hospital who was also the lead researcher of the project, had clearly stated that, "If anyone thinks that they can control the sex of the child by manipulating the maternal blood pressure when they are trying to conceive, then it is entirely wrong."

He further clarified that studying the role of manipulation of blood pressure to analyze the likelihood of conceiving a boy or girl will be inappropriate and unethical. The purpose behind the study was to investigate the chief factors that influence fetal survival.

The perpetuation of the idea that women can deliberately manipulate the sex of their unborn child not only enhances unethical practices but also increases the emotional pressure of the expectant mother, especially in regions where people in that society consider that the birth of boy will bring prosperity to their family and society.
The Sunday's Paris Peace Conference seems to have a favorable result for Israel. This is because no follow up is made from the Paris conference held last Sunday, according to Israel's new Foreign Ministry chief Yuval Rotem. Furthermore, the United Kingdom resisted the 70 nations and defended Israel.

Director General Yuval Rotem conceived the Sunday's Paris peace conference as a win for Israel. He said that Israel's decision not to be present at the said conference conveyed a message to the international community.

"The fact that the Paris conference has no followed up is from our perspective the most meaningful accomplishment," Rotem said. He further said that as far as Israel is concerned, the most important outcome from Paris was that it imposed "no new obligations" on Israel and "finished without any mechanism to apply or follow up" on the provisions it laid out for achieving peace. He added that the conference's declaration affirms Israel's view that "the only way to arrive at peace is by means of direct negotiations between the sides," as noted by Times of Israel.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom disregarded the anti-Israel sentiment by assessing the conference as harmful to Israel's interests. It also refused to sign a joint statement issued after the conference, which called for a two-state solution.

The U.K.'s Foreign Office released a statement that said they had "particular reservations about an international conference planned to advance peace between the parties that does not involve them." This refers to the lack of representatives from Israel or the Palestinian party.

The U.K. spokesperson stated that Britain had attended the summit as an "observer." There were no high-level diplomats present in the summit. The U.K. sent three low-level representatives to satisfy the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who reportedly objected the conference. In an interview with London Sunday Times, Trump called on Britain to protect Israel on the summit until he entered an office, according to Breaking Israel News.

The U.K. delegation refused to sign the statement that calls for a negotiated two-state solution in Israel. The U.K. also successfully blocked a French initiative to have the summit statement adopted by the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council the day after the conference.
A female zebra shark known as "Leonie" and confined for years without a partner has given birth to many offspring. This astounded the scientists and said they do not know how this strange thing happens.

This is the first female shark ever recorded that reproduced asexually after mating with a male three years ago. Leonie lived with a male partner at the Reef HQ aquarium in Townsville, Queensland, between 2006 and 2012. It was later moved into a separate tank by the aquarium for space reasons. Then, in April 2016, Leonie hatched three eggs without even mating with its partner, according to CNN.

The findings on Leonie's behavior were printed in the journal Scientific Reports. It was led by Dr. Christine Dudgeon, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Queensland in Australia and other colleagues.

The scientists have been observing "virgin births' in some vertebrates like reptiles, rays and sharks in the past. Dr. Dudgeon said that this could really be surprising. On the other hand, she said that there is nothing miraculous about it. She explained that this form of asexual reproduction known as "parthenogenesis" is quite common in invertebrates. However, she said that it is exceedingly rare (at least in captivity) for sharks to reproduce asexually and it is not fully understood.

The team sees a couple of various mechanisms that may lead to the genetic signatures. The researchers thought that Leonie could be storing sperm. On the other hand, when the team examined the pups and the possible parent sharks using DNA fingerprinting, they found the pups only had cells from Leonie, according to Huffington Post.

In Leonie's hatchlings, more genes are identical and less diversity referring to that they had been produced asexually instead of sexually through sperm storage. Hamish Tristram, a senior aquarist with Reef HQ, described it as definitely surprising. He further said that she had been mating successfully for several years and there was nothing much published about such large animals switching reproductive strategy so quickly.

Tristam explained some theories regarding Leonie's sudden unusual behavior. He said that one theory is that in the wild, if for some reason males cannot have contact with the females for one breeding season. He further said that they can keep their lineage going for one or two seasons (through asexual reproduction) until they can reproduce the traditional way. On the other hand, the genetic diversity of animals gets really reduced using this method and long term, they need to diversify to help them adapt to their environment, according to Dudgeon.
SCRANTON, S.C.  Scranton Elementary School is one of nine schools in South Carolina that was chosen as a finalist for the Palmettos Finest Awards.

The Palmettos Finest Awards are presented each year by the S.C. Association of School Administrators (SCASA) to schools that offer the best in innovative, effective educational programs, according to a release from the association.

Scranton Elementary School Principal Allana Prosser said she learned that the school was selected as a finalist for the award Tuesday night by email.

I have no words right now. Honestly, were full steam ahead. Thats our motto this year, Prosser said. And we really feel like the little engine that could. Thats how we feel right now. That little teeny, tiny school, high poverty, look at us. I cant stop grinning.

Prosser had a special way of telling the students, faculty and staff at Scranton Elementary that they were selected as finalists for the Palmettos Finest Award. Around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, alarms sounded at the school for a fire drill. Once all occupants of the school were situated on the yard, a South Lynches Fire Department engine and car arrived at the school.

Florence County School District Three Superintendent Laura Hickson was inside of the fire engine and announced to students, faculty and staff over the intercom that they were selected for the award. The announcement caused cheers from almost everyone who was on the yard.

Processer said the school submitted an application to be considered for the award in September.

The application process includes elements on student achievement, instructional programs, professional learning communities and school culture, the release states.

It was announced in October, following an onsite visit from a review committee, that Scranton Elementary was a semifinalist for the award.

Each of the nine finalists will receive another onsite evaluation from the committee before winners are announced on March 21.

Prosser said there will be four winners for the Palmetto's Finest Awards: two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Other finalists include A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School in Greenville County Schools, Little Mountain Elementary School in Newbery County Schools, Monarch Elementary School in Greenville County Schools, Round Top Elementary in Richland District Two, Dutch Fork Middle School in Lexington-Richland District Five, Dutch Fork High School in Lexington-Richland District Five, Seneca High in Oconee County Schools and Campobello-Gramling School in Spartanburg District One.

The process to become a finalist not only made Scranton Elementary look better, but it also got the students involved, Prosser said.

The whole application process, this whole thing made our school better, she said. I would go back and do it again whether or not we were finalists just because it kind of put us all together. We all worked together to make it happen. It took every one of us.
LOUISVILLE  Mike Scholting of Louisville recently won first place in the A Non-Irrigated division of the 2016 National Corn Growers Associations (NCGA) Corn Yield Contest in Nebraska. Scholting won with Pioneer brand P1197AMT, which yielded 288.4933 bushels per acre.

Scholting earned one of the 199 state titles won by growers planting Pioneer brand products. Growers planting Pioneer brand products led the contest, winning 58 percent of the 343 state titles awarded this year.

The NCGA Corn Yield Contest is an annual U.S. competition among corn growers with the goal of capitalizing on the high genetic yield potential of today's corn hybrids. Growers compete in six corn production classes: two for non-irrigated, two for no-till/strip till non-irrigated, one for no-till/strip till irrigated and one for irrigated acres.

"Our 2016 NCGA winners demonstrate the value of our continued investment in germplasm and trait packages, coupled with the unmatched team of local Pioneer professionals. They are with customers throughout the year to help them achieve maximum productivity," said Steve Reno, DuPont Pioneer vice president, regional director - U.S. and Canada.

DuPont Pioneer is the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success(r).

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.
DARLINGTON, S.C.  Nearly 250 students from across the Darlington County School District joined together Tuesday for the annual All-County Music Festival, hosted by Coker College.

The festival aims to broaden the music education of Darlington County students and provide opportunities for more advanced training in instrumental and vocal music through clinical study and performance.

The 249 middle and high school students formed the DCSD All-County Vocal and Instrumental Music Ensemble. Music instructors nominated the students based on musical knowledge, showmanship and talent. Each year, the ensemble is granted the chance to receive in-depth music instruction from expert guest clinicians before performing in front of family, friends and the community.

Marisa Johnson, the districts arts and innovative programs coordinator, praised the students and their instructors for another outstanding All-County Music Festival.

This year was our largest student ensemble in three years, Johnson said. I am amazed at the talent we have in Darlington County School District. We value the arts, and we want to provide our students with rich experiences. This festival provides those experiences and gives opportunities for students to exhibit their talent and creativity.

The ensemble performed pieces such as Ukrainian Alleluia by Craig Courtney, I Sing Because Im Happy by Rollo Dilworth and Mansions of the Lord by Randall Wallace and Nick Glennie-Smith.

Guest clinicians this year were Dustin Ousley of Coker College and Christopher Martinez of North Augusta Public Charter District. Cole Davis, band and chorus teacher at Mayo High School for Math, Science and Technology, served as the emcee. Kim Roberts, chorus teacher at Hartsville Middle School, and Marlin Ketter, band teacher at Hartsville Middle School, served as middle school clinicians.

Coker College hosted the festival inside the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center.
A family devoted to sharing Gospel music to audiences across the country will be making a stop in Hooper.

The Dysart Family will be performing at 5 p.m. Sunday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 601 E. Fulton St.

The concert is being hosted by the five combined Ambassador of Faith congregations: United, St. Johns-Ridgeley, St. Johns-CCL, Scribner; St. Pauls, Hooper; St. Pauls, Uehling; Elim, Swaburg; and Redeemer, Hooper.

The Dysart family includes LeWain and Lorena Dysart and their five children, LeWain II, 27; Kendra, 25; Clayton, 18; Tanner, 15; and Logan, 12.

The family of musicians, based out of Macon, Mo., began performing in various venues in 2006 and began releasing projects in 2007. The Dysart Family was nominated for Horizon Group of the Year in 2012.

In 2014, they were voted one of the top 10 nominees for New Mixed Group in the Singing News Fan Awards, and were nominated one of the top 10 nominees for the Sunrise Award in the 2015 Diamond Awards.

The familys first radio single, Up and Away, went to No. 28 on the Country Gospel Top 100 in February 2012, and their single, Gods Live Is So Amazing, an original song written by LeWain Sr., landed at No. 46 on the Singing News Top 80 charts in January 2014. In 2015, the song was on the Gospel Music Tour charts at No. 55 for several months.

The Dysart Family has shared the stage with The Gatlin Brothers, Legacy Five Quartet, The Mark Trammel Quartet, The Talley Trio, The Lesters, Gold City Quartet, Jeff and Sheri Easter, and Tribute Quartet.

The Dysarts approach to their music ministry incorporates a serious focus on personal relationships with Jesus, their love for each other in the home, and just plain hard work on their music, says the familys biography on its website. What they end up with are blessed times of worship in concert, complimented by a tight family blend that is distinctive to The Dysarts.

Original songs from the daughter, Kendra, and Dad, LeWain, some fun times, and laughter at Dads silly stories of life in the home, all add up to a concert that no one wants to see come to an end.

During the familys concerts, Kendra and LeWain II join their parents for family quartet harmonies, trios and duets. The three younger boys, Clayton, Tanner and Logan, join the family to sing a few songs at each concert.

For more information about Sundays concert in Hooper, call Redeemer Lutheran Church at 402-654-3835.
Pearl Mist is scheduled to spend two days in Havana and visit Isla de la Juventud, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba and Parque Baconao.

'We are thrilled to offer guests a comprehensive Cuba itinerary and appreciate the support that we have received from the Cuban government in making such an extensive itinerary possible,' said Timothy Beebe, Pearl Seas Cruises.

The line has scheduled 11 Cuba departures aboard the 210-passenger ship from Port Everglades through April, and even more during the 2017/18 cruise season.
The Archbishop Bergan Catholic School Music Department will be hosting its annual spaghetti dinner on Sunday in Delaney Hall at St. Patricks Catholic Church, 3400 E. 16th St., in Fremont.

Serving will start at 10:30 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. Takeout meals will be available.

The cost of the dinner is $3 for children ages 3-11, $8 for ages 12 and up, $27 for families and free for children 2 and under. Jars of the homemade spaghetti sauce can be purchased for $12.

The annual spaghetti dinner has been put on by the Bergan Music Department since 1998. Proceeds from the dinner will fund the music departments trip it takes every three years.
OPC has signed a contract with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the first phase of the expansion of specialised container and cargo terminal at Puerto Cortes. The first phase of construction will feature a 350 m berth with a draught of 15.5 m and will be equipped with two post-panamax quay cranes.

The first phase is scheduled for completion by mid-2018. The port handles 85% of shipments to Honduras, 10% to El Salvador and 5% to Nicaragua.

ICTSI was awarded a 30-year concession for the design, financing, construction, maintenance, operation and exploration of the terminal in 2013.
Park Yoonso, chairman of KOMEA, commented: This is a pioneering project for the marine and shipbuilding industry. Both Korea and Singapore are key players in the industry, and this project aims to complement their strengths and weaknesses.

Park noted that South Korea is good in manufacturing while Singapore is more developed for marketing and globalisation.

KOMEA intends to use the Singapore office to cover up to 50 businesses from Korea by 2018, and to continually create a conducive business environment for KOMEAs partners.

We will endeavour to build more partnerships and invite more Korean marine companies to initiate their business in Singapore, Park said. Over time, we hope to build a community of strong marine players in our co-operative space.
Malaysia's largest port, which was ranked 12th in 2015, was boosted by good growth in container throughput as well as transhipment volumes.

According to PKA, the smaller terminal of Northport handled 3.2m teu while Westports handled 10.0m teu in 2016.

In terms of transshipment volumes, Port Klang handled 9.1m teu in 2016, up 14.3 % from 8m teu in 2015.

Of this, Northport handled 1.7m teu and Westports handled 7.4m teu PKA said.

The positive growth of Port Klang is attributed to several factors, mainly its efficient and productive terminal operators, strong support of Port Klangs shipping and logistics community and the ports supply driven port facilities as well as advanced state of the art cargo handling equipment, PKA said.

It however warned that 2017 is expected to remain challenging for the industry.
Some 75 vessels calling at the Swedish port received a 10% environmental discount on port dues last year compared to 41 in 2015, an increase of 83%.

The growing number of vessels classified as green is highly encouraging. They are also vessels that call at the port on a regular basis, said Edvard Molitor, environmental manager at the Port of Gothenburg.

For vessels running on LNG there are further discounts of up to 30%.

The LNG powered vessels Ternsund and Fure West, owned by Donso-based shipping companies Tarntank Ship Management and Furetank both received 30% discounts last year when they called Gothenburg port.

The discount is based on two separate environmental indexes, Environmental Ship Index (ESI) and Clean Shipping Index (CSI). Vessels that have a score of at least 30 according to ESI, or which are classified as green according to CSI, receive a 10% discount on the port charges.
Norma Heath in her kitchen, where kids come to use her laptop.

Norma Heath has Internet access, which puts her just barely in the majority in her Detroit neighborhood.

Heath, who lives just west of Hamtramck in Detroit's North End neighborhood, often receives visits from a young neighbor who lacks Internet access to do his homework for school.

"He'll come down to my house and say, 'Miss Norma, can I use your Internet? I have a science project I need to do and we don't have the computer or the Internet,'" Heath says. "What's Norma gonna say? 'Sure!' I can't tell them no."

An informal survey conducted last summer by the

Since 2009, the

DDJC member Monique Tate says that for too many Detroit residents, Internet access is still considered a luxury when it's actually a necessity.

"They can't afford that," Tate says. "If children don't have access to that tool, are not literate, and don't know how to operate within it, you're deprived when it comes to basic knowledge. You're deprived when it comes to jobs. You're deprived when it comes to society and how everything is working."

A different kind of literacy

Although Detroit residents' access to technology is obviously lacking, that situation creates an even bigger underlying problem: many Detroiters have limited or no basic knowledge of how to use technology in the first place. Tate says she encounters millennials on a daily basis who know less about how to use a computer than she does  and she's over 50 years old.

"I will state with certainty that if you are not digitally literate, you are illiterate," she says. "There's reading, writing, arithmetic, and technology. It belongs up there with those."

DDJC's members have sought to combat digital illiteracy through a variety of initiatives, many of them helped along by federal funding from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). Funded through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, BTOP was implemented to improve broadband access nationwide. One of Tate's first forays into digital justice work was a BTOP-funded training project led by Detroit nonprofit

Other initiatives have been more modest. DDJC regularly hosts fair-like events called

"[The Internet] is something that is almost mystical for a lot of us," says AMP executive director and DDJC member Jeanette Lee. "It just arrives in our devices and connects us to the rest of the world. A lot of the work we're doing is to demystify the Internet's actual architecture."

Recently DDJC members have also worked to address situations in which expanded data access actually works to the detriment of the populations the coalition is trying to help. A key example is the city of Detroit's

"As community organizers, maybe in the block club or in a neighborhood group, we can understand who owns and who's buying properties around us, and specifically if there are properties in the neighborhood that are abandoned or not being taken care of," she says. "But the flipside of that is this real fear that it's ... making it that much more possible for big developers and companies ... to very quickly buy up huge tracts of land."

Accordingly, recent DiscoTechs have focused on explaining the benefits and risks of open data and how communities can use it to their greatest advantage.

"It comes back to that idea of what access actually means for the portal and who users are," McInchak says. "If there isn't actually an engagement plan around the portal, it's just sort of this thing that sits online."

Opportunity through access

Although digital literacy has been and remains a major component of digital justice efforts in Detroit, Tate says its importance has also decreased somewhat. Tate notes that the number of groups offering literacy training has grown over time, but that doesn't change the fact that a huge portion of Detroit's population still can't afford to actually use those literacy skills at home. She describes literacy as one element of a three-pronged approach to digital justice, the other two components being Internet access and access to computers or other equipment.

"It's difficult to have one without the other," she says. "You have your literacy, but then you don't have anything to use it on. Or you have no access, so that you can't use it."

The equipment part of the equation is a tough nut to crack given the costs involved, but DDJC is currently stepping up some long-running efforts to improve neighborhood Internet access. When the coalition was awarded $1.2 million in BTOP funding in 2010, one of the key initiatives that arose over the three-year funding period was a program known as

Tate, a Digital Stewards alum, has participated in the creation of two mesh networks in her neighborhood of MorningSide.

"They don't serve enough, but they serve at least a block or two individually," she says.

One of DDJC's newest projects is aimed at taking community wireless networks to the next level in three Detroit neighborhoods. Launched this summer, the

Joan Ross is spearheading EII in the North End as director of NEWCC and acting station manager of WNUC 96.7 FM, which will house the neighborhood's gigabit Internet connection. Ross describes EII as an "incredibly big" development for the neighborhood, which she says has been "really, really left out in this digital movement." She also notes that the Internet connection itself is just one component of the EII program, which also emphasizes Digital Steward training for neighborhood residents and includes an app development training component for young people in each neighborhood.

Ross envisions even more possibilities beyond that, including creating some sort of social enterprise to continue advancing Internet access or installing solar panels to run a community network.

"Once we start this conversation, it's just wide open," she says. "It's just incredible how many things we can begin to bring into community with this access, with just this small opportunity which may seem little."

Tate says that's basically digital justice in a nutshell: expanding opportunity one person, one class, one connection at a time.

"It's not just about sharing land or sharing food, as people had done in the past in order to survive," she says. "This is about sharing your technology, your knowledge, your access to the Internet, and even your equipment until people are able to build their own or acquire their own."
According to Hall's Facebook post, the explosion resulted in second degree burns on his face and neck, knocked out seven of his teeth, and left chunks of plastic, foreign objects and bits of his own teeth lodged around his mouth, throat and lips.

While getting ready for work on Saturday morning, Andrew Hall of Pocatello, Idaho, experienced quite a shock when he said his e-cigarette exploded in his mouth.

Since e-cigs were first introduced to the market in 2007, there have been several reports of them combusting. In the most gruesome incidents the device has exploded when the person is smoking it, like in Hall's case, but they've also exploded while charging or simply sitting in storage.

RELATED: Burns From Exploding E-Cigarettes on The Rise

In March of 2016, 19-year-old Alexander Shonkwiler's e-cig reportedly exploded in his pocket, burning his upper thigh.

"I heard what sounded almost like a sparkler going off, and then bang, a huge explosion, a huge flash of light and these flames were coming at my face," Shonkwiler told NBC News. "As I looked down, my leg was on fire. I ripped my pants off, and even with my pants off, my leg was still on fire because the battery acid sprayed all over my leg and dripped down my leg."

Because e-cigarettes were an unregulated product until recently, there are few statistics on the exact number of explosions they've caused. One FEMA report found 25 incidents of e-cig explosions from 2009-2014, a relatively small number given the more than 2.5 million people who use e-cigarettes.

However, the results of these explosions are shocking enough to warrant concern, and have left many wondering what causes them.

RELATED: E-C-g Benefits Outweigh The Risks: Study

According to FEMA, the incidents occur most often when the battery is charging, and importantly, USB chargers come in different standards, and use various ports and connectors, according to the report, "which further illustrates the need to follow the manufacturers' guidance when charging a device."

Another risk factor for an e-cig explosion comes from their lithium batteries. Lithium batteries carry a large amount of energy in a very small space. While lithium batteries are used for many electronics - like phones, cameras and laptops - in an e-cig the battery is next to a heating device which can increase the risk of explosion.

Hall recently posted an update - he's mostly recovered and has given up the habit.

WATCH: The Futile Pursuit of a Safe Cigarette
With help from a subspecies that's a near dead-ringer genetically, the extinct Caspian tiger could once again inhabit Central Asia.

In a study published in the journal Biological Conservation, researchers from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and State University of New York (SUNY) say they have found two spots in Kazakhstan to reintroduce the extinct enormous cat.

Well, sort of. The scientists' approach hinges not on some sort of cloning scheme but on using Amur tigers (also known as Siberian tigers) to accomplish the feat. The animals, thanks to information gleaned from DNA analysis in recent years, are genetically almost identical to the Caspian cats and under the plan would function as a kind of stand-in.

Caspian tigers, extinct for close to 50 years, once roamed Central Asia, from the Caspian Sea to northwestern China, before struggles that included loss of habitat during Soviet-era land development robbed them of their prey and their survival. They were truly big big cats - about 10 feet long and weighing up to 500 pounds.

If the WWF and SUNY plan one day comes to fruition, big cats could again stalk the Caspian's old haunts.

"The idea of tiger reintroduction in Central Asia using the Amur tiger from the Russian Far East as an 'analog' species has been discussed for nearly 10 years," explained study co-author Mikhail Paltsyn, of SUNY, in a statement. "It met with considerable support from the government of Kazakhstan in 2010 during the Global Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia."

RELATED: Photo Captures Rare Amur Tiger Family

However, Paltsyn said, before any reintroducing could be achieved, the best habitats for reintroduction needed to be found, and he and his study colleagues say they have now identified two sites in Kazakhstan that could support between 64 and 98 tigers within 50 years.

They looked at previous research on Caspian tigers and found the cats occupied isolated patches of land along rivers or streams stretching over 300,000 to 350,000 square miles.

Spatial analysis of modern land use and human populations left the team with limited options for future homes for the newly reintroduced tigers. But the scientists found two suitable places  the Ili river delta and the adjacent southern coast of Balkhash Lake  that prey-population models said would offer the animals an ample supply of food such as deer and wild boar.

The scientists stressed that such a project has some major hurdles, though, before it could ever be undertaken. Among them, according to Paltsyn, would be to preserve the prospective lands from degradation and also to restore hooved animal populations before the transplanted tigers arrived. "That, alone, could take 15 years," he said of the latter.

Human-tiger safety and co-existence issues, too, would need to be sorted out, and water use of the Ili River would need to be regulated in Kazakhstan and China to support the tigers' new habitat, the team said. The introduced Amur tigers would, of course, also need to be able to adapt to a new landscape unfamiliar to them.

"WWF and the government of Kazakhstan seem to be ready to deal with all these difficult issues to bring tigers back to Central Asia," Paltsyn said.

Top Photo: The Amur tiger is a near genetic dead-ringer for the extinct Caspian tiger.

WATCH VIDEO: How A Genetic Mistake Can Save White Tigers
A future without primates outside of humans seems unthinkable, but an extensive review of ape, monkey, tarsier, lemur and loris populations finds that 60 percent of all primates are now threatened with extinction, and about 75 percent are declining in numbers. The review, the most comprehensive of its kind to date and published in Science Advances, paints a dire future for our closest biological relatives. Their only hope hangs on global conservation becoming an immediate priority, the international team of authors says. "It is possible that some primates will go extinct in our lifetimes if we don't increase our efforts dramatically," Russell Mittermeier, a primatologist who is the president of Conservation International, told Seeker from a Madagascar airport. Madagascar is one of just four countries-with Brazil, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo being the other three-that host two-thirds of all species of primates. Mittermeier, who is also the chair of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, explained that "primates are largely tropical rainforest animals," and these countries have such habitat, although these once-lush landscapes are shrinking across the planet. A species of monkey might have already gone extinct during your lifetime: Miss Waldron's red colobus monkey. It was reportedly last seen in 1978. RELATED: Climate Change Caused Hundreds of Local Extinctions in 2016 Paul Garber, who co-led the new study with Alejandro Estrada, said, "Several species of lemurs, monkeys and apes-such as the ring-tailed lemur, Udzunga red colobus monkey, Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, white-headed langur and Grauer's gorilla-are down to a population of a few thousand individuals." Garber added, "In the case of the Hainan gibbon, a species of ape in China, there are fewer than 30 animals left."

Contrast those low numbers with the current estimated population of humans on the planet, around 7.4 billion. Our actions are behind all of the factors that currently threaten primate populations. The IUCN has found that agriculture, logging and wood harvesting, livestock farming and ranching, as well as direct loss due to hunting and trapping pose the primary threats. Still other threats include habitat loss due to road and rail construction, oil and gas drilling and mining, pollution and climate change. Reducing the impact of such threats would require addressing issues concerning local poverty and population growth, Garber said. "Building economies based on the preservation of forests and their primate inhabitants, and broadening educational opportunities for women would begin to address some of the greatest threats to these animals." Those proposed solutions, however, will need substantial time to implement, and primates are running out of time. Given their low populations, most are "in the eleventh hour," Garber said. RELATED: Should We Bring Extinct Animals Back to Life? Mittermeier agrees that the drivers of primate destruction clearly must be addressed, "but if that is all we do, the primates will be gone before we have the impact desired." He continued, "We need very specific targeted approaches to primate conservation, focusing on the highest priority regions, ensuring that protected areas work where they already exist and creating new ones where they don't, and carrying out targeted efforts for the most endangered."
Press Release

January 18, 2017 Bam: CHED 'out of touch' on claim SUC students are 'moneyed, non-poor' Senator Bam Aquino described as "out of touch" the Commission on Higher Education's claim that students in state colleges and universities (SUCs) are mostly moneyed and non-poor. "Three out of four ng estudyante sa SUC ay nagda-drop-out dahil kulang ang kanilang pambayad. Paano sila naging mayaman," said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. Sen. Bam's reaction came after CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan said in a television interview that "only moneyed and non-poor students will enjoy the P8.3-billion budget for free tuition fee in SUCs". While he admitted that the country's "poorest of the poor" are not in college, Sen. Bam said many of the students in SUCs still come from families of minimum-wage earners. "Hindi masasabing sila ang poorest of the poor, pero kailangan pa rin nila ng tulong pinansiyal para makatapos ng kolehiyo," said Sen. Bam. As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam said the institutionalization of free tuition in SUCs will keep students in schools and lead to more college graduates. "We want more people to get a degree. Sana sa tulong ng repormang ito, dumami pa ang college graduates sa Pilipinas na makatutulong sa kanilang pamilya sa malapit na hinaharap," Sen. Bam said in a television interview. Aquino filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs. Aside from Sen. Bam's bill, several senators have filed similar measures to institutionalize free college education in SUCs beyond the allocation of P8.3 billion in the 2017 budget. "We're very positive about it, we're very hopeful about this bill, and we're getting a lot of cross-party support. We hope to pass it as soon as possible," said Sen. Bam. Aside from free tuition fees in SUCs, Sen. Bam has also filed other education-related bills in the 17th Congress. Among them is the Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, which recently hurdled the committee level and will be discussed in plenary this year. Sen. Bam also wants to give out of school youth (OSY) in the country access to education through his Senate Bill No. 171 or the Abot Alam Bill, which seeks to institutionalize alternative learning system (ALS).
Cayetano: Robredo's opposition a wasted opportunity

When asked about the recent controversy tagged LeniLeaks which involves emails in a Yahoo! Group (Global Filipino Diaspora Council) among the Vice President Leni Robredo's supporters detailing social media strategies for responding to attacks directed at Robredo, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano acknowledged groups doubting the said email thread's nature as an ouster plot.

"Well, unang-una, merong mga nagdududa kung may conspiracy ba talaga or planong tanggalin ang Pangulo," explained Cayetano in an interview on January 15, Sunday. "Ang question lang, how organized [is the opposition], sinong magkakasama?"

"I've always said that the Vice President doesn't have to be part of [the plan]," the senator added. "Kasi by merely being Vice President, ikaw ang papalit 'pag natanggal."

Cayetano also said that Robredo's resignation from the Cabinet was a "wasted opportunity" to become one of the President's advisers.

He stressed, however, that Robredo could have been more productive as Vice President by "criticizing inside" rather than joining rallies and speaking to the media about her opposition to some of the President's policies.

"Nakikinig naman sa kanya. Ang problema, mas gusto niya, maging oposisyon. Nirerespeto natin 'yun. Pero ako, sa tingin ko, personally, sayang 'yung opportunity," he ended.
Amid worst flooding in CDO in years, Pimentel appeals for aid

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel lll today appealed for immediate aid for tens of hundreds of residents of Cagayan de Oro City where torrential rains Monday night caused "cataclysmic flash floods" and forced authorities to evacuate 11 barangays. The swift decisive, government response saved lives--but homes and villages were washed away, creating an army of evacuees in Northern Mindanao's premier city, Pimentel said.

"On behalf of Cagayan de Oro, I issue this urgent appeal. The city needs every assistance that our people can give. It needs immediate support for the reconstruction of destroyed houses and other damaged buildings," said Pimentel.

Pimentel said the affected residents need immediate food and clothing as their houses were washed away or are still submerged in waist-deep floodwater.

He thanked those who have already responded, in kind and in cash, to the city government's appeal.

City and social welfare officials, who were first to rush to the evacuation sites, described the flood as Ondoy-like, a reference the rampaging floodwaters that hit Metro Manila which lay in the path Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.

The Mindanao senator said that it is high time that local officials revisit the city's flood-control and infrastructure program. He has received reports that revealed the city's canals were clogged with trash, he said.

Heavy rainwater that cascaded from the mountains and valleys of Bukidnon rose quickly, creating flash floods that caught many by surprise, including city students who were stranded overnight.

Pimentel cited the city government's quick response that quickly evacuated thousands to safer ground to prevent a single casualty.

He said he would also talk to concerned government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Health (DOH), to extend assistance to the victims.
Press Release

January 18, 2017 E-POWERS, FOI TOP POE'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA As Congress resumed session on Jan. 16, Sen. Grace Poe, chair of two major Senate committees has vowed to fast-track three pet legislative measures during the remaining nine-week plenary sessions. Poe, as chairperson of the Senate committees on public services and on information and mass media, has submitted two bills to Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III following an all-senators' caucus last week that tackled the list of measures the chamber is prioritizing. On top of the agenda of the Senate public services committee is Senate Bill (SB) No. 1284 granting emergency powers to President Duterte to solve the crippling traffic crisis in Metro Manila and other major urban areas. The bill is set to enter the period of interpellation after Poe endorsed the measure last December. The senator expressed confidence that the bill will get multi-partisan support. Sponsored in October last year, the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) Act which promotes transparency and accountability in the bureaucracy--is also up in the agenda of the Senate committee on public information and mass media. SB 159 will be scheduled for plenary debates in the first quarter of the year. Poe also hopes that the chamber will front-load the approval of a bill amending Republic Act No. 53, as amended, also called the Shield or Sotto Law that protects journalists from revealing their sources. The public information and mass media panel will also conduct a public hearing on Jan. 24 on Senate Resolution No. 257 filed by Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III recommending the creation of a film festival exclusively for independent films during the semestral break. The public services committee, which is in charge of the grant of legislative franchises, is also expected to commence hearings on franchises of major telecommunications firms Smart Telecommunications Inc. and Globe Telecom, both of which are set to expire this year. The creation of People's Broadcasting Corp. that will replace the state-run People's Television Network Inc. is also lined up for hearing. Public hearings on measures establishing the Bill of Rights of Taxi Passengers and Bill of Rights of Air Passengers, protection of prepaid load and possibly extending or scrapping the validity and registration of prepaid subscriber identity module (SIM) cards are also in the agenda of the public services panel. Poe likewise urged her colleagues to support SB 1297 seeking to establish a schools-based feeding program for public school students enrolled in K-12 and SB 160 or the First 1,000 Days Act.
Press Release

January 18, 2017 'SSS deduction is payroll tax so buck stops with President, not with unelected bureaucrats' -- Recto Because it is a payroll tax, the power to approve the rate of a Social Security System member's monthly contribution should remain with the President, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto insisted today. "When it comes to any mandatory deduction from a workingman's income, the buck stops at the president's table," Recto said in reaction to legislative proposals to delegate the power to set and approve SSS premiums to the multisectoral Social Security Commission. "If you divest people of part of their income, then is better that such power be vested on an individual with a mandate from the people," Recto said. "The President is the best trustee for SSS members. Kasi binoto. Hindi 'yung appointed mula sa isang maliit na sektor, tapos bibigyan mo ng karapatan na magkaltas ng payroll tax. Siya 'yung stakeholder representative na may clear mandate," Recto said. "Remove him from the equation, then the SSS becomes an autonomous republic," Recto said. Because employers put in a counterpart to their employees contributions, "then all the more it becomes important for any increase to have presidential imprimatur." "He is the only one who can convince corporate Philippines as well as small businessmen that such an increase is needed," Recto added. In setting the schedule and rate of members' contributions, Recto explained "that the Commission can recommend but the President must concur." While a good President, Recto said, "must always heed the views of professionals who run the pension system, it is better to give the final say to President as some sort of a fail-safe mechanism that can override bad recommendations." "We need the President as a tripwire against onerous increases. He can greenlight but he can also abort," he said. Recto downplayed fears that allowing the President to retain that power will politicize the process. "The President is not up for reelection so he can make tough decisions. That he is term-limited makes him immune from populist pressures," Recto said. "No President would like to be remembered as someone who bankrupted the SSS," he added. On the contrary, Recto said granting the President oversight powers over the pension system will allow him to lean on it so it will improve "its bottomline, increase its income and expand membership benefits." Recto said the SSC can be given the authority to fix and determine the benefits, condone penalties imposed on contributions and loan amortization, and amend the penalty for delinquent contributions "without the need for prior approval of the Philippine President." "Pero pagdating sa contributions, na isang payroll tax, kailangan may approval ng Presidente," he said. Recto had filed SSS reform bills in the previous Congress. For the present one, he packaged his proposals under Senate Bill 63. A summation of some of his recommendations was highlighted in his sponsorship speech of the SSS Pension Hike Bill early this year. (http://ralphrecto.ph/improving-sss-finances-so-it-can-fund-benefits-increase/).
Rep. Doris Matsui of Sacramento was born in the desert of southern Arizona, in an internment camp that was so big and isolated, its conditions so extreme, that its three subdivisions were nicknamed Roastin, Toastin and Dustin by its Japanese American residents.

Her mothers parents had been rounded up from their farm in Californias Central Valley and forced to live in the Poston War Relocation Center. Her parents met and courted in the desert. Years later, Matsui would marry a man who had spent three years of his boyhood in another internment camp.

Decades later, as Donald Trump prepares to take office, Matsui is reflecting on that history, while connecting the fear that prompted her parents internment to feelings now directed by many  including Trump  toward Muslim Americans. Her choice to speak out marks the latest chapter in the Democrats unusual life and journey to politics.

I feel that it is absolutely imperative for me to stand up and remind people of our history, Matsui, 72, said in an interview. The fear that drove the decision to unjustly place Americans of Japanese descent into the camps is the same type of fear that drives this type of rhetoric about a Muslim registry.

Mike Kepka/By Mike Kepka/special to the Chronicle

The rhetoric that shook Matsui escalated in November, after the election, when Carl Higbie, a former spokesman for a super PAC that supported Trump, said the internment camps that held tens of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II were a legal precedent for a potential U.S. registry of immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries.

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Weve done it with Iran back awhile ago. We did it during World War II with the Japanese, Higbie said on Megyn Kellys Fox News show, arguing that a registry proposal would be constitutional.

Kelly pushed back: Come on, youre not proposing we go back to the days of internment camps, I hope.

Im not proposing that at all, Higbie said. But Im just saying there is precedent for it and Im not saying I agree with it.

In December 2015, shortly after announcing a campaign proposal to ban all Muslims from immigrating to the U.S., Trump referred during an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe to proclamations by President Franklin Roosevelt during World War II that labeled Japanese, Germans and Italians enemy aliens who could be detained.

You certainly arent proposing internment camps, are you? asked host Joe Scarborough.

I am not proposing that, Trump said. It was tough stuff, but it wasnt internment. Were not talking about the Japanese internment camps. No, not at all. But we have to get our head around a very serious problem, and its getting worse.

Trump has since shifted, saying he would begin extreme vetting for immigrants from countries impacted by terrorism, though the original Muslim ban proposal remains on his campaign website.

For Matsui, the idea that the treatment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s is anything but a cautionary tale, and that it could be used to justify a crackdown on Muslim Americans, feels startling and personal.

It saddens and disappoints me that this has been brought up so much over the last year, she said. I thought we had learned from our mistakes.

Muslim American leaders in Northern California say Matsuis stance is important.

Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press

For the Muslim American community it is very comforting. Its a challenging time, said Basim Elkarra, head of the Sacramento chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. She has the street cred. Her community has gone through these challenges. ... Shes gone through these challenges.

Matsui grew up in the Central Valley before attending UC Berkeley. It was there she met her husband, Robert Matsui, who had with his family been uprooted from Sacramento as an infant and forced into the Tulelake internment camp in Siskiyou County. After a stint on the Sacramento City Council, Robert Matsui was elected to Congress in 1978, serving until his death in 2005.

He helped push legislation, signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, providing an apology to the more than 100,000 people sent to internment camps as well as more than $1 billion in reparations.

It was during this fight that Doris Matsui began hearing stories about the camps from her family and countless others. In the years prior, the topic had been rarely broached.

You got to hear what actually happened, what they had to do  emotions came out, she recalled. A lot of what I know came from those testimonies.

Her father told her the food was terrible and privacy non-existent in barracks made of flimsy wood walls. To keep the sand and air from coming through holes in the wood, she said, residents posted newspapers on the walls. There were no vegetables or flowers, so the internees planted them.

They wanted to return to their old lives as Americans, so they did what they could to get through the experience, she said.

Weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Robert Matsui discussed his childhood at a conference in Boston. He recalled the time a teacher pointed him out in class, asking him about his familys internment and wondering if he could describe it to the other students.

Matsui denied he had been in a camp, but later, he said, a student who was a close friend wondered if he was a Japanese spy, asking, Was that why you were in jail?

After the Boston speech, an audience member posed a question: Could the same thing happen to Arab Americans? Robert Matsui told the crowd no  that both parties political leaders were determined not to fan the flames. He cited then-President George W. Bushs visit to a mosque six days after 9/11, when he said Islam is a religion of peace.

But the lawmaker from Sacramento added a warning: Things could change. Its going to be up to all of us to make sure that the political leadership remains as they have been in this case, he said.

In 2005, Robert Matsui died of a rare bone marrow disorder. His wife, who had worked in the Clinton administration, was urged by Democrats to run for the seat. She did, won handily in a special election, and is now serving her sixth full term in Congress.

Now, after the emergence of Trump, who has questioned whether Muslim Americans fully embrace the country, Doris Matsui is co-sponsoring legislation that would ban any registration of individuals by religion. A similar bill has been proposed in the Senate.

Our constitutional principles are what make America exceptional, Matsui said. By protecting the religious liberty of Muslim Americans, we are protecting the integrity of our founding document both now and for future generations.

She is not alone among Japanese Americans describing their experience in World War II as a warning about the creep of fear. Actor George Takei, of the original Star Trek, was 5 when his family was taken from its home in Los Angeles to an internment camp.

I have spent my life trying to ensure something like this never happens again. But dark clouds once more are gathering, Takei wrote in an online petition he launched to support Muslim Americans. It has nearly 150,000 signatures.

It starts with a registry, with restrictions, with irrationally ascribed guilt, and with fear, he said. But we know well where it might lead. National security must never again be permitted to justify wholesale denial of constitutional rights and protections.

Matsui said she will attend Fridays inauguration, even though dozens of her colleagues in the House are boycotting.

I did not make this decision lightly, she said. I will attend in support of our democratic process and the peaceful transition of power.

But she plans to do what her husband recommended in his speech in Boston more than a decade ago: use her political standing to push back.

During different times in our history, different groups of people have been marginalized, she said. Because of my history and background, I know I have a duty to speak up in this moment. Future generations are listening.

Hamed Aleaziz is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: haleaziz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @haleaziz
Dozens of flights in and out of San Francisco International Airport were canceled as high winds hit the Bay area Wednesday morning ahead of evening rainstorms.

The airport had seen 89 flight cancellations as of 3 p.m., about equally split between arrivals and departures, said Doug Yakel, an airport spokesman.

While the Federal Aviation Administration estimated some flight delays averaged two hours and 12 minutes at the airport, Yakel said current delays averaged about 60 to 90 minutes.

In reality, that number rarely comes to fruition. What immediately starts happening is airlines begin shuffling their flight schedule, he said. By the end of the day, we may see some flights delayed up to two hours but that certainly wont represent the overall average.

He said airlines usually cancel short haul flights along the West Coast, such as flights to Los Angeles, when there are delays, or when planes are stacked up on the runways, Yakel said.

While rain early Wednesday morning tapered off, wind conditions have caused the airport to change its runway configuration to a less efficient model for safety purposes.

This is one of these winter storms that comes out of a different direction than we normally see, so our runway configuration has been modified as a a result, he said.

Inclement weather and low lying clouds brought reduced visibility, which means the separation distance between planes is increased and air traffic controllers have more responsibility.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service predict a combination of rain with wind gusts of up to 50 mph in the region by the evening. A wind advisory has been issued for the Bay area and Central Coast, with the strongest gusts expected near the coast and the coastal hills in Marin and Sonoma counties.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno
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Long before anyone knew that this weekend would be the protest-laden dawn of the presidential age of Donald Trump, anti-abortion activists identified Saturday as the perfect day for their annual march through downtown San Francisco  an event that draws tens of thousands of people from around Northern California.

They had little reason to expect they would have plenty of company on the citys streets, including tens of thousands of participants in the San Francisco edition of the Womens March  just behind them on Market Street.

Between them, the anti-abortion Walk for Life and the Womens March are expected to muster more than 100,000 people waving signs and chanting slogans from Civic Center to Justin Herman Plaza on the waterfront.

Given the heated emotions of the week leading up to Trumps Friday inauguration and its many demonstrations, having the Womens March and its liberal groups including NARAL Pro-Choice California in direct proximity to the conservative Walk for Life is, well, unfortunate, organizers say. But in a rare hands-across-the-aisle moment, theyve been talking to each other to keep things cool.

Weve been doing our march every year around now for 13 years, and this year was an odd coincidence, said Eva Muntean of San Francisco, a Walk for Life organizer. They put themselves on top of us, and were not happy about it, but what can we do?

Were in touch with them and trying to coordinate, even though we dont agree on views, Muntean said. Were certainly not planning any trouble.

Martha Shaughnessy, an organizer for the citys Womens March, said her event isnt about getting in the face of anti-abortion activists. And its certainly not about open conflict in the streets.

Weve been having a series of peaceful protest trainings for weeks for the Womens Marches planned all over the Bay Area, and weve been at capacity each time, which is a very good sign, Shaughnessy said. What we really want recognized here is that were all facing the same sort of pressure and pain now. Creating pure empathy across all the issues is important.

Remarkably, both sides say their marches are not hinged to Trumps inauguration. That contention is echoed by others among the dozens of groups planning demonstrations Friday and Saturday throughout the Bay Area  though many of those events, such as major marches planned Friday when the new president is being sworn in, are specifically aimed at opposing him and his agenda.

The main point, some say, is to try to unite people and take a high road.

The Walk for Life begins with a rally at 12:30 p.m. in Civic Center Plaza, followed by a march to Justin Herman Plaza. The Womens March begins at 3 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza with a rally, followed by a 5 p.m. march to Justin Herman Plaza. Each is expected to draw at least 50,000 people.

What were doing is not specifically against Trump, said Shaughnessy, the Womens March organizer. Its about taking all the negative feelings from the past year and standing up for all the marginalized groups in America on womens rights, human rights and social justice.

This will be day one of a movement. For now were just showing up. But with all the organization thats gone into this, this means well be ready when things start happening in the future.

Muntean, the Walk for Life organizer, noted that the anti-abortion march has been held for the past 12 years on the Saturday closest to the Jan. 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts Roe vs. Wade ruling in 1973 legalizing abortion nationwide.

We have absolutely nothing to do with Trump, she said. Were all about how abortion hurts women.

The closest thing to a direct counter-demonstration to the Walk for Life is a plan by liberal activist Kate Munger to gather a choir along the route to sing songs of peace and understanding. Weve got to try to stop demonizing each other, she said.

No such olive branches are coming from organizers of many of the Friday events.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

In Oakland, an array of groups is planning to rally outside the Ronald Dellums Federal Building at 7 a.m., followed by a march through downtown at noon. In San Francisco, demonstrators will gather at 8 a.m. at Justin Herman Plaza and march through the Financial District. More rallies and another march are planned at 5 p.m. at U.N. Plaza.

The activist group By Any Means Necessary is distributing leaflets asking students at UC Berkeley and schools throughout the Bay Area to walk out of their classes Friday, and activists in nearly every major city have demonstrations of some kind planned.

Everyone is doing their own thing, but we all have a lot of the same kinds of messages, said Evan Axelrod, who helped assemble a lead-up protest by about two dozen people Tuesday morning in front of Oakland City Hall. I hope people turn out in huge numbers. There were no arrests.

Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition is helping organize Friday nights march in San Francisco. He said he expects this will be just the beginning of what many activists are calling the resistance to Trump.

We need to be able to demonstrate that there is a mass base of opposition for what Trump stands for, said Becker, who has been putting demonstrations together since the Vietnam War. It will take a protracted and determined struggle, but thats what we have to forge.

The only pro-Trump rally of note in the Bay Area is apparently an inaugural ball in Sonoma County on Friday night. It requires tickets.

Chronicle staff writer Sarah Ravani contributed to this report.

Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KevinChron
Maria LaGanga/McClatchy-Tribune News Service

We now have a new first lady of the United States, Melania Trump, whose nude images are all over the Internet, nudist activist George Davis declared in a statement Tuesday. If she isn't ashamed of her nude image, why should any of us be?

Davis plans to deliver his message and more in a speech in the buff on the steps of San Francisco City Hall on Feb. 1.
The boycott of Donald Trumps inauguration by some members of the Bay Area congressional delegation is rooted in many causes  but two big issues for Democrats are the president-elects global finances and their suspicions that he had pre-election dealings with Russia.

He is clearly taking us to a constitutional crisis, said Rep. Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, who, along with fellow Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee of Oakland, Jared Huffman of San Rafael and Zoe Lofgren of San Jose, is skipping Fridays swearing-in.

Its not about conservative or liberal, DeSaulnier said. From my perspective, its how he treats people. Its how he treats issues.

And one key issue for DeSaulnier is Trumps decision to turn over control of his business holdings to Trumps adult sons, something the congressman said leaves the incoming president open to conflicts of interest.

For example, DeSaulnier said, We know that the state-owned bank of China holds the mortgage on the Trump Tower.

For DeSaulnier, the only way to keep a conflict from cropping up is for Trump to hand over his tax returns and other financial records to the nonpartisan Office of Government Ethics for review.

He should engage with them and make sure that foreign companies are not giving him gifts  very big gifts that would be a violation of the Constitution, DeSaulnier said.

Just down the road in Dublin, Rep. Eric Swalwell  who will be attending the inaugural as part of the House Democratic leadership  is calling for an independent investigation into whether Trump has had dealings with Moscow  something Trump denies.

U.S. intelligence reports have indicated that Russian leaders sanctioned the hacking and release of Democratic National Committee emails that were embarrassing to Hillary Clintons campaign.

Add in that Donald Trump speaks so favorably of Russians, his wanting to roll back sanctions and reduce our role in NATO and the fact that he wont show us his taxes or financial holdings, and we have real cause for concern, Swalwell said.

He added, If we have a commander-in-chief who did work with a foreign government that tried to influence our elections, thats a game changer and we would never want that to happen, be it Republican or Democrat.

As for Lofgren, she insists she isnt seeking to make her decision to stay away a cause celebre.

I think the president-elect is beyond normal in terms of an incoming president, Lofgren said. I acknowledge the fact that he is the incoming president, but Im not in the mood to celebrate that fact.

Harmeet Dhillon of San Francisco, a member of the Republican National Committee, said calling for investigations is par for the course in Washington these days  but she draws the line at members of Congress boycotting the inauguration.

Its really disrespectful of the office of the presidency, and I would say the same thing if it was Hillary Clinton being sworn in and Republicans were boycotting, Dhillon said.

On guard: With all the rain and all the protests on tap for this weekend, San Francisco is taking the unusual step of firing up its emergency operations center.

We want to make sure people can freely and safely exercise their First Amendment rights no matter how they feel about the election  and do it safely, said Francis Zamora, spokesman for the Department of Emergency Management, which runs the center.

Department staffers will be in the center from Friday through the weekend, ready to help police and public works officials deal with crowd control and potential weather problems.

Warm Springs in spring? Its going to be at least three more months  and possibly longer  before the long-overdue BART extension to Warm Springs in south Fremont is up and running.

I wish I could say that I had a crystal ball and could guarantee when we will be done, but I dont, said project spokeswoman Molly McArthur.

The 5.4-mile extension south from the Fremont Station has been snakebit of late. A lack of funding pushed the opening date for the $890 million extension back to late 2015. Then there was talk it would be open in time for this past Novembers election, when voters in three counties were deciding on a big BART bond measure. The measure passed. Still no trains.

Construction began eight long years ago and was proceeding nicely until crews stumbled onto a big problem  BARTs aging power lines, needed to give the line juice, were crumbling.

You cant run trains without power, McArthur said.

Once the cables were replaced, new problems popped up. The lines digital tracking and communication system was having trouble talking to BARTs 4-decade-old main computer. Plus, testing showed that some trains locations or speeds were being incorrectly reported.

Obviously, we cant consider running trains with that kind of situation, McArthur said.

The good news is that those problems appears to have been fixed  and the project is still on budget.

The bad news is that BART still has 10 weeks of testing to do before it can get state clearance to open the extension.

But lets be clear  we are not ready to set a date, said BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost.

Given the glitches so far, that makes sense.

And finally: We now have a new first lady of the United States, Melania Trump, whose nude images are all over the Internet, nudist activist George Davis declared in a statement Tuesday. If she isn't ashamed of her nude image, why should any of us be?

Davis plans to deliver his message and more in a speech in the buff on the steps of San Francisco City Hall on Feb. 1.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
Uber drivers vastly outnumber Lyft drivers  but the latter say they are happier and better paid.

Those are among findings of a survey of 1,150 drivers by the Rideshare Guy, an independent blog and podcast for people who drive for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Postmates and similar services. The survey, conducted through email this month, is among the largest independent polls of drivers.

Its clear that Uber is the dominant force, said Harry Campbell, who drives for both services, as well as running the Rideshare Guy. Its also clear that drivers are not super-satisfied with their experiences there.

Three-quarters of surveyed drivers (863) primarily work for Uber, largely because its a much bigger source of passengers, he found. But only 49.4 percent of those Uber-centric drivers said they are satisfied with their Uber driving experience. (Most drivers work for both services, but the survey probed satisfaction and other factors for those who identified either Uber or Lyft as their primary service.)

Uber drivers were even less pleased with UberPool, with only 12.8 percent saying they like the companys shared-ride option. The obfuscating pay structure and additional hassle of picking up and dropping off multiple riders has been a major pain point for drivers, the survey said.

By contrast, Lyft-centric drivers were a far more upbeat group. While only 235 drivers, or 20 percent, said they primarily drive for Lyft, 75.8 percent of them said they are satisfied with driving for Lyft. Those drivers also reported higher earnings, averaging around $17.50 an hour, almost $2 an hour more than the average $15.68 reported by Uber drivers. Average earnings are calculated after taking out the companies commissions but before deducting expenses such as gas, insurance and car maintenance.

Lyfts app includes a way for passengers to tip their driver, which probably accounts for the difference. Uber has resisted adding tipping to its app.

If a rider gives a $1 tip (on Lyft), those tips go 100 percent to the driver, with no credit card processing fee and no commission, Campbell said. Those $1 or $2 tips really add up over time to a big chunk.

But while Lyft has carved out a very nice little niche, the fact remains that Uber is much busier.

Uber is where the rides are, Campbell said. If you can stay busy with Lyft in your city, youll make more money, but thats the challenge. If it has less market share, you may have to drive 10 or 20 minutes (to pick up) a passenger. Uber has much more density, more frequent ride requests, and (passengers) who are closer together.

Drivers said that pay is the most important thing to them, with flexibility running second. Only a sliver said they care about benefits such as health insurance and unemployment  which are not available to them because Uber and Lyft drivers are classified as independent contractors, rather than employees.

The survey primarily focused on U.S. drivers, although a handful of international drivers responded. A small number of drivers surveyed drove for services such as Postmates and DoorDash, often in addition to Uber and Lyft.

The Rideshare Guy sent the survey to almost 30,000 subscribers, giving them one week to respond. Respondents who said they are not a driver yet were eliminated.

Mike White exemplified some of the highs and lows of ride-hail driving. He started working for Lyft in 2013 in his native Los Angeles, found he loved the flexibility and camaraderie with passengers and continued his driving after a move to San Francisco. Also a writer and comedian, he submitted a video he shot to Lyft, earning him a trip to the Sundance Film Festival a few years ago as a Lyft creative  a driver who pursues creative vocations.

But as Lyft cut its fares in San Francisco, his earnings decreased. Company policy said he could no longer qualify for incentives because his 2006 Toyota Corolla was too old. He found that passengers were acting too entitled, and so many other ride-hail drivers were flooding the roads that he didnt feel safe. By the end, I felt like a human doormat, he said. He no longer drives for Lyft.

Looking at demographics, the survey found that about a fifth of drivers on both Uber and Lyft are female, higher than the 12.7 percent national average of women taxi drivers and chauffeurs. Women reported earning $14.26 an hour, about $2 less than the average $16.61 for all men. While the survey didnt explore why, it speculated that the difference could be because women prefer driving during daylight hours.

While passengers tend to be young, drivers do not. Slightly more than half of drivers said they are 51 or older, while 77.5 percent said they are 41 or older. Just over 78 percent of surveyed drivers said they are white, while 7.1 percent are Hispanic and 6.8 percent are black.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
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If a doctors office and a tech startup had a baby, it might look something like Forward, a health care firm founded by former Google and Uber executives who are looking to disrupt the health care market.

Forward, which opened its doors Tuesday in downtown San Francisco, charges patients a flat fee of $149 a month in exchange for medical services one would typically find at a primary care physicians office, such as cancer screenings and blood tests.

The model cuts out health insurers altogether, and patients pay Forward directly. There is no co-pay for visits.

Its the beginning of our own health system, like Kaiser, but a tech company, said co-founder Ilya Abyzov, a former Uber executive who created Forward with ex-Googler Adrian Aoun. We want our customers to be people, not health insurance companies.

Forward has about 40 employees, including four doctors, four nurses and 20 engineers.

Forwards distinguishing feature, its founders say, is that the companys engineers have built an algorithm that collects and analyzes each patients data  like blood pressure, sleep patterns, family history of diseases and genetic sequencing  and uses artificial intelligence to identify potential health problems before they happen. The system alerts doctors to trends and red flags in the patients health, which they can then use to discuss treatment plans.

The company has about 200 members, or patients; a number of them are friends or family of the founders who have been testing the service. Many already have health insurance through their employers and use Forward as a complement to their health benefits.

Forwards clinic, at the corner of Kearny and Sutter streets, has an in-house lab and pharmacy. It also provides reproductive health services for men and women.

The space is designed with high-end details: Patients are given medical gowns made by Lululemon, and the office is equipped with touch-screens that pull up medical records, evoking the look and feel of a sleek spa rather than a traditional doctors office.

About 15 percent of Forward patients receive free membership because they qualify as low-income. Many were referred to Forward from the companys doctors and nurses, who have worked at free clinics, Abyzov said.

The idea of a primary care startup is not entirely new. San Franciscos One Medical started offering medical services in 2007 and has since opened several clinics around the country. It charges a lower membership fee of $149 a year but accepts traditional health insurance and charges co-pays for some services.

Forward has attracted the backing of Silicon Valley heavyweights. Its investors include Eric Schmidt, chairman of Alphabet Inc.; Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff; Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale; venture capitalist John Doerr; and Josh Kushner, founder of startup Oscar Health and Thrive Capital  and brother of President-elect Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The company has also raised funds from Khosla Ventures, Founders Fund and First Round Capital.

Aoun declined to reveal how much the company has raised.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat__Ho
President-elect Donald Trumps lax approach to managing his conflicts of interests may seem shocking, given the awesome responsibility of running the most powerful nation on Earth.

But a cursory look at Trumps career suggests we shouldnt be so too surprised. Unlike many corporate leaders today, Trump has never served on a companys board of directors other than his own. In other words, Trump has only been really responsible for one shareholder: himself.

His lack of (outside) experience has made him less sensitive to what it means to be responsible to others, said Philip Nichols, professor of legal studies and business ethics at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School.

For business leaders, joining a board, especially at a major corporation, offers prestige and a possible big pay day, since companies usually compensate directors with a retainer and restricted stock. But becoming a director also carries legal responsibilities  that you must act in the best interest of shareholders and avoid conflicts of interests.

Great directors always voluntarily recuse themselves from weighing (in) on a corporate decision where they have a conflict of interest, said Adam Epstein, founder of Third Creek Advisors, which advises small cap companies on corporate governance matters. Its a bright line issue. No exceptions.

According to Bloomberg data, Trump has served as a director or chairman only of his casinos and real estate-related businesses, which are private; the only apparent exception was a brief stint in the late 1980s and early 1990s on the board of Alexanders, a department store chain. The lack of perspective suggests that Trump has never had to steep himself in corporate governance principles usually associated with publicly traded companies.

By contrast, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer serves on the boards of Jawbone and Walmart, in addition to nonprofit groups like the San Francisco Ballet and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Serving on a board hones the importance of recognizing conflicts, Epstein said.

Last week, Trump announced a plan to separate himself from his business interests once he becomes president. Under the plan, Trump will place his assets in a trust and cede control of the sprawling real estate empire to his eldest sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, assisted by Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg.

But ethics experts have said such measures are hardly adequate, noting that the mere presence of Trumps children running the company automatically qualifies as a severe conflict of interest.

Theyre going to run it in a very professional manner. Theyre not going to discuss it with me, Trump said.

Thats not really comforting. Trump knows what real estate assets his family holds, so it will be hard to turn a blind eye. And anyone wishing to influence Trump will surely contact the people running his company, even if they arent related to the president.

Just the appearance of a conflict is enough for someone to recuse themselves. The potential for ethical problems is why boards of directors adhere to strict conflict-of-interest rules. Most companies follow the Model Business Corporation Act, a set of legal standards concerning corporate behavior developed by the American Bar Association.

According to the act, a conflict of interest happens when the director knows ... that the director or a related person ... has a beneficial financial interest in or is so closely linked to the transaction ... that the interest would reasonably be expected to exert an influence on the directors judgment.

The definition of a related person includes a spouse, child, grandchild or parent. The provision also notes that the board of directors doesnt even need to vote on the transaction for a conflict of interest to exist.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Congress has passed laws tightening corporate governance in response to major scandals, many concerning conflicts of interest.

For example, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires members of the boards audit committee, which oversees the companys financial statements, be composed entirely of independent board members, meaning they cant have direct connections to management. The law was created in response to major accounting scandals at Enron, WorldCom and Tyco.

The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 requires boards of directors to hire outside compensation consultants to determine CEO pay. The law was passed partially in response to big financial firms, many behind the housing crisis that caused the Great Recession, awarding big pay packages to top executives.

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Since Trump has never run or served on a publicly traded company, he has never had to worry about complying with Sarbanes-Oxley or Dodd-Frank.

Nevertheless, Epstein said, every business person has some familiarity with conflict-of-interest problems, even people who dont serve on boards.

And perhaps Trumps disinterest in these concepts has less to do with his business experience and more with his personality, Nichols said.

By most accounts, including his own, he is not a very reflective person, Nichols said. It seems quite possible that he just does not care.

But you really cant separate Trump the businessman from Trump the man, since his very identity rests with his profession and wealth.

Indeed, Trump argues there is nothing specific in federal law that requires the president to completely divest himself of business interests.

Thats technically true. But it also stands to reason that the very corporate governance laws and guidelines that have guided countless companies over the years should apply, at least in spirit, to the White House.

Especially when Trump is about to oversee the mother of all corporations: the United States government.

Thomas Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: tlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByTomLee
A car-theft victim who sought help from San Francisco police, only to end up in federal immigration custody for two months, filed a federal lawsuit against the city accusing the Police Department and the Sheriffs Department of violating the sanctuary city ordinance.

Pedro Figueroa Zarceno, a 32-year-old Mission District resident, said officials breached the ordinance and his right to due process by alerting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, when he went to retrieve a police report about his stolen car at Southern Police Station on Dec. 2, 2015.

San Franciscos sanctuary city law prohibits workers from using city resources to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law and was intended to allow anyone to seek help from law enforcement, regardless of immigration status.

As a victim of crime, Pedro Figueroa was exactly the type of person who should have been protected by our sanctuary ordinance, said Saira Hussain, a staff attorney with the Asian Law Caucus, which is representing Figueroa. Instead, he sought help from SFPD to find his stolen car and was arrested and turned over to ICE.

With an incoming federal administration threatening mass deportations and targeting sanctuary cities, Hussain said, we must hold SFPD and the Sheriffs Department accountable and ensure that every single officer is following the citys due process protections.

In February, when Figueroa appeared at a news conference after being released on bail, then-Police Chief Greg Suhr acknowledged that Figueroa should not have ended up in immigration custody.

Police officials said they had opened an internal affairs investigation to determine whether any officers should be disciplined.

John Cote, a spokesman for the city attorneys office, said that while the office had not received the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, San Francisco has strong policies in place to encourage victims and witnesses to report crimes without fear of being deported, which include our sanctuary ordinance.

Cote said, We will review the lawsuit, but rest assured the city remains fully committed to its sanctuary ordinance policy.

Figueroa, who is from El Salvador, reported his car stolen in November 2015. When police alerted him that the car had been found, he went to get a police report so he could reclaim the vehicle from the impound lot.

Instead of getting his car back, Figueroa was led away in handcuffs and held in a detention facility in Martinez for two months. During that time, authorities auctioned off his car without alerting him or his family, according to the lawsuit, which alleges legal claims including false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the immigration agency, San Francisco police ran a routine background check on Figueroa when he went to get the police report and discovered he had an outstanding warrant for his deportation from more than 10 years earlier.

Police officers contacted the Sheriff Departments central warrant bureau, whose job it is to confirm warrants, and department employees contacted the ICE service center, federal authorities said. The deputies relayed the information to police, who had authority to decide whether to honor the warrant. A Homeland Security report said an ICE duty officer was informed of Figueroas whereabouts by both the service center and San Francisco police.

Figueroa was the subject of a deportation order arising from his failure to appear at an immigration hearing in San Antonio in December 2005, and from a 2012 conviction for drunken driving, officials said.

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He had never intended to defy immigration authorities, his attorneys said. He had planned to file for asylum, citing violence in El Salvador, and had told agents he had come into contact with shortly after his entry into the country that he planned to go to San Francisco, where his aunt lived, but intended to go through the hearing process.

He never heard from authorities again, despite providing them with his aunts address, and had no idea that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, his attorneys said.

Despite officials promises to uphold the sanctuary ordinance, Figueroas attorneys said his plight is not the first time that San Francisco Police Department personnel have unlawfully and wrongfully arrested or detained the victim of a crime based solely on a civil immigration matter.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages as well as to force San Francisco police to file immigration paperwork stating that Mr. Figueroa was the victim of false imprisonment. This paperwork could establish that Figueroa was the victim of a crime, making him eligible for a visa.

Figueroa has an immigration hearing scheduled in May to set a date for further proceedings, his attorneys said. However, because immigration courts are so backed up, they dont expect actual hearings to take place for another two years.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo
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A 36-year-old man was clobbered on the head with a skateboard in San Franciscos Mission District Tuesday night after attempting to stop two men from vandalizing a building, officials said.

The two suspects, both in their early 20s, were defacing a building on 20th and Mission streets at about 9:40 p.m. when the victim noticed them from across the street, police said.
Youve known this was coming for a while, so dont act surprised. Forget the deputy sheriff. Forget the at-risk adopted sons. Forget the gay dancer husband. If Jon Carroll could let those damn cats have their own column, then why shouldnt rescue dogs get in a bark or two?

My name is Krypto Thaddeus Fisher-Paulson, and Im the beta. Weve had some fierce alphas, but beta is the better job because the alphas always have to go out and sniff the other dogs butt. Besides, I make it into all of his passwords.

I got the name from Kevin, a lifelong Superman fan. In the family pictures, Im the one with the all-white coat. Kevins theory is that if black cats are bad omens, then surely white dogs must be lucky.

The other two hounds are Buddyboy and Bandit. Buddyboy may be my son, but he is also the bizarro Pekingese. Pekes as a breed are not very bright, but Buddyboy drags us all down the bell curve. If you feed him, he barks. If a cat walks by, he wags his tail. We tried to sign him up for remedial dog training, but it was like teaching a pig how to sing.

Bandit doesnt know that his front legs are crooked and that he walks funny, so he declared himself alpha. Hes not very bright either, as he spends most of his time running in circles, trying to figure out who put a tail on his back end.

We are all lion dogs. Pekingeses were originally the sacred consorts of the Chinese royal court. The emperor himself ordered them all destroyed when the British sailed up the Yangtze during the Boxer Rebellion, but his aunt had hidden five of them in her boudoir, and we are all descended from that noble lineage.

Kevin Fisher-Paulson

Kevin allowed me to write this weeks column because of the inauguration. Donald Trump is being sworn in as leader of the free world, and he has appointed billionaires to the Cabinet. But Trump has yet to answer the question: Who will be the first dog? I dont care much whether Melania ever moves in, but a White House without a dog is like a Kremlin.

This may be whats wrong with America in the Trump years. A society is measured by its compassion, whether that be for the homeless, the immigrants or the rescue dogs.

If you include horses, then every president except James Polk and Andrew Johnson has had a pet. It has been almost 150 years since the White House did not have an animal living inside. Im not saying that Johnson wouldnt have been impeached if he had a schnauzer, but he would have had a happier home life.

Many times the pet is more interesting than the president. Martin Van Buren lived with a pair of tiger cubs. Teddy bears got their names from their association with Theodore Roosevelt. And Calvin Coolidge had a pygmy hippopotamus. No kidding.

There have been first families slow to understand the importance of canines. The Clintons started out with a cat named Socks, but after two elections, Bill finally realized that the American people wanted a chocolate Labrador in the White House. (I bet Hillary wishes she had walked a dog a little more during the last campaign.)

Our pack members, Brian and Kevin, voted for Barack Obama, but they might have rethought that had they known at the time that Obama insisted that his presidency not have a girly dog and so he chose a Portuguese water dog named Bo. His prejudice against kinder, gentler creatures remains the one blemish on his tenure.

Even Richard Milhous Nixon had dogs. We tend to forget after this most vicious of all presidential campaigns that in 1952, when Nixon was running for vice president, thered been complaints about political donations. Nixon made the best speech of his career, stating that he had only ever kept one donation for himself, and that was from a traveling salesman named Lou Carrol, who sent the Nixon daughters a cocker spaniel named Checkers. By the way, the Nixons actually had three other dogs: a poodle named Vicky, a Yorkshire terrier named Pasha and an Irish setter named King Timahoe. Word on the street is that Vicky and Pasha blamed King Timahoe for the 18-minute tape gap.

Its been suggested that Vladimir Putin will appoint a Siberian husky or a borzoi to the White House. Ive nothing against the Russians (they did, after all, make Laika the first dog in space on Nov. 7, 1957), but I think that Trumps holding out for a French poodle whos done the centerfold for Dog Fancy.

Sooner or later, Trump is bound to learn that Harry S. Truman was right when he said, If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.

Kevin Fisher-Paulsons column appears Wednesdays in Datebook. Email: datebook@sfchronicle.com
Riding home from downtown after work one recent day, Mary Severance had a minor bike accident, she told her colleague Linda Strean. A stranger whod seen the accident called 911. Paramedics arrived and took her to an emergency room.

I noticed that when the paramedics were asking those questions they ask to make sure the patient doesnt have a concussion or other head injury, they didnt ask me who the president is. I made a feeble joke about it, and one paramedic said that they had put that question on hold for the time being, to avoid upsetting people.

P.S.: The president-elect tweeted a few days ago that people are pouring in to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration, but travel agent Janice Hough says that according to her agency computer as of Tuesday, Jan. 17, there was still space available at the Washington Hilton for $329 a night. Rates for inaugurations are often $1,000 a night, she says.

Man-around-town and -libraries Adda Dada took a pic of the sign on the door of the San Francisco Public Librarys Richmond branch: Refugees are welcome here. I thought it was perhaps a reference to books being a refuge from everything else worrying anyone, but the picture on the sign  a drawing of a man holding a baby  shows its political and timely.

At the Walnut Creek post office, the woman ahead of Suzanne Krivoy told the clerk her mother had died.

How do I stop the mail from coming? she asked.

Im very sorry for your loss, said the clerk. You need to show us two documents proving that your mother passed; then you can forward her mail.

To which the customer replied, Forward it? You mean to heaven or to hell?

Joan Prime reports that the sign out in front of Mill Valleys Mount Tamalpais United Methodist Church last week, in the rain, read: Its a good thing our guy can walk on water.

The death of Kevin Starr reminded Mark Buell of the early 1970s, when Buell was San Francisco director of economic development and Starr was hired by the city of San Francisco. In 1973, he recalls, then-Mayor Joe Alioto had spoken to students in a Harvard class taught by Starr. He was so impressed with the educator that he hired him as a staff member. In a short time, Alioto named Starr, then 34 years old, city librarian.

Starr had a Ph.D., but it wasnt until he was appointed to the post that he got a masters in library science. Librarianship was new to him, recalls Buell, and very early in his tenure he had to present his budget to the finance committee of the Board of Supervisors for approval. He spent days going over every detail of the budget, but when asked to testify, the supervisors seemed interested in only the price of new toilets included.

After the hearing, Starr said, I brought my entire library out from Harvard; it would appear that the only books I needed to prepare me for today were Alice in Wonderland, the Marquis de Sade and Machiavelli.

Documentarian and UC Berkeley School of Journalism Professor Jon Elses new book, True South, is about filmmaker Henry Hamptons making of the television series Eyes on the Prize, 30 years ago. Else was cinematographer and series producer.

Near the end of the project and after many pleas, the filmmakers were able to interview George Wallace, who, as governor of Alabama, had become famous for blocking school integration and for his proclamation, Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!

But in the interview, invalid Wallace takes a different tone (and just see if the cadences sound familiar): I never made any statement that offended black people, unless I said in those days I was for segregation. ... I was born and raised among black people, and theyre my friends. ... If I had said anything that the Eastern press said I did, and did, no self-respecting black would ever have voted me, for a hundred years. Yet I won 95 percent of the black vote in the last election in Alabama. I love black people, I love white people, I love yellow people.

Else will be speaking at City Lights in San Francisco on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Keplers in Menlo Park on Thursday, Jan. 26, and at Book Passage in Corte Madera on Jan. 27.

Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik

Public Eavesdropping

I would go to the Womens March, but I have to get my hair done.

Woman at breakfast in Moraga, overheard by Fritz Stoop
The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States has proved as divisive as the presidential campaign. As of Tuesday evening, about five dozen House Democrats have said they will not attend but, so far, all senators say they will attend.

Here are statements from the Northern California congressional delegation not attending:

The peaceful transition of power from one administration to the next is a uniquely American tradition that defines our democracy. Inaugurations are a time for our presidents to ignite hope, demonstrate humility and espouse faithfulness to the principles enumerated in the Constitution. The president-elect has yet to demonstrate these traits, and it is with a heavy heart and deep personal conviction that I have decided not to attend the inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017.

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord

I have decided that instead of attending the inaugural ceremonies in Washington this month, Ill spend time in California with my constituents making a positive difference in our community. From helping to build homes for local families to pitching in on cleaning up flood debris to welcoming new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony  it will be an action-packed couple of days.  Jan. 10 Facebook post

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael

Inauguration should be a celebration. But we have nothing to celebrate on Jan 20. Instead of attending, I will be organizing.  Jan. 12 tweet

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland

I acknowledge the fact that he is the incoming president, but Im not in the mood to celebrate that fact. (Told to the Los Angeles Times)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose

The election of Mr. Trump lacks legitimacy due to Russian hacking, which Mr. Trump encouraged, the FBIs biased involvement, and other irregularities, and I cannot sanction the inauguration by attending the ceremony. However, because I support the peaceful transition of power and respect the office of the presidency, I will work with the new administration when possible to deliver for my district and move our country forward.

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Stockton

Who is attending

Statements from Northern California congressional Democrats:

Im attending the inauguration not to celebrate who is taking the oath, but to live up to mine. And by doing so, I hope to set a good example for all Im privileged to represent.

Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Palo Alto

Im going to go, and Ill tell you why  so when Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren gets sworn in, in 2020, I want some Republicans on the stage. I dont want a divided nation, where we start a tradition of boycotting the inauguration of the other party.
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A handful of Bay Area restaurants and bars are coordinating their own protests against President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration on Friday.

Just a few blocks from Civic Center, where protests are expected, three businesses on the 600 block of Polk Street have announced plans to donate proceeds to specified organizations as part of an effort to promote equality, social justice and basic human decency.

Here is a working list of restaurants, bars and grocery stores protesting the inauguration.

Brendas French Soul Food and Libby Jane Cafe: On Friday, Jan. 20, and Saturday, Jan. 21, Tenderloin sister restaurants Brendas French Soul Food and Libby Jane Cafe will each donate 10 percent of their sales to Planned Parenthood and the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Education Network.

Our goal this weekend is to provide comfort and solace to those who may find themselves on the streets of the Civic Center exercising their freedom of speech, while knowing that they will also be supporting two important cause groups, owner Brenda Buenviaje said in an email.

Brendas French Soul Food: 652 Polk St., www.frenchsoulfood.com

Libby Jane Cafe: 644 Polk St., San Francisco, www.libbyjane.com

Whitechapel: The whimsical, gin-centric bar and restaurant will donate to Planned Parenthood 100 percent of the proceeds it earns between 2 and 5 p.m. from its special menu on Saturday, Jan. 21. The event will serve as the precursor to the Womens March Bay Area, part of the national Womens March movement. The Bay Area march begins at Civic Center and culminates at Justin Herman Plaza.

Whitechapel: 600 Polk St., San Francisco, www.whitechapelsf.com

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Tacos Cala: The daytime taco shop behind Hayes Valleys celebrated Cala is donating 100 percent of its proceeds all week to five organizations that, according to the restaurant, help preserve our rights: ACLU, Centro Legal de la Raza, Horizons Foundation, Planned Parenthood and Human Rights Watch.

Tacos Cala: 149 Fell St., San Francisco, www.calarestaurant.com

Other Avenues food co-op: As previously reported by The Chronicles Jonathan Kauffman, the Outer Sunset grocery cooperative is closing in the spirit of passive resistance on Inauguration Day. The only other days during the year when the co-op is closed are Martin Luther King Jr. Day and May 1. The collective members plan to have a personal message on the store windows on Friday, Jan. 20, that reads in part: Other Avenues does not endorse candidates for political office, but when someone is so diametrically opposed to what we stand for, we feel we have no other option but to stand up for those ideals.

Other Avenues: 3930 Judah St., San Francisco, www.otheravenues.coop

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
When a man who moved to the Bay Area discovered some unexpected cargo in his moving truck, WildCare and the Oakland Zoo stepped in to help.

The man was making a cross-country move from Fort Meyers, Fla. to Marin County in September 2016, according to WildCare, a wildlife hospital located in San Rafael. When he arrived, he found five baby raccoons hiding among his possessions.

The experts at WildCare believe a pregnant raccoon got into the moving truck back in Florida and gave birth inside. A window on the truck had been broken during a burglary.

WildCare estimates the five raccoons were about 10 days old, but near death, not having had access to food or water for four days during the cross-country road trip. One raccoon didn't survive.

The man who found the baby animals reached out to WildCare, whose team took on the task of nursing the raccoons back to health. Once they were a little older and stronger, the Oakland Zoo opened its doors to the babies.

Oakland Zoo's veterinary staff says the raccoon siblings are "incredibly smart" and have doubled in weight since they arrived at the facility.

"We are so pleased to care for these wonderful, rambunctious raccoons during their 90-day quarantine here at Oakland Zoo's Veterinary Hospital," Dr. Karen Emanuelson said in a press release. "Thankfully they are doing very well, and we are hoping that their future is a happy and healthy one."

Check out their amazing progress in the video above!

WildCare says it is typically their goal to release all animals back into the wild. "Our staff spent months raising these five raccoons with that objective. Unfortunately after investigating every avenue possible it was determined that neither release here in California nor transporting them back to Florida would be legally possible," Melanie Piazza, Director of Animal Care wrote in a press release.

WildCare is currently trying to find the animals a permanent home.

For now, the raccoons are enjoying their time at the Oakland Zoo! They're scheduled to stay there in quarantine until the end of February.
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Long before anyone knew that this weekend would be the protest-laden dawn of the presidential age of Donald Trump, anti-abortion activists identified Saturday as the perfect day for their annual march through downtown San Francisco  an event that draws tens of thousands of people from around Northern California.

They had little reason to expect they would have plenty of company on the citys streets, including tens of thousands of participants in the San Francisco edition of the Womens March  just behind them on Market Street.

Between them, the anti-abortion Walk for Life and the Womens March are expected to muster more than 100,000 people waving signs and chanting slogans from Civic Center to Justin Herman Plaza on the waterfront.

Given the heated emotions of the week leading up to Trumps Friday inauguration and its many demonstrations, having the Womens March and its liberal groups including NARAL Pro-Choice California in direct proximity to the conservative Walk for Life is, well, unfortunate, organizers say. But in a rare hands-across-the-aisle moment, theyve been talking to each other to keep things cool.

Weve been doing our march every year around now for 13 years, and this year was an odd coincidence, said Eva Muntean of San Francisco, a Walk for Life organizer. They put themselves on top of us, and were not happy about it, but what can we do?

Were in touch with them and trying to coordinate, even though we dont agree on views, Muntean said. Were certainly not planning any trouble.

Martha Shaughnessy, an organizer for the citys Womens March, said her event isnt about getting in the face of anti-abortion activists. And its certainly not about open conflict in the streets.

Weve been having a series of peaceful protest trainings for weeks for the Womens Marches planned all over the Bay Area, and weve been at capacity each time, which is a very good sign, Shaughnessy said. What we really want recognized here is that were all facing the same sort of pressure and pain now. Creating pure empathy across all the issues is important.

Remarkably, both sides say their marches are not hinged to Trumps inauguration. That contention is echoed by others among the dozens of groups planning demonstrations Friday and Saturday throughout the Bay Area  though many of those events, such as major marches planned Friday when the new president is being sworn in, are specifically aimed at opposing him and his agenda.

The main point, some say, is to try to unite people and take a high road.

The Walk for Life begins with a rally at 12:30 p.m. in Civic Center Plaza, followed by a march to Justin Herman Plaza. The Womens March begins at 3 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza with a rally, followed by a 5 p.m. march to Justin Herman Plaza. Each is expected to draw at least 50,000 people.

What were doing is not specifically against Trump, said Shaughnessy, the Womens March organizer. Its about taking all the negative feelings from the past year and standing up for all the marginalized groups in America on womens rights, human rights and social justice.

This will be day one of a movement. For now were just showing up. But with all the organization thats gone into this, this means well be ready when things start happening in the future.

Muntean, the Walk for Life organizer, noted that the anti-abortion march has been held for the past 12 years on the Saturday closest to the Jan. 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts Roe vs. Wade ruling in 1973 legalizing abortion nationwide.

We have absolutely nothing to do with Trump, she said. Were all about how abortion hurts women.

The closest thing to a direct counter-demonstration to the Walk for Life is a plan by liberal activist Kate Munger to gather a choir along the route to sing songs of peace and understanding. Weve got to try to stop demonizing each other, she said.

No such olive branches are coming from organizers of many of the Friday events.

In Oakland, an array of groups is planning to rally outside the Ronald Dellums Federal Building at 7 a.m., followed by a march through downtown at noon. In San Francisco, demonstrators will gather at 8 a.m. at Justin Herman Plaza and march through the Financial District. More rallies and another march are planned at 5 p.m. at U.N. Plaza.

The activist group By Any Means Necessary is distributing leaflets asking students at UC Berkeley and schools throughout the Bay Area to walk out of their classes Friday, and activists in nearly every major city have demonstrations of some kind planned.

Everyone is doing their own thing, but we all have a lot of the same kinds of messages, said Evan Axelrod, who helped assemble a lead-up protest by about two dozen people Tuesday morning in front of Oakland City Hall. I hope people turn out in huge numbers. There were no arrests.

Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition is helping organize Friday nights march in San Francisco. He said he expects this will be just the beginning of what many activists are calling the resistance to Trump.

We need to be able to demonstrate that there is a mass base of opposition for what Trump stands for, said Becker, who has been putting demonstrations together since the Vietnam War. It will take a protracted and determined struggle, but thats what we have to forge.

The only pro-Trump rally of note in the Bay Area is apparently an inaugural ball in Sonoma County on Friday night. It requires tickets.

Chronicle staff writer Sarah Ravani contributed to this report.

Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KevinChron
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Beverly Edmonds desperately needed pink yarn. Not for Valentines Day, nor for Breast Cancer Awareness month. She needed the suddenly hard-to-find hue for a certain special hat.

Edmonds joined hundreds of other knitters in the Bay Area chasing down spools of pink yarn, which flew off shelves at an unprecedented rate, as knitters across the nation made pink hats with cat ears for participants of the global Womens March in Washington, D.C., on Saturday and simultaneous protests locally.

My hats are going all over the place, the 68-year-old Benicia resident said. Some are going to D.C., some are going to Sacramento, some are in Walnut Creek. One lady said shes going to look for a little sticker that says Benicia and put it on her hat.

Launched Thanksgiving weekend, the Pussyhat Project issued a call to arms for knitters to create a symbolic statement to counter a crude reference President-elect Donald Trump was caught making on a hot mike about grabbing the genitals of women. The project also sought to embolden people unable to attend the march, like Edmonds, by making hats to be sent to the nations capital.

I just hope that this really has an effect, said Edmonds. I dont really think its going to have any effect on Donald Trump rather than make him angry. It may change some of the people in Congress if they believe that their constituents are really serious.

With the clock ticking down toward the march, expected to draw more than 200,000 participants in Washington and millions more at sister marches organized globally, Edmonds hit an unexpected knot in her rush to complete the remaining hats shes promised to marchers.

Her one problem? No more pink yarn.

Edmonds rushed to a nearby Michaels, the arts and crafts retail chain, hunting for the coveted yarn. No luck.

In sheer frustration, she took to Amazon. The soonest the e-commerce giant could deliver was in four to six weeks, she said, and that was too late.

So, she posted a call out on Facebook to recruit help. Her friend Adrean Hayashi saw the post and offered to help.

Hayashi drove out to the Michaels in Vallejo from her home in Benicia and after searching the store for 30 minutes with Edmonds on FaceTime, she was able to snag close to 10 skeins of pink yarn.

I took everything there was, Hayashi said. There wasnt a whole lot. There are bins under the actual racks so I pulled out every single black bin to see if there were any (pink yarn spools) in there, and there were none.

The dwindling stock of salmon-colored yarn wasnt exclusive to Michaels. Owners of yarn stores across the Bay Area said theyve never sold so much pink yarn.

Celia McCarthy, a co-owner of Piedmont Yarn and Apparel in Oakland, is one of many yarn stores participating in the Pussyhat Project by holding workshops for knitters to make the iconic beanies together and is also a drop-off zone for completed hats.

Pink is not an easy color to sell, McCarthy said. Weve sold more pink yarn in the last six weeks than any time Ive ever seen pink yarn being sold.

McCarthy has reordered a supply several times since the project started. She had 20 skeins delivered to her shop Monday and within hours, she had sold 13 of them, she said.

Everybodys upset about the way things have gone politically, and everybodys anxious to have a symbol of their angst, McCarthy said.

So far, hat makers have donated more than 350 hats at her shop, McCarthy said, and shes planning to ship them all to Washington. Any remaining hats that are donated will be handed out to marchers in Oakland, she said.

Justine Malone, the owner of the yarn department at Cast Away and Folk, a yarn store in Santa Rosa, was expecting 30 more skeins of pink yarn to be delivered to her shop Wednesday.

The Pussyhat Project posted instructions on its website of a pattern to guide those making the hats. The pattern calls for a medium weight pink yarn, which Malone said her shop sold out of nearly a week ago.

We are having to convince people to alter the pattern a little bit so they can use a thinner or thicker yarn rather than whats called for, Malone said.

When Malone set out to reorder more pink yarn, she said her closest distributor on the West Coast had run out, and she was forced to order from a distributor in New York.

Some people are just going for purple, Malone said, adding that people are improvising and branching out to colors as close to pink as possible to ensure they get their hats in time.

And using different shades of pink is perfectly OK, reasoned Jeanine Bould, the owner of FashionKnit in Walnut Creek.

There are many different shades of us, said Bould, adding that she hasnt run into a shortage of pink yarn at her store because she dyes her own. Its really neat to see that women are purchasing all different shades of pink  its really beautiful.

Edmonds is frantically knitting up to two hats a day to complete her list of eight remaining orders.

Oh boy, am I knitting hats, Edmonds said. I just want to do my part to be a part of the movement.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Google isnt buying Twitter, but is buying one of Twitters remaining parts.

Alphabets online search division agreed to purchase Fabric, a Twitter business that provides a software toolkit for mobile apps. The companies didnt disclose financial terms.

For Twitter, the deal allows it to unload another asset as it faces pressure to deliver growth. For Google, which is absorbing Twitter employees working on Fabric, the acquisition is designed to help it recruit mobile developers, a key constituent, to its cloud computing service.

When we look at Fabric, we see it as a great opportunity to bring together two amazing developer platforms, to really have the best of breeds, said Jason Titus, vice president of Googles Developer Product Group.

As part of the deal, Google also gets Crashlytics, Twitters popular tool for tracking software failures. Titus wouldnt say how many employees are moving over as part of that service.

In May, Google said it would extend Firebase  a cloud mobile software tool it acquired in 2014  into a broader developer platform, competing with similar offerings from Facebook and Fabric. Firebase gives mobile app creators tools to build and monitor their apps more easily. Its a critical service for Googles effort to lure developers away from from Apple, a more lucrative ground, and push them to create apps for the mobile Web, where Google makes a bulk of its advertising dollars.

Most of Googles developer services are free, although they have a paid tier. In its sales pitch, Google is particularly interested in converting mobile app developers into paid users of its cloud service.

Fabrics departure from Twitter is another sign of the San Francisco company slimming down. Twitter executives have been seeking ways to sharpen its focus as user and revenue growth slows. During a failed process last year to find a buyer for the whole company, management also discussed spinning off some assets, people familiar with the matter said at the time. Google was involved in the discussions. Twitter recently shut down Vine, its short-form video product.

When Twitter introduced its Fabric tool in 2014, the social media service highlighted its potential in China. Googles Titus said Firebase recently signed Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group as a customer, along with Jet.com, an American e-commerce startup recently acquired by Walmart.

Alibaba uses Firebase for apps outside mainland China. Firebase, like most Google services, is not available there. Titus said Google may expand its developer tools to China, but stressed that it has no immediate plans to offer Fabric in the country.

Mark Bergen is a Bloomberg writer. Email: mbergen10@bloomberg.net
The U.S. Labor Department accused Oracle on Wednesday of wage discrimination in favor of white men and of hiring discrimination in favor of Asian Americans, in a lawsuit that could cut off federal contract dollars to the Redwood City technology giant.

A review of employment practices since at least January 2014 at Oracle headquarters, which employs more than 7,000 of the companys 45,000 full-time U.S. workers, found that white men were paid more than women, African Americans and Asians with similar duties and qualifications, the department said.

During the same period, the department said, Oracle has favored Asian applicants, particularly those from India, over whites, African Americans and Latinos in recruiting and hiring for product development and technical positions. The company offered referral bonuses that encouraged its heavily Asian workforce to recruit other Asians, the lawsuit said.

Oracle has also refused to turn over some company records on pay, hiring and employee complaints of discrimination, said the lawsuit, filed with the Labor Departments Office of Administrative Law Judges on President Obamas next-to-last full day in office. Attorney Janet Herold said the department based its findings of discrimination on other Oracle data and interviews with employees and job applicants.

The suit seeks damages for the affected workers and job applicants, and cancellation of Oracles federal contracts until the company complies with laws against discrimination.

Federal contractors are required to comply with all applicable antidiscrimination laws, Thomas Dowd, acting director of the departments Office of Federal Contract Compliance, said in a statement.

The suit is politically motivated, based on false allegations, and wholly without merit, Oracle said. Oracle values diversity and inclusion, and is a responsible equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Our hiring and pay decisions are nondiscriminatory and made based on legitimate business factors including experience and merit.

Asked about its claim of political motivation, Oracle declined further comment. Co-CEO Safra Catz joined Donald Trumps transition team last month, while remaining with the company, and has endorsed the president-elects plans to reduce taxes and business regulations.

Separately, Oracle agreed in April to donate $200 million in funds and technology to Obamas program to subsidize computer science instruction in public schools.

The Labor Department filed suit against Palantir Technologies of Palo Alto in September, accusing the company of hiring discrimination against Asians. The company has denied discriminating. Palantir was co-founded by Peter Thiel, an adviser to Trump.

The Labor Department said it notified Oracle of its findings of discrimination in March and tried to negotiate a solution before filing the suit.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
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Unwilling to wait for history to become, well, history, a Marin County legislator wants to make sure state schools teach students about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, requiring the topic in history classes.

Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, said he is introducing a bill to require the State Board of Education to develop curriculum to ensure all California students will learn how the Russian government conspired to influence the United States Presidential Election to elect Donald Trump, according to his office.

The work of 17 intelligence agencies including the FBI and CIA confirmed Russian interference in our election, he said. This is a threat to our democracy and must be treated with appropriate significance in American history.

While federal authorities have said Russia was behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and the leaking of Hillary Clintons campaign emails, a full inquiry into the matter is pending. Congressional leaders have called for further investigation into Russian involvement, as well as the handling of information by FBI Director James Comey in the lead-up to the election.

Both President Obama and President-elect Trump have said they believe Russia was involved in the hacking, though Trump has questioned the assertion that Russia acted to benefit him.

Levine said if California requires state curriculum to include the information, other states would likely follow suit.

California is the largest textbook market in the nation, he said. Textbooks approved in our state are used throughout the country.

Typically, determining classroom curriculum is a long public process, with the Board of Education adopting guidelines. In rare cases, the state legislature has required topics to be included in curriculum. A bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in September, for example, requires that financial literacy be taught in six grade levels.

In 2011, the state required schools to include the history of the LGBT community and gay rights.

Levine apparently to want to get a jump on the past, ensuring a current event is eventually a history lesson.

Through this legislation, he said, we can make sure students in California and across the United States receive accurate information about the 2016 Presidential election.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
It's 2017, and as Jimmy Kimmel found out, people still don't know that Obamacare is only just a nickname for the Affordable Care Act.

Kimmel and his producers, recreating an "On the Street" segment they first created in 2013, went to Hollywood Blvd. to ask passers-by whether the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare was better. They are, of course, the same exact thing, but that didn't stop people from having a strong opinion one way or the other.
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This article originally appeared on Hoodline.

Were hesitant to say it'll be soon, but a major redesign is coming to Harvey Milk Plaza.

In order to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the city is required to redesign the plaza around the Castro Muni Station to make it more accessible.

Although the project, known as the Harvey Milk Plaza Accessibility Improvements Project, is scheduled to begin construction in 2020, the city has agreed to take the plazas historical significance into consideration during the projects planning. Doing the construction and redesign projects at the same time is expected to greatly reduce overall expenses.

The first community meeting for neighbors to voice their thoughts and suggestions for Harvey Milk Plaza will be held tonight. It will be hosted by a group called Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza. A second meeting will be held next Wednesday.

According to Andrea Aiello, executive director of the Castro Community Benefit District, she first learned about MTAs Accessibility Improvements Project last July.

We scheduled a meeting with them in August and they told us they needed all of the drawings by December of 2016, she said. There was no way we were going to be able to do that.

With the support of former District 8 Supervisor Scott Wieners office, SFMTA was convinced to push the projects timeline back a year.

This redesign is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Aiello said, and we needed more time to talk to the community.

The intersection of Castro and Market has always held significance to the larger LGBT community, and it has been a place to gather during times of mourning, protest, andcelebration for decades.

However, for many in the Castro, Harvey Milk Plaza is a source of annoyance rather than a place of remembrance. Accessibility shortcomings aside, the plaza has been a source of contention with neighbors for years.

We want to make this a space that honors Harvey Milk and the LGBT civil rights movementwe believe these meetings will get us closer to achieving that, Aiello said.

The focus of each meeting will be to gather community members ideas of what Harvey Milk Plaza should look like.

According to Aiello, the meetings organizers will then take input from these community meetings and information from the City to put together a concept brief, similar to a request for proposal, to attract architectural and design firms.

The process will be similar to how other notable memorials have been developed in the past, including the Vietnam War and the Martin Luther King Jr. memorials.

Although the competition will be open to international applicants, Aiello stressed that the initial ideas for a redesigned Harvey Milk Plaza will come from the people of San Francisco.

In the coming months, a jurywhich will include neighbors, members of the San Francisco Arts Commission, and architectswill ultimately deliberate and decide the top three design applications for the plaza.

The community will once again have the chance to comment on the final three renderings, although the San Francisco Arts Commission has the authority to make the final decision on the spaces eventual redesign.

The eventual winning design for Harvey Milk Plaza will be sent to SFMTA by September so that the agency can move forward with the construction project, SFMTAs Kelley McCoy told us. She added that construction project plans are very early in the process.

For The Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza, however, time is ticking and a lot needs to be done before September.

Please come to tonights meeting, Aiello said. Share your vision of Harvey Milk Plaza with us, because this is our opportunity to transform this space.

Tonights community meeting, as well as the meeting next Wednesday, will be hosted from 6:30-8pm at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center.
WASHINGTON  President Obama commuted the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning on Tuesday, allowing the Army intelligence officer who leaked scores of classified documents to go free nearly three decades early.

Manning, who will leave prison in May, was one of 209 inmates whose sentences Obama was shortening, a list that includes Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez-Rivera. Obama also pardoned 64 people, including retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during a probe into disclosure of classified information.

These 273 individuals learned that our nation is a forgiving nation, said White House counsel Neil Eggleston, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward.

The actions are permanent, and cant be undone by President-elect Donald Trump. White House officials said Obama would grant clemency to more individuals on Thursday  his final day in office  but that batch was not expected to include prominent individuals like Manning.

A former Army intelligence analyst, Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking more than 700,000 classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court in 2013 of six violations of the Espionage Act and 14 other offenses and has spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama in November to commute her sentence to time served.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights groups took up her cause and lobbied the president to grant her clemency. She was held at a mens prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and filed a transgender prisoner rights lawsuit, although the military did approve gender-reassignment hormone therapy.

She attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers, citing her treatment in prison. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

White House officials said the president was inclined to grant clemency to Manning because she had expressed remorse for her crimes and had served several years of her sentence. The officials briefed reporters on a conference call on condition of anonymity.

We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obamas action could quite literally save Chelseas life.

But Obamas move was panned by Mannings critics, including several prominent Republicans. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin called the move just outrageous.

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets, Ryan said. President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes.

The U.S. Army and the Pentagon both declined to comment on Obamas decision.

Mannings commutation came as Obama, days before leaving office, wielded his clemency powers with newfound vigor. Though most of the beneficiaries were low-level drug offenders or little-known financial criminals, a few prominent names made the list, too.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who received a pardon, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Irans nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the U.S. government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

Lopezs term will now expire in May.

Commutations reduce sentences being served but dont erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Josh Lederman and Eric Tucker are Associated Press writers.
ATLANTA  Scott Shepherd didnt fire the shot that killed Martin Luther King Jr., but the former Ku Klux Klan grand dragon says he has always felt remorse toward the family of the slain civil rights leader and all who honor his legacy.

He reached for atonement Monday evening, sitting on a dais next to Bernice King, who was 5 years old when James Earl Ray assassinated her father in 1968.

I want to extend an apology to the King family and everyone out there, Shepherd said, opening a discussion of race relations at the Atlanta center that bears the elder Kings name.

I, in my past, did a lot of terrible things. I said a lot of terrible things about Dr. King. I didnt know what I was talking about.

Bernice King, who acknowledged hating white people as a young woman, accepted Shepherds apology. It was the pinnacle of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day that laid bare intense social tensions as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office Friday, yet also offered potential avenues to achieve Kings vision of a just society.

Trump did not publicly participate in any King observances. The holiday came amid the fallout from a public tiff between Trump and civil rights icon John Lewis, an exchange that incensed many African Americans already leery of Trump after a racially charged campaign.

In New York, King Day observers cast establishment leaders as Klan successors. When men no better than Klansmen dressed in suits are being sworn into office, we cannot be silent, Black Lives Matter co-founder Opal Tometi said at a Brooklyn gathering.

The Rev. Michael Plfeger, the man Bernice King invited to serve as keynote speaker at the Monday morning service at her fathers Ebenezer Baptist Church, sounded similar themes. He delivered a 45-minute indictment of the nations social and economic structure and warned it would get worse under Trump. Plantations still exist, Pfleger said. And too often, white hoods have been replaced by three-piece suits in this country.

For her part, Bernice King warned of a nation dangerously polarized along the lines of race and class. We are headed to race riots if were not careful, she said. We cant just keep this divisiveness going.

She expressed concerns about Trump, who had met earlier in the day with her brother Martin Luther King III.

Bill Barrow is an Associated Press writer.
WASHINGTON  Donald Trumps choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that climate change is real, breaking with both the president-elect and his own past statements.

In response to questions from Democrats during his Senate confirmation hearing, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said he disagreed with Trumps earlier claims that global warming is a hoax created by the Chinese to harm the economic competitiveness of the United States.

I do not believe climate change is a hoax, Pruitt said.

The 48-year-old Republican has previously cast doubt on the extensive body of scientific evidence showing that the planet is warming and man-made carbon emissions are to blame.

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In a 2016 opinion article, Pruitt suggested that the debate over global warming is far from settled and he said scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind.

At the hearing before the Senate Energy and Public Works Committee, Pruitt conceded that human activity contributes in some manner to climate change. He continued, however, to question whether the burning of fossil fuels is the primary reason and refused to say whether sea levels are rising.

Pruitts testimony came as studies show the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have decreased in mass, while the worlds oceans have risen on average nearly 7 inches in the last century.

Pressed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, independent-Vt., to answer in detail about his beliefs about climate change, Pruitt responded that his personal opinion was immaterial to how he would enforce environmental laws.

In his current post, Pruitt joined a multistate lawsuit opposing the Obama administrations plan to limit planet-warming carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Pruitt also sued over the EPAs recent expansion of water bodies regulated under the Clean Water Act. It has been opposed by industries that would be forced to clean up polluted wastewater.

Pruitt said that if he were confirmed by the GOP-run Senate, he would work with states and industry to return the federal watchdog to what he described as its proper role.

Environmental regulations should not occur in an economic vacuum, Pruitt said. We can simultaneously pursue the mutual goals of environmental protection and economic growth.

Pruitt has a history of criticizing and suing the agency he is in line to lead. Environmentalists opposing his nomination cite his cozy relationships with oil and gas industry executives who have donated to his political campaigns.

As the hearing got under way, shouting could be heard from people who were not allowed in.

One woman was quickly wrestled out of the room by three police officers as she pulled out a roll of yellow crime scene tape and shouted We dont want EPA gutted!

Michael Biesecker and Matthew Daly are Associated Press writers.
1 Abortion lawsuit: Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow a woman who gets an abortion to sue the doctor who performed the procedure if she experiences emotional distress later. If approved, it would be the first law of its kind in the U.S. The proposal, slated for discussion Tuesday in the new Republican-controlled Legislature, would also permit the woman to file a lawsuit at any point in her life, something that goes against typical statute of limitation rules. It could also make the state vulnerable to costly court challenges.

2 Refund delay: The Internal Revenue Services battle against fraud and identity theft is intensifying as the tax filing season opens, and some of the neediest taxpayers are getting caught in the middle. The agency is barred from issuing refunds before Feb. 15 on any returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. Congress mandated the delay to give the IRS more time to review returns to try to catch fraudulent ones before refunds are paid out. In reality, taxpayers taking these credits will probably have to wait even longer to get their refunds  until the week of Feb. 27, the IRS says, because of weekends and the Presidents Day holiday.
1 Bushes hospitalized: Former President George H.W. Bush was admitted Wednesday to the intensive care unit of a Houston hospital with pneumonia, and his wife, Barbara, was hospitalized as a precaution after suffering fatigue and coughing, a spokesman said. The 92-year-old former chief executive underwent a procedure to protect and clear his airway that required sedation, family spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement. The former president was stable and resting comfortably at Houston Methodist Hospital, where he was to stay for observation, the statement said.

2 Secret Service settlement: The Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service have agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in promotion practices by the agency that protects the president. More than 100 black Secret Service agents alleged in the 2000 lawsuit that they were routinely passed over for promotions in favor of less-qualified white agents. The Secret Service says that while it denies any and all liability or damages ... the agreement is a means of resolving this almost 2-decades-old matter. The agency has agreed to pay $24 million to the plaintiffs, according to the Washington Post.
President Obamas decision Tuesday to commute the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning for disclosing hundreds of thousands of classified documents on U.S. military and foreign policy was a stunning about-face for a president who had eclipsed all predecessors in seeking to punish those who revealed the nations secrets.

The Obama administration has charged eight government employees with violating the Espionage Act for divulging classified information, compared to three previous prosecutions in the laws 100-year history. Mannings 35-year sentence was by far the longest for any such case, in which the typical sentence is two or three years.

But after serving nearly seven years in a mens military prison, where she twice attempted suicide after being denied treatment as a transgender woman, Manning, 29, is scheduled to go free on May 17.

This move could quite literally save Chelseas life, said her lawyer, Chase Strangio of the American Civil Liberties Union. We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place.

Kris Hayashi,executive director of the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco, praised the commutation and said Mannings treatment in prison showed the U.S. governments inability to treat transgender prisoners humanely.

The government tortured Chelsea by subjecting her to extended solitary confinement, denying her medical care, punishing her for attempting suicide, and forcing her to serve her time in an all-male prison, Hayashi said.

Her release is scheduled nearly four months into the term of President-elect Donald Trump, whose designated deputy national security adviser, K.T. McFarland, has said Manning should be executed. But legal analysts say Trump will have no power to undo Obamas grant of clemency.

Republican leaders reacted with outrage.

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets, said House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he feared the commutation will encourage further acts of espionage and undermine military discipline.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest defended Obamas action while contrasting Mannings case to that of Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who disclosed mass government surveillance of U.S. phone records. Snowden has found refuge in Russia, and Obama has evidently rejected pleas by Snowdens supporters to dismiss criminal charges against him.

Manning went through the military criminal justice process ... was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing, Earnest told the New York Times. He said Snowden, whose disclosures were far more serious and far more dangerous than Mannings, fled into the arms of an adversary.

Margaret Russell, a law professor at Santa Clara University, said Obama evidently was receptive to arguments that Manning was punished for being a whistle-blower and had suffered enough during her imprisonment.

Mannings clemency also raises the possibility that Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, which published Mannings disclosures, will agree to come to the United States and face prosecution. Assange, who has spent four years in Ecuadors Embassy in London, said last week he would not fight U.S. extradition if Obama released Manning.

Obamas more than 270 grants of clemency Tuesday also included a commutation for Oscar Lopez Rivera, 74, a Puerto Rican nationalist who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in 1981 as a member of the militant group FALN that plotted an armed struggle for the islands independence.

Although FALN had committed multiple bombings in the 1970s and planned others, Lopez Rivera was not accused of any violent acts. He was offered clemency by President Bill Clinton in 1999 but refused because not all the FALN defendants were to be freed. He is the last one still behind bars and has served 35 years of a 70-year sentence.

Obama also granted a pardon to James Cartwright, a former Marine Corps general and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who pleaded guilty in October to lying to federal agents by denying that he gave reporters classified information about a U.S.-Israeli cyberattack on Irans nuclear program.

A pardon frees a defendant from the consequences of a felony conviction, like disqualification from jury service and, in some states, from voting. A commutation shortens a prisoners sentence.

The president did not announce action on other high-profile clemency cases, including those of Leonard Peltier, convicted of hotly disputed charges that he murdered two FBI agents in 1977 on a reservation in South Dakota.

The Manning case dates from 2009, when the Army private then known as Bradley Manning was sent to Iraq as an intelligence analyst and saw files that, as she later described it, were shocking and needed to be debated in public.

Among those disclosed to the previously little-known WikiLeaks outlet, was a video of a 2007 U.S. helicopter strike in Iraq that killed 12 civilians. Other files revealed U.S. surveillance of foreign delegations at the United Nations and U.S. knowledge of the use of torture by the U.S.-allied government in Iraq.

Manning later attributed her actions in part to the emotional stress of the transgender condition known as gender dysphoria. The Army held her in solitary confinement for a year before her 2013 trial, where she was convicted of aiding the enemy, and placed her there again as punishment for a suicide attempt last year. She changed her name to Chelsea after her sentencing and has been given hormonal treatment but remains housed in a mens prison.

More than 100,000 people signed petitions to Obama urging clemency for Manning.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
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When Donald Trump's pick for education secretary was asked about guns in schools, she implied teachers may need weapons to protect students from grizzly bears.

Billionaire Betsy DeVos was grilled by Democrats at her confirmation hearing on Tuesday and faced a series of tough questions about everything from her political donations to her work on expanding charter schools.

Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a vocal advocate for gun control, asked DeVos if she thought firearms "had any place in or around schools."

"I think that's best left to locales and states to decide," she replied.

Sen. Murphy pressed the issue and asked whether DeVos could say "definitively today that guns shouldn't be allowed in schools."

DeVos referenced an earlier comment by Republican Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming who said an elementary school in Wapiti, Wyo., erected a fence to protect children from wildlife.

"I think probably there, I would imagine that there's probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies," DeVos said.

Sen. Murphy didn't back down and asked, "If President Trump moves forward with his plan to ban gun-free zones around school, will you support that proposal?"

DeVos replied: "I will support what the president-elect does. But senator, if the question is around gun violence and the results of that, please know that I, I . . . my heart bleeds and is broken for those families that have lost any individual due to gun violence."
Parents in Humboldt County are calling for the help of local authorities after reportedly being forced to pay $5,000 for the return of their late son's ashes.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's office is investigating the theft of the 6-year-old's urn after the child's mother, Anita Wagner, discovered it missing upon returning from a trip. The urn had been stored in her brother-in-law's safe on a property she and her husband share with him. The boy, named Ryan, died in 2011 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

According to the local Lost Coast Outpost, the safe had held Ryan's urn as well as his "courage beads," which is a lengthy chain of beads the boy had earned throughout his cancer treatments. It also contained money and other items.

Shortly after the theft, Wagner told the Outpost that a lawyer named Kathleen Bryson had contacted her via the Humboldt County Sheriff to facilitate the return of the ashes. According to Wagner, Bryson's client knew the robbers and said that they were demanding $5,000 in small bills for the return of the ashes.

Bryson maintains that to the best of her knowledge, her client took no part of the Wagners' payment and was not involved in the theft. "He was motivated because he heard that these people he knew were going to dump the ashes unless they received the reward," she said. "At the end of the day, the burglars  I don't know how they sleep at night."

In an interview with KRCR, the boy's father, Joshua Wagner, says the burglars' actions are despicable.

"Now they know that they pretty much got away with it," he said. "They steal someone's ashes and get a reward for it, which is disgusting."

He also said they now plan to scatter Ryan's ashes to "set [him] free," and to keep the empty urn as a remembrance.

When reached by SFGATE, a Humboldt County Sheriff spokesperson confirms that a theft did occur involving the ashes of a 6-year-old boy, and says they have been pursuing leads. She also stated that this is an ongoing investigation, and details of the case will be released at a later date.
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A disagreement over a parking space turned violent Monday evening after police said a San Francisco woman stabbed an 18-year-old woman outside a 7-Eleven in downtown San Mateo.

San Mateo Police arrested Jessica Greenbaum, 21, on suspicion of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats after the attack.
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Convicted drug dealers, murders, rapists, and insurgents are locked away in Afghanistans biggest prison, secured behind massive iron gates and surrounded by tall walls lined with barbed wire.

Yet the Taliban fighters imprisoned inside Pol-e Charkhi penitentiary are still committed to their ideology, and some have openly defended suicide bombings that have wreaked havoc and tragedy upon many civilians.

Interviews held at the infamous prison near Kabul reveal that despite serving long sentences, many Taliban fighters are committed to returning to the battlefield once they are released. There is also evidence that the prison is a recruiting ground for disgruntled convicts who see a purpose and future with the insurgents.

Qari Abdul Rahim is a Taliban fighter serving a multiyear sentence at Pol-e Charkhi for participating in various attacks in central Baghlan Province. He is adamant that suicide attacks are sanctioned by Islamic injunctions.

There are various religious texts [that back such tactics]. I do not remember them now, but we strongly believe in the righteousness of such teachings, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. Just think our religion does not allow anyone to kill themselves without a reason. No one will commit suicide by wearing an explosives-laden vest. They do it because of a firm belief in our ideology.

Qudratullah, another young Taliban, is serving his term for fighting with the Taliban in the volatile southern province of Helmand. He doesnt regret fighting for the Taliban and says their aim is to fight the U.S. forces in the country, which he says are protected by the Afghan Army.

We are committed to a jihad against the Americans. The Taliban are only committed to follow [the Islamic law] Sharia and whatever the [Islamic Holy Book] Koran and hadith (eds: the sayings of Prophet Muhammad) teach us, he told Radio Free Afghanistan.

Qudratullah is not the only Taliban fighter eager to return to the battlefield.

Brothers Naseer Ahmad and Naqib Ahmad have served nearly four years at Pol-e Charkhi. They are serving a five-year sentence for participating in the December 2012 assassination attempt on their boss and former Afghan spy chief Asadullah Khalid.

While Naseer says he hopes for a fresh start by building a private business, Naqib has other ideas.

I was never a member of the Taliban, but I am compelled to become one when I am freed, Naqib said.

He is not alone in being attracted to the Taliban, hundreds of whose members form a sizeable part of some 10,000 inmates at Pol-e Charkhi.

Syed Aqa Andrabi, the deputy jailer at Pol-e Charkhi, says most Taliban inmates in his prison are ideologically motivated and have undergone rigorous training and indoctrination in neighboring countries.

We have arranged religious teachers and opened a school inside the prison to educate them, he said. We have always attempted to prevent them [the Taliban] from indoctrinating other prisoners.

Mawlavi Shamsuddin Farutan, a prayer leader at Kabuls Shah-e Do Shamshira mosque, says authorities need to focus on de-radicalization of Taliban inmates by teaching them true Islamic injunctions.

I am not aware that Islam ever allows committing suicide. Similarly, Islam doesnt allow the killing of innocents -- even in wars, he noted.

Abubakar Siddique wrote this based on reporting by Radio Free Afghanistan correspondents Mohammad Wasil Wisal, Nusrat Parsa and Wali Sabawoon from Kabul, Afghanistan.
URBANDALE  The Iowa Egg Council invites Iowa residents to participate in the Iowa Egg Council "Incredibly Good Eggs" recipe contest.

This contest is an opportunity for individuals to receive recognition for their culinary skills and food creativity.

There will be two divisions for participants: adults 19 and up and students grades six through 12. Each participant may enter only one recipe.

Recipes may include, but are not limited to, appetizers, desserts, entrees, beverages, breakfast foods or side dishes. All recipes should be original and must contain a minimum of four eggs.

The recipe may include four whole eggs, yolks or whites and there is no limit to the number of ingredients in the recipe. Recipes will be judged equally on: use of eggs, taste, originality and presentation.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three participants in each division. The first place winner will receive $350, the second place winner $250 and the third place winner $150.

To enter the recipe contest, visit www.iowaegg.org for a downloadable entry form and a complete list of rules, or call 1-877-IOWAEGG for mailed contest information.

All entries must be received by 5 p.m. Feb. 24. The winners will be announced in May  National Egg Month.
DES MOINES | Never say never, Sen. Liz Mathis says about running for governor, but not in 2018.

The Cedar Rapids Democrat has ruled out seeking her partys nomination next year, saying the timing isnt right for her and her family.

Mathis, first elected in 2011, said Wednesday she had been thinking about running. Some considered her the frontrunner among several Democrats seen as potential challengers to Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is set to become governor if Gov. Terry Branstads nomination to be ambassador to China is approved.

Over the past several months, Mathis said, she was approached by several groups asking if she was interested in the job. However, she was focused on winning re-election.

After the November election, she continued the discussion with more than two dozen people and groups about everything from what the financials would look like to my possibility of running to the dedication it would take to run a campaign over 18 months.

I came to the conclusion that it probably wasnt the right time for me to do that for a number of reasons, she said.

A gubernatorial bid would be quite a big leap for her family, Mathis said, and while they are comfortable with her serving in the Senate, as a gubernatorial candidate, youre wide open to scrutiny, and I dont think I want to do that and I dont think they want to do that.

Mathis, a former television news reporter and anchor in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo who now works for a child welfare agency, said she was concerned about the $10 million to $15 million estimated cost of a campaign.

Thats a very steep climb even with the support she would expect to receive, Mathis said.

Shes also committed to rebuilding the Democratic majority in the Senate. Iowans voted out six Democratic senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, giving the GOP a 29-20-1 majority.

When she made her announcement Tuesday night at a Des Moines Democratic gathering, Mathis suggested Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, as a possible candidate.

Im not endorsing anyone at this point, she said Wednesday, but believes Petersen would be a good candidate. I dont know what she thinks about that, but shes tenacious.

Mathis expects several other people to step forward, but doesnt plan to endorse anyone until after the June 2018 Democratic primary.

Among those who are expected to run are current Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire, Polk County Conservation Director Rich Leopold, Rep. Todd Prichard., D-Charles City, and former Sen. Steve Sodders of State Center.

Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, who was elected by his Democratic colleagues to serve as minority leader, reiterated his position Wednesday that he has no plans to run for governor in 2018.

In ruling out a bid for governor, Mathis did not close the door on challenging second-term Rep. Rod Blum in 2018.

Who knows what happens? she said.
DES MOINES  Law enforcement and safety advocates along with Gov. Terry Branstad are pushing for a tougher state law outlawing texting while driving, and some are going as far as to suggest a ban on all hand-held devices while driving.

A Senate subcommittee is looking to change Iowa law to make texting a primary offense that by itself could trigger a traffic stop.

Subcommittee members indicated they would consider expanding the bill to restrict communications and other activities using hand-held devices while driving if it didnt kill the bill.

We just feel that distracted driving is just far too big of an issue to pass the buck another year and not do something thats going to make real change, Amber Markham, legislative liaison for the state Department of Public Safety, told members of the Senate Transportation subcommittee.

Markham said a broad coalition of public safety groups, insurance carriers and wireless phone service providers support a proposal to make it a primary offense to use a hand-held device while driving unless used in a hands-free or voice-activated mode.

The proposed primary offense would include but not be limited to texts, email, social media and talking while driving. Exemptions would be maintained for public safety and emergency use.

Driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated, said Susan Cameron, a lobbyist representing the Iowa State Sheriffs & Deputies Association.

While there are multiple distractions for drivers, using a hand-held device is the most alarming distraction because it requires visual, manual and cognitive attention from the driver.

Cameron cited data related to traffic mishaps involving individuals determined to be distracted by a phone or other electronic device. It indicated crashes nearly doubled from 659 in 2010 to 1,100 in 2015, while fatalities increased from four to 14 during the same period.

Overall, she noted, Iowas traffic death count increased from 317 in 2013 to 403 last year.

Iowa is currently one of five states that classify texting while driving as a secondary offense for adults, meaning law enforcement officers are not allowed to pull over a driver unless they suspect another violation also may have been committed. Iowa has a texting ban for young drivers.

Steve Gent of the state Department of Transportation urged the legislative panel to join 15 states that have banned the use of hand-held devices while driving. He noted that Iowa youngsters now have a smartphone in their hands long before keys to a vehicle.

Patrick Hoye, who guides the Governors Traffic Safety Bureau, said Iowas current texting law has spotty enforcement, with fewer than 200 citations written by law officers because it is costly and time-consuming to subpoena phone records involving major mishaps. He said more tickets would be issued if the burden was shifted away from law officers in texting situations.

Mark Beltrame, an insurance industry lobbyist, said Iowans are ready for a policy change related to texting while driving and the proposed bill is a positive step forward.

While there are a number of different approaches that can go beyond this approach, Beltrame said, I think its important not to have the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Daniel Zeno, policy counsel for the ACLU of Iowa, was the only person opposed to making texting a primary offense, noting that black people currently have a seven times greater chance of being stopped for texting and he worried the proposed change would exacerbate racial disparity and lead to more profiling. He said going to the hand-held prohibition would be a better option than making texting a primary offense.

Sen. Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, noted the Senate previously has passed tougher texting bills that have failed to win House approval, but subcommittee Chairman Sen. Michael Breitbach, R-Strawberry Point, said he expected the change to a primary offense would pass this year.

He added that he was very open to considering the hand-held restriction, but he said he had not gauged legislative support and I do not want to kill the bill by going too far.
CEDAR RAPIDS  When Craig Tierney returned from California to Iowa hoping to continue his work in film production, he found employers here wanted him to have a college degree.

So he headed back to school and found a minimum-wage job to help pay the bills.

The 40-year-old Tierney attends classes at the University of Iowa while also working at the Irish Democrat Pub & Grille as a bartender and a waiter. When bartending, he makes the state and federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour; when he waits tables, he makes $3.60 per hour, the minimum wage for tip-based jobs.

Tierney said he works 30 to 40 hours per week depending on his full-time class load.

It is a struggle to be able to survive on the income, Tierney said.

Tierney said its even worse for minimum-wage workers with families.

Spurred to action by counties that have increased the minimum wage at the local level, state lawmakers are considering writing a new law that would create a statewide minimum wage and possibly overrule those local ordinances.

In September, the Linn County Board of Supervisors voted to establish an $8.25-per-hour minimum wage with annual increases raising it to $10.25 on Jan. 1, 2019. That followed decisions in Polk County to go to $10.75 by 2019 and $10.10 in Johnson County this year and in Wapello County by 2019.

Many Republicans  the party for the first time in 20 years has complete control of the lawmaking agenda in the Iowa Capitol  have expressed a desire to curtail the hodge-podge of varied minimum wages within the states borders.

In the states highest office, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad also seeks a statewide minimum wage.

I would prefer that we have a uniform statewide minimum wage rather than a hodge-podge of county-by-county, city-by-city minimum wages that could be, I think, very confusing for people, Branstad told reporters this past fall. We know this is a controversial and difficult issue, but I think its one that hopefully we can address.

Branstad signed into the law the states first minimum wage: $3.35 per hour in 1989. Iowas minimum wage has been raised five times since then, most recently in 2008 when it was lifted to the current $7.25 per hour.

Although Branstad and Republican legislative leaders agree with the need for a statewide minimum wage, they thus far have not revealed what that wage should be.

Advocates and Democratic state lawmakers in recent years have pressed for minimum wage increases to $10.10 per hour and even $15 per hour. Branstad said the latter is not feasible.

Whatever number the state lands on, Tierney thinks the minimum wage should be increased. Even though he hopes to soon obtain his degree and no longer work a minimum wage job, Tierney has volunteered with a coalition that is advocating for an increase.

Tierney said he is motivated, more so than his own experience working minimum-wage jobs, by some of his co-workers with families.

As much as its a struggle on me, a single man doing it, its really a struggle for people who have families, even people in dual-income households, Tierney said. They still have to balance out paying for day care and all that stuff.

A report from the liberal Iowa Policy Project suggested the adults in a two-worker, one-child household in Iowa without employer-provided health insurance would need to make $13.32 per hour to meet basic needs and adults in a two-worker, two-child household would need to make $16.89 per hour.

With a $7.25-per-hour minimum wage, what happens instead, Tierney said, is people work multiple jobs and 50 to 60 hours per week in order to earn sufficient income.

A lot of them have to split it up among two places, usually working 50, 60, 70 hours a week just to make ends meet, Tierney said. Its really about getting to a point where they can live and survive at that job 40 hours a week. ... And just allowing people to have more time with their family. These kids deserve to have their parents home with them.

Tierney said he thinks a minimum wage increase would spark the economy, giving workers more spending money and eliminating the need for some taxpayer-funded low-income assistance programs.

But opponents of raising the minimum wage say it was never intended to serve as a livable wage for full-time earners but instead should serve as a stepping stone to better-paying jobs.

Opponents also say they think increasing the minimum wage would cause companies to cut jobs, thus actually hurting minimum wage earners in the process. Studies, however, have not shown a direct correlation between minimum wage increases and widespread job losses.

Republican Statehouse leaders also think the current situation with different county minimum wages is bad for businesses.

The patchwork system doesnt work, said Linda Upmeyer, Republican speaker of the Iowa House from Clear Lake. We have a federal minimum wage, we have a state minimum wage. We need to seek to clarify that so that we dont have a patchwork system that doesnt work very effectively for many folks who are thinking about starting a business and their decision on where to locate is based on (the) minimum wage doesnt make much sense.

Advocates of a minimum wage increase have expressed concern that Statehouse Republicans will implement a statewide wage that halts the increases passed by those few counties.

Upmeyer said Republicans will not lower any workers wages.

Were going to clarify, she said. Were not going to change anybodys wages. Were going to clarify what is the state minimum wage and the federal wage, and those are the minimum wages. (Employers) can pay whatever they like.

Tierney said he hopes lawmakers establish a statewide minimum wage that helps full-time minimum wage workers pay for their most basic needs.

The intention of the minimum wage was to create a fair days pay for a fair days work, Tierney said.
ESTHERVILLE | An Estherville man who was shot with a stun gun after he attacked an officer with a closet rod faces criminal charges, police say.

Parish Reed, 52, was charged with felony assault on a peace officer, misdemeanor first-degree harassment and interference with official acts.

Reed hit an officer in the head with a wooden closet rod about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday outside a residence on South Ninth Street, according to an Estherville Police Department statement.

Mason City man sent to prison for assault, threats to kill MASON CITY | A Mason City man accused of spitting on police officers and a paramedic and thr

The officer went to the residence to speak with Reed about threatening messages sent to the Emmet County Veterans Affairs Office.

Reed came out the door with the closet rod in hand, said Estherville Police Capt. Paul Budach.

"He just came charging out of the door," he said.

An officer shot Reed with a Taser, subduing him.

Reed was treated at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville and sent to jail.

Man, 19, accused of throwing alcohol at Clear Lake officer CLEAR LAKE | A Minnesota man is accused of throwing alcohol in a Clear Lake police officer's

Police aren't releasing the officer's name. Budach said the officer had a lump on his head, but didn't miss any work.

-- Molly Montag
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In an interview with "Fox & Friends," President-elect Donald Trump said he hopes the congressmen and women boycotting the inauguration return their tickets.

The show's co-host Ainsley Earhardt brought up the some 60 Democratic members of the House of Representatives who are skipping the ceremony on January 20.

"That's OK, because we need seats so badly," Trump responded. "I hope they give me their tickets."

Representative John Lewis of Georgia was also mentioned in the conversation, and Earhardt referred to Lewis as the one who started the boycott.

Representative John Lewis of Georgia announced his plans to not attend the inauguration on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Jan. 13, and stated that this would be the first inauguration he'd miss since he's been in Congress.

Trump took to Twitter to point out that Lewis' remark was a lie and said the civil rights advocate also boycotted the 2001 inauguration of President George W. Bush.

On Fox, Trump reiterated that Lewis lied.

"Well what he said is he's never done it before but he has," Trump said. "He has done it before because he did it with President Bush 43."

A Washington Post article from Jan. 20, 2001, confirms that Lewis skipped the 2001 swearing-in of the Bush. It states: "Some members of the Black Caucus decided to boycott Inauguration Day; John Lewis, for instance, spent the day in his Atlanta district. He thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bush's swearing-in because he doesn't believe Bush is the true elected president."
This month New Yorks Rockefeller Group that owned One Market Plaza, sold 50 Beale Street, a 660,000-square-foot skyscraper south of Market, to New Yorks Paramount Group for $395 million.

In the same week, Columbia Property Trust of Atlanta, which owns 221 Main St., a 16-story high-rise near the Transbay Transit Center, closed on its $309 million acquisition of the Hanford Building, the 33-story, 480,000-square-foot office tower at 650 California Street in the Financial District.

We have established a significant presence in downtown San Francisco  a market that continues to be one of the best in the U.S., Columbia Property CEO Nelson Mills said in a statement. Meanwhile, Bostons Pembroke Real Estate bought 100 California St. for $182 million.

We have been looking in San Francisco for our first deal for 18 months, David Lucey, Pembrokes senior vice president, told The Registry, an online trade publication that keeps track of Bay Area commercial real estate.

Norways sovereign wealth fund is already here. Having acquired a 47.5 percent stake in the 38-story, 1 million-square-foot building at Market and Fremont streets, for approximately $200 million in January. The fund, controlled by Norges Bank Investment Management, picked up its second San Francisco property last month  a 49 percent interest in the 500,000-square-foot Foundry Square II complex on Howard and First streets in a joint venture with TIAA-CREF. Total price: $309 million.

Ive never seen space get absorbed this fast, rents go up this fast and whole buildings being pre-leased, said Michael Covarrubias, chairman and CEO of San Franciscos TMG Partners, whose recent developments include a $20 million, 200,000-square-foot office building under construction at Brannan and Fourth streets South of Market. TMG also has a 2 million-square-foot, mixed-use office, hotel and residential complex on tap at First and Mission streets, in the heart of the nearby Transbay center, some of whose developers ran into some rough waters with the city last week.

However that turns out, much is at stake, literal fortunes in fact, for investors and developers vested in the hottest part of the hottest real estate market in the country.

Its a really interesting time for San Francisco, theres a lot of attention on this market, said Caroline Rooney, managing director for capital markets and Northern California research at global real estate broker Cushman & Wakefield.

And getting increasingly frantic.

Strong leasing

Leasing activity and building occupancy are at record levels. In its third-quarter San Francisco report last week, Cushman counted a mere 13 Class A Big Block (minimum 50,000 square feet) office buildings available, compared with 31 at this time last year. Rents per square foot for the upper floors of San Francisco office towers are the highest in the world, having increased by 60 percent since March, according to Knight Frank, a London real estate consultancy. The citys office rents in general will continue to grow by more than a third over the next five years  again topping the world  in Knight Franks estimation based on a survey of 15 major cities (including London and New York).

No guesses as to the chief reason: Its the the city, says the firm, with the most tech exposure. Which means interested parties better move fast, as Cushman & Wakefield, having squired attendees at TechCrunch Disrupt SF on a bus tour of local tech companies this month, well knows.

The competition for buildings is incredibly strong, said Rooney. Well-capitalized investors  foreign buyers, REITs (real estate investment trusts) and pension fund advisers are looking to take advantage of the rising rents and the tightening market and are aggressively buying properties here.

Among the pension funds looking to take advantage is the California State Teachers' Retirement System, which just invested $200 million with Jamestown Premier Property Fund, an Atlanta real estate investment and management firm, which will focus the systems money, according to an e-mail it sent to the Registry, on coastal regions that have strong vibrant job markets.

Like San Francisco, where Jamestown Premier Property owns Ghirardelli Square, an office office building at 799 Market St., whose tech tenants include Akamai Technologies, Prism Skylabs and Monster.com, and Waterfront Plaza, a 300,000-square-foot complex on the Embarcadero it acquired for a reported $88 million last month. Two months earlier it sold the Pacific Place mixed-use complex  in which Intuit takes up all 200,000 square feet of office space, and other tenants include Levis, Old Navy, the Container Store and the Palomar Hotel  for $415 million to JPMorgan Asset Management.

Paramount, which owns, at last count, 16 other properties in high-priced Manhattan and Washington, is reportedly looking at a $2.7 billion IPO, the biggest ever for a REIT.

With the Rockefeller Group having sold 50 Beale Street to Parmount for $90 million more than it paid for the building just two years ago, the San Francisco will probably look good during Paramounts road show.

San Francisco is the best, strongest office market in the country at the moment, said Robert Gadsden, portfolio manager at Alpine Woods Capital Investors, commenting on the IPO on Bloomberg last month.

Any worries?

With such endorsements, what could possibly go wrong? Unless theres some sort of black swan event, we see nothing on the horizon right now  nothing in the stock market or the stock economy  that gives us concern, said Rooney.

This is the most intense recovery with sustainability that Ive ever seen, said Covarrubias. That doesnt mean there wont be washouts, he added, referring to previous dot-com crashes and their impact.

But theres more long-term leasing, with companies not taking more space than they need, better, more seasoned management, and theyre making money.

Vladimir Bosanac, co-founder and publisher of The Registry, is more cautious. The levels of activity seem unprecedented. The feedback we've heard is focusing more on how long this will last instead of how much higher the prices will go. The prices are near or at peak levels, he said.

A big test will be if a company of significant size decides to return the real estate it does not need to the market. Some companies will not make it or they will be acquired. So if the market suddenly has half a million square feet of space available, it may send shock waves throughout the community.

Andrew S. Ross is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: asross@sfchronicle.com Blog: http://blog.sfgate.com/bottomline Twitter: @andrewsross
About 475 wells that oil companies have used to dispose of wastewater from their drilling operations in California must shut down by Feb. 15, as state regulators move to protect aquifers that were supposed to be shielded by federal law.

Should the companies that use those wells violate the states orders, they could face fines up to $25,000 per day, according to a letter that California oilfield regulators and water pollution officials sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday.

At the same time, the state will allow oil companies to continue using 1,650 wells that are pumping wastewater into aquifers that may be suitable for waste disposal, either because they already contain oil or high concentrations of minerals, or because they arent connected to any aquifers that are used for drinking or irrigation.

The looming closures represent the latest aftershock of revelations that for roughly 30 years, California officials let oil companies dispose of their wastewater in groundwater reservoirs that were supposed to be protected by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

The vast majority of the wells lie in the southern San Joaquin Valley, the heart of the states oil industry. So far, there is no evidence that the injections tainted any water supplies used for drinking or irrigation.

We appreciate the state taking steps to ensure that paperwork delays do not create the unintended consequence of threatening the majority of Californias energy supply, especially given there is no evidence of environmental harm from this permitted production which has occurred safely for more than 30 years, said Rock Zierman, CEO of the California Independent Petroleum Association, in an email.

Most oil reservoirs in California also contain large amounts of salty water that must be separated from the petroleum at the surface. In some cases, the water can be cleaned for use in irrigation. More often, companies inject it back underground for disposal.

Such injections require the approval of the federal EPA, which decides which underground formations are suitable for wastewater disposal.

But starting in 2014, the states Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources reviewed its records and found that as many as 5,625 of Californias 50,000 injection wells may have been pumping into formations that had not been approved by the EPA. Closer examination narrowed the number of questionable wells to more than 2,000.

Part of the problem lay in a decades-old bureaucratic snafu. State officials believed that the EPA had granted permission for oil companies to use 11 aquifers that the federal agency had never approved for injection. Wells tapping those formations have since been closed.

So have disposal wells injecting into aquifers with relatively clean water that could potentially be used some day, albeit with treatment. By the end of 2016, 155 wells had been closed.

David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
CANCUN, Mexico  Two consecutive days of shooting attacks that left a total of nine dead have put two of the jewels of Mexicos Caribbean coast on edge and spurred a warning to tourists by the U.S. government.

As investigators worked at the scene of a shooting on Monday that caused five deaths in the nearby beach town of Playa del Carmen, the region was stunned when gunmen assaulted the Quintana Roo state prosecutors offices in Cancun and four people were killed.
RIO DE JANEIRO  Brazilian authorities are scrambling to stop a wave of prison violence that has killed at least 125 inmates in two weeks, many with their heads cut off or their hearts and intestines ripped out.

Three massacres and many smaller fatal clashes, all in northern states, have followed a pattern that security forces have been unable to get ahead of. It starts with an hours-long riot inside a penitentiary, then military police are sent in to assist severely outnumbered guards and distraught families wait outside while inmates post on social media photos they take of chopped up body parts.

The factors fueling the violence among rival gang members are so complex that authorities say some potential remedies could exacerbate the problem. And the possibility of continued killings is raising fears the violence could spill into favelas, or slums, in major cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, where drug operations are run in conjunction with bosses in prisons.

Stopping the bloodshed begins with the federal and state governments calling this what it is: a public emergency, said Robert Muggah, research director for the Igarape Institute, a Brazilian think tank that focuses on security. This is a problem from hell that has been festering for half a century.

President Michel Temer was initially slow to respond, taking three days to publicly acknowledge the first massacre, and he was ridiculed for calling it a terrible accident. But the government has since announced a series of measures aimed at stopping the violence.

National guard troops are being dispatched to hot spots, thousands of inmates are being shuffled among prisons and Temer has announced plans to build five new lockups. Meanwhile, justice authorities are examining ways to speed up a legal process that keeps thousands locked up for months or years while their cases are processed.

Nothing seems to be working so far. After several days of relative calm, 26 inmates were killed late Saturday in clashes inside two adjoining prisons in the northern state of Rio Grande do Norte.

The wave of violence began with the arrival of the new year, when 56 inmates were killed in the northern state of Amazonas.

Then on Jan. 6, in the neighboring state of Roraima, 33 prisoners were killed, many with their hearts and intestines ripped out.

Ten other inmates were killed in smaller prison clashes in Amazonas and the northeastern state of Paraiba during the first few days of the month.

Brazil had 622,000 prisoners in 2014, compared with 233,000 in 2000, according to Ministry of Justice data. Brazil's prisons combined were built to house roughly half the current number.

Peter Prengaman and Mauricio Savarese are Associated Press writers.
China is canceling plans to build more than 100 coal-fired power plants, seeking to rein in runaway, wasteful investment in the sector while moving the country away from one of the dirtiest forms of electricity generation, the government said in a directive made public this week.

The announcement, made by Chinas National Energy Administration, cancels 103 projects that were planned or under construction, eliminating 120 gigawatts of future coal-fired capacity. That includes dozens of projects in 13 provinces, mostly in Chinas coal-rich north and west, on which construction had already begun. Those projects alone would have had a combined output of 54 gigawatts, more than the entire coal-fired capacity of Germany, according to figures compiled by Greenpeace.

The cancellations make it likelier that China will meet its goal of limiting its total coal-fired power generation capacity to 1,100 gigawatts by 2020. That huge figure, three times the total coal-fired capacity in the United States, is far more than China needs. Its coal plants now run at about half of capacity, and new sources of power, such as wind, solar and nuclear, are coming online at a fast clip.

Nevertheless, Chinas capacity would have surged well past the 1,100-gigawatt mark by 2020 had it not begun canceling coal-fired plants that were in the works. The new announcements are in addition to a series of project cancellations detailed last year.

The key thing is that yes, China has a long way to go, but in the past few years China has come a very long way, said Lauri Myllyvirta, a researcher for Greenpeace in Beijing.

Electricity generated from coal is the biggest source of the greenhouse gases that lead to global warming, and pollution from such plants contributes to the miasma of smog that has blanketed large parts of China this winter. But despite the vast amount of capacity added in recent years, Chinas coal use has been on the decline since 2013.

Still, Chinas state-owned power companies remain politically powerful. Grid operators often favor power generated from coal plants over that made by wind and solar, and despite the cuts, China is still building far more capacity than it needs.

In contrast, utilities in the United States have only four coal-fired plants set to go online through 2020, with a combined capacity of less than 1 gigawatt, according to the Energy Information Administration. The United States retired more than 13 gigawatts of coal capacity in 2015 as the country shifted toward natural gas, wind and solar.

Michael Forsythe is a New York Times writer.
1 U.S.-Lithuania pact: Lithuania on Tuesday signed an agreement with the United States formalizing the presence of U.S. troops in the small Baltic country bordering Russia and Belarus. The agreement will facilitate the deployment of U.S. forces and support staff as well as the implementation of joint exercises and training. According to the Lithuanian military, 140 U.S. troops are based permanently in Lithuania, and other units frequently visit for military drills. Across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, fears are intensifying that Russia, after displaying its military might in Georgia, Ukraine and now Syria, could have the Baltic states in its sights next.

2 Turkey attack: Turkeys state-run news agency says the gunman who carried out the attack on the Istanbul nightclub was wanted in his home country of Uzbekistan for membership in a terror organization. Anadolu Agency, reporting from Uzbekistans capital of Tashkent on Tuesday, said the alleged assailant left the country for Afghanistan six years ago. The agency based its report on unnamed security sources and added that Uzbek authorities were sharing information with Turkey on the suspect, identified as Abdulkadir Masharipov. Masharipov was detained in a police raid in Istanbul late Monday, more than two weeks after the New Years attack on the upscale Reina nightclub that killed 39 people.
MOSCOW  A day after President Obama commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the Russian government clarified on Wednesday the fate of Edward Snowden, the other main source of secrets about U.S. surveillance in recent years.

Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who was granted asylum in Russia in 2013, will be allowed to remain in the country for a couple more years, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, said on Facebook.

Snowden and his supporters have been campaigning for a pardon from Obama, but the chances of clemency appear to be vanishingly small given that his name did not appear on a list of pardons on Tuesday.

Snowden found himself essentially stranded in Moscow four years ago after he was thwarted in his attempts to fly to Latin America following the publication of articles in the Guardian and the Washington Post, for which he was the source, revealing extensive surveillance and data collection programs operated by the NSA.

Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, in response to a question about why Snowden and Manning were being treated differently, said on Tuesday that the documents leaked by the former contractor were far more serious and far more dangerous than those disclosed by Manning.

In an interview with the Guardian in September, Snowden argued that his revelations about government surveillance were not only morally right but that they also led to an overhaul of secrecy laws that benefited Americans.

I think when people look at the calculations of benefit, it is clear that in the wake of 2013, the laws of our nation changed, Snowden said. Congress, the courts and the president all changed their policies as a result of these disclosures.

The Foreign Ministry did not specify how long Snowdens residence permit had been extended, but his lawyer, Anatoly G. Kucherena, told RIA, a state news agency, that it is valid until 2020.

Kucherena said Snowden will be eligible to apply for Russian citizenship next year, after spending five years in the country. .

Andrew E. Kramer is a New York Times writer.
MASON CITY -- The City Council has set March 7 as the date for a public vote on a capital improvements reserve fund tax levy that officials say will save taxpayers money in the long run.

Finance Director Kevin Jacobson explained how it works at Tuesday night's council meeting.

On March 7, voters will decide whether to approve a levy of up to 67 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation.

The money would be put in reserves and probably not be used until the 2019-20 fiscal year -- and council would have the option of using or not using it, said Jacobson.

He said the savings to taxpayers comes because with this levy, the city would not have to issue bonds for short-term projects -- such as paying off a 10-year bond for product that has a five-year life span. In that instance, taxpayers would also be paying five years' interest on a product no longer used.

Mason City looking at special tax levy MASON CITY  City officials say its appropriate to sell bonds to purchase a fire truck, but

This year's capital budgeting process has 19 projects for $514,255. Each has a cost of under $75,000. Fifteen are bonded projects ranging from $4,500 to $67,000. The proposed levy, if it were in effect this year, would provide funds for the city to utilize pay-as-you-go rather than bonding for years past the usefulness of the product and paying interest as well.

A limit on the capital improvements levy is achieved by linking it to the debt service levy policy which limits that levy to $1.50 to $3 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, said Jacobson.

He said that means if the debt service levy was at $2.75 per thousand, the capital improvements levy could be no more than 25 cents per thousand.

Jacobson said 21 cities in Iowa are using the levy, the largest being Marshalltown. Fifteen of the cities are levying at 67 cents while six are lower.

Funds would be used for such things as computers, phone systems, cameras and other small items for which bonding would be impractical.

Councilman Travis Hickey said there are three advantages to the city and to taxpayers.

"We don't have to bond, we're not paying interest and our bonding capacity will go up," he said.

In the past, he said, the city has had to bond to purchase a lawnmower because there was no other funding mechanism available.

"Some people will say we're adding a tax, but in the long run, it's a savings for the taxpayer."

Councilman Brett Schoneman said the levy makes sense.

"It's very good fundamentals," he said.

Councilman Paul Adams asked and received confirmation that if the levy passes, the council has the option annually on implementing it and at what level.

Hickey asked Jacobson what his recommendation was.

"I believe it's the way to go," said Jacobson.

Passage would require a vote of 50 percent plus one.

In other action, the council approved a plan to seek proposals for qualifications from developers for a downtown hotel.

Upon questioning from Adams, City Administrator Brent Trout said the item before the council was a draft and it would be refined prior to being sent out, probably on Friday.

Adams also wanted a specific cost to the city of a consultant the city might hire to help with the project. Trout said the consultant charges $550 an hour with the final cost to be determined.

Adams said he wasn't necessarily against the project but voted no on the request for qualifications. It passed 4-1. Councilman Bill Schickel was absent.

Bookmeyer won't seek re-election as Mason City mayor MASON CITY  Mayor Eric Bookmeyer told the City Council Tuesday night he will not run for re
SYDNEY Three nations shelled out around $160 million and years worth of work on the underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The result: no plane. The only tangible  and arguably most important  clues into what happened to the aircraft have come courtesy of ordinary citizens, who bore the costs themselves.

The deep-sea sonar search for the vanished Boeing 777 was suspended on Tuesday after officials conceded defeat following the most expensive, complex aviation search in history.

But while search crews spent years trawling in futility through a remote patch of the Indian Ocean, people wandering along beaches thousands of miles away began spotting pieces of the plane that had washed ashore. Those pieces have provided crucial information to investigators and prompted some to question whether Malaysia, Australia and China  who funded the hunt for the underwater wreckage  missed key opportunities by failing to organize coastal searches for the remnants that drifted to distant shorelines.

It would have been good to have been getting people looking for debris, said David Griffin, an Australian government oceanographer who worked on an analysis of how the debris drifted in a bid to pinpoint where the plane crashed. I think that was a job that fell between the cracks of whose responsibility it was.

Since the plane vanished on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, more than 20 pieces of debris confirmed or believed likely to have come from the aircraft have turned up on beaches along the east coast of Africa and on islands including Madagascar. All of the parts have been found by local residents and tourists who stumbled upon them, and by Blaine Gibson, an American amateur sleuth who launched his own, self-funded hunt for debris after working with oceanographers to estimate where bits of the plane may have ended up.

Several family members of Flight MH370s passengers asked officials to launch a search along the coastlines for parts of the plane. When their pleas went unheeded, they banded together and traveled to Madagascar to encourage residents to keep an eye out for more debris. The family members, who covered all their travel expenses themselves, even offered a potential reward to anyone who found a piece of Flight MH370.

Kristen Gelineau is an Associated Press writer.
DAKAR, Senegal  After more than two decades in power, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh faced the prospect of a midnight military intervention by regional forces, as the man who once pledged to rule the West African nation for a billion years clung to power late Wednesday.

After a midnight deadline set by the West African regional bloc to step down, there was no word from Jammeh. But Mauritanias leader appeared to be making a last-ditch diplomatic effort, meeting with Jammeh and then flying to Senegal to meet with its leader and Gambia President-elect Adama Barrow.

Earlier, a military commander with the regional bloc known as ECOWAS said troops were positioning along Gambias borders with Senegal.

The mandate of the president is finished at midnight, declared Seydou Maiga Moro, speaking on Senegalese radio station RFM. All the troops are already in place, he added.

As midnight approached, Jammeh met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on the crisis. The Mauritanian leader left Gambia shortly before midnight, telling Gambia state television that I am now less pessimistic (Jammeh) will work on a peaceful solution that is in the best interest for everyone.

Thousands of Gambians have fled the country, including some former Cabinet ministers who resigned in recent days. Hundreds of foreign tourists evacuated on special charter flights. Gambia is a popular beach destination in winter, especially for tourists from Britain, the former colonial power.

Gambia is completely surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean. Late Wednesday, witnesses reported Senegalese soldiers deploying in the Senegalese Kaolack region, north of Gambia, and in the southern Senegalese region of Casamance.

Nigeria confirmed a warship was heading toward Gambia for training. Ghana also has pledged to contribute militarily.

Jammeh, who first seized power in a 1994 coup, has insisted that his continued rule was ordained by Allah. He initially conceded defeat after the December vote, but after reports emerged suggesting he could face criminal charges linked to his rule, he reversed himself a week later, contending that voting irregularities invalidated the results.

Abdoulie John is an Associated Press writer
Gov. Susana Martinez administration continues to insist on keeping secret how much taxpayer money has flowed to a well-connected Albuquerque attorney who frequently represents the governor in court. And thats despite a determination from the state attorney general that withholding the information breaks the law.

SFR has sought to pry attorney Paul Kennedy's billing records out of the state since late 2012. Officials sent journalists working for this newspaper on a wild goose chase to various government departments, claimed records didn't exist or can't be released because of the attorney-client privilege and, most recently, cited a state law most commonly used to protect confidential settlement amounts.

Taken together, the state's incomplete, untimely responses to SFR's records requests and the withholding of Kennedy's payment amounts violated the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). That's according to lawyers in the office of Attorney General Hector Balderas, who is responsible for enforcing IPRA and the state's other transparency laws.

Martinez' General Services Department (GSD) "violated the IPRA by failing to properly respond to IPRA requests and by refusing to provide responsive records which are subject to inspection," Deputy Attorney General Joseph Dworak wrote to Alexis Johnson, general counsel for GSD, in a letter dated Dec. 15.

Dworak's letter came five months after SFR filed a complaint with the attorney general over the administration's most recent refusal to disclose how much Kennedy has been paid. It continued: GSD "should have provided, at minimum, copies of the billing records requested with redaction of specific details of the attorney services which constitute attorney-client privilege information."

Kennedy is close to the governor and was once Martinez' choice for a seat on the New Mexico Supreme Court. She has hired him to push back on allegations that state officials doctored emergency food assistance applications, public records lawsuits and other controversial matters in court, although when SFR asked for information about all the cases he is involved in on the state's behalf, officials did not identify all of them.

One of those public records cases was filed in 2013 by this newspaper. Kennedy is Martinez' outside lawyer in that case and has argued strongly for her right to keep records under wraps.

Responding to an email from SFR this week, Kennedy said he was "not authorized to comment at this time."

It is not uncommon for governors, mayors and other top elected officials to hire outside attorneys, even though they employ staff attorneys who draw government salaries. Complex, legally difficult cases can stretch government legal staffs. That often leads to contract work for private attorneys representing officials.

Citizens have likely shelled out hundreds of thousands of dollars for Kennedy's legal work during the past several years, according to the state's transparency website and conversations with former Martinez administration officials. But how many hours he and other attorneys at his firm have worked, what they've done and exactly how much they've been paid is anyone's guess.

That's because GSD has not turned over any records indicating how much state money has gone to Kennedy and his firm. Johnson, the GSD attorney, promised in a letter on Jan. 13 to turn over records from two cases in which the governor has settled lawsuits for alleged IPRA violations, but not until he has blacked out information he deems protected by the attorney-client privilege.

And he refuses to release any of Kennedy's billing records related to SFR's lawsuit, scheduled for trial in late March. Johnson claims state law requires him to withhold any documents associated with "open" cases until six months after they are closed.

However, GSD already has provided contracts spelling out Kennedy's scope of work and payment for the two closed IPRA cases and for this newspaper's case. Those documents show Kennedy has been awarded $850,000 in sole-source contracts to represent the governor at an hourly rate of $250 for his work and $150 an hour for less experienced attorneys at his firm.

The state's Sunshine Portal database, which Martinez touts as a transparency tool, does not match the records GSD has turned over to SFR. It shows contracts in at least four other cases for Kennedy, including the food assistance fraud case. Kennedy, the database shows, was awarded $716,633 in contracts between September 2013 and June 2016far less than the amount shown just in the three contracts the state has turned overand that he was paid $413,528 during that time.

SFR cannot independently verify those figures.

The city of Santa Fe has a different take on letting the public see how much money is being spent on outside attorneys.

Bernadette Romero, the city's records custodian, said she releases bills for contract attorneys in response to IPRA requestsbut only after redacting information that would, for example, reveal legal strategies. No matter what stage of litigation a case is in, Santa Fe officials believe the amounts of money paid, the dates of service and the hours worked are public record.

"When it comes to taxpayer dollars, the people have a right to know what it's being spent on," Romero said. "We just go ahead and release the amounts when people ask."

Deputy AG Dworak, in his letter to Johnson, pointed out that whether the government's outside legal bills are public records has never been litigated under IPRA. But Dworak cited a New Mexico case in which the Northern Rio Arriba Electric Cooperative was forced to show its outside legal bills to shareholders. He also cited cases in state and federal courts around the country in which courts forced government entities to release records that showed the amounts of money paid for outside legal servicesalthough not detailed narratives that could give away officials' legal strategies.

Dworak concluded his legal analysis this way: "We believe that this persuasive authority would lead a New Mexico court to find [GSD's] blanket invocation of the exception to hold records improper."



Santa Fe Reporter
Come the fall, the city government could sever ties with a bank thats helping to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Santa Fe in 2013 approved a four-year contract with Wells Fargo, agreeing to pay the bank about $449,000 over the period for fiscal agent services. But the city is free to sever ties with Wells Fargo in October, due to a clause in the agreement that allows either party to terminate the contract 60 days before the end of 2017.

In an interview with SFR, Mayor Javier Gonzales threw his support behind such a change.

"When the city has money involved with banks that invest in projects harmful to our community and counter to the will of our city, we need to look at viable alternatives," Gonzales said in an phone call from Washington DC, where he's meeting with the US Conference of Mayors. He also reiterated his support for a study on the feasibility of establishing a public bank to manage Santa Fe's finances.



A coalition of local activists last week asked the City Council to divest from Wells Fargo over the bank's investments in the pipeline, following a national movement to boycott financial institutions that fund the construction project. Gonzales previously demonstrated outside Wells Fargo as part of a national day of action on Nov. 15.

The council's second-highest-ranking member also hinted at support in an email to SFR. "I think we would all feel more comfortable using a local institution," said Mayor Pro Tem Signe Lindell.

The city maintains 15 Wells Fargo accounts, adding up to holdings of about $46.8 million, which covers payroll, general liability insurance claims, workers' comp claims, savings, utilities and other functions.

Wells Fargo is among the 35 institutions bankrolling the Dakota Access Pipeline or the companies overseeing its construction. The bank has pitched in about $500,000, according to a study by Food and Water Watch, a progressive research group.

About two dozen Santa Feans spoke in support of the effort during last week's council meeting on Jan. 11, commandeering the chambers during the evening's public comment session. Earlier in the day, the activists demonstrated outside the downtown Wells Fargo branch on Washington Avenue.

Since last spring, thousands of activists have swarmed a campsite north of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota to protest the construction of an oil pipeline near the tribe's land. Tribal members worry a rupture in the Dakota Access Pipeline could contaminate their water supply, as the proposed route runs beneath the Missouri River.

Over the summer, the protest camp near Standing Rock became something of a mecca for environmentalists and supporters of Indigenous rights. Social media users circulated footage of police crackdowns on the site, including one episode in which law enforcement sprayed cold water on the protestors in freezing temperatures.

The City Council late last year passed a symbolic resolution supporting the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and condemning excessive force on protesters. It also called on "local financial institutions to divest from the Dakota Access Pipeline Project and invest instead in life-supporting projects and renewable energy projects."

But Santa Fe should offer more than gestures to the self-described "water protectors" camping out at Standing Rock, said Jeff Haas, a civil rights lawyer who is representing a number of anti-pipeline activists. "I'm not asking for a symbolic statement of support," Haas told councilors. "We can make a difference." "The record on spills is consistent," said activist Margaret Kuhlen. "Pipelines break."

The actions last week were sponsored by Earth Care, the environmentalist organization, and Retake Our Democracy, a progressive organizing group that grew out of the local campaign supporting Bernie Sanders for president. Jeff Ethan Au Green, a former City Council candidate who now lives in Colorado, rode a bus here last week to help direct the campaign.

Paul Gibson, co-founder of Retake our Democracy, says his volunteer corps of about 50 people will research viable alternatives to Wells Fargo for the city's fiscal agent. That effort likely got a boost from city council on Dec. 14, when the governing body lowered the collateralization requirement for Santa Fe's fiscal agent from 102 percent to 50 cents per dollar.

Another proposed change would require the city to consider as criteria social responsibility before selecting a fiscal agent, inspired by a resolution currently being considered by Seattle's City Council. Alongside Wells Fargo's pipeline investment, the bank recently came under fire for a high-profile scandal wherein the bank's employees created thousands of fake accounts to meet sales quotas.

The campaign against Wells Fargo represents the first high-profile cause championed by Retake Our Democracy since the November elections. Gibson said City Council should be prepared for more. "This is all part of a larger plan that recognizes that right now, given the changes in Washington, the best avenue for progressive change and policy change is at the local level," he said.



CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misstated the mode of transportation used by Jeff Ethan Au Green to travel from Boulder to Santa Fe. He rode a bus, not a personal vehicle.

Santa Fe Reporter
State of the State

Gov. Susana Martinez delivered a call for bipartisanship to a state Legislature once again controlled by Democrats (who won back the House in November). In their response, Senate Democrats called the state of affairs in New Mexico "unacceptable" and noted a bipartisan effort to cut corporate taxes in 2013 has fallen flat. Lawmakers and the governor will have to decide how to shore up a wobbling state economy and plug a budget hole with tens of millions of dollars.

Chop Suey on San Francisco Street

Steven Hsieh pens

this week on George Park, patriarch of Santa Fe's first prominent Chinese family. Park was more than just a successful restaurateur, he was a man with a knack for making connections despite prevailing anti-Chinese sentiment. It's an immigration story set in the early 20th century that could well take place today.

The White Guys for the Job?

So who exactly is representing you at the Capitol and what do they look like? Well, they're

, reports New Mexico in Depth. Compared to the rest of the state, the Legislature is far older and significantly more Anglo. New Mexico lawmakers are still more diverse than most other places, including the women who occupy nearly 30 percent of the seats in the Roundhouse. But that portion is dwarfed by the state's actual demographics, where half the population is female.

Prying Eyes

A prominent state senator wants to keep your

from seeing who the finalists are for top public jobs until just a week before a final decision is made.

would carve out another exception from New Mexico's public records law. The Rio Grande Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists* has

the measure, as has the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government and the New Mexico Press Association.

Four People, Two Dogs and a Vehicle

Those are the things the Albuquerque Police Department says Detective Russ Carter has shot at during his

. Carter also shot at Gilbert Lovato, whom APD killed two weekends ago after the department says he threatened officers with what turned out to be a BB gun. They suspected him of robbing a local restaurant.

Father Sues Navajo Nation

The father of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike, who was assaulted and killed in May, has

for failing to set up an emergency alert system he says could have saved his daughter. The story gripped New Mexico last spring as authorities and volunteers frantically searched in vain for the missing girl. An Amber Alert was not issued until several hours after her disappearance had been reported.

'Highly Prolific and Oil Prone'

That's what ExxonMobil calls the 275,000 acres of land and mineral rights

. The energy company announced the $6.6 billion stock-and-cash deal yesterday. The Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico has been the state's most productive oil and gas region.

ExxonMobil's Permian Basin holdings.

Late to ART Class

Students arriving for the first day of the new semester at the University of New Mexico

than normal for buses from parking lots to the main campus. The reason? UNM says it's construction of Albuquerque's bus rapid transit system.

Thanks for reading! The Word appreciates you.

*Full Disclosure: Morning Word author Matt Grubs is a board member of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Santa Fe Reporter
Heartland Bank has named Air New Zealand deputy finance boss David Mackrell as its new chief financial officer.

The incoming CFO will start on Feb. 15, replacing Simon Owen who announced his resignation in November, ending a 13-year stint with Heartland and its predecessor, Marac Finance. Mackrell spent 12 years as Air NZ's deputy CFO, having joined the national carrier in 1992.

Heartland missed out on buying ANZ Bank New Zealand's UDC Finance unit, which was picked up by China's HNA Group for $660 million earlier this month.

The Auckland-based bank raised $20 million last month and wants a further $10 million via a share purchase plan which it will use to bolster its capital ratio after a period of credit expansion. The funds would also help pay for an expanded online offering, with Heartland investing in data analysis to "more precisely" target its customers and supporting digital origination.

The shares last traded at $1.52, up 26 percent over the past year.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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MASON CITY | Newman Catholic Schools will celebrate Catholic Schools Week Jan. 29 to Feb. 4.

Here is the school's schedule of activities:

 Sunday, Jan. 29: Celebrate Catholic Schools in Our Parishes. Masses in supporting parishes will celebrate Catholic schools. Students and families are invited to wear Newman shirts to Mass, where high-schoolers will be speaking and students and faculty will hand out prayer cards afterward. All are welcome to attend a Grandparent Open House at Newman Elementary, where Culver's custard will be served 12:30 to 2 p.m.

 Monday, Jan. 30: Celebrate Catholic Schools in Our Community. Students will pair up to make door decorations which high-schoolers will deliver to local care centers. Penny wars will begin to benefit the Epiphany Parish Baby Pantry.

 Tuesday, Jan. 31: Celebrate Catholic Schools in Our Students. All are welcome to join an all-school Mass at 9:15 a.m. in the high school gym. A celebratory snack will be provided after the service.

 Wednesday, Feb. 1: Celebrate Catholic Schools in Our Students. Students will make valentines for veterans. For a $1 donation, K-12 students can dress in red, white and blue to show patriotism. All donations will go to veterans in need.

 Thursday, Feb. 2: Celebrate Catholic Schools in Our Vocations. Students will write thank-you letters for area religious leaders as well as cards of blessing to couples married in supporting parishes the past year. Local priests, sisters and deacons are invited to join high-schoolers for lunch.

 Friday, Feb. 3: Celebrate Catholic Schools in Our Faculty, Staff and Volunteers. Students will be writing thank-yous to school volunteers.
MASON CITY  Gov. Terry Branstad's proposal to decrease funding for community colleges by $8.7 million during the current budget year would mean a $436,050 cut for North Iowa Area Community College.

NIACC President Steve Schulz said the hit wouldn't stop there.

Branstad's three-year state funding plan for community colleges, including the reduction for the current fiscal year which ends on June 30, would require NIACC to cut a total of $687,830 during that time period, according to Schulz.

Branstad asks higher education to absorb biggest cut DES MOINES  Of the areas Gov. Terry Branstad wants to reduce in the current budget year to 

That figure doesn't take into account insurance increases, raises in salary for faculty and staff, increases in building and equipment costs, and other general fund increases, he said.

"Tough decisions are ahead of us," Schulz said.

He said he was on the phone last week with legislators representing North Iowa, and they told him they would take up the issue of community college funding right away.

Schulz expects the actual amount to be cut for the current budget year will be determined within a week. The cut is required because state revenue is coming in behind projections.

In the meantime, "We'll start tightening our belts," he said.

The college has some open job positions that "we are going to sit on for a while," Schulz said.

The NIACC administration also has sent out memos to staff advising only spending on essential items such as travel.

Last year the NIACC board, acting on an administrative recommendation, chose not to increase the tuition rate for the spring semester.

"We are not going to tack on an additional fee at this point," Schulz said.

However, he said the college will take a look at how much tuition will need to be increased for the fall semester as part of the strategy for dealing with the cut in state funding beginning July 1.

Schulz said he hopes the amount of that cut will be determined soon so NIACC officials can begin making adjustments.

Those adjustments could include the college's program offerings, which is a great concern, according to Schulz.

NIACC serves a variety of populations in North Iowa, including traditional students planning to transfer to a four-year college as well as non-traditional students looking for retraining or additional skills to advance their careers, he said.

"The whole system is scurrying to meet the work force needs of our area," he said.

The college's mission is to help people transcend "barriers of all kinds," including financial and language ones, according to Schulz.

"This (state funding cuts) makes our job that much more difficult," he said.

The NIACC board's regular monthly meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in Room 100 of the administration building on campus.

The agenda includes preliminary approval of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year and setting a public hearing on it.
CLEAR LAKE | Several North Iowa officials hoping to land their community a spot as an overnight RAGBRAI host plan to attend the route announcement Saturday in Des Moines.

So far, no one's saying what eight cities the Register's Great Annual Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will stop in when it rolls across the state July 23-29.

A number of North Iowa cities applied to be part of the 2017 event and officials from at least two  Clear Lake and Charles City  plan to be on hand at the route announcement at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Charles City Administrator Steve Diers was optimistic about the city's chances of being selected.

"If Charles City has an opportunity to be announced as a RAGBRAI community, we'd like to be down there to support that and share that experience," he said. "But I have no idea of it's going to happen or not."

Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb, Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Callanan and City Administrator Scott Flory plan to attend Saturday's ceremony.

The city, which hosted RAGBRAI in 2010, has also applied to be a stop on this year's ride.

However, Flory said Clear Lake's representation at Saturday's event does not mean the city is a sure thing to host a stop this year.

RAGBRAI riders cross generations as well as the state WAVERLY | A veteran RAGBRAI rider introduced his 8-year-old son to the event Thursday as the

No one from Clear Lake was on hand when it was selected in 2010.

"There really is no emphatic correlation that can be drawn between the two  attending and being selected," Flory said via email.

Clear Lake was a pass-through community in 2014, the year Mason City and Forest City were overnight stops.

Mason City Manager Brent Trout said the city applied to be on this year's route but he didn't expect to be chosen again so quickly after hosting RAGBRAI.

"We enjoyed the opportunity the last time they came, so we submitted all the information," he said. "But we also realize they spread that around."

Forest City Administrator Barb Smith wasn't sure if the city applied to host a stop on the 2017 route.

She said officials don't plan to attend this year's route announcement, but hope to be part of the ride in the future.

"It's a good community thing," Smith said. "It brings people to town."

Praise for RAGBRAI's Mason City stop MASON CITY | Local law enforcement and downtown merchants are calling the Register's Annual 

Another North Iowa city that has hosted multiple RAGBRAI stops, Algona, also will not be represented at the announcement.

The city, which applied to host this year, was an overnight city in 2010. It was the stop before Clear Lake.

"Nobody knows ahead of time until they announce it whether you're going to be a host community or not," said Algona City Administrator Curt Wiseman. "I guess we're just waiting until then to hear."
CLEAR LAKE | Firefighters called to check out a suspicious object someone feared might be a person in the icy waters of Clear Lake instead found a bird.

The object was spotted about 12:15 p.m. Tuesday in the open water created by aerators off City Beach.

Firefighters determined the floating object was a bird, not a person, said Clear Lake Assistant Fire Chief Mike Keefe.

"Most likely a goose," he said.

Fog hanging over the lake early Tuesday afternoon made it difficult to clearly see the object, Keefe said.

"It was a little harder to tell exactly what it was," he said.

-- Molly Montag
NEW DELHI: Twenty five children from different parts of the country have been selected for Indian Council for Child Welfare's (ICCW) National Bravery Awards to be presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 23.

Four of the awards are posthumous.

The Bharat Award has been conferred to 8-year-old Tarh Peju of Arunachal Pradesh, who sacrificed her life in an attempt to save two of her friends from drowning.

Roluahpuii and Lalhriatpuii from Mizoram, and Tushar Verma from Chattisgarh have been given Bapu Gaidhani Award posthumously.

While Roluahpuii saved two girls from drowning at the cost of her own life, Lalhriatpuii sacrificed her life in an effort to save her cousin in a car accident and Tushar Verma lost his life in trying to extinguish a fire in his neighbour's shed.

The Geeta Chopra Award has been conferred on 18-year-old Tejasweeta Pradhan and 17-year old Shivani Gond of West Bengal who showed immense courage in fearlessly helping the police and the NGO in uncovering an international sex racket leading to the arrest its mastermind here.

The Sanjay Chopra Award has been conferred to 15-year-old Sumit Mamgain of Uttarakhand who displayed outstanding bravery in fighting a leopard to save his cousin.

"These awards were initiated to give due recognition to to the children who distinguish themselves by performing outstanding deeds of bravery and to inspire other children to emulate their example," ICCW President Gita Siddhartha told IANS.

The selection was made by a high powered committee comprising representatives of various ministries, NGOs as well as office bearers of ICCW.

"Eligible awardees will be granted financial assistance until they complete their schooling," Siddhartha said, adding that the government has also reserved some seats for them in medical and engineering colleges and polytechnics.

Read Also:

India Among Top Six Promising Markets, But Slips One Notch

Ola Joins Apollo Hospitals For Road Safety
WASHINGTON: Indian-Americans are experiencing unprecedented political success in the U.S., where the community comprise 1 pct of the total population and for the first time ever they now also make up 1 pct of the Congress, a media report said today.

US Congress has 535 voting members: 435 Representatives and 100 Senators. And during last year's elections four of the community members were elected to the Congress, while a fifth member won re-election to a third-term.

Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Kamala Harris were elected to the US Congress last year, and Ami Bera won re-election to a third term.

This represents the largest number of Indian Americans to ever serve in Congressional history, Forbes reported.

Judge Dilip Singh Saund became the first Asian American to be elected to Congress in 1956. Nearly four decades later, Bobby Jindal was elected to the House of Representatives from Louisiana before launching a successful gubernatorial bid in the state.

"Indian Americans are approximately 1 pct of the US population and for the first time ever they now make up 1 pct of the US Congress," said MR Rangaswami, the founder of the San Francisco-based nonprofit Indiaspora.

"This doesn't count the scores of Indian-Americans senior staffers serving on Capitol Hill working for dozens of members on both sides of the aisle," he told the magazine.

Beyond the legislative branch, Donald Trump's election to the White House is also proving a boon to some members of the community. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has been tapped to become the first ever Indian-American US Ambassador to the UN while Indiana native Seema Verma has been nominated by the president-elect to run the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Since American immigration laws were liberalised in 1965, Indians traveled to the US in record numbers and the Indian American community has become the wealthiest, most educated diaspora in the country.

While they have dominated the medical, engineering and computer science industries for decades, Indian Americans are only recently experiencing a commensurate level of achievement in public life, according to the report.

Read Also:

Indian-American Entrepreneur Under Consideration To Lead FDA

Indian-American Lawmakers Get Key U.S. Congressional Panels

Source: PTI
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An accident is causing delays in New Dorp, according to the MTA website.

The S57 and X1 buses are running with delays in both directions due to a non-MTA accident at Amboy Road and 1st Street.

The S57 and X1 buses are running with delays in both directions due to a non MTA accident at Amboy Road and 1 Street, the MTA indicates. (Google Maps)

The MTA suggests to allow additional travel time.

The delays are the result of a car accident that occurred on Amboy Road and Prospect Place, according to a FDNY spokesman.

A car hit a pole leaving two people in serious but stable conditions and one person with minor injuries, the spokesman said.

Amboy Road was closed between 1st Street and Prospect Place.

The three patients were transported to the Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, the spokesman said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Calling all local musicians, actors, filmmakers, writers, photographers and entrepreneurs: If you're looking to meet more than 100 other creative minds, clear your schedule for Thursday evening.

"Fresh Start," this month's arts networking mixer hosted by Fifth Borough Media and Staten Island Talent, two home-grown organizations, invites all to Edgewater Hall from 7 to 9:30 p.m Thursday.

The admission fee: a passion for the arts and a semi-decent personality.

"I hope that [this event] connects people, not just on one side of the Island," said Jonathan Joseph, Creative Director of Fifth Borough Media. "There's a lot of talent that I haven't met before-- whether it be the age gap or distance-- so, this is a great way to get everyone together."

Fifth Borough Media and Staten Island Talent have been creating monthly meet-ups since late last year in an effort to bring talent from all over the Island under one roof to meet, chat and make long-lasting business connections.

"This is an opportunity to put the cream of the crop of Staten Island in one room," said Joseph. "It's sort of our obligation to show other people who we are."

"Fresh Start" is sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City. With January being National Mentoring Month, "Fresh Start" is just one of many events the organization is involved with to advocate the positive attributes of mentorship and recruit others to join in.

"Part of the whole [mentee to mentor] match process is to get those who match the interests of our mentees," said Kheaton Scott, Community Outreach Coordinator of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City. "Funding this event is a great way to meet those with common interests and recruit mentors from there."

NOT JUST THE 'FORGOTTEN' BOROUGH

Michael Perina, owner of Assembyl 3D Printing and another creative force behind "Fresh Start," said the goal of this event is to highlight the "incredible art community we have" and "help reshape Staten Island's image, as well as facilitating great minds coming together and collaborate."

"Staten Island isn't really seen as the forgotten borough these days but our image is still tainted with negative stereotypes," said Perina. "There is tremendous talent on Staten Island that most people don't realize is here."

Jahtiek Long, director of creative outreach at Staten Island Talent, says Staten Island is a blank canvas and local artists hold the brush.

"We have the opportunity to define the Staten Island culture," said Long. "There are so many different types of artists on the Island and the fact that the community is coming together is beautiful."

"We all want the same thing for Staten Island-- for it to come together and flourish," Long added.

HERE'S THE LINEUP

Each attendee of "Fresh Start" receives one raffle ticket to put toward prizes donated by local businesses. Prizes include an $100 gift basket from Hypnotronic Comics in St. George, a free website from Fifth Borough Media, a pair of tickets to Amazing Escape Room, a 3D Printed Staten Island Map from Assembyl 3D and an $100 Drawing Class from SMB Studios.

Some of Staten Island's best will perform original tunes and showing off their artwork at the mixer. The lineup consists of local musicians Amanda Courtright, Chris Mira, Daniel Joseph Rosario and BackUp.

Attendees also can admire the art of Raul Barquet, Davon Campbell, La Femme Cheri, Geek Emporium, Goyart, Harry Magzul, J Montana, Keri Sheheen, Sharpy and one of SILive's "Photographers to follow on Instagram," Tabitha Turchio.

IF YOU GO...

Thursday's mixer starts at 7 p.m. at 691 Bay St. in Stapleton. Those looking to attend should RSVP through the Facebook event page beforehand.

Want to get involved in the next meet-up? Email info@statenislandtalent.com or call 718-688-4675 to find out how. For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, visit BigsNYC.com.
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The VIP V&G Deli in Meiers Corners. (Pamela Silvestri/Staten Island Advance)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city is looking to shut down three Staten Island delis for one year after the stores were raided for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes.

Last summer, authorities recovered hundreds of packs of illegal smokes at the Old Town Deli in Grasmere, the VIP V&G Deli in Meiers Corners and the Zeina Deli in West Brighton and arrested four men in connection with the incidents, according to court documents filed earlier this month.

The city wants to shutter each establishment for allegedly violating the nuisance abatement law, court records show.

On Sept. 6, the NYPD executed a search warrant at the Old Town Deli at 203 Old Town Road and seized 300 packs of untaxed cigarettes, according to court documents. The packs had Virginia tax stamps, officials said.

Sheib Alzawquari, 24, of Brooklyn, and Salah Al Lahabi, 28, of Cuba Avenue in New Dorp Beach, were arrested at the deli and charged with possession or selling of unstamped cigarettes and violation of local law, police said.

On July 13, police confiscated 150 packs of untaxed cigarettes at the VIP V&G Deli at 2003 Victory Blvd., according to court papers.

Salim Khalfaoui, 43, of South Avenue in Mariners Harbor, was arrested at the deli two days later and charged with possession or selling of unstamped cigarettes, police said.

Also on July 13, authorities raided the Zeina Deli located at 419 Forest Ave. and recovered 62 packs of untaxed cigarettes, court papers said.

The fourth man, Sayed Salahuddin, was arrested, but the case is sealed, according to a law enforcement source.

On Tuesday, the sheriff's office announced two arrests for illegal cigarettes on the South Shore.
IDNYC.jpg

Michael Luscher and Justin Clifford, both 18, at the Staten Island Business Center to sign up for the city's municipal ID. January 12, 2015 (Staten Island Advance/Hilton Flores)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - A judge hearing the lawsuit against the city's municipal ID card program has extended the case yet again into February, keeping in place an order not to destroy the documents associated with IDNYC.

On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Philip G. Minardo heard testimony from Ed Mullins, president of the NYPD's Sergeants Benevolent Association, and John Burnett, a former candidate for city comptroller with a banking background, both called as witnesses for the petitioners.

Minardo will decide whether Assembly members Ron Castorina Jr. and Nicole Malliotakis are right to request that the city maintain background documents or whether the city can move forward with its plans to destroy the copies of birth certificates, foreign and U.S. visas and passports, lease agreements, utility bills and other personal documents that 1 million New York City residents produced while applying for the ID card since January 2015.

Castorina and Malliotakis argue the records should be maintained for law enforcement investigating crimes. They also argue that destroying the documents would violate the Freedom of Information law that requires government documents be made available to the public upon request.

The city argues retaining the records for two years, as it has done, is enough, and there's no need to keep them longer.

Its lawyers argue in favor of the privacy interests of the residents who have personal documents on file in the city agency.

Since early December, the city ceased collecting copies of personal documents from people applying for the card.

Minardo hasn't indicated how he views the arguments, oftentimes scolding lawyers for both the Assembly members and the city when he doesn't like their questioning.

In court in St. George on Wednesday, Burnett, a Republican who ran for city comptroller in 2013, spoke about his belief that banks should not accept the municipal card as a valid form of ID.

The card, he argues, doesn't meet requirements for many large banks' risk-based profiles, and they should only accept the card as a secondary form of ID.

Burnett suggested the office of Comptroller Scott Stringer, his opponent in the 2013 election, should audit the IDNYC program.

Mullins also spoke Wednesday, a few weeks after writing a letter to Minardo, agreeing with Malliotakis and Castorina that the records should be retained for law enforcement when investigating crimes.

He said the ID program is a good one that helps bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and makes them more willing to report crimes.

"My concern with it is the destruction of data," he said. "Every little detail is of value" in an investigation.

He rejected an argument that NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller made on Jan. 5 when testifying on behalf of the city, saying retaining the documents may subject them to hacking.

That would make all other city records subject to hacking, Mullins argued.

"If he believes that, we should be doing something to prevent that," he said.

Minardo tasked attorneys for both sides with drafting post-hearing memos, including letters of support, and submitting them to him by Feb. 1. He said he will make a decision shortly thereafter.

Until then, the temporary restraining order on the city not to destroy the records remains in effect.
garner.jpeg

A federal grand jury is hearing evidence in the Eric Garner case, according to the New York Post.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A federal grand jury in Brooklyn is hearing evidence in the Eric Garner case as officials rush to secure an indictment before Donald Trump takes office Friday, according to the New York Post.

Prosecutors from Washington, D.C. are presenting the case to the panel, and seek civil rights charges against NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, the report said.

On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the federal probe was coming "down to the wire," and said he was told there would be an "answer" from the U.S. Justice Department on the federal civil rights investigation before the end of the Obama administration.

"The answer always was, you know, by the end of the administration there would be some kind of answer on how they were proceeding," de Blasio said at an unrelated event on Tuesday. "So obviously, we've come down to the wire here."

Garner, 43, died July 17, 2014, while officers were arresting him for allegedly selling untaxed, loose cigarettes in Tompkinsville.

The federal government launched an investigation after his death to determine if Pantaleo, the officer seen in the video bringing Garner down from behind, violated Garner's civil rights.

A state grand jury declined to indict Pantaleo in December 2014.

On Saturday, the Washington Post had reported that Attorney General Loretta Lynch would be leaving office without resolving the Garner case.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Pedro Abad, the former Linden, N.J. police officer charged in a fatal, wrong-way crash on the West Shore Expressway two years ago, returns to court Wednesday to face a new judge and with less potential defense options.

Abad was dealt two blows recently when no trace of GHB, the so-called date rape drug, was discovered in a blood sample taken from him after the March 20, 2015 wreck.

And last month, state Supreme Court Justice Stephen J. Rooney denied a defense motion to suppress blood samples and to controvert a warrant used to obtain those samples.

In addition, a recent follow-up test performed by defense experts determined Abad's blood-alcohol content was .22 percent, said Mario F. Gallucci, his lawyer.

That's just slightly lower than the reading of .24 percent, which prosecutors maintain the original results of the blood tests showed.

The legal threshold for driving while intoxicated in New York is .08 percent, which means that Abad's blood alcohol content was either three times the legal limit or just below that mark.

Prosecutors allege Abad, 29, was drunk when he plowed into a tractor trailer shortly before 5 a.m., killing two passengers in his car - Joseph Rodriguez and Linden Police Officer Frank Viggiano, both 28.

Abad was badly injured in the wreck as was another passenger, former Linden Police Officer Patrik Kudlac.

Abad and his three passengers had been drinking at Curves, a Charleston strip club, shortly before the crash, said authorities.

Abad was indicted in September of last year on a slew of charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter.

In December, Rooney assigned the case to Justice Mario F. Mattei, who will preside over future proceedings, including a trial, if there is one.

Prosecutors and the defense will appear before Mattei on Wednesday to discuss the case.
Show us the list, Gov. Branstad.

Terry Branstad reiterated his goal to defund Planned Parenthood in his Condition of the State address. Send the money to other clinics that don't perform a constitutionally protected procedure, he argues. It's not a new position for the long-time, outgoing governor. But, this time, Democrats lack the power to stop it.

Not a penny of federal or state cash is spent on abortions and hasn't been for years. In fact, abortions are just 3 percent of the organization's total national caseload. Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer screenings and contraception make up the bulk of Planned Parenthood's services, according to the organization's annual report. Planned Parenthood operates 12 clinics in Iowa.

Branstad's ideologically driven pitch isn't novel, mind you. He's following a well-warn trail blazed one way or another from Texas to Indiana, where crackdowns shuttered clinics and left thousands of poor women without reproductive care. They, too, drafted lists of "alternative" clinics where treatment is supposedly available for women. The results aren't particularly reassuring.

Florida tried this exact same approach last year. It's so-called list, including dental offices and school nurses, made it an overnight laughingstock. Things got worse when the Zika virus spread through Miami. Gov. Rick Scott, a proponent of the anti-Planned Parenthood movement, had no choice but to seek the organization's help in spreading the word and doling out condoms. No other medical network had the means or the expertise. Scott learned the hard way.

Indiana's draconian no-funding policy shuttered clinics and weakened Planned Parenthood throughout the state, which was the point. And within a year, an HIV outbreak  centered in poor, rural towns with a heroin problem  only made the sudden dearth of STD and contraception services more obvious.

Yet Branstad's administration was unable to provide details when pressed. It's a shocking lack of preparation for a such a sweeping policy shift.

Look, we get it. Science doesn't consider a life viable until it functions on its own. Hence the legal definition of a fetus. But there's no doubt some highly subjective gray area in when a life begins. This issue segregates this editorial board just like the rest of society. And the rape and incest situations only further confuse an already-complicated debate between the head and the heart.

Research has shown contraception to be best method at reducing the number of abortions. And it's a realm where Planned Parenthood shines.

It's also an incontrovertible fact that, at present, abortion access is a constitutional right. Laws like what's now circulating Iowa are, in a very real sense, little more than obvious attempts to limit access. Texas' attempts to kill clinics resulted in women having to drive hundreds of miles for care, essentially locking out the poorest.

But the fact remains that similar recent experiments have exposed the important role Planned Parenthood uniquely fills in society, a lesson Florida and Indiana officials learned the hard way. Through its network of clinics and army of volunteers, it's positioned to respond to STD outbreaks in a way that no other organization can. It offers reproductive care to women who are isolated, either by geography or economics. Planned Parenthood is more than abortions, regardless of what the misinformation campaign says. Right now, it's best positioned to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.

And Branstad and his administration still can't explain how that gap would be filled.

Branstad's proposal could take all that away from thousands of Iowans. That's unless his list can accomplish what previous attempts have failed to do.

-- By the Quad-City Times, another Lee Enterprises newspaper.
Federal environmental policy often produces conflicting results. On one hand, the Environmental Protection Agency has promulgated a Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. On the other, Washington uses incentives and mandates to promote the use of ethanol in transportation fuel, even though environmental groups say ethanol is worse for the climate than gasoline.

Recently, the Bureau of Land Management decided to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota by vetoing a proposed nickel and copper mine that could have polluted it. Good enough.

But government programs also can be harmful.

"Decades of fire suppression by the Forest Service have disrupted natural fire cycles and turned many western forests into tinderboxes waiting to burn," writes Terry Anderson and Reed Watson of the Property and Environment Research Center in Bozeman, Montana.

Getting the entire federal government to push in the same direction is no easy task, given the many agencies that have a hand in environmental issues. Getting the right balance between sensible protection and wasteful folly is also hard. Add to that a new complexity: the widespread fear that Donald Trump will surrender America's public outdoors to extraction industries, big game hunters and private landholders.

Environmental groups such as those that work to protect and restore wolves, bears and other species are alarmed by some of the president-elect's appointees.

"How many threats to wildlife and the environment can Trump fit into one Cabinet?" one leading group, Defenders of Wildlife, asks on its website.

And that's only one realm of concern. The incoming administration already has indicated it has some misplaced priorities. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, nominated to head the EPA, sued to block the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan, which limited emissions from power plants, and its regulations on methane, a potent greenhouse gas. All this fits with the president-elect's vow to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and end what he calls "(President) Obama's war on coal."

Because those EPA rules are already in place, the next administration can't simply scrap them. Undoing them would require it to go through a laborious process, followed by a protracted barrage of legal challenges.

Given the value of the regulations in moderating the long-term danger of global warming as well as protecting public health in the short term, we hope Trump decides not to reverse course. The shift away from coal has come about mostly because of its relatively high cost, not government dictates, and it's unrealistic to think he could -- or should -- turn it around. Climate change is not the sort of problem that will go away if the president ignores it.

There are, however, steps his administration could take to reduce regulatory costs in an environmentally smart way. Trump's pledge to expand oil and gas leasing on federal lands may help combat climate change by increasing the supply of natural gas, which emits far less carbon dioxide than coal. Federal fuel economy standards for cars and trucks -- a clumsy, inefficient method to cut gasoline consumption -- should be phased out. Congress and the EPA ought to stop pushing ethanol.

Pruitt shares our dislike of the government's ethanol mandate, which -- mostly as a sop to farm state voters -- requires that refiners mix increasingly large percentages of biofuels into gasoline.

Trump also could embrace an option that would simultaneously benefit the environment and reduce costs to the taxpayer and the economy. It's an idea long favored by his nominee for secretary of state, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson: a carbon tax.

By raising the costs of fuels according to the damage they do, this remedy would use market forces to get the biggest bang for the buck. By creating tangible incentives, it would eliminate the need for the government's tangle of renewable-fuel subsidies, fuel economy requirements and various gimmicks meant to alter how people behave.

Harvard's Gregory Mankiw, chairman of the president's Council of Economic Advisers under George W. Bush, has explained how proponents want "to put a price on carbon and incentivize people to reduce carbon emissions through a variety of different channels, allowing individuals to figure out what's the best way to do that. Is it best to drive smaller cars? Is it best to carpool to work? Is it best to move closer to work? Is it best to commit to public transportation?"

The funds collected could be used to cut other taxes -- corporate or individual -- so there is no change in the total tax burden. That would enhance the benefits to the overall economy even as it reduces the federal role in our lives.

Many presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, are remembered long after for their achievements in preserving and protecting air, water, wildlife and wild places. The incumbent has made some valuable contributions. Trump would be wise to focus not on dismantling Obama's legacy but on building his own.

-- By the Chicago Tribune, a Tribune News Service newspaper
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DENVER, Jan. 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. (NYSE:BCEI) (Bonanza Creek or the Company) today announced that it received an unsolicited inquiry from Bill Barrett Corporation (Bill Barrett) regarding a potential transaction between Bonanza Creek and Bill Barrett.

From time to time, the Company receives unsolicited inquiries from third parties regarding potential transactions involving or relating to the Companys assets. Following the Company and its subsidiaries commencement of chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the Chapter 11 Cases) on January 4, 2017 and the announcement of its prepackaged plan of reorganization, the Company anticipated that it might receive additional, similar unsolicited inquiries during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases.

Consistent with the Companys obligations as a debtor in possession in the Chapter 11 Cases, the Company agreed to review the potential transaction proposed by Bill Barrett in its unsolicited inquiry and entered into a confidentiality agreement with Bill Barrett (the Confidentiality Agreement) on January 16, 2017. On January 17, 2017, Bill Barrett disclosed the existence of, and the fact that the Company entered into, the Confidentiality Agreement in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC (the Bill Barrett Form 8-K). The Company was given no prior notice that Bill Barrett intended to file the Bill Barrett Form 8-K, and the Company views the filing of the Bill Barrett Form 8-K as a violation of the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement. In keeping with the agreement it made with Bill Barrett pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement, the Company does not intend to publicly comment further on this matter at this time, and no party should presume that the Companys failure to comment further on this matter is an indication of the Companys position with respect to the unsolicited inquiry it received from Bill Barrett.

About Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.

Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of onshore oil and associated liquids-rich natural gas in the United States. The Companys assets and operations are concentrated primarily in the Rocky Mountains in the Wattenberg Field, focused on the Niobrara and Codell formations, and in southern Arkansas, focused on oily Cotton Valley sands. The Companys common shares are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol: BCEI. For more information about the Company, please visit www.bonanzacrk.com. Please note that the Company routinely posts important information about the Company under the Investor Relations section of its website.
HOUSTON, Jan. 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanchez Energy Corporation (NYSE:SN) (Sanchez Energy or the Company), plans to host an Analyst Day Conference in New York on Monday, January 23, 2017 with management presentations starting at 9:00 am Eastern Time. A webcast of the presentation and slide deck will be available in the Investors section of the Companys website at www.sanchezenergycorp.com.



ABOUT SANCHEZ ENERGY CORPORATION

Sanchez Energy Corporation (NYSE:SN) is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources, with a current focus on the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas where we have assembled over 200,000 net acres. For more information about Sanchez Energy Corporation, please visit our website: www.sanchezenergycorp.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains, and our officers and representatives may from time to time make, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Sanchez Energy expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to capital expenditures for and completion of Carnero Gathering and Carnero Processing, Sanchez Energys ability to receive future payments from SPP and the expected benefits of the Carnero Gathering Transaction, Carnero Processing Transaction, Production Asset Transaction and the transaction with Carrizo. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management's experience, perception of historical trends and technical analyses, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate and reasonable by management. When used in this press release, the words "will," "potential," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "plan," "predict," "project," "profile," "model," "strategy," "future," or their negatives, other similar expressions or the statements that include those words, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.

Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Sanchez Energy, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to failure of our joint ventures to perform as anticipated, inability to close announced transactions, failure or delays on the part of our joint venture partners, failure to continue to produce oil and gas at historical rates, costs of operations, delays, and any other difficulties related to producing oil or gas or completing our ongoing joint venture projects, the price of oil or gas, marketing and sales of produced oil and gas, estimates made in evaluating reserves, competition, general economic conditions and the ability to manage our growth, our expectations regarding our future liquidity, our expectations regarding the results of our efforts to improve the efficiency of our operations to reduce our costs and other factors described in Sanchez Energy's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates to those risk factors set forth in Sanchez Energy's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Further information on such assumptions, risks and uncertainties is available in Sanchez Energy's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Sanchez Energy's filings with the SEC are available on our website at www.sanchezenergycorp.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events anticipated by Sanchez Energy's forward-looking statements may not occur, and, if any of such events do occur, Sanchez Energy may not have correctly anticipated the timing of their occurrence or the extent of their impact on its actual results. Accordingly, you should not place any undue reliance on any of Sanchez Energy's forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and Sanchez Energy undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
FORM 8.3

PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY

A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser: Jupiter Asset Management Ltd (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):

The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/ offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:

Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Deutsche Boerse AG (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held /dealing undertaken:

For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 17th January 2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?

If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" Yes

London Stock Exchange Group PLC





2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

Class of relevant security:



Tendered Ordinary



Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 6,256,131 3.35 (2) Cash-settled derivatives:



(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:



TOTAL: 6,256,131 3.35

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options)

Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: None Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: None

3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security Purchase/sale



Number of securities Price per unit Ordinary - Tender Purchase 85,000 EUR 77.76 Ordinary - Tender Sale 85,000 EUR 77.76

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. CFD Nature of dealing

e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit None

(c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type

e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit None

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security Product description

e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit None





(d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

Class of relevant security Nature of dealing

e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) None





4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:

Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"



None





(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:

(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or

(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:

If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none"







None

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO

Date of disclosure: 18th January 2017 Contact name: Nabeel Ashraf Telephone number: 0203 817 1407

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
Many people keep potatoes on hand, and here are amazing Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipes from food bloggers all around the web! And this post has 30 different recipes for potato soup to make in the slow cooker, enjoy!

PIN Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipes to try some later.

Today were updating this collection of Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipes from great food bloggers from around the web. Do you agree that potato soup is a comforting cold-weather meal thats always a hit?

For me, my moms potato soup is one of my food memories from childhood and I bet its a popular dinner idea in most families. And Im sure a lot of people have potato soup ingredients in the house, so its a great way to make a meal without having to go to the store.

A few of these recipes have been favorites on the site, and some are brand new here, but they all sound like cold weather comfort food! I hope you find a potato soup recipe here that seems like a winner for your family!

What kinds of Crock Pot Potato Soup will you find here?

This collection has a wide variety of potato soup variations, including recipes with corn, cheese, sour cream, bacon, ground turkey, Kielbasa, cabbage, cauliflower, beans, leeks, and more! If you explore the links a bit I think youll be amazed at the wide variety of ideas here for potato soup!

Want Instant Pot Potato Soup?

If you prefer using the Instant Pot for soup, check out Instant Pot Soup Potato Soup Recipes.

How do you get the complete recipe?

Just click any recipe title to see that recipe on the original blog. All photos are copyrighted to the blog that originally posted the recipe.

Crockpot Potato Soup from Well Plated

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Loaded Baked Potato Soup

from Easy Cheesy Vegetarian

Slow Cooker Sour Cream Potato Bacon Soup

from 365 Days of Slow + Pressure Cooking

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

from Gimme Some Oven

Slow Cooker Turkey and Potato Soup

from Cookin Canuck

Slow Cooker Cauliflower Potato Soup

from Aggies Kitchen

Slow Cooker Kielbasa, Cabbage, and Potato Soup

from Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Slow Cooker Potato Bacon Corn Chowder

from Creme de la Crumb

CrockPot Skinny Potato Soup

from Carlsbad Cravings

Slow Cooker Vichyssoise (Leek and Potato Soup) from Diethood

20 More Potato Soups to Make in the Slow Cooker:

(Visited 3,058 times, 4 visits today)
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Research done by an Australian National University professor half a century ago has contributed to the discovery of a new primate named after Star Wars character Luke Skywalker.

Chinese researchers have used Emeritus Professor Colin Groves' 1960s study on Hoolock gibbons to confirm there are three distinct species of the primate. Professor Groves was the first to detect there were two.

Research from the Australian National University's Colin Groves has contributed to the discovery of a new species of primate - the Hoolock tianxing, or the Skywalker Hoolock gibbon. Credit:Peng-Fei Fan

"There were certain proportional differences in the teeth and skulls in particular," he said of his early research.

"Externally there are quite clear differences in the markings as well, highlighted by the male's white pubic tassel."
A man accused of assaulting his partner at Canberra Hospital had previously forcibly injected the woman with heroin, a court has been told.

The Reid man, 38, was charged with assaulting the woman earlier this month and faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday for allegedly breaching his bail condition to stay away from her.

The woman was allegedly assaulted after an argument with her partner at Canberra Hospital on Saturday. Credit:Gabriele Charotte

He has not yet entered a plea.

The court heard he was arrested after police were called to Canberra Hospital following reports the accused had struck his partner in the face, causing her to slam her head against a wall as she fell, on Saturday.
Two separate fires north of Canberra had been brought under control by Thursday morning, with NSW firefighters working through the night aided by favourable conditions and ACT crews.

NSW Rural Fire Service spokesperson Greg Allen said crews, including volunteers from across the ACT and NSW, were looking forward to a well-earned break.

Eight aircraft were involved in holding the fire east of Sutton Road Credit:Jamila Toderas

The grassfire burning since Tuesday in the Tarago / Currandooley region was beginning to be brought under control after destroying more than 3300 hectares. It had since been downgraded to advice level.

"Crews have worked though the night to continue building and strengthening containment lines," Mr Allen said, with the plan for those lines to hold the fire so crews could contain it.
Dublin, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market, 2016 - 2026" report to their offering.



The "Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market, 2016 - 2026" report provides an extensive study of the current market landscape of CMOs focused on vaccines.



The report assesses the key drivers that have governed the evolution of vaccine contract manufacturing market over the past several years, along with an elaborate discussion on the future trends that are likely to shape the market in the coming years. One of the focus areas of this study is to estimate size of the future opportunity for vaccine CMOs market over the next decade, segmented on the basis of business operations, type of expression systems and key regions.



Although big pharma players prefer to carry out most of these processes in-house, they are gradually entering into long-term partnerships with trusted contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). On the other hand, smaller and emerging players have been known to outsource a relatively larger share of their clinical development and commercial manufacturing processes to contract manufacturing partners. The landscape is rapidly evolving. CMOs aiming to consolidate their presence in the market are expanding their service portfolios to provide end-to-end services to their clients and sponsors.



Chapter Outlines



Chapter 2 provides an executive summary of the key insights captured in our research. The summary offers a high level view on the current status of the vaccine contract manufacturing market and where it is headed in the mid-long term.



Chapter 3 is a general introduction to vaccines. The chapter also includes an overview of the various expression systems used in the development of different vaccines and their related manufacturing procedures. It also provides an elaborate discussion on the need for outsourcing vaccine development and manufacturing processes. In this chapter, we have also presented a list of commonly outsourced biomanufacturing activities that we came across during the course of our research. The chapter also features a section dedicated to the challenges associated with the market.



Chapter 4 provides a comprehensive overview of the global landscape of vaccine CMOs. The chapter includes in-depth analysis based on regional distribution, scale of operation, manufacturing capabilities, type of vaccines manufactured and expression systems used.



Chapter 5 features an analysis of the trends, regulatory landscape and highlights the key players in vaccine contract manufacturing located in the US and Europe, the two leading geographies in this market. The chapter also provides a sub-market forecast for vaccine contract manufacturing segmented on the basis of expression systems used.



Chapter 6 provides details of vaccine contract manufacturing activities in China and India. It includes information on the regulatory framework, growth drivers and challenges associated with vaccine contract manufacturing in these regions. It also provides a high-level view on the production capabilities of some the key players in these emerging geographies. Additionally, a sub-market forecast for vaccine contract manufacturing segmented on the basis of expression systems used is also included in this chapter.



Chapter 7 presents an analysis of the recent developments in the vaccine contract manufacturing market. It provides a listing of the partnerships established in the recent past, along with an overview of other observed market trends, including investments and facility expansions.



Chapter 8 presents a detailed market forecast for the vaccine contract manufacturing market. Additionally, we have analyzed the future potential for specific geographies across the globe and in terms of the type of expression systems used. To account for the uncertain nature of the market, we have presented three different tracks of market evolution, namely the conservative, base and optimistic scenarios.



Chapter 9 provides a SWOT analysis capturing the key elements that are likely to influence the market's future.



Chapter 10 highlights future trends that are likely to emerge in the evolving vaccine contract manufacturing market. It includes brief discussions on important aspects such as the adoption of innovative technologies and a shift to strategic partnering. The chapter also addresses the growing market demand and how it is likely to influence the future growth and evolution of this market.



Chapter 11 is a summary of the entire report. It provides the key takeaways and presents our independent opinion of the vaccine CMOs market, based on the research and analysis described in the previous chapters.



Chapter 12 contains the transcripts of interviews conducted with representatives from renowned organizations engaged in this space.



Chapter 13 is an appendix that contains tabulated data and numbers for all the figures provided in the report.



Chapter 14 is an appendix that provides the list of companies and organizations mentioned in the report.



Companies Mentioned



3P Biopharmaceuticals

ABL

Acambis

Accugenix

Actavis

Advanced BioScience Laboratories

Advaxis

Aeras

Air Force Hospital, Guangzhou

AJ Biologics

Albany Molecular Research (AMRI)

Alexion

Algonomics

Altaris Capital Partner

AmbioPharm

AnaSpec

Aptuit

Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care

Association Sportive du Golf Club Val de l'Indre

Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration

Avid Bioservices

Bachem

Batavia Biosciences

Bavarian Nordic

Baxter BioPharma Solutions

BD Biosciences

Benchmark Vaccines

Bharat Biotech

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

BioCell Corporation

Biocon

BioConnections

BioConvergence

Biofabri

Bioline Group of Companies

Biological E

BioMARC

Biomay

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority

BioMotiv

Biopharmaceutical Development Program - Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

BioReliance Holdings

BioTechnique

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Biovest International

Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellence

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bryllan

CALIXAR

Canadian Animal Health Institute

Canadian Council on Animal Care

Catalent

Catalent Pharma Solutions

Celsis International

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CEPiA Sanofi (Transgene)

Cetus Corporation

CEVEC Pharmaceuticals

Charles River Laboratories International

Chimera Biotec

China Agricultural University

China National Biotec Group

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Cobra Biologics

Cook Pharmica

Council of the Chinese University of Hong Kong

Crucell Sweden

Cytovance Biologics

Daiichi Sankyo

Deltamune

Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories

Emergent BioSolutions

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Eubiologics

Eurogentec

European Medicines Agency

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Florida Biologix

Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies

Gallant Custom Laboratories

Gamma Vaccines

Genentech

GENEWIZ

GlaxoSmithKline

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations

GNH India

Goodwin Biotechnology

Government of India's Universal Immunisation Programme

Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing

GreenPak Biotech

Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute

Haffkine Institute

HALIX

Harbin Veterinary Research Institute

Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, China

HK Jockey Club Charities Trust

HLL Biotech

Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology

IDT Biologika

Immune Design

Immune Targeting Systems

ImmunoSite Technologies

ImVisioN Therapeutics

Index Ventures

Indian Council of Medical Research

Indian Immunologicals

Infectious Disease Research Institute

Innovation & Technology Commission, HKSAR Government, China

Integrity Bio

Intercell

International Medica Foundation

International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering

Interros Group

Inviragen

Irvine Pharmaceutical Services

Jubilant HollisterStier

KABS Pharmaceutical Services

Kaneka Corporation

KBI Biopharma

LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals

Lonza

Magellan Biosciences

MassBiologics

Medicago

Mefar Ilac (Birgi Mefar Group)

Meridian Life Science

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

Moderna Therapeutics

Mymetics Corporation

National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Novartis

Novasep

Novavax

NPO Petrovax Pharm

NTC

OctoPlus

Okairos

Oncotest

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

OSO Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturing (OsoBio)

Pacific GMP

Panacea Biotec

Paragon Bioservices

PATH

Pfenex

Pfizer

Pfizer CentreOne

Pharmapak

PharmaSynth

Premas Biotech

Prime European Therapeuticals

ProBioGen

Protagen

PX'Therapeutics

QuiaPEG

RAFAGEN

Recipharm

Richter-Helm

Riemser Pharma

SAFC

Sanofi

Sanofi Pasteur

Sartorius Stedim Biotech

Serum Institute

Shandong Zhaoxin Bio-tech Company

Shanghai Laboratory Animal Commission

ShangPharma

Sigma-Aldrich

South China Agricultural University

Statens Serum Institut

Stellar Biotechnologies

Swiss State Secretariat Education, Research and Innovation

SynCo Bio Partners

Technology Strategy Board

Temasek Life Sciences Ventures

The College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, China

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Tianjin CanSino Biotechnology

UK Medicines Control Agency

Unitech Pharma Group

United States Food and Drug Association

Univercells

University of Maryland

University of Oxford

University of Pennsylvania

Upperton

Vaccibody

Vacsera

Valneva

Vetter Pharma International

VGXI

Vibalogics

Vivalis

Vybion (Recombinant Protein Technologies and Products)

Waisman Biomanufacturing

Walter Reed Army Institute of Research - Pilot Bioproduction Facility

Wellcome Trust

WIL Research

World Trade Organization

WuXi AppTec

Zoetis

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fwlb9d/vaccine_contract




Hoddle Street killer Julian Knight has lost his latest bid to seek compensation from the Commonwealth for abuse allegedly suffered as a staff cadet at Duntroon nearly three decades ago.

Knight shot dead seven people and injured 19 when he carried out the massacre in Melbourne's north in 1987, weeks after he was kicked out of Canberra's Royal Military College for stabbing a superior officer.

Hoddle Street killer Julian Knight tried to sue the Commonwealth for damages over abuse allegedly suffered at Duntroon.

He has spent the past 30 years behind bars as he serves a life sentence.

Knight, who was last year declared a vexatious litigant for life in Victoria, has since launched a wave of lawsuits that included a failed bid to secure victim compensation from the ACT government and an effort to seek a transfer to Canberra's prison.
A new study has found links between medical researchers' financial ties with pharmaceutical companies and "positive" results in clinical trials.

The study was published on Wednesday in the British Medical Journal and completed by researchers at several United States' universities.

New research has found financial ties between the pharmaceutical industry and clinical trial researchers may be linked to 'positive' results. Credit:Jessica Shapiro

It brings more light to the broader debate surrounding financial ties between the pharmaceutical industry and researchers conducting studies, doctors prescribing such drugs and patient advocacy groups lobbying for approval of new medicines.

While financial ties are common, concerns remain about the influence of industry on study design, methods, results and interpretations; and results from previous studies of such ties have been conflicting, triggering this latest research paper.
Three-year deals aren't commonplace for AFL players once they enter their 30s, but such is the quality of Eddie Betts that Adelaide envisage him playing until close to his 34th birthday - at least.

The Crows announced on Wednesday that the exceptional small forward has signed a new three-year deal with the club, contracting him until the end of 2020.

Eddie Betts: The former Carlton player has signed a three-contract extension with Adelaide. Credit:Getty Images/AFL Media

Betts, who turned 30 in November, has been rewarded for an outstanding three seasons at West Lakes in which he has kicked 189 goals in 69 games. He has topped the club's goalkicking each season since joining on a lucrative deal as a restricted free agent from Carlton.

He was named All-Australian for a second consecutive season last year, kicking 75 goals and bagging his third goal-of-the-year award for an astonishing major against Greater Western Sydney in round 10 in front of his adoring fans at Adelaide Oval.
Rolls-Royce has agreed to pay authorities more than $US800 million ($A1.06 billion) to resolve charges of bribing officials in six countries in schemes that lasted more than a decade, the US Justice Department and UK Serious Fraud Office said in statements on Tuesday.

The company admitted to paying officials at state-run energy companies in Kazakhstan, Thailand, Brazil, Azerbaijan, Angola and Iraq more than $35 million in order to win contracts, the Justice Department said.

In a statement, the company's chief executive officer, Warren East, apologised "unreservedly" for the bribery schemes. The company had since overhauled its compliance rules and cut back on using intermediaries, the statement said.

Among the bribes, Rolls-Royce paid a Brazilian official $1.6 million through a middleman to win numerous oil equipment contracts from Petrobras, US authorities said.
As an Anglican minister who deals with the dying, I'm constantly moved by how those enduring end-of-life suffering are more concerned with the burden of care and sadness on their family. Those clamouring for the absolute right to choose need to consider what "choice" such selfless people will feel called to, once euthanasia is on the table.The nature of family and society is that we gladly sacrifice some degree of choice in order to cherish collective life and protect the vulnerable. The exceptional cases where palliative care fails are being weaponised to favour a hypothetical choice over those who will feel they have no choice. Jon Guyer Wentworth Falls Well said, Ed Rafferty (Letters, Jan 18). Reading the nay-sayer letters on euthanasia, you would think we were some archaic criminal society bent on killing off half the population.

Why would you allow doctors every day to make decisions on treatments to keep you alive and not trust them to be ethical in decisions about dying? When my time comes, I ask to be afforded the right to choose. While I hope I don't need euthanasia for palliative care, I also don't want to exist when I can no longer wipe my backside or feed myself. Mine would be to opt out in my own home, still in control of my bodily functions surrounded by my wonderful family, the GP and a bit of medication. That's dying with dignity. Instead this debate is forcing me and many others to contemplate over-dosing on prescribed medication. Elizabeth Kroon Randwick

I conclude from Paul Davies statement that he's alarmed by the comparisons of animal and human euthanasia by advocates, that he has not had a pet (Letters, January 18). I can't think of a better analogy than man's best friend when applying love and compassion in the final hours of life. Those who have enjoyed the love and company of a pet realise how hard parting can be but how much more intolerable is allowing a sentient being to suffer." Packing your best mate off to the vet knowing it's the last time you will ever see each other isn't an exercise of convenience but of compassion. There is nothing compassionate about prolonging the journey to death through pain and suffering when you love somebody or something enough to put their welfare above your own sensibilities. Then you are dispensing love not death. Christopher Woodley Vaucluse None of the advocates impress me with either reasons or arguments. Being able to "die with dignity" is even less convincing. Have we become so "respectable" that we shrink from what is natural and essentially human? There is nothing respectable about intercourse or birth.

Julie Morgan reduced me to tears, but she says it all for me too. I've sat with my love and friends at their death beds and there is always some sense of completeness when you see a life cycle end naturally. John List Picton Robots running government is the logical next step Centrelink is engaging robots to perform front-office client over-the-counter contact ("Virtual welfare officers to be trialled," January 17).

Apparently the robots can perform all the functions of humans. An added benefit is that robots won't get stressed by angry and distressed clients, won't require workers' comp leave and won't require wages. The government's on a winner here, innovative and agile, responding to the needs of the modern world. The government needs to take this technology to the next logical step,and apply it to government itself. If robots can replace public servants, surely they are capable of replacing politicians? Think of the benefits. No more rorting of expenses, no more post-politics over-generous pensions, or salaries. Decisions made logically for the best return on public money and in the best interests of the community. Gone will be the scandals of recent times  no more pork-barrelling, no more party-political shenanigans, no more political parties. We will vote on issues, not the composition of the Parliament, in a much purer form of democracy.

The money spent on our 13 houses of parliament can be spent on education, health and increased payments to the sick, aged and needy. We are only scratching the surface of the ways robots can improve our society, and I'm sure economically rational people can see many innovations ahead. Simon Chance Richmond Hill Detention policy a disgrace What a disgraceful debacle our immigration detention policy continues to be, on so many levels: morally, legally and economically.

The fact that the Manus Island detention centre was ruled illegal by the PNG Supreme Court in April 2016 seems to have changed little. A scathing Justice Kandakasi said at the time: "Treating those required to remain in the relocation centres as prisoners irrespective of their circumstances or their status save only as asylum seekers, is to offend against their rights and freedoms as guaranteed by the various conventions on human rights at international law and under the PNG constitution." Now the Australian national Audit Office has highlighted the economic mismanagement of more than $2.3 billion over 40 months. (Immigration management "fell well short", January 18.) Contracts lacking effective guidelines and management, due to the "great haste" with which the detention centres were established, lack of appropriate authorisation and lack of departmental authorisation of payments would be laughable, if the monetary amount were not so enormous. Ironically the report features on the same day that your front page headline states "Elderly, disabled next on Centrelink hit list".

Alan Marel North Curl Curl Centrelink fiasco With this government it isn't necessarily the concept of what they are pursuing, it's the smell from it; the rancid odour of taking the easy road coupled with ill-thought-out consequences, and their propensity for constantly shooting themselves in the foot through incompetence ("Elderly, disabled next on Centrelink hit list", January 18). Few people would argue against chasing welfare cheats. Pensioners, the elderly and the disabled especially recognise this because, whether by a calculated Coalition design to undermine the philosophy of welfare or simply by innuendo, they feel they are being unfairly tarred with the same brush. But what really rankles is the unavoidable conclusion that this Coalition keeps targeting the vulnerable to heal their self-inflicted wounds and lacks the courage to tackle the big boys. It is also the apparent belief by various ministers in this government that the main prerequisite to holding their job is to demonstrate that they possess the prime qualities of bullying, cold-hearted nastiness and deaf ears.

Minister "robo-cop" Alan Tudge is proving that he has quickly learnt that lesson and also that "tough love", in the government's lexicon, is just a synonym for "cruelty". Bert Candy Queensland 4350 So, like every Centrelink customer, in my case as a single age pensioner, we now live in fear and trepidation that we may expect a robo-debt demand any day in the mail. And not necessarily through any sins of commission. Thank you federal government for this New Year's resolution. Your hypocrisy is gargantuan. Peter Chambers Wilsons Creek

How long before the Centrelink robo assistants have to start dealing with some of the Centrelink employees (human beings) they are displacing? Is there a looming growth in nimble and innovative jobs for more and more highly capable robo assistants? Fingers crossed that at least they turn out to be local robo assistants, and that we're not yet thinking of offshoring their fine work. Peter Bower Naremburn Employers put profit above all else The growing prevalence of unpaid work, particularly if not related to an educational course, is an alarming reminder of the mindset of many employers (They are young, unemployed ... and exploited, January 18).

That is, while recognising the need for staff to operate their businesses, these employers work assiduously to keep their employment costs at the absolute minimum level, often without any consideration of established employment standards, for example 7/11 stores and the H&M proposed enterprise agreement. For more than a century, workers have fought tooth and nail to win current employment conditions, such as weekend penalty rates, against the powerful opposition of employers, and, at times, against the wishes of the prevailing government. Over recent months, we have been told by the government and employers' groups that if penalty rates are reduced, more jobs will be created. Regular evidence, such as the current study of unpaid work and reported examples of employer behaviour, tells us the attitude of many employers is a clear contradiction of this weak assertion. Ross Butler Rodd Point Inequality in education untenable

That students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are one-third as likely to go on to tertiary education as those from affluent families is a shocking statistic (University fulfils a lifelong dream, January 18). It indicates that inequality in Australia is well and truly entrenched and will only widen unless a major effort is made by government to improve the funding and quality of public schools and make universities more affordable for students from low-income households. Alan Morris Eastlakes The fact that one-third of students will not complete their degree within six years seems quite an advance on the expectations held for students a couple of generations ago ("One in three students won't finish uni", January 18). At the Official Welcome to freshers in 1955 we were told: "Look closely at the person on your right. Look closely at the person on your left. Only one of you three will graduate." Judith Anderson Concord West

Roll bars an essential for quad bikes The tragic death of a young child highlights the need for urgent action to legislate for rollover protection for quad bikes ("Quad bikes rated too dangerous as another child dies", January 18). Rollover protection system legislation for tractors became mandatory in 1982. Since then, there has been a 72 per cent decline in rollover fatalities. The government could provide a subsidy to owners to retro-fit roll bars. It should also be made mandatory for manufactures to provide such protection on new bikes. Unless action is taken, fatalities will continue on these relatively unstable vehicles. Greg Thomas Annandale Fashion's new look

Genevieve Milton (Letters, January 17) when I read "most loathed of household appliances" I immediately thought lawnmower. Use that on your cotton and linen and you need not bother with the ironing. Also saves on buying those trendy pre-ripped jeans and shorts. George Manojlovic Mangerton If you want to do away with the ironing but also want to be seen to be really trendy these days, then you probably need to wear your cotton and linen clothes smashed, not crushed . Harvey Sanders Paddington City of extremes
As someone in favour of euthanasia and over the pension age, I think one important aspect of the pro side is who will end the life. I was asked by one of my parents when seriously ill in their last year to put the pillow over them and end it then. Despite understanding the situation I couldn't do it and had to say so to them. Whatever new laws are passed to allow euthanasia, make sure the how and who does it are clearly spelt out. Ken Hudson Wollongbar The Herald argues that the euthanasia debate must respect all views, but then states that faith alone is not a good enough reason ("Euthanasia debate must respect all views", January 17). St Paul agreed and spoke of "faith, hope and love" when writing to the Corinthians. Maybe he would have attracted more followers had he preached "faith, evidence and reason" instead. Graham Lum North Rocks I can assure Phil Bradshaw (Letters, January 17) that my beliefs are neither confused nor medieval. His criticism of religion  which is apparently to blame for all thinking that is both backward and unfair  says more about himself than provides cogent argument. To suggest that people acting according to their religious beliefs is some sort of rule by the church is both silly and prejudiced.

You can't say let us welcome all religions and then claim that believers are not to express them. We all make decisions according to what we believe, and in a democracy all beliefs are equal. That is not, however, the tenor of commentary that assumes any religious belief is by definition defective and of lesser value than another. Disagree with us, certainly, if you do so, but don't tell us we have no right to express our beliefs in public just because they don't square with yours. David Ashton Katoomba Forget the word euthanasia  just consider if any person advocates forcing some people to have an agonising death, bereft of all dignity. Should that not be condemned as torture? In a democracy we should regard such a barbaric situation as illegal. At 90 I have learnt that truth is many faceted  but on this issue too much unnecessary human pain is at stake to take a minority's right to prolong it. Ed Raftery Davistown

Private-school spending ties to sense of entitlement Once again we are treated to salacious details about private-school spending ("Top private school fees soar to $35,000 a year", January 17). Why Trinity Grammar needs an "Olympic pool with underwater camera and timers" or Waverley College "an auditorium complete with an orchestra pit, a water polo pool and equipment for state-of-the-art theatre productions" is beyond the comprehension of most people. Where is the moral justification of $63 million for this building when a hospital could be built for the same cost? Dr Geoff Newcombe's argument that "the comparatively low levels of funding for students in independent schools is a major saving to the taxpayer" is insulting and offensive and indicates an insensitivity to the ordinary taxpayer who cannot afford private-school fees. Every time a private-school bus passes me I must remind myself that this is saving me money by its passengers not having to use public transport. The results of politicians' sense of entitlement to which we have been exposed in recent weeks has its roots in a system that endorses privilege and encourages social division. "Snouts in the trough" starts at school. The over-funding of two private schools by $10 million is, by itself, worthy of investigation. Malcolm Turnbull should repeat his recent advice to greedy members of parliament: "It's not your money." Neither is over-funding for wealthy private schools. Patricia Farrar Concord Their school dreams can be our nightmare

Just as there are infinite variations in children's abilities and their capacity to learn, there are equally immeasurable ways to achieve successful teaching and learning for all children (What Australia can learn from Finland's forested schools", January 17). Finland's forested "dream school" can become a nightmare if led by a dispassionate and apathetic leader. America's "botched attempts" at education can become success stories with effective and enthusiastic leadership. Children achieve best when their learning activities focus on satisfying, and adapting to their needs rather than blindly following an imposed, one-fits-all approach that disregards individual differences and underlying societal factors. The dream for Australian education is for it to be led by an alert, mindful and enthusiastic Australian educator, not someone trying to be part of the distant dreams and nightmares of others. Joy Cooksey Harrington

As Gonski said, fund students on need Simon Birmingham, the Federal Education Minister, states all students deserve funding ("Top private school fees soar to $35,000 a year", January 17). The reality, minister, is that the majority of students deserve far more than others. A properly funded response to the Gonski report is based on genuine need. A student sweltering in a non-airconditioned demountable is far more deserving of government funding than a student who has a heated indoor swimming pool and gymnasium as part of their school. John Cotterill Kingsford I have no problems private schools charging such high enrolment fees, it's just the amount of funding they receive that irks me. Many of the private schools listed in the article do not rate highly on HSC league tables so one can only assume that parents of these students send their children to these institutions so they can mix with other socioeconomic blessed children rather than the public school riff raff.

Peter Miniutti Ashbury Do Cranbrook parents realise that if they sent four of their children to Sydney to live, they could jointly rent a house for $68,000 per annum, hire tutors for 30 hours of highly personalised lessons for 40 weeks at a cost of $96,000 and still have more than $100,000 for living expenses? All the kids would have to do is share the same subjects. My guvment education maths tells me this is so. Peter Cooper-Southam Frenchs Forest Back of the class Backbencher Andrew Laming is obviously where he belongs: at the back of the Liberal class ("Malcolm Turnbull slaps down Liberal MP Andrew Laming over lazy teachers jibe", smh.com.au, January 17).

Ross Pulbrook Wyong Long-term investment Westpac has launched a "Hello Bump" campaign in which babies born in 2017 will get a $200 bank account. We may assume the bank hopes this will be the beginning of a nest egg that will lead to a mortgage with the bank in two or three decades. I object to this flagrant exercise in boosting the population growth rate. We already have a natural increase of 155,700 (year ending June 30, 2016) that contributes nearly half (46 per cent) of our population growth rate of 1.4 per cent, more than twice the OECD average. We are not living sustainably with the population we have. We need to stabilise our numbers, not increase them.

Jenny Goldie Michelago Wealth gap is perverse and obscene Having just eight men owning the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the world is perverse, obscene and not something we should not envy ("Eight men have same wealth as world's poorest half: Oxfam", smh.com.au, January 17). Con Vaitsas Ashbury The eight rich men featured as being as rich as half of the world are all self-made and employ millions of people. I can't see the problem as long as their companies pay their taxes. We should be celebrating them and their successes.

Stephen Bowhill Manly Bank squeeze on savers If banks are proposing to put the squeeze on home mortgage borrowers by raising interest rates it will only match the squeeze on saving accounts ("Skinny bank profits put heat on mortgages", January 17). One is lucky to get 2 per cent on a savings account. Paul Duncan Leura Metro rail monstrosity

Your report "Safety fears over $20b Metro rail project" makes alarming reading for those of us who travel along Windsor Road in north-west Sydney (January 16). Of particular concern has to be the traffic light stop required beneath the overhead construction site of the 270-metre cable-stayed bridge at Rouse Hill. Questions must also be asked about the aesthetics and environmental impacts of this project. The four-kilometre viaduct that will carry the Skytrain, and the cable-stayed bridge, are the ugliest pieces of transport infrastructure ever to be imposed on north-western Sydney. Vistas from Windsor Road have been completely obliterated by its enormous solid concrete supports and spans. Regional facilities like the Rouse Hill Town Centre are despoiled by its presence. Imagine the graffiti adding to the blight wrought by this monstrosity. It must have required the removal of an entire mountain range of limestone to construct. Margaret Baker Winmalee The fallout at Woollahra The Woollahra mayor won't resign if the council court case fails, Dennis Halloran (Letters, January 17). Your council will be run by unelected administrators until at least 2020.

Todd Hillsley Homebush First we give away the showgrounds... Some years ago the state government practically "gave" Murdoch the old showground site for use as a film studio that was to make Sydney the new Hollywood. Fast forward to 2017 and the site is a struggling "entertainment (sic) quarter" while next door a large tract of land in our beautiful Centennial Park has been fenced off and dug up for the construction of a movie set, complete with faux houses and several associated buildings to house the crews etc. I don't wish to rabbit on about this, but where is Mr McGregor when you need him?

Eric Scott Bondi Junction Screen addiction Matt Holden's experience of people huddling around the only place in the camp ground that had a 3G signal reminded me of camping in Grand Teton National Park in the US way back in 1967 ("Camping sure ain't what it used to be", January 17). Some enterprising soul ran a long extension lead from the amenities block to the main campsite, where a small portable TV was set up so we could all watch the final episode of The Fugitive! Bill Tango Manly Iron age is over
As the entitlements saga enters its third week, politicians continue to insist they "followed the rules" regarding their use of public funds for travel, events and accommodation.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says the $23,000 he spent on a series of trips to and from Broome with his wife were "undertaken within the applicable rules on work expenses and has at all times been appropriately declared".

Sussan Ley's demise was not about following the rules, but the perceived abuse of the ethical principle that lies behind the rules. Credit:Mark Jesser

In one sense, it seems like a pretty reasonable defence  "no rules were broken in the making of this trip". Except it misses a crucial point. The furore isn't about compliance, it's about ethics.

Even if there were no rules governing the ways politicians could or couldn't use public funds, taxpayers would still expect their decisions to be principled and responsible. In this case, rules are secondary to the principles they're designed to uphold.
On January 8, a truck driven by a Palestinian drove off-road into a group of Israeli cadets in Jerusalem, killing four and injuring 15. He was, unsurprisingly, shot at the scene and killed. In reprisal, his family was arrested, with reports their house in East Jerusalem will be demolished. Mr Netanyahu was quick to assert, without evidence, that these killings were linked to Islamic State.

On January 4, an Israeli military court convicted Israeli soldier Elor Azariah, of manslaughter for the cold-blooded killing of Palestinian Abdul Fatah al-Sharif. The military judge said the killing was needless, the sole motive being that Azariah thought al-Sharif should die. While military leaders accepted the outcome as consistent with military law, Israeli political leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, called for Azariah to be pardoned. Noting that the case resulted from the public release of a video of the killing, Israeli human rights group B'TSelem stated "the fact that one soldier was convicted today does not exonerate the military law enforcement system from its routine whitewashing of cases in which security forces kill or injure Palestinians with no accountability".

Newspaper columnist Greg Sheridan lambasted President Barack Obama, accusing the US of wrongfully treating the Israel-Palestine conflict as "the central issue in the Middle East". Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop have also strongly criticised the US, with Bishop saying Australia would have opposed the resolution had it been voting.

Three Israel-related events since just before Christmas have been prominent in Australia's media. On December 23, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2334, with the United States abstaining rather than vetoing. It states " the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace".

The US has always held Israeli settlements to be "illegitimate" and inimical to peace, but Resolution 2334 is a first, with Obama breaking new ground by refusing to veto it. To its shame, the Australian government objected, isolating itself from the longstanding position of the vast majority of the international community, the International Court of Justice, and all but a few disreputable or (in Israel's case) self-serving legal opinions.

If it were the true friend of Israel it claims to be, our government would support Resolution 2334 as an essential step along the way to the just and lasting peace that is in Israel's and Palestine's best interests. Sheridan's opinion should be ridiculed for the rubbish it is. US Middle East policy (whatever its merits) is far more comprehensive than its attitude to Israeli settlements. Among other things, there's the $US38 billion it will give Israel over the next 10 years, which puts Australia's paltry $50 million a year to Palestine in perspective. Obama's decision on December 23 was a necessary "last chance" ahead of who knows what Donald Trump will try to do. At least Trump won't be able to "unmake" the resolution, though he may take steps to water down its implementation.

Of the other two events, Mr Netanyahu's reactions are unsurprising. Israel was wrong-footed by the video of Azariah's crime and the need to be seen to be doing something. But the story's not over. The media are predicting a light sentence, if not a pardon. Contrast this with Israel's excessive and internationally illegal treatment of children, which 49 federal politicians  though not one from the coalition  recently stated is "no way to treat a child".

Some of the Israelis who think Azariah has been victimised claimed there was a failure by the military to shoot the Palestinian truck driver quickly because Azariah's case has put the brakes on Israel's "shoot and then think" approach when dealing with perceived Palestinian misdemeanours.

Whether the shooting was delayed or not, these two contrasting events in January bring into stark relief the extent of Israeli political discrimination in Israel's attitudes to and treatment of Israeli crimes on one hand and Palestinian crimes on the other.
When Barack Obama ran for president in 2008 he understood, without quite saying it, that there had been no highly successful Democratic president in decades.

Bill Clinton made the country a better place, but his biggest legislative plans failed and he was beset by scandal. John F. Kennedy, though popular in retrospect, had his agenda stalled in Congress when he was killed. Harry Truman left office deeply unpopular. Jimmy Carter lost re-election. And Lyndon Johnson, despite grand domestic achievements, was driven from office.

President Barack Obama's administration unleashed changes that Washington doesn't control, and it's a testament to his eight years in power that progressives have so much to defend, writes Jonathan Chait in Audacity. Credit:AP

The chant "Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?" doesn't exactly suggest progressive heroism.

This history of liberal disappointment was the subtext of a revealing early comment from Obama: "Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not."
The last time Greg Hunt saw his mother before she died, she was in a mental health institution.

As Hunt explained in a 2010 speech, his mother Kathinka suffered a form of bipolar disorder.

"It is not something about which I have talked much about," he said. "Her condition was not permanently debilitating but it was significant."

The "shock" of seeing his mother institutionalised (she later died at home) had stayed with him ever since and convinced him there needs to be a national program of support for the children of Australians facing mental health issues.
Dr. Berger brings 20 years of drug development experience highlighted by the FDA approvals of Mylotarg  for acute myeloid leukemia, the only drug approved in AML in several decades, and Tykerb  for breast cancer



for acute myeloid leukemia, the only drug approved in AML in several decades, and Tykerb for breast cancer Dr. Dragan Cicic appointed to newly created position of Chief Technical Officer to execute on pipeline expansion and strategic initiatives

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT:ATNM) ("Actinium" or "the Company"), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative targeted therapies for cancers lacking effective treatment options, announced that Dr. Mark Berger has been appointed Chief Medical Officer effective today. Dr. Berger joins Actinium with significant drug development expertise that includes the planning and execution of clinical trials that led to the FDA approval of Mylotarg for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) while at Wyeth Research (now Pfizer), and Tykerb for breast cancer while at GlaxoSmithKline. He also has experience in patient care and lab-based cancer research. Dr. Berger will report to Sandesh Seth, Actiniums Executive Chairman.

Dr. Berger has a stellar track record in hematology/oncology research and drug development that makes him perfectly suited for the position of Chief Medical Officer at Actinium, said Sandesh Seth. Dr. Berger led the development of Mylotarg, which like Actimab-A, is a CD33 targeting agent. Mylotarg remains the only drug approved in AML in the last several decades, and Dr. Berger was integral to Mylotargs approval as highlighted by his presentation to ODAC. This along with Marks many other accomplishments in drug development, medical training and research experience gives us great confidence in his ability to build a robust clinical development organization to execute on the clinical development of Iomab-B, Actimab-A and our future clinical programs.

I am impressed with the potential for Actiniums radioimmunotherapy technology, Dr. Berger said. The data to date on Iomab-B and Actimab-A are very compelling and suggest that radioimmunotherapy has the potential to be safe and effective particularly in difficult clinical indications such as bone marrow transplant conditioning in patients with AML, or in the treatment of older patients with AML. I am excited to join the Actinium team and look forward to executing on a clinical development strategy that will bring these therapies to approval.

In addition, Dr. Dragan Cicic, Actiniums previous Chief Medical Officer, has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer. In his new role, Dr. Cicic will be responsible for leveraging Actiniums alpha particle immunotherapy (APIT) technology platform to further expand Actiniums clinical pipeline. Dr. Cicic will also be responsible for driving strategic initiatives including research collaborations and partnerships as well as continuing to expand relationships with the medical and scientific communities.

Actiniums growth and progress particularly in 2016 has been transformative and Dr. Bergers joining is a continued step in that direction, said Dr. Cicic. I am excited to work with Dr. Berger and am confident that he will have a lasting impact on the execution of our late stage clinical trials. I welcome my new responsibilities and look forward to having the opportunity to focus extensively on our APIT platform to create value by laying the groundwork for new clinical programs and through strategic initiatives.

Dr. Berger joins Actinium from Kadmon Corporation where he was Senior Vice President, Clinical Research. In this role he was responsible for all clinical aspects of new drug development including designing and managing clinical trials in oncology indications (non-small cell lung cancer and glioblastoma) and non-oncology indications (chronic graft versus host disease and polycystic kidney disease). Dr. Berger joined Kadmon after serving as Chief Medical Officer of Deciphera Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Deciphera, Dr. Berger was Vice President for Clinical Development at Gemin X Pharmaceuticals where he led the clinical strategy, design and management of clinical trials for two novel oncology agents including obatoclax, a pan Bcl-2 inhibitor. Based on the results of a randomized Phase 2 clinical trial of obatoclax, Gemin X was acquired by Cephalon in March of 2011 for a total consideration of $525 million including $225 million in an upfront cash payment.

Before his work with biotechnology companies, Dr. Berger held key positions in two global pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Berger previously served as Group Director, Medicine Development Centre-Oncology for GlaxoSmithKline. In this position Dr. Berger managed the development of Tykerb (lapatinib) in lung and breast cancer where he designed and led two Phase 2 clinical trials before planning and leading a 399 patient pivotal Phase 3 trial that resulted in the FDA approval of Tykerb in breast cancer. In addition, he managed the Lapatinib Expanded Access Program (LEAP) that enrolled over 4000 patients on a global basis. Dr. Berger began his career in drug development at Wyeth Research where he led the planning and execution of the pivotal Phase 2 trial for Mylotarg, which was the first antibody targeted chemotherapy agent and targeted CD33, similar to Actimab-A. He presented the Mylotarg clinical data at the FDAs Oncology Drug Advisory Committee meeting, after which Mylotarg received accelerated FDA approval for patients with relapsed AML.

Dr. Berger has a B.A. in biology from Wesleyan University and received his M.D. from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He did his Hematology-Oncology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania where he was an Assistant Professor of Medicine, and also was a Research Fellow at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, both in London. Dr. Berger is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology.

About Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative targeted therapies for patients with cancers lacking effective treatment options. Actinium's proprietary platform utilizes monoclonal antibodies to deliver radioisotopes directly to cells of interest in order to kill those cells safely and effectively. The Company's lead product candidate Iomab-B is designed to be used, upon approval, in preparing patients for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, commonly referred to as bone marrow transplant. A bone marrow transplant is often the only potential cure for patients with blood-borne cancers but the current standard preparation for a transplant requires chemotherapy and/or total body irradiation that result in significant toxicities. Actinium believes Iomab-B will enable a faster and less toxic preparation of patients seeking a bone marrow transplant, leading to increased transplant success and survival rates. The Company is currently conducting a single pivotal 150-patient, multicenter Phase 3 clinical study of Iomab-B in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) age 55 and older. The Company's second product candidate, Actimab-A, is currently in a multicenter open-label, 53-patient Phase 2 trial for patients newly diagnosed with AML age 60 and over. Actimab-A is being developed to induce remissions in elderly patients with AML who lack effective treatment options and often cannot tolerate the toxicities of standard frontline therapies. Actinium is also utilizing its alpha-particle immunotherapy (APIT) technology platform to generate new drug candidates based on antibodies linked to the element Actinium-225 that are directed at various cancers that are blood-borne or form solid tumors. Actinium Pharmaceuticals is based in New York, NY. To learn more about Actinium Pharmaceuticals, please visit www.actiniumpharma.com and to follow @ActiniumPharma on Twitter please visit, www.twitter.com/actiniumpharma.

Forward-Looking Statements for Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The forward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential, or financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Actinium Pharmaceuticals undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
This is the damage-control reshuffle Malcolm Turnbull had to have after throwing Sussan Ley overboard: pragmatic, minimalist and utterly risk-averse.

And Greg Hunt, the big winner, is the damage-control minister, with a track record in being able to neutralise issues that can become massive headaches.

That's what he did as Tony Abbott's minister for the environment. That's what Turnbull expects of him in health, the portfolio of landmines and the area that, more than any other, cost the Coalition in the July election.

Turnbull's achievement has been to fill a forced vacancy in what he correctly describes as a "critically important frontline portfolio", yet still reduce the size of his ministry by one.
Tom Ford has become the latest recipient of a public roasting by Donald Trump.

The president-elect said he was "not a fan" of the US designer and filmmaker, who publicly identifies as a Democrat, after Ford added his name to the list of labels who would refuse to dress the incoming First Lady.

Tom Ford has become the latest celebrity to be criticised by president-elect Donald Trump. Credit:Getty

In a November appearance on The View, Ford said he would not dress Melania Trump during her husband's time in office, explaining he had refused to work with her before her husband decided to enter politics.

"I was asked to dress her quite a few years ago and I declined. She's not necessarily my image," he said.
"You can't just invent rules along the way and then criticise staff for not complying with these fabricated rules. The issue here is not just interpersonal, it's an organisational responsibility through managers and those expectations should only apply to work performance. Usually dress codes are irrelevant to job performance and that's why legal decisions about such matters almost always go with the employee.

"It isn't related to the job."

Ask yourself if Snook did a better job because she wore a jacket. Ask yourself if it was Sherlock's role to be monitoring what her colleague wore. If you don't know the answer, let me help. Sherlock is not Snook's boss in any formal sense. That would be Simon Hobbs, the Sydney news director, whose own boss is Darren Wick. Or perhaps the daytime executive producer, whoever that was on the day. Insiders report there is never a massive amount of oversight of Nine News Now and unfortunately for Nine, that was quite apparent in the way Sherlock and Snook dealt with each other. In public and now very public.

So let's return to the problem of criticising in public. I don't know who else was watching this display of bad temper by Sherlock. But maybe three others, and that might include a line-up producer, a studio director, maybe an audio person, a vision switcher.

We don't have video of their responses nor any interviews telling us how they felt at the time although at least one colleague says Sherlock has form for being prickly so her behaviour was unsurprising. We do, however, have video of the response of psychologist Sandy Rea, a guest on the program that day. Her response says it all  excruciating embarrassment and a desire to fix the situation by suggesting she herself get a jacket. No bystander should ever have to put up with this rubbish.
While boys are permitted to wear short sleeves in the summer, the mandatory uniform for Al-Faisal's female students includes ankle-length skirt, knee-length socks and long-sleeved shirt. Most concerning, however, is the teacher's allegation that hijab is imposed on of girls from the age of five.

As outdoor media company QMS attracts backlash for its decision to take down an Australia Day billboard featuring two pre-teen girls in the Muslim headscarf , after the billboard itself drew a backlash from angry racists, a teacher at Al-Faisal private Islamic school in Sydney's west has anonymously criticised that school's strict uniform for girls, referring to it as "extreme" .

Observing hijab is meant to be a choice for individual women to make according to their own faith. Credit:Stocksy

This week, however, the focus is on pre-teen girls, and this brings up an uncomfortable but necessary question: how young is too young for girls to observe Muslim requirements on female "modesty"?

Australia spends an inordinate amount of time obsessing over Muslim women in hijab. With the intense media scrutiny placed on Islam and Muslims unlikely to abate anytime soon, this obsession is more often than not completely unjustified.

As of writing the school has refused to comment, although the school's website does list a school hat or headscarf as required from kindergarten onwards, while other sources claim the hijab is compulsory from grade four onwards.

There is good reason for Muslims to be reluctant to air any so-called dirty laundry in an increasingly xenophobic climate. As well as the obvious threat to her job, this teacher is also at risk of admonishment from her fellow Muslims who would be all too aware that any criticism, no matter how constructive and well-intentioned, can and likely will be appropriated by those with an explicit anti-Islam agenda.

This agenda was clearly demonstrated in the furore over the billboard, with the original outrage concerned purely with the "disgrace" of associating Muslims with Australia Day. However, with fundamentalism a growing worldwide problem from which Islam is certainly not immune, hostility from outside the Muslim communities should not mean that "anything goes" inside them.

And so, with the backlash to this xenophobia centred on objecting to clear bigotry, and with a campaign to reinstate the billboard gaining steam, what everyone seems to be overlooking is the very young age of the girls themselves.

The modesty dress code is meant for sexually mature women, and girls who have reached puberty. If girls in kindergarten or grade four are being made to comply, then this flies in the face of any claim that observing hijab is a choice for individual women to make according to their own faith.
From bus shelter posters to the braces of action figures in toy stores awaiting the Christmas rush, Jyn Erso was everywhere this summer. From her omnipresence in the film's promotional material, Rogue One's heroine, played by Felicity Jones, seemed to be following in the footsteps of The Force Awakens' Rey in chipping away at the dudely nature of that galaxy far, far away.

You may, then, have been surprised to see the film and discover that Erso is more of the strong, silent type. Not only does her co-conspirator, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), say more than her, she's more often than not the only woman in the room.

Felicity Jones portrays Jyn Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Credit:Jonathan Olley/Lucasfilm-Disney

The Star Wars universe seemed to have gone Lean In, content to let one exceptional woman through the door while still maintaining a masculine galactic energy. What had felt like a revolutionary moment for the series in the lead-up to the film's release seemed, in reality, more of an encouraging step in the right direction.

Rogue One is not alone in this oversight. A survey of dialogue spoken in the worldwide top ten highest grossing films, uncovered bleak news. Female characters spoke just 27 per cent of the dialogue in those ten films. Worse, the two female characters with the most dialogue  Finding Dory's Dory and Zootopia's Judy Hopps  were animated animals.
Serendipity. Credit:Greg Weight

I've been photographing the night sky in central Australia since 2009, the isolation and enormity of space in the outback and the presence of a glittering universe is a humbling experience, as you suggested, almost biblical. I once encountered perfect conditions when I was in this outdoor studio, waiting for it to get dark. The moon was setting in the west and it bounced the sunlight onto the landscape where I was standing.

The sky in the east was getting darker by the minute. It was not only the brilliance of the night sky but the detail in the landscape in front of me, a small hill with two mulga trees growing from its ridge and shards of quartz along its sloping edge. These conditions were unique and almost impossible to repeat, however they inspired me to add my own moonlight, even when there was no moon. It became important to light the landscape ever so slightly, to add just enough detail to the foreground to balance the intensity of the stars. It was a matter of trial and error, using hand held torches during the exposure. I was literally painting with light.

Solitude. Credit:Greg Weight

When capturing static geological formations, how do you make them come to life? How do you make a rock visually dynamic?
Live uni offers 2017: Entry marks fall as 44,000 NSW students offered university places

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Three of the courses with the highest advertised ATAR cut-offs this year were at the University of Technology. Credit:James Brickwood One combined a Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation with Fashion and Textiles, while another combined the same bachelor's degree with Architecture. All three required a perfect ATAR of 99.95. Overall, the average advertised ATAR at Western Sydney fell by just over one point this year, the largest fall of the NSW metropolitan universities. It rose by 2.2 points at the Australian Catholic University, the highest advertised gain of any university in the state. Universities set an ATAR cut-off according to what they believe is the minimum academic standard required to complete a course, as well as supply and demand for the degree.

But a Fairfax Media investigation last year revealed that up to 60 per cent of students, some with ATARs as low as 30, were being admitted through bonus points and alternative entry schemes, despite being below the minimum cut off marks. The revelations angered students who had never applied for these courses because they assumed they wouldn't gain entry. It also prompted the federal government, concerned with millions of dollars in mounting taxpayer-funded student debt from incomplete courses, to direct the Higher Education Standards Panel to enforce transparency measures on the nation's universities. On Wednesday, Education Minister Simon Birmingham reiterated his calls for all universities to improve the quality of their education outcomes. "The best thing we can do there is have transparency, is ensure that universities are held to account for their decisions, and that students have the maximum capability to make informed decisions about their future," he said,following the release of a report that showed one in three Australian university students had not completed their university course six years after they had started.

"That's a lost opportunity for them, wasted time, wasted money for them, and wasted money for the taxpayer," he said. Some universities, such as UNSW and the University of Sydney, have already committed to increasing the transparency of their admissions. For the first time this year, a student wishing to study Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney will now be able to see that students with an ATAR of 81.35 gained entry to the course, even though the advertised cut off in 2016 was an ATAR of 82.5.

Once alternative entry schemes and bonus points are taken into account, the lowest ATAR in the course dropped to 71.30. This year's data shows early offers, which often admit students on a basis other than ATAR, continue to make up a significant portion of total offers to NSW students. Overall, 28,851 early offers were made ahead of the main rounds, or about 40 per cent of the total. In 2017, Western Sydney University made 75 per cent of its offers prior to the UAC main round, with a spokeswoman saying it did so "to help alleviate student anxiety in the application process". Last year, 99 per cent of students in its Bachelor of Construction Management Course were admitted below the cut-off.

The University of Sydney made more than 4500 early rounds offers this year, 500 more than last year. Most of the growth is from the expanding Future Leaders Scheme  open to duxes and, since 2016, to school captains too. Delahoya Manu, 18, from Plumpton, received an early offer under the scheme in mid-December, for his first choice, a Bachelor of Health Sciences. He was the first ever school captain of Polynesian descent at his school, Patrician Brothers' College in Blacktown. A talented rugby player who plays in the NSW Waratahs under-20s team, he was drawn to the university by its reputation and surrounds.
In a room on the second floor of the Children's Hospital Westmead is a team of specialised staff weighed down by a collective consciousness, burdened by countless horrific cases of child abuse.

The hospital's child protection unit has treated infants just days old, toddlers, school children and adolescents for brutal physical injuries, sexual abuse and neglect inflicted by adults who should have protected and nurtured them.

They have seen broken bones, bruises, burns, cuts, serious head injuries, abdominal and spinal injuries, babies shaken so hard their brain detaches from their skull, and the devastating effects of prolonged sexual violence.

"We see children, babies who come in in a state of starvation because they haven't received the food that they need to survive," senior social worker Calli Goninan said.
An Assyrian gang associate shot dead at a family park was being investigated for links to a major Sydney underworld murder before his execution.

Before Antonio Hermiz, 20, was gunned down in broad daylight in Wetherill Park last month, he was in the frame as a person of interest in the shooting of former bikie Adrian Buxton.

Mr Hermiz and four others met another group of young men at Lizard Log Park in a western Sydney parklands on December 23.

An argument broke out, while families and children enjoyed a playground nearby, and ended with Mr Hermiz being shot dead.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cuba Ventures Corp. (TSX-V:CUV) (OTCBB:MPSFF) (the Company) is pleased to announce that the Companys CEO Steve Marshall has been invited as keynote speaker at the New York Times Travel Show from January 27th to 29th, 2017. This comes after increased media attention for the company in one of the most active States for travel to Cuba in the United States - Florida. Concurrently, Travelucion, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cuba Ventures, recorded its highest ever monthly net sales of over CDN $360,000 in December 2016 to end a strong year in which Cuba received a record number of 4 million travelers up from 2.5 million in 2014. The Company also announces that its advisor Alfredo Manresa will chair the Cuba Investment Summit at Fomento del Treball, Catalan Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona on January 24th, 2017. Mr. Manresa will also exhibit the company at FITUR 2017 in Madrid, Europes largest international travel trade fair.



Record Monthly Sales in December 2016:

The Company booked over CDN $360,000 in net sales for the month of December 2016 which is a record for Travelucion. Net sales is calculated as gross revenue less cancellations and refunds. Increased interest in Cuba, along with heightened media attention surrounding the Companys Cuba centric digital media platform including 432 websites focused upon Cuba, is stimulating these increased revenues. Visitors to the Companys websites from the United States now represent 36.8% of the approximately 37 million annual page views, up from 6% in 2014.

New York Times Travel Show:

Attracting over 29,000 travelers and industry professionals, the New York Times Travel Show held between the 27th and 29th of January 2017 is one of North Americas most anticipated annual travel events. With over 500 North American travel companies exhibiting, the event promises to garner a hike in exposure for Cuba Ventures and Travelucion through keynote speaker appearances by Mr. Marshall, the Companys CEO.

Cuba Investment Summit - Catalan Chamber of Commerce, Barcelona:

December 13th, 2016, saw the historic signing of bilateral trade accords between the European Union and Cuba. Spains Sol Melia, Iberostar, Barcelo and H10 hotel chains control a major part of Cubas over 250 hotels, setting the stage for Spain to continue its investment strategies and dominance in Cuba but now with European Union backing and possible funding. The Cuba Investment Summit in Barcelona promises to boost further investment opportunities in numerous sectors of the Cuban economy. Travelucion, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cuba Ventures Corp, headquartered in Spains Canary Islands, will be present at the event chaired by Alfredo Manresa, the companys European advisor and Cuba investment and financial sector specialist.

FITUR 2017 Madrid:

Mr. Alfredo Manresa will attend FITUR 2017 in Madrid from the 18th to 22nd of January 2017. FITUR is Europes most popular travel trade fair attracting approximately 230,000 visitors, of which around 124,000 are travel professionals from 165 countries. Visitors to Cuba from Europe continue to grow quickly and these travelers represent a considerable portion of the Companys annual booking sales through our 68 e-commerce websites in 5 languages.

Cuba Ventures in the Media:

Six major news networks in Orlando and West Palm Beach, Florida, have interviewed Mr. Marshall, CEO of Cuba Ventures Corp, about the rapidly growing interest to visit Cuba from Florida. Enhanced interest for travel to Cuba from Florida is being triggered by Cubas proximity to Florida, allied to return flight tickets offered by United, Jet Blue and Southwest Airlines for as little as US $90.

Fox News Orlando

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z9yAsyL3_M

NBC News Orlando

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdZVRBL77pw

Info Mas Orlando (Spanish Language Network)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raySrT_cXFs&t=5s

News 13 Orlando

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FJza6_mWLM

ABC News West Palm Beach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es4Zja7i9-M

NBC News West Palm Beach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLKc8XWLuJQ

About Cuba Ventures Corp.:

Cuba Ventures Corp. is a publicly traded Canadian company capitalizing on the growth and unique opportunities in the USD $3.5 billion per year Cuban travel and tourism industry. Travelucion, a wholly owned subsidiary, is a digital media and marketing company which owns a vast portfolio of Cuba related websites and online portals providing travel information, featuring individual web assets for Cuba's popular cities and towns, online booking solutions and online reservations through proprietary software, catering to international visitors to Cuba. Travelucion's online travel division is a duly licensed retail travel supplier handling millions of dollars in sales annually.

Travelucion's 432 Cuba focused multilingual websites generate over 30 million page-views per year, directing traffic to the company's online booking and e-commerce sites. These online websites cover all facets of Cuba including over 80 travel destinations, hotels & resorts, bed & breakfast, tours, car rentals, restaurants, as well as Cuban culture, history, music, celebrities, sports, medical treatments and more.

Travelucion's revenues have been rapidly growing in the wake of the notable shift in American policy towards Cuba. With diplomatic relations now normalized and restrictions on qualified American travel to Cuba relaxed, opening of the multi-billion dollar travel market to the Caribbean nation is becoming a reality. Travelucion's continued media dominance over the past two decades has provided Cuba Ventures with a competitive advantage in the burgeoning Cuba travel and online media space. With the relaxing of rules for American travelers to Cuba and the potential of further easing, growth and investment opportunities are on the rise in Cuba.

For further information on Cuba Ventures Corp. (TSX-V:CUV) or Travelucion visit the Companys website at www.cubaventures.com or www.travelucion.com. Cuba Ventures Corp. has approx. 62.6 million shares issued and outstanding.

CUBA VENTURES CORP.

STEVE MARSHALL

______________________________

Steve Marshall

CEO

For further information contact myself or:

Nick Findler

Cuba Ventures Corp.

Telephone: 604-639-3850

Toll Free: 800-567-8181

Facsimile: 604-687-3119

Email: info@cubaventures.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.
The centre right and right factions have swung their support behind Ms Berejiklian and the arrangement, which would see Mr Perrottet becomes treasurer in a reshuffle. Mr Baird embraces his family after announcing his resignation. Credit:Janie Barrett Mr Baird had a politically difficult 2016, including the humiliation of being forced to back down on his bid to ban greyhound racing in NSW, personal criticism over the lockout laws for licensed venues and fallout from the government's infrastructure agenda. But the Premier has consistently stated it is his "intention" to contest the 2019 election as Premier and as the member for Manly. Mr Baird's emotions show at the press conference where he announced his decision to leave politics. Credit:Janie Barrett

On Thursday Mr Baird highlighted his inaugural speech to Parliament in which he said he wanted "to come into public life to make a difference". "I said many times I didn't want to become a career politician," he said. "I wanted to go as hard as I could for as long as I could and then step aside. I wanted to go as hard as I could for as long as I could and then step aside. Mike Baird "Today, I am making good on that pledge. After 10 years in public life, three years as Treasurer and three years as Premier, I think now is the right time to do this". Mr Baird also said there is "a strong personal cost" that comes with the job "and I probably felt that more than any other time in the last few months".

Mr Baird's father, Bruce, is recovering from open heart surgery and his mother, Judy, has gone into 24-hour care with muscular dystrophy. He revealed his sister, Julia, had "a re-occurrence of cancer. I was in hospital with her last week". Ms Baird revealed in late 2015 she had been diagnosed with cancer. With tears in his eyes and in front of his wife Kerryn and three children, Mr Baird said: "To be honest, at times I have been in pain at not being able to spend the time [with them]. "Those personal things obviously impact you. The nature of this job makes it tough to be able to support as much as you want."

Mr Baird listed his achievements, including lifting the NSW economy to be the strongest in the nation, bringing the budget into surplus and being the first state to sign up to the Gonski agreement on education funding. Asked if he had a regret, he nominated the failure to achieve tax reform at a national level. Mr Baird pushed for an increase in the GST to cover health and education costs. "There was a big opportunity there to do something significant," he said. "That's something that wasn't to be." Mr Baird - a former investment banker - said he had not had a private sector job offer, but had had discussions during his time as Premier.

The decision to retire from politics means the new premier will face a byelection test in the seat of Manly within months. Mr Baird became Premier in April 2014, following the resignation of Barry O'Farrell, who quit after giving incorrect evidence to the Independent Commission Against Corruption over the gift of a $3000 bottle of wine from a political donor lobbyist. Following Thursday's announcement, Bruce Baird told Fairfax Media that the Premier had disclosed his plans to quit to his family "a while ago", but would not say exactly when. "His mother and I are very proud of him and what he's achieved," Mr Baird snr said. "There's a time to go and I think he's done the right thing. "The 10-year issue was significant for him".

Former NSW Liberal premier Nick Greiner told Fairfax Media that "in some ways its obviously disappointing for the state, in the sense that there's still a lot more to be done in the state". "He's pretty much been true to his word," Mr Greiner said. "He has always talked about being there for a good time not a long time. He's achieved that." "I think Mike is genuinely not a political animal. In this day and age, that's very unusual. He's genuinely not in it for the politics. "He was interested in what he could deliver. It's a counter to the professionalisation of politics, which the public doesn't like. "Hopefully [Baird's time as Premier] will encourage other people from non-political backgrounds into politics.

"I think if there's a single message, it's that good government is helped by not having people who are lifetime politicians. "He's a good example [of someone] who has put policy first, not politics first." Opposition Leader Luke Foley said: "I want to thank Mike for his service to the state. It's the greatest of honours to serve as Premier of NSW. I wish him and his lovely family all the best." Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who only learnt about Mr Baird's resignation through the media this morning, said most people in politics would love to have delivered the legacy that Mr Baird did. "As a cabinet minister and a former backbencher I have always looked to Mike as a strong leader, one that inspired me, one that I believe brought the best out of all members of the coalition to deliver for their community and I think that is something that is rare in politics," Mr Barilaro said.
When Sami Asaka, his wife Gergette Shiba and their three children fled their home in Syria almost two years ago, they left with nothing but a few possessions and huge hopes for the future.

After spending almost 18 months in Lebanon, the family arrived in Australia in August, settling in Sydney's south-west, which is expected to welcome thousands of humanitarian arrivals over the next few years.

The 53-year-old Assyrian mechanic said leaving his home country was one of the hardest decisions he'd ever made.

"We had a life, we were doing well, we were very successful, very happy," he said. "Then all of a sudden we had to leave everything behind and go. It wasn't easy. I thought about it 100 times before I did it. But our home is ruined, we had to go."
Eighty years after the last Tasmanian tiger died, scientists have used imaging techniques to map the marsupial's brain for the first time.

The Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, was elusive before its extinction and its behaviour in the wild was never scientifically documented.

The last known Tasmanian tiger, seen in 1936, the year it died in a Hobart zoo. Credit:Tasmanian Museum

But a reconstruction of its brain architecture and neural networks suggests it had more cortex devoted to action planning and possibly even decision making than its closest living relative, the Tasmanian devil.

The findings, published in PLOS ONE on Thursday, are consistent with the tiger's more complex ecological role as a predator, while the devil survives mainly by scavenging.
One person is in a critical condition and seven others are injured after a serious crash involving multiple cars north of Sydney.

Emergency services were called to the northbound lanes of the M1 Pacific Motorway at Cowan just before 10pm on Thursday, police said.

They found a serious crash scene just south of the Hawkesbury River Bridge.

Police said seven cars were involved in the crash, which injured eight people, one critically.

At least one of those injured was taken to hospital in a helicopter.
A top Sydney lawyer will fight allegations that he grabbed the groin of a young woman as she jogged on a beachside track in northern Sydney.

Carl Harrap, a senior lawyer with the law firm FPA Patent Attorneys, pleaded not guilty to one count of indecent assault in Manly Local Court on Wednesday morning.

Mr Harrap, 40, is accused of grabbing the 20-year-old woman's vagina from behind in Clontarf between 8.45am and 9.11am on December 28.

In court documents, police allege that the offence was of a "sexual nature" and Mr Harrap did not know the woman.
A massive storm has swept through Mudgee, with winds in excess of 100 km/h uprooting trees, bringing down power lines and damaging property and cars.

Around 8000 homes are without power in the region after the storm battered the town just before 4pm on Wednesday.

Intense wind uprooted trees during the intense storm. Credit:Nick Moir

One resident said the ferocious storm "came out of nowhere" and wreaked significant devastation in around seven minutes before the wind suddenly stopped.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded wind gusts of 130km/h in the town at 4pm.
Wollongong bartender Jonathan Schwenke has confessed to helping his friend Christian Nau brutally bash three men in two separate, alcohol-fuelled attacks last September.

The two mates had been celebrating a friend's birthday at Fever Nightclub, where Schwenke worked, on September 16 and were leaving the club about 5am when they were racially abused by two men.

Jonathan Schwenke has confessed to helping a friend bash three men. Credit:Robert Peet

Schwenke, 21, who is of Samoan descent, and Nau, 23, who is part-Maori, told police the men had been taunting them most of the night, however Schwenke said he "snapped" when they called the pair "black bitches".

He and Nau punched and kicked the victims until one fell to the ground, motionless. Nau then kicked the unconscious man twice in the head.
The Kurri Kurri fire bears down on properties. Credit:Michael John Fisher Many of Mr Smith's neighbours endured similar experiences, as the burning embers were indiscriminate in where they landed. The Rural Fire Service confirmed late Wednesday night there were no homes destroyed by the fire, tweeting: "Great saves by crews in very difficult conditions". A waterbombing aircraft tackles the Kurri Kurri blaze near Sawyers Gully Road. Credit:Jonathan Carroll State to get a reprieve

Conditions on Thursday will give firefighters a reprieve, with lower temperatures and lighter winds forecast. On Thursday morning, all fires were listed at an advice level, and were posing no threats to lives or homes. The RFS warns fire danger is not yet over, despite the end of the holiday period. Credit:Jonathan Carroll In Sydney's western suburbs temperatures hit 45 degrees on Wednesday, and the weather bureau says temperatures in the city are expected to top 25 degrees Thursday. Newcastle is forecast to hit a top of 22 degrees on Thursday, with a 40 per cent of rain. Friday is forecast to be warmer, with a top of 29 degrees and the chance of showers and a storm.

Kurri Kurri fire threatening properties- Images from Newcastle Herald? Picture: Jenny Naidu Credit:Jenny Naidu Hunt for arsonists The arson squad has joined the hunt for the firebugs who put the lives of many Coalfields residents at risk on Wednesday after lighting the two bushfires which threatened to engulf parts of Kurri Kurri and Heddon Greta. As the mercury soared past 40 degrees and hot north-westerly winds peaked over 50 km/h, an arsonist is believed to have sparked two blazes which quickly raged out of control as it damaged property, prompted frightened residents to take shelter and shut the Hunter Expressway for hours. NCH NEWS. Pic of Firefighters in Northcote St, Kurri Kurri. 18th january 2017. Picture by Simone De Peak Credit:Simone De Peak

Senior police have vowed to hunt down those responsible for a rising number of arson attacks around the Coalfields before lives are lost. Brave fire crews continued working into Wednesday night after helping ease conditions which saw emergency warnings sent out for parts of Kurri Kurri, Heddon Greta, Loxford and Sawyers Gully. NCH NEWS. Pic of people standing in Aberdare St Kurri Kurri looking on at the smoke from the Kurri Kurri fire. 18th January 2017. Picture by Simone De Peak Credit:Simone De Peak The RFS will begin to assess the damage on Thursday morning, but it confirmed late Wednesday night there were no homes destroyed by fire. Ember attacks are being blamed for some of the damage, including homes on Butlers Place at Kurri Kurri and the nearby high school hall, as conditions allowed the bushfire to crown through the tree tops.

The bushfires had raged on multiple fronts as residents sought shelter in many areas  particularly Old Maitland Road, Sawyers Gully Road and Northcote Street. One mother and her daughter needed to be rescued from their property by helicopter, the RFS said. At its peak, the fire was burning in populated areas several kilometres apart, with dense bush limiting the access of ground crews. The wind's regular direction changes kept more than 250 firefighters scrambling from one location to the next. Several water-bombing aircraft needed to be used. Fire crews worked furiously for several hours until 6pm, when the fire was downgraded to Watch and Act alert level from Emergency, the highest.

Residents watched as flames approached Vicky Davies was in her Sawyers Gully home as she watched thick black smoke surround the entire area. "My first thought was to run," she said, as she stood at a roadblock waiting for police to let her back into her property. "We still have no idea if our house is OK or if it's gone. We have a bushfire plan  but it all goes out the window when you're in a situation like that. Time just moves so quickly." Mrs Davies managed to rescue her dogs, but had to leave her pet goat behind, running out of time.

Her husband, Graeme, went back to the property to pull the animal to safety. At that time, Mr Davies said, he could have died. "It was burning everywhere," he said. "I was just about to leave when a copper came over and said, 'Get out, get out, get out, the fire's coming!'." Late on Wednesday night, Mr Davies confirmed his house had been saved.

"I've been here for 30 years and I've never seen anything like this," he said. "It's like Hiroshima has come down. It's burnt right around the house  we are like an island. The firies and all emergency services have done some amazing work." Northcote Street resident Leanne Madge also did not know if her home was still standing until she saw it with her own eyes. When she returned late afternoon, it was mere metres between her front door and the razed bushland across the road. "I was crying, I was shaking," Ms Madge said. "It was just black all around me and I knew I had to get out and leave everything behind.

"I come home and it's still here. I cannot believe it. The firefighters have saved everything." Ms Madge had little to say about arsonists. "They don't know what they're doing, the lives they put at risk," she eventually offered. "It's so sad." Phil Parrey, of Heddon Greta, said he first saw the flames about a 100 metres away, before watching the fire creep up the street. "Within five minutes it was on top of us," he said.
Banning the burqa will not solve issues for Queenslanders and is instead a diversionary tactic, Islamic Council of Queensland spokesman Ali Kadri says.

Senator Pauline Hanson this week said One Nation would move to prohibit burqas in government buildings if her party won the upcoming Queensland election.

It has been an ongoing issue for Ms Hanson, who morphed her 1996 rhetoric of Australia being "swamped by Asians" into being "swamped by Muslims" in 2016.

Ms Hanson floated the idea of a referendum on banning the burqa in 2015, saying she found it confronting and un-Australian.
Angly described the beginning of a short-lived "Anzac-American honeymoon". "The Australians had just lost their entire Eighth Division in toto at the fall of Singapore," Angly reported. "When you stop to consider hat proportionately in population this would be the equivalent of the Americans losing some nineteen and a half divisions, you can have some understanding of the Australian bitterness against the British at that time. "They felt that the British attitude at Singapore indicated that they weren't going to do anything to help the Australians.

"Thus began the great Anzac-American honeymoon. The Americans arrived at a psychological time and seemed to offer the security which the Australians had previously looked to the British navy to provide. "But like all honeymoons, the illusions are collapsing, discord is setting in, daily contact is becoming antagonistic and the Australians are gradually reverting to their 'first love', the British." Angly described a populace "not yet reconciled to the fact that they are engaged in total war" and described the Australian army as being "sloppy in appearance" with poor discipline. The fact that American soldiers received duty-free cigarettes was a bugbear for Australians, Angly said. "Citing our higher pay, they have made this quite a bone of contention," he said.

"Australian soldiers picketed (General Douglas) MacArthur's hotel until our canteens were opened to them. "When this occurred, it was quite difficult for the Americans to get into their own canteens, as they were so crowded with the Anzacs. "This was finally stopped by the statement that it was against Australian law to sell them the cigarettes duty-free. "Consequently, much ill feeling developed over the method in which this whole thing was handled. The Australian troops resent it very much and seem to take this resentment out on the American military police whenever the situation offers." American military police outside Brisbane's Central Hotel in 1942. Their presence caused resentment among Australians. Credit:Queensland State Archives

That led to the infamous Battle of Brisbane on November 26 and 27, 1942, a fierce street battle that resulted in the death of Australian Gunner Edward S Webster and injuries to several more. "Feeling on both sides ran rather high and a sharp word was all that was necessary to start a fight between members of the two armies," Angly noted. "From my observation, this ugliness is spreading to the larger garrison towns." Angly also reported on the racial tensions that arose. "There is some friction between our negro and white troops from both countries, although it seems to be diminishing," he said.

"It actually started with members of our own forces, although their presence is a direct refutation of the 'white Australia' policy in effect there for so many years. "These troops have done an excellent job but it may have been a psychological error to send them over there. "Some of the Australian women will go around with them and this fact causes much resentment amonth the Australians." While relations between the Australian and American troops were strained, Angly noted that "once the scene of battle is reached, the two bodies of troops get along exceedingly well together". Reds under the bed

Queensland Communist MP Fred Paterson. The potential influence of the Communist Party of Australia over Ben Chifley's federal Labor government was a concern to the CIA, but it noted Queensland was the home of Australia's sole communist parliamentarian. "(The) US Naval Attache in Melbourne has reported that the Labor government is under communist domination, with two cabinet members probable communists and another cabinet member and the Speaker of the House communist sympathizers," the April 1949 CIA report noted. "There are, however, no known communists in the Federal Parliament and only one state legislator (Queensland Parliament) is a known party member." That party member, Bowen MP Fred Paterson, remains the only Australian parliamentarian to be elected to office on a Communist Party ticket.

In the communique, titled Communist Influence in Australia, the CIA expresses concern about communist influence within the Chifley Labor government. "(It) is believed that 1) militiant influence within the Labor Party, although diminished, will continue to be a deterrent to a strong government anti-communist campaign, and 2) the (Australian Communist Party), through its control of key unions in industry and transport, is still capable of crippling Australian production before the government can take effective counteraction." Newspaper intrigue The newly released CIA documents also revealed a "conference" between then-agency director Walter Bedell Smith and Sir Keith Murdoch  father of Rupert Murdoch  and Queensland Newspapers managing editor Colin Bednall on June 8, 1951. The topics of conversation at that conference were not disclosed.

Queensland Newspapers remains the publisher of News Corp publication The Courier-Mail. Sir Joh's prospects The CIA watched Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson's ill-fated Canberra bid with interest. Credit:SMH archives A few decades on, the CIA watched with great interest then-Queensland premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen's federal political ambitions. In the director's National Intelligence Daily of March 5, 1987, it was noted Sir Joh's bid to become prime minister would "improve (Bob) Hawke's chances of reelection".

But the CIA's assessment of Sir Joh's likelihood of taking The Lodge proved to be somewhat prescient. "In recent public opinion surveys, an opposition coalition led by Bjelke-Petersen outpolled Hawke's Labor government," the report noted. "Bjelke-Petersen's sudden popularity, however, probably stems largely from growing public discontent with Hawke's handling of the economy, which is in its second year of slow growth, and with the lackluster performance of Liberal Party leader (John) Howard as head of the opposition coalition. "Bjelke-Petersen's strongly conservative policies  especially his opposition to trade unions  are unlikely to stand up well under closer scrutiny by the Australian public. "It is also unlikely that the National Party could win enough seats in the next election for him to become prime minister.
BROWNS MILLS, N.J., Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Deborah Heart and Lung Center was recently named in Modern Healthcare Magazine as one of the nations 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals, 2017, by Truven Health Analytics an IBM Company. The study, now in its 18th year, singled out 50 hospitals nationwide that achieved superior clinical outcomes in this critical area of hospital care. The Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals study is widely regarded as the leading program for evaluating leadership impact in a hospital, as well as quality indicators and efficiencies.



The Truven Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study assesses performance in key areas, including: risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, core measures (a group of measures that assess process of care), percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, severity-adjusted average length of stay, and wage-and severity-adjusted average cost. The study has been conducted annually since 1999. This is the second time Deborah has been recognized with this honor.

Deborah has a longstanding record of exceptional quality outcomes and patient safety, said Deborah President and CEO, Joseph Chirichella. The fact that we are the only New Jersey hospital to receive this designation, and one of only three hospitals in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania combined, is a great testament to Deborahs standards of excellence. The rigorous measures used in the analysis highlight the recognition of Deborah as a Center of Excellence for cardiovascular care.

To determine the 50 top U.S. hospitals for heart care, Truven Health researchers analyzed 2013 and 2015 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, 2015 Medicare cost reports, and second-quarter 2016 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data.

The study points to the broad impact for cardiovascular patients if all hospitals performed at the same level as Deborah, offering the following statistics:

Nearly 9,000 additional lives could be saved;



Nearly 6,000 more heart patients could be complication-free; and



More than $1.4 billion could be saved.



For more information about the award: http://100tophospitals.com/studies-winners/50-top-cardiovascular/year/2017.
An alleged bikie clad only in his designer jocks has been nabbed on the roof of a Gold Coast home.

The 28-year-old fled through an upstairs bedroom at Varsity Lakes when officers from bikie busting squad Taskforce Maxima arrived at the house on Wednesday morning.

Polair footage showed the alleged Lone Wolf Gang member wearing nothing but his Calvin Klein trunks on the rooftop as he was arrested on a return to prison warrant.

He was also charged with possession of dangerous drugs and obstructing police.
The LNP will be similarly determined to prove their credentials in the bush and argue they are the only viable conservative party in the state, as Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has insisted in recent days following member for Buderim Steve Dickson's defection to One Nation. Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls will also likely spend plenty of time in regional Queensland in 2017. Commenting on Ms Palaszczuk heading west, Mr Nicholls said, "we've been out there many times". "I've been out to Longreach, I've been out to regional Queensland and I know the message loud and clear to Annastacia Palaszczuk will be, what are you doing to create jobs?" Mr Nicholls said on Monday.

Member for Buderim Steve Dickson ruffled some feathers after announcing his switch from the LNP to One Nation. Credit:ABC Expect plenty of barbs from the LNP on Queensland Rail and the old soundbite about the "asleep at the wheel Palaszczuk Labor government" is likely to be repeated ad nauseam. Philip Strachan's report into the QR saga is due to be handed down in late January and it is unlikely the LNP will go easy on the rail troubles when parliament resumes on Valentine's Day. Child safety will also be on the agenda, with an investigation into staff over the death of toddler Mason Jet Lee expected to be completed in February, and a final report to be released at the end of January. One Nation announced 36 candidates for the Queensland election, amid predictions they could secure up to a dozen seats in the next parliament, but the party has already lost two - Andy Semple and Shan Ju Lin.

The latest Essential Research report shows One Nation receiving 13 per cent at the first preference vote in December, while on two party preferred, Labor is at 53 per cent to 47 per cent LNP. The crossbench continues to grow, with Mr Dickson's move last week boosting Labor's numbers in the house by one against the LNP. The count is now: 42 Labor, 41 LNP, while the crossbench features Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth with Katter's Australian Party, independents Rob Pyne, Billy Gordon and Peter Wellington, and Steve Dickson with One Nation. It will be up to the premier as to when she calls the election, but the current theory is the first week of November. Although, the election, which will feature full preferential voting, could be held at any time until early 2018.

A state redistribution, boosting the number of electorates from 89 to 93 is due in the first half of the year, and it is unlikely an election would be called during school holidays. The election campaign must run for a minimum of 26 days or a maximum of 56 days following the issue of the writs. QUT Professor Clive Bean said speculation about when an election would be called would be persistent during 2017. "Personally, I wouldn't expect that they would be rushing to call an early election the way things stand, but that can change quite quickly, the way politics moves," Dr Bean said. "It could mean they push it as far as possible, it could mean they see an opportunity and bring it forward when it looks like there's an advantage."

Dr Bean said people would question whether there would be more defections to One Nation. "Whether it will put the notion of the LNP as a single party under further strain, and those developments may well determine what happens in terms of the government deciding whether to go earlier to the polls or later," he said. Dr Bean said Ms Palaszczuk heading straight from holidays to regional Queensland sent a strong message. "Not necessarily that she's suddenly on an election campaign footing, but there's a clear understanding that that could be where, not necessarily where the election is won and lost for Labor, but where the whole two party system is weakened or strengthened as a result of the players that will be in this next election," he said. Dr Bean said if the election was held before the redistribution was finalised, it would be under the old boundaries, meaning the new seats would not come into play until the following election.
Less than half the students at two Queensland Universities completed their degrees within six years, new data has shown.

The national research revealed a third of all Australian university students will not complete their degree in the same time period.

The University of Queensland has the highest completion rates of any Queensland university. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Even nine years after commencing university studies, less than half the students at Central Queensland University and the University of Southern Queensland will finish their degrees.

At CQU, just 48.2 per cent of students graduated within nine years, and 49.2 per cent of USQ students completed their degrees.
Fido barking too much, keeping the neighbours awake all night? Moggy clawing at the couches? A start-up is promoting a novel treatment  medical cannabis.

Medical cannabis may have a strong calming effect on pets, dull chronic pain, and significantly improve their vibrancy and quality of life, according to Australian-listed medical cannabis company Creso Pharma.

Dr Edward Bassingthwaighte administers a cannabis-based treatment to Pearl the whippet. Credit:Lisa Maree Williams

One vet is already using medicated cannabis to treat dogs, and claims it has remarkable effects.

On Wednesday Creso, which is listed on the ASX and has local offices but is headquartered in Switzerland, announced it had received European Union health registration for two cannabidiol-based products  one for horses, the other for smaller animals such as cats or dogs.
Workers at one of Victoria's biggest power plants have been banned from refusing to work overtime and taking unreasonable personal leave as part of a protracted industrial dispute.

On Tuesday, as temperatures soared across the state, 30 per cent of the staff at the Loy Yang power plant had called in sick or said they were unavailable for overtime, AGL had told the Fair Work Commission.

But now the commission has ruled that the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) must not organise any industrial action involving overtime bans and unreasonable leave at the Loy Yang power station in Traralgon.

Power giant AGL welcomed the commission's ruling, saying it was forced to make an application to the industrial umpire in response to staff "not making themselves available for work".

Although Victoria's power supply is not under threat, the company said AGL Loy Yang had been unable to run at full capacity for the past six days.
Victoria's Department of Justice has appeared in court, accused by WorkSafe Victoria of breaching workplace health and safety laws, over the biggest riots the state's prison system has ever seen.

The charges relate to violent riots that trashed the Metropolitan Remand Centre at Ravenhall in 2015, during which about 400 inmates reacted to looming smoking bans by staging a violent protest that stretched over June 30 and July 1, 2015.

Inmates lit fires, bashed in doors and windows, rammed an exit door, ripped down a fence that divided rival outlaw motorcycle gangs and attacked prison guards.

Brandishing metal bars, and some with T-shirts covering their faces, inmates broke into the central management control area, chanting "We want Ox! [White Ox pouch tobacco]", a later independent investigation found.
Four alleged members of a crime syndicate behind a plan to import $60 million worth of cocaine and arrested on Wednesday morning have faced court.

The men are accused of masterminding a scheme to import 186 kilograms of cocaine using a former Japanese whaling vessel, which was boarded by authorities last month despite never entering Australian waters.

The drug was allegedly wrapped in bricks weighing about one kilogram and packed into nine hessian sacks which were found in a small storage room on the boat.

Police say the syndicate, based in Melbourne's north-western suburbs, was monitored for about a year before the boat was intercepted about 1300 kilometres off the coast of Tasmania on December 12.
Thousands of Victorian buyers who bought off-the-plan apartments due to be completed this year could struggle to finance their purchases and face losing their deposits because of new minimum design standards requiring more space.

New standards that come into effect in March set out minimum access to daylight, functional space and natural ventilation. They are meant to reverse the trend of smaller or micro apartments that have seen homes as small as 11.2 square metres, smaller than the smallest new Jayco caravan in size.

The median size of a new one-bedder in inner Melbourne dropped from 55 square metres in 2013 to 44 square metres in 2016, according to Oliver Hume Real Estate Group.

Big four banks have already made a policy in line with the new standards of refusing to lend for one-bedroom apartments smaller than 50 square metres.

Developers in recent years have been making planning applications for larger apartments, with the proposed new guidelines in mind.
A truck driver is facing multiple charges over the latest death at a notorious pedestrian crossing in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.

Kathy Curlis, 60, died in July last year after a car was rear-ended and pushed into her as she crossed a busy road.

Kathy Curlis and her husband Harry.

She had been using the marked zebra crossing at Mountain Highway and Boronia Road and the car's driver had seen her and come to a complete stop to allow her to cross, police said.

That's when a delivery truck is alleged to have slammed into the back of the car, launching the car forward, triggering the fatal collision.
A spokesman for President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he was "troubled" by President Barack Obama's commutation of the 35-year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, an Army private convicted of taking troves of secret diplomatic and military documents and disclosing them to WikiLeaks.

"It's disappointing, and it sends a very troubling message when it comes to the handling of classified information and to the consequences of those who leak information that threatens the security of our nation," Sean Spicer, Mr Trump's incoming White House press secretary, told reporters.

Chelsea Manning will be released from prison in May. Credit:AP

Mr Spicer, who called Manning "someone who has given away this country's secrets," did not directly answer a question about whether Mr Trump would take any steps to undo Mr Obama's decision.

Mr Obama said Tuesday that the seven years Manning has served behind bars was enough punishment and that she had been given an excessive sentence. A senior White House official also noted that Manning had expressed remorse for her crimes.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asante Gold Corporation (CSE:ASE) (FRANKFURT:1A9) (OTC:ASGOF) ("Asante or the Company") announces that it has compiled the data from the first of a series of ground geophysical IP (Induced Polarization/Resistivity) surveys to be completed at its Keyhole Gold option property in Ghana.



Seven distinct linear trending IP zones have been outlined which are interpreted to represent areas with increased sulfide mineralization. Sulfide concentrations (relative high IP values) in this structurally favourable Keyhole area are considered to be prime drill targets. The IP map is available at: http://www.asantegold.com/assets/img/memipnr18jan17.jpg and the Resistivity map at: http://www.asantegold.com/assets/img/memres-_nr18jan17.jpg.

IP was chosen as the preferred technique to outline high potential drill targets given the strong association of gold with sulfide mineralization in the Asankrangwa gold belt, such as at the Asanko (Obotan) gold mine located 40 km along the belt to the northeast. The subdued topography, extensive and locally thick alluvial cover, and heavy weathering and laterization mask mineralization from detection by the direct prospecting, trenching and soil geochemical methods which were used by previous explorers in the area.

Drill collars to test the outlined targets for gold mineralization are being selected for a proposed 1200 metre diamond drilling program, planned to commence in early February 2017.

One of the proposed high IP drill targets corresponds with large angular quartz reef float noted in the heavily galamsey disturbed area of the historical MEM showing  where significant gold values were previously reported: http://www.asantegold.com/assets/img/img_20161210_001315.jpg.

Please see our September 18, 2016 news release http://www.asantegold.com/news/asante-acquires-strategically-located-keyhole-gold-project-ghana and website http://www.asantegold.com/projects/keyhole-option for further information.

On behalf of the Board,

"Douglas R. MacQuarrie"

President and CEO

Scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been supervised, reviewed and approved by Douglas R. MacQuarrie, P.Geo. (B.C.) Geology & Geophysics, the President and CEO of the Company, who is a qualified person (QP") under NI 43-101. The IP survey was completed and data compiled by Fred Akosah, MSc. Geophysics, a registered geophysicist - Ghana Institution of Geoscientists (GhIG) utilizing a 2.5kw time domain IP system; pole dipole configuration n=1 to 6 ; 50 metre dipole separation; 25 metre station separation.

About Asante Gold Corporation

Asante and BXC Company (Ghana) Limited have entered into a C$19.5 million joint venture, subject to final closing, to develop our Kubi Gold Mining Leases as a potential near term underground operation; and Asante is exploring the Keyhole and Betenase options, the Fahiakoba and other concessions, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghanas Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on our web site at: www.asantegold.com

This news release contains statements of forward-looking information (or "FLI") including those in respect of future exploration, joint venture, development, permitting and mining at Kubi and the other properties in which the Company has an interest. FLI involves risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to vary from the FLI. The Company undertakes no obligation to update FLI except as required by applicable law. Such information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on FLI.

Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
London: Ukraine has asked the International Court of Justice in the Hague to declare Russia responsible for the MH17 tragedy, and order it to make "full reparation" for all its victims.

The move appears to be separate to an international bid by countries, including Australia, to take action once a criminal investigation into the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines plane in 2014 concludes later this year.

This week Ukraine began proceedings at the ICJ accusing Russia of financing acts of terrorism within Ukraine, in violation of treaties that both countries have signed.

In a wide-ranging application to the court asking it to take up the case, Ukraine accused Russia of "increasing pressure and intimidation" since the Orange Revolution of 2004.
This month, that quest has finally been fulfilled, and Chinese state media is all over it. Here's just one example of the coverage, from the English-language Twitter account of news agency Xinhua.

This story involves something as simple as the ballpoint pen - yes, that humble device you may well have lying around your desk or collecting dust at the bottom of your bag - and China's long and frustrating quest to manufacture it domestically.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made headlines this week with a speech at the World Economic Forum at Davos that passionately defended free trade in the face of a worldwide surge in anti-globalism populism . But closer to home, a less dramatic story may paint a more complicated and nuanced picture of China's role in the global economy.

Chinese manufacturers make 38 billion pens a year. Credit:Taina Sohlman

To anyone outside of the ballpoint pen manufacturing world, it might seem hard to understand what, exactly, is so surprising about this development? China already produces 38 billion ballpoint pens a year, according to China Daily, which is around 80 per cent of all ballpoint pens in the world. That's a lot of pens, but there was a catch: China had long been unable to produce a high quality version of the most important part of the pen, its tip.

The tip of a ballpoint pen is what makes it a ballpoint pen. At the tip, a freely rotating ball is held in a small socket which connects it to an ink reservoir that allows the pen to write or draw lines. Manufacturing a ballpoint pen tip that can write comfortably for a long period of time requires high-precision machinery and precisely thin steel, but for years China was unable to match those crafted by foreign companies.

While there were over 3000 companies manufacturing pens in China, none had their own high-end technology for the tip. Instead, roughly 90 per cent of the pen tips and refills, too, were imported from Japan, Germany and Switzerland, according to Chinese state media. This cost the industry $US17.3 million a year, according to the China National Light Industry Council.

China's inability to produce a complete, high-quality ballpoint pen came to widespread attention in 2015, when Prime Minister Li Keqiang singled out the products at a seminar in Beijing, noting that his writing was "rough" when he used Chinese-made ballpoint pens. For Li, China's failure to manufacture a complete ballpoint pen was indicative of the Chinese economy's weaknesses. "That's the real situation facing us," Li said at the time. "We cannot make ballpoint pens with a smooth writing function."
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Three board members also appointed last week.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The shareholder in a meeting with Telem Group of companies appointed Kendall Dupersoy as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telem confirmed Prime Minister William Marlin at Wednesdays press briefing. The Prime Minister said Dupersoy is expected to take up his position as of February 1st, 2017. The shareholder also appointed three members to the Supervisory board bringing the number to five. Those appointed last week are:-

 Arnell Brown

 Jimmy Challenger

 John Richardson

The shareholder still has to appoint two more members to TELEM board Marlin said. He further explained that one of the two members will have some legal background.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister William told members of the media on Wednesday that the Kingdom would be out of place if they appointed a quartermaster for the integrity chamber of St. Maarten. Marlin said if that was indeed done then that in itself is a breach of integrity. He made clear that so far the government of St. Maarten was not informed on the appointment and as far as he is concerned the appointment has to either be a rumor or joke.

Marlin said there is a court decision regarding the integrity chamber on St. Maarten and while the country believes that integrity must be upheld St. Maarten has enough entities, one being the Prosecutors Office and the Police to prosecute people who commit crimes and or integrity breaches.

The Prime Minister further explained there must be communication between the four countries of the Kingdom and so far the government of St. Maarten did not receive any information on the appointment of a quartermaster. He asked why St. Maarten should have an integrity chamber while the other countries of the Netherlands do not have any. Marlin every country in the world have integrity problems and each of those countries deals with those problems. He made clear that the Netherlands also have integrity problems and they do not have an integrity chamber in place. Marlin further explained that St. Maarten is doing its job when it comes to addressing matters of integrity.
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AXIM Biotechnologies, Inc. (AXIM Biotech) (OTC:AXIM), a world leader in cannabinoid research and development, entered a clinical trial on treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with the companys CanChew Plus CBD gum at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.



The research team previously received approval from the Medical Ethical Committee (METC) of Wageningen University to study novel treatments for patients suffering from IBS. Functional, controlled-release Hemp oil CBD chewing gum and matching placebo gums will be tested for the clinical studies. The amount of the Hemp oil CBD gum is set at 50 mg CBD per serving. According to the trial protocol patients can use up to 6 chewing gums a day to control their stomach cramps, bloating, pain and other symptoms. The main study outcome is perceived pain reduction. Furthermore, the study will record general relief and change in stool frequency.

Designed by clinical investigators at Wageningen University and the AXIM Biotech team, the clinical trial will include a group of 40 patients age 18-65, diagnosed with IBS according to ROME III criteria to determine the effectiveness of CanChew Plus in alleviating IBS symptoms.

We are pleased to have reached another milestone in the development of AXIM products to treat challenging health conditions, said George E. Anastassov, MD, DDS, MBA and Chief Executive Officer of AXIM Biotech. IBS is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting 9-15% of the worldwide population, and it has no sustainable cure.

The clinical trial at Wageningen University is the first of its kind to treat IBS symptoms by cannabinoid-containing chewing gum, and we look forward to sharing updates from the trial with you. With positive outcome from the IBS clinical trial, we are ready to proceed immediately with further trials on our pharmaceutical grade CanChew Rx products to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. We are committed to finding research based cannabinoid solutions to help people suffering from gastrointestinal disorders and other health conditions with no effective remedies, added George E. Anastassov, MD, DDS, MBA.

IBS is a very common and often painful disorder which is still difficult to manage. People often experience sudden flare-ups and for many it has a negative impact on their quality of life. CBD has shown to have promising effects, but there has been a clear need for practical and effective formulations. Providing it via a chewing gum results in sustained release of the compound and better bio-availability, said Renger Witkamp, Professor and Chair in Nutrition and Pharmacology of Wageningen University.

Wageningen University is a world-class education and research institute in the field of life sciences, agricultural and environmental science, and the only university in the Netherlands to focus on the theme of healthy food and living environment. According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Wageningen is the best university in the Netherlands and No. 1 worldwide in agriculture and forestry for 2016 on the QS World University Rankings.

About AXIM

AXIM Biotechnologies, Inc. (OTC:AXIM) focuses on the research, development and production of cannabis-based pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic products. Our flagship products include CanChew, a CBD-based controlled release chewing gum, and MedChew Rx, a combination CBD/THC gum that is undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of pain and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. We prioritize the well-being of our customers while embracing a solid fiscal strategy. Medical Marijuana, Inc. is a major investor in AXIM. For more information, visit www.AXIMBiotech.com.

About CanChew and CanChew Plus

CanChew is a unique hemp-derived CBD functional chewing gum that is distinctly different than any other brands of gum on the market. Features listed on the CanChew website include:

Non-habit forming

No prescription needed

Available in all 50 states

Great-tasting mint gum has no artificial sweeteners or preservatives

Non-GMO, gluten free, vegan and kosher

CanChew Plus is a vastly improved delivery system than the alpha version of CanChew Gum. It is produced by a leading European functional gum manufacturer.

Featured in Healthy Living Magazine, CanChew was also recognized by the HealthyLiving Foundation and honored with its Triple Leaf Award.

FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of AXIM Biotechnologies, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein.

LEGAL DISCLOSURE

AXIM Biotechnologies does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act (US.CSA).




Huawei and China Unicom jointly complete worlds first FDD Massive MIMO field verification

SHANGHAI, CHINA  (Marketwired)  01/17/17  Huawei, together with China Unicom Group, completed field verification of the industrys first FDD-based Massive MIMO technology, using the existing two-antenna receiving terminal on the 20MHz spectrum to achieve a peak network rate of 697.3Mbps, 4.8 times that of traditional FDD LTE. The successful verification also demonstrated the innovation ability of both sides.

With the rapid development of mobile Internet applications, such as high-definition video and online games, MBB networks face a huge challenge in capacity. Massive MIMO can help operators greatly enhance wireless network capacity and user experience by maximizing existing sites and spectrum resources. Massive MIMO is the best technology to boost spectrum efficiency and is one of the key solutions for Huaweis 4.5G Evolution.

Massive MIMO solutions have three typical characteristics: AAU hardware form, 3D user-level beamforming, multi-user MIMO.

1. AAU hardware form

The Massive MIMO solution requires large-scale antenna array elements and RF transceiver channels. If RF and antenna are separated, engineering feasibility and system reliability are both extremely challenging. AAU is an integrated active antenna solution from Huawei, which integrates RF and antenna elements to ensure the reliability of Massive MIMO solutions and greatly enhance the feasibility of the project.

2. 3D user-level beamforming

Massive MIMO uses a large array of antennas to provide precise control of beam width and angle in both vertical and horizontal directions, enabling 3D user-level beamforming, therefore improves network coverage and reduces overall network interference.

3. Multi-user MIMO

Based on accurate 3D user beamforming, accurate channel estimation and user algorithms, Massive MIMO allows multiple terminals to simultaneously reuse the same spectrum resources, therefore further enhancing network capacity.

The joint field test, based on 20MHz spectrum, using an FDD LTE commercial terminal, demonstrated that the average mobile phone rate grows up to 87Mbps, which can support users to watch 4K high-definition video smoothly. The test also verified the network peak up to 697.3Mbps, 4.8 times that of the traditional FDD LTE.

According to the 3GPP standard, Release 10 defines an eight port multi-antenna technology in TM9 mode, Release 13 defines a 16 port multi-antenna technology and Release 14 defines 32-port multi-antenna technology. With commercialization of the terminals supporting the above protocols, the spectral efficiency of Massive MIMO will be further enhanced in the future. Based on the existing FDD LTE Massive MIMO prototype, Huawei will continue to optimize its products and drive the FDD LTE Massive MIMO industry chain to mature.

Cao Ming, President of Huaweis FDD Product Line, said, Our goal is to bring considerable commercial value to operators through innovative technology. This successful field verification between Huawei and China Unicom, once again demonstrated the innovative capability of Huaweis 4.5G Evolution technology. Huaweis Massive MIMO product has the ability to evolve to 5G to protect the operators investment in the coming 5G era.

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huaweis 170,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the worlds population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees.

For more information, please visit Huawei online at or follow us on:

Huawei

Boxin Xu

+8618688893189
Anita Borg Institutes President and CEO Dr. Telle Whitney to Retire at the End of 2017

PALO ALTO, CA  (Marketwired)  01/17/17  The , a nonprofit organization focused on the advancement of women in technology, today announced that Dr. Telle Whitney will retire from the role of President and CEO at the end of 2017, after 15 years of service.

Dr. Whitney joined ABI in 2002 and over the course of her leadership has led ABIs substantial growth in size and impact. This includes developing the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing into the most influential conference for women technologists. Under her leadership the conference has grown from 630 attendees in 2002 to 15,000 in 2016. In 2011, ABI launched the Grace Hopper Celebration India and has grown to over 2,900 attendees in 2016. She grew the organizations revenues from $1M annually to over $22M. Working with staff, volunteers, and the ABI Board of Trustees to create and develop high impact programs that include Top Companies for Women Technologists, a national program that recognizes companies committed to building workplaces where women technologists can thrive, ABI.local, a program to build local communities of women technologists and their allies, and the endorsement and support of leading corporate partners across multiple industries.

Most importantly, Dr. Whitney has been committed to demonstrating the business value of diversity and the importance of engaging the full talent of the workforce to drive innovation.

It has been an honor and privilege to lead ABI, and to work with our dynamic and passionate staff, our committed and influential Board of Trustees as well as our amazing community, all working towards women being at the table creating technology, said Dr. . 2017 is the perfect time to welcome a next generation of leadership. I am confident that ABIs vision of a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies that use it will guide the organization for many years to come. While the industry is certainly not where it needs to be in terms of inclusion, there is a groundswell of support from advocates committed to equal representation of women technologists.

On behalf of ABIs Board of Trustees, I want to thank Telle for her outstanding work, dedication and leadership, said , ABI Board Chair. Telles passion for women technologists and for achieving balance and diversity in tech has had impact at all levels and has helped both individuals and organizations achieve their potential. She has driven significant growth and success for ABI and the Board is tremendously appreciative of her leadership and commitment.

Dr. Whitney will work with the Board through the transition and remain as CEO until a successor is found in 2017.

Alan Eustace, former SVP of Knowledge at Google and ABI Board member, will head up the search for the new President and CEO. ABI will announce the search process shortly.

The Anita Borg Institute (ABI) connects, inspires and guides women in computing and organizations that view technology innovation as a strategic imperative. Founded in 1997 by computer scientist Anita Borg, our reach extends to more than 87 countries. We believe technology innovation powers the global economy, and that women are crucial to building technology the world needs. ABI is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization.

Dr. Whitney, a well-known influencer in the world of Technology and Women, is a frequent speaker at conferences and meetings, and is a member of a number of boards, including the Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities (CMD-IT), and Caltech IST advisory board. She has a Ph.D. from Caltech and previously held senior technical management positions at Actel and Malleable Technologies, both semiconductor companies. She was recently asked to join the National Medal of Technology Evaluation Committee. She has received numerous awards including an honorary Doctorates from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Claremont College, the ACM Distinguished Service Award, and was named one of Fast Companys Most Influential Women in Technology.
Replace Hair Glasgow welcomes DR LUCA DE FAZIO as Hair Transplant Surgeon

Dr. De Fazio is also one of the most expert users of Trichoscan a microscopic computerized method used to perform an in-depth analysis of the hair and the scalp, DR LUCA DE FAZIO takes new position as Hair Transplant Surgeon for Replace Hair. Full details can be found here [http://www.replacehair.co.uk/hair-transplant-clini](http://www.replacehair.co.uk/hair-transplant-clinics)

Replace Hair CEO, Lucy Owens expressed confidence that DR LUCA DE FAZIO is ready to handle the job, saying:

One of the most experienced and respected Hair Transplant Surgeons in the World.

Among the new responsibilities DR LUCA DE FAZIO can expect to handle, the main challenges are:

Dr. De Fazio is also one of the most expert users of Trichoscan

Perform an in-depth analysis of the hair and the scalp

Expert in Trichological Surgery

After his degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Perugia, Dr. De Fazio completed a post graduate qualification with full marks in General Surgery and a further qualification in Medicine and Plastic Surgery and Hair Loss Surgery.

He also became a member of the teaching staff in the faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Perugia with particular emphasis on Maxillo-Facial surgery. Afterwards he became an effective member of the examination committee for degrees in Medicine and Surgery, Odontostomatology and Dental Implants.

At the beginning of 2000, the doctor started to develop and experiment on his own surgical technique that would allow the transplant of single hair follicles with results that exceeded existing standard hair transplant procedures. During the same period, he implemented a new rotating micro scalpel called Bulbix as well as an Implanter Bulbix after just one year that would allow hair transplants to reach the same bulbar depth as the donor area.

Dr. De Fazio is also one of the most expert users of Trichoscan a microscopic computerized method used to perform an in-depth analysis of the hair and the scalp. He is also a member of the Testa Collo Italian Society of Surgeons (SICTC), Italian Society of Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery (SIES) and the Italian Society of Hair Restoration (ISHR).

Over the years, he also became an author of numerous publications and he became known on regional television channels (in the regions of Umbria and Marche Italy) as well as national channels, such as Mediaset, to participate as a guest and expert in Trichological Surgery. He attended around 250 congresses in Italy and abroad and he was also a speaker for 45 national and international congresses.

Customers and current employees are invited to send their messages of congratulations and welcome to the new Hair Transplant Surgeon via the website: http://www.replacehair.co.uk/.
WePow Achieves EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework Certification

CUPERTINO, CA  (Marketwired)  01/18/17  , providing mobile and video interviewing solutions that improve hiring outcomes, today announced it has achieved EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework certification. As a result, WePow meets the most stringent requirements for data privacy when transferring data, such as a companys video interviews, from the European Union to the United States.

Developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Commission, the provides companies on both sides of the Atlantic with a mechanism to comply with EU data protection requirements. For WePow, which has clients based around the world using its video interviewing platform across their global operations, achieving Privacy Shield certification validates the companys ability to handle job candidate data according to the most rigid international standards.

One of the most pressing challenges facing businesses today is the need to protect their sensitive data, such as information shared by  and about  their job candidates, said Imo Udom, co-founder and CEO of WePow. This is especially important as WePow continues to work with more international organizations, including companies headquartered in Europe or looking to expand to the continent. Attaining Privacy Shield certification confirms that we are fully capable of protecting their sensitive candidate data as we help them streamline and improve their global hiring processes.

As WePow can be used across workgroups, regions and countries, the companys solutions are especially appealing to businesses with global operations, contributing to a flexible and consistent recruiting process. With particularly strong usage of WePow in Germany and Switzerland  among the countries with most stringent data privacy regulations  Privacy Shield certification ensures clients that their data is well protected when transferred between the EU and the U.S.

With more of WePows clients and partners expanding throughout Europe, the Privacy Shield certification provides WePow with the foundation to further grow its operations in the region while ensuring the utmost level of personal data protection.

More details about WePows EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework certification can be accessed at: .

WePow connects recruiters, job candidates and employers through easy-to-use mobile and video interviewing solutions. Hundreds of organizations rely on WePows video and communications platform to improve recruiter productivity, deliver engaging candidate experiences and make the right hires. As a result, organizations regain time, reduce costs and recruit effectively. Connect with us today at .
Twilio Awarded ISO 27001 Certification

SAN FRANCISCO, CA  (Marketwired)  01/18/17  Twilio Inc. (NYSE: TWLO), the leading cloud communications platform company, today announced it has been awarded the ISO 27001 certification. The scope of Twilios information security management system (ISMS) includes people, processes, and technology for creating and supporting products that enable developers to add messaging, voice, and video to web and mobile applications.

ISO 27001 is one of the most widely recognized and internationally accepted information security standards. It identifies requirements for a comprehensive Information Security Management System (ISMS), and defines how organizations should manage and handle information in a secure manner, including appropriate security controls. In order to achieve the certification, Twilios compliance was validated by an independent security firm after demonstrating an ongoing and systematic approach to managing and protecting company and customer data. With the successful ISO 27001 certification, multinational businesses can utilize Twilio APIs trusting that the company has implemented the necessary security best practices. The ISO 27001 certification also arrives on the heels of Twilio receiving SOC 2 certification for its Authy two-factor authentication security service. To learn more about Twilios security certifications, please visit:

Twilio is committed to continuing to build trust through third party security assurances such as ISO 27001, said Twilio CISO and VP of Trust, Richard Seiersen. Though Twilio already utilizes ISO 27001 certified hosting providers, software companies building software on top of those platforms are still responsible for demonstrating security and trust. Knowing that a third party has affirmed our security management processes for both our infrastructure and the software we provide is key in furthering the confidence of our existing and prospective customers.

Trust is critical for cloud companies, particularly those that provide foundational infrastructure for business communications, said David Campbell, Chief Security Officer at SendGrid. Twilios ISO 27001 certification fosters trust and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to safeguarding data.

Twilios mission is to fuel the future of communications. Developers and businesses use Twilio to make communications relevant and contextual by embedding messaging, voice, and video capabilities directly into their software applications. Founded in 2008, Twilio has over 650 employees, with headquarters in San Francisco and other offices in Bogota, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Mountain View, Munich, New York City, Singapore and Tallinn.

Contact:

Twilio Press
Purchased as a Bernal Heights fixer for $580,000 in October of 2014, the 912-square-foot, one-bedroom house at 519 Nevada Street was flipped for $815,000 four months later with no improvements save plans for a major expansion.

Subsequently taken down to the studs, 519 Nevada Street returned to the market early last year, listed as a contemporary three-bedroom home with 1,636 square feet of remodeled space for $1,550,000.

Reduced to $1,495,000 in June, the property was re-listed for $1,195,000 in August. But said listing had a hidden asterisk.

The August listing was actually for an auction to be held on September 22, with an opening bid of $1,195,000 and an undisclosed reserve price below which the seller wasnt bound to sell. And included in the auctions marketing materials was an appraisal for $1,818,000.

Withdrawn from the MLS without a reported sale on September 23, 519 Nevada has just been listed anew, with an official 1 day on the market and an original list price of $1,295,000, a sale above which will be considered to be over asking according to all MLS based stats and industry reports.
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NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hunt Mortgage Partners, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hunt Mortgage Group and a leader in financing commercial real estate throughout the United States, today announced it provided financing to facilitate the acquisition and moderate rehabilitation of a multifamily property located in El Paso, Texas. The total investment was $5.2 million.

The property, Father Carlos Pinto Memorial Apartments, consists of a mid-rise senior-restricted multifamily property totaling 113 apartments. The property is located in the Segundo Barrio neighborhood of downtown El Paso, one of the citys oldest and most historic districts. After the renovations, the property will offer 113 one and two-bedroom LIHTC units restricted to senior-citizen residents 62 and older earning 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less.

The property is part of the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program in which its public housing units will be converted to project-based Section 8 housing with a 20-year HAP contract in-place at closing covering 100% of the units, explained Joshua Reiss, Assistant Vice President at Hunt Mortgage Group. The loan will facilitate the acquisition of the properties from HACEP and rehabilitation in conjunction with the receipt of Low Income Housing Tax Credits and issuance of Tax-Exempt Bonds.

The borrower is Paisano Housing Redevelopment Corporation (PHRC), a wholly owned instrumentality of HACEP, which will also serve as the third-party non-recourse carve-out guarantor. The Freddie Mac tax exempt loan (TEL) has an eighteen-year loan term, two years of interest-only payments and a 35 year amortization schedule beginning in year three.

We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with HACEP again, added Reiss. We partnered with them in April 2015 and in September 2016 on two other portfolios, including the largest single loan to date under the RAD program, a $59.6 million loan for the rehabilitation of 13 non-contiguous sites known as the HACEP El Paso RAD I Portfolio.

The Rental Assistance Demonstration program is transforming public housing and will bring unprecedented benefits to local communities throughout the country by enabling the use of public and private investments to help revitalize and preserve much needed affordable housing.

Hunt Mortgage Group and the Hunt Companies are committed to working with public housing authorities under the RAD program. We are proud to play an integral role in this important program, concluded Reiss.

In addition to the senior indebtedness, during the construction phase (estimated to be fifteen months) Series B Bonds in the projected amount of $3.1 million will be advanced and then re-paid by the subsequent receipt of low income housing tax credit equity by construction completion.

Upon completion of the renovation, Father Carlos Pinto Memorial Apartments will be in excellent physical condition with total construction hard costs projected of $6.5 million.

About Hunt Mortgage Group

Hunt Mortgage Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hunt Companies, Inc., is a leader in financing commercial real estate throughout the United States. The Company finances all types of commercial real estate: multifamily properties (including small balance), affordable housing, office, retail, manufactured housing, healthcare/senior living, industrial, and self-storage facilities. It offers Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HUD/FHA in addition to its own Proprietary loan products. Since inception, the Company has structured more than $21 billion of loans and today maintains a servicing portfolio of more than $12 billion. Headquartered in New York City, Hunt Mortgage Group has 189 professionals in 20 locations throughout the United States. To learn more, visit www.huntmortgagegroup.com.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGX Minerals Inc. (MGX or the Company) (CSE:XMG) / (FKT:1MG) / (OTC:MGXMF) is pleased to provide additional details from the Companys recent extraction of lithium from heavy oil wastewater (see press release dated January 3, 2017) and an update on research and development. MGX continues to work with partners PurLucid Treatment Solutions Inc. (PurLucid) and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) on multiple fronts.



PurLucid is working to integrate respective technologies and build an optimized pilot plant for deployment into Albertas oilfields shortly. MGX has testing and analyses agreements with eight major and mid-tier oilfield operators, with the aim to install multiple pilot plant and small commercial units throughout 2017, as part of the Companys broader petrolithium deployment strategy throughout the Province of Alberta.

We are highly encouraged as we continue to analyze the initial results and achieve steady progress in optimization of the pilot plant, stated MGX President and CEO Mr. Jared Lazerson. This may prove to be one of the most important developments in the energy industry since the commercial development of shale oil. In addition to the potential environmental benefits of producing reusable water, the extraction of lithium from oil production water now ties the future of big oil to the new energy industry. It is an amazing twist of fate that the largest existing production of lithium brine on a daily basis is coming from oil wells. Millions and millions of barrels of lithium brine bearing water are being produced every day in North America and MGX is committed to rapidly deploying and harnessing this vast petrolithium resource.

Alberta Lithium Portfolio

MGX is the largest holder of mineral permits covering known lithium- bearing brine areas in Canada with a land package encompassing nearly 500,000 hectares. All permits are focused on major oil and gas production areas of Alberta. Along with oil and gas, these areas currently produce more than one million barrels per day of wastewater. There is significant potential to produce more oil and wastewater should there be an opportunity for increased profitability on a per barrel basis due to lithium extraction. MGX is investigating the possibility, with its oil industry partners, that large areas of older oil production, as well as oil sands, may once again become viable due to the addition of value from extraction of the minerals contained in the wastewater.

As previously reported, MGX holds a patent pending proprietary process (U.S. Provisional Patent #62/419,011) for the extraction of lithium and other valuable minerals from oil brine (see press release dated November 9, 2016). It is the only patent of its kind and focuses on the rapid extraction of lithium and other valuable minerals from oilfield wastewater. Current conventional production of lithium from brine takes up to 18 months due to the solar evaporation phase. MGXs process eliminates the solar evaporation step, reducing potential production to one day and representing a reduction of >99%.

Additional Details from Initial Lithium Extraction

A representative sample of heavy oil evaporator blowdown wastewater (EBD) wastewater, containing anomalous levels of lithium grading 87 mg/L, was transported from the Alberta oil fields to PurLucids laboratory facilities in Edmonton for testing.

The pre-treatment step to create brine feedstock free of physical particulate resulted in an 18% loss of lithium, however the step removed nearly all hydrocarbons, silica and other solids. The primary processing of the brine included treatment to recover sodium chloride (NaCl), which represents a potentially saleable commercial product, and resulted in a minor 1% loss of lithium. An additional 16% of lithium was lost during the sulfur removal and magnesium oxide recovery step. After crystallization of the lithium carbonate 21% of lithium remained in the final brine. This portion represents a high probability of additional recovery through current optimization of the process. The final concentrate included 34.8 mg/L lithium, representing a 40% recovery rate, along with other potentially commercially-viable minerals including boron and vanadium.

Overall, the treatment process removed all suspended solids, including 99.7% of hydrocarbons and 99.9% of silica and other scale-forming minerals. Thus, upon process completion remaining water was suitable for reuse in stream generation.

Further optimization testing is currently underway using oil well wastewater from the Companys Sturgeon Lake Project versus oil sands wastewater. This may reduce loss during the initial filtration step due to the lower concentration of hydrocarbons and other impurities. Oil sands wastewater offers the advantage of significant environmental revenue for the treatment of this heavy oil wastewater, which has the potential to more than offset front end recovery losses, therefore both markets are being actively pursued. Primary areas of optimization involve reducing potential capital and operating costs in the handling of large volumes of wastewater and maximizing the positive economic impact of by-products including sodium chloride and calcium chloride.

The primary goal is to reduce overall physical plant components that minimize potential operating and capital costs optimized to high volume mid-grade lithium brine of Alberta. To date work has been successful and initial optimization results are expected at the end of January from PurLucid. Results from independent work at the Saskatchewan Research Council are expected by mid-February.

Qualified Persons

The technical portions of this press release were prepared by Dr. Preston McEachern, CEO of PurLucid Treatment Solutions Inc., and have been reviewed by Andris Kikauka (P. Geo.), Vice President of Exploration for MGX Minerals. Mr. Kikauka is a non-independent Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument (N.I.) 43-101 Standards.

Cautionary Statement

MGX Minerals is actively working on advancing its Alberta Lithium Portfolio into production. However, readers are cautioned that the Company has not completed a pre-feasibility or feasibility study which establishes mineral reserves with demonstrated economic and technical viability. Further, the Company cautions readers that any potential production may not be economically feasible and historically projects taken to production without establishing reserves through a feasibility study have a much higher risk of economic or technical failure.

About MGX Minerals

MGX Minerals (CSE:XMG) is a diversified Canadian mining company engaged in the development of large-scale industrial mineral portfolios in western Canada. The Company operates lithium, magnesium and silicon projects throughout British Columbia and Alberta. MGX recently released a maiden N.I. 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for its Driftwood Creek magnesium project, which outlined 8 million tonnes grading 43.31% magnesium oxide. In January the Company received a 20-year Mining Lease for Driftwood Creek. Additionally, the Company is the largest lithium brine land holder in Canada, controlling nearly 487,000 hectares of land representing over one million barrels of brine production per day. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.mgxminerals.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements including the completion of the rights offering (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potentially" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
COEUR DALENE, Idaho, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merger Mines Corporation of Coeur dAlene, Idaho is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with Groundhog Mining and Milling, LLC of Dillon, Montana to form a working partnership wherein Groundhog will be the prime field operator of the Merger Laser Miner in its mine rock density characterization function.

After characterization parameters are set, Groundhog will act as installer and trainer for purchasers and lessors of the Merger Miner at their respective mine sites. Groundhog will continue its operations as a contract mine operator and will install and operate the Merger Miner for those who purchase or contract for its services.

Groundhog Mining and Milling, LLC, led by Delbert Hunt, is a contract mine operator and an equipment sales and repair company in the Inland Northwest. Field operations for Groundhog Mining are directed by Nathan Hunt. www.groundhogmining.com. Groundhog is a privately held company.

Signing this agreement with Groundhog Mining marks an important milestone for Merger and our shareholders, stated Merger president Lex Smith. We have known Del and Nathan Hunt for years and their mining expertise will be invaluable to any party that purchases or leases one of our Merger Miner laser mining units. Further, our working partnership with Groundhog gives Merger the ability to actively mine properties we acquire with our Merger Miners and by conventional means as well.

Merger is the global leader in the development and use of lasers for mining. This innovative use of lasers and robotics has the potential to change the way mining is done world-wide. Mergers innovative mining methods will lower mining costs significantly, and reduce miners exposure to dangerous situations they typically encounter when using explosives and traditional mining equipment.

The Merger Miner makes use of a commercial kilowatt power fiber laser in a patented device for mining in narrow veins of precious metals. www.mergerminescorp.com. (OTCQB:MERG)

Merger has world class technical experts overseeing the design and manufacture of the robotic laser vein miner arrays, and Merger has one of the finest mining engineers in the U.S. to assist the Laser Vein Miner design team with his mine design and operational expertise. They will be working closely at any mining location where Merger is testing and fine tuning the laser arrays, and they will be available to assist mining companies that purchase or lease the mining arrays from the company.

Mergers design and manufacture of high tech, state-of-the-art laser vein miner arrays which incorporate the use of robotics and highly sophisticated computer programs are specifically designed to achieve maximum production from mines. Mergers laser mining technology brings traditional mining into the 21st century world-wide.

Merger anticipates having its first scan head ready for laboratory testing within the next twelve months. Computer modeling of the narrow (30 inch wide) vein miner is well under way and will see detailed engineering drawings completed within the next fifteen months, with fabrication, system integration and performance evaluation to follow soon after.

Legal Notice and Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, those with respect to the objectives, plans and strategies of the Company set forth herein and those preceded by or that include the words "believes," "expects," "given," "targets," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "projects," "forecasts" or similar expressions, are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others: general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices; risks of junior exploration and pre-production activities; maintenance of important business relationships. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update any of the information contained or referenced in this press release.
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tanya Eastwood, President of Greystone Affordable Housing Initiatives LLC, a leading provider of affordable housing recapitalization and rehabilitation services, has been appointed to the board of the National Rural Housing Coalition. Tanyas tenure with the NRHC includes several years as an active member, while simultaneously leading Greystones efforts in preserving thousands of affordable housing units across the United States.



NRHC, founded in 1969, has the mission to achieve better housing and community facilities for low-income rural families. The organization works to focus policy makers on the needs of rural areas through direct advocacy and by coordinating a network of rural housing advocates around the nation.

The NRHC is a vital organization to the efforts of both public and private advocates of rural affordable housing, and I am honored to serve on the board with such distinguished members, said Ms. Eastwood. At no point more than today do the millions of residents in affordable housing need vocal advocates to ensure that their resources are preserved. I look forward to being an active participant in the fight for residents rights through the NRHC.

At Greystone, Ms. Eastwood is responsible for the strategic growth and implementation of Greystones affordable housing preservation efforts, which assist non-profit and for-profit owners and developers in meeting the challenges associated with the preservation, recapitalization, and rehabilitation of affordable housing assets across the U.S. Ms. Eastwood also currently serves as President of the National Council for Affordable and Rural Housing.

About Greystone Affordable Housing Initiatives LLC

Greystone Affordable Housing Initiatives LLC, an affiliate of Greystone, is a finance and transaction management company that is focused on meeting the challenges associated with the recapitalization, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable housing throughout the U.S. To date, Greystone has coordinated the rehabilitation and preservation of over 8,200 apartment units with another 5,800 in various stages of completion. The companys mission is to create meaningful and significant impacts on communities by helping to provide low-income households with decent, safe affordable housing.

About Greystone

Greystone, together with its affiliates, is a real estate lending, investment and advisory company headquartered in New York. Our range of services includes commercial lending across a variety of platforms such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, CMBS, FHA, USDA, bridge and proprietary loan products; Mortgage servicing; Real estate investment and development; Acquisitions / management of multifamily properties and healthcare facilities; Affordable housing preservation; Public transport real estate management; and Investment sales advisory. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Corporation, Inc., Greystone Funding Corporation and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greyco.com.

About National Rural Housing Coalition

The National Rural Housing Coalition (NRHC) was founded by a group of concerned rural community activists, public officials, and non-profit developers to fight for better housing and community facilities for low-income rural families. Today, NRHC works to promote and defend the principle that rural people have the right  regardless of income  to a decent, affordable place to live, clean drinking water, and basic community services. For more information, visit http://ruralhousingcoalition.org/.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oceanus Resources Corporation (TSXV:OCN) and (OTCQB:OCNSF) ("Oceanus" or the Company) is pleased to announce that its common shares recently commenced trading on the OTCQB, a US interdealer quotation system, under the symbol OCNSF. Real-Time Quote Display Service for OCNSF is available at: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/OCNSF/quote. The Companys common shares will also continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under its trading symbol OCN.



OTC Markets Group Inc., located in New York, N.Y., operates the worlds largest electronic inter-dealer quotation system. It offers transparent trading to development stage companies that have met a minimum bid price test, are current in their financial reporting and have undergone an annual verification and management certification process.

In connection with the OTCQB listing, Oceanus secured DTC eligibility with the Depository Trust Company for its shares on the OTCQB. The Depository Trust Company (DTC) is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. and manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies. Securities that are eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through the DTC are considered DTC eligible. This electronic method of clearing securities speeds up the receipt of stock and cash, and thus generally accelerates the settlement process for investors.

Oceanus also announces that Mr. Wade Anderson has been appointed to the board of directors of Oceanus. Mr. Anderson is a Chartered Professional Accountant, business advisor and investor. He is currently practicing with Dylke and Company in Edmonton, Alberta, a firm specializing in professional accounting and advisory services to privately held business interests in Western Canada. Mr. Anderson served as a director of El Tigre Silver Corporation from 2007 to 2015 and has served as a director for a number of privately held corporations in the agribusiness and mining sectors.

The board of directors of Oceanus has approved the issuance of 100,000 stock options to Mr. Anderson and 25,000 stock options to another director. The stock options have an exercise price of 23 cents per common share.

About Oceanus Resources Corporation

Oceanus Resources Corporation is a gold exploration company operating in Mexico. Oceanus is managed by a team of mine finders with extensive experience in exploring and developing large hydrothermal gold projects in Mexico. Oceanus is currently drilling and exploring the El Tigre Property in the Sierra Madre Occidental in Sonora, Mexico.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:

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.
MIAMI, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TIKD, a Miami based tech startup, has developed and launched a web application to help drivers resolve their traffic tickets in two minutes or less, straight from their phones. TIKD is the first web app to provide a hassle-free solution to traffic tickets and has named Miami as the first market to begin its nation-wide roll out this year.



TIKD discovered over 90% of people decide that the hassle and risk of fighting their ticket is not worth the time or stress. They simply pay it, even when the insurance company may up their monthly charges, adding up to $1,000 a year on average. That doesnt even include the risk of a tarnished driving record or the possibility of getting points on your license. Thats where TIKD comes in.

After being issued a traffic ticket, users just snap a photo of their ticket, upload it onto the TIKD platform, answer a few quick questions and pay, saving up to 20% off the ticket. And thats it, goodbye ticket. TIKD even guarantees 0 points on your license or TIKD will give its customers a full refund. Just snap it, pay it, forget it.

When I first came up with the idea for TIKD, I had been issued multiple traffic tickets in a short period of time. I quickly realized my options to fighting these tickets were limited. At TIKD, we want to empower people by providing an easily accessible and hassle-free solution to an ongoing issue everyone has dealt with at least once. Were proud of where we have come with TIKD and with over 1 million traffic tickets issued per year in Miami-Dade, we are excited to introduce TIKD into the market, stated Chris Riley, Founder of TIKD.

TIKD has launched in Miami Dade and plans to roll out nationwide by the end of 2017. The web app is available free of charge and doesnt need to be downloaded onto your phone. Users will only pay a portion of their ticket cost to get it off their hands. The whole process takes two minutes or less. Just snap it, pay it, forget it.

About TIKD

TIKD is a privately owned, Miami-based tech start-up that has developed and launched a web application allowing drivers to fight tickets straight from their phones in 2 minutes or less. The web application offers a unique solution to resolving traffic citations without the hassle of lawyer communication, unforeseen fees and all in a few simple steps. Just snap it, pay it, forget it. TIKD is currently available in the Miami-Dade area.
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The International Paper plant, though not directly on the Georgetown waterfront, is close enough to remind strollers on the Harborwalk that Georgetown wasn't always a tourism-dominated city.
Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
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DETROIT, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than 7,000 members of our Armed Forces, their family members and veterans enjoyed the comforts of the Freedom Center military lounges at Detroit Metropolitan Airport during the busy holiday travel season, thanks to Delta Air Lines.



For the third consecutive year, Delta Air Lines sponsored a month-long Holiday Military Salute, underwriting costs for the operations of the two Freedom Center military lounges at DTW.

Delta Air Lines has a long tradition of supporting military personnel and their families, said Ken Pratt, of Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center, Inc. Here in Detroit, they have helped us meet the needs of traveling military, family members and veterans since we opened in November 2011.

The Freedom Centers at Detroit Metro Airport are greatly appreciated by traveling veterans and their families 365 days a year, Pratt continued. But its especially busy from mid-December through mid-January. Thank you, Delta, for sponsoring the Holiday Military Salute again this year. Together, we are able to continue serving those who serve us.

This world-class facility is a great respite for members of our military and their family members, especially during the holidays, said Andrea Fischer Newman, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for Delta. Delta is proud to continue supporting the Freedom Center -- and the more than 7,000 military travelers who visited over this past holiday season -- with our Holiday Military Salute.

As Presenting Sponsor, Delta ensured that military members and their families enjoyed the comforts of a world-class military lounge, including complimentary soft drinks, coffee, juices, bottled water, snacks and sandwiches during their holiday travels.

The airports first Freedom Center military lounge was dedicated on Veterans Day 2011. A second lounge was opened in the North Terminal in December 2015. Freedom Center lounges are also located within the military entrance processing stations in Troy and Lansing for the benefit of new recruits and their families. In all, Freedom Center lounges have assisted more than 300,000 military members, their family members and veterans since 2011.

Freedom Center volunteers staff the lounges beginning at 6 a.m. until flight operations are completed for the day. The Holiday Military Salute by Delta Air Lines began December 15 and ran for one month, coinciding with the busiest time of the year for Freedom Center. Delta Air Lines is the Official Airline of the Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center, Inc.

About the Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center, Inc.: As a Michigan non-profit, MAFHC is dedicated to providing a world-class reception and hospitality station that meets the needs of in-transit military service members. Staffed by volunteers and supported by various organizations, we also welcome retired members of the military and our veterans. In addition, we welcome members of the military from allied nations. The Freedom Center is dedicated to Serving Those Who Serve Us. More information is available at: MIFreedomCenter.org.

About Delta Air Lines: Delta Air Lines serves nearly 180 million customers each year. In 2016, Delta was named to Fortunes top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the fifth time in six years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 323 destinations in 57 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industrys leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta.
Storms on July 29, 2016 over the South China Sea build into a breathtaking frenzy in this image from the ISS.

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will hold a joint press conference this morning (Jan. 18) at 11 a.m. EDT (4 p.m. GMT) to unveil their report on the changing climate in 2016. You can watch the conference live on Space.com, courtesy of NASA.

The briefing audio will stream live online along with supporting graphics. The panel will feature Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, and Deke Arndt, chief of the global monitoring branch of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information in Asheville, North Carolina. During the briefing, the panelists will discuss the year's changes in climate conditions and global temperatures and take questions from the press.

"The NOAA and NASA are two keepers of the world's temperature data and independently produce a record of Earth's surface temperatures, as well as changes based on historical observations over ocean and land," NOAA officials said in a statement. "Consistency between the two independent analyses, as well as analyses produced by other countries, increases confidence in the accuracy of such data, the assessment of the data and resulting conclusions."

Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
A Soyuz spacecraft being prepared for launch last fall. NASA is considering a Boeing proposal to purchase additional seats on Soyuz missions, including options for seats on 2019 flights to back up commercial crew providers.

WASHINGTON  NASA is proposing to purchase, through Boeing, additional Soyuz seats for International Space Station missions to both take advantage of Russian plans to decrease the size of its crew and as insurance against potential additional commercial crew delays.

In a "sources sought" procurement filing Jan. 17, NASA said it isconsidering plans to acquire from Boeing two Soyuz seats on missions to the ISS in the fall of 2017 and the spring of 2018, and options for three additional Soyuz seats in 2019. Boeing, the filing stated, had obtained the rights to the seats from Soyuz manufacturer RSC Energia.

The two near-term seats take advantage of seats the Russians are vacating as a cost-saving measure. Roscosmos, the Russian state space corporation, announced in September it was reducing its crew on the ISS from three to two, starting in March and until the launch of a new laboratory module, expected some time in 2018.

At the time, Roscosmos had no firm plans to make use of the seats on Soyuz spacecraft freed up by the decision to reduce its crew, but suggested it would make the seats available to the other ISS partners. "We discussed with our partners to maybe use this free seat for them," Igor Komarov, head of Roscosmos, said at the International Astronautical Congress in September. "We expect some interest from that side."

Boeing gained access to the seats as part of an agreement with Energia to settle a legal dispute regarding Sea Launch. Boeing won a judgment of more than $320 million against Energia from a federal court in May 2016, but subsequent legal filings indicated that the two companies were negotiating a settlement.

"We got together with Energia and discussed what in-kind things that we could perhaps put on the table that might offset this debt," John Elbon, vice president and general manager of space exploration at Boeing, said in a Jan. 17 interview. Part of the broader agreement between the two companies included rights to the Soyuz seats, but he said specific details of the settlement agreement between the companies were proprietary.

Elbon said that Boeing then decided to offer the seats to NASA in an unsolicited proposal to the agency. "They have expressed some interest" in the proposal, he said, leading to the sources sought filing. "We'll go through the process and figure out if there's an opportunity for us to make a deal."

The near-term seats will allow NASA to add an additional crewmember to the U.S. segment of the station, which the agency was already planning to do once commercial crew vehicles under development by Boeing and SpaceX enter service. "Adding an extra U.S. crewmember in 2017 and 2018 will really help with the utilization on board and getting more hours for science," Elbon said.

What's attracted more attention among industry observers is the option for the three additional seats on two Soyuz flights in the spring of 2019. NASA's current contract with Roscosmos for regular crew transportation services to and from the ISS runs through 2018, at which time the agency expects either or both commercial crew companies to take over.

Both Boeing and SpaceX, though, have experienced delays with their vehicles that pushed back test flights until as late as mid-2018. That's raised questions about whether their vehicles would be ready in time to start providing flights in 2019 should they experience additional issues.

"Although both commercial crew vehicles are on track right now to start flying in 2019, it seemed to us it might make sense to NASA to have some insurance just in case," Elbon said, noting there are uncertainties inherent in any development program. "Some insurance or backstop in 2019 seemed like it might be prudent."

NASA officials previous indicated that there were no plans by the agency to purchase additional Soyuz seats directly from Roscosmos. William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for human exploration and operations, said in an October interview that the deadline had passed for NASA to purchase additional Soyuz seats from Roscosmos for 2019 missions.

NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot, who will become acting administrator Jan. 20, did not mention the proposed Soyuz purchase during a Jan. 17 speech at a Maryland Space Business Roundtable luncheon in Greenbelt, Maryland. However, he said he believed the two companies developing commercial crew vehicles would be ready for flights in 2018 despite technical challenges.

"We're continuing great development on the commercial crew program. We're going to hopefully return flights of U.S. astronauts from U.S. soil here in 2018," he said. "They're running into what I would call the standard challenges that you're going to run into when you're trying to develop a spacecraft, and so we're working through that."

The sources sought statement indicates that NASA has until the fall of 2017 to decide whether to exercise the option for the 2019 seats, which could also be used in parallel with commercial crew missions "to maximize research onboard the ISS." Elbon said Boeing agreement with Energia includes provisions should NASA decide not to purchase the 2019 seats, but he could not disclose those details.

Elbon said he expects NASA to make enter into negotiations with Boeing about the 2017 and 2018 seats shortly after a Jan. 27 deadline for companies to respond to the sources sought statement, a requirement when a government agency proposes a sole-source procurement. "Assuming that goes well, I think we would sit down and, in relatively short order, negotiate the details of this kind of arrangement," he said.

He didn't specify how much Boeing was proposing to charge NASA for the seats. The agency announced an agreement with Roscosmos in August 2015 for six Soyuz seats in 2018 at a total cost of $490 million, or $81.7 million per seat.

"It's a good value for NASA and the taxpayer," Elbon said of Boeing's proposed deal with NASA. "We wouldn't ask them to pay more than they would have been paying before."

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Age Farm Inc. (CSE:NF) (OTC:NWGFF) (FSE:ONF) (www.newagefarminc.com) (New Age Farm or the Company) is pleased to provide an operations update for its Oroville facility further to prior news releases in November 2016 (all the Companys news releases are available on SEDAR, www.sedar.com).



The Company previously reported that the Tier 2 tenant-grower was on track for its first harvest on the Oroville Property. New Age Farm is very pleased to advise that the tenant-grower has completed their harvest and that the Company is now in a position to invoice this tenant-grower for its lease for the use of Company facilities and for services provided by the Company and its master growers. As the tenant-grower completes its crop commercialization process and realizes its revenues from the harvest, the Company will also realize revenue. Revenues are reported in the Companys quarterly financial statements and are publicly released in accordance with continuous disclosure requirements under National Instrument 51-102.

In further news, the Companys Tier 3 tenant-grower has advised that New Age Farms Master Growers were able to begin seeding during the month of December. The tenant-grower has reported that it encountered delays over previously announced harvest forecasts due to delays in obtaining regulatory permits required for each phase of operation start up. New Age Farm and its tenant-growers operate in a highly regulated industry and clearance is required from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB") in keeping with I-502 requirements at each phase of operations. Upon completion of their inspection, the WSLCB granted authorization for seed planting. Ongoing reporting to the WSLCB is required and if any part of the process is altered, updated or changed, the previous clearances are reviewed and the process may need to be repeated.

Carman Parente, President and CEO of New Age Farm, offered this comment, The current developments are really exciting steps for our team, our tenant-growers, and our shareholders. It is what we have been working toward for the past two years. We thank all our stakeholders for your ongoing support.

About New Age Farm

Washington State

Through its Washington State subsidiary, New Age Farm owns two properties, one located in Sumas, WA, and the other in Oroville, WA, where it offers fully built out turnkey service operations to licensed I-502 tenant-growers who will lease the facilities for production and / or processing. With three leases already in place, operations in Washington State have begun and will expand further as the Company completes its build outs. In compliance with state regulatory requirements, New Age Farms facilities feature 24 hour security that enhances the safety and security of the community, our tenant-growers and their operations. All New Age Farms tenant-growers hold either Tier 2 or Tier 3 licenses allowing them to produce and / or process marijuana for sale at wholesale to marijuana processor licensees and to other marijuana producer licensees. A Tier 3 license allows for between ten thousand square feet and thirty thousand square feet of dedicated plant canopy while Tier 2 licensees can have up to ten thousand square feet of dedicated plant canopy. Revenue is generated on a base lease rate and the level of service that the tenant-grower requires for its production and / or its processing needs.

Sales of marijuana products in Washington state have for the first time surpassed $200 million in a quarter. The News Tribune reports residents and visitors bought more marijuana than ever before in the second quarter of 2016, based on an analysis of purchase and tax records from two state agencies. In the first quarter of 2016 January, February and March people spent $54.8 million more on spirits than marijuana, which includes the cost of the products and its associated taxes. By the second quarter April, May and June that gap closed to nearly $37 million. Those amounts include taxes levied by the state on those products. Spirits sales do not include wine and beer. Marijuana sales include all cannabis products, but not paraphernalia. Marijuana sales in the second quarter of 2016 amounted to nearly $212 million. Spirits sales in the same period amounted to almost $249 million. In July, the state closed medical marijuana shops, making all sales go through licensed recreational marijuana storefronts. Sales at retail pot shops shot up by $66.6 million in the third quarter of the year, to $278.6 million. Washington voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2012. Earlier this month voters in California, Massachusetts and Nevada approved recreational pot. Colorado, Oregon and Alaska have also legalized recreational marijuana.

About the Washington I-502 Marijuana Market

In November 2012, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) passed Initiative 502 (I-502) pursuant to a vote by the people of the State of Washington. I-502 authorized the WSLCB to regulate and tax recreational marijuana products for persons over twenty-one years of age and thereby created a new industry for the growing, processing and selling of Washington State-regulated recreational marijuana products. A recent WSLCB commissioned report by the Rand organization suggests that there are currently up to 650,000 recreational marijuana users in Washington State, worth approximately $1.25 - $1.5 Billion USD in annual sales.

British Columbia

Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, NHS Industries Ltd. (NHS), New Age owns a five and a half acre greenhouse facility in the lower mainland of BC with a 48,000 square foot greenhouse facility. NHS is in the process of formulating innovative proposals for small scale agricultural facilities for exploring multiple avenues for cash flow processes. Anticipating Canadian federal government regulations regarding the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes is one avenue that NHS will be exploring. NHS also intends to look at other high value crop possibilities such as hemp and its potential revenue generation. Managements intent is for NHS to achieve positive cash flow as expediently as possible, all the while developing and maintaining multiple product income streams that will foster profitability, rather than relying on a single market sector.

For further information about New Age Farm, please consult the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

On Behalf of the Board Of Directors



Carman Parente

President and Chief Executive Officer

cparente@newagefarminc.com



For Further Information Contact



Catherine Jones

Corporate Communications

corpcom@newagefarminc.com

(888) 871-3936



WWW.NEWAGEFARMINC.COM

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The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect managements current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to completion of planned improvements at both the Canadian and US sites on schedule and on budget, the availability of financing needed to complete the Companys planned improvements on commercially reasonable terms, planned occupancy by the tenant-growers, commencement of operations, differences in yield on expected harvests, delays in obtaining statutory approval for marijuana production plans, issues that may arise throughout the grow period, outdoor crops affected by weather, the ability to mitigate the risk of loss through appropriate insurance policies, and the risks presented by federal statutes that may contradict local and state legislation respecting legalized marijuana. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. These securities have not and will not be registered under United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person unless so registered, or an exemption from registration is relied upon.
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chinese New Year, known as the Spring Festival, is undoubtedly the grandest tradition of China. This annual festival has been uprising in many different countries, slowly but gradually spreading the Chinese New Year traditions and culture around the world and becoming a fashionable lifestyle.



As the Spring Festival of 2017 is just around the corner, CITIC Guoan Grand-Epoch-City mascot - the cartoon character "Little Emperor Cutie" will act as a friendship messenger of 2017 Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Chinese grand temple fair to visit Singapore, Sydney, Moscow, Paris, and New York and send greetings and blessings to overseas Chinese, and meanwhile, disseminating the Chinese traditional cultures and spirits to the world. During the tour, the Chinese culture ambassadors will video to record the journey and interact with the global users through the internet.

This special event is hosted by CITIC Guoan Grand-Epoch-City, which is also the organizer of 2017 Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei grand temple fair for the upcoming Spring Festival. Not only a representative for the individual symbol of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei grand temple fair, it also integrates Chinese culture and creates a platform for connecting Chinese people from all around the world.

As being one of the most notable and leading company in tourism and culture in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei area, Guoan Grand-Epoch-City has always played a directive and commanding role in the industry and have taken up ample responsibilities for cultural communications. "Little Emperor Cutie will return to the grand temple fair on Chinese New Year's eve, carrying the blessings and greetings from Chinese all around the world. The organizer of "Little Emperor Cutie Global Tour" commented, "If we wish to introduce our cultures to the world, not only should we have initiative and innovative spirit, but also include fashion, culture, emotion and other elements to create a monumental impact for the whole world to experience."

The upcoming 2017 Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei grand temple fair will amplify its theme around the emperor's very own "little home" where everybody can have a stroll along with a concurrent fair. In conjunction with combining the highlights of scientific and technical elements as well as to imbue ethics and to introduce international elements to create hundreds of activities, the fair will be segregated into several parts such as the royalty section, the folks section, the culture section and also the fashion and food section fair.

This event is open to individuals of any nationality across the world. Filled with the abundant charm of both Chinese and international cultures, this event will utterly take this year's 2017 Chinese New Year by storm, so please stay tuned!
Far from being a conciliatory address, May's speech was a catalogue of demands topped with a dash of threat. A great many of her sentences began with: "I want."

The advantage of May's speech is that Europe now at least knows a bit more about the direction Britain intends to go. Theresa May wants to pull the UK out of the single market and to no longer be subject to the verdicts of the European Court of Justice. She wants a free trade agreement and wants Britain to pay much less into the EU budget than it has thus far. And she wants to keep one foot in the customs union but hopes to keep the other outside -- though she didn't explain how she intends to perform this bit of gymnastics. The disadvantage of May's speech is that she has now convinced the rest of Europe beyond a shadow of a doubt that the British government isn't just nasty, but is also prepared to take the gloves off.
Ozcan denies having any ties with Gulen. He says his uncle has an account with a bank that is part of the Gulen network, and that it is possible this is how he fell under the authorities' radar. "Erdogan is conducting a witch hunt," he says.

The purge has shaken the military. "Everyone is afraid of being denounced," says a private from Ankara. Support among his men has diminished for army chief Akar as a result of images of imprisoned soldiers who appear to have been abused. The week before last, a court convicted the first high-ranking soldiers who participated in the coup attempt and sentenced them to long prison terms.

A 'Suicide Mission'

The general staff is now having trouble refilling the massive number of posts left empty by the arrests. The government is currently using newspaper ads in an attempt to attract 25,000 new recruits. Many of the officers who are now sitting in jail controlled key parts of the military and it will take generations for the armed forces to recover from this loss of experience and knowledge, argues Gareth Jenkins, a Turkey expert at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute. The shortage of air force personnel has become so acute that nine pilots are currently flying sorties in Syria who were placed in temporary detention over the summer as alleged members of the putsch. They aren't actually allowed to leave the country and they are required to report to the police before and after each mission.

The turmoil within the army poses threats to the troops' safety. Turkey marched into Syria in August in order to drive Islamic State (IS) and Kurdish militias out of the border regions and Turkish soldiers have now been fighting for six months in the neighboring country, with no sign of an end to the operation. Former Turkish ambassador to the United States Faruk Lagoglu has described it as a "suicide mission." At the end of December, 16 soldiers died during an attack against IS in the city of al-Bab, northeast of Aleppo. The losses on the ground are "higher than they need to be" because the air force is no longer capable of providing sufficient support, says one fighter pilot dismissed from his position by the government.

Turkey's self-image has taken a hit as a result of the military's weakness. The armed forces had long been the source of great pride in the country with generals, known as pashas, having determined the country's political direction for decades. They view themselves as the guardians of the secular-nationalist legacy of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern-day Turkey. But Erdogan has broken the military's power since taking office as prime minister in 2003. Together with members of the Gulen movement in the state apparatus, with whom he was still allied at the time, he had hundreds of Kemalist officers sentenced in show trials. Gulen supporters took advantage of the clear-cutting to rise within the military. But in the ensuing years, Gulen and Erdogan had a falling out. Erdogan claimed last summer that the preacher had orchestrated the coup attempt in order to topple him and he has since taken a hardline approach toward alleged Gulen supporters.

The second major purge in the Turkish military within just a few years has created a vacuum -- one that splinter groups are now trying to fill. The country's ultra-nationalist Patriotic Party (Vatan Partisi) and the radical Islamist Sadat group are expanding their influence within the military. Patriotic Party head Dogu Perincek is advocating for Turkey to turn away from Europe and he is working together with Russian political consultant Alexander Dugin. Sadat, meanwhile, arose from a private security firm whose founder, Adnan Tanriverdi, a former general who was forced into early retirement during the 1990s because of his Islamist activities, has now, following the attempted coup, become an adviser to Erdogan.

Looking East

Both groups could play a role in shaping the direction of the Turkish armed forces. Turkish security analyst Metin Gurcan believes the military will increasingly pursue a religious, Eurasian agenda. Former Turkish NATO officers warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin could exploit the power struggle inside the Turkish military in order to increase Russia's influence over NATO partner Turkey.

In November 2015, Moscow and Ankara stood on the cusp of a military conflict after the Turks shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian-Turkish border. But after Erdogan issued an apology, the two sides have displayed increasing unity. Army chief Akar traveled in November to Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart and in mid-December, Russia and Turkey also negotiated a deal on the evacuation of eastern Aleppo.

The murder of Andrey Karlov, Russia's ambassador to Turkey, by a Turkish police officer on Dec. 19 in Ankara actually seems to have brought the two countries even closer together. Just one day after the attack, the foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey met for talks on Syria in Moscow. One Russian senator suggested that NATO ordered Karlov's assassination in order to torpedo Russian-Turkish relations. Government-aligned Turkish media quickly picked up the conspiracy theory. Karlov's murder, one television commentator said, had once again placed a question mark over the military partnership with the West.
Bir Lahlou (Saharawi Liberated Territories), January 18, 2017 (SPS) - Polisario Front will officially lodge a complaint with the European and French authorities, denouncing the illegal shipment of marine oil by a European tanker, Key Bay, from occupied Western Sahara's town al Aaiun, the Front said Tuesday in a statement.

The Polisario Front "will, within 48 hours, lodge a complaint with the European Commission and the French customs authorities for the enforcement of the European law," Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)'s under-secretary of state for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (RASD), Mhamed Khadad, said in the statement.

"We seek dialogue, but we are determined to uphold the decision of the European Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)," Khadad added.

The Polisario Front calls on the European Commission and customs authorities to report this illegal export operation and seize the shipment, in line with the requirements of the European customs law."

Mhamed Khadad, also a Polisario Front leading member, noted that Morocco is the military occupying power, which is under the fourth Geneva Convention, and has no right to issue export licences.

"This applies to all waters under the Saharawi sovereignty and all boats setting sail from (occupied) El Aaiun coast."

The Polisario, according to the statement, follows "with the utmost attention" the conditions in which the tanker Key Bay will be forced to abide by the European law, as stipulated in the decision issued by the Court of Justice of the European Union on 21 December 2016, an enforceable decision that must be fully respected.SPS

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PHOENIX, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Proof, the first company to accurately compute the timeto-impact and business value of marketing and communications, has raised more than $2 million in seed funding from corporate, agency and angel investors. The amount is overwhelmingly direct investment, coupled with a convertible loan.



Collaborating with a wide array of Fortune 1000 business leaders and marketing professionals, Proof was built from the ground up to address the endless struggle to connect marketing activities to business results. Proof goes beyond existing modeling approaches  which rely on subjective weighting of channels and touch points -- to accurately compute attribution and the actual business impact of marketing and communications, including time lag, cause and effect, and the ripple effect of myriad activities over extended periods of time.

While working as senior marketing and technology leaders for an array of global companies like HP, Honeywell and BMC Software, Proof founders Mark Stouse and Kyle Brantley worked with hundreds of corporate leaders to develop a logic framework and a system that would build a reliable portrait of marketings business value. During that decade of work, they developed a highly accurate system that ultimately became the software known as Proof. Tom Bishop, CTO and co-founder of successful fin-tech start-up Honest Dollar, joined Proof in mid-2016 to help transform a very successful system to a powerful SaaS tool.

What Proof is doing today goes even further to complete the last mile of marketings business value journey, said Michelle Calcagni, who led marketing and communications for Honeywell Aerospace in Europe, Middle East, Africa and India and is now co-founder of PhoneBox, a global B2B communications firm. The attribution system that Mark Stouse brought to Honeywell was transformative, particularly given the typical aerospace conversion time and portfolio complexity. The ability to run cause and effect analysis across a long customer decision process changes how you think about and invest in different parts of marketing and communications. A much-refined and automated version of that system is the basis of Proof today, and we are eager to bring its power to our clients.

Proof executives did not go on a funding tour to court traditional venture capital firms currently investing in the vast yet expanding marketing technology space, preferring to work with an array of marketing agencies, software industry executives, product developers, industry influencers and family offices.

We have spent the last decade building the logic frameworks and technology to take Proof from an early, mostly manual, system to the sophisticated, ground-breaking software platform available today, said Stouse. Many of the business and marketing leaders we have worked with in the past, as well as many current members of the Proof team, made financial investments in Proof. They had seen earlier versions of the attribution system, and they knew we were on to something important. Funding our efforts through investments from people and companies who built, support, use and believe in the product was an ideal path forward.

Proof has a broad base of shareholders, including The Scibetta Fund, Vaulting Ventures, High West Venture Partners, Lewis Family Enterprises, LDWW Group, KRB Ventures, Webonise Labs, and an array of both current and former senior business leaders from organizations such as Accenture, BMC Software, Concur Technologies, Edelman, Hill & Knowlton, Honeywell, HP, IBM, Intellectual Ventures, Microsoft, Oracle, ServiceNow, Starbucks, and WE Communications.

Jason Frye, BMCs vice president of digital innovation and an early contributor to the Proof product team, has watched the company mature quickly.

Proof recruited some amazing senior corporate technologists, Frye said. Im talking really big names. Compensation for everyone was initially in the form of generous option grants tied to performance objectives. After devoting a lot of time to helping create the product, many of us also activated our options because were really impressed with the product and the company. Today, every person involved in Proof has a real stake in the company, and no one has preferred shares. It is the sort of opportunity that tech-savvy investors love but hardly ever see in a startup.

Proof is using the investment to drive continuous development and improvement of the platform, as well as the expansion necessary to meet the rapidly increasing demand since the official launch of Proof in December 2016.

Visit www.proofanalytics.ai for more information.

Founded in 2015 in Arizona, Proof is the first software company in the world to compute the time-lapsed business impact of marketing and communications performance. Co-created with a powerful roster of top marketing, PR, procurement, and business leaders, Proof is available both as a Software-Enabled Service (SeS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). @proofanalytics
San Salvador, January 18, 1017 (SPS) - The Salvadoran President, Mr. Salvador Sanchez Ceren received a high-level SADR delegation on Monday in the Salvadoran capital, headed by the Speaker of The Saharawi National Council, Jatri Adduh, accompanied by the Saharawi Ambassador in Nicaragua and a Concurrent to the Government of El Salvador, Suleiman Tieb Henan.

The Saharawi delegation delivered a message from Sahrawi President Brahim Ghali to Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren.

The Saharawi delegation also participated in the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Peace Accords, today in the Salvadoran capital.

The Speaker of SNC along with the Sahrawi Ambassador in Nicaragua and Concurrent to the Government of El Salvador attended several Acts, Ceremonies and Conferences in an intense and excellently organized agenda both by the Government of the Republic of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti de National Liberation.

On the other hand, the President of the Saharawi National Council met with the President of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, Deputy Guillermo Gallegos Navarrete, during which both presidents officialised the creation of the Saharan-Salvadoran Parliamentary Friendship Group. They also agreed that a delegation from the Parliamentary Group will visit the SADR soon. SPS

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Rome (Italy), January 18, 1017 (SPS) - The Saharawi coordinator with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara MINURSO and member of the National Secretariat, Mr. M'hamed Khadad reaffirmed the commitment of the Frente POLISARIO To work with the new Secretary-General of the UN, Mr. Antonio Guterres and praised the African Union's principled position in support of the just Saharawi cause, while noting the need to comply with all international resolutions in related to Saharawi issue, in order to arrive at a peaceful, just and final solution to the conflict that guarantees the free determination of the Saharawi people.

The statement of the Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO comes within the framework of his speech at a meeting that brought together members of the Italian parliament, presidents of regional parliaments and ambassadors from Latin America and Asia, as well as international media.

In his speech, M'hamed Khadad called for the immediate application of international legality in Western Sahara and especially the right of peoples to self-determination.

The Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO added "that we must put an end to the Moroccan intransigence that unfortunately is supported by European countries such as France which presumes to respect human rights while putting aside the Moroccan occupation and supports its policies contrary to international legality ". SPS

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The First Ministers speech will be delivered at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on Tuesday 7 February 2017 and comes at a time of great challenges and opportunities for Scotlands farming, food and drink sectors.

Earlier that day, voting for the positions of President and two Vice Presidential posts will take place at the Unions council meeting, with six members contesting the election.

The Union's conference and annual dinner will be staged at the same venue the day before (Monday 6 February).

Conference debate will, justifiably, focus on Brexit as the UK edges closer to triggering Article 50. The exciting conference programme will also include sessions on how innovation may provide the key to farm businesses surviving and thriving and see agricultural and environmental stakeholders map out their vision for future farm support systems post-Brexit.

Scotlands Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing will address delegates ahead of the Unions showcase annual dinner on Monday 6 February before joining the First Minister the following morning for a question and answer session after the First Ministers speech.
The announcement will see the company continuing to support a number of exciting activities for young people in rural areas across Northern Ireland including the Agri-Conference and the AGM.

Roberta Simmons, YFCU President said:

We are delighted to have Massey Ferguson on board as a platinum sponsor. As a major agricultural equipment manufacturer around the world and as a leading tractor Brand it is a pleasure to have them associated with the Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster and to play such a large role in two of the most anticipated events in the YFCU calendar.
A total of 90 registered Lots will go under the hammer, which will include 36 ewes, 27 gimmers, 26 ewe lambs and 1 stock ram. The sale on behalf of Sandy Sutherland will take place at Newtown St Boswells Auction Mart on Friday 27th January. On farm pre-sale viewing days of the flock will take place on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th January from 12 noon  6pm.

The Soutra Flock was established in 1986 with the purchase of in-lamb gimmers from prominent flocks such as Muiresk, Bartlehill, Lauderdale and Barrons. No females have been bought since apart from three at the Bridgepark reduction.

The 63 ewes and gimmers being sold are in-lamb to four notable sires, Muirton Milford, a son of Solwaybank Pound Stretcher out of a ewe by Devronside Mountroyal purchased at Stirling in 2015.

Roseden Gold Medal purchased at the National Sales for 4000, where he was placed first in the recorded class, Capielaw Majestic a Forkins Fire Starter son and Capielaw Smasher who won 2nd prize aged ram at the RHS.

From the outset Sandy Sutherlands aim for his Soutra Flock was to produce well grown easy fleshed shearlings to sell at Kelso Ram Sale. He has always taken care to avoid too much bone and has placed importance on good skin and hair to encourage repeat buyers who produce Suffolk cross ewe lambs. The flock had a best average of 847 at Kelso in 2014 with a top price of 2200 the same year. Ease of lambing, milking ability and females which look female, have all been important principals on the female side.
The Early Spring Gathering is designed to give sheep farmers in the heart of England the chance to catch up on the latest developments in the industry ahead of the hectic spring workload and this year is focussed on giving farmers the latest information to manage their businesses.

A range of interactive demonstrations and seminars will take place throughout the day and allow farmers and all involved in the sheep industry to share knowledge and best practice on a wide range of subjects.

The Young Shepherd Competition, open to those aged 26 and under, will see entrants tested on their skills in lamb selection, sheep handling, vaccination and dosing as well as preparation of sheep for the abattoir and quad bike handling, with a written test also part of the challenge.

Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates said the Young Shepherd of the Year Competition helped encourage the future generation of sheep farmers and shepherds to refine their practical skills and industry knowledge.

As we enter an exciting era in sheep production when the focus will increasingly be on marginal gains there is no doubt that skilled young people will become increasingly important. The sheep industry needs its young people to be multi-skilled, open minded and technologically competent individuals.
NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firelight Capital Partners today announced the launch of a first of its kind investment firm model, which provides companies with the much-needed combination of private equity based investment and operations expertise along with brand and marketing oversight and resources. The company was started by former senior private equity partners from well-known private equity firms, together with the founders of strategically-driven creative agency YARD.



Providing a differentiated model, Firelight offers capital and capabilities in infrastructure-building and omni-channel investment strategy, including wholesale, e-commerce and retail, as well as brand and marketing strategies. Firelight is dedicated to unlocking growth and cultural resonance in lower-middle market consumer-branded companies across a range of retail categories, including apparel & accessories, pet care, beauty & personal care, health & wellness, recreational equipment & products, and food & beverage.

Firelight is led by its Chief Executive Officer, Rick Perkal, who has more than thirty years of involvement in the private equity industry. Pat Collins serves as Firelights Managing Partner and is a former Partner at JH Partners, a San Francisco-based consumer-focused middle market private equity firm.

Stephen and Ruth from YARD were the perfect partners for us to form Firelight. They bring the marketing and brand building expertise needed to provide a complete platform to our private equity investments. Our combined expertise will help firms operate and grow more efficiently while also accelerating their brands, said Rick Perkal, Chief Executive Officer at Firelight.

We are thrilled to join forces with Rick and Pat to launch Firelight, said Ruth Bernstein, Operating Partner of Firelight and Co-Founder and Chief Strategic Officer of YARD. Theres a huge opportunity for the Firelight team to take small to mid-sized businesses with the right investments and brand strategy to help set them up for exponential growth. This partnership allows YARD to remain focused on its client base while providing marketing oversight to firms that operate within different markets.

Firelight is also announcing the completion of its first investment in Three Dog Bakery, a manufacturer and distributor of all-natural dog treats and food. The investment will help propel the companys growth and expansion to meet increasing consumer demand for high quality pet consumables. The terms of the investment were not disclosed.

We look forward to partnering with a company with the authenticity and potential of Three Dog Bakery, and are confident that together we will build on the brands success by developing innovative new products and increasing its distribution through both e-commerce and retail outlets, continued Perkal.

ABOUT FIRELIGHT CAPITAL PARTNERS: Firelight Capital Partners ("Firelight") is a private equity firm dedicated to unlocking and accelerating the growth and cultural resonance of exceptional emerging consumer and retail brands. Firelight is a partnership between established private equity investors and the founders of YARD, a New York-based consumer-focused brand and marketing strategy agency. For more information, please visit: www.firelightcapital.com.

ABOUT YARD: YARD is a fully integrated, strategically driven creative agency. YARD combines brains, beauty and bravery to transform businesses and turn brands into cultural beacons. For more information, please visit: www.yardnyc.com.

ABOUT THREE DOG BAKERY: Founded in 1989 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, Three Dog Bakery develops and sells a wide range of baked, all-natural pet treats, and provides a complete offering across the consumables spectrum. The company sells its products through over 40 unique channels in the United States and internationally. In addition to longstanding distribution partnerships, Three Dog Bakery also operates as an owner and franchisor / licensor of 42 retail bakeries across the United States, Canada and Hong Kong, where it sells its unique, craft-baked products, branded food and treats, and general merchandise.

ABOUT RICK PERKAL: Rick Perkal is Firelights Chief Executive Officer and formerly a senior managing director of Irving Place Capital where he focused on investments in the retail and consumer sectors. There, he led or co-led investments in a broad range of well-known consumer and retail firms. Mr. Perkal was instrumental in the founding of Star Avenue Capital, a growth equity firm focused on investments in retail and consumer branded companies. Earlier in his career, Mr. Perkal was a Senior Partner at Kirkland & Ellis.

ABOUT PAT COLLINS: Pat Collins is a Managing Partner of Firelight. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Managing Partner at Grand Crossing Capital, a family backed private equity firm focused on investments in consumer businesses. Before that, he spent most of his career with JH Partners, most recently as a Partner, where he led or co-led investments typically in high growth branded consumer products and retail businesses and was responsible for or actively involved with several high profile well-known brands. Prior to JH, he held roles at Behrman Capital and Merrill Lynch.
We as Americans tend to have very strong opinions about privacy. A Pew Research Center study showed that 74 percent of respondents ranked the ability to control who can get information about you as being very important and 67 percent ranked not having someone watch you or listen to you without your permission as very important.

Context does play a big role, though. While more people may balk at online commerce or social media sites collecting personal information, tools that allow parents to monitor the childrens activities, or even tools that allows employers to monitor employees, are more commonly accepted. While large enterprises with thousands of employees may be deploying sophisticated and costly monitoring systems, small businesses can often accomplish what they need with less expensive tools, often originally designed for parenting situations.

Related: An Employee-Tracking App to Manage a Mobile Workforce

On the parental front, savvy parents must know that WhatsApp is now the communications tool of choice among young people and simply looking at your kids Facebook page is no longer enough. Parents want to know what their kids are saying on WhatsApp and thats not quite as straightforward.

Today, many tools used by small businesses are also used by parents -- basic website monitors and website blockers are standard equipment at schools and libraries and increasingly used by private businesses to reign in the incidence of superfluous Web surfing on company time. Despite its origins as a communications tool targeted at the youth market, WhatsApp is just starting to make some inroads as a business tool, and just as quickly as that is happening, tools like XNSPY, a tracking and monitoring app for Android and iOS devices, are appearing on the market with new features to track WhatsApp, giving employers (and parents, too) a way to look into whether WhatsApp and other communications apps are being used appropriately.

Whats up with WhatsApp in the workplace?

Its a real-time, cross-platform messaging app, often used by young people as a social communications tool, although some small businesses are starting to discover its utility as a tool for doing business as well. Recently bought by Facebook for a record $19 billion in cash, shares and stock, the app is likely to be more popular with new millennial employees who are just entering the workplace. With the Facebook acquisition propelling WhatsApp into the limelight, corporate security managers are only just now recognizing the need to address WhatsApp in their security policies, and update their monitoring tools accordingly, said Sean Polinski, Manager of Product Development at XNSPY. WhatsApp is no more dangerous than any other instant messaging tool, and may even be useful as a business tool, but a monitoring policy has to be in place to ensure legal compliance, and promote a safe workplace.

Related: 3 Web Tools for Managing Employees Who Work From Home

Currently there are only a small handful of web apps that monitor WhatsApp, including XNSPY, which lets employees view WhatsApp call logs, read chat threads, and view pictures, as well as check senders names and numbers, and view time and date stamps. It can monitor both Android and iPhone smartphones, and works by installing a small piece of software on every smartphone or tablet that needs to be monitored.

Is it legal to snoop?

Often, use of monitoring tools in the workplace isnt a matter of snooping, or even a perceived need to keep employees off of social media platforms or offensive websites. Its simply a legal requirement that could keep you out of trouble if, at some point in the future, the government demands to see your electronic records.

Many employers are motivated to monitor employee activity over concern about potential litigation. Lawsuits, compliance with government mandates and the potential for government investigations all require companies to create more of a digital paper trail than ever before, and security experts will always tell you that more is always better. At some point, you may be called upon by a judge to produce documents and if that happens, you had better be able to produce all of them. Saving some -- but not all -- employee emails, for example, would eliminate any possibility of using emails as evidence in a court case.

The lesson -- if youre going to electronically snoop on your employees, do it across the board, for everyone (including yourself), save your files and document your actions and have a written policy documenting precise procedures for doing so.

The need to retain electronic documents -- including emails, text chat threads and even WhatsApp threads -- became more important with the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act of 2002, made into law in response to high profile court trials in which companies participated in fraudulent financial reporting. SOX attempts to put into place a set of practices designed to prevent the alteration of digital documents, including emails and messaging threads.

Related: 3 Tips for Legally and Ethically Monitoring Employees Online

Most employers do some sort of monitoring -- whether its MBWA (Management By Walking Around), or installing software on desktops, notebooks and cell phones -- but XNSPY recommends a written and uniformly applied security policy in order to ensure full compliance with the law. Regulations regarding employee monitoring are surprisingly light, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance is really more about what to do with and how long to store electronic records such as employee emails and chat threads, rather than asking whether it should be done at all. That it should be allowed is seen as a given from a legal perspective.

According to XNSPYs best practice guidelines, employers wishing to monitor employees online behavior must follow a few basic rules:

Apply monitoring uniformly. When electronic records are demanded by court action, if you have not retained records strictly according to policy, you may not have the proof that you thought you had when you face the judge. If you monitor one employee, you must monitor them all. Approach employee-owned electronics with caution. Although the practice has become more common, employees may still have a reasonable expectation of privacy on their own devices, and installing XNSPY on an employees personal device is not advised. However, it is fully within the law to install it on the employers equipment. For that reason, some companies are embracing the practice of employer-issued smartphones. Create a written policy manual. Lay out expectations and rules in writing, and advise employees that use of electronic equipment may be monitored.

Other questions as to legality arise when using GPS to track employees in employer-owned vehicles. Many of the software tools on the market have multiple features, as does XNSPY, which also includes a GPS tracker. But using GPS may be done for more reasons than simply knowing whether your employees are stopping off at the donut shop one too many times, it can be very useful as a dispatch tool as well as a safety tool in case of accident. But regardless of the reason for deploying the GPS feature, courts have generally held that use of GPS in company-owned equipment is allowed. California, Minnesota, Tennessee and Texas do have separate laws that prevent mobile tracking devices to be used to track other individuals, but even those statutes will not apply to GPS software installed in employee-owned vehicles or employee-owned equipment.

Employers love it, but will employees?

The need and desire for privacy has to be balanced against compliance requirements, the need for workplace safety and the financial considerations of the employer. And while, as the Pew survey revealed, consumers will bristle at commerce sites that collect personal information, employees are more likely to accept monitoring by an employer. According to the survey, only 28 percent ranked not being monitored at work as very important to them, with 22 percent saying it was not very important.

Small businesses can benefit from employee monitoring, in the right circumstance  so long as it is transparent, employees understand that it is being done and for what reason and that it is used uniformly across the board. In addition to satisfying the needs and concerns of employees, doing so will also satisfy legal requirements for electronic document retention.

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Bureau Veritas acquires SIEMIC, a specialist in electronic equipment in Silicon Valley and Asia

Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, January 18, 2017 - Bureau Veritas is pleased to announce the acquisition of SIEMIC, Inc., an American testing and certification body for electrical and electronic equipment active in the Silicon Valley and in Asia.

Established in 2003, SIEMIC provides market access services for electrical and electronic products in the telecoms, consumer, automotive and medical sectors and works with global manufacturers, including many of the world's leading brands. SIEMIC provides a comprehensive range of testing, certification and international approvals management services. Its headquarters and main operation are located in Milpitas, Silicon Valley, USA; however, it also benefits from testing facilities in both California and China and branch offices in Taiwan.

As a leading Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB), SIEMIC issues thousands of certifications per year to attest compliance with Federal Communications Commission regulations in the USA for wireless and telecommunications equipment. It employs nearly 100 people and generated estimated revenue of EUR 9.5 million in 2016.

"As well as enabling Bureau Veritas to gain a strategic footprint in Silicon Valley by complementing our 7layers US laboratories, SIEMIC will help strengthen Bureau Veritas' position as a leader in the smartworld whilst enhancing our platform for autonomous and connected car services. This acquisition clearly demonstrates our commitment to our 2020 plan, with SIEMIC not only driving growth in our smartworld and automotive growth initiatives but also enhancing our presence in the USA and China, our two strategic markets," commented Didier Michaud-Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of Bureau Veritas.

Leslie Bai, President & CEO of SIEMIC, added: "We are established as the leader in an exciting and very promising market niche that requires advanced skills as well as an international reach and solid technical capabilities. As the global economy continues to expand, Bureau Veritas' worldwide network coupled with our existing platform provides our clients with a unique competitive advantage and value proposition. Today, becoming a member company of Bureau Veritas will propel us forward and help us continue our international growth".

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O ne of the core skills of investment consultants is that they make their mistakes in private.

Up and down the land, they sit alongside pension administrators and trustees, and advise them on how best the schemes might invest the money in their charge in order to have enough to pay out the pensions when that time comes. And up and down the land, pension funds are in trouble.

It is not always cause and effect. But because the advice delivered is confidential between the consultant and the pension fund, and the reporting of pension schemes to their members does not go into the detail of why investment decisions were made, there is no way from the outside to see what value the consultants have added.

Similarly, although one hears anecdotally from disgruntled trustees about times when following consultants advice made a bad situation worse, such comments are rarely made for the public record.

This week, however, publicly quoted investment fund Alliance Trust announced a complete revamp of its strategy for equity investment whereby it turns its back on employing in-house fund managers and instead parcels up the money among a variety of external managers in the hope they will deliver a significantly better performance.

Alliance has been advised by Towers Watson and, while comment since the event has rightly focused on how Alliances reputation will be made or broken by the success or otherwise of this strategy, one might well say the same for its advisers.

If Alliance is transformed, Towers Watson will no doubt feel entitled to praise; if it does not work, it will have broken the golden rule and be seen to have failed in public.

The strategy is certainly ambitious. Alliance has sliced up its equity money between eight investment managers, some of which are well-known but others less so, scattered between Toronto, London, Fort Lauderdale, New York, Los Angeles and Stamford (Connecticut I think, not Lincolnshire). These managers, according to chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin, are best in class.

That does not, of course, mean they are any good  only that they are deemed to be better than the competition.

It is surely hard to be definitive, given that past performance is no guide to the future.

It turns out, however, that it is all about the process the fund manager adopts, how stocks are screened and selected, whether it is consistent over time and whether the success or failure of the fund can attributed to that process and various other things in the same vein.

The core idea is that the best-in-class fund manager is one where the process is so robust the individual has virtually no influence over it.

Thats surreal, perhaps, but not totally devoid of logic. There are very few brilliant fund managers and, as Nobel Prize for economics winner Daniel Kahneman says, people have psychological flaws that make them very bad investors.

They fall in love with stocks; they fail to deal with mistakes; they think they are special when they are not; they switch when they shouldnt and so on.

Kahneman says the best approach is to expect to win a few and lose a few. Unfortunately from the industrys perspective, while that might be an accurate description of reality, it is not much of a sales pitch. Identifying a unique investment process sounds a lot more convincing.

But should we believe in it? Years ago when I was a pension trustee, I can recall a research paper by Watson Wyatt, the predecessor firm of Towers Watson, which argued that in assessing fund managers at least 15 years of outperformance is needed before one can be reasonably sure any success is down to skill rather than luck.

It is worth noting that the then head of equities at one of the biggest insurance companies poured scorn on this  in his view it took at least 25 years.

This is intriguing because the new fund managers hired by Alliance will be expected to exceed their relevant benchmarks by 2% against the 1% target the earlier lot struggled to achieve.

Without wishing to be sceptical, I also recall a US research paper that said it would take even longer  the academics suggested 200 years  to ascertain whether this degree of outperformance was skill or luck.

Even putting that to one side, it would surely be a miracle if, at a time when the vast majority of equity-fund managers fail to beat the index, Alliance/Towers Watson has suddenly identified no fewer than eight exceptional talents, all of whom  despite being best in class  are sufficiently undiscovered to have room to take on new clients.

The other interesting aspect is that each fund manager will be expected to invest only in their best ideas  the few stocks they are most convinced will perform.

Each will select about 20  except for the emerging markets specialist, who will be allowed to be convinced by 40. But, assuming the fund managers all have different ideas, that means there will be about 200 stocks across the portfolio  and that surely is a formula for average performance rather than outperformance.

Alliance risks suffering like all those pension schemes which hired a dozen hedge-fund managers, only to find they cancelled each other out.

However, you have to feel a degree of sympathy for the Alliance board, which was under pressure to do something.

There is no way of knowing in advance whether fund managers will deliver or not. But humans cannot cope with total uncertainty; we demand forecasts and processes as comfort blankets to allow us to frame what we convince ourselves are rational decisions.

It is comforting to believe investment is a science that will deliver predictable results if the right rules are followed.

And in these litigious days, it is far more convincing to be able to say in court, if you ever get sued, that you were following a process, not taking a wild punt.
A n exceptional UK performance as tourists flocked to Burberrys designer London shops to take advantage of the weak pound, has helped the luxury fashion brand to better-than-expected sales.

The FTSE 100 company said it had seen growth in Britain from American and Chinese customers, helping to offset weak demand in parts of Europe and Hong Kong in the three months to December 31.

Burberry, which is advertised by actress Lily James, notched up a 3% increase in sales at stores open for more than a year, ahead of a 2% rise analysts had forecasted.

Christopher Bailey, the boss of the trenchcoats maker, said the figures reflect early progress in plans for long-term growth.

His successor Marco Gobbetti will start work next week and take on full responsibilities in July. Bailey will be chief creative officer and president.

The City welcomed the update, and shares rose 6p to 1599p.

Analysts at HSBC said: "All in, a positive release which confirms that with very few exceptions, the current environment is seeing a shift in momentum for the [luxury] sector."
E nter the bars and restaurants of Mayfairs Shepherd Market on any given lunchtime, and the odds are youll be supping near one of a peculiar breed of London professional.

You wont recognise them and will probably never have heard of them, or their cryptically named companies  K2, Alaco, GPW  but if you work for a business that has ever done a takeover deal, or been through a legal battle, you can bet one of them will have been involved.

They are private corporate investigators. Hired by businesses and their lawyers to get the lowdown on their rivals, the mucky truth about a potential business partner, or just a realistic picture of a new market for their goods, they like to work in the shadows.

But just because they are discreet, it doesnt mean they dont take pride in their work.

This is why there is much muttered outrage in this small community about 2017s dodgy dossier  the supposed intelligence report by one of their number, Orbis Business Intelligence, into Donald Trump.

If you havent read it yet, you must. Not just for the sake of discovering the details of what all the gossips about but also to see what many are describing as the worst example of the investigators craft.

Says an intelligence veteran running one of the bigger firms in London: Its awful, honestly, and makes me deeply embarrassed.

Why are corporate investigators so cross about Orbiss work? Simple. Their industry suffered huge reputational damage in the Fleet Street phone hacking scandals.

Disreputable private investigators were found to have accessed peoples voicemails and confidential details and blagged their way for unscrupulous journalists.

Questions were asked as to whether the industry is regulated closely enough or should undergo further scrutiny. At a time when the internet is making it possible for anybody to do simple due diligence work from the comfort of their living room, further reputational damage was the last thing the investigators needed.

Most of the astonishment of Orbiss rivals focuses on the absence of any scrutiny of the sources information. So Orbis investigator Christopher Steele reports that Source D was present during the supposed honey-trap operation in the Ritz-Carlton Moscow hotel.

Source E, we are also told, corroborated it and Source F, a female staff member at the hotel at the time of the incident, said she too was aware of it at the time.

As another investigator with extensive experience dealing with Russian sources says, it is incredible that Orbis can have found three sources with such close knowledge of such a politically explosive event.

Put it this way, if you get one  one!  source who was actually in on something like that, you have hit the jackpot and youre dining out on it for the rest of your career. Its incredibly rare  one in a million. But to have three? It just doesnt happen.

Another investigator adds that the total lack of any corroboration with physical evidence would never have passed muster if his firm had been investigating the brief.

If a Russian intelligence source was able to tell them about this stuff, surely they can get them the date and the hotel bill as well. But, despite how massively high-profile this case is, theres nothing. Did they even ask?

Another example is the lack of evidence backing the claim that Trumps lawyer met Kremlin representatives in Prague in August 2016. The lawyer has since published his passport and denied ever having been to Prague.

Why, why, why did this ever appear in any report? says one investigations boss. If anyone here had tried to slip this in, Id be shouting at them can you prove he was in Prague at the time, or even somewhere near like Vienna? Have we checked his or his kids social media? Anything. Corroborate, corroborate, corroborate! 

Even if investigators do get what they believe to be a decent source, one Russia specialist says, theres still no knowing if theyre telling you the truth, or why theyre saying what theyre saying.

In Russia, even if you really get a bona fide senior officer of FSB, the state security organisation, feeding you information, its impossible to know who is pulling their strings and why theyre sharing their stories with you.

Ive banged this into my researchers 100 times, says one company boss.  Do not believe what your sources are saying is true.

As Russia specialist Andrew Wordsworth, co-founder of investigations agency Raedas, puts it: The key function of the investigator is to filter and qualify the vast universe of false, fake, irrelevant and occasionally real information out there.

In fairness to Orbis, a political intelligence probe is very different from run-of-the-mill corporate work. If youre helping a law firm build a corporate litigation case or trace someones assets, proof can be built up through financial accounts, company filings and other documentation in company registers, official records or legal petitions. Its not so easy to find a Kremlin-ordered sex tape.

Steeles friends and former MI6 colleagues  several of whom now work in the private intelligence sector  almost universally say hes a stand-up guy and was a great agent. But one adds: I dont doubt for a minute that people told him these things or that he believes them. I just dont believe theyre true.

Steele has gone into hiding and Orbis was unavailable for comment.

Different firms recruit from different places. The big operators tend to hire bright Oxbridge graduates  preferably with Russian language skills, given that so much work comes from Eastern European disputes.

But for more experienced investigators, they tend to like former journalists, police or NGOs and academics  people, generally, whove had cynicism drilled into them at an early age.

In the view of Mayfairs finest, thats a quantity Steele had in somewhat short supply.

MI6: A Clue to Steele's struggles?

Several investigators say that Christopher Steeles MI6 credentials, which give lustre to his firms marketing efforts, could in fact be his very weakness.

Many investigation agencies put ex-spooks on the payroll because chief executives of client companies think it gives them an edge. But it doesnt always turn out that way.

Says one investigator: The truth is, while ex-MI6 people may be great at gathering information, theyre often hopeless at analysing whether its true or not. In MI6, the spies send their stuff back to HQ in Vauxhall, where it gets analysed and cross-referred with other intelligence.

Vauxhall makes the call on how reliable the sources are  not them. But in our world, its us who have to make that call, and us who do the analysis.

MI6 probably has people who check for typos, too. The Orbis report mis-spelled Alfa Bank, one of Russias biggest private lenders, all the way through.
H SBC today gave the clearest indication yet that it will shift bankers from London to Paris in the wake of the Brexit vote.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver said trading operations that account for a fifth of revenues at the UK investment bank are likely to move.

Banks are worried that once Britain quits the EU, they will lose the right to do business in European jurisdictions.

He told Bloomberg Television: Activities specifically covered by EU legislation will move, and looking at our own numbers, thats about 20% of revenue.

This equates to about 1000 London jobs. Credit Suisse earlier said it would move a similar amount away from London if banks are in clear danger of losing so-called passporting rights.

So far, most other big banks have merely said they are looking at the issue and making plans to move if they have to.
J D Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin today took another swipe at anti-Brexit commentators and their Michael Fish moment talk, as he raised a glass to a rise in sales at his pubs empire.

The Brexit campaigner savaged recent comments from the Bank of Englands chief economist, Andy Haldane, which compared financial forecasts with the famously inaccurate prediction by the weatherman, ahead of the UKs great storm of 1987.

Martin said: Michael Fishs predictions were a misinterpretation of data on one evening, under great time pressure adding that the majority of politicians and economists has consistently misunderstood the implications of the euro, its predecessor, the exchange rate mechanism, and the implications of leaving the EU, over a period of about 30 years.

He welcomed Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit plan, and told the Standard: Its time to leave the club, but be good friends [with members].

Shares in Wetherspoon rose 21.5p to 923.5p, after it revealed sales at venues open for more than a year increased 3.2% in the 12 weeks to January 15.

But the company warned of significantly higher costs and lower sales in the next six months.
A spectacular profit warning from Pearson sent shares in the FTSE 100 giant into freefall today, leaving chief executive John Fallon under intense pressure.

The embattled publishing and education giant admitted it had misjudged its own markets and that profits for at least the next two years will be far lower than the City was expecting.

Mitie and Premier Foods also issued profit warnings on a brutal day for UK Plc.

Pearson shares plunged in early trading, and as a tetchy morning call with the analysts continued for more than an hour, kept falling.

They were down 222p, or 28%, at 585p. That took 1.8 billion off the value of the company.

Pearson said that profits in 2017 will be 180 million lower than hoped. It withdrew guidance for 2018, leaving investors floundering.

It also said it would have to rebase its dividend from 2017, raising fears that it could be cut or axed altogether. It has upped its divi every year for the past 25 years.

Pearson sold the FT to Japans Nikkei in November 2015 for 844 million. Today it said it may dispose of its 47% stake in Penguin Random House to fight unprecedented changes in its key markets.

Last year, it cut 4000 jobs as it battled to cut costs. Random House is the biggest books publisher in the world, and is behind titles such as Fifty Shades of Grey and The Girl on the Train. A sale of its stake could raise more than 1 billion.

Fallons big bet was on the US education market, which has been hit by government cutbacks, and a shift by students to borrowing rather than buying textbooks.

College enrolment nubers have also dropped because of the rise in the US economy which has encouraged many to take jobs instead.

There was a 30% decline in sales in the American higher education textbooks market in the last quarter. Fallon admitted: We got it wrong. Chairman Sidney Taurel said: With hindsight our enrolment forecasts were too optimistic.

Fallon insisted a shift to digital publishing will get Pearson back on track. It expects profits to be 570 million to 630 million, well below the City consensus of about 700 million, and has slashed its target of 800 million in operating profits for 2018.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: This raises the question of whether Pearsons problems are structural and not cyclical and the decision to cut e-book rental prices by 50% across 2000 titles suggests the company is now facing the very real threat of being hollowed out by the internet.
B isto to Mr Kipling-maker Premier Foods was forced into a profit warning on Wednesday as it revealed it is battling sluggish sales and higher ingredient prices since the Brexit vote.

Boss Gavin Darby said the manufacturer is cutting its full-year underlying profit forecast by 10%, flagging up the effect of the weaker pound on pushing up the price of sugar and cocoa.

Talks with major supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda over price hikes are meanwhile dragging out, he added.

Premier said: We are working collaboratively with customers to agree these changes and are confident that appropriate settlements will be reached, although this is taking longer than originally foreseen.

Premier Foods suffered a 1% sales fall to 251.4 million in the 13 weeks to December 31.

Plans to improve performance include a three-year cost-cutting plan to generate 10 million in savings by next year.

Shares in the firm behind Oxo plunged after the update, down 7.26p, or more than 15%, to 40.45p.

Last year Premier Foods was approached by McCormick, known for Schwartz spices, with a 65p-a-share indiciative proposal for the business after two earlier approaches were rebuffed.
T he Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has outlined his bid to secure London the best Brexit deal, including retaining access to the single market  as Nicola Sturgeon tried for Scotland. Truth is, this now seems unlikely.

But there is a formidable challenge ahead to ensure London in general and the City in particular gets support to make the best of life outside the EU. Mrs May said in her Lancaster House speech yesterday that while Britain will be outside the single market  notably in respect of free movement  it may be possible to preserve some of it, such as the export of financial services. If that means the UK continuing to make financial contributions to the EU, even at a much-reduced rate from the present 9 billion net annually, that may be a price worth paying for access. Brexit Secretary David Davis hinted as much today.

The City also sets store by a generous transition period  we shall, within two years, have a deal that the country will simply have to make the best of, but ministers can cushion the effects of the change. The City insists that it needs time to come to terms with the new order; Mr Davis, who said today the implementation period would be no more than one or two years, should pay heed. And while the free movement of EU citizens will be curbed, there is nothing to stop the Government giving London flexibility in attracting skilled labour, perhaps giving preference to EU workers.

In the longer term, London must enhance its appeal to international investors and keep its place as a global financial centre. The Prime Minister has made clear that this does not mean watering down workers rights, which are protected within the EU  which is good news  but that still leaves plenty of scope for other measures. The most obvious would be to lower taxes, specifically corporation tax. If the UK had the same low corporation tax as Ireland  12.5 per cent and lower in some cases  it would enhance our appeal. There should also be a fundamental re-assessment of business rates, which fall particularly heavily on London.

More than that, we must make London a hugely attractive place in which to live and work. Our cultural life must be the best in the world: one concrete symbol of that would be the building of a new, world class concert hall to rival any in Europe. That would be a good start.

Rail strike: good to talk

Commuters will be relieved that next weeks planned strike action by drivers on the Southern network has been suspended. Aslef, the drivers union, has also called off its overtime ban, which means there is hope for the return of a full service soon  although the RMT, which represents guards, says its members will go ahead with their own strike on Monday, so we shouldnt hold our breath.

Indeed, the dispute over Southerns introduction of driver-only operations on its trains has gone on for so long that it is hard not to be sceptical about the prospects of peace talks producing a lasting settlement. Still, it is welcome at least that the parties have agreed to get around the table. Maybe at last the unions will accept that they are behaving in a way that is causing intolerable misery for rail users. And the Government should still be preparing legislation to ban rail strikes.

Trump, wax dummy

Donlad Trump is a waxwork dummy  in the greatest showcase for them. The President-elect is now in Madam Tussauds, complete with eye-catching bouffant hairdo. Theresa May will have to wait until she wins an election until she gets one. Wax is a metaphor for political careers.
W hen I was elected Mayor just over eight months ago I knew that our city faced big challenges. Many are similar to those faced by other global cities  such as the need to build thousands more genuinely affordable homes or urgently to tackle air pollution. However, it has become increasingly clear over the weeks and months that the single biggest challenge we now face as a city is how we manage Brexit.

Like many Londoners I passionately supported remaining in the European Union. I believe it was in the best interests of London, Britain and Europe. I am a proud Londoner and a patriotic Brit but Im also a proud European and internationalist.

However, the British people made a different decision, and I respect their democratic will. As a Londoner I was proud that London voted to remain. But the main question facing our city and our country now is: what form should Brexit take?

Yesterday the Prime Minister laid out her vision for Britains future relationship with the EU. It was a vision of a so-called hard Brexit. A hardline approach to leaving may hold the Conservative Party together but it could rip Britain apart. And if we continue on this path we risk having to explain to future generations how and why we put their economy, their prosperity and their place on the world stage in such peril.

Since the referendum Ive tried to persuade the Government to take the best possible path through the thicket of negotiations  and to work towards a deal that will benefit London and the whole country. That means an agreement which will enable London to retain its economic competitiveness, allowing our businesses to attract the best talent from around the world to work here and, crucially, retain privileged access to the single market.

The single market is the foundation of thousands of jobs in London and across Britain. The benefits of retaining privileged access are real and tangible. Having access to the single market could mean the difference between businesses thriving and growing or struggling to survive. And it could mean the difference between using the proceeds of growth to invest in more teachers, nurses and police officers  or the worst-case scenario of another decade of cuts to public services.

Sadiq Khan: the mayor of London is attending Davos / Neil Hall/Reuters

Today Im at the World Economic Forum in Davos to send Londons message loud and clear to European business and political leaders, because the reality is that the result of our negotiations with the EU doesnt just matter to the UK  it is the single biggest concern for countries across Europe too.

If we fail to get a good deal it wont just be Britain that pays the price  it will be all of Europe. So Im here to ask business leaders from across the continent to help London make our case to European leaders. A bad deal for London would be a very bad deal for Europe.

London is Europes financial, social and cultural capital. Our city is not only the beating heart of Britains economy but

critical for securing growth across Europe. A hard Brexit would cut Europe and European businesses off from the continents only truly global financial centre  and the financial firepower that goes with it. If European businesses lost their privileged access to the City of London it would disrupt the supply chains of tech companies and other sectors across the continent  a huge price for Europe to pay.

Im also at the World Economic Forum to deliver a warning: that Brexit is not just about economics. I believe the referendum has revealed something deeper which has bubbled under the surface of our society for some time  the fact that too many people in our country feel left behind or sidelined by mainstream politics and economics. I respect the decision of those people who voted to leave the EU in the referendum  however, many did so because they feel uneasy about the change theyve experienced in their lives and neighbourhoods over recent decades.

For too many people this change simply hasnt worked in their favour. Large numbers feel they have missed out on the fruits of globalisation and, instead, suffered job losses, lower wages and growing inequality. At the same time a lack of focus on social integration means it has become harder for people from different backgrounds truly to understand one anothers lives  fuelling the politics of division.

This growing economic and social divide is not unique to Britain  it is happening across the West. It has given rise to new forms of populism  from the US to France  and without a concerted response it will spread further. This week, for example, the Edelman Trust Barometer  a European-wide survey  found that more than half of people believe the system has failed them.

One of the most crucial tasks for London and other cities now is to take the proactive steps necessary to build stronger and more integrated communities, and to ensure that everyone feels the benefits of our growing economy. This will be one of the 21st centurys defining challenges. And we must treat it with the urgency and seriousness it deserves  the alternative is more division, protectionism and isolationism.

Despite these challenges Im taking a positive message to the World Economic Forum. I am confident that we will remain Europes leading business and economic capital. London has, and will continue to have, an unparalleled pool of talent. It will continue to have a world-renowned legal system. It will continue to have a complex commercial ecosystem that makes it the best place to do business. And London is, and will always be, open.
T here has been much speculation regarding the UK-EU relationship after Brexit. Many are worried that leaving the single market could result in the EU offering us a punishing deal to stop others leaving. That would be illegal under the United Nations Charter, which bans any kind of bullying over the right to self-determination.

European leaders have recently given assurances that they will work with us towards a smooth Brexit and that negotiations will not be aggressive.

This joint commitment to balanced, fair and free trade is an established policy which bodes well for the future. It supports agreements made by the worlds leading economies under the auspices of the G20 and World Trade Organisation that trade blocs should be working to increase trade and not to raising barriers to it or causing adverse effects for other countries.

Brexit is not about cutting ourselves off from the world. It is about leaving an outdated political union to become a good neighbour.

Mark Taylor, campaign manager, New Alliance

At last it seems our Prime Minister may have a plan for Brexit. It has only been six months since the EU referendum, which was built on lies and deceit, and in that time weve seen the pound plummet, businesses start to move abroad and people feeling the inevitable stress of an unstable country.

It is in everyones interest to have a final say on the terms of Brexit, now that the PM says we are going to leave the single market. Our current lack of an effective government and the failure of the Opposition to scrutinise it means that as Theresa May charges towards her own political ideological exit, we face a Brexit that no one wants and no one voted for.

The devil is in the detail, and a democracy must demand a vote on that detail.

Kelly-Marie Blundell

Despite the Prime Ministers announcement yesterday, as an EU citizen I am still none the wiser as to whether I will be guaranteed the right to stay in the UK.

I have been here since 1995, have been a company director, speak English fluently, own a house with my British husband and have children in school here. There are countless other EU citizens in a similar position of limbo in London.

Even if I want to become a permanent resident of this country, I have to complete an 85-page application form, take a language test and provide every piece of information under the sun.

As the Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston said, this bureaucratic nightmare has to end for people like me who have worked, paid their taxes and made a home in the UK.

I came to the UK on a promise of free movement. It is about time May ended the uncertainty for those in my position.

Mercedes Bianchin

We can only study whales in captivity

In her letter, Jennifer White of Peta [January 10] discusses transferring killer whales out of zoos but ignores the real issues that threaten them.

Like Ms White, I am an animal welfare advocate. That is why I became a vet and why I dedicated myself to marine mammal health and disease. I have the privilege to work alongside an extraordinary community of veterinary professionals who enrich the lives of marine animals by applying what they know.

I also work with biologists who study both wild killer whales and those living in our zoos, where they conduct science that is critical to understanding wild whales and dolphins which is not possible in the open ocean. We work together to preserve and protect free-ranging marine mammals, including killer whales.

Today it is estimated that there are fewer than 10 killer whales in British waters. We must be aware of the health of our oceans and their residents.

It is why we pour our hearts into caring for orcas every single day.

Dr Christopher Dold, chief zoological officer, SeaWorld USA

Parties lack courage to reform the NHS

Anyone who has been unfortunate enough to attend an A&E department will readily admit how overcrowded our hospitals are.

People dread visiting A&E unless it is a matter of life and death. The NHS is in crisis and in need of huge investment.

During last weeks Prime Ministers Questions, Theresa May dismissed the Red Crosss concerns as irresponsible and overblown. Yet the unpalatable truth is that our per capita health spending is one of the lowest in Europe.

We need to completely overhaul our NHS and adopt the French or German models, which give patients first-class service on demand. The problem is that no political party has the courage or tenacity to bring in the reforms.

Bhupendra Gandhi

Broaden the scope of sex education

In our recent survey nearly three-quarters of 11- to 15-year-olds said sex and relationship education should be compulsory in all schools. Currently, only the biological aspect of sex education is compulsory in state-run schools, and private schools and academies dont even have to teach it.

Learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects would mean children grow up understanding consent and healthy relationships, as well as knowing where to seek help and advice. All sides agree that change is needed but the Government still needs a push in the right direction.

Lynn Gradwell, Barnardos London

Its time to charge for museum entry

James Ashton is right to suggest tourists should pay their way [City Comment, January 16] but does not mention our commitment to free galleries and museums. The British Museum and Tate Modern are two of our most visited attractions and yet they can be visited without charge. This is the opposite of cities such as New York where entry fees are standard.

Such fees would give our cultural institutions enhanced financial security and would demonstrate that we value our galleries more than just as places to shelter from the rain.

Sunny Tailor
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DoubleHorn, a leading Cloud Services Brokerage, announced today that they have been awarded a Texas Department of Information Resources (Texas DIR) SaaS contract. This contract enables DoubleHorn to provide Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) to state and local government agencies, public education, and other public entities throughout the state of Texas. The DIR SaaS contract (contract number DIR-TSO-3635) is in effect through December of 2017, with three optional one-year extensions.



Texas DIR contracts simplify the purchasing process for state agencies by eliminating the need to draw up Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and evaluate bid responses. These contracts also offer discounted rates to public entities, ensuring that state and local offices have access to the cutting-edge technology they need at a price the taxpayers can afford.

DoubleHorn's technology services have benefited the public sector for several years. In 2013 the company was awarded the Texas DIR Cloud Services contract, and in 2015 the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services Cloud Services contract. These contracts combined with the new SaaS contract allow DoubleHorn to deliver their complete cloud services portfolio to the public sector, both in Texas and beyond (an additional 29 states honor the Texas DIR Contract).

"Over the years we've earned a great reputation among Texas state and local governments due to our expertise at addressing their unique IT needs," said DoubleHorn's CEO, Tab Schadt. "I know many of our public sector customers will be thrilled that they can now use us for software, in addition to the infrastructure and managed services we've been providing to them for years.

About DoubleHorn:

DoubleHorn was founded in Austin in 2005 and offers cloud computing and communication services to both the public and private sector. Their solutions address a wide range of needs including Data Backup and Disaster Recovery, Security & Compliance, Evidence Management and more. Their multi-cloud management platform, BetterClouds, enables users to design, purchase, deploy, monitor, and manage cloud services across multiple providers.
While she may be somewhat pre-occupied with Brexit plans and global speeches, Theresa May never fails to set aside time for an outfit plan. And while her favourite tartan Vivienne Westwood suit garnered headlines this week, it is her footwear that is more commonly the focus.

But despite the seemingly unlikely vastness of media attention given to what the Prime Minister decides to put on her feet, May - who declined to reveal how many pairs she owns when talking to the Standard, but protested that it's certainly fewer than Imelda Marcos - has seemingly relished the opportunity to showcase a new kitten heel or yet another leopard print flat.

Speaking on Good Morning Brtain in October, May admitted that while she finds it "interesting" that people focus on her shoes as they don't "focus on Philip Hammond's or Boris Johnson's in quite the same way", she sees it as nothing more than an opportunity to expand her collection.

"Do I regret the fact that people look at my shoes? Hey - it gives me an excuse to go and buy new shoes."

Theresa May's Brexit speech - five key points

Further proving her interest in the fashion industry, it was revealed this week that May is set to appear in US Vogue and was shot by renowned portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz at Chequers last week.

The US photographer has previously shot Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton for the publication.

Confirming the news, a No.10 spokesman revealed: "The long-planned shoot for US Vogue will come out in April."

A fan of the so-called fashion bible, May previously chose a lifetime subscription to Vogue magazine as her 'luxury item' when she appeared on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs programme.

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P hilip Glass celebrates his 80th birthday at the end of this month. Regarded as one of our greatest living composers, it's only right that a number of events are taking place to mark the occasion.

The Barbican and the BBC Symphony Orchestra are collaborating to offer Glass fans and the newly curious the chance to find out more about why he's such an important part of the contemporary music landscape.

Glass, alongside Steve Reich and John Adams, is credited as one of the forefathers of the Minimalist movement  although Glass suggests that the term was one made by journalists. Its music that youll have heard, even if you dont know who created it. In his guide to Glass, Reich and Adams, written for the Barbican, Pwyll ap Sion suggests minimalism sometimes serves as a musical trope for expressing the loss of the individual in postmodern society.

If you dont know your Glass from your elbow, read on for our guide to the composer and the events taking place to celebrate his birthday.

Who is Philip Glass?

Glass, born in 1937 in Maryland, is a classical composer with quite a repertoire. Hes written countless compositions, scored over 50 films, and his first opera lasted over five hours.

With a father who owned a record store, Glass was used to listening widely to different types of music from a young age. He was influenced by Webern, Schubert, Bach and Mozart, and later found inspiration from new films and theatre, including Samuel Beckett.

Philip Glass / Steve Pyke

His early studies took him to the Juilliard School and Paris (on a Fulbright scholarship), after which he went to India, where he met the 14th Dalai Lama (as you do).

His early composition work was influenced by peers like Steve Reich, and in 1971 he set up his own ensemble to performance his music, featuring amplified woodwinds, keyboard synthesizers and a solo soprano voice.

He worked as a cab driver and plumber in his early days as a composer, making ends meet until 1978, when he said he was finally able to give up side jobs and work full-time on music. Hes since had an illustrious career as an integral figure in the minimalist movement, as well as writing over 50 film scores and a huge range of operas.

What is minimalism?

Its not music performed in rooms with white walls and very little furniture, but experimental compositions with repeating patterns that gradually change and layer over one another. It's a back to basics type of composing with beautiful and hypnotic effects, and is thought to have been coined as a term by composer and musician Michael Nyman (most commonly known for The Heart Asks Pleasure First, from The Piano soundtrack).

Other minimalist composers include Steve Reich, John Adams, and more recently Ludovico Einaudi.

What should I listen to?

Philip Glass has written a formidable amount of music  theres a treasure trove of over 50 years of compositions out there. Hes been nominated for an Oscar three times for his film scores, has collaborated with David Bowie, and written operas based on the works of Kafka and JM Coetzee. If youre looking for a way in, here are a few places to start your listening.

Glassworks

A great introduction to minimalist musics ability to stir and inspire, relax and trouble, is Glassworks. It is a smaller scale work, capable of bringing Glasss music to a wider and more mainstream audience, and manages to capture the feelings of revelation, melancholy, and joy, all so typically found in minimalist music.

Music in Twelve Parts

This set of twelve pieces is busier and more epic in scale than some of Glasss more piano-driven work, but it remains as ponderous and engrossing as ever. It contains the repetitive structures so typical of minimalism, develops slowly, and when performed in full lasts over three hours.

Metamorphosis

This album for solo piano, with a cycle of five movements, is adapted from music Glass wrote for a theatrical adaptation of Kafkas Metamorphosis. Theres a sheer beauty in its repetitive motifs and its gentle urgency.

Einstein on the Beach

Glasss first opera is five hours long in performance, and doesnt have a specific plot. It is about Albert Einstein, but he is portrayed purely as a historical figure, without a storyline. The music is circular, with its resolution constantly being delayed, and contains themes relating to science, radio and nuclear weapons. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian went to see it a few years ago and left early, but don't let that put you off.

Passages with Ravi Shankar

Glass worked with Ravi Shankar in the 1960s when his career was just beginning, and said it influenced the work he would go on to make throughout his career. This collaboration is a much-loved part of Glasss back-catalogue, and is a great hybrid of Hindustani classical music and Glasss minimalist style.

The Hours

Glasss film scores, from The Truman Show to Notes on a Scandal, show that he is a master at creating moods. It is his score for Stephen Daldrys The Hours that stands out, perfectly capturing the depth of feeling in a film about three women whose lives are interconnected by the novel Mrs Dalloway.

Bowie Aphex Twin remix

Philip Glass collaborated with David Bowie a number of times, creating orchestral versions of two of his albums. Aphex Twin decided to remix Glasss version with Bowies, and the result is haunting.

How can I join in the celebrations?

Glass will be debuting Symphony No. 11 on his birthday. Its his first symphony in five years, and will be performed at New Yorks Carnegie Hall. If that seems rather far away, fret not  theres plenty to do to celebrate the composer in London.

The Barbican are marking Glasss birthday as part of their Sounds That Changed America season, also featuring concerts of Steve Reich and John Adams music. The weekend kicks off (January 27) with Les Enfants Terribles, a performance of his radical dance-opera based on the writings of Jean Cocteau. It will be a collaboration between the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet, with principal dancers Edward Watson and Zenaida Yanowsky.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra are on board to offer a day of Total Immersion on January 28, offering a series of performances, screenings and talks, delving into the world of Glasss music and his influences. The programme for the concerts have largely not been announced yet, but Marin Alsop will conduct a performance of the UK premiere of his Concerto for Two Pianos.

The weekend ends (January 29) with the UK premiere of Godfrey Reggios film Visitors, scored by Glass and with the score performed live by the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Some of the events are sold out, but on May 1, there will also be a rare chance to hear Glasss Music in Twelve Parts performed at the Barbican, led by James McVinnie.

Find out more about Philip Glass's birthday celebrations at the Barbican (January 27-29); barbican.org.uk

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T here was a time when the most famous food to come out of Camberwell was the carrot. Having grown up in SE5, I would wait for the inevitable Withnail & I joke whenever I told someone where I lived.

Now, though, the giant doobie has been usurped. Nape  which will go from pre-Christmas pop-up to permanent when it re-opens on February 8  is the newbie along a stretch of Camberwell Church Street that is starting to tempt gastronomic Gullivers further south of the river. A meat bar, bottle shop and deli, Nape is the baby of charcuterie king Sean Cannon of Cannon & Cannon.

Camberwell is the place to be, says Sean, Im 35  getting on a bit  and I get annoyed in Soho with the queues. Camberwell is busy but theres always a seat. And it was the first place our business was based  by the youth court.

Back then he lived off the cheap chickpea delights of Falafel & Shawarma: [The owner] Mahmoud just smashes out the falafel. He knows everyones name too. It is a hangover elixir as well: Probably the equivalent of six Nurofens and a gallon of water, a fan writes on Yelp.

Local favourite: Theo's pizza

Cannon is also a devotee of Silk Road, the Xinjiang specialist: Its my top recommendation in London  for value and impact of flavour. Go in a group and order the big plate chicken; once youve polished off the meat and potatoes a server will dunk belt noodles into the broth.

My own local favourite is FM Mangal, purveyor of Londons finest kebabs, with a sauce so delicious youll lick it off your fingers. If you eat in, make sure you dive into the dip that comes with the bread  the recipe is a secret but is said to include pomegranate molasses and grilled onion.

Theres also gastropub The Camberwell Arms (try the spit-roast chicken and bring a doggy bag) and Queens, from flatbread maestros Mike and Ollie. Near-neighbours include Theos Pizzeria (where the panuozzo, a pizza sandwich, is a lunchtime winner) and The Crooked Well, where you should order the pie to share.

Nape  where dishes will include air-dried West Country beef with hazelnuts  elevates Camberwell to the foodie empyrean. Named after the dry-cured pork made from the muscle running from the pigs neck to the shoulder, therell be a soft launch where subscribers on Napelondon.com get 50 percent off.

Cannon grew up in Norfolk. Sean later became an actor (I tried to be the next Clooney  it was a disaster), while his brother Joe went into law. But in 2010 they launched Cannon & Cannon, spotting a gap to connect British farmers raising heritage breeds with chefs concerned with provenance. Joe later left the business.

New hit: charcuterie from Nape

Charcuterie is expensive but were an inexpensive proposition, says Cannon. You can have a beautiful plate of meat, glass of wine and a toastie for under 20. One of the selling points, he adds, is animal welfare  charcuterie requires dense fat that cant come from animals who grew up too fast.

Camberwell has a loyal clientele. Before Christmas, robbers broke Napes door down and stole the till. There was an outpouring of support  we were packed that night, and the local councillors came. The reception moved me to tears.

As is noted in the awning of Love Walk Cafe (the opening of which was a harbinger of the foodie revolution to come), the poet Robert Browning was once told, There is no romance now, except in Italy. Browning offered a correction: Ah well, I should like to include Camberwell.

@RosamundUrwin

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A new theatre production about homelessness inspired by Ken Loachs Cathy Come Home will be livestreamed to hostels around the country.

Cardboard Citizens, a theatre company that work with homeless people, will be broadcasting the production on January 18, and it will be available to watch on the Evening Standard website.

The play, written by Ali Taylor, imagines what a modern day Cathy would look like. The plays protagonist is forced out of London by spiralling living costs, finding herself without any money or friends to help her. He told the Standard that writing the play had made him realise homelessness can happen to anyone.

We need to recognise that homelessness can strip people of their self-respect and mental health, he said.

A nationwide tour of the play will include performances in prisons, libraries, hostels, and Liverpools largest food bank in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

The company use an innovative performance method called Forum Theatre, which offers audiences a chance to influence the outcome of the play. Those watching can participate by tweeting comments with the hashtag #CathyLive; these will be fed back to the company and may affect the plays outcome.

Watch the production from 7.45pm on January 18:

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T he urgent whirr of helicopters punctures the Alpine calm of the Swiss resort, transformed this week from the home of fondue and lime-green skiwear to a meeting place for some of the most influential and demanding people on the planet.

A neo-democracy rules here at the World Economic Forum. Observers trundle around in shuttle buses with polite Chinese bankers. Tech start-up gurus show Wall Street alpha males what their latest app can do. The extreme net-worthers glide between us in black saloons with darkened windows.

Everyone is on their way to something. I wanted the Shakira dinner, hisses a women in Prada ski jacket, But I guess we can do the Jamie Oliver one and the Wall Street Journal.

Ambassadors and politicians air-kiss Hollywood stars and a crocodile of jostling cameramen elbow mere mortals out of the way to grab shots of Trump transition team boss Anthony Scaramucci. The financier has what most at Davos hanker for  a flow of fresh information to dissect.

This year the prospect of President Trump hangs over proceedings. The incomer stands against pretty much everything the World Economic Forum embraces free trade, global elites whose companies and interests cross national borders and this years theme: responsible leadership. The Donald was not exactly what Davos man or woman had in mind when that slogan was coined.

In the topsy-turvy world of 2017 its fallen to President Xi Jinping of China to be the high-profile defender of open trade and globalisation in a speech littered with metaphor. Trade protectionism, for example, is locking yourself in a dark room, which would seem to escape the wind and rain, but also blocks out the sunshine. It has come to something when we need the man from Beijing to warn Washington about the risks to free trade.

Here at the forum (insiders never call it Davos), true seniority is judged by how much room meat  bodies who gape admiringly at what the boss is saying  participants are permitted to bring with them.

Davos-speak is nuanced. Loved your speech in the plenary session with Klaus, is the top compliment  proximity to Klaus Schwab, the Davos founder, is a sign of elevation. Things not to say include: What are you doing here? (answer: same as you) and Is there much more of this climate change session?

Delegates at the World Economic Forum, whose agenda shapes the global economy / EPA

Anyone for an apres-Xi cocktail? puns a text from a colleague. After the evening session only the truly wholemeal policy wonks stay to discuss paradigm shifts and ecosystem variations.

The drinks and dinner round is highly competitive. Fierce scraps are breaking out for todays hottest ticket  a Google lunch where Amal Clooney, with her plus-one George in tow, will talk about the plight of Yazidi woman and her hope of getting the Islamic State goons before the International Criminal Court.

Other A-list attendees include Matt Damon  who turned up, preached the necessity of clean water and left the same day  Shakira and Jamie Oliver, who are hosting rival dinners tonight. An organic cocktail maker from New York whispers that hes receiving rival bids to lure the fashionably thirsty.

In these straitened times, when the worlds well-heeled look anxiously over their shoulders at the antics of electorates, a forum held in a secure zone in the Swiss Alps is undoubtedly incongruous. But it is a unique one-stop shop for global chatter, and bigwigs cant escape the journalists who have spent months persuing them when they are trapped in a small town.

Dr S unfortunately cant see you as his diary is slammed, emails a PA. Thats OK, I reply, Hes in front of me eating a muffin, so will ask him for a slot myself.

The ability to shoulder-rub is why the powerful still make room in bulging diaries to attend  if only to keep an eye on what the leader-next-door is saying.

Theresa May is due tomorrow to explain to sceptical financiers and puzzled German broadcasters why her revelation this week that Britain will leave the single market makes the UK a go-ahead trading power. David Cameron is whizzing in separately to address a breakfast on Ukraine  former aides whisper about a possible play for the Nato top job.

Alpine forum: Davos / Shutterstock / Boris-B

Much of the real business goes on in chalets and side-sessions. One transatlantic deal-maker expanded his requirement of luxury chalets a week ago. He got them, but at a price several times the routine 10,000 for the week (it costs company delegates around 30,000 to attend  before accommodation and entertaining costs)

A bit of moderation has crept in, if not full austerity. Google has abandoned its flashy party which last year saw the crowds dancing as Chic and Nile Rodgers belted out tunes. It feels a little more subdued than the years when Napsters Sean Parker hosted a gathering with stuffed animal heads shooting out laser beams or when Idris Elba manned the decks for Google.

Some cheerful fixtures dont change. Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska still takes his villa high up the mountain and hosts a party for those who can linger to ski and drink champagne at altitude.

There are plenty of wholemeal sessions in the congress hall to ground us, such as Can Women Have it All? or Reshaping the Ecosystem. This year were mainlining on automation and its impact on labour markets.

For all the scorn poured on Davos Man and Woman, there is also a charm to the place, the result of its double life as a resort and global hub. In the congress centre its all fake leather armchairs, pale carpets, modern sculptures and (free) pop-up cafes dispensing vegetarian risotto in artisanal jam-jars. The forum is bossy about food, so we are reminded by a poster in the entrance that being vegetarian will decrease our carbon footprint by half.

But when evening falls Davos shakes off its pursed lips. I join Jimmy Wales, the Wikipedia co-founder, and his wife Kate Garvey for a first-night dinner with tech founders. PR boss Richard Edelman announces his engagement (Davos-style, his fiancee follows the news with a speech about the need to respond decisively to populism).

If this gathering of great, good and very rich is at times a comedy of manners, it is at heart earnest, the vision of a founder who wanted to set aside the destruction of the Second World War and create economic prosperity. Outside this Alpine bubble that seems like more of a challenge than ever. For answers, check in with Amal, Shakira and Jamie  and Presidents Trump and Xi.

Follow Anne McElvoy on Twitter: @annemcelvoy

Anne McElvoy is senior editor at The Economist
W hen the Evening Standard broke the story yesterday that the former boss of the Serpentine Galleries, Dame Julia Peyton-Jones has, at the age of 64, become a first-time mother to a daughter, Pia, the news went viral faster than a giggling baby meme.

She joins the ranks of pioneering biology-bypassing women including Laura Wade-Gery, the M&S high-flier once tipped to take the helm at the retailer, who last year became a mother the first time at 50 after she adopted a child. Then there was Janet Jackson, who gave birth to her baby son, Eissa Al Mana, earlier this month aged 50, while actress Halle Berry told of being kinda premenopausal when she gave birth, aged 47.

Age isnt the only one-time barrier to pregnancy thats being knocked down. Earlier this month Emma, Viscountess Weymouth, announced the birth of her son Henry Thynn. After suffering a terrifying brain illness during her first pregnancy in 2014, doctors warned that having a second child could kill her, but she didnt let that stop her dream of a bigger family: she used a surrogate  and went public to help break down the stigma, saying: This is not about my vanity or that I was too lazy. Im not the kind of person who would have done this for anything less than a very important reason.

Nor is being single stopping women who want to have a family. More than ever, women are choosing the love of a child over the love of a partner, says Dr Aimee Eyvazzadeh, the fertility physician dubbed the egg whisperer who works in San Francisco, one of the worlds hotspots for assisted fertility. Theyre becoming educated about their fertility and realize that theres a short window that we have to achieve a pregnancy  so you can make choices that suit your life best and then focus on the partner later.

Its the post-sex, post-biology baby boom: the mindset that if you want a baby you can get one. London women with means (usually stemming from their own high-flying careers which perhaps saw the kids issue delayed for longer than the average biology lesson would allow) are now deciding that they want a baby. Many are pursuing that dream regardless of their age or relationship status (I see as many single women as not, says one consultant) and in whatever way they can.

So how is it happening? Surrogacy is still rare so for women over 50 its almost certainly by egg donation. As gynaecologist Dr Gillian Lockwood, ethics spokesperson for the British Fertility Society, explains: It doesnt matter how young you look or how healthy your lifestyle, Mother Nature knows when you were born and you cannot Botox your ovaries. IVF using own eggs has disappointing success rates for women over 40  and a positive pregnancy test is only the start as the miscarriage rate is 35 per cent at 40 and 75 per cent at 45.

The latest technique some older women are opting for, to improve statistics using their own eggs, is second generation PGS, or pre-implantation genetic screening, to select the healthiest embryo. But, Lockwood adds, some women will not produce any embryos that pass the genetic test.

First-time mother: Julia Peyton-Jones / Dave Benett/Getty Images

Its not cheap: some women may be eligible for donor egg treatment on the NHS but top clinics in the capital quote 2,000 to import ampoules of sperm into the UK, and another 1,000 per cycle of insemination, while egg donation costs up to 8,000 (or more than 10,000 in the US). But by using eggs donated from another woman  who is usually in her twenties or thirties  the chances of a successful pregnancy are far higher than the miniscule chance a fiftysomething woman might have, says Harley Street consultant gynaecologist Amanda Tozer.

Women [who come to me] either consider trying with their own eggs and using donor sperm if single, or, particularly those aged 42 and above, look at egg donation as offering a more realistic chance of conceiving. If they are also single then they will need both egg and sperm donation. Some in their early forties come to talk about egg freezing but its a more realistic option for those under 35.

That could change. A fertility clinic in Athens last year claimed it had reversed the menopause in a group of patients by injecting womens ovaries with platelet-rich plasma from their own blood to reinvigorate resident stem cells. The doctors say they fertilised eggs from their patients and have set out plans to implant these embryos  meaning some babies could be born of apparently post-menopausal women later this year. But the technology is untested  and certainly unapproved in the UK.

Baby monitors - in pcitures 1 /8 Baby monitors - in pcitures Scroll to see our pick of the best baby monitors... Shutterstock Philips uGrow Smart Baby Monitor An impressive app controlled device that connects via WIFI to provide live footage of your little one to your mobile phone or tablet. A range of helpful features allows you to see, hear and communicate with your tot with ease. A built in sensor measures room temperature and humidity. It also includes a soothing nightlight, a selection of lullabies and a reassuring talk back function  all of which can be controlled by the user-friendly app. You are also able to share a secure and private video stream with up to ten other family members  so grandma can check in too. This is a terrific option for parents who are frequent travellers, as you can see your child from wherever you are in the world. 180, Amazon, Buy it now Vtech Pan & Tilt Video Baby Monitor This digital video monitor has a long 300-metre range, which is perfect for larger homes. It works on mains power, so theres no need to worry about interference from other frequencies. Its large 4.3 inch colour LCD screen has a handy pan, tilt and zoom camera that spans a large area  a useful feature for parents who have more than one child sleeping in a room. It also comes with an in-built temperature sensor and the talk back function that allows you to soothe your little one from anywhere in the house. 109, Amazon, Buy it now Motorola Smart Nursery 7 Just launched, this sophisticated monitor has it all. The portable, large 7-inch touch screen camera features remote pan, tilt and zoom Wi-Fi connectivity and allows convenient, wire free movement from room to room. A specialised app called Hubble lets you view the camera on compatible smartphones and tablets  you can also receive sound, motion, humidity and temperature alerts, along with HD video streaming. Other useful features include sleep quality monitoring - a clever feature that tracks your babys snooze habits. Two-way communication, infrared night vision and a selection of lullabies are also built in. 349.99, John Lewis, Buy it now Angelcare AC1300 Movement, Video and Sound Monitor With plenty of features, investing in this well-designed digital monitor will give you complete reassurance when baby is sleeping. The large 3.5 inch portable, colour screen offers quality video transmission and crystal clear sound quality. It also comes with an innovative sensor pad that is designed to be placed under-the-mattress to detect movement. This is a great feature for newborns or tots who have just started to reach and stand. Operated with mains or battery, the monitor also boasts infrared night vision, allowing you to see you see your little one in the dark; a soothing night-light and room temperature display is also on offer. 127.79, Amazon, Buy it now Mamia Advanced Digital Audio Monitor If youre looking for a basic, cost-effective monitor, look no further. This practical, audio option has excellent sound quality and a 250-metre range. Its super easy to set up and has an intelligent talk-back feature so you can settle baby without going into their room, plus a choice of two soothing lullabies. It also includes a temperature sensor and belt clip. 24.99, Aldi, Buy it now

In pursuit of anonymity, some London women are flying abroad, often to Denmark, Spain, the Czech Republic or the US, for treatment. And while the relationship requirement has long withered away, foreseeably  in terms of science, if not ethics  there could soon be no upper age limit on pregnancy either. With egg donation, Eyvazzadeh says, 50 could well be the new 40 when it comes to fertility.

Lockwood goes even further. With appropriate hormonal manipulation any age of uterus can be primed for pregnancy, she says. There have been cases of women of 60, 65 or even over 70 giving birth to donor-egg babies, although the health outcomes for these women  and the consequences for their children  have been pretty bleak. We are one of the few mammalian species [others being minke and killer whales] that live beyond menopause. The evolutionary explanation is that grandmothers have an important role to play in helping their daughters children survive.

Yet fertility doctors say the biology-beating mother is far from just a celebrity trend  its just often kept quiet. The number of middle-aged women having babies in London hospitals overtook younger mothers for the first time in 2015, while in China, the baby boom which kicked off as soon as politicians relaxed the one-child policy last year wasnt spurred by young, career-orientated tiger moms, but the over-forties. The British fertility specialist the Bourn Hall Clinic, set up by the IVF pioneers behind the birth of the first test tube baby Louise Brown, is expanding its China operations from one clinic to five in the next few years.

Non-celebrity women are just getting on with it, Tozer says of her patients. Should people be honest about it? That is the big question. While we all know that any woman older than 45 is likely to have had egg donation, is it really anyones business but her own?

Follow Lucy Tobin on Twitter: @lucytobin
I t's the kind of dilemma that most of us can only dream of, but it's a pressing, overriding issue for many of the world's automotive elite: just how do you make sure your supercar stands out amongst the massed ranks of exuberantly wrapped Lamborghinis, flame-belching Ferraris and wide arched Porsches?

You would have been living under a massive, exhaust note-proof rock not to have noticed the explosion in the supercar market in recent years, with more manufacturers than ever before producing high-power offerings intended to part the great and the good with their hard-earned cash.

The sheer number of supercars now available has only compounded the problem for those labouring under this most monied of dilemmas, but there's a potential solution in the works courtesy of a Japanese firm (well, of course), Liberty Walk.

You might not be aware of the name, but there's every chance you'll have seen Liberty Walk's automotive creations online and on social media sites, where they can't help but generate streams of passionate comments whenever they're posted. In essence Liberty Walk sells bodykits, though it's probably best to ditch any preconceived notions of poorly fitting fibreglass and wonky winged Vauxhall Novas  it's a whole lot more sophisticated than that. Even the swiftest of glances at the firm's range of offerings should be enough to tell you all you need to know, and it can supply kits to cars as exotic as the BMW M3, Maserati Granturismo, Lamborghini Huracan, Porsche 997, Audi R8, Nissan GT-R and the Ferrari 360.

If there's one element that links all of Liberty Walk's bodywork creations, it's that they're all uniformly extreme and intended to make the car in question stand out like the proverbial sore thumb. The amount of work that goes into designing and building these kits  not to mention the liberal amounts of carbon fibre used in their construction  means that they have a dramatic impact on any car they're fitted to.

Wings large and wide enough to make a Group B Audi Quattro blush are de rigueur, as are bulging, blistered arches, wheels with dishes deep enough to pass as a rental opportunity in NW5, and the icing on the cake, trick air suspension systems to complete the cat's-eye-bothering look.

As you might expect given their all-encompassing design, fitting a Liberty Walk bodykit is most certainly not the work of five minutes, a selection of screwdrivers and a couple of axle stands. No, successful installation of one of the firm's Works kits requires some minor surgery to the wheel arches, a considerable amount of measuring and tweaking...and the cajones to modify a six-figure supercar in the first place.

Liberty Walk's creations have the power to make already arresting looking cars into fully paid up jaw-slackeners, which is precisely why they've proved so popular with the aforementioned automotive elite. They might be out of reach to all but the most wealthy of individuals but Liberty Walk's kits function on another, altogether more democratic level  they're works of automotive art. Free from the restrictions and regulations that the automotive industry must normally adhere to, Liberty Walk-clad cars are simply amazing to behold, and they look like the kind of thing a 10 year old might come up with if given the opportunity to pen a supercar while in the midst of a blue-Smartie induced sugar buzz.

Both the Fighter-kitted 458 and Works-kitted Aventador make use of amazing three-piece split rims to fill their capacious wheel arches, AirREX digital air suspension that allows them to plunge to an ant's eye perspective at the flick of a switch, and F1 Exhaust Valvetronic exhaust systems that really need to be heard first hand to be fully appreciated.

How much do these cars cost? Well as the old saying goes, 'if you ask the price, then you can't afford it.' The net value of the 'budget option' Ferrari is a cool 250,000, the Lambo a not inconsiderable 450,000.

Follow us on Twitter @ES_Motors
A manager at a luxury Soho hotel accused of fracturing a guests skull in a street attack has been cleared.

Boualem Messela, 44, was found not guilty of grievous bodily harm at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.

He had been accused of kneeing guest Christopher Meachin in the head in a revenge assault after Mr Meachin sprayed him with a fire extinguisher in the hotel lobby.

The prosecution alleged Mr Messela, a former bouncer at celebrity venues, had chased the victim out of the Sanctum Soho hotel before attacking him in the street.

But defence barrister John Carmichael said the prosecution was portraying Mr Messela as a villain when in fact the married dad-of-two was a responsible worker and had been doing his job for years.

Mr Messela, of Fairfield Road, Beckenham, told the court it was a freak accident and expressed his sorrow at what had happened.
A woman who died in an alleged hit-and-run has been named as an IT worker who had only recently arrived in London.

Witnesses told the Standard there were horrifying scenes of "total carnage" when the black Range Rover mounted the pavement near Beavers Community primary school in Hounslow.

The driver hit a group of people after smashing into a bus stop at 9.30am on Tuesday.

Himanshi Gupta, from India, died while another woman, also in her 20s, was left with life-changing injuries.

The young IT analyst had been working for Tata Consultancy Services in Kensington on a short project for just five months.

Pictures she published on social media showed her visiting the sights of London, including Big Ben, St Paul's and the London Eye.

Beneath one she wrote: "So life had better plans for me."

Tragedy: Himanshi Gupta was killed at a bus stop in Hounslow

Family friend Akshit Kohli told the Standard she was one of two daughters and had been "very young and talented".

He said the woman's family, from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, had been left devastated by the news.

One friend wrote on Facebook: "You taught me how to always smile, how to stay strong even if you feel no one is there by your side.

"We had so many plans to execute here, we have to go to Switzerland, Amsterdam, and the list is to big to tell, how you can leave us half-way?"

Hounslow fatal crash

A neighbour told the Standard the crash was an "absolute tragedy".

He said: "Everyone round here uses that bus stop everyday to take their children to school.

"People drive down here so fast. It couldve been anyone of us waiting there.

The 29-year-old driver did not stop at the scene, police said, but was stopped shortly afterwards.

He was arrested on suspicion of of causing death by dangerous driving.

A Met Police spokeswoman said the Serious Collision Investigation Unit is carrying out enquiries.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the witnesses line on 0208 543 5157.
A jeweller told how he played dead during a violent robbery, as police today released new images of two men they are seeking in connection with the raid.

The 45-year-old shopkeeper said he was lucky to be alive after being strangled and beaten by three robbers who stripped his store of 300,000 worth of gold and gems.

He described how he played dead after one of the thugs tied him up with tape and throttled him during the hold-up at Turquoise Jewellery in Barking.

He told the Standard: If I hadnt done it, I would have died.

Today Flying Squad detectives released a CCTV image of two men who called at the store 10 days before the robbery.

The bloodied interior of the shop after the raid

Police said they want to identify them as part of their investigation.

Scotland Yard believe more than 50,000 worth of gold was stolen in the raid, although the father-of-two said the total could be as much as 300,000.

He added: They destroyed my life. It still doesnt feel like it happened, like its a nightmare and Im going to wake up.

I didnt realise this kind of person existed in the world. In a way I am lucky to be standing and talking.

The shop owner said the gang stripped his business of 300,000 worth of gems

Speaking from the ransacked store in London Road, the owner said he had been closing the shop when two men came in at about 6pm on December 27, asking to sell some jewellery.

He said: I bent down, and I remember one of them jumping over the counter and flying in the air to hit me.

I didnt understand what had happened, it was so hard. By the time I realised, they ran round and were punching and kicking me.

Another suspect is then believed to have entered the shop as the thugs ransacked safes and stripped mannequins of gold chains.

The owner, who has run the store for 12 years, said: I was on the floor and one of them was strangling me - and I realised Im going to die in a minute.

The safe was opened in the raid, in which the shop's owner was strangled and left for dead

So I stopped moving and pretended I was dead. But I wasnt pretending, I was dying. The guy said something and then they left.

He was going for it, he was killing me.

CCTV footage from a cameras on a nearby store captured the moment the three thugs slid out from under half-closed shutters in full view of passers-by, carrying bulging laundry bags of stolen goods.

The victim believes at least one of the gang visited his shop as a customer ten days earlier.

He was taken to hospital with head injuries following the raid and still suffers headaches from the vicious beating.

He said: What can drive people to nearly kill someone, to take something that doesnt belong to you? What type of human being does that?

Despite having no insurance for the stolen gold he is determined to re-stock and re-open as soon as possible, saying he will not be forced out of business.

He said: I cant just disappear and let them finish me like this.

Detective Constable Andy Davenport, from the Mets Flying Squad, said: This is a shocking incident that has left the victim very traumatised. We are keen to identify the men in the CCTV footage so we can speak to them about the incident.

We would also urge anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
DALLAS, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa, the industry's largest community management firm, is proud to announce that its philanthropic organization, Associa Cares, set a record for the most families assisted in a single year by almost doubling its distribution total from the year before.



Associa Cares is a nonprofit organization set up to benefit families and communities across the country that are in need of assistance following a catastrophe at home such as a flood, fire or tornado. In 2016 Associa employees, through payroll deduction and fundraising events, along with business partners contributed more than $753,000 to the organization which assisted a record 573 families.



Donations in 2016 totaled $668,000, the most the organization has ever distributed in a single year, blowing away last years' total of $353,000.



"A core value of Associa is family spirit. One way we put that value into action is through Associa Cares," said Associa Cares President Andrew Fortin. "2016 saw a record need for homeowner assistance with flooding in Louisiana, major fires in California, Tennessee, and Canada, a devastating east coast hurricane and countless other events that occurred where Associa Cares came through for so many families and it's all possible through the generosity of the Associa family."

In December, Associa Cares distributed $63,300, rounding out its totals for the year with large contributions going toward families in Tennessee displaced by wildfires and to residents from a Surrey, British Columbia condominium complex that left dozens of residents displaced after a massive fire.



Associa Cares is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to assist families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters. Through donations raised from Associa employees and at fundraising events across the country, Associa Cares is able to provide necessary goods and services to the families affected by these types of tragedies. If you know of a family that has been the victim of a natural or man-made disaster, go directly to www.associacares.com to submit a request.



Building and managing successful communities for more than 38 years, Associa is the leader in community management with over 10,000 employees operating more than 180 branch offices in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Based in Dallas, Texas, our industry expertise, financial strength, and innovation meet the unique needs of clients across the world with customized services and solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more about Associa and its charitable organization, Associa Cares, go to www.associaonline.com or www.associacares.com.



Stay Connected:



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa

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Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Associaonline/
A young man is fighting for his life in hospital after falling from Waterloo Bridge.

Scotland Yard has launched an appeal for witnesses after the man, aged in his 20s, fell from the bridge onto the riverside walkway on Tuesday evening.

He was rushed to a central London hospital where he remained in a critical condition, police said on Wednesday morning.

London Ambulance Service paramedics were called to reports of a man fallen at the scene at about 8.25pm and alerted police.

A Met Police spokesman said: Next of kin have been informed.

No arrests have been made. Enquiries are ongong.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information is asked to call the police on 101 or by tweeting @MetCC. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A worker at an east London carwash was electrocuted while showering in a derelict flat owned by his boss.

Employee Sandu Laurentiu-Sava, described as "very kind and loving" by his family, was living with five other workers in a cramped, rat-infested Bethnal Green flat above Bubbles Carwash when he died while taking a shower.

The living area was so dangerous the flatmates thought electric shocks in the shower were the norm and plugs were hazardously overloaded.

The carwash boss and owner of the flat on Malcolm Place, was Shaip Nimani, 52. He was jailed for four years at the Old Bailey last Thursday for manslaughter after Mr Savas tragic death on August 19, 2015.

Shocking: The shower where the worker was electrocuted and later died. / Met Police

The living area at the carwash was badly wired with extension leads plugged into more extension leads and fuses at the flat had been tampered with to stop them from blowing.

The shower where Romanian national Mr Sava was electrocuted had no earth connection, while the electric meter at the flat had also been illegally bypassed in order to get out of paying for electricity.

Dilapidated: The falling-to-bits and unsafe shower. / Met Police

The victims family called for the strongest punishment for Nimani and Mr Savas brother said he was devastated.

Heartbroken brother Marius Sava said: I could not and did not want to believe that such a terrible thing had happened. My brother and I were close and we would speak at least once a month.

Cramped: Inside the flat in Bethnal Green, which was hung with several air fresheners. / Met Police

Due to circumstances of his death and length of time it took to get his body repatriated, I was even denied seeing his body in the coffin as it was sealed.

My mother has been left shattered by what has happened, Sandu was her favourite son, he was also the youngest. Sandu would speak to my mum weekly and would send her money from the UK to help her.

Dilapidated: Inside the derelict flat provided by the Bubbles Carwash boss on Malcolm Place. / Met Police

"In fact when telling my mother the news, she took it so badly that she had to be admitted to hospital, she is not a well woman, she has previously had a heart attack and we feared this news had brought on another one.

Marius Sava added: My brother was a very kind and loving man, he was very family orientated, he was the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back even though he may have nothing himself.

Bedroom: The living accommodation provided by the boss of Bubbles Carwash on Malcolm Place. / Met Police

Sandu, if asked, would always make time to help anyone who asked him for help.

Unqualified labourer Mr Sava left Romania for the UK in search of a better life because of lower wages in his home country.

His brother said: I feel my brother was taken advantage of and exploited by Shaip Nimani during his time in the UK.

It appears to me that the employment laws and rules and regulations in the UK are not strong enough, and that more needs to be done to protect the welfare and wellbeing of foreign nationals, to stop incidents like this happening again.

"I feel that the strongest punishment should be given to Shaip Nimani for justice for my brother and to send a message to other rogue employers that behaviour like this will not be tolerated."

Nimani, of Purley Avenue in north London, was made to pay 20,000 to the victims family.

Paramedics were called to the flat at 9.40pm on August 15 after Mr Sava collapsed in the shower. He was taken to the Royal London Hospital but pronounced dead later that evening.
A parking warden ran over an Orthodox Jewish man with his scooter and clouted others with his crash helmet in extraordinary scenes on a street in east London.

The warden apparently flew into a rage after being confronted by a group of Jewish men in Hackney, hitting several people with his helmet and radio before being bundled to the ground and restrained.

He ran over a man with his moped after being told that he was going to be reported to council bosses for misconduct, witnesses say.

The warden is alleged to have been surrounded by the large group of Jewish men, telling them: "I'll come back later with my boys" in the clash in the middle of Leaside Road shortly before 2pm on Monday,

The parking warden was bundled to the ground and restrained after the clash

CCTV footage shows the parking warden, wearing an official blue tabard and white helmet, clatter into a man wearing traditional Jewish attire with his moped. Onlookers allege he deliberately accelerated into him.

The scooter runs over the man and goes up on its back wheel before hitting a parked car.

In further chaotic scenes, the warden is surrounded by up to ten Jewish men, and he lashes out at them with his crash helmet in an apparent rage.

He was eventually thrown to the ground and restrained by members of the public.

However, bystanders reported that the warden had been surrounded by a group of around eight to 10 Orthodox Jews before the attack.

He was restrained at the scene by bystanders

Onlookers claim the group jostled the man and repeatedly followed him before allegedly blocking him into a parking space with a car.

The warden made a desperate plea for help into his radio, according to some witnesses.

But members of the group were said to have shouted over the top to prevent him from being heard.

Scotland Yard confirmed officers had been called to the road at 1.50pm to reports of an altercation.

Four men, aged in their 20s and 30s, suffered minor injuries.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

He has been bailed until a date in mid-February.

Councillor Feryal Demirci, from Hackney Council, said: We are cooperating with police in their investigation of a warden, who is a contractor working for APCOA.

The wardens bodycam footage shows he was subjected to significant and unprovoked levels of intimidation, threats and harassment in the lead-up to that which has also been captured on video by members of the public.

He sustained a number of injuries for which he received hospital treatment; fortunately none of them was serious.

We will be seeking to have charges pressed against some of those involved in the incident against the warden.

A spokesman for APCOA said: "APCOA takes the safety of our workers very seriously. We're aware of an incident that occurred in Hackney on Monday 16th January.

"The police are investigating this incident, and APCOA are assisting in that investigation.

"We will not tolerate abuse of any kind against our staff, and we press for criminal charges to be brought against offenders wherever possible."
C ash machines suggesting 100 as the minimum default withdrawal have been criticised for taking advantage of tourists and encouraging them to spend more.

A row of ATMs in Soho have 100 to 500 as the default cash withdrawal options.

And the company operating the machines  on Broadwick Street in Londons busy shopping district  said the limits are to cater for spending in the area.

But shoppers and tourists have suggested that it is confusing and is an initiative to boost spending.

Kadie Chanter, who works for Hearst Magazines, said: I agree they are taking advantage of tourists.

Cash machine: The ATMs are located in Soho

I think the initiative behind it is to make people spend more money rather than giving them the choice to spend what they want.

Natasha Russell, who works in Soho, said: I think they have this minimum because you have a lot of tourists here.

100 seems like a good amount for a tourist to withdraw but for me I only want a five or ten so I dont use them.

Cash withdrawals: The machine offers high amounts as its default setting

The machines do have an option to withdraw less cash if you press the other amount button  but the smallest amount offered is 20.

They are located just off the bustling Carnaby Street  popular with shoppers visiting the capital.

Nik Sulaiman, who is on holiday in London from Malaysia, said: I think some tourists could get mixed up with the currency.

Shopping district: The operator said it was because demand was high

Against our money we assume it's a small amount but it could be a large amount and its confusing.

And Sophie Coleman, who works in advertising said it can be confusing and added: I think they do it to get you to take more money out so you spend more in the area.

A spokeswoman for Travelex, the company operating the machines, told The Standard that the number is the default amount which is driven by customer usage in the area because people withdraw large quantities of cash.
A couple have told of their horror after their miniature dachshund puppy was killed by a French bulldog cross at dog daycare centre.

Yulia Kravchuk, 27, said Spencer, eight months, was like a child to her and that she cried every day for weeks after the attack last month.

She and her partner Michael Slowik, 40, had employed City Pups, a daycare and walking company which takes pets to a farm in Hertfordshire and brings them back at the end of the day.

On December 6, the couple, from Kensington, were told Spencer had died after being bitten by another dog. Ms Kravchuk, who works in financial services, said: We got a call saying, "We are so sorry, Spencer is dead  there was a terrible accident".

We dont have kids, so Spencer was like a baby for us. I had given him to my husband for his birthday as he had always dreamed of having a dachshund. We did everything for him.

Spencer died in a "terrible accident" at a dog day care centre

"He travelled with us, slept with us in our bed, ate with us. I have never experienced so much pain.

She said they sent Spencer to City Pups when he was three months old because they were often away on business and that he liked it.

City Pups were friendly and did proper checks and we were told he would be looked after and would not be in danger from bigger dogs, she said.

The bulldogs owners sent their condolences to Ms Kravchuk and Mr Slowik and in an email wrote: Weve had our dog since he was a puppy, and he has always been a loving and gentle family dog.

Michael Slowik, 40, was given the dog as a birthday present as he had wanted a dachshund his entire life

"I promise you that if we had [seen any aggression] we would never have brought him into a dog daycare.

I want to reassure you that we are taking this as seriously as we possibly can. He wont ever be allowed around other dogs or in the public unmuzzled. We are also seeking behavioural help.

However, Ms Kravchuk and Mr Slowik have asked for proof from a vet that the animal is not a risk to other dogs.

A spokesman for City Pups, which has operated in London for seven years, said: We are very strict about the dogs we allow into daycare and remove any dogs that we think might pose even the slightest hint of danger.

This terribly sad accident happened following a single, split-second bite from another small family dog, who had also been in daycare with us for months, who regularly interacted well with Spencer, and who had never shown even the slightest hint of aggression towards him or any other dog.

After what happened, the dog was instantly and permanently removed from our daycare. We explained what had happened to all of our clients straight away. We have remained in contact since this happened to offer help in any way we can.

Ms Kravchuk made an initial report on the incident to the RSPCA.

An RSPCA spokesman said: We investigate all animal welfare concerns. We took initial details about the case and, if Ms Kravchuk contacts us with more details, we will look into this further.
A five-hour protest will be held outside a west London theatre in a row over white actors playing characters with Chinese names.

Protesters have accused The Print Room in Notting Hill's old Coronet building of "yellowface casting" in its production of Howard Barker's play In The Depths of Love.

Around 160 people have said on Facebook they will attend a demonstration outside the theatre from 5pm to 11pm on Thursday.

The play is set in ancient China and features Jane Bertish, William Chubb, James Clyde and Stella Gonet playing characters called Mrs Hu, Lord Ghang, Chin and Lady Hasi.

The Print Room has insisted the characters are not Chinese, and that the play is a fable where the names are not supposed to be taken literally.

But protester Andrew Keates slammed the theatre, accusing it of marginalising Asian actors.

He wrote on the protest Facebook page: It is a fallacy that the United Kingdom does not have a wealth of talented East Asian performers who could and should be playing these roles in Howard Barkers play.

"The theatre industry must stop marginalising East Asian performers and start taking responsibility for our past where ethnic minorities were not even allowed to be in a theatre, let alone perform on stage.

"We must seek out every opportunity to readdress this historical prejudice by ensuring we are giving East Asian artists every opportunity wherever possible.

"Ethnicity is and should never be a make-up. Its an ethnic identify.

Equity has also hit out at the casting, accusing the theatre of failing to engage with the debate on diversity.

In a statement, the Print Room said: "We are truly sorry for any offence caused by the announcement of our cast for Howard Barkers remarkable play In the Depths of Dead Love.

"We can see how it has led to concerns and misapprehensions.

"No offence was intended and, as we explain below, none should be taken. We are in conversation with Equity about this matter."
A woman has died after a fire broke out at a south east London house in the early morning.

Around 21 firefighters were called to the blaze at Chesterfield Close in Orpington just after 3.15am on Wednesday.

A fire ripped through the semi-detached house as crews battled to control it for around two hours.

Fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus managed to get into the house to rescue a woman trapped inside.

But, despite their efforts and the arrival of paramedics, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said the cause of the blaze was still under investigation.
S adiq Khan today launched a blistering attack on Theresa Mays plans for Brexit, warning that her tough stance could rip Britain apart.

The Mayor claimed the Prime Ministers hard Brexit strategy was to paper over splits in the Conservative party and not in the best interests of the country.

He said Britons risked being left to explain to future generations why they had put the countrys economy and prosperity at threat.

It came after Mrs May warned Brussels in a major speech she would walk away from talks if offered a bad deal, as she set out her Brexit vision for the first time.

Theresa May's Brexit speech - five key points

She confirmed Britain would leave the single market, hinted at a cap on European Union migrants and said the final Brexit deal would be put to a vote in Parliament.

But writing in the Standard, Mr Khan said: A hard-line approach to Brexit may hold the Conservative Party together, but it could rip Britain apart.

And if we continue on this path - towards a hard Brexit  we risk having to explain to future generations why we knowingly put their economy, their prosperity and their place on the world stage in such peril.

The Mayor accused the PM of brushing away the importance of securing privileged access to the single market which would be critical for London to flourish.

Watch Theresa May's speech in full as the Prime Minister outlines her Brexit strategy in detail

In a speech at the global economic summit in Davos, he warned that without access to the EU trading bloc many businesses in the capital could struggle to survive.

Securing privileged access to the single market must be the top priority for the negotiations. Its critical for London. Nothing else will do. It cant be brushed aside  as it was yesterday, he was expected to say.

The benefits of Britain retaining privileged access are real and tangible. Having access to the single market would mean the difference between businesses thriving and growing, or struggling to survive.

The Mayor urged European businesses leaders to press their governments for a workable Brexit deal during his 24-hour visit to Davos - warning that a hard Brexit would be a lose-lose for the whole of the EU.

He was expected to meet heads of government including Erna Solberg, prime minister of Norway, which is a member of the single market but not the EU, as well as the chief executives of Siemens, Hitachi and Mastercard.

In a keynote speech hosted by Morgan Stanley, he said: A hard Brexit would cut Europe off from its only truly global financial centre. This would be bad news for Europe as well as Britain. So a hard Brexit really would be a lose-lose situation.

Tell your political leaders that a hard Brexit deal is not in the best interests of your company. This wont be easy. But Im confident that despite the Prime Ministers rhetoric, there is still a sensible deal to be done.

Tim Farron and Jeremy Corbyn react to Theresa May's Brexit proposals

Mr Khan insisted that London would remain Europes leading business hub after Brexit and would remain open to international talent, trade and investment.

But he warned the UK was not the only EU country where communities felt left behind or side-lined as they faced job losses, lower wages and growing inequalities.

Many people who voted to leave the EU did so because of unease about the change theyve experienced in recent decades, he said.

This economic and social divide is not unique to Britain. We see it in the growing strength of populism. And without a concerted response it will spread further.

My warning is this: if many of your countries held an EU referendum tomorrow, it could go the same way as ours. This is an existential threat to the EU  that we must combat together.

One of the most crucial tasks for us now is to take pro-active steps to build stronger and more integrated communities. And to ensure that everyone benefits from our globalized economy. The alternative is division, protectionism and isolationism.
T here is a high chance that Brexit negotiations will end with no deal and lead to "serious economic disruption and legal chaos", the author of Article 50 has warned.

Lord Kerr also suggested that leaving the EU could result in a "decade of delay and disruption" for Britain, which would damage investment, economic growth and employment.

The former diplomat, who negotiated European deals for both Margaret Thatcher and John Major, made the comments as he considered a number of possible outcomes for the UK following the vote to leave.

Lord Kerr, who has served as UK ambassador to both the EU and the US, warned if no agreement was reached on the terms of Brexit, and no extension to the talks was agreed, the UK would have to leave the EU anyway.

Jeremy Corbyn attacks "Irony Lady" Theresa May over Brexit

He said the possibility of this happening could be "as much as 25 per cent or maybe more", adding: "I think there may actually be a one in three chance of no deal."

Lord Kerr wrote Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which Theresa May will trigger in March to start the UK's formal departure process.

During a lecture at Glasgow University, he told how he is "pretty confident" the UK's exit will not result in the break-up of the EU.

He warned that the financial negotiations about leaving would be "very nasty".

Warning: Lord Kerr / PA

Reports have suggested the UK could be presented with a "divorce bill" by the European Commission which could be as much as 50 billion to 60 billion.

Lord Kerr said: "Article 50 is not about trade, it is about divorce. It's about paying the bills, dividing the property. The money negotiation is going to be a very nasty negotiation."

He went on to predict there will be "no serious negotiations before the autumn", adding he expects "this calendar year will be mainly spent in a furious battle about money".

Watch Theresa May's speech in full as the Prime Minister outlines her Brexit strategy in detail

Going on to outline some of the possible outcomes from Brexit, Lord Kerr said there was about a 25 per cent probability the UK will leave Europe in 2019 with an agreed Article 50 financial settlement , a "substantive framework" setting out future relationships and a "degree of progress on the trade negotiations Mrs May says she want".

There is about the same chance the UK will leave in 2019 but with only a "thin framework and not much progress made on trade", he said.

Another scenario is that Brexit talks could go "into extra-time", with an extension agreed to the two-year period for Article 50 negotiations. Lord Kerr said: "The probability is very low, probably about 10 per cent."

Tim Farron and Jeremy Corbyn react to Theresa May's Brexit proposals

The other outcome he mooted was "no deal at all" with Britain and the EU in a "deadlock on money" and forced to go to the courts to try to resolve the situation.

This would mean "we leave anyway", he said, adding: "As Article 50 says, if there is no agreement and no extension, the departing country departs.

"So, out we go into serious economic disruption and a degree of legal chaos."

He also warned that talks with the dozens of nations the EU has trade agreements with would not be able to take place until the Brexit process has been completed, telling the audience: "We can expect, I'm afraid, a decade of delay and disruption with investment, economic growth and employment lower than they would have been."

A paper produced by Holyrood ministers arguing for either the UK, or Scotland on its own, to be able to remain in the single market was "rather impressive" Lord Kerr said.

He added this "serious and substantive white paper" from the Scottish Government, setting out proposals for mitigating the impact of Brexit, "seems to have been ignored" by the Westminster administration.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.
A BBC report on Jeremy Corbyn by political editor Laura Kuenssberg was inaccurate and breached impartiality rules, the corporations watchdog has found.

The BBC Trust ruled that the Labour leaders comments about shoot to kill on British streets in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks were presented out of context.

Its findings state that Mr Corbyn and his team had not complained but that the standard of impartiality the BBC must achieve is higher.

The News at Six report was aired in November 2015, just three days after the brutal terror attacks in Paris which killed 130 people.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg 'breached impartiality rules with her Jeremy Corbyn report in 2015' / PA

The BBC trust said: In such circumstances the BBC has a particular duty to ensure the accuracy of the context in which politicians' views are best understood by audiences.

In the clip, Mr Corbyn stated: I am not happy with a shoot-to-kill policy in general. I think that is quite dangerous and I think can often be counterproductive.

Ms Kuenssberg, who was appointed BBC political editor in July 2015, presented the comment as Mr Corbyns response to whether he would be happy for British officers to pull the trigger in the event of a Paris-style attack.

However, the regulator today published its conclusion that the Labour leader had been speaking in a different context  and not with specific regard to a Paris-style attack.

The trust added that the inaccuracy was compounded by Ms Kuenssbergs conclusion that the Mr Corbyns view couldnt be more different to that of the Prime Minister.

According to this high standard, the report had not been duly accurate in how it framed the extract it used from Mr Corbyns interview, it said.
MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immuron Limited (ASX:IMC) (the Company) wishes to advise investors that European and US-based Life Sciences Research and Analyst firm Van Leeuwenhoeck Institute (VLI), has released a Research Note Report on the Company and its R&D programs, which primarily focuses on the Companys NASH assets and comparing them to other recent NASH product acquisitions by large Pharma companies.



VLI provides institutional investors and other professional investors with independent, un-biased research on the real value of innovative Life Sciences companies.

A copy of the Research Note can be viewed on the Company website at:

http://immuron.com/assets/Van-Leeuwenhoeck-Institute-VLI-Immuron-Research-Report-Jan-2017.pdf.

About Van Leeuwenhoeck Institute:

Van Leeuwenhoeck Institute (VLI) provides institutional investors and other professional investors with independent, un-biased research on the real value of innovative Life Sciences companies. Many institutional and individual investors will not invest in companies lacking independent third-party research coverage, yet few investment banks cover this sector because it requires dedicated expertise.

In spite of the lack of quality knowledge on an industry-wide basis, there is increased demand for life science-specific market research as investors are seeking information about leading companies in the sector in order to make well-informed investment decisions.

Immuron Limited has engaged VLI to provide the Company with logistical support services in support of potential European road shows.

For more information visit: http://www.leeuwenhoeck.com/

About Immuron:

Immuron Limited (ASX:IMC) (OTCQB:IMROY) is a microbiome company focused on developing and commercialising oral immunotherapeutics for the treatment of a many gut mediated diseases. Immuron has a unique and safe technology platform that enables a shorter development therapeutic cycle. The Company currently markets and sells Travelan for the prevention of Travellers diarrhoea, whilst its lead product candidate IMM-124E is in Phase 2b clinical trials for NASH and ASH. These products together with the Companys other preclinical immunotherapy pipeline products targeting immune-related diseases currently under development, will meet a large unmet need in the market.

For more information visit: http://www.immuron.com/

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements made in this release are forward-looking statements and are based on Immurons current expectations, estimates and projections. Words such as anticipates, expects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, guidance and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although Immuron believes the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Immurons control, including those risks or uncertainties inherent in the process of both developing and commercialising technology. As a result, actual results could materially differ from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Immuron will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this release except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.
T heresa May gave Boris Johnson a reprieve for a gaffe in which he compared the French president to a Colditz guard dealing out punishment beatings.

The Foreign Secretary caused a furore by making a comparison with a prisoner of war camp to describe Francois Hollandes attitude towards Brexit.

If Mr Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who chooses to escape [the EU], rather in the manner of some World War II movie, then I dont think that is the way forward, and actually its not in the interests of our friends and partners, said Mr Johnson.

His comments were branded crass by critics. But the Prime Minister moved to defuse the row quickly by making clear she would not be sending Mr Johnson to the cooler.

The PMs official spokeswoman made light of Mr Johnsons comments, calling them a theatrical comparison to some of those evocative World War Two movies that people have seen.

He was making a point, said the spokeswoman. He was in no way suggesting that anyone was a Nazi. If anything I think this falls within the category, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, of a hyped up media report.

There was speculation that Mrs May chose to defend Mr Johnson to make up for an incident where No 10 slapped him down for criticising the Saudi Arabians for their military interventions in the Yemen.

Mr Johnsons aides said his comments were light-hearted remarks but conceded that they drew on films like The Great Escape and The Colditz Story which featured prisoners being punished for trying to escape.

The Foreign Secretary was referring to earlier comments from Mr Hollandes office that the UK should not be allowed to enjoy better conditions outside the single market when it leaves the European Union. The remark implied that tariffs could be imposed on British exports.

French President: Francois Hollande / AFP/Getty Images

Mr Johnson went on: It seems absolutely incredible to me that in the 21st century member states of the EU should be seriously contemplating the reintroduction of tariffs or whatever to administer punishment to the UK.

Tory MP Bob Neill, secretary of the all-party parliamentary group on France, said: Given that we and the French were on the same side in World War II and remain allies in Nato, he could have used a better choice of language to make a reasonable point.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: This is an utterly distasteful comment Boris is our chief diplomat, how can he say such things? Its crass and he is clueless.

I understand Boris loves a World War Two analogy and likens himself to Churchill. But one was the greatest ever Britain, a war leader, and the other is Boris, who goes round the world as Foreign Secretary apologising to all the nations he has offended over the years.

Theresa May's Brexit speech - five key points

Former Labour defence minister Kevan Jones said: This is the usual Boris tactless, foot-in-mouth quote that is completely inappropriate.

It undermines Theresa Mays reaching out to European allies yesterday.

A supporter of Mr Johnson stressed that he had not compared Mr Hollande with a Nazi, as implied by some reactions.

It was a light-hearted movie thing, about those scenes in The Great Escape or Colditz where the escapers are caught and put in the cooler, he said.

He was certainly not trying to suggest that Mr Hollande was like a Nazi or making any comparison like that.

Asked if Mr Johnson had compared the French leader with a German commandant, an ally pointed out: Some PoW camps were governed by the Wehrmacht, and others by the SS.

Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, who was strongly criticised for comparing a Jewish reporter with a Nazi guard a decade ago, said: I suspect Boris will be allowed to get away with it.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker today launched a broadside at extremists who think they can solve their countries problems over migration by breaking up the EU.

Mr Juncker warned that no European country would be able to deal with the challenges of the economy, unemployment, migration and terrorism on its own.

Mr Juncker welcomed Theresa Mays Lancaster House speech, but stressed that Brexit talks could not begin until the European Council had been formally notified of the UKs intention to quit under Article 50 of the EU treaties, telling MEPs a speech alone cannot activate negotiations.

I will do everything to make sure the negotiations will be according to the rules and will yield good results, he told MEPs.
B rexit Secretary David Davis revealed today that he made 1,000 betting Britain would vote to quit the EU.

He told how he had made the wager on the night of June 23.

I was in this studio on Referendum night with (political commentator) Iain Dale and the polls at that point were telling us there was going to be a 10-point advantage to Remain, he told Nick Ferraris LBC show.

So I put some money on. And its still paying my office drinks bill.

Asked how much he won, he said: I made a grand.

Redcar Labour MP Anna Turley swiftly tweeted: Ever get the feeling youre being mugged?
T he decision of the UKs top judges in the legal battle over Brexit will be revealed next week.

The Supreme Court  the highest court in the land - is to give its judgment in the high-profile legal fight on Tuesday, January 24.

It comes after the landmark court appeal was heard in early December against the High Courts controversial Brexit ruling.

The ruling ordered that Theresa May must give MPs and peers a vote on whether to trigger Article 50, which starts the process of leaving the EU.

Justices of the Supreme Court leave the Supreme Court in Parliament Square. / Reuters

It was won by campaigners led by investment manager Gina Miller and hairdresser Deir Dos Santos.

But the government appealed the ruling, leading to a hearing in front of Britains most senior judges  the first time all 11 justices have heard a case together.

The case was heard in the week beginning December 5 at the court in Parliament Square.

On Tuesday, Theresa May gave a speech in which she warned European leaders not to punish the UK for leaving the EU, and threatened no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal.

The decision will be handed down at 9.30am.
T heresa May announced her strategy for Brexit in London today.

In her long awaited speech, the Prime Minister set out the governments plan for leaving the EU in the greatest detail yet.

Mrs May confirmed the Brexit deal will be put to a vote in both houses of Parliament, allowing MPs and peers to vote on the details of the UKs exit from the EU.

She also assured the British public that the UK would leave the European single market, as a 2019 deadline was set for Brexit negotiations to be completed.

Theresa May: The Prime Minister after speaking at Lancaster House in London / PA

In the speech, the prime minister promised to push for the "freest possible trade."

The speech gave the most detailed plan for Brexit since the UK voted to the leave the EU on June 23 last year.

Watch the Prime Ministers speech in full at the top of the page
T he number of people out of work dropped to its lowest level for more than a decade during the Autumn in the latest sign of the resilience of the Brexit-era economy.

Britains unemployment total plunged to just 1.6 million in the three months to November, a jobless rate of 4.8 per cent, one of the lowest in Europe.

There were 52,000 fewer people out of work than in the previous quarter to August 2016 and 81,000 fewer than a year earlier.

London also saw a big fall in unemployment, with the total dropping by 26,000 in the quarter to 266,000, or 5.6 per cent of the capitals workforce, according to the data from the Office for National Statistics.

However, the number of employed workers fell for the second consecutive month by 9,000 to 31.80 million, although the figure was 294,000 higher than the same period in 2015.

The latest unemployment drops will be seized on as compelling evidence that the worst fears of Remain campaigners have not materialised since the shock Brexit vote in June.

Employment Minister Damian Hinds said: We start the new year with another encouraging set of figures. Employment continues to run at a near-record high, unemployment remains at an 11-year low, and both figures are stronger than this time last year - highlighting the strength and resilience of our labour market as we step up to the challenges of 2017.

We have made real progress creating a strong economy and helping more people into work, and will do what is needed to continue that trajectory as we build a country that works for everyone.

Average earnings increased by 2.8 per cent in the year to November, up by 0.2 per cent on the previous month.

David Freeman, senior statistician at the ONS, said: While employment is little changed on the quarter, the rate remains at an historic high.

The rate at which pay is increasing continues to pick up in cash terms, though it remains moderate.

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Suren Thiru, head of economics at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: Overall, with employment levels still close to record levels and unemployment continuing to fall, the latest indicators confirm that the UK jobs market remains a major bright spot for the UK economy.

While labour market conditions could soften over the next year as economic growth slows, the high degree of flexibility in the jobs market will help limit the extent of any uptick in unemployment.

Although there was a welcome pick-up in average earnings growth, the gap between wage and price growth is narrowing. If this continues as we expect, real household incomes will be squeezed further, stifling consumer spending, which is a key driver of UK economic growth.

More must be done to safeguard the long-term health of the UK jobs market by supporting firms looking to recruit and invest in their workforce, and ensuring companies have access to the workers they need.
S tubborn bus passengers who refuse to get of the way for a wheelchair user could be shamed into moving by the driver bringing the journey to a halt, top judges have ruled.

Disabled access campaigners scored a victory in the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning when judges decided bus companies should do more to protect the rights of wheelchair users.

The court said a driver simply asking for the wheelchair spot to be vacated was not enough, and unreasonable passengers who would not budge should be pressured into giving up the spot.

The judges also said Parliament should consider revisiting equality laws in light of todays ruling.

Disability campaigner Doug Paulley brought the case all the way to the Supreme Court after being left at a bus stop in February 2012 because a mother with a sleeping baby refused to move her buggy.

Disability campaigner Doug Paulley brought the case all the way to the Supreme Court after being left stranded at a bus stop

She said her buggy did not collapse and Mr Paulley was forced to wait for the next bus, missing a connecting train and a planned lunch with his parents.

Mr Paulley sued FirstGroup, the bus operator, for breaching the Equality Act 2010 by not making reasonable adjustments for wheelchair users who wanted to travel.

In its ruling today, Lord Neuberger agreed that the bus companys policy had not done enough to protect the rights of disabled passengers.

Where the driver concludes that the non-wheelchair users refusal (to move) is unreasonable, it seems to me that it would be unjustifiable for a bus-operating company to have a policy which does not require some further step of the bus driver in any circumstances, he said.

In particular, where there is some other place on the bus to which a non-wheelchair user could move, I cannot see why a driver should not be expected to rephrase any polite request as a requirement, and, if that does not work and especially if the bus is ahead of schedule, why the driver should not be expected to consider whether there was any reason why the bus should not stop for a few minutes with a view to pressurising or shaming the recalcitrant non-wheelchair user to move.

Bus companies around the country will now be forced to re-evaluate their policies towards wheelchair-bound passengers, ensuring drivers apply more pressure to clear the designated disabled space.

Mr Paulley was initially awarded 5,500 damages by a judge at Leeds County Court, who found FirstGroup should have insisted that the mother move out of the way or be forced to get off the bus.

He also concluded that a sign saying please give up this space if needed for a wheelchair user was not forceful enough.

However, the decision was overturned by the appeal court, which found there needed to be a balance between the needs of wheelchair users and other vulnerable passengers, including parents with babies in buggies.

The Supreme Court found there could be circumstances where it was reasonable for a passenger to refuse to vacate the wheelchair slot. In these cases, Lord Neuberger said it would be unreasonable for the driver to apply any added pressure.

Lord Neuberger added that he was unenthusiastic about signs on buses being altered to say that a policy of everyone moving out of the way for wheelchair users would be enforced.

The Supreme Court also refused to reinstate the damages awarded to Mr Paulley.

The Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health, Penny Mordaunt, said: This is an important and welcome ruling by the Supreme Court. They have recognised the duty of transport providers to ensure that their disabled passengers are able to travel.

It is clear that it should not just be up to the disabled passenger to get a person to move out of the space, but the transport provider too.

I'll be talking to the Department for Transport about clarity, good practice & the powers of transport providers to ensure this ruling becomes a reality.

Being able to get around is vital to living independently and this is a huge step in the right direction.
Y oung people have expressed their anger over Theresa Mays Brexit strategy, a new study has found.

The poll, conducted by the New College of the Humanities, found that over 70 per cent of 18-34 year olds thought the Government should put all negotiating options on the table, before triggering Article 50 in March.

The study, which surveyed 1,000 young people, comes as Theresa May set out a Brexit strategy which means quitting the European customs union and single market.

Mrs May set out a twelve point plan for negotiating Brexit on Tuesday and said the deal would be put to a vote in both houses of Parliament.

But the study found that young people wanted more transparency and greater discussion surrounding Britains Brexit strategy.

The poll also found that 66 per cent of young people felt British and European, while 60 per cent said they were worried about Brexits economic fallout.

Almost 70 per cent said they believed the EU had strongly contributed to peace in Europe.

It is thought that more than 70 per cent of young voters chose to remain in the European Union in last years referendum.

A C Grayling, Professor and Master at New College of the Humanities, said: We know from our research that Brexit is a concern for students.

"They should know that NCH takes a strong view in underlining that the UK is and remains open to students from all backgrounds and nationalities, and that we take this pledge very seriously.
M exicos main tourist zone has been rocked by a second deadly shooting in two days after four people were killed by gunmen in Cancun.

Police last night said gunfire broke out at the state attorney generals office in the resort city that is a magnet for foreign tourists.

A witness said the gunmen also threw two explosive devices at a perimeter wall.

The attack sent tension in the region soaring just a day after a shooting at a music festival in nearby Playa del Carmen left three foreigners and two Mexicans dead.

A drugs feud is suspected to be behind the shooting at the Blue Parrot nightclub in the early hours of Monday.

That theory was strengthened by the appearance of banner along a roadside, signed by the Old School Zetas, part of the fragmented Zetas cartel.

A few hours after yesterdays shooting, hundreds of people fled Cancuns Plaza de Las Americas shopping centre after reports of gunfire inside, and soldiers swarmed into the mall. But this proved a false alarm, an official said.
C helsea Manning will walk free from jail in months after Barack Obama used one of his final acts as President to commute her sentence.

The former US military intelligence analyst behind the biggest breach of classified materials in US history, currently six years into a 35-year sentence, should now be released in May.

She has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since providing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.

Ms Manning, formerly known as US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman.

Held at the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, military prison, she accepted responsibility for leaking the material, and has said she was confronting gender dysphoria at the time of the leaks while deployed in Iraq.

Her attorney had argued her sentence exceeded international legal norms, and she has twice attempted suicide.

Ms Manning's sentence will now expire on May 17, the White House said.

It is one of 209 sentences being shortened, alongside 64 pardons by President Obama.
A former US Apprentice contestant who has accused Donald Trump of sexual assault has filed a defamation lawsuit against him.

Summer Zervos, 41, is suing the US President-elect, who takes office on Friday, for defamation after he dismissed her allegations as false.

In the final weeks in the race for the White House, Ms Zervos was one of a number of women to make claims about the Republican billionaire's behaviour.

She claims Mr Trump sexually assaulted her during a meeting about job opportunities at a Beverly Hills hotel.

The ex-reality television star said she would drop the legal action if MrTrump admitted she told the truth.

President-elect: Donald Trump / PA

At the time of the allegations, he dismissed them as false and ridiculous and vowed to accuse his accusers.

Ms Zervos told reporters on Tuesday: "Today, I filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for defamation. On November 11, 2016, I called on Mr Trump to retract his statements about me calling me a liar.

"I also called upon him to state that what I said about his behaviour towards me was true.

"More than two months have gone by and he has not issued that retraction.

"I wanted to give Mr Trump the opportunity to retract his false statements about me and the other women who came forward.

"Since Mr Trump has not issued a retraction as I requested, he has therefore left me with no alternative other than to sue him in order to vindicate my reputation.

"I want Mr Trump to know that I will still be willing to dismiss my case against him immediately for no monetary compensation if he would simply retract his false and defamatory statements about me, and acknowledge that I told the truth about him."

She was joined by her lawyer, Gloria Allred, who said Ms Zervoss allegations had passed a lie detector test.

There was no immediate personal response from Mr Trump, who in the past has used Twitter to rebut the accusations, or his team.
WAYNE, Pa., Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Judge Group, a leading global professional services firm, announced that its Healthcare division has recently expanded its footprint to the Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The Minnesota presence will allow Judge Healthcare to better serve its clients and to accommodate its rapid growth in the Midwest and West Coast markets.



Judge Healthcare, a division of The Judge Group, is a leading provider of talent solutions specifically tailored to organizations in the healthcare industry. Their services offer a comprehensive range of customized clinical workforce solutions. The addition of the Minnesota office brings the Judge Healthcare footprint to five locations across the country.

We are thrilled to be expanding Judge Healthcare to Minnesota, said Mick Angelichio, President, Judge Healthcare. The new location and the team of professionals we have working out of the office will help us leverage a deep pool of talent in the local area. The expansion of our national footprint will allow us to better service a number of key clients located in the Midwest and along the West Coast. We have seen a tremendous amount of growth over the past year, and we are excited to continue to provide best-in-class service to our current and future clients, with the help of the new Minnesota location.

The office is located at 7900 International Drive, Suite 300, Bloomington, MN 55425. The office can be reached at 952-851-7850. For more information about Judge Healthcare, visit https://www.judge.com/services/talent-solutions/healthcare.

About The Judge Group:

Working at the crossroads of people and transformative technologies, The Judge Group delivers innovative business solutions  powered by top talent  to help organizations reach their strategic goals and realize opportunities now and in the future.

The Judge Group is a leading professional services firm specializing in talent, technology, and learning solutions. Our services are successfully delivered through a network of more than 35 offices in the United States, Canada, China, and India. The Judge Group serves more than 40 Fortune 100 companies and is responsible for the placement of more than 4,500 professionals annually across a wide range of industries.

The Judge Group, headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, is located at 151 South Warner Road, Suite 100, Wayne, PA 19087. The corporate headquarters can be reached at 1-800-650-0035. To learn more, visit www.judge.com.
D onald Trump has claimed he "does not like using Twitter" but is forced to use the website in the fight against what he termed "fake news".

The President-elect was mocked by critics after he revealed in an interview he does not like using the social media website.

The billionaire businessman, who will be inaugurated into the White House this Friday, said in a Fox News interview: I dont like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing.

But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press. And it's my only way that I can counteract."

Victory: Trump during the Presidential election. / AP

The tycoon, 70, has posted over 34,000 tweets in total and has already tweeted more than 120 times this year already  an average of over six a day.

In the interview with the Fox and Friends programme, to air on Wednesday, Mr Trump will also reveal he will continue to use Twitter when he is president.

He has used the social media platform  where he has more than 20 million followers  to take on political rivals, Hollywood stars and media organisations.

Most recently, Mr Trump hit out at Congressman John Lewis via a series of tweets over Mr Lewis decision not to attend Mr Trumps inauguration.

He has also used the website to target the media, including BuzzFeed and CNN after a dossier containing unsubstantiated allegations of Mr Trumps past behaviour was published.

The President-elect has also shared details of presidential business - including politicians who he is thinking of hiring in his cabinet - on the social media site, as well as posting more personal tweets.

Civil rights leader Mr Lewis and around 50 other members of Congress have pledged to boycott Fridays inauguration.
T he Japanese government is telling people to leave work early and go shopping in an attempt to reduce deaths from over work and to boost the ailing economy.

The policy - known as Premium Friday - calls on employers to let their workers out at 3pm on the last Friday of every month to start the weekend early.

The government hopes the extra time will allow people to unwind from Japans long working week and to go shopping, stimulating Japans stagnant economy.

Influential business figures have backed the policy with the Japan Business Federation urging its 1,300 members to take part.

The trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, has also said he will not arrange meetings on Premium Friday afternoons.

Japan has some of the longest working hours in the world, with a quarter of employees working 50 hours or more every week, compared to one in eight in Britain.

The average Japanese worker also takes only half of their paid holidays due to a culture where taking time off is seen as an inconvenience to colleagues.

Around 200 people die every year from Karoshi or overwork and a period of economic downturn and job insecurity is only increasing work pressures in the country.

The Dai-ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo estimates that if most workers take advantage of Premium Friday it could boost the economy by 124 billion yen or 900 million every month.

But others question whether the policy will work in a culture where taking time off or leaving early is frowned upon.

Others suggest that workers will simply use the time to rest at home rather than go shopping or that they will simply shop on Fridays rather than Saturdays, providing no boost to the economy.
I n the past few months, frustration has been building in Brussels at the scraps of Brexit news floating over the Channel from Westminster.

If it wasnt wildly unrealistic statements about access to the single market, it was the complete silence on what kind of future relationship Britain wanted with the EU, leaving many Eurocrats grumbling about prolonged uncertainty.

Yesterday, some of those questions were finally answered, with Theresa May making clear that Britain would not seek to retain membership of the single market.

The problem for many however was that between the lines of Mrs Mays speech, they heard the same old have your cake and eat it policy, a phrase which sends Eurocrats eyeballs rolling in the backs of their heads as they redouble efforts to quash the metaphor once and for all.

Yet here it was again, in the form of Mrs May apparently seeking many of the benefits of EU membership without offering much in return.

[The] UKs plan seems a bit ambitious  trade as free as possible, full control on immigration, the Czech Republics Europe minister Tomas Prouza said on Twitter yesterday. Where is the give for all the take?

Guy Verhofstadt, the chief Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament, warned that the Prime Ministers statement creates also an illusion  an illusion that you can go out of the single market, that you can go out of customs union and that you can cherry pick, that you can still have a number of advantages, and I think that will not happen.

He added: We shall never accept a situation in which it is better to be outside the EU, outside the single market, than to be a member of the EU.

However, Mrs May found cheerleaders among the EUs growing populist movement, with Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-Right party the National Front, calling it a courageous speech respecting the will of British people.

More moderate EU politicians looking for some positives may also be relieved that negotiations will not revolve around picking apart the various components of the single market, a prospect which filled many in Brussels with dread.

But with Mrs Mays speech ending with a warning of how a punitive Brexit would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the EU, followed by a list of all the potential economic blowback, there is an awareness that it could get nasty, and a need for the 27 remaining members to close ranks.

United we stand, tweeted Finnish finance minister Petteri Orpo yesterday, divided we fall.
S pare a thought for the Davos delegates travelling to the World Economic Forum this week. Your typical example is in a state of confusion and crisis. Their world view is being challenged like never before, rejected by voters angry at a broken economic model and the price of globalisation.

Criticisms of Davos are old and tired: The WEF is a talking shop where nothing ever gets done but plenty of money is spent. Davos is an extravagant bun-fight of the vanities, where the haves gather to strike deals with the have-mores.

This year, these criticisms have taken on a new powerful force because of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. Both votes were driven, at least in part, by mass rejection of the establishment and its way of doing business.

Millions of people who never get near this Swiss mountain retreat have finally said enough is enough. They are tired of being promised jam tomorrow while bearing the brunt of job losses from globalisation and the pain of growing inequality. They did the electoral equivalent of giving them the finger.

Davos, and many of its delegates, embody what the world is railing against. WEF trumpets the presence of 3,000 leaders from government, business and civil society as if it was a guest list for an exclusive ball.

As executive chairman of WEF, Klaus Schwab is Davos Delegate Number One. He chided me for this way of thinking, saying its a very superficial view. Instead, Schwab believes what we should not do now is start the blame game, what we have to do is address the root causes. We have to work together in a constructive way.

Here I respectfully disagree. Davos Delegate (with some notable exceptions) is barely capable of looking at the root causes because that would require a fundamental rethink of the version of western capitalism rejected by Trump and Brexit supporters.

Schwab argues that viewing Davos through a transatlantic prism is parochial. True, a growing number of Davos delegates come from Asia and the developing world. But the reality is that theyll spend much of this week fretting about Trump and Europe because these issues can rock the global economy.

There are more than 400 sessions covering all the major issues, including the future of America and the effects of Brexit. But there is one panel missing from the WEF agenda - an admission that we are out of touch and we didnt see this coming. What WEF wont admit is that core Davos Delegates represent the very values being rejected at ballot boxes - and those same delegates failed to see that rejection coming.

The fact that President Xi Jinping of China is attending with a large delegation is intriguing, but equally this year several government heads are staying away. Its not cool to be seen at Davos in the current climate. How ironic that this most spectacular rejection of the status quo should be formalised in Trumps inauguration just as its inadvertent architects are gathering on the other side of the world.

Davos needs get back to basics, eschew the cocktail parties and focus on policies that make a difference to the 99%. To be fair, Schwab and WEF have been saying just such things, only few of the people who bankroll this event have been listening.

Now Davos Delegate is finding himself on the wrong side of history. If this years event does not bring meaningful discussions that resonate beyond the confines of the congress centre, then no one will miss it if Davos calls it a day.

Follow CNNs coverage of the WEF at www.cnn.com/davos
N ewspapers across Europe reacted to Theresa Mays Brexit speech with striking front pages mocking the British PM.

The Prime Minister revealed on Tuesday the UK will quit the single market but warned European leaders against punishing the UK, threatening no deal is better than a bad deal for Britain.

While some pro-Brexit UK newspapers ran with front pages welcoming Mrs Mays stance on leaving Europe, newspapers across the Channel had a less positive outlook.

German newspaper Die Welt ran with the mocking headline Little Britain: Prime Minister Theresa May leads the UK into isolation.

The front of Italys La Repubblica read: Brexit: London gets its wall, away from the EU and common market.

Others called the PMs stance rigid and inflexible, while others suggested likely repercussions for the rest of Europe.

Theresa May's Brexit speech - five key points

French newspaper Liberation ran with a front page suggesting Europe will now sink or swim in a climate which has seen Brexit and President-elect Mr Trump both voted in.

Italys Corriere della Sera splashed with Theresa Mays clear cut while Denmarks broadsheet Politiken ran the headline: Brits slam the door hard on EU.

Dnes, the Czech daily newspaper, said: Brexit according to May: no compromise.

Pound surges after Theresa May's Brexit speech

The Spanish newspaper El Pais does not top with Brexit, but mentions Mrs May's speech in the top right of the title page, calling her announcement her most important speech since coming to Downing Street.

It references the Prime Minister's announcement that Britain will leave the single market, adding that Mrs May is hoping for a hard Brexit subject to Parliament's vote.

A close-up of Mrs May's face set against a Union flag dominates the front of Spanish newspaper ABC.

Its headline translates to: "May threatens the EU with a commercial war."

It warns that Britain will create a tax haven if the rest of Europe "punishes" it during negotiations.
P olice in Florida have captured a fugitive alleged to have murdered his pregnant ex-girlfriend and a police officer after a nine-day manhunt ended at an abandoned house.

Markeith Loyd, 41, was carrying two guns and wearing body armour when a SWAT team swooped on the building last night.

Television images showed Loyd with a bloodied and bandaged face with police saying he resisted arrested before he was taken into custody.

Loyd is accused of shooting dead his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon, 24, and critically wounding her brother Ronald Stewart, 26, at their family home in Orlando on December 13.

Shot dead: Debra Clayton / AFP/Getty Images

The fried chicken shop worker is alleged to have shot dead police lieutenant Debra Clayton, 42, when she tried to arrest him on January 9. Norman Lewis, a deputy first class with the Orange County Sheriffs Office, was killed in an vehicle accident while searching for Loyd later that day.

Hundreds of officers have been involved in the manhunt with the authorities searching dozens of locations.

Orlando police chief John Mina denied rumours that the arrest was the result of an anonymous tip, saying that Loyd was captured by the dedication of his officers.

Theyve basically been living in their vehicles, using the bathroom in their vehicles, to try and do everything they could to bring justice for the Dixon family and for the Clayton family, said Mr Mina.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the arrest was bittersweet adding: I believe that our entire community is going to breathe a sigh of relief at this point. They will sleep better knowing tonight that... this maniac is off the streets.

Demings said Loyd would initially be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in relation to Ms Dixons death last month. Loyd will also face one count of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm related to the shooting of Mr Dixons brother and threats against other relatives.

Police arrested a former supervisor at the fried chicken restaurant where Loyd worked, an ex-girlfriend and a niece last week on charges of helping him in the weeks after Loyds ex-girlfriend was fatally shot.
T housands of British tourists in The Gambia are set to be flown home by Thomas Cook amid fears over political unrest.

The travel operator has announced it will bring all of its customers home from the tiny west African country after the Foreign Office changed its travel advice to warn against all but essential travel.

Some 985 package holiday customers will be flown home from Banjul airport over the next 48 hours, while another 2,500 flight-only costumers will be offered the "earliest possible flight home.

A Thomas Cook spokesman said: The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has this evening, 17th January, changed its advice on travel to Gambia to advise against all but essential travel. This is based upon the risk of unrest in the country as a result of the disputed presidential inauguration on 19th January.

Almost 1,000 package holiday customers will be flown home in the next 48 hours / PA

Thomas Cook has therefore implemented our contingency plans to bring all our UK customers home as soon as possible.

The company is also sending a special assistance team to help on the ground at the airport.

It comes as Gambian president Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency and appeared to refuse to hand over power to the president-elect Adama Barrow following Decembers election.

Gambia's President Al Hadji Yahya Jammeh has been in power for 22 years / REUTERS

After 22 years of leadership he was due to step down on January 18, but has since disputed the election results and said he wants them annulled instead.

The Foreign Office advice warns against all but essential travel to The Gambia due to the deteriorating political situation and potential military intervention following the Presidential elections on 1 December."

It adds: If youre currently in The Gambia you should leave by commercial means if you have no essential need to remain.

Mr Barrow, who was due to be inaugarated on Thursday, previously worked as a security guard at a London Argos store while studying in the capital.
V ladimir Putin has claimed Russian prostitutes as the best in the world - but dismissed claims Donald Trump spent time with some on a visit to Moscow.

The Russian President was addressing unsubstantiated allegations that Mr Trump met prostitutes in a hotel and that Russian officials took the opportunity to compile compromising material about him. Mr Trump has denied the allegations.

Mr Putin described the claims as complete nonsense and said people who report them are "worse than prostitutes".

He said: This is an adult man first of all and, apart from that, a man who for many years took part in organising beauty contests and has communicated with the worlds most beautiful women.

High praise: Vladimir Putin / Anna Sergeeva/Getty Images

I find it difficult to believe that he immediately headed off to the hotel to meet with our girls of reduced social responsibility.

President Putin then added: Although they are also the best in the world, obviously. But I doubt that Trump fell for it.

President-elect: Trump branded the claims 'fake news' / PA

The allegations were made public by former MI6 agent Christopher Steele who claims Russian security services hold lurid and incriminating material about Mr Trump.

The former agent also claims Moscow had links with the US President-elects campaign team.

Mr Trump has branded the allegations fake news and Mr Putin said: People who order such fakes [stories] that are now circulating against the President-elect fabricate them and use them in political struggle are worse than prostitutes.

They have no moral restrictions whatsoever.

Thousands to march on Trump's inauguration day

President-elect Trump is due do take office on Friday.
W ikileaks founder Julian Assange was today urged to honour his pledge and hand himself in after it was announced that US whistle-blower Chelsea Manning is to be freed.

President Barack Obama said Manning, 29, will be released in May after commuting her prison sentence from 35 years to seven.

The transgender army intelligence officer, born Bradley, leaked 700,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks and was jailed in 2013.

Mr Assange said last week he would leave Ecuadors embassy in London where he has been holed up for more than four years if the US President showed clemency to Manning.

Transgender: Manning was imprisoned in Kansas for leaking classified information to WikiLeaks / U.S. Army/AP

He has resisted facing sexual assault charges in Sweden, claiming he fears extradition to the US for espionage.

Lib-Dem leader Tim Farron today called on Mr Assange to give himself up, saying: Enough is enough, Julian Assange needs to now needs to come out. Wikileaks tweeted saying he will agree to US extradition if Manning were granted clemency. That, rightly, has happened.

Now Assange needs to live his words and top making taxpayers fork out millions while he hides in the embassy.

Waiting game: People wait in front of the Ecuadorian embassy in London. / AP

There was no sign of movement at the embassy today.

It came as Russia today said it would give US whistleblower Edward Snowden leave to remain in the country for another couple of years

Snowden, 33, a former National Security Agency contractor, has been living in Russia since August 2013 after fleeing America following his leaking of US intelligence secrets on phone and internet surveillance programmes.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, announced in a Facebook post this morning: Snowdens residency in Russia has just been extended by another couple of years.

Following the Manning announcement, Mr Snowden tweeted: Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama.

However there was no indication Mr Obama will use his final days to pardon Snowden and end his exile as his supporters have called for.
I f you've ever meticulously cleansed your face only to find your towel smeared with make-up as soon as you've dried it, you may be wondering where you're going wrong.

With an influx of electric cleansing brushes now on the market, it might be time to up your game and revolutionise your beauty regime.

Much like electric toothbrushes , these facial cleansers have the power to clean deeper than most manual efforts, allowing for a better cleanse that will remove even the most long-lasting make-up.

Cosmetic doctor and skin care specialist Dr Ross Perry, who runs the Cosmedics Skin Clinics, explains: "Electric brush cleansers go a step further than simple washing, providing more of an exfoliating function for a more thorough cleanse. They can be a great help to those who struggle with build-up of oil or work in the city, where grime and pollution can linger on the skin."

Not only this, but facial cleansing brushes will help to reduce breakouts, the appearance of fine lines and leave you with clearer, brighter and more radiant skin.

For your fast track to envy-inducing skin, we've found the best cleansing brushes that will have you polished, buffed and primped in no time.

FOREO LUNA 2

Once you add the Foreo cleansing brush to your beauty routine, you won't know how you lived without it. Following the widely popular first model, which was the size of a macaroon, the LUNA 2 is handy device that holds up to seven months worth of charge in only one power-up.

The device works to minimise appearances of blemishes and smoothing fine lines, resulting in firmer skin that looks refreshed and revived. The Foreo Luna 2 uses bursts of T-sonic pulses to clean and clear clogged pores with devices specifically created for different skin types, including Sensitive, Normal, Combination and Oily that have a range of thicker or thinner touch-points for lighter or stronger cleansing. The device also has a two-year warranty and a 10-year guarantee.

169 | Space NK | Buy it now

BeGlow TIA All-in-One Sonic Skin Care System

BeGlow TIA has a two ends that work to cleanse and tone both simultaneously and at once. The innovative gadget, on the one side, uses ultra-gentle silicone bristles that oscillate upon contact on the skin to remove make-up and impurities more effectively than just using your hands. On the other, the titanium plate uses high frequency pulses to massage skin and boost micro-circulation, encouraging oxygen and nutrients to penetrate more effectively. The heads at each end are removable for ease in cleaning as well as replacing when needed.

To use the device, wet your face and apply cleanser. Press the first button for cleansing and the second to activate the plate. Pressing both the buttons together for three seconds activates another handy feature of the gadget, which is lifting. Hold both ends of the TIA on you face to firm and tone skin. The device is available in pink, white and black.

199 | Look Fantastic | Buy it now

Darphin Facial Sonic Expert

This gadget features two heads: a soft brush for a deep clean and a steel massager to give your moisturiser  and facial muscles  a lift. The Darphin works by removing impurities that age skin while boosting the natural cellular process. This leaves your skin feeling plumper and smoother by combatting the appearance of fine lines, pores and ageing.

125 | Space NK | Buy it now

Braun FaceSpa Pro

Get ready to supercharge your beauty routine with the Braun facial cleanser that works six times more effectively than cleansing by hand. Approved by dermatologists, the FaceSpa Pro has multiple heads to cleanse, tone and even epilate, removing facial hairs quicker and more efficiently than tweezers.

The cleansing brush has different head types for exfoliating or heads for more sensitive skin, while always ensuring a deep pore cleanse. The toning head has microvibrations with different modes that encourages the product to penetrate more than just the surface of skin. Whats more, this innovative device has a smart timer to tell you when its time to change the treatment area.

74.67 | Amazon | Buy it now

Bliss Pore-fector

This sonic tool, used in Blisss signature facial, works by stimulating skin to loosen impurities for a clean and clear complexion. The device extracts impurities and smooths skin through sonic waves that extract dirt that gets clogged in your pores in order to promote a radiant appearance. The gadget is offered alongside a facial toner and two purifying mask samples from the beauty label.

140 | Look Fantastic | Buy it now

Dry hair repair products - in pictures 1 /7 Dry hair repair products - in pictures Browse our pick of the best dry hair repair products... Getty Images Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment This weekly treatment from plant-based hair brand, Aveda, uses quinoa protein to restore straw-like ends that have been damaged from colour and heat styling. Smooth on to washed hair from roots to ends and leave on for 2-5 minutes before rinsing. 29.50, Look Fantastic, Buy it now Kerastase Masque Therapiste Kerastase, maker of the worlds first hair masque, has created a butter-textured mask that works wonders on brittle and weakened tresses. Keratin promotes strength and elasticity, while Ceramides act as a protective layer to help prevent further damage. Not only does it make split ends appear less visible, but it also smells dreamy. 19.40, Feel Unique, Buy it now Percy & Reed Totally TLC Hydrating Mask Need a rescue treatment that will improve your hairs condition after just one use? Deeply hydrating, this indulgent mask is enriched with coconut oil, mango oil and marshmallow to fight frizz and also comes with a heat-activating cap designed by Jessica May Underwood. Once youve worked the product throughout your hair, stick the bonnet on to retain heat and then rinse after just 2-3 minutes. 20, Percy & Reed, Buy it now Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Remedy Masque If continuous colouring has made your mane lose its shine and smoothness, then try this extremely nourishing masque infused with Lotus and Ceramide. The rich blend solidifies and strengthens the hair fibre, while leaving your locks soft to the touch. Use once a week to keep hair feeling strong and flexible. 29.60, Look Fantastic, Buy it now Ojon Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy This versatile treatment has been formed with a blend of natural oils from Tahiti and Africa. Just a small amount instantly makes dull hair more manageable and protects it against heat damage. Ideal for summer and a great alternative for those who arent keen on Moroccan oils. 30, Escentual, Buy it now Alchemy Oils Amla Hair Remedy Coconut, avocado and Argan oils combine to make this potent remedy. Smooth a few drops through hair before drying or lather on copiously as a leave-in mask: the oils work together to cleanse, fight premature greying and deliver growth and shine. With a hint of lemon, they smell great too. 27, Alchemy Oils, Buy it now

Magnitone The Full Monty Vibra-Sonic 3-in-1

More than just a face-saver, this multitasker boasts a cleansing brush, exfoliating body head and a pedi-buff foot file in one. With a pulselift toning mode and pulsing oscillations, both of which energise skin by boosting micro-circulation, this device will be sure to boost your beauty routine, leaving you feeling fresher and more radiant than with traditional cleansing methods.

129.99 | Argos | Buy it now

bareMinerals Skinsorials Double Cleansing Brush

The bareMinerals cleansing brush uses soft, synthetic fibres to cleanse skin. Wet the brush with warm water and massage onto skin in a circular motion. This will boost your skincare routine by encouraging cell renewal, invigorating skin and removing dead skin cells, thereby leaving you looking radiant and revitalised.

13.60 | Escentual | Buy it now

Shiseido The Skincare Cleansing Massage Brush

Enhance the benefits of foaming cleansers with the help of the Shiseido cleansing brush that works to cleanse, exfoliate and massage skin. The device stimulates your skin with finely-taped silk bristles that are soft but effective. Apply your cleanser and use the damp brush head over your face to massage it and encourage more lather.

26 | Escentual | Buy it now

Spin for Perfect Skin

This tool allows you to switch heads depending on your skins needs. For exfoliation, pore minimising and also buffing, this gadget has all bases covered.

22.61 | Vanity Planet | Buy it now

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GCP Applied Technologies Inc. (NYSE:GCP) today announced that its 2017 annual meeting of stockholders will be held on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at the AC Hotel Cambridge, 10 Acorn Park Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 8, 2017 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting.



About GCP Applied Technologies

GCP Applied Technologies is a leading global provider of products and technology solutions for customers in the specialty construction chemicals, specialty building materials, and packaging sealants and coating industries. Our products help improve the performance of our customers products, increase productivity in their application or manufacturing processes, and meet the increasing regulatory requirements impacting their industry. GCP has approximately 3,000 employees on six continents, and serves customers in more than 110 countries. More information is available at www.gcpat.com.
A ctor Dev Patel has said that the first time he saw his father cry was on a family trip to the cinema to see Titanic.

The Slumdog Millionaire and Lion star, 26, added that the amorous scene in the 1997 film in which Kate Winslets character Rose runs her hand down the window of a steamed-up car also made a big impression.

Asked by ES Magazine about his first London memory, Patel, who grew up in Rayners Lane, said:

Going with the entire Patel family  all the uncles and aunties, there were about 20 of us  down to the cinema in Harrow to watch Titanic.

Lion - trailer

"It was the first time I saw my dad cry. I guess the old hand on the glass scene also adds to the memory. It was a coming-of-age moment.

The actor, who lives in Los Angeles, said if he was mayor of London for 24 hours he would give everyone: Free Nandos  a dispensary at every street corner.

His favourite London date would be to wander around Portobello Roads antiques market and the building he would most like to be locked in overnight is 30 St Mary Axe  the Gherkin.
K im Kardashian and sister Kendall Jenner have both landed roles in the forthcoming Oceans Eight film.

The reality star sisters might not be known for their acting skills, but it seems that they have been lined up to make an appearance in the all-female sequel.

Kardashian, 36, and her 21-year-old model sister were spotted shooting scenes for the forthcoming film while in New York on Monday, joining an all-star cast including Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett.

According to reports, the pair will appear in scenes set at a fictional Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where a jewel heist will take place.

Kim Kardashian robbers 'saw jewels' in her social media posts

The scenes have been filmed just a few months after Kardashian had $10 million worth of jewellery stolen while in Paris.

The TV star was bound, gagged and held at gunpoint at her hotel room during Paris Fashion Week last year after a gang forced their way past the concierge.

Kim Kardashian at Paris Fashion Week 2017 1 /16 Kim Kardashian at Paris Fashion Week 2017 Raid terror: Kim Kardashian at a Paris fashion week show shortly before she was held up Rex Kim Kardashian attends the Balmain show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2017 Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Kim Kardashian in the front row at Balenciaga show, Spring Summer 2017, Paris Fashion Week, France Rex Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble attend the Off-white 2017 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show AFP/Getty Images Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Riccardo Tisci and Kim Kardashian at Givenchy show, Spring Summer 2017, Paris Fashion Week Rex Kim Kardashian at Balmain show, after party, Spring Summer 2017, Paris Fashion Week Rex Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian are seen looking amazing as they step out to dinner at Alaia in Paris Splash News Kim Kardashian and Kanye West out and about in Paris Rex Kim Kardashian out and about in Paris Rex Kanye West and Kim Kardashian attend the Off-white 2017 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show AFP/Getty Images Kim Kardashian in the front row at Balenciaga show, Spring Summer 2017, Paris Fashion Week, France Swan Gallet/WWD/Rex Kim Kardashian attends the Givenchy show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2017 Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Rihanna is also set for a role in the film, alongside Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Sarah Paulson.

Vogue editor Anna Wintour is also rumoured to be making a cameo, as is fashion designer Zac Posen and chat show host James Corden.

While Brad Pitt and George Clooney, who starred in Oceans Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen, will not appear, Matt Damon is expected to reprise his role.

Oceans Eight is slated for release in June 2018.
M odel and actress Anya Taylor-Joy says she was so badly bullied at her west London school that she fled to New York as a teenager to escape.

The rising star, now 20, was born in Miami then lived in Argentina until she was six. She said she struggled to be accepted after moving to Britain.

When I was younger I didnt really feel like I fit in anywhere, she said.

I was too English to be Argentine, too Argentine to be English, too American to be anything.

Taylor-Joy in Split with James McAvoy / Supplied by LMK

The star said she had a tough time in the classroom.

The kids just didnt understand me in any shape or form, and I was really badly bullied, she said. I used to get locked in lockers, you know, barred from classrooms, not invited to things. It wasnt pleasant.

Taylor-Joy said she spent a lot of her time in school crying in bathrooms.

Star in the making: Anya Taylor-Joy in ES Magazine / Piczo

Were social creatures and we dont do well when were not accepted, or when we feel like we dont belong anywhere, she said.

She said her decision to move to New York at 14  then give up school two years later to act  terrified her family.

Split Exclusive Interview With M. Night Shyamalan & Anya Taylor-Joy

But at 17 she got her big break, when she was spotted by a modelling scout as she walked her dog outside Harrods, and she is now in the running for the EE Bafta Rising Star Award.

She faces competition from other up-and-coming talent including Ruth Negga and Tom Holland.

Past winners include James McAvoy, with whom Taylor-Joy is starring in her latest project, M Night Shyamalans Split.

She plays an abused woman in the film, a role which she found emotionally difficult.

She said: My characters are incredibly real for me and I was just in so much pain for her.

No one should ever have to endure that, and I dont know where people get off thinking that they own other womens bodies, because you are the only owner of your body and no one is allowed to touch you without your consent.
The British rock band, who had been set to kick off their tour in Amsterdam on January 31, will now hit the road in June.

Announced by label Dirty Hit Records on Wednesday, the new tour will feature fewer dates with original tickets being honoured wherever possible.

The 1975, fronted by Matt Healy, revealed that they were postponing their European tour just weeks before they were due to hit the road due to unforeseen circumstances.

Due to unforeseen circumstances @the1975 will be postponing their European tour. Rescheduled dates will be announced in the next 48 hours, Dirty Hit records tweeted on Monday afternoon.

Replying to one follower, the label confirmed that everyone in the band is well.

The 1975 beat Coldplay and Bowie to Top Album at Q awards

Everyone's ok thank you - we'll announce new shows this week, they wrote.

The European leg of the bands tour had been due to kick off on January 31st in Amsterdam, with February dates in cities including Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Prague and Vienna.

Earlier this month, frontman Matt Healy revealed that the band were also set to play an intimate gig in London.

Were gonna play a show for 500 people in a small venue in London next month, Healy wrote on Twitter.

The band are still set to perform at the Brit Awards in London on February 22.


BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:HST) today announced the promotion of Nathan S. Tyrrell to executive vice president, investments and Bret D.S. McLeod to senior vice president, corporate strategy and investor relations. In addition, Sourav Ghosh, senior vice president, has been appointed the head of the newly formed enterprise analytics group.



Mr. Tyrrell, who joined the company in 2005, has served as managing director, investments for the East and South since 2015. Prior to that, he was senior vice president and treasurer. In his new role, Mr. Tyrrell will assume responsibility for all investment activity of the Company and continue to report to the chief executive officer.

Mr. McLeod served most recently as vice president and assistant treasurer, spearheading strategic planning efforts and leading various special projects and capital market transactions. He joined the company in 2004 and has held positions in strategy, finance, investments and investor relations. In his new role, Mr. McLeod will lead the corporate strategy and investor relations teams and continue to report to the chief financial officer.

Mr. Ghosh has worked as senior vice president, global business intelligence since 2015 and joined the company in 2009. In his new role, he will report directly to the chief financial officer and be responsible for all analytic functions, including feasibility and portfolio analysis, business intelligence, revenue management, corporate financial planning and capital expenditure analysis, as well as innovations and initiatives for the companys various departments and investment platforms. Mr. Ghoshs new department will continue to enhance Hosts industry leading asset management and real estate value maximization.

"We are pleased to announce the promotions of these three talented executives, said James F. Risoleo, president and chief executive officer. Nate brings significant experience and leadership to our investments team and this is a natural expansion of his current role. I look forward to working closely with him going forward.

We are very excited that Bret will lead corporate strategy and investor relations, as his energy and breadth of experience at Host will be strong assets to both areas, said Gregory J. Larson, executive vice president and chief financial officer. We are also thrilled to name Sourav as head of our new enterprise analytics department. As a key member of our asset management team, Sourav has proven invaluable in building our business intelligence platform and we expect the same success with this new department.

About Host Hotels & Resorts

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is an S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company and is the largest lodging real estate investment trust and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. The Company currently owns 89 properties in the United States and 7 properties internationally totaling approximately 54,000 rooms. The Company also holds non-controlling interests in six joint ventures, including one in Europe that owns 10 hotels with approximately 3,900 rooms and one in Asia that has interests in five hotels in India. Guided by a disciplined approach to capital allocation and aggressive asset management, the Company partners with premium brands such as Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Westin, Sheraton, W, St. Regis, Le Meridien, The Luxury Collection, Hyatt, Fairmont, Hilton, Swissotel, ibis, Pullman, and Novotel as well as independent brands in the operation of properties in over 50 major markets worldwide. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.hosthotels.com.

*This press release contains registered trademarks that are the exclusive property of their respective owners. None of the owners of these trademarks has any responsibility or liability for any information contained in this press release.
BELGRADE, Mont., Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xtant Medical Holdings, Inc. (NYSE MKT:XTNT), a leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of orthopedic products for domestic and international markets, today has announced the closing of a registered direct offering conducted without an underwriter or placement agent (the "Offering"). The Offering closed on January 17, 2017 and was with certain holders of its convertible promissory notes (Indenture Notes) to purchase a total of 843,289 shares of its common stock. The common stock was sold at a negotiated price of $0.5692 per share.



All of the proceeds of the Offering were applied to set off interest owed by Xtant under certain of the Indenture Notes to the purchasers of the common stock. The Company was required to make interest payments on January 15, 2017 (which were due on January 17, 2017, the immediately following business day), to the holders of the Indenture Notes, aggregating $2,040,000, of which $480,000 were satisfied by the Offering. All expenses of the Offering will be paid by the Company from cash on hand.

If you have questions about the Offering, please contact Xtant Investor Relations by calling (877) 889-1972 or writing to investorrelations@cg.capital.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy shares of common stock, nor shall there be any sale of common stock in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Xtant Medical Holdings

Xtant Medical Holdings, Inc. (NYSE MKT:XTNT) develops, manufactures and markets class-leading regenerative medicine products and medical devices for domestic and international markets. Xtant products serve the specialized needs of orthopedic and neurological surgeons, including orthobiologics for the promotion of bone healing, implants and instrumentation for the treatment of spinal disease, tissue grafts for the treatment of orthopedic disorders, and biologics to promote healing following cranial, and foot and ankle surgeries. With core competencies in both biologic and non-biologic surgical technologies, Xtant can leverage its resources to successfully compete in global neurological and orthopedic surgery markets. For further information, please visit www.xtantmedical.com.

Important Cautions Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain disclosures that may be deemed forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "continue," "efforts," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "forecasts," "strategy," "will," "goal," "target," "prospects," "potential," "optimistic," "confident," "likely," "probable" or similar expressions or the negative thereof.

Statements of historical fact also may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. We caution that these statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others: our ability to integrate the acquisition of X-spine Systems, Inc. and any other business combinations or acquisitions successfully; our ability to remain listed on the NYSE MKT; our ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms; our ability to increase revenue; our ability to comply with the covenants in our credit facility; our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to fund our operations; the ability of our sales force to achieve expected results; our ability to remain competitive; government regulations; our ability to innovate and develop new products; our ability to obtain donor cadavers for our products; our ability to engage and retain qualified technical personnel and members of our management team; the availability of our facilities; government and third-party coverage and reimbursement for our products; our ability to obtain regulatory approvals; our ability to successfully integrate recent and future business combinations or acquisitions; our ability to use our net operating loss carry-forwards to offset future taxable income; our ability to deduct all or a portion of the interest payments on the notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes; our ability to service our debt; product liability claims and other litigation to which we may be subjected; product recalls and defects; timing and results of clinical studies; our ability to obtain and protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights; infringement and ownership of intellectual property; our ability to remain accredited with the American Association of Tissue Banks; influence by our management; our ability to pay dividends; our ability to issue preferred stock; and other factors.

Additional risk factors are listed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading "Risk Factors." You should carefully consider the trends, risks and uncertainties described in this document, the Form 10-K and other reports filed with or furnished to the SEC before making any investment decision with respect to our securities. If any of these trends, risks or uncertainties actually occurs or continues, our business, financial condition or operating results could be materially adversely affected, the trading prices of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
MELBOURNE, Australia and NANTES, France, Jan. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) is pleased to announce the completion of a product collaboration and purchase option agreement with Atlab Pharma SAS (Atlab). Under the terms of the agreement, Telix will finance the manufacturing and clinical development of the huJ591 monoclonal antibody (mAb) radiolabelled with 177Lu (Lutetium) and 211At (Astatine), both promising theranostic products for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. The huJ591 mAb was originally developed by Dr. Neil Bander at the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences (New York, NY) and targets Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA), a well-validated target in prostate cancer.



The parties will collaborate to manufacture clinical material and work together to execute a multi-centre Phase IIb trial for the treatment of men with metastatic prostate cancer, with and without end-stage chemotherapy (standard care). In financing development, Telix also obtains an exclusive option to acquire Atlab under pre-agreed terms. The financial terms of the option exercise are not publicly disclosed at this time.

CEO Chris Behrenbruch stated, PSMA targeting radiopharmaceuticals have shown great promise in both the diagnostic and therapeutic setting, dramatically increasing the interest in targeted radionuclide therapy by mainstream biopharma. The 177Lu-huJ591 program is the most clinically advanced PSMA program and has extensive patient experience, including in conjunction with anti-androgens and chemotherapy. We are very pleased to be working with Atlab to add this very promising program to Telixs development pipeline.

Atlab President, Dr. Jean-Marc Le Doussal commented, As we learn more about the different strategies to deliver PSMA-targeting radiopharmaceuticals in the clinic, the advantages of antibody-directed approaches have become increasingly apparent. We are pleased to be working with the experienced team at Telix to further progress this very promising program.

Co-Founder and Chief Medical Adviser to Atlab, Professor Jean-Francois Chatal added, Radioimmunotherapy is finally starting to hit its stride and garner the interest it deserves. In the clinic, we have seen targeted radionuclide therapy deliver impressive treatment responses, even in late stage patients. We are especially keen to use programs like 177Lu-huJ591 in conjunction with other immuno-oncology agents that have generally demonstrated lackluster performance in the mCRPC setting. Professor Chatal will also join Telixs scientific advisory board.

About Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)

PSMA is a cell surface antigen that has relatively little normal expression in normal tissues and represents a validated and highly promising target for a range of therapeutic strategies, especially radiopharmaceuticals. PSMA expression has been detected in a limited range of normal tissues including benign prostatic epithelium, renal proximal tubule, pancreas, small bowel and brain (a subset of astrocytes). However, these normal sites express PSMA at levels 23 orders of magnitude lower than that observed in prostate cancer.1

Antibody-directed cytotoxicity (whether from conjugated radiation or other therapeutic payloads) offers several advantages over small molecule or peptide-based delivery approaches. Normal tissue PSMA sites are highly polarized to the apical/luminal aspect of the benign prostatic glands, renal tubules and small bowel, basement membrane and epithelial tight junctions, and as such are effectively inaccessible to circulating mAbs. PSMA expression by astrocytes is similarly sequestered behind the blood-brain barrier. Consequently, antibodies to PSMA are functionally tumor-specific, whereas small molecule PSMA ligands excreted via the renal tubular lumen are not. Small molecule and peptide therapies targeting PSMA, with various isotopes, have demonstrated serious off-target effects, such as pancreatitis, nephrotoxicity and permanent salivary gland ablation. These considerations are particularly important for developing PSMA-targeting agents with high-energy nuclides such as alpha-particle emitters.

About the huJ591 Monoclonal Antibody (mAb)

The huJ591 (humanized) mAb is the most clinically-advanced anti-PSMA antibody, with several hundred patient doses for both imaging and therapy, both as a naked antibody and with a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic payloads. Over 160 patients have been dosed with 177Lu-huJ591 at different dosing levels, and in combination with other standard care therapies in the metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) setting. In over a dozen clinical trials, including with therapeutic radioimmunoconjugate forms, huJ591 has shown excellent immunogenicity, safety and tolerability, including with repeat dosing.

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) is a clinical-stage biopharamaceutical company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Telix is developing an advanced portfolio of clinical-stage products that address significant unmet medical need in oncology, particularly renal, prostate and brain (glioblastoma) cancer. Telixs pipeline consists of theranostic radiopharmaceuticals, agents that can be used both diagnostically (via PET imaging) and therapeutically to patient benefit. Telix is an unlisted public company. For more information go to www.telixpharma.com.

About Atlab Pharma SAS

ATLAB Pharma SAS is a privately-owned biotechnology company headquartered in Nantes, France. ATLAB is developing a pipeline of innovative anti-cancer radiopharmaceuticals based on monoclonal antibodies coupled to the beta-emitting radioisotope Lutetium-177 and to the alpha-emitting radioisotope Astatine-211.

1 Holland et. al. J Nucl Med. 2010 August ; 51(8): 12931300




LINCOLN  A line spanning nearly 400 years connects Italian explorer Christopher Columbus to Chief Standing Bear of the Ponca Tribe.

When Columbus discovered the New World in 1492, he touched off European colonization that resulted in centuries of displacement of indigenous peoples. In 1879, Standing Bear fought his own removal in an Omaha courtroom, resulting in a landmark decision that recognized Native Americans as people under the law.

Now a state senator from Lincoln wants to replace Columbus Day with an official state holiday honoring Standing Bear and other leaders from Nebraskas four American Indian tribes. The bill also could bring a national conflict over Columbus  a hero to some, a villain to others  to the floor of the Nebraska Legislature.

We dont have a day honoring our first people, said State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks. Truly, Standing Bear is our Martin Luther King.

Ending recognition of the Italian voyager strikes George Matuella of Omaha as act of revisionist history. Matuella, an officer with the Nebraska chapter of the Sons of Italy, said he understands that Columbus has a mixed legacy, but said he remains an important figure in world history and a source of pride for Italian-Americans.

Let them find their own day. We have ours, he said. Why do they want to rewrite history?

The bill would make Chief Standing Bear and Indigenous Leaders Day the official state holiday celebrated on the second Monday of October. A multipartisan list of seven senators have co-sponsored Legislative Bill 485, which was introduced Tuesday.

Pansing Brooks said she has been thinking of sponsoring the bill for the past couple of years. She approached leaders of the Ponca, Omaha, Winnebago and Santee Sioux tribes in Nebraska to get their input.

As a result, the language of the bill lists the names of Chief Blackbird of the Omaha, Chief Little Priest of the Winnebago and Chief Big Eagle of the Santee.

As a lawyer, Pansing Brooks said she feels an affinity for Standing Bear, whose historic legal struggle took place in Nebraska but holds universal significance as a symbol of equality under the law.

In the late 1870s, the Ponca, a tribe at peace with the United States government, were nonetheless forced to march from their ancestral homeland along the Niobrara River to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. The march became their trail of tears.

In January 1879, Standing Bears 16-year-old son, Bear Shield, died in Oklahoma. The boys dying request was to be buried in his Nebraska homeland.

Standing Bear and 29 others left Indian Territory with the boys remains. The fathers subsequent arrest and trial made civil rights history when a federal judge in Omaha ruled that American Indians were people within the meaning of the law.

Judi gaiashkibos, director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, said Tuesday that it would be appropriate if the Legislature passed the bill during Nebraskas 150th year of statehood.

I think this is a good time to celebrate the first people during the sesquicentennial and honor them in this way, she said.

Pansing Brooks pointed out that South Dakota replaced Columbus Day with Native American Day in 1989, while Hawaii calls it Discovery Day. Last year, Lincoln changed the holiday to Indigenous Peoples Day, a name adopted by some other cities.

Since it was declared a federal holiday in 1937, Columbus Day has honored the exploits of the 15th Century explorer who came across the Americas in a quest to find a westward passage to Asia. Italian-Americans say he embodies courage and tenacity.

Terry Bolamperti, president of the American Italian Heritage Society of Omaha, said he appreciates the significance of Standing Bears story. But he doesnt think Nebraska needs to honor one man at the expense of the other.

I have nothing but praise for Standing Bear, he said. But Columbus did a lot of great things. He took a chance. He started the New World.

Senators who signed on as co-sponsors are Tom Brewer of Gordon, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe; John McCollister and Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha; Laura Ebke of Crete; Joni Albrecht of Thurston; Adam Morfeld of Lincoln; and Paul Schumacher of Columbus. They represent three political affiliations: Republican, Democrat and Libertarian.
With one hand holding a bottle of champagne and the other an oversized certificate declaring him the winner of $1 million from Publishers Clearing House, Bruce Saunders stood on the front porch of his western Davie County Monday and rattled off a list of things he plans spend his spend money on  medical bills, fixing his lawnmower and helping family members.
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Bezzerk wrote:

GMATNinja Could you please help me break down and understand the premise in this question?

Quote:

Defense Department analysts worry that the ability of the United States to wage a prolonged war would be seriously endangered if the machine-tool manufacturing base shrinks further. Before the Defense Department publicly connected this security issue with the import quota issue, however, the machine-tool industry raised the national security issue in its petition for import quotas.

in the past

1. the industry shrank

2. the Defense Department became worried

3. the Defense Department raised the import quota issue

before

the industry raised the national security issue (presumably the shrinking of the industry)

the industry petitioned for import quotas

why

Quote:

(A) When the aircraft industries retooled, they provided a large amount of work for tool builders.

specifically

Quote:

(B) The Defense Department is only marginally concerned with the effects of foreign competition on the machine-tool industry.

job

Quote:

(C) The machine-tool industry encountered difficulty in obtaining governmental protection against imports on grounds other than defense.

Quote:

(D) A few weapons important for defense consist of parts that do not require extensive machining.

Quote:

(E) Several federal government programs have been designed which will enable domestic machine-tool manufacturing firms to compete successfully with foreign toolmakers.

I'm not sure if this is why you're struggling with this question, but the chronology in the passage is a little bit funky. So let's start by breaking down the chronology.In the first sentence we know that the Defense Department is worried because the machine-tool manufacturing base (that's a mouthful -- we'll call it the "industry" from here on out) has shrunk. The beginning of the second sentence implies that the Defense Department has brought up the import quota issue because of the stuff in the first sentence. This gives us the following chronology so far:So far, so good. The second half of the second sentence tells us that the industry did two thingsthe Defense Department raised the import quota issue (#3 above):Now that we have that timeline clear, hopefully it'll be easier to answer the question ofthe industry raised the national security issue!So, which answer choice contributes most to an explanation of the machine-tool industry raising this issue?Making sure that there are lots of jobs for tool builders is great, but does it help us understand why the industry raised the national security issue? Not really. This answer choice helps us understand why the industry might be seeking help from the government, but it doesn't help us understand why the industryraised the national security issue. So we can eliminate answer choice (A).If the Defense Department isn't particularly concerned with the effects of foreign competition on the industry, it would be odd for the industry to be particularly concerned with the national security effects. After all, it is itof the Defense Department to be concerned with national security issues. So this doesn't help explain why the industry is raising the issue. We can eliminate answer choice (B).The industry is petitioning for an import quota. It isn't hard to imagine why: if there's an import quota then there are fewer foreigner competitors that the industry has to compete with at home. Answer choice (C) implies that they unsuccessfully tried to petition for import quotas in the past on the basis of some other argument than national security. The argument itself implies the government became more interested in the national security issue once the industry raised the issue - the Defense Department started paying attention! So answer choice (C) does a pretty good job of explaining why the industry raised the national security issue: other attempts to get governmental protection had failed! We'll leave answer choice (C) in.Answer choice (D) would downplay the industry's national security argument. If there are weapons that don't require machining, then it isn't as big of a deal if the domestic industry continues to shrink. So this doesn't help explain why the industry raised the national security issue and we can eliminate answer choice (D).If there are several programs that have been designed to help the industry, then this downplays the need for the industry's national security argument since they're already being helped by the government. So we can eliminate answer choice (E).That leaves us with answer choice (C) as the only answer that helps explain why the industry raised the national security issue.I hope that helps!_________________
President Klaus Iohannis told the Ministers on Wednesday, in the opening of Government meeting that he chairs, that "there are two elephants in the room" - the pardon ordinance and that on amending the criminal codes.

"You know the story of an elephant in the room, but it is invisible. There are two elephants - the pardon ordinance and that on amending the criminal codes. Obviously that we have also talked about these with Mr Prime Minister earlier in the morning, but he told me that the discussion had already taken place with some colleagues of the Government and these two aspects regarding the pardon ordinance and that on amending the criminal codes will not be put on the additional agenda", Iohannis stated.

He has specified that the Prime Minister made the commitment for these two normative acts not to be tucked "over night" in none of the Government meetings.

"He made (Prime Minister - e.n.) the commitment for these two normative acts not to be tucked "over night" in none of the Government meetings, but immediately after the documents will be clarified, obviously, under the leadership of the Justice Minister, Mrs Interior Minister, and Mrs Minister delegate for European Affairs to be placed in transparency, namely clearer, to be handed for consultation to all the entities provided by the law: the Superior Council of Magistracy, professional organizations, judges organizations, and, of course, the public opinion", the President stated.

According to him, it is "mandatory" that these procedures be respected.

"Before arriving to the Government, Mr Prime Minister has analyzed with maximum responsibility these matters and so it was possible that in 20 minutes or as long as we sat together to reach a consensus, because together and, obviously, all the members of the Government want to consolidate the rule of law and then an important part is observing the norms and, not the least, respecting Romanians and the civil society which, all of us, I ensure you, are very interested about these cases", the head of state added.

agerpres.
bb wrote:

Congrats on your admits! Great job.

It is all about where you want to live/work after you graduate - US, Europe, or India. If you are planning to go back to India after Tepper or even Fuqua, it seems somewhat a waste of a year of life, money, and transitioning back and forth, but if you want to work in the US, ISB won't help no mater how fast, cheap, or convenient it may be. You will have to go to a US School, so it is more than just what you outlined.



P.S. I hope you won't pass out at 31. You are still young!

Thanks guys for all the suggestions and opinions.bb,Firstly, I'm so honored that you replied to my post. Thanks a ton..gmatclub is absolutely brilliantComing to my concern, how does it matter where "I" want to live? For sure I want to live in US, I'm absolutely clear about that. But the point is "Can I?". H1B has a 50-50 chance of making it and things will only get worse in future (going by the trends and recent developments). Even if I don't want to, I may "have to" come back to India after my MBA or after my training visa expires. I wonder how will I feel that day when my fellow colleagues who choose ISB would have already had there first promotionsbkhu,I see you come from manufacturing background as well. Would you mind sharing the career transition you're planning to make?
All Peabody Energy employees may own a piece of the company when it emerges from bankruptcy.

The coal company said Monday that it intended to issue shares to all 7,000 employees as part of its reorganization plan, which calls for canceling Peabodys current shares and replacing them with new stock, most of which would be owned by creditors.

First, though, the company must navigate a series of hearings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in St. Louis. On Thursday, the court will hear arguments from shareholders who are upset about seeing their investments wiped out. It is the companys first time before the court since it submitted a reorganization plan last month.

Thursdays hearing will address whether an official equity committee should be established to represent the interests of shareholders. Peabody and a committee of unsecured creditors have filed motions opposing the request.

Shareholders who support forming a committee have said they question Peabodys valuation of itself in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.

The price is nowhere near reality, says Mark Gottlieb, a New Jersey-based Peabody investor who argues that the company is deliberately overlooking a rebound in coal prices. The only [coal company] who says were still at the depth of the depression of coal is Peabody Energy and thats because they want the low valuation.

Peabody denies that it is undervaluing itself.

The company recognizes that any Chapter 11 process is challenging for a number of stakeholders, Peabody said in a statement released Monday. While objections are a natural part of the process, Peabody has advanced a plan of reorganization that it believes maximizes the value of the enterprise.

Peabody confirmed that shareholders are unlikely to receive any value and their shares are likely to be canceled, an outcome it has predicted for months.

On Jan. 26, another hearing will feature a broader discussion of Peabodys proposed reorganization plan.

That conversation is likely to include concerns about the companys coverage of environmental cleanup costs. Critics have said that it is not clear how the company will account for reclamation obligations in states that allow self-bonding, a practice in which companies pledge to cover future cleanup costs. Peabodys self-bonding obligations were only partially covered in an August bankruptcy ruling.

Peabody should not be able to shift its obligation for reclamation and cleanup costs onto the public  onto taxpayers, said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, an organization challenging Peabodys plan. Learner says any reorganization plan should not be considered feasible until self-bonding concerns are addressed.

Vic Svec, a Peabody spokesman, said the company has and will continue to meet all its obligations related to reclamation.

Wednesday afternoon, the government official tasked with oversight of district bankruptcy proceedings filed an objection opposing Peabodys plan. The filing from the U.S. Trustee outlined multiple issues, including the companys attempt to lock in payment terms prior to confirmation, unlawfully pay certain professionals and cover transaction fees.

Peabodys plan to award stock to employees is unusual for a company in bankruptcy. Its similar to the way technology companies hand shares to workers before an initial public offering.

The reorganization plan calls for 10 percent of shares to be reserved for incentives, with 2.5 percent able to be issued to employees right away.

Whats unusual in our case is the incentives are being pushed in every level of the company, said Svec. Its really the companys view that having all employees as owners is a great way to provide for a successful future.

Svec said the employee stock grants would vest over two to three years.

Beyond this months hearings, Peabody hopes to have creditors vote on its plan by early March. The company hopes to get its plan approved at a hearing March 16 and to emerge from Chapter 11 by April, one year after it filed for bankruptcy.
LINCOLN, Neb.  Sister Madeleine Miller applied for a high school teaching job in Nebraska thinking she would get judged on her credentials  not what she was wearing on her head.

The nun, 37, was shocked to learn that, under a little-known law nearly a century old, she couldnt wear a habit in a public school classroom. The vaguely worded ban prohibits teachers from wearing any sort of religious garb, from burqas to yarmulkes.

I could have been arrested, jailed, fined or had my license taken away if I had tried to teach, Miller said Tuesday.

Now, state lawmakers are looking to end the ban, which was passed in 1919 under pressure from the Ku Klux Klan amid a national wave of anti-Catholic sentiment.

The law is rarely enforced but came to the attention of the senator whose district includes Norfolk Public Schools, where Miller had hoped to work. Miller said a school administrator told her the district would be happy to hire her, but she couldnt wear her habit in class.

Thirty-six states had adopted similar bans on religious garb at various points, but Nebraska and Pennsylvania are the only ones that have yet to repeal them, said Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer, sponsor of the repeal bill. Oregon abolished its ban in 2010.

Scheer, who spent nearly two decades serving on a local school board, said he had no idea the ban was still in place but argued that it violates teachers free-speech rights. Nebraska is also struggling to fill teacher shortages this year in 18 different fields, according to the state Department of Education.

This isnt virgin turf Im tilling here, said Scheer, of Norfolk. Were just one of the last ones.

Miller  who holds a Nebraska teaching certificate, a bachelors degree from Wayne State College in Nebraska and a masters degree from the University of Chicago  ended up taking a job at a Catholic school in neighboring Iowa. She said she initially considered filing a lawsuit with help from the Thomas More Law Center, a national religious liberties group, but decided against it in hopes that lawmakers would fix the issue themselves.

Church rules require sisters to wear the habit virtually all of the time, except when working in a communist country or cleaning with harsh chemicals that could damage the blessed garments. Miller sought the job as a public school substitute because none of the area Catholic schools had any openings.

Nebraska is considering the proposal in the midst of a broader debate over religious garb. In November, lawmakers in the lower house of the Dutch parliament approved a ban on face-covering clothing, including Islamic veils and robes such as the burqa and niqab. In 2010, France approved a so-called burqa ban that has since been blamed for encouraging Islamophobia and giving Muslim extremists more ammunition to incite hatred.

The proposal to repeal Nebraskas ban faced little resistance Tuesday during a legislative hearing. The measure drew support from a diverse coalition including Catholic groups and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska.

Spike Eickholt, an attorney for the ACLU of Nebraska, said current state law didnt even define what constitutes religious garb and allows for punishments even if students dont notice it.

It has a chilling effect for people who want to go into the business of teaching, he said.

Martin Cannon, an attorney with the Thomas More Society, said Nebraskas ban on religious garb was blatantly unconstitutional and goes far beyond the prohibition on government promoting religion.

The problem is they are applicable only to religion, he said. A person could come to school as a teacher wearing maybe a flower power shirt or a Scooby Doo button or a Vote for Charlie pin, but he cant wear a cross.
First-time customers to Herbaria Soap Factory and Store on the Hill might be surprised to see owner Ken Gilberg at the far back of the store, not making soap, but standing in the kitchen he installed, chopping vegetables, boiling pasta and otherwise preparing a meal.

But regulars know this is nothing unusual. Nearly every work day, Gilberg, who moved his soap-making operation here from his Kirkwood home in 2009, makes lunch for himself and his seven full- and part-time employees (whoevers working that day). He takes on the role of chef because he prefers healthy, mostly vegetarian home cooking to restaurant fare, he says with a smile.

From an armchair nearby, Gilbergs dog, Soapy, quietly watches the proceedings, as pleasant aromas from the thousands of bars of soap for sale or in the works mingle with the appetizing fragrance of the meal Gilberg is preparing.

Have you always enjoyed cooking? Yes. My father liked to eat  as do I!  and he was adventurous when it came to food. That led to my interest in mushrooms, which became a passion  cooking with them, leading groups hunting for morels and other edible types, working with Poison Control identifying poisonous varieties. Im a longtime member of the Missouri Mycological (Mushroom) Society and have served as its president.

Who taught you to cook? I enjoyed watching my mother cook as I was growing up, but Ive been most influenced and inspired by Marcella Hazan, the guru of Italian cooking. I bought her Classic Italian Cookbook 30 years ago  and have been using her various cooking techniques ever since.

Can you compare your cooking to soap-making? Yes, both involve following recipes, which I like doing. I cook healthy and my soap is healthy, made from only natural, plant-based ingredients, soy, palm kernel and olive oils, and essential oils such as peppermint, tangerine, rosemary and others. No detergents.

Do you cook mostly vegetarian fare? Yes  I like making simple Italian or Asian dishes using fresh, seasonal vegetables. Ive gone from being a meat eater to mainly vegetarian because I just love Soapy so much  and I dont see much difference between her and the animals that get slaughtered for food. I dont think we have the right ...

But you cook meat for her? Yes  because dogs need to eat meat to be healthy. I buy beef, pork or chicken thats going out of date, then boil or roast and chop it for her.

Where did you get the recipe youre presenting? It was inspired by a dish I enjoyed at a restaurant in Rome. I adapted it, but tweak it sometimes and make minor changes. The original recipe called for red beets  but when I went shopping for todays meal, the only beets that looked good were golden, so thats what Im using. These have a sweetness thats a little lighter than the red variety  and they dont stain my hands or the pasta.

{&rule}Ken Gilberg

Age  66

Family  Wife, LaRee DeFreece, attorney; grandchildren, twins Leo and Lily, 5 (whom Gilberg and his wife are in the process of adopting); and Catahoula Leopard Dog, Soapy, 5.

Occupation  Soap maker, owner of Herbaria Soap Factory and Store.
Updated: At 4:15 p.m., with more details from police.

WEST COUNTY  A bomb threat by telephone led to the evacuation Wednesday morning of both Jewish Community Center locations, which reopened after police units declared them safe.

The threat was one of numerous such calls to Jewish centers across the nation during the past two weeks.

The centers are near Schuetz Road and North Lindbergh Boulevard in the Creve Coeur area, and at 16801 Baxter Road in Chesterfield. The threat of a bomb, made to the centers' main switchboard, made about 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Lisa Marucci, spokeswoman for the Jewish Community Center, said both locations were reopened by 2 p.m. The centers offer exercise, educational and enrichment programs for all ages.

St. Louis County Police units with bomb-sniffing dogs checked both locations but found no trace of explosives, police spokesmen said.

Press reports say that similar threats have been called into nearly 30 Jewish community centers across the country in the past two weeks. Among the locations are New York; Nashville; Jacksonville, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; and San Francisco. FBI and local police were investigating.

Officer Ben Granda, spokesman for the County Police, said no evidence of bombs had been found at any of the locations nationwide.
ST. LOUIS  A woman alleges in a lawsuit that a female St. Louis police detective looking for drugs performed an illegal body-cavity search during a traffic stop in 2012.

Kayla Robinson, then of Overland, filed suit in November in St. Louis Circuit Court. It was moved last week to U.S. District Court in St. Louis at the request of city lawyers.

Robinson alleges that on Oct. 19, 2012, Detective Angela Hawkins, wearing a surgical glove, examined her vagina during a traffic stop on Goodfellow Boulevard. Her lawsuit alleges that Hawkins used excessive force and had no justification for the exam. It says the department disciplined Hawkins over the incident.

In addition to Hawkins, Robinsons lawsuit names Detective Kelli Swinton, Lt. Col. Lawrence OToole and Chief Sam Dotson, who was not yet chief when the traffic stop occurred. It seeks at least $25,000 in damages.

Through a spokeswoman, the police department declined to comment on the suit or any disciplinary action. She said Hawkins, now a sergeant, remains on the force.

The suit alleges that Robinson was a passenger in a car with two men that night when officers pulled them over on northbound Goodfellow near Natural Bridge Avenue. It says Robinson voluntarily gave officers a small bag of marijuana before they searched the car.

The suit says Hawkins claimed that Robinson put something in her pants and then walked her a short distance to a parking lot, where Hawkins examined her. It also says Hawkins found no drugs.

Swinton assisted Hawkins in the incident, during which Robinson was arrested on suspicion of drug possession but never charged. The suit says Robinson spoke with OToole after she filed a complaint with the internal affairs bureau.

Her lawyer, Jeremy Hollingshead, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. The city counselors office referred a reporter to the Missouri attorney generals office, which did not return a message for comment.
JEFFERSON CITY  Gov. Eric Greitens has tapped Carol Comer, a former environmental agency director in Indiana under Vice President-elect Mike Pence, to head the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

An environmental lawyer, Comer has served as commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management since August 2015.

In a video announcement, Greitens said that with Comer's leadership in Indiana, the state "made it easier for business to get permits, they improved their air quality, they protected their fish and wildlife, all while encouraging job growth."

Greitens has made regulatory reform a priority for his first year in office, saying excess rules and bloated bureaucracy make it difficult to do business in Missouri.

Comer, who stood beside Greitens for the announcement, said in Indiana, the Department of Economic Development partnered with the Department of Environmental Management to create jobs and attract businesses and investment.

"I'm looking forward to during the same thing in Missouri, so that we can protect the air and the land and the water quality, but still encourage economic growth, so that everybody prospers," she said.

It's an approach likely to be applauded by Republican lawmakers, who have long had an antagonistic relationship with the DNR. They contend that the department has inhibited job creation efforts and could do more to help businesses comply with rules, rather than penalize them.

The department also oversees state land purchases, a process some state lawmakers say lacked transparency in the previous administration.

Former Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, argued that expanding the park system draws more tourism to the state. But Republican legislators have complained that Nixon too often used state settlement money to quietly buy parkland.

Comer was rumored to have been on President-elect Donald Trump's shortlist to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, before Greitens' announcement on Wednesday. Pence, her former boss, campaigned for Greitens during his gubernatorial bid.
JEFFERSON CITY  Against the backdrop of tight financial times, Missouris new governor delivered his first State of the State address Tuesday night, a rundown of GOP-led reforms he says will bring more jobs and business to the Show-Me state.

Gov. Eric Greitens, the states first Republican chief executive since 2009, has never hesitated to call himself a political outsider. And in that spirit, he bucked political tradition in his address by holding off on releasing a budget proposal, pledging to reveal his plan to overcome an estimated $456 million state revenue gap next month.

Some of his talking points included his promises from the campaign trail to clean up corruption in Jefferson City.

Too many good, strong public servants have come here only to see the will of the people obstructed and corrupted by insiders and lobbyists, Greitens said.

He then called on his audience, made up mostly of members of his own party, to pass an overhaul of state ethics laws, including limits on lobbyist gifts, limits on how quickly lawmakers can become lobbyists and term limits for statewide office holders.

Under a plan the 42-year-old Maryland Heights native unveiled during his campaign, a member of the House and Senate would have to undergo a cooling off period equal to the number of years he or she served in office before being allowed to lobby the Legislature.

Calling it a simple, sensible proposal with public support in his speech, Greitens likely will face a roadblock in the Senate, where lawmakers already have raised concerns about his idea.

Still, Greitens, a former Navy SEAL and founder of a charity for veterans, drew applause and cheers from GOP super-majorities in the Legislature, who already have been in lockstep with their new ally on several of the agenda items he discussed Tuesday.

It is only the second time in 94 years that Republicans have had complete control of the levers of the states government. And theyll likely soon deliver an early policy win for Greitens, as they prepare to approve long-awaited right-to-work legislation that limits labor unions ability to collect dues from their members.

The people have sent us a message: We must do everything in our power to put people back to work in good, high-paying jobs, Greitens said. Thats why we must join 27 other states and sign right-to-work.

While its passage is likely inevitable, Democrats renewed pleas to put the issue before voters or table it altogether, contending that the bill warrants government overreach into negotiations between employers and employees.

Right to work simply means forcing folks to work for less. Less money. Less health coverage. And less opportunity for workers and their families, said Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, in a statement.

Greitens maintained that the policy will create jobs. He went on to highlight a state legal climate wrought with lawsuits, bloated government bureaucracy and too many tax credits as other obstacles to job creation, pushing tort reform and reiterating the need to revisit the states rules and regulations.

If you want to start or grow a business in the state of Missouri and hire more people with good jobs, I will be your friend and ally. I want the state of Missouri to work for you, to make it easy for you, Greitens said.

Greitens also said he would conduct an audit of the states burdensome, complex, and unfair tax credit system.

Insiders are gaming this system. Since 2010, almost $2 billion has been promised to special interests, Greitens said. The people taking the money swore that it was going to create jobs, but their performance hasnt lived up to their promises.

Backers in the Legislature have insisted tax credits are essential for long-term economic development, but critics call them wasteful spending. Greitens has already completely ruled out state funding for a potential St. Louis MLS team and stadium, calling the proposal, welfare for millionaires.

Greitens policy goals  and their promised future boost to the economy  made for a more hopeful message a day after Greitens cut $146 million in spending in response to a slowdown in state tax collections. Its the first in what could be $700 million in cuts to the states $27 billion spending plan.

Higher education took the brunt of the cuts, seeing more than $82 million withheld from core funding and special projects at the states public universities and community colleges, an amount lawmakers on both sides of the aisle raised concerns about on Tuesday.

The governor didnt discuss higher education in his speech, but he vowed K-12 changes, including expanded course programs, higher salaries for teachers and education savings accounts for students with special needs to spend as their families see fit.

We do best when we put power into the hands of parents and teachers at the local level, he said.

The new governor then highlighted a need for public safety changes to address crime in Missouri cities, including St. Louis.

This violence affects far too many families  mine included, Greitens said, referencing the armed robbery of his wife, Sheena, in St. Louis last month. And its not just in the cities. When you talk to sheriffs, chiefs of police, and front-line officers around the state, theyll tell you its getting harder to do police work.

We will work with the law enforcement community and concerned citizens and clergy, to update our peace officers standards and training, Greitens added.

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, said Greitens focus on policing was a high point in the speech.

I was really thinking about what he said about building bridges in disenfranchised communities, Chappelle-Nadal said. It was reassuring.

Other Democrats said Greitens ideas came with too few details.

His remarks touched on a plan to reform the states welfare system so fewer benefits are stripped from recipients who accept pay raises, the need for criminal justice reform and reduced recidivism, and a promise to protect teacher pensions  but no specifics about how those goals would be paid for.

Greitens is set to give a budget address in February, but the date hasnt been set.

Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, said he found Greitens speech long on promises but short on real proposals.

Tort reform and right-to-work were the only things I heard him talk about with any specifics, Merideth said. I heard a lot about the importance of education, too, a day after he made huge cuts to higher ed. ... I didnt leave it with a lot of excitement.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are moving ahead on at least one item on Greitens agenda.

Just hours before Greitens speech, the House gave final approval to one of the ideas he mentioned: a proposal prohibiting lobbyists from offering most kinds of gifts to individual lawmakers.

The bill will now make its way to the Senate, where a similar measure died last session after senators tried to place a cap on lobbyist gifts  $40 per day, per lobbyist  instead of an outright ban.

Sen. Caleb Rowden, who has introduced a similar bill in his chamber, said he was cautiously optimistic about the measures chances on the other side of the chamber this year.
Government should not be the butt of a joke, laughed away by taxpayers who have lost confidence in their public officials.

That was the theme of a letter former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels penned in November to the incoming governor of that state. Daniels was offering unsolicited advice for either Republican Eric Holcomb or Democrat John Gregg, before the outcome of the race was decided. Holcomb ended up winning.

Daniels advice was practical and could apply to any incoming governor  say, Gov. Eric Greitens, the Missouri Republican who laid out his vision for the Show-Me state on Tuesday night in his first State of the State address.

My appeal is that, alongside the new policies and programs on which you campaigned, you assign top priority to the usually neglected task of making day-to-day government operate effectively in everything it does, Daniels wrote in an op-ed in the Indianapolis Star.

Make government work, Daniels said.

Taxpayers deserve excellence.

On the campaign trail last summer and fall, Greitens cited Daniels, his fellow Republican, as a model, specifically saying that he planned to implement a process by which government did a better job of measuring its results. Greitens, for instance, pledged to raise the lowest-in-the-nation pay of state workers by improving government efficiency and rewarding success.

But reality hit the outsider-turned-government-CEO hard this week when before he could even outline his plans as the states chief executive, Greitens had to cut $146 million from the out-of-balance state budget handed to him by a Republican-run Legislature.

On Tuesday night, Greitens glossed over the very serious Missouri budget problems, turning back years of precedent by which governors present their proposed budgets along with their State of the State addresses. Theres a reason for this process.

Budgets are about priorities, outgoing Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, was fond of saying.

Greitens priorities are clear. First, he wants to clean up the capital citys culture of corruption by passing stronger ethics laws, such as the lobbyists gifts ban that passed the House 149-5 hours before his speech.

This is a big place, with a powerful purpose, Greitens said. And it has too often been consumed by small goals and petty politics.

Next, Greitens wants to weaken unions, under the auspices of making Missouri a more business-friendly state. There is little doubt that Republicans will pass a right-to-work bill and potentially other bills intended to lower wages and damage a Democratic power base. But to what end?

Last year, Missouri produced more manufacturing jobs than all of its border states, including those with right-to-work laws. Heres why budgets matter: Where will the jobs come from when highways are crumbling, when schools dont have money for capital projects, when the Legislatures no-taxes pledge gets in the way of future investment?

Those will be questions answered another day, when the rhetoric and reality are merged into legislative compromise.

The details matter, of course, and thats where Greitens initial proposals offer a hint at some changes that will challenge his fellow Republicans. The governor wants the states safety net priorities to be flipped, so a family on food stamps or child care subsidies has more incentive to improve their employment opportunities. Too often, a family on welfare is faced with turning down a promotion because it makes more financial sense to keep public aid rather than accept an incremental wage increase.

If your boss gives you a raise, you should make more money, Greitens said.

Thats an idea all Missourians can cheer, but in a legislative body that often treats poor people like criminals, getting to the finish line wont be easy. Neither will be the concept of fulfilling Daniels challenge to make government work smarter, another Greitens goal.

The state workforce is too big, he says. That means job cuts will come before raises.

When the rhetoric dies down, the math will still have to work.

Daniels, who like Greitens set his eyes on the presidency, figured that out.

He made government work for Indiana, he says, but he had to accept billions in federal stimulus money, too. And the man who followed him, soon-to-be Vice President Mike Pence, continued that theme by accepting billions of dollars in federal investment tied to Medicaid expansion.

Those last two words are verboten in Missouri.

Therein lies the true state of Missouri. Greitens says he hopes for a new direction, but a budget quagmire might keep the states shiny union-made Ford F-150 truck stuck in the mud.
JEFFERSON CITY  Gov. Eric Greitens will be among the throng of elected officials descending on Washington this week for President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration.

Greitens, a Republican from St. Louis who took office Jan. 9, is to leave Missouri on Thursday for Fridays swearing-in ceremonies, senior adviser Austin Chambers told the Post-Dispatch.

It is at least the second time Greitens has been in the nations capital since winning the November general election. In his first trip, he went to a new governor training and orientation conference soon after beating Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster.

Greitens, 42, received a hand during the election from Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who campaigned in Missouri twice on behalf of the former Navy SEAL.

Pence aide Nick Ayers also attended Greitens swearing-in event last week. Ayers is a colleague of Chambers, who also is attending the inaugural events.

Other GOP governors attending the ceremonies include Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

After the 2016 election, Republicans hold 33 governorships across the nation.
JEFFERSON CITY  A day after Gov. Eric Greitens pledged to sign a right-to-work bill if it makes it to his desk, the Missouri House gave initial approval to a measure supporters say will bring more jobs to the state.

The contentious legislation, which opponents say will weaken unions and hurt the middle class, advanced to final passage stage on a 101-58 vote. Rep. Courtney Curtis, D-Ferguson, cast the lone yes vote among Democrats.

The proposal would prohibit labor contracts that require all the workers who benefit from union representation to pay for it.

Right-to-work laws are not union busting, said Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, who sponsored the legislation.

Rehder said an employee should not have to pay for a union lobbying for policies they dont agree with.

Opponents say it would weaken labor unions and eventually lead to a decrease in wages.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, full-time workers in union shops earn more than their nonunion counterparts. In 2015, the most recent figures available, the median weekly salary for union members was $876 compared with $833 for nonunion workers.

Democrats want to put the question to the voters.

I would see no reason why we shouldnt bring this to a vote of the people, said freshman Rep. Doug Beck, a democrat from the Affton area who is a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters union. People are not asking for this. All this does is tilt the balance in favor of the CEOs.

Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin, dismissed the call for a statewide referendum. We are here to make the tough decisions, Dogan said.

Rep. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, said voters gave Republicans a mandate to impose right-to-work when they went to the polls in November.

We cannot keep going in the direction weve been going for years and years, Fitzwater said.

Not all Republicans agreed.

Rep. John McCaherty, R-High Ridge, said his constituents, many of whom are union members and vote Republican, didnt support the concept.

They are good people. They just want to be left alone, McCaherty said.

Other GOP opponents included Reps. Kathie Conway and Chrissy Sommer of St. Charles and Becky Ruth of Festus.

In his State of the State speech Tuesday, Greitens said the change would help boost job creation.

The people have sent us a message: We must do everything in our power to put people back to work in good, high-paying jobs, Greitens said.

With Republicans in control of both the House and Senate and the governors office, the proposal is among a number of pro-business initiatives that could move quickly through the House and Senate in the coming weeks of the legislative session, including the end of prevailing wage laws and project labor agreements.

It comes after an election season that saw mega donors who support right-to-work pour millions of dollars into campaigns for the Legislature and statewide office. Joplin businessman David Humphreys and his family, for example, contributed $14 million during the election cycle.

By contrast, labor unions backed Attorney General Chris Koster, a Democrat, in his unsuccessful bid for governor.

In the past, Republicans who control the House and Senate were unable to muster enough votes to override the veto of then-Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, of right-to-work legislation.

The measure needs final approval in the House before moving to the Senate for further debate.

The legislation is House Bill 91.
JEFFERSON CITY  A Senate measure aimed at protecting alternative-to-abortion agencies could serve as a roadblock to a St. Louis bill that would add reproductive health decisions to the citys anti-discrimination ordinance.

Filed by Alderman Megan-Ellyia Green, board bill 203 expands discrimination protections to include any decision related to the use or intended use of a particular drug, device or medical service, including the use or intended use of contraception or fertility control or the planned or intended initiation or termination of pregnancy.

Its an amendment to an ordinance originally intended to cover discrimination in employment and housing, but has since been extended to protect the disabled and the LGBT community.

St. Louis aldermen and state lawmakers both heard testimony about the proposed change on Wednesday.

At the state Capitol, a Senate panel considered SB 41, which would block such ordinances on the grounds that they inhibit the free speech and religious rights of alternative-to-abortion agencies.

Sometimes called pregnancy resource centers or crisis pregnancy centers, the agencies are often established to counsel women against seeking and abortion, as well as offering other services, such as pregnancy tests and ultrasounds.

Sponsoring Rep. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, said stopping the change in St. Louis was just "one piece of the puzzle," and that his bill protects the centers' First Amendment rights.

Anti-abortion advocates said that the city ordinance, should St. Louis aldermen vote to expand it, could have negative consequences for religious institutions, including fines for agencies that elect not to employ anyone who publicly promotes abortion.

It could definitely cause a lot of problems for our organization, said Diane Vaughn of Thrive St. Louis. We want our rights as an organization and as employees to be protected so were not subjected to monetary fines, jail time or moral compromise.

Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, said the state shouldnt interfere with St. Louis ability to pass ordinances that are right for the local community.

Im hearing this testimony and Im quite frankly offended by it, she said. I think coming here to put pre-emptive laws into place, so local communities dont have their say about what they believe is important, is overstepping.

Crisis pregnancy centers  and funding they receive from the state  have drawn ire from abortion advocates who contend that they provide inaccurate medical information to pregnant women.

Alison Dreith, director of NARAL Missouri, urged lawmakers to revisit that funding, given the state's budget crisis.

Funding anti-abortion agencies, "instead of sending our kids to schools in buses," is egregious, Dreith said, referencing recent slashes of K-12 transportation in the state budget.
ST. LOUIS  City treasurer and mayoral candidate Tishaura Jones on Tuesday defended the roughly 50 trips she has taken at taxpayer expense since 2013.

Jones, who was elected treasurer in 2012, has taken dozens of trips to places such as Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Palm Springs, Calif., and San Diego to attend conferences and meet with other elected officials.

The trips collectively cost taxpayers more than $27,000. They were first reported last week by KMOV (Channel 4) television news.

In a news conference on Tuesday, Jones took issue with the television story, a St. Louis Business Journal story about her 1999 bankruptcy and a Post-Dispatch story highlighting her offices business relationship with a felon who has ties to her father.

Jones spent the most time criticizing the story documenting her travel.

Many of the trips she took were directly related to parking services and financial literacy  two areas now under the purview of her office.

But other trips dont appear to have a direct connection to her position, a Post-Dispatch review of public records reveals. Those trips include a July 2015 visit to San Diego, where Jones participated in a leadership program for women, and a September 2015 trip, where she met with the Congressional Black Caucus.

Jones also took at least one trip paid for by a company that has a contract with the city. In June 2015, Xerox paid her way to New York for what she describes as a series of meetings related to the citys new technology-based parking meters.

Xerox manages some of the citys parking operations, which Jones oversees as treasurer.

On a previous leg of that trip, Jones flew to Paris to explore a parking meter plant run by a company, Parkeon, which was set to provide new meters to the city.

Jones said she paid for the trip to France out of her own pocket. She did, however, ask the city to reimburse her $108 for two taxi rides to and from the airport.

Its unclear why Jones paid all expenses associated with an international trip, except for two taxi rides.

Atlanta was a favorite destination of Jones, who made at least six trips there since November 2013.

During a trip in June 2015, Jones squeezed in a political fundraiser between conferences.

Jones reimbursement request for that trip, $85, indicates that she was in Atlanta for meetings of the Clinton Global Initiative and the National Association of Security Professionals.

A St. Louis company, Hudson and Associates, organized and paid $5,200 for the June 13, 2015, fundraiser at the Commerce Club at the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta, according to campaign finance records.

Hudson and Associates is a subcontractor for Xerox, which manages St. Louis parking management systems. The company is in charge of the daily operations and meter maintenance.

Hudson did not receive any special treatment in getting a contract with the city, according to Jared Boyd, the treasurers chief of staff.

Before Jones became treasurer in 2013, Hudson was already serving as a subcontractor for two other companies that handled the citys parking meter management and ticket processing services, Boyd said.

The company was brought back on as a subcontractor for the city in early 2015, about six months before the fundraiser.

Later, when the city was taking bids to revamp its parking system, three of the four companies that submitted bids incorporated Hudson into their bids as the local subcontractor.

It made sense, Boyd said. Hudson already had the infrastructure in place.

According to campaign reports, Hudson spent $4,000 for food, beverages and space rental and $1,200 for signage for the Atlanta event. The company absorbed the cost and called it an in-kind donation to Jones campaign. The campaign reports show that the fundraiser pulled in less than its expenses, $4,850 given by 12 Atlanta-based contributors.

Not including the in-kind donations for the Atlanta fundraiser, Hudson has given $18,000 to Jones campaigns since 2012.

Records from another Atlanta trip, in April 2015, listed a meeting with IFS Securities Inc., a banking and brokerage firm that employs Craig Walker.

In December, the Post-Dispatch reported that Walker, an investment banker convicted of felonies in 1995 and imprisoned for almost three years  in a case that also landed Jones father, former St. Louis Comptroller Virvus Jones, in federal prison  now is a vice president for IFS Securities Inc., which does millions of dollars in business with the treasurers office.

Since April 2015, the firm has been a part of underwriting more than $55 million in bonds for the St. Louis Parking Fund, according to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.

FREQUENCY OF TRIPS

Jones said the purpose of her trips included being asked to be a guest speaker, or participated in educational trips which allows her office to keep up with best practices in the areas of financial literacy or parking.

City documents show that the number of her trips and the amounts that Jones requested as reimbursement from the city  particularly between summer 2013 and summer 2016  were much higher than other city officials.

The office of Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, who also is running for mayor, submitted just $1,300 in reimbursements during the same time period, city records show. The circuit attorneys office asked for $1,450 in reimbursements, while the recorder of deeds spent less than $2,000 on travel.

As for Jones predecessor, Larry Williams, records show that he typically attended two parking conferences a year, and did not travel using taxpayer money outside of those trips. In his two years, prior to leaving office, city records show that Williams spent less than $6,000 in taxpayer money on travel.

In her news conference, Jones did not dispute the accuracy of any of the stories, but she described them as suspicious and asserted that they were intended to weaken her credibility with voters.

They are suspicious because of all the candidates running for mayor, I alone have been singled out and subjected to these kinds of attacks, she said. As treasurer, I expect people to hold me accountable for my actions. I also expect the media to be fair and tell the entire story, which has not happened thus far.

Jones and some of her supporters at the news conference also stressed the changes she has made to the treasurers office in her time there.

In December, the city announced the office had saved St. Louis nearly $5 million by refinancing some of its $50 million in parking debt.

And across the city, motorists no longer have to fish into their pockets for change to put into a parking meter. Instead, drivers can pull out their phones and pay with an app  a service that other cities had years before St. Louis. Many of the new meters Jones installed also accept credit and debit cards.

Jones also created the treasurers Office of Financial Empowerment, which among other things provides a savings account for every kindergartner in a St. Louis public school. The office deposits an initial $50 into each account to help families get started on their college savings.

Under Jones, the treasurers office has also started summer job programs for young people, while hosting financial education training for city residents throughout the year.

On multiple occasions, Jones has expressed pride in what her office has become since she took over. She calls it an office that works for the people.

While Jones has taken criticism from aldermen for her spending on conferences and meetings  23rd Ward Alderman Joe Vaccaro is a frequent critic  other board members defended her as a forward thinker.

Megan Green, who represents the 15th Ward, took to social media to defend traveling for professional development. Even poor nonprofits invest in their staff, she said.

Cara Spencer, 20th Ward alderman, also chimed in, saying every elected official should be required to travel as part of the job. (Especially) here in STL where we are particularly insular in our thinking.

IF ELECTED MAYOR

If elected mayor, Jones said she will continue to travel.

In St. Louis, we have our heads stuck in the sand, she said, adding that other cities, including Kansas City, Indianapolis and Chicago, are pulling away because of their openness to embracing technology and other services that enhance quality of life.

That travel that Ive taken is no different than the travel of any other executive who wants to learn more about bringing change to their organization or to the city, Jones said.

Without naming names, she blamed her recent run of negative press on her political opponents planting stories in the media.

I want to say it loud and I want to make this clear, she said. Nothing will stop this campaign. Nothing will take us off track or distract us from our mission to bring fresh and new ideas to the city.
Starting Friday, terrorists around the world will have a treasure trove of new ways to attack America by proxy and enrage the newly inaugurated president, Donald Trump. As of Inauguration Day, the long list of international buildings and resorts bearing the Trump brand name could replace U.S. embassies and military installations as major targets of opportunity.

Its the Trump name on these properties that offers the best rationale for the president-elect to divest quickly and completely, before the fire sale begins.

As Americans, we tend to think defensively about terrorism: How can we best prevent the bad guys from exploding bombs or hijacking our planes? So, in defensive posture after an attack has occurred, we erect walls and bomb-proof barriers around our embassies. Millions of Americans partially disrobe whenever we get on airplanes as a reaction to attacks that occurred 15 years ago.

But lets think, for once, like our enemies. The terrorists of al-Qaida and Islamic State probably long ago gave up on hitting hardened U.S. government targets because its too much work. What theyre looking for are the places where Western defenses remain low. They seek targets that are either undefended or are indefensible. Trump Organization properties overseas fit the bill, with the added advantage of advertising the new presidents name atop each vulnerable asset.

The Trump brand offers terrorists the ability to go after the American head of state without all the hassle of attacking a hardened and well-protected official U.S. government outpost. And there is probably little or nothing the U.S. military can do about Trump property vulnerabilities because these are private businesses in sovereign countries.

A five-second internet search, via Trump.com, reveals precisely where the major international Trump real estate holdings are. The list includes places like Bali, Istanbul, Panama City, Seoul, Makati in the Philippines, India and Uruguay. Each host country has grappled with attacks or has served as operational outposts for terrorist groups.

Uruguay, for example, is a major money laundering center for South America. Officials from the Uruguayan police and judiciary assess that Colombian, Mexican, and Russian criminal organizations are operating in Uruguay, the State Department stated in a 2016 report. It is an ongoing source of Middle Eastern intrigue involving Iran, Hezbollah and Israel. Panama also fits that bill.

The Philippines, already deeply immersed in political turmoil prompted by its own bombastic new president, was the target of a bombing in September that killed 14. The Islamic State is reported to be making major inroads there. The State Department has warned foreign tourists to avoid some areas.

Trump Organization global assets are entirely private, which means U.S. taxpayers have no responsibility to pay for the properties protection. In fact, the use of taxpayer assets to protect a privately owned facility abroad could constitute an illegal diversion of funds.

But what if one of the Trump Organizations buildings came under a high-profile attack? Would President Trump be tempted to deploy U.S. troops and military assets in response?

Congress could, and should, have a major problem with that. It is not the U.S. militarys job to react when a private business comes under attack abroad, regardless of who owns it. Which explains why ExxonMobil often had to engage its own protection forces (sometimes including right-wing paramilitary groups) when its foreign operations faced insurgency threats. Just ask its former chief executive, Rex Tillerson, who hopes to become Trumps secretary of state.

Theres also the issue of sovereignty. The United States cannot just barge militarily into any country it wants. The leaders of Turkey and the Philippines have spoken openly about downgrading military cooperation to escape U.S. domination. Panama, which endured eight decades of U.S. military occupation until the handover of the Panama Canal in 1999, is in no mood to have U.S. forces return.

Which is to say, the new president would be largely powerless to act if a high-profile attack occurred on a big foreign building bearing the Trump name.

His lawyer, Sherri Dillon, stated last week that the new president should not be expected to give up his business holdings. Selling his assets without the rights to the brand would greatly diminish the value of the assets and create a fire sale, Dillon said. President-elect Trump should not be expected to destroy the company he built.

Consider the fire sale that would occur if, all of a sudden, the name Trump on your building becomes a magnet for international terrorist groups. Its not a far-fetched idea. Recall that the week Trump won the election, occupants of three New York buildings bearing his name demanded that the name be removed.

Right now, foreign investors and their governments are scrambling to get in on the Trump business juggernaut. There could come a time not long from now when people will be running, literally, to get away from that brand.
I took my children into the voting booth with me and later my grandchildren so they could learn the procedure and why it is so important.
The city of Collinsville recently announced the selection of Kevin Edmond, a 26-year veteran of the Mentor, Ohio Fire Department, as the new chief of the Collinsville Fire Department, according to a press release.

The announcement follows an extensive search conducted by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association. This search and evaluation process was intricate and collaborative, encompassing interviews with stakeholders, the conducting of an Assessment Center and interviews with the top three applicants. At the conclusion of this process, Edmond was identified as the top and preferred applicant unanimously by the selection committee.

The search process took some time but, in the end, using the IFCA as our executive search firm, I feel we have someone who is the exact fit for our needs," said Mitch Bair, Collinsville city manager. "Their process of interviewing all the stakeholders and conducting the Assessment Center helps the city to ensure that we have the best person to fill this critical position."

At the Dec. 12 City Council meeting, Edmond was recommended by city staff and a 3-year contract was unanimously voted in by the City Council. He was sworn in formally at the Jan. 9 City Council meeting and his first official day on the job was Jan. 17. He will command a staff of 31 sworn firefighters.

Edmond began his career in 1986 as a volunteer firefighter in Northfield Village. He began working for the Mentor Fire Department in 1990 and worked his way up through the ranks as a firefighter/paramedic, lieutenant/paramedic, battalion chief and deputy chief.

Edmond has an Associate Degree in Fire Science, Bachelor Degree in Technical Education specialized in Fire Science and is currently working on a Master in Public Administration.

Words cannot describe how excited I am to welcome Chief Edmond to our leadership team," Collinsville Mayor John Miller said. "As a retired Collinsville firefighter and as the mayor, I am so pleased with this addition.

"It is a tremendous honor to welcome Chief Edmond to the team as a leader for the fire department," Bair said. "His values and professional experiences will be a huge asset for the city and its residents.
Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) is once again asking constituents to participate in his annual Valentines for Heroes program, according to a press release.

The congressmans district offices will collect valentines for distribution throughout the region to veterans and those currently serving in the military.

Thousands of valentines have come into my offices every year since we began 'Valentines for Heroes,' Shimkus said. Elementary and middle school classes, church youth groups, homeschoolers, senior citizens and constituents from every part of the district have been overwhelmingly generous and supportive of our military men and women, past and present.

This year, valentines will be accepted at Shimkus offices until Feb. 4, and will then be distributed to local VA and military facilities before Valentines Day.

Valentines may be dropped off or mailed to Congressman John Shimkus at any of his district offices:

 15 Professional Park Drive, Maryville, IL 62062

 City Hall Room 12, 110 East Locust Street, Harrisburg, IL 62946

 101 North Fourth Street, Suite 303, Effingham, IL 62401

 201 North Vermilion Street, Suite 218, Danville, IL 61832

Constituents should return signed valentines without addressing them to a specific person; without signing their last name or including their address; and without sealing them in individual envelopes. All valentines are reviewed for content and appropriateness before distribution. For more information, constituents can call the congressmans Maryville office at 618-288-7190.
As a whole, cigar smokers are an amiable bunch that, with the exception of a few curmudgeons, tend to assume good intentions of others. Thats a good way to deal with most people, and exactly how youd have most people treat you.

But when it comes to politics, it can be very dangerous to underestimate you opponents. This is very much true with the opponents of cigar freedoms.

There are lots of people with various views on how our laws should deal with tobacco products. When it comes to where smoking is banned or permitted, at what level cigars should be taxed, and to what extent cigars should be treated the same as other tobacco products, there a wide variety of views. A proud, freedom-loving cigar smoker should welcome informed debate.

That said, we shouldnt lose sight of the fact there is a well-funded group of professional anti-tobacco activists for whom any adult choosing to use any tobacco product anywhere is a problem that needs to be solved by a law. Attempts to reason or negotiate with these people are not only a useless; any energy expended on them is counterproductive.

These tobacco control activists, as they call themselves, are funded to the tune of billions of dollars a year (much of it by our taxes) and extremely politically connected. Look no further than the U.S. Senate, where a small group of anti-tobacco senators continue to push for more aggressive anti-smoking measures, no matter how hypocritical or illogical.

Earlier this month, Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut called for the FDA to accelerate the rulemaking process to, among other things, regulate cigars. The senator even said if the FDA doesnt issue a final rule soon enough, he would introduce a law demanding that it rush the final rule. Never mind that anti-smoking activists have called for the FDA process to proceed uninterrupted and without the influence of legislation like the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act. Suddenly, when the supposedly independent rulemaking process isnt proceeding fast enough, here is a senator moving to intervene.

Similarly, Blumenthal is one of four senators who recently introduced a bill to increase taxes on most tobacco products, including almost doubling most tobacco taxes. That may be unsurprising, but their reasoning strains reality. According to a press release issued by Senator Dick Durbin, the bill is necessary to stop smuggling and black market tobacco products. Of course, anyone with a basic understanding of how taxes create black markets realizes this bill would be counterproductive to its supposed goal.

But pointing out to Senator Blumenthal and his ilk that it is hypocritical for them to interfere with the FDA process, or that excessive taxes only encourage smuggling, would be a waste of time because their real goal is removing tobacco as a choice that informed adults can make for themselves.

So Id like to suggest the following: Instead of just focusing narrowly on the text of whatever legislation the anti-tobacco forces are championing next, lets also remind Americans (who I still think are mostly reasonable on these issues) that every time they cast their lot with politicians and professional activists who just want one more tobacco tax or regulation or smoking ban, they are siding with folks who reject the basic American premise that adults can make choices for themselves.

Cigar smokers, and all adults who choose to use tobacco, dont want children smoking, nor do we demand the right to smoke everywhere whenever we want. Mostly, we just want to be left alone and not picked on for our choices by a powerful special interest group that seeks to control a centuries-old behavior by consenting adults.

Maybe Im too optimistic about Americans. But I think enough people agree with those basic principles for the underdog (and thats exactly what we are) to ultimately prevail.

Patrick S

photo credits: Stogie Guys
This week saw the introduction of the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2017 in Congress. Sponsored by Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL), the bill would repeal FDA jurisdiction over premium handmade cigars.

The bill defines a premium cigar as meeting four characteristics: It must (1) be wrapped in 100 percent leaf tobacco and bunched in 100 percent tobacco filler; (2) not contain a filter, tip, or non-tobacco mouthpiece; (3) weigh at least 6 pounds per 1,000 count; and (4) have 100 percent tobacco binder and be hand-rolled, or at least made with human hands to lay the wrapper or binder onto one machine that bunches, wraps, and caps the individual cigars, or have a homogenized tobacco leaf binder and be made in the United States using human hands to lay a 100 percent leaf tobacco wrapper onto one machine that bunches, wraps, and caps each individual cigar.

Cigars meeting this definition would no longer be subject to FDA regulations under the bill and would therefore be exempt from the 499-page rule finalized last year by the FDA. That rule mandates any cigar introduced after 2007 to be approved by the FDA for sale by 2018, and for any new cigar after August 2016 to receive FDA approval before being sold in the United States.

This is the fourth consecutive Congress in which the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act has been introduced. When first introduced in 2011, the bill obtained 220 co-sponsors in the House, while a companion measure sponsored in the Senate by Senator Nelson of Florida gained 13 co-sponsors. More recently, the 2015-16 version garnered 170 sponsors in the House and 22 sponsors in the Senate.

Cigar Rights of America Executive Director Glynn Loope said the following about the introduction of the bill in the 2017 Congress: Since 2011, this legislation has served as a platform to convey the threat such regulations could pose to the premium cigar industry. Now that threat is reality, and Congress, in concert with the new administration, needs to advance measures that not only mitigate the damage of the rules in front of us, but ensure protection from rules yet to come.

Analysis

With a new occupant moving into the While House later this week, this is a big year for this legislation. In previous years, even if the bill could have passed both houses of Congress, it faced a likely veto from President Obama who signed the legislation into law authorizing the FDA to regulate cigars back in 2009.

Although incoming President Trump isnt a cigar smoker (and even cut an anti-smoking PSA), his criticisms of over-regulation have some hopeful that he would sign a bill to protect handmade premium cigars from overbearing FDA rules. Additionally, incoming Vice President Mike Pence is largely viewed as friendly towards tobacco.

But long before this bill gets to the presidents desk, if it ever gets there, it faces significant hurdles. Probably the largest obstacle is opposition in the Senate, where the same anti-tobacco senators that pushed the FDA to accelerate its cigar rules could use the chambers filibuster to attempt to block passage, even if there are enough votes in favor.

Still, building support for the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act in the House and Senate sends an important message, even absent the bill becoming law. First, broad support makes it more likely that industry-backed reforms could make it into an appropriations bill. Further, significant support in Congress sends a message to the FDA as the cigar industry continues to lobby the agency to change the rule, or at least implement the regulation in a less-burdensome way.

Patrick S

photo credits: Stogie Guys
US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) announced today that Andrew Iacobucci will join the company as Chief Merchandising Officer, effective January 23. Iacobucci will oversee category management, procurement, product innovation and food safety, as well as marketing efforts on behalf of the company.

Andrew is a proven leader and merchandising executive who will play a key role in helping us continue to drive food leadership and product innovation for our customers, said US Foods President and CEO Pietro Satriano. His merchandising expertise and food industry experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow our market share with independent restaurants and other target customers.

Prior to joining US Foods, Iacobucci served as Executive Vice President, Merchandising for retailer Ahold USA, where he led all facets of the companys merchandising operations in the United States. Prior to joining Ahold, Iacobucci spent 10 years at Loblaw Companies Limited, a leading Canadian food retailer, where he served in several senior roles including president of the companys discount supermarket business. Iacobucci is a graduate of Queens University in Kingston, Ontario and University of Toronto Law School.

Iacobucci succeeds Steve Guberman in the Chief Merchandising Officer role following Gubermans appointment in August 2016 to Executive Vice President, Nationally Managed Business for US Foods. Guberman has continued to serve as Interim Chief Merchandising Officer over the past five months.
Chelsea Manning is pictured in this 2010 photograph obtained on August 14, 2013.Courtesy U.S. Army/Handout via REUTERS

By Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday shortened the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. military intelligence analyst who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, the biggest such breach in U.S. history.

A White House official said there was no connection between Manning's commutation and renewed U.S. government concern about WikiLeaks' actions during last year's presidential election, or a promise by founder Julian Assange to accept extradition if Manning was freed.

Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks - a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Obama, in one of his final acts before leaving office, reduced her sentence to seven years, angering some Republicans.

"This is just outrageous," House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. Ryan, a Republican, said the decision was a "dangerous precedent" for those who leak materials about national security.

"Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets," Ryan said.

Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a U.S. Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news staff.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton said the leak endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies.

"We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr," Cotton said.

TOOK RESPONSIBILITY

Manning, formerly known as U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. The White House said her sentence would end on May 17 this year.

Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, men's military prison, accepted responsibility for leaking the material -- a factor that fed into Obama's decision, a White House official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said Obama's decision was rooted in Manning's sentence being longer than sentences given to others who had committed comparable crimes. Obama, who leaves office on Friday and is scheduled to give his final news conference on Wednesday, is expected to discuss his decision then.

WikiLeaks also published emails in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 presidential election that U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies hacked the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of leading Democrats, part of a campaign by Moscow to influence the election.

But Obama's decision had nothing to do with the latest WikiLeaks controversy, the White House official said.

"The president's decision to grant clemency and offer commutation to Chelsea Manning was not influenced in any way by public comments from Assange or the WikiLeaks organization," a White House official said on a conference call with reporters.

Assange has been holed up at Ecuador's London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for the investigation of allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape there in 2010. He has said he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks sent a tweet quoting Assange's attorney, Melinda Taylor, saying he would abide by his promise to accept extradition if Manning was freed. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," Taylor said, according to the tweet.

Civil rights groups praised the move, calling it overdue.

"Chelsea Manning exposed serious abuses, and as a result her own human rights have been violated by the U.S. government for years," said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.

STUXNET

Obama also pardoned retired U.S. Marine Corps General James Cartwright who pleaded guilty in October to making false statements to the FBI during an investigation into leaks of classified information.

The aggressive prosecution of Cartwright, who last served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent shockwaves through the Pentagon.

He lied during questioning by the FBI over a book written by a New York Times reporter that exposed a malicious computer software program known as "Stuxnet" designed to disrupt Iran's nuclear program. Cartwright denied being the source of the leak.

Obama weighed Cartwright's service along with his motive when making the decision, the White House official said, noting Cartwright had not divulged material that the journalist was not already aware of, and that his conversations were focused on preventing the publication of material that could hurt national security.

"It's clear in this case ... that General Cartwright's motive was different than most people who are facing charges of leaking classified information to a journalist," the official said.

PUERTO RICAN MILITANT

Also on the pardon list: Oscar Lopez Rivera, who was sentenced in 1981 to 55 years in prison for his involvement with Puerto Rican militant group FALN, which claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings in the 1970s and 1980s.

Lopez Rivera -- who turned down a similar offer from President Bill Clinton in 1999 -- was the last remaining member of FALN still in prison.

"Mr. Lopez Rivera is now in his 70s. He has served 35 years, nearly half of his life in prison," a White House official said. "The president determined that was sufficient amount of time to serve, although the president certainly believes that the crimes that were committed were serious."

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders campaigned for the release of Lopez Rivera during his unsuccessful campaign against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Manning and Lopez Rivera were among 209 commutations granted by Obama on Tuesday and Cartwright was among 64 pardons.

In total, Obama has commuted sentences for 1,385 federal prisoners -- a total greater than that of the 12 previous presidents combined -- and he is expected to announce more on Thursday, the White House official said.

Most of the commutations were a part of Obama's effort to reduce the number of people serving long sentences for non-violent drug offenses.

(additional reporting by Phillip Stewart, Patricia Zengerle and Dustin Volz)
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt testifies before a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, U.S., January 18, 2017. REUTERS/J

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said on Wednesday he would honor the intent of the U.S. biofuels program, but remained open to tweaking it.

The Renewable Fuel Standard requires the EPA set annual quotas for the use of ethanol and biodiesel in transportation fuels. More than a decade old, the standard is fiercely defended by the U.S. corn industry that provides most of the ethanol, but it has been a source of frustration for oil refiners. They say the goals are unrealistic without an overhaul in automobiles and infrastructure, and are calling for changes.

Pruitt said during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that he was committed to Congress' plan, laid out in 2007, to annually increase the amount of ethanol and other renewables blended with petroleum fuels. He said the waivers that EPA has already used to set requirements below those targets to accommodate market conditions should be used "judiciously".

He explained his view that the EPA should not use those waivers to "undermine commitments" from Congress but that they are needed in some cases, including when there is lower-than-expected fuel demand.

The comments quelled some concerns from within the industry over the nominee, who as Oklahoma's attorney general had described the program as "flawed" and "unworkable."

Renewable Fuels Association Chief Executive Officer and President Bob Dinneen described Pruitt's comments as "heartening" in a statement.

While generally supportive of program, Pruitt said it was too soon to say whether it needed to be altered.

Oil refiners including HollyFrontier Corp and Delta Air Lines Inc's Monroe Energy have requested that the responsibility of blending renewables like ethanol into their fuel be shifted from them to companies further down the supply chain.

The EPA moved to deny the request, but is seeking public comment on the decision.

When asked about the idea, Pruitt said he did not want to "pre-judge" the outcome of the comment period.

Trump has separately tapped billionaire and RFS critic Carl Icahn as a special advisor on regulations, raising industry speculation that the incoming administration will be more likely to consider the change.

Pruitt is one of several of Trump's senior Cabinet picks to face Senate hearings since last week.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Timothy Gardner in Washington and Chris Prentice in New York; editing by Richard Valdmanis and David Gregorio)
A Record Number of Apprentices Graduate in 2016

AZUSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Laborers Training and Retraining Trust of Southern California will graduate 526 apprentices to journeymen and journeywomen status on Saturday, January 21st. The Construction Craft Laborer Apprenticeship will graduate 507, the Laborers Landscape & Irrigation Fitter Apprenticeship program will graduate 16, and the Laborers Cement Mason Finisher Apprenticeship will graduate the first three journeypersons from that program.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005330/en/

These new journeymen and women put in a lot of hours of training in the classroom and on the job, and sacrificed personally to graduate from their apprenticeship, said Armando Esparza, Business Manager of the Southern California District Council of Laborers (SCDCL). Their effort strengthens this union and brings value to the construction industry. On behalf of the 25,000 LIUNA members in Southern California, we congratulate them on their accomplishment.

Before entering an apprenticeship program, candidates must attend an orientation, pass a drug test, and complete a boot camp to ensure they are ready for the physical demands of the industry. Depending upon the program the apprentice indentured into, each apprentice must complete between 224 and 432 hours of classroom instruction and log between 3,000 and 4,200 hours of on-the-job training to become a journeyperson. Apprentices are exposed to virtually all segments of the construction industry and receive Cal/OSHA required certifications and equipment endorsements.

For these graduates and all those before them, this is not the end of the road for training, emphasized Scott Gordon, Laborers School Executive Director. We encourage all journeymen and women to continue their education at the training center so that they can expand their career opportunities. In fact, weve had some apprentices start their own construction company within a few years of graduating.

The Laborers Training and Retraining Trust of Southern California is a partnership between the Laborers and their signatory contractors. The Laborers School operates 12 facilities in Southern California that provide more than 100,000 hours of training every year. The Laborers School also offers:

 12 training sites and five mobile training units that bring training to any location

 More than 140 courses that meet or exceed industry standards

 Three California-Apprenticeship-Council-approved apprenticeship programs

 Instructors credentialed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

 Training processes that are accredited (AC 371) by the International Accreditation Service (IAS)

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005330/en/

LECET Southwest

Chad Wright, 855-532-3879

Source: LECET Southwest
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rockwood Capital, LLC (Rockwood), a private real estate investment firm, today announced that it has closed Rockwood Capital Real Estate Partners Fund X, L.P. (Fund X) with $1.1 billion in capital commitments, meeting the funds hard cap. The value-added fund will target office, residential, retail and hotel assets in urban and suburban core mixed-use environments in the United States.

With Fund X, Rockwood will endeavor to execute its time-tested strategy of balancing risk across the value-added spectrum with a focus on speed-to-income. In particular, Fund X will target growing and evolving neighborhoods, especially those driven by some combination of education, wealth and favorable population-based socioeconomic trends.

As of the final closing, Fund X is approximately 30 percent committed, having completed nine investments. Fund X has consummated nine investments to date that we believe will deliver compelling, risk-adjusted returns as we execute our value-enhancing business plans. We will continue to employ a measured investment pace, applying discipline and patience to identify and take advantage of opportunities that are consistent with our investment strategy, said Tyson Skillings, a Managing Partner and the Portfolio Manager of Fund X. We will focus on speed-to-income, or how quickly value creation can be executed and a durable income stream put in place.

Fund X has a diverse, multi-national investor base consisting of public and private pension funds, foundations, endowments, insurance companies, funds of funds, family offices and high net worth individuals. Over 60 percent of Fund X investors have invested in previous Rockwood-sponsored funds. We are extremely gratified by the trust and support of our existing investors and their continued confidence in our ability to execute the investment strategy that we have honed over decades, said Peter Falco, Senior Managing Partner. We are also delighted to begin relationships with our new investors and look forward to working with them to enhance their existing investment portfolios.

Park Madison Partners served as Fund Xs exclusive placement agent in North America. We are proud to have achieved such a positive fundraising outcome with Rockwood and Fund X, said Nancy Lashine, Managing Partner and Founder of Park Madison. In addition to reaching the Funds hard cap, we were able to further diversify Rockwoods investor base with high quality institutions including sovereign wealth funds, public and private pensions, foundations, and new consultant relationships. Threadmark LLP served as Fund Xs exclusive placement agent in Europe.

About Rockwood Capital

Rockwood Capital, LLC is a real estate investment management firm founded in 1995 that provides equity capital combined with real estate operating expertise for repositioning, recapitalization, development and redevelopment of retail, hotel, residential, office and research and development space in key markets throughout the United States. Rockwood and its principals have invested on behalf of their clients approximately $23.2 billion of real estate through ten value-added vehicles and eight separate accounts. Today, Rockwood is an 82-person real estate investment firm with offices in New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and Seoul, Korea that manages a portfolio of approximately $3.6 billion of net equity value in approximately $8.8 billion of gross real estate value. Rockwoods investors include public and private pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, fund of funds, high net worth individuals and family offices.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005852/en/

Owen Blicksilver Public Relations, Inc.

Caroline Luz, 203-656-2829

[email protected]

Source: Rockwood Capital, LLC
The logo of Airbus group is pictured in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, January 11, 2017. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

PARIS (Reuters) - Planemaker Airbus (NYSE: AIR) expressed concern on Wednesday about the prospect of a clean break between Britain and the European Union under what has been dubbed "hard Brexit".

"We are watching with a great deal of attention and even some concern what is being said about a 'hard Brexit'," Marwan Lahoud, executive vice-president for international, strategy and public affairs, told a French parliamentary committee hearing.

He did not say what comments he was reacting to.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday Britain would quit the EU single market and end full membership of the bloc's customs union when it leaves the European Union, following last year's referendum.

Airbus makes wings for all its jetliners in the UK. The France-based company campaigned against Britain leaving the EU ahead of the UK vote, but has said it would not make abrupt changes to its operations there due to long product cycles.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher, Editing by Dominique Vidalon)
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and his Moldovan counterpart Igor Dodon attend a news conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, January 17, 2017. REUTERS/Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool

By Denis Dyomkin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moldova may scrap a trade agreement with the European Union after the country's next parliamentary election, President Igor Dodon said on Tuesday during his first state visit to Russia.

Speaking in Moscow at a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dodon said it was "curious" that Moldova's trade turnover with the EU had wilted since signing a political and trade pact with the bloc in 2014.

"We gained nothing from this agreement," he told reporters.

"We are not against the EU, we have common borders, but you cannot build a relationship on anti-Russia rhetoric," news agencies quoted Dodon as saying after meeting with Putin.

Dodon was elected in November with just over 50 percent of the vote after calling in his campaign for a referendum on Moldova's relationship with the EU, which came at the expense of ties with Russia. No referendum has yet been announced.

Moscow imposed retaliatory trade restrictions on Moldovan farming exports in response to Chisinau's signing of an association agreement with the EU in 2014. Dodon's vow to improve relations with the country's former Soviet master found favor with many Moldovans who have been hit financially by Russia's bans and a broader economic downturn.

Dodon's win and move away from the EU reflects a loss of trust in pro-European leaders in Moldova and Russia's increasingly assertive influence over ex-Soviet states.

The coordinator of the pro-European ruling coalition in Moldova, Vlad Plahotniuc, said the country would not be pulled out of closer integration with the EU, criticizing Dodon for his comments to Putin.

"Our country does not have the right to send contradictory messages on foreign policy," he said in an online statement.

"The Moldovan authorities will not allow the EU association agreement to be annulled. We will not only block any attempts to denounce the agreement, but will speed up the process of its implementation," he said.

In Moscow, Putin struck a both conciliatory and sharp tone with Dodon, saying Russia's neighbors were free to make their own decisions and even court the EU, but Moscow would want its interests to be respected.

"It needs to be recognized that mutually beneficial ties with Russia deteriorated against the background of attempts to force a closer relationship with the European Union," he said.

Dodon's promise to side with Russia over the EU is in direct conflict with the stance of Moldova's current government and his stance on the issue has been mixed since taking office.

He has called for early parliamentary elections this year to force out the government, but also said the president "should be neither pro-European nor pro-Russian".

On Tuesday, he said Chisinau did not intend to build an "iron curtain" with the bloc.

Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, is expected to return to growth in the near future after contracting 0.5 percent in 2015. But its exports have yet to recover to pre-crisis levels, falling 4.3 percent in the first quarter of 2016.

Ukraine, another ex-Soviet republic, also played with the idea of closer ties with the EU but abruptly pulled out of a trade deal in late 2013.

The move prompted mass street protests in Kiev, forcing then-President Viktor Yanukovich from office and paving the road to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

(Additional reporting by Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow and Alexander Tanas in Chisinau; writing by Jack Stubbs and Alessandra Prentice; editing by Mark Heinrich)
By Steve Scherer

ROME (Reuters) - A Rome court on Tuesday handed down eight life sentences for the murder of 23 Italian citizens in a conspiracy, known as Operation Condor, in which South American dictatorships hunted down and killed thousands of dissidents in the 1970s and 1980s.

It is the first time an Italian court has ruled a conspiracy existed between the governments of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia to help find and assassinate each others' political opponents.

After a trial that lasted more than two years, lead judge Evelina Canale said eight men were convicted in absentia, including former Bolivian President Luis Garcia, now 87 and serving a 30-year prison sentence in Bolivia for crimes committed during his government, and former Peruvian President Francisco Morales, now 95.

"It's clear that this conviction confirms that Operation Condor existed and that it was a criminal conspiracy," Prosecutor Tiziana Cugini told Reuters after the ruling.

"It's very significant, especially given that heads of state from the time were convicted."

Under Italian law, Italian magistrates can investigate the killings of Italian citizens overseas.

Morales' son, Remigio Morales, said his father had nothing to do with the killings. Garcia's attorney, Frank Campero, said Garcia was never notified of the trial in Rome, but would appeal the verdict as he denies wrongdoing.

According to Italian law, the first-degree conviction can be appealed twice before the ruling becomes definitive and sentences are served.

Should the sentences become definitive, Italy can ask for extradition, but due to their age it may be more likely that they would serve their sentences in their own countries.

Operation Condor, named after the broad-winged birds that inhabit the Andes, was a Cold War era campaign by U.S.-backed right-wing dictatorships in South America that killed scores of left-leaning opponents.

Last year an Argentine court found 15 ex-military officials guilty of conspiring to kidnap and assassinate dissidents in Operation Condor, including former dictator Reynaldo Bignone, who was given a 20-year sentence.

Morales' life sentence marks the second time a former Peruvian leader has been found guilty of human rights abuses, following ex-president Alberto Fujimori's 2009 conviction for leading death squads that killed civilians in the 1990s.

Italy's investigation into the murder of its citizens began in 1999. Cugini sought 27 life sentences in October, but the court acquitted 19 of them.

The other six convictions were of former military and government officials from Uruguay, Chile and Peru. Some 140 witnesses testified during the trial, Cugini said.

"We heard some truly terrible torture stories," she said.

(With additional reporting by Mitra Taj and Marco Aquino in Peru, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at a news conference near the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S., September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

DUBAI (Reuters) - At least 10 countries have offered to mediate in the escalating feud between Saudi Arabia and Iran, President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday, noting that Tehran would restore ties with Riyadh if Saudi Arabia changes it regional policies.

Answering a question about Iraq and Kuwait's reported offer to help defuse the tension between regional rivals, Rouhani said in a news conference broadcast live on state television: "There are many countries. You mentioned Iraq and Kuwait. There are eight to 10 other countries in my mind now whose officials have talked to us about this."

He said Iran is not seeking to eliminate Saudi Arabia from regional politics and will offer its help to Riyadh if "it takes the right decision" and ends its military intervention in Yemen and stops what he called its meddling in Bahraini affairs.

(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Dominic Evans)
By Chris Mfula

LUSAKA (Reuters) - A maize pest that has devastated crops in southern Africa is a South American species which is harder to detect and eradicate than its African counterpart, agriculture officials and experts said on Tuesday.

The fall armyworm outbreak has erupted in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi and follows a crippling El Nino-triggered drought which scorched much of the region last year.

The pest devours maize and other crops. The armyworms are caterpillars that "march" across the landscape in large groups feasting on young plants, leaving devastation in their wake.

"The tricky part with the fall armyworm is that it burrows into the plant whereas the African armyworm eats from outside," Coillard Hamusimbi, the head of agri-business at the Zambia National Farmers' Union, told Reuters.

"Because it burrows into the plant the fall armyworm will often only be seen when coming out after the damage has already been done. They can easily build resistance to chemical control because contact with the chemical is difficult."

How the pest made its way to Africa is unclear. Hamusimbi said there were suspicions it came to Nigeria through the grain trade and spread from there.

Eliot Zitsanza, the Zambia-based chief scientist at the International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa, which assisted in a local study on the pest, said the South American experience suggested invaded fields could lose 30 to 40 percent of their crop.

In Zambia, an estimated 200,000 tonnes of maize have been destroyed by the fall armyworms and the military has been deployed to wage war on the bugs, which have also damaged 2,000 hectares of the staple crop in Malawi.

The outbreak in Zambia is being contained as most of the maize was attacked when it was knee-high and three-quarters of the fields that were hit were reporting the eradication of the pest, with plans to replant the crop.

Zimbabwe meanwhile was investigating, and assessing the damage caused by the pest as infestation levels varied and the crops could recover after spraying, chief entomologist in the ministry of Agriculture Godfrey Chikwenhere said.

Zambia's maize production rose to 2.87 million tonnes in the 2015/2016 crop season from 2.60 million tonnes the previous season, the one producer in the region to have experienced adequate rains during the El Nino.

(Additional reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe in Harare; Editing by Ed Stoddard and Susan Thomas)
By Brendan O'Brien

(Reuters) - The U.S. Secret Service has agreed to pay $24 million to settle a 17-year-old federal lawsuit filed by a group of black agents who accused the agency of racial discrimination in its employment practices.

The agreement settles a protracted legal battle that began in 2000 when 10 black agents filed a lawsuit in a Washington D.C. federal court, claiming the Secret Service had violated the civil rights of black agents for decades while ignoring their complaints, court records showed.

"Had the matter gone to trial, it would have required that we re-live things long past, just at a time when the Secret Service is on the mend," Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said in a statement. "This settlement is also, simply, the right thing to do."

The 10 agents accused the Secret Service of racial discrimination in how it selected agents for promotions. They also claimed the agency conducted unfair hiring, assignment and transfer practices while fostering a racially hostile workplace, court documents showed.

A group of more than 100 agents joined the lawsuit over time, the Washington Post reported. Under the resolution, the Secret Service could pay as much as $300,000 each to the agents who originally sued the agency.

"At long last . . . black Secret Service agents will not be constrained by the glass ceiling that held back so many for so long," Jennifer Klar, a lawyer for the agents, told the newspaper.

The Secret Service admitted no wrongdoing, but agreed to reform its employment and promotion practices, the complaint process for employees and how it keeps records, the agreement said.

The agency, charged with protecting the president and his family, has dealt with a lengthy list of problems during the past few years, including a prostitution scandal in Colombia and a high-profile security lapse when a man jumped the fence surrounding the White House complex and ran into the mansion armed with a knife.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
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

January 17, 2017

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ireland 001-33500 98-1032470 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

Fourth Floor, Connaught House,

1 Burlington Road, Dublin 4, Ireland

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

011-353-1-634-7800

(Registrants telephone number, including area code)

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 8.01 Other Events.

Sodium Oxybate ANDA Approval.

On January 17, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has approved an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for a generic version of Xyrem (sodium oxybate), a branded pharmaceutical product manufactured, marketed and sold by Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (the Company). In connection with this approval, the FDA indicated that it has waived the requirement that Xyrem and generic sodium oxybate products utilize a single, shared system risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) and approved the generic version of Xyrem with a separate REMS. The Company was not involved in the development of the generic sodium oxybate REMS, which was not publicly available as of January 17, 2017.

Based on publicly available information, the FDA has determined that the generic sodium oxybate REMS has the same elements to assure safe use as the Xyrem REMS and operationalizes those elements in a comparable manner to the approved Xyrem REMS. The Company will evaluate whether the FDAs waiver of the requirement for a single, shared system REMS in connection with approval of the ANDA meets the conditions for such a waiver under applicable law and, to the extent that the Company determines that the waiver was not permissible under applicable law, intends to evaluate potential challenges to the FDAs waiver decision. The Company cannot predict whether or when the Company may pursue any such challenges or whether any such challenges would be successful.

In connection with FDA approval of the current Xyrem REMS in February 2015, the FDA indicated that it intends to evaluate the Xyrem REMS on an ongoing basis and will require modifications as may be appropriate. The Company cannot predict whether the FDA will request, seek to require or ultimately require modifications to the Xyrem REMS in connection with approval of the generic sodium oxybate REMS (or otherwise) or seek to otherwise impose or ultimately impose additional requirements to the Xyrem REMS, or the potential timing, terms or propriety thereof. Any such modifications or additional requirements could make it more difficult or expensive for the Company to distribute Xyrem, make distribution easier for generic competitors, impair the safety profile of Xyrem and/or negatively affect sales of Xyrem.

Citizen Petition Response.

In September 2016, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, submitted a Citizen Petition to the FDA requesting that, for safety reasons, the FDA refuse to approve any sodium oxybate ANDA with a proposed package insert or REMS that omits the portions of the Xyrem package insert and the Xyrem REMS that instruct prescribers on adjusting the dose of the product when it is co-administered with divalproex sodium (also known as valproate or valproic acid) (the Citizen Petition). On January 17, 2017, the FDA granted the Citizen Petition with respect to the Xyrem package insert. The FDA concluded that it will not approve any sodium oxybate ANDA referencing Xyrem that does not include in its labeling the portions of the currently approved Xyrem package insert related to the drug-drug interaction with divalproex sodium. The FDA stated that it did not need to reach the question of whether the drug-drug interaction information could have been excluded from the generic sodium oxybate REMS materials. The Company cannot predict whether or when one or more of the ANDA filers may pursue a challenge to the FDAs response to the Citizen Petition or whether any such challenges would be successful.

Intellectual Property Litigation.

The Company owns patents that cover the distribution, method of use and formulation of Xyrem, including patents relating to the safe and effective use of Xyrem by decreasing the dose of Xyrem when used concomitantly with divalproex sodium (the DDI Patents). As previously disclosed, the Company has filed lawsuits against each of the companies that has filed an ANDA with the FDA seeking approval to market a generic version of Xyrem alleging infringement of the Companys patents and seeking a permanent injunction to prevent these ANDA filers from introducing a generic version of Xyrem that would infringe the Companys patents. The federal district court in which the Companys patent litigation is ongoing has set trial on the Companys pending patent litigation in the consolidated matter against the first ANDA filer, other than litigation related to the Companys distribution system patents, for the second quarter of 2017. The Company cannot predict the timing or outcome of this consolidated case or other ongoing or future litigation involving the ANDA filers or whether the Company will be successful in maintaining the validity of the applicable patents and protecting the patents from infringement. In particular, the Company cannot predict whether it will be able to maintain the validity of its distribution system patents or DDI Patents or

obtain a judicial determination that the generic sodium oxybate package insert or REMS will infringe the distribution system patents or DDI Patents. For a description of ongoing legal proceedings as of November 8, 2016, see Legal Proceedings in Part II, Item 1 of the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Since the date of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, litigation related to the distribution patents was bifurcated from the consolidated case against the first ANDA filer and stayed.

The timing of any potential commercial launch of a generic version of Xyrem is uncertain. While the FDA has approved a generic version of Xyrem, the Company does not believe a launch is likely to occur prior to a district court, or potentially an appellate court, decision in the Companys ongoing patent litigation. In the event of commercialization prior to an appellate court decision in the Companys favor, the Company believes that any company that has launched a generic version of Xyrem would be liable to the Company for damages, which could be significant. As previously disclosed, the Company expects that the commercialization of a generic version of Xyrem would have a material adverse effect on the Companys business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. For a discussion of this risk, see the risk factor under the heading If generic versions of Xyrem or other sodium oxybate products that compete with Xyrem are approved and launched, sales of Xyrem would be adversely affected and other risks described in Part II, Item 1A of the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the Companys evaluation of whether the FDAs waiver of the requirement for a single, shared system REMS in connection with approval of the ANDA for a generic version of Xyrem meets the conditions for such a waiver under applicable law and, if not, potential challenges thereto by the Company, the potential that the FDA will require modifications to the Xyrem REMS or impose additional requirements to the Xyrem REMS, potential challenges to the FDAs response to the Citizen Petition by one or more of the ANDA filers, the Companys belief that a potential commercial launch of a generic version of Xyrem prior to a federal district court, or potential appellate court, decision in ongoing patent litigation is unlikely and the Companys belief that in the event of an appellate court decision in the Companys favor, any company that has launched a generic version of Xyrem would be liable to the Company for damages, which could be significant, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to the potential introduction of a generic version of Xyrem; changed or increased regulatory restrictions, including changes to the Xyrem REMS and other regulatory actions by the FDA; the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with the ongoing patent and potential future litigation and regulatory challenges and the Companys ability to protect its intellectual property rights with respect to Xyrem; the risk that any company or companies may decide, before applicable ongoing patent litigation is concluded, to launch a generic sodium oxybate product at risk of potentially being held liable for damages; any failure to comply with the Xyrem REMS obligations to the satisfaction of the FDA; and those other risks detailed from time to time under the caption Risk Factors and elsewhere in the Companys Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports (Commission File No. 001-33500), including the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 and future filings and reports by the Company. The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

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.

JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY By: /s/ Suzanne Sawochka Hooper Suzanne Sawochka Hooper Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Date: January 17, 2017




Seychelle reports Q3 loss while anticipated guidance indicates a strong recovery and a potential return to profitability in Q4





ALISO VIEJO , Calif . -- (BUSINESS WIRE) January 17, 2017  Seychelle Water Filtration Products , a DBA of Seychelle Environmental Technologies, Inc. (Seychelle, we, us, our or the Company) (OTCQB: . -- (BUSINESS WIRE) January 17, 2017 , a DBA of Seychelle Environmental Technologies, Inc. (Seychelle, we, us, our or the Company) (OTCQB: SYEV ), a worldwide leader in the development, assembly and sale of proprietary portable water filtration bottles made several announcements today.





For Q3 period ended November 30, 2016, Revenue was $1,257,844 compared to $3,246,064 in the prior year, a decrease of $1,988,220 (- 61%). In addition, Net Loss of $284,230 compared to the prior Net Income of $370,962 decrease of $655,192 (-177%).





In addition, the Company reported for the first nine months period ended November 30, 2016, Revenue was $2,885,212 compared to $8,318,076 in the prior year, a decrease of $5,432,864 (- 65%). In addition, Net Loss of $877,041 compared to the prior year's Net Income of $1,358,537 decrease of $2,235,578 (-165%).





A major share of the decreases compared to the prior year are directly attributable to the loss of our largest customer in February of last fiscal year. We continue to feel the impact of that event. Now that we have moved into a larger facility to accommodate our anticipated growth, the objective of our new efforts will be to expand our product distribution base to minimize the effects in the future of the loss of any one customer.





Sales have increased from the prior fiscal quarter and are on target to increase again in Q4. Seychelle looks forward to potentially becoming profitable as soon as Q4.









"Dedicated to improving the quality of life through the quality of our drinking water."





Note to Investors




Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan Wednesday said in media talk it is Pakistans victory that Supreme Court (SC) has started questioning Sharif family.

Imran Khan said that the SC bench is competent enough to give final verdict, and this case will decide the future of Pakistan.

PTI Chairman said that Prime Ministers (PM) stance changed as soon as he was brought to SC to answer questions regarding corruption.

Imran Khan continued that the statement of Sharif family says deal was done in February but stamp paper was bought in March, which proves that Ishaq Dar used to do money laundering for Nawaz Sharif.

Khan also taunted on Nawaz Sharif saying it is highly amusing that Nawaz Sharif is going to give a talk on corruption in Davos at the World Economic Forum (WEF). That is equalent to Altaf Hussain giving a lecture on how to curb terrorism, he added.
A Nigerian state official says an air force fighter jet on a mission against Boko Haram extremists has mistakenly bombed a refugee camp, killing more than 100 refugees and wounding aid workers.

The Borno state government official is helping to coordinate the evacuation of the wounded. The official spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Military commander Maj Gen Lucky Irabor confirmed the accidental bombardment in northeast Rann, near the border with Cameroon. The general says among the wounded are Nigerians working for Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

This is believed to be the first time Nigeria's military has admitted to making such a mistake.
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.
After their van was stolen earlier this week, Waipuna Hospice is mobile once more, thanks to the generosity of Farmer Autovillage.

Mike Farmer handed over the keys of a loan van to Allan Wallace from the hospice this morning, allowing the charity to get on with their big store move in Greerton.

Waipuna Hospice retail business manager James Turner says since the depot was ransacked and the van stolen, theres been an outpouring of support for the hospice.

Theres been some amazing generosity and concern out there in the community. One woman came in and gave us $3000 towards a new van yesterday.

We also had one very sweet email from a concerned person who had donated some items last week and rung the police with a description of one of the items so they could keep an eye out to help us.

The timing of the theft couldnt be worse, either, with the hospice currently shifting their Greerton store across the road to the old ANZ building.

It was our principal van, used eight hours a day, five days a week.

The demand from the community for our services increases every year. The most guaranteed source of income we have is through our retail stores.

James presumes the van was stolen to help transport the goods from the depot that the thieves made off with.

He believes it will probably be found burnt out somewhere, as its not an easy vehicle to rebrand and sell on.

Most people would find the idea of stealing from a charity abhorrent, but James says it happens more than you think.

We get a lot of people who steal out of the shop as well. People also dump actual rubbish for us to dispose of, because theyd rather we spent the money we would spend on terminally sick people, getting rid of their rubbish.

Its a real insult to people who donate goods, people who volunteer, the hard work of our staff and the welfare of our patients.

So hes grateful to Farmer Autovillage for their long association with the hospice, and willingness to help out.

Peter Farmer was a board member for many years. Theyve supported us before with purchasing vehicles. We had a flood out at the hospice a few years ago, and they were very forthcoming helping us out and getting replacement vehicles then.
Updated 5pm: Hundreds of people ordered out of their workspaces after 1pm today because of an ammonia leak in a freezing plant at Mark Road, are now being allowed to retrieve their property and vehicles.

The block between Triton Ave and Hull Road from Mark Road down to Tukorako Drive was evacuated earlier because of the cloud of ammonia fumes being blown downwind from Realcool in Mark Road.

Police are believed to be dropping some cordons from about 4.30pm, although parts of Triton Avenue remain closed to traffic.

Fire services remain at the scene while the clean up of an ammonia leak continues.

A police spokeswoman says the cordon has been reduced and most people have returned to their buildings, except for those within the immediate vicinity of the leak.

Police assisted with the evacuations but are no longer on the scene.

Earlier:

Businesses in the Mount Maunganui area are being evacuated this afternoon after an Ammonia spill on Mark Road.

Police are also at the scene and are working on putting cordons in place.

Its a significant leak and uncontrolled at Realcool Cold Storage Ltd, says Northern Fire Communications shift manager Dallas Ramsay.

Police are handling traffic control and the evacuating of surrounding areas.

Cordons are being put in place on Hull Road, through to Tukorako Drive and Totara Street, as well as Triton Avenue and the smaller streets within that area.

In the meantime if people can just ensure their windows are kept shut and they stay indoors, says Dallas.

Firefighters from Tauranga and Mount Maunganui are dealing with the leak and a hazmat command unit is en-route from Rotorua.

Police are asking people within this area to leave their properties as soon as possible.

The spill will take a number of hours to clean up.

"We ask that people please follow the instructions of Police in the area and evacuate immediately," say police.

At the scene?

Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz

Facts about ammonia

Ammonia is a colorless gas with a very distinct smell.

The ammonia smell is familiar to many people because ammonia is used in smelling salts, many household and industrial cleaners, and window-cleaning products. Ammonia gas can be dissolved in water.

This kind of ammonia is called liquid ammonia or aqueous ammonia. Once exposed to open air, liquid ammonia quickly turns into a gas.

Ammonia is a strong, colorless gas. Poisoning may occur if you breathe in ammonia. Poisoning may also occur if you swallow or touch products that contain very large amounts of ammonia.

Ammonia, frequently used commercially in large freezing and refrigeration plants is also called anhydrous ammonia because it contains almost no water it is 99.98 per cent pure.

Household ammonia is only about 10 per cent ammonia by weight mixed with water. Ammonia is poisonous in high concentrations.

Two factors, however, mitigate the risk: ammonias distinctive smell is detectable at concentrations well below those considered to be dangerous, and ammonia is lighter than air, so if any does leak, it will rise and dissipate in the atmosphere.

The higher the vapor pressure the higher concentration of the substance in air. Ammonium Hydroxide is not combustible, however, in a fire Ammonia vapors are formed that can be ignited and may result in an explosion.

Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray or foam as extinguishing agents.

Symptoms

Airways, lungs, and chest: Cough, Chest pain (severe), Chest tightness, Difficulty breathing, Rapid breathing, Wheezing

Body-wide: Fever

Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat: Tearing and burning of eyes Temporary blindness, Throat pain (severe) Mouth pain, Lip swelling

Heart and blood: Rapid, weak pulse, Collapse and shock

Nervous system: Confusion, Difficulty walking, Dizziness, Lack of coordination, Restlessness Stupor (altered level of consciousness)

Skin: Bluish-colored lips and fingernails Severe burns if contact is longer than a few minutes

Stomach and gastrointestinal tract: Severe stomach, pain Vomiting
When Graham Macgregor saw a large yacht drifting into Tauranga Harbour on his base track walk around the Mount today he though the yacht was in trouble.

He couldnt see a mast.

It was just starting to drift in with the tide, says Graham.

It was drifting. We were waiting for the crane, and the tide to slow down, says boat builder at Southern Ocean Boats, Greg McNabb.

The yacht is CQS owned by Finnish sailor Ludde Ingvall, and it is in port for some modifications, says Greg. Then it will be shipped off to Europe.

Formerly Nicorette, boat builders at Southern Ocean Boats spent most of 2016 extending the original 27.4m hull to 29.8m and constructing a reverse bow, a new larger bowsprit, and "wings" to spread the shroud base supporting the mast.

CQS placed seventh in last years Sydney Hobart Race. Ingvall is a two-time line honours winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart race, first in 2000 and again in 2004. The yacht re-named CQS after its principal sponsor.

We took the mast out in Auckland, its getting modifications as well, its all part of the programme, says Greg.

CQS in November 2016, following the rebuild. Picture: Supplied
Night vision googles were used to help fly a sick man to Waikato Hospital early this morning.

The Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was called to Te Kaha Medical Centre around 4.30am, where a 60-year-old man was suffering from a serious medical condition.

Pilot Todd Dunham says the man required immediate hospital care.

The patient was stabilised by St John paramedics before being flown to Waikato Hospital.

The flight was conducted under night vision goggles.

Todd says the helicopter was called due to the nature of the medical condition and distance to the required hospital.
The Bay of Plenty District Health Board reports no serious concerns at either Tauranga or Whakatane hospitals as a result of this weeks junior doctors strike.

About 100 junior doctors, who are members of the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association, walked off the job at 7am on Tuesday for 73 hours to protest their current working conditions.

The strike has come about after negotiations between the NZDRA and health boards stalled over resident doctors working conditions.

About 3000 doctors around New Zealand are taking part in the industrial action which is affecting 18 of the countrys 20 DHBs.

The three-day strike is scheduled to end at 8am on Friday.

We are coping well in both Tauranga and Whakatane, and there are no concerns at the moment, says BOPDHB medical director Dr Hugh Lees.

The response of our communities has been extremely good in both Tauranga and Whakatane, and we would like to thank them for their understanding.

BOPDHB currently employs 164 resident doctors across both Tauranga and Whakatane Hospitals, of which, 116 are members of the NZRDA.

The NZRDA says some resident doctors are made to work unsafe hours 12 days in a row, and night shifts of seven days in a row, and is seeking a maximum of four nights in a row followed by three days off and a maximum 10 days in a row with four days off.

A spokesperson for the NZRDA says the association has also heard there has been no serious concerns as a result of the strike action.

With regard to how its [the strike] going, we can never know for sure until pretty much the strike is over, thats when all the stuff really happens.

The spokesperson describes the industrial action as the last resort, adding no doctor  be it junior or senior  wants to be striking in the first place.

Comments posted to the SunLive websiteshows opinion is clearly divided, with some people supporting the strike action, while others are clearly against it.

No one dies whilst those in the caring profession are having their little tanty and stamping their feet. There HAS to be a better way of sorting this than risking peoples [sic] lives, one reader writes.

While another reader suggests the Hippocratic oath might have been ditched in favour of the Hypocritical.

However, many have jumped to the junior doctors defence, with one reader blasting commenters who did not support the junior doctors strike.

These comments so far are absolutely disgraceful! If you want to oppose hypocrisy, then get off your own backsides and become doctors yourselves!

If you were getting assistance by a knackered doctor I bet youd be the first to complain! Good on you doctors. With this action, lets get more doctors, better services and a safer industry.

BOPDHB says it has all shifts affected by the strike covered, with either junior and/or senior medical staff as appropriate. However, its likely the Emergency Departments at both Tauranga and Whakatane hospitals will be impacted greatest.

If you are unsure if your scheduled appointment has been affected by the strike contact the BOPDHB on 0800-333-477, between 8am and 4.30pm.

If you require medical attention for a situation that is not life threatening call your GP clinic or phone the free HealthLine on 0800 611 116 for health advice in the first instance.

In an emergency call 111.

For more information about the strike visit the Bay of Plenty District Health Board website.
According to figures released last week by Spain's Ministry for Industry and Commerce, with the help of Andalucia's agency for external promotion, in the first 10 months of 2016, agricultural exports from Malaga-based companies to China grew by 113 per cent on the same period of time in 2015. In 2015, 38.3 million euros of fruit and vegetables were sold to the largest country in Asia, while by the end of October 2016 the figure had grown to almost 82 million euros. The numbers equate to 24, 280 tonnes between January and October 2015 and 49,465 tonnes in the same period in 2016.

The figures mean that China was Malaga's second largest export market in 2016 after France, to which 61,642 tonnes of produce was sent. Portugal is the province's third highest importer with 45,154 tonnes; fourth place goes to Italy with 34,355 tonnes while the USA is the fifth largest importer, buying 34,113 tonnes of produce in 2016.

Fresh and frozen fruit as well as olive oil top the list of products bought, along with meat.

The bodies that published the statistics said in a statement, "this data shows good news for the future of food and agriculture exports for Andalucia, which continues to conquer new markets while not forgetting its established European ones."
Our latest Quick Bites brings us to two boroughs for two very different Vietnamese meals.

THE VIBES

Hanoi House on St. Marks Place is one of those friendly neighborhood restaurants that make you happy the moment you walk inokay, good, we made the right choice tonight.

It's cramped but comfortable, lively but not too loud, with an L-shaped bar, an open kitchen, tables lining one wall, and a cozy room in back that seems suitable for either an intimate date or a politely-raucous party of six. The dark wood could have been too somber, but it's countered nicely by white bricks and tiles.

Less than week old but already running remarkably smoothly, Hanoi House is owned by Ben Lowell and Sara Leveen, who clearly learned a thing or two about creating a professional, welcoming atmosphere from their work with Stephen Starr at places like Buddakan and Upland. It's not a grown-up restaurant, exactly, but it won't appeal to the East Village fratty types either.

Bunker, in Bushwick near the Jefferson L, feels more like a party spot than a place to eat dinner.

The entrance here is annoyingly (and possibly deliberately) difficult to locate. Like it's a secret club or some shit. There's no sign, and the listed address, 99 Scott Avenue, appears to have multiple businesses and entry points, but I'm here to tell you that Bunker is on Randolph Street, the door is red, and it's semi-hidden behind some bamboo.

Once you do get inside, the room is high-ceilinged and huge, a visual cacophony evoking, I assume, a Vietnamese market, with brightly-colored everything, hints of thatched-roof huts, random corrugated tin siding, delicate ink drawings, hanging lanterns, more bamboo, tables and counters crammed in everywhere, and a DJ area with a drum kit. No question, it looks like fun.

Chef and owner Jimmy Tu has said that he's eager to do things like wine events and collaborations with skate companies. "We can make as much noise as we want," he recently told Eater. The complex used to house the Brooklyn Mirage, where Full Moon Fest was held a couple of summers ago, and it still kind of feels like a rager might break out at any minute.

THE BITES

The chef at Hanoi House is John Nguyen, and he's not afraid of big flavors. The Pho Bac, for example, is redolent with garlic and cinnamon, with hunks of filet mignon, brisket, and, for two dollars more, fatty oxtail all swimming in an intense beefy broth. The rice noodles are slippery and plentiful. Spoon in the house hot sauce and pickled garlic and you have a dish that wakes you right the hell up.

Or get Nguyen's Bun Cha, the porky sweet-and-sour dish that Anthony Bourdin and President Obama wolfed down in Hanoi (the city) last spring. It comes with a platter of greens for wilting, a bowl of noodles for dipping (the "broth" here functions more like a sauce), and, unnecessarily but fine by me, a pair of crisp pork summer rolls. If you're seeking a taste of the sea, order the Chao Hao, a thin, congee-like porridge overflowing with at least a dozen roasted clams, peanuts and crunchy garlic bits. This was deeply satisfying, and I used the accompanying "Chinese cruller" to soak up every last sticky drop.

There are pleasant surprises all over the menu. The Papaya Salad arrives laden with chewy strips of pig ear. The diaphanous Spring Rolls hide won-ton-fried scallions (that sausage is wonderfully funky too!). And the Grilled Eggplant is pasted with a thick anchovy and almond sauce.

At Bunker, on the other hand, on opening night nothing really tasted like anything. The Beef Pho lacked vitality; the Bun Cha decent but without enough sauce for the cold, gummy noodles that came with; the Bo Luc Lac seemingly unseasoned in any way; and the "Turmeric Wild Blue Catfish"... well, I actually can't remember anything about the catfish, other than it was fried.

The mushrooms in the Mushroom Fried Rice were good, but really the best part of the meal was the crumbled bits of jerky on top of the otherwise unremarkable papaya salad. All of which is kind of weird, because I assume that the original, often acclaimed Bunker, located in Ridgewood about a mile from any train, was pretty much only about the food.

My companion and I spent $120 at Bunker, with no booze, and left hungry.

THE VERDICT

The neighborhood place on St. Marks has some great food; the party spot in Bushwick does not.

Hanoi House is as solid as a neighborhood spot gets, and because that neighborhood is the East Village, lots of us non-locals will find ourselves often there as well. Put it on your list of Tompkins Square-area options.

Bunker seems better suited for drinking than a restaurant worth journeying to for a meal.

Hanoi House is located at 119 St. Marks Place between First Avenue and Avenue A, and dinner service starts at 5:30 (212-995-5010; hanoihouse.com)

Bunker is located at 99 Scott Avenue, entrance on Randolph Street, and dinner service starts at 5:00 (bunkervietnamese.com)
Less than a week after Senate Republicans successfully began chipping away at the Affordable Care Actand, with it, the right to copay-free contraceptionthe New York State Assembly last night passed the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, which would require insurers in New York to provide copay-free coverage for all FDA-approved contraceptives. Emergency contraception like Plan B, which typically costs at least $50 without a prescription, would be covered over the counteran expansion on the ACA. Male contraception would be covered, as well.

The final vote was 103-43, marking the second time in as many years that the Assembly has passed the act.

"The Trump regime has made it unmistakably clear that they cannot be counted on to respect a woman's ownership of her body and her destiny," said New York Civil Liberties Union Director Donna Lieberman in a statement. "That's why New York must act now to protect women's rights. The State Assembly has taken an important first step to resist the Trump agenda."

The Assembly also passed, for the second time, the Reproductive Health Actlegislation that would codify Roe v. Wade at the state level, protecting the right to abortion in New York in the face of conservative Supreme Court appointments. The vote was 97-49. While New York legalized most abortions in 1970, ahead of the national curve, its current laws are more strict than Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court ruling enshrines a woman's right to a late term abortion after 24 weeks if the pregnancy threatens her health. While in New York, currently, abortion is only ensured if the doctor has reason to believe the pregnant woman's life is at stake.

Both reproductive rights acts still have to pass the Republican-led Senate, which has a historically anti-abortion bent. The Senate Health Committee rejected the RHA last spring with a vote of 9-7. The CCCA also stalled on the Senate floor in 2016.

Last fall, we spoke to a leading anti-abortion lobbyist in Albany, who said she was bolstered by Trump's victory. "We're going to continue to work against this extreme legislation," said Barbara Meara, chairman of New York State Right To Life, of the RHA. "We think it's very dangerous."

Meara was less versed on the contraception access legislation, which has bipartisan support, and is sponsored by Republican Senator John Bonacic.

"We urge the Senate, which has historically refused to vote on legislation like the RHA and the CCCA, to at last bring New York state's outdated abortion law in line with the standard set in Roe v. Wade," stated National Institute for Reproductive Health President Andrea Miller. "And preserve women's access to contraception independent of the ACA."

The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Richard Azzopardi, a spokesman for Governor Andrew Cuomo, recently spoke in favor of the RHA. "Now that no one is under the delusion that protecting the right to choose is purely a federal issue, we urge our partners in government to join us and take action," he said following the November election.

Planned Parenthood is hosting a lobby day in Albany on January 30th to make a big push for both acts. You can register to attend here.
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Ten members of the cast and crew of Stuart: A Life Backwards will be sleeping on the streets of Cambridge on the night of Saturday 21 January to raise money for Jimmys Hostel.

The play tells the true story of Stuart Shorter, a homeless man, and Alexander, a volunteer at the local shelter, who decides to write Stuarts biography.

Jimmys Hostel is a homeless shelter where Stuart himself was a resident and it provides homeless men and women with accommodation, support and resettlement". The director of the play, Dan Sanderson writes "We saw it (the sleepout) as a great opportunity to raise some money for Jimmy's, raise awareness but also for those in the cast to gain an insight, albeit a limited one, into the conditions those sleeping rough face. We are aware that this is just for one night whereas it is a continued reality for many"

Stuart: A Life Backwards is showing at the Corpus Playroom from Tuesday 31 January to Saturday 4 February. The team aim to raise a total of 1000 and they can be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/companyteams/stuartsleepout

The cast will also be running an early performance at Jimmy's this weekend and 50% of the profits from the play will go to homeless charities.
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I am offering the solution to a problem most Republicans don't know they have -- that they can be outmaneuvered and thrown on the defensive endlessly, on nearly any issue, because they accept as true Democrat lies about the Republican Party. To correct that misperception and to help the Republican Party get 'back to basics' is why I'm a man on a mission.

A few years ago, after one of my speeches, a man told me "Do you know what your problem is? You're too far ahead of your time!" My efforts to show Republicans how they would benefit from celebrating the heritage of our Grand Old Party have been arduous, but if this were easy someone else would have already done it.

Among my speech topics are Reconciling the Tea Party and the GOP; Barack Obama, the Worst President Ever; Socialism, the new Slavery; Appreciating the Heritage of our Grand Old Party; Returning to the Founding Principles of the United States; The Womens Rights Achievements of our Grand Old Party; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; Frederick Douglass, Republican; Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has formally charged Qualcomm with multiple antitrust violations that it says allowed the chipmaker to maintain a monopoly over the modem chip business.

In the filing, the FTC alleges that Qualcomm has used its dominant position as a supplier to impose "onerous and anti competitive" supply and licensing terms on mobile phone makers, a move that they say stifled the competition.

For example, the FTC says that Qualcomm recognized that any competitor that won Apple's business would become stronger and pose a threat. To prevent that from happening, the FTC claims Qualcomm offered Apple substantial rebates on licensing fees in exchange for being its exclusive supplier of modem chips from 2011 to 2016.

Apple spokesperson Josh Rosenstock declined to comment on the matter when questioned by Bloomberg.

The Commission also alleges that, despite Qualcomm's commitment to license standard-essential patents on FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) terms, the chipmaker consistently refused to license necessary patents to competing modem chip suppliers.

Furthermore, the Commission claims Qualcomm maintains a "no license, no chips" policy in which it forces cell phone makers to pay elevated royalties on products that use modem chips from a competitor. The risk of losing access to Qualcomm as a supplier, the FTC says, is simply too great to bear.

Qualcomm General Counsel Don Rosenberg said in a prepared statement that it is an extremely disappointing decision to rush to file a complaint on the eve of FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez's departure and the transition to a new administration.

Rosenberg is referring to the fact that Donald Trump will be sworn in as the next President of the United States on January 20.

In filing the complaint, the FTC is seeking a court order to "undo and prevent" Qualcomm's "unfair" methods of competition. It also aims to have the San Diego-based semiconductor and telecom equipment provider take actions to restore competitive conditions.

Qualcomm said it looks forward to defending its business in federal court and is confident it will prevail.
A third-party case maker has once again shared details regarding the unannounced Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. Precise dimensions of both devices are exposed, including 5.7-inch and 6.3-inch curved displays.

Samsung is widely expected to unveil the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus in the coming weeks. A recent report suggested the company may be planning to show off the smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2017, which kicks off on Feb. 27, with Samsung reportedly eyeing an April release.

Interest in what Samsung has in store for its next-generation flagship smartphones has intensified over the last couple of weeks. We've already gotten a look at the Galaxy S8 inside a third-party case, which confirmed reports that Samsung would use a new bezel-less curved display and drop hardware home and navigation buttons for on-screen buttons.

Samsung Galaxy S8 And S8 Plus Dimensions Leak

Smartphone fans wanting a better view of the Samsung Galaxy S8 got an up-close and personal look at 3D renders of the smartphone's design courtesy of a third-party case maker. That same case maker is back, and this time, it is providing what are supposedly the exact dimensions of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus And Galaxy S8 Get Compared To Galaxy S7 And S7 Edge

GSMArena received the image above, which is reportedly the Galaxy S8 Plus, in addition to schematics for the Galaxy S8. According to the case maker, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus will measure 152.38 x 78.51 x 7.94 mm, which is taller and wider than the Galaxy S7 edge, which measures 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm. The S8 Plus will reportedly feature a large 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display, a considerable increase over the 5.5-inch screen found on the Galaxy S7 edge.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 measures in at 140.14 x 72.20 x 7.30 mm and supposedly packs in a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display. The Galaxy S8 is shorter, thinner, and wider than the Galaxy S7, which uses a 5.1-inch screen and measures 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm.

If the dimensions reported are accurate, Samsung has managed to make its next-generation Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus slightly larger than their predecessors, while generously increasing the displays that will grace the smartphones. Both handsets are expected to be powered by a Samsung Exynos 8895 chip or Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor depending on region, massive 6 GB of RAM, Bixby AI personal assistant, and possible S Pen support.

It's believed that Samsung will drop the "edge" name for the larger Galaxy S8 Plus since the smaller Galaxy S8 will use the same curved display.

We'll keep you updated on any additional Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus news as it becomes available.

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Got milk? If you bought milk or another dairy product from 2003 to 2011 and happened to live in one of the 16 affected locations, you may be eligible for a cash payout from a just-settled antitrust class-action lawsuit against dairy makers.

The Fresh Milk Products Price-Fixing Class Action Lawsuit, filed back in 2011 on behalf of dairy consumers, discovered that producers such as Dairy Farmers of America, DairyLea Cooperative, Land O Lakes, and Agrimark slaughtered about 500,000 cows to contain the supply of raw milk, which was expected to drive up dairy prices.

500,000 Cow Deaths

The lawsuit, initiated by animal abuse charity Compassion Over Killing, covers residents of Arizona, California, DC, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

This cow-killing program exploited both the animals and the consumers, and resulted in the early deaths of half a million cows, Cheryl Leahy, attorney for Compassion Over Killing, told Huffington Post over email.

The settlement, she added, is a statement against the dairy industry to not harm both humans and animals due to simple greed without any accountability.

Driving Up Prices

According to the suit, the Cooperatives Working Together, developed by the National Milk Producers Federation and to which the defendants belong, spearheaded a herd retirement program from 2003 to 2010, which consisted of dairy cooperatives buying out herds of cattle from smaller farms to be sent over for early slaughter.

The purpose and effect  was to reduce the supply of raw farm milk in order to increase its price, which in turn increased the price paid by consumers for milk and other fresh milk products, part of the complaint read.

In California, for instance, more fresh milk products are produced than in any other state. In 2008 alone, it was the top producer of yogurt and, along with New York, was the top maker of cottage cheese and source cream.

The inflated raw farm milk prices were then passed on to retailers and then to customers, the complaint proceeded.

Details Of Settlement

Eligible for the cash payout from the $52 million settlement money available are those who purchased milk or other fresh milk products, including half and half, cream, yogurt, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream, in the said areas from 2003 to 2011. The amount will depend on how many individuals submit their claim for the products.

The average claimant is likely to get higher or lower than $30, the Bought Milk website stated.

Potential claimants can fill out this form on the website or send it by mail by Jan. 31 to claim. Proof of purchase is not required, but theres a little reminder of the penalty of perjury.

Otherwise, those who wanted to exclude themselves from the settlement and keep their right to sue the defendants were allowed to send a written request for exclusion. The court appointed Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP to represent the class, but one may still hire his or her own attorney at own expense.

Raw milk is milk coming from cows and other animals and in an unpasteurized form.

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Apple is entangled in legal tussles yet again, and this time, it is for reportedly infringing a patent that is 15 years old.

According to reports, the company's iMessage services could have the dubious distinction of infringing the patent entitled "Point to point voice message processor, method and recording/playback device."

The lawsuit against Apple has been filed by Seatoun Media at a Texas Eastern District Court and alleges that the company's iMessage is infringing the latter's 2002 patent, which pertains to voice messages  more specifically their playback and recording over a designated network.

The complaint from Seatoun Media details a voice message processor, which is able to direct messages between the POS system and the user.

The patent infringement lawsuit against Apple also claims that several products from the company that deploy iMessage are defaulting on this accord.

The "non-limiting" list in the grievance comprises the iPhone 4 and later models, iPads, the iPod touch, and iMessage itself.

The complaint shares a non-limiting list of the alleged Apple products that are supposedly infringing Seatoun Media's patent. The products that are defaulting include the iPhone 4 as well as later iPhone models, all the iPads from the company  including the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad mini  the iPod touch, and lastly, iMessage.

This is not the first time Apple has been caught in a patent infringement lawsuit. Earlier in December 2016, it was reported that the company was locked in a patent battle with Nokia.

It has also had its fair share of patent trolls such as the Chinese company Shenzhen Baili Marketing Services Co., which alleged that Apple had stolen the design for its iPhone 6 from the latter's 100C handset.

How Did Apple Infringe The Patent?

Seatoun Media cites the example of the iPhone 6 and shares that users are persuaded to deploy the iMessage option on their smartphone to play and record voice messages, which is done via a "communications link."

The company accuses Apple of violating its patent indirectly, as it permitted direct access of the service by users. This was done by allowing voice messages to be exchanged.

It is believed that Apple had been intimated by Seatoun Media in October 2016 about the patent infringement. The latter provided it a written notice and asserts in the lawsuit that Apple is knowingly infringing its patent.

Apple has not responded to the allegations. If found guilty, the company will not only have to shell out an undisclosed sum as damages to the aggrieved party but also the fee for the attorneys.

Photo: Rob Pongsajapan | Flickr

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Facebook is joining the Station F startup campus in Paris, France, aiming to open a Startup Garage for 10 to 15 data-driven startups.

Station F aims to serve as the world's biggest startup campus and it will house a whopping 3,000 desks for all sorts of technology companies. Facebook will be one of the launch partners for Station F and COO Sheryl Sandberg went to France to make the official announcement.

Station F

The ambitious Station F campus stretches over 366,000 square feet and aims to house a massive startup ecosystem on its premises. The facility is set to open on April 1, 2017 and partners can rent desks for 195 (roughly $208) per month.

The tenants at Station F will include a FabLab hackerspace, venture capital firms, as well as corporate partners such as Facebook and others. Moreover, Station F is also renovating two nearby buildings to use them for subsidized housing for 600 people associated with the campus.

Facebook Startup Garage At Station F

Facebook's Startup Garage will occupy 80 desks out of the 3,000 desks Station F will be offering. The social media company will be working directly with 10 to 15 data-driven startups every six months, allowing them to tap the experience and expertise of Facebook engineers.

"The 'Startup Garage' will accompany the growth of startups independent who will contribute to the economy of the data," reads a translation of Facebook's announcement.

"Thanks to this significant investment, several groups of 10 to 15 start-ups will be welcomed for 6 months each."

Facebook Startup Garage Accepting Applications

Facebook is accepting applications for its Startup Garage at Station F, allowing startups to register for a chance of working with Facebook.

"We're thrilled to be a founding partner and start the Facebook Startup Garage here," Sandberg said. "My guess is that we're going to learn even more from working with you than you working with us."

A Station F announcement on Medium also points out that although Facebook has long supported entrepreneurship globally, it has never invested into a physical space up until now.

Come April, Facebook's 80 Station F desks will be at mezzanine, located near the entrance. The company has already placed a Facebook logo on site, in anticipation of the grand opening.

Potential Acquisitions

As previously mentioned, Facebook will work with 10 to 15 startups at a time, taking up a new batch every six months. The company will offer weekly workshops and Facebook engineers will share their wisdom with young startups to help them grow.

This program will likely lead to some deals in the future, as Facebook will surely spot at least one startup that would make a good acquisition. Facebook will not take any equity in the startups that take part in this initiative, but the collaboration will nonetheless allow the social media company to develop talent and spot potential acquisitions in the early stages.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, meanwhile, welcomed the ambitious initiative and highlighted that Paris already had its appeal, but Brexit made it even more attractive.

Facebook already has a few startups on board with Startup Garage, and it's accepting applications until Feb. 28.

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Samsung has staunchly encouraged Galaxy Note 7 owners to hand over their devices back to the company given the faux pas everyone is probably all-too-familiar with by now. However, the effort has apparently been less effective than the company hoped, as some are still averse to returning their devices for undetermined reasons.

Even after numerous reports pitting Note 7 handsets as hazardous explosives, the threat to peril isn't convincing enough for some, apparently. Verizon, in fact, still has "thousands" of Note 7 units out there, even after issuing a software update that deliberately incapacitated the phone and halted its recharging function.

Several users have apparently bypassed the upgrade and have since resumed using their Note 7 devices, much to Verizon's dismay, the Big Red says.

"In spite of our best efforts, there are still customers using the recalled phones who have not returned or exchanged their Note 7 to the point of purchase," a spokeswoman from Verizon told Fortune. "The recalled Note 7s pose a safety risk to our customers and those around them."

Some Users Still Aren't Returning Their Note 7

As a result, Verizon is set to uphold extra measures to essentially force users out of their relentless preference to possess a potentially life-threatening device. The company is poised to relegate these devices in a specific category that'll effectively reroute every outgoing call  save for 911 calls, of course  to customer service. What's more, since Samsung has already handed out these users' due recompense, Verizon is also saying that it could potentially bill the unreturned devices at full retail cost.

Galaxy Note 7 Fiasco

Samsung along with wireless carriers implored all owners of Note 7 devices to return their handsets in September in light of reports of fires caused by exploding Note 7 devices surfaced fervently  and most owners did as told, as anyone is probably wont to do, given the serious hazards associated with the device.

Samsung said on Jan. 10 that more than 96 percent of all Note 7 devices have been successfully returned. To ensure that remaining devices won't cause further problems, Samsung alongside handset carriers decided to distribute a "kill switch" software update over that was meant to bar the phones from networks, or being recharged. Some units, however, successfully circumvented it.

Samsung is poised to disclose its findings after investigating what caused Note 7 devices to explode this month. Logically, it behooves the company to also ensure consumers that its forthcoming flagships, such as the Galaxy S8, will not suffer the same fate as the Note 7's.

Verizon says owners who hand over their Note 7 device are still eligible for up to $100 in bill credit with a waived upgrade fee, according to the carrier.

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Jan. 10 lifted its Note 7 ban, finally removing the pre-boarding notification requirement in every flight that announced the hazardous nature of Note 7 devices.

The company's next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8, is in the grand position to repair damages in loyalty  and, well, in profit  incurred by the Note 7's embattled stint. But that remains to be seen once the device is released in the next few months.

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Qualcomm, the world's leading mobile chipmaker, has now been dragged to court by U.S. antitrust officials for alleged anti-competitive practices. Particularly, the Federal Trade Commission accused it of violating the FTC Act in the manner it licenses its technology to crush rivals, stifling innovation in the process.

In the complaint filed before a federal district court, FTC stated that Qualcomm is using its stable of patented technology to impose supply and licensing terms on smartphone manufacturers that weakens competition.

Qualcomm's No License, No Chips Tactic

According to FTC, Qualcomm is using unfair tactics. The company purportedly has a penchant for threatening to disrupt processor supply if it is not getting what it wants in its contracts with smartphone manufacturers.

As a result, terms reportedly include elevated royalties on its baseband processors, which incur taxes for OEMs when they use chips manufactured by Qualcomm's rivals. FTC has distilled its strategies into what it calls as no license, no chip position.

These purportedly achieve at least two outcomes. First, OEMs are forced to drop chips by competing manufacturers. Secondly, it could jack up the cost of a device that uses a non-Qualcomm chip, which means that customers ultimately bear the brunt of Qualcomm's anti-competitive practices.

Withholding Standard-Essential Patents

FTC also cited Qualcomm's patents, which have been adopted by standard-setting organizations based on the company's commitment that they will be licensed within a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory fashion or what is known in the industry as FRAND terms. According to FTC, Qualcomm is violating this commitment by refusing to license standard-essential patents to its rivals.

Overall, these conditions are believed to be throttling innovation. FTC, through the lawsuit, is seeking to correct the so-called unfair tactics and methods, asking the court to promptly stop them and restore competitive conditions. It is not yet known whether FTC will ask for indemnity. Back in 2014, however, Qualcomm has already revealed that it is being investigated by the agency and stated that it might be slapped with a fine and forced to change its operations.

Qualcomm: Flawed Legal Theory

The chipmaker maintains that its practices are necessary so it can cover the cost of its research and development. Qualcomm further noted that the technologies it was able to develop so far are benefitting their users. In a latest statement, the company maintained that the FTC complaint is based on a flawed legal theory, riddled with misconceptions about the mobile technology industry.

Qualcomm has also indicated that the FTC complaint has been rushed to beat the transition to the new administration. It stated that it is looking forward to defending itself in court.

One should note, however, that South Korea  where Samsung and LG, two of its largest customers, are headquartered  has fined Qualcomm a whopping $890 million for its tactics. The company has also been charged by antitrust authorities in Europe, a development that has been reported as early as 2014.

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Business

Here's how this free app turned amateurs into UAE's top professional stock market traders

Going into business without first having some basic knowledge of how the market works and the tools at our disposal increases your risk of getting into trouble. Simulators provide learning platforms for people who want to start learning how to invest.
To ensure that Maps will become more indispensable for users, Google is purportedly poised to unleash a new feature that will allow users to identify open parking spots. This will be the case at least based on a functionality that is purportedly getting rolled out in the app's 9.44 beta build.

Google Maps And Parking Availability

According to Android Police, which first spotted the change, the new feature will inform users of the availability of parking spaces. It will also provide more details such as whether a destination has easy, medium, or limited parking slots.

It is important to note that the feature is only available in select areas. While the beta app is available to users in Paris, for instance, the parking availability feature will simply not work in the city. Some sources, however, reported that it is working in some locations in Maryland but is confined to public spaces like airports and shopping malls.

You can give it a try by downloading the beta app at APK Mirror.

Google Parking Estimate

At this point, it is not yet clear how the parking feature works or where Google is drawing its data to provide the service. Some sources, however, believe that Google gets its insights from the user's location data, along with contextual information such as traffic conditions between the user's location and the destination to predict parking availability.

Google could also turn to its own technologies such as the Flow Transport Coordination Platform to leverage data analytics.

Also, based on insights offered by the user experiences at this stage, it appears that Google is providing more general parking information. At the outset, you will be provided an estimate how a destination "usually" has easy, medium, or limited parking labels. More detailed information will only filter in as you drive toward a destination as the app begins to provide more descriptive text.

It is important to remember, however, that similar features have popped up in other navigation app such as Waze, which teamed up with Inrix to provide the feature as early as September of last year.

Accurate Parking Prediction

Interestingly, Waze can already find its users an open parking slot. However, since Google also owns Waze, it could also tap Inrix's technology or simply introduce similar system to power its Maps' parking feature.

A closer look at Inrix will reveal how it is able to successfully determine available parking spaces. The company collects and analyzes road traffic information and they serve as the bases in the way its technology can predict parking spots in a given block. They complement pricing data available for cities and parking facilities.

The aggregated information can purportedly allow Inrix to determine not just available parking slots but also how much you need to pay for their use.

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More than 80 false killer whales have been found lifeless after a mass stranding along the remote coast of Southwest Florida in Everglades, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported.

The death toll reported last Monday was 81, with one of the rare whales discovered alive. Rescue crews continued searching for more as the pod in the biggest recorded stranding of such whales in the state was originally believed to be about 100.

[The whales] were deeply embedded in some of the mangrove making response efforts extremely difficult, said stranding network coordinator Blair Mase.

Biggest Mass Stranding In The State

The first report of the incident near Hog Key, which sits in the middle of islands off Southwest Florida, was received last Saturday. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the mass stranding and a team from NOAA and the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission then rushed to the scene, which was around an hour of boat ride from the shore.

They attempted to herd some of the affected whales to deeper water Saturday night and Sunday, but efforts were hampered by shallow muddy flats as well as the mangrove-laden shoreline.

Calves and juvenile and adult whales alike were entangled in the mangroves, while lack of cellphone coverage and the threat of sharks also affected the efforts, Mase added.

The team had to euthanize nine of the sick whales, while another 72 of them died Sunday.

Why Whales Become Stranded

There is not a lot known about false killer whales, the fourth biggest member of the dolphin family and usually live in warm and deep waters in the oceans. They resemble orcas from a distance but lack the notable white oval encircling the eye of their larger kin.

Insufficient data keep the total number of false killer whales worldwide unknown, according to the IUCN Red List. A 2004 study of the organization, however, pegged pods in the northern Gulf of Mexico at 1,038.

NOAA studied samples from the dead dolphins to determine why the animals swam ashore, completing full necropsies on six whales and partial dissections on others. They are looking at different possibilities, from unusual weather and changes in tide to military sonar exercises.

Months before, a federal court ruled against low-frequency sonar testing by the U.S. Navy as it was seen to affect dolphins and other marine creatures relying on the sound generation.

Strandings of this species have previously occurred, the largest one happening in 1946 when about 835 whales were stranded near a beach in Argentina. While they tend to swim in pods of only about 10 to 20, the whales typically die en masse during strandings.

In 2013 in northeastern Brazil, 30 dolphins beached themselves in shallow sands and biologists remained uncertain as to what caused the unfortunate situation: either the pod leader was hurt, or the dolphins were trailing a school of fish when they fell trap to the high sand banks in the area.

Large strandings have taken place in South America and Australia but rarely in the United States, its last one in 1986 when a 40-strong pod swam near Floridas Cedar Key.

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Famous hacker group Anonymous has targeted U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, threatening to expose his "personal and financial ties with Russian mobsters."

In a succession of tweets posted from one of the group's main Twitter accounts on Jan. 16, Anonymous claimed it has secret information on Trump's dubious ties with Russian mafia, child traffickers, and money launderers.

.@realDonaldTrump you have financial and personal ties with Russian mobsters, child traffickers, and money launderers.  Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) Jan. 16, 2017

The hacker group also cautioned that Trump will regret his next four years as President.

This isn't the 80's any longer, information doesn't vanish, it is all out there. You are going to regret the next 4 years. @realDonaldTrump  Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) Jan. 16, 2017

The tweets from the hacker group collectively came after Trump took a dig at retiring CIA chief John Brennan with a tweet saying, "Was this the leaker of fake news?"

much worse - just look at Syria (red line), Crimea, Ukraine and the build-up of Russian nukes. Not good! Was this the leaker of Fake News?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) Jan. 16, 2017

The "fake news" according to Trump is the dossier written by British espionage Christopher Steele, who claims that Trump paid sex workers to urinate on his Moscow hotel bed as a sign of "dirty protest" against Barack Obama. Obama stayed in the same hotel suite during an earlier visit.

Although Anonymous made strong allegations against Trump in its tweets, the group did not release any evidence to support its claims. The group did not reveal how it plans to share this alleged information in its possession and expose Trump.

In 2016, Anonymous waged a cyber war against Trump by shutting down his personal websites and threatening to expose personal information Trump didn't want the public to know.

Anonymous also started the #OpTrump campaign and called in every individual with access to a computer to join the movement and sabotage his presidential campaign.

However, the protest did not gather much support as a few days later, another group calling itself the Anonymous Patriots, said the hashtag campaign was an attack on freedom of speech.

Trump is yet to respond to the allegations made by Anonymous.

Anonymous War On ISIS

The last time Anonymous declared war was right after the terrible Paris attacks. Anonymous posted a video on YouTube declaring "War on ISIS."

The video showed an unidentified male wearing the famous Guy Fawkes mask threatening to take down ISIS for the violence it caused worldwide. ISIS responded to this threat by calling the hacker collective "idiots." Time will now tell how Anonymous plans to take down Trump who is to be sworn in as President of the United States on Jan. 20.

Photo: Thierry Ehrmann | Flickr

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The rate of abortion in the United States has fallen to its lowest since the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade in 1973 legalized the procedure, a new report has revealed.

The new survey by the Guttmacher Institute discovered that in 2014, there were 14.6 abortions for every 1,000 women with the childbearing ages of 15 to 44  the biggest recorded drop since the landmark Supreme Court ruling.

For the first time, too, the annual number of abortions in the country fell to under one million for the first time since the mid-1970s. Abortion rates soared to a peak of over 1.6 million in 1990.

Why At An All-Time Low?

The survey, authored by Rachel Jones and Jenna Jerman, was commissioned for the institute that supports legalized abortion.

The authors did not directly probe the reasons for the rate decline but attributed it to better contraception and a wave of abortion restrictions in some states over the past five years.

Abortion restrictions and clinic closures mean that patients may need to travel greater distances to access services, said Jones, pointing to 75 percent of abortion patients as poor or low-income and almost two-thirds are already parents who needed to arrange time off from work and child care to undergo the service.

Interestingly, there was no correlation made between the number of abortion clinics and the dwindling rates. In the Midwest, for instance, the number of clinics dropped 22 percent during the survey period, while the abortion rate in the region decreased 9 percent. The number of clinics in the Northeast climbed 14 percent, while its abortion rate dropped 11 percent from 2011 to 2014.

Different Groups Speak Out

Megan Donovan, senior policy manager at Guttmacher, reminded that enabling women to prevent unintended pregnancies and pursue family planning is a human rights priority as well as a smart public health policy.

For Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, the findings are fresh proof that better access to contraception is reaping the benefits via fewer abortions.

"It shows that we're finally doing a better job of helping women get access to birth control that's affordable and that's high quality," said Richards in an NBC News report.

Anti-abortion groups such as Americans United for Life, however, said that cracking down on abortion clinics and creating laws that require women to get ultrasounds provide a real, measurable impact on the matter of abortion.

The findings are discussed in the journal Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.

The survey was released months after the CDC pointed out that birth rates in black and Hispanic teens are still three times likely as in their white peers, but they have dramatically dropped in the past decade.

The Heartbeat Bill, a nationwide version of the controversial, blocked Ohio Heartbeat Bill, was recently introduced and seeks to effectively ban abortions at the very first sign of a fetal heartbeat. If passed into law, this bill will consider any abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy a felony.

The Heartbeat Bill is being presented at the House of Representatives by GOP Rep. Steve King of Iowa.

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The Apple Store in Palo Alto has temporarily downed its shutters for repair after the smash-and-grab burglary in December 2016.

At the time, Mercury News reported that a group of 8 to 10 burglars smashed into the Apple Store with a rented Kia Soul and stole a number of Macs and iPhones.

The incident occurred before dawn and the cops located the rented gray Kia Soul on the sidewalk with massive damage, as well as a hole in the Apple Store's floor-to-ceiling glass front.

The same Apple Store has been the target of thieves several times in the last six months. In a series of grab-and-go robberies, thieves came in during store hours and snatched away all the devices on display and left.

Little has been mentioned about the closing of the Palo Alto store on the company's official website. Apple has not commented on the reopening date of the store.

The Palo Alto Apple Store Robbery: What Transpired

In December 2016, the police was informed about the robbery a little after 4:30 a.m. by witnesses who said that there were several people running from the store.

A Hyundai Sonata was located by the police half a block away in a deserted alley. Many of the stolen iPhones and Macs were found strewn both in and around the car.

"This was a pretty brazen act when somebody breaks their way into a business after hours and uses a vehicle to force their way into a store," said Sgt. James Reifschneider of the Palo Alto police.

The surveillance footage showed that the thieves crawled into the store through the hole in the glass wearing hooded sweatshirts.

Glass Facades Blamed For Repeated Robberies

Apple uses large glass doors and windows at many of its stores, which may be the culprit as it is simple to break into. In some cases, company has deterrents like bollards placed in front of the store, but in case of the Palo Alto attack, the burglars simply drove around them and came in from the sidewalk.

Apple's popular store, the Fifth Avenue "cube" in New York City, will also also close for renovation on Jan. 20, and the company will temporarily shift the outlet to the nearby General Motors building.

With new launches from the company in the pipeline, consumers in Palo Alto would be hoping that the store reopens its doors to people soon. Apple, on the other hand, would be looking to beef up security at this susceptible location to keep burglars at bay, if it reopens the Palo Alto store.

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Research proves that we might recognize various shades of colors; however we can recall only a few basic shades

Have you ever observed that when you shop for say curtains for your living room or bedroom, it is difficult to recollect the exact color shade of the particular walls!

A recent study conducted by the scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore explained that humans can recognize and distinguish between millions of colors which they see; however they can recall only specific and few basic shades because brain can store only basic general hues.

With this experiment scientists pointed out the fact that people often face this problem of recalling a particular hue because brain limits the color memory to few best version of basic colors.

One of the best examples could be that brain can make out difference between the different shades of blue such as azure, navy, cobalt, ultramarine. However, it labels them under one category of blue shade. Researchers said the same goes with all the major color shades such as green, pink, purple, etc.

During the University news release, Jonathan Flombaum, a cognitive psychologist at Johns Hopkins and leading the research team said: Trying to pick out a color for touch-ups, Id end up making a mistake. This is because Id mis-remember my wall as more prototypically blue. It could be a green as far as Sherwin-Williams is concerned, but I remember it as blue.

Flombaum and his research team conducted a series of experiments to establish this color bias theory. Initially a group of volunteers were made to view a color wheel which was made up of 180 different colors and then asked to find the best examples of blue, pink, purple, orange and yellow. Next the research team conducted a memory experiment with a different group of volunteers who were shown colored square for one tenth of a second and then made to look at a blank screen for a little less than a second and then asked to remember as well as find the color shade on the color wheel which had 180 hues.

It was found that when the volunteers tried to match the hues they tend to miscalculate the best colors and majority of them biased towards the archetypes.

Based on this vast study the researchers concluded that brain intentionally uses broad, language-driven categories for the color.

Flombaum added: We can differentiate millions of colors, but to store this information, our brain has a trick. We tag the color with a coarse label. That then makes our memories more biased, but still pretty useful.

He said: The findings have broad implications for the understanding of visual working memory. When faced with a multitude of something  colors, birds, faces  people tend to remember them later as more prototypical.

Flombaum further concludes that it is not the case that brain doesnt have enough space to remember the millions of options, instead it is the mind that tries to reconcile those precise details with more limited, language-driven categories.

Flombaum added: We have very precise perception of color in the brain, but when we have to pick that color out in the world theres a voice that says, Its blue, and that affects what we end up thinking we saw.

This study is first of its kind which shows the memory bias in colors, said the research team.

The details of the entire study has been published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
ISIS has made weapons out of commercial drones

Iraqi Security Forces who are trying to drive ISIS out of Mosul is facing an arsenal of improvised, experimental weapons from ISIS, which are commercial quadcopter drones, converted into tiny bombers. The ISIS already uses weapons such as rifles, mortars, artillery and suicidal car bombs.

ISIS, the radical insurgent group holding territory in both Syria and Iraq, is fighting for its life in Mosul, a large city in Northern Iraq that the terrorist organization has occupied since 2014. Iraqi troops and other security forces have been fighting to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group since early November.

Last week, Kurdish media network Rudaw reported that Islamic State fighters in Mosul are using drones to drop small bombs onto Iraqi security forces and civilians. The explosive-dropping drones have killed civilians, damaged some equipment and structure. Until now, ISIS has not used these drones to deliver chemical weapons, Rudaw said.

Nice shot of the improvised release mechanism ISIL is using to drop grenades from commercial off the shelf UAVs https://t.co/Lj8Ltx0arQ pic.twitter.com/KCuzhUbndb  Alex Mello (@AlexMello02) January 11, 2017

ISIS fighters in Mosul are using quadcopters that are no larger than a couple feet in diameter and can fly for about an hour.

Its not as if it is a large, armed UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] that is dropping munitions from the wingsbut literally, a very small quadcopter that drops a small munition in a somewhat imprecise manner, [Col. Brett] Sylvia, commander of an American military advising mission in Iraq, told Military Times. They are very short-range, targeting those front-line troops from the Iraqis.

Without getting into specifics, Sylvia said U.S. troops have been able to bring to bear some of our technical capabilities to help the Iraqis shoot down nearly a dozen drones.

Recently, Iraqi forces captured these drone bombers and shared it with American advisors, which appear to be commercial, off-the-shelf models, adapted to carry grenade-sized payloads. ISIS fighters abandoned many parts for the drones as they retreated.

Iraqi forces have anti-drone weapons, including gun-like jammers that can drop some commercial models to the ground. They have also taken down at least a dozen armed drones so far, Rudaw reports. The ISF also uses off-the-shelf drones in its military operations, mainly for scouting and helping to call artillery strikes.

A photo posted by Mitch Utterback (@mitchell.utterback) on Jan 12, 2017 at 8:53pm PST

Iraqi security forces have recaptured most of eastern Mosul, but they face a tough fight in the western part of the city, where ISIS is buried, Sylvia said.

There has been an extensive defensive work that has been done in western Mosul, he said. They have certainly been working on that area and even, in some cases, have greater defenses built in western Mosul than they did in eastern Mosul.

Source: Rudaw, Popular science
Microsoft: Windows 7 cant keep up with security needs, upgrade early to Windows 10

The worlds most popular desktop OS, Windows 7 is already 8 years old. Currently, the software is running on extended support by Microsoft, as the mainstream support was withdrawn by the Redmond giant some years ago. As of now, it is only receiving major bug fixes and security updates. Microsoft is set to officially end its support to Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. This would mean that no more security updates, product updates or technical support from Microsoft.

With Windows 7 approaching its end of extended support in less than three years, Microsoft took to its German website to encourage Windows 7 users to upgrade to the latest OS, Windows 10, because of its set of integrated security features, Windows Store for Business, and flexible management and simplified development for enterprise IT.

Today, it does not meet the requirements of modern technology, nor the high security requirements of IT departments, added Markus Nitschke, Head of Windows at Microsoft Germany. As early as in Windows XP, we saw that companies should take early steps to avoid future risks or costs. With Windows 10, we offer our customers the highest level of security and functionality at the cutting edge.

Microsoft also warns that Windows 7 cant keep up with todays threats, and that using an old and especially unsupported OS adds increased maintenance costs. Similarly, unnecessary time is wasted on combating malware attacks that could have been avoided by upgrading to Windows 10. The company also further pointed out that its obsolete operating system is based on long-outdated security architectures. It also warned that companies and businesses who are still using it are more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

On the other hand, Microsoft notes that Windows 10 offers maximum security, an easy upgrade path and a wide range of enterprise security features and that 96% of companies worldwide were already evaluating Windows 10. It also advertises the advantages such as supporting the latest chipset features by Intel, AMD and Qualcomm. Also, with the upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update, Microsoft is once again emboldening its operating system with improved security, better performance, new features for gamers, and enhanced touch support for content creators.
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Olaf Scholz is the first European leader to visit China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. | Read More
This journal serves a community of small businesses worldwide. Here John Wiley Spiers addresses topics on business start-up and expansion and reports relevant daily headlines.John Wiley Spiers is a small business international trader, author of HOW SMALL BUSINESS TRADES WORLDWIDE , and lecturer at various colleges.



For those interested in becoming members of this community, contact John at john@johnspiers.com.
BILLINGS  Born amid controversy and with little initial support from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in the 1990s, Fort Peck Hatchery is now not only supported by the department but the agency is seeking to expand production of coldwater species at the facility.

House Bill 214, which would lift the 750,000 fish limitation for coldwater species like trout at the hatchery and allow a new source of water to be tapped, had its initial hearing before the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee on Tuesday in Helena. No one spoke in opposition to the measure.

Thats a turn of events considering the hatcherys construction was initially not only opposed by FWP and Montana Trout Unlimited, but measures were taken to limit its use and funding.

Bob Gilbert, speaking for Walleyes Unlimited of Montana, acknowledged in supporting the bill that he has had a long history with the hatchery, but didnt bring up the controversial past when supporting the measure. Instead, he struck a conciliatory tone saying that the facility can now serve as a backup for the states other aging hatcheries to produce trout.

FWP plans to tap a new water source for the hatchery. Currently water is pumped from below the dam. FWP wants to build a pipeline from one of the dams penstocks.

In the fall of 2016 about 1.4 million chinook salmon eggs, a new record, were gathered by FWP from fish that are stocked in Fort Peck Reservoir, Eileen Ryce, FWPs Fisheries Division administrator, told the panel. But poor water quality lessened the egg survival, she said. The new water source would alleviate that problem as well as lessen operating costs by reducing the need for pumping since the new water source would be gravity flow.

As you can see, this seems to make perfectly good sense and helps ensure our fishing heritage in the state, said Rep. Bob Brown, R-Thompson Falls, who is sponsoring the bill.

In other action, the committee heard testimony on HB 154, which would ban possession of exploding targets on state lands between May 1 and Oct. 31. Sponsored by former wildland firefighter Rep. Willis Curdy, D-Missoula, the measure is meant to reduce the chances of wildland fires during months when conditions on the landscape may be more conducive to blazes. No one opposed the bill.

Individuals would still have the opportunity to use the targets on their own property, Curdy said. This is an opportunity to make Montana wildfire-safe.

The committee also heard HB 183, which would remove the sunset date on a law that allows people to act as replacement outfitters when theres an emergency. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Kelly Flynn, R-Townsend, who is an outfitter.

Jean Johnson, of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, spoke in support of the bill noting that if an outfitter abuses the system they are flagged. So far, only two incidents of abuse have been noted, she added, and proceeded to the complaint process. No one opposed the bill.

No action was taken on any of the bills.
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Nine months after he was fired from his job as Denham Springs police chief, Scott Joness appeal of his termination was dismissed Tuesday.

Chief District Court Judge Robert Morrison said the Denham Springs Civil Service Board had not acted arbitrarily in upholding the City Councils April 7 vote to fire Jones over the handling of a domestic abuse case involving a city councilman.

Benjamin Chapman, Joness attorney, said he did not know whether Jones intended to appeal the decision to the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal.

+2 Civil service board upholds firing of Denham Springs police chief DENHAM SPRINGS  After nearly 20 hours of testimony spread over four nights and less than an

Jones was fired, along with his second-in-command, Capt. Steve Kistler, after a mayor-appointed investigative committee determined Kistler had violated department protocol and state law in issuing a summons to Councilman Chris Davis, rather than arresting him.

Daviss wife had accused her husband of hitting her in the head with his truck door during an overnight altercation Jan. 14-15, 2016. Both Davises later said the injury was an accident  statements that Kistler said wiped out any probable cause for arrest.

Mayor Gerard Landry said he had instructed Jones to stay on top of the Davis case and ensure the law was followed to the letter. The investigative committee found that Jones disobeyed that order, demonstrating an unwillingness to perform his duties that made him unfit for service.

The City Council voted 4-1 on April 7 to fire Jones, with Davis casting the lone vote against termination. The Civil Service Board on June 1 upheld the firing on a 4-0 vote.

On appeal to the 21st Judicial District Court in Livingston, Joness attorney had argued that the former chiefs firing was illegal. He argued that the city violated Joness rights under state law by failing to complete the investigation in a timely manner, and that the city had no cause to terminate him.

+4 Ex-police chief sues Denham Springs over 'retaliatory' firing Former Denham Springs Police Chief Scott Jones has asked a state court judge to overturn the

Morrison, the judge, found that there was sufficient evidence to support Joness firing.

The Civil Service Board also upheld Kistlers termination on a 4-1 vote on Nov. 3. Board member Tom Lay, who had missed most of Joness appeal hearing and the vote due to health reasons, cast the lone vote against affirming Kistlers firing.

Kistlers appeal to the state district court remains pending.
Marion Camille Meechan Malensek was born May 2, 1925. She was the first of three daughters born to Louis and Maude Meechan in Wallace, ID. Camille passed away January 13, 2017 in Helena, MT after a prolonged illness she hoped she could beat.

Camille received her nurses training at Sacred Heart School of Nursing, Spokane, WA. She met and married the love of her life Edward Malensek on June 7, 1948 in Spokane. She and Ed had many adventures ahead of them. With six children in tow the family moved from Dillon, MT to Tallahassee, FL where Ed earned his MSW and Camille worked as a registered nurse. Two years later they moved back to Montana living in Hardin, Miles City and finally settling in Helena.

Camille was a devoted wife, mother and nurse. She was a well respected nurse at St. Johns Hospital, Fort Harrison and St. Peters Hospital. She loved helping and caring for people. She worked in many aspects of nursing, retiring from the OR at St. Peters Hospital.

After retirement, she and Ed continued on to many more adventures in camping, hiking, traveling to Alaska and the Oregon coast. She especially loved a 50th anniversary train ride to San Francisco where she spent some of her childhood with her aunt. She also loved playing bridge and looked forward to those monthly games and visiting with her friends. It seems like yesterday but all of a sudden life happened and passed by. We will forever miss you.

Camille is survived by her husband Edward, together 68 years, children, Mike (Barb), Mary (Gary) Poepping, Mark (Debbe), Becky (Mike) Muller, Peggy (Shawn) Audie, and John (Julie). She is also survived by her ten grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren with two more on the way and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Lois and Ailene.

Special thanks to St. Peters Cancer Treatment Center, Big Sky Health Care and Hospice of St. Peters for all the wonderful care you gave her and to all her family and friends who knew her laughter and joy of life.

A Funeral Liturgy will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 23rd at Retz Funeral Home, 315 E. 6th Ave., with a reception to immediately follow the service at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow the reception at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. Memorial in Camilles name may be sent to St. Peters Cancer Treatment Center c/o St. Peters Hospital, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601, Shriners Hospital for Children, c/o Algeria Shrine Temple, PO Box 4879, Helena, MT 59604 or Hospice of St. Peters Hospital c/o St. Peters Hospital, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601. Please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Camille.
In a series of friendly questions, U. S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge allowed U. S. Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos to rebut criticism that she is hostile to public education.

"As secretary of education do you intend to undermine public education?" Cassidy asked.

Not at all, DeVos replied.

Cassidy made his comments during the confirmation hearing for DeVos by the U. S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

The senator and most colleagues on the panel got five minutes for questions in a session that began at 4 p.m.

The nomination has sparked controversy in part because DeVos is a longtime backer of vouchers, charter schools and other alternatives to traditional public schools.

In Louisiana advocates of public school changes have praised the nomination by President-elect Donald Trump as a way to help shake up the public education establishment and improve student test scores.

Letters: DeVos should be confirmed for education post Americas education system has been broken for a very long time. The just-released Program f

Critics contend that DeVos favors privatizing public schools and have complained that she has never been an educator.

The nomination has sparked criticism from Democrats and teacher unions nationwide.

Letters: DeVos should not be education secretary Aside from the fact that Betsy DeVos and her family are buying their way into positions of p

Cassidy said he has been surprised by the criticism.

He expressed mock surprise that, in response to questions, she backs public education, believes that all children deserve access to quality teaching and supports giving families the right to choose the school of their choice regardless of income.

Cassidy also sought support from the nominee to work with him and others to improve federal policies on students with dyslexia.

"I am passionate about it," he said.

Cassidy's wife, Dr. Laura Cassidy, is the leader of a charter school in Baton Rouge for students with dyslexia called the Louisiana Key Academy.

The school has about 300 students in grades one to five.

Students with dyslexia have trouble reading and difficulties recognizing words.

Charter schools are public schools run by non-governmental boards.

Vouchers are state aid for students from low-income families attending troubled public schools to move to private schools.

DeVos stopped short of pledging, as a federal official, to work for early screening of students for dyslexia.

She said she would be glad to explore the issue but was unsure whether it was a question for state and local officials.

"That is a fair answer," Cassidy replied.

The committee confirmation hearing was expected to extend well into Tuesday evening.
Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler asked Tuesday President-elect Donald Trump to undo a recent federal decision that designates elections systems in all 50 states as critical infrastructure.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Jan. 6 said in a press release that the designation allows voter registration rolls, balloting and other parts of the election system to receive priority cybersecurity assistance.

The federal government has 16 critical infrastructure sectors, including dams, government facilities and nuclear reactors. The designation allows those sectors to work with federal authorities on a variety activities, such as, risk assessments.

Johnson acknowledged that many state and local election officials are opposed to this designation. But, he added, the designation does not mean a federal takeover, regulation, oversight or intrusion concerning elections.

Schedler said in a prepared statement that during a conference call with elections officials around the country, Johnson could not say why such a formal designation was immediately necessary.

Over the summer, Arizona and Illinois reported efforts to infiltrate their voter registration systems. No data was manipulated and the systems targeted had nothing to do with vote casting or counting.

The FBI reported to Congress that a variety of scanning activities  early indications of computer hacking  was found in as many as 20 states. Johnson, at the time, encouraged states to secure their election systems and ensure that electronic voting machines were not connected to the internet.

Louisiana already had implemented all of the recommendations made by Johnsons agency, Schedler said. He questioned the need to make the designation during the final weeks of the Obama administration.

He asked Trump to rescind the designation after taking office on Friday.

When it comes to election integrity, I am not going to let the federal government have the keys to our secured election system unless they can better articulate their intentions, Schedler said, adding that it was intrusion into states rights and a step towards nationalizing elections.
New restaurant plans for Tony Angellos, former Toneys Spaghetti House on Bourbon St.

New restaurants planned for Tony Angellos site and former Toneys Spaghetti House on Bourbon Street
A spokesperson said the company had anticipated the assessment would be required at some stage.

But the company said this week the government had now requested a formal health impact assessment, and it was waiting for the terms of reference.

In its revised environmental impact statement , released this week, Foy said a formal health assessment could only be done once the plant design was finalised.

The Foy Group has defended its planned plastics-to-fuel factory at Hume in the face of health concerns, saying the minimal air emissions from the plant will be well under health limits.

"Foy is confident about its product and understands that the science is new and complex and requires accurate explanation and communication so that all are fully informed and assured of its merits and safety," the spokesperson said.

The company wants to build a factory at Hume to turn non-recyclable plastics - polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene - into petrol, diesel and LPG, using temperatures above 400C.

The plant will have tanks for up to 1810 kilolitres of diesel and petrol, plus 27 kilolitres of LPG. At full operation, it would receive six trucks of day of plastics, and send out six fuel tankers a day of fuel.

Foy is using new technology, invented by director Bevan Dooley, which it says addresses problems that have stopped others from commercialising plastics-to-fuel technology. Foy says its process removes ash, deals with hydrocarbon contaminants, removes impurities and uses waste gas for heating to burn off gas at a high enough temperature to destroy noxious compounds.

Foy has a factory at Berkeley Vale on the NSW central coast which re-refines "co-mingled" fuel back to diesel and petrol. It wants to turn that into a plastics-to-fuel factory of the kind proposed for Canberra, but the bid was rejected by the NSW Environment Protection Authority. The authority would not give reasons, when asked by Fairfax Media, beyond saying the proposal did not meet NSW's energy from waste policy.
Across the Bungendore region on Wednesday, locals surveyed the aftermath of the fast moving fire which had burned up 3300 hectares, tearing east towards Goulburn Rd.

On Wednesday, heavy winds, high temperatures and spotfires made efforts to battle the erratic blaze more difficult with a fire springing up west of Lake George, as an emergency warning was announced in Sutton.

Fred Kuhn on his Mount Fairy property with some of the sheep that perished in the recent fires. Credit:Karleen Minney

Fred Kuhn, the past owner of Canberra's first surf & skate shop, Surf Scene, stood by a pile of his dead livestock on his property in Mt Fairy with his friend Tina Calisto.

He'd lost 43 of the 150 sheep he owned on Tuesday as the fire burned through his pine forest, and he was still thinking about what happened.
A burger bar operator who has repeatedly underpaid workers is now facing the prospect of jail time if he keeps ripping off his employees.

For the second time in a year, Todd Buzza and his company Rum Runner Trading face allegations of underpaying employees at outlets of his Burger Buzz chain.

In the latest case, the Fair Work Ombudsman alleges Mr Buzza underpaid five employees a total of $7513 between December 2015 and July 2016.

Mr Buzza's alleged violations include paying below the minimum wage, denying full penalty rates, failing to provide mandated breaks and not paying wages on a fortnightly basis.
An ironic contradiction is likely to define the global economic community's convocation in Davos this week as it awaits Donald Trump's inauguration. There has not been so much anxiety about US global leadership or about the sustainability of market-oriented democracy at any time in the past half-century. Yet with markets not only failing to swoon as predicted, but actually rallying strongly after both the Brexit vote and Trump's victory, the animal spirits of business are running hot.

Many chief executives are coming to believe that, whatever the president-elect's infirmities, the strongly pro- business attitude of his administration, combined with Republican control of Congress, will lead to a new era of support for business, along with much lower taxes and regulatory burdens. This in turn, it is argued, will drive major increases in investment and hiring, setting off a virtuous circle of economic growth and rising confidence.

While it has to be admitted that such a scenario looks more plausible today than it did on Election Day, I believe that it is very much odds-off. More likely is that the current run of happy markets and favourable sentiment will be seen, with the benefit of hindsight, as a sugar high. John Maynard Keynes was right to emphasise the great importance of animal spirits, but other economists have also been right to emphasise that it is political and economic fundamentals that dominate in the medium and long terms.

History is replete with examples of populist authoritarian policies that produced short-run benefits but poor long-run outcomes.
The news that Australia's university dropout rate is worsening and that around one in three students fails to compete their studies within six years has raised relatively few eyebrows in higher education circles. Perhaps that calm is warranted. After all, tertiary education operates on purely utilitarian and economic terms  to generate income for the institutions that are doing the educating and to provide students with value for money and career opportunities after graduation. So falling completions may be viewed simply as a reflection of changed student preferences or of shifts in the graduate employment market. Moreover, universities are reimbursed for teaching students enrolled in Commonwealth-supported places  and dropouts are still required to repay their tuition fees.

But if a shrug of the shoulders is the common response, there's no ignoring the fact that this dropout rate represents a colossal waste of time, resources and energy for all concerned, particularly for the erstwhile students. Dropouts are, on average, more likely not to repay their debts to the Commonwealth, so there are financial implications as well.

Education and Training Minister Simon Birmingham has referred to the worsening outlook to urge prospective students to research carefully what they plan to study this year  and where. It's sensible advice, as students who have dropped out commonly cite a bad or inappropriate study choice as the reason. Senator Birmingham's caution about university choice is also apposite because regional universities have a higher dropout rate than their city counterparts  and far higher than that of the Group of Eight universities.

Prudent though Senator Birmingham's advice may be, there are reasons for fearing that it will go unheeded. The expectation that today's school-leavers must or should go to university is considerable  and the current tertiary education funding model caters to that expectation by encouraging enrolments, even to students of indifferent academic ability. That, and the fact that 18-year-olds rarely know their own minds, suggests inappropriate choices will continue to be made.
The second carriage was largely undamaged. But the whole of the third and half the fourth had been crushed by the 250-tonne northern span of the bridge. Premier Neville Wran appeared, grey-faced, accompanied by Transport Minister Peter Cox. At Blaxland, Liesel Koch tried desperately to contact her daughter Ingeborg at work but the lines were congested. When she got through hours later, Ingeborg answered  no sweeter sound to Liesel than that voice at that moment  and Ingeborg knew nothing of the disaster.

I got to Bold Street in 20 minutes, to be confronted by a mind-numbing horror. Most of the passengers from the other carriages had gone by then, and many of the injured were being treated but it was obvious the death toll would be high. The first carriage had been ripped apart and eight passengers killed.

At 8.40 that morning, I was about to leave my flat at Eastwood. I was to be carpeted before the editor for an incautious article. Then the phone rang and the Herald's assistant chief of staff, Reg Holliday, said: "A train has hit a bridge or a bridge has hit a train or something at Granville. Get out there!"

Tuesday, January 18, was just another day. At Blaxland, Ingeborg Koch ran to catch the train to Sydney. The guard saw her and waited. She boarded and went all the way to Sydney. The next train, the 6.09am from Mt Victoria, did not make it.

Granville train disaster emergency workers. Credit:SMH

I spent the next two days at the site. I rang the office to ask about the carpeting. The reply was: "Forget about that!" I was never carpeted. Rescue workers crawled through gaps, hearing the calls of the injured. One young man told his rescuers to worry about others. He died. Firemen, ambulance officers and police rescuers, including Joe Beecroft and Dickie Lamb, went repeatedly into the mess. A doctor amputated the arm of a dead woman to allow rescuers to go further. John Wilson had to have other police crawl in behind him and pull him out by his feet. Morphine and intravenous fluid were fed through to some of the hopelessly trapped. Bodies were taken, with as much care as possible, up to Bridge Street to a makeshift morgue. One rescuer called plaintively to the crowd to show respect. Cranes were brought onto the scene, and floodlights. Relatives of those missing arrived and others who had been on the train came back. One young man told me that he had recently become a Christian and he believed that God had saved him.

Superintendent George Marshall arrived the next day and blew up at the free rein given the media. By then the injured who could be extracted had been taken away. When in mid-afternoon the crane was to lift the slab from the carriages, Marshall told all media to get back. Those allowed to watch from the edge of the embankment recoiled in unison when the slab was raised.

Each time one came up there was stunned silence around me. The last of 80 bodies was removed at 3.20pm. Ultimately the accident would claim 83 lives. Beecroft was approached by a rather insensitive radio reporter who said: "How do you, personally, feel?' Joe replied: "Well you don't think much about your feeling at the time, but it does get to you." Then he started crying. I went off soulfully and pained. Some months later, I met Ingeborg and before the end of the year was engaged to her. For years we have been together to the annual Granville memorial service, realising it is only chance that Ingeborg is here at all. If only Fate had been kinder to others.

Former Herald journalist Malcolm Brown covered the Granville train disaster in 1977.
Barack Obama, in one of his final acts as President, has commuted the 35-year jail sentence of Chelsea Manning, an army intelligence analyst who leaked classified data on Iraq and Guantanamo Bay to Wikileaks in 2010.

However, the question on everyone's lips is will he now pardon Edward Snowden, a National Security Agency contractor who fled to Russia after leaking sensitive material to The Guardian and The Washington Post?

Former National Security Agency systems analyst Edward Snowden helped publicise the issue of secret backdoors. Credit:AP

The evidence so far is that a pardon may not be forthcoming. Certainly Obama has given conflicting answers when asked about it.

In September 2015, he told USA Today that he preferred clemency-seekers to abide by Justice Department guidelines for clemency, and that anyone seeking clemency should have served at least five years of their sentence.
After a spate of overdoses from a "toxic" batch of ecstasy on Chapel Street last weekend, and one death from an unidentified substance at a New Year's rave, our governments remain stubbornly unconvinced that anything needs to change.

The Victorian Premier has suggested advocates of pill testing are out of touch with reality, but, seriously, who's out of touch when our illicit drug policy is dominated by sermonising politicians and buttressed by the ranks of the misinformed who would like us to suppose that illicit drug deaths are down to permissive parenting?

Illustration: Matt Davidson

The Daily Telegraph, for instance, was keen to remind us earlier this month that "illegal drugs kill"  not as many each year as prescription drugs, it neglected to mention  and that "maintaining that message is a parenting 101". But what about public policy 101  some risks can't be eliminated, only minimised? And what about adolescence 101, for heaven's sake  young adults like to take risks?

The intransigence of our political leaders on the topic of pill testing is a matter of ongoing dismay for drug policy experts  that select group of unfortunate individuals whose advice is vigorously and relentlessly ignored. In frustration, Dr Alex Wodak, president of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, has labelled the current crop of ministers a "bad batch". Strong words. But when you consider Wodak's record on the front line of drug law reform  pioneering a needle exchange program that significantly reduced the spread of HIV  and his years advocating for a pill testing program that could well have saved these young lives, maybe they're not strong enough.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's slap-down this week of MP Andrew Laming was spectacular; one of those moments you want to play over and over on your Facebook feed for fun.



But it also hinted at significant political and policy implications, and that's something that's easy to overlook in the aftermath of Laming's childish stunt.



(Just for those who are dawdling back from holidays....Laming, the MP for Bowman, caused a social media storm last week when he posed the question: "Are teachers back at work this week, or are they 'lesson planning' from home?")



In a political sense, Malcolm Turnbull's decision to send Laming to detention reminded us of how sharp and eloquent he can be; his words, when he's on form, can be an assassin's gun.



"I have to say, of course I am biased, I suppose, with a school teacher daughter, but teachers work very hard; they are absolutely at the front line of our future because it is teachers  charismatic, hardworking teachers  that change lives," Turnbull said.



Now of course in supporting teachers, Turnbull took the side of the angels, but his verbal assault (on one of his own MPs, while visiting Queensland) provided a glimmer of the pre-election Turnbull, before stuff-ups and expense claims and policy backflips drowned his everyday performance.



He needs to do that more; argue his case powerfully and persuasively if he is to control his own party, and the national agenda in 2017.



But Turnbull's rebuke could also be important in a policy sense - and this is a point teachers Australia-wide need to pick up and use in pursuit of their own cause, and in a bid to improve classroom performance.



Education will be a crucial issue this year; in terms of funding, the private versus public debate, and how to improve the performance of Australian schools, which continue to be compared poorly to those in many countries overseas.



Teachers are at the front and centre of our schools, but rarely do we hear their voice in how we might change the system to improve performance. Rarely do we have teachers at the heart of public discussions on homework and subject choice, external assessment, coeducational verses single sex classes and even school hours.



That's left a void, which has been taken up by those - mainly politicians - who have none of the experience of teachers.



Malcolm Turnbull says he's a passionate supporter of the profession; that teachers can change the lives and futures of children the nation over.



So why aren't we seeking their views more in policy debates? Why are they still paid a salary that ignores the impact they can have on the next generation of leaders? Why aren't the political parties actively seeking out those long-term teachers to join their parliamentary ranks?



Laming took to these pages yesterday to explain how he had been misunderstood.



It was the union's fault, he said. He had simply been trying to facilitate a national discussion. Teaching needs to be viewed more as an art and a science, he said.



"Teaching should be a profession, but trade unions are doing their best to reduce it to just that: a trade," he wrote.

"It's a weaker nation that curbs this discussion using derision and personal attack."



No Mr Laming. It's a weaker nation when politicians, paid to represent us, question our teachers' work ethic in the chase for a quick headline.



And it's an even weaker nation, when we don't include those charged with educating the next generation of leaders in determining our educational priorities.



Let's hope Malcolm Turnbull's professed passion for the profession doesn't start and stop with his rebuke of Laming; that it involves policy change.



And he can prove that by placing more value on our teachers' assessment of where the education system is struggling and how we might refashion it.
Chelsea Manning will now be released from prison in May as a 29-year-old, rather than serving her full sentence until 2045, when she would have been almost 60. That Manning has won back almost a lifetime of freedom only serves to illustrate the scale of clemency granted by US President Barack Obama.

But the decision also serves to correct what was a grossly disproportionate punishment for the crime Manning committed. The former US army intelligence analyst, who stunned the world by leaking thousands of classified military and diplomatic reports, was cleared by a military judge in 2013 of charges of aiding the enemy and allegations she acted as a traitor with "general evil intent". Yet the court martial imposed a 35-year prison term, the longest-ever custodial sentence relating to a leak of classified documents.

Chelsea Manning admitted leaking the classified material. Credit:AP

Manning always maintained her action was that of a whistleblower. Then known as Bradley, she had become disillusioned in 2009 after being deployed to Iraq as a low-level officer with extraordinary access to a vast classified network. She copied thousands of military reports from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as about 250,000 diplomatic cables from US embassies around the world, delivering the entire trove to online publishing group WikiLeaks.

Manning admitted leaking the material but told prosecutors her desire was to "spark a domestic debate on the role of our [US] military and foreign policy in general" in an area too often characterised by needless secrecy. She certainly achieved this aim. The files provided an unprecedented insight into the drawn-out campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan; ties between military partners involved in the fighting; and instances where authorities  the Australian government included  knowingly misled the public. The leak also revealed the role of a US military helicopter in killing civilians, including two journalists, along with profiles of detainees held in limbo at Guantanamo Bay.
Former One Nation senator and declared bankrupt Rod Culleton is, in his own words, "not dead yet"  and he's going down swinging in the fight to retain his seat.

As the West Australian farmer prepares for an appeal next week, he has been subtly warned that he risks prosecution for impersonating a public official if he persists in claiming to be a senator.

Mr Culleton published an email on his Facebook page that appeared to be addressed from the office of Senate President Stephen Parry to Mr Culleton's lawyer John Maitland.

The email suggests Mr Maitland may wish to draw his client's attention to sections 148 and 149 of the Criminal Code Act, relating to impersonation and obstruction of Commonwealth officials. The offence carries a jail term of up to five years.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation party scored tickets to Donald Trump's inauguration only after continued pestering from its Queensland senator Malcolm Roberts, it has been revealed.

One Nation senators gloated about the supposed invitation earlier this week, which they said had come from a Republican congressman in the US state of Illinois, Adam Kinzinger.

Brian Burston, who will fly to Washington to attend the ceremony on the party's behalf, had told Fairfax Media the tickets were organised through an adviser to Senator Roberts, Darren Brady Nelson, who formerly worked for the Trump campaign.

But a spokesperson for Mr Kinzinger told Buzzfeed News the congressman had accommodated a request for an invitation from the Australian embassy in Washington, and granted them the tickets "to use as they wish".
Professional sportspeople are often likened to wild animals. They stalk their prey, tease them a little and, when the time is right, move in for the kill.

Now, the zebra is not really known for its killer instincts but try telling that to Nike, whose Australian Open players' uniform makes them look like an army of Equus quagga strolling through the Serengeti.

After several years of neon yellows and oranges dominating on-court fashion at the Australian Open, bold graphics and even some edgier designs are inching their way into the sport.

As the first tournament on the calendar, the Australian Open is a chance for sportswear manufacturers to set the pace for the year, or crash out in the first round.
British engineering giant Rolls-Royce has paid $1.1 billion to settle corruption probes in the UK and US and admitted to using oil industry fixer Unaoil to pay huge bribes in several countries.

Statements released overnight by the US Department of Justice and the UK Serious Fraud Office reveal that information uncovered by Fairfax Media's 2016 expose of the Unaoil bribery scandal has been used to make serious corruption findings against Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce is one of several major multinationals that used Unaoil to win contracts in oil and gas producing nations via a system that involved Unaoil bribing government officials responsible for awarding the contracts.

The settlement highlights the relative weakness of Australia's anti-bribery system in which federal police investigators have amassed significant information about Australian firm Leighton Holdings' corrupt use of Unaoil to win huge deals in Iraq, but have struggled to charge the company or any individual.
Though I knew I was sick, I delayed seeing a doctor in 2012 because I wasnt insured. My partners insurance didnt yet cover same-sex couples and, when it did finally provide coverage, it didnt start until October. When I finally met with a doctor who diagnosed my bladder cancer, my insurance company denied me for a pre-existing condition because Id had a urinary analysis for a bladder infection in February. During treatment, I was unable to work. I endured months of chemotherapy, a lifesaving surgery, a two-week hospital stay and, all the while, continued to appeal for coverage. Ultimately, most of my treatment costs were likely absorbed by the hospital and recovered via rates to paying customers, which isnt fair to those patients. I returned to work part-time late in 2013, but still had no access to health coverage. I waited until January of 2014 to buy into the Afford able Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Even though the premium plan I chose was costly and I met my out-of-pocket costs annually, it helped us pay for medical check-ups until I was able to work full-time again and obtain employer-provided insurance. The ACA isnt perfect. But please - no repeal without replacement.
An amendment to the same-sex marriage bill that would allow religious groups to deny goods or services to same-sex couples looking to wed would effectively legalise discrimination against LBGTIQ people, the ACT government says.

Under the proposed changes to the Marriage Act, religious bodies and organisations could legally refuse to "make facilities available or provide goods or services" to people marrying their same-sex partner.

Ivan Hinton-Teoh of Just.Equal with Shelley Argent of the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Felicity Marlowe of Rainbow Families Victoria, and Rodney Croome a long time marriage equality advocate. Credit:Rohan Thomson

But in a submission to the Senate inquiry scrutinising the amendments, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay and justice minister Shane Rattenbury said the clause was "inconsistent" with Australian discrimination laws.

They also said there was no "rational basis" for creating a right for marriage celebrants who are not ministers of religion to discriminate.
Listening devices were linked to 60 guest rooms in the hotel. Credit:visitestonia.com I was accompanied by a friendly, earnest young man who worked, he told me, for the Soviet news agency Novosti. He was also a committed member of the Communist Party and had named his baby son after his personal hero, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, the party's founder known as Lenin. I was a guest of the Soviet Union under "glasnost", the radical new policy sanctioned by the chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, Mikhael Gorbachev. A man hands out free advertising newspapers in Moscow while behind him looms the Federal Security Service building. The Federal Security Service is the former KGB. Credit:Peter Dejong Glasnost means "openness", and meant permission to discuss politics and social matters  something denied to Soviet citizens for 70 years.

Glasnost was an astonishing departure, still feared by many ordinary people who remembered family or neighbours disappearing in the night for as little as making jokes about Communist Party officials during the Stalin period. Mikhail Gorbachev and Erich Honecker greet each other in East Berlin in 1989. Intellectuals and the more daring, however, were embracing their new freedom with giddy excitement. In the Baltic states, I would discover, you could barely hear yourself think in the poets' salons, where the most vigorous discussions took place. "When you have taken your first breath of fresh air, it is impossible to stop breathing," cried one prominent Estonian poet when I visited a salon and wondered why everyone seemed to be shouting. A view of Siberian countryside from the Trans-Siberian train in winter.

The Soviet embassy in Canberra had been instructed to offer an Australian journalist a visa to witness all this new restructuring (perestroika) and openness (glasnost). When asked where I wished to travel, I named the three Baltic states  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  that were kicking up a fuss about wanting independence from the USSR, something that seemed at the time little but a pipedream, and close to treason. I discovered the dire nature of the economy on my first day in Moscow. Having been told before flying from Australia that the most useful currency in the Soviet Union was cigarettes, I had packed several cartons of soft-pack duty-free Marlboros in my luggage during a stopover in Singapore before boarding a down-at-heel Aeroflot plane. After the early blue-sky summer in Australia, the Moscow airport was a cold concrete bunker, and despite a paucity of travellers, I was held up for what felt like hours, with no sign of my suitcase.

When it was finally delivered and I had travelled the snowy highway into Moscow, there to be accommodated in one of the 3000 rooms of the gigantic Hotel Rossiya next to Red Square, I decided to arm myself with a packet of smokes in case I needed to bribe someone. Every carton was missing, treasure purloined by customs officials. Needing to purchase a new supply, I was bewildered by the business of currency exchange. The official rate at the hotel was a risible $US2 for a single Soviet rouble. Stumbling in shock to the street, I was instantly surrounded by blackmarket kids offering 10 roubles for $1 (the current 2017 market rate is around 60 Russian roubles for $1). The reality, it turned out, was that I didn't need roubles. Universal shortages meant there was almost nothing you'd want to buy. I was pointed to the beryoska store in my hotel: a shop that took only hard currency (no roubles allowed, and thus no locals) and which stocked tacky souvenirs, chocolate, liquor and Western cigarettes.

In my hotel corridor sat a large stern lady whose official duty was to separate all guests from their room keys before they were allowed to leave the floor. I came to assume my room was searched every time I left. By the time I got to the Hotel Viru in Tallin, Estonia, I should have assumed I was being monitored. But my guide laughed and assured me the old stories about the KGB bugging and filming foreigners were fabricated. Keen to discover a little of how life was lived in that bleak world, I settled on a method of meeting "locals". All those black market kids offering money exchange and wanting to buy my leather jacket became a rough detour around the control of my guide. I took to handing out cigarettes if they would get me past the officials who were the hotel gatekeepers and the "mafia" toughs who hung around the hotel's exits, extracting with menaces "tribute" from the cashed-up black market kids. My occasional escapes were made in the night, when my guide had gone to bed, and once or twice a carton of cigarettes got me into apartments where several generations of families lived in a few small rooms, confirming how pinched Soviet lives had become in the Baltics.

My black market contacts regularly warned me to avoid any conversations in my hotel rooms. "KGB," they said. Paranoia, I figured, but I was usually dead beat by the time I got back to my room anyway. Twenty-five years later, in 2013, the owners of the Hotel Viru, which had, once Estonia got its independence, been privatised, decided to reveal a secret. A room on the hotel's 23rd floor was finally opened to the public. It had been locked and preserved since the night in 1991 that its inhabitants, a team of KGB spies, had fled. And there were the listening devices and wrecked radio equipment on steel racks and the film equipment and the ancient typewriters for transcribing overheard conversations. There were even ashtrays with smokes butted out a quarter of a century before, and a green cot.

You can still visit this strange little museum on the 23rd floor of the Hotel Viru.Those listening devices were linked to 60 guest rooms in the hotel, in phones, light fittings and flowerpots. The rooms had holes bored in their walls for the business of filming what was going on inside. All very Maxwell Smart.The KGB's Hotel Viru spying operation had been going on since the hotel was built in the 1960s, and the prime targets were foreign business people ... and Western journalists. God knows what blackmail might have occurred, though most of the listening, apparently, was to mine Western business secrets and to find out what travelling journalists might be writing. The Hotel Viru's secret room on the 23rd floor is unlikely to have been unusual. In the southern summer-northern winter I stayed at the Viru in Estonia, a lieutenant-colonel in the KGB named Vladimir Putin was stationed in Dresden, East Germany. His tasks have never been clearly explained, but most intelligence analysts agree that even in far-away Dresden, a KGB officer's job would have including monitoring foreigners and trying to compromise them.
A five-year-old girl is fighting for life in hospital after a possible methadone overdose in Sydney's north-west.

Police were called to a home at Quakers Hill on Tuesday at 2pm after she was found unconscious.

It is understood the girl was in the care of a relative, who tried to wake her and found her barely breathing.

The child was airlifted to Westmead Children's Hospital where she remained on Wednesday in a critical condition.

Police are investigating whether the girl ingested the drug methadone.
Live: NSW Premier Mike Baird retires, Gladys Berejiklian to contest leadership

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has met with Queensland Rail to get an update about the rollout of the back-to-work train timetable.

Queensland Rail Acting Chief Executive Officer Neil Scales confirmed to the premier that the timetable that will come into force from January 23 will be the same reduced timetable which was put in place in November last year.

That timetable had been a response to ongoing rostering bungles at QR, as a result of a driver shortage caused partly by the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula rail line.

The premier said the meeting had given her a clearer picture of how QR was responding to the issues.
Will Arthur Sinodinos be able to save the "innovation agenda"?

That's the question from entrepreneurs and innovation experts who are concerned it's falling off the national radar.

Senator Arthur Sinodinos suffered a humiliating stint in the witness box during the ICAC inquiry. Credit:Christopher Pearce

Senator Sinodinos was appointed to the Innovation, Industry and Science portfolio in Wednesday's ministerial reshuffle making him the third MP to take the role in the Turnbull government.

"We are told that this is an extremely important portfolio but how can that possibly be when no one is staying in the job for longer than few months?" venture capitalist and innovation consultant Sandy Plunkett said.
A boat allegedly used by the syndicate after it ran aground at Port Fairy Credit:Rob Gunstone On December 6, the syndicate allegedly tried again to pick up the cocaine using their new boat. But they ran aground on Griffiths Island, less than 100 metres from the Port Fairy lighthouse, police said. Police lead members of the former whaling vessel's crew away at Hobart in December. Credit:Australian Federal Police A lifejacket and a lifeboat were found on a nearby beach, but the crew were nowhere to be seen. The next morning, on December 7, the boat was the talk of the town.

It was a comical sight, particularly at low tide, when it was possible to walk out and touch it. Cocaine found on the former whaling vessel in December. Credit:Australian Federal Police It appeared as if the boat had been sailed towards the lighthouse, rather than away from it. Police allege this shipwreck, which occurred on the appropriately named Shipwreck Coast, marked the syndicate's final attempt at collecting the cocaine. Some of the drugs had images of camels walking through the desert fixed on them. Credit:Australian Federal Police

Meanwhile, the crew of nine Chinese men and a Singaporean man on board the Kaiyo Maru were enduring horrific weather and parlous conditions on the dilapidated ship. They were waiting for a boat that never came. One of the boats that police allege the syndicate planned to use to meet the former whaling vessel. Credit:Australian Federal Police On December 12, police raided the Kaiyo Maru. The crew had sailed hundreds of kilometres south-east from the rendezvous point after the syndicate allegedly failed to show. A few days later, when the Kaiyo Maru raid was made public, perhaps the Melbourne syndicate considered themselves fortunate.

Police arrest a man in Melbourne on Wednesday in relation to the alleged cocaine importation and distribution operation. Credit:Australian Federal Police Maybe all those strange happenstances on the high seas were a blessing in disguise; it was meant to be. But their luck ran out on Wednesday  five weeks later  when police busted down doors in Melbourne and Queensland and hauled out the alleged syndicate members. A sketch of (from left) Omer Tok, Christopher Peroulis, Youssif Tawfik and Mohamed Kaddour, made during their appearance in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Credit:Jeff Hayes It may not seem like it now, but investigators believe the alleged drug importers still have reason to feel fortunate.

Because if they made it further than the Port Fairy lighthouse, it was possible they would not have survived the treacherous seas between them and the meeting point. Police were prepared at any time for the drug investigation and monitoring of the syndicate to become a rescue mission. When it became clear the star-crossed syndicate had given up on meeting the Kaiyo Maru, they had another dilemma: when to finish the hunt and arrest them. There were several factors. The Kaiyo Maru had been zigzagging around the meeting point for about a week.

But, about December 8, it started moving further south. It went down the west coast of Tasmania, and then towards New Zealand, all the while avoiding waters within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone. Had the crew ventured inside this boundary, it would have been easier for authorities to intercept them. It is suspected the crew were aware of this fact and deliberately avoided these waters accordingly. Regardless, approval was granted for authorities to move on the boat. The amphibious assault ship HMAS Adelaide intercepted the Maru about 1300 kilometres south-east of Tasmania.

At this point, authorities were still not entirely clear what would be on board, but suspected it would be drugs, and a significant-enough haul to warrant the alleged repeated efforts of an organised crime syndicate. Sure enough, there were about 180 bundles of South American cocaine, each weighing about a kilogram and loaded into nine hessian sacks, piled in amongst other detritus in a storage room on the 50 metre ship. Some bricks had images of camels walking through the desert fixed on them, others had a picture of a black donkey standing in a paddock. But there were other unknowns, including some that would still not become clear, even after the boat was raided. This includes the origin of the Kaiyo, which was last registered to a Japanese whaler, and where it was launched from. It is possible the crew, aged 23 to 50, were operating a roaming international "mother ship".

The crew may have been informed about exchanges between drug importers and exporters, and the planned meeting points, and then waited for smaller boats to come to them. After the drop, they are paid a cut, and wait to hear about the next job. These types of drug importations  rather than those which require a larger ship to dock in Australia, with drugs hidden in a shipment of legitimate goods  are becoming increasingly common. The Kaiyo Maru was first detected when officials on board an RAAF Maritime Patrol aircraft, flying under the direction of Border Force, spotted it off the north-west coast of Western Australia during a routine aerial patrol. It was tracked across the Great Australian Bight to its meeting point, almost directly due south of Port Fairy, before the crew left on December 8. It is suspected they were making for South America when they were intercepted on December 12.

Because of modifications to the boat, including the installation of extra fuel tanks, it was possible the crew could have avoided docking, and the difficult questions which come with it, for many months. The exact country of origin of the drugs, and who brokered the deal with the syndicate, it still being investigated. The crew and syndicate members have each been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. They face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Alleged syndicate members Omer Tok, 39, Youssif Tawfik, 25, Christopher Peroulis, 46, and Mohamed Kaddour, 47, appeared in court on Wednesday and were remanded in custody until May 10. The two other Victorian men who were arrested in Queensland will be extradited, and it is understood police will apply to extradite the 10 crew members who are in custody in Tasmania.

Fifteen properties were searched on Wednesday, including businesses, residences and factories in Essendon, Craigieburn, Meadow Heights, Southbank, Broadmeadows, Reservoir, and Warrnambool. Police found $93,000 cash, small amounts of drugs, a pill press, and stolen watercraft. It is possible other people involved in the alleged importation could be charged, as investigations continue into the source of the drugs. The investigation has stretched to Myanmar, as well as Singapore, China and Japan, and the syndicate is alleged to have had significant global relationships. The syndicate is unlikely to have organised other significant drug importations, but had been monitored for months because of its suspected involvement in other crime.

It was unclear to authorities what had been planned until syndicate members travelled to Port Fairy, and the location of the Kaiyo Maru was considered. Police put two and two together, and prepared to strike And then the plot allegedly unravelled anyway, first on a dark highway, then on a shallow reef. Loading In the words of one investigator: "This was supposed to be payday."
There are fears for more job losses in Gippsland, with a mill that processes wood from sensitive Victorian forests warning 250 jobs are under threat unless a substantial supply of timber is secured soon.

The closure threat from Australian Sustainable Hardwoods in Heyfield comes at a difficult time for the Andrews government in Gippsland, after energy giant Engie announced it would close the Hazelwood power plant at Morwell.

The Leadbeater's possum, one of Australia's threatened small species. Credit:Justin McManus

The mill processes Victorian ash species hardwood, including from the politically and environmentally-sensitive central highlands, home of the endangered Leadbeater's Possum. It is a major employer in the town of 2000 people.

State-owned agency VicForests says the supply of ash timber needs to be reduced from current levels because of modelling around future timber resources.
"I'd hate to think that we were ever that sort of city. We need to address the problem, not just do a cosmetic clean up." A man sits at the homeless camp outside Flinders Street Station. Credit:Joe Armao Cr Doyle said if people were forced away from the station they would only move to other rough sleeping hot spots such as Enterprize Park, Treasury Gardens and City Square. Victoria Police Superintendent David Clayton said police used move-on powers for problems around night-clubs and protests, not for homeless people. A large homeless camp outside Flinders Street Station. Credit:Eddie Jim

"It's not an offence to be homeless," he said. "It's not a very good look what's going on there on Flinders Street, but it's not an offence to sit or sleep on the street." Credit:Joe Armao We need to address the problem, not just do a cosmetic clean up. Lord mayor Robert Doyle However, council officers can remove larger structures such as tents, as it is illegal to camp under the Activities Local Law 2009. Last week the council removed about 130 kilograms of rubbish or discarded items from squats in the CBD.

Superintendent Clayton said police would also arrest and charge those found taking drugs. About 19 people are estimated to be living at the Flinders Street camp. But they represent just the tip of a very large iceberg. At least 247 people are thought to be sleeping rough in Melbourne's inner-city, and at least 20,000 people across Victoria are homeless. The increased presence of homeless people in Melbourne has attracted hundreds of complaints to Melbourne City Council from business, visitors and resident's, as Fairfax Media reported last year.

One visitor who wrote to the council said they were "horrified" by the presence of beggars in Melbourne. "I travel the world extensively and there is no other city in the world where this is tolerated," they wrote. "The whole image is detrimental to the city's reputation." The chief executives of 36 homelessness, housing and social service organisations penned an open letter on Wednesday calling for a shift in the conversation from "shaming" rough sleepers to focussing attention on the nationwide shortage of affordable housing. "Vilifying people sleeping rough does not help them, splashing the faces of people in crisis in the paper only further stigmatises and isolates them, and fuels public fear and resentment," they said.

"Yes, it is shameful that there are people sleeping on the streets in a country as affluent as Australia. The real shame is that this crisis has been with us for some time, and it is only now that it has become visible in our streets that there is outrage and reaction." While the chief executives praised the work of the Melbourne City Council "struggling valiantly to balance a humanitarian response" and the recent $600 million commitment from the state government for homelessness and social housing, they said street homelessness would continue until something was done about the national housing crisis. "We are still awaiting the Victorian affordable housing strategy," they said. "Our federal government is a long way from having a plan to tackle this problem. Meanwhile, those on lowest incomes are being pursued by automated Centrelink debt notices, reducing their already meagre incomes. This will inevitably increase homelessness." Loading
Melbourne, the most liveable city in the world, is in the midst of a Lego crime wave.

Police across town are investigating a series of thefts of the little toy bricks that cause so much pain underfoot.

Just last week, three toy shops in the eastern suburbs were hit.

Before that, in November, a man and woman used a van with stolen plates to ram-raid a shopfront in Coburg North and steal a one-metre high Lego ninja.
Representatives Knudsen and Ehli requested ideas about how the Legislature can better serve Montanans. I need two things from our elected officials. The first is a commitment to honor the principle that public service is a public trust. The second is a commitment to formulate public policy on the basis of fact, not fantasy. The representatives recent op-ed caused me to wonder whether they have any command of the facts regarding the state budget. They said that they have watched the state budget surplus squandered away. In doing so, they implied the governor is at fault. Yet, it is fact that the legislature shares responsibility for revenue projections and approving the state budget. Moreover, had several conservative initiatives been approved during the 2015 session, Montana would be in even worse shape. The representatives correctly acknowledge several current economic difficulties. They blame poor management and excessive regulation. The fact is that market forces have been the primary cause of declining commodity prices and difficulties in the oil, coal and timber industries. It also is fact that supply side economics have had a consistently poor record in other states. It would be fantasy to think it would be the solution for Montana.
"This process has resulted in previous referral by us of a number of offenders, including some allegedly associated with the Apex gang," she said.

In a statement, a police spokeswoman said it had "an established process with the Australian Border Force regarding offenders who have committed serious criminal offences and meet the requirement for visa cancellations under the Migration Act".

One current and one former Australian Border Force officer were arrested this week. Credit:AAP

Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the Victorian Government needed to "do more than they've done in recent times" to address gang violence.

"This country has been made great by migration because people have come here, in many cases trying to escape the ravages of war, of unrest and conflict, of terrorism and they want to come to a country that's safe," Mr Dutton said, on 3AW.

"They want to come to a great city like Melbourne, which is safe, but unfortunately over recent times the activity of the Apex gangs and others have meant that Melbourne is in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

"We want people to come to our country who are going to so the right thing, are going to make a positive contribution, and I think that's what all Australians would expect.



"It is difficult when the bail laws are the way they are, move on powers have been weakened, and there is not a problem in NSW or QLD with this gang violence  the gang violence is present in Victoria, and I think the Victorian Government needs to do more than they've done in recent months and years.
One Nation's embattled ex-senator Rod Culleton has gone fishing it seems.

More than a week after being stripped of his Senate spot following a Federal Court judge declaring him bankrupt, the defiant West Australian has changed his official Facebook page.

Rob Culleton was involved in the scuffle outside Perth Magistrates Court on January 3rd. Credit:ABCNews24

"Gone fishin from being a Federal Senator for WA," it now reads on Thursday.

Senator Culleton quit One Nation in December and is fighting a bankruptcy court ruling that threatens to end his political career.
As thousands of graduated high school students receive their first-round offers on Wednesday, new statistics have found West Australian university students are struggling more than ever to complete their chosen degree.

The Department of Education has released a report detailing the drop-out rate in Australia's public universities, and figures have identified that WA tertiary institutions continue to steadily lose students over the course of the last eight years.

While the University of Western Australia ranked high with a 74.5 per cent course completion rate, Perth's Murdoch University and Edith Cowan University were among the country's worst performing institutions.

ECU was able to retain 55.4 per cent of its students, while Murdoch's completion rate was just under half at 49.6 per cent.
London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is 'happy' to go the USA, providing all of his rights are guaranteed, a statement on the group's Twitter account said.

The news comes after outgoing US President Barack Obama gave Chelsea Manning - who leaked a number of diplomatic cables and national security documents to WikiLeaks in 2010 - clemency.

"Assange is still happy to come to the US provided all his rights are guaranteed despite White House now saying Manning was not quid-quo-pro," the Tweet on the WikiLeaks account read.

President Obama's decision on Tuesday to commute Manning's sentence, cutting it by nearly 30 years brought fresh attention to Assange.
It was a tough year in 2016 for China's exporters due to tepid global demand, but some Chinese firms bucked the trend thanks to US president-elect Donald Trump.

Shenzhen Yongtaida Latex Crafts, a 2000-square metre factory hidden in a dilapidated industrial park in Shenzhen in southern China, was preparing to close its production line last weekend ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday after a busy 12 months.

The 16-year-old factory is one of the country's biggest latex mask manufacturers and it has exported more than 200,000 Trump masks over the past year, mainly to the US and Japan.

During the presidential election, Trump heavily criticised China, claiming it had stolen jobs from the US.
KALISPELL  A Flathead County man has been sentenced to 110 years in prison for the stabbing death of a man that a witness testified was chased around in the woods while he begged for his life.

Robert Wittal, 29, was sentenced Tuesday for the May 26 death of Wade Rautio, 35. Wittal was convicted of deliberate homicide in October.

District Judge Robert Allison said the methamphetamine-related case was one of the most horrific murders he's encountered.

"The motives behind this and the way in which it was done," Allison said. "Essentially, torturing this individual who was running around in the woods at night, begging for his life and being slowly hacked to death over a period of, I think the testimony was some 20 or 30 minutes, I can't for the life of me imagine a more gruesome end."

Wittal denied any involvement in Rautio's murder and said his co-defendants had set him up.

Prosecutors have said David Vincent Toman, 21; Christopher Michael Hansen, 28; and Melissa Ann Crone, 29, helped Wittal plan and kill Rautio. The three co-defendants face trial in March on charges of accountability to deliberate homicide. All have pleaded not guilty.

More than two weeks after Rautio was killed, Toman reported the murder and led deputies to Rautio's body, court records said.

Prosecutors told jurors that Wittal killed Rautio in his role as an enforcer for Crone, a drug dealer.

Wittal testified that Crone wanted Rautio dead because she believed he had stolen from her and to demonstrate her power. Wittal testified he warned Rautio to leave town.

An autopsy found Rautio had been stabbed about 25 times with cuts that punctured a lung and severed his carotid arteries and jugular vein.

"My son's gone, I will never get a call from him again," his mother, Tomi Rautio testified. "His birthday was here, I had nobody to say happy birthday to. My birthday came, I got no call from him . I'll never get a call from him again."

Allison said Wittal would have to serve 45 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

"This crime is a byproduct of the appalling drug culture here in the Flathead Valley," he said. "This drug is becoming a cancer on this community."
GMC Introduces Modern, Bold Design on 2018 Terrain at Detroit Auto Show +VIDEO

Confident appearance, accommodating interior and turbo engines elevate new premium compact SUV

DETROIT  At a special evening premiere, GMC introduced the all-new 2018 Terrain and unveiled the next chapter of GMC design via a boldly styled and intelligently engineered successor to the brands popular compact SUV. The Terrain offers greater refinement and versatility to adapt to customers unique needs, and its packed with more available advanced safety technologies than ever before.

GMC offers customers the widest range of choices yet, with three all-new available turbocharged propulsion systems, including a new turbo-diesel. Two new efficiency-enhancing nine-speed automatic transmissions are matched with the gas engines  a first application for the GMC lineup.

Continuing the momentum of owning 25 percent of GMCs overall retail sales, Denali returns to the Terrain with greater exclusivity than ever, offering a distinctive range-topping design and uniquely refined features.

GMCs strong growth over the past decade is due in large part to Terrain, said Duncan Aldred, vice president of global GMC Sales and Marketing. The all-new Terrain builds on that success, leveraging GMCs proven premium SUV experience to shake up the largest vehicle segment, with a strong blend of design, functionality and engineering excellence.

The 2018 Terrain goes on sale this summer in SL, SLE, SLT and Denali models, maintaining the momentum created by the first-generation model, of which more than 700,000 have been sold in North America since it went on sale in 2009.

Bold, modern design

The new Terrains bold exterior signals the next chapter of GMCs design language, evolving the brands signature cues with stronger, sharper and more sculpted elements such as the grille and lighting features. Its shape was refined in the wind tunnel to help ensure the distinctive profile cuts through the air with optimal efficiency and quietness.

It is a striking design with functional beauty, said Helen Emsley, executive director, Global GMC Design. Theres confidence and optimism in its stance, with exceptional attention to detail that speaks to GMCs rise as a premium brand.

Elevating GMCs new design, the all-new Terrain Denali will feature its signature chrome grille along with Denali-specific accents including body-color fascias and lower trim, plus chrome roof rails, door handles, side mirror caps and body-side molding. Additionally, LED headlamps and 19-inch ultra-bright machined aluminum wheels are standard on Denali.

All other models feature signature LED daytime running lamps and tail lamps. Bi-functional HID headlamps are standard on SL, SLE and SLT. Additionally, 17-inch wheels are standard on SL and SLE, with 18-inch wheels available on SL and SLE, and standard on SLT.

Turbocharged propulsion choices

A range of three all-new turbocharged engines, including an all-new 1.6L turbo-diesel, provides more choices when it comes to performance, efficiency and capability in the all-new 2018 GMC Terrain. New 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged gas engines are matched with two unique new nine-speed automatic transmissions, with the 2.0L turbo engine offering stronger acceleration and a higher degree of performance than its 1.5L counterpart.

GMCs new Electronic Precision Shift enables more storage room in the center console by replacing the conventional transmission shifter with electronically controlled gear selection consisting of intuitive push buttons and pull triggers.

The Terrain comes standard with GMCs driver-controllable Traction Select system, which has choices for different driving conditions. Elements such as the throttle responses are optimized for the selected driving mode. AWD models include a FWD mode that disconnects the AWD system to minimize drag and optimize fuel economy, while the AWD mode offers all the benefits of an active AWD system.

Refined, versatile and purposeful interior

Like the exterior, the new Terrains interior makes a statement and serves as a fundamental component of the vehicles heightened emphasis on refinement and functionality. Elements such as authentic aluminum trim, soft-touch materials on the instrument panel and doors and standard active noise cancellation are premium features seamlessly integrated into the interior design for a luxurious customer experience.

The Terrain Denali heightens the GMC experience throughout the new interior with a unique trim tint color and Denali-specific logos and piping on the front seats. Denali customers will benefit from additional standard features including a heated steering wheel, navigation, Bose premium 7-speaker sound system and a hands-free programmable power liftgate.

An expanded center console with pass-through storage underneath and side-by-side cupholders adds to the Terrains functionality. A new fold-flat front passenger seat and flat-folding rear seat help Terrain offer greater versatility for stowing longer items and make it easier to load cargo. There are also new under-floor compartments in the cargo area for more secure storage.

GMC keeps passengers connected with 7- and available 8-inch-diagonal infotainment systems, featuring compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality and a standard OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot (data plan purchase required after limited trial period) that can accommodate up to seven mobile devices. Owners can also manage their vehicles remotely with the industry-leading myGMC mobile app via their compatible smartphones. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are subject to their terms, privacy statements and data plan rates, and require a compatible smartphone.

Every new Terrain comes standard with five years of the OnStar Basic Plan[1] at no additional cost. Among other benefits, this connectivity plan features OnStar Smart Driver, an opt-in service designed to help GMC owners maximize their vehicles overall performance, reduce wear and tear, monitor fuel efficiency and become better drivers  all factors that add to the overall ownership experience.

Expanded range of safety features

An expanded range of available active safety technologies is designed to enhance driver awareness and even help make it easier to park and maneuver in low-speed situations. The features include radar- and camera-based adaptive technologies that can provide alerts to potential crash threats, allowing the driver to react and make changes to potentially avoid them, including:

 New Surround Vision

 New Forward Collision Alert with Following Distance Indicator

 New Low-Speed Forward Automatic Braking

 New Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning

 Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert

 Rear Cross Traffic Alert

 New Safety Alert Seat

The new Terrain also features GMCs new Rear Seat Reminder[2] and Teen Driver[3]. Rear Seat Reminder alerts drivers to check the back seat as they exit their vehicles under certain circumstances, while Teen Driver allows parents to set controls and review an in-vehicle report card in order to help encourage better driving habits, even when adults are not in the vehicle.

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902, with innovation and engineering excellence built into all GMC vehicles. The brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover. GMCs highest-volume vehicle, the Sierra pickup, is the most powerful light-duty pickup on the market, and the first full-size pickup to receive the highest-possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration changed its New Car Assessment Program for the 2011 model year.

[1] OnStar Basic Plan is available for five years from the delivery date of eligible 2015 model year and newer vehicles and is transferable. Basic Plan does not include Emergency, Security or Navigation services; these and other services require a paid plan. Visit OnStar.com for details.

[2] Does not detect people or items. Always check rear seat before exiting.
PLAYA VISTA, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017 -- Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) announced today the signing of an exploratory agreement with the city of Brno, Czech Republic (VIDEO). This agreement marks the immediate exploration of the feasibility for a Hyperloop system for the city with a focus on connecting Brno and Bratislava, Slovakia, with which HTT already holds a development agreement, with a vision for also connecting Prague, the Czech capital.

This is the first Hyperloop agreement to connect two international cities. In the past year HTT has made historic deals directly with the regulators and government officials of Slovakia and Abu Dhabi and expects a multitude of similar government agreements this year continuing to create the necessary regulatory framework for the Hyperloop system worldwide.

Brno is approximately 80 miles north from Bratislava and 140 miles south of Prague. The city is considered an international crossroads of railways and highways. Brno's main railway station sees 500 trains and 50,000 passengers daily and is currently operating at capacity.

"Connecting Brno with Prague, and the existing efforts in Bratislava along with other cities in the region with the next generation of transportation will set the stage for a new era," said Mayor Petr Vokral. "We look forward to working with HTT to continue to bring innovation and opportunity to the city of Brno."

"Since we have solved all the technical issues, it is now crucial for us to collaborate with governments around the world," said HTT CEO Dirk Ahlborn. "It is critical for Hyperloop to be working directly with regulators at this stage of development, new rules and frameworks will need to be written as we begin building out systems in Slovakia, the Emirates and several other to come."

"The industrial age came early to Central Eastern Europe which has one of the longest running rail systems on the planet," said HTT Chairman, Bibop Gresta. "As a global economic leader creating a Hyperloop network here will continue to bring connectivity and prosperity the region."

About HTT

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Inc. (HTT) was founded in November, 2013, birthed of JumpStartFunda unique crowdfunding and crowdsourcing incubator platform that uses collective knowledge and assets to make ideas like Hyperloop a reality. HTT is a collaborative organization built within the egalitarian ecosystem of a company that values every one of its contributorsboth individual and entity. Collaborations with groups such as Atkins, Leybold Corporation, and Deutsche Bahn have resulted in tremendous advancement of the Hyperloop transportation system, setting the stage for commitments to installations in Quay Valley, California, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., Brno, Czech Republic, and the nation of Slovakia. More agreements are set to be formally announced during 2017.

HTT has an exclusive agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for use their passive magnetic levitation system as the core of low-cost, safety-conscious construction and design in the Hyperloop. The company is partnered with more than 600 professional team members who provide the company with engineering, physics, legal, human resources, media relations, logistics, and construction talent to fuel a company that is uniquely collaborative and talent-laden. In support of these endeavors and the global team, HTT announced the surpassing of $100 million in investments in December of 2016.

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies' images and assets can be found here

Contact:

Ben Cooke

Director of Media Relations

(310) 720-1214

142063@email4pr.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brno-czech-republic-takes-first-step-to-create-european-hyperloop-connecting-to-slovakia-300392760.html

SOURCE Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Inc.

RELATED LINKShttp://hyperloop.global
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
The other day, a reader called in to say I had missed something in writing a recent Smarty Pants quiz on X-related subjects. She left a message that made me feel so good because she said she read all the time. I KNEW someone was reading Smarty Pants!

So, my caller mentioned the question about the Illinois village started with the letter X. (Xenia, in Clay County). There is, she said, a small community in West Central Illinois called Exeter in which her father had lived.

Exeter was 70 strong in the 2000 Census, if Wikipedia is to be believed. By my precise calculations, it's 15 to 20 miles west of Jacksonville. Other websites estimate there were only 64 folks calling it home in 2016, so if you want to visit, you'd better get busy. However small Exeter is, it was nice of her to call and share, for sure.

Back to my two X-related (to be distinguished from X-rated) quizzes. Two "X-Men" I didn't mention were Xavier Cugat and Xi Jinping. This is likely the first time their names have ever been used in the same sentence, by the way.

Cugat was a colorful band leader from Cuba who helped introduce Latin music to America. He was nicknamed "The Rhumba King" because his music fed a growing appetite for the lively, rhythmic style. Some say the rhumba was the ancestor of salsa dancing  and it's not to be confused with the Roomba robotic house vacuum cleaners.

Part of Cugat's fame also was tied to the sultry women he took as spouses; first, actress Abbe Lane, then the always effervescent entertainer with one name, Charo.

By the way, picture this in your mind's eye: the often-tuxedoed Cugat, leading his band with a Chihuahua puppy in his arms. That was his style.

Now, I have no information about how musical Xi Jinping is. He might not get the chance to dance too often, seeing as he's the No. 1 leader in China. His titles include general secretary of the Communist Party of China, president of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Tough to compare your resume with that.

Here are a few other fun facts, as I clean out my X "closet":

The importance of the X Chromosome in human gender determination, was discovered by the American geneticist Clarence McClung in 1901.

The earliest mention in The Oxford English Dictionary of the use of x for a kiss was in 1763

The phrase "X Factor" for an indefinable but important element was first noticed in 1930.

The use of the letter X for adults-only films was proposed in 1950 in a government report, and

The use of x as a multiplication sign was introduced by the English mathematician William Oughtred in 1631.

Finally, you may know that Wilhelm Roentgen is the "father of the X-ray." He was a professor of physics in Germany in the late 1890s. Several scientists already had some notion of electromagnetic radiation, but Roentgen dug into it more deeply.

He gets credit for the first developed image produced by this process. Hissubject matter? His wife's hand: The variable transparency showed her bones, flesh and wedding ring.

Such dedicated work earned Roentgen the first Nobel Prize in physics in 1901.
I first heard the name Bradley Manning at a cheap Japanese restaurant near Sacramento, California, sitting across from the ex-hacker whod just turned the soldier in.

It was May 2010, and I was following up on a remarkable story Id heard in cryptic bits and pieces from Adrian Lamo, a former recreational hacker Id once reported on extensively. Lamo told me hed been contacted online by an Army intelligence analyst deployed to Iraq, and the soldier, mistaking Lamo for a kindred spirit, confided that hed been providing the secret-spilling website WikiLeaks with a trove of material from a classified network. The leaks included a quarter million State Department cableswhich WikiLeaks had not yet acknowledged havingand a shocking video of a U.S. Army helicopter attack in Baghdad that the site had already released under the title Collateral Murder.

Lamo considered the leaks reckless and dangerous, and decided to turn in the soldier, who I learned was a 22-year-old kid named Bradley Manning. By the time of that lunch, Lamo had already met once with law enforcement officials, and he was scheduled to meet with them again later that day to hand over the logs hed kept of his chats with Manning. Hed agreed to give me a copy as well under embargo, if I showed up in person with a thumbdrive.

I hadnt seen Lamo in years, and he was in a bad state, recently separated, living with his parents, and apparently hungryhe asked for a hot lunch and small talk before hed detail his exchanges with Manning, or give me the chat logs. And so we ate, talked about the old days when Lamo effortlessly hacked the likes of Yahoo and The New York Times, back when he was as young and fearless as the soldier he was giving up.

In the end, I got the logs, and was on my way back to San Francisco by the time Lamo and the feds had their second meeting. I remember wondering on the drive what would become of the soldier Lamo had felt obliged to betray.

Now we know. On Tuesday, outgoing President Barack Obama commuted the sentence of the woman now named Chelsea Manning, who will be freed from the military prison at Ft. Leavenworth on May 17 after serving seven years on a harsh 35-year sentence.

The announcement comes just three days before Obama turns the White House over to Donald Trump, and follows a concerted online campaign thats been pushing for Mannings freedom since the day I reported her arrest. Most recently, an online petition urging clemency for Manning gathered over 100,000 signatures in about a month.

Manning became a WikiLeaks source in 2010, when her work as an intelligence analyst in Iraq led her to a crisis of conscience over Americas military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. I started to question the morality of what we were doing, she later told a military judge. I realized that our efforts to meet the risk posed to us by the enemy, we had forgotten our humanity. We consciously elected to devalue life both in Iraq and Afghanistan. When we engaged those that we perceived were the enemy, we sometimes killed innocent civilians.

That point was underscored by her most plainly righteously leak, the Collateral Murder video that gave the public a gunners-eye-view of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack on a group of men mistakenly identified as insurgents. Two Reuters employees died in the assault, as did a Baghdad man who stumbled on the scene afterward and tried to rescue one of the victims by pulling him into his van. The mans two children were in the van and suffered serious injuries in the hail of gunfire. Though the incident was already public, the Army had refused to release the video, which showed the consequences of urban warfare with more clarity than any report.

Other leaks were less focused. Manning gave Julian Assange databases of nearly 500,000 Army field reports from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reports on prisoners held in Guantanamo, and, just as shed told Lamo, 250,000 U.S. State Department diplomatic cables.

When Lamo lifted his embargo, another reporter and I broke the news of Mannings arrest on the website of Wired magazine. Assange took to Twitter with a barrage of tweets disputing the story and attacking me directly. He denied knowing whether Manning was the source of the Collateral Murder video, and denied having a quarter-million diplomatic cables. He and others demanded that I publish the full logs of Mannings chats, though Assange knew full well why I wouldnt: Manning had told Lamo all about her struggles with gender dysphoria, and those personal disclosures were out-of-bounds. By her own account, her leaks were impelled by her moral compass and nothing else.

When Assange finally stopped denying that he had the Manning leaks, and starting releasing them, the disclosures made a sensation of his organization, which pulled in about $1.9 million in donations in 2010.

Manning became a hero and martyr of the anti-war movement, and she seemed to channel her more ardent supporters in her first clemency application in 2014, defending her leaks in a tone that approached defiance, and seeking a full presidential pardon. If you deny my request for a pardon, I will serve my time knowing that sometimes you have to pay a heavy price to live in a free society, she wrote. The application was denied.

This time around, Manning asked only for Obama to shorten her sentence to time-served, and she wrote virtually nothing of her leaks, and much about her struggles in the Army, which began as a young private coming to terms with her gender dysphoria while serving in a military still guided by Dont Ask, Dont Tell. Her struggles only intensified after her court martial when Manning came out as a transgender woman, and took the name Chelsea, but her jailors refused to acknowledge her gender identity. She had to sue the Army to receive hormone therapy. Last year, she attempted suicide twice.

I have served a sufficiently long sentence, Manning wrote. I am not asking for a pardon of my conviction. I understand that the various collateral consequences of the court-martial conviction will stay on my record forever. The sole relief am asking for is to be released from military prison after serving six years of confinement as a person who did not intend to harm the interests of the United States or harm any service members.

I am merely asking for a first chance to live my life outside as the person I was born to be.

The WikiLeaks that Manning knew has all but vanished. Founded to challenge primarily highly oppressive regimes in China, Russia and Central Eurasia, the groups major focus last year was the U.S. Democratic party, publishing thousands of emails stolen from the DNC and Hillary Clintons campaign. Unlike the Manning leaks, the Democrats emails were published without redaction, as Assange deliberately left in details like the names, credit card and Social Security numbers of party donors.

To his credit, though, Assange, never stopped drawing the publics attention to Mannings situation, even offering last September to take her place in prison. If Obama grants Manning clemency, Assange will agree to U.S. prison in exchangedespite its clear unlawfulness, he tweeted last September. As of press time, though, Assange had not been sighted leaving the safety of the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
The North Dakota Army National Guard has deployed two surface-to-air missile-launchers near a critical work site for the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, or DAPL.

Protestors spotted one of the Avenger missile systems on Jan. 16 and posted photos and videos on Facebook. Anti-drone missile system confirmed on top of a hill guarding the DAPL drill pad, Jon Ziegler, a self-described citizen journalist, wrote on Facebook.

North Dakota Guard spokesman William Prokopyk told The Daily Beast that the Avengers missile tubes arent loaded. These systems have observation capabilities and are used strictly in the observation role to protect private property and public safety, Prokopyk said.

Theres no authority to arm them, he stressed, adding that the two Avengers have been in Morton Countysite of the drill padfor more than a month without incident.

The drill pad the Avenger is protecting belongs to Dakota Access, LLC, the company building the nearly 1,200-mile-long pipeline meant to transport oil from North Dakotas Bakken oil field to a storage facility in Illinois.

Dakota Access had hoped to extend the pipe underneath Lake Oahe, which lies on federal land in southern North Dakota. A protest movement originating with the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, which lies on Oahes western shore, successfully pressured the Obama administration to deny Dakota Access the easement it needed to drill underneath the lake.

But Dakota Access has vowed to complete the $4-billion pipeline, apparently via an alternate route. Work continues on private land. And its on this land that the Guard has stationed its missile launcher.

The Morton County Sheriffs Department commented on the Avenger deployment on Facebook shortly after The Daily Beast began making inquiries. MYTH: Law enforcement has [an] anti-drone missile system on the top of a hill to guard the DAPL drill pad and shoot down drones, the department wrote.

FACT: The N.D. National Guard does have an Avenger system employed in support of the Dakota Access Pipeline Protest, the department continued. These systems are used strictly for observation of ungoverned encampments to help protect private property and maintain public safety.

Still, the presence of a missile launchereven an unloaded onewill likely increase tensions between the Standing Rock protestors and authorities. Police in North Dakota have come under scrutiny for using violent, military-style tactics against peaceful, unarmed protestors.

The Avenger is foremost a weapon of war. It combines a Humvee truck chassis with a rotating turret that can be armed with eight Stinger missiles and a .50-caliber machine gun. The North Dakota Army National Guards 1st battalion, 188th Air Defense Regimentwhich has companies in Bismark, Fargo and Grand Forksoperates Avengers.

When fully armed, the Avenger can engage airplanes, helicoptersand, yes, drones. On Oct. 23, 2016, the Morton County Sheriffs Department announced it had shot down a protestors drone after it had approached a police helicopter in a threatening manner.

The drones operator denied endangering any aircraft. Nevertheless, the FAA subsequently established a no-fly-zone over the pipeline work site.

Prokopyk said the Guard sent the Avenger because it possesses night-vision equipment that many North Dakota Guard units lack, and because the Avenger has an enclosed, heated crew compartment. With wind chill here, its been negative 45 degrees, Prokopyk said. Im not kidding.

Prokopyk declined to say whether the Avenger crew at the drill pad is using the vehicles night-vision equipment specifically to detect activists drones.

Around 200 water-protectors from the main Standing Rock protest camp reportedly cut through a fence and attempted to reach the drill pad on Jan. 16. Police and National Guardsmen stopped the protesters from reaching the pad. But the activists got close enough to spot an Avenger.

Many water protectors made it further around the bend to the east closer to the drill site and were met with police and reports of mace used, Ziegler wrote on Facebook. We climbed up the hill on the west side right up next to the launcher.

The Morton County Sheriffs Office said three people were arrested during the Jan. 16 protest.
Former Goldman Sachs partner Steven Mnuchin, Donald Trumps choice for treasury secretary, woke up Tuesday morning to upsetting news: Hes made formidable enemies on the president-elects transition teamsenior Trump advisors who would just as soon see someone else get the job.

Mnuchin, who presumably spent his day dislodging knives from his back as he girds for a sticky Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, learned the extent of his problems with colleagues from Mike Allens morning newsletter for the fledgling news outlet Axios Media, which aims to provide insider info, in easily digestible bites, on politics, technology, business and other subjects.

Transition officials tell us they are worried about Steven Mnuchins readiness for his Thursday confirmation hearing to run Treasury, reported the lead item of Mikes Top 10, which hit email inboxes at 6:48 a.m. In early prep sessions, he came off as uneven and stiff, so extra people were brought in to help get him ready. (One spy at the transition office told me that all the suits surrounding a conference table during one of Mnuchins prep sessions made it look like a Fortune 500 board meeting.)

The item continued: And some insiders worry about how hed react to demonstrators. Democrats hope to derail at least one pick, and Mnuchin still tops the list. Insiders werent thrilled when he leaked word of his selection and then went on CNBC to talk about it. So itll be interesting to see how hard Trump fights for this one, if needed.

The Mnuchin takedown percolated through the media-political complex and did its dirty work. At 10:20 a.m., barely three hours after Mikes Top 10, Vanity Fairs Hive posted a story based on Allens scoop. WILL STEVEN MNUCHIN BOMB HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING? screamed the headline. The Foreclosure King may be cracking under the pressure.

A start-up whose product is aimed at influencers and insiders with ever-decreasing attention spans (and ever-burgeoning wallets to pay as much as $10,000 for a subscription), Axiosmeaning "worthy, in Greekformally commences on Wednesday with an everybody-whos-anybody launch party at downtown D.C.s trendy restaurant of the moment, RPM Italian.

The 52-year-old Allenlike Axios execs Jim VandeHei, Kim Kingsley and Roy Schwartz, a refugee from Politicois executive editor of the new venture and best known for his former job as major domo of Politicos gossipy Playbook newsletter, with which he is now competing for attention along with a host of other Washington newsletters, to say nothing of the president-elects early-morning tweets.

The incoming Trump administration is likely to provide plenty of fodder for all, and the high-profile Allen is positioned to become a conspicuous beneficiary.

I think this administration is going to leak like a sieve, and I think all of the inside players will be angling for their own betterment, predicted a longtime political operative who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to antagonize Team Trump. Its not about serving someone they believe is a meritorious leader. So the cohesion that would usually drive discretion and confidentiality is going to be absent here. The Mnuchin item is an example. Someone within the Trump ranks doesnt like Mnuchin, and doesnt want him to be treasury secretary. And its a senior personotherwise Mikey wouldnt have run it.

Members of the Washington establishment like to call Allen Mikey, a sign of the strange affection in which many Beltway insiders hold him.

As New York Times Magazine writer Mark Leibovich noted in an epic 8,000-word profile six years ago, Mikey is a world-class cultivator of relationships with the powerful, a ubiquitous presence on the Washington cocktail party circuit (though hes apparently a teetotaler himself), a virtuosic flatterer and massager of big egos, and a relentless workaholic.

They call him Mikey even though they know that the day may come when its their turn to receive the Mnuchin treatment.

You ignore or write off Mikey at your own peril, Democratic strategist Tracy Sefl told The Daily Beast. He channels all kinds of voicesthats the beauty of Mike. Hes willing or attempts to understand anybody who has a perspective on whats happening in Washington and politics. The question is, how will this be different? Hes just a piece of company thats trying to figure out, how do you share news with people who have no attention span?

There are a lot eyeballs on the Axios newsletter right now, and everybody is waiting to see whats different about the secret sauce and the role theyre going to play in the conversation, said veteran lobbyist and public affairs consultant Juleanna Glover.

She has already appeared in Mikes Top 10 (opining about how Trump will affect the corporate merger climate in an item last Wednesday), and plans to pitch Mikey, and not Playbook, on her scheduled op-ed in the New York Daily News arguing that President Trump should keep Obama appointee Brett McGurk at the State Department so he can continue battling ISIS.

Playbook is still great, Glover explained, but Mikes Top 10 is the bright new shiny object. Id love to have it in Axios right now.

Longtime Republican operative Rick Tyler is also a becoming a loyal fan.

I get the Top 10 every morning. every morning, and you know when you start to read it that this isnt going to drag on forever and ever, said Tyler, a former Newt Gingrich staffer who advised Sen. Ted Cruzs abortive presidential campaign this election cycle and is currently on on-air analyst for MSNBC. I trust Mike enough to know that these are the top 10 things I need to know this morning. As someone who has to consume news, I find that very comforting.

At a moment when Trump inveighs against the Beltway elite and claims he wants to drain the swamp, Allen is essentially a creature of the swamp, albeit a usually friendly creature. Tyler described Allens role as that of concierge to the Washington establishment. Hes the keeper of the keys.

On a personal level, Tyler added, any time you talk to Mike hes always a gentleman, always kind, always grateful. Grateful comes through loud and clear. Hes happy that you called. And when Mike was back at Politico, if you could get him to use something, it would definitely drive the news cycle for you.

Allen, for his part, apparently didnt feel like doing an interview for this story, but instead answered a couple of questions via email. Writing Thanks for asking and Thanks for checking in the subject lines, Allen emailed that he draws on a staff of 50 to produce the newsletter along with other Axios content, but was uncertain how many people are getting Mikes Top 10 in their inboxes.

Sorry not sure yetgrowing! he wrote. Allens emailed Playbook at Politico boasted more than 30,000 recipients, and, according to Leibovich, brought in an estimated $750,000 in annual advertising revenue from bluechip corporate sponsors. (Mikes Top 10 newsletters, which Allen began producing in beta on Jan. 9, have included sponsored messages from Bank of America.)

And typical of Allen, a long-ago Washington Post colleague of this reporter before Allen left for Time magazine and eventually Politico, he didnt refrain from sending along a compliment and a greeting.

You did the best job on PropOrNot, Mikey emailed, referring to a Daily Beast story from December. Happy almost-birthday, he added.

Thats the seduction of Mike, Tyler noted with a laugh. He is so seductiveThe other thing is, if youve ever met with Mike off the record, the first thing hes going to do is buy you your favorite beverage, whether its a sauvignon blanc, a cabernet or a stiff cocktail. And he will order exactly the same as you for himself. But he will never drink it.
MOSCOWPreparations for the Donald Trump inauguration party are well under way at the newly opened restaurant and nightclub Arbat 13 in the very heart of Moscow.

For what must be the first time in history, Russians are treating the day an American president swears to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States as their own significant event.

Igor Khaletsky, whose club is frequented by businessmen, government officials, and wealthy lovers of whats known as gangster-jazz, is following a new Russian trend. The Trump cult is growing because the new U.S. president seems loyal to Russia, Khaletsky told The Daily Beast. So we decided that The Trump Band [a newly named ensemble] and its gangster-jazz music would be relevant to the eve of the inauguration.

At the top of Russias establishment many say of Trump, He is a deal makerhe is one of us! And the most famous fan of President-elect Trump is Russias number one decision maker, President Vladimir Putin.

On Tuesday, commenting on the golden showers or pee-pee tape scandal, President Putin said that he could not imagine Trump hiring prostitutes (our girls of lowered social responsibility) for the Miss Universe beauty contest that the U.S. billionaire organized in Moscow in 2013.

Hes a grown-up for a start and, secondly, a man who spent his whole life organizing beauty contests and meeting the most beautiful women in the world, said Putin. I doubt Trump fell for that, although they [Russian hookers] are of course the best in the world. Putin was joking as if he and Trump were best buddies.

Meanwhile Moscows official media have kicked into high gear condemning the black time of Barack Obamas presidency. Some reports refer to him ironically not as the white dove but the black bird of peace.

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, President Putin gave a small smile as he suggested Obama belonged to a category of people who say goodbye forever but never go away.

Putin blamed Trumps opponents for trying to undermine the legitimacy of the U.S. president-elect. The problem lies not with the meddling the American intelligence services accuse Russia of carrying out, but apparently, in Putins view, with those services themselves. Putin has always blamed them for the popular uprising in Ukraine in 2013 and 2014 that centered on Maidan Square in Kiev.

Now, Putin said, I have an impression that after exercising in Kiev, they are ready to organize a Maidan in their Washington, a suggestion essentially warning of a coup in United States.

So, Russias enemies are now Trumps enemies, and Putins putting forth the idea they would do anything to keep Russias friend Trump out of office.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Channel One about an alleged attempt by agents of American security services to recruit a Russian official in 2015 who was trying to pay for the medicine needed to save the life of the dying former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov talked about the many timesmore than in the pastAmerican spies tried to recruit Russian traitors. Lavrov (formerly the apparent friend of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry) also raised the question of Primakovs medicine.

(This is a really shameful story for Russia, the deputy chief editor of Echo of Moscow radio, Olga Bychkova, told The Daily Beast. Top Russian officials publically admit that they cannot even save Putins teacher, Primakov, without American medicine? The lesson here, she suggested, would seem to be Moscow needs Washington, and cannot live without USA.)

The cult of Trump, displaying his name and face, playing up his tastes and interests, is growing big all across Russia, from Moscow to Siberia. Before the new year the city of Perm near the Ural mountains distributed prianiki, Russias traditional honey-spice cookies with a local interpretation of Trumps slogan on them: Make Perm great again. (That sounded bitterly ironic to those who knew Perm as the gateway to the forced labor camps of the Soviet Gulag.)

The small town of Tula outside of Moscow is especially taken with Trumpmania. A guesthouse and a restaurant there have been named after him, as well as the band coming from there to play at Arbat 13 in Moscow.

Tulas governor general, Aleksei Dyumin, a former Putin bodyguard, remains very close to the Russian president, and some analysts predict he could one day succeed to the nations highest office. In Dyumins Tula you now find packs of sugar with Trumps face on them. Theres talk of presenting them to the new U.S. president to sweeten relations with the United States.

Russian entrepreneurs, even the youngest ones, see in Trumps face and mane a great marketing opportunity. On a recent afternoon a young propaganda artist, Yulia, was painting colorful portraits of Donald Trump at the office of Network, the Kremlins youth movement. I have never believed in any ideology, Yulia told The Daily Beast. This is just business. Some Putin portraits go for $300, some for over $2,000 and now I can sell Trump, our growing popular trend, for something like $200.

Trumps promise to review anti-Russia economic sanctions in exchange for Russia reducing its storage of nuclear weapons came as a total surprise to Moscow, and to some it sounded like a heavenly idea: Russia is hard pressed to afford its expensive nuclear and space arsenal. But could Trumps notion be turned into policy?

The flight of his fantasy is unlimited, academic Aleksei Arbatov told reporters on Monday, then added: This is an interesting example of a new system of thinking in Washington.

Back at the Arbat 13 club, the Trump partys organizers have prepared some surprises for Trump Night, including a performance by Willi Tokarev, an octagenarian Russian-American musician from Brighton Beach who has been famous for decades, since the days when Soviet authorities encouraged unwanted citizens, some of them Jews, some Ukrainian emigres, some career criminals, some political dissidents, to move to New York. Tokarev, an iconic figure famous for singing about the Brighton Beach gangster milieu, wouldnt miss this.

Khaletsky thinks its going to be quite a nightlooking forward to a bright future. Many in Russia celebrate Trump and hope he gets his business in Russia rolling, since he is not from the world of politics, he is a businessman, his world view is business-like, rational and far from intrigues.

So, to entertain his guests from the Russian elite Khaletsky is planning to sing a song hes composed called Confession of an Oligarch:

I am an oligarch, it begins, and even an African monarch cannot allow himself to do the things that I enjoy.

No doubt Donald Trump would feel right at home.
Come back with me to 1909 and across the Midwestern prairie, which was not yet considered the Cornbelt, and soybeans were a rarity, those proverbial amber waves of grain were wheat. In that fall of 1909, farmers planted just over 29 million acres of wheat in the United States. More and more acres were being planted every year to meet the demands of the growing population as the nation grew and farm boys were looking for high salaried jobs in the city.

Planted acreage for wheat climbed year after year until the fall of 1981 when farmers planted the biggest wheat crop ever, 88.3 million acres. That is more than recent annual acreages for soybeans and nearly as much as corn acreage. But that was the high-water mark, and wheat acreage has declined to 32.38 million acres seeded last fall. That is the smallest acreage since 1909. From 88 million acres to 32 million in 35 years is a more rapid decline than the popularity of last years model cell phone.

In that 1981-82 wheat production season, the U.S produced 2.7 billion bushels of wheat and exported 48 percent of it, which was about average for the 1970s and 1980s. But the die was cast and in years to follow wheat acreage declined, but wheat production remained in the 2-plus billion bushel range because of increasing yields. The yield improvement satisfied the U.S. demand for flour and the year to year surplus ranged from hundreds of millions of bushels to over a billion. We had plenty of wheat.

So did the world, and that is why exports fell. While farmers in the far corners of the Earth were producing wheat for their families, they sold their surplus and that made its way to other nations. While global trade in wheat increased from 4-plus billion bushels in the 1980s to the 9.3 billion bushels of last year, the U.S. share of that export trade slowly eroded from the 48 percent in 1981 to barely over 12 percent in 2015.

What was happening? Our amber waves of grain reflecting wind currents as they move across a field were being converting into fields of corn stalks. Corn replaced wheat because of the return on investment. And if someone could use a planter to plant both corn and soybeans, that meant a high-priced small grains drill did not have to take up space in the machine shed for a few days work in the fall.

Traveling through Central Illinois, wheat fields are not easy to find, particularly north of Decatur. Counties such as Dewitt, Macon, and Christian have less than 5,000 acres. But south of Illinois 16, where the Shelbyville moraine marks the end of glacial black soil and the start of light timber soil, wheat acreage is seen more frequently. Corn does not yield as well, wheat yields just fine, so return on investment is restored with a wheat crop that has a much lesser expense to produce. A longer growing season with the opportunity to doublecrop soybeans doesnt hurt either.

But field by field and farm by farm, there are fewer wheat acres and because of low wheat prices, which have been on a 4-year decline in the futures market, wheat does not feed a farm family with 2017 family budget requirements. And a lot of Cornbelt farmland that was not planted to wheat last fall will be planted to soybeans later this spring.

There will be plenty of bread at the grocery store, and boxes of Wheaties cereal will not disappear. The U.S. is awash in wheat with nearly 1.2 billion bushels that does not have a buyer, the most since the late 1980s.

The question arises, will wheat eventually go the way of oats, most of which consumed in the U.S. is imported?
Its hard to grill something in just five minutes. But that didnt stop Democrats from trying.

Sen. Lamar Alexanders (R-TN) decision as chairman of the Senate education committee to limit senators to one five-minute round of questioning of Betsy DeVos, Donald Trumps secretary of Education pick, was perhaps the most controversial (and consequential) thing to come out of Tuesday evenings hearing.

There were protestations from several Democratsperhaps most vociferously, from Sens. Al Franken (D-MN) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)who wanted a second round of questioning. There were a few fiery moments and at least one mildly funny one: Theres nothing in life thats truly free, DeVos curtly schooled Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), when he mentioned tuition-free college.

Sure, there were pointed questions about her past partisan politics (she formerly chaired the Michigan GOP), her political donations (possibly, she conceded, adding up to as much as $200 million to Republican candidates), her status as billionaire, her being spuriously accused of having an anti-gay past, her missing ethics paperwork, and her advocating the use of Americas schools to advance Gods kingdom" And theres the fact that she has never worked inside the education establishment.

Its hard to knock out a nominee in just one round. This objective is made even harder when Republicans also get to ask questions that generally portray the nominee as a bold reformer.

Still, the important thing to know about the nomination of Betsy DeVos is that its not largely about Betsy DeVos.

At its heart, this nomination is about something much larger than Betsy DeVos. This is a proxy war. And it just happens to be coming to a head in the U.S. Senate, according to Andy Smarick, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Hes right. This is a story about a changing America. And, in a sense, what could happen to public schools and teachers unions might ironically parallel the plight of the coal miners and factory workers who voted for Donald Trump.

Every other sector in our economy is moving away from old business models and trending toward more personalization, service, and flexibility. People who pick up an iPhone, summon an Uber, and order concert tickets on StubHub dont understand why they cant choose from a menu of school optionsbe it public, private, magnet, or charter schools.

Yes, this is a lagging indicator. Not everyone is as technologically savvy (or dependent) as cosmopolitan elites. But as technology has become ubiquitous, we have been trained to expect more choicesmore options.

Eventually, this trend toward individualism and choices was bound to collide with the traditional district public education systemand the powerful teachers unions that fund the Democratic Party. It happened Thursday night during DeVos confirmation hearing for Secretary of Education.

And just like the steel worker in Pennsylvania, some people get left behind in a changing economy. Administrators who are deeply entrenched in old schools are going to have to change. And change can be painful. And the nomination of Betsy DeVos expedites this decades-long process.

Yes, in some ways Donald Trump wants to make America great again by hearkening back to a bygone era. But Donald Trump is a disruptive change-maker.

Heres the thing to know about Donald Trumps cabinet and staff picks: They are about action and getting things done. Tapping Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) for Health and Human Services demonstrated Trumps commitment to repealing and replacing Obamacare. With Gen. Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor, it was about Trumps commitment to destroying the socalled Islamic State and radical Islamism. With Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, its hard not to see that Trump is sending a message about law and order.

These probably arent the kind of nominees you would put up if you were looking for someone to safely and competently manage a large bureaucracy without making too many waves. These are picks intended to upset the apple cart. Trump doesnt want to manage the status quo; he wants to shift the paradigm. Six of Trumps domestic policy cabinet members have no governmental experience at all.

Betsy DeVos might be the most controversial of the group. And the truth is that Trumps emphasis on vision over (governmental) experience might come at a cost. The Department of Education is a complicated bureaucracy, and there are different dimensions to consider. A revolutionary leader will have to balance pushing school choice with making the trains run on time. Where do people go when they have a problem with their student loans? I dont know. Does Betsy?

Leaders have different skill sets. This is a reformist nomination, but the Department of Education is largely a managerial agency. The operational responsibilities are enormous, says Andy Rotherham, co-founder and partner of Bellwether Education Partners (a group I have spoken for in the past), and it seems as though the Trump administration is viewing it as more of a bully pulpit agency.

Just as Donald Trump tapped a competent governor in Mike Pence to be his second in command, to be effective in this role, DeVos will likely need a strong number two. (She should consider someone like Hanna Skandera, who leads New Mexicos department of education, to manage the day-to-day operational aspects, freeing up DeVos to pursue her larger mission of empowering families and making sure kids arent assigned to persistently failing schools.)

But make no mistakeDeVos is on a mission. She has purpose. And her purpose is to help those who werent born in the great lottery of life, said Phillip Stutts, CEO of Go BIG Media, who has worked for DeVos educational reform group since 2005. She puts her money where her mouth is. And its not just money. Its the purpose of her life.

With this nomination, Trump has made it very clear where he stands on this fight. It was the opening salvo to what may end up being one of the most bitterly contested nomination battles of the Trump presidency.
They auctioned off the presidents and their wives on Saturday. Between 350 and 400 people crowded into a hotel ballroom in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on a cold, wet day to bid on the contents of the Hall of Presidents and First Ladies wax museum, which, besides offering up wax effigies of every chief executive and first lady, also included wall murals, photographs, shelving, old rolls of tickets, commemorative plaques, flags, and a seemingly endless supply of brass railing.

Abraham Lincoln fetched the most: $8,500. Teddy Roosevelt was second at $8,000. George Washington went for $5,610, and it went down from there. Richard Nixon cost someone only $1,900. The wives went for considerably less. Hillary Clinton topped the bidding for wives at $675, but most of them went for much less. But then the wives, for reasons no one could explain, are all half as tall as their mates: The men are supposedly life-size, but each first lady is precisely 3 feet 10 inches tall. They look like the moms of American Girl dolls.

I attended the auction because it seemed like the end of somethingmore than just the end of this particular wax museum, more like the end of an era that saw mom and pop museums of all sorts and quality arise and flourish in tandem with car travel. Conventional wisdom says that Disney and all the other mega-theme parks have, slowly but surely, sucked the life out of these roadside enterprises the same way big box stores crippled Main Street. Im not so sure.

Some of the bidders were there for fun. Germaine Schaefer, who works for the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C., said she had taken up a collection in her office and came with $670 to bid with. She said the presidents were too rich for her wallet, so she settled for a couple of first ladies. It was sort of an office competition, she said, grinning. So well put our first ladies on our side of the office, and when visitors and guests come through, they can have their picture taken with the ladies.

A few others, including the owners of other nearby small attractions, including haunted houses and military museums, were there to buy what they could to flesh out their own collections. Most of the crowd was there just to watch.

The auction was held in the Meade ballroom (I dont think theres so much as an outhouse in Gettysburg not named for a Civil War general) of the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg, a hotel across the street from the defunct wax museum. None of the presidents or first ladies, or any of the other paraphernalia for that matter, was present in the Meade Room. The auctioneer would simply throw up a photo of the lot to be auctioned next on a couple of TV monitors flanking the podium. The crying was brisk, and everything went fast, even the ephemerahow many original LIFE magazine photographs of Ike on his Gettysburg farm can there be? Hundreds? Thousands? Bidding started in late morning and by 2 pm they had sold off everything up through Grover Cleveland.

Across the street, lucky bidders were already making off with their loot. Most of the contents were still inside, the presidents and wives arrayed along the walls, backlit and spectral. It was like a funeral home without caskets. I watched while they took Trumans head off his manikin body (though the results are often sketchy, considerable care goes into creating a wax head of a famous person, but inspiration dies from the neck down: little or no attempt was made to replicate the bodies of the commanders in chief, and in the case of the wives, no attempt was made at all). It took less than a minute to decapitate Truman, shroud his head in bubble wrap, and then box it up for the retired college history professor waiting eagerly to take it home.

Other than simple curiosityI like to gawk as much as the next guyI attended the auction because I was taken to a wax museum in Gettysburg when I was a child. Was this the one? Wandering from one gloomy room to the next in the Hall of Presidents (oddly, there is no hall in the Hall), I decided that my family must have taken me to some other wax museumin the heyday of mom and pop attractions, the town had more than one! Not even my education-minded aunt and uncle would have inflicted this morbidity on me.

The truth is, I have never understood wax museums. Wax effigies date back to at least the 14th century, when dead royals were paraded through the streets on top of their coffinswaxwork replicas were substituted because there was no chance they would smell (no wonder you get a morbid vibe from these creatures). By the 19th century, the figures had become attractions worthy of admission fees. Marry what was then high tech and ghoulishness, and youve got yourself a tourist attraction.

But while ghoulishness never goes out of style, wax figures are no ones idea of cutting edge anything these days. Nor, for that matter, are any human replicas, be they wax, mechanical, or computer-generated: Disneys audioanimatronic presidents have been moving and speaking to theme-park millions since the 60s, but how long has it been since even a small child said, Wow?

The Hall of Presidents and First Ladies opened in 1957 and according to one news account, drew as many as 100,000 visitors a year at the height of its popularity in the 60s and 70s. Last year, only 11,000 showed up.

Reading through the comments in the online stories about the auction, I kept encountering people grumbling about kids these days and their short attention spans and their disdain for anything not hooked up to a computer. Personally, I dont like to see children maligned this way, and anyway, can you blame them? Waxworks may once have been cool (if you tried really, really hard, you could almost convince yourself they looked real), but getting worked up over their demise seems to me to be the worst kind of sentimentality, i.e., the fraudulent kind. Its like tearing up because no one bobs for apples any more.

People will also sneer that wax museums died because people dont like old things, but thats not entirely true either. Barely a mile down the road from the wax museum, the centerpiece of the National Park Services visitor center is a restored cyclorama painting of the battle of Gettysburg, and people cant get enough of it, even though its 134 years old.

Cycloramas were once the rage in this country. Before movies put them out of business, they were the IMAX of the late 19th century. They usually featured battles or Bible scenes; the crucifixion was a big hit. These circular paintings were so big (the Gettysburg cyclorama measures 47 feet tall and 377 feet in circumference) that they had to have special buildings erected to contain them, buildings used for nothing elsethats how popular they were. And if you visit the Gettysburg cyclorama, you can immediately see why. Your first impression is not, What did great-grandad see in these things? but rather, Good lord, honey, will you look at that! Originally executed by a team of experts under the direction of French painter Paul Phillippoteaux (there was even one artist whose specialty was horses), and now immaculately restored, this painting in the round puts you at the very center of the battle on day three, just when Picketts charge is failing, and with it the rebel armys hope of invading the North.

Ezra Pound said that art is news that stays news. And while the gigantic canvas at Gettysburg may not be great art, even today it still makes you gasp in a way that the Hall of Presidents and First Ladies most definitely did not. So it goes in the curious arithmetic of time and taste, where some attractions survive and some dont. As for me, I cant get too worked up at the idea of wax museums going under. They had their day, and that day is done. It was thin fun anyway.
I am again at a loss for words. Like I was on that hot summer day in 2013 at Fort Meade when, after years of arduous work documenting and transcribing Pvt. Chelsea Mannings court-martial, her 35-year sentence came down.

For years during those proceedings, the government prohibited the public from accessing the court record, despite Manning having been charged with aiding the enemy, one of only two offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice that apply to any personnot just military personnel. The day the sentence came down, I felt numb. Today, I feel gratitude.

President Barack Obamas decision Tuesday to commute Mannings sentence emphasizes the relevance of mercy to national security and to criminal justice. Security in a liberal democracy is not merely a result of coercion or sentencing regimes, but forged in the trust that an informed citizenry places in the wisdom and justness of our policies and laws.

Executive clemency is a fail-safe for imperfect laws like the Espionage Act. This commutation abrogates the dangerous precedent that would have equated leaks to the public by citizens on par with spies conducting espionage. Clemency also serves interests of justice in Mannings case, which has long suffered from a lack of public oversight and comprehension of legal facts.

Should Manning have served her entire sentence, she would have incarcerated long after many of the documents that she disclosed to the WikiLeaks organization in 2010 would have been officially declassified.

Branded a traitor by prosecutors, Manning was acquitted of aiding the enemy at her court-martial. Much of the material that she leaked had been widely distributed among nearly half a million government employees, military personnel, and federal contractors. The Defense Intelligence Agencys classified review of the roughly 750,000 documents Manning disclosed reportedly placed the overall risk to U.S. national security at moderate to low. She was eventually convicted under the Espionage Act of disclosing secret portions of just 227 documents.

Three of the five Guantanamo detainee profiles, for example, that Manning was convicted of disclosing were of the so-called Tipton 3: three British citizens from Tipton, England, who were held at Gitmo for two years and then released without charges or trial. They were awarded millions of dollars to settle their lawsuit against the U.K., for its complicity in their illegal detention by the U.S.

And while Manning was sentenced to more than a quarter of the 136 years her prosecutors asked for, that was more time than any individual in U.S. history has received for disclosing national-defense information to the public.

Her abusive pretrial treatment, harsh sentence, and recent punitive placement in solitary confinement for a suicide attempt have all been pointed to as justifications for the decision by Edward Snowden, who disclosed materials far more closely held by the U.S. government, to remain a fugitive from American justice.

Indeed, Mannings disproportionate sentence was meant to chill all future disclosure of information that serves the public interest and ultimately our democratic republic.

She stood trial, and took responsibility. Her respect for public consent, deliberation, the courts, and the rule of law in relation to her acts of civil disobedience are consistent with the spirit of her original leaks. Unlike Snowden, perhaps, Manning didnt make any excuses.

I dont think I will ever truly understand what moved me to cover Mannings investigation and trial as I did.

Part of it was about the diminutive character of Chelsea Manning. She was young, full of earnestness, and idealism. She was a low-ranking soldier, misunderstood, mischaracterized, and mistreated, trying to seek a fair shake in a massive national-security trial and the current media environment.

Manning has faced gargantuan obstacles, and she has persevered with dignity and grace. She has shown respect for the institutions that have condemned her.

A portion of her treatment during her pretrial confinement inside a Marine Corps brigwhere she was stripped of her clothing and forced to stand naked at attentionwas ruled illegal by a military judge.

She has been called a traitor. She had to face a U.S. military-court martial as a transgendered woman. The lack of public access to her trial meant rumors became truth, and the truth didnt matter. She was used as a warning by the government; and even as a prop by other leakers to justify themselves.

And, she has been voiceless, except for a few small portions of audio of her court-martial that have surfaced.

So, today, I want to emphasize how Manning triumphed. The facts triumphed. Just for today, justice triumphs.

History will show us that these events were not just about a so-called traitorous soldier. They were about who we are as Americans; what our elected leaders did; and what our nation represents. Let us never forget that these events have always been a reflection of us, too.
An ISIS terrorist who died 15 months ago said in a video played in a federal courtroom Wednesday that the man on trial for helping him to get to Syria did not recruit him.

Samy El-Goarany of Middletown, New York said in the September 2015 video that he went to Syria of his own volition. In November 2015, he was killed fighting for the so-called Islamic State. The video had previously been referred to in court filings, but was shown for the first time on Wednesday.

Ahmed Mohammed El-Gammal, also known as Jammie, is on trial for allegedly helping Samy get to Syria. But communications between the two men were sporadic and coded, and often already deleted, leaving prosecutors struggling to prove that El-Gammal knowingly helped Samy join ISIS. El-Gammals defense attorneys insist he was primarily a supporter of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood.

I didnt come to this decision with anybodys influence or anybody's recruitment, Samy said. And nobody helped me along the way to get hereincluding Ahmed Mohammed El Gammal, in America."

The short video was a last-ditch attempt by Samy before his death to exonerate his American acquaintance. El-Gammal was arrested that a month before the video was made for allegedly introducing Samy to an Egyptian friend who then supposedly helped Samy join the Islamic State. That man, an Egyptian citizen currently residing in Turkey, has not been charged.

Samy's family initially told multiple lies to cover up his disappearance. His brother withheld information on his travels from his parents, and both the father and Tarek lied to the FBI. They also lied about his manner and cause of death to friends and community members. But the family has signed non-prosecution agreements with the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Facebook exchanges also presented in court on Wednesday show how Samy found out about El-Gammals arrest, and Aboualala's attempts to convince him to film a video. He initially believed it was his father, Mohamed, who had directed investigators to El-Gammal. Sammy did not speak or understand Arabic, despite growing up with an Egyptian father, and Aboualala does not speak English, so the exchanges are in broken English.

You cause a big problem for Ahmed, Aboualala told Samy.

Allah will protect him from the tyrants of America, Samy told Aboualala in the Facebook messages.

Aboualala later asked Samy to film a video stating that El-Gammal did not help him join ISIS. At one point, Aboualala even claimed that El-Gammal's defense team had asked for such a video from Samy.

But Judge Edgardo Ramos told jurors that it is not in dispute that the defense team made no such request.

Samy did eventually film a video, which was later obtained by the FBI from social media.

Samys brother, Tarek El-Goarany, also finished testifying on Wednesday. He said Samy told him that El-Gammal helped him only in the most general sense.

Tarek, who knew about his brothers plans and went with him to purchase airline tickets, will not be charged.
At the center of the newly reignited national dialogue over Donald Trumps campaign promise to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, youll find three major questions:

Is Trump going to keep his promise and build some sort of barrier on a border that spans roughly the full 2,000 miles? Will it be a real wall made of brick, stone, and mortar, or the much cheaper alternative of fencing? And will Mexico really pay for it?

These questions are fueled by more than idle curiosity. If Trump doesnt keep the promise to build the wall, or builds something that appears to be more fence than wall, or cannot get Mexico to pay either directly or indirectly for whatever he builds, then the new president will have failed at what seems to be the major component of his immigration agenda.

Trump had the chance to answer all three queries on the wall at last weeks news conference in response to a single question from a reporter that went like this: With the border fence, it now appears clear U.S. taxpayers will have to pay for it up front. What is your plan to get Mexico to pay for it?

Thats a fair question. After all, according to House Republican officials, members of Trumps transition team have told Republicans in Congress that the president-elect wants to pay for the border wall upfront through the appropriations process and then later seek reimbursement from Mexico.

This would mean that the more than 73 million people who voted for Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, Jill Stein or the multitude of names written in by mischievous or disgusted voters would have to pay for a border monstrosity they never supported or wanted. That would be a tough pill to swallow, and so we can expect pushback from the states and even a lawsuit or two.

Although I have to say, the whole idea of paying for something you oppose should give liberals a new appreciation for the complaints of conservatives who have to fund organizations whose mission they disagree with, such as Planned Parenthood. Elections have consequences, folks.

It was back in October that Trump first floated the idea that the United States would foot the bill for the wall and then recoup its investment from our neighbor in one form or another.

Trump began his answer by making clear that he intends to build some barrier, and describing what it would look like.

On the fenceits not a fence, he said. Its a wall. You just misreported it. Were going to build a wall.

Trump argues that its just faster and more efficient for the United States to pay the costs of the wall. I could wait about a year-and-a-half until we finish our negotiations with Mexico, which will start immediately after we get to office, he said. But I dont want to wait Were going to start building.

Then Trump repeated his vow to stick Mexico with the tab.

Mexico in some form, and there are many different forms, will reimburse us and they will reimburse us for the cost of the wall, he said. That will happen, whether its a tax or whether its a paymentprobably less likely that its a payment. But it will happen.

As far as some Trump voters are concerned, it had better happen. The president-elect acknowledged that the idea of forcing Mexico to pay for the wall was a real crowd-pleaser during the election. His supporters loved hearing this line, and not just because theyre probably not so eager to pay the cost of the structure itself  which Trump estimates could be $12 billion, and an independent study by The Washington Post found could run as much as $25 billion.

Its about more than that. For many of them, making Mexico pay for the wall is a matter of fairness. The current arrangement is a sweetheart deal for our neighbor, which gets rid of uneducated low-skilled workers that its economy has no room for anyway and then makes a profit in the form of remittances that start off in private hands but quickly circulate through the Mexican economy. Mexico should have to pony up something in return, the argument goes.

Finally, as he tends to do after delivering a kick in the shins, Trump heaped on some flattery.

And by the way, Mexico has been so nice, so nice, he said. I respect the government of Mexico. I respect the people of Mexico. I love the people of Mexico. I have many people from Mexico working for me. Theyre phenomenal people.

But with Trump, flattery often comes with a side of insult or a dash of provocation. So he ended the answer like this.

The government of Mexico is terrific, he said. I dont blame them for whats happened. I dont blame them for taking advantage of the United States.

But who is taking advantage of whom? In conversations about the wall, or stopping illegal immigration, Americans somehow never acknowledge how much illegal immigrants contribute to the bottom line and increase profits for U.S. industries like agriculture, hotels, restaurants, construction, and others. Nor will they admit how having a supply of cheap and available immigrant labor benefits the U.S. economy.

Meanwhile, some in the media characterized Trumps pivot on the funding issue as a flip-flop and a broken promise. The president-elect responded in a tweet: The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!

As House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) told the hosts of MSNBCs Morning Joe last week, the United States has options when it comes to squeezing cash out of Mexico after the fact. As McCaul noted, the United States could increase the fee for visa applications, charge a hefty toll for the thousands of people who cross the border each day from Mexico to work or shop in this country, or levy taxes on the estimated $25 billion worth of remittances sent into Mexico annually from expatriates on this side of the border.

McCaul also brought up NAFTA. The North American Free Trade Agreement  which was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, and intended to spur trade between Canada, Mexico, and the United States  is likely to be renegotiated during the Trump presidency. This will happen with Mexicos blessing given that the Mexicans are also unhappy with aspects of the agreement, including provisions that Mexicans blame for decimating its corn industry. Those trade talks could give the United States leverage to get Mexico to pay for the wall, McCaul said.

So it would seem, at least from last weeks news conference, the major questions about the proposed border wall have been asked and answered. But that isnt so. The skeptics and opponents of the project are just getting started. And heres the one question that no one ever seems to ask Trump about his beloved, big, beautiful wall:

Without changing the behavior  namely the hiring practices  of those on this side of the border, will it do any good?
Several Democrats slated for jobs in the West Wing if Hillary Clinton had won the election are in limbo now, coming to terms with their regrets and trying to figure out what to do next in Donald Trumps strange new political world.

Election night felt like the Jason Isbell song, 24 Frames, as in everything you built goes up in flames in 24 frames, says Jennifer Palmieri, the Clinton campaigns director of communications. Now its Shawn Colvins Fall of Rome, she says, quoting the lyrics. In anyones heartache or anyones blues is the beautiful feeling of nothing to lose.

So thats liberating, she concludes in an email. Things are better.

Palmieri has her talking points down. She has options that she is weighing, but isnt ready just yet to talk about whats next. She had been President Obamas director of communications before joining the Clinton campaign in the spring of 2015. Before that, she was president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

Jake Sullivan, who would likely have been Clintons national security advisor in the White House, is returning to Yale, his alma mater, where he had been teaching in the law school before going to work for the Clinton campaign full time.

Staffers who want to stay engaged in politics are deciding whether to join the resistance or the rebirth, says Bill Burton, co-founder of the pro-Hillary super PAC, Priorities USA Action.

He cites the New Democratic Redistricting Commission (NDRC) launched by former Attorney General Eric Holder to promote Democrats across the country to win key races before the next round of gerrymandering, when congressional districts are redrawn.

The Center for American Progress, the think tank founded by Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and headed by Neera Tanden, will continue to churn out policy reports and ideas, sobered by the realization they, like Clinton, somehow missed the mark and failed to fully read the mood of the country.

Ron Klain, likely Clintons chief of staff had she won, resumes the life he had at an investment firm where he is general counsel. Maggie Williams, a longtime Clinton advisor, returns to Harvard, where she directs the Institute of Politics.

Ann OLeary, a lawyer who would almost certainly have become Clintons domestic policy advisor in the White House, has joined the law firm of Boies Shiller in San Francisco. Co-founded by David Boies, who represented Al Gore in the 2000 recount, the law firm has become an outpost for Clinton people.

Lily Adams, familiar to reporters as Clintons battleground states communications director, has joined California Senator-elect Kamela Harris. That would count as part of the rebirth effort.

There are no big names landing marquee jobs as heads of this or that foundation, or company in the private sector, at least not so far.

Phillipe Reines, who played Trump in Clintons debate prep and was at her side during both presidential campaigns and between them at the State Department, returns to the lucrative consulting firm, Beacon, he co-founded with Jeremy Bash, who was CIA chief Leon Panettas chief of staff. Their star may have dimmed a bit with Clintons loss, but there is always an appetite for defense and security-related contract work in Washington.

Most intriguing is what Clinton herself does next, and aside from likely writing a book about her experience as the almost-president, its anybodys guess. She definitely does not know what shes next doing, says a longtime aide and friend.

Clinton has an office in midtown Manhattan, with room for a small cadre of aides. Huma Abedin, who has been with Clinton since interning with her at the White House in the nineties, is expected to stay with her. Speechwriter Dan Schwerin, who worked with Clinton throughout the campaign, and is credited with helping her find her voice, is also expected to stick around at least for a while, as is traveling press spokesman Nick Merrill.

Cheryl Mills, another stalwart in Clintons life, will always be a key advisor, a shaper, in whatever Clinton does even as she returns to the Africa-focused investment firm she runs.

People havent made it clear or figured it out exactly, thats why youre not finding dramatic change in peoples lives, says a Clinton advisor, who like almost everybody in the Clinton orbit insists on anonymity. Until Hillary decides what she wants to do and what she needs, the rest of us dont know what were doing.

No one knows what campaign manager Robby Mook might be up to. Even if he had pulled off a spectacular win, he might not have been headed to the West Wing. For now, hes laying low. He was new to the Clinton world. Now hes banished.

News reports Tuesday noted that the Clinton Global Initiative had been shut down, fulfilling promise made by President Clinton last year in advance of the election. It was a huge enterprise to get all of those commitments, says a former CGI staffer, confirming that the shutdown was in the works in expectation of Clinton winning the election.

An arm of the Clinton Foundation, CGI was an annual meeting hosted by President Clinton where donors from around the world made pledges to further its programs. They planned to do that (shut it down) in any case because of questions where the commitments were coming from, says the former staffer.

If Clinton had been elected, the donations would have been suspect for their intent. As it is, according to a report in the Observer, donations to CGI fell immediately after the election, making the case that gaining influence was always part of the equation for donors.

Friends say Clinton will surely return to the issues shes worked on all her life, including Too Small to Fail, an initiative she started at the Clinton Foundation to promote universal preschool. And there will be speeches. Whether she will be in demand the way she once was is another question.
The Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev has told how she accidentally flashed a crew member during a photo shoot for Mens Health magazine.

Dobrev, 28, was being interviewed on Build, AOLs new livestream interview platform, when she got to chatting about the workaday production that goes into creating glamorous pictures.

Everybody always thinks that Hollywood and all these things are always glamorous and when you see this final result, I understand why you would believe that, but its not always the case, Dobrev said, discussing a recent cover shoot for Mens Health that showed the star in a bikini on a hammock.

She explained that the hammock had to be steadied at each end by two male crew members.

I looked up and made eye contact with the gentleman in front of me and his eyes went wide and he put his hat down. It wasnt until that moment that I realized my legs were spread open and Im wearing an itty bitty bikini in the photo, she said.

Super, super awkward! I just looked at him and was like, Im so so sorry or youre welcome? I dont know.

The actress, currently promoting her new movie XXX: Return of Xander Cage, would not be drawn on whether the character that made her name, Elena Gilbert, will be resurrected from the dead to enable her to make a return to the finale of The Vampire Diaries.

I havent ever told secrets in the past and Im definitely not going to start now, she said. Sorry, guys. Im not allowed to talk about that.
Sometimes, I must admit, I brag about my kids. Ill be chatting with another parent on the playground about my seven-year-old son, humbly describing his excellence in detail. How in school hes learning to sight-read his name, to count, to make stunning artworks.

He goes to school? is a response I get far more often than Id like.

Yes, Edmund goes to school. I can only assume that so many non-disabled adults dont know that because when we were younger, kids like him didnt go to schoolor at least they didnt go to our schools.

Edmund has a rare genetic disorder called Cri du Chat syndrome. He is microcephalic, has cognitive and physical disabilities, uses a wheelchair, eats via feeding tube, and is non-verbal. In an era not so very long ago, he would have been officially designated as ineducable.

A federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (or IDEA)which was a substantial 1990 revamping of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act enacted in 1975guaranteed my sons right to a free appropriate education. Moreover, he is to be educated in the least restrictive environment, that is, he must be included and integrated with non-disabled children to the greatest degree possible.

When Betsy DeVos was nominated by Donald Trump to be his Secretary of Education, I began to worry, as did many other disability rights activists and parents of disabled children, due to her penchant for vouchers and charter schools. Even those not philosophically opposed to such measures in theory know that in current practice, schools that accept vouchers are not necessarily bound by the provisions of IDEA.

As non-disabled children opt out of local public schoolsand take public money with themlocal public schools may wind up as poorly funded warehouses for the most vulnerable children. Disabled children might be returned to the era of segregated schools, a sad reflection of our societys lack of faith in their dignity and inherent talents.

At least, that was the worry was before she testified before the Senate yesterday in her nomination hearing.

After her testimony, Im in stone cold fear.

Set aside vouchers. DeVos, possible future education secretary, longtime education activist, appeared to be unaware that IDEA even exists.

When Virginia Senator Tim Kaine asked her amidst his withering questions whether all K-12 schools receiving governmental funding should be required to abide by the provisions of IDEA, DeVos answered, I think that is a matter that is best left to the states.

The whole idea of IDEA (if you will) is to guarantee that disabled children have a right to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environmentno matter which state they live in. In other words, its existence as a federal law is to ensure that it is not left to the states.

Kaine refined his question, asking if schools that receive federal funding (public, public charter, or private) should abide by IDEA. She replied, I think it is certainly worth discussion.

Newly elected New Hampshire Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan, who has a son with cerebral palsy educated in his local public school, also zeroed in on DeVoss apparent lack of familiarity with IDEA. When DeVos said she was glad that Hassan had had the opportunity to educate her son in an appropriate setting, Hassan replied her son was only able go to the same school as his sister because the law required that that school provide him with resources that were never provided before that law was passed, because its hard.

Hassan asked if DeVos was unaware that IDEA was a federal law when she stated that educating kids with disabilities should be left to the states. DeVos astoundingly replied, I may have confused it.

I should note that Kaine, in his questioning of DeVos, had referred to this landmark legislation by its full name, not its commonly used acronym, no fewer than four times.

IDEA is the core guarantee of students with disabilities' educational rights. The fact that DeVos was either unaware or did not intend to enforce the law is astonishing for a prospective Secretary of Education, said Ari Neeman, a former Obama administration appointee on disability rights and current CEO of MySupport.com.

Andrew Pulrang, a prominent disability rights blogger who worked for more than 20 years in Independent Living Centers, said, I can't tell whether she literally doesn't know what IDEA is, or whether she is using just a touch of apparent ignorance or acronym confusion to blur the fact that she knows very well what it is and doesn't like it one bit.

Pulrang observed that DeVos indicated she recognized she might have to follow IDEA because its federal law, not because she believed the law was a crucial protection of civil rights. And at this point, because it's the law really, really isn't good enough. The possibilities for reversing inclusion and re-segregating disabled kids are endless, he said. One other guess is that she will bolster her reputation on this by championing families that prefer segregated, private education, since that's her big thing anyway. She'll offer to help get their kids out of those nasty old public schools with awesome vouchers.

Vilissa Thompson is a social worker and founder of the disability self-advocacy organization Ramp Your Voice. She began kindergarten in 1991, under the protection of IDEA and the ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act). Her predominantly African-American school provided her with a bus with a wheelchair lift, with physical, occupational, and speech therapies, and two sets of books so she didnt have to carry a heavy bag to and from school. She was on the honor roll throughout her school years and graduated valedictorian of her high school.

I was raised by my grandmother who grew up during Great Depression. She told me, Back then, children like you didn't go to school, Thompson said. Without these mandates, we would go back to a two-tier education system were not supposed to have anymore, particularly for children of color and in rural areas. And again, all those talents and gifts and abilities would be left unseen and unsupported.

Thompson noted that if IDEA is not fully enforced, the children hardest hit would be disabled children of color. Kids of color are more likely to be placed in special ed by teachers, mostly white, who view them as having behavior problems, she continued. Its a gross abuse of power to allow those who have always been disadvantaged continue disadvantaged because they live in a certain ZIP code. With an ignorant Secretary of Education, the problems both groups are having will be combined and exacerbated.

DeVos was not the only Trump administration nominee to give troubling answers regarding IDEA. During Jeff Sessionss confirmation hearing to become Attorney General, he did not offer any ideas to protect the civil rights of disabled children. Instead, he bemoaned the burden IDEA placed on school principals.

As a result of IDEA, from his birth to age three, my son received early intervention services to help him start down the road to greater communication and independence. Starting at age three, a bus would arrive at our house every day and bring him to school.

He goes to an excellent school now where he interacts with both disabled and non-disabled peers. Every semester, he has shown progress in his abilities to communicate (through making signs and pointing to picture symbols), to stand and walk independently, to grasp new concepts.

IDEA has historically been underfunded by the federal government, a problem that needed urgent redress. With an administration indifferent or downright hostile to the education of disabled children, there is no telling whether the rights of my son, and so many other educable kids like him, will be adequately protected.
The North Dakota National Guard is withdrawing the two unloaded missile launchers it had stationed near the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site in order to observe peaceful protestors, which The Daily Beast first reported on Tuesday.

Its removal demonstrates our commitment to deescalating any tensions its presence may have caused, Guard spokesman William Prokopyk said in a statement.

Two Avengers launchers, Humvee trucks with rotating turrets that can be armed with guns and eight Stinger surface-to-air missiles, were deployed a day after protestors from the nearby Standing Rock Indian Reservation had spotted one of them deployed on private land overlooking a pipeline work site.

Several of the protestors were arrested for trespassing.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied Dakota Access, LLC an easement to extend its pipeline under Lake Oahe, which lies on federal land and borders Standing Rock. Dakota Access has vowed to continue building the 1,200-mile oil pipeline, most likely on private land in Morton County.

Jon Ziegler, a self-described citizen journalist covering the Standing Rock movement, described the Avenger as an anti-drone missile system.

On Oct. 23, 2016, the Morton County Sheriffs Department announced it had shot down an activists drone after it had approached a police helicopter in a threatening manner an accusation the drones operator denied.

But Prokopyk said Army Guardsmenwho have deployed alongside local police to guard the pipelinewere using the unloaded Avengers strictly as observation platforms. The Avengers boast sophisticated night-vision equipment that many other Guard vehicles lack.

It was employed for over a month in a passive role to observe areas within Morton County where numerous incidences of criminal trespass and mischief have occurred, Prokopyk said of the pair of Avengers.

In the same vein as when we used unarmed Blackhawk helicopters to put out a fire near the protest camp in October of 2016, the unarmed Avenger was used in an observation only role to support public safety in southern Morton County.

Not only were the Avengers not armed while stationed near the work sitethere arent even any missiles for the vehicles anywhere in North Dakota, Prokopyk explained. All munitions are strictly controlled by the United States Army.

Prokopyk denied that authorities sent in the Avengers in order to intimidate anti-pipeline activists.

If they were placed to intimidate anyone, it wouldnt have taken a month for someone to notice them.

The North Dakota Guard selected the Avengers for the observation mission not only because of the launchers night-vision equipment, but also owing to their enclosed, heated cabins, Prokopyk said. Taking into account wind chill, winter temperatures in North Dakota can dip below negative 40 degrees.

Having withdrawn the Avengers, Guardsmen will continue monitoring protestors using handheld night-vision equipment, Prokopyk said.

Good thing were in a heat wave, he added. Its almost 30 degrees!
During his eight years in office, Barack Obama hasnt always been seen as a robust supporter of a free press.

His administrations aggressive attempts to uncover confidential sources, secretly subpoena phone records of news organizations, prosecute whistleblowers under the Espionage Act, and forbid government officials from speaking to reporters, didnt exactly endear him to the Fourth Estate.

But in his final White House press conference as president on Wednesday, Obama did his level best Tto undo his successors endless efforts to delegitimize the institution of journalism, and deliver a ringing defense of its vital role in a healthy democracy.

America needs you and our democracy needs you, Obama said in his opening statement in the jam-packed briefing room in the West Wing.

We need you to establish a baseline of facts and evidence that we can use as a starting point for the kind of reasoned and informed debates that ultimately lead to progress. And so my hope is that you will continue with the same tenacity that you showed us, to do the hard work of getting to the bottom of stories and getting them right and to push those of us in power to be the best version of ourselves and to push this country to be the best version of itself.

Those sentiments could hardly have been a more pointed rebuke to president-elect Donald Trumps incessant slander of working journalistsincluding in his Wednesday morning Twitter rant, in which he bitterly complained about NBC Newss totally biased reportingas dishonestscum and the lowest form of life.

More FAKE NEWS, Trump tweeted about a Today show segment that pointed out that he doesnt deserve credit for saved jobs at General Motors, Lockheed and other companies.

The only time Obama used the phrase fake news was a reference later in the press conference to the Republicansand, by implication, Trumpsclaims of rampant voter fraud.

Youre not supposed to be sycophants, youre supposed to be skeptics, youre supposed to ask me tough questions, Obama told the standing-room-only crowd. Youre not supposed to be complimentary, but youre supposed to cast a critical eye on folks who hold enormous power and make sure that we are accountable to the people who sent us here, and you have done that.

He added: And you have done it for the most part in ways that I could appreciate for fairness, even if I didnt always agree with your conclusions.

And in case the incoming Trump administration is planning, as rumored, to kick beat reporters out of their longtime office space in the West Wing and relocate them to the Old Executive Office Building or somewhere even farther away, the current president came down solidly on the side of the press.

Obama said, having you in this building has made this place work better. It keeps us honest, it makes us work harder. You have made us think about how we are doing what we do and whether or not were able to deliver on whats been requested by our constituents. And for example, every time youve asked why havent you cured Ebola yet or why is there still that hole in the Gulf, it has given me the ability to go back and say, 'Will you get this solved before the next press conference?

For President Obama, of course, there won't be a next press conference.
SHELBYVILLE  As the number of medical cannabis users in Illinois continues to rise, a new clinic coming to Shelbyville says it will be a fast on-ramp for sick people anxious to get the benefits of the drug.

The Marijuana Pain Management & Wellness Clinic will open its doors at 10 a.m Feb. 4 at 480 S. Heinlein Drive. The clinic will not dispense cannabis itself, but an in-house doctor will assist qualified patients to apply to become part of the Illinois medical cannabis pilot program.

You will only be about 30 days out, from the point when you come and see us, from getting your (registration) card in the mail from the Illinois Department of Health, said Caprice Sweatt, the founder and CEO of Medical Cannabis Outreach Pain Management & Wellness Clinics, which will run the Shelbyville facility.

Sweatt already has three clinics operating in Illinois and said they evaluate and counsel patients on the type of cannabis treatment that will benefit them most. Nurses will also be available for in-home visits to monitor patients and help them as they use the drug. We don't want them to take too much so their heart races and they feel anxiety, said Sweatt, talking of patients new to cannabis. We want them to feel comfortable and get the best out of it they can.

She said once patients are qualified and evaluated, they will be directed to any of several cannabis dispensaries (there is one in Effingham, more than 35 in the state) where they will buy the drug.

Sweatt said there is a need for her clinic because she claims some physicians, under business pressure not to harm regular drug sales, will not certify the paperwork of patients wanting to use cannabis. Doctor certification is required before the state considers allowing a patient with a qualifying condition (cancer, for example) into the Illinois medical cannabis program.

So those patients denied have been left with nowhere to go, she added. But now we want to be there for them.

Dr. Tom Anderson, president of the Illinois State Medical Society, said he is not aware of doctors being warned off certifying patients for medical cannabis use due to business pressures.

He said medical opinion is divided on the benefits and drawbacks of cannabis, and he said doctors working in medical systems attached to hospitals may be constrained by guidelines which don't sanction the use of cannabis in treatments.

Anderson, whose specialty is neural radiology, said it's also important to remember that doctors in Illinois are not prescribing the use of medical cannabis, which could run them afoul of federal drug laws.

He said Illinois law says that doctors are asked to certify that a patient has a qualifying condition that makes them eligible for medical cannabis use. The doctors are also supposed to maintain contact with that patient to monitor them because the law also says a doctor can withdraw certification, too.

The law is designed to try and avoid having facilities that do not take any responsibility for the patient care and simply collect money and provide certifications (for cannabis use), he said.

Anderson said the Illinois State Medical Society hasn't taken a stance on the use of medical cannabis because doctors' opinions remain divided. The state's medical cannabis program is due to come up for renewal or expire in 2020 and he thinks, by then, doctors will have a view on its efficacy. I'm sure we will, he added.

The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program became law on Jan. 1, 2014. That brought Illinois into line with 27 other states, plus the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, which allow the medicinal use of cannabis. California was the first state to sanction it with the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996.

In the years since the Illinois pilot program was passed, the number of patients registered with the state to use the drug has jumped to 7,700, a close split between equal numbers of men and women.

Some 40 conditions have been approved by the state as qualifying for medical marijuana use. Looking back over the 12 months up to June 2016, the top five most common conditions patients cited were severe fibromyalgia, cancer, spinal cord disease, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The biggest single age group for patients is those aged from 51 to 60, who now make up almost 29 percent of medical cannabis users in the Land of Lincoln.

Sweatt, 50, suffers from an inflammation of the bowels called Crohn's disease (ninth on the list of most commonly cited conditions in Illinois) and smokes cannabis herself to control pain and discomfort.

She said she's been using it for years and the drug works great. She said it has enabled her to live a normal life free from taking prescription medications that had worst side effects than the underlying disease.

Cannabis saved my life, she said.
A listing of President Barack Obamas statements about race might start with his campaign speech A More Perfect Union, when the self-described son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas said that the idea that this nation is greater than its parts is seared into his genetic makeup.

During his presidency itself, there were the elegant remarks by the president on Trayvon Martin, when Obama imagined aloud how the slain Martin might have been his son, and the stirring eulogy for the Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney, slain during the South Carolina church shooting.

Yet history should not neglect a more offhand comment delivered in late 2008 when the then president-elect was chatting with reporters about the familys search for a family pet. At the time, the Obamas were considering adopting a dog from an animal shelter, although due to Malia Obamas allergies they eventually accepted a Portuguese Water Dog from Senator Ted Kennedy.

Said Obama: There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic. On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me.

The line stood out. It still does. It is more vernacular than Obamas usual rhetoric. Before mutt came to mean a mixed-breed dog, it was short for muttonhead, which, like the older sheeps head, was an insult meaning an unintelligent person. This was how newspaper readers of the comic Mutt and Jeff would have understood the word.

But Obama didnt mean that he was a muttonhead. He meant he was a mixed-breed. It was for this reason that cartoonist Patrick McDonnell, a champion of animal shelters, celebrated the statement in his Mutts comic strip, having his canine character Earl excitedly announce that The president-elect said he was a mutt like me!

It is difficult to remember it now, but for a brief time, Obama suggested a different way to talk about race. In doing so, Obama was following the lead of another mutta mutt-poet, actuallynamed George Herriman.

Herrimanthe cartoonist whose character Krazy Kat influenced cartoon animals from Mickey Mouse to Snoopy to Hobbeswas a mixed-race man from New Orleans. Growing up before the turn of the 20th century in frontier Los Angeles, Herriman and his family self-identified, or passed, as white. His parents appear to have chosen this path so that their children might have a good school and a more hopeful future. Yet Herrimans own feelings about this experience would flood into his cartoon work.

Krazy Kat is the story of a black cat who is under siege by a white mouse named Ignatz, who throws bricks at Krazybricks that Krazy considers love letters. A canine sheriff named Officer Pupp harbors his own love for Krazy, and hauls Ignatz to jail for his efforts. All this occurs on a sort of primary American landscape: Monument Valley in northern Arizona and southern Utah, the same parcel of Navajo Nation that served as the site of the cinematic westerns of John Ford.

As the bricks fly, Krazy might change color. So might Ignatz. Gender is also in flux. Krazy is neither male nor femaleor perhaps both. Herriman once explained this decision in a comic in which Krazy was given a form to fill out and was asked to specify gender, and Krazy didnt want to hurt anyones feelings.

It is a feeling that must be well known to those of mixed race and less than certain genderwhich someday we might understand to mean all of us. Obama is our first black president and should be honored as such. But at the same time, we have to recognize that the words we use to shoulder such identities are failing us miserably. Black itself is a vestige of the one drop rule of racial classification, which carries with it the understanding that a heritage that stretches back to Africa is a pollutant.

Herriman knew this, too. He toyed with allegories of race in comics that had Krazy Kat working in a diner, telling Ignatz the coffee was black if hell only look under the milk. In a strip that he published in 1918 on semiotics (its worth noting here that Herriman frustrated his readers as often as he amused them), he staged Krazy Kat and Ignatz at a table:

Krazy: Why is Lenguage, Ignatz?

Ignatz: Language is that we may understand one another.

Krazy: Is that so?

Ignatz: Yes thats so.

Krazy: Can you unda-stend a Finn or a Leplender, or a Oshkosher, huh?

Ignatz: No

Krazy: Can a Finn, or a Leplender, or a Oshkosher, unda-stend you?

Ignatz: No

Krazy: Then I would say, lenguage is that that we may mis-unda-stend each udda.

In the twilight of the Obama administration, it seems everyonethe Finns and the Laplanders, and even the natives of Oshkosh, Wisconsinare mis-unda-stending each other more than ever. One of many sad outcomes of this past campaign seasons appeals to racism has been the re-hardening of our social identities, a retreat into old positions. For a brief time, it seemed as if this country was ready to be led by a President Mutt, overseeing a mixed nation where colors come and go like shadows in a Monument Valley sunset.

But that would have been just Krazy.

Michael Tisserand is the author of The Kingdom of Zydeco, which won the ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor Award for music writing, and the Hurricane Katrina memoir Sugarcane Academy. His latest, Krazy: George Herriman, A Life in Black and White, is a finalist for a National Book Critics Circle Award for biography. He lives in New Orleans.
Lisa Loomer worked as a stand-up comic along the way to being a playwright, and shes known for plays about serious issues that also have humor in them. Shes dealt with immigration, breast cancer, and homelessness. Her play Roe, about the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, continues in that tradition.

I take the issue very seriously, but human beings are funny and having humor helps open their minds and their hearts, she told The Daily Beast.

Roe opens at Arena Stage in Washington on Jan. 18, two days before the inauguration of a president who has said he will appoint judges who may overturn the 1973 landmark ruling, and nine days before the 44th annual Right to Life march on Jan. 27.

A record turnout is expected for the march with the future of Roe v. Wade threatened and anti-choice activists emboldened. Kellyanne Conway, one of President-elect Donald Trumps top advisors and a longtime opponent of abortion rights, will address the marchers on the National Mall.

Loomer says she hopes Trump attends Roe with a daughter seated on each side. While thats unlikely given his criticism of the ruling and his partys staunch opposition, Loomer says, With Trump, you never know.

The play debuted in Ashland, Oregon, last April amidst expectations of a different political outcome from the one we got in November. Loomer is mindful of the minefield she is operating in with a new president and partisan emotions running high.

When first approached about writing a play about Roe, Loomer hesitated. I dont think of myself as a courtroom dramatist, she says, and theatergoers should know that while there is one scene in the first act in the courtroom, the remainder of the play is about the cultural clash of views that animates the abortion debate then and now.

Loomer tells the story of the landmark ruling principally through its two main protagonists, lawyer Sarah Weddington, who was 26 years old when she began arguing the case in 1971, and plaintiff Jane Roe, later identified as Norma McCorvey, 22 at the time, two months pregnant, and working as a bartender.

McCorvey already had two children and was seeking an abortion, which was illegal in Texas, where both women lived. McCorvey did not get an abortion, but Weddington got her case. Taking the position that the states anti-abortion statute was unconstitutional, she filed suit against Henry Wade, the Dallas district attorney responsible for enforcing the statute.

The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, which two years later, in 1973, ruled 7-2 in favor of legalizing abortion within the first trimester, based on the right of privacy, while recognizing the interests of the state in regulating abortion in later stages of pregnancy.

In writing the play, Loomer did not meet with or talk to Weddington, though she did send her the script. She had no contact with McCorvey. I did really try, she says, contacting her agent, her minister, and her former priest. I could not get a hold of her or even locate her.

McCorvey revealed her identity soon after the Court handed down its decision, and over the years she evolved from a troubled poster child for abortion rights to a pro-life activist working with Operation Rescue, an anti-abortion group. She credited her change of belief to Operation Rescues national director, Flip Benham, who baptized her in a backyard swimming pool in Dallas in 1995.

For audiences who are not familiar with this turn of events, or were too young to have lived through those years, Loomer reports there are audible gasps during the second act of Roe when McCorvey reveals her decision to switch sides.

Roe is especially timely because of the divisions plaguing American society, and not only around abortion. Loomer depicts both Weddington and McCorvey in ways that make them sympathetic figures to those who might not approve of their actions.

In President Barack Obamas farewell speech, he urged people to listen to the other side. If youre tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk to one in real life, he said. Only by putting yourself in someone elses shoes can you fully understand their perspective, and thats what Loomer tries to do with a dozen actors playing multiple roles and arguing with each other across the decades.

I cant say I want to bridge the divide, says Loomer. I want to look at it, humanize it, understand itand the first step is having people tell their story, and having the ability to listen to someone elses story, and to understand, and have some compassion.

The play begins and ends in the present, but the first act goes back to 1969 and the making of the Supreme Court case. The second act is about the controversy that continues and the chipping away of abortion access.

More than half the states now have restrictive laws that make it hard for women without resources to get a timely abortion, while advances in science lower the age of fetal viability, testing both sides of the abortion divide. I try to put in everyones point of view, says Loomer. I dont think there is a point of view you wont hear in the play.

In one conversation, a woman asks about a fetus in its earliest development, Is it life? Told its potential life, she says, Dont give me the law, give me the truth.

Whose truth? That is the dilemma Roe has us confront. And it is more relevant today than it was 44 years ago.
On March 4, 1829, Andrew Jackson raised his right hand and swore to uphold the constitution et cetera, et cetera as the seventh president of the United States.

The moment was historic in many waysthis was the first swearing-in held outside the chambers of the U.S. Capitol building. (He stood before a vast crowd of well-wishers gathered in front of the east portico.) And Jackson really helped usher in modern politics, in part by being the first true populist president, elected by rough-edged farmers, backwoodsmen, blacksmiths, barge hands, and coopers, who banded together to upend a half-centurys worth of stuffed-shirt politics-as-usual. As his big day neared, ardent fans flooded Washington eager to see their hero take the reins of state.

Immediately following the formal passing of power, Jackson mounted a white horse and rode to the White House, working his way slowly through teeming crowds along Pennsylvania Ave. Upon arrival at the Peoples House, the doors were flung open for a public reception, and Jackson kicked off what was without doubt the most raging kegger held to date at the White Housea party that helped define Jacksons Democratic party and leaving it with something of a lasting hangover.

Ive seen estimates this week that perhaps a million celebrants will descend on Washington for the inauguration of Donald Trumpour shiny, new gold-plated populist. A lot is at stake in having the inaugural festivities come off without a hitchit would convey steely control, and uphold all that law and order palaver trotted out on the campaign.

So, here are five lessons from the Jacksonian era that this years inaugural committee might find worth their attention.

Be prepared for crowds, especially those who may not know the ways of Washington.

For the first 50 years of the republic, presidents hosted low-key receptions at the White House following official ceremonies. These soirees were attended by local notables and distinguished visitors. Many attendees already knew one other; most were familiar with the niceties of Washington, and deployed the tight smiles and slow head nods of polite company everywhere.

Not so with Jacksons followers. Washington found itself amid an influx of unusual creatures from the out-of-the-way places to whom the city was not accustomed, as one historian put it in 1928.

Even the sheer numbers were startling. The mass of people flowing from the Capitol toward the White House seemed nearly endless to someone bystander reported that it took a full half hour for the crowd to file past, and like a never failing fountain the Capitol pouring forth its torrents.

I never saw such a crowd here before, added Sen. Daniel Webster of Massachusetts. They really seem to think the country is rescued from some dreadful danger.

Its helpful to maintain cordial relations with your predecessor.

The crowd followed Jackson and surged toward the White House. One noted chronicler of Washington life, author and politician Margaret Bayard Smith, watched with growing amazement and not a little horror as the mob hounded after Jackson. Country men, farmers, gentlemen, mounted and dismounted, boys, woolen and children, black and white [and] carriages wagons and carts all pursuing him to the Presidents house.

The presidents house, it turned out, was not in the least prepared for them. In fact, practically no one was there. Jacksons predecessor, John Quincy Adams, had slighted Jacksons wife, Rachel, during the campaign, then she died of an illness several months before the inauguration. Jackson never forgave Adams, and declined to pay the traditional courtesy visit to the sitting president the day before the inauguration. This peeved Adams, and he responded by vacating the premises without a word the night before, essentially leaving the key under the doormat.

Without any communication or advance planning, the change in residence was an invitation to disorder. Jackson showed up, opened the door, and thousands of people came flooding in, clamoring for food and drink. As Jon Meacham wrote in American Lion, his wonderful biography of Jackson: It is possible that Jacksons failure to communicate directly with Adams helped lead to the disaster that followed, a legendary scene in American history that has forever linked Jackson with the image of a crowd trashing the White House.

Staff up!

No constables were on the White House grounds to secure it after Adams departed. (Hey, it was a different era!) And only a handful of servants were on hand when the rabble showed up. They were charged with providing refreshments to visitors, but were swiftly overrun, like Major General Edward Pakenham was by Andrew Jackson on the plains of Chalmette during the Battle of 1812.

Orange punch by the barrel full was made, but as the waiters opened the door to bring it out, a rush would be made, noted a congressman from Pennsylvania who was present. Glasses [were] broken, the pails of liquor upset, and the most painful confusion prevailed.

Unruly conditions prevailed. There the unwieldy mob, in carnival mood, hundreds only accustomed to the rough life of the frontier, stormed the mansion, fighting, scrambling, elbowing, scratching, wrote historian Claude G. Bowers in 1928. Waiters appearing with refreshments were rushed by the uncouth guest, resulting in the crash of glass and china. Men in heavy boots, covered with the mud of the unpaved streets, sprang upon the chairs and sofas to get a better view of the hero of the hour. Women fainted, some were seen with bloody noses.

The noisy and disorderly rabble, wrote Mrs. Smtih, brought to my mind descriptions I have read of the mobs in the Tuileries and at Versailles.

Keep the windows open.

Once on the White House grounds, thousands of people jockeyed to get inside angling for liquor and perhaps a glimpse of the president. The entrances and egresses were soon bottled up, with no one able to either enter or leave. Pickpockets, according to one account, made small fortunes. Inside, a cordon of gentlemen hastily formed around Jackson to prevent him from being crushed. But it was the Peoples day, and the Peoples President and the People could rule, wrote Mrs. Smith. God grant that one day or other, the People do not pull down all rule and rulers.

The servants did manage to deploy punch to the main floor, but the room was so congested that the wine and ice cream was never mustered for service. After the prim, stolid rule of the Adams presidency, the scene was something wholly different. It was like the inundation of the northern Barbarians into Rome, wrote biographer James Parton in 1861.

People who couldnt get into the house through the doors opened the windows and clambered through. Those trapped inside did likewise, throwing open additional sashes to extricate themselves. As historian Donald Cole wrote, the windows were thrown open, and the torrent found an outlet, which otherwise might have proved fatal.

Keep the kegs outside.

It was never recorded what the new president thought of finding himself overrun, even at risk of bodily harm, in his brand-new home. But with some assistance from others, he slipped out the back and made his way back to the National Hotel, where he had been staying in a suite for a couple weeks prior to the inauguration. He sagely waited for order to return before returning to his official residence.

The people, still downing drink, were loath to leave. So, White House staff came up with an ingenious plan. They hurriedly seized tubs of orange punch and other refreshment, and hustled them out on to the White House lawn. Thirsty revealers followed as ducks to crumbs. As the ground floor rooms started to empty, doors were slammed and bolted behind the ebbing rabble.

In time, a semblance of calm resumed, and staff could start to calculate the losseswhich came to several thousand dollars worth of damage to china and furniture, and this at a time when you buy an acre of land for a couple of bucks.

The republic was saved. Let the record show that Jackson, who would make more history, much of it reviled, began his eight-year term with a party that college fraternity houses across the nation have long since sought to top, but as yet have failed to achieve.
DECATUR -- Kathryn Rae Snead, died January 12, 2017 at the Paxton Healthcare Rehabilitation, she was 75. She had been a long time resident of Prairie Village Assisted Living in Rantoul, Illinois and had been transferred to Paxton Health Care and Rehabilitation where she could receive more specialized care. She had been a resident of Gibson City, Illinois most of her life.

Kathryn attended and graduated from the Meredith School of Nursing in Champaign, Illinois and worked for many years as a surgical nurse in hospitals in the Champaign-Urbana area. She also worked in nursing homes throughout the county.

She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church of Gibson City.

Kathryn was predeceased by her parents W.M. Sparky Snead and Elsie Rae (McMahon) Snead. She is survived by her brother Ronald Snead of Skaneateles, New York and by five nieces: Chery Arrain of Lansing, MI; Kathryn Snead of Philadelphia, PA; Susan Shellcliffe of San Diego, CA and Linda Miller of Portland, MI.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City is assisting the family locally.

Obituary written by family members.
DECATUR  Chris Peters spent part of his childhood living near the jail.

As the son of Macon County Sheriff Charles Peters, the family lived in the sheriff's quarters in the 1960s, on the fifth floor of the courthouse.

On the weekends we played on the elevators and stairs. We had the run of the place, kind of like Mayberry, said Peters, 56, who is retiring after 30 years on the Decatur Police Department, effective Friday.

A first-shift patrol sergeant, Peters has followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, David Peters, who also served as Macon County sheriff. Chris Peters' law enforcement career includes service as the coordinator of the distinguished Fatal Accident Investigation Team and DUI coordinator.

Peters had just been promoted to sergeant when patrol officer Robin Vogel was killed by a drunken driver in a crash in 2005. After department leaders decided to become more aggressive, arrest numbers soared from about 40 to 50 each year, to 730 in 2009, second-highest of any city in the state, besides Chicago. In 2014, Decatur police arrested 477, first in that category.

When Peters first tested to become an officer at 21, he failed the physical test.

He went to work for UPS, loading and unloading trucks, while attending college. However, he kept his dream of keeping the family tradition alive by joining the Decatur police auxiliary force. He served as a volunteer officer for three years before becoming a paid officer.

Like many new officers, he was put on the overnight shift.

I had the hardest time adjusting to the hours, Peters said. I couldn't sleep. During training, I questioned if I made the right choice.

He spent 13 years working the graveyard shift altogether, as a patrol officer or sergeant. He was promoted to master patrol officer and served as a field training officer.

Although he is hanging up his uniform, Peters will remain active serving law enforcement. On Monday he will begin his new career as safety grant administrator for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

I love my job. I hate to leave it, Peters said. But I won't have to answer the phone in the middle of the night or do monthly reports.

Police Chief Jim Getz said Peters has done a great job, especially with the Fatal Accident Investigation Team, DUI enforcement and writing grants for additional DUI hire-back officers.

Chris was an expert in fatal accident investigations, which was beneficial to the department, Getz said. They helped out the state and county. They do a great job and are one of the best in the area, which is related to the effort Sgt. Peters put in.
LINCOLN  Lincoln resident Terri Shroyer remembers growing up around the Mill, a former Lincoln restaurant and Route 66 icon, that has been closed since 1996.

Her great-grandparents, Albert and Blossom Huffman bought the Mill in 1945.

They ran it when I was a little girl and the upstairs was their home, where there was a beautiful apartment, she said.

After their deaths, their son and his wife, George and Eleanor Huffman, took ownership.

The food was always so amazing, Shroyer said. Everyone knew everyone.

By the time the restaurant closed in 1996, it had turned into a part-time museum.

In 2006, the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County was created to promote and preserve The Mill and other Route 66 sites in Logan County. In 2009, Landmarks Illinois, a statewide preservation advocacy group, named the site at 738 S. Washington in Lincoln on the Route 66 corridor, on the states most 10 most endangered historical places list.

In April, the Mill will reopen as a full-time museum, following the completion of restoration work said Geoff Ladd, the secretary of the restoration committee.

We are thinking mid-to late-April as far as having a grand opening, Ladd said. We have made it to the final stages of this project.

To comply with state laws, new restrooms had to be added to the back of the building. Funds came from a National Park Service grant of $22,720 and nearly $16,000 of grant money from the city of Lincoln from hotel/motel taxes.

Its not a burden on local taxpayers, which we think is very important, Ladd said. The critical step was to have the functioning restrooms completed. They had to be compliant with all of the new laws, and yet we wanted to make sure that it still stayed in as much of an historical context as possible.

Ladd said the museum will feature Route 66 memorabilia.

We want to make it specific to Lincoln and Logan County as much as we can, he said. We have some items left from the Mill, but not as much as we would have liked. It was abandoned and looted all of the time, and so a lot of the items we would have liked to have kept or had access to, are gone.

Other memorabilia from Route 66, such as the former Pig Hip Museum will be featured, Ladd said. The Pig Hip was once, a popular eatery in Broadwell that was turned into a museum, but was destroyed by fire in March 2007.

We will also feature some memorabilia from some important Route 66 lodging locations and also some famous people from Lincoln and Logan County, he said. We want to add as much local flavor to this museum as we can.

Funding from the museum is expected to come from donations, a membership program and merchandise proceeds, Ladd said.
When Donald J. Trump takes the oath of office on Friday, his elevation to the nation's highest office marks the end of having an Illinoisan leading our nation.

Barack Obama  former state lawmaker and U.S. senator who became Americas first black president  is no longer in charge. Illinois has lost a lot of clout, although not for the first time.

Obama, of course, is not the first Illinoisan to reach prominence on the national political stage, behind the likes of presidents Lincoln, Reagan and Ulysses S. Grant, who once called Galena home. But he did chart a path all his own, starting from his early days in Chicago when he was still trying to figure out who I was; still searching for a purpose to my life, as Obama said in his farewell speech last week.

His time in Illinois and those he met served him well in the White House. His staff was heavy on Chicagoans and he famously used the city as a backdrop after securing the 2008 election. Just this week, he invited the Chicago Cubs to the White House. He was, through it all, an Illinoisan.

It was an unlikely rise for the Hawaiian-born Obama, from ambitious law school graduate to Chicago community organizer, state lawmaker, U.S. senator, and finally to Pennsylvania Avenue.

His tenure, marked by bitter political fighting, had major successes  capturing Osama bin Laden, rescuing the American auto market, stabilizing the economy, passing the Affordable Care Act  and failures, including Benghazi, the rise of ISIS, and the ongoing turmoil over the ACA that his successor vows to dismantle.

The Democratic Party at all levels is far weaker, and we seem more divided than ever as a nation. Its a situation not lost on Obama. He touched on such themes during last week's address.

If youre tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk with one in real life. If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing," he said. "If youre disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Persevere.

It was a classic Obama call for action and optimism, a hallmark of his political career launched in the halls of the Statehouse.

Now, Obama has reached something of elder statesman status. At 55, he becomes one of five ex-presidents. He has pledged to help the Trump administration however possible, even as his successor seeks to undo Obamacare, his landmark achievement.

During his farewell speech, Obama called on Americans to see the best in others and hope for tomorrow. It is his legacy.

Understand, democracy does not require uniformity, Obama said. Our founders quarreled and compromised, and expected us to do the same. But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity  the idea that for all our outward differences, we are all in this together; that we rise or fall as one.
Forty-nine Democrats in the House of Representatives will boycott Donald Trumps inauguration on Friday.

Boy, that will show him!

Many others wont go, either, and good for them. The streets and subways will be overcrowded anyway.

Of course, I believe we all are responsible for our own actions  or, in this case, non-actions. If some people  even many people  boycott the ceremony on the west side of the Capitol, that is fine. I doubt President-elect Trump will notice.

But like it or not  and many wont  shortly after noon on Friday, Donald Trump will become our nations 45th president.

Now, it is no surprise I am not thrilled with that prospect, but it is what it is. Donald J. Trump shortly will become my president. And he will become president of even those who loudly proclaim, Not my president.

Will I always agree with him? Probably not. Will I remain silent when I dont? Definitely not. But that wont change the fact that he is my president  our president.

Sorry, my Democratic friends.

It has taken me a long time to reach this point, but after 67 years of life I guess I have mellowed some. Political nonsense no longer entertains me.

I cannot, will not, spend whatever is left of my life fretting over what might happen. I have come to understand how the intense partisanship, not just in politics but in American society as a whole, is harming this country.

It also is harming me. I spent the eight years of the George W. Bush presidency angry at him ... well, at least angry at Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. Everything he and they did made me furious. My insides continuously were tied up in knots.

Then, when Barack Obama became president, I was angry with those who denied his legitimacy, religion and even place of birth. He isnt a Muslim, but even if he were, that would be OK with me. Clearly, he was born in America, in Hawaii to be exact. I often wonder how great a president he could have been if allowed.

Now, Donald Trump is about to replace him. Thats the way it works in America  and, thankfully, it works so well. I, along with some 130 million other Americans, went to the polls and cast a vote for president. It doesnt matter how many more votes Hillary Clinton received, because Trump won the most votes were it counts: the Electoral College.

Still, civil rights legend John Lewis, certainly an American hero, says Trump is not a legitimate president because of possible, even probable, Russian interference in the election  although there is no evidence that such interference changed or prevented one vote.

Well, I am sorry, Rep. Lewis, but Donald Trump is about to become the legitimate American president, with all the legitimate authority and legitimate powers and legitimate duties that go with the job. I pray he will rise to the position.

At the same time, his cabinet nominees, or at least most of them, soon will be sworn in. I dont care for most of them, but I figure a president-elect gets to choose whomever he wants, for the most part. As long as they meet the qualifications and arent convicted criminals they should be given due deference by the Senate. That isnt to say they should be rubber stamped or not fully vetted. But partisanship and gotcha politics should not play a role in approving the nominees of this president-to-be or any president, whatever the party.

The same holds true when Donald Trump names people to the Supreme Court. Nominees should be considered on their merits and every nominee at least deserves a full and fair hearing  something not accorded Merrick Garland last year in a shameful display of partisanship. I expect President Trumps nominees will be more conservative than I would like, but they are his nominees. We have to stop playing tit for tat, blocking nominees of a Republican president because Republicans blocked nominees of a Democratic president.

Democrats damning Donald Trump today should remember the Republicans who did the same to Barack Obama  and remember how harmful that was. Weve got to move past our past political injustices and face our countrys future.

Yes, I worry about President-elect Trumps careless and thoughtless remarks. I worry about his thin skin and his obnoxious Tweets. I worry about his obsession with Vladimir Putin.

But we are spending too much time worrying about what he might do or could do  just as many Americans worried about what Barack Obama might do or could do.

Unfortunately, many of them bought into the lies spread about our current president. We must not deal with Trump or future presidents with the same disregard for the truth.

I firmly believe we all are Americans, we all want what is best for this country  even when we disagree over what that is. We must work together, though. We must power through the partisanship, the hard feelings, the entrenched positions and, really, the BS to move America forward.

Those who dont agree with me are not evil. Because we dont think alike doesnt make them bad Americans.

So, no, I am not thrilled that Donald Trump will raise his right hand and take the oath of office on Friday.

But I am much more content, much more relaxed accepting what I cannot change, working to change what I can  and living with whatever we decide as a people.

God bless President Trump and God bless America.

 Robert C. Borden is Opinions editor of The Eagle. Email him at robert.borden@theeagle.com.
A carefully timed media coup by the ASA?

It was in other words to be a non-story. There was no ruling that Friends of the Earth had made errors. Outline information only, with "no details", was to be published alongside a number of other cases with no statement that the code had been breached.

During the Christmas holidays, however, the campaign group was told that the ASA had decided to move the publication date to Wednesday 4th January - as it happens the day before fracking company Cuadrilla moved onto a site in Lancashire where they are now preparing to try to frack.

Then on Tuesday 3rd January Friends of the Earth started getting press enquires, asking whether the group had admitted to being wrong about health, water and property price claims in its leaflet. A BBC journalist forwarded an extract of what they said was an ASA press release.

This was especially strange as the ASA said they hadn't put out a press release, yet what the BBC shared, and what I saw, looked very much like one. A flurry of publicity followed, including that piece I heard on the radio on January 4th.

The effect was to create a media blitz that drowned out any campaigning by anti-fracking activists that might have been broadcast that morning to accompany Cuadrilla's first day of operations on its new site in Lancashire.

The compromised chairman of the ASA - fracking 'task force' supremo Chris Smith!

As if this wasn't fishy enough, I discovered a major conflict of interest at the ASA. The Chairman of the ASA is none other than Lord Chris Smith - who is also the chair of the industry funded Task Force on Shale Gas. This is a remarkable and clear conflict of interest and makes the facts of what happened in relation to the Friends of the Earth case all the more fascinating.

The conflict deepens when one realizes how the Task Force was evidently influential in helping the ASA form its initial views in relation to the Friends of the Earth case.

While the ASA evidently ignored, or at least failed to appreciate, the strong scientific and technical backing to the Friends of the Earth claims (many of which were supported by experts) the ASA quoted an industry source in defence of their broad view that the campaigners had got it wrong. That source? Yes - none other than Chris Smith's Task Force on Shale Gas!

And so it was that Cuadrilla, the UK's largest fracking company, gained helpful air cover at a crucial moment - cover derived from an ASA intervention coming in part from misleading information from a pro-fracking body. A body chaired by the same man who chairs the ASA. All a coincidence?

Scandal and intrigue

While you ponder that question, have a look at some of the claims that Friends of the Earth didn't get wrong. These were the ones that caused such a furore, and as you hear more from that Task Force and Cuadrilla in the months ahead, you might like to bear these in mind.

"Fracking involves pumping millions of litres of water containing a toxic cocktail of chemicals deep underground ... Up to 80% never returns to the surface and could end up in your drinking water."

"A hospital near a US fracking site reports asthma rates three times higher than average."

"25% of fracking chemicals could cause cancer. Also, more than 75% of fracking chemicals could affect your skin, eyes and respiratory system. Whilst 50% could affect your nervous, immune and cardiovascular systems."

Now, astonishingly in my opinion, the chief executive of the ASA, Guy Parker, has personally stepped into the fray with an 'opinion piece' published on the ASA website, in which he succeeds only in digging his organisation even deeper into a hole of its own making. He writes:

"We told Friends of the Earth that based on the evidence we'd seen, specific claims it made in its anti-fracking leaflet about the effects of fracking on the health of local populations, drinking water or property prices, or claims with the same meaning, cannot be repeated."

Trouble is, insists Craig Bennett, that statement is "factually wrong". All the claims are true and based on solid evidence. Friends of the Earth was never told those claims were wrong, says Craig. Instead it volunteered to avoid them in future to put a swift end to the dispute. "There is so much new evidence on fracking now with even more up to date and persuasive information, and that's where we wanted to focus our campaigning!"

The real questions here - all scrupulously avoided by Guy Parker in his 'opinion piece' - concern the extraordinary conflict of interest of the ASA's own chairman, Lord Smith; the ASA's uncritical acceptance of his industry-biased evidence; and the ASA's unprecedented use of the case to attack one of the UK's leading anti-fracking campaign groups at this critical time; and to do so in breach of its promise to "not give details of the complaint or state that you breached the Code."

Reassured by the independence of the ASA and its ability to act in the public interest? I'm not.

Dr. Tony Juniper is environmentalist and writer and former chief executive of Friends of the Earth (England, Wales & NI). Among many other things he is the co-chair of the advisory board of the Belantara Foundation, and a trustee of the Resurgence Trust. His latest book 'What's really happening to our Planet?' was published by Dorling Kindersley in June 2016. Website: www.tonyjuniper.com. Twitter: @tonyjuniper.
Making a return to our two favourite summer locations, Mount Maunganui and Nelson in early January 2023, we've got whiff of the first release lineup and me oh my, yes boy
On a trip to Manila in 2014, President Barack Obama was pressed by reporters about the weakness of his foreign policy, especially in Syria and Ukraine.

He responded sharply, Why is it that everybody is so eager to use military force after weve just gone through a decade of war? Many who were proponents of  a disastrous decision to go into Iraq havent really learned the lesson of the last decade, and they keep on just playing the same note over and over.

That response (later abbreviated into dont do stupid stuff) summarizes the core of Obamas foreign policy  and where it went wrong.

Whether the problem was Syria, Ukraine or the South China Sea, the task was to avoid the mistakes George W. Bush made by sending troops to Baghdad. Americans elected Obama because they were tired of foreign conflicts.

So far, so good, but the premise was insufficient. A robust foreign policy didnt have to repeat the military adventures of the Bush years, and projecting strength didnt require sending in the Marines.

Instead, the way Obama chose to retrench convinced friends and adversaries that America was in retreat  and bad actors rushed to fill the vacuum. The results werent what Obama intended or expected. But, then, the world of 2017 isnt the world he envisioned in 2008.

Ironically, Obama was never opposed to using force abroad if there was no other option. Indeed, he shocked the crowd at his (premature) Nobel Peace Prize ceremony by making that clear.

But the new president sought to offload the global policing role America had been carrying. He assumed that allies would and could take on some of those duties.

Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the worlds problems alone, he advised in his first address to the U.N. General Assembly in 2009.

He also assumed that, if he engaged longtime adversaries, including Russia, Iran and China, he could convince them it was in their interest to play by global rules. Both of Obamas key assumptions proved incorrect.

Allies proved incapable of taking on the role Obama hoped for, without a firmer U.S. leadership component. In Iraq, the presidents eagerness to withdraw on a 2011 deadline (set by the Bush team) meant the Obama administration paid too little attention to a budding Islamic State insurgency in Mosul that might have been nipped early. In Afghanistan, Obama was so frustrated by the Karzai government that he set a public deadline for troop withdrawal  which inspired the Taliban to resist a peace deal.

In both cases, the administration has had to return U.S. military trainers and special forces to deal with continuing terrorist threats.

Then, in Libya, the presidents hope that NATO allies would do the nation-building after the removal of Moammar Gadhafi, proved unfounded. After Libya, Obama concluded that intervention  urged on him by the Europeans and Arab allies  was a mistake that shouldnt be repeated in Syria.

Fast forward to the bleeding Syrian disaster, which may define Obamas foreign policy legacy. We will never know whether U.S. help to (still existent) moderate Syrian rebels in 2012 might have forced Bashar Assad to the negotiating table. (I still believe so).

But we do know that Obamas last-minute failure in October 2013 to follow through on his own red line  to punish Assad for the use of chemical weapons  convinced the world, the Russians and Iran, that he was weak-kneed. Even his use of drones, and the belated U.S. buildup of Iraqi forces to take on the Islamic State, hasnt changed that impression.

Vladimir Putin no doubt included that in his calculations when invading Crimea in February 2014. While Obama should get credit for mobilizing sanctions on Moscow, he might have forestalled Putins incursion into eastern Ukraine with immediate defensive aid to Kiev. A stronger U.S. stand in Ukraine might have made the Russian leader think twice before starting his massive military involvement in Syria. And so on.

The bottom line: Obamas dream of an interconnected, rules-based world adhered to by allies and adversaries, proved to be mostly a fantasy. I say mostly, since Obama made headway on a climate-change treaty and Asian nations lined up with Washington on the TPP trade deal, which was meant to buffer them against Beijing. Both these gains will disappear under President Trump.

However, that rules-based world is crumbling under pressures of globalization and a return of geopolitics. China took notice of Russias successful aggression and built up shoals in the South China Seas. Iran has signed a (useful) nuclear accord but wont stop destabilizing the Middle East. Terrorism will not die after the Islamic State does.

Yet allies in Europe, the Mideast and Asia are now desperately looking to Washington to help them fight back against Russian, Chinese and Iranian pressures. They may finally be ready to share more of the burden, militarily and financially, because the world has become so scary. It will be tragic if Trump  handed this opportunity  continues to disdain the European Union, rebuff NATO and embrace Russia in the illusion that Moscow will act as an ally.

Obamas error was to draw the wrong lesson from the Iraq disaster, interpreting it as a sign the United States must withdraw from paramount global leadership. But a Trump America First strategy will compound that error. Washington is doomed to lead or  if it no longer has the will or wallet  suffer the consequences at home and abroad.
Filipino rights advocates and survivors of the Marcos-era regime have criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for saying that he could impose martial law to curb what he has called a runaway drug problem.

I fled my homeland because of Marcosnow Duterte wants to be a dictator like him, said Gabriel Rosales, who moved to Vancouver from his homeland about 30 years ago.

There were hundreds of thousands of people like me whose rights were abused and many left the Philippines.

If there is another dictatorship, more will leave and Philippines will never be the same again, said the businessman and father of four children.

Duterte the 71-year-old former state prosecutor said the aim of his martial rule would be "to preserve the Filipino people and the youth of this land.

He says he is acting to prevent the country from becoming a narco-state.

If I wanted to, and it will deteriorate into something really very virulent, I will declare martial law if I wanted to. No one will be able to stop me, Duterte said in a speech to businesspeople in the southern city of Davao last weekend.

My country transcends everything else, even the limitations, he added.

About 6,000 people have been killed in six months under Duterte's anti-drugs crackdown.

About 2,200 of those happened in encounters with the police, according to the Philippine National Police. The rest are classified as deaths under investigation, including those carried out by unknown vigilantes. More than a million people suspected of being drug users or dealers have also surrendered or been arrested.

He has fascist dreams, Loretta Rosales, 77, a former chairwoman of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and a leftist politician, said of Duterte in an interview with the New York Times.

She was detained and tortured under Marcos, who was elected president in 1965 and imposed martial law from 1972 to 1981. He was forced from power in 1986.

As a martial law victim and survivor, I detest his martial law threat, Rosales said, referring to Dutertes warning. She added that he finds governance under the rule of law and human rights an obstruction to the advancement of his political agenda.

This is clearly meant to establish authoritarian rule to enforce his goals of cleaning society of drugs, crime and corruption, and he is happy to slaughter three million Filipinos to do this, she said. She was alluding to Dutertes statement in September comparing his antidrug campaign to the Holocaust, when he said that he would kill drug addicts by the millions, as Hitler killed Jews.

I suspect he idolizes the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and this manifests in his behavior, Rosales said of Duterte.

Duterte has hinted at declaring Martial Law before, then pulled back amid opposition, both from his critics and his allies.

But Duterte said last weekend that if there were a coup detat, he would allow it and swear the generals into office and let them bring order to the land.

Congress may have to impeach me, fine. But, let it not be said that I allowed this country [to be] placed in jeopardy, in peril because I did not know what I had to do, he said.

Duterte has reacted furiously to the international and local criticism and vowed to continue his war until illegal drugs are eradicated.

The recent comments were Dutertes most direct threat to impose martial law, which would allow him to use the military to enforce civilian law and detain people at length without charging them.

The country last endured martial law during the 20-year rule of the dictator Marcos, who was accused of plundering billions of dollars from state coffers and overseeing widespread human rights abuses.

Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, invoking the threats of crime and a communist insurgency, and lifted it in 1981.

His rule ended in 1986, when millions took to the streets in the largely bloodless military-backed People Power revolt. A new Constitution was drawn up in 1987 to avoid another dictatorship, saying that the President can impose martial rule for just 60 days, and only to stop an invasion or a rebellion.

Congress can revoke the measure within 48 hours while the Supreme Court can review its legality.

But Duterte, speaking to local businessmen in Davao City, warned he could ignore the 60-day limit.

The 60-day [limit] will be gone, he said.

I will declare Martial Law to preserve my nation, period. I dont care about the Supreme Court, he added.

The leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan this week warned Duterte not to override the Constitution.

We warn President Duterte that threats of martial law, along with attempts to override constitutional safeguards, will be met with resistance and will ultimately be defeated by the people. A declaration of martial law, even in the context of what the President describes as a virulent situation, will not save the nation and the people. Removing constitutional checks and balances will open the floodgates to more violations and to blatant authoritarianism. These abuses will doom rather than save the nation, said Renato Reyes Jr., the groups secretary general.

Reyes said if they go by the abuses already taking place in the war on drugs, expect these to multiply a hundred fold once Martial Law is declared.

Reyes said Duterte should cease making threats or remarks on Martial Law and instead address the growing concern and indignation over the deaths arising from this war on drugs.

These gross violations provide the strongest arguments against any return to Martial Law, he said.
Franklin Countys effort to move a produce auction it helped to establish to its new business park hit a speed bump when the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission indicated it wouldnt provide funding for the project.

Foothills Produce Auction, run by the countys German Baptist community, held its first auction last spring in a building on the Boones Mill town-owned property. The county wants to build a new home for the auction in its 550-acre business park off U.S. 220, which will have various public amenities. Foothills Produce Auction has signed a letter of intent with the county, indicating that it plans to relocate to the new business park, said Michael Burnette, the countys economic development director.

The county submitted an application for the tobacco commissions agribusiness grant seeking $250,000 toward the $600,000 project, described as 12,000-square-foot metal and wood pole structure. The building could also be used for festivals or music events.

This facility will be the first piece, and one of the cornerstones, of the overall event center area, county staff wrote in a briefing on the grant application that was provided to the board of supervisors.

In December, commission staff made recommendations on 18 agribusiness grant applications. Staff did not recommend providing funding for the Franklin County project.

In its application, the county indicated that Foothills had outgrown the space in Boones Mill. But commission staff disagreed. Only 3,240 square feet of the 5,400 square foot building was used for the auction, and the town has said the entire space would be available to them, according to the recommendation report.

The report also noted that the business park is just 3 miles away from the current location.

Staff has concerns about setting a precedent for using public funds to relocate an existing business from one locality, already within the same county to another location, wherein the current location appears more than adequate to accommodate growth of this new business that is only in its first year of operation, staff wrote in the report.

But Franklin County rescinded its application before it could be formally denied by the commission, Burnette said.

The plan now is to move ahead with a scaled-back version of the project. When a larger space is necessary, he said, the county can look into other grant options.

The produce auction is key to the culture the county wants to promote in its business park. A location within the park, right off U.S. 220, would be preferable to the location in Boones Mill, which is less visible and must be accessed by crossing railroad tracks, Burnette said.

The Boones Mill location was always meant to be temporary, he said, allowing the German Baptist community that launched the auction to get started immediately.

Weve applied for a number of grants for a lot of different projects over the years and not getting awarded or recommended is certainly not something thats new, so were totally accustomed to that, Burnette said.

The town of Boones Mill had more success with its tobacco commission grant applications, securing awards in the agribusiness and Southside economic development categories.

The town will receive $300,000 for the renovation of an industrial building on the town-owned property and $20,000 to go toward planning for a year-round farmers market, said Town Manager Matt Lawless, who traveled to Richmond for the commission meeting where the decisions were made earlier this week.

The industrial building renovation is already underway, but suffered damage from heavy rains in October, increasing the cost of the project. That project is on track for April completion, Lawless said.

Another building on the same property will be renovated to house the farmers market. Lawless said the town plans to work with local farmers to get their input on how they would like the farmers market to look.

The town manager said he was excited to get moving on both projects and glad to have the tobacco commissions support.

Its a great vote of confidence, Lawless said.

The town originally applied for $127,000 for the farmers market project, but was only awarded funding for the design phase of the project. At its Tuesday meeting, the town council voted to match the $20,000 award and approved a design contract with Balzer and Associates in Roanoke for the work, Lawless said in an email.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low 52F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low 52F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
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 ...
Former Prosecutor General of Armenia Gevorg Kostanyan has been appointed an advisor to President Serzh Sargsyan.

Kostanyan served as prosecutor general from 2013 to 2016. Before that, he was the countrys military prosecutor.
Live updates: Friday's high school football playoffs

It's officially time for the Iowa high school football state quarterfinals. Follow along here for live score updates and analysis.
Armenias Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources says that the level of technical equipment used at the countrys small hydro plants is quite low, leading to inefficient use of water resources for generating electricity.

Hayk Badalyan, who heads the ministrys Sustainable Energy and Energy Saving Department, says that a new project designed to raise technical standards was approved by the government in late 2016.

Badalyan says that new technical equipment standards are being discussed with Eurasian Economic Union member states.

The official says that unicensed cheap equipment now being used is imported from Russia, China and the European Union.
GREENWICH  The arrest of a Representative Town Meeting officer for allegedly groping a woman in town has sparked outraged calls for his removal from office.

First Selectman Peter Tesei and other government officials said Tuesday they have received numerous emails since the Jan. 11 arrest of Christopher von Keyserling demanding action.

A longtime member of the RTM, and chairman of its District 8, von Keyserling was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, a class A misdemeanor, after he allegedly reached between the womans legs from behind and pinched her in the groin area following a political argument between the two, according to a police report. He is due in court on the charge on Jan. 25.

Tesei said he has received 20 emails condemning von Keyserling for his alleged actions.

My first reaction was to be disturbed when I heard what was in the complaint, Tesei said. We responded to support the victim of the alleged incident first and foremost.

There is no mechanism for removing a member from the RTM, a fact that came to light earlir this month when a member from District 1 was arrested for possession of child pornography. That member, Christopher Sandys, resigned from the body days after his arrest.

von Keyserling and his attorney, Phil Russell, were non-committal on Tuesday when asked if he would resign from the RTM or step aside from his leadership position. von Keyserling, one of the RTMs most outspoken and visible members, said he had no position at this time.

Tesei noted von Keyserlings tendency to upset people with his behavior at public meetings over the years.

Chris has had issues in the past with not having boundaries, Tesei said. Clearly that has been established a variety of ways at different forums.

Selectmen Drew Marzullo and John Toner said Tuesday they have received emails as well.

Messages obtained by Greenwich Time include one from a woman from Cos Cob, which is where District 8 is located, asking for information about removing von Keyserling from office.

This is not about partisan politics but appropriate governance and sexism within our own ranks of respected leaders, the email said.

Another message, from a man who did not identify his address, said, The actions of Christopher von Keyserling are inexcusable and I hope that he is punished to the full extent of the law as well barred from participating in any and all governmental proceedings.

Other emails say the alleged act was clearly sexual harassment and demand von Keyserling be punished.

RTM Moderator Tom Byrne did not return requests for comment. Earlier this month, in response to Sandys arrest, Byrne confirmed there is no method within the RTMs rules for removing a member.

Byrne at that time said he was going to check with Town Attorney Wayne Fox about the possibility of taking action against an RTM member in the even one were convicted of a felony.

Tesei did not call on von Keyserling to resign and said he did not have to adhere to requests to do so, since his continuation in office is ultimately an issue left to voters in his district.

Tesei did, however, say the von Keyserling and Sandys cases call for discussion between RTM leadership and other town officials about what to do in instances in which members of the body are charged, and potentially convicted, of crimes.

According to the arrest warrant filed by the Greenwich Police Department with Stamford Superior Court, von Keyserling and the woman in question got into an argument about politics at a town facility. von Keyserling reportedly said to her, I love this new world. I no longer have to be politically correct and called her a lazy, bloodsucking union employee.

After walking away from von Keyserling, the woman said she went back to her office and he followed her in, claiming he wanted to see a co-worker of hers, according to the warrant. When that co-worker left, the woman claimed she did not want to be alone in the office with von Keyserling and walked past him to leave.

At this time, the woman told the Greenwich Police that von Keyserling reached between her legs from behind and pinched her in the groin area before saying it would be his word against hers and nobody will believe you when she angrily objected to his action.

The arrest warrant does not provide more specifics about where the woman was allegedly touched but includes several references to her claiming she was pinched in the ass by von Keyserling.

A video taken by a security camera across the hall from the womans office shows a sequence of events consistent with her statements, but does not show physical contact between von Keyserling and the woman, according to the arrest warrant.

In the warrant, von Keyserling is quoted as telling police he believed the incident was all a misunderstanding and that he was sorry he pinched her. In subsequent meetings with the towns Human Resources department, the warrant claims von Keyserling said the incident was meant as a joke and that he had not intended to sexually harass the woman. He reportedly offered to personally apologize to her.

The woman, who police say initially did not want to proceed with charges due to fear of publicity and retribution, claimed von Keyserling had done this to other town employees in the past and ultimately decided to pursue criminal charges to prevent it from happening to someone else.

The incident has gotten international attention including a write-up on Time Magazines website, the Washington Post, snopes.com and the Daily Mail in England.

Russell, von Keyserlings attorney, did not comment on the media attention.

Whether the allegations are true or they arise from a misunderstanding, Im optimistic that this is a case that can be resolved, Russell said Tuesday.

kborsuk@scni.com
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HARTFORD  The General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved Superior Court Judge Robert J. Devlin Jr. of Shelton to a fourth eight-year term, after a prolonged protest in the House of Representatives yielded only one vote against him.

Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, D-Hartford, criticized Devlin for last years 30-month sentence of William Ruscoe, the veteran Trumbull police officer who sexually assaulted a teenaged girl who had been a member of the departments Explorer program. She said that earlier in the week, a Bridgeport prosecutor told her that there was a plea deal for a four-year prison sentence, because the teen did not want to testify in court.
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NORWALK  After heated discussions, the Board of Education on Tuesday passed plans for a whopping 10.1 percent increase  or an additional $17.75 million  in its annual operating budget for the 2017-18 school year.

The board approved finalized plans for a new school in South Norwalk along with the hefty capital budget to pay for its construction, and the renovation and expansion of several other existing schools.

We are not going to get 10 percent, said Steven Adamowski, Norwalk superintendent of schools, about to the approved operating budget.

He and other several other board members described the passing of the budget as a formality to start discussions on the finalized budget as it passes to the citys Common Council and Board of Estimation and Taxation.

Board Member Shirley Mosby  who abstained from voting and was the only member to not vote in favor of the budget  said her reservations centered on the amount the increase.

I havent seen a time when a 10.1 percent increase has ever come from the Board of Education, Mosby said. ... That 10.1 percent, I never in the history have seen that.

Mosby said she has always supported education and children, but reminded the board she is a taxpayer as well. She threw out the idea of putting the 1.4 percent increase  for a special appropriation to cover enrollment growth  on the chopping block.

Meanwhile, Adamowski said the elephant in the room in regards to the large budget increase was the 4.9 percent or roughly $8.61 million needed for increased health insurance costs.

If you take out the health insurance we have a very reasonable budget, Adamowski said.

Without the budget increase dedicated to those costs, the districts annual operating budget increase would come in at 5.2 percent, which more closely resembles prior year increases.

The other 5.2 percent increase to the districts operating budget includes: 2.3 percent or roughly $3.98 million for program improvements stemming from the districts Strategic Operating Plan, 1.5 percent or roughly $2.62 million to cover normal cost escalation, and 1.4 percent or roughly $2.54 million for a special appropriation to cover enrollment growth in the district.

Adamowski called the rise in health care costs a crisis, and said he would work with city officials to find new ways to address the increases.

Adamowski outlined three options that could be explored as solutions to the increased health care costs. One included combining the school district and city employees for the purpose of self-insurance. The second would have the city assume health insurance costs for all municipal employees. The last included entering the city in the State 2.0 Health Insurance Program, which covers employees of Connecticut towns, cities and school districts.

Plans for a new SoNo school

After a failed attempt by Board Member Yvel Crevecoeur to get board members to vote individually on the plans for each school and its prospective program for the finalized phase one of the districts facilities master plans, the board passed the superintendents recommended plans in a 5 to 0 vote, with four members abstaining.

Under those plans, Columbus Magnet School will move into a newly constructed pre-K-8 school campus at the site of the former Nathaniel Ely School.

The Columbus Magnet School building will be renovated as new to house a K-5 intra-district magnet school with an International Baccalaureate Early Years Programme.

Ponus Ridge Middle School will be transformed from a middle school into a full-fledged pre-K-8 STEM-themed magnet campus.

Jefferson Science Magnet School will lose its temporary trailers and magnet-school status and return to being a neighborhood school.

The effort for changes in school facilities come as the district runs roughly 750 seats short, is expected to grow to over 1,000 by 2025 and nearly 400 kids are stationed in 15 portable trailers that are nearing the end of their designed lifespan.

A capital budget plan was not voted on by the time of publication.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz
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NORWALK  For the fourth time in less than two weeks, a Norwalk convenience store has been hit by masked armed robbers. The crime spree has store owners afraid, and thinking of closing earlier.

Shortly before its midnight closing Tuesday, two males wearing ski masks and armed with handguns entered the Cumberland Farms at 136 Main St. and pistol-whipped a clerk before running off with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

The clerk, who suffered non-life threatening head injuries in the attack, was transported to Norwalk Hospital.

The store manager declined to comment Wednesday on the robbery. Owners and clerks at other convenience stores around the city also declined to comment about the rash of robberies, some expressing fear that they may become the next target.

Its very scary, said an owner of a Route 1 convienience store, who spoke on condition of anonymity. I have a family and I have to keep the store open, but I think were going to start closing a little earlier until these guys are caught.

Norwalk police have increased their patrols not only in the areas of the recent robberies, but throughout the city, said Lt. Terry Blake, a department spokesperson.

In all four of the robberies, the suspects were described as white males, wearing ski masks and carrying handguns. Their clothing varied during the different robberies.

Police released surveillance photos of two men who entered the Shorehaven Mobil/Dunkin Donuts at 219 East Ave. around 11:50 p.m. Jan. 6. Both men displayed and pointed what appeared to be semiautomatic pistols at the employees and ordered them to the ground during the robbery, police said.

One suspect was wearing a blue hooded jacket carrying a black bag and the other suspect was wearing a black hooded jacket carrying a pink bag. Their faces were partially covered.

On Jan. 11, J&M Grocery at 9 Bouton St. in South Norwalk was robbed around 9:45 p.m. The clerk said two men wearing ski masks and dark clothing displayed handguns. They fled after receiving cash.

On Saturday, two white or light-skinned Hispanic males entered the Rainbow News & Variety at 205 Main Ave. Both were armed and at least one of them had a Spanish accent. Both were wearing hooded sweatshirts, one with a Cookie Monster logo, as well as masks and gloves.

One was armed with a large silver colored revolver and the other appeared to be a black semi-automatic pistol. Both suspects pointed their guns at the owner and demanded he open the registers for the business and the lottery or they would shoot him. The suspects then ran off.

Norwalk police detectives are investigating the robberies. Anyone with information is asked to call 203-854-3011.

Anonymous tips may be submitted to any of the following:

Norwalk police tip line at 203-854-3111;

Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk police website at: www.norwalkpd.com;

Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing NPD into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637).

llake@hearstmediact.com
The Golden State is known worldwide as a top producer of hundreds of crops and commodities. Due to the rich, abundant soil and ideal, long growing season, California farmers and ranchers have benefited from using irrigation water to grow some of the nations best agricultural products. However, a law may be passed this coming summer that would allocate 40 percent of the water from the Stanislaus, Merced, and Tuolumne Rivers in the Central Valley to be directed toward the Pacific Ocean  for the use of saving a small salmon population.

Worth Your Fight is a campaign organized by the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts that advocates against the current water proposal. Supported by local farmers, ranchers, and many legislative leaders, the Worth Your Fight campaign has raised awareness of the detrimental consequences of the proposal to the economy. Multiple public hearings were held throughout the region for people to voice their opinion. The hearing in Modesto gathered almost 1,000 attendees to listen and testify before the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).

Edwin Genasci, California dairy farmer, said that the lowest valued crops will be the first to not receive water. Crops that are worth more, like almonds and walnuts, will have precedence over forages and corn. This will lead to increased feed costs from having to purchase necessary feedstuffs from out of state.

California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger described how the proposal would distress the dairy industry in California. He said, Dairying in the Central Valley is a significant component of the agricultural base and would undoubtedly suffer from a reduction in water stored behind reservoirs designed to provide flood protection but more importantly provide water certainty during times of drought.

Government officials are threatening not only farmers livelihoods but the economy of thousands nationwide by taking essential irrigation water away. To learn more about the Worth Your Fight campaign and for more information about the SWRCBs proposal, go to Worth Your Fight.

Elise Regusci grew up on her family's farm in Modesto, Calif. Regusci attends Cal Poly University, majoring in dairy science with an agricultural communications minor. On campus, she is the Los Lecheros Dairy Club Ag Council representative and a member of the Cal Poly dairy judging team. Regusci is the current Brown Swiss Youth Ambassador and will be the 2017 Hoard's Dairyman summer editorial intern.
MARQUETTE  Coral Lea Jacobsen, 63, of Marquette passed away Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at her home.

A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at Countryside Bible Church. Pastor Rod Goertzen will officiate. A family burial service will be at the Hampton Village Cemetery prior to the service.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Countryside Bible Church, 904 South W Road, Hampton. Memorials may be made to the Countryside Bible Church building fund or Samaritan Ministries. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

Coral Lea was born in Central City, Neb., on March 23, 1953. She is the daughter of James LeRoy and Bette (Hartford) Luff. Coral Lea passed away in Marquette on Jan. 16, 2017, at the age of 63.

Coral Lea grew up on the farm  mile south of the Kronborg Corner. She graduated from Marquette High School in 1973 and then attended Kearney State College for two years. She married Jeffrey Jacobsen on May 26, 1973, at Kronborg. She completed her nursing degree and received her BSN in Nursing from Marymount College in Salina, Kan., while Jeff was stationed in the Fort Riley Subpost, in Salina.

She worked as the public school nurse in Curtis, while Jeff attended the Ag. School, UNSTA. Over the years she worked as a nurse in Aurora, and as a visiting nurse for Tabitha Home Health Care. Coral Lea also enjoyed her work on the farm delivering baby pigs, irrigating, and harvesting, particularly enjoying the jobs of combine operator and truck driver.

They lived for a short time in Grand Island, and sold their home there in spring of 1980, just a few hours before the night of tornadoes that hit the city. They have been on the farm one mile East of the Kronborg Corner since that time.

Left to remember her are her husband, Jeff of 43 years; their four children, Solomon and Allison Jacobsen and their sons, Silas and Jett of Shawnee, Kan., Anna and Andy Frahm and their children, Cami Lea, Calvin, Jude and Jada of Lincoln, Jordan and Anne Jacobsen and their children, Charlotte, Ira, and Esther Lea of Shawnee, Kan. and Nicholas and Sarah Jacobsen and their sons, Isaac and Christian of Lincoln.

One of her greatest joys in this life was organizing the family trips held during Thanksgiving week. She loved having her family come to the farm, to stay overnight, play with the cats, catch frogs, work, and listen while she read to the children. Coral Lea valued the week in summer that grandchildren stayed all week and went to Bible school in the morning and swimming in the afternoon. Sharing her faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with her children and grandchildren was her most important role as Mom and Gramma. Her desire to be Jeffs helpmate, farmhand, best friend, and loving wife was apparent in the life she lived.

Those who preceded her in death include her parents, Jim and Bette Luff, and her father-in-law, Elmer Jacobsen.

Others left to remember her are her two brothers, Thomas (Debbie) Luff and Mike (Michelle) Luff; sister, Bunny (Greg) Chaney; brothers-in-law, Luke (Lori) Jacobsen, Noel (Joni) Jacobsen and Mark (Diana) Jacobsen and her mother-in-law, Joy Jacobsen.

Coral Lea also loved and so much appreciated the brothers and sisters she had in the Lord. In her year-plus illness with pancreatic cancer, she had such a desire to remain on here and serve the Lord in this world, while she also looked forward to a new body and being with Christ. Phillippians 1:21-23 came to very much a part of these months. Her gratitude for what the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit had done in bringing her to repentance for her sinfulness, paying the cost of sin, and giving her eternal life, was considered marvelous and almost beyond comprehension. These thoughts helped overcome the sorrow and tears of leaving so many she loved so much.

She was a member of Countryside Bible Church, near Hampton, since 1998. She held an eternal gratitude for those inside and outside of the church who loved, ministered, taught, and encouraged her during her life on Earth.
The Defense Department is preparing plans that would enable President-elect Donald Trump to ramp up the conflict with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria as soon as he assumes office.

On the stump, Trump notoriously lambasted the way the war has been conducted  blaming not only President Obama but the Pentagon itself.

If Trump wishes to deliver quickly on a signature campaign issue, he will take a good look at the toolbox presented to him, which includes potentially path-breaking options in cyberwar and space weaponry. It is a risk to go down this road. Ultimately, however, it is wise.

There is an obvious imperative and value in destroying the self-proclaimed caliphate, which has mastered online techniques that enable its highest-ranking tacticians to organize and manage terror operations with new effectiveness from afar.

There are other important factors, however, in their way. Sequencing Americas military priorities will be one of the toughest and most urgent challenges facing the whole defense and security apparatus, which includes the White House, the Pentagon and the intelligence community. Right now, the incoming Trump team disagrees, perhaps strongly, with assessments elsewhere in government that military preparedness against Russian threats should be given top priority. Time spent sorting out Americas posture toward Moscow in the new administration should be used simultaneously to achieve decisive results on other important issues  like defeating the Islamic State.

Indeed, recalibrating U.S.-Russian relations will be easier to do, not harder, once the Islamic State is dispatched. Not only will victory clear the thicket of cross-cutting alliances clouding relations in the Mideast that President Obama left behind, it will leave the United States in a stronger regional and global position, fresh from flexing new and nontraditional military muscles.

Already, the Pentagon has ratcheted up a cyberwarfare campaign against the Islamic State; as Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein recently remarked, the next step is to determine how best to devolve authority on cyber and space to commanders in the field  a task that must be completed in order to make operations against the Islamic State as agile as they need to be to break the current logjam.

A related, but useful, conversation worth having is the possibility of Congress finally providing formal authority for our campaign against the Islamic State.

Two years into an ongoing campaign featuring tens of thousands of airstrikes, and the deployment of thousands of American personnel on the ground, Congress has abdicated its responsibility to adequately oversee the conflict.

Attempts by President Obama to obtain such authorization have, to date, been rebuffed. On the campaign trail, Trump claimed he would seek a declaration of war from Congress. We probably should have done that in the first place, he told Bill OReilly in May.

Though it is certainly in the best interest of the United States, as well as the people of Syria and Iraq, for the Islamic State to be swiftly dispatched, this must be done responsibly, so as to avoid a state of perpetual war without a clear endgame.
These are lean times, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said as he commented on the State of the State and discussed his budget proposal.

Accordingly, Ricketts is proposing that state government tighten its belt and that the Legislature consider falling on the side of taxpayers.

Ricketts proposal is a good starting point for budget discussions. He rightly is looking to deal with the estimated $900 million budget gap by controlling spending and using the states cash reserve.

He also has set the right tone with his budget priorities, which are K-12 education, the Department of Corrections and child and family services. He has correctly assessed that these are areas where the state must increase spending.

Elsewhere the spending restraints will keep the first fiscal year spending increase to 1.5 percent followed by a 1.9 percent increase in the next fiscal year for a two-year average of a 1.7 percent increase in spending, the governor said.

Taking a particularly hard hit would be the University of Nebraska system and the states community colleges. NU would see its budget cut $12.2 million or 2.1 percent in the first year, with $6.8 million restored in the second year. For community colleges, state funding would be cut 3 percent in the first year and kept flat in the second year.

These cuts would likely result in tuition increases, shifting the funding burden to families and students, or in program cuts. Whether the state wants to strap the colleges down like this will be up to lawmakers to decide.

On taxes, the governor made two intriguing proposals. One would dramatically change how property taxes are assessed on ag land. Ricketts is proposing changing the way ag land property value is calculated from a market-based system to an income-potential assessment. Ricketts said income potential is a much fairer measure and would have reduced 2017 ag land valuations by $2.2 billion.

He said income potential based property tax assessment for ag land is used in North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

It is a proposal the state should seriously consider. Ag producers have been hit with an unfair property tax burden in recent years largely because valuations climbed at an astounding rate.

Unanswered in the governors proposal is how school districts would make up lost revenue if ag land valuations are slashed.

Ricketts didnt stop there. He also proposed an income tax rate reduction. His plan would take the top income tax rate down roughly one-tenth of 1 percent per year, starting in 2020, if revenue growth exceeds 3.5 percent. This would be done until the rate is under 6 percent.

The gradual nature of this reduction is a solid plan and tying it to revenue growth is innovative. However, during a deep budget shortfall is an odd time to be reducing income tax rates. Other states have tried this and have seen their budget gap grow deeper and deeper, resulting in dramatic cuts in services and in education.

Overall, Ricketts budget plan is a good starting point for lawmakers. Many other proposals also will come up. Senators have a difficult path ahead sorting through all of them and determining what is the best direction for the state.
On Dec. 22 a letter about demonstrations against President-elect Donald Trump appeared, expressing disgust that so many were occurring or are planned. Today (Monday) seems like a fitting day to respond since we are celebrating Martin Luther King Day.

The letter implied that it was disrupting and un-American to demonstrate or hold public protests. Such individuals and organizations were labeled as far-left, worst of mob rule and the theory that might makes right. The author did acknowledge that there are causes when outright civil disobedience can be justified, as in the injustice of terrible civil rights laws of the past. Well, as in Martin Luther Kings day, we still have a lot of injustices to right.

Donald Trump has made it all too clear in what he said at his rallies and speeches, and now with his Cabinet appointments, that he is not on the side of justice and compassion.

I would like to remind patriots and Americans that this country was founded amidst a protest. It was called the Boston Tea Party. I suggest you read about it in a history book. It was organized to demonstrate against an unfair action by the British, and it wasnt exactly peaceful. While I and other peace organization people do not condone violence or property destruction in protests, and will try to prevent it from happening if were present, the tea party protest did end in violence as they destroyed the tea by dumping it into the harbor.

The author of the letter said people just wanted to live in peace and harmony. I could again remind you of the many injustices, horrible events and cruel government actions in developing nations that happen when no one speaks out.

Unless President-elect Trump decides to act and speak differently, there will be a lot more demonstrations and protests that those who want to sit at home in peace and harmony will have to endure.
Teams familiar with another meeting again in 1st weekend of playoffs

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In June 2017, the Village of Glen Carbon will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the date of its incorporation (Quasquicentennial). This is the first in a series of articles dedicated to telling the rich story of people and events that contributed to the development of the community throughout its history.

The St. Louis Press Brick Company

Articles of Incorporation for the St. Louis Press Brick Company were filed September 1, 1891, with the principal office to be located in Glen Carbon. An article in the Edwardsville Intelligencer December 18, 1894 states:

The St. Louis Press Brick Company is the largest brick plant in Madison County and produces a superior article. It is equipped for the manufacture of house and ornamental as well as paving brick. The need for paving brick has been so great that the plants capacity is taxed to the extent it has to operate day and night to fill orders. A number of contractors and members of Chicagos City Council visited this plant and declared that the product turned out was the best in the market.

Chicagos City Council passed a brick ordinance stating that bricks used in that city must be of pure shale in quality equal to that found in Glen Carbon.

Older Glen Carbon residents have always insisted that many of the bricks used in constructing the grounds and buildings of the 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis were manufactured by this company. The company was located on Glen Crossing Road across from present day Spring Valley Subdivision.

The brick company was a large operation and at one time had twelve baking kilns in operation. The brickyard used steam-powered equipment to operate the fans, presses and other machinery needed to manufacture the bricks. Water for the boilers, and mixing of the clay was brought from a pond northeast of the plant across Glen Crossing Road. The water moved by gravity through pipes down into the valley and into a holding basin where steam powered pumps directed the water to areas of operation. Many years later the pond was used by village youth as a swimming and fishing hole. Today, the pond is dried up and Gate 1 of the East 30 Mobile Home Park occupies the land.

The brick company erected houses for their workers to rent. A row of six two-story saltbox style houses was built just below the intersection of present day Main Street and Glen Crossing Road. Villagers called this stretch of houses Brick Yard Row. Two of these homes survive. The Glen Carbon Heritage Museum has a fine exhibit of the decorative bricks manufactured at the St. Louis Press Brick Co.

A handsome hotel was constructed by the brick company at the crest of North Main Street to accommodate visiting company officials from St. Louis. It has been said that this hotel had no less than five fireplaces within the building. It was destroyed by a fire in the 1990s. At the brickyard, there was a devastating fire in 1906 from which the company did not recover. Many brickyard employees were then forced to find work in the village coal mines.

At the time of its incorporation, Glen Carbon was a fairly well established settlement. Glen Carbons first village President, George Bonsack, was in charge of operations at the St. Louis Press Brick Company. The Madison Coal Corporation owned and operated two mines and a coal washer. The first elected trustees for the newly established Village were Joseph Maisch, William Martin, Joseph Wainwright, Thomas West, James Lister, and Gottlieb Schumacher. Several of the new trustees were connected with the mining operation. The first village meetings were held in the brick company offices. By July, following the June incorporation, this board had passed 18 ordinances establishing a framework for the new community.

EXCERPTS FROM VILLAGE BOARD MINUTES

September 20, 1898: Committee reported that the price of brick is cheaper than lumber for sidewalk purposes. Editors note: A portion of a brick sidewalk survives today running from the Main Street to Clay Street on Old Glen Crossing Road.

October 28, 1901: Passed ordinance permitting St. Louis Press Brick Company to lay, maintain, extend, construct, operate and maintain a tunnel and railway switch track across North Main Street. Said tunnel, known locally as The Cut, is to be a substantial brick or stone arched tunnel. Editors Note: The Cut ran from the brickyard through a cut made in the bluff under what is present day Main Street to the Nickel Plate tracks that ran on the North side of the valley. No evidence of The Cut remains today.

Although the brickyard ceased operations after the great fire of 1906, we shall leave this story with a happy accounting of a picnic being planned which appeared in the Edwardsville Intelligencer in July 1899:

Glen Carbon will have next Sunday what will probably be the biggest picnic ever. It will be given at Brickmakers Park by the Glen Carbon Band. The Edwardsville City Band and the Edwardsville Turnverein will attend in a body and assist in the jollificationThe picnic will open with a parade at 10 oclock from Pauls Hall There will be a live bird shoot, to which the crack shots of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, and Collinsville will compete, besides many other amusements. A fish fry will be a feature to appeal to the inner man.

Underground remains of the brickyard were found in November of 1994, when the property was being excavated for the construction of a home. An exhibit at the Glen Carbon Heritage Museum shows photographs of air tunnels that were part of the kiln system. The tunnel system was quite extensive. The kilns themselves were large enough for workers to walk inside them.

The next article will focus on the Madison County Coal Corporation and its importance in the establishment of Glen Carbon.
On April 24, 2016, just days after coming to Madison County, police say James Lopes approached a 7-year-old girl outside the Quik Trip store in Edwardsville and made statements to her that startled and alarmed her mother who was standing nearby.

Hello, Princess, are you looking for your Prince? Well, here I am, Lopes told the girl, according to testimony from Madison County Sheriffs Lt. Kris Tharp. It was one of three encounters with young girls in Edwardsville that police say Lopes had that month.

Several others are alleged to have happened in Collinsville, Troy and Livingston.

He has been charged with three counts of grooming, a Class 4 felony, regarding cards he allegedly handed out in April 2016 that directed people to his videos.

He has also been charged with several misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and trespassing.

A jury trial that began Wednesday is being held to determine whether Lopes should be declared a sexually dangerous person. If the jury decides he is, prosecutors would be allowed to commit him indefinitely to the Illinois Department of Corrections. He would receive treatment there but he might also face a lifetime of incarceration.

To prove their case, prosecutors brought in two witnesses from Oregon to testify about a similar incident that happened there in 2012.

Benjamin King said he was walking through a park when he noticed a group of children being ushered away from Lopes.

King said Lopes had his pants open and was making a motion like he was tucking in his shirt but there was no shirt to tuck in. King called campus police at Portland State University, and Lopes was arrested.

Amanda Armstrong told jurors she had been leading a group of about 10 children, aged 6 to 12, on a YMCA outing to the park. She became alarmed when Lopes walked up to an 8-year-old girl and put his arm around her. Armstrong approached him and asked what he was doing. He mentioned some religious references. I dont remember exactly what.

Armstrong said the girl told her that Lopes had asked her to pull down her pants.

Lopes, she said, seemed oblivious about why people were alarmed at what he was doing.

After Lopes arrest in Livingston, he was interviewed several times by Tharp.

Tharp asked him what had brought him to Madison. He told me he was on a mission to visit as many states as he possibly could to spread the word about his church, which he identified as Rise Star Church, Tharp said. He identified himself as the main priest and said he had written almost all the by-laws.

Lopes told Tharp he was the only member of the church.

Tharp said Lopes believes that any child who wears the color green and comes within 500 feet of him wants to be counseled on intimacy and relationships.

Lopes said he was looking for his little princess, which he also referred to as his Queen of Age. His encounters with young girls were actually mini-dates, interviews to determine if they could be his Queen of Age, Tharp said.

Jurors saw several videotaped interviews between Tharp and Lopes.

Lopes told him he assumed that if people saw him with a younger girl they would assume she was his daughter. Older girls, he said, could be assumed to be his wife.

In the Aug. 24 incident at Quik Trip in Edwardsville, Tharp said the mother, who was pumping gas a few feet away from her 7-year-old daughter, became extremely alarmed, grabbed her daughter by the hand and whisked her inside the store.

An hour later, the same mother was at the Starbucks store, down the road on Troy Road, when Lopes showed up again. This time the woman was with her 9-year-old daughter, Tharp said. While she was in line to purchase coffee, Mr. Lopes entered and made a beeline toward the 9-year-old daughter, and while he was solely focusing on the girl exclaimed Where did you find this beautiful doll? and then said Hello Princess.

The mother became hysterical. She paid for the coffee and walked out to the car with her daughter. Lopes followed them to the parking lot and said Goodbye, Princess, Tharp said.

A third incident happened at the Shop N Save, also on Troy Road in Edwardsville. A man and woman were there around noon with their daughters, ages 3 and 9. They told police that Lopes approached the 3-year-old and said Who is this little princess? What a beautiful daughter! Tharp said. At that point, the 9-year-old approached Lopes and the girl. More beautiful children, Lopes told them, according to Tharp.

The parents intervened, and Lopes left.

All three incidents were reported to Edwardsville police.

Assistant Madison County States Attorney Alison Foley said each of the incidents around Madison County were eerily similar. Lopes would walk up to young girls and start talking to them as if no one other person was in the room, she said.

The parents would rightfully be upset, but Lopes seemed to think he was doing nothing wrong.

Not just that he thought it was perfectly acceptable to have sex acts with kids, but that he was commanded by God to have sex with kids, Foley said.

Lopes was finally arrested in Livingston. Police charged him with disorderly conduct. As the investigation progressed, he was charged with several felony counts, including grooming.

The trial continued Wednesday afternoon.
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Linkedin Ary Hermawan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017 08:28 2116 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bb9052a 1 Opinion #TitoKarnavian,police,Tito-Karnavian,cyber-security-agency,hate-speech,hoax,democracy,social-media,law-enforcement Free

In recent months, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has waged a ferocious war against rampant fake news and hate speech in the nations digital sphere, which he sees as a serious threat to national security that should not be taken lightly.

Tito is right about one thing. Fake news and hate speech are a serious problem. While I find the term post-truth obnoxious and elitist, I have to say the term perfectly describes the world we now live in: a world where facts just dont matter anymore, where people conveniently spread lies just because those are the lies they can agree with.

But the police chief should have known that prosecuting people for spreading fake news or hate speech may not be a clever way to solve the problem.

On social media, what most people want is attention. And so do the people that try to wreak havoc in Indonesia by spreading lies and making false accusations against the government and certain minorities. It is ironic that in their attempt to suppress propaganda, the police ended up amplifying it.

The police, for example, have catapulted an obscure writer from Blora, Central Java, who self-published his books, to national stardom by charging him with defamation last month for arguing that President Joko Jokowi Widodo was a closet communist. His poorly researched book,

Jokowi Undercover, has become more popular after his arrest. It is worth noting that the allegation that Jokowi falsified his birth certificate to cover up his identity as a son of a communist is Indonesias version of the birther conspiracy. Some people may believe in it, but many have chosen to ignore it as nothing but hogwash.

To fend off accusations that they had violated the freedom of expression, the police decided to hold a press conference to justify their move against the author. But, in another ironic twist, their arguments turned out to be selfdefeating. The police were so eager to explain how absurd the claims made by the author were that I found it baffling that they actually felt the need to take them seriously.

The way the police force handles any criticism against the government and itself has struck me as being driven mainly by paranoia.

In late December, police arrested a man for defacing a wall under a toll road in North Jakarta with profane words directed at Jokowi and Tito. The man, police said, had also claimed to be an Islamic State (IS) group member. Police, however, did not provide evidence that the man, who is 47 and unemployed, might have any links to the terrorist group, nor whether he is mentally fit to face legal process.

The treason charges against a group of anti-government activists, including senior politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas, may also reflect that paranoia. Police have accused Sri Bintang, a has-been politician who many digital natives have never heard of, of incitement through a YouTube video. The video then went viral and was later featured by mainstream media, including on their official YouTube accounts.

On Monday, Twitter decided to suspend the accounts of a notorious hardline group that had threatened to swarm the National Police headquarters to protest against the West Java Police chief, who had moved against its leader. Police denied asking Twitter to do so, but the mainstream media picked up the news, and suddenly more people became more aware of the hard-line groups social media accounts.

Many argue the police need to get tough on hate-mongers and provocateurs to teach them a lesson and as a deterrent for others. But does it really work?

The police should know that in a war against fake news or propaganda, a victory should be defined not by the conviction of the fake news reporters or propagandists, but by the ability to keep them on the fringes and their voices low.

What is the point of jailing a person for spreading lies if such a move only makes the liar popular and his lies accessible to more people?

The police and the government should deal with fake news and propaganda like decent internet users deal with internet trolls. Those who spread fake news and propaganda are basically internet trolls who only want attention by sowing discord. You deal with internet trolls accordingly, but you should never take them too seriously.

Hate-mongering, anti-government trolls are infesting our democracy in the digital realm. Everyone, not just the police, should take part in fighting them.

There are many ways to combat fake news and propaganda  you can fight them with education, regulation or even technology. The question of which of the three is considered the best solution to the problem is perhaps a matter of debate. But I argue that amplifying fake news and propaganda by elevating those responsible for it to become online martyrs through censorship and criminal charges will only make things worse.

So my advice to you, Gen. Tito: Do not feed the trolls!
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Linkedin Aries Setiadi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017 13:11 2116 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bba0c60 3 Opinion fintech,financial-inclusion,financial-technology,SME,OJK Free

The Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) has just released a regulation on financial technology (fintech) lending, which stipulates rules in the provision of lending services based on information technology.

This fintech-based lending will not only play an important role in supporting the financial inclusion program that the government has recently promoted, but will also become an important alternative for unbankable individuals and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to access funds to start and develop their businesses.

According to the World Bank, only 36 percent of Indonesians have access to banking services and merely 13 percent borrow from formal financial institutions. While there are almost 60 million MSMEs, which provide over 100 million jobs in the country. Most of them cannot get the financing they need to expand.

Conventional micro credit and the government-subsidized micro lending scheme micro credit program (KUR) have not been able to boost up young entrepreneurs and MSMEs on a massive scale. Despite the governments guarantee, banks are still reluctant about lending to these potential borrowers, mainly due to administrative issues.

Inexperienced aspiring entrepreneurs and micro-scale enterprises often have neither sufficient collateral to secure a bank loan nor the financial track records for lenders to evaluate. Geographical constraints also remain a challenge that has hindered people in rural and eastern part of the archipelago to get access to traditional bank services. KUR loans are provided by only a small number of banks, which rely on their limited branches, thus financial access remains pretty low in remote areas.

Fintech lending could definitely address these issues. Through leveraging technology, fintech makes capital available to the underbanked and unleashes potential economic activity, creates job opportunities and generates growth in a more inclusive manner.

Fintech-based lending can potentially fill the countrys existing financing gap of almost Rp 1 quadrillion (US$75 billion). In addition, peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding fintech particularly can tap into the MSMEs, of which only 20 percent are currently bankable. Giving them access to initial or additional funding will definitely enable them to launch or to expand their business.

OJK has also previously promoted branchless banking system, locally known as Laku Pandai, which enables banks and financial service firms to reach out to new customers without having to open physical branches.

While Laku Pandai has increased access to saving in rural areas, its services unfortunately have not included lending. The agents still require a borrower to apply through the banks local branch. The OJK argues though that Laku Pandai agents will soon be able to administer lending.

With its less bureaucratic style, fintech also offers innovative methods to evaluate its prospective creditors. Tala Mobile, for instance, comes up with an alternative for creditworthiness evaluation for traditionally unbankable population in various countries. Its smartphone app evaluates daily mobile activities of potential borrowers, from simply making frequent calls to parents to paying bills on time, to determine their reliability.

Once a potential borrower is approved, the money will be delivered digitally in minutes.

Smartphones are inevitably enabling capabilities in the lending industry. With Indonesias rapid mobile penetration and growing online commerce, fintech lending increases financial accessibility to the unreachable and accelerates financial inclusion.

M-Shwari in Kenya, for example, leverages the success of mobile money, M-Pesa, to offer paperless and branchless banking services, ranging from saving to accessing micro credit.

Indonesias smartphone owners are flourishing and are able to access the mobile internet. These are the perfect infrastructures for fintech lending to explore and expand throughout the archipelago.

Peer-to-peer lending can also open up economic opportunities for women. Social norms, like the burden of domestic chores and property ownership, are most of the time unfavorable to women, leaving them with limited access to capital.

Darrell West from the Brookings Institute argues on his book,

Going Mobile, that smartphones have significantly enabled women and minorities to obtain a broader range of financial access. Fintech lending lets women make their own economic decisions.

On the other hand, with the newly launched regulation, fintech lending provides investors with access to an alternative investment portfolio and within a safe and regulated setting.

Modalku, a local peer-to-peer lending platform, for instance now offers individual investors to chance to provide funding to chosen MSMEs with a deposit as low as Rp 10 million.

Diversifying ones investment portfolio, even if only within one platform, by lending small amounts to as many different borrowers as possible, will diversify an investors risk.

It is expected that this fintech lending regulation will create a more conducive regulatory environment for both existing and upcoming fintech players. Fintech can potentially help the government to achieve its goals, producing 1,000 technopreneurs and digitizing 8,000 MSMEs by 2020. These are the areas where fintech has the potential to have a major impact.

Through fintech, MSMEs will be more administratively neat and transparent, thus it enables the government to better oversee their commercial activities and eventually generate more tax revenue. Conventional banks or the government collaborating with fintech firms could also increase the number of governmentbacked loans KUR being delivered.

To take into account, MSMEs now contribute to around 60 percent of Indonesias gross domestic product (GDP). This suggests that these micro, small and medium sized companies are in fact the backbone of the Indonesian economy, and in the event that they grow rapidly, then the economy of the whole country will accordingly develop more rapidly.

Indeed, digitalized lending is not a simple quick fix to the issue of financial inclusion. Fintech needs to further improve customer experience while maintaining its prudential responsibility. The government also needs to adapt its policy and administration to provide a more accommodating environment following fintech dynamics. Simplification and responsiveness should be key for the government to help fintech grow. By doing so, the government would facilitate MSME expansion and eventually create a more inclusive economic development.

***

The writer is a macroeconomic analyst at the Finance Ministrys directorate general of budget. The views expressed are his own.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin Good Indonesian Food (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017 13:23 2116 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bba0f3c 3 Food martabak,egg,snacks,Traditional-cake,food,#food Free

In general, martabak telur (stuffed fried pancake) is consumed with a watery dark-colored vinegar sauce mixed with slices of cucumber and birds eye chili. However, I chanced upon a rather different variation of this delicacy when I popped by Martabak Kari H. Abdoel Razak in Cideng on Jl. Biak, Central Jakarta.

I deliberately arrived at the establishment just after lunchtime to avoid having to wait in a long line and a packed uncomfortable warung. Located opposite Nite & Day Hotel Roxy, it is slightly hidden from plain sight, but you can spot its kitchen at the exterior area of the joint, complete with stacks of martabak boxes and neatly organized duck eggs on show. With only yours truly and a couple of other customers present during that particular afternoon, the wait staff seemed to be taking a breather before the dinner crowd descended upon the place.

(Read also: 7 tantalizing eateries in Tebet)

This warung has been around for around 34 years. The business started out in the form of a tent that stood right across its current building. Due to overcrowding, it finally made the move to a permanent shop five years ago. One of the employees there explained that Martabak Kari H. Abdoel Razak once had branches in Kelapa Gading and Bintaro. Both were eventually shut down in order to focus more on developing their flagship shop on Jl. Biak.

It may not have a varied menu, yet they all looked enticing. I chose to order its martabak telur kuah kari (stuffed pancake with curry) and mie celor Palembang (noodles in coconut milk soup and shrimp stock). I was intrigued by the latter as it is reputedly known as the eaterys signature dish. It was smart to drop by at 2:30 p.m., as my food was prepared swiftly without the need to wait too long. Up first was the martabak, followed by hot mie celor.

Although similar in appearance to the martabak telur sold by cart-pushing roadside sellers, not a shred of onion or minced beef were found in the mix  only eggs. It was bland, but became tasty once I dipped a piece into the steaming bowl of curry provided. The curry itself was not too concentrated and was yellowish in color with bits of potatoes, which reminded me of Indian curry but with fewer spices.

I then moved on to mie celor. Consisting of noodles, bean sprouts and hard-boiled egg, the concoction is then splashed with coconut milk that had already been mixed with shrimp stock. It tasted quite unique because of the shrimp-infused savoriness. For those who prefer spicy food, dont forget to ask for additional sambal(chili sauce).

Itd be best to check the prices first before you order, as the food here is a tad on the expensive side. You wouldnt want to leave with a full tummy and an empty wallet. (kes)

Explore more Indonesian cuisine here.

Jl. Biak No. 29 C, Roxy, Central Jakarta

Contact: 0818 80 133

Open daily from 11 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Rp 70,000 (US$5.10) per person

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017 17:50 2116 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bbac865 1 Science & Tech Airbus,Airbus-Skyways,drone,#drone,technology,#technology,#Airbus,flying-car Free

Airbus is looking into revolutionizing urban travel by developing a single-passenger vehicle, package delivery drones and autonomous buses.

The aerospace company's CEO Tom Enders shed light on what the company is working on with the attendees of the Digital Life Design conference in Munich. According to Reuters, Enders expressed his hope to demonstrate Vahana, a single-manned, autonomously-piloted flying vehicle, by the end of the year.

One hundred years ago, urban transport went underground, now we have the technological wherewithal to go above ground. We are in an experimentation phase, we take this development very seriously. With flying, you dont need to pour billions into concrete bridges and roads," he said as quoted by Digital Trends.

(Read also: 'Back to the Future' hoverboard comes to life)

Enders suggests that Airbus needs to capitalize on emerging autonomous driving and artificial technologies. He further asserts that if they are neglected, the company will be squeezed out of important segments in the business.

Retailers like Amazon and DHL are said to be potential customers of the Airbus Skyways project after they put their parcel delivery drones out on the market.

Set to be a pioneer in the flying vehicle business, Airbus also offers a concept called CityAirbus, which features a multiple-passenger, electrically-operated flying vehicle that resemble a small drone with propellers. (nik/kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017 16:23 2116 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bba83c6 1 Science & Tech justin-trudeau,Canada,Snapchat,#Snapchat,Prime-Minister,Snapchat-Live-Story Free

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become the first politician to host a Snapchat Live Story, which is a curated slideshow of images and clips from a special event that can be watched via the video and image messaging mobile app.

On Thursday, Trudeau uploaded his trip across Ontario along with a Q&A segment that simulates the situation of a town-hall meeting.

As reported by tempo.co, young Snapchat users from universities and campuses all over Canada were asked to submit questions in the form of snaps to Trudeaus Q&A story -- questions ranged from foreign policy to the ministers haircare routine.

(Read also: More Indonesians using Snapchat, leaving Twitter: Survey)

Interestingly enough, Trudeau was asked: What policy changes should we anticipate with the latest Cabinet shuffle; particularly with foreign policy with the US? Using the cameras selfie mode, the Canadian PM replied, Our new Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland has deep connections and contacts with the United States, which is going to help with the incoming new administration.

Trudeau generously responded to several of the questions in English, and even in French. The Live Story was featured in the apps Discover section and was available for users to view in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and United Kingdom until Friday, as reported by AdWeek.

(Read also: 10 things to Snapchat if you're a 9-to-5 worker)

Although Snapchat has featured interviews with celebrities, namely Selena Gomez and Kevin Hart, the app has never used it for politics. However, Snapchats sponsored features, such as lenses and filters, were used for promotional purposes during the election season for candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, as said by Digital Trends.

Hence, in the near future, more world leaders will be expected to host Live Stories like Trudeaus. (mra/kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (Bloomberg)  Wed, January 18, 2017

Baidu Inc. has appointed former Microsoft Corp. executive Qi Lu its group president and chief operating officer, granting the software industry veteran oversight over all aspects of the Chinese search giants business from sales to technology development.

Lu, an architect of Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadellas strategy for artificial intelligence and bots at Microsoft, will take up his new post with immediate effect, Baidu said in an e-mailed statement Tuesday. Every Baidu business unit head will report to Lu, a respected technologist who ran the Office and search groups during his tenure at Microsoft.

Lu now shoulders responsibility for steering Baidu toward its next phase of growth. Chinas largest search engine and its billionaire founder, Robin Li, is seeking to refocus on enhancing search with AI and other technologies, as rivals such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. muscle in on its internet-advertising business.

Any time you have stronger depth in the management team, that has to be a good thing, said Kirk Boodry, an analyst at New Street Research. Maybe this allows Robin to take more of a chairman role and focus more on the technology, focus more on the strategy for the company going forward.

(Read also: Jack Ma bets $2.6 billion he can revamp China retail sector)

Lus tenure at Microsoft overlapped with that of Steve Ballmer, whose stewardship of the company has been criticized for missing some of the biggest trends in technology, including social media and mobile. Its Bing search engine, which Lu helped develop, never managed to make much headway against Googles. The executive departed the U.S. software company last year for health reasons.

Baidu itself is coming off a turbulent year, when a scandal involving online medical ads prompted tighter government restrictions that constricted its ad business, while an attempt to sell off video-streaming unit iQiyi to a consortium led by Li collapsed after investor protests.

Li has now flagged AI as the next key profit driver for the business. Lu, who holds more than 40 U.S. patents, joins as Baidu focuses on research into advanced technologies such as AI and autonomous cars. The company considers AI development fundamental to its future, but it could be looking at a very long-term horizon.

To achieve our goals, especially in artificial intelligence, which is a key strategic focus for the next decade, we will need to continue attracting the best global talent, Li said in Tuesdays statement. With Dr. Lu on board, we are confident that our strategy will be executed smoothly and Baidu will become a world-class technology company and global leader in AI.

By working with speaker-maker Harman International Industries Inc., Baidu wants to create a smart device that, like Amazons Echo, can understand spoken commands and order food or summon cars. The Chinese search giant is also trying to exert its own influence on the rapidly deepening field. It released its PaddlePaddle software on GitHub, letting AI enthusiasts freely make use of the development tools. The move resembles Googles release of TensorFlow in an attempt to set the standard on AI programming.

 With assistance by David Ramli
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017 16:25 2116 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bba8624 1 Science & Tech Mark-Zuckerberg,Facebook,Twitter,Rudiantara,Communications-and-Information-Ministry,fake-news,hoax,#facebook,#Hoax Free

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg will reportedly visit Jakarta at the end of the month to meet with Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara to discuss the spread of fake news on the social network.

The minister previously shared his plans to meet with representatives of popular social network platforms in Indonesia such as Twitter and Facebook to actively prevent the spread of hoaxes.

According to kompas.com, Rudiantara has discussed the matter with Twitter representatives and is now seeking to meet with Facebook.

It's confirmed. [Facebook representatives] will come [to Indonesia] by the end of this month, he said.

News outlets have previously reported that Zuckerberg himself will attend the meeting.

(Read also: Who are the 8 richest people? All men, mostly Americans)

The discussion is said to include ways to prevent the spread of hoaxes and stopping them from going viral. The government was reportedly also considering imposing sanctions in the form of fees on social networks that failed to prevent the spread of fake content.

"Germany plans to issue a regulation for such a sanction fee that reaches Rp 7 billion [US$524,817] per hoax," said Rudiantara.

Even in the United States, Facebook and Twitter have been deemed responsible for the spread of fake news during the recent US presidential campaign period. (wir/kes)

__________

UPDATE: Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara has clarified that Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, would not attend the meeting.
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Linkedin Viriya P. Singgih (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

A group consisting of law experts and environmental activists plans to file a request for a judicial review with the Supreme Court against new regulations extending a relaxation of an export ban on mineral ores, which, it says, have violated the law.

The government issued a fourth revision of Government Regulation No. 23/2010 on the management of mineral and coal businesses on Jan. 11, allowing miners to continue exporting copper concentrates, certain amounts of low-grade nickel ore and washed bauxite.

On the same day, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry issued ministerial regulations No. 5/2017 and No. 6/2017 that relaxed the export ban for the next five years and required miners to convert their contracts of work (CoW) into special mining licenses (IUPK).

We will file for a judicial review of those regulations, which obviously contravene the 2009 Mining Law, particularly articles 102, 103 and 170 that mandate all holders of mining licenses to process their mineral ores domestically, said Ahmad Redi, a law expert from Tarumanagara University, on Wednesday.

Under the Civil Society Coalition umbrella, he and activists from at least 20 institutions were collecting testimonies from various experts to be documented for the lawsuit that will be submitted to the Supreme Court next week. (ags)
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Linkedin Callistassia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

Lawyers of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said they hoped the judges presiding over the governors blasphemy trial would dismiss testimony given by Bogor Islam Forum secretary H. Willyudin Abdul Rasyid in a recent hearing on account of invalid claims.

"The legal team requests the judges dismiss Willyudin's testimony and process him for perjury," Ahok's legal team said in a statement on Tuesday.

During a hearing on Tuesday, the court listened to testimony from Bogor Police officers Brig. Agung Hermawan and First Brig. Ahmad Hamdani, who were in charge of registering Willyudin's police report against Ahok on Oct. 7.

The two police officers testified on Tuesday that they had registered the police report based on information given by Willyudin.

Ahok's lawyers previously said Willyudin filed a police report against Ahok's alleged blasphemous remarks in Tegallega, Bogor, West Java, on Sept. 6.

The lawyers found the testimony peculiar because Ahok was standing trial over statements made during a visit to the Thousands Islands on Sept. 27.

Willyudin blamed police for the irregularities during Tuesdays hearing.

He said he watched video of Ahok mentioning Surah Al Maidah 51 on Oct. 6 at his home in Bogor.

Police mistakenly typed that the report was filed against Ahok over a speech in Bogor on Sept.6, he claimed.

Willyudin said he had tried to provide clarification over the irregularities.

However, he said he signed the report because he trusted the police would revise it based on his clarification.

Ahoks legal team, led by Trimoelja D. Soerjadi, said that by signing the police report, Willyudin was accountable for its content. (dmr)
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Linkedin Kyunghee Park (Bloomberg) Singapore  Wed, January 18, 2017

AirAsia Bhd., the regions biggest budget airline, is likely to use most of the proceeds from a proposed sale of its aircraft-leasing arm to pay a dividend, its chief executive officer said in an interview.

The airline expects to get binding bids for the unit by March and close the deal by summer, Group CEO Tony Fernandes, 52, said in a Bloomberg Television interview with Francine Lacqua in Davos, Switzerland, while attending the World Economic Forum. The board of the Sepang, Malaysia-based carrier will take the final call on whether to use the proceeds to pare debt or pay a dividend, he said.

Our gearing is very low anyway but I always like to have more cash than less cash, Fernandes said. But its really up to the board to finally decide what to do with that.

(Read also: AirAsia moves into new open-space headquarters)

The divestment of Asia Aviation Capital Ltd. may help bolster the financials of the carrier that has ordered hundreds of jets from Airbus SE and had a net debt of 8.8 billion ringgit ($2 billion) at the end of September. A dividend may also cheer investors who were rewarded with a 78 percent rally in the shares in 2016, the best in six years. The asset had received an offer valued at about $1 billion, Fernandes had said in May.

Established in 2014, Asia Aviation Capital had a fleet of 59 planes as of end-September, leased primarily to the parents affiliates. The unit will receive an additional 100 Airbus A320 aircraft and get some A321neos were ordered last year.

Asia Aviation Capital manages aircraft leased to affiliates outside Malaysia, including Thai AirAsia Co., PT Indonesia AirAsia and AirAsia India Pvt., according to filings in 2014. RHB Investment Bank Bhd., Credit Suisse Group AG and BNP Paribas SA are joint advisers to the sale.

To read about Asian aircraft leasing, click here.

Some people have come in at the last minute, Fernandes said, referring to bidders. Were working with Credit Suisse and the banks to see if they can still make the timeline, he said, declining to reveal names.

As airlines serving Asia Pacific move to triple their fleet, theyre finding it can be cheaper to lease jets instead of buying them from Boeing Co. or Airbus. The relative safety of the leasing business compared with that of an airline has prompted conglomerates led by Hong Kong billionaires Li Ka-shing and Cheng Yu-tung to enter the industry.

--With assistance from Chong Pooi Koon To contact the reporter on this story: Kyunghee Park in Singapore at kpark3@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anand Krishnamoorthy at anandk@bloomberg.net, Sam Nagarajan
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Linkedin Lita Aruperes (The Jakarta Post) Manado  Wed, January 18, 2017

The police are investigating a suspected hoax bomb left in a commercial district of Manado, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.

We are still investigating the perpetrators of the hoax. We will bring them to justice, North Sulawesi Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ibrahim Tompo said.

The police discovered the suspect device in the parking lot of Manado Town Square early on Wednesday. It turned out to be a cardboard box containing paper rolls.

Sario Police chief Adj. Comr. Thommy Aruan told reporters the police were examining CCTV as part of their investigation.

Bomb threats have circulated on social media in Manado in recent days.
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Linkedin Corry Elyda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

On the heels of the fatal Zahro Express ferryboat fire, the Transportation Ministry is set to hand over the management of Muara Angke Port in North Jakarta to the city administration as part of the efforts to improve safety measures and passenger service quality.

Acting Jakarta governor Sumarsono said that after the accident the ministry had greenlighted the administration, through the Jakarta Transportation Agency, to get full control of the ports management in a bid to optimize monitoring and curb red tape.

Previously, the port was managed by the ministry, which oversees more than 1,000 ports across Indonesia.

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Linkedin Ary Hermawan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

In recent months, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has waged a ferocious war against rampant fake news and hate speech in the nations digital sphere, which he sees as a serious threat to national security that should not be taken lightly.

Tito is right about one thing. Fake news and hate speech are a serious problem. While I find the term post-truth obnoxious and elitist, I have to say the term perfectly describes the world we now live in: a world where facts just dont matter anymore, where people conveniently spread lies just because those are the lies they can agree with.

But the police chief should have known that prosecuting people for spreading fake news or hate speech may not be a clever way to solve the problem.

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Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

State-owned construction firm PT Pembangunan Perumahan (PTPP) expects to see its new contract value increase by more than 20 percent this year, spurred by the government's massive infrastructure projects.



The publicly listed company projects to book at least Rp 39.1 trillion (US$2.93 billion) worth of new contracts this year, from Rp 32.6 trillion recorded last year. The optimism comes on the back of last year's achievement, when the value of its new contracts was 105 percent of the firm's initial target.



"The company is optimistic to exceed this year's target, supported by the government's programs to improve Indonesia's infrastructure quality," PTPP president director Tumiyana said as quoted in an official statement published by the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) on Monday.



President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has allocated Rp 387.3 trillion from the 2017 state budget for developing the country's infrastructure, a 22 percent increase from last year's allocation.

(Read also: Indonesia sees Japan as model for infrastructure development)

Infrastructure development across the archipelago has been one of the government's priorities during Jokowi's tenure, which will end in 2019.



At least Rp 4.7 quadrillion is needed to develop the ambitious infrastructure projects, which include 1,000 kilometers of new toll roads, 49 dams, 2,650 km of roads and 13 airports by 2019.



However, the government can only afford to provide around 41 percent of the total required funds, while the remainder is expected to be covered by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private companies.



With the projected higher new contract value, PTPP expects to see its revenue move northward by more than 50 percent compared to last year's target of between Rp 17 trillion and Rp 19 trillion.



Meanwhile, its net profit is expected to swell between 40 percent and 50 percent higher than last year's achievement.



"Further, the firm will take several corporate actions to support the firm's performance in 2017," Tumiyana went on.



PTPP plans to sell stakes in its subsidiaries, namely PP Pracetak, PP Peralatan and PP Energi through initial public offerings (IPOs) this year, along with another nine SOE subsidiaries.



It will also split its stocks and carry out a rights issue for its subsidiary, the publicly listed property developer PP Properti.



PTPP carried out a right issue last year to absorb Rp 2.25 trillion of state capital injection (PMN) aimed at strengthening the firm's capital. The rights issue successfully generated Rp 4.41 trillion of funds in total.



Previously, Indonesia's largest construction company Wijaya Karya (WIKA) said it expected to see its total contract value rise to Rp 102.9 trillion this year, a 23.9 percent increase from the target it set for 2016.



The 2017 order book of the publicly listed firm will likely be dominated by new contracts, which are predicted to make up 72.7 percent of the overall figure, according to WIKA director and corporate chief financial officer Steve Kosasih recently.



"The 2017 will be an ambitious one for WIKA as we are making significant progress on our projects such as the elevated MRT [mass rapid transit] in Tendean, South Jakarta, the Balikpapan-Samarinda toll road in East Kalimantan and of course, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway," he said.



The firm has allocated Rp 12 trillion in capital expenditure (capex) this year, the majority of which will be allocated to develop its businesses and to fund ventures as well as its subsidiaries.



The company received Rp 4 trillion of state capital injection (PMN) last year to develop several major projects, such as the Kuala Tanjung port in North Sumatra, the Semanggi overpass in Jakarta and various toll road projects.

This article appeared earlier in our print edition on Wednesday. The second paragraph of the article has been revised after we mistakenly mentioned Rp 35.86 trillion as the value of new contracts PT Pembangunan Perumahan is targeting to book this year. The correct figure is Rp 39.1 trillion. We apologize for the error. - The Editor
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan and Moses Ompusunggu (The Jakarta Post) Karo/Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

An earthquake rocked North Sumatra on Monday night, damaging buildings in the area and injuring residents.

Jenta Ginting, 48, a resident of Ujung Teran village, Karo regency, said that he had to get several stitches on his head after bricks fell on him that night. He said that the quake had shaken his neighbors house and loosened some of its bricks. The materials later fell onto his houses roof, breaking it before falling through onto him.

Jenta was with his family inside the house when the incident happened. He said everybody was panicky at the time.

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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

The government expects to finish the revised list of national strategic projects next week, a move that will help speed up the country's infrastructure development.

Currently, there are 225 priority infrastructure projects included in presidential regulation No. 3/2016, covering toll roads, railways, airports, seaports and power plants, among others.

"We have scheduled the ministerial meeting next week to decide the matter," the program director of the Committee for the Acceleration of Priority Infrastructure Development (KPPIP), Rainier Haryanto, said by text message on Wednesday.

So far, 100 projects had been proposed for inclusion to the list, but not all of them would be eligible, he added.

(Read also: More than half of strategic projects remain in doldrums)

Previously, officials from Industry Ministry, Transportation Ministry, as well as Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, suggested several projects proposed as national strategic projects.

The Industry Ministry, for instance, has proposed the mid-haul aircraft construction project, while the Transportation Ministry came up with Benoa Port in Bali and Syamsudin Noor Airport in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. (lnd)
The government is expediting the finalization of land registration of 111 small islands in border areas as part of its efforts to defend national sovereignty in outer areas as well as strengthening the countrys defense and security.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said on Tuesday the registration was also aimed at preventing private entities, whether domestic or foreign, from illegally controlling and managing the islands.

[Because these islands] are in border areas, proper management of them is essential in upholding state sovereignty, she told a press conference.

The 111 islets are in the registration process at the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry, after which the islands will be solely owned by the state.

She said President Joko Jokowi Widodo would soon issue a presidential decree as a legal umbrella for the move.

According to her, as many as 14,343 small islands or 98 percent of the total identified islands across Indonesia were problematic when it came to land management or ownership status.

Among the numerous issues are the illicit sale of islands to foreigners, private occupation by investors, the use of nominees to secure occupation and ownership claims by foreign entities.

The ministry has also launched an investigation into hundreds of islets allegedly illicitly occupied by local and foreign investors.

Susi said small islands had the potential to be developed through numerous forms of investment, such as agriculture, tourism and industry, but asserted that management of small islands had to be conducted based on the 1960 Agrarian Law.

Under the law, private entities can occupy no more than 70 percent of the total area of a small island through a right-to-own certificate (SHM), while the remaining 30 percent goes to the government, which will use it for creating either protected areas or public areas.

Meanwhile, the Agrarian Law bars foreigners from owning a SHM  the fullest land title that can be owned in Indonesia  but allows them to own either right-touse, right-to-rent, right-to-build or right-to-cultivate certificates

Those who want to manage the 111 islands in border areas, however, can only be issued with a right-to-manage (HPL) certificate as the islands are controlled by the government.

Illicit use of small islands, such as for criminal activities including illegal logging, poaching, human trafficking or drug smuggling, must stop, said Susi, who has been widely praised for her bold move to reform Indonesias fisheries and maritime management since being appointed minister in 2014.

She added that the government was also planning to register 1,106 islets with the United Nations to ensure the states sovereignty over the islands.

So far, 13,466 islands in Indonesia have been registered with the UN, ministry data shows. We are now in the midst of identifying another 2,800 small islands [needing registration with the UN], Susi said. Last week, Jokowi ordered the Indonesian Military (TNI) to deploy more soldiers to border areas and outer islands in four regions: the northern end of the countrys eastern area, the northern end of the countrys western area, the southern end of the countrys eastern area and the southern portion of the countrys western area.

The House of Representatives has also backed Susis move to push for the land certification of small islands in Indonesias border regions.

These islands have to be registered immediately. First and foremost, the move is needed to uphold our sovereignty, said Viva Yoga Muladi, a member of House Commission IV overseeing maritime affairs.
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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara  Wed, January 18, 2017

Tourists to Lombok and Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) will enjoy a great sale in which hotels, restaurants, tour packages and handicraft prices will be discounted for the whole month of February.

Tourists just need to show their boarding passes and identity cards to access the Lombok-Sumbawa Great Sale 2017 and later could enjoy 20 to 70 percent discounts, NTB Tourism Agency head Lalu Mohammad Faozal told reporters on Tuesday.

He said the event was expected to boost the number of tourists visiting NTB during the low season between January and March.

NTB Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) chairman Lalu Hadi Faisal said it was hoped the sale would boost the hotel occupancy rate to 70 percent, up from the 30 to 40 percent normally seen during the low season.

Some 62 star-rated hotels and more than 48 restaurants will join the event, he added.

NTB Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD) head Affan Ahmad added that tourists could find catalogues about handicrafts at discounted prices at Lombok International Airport.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

The Jakarta Police have arrested four people suspected of involvement in an international drug network, and shot dead a fifth suspect after he attempted to resist arrest.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan said Brian, 29, the suspected head of the network, died early on Tuesday.

Brian, who was released from prison four months ago, had reportedly been assisted by a colleague who remains in prison. The two allegedly worked together with a dealer from Malaysia.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

Actor Rio Dewanto released a documentary about an ongoing agrarian conflict in Langkat, North Sumatra, to express his concern for local farmers struggling to keep control over ancestral lands.

The 13-minute documentary he posted on his YouTube channel on Monday details the latest situation in Mekar Jaya village after the forced eviction of the farmers last November to make way for the expansion of

a private plantation.

The footage was taken during his latest visit to the farming village on Dec. 7, when Rio stayed in the area to interview the farmers.

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Linkedin Winny Tang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

Huawei, a Chinese multinational information and communication technology (ICT) solutions provider, expressed on Tuesday its willingness to collaborate with more local partners to roll out 4.5G technology in Indonesia in a bid to improve customer experience.

The new 4.5G technology, if implemented, would enable individuals to enjoy videos with 4K resolution and access other new innovations that require large bandwidth usage, such as virtual reality technology and telemedicine.

We are ready with the technology. The demand exists; so now we are looking forward to collaborating with local partners, Huawei Indonesia ICT strategy and marketing deputy director Mohamad Rosidi said.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

MNC Group tycoon Hary Tanoesodibjo has arrived in Washington DC to attend the inauguration of the 45th US president, Donald Trump, on Jan. 20 DC time or Saturday Indonesian western time.

Thats right [Hary Tanoe will attend], MNC Group corporate secretary Director Syafril Nasution said Tuesday evening as quoted by Antara news agency.

(Read also: Trump's Indonesia partner heads to inauguration to bolster deals)

Syafril said Hary Tanoe had been in the US since Monday after receiving an invitation from Trump. He is staying at a hotel in front of the US Capitol, where the inauguration will take place.

Syafril said before the inauguration, Hary would meet with US investors. Hary is Trumps business partner in Indonesia.

Thats right, we are planning to accelerate the project completion, he said.

Trump has two investments in Indonesia: Trump International Hotel & Tower in Bali and Trump International Hotel & Tower in Lido in Bogor, West Java.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Hary said he had a business relationship with Trump, not political. (evi)
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Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has inaugurated the former Defense Ministrys inspector general, Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, as the new Air Force chief of staff, replacing retiring Air Chief Marshall Agus Supriatna, whose tenure ends on Jan. 20.

The handover ceremony took place at the State Palace on Wednesday.

The President had upgraded Hadis military rank to that of a four star Air Chief Marshal to make the 53-year-old eligible for the post.

Hadi, a 1986 Air Force Academy graduate, is no stranger to the President. He served as head of the Adi Soemarmo air base in Surakarta, Central Java, when Jokowi was Surakarta mayor in 2010 and 2011.

In 2013, Hadi became the spokesman of the Air Force, and two years later he was assigned to become commander of the Malang Abdurrahman Saleh air base in East Java.

Jokowi, who was sworn in as the countrys seventh President in October 2014, later promoted Hadi to become presidential military secretary in 2015.

Under Jokowis administration Hadis military career skyrocketed. Also in 2015, Hadi received another promotion to become the Defense Ministrys inspector general, and the State Palace increased his rank from a two star to three star Air Force general.

Hadi was among three generals recommended for promotion by Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo. The two other candidates were National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) deputy governor Air Marshal Bagus Puruhito and deputy Air Force chief of staff Air Marshal Hadiyan Sumintaatmadja.

Given his relatively young age as Air Force chief of staff and his close relationship with Jokowi, rumors have it that Hadi will be prepared to become the next TNI commander when Gatot retires in 2018. Hadi has denied such speculation, saying I am just a soldier following instructions from my commanding officer.
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Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

The absence of an appropriate mechanism to resolve past human rights abuses has hampered President Joko Jokowi Widodos efforts to realize his commitment to tackle the sensitive issue, an official has said.

Ifdhal Kasim from the Office of the Presidential Staff told victims of rights abuses and their relatives on Wednesday that the Presidential Palace was still receiving input on how best to resolve cases of gross human rights violations in the past.

The former head of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) asserted that President Jokowi would prioritize law enforcement and human rights promotion and protection in his third year after focusing on infrastructure development in his first two years.

We are searching for ways that are applicable [to solving rights abuses] that will be endorsed to the President, Ifdhal said. We havent obtained a final and optimal formula to deal with the matter.

Jokowis administration has faced strong criticism from victims of past rights abuses and their relatives as well as human rights campaigners since the first day of his term, following his controversial move to give individuals implicated in past abuses positions in his administration.

They include former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) head AM Hendropriyono, who is accused of being involved in the 1989 Talangsari massacre and the murder of prominent human rights activist Munir Said Thalib. Such criticism grew significantly after he appointed Wiranto, who is implicated in forced disappearances of pro-democracy activists, as coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister.

Other unresolved cases Jokowi repeatedly promised to resolve during his presidential campaign include the Trisakti University shootings, the Semanggi I and Semanggi II student shootings in 1998 and 1999, the mysterious killings of alleged criminals in the 1980s, the anti-communist massacres of 1965 and various abuses that took place in Wasior and Wamena in Papua in 2001 and 2003. (ebf)
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Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

Securities firm Mandiri Sekuritas (Mansek) is banking its growth this year on a rising number of newcomer clients investing in a wider variety of its investment products, amid expectations that economic recovery will encourage people to invest in the capital market.

The subsidiary of the countrys largest lender by assets, Bank Mandiri, expects to see its daily transaction value increase by 10 percent this year from around Rp 400 billion (US$30 million) per day in 2016.

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Linkedin Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka (Associated Press) London  Wed, January 18, 2017

Britain's future outside the European Union became much clearer Tuesday: It's so long to the single market, goodbye to the European Court of Justice and farewell to the freedom of movement for workers.

In a long-awaited speech, Prime Minister Theresa May finally revealed the UK's hand as it prepares to start EU exit talks. She said the UK wants to free itself from EU governance and stop paying millions into its coffers, but still remain friends, allies and tariff-free trading partners with the soon-to-be 27 nation bloc.

"We want to buy your goods and services, sell you ours, trade with you as freely as possible, and work with one another to make sure we are all safer, more secure and more prosperous through continued friendship," May said in a speech to diplomats and dignitaries beneath the gilded paintwork and chandeliers of a Georgian London mansion.

"You will still be welcome in this country as we hope our citizens will be welcome in yours," she said.

Pro-Brexit British politicians praised the speech, and the pound rallied from recent lows as May provided more details of the path ahead for the split with the EU  and vowed that Britain would remain "a great global trading nation" open to business and talent from around the world.

Others called May's vision wildly ambitious, like a divorcing couple who hope to remain best friends, share the kids and keep each other's front door keys.

"This is rather like a divorce rather than 'friends.' And then the question is, divorces can be handled very well or very, very badly," said Tony Travers, director of British government studies at the London School of Economics

Travers said Britain was hoping its friends in the EU will say "let's make it gentle, let's not  as with a bad divorce  give all the money to the lawyers."

In her 40-minute address, May said Britain would leave the EU single market of some 500 million people, but "seek the greatest possible access to it through a new, comprehensive, bold and ambitious free trade agreement."

She said there would be no attempt to cling to bits of EU membership. Britain will "bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain," May said. It also will impose controls on the number of people coming to Britain from EU member countries, abandoning the bloc's principle of free movement.

May promised for the first time that Britain's Parliament would be able to vote on the final deal reached between Britain and the EU, likely in 2019. However, she didn't say what would happen should lawmakers reject the agreement.

The speech received mixed reactions within the EU, whose leaders largely lament Britain's decision to leave.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the speech had "created a little bit more clarity about the British plans." French far-right leader Marine Le Pen of the National Front described it as "courageous" and respecting the will of the British people.

European Council President Donald Tusk described it on Twitter as a "sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement." He said the 27 other EU nations were "united and ready to negotiate" once Britain formally starts the two-year process of talks by invoking Article 50 of the EU's key treaty.

In his final daily press briefing before the change in US administrations, White House press secretary Josh Earnest called on these "critically important American allies" to engage with each other in a way "that's as transparent as possible."

The British pound rallied in response to the clarity. On Monday, it had approached $1.20, a near 31-year low, amid fears that Britain was headed for an economy-roiling "hard Brexit." But it rose above $1.23 after May outlined her vision of free trade and strong economic ties.

That includes a customs agreement, although May said she had an "open mind" about what relationship the UK would have with the EU Customs Union, which currently prevents Britain from striking trade deals with other countries.

In a bid to alleviate fears that Brexit will mean a more insular Britain, May said she wants the country to be "stronger, fairer, more united and more outward-looking than ever before."

May addressed an audience of British civil servants and international diplomats at Lancaster House, frequent venue for international summits  and the site of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's 1988 speech arguing that Britain should join the EU's single market.

Britain is quitting the single market in order to gain control over immigration  a key issue for many voters who backed Brexit. EU leaders say Britain can't stay in the single market without allowing the free movement of people from the bloc into Britain.

May was firm on the immigration question, but softened the message by saying she wants to allow EU citizens already in Britain to stay.

Losing single-market access alarms many in Britain's huge financial services sector, which relies on an ability to do business seamlessly across the 28-nation bloc.

But the financial sector welcomed what it saw as an end to the period of vast uncertainty.

"Businesses will welcome the greater clarity and the ambition to create a more prosperous, open and global Britain, with the freest possible trade between the UK and the EU," Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said.

Others cautioned that ambition is a long way from achievement.

"The key challenge facing the government, as the prime minister herself seemed to recognize, is whether the EU can be persuaded to strike a deal on free trade on anything like the terms and conditions that she has in mind," said John Curtice, senior fellow at the UK in a Changing Europe think tank.

May plans to trigger the starting gun for exit talks by March 31. The government insists it will not be delayed even if it loses a Supreme Court case arguing that Parliament must be given a vote first. The court is due to rule this month.

On Tuesday, May offered the EU a deal that she hopes it can't refuse, but her warm words also carried a hint of a threat. She said a "punitive" divorce settlement "would not be the act of a friend."

Should that happen, May said Britain would be free to lower corporate tax rates to "attract the world's best companies and biggest investors to Britain"  while imposing trade barriers on the EU.

Tim Farron, leader of Britain's opposition Liberal Democrats, called May's speech "a mixture of vague fantasies and toothless threats to our nearest neighbors."

"Throwing the gauntlet down against the rest of Europe, the PM is virtually guaranteeing that acrimony rather than compromise will prevail," Farron said.

___

Associated Press Writers Josh Lederman in Washington and Sylvia Hui in London contributed to this story. (**)
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Wed, January 18 2017

State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has set a target to reactivate the trans-Sumatra train connecting Medan in North Sumatra to Aceh by 2019.

The vice president of the companys regional division I North Sumatra, Mateta Rijalulhaq, said that the project had been speeded up to meet the high public demand for a train to serve the route.

I was told by the railway directorate general that the trans-Sumatra railway track will be ready for operation by 2019, Mateta told The Jakarta Post at his office on Monday.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

A recently passed regulation on fisheries jeopardizes the livelihood of nearly 1 million fisherfolk, according to the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry Regulation No. 71/2016 on fishing zones and equipment, which entered into force on Jan. 1, mandates gillnet fishing instead of seine fishing.

(Read also: Govt to make tougher rules against fishing of endangered species)

The vice chairman of the fisheries division at the Kadins Jakarta chapter, Wajan Sudjana, said 48,000 fishing boats in four provinces  Banten, West Java, Central Java and East Java  had been idle since the new regulation took effect, posing a direct risk to the jobs of around 960,000 fisherfolk and affecting another 5 million jobs in the wider fisheries industry, such as boat mechanics and fish processors.

Some of the 48,000 have stopped fishing earlier, back in November or December, but all the others stopped simultaneously on Jan. 1, as the new ministry regulation bans the use of 17 kinds of fishing tools, Wajan told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

He added that some fishermen in Javas northern coastal area, locally known as Pantura, had reported the case to local administrations and the ministry, requesting a six-month transition period for the full implementation of the new regulation. (lnd)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

A lawyer defending Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said the governors legal defense team would refuse to continue the hearings in its clients blasphemy case should prosecutors fail again to present witnesses who had filed a police report against Ahok for the alleged crime.

Lawyer Fifi Lety Indra was referring to three witnesses, Muhammad Asroi Saputra, Iman Sudirman and Ibnu Baskoro, who prosecutors had failed to present in the sixth hearing at the North Jakarta District Court on Tuesday. To replace them, prosecutors proposed two other witnesses, but the lawyers refused to hear the testimonies of the two unscheduled witnesses, forcing the courts panel of judges to adjourn the hearing.

Those witnesses reported Ahok to the police, but they refused to show up at the hearing. They shouldnt have done that. We dont care how long the trial will take, but we will wait for those witnesses to show up, Fifi told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

(Read also: Ahok's lawyers point out 'trial by mob' in witness' statement)

Ahok has been reported to the police for alleged blasphemy by 14 people, eight of whom have testified against the governor in his trial.

From previous hearings, the lawyers noted some irregularities both in witnesses' statements and their backgrounds. Concerning the irregularities, the panel of judges should not consider their testimonies in its decisions, Fifi said.

Ahoks lawyer team reported Islam Defenders Front (FPI) secretary general Novel Bamukmin, one of the witnesses presented by prosecutors, to the Jakarta Police for alleged perjury last Friday. We will also report another witness, FPI Jakarta head Muchsin, to the police, also for alleged perjury, Fifi said. (ebf)
State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has set a target to reactivate the trans-Sumatra train connecting Medan in North Sumatra to Aceh by 2019.

The vice president of the companys regional division I North Sumatra, Mateta Rijalulhaq, said that the project had been speeded up to meet the high public demand for a train to serve the route.

I was told by the railway directorate general that the trans-Sumatra railway track will be ready for operation by 2019, Mateta told The Jakarta Post at his office on Monday.

He said that the target was not too ambitious, considering that so far, three railway stations, ones that had been built during the Dutch colonial era and subsequently closed, had been reactivated in Aceh since November 2016.

The three stations are Krueng Geukeuh, Bungkaih and Krueng Mane. All are located in North Aceh. They are connected by tracks with a total length of 11.3 kilometers and are served by the Cut Meuthia train with 10 return trips a day.

In March 2016, President Joko Jokowi Widodo officially launched the reactivation of the trans-Sumatra railways 80-kilometer Binjai-to-Besitang section.

According to recent data, 299.85 km of the trans-Sumatra railway track are in operation. Of that distance, 288.5 km are located in North Sumatra.

Of the planned 1,574.5 km of track to be operated for the transSumatra railway train, 411.5 km will be located in North Sumatra, while 600 km will be built in Aceh and the remaining 563 km will be in Riau.

The construction of the whole length of track is expected to be completed by 2021. The total budget needed for this project is Rp 22.073 trillion (US$1.6 billion).

Mateta said the operation of the passenger and freight trains has received a warm welcome from locals, adding that in Aceh between 200 and 300 passengers had been using the service daily for a fare of Rp 1,000 per trip.

He said the three available stations would later be connected directly to the stations in Medan. People do hope to have a train that connects North Sumatra to Aceh, said Mateta.

He added that the reactivation of the North SumatraAceh railway track was started from Binjai Station in North Sumatra. The operation would be gradually extended to the Medan-Besitang route, covering a distance of 80 km, and afterwards continued to Langsa and then North Aceh.

Mateta also said that most of the tracks used for the trans-Sumatra railway were a legacy from the Dutch colonial administration.

Except in Bireun, we will build a new track there, he said, adding that most parts of the route passed by local peoples plantations and residences.

Separately, spokesperson of PT KAIs Divre I North Sumatra, Joni Martinus, said that peoples interest in using trains for transportation was high as shown by the increasing number of railway passengers every year. This year, we have the target to serve 3,289,208 passengers, a 7 percent increase compared to last years figure of 2,998,994, Joni said.
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Linkedin Viriya P. Singgih (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

State-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina claims that it has seen a considerable decline in fuel imports over the past two years in line with its ambitious short-term goal for self-sufficiency.

Premium gasoline imports dropped by 11 percent to 102.63 million barrels in 2015 from 2014, while diesel fuel imports decreased by 65.8 percent to 11.6 million barrels, according to the firms latest data.

Purchase of both types of fuel in the January-November period were also lower than 2015s figures, amounting to 67.9 million barrels and 690,000 barrels respectively.

Pertamina vice president for corporate communication Wianda Pusponegoro attributed the reduction of premium gasoline imports to the operation of its residual fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) refinery in Cilacap, Central Java.

Built with US$846.89 million investment, the facility kicked off production in late September 2015 and supply various intermediate gasolines, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

(Read also: Indonesia saving US$15.8 mln per day as fuel imports drop)

Wianda also pointed out that the capacity of its domestic refineries allowed sufficient fuel production.

Moreover, diesel fuel consumption has been reduced as many power plants in the country are using coal or have shifted to using gas for their operations, she said Tuesday.

Going forward, Wianda predicted that as some refinery development projects were underway, Pertamina might get a fuel output boost to help meet its self-sufficient target in fuel by 2023. (lnd)
State-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina plans to build 108 mini gas stations nationwide from this year until 2020 in a bid to lower distribution costs under the newly launched one-price fuel policy.

With the new policy announced in late October, the government hopes to see fuel sold at the same price across the sprawling archipelago, closing the disparity previously seen between accessible regions and less accessible regions like Kalimantan and Papua.

Out of the total figure, 22 mini gas stations with a total capacity of 5,000 liters of fuel will be built this year, according to Pertamina spokesperson Wianda Pusponegoro.

The construction of these stations, along with premium, oil and diesel fuel agents (APMS), in the challenging terrains of Maluku and Papua, will require an investment of Rp 54 billion (US$4.04 million), the firm said earlier.

According to the plan, the firm will continue to build 45 stations in 2018, 29 stations in 2019 and another 12 stations in 2020, which will be located in the more remote areas without basic land and sea infrastructure.

Pertamina had prepared a road map to develop hundreds of those mini gas stations, which would function as fuel distributor agents in remote areas and make distribution much more efficient, Wianda said Tuesday.

The road map is basically aimed at regions with no fuel distributor agents, she said. In the beginning, we will only build those mini gas stations in regions that already have docks, bridges, or at least a plot of land that can be used to land an Air Tractor aircraft.

Pertamina started to operate a dedicated Air Tractor aircraft that can carry 4,000 liters of fuel to Papua as it sought cost efficiency in late September.

In addition to building mini gas stations, Pertamina would also develop sub-agents in regions where investment was economically unfeasible through collaborations with the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) and regional administrations.

The fuel consumption in such regions may be low, but people there still need our presence, Wianda said.

At present, Pertamina runs about 5,700 gas stations and APMS in almost all regencies across the country, except in Nias regency, North Sumatra and Thousand Islands regency, Jakarta.

Four newly built fuel distributor agents in Nias and Thousand Islands may only start operation in the second quarter of 2017.

The one-price fuel policy, slated to come into force nationwide this year, will force Pertamina to allocate Rp 800 billion in subsidies each year.

According to the companys calculations, the construction of one APMS in a remote region with a capacity of 30 drums of fuel alone may require an investment of about Rp 1 billion.

Nevertheless, Pertamina marketing and trading director Ahmad Bambang previously said that the company needed to bear the costs to establish more APMS by treating them similar to official gas stations.

The problem is that we need the governments support to increase the profit margin of such stations so that investors may get attracted to invest in APMS, Ahmad said.

The profit margin gain from sales of Premium gasoline in gas stations is now only Rp 270 per liter.

Pertamina is in talks with the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministrys Directorate General of Oil and Gas to raise the margin.
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung, West Java  Wed, January 18, 2017

Hundreds of members of mass organization Gerakan Masyarakat Bawah Indonesia (Indonesian General Society Movement, or GMBI) have urged the government to immediately take tougher measures against the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), a hard-line group with a track record of religious-related violence.

In a petition they signed on Tuesday, GMBI members asked the government to disband the FPI. The GMBI started the petition because they argued the FPI had been causing division in society. In the latest incident, a group of people suspected to be FPI members attacked and burned down GMBI secretariats in three cities, Bogor, Ciamis and Tasikmalaya, following a clash between the two groups during the polices questioning of FPI leader Rizieq Shihab at the West Java Police headquarters in Bandung last Thursday.

They [FPI] have insulted the Pancasila [state ideology] and values of Sundanese culture, said GMBI chairman Fauzan Rahman on the sidelines of a hearing with lawmakers at the West Java Legislative Council complex.

Apart from the council, the petition has also been sent to the West Java National and Political Unity Agency (Bakesbangpol).

Fauzan claimed 12 mass organizations and non-government organizations supported the petition. He asserted that the petition was not an attack on ulemas but was specifically aimed at Rizieq, who had been appointed as the FPIs great leader.

(Read also: Police refute FPIs accusation of unfair handling of Bandung clash)

Rizieq was questioned on Thursday as a witness of a case involving defamation of a state symbol as reported by Sukmawati Soekarnoputri. The report was based on a two-minute video of Rizieqs speech at Gasibu Square in Bandung last year. In his speech, which went viral on social media, Rizieq could be seen explaining what he called as the differences between the Pancasila that was proposed by first president Sukarno and the one stipulated in the Jakarta Charter.

In the Sukarno-proposed Pancasila, God is on the buttock. Meanwhile, in the Pancasila proposed by the Jakarta Charter, God is on the head. Which one is better? The Sukarno-proposed Pancasila or the one in the Jakarta Charter? said Rizieq. Sukmawati reported the alleged insult of the Pancasila to the National Polices criminal investigation department (Bareskrim), which later handed over the case to the West Java Police.

Rizieq has been accused of violating Article 154 on insulting state symbols, and Article 310 on defamation of the Criminal Code (KUHP). (ebf)
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

Police have asked the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and the Indonesian General Society Movement (GMBI), which were involved in violence in Ciampea, Bogor, West Java, to refrain from mobilizing their supporters, as investigators look into the case.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said any group mobilizing the masses during the questioning sessions would likely provoke a response by the other group gathering the same number of people, which could disturb the investigation.

[Mobilizing the masses] is like pressing the investigators, [making them] not objective, Tito said at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Wednesday. I ask the investigators to remain independent.

(Read also: Petition calls for disbandment of FPI)

Supporters of the FPI and the GMBI clashed after the questioning of FPI leader Rizieq Shihab by West Java Police in Bandung last week.

Following the clash, a GMBI office in Ciampea was attacked and set on fire by a group of people. Some 12 people, allegedly FPI members, have been arrested over the arson attack and named as suspects.

On Monday, hundreds of FPI members and sympathizers flocked to the National Police headquarters to demand the dismissal of West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan. The FPI accused Anton, who is the head of the GMBI advisory board, to side with the GMBI in the case.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said on Tuesday that the polices internal affairs division (Propam) was following up the FPIs accusation. (jun)
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

The National Police have defended West Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan against the allegations that his involvement in a local mass organization had undermined his professionalism.

The police, again, have been in the spotlight as they struggle to rein in the influence of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI), a fringe organization that seems to have become more assertive in pushing its agenda after it helped organize two large rallies late last year.

The FPI, which was once accused of being an attack dog for the police and intelligence community, has now accused the force of backing an organization called the Indonesian Grassroots Movement (GMBI), in which Anton served as a patron.

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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said on Wednesday the police were investigating an alleged insult to a state symbol after images and video of the red-and-white flag stamped with sword images and Arabic writing during a recent Islam Defenders Front (FPI) rally went viral.

Tito said the police would question the coordinator and other individuals in charge of the rally, which was held on Monday in front of the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta.

The red-and-white flag cannot be treated badly, among other things, by writing something on it. There is a law [prohibiting it] here in our country, Tito said at the Jakarta Police headquarters.

We are investigating the case. Who made it, who planned it, who is the coordinator; they all will be summoned, Tito added.

Tito said if found guilty, the individuals responsible for insulting a state symbol could face one-year imprisonment.

We want [them] to be held responsible, Tito said.

Hundreds of FPI members and supporters flocked to the National Police headquarters on Monday to demand the dismissal of West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan, claiming that the two-star general had been partial in resolving a clash between the FPI and a mass organization in the province.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Wed, January 18 2017

State prosecutors in the West Papua regency of Sorong are facing mounting demands to charge three suspected child rapists under the new Child Protection Law, which would allow a punishment of chemical castration or even execution before a firing squad if they are found guilty.

The countrys fight against sexual violence against children seems to have gained steam since the House of Representatives unanimously endorsed last October a presidential regulation in lieu of law that amended the 2002 Child Protection Law.

The Sorong Police have detained three men suspected of raping and murdering a 4-year-old neighbor. Investigators say the three suspects committed the crime under the influence of alcohol.

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Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang  Wed, January 18 2017

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has finally decided to comply with a Supreme Court ruling ordering the revocation of a permit given to state-run cement producer PT Semen Indonesia to build a factory in Rembang.

However, locals who strongly oppose the factorys construction say they will continue their protest as it is possible that the company will regain its permit if it complies with the courts orders.

On Monday night, Ganjar said he had issued a gubernatorial decree ordering PT Semen Indonesia to submit additional environmental impact analysis (AMDAL) and environmental management and monitoring plan (RKL-RPL) documents if it wanted to go on with the project.

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Linkedin Moekti P. Soejachmoen (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

The creative economy has the potential to be an engine of growth in Indonesia for the next 10 years. This relatively new industry contributed around 7 percent to national gross domestic product (GDP) during the 2010-2015 period.

Although its contribution is still relatively small, the sector has much more to offer. The sector consists of 16 sub-sectors, namely architecture, interior design, visual communication design, product design, photography, crafts, culinary arts, music, fashion, application and game developing, publishing, advertising, television and radio, performing arts, fine arts and film, animation and video.

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Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati insists that a new regulation affecting market research by banks and securities firms is necessary to maintain investors' confidence about a stable outlook of Indonesia's economy.

The Finance Ministry's regulation tightens requirements for banks involved with the primary dealing of Indonesian sovereign bonds. Banks are also expected to avoid conflicts of interests and abide by the countrys interests.

Sri said the rule aimed to ensure a good reputation and track record for both existing and potential banks and securities firms engaging in such a primary dealership system.

"We are not seeking partners who please us, but rather those who have good governance, so they can respect and support what the government needs and take Indonesia's interests into consideration," the finance minister said on Wednesday during a meeting with the House of Representative's Commission XI overseeing banking and finance.

(Read also: Govt feels deceived by JPMorgan)

Sri stressed that biased and baseless research could trigger unfavorable psychological perceptions among investors amid turbulence in the global financial market, thus increasing their chance of panicking and rushing off to withdraw their funds from certain countries.

The new rule was issued following the Finance Ministrys move to revoke a mandate of JPMorgan Chase & Co. as a primary dealer and underwriter for its sovereign bonds. The bank earlier issued a report that downgraded Indonesias equities from overweight to underweight in November 2016 following Donald Trumps victory in the United States presidential election. (lnd)
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Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017

Victims and the families of victims of gross human rights violations gathered at the Judicial Commission building on Wednesday to scrutinize the challenges that have hampered their plea to be heard by the government.

After 10 years of staging a silent protest by holding black umbrellas across from the Presidential Palace every Thursday, an end to the prolonged cases of human rights violations in the country, which has always been promised by presidential candidates, is nowhere in sight.

Do we still have hope after all that has happened? Suciwati Munir, the widow of prominent rights activist Munir Said Thalib asked in her opening remarks.

We have a minister who is implicated in a gross violation of human rights, and the President seems to have sided with the violators, she said, referring to Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto.

(Read also: Indonesia to settle past serious human rights violations by May)

The meeting on Wednesday also invited government officials as well as lawmakers working on law and human rights affairs, however only a few attended the discussion. Representatives of state institutions included Ifdhal Kasim from the Presidential Office and Nur Kholis from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). (dmr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Padang  Wed, January 18, 2017

People in West Sumatra should be on alert for the possibility of forest and land fires as recent lower rainfall had caused warmer than usual weather, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned on Wednesday.

BMKG Ketaping offices observation and information section head Budi Iman Samiaji said there was potential for forest and land fires occurring in West Sumatra as temperatures could reach 34 Celsius degree during the day, with 50 percent humidity at present.

Several areas that have suffered rampant [forest and land] fires including the eastern part of Limapuluh regency, as well as parts of Sijunjung, Sawahlunto, the central and eastern parts of South Pesisir and the eastern part of South Solok, Budi said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Previously, West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno reminded people to avoid the slash-and-burn practices to clear land as it was against the law.

Sijunjung Police chief Sr. Comr Dody Pribadi urged residents to stay on alert and anticipate any possible forest fires. We urge people and [logging] companies together to avoid forest and land fires, he said.
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Linkedin Xu Bu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18 2017

With United States president-elect Donald Trump taking office soon, the world is closely following the future foreign policies and their ramifications of the new US administration. So far, the loud and clear message is America First, or in Mr. Trumps own words, every deal he makes will have only but one aim: Let America win.

That could be dangerous. Since the end of the Cold War, the US has been playing a leading role in promoting globalization and free trade. Mr. Trumps election seems to have started a transition toward another direction. The US may prefer advancing its interests through more conservative and unilateral means, including but not limited to high tariff barriers, unilateral calls for FTA re-negotiations and barrier along borders. Coercion via financial, market and military dominance might also be on the table. These zero-sum approaches, once employed, will be a serious disruptor for the world as we know it.

In all zero-sum games, one partys gain is anothers pain. The underlying rationale is that all parties interests are inherently exclusive, as was the case of the US-Soviet confrontations in the Cold War decades given the polarity of ideologies and the two blocs definitions of their own security and strategic interests. The lack of cooperation made the world a divided one on the brink of a nuclear war. That was not too long ago. The lessons learned then are still relevant now.

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Linkedin Courtney Bonnell (Associated Press) Bangkok  Wed, January 18, 2017

Trudging up a lush mountainside to a remote village, plunging through a swift-moving river in the footsteps of elephants and cruising Bangkok's gleaming luxury malls  with each step, I walked into different worlds, each one beautiful, all in Thailand.

Don't forget glittering temples, bustling night markets and world-famous Thai massages to soothe weary muscles.

__________

BANGKOK

In this Dec. 9, 2016 photo, a massive Buddha statue is the main attraction at Wat Pho, or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, in Bangkok. The golden statue fills the temple from end to end and lies in a complex that boasts a series of opulent buildings and a school where Thai massage originated.(AP/Courtney Bonnell)

The capital's malls and markets are endless, from Siam Paragon, filled with designer brands and an upscale food court, to stands of cheap goods where souvenir-seekers haggle over the price of utensils, bracelets and trinkets. After dark, the night markets come alive, bustling with shoppers grabbing cheap sunglasses and shoes while families and friends enjoy soups and curries in more bearable heat.

Bangkok is also famous for its opulent temples, including Wat Pho, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, with its stair-step monuments to royalty called chedis, similar to stupas. The centerpiece is a massive horizontal Buddha, its gold girth touching the temple walls from end to end.

In this Dec. 9, 2016 photo, monks teach schoolchildren religious incantations at Wat Pho, or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, in Bangkok. Between lessons, the kids waved and called greetings to tourists.(AP/Courtney Bonnell)

Next door at the white-walled Grand Palace complex, black-clad mourners waited in snaking lines to pay their respects to King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The beloved leader died in October after a 70-year reign  his image ubiquitous on billboards and shrines.

The complex also houses Thailand's most sacred temple, Wat Phra Kaew, or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, with sparkling, gold-decked buildings. The surprise was the size of the famed Buddha figure, carved from jade and dressed in gold, but just 26 inches high.

__________

CHIANG MAI

In this Dec. 2, 2016 photo, a colorful temple marks the entrance to Wat Pha Lat temple outside Chiang Mai, Thailand. The complex is tucked in a forest overlooking the city and can be reached by hiking the Monks Trail, which is marked by strips of orange cloth. (AP/Courtney Bonnell)

Chiang Mai's walled old city houses more famous temples, including Wat Chedi Luang. Its towering red brick is worn to black, its steps have all but crumbled, but stone dragons still stand guard.

My favorite temple, moss-covered Wat Pha Lat, is tucked in a forest just outside Chiang Mai. From the university, I got there by hiking Monks Trail, which is marked by strips of orange fabric. Head farther up the mountain to popular Doi Suthep temple or hail a songthaew, a shared taxi.

Hungry after hiking? Hit the street vendors and restaurant options that abound back in the tourist center: vegetarian-friendly green curried rice, fried mushrooms and pad thai, plus plenty of beef and pork speared on sticks for meat-eaters. To cool off from the heat or spice, try fresh-cranked pomegranate juice or coconut ice cream.

__________

TREKKING

In this Nov. 29, 2016 photo, elephants cross a river at the Elephant Nature Park outside Chiang Mai, Thailand. The sanctuary promises an ethical way to interact with the rescued animals, offering tours that let visitors walk beside them through the jungle. (AP/Courtney Bonnell)

Chiang Mai is the jumping-off point for trekking, elephant tours and other outdoor adventure. A friend and I booked an ecotour trek and overnight home stay in a village some 4 hours away in the Mae Hong Son region. The Karen ethnic group lives there, farming rice and cabbage on vibrant green hillsides. Our guides cut down wild passion fruit for us to sample, pointed out spiders as big as a hand and chopped bamboo to whittle into cups. After reaching the mountaintops near the Myanmar border and making it to the village, we used those cups to slug homemade rice liquor.

We set up a bed of blankets on the wooden floor and rested between bags of rice as our hosts cooked dinner in a hearth built into the floor. Sleeping in a home open to the elements was the only time I got cold on the trip, and the only place I skipped a shower, passing up a tub of chilly water in an outhouse with a squat toilet.

(Read also: 48 hours in Negombo, Sri Lanka)

__________

ELEPHANTS

I wanted to enjoy these majestic creatures, iconic in Thailand but often exploited, in an ethical way. The Elephant Nature Park allowed us to travel alongside them, not on their backs. We kept them moving through the jungle by thrusting bananas and melon into their eagerly outstretched trunks. It was surreal and a bit unnerving as we led four mostly blind and elderly female elephants on a muddy, uneven path, trying to keep our balance while avoiding their feet. In another part of the sanctuary, we got a peek at a baby elephant.

__________

PHI PHI ISLANDS

In this Dec. 5, 2016 photo, long-tail boats sit near a small beach on Ko Phi Phi Leh, an island off the southwestern coast of Thailand. The smaller of the Phi Phi Islands is a tourist hotspot for its beautiful water, party atmosphere and famed Maya Bay, where the movie "The Beach" was filmed.(AP/Courtney Bonnell)

After trekking, we looked forward to decompressing on an otherworldly beach on the Phi Phi Islands  pronounced "pee pee." But rain was falling as we arrived and promised not to let up.

Instead of the party-hearty main town on Ko Phi Phi Don, the largest island, we opted for a secluded resort. A long-tail boat plowed through choppy waters to get us there, leaving us windblown and wet from ocean spray and rain as we tried to photograph the green-topped rock rising from the Andaman Sea.

The weather cooperated enough the next day for a group tour to the smaller island, Koh Phi Phi Leh, and its hotspot, Maya Bay, which is breathtaking but overrun after the movie "The Beach" made it famous. Even early in the day, it was tough to find a spot free of people posing with selfie sticks.

Nearby, we reveled in an empty swath of sand framed by cliffs before winding through rock formations to the Blue Lagoon, a green-walled swimming hole packed with tourist boats.

__________

After the beaches and long days in the devout atmosphere of temples, without blinking, our nights turned to buying knockoffs of favorite overpriced sandals, swigging 70 baht ($2) beer and watching men in elaborate makeup and sequined ball gowns perform a dance in a packed outdoor market.

That's Thailand, country of contrasts.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 18, 2017 18:13 2116 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bbaeaa5 4 News Chinese-New-Year,solo,surakarta,celebration,#ChineseNewYear,imlek,#Imlek,lanterns Free

The Chinese New Year celebration in Solo, Central Java, will be enlivened with 5,000 red lanterns along the street in front of Pasar Gede, as well as a number of events aimed at highlighting pluralism and tolerance.

Between City Hall and Pasar Gede, where the center of the celebration is slated to take place, a huge archway will be set up, along with thousands of lanterns.

Solo Imlek 2568 committee head Sumartono Hadinoto told kompas.com that the amount of lanterns this year will exceed last years number, which was only 3,000. The committee is cooperating with several parties like street vendors, the Indonesian Marketing Association, Garuda Indonesia and local residents.

(Read also: Where to celebrate Chinese New Year in Indonesia)

A photo posted by S O L O I N D O N E S I A (@soloindonesia) on Jan 14, 2017 at 1:59am PST

Sumartono added that the event aimed to offer not only a celebration, but also to positively impact the economy of the city and its surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, Chinatown residents from Sudiroprajan village will hold the annual Grebeg Sudiro, a traditional event celebrating the unification of Javanese and Chinese culture.

The face of diversity is a culture of carnivals. Decades ago, Sudiroprajan residents could coexist alongside Chinese and Javanese people. The procession later on will be carried out with two mountains of cake baskets combined with traditional Javanese food, such as onde-onde [stuffed glutinous rice balls], apem cakes and vegetables, Sumartono said. (mra/kes)
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Linkedin Jane F. Ragavan (The Star/Asia News Network)  Wed, January 18, 2017

Despite the ongoing fighting in nearby Mosul, Iraqis are traveling from all over the country to experience snow on the slopes of Korek mountain.

For many travelers, it is the first time they are seeing snow. The Korek mountaintop can be reached by cable car.

According to reports, there have been more visitors to the area this winter than in the summer. Tourism is the third largest industry for the Kurdistan region after oil and farming.

(Read also: Annual festival to draw tourists to Central Lombok once again)

Mount Korek in the Erbil province has become a favorite destination for many tourists from the Kurdistan region and across Iraq. The resort opened in 2013 and boasts ski slopes, restaurants and amusement park-style attractions.

But when the Islamic State (IS) captured large swathes of Iraq in 2014, business at the resort came to a standstill.

This article appeared on The Star newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
Read the digital edition 2020-09-25 E-Edition

The Jewish Advocate is a not-for-profit reader-supported 501(c)3 organization. We rely on your donations which are tax-deductible.
The dispute between Gray Television and Dish Network means that NBC-15 coverage will stop broadcasting to Dish customers starting Tuesday night.
A few notes from the Lower East Side restaurant world:

Starting Jan. 28, Lower East Side institution Russ & Daughters will offer a pre-paid, set menu brunch on Saturdays at its fairly new cafe at the Jewish Museum uptown. Born out of the need to adhere to Jewish Sabbath laws, R&D explains, but also solving the age-old issue of it being almost impossible to get a table for Russ & Daughters brunch without waiting in line. This solution, as we say in Yiddish, is bashert, which means meant to be. More details here.

On Saturday, Jan. 21, the Essex Street Market is hosting a specialty coffee cupping event. Third-generation coffee roaster Peter Longo of Porto Rico Importing Co. will walk (guests) through two distinct coffee cuppings, highlighting the various flavor profiles of each and sharing his insights into the elusive world of coffee production. Reservations here.

Feltmans of Coney Island first took on this neighborhood with a pop-up at Parkside Lounge, then opened a more permanent location on St. Marks Place. Now Mikeys Burgers on Ludlow Street is carrying the hot dogs. According to an email from Feltmans, you can now order a Shine Dog (with pickles, jalapenos and tomatoes) for $5.45.

On Sunday, Feb. 12 the Museum of Chinese America and Joanna C. Lee and Ken Smith (co-authors of the Pocket Chinese Almanac) have teamed up for a dim sum brunch at the Golden Unicorn. Youll learn how to order dim sum in Cantonese and follow Cantonese traditions as Lunar New Year celebrations begin. $40. Heres the Facebook invite.

A few local spots are participating in New York Restaurant Week, which begins Jan. 23. They include Pig & Khao, Beauty & Essex, Vandal and Essex.
Ian Schrager is getting ready to open his new Public Hotel on Chrystie Street. He has one more reason to celebrate. President Obama just pardoned the nightlife impresario, who served a sentence for tax evasion back in his Studio 54 days. [New York Post]

William Gonzalez, who served about 30 years in prison for attempted murder, is living with his mom at the Vladeck Houses as part of a NYCHA pilot program. The program offers, a break from the typical exclusionary policies of public housing. [City Limits]

Another profile of Yuh-Line Niou, Lower Manhattans new representative in the State Assembly. She says, I want to be a person who unifies all of us in a way that will make our voice very strong and very loud. [NBC News]

The State Senate moves to kill local Council member Margaret Chins law that created a plastic bag fee in New York City. Its unclear how the Assembly will vote. [New York Times]

Another shakeup in the deBlasio administration impacts both the leadership of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Economic Development Corp. The EDC controls several major Lower East Side projects, including Essex Crossing, the Lowline and the East River Esplanade reconstruction. [Politico]

Delayed again! The East Houston Street reconstruction project will allegedly not wrap up until summer. [DNA Info]

The legendary Staten Island pizza place, Joe & Pats, is coming to a space on 1st Avenue near 10th Street. [Eater]
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Barack Obama has used his final days in the White House to allow high-profile whistleblower Chelsea Manning to be freed nearly 30 years early.

The 29-year-old former soldier, from Oklahoma, will be released on May 17 this year  instead of in 2045.

It was one of 209 sentences shortened by the outgoing president, while a further 64 people received pardons.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy since 2012, has previously said he would agree to extradition if Manning was freed.

If Obama grants Manning clemency, Assange will agree to US prison in exchange  despite its clear unlawfulness https://t.co/MZU30S3Eia  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) September 15, 2016

Heres a brief history of the whole affair.

Why is she in jail?

(Niall Carson/PA)

Intelligence analyst Manning  who was known as Bradley at the time  was arrested in Baghdad in 2010 for her part in one of the biggest data leaks in history.

She handed a huge cache of some 700,000 secret military documents to transparency group Wikileaks.

Particularly troubling was the first leak  a video dubbed collateral murder  which showed soldiers in a US helicopter spraying around a dozen civilians with bullets.

Other cables held reports of prisoner detention and details of civilian deaths, as well as the GITMO Files, which highlighted the cases of Guantanamo Bay prisoners.

(Screengrab/Wikileaks)

After a two-month court martial in 2013, Manning was convicted on 20 charges and sentenced to 35 years  but was not charged with the most serious count of aiding the enemy.

She came out as transgender after her conviction, but was held at the male military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and reportedly attempted suicide twice last year.

Why was the sentence so severe?

Heres a recap of Chelsea Mannings journey: 2009: Served as an Army intelligence analyst in Iraq, identifying as Bradley Manning pic.twitter.com/q7QIqiycqI  AJ+ (@ajplus) January 18, 2017

Her critics said releasing the flood of information put US lives at risk and gave Americas enemies insight into the superpowers modus operandi.

It was claimed this could help terrorists evade capture, dodge spying methods, and could lead to US spies and soldiers being identified and killed.

John McCain said Obamas decision to commute the sentence was a grave mistake that I fear will encourage further acts of espionage, while House Speaker Paul Ryan said it was just outrageous.

Mr. President, if you grant only one act of clemency as you exit the White House, please: free Chelsea Manning. You alone can save her life.  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 11, 2017

However, her supporters say Manning performed an invaluable public service by exposing the inner workings of the US military machine and unveiling its secret acts.

THANK YOU President Obama for commuting the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning!!! She will be released in May  instead of in 2045!! THANK U  Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 17, 2017

Delighted to see #chelseamanning's sentence has been commuted. Obama has bravely recognised that love for your country can take many forms.  GeorgeMonbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) January 18, 2017

She wrote around the time of her arrest in 2010: I want people to see the truth  regardless of who they are  because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public.

What about Assange?

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The Wikileaks founder, who has been self-exiled at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, has said he would face trial in the US if Manning was freed.

The Australian ex computer hacker took refuge in the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges.

Assange: "Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible."  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 17, 2017

He has called what happened to Manning a show trial and labelled the US a secretive government at war with the public.

His lawyer, Melinda Taylor, said: Everything that he has said hes standing by.

What will happen to Edward Snowden?

.@BarackObama Earn that Nobel Peace Prize and pardon Edward Snowden and Chelsea (Bradley) Manning. It's the right  and just  thing to do. pic.twitter.com/FQJ985MSyj  Richard van Abbe (@scribe12248) January 7, 2017

Edward Snowdens name is inextricably bound up with those of Manning and Assange.

More than one million signatures were handed to the White House recently requesting he be pardoned  but the US contends Snowden has not gone before a court to account for his actions.

The NSA whistleblower fled to Russia three years ago after he revealed the vast web of secret surveillance methods the state could use to spy on citizens.

The world's top human rights groups just delivered over one million signatures to Obama. For once, I have no words. https://t.co/djIALHgYea pic.twitter.com/g23bp9g066  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 13, 2017

Last year, Obama told German newspaper Der Spiegel: I cant pardon somebody who hasnt gone before a court and presented themselves.

His predicament is similar to Mannings, with opinion split between the simplistic hero-or-traitor choice.

Because of the scale of Snowdens leaks, their real-world effects, for good or ill, are yet to be fully understood.

So Chelsea Manning 35-year sentence to be commuted. Awesome.

Next, a pardon for @Snowden too? @POTUS? Yeah?  Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) January 17, 2017

Russia recently announced it had extended Snowdens visa by two years, meaning he will likely stay in the country for the foreseeable future.

He tweeted after the Manning news broke: Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama.
Just one day after Donald Trump is sworn into office, over 100,000 people are expected to take part in a peaceful demonstration in Washington DC.

Womens March on Washington The January 21(WMW) will be a huge event both in size and symbolism, so heres everything you need to know about it.

How did it come about?

When Hawaiian grandmother Teresa Shook heard the news of Trumps success in the election, she proposed to 40 of her friends that they march on Washington DC in protest. Her call to action soon snowballed as more and more people invited their friends, and the burgeoning movement was soon united into one march.

At its core, the march is a response to Trumps presidency and particularly his attitude towards women and minorities. The organisation says the rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonised, and threatened many of us. This march is an attempt to figure out what to do, as we are confronted with the question of how to move forward in the face of national and international concern and fear.

What is their mission?

The organisers of the march say: The Womens March on Washington aims to send a message to all levels of government, including but not limited to the incoming presidential administration, that we stand together in solidarity and we expect elected leaders to act to protect the rights of women, their families and their communities.

It is an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to come together and assert and celebrate the diversity of the country. The march is following Martin Luther Kings principles of non-violence, with organisers hoping the day will be a display of love and unity.

Who is welcome?

Everyone  regardless of race, gender or sexual proclivity.

What problems has the march faced?

From the outset, it was clear that the majority of people involved in the march were white. As the movement grew, they have tried to ensure that there is a better representation of backgrounds helping to organise the march, so that all voices are heard.

The movement says: It was, and is, clear that the Womens March on Washington cannot be a success unless it represents women of all backgrounds.

Hows it going to work?

People will gather at the intersection of Independence Avenue and Third St SW, near the US Capitol at 10am on January 21. With over 100,000 people expected, organisers are understandably working closely with police to ensure everything is as safe as possible.

Marchers are asked to register if they plan on attending the free event.

A series of similar events are simultaneously planned to take place in cities across the world. Londons march will kick off in Grosvenor Square at 2pm, and marches are also planned in Edinburgh and Shipley

What big names are involved?

A lot of celebs have already said that they will be joining the march, including Amy Schumer, Scarlett Johansson, America Ferrera and Patricia Arquette.

Ferrera is helping organise the march and says: Since the election, so many fear that their voices will go unheard. As artists, women, and most importantly dedicated Americans, it is critical that we stand together in solidarity for the protection, dignity and rights of our communities.

The event is also drawing in big names from the world of feminism: Gloria Steinem is one of the honorary co-chairs.

Its not just celebrities who are getting involved, but charities and companies too, ranging from Unicef to Planned Parenthood.

What happens next?

This remains to be seen. According to organisers, the Womens March on Washington is just the first step; what comes after is up to us all.
Two weeks ago we revealed that one in three students had rented from a nightmare landlord. To put this to the test we invited students to share their real life experiences. Heres what we found out

By a mile the most common complaint in student flats is mould (but I suppose many of us dont need to be told that). Even in university accommodation it seems there's no escaping it. Countless students have complained to us of landlords who refused to act on damp or mould festering away in their flat, often to the point where it became a health hazard.

The mould situation in Hollies flat became so bad that she contracted a chest infection and had to go on antibiotics. Her landlord refused to fix the broken radiators or leaks in the ceiling which were causing it, and in the end she and her flatmates were charged for the cost of repainting the walls which had been damaged by it.

Another student with a serious mould problem was advised by his landlord to just breathe less.

Yandra, a student at the University of Edinburgh, told us that her flat was plagued with problems which their landlord and letting agency refused to address. They were forced to make do with a broken bed, missing door handles (on fire doors, which would swing shut and leave them locked in the kitchen) and severe plumbing problems for weeks on end.

Despite repeated complaints and phone calls the agency only acted when Yandras mum eventually called them herself.

They just think because we're students we'll just deal with it or forget about it and give up, but as soon as an adult phones they're right on it, Yandra told us.

Even after this the agency continued to mess them about, increasing their rent for the second year of their stay without warning, and refusing to replace their broken hoover.

I would say I would never use them again, but it seems all those that deal with student flats are just as bad.

Ellie, a third year student at the University of Surrey, suffered at the hands of her letting agency for a year, whilst the landlord themselves refused to make contact.

We thought something was a little dodgy when we were asked to pay a non-refundable holding fee, before being told that some other students were interested in the house and wanted it for the entire year, rather than just the academic one. We were given five minutes over the phone to decide whether or not we were prepared to take it for 12 months, despite already paying a holding fee.

Their heating was broken for a fortnight during their January exams, which should have rendered the house uninhabitable, and was in fact a serious threat to their heath.

Shortly afterwards their shower broke, and despite repeated complaints to the estate agents, remained that way for 60 days.

Upon leaving the flat they knew to expect some foul play from the agency, and so went above and beyond to ensure that the flat was as clean and tidy as humanly possible  but it seems even this wasnt enough.

We were charged for a dead light bulb in our bathroom (a spotlight which we had explicitly been told to leave alone as its changing required entrance to the loft, which was prohibited), some building tools in one of the bedrooms (which were left by the men who changed the boiler and were never picked up), and even rubbish in the wheelie bins outside - we were charged 40 for using our bins.

They fought their corner and argued many of these points, only to have returned a small portion of our deposit over a month later.

Throughout our tenancy, the agency staff were nothing but unhelpful, passive aggressive and patronising, and we were treated like school children, rather than students."

One Edinburgh student told us that her flat, as is commonly done in student accommodation, had been split up to squash more bedrooms in, making all the bedrooms small and dark, and leaving the kitchen without a window.

To me that smacks of exploiting students, but I couldn't tell you for sure whether that was the landlord or the estate agent or whoever came before them.

Its certainly undeniable that properties not targeted at students are nicer, cleaner, and tend to encourage more attention from landlords. The student told us: I get the impression landlords and estate agents don't really care about doing places up for students and just want to make money out of them.

"My flat last year was amazing, but the landlord had made absolutely no effort to modernise anything - the hot water and central heating system was ancient and all the decor was pretty dated.

She suggests that one way around being taken advantage of as a student tenant is to opt for two person flats rather than living in big numbers.

They are always more expensive, but tend to be a lot nicer  they also don't need to be HMO approved so there doesn't need to be all the fire door malarkey.

It seems to be all too common for students to face problems with letting just for being students. But beyond this were still vulnerable to the issues which may hit anyone regardless of age, such as one writer who told us:

I had a landlord who used to let himself in and make himself a cup of tea - when I caught him one morning he let it slip he did it 'all the time' but 'it was fine because he only did it' when he thought we 'were out'!
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House Speaker Paul Ryan, shown here shaking hands with President Trump on Dec. 20 following passage of the GOP tax bill, said amid the outcry over Trumps immigration remarks: "I read those comments later last night. So, first thing that came to my mind was very unfortunate, unhelpful. PHOTO BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Flood damage could reach B120bn, tax break for flood repairs

SOUTH: Economic damage from southern floods could rise to B120 billion if there is more rain and the water does not drain from rubber and oil palm growing areas, the Thai Chamber of Commerce said yesterday (Jan 17).

weatherconstructioneconomicspropertytransport

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 18 January 2017, 09:02AM

Officials inspect a flood-damaged bridge in tambon Khlong Sa of Kanchanadit district in the southern province of Surat Thani yesterday (Jan 17) to prepare for its repair. Photo: Supapong Chaolan

Vichai Assarasakorn, Vice-Chairman of the chamber, said rubber trees die after 20 days in floodwater and oil palm trees after a month.

If the flooding, which began in the New Year and spread over 12 of the 14 southern provinces, drains off in a few weeks, economic damage would be capped at B15bn, about 0.1 per cent of the GDP, he said.

If the flooding continues over the next few months, economic damage would rise to B85-120bn, equivalent to 0.5-0.7% of the gross domestic product as it would hit rubber and palm plantations.

The losses in the livestock sector were substantial, but only limited in the tourism sector as travellers could move from the Gulf area to southern destinations facing the Andaman Sea, Mr Vichai said.

The impact was greatest on hotels in the Gulf of Thailand area. He said 10-20% of room reservations at Gulf hotels were cancelled, but special events and promotions could draw tourists back there during the coming Songkran festival.

Meanwhile, the cabinet yesterday approved a personal income tax break of up to B100,000 for post-flood repair expenses  up to B100,000 for properties and B30,000 for vehicles.

The exemption, to be issued as a finance ministerial regulation, is applied to expenses incurred between Dec 1, 2016 and May 31, 2017 only.

Kobsak Phutrakul, Vice Minister to the Prime Ministers Office, said the Finance Ministry had estimated the cost of the flooding in the South at around B15bn.

Most of the flood-ravaged areas were agricultural land, he said, and the deluge did not affect the countrys large industrial estates like the great floods of 2011.

Flash floods and storms have hit 12 southern provinces, affecting 1.6 million people and causing damage to 20 government installations, 1,172 roads and 191 bridges. The death toll as of Sunday (Jan 15) was 41.

Read original stories here and here.
Flooded Bang Saphan residents strike gold

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: A waterway that has long attracted gold panners in Bang Saphan district is drawing new fortune seekers after the recent floods exposed fresh deposits of gold  which local residents see as a fitting return for the misery they suffered.

weatherenvironment

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 17 January 2017, 07:09PM

Gold traders can now be seen waiting to buy the flakes and nuggets of gold from lucky people. Photo: Chaiwat Satyaem

Klong Thong in tambon Ron Thong has been a good source of income for local people, who have panned for gold there for generations. The gold found along this 5 kilometre long canal is known for its purity, and rated the best quality in the country.

Unfortunately, it has become very hard to find in recent years, and many gold miners have had to seek other work.

But panners suddenly discovered more gold in the bed of Klong Thong after the floodwaters receded recently. Many people are panning gold worth B3,000-B4,0000 a day. They believe it was uncovered by run-off from the Tanaosri Range following the torrential rain.

The water widened sections of the waterway, exposing gold long hidden from sight.

The news spread quickly and the place is now full of villagers trying to turn their fortunes around.

Curious tourists also join them, learning how to pan for gold and finding some will be a bonus.

Gold traders can now be seen waiting to buy the flakes and nuggets of gold from lucky people.

Prayong Netsangsri, 43, a Ron Thong resident, said that a couple of days ago he spent a whole day panning for gold, but found just a little of it.

Then he found some nuggets on the canal bank, and gathered up 35 hoon, which could be sold for B35,000.

At first I wasnt sure, but after I washed them they turned to be real gold. This is the most Bang Saphan gold Ive ever found. Im very happy, Mr Prayong said.

A hoon is a Chinese unit of weight. Each hoon of small gold nuggets can fetch B1,000, while each hoon of gold flakes is worth B800 and a hoon of gold dust is B600.

Mr Prayongs good fortune followed a 39-year-old Ron Thong womans discovery of more than two baht weight of gold nuggets in the canal on Dec 15. A goldshop owner offered her B100,000, but the woman decided to keep it for now and sell it later, when she plans to build an extension to her house. The news of her lucky find quickly spread, attracting fortune hunters and setting off a gold rush .

Thanakorn Montha, a visitor from Bangkok in her twenties, said she came with friends to try her hand at panning for gold after she saw news of the Bang Saphan finds on social media.

Gold panning is not difficult, but its not easy either. It requires a lot of patience, she said. The local way of gold panning at Bang Saphan is a good thing and it should be preserved properly.

Read original story here.
Phuket Police hunt down HIV Czech Interpol fugitive

PHUKET: Thalang Police Chief Col Sompong Thiparpakul confirmed to The Phuket News this morning that Czech fugitive Zdenek Pfeifer, 49, was arrested last night in Phukets popular west coast beachfront neighbourhood of Bang Tao.

immigrationcrimepolicesex

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 18 January 2017, 09:37AM

Cherng Talay Police tracked down Pfeifer to his rented apartment in Soi Bang Tao 3, on Phuket's west coast. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Cherng Talay Police tracked down Pfeifer to his rented apartment in Soi Bang Tao 3, on Phuket's west coast. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Cherng Talay Police tracked down Pfeifer after he sped off on his motorbike. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Pfeifer was detained overnight in the holding cells at the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Pfeifer was detained overnight in the holding cells at the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Pfeifer, under a red notice by Interpol. He was wanted in the Czech Republic for sexual offences with minors, including intentional passing his HIV infection. Photo: Royal Thai Police

Czech fugitive Zdenek Pfeifer (seated, front right) was taken into custody in Phuket last night (Jan 17). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Pfeifer was wanted under a red notice by Interpol. He was wanted in the Czech Republic for sexual offences with minors, including intentional passing his HIV infection.

A nationwide manhunt for Pfeifer was launched after deputy national police chief Pol Gen Wuthi Liptapallop issued an order for all police to be on the lookout for him. Police in Thailand believe Pfeifer may have infected up to 10 people in the Kingdom. (See story here.)

The alarm was raised in Phuket when Pfeifer was spotted at the Tesco Thalang shopping mall yesterday evening (Jan 17) and a police officer on duty there was notified.

The officer responded and questioned Pfeifer, who denied he was the man police were looking for.

The officer took Pfeifers motorbike key while he called for backup to make sure this was the man we were looking for, but he (Pfeifer) had a spare motorbike key on him and took off, Col Sompong The Phuket News this morning.

Cherng Talay Police tracked down Pfeifer to his rented room at Sila Apartment in Soi Bang Tao 3, where his motorbike was parked outside.

Pfeifer was taken into custody, then taken to the Phuket Immigration Office detention centre in Phuket Town, where he remained overnight.

Pfeifer is expected to be flown to Bangkok to be handed over to authorities there later today.

Additional reporting by Tanyaluk Sakoot
Phuket women fight, knife pulled, over market trousers

PHUKET: Police were called to intervene in a fight between two young women at a Phuket Town market on Monday after insults came blows, then a knife was pulled, after one of the women decided not to buy a pair of womens trousers.

violencepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 18 January 2017, 07:51PM

The fight got out of hand and a knife was pulled, all over market trousers. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The incident happened at a clothes stall at the Expo Department Store on Chana Charoen Rd in Phuket Town on Monday (Jan 16), confirmed Lt Col Rachan Panwai of the Phuket City Police.

Two teenage sisters, who police declined to name, arrived at the stall for one of them to try on some tight fashion trousers. However, the trouser legs were too long, and the girl declined to buy them.

Unhappy with the lost sale, the vendor, a woman who police also declined to name, offered a sour expression, which evoked a tirade of abuse from the teen shopper.

The stall vendor replied in kind, and told the two girls to leave  because she didnt want to fight.

Steadfast, the two girls refused to leave and the sister joined the verbal attack. This time the vendor threatened to call security if these two girls did not leave.

Two girls still refused to go and said they were willing to fight, to which the vendor responded by grabbing a knife from the shelf behind her and threatening the girls.

The girls then launched their attack, in what they called self-defense, Lt Col Rachan explained.

The entire exchange was caught on video, and posted on Facebook, by one of the sister of the teen who tried the trousers. Needless to say, the video has since gone near-viral among Thai viewers.

While grappling for the knife, the girl who tried on the trousers suffered a cut to one of her hands, which required her to go to hospital for stitches, Col Rachan said.

Afterwards, the two teenagers and their parents came to the Phuket City Police Station to resolve the matter, he said.

No charges pressed, he added.

The matter was settled with each apologising to each other, Col Rachan noted.
Thai man, 78, dies following Phuket hit-and-run incident

PHUKET: A 78-year-old Thai man died upon arrival at Thalang Hospital this morning (Jan 18) after being involved in a hit-and-run incident in Srisoonthorn.

accidentscrimedeathmurdertransport

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 18 January 2017, 11:25AM

Rescue workers attend to the man before taking him to Thalang Hospital. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

At 6am today, Thalang Police received information of an accident in front of the Srisoonthorn Temple on Thapkasattri Rd northbound.

Capt Chatree Choowichein together with Srisoonthorn and Kusoldham rescue workers arrived at the scene to find an unresponsive man lying in the road.

The man was taken to Thalang Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Capt Chatree later confirmed that the man was named Mr Sangoab Sukkeaw, 78.

Locals who saw the incident told police that Mr Sangoab was crossing the road when he was hit by a pickup truck of an unknown make or colour.

The pickup truck then quickly left the scene heading towards Baan Lipon.

Police are currently trying to trace the driver of the pickup so that they can be brought in to face legal action.
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JUNEAU  District Attorney Kurt Klomberg filed an additional felony charge Monday against Marjorie Jones, who is charged in connection with the death of Sesalie Dixon.

Dixons body was found inside a pickup truck in a garage at a Fox Lake residence Dec. 4. An autopsy revealed that she died of a gun shot to the head and it was ruled consistent with homicide. Homicide charges have not been filed.

Jones now faces two felony counts for harboring/aiding a felon and possessing a firearm as a felon as a party to a crime. If convicted of both counts she faces up to 20 years in prison and $50,000 in fines.

Jones is the mother of Laverne Ware who also faces charges in the death of Dixon, who was his girlfriend.

Jones is currently released from jail on a $25,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing was held Dec. 15 for Jones where probable cause was found in the case.

During the preliminary hearing detective Ted Sullivan of the Dodge County Sheriffs Office testified that Vernon Mickey, Jones boyfriend, told detectives he believed Jones and Ware were conspiring about what to do with Dixons body and were attempting to recruit him to help.

Sullivan said, Mr. Mickey described that during the conversation, Mr. Ware produced a firearm from his waistband. He ejected a magazine from the firearm and ejected a round from the chamber and placed those items on the table.

Sullivan said Mickey told officers the weapon was pink. That firearm was discovered under the couch in a home at 100 We Go Trail, Fox Lake. Sullivan testified that Jones had told officers the weapon had been brought to the home and placed under the couch to prevent anything from happening and that she had seen the gun under the couch within the day of the incident.

Sullivan said, I believe she said the gun was Ms. Dixons weapon.

Two firearms were recovered from the 100 We Go Trail residence. The home is owned by Ware but Jones and Mickey resided there. Ware primarily lived in a residence at 401 W. Green St., Fox Lake.

Ware is currently out of jail after he posted his $200,000 cash bond Dec. 13. Mickey is released from jail on a $5,000 signature bond which he signed Jan. 9.

An arraignment for Jones is scheduled Feb. 8.
Authorities identified three Chicago teens as those who led troopers on a high-speed chase Sunday from Jackson to Monroe county.

Involved in the pursuit were Yoel Cruz, 17, Malic Smith, 18, and a 15-year-old, according to Tomah police.

A trooper tried to stop a Buick Encore for speeding 110 mph on Interstate 94 near Black River Falls about 7:40 a.m., according to the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The vehicle drove into a rest area and then fled east at more than 100 mph on the interstate to Tomah, where it ran over a spike strip and crashed into a snowbank on Hwy. 12.

The teens fled from the car. The juvenile was taken into custody, according to the state patrol.

Tomah police responded to the Econo Lodge about 10:30 p.m. after a clerk saw two males matching descriptions of those involved in the pursuit enter a room they hadnt rented.

Both immediately fled on foot; one was tackled and arrested after a foot chase. The second kicked in the door to an unoccupied apartment and barricaded himself inside, according to police. He later called 911 to surrender and was arrested without incident.

Authorities found a stolen gun and ski masks inside the car, police stated.

Cruz and Smith face charges of criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass to a dwelling, possession of marijuana, obstructing police and fraud to a hotel, while the juvenile also faces charges.
Amid the universal demand to cut health care costs, a La Crosse pediatrician advocates a baby step that would trim more than $1 million a year: train nurse practitioners to do circumcisions.

The change wouldnt lower patient bills immediately but would improve efficiency in other hospital departments as well, said Dr. Dennis Costakos, neonatology chairman at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare.

This is a free-market solution, Costakos said in an interview. When we increase the numbers doing it, the costs accelerate slower.

Costakos conclusions emerge from an unprecedented 10-month study he conducted with a registered nurse and several neonatal nurse practitioners, or NNPs, in which physicians trained the NNPs to do circumcisions and the practitioners performed the surgery on 198 babies born at Mayo-Franciscan during that period.

Mayo-Franciscan became perhaps the only place in the country where nurse practitioners do the procedure. The protocol at Gundersen Health System enlists pediatricians for the procedure, according to a Gundersen official

Mayo-Franciscans duty-shuffling carries a couple of advantages, Costakos said:

At Mayo-Franciscan, NNPs are on duty 24 hours a day, so they are readily available to do circumcisions any time of the day or night, as opposed to the extra expense of calling in or waiting for a physician to do the procedure. That sometimes can result in earlier releases, which could lower a patients charge.

When nurse practitioners circumcise baby boys, doctors are freed up to care for other patients  boosting a hospitals efficiency through better use of personnel.

The study, published in the November issue of Neonatology Today, lists the charge for a circumcision  regardless of whether insurance or another source pays  as $1,035.75, broken down as $340 for the hospital and $695.75 in professional fees.

It cites hourly compensation for each health care specialty as:

$53.74 for a neonatal nurse practitioner.

$94.41 for a pediatrician.

$115.65 for a family practitioner.

$140.38 for a neonatologist.

$167.16 for an obstetrician.

$247.96 for a urologist.

Thus, enlisting nurse practitioners to do circumcisions would reduce professional salary expenses for the procedure two to nine times, according to Costakos findings.

Circumcision is a high-demand surgery in the Coulee Region, running at about 80 percent, while studies indicate that it dips as low as 30 percent in some regions. Globally, infants in some countries, such as Denmark and Brazil, rarely are circumcised, while others, such as South Korea, have shifted from a rate of 85 percent uncircumcised to 85 percent circumcised.

In the United States, the circumcision rate for newborns dipped from 83 percent in the 1960s to 77 percent in 2010, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also reports that the overall rate for U.S. males ages 14 to 59 is 81 percent.

Meanwhile, groups such as Mothers Against Circumcision www.mothersagainstcirc.org insist that the rate is declining and now is around 33 percent.

If every hospital in the United States switched to using NNPs instead of other professionals, professional fees could be reduced by $105 million over a decade, assuming 1.1 million newborn circumcisions a year, said Costakos, who also is an assistant professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.

Although a layman logically might expect the bills for parents of newborn boys to drop overnight with such reductions in overhead, that wouldnt be the case, Costakos said.

Rather, at least initially, the savings would result in slower price increases and spreading the savings to other departments and/or procedures, he said.

The market catches up eventually, and it would be a free market solution, Costakos said. Its like the big, expensive TVs that are cheaper now  eventually, the savings spread.

The personnel shift also has health implications in areas where risk rates for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases, are higher, he said, adding that that is not a major concern in the Coulee Region.

Studies indicate that the lifetime risk of HIV among circumcised heterosexual males decreased by 16 percent, and two trials found that contraction of herpes simplex virus type 2 and the human papillomavirus dropped by one-third.

This may be the first surgery to decrease infection, Costakos said. If you could discover a vaccine that could do the same thing with infection as circumcision, you would be a rich person.

In the long run, curbing infection also helps the bottom line, with Costakos observing, You get more bang out of the buck, reducing infections as well as health care costs.

Circumcision also is known to lower the risk of penile cancer, decrease the possibility of urinary tract infections during the first year of life and prevention of foreskin infections, Costakos said.

Circumcision, which is not considered a necessary surgery, although some religions such as Judaism and Islam traditionally require it, has its detractors  some of whom dismiss it as cosmetic.

The cosmetic contention is one reason some insurers and even Medicaid dont cover the procedure, Costakos said.

His study cites a review that found private insurance paid for 61 percent, Medicaid covered 36 percent and parents, 3 percent. Medicaid in Wisconsin covers the procedure, while Medicaid programs in 18 states, including Minnesota, do not cover it.

Circumcision rates in states where Medicaid covers the procedure are nearly 70 percent, compared with 31 percent in states where Medicaid doesnt cover it, Costakos study found.

The CDC, reflecting on the fact that such restrictions make the procedure unaffordable to many low-income families, contends that populations that might benefit the most are denied access. Although the procedure carries risks in a very low percentage of cases, the American Academy of Pediatrics most recent policy statement on the issue, in 2012, states: Evaluation of current evidence indicates that the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweighs the risks and the procedures benefits justify access to this procedure for families who choose it.

The CDC echoes that sentiment in guidelines published in 2014.

Groups such as Intact America and Mothers Against Circumcision reject the procedure as not only unnecessary but also one that is barbaric and inflicted upon someone too young to grant consent.

On the other hand, postponing it until teen years or adulthood has the disadvantage of making it more complicated.

Costakos has high hopes for training neonatal nurse practitioners to perform the procedure, saying, We hope to be a model for the nation. This is a very Franciscan change.
Urban Milwaukee's Bruce Murphy contends that Wisconsin businesses and Republican voters are embracing alternative energy, but not the state's governor, Scott Walker. The governor apparently doesn't realize the world has changed since he was first elected in 2010 as he still shows no interest in solar or wind power, even though their costs have plummeted in recent years and other states are rushing to take advantage.

Alana Horowitz Satlin of the Huffington Post points out how many politicians who have worked against what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for proclaimed how they were honoring him Monday. In that group is Gov. Scott Walker, who tweeted Monday that he was honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King, yet has worked tirelessly against everything from voting rights to union representation, key issues that the civil rights leader adamantly supported.

Politial Environment blogger James Rowen writes that Canada is done with censoring climate change talk while Wisconsin and Donald Trump continue to squelch government workers from talking about it.

Michael Crivello of the Milwaukee Police Association writes an op-ed for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel proclaiming that Donald Trump's pick of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general will bring back trust in the judicial system.

In an Urban Milwaukee column, Steve Walters wonders whether congressional Republicans might consider a health care plan that was available in Wisconsin for some 30 years. The Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing plan, enacted by a Democratic Legislature and signed into law by then GOP Gov. Lee Dreyfus, covered people who couldn't otherwise get insurance. Walters notes some are proposing that it could serve as a national model.

Another Urban Milwaukee column by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's Matt Rothschild argues that legislation by two young Wisconsin Republican legislators, Adam Neylon of Pewaukee and Devin LeMahieu of Oostberg, would stymie consumer protection efforts in the state. Rothschild says the two Republicans' bill to require legislative approval on consumer and safety regulations that might cost businesses is directly out of the ALEC playbook of model conservative legislation.

Speaking of health insurance, Peter Farrow, the CEO of the Group Health Co-Op of Eau Claire, urges legislators not to be too hasty in changing the health care market in Wisconsin by deciding to self-insure public employees. In a column for the Leader-Telegram, he outlines what may be at stake.

Posting on Right Wisconsin, conservative talk show host Jerry Bader insists the media is blowing a lot of hot air over the Wisconsin DNR's rewriting its website concerning climate change. He contends that the department hasn't dismissed the evidence that climate change is being caused by humans.
How many people have already voted absentee in South Dakota ahead of Election Day?
Food Fight Restaurant Group is taking over the 6-year-old Italian restaurant Nostrano on the Square and turning it into a "neighborhood taqueria" called Canteen.

The group won't have to do much in terms of renovations and is shooting for a May 1 opening, said Food Fight's Greg Frank. "It should be a pretty quick process."

Food Fight is buying Nostrano's assets and taking over its lease. It will be making some cosmetic changes to the space at 111 S. Hamilton St., beginning March 1, but won't be knocking down walls or renovating the kitchen, Frank said.

Canteen will serve tacos and other Mexican dishes "made with inventive ingredients and high-quality tortillas," said Caitlin Suemnicht, the local restaurant group's chief creative officer.

Nostrano owners Tim and Elizabeth Dahl put the restaurant on the market about a year ago after the restaurant business grew too hard on them and their three children.

"Our kids never get to see us and we never get to see them, so this decision was made to help our family," Elizabeth Dahl said.

Beyond that, the Capitol Square construction really killed the business, she said. "People just assumed we were closed."

Nostrano's last day will be Valentines Day, Dahl said.

She said she learned of Food Fight's new Canteen concept Wednesday, "just like everybody else."

Dahl called her relationship with Food Fight amicable and professional. "It's been quite a blessing to have them come in," she said.

Suemnicht said Food Fight really liked the location, the "charming space," and the historic building. It also gets great pedestrian traffic, she said.

Frank called the Hamilton Street location "a great up-and-coming spot," particularly with construction on the Square winding down. "With all of the stuff that's going to be going on in that area in the next five years, I just think it's a great location."

Food Fight has been pursuing the cantina idea for awhile, and there will be some similarities to the group's other Southwestern or Tex-Mex-style restaurants, Tex Tubb's and Eldorado Grill, especially in terms of the atmosphere, he said.

Canteen will be Food Fight's 20th restaurant. It will feature a full bar with a focus on cocktails made with tequila and mezcal. It will serve dinner nightly and offer weekday lunch and weekend brunch. Outdoor seating is also planned.

"We've wanted to open a taqueria on the Capitol Square for quite some time. And with the success of Tex Tubb's Taco Palace and Eldorado Grill, we feel like we've got a really solid background in Mexican cuisine and tequila and mezcal cocktail development," Suemnicht said.

The difference between Canteen and the other two is that Canteen will be more grounded in authentic Mexican cuisine than in Tex-Mex or Southwestern fare, she said.

The menu will also be smaller, so that the restaurant "can provide great food and drinks quickly." Because the space is small, they need to "keep things moving and serve our guests as efficiently as possible," Suemnicht said.

Chefs Matt Pace and Michael Pruett, Food Fight's culinary development directors, are putting together the food menus. Michael Essert, general manager of Johnny Delmonico's, will move over to become general manager at Canteen.

Patrick Sullivan, the bar manager at Avenue Club, will serve as Canteen's assistant general manager and beverage director. Sullivan will develop the drinks with help from the bar staff at Eldorado, Suemnicht said.
Industrial revolution can "give us answers" and can help start ups in India to provide quick solutions, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meet here, she said, "I don't think we should worry about it (industrial revolution)".

She was participating in a session on 'Harnessing Regional Cooperation in South Asia' where Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were also present.

Sitharaman, the Commerce and Industry Minister, emphasised that industrial revolution "can give us answers", adding that countries like India cannot stay away from robotics.

According to her, industrial revolution can help start ups in India to be able to give quick solutions. "We have to be careful how we play it (industrial revolution) up in our countries," she added.

Talking about South Asia region, she said it can be the engine for growth in the world.
Stocks faced consistent selling pressure as investors were unable to find strong stocks to pour in fresh funds in a market consolidating at 2-month highs on Wednesday. Flat trading in European equities and a tepid close in Asian markets also reflected on local markets. The only saving grace on Dalal Street was the strong rally in metal companies.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said all five public sector general insurance companies will be eventually listed on the markets as a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's divestment drive. The government, which owns 100 percent equity in these companies, will bring its holding down to 75 percent as per listing laws, Jaitley told reporters. The proposed IPO will be either an offer for sale or the issue of fresh equity, he said.

The Nifty was up just 12 points to 8,409 points in late afternoon trade, retracing from its earlier high of 8,460 points. The bulls were fairly active during the morning session as the forthcoming budget for the year to March 2018 on February 1st enthused investors to take large positions in front line stocks in a market that ended nearly flat during 2016.

Diageo Plc, the maker of Johnnie Walker Scotch and Captain Morgan rum, could float another open offer for its majority controlled Indian subsidiary, United Spirits, as the global giant seeks to benefit from a falling stock price, several media reports said.

Diageo controls 55 percent stake in India's largest liquor maker, United Spirits. The global parent had earlier floated two open offers to the Indian public and United Spirits' former promoter Vijay Mallya. The stock fell 57 percent since its previous high of 4,073 rupees, hit in March 2015, as several Indian state governments imposed prohibitions as a part of their electoral promises. Indian laws allow promoters to own up to 75 percent stake in listed companies.

United Spirits soared as much as 6.4 percent in early deals, but was trading flat at 2,091 rupees, the highest since November 2nd. The stock is also on the list of most traded by value with over 479 crore rupees worth of shares changing hands.

United Spirits gained for the 4th day in a row as the stock bounced back from a 52-week low. Nearly 22.2 lakh shares have been traded on the NSE alone.

The company is set to report its third quarter earnings on January 21st and reported a quarterly profit of 825 crores on sales of 6,028 crore rupees for the quarter ended September.

Here are the major trading events of the day:

* The Sensex rose 23 points to 27,259 points on the Bombay Stock Exchange, its highest level since November 11. Tata Steel was the top gainer on the index and Tata Motors was the top traded stock on the Sensex.

* BHEL, Tata Steel, Grasim, Hindustan Unilever and Hindalco gained 2.2-4.2% and were among 32 shares that advanced on the Nifty.

* Bharti Airtel, GAIL, BPCL, Idea Cellular, NTPC and Coal India fell 1.6-1.9% and were among 20 shares that slipped on the Nifty.

* PVR, Tata Elxsi, Tata Steel and United Spirits were the top traded shares by value on the NSE.

* Jindal Steel & Power, Vedanta, NHPC and Reliance Communications showed hectic volume activity on the list of most active securities.

* Broader markets retraced from earlier morning highs when they showed a strong uptick. The Nifty 100, 200 and 500 indices rose 0.3 percent each. Mid caps and Small cap benchmarks rose between 0.4-0.5%.

* All sectoral indices were in the green with gains ranging fro 0.1-2.4%. The metals index was the top gainer.

* Piramal Enterprises, JSW steel, Marico and Bharat Forge gained substantial ground in the first hour of trade.

* Emami, Havells, Oracle Finance and Ashok Leyland faced selling pressure in early deals.

* The Advance-Decline ratio soured in afternoon trade. The mood was intensely bullish in the wider market in the morning where 1,130 shares advanced versus just 380 that fell. The number now stood at 900 shares rising versus 684 that fell.
The bulls refused to let go of red hot metal stocks in a flat market on Wednesday as speculative buying continued in all such shares on hopes of a further jump in stock prices.

The BSE Metals Index jumped 2 percent to 11,371 points, its highest level since December 2014 as investors poured fresh funds into stocks such as Vedanta and Hindustan Zinc that are owned by billionaire Anil Agarwal.

Underlying metal prices have been in an uptrend over the past six months on expectations that the United States will spend more funds to upgrade its creaking infrastructure after President-elect Donald Trump assumes charge.

Stock prices of steel companies have also surged on media reports that China, the world's largest producer of the alloy, will shut down some steel plants in a bid to cut down on overcapacity.

Such has been the aggressive demand for metal companies that the BSE's metal index has surged more than 10 percent so far in January. It was up for the 3rd session in a row on heavy volumes today.

All 10 constituents of the BSE Metals Index, stocks such as SAIL, Tata Steel, NMDC and JSW Steel, gained between 0.3-3.6 percent in trade today.

These stocks are up 17-22 percent in January as there is no let up in buyers' enthusiasm to purchase these beaten down companies. The 10 companies making up the index have surged between 1-253 percent in the past one year.

Here are some prices for the day:

Vedanta surged 3.4 per cent to 244.45 rupees. Tata Steel jumped 2.9% to 467.35 rupees. Hindustan Zinc gained 2.9% to 292.60 rupees. JSW Steel added 2.2% to 191 rupees.
The Delhi Assembly on Wednesday adopted a report of its Questions and References Committee recommending enquiry into the conduct of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Commissioner Puneet Goyal.

The report, tabled by Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla on Tuesday, made charges of indiscipline, dereliction of duty and causing deliberate delay in the execution of public works against Goyal.

"The committee recommends that the Delhi government should immediately conduct an enquiry into the conduct of Commissioner, SDMC, Puneet Goyal on charges of indiscipline, dereliction of duty and causing deliberate delay in the execution of public works hurting the public interest," the report said.

The matter relates to non-implementation of an order of Delhi government's Urban Development department regarding increasing financial powers of municipal commissioners in approving the works under MLALAD scheme from Rs.25 lakh to Rs.5 crore.

According to the report, the commissioners of North and East Delhi Municipal Corporations had implemented the decision while the SDMC commissioner did not.

The committee also said that a report on the actions taken on the recommendations should be submitted in the House within three months of the adoption of the report by the Assembly.
The Delhi Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution directing the AAP government to constitute a fact-finding committee to probe the financial condition of 'cash-strapped' civic bodies of EDMC and NDMC.

The move comes against the backdrop of the AAP government accusing the BJP-led municipal corporations of being the "den of corruption" over the frequent strikes by sanitation workers of EDMC and NDMC.

The committee will be headed by the Director of Local Bodies. It will submit its report before the commencement of Budget session, which is expected to be held in the first week of March.

The resolution, moved by AAP MLA Sourabh Bhardwaj, stated that Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has "failed" to pay the salaries of its employees despite having received enhanced funds from the government, and that the residents have a right to know how the civic bodies were utilising their funds.

"This House directs the Delhi government to take all possible steps to look into the finances of the MCDs in accordance with the provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.

"It also directs the Government of Delhi to ask the Municipal Corporations to inform the steps being taken to improve the latter's financial condition," the resolution stated.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the BJP-led civic bodies had financially "failed" and were "instigating" their employees against the AAP government ahead of the municipal polls.

He said despite the Delhi government giving enhanced funds in comparison to the previous dispensation, the BJP-led municipal corporations were demanding more grants.

Once the Aam Aadmi Party comes to power in all three civic bodies, it will ensure salaries of sanitation workers on time, Sisodia added.

AAP MLA Sourabh Bharadwaj also requested the House to take serious note of the extremely "poor financial management" in the Municipal Corporations of Delhi, particularly in the EDMC and the NDMC.

"They (BJP leaders of MCD) pass a resolution in their House that municipal officers will not go with MLAs in their constituencies. Such kind of behaviour is unacceptable.

"On one hand, they adopt such behaviour against MLAs, but on other side, they demand funds from the government. They do not reduce corruption. They are allowing unauthorised constructions by taking bribes in lakhs," he alleged.

The AAP leader said that if 10 per cent of "bribes" taken by MCD leaders and officers came into the system, there would not be any need for sanitation workers to go on strike over non-payment of salaries.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Vijender Gupta hit out at the government for not implementing the recommendations of Fourth Delhi Finance Commission.

"Government should understand that EDMC has limited resources. The AAP government is giving political colour to the strike by sanitation workers. It is deliberately not implementing recommendations of Fourth Delhi Finance Commission," he said.
A three-hour standoff in Janesville ended with a person taken into custody to a medical facility, after apparently suffering a mental breakdown.

The incident started around 4 p.m. Tuesday at an East Side residence after the unidentified person called police several times earlier in the day to report several different things that seemed off in how they were being reported, police said.

A crisis intervention officer determined the person was irrational and making threats to anyone coming close, so officers were sent to the house.

"Officers attempted contact but the subject immediately slammed the door and refused to talk," said Sgt. Mike Blaser. "The subject stood facing a wall in a catatonic state inside the residence."

More police personnel arrived, stop sticks were put on the driveway in case the subject tried to drive out of the garage, and a pepperball launcher was also brought to the scene, with the irritant considered less lethal than other means of control.

A negotiator was able to talk to the person for over an hour, but when the person still didn't come out, police pulled back and waited.

"At 7:17 p.m. the person opened the garage door and backed a vehicle out of the garage, over the stop sticks," Blaser said. "Officers advanced and took the person into custody."

A large hunting-style knife was found on the front seat of the car.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor on Tuesday launched autobiography, titled Khullam Khulla  Rishi Kapoor Uncensored, here in the presence of his wife Neetu Singh and daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni.

The event, which took place at The Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi, was attended by veteran actress Nafisa Ali, Rishi's son-in-law Bharat Sahni, comedian Papa CJ and Union Minister Babul Supriyo, who paid a tribute to the "Bobby" actor by singing his famous song Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karenge.

In the autobiography, Rishi has revealed some of the unknown aspects of his life, right from his and his late father Raj Kapoor's affairs with co-stars to his belief on father-son relationships, and his passion for acting.

Rishi has co-authored the book with Meena Iyer.

"The most difficult part while writing this autobiography was to remain honest, and me and Meena had very verticals. So, we had to choose as we had to reflect on cinema, family, career etc. She assembled it all part by part and we took it forward. We took three and a half years to write this book," Rishi said at the launch, where he had a conversation with actor Suhel Seth.

Talking about his wife, Rishi said: "I guess she (Neetu) has lost weight. People normally tell me that you don't feed your wife. No, but I must tell you that Neetu and writer Meenu have coped up with a very impatient man."

"Neetu has been with me since last 37 years. Meena has been there since last three and a half years. I really marvel the way they have coped with it."

During the launch while sharing some insights about the book, Rishi revealed some of his past incidents right from when he had an awkward encounter with one of his past girlfriends, to sleeping drunk next to his father and his conversation with late filmmaker Manmohan Desai regarding 1977 film Amar Akhbar and Anthony.
Ahead of the Republic Day Parade fly-past, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday appealed to citizens of Delhi not to throw eatables, garbage, or animal carcasses in the open which may attract birds and endanger aircraft.

"In view of the fly-past at heights varying from 60 to 500 metres and the associated flight safety concerns posed by birds, the IAF appeals to all citizens of Delhi and its neighbourhood to keep their areas clean and avoid throwing eatables, garbage, dead animals or carcasses in the open on all the days leading up to 26 January," an official statement said.

"Birds pose a serious threat to aircraft flying at low level. Eatables thrown out in the open attract birds," the statement pointed out.

The IAF also requested citizens to alert the nearest Air Force unit or police station and report instances of carcasses found in the open.

"The vulnerable areas that come in the route include Palam, Najafgarh drains, Tihar Jail, War Cemetery and areas adjoining Rashtrapati Bhavan," the statement said.
An NIA team reached Bihar's Motihari district on Wednesday to investigate the alleged role of Pakistan's ISI behind the Indore-Patna Express train derailment near Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur that claimed over 100 lives.

On Tuesday, Bihar Police arrested three people  identified as Moti Paswan, Umashankar Prasad and Mukesh Yadav  for their alleged role in the November 2016 train derailment and claimed to have found evidence linking them to ISI.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) -rank officer will interrogate the three criminals.

Paswan confessed that he was paid to plant explosives in the train and that the ISI had executed the whole derailment plan.

He has told the Bihar Police that the money he received came from a known ISI sympathiser, Dubai-based Shamshul Hodi.

Bihar Police said Paswan was involved in the train derailment along with some others, including Zubair and Ziaul, who have been arrested in Delhi.

Besides interrogating the three criminals, the NIA team would also look into the Bihar Police claim that the ISI has been using Nepal as a base to implement its terror activities in the state using hired criminals.


President Pranab Mukherjee has returned a bill to upgrade Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT) into a university back to the Delhi Assembly for reconsideration, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said here on Wednesday.

"The President has sent the Delhi Netaji Subhas University of Technology Bill, 2015 back to the assembly for reconsideration," Goel told the House on Wednesday.

The Bill was passed by the assembly in June 2015 with an aim to upgrade NSIT, currently affiliated to Delhi University, into a separate university.

At present there are over 3,000 seats in NSIT but after upgrading it to a university, the number of seats were to be increased to 12,000 in three to four years.

Government sources said that the Bill has been sent back on technical grounds and it will now be sent to the Law Department to solve the discrepancies.

It will then again be passed by the cabinet and sent to the Lt Governor for his approval before it could be reintroduced in the assembly.

Last week Lt Governor Anil Baijal returned, for reconsideration, the Aam Aadmi Party government's ambitious proposal of reducing the fares of DTC and cluster buses by 75 per cent.
The storm clouds are gathering over the choppy South China Sea with the possibility of a bitter rupture between China and the US. It is almost a readymade crisis for Donald Trump exactly a week before his inaugural as the US President.

To be sure, he had vitiated the atmosphere with his tweets criticising Beijing, most particularly after the telephone conversation with the Taiwan President. There has now been a further souring of relations with last week's bluster of the new Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, who said China should be barred from artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea.

He has gone to the extent of suggesting that Beijing's control and construction of these islands, that are claimed by neighbouring countries, was akin to Russias taking of Crimea. In effect, he has drawn a parallel between Xi Jinping's oceanic geo-strategy and Vladimir Putin's expansionist designs vis-a-vis the former Soviet satellites. Altogether, this lends a new dimension to the seemingly intractable maritime discord; it often happens that the artificial can be potentially more damaging than the natural.

While the world awaits the final word in terms of international law, Tillerson has taken up the gauntlet at his confirmation hearing with the robust assertion that they are taking territory or control or declaring control of territories that are not rightfully Chinas. In point of fact, Beijing has claimed sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, building seven artificial islands on reefs and rocks and fitting them with military-length airstrips and anti-aircraft guns.

Tillerson's statements are bound to widen the rift further still, not least because China has adopted an extremely rigid stance on challenges to its sovereignty claims. Last year, an international tribunal ruled that much of Chinas territorial claims were invalid, but the government in Beijing ignored the verdict.

Given his firm grip over the government, the party and the army, Xi's defence mechanism is exceptional by any reckoning; he is not the kind of leader who will play on the back foot in the face of external challenges, most importantly pressure from the US. An early resolution of the crisis brewing in the South China Sea is therefore unlikely.

Markedly, China has been less than belligerent in its initial response to Tillerson's statement. The foreign ministry in Beijing has underlined the certitudes of responsible diplomacy, calling for mutual respect and cooperation with the US.

The equation between the two Big Powers is based on non-confrontation, non-conflict, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Far from a possible thaw, relations are ever so frigid. Over time, China has reinforced its control over the sea and it may not be possible to change the facts on the ground without a military confrontation. At the threshold, President Trump will have to contend with the turbulence of the sea waves.
A Nigerian air force jet on Tuesday mistakenly bombed a civilian camp in the northeastern state of Borno, which led to at least 50 persons being killed, media reports said.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said its staff on the ground had seen at least 100 wounded and 50 dead following the bombing, while Nigerian state officials put the death toll higher, the Guardian reported.

Commander of army operations in Borno, Lucky Irabor said the incident occurred at Rann Internally Displaced People's camp in the state capital of Maiduguri, after an intelligence report was received that Boko Haram terrorists were regrouping there.

"I coordinated and I directed that the air component of the operation should go and address the problem. Unfortunately, the strike was conducted but it turned out that other civilians were somewhere around the area and they were affected," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.

The military has already sent a helicopter to evacuate the wounded persons, while the Borno State government has also ordered free treatment of the victims in all government hospitals.

Terror group Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 2.3 million other since their insurgency started in 2009.

However, Nigeria has made a considerable gain on the Boko Haram front, with its security forces operating in the restive region dislodging the Boko Haram fighters from the Sambisa Forest, their last enclave in the country.

In a statement late Monday, the Nigerian military said it was intensifying aerial and ground patrol in the country's northeast, extending its offensive mission around the Green Belt Region near Niger and Chad.


President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the White House daily press briefing to praise his spokesman Josh Earnest.

Press Secretary Josh Earnest held his final White House press briefing on Tuesday at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House.

"Even though it's my last day, you better not let up now," Earnest joked at the start of the press conference.

"So in that spirit, let me say for the last time standing up here, let's get started with the questions," he added.

Shortly after, President Obama entered the room and praised his third and final press secretary.

"He's never disappointed. He has always been the guy you wanted him to be," Obama said, saying he had known Earnest for nearly 10 years, since he joined the Obama campaign in Iowa ahead of the 2008 presidential elections.

The president said he was initially stricken by Earnest's "all American" good looks when they met in Iowa, and said he had a "face made for television." But he said he has always felt Earnest to be a man of integrity.

"What struck me most in addition to his smarts and maturity and actual interest in the issues was is integrity," Obama said pm Tuesday. "There are people you meet who, you have a pretty good inkling off the bat, are straight shooters."

Obama added, "he is not only a great press secretary, he is a really, really good man."

"I've now known this guy for ten years and I've watched him grow, I've watched him advance, I've watched him marry, be a father and I've watched him manage younger people coming up behind him

"He has never disappointed and always been the guy you wanted him to be. He is a really, really good man and I am really, really proud of him," he said.

Earnest participated in, by some counts, his 354th press briefing on Tuesday.

The topics ranged from the presidential transition to the involvement of Russia in the 2016 presidential election. Earnest also confirmed reports that the Obamas would be going on vacation in Palm Springs, Calif. after the inauguration of Donald Trump. He would not, however, say how long they'll be saying, reported time.com.

The press secretary was also pressed on the future of the briefing, given statements by the incoming administration that they'd consider either moving the briefing out of the James Brady Press Briefing room or changing the way it is handled. Earnest said he had advised incoming Press Secretary Sean Spicer to engage with the White House Correspondents' Association and added that while press access may be "uncomfortable" at times, "it's important".
Turkey's parliament on Wednesday embarked on a second round of deliberations on a contentious package of constitutional amendments that would give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office executive powers.

Legislators are set to vote separately on 18 proposed amendments before holding a final vote on the whole package by the end of the week.

Debate on the draft amendments that would turn Turkey's parliamentary system into a presidential system has been tense and last week resulted in brawls between ruling and opposition party lawmakers.

The ruling party, founded by Erdogan, argues that a strong presidency is needed to strengthen Turkey as it confronts multiple terrorism threats. Critics say the changes will concentrate too many powers in the hands of Erdogan, who is accused of authoritarian tendencies, and erode checks and balances on his rule.

Erdogan has long pushed for a presidential system saying a strong head of state will thrust Turkey toward its goal of becoming a world power by 2023, when the Turkish Republic marks its centenary. Currently, the presidency is largely ceremonial.

The New York-based advocacy group, Human Rights Watch, urged Turkish lawmakers to reject the constitutional changes.

It said that the proposals would render permanent many of the emergency powers the president had assumed in the wake of a failed July coup to overthrow him.

"The proposed constitutional changes concentrate power in the hands of President Erdogan and further erode already weak checks and balances on the exercise of that power," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW.

"Parliament should reject these constitutional changes, which would hollow out the rule of law, and profoundly undermine the country's democracy."

Today, Erdogan renewed his support for the amendments that would abolish the office of the prime minister, saying the change will put an end to possible power struggles between the premier and the president who are both popularly elected.

Erdogan became the country's first directly elected president in 2014.

If the reform bill secures at least 330 votes in the 550-seat assembly, it would then be put to a national referendum.
The President of Iran said his country would not accept a renegotiation of its nuclear agreement even if the President-elect of the United States demands one.

Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday said at a press conference here that renegotiating the deal with Donald Trump's incoming administration was out of the question, Efe news reports.

"We cannot reverse a deal whose signature required years of negotiations, article by article and word for word," Rouhani said.

He added that he believed Trump's critical views on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) would not have much impact because it was not a bilateral agreement between Iran and the USA, but rather a multilateral one between several parties.

Trump has repeatedly lambasted the deal, while his appointee to lead the State Department, Rex Tillerson, said last week that the deal needed to undergo a "full review."

This stance heavily contradicts the views of the plan's other signatories, such as Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, who along with the US make up the P5+1 group.

The deal, signed in July 2015, led to a lifting of sanctions on the Asian country in exchange for limitations to its nuclear program.

Rouhani said that the lifting of sanctions "has proven Iran's success in the nuclear deal," citing the removal of sanctions against the oil, gas and transportation industries.

The Iranian leader described the JCPOA as a "political victory" for his country.

"We have told the world that Iranophobia was wrong, that Iran mustn't be feared, that Iran seeks peace for the region and that Iran doesn't deserve to be seen as a threat to international peace and security," Rouhani said.
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A 12-year-old Madison boy being placed under arrest during a disturbance at the West Towne Mall food court allegedly threatened to kill the arresting officer.

The boy had a black handgun tucked in his waistband that turned out to be a BB gun, Madison police said.

The incident happened Tuesday night at about 8:20 p.m., with security guards calling for police when several teens caused a disturbance in the food court.

"One of the participants continued to escalate his behavior as an officer tried to calm him down," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "A couple of additional officers arrived for backup."

The 12-year-old, who didn't identify himself, started yelling out threats at the officers.

The threats were like 'I'm going to kill you, your wife and your children,'" DeSpain said.

He was taken to the Juvenile Reception Center on tentative charges of battery or threat to a judge, prosecutor or law enforcement; no person under 18 allowed to be armed with a firearm or pellet gun; disorderly conduct and resisting/obstructing.
The Madison School District has a reputation for rarely canceling classes due to bad weather. On Tuesday, that approach angered some parents and sent district officials into a period of reflection.

Madison was the only district of 16 in Dane County to hold classes Tuesday, a day when the Madison Streets Division called roads treacherous.

In a letter to families Tuesday afternoon, the district announced a revamp of its approach.

We will be revisiting our decision-making protocols for when to delay or close schools to ensure the best possible decision, Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham wrote.

She said the district plans to immediately gather additional state and city information beyond our usual sources when making weather-related closure decisions.

Some parents, including School Board member TJ Mertz, had questioned the decision to remain open. In a Facebook post, Mertz said his son waited 30 minutes for a bus that didnt come. His son then slipped and fell on the way back home, though he is fine, Mertz said.

This is just one bus and one student, but it is clear that many students and staff are having difficulties this morning, Mertz wrote Tuesday on Facebook. I think we need to revisit the decision that was made to open schools today.

Mertz said he informed district administrators about his concern, adding, I am not sure it was the wrong call, but I do think we should re-examine it. In an interview, he said he heard frustrations from a fair number of parents and staff.

Some parents commenting on Mertzs post quite strongly suggested that administrators had indeed made the wrong call.

You care nothing of the safety of the children in your care, and obviously dont have the sense God gave a goose, one parent wrote.

Another said a fall on an icy sidewalk could cause serious or life-threatening injuries to a student or staff member. Many staff members commute from outside the district, another said, putting them in jeopardy on slick roads.

Liz Merfeld, a district spokeswoman, said that all students arrived safely to school but that some buses were late or had other minor problems. One bus en route to Lincoln Elementary slid into a parked car, though no one was injured and neither vehicle was damaged, she said. Another bus, this one headed to Franklin Elementary, tapped a fire hydrant, she said.

Merfeld said district officials historically have relied on discussions with Metro Transit to learn about the condition of city streets, and with a consulting meteorologist to learn about general weather conditions. The new approach will broaden the number of sources and include the city Streets Division, she said.

At about 4:20 a.m. Tuesday, the Streets Division issued an alert saying city streets iced up overnight and that multiple areas of the city were slippery. The alert used the word treacherous to describe conditions.

It was definitely a strong word to use, but with the icy conditions, it was accurate, Bryan Johnson, a Streets Division spokesman, said in an interview.

Merfeld said district officials didnt have that information when the decision to hold classes was made. Any kind of conditions that are called treacherous should be taken seriously, she said.

Asked if district officials would have canceled classes if they had known then what they know now, Merfeld said, I can tell you that Jen is asking herself that question right now and taking it very seriously.


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State prosecutors took the unusual step of acknowledging Wisconsins troubled youth prison is too dangerous for juveniles as they argued to move a teen into the adult system for his own protection, according to court documents released Wednesday.

Racine County Circuit Judge John S. Jude agreed that the prison was too dangerous and waived the boy into the adult system last February. The 2nd District Court of Appeals affirmed Judes decision Wednesday.

I never thought I would say this, that a 16-year-old would be safer in the adult system than the juvenile justice system, Jude said at the waiver hearing, according to the documents released Wednesday. Racine County case manager Candy Bowman testified that her department has put somewhat of a moratorium on sending juvenile offenders to Lincoln Hills. Racine County did not immediately respond to an inquiry Wednesday about what, if any, moratorium exists.

The Lincoln Hills juvenile prison in Irma has been plagued by allegations of prisoner abuse, child neglect and sexual assault. Racine County Circuit Judge Richard Kreul in 2012 wrote a letter alerting Gov. Scott Walker to a case in which a Lincoln Hills inmate was forced to perform oral sex on his roommate, beaten unconscious and not given medical attention for three hours.

The state began an inquiry into allegations of abuse at the facility in 2015. The FBI has since taken over the investigation.

No one has been charged with any crimes. State Attorney General Brad Schimel told The Associated Press last month its possible his office might relaunch its investigation and charge someone in connection with the alleged abuses. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has been performing its own investigation into the issues at Lincoln Hills for more than a year.

Corrections Department spokesman Tristan Cook said the agency has made significant and wide-reaching reforms on juvenile corrections, including appointing new leadership, increasing training for staff, requiring body cameras for security staff and enhancing medical and health services to inmates.

The teen in the appeals court case released Wednesday was accused of sexually assaulting a fifth-grader. The teen argued Jude improperly considered news coverage that wasnt part of the evidence and out-of-court information about Lincoln Hills. The juveniles lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Michigans Betsy DeVos has had an outsized influence on politics and education in Wisconsin  especially the expansion of taxpayer-funded vouchers for students to attend private schools.

Now, DeVos is President-elect Donald Trumps pick for U.S. education secretary, and observers expect her to lessen the federal role in public education and vigorously advocate to expand access to voucher and charter schools in other states just like she has done here.

Betsy DeVos had a lot to do with the expansion of voucher reform across the country and I think thats because she worked closely with the groundbreaking program early on, said Jim Bender, president of School Choice Wisconsin, referring to Milwaukees voucher program, the countrys first.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing for DeVos on Tuesday.

DeVos has, with her husband Dick DeVos, heirs to the Amway fortune, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Republican legislative and statewide candidates since 2003.

And the pro-voucher group American Federation for Children, which she headed as chairwoman and is based in Washington D.C., has spent more than $5 million in Wisconsin in favor of Republican elected officials since 2010, when the GOP gained control of state government, according to data from the liberal-leaning Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks campaign spending.

She is one of the biggest Republican funders in the whole country and a huge Republican funder in Wisconsin and she explicitly says she expects things in return, said Wisconsin Democracy Campaign executive director Matt Rothschild, referring to a 1997 column DeVos wrote saying she expects, in return for her financial support of candidates to foster a conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American virtues.

Rothschild said he expects that if she is confirmed, DeVos will work to divert money away from public schools. Bender, however, said he expects DeVos to give public schools the opportunity to address academic achievement with more flexibility because of less federal involvement. He said she could be a breath of fresh air because she is not connected to public schools.

DeVos nomination was a jolt to those in the states education circles. Some see in her an opportunity for innovation under the U.S. Department of Education while others worry she will favor private schools over public schools.

A lot of my members are concerned that shes never been seen as an advocate for public education, said Dan Rossmiller, lobbyist for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. Shes always appeared to be an advocate for private education, and especially in religious education.

On Tuesday, Gov. Scott Walker  who calls DeVos a friend and for whom DeVos has been a significant campaign donor  wrote a letter to committee chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, and ranking Democratic member Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, in support of DeVos.

The group that ultimately became the American Federation for Children began in 1998 with advocacy work in Milwaukee, where the nations first voucher system was created in 1990. Bender said DeVos early involvement in Wisconsins voucher expansion was key in bringing vouchers to other states.

I think her bigger impact has been the ability to run an organization that took what happened in Wisconsin and introduce it in other states, said Bender.

AFC has through its millions of dollars in donations worked as the political muscle in the voucher expansion movement in Wisconsin since 2010. As its influence increased, another groups deteriorated. The Wisconsin Education Association Council, the states largest teachers union, has been decimated in membership and in influence since Republicans passed Gov. Scott Walkers collective bargaining legislation.

(AFC) became the significant player in terms of education-related campaign spending, said Rossmiller. It used to be that WEAC was considered the 800-pound gorilla (in influence).

Scott Jensen, a former Assembly speaker, is the groups senior adviser and lobbyist.

More flexibility?

Rossmiller said he could see DeVos changing the rules for federal money sent to public school districts for students living in poverty to allowing that money to follow the student if they leave a public school and enroll in a private school  a hallmark of Trumps education agenda.

Trump, according to his campaign materials, plans to immediately put $20 billion in grant funding toward school choice, and to give states the option of allowing money to follow students to whatever kind of school they choose to attend. The grants would favor states that embrace voucher and charter schools.

The Trump administration also plans to establish the national goal of providing school choice to every one of the 11 million school-aged children living in poverty  details of which DeVos will likely flesh out if confirmed.

Bender, who attended DeVos nomination hearing, said he doesnt believe theres an appetite in a Republican-controlled Congress to create a new federal voucher program.

I dont think thats where they are headed, Bender said. Block grants, instead, are more likely to de-emphasize the role of federal government in education, he said. I think the biggest winners out of this will be innovative public school districts because theyll have more freedom.

A DeVos-headed education department could signal a loosening of federal regulations on Wisconsin schools, said Jon Bales, former superintendent of DeForest School District and current executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.

I think largely she will reflect the interest in sort of diminishing the reach of the federal department of education, said Bales. I dont see a lot of far reaching influence and considerable push on school improvement efforts by Department of Education  I think that will shift back to the states and it will be a matter of how states translate that new opportunity and flexibility.
A Republican state senator who oversees natural-resource issues has panned a proposal to split up the state Department of Natural Resources, saying it would create more bureaucracy and hamper the departments environmental mission.

Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, joins DNR secretary Cathy Stepp in raising questions about the breakup plan.

State Rep. Adam Jarchow, R-Balsam Lake, has been crafting the proposal behind the scenes for months. Gov. Scott Walker made the proposal public in December, and it sparked swift controversy heading into the legislative session, which began Jan. 3.

Jarchow has said the DNR is not working in its current form. He proposes splitting the department into two agencies, one focused on hunting and fishing and the other on environmental protection. Other DNR duties, including parks and forestry, would be parceled out to three other agencies.

Cowles, chairman of the Senate committee overseeing natural resources, a potential waypoint in that chamber for DNR bills, told the Wisconsin State Journal on Tuesday that he doesnt support the proposal.

I dont think (Jarchow) has built a rationale for it, other than saying his constituents tell him that (the DNR) doesnt work. My constituents have not told me that, said Cowles, R-Green Bay. Some of my constituents have problems with different things that (the agency does), and we may modify some things down there. But to break up an agency and create more bureaucracy and more confusion, it doesnt appeal to me at all.

It would make things more confusing, more expensive, and deter from the ultimate mission of the DNR: to protect the resources in a reasonable way.

The proposal has not been introduced in bill form, but details of it were provided to Walkers office and the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Walker has said hes open to considering the idea.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, told reporters earlier this month that he has an open ear to Jarchows plan  adding he would look for guidance from Cowles and Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, chairman of a Senate committee on outdoor sports, mining and forestry.

The offices of Fitzgerald and Jarchow did not immediately respond Tuesday to requests to respond to Cowles comments.

Cowles noted in the interview that lawmakers could include a DNR breakup plan in the state budget, which would limit the ability of the committee Cowles leads  which oversees natural resources and energy  to modify it.

Natural-resources and conservation groups have criticized the proposal, saying it would be costly to taxpayers and impede state governments ability to protect the environment.

Former DNR secretaries and the departments current secretary, Stepp, also have weighed in against the idea. Stepp told the State Journal last week that the agency instead should be allowed to move forward with a recently launched reorganization.

The DNR was created in the 1960s by consolidating agencies that handled conservation and environmental programs, with the aim of increasing efficiency and making it easier for the public to have concerns addressed.
Two Madison organizations found support from the City Council to expand their operations on Tuesday.

Council members voted to provide a $35,000 loan to Regent Market Co-op as the grocery store undergoes a $1.2 million expansion of its Near West Side location.

The citys Economic Development Division also received council approval to apply for a $250,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to assist the nonprofit Sector67 in purchasing and remodeling a new headquarters.

Regent Markets loan will come from the Madison Capital Revolving Fund and will help the organization, 2136 Regent St., improve its solar energy production.

Sector67 is looking to move into a larger East Side location at 56 Corry St. from its current space in a former pole barn at 2100 Winnebago St.

The collaborative workshop is a space for people to learn, teach and create various technology, such as metalwork, application development and sewing.

Council members also approved an agreement between the city and Iowa-based RDG Dahlquist Art Studio to design, fabricate and install a public art piece where State Street meets Library Mall and East Campus Mall on the UW-Madison campus.

The studios initial concept design includes a lighted stone feature next to a 20-foot-tall steel structure. The project is funded by tax incremental financing proceeds. After $12,000 has been spent on the projects design, the estimated remaining cost is $160,000.
In a major move, the Gujarat Government on Wednesday announced a whooping hike of 63 to 124 per cent in the salary of its fixed-pay employees. The move would benefit 1.18 lakh employees and it would cost the state exchequer Rs 13,00 crore, additionally, every year.

The hike is as per the 7th Pay Commission and will be effective from February 2017. Class II, III and IV employees will be benefitted.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said in Gandhinagar that the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday.

Among those who would be benefited includes police sub inspectors, police inspectors, head clerks, office superintendents, staff nurses, drivers and ward boys.

Deputy education officers and office superintendents, who were getting Rs 17,000 per month, would now get Rs 38,090 per month based on 124 per cent hike.

People like staff nurses, deputy accountants will get 90 per cent hike. Their salary will increase from existing Rs 16,500 to Rs 31,340.

The beneficiary of the new pay hike, will also get 10 per cent House Rent Allowance.
The impact of Donald Trump's presidency on existing world order dominated almost every discussion on the second day of Raisina Dialogue, a conclave on international policy, in Delhi.

The tone was set on the inauguration day itself when former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd said that 2017 would be the year of living dangerously. The top item on his danger list was Trump Presidency, followed by Brexit.

On Day 2, Robert Blackwill of the Council of Foreign Relations, USA, noted that Trump may have an adverse effect in geoeconomics if he insisted on weakening the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Michael Pillsbury, consultant at the Department of Defense, USA, noted that the most certain bit about Trump policy was the uncertainty of his actions. However, he said that recent actions by Trump, could not bode well for relations with China. He mentioned how Trump had not toed the official line on the One China policy while accepting congratulations from the Taiwanese prime minister. The relations with China will also be impacted by the sale of arms to India [though this was started by the Obama regime]''. Largely, he said, India would not be affected by his presidency because he would not bother about India.

The Chinese, for their part, wondered how Trump saw China as an impediment to his endeavour to 'Make America Great Again'. We can actually help the US maintain its supremacy; why is the US worried about us?'' said Shen Dingli, professor at China's Fudan University.

Lisa Curtis, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, US, however struck a reassuring note when she said that American democracy was a 240-year-old institution which had evolved its set of checks and balances. She also said that Trump's call for America First should not be considered isolationist. He understood the feelings of Americans betrayed by Washington, which had been increasingly focussing more on the international perspective than the domestic one, she noted. Curtis said that while changes were likely in the US policy to protect American workers, you can put America First, but to keep it first you need alliances and coalitions.''

Curtis also hinted that Trump seemed interested in rebuilding American military, which meant he might not back out from existing commitments. General Sir Chris Deverell, commander of UK's Joint Forces Command said that while he would not prejudge Trump's military stance, the UK would not withdraw troops from Afghanistan anytime soon.

The evening session was entirely devoted to discussing how Trump's policies would impact Climate change commitments.
For politicians, age is just a number. They don't retire from public life.

Veteran Congress leader and former Uttarakhand chief minister N.D. Tiwari, along with his son Rohit Shekhar, joined the BJP in New Delhi on Wednesday.

BJP President Amit Shah inducted 91-year-old Tiwari and his 37-year-old son into the party fold with an eye on upper caste Brahmin votes in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh where the assembly elections would be held next month.

Tiwari is the second former chief minister from the Congress stable to have switched sides. Earlier, Vijay Bahuguna had joined BJP, after rebelling against the grand old party. Vijay's sister Rita Bahuguna, also a senior Congress leader from UP, too had joined the saffron fold. According to BJP sources, these entries would help the BJP get Pahari votes as people from Uttarakhand are also spread in UP.

Vijay Bahuguna had managed to get a ticket for his son Saurabh Bahuguna for the upcoming election in Uttarakhand. Tiwari's son may also be looking for a similar deal.

Tiwari's entry to BJP cannot be effectively translated into votes as he cannot campaign, but his presence can serve as a signal to his supporters.

The veteran Congressman have had a colorful past. He married at age to 88, three years ago, to formalise his relation with Ujjwala Sharma, through whom he had son, Rohit Shekhar. As Tiwari had refused to acknowledge Rohit as his son, the latter had moved court to establish their biological relationship. Tiwari had finally relented.

Tiwari had served as chief minister of both Utrakhand and UP, and was also the governor of Andhra Pradesh from where he had to resign following a sex scandal.
A former chairman of Gov. Scott Walker's political campaign will co-host a fundraiser for a state superintendent candidate who in 2011 signed a petition to recall the governor.

Michael Grebe will co-host a fundraiser on Wednesday at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee for former Dodgeville School District administrator John Humphries, who has since praised Act 10, Walker's signature law that curtailed collective bargaining for most public employees, according to Humphries' campaign.

Grebe joins Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation chairwoman Lisa Mauer and Corey Hoze, who is on the conservative think tank Wisconsin Policy Research Institute's board of directors, among others in hosting the fundraiser, according to an email invitation from Humphries' campaign.

Humphries, now a consultant to the Dodgeville district, at his campaign kickoff event in November praised the legislation, saying it was necessary to make positive changes in his school district.

"Like many people, I had concerns about Act 10 and the turmoil of that time. I was worried about the effects this would have on children and teachers," said Humphries in November. "Since then, I've seen how necessary those changes have been for school improvement to work."

He said school districts can save money because of reduced health insurance costs for staff and can be creative in retaining teachers, such as by providing bonuses.

The invitation from campaign manager Brian Schupper says the fundraiser co-hosts join Reps. Jason Fields, D-Milwaukee, and Jeremy Thiesfeldt, R-Fond du Lac, "in supporting a campaign that puts politics aside and places student achievement above all else."

Humphries is one of three candidates seeking to unseat incumbent state superintendent Tony Evers.

On Tuesday, Evers' campaign reported raising $49,393 since October and has $117,328 in cash on hand. Humphries' campaign reported raising $31,211 in that time.

According to the Associated Press, third candidate former Whitnall School District superintendent reported having about $2,200 cash on hand after raising about $5,000 last year and write-in candidate Rick Melcher had not yet submitted finance reports as of Tuesday evening.

The two candidates with the top votes after a Feb. 21 primary will meet in an April 4 general election.
CLEVELAND  The search for human remains from a plane that crashed into Lake Erie last month has ended.

Six people were killed in the crash, including UW-Madison freshman nursing student Megan Casey, 19.

DNA testing has identified three of those killed, an airport official said Tuesday.

Due to conditions in the water, it is not likely we will be able to recover additional human remains from dives at this point, Burke Lakefront Airport Commissioner Khalid Bahhur said.

Divers on Tuesday recovered two large pieces of debris but no additional human remains from the Cessna Citation 525 that crashed minutes after takeoff during snowy conditions on Dec. 29.

Bahhur read a statement from Cuyahoga Countys medical examiner about the identification of the DNA profiles. The statement said comparison testing was underway to confirm the profiles match profiles provided by passengers relatives.

Also killed were Columbus businessman John T. Fleming, who was the pilot; his wife, Sue Fleming; their teenage sons, Jack and Andrew Fleming; and their neighbor and Caseys father, Brian Casey. The plane was headed back to Columbus after the six attended a Cleveland Cavaliers game that evening.

Relatives of those killed were told on Tuesday that the recovery effort had ended, Bahhur said.

A decision like this one is not made lightly, but is a decision that must be made at some point to provide closure to the families and those who worked closely on this operation, he said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the planes cockpit voice recorder has a usable recording and a committee in Washington, D.C., will listen to and transcribe it for the investigation by the NTSB and the Federation Aviation Administration into the cause of the crash.

The search grid was narrowed from about 11 square miles to about 300 feet by 600 feet using 3-D mapping and other information, and further narrowed with equipment from the NTSB, Bahhur said.
UW-Madison physics professor James Lawler has been awarded the 2017 Laboratory Astrophysics Prize by the American Astronomical Society for his significant contributions to the science.

Lawler, the Arthur and Aurelia Schawlow Professor of Physics at UW-Madison, was cited for his work "developing methods and technologies to further understand galactic nucleosynthesis and chemical evolution," the AAS said.

In simpler terms, he has devised new techniques to measure the chemical elements in the sun and other stars, the university said.

Lawler earned his doctorate at UW-Madison and is the recipient of numerous awards. During his tenure, he has trained 35 graduate students who've had prominent careers in academia and industry, the university said.
[COMMUNICATED CONTENT]

Rav Mordechai Avromovsky has never missed a levaya in Zichron Yaakov since becoming the citys Chief Rabbi decades ago. When an elderly, barely-frum member of his shul passed away a few years ago, as usual Rav Avromovsky attended the levaya and then was menachem the aveilim at the familys home. Rabbi Avromovsky led the minyan there and even showed the niftars son, a secular man, how to put on tefillin and say Kaddish. At the end of the shiva, the secular son asked if he could come to shul the next day and continue saying Kaddish for his father there, and Rav Avromovsky said, Of course! Yes! The secular man joined the minyan for several days, and then one morning asked another member of the minyan if it would be okay if he davened from the amud. The secular man wanted to lead the minyan for the zechus of his deceased father. The member of the minyan pointed towards the shtender at the front of the shul, and the secular man led Shacharis for the first time in his life. Immediately after the last Kaddish, a visibly upset member of the shul approached the secular man and began rebuking him: How can you be the shaliyach tzibur when you are mechallel Shabbos publicly! Do you think you can be motzei us in your brachos?! The secular man stood aghast, feeling all eyes in the minyan were watching the public rebuke. He looked around, and he saw Rav Mordechai Avromovsky, his Rav, his friend, also watching. The secular man interrupted the shul member and said, Lets ask the Rav. The shul member turned, saw Rav Avromovsky watching, and said, Gladly! And the two men approached the Rav. The shul member made his case, and Rav Avromovsky responded powerfully, Of course he can daven from the amud! Of course he can be the shaliyach tzibur! He must be the shaliyach tzibur! The shul member was completely confused. Unable to understand the reason for the Ravs psak, but clear that the Rav permits this secular man to lead davening, the shul member just walked away. The secular man also shifted to depart, but Rav Avromovsky called him back and whispered, Do you know why I poskined you can daven from the amud? The secular man, who now realized that a mechallel Shabbos really cant lead a minyan, responded, No, Rav, I dont understand. Rav Avromovsky explained, When that man rebuked you and told you that you couldnt lead the minyan for the zechus of your father because you are a mechallel Shabbos, I saw your face change. I saw the regret you felt. I understood that for your father, you will never be mechallel Shabbos again. Since I knew that now you are a Shomer Shabbos, I poskined that you can and should lead our minyan.

As he concluded recounting this story to the avreichim of the Center for Kehillah Development, Rav Avromovsky added: He was never mechallel Shabbos again, and for years he has been a frum member of our kehillah. That hanhaga is found only in the fifth chelek of Shulchan Aruch.

The CKD trip to Zichron Yaakov in December was part of the programs shimush component, a component that brings the CKD avreichim into close, personal contact on a regular basis with some of the most influential rabbonim in Klal Yisroel.

Rav Avromovsky, who also serves as the acting Chief Rabbi of Haifa and is in charge of Rabbanut Kashrus, then took the avreichim on a daylong tour of Tishbi Winery, the Beit El industrial food manufacturing facility, and Eden Hotel  all of which are under his hashgacha and meet Bdatz standards. The avreichim learned first- hand the subtle but significant differences between ordinary Rabbanut hashgacha, Rabbanut Mehadrin hashgacha, and the various Bdatz hashgachos.

Everyone knows from hearsay that their standards are different, said Rav Leib Kelemen, Dean of the CKD, but very few rabbonim really understand what those differences are and what the implications are for someone who is makpid on eating only mehadrin. Rav Kelemen explained that kashrus is not a game, and genuine psak cant be based on hearsay or politics. Youve got to know the facts on the ground, he stressed, and the only way to know those facts is real shimush, seeing what is actually happening in the field.

After the tour, Rav Avromovsky sat with the avreichim for an hour, telling stories from his many years in rabbanus. He concluded with a story about one of the first drashos he ever gave on the Yamim Noraim: It was erev Yom Kippur, and the shul was packed. Secular Jews I had never seen before even filed in and filled up the back rows. I gave a mussar shmuess full of fire to try to wake them up from their slumber. When I was leaving the shul that night, a secular woman approached me. She was so upset. Rabbi, she said, We came. We are the ones who came. Why did you yell at us? I realized she was right. The next day I welcomed them all and tried to show them the beauty of teshuva. Everyone could hear that. I learned then that even with good intention, I make mistakes. Rabbis make mistakes.

Rabbi Avromovsky looked out at the faces of the CKD avreichim, all of whom will soon be rabbinic leaders, and he concluded, Dont forget that even with the best of intentions, you can be wrong. Dont be afraid to admit when you are wrong.

The Center for Kehillah Development is a five-year, post-kollel program for English speaking avreichim between ages 25-30 who are committed to serving Klal Yisroel. They are now taking applications for a limited number of spots for this coming Elul. To find out more about the program, visit www.c4kd.org, or apply by emailing [email protected].
With the U.S. Senates Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 17 to hold a confirmation hearing for Betsy DeVos as the new administrations education secretary, the Orthodox Union sent the following letter (text below) to the committee in support of her nomination. Additionally, Nathan Diament, Executive Director for Public Policy for the Orthodox Union published an op-ed in The Washington Times about how DeVos can implement much-needed education reforms.

The Honorable Lamar Alexander, Chairman

The Honorable Patty Murray, Ranking Member

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

United States Senate

Washington, DC

Dear Chairman Alexander, Ranking Member Murray, and Members of the Senate HELP Committee:

We write to you on behalf of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU) with regard to the United States Senates consideration of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America is the nations largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization representing nearly 1,000 congregations nationwide. As a non-partisan, religious organization, it is our practice not to endorse nominees for cabinet positions while their confirmation is pending. However, we wish to express our view on the issues of school choice and nonpublic education, which will likely be discussed during Ms. DeVoss upcoming nomination hearing.

Many members of the Orthodox Jewish community depend on alternative education choices for their children. The Orthodox Union has committed itself to supporting educational institutions that instill in our children the highest moral values, a depth of knowledge, and proficiency in skills that will enable them to support themselves, their families, and contribute to society.

To ensure that all children have the opportunity to receive a quality education, the OU has long advocated for school choice initiatives. On the federal level, the OU has supported many initiatives and legislation that gives parents choices and flexibility in the education of their children. On the state level the OU has been active in several states to support creative approaches to ensuring all children have the necessary support to succeed, regardless of their education institution. Such legislation and initiatives also elevate the level of education in public schools and serve as a model for educational reform throughout the nation.

Reforms to K-12 education that empower parents above bureaucracies are long overdueand Ms. DeVos has a long history of advocating for and supporting such reforms. School choice models have been successful in Washington, DC, Detroit, New York, and many other school districts. All who care about our students succeeding should support Ms. DeVos and hope that she, too, succeeds.

In recent federal legislation, the OU was pleased to work with you on Every Student Succeeds Act because of the proportional funding set-aside and other provisions that supported equitable participation of children in nonpublic schools. This equitable participation provided low-income students attending religious schools, private schools, and home schools their fair share of federal services offered under this law. The OU is eager to continue working with the Administration and Congress on access to education for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status or their school.

With a new Administration and new leadership at the Department of Education, we are hopeful that the 115th Congress will make education initiativesincluding school choice and support for nonpublic educationa top priority.

Sincerely,

Nathan Diament, Executive Director for Public Policy

Yehuda Neuberger, Chairman

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Sheikh Raid Salah, who heads the Northern Branch of the Israel Islamic Association, was released from prison on Tuesday morning after serving a nine-month sentence. Salah boarded a number 369 bus and headed home.

His most recent sentence was for a conviction on incitement charges. He has served prison terms in the past for his association with Hamas.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri on Monday signed an order prohibiting Salah from leaving the country, explaining doing so would represent a danger to state security.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: via Media Resource Group)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Construction on news caravan homes got underway in Amona on Tuesday, 19 Teves, in line with a government commitment to permit residents to locate elsewhere on the hilltop, which was ordered evacuated by the High Court of Justice.

An agreement was reached between residents of Amona and government representatives by which many of the current residents will be permitted to relocate nearby and remain. There has been speculation by many that the government does not plan to meet its obligation on time as little has been done, but with the arrival of the caravans on Tuesday is for many a positive sign vis-a-vis the governments intension to comply with the agreement in a timely fashion.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: O.S via Media Resource Group)
The accused perpetrator of a New Years nightclub attack in Istanbul has confessed and his fingerprints are a match, Turkish authorities said Tuesday. They identified him as an Uzbek national who trained in Afghanistan and staged the attack for the Islamic State group.

The gunman shot a policeman and a civilian outside the Reina night club before entering the swanky building on the banks of the Bosporus and unleashing a hail of bullets on hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the end of 2016.

A total of 39 people lost their lives and dozens others were wounded. Most of the victims came from the Middle East.

The suspect, who switched clothes during the attack, fled the scene by blending into the crowd of survivors. He succeeded in evading police for more than took weeks, reportedly collecting his son in a working class neighborhood of Istanbul before hiding out in a luxury apartment at another low-income district.

Photographs widely published in the Turkish media showed a bruised, black-haired man in a gray, bloodied shirt being held by his neck. NTV television said the gunman had resisted arrest.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced on Tuesday that the vile terrorist who attacked the nightclub had been captured. Speaking to reporters in Ankara, he said the forces behind (the attack) would be revealed in time.

Moments later, in separate remarks, Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin, gave a full portrait of the suspected killer and the efforts that went into securing his capture.

Sahin named the alleged killer as Abdulkadir Masharipov, an Uzbek national who was born in 1983 and also operated under the alias Ebu Muhammed Horasani. Turkish media have reported the suspects first name as Abdulgadir.

Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency said Masharipov traveled to Afghanistan from his home country six years ago and claimed he was on a wanted list in Uzbekistan for membership in a terror group.

The suspect, according to the governor of Istanbul, had trained in Afghanistan and was believed to have entered Turkey in January 2016. He described him as a highly educated terrorist who speaks four languages and had clearly carried out the attack in the name of IS.

Masharipov, who was taken into custody late Monday, confessed to carrying out the massacre and his fingerprints matched those of the attacker, Gov. Sahin said.

He can be held for up to 30 days under Turkeys state of emergency, which was introduced after a failed coup attempt in July, before he is charged and formally arrested. It could take prosecutors several months to prepare for a trial.

The police operation to apprehend Masharipov drew on a review of 7,200 hours of security camera footage and about 2,200 tipoffs from the public. Police searched 152 addresses and 50 people were taken into custody.

Authorities seized nearly $200,000, two guns and two drones during the suspects arrest.

Together with the terrorist, an Iraqi man was detained as well as three women from various countries  from Egypt and from Africa, Sahin said. There is a high chance that they may be connected (to IS) because they were staying in the same house.

The governor said it was believed that they arrived three days earlier at Esenyurt, a low-income neighborhood of Istanbul that has witnessed a construction boom.

AP reporters visited the suspects apartment on Tuesday, finding doors with broken locks, food and garbage on the floor and clothes outside of the closets. They also saw a womans purse and money of various currencies including Egyptian and Sudanese pounds.

Neighbors of the alleged attacker were in shock to learn of his identity and find their building at the heart of a large-scale police operation. Ali Haydar Demir said he came out of his apartment when he heard the commotion only to be turned back by police officers who told him to close his door.

Demir, who lived on the same floor of the Istanbul complex as Masharipov, said he felt very bad living in the same building with a person like that.

Another resident, Sezer Aras, described the situation as a nightmare. He told the AP he was very close to us, but we had no idea.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said that the gunmans 4-year-old son was taken into protective custody.

Hurriyet newspaper earlier reported that the suspects wife and 1-year-old daughter were caught in a police operation in the neighborhood of Zeytinburnu on Jan. 12.

In another report citing police officials, the newspaper said the gunman had picked up his son from Zeytinburnu after attacking the nightclub.

Sahin said the boy wasnt with Masharipov on the night of the police operation, although he had taken the child with him and left his daughter with his wife.

IS has claimed responsibility for the nightclub massacre, saying the attack in the first hours of Jan. 1 was in reprisal for Turkish military operations in northern Syria.

Days after the attack, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said an intelligence agency may have been involved, an assertion he reiterated Monday. But Sahin, when asked about it, declined to comment, saying: It is too soon to say anything about such connections.

Anadolu said police also carried out raids on members of a suspected Uzbek IS cell in five Istanbul neighborhoods, and detained several people.

Turkish media also circulated a photograph of the Iraqi suspect lying on the floor face down, hands bound behind his back, with the boot of an unidentified man pressed to the back of his head.

Speaking in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked his countrys security and intelligence agencies for their efforts.

In this country, no one will slip through the net, everyone will be held to account within the limits of the rule of law, he said.

Turkey, a member of NATO and a partner in the U.S.-led coalition against IS, has endured multiple attacks attributed to the extremist group. IS said the assault on the nightclub was retaliation for Turkeys military operations in northern Syria.

The country has also witnessed an uptick in violence linked to the resumption of conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish militants.

(AP)
As Donald Trump approaches his inauguration, young Americans have a deeply pessimistic view about his incoming administration, with young blacks, Latinos and Asian Americans particularly concerned about whats to come in the next four years.

Thats according to a new GenForward poll of Americans aged 18 to 30, which found that the countrys young adults are more likely to expect theyll be worse off at the end of Trumps first term than better off. Such young Americans are also far more likely to think Trump will divide the country than unite it, by a 60 percent to 19 percent margin.

Fifty-two percent of young whites, 72 percent of Latinos, 66 percent of Asian-Americans and 70 percent of blacks think Trumps presidency will lead to a more divided nation.

Minority people are very afraid of all the rhetoric that he ran upon (in) his campaign, said Jada Selma, a 28-year-old African-American graduate school student living in Atlanta. Anytime he mentioned black people, he would talk about poor people or inner city. He would think that all of us live in the inner city and that were all poor.

If youre not a straight white male, than I dont think hes looking out for you as an American, she said.

GenForward is a survey of adults age 18 to 30 by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago with the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The first-of-its-kind poll pays special attention to the voices of young adults of color, highlighting how race and ethnicity shape the opinions of a new generation.

The poll found that 54 percent of young people overall say life for people of color will be worse with Trump as president. About two-thirds of young blacks, Asian-Americans and Latinos think things will get worse for people of color, and whites are also more likely to expect things to get worse than better for minorities, 46 percent to 21 percent.

Overall, 40 percent of young adults think they personally will be worse off four years from now, while just 23 percent expect to be better off. Young people of color are significantly more likely to think they will be worse off than better off, while young whites are more split in their personal expectations.

Kuinta Hayle, a 21-year-old African-American from Charlotte, said she is worried that Trumps selection for attorney general, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, could roll back civil rights. She said Trumps foray into birtherism, during which he propagated the lie that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States, still bothered her.

That was very meaningful. It still hurts, Hayle said. He doesnt know anything about my life or the lives of people who arent like him. I feel Donald Trump is only for rich people. Obama was for people who didnt have much.

Although he had a decisive win in the Electoral College, Trump lost the overall popular vote to opponent Hillary Clinton and has done little to reach out to those who didnt support him in Novembers election. He focused his post-election Thank You tour on states he won, settling scores on stage as he boasted about his surprising electoral victory.

Over the weekend, Trump tore into Georgia Rep. John Lewis, among the most revered leaders of the civil rights movement, for questioning the legitimacy of his victory and saying he would not attend Fridays inauguration.

As for Obamas presidency, young Americans are split on whether he has done more to unite or divide Americans, 38 percent to 35 percent, with 26 percent saying it did neither.

Young blacks (57 percent to 16 percent), Latinos (57 percent to 19 percent) and Asian Americans (46 percent to 27 percent) are far more likely to say Obama united than divided Americans. But young whites are more likely to say, by a 46 percent to 26 percent margin, that Obamas presidency was a dividing force.

Indeed, not all young Americans are pessimistic about the incoming president.

Hell be good for the economy. Hes a businessman and hell bring more jobs back, said Francisco Barrera, 26, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, who voted for Trump. I think hes going to do good and hes going to end this political correctness. You cant even say God in the schools no more. Trump will put him back.

A majority of young adults think Trump will go down in history as not a very good president or a poor one. Young people of color are particularly likely to think Trumps presidency will be not good or poor, but even young whites are more likely to expect that than to think it will be good or great, 48 percent to 27 percent.

Young Americans are divided as to whether Trump will accomplish his campaign promises. While most think hell probably cut taxes for the rich and more than half of young people (59 percent) think Trump will deport millions of immigrants living in the country illegally, just 39 percent expect that he will be successful in building a wall along the Mexican border.

However, about half of young Hispanics think that Trump is likely to build a border wall. And more than 7 in 10 young people believe he will definitely or probably succeed at repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Hes not even been inaugurated yet and hes already alienating people, said Greg Davis, a white 28-year-old graduate student living in Columbus, Ohio. Hes still parroting the alt-rights messages. His policy ideas I think would be awful. His nominees for Cabinet positions are disastrous. Hes nominating people who have the exactly the wrong ideas.

I think its going to be a disaster, Davis said.

(AP)
As the shock of Donald Trumps election victory is giving way to analysis about how his presidency will affect Americans lives, our digital freedom of speech deserves special consideration. The ability to express ourselves freely is a fundamental right guaranteed to us all.

There are three major elements that determine how free we are in our online expression: The press must be free to publish anything newsworthy about public officials without fear of serious reprisals. Online communications must be able to reach broad audiences without discrimination by internet service providers. And the government must not be able to spy indiscriminately on ordinary law-abiding Americans.

Before and during the campaign, Trump made pronouncements that suggest deep and widespread implications for digital freedom of speech if those ideas end up guiding his administration. As a scholar of digital communication, I am concerned about what he and his administration will do once in office. Trumps actions could result in weaker protections for our free press, less competition and higher prices for online consumers, certain forms of online censorship and a return to an intrusive online surveillance regime. The public must prepare to stand up to oppose these infringements on our rights.

Attacking the press

During his presidential bid, Donald Trump ran as much against the press as against his Republican primary opponents and Hillary Clinton. This was despite the fact that many press outlets were only doing what they usually do during campaigns: scrutinize both parties front-runners and nominees.

Most candidates simply grin and bear the ritual press grillings, but not Trump. He showed an unusually thin skin for a presidential contender, directly attacking the press during raucous rallies and routinely banning certain news outlets from covering his campaign.

But he also went beyond even these extraordinary steps, suggesting that he would open up libel laws to make it easier for public figures to sue news outlets: [W]hen people write incorrectly about you and you can prove that they wrote incorrectly, were going to get them through the court system to change and were going to get them to pay damages, said Trump.

This is, in fact, what current libel law already allows. Strikingly, Trump has combined his seeming ignorance of libel law (despite his many years in the public eye) with a sense that todays existing restrictions on the press are too loose. This suggests that he may seek to enshrine in law or policy his particular animosity toward the press.

He also has been willing to attack any and all critics, including private citizens. Combined, these elements raise questions about the degree, if any, to which Trump values freedom of the press, digital or otherwise.

His Cabinet appointments do not inspire confidence in his support of this principle, either. During his confirmation hearing, Trumps nominee for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, dodged questions about his willingness to prosecute journalists based on their reporting, including handling leaks from government employees. He has also opposed a federal shield law that would protect journalists against such prosecutions.

Threatening an open internet

Network neutrality was not a hot topic during this presidential election, but that may change during a Trump administration.

During the debate over net neutrality in 2014, Trump tweeted that the policy was a top down power grab that would target conservative media. He appears to have conflated net neutralitys nondiscrimination principle with the now-defunct Fairness Doctrine. That policy, discontinued in 1987, required broadcasters to devote equal time to opposing views about controversial public issues. Its hard to know which is more worrying: his early antipathy toward net neutrality, or his objections despite not knowing what it actually means.

Whatever Trump himself understands, his appointments look like bad news for supporters of an open internet. President-elect Trump has named Jeffrey Eisenach and Mark Jamison to oversee the transition at the Federal Communications Commission, which oversees internet communications policy. Both are staff members at the conservative American Enterprise Institute and former lobbyists for major telecommunications companies. Both are also vocal opponents of net neutrality. Also on his FCC transition team are Roslyn Layton, another staff member at AEI and vocal net neutrality opponent, and North Carolina telecom entrepreneur David Morken.

Morken is not on record as opposing net neutrality, but so far its supporters seem outnumbered. Those signs suggest that a Trump administration could enable an internet where wealthy people and companies can afford to distribute their content everywhere quickly, while regular people and small businesses cant attract an audience or deliver content efficiently.

Perpetuating the surveillance state

During the campaign, candidate Trump supported keeping or restoring the NSAs secret surveillance programs, which former agency contractor Edward Snowden revealed in 2013. Those programs, with a questionable legal basis, collected internet and telephone communications from all Americans, storing them in a massive government database.

Although Congress voted across partisan lines to eliminate these programs in 2015, Trumps election may help revive them. He has named Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas), a supporter of the NSA surveillance programs Congress eliminated, as the next CIA director.

The programs are unpopular with Americans: It is perhaps no coincidence that interest in technologies that would make government surveillance more difficult, such as encrypted email and encrypted instant messaging apps, has surged since Trumps election.

How successful could Trump be?

We are not necessarily doomed to lose our digital freedom of speech. As with any public policy question, the answer is more complicated. Should Trump begin to wage on a full-fledged assault on digital expression, the degree to which he can succeed may be limited.

One factor is his ability to navigate the extremely complex and time-consuming obstacle course that is the American system of government. With its separation of powers, bicameral legislature, multiple layers of jurisdiction and endless veto points, the American system strongly favors inertia over just about any course of action.

But a highly motivated president with an authoritarian streak could potentially cut through this inertia by, for example, embracing a strong unitary executive view of the presidency.

When the public gets involved, even seemingly entrenched plans can be derailed, or even reversed. For example, a mass of public involvement (with a little assistance from comedian John Oliver) transformed the initial net neutrality debate.

This power the public holds  if it chooses to wield it  can be used in two ways: First, it can resist unwelcome changes, by reinforcing the political tendency toward inertia and the status quo. And second, it can drive policymakers to better serve the public who employ them. Its unclear at present which tactic protecting our digital freedom of speech will require  or whether well need both. In American politics, elections may have consequences, but theyre never the end of the story.

(AP)
With the U.S. increasingly looking inward and China eager to take a lead on the global stage, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday cast his country as a champion of free trade and stability, a rebuke to the isolationist urges that helped carry Donald Trump to power.

Some of the elites listening in Davos, Switzerland, hailed a statesmanlike, even Barack Obama-like speech from Xi as the first Chinese head of state to attend the World Economic Forum  even if it depicted a Chinese commitment to open markets that falls short of reality.

The speech, rife with metaphor and allusions to Ali Baba, Chinese proverbs and even Abraham Lincoln, highlighted a high-brow effort to make a contrast with an incoming U.S. leader whose own words regularly stirred controversy at home and abroad and created new doubts about U.S. leadership in the world.

We must remain committed to promoting free trade and investment through opening up and say no to protectionism, Xi told an opening meeting of the WEF. Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. While wind and rain may be kept outside, so are light and air.

No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war, he said.

During his campaign, Trump promised to raise tariffs on Chinese goods and declare Beijing guilty of keeping its currency artificially low. That would be a first step toward imposing sanctions. But in fact, for the past couple of years China has been intervening in markets to prop up its currency, not push it lower.

China has no intention to boost its trade competitiveness by devaluing the renminbi, still less will it launch a currency war, Xi said Tuesday.

Xi made no direct reference to Trump, but his vocal support for free trade could appear rich to other Western countries who have grumbled about commercial restrictions in China.

Foreign companies complain Beijing is reducing access to its markets for electric cars, computer security technology and other promising fields or pressing them to give know-how to potential Chinese competitors. Some say they are blocked from acquiring assets in China, just as Chinese companies have been on a foreign buying spree.

The political leadership of China never ceases to assure us that further opening toward foreign investment  is a priority, Germanys ambassador to China, Michael Clauss, said this week. However, many companies keep telling us that their difficulties in these areas have increased.

It often appears that somewhere down the line, political assurances of equal treatment give way to protectionist tendencies, he said in a statement.

Beijing also faces U.S. and European complaints it is exporting steel, aluminum, solar panels and other goods at improperly low prices, threatening thousands of jobs abroad.

These are very nice words, said Nariman Behravesh, IHS chief economist, of the Xi speech. What specific things is China going to do in terms of opening up, becoming a true engine of globalization?  I like the commitments but in English we have an expression, Actions speak louder than words. Lets see what the actions are.

Xi also stepped into other areas of international consensus, calling the Paris accord to fight climate change a hard-won achievement, and urging signatories to stick to it.

Trump, who has called climate change a Chinese hoax, has raised speculation that he might pull the U.S. out.

The visit by Xi caps the largest-ever Chinese delegation to Davos, including over 100 officials and scores of business executives and embodying a tectonic shift at an event that started nearly a half-century ago among Europeans and Americans.

Speaking Monday, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab said this years event is not just a Western meeting. One third of participants are from developing economies.

The bumpy run-up to the Trump administration  Trumps poll numbers are low for an incoming president  has given the Chinese leader a convenient opportunity to advance his goal of giving his country a more assertive leadership role.

China previously sought to capture the mantle as a supporter of world trade after Trump said he would pull the United States out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal championed by President Barack Obama.

Xi cast the world economy as adrift, saying it lacked a driving force and that inadequate global governance and unequal benefits have widened the gulf between rich and poor. This is the biggest challenge in the world today, he said.

He called for a new growth model that takes into account climate change, aging populations and increased automation.

Xi hit hard on the metaphor of the world economy as an ocean, saying countries must have courage to swim in the global market.

We should not develop a habit of retreating to the harbor whenever encountering the storm, for this will never get us to the other shore of the ocean, he said.

Mainstream Western leaders have been grappling with populist movements at home, including the one that helped undergird Trumps election victory. His transition team has one top adviser, Anthony Scaramucci, at the forum ahead of Fridays presidential inauguration.

Chinese officials last week said that envoys to the WEF were willing to meet with members of Trumps team in Davos, but Scaramucci said he didnt hear Xis speech. Outgoing Vice President Joe Biden did, however, and briefly met with the Chinese leader, a U.S. diplomatic official said.

Some have been puzzled by the shifting geopolitical landscape epitomized by Xis speech championing free trade and globalism. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, as he interviewed Secretary of State John Kerry in Davos, quipped: If you had just read me the words, I would have told you: I didnt know that President Obama came here.'

(AP)
Irans president on Tuesday compared talk of renegotiating its nuclear accord to converting a shirt back to cotton, and said U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps talk of doing so is mainly slogans.

Trump has strongly criticized the deal struck with world powers, in which Iran agreed to curb its uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief, but has not said what he plans to do about the agreement.

Irans President Hassan Rouhani told reporters that renegotiation has no meaning at all.

Mr. Trump has so far made many remarks on the deal, he added. These are mainly slogans. I do not see it as likely that something happens in practice. He said the deal is beneficial to the United States, but that Trump doesnt understand this.

The agreement also included Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. None have expressed interest in scrapping the deal or restoring sanctions.

There will be no negotiations on the nuclear deal, Rouhani said. The deal has been finalized and it was approved in the U.N. Security Council.

Rouhani, a moderate who has advocated greater openness toward the West, is up for re-election in May, in what will likely be seen as a referendum on the nuclear deal. He said the new administration in Washington would have no impact on the vote.

(AP)
Security forces early Tuesday morning, 20 Teves, arrived at Um el-Chiran, a Bedouin village in the Negev to execute demolition orders. The first troops arrived before sunrise, at about 5:15AM.

As they were arriving, a vehicle headed directly at security forces in an effort to run them officer. The terrorist was neutralized. An unspecified number of border policemen have been wounded.

According to a police statement, The terrorist [driving the vehicle] is affiliated with the Southern Chapter of the Israel Islamic Association and he maintains connections with ISIS.

More to follow.

7:46AM IL: It is now reported the terrorist has died of his injuries. At least one person has been killed, apparently, a villager. There are police personnel among the wounded.

8:00AM IL: Bedouin villagers are reporting two persons have been killed. According to other reports, one of the dead is a villager and the second was the terrorist who perpetrated the attack. A number of police personnel and civilians were wounded, including Arab MK Ayman Odeh.

Clashes are taking place at this time between local residents and police.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Media Resource Group)
For many years, Donald Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon, our country has been divided, angry and untrusting. Many say it will never change, the hatred is too deep. IT WILL CHANGE!!!!

As persuasive as the ALL CAPS are, I have my doubts.

Put aside Trumps specific shortcomings for the moment. The presidency has become ill-suited to the task of unifying the country, because the presidency has become the biggest prize and totem in the culture war. Like the religious wars between Catholics and Protestants in England, if one side controls the throne, it is seen as an insult and threat to the other. And whoever holds the throne is seen as a kind of personal Protector of the Realm.

The political parties have been utterly complicit in the process. Exploiting social media and other technologies, Republicans and Democrats shape their messages around the assumption that they  and they alone  have legitimate ownership of Americas authentic best self. Thats why whichever party is out of power promises to take back America  as if the other side were foreign invaders.

Barack Obama was elected in 2008 in no small part to fulfill the promise of his 2004 Democratic Convention keynote address: to banish the slicing and dicing of America into Red States and Blue States.

The colors of the electoral map may have been smudged and scrambled over the last eight years, but the underlying polarization Obama inherited from George W. Bush only intensified on his watch. Trump will be the third president in a row to promise to unite the country, and he will almost certainly be the third in a row to fail.

The ugly squabble between the president-elect and Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, over the weekend offers a glimpse into how bad things will get.

Lewis earned his icon status on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. But over the years, hes traded some of his moral capital for partisan chips, insinuating that only the Democratic Party has ownership of the civil rights era and its victories, despite the fact a higher share of Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act than Democrats. Indeed, the goons who cracked Lewis skull on the Edmund Pettus Bridge were acting at the behest of a Democratic governor and Democratic local officials. Even the bridge was named after a Democrat.

In 2008, Lewis saw nothing wrong with comparing Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, to the segregationist Alabama Gov. George Wallace, adding: Sen. McCain and Gov. [Sarah] Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division. In 2012, insinuating that voting for Mitt Romney might lead America to go back to the days of fire hoses, police dogs and church bombings.

This was not idealism, but poisonous cynicism, and it helped contribute to the feelings of resentment that were so essential to Trumps victory. Now, Lewis is going further still, refusing to attend Trumps inauguration and arguing Trump cannot be a legitimate president because of Russian meddling in the election. Lewis may have reason to believe Trump did not win fair and square, but questioning Trumps legitimacy is exactly what the Russians probably wanted from the beginning: to undermine Western and American faith and confidence in democracy. (Its a sign of Lewis partisanship that he also boycotted George W. Bushs first inauguration because he didnt think Bush was legitimate either.)

Of course, Trump made things worse. He attacked Lewis, saying the congressman should finally focus on the burning and crime infested inner-cities of the U.S. instead of falsely complaining about the election results. Predictably, Democrats rallied behind Lewis, whos basically the partys living saint, and theyre already fundraising off the spectacle.

The Democrats will stop baiting Trump when he shows he can refuse the bait. Which means they wont stop. Trumps insecurities have an almost literary quality. He craves respect more than almost anything else, and yet respect remains agonizingly elusive  in part because he takes everything too personally.

The presidency, normally a job for people with thick skins and a nose for insincere flattery, promises to only heighten Trumps sense of entitlement to respect and exacerbate his inevitable resentment when he doesnt receive it. So well continue on divided, angry and untrusting.
[PHOTOS & VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] According to early reports based on a preliminary investigation in Um Chiran, the Bedouin village were the vehicular ramming attack occurred earlier, the terrorist who tried to ram into border police was employed in the local education system. He was shot and killed. He was affiliated with the Southern Branch of the Israel Islamic Association as well as ISIS and police are not ruling out that this attack was carried out in the name of ISIS.

Two people other than the terrorist were killed in the attack. A gag order prohibits releasing additional details. A number of wounded were transported to the emergency room of Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva, both civilians and security personnel. One of the wounded is Arab MK Ayman Odeh.

Hundreds of security forces arrived shortly before sunrise to protect officials who were planning to execute demolition orders on many illegal structures built in the Bedouin community. At this time a tense quiet prevails following bouts of clashes between residents and police.

The village has been the subject of High Court intervention as the dispute has been ongoing for about a decade. Um el-Chiran is not recognized by the state and Jews wanted to build in the area while the Bedouin community has objected. Ultimately, the High Court ruled against the village and security officials arrived to protect agents armed with court orders to destroy the illegal structures.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

It is now cleared to release that a policeman was killed in the Wednesday morning 20 Teves vehicular ramming attack in the southern Bedouin community of Um Chiran. Two people were killed in the attack, including the policeman. The terrorist was eliminated by security forces. Another policeman sustained moderate injuries.

The name of the slain officer is Staff-Sgt. Erez Levy HYD, 34.

Levaya details to be announced.

Prior to the demolition of illegal structures in the Bedouin community, a jeep driven by terrorist began heading towards border police at high speed. They opened fire and killed him. Another person was killed in that attack as well. A person who sustained moderate injuries was transported to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva.

During the clashes between police and residents as the demolitions began, a number of persons were injured including Arab MK Adey Odeh, who sustained light head injury.

Arab MK Jamal Zahalka arrived in Um Chiran as well, accusing police of preventing him from entering the community despite his parliamentary immunity. He tells the media he wishes to get in to get a firsthand look at what occurred and the ongoing demolitions. He blames the government for the spilling of blood by insisting on moving forward with the demolitions, failing to mention they were ordered by the High Court of Justice.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Embracing his clemency powers like never before, President Barack Obama is planning more commutations in his final days in office after a dramatic move to cut short convicted leaker Chelsea Mannings sentence.

Obama became the president to have granted more commutations than any other when he announced Tuesday that Manning will be freed in May, almost 30 years ahead of schedule. Manning, the transgender Army intelligence officer who leaked more than 700,000 U.S. documents, was one of 273 people receiving clemency on a single day.

Receiving pardons from the president were retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during another leak probe, and San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, sentenced in 1996 on tax evasion charges. Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Riveras 55-year sentence was commuted.

But Obama is not finished. The White House said Obama would grant more commutations Thursday  the day before his presidency ends  though officials said those would focus on drug offenders and would not likely include any other famous names.

Neil Eggleston, Obamas White House counsel, said the individuals were learning that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward.

The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama last November to commute her sentence to time served.

Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a mens prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests. The former cheered Obamas move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.

Obama did not grant a pardon to another prominent leaker, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, whom the U.S. has been unable to extradite from Russia. Snowden hasnt formally applied for clemency, though his supporters have called for it. Yet the White House drew a distinction between the unapologetic Snowden and Manning, whom officials noted has expressed remorse and served several years already for her crime.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced. She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obamas action could quite literally save Chelseas life.

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move just outrageous, and added, Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets.

Manning, Lopez and many of the others will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry. Obama also pardoned hotelier Ian Schrager, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion.

Commutations reduce sentences being served, but dont erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Irans nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the U.S. government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

The White House noted that absent a commutation, the 74-year-old Lopez likely would have died in prison.

Obamas commutation for Manning also raised fresh questions about the future of another figure involved in the Army leakers case: Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks had earlier pledged, via tweet, that its founder would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning. Holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where hes wanted on a rape allegation, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

But the Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange. WikiLeaks lawyer Melinda Taylor said U.S. and British authorities refuse to say whether the U.S. has requested extradition. Though she praised the commutation for Manning, Taylor made no mention of Assanges earlier promise to agree to extradition.

White House officials said neither Assanges fate nor separate concerns about WikiLeaks role in Russian hacking of the election factored into the decision to commute Mannings sentence. The officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

(AP)
President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday afternoon 19 Teves, met in his residence with US Ambassador Dan Shapiro who was in the last days of his term in the post of US Ambassador to Israel.

President Rivlin thanked Ambassador Shapiro for his work and said, Mr. Ambassador it is a farewell party nevertheless we know we will meet you many times; as one who will live with us in Israel for few months, and of course afterwards as one who will come to Israel from time to time.

He went on to ask that Ambassador Shapiro convey his appreciation to President Obama, and said, Although from time to time we have had some differences of opinion, friends will take care one of each other, and sometimes criticize one of each other, but we have done that as friends, and the people of Israel appreciate this very much. We know that for eight years the President helped Israel carry the burden of security, which we have to carry all the time.

The President concluded by noting and thanking the Ambassador for his efforts to ensure the signing of the MOU between Israel and America.

Ambassador Shapiro thanked the President for his warm words and said, It is a great honor in my final week as US Ambassador to Israel, to come and see you, and to express my deep gratitude to you for your leadership, for your friendship, for the good advice and support you have given me personally, and you have given to our efforts led by President Obama and our whole administration, to work with the Israeli Government and make this relationship as strong as it can possibly be.

President Rivlin passed to Ambassador Shapiro a letter to President Obama. In it, President Rivlin wrote, Mr. President, as you come to the end of your second term in office as President of the United States of America, I would like to send you my greetings. May I take this opportunity, on behalf of the State of Israel, to extend to you our thanks and appreciation for your continuing concern over the last eight years, for Israels safety and our ability to carry the burden of security. You ensured that we could always feel confident that our needs in this area were a priority for your administration.

He concluded, I know that both Israel and the United States will continue to be faithful to those shared values which underpin our two wonderful democracies. Allow me to wish you continuing success and personal satisfaction in all your future endeavors.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Mark Neiman, GPO)
Israels Ministry of Health has issued a warning about drinking coffee in coffee shops and cafes. The report states the water emanating from the various brewing machines contains an unacceptably high level of lead, which is harmful to ones health.

The ministry inspected hundreds of machines in Israel, reporting they fail to meet ministry standards.

Channel 2 News reported the Ministry of the Economy in conjunction with the Ministry of Health announced there is a fear of the problem from brewing machines but failing to cite the make and model numbers of the problematic ones.

The ministry is advising pregnant women to refrain from using commercial coffee machine until further notice. Health officials add it may take another month or more until there are precise details as to the makes and model numbers of problematic commercial coffee machines. For now, the ministry advises people to stop drinking coffee made from these machines.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
President Reuven Rivlin issued the following statement on Wednesday, 20 Teves, following the fatal vehicular terror attack in the Bedouin community of Um Chiran. Staff-Sgt. Erez Levi HYD was murdered in the attack.

We are in the midst of a terrible event, in which Sgt. Erez Levi was murdered by a terrorist in a abhorrent terror attack. At this difficult time, all our hearts are with his family and we pray for the speedy recovery of the injured policemen.

I spoke this morning with Chief of Police Roni Alsheich, and with Arab regional authority heads. We must differentiate in the clearest of ways between the terrible terror attack carried out this morning, and the actions of law enforcement in demolishing the illegal buildings.

We must fight terror with an unwavering and firm hand, wherever it is found. I turn to all leaders across Israel, particularly in the Arab community, and say this is a stressful and difficult time, and we must all work together and do everything in our power to bring calm, in words and in actions.

The arrangements of the Bedouin community in the south, are a national and civil challenge, which has stood before Israel for many years. We must find a solution and a plan to deal with this burning national, social, and civil issue  before it is too late.

The photo was taken at the levaya of the slain policeman Sgt. Levi HYD, which took place in Yavne on Wednesday afternoon. Levi was a member of the Yassam commando unit. Police Chief Roni Alsheich and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan participated in the levaya.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The Women of the Wall (WoW) organization will on Thursday, 21 Teves, host a Tefilla gathering at the Kosel beginning at 7:00AM. The timing is no coincidence, marking almost a year since the January 31, 2016 decision by the government to permit the egalitarian prayer area near the Kosel, a decision which has yet to be implemented. WoW officials point out that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is to blame for backing down amid growing chareidi party threats including a coalition crisis.

WoW officials add the High Court of Justice interim order was issued on January 11, 2017, compelling the government to explain why the decision hasnt yet been implemented.

The WoW statement adds The Prime Minister has an obligation to implement the vision of equality for women at the Kosel and to actively take the necessary steps to get there, to permit Jewish women interested in davening at the Kosel to also have Torah laining.

The Kosel is a public venue, where women are discriminated against daily by the rav of the Kosel and persons from the Kotel Heritage Foundation in contradiction to the basic tenets of a democratic society.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Both President George H.W. Bush and former frst lady Barbara Bush are now in a Houston hospital and will not attend Fridays inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

The 92-year-old former president on Wednesday was moved to intensive care at Houston Methodist Hospital after being admitted on Saturday, his office said in a statement.

Shortly after our previous report on President Bushs condition, he was admitted to the ICU at Houston Methodist Hospital to address an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia, the statement read. Doctors performed a procedure to protect and clear his airway that required sedation. President Bush is stable and resting comfortably in the ICU, where he will remain for observation.

Barbara Bush, 91, was admitted Wednesday morning as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing, officials said in a statement.

The 41st president president previously sent a letter to Donald Trump expressing his regrets he could not attend Fridays presidential inauguration, adding he and the former first lady will be with you and the country in spirit.

In his letter  penned Jan. 10, before he was hospitalized Saturday for breathing problems  the former president quipped, My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under.

So I guess were stuck in Texas, wrote Bush. I want you to know that I wish you the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country, he wrote. If I can ever be of help, please let me know.

Bush is the father of former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who ran in a heated  and, at times, contentious  contest against Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries.

Jeb Bush will not be attending the inauguration but George W. and former first lady Laura Bush will be in attendance, as will Bill and Hillary Clinton.

(AP)
In their recent guest column, DNR needs bold change, state Sen. Tom Tiffany and Rep. Adam Jarchow claimed to be champions of the public good, and they labeled those who advocate for the environment as dogmatic.

In reality, its Tiffany and Jarchow who are dogmatic in advocating for private property rights with no mention of responsibilities to protect our natural resources for the benefit of all. In particular, they have pushed through legislation, hidden in the state budget bill, that makes it much more difficult for local and county governments to enact rules to protect our lakes, streams and groundwater from irresponsible development.

When applied to northern Wisconsin, their approach strikes at the heart of everything those who live and visit here hold as sacred. Many of us consider this the greatest place on earth, largely for the incredible beauty and quality of our lakes and streams and the times spent with loved ones, fishing, boating, swimming and watching sunsets to the wailing of loons.

The two legislators never mention this. They simply complain about environmental regulations that supposedly could inhibit the ability of businesses to locate in small communities. That might be a concern if the regulations in question were needlessly restrictive. But what happens when regulations are too lax? Then water and other resources are placed at risk.

In Oneida and Vilas counties, the lakes and rivers are the backbone of a multimillion-dollar tourism economy and the primary reason people choose to live here. What if we allow our shorelines to become excessively developed without responsible practices to prevent runoff of nutrients and other pollutants into the water? The damage  environmental and economic  would be severe and likely irreversible.

Such damage is exactly what Tiffanys and Jarchows policies risk allowing  and have allowed by weakening protection of our lake and river shorelines. How severely would degraded water resources damage the economy? What happens to the stores, gas stations, restaurants, motels, car dealers and other businesses when people no longer visit because the lakes have lost their luster?

A recent study prepared by Oneida County resident David Noel and released by the Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association found that poor water quality in the countys lakes could mean the loss of $2 billion in property value and $100 million in annual tourism revenue. There is every reason to believe the impacts in Vilas County would be similar. These are steep prices to pay for allowing unwise development.

Tiffany and Jarchow seem to wear it as a badge of honor that the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters gives them failing grades for their legislative performance. In reality, that is a badge of shame.

Economic prosperity and environmental protection are not at odds, as these legislators seem to suggest. They go hand in hand. A quality environment is essential to a sound and sustainable economy. We cant have one without the other.

If this belief makes us dogmatic, then that is a label we will wear with pride.
The worlds largest oil company could join the London stock market in a major boost to Britain following the Brexit vote.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, state-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Company, commonly known as Saudi Aramco, told how it was planning the biggest-ever stock market listing that could value the firm at 1.9trillion.

The announcement that London was being considered for a float was a major public boost for the City in front of the worlds elite.

Chief executive Amin Nasser said: The company is serious in considering all stock markets, including New York, London, Hong Kong and others.

The Saudis plan to sell a 5 per cent stake in Aramco  probably next year  although the number of shares could increase. A 5 per cent stake would be worth 95bn.

Rules in London dictate that a minimum of 25 per cent of a companys stock must be sold to investors.

Its true Londons stock exchange requires 25 per cent as a minimum but these are details that are discussed with Britain, and Aramco is a big company, said Nasser. We are only looking at 5 per cent, all the markets are willing and ready to cooperate. The discussions were very rich and fulfilling.

The listing is part of deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salmans plan for a sovereign wealth fund, to reduce the Saudi economys reliance on hydrocarbons. Aramco is the worlds biggest oil company by value but some investors and analysts doubt that it is worth as much as 1.9trillion.

The boost from Aramco came as other giant firms backed Britain. Leading American technology company Salesforce last night pledged to expand. Miguel Milano, who runs the internet giant in Europe, said the cloud computing specialist was planning to take on more staff at its London base.

He said: The UK is our HQ for Europe and our largest market in Europe. London is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Its a lot of fun.

Milano said Brexit would have no impact on the business. For us it is business as usual, he said. We are growing our employee base significantly and our infrastructure.

The comments marked a significant vote of confidence in Britain by one of the worlds biggest technology companies.

Salesforce  whose American boss and founder Marc Benioff described the Brexit vote as unfortunate  is just the latest multinational to commit to the UK following the referendum.

A host of major corporations  including Nissan, Google, Facebook, GlaxoSmithKline and McDonalds  have ramped up investment in the UK since the vote in June.

Salesforce, based in San Francisco and worth 40bn, raked in revenues of 5.5bn last year and profits of 53m. It is targeting revenues of 8bn next year and 16bn by 2020.

Benioff, a 52-year-old married father of two who founded Salesforce in 1999 and has built a fortune of 3.1bn, has identified Europe and Britain as one of its fastest growing regions.

The firm employs 600 staff in the UK, mainly in London and plans to hire another 1,200 in Europe  including in the UK.
Former Rolls-Royce boss Sir John Rose was last night thrown into the heart of the firms corruption scandal as fresh details of bribery emerged.

Rose, once regarded as one of Britains great industrial leaders, stepped down from Rolls-Royce in 2011 after 15 years at the helm.

During his time in charge, employees bribed their way around the world, paying middlemen to help win business in India, Russia, China and Nigeria.

In the spotlight: Sir John Rose stepped down from Rolls-Royce in 2011 after 15 years at the helm

Yesterday it emerged that senior figures at Rolls had known about international corruption since 2010 but failed to tell the authorities. It raises questions over whether Rose knew about the payments.

Last night new details emerged of the scale of the scandal when court documents published by US authorities revealed how Rolls bribed Iraqi officials between 2006 to 2009 to persuade them not to blacklist the company despite the officials concerns about turbines supplied by the company.

The US Department of Justice said the company also paid 4.4m to middlemen in Kazakhstan between 2009 and 2012 for work on a gas pipeline; 6.3m to foreign officials in Azerbaijan in return for contracts from the state-owned oil company; and a further 1.9m to bribe officials in Angola.

Between 2000 and 2013, one executive worked with three employees to pay 28.4m in commission to commercial advisers in a number of countries, knowing they would be used to bribe foreign officials.

The executive is described as a UK national, who during the time of the bribery was a Rolls employee at a high-level, with substantial decision-making authority within the energy division of Rolls-Royce.

The latest revelations add to those from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) after Rolls agreed a 671m deferred prosecution agreement settlement with UK, Brazilian and US authorities, meaning it avoids prosecution over the offences dating from 1989 to 2013.

Yesterday the Mail revealed that despite this deal, up to 38 workers with the firm could still face individual criminal charges. Last night, experts demanded to know what the chief executive at the time knew.

Peter van Veen, director of the business integrity programme at anti-corruption movement Transparency International UK, said: If the CEO does not know, and its very widespread practice, then they are not doing their job. Either they are asleep at the wheel or driving the car.

Deferred prosecution agreements should not be used to avoid individual prosecutions. We very much want the SFO to use the full weight of the law.

Market commentator David Buik said: Rose has questions to answer. When you are CEO the buck sits with you and if there has been an issue and it has not been fully investigated then  and I have no idea whether he knew or when he knew  but when you are CEO, you should know.

Thats why you are paid lots and lots of money  because you are responsible.

Born in Malawi, Rose, 64, joined Rolls in 1984 and held a number of senior roles before being appointed boss in 1996. He was credited with turning the company from a struggling British engineer into a flagship giant competing on the world stage.

Rose, who is married with three children, was knighted in 2003 and received the Legion dHonneur in France in 2008.

Since leaving Rolls in 2011, he has held a number of senior positions in the City including deputy chairman of Rothschild, and is currently chairman of Holdingham Group, the parent of intelligence firm Hakluyt & Company.

Leading independent defence analyst Howard Wheeldon said the settlement would help Rolls close the door on the regrettable chapter and move on.

He added: That process is long and hard but I am in no doubt that Rolls-Royce now has both the people, board structure, strategy and clarity to push the recovery process forward.

Rolls-Royce has apologised for the companys previous behaviour. New chief executive Warren East, who took over in 2015, said: This was unworthy of everything which Rolls-Royce stands for, and that our people, customers, investors and partners expect from us. Rose could not be reached for comment.
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
Let's start with the weather today!









There is some snow still in New England.

But not very many other places on the East Coast.





As we can see from the sites on Spaghettimodels.com ...

No snow today but over the next five days a bit more.

Mostly in the West coast but that will move East in time?









That frost/freeze line inches North again.

It will in time descend again towards the South.

It's a seasonal dance that goes on every year.

If you want snow go to Colorado or Maine

That simple.

Also the storms in the NW continue.









Rivers in the atmosphere dancing.

Spinning, turning, twisting, moving.

In the North Atlantic is a tightly wound storm.

Not a hurricane but a strong low pressure system.





Watch it spin on the water vapor loop.













They place candles in the henna in a bowl.

Then dance around with the bowl distributing the henna.





Before the party I took a walk for some exercise.

There's a "Shuk" down the block. Think store..





I actually bought some as well as pistachio halvah.





Late in the day when it's not as busy.

Where am I?

Hard to keep remembering.

Even the Hebrew sounds strange.

So many accents....





Candy, jams and much labeled in Russian.





These pictures were taken a few blocks away as I was walking over to the marketplace called the Shuk here in Netanya. They have a bigger, fancier one in Jerusalem that is a real tourist attraction as well as where the locals shop. In Netanya it's more for the locals and while walking through it just a few blocks from the fancy hotels you feel like you might be in Turkey or Romania but it's Netanya. Note that much here is in Russian as well as Hebrew, Arabic and English so you kind of feel like it's a Mini Russia. Big fancy, shmancy condo going in there. Views from the higher floors will be water views as the beach is a few blocks away.









Olive Oil in Israel. Extra Virgin in English....









This part of the market looks like I could be in Brooklyn.









Picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the wall...

...and black hat stored up high.

Looks like Crown Heights.









So much fish I feel like I'm in Seattle.

But of course it's all Hebrew.

And of course olives that seem bigger here.

All the colors seem so much more intense.









So from Israel with Love...













Tonight is the wedding.

Will see how that goes...

Fog and bubbles...

Lights and lasers during dancing.

Israeli style after the religious ceremony.

Or so I've been told.

And a bunch of my kids who came in..

..and love to dance.





So ....they are baking chocolate treats again.

Sigh.......so much food, smells heavenly.





Besos BobbiStorm

@bobbistorm on Twitter





Ps Pray the thaw lasts til I get back on Sunday.

I'm traveling through Boston...

Miami daughter made that arrangement ;)





Enjoy an Oldie Goldie I grew up hearing.

A classic.... always.

































So I'm going to point out the obvious here first and discuss the weather. You know the "January Thaw" going on in North America ....that continent far away from where I am typing this in Israel. January thaw means you will thaw out and then as it implies it's gone again. It's a temporary illusion of Spring, before the snow falls and coats everything in white again.Illusions are funny. I've always been nervous when my kids were in Israel and I worry a lot as most parents do. I do feel safe and yet I know that's an illusion much like thinking winter is over. Then again anything can happen to you anywhere. At moments I think "what if" while here and then I push the thoughts away as fast as they come. Like that saying "dance as fast as you can" I just keep going and listening to music, watching the sunlight and wishing the houses had more insulation as 50 degrees here feels like 70 in Raleigh.Many online have put out forecasts for this coming Hurricane Season based on the predictions concerning El Nino or no El Nino and I'm just not going to play that game. Honestly, it's way too soon to tell. There is a "warming" much like the "January Thaw" going on in the Pacific and if the recent past is a good measure it's worth waiting to see what it is like in April. The La Nina appeared and disappeared just as fast and can reappear as again as well. Maybe this is a "Neutral" year which really should be called "Normal" but nothing is normal about tropical weather forecasting.Just too soon to tell and for me to start to wax poetic on any predictions would be as reliable as if I posted an astrological forecast for this coming year based on the positions of Jupiter and when it moves into Scorpio or if Saturn is in Sagittarius square Mercury at some point. I know how many of you would feel if I did that. Saying what June will be like today is more like guesstimating or wish casting for me to give a prediction currently based on a not reliable El Nino or La Nina signal. Understand? I mean I'm sure there is some Gypsy tea leaf reader here in Israel, as there are people from everywhere, but I'm not going to read tea leaves nor am I going to predict next season by weak signals currently inconsistent. As the old magic 8 ball says...................."ask again later"I'm cold. I keep saying that but I've been told it's the lack of good insulation and that makes me think the summers here must be hot. But, it's a beach city here with a good breeze constantly blowing so that breeze must be nice in the summer.As for me I went to a party last night for my daughter the bride known as a "Mikvah Party" or a "Henna Party" depending on how you look at it and in this case I'd say we had a Mikvah Party with Henna at the end. Henna is for good luck and I'm not in an European area but here there are mostly Jews from Arabic and Persian countries and their customs are different than what you see in say Brooklyn. Persians do the Henna Party which is a custom. We don't paint henna, but it's smeared at the end of the party on your hand and you leave it on for about five minutes or more before washing it off before it dyes your hand. It smells heavenly as it's made from Henna stuff... (looked like dark whole wheat flour) and a tea made with what we would think of as spices for Pumpkin Spice Latte. Heavy on the cinnamon and cloves and Lord knows what else was in it. So... the house now smells from the spicy mixture as if someone spilled a gallon of Chai Tea onto the floor last night.It was a lot of fun. A few of my daughters were in town as was the baby grandson. Other's were changing planes in Rome or Istanbul so my mind was at times elsewhere until they arrived safely in Israel. Of course suspending all concerns about being in Israel and happy they are out of the Istanbul airport. Priorities ya know... We danced to mostlu Sephardi music (sounds like a cross between Belly Dancing and Spanish Jazz) and I learned a few new dance steps that were Yemenite and looked really Arabic. I'm pretty sure most the dance moves are the same, but what do I know? I used a few of my Bollywood moves and they were very impressed. I know that as they started clapping their hands and doing this "LALALALALA" thing they do and it sounded a lot like "OLE OLE" in Hebrew. But its hard to keep up with them as they are always dancing and the music is ALWAYS playing here and they all dance beautifully. The older generation listens to Hebrew songs and the younger generation learns English from Beyonce and JLO. Really.There was of course a lot of food and I'm praying the dress fits as I have yet to find the exact phrase that means "I'm sorry it looks really delicious but I'm trying not to eat carbs or anything fattening until after the Wedding when I'll eat ...really" but the next thing I know a plate filled with chicken or fish or hummus is in my hands and let's all pray I didn't gain 20 pounds in five days. My sons have eaten and traveled their way through Israel on tours where they walked enough to impress their Fitbits and well suits are so much more forgiving than gowns. I understand why people wear robes in the Middle East...............There is a tremendous amount of construction going on here. Feels a bit like Miami where they knock down most of the block and rebuild. And there are hibiscus as in Miami Beach. Where am I?

Labels: candy, cold, dance, food, halva, henna, israel, january, music, pistachios, thaw, weather, wedding
MBABANE  Many people were left dejected yesterday after being turned back by officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs who said they would not be taking any new applications for travel documents.



These are people who had gone to the ministrys offices to make applications for travel documents and were informed that priority would be given to students studying out of the country.



During a visit to the ministrys offices, the reception area was found with only three people seated on the chairs, hoping to get a different response.

This is a far cry from the scene witnessed in December last year where the ministrys offices were always filled with people who wanted travel documents.



One of the officers who was found at the reception area said they were not giving out forms for new applications because the machine they used was congested and could no store any new information. As such, he said it would be impossible to make new registrations and load them in the machine.



Some of the people who were turned back enquired as to when they should come to apply for the travel documents and they were informed that they would be informed in due course.



When you hear that travel documents have arrived, then maybe you can come and try your luck because it will mean that some of the applicants have received their documents and they are out of the waiting system, the Immigration officer stated.



Chief Immigration Officer Makhosi Simelane, said it was not proper for the ministrys officials to send back people. He said people should be given a choice; if their trip is a valid emergency they can apply for passports, if not, they can wait.
Suspended Judge Mpendulo Simelane.

MBABANE  Suspended Judge Mpendulo Simelane has come out guns blazing making a litany of allegations against the Chief Justice, Bheki Maphalala, who is the Chairman of the Judicial Services Commission.



Among the allegations is that the CJ once alleged that a certain judge of the High Court was anti-government, and therefore, needed to be removed from office.



Simelane alleged that the CJ once castigated him for refusing to co-operate with him, as he wanted to rid the Judiciary of all anti- government elements.



As a result of my refusal to cooperate, we have not seen eye to eye with the current chief justice, alleged Simelane.

These are allegations contained in Simelanes application where he wants the CJ to recuse himself from his impeachment.



The authenticity of these allegations has not been verified as the application is still pending.

Simelane alleged that at some point during his tenure as registrar, he attended to certain members of the public who wanted to see one of the judges over an issue he was handling while he was still in private practice.



He alleged that he would take them to the judges chambers and encouraged them to settle the matter amicably.

He said when information about these former clients of the judge came to the attention of Justice Maphalala (then judge of the High Court), he called him and asked how he was dealing with the former clients of the judge.
MBABANE  The rolling and grinding Bentalls Farm Machinery (emabhetali) which once cost a meagre E30, are back in demand for a whopping E100 000 reward.



These machines, which have been trending on social media, have a very significant mineral inside and are being exported to Botswana. Through the Swaziland Buy and Sell Second Hand Facebook group, Wakhe Maziya has been advertising, inviting people who have the machinery to come forward.



Others have posted on the group claiming that they have brands from South Africa, England and Canada.

In an interview, Maziya said the Bentalls had a platinum mineral inside them. He said their office was based in Manzini and they were looking for the Germany, Italy and USA model of Bentalls, which come with a reward ranging from E60 000 to E100 000.



According to Maziya, they pay cash on delivery. He said so far, they have managed to get about 11 Bentalls from Italy and two from Germany. Maziya said they established the business in April last year adding that there was a lot of money at stake.



Response from members of the public is very slow. We encourage people who own any of the types not to hesitate to call us, he said. Further, he noted that they accepted other items including old spoons, stoves and pots. When tested, these items must attract like a magnet at least two centimetres away from the object, he explained. He said testing could be done at home using a minora razor blade.



Traditionalist Ludzidzini acting Governor Timothy Mtetwa said his family owned a Bentall machine which they bought when they started working. Mthethwa said back in the old days, Bentalls were used by families before the introduction of hammer mills to make mealie meal and sorghum (emabele) among other things.


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By Bill Parry

As lawmakers returned to Albany for the new legislative session Monday, state Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) announced she was appointed to head the powerful Administrative Regulations Review Commission by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. The commission is a bi-partisan watchdog over every state agencys rules and regulatory activities to make sure they are legal and effective.

State agency regulations and rules have the force of law and dictate how an agency carries out its mandate. This can and does have a powerful impact on small businesses, on people from all walks of life and on the economic and environmental health of communities, according to Simotas.

It is an honor to serve as ARRCs chair and I thank Speaker Heastie for this appointment, she said. My goal as chair is to make sure that state agency rules are rational and that agency operations serve the public interest, not special interests or administrative convenience.

It is also the job of the commission to weigh in when agencies rule-making is done unfairly, without consulting stakeholders or is done in a manner that hinders public comment. The commissions work touches virtually every state agency and program.

ARRC will closely monitor changes happening in Washington, D.C. under the Trump administration. Simotas believes the new administration could have far-reaching effects on New Yorkers.

I will work to ensure that New Yorkers do not suffer the consequences of ill-advised policy changes coming from federal agencies, she said.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) introduced legislation Wednesday that would add immigration status to the list of protected classes in the states human rights and civil rights laws. Gianaris proposal would make it a violation to discriminate against a person based on their immigration status and would expand current civil remedies for bias-related crimes to include those targeted due to their immigration status.

Immigrants are under siege like never before and we have an obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of those who came to our country seeking a better life, said Gianaris, whose own parents came to the United States from Greece.

New Yorks human rights law protects people from a wide range of discrimination on the basis of age, race, sexual orientation and gender among other categories. The law provides a remedy for those discriminated against in the provision of several services, including but not limited to housing, employment and public accommodation. Current civil rights law, which would also expand to include immigration status under this legislation, provides the opportunity for victims of hate crimes to bring civil actions against their attackers.

With our president-elect threatening to deport millions of immigrants who came to America to build a better life for themselves and their families, this bill is one way to resist the hate and stand up for a free New York, New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman said.

Following the election, documented incidents of hate crimes, harassment and intimidation soared throughout the country as well as in western Queens. Gianaris joined civil rights groups to condemn hate crimes.

Steven Choi, the executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, commended Gianaris on introducing the bill calling to include immigration status in the definition of national origin in anti-discrimination law.

Given the current political climate that has been marked by an increase in hate crimes, it is more important that ever that we ensure that New Yorkers, including undocumented New Yorkers, legal permanent residents, visa holders and others, are equally protected, he said.
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.
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Colonie

Finding qualified workers with high-tech skills such as software development and networking has been a challenge for Capital Region businesses in recent years.

And it has only gotten tougher, especially as unemployment rates drop.

The latest edition of Linium Recruiting's Hiring Index, which surveyed 56 human resource managers in the Capital Region on high-tech hiring trends, found that 82 percent of companies are finding it challenging to recruit and land "highly skilled" tech workers.

That's up from 70 percent in the last survey and the highest level recorded since the index was started in 2015.

"The year is new but the story line is familiar," said Miriam Dushane, Linium Recruiting's managing director for upstate New York. "Employers are ready to grow their technology workforces but they're having a hard time recruiting strong candidates."

Perhaps even more concerning is that only 11 percent of companies believe that the situation is improving, down from nearly 20 percent in recent quarters.

That's cause for concern for Dushane, who works out of Linium's headquarters on Wolf Road in Colonie. She has been championing IT workforce development in the region to help fill the so-called skills gap that resulted in a tech worker shortage.

The biggest need has been for software developers and computer programmers, although demand for computer hardware and networking experts has suddenly surged locally, likely due to a number of outside consulting firms entering the market and grabbing many top candidates.

Dushane sees a troubling trend happening where some companies, especially small businesses with limited resources, are deciding not to fill tech jobs in some cases, which she says will likely hurt the companies' bottom line in the long run.

"They're actually leaving positions open rather than paying more," Dushane said.

Linium added a twist to this quarter's hiring index. It asked companies if their hiring plans were impacted with the election of Donald Trump, who is set to be sworn in as the 45th president on Friday.

The majority, 64 percent, said a Trump presidency won't alter their hiring during the first quarter of 2017, with 30 percent saying they might be a bit more cautious depending on what happens. But only 4 percent said they would stop hiring because of Trump.

Dushane said that what troubled employers more was the period running up to the election, when Trump and his rival Hillary Clinton were still in a bitter campaign.

Hiring fell during September, October and November, Dushane said, likely over uncertainly of the future.

That has passed now.

"Honestly, I was relieved," Dushane said.

lrulison@timesunion.com  518-454-5504  @larryrulison
Thursday

John Cleese is coming to Proctors, and he's bringing "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" with him. Cleese, an original member of seminal British comedy troupe Monty Python's Flying Circus, will talk about his life, his career and take all sorts of questions  the more absurd and ridiculous the better  from the audience during his appearance. That's after a screening of the classic Python film " Holy Grail," which starred Cleese as Sir Lancelot, Tim the Enchanter, the Black Knight and the French Taunter, among other roles. The basis for the hit Broadway show "Spamalot," "Grail" follows King Arthur and his knights on a very silly quest to find the Holy Grail. The film was ranked as the best comedy in ABC's 2011 prime-time special, "Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time." 7:30 p.m. Thursday. $50-$200. Proctors, 432 State St., Schenectady. 346-6204; http://www.proctors.org

Saturday-Sunday

Zombie and Scooby-Doo are coming to town this week. So are El Toro Loco, Grave Digger and Monster Mutt Rottweiler. Nope, it's not a rock show. It's Monster Jam, a monster truck competition where souped-up, customized trucks do stunts  like sky wheelies and power outs  and compete in races and freestyle events. These vehicles are huge; each Monster Jam truck is almost 11 feet tall and weighs around 10,000 pounds.

7 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday. $20-$45. Times Union Center, 51 S. Pearl St., Albany. 487-2000; http://www.timesunioncenter-albany.com

Saturday

You can listen to some superb folk music and help Old Songs Inc. at the same time. The Voorheesville-based traditional music preservation organization is hosting an "Old Songs Sampler Concert," a fundraiser for its Old Songs Folk Festival. The three-day summertime fest features touring and local folk, traditional, Celtic and world music acts. Playing the sampler are songwriter/pianist Phil Spoor; British folk balladeers Lisa Preston and John Roberts; nyckelharpa player Peter Blue; and classical guitarist Sten Isachsen. Also on the bill: the Loosely Wound String Band and Der Kleiner Klezmer Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $23; $5 for children 12 and under. Old Songs Community Arts Center, 37 S. Main Ave., Voorheesville. 765-2815; http://www.oldsongs.org

Saturday

Blues rock wasn't as cool as it is now cool when guitarist Tinsley Ellis began playing in 1981. It was Ellis, along with blues rockers like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Robert Cray, who helped usher in a resurgence of the genre in the 1980s. Since then, Ellis has released 16 albums and has played alongside Gov't Mule, Buddy Guy and Albert Collins, among others. Ellis is touring in support of his latest album, "Red Clay Soul," which Blues Music Magazine called "an almost perfect description of what Tinsley Ellis has been doing his whole career." 8 p.m. Saturday. $15. The Linda: WAMC's Performing Arts Studio, 339 Central Ave., Albany. 465-5233; http://www.thelinda.org

Sunday

The Battenkill Chorale launches its new season on Sunday afternoon with a concert titled "On Hallowed Ground: A Plea for Peace." The principal work on the program is Ralph Vaughn-Williams' "Dona Nobis Pacem," a setting of the traditional Roman Mass, plus poetry by Walt Whitman. Joining the 95-member chorus will be soprano Sylvia Stoner and bass-baritone Keith Kibler, plus a 45-piece orchestra. The program opens with Barber's Adagio for Strings. Janet McGhee conducts. 3 p.m. Sunday, Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs. $15. Call 692-7458.
Mio Posto chef-owner workingas fill-in at Century House

Danny Urschel  chef-owner of Mio Posto in Saratoga Springs, who is temporarily without a restaurant as a result of a November fire that destroyed the Mio Posto building  for the next couple of months will be head chef of the restaurant at The Century House in Latham. He is filling in for staff leave and vacation while he hunts for a new location for Mio Posto.

Items from Mio Posto's menu will be featured as weekly specials at The Century House and should be listed on its Facebook page starting in the coming days. Also, private dining rooms are available for chef's-table experiences for parties of six to 30 that will feature custom menus from Mio Posto favorites.

Urschel and Century House management said he will work dinners Tuesday through Saturday until approximately the end of March.

The restaurant, at 997 New Loudon Road/Route 9, serves lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. Menus here. Call 785-0834 for info or reservations.

Ethiopian dishes go dailyat Albany's Umana restaurant

Umana Restaurant & Wine Bar in Albany, which has been offering Ethiopian specials on weekends only for almost two years, will now carry the feature every day of dinner service. The special, including injera topped with Ethiopian meat and vegetable dishes, will change weekly and cost about $20.

The restaurant, located at 236 Washington Ave., is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday for brunch.

Call 915-1699 for info or reservations.

Bad Piggy BBQ now open in Galleria 7 court in Latham

Bad Piggy BBQ has been open since early fall in Galleria 7 Market food court in Latham. Its smoked fare, available as plates, sandwiches and burritos, includes beef brisket, pulled pork and pulled chicken, as well as St. Louis-style ribs.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. Call 222-3280 to order ahead for pickup.

Galleria 7, located at 1214 Troy-Schenectady Road, also includes a fish market, butcher shop, bakery, pizzeria, sandwich shop, pasta outlet and hibachi counter.

Finnbar's in Troy introduces an expanded spring menu

Finnbar's Pub in Troy has expanded its menu with new items, including a pair of steaks; burger with fried egg, bacon and cheese; and spinach-arugula salad with root vegetables. The menu may be viewed on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/finnbarspub

Open from noon Tuesday through Saturday, Finnbar's is located at 452 Broadway. Call 326-3994. It will celebrate its fifth anniversary this summer.

Emmanuel Thai starts servingon Maiden Lane in Albany

Emmanuel Thai, a restaurant under development since the summer at 35 Maiden Lane, a little cobblestone street running from North Pearl to Broadway in downtown Albany, has opened. The menu is largely Thai, with a small, predictable selection of sushi to be rolled out in the coming weeks, according to management. The restaurant's website, www.emmanuelthairestaurant.com, has a link to online ordering through the Mealeo service, but it is not yet operational.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday. Call 427-0200.

Schenectady group schedules soup stroll for Jan. 28 noon-5

More than two dozen restaurants will offer samples of soup from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, during the second annual Schenectady Soup Stroll, sponsored by the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. See participating restaurants at www.downtownschenectady.org Locations will have a map of downtown and participating locations. Samples will be $1 for a 3-ounce cup of soup or chowder.

Compiled by Steve Barnes. Items to be considered for publication must be submitted to sbarnes@timesunion.com.
Second Helpings features condensed versions of the restaurant reviews that run in the Sunday Unwind section. On Sundays, Order Up  reviews of inexpensive eateries  runs every other week, alternating with Matters of Taste restaurant reviews. In Preview, we bring you tasty selections from both to help you plan.

Cafe Calabria, 1736 Western Ave., Guilderland, 435-5665, www.cafecalabriarestaurant.com Cuisine: Home-style Southern Italian cooking featuring Calabrese dishes and popular Italian favorites. Deli lunch sandwiches, short eat-in lunch menu and full dinner menu. Ambience: Part deli, part Italian eatery. Price: $-$$$ Hours: Lunch and deli: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, dinner 3 to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday.

Chester's Smokehouse, 62 Vandenburgh Ave., Troy, 244-5329, www.chesterssmokehouse.com Cuisine: Authentic, old-world Polish cuisine based on smoked sausages, stuffed cabbage leaves, pierogies, and smoked meats from Chester's Smokehouse and Deli in Albany. Ambience: Counter service, no-frills, family-friendly dining in a former Pizza Hut. Price: $-$$$ Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday.

The City Beer Hall, 42 Howard St., Albany, 449-2337, thecitybeerhall.com. Cuisine: Gastropub fare with house-made charcuterie and pickle boards, global-fusion entrees and shareable small plates. Ambience: American craft beer hall, gastropub and music venue in a historic downtown Albany building. Inclusive crowd, though event nights attract core demographics. Calendar online. Price: $-$$$. Hours: Lunch, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday; dinner, 5 to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday; late-night menu, 10 p.m. to midnight Monday to Saturday; brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

More Information Cost control Price ratings for inexpensive eateries based on average of entree costs: $: $9.95 and less $$: $9.95-$15.95 $$$: $15.95 and higher See More Collapse

Fish at 30 Lake, 30 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs, 539-3473, www.fishat30lake.com Cuisine: Fresh fish with East-West influences, excellent seafood and raw bar and recommended signature burger. The ricotta gnudi are not to be missed. Ambience: Casual, stylish, open-plan space. The high-energy bar and dining crowds raising room volume to a challenging level. Price: $$$. Hours: Bar: Open daily at 3 p.m. (bar menu available). Restaurant: 5 to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Gracie's Luncheonette, 969 Main St. Route 23B, Leeds, 943-9363, www.graciesny.com and www.graciestruckny.com for food truck and catering. Cuisine: Locally sourced, scratch-made American diner classics, house-smoked meats, homemade breads, pastries, condiments, sauces and soda syrups. Specialty cocktails, wine and over a dozen local beers. Ambience: Airy, light retro-modern luncheonette with soda fountain counter and stools. Family friendly. Casual. Price: $-$$$. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Monday, closed Tuesday. Brunch menu, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Hollow Bar & Kitchen, 79 N. Pearl St., Albany, 426-8550, www.thehollowalbany.com Cuisine: Mix of burgers and bar standards, a strong vegetarian showing and a farm-fresh dining menu with creative sparks. Catering available. Ambience: Varies by time of day. Popular barroom with TVs, live music room and pool table. Outdoor patio and a small pleasant dining space in exposed brick and wood. Price: $-$$$. Hours: 5 p.m. till late Monday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. till late Tuesday to Friday, closed Sunday. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., happy hour 4 to 7 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m.

The Inn at Erlowest, 3178 Lake Shore Drive, Lake George, 668-5928, theinnaterlowest.com. Food: American cuisine driven by colorful plating, local proteins and seasonal farm produce. Weekly changing chef's menu sometimes misses key ingredients. Ambience: Aging classic, slightly stuffy formal dining rooms and casual patio with outdoor fireplace. Prices: $$$. Hours: Restaurant: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. daily. Bar menu: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. daily. Breakfast: 7 to 10:30 a.m. in summer, 8 to 10:30 a.m. in winter.

John Andrews: A Farmhouse Restaurant, 224 Hillsdale Road (Route 23), South Egremont, Mass., 413-528-3469, www.johnandrewsrestaurant.com Cuisine: Fantastic, farm-driven menu with simple styling and inspired flavor combinations. Impressive quality ingredients and some notable wines. Ambience: Warm and friendly in chillier months, with a busy rear patio in summer. Price: $$. Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Wednesday.

Kraverie, 78 Beekman St., Saratoga Springs, 450-7423, www.kraveriesaratoga.com Cuisine: Mex-Asian food truck fare and French crepes with wine, cider and draft beer. Ambience: Casual fast food and bar. Price: $-$$ Hours: 4:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.

Maharaja, 10 Wolf Road, Colonie, 599-0571, www.maharajaofalbany.com Cuisine: Wide selection of largely northern Indian cuisine interspersed with regional variations from the palace to the street. Ambience: Warmly inviting, fine dining interior. Price: $-$$$. Hours: 4:30 to 10 p.m. Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (Weekend premium buffet is $14.95)

Mr. Pio Pio, 160 Quail St., Albany, 463-2800, www.mrpiopio.com Cuisine: Traditional dishes of Ecuador and Colombia, heavy on meat options and characterized by fresh, bold, authentic preparations and flavors. No liquor license. Ambience: Small, casual, welcoming storefront with a handful of tables. Price: $-$$$ Hours: Opens daily at 11:30 a.m.; kitchen open until 9 p.m. Sunday, 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; delivery orders stop about an hour earlier.

Morton's The Steakhouse, Saratoga Casino Hotel, 342 Jefferson St., Saratoga Springs, 682-5999, www.mortons.com and www.saratogacasino.com Cuisine: High-quality prime steak, chops and seafood anchor high-end steakhouse standards on an a-la-carte menu. Prices can add up. Ambience: Sharply sleek, formal dining room befitting high-rollers. Price: $$. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Oaxaquena Triqui, 77 N. Lake Ave., Albany, 645-0080. Cuisine: Regional Oaxacan-Triqui cuisine of southern Mexico. Handmade sopes and tacos, slow-cooked meats, Oaxacan quesillo cheese, chipulines, tongue tacos and weekend specials from tripe to tamales, plus caramel-filled churros and breads. Ambience: Family-run corner store with a bright, clean, unassuming taqueria in the rear. Seats 18 people max. Price: $. Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Takeout available.

Oh Corn! Arepas and More, 1505 Route 9, Halfmoon, 579-0858, www.ohcornarepas.com Cuisine: Venezuelan white corn arepas and yellow corn cachapas with an impressive array of fillings from breakfast-themed to slow-simmered Venezualan pork in red wine and orange juice or beef slow simmered in sofrito sauce. Ambience: Incredibly friendly, casual family-owned Venezuelan cafe in strip mall space. Price: $-$$. Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The People's Pub, 36 Main St., Chatham, 392-2337, www.thepeoplespub.com Cuisine: Locally sourced and farm-focused with flavorful twists on pub standards (Bolognese, burger) and shareable plates (salads, charcuterie and cheese boards). Vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Ambience: Eclectic vintage bistro-pub environment with live jazz several nights a week. Price: $ to $$$. Hours: Bar hours: 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Kitchen hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday.

Plumb Oyster Bar, 15 Second St., Troy, 326-0194, www.plumb.bar Cuisine: Raw bar, steamers, peel-and-eat shrimp, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches and more. Happy hour specials, 3 to 6 p.m.; $1.50 oysters, 9 p.m. to close Tuesday to Thursday. Ambience: Nordic clean lines and salvaged blond woods. Brightly lit and family-friendly tables. Join new neighbors at the oyster counter or cocktail bar.Price: $-$$$. Hours: Lunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday; dinner, 3 to 10 p.m. or closing Tuesday to Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Prairie Whale, 178 Main St., Great Barrington, Mass., 413-528-5050, www.facebook.com/prariewhale Cuisine: Elementally simple, wholly committed to seasonal local sourcing, could use a boost on some seasoning and flavors, and attention to meat doneness needs improvement. Portions are on the smaller side. Ambience: Ambience: Rustic village home, rambling with rooms and nooks. Price: $$. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Monday; brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; closed Tuesday.

Rascals Steakhouse, Crossgates Mall, Guilderland, 389-6682, rascalsny.com. Cuisine: An over-ambitious conceptual menu with colorful plating and rookie mistakes, suggesting kitchen staff cooking above their skill set. Steaks, sausages and salads are the bright spots. Ambience: Beautifully designed. Price: $$. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Sunhee's Farm and Kitchen, 95-97 Ferry St., Troy, 272-3413, www.sunhees.com Cuisine: Familiar Korean dishes that lend themselves to fast casual take out preparation including dumplings, noodles, bibimbap and bulgogi. Vegan and gluten-free options. Beer, wine and dessert bar coming soon. Ambience: Welcoming eatery and marketplace that blends traditional Korean and rural farm elements in a fast casual take-out setting. Price: $ Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday.

Trinbago Caribbean Restaurant, 123 Madison Ave., Albany, 776-4418 Web: www.trinbagocaribbeanrestaurant.com Cuisine: Classic Trinbagonian cuisine with pan-island curries, stews and hand-held street snacks. The full chalkboard menu, including paratha roti (buss-up-shot), is available on Fridays and Saturdays. Sample the homemade sorrel drink. No liquor license. Ambiance: Welcoming, casual West Indies eatery for eat in or take out. Price: $-$$. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Westfall Station Cafe, 13A Averill Ave., Averill Park, 674-6258, westfallstationcafe.com. Cuisine: Popular steaks and seafood with Italian classics and some less-authentic global fare. Ambience: Apartment complex clubhouse. Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 3:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; brunch, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner 2:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.

Yono's, 25 Chapel St., Albany, 436-7747, yonos.com. Cuisine: Two-pronged menu: modern American cuisine with Indonesian flavors and traditional Indonesian dishes. Ambience: Cocooned, richly furnished interior hotel dining room with fireplace and live piano. Prices: $$$. Hours: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday.
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Albany

The Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center was evacuated and closed for two hours Wednesday after a bomb threat that proved to be a hoax. It was one of a number of similar threats made to JCCs across the country.

Albany police said three bomb-sniffing dogs swept through the Whitehall Road building and found no devices or evidence after a call was received at 9:40 a.m. from a person who sounded like a woman and told a staff member there was a bomb in the building, Police Officer Steve Smith said.

A city police officer was posted at the center when it reopened.

"We can't let people who want to create fear rule our lives," the Albany JCC's Executive Director, Adam Chaskin, said. Staff members, visitors and more than 200 children from the nursery school were evacuated immediately, he said.

"Our receptionist who took the call followed our procedures to the letter and kept (the caller) on the phone, getting more information while at the same time alerting other staff," Chaskin said.

The caller described an "explosive package," Smith said.

At the time of the Albany incident, witnesses told the Times Union that all JCC entrances and exits were blocked by police cars. There were also vehicles from the Albany County Sheriff's Office and many officers on the ground.

Chaskin said the FBI is investigating the Albany threat and others made at JCCs in other parts of the country Wednesday. NBC stations in San Francisco said bomb threats were made at JCCs in Miami; Newton, Mass.; Scotch Plains, N.J.; and two Connecticut locations. The threats came after another rash of calls last week, which the Albany JCC noted in emails to its members.

Religion News Services reported last week that at least 16 Jewish community centers received bomb threats on Jan. 9 in an apparent attempt to rattle American Jews, who have seen a spike in anti-Semitism incidents in the past year.

The news service reported:

"The threats  some by live callers, some by robocall  were made to JCCs in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, South Carolina and at least four other states.

"All of the reports were false, but several forced the evacuation of centers, which are gathering places for Jews and often include preschools, senior centers, gyms and facilities for readings, classes and prayer.

"The Jewish Chronicle of London also reported bomb threats at "small number" of Jewish and non-Jewish schools in Britain Monday that were also determined to be false.

"Targeted JCCs included those in Baltimore; Miami; Columbia, S.C.; West Nashville, Tenn.; and Jacksonville, Fla."
Judith Enck, a Rensselaer County resident who has been regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since 2009, will step down from her position on Friday as part of the transition of incoming President-elect Donald Trump.

Enck, 57, was appointed regional administrator in 2009 by President Barack Obama. She headed a sprawling EPA region that includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and seven tribal nations. A successor for Enck's position has not been named.

"It's just been the greatest honor of my life serving the Obama administration, which by the way is scandal-free," Enck said. "What I take away from this is just great pride in working for an administration that was very dedicated to working for the public."

Enck said highlights of her seven years with the EPA included helping oversee General Electric Co.'s historic dredging of more than 300,000 pounds of PCBs from a 40-mile stretch of the upper Hudson River, which is the nation's largest Superfund site.

"For 25 years GE had the EPA tied in a pretzel," Enck said, referring to GE's multi-million dollar effort to fight dredging. "It was the Obama administration that broke the log-jam and got actual work done. We're still going to be at it for the next 10 years, dealing with the flood plains, and this cost GE $1.7 billion, creating 500 new jobs. It was important that the polluter pay for the cleanup and not the taxpayer."

Enck, a longtime resident of Poestenkill, is a former New York state deputy secretary to the environment, where she served as a top environmental adviser to two governors, Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson.

She said another highlight of her time with EPA involved her agency's handling of the Hoosick Falls water crisis. In 2014, after the discovery of a toxic chemical in the village's public water supply, the responses by local, state and federal environmental and health officials brought widespread criticism because it took more than a year before residents were instructed to stop drinking the water.

While EPA officials were alerted to the pollution in late 2014, Enck said she became personally aware of the situation in October 2015.

"I dropped everything," Enck said. "I told the Health Department that if they didn't tell the public (to stop drinking the water) I would. They didn't, so I did. ... I just feel terrible for everything that the residents of Hoosick Falls have had to live through. I worry about their health. I worry there has not been a comprehensive bio-monitoring plan put in place."

Enck has more than 37 years of experience in the environmental field. Before joining the administration of Spitzer in 2007, she worked as his policy adviser for eight years when he was state attorney general. Prior to that she was executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York and a senior environmental associate with the New York Public Interest Research Group.

On Feb. 1, Enck will take a position with Pace University's Elisabeth Haub School of Law as the school's first visiting scholar.

Dean David Yassky said Enck's "deep knowledge of policy making, government and environmental protection makes her an ideal candidate for the position."

blyons@timesunion.com  518-454-5547  @brendan_lyonstu
GLOVERSVILLE  Gloversville police arrested five people in two separate incidents on drug charges related to the criminal possession of heroin with intent to sell.

Lamonte Frair, 22 of the Bronx, N'Daisha Masse, 19, and Edwin Montanez, 20, both of Syracuse were charged after police allegedly discovered 20 bundles of heroin or 200 bags packaged for sale in their hotel room. The police also said it found another three grams of heroin and $2,000 in the room.
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The Wilton man charged with 56 counts of child sexual assault pleaded guilty to two counts of predatory sexual assault against a child on Wednesday morning in Saratoga County Court.

Michael Mosher, who was originally charged with sexually assaulting five children, could face a sentence of 40 years to life.

The 38-year-old admitted that he committed the sexual acts on two victims under the age of 13, one from April 2009 to Feb. 2011 and another from Aug. 2009 to June 2012. The incidents occurred in the towns of Hadley and Wilton.

He also admitted to acting on his own and in concert with his wife, Jeanne. She faces the similar charges and will appear in court on Friday.

"The plea spares the victims from having to testify in court," said county District Attorney Karen Heggen. "It will also remove him from society for a very long period of time."

Heggen would not say what his wife will admit to when she appears on court on Friday.

Mosher and his wife, who lived on Jones Road, were arrested in November after the New York State Police investigated a child's claim against the couple. At the time of the arrest, the Moshers were charged with the following felonies:

*Four counts of predatory sexual assault against a child.

*Four counts of use of a child in a sexual performance;

*Three counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child.

*41 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child.

Mosher, who worked for Finch Pruyn paper mill in Glens Falls, was also accused of two rape counts and criminal sexual act.

Since their arrests, both have been held in the Saratoga County jail without bail.

Mosher will be sentenced by county Judge James Murphy III on March 15.

"The victims were of a tender age," said Heggen. "It's remarkable how they soldiered forward in their lives. We are satisfied that he admitted to these serious offenses. But cases like this are always hard. The number of alleged victims and the length of time makes this case one of note and significance."
SARATOGA SPRINGS  The man nominated for Secretary of the Army by President-elect Donald J. Trump may be as pugnacious as his would-be boss.

Vincent Viola, the billionaire Wall Street trader who owns the NHL's Florida Panthers, was accused of punching a concession worker at the Fasig-Tipton horse sale in August, Saratoga Springs Police Chief Gregory Veitch said.

The incident, first reported by the New York Times on Wednesday, happened about 9 p.m. on Aug. 8. An officer was flagged down to stop a verbal dispute between Viola and the employee, according to a police report.

Viola claimed that the concession worker, who worked for a catering service, shoved his wife, Theresa, as she was trying to get water for a woman who fainted. Viola then allegedly punched the concession worker, whose name was redacted in the police report.

Police were not present when the incident occurred, but reported that the worker had a "swollen, bloody lip." The concession worker told police that he did not push Viola's wife. And Viola did not admit to punching the employee.

Veitch said the incident could have led to either man being charged with second-degree harassment, a violation. The chief said police did not witness the exchange so it would have been up to the two men to press charges against each other, but he said neither wanted to pursue them.

"While disagreements that escalate to physical violence are regrettable, unfortunately these types of incidents are not unusual," Veitch said. "In such situations the role of an officer is to restore order, investigate the incident and treat all parties involved with respect. Often, once the individuals involved have had a chance to calm down, and no serious injuries have occurred, they will request that police do not pursue charges. ... At all times police must rely on good judgement and discretion in resolving the situation and, like in the resolution of this incident, often that means that no arrests will be made and the situation simply documented in a police report."

The city will be seeing more of Viola. A regular at the track who owns thoroughbreds, Viola recently purchased a home at 704 N. Broadway for $2.5 million that had been owned by Ed Swyer, the owner of Stuyvesant Plaza. The sale documents, filed with the Saratoga County clerk, were dated Aug. 30, 2016.

Trump selected Viola, a 1977 West Point graduate, as his nominee for Army secretary in December. The Senate has yet to schedule a confirmation hearing for him.

In a statement given to the New York Times, a spokesman for Viola said, "Mr. Viola will always stand up and defend his wife, and in this case there was a simple disagreement with the matter being dropped and no charges were filed. Mr. Viola notified the Transition Team of the disagreement early on in the process and we consider this matter closed."

A call to the Florida Panthers for comment was not returned.

Forbes Magazine lists Viola on its list of the 400 richest people, estimating his net worth at about $1.8 billion. Though he has spent his career in finance, Viola, a former Ranger, has given money and time to West Point, the Associated Press reported when he was nominated last month. The AP said Viola was a major donor to the construction of West Point's Combating Terrorism Center.

SEE THE NEW YORK TIMES STORY
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A 54-year-old man who State Police said they believe fled the state after violating an order of protection in Malta is among the fugitives troopers said they are searching for on Wednesday.

 Jay M. Cristaldi, 54, is wanted by State Police for allegedly failing to appear for a court appearance in Malta Town Court. State Police said Cristaldi is wanted for violating an order of protection issue by the court. State Police said they believe Cristaldi fled to Florida.

 Michelle Doty, 37, is wanted on a warrant issued Dec. 23, 2016, in Essex for felony drug possession charges. State Police said she is wanted for appear in court following her arrest for the sale of cocaine. Doty is also wanted on a warrant issued by the Malone Town Court for failing to appear after an arrest for shoplifting at the Wal-Mart in Malone.

 Jermaine D. Hughley, 24, is wanted by State Police in Cortlandt for alleged falsification of business records, reckless endangerment, and unlawful fleeing of an officer in a motor vehicle. Troopers said on Dec. 27, Hughley led police on a chase.

 Brandy Niper, 26, is wanted by State Police in Lafayette who allege she is wanted on a Sept. 20 bench warrant from Syracuse City Court for failing to appear in court to answer a charge of possession of a forged instrument. She was accused of using a forged check at a store in the town of Geddes.

 Eden Skinner, 24, is wanted by State Police in Rochester on a misdemeanor drug possession charge. She is wanted on a bench warrant for seventh-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Skinner was originally arrested in July.

 Thomas Casholle, 42, is wanted by State Police in Wurtsboro on a charge of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. State Police said Casholle did not return for court dates in the town of Mamakating.

 Dusty J. Seidel, 28, is wanted by State Police in Binghamton on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon that stems from March 2011. State Police said Seidel was arrested for possessing a switchblade and marijuana during a traffic stop in Kirkwood. Troopers say an arrest warrant was issued after he missed several court dates in 2011.
London

"Get on with it."

With those words early in a major speech on Tuesday, Prime Minister Theresa May charted Britain's course toward a clean break with the European Union and expressed her fondest hope: that the time for "division and discord" is over.

Her much-anticipated speech outlined what promised to be a hugely complex, drawn-out negotiation, and it defined the broad objectives, but not the details, of British withdrawal.

With the address, May began the jockeying that will lead to a break after more than four decades of tight integration, and define Britain's relations with its neighbors for decades to come.

She confirmed that Britain is determined to regain control of migration from the EU and rejected the supremacy of the European Court of Justice.

She said that she hoped to complete a final deal with the EU by March 2019 and that it would be voted on by both houses of Parliament.
Albany

The state's former environmental chief has joined more than a dozen other state-level leaders to oppose President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head national environmental policy.

Joe Martens, who left as state Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner in 2015, signed a letter to federal lawmakers warning that Trump's choice to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt  either does not understand or chooses to ignore the scientific basis behind climate change and other issues.

The letter also included former state environmental officials from California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, Washington state, and Hawaii. Pruitt's confirmation hearings are due to start Wednesday in the U.S. Senate.

Said Martens, "I am proud to join with a group of state environmental regulators who recognize the importance of science-based decision making and the critical role EPA plays in regulating pollution that crosses state lines. Pruitt has made a career challenging EPA rules that protect public health and the environment."

After leaving DEC after four years as commissioner, the 61-year-old Martens returned to the not-for-profit Open Space Institute, based in New York City. The group supports steps to preserve natural places from development.

A climate change denier, Pruitt has sued EPA more than a dozen times, seeking to undo environmental rules on mercury, power plant emissions of greenhouse gases, and air pollution. He has called for EPA to be abolished, suggesting that states ought to be responsible for their own pollution rules.

Rejecting the international scientific consensus that fossil fuel emissions are changing the climate, Pruitt has received more than $300,000 in campaign donations from the fossil fuel industry since 2002.

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Pruitt's opposition to climate change programs "suggests a lack of understanding as to how environmental protection agencies make science-based decisions or, even worse, an inclination to set science aside when the outcome is at odds with his predetermined political point of view," according to the letter signed by Martens and other state leaders.

"Pollutants do not know or respect state borders, yet states have limited ability to reduce air and water pollution that emanate from other states," the letter continued. "Federal regulation is necessary at a minimum to address the problem of interstate air and water pollution, put in place national standards that prevent a race to the bottom of environmental protection, and help to create a level playing field in which all states enjoy the benefits of clean water, air and land  and pay their fair share of pollution control costs."

bnearing@timesunion.com  518-454-5094  @Bnearing10
Albany

General Electric Co. on Tuesday confirmed that it has had talks with SUNY Polytechnic Institute to participate in an $800 million biopharmaceutical drug manufacturing center planned for school's Albany campus.

The initiative was projected to create 1,100 jobs here and elsewhere in the state.

A spokeswoman for GE Healthcare Life Sciences, which opened a new, 210,000-square-foot headquarters outside Boston in June, told the Times Union that GE indeed had talks with SUNY Poly about what was supposed to be called the Single-Use Biologics Innovation and Manufacturing Center, or SUBIMC.

"I can confirm we have had some discussions with the state and SUNY Poly," said GE Healthcare spokeswoman Erin Bryant. "Those discussions are still ongoing."

Momentum for creating the center, which was expected to also include Albany Molecular Research Inc., appears to have stalled in September after SUNY Poly's founding president, Alain Kaloyeros, was accused of fixing bids for favored developers.

Kaloyeros, who resigned from his post in October, has maintained his innocence. His departure has also resulted in several SUNY Poly projects being canceled or put on hold as the school's corporate partners face the uncertainty of how the school will operate and be funded under new leadership.

Bryant declined to elaborate on the specifics of GE's involvement, referring those questions to SUNY Poly.

Neither SUNY Poly nor Empire State Development Corp., the state agency that has taken over SUNY Poly's economic development portfolio, responded to requests for comment. Neither has AMRI.

Documents obtained by the Times Union show that the SUBIMC would have used an 8,000-square-foot clean room inside SUNY Poly's NanoFab South building to set up pilot manufacturing lines for so-called single-use biologics manufacturing.

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Single-use drug manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry employs relatively cheap and disposable equipment to make drugs instead of using large stainless steel vats that must be cleaned between uses.

Biologics are proteins from human, animal and plant sources that are used in vaccines, drugs and other medical therapies.

The SUNY Poly program envisioned $13.5 million in state funding, with an initial corporate investment of $87 million growing to more than $800 million over 10 years.

Up to 1,100 jobs were expected to be created as the program expanded both at SUNY Poly and at other drug manufacturing sites across the state.

lrulison@timesunion.com  518-454-5504  @larryrulison
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There is an apocryphal ancient Chinese curse that goes, "may you live in interesting times." And while current events certainly seem to suggest that we are paying for some prior transgression, it is useful to remember that humanity has been wildly careening from disaster to disaster since it first swung down from the trees roughly 1.9 million years ago.

You need not look quite so far back in time to find a case in point. A mere 100 years will suffice. April 6 will mark the centennial of the United States' entry into World War I. The Schenectady County Historical Society has planned an 11-month-long project to commemorate the impact of the Great War on the Electric City, its citizens and on New York in general.

Things will kick off on Saturday, when the Historical Society will open "Together Until the End: Schenectady in World War I," featuring a talk by University at Albany professor Richard Fogarty.

"Obviously, the First World War is an enormous story," says curator Mary Zawacki. "We can't tell the whole thing, so we're focusing on the stories of the people in this area. We're also going to be looking at themes that continue to resonate today.

More Information If you go "Together Until the End: Schenectady in World War I" Where: Schenectady County Historical Society, 32 Washington Ave., Schenectady When : Opening event, 2-4 p.m., Saturday Admission: $5, free for members Info: http://schenectadyhistorical.org See More Collapse

"The war brought a tremendous manufacturing boom to Schenectady," Zawacki continues. "Both ALCO and GE were open and working 24 hours a day, seven days a week. GE produced searchlights, lighting systems for shipyards and radio equipment. ALCO had a government contract to produce locomotives exclusively for military use. The Rotterdam Industrial Park was in use during this period as a secret munitions dump.

"Additionally, World War I saw the first major influx of women into the workplace. And not just in manufacturing. For the first time, it became normal to see lots of women in clerical and administrative jobs."

Zawacki said New York ''provided more soldiers than any other state in the Union and suffered the greatest losses. That meant that there were a lot of children being raised by single mothers. Interestingly, a lot of the stories we found from people who lived through the war involved the uncles they never met: these 18- and 19-year-old men who only existed in framed portraits and in scrapbooks.

"There were a ton of songs composed during this time that were focused on the relationship of soldiers and their mothers: 'Tell My Mother I Said Goodbye,' that sort of thing. That's not something we see nowadays."

Among other things, the exhibit  which features a range of period artifacts, many of which have never been displayed before  will include pro-war propaganda.

"The First World War was really the beginning of the serious use of propaganda in this country," Zawacki says. "You have to remember that President Wilson had just been re-elected and that a good deal of his appeal was that he had kept the U.S. out of the war in Europe.

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"In addition, there was a large German-American population. Even in this area, there were churches that still conducted services in German, and their members often raised funds for the German Red Cross.

"After Congress declared war, there was a tremendous push to get Americans on board. A whole government department was created to get the message out. Fortunately, this was much easier than it would have been just a few years earlier. Motion pictures, sheet music and records made it a simple matter to reach large numbers of Americans.

"And it worked. German churches stopped conducting services in the language, and many changed their names in order to appear more patriotic."

The exhibit will also feature a film series at the Schenectady Public Library beginning in February, which will include such classics as Charlie Chaplin's "Shoulder Arms," the 1930 version of "All Quiet on the Western Front," and Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory."

Alexander Stern is a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
[January 17, 2017] The BBVA Foundation bestows its award on the architect of the first machines capable of learning in the same way as the human brain

MADRID, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Information and Communication Technologies category goes, in this ninth edition, to artificial intelligence researcher Geoffrey Hinton, "for his pioneering and highly influential work" to endow machines with the ability to learn. The new laureate, the jury continues, "is inspired by how the human brain works and how this knowledge can be applied to provide machines with human-like capabilities in performing complex tasks." Hinton (London, 1947) is Professor of Computer Science at the University of Toronto, and, since 2013, a Distinguished Researcher at Google, where he was hired after the speech and voice recognition programs developed by him and his team proved far superior to those then in use. His research has since sped up the progress of AI applications, many of them now making their appearance on the market: from machine translation and photo classification programs to speech recognition systems and personal assistants like Siri, by way of such headline developments as self-driving cars. Biomedical research is another area to benefit  for instance, through the analysis of medical images to diagnose whether a tumor will metastasize, or the search for molecules of utility in new drug discovery  along with any research field that demands the identifying and extracting of key information from massive data sets. For jury members Ramon Lopez de Mantaras and Regina Barzilay, Hinton's research has sparked a scientific and technological "revolution" that has "astounded" even the AI community, whose members had simply not anticipated the sector advancing in such leaps and bounds. The deep learning field that owes so much to Hinton's expertise is described by the jury as "one of the most exciting developments in modern AI." Deep learning draws on the way the human brain is thought to function, with attention to two key characteristics: its ability to process information in distributed fashion, with multiple brain cells interconnected, and its ability to learn from examples. The computational equivalent involves the construction of neural networks  a series of interconnected programs simulating the action of neurons  and, as Hinton describes it, "teaching them to learn." "The best learning machine we know is the human brain. And the way the brain works is that it has billions of neurons and learns by changing the strengths of connections between them," Hilton explains. So one way to make a computer learn is to get the computer to pretend to be a whole bunch of neurons, and try to find a rule for changing the connection strengths between neurons, so it will learn things like the brain does." The idea behind deep learning, the new laureate continues, is to present the machine with lots of examples of inputs, and the outputs you would like it to produce. "Then you change the connection strengths in that artificial neural network so that when you show it an input it gets the answer right." The eminent scientist's research has focused precisely on discovering what the rules are for changing these connection strengths. For this, he affirms, is the path that will lead to "a new kind of artificial intelligence," where, unlike with other strategies attempted, "you don't program in knowledge, you get the computer to learn it itself from its own experience." Although their most important applications have emerged only recently, neural networks are far from being a new thing. When Hinton began working in artificial intelligence  spurred by a desire to understand the workings of the human brain that had initially taken him into experimental psychology  his colleagues were already moving away from the neural nets that he defended as the best way forward. The first results had not lived up to their promise, but still Hinton chose to persevere against the advice of his professor and despite his failure to raise the necessary research funding in his home country, the UK. His solution was to emigrate, first to the United States and subsequently Canada, where he was at last able to form a team and advance his work on neural networks; back then, in the 1980s, little more than a backwater in AI research. It was halfway through the first decade of the 21st century when the results came in that would draw scientists back to the network strategy. Hinton had created an algorithm capable of strengthening the connections between artificial networks, so a computer could "learn" from its mistakes. In the resulting programs, various layers of neural networks processed information step by step. To recognize a photo, for instance, the first layer of neurons would register only black and white, the second a few rough features  and so on until arriving at a face. In the case of artificial neural networks, what strengthens or weakens the connections is whether the information carried is correct or incorrect, as verified against the thousands of examples the machine is provided with. By contrast, conventional approaches were based on logic, with scientists creating symbolic representations that the program would process according to pre-established rules of logic. "I have always been convinced that the only way to get artificial intelligence to work is to do the computation in a way similar to the human brain," says Hinton. "That is the goal I have been pursuing. We are making progress, though we still have lots to learn about how the brain actually works." By 2009 there was no doubting the success of Hinton's strategy. The programs he developed with his students were soon beating every record in the AI area. His approach also gained mileage from other advances in computation: the huge leap in calculating capacity and the avalanche of data becoming available in every domain. Indeed many are convinced that deep learning is the necessary counterpoint to the rise of big data. Today Hinton feels that time has proved him right: "Years ago I put my faith in a potential approach, and I feel fortunate because it has eventually been shown to work." Asked about the deep learning applications that have most impressed him, he talks about the latest machine translation tools, which are "much better" than those based on programs with predefined rules. He is also upbeat about the eventual triumph of personal assistants and driverless vehicles: "I think it's very clear now that we will have self-driving cars. In five to ten years, when you go to buy a family car, it will be an autonomous model. That is my bet." There is a lot machines can do, in Hinton's view, to make our lives easier: "With all of us having an intelligent personal assistant to help in our daily tasks." As to the risks attached to artificial intelligence, particularly the scenario beloved of science fiction films where intelligent machines rebel against their creators, Hinton believes that "we are very far away" from this being a real threat. What does concern him are the possible military uses of intelligent machines, like the deployment of "squadrons of killer drones" programmed to attack targets in conflict zones. "That is a present danger which we must take very seriously," the scientist warns. "We need a Geneva Convention to regulate the use of such autonomous weapons." Bio notes: Geoffrey Hinton After completing a BA in Experimental Psychology at Cambridge University (1970) and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh (1978), Geoffrey Hinton (London, 1947) held teaching positions at the universities of Sussex (United Kingdom), and California San Diego and Carnegie-Mellon (United States), before joining the faculty at the University of Toronto (Canada). From 1998 to 2001, he led the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit at University College London, one of the world's most reputed centers working in this area. He subsequently returned to Toronto where he is currently Professor in the Department of Computer Science. Between 2004 and 2013, he headed the program on Neural Computation and Adaptive Perception of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, one of the country's most prestigious scientific organizations, and since 2013 has collaborated with Google as a Distinguished Researcher on the development of speech and image recognition systems, language processing programs and other deep learning applications. Hinton is a Fellow of the British Royal Society, the Royal Society of Canada and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. He is also an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the U.S. National Academy of Engineers. A past president of the Cognitive Science Society (1992-1993), he holds honorary doctorates from the universities of Edinburgh, Sussex and Sherbrooke. His numerous distinctions include the David E. Rumelhart Prize for outstanding contributions to the theoretical foundations of human cognition (2001) and the IJCAI Research Excellence Award (2005) of the International Joint Conferences on Artificial Intelligence Organization, one of the world's most prestigious in the artificial intelligence field. He also holds the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (2010)  considered Canada's top award for science and engineering  and the James Clerk Maxwell Medal bestowed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2016). About the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards The BBVA Foundation has as its core objectives the promotion of scientific knowledge, the transmission to society of scientific and technological culture, and the recognition of talent and excellence across a broad spectrum of disciplines, from science to the arts and humanities. The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards were established in 2008 to recognize outstanding contributions in a range of scientific, technological and artistic areas, along with knowledge-based responses to the central challenges of our times. The areas covered by the Frontiers Awards are congruent with the knowledge map of the 21st century, in terms of the disciplines they address and their assertion of the value of cross-disciplinary interaction. Their eight categories include classical areas like Basic Sciences and Biomedicine, and other, more recent areas characteristic of our time, ranging from Information and Communication Technologies, Ecology and Conservation Biology, Climate Change and Economics, Finance and Management to Development Cooperation and the innovative artistic realm that is Contemporary Music. The BBVA Foundation is aided in the organization of the awards by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the country's premier public research agency. As well as designating each jury chair, the CSIC is responsible for appointing the technical evaluation committees that undertake an initial assessment of the candidates put forward by numerous institutions across the world, and draw up a reasoned shortlist for the consideration of the juries. Information and Communication Technologies jury and technical committee The jury in this category was chaired by Georg Gottlob, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Vienna University of Technology (Austria). The secretary was Ramon Lopez de Mantaras, a Research Professor at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Director of its Artificial Intelligence Research Institute. Remaining members were Regina Barzilay, Delta Electronics Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States), Liz Burd, Pro-Vice Chancellor in Learning and Teaching at the University of Newcastle (Australia), Oussama Khatib, Director of the Robotics Laboratory and Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University (United States), Rudolf Kruse, Professor in the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Magdeburg (Germany), and Joos Vandewalle, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium). The CSIC technical committee was coordinated by Ana Guerrero, the Council's Deputy Vice President for Scientific and Technical Areas, and formed by: Gonzalo Alvarez, Tenured Researcher in the Institute of Physical and Information Technologies (ITEFI); Carmen Garcia, Research Professor in the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC) and Coordinator of the Physical Science and Technologies Area; Jesus Marco de Luca, Research Professor in the Institute of Physics of Cantabria (IFCA); Pedro Meseger, Research Scientist at the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (IIIA); and Federico Thomas Arroyo, Research Professor in the Institute of Robotics and Industrial Computing (IRII). Calendar of upcoming award announcements







Basic Sciences Tuesday, January 24, 2017 Biomedicine Tuesday, January 31, 2017 Ecology and Conservation Biology Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Contemporary Music Tuesday, February 14, 2017 Economics, Finance and Management Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Development Cooperation Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Previous awardee in this category The Information and Communication Technologies award in last year's edition went to mathematician Stephen Cook, for defining what computers can and cannot solve efficiently. Five of the 79 winners in earlier editions of the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. Shinya Yamanaka, the 2010 Biomedicine laureate, won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2012; Robert J. Lefkowitz, awardee in the same Frontiers category in 2009, won the Chemistry Nobel in 2012. In Economics, Finance and Management, three Frontiers laureates were later honored with the Nobel: Lars Peter Hansen, winner of the Frontiers Award in 2010 and the Nobel Prize in 2013; Jean Tirole, Frontiers laureate in 2008 and Nobel laureate in 2014; and Angus Deaton, 2011 Frontiers laureate and Nobel laureate in 2015. LAUREATE'S FIRST DECLARATIONS AND IMAGES A video recording of the new laureate's first interview on receiving news of the award is available from the Atlas FTP with the following coordinates: Server: 213.0.38.61 Username: AgenciaAtlas4 Password: premios The name of the video is: "PREMIO TIC" In the event of connection difficulties, please contact Alejandro Martin at Atlas: Mobile: +34 639 16 58 61 E-mail: [email protected] For more information, contact the BBVA Foundation Department of Communication and Institutional Relations (+34 91 374 5210/+34 91 374 3139/+34 91 374 8173, [email protected]) or visit www.fbbva.es To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-bbva-foundation-bestows-its-award-on-the-architect-of-the-first-machines-capable-of-learning-in-the-same-way-as-the-human-brain-300392266.html SOURCE BBVA Foundation

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[January 18, 2017] Collibra Closes $50 Million Series C Financing with ICONIQ Capital, Battery Ventures

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Collibra, a leader in data governance software for business users, today announced it has closed $50 million in Series C financing led by San Francisco-based ICONIQ Capital with participation from investment firm Battery Ventures and return backers Dawn Capital, Index Ventures and Newion Investments. This latest investment will help Collibra continue to fuel its rapid growth and industry leadership as a premier provider of data governance solutions. To date, Collibra has secured more than $75 million in venture funding. With this investment, Matt Jacobson, General Partner with ICONIQ, will join the Collibra board of directors; Battery General Partner Dharmesh Thakker will join the board as an observer. Organizations are increasingly adopting data governance as a "system of record" to help them exercise control over processes and methods employed by data users to improve data quality. The Collibra integrated data governance platform helps hundreds of organizations across the globe in industries including financial services, retail, healthcare, education, technology, government and others find, understand, and trust the data they need to be truly data-driven enterprises and to gain competitive advantage. "Data's day has come. And with that, organizations have recognized that data can only be leveraged as a strategic resource to the extent it can be accessed and, most important, trusted," said Felix Van de Maele, CEO and co-founder of Collibra. "This Series C funding round from two of the industry's most highly respected and successful investment firms is tremendous validation of the increased adoption of data governance as a corporate discipline. Collibra is the industry's most advanced purpose-built data governance platform and our intent is to continue capturing mind and market share in our field. I'm also pleased to welcome Matt Jacobson to the Cllibra board, where his experience and insights working with some of the world's premier high-growth companies will be invaluable to our continued expansion."



Industry influencers continue to recognize the strength of the Collibra solution: Gartner Inc., named Collibra a leader in its August 2016 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Metadata Management Solutions. Forrester has recognized Collibra as a leader in its Forrester Wave: Data Governance Stewardship Applications 2016. Collibra was also named the "Best Data Governance Solution" in the 2016 Data Management Review awards. Over the past year, Collibra has addressed the increased demand for its data governance solutions. The company's global partner ecosystem now includes more than 200 organizations in the U.S., EMEA and Latin/Central America. In May 2016, Collibra hosted its inaugural Data Citizens Conference in New York, drawing hundreds of attendees. The 2017 event is scheduled for May 2-3 in Jersey City, NJ.

In October, Collibra released Version 5.0 of the Collibra data governance center platform, as well as the Collibra Catalog -- a data catalog that helps data scientists and citizen data analysts spend less time looking for data and more time solving critical business challenges. Collibra 5.0 takes an advanced "consumerized" approach to data governance technology, enabling business users to "shop" for and find data in much the same way as they shop for products in their everyday lives on consumer sites like Amazon. "Collibra was born to address a real problem: how enterprises can meaningfully leverage data to transform their businesses," said ICONIQ's Jacobson. "We have been very impressed with how large, sophisticated customers have spoken about the strength of Collibra and its emerging market leadership. I'm personally excited to work hands-on with Felix and his team to support their continued success." "Data is clearly now a strategic asset for companies across industries," said Battery's Thakker. "As more and more organizations hire chief data officers, Collibra gives them the tools to better leverage data for competitive advantage." About ICONIQ

ICONIQ Capital is a global multi-family office and merchant bank for a group of influential families. About Battery

Battery strives to invest in cutting-edge, category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, Web infrastructure, consumer Internet, mobile and industrial technologies. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at stages ranging from seed to private equity and invests globally from offices in Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, Israel, and London. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here. About Collibra

As the leader in data governance for business users, Collibra helps organizations across the world gain competitive advantage by maximizing the value of their data across the enterprise. Collibra is the only platform purpose-built to address the gamut of data stewardship, governance, and management needs of the most complex, data-intensive industries. Our flexible and configurable cloud-based or on-premises solution puts people and processes first  automating data governance and management to quickly and securely deliver trusted data to the business users who need it. Learn more at www.collibra.com. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/collibra-closes-50-million-series-c-financing-with-iconiq-capital-battery-ventures-300392494.html SOURCE Collibra

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[January 18, 2017] Hooper, Lundy & Bookman Opens Boston Office

National Health Law Firm Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC (HLB) is pleased to announce the opening of its fifth office in Boston and the addition of attorney David Schumacher as a partner with the firm. Founded in 1987, HLB is the largest law firm in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the representation of health care providers and suppliers. The firm's Boston office is its second East Coast office, joining the firm's established law practice and federal health care government relations and public policy practices in Washington, D.C., along with three California offices. "With our growing client base in Massachusetts, New England and the Northeast, it made sense for us to locate our next office in Boston," said Managing Partner, Robert W. Lundy, Jr. "It is especially important for us to be proximate to our East Coast clients as the nation moves into a new and unknown era for the health care industry." Given the expanding nature of federal government investigations and prosecutions of health care providers, combined with the current state of industry uncertainty, the firm is pleased to announce that veteran health care fraud prosecutor, David Schumacher has joined the firm's Boston office. Mr. Schumacher was most recently deputy chief of the U.S. Attorney's Health Care Fraud Unit in Boston. "David brings with him unparalleled experience and understanding of health care fraud & abuse laws, as well as trends in the federal government's policies and practices related to health care fraud and abuse investigations and prosecutions throughout the Eastern United States," said Mr. Lundy. "His expertise in white collar criminal investigations is also vital for educating our clients on ways to prevent prosecution, as well as defending clients who are charged." During his tenure with the U.S. Attorney' Office, Mr. Schumacher conducted nationwide investigations of health care fraud involving corporations and individuals, including physicians, pharmaceutical and medical device executives; prosecuted jury trials involving health care fraud and negotiated pleas and settlement agreements directly with general and outside counsel.



"I am thrilled to join such a talented group of lawyers dedicated to representing health care providers, said Mr. Schumacher. "I look forward to lending my health care fraud enforcement experience to HLB and their clients." Mr. Schumacher joins HLB attorneys Joseph LaMagna and Amy Joseph in the Boston office.

Mr. La Magna is a partner in the firm's Regulatory Department, specializing in health care provider litigation and defense of audits and government investigations; representing hospitals and other providers in payment disputes with managed care entities and other payors; guiding post-acute care providers, such as skilled nursing facilities, home health, and hospice providers, in regulatory litigation and compliance matters. Ms. Joseph is an associate in the firm's Business Department, providing counsel to a wide variety of health care providers on business, general corporate and regulatory matters, including for profit and non-profit hospitals, public health care districts, physician groups, individual physicians, health care consultants, management organizations and investors in health care businesses. A significant portion of her practice is focused on health information privacy and security, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and licensing and certification. HLB's Boston address is located at 470 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 1201, Boston, MA 02210. The firm's main phone line is: 617.532.2700. Following is direct contact information for the firm's Boston Attorneys: David Schumacher may be reached at [email protected] or 617.532.2704.

or 617.532.2704. Joseph La Magna may be reached at [email protected] or 617.532.2703.

or 617.532.2703. Amy Joseph may be reached at [email protected] or 617.532.2702. About Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC: Founded in 1987, Hooper, Lundy & Bookman is the largest law firm in the country dedicated exclusively to the representation of health care providers and suppliers. With offices in Boston, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., and clients in all 50 states, we meet the business, litigation, regulatory and government relations needs of a broad array of health care providers-ranging from the largest national health care organizations to community hospitals and individual physician practices. For more information, please visit our website at www.health-law.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005417/en/

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Hundreds to Celebrate New Mexico School Choice Week at State Capitol

Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez and Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera will join hundreds of students, parents, teachers, and community leaders to kick off School Choice Week in New Mexico at a rally in the capitol rotunda.

The program of student performances and remarks from political and community leaders will begin at noon on Monday, January 23 in the rotunda of the New Mexico State Capitol.

The celebration is timed to coincide with National School Choice Week (January 22-28, 2017), which will feature more than 21,000 events across the country.

"We look forward to gathering together with a diverse coalition from across the state to highlight the difference that a great education can make in a student's life," said Greta Roskom of the New Mexico Coalitio for Charter Schools. "We look forward to the National School Choice Week annually as a platform to share our success stories."







"Given that school choice has been shown to markedly improve educational outcomes for low-income and disadvantaged Hispanic students, it's no wonder Hispanic parents overwhelmingly support it. With expanded school choice every child, regardless of ethnicity, financial resources, or zip code can have access to quality education," said Edith Jorge of the LIBRE Institute.

Event planners include New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools, LIBRE, Rio Grande Foundation, and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through more than 21,000 independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005413/en/
[January 18, 2017] School Choice Supporters Head to Carson City for Rally

Families, school leaders, school choice activists, and legislators will come together during National School Choice Week to demonstrate community support for opportunity in education. On Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., students, parents, teachers, and education advocates will celebrate at the capitol to mark National School Choice Week and the support for educational opportunity around Nevada. Senator Scott Hammond will speak at the event, and will be joined by many parents, education leaders, and student performances. The goal of the event is to celebrate quality education for all students and show grassroots support for school choice in Nevada. More than 500 people are expected to attend. The celebration is timed to coincide with National School Choice Week (January 22-28, 2017), which will feature more than 21,000 events across the country. "National School Choice Week is a great platform o connect people across the state who are passionate about school choice," said Michael Schaus of the Nevada Policy Research Institute. "Through this celebration, we hope to raise awareness about school choice and demonstrate how important it is to Nevada families."



Ronnie Najarro of the LIBRE Initiative added, "School choice expands the ability of parents and families to choose the school that best meets their child's educational needs. School choice provides children with the best opportunity to succeed, and our goal is to inform families on the benefits of school choice. With expanded school choice every child, regardless of ethnicity, financial resources, or zip code can have access to quality education." Event planners include Nevada Policy Research Institute, Nevada Charter School Association, LIBRE Initiative, Oasis Academy, RISE Resource Center, Coral Academy of Science, and Academica Nevada.

Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through more than 21,000 independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005439/en/

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[January 18, 2017] Students Celebrate National School Choice Week at Capitol

Students will celebrate National School Choice Week by getting to know their legislators and holding a celebratory rally on the steps of the state capitol. The rally, planned for Wednesday, January 25 at noon, on the capitol steps, will feature student performances and school choice testimonials from students using all forms of education. Montana Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen and Jeff Laszloffy, president and CEO of the Montana Family Foundation, will speak. The goal of the event is to bring families who use school choice together with legislators to share success stories and celebrate opportunity in education. The celebration is timed to coincide with National School Choice Week (January 22-28, 2017), which will feature more than 21,000 events across the country. "The Montana Family Foundation believes that every child has the right to find their perfect educational fit," Jeff Laszloffy, president and CEO of Montana Family Founation said. "Whether you're new to the idea of school choice or you're already familiar with the concept, you're invited to attend the rally. Come learn about school choice, why it's needed in Montana, and how we can make that happen."



"Montana has unique opportunities when it comes to school choice because of our culture and rural communities" said Chris Polaske of the Central Montana Organization for the Advancement of Homeschoolers (CMOAH). "The growth of online and homeschooling groups is a great example of the fundamental principle of school choice: each student's education options should accommodate his or her unique circumstances and talents. The one-size-fits-all model is antiquated and doesn't fit Montana students." Event organizers include Family First Foundation, Montana School Choice Coalition, Foothills Christian School, Americans for Prosperity, ACE Scholarships, Central Montana Organization for the Advancement of Homeschoolers, and Montana Family Foundation.

Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through more than 21,000 independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005435/en/

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[January 17, 2017] Geoswift Announces FCA License and Plans to Expand in Europe

LONDON and HONG KONG, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Geoswift, a leading provider of cross-border payment solutions between China and the rest of the world, announced today that its UK entity, Geoswift UK, has received authorisation as a Payment Institution from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to conduct a more efficient end to end cross-border collection and settlement services to and from China. Geoswift presently partners with major global banks, financial service providers, payment solutions providers and merchants. The FCA is the conduct regulator for 56,000 financial services firms in the UK. Geoswift is the leading China cross-border collection and settlement service to have received FCA approval. In addition to providing business to business cross border collection and settlement services across the education, eCommerce and travel sectors, Geoswift UK using the approval will be able to deepen its direct relationship with partners across the tax return, banking, education and travel sectors. Geoswift remains committed to being a market leader in enhancing the accessibility, efficiency, transparency and security of cross-border transactions between UK and China. Robert Miskin, Managing Director of Geoswift Europe, span >Middle East and Africa (EMEA) said, "We are delighted to receive the FCA approval for our operations in the United Kingdom. In a market landscape that is vastly robust and continually evolving, it is important to ensure our operations are fully-regulated, transparent and secure to meet international standards and to provide assurance to our partners and merchants. The FCA regulatory approval will enable us to meet the growing demands of our global partners and clients who require accessibility to efficient fund flows and secure cross-border payments between the UK and China. We are also preparing to futureproof our European expansion plans in due course and embrace the growing demand for China, throughout Europe. We hold a positive outlook for the B2B cross-border potential between Europe and China in 2017 and look forward to establishing deeper partnerships with the FCA license".



Geoswift is headquartered in Hong Kong with operating offices in Shanghai, London, Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco for strategic and regulatory functions. About Geoswift

Geoswift is an innovative payment technology company connecting China and the rest of the world. The company comprises the world's leading payment technology experts that have a deep understanding of the industry, technology, and global and China monetary policy. Geoswift provides clients with customised one-stop cross-border payment solutions to and from China. Geoswift is relied upon by the world's leading e-commerce companies, most prestigious universities and the largest brands in the travel industry to grow their businesses. Geoswift is an acquirer of UnionPay International in North America, and a long-term partner of many other leading financial institutions. It also maintains 19 currency exchange outlets throughout China. Geoswift is headquartered in Hong Kong with operating offices in Shanghai, London, Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco for strategic and regulatory functions. For more information visit, please visit www.geoswift.com or send in your queries to [email protected].

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[January 18, 2017] ADDING MULTIMEDIA Dawn and Shedd Aquarium Inspire Next Generation of Wildlife Enthusiasts

Today, Dawn and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium launched a new national in-classroom and web accessible STEM curriculum called NextGen Animal Responders, which will allow teachers to offer fifth through eighth grade student's five Next Generation Science Standards lesson plans. The lessons aim to increase students' environmental and science literacy through Shedd animal rescue and rehabilitation stories and resources and provide a connection to nature and the environment that students living in an urban setting might not have the opportunity to experience. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170117005993/en/ IMAGE DISTRIBUTED BY DAWN - Shedd Aquarium Learning Specialist Sabrina Bainbridge, left to right, watches as Miguel Perez, Manuel Colunga and Rebecca Albarran, all fifth grade students from Telpochcalli Elementary Chicago Public School, participate in a hands-on science experiment as part of the launch of Dawn and Shedd's NextGen (News - Alert) Animal Responders program at She'd Aquarium on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 in Chicago.(Brian Kersey/AP Images for Dawn) In addition, Chicago Public Schools will be the first in the country to participate in an in-classroom roadshow and contest aimed to connect local teachers and students to the importance of animal care and conservation and show them how the next generation can take a hands-on approach to preserving and protecting animals and the environment. During the roadshow, twenty-five select Chicago-area schools will be visited by guest speakers and experts from Shedd, who will bring along engaging Dawn Wildlife activities, a contest call-to-action and materials for children to take home to their parents. "Shedd has been committed to working with response and rescue organizations globally for over 50 years and the urgency to protect animals and their environments is greater than ever," said Bridget Coughlin, Shedd Aquarium president and CEO. "Dawn and Shedd both share a similar passion for wildlife conservation as well as a shared mission of educating and inspiring the world about the wellbeing of animals, habitat conservation, and the health of our oceans. This is the first ime we are working together to build care and compassion for animals that will extract curiosity and interest, which we hope will ultimately lead to interest in a new career path for some of these students."



To celebrate the launch of the program, students at Telpochcalli Elementary visited Shedd for a hands-on science experiment and had a special opportunity to meet a member of Shedd's Animal Response Team to learn more about endangered African penguin rescue efforts and what they can do to help, and participated in a penguin encounter. NextGen Animal Responders is part of the larger Dawn Helps Save Wildlife commitment with an aim to connect teachers and students with a singular goal, educating the next generation about the importance of wildlife conservation.

"Dawn is honored to partner with Shedd on this new, education-based offering for teachers and students," said Mandy Ciccarella, Dawn Communications Manager. "Demonstrating how our next generation of animal stewards can take a hands-on approach to help preserve animals and the environment is vital and important to the Dawn brand." As part of the program, all Chicago-area schools are able to enter a contest that will run for 11 weeks, beginning Jan. 17 at www.sheddaquarium.org/NextGen. Teachers and students will submit video entries to demonstrate their exemplary efforts in the appreciation of wildlife conservancy and answer simple questions about why preserving wildlife is important. The grand prize class winner will receive a special behind the scenes trip to visit Dawn Wildlife partner Shedd Aquarium to learn more about animal care and conservation, including protecting and rehabilitating aquatic animals. For more information on the complete rules and regulations about the contest, as well as downloading the full curriculum, teachers should visit www.sheddaquarium.org/NextGen. DAWN HELPS SAVE WILDLIFE Independent studies have proven Dawn Dish Soap to be the most effective dishwashing detergent for cleaning oiled animals, heralded because it removes tough grease while being gentle on animals' delicate skin and feathers. As such, Dawn is the only dishwashing brand trusted by wildlife rescue experts for decades. Since 2006, Dawn has donated more than 100,000 bottles of dishwashing liquid and financial support to its wildlife partners, International Bird Rescue and The Marine Mammal Center. These donations have helped these organizations clean more than 75,000 marine animals in the United States. For more information about the Dawn family of products, visit www.dawn-dish.com. ABOUT PROCTER & GAMBLE P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Ariel, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Downy, Fairy, Febreze, Gain, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Lenor, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. ABOUT SHEDD AQUARIUM For more than 50 years, Shedd Aquarium has worked with partners around the globe to help animals in need. The Next Generation Animal Responders are a way to reaffirm its commitment to helping conserve and protect wildlife. While caring for animals affected by human activity such as overfishing, habitat degradation, plastic pollution and rising ocean temperatures, the team seeks to increase public engagement and advocacy along with inspire new individuals to make a difference. To support Shedd Aquarium's Next Generation Animal Response Team and their mission to rescue, rehabilitate, release and rehome animals in need, visit www.sheddaquarium.org/NextGen. You can also follow the conversation on social media via the hashtag, #AnimalResponders. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170117005993/en/

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[January 18, 2017] MDxHealth Announces Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Issues Positive Coverage Policy on ConfirmMDx

NEWS RELEASE REGULATED INFORMATION INSIDE INFORMATION Decision provides access to more than 3.8 million members IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - January 18, 2017 - MDxHealth SA (Euronext: MDXH.BR) today announced that Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (Horizon BCBS) of New Jersey has issued a positive medical policy for the ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer test. This is the fourth Blue Cross Blue Shield Association licensee to establish positive coverage policy and adds to the growing list of payers covering ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer. Horizon BCBS is New Jersey's oldest and largest health insurer, with more than 3.8 million members. "The positive coverage decision by Horizon BCBS of New Jersey further validates the clinical and economic value of ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer for health plans, patients and physicians," stated Dr. Jan Groen, CEO of MDxHealth. "We are pleased to see the growing number of healthcare plans providing coverage for our test, further improving patient outcomes and helping to reduce costs to the US healthcare system." About ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer is the first epigenetic, and only tissue-based test in the 2016 NCCN Guidelines for early detection of prostate cancer which addresses false negative biopsy concerns. It is the only molecular diagnostic test that provides a very high negative predictive value (NPV) of 96% for clinically significant prostate cancers, and 90% NPV for all prostate cancers, as well as prostate mapping of the test results to help guide repeat biopsies. Each year, more than 1 million American men undergo an invasive prostate biopsy with a negative result, however approximately 30% of those men actually have prostate cancer. The current standard of care for prostate biopsy procedures samples less than 1% of he prostate, leaving men at risk for undetected cancer and leading to a high rate of repeat biopsies, even on cancer-free men. ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer helps urologists identify low-risk men who may forego an unnecessary repeat biopsy and high-risk men who may benefit from intervention. ConfirmMDx has qualified for Medicare reimbursement and covered by numerous private health insurance plans.



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

For more information: Dr. Jan Groen, CEO Jonathan Birt, Chris Welsh, Hendrik Thys (PR & IR)

MDxHealth Consilium Strategic Communications

US: +1 949 812 6979 UK: +44 20 3709 5701

BE: +32 4 364 20 70 US: +1 917 322 2571 (Rx Communications Group LLC)

[email protected] [email protected] This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company's control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of MDxHealth in any jurisdiction. No securities of MDxHealth may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws. NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx and PredictMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Attachments: //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a9ae2e9-e580-4d9c-ac90-f99a63369ad4

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[January 18, 2017] Dialog Semiconductor Plc.: Dialog Semiconductor Powers Next-Generation Connected Cars

Dialog Semiconductor (News - Alert) plc (XETRA:DLG), a provider of highly integrated power management, AC/DC power conversion, solid state lighting (SSL) and Bluetooth(R) low energy technology, today announced the DA9210-A power management IC (PMIC). The DA9210-A is a multiphase, automotive grade, 12A DC-DC buck converter that supplies the high current core rails of microprocessor devices, including those used in next generation infotainment systems taking center stage in today's connected cars. DA9210-A is designed to meet the stringent functional, quality and reliability demands of automakers and their customers. It is optimized for the supply of CPUs and GPUs, and can support load currents of up to 12A in single-chip configuration and 24A in dual parallel configuration. The PMIC's high efficiency over a wide output range makes it suitable for powering some of the newest and most demanding innovations of today's connected cars, from infotainment and navigation systems to full-scale integrated cockpits and future heads-up displays (HUDs). "The rapid pace of automotive technology integration and convergence is demanding more from the components that comprise tomorrow's connected cars," said Paul Wheeler, Vice President Mobile Systems, Dialog Semiconductor. "The DA9210-A addresses these new demands and allow automakers the flexibility and performance they need to develop the very latest in connected car technology." The DA9210-A is the second generation of its predecessor, the DA9210 buck converter, which is successfully sold today into the high-volume smartphone market. The automotive-grade version of the converter has been well received by manufacturers, which can now take advantage of its proven capabilities to enable infotainment systems in connected vehicles. Accepting input voltages from 2.8 to 5.5 VDC, the DA9210-A delivers an output voltage between 0.3 and 1.57V, with 2.5% output voltage accuracy. It features 3MHz nominal switching frequency to minimize external component height and reduce solution footprint, adjustable soft start, and is designed to operate between -40 and +85 C. The DA9210-A is fully AEC-Q100 grade 3 qualified, comes in a 42 WL-CSP (News - Alert) package and is available now. More information on the DA9210-A may be found here: http://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/products/DA9210-A - ENDS - NOTES Dialog, the Dialog logo are trademarks of Dialog Semiconductor plc or its subsidiaries. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. (c) Copyright 2017 Dialog Semiconductor All rights reserved. About Dialog Semiconductor Dialog Semiconductor is a leading provider of integrated circuits (ICs) that power mobile devices and the Internet of Things. Dialog solutions are integral to some of today's leading mobile devices and the enabling element for increasing performance and productivity on the go. From making smartphones more power efficient and shortening charging times, enabling home appliances to be controlled from anywhere, to connecting the next generation of wearable devices, Dialog's decades of experience and world- class innovation help manufacturers get to what's next. Dialog operates a fabless business model and is a socially responsible employer pursuing many programs to benefit the employees, community, other stakeholders and the environment we operate in. Dialog Semiconductor plc is headquartered in London with a global sales, R&D and marketing organization. In 2016, it had approximately $1.198 billion in revenue and was one of the fastest growing European public semiconductor companies. It currently has approximately 1,770 employees worldwide. The company is listed on the Frankfurt (FWB: DLG) stock exchange (Regulated Market, Prime Standard, ISIN GB0059822006) and is a member of the German TecDax index. For more information, visit www.dialog-semiconductor.com. Additional features: Picture: http://newsfeed2.eqs.com/dialog-semiconductor/536915.html Subtitle: Automotive-grade, multiphase 12A DC-DC buck converter offers high efficiency over a wide output range







Language: English Company: Dialog Semiconductor Plc. Tower Bridge House, St. Katharine's Way E1W 1AA London United Kingdom Phone (News - Alert): +49 7021 805-412 Fax: +49 7021 805-200 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.dialog-semiconductor.com ISIN: GB0059822006 WKN: 927200 Indices: TecDAX Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart,Tradegate Exchange

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170117006679/en/

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[January 18, 2017] Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization President and Co-Founder Linda Reinstein Issues Statement Protesting the Confirmation of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), which serves as a global leader in ending asbestos exposure through education, advocacy, and community; today issued the following statement from ADAO President and Co-Founder Linda Reinstein, opposing the confirmation of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator. The statement was preceded by a letter to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee urging the same. "ADAO opposes the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General (AG) Scott Pruitt as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator. We are deeply concerned that he lacks the qualifications and understanding to lead the EPA and urge the Senate to deny his confirmation. "The EPA is paramount in protecting the American public and our environment from toxic and destructive pollutants - like deadly asbestos - yet the President-elect's nominee to run this agency vehemently disagrees. Pruitt is openly pro-industry, anti-regulation, and anti-science. He has no formal training, education or professional experience in any of the physical sciences. His penchant for siding with industry is of significant concern to the public health and environmental communities The asbestos industry has dumped millions into funding 'independent research' that claims asbestos to be safe. This junk science - aided by weak chemical regulation laws - foiled a 1989 attempt by the EPA to ban the known human carcinogen.



"This summer, Congress delivered a huge win to public health when it passed the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act (LCSA), an historic bipartisan and bicameral bill that finally empowered the EPA to evaluate and regulate toxic chemicals. However, a Pruitt-led EPA would be more susceptible than ever to industry-backed junk science that could derail progress toward meaningful chemical regulations. "ADAO urges the U.S. Senate to vote against confirming AG Scott Pruitt's nomination. America needs an EPA Administrator with the education, understanding, willingness to stand up against corporate interests in order to ensure the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform is implemented based on the best possible science, in the best interest of public health and the environment. Scott Pruitt's background and experience prove he is unqualified to serve this role."

About the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is a global leader in combining education, advocacy, and community initiatives to prevent and end asbestos exposure. ADAO seeks to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos, advocate for an asbestos ban, and protect asbestos victims' civil rights. For more information, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org. ADAO, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, does not make legal referrals. Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization

"United for Asbestos Disease Awareness, Education, Advocacy, and Community Support"

1525 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 318  Redondo Beach  California  90278  (310) 251-7477

www.AsbestosDiseaseAwareness.org View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005554/en/

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[January 18, 2017] CES 2017 Show Sets Flexpoint Sensor Systems up for Record Year

DRAPER, Utah, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. (FLXT) today announced various product development partners, and subsequently, the company enjoyed another remarkable Consumer Electronics Show, ("CES"), experience. According to Paul Sexauer, Flexpoint Vice President of Sales & Marketing, "The 2017 CES was all about Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR), robotics, wearables and IoT (Internet of Things) applications  all of which represent rapidly growing and highly targeted Flexpoint market segments. We are proud to be partnering with so many innovative and inventive product designers and commercially successful companies." Some of the highlights: South Korea-based Neofect and their Rapael Smart Glove System for medical rehabilitation was recognized as a 2017 Honoree award winner for innovation in the Health, Fitness and Biotech category. The system, featuring an array of Bend Sensors, represents an advanced medical IoT application with current FDA approval and a growing global customer base of clinics, hospitals and, most recently, "out of clinic" patients who can leverage this platform at home. Show media coverage and product recognition includes CNN tech, Digital Trends, CNET, and numerous others. ZeroUI continued its exhilarating rise to fame as an inventive robotics/toy kit manufacturer whose kit features a Bend Sensor driven glove. A CES 2016 award winner, the Ziro stood out yet again at CES 2017. CBSNews acknowledged that "robots stole the show" this year with special mention going to Ziro by CSBSNews, CNET, and myriad others who brought distinction to Ziro and the company as a whole. Commercialization efforts are well underway and 2017 will be remembered as the successful production launch of this platform.



Netherlands-based Manus VR, whose design leverages the Bend Sensor, is recognized by many as having developed the industry's finest and most advanced glove system. They were welcomed as a special partner/guest of a major consumer VR/AR hardware manufacturer into their private showcase to demonstrate the power of their VR/AR glove system integration. Peripherals such as the Manus glove system supporting the various VR/AR headset platforms, are of great interest to users as they try to "maximize the experience." Sexauer further commented, "Besides these noteworthy partners, other companies currently developing technologies with the Bend Sensor and on imminent paths to commercialization were also on display at this year's CES show further validating the effectiveness of our technology."

Flexpoint continues to regularly receive requests for Bend Sensors for a wide array of consumer electronics applications. As previously announced, the company is actively expanding their global distribution to include resellers and distributors which cater to these and other market segments. Please visit http://www.flexpoint.com/ for more information. About Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc. (FLXT) is an innovative technology firm specializing in developing products that feature the Company's patented Bend Sensor and related technology. The Bend Sensor is a groundbreaking sensing solution that is revolutionizing applications in the automotive, safety, medical and industrial industries. The Bend Sensor's single-layer, thin film construction cuts costs and mechanical bulk while introducing a range of functions and stylistic design possibilities that have never before been available in sensing technology. Flexpoint's technology and expertise have been recognized by the world's elite business and academic innovators for over 17 years. The company is setting a new standard for sensing solutions in the "smart" age of technology. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" and involve both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such uncertainties include, among others, certain risks associated with the operation of the company described above. The Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. Contact Information:

Flexpoint Sensor Systems

Clark Mower, President

801-568-5111 Brokers and Analysts

Chesapeake Group

410-825-3930 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ces-2017-show-sets-flexpoint-sensor-systems-up-for-record-year-300392440.html SOURCE Flexpoint Sensor Systems, Inc.

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1,000+ to Rally in Jackson During National School Choice Week

More than one thousand students, parents, teachers, and community leaders will celebrate school choice in the Magnolia State during National School Choice Week.

The event will be held Tuesday, January 24, 2017 in the second floor rotunda of the State Capitol at 9:30 a.m. Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves will speak at the celebration featuring dynamic student performances.

The rally will coincide with National School Choice Week (January 22-28, 2017), which will feature more than 21,000 events across the country. The goal of the event is to highlight the importance of school choice to families in Mississippi.

"Every child in Mississippi deserves access to a high quality education, Grant Callen, president of Empower Mississippi said. "Unfortunately, many Mississippi parents know their children are not in the best educational setting, but because they can't afford to move or to pay for private school tuition they feel trapped. During National School Choice Week, we will celebrate the school choice options available in Mississippi and draw attention to the critical need for even more opportunities for Mississippi families."







Empower Mississippi is the lead planner of the event.

Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through more than 20,000 independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005447/en/
[January 18, 2017] Idaho School Choice Week Kicks Off with Breakfast at the Capitol

Supporters of school choice will host a breakfast at the Idaho State Capitol to kick off School Choice Week in the state on Monday, January 23. At 9 am, parents, students, teachers, principals from nearly every school option will celebrate school choice. Leaders in the school choice movement will come together to forecast goals for next year and celebrate the opportunities already available to Idaho students. The goal of the event is to demonstrate unprecedented support for school choice in the Gem State. The Idaho kickoff is timed to coincide with National School Choice Week (January 22-28, 2017), which will feature more than 21,000 events across the country. "Our kickoff breakfast at the capitol will spotlight school choice as we begin a new year full of new opportunities," said Briana LeClaire of the Idho Federation of Independent Schools. "We expect a great dialogue between those who support and advocate for greater access to opportunity for every student to take place."



"We look forward to turning the state's attention to the importance of an excellent education. There are so many fantastic schools, teachers, and leaders in Idaho working tirelessly on behalf of Idaho students, and we use this Week to thank them and highlight their hard work," said Terry Ryan of Bluum. Event planners consist of a large coalition of school choice supporters including Bluum, Idaho Charter School Network, Northwest Professional Educators, Idaho Federation of Independent Schools, and many public and private schools across the state.

Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through more than 21,000 independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005449/en/

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"I am just going to put this out there ...Blagojevich didn't deserve 14 years. If Obama can do one thing right on his way out ... shortening his sentence could be it," Wheeler, an attorney, wrote.

After being impeached out of office by the Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly, Blagojevich was found guilty by a jury for conspiring to commit several "pay to play" schemes, including attempting "to obtain personal gain ... through the corrupt use" of his authority to fill Barack Obama's vacated United States Senate seat, claiming that in wiretapped recordings Blagojevich discussed his desire to get something in exchange for an appointment to the seat.

He was eventually found guilty on charges pertaining to the senate seat, as well as extortion relating to state funds being directed towards a children's hospital and race track.

On December 7, 2011, Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.

Blagojevich's sentence was too much, Wheeler said on Facebook, and reaction on her Facebook page was divided. One responder said Blagojevich abused public trust, and Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran agreed with Wheeler, saying the former governor's sentence was "too long." (Curran later removed his comment from the thread.)
[January 18, 2017] HireRight Names Jurgen Leijdekker President and Chief Operating Officer

HireRight ("the Company"), a leading global provider of employment screening, drug and health testing and employment eligibility solutions, today announced the appointment of Jurgen Leijdekker as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Leijdekker is a highly accomplished senior executive whose global experience spans private equity investment, corporate enterprise, and management consulting as well as government service with central bank and international monetary institutions. Over the course of his career, Leijdekker has driven growth strategies, customer experience improvements, and operational transformations for organizations across many industry sectors including healthcare, enterprise software development, and financial services. "Jurgen is an exceptional individual and proven leader," said David R. Fontaine, CEO of HireRight and its parent company, Corporate Risk Holdings, LLC. "The combination of Jurgen's global experience, sophisticated business acumen, and deep understanding of diverse industries will work to accelerate HireRight's growth both in the United States and internationally. Jurgen knows what it takes to win in the marketplace. He has a record of producing exceptional business results through the development of scalable technology solutions and a constant focus on enhancing the customer experience. At this time in HireRight's evolution, Jurgen brings the skills and capabilities needed to enable HireRight's future growth. I am excited to have him with us." "HireRight is an established industry leader, and I look forward to applying my efforts and capabilities to drive further innovation, market expansion, and exceptional service levels. Globally, on an annual basis, our services touch millions of people - both candidates and employers - and HireRight is committed to making the employee on-boarding experience more efficient, understandable, and smooth for all," said Leijdekker. "Helping our customers to complete the selection and attainment of their most valuable asset - their people - will always be our focus. I am genuinely excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with David and the entire HireRight team to produce value for all of our constituencies: customers, candidates, employees, and shareholders." From 2010-2016, Leijdekker was a Senior Operating Executive at Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS), a leading private equity firm that specializes its investment activities in information/business services and healthcare. In addition to participating in more than 30 diligence/deal processes, Leijdekker served i numerous capacities for portfolio companies, including interim COO, board director, and PE operating executive. In these roles, Leijdekker contributed to some of the most successful investments in the firm's recent history, such as an ultra-high growth healthcare services and technology company located in Nashville, Tennessee, an enterprise software company in Westport, Connecticut, and a global ecommerce payments company based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.



Prior to moving to his general management and private equity roles, Leijdekker worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company (News - Alert), where he specialized in online business operations, particularly the launch of internet start-ups. One of these engagements resulted in the launch of eCredible, which introduced disruptive internet-based technology for credit management; Leijdekker would later serve as Managing Director of the firm from 2000-2001. Leijdekker began his career in 1994 as an Economist on the advisory team to the Governor for the Netherlands Central Bank. He was subsequently seconded to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as Advisor to the Executive Director, assisting him with the daily governance of the IMF.

Leijdekker holds a Master of Arts degree in International Finance from the University of Amsterdam. About HireRight HireRight delivers global background checks, drug testing and employment verification services through an innovative platform to help companies hire the right candidates, so they can grow successfully, and efficiently - no matter their size or where they operate. HireRight offers a comprehensive screening solution that can be tailored to the unique needs of the organization, giving enterprises peace of mind about their people and processes. HireRight's platform can be integrated with existing HR platforms, making it easy to use and giving candidates the best possible experience. HireRight is headquartered in Irvine, CA (News - Alert), with offices across the globe. Learn more at www.HireRight.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's performance and growth, and other non-historical statements. Forward-looking statements identify prospective information. Important factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those stated in the forward-looking statements. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "potential," "should," "will" and "would" or the negatives thereof, variations thereof or other similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss the Company's future priorities, goals, strategies, actions to improve business performance, market growth assumptions and expectations, future business opportunities, capital expenditures, financing needs, financial position and other information that is not historical information or state other "forward-looking" information. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management's good faith belief with respect to future events, and is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005739/en/

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[January 18, 2017] Freckle's Industry-First Attribution Tag Supported By Five Global DSPs

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Freckle (http://freckleiot.com/), the leading first-party mobile data company, announces the release of its agnostic in-store Attribution Tag and its operational support by the world's five largest demand-side platforms (DSPs): AppNexus, The Trade Desk, MediaMath, TubeMogul, and Adelphic. The endorsement by these key channel partners creates the foundation for the fulfillment of Freckle's mission to provide an industry-standard agnostic verification platform to audit the effectiveness of a brand message to drive a customer to visit a designated location. Freckle is the only first-party in-store solution in the market today that is also decoupled from the ownership of a buying platform or the selling of media. Freckle does not create, buy or sell advertising  it simply measures it - using a proprietary mobile solution that relies on beacons and other sensors placed both in and outside of desired locations. Freckle's unbiased approach is enticing to its partners because it ensures trusted delivery of deterministic data to measure effectiveness. With this solution, media companies, trading desks and brands are able to measure - for the first time - precisely how effective they are in driving in-store visits. "An outcome of the prevalence of programmatic advertising has been the creation f fraud detection and viewability measurement technologies designed to ensure that the ads deployed by DSPs and Publishers reach the people that they are targeting," said Neil Sweeney, President & CEO of Freckle. These tools have become a standard component of the majority of programmatically deployed campaigns. The natural progression will result in the need for similar standardized tools that accurately determine the effectiveness of an ad message in driving someone to visit a store. At Freckle, we see the Attribution Tag as the answer to this need."



With its Software Development Kit (SDK) embedded in thousands of applications, Freckle can provide a deterministic one-to-one match on how many people actually went to a location, how often they did so and the duration of time spent in that location. Freckle's data distinguishes itself from the limitations of bid-stream data of which up to 70% is inaccurate. Freckle's solution tracks both indoor and outdoor as well as within dense populations allowing brands to map the entire path to purchase. "AppNexus Console offers advertisers ultimate flexibility to activate their technology partners for digital advertising. AppNexus is pleased to add Freckle to our ecosystem of supported data and measurement partners," said Pankaj Lakhotia, Director, Product Line Management at AppNexus.

"It is a foregone conclusion that soon no mobile campaign will be executed without an Attribution Tag  similarly to how today the majority of campaigns include a third party viewability metric. We are excited to work with the entire ecosystem to improve the overall transparency and effectiveness of advertising by providing the next iteration of measurement," added Sweeney. About Freckle Freckle is a mobile first-party data company that helps brands, publishers and intelligence firms solve business problems through deterministically validated customer data. Our solution is comprised of an ecosystem of connected devices, beacons and application partners coupled with proprietary software and science. We deliver customer segmentation and offline attribution via one to one matching of real-time user data. Freckle provides the only agnostic attribution tag in the world today. Freckle enables brands, trading desks and agencies to definitively measure the effectiveness of their media in driving consumers to visit a designated real-world location in a clean, unbiased and transparent manner. For more information about Freckle and its offerings, visit www.freckleiot.com and follow updates on Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact: North 6th Agency (For Freckle), 212-334-9753, [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/freckles-industry-first-attribution-tag-supported-by-five-global-dsps-300392670.html SOURCE Freckle

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[January 18, 2017] Saladax Licenses Alzheimer's Diagnostic Tests to Siemens Healthineers

Saladax Biomedical, Inc., a privately held company focused on precision in-vitro diagnostic tests, announced today that it has signed an agreement to license diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's disease (AD) to Siemens (News - Alert) Healthineers. Saladax's tests identify the amyloid beta 1-42 and tau biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which are known and accepted biomarkers for AD. Alzheimer's Disease is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., affecting nearly 50 million patients worldwide, with 10 million new cases each year. Presently, no disease-modifying therapeutics exist, and the available drugs provide limited alleviation of symptoms. The use of tests to identify CSF biomarkers much sooner than previously available, will give clinicians the ability to more accurately identify AD and begin treatment sooner. Early detection of AD is also an important step in better understanding the disease. The two biomarkers have been extensively studied for over 20 year, and are key indicators of the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Currently, evidence of early AD can only be determined by PET (positron emission tomography) imaging equipment such as can be found with Siemen's PETNET Solutions, or biomarkers such as Saladax's amyloid beta 1-42 and tau tests.



"We are very excited to be working with Siemens Healthineers to bring these important assays to the market," said Sal Salamone, Ph.D., CEO of Saladax Biomedical, Inc. "Siemens is an ideal partner with a strong global position and high quality instrumentation." Under this non-exclusive agreement, Saladax will provide its proprietary raw materials, protocols, and intellectual property and Siemens will be responsible for the commercialization of both assays.

About Saladax Biomedical, Inc. Saladax Biomedical is a leader in the development and deployment of high-quality diagnostic services and products to help physicians select and optimize the use of current and new pharmaceutical products, to improve treatment and positively impact the economics of care because no two patients are alike. Headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Saladax was founded in 2004 and is ISO 13485:2003 certified. For more information visit: www.saladax.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005807/en/

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[January 18, 2017] Alevo Set to Deliver First GridBank Providing Ancillary Services to PJM

Alevo Group, the Energy Storage Provider, today announced that its first GridBank storage unit has been cleared for shipping and installation after completing an extensive factory acceptance testing (FAT) process at Parker Hannifin's Energy Grid-Tie Division. Alevo and Parker Hannifin have collectively conducted a series of validation and application tests on the 2MW/1MWh unit to verify the GridBank's performance based on safety, power, thermal stability, communications, response rates and ability to deliver specific applications. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005812/en/ First Alevo GridBank being delivered to Hagerstown, Maryland, for installation (Photo: Business Wire) "We have been testing the GridBank in conjunction with Alevo since August and are satisfied the unit operates as per its design intent," explained Jim Hoelscher, General Manager of Parker Hannifin's Energy Grid Tie Division in Charlotte. "Parker has conducted a series of robust tests as part of a jointly developed factory acceptance test program and initial results confirm the Alevo GridBank capabilities, including its high-power among other attributes. We are excited to see the field performance and proud to have played a key role in this historic milestone." The unit will be utilized primarily for frequency regulation and charging/discharging cycles in durations of less than an hour. GridBanks are well suited to power applications such as these due to its proprietary and patented inorganic electrolyte, Alevolyte - which demonstrates no degradation in ts power capability after thousands of full battery cycles. Due to its long cycle life, while continuing to provide its nameplate power output, the Alevo GridBank's projected 20-year duty cycle offers a grid asset that has the lowest total cost of ownership of any storage technology, an important economic factor to consider in application specific Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS) calculations. LCOS is calculated as the net cost to install and maintain an energy storage system, divided by its expected life-time energy throughput.



Speaking about the system, which will be installed mid-January and commissioned later in the month, Michael S. Spiker, Director of Utilities for the City of Hagerstown, said, "The Hagerstown Light Department is proud to welcome the installation of the first Alevo GridBank. We look forward to the successful operation of this unique storage technology." To augment the installation of the GridBank, Alevo Analytics, the intelligence and analytics arm of Alevo Group, will provide its full suite of GridMaestro software and run other real-time analytics as well to verify the GridBank's performance on the grid.

"We are excited to get our first GridBank in the field with many more to follow," said Christopher Christiansen, President of Alevo Energy. "We can now demonstrate what makes a GridBank's safety and performance characteristic unique in the market. With our non-flammability and full range of usable capacity, we are also capable of following PJM's enhanced Reg D signal accurately." About Alevo Alevo, a leading provider of energy storage is redefining energy as a developer, manufacturer and provider of grid-scale energy storage solutions featuring GridBank and Alevo Analytics. GridBank lithium-ion batteries feature a proprietary inorganic electrolyte (Alevolyte), which is non-flammable and offers extreme long life and stability. Alevo's vertically engineered turnkey energy storage solution can be placed anywhere on the electricity supply chain, to reduce energy waste, lower greenhouse gases and other emissions, create efficiencies and lower costs. Founded in 2009, Alevo is headquartered in Switzerland with GridBank manufacturing in the U.S. For more information, visit www.alevo.com. About Alevo Analytics Alevo Analytics provides advanced analytics and simulation capabilities, business intelligence and advisory services with a primary focus on the power and energy sectors as well as Analytics IQ databases and the GridMaestro Software Suite- real time software solutions for GridBank optimization. Alevo Analytics collaborates with customers to provide unique insights regarding where the deployment of distributed energy resources will yield the greatest benefits while demonstrating the efficiencies which can be realized across the electricity supply chain. About Parker Hannifin Corporation Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. For 100 years the company has engineered the success of its customers in a wide range of diversified industrial and aerospace markets. Learn more at www.parker.com or @parkerhannifin. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005812/en/

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[January 18, 2017] Datavail Announces Acquisition of Navantis

Microsoft Consultancy Deepens Expertise in Application Development and Management BROOMFIELD, Colo. and TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2017 /CNW/ -- Datavail, North America's largest provider of managed services for data integration, management and database administration, today announced the acquisition of Navantis, a 200-person Microsoft Premier Partner based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 1998, Navantis has deep Microsoft application modernization, development, integration and management expertise. Navantis has long been recognized as a Microsoft 'go-to partner' with its current nine Gold and nine Silver Microsoft Partner certifications. Navantis leverages the entire Microsoft solution stack of technologies to address its client's application and data integration business needs. The company's offerings include application development, support and systems integration across the Microsoft Dynamics CRM, SharePoint and .NET services suites. The acquisition of Navantis is part of Datavail's growth strategy to expand its offerings to respond to customer business requirements and challenges. Navantis represents a logical extension of Datavail's offerings to rapidly expand into Microsoft oriented consulting, application development and modernization solutions. Combining Datavail's market leadership in data integration and database services with Navantis' application and software development lifecycle expertise greatly strengthens the combined companies' capabilities. "We're excited to welcome the Navantis team to Datavail to expand and deepen our footprint in the Microsoft application modernization, development and integration space," said Scott Frock, COO of Datavail. "Their reputation in the Microsoft world among both clients and partners is unparalleled, and we believe we can combine our data-centric expertise withNavantis' applications expertise to bring an extended range of offerings and solutions to our clients."



Datavail manages the data services for hundreds of clients, both on premise and in the cloud, and works with those clients on comprehensive, end-to-end managed operations and support. Andy Papadopoulos, CEO of Navantis, will remain with the organization as head of the Microsoft Solutions Division of Datavail. "Datavail is one of the few companies that has truly built a 24x7 managed services model for its clients," said Papadopoulos. "Together we can now build and manage our clients' application and data services so they can focus on growing their businesses."

This acquisition is the second by Datavail in the past year. It acquired Art of BI, an Oracle Business Intelligence (BI) consultancy, in July, 2016. Both acquisitions were enabled by Datavail's new $47 million capital funding round in December of 2015 designed to enable future growth initiatives, including expansion into markets adjacent to the database and enterprise data management services market. Navantis was founded by John Kvasnic and Jason Martin in 1998 and financed by Genuity Capital Partners (now Hawthorne Partners). Thousands of users in Canada, the United States, Europe and further abroad have used Navantis software to do an incredible range of things. Whether it's registering to vote, find a bed at a hospital, make a purchase online or share documents securely within and between businesses, Navantis has built thousands of systems to help make lives better. About Datavail

Datavail Corporation is the largest provider of data integration and database administration services in North America, offering 247 managed database and BI/DW services, design, architecture, and staffing. The company specializes in Oracle, Oracle E-Business Suite, OBIEE and OBIA, Hyperion, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, MongoDB, DB2 and SharePoint, and provides flexible global service delivery options to meet each customer's unique business needs. Founded in 2007, Datavail is based in Broomfield, Colorado and supports enterprise clients located worldwide. For more information, visit www.datavail.com. About Navantis

Navantis is among the largest Microsoft Partners in Canada. The company has worked closely with Microsoft to help mutual clients realize new opportunities and solve business problems with tailored solutions. With more than 18 years of project success, 50+ industry awards and over 40 CRM success stories Navantis has become an IT leader in the Canadian market. More information on Navantis is available at www.navantis.com. Robin Caputo

CMO

Datavail

(303) 570-4121

[email protected] This release was issued through WebWire(R). For more information visit http://www.webwire.com. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/datavail-announces-acquisition-of-navantis-300392763.html SOURCE Datavail

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[January 18, 2017] Pierce County First in Washington to Use Clear Ballot Election Technology

BOSTON, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Ballot announced today that Pierce County, the second largest county in the state of Washington, selected Clear Ballot's ClearVote election technology as its new voting system. Clear Ballot and Pierce County will work together to begin ClearVote training and implementation immediately. Pierce County, which includes the City of Tacoma, has nearly 500,000 registered voters. ClearVote exceeds traditional voting system capabilities, delivering a new standard of transparency for every phase of the election process. ClearVote will provide Pierce County with an easy to navigate and intuitive ballot layout process, a modern accessible ballot-marking device, and a fast and accurate tabulation system. ClearVote provides election officials with a complete digital database of the election that includes visual verification of all votes cast, reduces ballot handling and eliminates potential errors arising from human processing of the ballots. "We are incredibly excited tomove from optical scan to digital scan technology, in partnership with an innovative, competitive company that has its sights set on the future of elections. In response to our RFP, Clear Ballot offered a superior product in nearly every regard. As the world of elections evolves, we want Clear Ballot at our side," said Julie Anderson, Pierce County Auditor.



Jordan Esten, Chief Operating Officer for Clear Ballot, is looking forward to working with Pierce County. "When we met the Pierce team, we immediately noticed their enthusiasm and energy for innovation. With ClearVote's groundbreaking technology and the leadership of Pierce County, we're looking forward to building a lasting partnership focused on making elections more transparent and efficient," said Esten of the deal. Clear Ballot election technology is currently used in 57% of the state of Oregon as well as in Florida, Vermont and New York. Clear Ballot also conducted the nation's first 100% statewide audit in Maryland for the 2016 Presidential Election.

About Clear Ballot:

Clear Ballot is an emerging leader in election management innovation. Clear Ballot has introduced modern software solutions with the speed, accuracy and transparency that has been lacking in the industry. Designed for low cost and ease-of-use, Clear Ballot's browser-based software, used with commercially available scanning hardware, scales to election jurisdictions of all sizes, responding directly to the budgetary realities of America's counties and municipalities. For more information about Clear Ballot please visit: www.clearballot.com. Contact

Hillary Lincoln

Clear Ballot Group

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pierce-county-first-in-washington-to-use-clear-ballot-election-technology-300392770.html SOURCE Clear Ballot

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[January 18, 2017] Blyncsy Launches Pulse, a State-of-the-Art Movement Analytics System Built for DOTs, Metros and Cities

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Understanding how people move is critical in analyzing, planning, and improving our roadways. Blyncsy Pulse gives Civil Engineers, Planners, and their Consulting Partners insights to improve the outcomes of their projects. From slicing and dicing origins & destinations, events, weather, seeing changes in volumes, getting detailed travel time information, to reliability metrics Pulse empowers its users to see through the mounds of data into meaningful patterns and insights. Blyncsy Pulse is built on the Blyncsy Movement Platform. "The Movement Engine and Platform connects the internet of things to a robust big data analytics engine, allowing various data sources to come together. We then apply our advanced algorithms to get at some incredible insights," says Victor Gill, Chief of Product at Blyncsy. "We've spent countless hours with Project Managers, Civil Engineers and Planners to create a simple and intuitive interface to present this sophisticated analysis." The launch of Blyncsy Pulse also marks the launch of Pulse IO, the input/output system for Pulse. Pulse IO connects your various data sources with the Movement Engine and allows users to pull raw data directly from Pulse. Using an API driven architecture Pulse IO provides increased access to your most meaningful data, including connectivity to DMS/VMS systems. Other key features of Pulse include account management, origins and destinations, travel times, segment management, flex charts, event management, group behavior profiles, and weather analysis. "A highly integrated system is what Blyncy is committed to providing our partners," says Blyncsy CEO Mark Pittman. The Pulse Network allows users to see beyond a given sensor deployment, breaking down the boundaries of smart cities. The Pulse product seamlessly integrates with Blyncsy's current line of sensors as well as a variety of external detection technologies. From the Blync-1212 Bluetooth and Wifi sensor to the newest Blync-0630 sensor, Pulse makes understanding your data easy.



"The release of Pulse gives our partners what they have been asking for in a simple scalable package, it's one of many exciting products we are working on," says Pittman. Current Blyncsy customers automatically qualify for an upgrade to Pulse. Learn more about Blyncsy Pulse

About Blyncsy Blyncsy is a tech start-up headquartered in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Focused on location analytics and big data science Blyncsy helps its customers understand movement through various environments. Blyncsy's Movement Platform assists departments of transportation, cities and other private and public entities to better understand the habits and trends of people by providing insights across data sets. Blyncsy was founded to give cities, companies and leaders better decision-making tools. Movement. Data. Intelligence. Media Contacts: Company Name: Blyncsy, Inc.

Full Name: Carlee McFarland

Phone: (385) 216-0590

Email Address: carlee.mcfar[email protected]

Blyncsy.com Related Images image1.png image2.png image3.png Related Links Blyncsy Home Page Contact Blyncsy 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/blyncsy-launches-pulse-a-state-of-the-art-movement-analytics-system-built-for-dots-metros-and-cities-300392377.html SOURCE Blyncsy, Inc

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[January 18, 2017] GetDismissed Announces New Membership Program

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- GetDismissed, the online web service and mobile application that assists California drivers with contesting their traffic tickets, announced today a new annual membership program that allows California drivers to contest an unlimited amount of traffic tickets for free. The membership program also includes free traffic school if needed and a complimentary insurance review. The annual cost of the GetDismissed membership program is only $59. The GetDismissed system creates a "Trial by Written Declaration- defense package" as a defense for drivers to mail into court to contest their traffic tickets through writing without having to appear in court. The non-member fee for the GetDismissed "Trial by Written Declaration- defense package" is $99 per ticket. As part of the membership program benefits, members may use the GetDismissed service an unlimited amount of times each year to contest eligible California traffic tickets, without paying the $99 fee per ticket. However, if the icket is not dismissed, members can take traffic school for free via 5DollarTrafficSchool.com as an added benefit. Members can also take advantage of a free insurance review through GetDismissed's preferred insurance provider to ensure they're receiving the best home and auto insurance rates.



"This new membership program will allow users to take full advantage of the GetDismissed services offered, and facilitate a greater understanding of how they can take control of contesting their own traffic tickets and knowing their rights to a Trial by Written Declaration," said Steve Miller, President and CEO of GetDismissed. The GetDismissed membership program is available for all California drivers to register at https://www.getdismissed.com/membership.

About GetDismissed:

GetDismissed is a web-based legal document assistant that has helped thousands of California driver quickly and inexpensively file the necessary paperwork to contest and dismiss their traffic tickets through the Trial by Written Declaration process. The recipient of a 2016 "Best of Los Angeles Award," GetDismissed is available for all iOS based phones in the App Store and for all Android-based phones in Google Play. The site and app works for most California traffic tickets, including speeding, red light, sign infractions, cell phone use, among others. Media Contact:

Stephanie Duffy

[email protected]

860-839-8762 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/getdismissed-announces-new-membership-program-300392258.html SOURCE GetDismissed

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Optical Communications and Networking Technologies Enabling 5G, IoT, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence to Anchor OFC 2017 Conference Program

OFC 2017, the world's leading conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals, will unite the industry's leaders and business professionals to discuss how to leverage optical innovations for next-generation 5G networks, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR) and much more. OFC, being held 19-23 March in Los Angeles, California, USA, attracts attendees from more than 65 countries. The exhibition includes 600 companies and hosts more than 1,150 technical and business presentations for its more than 13,000 attendees. This year's conference program features a dynamic plenary lineup exploring the exciting and evolving relationship of optical technologies under the sphere of AI, VR and IoT. The plenary presentation includes global leaders from Google, Inc., Eindhoven University of Technology and King's College London.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS:

The popular Data Center Summit, showcasing the benefits of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), will include both a technical presentation and a live demonstration. The technical presentation will provide an overview of open hardware and software platforms for designing, deploying and operating large-scale networks and complex commercial networking environments. The "SDN & NFV Demo Zone," will provide the OFC audience with the pportunity to see a live demonstration and prototype of collaborative research projects, pre-commercial products and proof-of-concept networks in the SDN and NFV space.







Exhibit hall theaters will feature the OFC Market Watch, Network Operator Summit (formerly Service Provider Summit) and 15+ programs covering market trends and hot topics.

Market Watch is a three-day series of panel discussions, engaging the latest application topics and business issues in the field of optical communications. Presentations and panel sessions feature esteemed guest speakers from industry, research and the investment community.

The Network Operator Summit will explore current needs and future requirements from service providers and network operators as they invest in expansion plans.

The peer-reviewed technical conference features more than 120 invited speakers detailing emerging technologies. In addition to the invited speakers, the technical program includes special symposia, one-hour in-depth tutorials, interactive workshops and panel discussions. Choose from 50 short courses spanning a variety of technical levels for a true hands-on learning experience.

EXHIBITOR HIGHLIGHTS:

Leveraging more than 340,000 square feet of exhibit space, OFC 2017 will feature 600 exhibits from major international leaders such as Ciena, Coriant, Corning Incorporated, Cisco Systems, Fujitsu Optical Components, Global Communication Semiconductors, Inc.; Huawei (News - Alert) Technologies USA, Juniper Networks, Mitsubishi International, Nokia and more. The exhibition includes 100+ California-based companies including; Broadcom, Intel, Kaiam, Lumentum, Mellanox (News - Alert), Oclaro and more. Technologies on display include network and test equipment, optical transport systems and optical component, fiber cables and specialty fiber manufacturers.

MEDIA REGISTRATION: Media/analyst registration for OFC 2017 can be accessed online. Further information is available on the event website at OFC, including travel details.

ABOUT OFC

The Optical Fiber Conference and Exposition (OFC) is the largest global conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals. For more than 40 years, OFC has drawn attendees from all corners of the globe to meet and greet, teach and learn, make connections and move business forward.

OFC includes dynamic business programming, an exhibition of more than 600 companies, and high impact peer-reviewed research that, combined, showcase the trends and pulse of the entire optical networking and communications industry. OFC is managed by The Optical Society (OSA) and co-sponsored by OSA, the IEEE (News - Alert) Communications Society (IEEE/ComSoc), and the IEEE Photonics Society. OFC 2017 will be held from 19-23 March 2017 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, California, USA. Follow @OFCConference, learn more OFC Conference LinkedIn, and watch highlights OFC YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005990/en/
[January 18, 2017] CompTIA Names Majority Leader Ian Calderon as California Tech Champion

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CompTIA, the world's leading technology association, has named Majority Leader Ian Calderon as the 2017 California Tech Champion for his consistent leadership and support of the technology industry in the California state legislature. This past year Calderon was instrumental in the launching of the California Technology and Innovation Caucus, where he now serves as co-chair with Assemblymember Evan Low. Authoring the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, Calderon worked closely with all parties involved to ensure the bill carefully balanced the privacy rights of the decedent, and other third parties, with the obligations and requirements of handling an estate. He ensured that the legislation conformed to the privacy framework set by the federal Electronic Communications rivacy Act, which restricts the ability of an electronic communication service or remote computing service to share information with anyone but the user.



"We are honored to present Majority Leader Ian Calderon with our 2017 Tech Champion Award for his continued efforts and support of the technology industry here in California," said Kelly Hitt, CompTIA's director, state government affairs, California. "As many states look to California as a leader in innovation, it is important that our elected officials support legislation that will boost the digital economy. Our Tech Champions are strong voices for the technology community and are helping to ensure that our industry continues to succeed." "I want to thank CompTIA for this honor. I am proud to be a leader on tech policy issues in California," said Majority Leader Ian Calderon. "Advancing the goals of creativity and innovation so that we can continue to be the tech leader and innovator of the world is important to the success of California's future."

The Tech Champions award recognizes those legislators who are outstanding advocates for the technology industry in the legislature and have shown consistent support for this vital economic sector. Since 1991, CompTIA has been recognizing state legislators for their contributions to the success of high-technology. Press Contact:

Preston Grisham

[email protected]

202-682-4458 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comptia-names-majority-leader-ian-calderon-as-california-tech-champion-300392719.html SOURCE CompTIA

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School Choice Fair to Highlight Various Educational Options

The Macks Center for Jewish Education will host a School Choice Fair from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 (snow date: Jan. 29) in the auditorium of the Jewish Community Center.

Families in the greater Baltimore area are invited, especially Jewish families and families with children with special needs.

At the fair, parents can find information about alternatives to the traditional public school system, including charter schools, private schools, scholarship programs, home schooling, legal initiatives to expand educational opportunities, and more.

"We are excited about this year's School Choice Info Fair! Last year one of our families secured a fabulous placement in a Baltimore City charter school after attending our fair, which has made a world of difference. This year we are excited to have two additional schools represented, as well as many othr resources," said Martha Goodman, coordinator, MDSNAP at the Macks Center for Jewish Education.







For more information, contact Martha Goodman at [email protected] or (410) 735-5012.

Maryland Special Needs Advocacy Project provides free information on the special education process and on schools and other educational resources in our area.

As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for students, families, and communities around the country.

For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com, or visit www.facebook.com/schoolchoiceweek.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118006098/en/
[January 18, 2017] PCG's Jill Reynolds Named 2017 Eisenhower Fellow

Public Consulting Group Inc., a leading provider of management-consulting services to public-sector education, health, and human services clients, is honored to announce that Jill Reynolds, who leads PCG's Aging and Disability Services Center of Excellence, has been named one of 20 Eisenhower USA Fellows for 2017. Since its establishment in 1953 as an international-leader exchange to honor President Dwight D. Eisenhower's commitment to world peace, Eisenhower Fellowships has nurtured a global network of nearly 1,500 active Fellows who are innovative leaders in a broad range of fields. Eisenhower USA Fellows are awarded a five-week international travel and study program to develop their professional growth and deepen their lifelong commitment to EF's mission of "creating a world more peaceful, prosperous, and just.'' Ms. Reynolds will use her Eisenhower USA Fellowship to study how Japan and Peru have worked to increase the involvement of people with disabilities in the labor force and what policymakers in the U.S. and globally can learn from those countries' successes and challenges, including concrete practices and policies to emulate. "It is an economic imperative at the macro level for the United States to achieve greater levels of employment for people with disabilities," Ms. Reynolds said. "At the same time, it is an economic imperative at the micro level for people with disabilities to be employed as the only viable way out of poverty and toward a life of real choices and integration." Bill Mosakowski Founder, President, and CEO of PCG, said: "All of us at PCG are honored and thrilled to see Jill win this prestigious honor and opportunity to help more of our family, friends, and neighbors living with disabilities successfully connect with jobs and opportunity. We're proud to be a company whose professional consulting staff is full of nationally and internationally recognized and admired experts in their fields, like Jill, and a company committed for 30 years to giving back to the communities we serve, including through participation in high-impact initiatives like Eisenhower Fellowships."



As leader of PCG's Aging and Disability Services Center of Excellence, Ms. Reynolds provides strategic leadership and support for improved outcomes and fiscal performance in human-services programs including: vocational rehabilitation, home and community services, welfare to work, workforce development, early intervention, early childhood and child care services, and food and nutrition programs. Prior to joining PCG, Ms. Reynolds was Deputy Education Advisor to the Governor of Massachusetts. In this role, she worked on early education, K-12 education, and higher education policy, legislation, regulation, and finance. Previously she worked for the Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance, responsible for budget oversight and analysis for education and other areas.

A graduate of Boston College, Ms. Reynolds holds a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts. About the Eisenhower Fellowships program Founded in 1953 and based in Philadelphia, Eisenhower Fellowships identifies, empowers and connects innovative leaders through a transformative fellowship experience and lifelong engagement in a global network of dynamic change agents committed to creating a world more peaceful, prosperous and just. Successful candidates for EF programs are exceptional leaders eager to advance their personal and professional growth, who can articulate how the fellowship will serve them to produce impactful change and who commit to lifelong engagement with the organization and its nearly 1,500 active Fellows around the world. Fellows apply what they learn from their peers and in their meetings with experts in their respective fields to maximize their potential and produce sustained impact through their fellowship experience and collaboration within the EF global network. About Public Consulting Group Public Consulting Group, Inc. (PCG) provides management consulting services to public-sector education, health, and human services clients and other state and municipal government clients. Established in 1986 with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, PCG operates from 44 offices around the U.S., in Montreal, London, and in Warsaw and Lodz, Poland. The firm has extensive experience in all 50 states, clients in four Canadian provinces, and a growing practice in the European Union. To learn more, visit www.publicconsultinggroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118006176/en/

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[January 18, 2017] Salesforce Announces Grand Opening of New Seattle Area Engineering & Innovation Hub, Plans to Double Local Workforce to 500

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce [NYSE: CRM], the Customer Success Platform and world's #1 CRM company, today announced the opening of its new world-class office in Bellevue, WA. The new Bellevue office will house one of the company's largest Engineering & Innovation Hubs and is located at the Nine Two Nine Office Tower building, where the company will be the largest tenant. In the coming months, Salesforce plans to double its workforce in Bellevue to nearly 500, helping the company deliver new innovations to its more than 150,000 customers around the world. Comments on the News "Salesforce is the recognized leader in CRM, a category with higher growth than any other in enterprise software. We have been named the Innovator of the Decade by Forbes, and are focused on continuing to deliver market-leading solutions for our customers," said Parker Harris , co-founder, Salesforce. "By tapping into the local talent pool in the Seattle area, we can expand our world-class engineering team, accelerating our ability to create innovative products that redefine the customer experience."

, co-founder, Salesforce. "By tapping into the local talent pool in the area, we can expand our world-class engineering team, accelerating our ability to create innovative products that redefine the customer experience." "We welcome Salesforce to our vibrant downtown," said Mayor John Stokes . "Salesforce's expansion to Bellevue demonstrates that we are rapidly becoming a distinguished hub for technology and innovation in the Pacific Northwest with some of the technology industry's most prominent leaders and companies calling Bellevue home." World-Class Engineering & Innovation Hub in Bellevue

The new Bellevue Engineering & Innovation Hub will help accelerate Salesforce's abiity to bring innovative solutions to its customers. With dedicated mindfulness areas and large social lounges designed to inspire creativity and collaboration, engineers can work together on breakthrough technologies that span the latest innovations in artificial intelligence with Salesforce Einstein, productivity with Salesforce Quip, mobility with Salesforce1, app development with Salesforce Lightning and connected devices with the IoT Cloud.



Salesforce: Fastest-Growing Top 10 Enterprise Software Company

Salesforce is the fastest-growing top 10 enterprise software company in the world today. With eight clouds that span sales, service, marketing, commerce, communities, analytics, IoT and app development, all on a single trusted cloud platform, companies of every size and industry rely on Salesforce's intelligent Customer Success Platform to help them connect with their customers in entirely new ways. Sparking Inspirational Change in the Community

Giving back has been a part of Salesforce's culture from day one, and its 1-1-1 integrated corporate philanthropy model, in which the company donates one percent of product, resources and employee time to nonprofits and NGOs, directly impacts the communities where its employees and customers live and work. Today, employees in the Bellevue office committed to volunteer more than 7,500 hours to local schools and organizations by the end of the year. As part of the office's grand opening activities, Salesforce has partnered with Mary's Place, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless women and their families, on a clothing drive to help women and their families keep warm this winter.

Additional Resources We're hiring! Visit www.salesforce.com/careers for a list of openings. #100BestCos

Follow @Salesforce on Twitter

Like Salesforce.com on Facebook: http://facebook.com/salesforce About Salesforce

Salesforce, the Customer Success Platform and world's #1 CRM, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com. Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase Salesforce applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information please visit http://www.salesforce.com, or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/salesforce-announces-grand-opening-of-new-seattle-area-engineering--innovation-hub-plans-to-double-local-workforce-to-500-300393027.html SOURCE Salesforce.com

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[January 18, 2017] Community Health Systems Announces That Rachel A. Seifert, Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, Will Retire at the End of the First Quarter

Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) announced today that Rachel A. Seifert, Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, will retire at the end of March 2017. Seifert has served as the Company's General Counsel since joining the organization in 1998. Seifert oversees the Company's legal department and serves as Secretary to the Company's Board of Directors. Ben Fordham, who currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Litigation Counsel at Community Health Systems, will be appointed Interim General Counsel upon Seifert's retirement. Commenting on the announcement, Wayne T. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Community Health Systems, Inc., said, "Through nearly two decades of leadership, Rachel Seifert's range of responsibility has been broad and dynamic. She has provided sharp counsel and management for all of the Company's legal matters, legal direction in support of all of our major transactions and corporate financing, oversight for SEC (News - Alert) compliance, expertise on regulatory matters, and corporate governance support for our Board of Directors. I am deeply grateful to Rachel for her many contributions to our success." Seifert is a 19-year veteran of Community Health Systems and has more than 35 years of legal experience. She joined Community Health Systems as the first and only member of the Legal Department and steadily assembled a strong team of attrneys. Prior to joining Community Health Systems, Seifert worked for Columbia/HCA where she served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel after spending seven years in private law practice. She received her law degree and bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland.



Fordham joined Community Health Systems in 2007 with 29-years of private practice experience in litigation, mergers and acquisitions, general business and health law. Fordham received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Duke University and his law degree from Vanderbilt University. About Community Health Systems, Inc.

Community Health Systems, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded hospital companies in the United States and a leading operator of general acute care hospitals in communities across the country. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns, leases or operates 158 affiliated hospitals in 22 states with an aggregate of nearly 27,000 licensed beds. The Company's headquarters are located in Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb south of Nashville. Shares in Community Health Systems, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CYH." More information about the Company can be found on its website at www.chs.net. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this news release regarding potential transactions, operating results, and other events are forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Actual future events or results may differ materially from these statements. Readers are referred to the documents filed by Community Health Systems, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. These filings identify important risk factors and other uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118006255/en/

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A look back on all of our reporting of the Delphi murders since 2017

crime
By Azernews





By Amina Nazarli

Iran, which is determined to modernize its aviation industry, has signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding with German companies on the projects on development of its airports.

Iran's Airports Company (IAC) signed a MoU with the airports in Munich, Frankfurt and Dornier Consulting International GmbH, which is a consulting and project management company that operates in the field of aviation, among other sectors.

The memorandum covers airport operations management, airport development, navigation infrastructures and consultation regarding commercialization of the airports.

This MoU gives us the opportunity to use German companies experience to modernize Iranian airports, equipment and facilities; train human resources and finance airport infrastructure development projects, said CEO of the Iranian company, Rahmatollah Mahabadi.

Mahabadi added that Germany will finance construction of the Tabriz Airport terminal, as well as assist in the implementation of funding mechanisms for new airports in Chabahar and Ahvaz.

Iran also plans to overhaul equipment of airports to improve safety, he added.

Since sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic were lifted last year, Iran began to take steps to upgrade its air industry, revamp an aging airline fleet, equipment and airports.

The country also holds negotiating with the French and Italian companies in this regard.



Earlier in April 2016, Iran inked a MoU with Italys SEA Group for the construction of a new passenger terminal in Tehrans Mehrabad International Airport, estimated to require 250 million in investment.

Meanwhile, Irans first brand-new A321 Airbus aircraft landed in Tehran after 38 years of international embargo this month. This is the first brand-new airliner Iran has received since the 1979 revolution, thanks to the landmark nuclear deal signed in 2015.



The contract was signed last year when President Hassan Rouhani visited France, only a few days after the nuclear deal officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was put into force, ending decades long economic sanctions on Iran. Iran has put orders for 100 aircraft with Airbus.

Iran made a similar deal with the American Boeing, but the prospect of it is overshadowed by the election of Donald Trump as the next US president, as he has strongly opposed the nuclear deal and Irans economic freedom.



Under sanctions, Irans aviation industry has become aged and remains

underdeveloped. The country plans to buy about 500 new aircraft in the near future.
This really blows Sly's cover because he thought he could make believe he supported the marchers and then they would support him. But he hoped that the state legislature would prevent an actual increase in the minimum wage in KCMO.





An increase is unlikely to happen as states have very broad powers in authorizing the issues and activities that city ordinances can address. And, if it did take place, hundreds of small businesses in KCMO would either move to another jurisdiction, or go out of business.





Showboating is one thing. Seriously governing is something else entirely . . .

I am aware of THE RECENT ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court. Currently, we are reviewing the ruling and will consult the City Attorney in order to understand the decision further. Until we fully understand those details I am not able to determine, or advocate for, a precise timeline for complying with courts ruling.





What does not change as a result of todays ruling is the underlying shared goal in all of this: Increasing the minimum wage for Kansas Citians. When we do this, we will fuel our economy, strengthen our workforce, and further commit ourselves to the promise of making Kansas City a world-class city in which to live, work, and raise a family.

A denizen of our blog community called this one perfectly . . .The comment deserves to be shared even further to call out Kansas City political hypocrisy . . .And now the world according to the Mayor and a very carefully crafted statement published under the cover of night . . .#########You decide . . .
Greece and Italy are united by the common challenges they face in economy and migration, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday

Greece and Italy are united by the common challenges they face in economy and migration, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday, welcoming him at Maximos Mansion.

Today we stand as EU countries, as Eurozone countries, as countries of the European South, before common challenges, the economic crisis and the refugee crisis. Therefore, our cooperation, similarly to the cooperation of all the European countries in the Mediterranean, is a critical factor for the creation of a better Europe, Tsipras said.

Mattarella is on a two-day visit to Greece and earlier in the day he visited the refugee camp in Eleonas.

We look forward to deepening and our bilateral cooperation in a number of areas - the economy, investment, energy and culture, because, let us not forget, this is our powerful weapon, he said.

On his side, Mattarella agreed on the common challenges facing the two countries. Another common problem that unites us is the huge issue of migration, the huge refugee issue. Greece and Italy, given their geographic position as borders of the EU, welcome many more refugees. Greece and Italy have respected the age-old duty to welcome and provide hospitality, as an indication of civilization, offering help to thousands of women, men and children, he said.

However Europe must commit more. It must increase the support it offers to Greece and Italy because the refugee issue is not just a problem for Italy and Greece, but of Europe as a whole, he added.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Continuing its provocations towards Greece, two Turkish F-16 fighter jets violated Greek national airspace, Tuesday

Continuing its provocations towards Greece, two Turkish F-16 fighter jets violated Greek national airspace, Tuesday. The two aircraft flew over the island of Panagia at an altitude of 25,000 feet.

The jets had infringed the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) south of the island of Chios at 11.05am.

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 UN has characterised reports that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres does not want to meet with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias following Geneva talks on the Cyprus issue as not accurate

The UN has characterised reports that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres does not want to meet with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias following Geneva talks on the Cyprus issue as not accurate, in statements on Monday.

Asked about the talks in Geneva last week and the reports Guterres did not want to be in the same room as Kotzias, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said thats not accurate.

What I would say is the Secretary General has been dealing and will continue to deal with all the various sides regarding this, he added.

Haq also referred back to the Secretary Generals statements in Geneva, saying the UN continues to hope there will be an agreement.

Obviously, we want to make sure that this is a lasting and sustainable agreement, and we will work in good faith with all the various sides, he said.

On Tuesday, Kotzias told Euronews that Turkeys will to find a solution to the Cyprus issue will be shown at the negotiating table.

In the meantime, following the reports against Kotzias last week, the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras office was incited to release a statement that Athens and Nicosia did not have divergent opinions on a Cyprus solution, as regards the security and guarantees chapter.

Additionally, in various statements following the conference on Cyprus, Turkish officials have not shown a change of opinion on the guarantees issue.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey will not cease to be a guarantor power, following statements from Ankaras Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who said Greece was not ready to move forward in the discussions opened on security 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
Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura on Wednesday had a brief meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain at the Palacio Real el Pardo

Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura on Wednesday had a brief meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain at the Palacio Real el Pardo. Kountoura is currently representing Greece at the FITUR international tourism exhibition in Madrid, where the Greek National Tourism Organisation has a pavilion.

During the meeting, which took place during an event hosted by the Spanish royal family for the ministers and officials of states participating in the exhibition, Kountoura talked about Greece and Greek tourism.

At the Greek pavilion, the minister had meetings with representatives of the Spanish and international travel industry, as well as travel agencies specialising in package holidays to Greece. She is also scheduled to give press conferences to the Spanish media in order to promote and advertise Greece as an attractive worldwide tourism destination, hoping to increase the flow of Spanish tourists to Greece.

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 first round of specialist level talks in Mont Pelerin have ended on the security and guarantees issue, without any notable developments

A first round of specialist level talks in Mont Pelerin have ended on the security and guarantees issue, without any notable developments, SigmaLive has learnt on Wednesday.

The next meeting of specialists from the three guarantor powers (Greece, Turkey, and the UK) and the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides will be held at 10am (Cyprus time) on Thursday.

Today, the specialists  including representatives from the EU as an observer party  were expected to set out the questions to for discussion on the security issue.

Government spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides said that the discussions are expected to give answer to some of the questions relating to internal and external security, so a working paper could be set forth to allow discussions to continue at a political level.

The discussions on security and guarantees were opened at the Geneva-based Conference on Cyprus, which started on Thursday.

At the end of the conference a UN announcement said that discussions would continue at a technical level.

In the meantime, following the conference media reports suggested that Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias was the cause of the talks not continuing at a political level the next day.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the Greek side needed more time to prepare.

However, Kotzias said that it was the Turkish side that abandoned the talks, citing other priorities.

The UN also released a statement that reports the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres did not want to meet with Kotzias were not accurate.

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 second programme review will be concluded without new measures after the end of the current programme, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Wednesday

The second programme review will be concluded without new measures after the end of the current programme, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Wednesday in a speech at the Parliament.

He explained that the exit from the crisis is visible and on time, in 2018, adding that the efforts for the conclusion of the second programme review have been accelerated so that the access to the markets is feasible after the participation to the ECB quantitative easing programme.

He stressed that the people understand who is trying to pull the country out of crisis and who is blocking the country's recovery. "We are moving forward and we are committed that things will always get better for the country," he said and referring to main opposition, he said "even if that means that they will get worse for your own political plans."

"We have complied with the programme, being full aware of the difficulties, and we have met our targets, because we made the state work and not serve its friends," he said.

"We have achieved high absorption rates as regards the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) funds. We have combatted corruption. This is the way for further tax relief for the weakest categories of citizens," Tsipras noted.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tsipras stated that the Geneva conference will resume on Wednesday on a technical diplomatic level. The Greek government is in close contact with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, he said.

He spoke of harsh and painstaking efforts to find a solution for the benefit of the entire Cypriot people, without guarantees and the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops from Cyprus.

Climate of understanding

"We tried to create a climate of understanding both inside and outside the country," the prime minister said, noting the constructive role that Greece played in the negotiations, "without retreating from our fair positions."

He stressed that although the solution is not yet apparent, important progress has been made since maps were exchanged for the first time. He added that although differences still remain, the issues of guarantees and security issues were for the first time on the agenda and this is considered to be a great diplomatic success. The Greek prime minister also noted the active role of the EU, which is also a positive development.

"We continue without excessive optimism, but with prudency and with a low profile, without obsessions and fears, and I hope that we will have positive developments in this crucial issue," he said.

Tsipras stressed the importance of the stance of the other side, especially Turkey, adding that that it should put aside the aggressive rhetoric and work seriously and responsibly.

"We will always be on the side of the Cyprus people in order to find a fair solution within the framework of the UN decisions and the status of Cyprus as an EU member state," the prime minister stressed.

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 ruling by the Greek Council of State on Monday which found that a ministerial decision allowing shops to open on Sunday in three regions in Greece was unconstitutional halts the unequal competition facing Greek small and medium-sized businesses from multinationals, the president of the Athens Trade Association said on Tuesday.

"We welcome the decision of the top court which vindicates our position on the important issue of the operation of shops on Sundays," Nikolaos Koyioumtsis said. "The decision of the CoS [?] puts the breaks on the aspirations of multinational groups which, through the full liberalization of the 52 Sundays, imposed an unequal competition on small small and medium-sized businesses."

Koyioumtsis noted also that the problem for the retail sector is not opening hours but incentives in taxation, social security contributions, liquidity and generally a friendly business environment that will attract investments and not force them to leave the country.

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
All Greeks and Europeans have a humanitarian imperative to alleviate the situation on the Greek islands, for the migrants as well as for the islands inhabitants, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Wednesday in Mytilene. The Commissioner had earlier visited the refugee and migrant camps in Moria and Kara Tepe on the island of Lesvos.

Avramopoulos visited the island with Greek Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas, a senior official in the European Commissions D-G ECHO service for humanitarian aid and Maarten Verwey, coordinator for implementing the EU-Turkey statement. They met with the head of the North Aegean regional authority Christiana Kalogirou, Lesvos Mayor Spiros Galinos, Chios Mayor Manolis Vournous and Samos Mayor Michalis Angelopoulos.

The Commissioners aim was to examine the problems that have arisen as a result of the implementation of the EU-Turkey statement at close hand. There are currently about 10,000 people stuck on the eastern Greek islands, pending the processing of their asylum applications.

Avramopoulos noted that Greece had already shown their humanity in the face of the refugee crisis and that no country should have to face such a crisis alone. So it simply cannot be that refugees are left out in the cold, to brave the worst of winter without a roof over their heads. Solutions must be found today, not tomorrow, not next week, but now, he said.

The EU will continue to stand by Greeces side in providing those solutions, the Commissioner said, just as it has been doing till now. With over 1.0 billion euros in financial support made available for Greece in the past two years, Greece is the biggest recipient of EU home affairs funding. And we are ready to provide more aid where needed, he said.

Financial support

A lot of that financial support has gone to our international partners working within Greece and I would today call on those same partners to redouble their efforts to bring immediate aid to those in need here in the islands. This is not about politics. This is about responding operationally and pragmatically to a humanitarian imperative, he added.

The Commissioner also called on all other EU Member States to continue stepping up the number of people they relocate from Greece and offer safe haven in their own countries. The EU-Turkey statement is what allowed us put a stop to the tragic loss of life at sea, but managing the biggest refugee crisis Europe has ever seen, remains a collective European responsibility, he noted.

He also pointed out the need to bring local populations on board and not alienate them:

The reality is that solutions will only work in cooperation and with the assistance of the local authorities and the local populations here in the islands, Avramopoulos said, expressing a message of gratitude for those dealing with the immediate impact of the refugee crisis and reassuring them that the situation was temporary.

I am confident that space will be found for the winterised UNHCR tents, financed by the European Union, to be set up as a temporary, humanitarian action.

This will not be forever. We will continue to stand side by side with you in working to decongest the islands, transferring the vulnerable people to the mainland, returning people who do not have a right to asylum and speeding up the processing of claims to return those people back to Turkey that can receive protection there.

But in the meantime, we all have a moral duty to respond, urgently, to the humanitarian situation, he said.

He also underlined the European Commissions willingness to help islands overcome the problems and difficulties noting that every supporting measure that the government is discussing with the local authorities is welcomed.

Better management

Asked by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) whether the new space concerned open camps or detention centres, Avramopoulos repeated that anything done would be temporary and the current situation will not last for ever.

The detention centres will help in the better management of this issue. They will facilitate the processes for the returns, chiefly, with the proper functioning of the committees and services and the handling of phenomena of delinquency, he said.

Mouzalas also commented, noting that the Commissioner had referred to the necessity of both new closed centres and open centres in order to tackle the crisis.

Referring to the need to support the islands, Avramopoulos said there would have to be action plans to promote growth and support islanders economically.

About non-governmental organisations working with the refugees and recent press reports about problems in the absorption of EU funding, Avramopoulos noted that a committee had been set up for the management of the funds, which was answerable to both Greece and Europe, while the issue was being monitored by the appropriate services.

Transparency for NGOs

The NGOs must handle the money provided with transparency. There is control, he said.

Mouzalas pointed out that the 1.0 billion euros referred to by Avramopoulos was available but had not yet been disbursed, while Greece had achieved a huge absorption rate of nearly 70 pct for emergency funds and roughly 12 pct for regular funding.

We in Greece are doing our job and doing it very well. What must be highlighted in Europe is that of the 60,000 migrants and refugees that we were suddenly forced to accept when they were trapped here by the illegal closure of the borders, there are roughly 1,700 in tents, he pointed out. The rest, he added, were in accommodation that was not luxurious but adequate.

He also noted that money had been given to the aid organisations and NGOs operating in Greece over the objections of the Greek government, which had stressed that it could not then have control over this money.

We, with less money than that received by the NGOs and institutional organisations, have covered more than 70 pct of the needs. It is possible that the NGOs will be asked to undergo an audit, he said.

Study on tourism impact

In the meanwhile, a recently released study by the Laboratory for Tourism Research & Studies at the University of the Aegean focusing on the Greek islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Kos has shown that the four islands received 759,000 refugees in 2015 and 156,000 in 2016.

According to the study, overnight stays in 2015 dropped by 18.75% compared to a year before, with the number of visitors down by 22.79%, prices down by 12.45% and the average length of stay decreased by one day.

The number of jobs in the hotels were reduced by 5.2% , while operating costs increased by 5.66% while respondents estimate that for 2016 and 2017 they expect a 40.63% drop in overnight stays, a 42.58% fall in the number of visitors and revenue down by 35.16%.

The survey also underlines that the publicity of the refugees plight has cast the four islands as well as Greece into the negative spotlight affecting holidaymakers decision to book in Greece, leading to cancellations and reduced arrivals.

The impact on tourism, the study concludes, will depend on how effectively the problem is managed and the duration of stay of the refugee populations on the aforementioned islands.

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 Greek journalist filed a lawsuit against self-proclaimed billionaire Artemis Sorras and his so-called business partner Emmanouil Lambrakis to the Supreme Court prosecutor on Wednesday.

In his lawsuit, journalist Alexandros Stefanopoulos who lives in the U.S., is accusing Sorras of forming a criminal gang, fraud, dissemination of false news, inciting people to violence or mutual discord, breach of duty and other crimes related to the currency.

Sorras claims he has in is possession bonds worth 600 billion euros with which he will pay back all of Greeces debt, is already being investigated by authorities.

The journalist claims though his lawyers that the bonds circulated by Sorras are counterfeit and have no value ? an argument verified by the US Treasury, which, in 2013, told the Bank of Greece that the documents presented by Sorras and Lambrakis were fake.

"It is a case of blatant deception of citizens which constitutes the first ever attempt at a global fraud, in which a forged bond is presented to all legal, regulatory and banking authorities of the country, while the response from Greek Justice does not correspond to the extent of the crimes committed," the lawsuit says.

The plaintiff also mentions Sorras acquittal by a first instance court Greece in 2013 when he was accused of spreading false news, adding he has faith in the justice system and that more evidence will be presented. He also said he has taken measures to protect himself as hes sure his life will be threatened.

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 military airplane bombed a refugee camp mistaken for a Boko Haram camp. The death toll is over 100 people dead and many others wounded.

According to some information Boko Haram insurgents had taken advantage of the Muslim holiday week, during which many residents of surrounding villages gravitate to Maiduguri to shop. They melted among the villagers and came in as traders.

The air raid was the response to attacks by Boko Haram. The recent military gains have significantly weakened Boko Haram and the attacks have been carried out by remaining pockets that seek opportunities to strike.

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 British Prime Minister Theresa May outlined her governments plan for the Brexit negotiations

The British Prime Minister Theresa May outlined her governments plan for the Brexit negotiations.

According to her, Leaving the European Union will mean that our laws will be made in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

She underlined that a stronger Britain demands that we do something else  strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister knows exactly how serious consequences Brexit will have for the countrys foreign relations. We cannot forget that, as we leave, the United Kingdom will share a land border with the EU, and maintaining that Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland will be an important priority for the UK in the talks ahead, she said.

The immigrations problem, of course, could not be left out of her speech as she added that we will get control of the number of people coming to Britain from the EU.

However, May tried to clear out that her dream for the post-Brexit UK is that of cooperation. I want us to be a truly Global Britain  the best friend and neighbour to our European partners, but a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe too. A country that gets out into the world to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike.

Main points

The main points of the Prime Ministers speech are:

 We are a European country  and proud of our shared European heritage  but we are also a country that has always looked beyond Europe to the wider world.

 We want to guarantee the rights of EU citizens who are already living in Britain, and the rights of British nationals in other member states, as early as we can.

 Under my leadership, not only will the Government protect the rights of workers set out in European legislation, we will build on them. Because under this Conservative Government, we will make sure legal protection for workers keeps pace with the changing labour market  and that the voices of workers are heard by the boards of publicly-listed companies for the first time.

 As a priority, we will pursue a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EUs member states.

 It is time for Britain to get out into the world and rediscover its role as a great, global, trading nation.

 We will also welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives.

 We will continue to work closely with our European allies in foreign and defence policy even as we leave the EU itself.

 Our objective is a phased approach, delivering a smooth and orderly Brexit. This is the framework of a deal that will herald a new partnership between the UK and the EU.

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
Majaal Warehouse Company, a major operator of industrial facilities in Bahrain, will lead the Industrial Facilities Sector at the upcoming Gulf Industry Fair 2017 (GIF).



Gulf Industry Fair, the Northern Gulfs leading annual industrial expo, takes place from February 7 to 9 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain.

Amin Al Arrayed, managing director of Majaal, said: Gulf Industry Fairs platform promotes the GCCs strategic goals for industrial and manufacturing growth, particularly for small and medium sized enterprises. Our commitment to GIF 2017 is not just in support of these goals but the ability of the Gulf Industry Fair to deliver on our business objectives.

Majaal, a subsidiary of First Bahrain Real Estate Development Company, located within the Bahrain Investment Wharf in Hidd, is strategically linked to major air, seas and land transport routes to accommodate the import and export of goods with the purpose of reducing logistic requirements and business costs for its tenants.



In 2016, Majaal focused its energies onto expansion by actively seeking opportunities to engage with third parties in the GCC. In addition, Majaal has been working with the Economic Development Board as part of its Transport and Logistics Committee in developing and promoting Bahrain as a hub in the GCC.



Majaal have become one of the pillars for Bahrains Industrial 2030 vision. Their presence at GIF highlights Bahrains supply of first-class innovative industrial facilities, said Jubran Abdulrahman, managing director of HCE, organisers of the show.



Gulf Industry Fair 2017 is sponsored by the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) in association with Noga. Naffco will be supporting the Fire and Safety products and services sector of the event.

Supporting organisations for GIF 2017 include AHK Saudi Arabia, Indias PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the German Saudi Arabian Liaison for Economic Affairs, the Saudi British Economic Offset Programme and Bahrain Industrial Association.

For more information on Gulf Industry Fair 2017, visit www.gulfindustryfair.com -TradeArabia News Service
Iran has signed a deal with Germany to cooperate on the production of 50 diesel locomotives for use in the Iranian rail network, a report said.



The locomotives will be jointly produced by Germany's engineering giant Siemens and Iran Power Projects Management Company (Mapna), Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi was quoted as saying in the Iran Daily report, which cited Irna.



The railway system needs an extra 150 locomotives, he added, noting that Iran currently has 165 diesel locomotives



Iran was also in talks with Germany on investing in Tabriz, Ahvaz and Chabahar airports, Akhoundi said.
State-run Saudi Aramco has commissioned the kingdoms first wind energy turbine, developed in partnership with GE aiming to support the renewable goals of Saudi Vision 2030.



The project will power Saudi Aramcos facility in Turaif in northwestern Saudi Arabia, providing electricity directly to the bulk plant.



The commissioning event of the wind energy station was attended by Abdulkarim Ghamdi, Saudi Aramco executive director for Power Systems, Anne McEntee, vice-president and CEO GE Onshore Wind  Renewables; Ruhan Temeltas, regional leader GE Renewables; Zaher Ibrahim, CEO GE Oil & Gas, Saudi Arabia, and a number of local dignitaries and business leaders.



For several years, Saudi Aramco has invested to develop high potential sites for wind energy in Saudi Arabia. Sites across the kingdom have significant resource potential, and may generate some of the lowest cost electricity globally. Delivering new energy through renewables reduces the kingdoms greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to global climate action outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement.



Domestically, committing the kingdom to renewable energy is part of the National Transformation Plan (NTP) and Vision 2030. Through NTP, the kingdom is targeting 3.45GW of renewable energy by 2020, on the way to 9.5GW by 2023. The Ministry of Energy is leading the launch of the National Renewable Energy Program which will be phased and systemic in its pursuit of long-term goals where Saudi Aramco is a key stakeholder in this effort.



Ghamdi said: The commissioning of the first wind turbine is the start of something new in the kingdom that Saudi Aramco is driving with our partners. Wind Turbine No. 1 in Turaif will fully meet the electricity needs for the bulk plant and even feed surplus electricity back into the national grid. Wind energy offers potential to provide new energy the kingdoms energy mix and enhance power generation efficiency, thus delivering on the core objectives of Vision 2030.



Ibrahim said: We see the installation of this GE wind turbine in Turaif as a great demonstration of the long partnership we have with Saudi Aramco. Today is a significant occasion marking an exciting new era for the kingdom and one that we are very proud to be part of. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners in the kingdom towards the renewables goals of Saudi Vision 2030.



One Saudi Aramco-GE wind turbine creates enough power to supply 250 homes, can displace 19,000 barrels of oil equivalent, and generate 2.75 MW, thereby reducing demand for electricity from the national grid.



The wind turbine is connected to Turaif Bulk Plants electrical distribution system to help it reduce the amount of power purchased from the Saudi Electricity Company and to reduce the diesel currently consumed to supply power at the plant.



The GE 2.75-120 wind turbine has been delivered with a desert protection package specifically designed for the kingdoms hot and harsh conditions. The tower stands 85 m high, capturing energy by blades 120 me in diameter.



The turbines rotor tips reach 145 m from the ground. The turbine blades are constructed from lightweight composite materials, resembling large aerodynamic glider wings. The wind turbine project was developed by specialists from Saudi Aramcos Power Systems, with GE selected to design, supply, and construct the demonstration project.  TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabis renewable energy company Masdar has selected International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to oversee the funding of the largest solar power plant in Jordan.



The announcement follows the signing of a power purchase agreement (PPA) in October between Masdar and National Electric Power Company, Jordans state electricity provider, for the 200-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic plant.



The facility, is being developed by the wholly-owned Masdar subsidiary Baynouna Solar Energy Company (BSEC), said a statement from the company.



Masdar chief executive officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi and chief financial officer Niall Hannigan, signed a deal with Eric Becker, IFC manager of Infrastructure for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week today (January 18).



Hannigan said: Our partnership with IFC will ensure that this landmark project will be developed according to the highest standards of financial best practice, while illustrating the strength of investor confidence in renewable energy.



Expected to break ground later this year, the solar plant will be built 10 km outside the capital Amman.



Once connected to the national grid, it will supply the annual power needs of around 110,000 homes and displace an estimated 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, it said.



Becker said: The region continues to face serious power shortages, and there is now even greater pressure on infrastructure services.



We have been working with Masdar, a key partner, since 2013 and welcome this opportunity to further support the development renewable energy generation capacity across the region, he added.



The project follows the inauguration of the 117MW Tafila wind farm in Jordan in December 2015, the Middle Easts largest onshore wind power development. Masdar has a 31 per cent stake in Tafila with InfraMed (50 per cent) and EP Global Energy (19 per cent).



The combined output of Tafila and the Baynouna solar project will account for nearly 18 per cent of the 1.8 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy Jordan plans to install by 2020.



Masdars Clean Energy division is a leading developer and operator of utility-scale, grid-tied projects; applications providing energy access to communities away from the electricity grid; and carbon abatement projects, it added.  TradeArabia News Service
International oil companies (IOCs) have long played a dominant role in the development of the regions oil sector  and have always seen the Middle Easts vast reserves as the prized asset, said a industry expert in its report.



Competition amongst them has always been fierce; but more recently, structural changes in the oil market, political uncertainty and the emergence of shale in North America is changing the way IOCs view the Middle East, according to Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (Apicorp).



The Middle East has always been an important region for the IOCs, thanks to its vast and cheap-to-extract reserves. Companies like ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, and Total have competed in countries like the UAE, Iraq, and Iran, stated the report.



Their interest in the region has always been strong and their presence has spanned many decades.

However, the scene has fundamentally changed over the last few years, prompting IOCs to rethink their strategy in the Middle East.



US majors ExxonMobil and Chevron are now focusing more on their investments in North America, where they see more value and quicker returns, the expert pointed out.



BP has been selling off assets to settle the Deepwater Horizon oil spill claims, while Shells recent takeover of BG is making its Middle East position less clear.



Only Total is showing clear commitment to expand its portfolio in the region. Multiple factors and trends have led to such a rethink.



Falling oil prices and capital discipline has impacted overall investment, and the emergence of US shale offering new opportunities in the unconventional sphere have upset the previous dynamics of supply and demand; meanwhile the unattractive fiscal terms on offer have caused some IOCs to reconsider their position in key producing countries, stated the report.



Furthermore, competition from Asian players for limited opportunities, the international sanctions on Iran that have forced many companies to leave the country and heightened geopolitical uncertainty have all contributed to the change of approach.



Shells recent $70 billion takeover of BG has turned its attention to restructuring its business and focusing on existing assets, said the report.



The company is sending mixed signals about its desired role in the region. It decided against renewing its stake in the Adco concession, but refused to rule out a return.



It also withdrew from the $10 billion Bab sour gas field in the UAE. On the other hand, it is expressing interest in Iran and Shell is one of the 29 prequalified companies that will be allowed to bid for upstream contracts.



The picture is different in Iraq, where Shell is looking to sell its stakes in Majnoon and West Qurna 1, stated Apicorp in the report.



The company has a 45 per cent stake in Majnoons 220k b/d field and around 15 per cent in the 450k b/d West Qurna 1.



If this happens, the companys main oilproducing asset will be Petroleum Development Oman, where it owns a 34 per cent stake in the 600k b/d company, it stated.



Shells desired departure from Iraqs oil sector is a testament to the more challenging financial environment and the unattractive terms on offer, as IOCs effectively operate as contractors for the government and receive margins of under $2/b.



However, Shell is heavily involved in the countrys gas sector and holds a 44 per cent stake in the Basrah Gas Company. The 25-year joint venture commenced in 2013 with the aim of capturing the countrys flared associated gas.



BP recovering lost ground



Over the past six years, BP has focused on recovering from the Deepwater horizon spill in 2010. The company was forced to sell in excess of $40 billion worth of assets to fund payouts.



But after a difficult few years, BP is beginning to invest again. It recently acquired a 10 per cent stake in the Adco concession, having been part of the old concession that expired in 2014, said Apicorp in its report.



The 1.66m b/d concession will run through 2054 and will also involve Adnoc (60 per cent), Total (10 per cent), Inpex (5 per cent), and GS Energy (3 per cent).

Having been adamant that a $2.2 billion signing fee is excessive, it structured the deal in a way that allows the company to raise capital by giving the Abu Dhabi government approximately 2 per cent of its shares, with estimates suggesting that those shares are worth around $2.3 billion, the report said.



The deal reinforces BPs commitment in the UAE, and more specifically, to low cost barrels. The companys share of the Adco concession is estimated to be 165k b/d in 2017 and will send the companys Middle East output to around 400k b/d.



Additionally, BP has around 96k b/d from its 14.67 per cent share in the Adma concession where it intends to remain beyond the concessions expiration in 2018.



But the recent increase in its oil output is mainly attributed to Iraq where BP receives its payments in oil. In Iraq, BP was the first major to return in 2009 when it was awarded a 25-year technical service contract for the large 1.35m b/d Rumaila field.



Total fully committed



Total is arguably the only international oil firm committed to investing in the region. It was the first to sign up for the Adco renewal in 2014, agreeing to pay a $2.2 billion signing fee.



It also recently replaced Maersk in the 300k b/d Al-Shaheen field in Qatar while in Iran, it is aggressively pushing for deals in the upstream sector.



Total is now the second largest IOC in the region in terms of liquid output, recently overtaking Shell when the latter opted against renewing its stake in Adco.



Although production figures havent changed much recently, Total has been busy signing deals to boost future production. Unlike the other majors, Total is focusing more in the Middle East in pursuit of cheap barrels, which has long been the cornerstone of its strategy.



Even though focusing on the Middle East exposes the company to geopolitical risk, Total believes that other reserve bases such as US shale pose a market risk.



The companys involvement in ADCO has been significant since it signed up in 2014. This is mainly because it had to step in temporarily and operate some fields as asset leaders in the absence of other major IOCs in the concession.



In Qatar, Total replaced Maersk in the 300k b/d offshore Al-Shaheen field. Although a more geographically challenging field, production costs are below $10/b.



Totals ambition to be the dominant IOC in the region is evident by its desire to play a significant role in Iran.



Recently, it signed an HoA for the development of Phase 11 of the South Pars gas field, at an expected cost of $1 billion.



In Iraq, the challenging environment has kept the companys presence small. Its involvement there is mostly limited to the Halfaya oil field, where it has a 22.5 per cent stake in the consortium, averaging 18k b/d in 2015. Additionally, Total has some interest in several exploration blocks in Iraqi Kurdistan.



While IOCs continue to play an important role in the Middle East, we observe several factors that are setting the scene and making them rethink their strategies in the region, stated experts in Apicorp.



First, in an environment of declining capex, IOCs are increasingly focusing on low cost barrels. Total used the low price environment in the past two years to reduce its cost structure and secure deals and projects that produce low cost barrels.



Total is pushing to become the dominant IOC player in the region despite the heightened geopolitical risk. Second, some IOCs no longer see the Middle East as their preferred destination, they pointed out.



ExxonMobil and Chevron are diminishing their roles in the region, and decided against participating in Iran. Both companies are focusing more on their US operations.



Chevrons main involvement in the Middle East remains the Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone - with no indication that it wants to expand its regional presence.



Currently, Chevrons regional production has fallen to zero as production from the SaudiKuwaiti neutral zone remains shut.



According to Apicorp, IOCs are still wary of entering Iran over fears of violating regulations and risking heavy fines. Iran has made some progress with international shipping and insurance companies;

but US residual sanctions are still in place, limiting access to international banking services.



The type of contracts will be key in attracting IOCs. Some of the largest reserves in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are not open to foreign players and IOCs like Shell, ExxonMobil, and Total have had their involvement limited to some technical service agreements, technical studies and R&D.



In such a scenario, more and more Asian players are entering the Middle Eastern market to fill the void left by some of the Western majors, stated Apicorp.



Companies like CNPC are putting the Middle East  particularly Iraq and Iran  at the forefront of their global upstream strategy.



This makes good sense, given that Asia is the main importer of the regions oil.

Middle Eastern governments will also be keen to build stronger ties with Asian countries, the main source of demand growth for their commodity, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
India-based Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one of the world's largest gold and diamond jewellery retailers, plans to invest Dh335 million ($91.28 million) in expansion of its global retail network including 17 new stores in the GCC.



The plan will see an addition of 24 stores in three months, from January to March, taking the number of total outlets to 185 by the end of March, up from 161 as of today.



Out of the 24 new outlets, nine will be in the UAE, seven in India, five in Saudi Arabia, two in Bahrain and one in Kuwait. Of these, seven outlets will be opened on January 18, taking the number of total outlets to 168, including 82 in India and 86 internationally.



The expansion will add more than 1,000 professionals to the group's existing manpower strength of 9,000 and cross the 10,000 employee mark by March this year.



The move marks a major investment in expansion at a time when many gold and jewellery retailers have struggled to manage their existing operations due to a challenging global economic environment, said MP Ahammed, chairman of Malabar Group.



Despite the tough market conditions resulted by lower demand, higher price of gold and demonetization process in India, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has decided to push ahead with expansion, which demonstrates it confidence in the growth of market in future, he noted.



"This is one of our single largest vertical expansion drives. The expansion at a crucial time reflects our renewed confidence and strong commitment to the Gulf, India and Far East markets," Ahammed said.



"Investment in downturn market requires courage and strong risk appetite. Our latest expansion demonstrates our long-term vision and a sustainable business development roadmap that we can manage mostly with our own resources.



"The expansion is aimed at serving more communities and nationalities, especially people from the Philippines, African Arab communities, the Levant as well as the Western countries. The extended network will help us acquire a greater customer base," he added.



The price of gold has risen in almost every major world economy during 2016, suggesting that the dark days are over and good times are coming back. The gold price is almost 10 per cent higher today than what it had been 12 months ago.



Abdul Salam KP, group executive director of Malabar Group said that consumers were cautious last year. "Retail activities are a reflection of the consumer sentiment. Due to the market conditions, consumers exercised caution. However things are looking brighter as we started the New Year with a lot of positive indications," he added.



Shamlal Ahamed MP, managing director - International Operations of Malabar Gold & Diamonds' said: "Due to the market conditions, consumers on an average purchased less gold. However, although the average ticket size was low, the transaction value remained almost flat - which means the number of customers have grown."



"Data from our own sales across the network shows that we have acquired more customers last year - who purchased from us for the first time - that compensated for the lower average purchase transaction value.



"I believe the current market conditions are best suited for buyers as the price of gold is expected to rise. This year, we expect consumers to be less cautious and buy more - a trend that will lift consumption," he added.



Malabar Gold & Diamonds is the flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading diversified Indian business conglomerate. The group owned by over 1,700 investors was ranked among the top five jewellery retailers globally. Established in 1993 in the Indian state of Kerala, Malabar Gold & Diamonds today has a strong retail network of over 161 outlets spread across nine countries.



Malabar Gold & Diamonds had earlier announced donating five per cent of its profits in CSR activities aimed at supporting the societies across five key areas: Education, Women Empowerment, Healthcare and Research, Housing and Environment.  TradeArabia News Service
Continued fleet and network expansion together with a renewed focus on on-board services and developments will be a priority for Oman Air in 2017; ensuring the airline continues to drive up revenues, increase growing contribution to the national economy and deliver against its 10 year development plan.



This message will be reiterated at Oman Airs major global conference to be held in Muscat on January 19, 2017. The conference will be opened by Maitha Bint Saif Bin Majid Al Mahruqi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism and deputy chairman of Oman Air and hosted by Paul Gregorowitsch, chief executive officer of Oman Air.



Hundreds of staff from all over the world will congregate in Muscat, where they will hear an update on 2016 results and discuss the outlook for Oman Air in 2017. Staff will have the opportunity to recap on Oman Airs visions and values and importantly have the chance to input on how these are communicated in the coming year. The focus will be on achieving improved results and providing the best possible customer experience, despite the continuing unpredictability in the market.



Even in the context of increasing global volatility, economic downturn and drastically reduced Government support from over OMR100 million ($258.8 million) to just OMR20 million ($51.7 million) in 2016, Oman Air increased its contribution to Omans GDP by 6 per cent last year to OMR415 million ($1.07 billion). This is projected to grow further to a staggering OMR900 million ($2.3 billion) in 2017; creating employment opportunities to Omani nationals, bringing tourists to the Sultanate, building global connections and last but not the least, supporting small and medium enterprises.



This positive contribution to Omans economy can only be achieved by continuing to generate demand for Oman Airs expanding network, fleet and services. Continuing to differentiate will be a key focus for the coming year to ensure the airline maintains the positive revenue trajectory achieved over the last two years.



Increasing global competition and pressure from other carriers makes it imperative that Oman Air continues to stand out in an increasingly crowded market place. The airline has continued to prove its worth on the international stage in 2016 with a raft of industry awards to add to its growing collection.



Recent awards in 2016 include Worlds Leading Airline  Economy Class at the World Travel Awards in the Maldives, and Foreign Airline of the Year by Sector to the Middle East at the annual KLIA Awards, introduced in 2006 to recognize the best in Malaysian aviation industry. The coveted Signum Virtutis, the seal of excellence, from the Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Awards 2016 and winner for the best airline in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The accolades are not limited to the passenger operation; Oman Air Cargo was also awarded Best Cargo Airline for Valuable Goods  North and East at the India Cargo Awards 2016 held in Delhi.



This growing international recognition creates demand for Oman Airs expanding network. Developments in the past year include: the introduction of a double daily service to London Heathrow; from five times a week, to daily flights to Paris and increased frequencies on other European routes. Manila, Jakarta, Singapore, Goa, Dhaka and Mashhad are other recent additions to the network.



A major milestone at the end of 2016 was the introduction of Oman Airs first destination in China, Guangzhou, launched in December and the commencement of the four times weekly flight to Najaf, Iraq in November last year.



Network developments are continuing apace in 2017 with the revised flight agreement with the Government of India resulting in increased frequencies to five of Oman Airs 11 Indian destinations and news of a new four times weekly flight from Muscat to Nairobi, Kenya to be launched at the end of March this year. Also a new daily flight to Manchester, UK starting from May 2017 and the increase of services to Pakistan with the launch of a new Muscat to Peshwar flight later in the year.



Fleet expansion is critical to support the network expansion and 2016 saw the introduction of six brand new Boeing 737-800s joining the Oman Air fleet. Oman Air has operated B737s for many years and the aircraft provide the backbone of the airlines long and medium haul fleet.



With the addition of the new Boeing 737  800, Oman Airs fleet stands at 46. Currently Oman Airs fleet consists of four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200s, five Boeing 737-900s, 22 Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700 and four Embraer 175s. Three more Boeing 737  800s are scheduled to join the fleet and this year, Oman Air will be unveiling new B787-9 Dreamliners and revamping the existing Airbus fleet.



In addition to fleet and network expansion, training facilities continue to be a major focus for Oman Air. In November last year the brand new Oman Air Flight Training Centre (OAFTC) was opened. This state-of-the-art facility is the first of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman and enables Oman Air to provide their pilots and cabin crew with the highest standards of training, in accordance with civil aviation regulations and industry good practice.



The innovative technology that is integral to OAFTC, together with its strategic location at the airport, enhances the high level of efficiency to which Oman Air is required to work. By operating world-class training facilities in-house, and by offering its services to commercial partners, Oman Air is able to make substantial cost savings which can subsequently be invested to the benefit of our customers.



Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO Oman Air, said: 2016 was a year of significant growth and I would like to give thanks to the guidance offered by, His Excellency Darwish Bin Ismail Bin Ali Al Bulushi, Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs and Chairman of our board, the Board Members, the effective management of our chief officers and the dedication of all our colleagues. Our progress in the past year could not have been achieved without the ongoing support of all our business partners. These include the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) in securing our increasing entitlements and the Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) who tirelessly helped us to accommodate increasing flights and passenger numbers at a constrained airport; we look forward to the new passenger terminal opening later this year.



Together we are on a journey to become the best. Our objectives remain the same, where our financial performance needs to be improved further. These objectives have been facilitating Oman Airs tremendous growth, making money, increasing our market share as airline of first choice and ultimately running a safe airline. To think that this has all been achieved in the context of an increasingly volatile marketplace and decreasing Government support is a good achievement. I am privileged to be able to work with our dedicated and professional teams and partners and look forward to receiving their input to ensure that we continue on our successful path in 2017. - TradeArabia News Service
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Emilia-Romagna is a food lovers paradise. From its expertly-made pastas to its carefully cured meats to balsamic vinegar thats been made in the same way for centuries, Emilia-Romagna food is what dreams are made of. The region is considered by many to be the breadbasket of Italy, the culinary heart of the country.

A two-week visit isnt enough time to try all the delicious dishes Emilia-Romagna has to offer, but we did our best. Here are some of our favorite foods from around the region.

Tortellini in brodo

A signature of Bologna, tortellini is a stuffed pasta filled with meats and cheeses. It is served in several different ways including with butter or in a light tomato sauce, but one of the most popular preparations is tortellini in brodo, or tortellini in a delicate broth.

Tortellini in brodo (and its close cousin agnolini in brodo) are traditionally winter dishes and are often part of the Christmas celebration. However, I had my dish on a lovely summer afternoon, and it was still fabulous.

Salumi

Salumi is the thing in Emilia-Romagna. An Italian term to describe the preparation of cured meats that are mostly (but not exclusively) pork as well as cooked products like mortadella.

Three of the most popular salumi are mortadella, Prosciutto di Parma ham, and Culatello di Zibello. Mortadella is a sausage made of ground lean pork (or pork and beef) that is dotted with small cubes of fat known as lardarelli and whole grains of black pepper. In the US, it is the inspiration for the product called bologna, named after the city where mortadella comes from.

Prosciutto di Parmaa mild, sweet ham cured bone-inis one of the most popular in Italy. It is made from specially bred pigs and is cured naturally and for twice as long as other prosciuttos.

Culatello di Zibello is a bit of a delicacy. Made from the fatty back end of the pig, it is cured in salt, pepper, garlic, and white wine for at least 8 months. It is perfect with bread alone or alongside a soft cheese.

Chestnuts

Chestnuts from the Apennines are a popular food throughout Emilia-Romagna. In salty and sweet dishes, chestnuts can be used whole, chopped, or even ground into flour. Theyre often seen in desserts, made into crepe-like breads, and used as flavorings for liqueurs (my favorite, of course). Chestnuts are so popular that there are multiple festivals celebrating them throughout the region.

Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

One of the most famous Emilia Romagna foods is Parmigiano-Reggiano. A cheese that has been part of Italian culture for over 1000 years, Parmigiano-Reggiano can only be produced in Bologna, Modena, Mantua, Parma, and Reggio Emilia using milk from local cows. Aged for at least 12 months, the hard cheese takes on a slightly salty, lightly nutty flavor that deepens with age. Not only is Parmigiano-Reggiano a must-try on any trip to Italy, but a visit to a dairy makes for a fun and insightful half-day activity.

Balsamic vinegar of Modena

The traditional balsamic vinegar (aceto balsamico) of Modena is different from anything most of us have ever bought, especially in a grocery store in the US. The true aged vinegarknown as black goldhas been produced for centuries under strict quality standards. Local Lambrusco and Trebbiano grapes are cooked and aged in wooden casks for 12 years (for a good vinegar) up to 50-100 years (for something out-of-this-world). Italians use the sweet syrup on everything from cheese and grilled meat to ice cream.

Piadina

Found throughout Emilia Romagna, piadina are traditional flatbreads filled with all manner of delicious vegetables, cheeses, or cured meats. Made with just white flour, olive oil (or lard), salt, and water, these mainstays of Emilia Romagna cuisine started out as peasant bread. Today, theyre everywhere from stands at the seaside in Rimini to the menu of Eataly in Bologna. They vary a bit by citythinner in Rimini and thicker in Bologna, for instancebut theyre a perfect meal everywhere.

Lambrusco and Pignoletto

In Emilia-Romagna, I got to expand my knowledge of my favorite foodwine. The region is known, in particular, for the sparkling wines Lambrusco and Pignoletto. Lambrusco is a red, usually sweet wine that is double fermented to produce the bubbles, although drier varieties are available. It was once a very popular export to the US and is widely available in Emilia Romagna. Pignoletto is a crisp, light white whose origins trace back as far as the first century AD. It is available in sparkling and non-sparkling varieties everywhere from food markets to fancy restaurants.

Seafood

The eastern border of Emilia-Romagna is the Adriatic Sea. The coast is home to a number of beach resort townsRimini is the largestbrimming with restaurants serving amazing seafood. From simple grilled shrimp, to mussels, calamari, and all varieties of fish, there are so many fresh options.

Ragu alla Bolognese

Bolognese sauce is possibly the most famous food from Bologna, where its generally known only as ragu. The thick, hearty pasta sauce is made with a combination of minced pork, veal, and beef and is enhanced with milk or cream. Sometimes spiked with fresh nutmeg, ragu alla Bolognese has just a touch of tomato and is best served with tagliatelle or as part of a lasagna.

Zuppa Inglese

Zuppa Inglese is a popular dessert that originated in Emilia-Romagna about a century ago. Similar to an English Trifle, in Zuppa Inglese, ladyfingers are dipped in a red, herbal liqueur and placed in alternating layers with egg custard and my personal favorite, chocolate egg custard.

Gelato

Gelato is by no means only an Emilia-Romagna food. But Bologna is home to the only gelato museum in the world, and gelato is made amazingly throughout the region. This cousin of ice cream can be found on almost every city block. To pick between them, look for shops that keep their creamy goodness cold in the counter, not piled high and slightly melty. Also look for natural colors, not crazy blue or bright green.

We visited Emilia-Romagna as part of the Blogville project in coordination with the Emilia-Romagna Tourism Board and iambassador. All opinions of the fabulously delicious are our own.
Ordinary people know that the Great Wall of China is (1) the biggest man-made military structure in the world, (2) built for a very long time, (3) and the latest theme to Matt Damon's fantasy film. However, a relative few history buffs could make an educated guess when the building started and ended, let alone guess who made it.

The Great Wall of China was built by 5 ruling dynasties. It was a project that was 2,200 years in the making. These were the imperial ancestries that sponsored the completion of China's most popular tourist site.

Zhou Dynasty

This dynasty was one of the longest-running rulers of the Chinese state of Qi. The building of the Great Wall was intended to repel the ancient Mongols and Manchurians off their northern borders. From 770 BC, their reign ended 221 BC following their defeat in the hands of the Qin during the Warring States period.

Qin Dynasty

During the reign of the first Qin emperor (Qin Shih Huang Di), the territory we now know as China is already under his reign. Hence, all unified states bore his namesake. As an emperor consolidating his power, the northern barbarians continue to pester his borders with their ceaseless incursions. The building of the Great Wall extended from Qi state westward to the Gansu province.

Han Dynasty

The Han dynasty ruled for over 420 years following the fall of the Qin dynasty. As one of the 5 ruling dynasties in China, the Han was credited for sponsoring Confucianism and initiating the westward trade links of the Silk Road. They also extended the building of the Great Wall to protect these distant western borders from bandits.

Ming Dynasty

It was only until the expulsion of the Mongol Yuan rulers that the attention to continuing the Great Wall of China resumed. From 1368 to 1644, the emperors of the Ming Dynasty connected the western leg of the Great Wall built by the Hans with the eastern part built by the Qin.

Qing Dynasty

The Qing dynasty that traced its ancestry from the Manchurians was credited for officially ending the further improvement or expansion of the Great Wall. From then on, it remains China's most popular tourist site.

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PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - JANUARY 31: A young boy runs through a group of Pigeons in front of the Royal Palace on January 31, 2013 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Former King Norodom Sihanouk died of a heart attack last October in Beijing at the age of 89. For the past three months his body has been lying in state at the Royal Palace. Officials expect more than one million people to line the streets tomorrow to witness the funeral procession. The former kings body will be transported to a cremation site where it will be kept for three days before his wife and son are expected to light the pyre.

(Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

In terms of tourism value, the healthy competition between the capital city of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap eventually account for 17.5% of Cambodia's gross domestic product - roughly $20 billion worth industry as of 2009. These two popular destinations in Cambodia are in many ways unlike each other, hence giving tourist an element of diversity in their itinerary.

There are three main reasons why travelers visit Phnom Penh. Here are the following grounds almost exclusive to the capital city alone:

Excitement and Activity

Anyone traveling in Cambodia would most likely find Phnom Penh more exciting than Siem Reap on ordinary days. Despite being the center of human activity in the country, the capital city has somehow retained its old charm.

Transformation

Another reason why travelers visit Phnom Penh is that the capital city is that this place is the center of national growth. Visitors who traveled to Phnom Penh 5 to 10 years ago would hardly recognize the capital city now. Phnom Penh is the best place to witness Cambodia's positive transformation.

Commercial Diversity

Considering how much Phnom Penh evolves towards urbanization, the capital city is already replete with hotels, restaurants and a wide variety of commercial outlets. In fact, it is easy to get around with an average daily budget of $25! Choosing between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, it pretty much apparent which one is better in terms of optimal spending.

There are also three key reasons why travelers visit Siem Reap that the capital city cannot replicate. These are the following compelling concepts that motivated its visitors:

Serenity and Majesty

While many visit Phnom Penh for excitement, travelers visit Siem Reap for relative calmness. After all, it is a municipality sitting in Cambodia's breathtaking countryside. Between the two popular destinations in Cambodia, Siem Reap seems like a better place to retire.

Preservation

While Phnom Penh represents transformation, Siem Reap captures the essence of preservation. The majority of the income-generating tourist activities involve workshops that replicate Cambodia's rustic traditional activities (e.g. native cooking classes and pottery sessions).

Gateway to Wonders

Siem Reap may appear like a backwater village in comparison to Phnom Penh in terms of commercial opportunities. However, everyone knows that being the neighbor of Angkor Wat and Tonle Sap Lake never goes out of fashion.

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China has been facing an on-going issue of air pollution. Now, a lot of Chinese residents are seeking refuge from the smog that's been choking the whole country which led them to seek for lung cleansing trips in far-flung places. One of the best destinations that would give clean and fresh air is Iceland and Antarctica.

According to The Telegraph, recent surveys have confirmed that most online searches coming from Chinese locals are about "lung cleansing", "smog escape" and "forests." In fact, a lot of travel agencies in China are even offering travel packages to places with clean air. A few of the destinations with clean air have been mentioned like Iceland, Antarctica, Seychelles and Maldives.

However, with the recent pollution problem, it's not only the Chinese locals that are trying to escape the smog but tourists coming to China are also doing the same thing. Bloomberg reported that Beijing's tourist sites have decreased to 24% in terms of a number of visitors during the holidays. It wasn't really clear if the decreasing number of visitors is caused by the pollution problem but Chinese tourism is taking a big hit.

The pollution issue has caused Beijing along with 62 other cities to announce health alerts since Jan. 1. In fact, hundreds of flights have been affected which resulted in delays and cancellations.

ASEAN Breaking News also reported that some schools in Beijing are now addressing the situation as well by having air purification systems in their classrooms. Pollution is now becoming a big problem and more people are affected by it.

The Chinese government is now trying to address the situation by closing down 500 high-polluting factories. It's also trying to force 2560 factories to upgrade their equipment and enhance their clean-up operations. Vehicle restrictions will also be imposed next month to high-polluting vehicles.

More cities in China are now suffering under these unhealthy conditions. It's no wonder why more residents are trying to seek for lung cleansing trips because it's not just a minor pollution problem.

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Some of the Japanese people have lived their lives with just renting the things that they need or want, such as an apartment, a cab, a dress for prom, a laundry machine, and other things that you do not expect to be rented by the common public. Aside from vendo machines, Japan has been for their impressive figures and models of men and women which have brought hope to the Japanese people who, in reality, cannot feel the happiness of having a boyfriend.

During the previous years, Japan has introduced pseudo-boyfriends. But as time goes by, the characters of pseudo-boyfriends have been a subject of questions among the ladies of Tokyo City. Just recently, the unbelievably real and improved "Boyfriend Rental" for women is now offered in Nagoya, according to a report by Japan Today.

Nagoya's Boyfriend Rental "cast" includes men from ages 19 to 57 whose looks are more far better compared to the pseudo-boyfriends offered before. Their cast profiles indicate the name of the boyfriend for rent, his age, height, weight, blood type, and to which areas will he be available.

With 5,000 yen, you can actually rent a "Real Boyfriend" or "Ria Kare" in Japan for an hour. During the birth month of the client, she must only pay for half of the original price of the boyfriend she wants to rent. Upon second rentals with the same "boyfriend", clients must only pay a discounted rate of 3,000 yen per hour.

While holding hands and cuddling are allowed, sexual activities with the rented boyfriend are strictly prohibited by the company, Kotaku confirms in a report. You can only bring the boyfriend you hired in public places such as theme parks, malls, restaurants, concerts, karaoke clubs and anywhere as long as it is open to the public. Dates held in residences, private hotel rooms and other isolated areas which are far from the sight of many people are definitely off the menu.

Rental Boyfriends is not relatively a type of prostitution. It is more of a company especially to those who do not have someone to be with. It gives the feeling of happiness and delight to be with someone even for just an hour.

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While there are popular surf spots in Hong Kong like Big Wave Bay and others, HK surfers are now exploring nearby places for their sport. Here are some places near Hong Kong where they have tried the surf and recommends it to others:

The sport is becoming a fad in South Korea, Hong Kong surfer Rex Lau says, especially for the young, lifestyle-oriented people. Although there is not a lot of surf, so long boarding is a better option. Recommended spots are Busan, Yang Yang near Seoul and Jeju Island, as reported in SCMP.

Owner Randy Chang is one of the best surfers in Taiwan and knows all the secret spots in Taitung, Taiwan. Taitung has big and clean A frames and long barrels all year round. Chang also recommends surfingtaiwan .com has a helpful surf guide business. Popular also with surfers is Kenting in the south.

Although a bit hit and miss, Xichong beach across the border in Shenzhen is also popular with Hong Kong surfers. However, they warn not to go on a weekends for it gets crowded.

Siargao, an island in the Philippines about 800km southeast of Manila is a top surfing choice. While traversing to the place can be quite a chore, "it's all going to be totally worth it once you're there," says Joe Chan. A popular surfing wave on Siargao, with a reputation for thick, hollow tubes, is Cloud 9. Best months to surf is October and November, Chan says.

Hainan Island was given the title of "Hawaii of China" because of its sandy beaches and a warm climate. Riyue Bay has been made the site for many surfing events because of multiple swells from northeastern and southern currents. Hong Kong-based surfer Kenny Howe recommends to avoid peak seasons as it's becoming very popular. Learn more about how surfing all started in Hong Kong and Guangdong here.

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Earlier this week, Star Cruises launched the "Jewels of the South China Sea" cruise in a press conference held in Manila. The highlight of the event is the announcement that the Superstar Virgo, one of the best cruise ships, will have Manila as its home port. This is the very first homeport deployment of a cruise ship in the country.

Ang Moo Lim, President of Star Cruises said that this is the first time that the Filipinos can experience a cruise literally right from their doorstep. He also confirmed that the cruise will be hassle-free, visa-free and nearly unlimited in terms of baggage allowance, ABS-CBN News reports.

On March 19, the first cruise of Superstar Virgo is set to leave Manila while its last trip is scheduled on the 23rd of May. During this period, guests may anticipate their cruise to be free from any weather disturbances as the journey is scheduled on a summer.

"Star Cruises was the first major cruise line to recruit Filipinos 23 years ago for our cruise ships, and now, we are pleased to be the first international cruise line to welcome Filipinos on board Superstar Virgo as our guests from our home port in Manila," Lim added in a report from The Philippine Star.

Superstar Virgo will first land to Currimao's port in Laoag, Pangasinan where the most historic Spanish colonial structures and churches in the Philippines are located. Guests can also take a tour to the finest white sand beaches in Pagudpud.

After the tour in the North, the ship will berth in Kaohsiung which is considered to be Taiwan's biggest port. Star Cruises' president confirmed that guests of Superstar Virgo have been given special concessions. Therefore, Filipino passengers are not obliged to apply for a Taiwanese visa during the voyage.

In Taiwan, guests can enjoy the culinary delights of Taiwan as well the sights of the country's notable museums, temples and other tourist attractions. After Taiwan, the cruise will then proceed to Hong Kong where the guests of Superstar Virgo can shop all they want.

In its first month of operations, Superstar Virgo will be available at a discounted rate of US$490 per person for twin sharing and an additional of 50% off for quad sharing rooms. Executive suites are also available at US$1,230 per head. These cruise fares include meals from breakfast to dinner in the ship three main restaurants - the Genting Palace, the Mediterranean Buffet and The Pavilion Room).

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Traveling to South Korea during the winter season can be challenging if you're not used to the weather. While it's cold in South Korea, it still has a lot to offer for giddy budget travellers. We present you this travel hack so you can maximize your 5-day winter vacation in South Korea.

Day 0: Arrival At The Incheon International Airport

We suggest that you take a flight where you arrive in late in the evening at the Incheon International Airport and take the rest of the night off to re-energize yourself for your upcoming adventure. Upon your arrival in one of the best international airports in the world, purchase a transportation card, i.e., T-money or Cashbee which can use to travel around.

Day 1

Start your day by visiting the Gwanghwamun Square and the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Take your lunch and start your shopping at the Dongdaemun Market.

Ride the cable car towards the Namsan Seoul Tower and enjoy the site of Seoul. Finally, end your night by sampling the street food at Myeongdong.

Day 2

Day 2 starts with you exploring the Nami Island, the picturesque site of the famous Korean Drama "Winter Sonata." Continue your adventure by visiting another famous landmark, the Petite France, where the Korean Drama, "You Who Came From The Stars" was shot. End your day by feasting on authentic Korean dishes in the streets f Hongdae.

Day 3

Start day 3 by exploring the War Memorial Museum. Visit the National Museum of Korea to learn more about its history, and then shopping through the streets of Itaewon.

You can spend the rest of the afternoon at the Seoul Trick Eye Museum, the Ice Museum, and the Carnival Street. After experiencing these tourist attractions, stop by the Hello Kitty Cafe to rest your weary feet and stay away from the cold.

Day 4

Day 4 begins with a visit to the Korean Folk Village where you can learn about the traditional Korean culture from the late Joseon period. Head to the Lotte Mart in Seoul Station and start your shopping in preparation to the trip back home. Since you've had a long day, treat yourself by relaxing in Korean Hot Springs and Spas.

Day 5

A Korean Winter trip will not be complete without a visit either Everland theme park or Lotte World theme Park. Since this is your last day in Korea, you'll have to choose between the two exciting theme parks. If you still have time, visit Insadong for your last minute shopping spree.

While you can change some parts in this travel hack for budget travelers, following this itinerary will help you maximize your 5-day winter vacation In South Korea. Want more travel hacks and travel tips? Visit our website and learn more!

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Roswell in New Mexico is the world's most popular UFO crash site. Here are the details as to how the reported event shaped the place.

Regardless of innumerable alien investigators pouring over the evidence from the purported UFO crash which reportedly comprised aliens, both alive and dead inside the wreckage, the riddle has never been decoded. On July 7, 1947, rancher W W Brazel informed Sheriff George Wilcox he had found something strange on his sheep ranch on the fringes of Roswell, says, Express.

Mr. Brazel stumbled across some rubber, foil, and other debris on the ground and told the Sheriff who then notified the adjacent Army base airfield. Major Jesse Marcel, who was an intelligence officer that time, was sent to investigate. Convinced apparently that the rancher found the first evidence of aliens and that they were staring at the remains of flying saucer, he reported the story to officer Walter Haut.

The incident greatly influenced the Roswell's tourism. Roswell is the fifth largest city in New Mexico. It is the home of several industries, such as farming, dairying, and ranching, and it offers a variety of things to see and do. Roswell has something for everyone, from archeological and historical sites, excellent museums, galleries, and cultural institutions to a wide range of outdoor activities.

You can go swimming and boat at Bottomless Lakes State Park and avian viewing and fishing at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Roswell. In addition, the Spring River Park and Zoo display exotic animals, an antique carousel, and a child-friendly fishing lake. Furthermore, art lovers can head to the Roswell Museum and history buffs can visit the grand Historical Center of Southeast New Mexico. The town's most favorite tourist attraction, however, is the International UFO Museum and Research Center.

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The outdoor gear retailer plans to certify 30 percent of its clothes as fair-trade by the end of 2017.

When horrible tragedies occur in faraway garment factories, like fires and collapses, we hear about them in North America. Everyone gets upset, insists on the importance of providing better working conditions, but then the matter is forgotten until the next tragedy happens. What we dont think about enough is the daily drudgery of the garment workers, who rise at the crack of dawn, work long hours in dangerous factories without adequate breaks, are exposed to toxic chemicals, rely on distant relatives to raise their children, and earn next to nothing for their labor.

Outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia wants to improve the lives of some of the worlds 40 million garment workers by adopting Fair Trade certification for many of its products. Youve probably seen the Fair Trade symbol before, most likely on food items such as bananas, chocolate, or coffee; but it can be applied to all kinds of things, including clothes.

The concept behind Fair Trade is simple and effective. Patagonias CEO Rose Marcario explains:

There is more to Fair Trade than the premium. It also translates into better working conditions, a cleaner, safer factory, more reasonable hours and realistic quotas. It makes garment workers lives more dignified. In the words of Fair Trade USAs CEO Paul Rice:

More and more Americans are waking up to the reality that there are responsible, sustainable alternatives to sweatshop products.



As part of its effort to switch to Fair Trade, Patagonia has released a short 13-minute film, made with Little Village Films.

Called Fair Trade: The First Step, it depicts the daily routine of a young Sri Lankan mother, who works as a sewing machine operator in a factory that sews Patagonia clothing, and her five-year-old son, who is able to attend the beautiful daycare built with the factorys Fair Trade premiums. Some of the footage depicts the atrocious conditions, including chemical exposure, experienced by laborers in conventional factories, which really puts the Fair Trade experience into perspective.

So far Patagonia sells 218 Fair Trade-certified clothing items (up from 11 in fall 2014), and it plans to reach 300 items by the end of 2017. The certification exists in factories as far afield as Thailand, India, Colombia, Mexico, Vietnam, and Nicaragua. The clothing is certified by Fair Trade USA, which is a different entity than Fairtrade International, but follows similar guidelines.

This is an admirable step for a company thats already renowned for its social and environmental progressiveness. Patagonia never fails to impress.
Like their modified van cousins and the adventurous notion of "van life", modern bus conversions for full-time living are now emerging as a thing. Of course, they've already been around for a while, but thanks to the Internet, stylish and affordable DIY bus conversions are now entering mainstream consciousness as yet another tiny-house-on-wheels alternative. Best of all, these modern bus dwellings aren't just for single individuals or couples; they can also suit families that are looking for a debt-free place to call home.

That's the case with the Sullivans, a family of five from Washington state that recently moved into a 40-foot-long bus they lovingly call "Big Bertha." Watch as father Brian, who works in aerospace manufacturing (mother and interior designer Starla is the mastermind behind the layout the house) gives us a tour of the interior:

BerthaTV

Brian tells us that before moving into the solar-powered Big Bertha, they were living in a two-bedroom apartment 30 minutes north of Seattle, which was expensive to rent and maintain. The Sullivans were working a lot and yet still "felt trapped in negative cash flow"; they had one baby at the time and felt they couldn't spend quality time together as a family.

So when Brian got a job offer a few towns away, they had to think of a plan that wouldn't involve Brian commuting several hours a day. After watching a bus conversion video, they hatched the idea to transform a bus into an ultra-portable tiny house, as buses are much more mobile than your traditional gable-roofed tiny houses. It took the family about a year of weekends to finish the whole project.

Multifunctional spaces

Coming into the front, one finds the mudroom where shoes are stored. This space also doubles as a workspace if needed. A big solid door separates this space from the rest of the bus and helps to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature in the main interior spaces.

BerthaTV

Past the door, one sees that the central corridor has been kept for walking through, while seating and counters are placed off to either side.

BerthaTV

BerthaTV

The seating area has two benches that have storage hidden underneath. There are extensions that can be pulled out from both benches to form a frame for a full-sized bed for guests.

BerthaTV

BerthaTV

The kitchen is large and well-appointed as this family loves to make home-cooked meals. The large counters can be used for folding laundry or activities with the kids. The appliances, like the secondhand sub-zero refrigerator and the combo oven-microwave-toaster, are compact and efficient. Portable induction stovetops are stowed away underneath. The wire rack over the sink is dish storage and a drying rack combined (reminds us of those clever Scandinavian dish drying closets). All dry goods and perishables are stored in large drawers to eliminate visual clutter.

BerthaTV

BerthaTV

BerthaTV

Next up is the bathroom space, which has a composting toilet (compost is used for non-edible plants), a horse-trough shower-bathtub that doubles as storage, and a high-efficiency washing machine. Curtains can close this space off to turn it into a 'drying room' for laundry, as there is no dryer. The family uses cloth diapers, so that is a lot of laundry, and as Brian jokingly tells us: "We have learned to hang laundry on pretty much every surface in the bus since we do not have a dryer; everything air-dries."

BerthaTV

Beyond that is the kids' room. With three small but active toddler boys, safety is paramount, but so is respecting their sense of play, as seen in the bunks that have a little window and ladder, but also a baby gate to ensure no one falls out. A third bed to one side doubles as a "play-bunk", and toys are stored out of sight under this bed. All beds are full-length single beds (7 feet long) as the bus was built with longevity in mind, to accommodate the children as they grow.

BerthaTV

BerthaTV

BerthaTV

BerthaTV

The parents' room is all the way in the back. The bed is built over the bump that houses the bus' innards, but there's still space to add more drawers for clothes.

BerthaTV

BerthaTV

The interior is well-designed and full of great ideas for making a small space more multifunctional -- from storage hidden under the seating benches, to the folding tables, to the wire racks and shelves that can double as places to hang and dry clothes. Hypo-allergenic, non-toxic, durable, washable and recyclable carpet tiles were used as well as long-lasting vinyl plank flooring, while appliances were chosen for their efficiency and ability to do more than one job.

All told, the 1996 Blue Bird bus was purchased for USD $2,800 at a nearby dealership. Renovations (tools, materials, paint job, appliances) cost another $25,000. Big Bertha is registered as an RV so that the family can drive it without a special license. Brian tells us what was the most important thing they discovered during the year-long process to renovate the bus:

Freedom. Freedom with our money, our time and our location. [..] The most important thing in life is people, and spending the most time with our family and children was a huge priority. We were not about to sacrifice our family time to work multiple jobs, paying for a lifestyle we didn't want. [..] Less space, less stuff, less time cleaning, less stress. More time to enjoy life and our children.

The Sullivans say that in their experience, a small space is perfect for raising more independent children. The kids help out with everything, and yet, if they get bored, the kids have direct access to the outside. Living only 20 minutes away from Seattle on a small piece of rented land near a nature preserve, they also have access to all that the city offers, without the high rents. It's the best of both worlds and a great example of how families don't necessarily need the huge house and mountains of stuff to be truly happy. As Brian points out: "Just because we live in a bus does not mean we are trapped in a bus."
Amritsar, January 18

The Customs authorities confiscated 1kg of heroin from a goods train that arrived from Pakistan at the Attari railway station today.

In a statement today, Commissioner (Customs), Capt Sanjay Gahlot, stated that the contraband was concealed inside a pressure-cylinder of railway wagon. He said a long cylindrical packet of herion was inserted through a narrow opening into the cylinder of the carriage.

He said the seizure was made during rummaging of the goods train. Alert Customs officials thwarted the attempt of Pakistan-based smugglers to sneak in the contraband, he added. The heroin is valued at Rs 5 crore in the international market, he said.  TNS
New Delhi, January 18

India will consider Apples request for incentives to invest in the country with an open mind, Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today.

We will very much like Apple to come and have a base in India, Prasad said.

Apple has sent a list of demands to the Indian government, seeking tax concessions and several other policy exemptions, as necessary pre-requisites before it starts production of its iPhones in India.

Prasad also said a government panel headed by the Cabinet Secretary would now clear investment proposals in the electronics sector above $1 billion, instead of them going through multiple government departments.

Prasads comments came after the Cabinet revamped a subsidy programme for electronics manufacturing, tightening some of its provisions following objections from the Finance Ministry.

He announced a cap of $1.5 billion on the amount of subsidy the government provided under the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) designed to boost electronics manufacturing.

The Finance Ministry had raised concerns about the scheme because of lack of clarity about the subsidy payout, delaying a slew of investment proposals.

Apple has offered to manufacture iPhones in the country both for the domestic market as well as exports, in a potential boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make in India programme to expand a domestic industrial base and create millions of jobs.

We want to make India a big hub of electronic manufacturing, Prasad said.  Reuters
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 18

A 20-year-old student of an engineering student near Rajpura was abducted at gunpoint while she was waiting for a friend in his car outside a pharmacy in Panchkula late last night.

She was beaten up and forced to consume liquor. Thereafter, she was taken to a secluded place, made to sit in an autorickshaw and raped. The offenders, who gave Rs 150 to the traumatised girl, instructed the auto driver to drop her home while they fled in the car, taking away her cellphone.

The victim is a paying guest at an accommodation in Peer Muchalla, Zirakpur. She hails from Jaipur. The police have registered a case under Sections 323, 365, 374, 376 and 394 of the IPC.
Charu Chhibber

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

Poor infrastructure, hazardous conditions, unbearable stink rising from a garbage-disposing facility in the vicinity and two makeshift structures that act as part of the school. This is Government Model High School, Hallo Majra. With a student strength of 2,800, the school is everything it should not be.

Nothing has changed for the school since Chandigarh Tribune highlighted the plight of the students last year on August 8. This, despite assurances from officials of the Education Department.

The prevailing conditions of the school not only risk the safety of children but also make proper education a distant dream. The school does not have an adequate number of classrooms, lacks boundary wall and playground and is surrounded by wild growth. The approach road is nearly absent and deep potholes mark the way to the school right through the middle of a busy marketplace.

The school is operating from three different buildings, including a temporary structure covered with pre-fabricated tin sheds with no boundary wall. Some classes are also run inside the old, dilapidated dispensary. In the main building, the students often have to attend classes in the corridor. The school runs in a double shift and from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm, there is a lot of noise and chaos with the evening shift students coming in and the morning shift ones leaving.

And if that is not enough, the main school building has a temple situated just a few feet away, which is separated with a wire mesh wall. As a result, there is a lot of disturbance and high levels of noise due to which the studies are badly affected. Also, there is only one staircase that caters to nearly 3,000 individuals, which includes students, teaching and non-teaching staff of the school. In case of an emergency, evacuating the building within a short span is near impossible.

Security and safety of children is severely compromised at all three buildings where classes are run. The dispensary building is very old and dingy.

Teachers have to walk from one building to the other many times a day which wastes time and students have to walk to the main building if they need to visit the computer lab, library or the office. Teachers say mid-day meal is the only lure that brings most students to school everyday.

We are teaching in uninhabitable conditions. And despite repeated assurances from the Education Department that land for the new building will be given, we dont see that happening anytime soon, said a teacher.
Rajindar Sachar

Prime Minister Modi has for the last six months kept a continuous refrain for holding Lok Sabha and state assembly polls simultaneously and the supposed advantages that would flow from it. As was to be expected, a number of newspapers and persons are picking up this matter. It is unfortunate that the Election Commission of India and Niti Aayog should have gone along with this suggestion without even the minimum constitutional requirement of a public debate, and more unforgivably, without a discussion of the issue with other major political parties and the state governments. In order to have a worthwhile debate, it is necessary to know the legal and factual situation at present.

The present life of the Lok Sabha expires in May 2019. Modis repeated emphasis on simultaneous polls is actuated by the realisation that the mood of exhilaration that he was able to create in the 2014 parliamentary poll is diminishing very fast. The UPA regime (20042014) had seen so many scandals, both financial and administrative, that people were unhappy with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh because of the domination of the Gandhi family. The exposure by the Supreme Court of the telecom and coal scandals had made the BJP task easier. By itself, the BJP under a leader other than Modi (helped fully by the RSS) might not have done that well. But Modi had created an illusion of a strong and honest government in Gujarat that people were willing to ignore or even forget one of the worst periods under Modi, namely the state-supported mass slaughter of Muslims in 2001. Such was the communal passion aroused by the RSS that the country which was already disgusted with corruption and inefficiency of the UPA government and also heightened by the split amongst the various political parties that Modi romped home with an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha with just 31% of the votes  of course greatly helped and boosted by corporate funding.

That illusion has now been exposed. Even ardent supporters of Modi now do not place a hundred per cent bet on Modi winning the Lok Sabha poll in 2019  that is why the effort of Modi to work out a strategy so as to keep his rivals caught up with state assembly polls so as not to put up a combined pressure on him in the Lok Sabha poll.

But this strategy of Modi is not constitutionally permissible. After the Emergency, the Constitution (44th Amendment) has provided in Article 83 and Article 172 that the Lok Sabha and state legislatures shall continue for five years from the date of their first meeting and no longer. Thus the factual situation at present is that it is constitutionally not possible to hold simultaneous polls in May 2019.

This is because it would require an extension of the terms of the state assemblies of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan (by five months), of Mizoram (by six months) and of Karnataka (by 12 months), which is constitutionally not possible. Of course, the terms of the assemblies of the BJP-ruled states could be curtailed in Haryana and Maharashtra (by five months) and Jharkhand (by seven month) but Delhi would not agree to it.

Five states, including Punjab and UP, are set for fresh elections. Obviously no one can expect Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal and Kerala to agree to simultaneous polls unless opposition parties approve of the move. Assam can go to the polls in 2019 though its assemblys term is until 2021, but will Modi agree to curtail its term? The BJP has for the first time come to power in Assam.

The non-BJP states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where the term of the assemblies expirers in 2021, will never agree to the proposal. The Central Government whose term expires in 2019 cannot continue thereafter without holding fresh elections by May 2019.

If, however, Modi is so keen on holding simultaneous polls he can hold these with some states by dissolving the Lok Sabha and the assemblies in the BJP-ruled states. If Modi is not willing, why is he trying to cover his governments failures by conjuring up these illusory, undemocratic solutions?

A greater principle of democracy is involved in holding simultaneous polls to Parliament and state assemblies unless by fortuitous circumstances the five-year periods of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies happen to coincide on their own. This contrived situation being brought up by Modi has very dangerous implications and is against the basic structure of our Constitution.

According to Article 1(1), India is a Union of states, which means a federation of states. Our Constitution empowers the Central Government to legislate exclusively on certain subjects in the List-I in the Seventh Schedule. The states alone can legislate on subjects under the list-1I. Both the Centre and the states can legislate on subjects mentioned in the List-III. The state list includes very important subjects like agriculture and law and order on which the Centre has no jurisdiction. Obviously, voters have different priorities when voting for state assemblies and Parliament. In the Delhi laws Act the Supreme Court of India (1951) specifically held, The state legislature under our Constitution is not a delegate of the Union Parliament. Both legislatures derive powers from the same Constitution. Within its appointed sphere, the state legislature has plenary powers.

Modi wants to deny this strategic advantage of states and weaken decentralisation, which is the core of our constitutional jurisprudence.

Examples of the US and European countries would show that it is constitutionally recognised that the priorities and interests of a state in day-to-day governance are emphasised differently. Thus in the US a rather extreme position prevails that the law and medical degrees of one state are not even recognised in the rest of the states. As far elections, they have different laws in each state. They have separate laws for elections to the Presidents office, the Senate and the House of Representatives and also different laws for various states. Of course, this is an extreme example borne possibly of history of the US which had witnessed a civil war.

We wisely did not go that far. Also, the priorities of the Centre and the states are different. The sooner Modi relinquishes this idea of simultaneous polls the better. This gives an unfair advantage to national parties as against state parties and distorts the sentiment of voters that a government be close to the people of the area concerned.

The writer is a former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spelt out the nations foreign priorities at the second Raisina Dialogue, an initiative by the current government which it hopes will eventually rival the conclaves in Munich and Singapore (Shangrila Dialogue). For a gathering that is constructed around the theme of Neighbourhood First, Nepal spoilt the party shortly after the PM had delivered a roundup of Indian foreign policy when its Foreign Minister asked India to keep away from its internal affairs. Unlike last time, no prominent leader from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka turned up. The answer is not hard to find. Both countries are in the middle of an economic-military dalliance with China and might not have wished to turn up for an event where the hosts would invariably indulge in Beijing-bashing.

The Prime Minister did make a brave effort to paint a vibrant picture of Indias diplomacy. For proof he drew attention to the revival in ties with the US, Russia and West Asia. But problems on the foreign policy front are closer home as Nepal made bold to point out. The PMs take on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) showed that India is yet to resolve the conundrum of a portion of the route traversing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. While he held an olive branch to China, the PMs subsequent observation on regional connectivity corridors showed the CPEC breach is far from being filled soon.

As Modi himself said, Tuesday was a day of speeches. There was the Chinese President at Davos pushing for globalisation and Theresa May laying out the roadmap for Brexit. But in the context of India's neighbourhood, the one by Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar stood out. Her call for a CPEC-type corridor connecting South Asia and Central Asia with Jammu and Kashmir as its nucleus is worth considering because it has the potential to end the post-Independence isolation of J&K and Punjab from the natural trading routes. The government needs more out-of-the-box ideas such as these to remove the chill that has entered Indias ties with almost all its neighbours.
Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, January 18

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) today reiterated it would commence digging the Satluj Yamuna Link canal on February 23, if the Centre does not start its construction.

Addressing a meeting of party workers here today, Leader of the Opposition Abhay Chautala alleged the Centre was indifferent towards the issue.

Abhay said, We will ask the people of the state to join us. The Centre should clarify whether it is with Punjab or Haryana. The SYL is the lifeline of Haryana and we will get our share of water.

Later, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda termed the INLDs warning as a political gimmick. He said a rally would be convened on the issue at Jind.

He alleged, The INLD is hand in glove with the Akalis in Punjab. They did not protest when the Punjab Assembly terminated the SYL accord. I, along with other Congress leaders had approached the then PM Manmohan Singh in 2004, against the Punjab Assemblys decision.

Khattar a weak CM: INLD leader

Karnal: Leader of the Opposition Abhay Chautala today alleged that CM Manohar Lal Khattar was not serious over the SYL issue. He said the CM should resign from his post if he wants to campaign for the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab. Manohar Lal Khattar is a weak CM, who has failed to meet the PM over the issue, Abhay asserted. He was here to address a meeting of party workers. Abhay was accompanied by the INLD state president Ashok Arora, former MLAs Narendra Sangwan, Mamu Ram Gonder, district president Yashvir Rana, Deputy Mayor Manoj Wadhwa

and others. He also criticised the BJP government over its crop insurance scheme and said it benefitted insurance companies and not the farmers. He said the INLD would raise the issue prominently in the state Assembly, too. TNS
Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

Balancing the scales of justice in favour of expeditious disposal of cases, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that a lower court Judge can be asked to explain delay in judicial proceedings.

In an out of the ordinary case, the High Court has asked the trial court to explain why the question of charge was not considered till date though the challan or final investigation report in the case was submitted in October last year. The developments took place on a petition by Sultan against Haryana.

In his petition placed before the Bench of Justice Rekha Mittal, the petitioner was seeking regular bail in an FIR registered on September 13, 2016, for an offence punishable under Sections 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, in addition to Section 12 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The case was registered at the Narnaund police station in Hisar district. Appearing before Justice Mittal, the counsel for the petitioner submitted that Sultan was arrested on September 15, 2016.

On the completion of investigation, challan was presented in the court, but the conclusion of trial was likely to take its own time, the counsel said. He added that the petitioner was ready to face proceedings without any default.

The counsel for the state did not dispute the factual assertions. At the same time, he added that the challan was presented on October 18, 2016, but the charge was yet to be framed.

After hearing the counsel for the parties and perusing the paper book along with the case record, Justice Mittal asserted that it was not alleged that the petitioner was likely to flee from the process of justice in case he was released on bail and he had been in custody for the past more than four months.

Directing his release on bail on certain conditions, Justice Mittal added, As per the information given by the counsel for the state, the case is still pending for consideration on question of charge despite the fact that the challan was presented on October 18, 2016, and the accused was in custody since September, 2016.

The trial court is directed to submit a report explaining the circumstances as to why the case has not been considered on the question of charge till date. The Registry is directed to put up the report before this court.
Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, January 18

Considering the demand of fixed remuneration raised by extension lectures (guest faculty) working at government colleges, the Higher Education Department has decided to raise the maximum limit of their remuneration from Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000 per month.

The decision was taken during a meeting between education officials and extension lecturers at Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattars residence in Chandigarh today. The Chief Minister also interacted with the delegation and assured them of considering their demands sympathetically, said the sources.

Yes, we are going to enhance the maximum limit of extension lecturers remuneration following the High Courts order. A notification will be issued within 15 days, said Mohammad Shayin, Director (Higher Education).

Significantly, the extension lecturers have flayed the move stating that they want to get their remuneration fixed at Rs 25,000 per month. The hike will not benefit us as we hardly get Rs 15,000 per month. Hence, it is illogical to raise the maximum limit from Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000, said Ishwar Singh, chief of the Haryana Extension Lecturers Association (AHELA). He said the education officials disappointed them by refusing to fix the remuneration. Ishwar Singh said the Chief Minister listened to their demands sympathetically, but it seemed that the officials were misleading him. We were called by the CM office in Chandigarh to have a meeting with the education officials for resolving the issues, but the latter did not respond to our demands, he added.

Jogender Ahlawat, an AHELA leader, said over 2,500 extension lecturers working in the government colleges were, at present, paid Rs 250 per lecture with a maximum of Rs 18,000 per month while their working hours were on a par with the regular staff.

The High Court has already directed the government to pay us Rs 1,000 per lecture with a maximum of Rs 25,000 per month, but the Education Department wants to implement an incomplete order. The government should also pay us Rs 1,000 per lecture if the maximum limit is hiked up to Rs 25,000, he added.

The lecturers have given a call to go on mass leave across the state on January 30 against the non-fixation of their remuneration.
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, January 18

Following bad weather conditions and regular warnings from the Meteorological Department, all sensitive areas have been put on alert and regular surveillance was being done.

This was stated by Rajinder Rana, Vice-Chairman of Himcahal Pradesh Disaster Management Authority, here today. He said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had released Rs 25 crore to restore normalcy in the snow-bound areas. He said the people in the hilly regions were also put on alert about avalanches and were advised to move to safer places.

He said the forecast of the department had been useful in making preparedness for combating the disaster. Rana said over 300 roads were affected by heavy snow and most of these were opened with the help of government machinery while the help of private players was also taken.
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 18

Government health centres in the Jammu region are heading towards a major crisis as thousands of contractual workers engaged under the National Health Mission (NHM) have warned to go on a strike. They held a protest in support of their demands here today.

They are demanding regularisation on the pattern started by the Haryana government.

The contractual employees have alleged that even after completion of five years in the mission, they were being ignored and were denied salaries at par with the permanent staff.

On Wednesday, NHM employees held a protest against the government and alleged that the PDP-BJP coalition government is following same apathetic policies which were adopted by the successive governments.

Addressing the protesters, association president Rohit Seth claimed that they had submitted a memorandum of demands to Health Minister Bali Bhagat, but there was no response from the government.

Employees should be brought on permanent roll and those who have completed five years tenure should be given salary at par with the permanent employees. We are doing similar work as done by others while we are still facing discrimination, said Seth.

The association has also demanded maternity leave with pay for the female employees and other social security benefits. They have also sought fixed salary for all the ASHA workers working in the Health Department.

Speaking on the occasion, J&K Medical Employees Federation president Sushil Sudan made a fervent appeal to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to consider the demands of contractual workers engaged under the NRHM.

State president of the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh Ashok Choudhary was also present.

Doda: A large number of National Health Mission (NHM) employees of Doda under the banner of the All J&K NHM Employees Association, Jammu Division, on Wednesday held a protest and observed a pen-down strike in the district over the demand of regularisation of their services. Earlier, the employees, amidst snowfall, gathered at the office of the Chief Medical Officer from where they marched towards the district hospital holding placards. Leader of the employees union, Faizan A Tramboo, said the aim of holding the protest was to inform the state government as well as the authorities concerned about the genuine grievances of NHM employees which it had not been addressed so far which had forced them to go on a strike.
Amarjot Kaur

The New Year came in a little too late for our bee here, who, quite contrary to its nature, has been hibernating to keep the winter blues at bay. It finally opened its doors for Funky Monkey, who came in to show a string of videos from the men in uniform, I thought, since your date with Bumble Bee didnt go quite well, you might consider these men in uniform! Theyre quite a catch, you know, said the monkey knocking at bees door. Not that the bees looking for someone after its date with Bumble Bee ended in a fiasco, but this draconian sympathy offered by Funky Monkey was rather appealing to this one. As the two celebrated the New Year watching videos of BSF jawan Tej Bahadur complaining of bad food and the CRPF jawan Jeet Singhs rant over no pension or quota, well, two did seem to find comfort in misery of others. Besides, Salman Khan, who was charged with illegal possession and use of a gun, which was allegedly used to kill a blackbuck, has been acquitted of the case now. The prosecution failed to provide enough evidence and thus, the superstar walked out of the court free today, says the bee sharing a series of memes that went viral on the internet.

Face the book

Dangal actor Zaira Wasim, who plays the feisty young Geeta Phogat, has come in the eye of the storm after she met with Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and was slammed for meeting the politician. She posted a Facebook apology, which she was quick to take down, and now, Shah Faesal, a Kashmiri IAS officers Facebook post on the issue, is going viral.

It reads: In older days in Kashmir, if your hen laid an egg, we would say, wuna kansi wanakh -dont tell anyone. Our ancestors were wise. And time has come to go back to those quiet times when no one knew about his neighbour even. So if your child is doing well, keep it to yourselves. My advice is that dont tell anyone at all. She might have to be apologetic for her achievement.

Monkey remembers a ghazal sung by Jagjit Singh, Baat niklegi toh phir....

Here, 12-year-old Katelyn Nicole Davis of Cedartown of Georgia put up Facebook livestream video while she killed herself and told viewers shed been sexually abused before hanging herself in her yard, says the bee looking at the video proliferating online and reportedly, local cops say they cant stop it. In India, a tailor Sunil Rastogi was recently arrested for sexually assaulting children. I feel, such people suffer some serious mental sickness like your Bumble Bee! comments Funky Monkey. Not that the bee was in the mood to say anything that would trigger a I told you so from Funky Monkey, so it kept quiet about its date where Bumble Bee tried to joke about bees yellow stripes. Thats like body shamming and racism all at that the same time, but you know whats worse? Bumble is a US citizen and it voted for Trump! That was the last straw... says the bee angrily and shuts its doors.

The Funky Monkey beguiled itself with a viral YouTube video of a child playing with a monkey. Its true! We are their forefathers, they say! he smiles hopping from one tree to the other.

amarjot@tribunemail.com
New Delhi, January 18

India today emphasised terrorism as being the most pervasive threat to international security. The reference was again in the direction of Pakistan with Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar carrying forward the message delivered yesterday by the PM at the inauguration of the Second Raisina Dialogue.

The FS went into depths on the major foreign policy points raised by the PM. India is a founder member of SAARC, an organisation that has been made ineffective due to the insecurity of one member, he said.

India and China have seen major tensions define relationship in past year and the FS made a pitch today for China to show more sensitivity to Indias concerns.  TNS
New Delhi, January 18

Laws which amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the ones dealing with salaries and pensions of the President and the Vice-President are set to be repealed in the coming days.

The Union Cabinet today gave its nod to a Law Ministry proposal to bring the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 to scrap 105 redundant laws which have been clogging the statute books.

Out of the 105 laws which would be repealed once the Bill is passed Parliament include 2008 amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, The President's Emoluments and Pension Act and the Vice-President's Pension Act.

"The amendments passed by Parliament have since been incorporated in the principal Act. The amendment laws are now like skeletons which are clogging the statute books and are being scrapped," explained a government functionary.

After the meeting of the Cabinet, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters that the two-member committee constituted by the PMO, the Law Commission and the Legislative Department had identified 1,824 redundant and obsolete Central Acts for repeal.

Four Acts have so far been enacted to repeal 1,175 Central Acts between May, 2014 and August, 2016 by Parliament.

He said out of the 1,824 Acts, 227, including Appropriation Acts enacted by Parliament for the states under President's Rule, have been identified for repeal by the respective state governments.

The various ministries have also "disagreed" to repeal about 139 Acts due to various reasons, a statement issued by the government said.  PTI
New Delhi, January 18

In a blow to the Congress, its veteran leader and former chief minister of Uttarakhand Narayan Dutt Tiwari on Wednesday extended his support to BJP in the poll-bound state during a meeting with its president Amit Shah.

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Tiwari, also a former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, was joined by his son Rohit Shekhar Tiwari, who has been looking to establish himself politically, and wife Ujjwala Tiwari.

Though the 91-year-old leader is no longer politically much active, his support to the saffron party is being seen as a boost to it ahead of the Uttarakhand Assembly polls on February 15 due to his vast experience and stature.

"In our meeting with the BJP president we offered our support to him. It is now up to him to how to utilise us. My father blessed him," Rohit Shekhar told PTI.

Asked why his father decided to leave Congress, he said the party had completely ignored him. "Have you ever seen his photo in any Congress poster?"

The Congress has been deserted by a number of senior leaders in the hill state and BJP has awarded many of them with party tickets to contest the Assembly polls. It is yet to announce its nominees for a few seats and it remains to be seen if it accommodates any kin of Tiwari.

With Tiwari crossing over, all former chief ministers of the state are in BJP's camp while the incumbent Harish Rawat is leading the Congress' charge.

Tiwari is among the tallest leaders to have come out of Uttarakhand and was the undivided Uttar Pradesh's chief minister a few times before moving on to become the new state's chief minister.

He remained a Congressman all his life except for a brief period when he, along with several leaders proclaiming allegiance to Sonia Gandhi, broke away to form Congress (Tiwari) when the party was headed by P V Narasimha Rao and Gandhi had not joined active politics yet.  PTI
Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, Jan 18

A top US military Commander on Wednesday said India and the US need to work on two more military agreements in addition to the logistics exchange memorandum of agreement (LEMOA), which was signed in October last year.

Admiral Harry B. Harris who heads the US Pacific Command (PACOM) was delivering the Raisina Dialogue The new normal in New Delhi.

The Ministry of External Affairs organised the dialogue in collaboration with the think-tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

The LEMOA allows us to work together. This is one of the three foundational agreements. I want us to work on the other two, the Admiral said.

One is called the CISMOA. It deals with communication inter-operatability and second one called the BECA is on geo-spatial mapping.

The foundational agreements are important as India has to set the pace and we will be with you," the Admiral said while adding that Where we have come the past 15 years is an example but we have to overcome some areas we have to be persistent.

He cited defence technology trade initiative (DTTI) saying it allows us to work together.

The US and India can script the new normal as our partnership will be defining moment of 21st century. The US India relationship is not to balance China, he said.

We both are uniquely poised in the region to script the new normal, the PACOM Commander said.

He said a hindrance to free flow of navigation in Indian Ocean can disrupt economies. The threat to freedom of navigation is the biggest threat, he said later while answering a question.

Freedom of navigation is not a privilege that can be withdrawn. India accepted a ruling to resolve the maritime dispute with Bangladesh, he said.

The threat of Islamic State (IS) is big threat we have seen fighters return to their home country can be dangerous. The IS wants to carry out attacks in this country. The way IS is spreading, we need to work together. A nuclear tipped missile in the hands of North Korea is a threat to US and its allies, the US Commander said.
Motihari (Bihar), January 18

The role of the ISI in the recent train disaster in Kanpur is being suspected after Bihar Police on Tuesday arrested three people who, they claimed, were working for the Pakistani intelligence agency to target Indian railways.

The ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police said.

During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some positive lead about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said.

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He said the ATS and central agencies had been apprised of it for comprehensive investigation.

Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav were arrested from Adapur police station area and they allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to the ISI to target the railways, Rana told reporters.

The three are professional criminals involved in more than a dozen cases.

The three were paid Rs 3 lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly had connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai, who had links with the ISI, the SP said.

The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on the railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran district, bordering Nepal, on October 1 last year, Rana said.

Fortunately, the bomb was detected with the help of villagers at Ghorasan and defused which prevented the sinister designs of the terror elements, Rana said.

The arrest of the trio came in course of an investigation in the murder of two persons of East Champaran district in Nepal on December 28 last year for failing to successfully blast the bomb on track in Ghorasan, he said.

Efforts are on to arrest, in this connection, two others identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav, who were hiding in East Champaran, he said.

While three people were arrested from East Champaran district, three others had been captured earlier at Tailaya in Nepal for targeting railways on behalf of suspected terror elements in India, the SP said.

East Champaran is a district bordering Nepal. Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in the district in August 2013. PTI
Lahore, January 18

Outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvis chief Asif Chotu, who was on Pakistans most wanted terrorist list and carried a bounty of Rs 3,000,000 on his head, was killed along with his three associates near here, police said today.

Four terrorists including the chief of banned LeJ were killed by the Counter-Terrorism Department in an encounter last night near Sheikhupura, about 40-km northwest of Lahore, a CTD spokesperson said.

The killing of Asif Chotu alias Rizwan alias Nasir came 18 months after police executed his predecessor and the then LeJ Ameer Malik Ishaq in an encounter in July 2015.

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The CTD said the LeJ had been preparing to launch an attack on staff and offices of a sensitive agency in Lahore and they were coming on four motorcycles from Farooqabad towards Sheikhupura for onward journey to the city when they were shot.

Asif had joined banned Sipah-e-Sahaba in the 1990s. He was later appointed commander of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in Karachi. After Ishaqs death, he was made LeJ Ameer. He was directly involved in killing of 100 civilians.  PTI
Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 18

Several of the British-era colonial laws, including levying of tolls for crossing river Ganges and marriage validation for couples tying the knot through traditional norms, continue to exist in the statue book of Independent India.

But the government has decided to bring in the Repealing and Amending Bill during the upcoming Budget session to scrap such 105 redundant laws.

A decision to this effect was taken today at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi. The 105 laws slated to be repealed also include 2008 amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, The Presidents Emoluments and Pension Act and the Vice-Presidents Pension Act, as these changes in the laws have already been incorporated in the parent Act governing the subject matter, sources said.

After the meeting of the Cabinet, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the two-member committee constituted by the PMO, the Law Commission and the Legislative Department had identified 1,824 redundant and obsolete Central Acts for repeal.

Four Acts have so far been enacted to repeal 1,175 Central Acts between May 2014 and August 2016 by Parliament. The Minister said out of the 1,824 Acts, 227 (including Appropriation Acts enacted by Parliament for the states under Presidents Rule) have been identified for repeal by the respective state governments.

The Ganges Toll Act, 1867 continues to exist in the statue book of the country, which mandates that people crossing the river by any means have to pay the charges to the local bodies, with sources saying that it had become obsolete long back.

The Married Women Properties Extension Act, 1874 had given the women the right to Streedhan on jewellery given to them by their fathers, husbands and other relatives. This law was applicable only to areas which were under the British rule at that time, but in 1959 it was further amended to make it applicable across the country barring Jammu and Kashmir by adding the right over life insurance policies also. With the comprehensive law passed by the Parliament now in force which gives equal right to women in self acquired and joint family properties, the 1959 law had become obsolete, a source said.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 18

Appearing before a parliamentary panel headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel today did not give the exact number of scrapped high denomination notes that had come back to the banking system.

Sources said the Governor told the Standing Committee on Finance that new currency worth Rs 9-9.2 lakh crore had been printed by the central bank and put back into circulation. Congress MP Digvijaya Singh sought to know a date when the restrictions on cash withdrawals would be lifted and the final figure on the notes returned, but did not get a satisfactory response.

The panel had called the RBI and Finance Ministry officials to discuss the demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and the impact thereof. Sources said Patel did not reply when asked how much of the scrapped notes have been returned to the banks as the central bank was still in the process of counting these.

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The RBI had earlier this month said that the process of reconciling the accounting entries with the physical cash balance was on and that firm figures on the notes returned would be released at an early date.

Patel reportedly told the committee that it was the Union Government that had requested the RBI to take the decision on demonetisation and that discussions on banning the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes had begun as early as January last year.

A senior Opposition MP said Patel could not answer two questions  how much money had been deposited in the banks and how much time it would take for the situation to turn normal.

A ruling party MP said facts already in the public domain were highlighted during the presentation with the RBI Governor elaborating on the arrangements made by the central bank to undertake the mammoth demonetisation exercise.

Patel was summoned days after the United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and Employees wrote to the RBI Governor, alleging that the image of the central bank had been dented beyond repair. Objecting to the government impinging on RBI autonomy, the unions had asked Patel to take action against the unwarranted interference. The Finance Ministry was quick to react, saying the government fully respects the independence and autonomy of the RBI.
GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 17

A day before the last date for filing nomination papers, former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu today arrived in the city to a grand reception. Sporting a Congress scarf, Sidhu was received by his wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu and a large number of Congress workers and local residents at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport from where he started a roadshow.

It took over six hours for the convoy to cover 13 km to reach the Golden Temple. The scenes were reminiscent of 2004 when he arrived in the city to begin his political innings as a Lok Sabha candidate on a BJP ticket. The people cheering for him this time belonged to the Congress. Another difference was that in 2004, he was honoured with a siropa by the SGPC, but today, he was not extended the honour for obvious reasons. Later, Sidhu also visited Durgiana Mandir.

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Prominent Congress leaders present were LS bypoll candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla, district urban chief Jugal Kishore, Amritsar West MLA Raj Kumar Verka, Lalli Majithia, Dinesh Bassi and Raj Kanwal.

Sidhu said he was a born Congressman who was coming back to his roots and would be ready to work under anyone appointed by the high command.

Attacking Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal, he said the Akali Dal was a pious movement, but was now reduced to a dynasty. I am in Guru ki Nagri to grab them from shoulder to say saada haq aithe rakh. This is the battle for Punjab and the aim is to win it for all Punjabis, he said. About the BJP, he said: They preferred alliance with the Akalis over me. Many BJP workers are feeling suffocated and are ready to join the Congress.

He vowed to expose Sukhbir, alleging that he had sold Punjab. If Punjab is my soul, Amritsar is my heart. I am here to tell people where the Akalis have sold Punjab, he said.

Sidhu will file his nomination papers tomorrow. On January 19, PPCC president Capt Amarinder will join Sidhu in Amritsar to take out a roadshow.
Tribune News service

Ludhiana, January 18

If voted to power, the Aam Aadmi Party would make Punjab the "first corruption-free state" in the country, the party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

The Delhi Chief Minister claimed that in the national capital his government has to face "hurdles created by the BJP-led central government", but in Punjab the party would have a "free hand" in its development as it is a "full-fledged" state.

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Addressing a meeting of the members of the district bar association here, he alleged that the law and order situation in the state is in shambles.

"Murders, incidents of loot are taking place without any fear of authorities, he claimed and alleged that no case is being solved as police are now answerable not to the people but to political bosses, including ministers, MLAs, area in-charges and jathedars.

Kejriwal said if his party forms government in Punjab, it would provide all type of facilities and benefits to police that they badly need. But if they (police) do not improve despite this, they will be dealt with an iron hand.

He said that if AAP comes to power the police will be free from political pressure. He said any MLA or police officer, if found involved in corruption, will be sent to jail.

Earlier, he went to Bhaini Sahib, the headquarters of the Namdhari sect, 30 km from here and spent about half-an-hour with Satguru D Thakur Udey Singh, the head of the sect. Agencies
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, January 18

BJP candidate from Abohar constituency Arun Narang along with district president Vishnu Bhagwan Delu reportedly met liquor baron and Bhim Tank murder case accused Shiv Lal Doda in the district courts complex at Fazilka today.

The pictures that have gone viral on the social media showed Narang and Delu interacting with Doda who had on January 13 filed nominations from Abohar as an Independent in the presence of SAD circle president Ashok Ahuja. Doda had contested the 2012 election also and got 45,000 votes as Independent.

BJP leaders had earlier told the media that they would request Doda to withdraw from the electoral battle.

Arorvansh Sabha leaders having allegiance with the BJP had also tried to meet Doda in the sub-divisional complex on January 13, but could not succeed due to fool-proof security ring.

They, however, put a letter on the social media requesting Doda to support Narang instead of contesting as an Independent for the sake of the Arora community.

Taking strong objection to todays political developments during the trial of the murder case, slain Dalit youth Bhim Tanks mother Kaushalya Devi has lodged a complaint with the state Chief Electoral Officer, Fazilka Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer and the SDM-cum-Returning Officer, Abohar.

In the complaint lodged through her senior counsel Surinderpal Singh Tinna, Kaushalya Devi said more than 20 political activists, who were holding meeting with Doda, were arrested when the district administration raided the Fazilka sub-jail on January 5 under Sections 177, 188, 448, 120-B of the IPC and Sections 42 and 54 of the Prison Act and Doda was also named as an accused later in the case.

She said Ashok Ahuja, SAD Abohar halqa incharge, was among those arrayed as an accused. Thereafter, Doda filed his nominations papers from Abohar.

Today when I went to the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Fazilka, to tender my evidence, I saw Ahuja and Avinash Doda (Shiv Lals nephew) along with other co-accused in the FIR dated January 5 holding meetings with Doda under the shelter of the Punjab Police and various other leaders of the Abohar constituency, she said. To substantiate this she has also attached photographs.

Stating that the pictures depict the intention of the accused, she has requested that a strict action be taken against Doda, Ahuja and other political leaders.
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 17

The Congress today declared the remaining three candidates for the Punjab Assembly elections, naming former Akali leader and sitting MLA Inderbir Bolaria from Amritsar South, while rejecting the claim of former Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari from Ludhiana East.

The party chose to field local councillor Sanjay Talwar over Tewari, whose aides described the decision as a shocker and told The Tribune, Wait and see. Although a Congress source said Tewari would be accommodated in a bigger AICC role, Tewari, when contacted, said no one had spoken to him about anything.

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The denial came in the wake of opposition to Tewaris nomination by Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu and his supporters, who said Tewaris entry would disturb local power equations. Another grudge the Congress bore against the former minister was his decision not to fight 2014 Lok Sabha election from Ludhiana despite his name being finalised. Tewari offered to contest this time to redeem his honour, but the party denied him a nomination.

Officially Congress today said Tewari had not applied for a ticket in Punjab. The argument doesnt cut ice as the party has fielded many non-applicants.

Meanwhile, from Amritsar South, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi eventually settled for former Akali leader and sitting MLA Inderbir Bolaria, who was expelled by Akali Dal was and once a blue eyed boy of Akali top gun Bikram Majithia.

In nominating Bolaria over local Congress man JS Dimpa, Gandhi banked on the counsel of Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh, who had inducted Bolaria into the Congress.

From Mansa, where Capt Amarinders aide BIS Chahals son was seeking a ticket, the Congress fielded Dr Manju Bansal, a local party leader. Bansals nomination fell into rough weather aalmost seconds after being made public with social media abuzz with reports of her husband facing a CBI sentence in a graft case.
Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 19

The blaring loudspeaker used for election campaigning in his neighborhood fails to enthuse Narinder Gautam (23) of Manakpur Sharif village in Kurali.

The part-time motivator  engaged by the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to encourage villagers against open defecation by constructing government-funded toilets  seems more worried about meeting his target to cover all households, lest his paltry honorarium (around Rs3,000 per month) is not withheld.

Luck was not on his side when this B.Tech graduate appeared for the constable recruitment test last year. I cleared the physical test, but could not make it in the final selections, he rues.

After my father paid nearly Rs3 lakh from his meagre resources as the fee for my degree at a private college, I am unable to find a respectable job. At times, I dont have money to buy petrol for my bike thats needed to go from one village to another, says a disappointed Narinder.

A few kilometers away, an engineer in electronics and communication, Lovkesh Gupta (22), works as a commission agent  earning up to Rs5,000 a month for opening zero-balance accounts for a nationalised bank. He also does other unskilled jobs to help his father run the household.

Narinder and Lovkesh are not alone. Many are unable to find jobs commensurate with their educational levels because they are overqualified. Its reflection of the state of affairs as the current unemployment rate in Punjab stands at 6.1 per cent, as per the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy.

The Punjab Congress claims that the number of unemployed in the state is as high as 75 lakh. Its spokesman Sunil Jakhar accuses the SAD-BJP government of making a false promise of giving more than 1.13 lakh jobs. The process has been completed only in the case of 2,600 posts, he adds.

The SAD-BJP alliance claims that against 24,683 jobs provided by the Congress between 2002 and 2007, the coalition government generated 2.28 lakh jobs in the past decade. Of these, the process to recruit 1.13 lakh people is underway. However, thousands of teachers, nurses, linemen, and other qualified persons and MNREGA workers are staging dharnas.

Last year, 7 lakh youths had applied for 7,416 posts of constable. Among them, 7,000 had a Masters degree.

Also in 2016, there were 84,000 applicants for 2,664 clerical posts. Engineers and hundreds of postgraduates were among the applicants.

Official statistics reveal that there are 3.66 lakh educated unemployed youths. Will they vent their anger against the government or again be taken in by poll promises? The poll result on March 11 will answer this question.
Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 17

Madhya Pradesh Police today arrested Kulpreet Singh, alias Neeta Deol, one of the six prisoners involved in the daring escape from Nabhas Maximum Security Jail on November 27 last year.

Deol, along with accomplice Sunil Kumar from Haryana, was arrested by the Indore police. The two were staying in a flat under fictitious names and were in touch with other accused, said sources. They were planning to flee the country using fake passports.

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The Punjab Police had provided specific details to the MP Police about their presence in and around Indore, they said. A senior IPS officer told The Tribune that four police teams from Punjab were dispatched to arrest the accused, who had been on the run ever since their escape.

Sunil Kumar, who was sentenced in a murder case in the Bhadson area of Patiala, was declared a proclaimed offender in 2010, the officer said. Deol, a Moga resident, belongs to a well-off family involved in transport business.

The sharpshooter is associated with Shera Khubban gang and is one of 15 accused in Sukha Kahlwan murder. He has a Rs 5-lakh bounty on his head. In 2015, Deol was arrested from Amritsar airport in connection with six murder and attempted murder cases.

In December, Deol's father Surjit Singh, citing social media reports, had sought directions to the DGP to produce his son before the Punjab and Haryana HC claiming he had been arrested. The police told the court Deol had not been arrested.

"We expect them to be brought to Punjab by Wednesday. However, the MP Police were questioning them over their possible involvement in crime in that state," said a senior police officer. Their questioning is essential to ascertain how they dodged the police for so long, he added.

On November 27, six prisoners  terrorists Harminder Singh alias Mintoo, and Kashmir Singh, and four gangsters Harjinder Bhullar, alias Vicky Gounder; Kulpreet Singh, alias Neeta Deol; Gurpreet Singh Sekhon and Amanpreet Tonda  escaped from jail with help of 14 men. Mintoo was held within 24 hours. Assistant Jail Superintendent Bhim Singh, head warder Jagmeet Singh and Tejinder Sharma, who runs a sweet shop, were arrested for facilitating the escape.
Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, January 18

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was being funded by foreign-based terrorist organisations.

Speaking on the sidelines of a rally organised by SAD candidate from Gurdaspur GS Babbehali, Sukhbir said, Everybody knows who is funding AAP. It is clear that all money being collected by AAP is flowing from abroad. It is the money of terrorist organisations having roots in foreign lands. However, he failed to offer any proof to substantiate his claim.

Earlier, at Kahnuwan, near Gurdaspur, he had surprised the gathering by saying that Kejriwal was in touch with Sikh radical organisations and had assured them that the control of gurdwaras across the state would be handed over to them if AAP came to power.

On the joint roadshow by Congress leaders Capt Amarinder Singh and Navjot Sidhu in Amritsar tomorrow, Sukhbir said, Sidhu neither takes himself seriously nor does he take anybody else seriously. This time he is treating the elections as part of his Laughter challenge show. The electorate should be wary of such persons.

Takes a jibe at Navjot Sidhu

Amritsar: Sukhbir on Wednesday asked Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu to disclose whether he was able to recognise the holy city after coming back to it after three years. "I am sure you would have noticed the immense development which has taken place in your absence," the SAD president said in a statement here. He asked Sidhu to take a tour of the city, especially the Golden Temple, to take a look at the development works. "You would find many new things, the Deputy CM added.
Tribune News Service

Malout, January 18

Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday took his battle against the Chief Minister to his home turf of Lambi with the filing of nomination papers and the promise to cook Parkash Singh Badals goose in his own backyard.

Launching what he has described as the grandfather of all battles, Amarinder, who went to the Badal stronghold of Lambi in a massive procession after filing his nomination at Malout, said he had vowed to wipe out Badal from Punjabs political scene and had come to Lambi to teach him a lesson for life.

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Accompanied by cheering crowds and amidst the boisterous cacophony of drums, Amarinder said he would teach Badal a lesson for all the atrocities unleashed on the people of the state in the past 10 years, and set an example for all future chief ministers.

With people lined up on the entire stretch from Malout to Lambi cheering him on, an aggressive Amarinder, who is fighting his last election, declared that neither Parkash Singh Badal nor his kin would be spared for their wrongdoings.
IN our leading article today we have noticed the salient fact in the very informing paper which was read the other day by Mr. A.P. Patro on "Studies in Village Economics" under the auspices of the Madras Economic Society. Mr. Patro has shown that in the typical villages selected by him for inquiry the earnings of the people were mostly smaller than their expenditure and that as a consequence they were not only involved heavily in debt but were also denied full meals during parts of the year. With becoming modesty Mr. Patro resists the temptation to claim accuracy for the results of his enquiry, and does not ask anyone to accept his conclusions. He only asks that further enquiries may be conducted by others, preferably by the supporters of the official view of economic property, to disprove his conclusions. It will be noticed that Mr. Patro's enquiries are more extended than those of Mr. A. Galletti I.C.S. (Madras). The latter has tried to show that the land cess inIndia is very small in comparison with land cess in Italy.
Sandeep Rawat

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 18

The Jwalapur Assembly segment, a suburban portion of Haridwar city, has a considerable population of the minority community. It was carved out in the last Assembly election from parts of now freezed Bahadrabad, Lal Dhang and existing Bhagwanpur Assembly segments. The Jwalapur segment falls in the Ghad rural stretch.

The BJP, this time, has replaced its sitting legislator Chandrasekhar Bhattewala with partys district president Suresh Rathore. Notably, Bhattewala had emerged victorious from the Bhagwanpur segment in the states first Assembly elections in 2002 defeating BSPs Sheesh Pal Saini and Samajwadi Partys Brij Rani.

In the 2012 Assembly elections, Chandrasekhar had polled 21,303 votes while the BSPs Madan Lal was second with 20,745 votes. Congress candidate Brij Rani had polled 20,649 votes. Brij Rani is one of the contenders for the Congress ticket from this seat.

Sources in the BJP say the reason behind Chandrasekhar Bhattewala not getting the ticket this time is his age and also the anti-incumbency factor. No development work carried out by Bhattewala in the constituency is also a reason that went against his candidature, sources said. A matriculate, Chandrasekhar, kept himself confined to some of his close aides, another reason behind the party losing interest in him.

Bhattewala, however, claims to have come up with several development works in the backward Ghar area. More than 10 bridges on rivers have been constructed in my segment. Recarpeting and laying of new roads have also been done through my MLALAD funds. Some government junior high schools have been upgraded. Equal MLA funds have been distributed for the construction Hindu as well as Muslim shrines. Owing to the biased approach of the Congress-led state government, I couldnt do more as expected as a legislator majorly depends on state government funds and projects, he maintains.

Suresh Rathore, who is in the fray for the BJP, says he will take forward the unfinished projects of Bhattewala and seek his guidance during electioneering and also in future if he wins this Assembly seat.

BSPs Madan Lal, who lost last time, accuses Bhattewala of having flunked in bringing development works and schemes. People got swayed by Chandrasekhars past political stature and false assurances. People have realised their mistake as they have suffered for five years for making a wrong selection, Lal says.

The BSP has named Mulki Raj from this reserved seat, who has already started his election campaign by reaching out to Dalits and minorities in particular. He says mass development work will be carried out for all segments of society.

Congress Mahanagar unit president Anshul Shrikunj said the long pending demand of people of connecting the area with the national highway through a bridge was fulfilled by Chief Minister Harish Rawat with the construction of Shri Bhagwan Vishwakarma bridge from Ardh Kumbh budget last year. Before that, people had to cover a distance of around four kilometre to reach the highway. Most of the people were making the use of railway track as a bridge but it was extremely risky as the sudden arrival of train midway resulted in fatalities.

Several mishaps have occurred in the absence of the bridge. The construction of Shri Bhagwan Vishwakarma bridge is a big relief as its now safer, convenient and time-saving for people. The area residents have direct access to Dehradun-Haridwar-Delhi highway, Shrikunj added.

Pooja, a homemaker, says Jwalapur, despite being in proximity to the Haridwar city, lacks a full fledged government hospital, degree college and transport system. Commuting in Jwalapur is a nightmare for women and girls due to high crime rate. Congested lanes, traffic jams, lack of proper sewerage, drainage system and poor infrastructure make it look like a backward area, she added.
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 18

Supporters of sitting Dhanaulti MLA Mahaveer Singh Rangar today criticised the BJP for denying him the ticket to fight the Assembly elections. They laid siege to the BJP office here demanding rethink of the grant of ticket to Narayan Singh Rana.

Our MLA has a clean image and he has been working tirelessly in the constituency in the hope that he will get a second term. But the party denied him the ticket at the eleventh hour, rued Mahinder Singh, 82-year-old resident of Dhanaulti, who also accompanied Rangars supporters.

BJP workers say Narayan Singh Rana, whom the BJP has fielded from Dhanaulti at the behest of his relative Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, was a stranger to the constituency. How will we face people and coax them to vote for a person who was never seen in Dhanaulti. It is Rangar who has done all the work in the last five years, said Prithvi Singh Rawat, general secretary of the BJP (Dhanaulti) unit. They also submitted a memorandum addressed to BJP president Ajay Bhatt.

Incensed Rangar supporters raised slogans against the BJP leadership and reached the office rooftop to make their point. BJP women workers held a musical protest to drum up support for Mayor Vinod Chamoli, who is in race for the ticket from the Dharampur Assembly seat, that the party is yet to announce.

We have come here in support of Chamoli. He is a strong candidate and should not be sidelined, said Gita Nautiyal, a councillor. BJP leader Umesh Agarwal is also demanding ticket from Dharampur. Sources claim that Chamolis supporters gathered following a rumour that the party has cleared Agarwals name from Dharampur.

Rana gets a rousing welcome

Meanwhile, Narayan Singh Rana received a rousing welcome on reaching Nainbagh today.

Rana thanked party leaders for reposing faith in him from Dhanaulti and appealed to the party workers to unite under one banner and strengthen the hands of Narendra Modi and the party. He promised Dhanaulti residents that if elected he would work for the development of the area.
SMA Kazmi

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 18

Veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari along with his son Rohit Shekhar joining the BJP in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi today is a major jolt to the Uttarakhand Congress before the crucial Assembly elections on February 15.

The exit of ND TIwari from the Congress also indicates a paradigm shift in the internal dynamics of the Uttarakhand Congress and also marks the culmination of more than three-decade old political rivalry which started in Uttar Pradesh between the senior Congress leader and present Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Interestingly, all senior Congress leaders, who owe their allegiance to Tiwari, have already crossed over to the BJP, except state Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh. Now, with ND Tiwari himself in the BJP, his entire group which he led since the inception of Uttarakhand, will be making a new beginning in the saffron party.

The 91-year-old veteran politician, who has not been keeping well for sometime, took the decision to launch the political career of his son Rohit Shekhar. The father-son duo tried utmost to secure a Congress ticket from the Lal Kuan Assembly segment. They had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi for that. However, with Chief Minister Harish Rawat calling the shots in Uttarakhand Congress, they were unsure about getting party nomination and decided to jump the fence. Rohit Shekhar, who was united with his father after a long paternity legal battle, is keen to inherit the political legacy of the veteran leader.

The Congress had tried to placate the Tiwari by giving an insignificant post to Rohit Shekhar, but to no avail.

Most of Tiwaris supporters in the state Congress have already left the party. The first to go was former Union minister Satpal Maharaj, who left the party as soon Harish Rawat was made Chief Minister in February 2014, ahead of the May 2014 Lok Sabha poll. Another strong Tiwaris supporter Vijay Bahuguna, along with nine other Congress legislators left the party in March 2016 in a bid to topple the Harish Rawat government.

Another ardent supporter of Tiwari and Dalit leader, Yashpal Arya, also joined the BJP a day before. Only Indira Hridayesh of the Tiwari camp is left in the Congress.

It is believed that Rohit Shekhar would be pitted against Hridayesh from the Haldwani Assembly segment. Tiwari has influence in Terai for his efforts to develop the region during his stint as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and in developing industrial estates at Rudrapur as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand that brought employment and prosperity in the region. He also has clout amongst the Brahmin community of Kumaon hills. None can vouch for this other than Chief Minister Harish Rawat who himself lost consecutive elections from Kumaon from 1991 till 2004 due to opposition by Tiwari.

ND Tiwari had been thrice Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (197677, 198485, 198889). He headed the first elected government of Uttarakhand as Chief Minister (20022007). He also served as Union Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister. He was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2007 till 2009 and had to resign following a sex scandal.
Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 18

The Uttarakhand Assembly elections 2017 will witness family members, especially children of several veteran politicians making their electoral debut in the state.

The past electoral verdicts have proved that dynastic politics has never been successful in the state. Voters have repeatedly rejected former Chief Minister Vijay Bahugunas son Saket Bahuguna and Chief Minister Harish Rawats wife Renuka Rawat.

Rawat tried twice to ensure his wifes entry to the Lok Sabha, but failed in both his attempts.

In 2004, when the Almora Pithoragarh Lok Sabha constituency was a general seat, Rawat, who was then an influential Congressman, got a ticket for his wife, but despite his efforts, he could not help his wife win the elections. In 2014, Rawat made his wife contest from the Haridwar parliamentary seat, but she lost to BJPs Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

This even stands true for other politicians as well. Former Chief Minister and now BJP leader Vijay Bahuguna tried to introduce his son Saket Bahuguna into politics by making him contest from the Tehri parliamentary constituency. Bahuguna himself was representing the Tehri Lok Sabha seat when he was appointed the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, but despite his efforts, Saket lost by over 22,000 votes. He even brought then BJPs strongman from Rudraprayag region, Matbar Singh Kandari, into the Congress fold, but the latter could not ensure his sons victory.

In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Saket Bahuguna again got the Congress ticket from Tehri due to efforts of Vijay Bahuguna, but again failed miserably. Saket lost to BJP Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah by a margin of 1,92,503 votes.

The 2017 Assembly elections are again heading towards keen contests involving sons and daughters of veteran politicians of the BJP and the Congress.

The latest entrant is veteran politician ND Tiwari, who along with his son Rohit Shekhar, joined the BJP today. Rohit is being given the BJP ticket as part of ND Tiwaris pre-induction condition. Also, Tiwaris nephew Manish Tiwari, who was given the Congress ticket from Gadarpur in the 2012 Assembly poll, lost miserably.

The Uttarakhand Congress is yet to release its list of candidates and despite clamour of one family one ticket gaining ground within the party cadre, there is no doubt that a few senior Congress leaders could get their sons and daughters in fray. Sumit Hridayesh, son of Finance Minister Hridayesh has made his political ambitions loud and clear.

The 2017 Assembly elections will be keenly watched as BC Khanduris daughter, Yashpal Aryas son and Vijay Bahugunas son are making their electoral debut. The entry of few more sons and daughters is on the cards. The verdict will decide as to whether dynastic politics will succeed or fail in Uttarakhand, says Richpal Singh Bisht, a veteran political commentator.
Sandeep Rawat

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 18

Madan Kaushik, three-time Haridwar MLA, yesterday said he was ready to shoulder the responsibility of Chief Minister if the party gets majority in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Kaushik, who is vying for the fourth consecutive win, while talking to The Tribune at the office of Mayor Manoj Garg, said he wont say no if he was asked to be Chief Minister as he had been state Minister for Urban Development and the Maha Kumbh (2010) in charge, besides holding various party organisation posts.

Asked about the allocation of ticket to family members of several leaders though Prime Minister Narendra Modis advise not to press for nomination to their kin, Kaushik said various factors were taken into account in this regard.

Ritu Khanduri Bhushan (daughter of five-time Pauri Garhwal MP BC Khanduri), Sanjeev Arya (son of Yashpal Arya) and Vinod Kandari (son of six-time legislator Matbar Singh Kandari) have been given the ticket on the basis of their ability as they have the potential to win the elections, said Kaushik, who won with record 28,000 votes in the 2002 Assembly elections.

The achievements in the past five years he claims include the construction of a polytechnic, city indoor and outdoor stadium, Kankhal-Latowali sewage scheme, Ranipur drainage solution through the central Amrut scheme, launch of piped natural gas supply and a compressed natural gas pipeline in Haridwar, recarpeting of inner city roads and regular water and power supply.

He said, If elected once again, my priorities will be to build a government super-specialty hospital, parking lots, decongest traffic, provide employment opportunities to youths.

Meanwhile, Kaushik prayed to the Ganga and offered milk to it at Har-ki-Pauri. Party office-bearers and supporters accompanied him.
Washington, January 18

President Barack Obama has shortened the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former US military intelligence analyst who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, the biggest such breach in US history.

A White House official said there was no connection between Mannings commutation and renewed US government concern about WikiLeaks actions during last years presidential election, or a promise by founder Julian Assange to accept extradition if Manning was freed.

Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks  a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Obama, in one of his final acts before leaving office, reduced her sentence to seven years, angering some Republicans.

This is just outrageous, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. Ryan, a Republican, said the decision was a dangerous precedent for those who leak materials about national security.

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets, Ryan said.

Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a US Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news staff.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton said the leak endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies.

We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr, Cotton said.

Manning, formerly known as US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. The White House said her sentence would end on May 17 this year.

Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, mens military prison, accepted responsibility for leaking the material  a factor that fed into Obamas decision, a White House official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said Obamas decision was rooted in Mannings sentence being longer than sentences given to others who had committed comparable crimes.

WikiLeaks also published emails in the weeks leading up to the November 8 presidential election that US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies hacked the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of leading Democrats, part of a campaign by Moscow to influence the election.  Reuters

Assange welcomes decision, had offered to be extradited

London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has welcomed the decision by US President Barack Obama to commute the sentence of Chelsea Manning, while calling for an end to a war on whistleblowers. He said Manning should never have been convicted and described her as a hero, whose bravery should have been applauded not condemned. In order for democracy and the rule of law to thrive, the government should immediately end this war on whistleblowers, and publishers such as WikiLeaks and myself, Assange added. Earlier this month, WikiLeaks said on Twitter that Assange would agree to US extradition if Obama were to grant Manning clemency. He has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where he faces sexual assault allegations. AFP
The Nikola One sleeper-cab prototype unveiled in early December in Salt Lake City looks like no other. Its lettered for U.S. Xpress, whose Chairman and CEO Max Fuller believes Nikola One will be a game changer. Photo: Tom Berg

Trevor Milton has an ambitious plan to change North Americas trucks from diesel power to electric propulsion with hydrogen fuel cells and high-density lithium-ion batteries. If hes successful, the H2-LI electric powertrain will be a game changer and disruptive technology, as two trucking executives called it. If not, this project will be another failure involving the hydrogen fuel thats supposed to revolutionize the automotive world.

Milton, the CEO of Nikola Motor Co., unveiled his Nikola One over-the-road tractor in early December at the firms Salt Lake City base. Milton told an audience of several hundred, and many more tuned into a webcast of the event, that the truck will be in production by 2020, with further development, testing, and certification work taking place between now and then.

For months as Nikolas well-orchestrated publicity teased the new electric truck, observers wondered whether the truck and the project itself were the real thing. The vehicle on the stage was very real, but it never turned a wheel during the presentation or a three-hour technical briefing the following day.

It remains to be seen whether Nikola One will ever freight, but the presence of industry giants like Ryder System, Meritor, and U.S. Xpress lent credibility to the project. Nikola claims to have deep-pocket investors, plus over $4 billion in order reservations for the truck, which may see it through to production and sales success.

Early in his presentation, Milton paid tribute to diesel-powered trucks that have reliably and efficiently hauled cargo for so many years. But he said that diesel trucks, no matter how efficient, will always produce exhaust emissions of some sort, while a true hydrogen-powered vehicles only emission is water.

Nikolas chief engineer, Kevin Lynk, said the project started using a conventional chassis fitted with electric motors rather than a traditional diesel engine and drivetrain.

We quickly realized that it wasnt all going to fit, he told the crowd during a briefing the day after the unveiling. There was no place to put the batteries and other components. We were going, this will have to move, that has to go, those axles arent going to work. We eventually scrapped it all and started work designing a whole new chassis right from the ground up. This whole vehicle is designed around the powertrain.

The basics

The Nikola One uses a fully electric, 320-kilowatt drivetrain powered by high-density lithium-ion batteries. Motors run through 2-speed gearboxes. Energy for the batteries is supplied by a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cell, giving the truck a range of 1,200 miles while delivering up to 1,000 hp and 2,000 lb-ft of torque to the drive wheels.

Can you imagine pulling a 6% grade with 80,000 pounds at 65 mph? Milton said. You can do that with a Nikola One. However, output will be modulated and limited according to real needs, conserving energy and tire tread life, because under a lease (which is how the trucks will be sold), the tires will be ours and we dont want to burn them up.

Regenerative braking will supply added energy and do 85% of the stopping work, leaving quick-acting air disc brakes to do the rest. With an easy time of it, the disc brakes will have double or triple the life we see today, Milton said. A Nikola One will weigh about 17,000 pounds, some 2,000 pounds less than a similar diesel sleeper-cab tractor, because the heavy engine, gearboxes, axles and fuel tanks are absent.

The truck also will have Meritor fully independent suspensions, low-profile units with two air bags at each wheel position. Theyre based upon Meritors ProTec line of suspensions now on airport rescue trucks, military tactical wheeled vehicles, and armored personnel carriers. Ride and handling is remarkable, said Dave Damian of Meritor Defense. Theyre too expensive for commercial trucking, but the architecture makes perfect sense in the Nikola application, and the cost-benefit is tremendous when combined with the electric drive system.

Milton said Nikola One will be very stable, thanks to a stiff frame and a very low center of gravity. All the batteries are located in between the frame rails, he said. That keeps that great bulk of weight very close to the ground. The prototype has one door, but production versions will have two, one on each side of the cab. Many things on the prototype that guests found unworkable, like an excessively high fifth wheel and rear-frame stance, will be changed for production models, Milton said. He also has plans for a daycab version dubbed Nikola Two.

Nikola Two daycab uses the same innovative powertrain and chassis but looks much like a standard conventional-cab tractor. It may be first into production in a few years. Photo: Nikola Motor Co.

H2: Power, production, distribution

A kilogram (2.2 pounds) of hydrogen contains 33.3 kilowatt-hours (kw-h) of energy, engineers explain. When converted to electricity by the 70%-efficient PEM fuel cell, H2 produces 23.3 usable kw-h per kilo. With 100 kilos of H2 on board, at a usage rate of 0.58 mile per kw-h, the truck will go a calculated 1,351 miles. That works out to 15.4 miles per diesel-gallon equivalent, or more than double the fuel efficiency of todays diesel powertrains, Milton said.

Nikola might erect a 100-megawatt solar farm to produce electricity for conversion of water to H2 through electrolysis. Other possible methods include steam reform or gas separation. Fuel for Nikolas will be liquefied and transported in cryogenic tankers to fueling stations; there it will be gasified at 5,000 psi for transfer to Nikola trucks storage tanks. Plans call for 364 stations in the U.S. and Canada, with construction to begin in 2019. The pumps will be open to the public for filling hydrogen-fueled cars. Hydrogen fuel will be included in a lease program, pegged at $5,000 to $7,000 per month. So there will be no fuel bills and no need for customers to hedge their bets  and their rates  on fuel prices.

Initial truck production will be done by Fitzgerald Gliders, which has been assembling 6,000 to 9,000 glider-kitted trucks per year. Fitzgerald will build the first 5,000 trucks, and will continue to build trucks for us into the future, Milton said. This will allow us to avoid a lot of the initial capital expenditure. Its not as advanced as a massive manufacturing facility, but once again, were doing things a different way.

Nikola will eventually invest up to $1 billion in a factory with annual capacity of 50,000 trucks. The plants location will be announced in mid-2017. To ensure the trucks are properly assembled, Milton says he will find bright minds now working in manufacturing to design the process.

Ryder a big partner

Ryder System, which got involved early in the project, will sell and service vehicles at its 800-plus locations throughout North America. Ryders vice president of supply management, Scott Perry, says fleets continue to seek out every possible benefit from technology, and hydrogen power offers them another tool.

There are a number of factors combining for the perfect storm for a truly disruptive technology to come into the marketplace, he said. Even as conservative as commercial trucking may be, there are a number of pressures there from a competitive standpoint, as well as regulatory, that will drive the need to improve efficiency and reduced cost relative to traditional products.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has suspended the rollout of its new online Unified Registration System until technical issues are resolved.

While the suspension is in place, the agency said that motor carriers and other entities needing to file required registration and biennial update information will follow the same procedures and forms used to submit information to FMCSA as they do today.

In a notice posted in the Federal Register for Jan. 17, the agency said that petitions for reconsideration (comments) on the suspension must be received by February 16, 2017. Such petitions should be submitted to: Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, 20590-0001.

All background documents, comments, and materials related to this rule may be viewed here within the FMCSA-1997-2349 docket.

FMCSA said in the notice that it is extending the implementation date of the final stage of the URS 1 rule because additional time is needed to securely migrate data from multiple legacy platforms into a new central database and to conduct further compatibility testing with its State partners.

The agency pointed out as well that it recently migrated its information technology systems to a cloud environment. This migration effort was a necessary step in order to provide a foundation to successfully implement URS, according to FMCSA.

URS is described as a simplified online registration process. It combines multiple legacy reporting forms into a single, online smart form that is designed to streamline the registration and renewal process.

When fully implemented, URS will allow FMCSA to identify unfit carriers and detect unsafe truck and bus companies that are trying to evade enforcement actions. The agency said that offending companies often attempt to regain U.S. DOT registration by registering as a different or unrelated business entity.
In their most recent issue, Tulsa World Magazine recognized Broken Arrow Chambers Wes Smithwick as one of the key leaders making a major impact on this region.

The cover story (which also featured other notable luminaries such as Tulsa mayor G.T. Bynum, BOK Center general manager Jeff Nickler, and George Kaiser Family Foundation executive director Ken Levit) praised Wes vision and leadership in the development of the Rose District since 2011.

Downtown revitalization was a top priority for Smithwick when he took over the position of BA Chamber President and CEO nearly seven years ago. The article details the journey from a dead downtown area on Main Street in Broken Arrow to an award-winning national model for urban renewal in the Rose District. A research trip to Texas with Broken Arrow community leaders catalyzed the plan for the rejuvenation of Main Street. It was Wes Smithwick who recorded the most desired urban features into an ambitious wish list for Broken Arrows downtown area. Working closely with the city, business owners and community leaders, Smithwick forged ahead to make what would be called The Rose District a reality.

Visiting downtown Broken Arrow, the impressive transformation is evident. High commercial occupancy, rising property values, diverse retail offerings, new residential options, extensive sidewalk improvements and a community plaza with a state-of-the-art interactive water feature make the Rose District a thriving regional destination. More improvements are on the way, with additional streetscaping and a mixed-use development extending the district to the north.

Congratulations to Smithwick on being recognized for his vision and tenacity. Broken Arrow and the Tulsa metro area are richer because of his work.
Tulsa residents will get to pitch ideas next week for how the city will spend $500,000 to develop land along Route 66 under the new Interstate 244 bridge over the Arkansas River.

Councilor Jeannie Cue said city officials are looking for residents to decide how one of the final Vision 2025 projects could attract people to Historic Route 66.

The land being eyed is on the west side of the Arkansas River, just across the street from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences on Southwest Boulevard  or Historic Route 66.

Would they like to see picnic tables? A park-like setting? More trail accessibility? Maybe even a skate park? Cue said. I just want something that beautifies.  We want something that will enhance that whole area.

A public meeting set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday will include a review of the Route 66 Master Plan, which calls for a viewing area of the historic 11th Street Bridge.

The newly finished I-244 bridge has renovations that should be considered, including pedestrian walkways that offer viewing of the 11th Street Bridge, according to a press release.

The walkway and other renovations are why the public is being asked to consider modifications to the plan or an all-new approach for spending the money, Cue said.

Whatever we do there, we have to make sure its within ODOTs guidelines, Cue said.

Most of the land under the bridge is owned by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and will have to gain approval through the agency, Cue said.

Cue said shes hoping the $500,000  already set to cover planning costs  will also pay maintenance costs for at least three years once the project is complete.

Next weeks meeting, to be held on the first floor of the Cyntergy Building at 810 S. Cincinnati Ave., will be informal, with residents asked only to bring ideas, Cue said.

Im excited about the input because not only do you get input from residents that live in the area, but ideas are always great for input on other projects, Cue said. Its exciting to see what ideas people have for our city.
A Princes Town homeowner says he believes a water leak is to blame for a landslip affecting their home.

He tells our reporter Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh that his investigations reveal that it' a WASA leak, and although he's made numerous reports to the authority, they continue to ignore his complaints.
Nines new supersized series of Married at First Sight will require all 10 couples to live together under one roof.

The fourth series of the dating show matches 20 singles together, more than twice the size of its previous seasons.

It kicks off with a Bachelor-style gathering of all females in a Sydney villa, and all males at another location, ahead of their TV weddings. The girls are suitably nervous and hopeful. The blokes waste little time in discussing who has cheated in the past and what they will do if they prefer someone elses wife. Nice.

The cameras and editing are quick to highlight any personality clashes within the two groups -but Psychologists John Aiken, Mel Schilling and neuropsychotherapist Trisha Stratford insist the key changes in the Endemol Shine series are designed to give the participants a support network. Right

The 20 grooms and brides include a stripper, truck driver, flight attendant, entrepreneur, student, farmer, business owner, ex-model, and even a pair of twins the Double Ds. They are predominantly caucasian (there is a Lebanese bride), mostly in their 30s, but up to 53 years.

Audition footage shows people revealing why they are thrusting themselves into the TV experiment and gives it more authenticity. There are tears, hesitations and demands about what they expect, physically, in a partner.

There are two weddings in the first episode, and another 2 in the second, with more to play out over successive nights on Nine.

The show also plays up its successful pairing of Zoe & Alex from Season One, who now have their own baby -but there is no mention that the weddings are nether legal nor binding. Previously this was noted in a single line of narration.

Amid the tension and nervous surprises of the first 4 weddings, there are also dubious in-laws and envious ex-partners, to ramp up the conflict.

Despite unfairly being labelled Worst Show of the Year by TV Tonight readers, the now-expanded series is likely to hook previous viewers and should give Nine its best ratings opener since The Block in January 2015 -with My Kitchen Rules and Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here it will need to be.



Married at First Sight begins Monday January 30 on Nine.
Screen Australia has announce funding for several new documentaries, some of which will screen on ABC and SBS.

They include ABC MEs My Year 7 Life from Princess Pictures which follows the lives of 16 children as they transition from primary school to high school and Vitamania for SBS and You See Monsters for ABC.

Liz Stevens, Senior Manager of Documentary at Screen Australia, said: Funding such a broad range of projects from both established and emerging talent points to a promising future for our local documentary industry. Australians are passionate documentarians and we are confident these projects will offer Australian and international audiences important, entertaining insights into our world.

Documentary Producer projects include:

Vitamania: The Sense and Nonsense of Vitamins and Minerals, an investigative look at the science and history of the $90 billion global supplements industry, hosted by Dr Derek Muller whose YouTube channel Veritasium boasts an impressive 3.5 million subscribers. Emmy award-winning producer Sonya Pemberton will executive produce, write and direct the project which will be broadcast on SBS in Australia and on Arte in France and Germany. It has also received Film Victoria support.

ABC Arts documentary You See Monsters, where six Muslim-Australians artists will share their experience of using artistic expression  including painting, poetry and music  to articulate and reclaim a sense of identity in a climate of anti-Islam sentiment. Written by David Collins and produced/directed by Tony Jackson, it has also received funding support from Film Victoria.

Contemporary artist Shaun Gladwells VR project Storm Rider, produced by Leo Faber for SBS. Gladwell, best known for his piece Storm Sequence, will document through VR his quest to teach a young British Muslim woman how to skateboard. Faber and Gladwell recently had their VR film Orbital Vanitas selected for Sundances New Frontier 2017 program.
NITV has its first-ever commission in scripted local drama with a new kids series, Grace Beside Me, about an extraordinary girl trying to lead an ordinary life.

Based on the novel (pictured) by Sue McPherson, it follows Fuzzy Mac, whose life is turned upside down when, at the age of 13, she discovers she can see ghosts and spirits. But all she wants is to fit in and have fun with her mates.

Aimed at 8  12 year olds, the story will unravel how its hard enough navigating the highs and lows of becoming a teenager while living with your eccentric Nan and Pop, without also having to deal with needy ghosts, mischievous totems and cantankerous Ancestors. With one foot in the Indigenous realm of culture, Country  and spirits  and the other firmly planted in the world of a 21st century teenager, Fuzzy Macs journey is to realise she belongs to both in her own unique way. She must learn to be herself and to walk in two worlds.

The 13 x 26 min series will be produced by Magpie Pictures and have further window playouts on ABC and Disney Australia. It has been developed with the assistance of NITV, the Australian Childrens Television Foundation, Screen Australias Indigenous Department, Screen QLD, the ABC and Screen NSW.

Tanya Orman, Channel Manager, NITV said: This is another hugely exciting step for NITV and testament to the beauty and depth of our story telling. Our goal is to create award-winning childrens content that speaks to a new generation, and this is truly unique story telling from the worlds oldest story tellers for Australian children. The story of Fuzzy Mac is told with warmth, humour and pathos by the best of our Indigenous screenwriters.

Penny Smallacombe, Head of Indigenous at Screen Australia said: Reaching young audiences with Indigenous and culturally diverse content is an incredibly important focus for Screen Australia. We are proud to be supporting Grace Beside Me which is helmed by an all-female producing team, including Aboriginal producer Dena Curtis, and are confident that with three Australian broadcasts this unique story will resonate with audiences around the country.

We are so proud to support Grace Beside Me and have Queensland play a key role, said Screen Queensland CEO, Tracey Vieira. Queensland is home to some of Australias most talented creatives in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen community including Queensland-based writer Sue McPherson and producer/director Dena Curtis. Our support of Grace Beside Me follows on from the recent launch of our SQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy 2016-19 that outlines our commitment to local Indigenous practitioners and ensuring they are an important focus in SQs funding decisions. Grace Beside Me presents opportunities to our local practitioners that allows us to grow a stronger and richer industry base with long-lasting economic and cultural significance for all Australians.

Michael Carrington, ABCs Head of Childrens and Education said, Im thrilled that we are building strong ties with NITV talent and offering a much-deserved additional platform for Indigenous talent both on and off screen. Childrens audiences across Australia are bound to enjoy Grace Beside Me, a smart funny drama series made specifically for them.

Grace Beside Me is produced by Lois Randall (The Gods of Wheat Street, Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble) and Dena Curtis (8 MMM Aboriginal Radio, Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble ) with direction by Beck Cole (Black Comedy, Redfern Now,The Warriors) and Adrian Russell Wills (Wentworth, Redfern Now, The Warriors). Writers include Danielle MacLean (Little J and Big Cuz, Double Trouble, Blown Away), Jon Bell (The Gods of Wheat Street, Cleverman), Sue McPherson (Grace Beside Me, Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble), Briar Grace-Smith (Being Eve, Kaitangata Twitch), Adrian Russell Wills (Redfern Now, Ready for This), Tristan Savage (Gubbament Man, Un-Australian) and Erica Glynn (Little J and Big Cuz).

Currently in pre-production, it will commence filming in early 2017.
| By Chris Zang

Crime at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) was down 10 percent in 2016. In addition to the drop from 109 incidents in 2015 to 98 in 2016, there were even greater decreases in violent crimes such as aggravated assault and robbery.

Aggravated assault (which includes the use of a weapon) showed a 43 percent drop, with four in 2016 compared to seven in 2015. Robbery showed a 50 percent drop, with two in 2016 after four in 2015.

Antonio Williams, MS, police chief of the UMB Police Force and associate vice president of public safety at UMB, was pleased with the year-end statistics and sees the robbery rate as especially encouraging.

I would say two robberies are two too many, he said, but when you go back to 2014 when we had 12 robberies on campus thats a huge difference. Particularly when you look at whats going on around us. The city again had over 300 murders. Robberies were up in the whole city and yet were seeing decreases here so I think thats very commendable.

The only categories with increases in 2016 were simple assault and stolen auto, with one additional incident each.

Antonio Williams, MS

2016 was a challenging year for the UMB Police Force, Williams said, noting an increased demand for services. There were more special events and new facilities coming on board like the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, the UMB Community Engagement Center, and various clinics and offices. Even some activity beyond the campus boundaries brought a response from Williams police and security team.

There were a number of student groups who held demonstrations and protest-type activities in 2016, Williams recalled. When some of those events were held off-campus, we cant necessarily go back and forth with the students, but we can make provisions and work logistically to make sure they are covered security-wise. We do everything we can to keep our people safe.

Thefts are a major part of any college/university crime report and 2016 was no exception at UMB. There were 73 thefts at UMB in 2016 after 80 in 2015. Members of the UMB community acting as the eyes and the ears for the police can help bring those numbers down, says Williams, whose force will spread the message with more Coffee with a Cop events at UMB in 2017.

In addition to the human touch, increased technology will help the UMB Police Force in 2017. A new police communications center is opening in the site of the old UMB bookstore at 222 N. Pine St. It will provide more space, a more efficient phone system, bigger and better monitors that operate in quadrants, providing four times the information, and upgraded equipment to help the dispatchers multi-task.

Also in that building is a new emergency operations center, which offers direct camera feeds from all over the campus, satellite TV for breaking news events, breakout space for training and simulations, and even a kitchen for emergencies when staff has to stay on duty.

Williams also is excited about a new portal on the UMB public safety website that will go live in January. Users can pick out a time frame (say Sept. 1 to Sept. 15), click a button and the screen will populate with all the UMB crime data from that period. Want more detail? Click on each icon on the map for specifics.

It has taken a while to get to the point where we can make this available to our community, Williams said. We wanted it to provide specific, meaningful information. With the portal, users can visualize if there are problems in a specific area, or during a specific time period.

The chief shares the success in 2016 with an active UMB community, pointing out how employees swift reactions led to several arrests. And while he looks forward to extending such partnerships in 2017, tackling the challenges associated with the Carter Center and Lexington Market demolitions, and reviving some marketing strategies such as dont talk, walk and text, the chief didnt want to leave 2016 without commending his public safety team.

Im absolutely proud of these men and women, both police and security, Williams said. Theyve taken on the job, theyre motivated, they recognize the importance of what they do, and their efforts have had a huge impact. They also see themselves as part of the community and that they serve as ambassadors to the University. Theyre out there, theyre talking to people, theyre helping send a positive message about the University and the community.
Displaced people at Bakassi camp in Maiduguri, Nigeria, in 2016.  UNHCR/Simi Vijay

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi today expressed his shock at a bombing on a site for internally displaced people in north-east Nigeria that left dozens of people dead, and stressed the need for the Nigerian authorities to urgently identify the failings that led to the tragedy.

Initial reports from the Rann site in Borno states Kala Balge area say that more than 50 people were killed, including six aid workers, when the attack took place on Tuesday morning during a food distribution. The Rann site was set up in March 2016 and hosts 43,000 people who fled their homes over the past two years to escape insurgency.

This has been a truly catastrophic event. Lives have been lost, and this in a designated site for the displaced, Grandi said. A full accounting has to take place so that the causes are known and measures can be put in place to ensure this never happens again.

The Nigerian government has said the bombing was an accident and is launching an investigation. Many of the more than 1.7 million internally displaced people as well as humanitarian agencies continue to face safety challenges due to continuing clashes between government security forces and insurgents in north-east Nigeria. Humanitarian access to Rann has been difficult due to insecurity and bad roads.

Grandi visited Borno during a visit last month to Nigeria and Lake Chad Basin countries hosting Nigerian refugees. He was moved by the suffering of displaced people that he met during his visit and vowed UNHCRs continuing help.

News contacts:
The United States is one of the prime destinations for students from all over the world. Forbes has ranked 50 of the best U.S. colleges for international students and here are the top 5.

Babson College

Babson College is a business school in Massachusetts with BS degrees in marketing, strategic management, and 25 more concentrations. Despite being a business school, its liberal arts department is also thriving. Babson's international students make 26 percent of its total population.

Bryn Mawr

Bryn Mawr is an exclusive female college in Philadelphia. What landed Bryn Mawr in the second spot of the top U.S. colleges for international students is not just how internationally diverse it is. Rather it's in how it has helped international students by providing 100 percent financial aid to international students who really need them.

Claremont McKenna College

The enrollment of international students is increasing in Claremont since 2012. Claremont has established the Committee on Campus Climate which encourages free speech, identity, and, most of all, diversity. Claremont has a wide range of degree programs from Economics to Accounting. It has even been ranked No.9 in the top Liberal Arts colleges in America by the U.S. News.

Columbia University

According to Forbes, Columbia has the third largest population of international students in the United States with a total of more than 10,000. A great number of these students are at Columbia's graduate and professional schools. The university is also heavily involved in research in different countries. They also have global centers in various countries which serve as a bridge between scholars from the United States and other countries.

Massachusetts institute of Technology



To complete the top five is MIT with 10 percent of its population coming from different countries. Even 43 percent of its faculty come from different cultural backgrounds from all over the world. Aside from this, MIT offers its science and technology class to students all over the world in different languages. It also has global partnerships and projects globally.
There are students who are eager to study abroad but according to reports, there is a difference between students who aspire to study abroad compared to the number of students who actually went off to study. Students would either continue a portion of their academic years abroad or pursue a full course. And sometimes accessibility, comfort-ability and culture play a factor.

According to a finding based on a survey from 1,004 students by the Sentio Research Group, they found that Norwegian students between 2015 to 2016 - only 10 percent were studying abroad, as reported by University World News.

Part of the reason why students want to study abroad is because in the last few years, it has become easier to do so, as reported by The Yorker. Now, it is easier to go global. With the information available online and the resources made available to encourage foreign students, studying abroad has become easier. And this 10 percent is considerably willing to commit to the change of environment.

Abigail Fedorovsky, a marketing director, talked to a current student from Oxford University and a former student from Bristol University to find out how different it is now. In her conversation, she found that in order to study in Russia in the 1980's, they had to be interviewed in Leeds first because they needed to make sure that he was prepared to go to Russia which was the Soviet Union at the time. Now, studying to Russia is easier because Oxford has set up a link for the first -timers.

Towns and cities are starting to recognize the needs of foreign students and the students are immersed in the culture and made aware of how different it is from their home land. From the food to the accommodations, foreign students now find it easier compared to before.

Studying abroad has indeed changed over time but the important thing the publication stresses is that it is important to be culturally aware when spending one's academic years abroad.

In other news, watch this TEDx talk about why studying abroad is important:
Students from different colleges and universities have announced their plans to stage a walkout on president-elect Donald Trump's Inauguration Day on Friday. This comes after several Democratic lawmakers have confirmed that they will not be going to the event.

The College Fix reported that a student socialist group has planned a nationwide walkout on Friday. This is to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump.

There are concerns that Trump and his administration will be attacking several segments of the American population. Since his victory last November, a lot of hostile acts have been done to minority students in campuses across the nation.

In the past few months, a lot of instances suggest how Donald Trump's victory at the U.S. 2016 election has sparked backlash among the minority groups on campuses. Universities have been trying to pacify fears about the nation's future by organizing meetings and counseling sessions.

Socialist Students has organized The National Student Walkout Against Bigotry & Hate campaign. The group is an affiliate of Socialist Alternative.

Protests have been initiated after Trump won against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In a post on its official website, Socialist Students urges fellow students to "stand together in solidarity against Trump's attempts" to divide the nation.

The nationwide walkouts will happen in Berkeley, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, CA, Bellingham and Seattle, WA, Chicago, IL, Cincinnati and Columbus, OH, Grand Rapids, MI, Houston, TX, Minneapolis, MN, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, St. Louis, MO and Worcester, MA.

According to ABC7 News, Oakland and Berkeley high school students will also be joining a march to protest Trump's inauguration. UC Berkeley will also have its own event organized by the group named "By Any Means Necessary."

This comes after about 35 Democratic lawmakers have confirmed that they will not be going to Trump's Inauguration on Friday. Slate noted that Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, who is one of the top candidates for the head of the Democratic National Committee role, announced on Twitter that he "will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate."
Universities and colleges in the U.S. have seen a rise in applications for the class of 2021. Early admissions applications are particularly the trend nowadays.

USA Today College described this application season as being "on turbo." This year, universities and colleges saw higher levels of essays, recommendation letters and informational forms for the class of 2021.

Ivy League universities like Princeton got over 5,000 applications. This is an 18 percent jump from last year's early action data. The New Jersey school has only accepted 770 applicants so far.

Another Ivy League school, Harvard, already announced that it had 938 successful early applicants for this year. The university's official website reported that applications for early action at Harvard College increased 5 percent this year to over 6,400 applications.

Last year, 6,167 high school seniors applied early. 14.8 percent, or 914 students, were admitted for the class of 2020.

William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid, deemed early admission as the "new normal" nowadays. More students are applying early to universities and colleges than in the past years.

Meanwhile, University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) received a whopping 102,107 applications. According to The Washington Post, it has become the first school to receive more than 100,000 applications. This is just a 5 percent increase from last year. However, it was noted that the target size for the entering class is only about 6,500.

UCLA has always received a lot of applications. It had the most applicants for last year with 92,728 applications.Coming in second place is the school's other campus, the University of California - Berkeley. However, it has a difference of about 20,000 from UCLA with 78,924 applications. University of California - San Diego came in third place with 78,056.

Other University of California schools also received a lot of applications. The school's campus in Irvine, Santa Barbara and Davis got 71,768, 70,444 and 64,510 applications, respectively.
Being rejected always feels bad, and being rejected by the university you apply to will always be an unpleasant thing to experience. Still, that unpleasant experience can become something great - like what a teenager from London did when her application was rejected by Oxford University.

Claudia Vulliamy, an 18-year-old teen from London, failed to secure a spot in Oxford and instead received a rejection letter for her efforts to enter the university, the Telegraph reported. But instead of sulking and getting depressed, she actually turned the letter into a work of art that became famous on the internet.

Vulliamy applied to study classics at Wadham College from September, but was told that her application was unsuccessful. After receiving her letter, she thought "it would be funny" to use it for creative purposes.

She then proceeded to cut up lines from the letter and attached them to a painting she made. The finished work of art has been published on Twitter, and has been retweeted more than 51,400 times and liked by more than 158,900 people as of writing time. Many have compared her work of art to those created by Piet Mondrian, the Dutch painter.

Yesterday, my daughter learned that she hadn't got into Oxford. By the time I got in from work, she'd made this from her rejection letter pic.twitter.com/KCInrTA1OO  Louisa Saunders (@louisa_saunders) January 12, 2017

Her mother, Louisa Saunders, told BBC that she was "very spirited," explaining that she made the work of art between the time she received the rejection letter and told her mom about it until her mom arrived home from work.

Saunders said she thought it was "very funny" of her daughter to do that, adding that she was glad young Miss Vulliamy didn't feel too sad about the rejection.

Vulliamy said it's not often that anybody receives a letter specially "dedicated to you from Oxford," which makes is meaningful. She added that she actually didn't set her heart on Oxford, and is happy that she eventually received an offer from Durham University.
The college application process is already stressful and adding more to the suspense is to be placed on the school's waiting list. Here are 10 of those colleges that have a wait list.

Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr is a private liberal arts college for women in Pennsylvania. Based on the 2015 data, the college has 872 applicants and 30.2 percent of those were placed on the wait list. According to US News, the college did not accept anyone from that wait list at that time.

Wellesley College

Wellesley College in Massachusetts is also an exclusive college for women. It is the alma mater of some of the most powerful women in history including Hillary Clinton, Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, and Madeleine Albright. Wellesley Out of the 1,404 students who applied, 30.8 percent were placed on the waiting list.

Lehigh University

Lehigh placed 33 percent of its applicants on the wait list and like Bryn Mawr in 2015, it didn't accept any of them. Lehigh is in Pennsylvania and considered one of the premium research universities with a student-teacher ratio of 10:1.

Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg is also a liberal arts college in Pennsylvania with a total enrollment of around 5,000. Out of the 1,690 students who applied there, 33.7 percent were placed on the waiting list. Those who are interested in going there should take note that the deadline is February 15.

Sarah Lawrence College

Sarah Lawrence College in New York is ranked 59th among the National Liberal Arts colleges in the US. Out of its 1,025 applicants, the college placed 36.4 percent on its wait list.

Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee is a private four-year liberal arts university in Lexington, Virginia. Founded in 1749, the university puts 36.9 percent of its 1,983 applicants on the wait list.

Marist College

Founded in 1929, Marist is not only recognized for its excellence but also for its scenic location. Located in an area overlooking the Hudson River, Marist placed 39.6 percent of its 3,645 applicants on the wait list.

Kenyon College

Kenyon College is a private residential liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio. It is the third in this list with 40.6 percent of its 2,876 applicants on the wait list.

University of Richmond

The University of Virginia is second on this list with 40.8 percent of its 4,070 applicants on the wait list.

Case Western University

Case is a private university for doctorate degrees in Cleveland, Ohio. It tops the list by placing 41.4 percent of its 9,446 applicants on the wait list.
While there's a lot of talk surrounding the impact and significance of big data in almost all types of industry, one innovative school district in Phoenix, Arizona is using little data to redefine education in many ways.

Little data, as opposed to big data, is more personal because it tells about the personal habits and behavior of each individual, whereas big data is used by companies and businesses to analyze people.

For example, big data will tell a company what kind of book a person will read. Little data, on the other hand, tells more about the habit of a person, such as how many pages does he read or when does he read most often - in the morning, evening, or afternoon? Using such specific data, educators can use this to find out exactly what the strengths and weaknesses of their students are. As a result, they will be able to provide a more personalized curriculum for each student.

This is what the Dysart school district hopes to do with the students in that district whether they are in a traditional classroom or a high-tech classroom. At the moment, they have already created their own three-pronged system called the iPLAN after observing the data collection and management of various schools.

With the iPLAN, teachers and administrators are able to keep track of students' state test results allowing them to determine areas of weaknesses and strengthening them.

Aside from the overview, iPLAN also includes various resources to help teachers plan the curriculum on a long-term basis as well as teacher training. However, this is all big data. So where does little data come in? It comes with teachers working together and brainstorm which data method collection works best for the grade level and subjects they teach in.

It's amazing how teachers come up with very creative methods even with the absence of technology. For example, Marley Park Elementary School teachers ask their students to report their scores to the teachers and then make a graph of it in their notebooks. Through this, the teachers can track down their students' performance and be able to offer individualized instruction to their students based on their needs.
Starting a business while in college helps a student earn money to help pay for education, as well as provide a good start for when graduation comes. Starting a non-profit, on the other hand, doesn't really yield money - but it does yield things money cannot buy.

Such is the work that volunteers for A Moment In Magic do.

A Moment in Magic (AMOM) is a non-profit organization composed of 40 college students who don costumes resembling famous female protagonists to bring cheer and raise up the spirits of children in pediatric wards in hospitals, the Good News Network reported. The group was created in New York in 2014, and began its chapter system in 2015. It made more than 200 hospital visits in 2016 alone, reaching more than 5,000 kids in just a year.

The organization, originally called "The Princess Project," was founded by Kylee McGrane, Wilkes Barre, and Margaret McAndrew, after McGrane watched the Disney animated movie "Frozen."

McGrane noticed that she and McAndrew bore resemblances to Elsa and Anna, the movie's protagonists, and thought of using that resemblance to fulfill their desire to help others by impersonating the famous characters and bring cheer to pediatric patients.

Currently, AMOM only has one chapter, based at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx. They are hoping to expand this year, having 10 college chapters located in different campuses across the country. They also hope to recruit more volunteers to spread the magic to young patients, especially those fighting against cancer.

AMOM, which started with one pediatric visit to a hospital per month, is now providing up to around five visits per week at various hospitals and events in the New York area, Today Parents reported. McGrane and McAndrew hopes to add more chapters and recruit more volunteers so that more visits can be made.

McGrane said AMOM has never said "no" to a visit, and does whatever it can to respond to anybody who reaches out to them. Whether it's a personal visit or a Skype visit, AMOM will do whatever it can to bring cheer to young patients.

Check out A Moment in Magic here.
Two soaring program pioneers took a stroll through history with cadets and staff this fall at the 94th Flying Training Squadron, home to the Air Forces only Soaring Program.

Retired Lt. Col James Leland helped create the soaring program and retired Lt. Col. Richard Trail, a 1959 Academy graduate, was the first cadet to take a solo flight in a glider, in Denver.

Today, more than 200 cadets, military and civilian instructor pilots, are assigned to the 94th Flying Training Squadron, but the program didnt get off the ground until Leland arrived at the Air Force Academy in 1960. Leland designed the program with the support of Brig. Gen. William Seawell, the third commandant of cadets.

Although I was assigned to the Academy in April 1960, I didnt get involved in a soaring program until the middle of 1961, Leland said.

Leland contacted soaring enthusiasts at the Black Forest Glider Port, eight miles east of the Academy, and earned glider ratings to get a vision of what the program should entail.

All of my soaring was on my own free time, he said. I spent most of my weekends at the Black Forest Glider Port with the [cadets].

Leland directed the construction of a hangar, improved the airfield and acquired three gliders for the nascent Soaring Program, at the Academy.

When we purchased the first sailplanes and started the Airmanship Program, I spent more and more time at the airport during duty hours and weekends, Leland said.

Soaring didnt take off at the Academy until the hangar was complete.

Before we got the hangar, we flew the sailplanes from the Black Forest Glider Port, he said.

Leland attended soaring instructor training in Elmira, New York, to make sure he was ready to train cadets, once the program was ready for take-off. The program was in full flight with an infrastructure and three Schweizer SGU/Air Force TG-2 gliders for cadets.

Cadets were not involved in the Airmanship Program until 1965, when the Air Force began allocating funds for the program. Before then, cadets soared out of the Black Forest Glider port.

Today, junior and senior class cadets give almost all soaring instruction to 1,300 third and fourth class cadets enrolled in the various courses the Airmanship Program provides each year.

Leland said the program has come a long way since 1961.

You have the best equipment of any soaring operation in the world, he said. The leadership training you receive will serve you well in your Air Force career regardless of what you do.

These days, Trail said, cadets do it all.

They are the instructors and the hands and feet of a very complex organization, he said. Cadets do it all with what seems like very little oversight of the commissioned officers in charge. It is excellent preparation for future careers in rated positions.

Rated officers are specifically tasked to carry out the militarys operational missions, such as piloting aircraft.

I was totally and favorably impressed with the smooth-running organization the glider program has become, Trail said. Today the Soaring Program is an organized and integral part of the overall Academy program. It is an experience that can plant the [idea] that I can become a pilot.

Trail said cadets participating in the Soaring Program should hang in the there.

You are learning skills you will never know you had until they save the mission of your very life, he said.

Leland said cadets who attend pilot training have an advantage over officers who didnt take part in the Soaring Program.

Those who do not get pilot slots will still be able to use the leadership skills they learned as glider instructors in any field they enter, he said.

Trail agreed.

Graduates who have accomplished something significant in their career following graduation can give cadets someone to look up to and strive to emulate, he said.

Trail said taking part in the Soaring Program influenced every aspect of his Air Force career, from his Vietnam War experience or successfully knowing how to make a forced landings which occur when a pilot in unable to control the aircraft.

Trail said cadets may think, He trained on gliders and went on to become a successful Air Force pilot. That makes what I am now doing [as a cadet] now worth it, he said.

Cadets

Cadet 1st Class Tony Smith and Cadet 2nd Class Tori Gilster were among the scores of cadet instructor pilots who met Leland and Trail during the visit.

It is very touching to know I would not have all the experience I have today if it were not for Lt. Colonel Leland getting the program started, Smith said. All the stories and experiences he shared were amazing and should be shared throughout the squadron and the Academy in general.

Smith was equally impressed with Trail.

He really showed [the purpose of leaving] your comfort zone and take on challenges with a full head of steam. Smith said. He helped us realize you cant be scared to try new things that could be influential for the rest of your life.

Gilster said the influence of the 94th FTS is felt across the Air Force.

When we graduate, these experiences will influence how we fly and conduct ourselves as pilots and officers, she said.

Smith said the visit reminded him of the importance of resiliency and overcoming challenges.

My biggest takeaway was to continue to strive to be resilient in all matters of life, he said. One of the biggest things I learned [during the visit] was the program was denied a couple of times when it was first introduced to senior leadership. With a lot of resiliency, it was finally approved.

During his visit, Leland donated personal papers and research materiel to the Academy, accepted on behalf of the school by retired Brig. Gen. James McCarthy, the first officer in charge of the soaring program.

Trail donated his soaring logbook to the 94th FTS in the 90s'. Hes visited the Academy airfield three times since 1959.

Every time I go back to visit the Academy, I drive by the airfield and have a longing just to poke around and visit, he said.

(Editor's note: Visit www.usafa.edu/tu/306ftg/94fts/programs.cfm for more information on the Academy's Airmanship Program)
UTSAs Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSAs Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSAs Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSAS Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
Church News  October 20, 2022 LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Needing Answers We want God to be like FedEx and deliver overnight. Things dont happen that way, but in...

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Authorities have put up road blocks to prevent large-scale car imports

According to initial calculations from the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnam imported some 4,000 complete built units (CBUs) in July, a considerable decrease from 4,500 vehicles imported in the previous month.

CBUs continued to be on the list of imported products that need to be strictly limited by local authorities to cope with trade deficit, besides complete built motorbikes, air conditioners, washing machines, beer and alcohol.

Figures from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) showed that import value of less-then-nine-seat CBUs and other kinds of import products needed to be controlled reached $4.7 billion in the first half of this year, accounting for 12 per cent of the countrys overall imports.

In order to take stronger control and limit the imports of CBUs, the MoIT and Ministry of Transport recently issued a joint document, defining only five seaports authorised to receive import CBUs with less then 16 seats. They are Cai Lan, Haiphong, Danang, Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau ports. The regulation, which was previously applied merely on used cars imported into Vietnam, took effect from July 29, 2010.

The joint document also defined some other strict requirements regarding to environmental protection and registration for imported automobile vehicles.

Previously, local authorities also applied strong measures to prevent massive imports of CBUs, including bans on imported cars to be stored in seaports and increased loading charges for automobile containers.

The GSO, however, stressed that although the number of imported CBU vehicles experienced a decline, import values increased to $90 million in July from $81 million in June.

The surge in import value was mostly due to the increase in buying heavy trucks and luxury vehicles into Vietnam during the month.

In the first seven months of the year, the country imported a total of 27,023 complete built cars worth some $484 million.
Following demands from business for stability during Brexit, the British government has signalled there could be a time lag between leaving the European Union and shifting to new relations with the EU. (AFP/CHRIS J RATCLIFFE)

Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday (Jan 17) said for the first time that Britain would leave the EU's single market and seek a new customs deal with the bloc but the precise timings and terms of departure are uncertain as negotiations have yet to begin.

Here is an outline of what we know so far:

Referendum:

On Jun 23, 2016, Britons voted by 52 per cent in favour to 48 per cent against leaving the EU, although most voters in Scotland, Northern Ireland and London backed remaining part of the bloc.

Britain has had a love-hate relationship with Brussels since joining what was then the European Economic Community in 1973.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who took office in 2010, called the referendum in a bid to end long-standing divisions in his Conservative Party but his campaign for a vote to stay in the EU failed.

Timing:

Cameron's successor May has said she wants to trigger Article 50 - the formal procedure for leaving the European Union under the EU's Lisbon Treaty - by the end of March.

Finance minister Philip Hammond has said he then expects negotiations to begin before the summer.

Article 50 foresees a maximum two-year time period for the negotiations. If no deal is in place by then, Britain would have to leave without any agreement on future ties with the EU, unless the timeframe can be extended by unanimous agreement of all member states.

The EU's top Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said there should be an agreement in place ahead of the 2019 European Parliament elections.

Parliament:

Britain's Supreme Court is set to rule later this month on whether or not May must receive parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50.

If the court rules against May, the government may be forced to bring draft legislation before parliament which could in turn delay the start of negotiations.

Even though most MPs supported Britain staying in the EU, it is seen as highly unlikely that parliament would deny May the right to begin Brexit negotiations.

In any case, May on Tuesday promised that any final deal on Britain's future relations with the EU would go before both chambers of parliament for a vote.

Transition deal:

May also said on Tuesday she wanted a "phased approach" to ensure stability for businesses between the moment Britain leaves the EU and the implementation of its new relationship with the bloc.

"A phased process of implementation, in which both Britain and the EU institutions and member states prepare for the new arrangements that will exist between us will be in our mutual self-interest".

"We will seek to avoid a disruptive cliff edge," she said.

May added that all existing EU laws that apply in Britain will be turned into British laws under a "Great Repeal Bill" and parliament will then be able to choose which ones to keep, reject or amend.

Immigration:

May has said she will make cutting immigration a priority in negotiations, following a referendum in which it was a key argument of the Brexit camp.

Hundreds of thousands of people, mainly from eastern and southern Europe, move to Britain each year.

In her speech on Tuesday she gave no detail of what the new entry criteria will be for Europeans, but acknowledged that this demand would mean Britain leaving the EU's single market.

Trade:

May on Tuesday said she wanted "maximum possible access" for British companies to the single market even though Britain will not be a member and has also called for a new customs arrangement with the EU.

She said full customs union membership would prevent Britain from striking its own trade deals with other countries but added that Britain could remain a signatory to some parts of the customs union.

May also warned EU member states against pushing for harsh exit terms for Britain, saying it would be "an act of calamitous self-harm" for the EU.

She also threatened that she could "change the basis of Britain's economic model" - for example by slashing business taxes - if British companies were excluded from accessing the single market.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a press conference in Hanoi on January 16

Many big newspapers such as Japan Times, Yomiuri, Nihon Keizai and Sankei covered the trip, which is the third to Vietnam by Abe as PM of Japan.



They highlight the cooperation between the two countries, as seen through agreement in various issues such as collaboration to ensure maritime security and accelerate the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, along with Japans commitment to support Vietnam.



In terms of marine security cooperation, the press reported Abes pledge to provide six patrol ships for Vietnam to help it improve patrol capacity in the East Sea.



They quoted the Japanese PM as saying that providing the patrol ships will help the Southeast Asian nation protect navigation freedom, legal regulations and peaceful means to resolve disputes.



Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed Abes commitments, stressing that both countries agreed on the importance of keeping security in the East Sea and promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, according to the media.



They reported that the two leaders also voiced their hope for the TPP to take effect as soon as possible while vowing to keep the deal alive. The Nikkei newspaper cited PM Phuc as saying to his Japanese counterpart that TPP is an important agreement and Vietnam is stepping up preparations to ratify it.

Another move that drew attention was the pledge to give Vietnam a new loan package worth 120 billion JPY (about US$1.05 billion). The loan aims to support local infrastructure development, including a water drainage project, a project on developing the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park in the suburbs of Hanoi, and others on electricity and waste treatment systems.

As the biggest assistance provider, the second biggest foreign investor and one of the key trading partners of Vietnam, Japan is becoming an important ally of this country, Japanese media wrote.
Though derivatives may help lure foreign investment, liquidity will be needed-Photo: Le Toan

Investor sentiment in Vietnam has been riding high in recent months in anticipation of the opening of the first derivatives market in the country, scheduled to be in the second quarter of 2017.

The first two products to be placed on the market will be stock index and government bond futures. Regulators believe that these two offerings are simple enough for investors and easier to control compared with other derivative tools.

Experts have noted that offering derivatives can help attract overseas investors to enter the Vietnamese market.

Trinh Hoai Giang, deputy CEO of Ho Chi Minh City Securities, told VIR that derivatives will broaden the product offerings available to foreign investors, and help Vietnam reach emerging market status. Reaching this status is important for Vietnam to lure high-quality investment flows from funds around the world.

Institutional investors within Vietnam and international investors have already expressed interest in and enquired about the derivatives market, Giang said. More developed markets in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia have already launched derivatives products in the last decade, putting Vietnam at a foreign-investment disadvantage. Thailand has recorded a 70 per cent growth in its derivatives market after just 10 years of operation.

Giang pointed out that, unlike its neighbours, the Vietnamese derivatives market is at a disadvantage given its much smaller pool of stocks. Liquidity is also a problem, as Vietnams daily share exchange volume is only $150 million, one-tenth that of Thailands.

We need to build a strong, diverse, and liquid stock market while at the same time launching derivative products, as derivatives rely on the stock market to grow. This is the only way to develop a sustainable derivatives market that can hook foreign investors in, Giang said.

Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao, head of the Finance faculty at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics (UEH), also stressed the importance of improving liquidity. He referred to Vietnams previous efforts to build stock markets for commodities such as coffee and rice, all of which have failed due to the lack of buyers and sellers. According to Bao, the derivatives market may suffer the same fate if liquidity is not developed. There should be lots of buyers and sellers and the derivatives market must be kept busy at all times. This task sometimes falls on the shoulders of market makers, who are large financial institutions responsible for buying and selling derivatives, Bao said.

However, caution must be taken as some market makers can abuse these trading activities to cover fraud, as in the case of Englands Barings Bank in 1995, Bao added.

Phung Duc Nam, a lecturer from the Financial Risk Management department of UEH, also warned that not only market makers, but also investors can see the derivatives market as a gambling heaven due to larger margin trading. He noted that, in 1996, China had to close its derivatives market after a five-year trial run due to scandals regarding price manipulation and market bubbles. Chinas derivatives market was only re-opened again in 2004, after an eight-year hiatus.
Insiders have argued for raising foreign investment caps at banks, to facilitate needed capital flows

According to Vo Tan Hoang Van, general director of Ho Chi Minh City-based Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), foreign investor participation is not only crucial for the local banking systems development, it is essential to credit institution restructuring.

As capital expansion target at local credit institutions have been modestly hit for the past two years due to limited local resources, Van proposed loosening foreign investor ownership limits (FOLs) at local commercial banks to 49 per cent or more. In the meantime, he said, the government and central banks should consider relaxing conditions applied to strategic foreign investors.

Under current regulations, strategic investors must be financial institutions with over $1 billion in chartered capital and more than $10 billion in total asset value. These conditions have proved unsuitable, Van said.

There are many more organisations and investment funds out there to participate in restructuring local banks and credit organisations. They can help improve local risk management and governance systems, teaming up with prestigious organisations and advisory firms to do so.

Pham Hong Hai, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, said that to attract foreign investors to Vietnams banking restructure, ownership rates at local banks need to be changed. He believes that foreign investors will not want to buy into local banks as they make the transition to Basel II banking standards if they cannot have majority control.

Besides, using state budget to tackle banks bad debts needs consideration, as foreign investors do not willingly participate in bank restructuring if they do not receive government support in capital and other conditions, Hai said.

Han Ngoc Vu, CEO of privately-owned Vietnam International Bank (VIB), said that bad debts have emerged as a thorny issue, hampering national economic development. The state-run Vietnam Asset Management Company has not created additional capital sources to resolve bad debts, but has required banks to dedicate a portion of profits to loss provisioning.

According to Vu, currently many financially capable foreign organisations with professional expertise are interested in buying local credit institutions bad debts, which is a good opportunity for the banking sector to address the problem.

But current regulations do not allow foreign debt buyers to take on collateral in the form of real estate - which is the most viable asset for these bad debts.

To remove this obstacle, Vu suggested the government, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), and related authorised agencies allow foreign debt buyers establish wholly foreign-owned debt trading firms, pursuant to the governments Decree 69/2016 on business conditions for debt trading business.

These debt trading firms, after receiving collateral in the form of real estate products linked to debts, will have the right to authorise debt sellers - local credit institutions - to continue managing these distressed assets. In this scenario, recouped capital would be given back to the debt trading firm.

This scheme needs co-ordination and approval from related management agencies and sectors, including SBV and the Ministry of Justice. If it could be implemented, we would have an additional source in solving bad debts, Vu said.

About these proposals, SBV Deputy Governor Le Minh Hung said having in place a specific regulatory framework for resolving bad debts is essential for the future. The proposed law is called the Law on Supporting Bank Restructuring and Solving Bad Debts.

This law must include ways to deal with bank collateral and lenders interests, in addition to improving the relevant regulatory system.
The Nhon-Ha Noi Station Urban Railway.-Photo cafef.vn

A signing ceremony Tuesday morning celebrated the official contract between the Ha Noi Urban Railway Project Management Unit (PMU) and French contractors.

Accordingly, the money, which covers all taxes and fees, will be used to design, supply and install the railway system with an engine, depot facilities and management systems for stations, signals, communications and electricity.

Head of the Ha Noi Urban Railway PMU, Nguyen Cao Minh, said contract will help speed up the project as well as solve the projects critical path method, namely tunnels and stations.

Minh said that the bidding plan for Package 6, as the project is known, was carried out in accordance with existing Vietnamese laws and donor regulations.

The bidding and evaluation were closely and orderly implemented by investors, consultancy agencies, donors and relevant agencies. The joint-name contractors were evaluated to meet requirements of investors, he said.

According to Minh, the contractors Alstom Transport S.A-Colar Rail S.A-Thales Communications & Security S.A.S are leading French companies with experience and capacity in urban railway building. In addition, they are eligible to donors requirements that devices must have originated from France.

"Upon completion of Package 6, along with other packages of the project, Ha Noi will have a completely new public transport mode with advanced standards that meet travel demands along the East-West corridor from the periphery to the center of the city, Minh said, adding that the project will improve the capacity of public passenger transport and gradually build a civilised and modern capital.

French Secretary of State for Transport Alain Vidalies--who visited Ha Noi for the ceremony--called the signing an important milestone between the two countries, especially in the transport development strategy.

Ha Noi Peoples Committee Chairman, Nguyen uc Chung, also stressed the importance of the project to the city, saying that its completion will help ease transport pressure and improve the citys congestion.

"This project is not only important to Ha Noi but also will be a symbol of the co-operation between the two countries," Chung said.

Chung requested the PMU and contractors to accelerate construction to complete the project on schedule, and he proposed the peoples committee of ong a, Ba inh and Hoan Kiem districts to accelerate site clearance to implement the project properly and ensure absolute safety for workers.

A representative of the contractors committed to carry out the project with quality, with specialised trains designed and manufactured to meet the expectations of people in the capital city.

The Nhon-Ha Noi Station Urban Railway is a part of the Ha Noi Pilot Light Metro Line Project. It will run 12.5km along the National Highway 32 from Nhon in Bac Tu Liem District to Ho Tung Mau-Cau Giay-Kim Ma-Nui Truc-Cat Linh-Tran Quy Cap-Ha Noi Station. The railway will include 8.5 km elevated through eight stations and 4 km underground through four stations and a depot in Nhon. It has nine main packages including five construction and installation packages and four packages on facility systems.
Tourists come and visit War Remnants Museum in HCMC

Nguyen Khoa Luan, CEO of Anh Viet Tourist, said the bus service would be up and running in June this year if things go as planned.

This type of bus would take tourists to popular destinations in the center of the city and District 5.

The company is pinning high hopes that the service would attract a large number of visitors and add a new tourism product, Luan told the Daily.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a plan to test run such buses in seven provinces and cities  Danang, Hanoi, HCMC, Lam Dong, Kien Giang, Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue.

Besides the foresaid proposal, the company wants to step up public-private partnerships in the upgrade of museums and historical relics in the city within 20 years.

The company proprosed providing modern equipment for sightseeing places, including electronic ticket selling, camera and voice-over systems. Visitors to the museum will be equipped with a device that is connected to a headset to hear voice-over in different languages.

Recently, the city government has discussed the smart interactive museum system, allowing tourists to use their smartphones to watch 3D images and videos.
Invested by the Tin Nghia Corporation, the factory is designed to churn out 3,200 tonnes of coffee products per year when it becomes operational in 2018.

The country is the worlds large exporter of Robusta coffee, making annual export earnings of US$ 3  3.2 billion, said Luong Van Tu, Chairman of the Viet Nam Coffee and Cocoa Association.

However, the association noted that raw coffee accounted for 90% of the countrys exports while global demand for instant coffee is on the rise.

Viet Nam has opportunities to become a world-leading instant coffee producer thanks to abundant source of Robusta coffee which is the main ingredient to process instant coffee, Tu added.

Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Dinh Quoc Thai said the factory will contribute to improving value and brand of Vietnamese coffee.
Yamamoto Kenichi

What is JICAs expectation for Vietnams economic prospects for 2017?

Before talking about the prospect, let me recall some significant challenges and achievements of Vietnam in 2016 as I believe they will pave the way for performance in 2017. In the first half of 2016, the economy experienced negative growth in the agriculture sector, due to severe drought and salinity intrusion.

But the sector performance gradually improved in the later half. This suggests its potential to further contribute to Vietnams economic growth, if agriculture restructuring is properly implemented.

In the context of sluggish global trade, Vietnam achieved an 8.6 per cent growth rate in export value in 2016. The actual economic growth rate in 2016 was 6.21 per cent, lower than the National Assemblys targeted 6.7 per cent and the governments expectation of 6.3-6.5 per cent. However, given the difficulties and challenges mentioned above, it is highly appreciated.

I believe in a brighter picture for the economy next year, with a higher economic growth rate.

What challenges do you see waiting for Vietnam in 2017?

Many challenges remain for Vietnam to weather. For example, I have not seen significant actions in the progress for non-performing loan resolution and state-owned enterprise (SOE) reform.

If these matters are not resolved, they may become obstacles for Vietnam to get back to the high economic growth trajectory experienced in the period before the global financial crisis.

Given the expected increasing volatilities in the global economy in 2017, only restructuring efforts will help strengthen the economy from its inside to better cope with external headwinds and seize the opportunities for high and sustainable growth.

JICA believes reforms hold the key for Vietnams economic future - Photo: Le Toan

What are your policy recommendations for the government?

From my point of view, the future holds challenges for the nation to overcome in addition to the advantages it will bring.

This is especially true in Vietnams adaptation to conditions of the ASEAN Economic Community, and of the several free trade agreements coming into force.

One of the most important policy questions is how to improve the countrys investment and business climate in order to increase investment from domestic private sectors.

In this context, the Vietnamese government is suggested to carry out policies that promote the investment climate of business through the restructuring of key sectors, including SOEs, the banking system, and logistics systems  in such a case as fully and efficiently utilising the port system around Ho Chi Minh City.

The international competitiveness of Vietnam could be enhanced more strongly when the government pays more focus to facilitating finance to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are working in supporting industries.

Also, developing a favourable financial mechanism for farmers and/or agricultural enterprises that have concrete and feasible business plans in the agricultural sector could be very important in helping increase the value of agricultural products. This is considered a key factor for improving the competitiveness of Vietnams agriculture in the future.
The decree will make sure less buyers get their fingers burnt

Among the big projects to be launched is An Khanh New City Developments sale of its first phase this quarter. The mega $2 billion project is developed by South Koreas Posco E&C and Vietnams Vinaconex, located in Hanois Hoai Duc district, along the Thang Long Boulevard.

Scheduled for completion in 2013, the city is expected to supply 6,440 apartments, equivalent to 392,319 square metres of accommodation, enough for 30,000 people.

Even though Hoa Phat Group, the investor in a more than 1,000 apartment Mandarin Garden in Cau Giay districts Tran Duy Hung road, refused to release its launching time, real estate experts predicted the project would be soon launched.

At the beginning of this month the CT7D, located in Le Van Luong street and invested by Nam Cuong Group and the FLC Landmark Tower of FLC Group will also be launched, with a total of 200 units and prices ranging from VND23 million ($1,200) to VND28 million ($1,470) per square metre.

In Gia Lam district, over the Red River, the second lot of Rung Co Residentials belonging to the Eco Park is also being launched, with around 1,500 apartment units.

In addition, Victoria Van Phu, Star City, Diamond Tower and Song Da City View will also add apartments to the mix.

Real estate consultant CBRE Vietnam expected that there would be 3,000 units in Hanoi launched this quarter, compared to 1,950 units in the third quarter. There were more than 4,600 units launched in the second quarter.

This decline, according to CBRE Vietnam, could be due to the Decree 71, effective on August 8, 2010 providing guidance on the Housing Law, which caps the proportion of units sold via capital contribution contracts at 20 per cent with the remaining 80 per cent sold on transaction floors.

This decree, CBRE Vietnam said, had put a pressure on developers with low financial capabilities and enhanced market transparency.

However, CBRE Vietnam executive director Richard Leech said new project launches would continue trending towards more affordable options.

With the opening and improvement of major infrastructure routes, the capitals western and southern districts are attracting new residents with easier access for commuting into the core urban districts, Leech said.

He said that the Decree 71 was expected to benefit the market by enhancing transparency, placing pressures on developers with low financial capabilities, lessening the threat of price bubbles and limiting speculative forces.

Tran Nhu Trung, Savills Vietnam associate director, said the Decree 71 had showed off its advantages to clearly regulate five types of mobilising capital investment. However, Trung said the procedures to implement Decree 71 were still complicated and wasted customers time and energy.

The more simple it [decree] regulates, the more it is practical in the real life, Trung said.
At a ceremony on January 12 in the capital Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar's Ministry of Transport and Communications awarded the license to Myanmar National Tele & Communications (MNTC), a joint venture between Viettel Global, the international investment arm of Viettel, and two local firms, according to Reuters news agency.

Last year, a tender was announced, inviting international telecom companies to join with MNTC to form Myanmar's fourth mobile operator. Viettel Global was the only partner selected in March to enter further negotiations and apply for the fourth operator license.

According to the agreement, Viettel will have a 49 per cent stake in the new venture, while its two local partners will hold the remaining majority stake. Myanmar National Telecom Holding Public, a consortium of 11 local companies, and military-owned Star High Public Company will hold 23 and 28 per cent, respectively, according to the ministry.

The license is valid for 15 years and can be renewed.

Viettel, already present in nine other international markets, said last April that it would invest $1.5 billion in Myanmar, its biggest foreign investment to date. Myanmar is also Viettel's most populous overseas market with over 53 million people. It set the goal to provide nationwide coverage within one year and extend its network to 95 per cent of the country's population within three years.

The new network will take the brand name Mytel. Viettel's overseas markets have different brand names, such as Unitel in Laos, Bitel in Peru, Halotel in Tanzania or Nexttel in Cameroon.

The new venture will heat up competition in the rapidly growing market.

In 2012, Myanmar decided to end state monopoly in its telecommunications market and awarded two additional licenses to foreign operators Telenor from Norway and Ooredoo from Qatar in February 2014, according to the country's Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Thanks to the liberalisation initiative, the mobile penetration rate in Myanmar (the ratio of active mobile phone users), has skyrocketed from 9.5 to 77.7 per cent within two years, a record speed in the history of mobile telecommunications, according to the ministry.

A decade ago, when Myanmar was governed by a military junta, SIM cards and mobile phones cost thousands of dollars and were a luxury only a few could afford. However, several years into the broad economic liberalisation and political reforms starting in 2010 that saw the military handing over power to a civilian government, SIM cards now cost less than $2. According to an estimate reported by Forbes magazine, mobile subscriptions went from 3-4 million to 45 million in only two years.

While many state-owned enterprises in Vietnam are mired in debt and graft scandals, military-owned Viettel has remained an exception to an altogether sad rule. It has expanded to nine markets across Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Currently one of the world's fastest growing telecom operators, Viettel has over 85 million subscribers worldwide.

Viettel is the No. 1 mobile network provider in Cambodia, Laos, Mozambique, and Timor Leste, according to its website. Its ambitious plan is to expand to 20-25 countries by 2020, servicing about 600-800 million subscribers and joining the world's top 10 telecom firms by outbound international investment, as reported by VIR last year.
Protesters once again took to the streets this week as party of the Black Monday Campaign to call for the release of political prisoners who they said were being held hostage by the state.

The campaign, launched in mid-2016 after the arrests of several human rights workers and an election official, is seeking the release of more than a dozen opposition members, rights workers and land activists, including prominent Boeung Kak lake activist Tep Vanny.

Bov Sophea, one of the campaigners, said, Its true that they are hostages, because their release will be determined at the negotiating table. They will not be released under the law.

Negotiations between Cambodias two major political parties, the Cambodia National Rescue Party and Cambodian Peoples Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, have stalled, observers say.

Hun Sen has also recently moved to strike from the parliamentary regulations a rule granting the opposition president a symbolic rank equal to prime minister.

He has accused the opposition of trying to use the rule to argue for the release of the prisoners, which he said was a violation of the separation of powers.

Sok Eysan, CPP spokesman, declined to comment.

Leng Peng Long, National Assembly spokesman, said it had not yet received a letter requesting the rules be amended.

Meas Ny, a social researcher, said the prisoners of conscience would remain behind bars longer if the rules were amended.

They would still be a political tool that would be used to bring down the popularity of Kem Sokha and weaken the opposition party, he said.
One day after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office, tens of thousands of women are expected to march through the nations capital in protest at his controversial political platform.

Billed as the largest mass mobilization faced by any incoming administration in U.S. history, organizers such as Linda Sarsour of the Womens March on Washington, hope it will send a strong message to Trump.

We are watching you. We keep our eyes open. Some of us are already awake  and we are going stay awake for this next administration, she told Spectrum News NY1 on January 12.

Other protest organizers include Tamika D. Mallory, a gun control activist, Carmen Perez of Gathering for Justice, and Bob Bland, a businessman.

Trump has been criticized for offensive commentary about women and minority groups.

The time is now for us progressive to unite around justice and equality, just as our opposition has united around racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia, Sarsour said.

Organizers expect as many as 200,000 women to attend, many bringing their children.

The march is due to begin at 10am and could last until late afternoon, the New York Times reported.

Bland, one of the organizers, told the Washington Post in an interview that the demonstrators wanted to tell Trump that his administration will not roll back our rights.

You will not silence us. This can be an incredibly powerful statement and the beginning of the movement, she said.

Joyce Beatty, a congresswoman from Ohio, said in a video posted to Facebook: The march is about protecting our rights, our safety, our health, and our family. We recognize our vibrant and diverse community are the strength of our country because we all know that when women succeed, America succeeds.
[Editors Note: Dr. Sorpong Peou is a Cambodian-born Canadian scholar and professor at Ryerson University, Toronto. Before he settled in Toronto Canada, Dr. Peou lived through the Khmer Rouge regime. He has researched and published several books about peace and security, particularly the United Nations peace building process in Cambodia in 1990s and the countrys democratization. In his view, Cambodia today is a normal developing country facing social, economic and political development challenges. Yet he notes that the continuing culture of retribution after the Khmer Rouge fell, and the politics of survival that have been played out by political leaders and the elite are the biggest setback for the country in achieving social-economic liberalization and a liberal democracy. In a phone interview with VOA Khmer reporter Soksreinith Ten, Dr. Peou says that overcoming this shortcoming would take tremendous political will from the ruling party and the opposition party, as well as the elite.]

How did you leave Cambodia?

SP: I lived under the Khmer Rouge regime until the end, until the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in late 1978. I left Cambodia in 1979, around the same time. I left the country alone, actually. I went to the Thai-Cambodia border for security reasons. I had to go alone. I left my mother and six siblings behind. I am the oldest child in the family, so I left alone, for security reasons. I went to the border by myself. That happened in 1979. I lived in different refugee camps in Thailand. I lived in Khao-I-Dang for several months before I moved to another camp called Kamput camp. Then I moved, after that, to a transit camp as preparation for my departure for Canada in 1982.

So I arrived in Canada in 1982, having lived in three different refugee camps in Thailand. It was fantastic, having lived in Cambodia for a very long time and then refugee camps in Thailand. It was wonderful experience. I remember when the plane took off, I had a big sigh of relief, thinking that I am out of my old, long nightmare. We [my family] lived in one village [under the Khmer Rouge]. But my younger brothers and sisters were away as part of this youth mobile [group]. I lived in the village with my mother, but not in the same house. After the Khmer Rouge was overthrown, my brothers and sisters came back. We were reunited just a few weeks after. So it didnt take long.

What happened when you got to Canada?

SP: The plane landed in Montreal. Then after a few days we were moved to Ottawa where we settled. So my mother and few other siblings still lived in Ottawa. But after more than a year, I decided to go back to school, to the university of Waterloo, where I pursued my undergraduate study in political science and peace and conflict studies. I was there at the University of Waterloo for four years before I moved to Toronto, where I pursued my graduate study at York University.

What developments have you seen in Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge, and what challenges remain?

SP: From my perspective, there have been a lot of positive changes. As I said, I arrived in Canada in 1982, but then I went back to Cambodia in 1992, 10 years after that, when the United Nations sent its peace keeping mission to Cambodia. I was there to observe it as part of my research to see what was happening there. The United Nations was able to bring about peace to Cambodia.

That was still a difficult year after 10 years. I noticed that life had not returned to normal, and the political security situation was still very bad, still looked very grimed. Conflict continued and political violence remained. After those 10 years, for me, things got better, but it was still a tough phase to be in. But I returned to Cambodia often after that for some research and field work. I would say that the end of the Khmer Rouge rebellion in 1998 was the biggest reason for celebration. For me, that was the biggest positive development in contemporary Cambodias history. Ive been back once a year at least and the country has been at peace - no more armed conflicts, and I think that is the biggest positive development.

In my view, Cambodia has now become a normal developing country, although there are still a lot of political and social and economic challenges. Overall, the country has a lot of potential. I think one of the challenges is that peace is here; peace is there. But it is not really solid. What I mean by solid peace is that a country without any prospect of armed conflict or political violence. It happens when the country becomes a stable democracy, where electoral competition is peaceful, where the opposition party has a chance to win in the election and where the transfer of political power is the norm, and peaceful. But Cambodia is not there yet. Overall, as I said, Cambodia has become a normal developing country, facing still a lot of social and economic problems as well  poverty is one of them. The level of education is another problem. Infrastructure development is very good. I am impressed by what is happening in Cambodia. But we still have a long way to go.

What do you think can be done to achieve solid peace in Cambodia?

SP: Thats the tough question because I dont think anybody really knows. What I can say is that the process of democratization is indispensable and it is a long term process and it has a lot of setbacks along the way. So its not easy. No one should expect a country like Cambodia to become a stable democracy, a stable liberal democracy, overnight or even a matter of two or three decades. It will take longer than that.

But at the same time, the country can do a lot better than what had been done. The process of democratization began when the United Nations organized the election in 1992. But the process got into trouble in the mid-1990s right away. There was violent confrontation between the ruling party at that time, around 1997. And since then the process of democratization, in my view, has stalled - has not been making a real progress. In fact, the country has become, or the political process has become, more totalitarian. In my work, Ive described the electoral process and the electoral system as one dominated by a hegemonic party, one dominant party controlling the political process. So Ive made the case in my research that what we have witnessed in Cambodia is that the process of democratization has now been subdued. So prospects for further democratization or democratic consolidation are quite slim.

I dont see how Cambodian democracy will consolidate any time soon. For one big reason is that when you have political party that dominated political process and this is to be fair to all political party, Cambodia as a country is trapped in this structural condition something I describe as survival, because in Cambodia, when you win, it is a good thing. When you lose, it is not a good thing. Its about survival. Every political party, especially major political parties struggling for power in order to survive. Because when you lose, you are in trouble. But this nasty politics of survival is not likely to disappear anytime soon, unless there is a lot of political will from the ruling party and of other major parties to sort things out in a more diplomatic political way.

How do you think people power, as opposed to political will, can drive positive change towards Cambodias democratization?

SP: People power is important in the process of democratization. But in the early process of democratization, people power does not matter significantly in my view. At the end of the day, its the elite that plays most dominant role in political life. Until democracy becomes more established, or until the democracy consolidates, the role of civil society is still quite weak and will not be able to move the process of democratization forward. So Cambodia is still at the early stage of democratization and its up to the elite, including the opposition party as well, to come out with a plan and a vision that would move the country forward.

But that does not mean they [ordinary people] cannot do anything. You know that young Cambodian people are hungry for education. They want a better life. They work hard. They want to move on, and that is the good thing. Any social movement or any effort on the part of the society can be undermined or can be suppressed easily, until or unless the members of the political elite are able to agree on how the country should be run. I just dont see how at this point.

The rule of law is central to everything; the political development as well as economic development. Yet the rule of law in Cambodia does not really exist. Yes, we have the country, the government drafted law and legislation and all of that, but until people comply with what they passed and until they abide by the rule of law that requires political will.

You can have a lot of laws, you can have a lot of ideas, but when they are not put into practice it does not make any difference. You can have a beautiful constitution but if there is no political will to really make it work, it is not going to work.

What role do you see social media playing on democratization in Cambodia?

SP: Social media is a wonderful development, phenomenal. But at the same time, I am not convinced by the argument that social media can transform politics that much. In fact, social media can also be an instrument of the political elite if it chooses to use and manipulate [it]. If there is no political will and accommodation on the part of the political elite, social media might be alive and well, but will not have a significant impact on the process of democratization. China is a good example. Social media can be vibrant, but at the same time, it can also be cracked down on or suppressed. So I dont see how at this stage of its political development Cambodia can use social media as a tool to promote democracy and human rights.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party is preparing to field more than 23,000 candidates in the forthcoming commune elections, the partys deputy leader has said.

Speaking to supporters in France on Saturday via video link, Kem Sokha said the CNRPs district and grassroots committees would select the candidates to field in more than 1,600 constituencies ahead of the polls opening on June 4.

He said that if any disputes over the selection process arose the final decision would be put to a vote.

Sokha added that the party would be reviewing its policy platform ahead of the election.

We have to finish the political message by the end of January so that the candidates can read and understand it in advance, he said.

The party has previously run on a platform of raising wages, providing more support to the elderly and stabilizing crop prices.

Political parties have until March 3 to nominate candidates.

The CNRP, Sokha said, will also field some 45,000 election monitors at polling stations.

Meas Ny, a social researcher, said the oppositions sluggishness at selecting candidates had given the ruling party an advantage.

It looks like they are a step behind in preparing their personnel, he said.

In 2012, the last time a commune election was held, the CPP won a landslide victory, securing more than 8,000 council seats and more than 1,500 commune chief positions, compared with just 40 won by the CNRP.
Washington is a city in transition this week as President Barack Obama prepares to give way to his successor, President-elect Donald Trump. Excited Trump supporters are flocking to Washington to celebrate the inauguration of the 45th president. But anti-Trump protesters are also expected to be out in force for Fridays presidential inauguration, as we hear from VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone in Washington.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden warned European nations Wednesday to be ready for Russia to try to influence their elections in the same way that U.S. intelligence agencies say they are certain Russia did in the November vote that is bringing Donald Trump to office this week.

"With many countries in Europe slated to hold elections this year, we should expect further attempts by Russia to meddle in the democratic process. It will occur again, I promise you," Biden said in his final address in Davos, Switzerland.

He further accused Russia of working to unravel what he called the "liberal international order" and return to a world in which super powers exerted control over nations in their sphere of influence. In addition to targeting democratic systems, Biden cited Russian "aggression against their neighbors," including actions in Ukraine, and using control of energy supplies as a weapon against other countries.

Russia has rejected the U.S. intelligence conclusion that it interfered in the election with the goal of helping Trump.

NATO

Biden also sought to reassure NATO countries that the U.S. remains committed to the alliance. Trump during his campaign called NATO "obsolete" and suggested the U.S. would not automatically defend a member who had not paid its full share.

"The single greatest bulwark for our transatlantic partnership is the unshakeable commitment of the United States to all of our NATO allies," Biden said. "It is a sacred obligation that we have embraced, that an attack on one is an attack on all. That can never be placed in question.

The vice president said going forward there need to be efforts to make Europe more energy independent, for nations to improve their cyber security and to combat misinformation.

Biden said the world is probably safer than it has ever been, but that with modern technology and the ease of sharing images it can feel like there is "perpetual chaos." He said in facing current fears there is a danger of reverting to what he called the "political small-mindedness" and nationalist policies that led to world wars last century.

He advocated responding by tapping into the "big heartedness" that brought the plan to rebuild Europe after World War II and the "audacity that proposed the United Nations."

"We can't rout fear with retrenchment," Biden said.

An uncertain world



He cited a "palpable uncertainty about the state of the world," but said that while the United States plays an important role, the world's challenges do not hinge solely on leadership from Washington.

"Whether we reinforce the ties that bind us or whether we unravel under the current pressures, these choices have to be made by every single nation," Biden said. "And they will determine what kind of nation and what kind of nations and what kind of world we're going to leave for our children."
About $2 billion in urgent aid is needed this year to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable victims of Yemen's civil war, or about 10 million of the country's 27 million people, the resident U.N. humanitarian chief said Tuesday.

The Arab world's poorest country has been in the grip of a civil war since 2014, when Shi'ite Houthi rebels and allied forces swept down from the north and captured the capital, Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition has been helping government forces battle the rebels for nearly two years.

"Yemen faces a dramatically bad future" without the aid, Jamie McGoldrick, head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen, told The Associated Press.

Last year's appeal for $1.8 billion in aid for Yemen's most vulnerable, then about 8.6 million people, was only 60 percent funded, he said.

"I don't think this is enough, given that Yemen is a very critical emergency on the global stage," he said in an interview in Jordan. "I don't think it has gotten the [appropriate] attention. It has almost been a secret, a hidden emergency, and I think that is unfortunate, it's unfair."

McGoldrick said the Yemen aid appeal for 2017 would be launched next month in Geneva.

Meanwhile, his agency is trying to get a better estimate of how many have died as a result of the conflict, both directly and indirectly, he said.

On Monday, McGoldrick told reporters in Yemen that the civilian death toll of the war had reached 10,000. He said Tuesday that he thought even this estimate was low.

Incomplete data

McGoldrick said a previous figure of 7,400 deaths was based on reporting from the health facilities that still function in Yemen, or about half the number that operated before the war. As a result, data collection has been incomplete, he said.

"When you speak to activists and you speak to others on the ground, they say that even the figures we quoted yesterday [Monday] are far underreporting" the death toll, he added.

In addition, many more are indirect victims of the conflict, including those who suffer from chronic diseases, including high blood pressure and diabetes, and are unable to get treatment, McGoldrick said. For example, a cancer clinic in Sanaa that used to treat 30,000 patients has closed, he said. Inevitably, those suffering from chronic disease "will die sooner than they should," he said.

He also noted that more than 400,000 children under age 5 suffer from malnutrition, raising serious concern about their development and Yemen's future.

In fighting Tuesday, a rocket fired by Houthi rebels killed six civilians, including women and children, when it hit an area in the southern Taiz province, security officials said. The strike that also destroyed three old houses was part of broader fighting around the central city, Yemen's cultural capital.

Clashes between rebels and forces loyal to President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi have killed 23 Houthis and 17 troops over the past two days, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A Saudi-led coalition has waged an extensive air campaign since March 2015 aimed at restoring Hadi's government. The northern region remains under Houthi control.
Brazil's Workers Party plans to field former two-term leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the 2018 elections despite his facing five separate corruption trials, the party's leader said on Tuesday.

Lula, who led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, is still one of Brazil's most popular politicians, though his prestige has been tarnished by graft charges. His party was ousted from power when his hand-picked successor Dilma Rousseff was impeached last year.

"Lula does not need to be nominated. He is our permanent candidate for president," Workers Party President Rui Falcao said at a party meeting in Brasilia.

Falcao called on party militants to champion Lula's candidacy so that it can be formalized in April.

Lula, a one-time labor leader and Brazil's first president to rise from poverty, has not ruled out a bid. He has been touring Brazil recently, showing that, at 70, he is well and ready to run again.

Opinion polls show Lula would not win a run-off election that would unite his opponents. But his party, known as the PT, sees his candidacy as the way to pick itself up and gather new force among Brazil's working class and leftist social movements.

Falcao said in a column posted on the party website that the PT had no "plan B" other than its founder Lula.

Lula has been indicted for corruption and money laundering in Brazil's biggest scandal centered on bribes and kickbacks on contracts with oil company Petrobras and other state-run enterprises. He is also accused of obstructing justice.

His first trial has started in the court of federal Judge Sergio Moro, who has spearheaded the anti-corruption movement.

A ruling is expected later this month or in early February.

If found guilty, Lula could appeal.

But if found guilty and it is held up on appeal, Lula would be jailed and unable to run in 2018.
Migrants and refugees are entering Chad from the north, east and south, as they flee violence and instability in neighboring countries. The International Organization for Migration is appealing for three and a half million dollars for emergency humanitarian assistance.On Chads eastern border, migrants and refugees are escaping fighting in Sudans Darfur region. Two Arab tribes are battling for control of gold mines.IOM Chief of Mission in Chad, Qasim Sufi, said the latest influx from Darfur began three weeks ago.There are more Chadians returning to Chad, who were doing some work in Sudan, than the refugees. So around 9,000 refugees and almost 17,000 Chadian migrants, who came back.Theyre crossing into Chad at the Sahara Desert border town of Tissi.At the moment its very, very hot in this place. The temperature is around 45 (Celsius) and they have to walk for so many days before they reach a safe place along the border in Chad, he said.The latest arrivals are in addition to about 3,000 Chadian gold mine workers, who fled the fighting earlier. They crossed the border at the town of Adre.On Chads northern border, about 1,600 Chadian migrants have arrived from Libya since February. Sufi said they crossed into the Borkou, Ennedi and Tibesti regions.We started to receive a group of migrants actually in very, very deplorable condition. They have nothing. And all are men. And it seems that these people are people that were in detention centers on the other side and now have been released and sent back home because they were told they dont have the right documents.Sufi said that some were beyond help when they arrived.People are in very, very serious condition because we had several migrants who died upon their arrival or immediately left for the hospital, he said.Meanwhile, on the southern border with Central African Republic about 6,000 refugees have crossed into Chad. That follows the military advances of the Seleka rebels in CAR.But Sufi warned that a much bigger problem may arise. He says there may be hundreds of thousands of Chadian migrant workers in CAR. If they decide to flee that country, it could create a huge humanitarian crisis.That will need a big effort from the international community to accompany the government of Chad to deal with it, he said.Sufi said that many of the migrants returning to Chad had been the breadwinners for their families. So, the loss of their jobs will create hardships for many people. He added there could be tension between the new arrivals and the host communities.
The first China-to-Britain freight train arrived in London on Wednesday after a 7,500-mile journey, marking a milestone in China's push to build commercial links across Europe and Asia.

The train pulled in to Barking, east London, after an 18-day journey from Yiwu, a wholesale market town in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang.

It had passed through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France, finally crossing under the English Channel into Britain.

The consignment would have taken nearly twice as long to reach Britain by sea.

The train brought in a cargo of small commodities including household items, clothes, fabrics, bags, and suitcases.

Run by Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment, the Yiwu-London freight service makes London the 15th European city to have a direct rail link with China after the 2013 unveiling of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Carsten Pottharst, managing director of Switzerland-based InterRail Group, the train's operator, said he hoped there would be more such runs between China and Britain.

"This moment was important to show that we can run the train in less than 18 days to the U.K.," he said. "It depends also on how much cargo we can get from the U.K. to China - if we can manage to get more trains eastbound, then there could be more."

Oscar Lin, general manager at OTT Logistics, the local UK booking office for the train, said there had been good interest in the service.

"This is the first train for a test - we want to know what's the reaction of the U.K. market," he said. "But we've already received a lot of inquiries ... 50 or 60 in just two weeks, without any marketing."

Prime Minister Theresa May has said the relationship with China remains "golden" as she seeks to bring in billions of dollars in Chinese investment as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned governments of the dangers of a trade war while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday.

"Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. Wind and rain may be kept outside, but so is light and air," he said in an obvious reference to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised to impose a 45 percent tax on Chinese goods, and a 35 percent tax on German vehicles manufactured outside the United States.

China's answer to Donald Trump

"What Xi has done is clarified China's position, which is that a trade war would be costly for all countries," Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College in London told VOA. "I think China will watch for the decisions Trump takes after becoming president, and then identify the soft or hard [actions] it needs to take to defend itself.

Xi also spoke of Chinas massive resources to prove that Beijing is capable of providing massive amounts of business to countries that do not oppose Beijing's interests. China will spend $8 trillion in imports and invest $750 billion in overseas businesses in the next five years. Chinese tourists will make 700 million foreign trips supporting the world economy in the coming five years he said.

China's economic hard times

But critics point out that this may be the worst time for China to make such promises.

The country, which is undergoing an economic slowdown, is expected to suffer some serious economic setbacks in 2017. This would include a sharp decline in the country's ability to attract foreign investments, and selling shares and bonds in western markets this year. Chinese officials have said they expect a slower growth in foreign investment inflows in 2017 after a lackluster performance last year.

At stake is not just economic but also China's political clout, and its ability to counter expected adverse actions from the next U.S. administration. In addition to the tax on Chinese goods, Trump has promised to closely examine Chinese investments in the U.S..

China's diplomacy dependent on a robust economy

China's diplomacy has thrived in recent years on its ability to import and invest billions of dollars. Leaders of major countries routinely visit Beijing or host Chinese leaders with sales pitches for deals relating to airplanes, heavy machinery and high-end technologies.

Beijing managed to use its economic prowess to drive its political agenda in different countries and organizations, including the Association of South Eastern Asian Nations (ASEAN). But analysts say the country's economic slowdown will result in a dilution of its political influence, and in turn make it difficult for Beijing to effectively counter the likely moves by Trump in the coming weeks and months.

China's influence in ASEAN is tied to its economic clout

"Chinese influence in ASEAN has been buoyed by trade and investments, and even managed to counter the influence of the U.S. and Japan," Thomas Eder, research associate at the Berlin based Mecator Institute of China Studies told VOA.

ASEAN has been divided on what kind of stand it should take on the South China Sea dispute that involves half of its 10 member countries. But China has often managed to block any discussion on the subject at ASEAN meetings.

"China has compounded the difficulty of ASEAN reaching a consensus position against it. This was done by using the lure of investments, which played a role in making Cambodia a defender of Chinese interests within the organization," Eder said. "As a chair of ASEAN, Cambodia saw to it that China's behavior in the South China Sea would not be condemned in an ASEAN summit declaration.

China's economic influence not what it was

China is no longer as capable as it was earlier to buy goods and invest heavily across the world because it is facing severe economic slowdown at home. China's trade surplus fell for the first time in five years slipping 14 percent to $510 billion in 2016, according to figures released on Monday.

The country's imports also slipped 5.5 percent last year. Chinese exporters faced 119 anti-dumping investigations in 2016, an increase of 37 percent compared to the previous year. The ongoing investigations will thwart Beijing's efforts to increase exports even after the recent devaluation of the Yuan, which is aimed to assist exporters.

Foreign direct investments grew at 4.1 percent reaching $118 billion in 2016, which was far lower than the 6.4 percent rate seen in 2015. And economic officials in Beijing recently said they expected a weaker performance in 2017.

China has imposed stiff restrictions on foreign investments by Chinese companies in what is seen as a desperate effort to shore up falling investments in the domestic economy.

"Certain countries like Vietnam will strive to diversify their trade and investment relations away from China," Eder said, discussing the consequences of the country's economic slowdown and the likelihood of trade and political frictions with the U.S.

Any increase in U.S.-China frictions would result in uncertainties thwarting growth in investments as businesses shy away from taking big risks. This will put greater pressure on Beijing to persuade Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan to toe its line, analysts said.

"Beijing will counter the situation by pushing for more deals along its "maritime silk road" and try to keep investment levels at least stable," Eder said.

China has friends in Taiwan

Some of China's strongest supporters have been Taiwanese businessmen who have strong links with China. More than 40 percent of Taiwan's trade is with China. But Trump has managed to infuse a sense of uncertainty by questioning Beijing's claim on Taiwan through its one-China policy. China has rejected the move and its official media have warned that Trump is "playing with fire.

But David Gosset, Director of Academia Sinica Europaea, China Europe International Business School, believes the United States would not be able to weaken China's influence in Taiwan. "What will happen to Taiwanese companies like Foxconn without China's economic dynamics? The economic convergence between Taiwan and Mainland China is a reality, and any amount of manipulation by the United States would not change the situation on the ground," he said.

Gosset said the United States is unable to provide an alternative solution to the economic needs of most Asian countries, which is met by China because of its economic size and geographical proximity.
President-elect Donald Trump's campaign pledge to wage war on "radical Islamic terrorism" is about to become U.S. policy.

In its emphasis on ideology, it is a war that puts him at odds with his two immediate predecessors. While both former President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama have avoided casting the war on terror in ideological terms for fear of alienating Muslim allies, Trump has stressed that very dimension and the need to counter it ideologically.

"Containing the spread of radical Islam must be a major foreign policy goal of the United States," Trump said in April in the first of two major foreign policy speeches he delivered during the campaign. "Events may require the use of military force. But it's also a philosophical struggle, like our long struggle in the Cold War."

More than campaign rhetoric, it seems to be a deeply held view. In the weeks since his Nov. 8 election, Trump has steadfastly stuck to his hardline position on terror even as he's softened his views on other hot-button issues.

After a Tunisian man drove a truck through a crowded Christmas market in Berlin last month, killing 12 people, Trump tweeted: "This is a purely religious threat, which turned into reality. Such hatred! When will the U.S., and all countries, fight back?"

And when he was asked about his controversial campaign call to bar Muslims from entering the country, he replied: "You know my plans all along  I've been proven to be right."

Blaise Misztal, director of the national security program at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, said Trump sees radical Islam as an ideological threat to his nationalistic vision of "making America great again."

"I think by seeing the threat as an ideological one, President Trump will see the problem as not just stopping attacks but stopping the spread of that ideology and stopping the potential for further radicalization," Misztal said.

Evolving view

Trump wasn't always so hawkish on fighting terror. Nor was he the first to warn about radical Islam.

The credit for popularizing the phrase goes to his Republican rivals  and some of his subsequent advisers, such as incoming chief strategist Stephen Bannon  who repeatedly chastised Obama for refusing to utter the words. Indeed, in his June 2015 presidential announcement, Trump made no mention of radical Islam and called China a "bigger problem" than Islamic State.

But Trump's rhetoric grew increasingly bellicose as the campaign wore on and a rash of terrorist attacks in Europe and the United States unnerved voters, leading him to make some of his campaign's most incendiary comments and proposals.

After a terror attack in Paris in November 2015 and a deadly shooting by a Muslim couple in San Bernardino, California, the following month, Trump proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S.

In March 2015, he told CNN that "Islam hates us" and later defended his comment, saying "large portions of Muslims" have "tremendous hatred" for the West. And two months later when a Muslim-American gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Trump blamed the violence on radical Islam and said he favored a suspension of immigration from countries with "a proven history of terrorism."

'Ideological warfare'

In August, with Americans still jittery over terrorism, Trump delivered what some experts saw as his most coherent policy statement on national security. Comparing radical Islam to fascism and communism, he championed a "new approach" and a "long-term plan" to fight what he branded an "ideology of death."

"All actions should be oriented around this goal, and any country which shares this goal will be our ally," he told supporters at Youngstown University in Ohio, echoing Bush's post-9/11 rhetoric.

He advocated "ideological warfare" against Islamic State and vowed to work with NATO and "our friends in the Middle East" and to find "common ground" with Russia to defeat the group.

"My administration will aggressively pursue joint and coalition military operations to crush and destroy ISIS, international cooperation to cut off their funding, expanded intelligence sharing, and cyberwarfare to disrupt and disable their propaganda and recruiting," he said. ISIS is an acronym for Islamic State.

Trump said the common thread among terrorist attacks since 9/11 was the involvement of immigrants or the children of immigrants, and he called for an ideological test for immigrants to screen out those who do not "share our values and respect our people.

The policy implications of Trump's call to arms remain to be seen. Colin Clarke, a political scientist at RAND, said it is too early to tell how the rhetoric of Trump and his advisers translates into policy.

"That still doesn't tell you what he'll do differently in terms of combating the threat," Clarke said. "It doesn't tell you how he's going to allocate resources any differently than the Obama administration."

Homeland secure

Critics of Obama's refusal to acknowledge a link between terrorism and Islam hailed Trump's drive to highlight the issue, but they cautioned against painting the world's 1.5 billion Muslims with a broad ideological brush.

"Actually it does have something to do with Islam," said former CIA Director Michael Hayden. "A lot of it is about Islam. But I quickly add, it's not all about Islam, and for God's sake, it's not about all Muslims."

Apart from his controversial Muslim ban and proposal to work with Russia, nearly everything Trump has proposed to fight terror  bombing IS, working with Middle Eastern allies, and using drones and special forces  are policies that have been carried out by the Obama administration.

"I haven't seen anything [new]," Clarke said. "I've been looking. Trust me. I think a lot of people have."

In securing the American homeland against terrorist attacks since 9/11, the U.S. may have exhausted nearly all the law enforcement, investigative and intelligence tools at its disposal, Hayden said. While mass-casualty attacks like 9/11 have grown highly improbable, he warned that so-called lone wolf attacks by homegrown extremists will be hard to prevent.

New strategy?

According to Pentagon data, in the two years since the U.S. launched a bombing campaign to roll back IS, coalition aircraft have carried out nearly 17,000 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, damaging or destroying nearly 32,000 targets.

"Getting tough" has its limits, Hayden cautioned. "I'm fond of saying, if being tough is all you needed, if you could kill your way out of this, we'd have been done a decade ago," Hayden said.

But Trump advisers say the threat of international terrorism has grown over the last eight years and requires a new strategy.

"I do think there are, there are clear and broad distinctions between the past administration and the future administration," said James Carafano, director of foreign policy studies at the conservative Heritage Foundation who advises the Trump transition team on foreign policy. "And it's logical that there ought to be big changes because by almost every observable measure, the problem of transnational terrorism is worse than it was eight years ago."
Italy's Antonio Tajani of the center-right European People's Party is the new president of the European Parliament, after winning the vote Tuesday night in Strasbourg. The new president was elected after four voting rounds, with support of liberals and conservatives.

Tajani is an ex-spokesman to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. He also was a European Union Commissioner between 2008 and 2014.

Tajani said he believes his 23 years of experience at the EU can bring change to the union.

We need a more democratic Europe. We cannot close ourselves off in our ivory tower in Brussels. We need to open up to our citizens and we need to hold a series of initiatives to open up the doors of parliament to our citizens so that we can have a constant discussion between members and the citizens of Europe.

The other candidates all ran with similar calls for a more open and democratic Europe.

Backroom deal

Tajani secured his win after closing a backroom deal with ALDE, the liberal bloc in parliament, before the first voting round. ALDE was promised more senior positions in exchange for its support.

A joint statement from EPP and ALDE said that nationalists and populists are trying to destroy the EU. Therefore, the EPP and ALDE  beyond their ideological differences  have decided to work closely together and to offer a common platform as a starting point for this pro-European cooperation."

The parliament's presidential election comes at a critical time for the EU. The British will start negotiations to leave the bloc this year and parliament will vote on the final deal.

Candidates hold a debate

The election was unusually contested, and for the first time included a debate among the candidates.

The outspoken former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who also is the parliament's chief Brexit negotiator, ran on behalf of ALDE. He hoped to win by forming a partnership with the Eurosceptic populist Five Star Movement from Italy, but that deal fell through. After refusing a deal offered by the social democrats group, the liberal group formed a last minute alliance with the EPP and Verhofstadt dropped out of the race.



Verhofstadt said the EPP  ALDE coalition would be open to all pro-European parties.



This is a first important step in the construction of a pro-European coalition to reform and strengthen our union, which is absolutely necessary. With Trump, with Putin, with many other challenges Europe faces, it is key we cooperate to reform our Union, he said.

Change in leadership

The vote ends decades of dominance in the votes for the European Parliament presidency typically by the two largest groups, the center-right bloc and the social democrats groups.



Fabian Willermain is a research fellow at the Egmont Institute of Brussels. He says the broken alliance between the two big blocs in parliament is unlikely to result in a big revolution within the EU.

But the whole process will help boost the visibility because there was a real debate between the candidates, Willermain said. That was more democratic than before.

Return to Germany

Martin Schultz, the outgoing president of the parliament and a member of the social democrats group, is returning to national politics in Germany.



The center-right EPP now holds the presidency of the three main EU institutions Parliament, Commission and Council.
The Obama administration's favorite programs to aid other countries, such as climate-change mitigation and contraception, could be in jeopardy after this week's inauguration.

What appears more certain is all overseas assistance will come under scrutiny from a president and a secretary of state with reputations in business for focusing on the bottom line.

During his confirmation hearing last week, senators quizzed secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson about how to prevent U.S. assistance from being siphoned or stolen by corrupt regimes.

"If we're going to deliver aid into a country where we know this is a risk, what can we do in the execution of the delivery of that aid?" said Tillerson, who spent his entire career at ExxonMobil.

"Too much of the foreign aid given by the Western countries  U.S., OECD countries  has ended up only securing in power corrupt regimes," said Heritage Foundation research fellow James Roberts, a former State Department foreign service officer.

Roberts noted that in some African countries, the same leaders have been in power for decades and are sustained by international aid programs.

Africa is among the areas that the State Department transition team of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is scrutinizing.

A four-page list of Africa-related questions from the transition staff is alarming longtime Africa specialists who say the framing and the tone of the questions suggest an American retreat from development and humanitarian goals, while at the same time trying to push forward business opportunities across the continent," according to a report in The New York Times.

How does U.S. business compete with other nations in Africa? Are we losing out to the Chinese? asks one of the first questions in the unclassified document provided to the newspaper.

The new administration, Roberts said, will emphasize fighting corruption and enhancing property rights and the rule of law for dispensing foreign aid. In addition, it will look to reward countries that are going to be better allies and trade partners of the United States.

"Helping someone to help themselves. That's really the idea," Roberts told VOA.

Libertarians and many conservatives argue that foreign aid can do more harm than good, making underdeveloped countries perpetually dependent on such largesse.

But many of those involved in humanitarian work say it remains up to the United States  the world's largest aid donor  and other generous nations to avert famines, pandemics and the breakdown of social order.

Such critical donations include vaccines, antibiotics and emergency responses to epidemics and disasters.

"The market is not going to provide it if government doesn't take action," said Amanda Glassman, chief operating officer at the Center for Global Development.

For outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry, the United States needs to do even more, especially to ensure education for those at risk of being brainwashed by Muslim fundamentalists.

"I believe we need urgently a new Marshall Plan, which is focused on the most critical states in the world, in certain locations  particularly Middle East, North Africa, South Central Asia  where we have got to push back against a huge youth bulge," Kerry said in remarks January 10 at the U.S. Institute of Peace. "There are about a billion and a half children in the world under the age of 15. Somewhere upwards of 400 million of them will not go to school, and that is a problem for all of us."

Just where his presumptive successor  and Trump himself  stand on this remains largely unclear.

Trump's public comments have included "stop sending foreign aid to countries that hate us." But he has also vowed that the United States "must save humanity" and advocated the need to continue aid to such countries as Pakistan because "we don't want to see total instability."

With the White House and both houses of the Congress under Republican control, certain types of programs that are the ire of religious conservatives  a key constituency of the party  are nearly certain to face review.

"Certainly there are worries, especially in areas of family planning and reproductive health, especially in the areas of HIV-AIDS prevention and treatment," Glassman told VOA.

Tillerson's testimony before the Senate, however, "made me somewhat less worried," Glassman said, noting "he put a lot of emphasis on women's economic empowerment."

The charitable foundation of ExxonMobil, the oil company where Tillerson was chairman and chief executive officer, has made it a priority to help women become catalysts for economic development.

Team approach

With 20 U.S. government agencies involved in global humanitarian aid, the result can be quite fragmented and the agencies can, at times, overlap. That has critics looking to incorporate the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, into the State Department.

"The prioritization of development assistance  foreign aid  programs could be done more efficiently with a one-diplomatic-team approach," said Roberts, of the Heritage Foundation. "Many USAID, traditional foreign aid programs have not worked. They have not been big enough to work. They don't achieve sustainable results because the way you improve people's lives is through private sector-led trade and investment."

Glassman, at the Center for Global Development, acknowledged that USAID and other government agencies need to improve their cost efficiency.

"We have a system of contractors and grantees, mainly U.S.-based, she told VOA. They have very high overhead costs. We need to look at how we provide assistance and make sure that the money is going as far as possible since there is so little money.

The $34 billion the U.S. has budgeted for foreign aid in fiscal year 2017 may sound like a lot, but officials say it is a fraction of a percent of the national income.

Scandinavian countries, in terms of their share of national budgets, are the most generous. The percentage given by the United Kingdom, Germany and France also surpass that of the United States.
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency Tuesday after refusing to hand over power to opposition leader Adama Barrow, who won the country's presidential election December 1.

In a broadcast on state-run TV, Jammeh said the public emergency would last until the Supreme Court ruled on a complaint his political party filed a week after the election, citing voting irregularities.

Jammeh had said earlier that the date set for the transfer of power "is not cast in stone, as we have an injunction in the court and we have a problem with our elections."

The president's announcement came as the opposition coalition warned that any Gambian security force member who didn't switch allegiance to Barrow upon the expiration of Jammeh's term Thursday would be considered a "rebel."

Jammeh, in power since a 1994 coup, has become isolated at home and abroad since refusing to accept last month's election defeat. Gambia's ministers of finance, foreign affairs, trade and the environment resigned from his government, state television said Tuesday, as regional forces prepared to oust the veteran leader if he refused to step down this week. Also, the United Nations and several African leaders have asked Jammeh to step down peacefully.

'High level of fear'

"I think the declaration of state of emergency is a very grave situation. It takes away some of the hopes that many of us had, that many Gambians had," former Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo told VOA. Naidoo, who just spent three days in Gambia, is now launch director of Africans Rising for Justice, Peace and Dignity, a civil society movement based in Johannesburg.

"There is a high level of fear and panic," Naidoo said, noting that as many as 8,000 people had left the country already. He also noted that residents were migrating to rural areas within Gambia, fearing that if violence occurs, it will be worst within the cities.

The tension, Naidoo said, has affected schools, teachers, the health system, local businesses and the media.

"Yesterday, while we were leaving Gambia, our plane was delayed by about two hours because 10 journalists from around the world were denied entry," he said. "The media environment is extremely constrained, with some radio stations just playing music and there is no other programming."

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in Washington that Jammeh was losing opportunities to respect the will of the Gambian people.

"Doing so will allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect the Gambian people from potential chaos," Kirby said Tuesday at a briefing. "Failure to do so will put his legacy, and more importantly the Gambia, in peril, and we've been very clear about this."

No oath in Senegal

Halifa Sallah, opposition coalition spokesman, denied rumors that Barrow, a resident of neighboring Senegal, could be sworn in at the Gambian Embassy. Sallah insisted that Barrow would be sworn in on Gambian soil.

Earlier this month, Gambia's army chief reaffirmed his support for Jammeh in a letter published in a pro-government newspaper. However, West African regional bloc ECOWAS has placed its military force on standby, ready to act if Jammeh does not step down on January 19.
A deeply unpopular fuel price hike has pushed Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's approval rating to a record low of just 12 percent, the worst for any president in decades, a newspaper poll showed Wednesday.

The president's approval ratings on employment, anti-corruption efforts and his handling of the economy were all in the single digits, according to the poll by major daily Reforma.

Pena Nieto's government has been battered by a lackluster economy, corruption scandals, rampant violence, and most recently the fallout from the double-digit increase in government-set gasoline prices that took effect on January 1.

The so-called "gasolinazo" has led to protests across the country as well as highway blockades and looting of gas stations and stores. Prices are gradually being relaxed and opened to market forces as part of major energy sector change.

The Reforma poll, which surveyed 1,000 people in person January 11-15, also showed that 41 percent ranked the economy and poverty as the top problems facing the country, up from 16 percent in the newspaper's previous poll a month ago.

Pena Nieto's approval stood at 24 percent in Reforma's poll in mid-December.

The survey's margin of error is 4.2 percent.
As Donald Trump approaches his inauguration, young Americans have a deeply pessimistic view about his incoming administration, with young blacks, Latinos and Asian Americans particularly concerned about what's to come in the next four years.

That's according to a new GenForward poll of Americans aged 18 to 30, which found that the country's young adults are more likely to expect they'll be worse off at the end of Trump's first term than better off. Such young Americans are also far more likely to think Trump will divide the country than unite it, by a 60 percent to 19 percent margin.

Fifty-two percent of young whites, 72 percent of Latinos, 66 percent of Asian-Americans and 70 percent of blacks think Trump's presidency will lead to a more divided nation.

Minority people are very afraid of all the rhetoric that he ran upon [in] his campaign, said Jada Selma, a 28-year-old African-American graduate school student living in Atlanta. Anytime he mentioned black people, he would talk about poor people or inner city. He would think that all of us live in the inner city and that we're all poor.

If you're not a straight white male, then I don't think he's looking out for you as an American, she said.

Survey said ...

GenForward is a survey of adults age 18 to 30 by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago with the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The first-of-its-kind poll pays special attention to the voices of young adults of color, highlighting how race and ethnicity shape the opinions of a new generation.

The poll found that 54 percent of young people overall say life for people of color will be worse with Trump as president. About two-thirds of young blacks, Asian-Americans and Latinos think things will get worse for people of color, and whites are also more likely to expect things to get worse than better for minorities, 46 percent to 21 percent.

Overall, 40 percent of young adults think they personally will be worse off four years from now, while just 23 percent expect to be better off. Young people of color are significantly more likely to think they will be worse off than better off, while young whites are more split in their personal expectations.

'It still hurts'

Kuinta Hayle, a 21-year-old African-American from Charlotte, said she is worried that Trump's selection for attorney general, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, could roll back civil rights. She said Trump's foray into birtherism, during which he propagated the lie that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States, still bothered her.

That was very meaningful. It still hurts, Hayle said. He doesn't know anything about my life or the lives of people who aren't like him. I feel Donald Trump is only for rich people. Obama was for people who didn't have much.

Although he had a decisive win in the Electoral College, Trump lost the overall popular vote to opponent Hillary Clinton and has done little to reach out to those who didn't support him in November's election. He focused his post-election Thank You tour on states he won, settling scores on stage as he boasted about his surprising electoral victory.

On Obama's presidency

Over the weekend, Trump tore into Georgia Rep. John Lewis, among the most revered leaders of the civil rights movement, for questioning the legitimacy of his victory and saying he would not attend Friday's inauguration.

As for Obama's presidency, young Americans are split on whether he has done more to unite or divide Americans, 38 percent to 35 percent, with 26 percent saying it did neither.

Young blacks (57 percent to 16 percent), Latinos (57 percent to 19 percent) and Asian Americans (46 percent to 27 percent) are far more likely to say Obama united than divided Americans. But young whites are more likely to say, by a 46 percent to 26 percent margin, that Obama's presidency was a dividing force.

Trump to help economy

Indeed, not all young Americans are pessimistic about the incoming president.

He'll be good for the economy. He's a businessman and he'll bring more jobs back, said Francisco Barrera, 26, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, who voted for Trump. I think he's going to do good and he's going to end this political correctness. You can't even say God in the schools no more. Trump will put him back.

A majority of young adults think Trump will go down in history as not a very good president or a poor one. Young people of color are particularly likely to think Trump's presidency will be not good or poor, but even young whites are more likely to expect that than to think it will be good or great, 48 percent to 27 percent.

Young Americans are divided as to whether Trump will accomplish his campaign promises. While most think he'll probably cut taxes for the rich and more than half of young people (59 percent) think Trump will deport millions of immigrants living in the country illegally, just 39 percent expect that he will be successful in building a wall along the Mexican border.

What about the wall?

However, about half of young Hispanics think that Trump is likely to build a border wall. And more than 7 in 10 young people believe he will definitely or probably succeed at repealing the Affordable Care Act.

He's not even been inaugurated yet and he's already alienating people, said Greg Davis, a white 28-year-old graduate student living in Columbus, Ohio. He's still parroting the alt-right's messages. His policy ideas I think would be awful. His nominees for Cabinet positions are disastrous. He's nominating people who have the exactly the wrong ideas.

I think it's going to be a disaster, Davis said.

About the poll

The poll of 1,823 adults age 18-30 was conducted Dec. 9-12, 2016 using a sample drawn from the probability-based GenForward panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. young adult population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The survey was paid for by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago, using grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods, and later interviewed online or by phone.
Germany, under fire from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for not meeting NATO's defense spending goal, is boosting military budgets, but also wants Trump to map out a consistent foreign policy agenda, Defense

Minister Ursula von der Leyen said.

Trump sparked concern among NATO and EU foreign ministers on Monday when he said NATO was obsolete and criticized NATO members that failed to meet the alliance's target of spending two percent of national output on defense.

A key Trump adviser on Tuesday said only parts of NATO were obsolete, while Nikki Haley, his nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, said NATO was an important alliance and she did not believe it was obsolete.

"We want the Americans to be clear, 'What is your agenda,'" von der Leyen told German broadcaster NTV. "The most important thing ... is reliability."

Von der Leyen said Germany was boosting military spending by nearly 2 billion euros in 2017 to 37 billion euros, or 1.22 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). It is due to reach 39.2 billion euros by 2020.

"We're moving in the right direction, but we can't do it in one year," she told NTV.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in November she did not expect Germany to meet its NATO defense spending target in the near future.

Von der Leyen welcomed support for NATO voiced by Trump's defense secretary nominee, James Mattis, during his Senate confirmation hearing.

"He's very reliable," she said, adding that the Trump administration still had to resolve some issues internally.

A defense ministry spokesman said the German military's spending on weapons, munitions and other equipment rose by nearly 11 percent in 2016 to 5.1 billion euros and would increase even more sharply to 6 billion euros this year.

Procurement spending would account for 16.2 percent of the overall military budget in 2017, up from 14.5 percent in 2016 and 13.5 percent in 2015, the spokesman said.
Guatemala on Wednesday arrested the brother and a son of the country's president, who swept to victory with an anti-graft campaign, for their alleged involvement in corruption.

Jimmy Morales was elected president in 2015 pledging to clean up Guatemalan politics after riding a wave of public anger over a corruption scandal that led to the arrest and trial of his predecessor, retired General Otto Perez.

The alleged corruption in Morales' family represents a major blow to the former comedian's credibility in a country roiled by years of armed conflict and political corruption.

Last September, a judge barred Samuel "Sammy" Morales, an older brother and a close adviser to the president, and Jose Manuel Morales, one of his four sons, from leaving the country over suspicious payments linked to the mother of Jose Manuel's then-girlfriend in 2013.

On Wednesday, Guatemala's Attorney General Thelma Aldana said Sammy Morales had been arrested, and that Jose Manuel had turned himself in.

Aldana asked that the two men be detained pending a trial for fraud and, in the case of Sammy Morales, money laundering.

Another eight people, including officials from the general property registry, were also detained. Aldana said that so far, it had been determined that neither Sammy Morales nor Jose Manuel Morales made any money from the scheme, which she called an "illicit favor."

"The support to my family is 100 percent. My respect for the law, as a citizen and president, is also 100 percent, as it always has been," President Morales said to reporters after inaugurating a school outside the capital.

Aldana said the president had "not interfered once" during the investigation into his brother and his son, who studies in the United States and returned to Guatemala to answer questions in the case.

After his arrest, Sammy Morales told reporters he was willing to answer any questions.

"This doesn't affect me because it shows nobody is above the law," he said.

The alleged corruption arose when the mother of Jose Manuel's then-girlfriend agreed to supply Christmas hampers to officials at the national property registry, which is being investigated for suspected graft, according to testimony given during a public hearing about the registry.

Guatemala's general property registry records land and property ownership across the country.

The woman sent the registry a bill for 90,000 quetzal ($11,936) made out in the name of a local restaurant for 564 breakfasts, not Christmas hampers, according to the attorney general.

The breakfasts were not delivered, according to statements given by a witness during the public hearing.

Sammy Morales, the president's brother, said at the time he had helped obtain the bill from the restaurant as "a favor" to his nephew, but denied it was fraudulent.

It was not clear what happened to the Christmas hampers or why the woman submitted the bill through the restaurant.
It was April 2011, just weeks after the start of a U.S.-led bombing campaign in Libya. Donald Trump, then a reality television star, was speaking to The Wall Street Journal about whether he supported the NATO military intervention, which ostensibly began as a humanitarian mission but eventually would lead to the ouster of Libya's longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Im only interested in Libya if we take the oil. If we don't take the oil, I have no interest in Libya, said Trump, adding that he would pursue a similar policy with Iraq's vast oil reserves.

Stunned, the reporter asked for clarification. You heard me, Trump said. I would take the oil. I would not leave Iraq and let Iran take over the oil.

Such action would violate the Geneva Convention, which prohibits pillage.

Fast forward several years, and Trump was still making the same threat. He was now the Republican Party presidential nominee and was delivering a major address on terrorism, just weeks before the general election that would sweep him to the presidency and put him in command of the world's most powerful military.

I was saying this constantly and to whoever would listen: keep the oil, keep the oil, keep the oil, said Trump. Previously, he had suggested the profits from the sale of Iraqi oil be used to fund U.S. social welfare programs, such as Medicare and Social Security. Now, he said the proceeds should be used to pay the families of dead and wounded U.S. soldiers.

In the old days when we won a war, Trump said, to the victor belonged the spoils.

Trump's threat to take the oil is just one of several of his campaign proposals that human rights activists say would violate U.S. or international law. He also has supported reviving the use of torture against suspected terrorists and killing the families of Islamic State leaders.

Taken together, they are indications that Trump may reorient U.S. foreign policy around perceived national interests at the expense of human rights. But the approach leaves many to wonder: in an America First foreign policy, what role will human rights play?

We have great concern that this is going to be an administration that either doesn't engage in [human rights], isn't interested in them, or instrumentalizes them to get what they want in other arenas, says Sarah Margon of Human Rights Watch.

Tricky balance

The U.S. has never based its foreign policy solely on human rights. Like any government, Washington weighs its values against its perceived national interests.

The end result is that U.S. presidents at times ally themselves with human rights violators. The U.S. also has participated in wars motivated at least in part by the desire for natural resources.

What's different about Trump is that he enters office having publicly championed proposals that blatantly disregard human rights, says Leslie Vinjamuri, a professor of international relations at the University of London.

Trump's campaign behavior was unusual by the standards of any liberal democracy, says Vinjamuri. There have been times where candidates haven't wanted to put human rights out front in terms of the articulation of their policy platforms. But to actively assert positions that violate basic human rights is an altogether different matter and much more worrying.

Threat to human rights?

In a report last week, HRW listed Trump as a major threat to human rights. Specifically, it noted Trump's promises to reinstate torture and deport mass numbers of immigrants, as well as his portrayal of refugees as terrorists.

Unless Trump repudiates these proposals, his administration risks committing massive rights violations in the U.S. and shirking a longstanding, bipartisan belief, however imperfectly applied, in a rights based foreign policy agenda, the report said.

Trump also appears set to expand relations with authoritarian leaders around the world, especially those fighting Islamic extremists.

The president-elect has frequently praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a strong leader. That cooperation is likely to extend to Syria, where Moscow is backing longtime President Bashar al-Assad.

Trump's approach to Russia is not altogether unique. Many U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama, have entered office hoping to improve relations with Moscow.

U.S. ties with Egypt also may improve under Trump. In September, he met with Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who in 2013 oversaw what Human Rights Watch termed one of the world's largest killings of demonstrators in a single day in recent history.

After the meeting, Trump lauded Sissi as a fantastic guy who really took control of Egypt, and vowed the U.S. would be a loyal friend, not simply an ally.

Trump has precedent for this, too. There has been strong bipartisan U.S. support and financial backing for Egypt's authoritarian military rulers, who have helped fight Islamists and who help preserve the regional status quo related to Israel.

Slow to criticize

But Trump and some of his top cabinet choices often express a reluctance to even criticize rights abusers.

That reluctance was on display last week, during the Senate confirmation hearing of Rex Tillerson, Trump's choice for secretary of state, who recently resigned as CEO of ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil company.

When pressed, Tillerson refused to say Putin's military efforts in Syria amount to war crimes, and would not condemn Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose war on drugs has left thousands dead.

Tillerson insisted he values human rights, but said it is unreasonable to expect that every foreign policy endeavor will be driven by human rights considerations alone, especially when the security of the American people is at stake.

Other Trump cabinet appointees have distanced themselves from their boss' controversial proposals. For example, Congressman Mike Pompeo, Trump's pick to head the CIA, said last week he would absolutely not be willing to restart enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, even if ordered to do so.

Uncertainty

Presidents frequently make campaign promises they never fulfill. Trump already has backed away from some of his most contentious plans, including waterboarding and a ban on Muslim immigration. So there are reasons to question whether Trump will follow through on such plans. His campaign declined to comment for this story.

Some of the uncertainty could be intentional. Trump has repeatedly stressed the need for U.S. foreign policy to be unpredictable. Trump's staff also has suggested his words shouldn't be taken literally.

So it's difficult to know what role human rights will play in Trump's foreign policy. In an April speech, Trump said his decisions would be guided by the principle America First.

My foreign policy will always put the interests of the American people and American security above all else. It has to be first. Has to be, Trump said.
President-elect Donald Trump's pick to run the Department of the Interior, Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana, said during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that he would review President Barack Obama's moves to limit oil and gas drilling in Alaska and some other parts of the country if confirmed.

Yes, he said in response to a question from Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska about whether he would review drilling limits on federal land in her state as head of the department.

The president-elect has said that we want to be energy independent. I can guarantee you it is better to produce energy domestically under reasonable regulation than overseas with no regulation," he said.

We need an economy, he added.

A surprise pick

The Interior Department oversees territories covering a fifth of the United States' surface from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico. This comprises sensitive wildlife habitats, iconic landscapes, rich deposits of oil, gas and coal and important pasture lands for ranchers.

The former Navy SEAL commander, an avid hunter and angler, emerged as a surprise pick to head the department, in part because he has embraced federal stewardship of national parks, forests and refuges. This diverges from the Republican Party's official position to sell off acreage to states that might prioritize drilling, mining, ranching and forestry.

But he has also fought for increased energy development on federal lands, a position that has worried conservationists but which fits neatly with Trump's vows to bolster the U.S. energy sector by scaling back regulation and opening up more publicly held land to development.

Offshore drilling off-limits

Over the last eight years, the Interior Department has sought to limit industry access to federal lands and played a key role in Obama's agenda to combat climate change, as it proposed rules aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions from energy production on federal land.

Obama's Interior Department banned new coal mining leases on federal property early in 2016. More recently the agency placed parts of the offshore Arctic and Atlantic off-limits to drilling and declared national monuments that protect large parts of Utah and Nevada from development.

Zinke said he believed Trump could amend Obama's moves to declare millions of acres as national monuments.

Zinke was the first of three Cabinet heads Trump has chosen to oversee his environment and energy portfolio to face Senate scrutiny this week.

Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, was to testify on Wednesday, and Trump's choice for Energy secretary, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, was to testify on Thursday.

Climate debate not settled

Zinke also said during his hearing that he believes that humans contribute to global climate change but that there is still debate over what should be done about it.

I do not think it is a hoax, he said.

Before running for the White House, Trump called climate change a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese to weaken U.S. businesses, a position he has since defended.

In his opening remarks, Zinke struck a moderate tone, saying that he recognizes that some federal lands require strong protection. He also called himself an unapologetic admirer of Teddy Roosevelt, a former Republican president who pioneered public land conservation.

He said, however, that a preponderance of U.S. federal lands are better suited for multiple use using best practices, sustainable policies and objective science  a nod to U.S. industries that depend on access to public acreage.

As a first-term congressman, Zinke pushed to end the coal-lease moratorium, saying it had resulted in closed mines and job cuts, and he introduced a bill expanding tax credits for coal-burning power plants that bury carbon dioxide emissions underground.
Iran's first two women volleyball players to compete outside the Islamic Republic joined Bulgarian club Shumen this month, a move which has taken years of negotiation with Iranian authorities and which could help break down some gender barriers at home.

Women are still not allowed to attend men's volleyball matches in Iran despite attempts since President Hassan Rouhani's election in 2015 to relax some of the strict Muslim rules that limit women's activities to the family and home.

Maedeh Borhani, 28, and team captain Zeinab Giveh, 34, arrived in the northeastern town of Shumen amid a rising tide of nationalism, sparked by huge migrant inflows to Europe over the past two years, with Bulgaria being a popular transit routes.

Shumen has a centuries-old Muslim community and Muslims make up about 12 percent of Bulgaria's population of 7.2 million, but in September the government banned wearing face veils in public.

Borhani and Giveh will be the first in the Bulgarian league wearing hijabs but Borhani said what players wear should not be what matters.

"The hijab is worn with pride by the Iranian women," she told Reuters. "Hijab is a belief, it's a religion and that's not important when we're playing."

Borhani also said that the move to Shumen could also perhaps open a new frontier for Iranian women athletes to move abroad.

"I think [the transfer] is opening a new way for all female athletes in Iran, especially volleyball players," she said.

Giveh agreed: "I think there are other Iranian players who can play in Europe."
The eastern section of Mosul has been completely liberated from Islamic State jihadists after a massive offensive mission began last month, an Iraqi commander said Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference, Staff General Talib al-Shaghati said that Iraqi forces took control of the last remaining neighborhoods on the eastern shore of the Tigris River, which roughly divides the city into two districts.

The east side of Mosul, including the most important areas, is done [under control], he said.

Shaghati, who commands Iraqi counterterrorism forces, called the success of Iraqi forces unprecedented, though he said there are still small places in northern Mosul that still need to be secured.

The securing of eastern Mosul comes about three months after Iraqi forces began their bombardment of the city in October.

IS extremists took control of Mosul about two-and-a-half years ago. Mosul is Iraq's second-largest city.
Iraqi forces battling so-called Islamic State (IS) fighters this week made a grim discovery in a Mosul neighborhood, confirming reports from 2014 that the group had leveled the shrine that is said to have housed the tomb of the prophet Jonah, a key figure in the Judaic, Christian and Islamic religions.

Counterterrorism forces liberated Nabi Yunis neighborhood and the tomb of Prophet Jonah and raised the Iraqi flag over the shrine after inflicting a great loss of life and equipment on the enemy, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rasheed Aarallah, the head of Iraqi Joint Operations media cell, said on Monday.

The Iraqi forces said IS razed what was reputed to be the burial site of the prophet and a shrine that hosted thousands of visitors from around the world.

IS has not only demolished this valuable shrine, but it has also dug several tunnels under it in search for artifacts, Zuhair al-Jbouri, the speaker of National mobilization Forces, told VOA.

They have stolen every artifact they could transport out of Iraq to make some (money) and have destroyed whatever they couldnt take, he said.

The shrine is considered one of the most prominent archeological sites in Mosul.

Before its destruction, the site included an Assyrian temple that is believed to have been built around 1300 B.C. It also hosted a mosque that was built about four centuries ago during the Ottoman Empire.

Sermed Alwan, an Iraqi archeologist and president of Mesopotamia Heritage Association, the graveyard site attributed to Prophet Jonah was built six centuries ago, although it has been disputed whether the tomb belongs to the storied figure.

Nevertheless, the site inspired hundreds of Muslims and Christians to annually pilgrim and pray under the same roof, Alwan said.

On July 24, 2014, two weeks after overrunning Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city, IS militants rigged the shrine with explosives and blew it up, sparking global outrage.

IS militants first stopped people from praying in it, they fixed explosive charges around and inside it, and then blew it up in front of a large gathering of people, a witness who did not wish to give his name told the French news agency in 2014.

The militants justified the demolition by declaring that the mosque had become a place for apostasy, not prayer.

Over the past two and half years, the group has destroyed several other historic sites it considered part of heretical rituals and practices of Muslims, Christians and Yazidis in Mosul and elsewhere.

Similar to some other strains of Salafi movement, IS considers worshiping in religious shrines, including Sunni Muslim shrines, against the Islamic faith and a form of shirk or idolatry.

"The demolition of structures erected above graves is a matter of great religious clarity," the jihadist group said in a statement posted on one of its main websites. "Our pious predecessors have done so. ... There is no debate on the legitimacy of demolishing or removing those graves and shrines."

Alwan, of the Mesopotamia Heritage Association, said the shrine can be rebuilt, but its archeological significance is likely lost, depending on the level of damage that was done. The site hasn't yet bee evaluated by experts.

It hopefully will be rebuilt in the future, but its archeological value is vanished forever and Iraq has lost yet another treasure, Alwan told VOA. If you want to destroy a nation, destroy its history; and this is what IS did.
As Kenyas voter registration drive continues, leaders are proposing creative ways to encourage people to sign up, including having electoral officials set up facilities at weddings and funerals, and even denying churchgoers the Holy Communion.

Kenyas electoral body says it is targeting about 9 million Kenyans over the age of 18 who have a national ID card or passport, but who have not yet registered to vote.



Spiritual and political leaders, among others, are coming up with innovative ways to increase those numbers.



Member of parliament for Kilifi county Gunga Mwinga recently proposed that the electoral commission begin registering voters at weddings, palm wine ceremonies, local drinking establishments and even funerals.



Because these are places where people are, said Mwinga.They go there in large numbers. And they should be able to register a good number of people if they take the machines there, instead of somebody sitting in a school, where they will only register like three or five people in a day.

Social gatherings



An electoral official from Kenyas north coast says the commission supports the idea, and soon will begin registering voters at social gatherings.



Reverend Isaiah Njagi, an Anglican clergyman from Embu, has suggested non-registered voters be denied Holy Communion. He says Kenyas Christian population needs to do more than just pray for good leaders.



It is my personal view that people should be able to take voting as seriously as they take the doctrine of the church, he said.



High court attorney and electoral expert Willis Otieno says these voter registration ideas are being conceived in political party strongholds, not battleground areas, in order to consolidate voting blocks.



It is not about the universal registration, per se. It is about political camps bolstering their numbers, said Otieno. Because you know very well that once they register huge numbers in their strongholds, those strong numbers guarantee them votes in the general election.



Driving registration

Even so, Otieno argues that high overall voter registration numbers will only help Kenya, come August elections.



"Look at what has happened in Gambia, for example, where part of the reason why the outgoing president has been challenging those results is that he is saying a huge number of potential voters did not participate in the elections," Otieno said. "Now, we do not want that kind of a scenario."



Otieno favors voter registration at social gatherings.



In fact, if it was my wedding, I would make a formal announcement to all the guests to please make sure they register [to vote] as a wedding present to myself before they leave the wedding ceremony, Otieno added.



Otieno, however, acknowledges private business owners and event organizers cannot be forced to allow electoral officials on their property.



After all, not everyone may want to combine his or her wedding registry with the voter registry.


Nearly 2,000 protesters  labor leaders, activists, state and local officials  marched in a boisterous demonstration in Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city, in December to show their opposition to an expected crackdown on undocumented immigrants after President-elect Donald Trump takes office January 20.

"I do recognize that he will be the president for the next four years," said state Senator Kevin de Leon, one of California's top-ranking Democrats. "It's our reality. We want to find common ground where we can find common ground, but we're also prepared to defend the prosperity of California."

De Leon, who is president pro tem of the California Senate, says the state's prosperity comes from an immigrant-friendly environment, where local officials remain at arm's length from federal immigration enforcement.

The state has engaged Eric Holder, the former attorney general under President Barack Obama, to represent its interests in anticipated battles with the Trump administration over issues from immigration to climate change. Holder is now a private attorney.

California is one of 12 states that allow undocumented residents to obtain a driver's license. Local leaders say that cities  many controlled by Democrats antagonistic toward the incoming Republican president  will do more.

Los Angeles has instituted a $10 million legal fund for residents threatened with deportation. Chicago has set up a smaller fund, and San Francisco officials are considering a similar move.

Trump's promises

More than 2.7 million undocumented migrants were deported under Obama, earning him the title, "Deporter in Chief," from his critics. During the campaign and since the election, Trump has insisted on even tougher enforcement of immigration law.

"Anyone who has entered the United States illegally is subject to deportation," Trump said in Phoenix on August 31 in his most comprehensive speech on immigration to date. "That is what it means to have laws and to have a country. Otherwise," he said, "we don't have a country."

He has since walked that back to focus on the 2 to 3 million illegal immigrants with "criminal records."

Trump promises to end "catch and release," the practice of releasing some detainees to the community while they are awaiting immigration hearings, and to cut federal funding for so-called sanctuary cities, such as Los Angeles, which limit the sharing of information by local authorities with federal immigration officials. He also promises increased enforcement in the workplace.

In addition, he said he will end DACA  Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals  a program enacted by President Barack Obama in 2012 that has shielded from deportation 750,000 young people who came to the U.S. as minors.

Trump told Time magazine in December, however, that on this issue, at least, he is willing to "work something out."

Most dramatically, congressional Republicans are working to realize one of his chief campaign promises, a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Los Angeles united

At the Los Angeles protest march, attorney Emily Robinson of the Loyola Law School Immigrant Justice Clinic said, "We're sending a message that Los Angeles is united for immigrants' rights, that we're going to stand strong. We're not colluding with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]."

Trumps promise of stricter enforcement leaves legal immigrants divided. Some oppose the plan for stepped-up enforcement, and others support it.

"I don't think anybody legal would want to see illegal immigrants, especially who have committed crimes, to stay in this country," said David Wang, who helped organize support for Trump in the Chinese-American community during the campaign.

Despite fears surrounding campaign rhetoric, Luis Quinonez, a member of Trump's Hispanic Advisory Council, said the only people who have anything to fear are criminal immigrants and what he calls "extreme Muslims" bent on violence. "Anyone who wants to do harm, they are not wanted, they are not welcome, we'll pursue them."

More than 11 million U.S. residents are undocumented, 3 to 4 percent of the population. As federal enforcement intensifies, local leaders say the debate has moved from Washington to cities like Los Angeles.
Mexico said on Tuesday it will offer holders of undeclared capital abroad tax incentives to bring it home in a bid to lure some $10 billion in investment and steel itself against potential shocks from the incoming Trump administration.

Confirming a Reuters report, the government said it will offer an 8 percent repatriation tax on those funds returning to Mexico in six months, provided they go into investments including fixed assets and property for at least two years.

The 8 percent tax, which is well below Mexico's top income tax rate of 35 percent, must be paid 15 days after money is transferred, President Enrique Pena Nieto's office said in a statement ahead of an expected announcement later on Tuesday.

The government said the powerful CCE business lobby estimated the plan could yield $10 billion in investment.

Latin America's second-largest economy is facing pressure from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who is looking to cut taxes and has threatened a hefty border levy on companies that ship Mexican-made goods to the U.S. marketplace.

Mexico's move, which was floated last week, is in line with similar moves by both Chile and Argentina.
A record 800 congregations have opened their doors to serve as sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable populations, doubling from about 400 before President-elect Donald Trump's election, according to a coalition of faith communities called the PICO National Network.

"We are seeing more and more congregations joining the sanctuary movement, opening their doors to undocumented people, as well as to their Muslim neighbors, and as well to those who might be attacked," said Bishop Dwayne Royster during a press call Tuesday.

The bishop added that the growth of the movement is "a powerful tool to resist the harsh, xenophobic and the discriminatory policies proposed by the Trump administration."

Trump has not yet proposed any policies, although he has said he would deport 2 to 3 million people who "have criminal records." In the past eight years, a record 2.5 million people have been deported under President Barack Obama.

Sanctuaries serve as safe spaces to stay for people with pending deportation orders.

Currently, five people are staying in sanctuary in coalition churches as they fight to stop Obama administration deportation orders in Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Chicago, which has two cases.

Ingrid Encalade Latorre came to the U.S. from Peru in 2000 and for seven weeks has been staying with a sanctuary congregation in Denver, Colorado. She is undocumented and since 2010, she has been facing deportation after pleading guilty to working with someone else's papers.

"I feel grateful and thankful to be able to be here and to continue to be here with my family while I fight my deportation order," Latorre said in the press call, translated from Spanish.

Concern for immigrant neighbors

Proponents of tougher immigration laws, like Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, object to the sanctuary cities.

We confer this special privilege on, in many cases, dangerous, violent criminals because they came here illegally, said Toomey, who has proposed legislation that would strip cities of federal development assistance if they fail to cooperate with federal authorities.

The impact of his bill, called the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, would fall mainly on low-income neighborhoods that rely on the federal aid for affordable housing and public services.

But not knowing what Trump is going to do may have led some churches to fear the worst.

"United Methodists have been involved in sanctuary for several decades but never 60 congregations," said Bishop Minerva Carcano, spokesperson for United Methodist Church Bishops. "It's been a congregation here and there across the country, but 60 is significant; it's an exponential increase."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency that executes deportation orders, has an unofficial practice of not going into churches or hospitals, making churches a safe space.

"Our very own congregations are concerned about their immigrant neighbor," Carcano said. "About the immigrant that just joined their church or who has begun to visit, the immigrant who comes into their lives, and they themselves are stepping up and saying, 'What can we do?' And sanctuary has become one of those really deep, faith options for our congregations."

These congregations have also opened their doors to Muslims who may feel threatened by Trump's talk of a Muslim registry or other heated rhetoric.

"Sanctuary for me has been like a gift, Latorre said. I feel that there is so much union and solidarity, and I don't feel so alone in fighting my case anymore."
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has apologized to a VOA reporter for remarks made by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a Tuesday news conference, in which he misrepresented Voice of America reporting in a way that served to undermine the agency's credibility.

Hours after Lavrov's remarks, Maria Zahkarova posted the apology on the Facebook profile of VOA Russian service reporter Danila Galperovich, who is based in Moscow.

In his Moscow news conference, Lavrov criticized a January 6 web report by Galperovich, who wrote that Russian officials uncharacteristically had not yet responded to detailed allegations from U.S. intelligence agencies that Russian hackers interfered with the U.S. presidential campaign.

U.S. officials presented evidence in support of the allegations of Russian hacking to U.S. senators in the first week of January and in a declassified report released to news media on January 6  the same day that the officials gave President-elect Donald Trump a more detailed briefing at Trump Tower in New York.

'Witch hunt'

Speaking Tuesday, Lavrov incorrectly said the VOA article had been published on January 9  the same day that Russian officials issued their first formal response to the U.S. allegations, dismissing them as a "full-scale witch hunt." The foreign minister berated VOA for failing to report the Russian response, which did not come until three days after the article was published.

The minister accused Russian service journalist Galperovich of lying about Russia's reaction to the U.S. intelligence findings, and referred to his report as "junk" produced by a news organization "funded by the U.S. State Department."

"This is the kind of truth Voice of America carries," Lavrov said. "But in this case [Galperovich] was lying because by the time he made these statements, [various Russian officials] have spoken."

In a January 9 response to the declassified report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the U.S. intelligence findings as "tiresome." VOA's Russian service reported on the Peskov remarks that same day.

Amanda Bennett, VOA director, said Lavrov was mistaken about VOA's reporting.

"VOA did publish Russia's response on the same day it was issued," she said in a statement. "What's more, VOA is funded by the U.S. Congress, not the State Department as Lavrov says."

In her Facebook post later Tuesday, Zahkarova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, acknowledged Lavrov's error. "Dear Danila, I apologize for the mistake: the article was written by you on January 6 instead of January 9  a mistake is a mistake, and for that I owe you an apology."

Galperovich's January 6 report was headlined "Moscow Responds With Complete Silence to U.S. Intelligence Publication." In the article, Galperovich noted that two days had passed without any comment by Russian officials, who typically react quickly to U.S. accusations against Moscow. He reported that at the time, there had been no statements by the Kremlin, the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian parliamentary committees dealing with foreign affairs or the Russian military.

'Unprofessional' preparation

Galperovich expressed dismay at the Russian foreign minister's handling of the matter.

"Lavrov's comments make it appear that VOA is deliberately spreading false information," he said.

Lavrov made his comments about VOA's reporting by reading from a prepared text in response to a question from Russian state-run TV network RT. Galperovich said it was not clear why Lavrov incorrectly stated the date of his January 6 report as being January 9.

"It was completely unprofessional of the Russian Foreign Ministry's media department to prepare such information for him," he said.

The declassified summary of the briefing report, released on January 6 by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin had personally "ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election." It said that effort had evolved from trying to "denigrate" Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton to expressing a "clear preference" for then-Republican candidate Trump.

Russia has repeatedly denied accusations that it tried to intervene in the race.
In a move that could help China establish a foothold in the Indian Ocean region, the Maldives has passed a law allowing foreigners to own land.

The constitutional amendment bill passed by the Maldivian parliament Wednesday will allow foreign parties who invest at least $1 billion to lease land on the project site on a freehold basis. At least 70 percent of the land must be reclaimed. Maldives is a cluster of nearly 1,200 tiny islands.

Seventy of the 84 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, and 14 voted against it.

The Maldives government said the new law would attract megadevelopment projects and generate jobs. Parliament must approve the projects.

But a key member of the main opposition Maldives Democratic Party, who did not want to be named, told VOA the move was targeted at facilitating Chinese investment. The MDP said the law would pave the way for Chinese military facilities in the country.

China has expertise in reclamation technology and can easily make investments of that size.

Strategic affairs analyst Anand Kumar, at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, said the law could help China gain a foothold in the Indian Ocean.

They have been creating islands in South China Sea, and they will try to replicate the same exercise in Indian Ocean," Kumar said. "They tried to do the same thing with Sri Lanka. It appears that since they have lost political influence in Sri Lanka, they are trying to regain the same ground in Maldives.

The opposition leader who spoke to VOA said that while the party did not oppose foreign ownership of land in principle, it was worried that the bill did not have provisions for oversight or governance mechanisms.

Beijing has made large investments in infrastructure projects in the Maldives since the present government led by President Abdulla Yameen came to power following the ouster of pro-India former President Mohamed Nasheed.

New Delhi has long worried about China expanding its influence in countries in the Indian Ocean region, which it considers its strategic backyard.

Analyst Manoj Joshi at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi said it was against Indias interest to see a foreign country establish a significant presence in the Maldives.

Any enhancement of Chinese presence and influence in the Maldives has consequences for us," Joshi said. "Definitely, alarm bells would go off in India.

Analyst Kumar said Chinas bid to extend its influence in the Maldives was aimed at the United States, which has a naval base in the Indian Ocean at Diego Garcia.

Basically, they are trying to emerge as rival to U.S," Kumar said. "With that objective, they are coming in a big way in the Indian Ocean. They are not so much concerned about India. Their larger objective is to meet the American military and naval challenge at a global level.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Maldives last year, the first visit by a Chinese leader.
Pakistan has called on Afghan leaders to review their fragmented approach to peace talks with the Taliban on containing and ending the resilient insurgency, instead of blaming Islamabad for the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

Sartaj Aziz, chief foreign policy advisor to the Pakistani prime minister, in an exclusive interview with VOA, says that a lack of political consensus and prevailing ambiguity in Afghanistan about whether to treat Taliban insurgents as terrorists or stakeholders in national politics has blocked internationally-backed efforts to start peace talks between warring Afghan sides.

Their approach to talks with the Taliban is very, very fragmented. We want the (Afghan) government of national unity to succeed, to establish its writ, we want them to send a clear signal to the Taliban and other groups that the whole world wants them (insurgents) to talk (to Kabul) and solve the problem because nobody wants fighting in Afghanistan to continue. , Aziz told VOA.

The clarity in the Afghan approach coupled with Pakistans resolve to prevent the use of its soil against Afghanistan and international pressure may send right signals to the Taliban and they may come to the table for peace talks.

I think they will come under greater pressure and so, if serious negotiations begin in 2017 that will be our best hope for peace in Afghanistan, Aziz said.

He said that years of reliance on the use of military power to resolve the Afghan conflict has so far not yielded results and instead strengthened the Taliban.

The Taliban may not be able to capture (the) bulk of Afghanistan or the capital or any other (major urban) place but they can carry on insurgency for a very long time and the people of Afghanistan do need peace as early as possible In the meanwhile, of course, ISAF (international) forces are trying to help Afghanistan to make sure that they (the Taliban) dont gain much territory because if they start gaining (more territory) then obviously they will be reluctant to negotiate, cautioned Aziz.

While the Afghan government controls about two-thirds of the country, the insurgents are in control of roughly 10 percent and the rest is contested, according a U.S. military assessment.

War of words



Continued Taliban battlefield attacks and last weeks deadly bombings in different Afghan cities have refueled a war of words between the two uneasy neighbors.

President Ashraf Ghani has alleged that planners of recent terrorist attacks in his country live, move freely and recruit people in Pakistan, a reiteration of a long-running official stance that Taliban sanctuaries on the other side of the border are prolonging the Afghan war.

Pakistani officials refute the charges as unfounded, politically motivated and an attempt to divert attention from internal Afghan problems.

Aziz says Pakistan has repeatedly assured Ghani that space has been squeezed on anti-Afghan insurgents and those hiding on the Pakistani side of the border have mostly gone back to Afghanistan.



So, that commitment we are gradually honoring. Through operation Zarb-e-Azb, North Waziristan was cleared. The infrastructure of all the terrorist groups was destroyed so they can no longer operate as forcefully and as frequently as they used to but remnants are still scattered. The cleaning up operations are going on, Aziz said.

He was referring to the military-led counter-terrorism offensive underway in traditionally volatile tribal districts near the Afghan border.

Border security



The de-facto Pakistani foreign minister says his government has also intensified efforts to boost security along its 2,600-kilometer long porous border with Afghanistan. He called for Afghan authorities to make a matching response on their side, saying unlike the decades old tradition of free cross-border movement, travelers are now required to show valid identity documents to move in either direction.

This (new policy) will enable us to monitor the movement of all kinds of people and so this documentation travel has to be (introduced) on both sides. So far they (Afghanistan) arent (implementing it on their side)and that is the best way to ensure that undesirable elements do not go (to Afghanistan) and this is the only way we can ensure that our commitment of not allowing our soil to be used can be observed, Aziz asserted.

Allegations that Taliban insurgents operate out of Pakistani safe havens have long strained Pakistans relations with the United States, which is leading the international peace and stability efforts in Afghanistan.

Optimistic about Trump



Advisor Aziz, however, sounded upbeat about maintaining a very constructive and positive engagement with the incoming Donald Trump administration for achieving what he said was shared peace and security objectives of a peaceful Afghanistan and the region in general.

So, I think here both U.S. and Pakistan agree that a peaceful solution through negotiations and through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process is the way forward. So, we hope that because of this convergence of views on this subject we will be able to move forward together to seek a peaceful solution to the Afghan crisis.
Senegalese and Nigerian forces are gathering at Gambia's border, vowing action if President Yahya Jammeh does not does heed a call from West African leaders to step aside for Adama Barrow, the declared winner of the December 1 vote.

The move comes after Gambia's National Assembly extended Jammehs term by three months under a newly declared state of emergency.

The central market in Banjul was deserted Wednesday amid a heavy police presence throughout the downtown area.



The harbor where people board the ferry to take them out of the capital and on to Senegal was packed. Port authorities said thousands left yesterday, and a steady stream of women and children were headed in that direction today with their luggage.



The uncertainty centers around Thursday, January 19 the day that President-elect Adama Barrow is scheduled to be inaugurated.



In Banjul, people are growing impatient with Yahya Jammeh.



Hes wrong. He already sit for 22 years. You should give other people a chance, says a carpenter named Tijan.

But Jammeh is digging in. He has condemned what he has called extraordinary foreign interference in the country's affairs. He challenged the election results, but the Supreme Court says it is unable to meet until May because of a shortage of judges.



ECOWAS says Jammeh must step down Thursday. The regional bloc is threatening a military intervention.



Security concerns



International tour groups are scrambling to evacuate tourists. Tom Laker, a Dutch citizen, was preparing to head to the airport.



I dont actually think that tourists here are in danger, but I do see that the situation is tense enough to maybe warrant bringing people back home, he said.





In a televised statement, Jammeh said that the security forces have been instructed to maintain law and order, and that acts intended to disturb public order and peace are banned. The airport remains open.



President-elect Barrow is in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. He needs to be inaugurated on Gambian soil. Barrow has insisted that will happen Thursday as scheduled, though from the looks of things here in Banjul, it does not look like it will take place here.
Even for Madagascar, this is no ordinary bubonic plague outbreak.

The African nation has the worlds highest incidence of the bacterial infection that earned the grim name the Black Death after it killed an estimated 50 million people in the 14th century. The rat- and flea-borne illness hits the island nation every year from about December to April.

But this year is different, says the World Health Organizations Dr. Eric Bertherat. This latest outbreak has popped up in a completely new area. The mountainous area of Befotaka in southeastern Madagascar has seen 68 cases  of which 27 have died  since the end of last year, according to WHO estimates.

Bertherat said there also are unconfirmed reports of a nearby second cluster, of some 30 cases.

This outbreak occurred in a place where they had no plague case reported since 1950, he told VOA from Geneva, after returning from a recent visit to Madagascar to assess the situation.

Pending rescue operation

Even more alarming, he says, is the fact that it occurred in a very remote and insecure place where its very difficult to go. And thats the main problem, for the time being. There is no one to control the outbreak because we are still trying to organize a kind of rescue operation to go there.

Bertherat says plague is impossible to entirely eradicate  to do so, he said, would mean killing every plague-carrying wild animal, which is an impossible task, and very likely would disrupt a delicate ecological balance.

Even developed nations like the U.S. experience plague. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 16 cases in 2015. Four of those cases ended in death.

He says Madagascar is exceptionally susceptible, however, because of its persistent poverty. The spread of plague is often aided by poor sanitation and a lack of health care.

But why, with modern medicine and new rapid tests available in Madagascar, does this 14th century affliction appear to be growing?

Deforestation reconsidered

The answer, Bertherat says, may lie in a very modern trend: deforestation. Madagascar has seen massive deforestation because of illegal logging and as subsistence farmers continue to push into wild habitats.

Our hypothesis, he said, is that this re-emergence in fact is due to the further extension of the natural focus of the migration of the rats, and also the fact that there is more and more contact between the local population and the forest area.

Plague can be quickly diagnosed and easily treated with common antibiotics. Health officials in Madagascar are urging residents to seek immediate care if they live in plague-endemic areas and begin to experience flu-like symptoms.

Victims also can develop painful lymph-node swelling and gangrene on their extremities. Without life-saving antibiotics, about two-thirds of those infected will die, according to the CDC.
Filmmaker Roman Polanski will preside over this year's Cesars Awards ceremony, the French equivalent of the Oscars.



The Academy of Arts and Techniques of cinema said Wednesday the 83-year-old Polanski is expected to deliver the opening and closing speeches during the Feb. 24 ceremony in Paris.



Polanski, who lives in France, won eight Cesars over the course of his career, including for best director in 2014 for his film "Venus in Furs."



Alain Terzian, the president of the academy, said Polanski is an "insatiable esthete reinventing his art and works over the years."



Polanski is wanted in the U.S. in a case involving sex with a minor that has been hanging over him for almost 40 years. He won the best-director Academy Award for "The Pianist" in 2003.
Poland should increase its military cooperation with the United States, a senior adviser to the Polish president said.

Krzysztof Szczerski, President Andrzej Duda's top foreign policy adviser, was speaking days before the new U.S. administration that has signaled a friendlier approach to Russia takes power in Washington.

Szczerski also suggested that Poland would welcome the re-election of Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany, Poland's largest trade partner with whom relations have soured since Polish conservatives came to power a year ago.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's friendly rhetoric toward Russia puts Poland, which has frosty ties with Moscow and fears President Vladimir Putin's influence over the region, in an awkward diplomatic position.

The country has just received the largest U.S. military reinforcement in Europe in decades under a planned NATO operation to strengthen its Eastern European allies in face of what the pact sees as a growing Russian aggression.

"First of all, we want to maintain and possibly deepen the current level of the [Poland-USA] military cooperation," Szczerski, who is also the chancellor of state in Duda's administration, told Reuters.

Moscow, which unnerved Eastern Europe by annexing Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, sees the NATO reinforcement in the region as a security threat. In retaliation, it has deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in its European exclave of Kaliningrad.

Although it is unlikely that 28-member NATO would change its deterrence policy any time soon, Szczerski said Warsaw wants a "political conversation" between Duda and Trump as soon as possible.

"Our task is to insist that the U.S. presence in Europe, including in Poland ... lies in the interest of the United States and Poland, as well as of the alliance," he said.

Merkel visit

The conservative Law and Justice (PiS) ruling party, fearing Germany's pre-eminence in Europe, has allowed relations with Berlin to deteriorate while shifting its foreign policy focus onto Britain.

Merkel is to visit Poland next month at the invitation of the Polish government in what diplomats are saying could be an attempt by Warsaw to repair ties, now that Britain is leaving the EU. Duda and his administration are PiS's allies.

"From the point of view of Polish-German relations and the future of this part of Europe in general, the stability of Germany politics is a value," Szczerski said, asked whether Poland would root for Merkel in the German elections this year. "On the turbulent map of Europe, such a stability is needed."
When University of Illinois anthropology professor, Paul Garber, set out to do a comprehensive review of the status of the world's nonhuman primates, he believed that there was hope.



But no longer.

Now, he tells VOA, "After working on this article, the reality of the moment leaves me with limited hope. In my view, sadly things are not happening at the national or global level." His research is being published today in the journal Science Advances.

A dim future for primates

Garber's research suggest that currently "over half of all nonhuman primates are approaching extinction."

It's not due to any one cause, he says, but is instead a perfect storm of human threats that include "hunting, the illegal pet trade and habitat loss as humans continue to log tropical forests, build roads and mine" in what Garber calls "needlessly destructive and unsustainable ways."

To be exact, he says, "60 percent of primate species are now threatened with extinction and about 75 percent have declining populations."

Primates are a diverse group, there are an estimated 600 different species, ranging from the tiny Mouse Lemur that lives in Madagascar (an adult weighs about 31 grams) to the Gorilla, the largest primate species that can weight up to 250 kilograms.

But the one thing they all have in common is that they are threatened by human activities. "No one can reasonably argue," Garber says, "that the impending mass extinction of nonhuman primates and other fauna and flora is natural. Collectively, humans have created this situation."

The problem, he says, is made worse by the fact that over half of all primate species are clustered in four countries: Brazil, Indonesia, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He says each of these countries is working to help protect the primates in their territories, "but often there is neither the funds, community support, nor in-country expertise to address their conservation problems."

He points to Madagascar as a prime example of those problems. "Madagascar is home to over 100 primates species. Virtually each of these species is endemic (they are only found in Madagascar), and 94 percent are endangered. Ninety percent of the original forests of Madagascar have been cut and this is a poor country."

Brazil, he says, has different issues. While huge swaths of its rainforests have been protected, the country also "needs a commitment from the international community, global businesses, NGOs, and global citizens working with the Brazilian government and the Brazilian people to protect the Amazon and other natural forest communities."

Garber says the only way to save these species is for countries around the world to work together to help, instead of relying on individual state actions. "Without the assistance of consumer nations and international organizations and in the face of multinational corporations, extracting resources from the country," Garber warns, "we are on the verge of the loss of tens of primate species in the next decade."

Keeping our cousins alive

Garber notes that if these primate species go extinct in the wild, many of them will disappear entirely. Most of them aren't part of any captive breeding program that could ensure their survival. "There are a few primate species for which we have more individuals in captivity then live in the wild," he says. But, "reintroduction is a VERY expensive and very risky endeavor, especially for animals like primates."

For many of these species, Garber says, "we have probably passed the tipping point," and it's too late for them to recover. For others, "there is hope, but immediate global action is required."

Garber also points out that humans are primates as well. And while we are an incredibly successful species, the destruction of primate habitat in a sense is also the destruction of our own.

"Our survival as a species is at stake," he says. "If we continue with business as usual, then non-human primates will be remembered as the canary in the coal mine. Ultimately, if our closest living relatives cannot survive in human-degraded environments, then in the not-too-distant future, humans will not be able to survive in these environments as well."

It's a sobering assessment and one that the author hopes could be a "small step in changing hearts, minds, and behaviors."
Editors note: As Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office, the prospect of his presidency inspires the hopes of millions of Americans, the doubts and fears of millions of others. In effect, Trump will inherit leadership of many Americas, each sharing pride in country but conflicted in expectations of where we are headed and how the next president should govern. Those views are rooted in personal experiences as well as politics.

To glimpse the country Trump will lead as the 45th president, Associated Press journalists traveled to four corners of the U.S., each unique in its own right. Their stories offer a window into what people are thinking at this pivot point in the nations history.

The week after Donald Trump was elected president, Dr. Mai-Phuong Nguyen and two dozen other Vietnamese-Americans active in liberal causes gathered in a circle of folding chairs, consoling one another about an America almost beyond comprehension.

Now, days before Trump takes the oath of office, Nguyen sits in a restaurant booth in Orange Countys neon-lit Little Saigon and studies perhaps the most confounding face of the divide exposed by the election  her fathers.

All I know is, if a man makes $100 million he is really something, Son Van Nguyen, 76, says of Trump.

Here in a county transformed by waves of newcomers, the elder Nguyen  a government translator airlifted from South Vietnam with his family in 1975 as Communist forces pressed in on the capital  built a new life as a record-setting life insurance salesman, watching people strive and struggle.

And I know a lot of people out there sit there and wait for welfare, he says, explaining his hopes that Trump will rein in such spending and create jobs.

But he is trying to prevent other people from coming in and enjoying some of the same things you came here for, Dad, says his daughter, a 47-year-old physician who pushed for health care reform and fears Trump will take away the medical coverage it extended to millions of Americans. If he does wrong, are you going to support him?

Their disagreement is a reminder that for Orange County, just as for the rest of the country, there has never been a moment quite like this one.

When Hillary Clinton won this county of 3.2 million in November, it marked the first time the OC had backed a Democrat for president since Franklin Roosevelt. Best known for Disneyland, and long a hothouse of conservatism in a blue state, it was the largest county in the country to flip.

The shift was expected eventually. Orange Countys citrus groves turned to tract housing decades back to welcome a mostly white influx from Los Angeles and Midwestern states. Today, though, Santa Anas quinceanera shops reflect a county that is a third Latino. One in five Orange Countians is Asian.

The hopes and anxieties stirred by Trumps inauguration spotlight even more complicated tensions.

Most Vietnamese traditionally voted for Republicans, viewed as opponents of communism. But many of their adult children, also refugees, see Trump as rejecting American ideals and people like them.

Local Republicans, who once embraced the John Birch Society and recently erected a statue of Ronald Reagan in the park where he launched two White House bids, long espoused a muscular conservatism. Most voted for Trump, but not without soul-searching.

At Jimmy Camps house, a No Trump sign made by Camps son still hangs in the window. Heading out to feed his familys goat and potbellied pig, Camp recalls his start in Republican politics three decades ago  knocking on doors for candidates to earn cash.

Camp played guitar in a rock band then and embraced platforms calling for government to stay out of peoples lives. Hed always loved the outdoors in a county that stretches from the ocean to the Santa Ana Mountains. After meeting county native Richard Nixon, he read up on the disgraced presidents often forgotten chartering of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Camp became one of the states busiest Republican political consultants. Then, last summer he emailed fellow Republicans, renouncing his party membership because of his disgust with Trump.

If you go through and look at everything Jesus said in the Bible, this guy is opposite of it, says Camp, 52, a pastors son.

Camp, who has friends from Iran and Egypt, cringes at a president who would castigate Muslims as supposedly tied to terrorists, though he doubts Trump will fulfill his most extreme rhetoric.

I hope he doesnt drive us off a cliff, Camp says. I hope that we survive the next four years. I think we will.

Others voice confidence in Trump.

Gloria Pruyne says her family had reservations about Trumps morality early on. But the conservative activist ended up knocking on more than 500 doors to get out the vote. Now Pruyne, 78, says she wants Trump to install a conservative Supreme Court justice, revoke an Affordable Care Act she blames for a $500 increase in her familys monthly insurance bill, and back Israel.

Were looking forward to a radical change with this president, she says.

With the inauguration approaching, Ron Brindle has no plans to remove the 5-foot-square portrait of Trump from his oil well fronting a main road in Huntington Beach. Brindle bought this land for his tree nursery business more than 40 years ago. Today, it is surrounded by tract homes, many owned by Asian families.

Now I dont have anything against any of them, but what happened to the country? Brindle says.

The first thing Trump should do, he says, is close the border so Americans no longer have to foot the bill to care for foreigners. But Brindle also hopes that Trump will reach out to skeptics.

Steven Mai is ready to listen. Mai, a 42-year-old registered Republican, rejected Trump for criticizing the Muslim parents of a slain American soldier.

But Trump will be his president, Mai says.

Still, if Trump really wants to lead, he should come to places like Orange County, says Mais wife, Tammy Tran. He could work in a sandwich shop for a few hours, or see what its like to care for an elderly person. Maybe then, the couple say, Trump will understand his responsibility to the many Americas.

I just hope hes going to be the president that my parents were thinking, Mai says. If he can be a good president, then we all benefit.
The Australian government said on Wednesday it was not ruling out a future underwater search for a missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet as families of those on board criticized the decision to suspend the hunt after three fruitless years.

The location of Flight MH370 has become one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries since the plane, a Boeing 777, disappeared in 2014 en route to Beijing from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board.

"I don't rule out a future underwater search by any stretch," Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester told reporters in Melbourne, a day after Australia, Malaysia and China officially called off the search in the southern Indian Ocean.

The search cost around A$200 million ($150 million), mostly paid by Malaysia, and has already been extended twice. But the three countries involved have been reluctant to keep looking without new evidence about the plane's final resting place.

A recommendation from investigators last month to look to the north of the 120,000 sq km (46,000 sq mile) area that has been the focus of search efforts was rejected by Australia and Malaysia as too imprecise.

Chester said cost had not been the determining factor to halt the search, but he said restarting it would require "credible new information which leads to a specific location".

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday expressed "deep regret" that the plane had not been found, but reaffirmed the agreement between Malaysia, Australia and China to stop looking.

Boeing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

No clues

Flight MH370 lost contact over the Gulf of Thailand in the early hours of March 8, 2014. Subsequent analysis of radar and satellite contacts suggested someone on board may have deliberately switched off the plane's transponder before diverting it thousands of kilometres out over the Indian Ocean.

Since the crash, there have been competing theories over whether the plane was hijacked and whether it was under the control of anyone when it finally ran out of fuel.

The head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which led the hunt for the plane, said authorities are confident it is not in the area that has been searched.

ATSB chief commissioner Greg Hood said "residual search activity," including satellite and drift analysis would continue until the end of February.

But quitting the underwater search drew a swift and angry reaction from relatives of those on board, who had called for the project to be expanded.

In China, Jiang Hui, whose mother was also on board the flight, said he felt "disappointed, helpless and angry" because the search had been ended.

The only confirmed traces of the plane have been three pieces of debris found washed up on the island country Mauritius, the French island Reunion and an island off Tanzania.

As many as 30 other pieces of wreckage found there and on beaches in Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa are suspected to have come from the plane.
Russia's air force will work with Turkey's to conduct joint airstrikes targeting Islamic State militants in Northern Syria, the Russian military announced Wednesday.

In televised comments Wednesday, senior Russian Defense Ministry official Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi said nine Russian planes and eight Turkish jets have carried out strikes on the town of al-Bab  roughly 40 kilometers northeast of Aleppo.

Rudskoi said it was the first time Russia and Turkey's air forces had teamed up in this way. It also marked the first public acknowledgement by Russia that they conduct airstrikes in war-torn Syria.

Russia and Syria had been on opposing sides of the nearly six-year Syrian conflict, with Moscow backing Syrian president Bashar Assad while Ankara supported the rebels.

The two countries have worked together in recent months, though, and will broker peace talks later this month in Kazakhstan aimed at finding a political solution to the war.
Donald Trump's nominee to head the U.S. Commerce Department is scheduled to be questioned by a Senate committee Wednesday about his qualifications to head an agency responsible for bolstering the economy, international trade and many other tasks from forecasting the weather to taking the census.

Wilbur Ross is a multi-billionaire who made a fortune buying up failing companies, improving their financial performance, and often selling them at a profit. He is 79, and was educated at top universities, but has no government experience.

Trump calls Ross "a champion of American manufacturing who knows how to help companies succeed." Stories in the financial press say Ross has a good understanding of finance, major industries and trade. Supporters say his actions saved U.S. jobs in coal, steel and textile industries.

Critics say Ross also outsourced jobs to low wage nations and laid-off American workers. He also has been criticized for the 2006 death of 12 workers at a coal mine he owned in West Virginia. The Sago coal mine had a history of numerous safety violations.

Published reports say Donald Trump may give the commerce secretary a larger-than-usual role in international trade. Ross has done considerable business in China. But recently, Ross and other members of the Trump administration have been sharply critical of Beijing's trade practices.
At least 70 civilians were killed and about 100 others wounded in northern Nigeria as a result of a military airstrike that hit a camp for displaced people by mistake, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The strike happened Tuesday in Rann, near the border of Nigeria and Cameroon. Nigerian officials called the incident an accidental bombing during operations targeting militant group Boko Haram. Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina told VOA there had been some Boko Haram activities nearby and the military made an "operational mistake" while in the process of trying to "take out the insurgents."

The Red Cross said six of its Nigerian members were among the dead. The organization also said in a statement that the workers were in Rann as part of a humanitarian operation bringing food to more than 25,000 displaced people.

President Muhammadu Buhari issued a statement on his official Twitter account, promising support for the victims.

"I received with regret news that the Air Force, working to mop up BH insurgents, accidentally bombed a civilian community in Rann, Borno State," he said.

Aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its members were treating 120 wounded patients in its facility in Borno. The doctors group put the death toll at 52 in a statement released in the hours after the attack.

Major General Lucky Irabor, who heads the military operation against Boko Haram militants in the area, said the Air Force was given coordinates of terrorists.

"Unfortunately, the strike was conducted, but it turned out that the locals somewhere in Rann were affected," he told reporters at a briefing in the state capital.

The United Nations sent medical personnel and supplies to the area, and airlifted out eight injured Nigerian Red Cross workers.

A statement from the U.N. humanitarian office said there are 43,000 internally displaced people in Rann, where access to deliver aid to address food shortages and severe malnutrition has been difficult.

"This is an unfortunate tragedy that befell people already suffering the effects of violence," said the U.N.'s humanitarian chief for Nigeria, Edward Kallon.

Human Rights Watch issued a statement Wednesday calling on Nigeria to compensate the families of the victims.

"Even if there is no evidence of a willful attack on the camp, which would be a war crime, the camp was bombed indiscriminately, violating international humanitarian law," said Mausi Segun, a senior Nigeria researcher at HRW.

The bombing comes as the military claims more and more territory in Borno - Boko Haram's stronghold. Last month, the army said the conflict was in its final stages after eight years of violence, in which 20,000 people have been killed and 2 million others left homeless.
At least two soldiers were killed in fresh unrest in Ivory Coast's capital and gunfire erupted in other cities Tuesday, signaling further upheaval inside the security forces just as it seemed the government had settled a mutiny in the army.

Ivory Coast has emerged from a 2002-11 crisis marked by two civil wars as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, but over the past two weeks it has struggled to cope with a public sector strike and growing tensions in the military.

Tuesday's unrest appeared to have started in the capital, Yamoussoukro, just hours after the government began paying bonuses to former rebel fighters now serving in the army in line with a deal to end their mutiny earlier this month.

Men in uniform broke into the armory at the Zambakro military training camp in the morning and also looted weapons from police stations.

An instructor at the camp said soldiers training there for a deployment as U.N. peacekeepers in Mali launched their uprising demanding that they, too, be included in the bonus payments. They later fled the city.

"I confirm that the soldiers from the battalion fled the camp and the city, leaving their weapons and vehicles at the camp," said the officer, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

He said two soldiers were killed when they approached a camp belonging to the elite Republican Guard and others were wounded and receiving treatment. A local journalist said he saw the bodies of the dead soldiers.

The officer said he had received information that six more soldiers were killed during clashes with members of the earlier mutiny, who had arrived from their base in the second-largest city, Bouake. There was no independent confirmation of those deaths.

"Our people went to Yamoussoukro to calm down the soldiers there. We don't want any more mutinies," said Sergeant Seydou Camara, one of the group's leaders.

Yamoussoukro is Ivory Coast's official capital, though all government ministries as well as parliament are located in the main commercial city, Abidjan.

Armory break-in

Military sources said soldiers broke into the armory of a naval base in the city's Yopougon neighborhood in the afternoon.

"Everyone wants to be included in the 12 million CFA franc ($19,595) bonus. That's why the other soldiers started their movement today," said one soldier at the base.

Gunfire erupted inside a commando camp in Abidjan's Abobo neighborhood after dark, according to military sources and a diplomat. There was no further information about who was shooting or why.

A helicopter could be heard circling above parts of Abidjan after nightfall.

Minor unrest was also reported in Man and Daloa, a major trading hub for Ivory Coast's world-leading cocoa sector, during the day.

In Bouake, the epicenter of the army revolt this month, members of the mutiny encircled the gendarmes' base to head off protests there.

Soldiers poured out of their barracks and seized Bouake on January 6, and the mutiny quickly spread, forcing the government to capitulate to the mutineers' demands.

Negotiators for the mutineers say that, among other promises, the government agreed to pay bonuses of 12 million CFA francs each to about 8,400 soldiers, beginning with an installment of 5 million. Government officials have declined to confirm details of the deal.
The U.S. may be a global superpower, but when it comes to trade and investment in Africa, it lags far behind. China, with $200 billion in trade with the continent, more than doubles that of the U.S.

That means that while Africans paid attention to the U.S. presidential election, they were much more concerned by a slowdown in China's economy.

"U.S. dynamics are far less important to us than what's happening in China," said Francois Conradie, head of research at NKC African Economics, a South African subsidiary of Oxford Economics based in Cape Town. "The biggest risk for us is Chinese demand slowing down sharply."

During his presidency, Barack Obama made it a priority to try and narrow the trade gap between the U.S. and China.

In 2012, he launched the Doing Business in Africa Campaign to help make the U.S. Government's trade resources more easily available to the U.S. private sector, and African public and private partners.

In September 2016, he hosted the U.S. Africa Business Forum in New York where he announced $9 billion in private trade and investment with Africa. He said U.S. foreign direct investment in African countries rose by 70 percent during his time in office.

"I think the key to his legacy is that he has brought trade and investment to the forefront of the U.S.-Africa policy agenda," said Witney Schneidman, senior international adviser for Africa at Covington & Burling LLP and non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution.

"When you look at the totality of this, not only does it say that the U.S. has interests in Africa with investing in the success, he said, but that the U.S. wants to be part of the emerging dynamic on the continent that is looking to business to create jobs, to generate opportunities, to generate growth, to generate skills and this is a really important dynamic."

A number of U.S. companies are now developing long-term investment strategies on the continent, including the private equity firm Blackstone, General Electric and Johnson & Johnson. The change is apparent, although the American businesses are still considered the new kids on the block.

"U.S. corporations are testing the waters, assessing whether investing in Africa is profitable and looking at opportunities," said Alex Vines, head of the Africa Program at U.K.-based Chatham House. "And that's a good thing because the U.S. has been particularly weak corporately in Africa compared to other parts of the world. Very prominent in terms of humanitarianism, very prominent, the world leader, in terms of philanthropic giving, very much less so on the corporate side of things."

Refocusing on trade

Another milestone during the Obama term was the ten-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which opened the U.S. market to African businesses by eliminating import levies on 7,000 products ranging from textiles to cut flowers.

"I think one of the great successes of the African Growth and Opportunity Act has been the expansion of textile manufacturing, particularly in Kenya and Ethiopia where, increasingly, multinational firms have shifted operations from South Asia to East Africa and to the Horn," said Brett Carter, an assistant professor at the school of International Relations at the University of Southern California. "That's, I think, really has been a triumph of the AGOA legislation. It wouldn't surprise me that a Trump presidency would continue that."

Looking toward the incoming administration, Schneidman sees AGOA as an opportunity for President-elect Donald Trump to negotiate a better deal.

In the 16 years since it was first signed, Schneidman said, much has changed. The continent is much more developed, and the European Union and China have since signed trade deals with African countries that are more mutually beneficial and put U.S. companies and products at a disadvantage.

"I think Trump could take a look at this and say, You know, we need to do something different, and maybe we need to make AGOA a little tougher as it concerns the access of U.S. companies to the continent,'" Schneidman said.

Trump priorities

But Carter believes Trump's main emphasis in economic partnerships with Africa will relate to oil and gas extraction.

He pointed to the fact that Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, the former head of ExxonMobil, has prior relationships with the leaders of the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Angola.

"I would, I think, expect more of a focus on extractive industries than I would on supporting nascent manufacturing sectors, frankly," Carter said. "I should say that those manufacturing sectors would be far more potentially lucrative for the continent's economic growth."

Carter also worried that the U.S. could lose its focus on good governance and democracy in a chase for lucrative deals.

He pointed to media reports that Trump planned to grant his first meeting after the election with an African head of state to Denis Sassou-Nguesso, the president of oil-rich Republic of Congo. Sassou-Nguesso has ruled the country for all but five years since 1979, and recently pushed for the constitution to be amended so he could have a third consecutive term in office.

"Many citizens from various parts of the continent want the United States to be less willing to sacrifice its humanitarian ideals for economic gain," Carter said. "And I think that it's quite clear that the Trump administration will privilege economic gain, the United States economic interests, over, frankly, the concerns for most African citizens."
In one of several U.S. Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday for top posts in Donald Trump's administration, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations nominee Nikki Haley said the U.S. cannot trust Russia.

"I don't think we can trust them," Haley told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday. But Haley, who is governor of South Carolina, left open the possibility of cooperating with Russia on issues of mutual interest.

"We do need their help with ISIS and with some other threats that we all share," she added.

Haley's expressed mistrust of Russia appears to contrast with the position of the incoming president, who repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin during and after his presidential campaign.

Haley's position on the creation of a national registry for Muslims residing in the U.S. also differ's from the president-elect's.

WATCH: Gov. Nikki Haley on need for strong America

"I don't think there should be any registry based on religion," she said.

Haley also was critical of President Barack Obama's administration for allowing the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israel. U.S.-Israeli relations reached a low point last month when the Obama administration abstained from voting on a U.N. resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements in occupied territory.

Haley's testified the U.N. is "often at odds with American national interests" and the "U.N. seeks to create an international environment that encourages boycotts of Israel."

Commerce pick

Trump's choice for Commerce Secretary, billionaire Wilbur Ross, said nations that do not trade fairly should be "severely punished."

Speaking before the Senate Commerce Committee, Ross called China the "most protectionist" country in the world. Ross also said China talks about fair trade, but its practices fall short of its rhetoric.

Ross told senators that he is not anti-trade, but favors "sensible" trade that benefits U.S. workers and companies.

If confirmed by the Senate, Ross is expected to play a larger-than-usual role in U.S. trade issues. He said examining trade policy with Canada and Mexico will be a "very early topic."

Ross, the 79-year-old chairman of a private equity firm, is known in financial circles as the "king of bankruptcy" for buying and restoring distressed companies to profitability.

After developing a specialty as a banker in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, Ross launched W.L. Ross in 2000 and earned part of his fortune by investing in troubled factories in the industrial U.S. Midwest, sometimes generating profits by limiting employee benefits.

Earlier this week, Ross agreed with the Office of Government Ethics to divorce himself from his business affairs. Ross will divest from 40 businesses and investments within 90 days of being confirmed, and he will divest from another 40 within 180 days.

The president-elect has been at odds with the head of the ethics agency over his refusal to divest himself of his business empire. Trump has said he will instead turn control of his business affairs to his sons.

HHS, EPA nominees

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee questions Trump's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services about the impact of Trump's plans to replace President Barack Obama's health care law, which provides medical insurance for about 20 million people.

Congressman Tom Price, who is an orthopedic surgeon, drafted his own plan to replace the law. An independent analysis concluded Price's plan would have saved taxpayers money, but it also would have covered fewer people.

WATCH: Price is questioned on ties to tobacco industry

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, Trump's choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, faces tough questioning by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee about his ties to the energy industry. Pruitt is a climate change skeptic, who as Oklahoma's top prosecutor has sued more than a dozen times the agency he has been nominated to lead.



When he first became Oklahoma's attorney general, Pruitt eliminated the unit responsible for protecting the state's natural resources.



WATCH: Senator Barrasso on Pruitt's qualifications to lead EPA
President-elect Donald Trumps pick to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations condemned the world bodys recent resolution on Israeli settlements, praised NATO as necessary to contain Russia, and pledged to reassert American leadership to confront conflicts and challenges around the world.

The world wants to see a strong America, said South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley at her confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Thats what they were used to. That has faded, and it hit the ultimate low with [United Nations Security Council] Resolution 2334, Haley added. Last months passage of Resolution 2334 was a terrible mistake, making a peace agreement with the Israelis and the Palestinians even harder to achieve.

Passed December 23, the resolution asserts that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory have no legal validity and must cease. The United States abstained from the vote, angering Israel as well as prominent Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

Provoking nods from senators of both parties, Haley said the United Nations is in need of reform to make it a more effective and efficient global instrument, adding the organization could benefit from a fresh set of eyes. And she said the organization would be one of many arenas in which the U.S. leadership is reborn under the Trump administration.

When America fails to lead, the world becomes a dangerous place, the Republican governor said. And when the world becomes more dangerous, the American people become more vulnerable.

Responding to questions from senators, the governor appeared to diverge from Donald Trump on key foreign policy matters. Haley said she is a strong believer in the NATO alliance and that Russias annexation of Crimea must not stand. She indicated she is open to further U.S. sanctions against Moscow.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire wondered if Haleys U.N. job at the would be complicated by Trumps unpredictable use of social media.

How will you avoid the conflict between your efforts at the U.N. and the Security Council and the president-elects tweets? Shaheen asked.

I look forward to communicating to him how I feel, Haley responded, adding she anticipates that Trump will listen to his national security team and hopefully we can get him to see it [global issues] the way we see it.

Haley is of Indian descent, but acknowledged she is no expert on world affairs. Still, she said her experience as governor will serve her well as U.N. ambassador.

International diplomacy is a new area for me, she said. I dont claim that I know everything or that leadership at the U.N. is the same as leading South Carolina. But diplomacy itself is not new to me. In fact, I would suggest there is nothing more important to a governors success than her ability to unite those with different backgrounds, viewpoints, and objectives behind a common purpose.

Even as she was speaking, Israel reacted positively to Haleys testimony.

"We thank Ambassador-designate Haley, a true friend of Israel, for her unequivocal support and her clear statement regarding the U.N.'s discrimination against Israel, said Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon in a statement. We look forward to working together with her to undo the damage done by the shameful Security Council resolution, and to lead towards a new era at the U.N., which includes real reforms that will put an end to the biased obsession with Israel."
A report issued Tuesday by the U.N. stabilization mission in Haiti rebukes local authorities for a losing battle against vigilante violence and displaying passivity or even tolerating mobs taking the law into their own hands.

The human rights section of the U.N. mission, known by its French acronym Minustah, said there has been only one conviction in a lynching case out of 483 incidents and 59 arrests reported between 2012 and 2015.

Frederic Gouin, coordinator of a legal analysis unit in the U.N. mission, told The Associated Press that researchers found that inaction is merely a result of lack of will more than lack of resources or capacity.

The report calls on Haiti's justice ministry and judiciary to clearly instruct police, prosecutors and judges on their obligation to protect victims of lynching and take on cases instead of looking the other way.

A lot could be achieved through very simple means, Gouin said.

The findings and various recommendations have been submitted to Haitian Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles, but his office has not made any comment. Haitian National Police spokesman Garry Desrosiers told AP he could not speak about the report because he had not read it.

Vigilante attacks in Haiti have long been seen as a response over a dysfunctional justice system that all but ignores those living outside the crowded capital of Port-au-Prince.

But the new research suggests that lynching is mainly an urban phenomenon in Haiti. Some 70 percent of all reported lynching deaths between 2009 and 2015 occurred in the densely populated West department which includes Port-au-Prince.

Vigilante justice accounts for 11 percent of killings in Haiti, where homicide rates have long been far below the rates of many other countries in the hemisphere. Since 2009, there has been a slight increase in lynching deaths, with 7.5 per month in 2009 to 8.1 per month in 2015. There was a peak of 10 per month in the first half of 2014.

Nicole Phillips, a human rights lawyer with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, said lynchings and other crimes will continue to go unsolved until the government prioritizes improvements to the justice system. She said pervasive corruption must be rooted out.

Haitians must also understand how to enforce their legal and human rights within the justice system, rather than reverting to their own form of justice, she said.

Citizens interviewed by the AP often appear indifferent to or approving of vigilante justice, arguing that the absence of a fair and efficient legal system gives people no choice but to take the law into their own hands.

The U.N. report says a precise breakdown of killing methods in 80 percent of the reported lynching cases remains unknown since that level of detail is missing in most police reports. But stoning, machete attacks and decapitations are reported by witnesses and AP journalists in Haiti who have gone to the scenes of numerous lynchings over the years.

The large majority of Haitian lynching victims are male theft suspects. Twenty-five percent of women targeted for vigilante violence are suspected of being witches, according to the U.N. report.
Floods in Mozambique have killed dozens of people and displaced hundreds of thousands. 55 people have been killed so far, according to the United Nations, which said it needs at least $15 million in relief aid to replace destroyed homes and help the mass of displaced victims.The southern African country, a sea outlet for nine major river systems, sees passing tropical cyclones drop heavy rains, leaving it prone to severe flooding on a regular basis. This year floods washed through the countrys north, where the Zambezi river overflowed after heavy rains, and the south, where the Limpopo River basin flooded.The Mozambican government, the South African government and aid agencies are working to help the afflicted.Lola Castro, coordinator for the U.N. and other aid groups in Mozambique who anticipates damages could reach $27 million, says the first priority is to assist the more than 150,000 affected or displaced, and to make sure they have food, medication and a safe place to live.The second concern is ... not only millions of [destroyed] structures like roads and dikes and irrigation systems, [but] schools, health centers and other basic social infrastructure which will be needed to be repaired," she said.In the northern flood zone, reporter Jinty Jackson encountered children drinking filthy water who hadn't eaten in more than a week, and the mother of newborn baby who had been born on the roof of a home engulfed by raging floodwaters.Named Rofino, Jinty said, the four-day-old boy "was wrapped in blankets, and he was just sitting in his mothers arms by the side of the road. And she was a bit too shy to speak, but her sister told me ... they had to escape the water, it sent them up to the roof. She started to say, Ive got pains, Ive got pains, and the baby was born on the roof, during the night.In southern Mozambique, which was also hit hard by recent floods, medical aid group Doctors Without Borders established a health post in the city of Chokwe, where it is hosting some 40,000 people in temporary camps. More than 100,000 people were displaced by the floods in that area.The worst Mozambique flood in recent memory happened in 2000 and left at least 700 people dead. The U.N.'s Castro says this years crisis shows that things are getting better. She cited improvements in the early warning system, in infrastructure and in response to such calamities.We can safely say that in the last 13 years, since the 2000 floods, there has been a huge improvement," said Castro. "[Each year] less and less people are affected by these floods and other events, because there is prevention  people have been settling in special areas which are less vulnerable. But there still is a lot that needs to be done.U.N. officials said the rainfall in January in Mozambique has been the heaviest since 2000.Jinty Jackson contributed to this report from Maputo, Mozambique.
The United States has signed defense cooperation agreements with Lithuania and Estonia, formalizing the deployment of thousands of troops to bolster NATO defenses in the face of a Russian threat of aggression.

The agreements, signed Tuesday, will regulate the legal status of U.S. armed forces in the two Baltic states and are part of the biggest NATO reinforcement since the end of the Cold War. Four multinational battalions are being deployed in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Far greater numbers of Russian troops are stationed just across the border, but the multinational makeup of NATO's deployment is designed as a so-called tripwire defense, said Jonathan Eyal of Britain's Royal United Services Institute.

"All of them could suffer exactly the same fate if there is an invasion of these countries," he said. "And therefore any invasion of these countries will automatically trigger off a response by all the NATO countries."

The United States is sending close to 6,000 troops, alongside tanks, heavy weapons and aircraft. It will lead the NATO battalion deployed in Poland.

In a newspaper interview this week, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump called NATO "obsolete," rattling European allies. Eyal said front-line states fear the U.S. deployment could be scaled back.

Watch: US Signs Defense Agreements With Baltic States

'Divided' alliance

"NATO at the moment is a divided organization," he said. "There are certain countries where there are American troops. There are others where there are none. The deployment was meant to equalize the security umbrella of the alliance. If there is anyone in Washington who draws back from that position, that would have serious consequences for the alliance."

Russia has deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles alongside thousands of troops to its exclave of Kaliningrad, which borders Poland and Lithuania. This week, Lithuania announced plans for a border fence along the frontier. It is not designed to prevent a military incursion, but to deter other illegal activity, said Linas Kojala of the Eastern Europe Studies Center in Vilnius, who spoke to VOA via Skype.

"The first aim is to ensure that the border is being surveilled all the time and that there are officers who are able to see what is going on in different stretches of the border," Kojala said. "And, of course, the scenarios that can occur there are both smuggling and some kind of hybrid activities that we've seen coming from Russia in our neighboring countries such as Ukraine or even Estonia."

Estonia alleges Russia abducted one of its border guards on Estonian territory in 2014 in a cross-border raid. Moscow said the guard was on the Russian side of the frontier. NATO members fear Russia could attempt similar so-called hybrid tactics, such as the kind Moscow used in its forceful takeover of Crimea in 2014, following the new Baltic deployments.
The United States urged Belgrade and Pristina on Tuesday to avoid dangerous rhetoric after Kosovo denied entry to a train painted in the Serbian national colors with Kosovo is Serbia emblazoned on its side.

Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci has accused Serbia of planning to seize a slice of northern Kosovo using the Crimea model, a reference to the Russian annexation of the peninsula.

His Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic has said Pristina showed it wanted war by deploying special police at the border to block the train. The train was supposed to travel to ethnic Serbian enclaves in Kosovo.

U.S. supports Kosovo

Kosovo, backed by the U.S. and major west European states, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Belgrade considers it part of its territory and supports a Serb minority there.

Kosovo is a sovereign, independent country and we respect the right of Kosovo to manage who and what crosses its borders, the U.S. embassy in Pristina said in a statement.

We urge all sides to avoid dangerous rhetoric and continue to work for the normalization of relations.

EU involvement encouraged

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday tensions were sharply rising in the Balkans and the European Union must help de-escalate the situation there.

NATO airstrikes on Serbia forced it to withdraw its troops in 1999 after killing about 10,000 ethnic Albanian civilians there. NATO still has around 5,000 troops stationed in Kosovo to keep the fragile peace.

Nikolic said after meeting the U.S. ambassador to Belgrade on Tuesday that U.S. politics had caused trouble in the region and expressed hoped the new Trump administration would be more supportive of Serbia's policies.

Tensions build after arrest in France

Relations between Belgrade and Pristina came under renewed strain on January 4 when former Kosovo prime minister Ramush Haradinaj was arrested in France on a warrant from Serbia, which accuses him of war crimes.

Kosovo Albanians make up more than 90 percent of Kosovo's 1.8 million population. Northern Kosovo is home to a Serb minority of around 40,000 to 50,000 people who do not consider Pristina as their capital.

Normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia is a key condition for both countries to progress towards membership in the European Union both governments are aiming for.
The United States made a $500 million payment Tuesday to the U.N. Green Climate Fund, three days before handing over power to a new president who has called global warming a "hoax."

President Barack Obama made a $3 billion pledge to the fund in 2014. Tuesday's $500 million was the second payment in fulfilling that pledge.

"The GCF supports developing nations in their efforts ... to become more resilient to climate change, ... reducing the global and national security risks associated with inadequate adoption and preparedness for extreme weather events and other climate-related impacts," State Department spokes John Kirby said.

Kirby later told reporters there was no "nefarious desire" to provoke a reaction from the new administration by announcing the payment three days before Donald Trump takes over.

It is possible that the Trump administration could decide to withhold the rest of the U.S. pledge to the fund.

Trump has threatened to tear up the Paris climate change agreement.

But his nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said at his confirmation hearing last week that it is important for the U.S. to have a "seat at the table" in tackling global warming.
Vietnam shows signs of softening its approach toward China over their bitter maritime dispute, a move welcomed by nervous leaders in Beijing as it could rebalance Hanois foreign policy away from Washington while cooling decades of strife.

Beijing and Hanoi issued a communique Saturday proposing negotiations on their conflicting claims in the South China Sea, state-run media from both sides report. The two sides will also look for shorter-term solutions that avoid slighting either countrys political position, the reports say.

Cooperation with China would remove the thorniest opponent to Beijings expansion in the sea. Four other governments claim the ocean, which is rich in fishery stocks and possible fuel reserves. They normally keep quiet about Beijings military maneuvers and reclamation of small, disputed islets.

Friendlier Sino-Vietnamese ties also would help protect marine shipping lanes that bring exports from Asia to markets in the West and make the commercial fishing industry safer for the millions who depend on it, said Frederick Burke, a partner with the multinational law firm Baker & McKenzie in Ho Chi Minh City.

There was a concern about instability, and that this might be a flashpoint for conflicts as Chinas military capacity continues to grow, Burke said. I think those concerns wont disappear overnight, but this is a very strong positive message that the parties will work things out.

Vietnam is often described as the most assertive opponent of Chinas expansion into the 3.5 million-square-km sea since around 2010. It competes with China to reclaim land in the Spratly chain and has criticized Beijings control of the Paracel Islands, which lie east of Vietnam and southwest of Hong Kong.

In 1974, China seized Paracel islets occupied then by South Vietnamese troops and 70 Vietnamese sailors died in a naval battle with China in 1988. In 2014, the two sides got into a boat ramming clash that set off deadly anti-China riots in Vietnam.

Relations showed initial signs of a thaw in September when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to manage maritime differences and improve cooperation.

Stung by a world arbitration court ruling against the basis for its claim to 95 percent of the sea, China was keen then to negotiate differences with other countries.

A peace-seeking statement from China and any other maritime claimant fits Chinas damage-control agenda after the arbitration verdict in July, said Denny Roy, senior fellow at the U.S. think tank East-West Center.

China prefers bilateral talks rather than negotiating through multi-party organizations such as the 10-country Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN or the world court, which may dwarf Beijing's diplomatic clout, analysts believe.

The communique issued Saturday in Beijing was part of Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs four-day visit to China, where he met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Its too early to tell what will come of the statement itself, analysts say. It overlaps points in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea signed by countries throughout Southeast Asia, Roy said.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines also claim all or parts of the sea.

Vietnam may be keen to engage China now as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office Friday, some experts say.

Trump says he plans to withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP, a 12-country trade zone led by the United States and including Vietnam. Vietnams economy depends heavily on exports, including to the United States and fellow TPP member Japan. The 12 countries signed the deal about a year ago.

I think Vietnam officially, given that the TPP now hasnt passed, theres probably an incentive for Vietnam officially to engage with China, said Alaistair Chan, an economist with Moody's Analytics in Australia. Obviously all countries will be wanting more extra stability in the region. I think its more of a Vietnam issue more than anything, though.

The Vietnamese news website Vietnamnet.vn reported the Communist party heads agreed last week to accelerate talks on demarcating an area in the shared Gulf of Tonkin and move toward joint development. The agreements mean effectively stepping up joint projects in less sensitive fields, the report said.

People in Vietnam are not changing their expectations toward China yet, especially on economic relations, said Hoang Viet Phuong, head of institutional research and investment advisory with SSI Securities Services in Hanoi.

At this point in time we havent seen any real development except for the recent visit to China, but the real impact, we need to work on that, she said. I think people might not be that excited, except for the fact that last year we know that quite a lot of tourists came to Vietnam.
Washington is a city in transition this week as President Barack Obama prepares to give way to his successor, President-elect Donald Trump. Think moving vans, ball gowns and security fences as excited Trump supporters flock to Washington to celebrate the inauguration of the 45th president.

Anti-Trump protesters also are expected to be out in force before, during and after the Friday inauguration.

The latest polls point to one of Trumps biggest challenges as he prepares to assume office. New surveys by CNN/ORC and The Washington Post and ABC News have Trumps approval percentage in the low 40s, making him the least popular president to take the reins of power in decades.



By contrast, Barack Obama had a 79 percent approval rating when he took office, while George W. Bush came to the White House with a 62 percent favorable rating.

On Twitter, Trump quickly dismissed the latest polls as rigged, noting that the same pollsters also conducted phony surveys during last years election.

Obama leaves on high note

In contrast to Trump, President Obama registered 58 percent approval in the latest Gallup poll, a source of both pride and wistfulness among his Democratic supporters.

Obama has tried to accentuate the positive during his final weeks in the White House. This included his own, lengthy summing up of his legacy in a farewell address to supporters last week in Chicago.

For those of us fortunate enough to have been part of this work and to see it up close, let me tell you, it can energize and inspire. And more often than not, your faith in America and in Americans will be confirmed, Obama said.

City in transition

In Washington, the ritual of preparing for Trumps inauguration has been well under way, complete with stand-ins rehearsing the oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, where he will be sworn in.

At a news conference last week, Trump promised his inauguration would be memorable. The 20th [of January] is going to be something that will be very, very special, very beautiful. And I think we are going to have massive crowds because we have a movement. It is a movement like the world has never seen before.

Organizers expect about 800,000 will turn out for the inauguration and parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, roughly the size of the crowd for Obamas second inaugural four years ago, but well short of the estimated 1.8 million who turned out to see the countrys first black president sworn into office in 2009.

Political divisions on display

Trumps Friday inauguration already has sparked protests among those opposed to his plans to tighten immigration and do away with Obamas signature health care law, the Affordable Care Act.

More than 50 congressional Democrats have decided to stay away, fueled in part by a feud between Trump and Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, a Democrat from Georgia.

As he prepares to take office, Trump faces an enormous challenge in trying to unify the country, according to political analyst Michael Barone with the American Enterprise Institute.

I think Donald Trump faces probably a greater challenge, to the extent he wants to do that, than the last three presidents, each of whom faced a significant challenge in that regard, said Barone, who acknowledges he was surprised by Trumps victory in November. Barone was a guest on VOAs Press Conference USA.

Press and Twitter

Trump has signaled an aggressive approach to dealing with the media. During last weeks news conference, he refused to recognize a CNN correspondent, angered by that networks reporting of alleged Russian attempts to stockpile compromising information on Trump.

No, not you. Not you. Your organization is terrible, Trump said as the correspondent insisted he had a right to ask a question.

Trumps skeptical view of the press and his reliance on Twitter as his chief form of communication present Washington with a startling new reality, said National Journal contributing editor Tom DeFrank.

Here is his operating style. He loves being in the center of the maelstrom. He loves chaos because he knows at the end he is going to make the decision and thats it, DeFrank said on VOAs Issues in the News.

Hes a showman. Hes an impresario. Hes a maestro and he does it very, very well. Now the question is, does that serve his purposes as president?

Even though his poll ratings are low, Trump still can count on firm support from his political base, according to University of Virginia analyst Larry Sabato.

As always, as we learned during the campaign, Trumps followers will believe absolutely anything he says. And if they dont, they simply dont care. Sabato spoke to VOA via Skype.

Change already has come

Trumps style of communicating and his Cabinet picks have demonstrated a sharp contrast with the outgoing president.

There is the change that Donald Trump brings about with his style, said John Fortier of the Bipartisan Policy Center. I mean, Donald Trump is very different than any other president in terms of his communications and in terms of his being unafraid to wade into controversy. It will certainly not be a dull time.
A White House spokesman says President-elect Donald Trump's administration will have to choose whether to side with the U.S. intelligence community, or Russia and WikiLeaks.

Josh Earnest was responding to a question about Russian President Vladimir Putin's accusing President Barack Obama's administration of attempting to undercut Trump by spreading false information.

Putin said last week's release of an unverified dossier containing salacious allegations about Trump was part of an effort to "undermine the legitimacy of the president-elect" in spite of Trump's "convincing" presidential win.

Putin described as "fake" an allegation in the document that Trump engaged in sexual activities at a Moscow hotel in 2013. Putin added that those responsible for the allegations are "worse than prostitutes," and he questioned why Trump would "need prostitutes" when he has "been with the most beautiful women in the world."

U.S. intelligence agencies released a report concluding that Russia, under Putin's orders, worked to undermine the U.S. presidential election and aspired to help Trump win.

Earnest defended the work of the intelligence community at Tuesday's White House briefing, saying this is not the first time those agencies have had "some uncomfortable things to say about Russia."

"These are the kinds of things that I'm sure the Russians would rather not hear," Earnest said. "But ultimately -- and this is something that the next administration is going to have to decide -- there's a pretty stark divide here."

Trump has blamed the intelligence community for leaking unsubstantiated information, which also linked Trump to the Russian government, and questioned whether Central Intelligence Director John Brennan was responsible.

In a Twitter post last week, the president-elected compared the intelligence community to Nazi Germany.

In an interview Monday with The Wall Street Journal, Brennan described the comparison to the Nazi's as "repugnant" and said Trump's criticism of the intelligence community's credibility was unwarranted. "Tell the families of those 117 CIA officers who are forever memorialized on our wall of honor that their loved ones, who gave their lives, were akin to Nazi's," said Brennan.

Brennan denied leaking the dossier, which was compiled by a retired British intelligence officer. Brennan said a synopsis of the report was included in briefing documents that were delivered to President Obama and President-elect Trump at the request of the FBI.

The dossier had circulated around Washington for months before it was published by BuzzFeed News last week.

At a separate news conference Tuesday in Moscow, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said relations with the U.S. could improve when Trump assumes the presidency.

"If what Donald Trump and his team say about Russia, the readiness to search for joint approaches to the resolution of common problems and the deterrence of common threats ... we will reciprocate," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister said Trump administration officials should attend talks in Kazakhstan later this month devoted to ending Syrian civil war. Lavrov expressed hope that a Trump administration "will not apply double standards in order to use the war on terrorism to achieve goals that don't have anything to do with this goal."

The U.S. and Russia have clashed over the Syrian conflict during the Obama administration, with Washington backing moderate rebel groups, while Russia has thrown its full support behind the government of Bashar al-Assad.
The world needs China and the United States to have a stable and cooperative relationship, Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, just days before new uncertainty looms with Donald Trump taking office as president.

Meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Xi told Biden that he positively appraised his efforts to increase friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries, China's Foreign Ministry said late on Tuesday.

In the 38 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, relations between the two countries have weathered wind and rain, but generally have continued to forge ahead, the statement paraphrased Xi as saying.

Biden hopes to expand cooperation

Under President Barack Obama, there has been a correct development in relations, and important and positive results achieved, with trade and people-to-people exchanges reaching new highs, Xi added.

The basic interests of the people of both countries and the world need China and the United States to work hard, to form a long-term, stable cooperative relationship, Xi said.

The statement cited Biden as saying that the United States hopes the two countries can continue to deepen mutual trust and expand cooperation.

No mention of Trump

It made no mention of Trump, though China's top diplomat, State Councillor Yang Jiechi, who last month met a senior advisor to Trump, also attended the Xi-Biden meeting, the foreign ministry said.

Trump, who takes office on Friday, has rattled Beijing with threats to impose tariffs on Chinese imports and by questioning the United States' commitment to the one China policy, under which Washington acknowledges China's position that Taiwan is part of its territory.
Tibetan protesters in Switzerland say they are frustrated with the Swiss government for allegedly making it more difficult for them to protest a visit by China's leader Xi Jinping.

On Sunday, Swiss authorities gave a two-hour window for the Tibetans to protest before Xi arrived for an official reception in Bern. Some 32 Swiss-Tibetan protesters were arrested as they shouted Shame on China, Free Tibet and Don't Deal with Killer.

One Tibetan man in his 20s was stopped as he attempted to self-immolate, according to Bern police. The Office of Tibet in Switzerland said all of those detained were released later the same day.

The head of the Tibetan association, which organizes the protests, complained that the Swiss government's reluctance in issuing permits will affect protests planned for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Swiss take advantage?

Tenzin Nyingpo, the president of Tibetan Community in Switzerland, said his organization canceled the upcoming demonstrations after Swiss officials asked the group to withdraw its application for a permit. He said the officials in turn agreed to let them protest Wednesday when Xi visits the United Nation's office in Geneva. On Tuesday, Xi is scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, becoming the first Chinese president to participate in the gathering.

Tenzin Nyingpo said Monday the Swiss officials now asked him to either cancel Wednesday's plan or stage a protest only after the U.N. offices are closed.

As Tibetans, we've compromised our plans to support Swiss government's demands, Nyingpo told VOA. But now I feel Swiss officials are taking advantage of us.

Controlled demonstrations

In an email statement, Pierre-Alain Eltschinger, a spokesperson from the Swiss foreign ministry, said, Demonstrations in Bern are always subject to authorization by the local authorities. In the present case, the demonstration has been authorized within a specific time frame and location.

Switzerland was one of the first countries to host Tibetan refugees in the early 1960s when Tibetans had fled to India from Chinese occupation of their country.

Today, there are about 3,500 Tibetans living in Switzerland, according to a Swiss Tibetan Community website.
Pilot Pay & Display Parking Scheme at Portland House

The Ministry for Infrastructure and Planning have today announced as part of the Sustainable Traffic, Transport and Parking Plan (STTPP) that as from Thursday 19th January 2017, Government will be launching a pilot Pay & Display zone along Glacis Road in the lay-by area in front of Portland House.

The area will now provide Pay & Display parking bays operational from the hours of 09:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday and 10:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays, with Sundays free.

The introduction of Pay & Display areas are in keeping with the recommendations of the plan and provide parking turnaround and access to the areas with free parking beyond the Pay & Display times.

The Minister for Infrastructure and Planning the Hon Paul Balban said:

I am pleased to see that as part of the continued workings of the STTPP the introduction of another pilot scheme. The STTPP has highlighted the need to provide quick turnaround of vehicles around commercial areas.
Mount Alvernia Refurbishment

Mount Alvernia is currently undergoing a refurbishment programme, which will create additional space for the provision of 24 more beds by relocating staff facilities and administration areas within the buildings. Local contractor GJBS has been commissioned to carry out the works on behalf of the Government.

The increased capacity at Mount Alvernia is in addition to the 52 beds that will be made available at the Dementia Residential Home, due to open this quarter.

Minister for Health, Care Service and Justice, the Hon Neil Costa MP, said that he was delighted that more beds would become available for elderly persons who need round-the- clock care.

Minister Costa said: In keeping with our ethos of care for the vulnerable sectors of the community, the Government is always looking at ways in which to improve and develop the services we provide to elderly citizens. There is always a surge in hospital admissions during the winter months and we are determined to tackle it decisively by providing new resources and extra facilities. The Mount Alvernia refurbishment project is an excellent initiative, which, when completed, will release bed space at St Bernards Hospital.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Vulture Festival

If watching so much Greys Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder, and The Catch has prevented you from experiencing human connection unless its brought to you by TV super-producer Shonda Rhimes then today is a good day. ABC has just ordered a pilot for an unnamed legal drama that will be penned by Scandal writer and producer Paul William Davies, and overseen by Rhimes and her Shondaland sister in arms, Betsy Beers. The show will focus on a collection of green lawyers who work on opposite sides of the system in the Southern District New York Federal Court. Some fight for the defense and others for the prosecution, but theyre all tackling cases with the highest of profiles that have the highest of stakes. Also, their personal lives intersect, and it feels reasonable to assume that means a lot of these people will be sleeping with each other. Rhimess next great industry challenge will presumably be getting Earth to spin more slowly so she can add another hour of programming to her TGIT lineup.
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

While Washington, D.C., witnesses the soft sensuality of Donald Trumps inauguration on Friday, on the other side of the country Audioslave will be reuniting for a celebration of resistance at Prophet of Rages Anti-Inaugural Ball in L.A. Though three of Audioslaves members (Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford) are still rocking together in rap-rock supergroup Prophets of Rage, this will mark the first occasion in over a decade when theyll be performing a set all together with Brad Wilk. Pitchfork reports that the occasion was particularly ripe for the four to get back together as it marks the 20th anniversary of a Radio Free Los Angeles, a protest concert held during President Clintons inauguration, which was led by Rage Against the Machine (which, for those of you who dont remember the 90s, Morello, Commerford and Wilk were all a part of). The Anti-Inaugural Ball will also feature performances by Vic Mensa, Jackson Browne, Jack Black, and the Los Angeles Freedom Choir. Prophets of Rage, in addition to the former Audioslave guys, is also comprised of two members of Public Enemy (DJ Lord and Chuck D) and Cypress Hills B-Real. Morello described the purpose of the show:
There she is. Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for TIDAL

The Womens March on Washington has already received overwhelming support from plenty of famous women (and their woke male allies), but what feminist uprising hasnt benefited from a Beyonce endorsement? Breaking her silence on political matters since campaigning for Hillary Clinton just before the election, Beyonce has posted a brief note on Facebook encouraging people to get involved with the Womens March. As #GlobalCitizens, we can make our voices heard and turn awareness into meaningful action and positive change, she writes, referencing one of the many human-rights organizations shes associated with, including Chime for Change. Because all we can really do in these dark days ahead is hope to march in formation with the precision of Bey and her army of dancers this Saturday. Godspeed, ladies.
Photo: Focus Features/IMDB

Ten years after David Cronenbergs 2007 gangster film Eastern Promises was released in theaters, the sequel is finally being produced. According to Consequence of Sound, a casting notice for Body Cross (a.k.a. Eastern Promises 2) was released in London, and the movie will begin filming in March. Though Cronenbergs involvement in the feature is unclear, the screenwriter Steven Knight, who is behind the current Tom Hardy vehicle Taboo, is fully onboard. In an interview with IndieWire back in 2014, Knight said that he had already written Body Cross, and I can say the script for the second one is much better that the first. Honestly, its one of the things Ive written that I most like and its driving me mad  so Ive got to get it made. Heres the description of the sequel as posted on the casting notice:

The sequel picks up where the 2007 film left off  with the incompetent underboss Kirill thinking that he and his henchman driver Nikolai really have inherited the throne from his crime-lord father, without knowing that Nikolai is actually a clandestine agent working undercover in Russias federal security service.

Since the description includes Kirill (Vincent Cassel) and Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), it can be assumed that both actors are onboard. Mortensens performance in the 2007 movie earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Whether Mortensen will reprise the famous nude fight scene this time around is anyones guess.
Fiona Apple. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images

This weekend, thousands upon thousands of activists are expected to descend upon Washington, D.C. for the Womens March on Washington, while many others will join marches taking place simultaneously at various cities throughout the country the day after Donald Trumps inauguration. Thanks to Fiona Apple, theyll all hopefully be united by one rallying cry. Apple has already made it crystal clear that she thinks Trump is a criminal by releasing a twisted Christmas carol insinuating that hes a child molester. Now, behold her latest contribution to the deep well of anti-Trump protest songs: the highly unsubtle Tiny Hands. Clocking in at just a minute, its less a song and more like a straight-to-the-point chant aimed at grabbing Trump by his own unmentionables. We dont want your tiny hands / anywhere near our underpants, she repeats throughout the, ahem, low blow. The song was written with composer Michael Whalen, whos known for making many an oddly satisfying jingle in his day, and uses audio from Pussygate. If this isnt the Womens March anthem, well all have truly failed the cause.
Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

There are lots of reasons to not watch the inauguration of Donald Trump. Some of them are fair and come from a healthy sense of self-knowledge. If you know that watching Donald Trump be officially sworn in as our 45th president of the United States is going to crater your productivity, your ability to function, or your healthy emotional coping skills for an excessive period of time, and potentially create a spiral that will be hard to recover from, dont watch. Of the many inauguration events, the biggest ceremony happens around noon on Friday, so there will be many people who simply cant watch from work. There are people who will be traveling, people who are ill, people who have other significant life-related conflicts that prevent them from sitting in front of a TV at lunchtime on a weekday.

But if none of the above applies to you, you should watch the presidential inauguration.

You should watch it even if  especially if  you are mulling an inaugural-viewing boycott in order to deny the president-elect the satisfaction of good TV ratings. This is the argument of Bill Scher in the New Republic, who suggests that the best way to diminish Trumps potency and impact will be to look away. I know that every time I give Trump a ratings point, a YouTube view, or even an unrecorded gaze, I am doing what he wants, what he needs to survive, Scher writes. Rather than feed into his political theater, he writes, we should instead refuse to participate: What better way to combat a performer-politician than by diminishing his stage?

Its not hard to empathize with that perspective, or to find it alluring and persuasive. After a campaign season when Trump patently benefited from being a ratings machine and from making sure his interests aligned with the profit margins of cable news companies, its not hard to see removing eyeballs as a strategy for deflating his power. Its the wisdom weve all been trying to learn and internalize over the past decades of the TV boom: Our attention equals ratings, and ratings equal money for the thing were watching. From this perspective, and in most TV contexts, thats correct  your eyeballs make money for whatever youre watching, and by watching, youre essentially indicating your tacit consent for the object in front of you. Youre voting with your monetizable attention.

Feel free to use that logic when deciding not to watch CNNs half-hour Ivanka Trump puff piece, or avoiding anything thats been touched by Rob Schneider. And heck, if you actually are a Nielsen family this week, and you know for certain that your viewing is monitored on Friday, then sure, knock yourself out. Watch TCMs airing of A Face in the Crowd instead.

Otherwise, though, we need to reframe our understanding of ratings and money in this context, and accept the fact that not watching the future president be inaugurated is fundamentally unlike boycotting Fox News punditry or not watching Survivor. His election may not have been legitimate, and you may disagree with every single thing about whats about to happen, but he will still become our president. The great ship Make Him Go Away by Ignoring Him sailed long ago  there was never enough momentum to make that strategy work during the campaign, and ignoring him now will do nothing at all to stop his presidency. At this point, pretending that your inattention will help anything falls somewhere between foolhardiness and civic irresponsibility.

We have this idea of watching something as a passive activity, as though allowing words and images to enter your brain involves no input and requires no processing on your part. That can be true. But there are ways to watch and ways to give your attention beyond a silent, implicit endorsement. If Trump is a media-driven animal, focused more on TV production and brand management than on policy, his presidency requires us all to become media critics, to take an active role in considering the object in front of us. Ignoring it entirely in favor of a filtered version, predigested and contextualized by your chosen media frame, is a way to cede the work of active watching and foist it onto someone else.

There are two aspects to the argument for watching the inauguration. The first is the one Ive just been laying out: Once Trump was actually elected president, the idea that ignoring him could be a useful way to reduce his power went from misguided to complete ostrich with its head in the sand. The second part of the argument is the idea that the inauguration itself is something worth watching, even though, unlike middle-of-the-night votes on the ACA or hearings on the cabinet, it will be a big fat nothing-burger of governmental action. Itll be almost completely empty of actual policy; itll be a Trump-designed, Trump-centered melee of pomp and circumstance; itll be sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Heres the thing: As great as that line is, sound and fury are often pretty good signifiers. Especially in an administration where the presidents primary concerns are television appearances and his Twitter account, a media circus is as close to an actual articulate message as this man may ever communicate. Think of last weeks press conference, in which Trump said countless terrifying, false, and contradictory things. His words matter, because hes the president-elect, but the most coherent idea to come out of that conference was the one you could really only see by watching on TV: the massive pile of manila folders that no one was even allowed to read. If we try to look beyond the shiny surface exterior of Trumps inaugural festivities and search for the backbone of governmental logic within, we may well find nothing (except a smiling Paul Ryan and a coterie of terrifying cabinet appointees). Pomp and circumstance, media circuses, sounds and furies  these things are the message. We need to learn how to be thoughtful critics of them, and that starts by actually watching them.

Images and metaphors matter. Images like the dozens of representatives who are boycotting the inauguration are important, and hopefully the inaugural ceremony will look like a paltry gathering compared with a groundswell of protest the next day. But watching only those parts and carefully cutting out the bits that will make you feel uncomfortable, that will leave you with a sour taste in your mouth and the desire to punch things, is a form of denial that we dont have the luxury to wallow in any longer.

There is one argument against watching the inauguration thats undeniably hard to counter: Its probably going to boring, terrible, or both. The inauguration planning committee has been famously, hilariously incapable of booking any musical talent whatsoever. There will be no fun celebrity cameos. It will not be funny. It will not be entertaining, and it will not make you feel good. As a TV critic, its pretty hard to put the inauguration on any well-intentioned list of recommended viewing.

You should still watch it. You should watch it because he will be our next president, like it or not. You should watch it because watching the whole of it, rather than clips filtered through other media, will give you a stronger, more visceral, more immediate sense of the reality of whats going on. You should watch it actively, skeptically, thoughtfully, critically, and as just one part of a bigger plan of action and resistance. You should watch it because its really happening, and we need to learn how to look directly at the thing we dont like or dont understand. Refusing to watch Trump will not make him less the president. We need to learn to watch the president we have, and use that knowledge so that we never let this kind of presidency happen again.
Netflix is carving out a big space for Jerry Seinfeld. The comedian will be moving his series Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee to the streaming service as part of a large overall deal that includes two stand-up specials by him as well as the development of scripted and non-scripted comedy content. Comedians In Cars has aired for nine seasons on the digital service Crackle, from Sony, and this will likely be a tough blow for the burgeoning original content provider. Season 10 will arrive on Netflix with a 24-episode order later this year, along with the first of Seinfelds comedy specials.
Before we get to this weeks episode, I need to apologize to Kim Richards for suggesting that she stole a dress. In the last episode, we were treated to a scene of Kim removing a tag from the hem of a skirt she bought at Bloomingdales. Considering she is a convicted shoplifter and such an ado was made about her removing the tag, it was made to look like she lifted the thing. In fact, it is a b-tag, a device that stores have started using so people dont wear dresses once and then return them. Sorry, Kim.

However, I dont accept full responsibility since that scene was meant to make us falsely believe that Kim stole the dress. I think its the producers who really need to apologize. You wouldnt blame someone who steps on a landmine for the explosion; you would blame the person who put it there in the first place, and this mine seems to have a cerulean blue Watch What Happens logo on it.

Also, I must apologize about something else. Since Eden Sassoon is not an official diamond-holding addition to the cast of this season, I decided to prematurely lift the gag order imposed by the Eileen Davidson Accord of 2013. In the last couple of episodes, she came off sort of hip and New Agey, like the one yoga teacher in any of L.A.s many canyons that you could possibly stand hanging out with. After closer inspection, shes more grating than I originally anticipated.



This first hint comes out when she goes shopping with Lisar and says that she felt a disconnect with Kyle at Game Nightmare. Eden looks straight at the camera and says, I will know her, looking a little bit too much like Jennifer Jason Leigh from Single White Female for my taste. Then she tries to psychoanalyze why Kyle might not have connected with her. Maybe it was because she was a sober women stepping in to be with Kim? Maybe it was because she symbolizes a lifestyle Kyle doesnt embrace? Um, no, Eden. Its probably because she was hosting a party with all of her friends and you were the only new person. No big deal.

Then, when she goes out to lunch with Kyle and Lisar, instead of trying to connect with Kyle, she peppers her with questions about Kims sobriety and who in their family is a drinker and what she thinks of Pariss latest fragrance and if Nikki is still mad at Maurice  sorry, I mean Mauricio  and if she thinks Barron Hilton is cuter than Barron Trump, oh, and how mean was Bette Davis on the set of The Watcher in the Woods. I bet she was a nightmare! Jesus, Eden. If you want to connect with Kyle, how about asking some questions about her own life and trying to get to know her, not crying about your journey with sobriety to try to find a way in.

Meanwhile, Dorit decides to talk to her husband, PK, a soliloquy of belches, about what happened at Game Nightmare and he responds with a string of jokes so lame that even the @DadJokes Twitter account was like, Sorry, Hey, I just called Uber Broomstick to get your ride home, is not funny at all. Dorit decides to do the adult thing and invite Eileen and Lisar out to lunch to talk (and talk and talk and talk and talk) about all of their past injustices. I mean, Dorit does talk a lot. Dorit talks more often than Mauricio insists on wearing the Agency hats and T-shirts. Dorit spends more time talking than Ken Todd does putting tiny little outfits on hairless dogs. Dorit talks more than PK has back hair, thats how much Dorit talks.



But Dorit shows up to lunch with Eileen and Lisar wearing the most amazing white capelet, which is the best thing that Dorit has brought to this series thus far, and the three of them burn the Real Housewives sage and smudge the screeching ghost wraiths of their former fights away from this mortal plane and decide to move on with a clean slate. What went on between the three of them was just a silly series of miscommunications, so it really was best to just forget about this.

Speaking of Eileen and Lisar, I was so excited when they showed up on the set of Erika Jaynes new music video Xxpen$ive!@#$%^&*() \_()_/. I was really hoping that they would show up in an original Erika Jayne production because, well, I love a good Erika Jayne video. I am truly embarrassed at how many of the 1,167,822 views (make that 823  nope, 825  ugh, now its 853) on her PAINKILLR music video are actually mine. But, on second thought, having them in it would be a little bit too much Chic Cest La Vie. After seeing the two of them do their best aging 80s moves, I would like someone (Kandi Burruss?) to write them their very own dance single so that they can have their very own video where theyre done up like Alexis Colby and Krystal Carrington and brawl with each other to percussive dance beats.

Seeing such a wonderful music video is just about the only thing that would give me a worse case of the boners than seeing Erika Jaynes dancers in their tight swim trunks and without their shirts. I mean, its disgusting how conventionally attractive they all are in the blandest possible way. They really are the lowest common gaynominator (denomigaytor?), but I cant help myself. Since were proposing future projects, I would watch every single episode of their potential reality series, especially if they devour Mikey and the set of swimmies he calls lips on camera. That would be my favorite episode ever.

I loved absolutely everything about Erikas trip to Greece and I could watch about ten more episodes of it, especially because Erika Jayne as an endeavor is completely foolhardy. She thinks going to Greece will introduce her to all these new fans. Um, sorry, darling, but Mykonos in the summer is filled with the same New York and L.A. queens who already worship you. You are just preaching to one very fabulous choir. Also, with a team of ten (including an assistant named Laia, whose parents apparently spell the titles of all of Erikas songs) and a $50,000-a-week rental property, there is no way that Erika Jayne Enterprises LLC is breaking even on this trip. She could sell as many records as U2 and still not break even on this trip.

The best scene of the whole night, however, is back in L.A. when Lisa Vanderpump, her husband, her son, and 15 of their closest canine friends go to visit her old adoption attorney so that Max could potentially find his birth parents. We see a lot of Lisa, but we rarely see her allow herself to be vulnerable, so when she wells up with tears remembering how she brought her adopted son, Max, back from foster care and introduced him to her biological daughter, Pandora, well, its a rare moment of weakness for our old girl. She even tries to get up and walk away, not wanting anyone to see her express some real emotion.

She tells the room that it was a happy occasion, and she doesnt know why she was crying, but I do. Its because they are there thinking about Maxs biological parents. Although they cant take away all the time she took raising him and all the memories they have with each other, something about the proceedings leads to the inevitable thought exercise of what life might have been like had she not adopted him. How would their life have been different? Thinking like that is like having a loss. Change is always a loss. Just entertaining hypotheticals about that is why Lisa started to cry when she thought of that day in the airport, when Ken walked the baby out to her and Pandora, sitting by the idling Mercedes at the lower arrivals section of LAX. She was wearing sunglasses, big thick ones, and a hat, she doesnt remember exactly why or what it looked like, just that there was a hat. Pandora held on to her hand and the thick sweat of continued contact glued their flesh together.

Finally she saw Ken approaching the other side of the tinted automatic door, holding the baby in his arms like he was trying to score a goal with a squirmy rugby ball. The door opened and the light rushed inside, the pitiless glare of the California sun on a baby she knew was hers even though it didnt come from her own body. The day and her mind and her life opened up just like that door and she held her arms out, running toward Ken, to scoop up that rugby ball of a baby just as he moved his fat arm toward his squinting eyes in discombobulated jabs, trying to block out the light.
All due respect to the East India Company, but James Keziah Delaney has a new nemesis in town, and his name is Pius XIII. Thats right: Were all stars in the Pope Show, and thats the stage upon which Taboo co-creators Steven Wright and Tom Hardy now find themselves forced to perform. The Young Pope is undoubtedly a love-it-or-leave-it proposition, but its also a marvel of artifice and audacity that makes Taboo look positively tame, no matter how many tribal tattoos fit on Hardys nude body.

Of course, this second episode of Taboo has more going against it than stiff competition. For all the care put into constructing a convincingly squalid 19th-century London, Knights script too often feels like a first draft. For example: Am I the only one in this company with a brain? asks malevolent Sir Stuart Strange, after his East India underlings fail to grasp the nuances of his latest monologue. Its the kind of line that could have been turned into something clever, and thus illustrated the characters point, if it were given 30 extra seconds of thought.

Meanwhile, Hardys Delaney doesnt fare much better. Take his conversation with Winter, the tween daughter of local madam Helga, who leads him to the boat of an assassin hired to kill him. Why do you even believe Im telling the truth? she asks. Because, he answers. (Well, that settles that!) Or his remonstrance to Helga herself, when he tells her hed rather join forces than fight. You have good in you, he says, like hes cribbing dialogue from Luke Skywalker talking to Darth Vader. And hand to God, when Yankee spy Dumbarton (House of Cards Michael Kelly, his delivery subdued and intriguing) warns Delaney that America is an angry nation, I swear I predicted Delaneys response before the words Im counting on it even left his mouth.

If Im focusing on dialogue rather than plot, its because theres still not much plot to speak of. Delaney spends this episode much the same way he spent the first: sulking from place to place in lengthy establishing shots, then growling questions or commands at people with accents in varying degrees of comprehensibility and teeth in varying states of decay. This predictable pattern grows only more glaring given Delaneys attempt to find the man sent to murder him. For a guy worried that the worlds richest corporation has a price on his head, he sure seems determined to select his routes according to maximum ambushability.

Theres also the question of why its so hard for the EIC to find and kill Delaney when they know where he lives, where his boat is docked, where his lawyer works, and where his only surviving relative resides. Taboos London looks like the ninth circle of Hell, at least when Strange or Jamess sister Zilpha arent onscreen to class up the joint. Surely you have to watch your feet to avoid tripping over corpses, so why is this particular corpse so hard to create?

We certainly get no real answer from James himself. Two episodes into this eight-hour miniseries, he has yet to do anything worthy of his fearsome reputation; lighting a ship on fire and killing his would-be assassin after hed already been stabbed in the gut hardly count, even if he tears the guys throat as the coup de grace. As written, Delaney is presented as a cross between Batman (the training in foreign lands, the fortune, the murdered dad, the loyal butler, the cool black outfit) and Wolverine (the Canadian heritage, the hairiness, the feral temper, the teen-girl sidekick), but its hard to imagine either man inviting him to join the League of Extraordinary Badasses.

If Taboo is this intent on dragging its feet about Delaneys powers, it might as well focus on more out-of-the-ordinary material in the meantime. Case in point: the concert where James corners Zilpha for a rendezvous while the chamber orchestra plays the latest hit from hot young composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Its a glimpse of how this world works when its not doing HamiltonGame of Thrones crossover cosplay. Its hard, however, to suss out any real chemistry between the pair. Oona Chaplin is as gorgeous as Hardy, and her performance feels taut as a bowstring, but he talks to her in the same flat growl he uses on everyone else.

Even the beeswax candles used as timers by the auctioneer who sells James his new boat, or the lightweight stones its owners used to fill up the ships hastily concealed slave quarters, add unexpected detail to this murky period piece. Theyre certainly a better sight than the dissolute Prince Regent (Mark Gatiss, under pounds of unconvincing padding and prosthetics), whos a bit too colorful for the shows own good.

That said, the discovery that Delaneys new ship was a slaver is upsetting, and that certainly deserves some unpacking. We learn in this episode that the East India Companys involvement with the slave trade is not widely known, not even to Delaneys lawyer, who works as their spy. This means that he may well have been forced to crew the slave ship we see sinking in his flashbacks. Id go even further and suggest that he was perhaps a prisoner himself when the boat went down. Either way, this is a welcome development because the slaver-with-a-heart-of-gold trope  as seen in every Western movie and comic book in which the hero is an ex-Confederate  is as noxious as they come. On the other hand, it also speaks to Taboos fundamental artistic conservatism: A show this basic would never have its protagonist do something fundamentally unforgivable. Delaney may wear a black hat, but hes a white hat deep down.
Photo: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

When Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino began writing The Young Pope four years ago, he didnt set out to create a current story. His pontiff, Pope Pius XIII, played by Jude Law, is a conservative anti-establishment tyrant whose first public address is more like a tirade (You have forgotten God!). The Oscar-winner told Vulture in an interview that he was imagining the future of the Vatican, with no inkling that Europe and the United States would change so much socially and politically before his HBO show aired.

The ten-episode series, which airs Sunday and Monday nights beginning this week, unintentionally echoes the worlds political and social climate. I got very lucky, Sorrentino said. I was trying to understand how a pope of the future, of tomorrow, would be. And I had this idea, so perhaps, that means I have a future as a political pundit, as someone that can foresee the politics of the future, someone that can study and analyze the future.

Sorrentino wrote and directed the entire series, and has begun writing the second season, though HBO has not renewed yet it. With the help of a translator, Sorrentino spoke to Vulture about whether viewers should laugh with Pius, why he cast Law in the lead role, and that kangaroo.

This show goes everywhere in terms of tone. Is the intention that we laugh with the young pope or that we laugh at him?

For me, every time the audience can laugh, they should laugh.

Did you set out to write a funny story?

No. But there are some things that are funny or that want to be funny. One can face many things by laughing. You dont have to be very serious or grave all the time. The idea was to investigate the world of the clergy and the contradictions of the clergy, the cardinals and the pope  in a serious and honest way, to investigate how they live and how they think.

Before you started writing, you spoke to the clergy and Vatican analysts who told you they thought the next pope might go in this direction. Why did they think that?

Pope Francis put up a narrative of his own, a story of his own, which is so much more powerful than I could have written. In order to do a series about the Vatican, I could only do its opposite. Not the entire clergy thinks that way, but some of the Vatican analysts who I respect the most think a pope like the one I represented could very well take place after Francis. Not young and American  but one who represents those ideas.

So why did you make him young and American?

I didnt want to do a pope who would remind you of any other pope. I wanted him to be completely original. If you think about it, the church has tendencies to change. In the past for many, many years, there were only Italian popes selected. Then in the last 40 years, we have had Polish, German, now an Argentine Jesuit who is so different from anybody else. So if you think about it, there is a tendency to change in the Vatican. And if you also think about it, its not that young. A 50-year-old pope in the Vatican is young. Yes, its not 70. But hes not a kid.

But he looks like Jude Law, though.

Father [Georg Ganswein] was the assistant of Benedict XVI. If you look him up on the internet, he was more handsome than Jude Law. [Pause.] He is! (Editors note: Later, Sorrentino produces a photograph that reveals the competition is fierce.)



Did you ever consider other actors?

Jude Law was the first one. Toward the end of the writing, I felt it could be him. In the beginning, I didnt think about anyone but, slowly as I was writing, he came to my mind. Jude is a wonderful actor who has an incredible ability to look childish and authoritative, and thats something that was very useful for me for the character.

Your young pope is addicted to Cherry Coke Zero. Is there a reason for that? Is that your favorite drink?

Its just a little detail that came to my mind that helped characterize him. Ive never tasted it. It doesnt exist in Italy.

Please tell me why there is a kangaroo in this story.

It seems crazy, but in reality its not. When a pope is elected, he receives presents from many world leaders. Its almost like they compete to please the new pope. They send all kinds of extravagant presents, from exotic trees to cars. So I imagined, why not a kangaroo from Australia?

This interview has been edited and condensed.
The Legislature is gearing up for a fight over "sanctuary cities" bills  and not for the first time. The current debate was foreshadowed by one in 2011, but this time, chances are better that a bill could make it to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.

Texas proposed 2011 ban on sanctuary cities, the common term for local entities that dont enforce federal immigration laws, would have authorized local police to inquire about the immigration status of anyone they arrested or detained. It led to fears that immigrants wouldnt report crimes and that officers could detain people based solely on skin color and turn them over to federal immigration officers.

Texas Can Do Better and No Arizona Hate were common mantras from critics of the legislation that reverberated around the State Capitol in 2011  references to a controversial Arizona bill that expanded the immigration enforcement powers of local law enforcement and passed that states legislature in 2010.

The plan, marked as an emergency item by then-Gov. Rick Perry, failed to pass the Texas Legislature in 2011, and similar legislation died in the Texas Senate in 2015. As expected, Republicans are taking another crack at passing a bill this year, and Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have labeled the issue a legislative priority.

Bills filed in both chambers  Senate Bill 4 by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, and House Bill 889 by state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth  would allow local police to enforce immigration laws, but only if the officer is working with a federal immigration officer or under an agreement between the local and federal agency. It would also punish governments if their law enforcement agencies  specifically county jails  fail to honor requests, known as detainers, from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for sheriffs to hand over immigrants in their custodies for possible deportation. The punishment would be a denial of state grant funds.

This time around, one border Democrat has conceded that he could support the detainer component of the current proposals, especially if it means it will keep more extreme measures at bay.

Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, said data from ICE and testimony from county sheriffs earlier this year shows that county jail compliance isnt the issue Republicans make it out to be.

We had hearings, and all 254 counties [in Texas] were cooperating with ICE, Rodriguez said, referring to out-of-session meetings held last year. So if it [only has a detainer provision], nobody has a problem with that, as far as I can tell.

The ICE component of the legislation has become a major focus for Republicans, especially after Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez drew Abbotts ire in 2014 after she said she would cooperate with ICE only on a case-by-case basis. New Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez added to the controversy when she was running for office last year, saying she wouldnt cooperate with ICE. Valdez later said she had been taken out of context, but state officials had already jumped on the comments.

A Texas Tribune analysis of ICE data shows that Texas counties werent the main offenders when it came to denying federal requests. Only 146 of the countrys 18,646 declined ICE detainers between January 2014 and September 2015 came from Texas jails. Travis County was at the top of the list with 72, while Bexar County had 11. Valdezs Dallas County Jail declined only two, according to the data. And two of Texas largest border counties  Webb and Hidalgo  recorded three, while El Paso County only recorded one. (A spokeswoman for the Webb County Jail said it didn't deny those requests  the inmates were transferred to another county where they also faced charges.)

Though the legislation doesn't apply to a person that is detained because they are a victim of or witness to a crime, Rodriguez said he still has concerns about the bill because its written so broadly that it opens the door to police enforcement.

Its consistent with an interpretation that their intent is to have local police ask about immigration status, he said. Because on the other hand, what theyre saying is that if you have a so-called sanctuary city that prohibits them from inquiring, they are going to be penalized and sanctioned with loss of funds. So obviously those two combined together suggests [they] want people to be checked.

Sen. Perrys office didnt respond to requests for comment for this story. But Geren said its too early in the process to predict what the final bill will look like and said he is willing to talk to anyone who has concerns about the legislation.

We havent vetted it through the committee process at this point, he said. I want to work with law enforcement to make sure that were not discouraging people from coming forward, so there is a still a lot to talk about.

Geren was adamant that sheriffs needed to comply with ICE detainers.

Thats a large portion of the bill that we want to pass. But obviously there are some sheriffs that have said that they are not going to do it, and that causes a problem, he said. But I understand that some of the rural counties, where ICE is not in the jail every day, could be a financial burden to do it.

Lawmakers could also face some pushback from the business community because of a provision in the bill that permits a person to file a complaint with the attorney general if they think that a local government isn't following the provisions of the bill.

"If you are a sheriff and I am running against you, all I have to do is to allege you are doing something nefarious, as I read the legislation, and then the [attorney general] has the authority to open an investigation," said Bill Hammond, the former CEO and president of the Texas Association of Business and current president of consulting firm Bill Hammond and Associates. "I stand to be corrected, but a mere allegation not being substantiated could trigger and probably would trigger an investigation of an incumbent. Thats bad politics."

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2017/01/15/sanctuary-city-legislation-then-and-now/.
World-renowned Swedish pianist Helge Antoni will present a free guest recital titled Romantissimo at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Baylor Universitys Roxy Grove Hall.

Antoni will perform works by 19th-century composers Frederic Chopin and Edvard Grieg.

For more information, visit www.baylor.edu/music or call 710-3991.

McLennan GOP Club

McLennan County Republican Club will meet at 11:45 a.m. Thursday at Knox Hall in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, 100 Texas Ranger Trail.

Bech Bruun, chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, will discuss how the state is planning for explosive population growth and other issues.

The program is free to attend, with lunch available for $12.

For more information, visit www.mcrctx.org.

NARFE meeting

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday at the West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd.

Community services librarian Jessica Emmitt will talk about resources available at the library.

Guests must provide their own lunch.

For more information, call Gerald Hatfield at 772-3543.

Womens networking

The Waco chapter of the National Association of Female Executives Women Information Network will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Rosatis Pizza, 824 Hewitt Drive.

Guest speaker Brian Black will present Building Sales  One Relationship at a Time.

For more information, call Glenda Ruiz at 723-2404.

Huntingtons group

Huntingtons Disease Support Group of Waco will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the Highland Baptist Church Education Building, Room B16, 3014 Maple Ave.

The peer-led support group is open to anyone interested in learning more about Huntingtons disease.

For more information, call Phil Holmes at 235-9353.

Caregivers stress

The Heart of Texas Area Agency on Aging, 1514 S. New Road, will kick off a free stress-busting program for family caregivers of loved ones with chronic conditions and illnesses from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Monday.

The program, which will meet weekly through March 20, will cover stress management techniques, relaxation and coping strategies.

Registration is required. To register, call 292-1855.

Submit items for Briefly to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com.
Places of business that accept credit cards should request identification from customers using the popular plastic, and they should become suspicious if someone using a card displays nervousness or agitation, according to a member of the Waco Police Departments crime prevention unit.

If a card does not work, someone up to no good may become agitated and may even start cursing or leave abruptly, Waco Polices Sofie Martinez said Tuesday during a fraud prevention seminar, one of two held at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce offices in downtown Waco.

Ken Givens, an authority on fraud and credit card abuse with U.S. Merchant Payment Solutions, said investing in a small ultraviolet light can protect against counterfeit currency and bogus checks.

Martinez said merchants should strive to speak to every customer walking through the door, not just as a matter of courtesy but to let visitors know the establishment recognizes their presence.

Make eye contact. Make the customer feel comfortable but also let them know you may have your eye on them, Martinez said.

She said business owners should invest in security cameras that record people entering the establishment.

The better the quality of these cameras and the images they produce, the more useful they are to detectives and to programs such as Crime Stoppers, Martinez said.

Crime Stoppers is a cash-for-tips program the city operates.

Martinez said a paying customer whose collection of credit cards are comparable in number to a hand of playing cards should be viewed with suspicion. She said merchants should make a habit of checking the ID of customers using plastic, even if it is not always convenient because of the number of customers waiting to pay.

Many of these offenders are not dummies, she said.

She said she knows of a few bold merchants who ask customers to remove their headgear or sunglasses upon entry, so the cameras can see their beautiful faces.

Past-due taxes

Adam Price, regional director for the Better Business Bureau, said the BBB continues to receive complaints from people saying they are receiving calls from the Internal Revenue Service about past-due taxes.

A lot of these calls were coming from outside the United States, and a raid by the Indian government shut down several of those involved, said Price, adding that those suspected of demanding money were arranging wire transfers and the use of debit cards and even something as offbeat as iTunes gift cards.

Like Martinez, Price recommended merchants ask for identification when processing credit cards, though customers may bristle at the request.

Times are changing, and people may get a little offended, Price said, urging retailers to make the request using good judgment and tact.

Another scam creating a stir, said Price, involves people posing as company CEOs sending emails to employees requesting private information found on W-2 tax forms. He said he also has heard of complaints from companies being billed for supplies they did not order, adding they are not legally bound to return the items.

Every office should have gatekeepers, someone who is designated to check all documentation before payment is made, Price said.

A BBB fact sheet says 1 in 5 individuals loses money to a scam each year, with annual losses reaching $50 billion.

Givens, who said he has more than 20 years experience in fraud prevention, said his goal is to teach merchants to spot something fishy in less than 15 seconds.

When presented with a credit card, businesses should check the magnetic strip for peeling that could indicate tampering, he said. If a customer simply pulls the card from a shirt pocket, that should raise a red flag, Givens said. Most people keep their cards in a wallet or handbag.

Merchants should always collect a signed receipt and give one to the customer, which protects both parties, he said.

When you take orders by phone, call the number back to confirm the name, address and phone number. Take extra precautions when dealing with international addresses, and never accept a letter of authorization that claims to give another person permission to us a credit card, Givens said.

He said most businesses would be well served to invest in a small ultraviolet light for use in examining cash and checks. He said such devices can spot the distinctive glow of color present on bills of denominations greater than $1. He said the $50 bill, for example, features an area that glows yellow under ultraviolet light.

Givens said legitimate currency also has a distinctive feel that is challenging to duplicate, and bills contain a watermark that mirrors the image of the president featured on a bill. That image also can prove the undoing of counterfeiters and is typically visible by holding the bill up to a light.

Credit cards equipped with EMV chips, short for standard-developers Europay, MasterCard and Visa, have become the global gold standard for security in using plastic, Givens said.

The chips cant be duplicated, Givens said. Visa and MasterCard are becoming more inclined to pass along 100 percent of the liability for fraud transactions to those using cards without EMV. Merchants need to take steps to assure their ability to process this payment method.

Turning her attention to business and consumer affairs, Martinez said business should require employees to change their passwords at least every two to three months, and she said passwords should be complex, containing a mix of numbers, symbols and letters. She said never share passwords with others.

You may have a trusted friend, but what if that person has fallen on hard times and becomes desperate for money? she said.

She urged business to become vigilant in performing background checks, particularly on people applying for work. She said small establishments are more vulnerable to fraud than larger ones because they cant afford as much security, and each business with fewer than 100 employees loses an average of $155,000 to fraud each year.
For decades, Washington think tanks have been holding pens for senior government officials, waiting for their next appointments and avenues of influence for sponsors of their research. Donald Trumps incoming administration is bent on breaking that model.

Trumps appointments have so far been heavy on business executives and former military leaders. Transition sources tell me the next series of nominations  deputy-level officials at top agencies  will also largely come from business rather than the think tank or policy communities. For example, neither the conservative American Enterprise Institutes John Bolton nor the Council on Foreign Relations Richard Haass is likely to be chosen for deputy secretary of state, while hedge fund manager David McCormick is on the shortlist. Philip Bilden, a private equity investment firm executive with no government experience, is expected to be named secretary of the Navy.

The president-elect favors people who have been successful in the private sector and amassed personal wealth over those who have achieved prominence in academic or policy fields. Those close to him, including chief strategist Stephen Bannon and senior adviser Jared Kushner, see think tanks as part of a Washington culture that has failed to implement good governance, while becoming beholden to donors.

This is the death of think tanks as we know them in D.C., one transition official told me. The people around Trump view think tanks as for sale to the highest bidder. They have empowered whole other centers of gravity for staffing this administration.

Leaders of major think tanks dont agree the situation is so dire. But each is working hard to figure out its stance and strategy for the next four years. Those who focus on the nuts and bolts of governing could be useful to a Trump administration that has little understanding of or experience in managing  much less changing  government. If Trump ends up shutting out think tanks, many will maintain influence by focusing more on serving Capitol Hill, industry and foreign entities.

Other leading conservative think tanks are planning to play the long game. American Enterprise Institute, for example, has many scholars who signed letters opposing Trump during the GOP primaries. Moreover, Trumps plans on foreign policy are contrary to what the conservative think tank has long stood for. Danielle Pletka, AEIs senior vice president for foreign and defense policy studies, said the think tanks that will succeed are those that stick to their ideals and allow independent scholars to pursue independent research regardless of the administrations positions.

Its not a game. Washington has always been and will always be an open marketplace for ideas, she said. I have no doubt that we will have a great working relationship with the Trump administration insofar as we have good ideas, and Im sure we will disagree with them at times.

There will be links between major D.C. think tanks and senior Trump officials. Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson is a longtime trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The defense secretary nominee, retired Gen. James Mattis, is affiliated with the Hoover Institution. National security adviser-designate Michael Flynn, a retired lieutenant general, has been meeting with think-tank leaders throughout the transition.

For left-leaning think tanks, the calculation is easier. Theres a lot of demand and money for organizations to oppose Trumps policies. Think tanks of all stripes are adapting, said Vikram Singh, vice president for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress. The choice is between defending the advances of the post-World War II era that are potentially now under assault, or trying to influence the Trump team to do what you think the country needs.

If the Trump team succeeds in diminishing the influence of Washington think tanks and keeping their scholars out of government, policy-making will suffer. Many of these scholars hold the institutional knowledge and deep subject matter expertise the incoming administration needs. Trump should see them as an asset in the marketplace of ideas, not a liability.

Josh Rogin is a columnist for the Global Opinions section of The Washington Post. He writes about foreign policy and national security.
January marks the 98th anniversary of the ratification of the 18th Amendment, more commonly known as Prohibition. While Prohibition is remembered as one of Americas greatest failed experiments, today were seeing something of a revival of prohibitionist thinking among the public health community, who have begun to attack even moderate alcohol consumption in earnest.

There is long-standing consensus about the negative health and social impacts of excessive alcohol consumption. But for decades there has also been widespread agreement about the health benefits from a regular glass or two of your favorite beer, wine or spirit.

Studies tout that the moderate consumption of alcohol can lead to a healthier heart, a reduced likelihood of Type 2 Diabetes and protection from the common cold. Most notably, moderate drinking has been shown to decrease all-cause mortality.

This health halo has provided a detente between public health officials and the beverage alcohol industry. Both condemned excess and touted moderation. Alcohol companies have spent billions advising the public to Drink Responsibly, while the USDA proclaimed that moderate alcohol consumption can have health benefits.

But in 2016, this system started to break down as a handful of researchers began pushing dubious science suggesting even small amounts of alcohol could increase the risk of various cancers. Before you swear off the occasional glass of wine at dinner, consider that there may be more driving the sudden anti-alcohol-even-in-moderation narrative beyond disinterested science.

Hysteria was fueled by an analysis performed in New Zealand by Jeannie Connor  an anti-alcohol researcher who has claimed that alcohol causes cancer at seven sites in the body and probably others. Connor alleged causation admittedly without confirmation of specific biological mechanisms by which alcohol increases the incidence of each type of cancer.

Anxiety was further nurtured in 2016 by a host of stories about women and drinking. A Washington Post headline from last month blared, Heavy drinking among women has been normalized, and its killing them in record numbers. But the record number of deaths is a record exaggeration. It is true there is an increase in the number of white women ages 35 to 54 dying from alcohol-related causes, but only by about one-one hundredth of a percent over 15 years.

But if you want to push for big government solutions, you need people to think the problem is bigger than it actually is. Which is why some researchers and public health officials are going outside the bounds of good science or fair reporting to try and undermine the moderate drinker vs. the excessive drinker paradigm.

The health benefits of alcohol have long flummoxed public health officials in more activist circles, who believe alcohol should be regulated as the new tobacco. Bans on alcohol advertising and Sunday sales, sky-high taxation, further lowering the legal BAC limit and restricting alcohol access are primary goals of many in the public health community.

To the dismay of activists, the public understands that alcohol and tobacco are apples and oranges. They cant be linked or compared. Even the most moderate smokers are damaging their health. And, unlike alcohol, there is no way to incorporate smoking as part of a healthy lifestyle.

So before moderate drinkers allow activists and overzealous public health officials to chuck their health halo in the garbage like a dented Frisbee, keep in mind that overwhelming scientific evidence still proves moderate alcohol consumption has positive health effects. We can all drink to that.

Sarah Longwell is the managing director of the American Beverage Institute.
Walling us off

As one who has spent a great deal of time enjoying the Rio Grande area of Texas, I am greatly concerned about any plan to build a wall along the Texas-Mexico border. For the following reasons, I am against the construction of such a wall, now or in the future:

 It would destroy the natural beauty of the border area, including Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park and the lower canyons of the Rio Grande.

 It would prevent U.S./Texas citizens from having unhindered access to their river, the Rio Grande, as the border goes to the middle of the river.

 Because the wall cannot be built in the middle of the river, construction of a wall anywhere else on the Texas side would effectively cede the area between the wall and the border to Mexico.

 It would disrupt the fragile ecological systems in the area.

It is impractical to build a wall along the course of a winding river that features canyons, adjoining tributaries, lakes and cities.

 The project would be monumentally expensive and would not work.

 It would divide the private property of U.S. citizens who have land in the area.

 It would disrupt cultural ties and economic activity in the border cities.

While I share concern about improving border security, the same goal can be accomplished by having more border patrol (permanent jobs) and increasing electronic surveillance. God, nature and history gave us a beautiful border in Texas. Write your congressman (Bill Flores, 2440 Rayburn HOB, Washington, D.C. 20515) and tell him to vote against funding the wall in Texas.

Bruce Burleson, president, Stop the Wall!, Belton

Training needed

Im all for concealed carry and training by default till Texas can find a way to disarm the bad guys. However, Rep. Jonathan Sticklands bill proposes constitutional carry, which would allow Texans to carry guns in public with no training or permits. He claims our existing law is unconstitutional and unfair to people who cannot afford licensing, among many other things.

Be that as it may, I do not want to see our state allowing us to regress to the Far West. I shouldnt have to worry whether every Dick and Jane who is showing me a weapon is doing it to protect me or to assault me.

Furthermore, the current gun licensing is as weak as drivers licensing. No practice, renew online, no guarantees that the person with a harmful weapon knows how to handle it. I find that ridiculously dangerous.

There are plenty of people who would be glad to train citizens who want to carry, and they would probably be willing to do so for free. In Waco, one issue is access to a gun range; they arent nearby and they require membership as well as membership to the NRA. That last mandate should be changed as well.

Government shouldnt have to be so bipolar and extreme.

Linda Reichenbach, Waco
ASHLAND  Since last fall, Ashland police officers have had a new piece of equipment added to their uniform that has multiple benefits for both the police department and the public.

After testing them for one month, APD officers were outfitted with state-of-the-art body cameras last October. Police Chief Joe Baudler calls them the wave of the future.

The new body cameras were purchased with the mayors blessing.

Number one is safety, both for the police officers and the public theyre dealing with, said Mayor Rick Grauerholz.

The police department had body cameras for the past few years, but the older ones were not very sturdy and the video was poor quality compared to the new style of cameras.

Technology has really improved from the first generation (cameras) that we had, Baudler said.

Because of their fragile nature, officers did not wear the old body cameras on a regular basis. Baudler said they only used the cameras at times when they knew or predicted they would be interrogating suspects or interviewing witnesses.

It didnt seem they functioned very well, Baudler said. Thats why we used them sparingly.

Officers are now required to put on the new body cameras when they go on patrol. The department has three new models.

The high-definition cameras are wide angle and pick up a lot of the action, the police chief said.

The video is extremely good, said Baudler.

One of the main reasons to have body cameras is to use the video as evidence for arrests and prosecution.

It is proof for an officer as to what took place on scene, Grauerholz said.

The video also helps refresh an officers memory, which can be clouded by the adrenalin that is produced when an officer is faced with a potentially dangerous situation.

If they have that video evaluation, it can refresh their memory, Baudler said.

Body cameras help ensure the safety of the police officer as well as the public.

A picture is worth a thousand words, said Grauerholz, and by having this camera the officer and the people know they are being recorded and they have a tendency to be a little nicer about it.

The cameras can be used as for training officers as well, according to both Baudler and Grauerholz.

By having actual footage of their performance, it can be critiqued and used as a training tool, the mayor said.

As Baudler was prepping for the new equipment last fall, he was well aware of a new state law that took effect Jan. 1 regarding body cameras for police departments.

Among the new requirements instituted by LB1000 were that the police department had a policy in place regarding body cameras. Baudler said he patterned APDs policy after the one developed by Saunders County Sheriff Kevin Stukenholtz for his department. The sheriff said he modeled their policy after one the Nebraska Crime Commission suggested.

The new law also requires police departments to be able to store a minimum of 90-days worth of video camera footage. Baudler said their system downloads the video footage when the officer places the camera in the device after a shift. It takes a substantial amount of time to download, he added, but the department has multiple cameras so this is not an issue.

Police departments are also required to provide at least 20 hours of training for each officer before Jan. 1, per LB1000.

Wahoo Police Department officials were unable to meet the requirements due to time and financial constraints. As a result, the Wahoo City Council voted to stop using body cameras in December.

Grauerholz commended Baudler for having everything in place to meet the Jan. 1 deadline set by LB1000.

Joe was on top of it and well prepared, he said.

As a result, the Ashland Police Department now has a record of the bad, and good, that happens in its jurisdiction.

There are a lot of other little things they can record with (body cameras), Grauerholz said. Not only the bad, but positive things that happen every day to help promote the good relationship between the police officers and the public.
By Sam Farmer

WAHOO  Low winds during Winter Storm Jupiter kept power outages and damage to a minimum in the area.

Butler Public Power District customers started reported power outages on Monday. Outages happened district wide, but power was restored for most customers by the end of the day, said Butler Public Power District general manager Mark Kirby.

BPPD began receiving reports of outages around 9 a.m. and crews worked until midnight restoring power to their customers from areas north of Wahoo to their western boundary near Highway 81, Kirby said.

The main two issues were trees hanging or falling onto lines and conductor failure due to ice buildup on lines, he said.

The overall average was about a quarter of an inch of ice buildup, Kirby said.

With that much ice, safety is also a factor for workers.

Kirby said safety is the main thing for his workers, as gravel roads were sheets of ice Monday and many repair trucks drove with chains on their tires.

Our crews worked fantastically and restored power safely, Kirby said.

With power restored to most customers by Tuesday morning, Kirby said he still feared some potential issues during the day.

Any normal Nebraska winter wind and we would be in for a long haul, Kirby said Tuesday.

Luckily, low winds and warmer temperatures began to melt ice that encased power lines and trees.

Minimal outages were reported by OPPD in Saunders County and no outages were reported by Wahoo Utilities due to the storm.

POSTED JAN. 16: Area residents surviving storm

By Sam Farmer and Alyssa Sobotka

WAHOO  Early weather warnings and prudence kept most Saunders County residents safe from Winter Storm Jupiters icy effects Sunday and Monday.

So far, its been a pretty manageable storm, said Saunders County Emergency Manager Terry Miller.

Rain started on Sunday afternoon and turned to ice by evening, but the efforts of road crews, schools closed and early weather warnings allowed resident to take precautions.

People were looking for ice melt and stocking up on groceries, said Sandy Salkeld, employee of Vine Street Market in Yutan. Bread, milk and eggs were the staples people were flocking to the store to stock up on prior to the icy weather, said Rick Carlson, store director of SunMart in Wahoo.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday were all busy, and progressively so as the week went on, Carlson said.

Wahoo Super Owner Rex Kumpula said the grocery store experienced increased business on Friday and Saturday, as they sold out of eggs, bananas and ice melt.

We withstood the rush pretty good, but once it turned to ice it was done, Kumpula said.

Ice melt was popular over at Simons Home Store in Wahoo, too, said Owner Mike Simons.

We were very busy at the end of the week as people were preparing, Simons said. We ordered the maximum amount of ice melt that we could.

Simons said he also opened up shop for an hour and a half Sunday afternoon so that people still in need of ice melt or other winter items could still purchase them.

Bomgaars Employee Whitney Anderson said it has been four to five years the last time select items have sold out at the Wahoo store.

She said ice melt, generators, softener salt and kerosene were all out of stock Monday morning.

People were buying everything for winter, finally, Anderson said.

But come Sunday evening, area businesses foot traffic quieted down.

Wahoo Police Chief Ken Jackson said Monday that Wahoo residents were staying inside and avoiding road travel as well.

We have not had any accidents since the storm began, Jackson said. Everybody is being real careful. The people that are out there are moving slowly.

Miller said the Saunders County Roads Department began working Sunday. No roads were closed in the county as of Monday morning.

There are not a lot of wrecks, considering the conditions, Miller said Monday.

Not all county residents fared as well with other effects of the storm.

Rain and near freezing temperatures affected electrical service for some rural SaundersCounty residents.

Around 9 a.m. Monday morning, Butler Public Power District began receiving calls for outages due to ice, wind and broken tree branches, said General Manager Mark Kirby.

BPPD outages reported included areas west of Brainard, south of Bruno, west of Rising City and between Malmo and Prague.

Kirby said he hoped that some ice would fall off the lines with temperatures moving above freezing. But rain on Monday and winds predicted Monday night, there will still be some accumulating ice buildup on wires and trees.

OPPD reported minimal outages in the area on Monday.

Wahoo Utilities General Manager Jim Gibney said the City of Wahoo had not experienced any outages as of Monday morning.

Gibney said they do not take any extra precautions to prepare for ice storms.

We trim trees to a national standard and that helps keeps power line interference to a minimal amount, Gibney said.

And if ice affects the citys electricity source due to failures outside Wahoo, the Light Plant has the ability to generate power for Wahoo residents, he said.

With precipitation expected well into Monday night, Jackson said the effects might linger well into Tuesday.

Mondays rain did remove some ice, but just made some icy spots slicker, he said.

If its cold at night and theres water running everywhere now, it could get worse, Jackson said. A degree or two in either direction could make all the difference.

BPPD customers are to call 402-367-3081 to report outages. Wahoo Utilities customers are to call 402-443-3222 or 402-443-4213 after hours to report outages. Omaha Public Power District customers are to call 1-800-554-6773 to report outages.
From: Marylin Freya < marilyn_freya@hotmail.com >

Sent: Tue, Sep 13, 2016 11:41 am

Subject: I would be glad to hear from you soon





Hello my dear How are you today ? I will like to be kind and honest with you, i am a woman that have seen life, i have been in the social circle for many years, although it does not matter one's age, color or achievement, what matters in our life is your kindness to humanity.



Dear, i believe that is the most important thing in life, I had been hardworking all my life, i must think of something better, to enjoy my life and probably have a family, maybe relocate and start investing in other things, Anyway i will like to tell you more about me, My name is Miss Marylin Freya, am from France , i was born in France, And i left France at Age of 12 Years to England, which to the glory of God Am working as an Senior Auditor/banker in Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom, it is very painful i lost my only daughter at age of 4 years,



I was married but my e x-husband got married to another woman, which caused our divorce, but is ok that is life for you, since he accused me of been so busy due to my bank work activities as accounting /auditing, that i was not having time for him and our kid before she passed away, but he refused to understand that i was pursing a goal, i told him that soon i will resign and we will have enough time for each other but he was impatient, although it is now over between us.



I am happy alone because I have everything i need, This is why I think of relocating to another country to get into investment and maybe own a small company which i can be able to manage on my own, Please would you tell me more about yourself too ? I like to know more about you for me to know if we can achieve this goal together, your marital status and your country of origin

I would be glad to hear from you soon

Yours faithful,

Marylin.







From: marylin freya < marilynfreya@hotmail.com >

Sent: Wed, Sep 14, 2016 11:33 am

Subject: Hello, my dear, I would be glad to hear from you soon



Hello my dear

How are you today ? I will like to be kind and honest with you, i am a woman that have seen life, i have been in the social circle for many years, although it does not matter on age, color or achievement, what matters in our life is your kindness to humanity.



Dear, i believe that is the most important thing in life, I had been hardworking all my life, i must think of something better, to enjoy my life and probably have a family, maybe relocate and start investing in other things, Anyway i will like to tell you more about me, my name is Miss Marylin Freya, am from France , i was born in France, and i left France at age of 12 years to England, which to the glory of God Am working as an Senior Auditor/banker in Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom, it is very painful i lost my only daughter at age of 4 years,



I was married but my ex-husband got married to another woman, which caused our divorce, but is ok that is life for you, since he accused me of been so busy due to my bank work activities as accounting/auditing, that i was not having time for him and our kid before she passed away, but he refused to understand that i was pursing a goal, i told him that soon i will resign and we will have enough time for each other but he was impatient, although it is now over between us.



I am happy alone because I have everything i need, this is why I think of relocating to another country to get into investment and maybe own a small company which i can be able to manage on my own, Please would you tell me more about yourself too ? I like to know more about you for me to know if we can achieve this goal together, your marital status and your country of origin.

I would be glad to hear from you soon

Yours faithful,

Marylin.





From: Marylin Freya < marilyn_freya@hotmail.com >

Sent: Fri, Sep 16, 2016 9:42 am

Subject: Please contact this bank immediately







Hello dear,

How are you doing together with your family, I hope all is well. Here is my phone number +447989010764

NOTE do not call me, you can send me SMS, Because Bank set security to monitor every member of the Bank due our banking rule and regulation.



Kindly make sure that this information will be between you and me until we actualized the success of this transaction, What i want you to do now is to apply for the release of the fund into your account, Make sure you keep this a top secret of this transaction because i don't want any staff of the bank to know that i am responsible for this transaction This is where i lay the future survival hope of our future, and its was the reason I tried to explain for your best understanding. You should not change your name and nationality in this transaction because you are going to apply as the business partner to the deceased customer Note, if you send this letter to the bank, the bank will not delay to contact you, but you should not respond back to the bank until i direct you on what to do. This is to avoid mistake from your part , See the official letter below, send it to the bank through the bank email address of the bank as follows. .



Bank Details

Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom

Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

Address PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom

Phone +441214567840

Bank Email- - - al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com <al-rayan-islamic_bankplc@financier.com>



Immediately this fund is transferred into your account, then i will obtain visa to your country for the disbursement of the fund according to my proposal ratio, Immediately you apply update me that you have sent the letter to the bank.



My best regards to you and your family,

Your faithfully

Marylin COPY AND SEND THIS BELOW MASSAGE TO BANK



To The Manager Islamic Bank of Britain Plc, United Kingdom

Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

Address PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom

Phone +441214567840

Bank Email- - - - - - al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com





APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIM



Sir / Madam,



I am . . . . . . . . . . . the business partner to Late Mr Mahmoud Adama, who was assassinated on January 13, 2008 when gunmen shot him while still inside the capital Libya, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account of Fourteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars To The Manager Islamic Bank of Britain Plc, United KingdomManaging Director, Sultan Ahmed ChoudhuryAddress PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United KingdomPhone +441214567840Bank Email- - - - - -APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIMSir / Madam,I am . . . . . . . . . . . the business partner to Late Mr Mahmoud Adama, who was assassinated on January 13, 2008 when gunmen shot him while still inside the capital Libya, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account of Fourteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars $14.5 Million deposited in your bank when he was alive. I hereby wish to bring to your notice that i am eager to apply for the funds claim as his business partner to enable your bank release and transfer his balance account of $ 14.5 Million into my nominated bank account. Upon your urgent response to this effect, I will send you my bank account information for the transfer of the above mentioned sum of money. So i expect that your bank management will pay an urgent attention to my request and communicate to me further with the related forms and documents necessary to claim the above mentioned sum without delay.



I apologize for late application for this claim as i have been arranging other things left since his sudden death occurred.



Yours sincerely

. . . . . . . . . . .



From: Marylin Freya < marilyn_freya@hotmail.com >

Sent: Fri, Sep 30, 2016 2:32 pm

Subject: Please try to fill the forms and send them to



Hello my dear,

How are you doing and how about your health and work ? I am really worried as in why you have not yet filled the forms and send them to the bank since you got the reply from the bank. Please my dear, if you really want us to do this transaction, just try to fill the forms and send them to the bank as soon as possible OK. al-rayan-islamic_bankplc@financier.com



Or if you are not willing to help me anymore just let me know so that i will not be bordering you OK. Or if you are not willing to help me anymore just let me know so that i will not be bordering you OK.

Have a very nice day.

Yours sincerely,

Marylin. .

From: marylin freya < marylin509@hotmail.com >

Sent: Wed, Oct 19, 2016 12:51 am

Subject: Please send this below email to this bank



Hello dear,

How are you doing together with your family ?I hope all is well. Here is my phone number +447989010764

NOTE, do not call me, you can send me SMS, Because Bank set security to monitor every member of the Bank due our banking rule and regulation. Kindly make sure that this information will be between you and me until we actualized the success of this transaction, What i want you to do now is to apply for the release of the fund into your account, Make sure you keep this a top secret of this transaction because i don't want any staff of the bank to know that i am responsible for this transaction This is where i lay the future survival hope of our future, and its was the reason I tried to explain for your best understanding.



You should not change your name and nationality in this transaction because you are going to apply as the business partner to the deceased customer Note, if you send this letter to the bank, the bank will not delay to contact you, but you should not respond back to the bank until i direct you on what to do. This is to avoid mistake from your part , See the official letter below, send it to the bank through the bank email address of the bank as follows. .



Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom

Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

Address. . . PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom

Phone +441214567840

al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com



Immediately this fund is transferred into your account, then i will obtain visa to your country for the disbursement of the fund according to my proposal ratio, Immediately you apply update me that you have sent the letter to the bank.



My best regard to you and your family,

Yours faithfully,

Marylin Immediately this fund is transferred into your account, then i will obtain visa to your country for the disbursement of the fund according to my proposal ratio, Immediately you apply update me that you have sent the letter to the bank.My best regard to you and your family,Yours faithfully,Marylin



= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =



COPY AND SEND THIS BELOW MESSAGE TO BANK



To The Manager Islamic Bank of Britain Plc, United Kingdom

Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

Address PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom

Phone +441214567840

al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com





APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIM



Sir / Madam,



I am . . . . . . . . . the business partner to Late Mr Mahmoud Adama, who was assassinated on January 13, 2008 when Gun men shot him while still inside the capital Libya, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account of fourteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars. $14.5 Million deposited in your bank when he was alive. I hereby wish to bring to your notice that i am eager to apply for the funds claim as his business partner to enable your bank release and transfer his balance account of $ 14.5 Million into my nominated bank account. Upon your urgent response to this effect, I will send you my bank account information for the transfer of the above mentioned sum of money. So i expect that your bank management will pay an urgent attention to my request and communicate to me further with the related forms and documents necessary to claim the above mentioned sum without delay. I apologize for late application for this claim as i have been arranging other things left since his sudden death occurred.



Yours sincerely,



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .









From: marylin freya < marylin509@hotmail.com >

Sent: Wed, Oct 19, 2016 8:24 pm

Subject: Send this letter to this bank



COPY AND SEND THIS BELOW MESSAGE TO BANK



To The Manager Islamic Bank of Britain Plc, United Kingdom

Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

Address PO Box 12461, Birmingham B16 6AQ, United Kingdom

Phone +441214567840

al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com





APPLICATION FOR REQUEST OF CLAIM



Sir / Madam,



I am . . . . . . . . . the business partner to late Mr. Mahmoud Adama who was assassinated on January 13, 2008, when gunmen shot him while still inside the capital of Libya, Tripoli. After his funeral celebration, i discovered that he have an unclaimed and balance account of $14.5 million (Fourteen million, Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars deposited in your bank when he was alive. I hereby wish to bring to your notice that i am eager to apply for the funds claim as his business partner to enable your bank release and transfer his balance account of $ 14.5 million into my nominated bank account. Upon your urgent response to this effect, I will send you my bank account information for the transfer of the above mentioned sum of money. So i expect that your bank management will pay an urgent attention to my request and communicate to me further with the related forms and documents necessary to claim the above mentioned sum without delay.



I apologize for late application for this claim as i have been arranging other things left since his sudden death occurred.



Yours sincerely,



. . . . . . . . . . . . . .











From: marylin freya < marilynfreya@hotmail.com >

Sent: Wed, Oct 26, 2016 12:34 pm

Subject: Dear, fill with your datas and send these forms



My dear, How are you doing together with your family, I hope all is well ? Please bear with me that I am working on it to put all the necessary information in the form of official inquiry of deceased, I will like you to make an effort to see that this transaction is successful. This is a transaction that both of us need to be very careful to see that everything goes well. I could understand this is a matter of urgency, therefore see the deceased information below, use it to fill the official inquiry of deceased form and send back to the bank immediately.

You should complete the next of kin ID form with your information and bank account details for the transfer. Please you should be very careful and hope that the success will be achieved soon. You should avoid mistake from your side. What you should do now is to print the forms out and fill it with pen and sign on it, then send it back to the bank today or first thing tomorrow morning because the bank gave condition for the return of the forms.

I will wait to hear from you and my best regard to you and your family. The Next of kin ID form will be filled with your information and your bank details for the transfer as the bank directed.

Thanks for your understanding. Yours sincerely, Marylin.

INITIAL REQUEST. . . . . . . Mark this space FOR CHANGE. . . . . . . .Mark this space YOUR NAME IN BLOCK LETTERS. . . .Write your full name YOUR ACTIVITY (OCCUPATION). . . Indicate what you do for a living NATIONALITY. . . . . . . Write the name of your country DATE OF BIRTH DAY / MONTH / YEAR. . . . .Write your date of birth MARITAL STATUS. . . . . .indicate if you are single or married CLIENT ID CARD. . . . . . . Write your passport number or your National identity card number SEX. . . . . . . . . . . indicate if you are man or woman YOUR HOME SECRET ADDRESS , CITY , STATE AND ZIP CODE. . . . . .Write your address here CURRENT RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS ( PO . BOX NOT ACCEPTABLE). . . . .Write your complete residential address

For telegraphic or swift transfer provide the following informations :

ACCOUNT (CURRENT OR SAVINGS). . . . . . Write your account in-formations here BANK NAME & ADDRESS ACCOUNT NUMBER DATE . . . . . . . . .Write date here SIGN . . . . . . . Sign your signature



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THE DECEASED INFORMATIONS

1: Deceased full name: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA 2: Deceased occupation when he was alive; Business Tycoon & Medical Adviser 3: Where did he reside / address: Tripoli Ave-Deltona, FL 32725, EEUU, Lybia. 4: Deceased country of origin: Libya 5: Deceased place / Date of Birth: Libya / Nov 1, 1944. 6: Name(s) of the deceased wife or wives: He has one wife, Mrs Aisha Mahmoud 7: Name(s) of the deceased child or children: NONE 8: Your relationship with the deceased: He is my Business partner 9: Deceased Account type with this bank: company acceptance 10: Deceased Account number:-SID5813060001 11: Account Title of the deceased: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA 12: Date account was opened: 16th August,2004 13: Year the fund was deposited: 16th August, 2004.

XXXXXX XXXXXX

The Bank Details are as follows Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury Address PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom Phone +441214567840 al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com

SEND THIS LETTER WITH THE FILLED FORMS TO THE BANK. .

Hello Sir, Than you for accepting my request of transferring the fund of my late business partner, Late Mr Mahmoud Adama, who was assassinated on January 13, 2008 when Gun men shot him while still inside the capital Libya, Tripoli.

Sir, i have filled the forms and do hereby forward it to your bank for verification and process the transfer as soon as possible.

I hope favorably to hearing from you. Thanks for your urgent attention. Yours sincerely,

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

From: marylin freya < marylin509@hotmail.com >

Sent: Thu, Oct 27, 2016 11:26 am

Subject: Copy and send this message



COPY AND SEND THIS BELOW MESSAGE TO BANK



To The Manager Islamic Bank of Britain Plc, UK

Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

Address PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom

Phone +441214567840

al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com





- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



DECEASED INFORMATION



1: Deceased full name: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA

2: Deceased occupation when he was alive; Business Tycoon & Medical Adviser

3: Where did he reside / address: Tripoli Ave-Deltona, FL 32725, EEUULybia

4: Deceased country of origin: Libya

5: Deceased place / Date of Birth: Libya / Nov 1, 1944

6: Name(s) of the deceased wife or wives: He has one wife, Mrs Aisha Mahmoud

7: Name(s) of the deceased child or children: NON

8: Your relationship with the deceased: He is my Business partner

9: Deceased Account type with this bank: company acceptance

10: Deceased Account number:-SID5813060001

11: Account Title of the deceased: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA

12: Date account was opened: 16th August, 2004

13: Year the fund was deposited: 16th August, 2004





. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .











- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -DECEASED INFORMATION1: Deceased full name: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA2: Deceased occupation when he was alive; Business Tycoon & Medical Adviser3: Where did he reside / address: Tripoli Ave-Deltona, FL 32725, EEUULybia4: Deceased country of origin: Libya5: Deceased place / Date of Birth: Libya / Nov 1, 19446: Name(s) of the deceased wife or wives: He has one wife, Mrs Aisha Mahmoud7: Name(s) of the deceased child or children: NON8: Your relationship with the deceased: He is my Business partner9: Deceased Account type with this bank: company acceptance10: Deceased Account number:-SID581306000111: Account Title of the deceased: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA12: Date account was opened: 16th August, 200413: Year the fund was deposited: 16th August, 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . From: marylin freya < marylin509@hotmail.com >

Sent: Wed, Nov 2, 2016 10:02 pm

Subject: Copy and send this message to the bank



COPY AND SEND THIS BELOW MESSAGE TO THE BANK



To The Manager Islamic Bank of Britain Plc, United Kingdom

Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

Address PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom

Phone +441214567840

al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com







- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THE DECEASED INFORMATION





DECEASED INFORMATION.



1: Deceased full name: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA



2: Deceased occupation when he was alive; Business Tycoon & Medical Adviser



3: Where did he reside / address: Tripoli Ave-Deltona, FL 32725, EEUULybia



4: Deceased country of origin: Libya



5: Deceased place / Date of Birth: Libya / Nov 1, 1944.



6: Name(s) of the deceased wife or wives: He has one wife, Mrs Aisha Mahmoud



7: Name(s) of the deceased child or children: NON



8: Your relationship with the deceased: He is my Business partner



9: Deceased Account type with this bank: company acceptance



10: Deceased Account number:-SID5813060001



11: Account Title of the deceased: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA



12: Date account was opened: 16th August,2004



13: Year the fund was deposited: 16th August,2004





. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -THE DECEASED INFORMATIONDECEASED INFORMATION.1: Deceased full name: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA2: Deceased occupation when he was alive; Business Tycoon & Medical Adviser3: Where did he reside / address: Tripoli Ave-Deltona, FL 32725, EEUULybia4: Deceased country of origin: Libya5: Deceased place / Date of Birth: Libya / Nov 1, 1944.6: Name(s) of the deceased wife or wives: He has one wife, Mrs Aisha Mahmoud7: Name(s) of the deceased child or children: NON8: Your relationship with the deceased: He is my Business partner9: Deceased Account type with this bank: company acceptance10: Deceased Account number:-SID581306000111: Account Title of the deceased: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA12: Date account was opened: 16th August,200413: Year the fund was deposited: 16th August,2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .











De : marylin freya < marylin_freya@hotmail.com >

Envoye le : Sa, 7 Jan 2017 8:52

Sujet : Dear, fill and send your data and forms



My dear, How are you doing together with your family, I hope all is well ? Please bear with me that I am working on it to put all the necessary information in the form of official inquiry of deceased, I will like you to make an effort to see that this transaction is successful. This is a transaction that both of us need to be very careful to see that everything goes well. I could understand this is a matter of urgency, therefore see the deceased information below, use it to fill the official inquiry of deceased form and send back to the bank immediately.

You should complete the next of kin ID form with your information and bank account details for the transfer. Please you should be very careful and hope that the success will be achieved soon. You should avoid mistake from your side. What you should do now is to print the forms out and fill it with pen and sign on it, then send it back to the bank today or first thing tomorrow morning because the bank gave condition for the return of the forms.

I will wait to hear from you and my best regards to you and your family. The next of kin ID form will be filled with your information and your bank details for the transfer as the bank directed.

Thanks for your understanding. Yours sincerely, Marylin.



INITIAL REQUEST. . . . . . . Mark this space FOR CHANGE. . . . . . . .Mark this space YOUR NAME IN BLOCK LETTERS. . . .Write your full name YOUR ACTIVITY (OCCUPATION). . . Indicate what you do for a living NATIONALITY. . . . . . . Write the name of your country DATE OF BIRTH DAY / MONTH / YEAR. . . . .Write your date of birth MARITAL STATUS. . . . . .indicate if you are single or married CLIENT ID CARD. . . . . . . Write your passport number or your National identity card number SEX. . . . . . . . . . . indicate if you are man or woman YOUR HOME SECRET ADDRESS , CITY , STATE AND ZIP CODE. . . . . .Write your address here CURRENT RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS ( P.O . BOX NOT ACCEPTABLE). . . . .Write your complete residential address

For telegraphic or swift transfer provide the following informations. .

ACCOUNT (CURRENT OR SAVINGS). . . . . . Write your account informations here BANK NAME & ADDRESS ACCOUNT NUMBER SIGN . . . . . . . Sign your signature DATE . . . . . . . . .Write date here

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THE DECEASED INFORMATION

1: Deceased full name: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA 2: Deceased occupation when he was alive; Business Tycoon & Medical Adviser 3: Where did he reside / address: Tripoli Ave-Deltona, FL 32725, EEUU, Lybia. 4: Deceased country of origin: Libya 5: Deceased place / Date of Birth: Libya / Nov 1, 1944. 6: Name(s) of the deceased wife or wives: He has one wife, Mrs Aisha Mahmoud 7: Name(s) of the deceased child or children: NONE 8: Your relationship with the deceased: He is my Business partner 9: Deceased Account type with this bank: company acceptance 10: Deceased Account number:-SID5813060001 11: Account Title of the deceased: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA 12: Date account was opened: 16th August, 2004 13: Year the fund was deposited: 16th August, 2004.

XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX The bank details are as follow. . Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury Address PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom Phone +441214567840 al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com Bank Email- - -

SEND THIS LETTER WITH THE FILLED FORMS TO THE BANK. .

Hello Sir, Than you for accepting my request of transferring the fund of my late business partner, Late Mr Mahmoud Adama who was assassinated on January 13, 2008 when Gun men shot him while still inside the capital Libya, Tripoli. Sir, i have filled the forms and do hereby forward it to your bank for verification and process the transfer as soon as possible.

I hope favorably to hearing from you. Thanks for your urgent attention. Yours sincerely, . . . . . . . . . . . .











De : al-rayan-islamic_bankplc < al-rayan-islamic_bankplc@financier.com >

Envoye le : Lu, 16 Jan 2017 14:53

Sujet : Sir, you are advised to fill the 2 forms attached AL RAYAN BANK OF BRITAIN PLC, UNITED KINGDOM. <about:blank> http://www.islamic-bank.com <about:blank> Al Rayan Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom

PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom ATTENTION

RESPONDS TO YOUR CLAIM



ATTENTION

Sir,

We wish to inform you that our transfer department of Al Rayan Bank (Formerly Islamic Bank of Britain) United Kingdom, carefully received your official message in respect of our late customer's deposited fund . According to our Bank rules and regulations, the formal procedure(s) must be adopted to enable us to carry out our official Bank duties which is needful before the transfer will be effected for confirmation. Note that you are expected to abide by the principles for us to finalize this transaction accordingly, you are therefore advised to view the TWO forms attached, fill the columns with the accurate information required for the immediate process of your claim. You are hereby given 48 hours to return these forms back to this Bank. We stand to give all our customer the best of our service. We once again welcome you to Al Rayan Bank (Formerly Islamic Bank of Britain) , United Kingdom. Thanks Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury AL RAYAN BANK OF BRITAIN PLC, UNITED KINGDOM







De : Marylin Freya < marilyn_freya@hotmail.com >

Envoye le : Ma, 31 Jan 2017 18:13

Sujet : Dear, fill your personal data in these forms. .



My dear, How are you doing together with your family, I hope all is well ? Please bear with me that I am working on it to put all the necessary information in the form of official inquiry of deceased, I will like you to make an effort to see that this transaction is successful. This is a transaction that both of us need to be very careful to see that everything goes well. I could understand this is a matter of urgency, therefore see the deceased information below, use it to fill the official inquiry of deceased form and send back to the bank immediately.

You should complete the next of kin ID form with your information and bank account details for the transfer. Please you should be very careful and hope that the success will be achieved soon. You should avoid mistake from your side. What you should do now is to print the forms out and fill it with pen and sign on it, then send it back to the bank today or first thing tomorrow morning because the bank gave condition for the return of the forms.

I will wait to hear from you and my best regard to you and your family. The next of kin ID form will be filled with your information and your bank details for the transfer as the bank directed.

Thanks for your understanding. Yours sincerely, Marylin.

INITIAL REQUEST. . . . . . . Mark this space FOR CHANGE. . . . . . . .Mark this space YOUR NAME IN BLOCK LETTERS. . . .Write your full name YOUR ACTIVITY (OCCUPATION). . . Indicate what you do for a living NATIONALITY. . . . . . . Write the name of your country DATE OF BIRTH DAY / MONTH / YEAR. . . . .Write your date of birth MARITAL STATUS. . . . . .indicate if you are single or married CLIENT ID CARD. . Write your passport number or your National identity card number SEX. . . . . . . . . . . indicate if you are man or woman YOUR HOME ADDRESS, CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE. . . . Write your address here CURRENT RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. . . . . Write your complete residential address



For telegraphic or swift transfer provide the following informations

ACCOUNT (CURRENT OR SAVINGS). . . . . . Write your account in-formations here BANK NAME & ADDRESS ACCOUNT NUMBER

SIGN . . . . . . . Sign your signature / DATE . . . . . . . . .Write date here

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

DECEASED INFORMATION 1: Deceased full name: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA 2: Deceased occupation when he was alive; Business Tycoon & Medical Adviser 3: Where did he reside / address: Tripoli Ave-Deltona, FL 32725, EEUU, Lybia. 4: Deceased country of origin: Libya 5: Deceased place / Date of Birth: Libya / Nov 1, 1944. 6: Name(s) of the deceased wife or wives: He has one wife, Mrs Aisha Mahmoud 7: Name(s) of the deceased child or children: NON 8: Your relationship with the deceased: He is my Business partner 9: Deceased Account type with this bank: company acceptance 10: Deceased Account number:-SID5813060001 11: Account Title of the deceased: MR MAHMOUD ADAMA 12: Date account was opened: 16th August, 2004 13: Year the fund was deposited: 16th August, 2004.



XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX The b ank d etails are as follows : Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom +441214567840 al-rayan- islamic_bankplc@financier.com SEND THIS LETTER WITH THE FILLED FORMS TO THE BANK. .

Hello Sir, Than you for accepting my request of transferring the fund of my late business partner, Late Mr Mahmoud Adama, who was assassinated on January 13, 2008 when Gun men shot him while still inside the capital Libya, Tripoli.

Sir, i have filled the forms and do hereby forward it to your bank for verification and process the transfer as soon as possible. I hope favorably to hearing from you. Thanks for your urgent attention. Yours sincerely, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . De : marylin freya < marylin509@hotmail.com >

Envoye le : Me, 8 Fev 2017 13:57

Sujet : Please contact this bank



Bank Details

Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom

Managing Director, Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom

Phone +441214567840

ibb _costumercare@accamail.com <ibb_costumercare@accamail.com>



Hello dear I have seen the informations you got from the bank. I'm happy, God is in control, well here is the copy of the certificate of deposit and the death certificate of late Mr. Adama, you have to forward it to the bank as they directed with your id card, to enable them to continue the process of the transfer immediately. Moreover, I am very happy to read from you once again today and also to now that you have filled the forms properly as required and sent them to the bank also. I will stop here, inform me once you forward the documents to the bank with your id card. Bye and have a nice day. Yours faithful, Marylin.













De : AL RAYAN BANK BRITIAN < ibb_costumercare@accamail.com >

Envoye le : Ve, 17 Fev 2017 9:48

Sujet : IBB - Responds to your claim



ISLAMIC BANK OF BRITAIN PLC UK

http://www.islamic-bank.com/

Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom

PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom ibb_costumercare@accamail.com Date : Feb/17/2017 RESPONDS TO YOUR CLAIM



Attention :

Sir/Madam,

We wish to inform you our transfer department of Islamic Bank of BritainUnited Kingdom, carefully received your official message in respect ofour late customer funds. According to our Bank rules and regulations, the formal procedure(s) must beadopted to enable us to carried out our official Bank duties which isneedful before the transfer from marylin509@hotmail.com will be effect for confirmation. Note that you are expected to abide by the principles for us to finalizethis transaction accordingly. You are therefore advised to viewthe TWO forms attached with this mail, print them out and fill the columns with the accurate information requiredfor the immediate process of your claim. You are hereby given 48 hours to return these forms back to this bank. We stand to give all our customer the best of our service. We once againwelcome you to Islamic Bank of Britain UK.

Yours in service,

Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

The Chief Executive Officer and Director.







De : marylin freya < marylin509@hotmail.com >

Envoye le : Ve, 17 Fev 2017 13:00

Sujet : Get in touch with him to get your $900,000 cheque











Hello, Good day to you my old friend, How is everything around you ?I hope my email finds you well. I left Senegal to Canada where i am presently now for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assisting me in the clam of the funds despite that it failed us some how. Now i did not forget your efforts then how you tried to help despite that it failed some how, so i decided to reward you for your good heart with a bank draft cheque i left to the Reverend Father Nathan Kapaya in Senegal, a sum of $900.000.00 US dollars for you as a reward for the fact that you did not take advantage of me over my inheritance as i revealed every thing about me to you when i needed someone to help me out. I want you to know that i would have write to you to demand for your account to pay in this money for you but there was no chance for me to do that because i was in a hurry to catch up with my flight and i did not want my partner to know about my gift to you because i know that he would not have allowed me to give you such huge amount so i decided to drop the Cheque to you for you to use it and start new life as my reverend. Please contact the Rev. father, his contact informations are as follows. .

+221 776304312



rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com



You are to forward to him the followings. .



1. YOUR FULL NAME & ADDRESS WHERE HE WILL SEND THE CHEQUE TO

2. YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER, Rev. FatherNathan Kapaya+221 776304312You are to forward to him the followings. .1. YOUR FULL NAME & ADDRESS WHERE HE WILL SEND THE CHEQUE TO2. YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER, 3. YOUR PASSPORT ORID CARD

Do not hesitate to get in touch with him and he will send you the bank draft immediately without any delay. Take care and bye for now. Your old friend, Marylin



I leftinstructions for the bank draft chequebe sent to you, so I want you to feel free and contact him so that he can tell you how you can receive thisbank draft cheque which i left with him on your behalf for your generous kindness to me then.Finally, i want to plead with you not to write to me again with this email because my husband now has access to my emailbox and i do not want him to know that i left a bank draft cheque to you but i will call or write to you when i settle down very well here in Canada because i am still like a stranger here and I feel this is the only way i could say "thank you" for your kindness to me. this is just to let you know that a good mind does not forget some special people who are very nice and thoughtful as you were to me then. I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting my inheritance funds transferred under the co-operation of my new partner from Ireland, and i wish as well to let you know that I travelled to Senegal, in West Africa, but last weekI left Senegalto Canada where i am presently now for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assisting me in the clam of the funds despite that it failed us some how. Now i did not forget your efforts then how you tried to help despite that it failed some how, so i decided to reward you for your good heart with a bank draft cheque i left to the Reverend FatherNathan Kapayain Senegal, a sum of De : marylin freya < marylin509@hotmail.com >

Envoye le : Ve, 24 Fev 2017 12:46

Sujet : I left him instructions to send you your cheque



Hello, good day to you my old friend. How is everything around you ? I hope my email finds you well, this is just to let you know that a good mind does not forget some special people who are very nice and thoughtful as you were to me then.

I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting my inheritance funds transferred under the co-operation of my new partner from Ireland, and i wish as well to let you know that I traveled to Senegal in West Africa, but last week I left Senegal to Canada where i am presently now for investment projects with my own shares of the total sum. Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assisting me in the clam of the funds despite that it failed us some how. Now i did not forget your efforts then how you tried to help despite that it failed some how, so i decided to reward you for your good heart with a bank draft cheque i left tothe Reverend Father Nathan Kapaya in Senegal a sum of $900.000.00 Thousand United States Dollars for you as a reward for the fact that you did not take advantage of me over my inheritance as i revealed every thing about me to you when i needed someone to help me out. I want you to know that i would have write to you to demand for your account to pay in this money for you but there was no chance for me to do that because i was in a hurry to catch up with my flight and i did not want my partner to know about my gift to you because i know that he would not have allowed me to give you such huge amount so i decided to drop the cheque to you for you to use it and start new life as my Reverend.

CONTACT OF THE REVEREND : Please, contact the Rev. father, his contact information are as follows. . Rev FatherNathan Kapaya +221 776304312

rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com



You are to forward to him the following :



1. YOUR FULL NAME & ADDRESS WHERE HE WILL SEND THE CHEQUE TO

2. YOUR PHONE NUMBER ANDYOUR PASSPORT ORID CARD

I lefthim instructions to send thischeque toyou. So, I want you to feel free and contact him so that he can tell you how you can receive yourcheque which i left with him on your behalf for your generous kindness to me then. Here is the contact email and phone number of Rev. Father Nathan Kapaya, +221 776304312 rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com Finally, i want to plead with you not to write to me again with this email because my husband now has access to my E-mailbox and i do not want him to know that i left a cheque to you but i will call or write to you when i settle down very well here in Canada because i am still like a stranger here and I feel this is the only way i could say thank you for your kindness to me. Do not hesitate to get in touch with him and he will send you the bank draft immediately without any delay. Take care and bye for now. Your old friend Marylin De : marylin freya < marylin509@hotmail.com >

Envoye le : Ma, 28 Fev 2017 13:59

Sujet : I left him instructions for your $900,000 cheque



Hello, good day to you, my old friend, How is everything around you ?I hope my email finds you well, this is just to let you know that a good mind does not forget some special people who are very nice and thoughtful as you were to me then. I 'm happy to inform you about my success in getting my inheritance funds transferred under the co-operation of my new partner from Ireland, and i wish as well to let you know that I traveled to Senegal in West Africa, butlast week I leftSenegal to Canada where i am presently now for investment projects with my own shares of the total sum, meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assisting me in the clam of the funds despite that it failed us some how. Now i did not forget your efforts then how you tried to help despite that it failed some how, so i decided to reward you for your good heart with a bank draft Cheque i left to theReverend Father Nathan Kapaya in Senegal $900.000.00 Thousand United States Dollars for you as a reward for the fact that you did not take advantage of me over my inheritance as i revealed every thing about me to you when i needed someone to help me out. I want you to know that i would have write to you to demand for your account to pay in this money for you but there was no chance for me to do that because i was in a hurry to catch up with my flight and i did not want my partner to know about my gift to you because i know that he would not have allowed me to give you such huge amount so i decided to drop the Cheque to you for you to use it and start new life as my Reverend.

CONTACT OF THE REVEREND Please contact the Rev. father, his contact information isfollows. . Rev. FatherNathan Kapaya .

+221 776304312

rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com





You are to forward to him the followings. .



1. YOUR FULL NAME & ADDRESS WHERE HE WILL SEND THE CHEQUE TO

2. YOUR PHONE NUMBER ANDYOUR PASSPORT ORID CARD

You are to forward to him the followings. .1. YOUR FULL NAME & ADDRESS WHERE HE WILL SEND THE CHEQUE TO2. YOUR PHONE NUMBER ANDYOUR PASSPORT ORID CARD I lefthim instructions for the bank Draft cheque to be sent to you.So, I want you to feel free and contact him so that he can tell you how you can receive the cheque which i left with him on your behalf for your generous kindness to me. I want to plead with you not to write to me again with this email because my husband now has access to my emailbox and i do not want him to know that i left a Bank Draft Cheque to you but i will call or write to you when i settle down very well Here in Canada because i am still like a stranger here and I feel this is the only way i could say thank you for your kindness to me. Do not hesitate to get in touch with him and he will send you the bank draft immediately without any delay. Take care and bye for now. Your old friend Marylin De : rvnathankapaya rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com

Envoye le : Sa, 4 Mar 2017 0:11

Sujet : I am waiting for you at the DHL office



Dear,



Your message was received, and I am hereby to inform you that Mrs. Marylin : Dear,Your message was received, and I am hereby to inform you that Mrs. Marylin : marylin509@hotmail.com gave me a cheque worth $800.000.00 USD in your name. I also received your particulars, then I went directly to Dhl office with 180 usd, unfortunately the Dhl people said, it will 750 usd, because they will use special package, just to avoid detected that is cheque inside. However, I am just a Revrend, I would have assist you to send it to your country, but my money is not enough. You are advise to send 750 usd by Western Union Money transferto enable me send your cheque by DHL office to your country. Reply me immediately, I am waiting for you at the DHL office. Send the money with the name of my secretary below. .



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Name : Naomy Iwahashi

Country : SENEGAL

Question : GOOD

Answer : OK

Mtcn . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address :488 H.L.M Grand Yoff Dakar, Senegal

Sender's name . . . . . . .

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



Thanks.

Rev. Nathan Kapaya



De : marylin freya marylin509@hotmail.com

Envoye le : Ma, 7 Mar 2017 16:52

Sujet : Get in touch with him and he will send you your $900.000 cheque



Hello, Good day to you, my old friend. How is everything around you ? I hope my email finds you well. This is just to let you know that a good mind does not forget some special people who are very nice and thoughtful as you were to me then. I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting my inheritance funds transferred under the co-operation of my new partner from Ireland, and i wish as well to let you know that I traveled to Senegal, in West Africa, but last week I leftSenegal to Canada where i am presently now for investment projects with my own shares of the total sum. Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assisting me in the clam of the funds despite that it failed us some how. Now i did not forget your efforts then how you tried to help despite that it failed some how, so i decided to reward you for your good heart with a Bank Draft Cheque i left T o one Reverend Father Nathan Kapaya in Senegal a sum of $900,000.00 Thousand United States dollars for you as a reward for the fact that you did not take advantage of me over my inheritance as i revealed every thing about me to you when i needed someone to help me out. want you to know that i would have write to you to demand for your account to pay in this money for you but there was no chance for me to do that because i was in a hurry to catch up with my flight and i did not want my partner to know about my gift to you because i know that he would not have allowed me to give you such huge amount so i decided to drop the cheque to you for you to use it and start new life as my Reverend. CONTACT OF THE REVEREND Please, contact the Rev. father, his contact informations are as follows. . Rev. Father Nathan Kapaya +221 776304312

rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com



You are to forward to him the following. .

1. FULL NAME & ADDRESS WHERE HE WILL SEND THE CHEQUE

2. TELEPHONE NUMBER ANDPASSPORT ORID CARD

You are to forward to him the following. .1. FULL NAME & ADDRESS WHERE HE WILL SEND THE CHEQUE2. TELEPHONE NUMBER ANDPASSPORT ORID CARD The mane of the Reverend isRev. Father Nathan Kapaya, and i leftinstructions for the bank draft cheque to be sent to you. So, I want you to feel free and contact him so that he can tell you how you can receive thecheque which i left with him on your behalf for your generous kindness to me then. Here is the contact email and phone number of Rev. Father Nathan Kapaya, rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com Finally, i want to plead with you not to write to me again with this email because my husband now has access to my email box and i do not want him to know that i left acheque to you but i will call or write to you when i settle down very well here in Canada because i am still like a stranger here and I feel this is the only way i could say thank you for your kindness to me. Do not hesitate to get in touch with him and he will send you the bank draft immediately without any delay. Take care and bye for now. Your old friend Marylin

De : marylin freya < marylin509@hotmail.com >

Envoye le : Me, 15 Mar 2017 18:53

Sujet : Contact him about your $900,000 cheque



Hello, Good day to you, my old friend ! How is everything around you ? I hope my email finds you well, this is just to let you know that a good mind does not forget some special people who are very nice and thoughtful as you were to me then.

I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting my inheritance funds transferred under the co-operation of my new partner from Ireland, and i wish as well to let you know that I traveled to Senegal in West Africa, but last week I left Senegal to Canada where i am presently now for investment projects with my own shares of the total share. Meanwhile, I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assisting me in the clam of the funds despite that it failed us some how. Now i did not forget your efforts then how you tried to help despite that it failed some how, so i decided to reward you for your good heart with a Bank Draft Cheque i left T o one Reverend Father Nathan Kapaya in Senegal a sum of $900,000.00 Thousand United States Dollars for you as a reward for the fact that you did not take advantage of me over my inheritance as i revealed every thing about me to you when i needed someone to help me out. I want you to know that i would have write to you to demand for your account to pay in this money for you but there was no chance for me to do that because i was in a hurry to catch up with my flight and i did not want my partner to know about my gift to you because i know that he would not have allowed me to give you such huge amount so i decided to drop the cheque to you for you to use it and start new life as my Reverend. Please, contact the Rev father his contact information are as follows. .

Rev Father Nathan Kapaya +221 776304312

rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com



You are to forward to him the following. .

1. YOUR FULL NAME & ADDRESS WHERE HE WILL SEND THE CHEQUE TO

2. YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND ALSO YOUR PASSPORT OR YOUR ID CARD

You are to forward to him the following. .1. YOUR FULL NAME & ADDRESS WHERE HE WILL SEND THE CHEQUE TO2. YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND ALSO YOUR PASSPORT OR YOUR ID CARD i left an instructions for the bank Draft Cheque to be sent to you, so I want you to feel free and contact him so that he can tell you how you can receive the bank draft cheque which i left with him on your behalf for your generous kindness to me then. Here is the contact email and phone number of Rev. Father Nathan Kapaya, rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com +221 <rvnathankapaya@yahoo.com> 776304312 Finally, i want to plead with you not to write to me again with this email because my husband now has access to my mailbox and i do not want him to know that i left a Bank Draft Cheque to you but i will call or write to you when i settle down very well Here in Canada because i am still like a stranger here and I feel this is the only way i could say thank you for your kindness to me. Do not hesitate to get in touch with him and he will send you the bank draft immediately without any delay. Take care and bye for now. Your old friend Marylin De : AL RAYAN BANK LONDON UK ibb_costumercare@accamail.com

Envoye le : Ma, 21 Mar 2017 14:38

Sujet : IBB PLC UK about your transfer





http://www.islamic-bank.com/

Islamic Bank of Britain Plc United Kingdom

PO Box 12461 Birmingham B16 6AQ United Kingdom March 21, 2017 RESPONDS to your CLAIM



Attention :

Sir/Madam,

We wish to inform you our transfer department of Islamic Bank of BritainUnited Kingdom, carefully received your official message in respect ofour late customers funds. . marylin509@hotmail.com , becomfort4@outlook.com According to our bank rules and regulations, the formal procedure must beadopted to enable us to carried out our official bank duties which isneedful before the transfer will be effect for confirmation. Note, that you are expected to abide by the principles for us to finalizethis transaction accordingly,You are therefore advised to view the 2f orms attached with this mail, print them out and fill the columns with the accurate information requiredfor the immediate process of your claim. You are hereby given 48 hours to return these forms back to this bank. We stand to give all our customer the best of our service. We once againwelcome you to Islamic Bank of Britain UK.

Yours in service,

Sultan Ahmed Choudhury

The Chief Executive Officer and Director of

ISLAMIC BANK OF BRITAIN PLC UK Attention : De : marylin freya < marilynfreya@hotmail.com >

Envoye le : Ve, 5 Mai 2017 20:28

Sujet : I left a $450,000 ATM card for you



Dear,

I was shocked you stopped communicating with me, I really can't understand your reason for doing so, but I am very happy now to inform you about my success in getting the fund out of our bank with the help of Director of foreign transfer United bank of Africa and also with the special assistance of a New Zealand business man that catered for other logistics and stand as the legal beneficiary for the claim of the fund. However, I left the sum of $450,000 (Four Hundred and fifty Thousand US Dollars) in an ATM cash withdrawal Card. This $450,000 is for you and it is purposely for your compensation for your little effort in the deal. The ATM Card is a global payment card which is acceptable, workable and usable worldwide in making daily withdrawal of money from any ATM location. So you can be able to make withdrawals of money in any countries on daily basis. I would like you to help me donate $100,000.00 US Dollars to any orphanage homes and motherless babies home in your country if there is any. Then the remaining $350,000.00 Dollars is for your compensation for your past sincere efforts to help me. I would have sent the ATM card to your address by myself, but i was not with my partner who was in Africa for the transaction before getting the fund transfer to his country. I lack the time to travel to Africa now because I have to urgently meet up with my business colleagues in New ZealandI will be heading to the airport as soon as I send you this email because I will be traveling out of this country to New Zealand where I shall continue with a petroleum business engagements and real estate investment. For your own good, I requested my partner to left the sum of $450,000 (Four Hundred and fifty Thousand US Dollars) in an ATM cash withdrawal card withMr. Amie Ndiaye Sow, he is a bank officer in United bank of Africa, now go on and contact him through his official email address customercareubasenegal@gmail .com <customercareubasenegal@gmail.com> so that he can dispatch to you the ATM card at your contact address. Simply contact Mr.Amie Ndiaye Sow immediately so that he can send the ATM card to you. Below is the contact of Mr. Amie Ndiaye Sow

+ 221.707201548

customercareubasenegal@gmail .com <customercareubasenegal@gmail.com>



Thanks and God bless you

Mrs Marilyn Freya. + 221.707201548Thanks and God bless youMrs Marilyn Freya. If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more....
One of the most recognizable symbols of World War II will once again report for duty exactly 75 years after its crew finished their last mission in the war against Nazi Germany on May 17, 1943. The B-17F Memphis Belle  the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States  will be placed on public display at the National Museum of the U.S. on May 17, 2018. Pilot Robert Morgan named the aircraft after his wartime girlfriend, Margaret Polk, of Memphis, Tenn. Morgan chose the now famous artwork from a 1941 George Petty illustration in Esquire magazine.

After returning to the United States in June 1943, its crew flew the aircraft across the country on a three-month war bond and morale boosting tour. With the bond tour and the 1944 William Wyler documentary color film titled The Memphis Belle  which contained actual combat footage  the aircraft and its crew became widely known and celebrated. In 1990 a major motion picture of the same name added to their fame. Following decades of display in Memphis, the historic aircraft came to the museum in October 2005, when work began on a careful, multi-year conservation and restoration effort including corrosion treatment and the full outfitting of missing equipment, which continues today.

According to National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Curator Jeff Duford, the Memphis Belle is a national treasure, and will soon be the centerpiece of a new major exhibit in the museums WWII Gallery. The B-17F Memphis Belle is an icon that represents the thousands of bomber crews, maintainers, and others supporting the bomber mission, whose service and sacrifice helped win WWII. said Duford. Work is underway to showcase the aircraft in the WWII Gallery, and the surrounding exhibit will include interactive displays, rare archival film footage and many personal artifacts which have never been seen before by our visitors.

Visitors can currently see the Memphis Belle as it undergoes the final stages of restoration by participating in the museums Behind the Scenes Tours, which are offered nearly every Friday (some exceptions). More information and registration for those tours is available at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/GroupsandTours.aspx.

For more information, photos and videos of the Memphis Belle, click HERE.

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is the worlds largest military aviation museum. With free admission and parking, the museum features more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts amid more than 19 acres of indoor exhibit space. Each year about one million visitors from around the world come to the museum. For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.
On February 3 and 4, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor will pay tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen and the vital role they played during World War II with special presentations by decorated WWII Tuskegee Airman Pilot Colonel Charles McGee to Hawaiis youth and the public.

On Friday, February 3, 10  11 am in the theater, teachers are encouraged to bring their students, in grades 6-12, to a presentation geared towards youth entitled, In His Own Words, by Colonel McGee. Colonel McGee fought in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, and has one of the highest three-war total of fighter combat missions in the United States Air Force history. Colonel McGee began his military service as one of the Tuskegee Airmen in the 332nd Fighter Group. The Tuskegee Airmen were pioneers who fought racial prejudices to fly and fight for their country during WWII. Colonel McGees career in the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force spanned 30 years and 3 wars, where he flew 409 aerial combat missions. During his military career, Colonel McGee was awarded the Legion of Merit with Cluster, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star and the Air Medal (twenty-five times).

Admission is free for this youth presentation, and funding for bus transportation to the Museum will be provided for school groups who register in advance. Seating is limited and reservations are strongly advised. To register, contact 808-445-9137 or email Education@PacificAviationMuseum.org.

On Saturday, February 4, Colonel McGee will once again be the featured speaker at a Hangar Talk in the theater, 11am to 12 noon. This event is open to the public. Also present at the Hangar Talk will be WWII Tuskegee Airman Philip Baham. Baham served as a crew chief for the 337th Composite Group at Tuskegee Army Air Field. Baham is a dedicated volunteer at Pacific Aviation Museum, sharing his story with visitors as a greeter in the lobby of Hangar 37. Access to the Hangar Talk is free with Museum admission, free to Museum Members, and free for Navy League members with I.D. For more information, call 808-441-1007. Discounted tickets are available online at www.PacificAviationMuseum.org.

Prior to 1940, African Americans were prohibited from flying for the U.S. military. Even in light of extreme racism, African Americans fought to defend their country, which led to the formation of an all African-American pursuit squadron based in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1941. They became known as the Tuskegee Airmen, who overcame segregation and prejudice to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of WWII. Their dedication to defending the freedom of all Americans and their acts of heroism paved the way for full integration of the U.S. military. Tuskegee Airmen completed more than 1,500 missions. Both events are being held in conjunction with Black History Month.

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is located on Historic Ford Island, where bombs fell during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Visitors to the Museum can see remnants from that day of infamy, including the 158-foot tall, red and white iconic Ford Island Field Control Tower, Hangars 37 and 79, and bullet holes in Hangar 79. Through its preservation and restoration of World War II fighter planes and accompanying artifacts in the Museums historic hangars, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor shares the story of the vital role aviation played in Americas winning of World War II, and its continuing role in maintaining Americas freedom.Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to develop and maintain an internationally recognized aviation museum on Historic Ford Island that educates young and old alike, honors aviators and their support personnel who defended freedom in The Pacific Region, and to preserve Pacific aviation history. Contact: 808-441-1000; Marketing@PacificAviationMuseum.org.
By Pete Mecca.

Arranging an interview quickly turns into something very special when the veteran suggests, Lets just fire up the old Stearman and fly down to Peach State Aerodrome for lunch at Barnstormers Grill. Then we can fly back for an interview at my house. Needless to say, nobody had to twist my arm.The grass airfield in Williamson, GA is also home to the Candler Field Museum and the Civil Air Patrol. Pilots who frequent Barnstormers are seasoned aviators with thousands of hours behind the controls of contemporary aircraft, but these guys would feel right at home inside the cockpit of a WWI era Sopwith Camel, a French Spad, or the Fokker Dreidecker (tri-plane) of Red Baron renown. Loiter around the grass field long enough and you may see a floppy-eared Beagle land his dog house.

John Laughter can recite Barnstormers menu by heart from one too many hamburgers and gooey desserts shared with other daring young men and their flying machines. Thing is, many of the flyboys are no longer young and their machines are older than they are, but in aviation older means an enormous amount of hard-earned experience by trial and error, sometimes even the death of a wingman. As a Navy fighter pilot Laughter flew into the most heavily defended country of his era, a place called North Vietnam. And this is his story.

I was born into a family of aviators in Horse Shoe, NC. My dad served with the 101st Airborne in WWII. He was severely wounded on the 2nd day of the Normandy invasion which ended his military career but that didnt stop him from becoming a private pilot, even with a steel pin in his leg. Dad soloed after 4 hours of instruction. My mom had a fear of flying but conquered that fear to become the 2nd licensed female pilot in western North Carolina. My uncle trained young pilots during WWII using the Stearman biplane. He became a commercial airline pilot and took me for my first flight in a Globe/Temco Swift. I fell in love with aviation and decided then and there I wanted to be a fighter pilot then a commercial pilot. I remember going to the airfield with the family when I was 10 years old and sitting in the cockpit of a Stearman duster. I bought that same Stearman in 1985.

Johns third year of college at East Carolina gave him the opportunity to fulfill his aviation dream. Navy recruiters were on campus and offered me a ride in a T-34 (Beechcraft Mentor). Of course I took the ride then said to myself, Yep, this is for me. I signed up and arrived in Pensacola in Dec of 64. I figured the US Navy had a plane waiting for me with my name on it, but I soon found out things didnt work that way. John said of his youthful rebellious nature, You know, after joining the Navy I realized everything my dad had taught me made sense. Dad was a disciplined man, and it helped me become the aviator I am today. Pre Flight School at Pensacola paved the way for primary flight school at Saufley Field. John recalled, I soloed in the T-34 and learned basic acrobatics but kept wondering if jets or props would be in my future. Luckily I got jets and was sent to Meridian, MS to master the T-2 (North American Buckeye). Proficient behind the controls of a Buckeye, John returned to Pensacola for gunnery school and carrier qual (qualification). Carrier landings and takeoffs would be mastered on the legendary USS Lexington stationed in the Gulf of Mexico. His thoughts on his first carrier landing, I didnt think that much of it because of all the training the Navy had given me. Everything went as I had been briefed. My first shot (catapult) off the carrier was perfect. breathtaking, but perfect.



Next port-of-call: Chase Field in Beeville, TX, to train on the F-9 Cougar and F-11 Grumman Tiger. One F-11 training mission caused a bit of a problem. I was rolling in on target in the Gulf during gunnery training when the low oil pressure warning light came on. I headed for Corpus Christi and called in my emergency. Im on a precautionary approach and let the gear downthen the darn plane falls out of the sky. Normal thrust failed, the gear is sucked back up, engine power was not normal, so Im just hoping for the best. I made it to the short runway but had to shut down the engine on final approach and dead stick it back down to earth. I made it okay.All his experience, all his training, all he ever learned about flying would now come into play. Assigned to VF-124 squadron at Miramar near San Diego, John mastered the F-8 Vought Crusader supersonic Navy fighter, a wonderful plane, he stated, Plus I married my forever sweetheart, the beautiful Carole Bowden. After winning Caroles affection, John reported to the Sundowners of VF-111 and by April of 67 set sail for Westpac aboard the USS Oriskany. His destination was Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam.

Upon arrival: We had experienced guys on the Oriskany from the year before who briefed us on their experiences, but it didnt help too much because of the new targets, the capitol city of Hanoi and the major port of Haiphong. I flew iron hand combat escort for A-4 Skyhawks, a few flak suppression missions with Zuni missiles, TarCap, Barcap, Migcap, and photo recon escort. We lost one plane per day the first week then didnt lose a plane for one day only, then lost two the next day. My F-8 was the C model without hard points on the wing. We carried 4 Zuni rockets or 4 Sidewinders. The E model F-8s carried bombs because they had hard points on their wings.

Tactics: A Skyhawk would fly an Iron Hand mission and launch a Shrike missile at a SAM (surface to air missile) location. The Shrike would fly right down the SAMs radar beam and destroy the site, unless they saw it coming and quickly shut down their system. Our Crusaders would protect the A-4s plus escort strike forces into their target. We actually drew the SAMs toward us and away from the strike force. One tactic was to let loose a Zuni toward Hanoi to make the SAM operators shut down their radar because the Zuni looked like a Shrike coming at them. The North Vietnamese had 37mm, 57mm, 85mm, and I think some 100mm guns plus SAMs. One of their tactics was to form a cone of anti-aircraft fire which our planes were forced to maneuver through. If we missed the target wed have to go back another day and fly through the cone again.

On losing a pilot: It was tough. Youre sitting in a briefing room with 30 pilots and you know that one probably isnt coming back. You just hope its not your day to be that missing pilot. On our first cruise the A-4 Skyhawks took a pounding, about 28 planes either lost or damaged. We also used wet-winging to improve our survival rate. If youre shot up and leaking fuel and lucky enough to reach the sea then an aerial fuel tanker would hook up to you and keep pumping fuel into your plane to replace the fuel being leaked. Some holes in our planes were large enough to stick your head through.

The cameraman: One of our pilots named Stattin used his own 8mm camera to film our missions. We called him Cecil B. DeStattin. On one mission he was filming SAMs heading our way when he realized a SAM was heading right for him. He broke hard to avoid the missile but the 400lb warhead exploded and peppered his aircraft with shrapnel. He made it back with over 100 holes in his plane.  We continued to hit the enemy hard and did not back down because of our losses. We did the best we could under the circumstances and did it for our wingman and our squadron. The war protests back home didnt bother us at all. Their tour complete, the Oriskany headed for Hong Kong during Christmas. That didnt last long, John recalled. The replacement carrier was delayed so we had to go back in action for 10 days in January of 68. Those 10 days cost us 2 more planes and 2 more pilots. Thus ended the bloodiest combat cruise of the Vietnam War.

Special note: Up against enemy Mig fighters, the Crusaders earned the nicknames Mig Master and Last of the Gunfighters. Migs did not come up against the Crusaders very often because they would probably lose the engagement. The final tally was 19-3 in favor of the Crusaders, the best of the war. On Laughters first cruise his squadron only had one Mig engagement: 6 Migs against 1 Crusader and ended with 1 Mig shot down. Once home in San Diego a reserve F-8 squadron called up by President Johnson took over the fighter planes. Well, that didnt work out too well, John said. Most if not all of the reserve pilots were commercial airline pilots. They took over the squadrons airplanes but bellyached about everything, including their loss of pay. Then the Navy discovered these guys couldnt land on carriers at night. The Navy sent them home then gave us back our planes.

John recalled an important event during his first tour. I forgot to tell you about the USS Forrestal disaster. Our sister carrier was launching planes from the VF-11 Squadron on July 29, 1967 when a Zuni missile misfired on the flight deck. The wayward Zuni struck a fully fueled and armed A-4 piloted by future Senator and Presidential candidate John McCain. The resulting explosions and fire killed 134 men, injured 161, and destroyed 21 aircraft. Some of the pilots and aircraft that survived the conflagration were sent over to our carrier, the Oriskany, so the support missions could continue.  In late October we struck the thermal power plant in Hanoi. It was on that mission that John McCain went down and became a POW. You know, our newest weapon at that time was the Walleye (first in a series of smart bombs) that our pilots knew very little about. But the North Vietnamese had all the information they needed on the Walleye; they knew how to jam or evade the weapon. We basically had a traitor in the U.S. And let me mention Jane Fonda. The photo of her sitting in the seat of a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun irked all of us; it was hard to swallow. We were on the receiving end of the gun and her actions only encouraged our enemies. Most of us still hold a grudge about that but we dont dwell on it.Johns second tour on Yankee Station wasnt a cake walk but did offer less of a risk. President Johnson had initiated another bombing halt which took Hanoi and Haiphong plus other important targets off the bombing list. We still had losses but not as severe as the first tour of duty. We did our job; we served our country, and we were proud of our service.

John Laughter flew a total of 155 combat missions into North Vietnam. His Crusader never received a hit, not one scratch. Yeah, I was lucky; I know that. Grinning, John said, I guess my Guardian Angel received a lot of overtime pay. How good is a combat experienced Navy pilot? John Laughtner received high marks at the very first Top Gun school, helped develop new tactics to fight enemy Mig fighters, transferred to the East Coast and flew F-4 Phantom Jets off the refurbished USS Forrestal as a member of the legendary VF-11 Red Ripper Squadron, and served as a weapons training officer.

On hitting the silk: I was in test squadron VX-4 at Point Magu, CA. We normally used the Pacific Missile Range as our primary operating area. On day while maneuvering behind an F-4 during a simulated dogfight my F-8 went out of control and rolled to the right. One of the connecting rods had broken. I managed to regain some control but could only perform right turns. After struggling with the aircraft for about 15 minutes I knew it was time to eject. We were over the desert, very few houses, and I maneuvered toward the barren mountains. I pulled the handle then the rocket seat ejected me out of the aircraft. It would take me a lifetime to explain my thoughts during the few seconds before the chute opened, but I can tell you this, when that orange and white parachute deployed it was without a doubt the most beautiful thing Id ever seen. After all of Johns careful planning and piloting, the F-8 still landed in a guys backyard. John recalled, The jet just spun in. No injuries occurred on the ground, but there was not one piece of the jet you couldnt pick up in your hand. The Crusaders engine was found buried 28 feet into the ground.

After 8 years flying Navy jets, John decided on a career in commercial aviation. He retired in 2003 from Northwest Airlines. Asked how many different aircraft he had flown, John replied, It would be easier for me to name the planes I havent flown. His final thoughts on the war in Vietnam: Vietnam was a terrible war that was terribly managed. We lost a lot of good people, then in the end we gave it all away. For me, it was a good time in my life, learning who I am and what I am and operating under pressure. But you know, we have heard no more Vietnams, never again, yet we see them doing the same thing over and over and losing everything weve gained. I just dont get it.

Article by Peter Mecca

Pete Mecca is a Vietnam veteran. For story consideration or comments: aveteranssstory@gmail.com
Valentines Day is a time to reflect and appreciate the relationships in our lives. However, it can also be a time to reflect on...
Incoming Health Minister Greg Hunt says he wants to establish a better relationship with the nation's GPs amid the ongoing conflict over the government's decision to maintain a freeze on the Medicare rebate.

Named by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday to replace resigned minister Sussan Ley, Mr Hunt declined to discuss his thoughts on the freeze, which has angered doctors by capping the amount they are reimbursed.

But one of Mr Hunt's first conversations, in a telephone call made within 10 minutes of Mr Turnbull's announcement, was with Australian Medical Association head Michael Gannon, who told him GPs often felt "undervalued" in Australia.

"I want to re-establish that value - their role, their importance, their trust in the community," Mr Hunt said. "I do again want to repeat that for GPs, I want to be their health minister."
Extending the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 into a new stretch of ocean - recently identified as the more likely whereabouts of the aircraft - would cost approximately $40 million.

This is less than quarter of the $200 million the 120,000-square-kilometre search has cost Australia, China and Malaysia so far. The three countries confirmed the end of the underwater hunt on Wednesday and have firmly reiterated that only evidence pinpointing the specific location of the plane would trigger an extension.

The price tag of just over $40 million to comb the extra 25,000-square-kilometre zone in the Indian Ocean, just north of the original area, is proportionate to the costs of the search so far. Fairfax Media understands it is seen as a reliable estimate inside the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

The grief-stricken families of victims have condemned the three governments' decision to halt the search, demanding it be restarted, but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Transport Minister Darren Chester have set a high threshold for this to occur.
After poaching one of his state MPs in her bid for Queensland domination, Pauline Hanson has some advice for Malcolm Turnbull on how to fix his government  bring Tony Abbott back to the cabinet.

Senator Hanson has emerged as one of Mr Abbott's biggest supporters since returning to parliament, the pair having buried the hatchet following his role in bringing about the downfall of One Nation in the late 1990s, when it posed a growing electoral threat to the Liberals.

But, speaking to Nine News on Tuesday, Senator Hanson took it a step further, campaigning for Mr Abbott's return to the front bench, once again as health minister.

"Bring Tony Abbott back into the portfolio," she said.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the witness stand in Dallas federal court on Tuesday and denied an allegation by a rival company that the virtual-reality technology of Facebook's Oculus unit was stolen.

Zuckerberg, wearing a dark suit and striped tie rather than his typical T-shirt and jeans, began testifying at 9am local time and two-and-a-half hours later was still answering questions posed by a lawyer for video game publisher ZeniMax Media.

'Oculus products are based on Oculus technology,' Mark Zuckerberg said. Credit:AP

ZeniMax sued Oculus in 2014 as Facebook was in the process of buying the startup for $US2 billion ($2.6 billion). The publisher said that Oculus unlawfully gained access to ZeniMax's intellectual property while developing the VR system that includes the Rift headset.

Zuckerberg told a jury in the crowded courtroom that those claims are false. "Oculus products are based on Oculus technology," he said.
Two years ago, at the age of 20, Perth woman Ballantyne Forder found herself looking after 16 orphaned children during the devastating Nepal earthquakes.

She huddled with them in a field for four days as they watched buildings fall down around them and waited for help.

Ms Forder hasn't seen or heard from the children since. But she's travelling back to Nepal to track them down.

"Two weeks ago I woke up and I thought 'oh my gosh, I'm ready to go back now' ... so that's what I'm going to do," she said.
Los Angeles: Summer Zervos, a contestant on The Apprentice, has announced legal action against President-elect Donald Trump for defamation.

Before the election, Zervos accused Trump of inappropriate sexual advances as she sought his career advice at a meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel. But she did not file a lawsuit at that time.

The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in New York. Her lawyer Gloria Allred said that after he was hit with accusations of sexual misconduct, Trump "knowingly, intentionally, and maliciously threw" Zervos and other accusers "under the bus" and called them "liars."

Zervos contended that after she contacted Trump following her stint on The Apprentice," he invited her to a 2007 meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel. But when she arrived, she was directed to his bungalow, where he attempted to force himself on her and groped her
Russian authorities have extended Edward Snowden's residence permit by a "couple of years," a government spokesperson said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the announcement in a Facebook post late Tuesday. The state-owned news agency TASS said his permit was extended until 2020.

Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor, is accused of violating the espionage act by leaking details of secret surveillance programs.

He has been living in Russia since 2013 after getting stuck at a Moscow airport after flying in from Hong Kong when the U.S. cancelled his passport. He had planned to travel onward to Ecuador.
London: Last week, the WikiLeaks Twitter account, widely believed to be run by Julian Assange, tweeted: "If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ [Department of Justice] case".

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama commuted most of the remaining prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the army intelligence analyst who leaked a vast collection of sensitive military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks has been campaigning for this result intensely, before and especially since hints emerged that Mr Obama may use the traditional pardoning powers of an outgoing president on Manning's behalf.

Manning will now be freed on May 17, rather than in 2045.
"Chelsea Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing," he said. President Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of former US military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, the White House says. Credit:Christopher Furlong "Mr Snowden fled into the arms of an adversary, and has sought refuge in a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine confidence in our democracy." He also noted that, while the documents Manning provided to WikiLeaks were "damaging to national security", the ones Mr Snowden disclosed were "far more serious and far more dangerous". (None of the documents Manning disclosed were classified above the merely "secret" level.) Edward J. Snowden, the former intelligence contractor who disclosed archives of top secret surveillance files, is living as a fugitive in Russia. Credit:AP

Manning was known as Bradley Manning when she deployed with her unit to Iraq in late 2009. There, she worked as a low-level intelligence analyst helping her unit assess insurgent activity in the area it was patrolling, a role that gave her access to a classified computer network. She copied hundreds of thousands of military incident logs from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, which, among other things, exposed abuses of detainees by Iraqi military officers working with American forces and showed that civilian deaths in the Iraq war were probably much higher than official estimates. The files she copied included about 250,000 diplomatic cables from American embassies around the world showing sensitive deals and conversations, dossiers detailing intelligence assessments of Guantanamo detainees held without trial, and a video of an American helicopter attack in Baghdad in which two Reuters journalists, among others, were killed. She decided to make all these files public, as she wrote at the time, in the hope that they would incite "worldwide discussion, debates, and reforms". WikiLeaks disclosed them - working with traditional news organisations including The New York Times - bringing notoriety to the group and its founder, Julian Assange.

The disclosures set off a frantic scramble as Obama administration officials sought to minimise any potential harm, including getting to safety some foreigners in dangerous countries who were identified as having helped American troops or diplomats. However, prosecutors presented no evidence that anyone was killed because of the leaks. At her court-martial, Manning confessed in detail to her actions and apologised, saying she did not intend to put anyone at risk and noting that she was "dealing with a lot of issues" at the time she made her decision. Testimony at the trial showed that she had been in a mental and emotional crisis as she came to grips, amid the stress of a war zone, with the fact that she was not merely gay but had gender dysphoria. She had been behaving erratically, including having angry outbursts and lapsing into catatonia mid-sentence. At one point she had emailed a photograph of herself in a woman's wig to her supervisor. Prosecutors said that, by making secret material available for publication on the internet, anyone - including al-Qaeda - could read it. And they accused Manning of treason, charging her with multiple counts of the Espionage Act as well as with "aiding the enemy", a potential capital offence, although they said they would not seek her execution. Manning confessed and pleaded guilty to a lesser version of those charges without any deal to cap her sentence. But prosecutors pressed forward with a trial and won convictions on the more serious versions of those charges. A military judge acquitted her of "aiding the enemy".

In her commutation application, Manning said she had not imagined that she would be sentenced to the "extreme" term of 35 years, a term for which there was "no historical precedent". (There have only been a handful of leak cases, and most sentences are in the range of one to three years.) "I take full and complete responsibility for my decision to disclose these materials to the public," she wrote. "I have never made any excuses for what I did. I pleaded guilty without the protection of a plea agreement because I believed the military justice system would understand my motivation for the disclosure and sentence me fairly. I was wrong." After her sentencing, Manning announced that she was transgender and changed her name to Chelsea. The military, under pressure from a lawsuit filed on her behalf by Chase Strangio of the American Civil Liberties Union, has permitted her to transition partly to life as a woman, including giving her cross-sex hormones and letting her wear female undergarments and light cosmetics. But it has not let her grow her hair longer than male military standards, citing security risks, and Manning said she had yet to be permitted to see a surgeon about the possibility of sex reassignment surgery.
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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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Vikram Bhatt has decided to adapt a script that was considered unfit for the Indian audience, all thanks to its bold content.

Maaya is the brainchild of director, Vikram Bhatt. Picture courtesy: YouTube/VB on The Web

By India Today Web Desk: God knows we didn't need it, but an Indian adaptation of the popular 50 Shades of Grey franchise is on its way--courtesy, Vikram Bhatt.

The filmmaker best known for movies like Ghulam, Raaz, 1920 among others has released the trailer for his upcoming web series, Maaya, that--according to its YouTube description--is an "erotic love story set in the world of BDSM."

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Also Read: The disturbing effect an obsession with the 50 Shades of Grey series is having on women

Starring Shama Sikander, Vipul Gupta and Veer Aryan as leads, the web series will reportedly, explore elements of a typical BDSM relationship made popular by the EL James' erotic 50 Shades of Grey trilogy. But not without its fair share of desi masala of course. Unlike its source of inspiration Bhatt's brainchild will touch upon topics like infidelity, vengeance and well, retrograde amnesia--that helps Shama (Maaya) lose track of her mysterious life outside wedlock.

Also Read: 50 Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson handled her wardrobe malfunction like a boss

Also Read: Meet the daddy of all 50 Shades of Grey parodies

The first part of the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan that saw an onscreen adaptation in 2015, wasn't allowed to release in India owing to its 'adult content'.

So Vikram Bhatt's decision to adapt a script considered unfit for the Indian audience is rather surprising, if nothing else.

Watch the trailer of Maaya right here:

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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.
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Thunderstorms - a few could contain very heavy rain, especially overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 58F. S winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch..

Tonight

Thunderstorms - a few could contain very heavy rain, especially overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 58F. S winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 18, 2017 | 02:35 PM | PADUCAH, KY

The audit found that the City is compliant in its financial reporting.



Finance Director Jonathan Perkins and David Hampton of Kemper CPA Group, LLP provided an overview of the Citys Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which includes the City audit.The audit is required by state law, but the report is a document the City prepares voluntarily to provide additional information and transparency to the public. The report is for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2016.Hampton said, The results of our tests disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards.Perkins said, We didnt get any written criticisms. Thats the first time in my career.The entire CAFR report and previous audits dating back to 2001 can be found on the Citys website, www.paducahky.gov.For more information on the meeting, or to watch the meeting on video, click the link below.

On the Net:
Many nearby shops and schools had to close down because of the massive dust cloud that followed the blast.

By Indo-Asian News Service: At least 67 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack on a military barracks in the north of Mali on Wednesday, medical sources told EFE.

Many others were injured in the deadly attack.

According to preliminary information, the assailant detonated the car bomb in the northern city of Gao while entering the barracks where hundreds of Malian soldiers and affiliated fighters had gathered.

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Witnesses told EFE news agency that the blast was so massive that it covered the city in a dust cloud, forcing many shops and schools to close.

A military force in Gao contacted by EFE said military sources did not rule out the possibility of more attacks as the assailants took advantage of the pandemonium.

No group has yet claimed the attack, one of the most bloody registered in the country where violence is constant.

--- ENDS ---
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 17, 2017 | 12:43 PM | CALVERT CITY, KY

As family members bring the body of Josh Franklin back to Paducah, co-workers from Jackson Purchase Energy honored him as he returned to the cooperative's territory Tuesday afternoon.Trucks from the utility were part of a caravan driving from Nashville, where Franklin was hospitalized, to Paducah, where Franklin lived with his wife and two small children.Another group of co-workers parked bucket trucks on the Patterson Ferry Road Bridge over I-24 near Calvert City, which is near the boundary for JPEC's service area. They raised the buckets on their trucks and used them to fly an American flag over the Interstate as the caravan passed underneath.A JPEC spokesperson said Pennyrile Rural Electric Cooperative did a similar tribute in Christian County and WKRECC also did a tribute to him in Calvert City, so he was welcomed home by all area cooperatives.Franklin came in contact with a live electrical wire on January 6 while working in West Paducah. He was taken to a local hospital and then airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville for treatment. After consulting with neurologists about the extent of brain injury from the electrical shock and lack of oxygen after the accident, family members decided to disconnect Franklin's ventilator on Monday. He died about 12:30 pm.Funeral arrangements for Franklin are incomplete.

On the Net:
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 18, 2017 | 09:33 AM | PADUCAH, KY





The City of Paducah is launching the first annual Paducah Citizens Academy, Your Passport to City Government. The academy is similar in structure to the highly successful Citizens Police Academy offered through the Paducah Police Department. The Paducah Citizens Academy will offer participants an in-depth look at how government works through an informative, fast-paced, and interactive program held on eight Thursday evenings beginning in March.City Manager Jeff Pederson says, The Academy is an exciting initiative that will create new connections between citizens and their city government. As a professionally-managed city government, we value citizen interactions and participation. Even though Paducah offers a variety of tools from the website to social media for citizens to correspond with the City, we know that face-to-face interactions are the best way to engage the public.Assistant to the City Manager Michelle Smolen is the coordinator of the Academy. Smolen says, The Paducah Citizens Academy creates an opportunity for participants to meet and discuss city operations with the City Manager, Directors, and staff. We are passionate about serving the community and want to share our inner workings. My hope is that the graduates of the Academy continue to stay involved by volunteering or serving on boards and committees.The Paducah Citizens Academy will be held Thursday evenings, 6:30 to 9 pm, from March 23 through May 18. The Academy will not meet April 6 which is the week of spring break for local schools. A graduation ceremony will be at the May 23 meeting of the Paducah Board of Commissioners. The program is free to participants; however, class size is limited. Individuals 16 years of age and older who live, work, or attend school in Paducah-McCracken County are encouraged to apply.Topics include form and function of government, public safety, geographic information systems (GIS), planning and community development, finance and budget, engineering and public works, and parks services. There will be opportunities for ride-alongs, site visits, and tours.
Jameson ordered removed from the bench and disqualified for Tuesday's election
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By The Associated Press

Jan. 18, 2017 | NASVILLE, TN

By The Associated Press Jan. 18, 2017 | 03:42 PM | NASVILLE, TN

The Republican speakers of the state House and Senate are making positive statements about Gov. Bill Haslam's plan to boost transportation funding while also cutting taxes in Tennessee.



But neither Rep. Beth Harwell of Nashville nor Sen. Randy McNally of Oak Ridge are going so far as to endorse the proposal that would also include the state's first gas tax hike since 1989.



Harwell, who has not ruled out a gubernatorial bid to succeed Haslam next year, says in a statement that she is "grateful" that the governor has found a way to cut taxes while also calling attention to the state's infrastructure needs.



McNally says the governor's plan "attacks the funding issue in a responsible way."



Both say they are looking forward to a robust debate in both chambers.
If Aamir Khan had turned down Mahavir Singh Phogat's role in Dangal, either superstar Kamal Haasan or Mohanlal could've played the role, say reports.

By India Today Web Desk: After keeping his fans with bated breaths, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan's latest release Dangal opened to rave reviews from critics and audience alike.

If not Aamir Khan, wondering who could have played Mahavir Singh Phogat in Dangal? Well, a creative producer from UTV Motion Pictures has made an interesting revelation.

ALSO READ: Dangal Review

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ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan asks Tamils not to hurt Trisha over jallikattu

ALSO READ: Vijay support jallikattu with this powerful video

According to the producer, South superstars Kamal Haasan or Mohanlal could have been part of the project had Aamir Khan turned down the offer.

He was quoted by Gulte.com as saying, "If Aamir had turned down the offer, we had our plans to approach South Superstars Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal as second options," she said.

The film, which released on December 23 last year, has been shattering box-office records. Now, Dangal is touted as the highest grossing Indian film in the domestic market, raking in more than Rs 374 crore.

So far, the Aamir Khan-starrer has collected Rs 190 crore from overseas market and is heading towards Rs 200-crore club.

Dangal chronicles the life story of Haryanvi wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his struggle to train his daughters Babita Kumari and Geeta Phogat, to enter the male-dominated world of wrestling and achieve laurels at the international level.

WATCH ALSO: Dangal Movie Review

--- ENDS ---
Rita Redmond was a true lady who felt that every pupil had something to gift to the world
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The Drunken Bakers have got competition. Each week, Viz Magazine's forlorn bread-makers start baking only to burn themselves out with booze. Clown duo Benjamin De Matteis and Mickael Le Guen could be their long-lost French cousins. Call them The Sozzled Acrobats.

'Maree basse' translates as low tide, but its meaning is more figurative than that. If low tide marks the moment when the moon's pull is at its weakest, it's also the point, each day, when life is at its heaviest. For these two sighing sad sacks, a circus double team that's swapped the big top for the bottle, it is an entire way of life. They are in the slumpiest of mid-life slumps.

If they've a motto in life it might be this: Make Do, Don't Mend. Or else simply: CBA  Can't Be Arsed. Their wooden shack is standing, but only just. Everything's slapdash and askew. Jaunty wooden shelves are strung together at an angle and the electricity meter needs shorting to get the lights on. Nothing's finished and nothing gets fixed. Half-empty wine bottles are dotted around on every surface. Apparently, even polishing off the last glass takes too much effort.

We watch their regular evening routine: a drawn-out attempt to make the meagrest of meals  and, my goodness, they don't half make a meal of it. Rather than doing things simply and speedily, they seek to exert as little energy as is humanly possible. Instead of pulling up a chair to reach a high shelf, they'll open the oven door to gain an extra inch. Rather than pass the bottle, they'll tilt the table. Inevitably, the approach backfires every time. Everything becomes doubly difficult.

Theirs are the most laborious labour-saving devices possible. Elaborate pulley systems save them three paces and they swing switchblades into the floorboards so as not to bend down. They use machetes where penknives would do and get distracted, always, half-way through. It all hits that clowning sweet-spot bang on: hapless, frustrated and ingeniously inventive; two poor sods muddling by as best they can. As with all the best clowning, Maree Basse is deeply profound. Life has weighed down on them and, in turning to the bottle to lighten the load, they only make things harder and heavier.

It's immaculately skilful, too. Le Guen and De Matteis make a near-perfect pairing: Laurel and Hardy-shaped and unbelievably in sync. Le Guen is a scrawny wastrel with a permanent squint; De Matteis, a big, bald, beardy bear whose only purple patch is the mellowing red wine stain on top of his tummy. Both balance their slobbishness with just the right dash of fastidiousness, and when they need to, they move with impressive alacrity. Complex tabletop juggling routines unfold, strongman acrobats dissolve into hard-hitting slapstick and the knives give the whole thing a constant edge of danger - not least when they start flying around with rising frustration. Jeopardy, of course, only ups the hilarity, and it's rare to see all the heaviness of human life expressed with such impeccable lightness. Delightful.

Maree Basse runs at the Barbican Centre until 21 January as part of the London International Mime Festival.
HOW WILL THE HENDERSONVILLE LOWE'S STORE BE EFFECTED BY 2400 COMPANY-WIDE LAY-OFFS?

WHKP NEWS ALSO INQUIRED ABOUT LOWES STORES IN BREVARD AND ASHEVILLE

The Associated Press is reporting that North Carolina-based home improvement retailer Lowe's says it's told approximately 2,400 full-time workers they will be laid off.

A statement from the store said the majority of the cuts are at the store level, with other cuts occurring at distribution centers, customer support centers and vice presidents at the company's corporate office in Mooresville.

The company said it's providing severance and outplacement resources to displaced workers.

WHKP News reachecd out to Karen Cobb who is the Manager of Corporate Public Relations for Lowes at their corporate offices in Mooresville. Here is her response:

Larry, thanks for asking about how Hendersonville area Lowes stores are affected by the companys recent announcement about staffing changes.

We are shifting some roles and responsibilities versus eliminating them, so that the vast majority of associates affected will have the opportunity for new roles at Lowes. Unfortunately, the store model will also result in the reduction of approximately 1-2 assistant store manager positions per store.

In addition, we have consolidated some leadership positions in our Customer Support Centers and Distribution Centers, impacting about 37 employees nationwide, and approximately 10% of vice presidents in the corporate office in Mooresville, NC. In total, this impacts less than 1% of our workforce, approximately 2,400 employees.

The changes made are all about investing in the future of Lowes as we continue to respond to the dramatic shifts that are reshaping the retail landscape. Lowes financial position is strong and the fundamentals of the home improvement industry are solid, nevertheless we must continue to evolve and ensure that we are delivering the best experience for customers and remain the go-to destination for their home improvement needs.

At its core, we are implementing important and necessary staffing model changes at our Lowes stores that will enable us to better serve customers evolving shopping preferences. These actions will ensure that we are aligned and organized to deliver on our strategy and to provide the best shopping experiences for customers.

While the majority of employees who are affected by these actions will transition into new roles, we deeply regret that a small percentage of employees will not be continuing with the company. It is always difficult to make decisions like these that affect people, but sometimes they are necessary in order to meet the evolving expectations of consumers as we invest for the future. We greatly appreciate and value the contributions made by all of the individuals impacted, and we will be providing them with a transition package including severance and outplacement support.

While staffing decisions are not easy, we are continuing to invest in the future of our business. Over the next three years, we expect to spend $3.6 billion in capital, including plans for 15 to 20 new stores per year, and create approximately 4,000 store-level jobs.

Lowe's employees have received a letter from Robert Niblock, Lowe's CEO, that shared information about the changes. I've attached a copy.

Let us know if we can help with any additional questions.

Thanks,

~ Karen

Karen Cobb

Manager, Corporate Public Relations

Lowes Companies, Inc. | Mooresville, NC 28117
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Nepal has asked India to resolve "real issues" of concern to it to build trust in the ties that were "tested" during arduous patch last year and cautioned it against raising matters internal to the Himalayan nation including those pertaining to its Constitution.

"We dont want to look back, we want to look forward.... We have to focus on building trust. Whatever real issues are there from Nepals side, India should address," Nepals Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat told PTI in an interview after his talks with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs V K Singh.

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Mahat, who left today after attending Indias geo- political flagship initiative "Raisina Dialogue-II" yesterday, also asked India to be "sensitive" towards Nepals needs and requirements.

"I have conveyed the same to my Indian counterpart," he added.

"Even before that episode, there were lot of things which were not delivered...but there was a special episode which put to test both sides.

"So, we dont want to see that happen again. Now we are on normal track but there are so many things you would like to see move forward...and if it does move then there is a greater trust," he said while pressing for expeditious completion of various India-assisted projects in his country including Mahakali Bridge and various irrigation projects.

On another contentious issue of adoption of new Nepal Constitution which India had maintained was not inclusive as it does not include Nepals "diverse social fabric", Mahat said his government was bound to protect interests of all sections of the society as it was even detrimental to Nepals interest to have a "feeling of alienation" among its people.

Asserting that his party, Nepali Congress, was committed to addressing issues of Madhesis and was already working on the second amendment to the Constitution dealing with it, he said these were "internal" to Nepal.

"Madhesis are in Nepal and are Nepali. My party has major base in Madhes...We will do everything possible to address real concerns (of Madhesis)...We want to protect their interest.

"When you (India) raise these issues, they dont remain the issue of Madhesis but become Indias issue...Why dont you let us take ownership of the issue?" the Foreign Minister said, adding, "Over-raising of the issue kills the very purpose you trying to advocate." (More) PTI PYK SC

--- ENDS ---
The Anti-Corruption Bureau raids lead to some shocking revelations about the DSP's properties.

By Ashish Pandey: The Anti-Corruption Bureau slueths of Andhra Pradedh on Wednesday raided the house of the Police Training College (PTC) DSP Durgaprasad in 13 palaces across the state and neighboring Hyderabad of Telangana on charges of accumulating disproportionate assets.

The ACB teams simultaneously conducted raided on the premises related to Deputy Superintendent of Police D. Durga prasad now posted at Police training college, Ongole of Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.

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During the search in spread in twin Telugu State of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the ACB sleuth found details of 22 plots (open land /commercial land) apart from house/flat, four wheelers, 769 grams Gold, around 3 Kgs of Silver.

The seized assets are said to be the highest ever recovery from any government officials in Andhra Pradedh.

The Anti Corruption Bureau is assessing the document value of the property recovered from the police officer while a case has been registered and the DSP has been sent to jail after arrest .

The market value of seized property could cross over 100 crores says the sources.

More details to follow...Also read | CBI to probe Manish Sisodia over irregularities in 'Talk to AK' campaign

--- ENDS ---
By Press Trust of India: Motihari (Bihar), Jan 18 (PTI) The three suspected ISI agents, arrested by Bihar Police, were today questioned by sleuths of RAW, NIA and Railway Police in connection with the November 20 Indore-Patna Express mishap in Kanpur that claimed 150 lives and other train accidents.

The trio had provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur on November 20 last year during questioning yesterday after their arrest from Adapur police station area yesterday.

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After the central agencies were alerted about these leads, teams of NIA, RAW, Railway Police and UP and Bihar ATS came here to extract more details from Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav to ascertain ISI role in triggering train mishaps in India.

Meanwhile, a court of Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM), Raxual, S K Mishra sent the trio to six days in police remand.

Superintendent of Police of East Champaran district Jitendra Rana told reporters that they sought remand of the three in connection with murder of two residents of the district -- Arun Ram and Deepak Ram -- in Nepal on December 28 last year for failing to trigger blast on the track in Ghorasahan in East Champaran district on October 1, 2016.

The district police would intensively question the trio for details regarding Ghorasahan incident and killing of the duo in connection with which a case was registered with Adapur police station of the district.

Rana said NIA, RAW, ATS and Railway Police quizzed the three in connection with Indore-Patna Express mishap.

Paswan, Shankar and Yadav had allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to ISI to target the railways.

They had revealed that they were paid Rs three lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly had connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai who had links with the ISI.

The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on the railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran district, bordering Nepal, on October 1 last year, Rana said.

Efforts are on to arrest, in this connection, two others identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav, who are "hiding" in East Champaran, the SP had said.

While three persons were arrested from East Champaran district, three others were captured earlier at Tailaya in Nepal for targeting railways on behalf of suspected terror elements in India, the SP said.

East Champaran is a district bordering Nepal. Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in the district in August 2013. PTI COR SNS PR ZMN

--- ENDS ---
A broken ATM in Rajasthan's Tonk town belched Rs 70,000 for a man who punched in a request for Rs 3,500. You won't believe what he did next.

By India Today Web Desk: In times when people are crying over dried-out ATMs and cash crunch, a man in Rajasthan had an over-the-top lucky day.

On Tuesday evening, Jitesh Diwakar visited an ATM in a town named Tonk and walked in to withdraw some cash. He punched in a request for Rs 3,500. When the ATM did not flash a 'no money' warning, Diwakar must've been happy. But what happened next made him beyond happy.

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The wonky little machine belched Rs 70,000 cash instead.

Source: Giphy

However, good man Diwakar informed the local manager of Bank of Baroda about the malfunctioning ATM machine instead of quietly going home with the extra cash like many others before him must've done.

I immediately called my father who arrived with my uncle and we informed the bank manager,?? Diwakar said.

A Hindustan Times report says by the time the faulty ATM was shut down, it had already churned out Rs 6.76 lakh.

Also read: ATM withdrawal limit raised to Rs 10,000 per day with immediate effect, says RBI

WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE ATM MACHINE?

Assumption is that in the ATM's slot where Rs 100 notes should've been loaded, Rs 2,000 notes were put in instead.

Hence, every time a request was punched in, The ATM churned out the big bucks instead of 100-rupee notes, making some 10-odd people richer than they should've been.

Technically, Rs 2,000 notes cannot be loaded in the Rs 100 cassette as the sensors wont accept it. Thats why we have called technical experts to investigate how this happened,?? bank manager Harishankar Meena told HT.

Out of all these people, only one person contacted and brought the matter to our notice. We have taken a back-up of the ATM machine (records) from which we will get information of the people who withdrew money in these two hours. After tracking them we will ask them to return the extra money,?? he added.

Also read: #MyPersonOfTheYear: The ATM Guard

The bank will be lodging a police complaint against everyone who sneakily walked away extra cash that did not belong to them.

If you are one of them, best of luck!

--- ENDS ---
President Barack Obama will hold his final press conference as president at 19.15 GMT today, the White House said.

By Reuters: President Barack Obama will hold his final press conference as president today, the White House said.

The press conference will be held at 2:15 ET (19:15 GMT). Obama is set to leave office on Friday when he will be succeeded by Republican President-elect Donald Trump.

ALSO READ | Obama to Americans: You made me a better president, a better man

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Scotsfolk everywhere will celebrate Robbie Burns Day Jan. 25. For dedicated diners, next Wednesday evenings meal will include tatties and neeps (potatoes and turnips), toasts with scotch, and of course, haggis.

Some will be more dedicated than others.

Millers Meats has been producing its own haggis for years. Its a Robbie Burns Day staple in the city for families and social groups who celebrate the Scottish poet.

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Haggis is always served at Robbie Burns Day suppers, but only after its properly addressed with Burns famous poem.

One year, proprietor Shawn Miller decided the haggis recipe needed an update. Thats when, like a shaken hornets nest, the late Jack MacDonald, a longtime customer, stormed into the shop.

He was probably 85 at the time and this was the first time we had met, says Miller.

He came in and actually yelled at me and my co-worker, Alberto, and he whacked him with his cane  thats how passionate he was about haggis!

We kind of laughed afterward and we became good friends.

How did they get him to come round?

We changed it back, he says. He was so passionate that after that we just did whatever he wanted.

It was more than just a dish to him, it was a symbol of who he was and what he represented  and he was a great guy, too.

Haggis is the national dish of Scotland and it likely came out of the need to use all parts of the animal  a nose-to-tail philosophy that home cooks and chefs are starting to revisit.

Its a pudding that contains beef, pork, onions and suet and oats mixed with broth and spices and encased in a sheeps stomach, says Miller.

We started making haggis because my Scottish grandmother, Katherine Miller, loved the dish from her homeland, so her son Cameron Miller, who owned Millers at the time, started making it.

Miller says people with a Scottish background have a real nostalgia for the dish and they embrace the dishs grand history.

It would be safe to say that haggis is eaten everyday somewhere, he says.

I have a friend named Lindsay Hill, from Glasgow, and he tells me that in Scotland, every butcher shop has its own version of haggis so there is no one uniform or set way to make it.

The national celebration of Scotlands great poet falls annually on Jan. 25. Miller says that a number of societies and clubs, including people like Rob Tisdale, Paul Haverstock and Tim OToole, keep the tradition going. He says theyve also been instrumental in keeping the haggis orders coming for a number of years.

One of the reasons we started making it was we understood there was no one in the city making large batches of haggis, and as far as we know we are the only ones who make it, he says.

The haggis Miller makes and sells is already fully cooked so it only needs a reheat with a light roast. He recommends 135 C to 150 C (275 F to 300 F) for 25 to 30 minutes.

One of the accompaniments is a good quality single malt whisky because, while haggis can be an acquired taste, it pairs very well with scotch whisky, he says.

Our haggis has a good thyme taste and a good amount of white pepper. We also use steel-cut oats, which help to make it thick as it cools down  when its warm it has a more crumbly texture.

Readers can get more information and place orders at millersmeats.com or call its St. Marys Road location at 204-233-5409.

  

Here are three accompaniments to go with haggis. These are a bit of a play on the traditional tatties and neeps that are really just simple mashed vegetables. These recipes are a boiled and then oven-crisped potato with a yummy lemon zing, a mixed root vegetable mash with a hint of maple syrup, and a whisky-tinged red berry sauce.

From left: St. Andrews Societys Murray Cameron, Shawn Miller and Rob Tisdale.

Crispy Roasted Potatoes

Make sure the oven is really hot before you roast the potatoes so theyll crisp.

1 medium yellow or white potato per serving (scrubbed)

chicken broth to cover potatoes (about 750 ml or 3 cups)

1 lemon, zested and juiced

2 cloves garlic crushed or grated on a micro-plane

olive oil

sea salt

Preheat oven to 200 C (400 F)

Put chicken stock and extra water (if needed) in pot large enough for stock and potatoes. Stir in the zest from the lemon and the garlic. Add the scrubbed potatoes and bring to a boil. Let cook for about 12 to 15 minutes or until fork tender. Do not break them up. Drain and allow the potatoes to cool for a few minutes.

Spread a sheet pan generously with olive oil (you can also line it with parchment paper). Place the potatoes on the pan. Carefully flatten each potato with a fork or a masher. Drizzle each potato with olive oil and a good sprinkle of sea salt and some lemon zest. Roast in the oven for about 30 minutes until potatoes are crisp. Sprinkle with a little lemon juice. Serve hot.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Crisped potatoes.

Root Vegetable Mash

Keeping this to a rough mash (not smooth) gives you different combinations of vegetables in each bite. The sweet potato brings out the best in the other vegetables. This is my new favourite.

1 small to medium sweet potato

2 medium parsnips

1 small to medium turnip

1 medium carrot

15 ml (1 tbsp) butter (to your taste)

10 ml (2 tsp) maple syrup

splash of cream

salt and pepper to taste

Peel and cut the vegetables a little larger than dice. As you cut them, place them in a bowl of cold water until they are ready to be cooked. This will take off some off the starch and keep their colour. Drain and rinse the vegetables, place in a medium pot, cover with fresh water. Bring to a boil for 12 minutes or so until vegetables are fork tender. Drain well. Return to warm pot. Toss vegetables in butter, maple syrup and cream. Mash roughly. Taste for salt and pepper. Serves four.

Red Berry and Whisky Sauce

This is best if made at least one day before and reheated. If it seems very thick the next day, add just a little splash of orange juice when warming. Although its meant for haggis, it would be good with kishka or even turkey.

30 ml (2 tbsp) butter

30 ml (2 tbsp) onion, grated or very finely minced

250 ml (1 cup) cranberry sauce (from can)

15 ml (1 tbsp) whisky

1 ml (1/4 tsp) cayenne pepper

5 ml (1 tsp) apple cider vinegar

5 ml (1 tsp) brown sugar

5 ml (1 tsp) orange zest

pinch of salt

Melt the butter over low to medium heat. Add onions and saute until translucent. Add cranberry sauce, whisky, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, orange zest, salt, and brown sugar. Stir together and heat through gently until flavours blend. Serve warm with haggis.
A White House official said there was no connection between Manning's commutation and renewed US government concern about WikiLeaks actions during last year's presidential election.

By Reuters: President Barack Obama on Tuesday shortened the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former US military intelligence analyst who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, the biggest such breach in US history.

A White House official said there was no connection between Manning's commutation and renewed US government concern about WikiLeaks actions during last year's presidential election, or a promise by founder Julian Assange to accept extradition if Manning was freed.

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Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks - a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Obama, in one of his final acts before leaving office, reduced her sentence to seven years, angering some Republicans.

Also read: Obama cuts short WikiLeaks source Chelsea Mannings sentence

"This is just outrageous," House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. Ryan, a Republican, said the decision was a "dangerous precedent" for those who leak materials about national security.

"Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets," Ryan said.

Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a US Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news staff.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton said the leak endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies.

"We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr," Cotton said.

TOOK RESPONSIBILITY

Manning, formerly known as US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. The White House said her sentence would end on May 17 this year.

Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, men's military prison, accepted responsibility for leaking the material a factor that fed into Obama's decision, a White House official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said Obama's decision was rooted in Manning's sentence being longer than sentences given to others who had committed comparable crimes. Obama, who leaves office on Friday and is scheduled to give his final news conference on Wednesday, is expected to discuss his decision then.

Also read: Julian Assange claims his next release will ensure Hillary Clinton is arrested

WikiLeaks also published emails in the weeks leading up to the November 8 presidential election that US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies hacked the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of leading Democrats, part of a campaign by Moscow to influence the election.

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But Obama's decision had nothing to do with the latest WikiLeaks controversy, the White House official said.

"The president's decision to grant clemency and offer commutation to Chelsea Manning was not influenced in any way by public comments from Assange or the WikiLeaks organization," a White House official said on a conference call with reporters.

Assange has been holed up at Ecuador's London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for the investigation of allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape there in 2010. He has said he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks sent a tweet quoting Assange's attorney, Melinda Taylor, saying he would abide by his promise to accept extradition if Manning was freed. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," Taylor said, according to the tweet.

Civil rights groups praised the move, calling it overdue.

Also read: WikiLeaks to release 'significant' Hillary Clinton campaign data

"Chelsea Manning exposed serious abuses, and as a result her own human rights have been violated by the US government for years," said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.

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STUXNET:

Obama also pardoned retired US Marine Corps General James Cartwright who pleaded guilty in October to making false statements to the FBI during an investigation into leaks of classified information.

The aggressive prosecution of Cartwright, who last served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent shockwaves through the Pentagon.

He lied during questioning by the FBI over a book written by a New York Times reporter that exposed a malicious computer software program known as "Stuxnet" designed to disrupt Iran's nuclear program. Cartwright denied being the source of the leak.

Obama weighed Cartwright's service along with his motive when making the decision, the White House official said, noting Cartwright had not divulged material that the journalist was not already aware of, and that his conversations were focused on preventing the publication of material that could hurt national security.

"It's clear in this case that General Cartwright's motive was different than most people who are facing charges of leaking classified information to a journalist," the official said.

PUERTO RICAN MILITANT

Also on the pardon list Oscar Lopez Rivera, who was sentenced in 1981 to 55 years in prison for his involvement with Puerto Rican militant group FALN, which claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings in the 1970s and 1980s.

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Lopez Rivera who turned down a similar offer from President Bill Clinton in 1999 was the last remaining member of FALN still in prison.

"Mr. Lopez Rivera is now in his 70s. He has served 35 years, nearly half of his life in prison," a White House official said. "The president determined that was sufficient amount of time to serve, although the president certainly believes that the crimes that were committed were serious.

Also read: Barack Obama to to hold final press conference today

"US Senator Bernie Sanders campaigned for the release of Lopez Rivera during his unsuccessful campaign against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Manning and Lopez Rivera were among 209 commutations granted by Obama on Tuesday and Cartwright was among 64 pardons.

In total, Obama has commuted sentences for 1,385 federal prisoners a total greater than that of the 12 previous presidents combined and he is expected to announce more on Thursday, the White House official said.

Most of the commutations were a part of Obama's effort to reduce the number of people serving long sentences for non-violent drug offenses.

--- ENDS ---
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dragons Den to hold auditions in March

Manitoba entrepreneurs have about two months to put the finishing touches on business plans and presentations.

Thats because producers of CBCs show Dragons Den are launching a cross-country tour, seeking new pitches for the reality TV programs 12th season. The lone Manitoba spot on the 38-city tour is on March 25.

CBC Winnipeggers will have a chance to get on CBC Dragons' Den.

The CBC hasnt yet announced the time and venue for the Winnipeg auditions.

Entrepreneurs will get five minutes to pitch their product to Dragons Den producers, who will then decide who will get a shot to meet with the shows Dragons in Toronto.

Last Waltz TRIBUTE SETS Winnipeg DATE

Fans of the Band will get another chance to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the groups famous Last Waltz concert in April.

Remembering the Last Waltz  a concert tour that includes Amy Helm, daughter of Band singer-drummer Levon Helm, Alberta alt-country artist Corb Lund and New Brunswick blues artist Matt Andersen  will stop for a performance at the Burton Cummings Theatre on April 3.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster and range in price from $39.50 to $69.50, plus fees.

The Last Waltz took place on Nov. 25, 1976, in San Francisco, and was the final concert that included the full lineup of the Band: Canadians Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson along with Levon Helm, who hailed from Arkansas.

Martin Scorsese directed a film of the concert, which included performances from Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan. The film came out in 1978 and is considered one of the greatest concert films ever made.

Prozzak RETURNS WITH NEW ALBUM, TOUR

Just in case you werent entirely certain the 1990s are back in full force, Canadian animated pop duo Prozzak have announced their return.

Simon and Milo are gearing up to release a new album, Forever 1999, which is due out March 3. The first single, Love Me Tinder, will drop next month.

Forever 1999 is their first album since 2005s Cruel Cruel World, though the duo did release two new songs  Baby I Need Your Love and Love Fools Anonymous  more recently.

Prozzak will hit the road this spring to support the record, playing 11 dates across the country, stopping in Winnipeg on April 5 at the Pyramid Cabaret. No ticket information has been made available.

 staff
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/01/2017 (2117 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Securities Commission is warning the public about getting involved in RRSP real estate investment schemes saying that while they may seem legitimate, Canada Revenue Agency has in the past considered some of these schemes as a form of tax avoidance.

The MSC concerns were triggered by ads for an event this Saturday in Winnipeg called How to Invest Your Retirement Money in Real Estate.

The event is billed as A full day of education on how to invest your retirement money (RRSPs) in real estate.

VIMEO Sunil Tulsiani

The featured speaker is Sunil Tulsiani, who the MSC notes has been permanently barred from selling securities in Manitoba and Ontario for securities violations, and what the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has called egregious and dishonest behaviour for his part in a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme.

Len Terlinski, an investigator with the MSC, said, Were not sure exactly what he is up to, all we can go on is what is in the event advertisement but (Tulsiani) cant advise people to move RRSP money around. He is banned from doing that. If he is giving investment advice, he cant do that.

In an interview with the Free Press, Toronto-based Tulsiani said he is aware of his securities ban and will not be advising on real estate investing other than selling his books and selling memberships in his Private Investment Club at the Winnipeg event.

He said that the local promoter of the event, Winnipeg real estate investor Terry Stallwood, would be talking about using RRSP money to lend as mortgage financings in real estate deals.

I told the MSC people that if they would prefer we would not use the word RRSP, Tulsiani said.

However, his entreaties to the MSC were not enough for them to take down their warning.

The securities commission red flags are about so-called stripping schemes that involve withdrawing funds from a locked-in RRSP or RRIF which are then used to purchase shares in a company or real estate at the direction of a promoter. These new shares  which the MSC say are actually worth little or nothing  are deposited back into the RRSP at an inflated price. The remaining portions of the original funds are sometimes directed back to the consumer via a loan, credit card, or offshore account.

The Canada Revenue Agency does not consider these to be qualified RRSP investments.

Tulsiani said he has no intention of being involved in anything like that.

I am banned from trading securities, he said. It would be crazy.

Stallwood said, They (Tulsianiss legal problems) have all been taken care of. I have no concerns. I have known him for years.

But in fact, Tulsiani still has outstanding legal matters before the courts in Ontario.

Tulsiani said it is Stallwood that will be talking about using RRSP funds to make real estate investments.

Stallwood is involved in real estate investment clubs and he said in the last seven months hes been successful in earning $100,000 in cash and $700,000 in equity for himself and his partners in real estate transactions. He also said he does not even know what a security is.

Terlinksi said, If it is in an RRSP, how can it not be a security. By definition it is.

Tulsiani said there are thousands of people who use RRSP money to make real estate investments.

There are ways it could possibly be done legally, said Terlinski. The CRA is better to answer that question than I would.

Clearly, the MSCs concerns about the seminar revolve around the potential promotion of the use of RRSPs for real estate investment deals.

It Mr. Stallwood wants to be in the business of flipping properties that is fine. That has nothing to do with us, Terlinski said. When he starts bringing in people to set up RRSP investing arrangements, that very much concerns us.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
The woman attacked her boyfriend after he refused to marry her.

By Rohini Swamy: Hurt by the rejection by her lover to get married, a 26-year-old woman allegedly attacked him with acid and a surgical knife. The incident took place in the Vijayanagar area of Bengaluru.

The victim, a businessman named Jayakumar, was in a relationship with the accused who worked in a hospital.

When Jayakumar refused to marry the woman in question , she schemed to attack him.

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Also read: Acid attack victims in HC against cap in compensation scheme

THE ATTACK

It seemed that the accused was well prepared. She had come wearing a black dress and her face covered. She had also gone to the extent of covering the number plate of her scooter. She had pasted a white paper with another registration number.

According to the police, Jayakumar and his brother were returning home on a motorbike when the accused waited for him near the pipeline area of Vijayanagara. As soon as she spotted him, she threw acid on his face.

Soon after, Jayakumar and his brother followed the lady and managed to catch up with her and stop her. When they forcefully tried to remove her helmet to identify the attacker, she used a surgical knife to cut his face and neck areas.

Also read: Tamil Nadu: Woman constable injured in acid attack in Vellore

Jayakumar is being treated in KC General hospital for burn injuries and is said to be out of danger.

Jayakumar had been avoiding the accused for two years after an 8-year-long relationship. Jayakumar was planning to get married to another woman and that angered the accused even more. She decided that attacking was the only way to retaliate.

The police have arrested the accused will be producing her before the judicial magistrate.

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/01/2017 (2117 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg police took down one of their own using an elaborate undercover sting operation  dubbed an integrity test  that confirmed suspicions he was at the centre of years of criminal activity involving stolen drugs, weapons and property.

The Free Press has successfully fought for access to court documents filed last fall as part of the probe against Const. Trent Milan. The 18-year veteran was arrested on Sept. 13 and charged with 36 offences  only to die weeks later when his vehicle drove into the path of a gravel truck in a suspected suicide.

A 43-page information to obtain a search warrant (ITO) has been redacted in parts by justice officials to protect the identities of key sources of information against Milan. That includes two fellow Winnipeg police officers who brought their concerns about Milan to light and a confidential informant Milan had worked with during his career.

Milans criminal charges included breach of trust, attempting to obstruct justice, theft, possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, oxycodone and marijuana and possession of prohibited weapons including ammunition, three knives, bear spray, an eight ball and brass knuckles. They were for offences that dated back as far as 2010.

The ITO, obtained Tuesday, reveals new details about how members of the professional standards unit built their case against Milan.

The lead investigator, Det. Ravi Misir, wrote in the document how a police officer came forward around February 2016 with troubling information he had received from an informant who had previous dealings with Milan.

A second officer emerged weeks later with similar information that corroborated some allegations against Milan, said Misir.

The officer, whose name is blacked out in the ITO, mentioned a September 2011 conversation with Milan at his Oakbank-area home. The officer told investigators Milan showed him things in his garage  the specifics are redacted  and told him not to tell anyone. He would stay silent about this for nearly four years.

Misir summarized the allegations against Milan, saying he was being accused of selling drugs and property hed obtained through his police work and then pocketing the majority of the proceeds.

But the trick was confirming the allegations to the point of building a strong enough case that would hold up in court.

Thats where the so-called integrity test came into play.

Last summer, police obtained a 2009 red Jeep Compass from Manitoba Public Insurance that was a salvage write-off. They had an officer pose under the fake name of Denis Berard and register the vehicle  which was then secretly wired with audio and video, according to the ITO.

Investigators then obtained items from their evidence control unit to scatter inside the Jeep in an attempt to make it look like they came from a break-and-enter. These included electronics and jewelry. Police also placed a backpack in the vehicle which contained $300 cash inside a plastic bag along with drug paraphernalia such as score sheets and a scale.

The Jeep was then reported stolen by Berard  in reality an officer posing as the fictional character  and placed in the area of Wyper Road and Loudoun Road on Aug. 11, a day when Milan was on general patrol in the area.

Members of the communications centre were instructed to assign Milan and his partner to the anonymous call reporting the vehicle found.

Milan attended the scene and ultimately filed a report in which he documented every single piece of property inside the Jeep  with the exception of the $300 cash. There was no record of it being logged, and police say it vanished after Milan came into contact with it.

According to the ITO, the only explanation was that Milan must have pocketed it. Surveillance that followed the chain-of-command provides no other reasonable possibility.

Investigators then obtained a so-called sneak and peek warrant that allowed them to search Milans locker at work with the belief the missing money may be inside.

And while they didnt find the cash, they did locate a black zippered case that contained nine grams of cocaine and four grams of methamphetamine with a street value of $850.

Investigators seized the drugs to conduct forensic testing and replaced the cocaine and meth with realistic-looking fake drugs inside the locker, according to the ITO.

Milan then called in sick to work on Aug. 17, just 30 minutes before his shift was to begin. Police were conducting ongoing surveillance which included a GPS tracker on Milans vehicle and reported that he was at the airport about to board a flight to Oregon. No further details about his trip are provided in the ITO.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Trent Milan died in a car crash in October 2016.

The search warrant was granted on Sept. 13 and executed later that day. Police seized numerous items from Milans home, including drugs and weapons.

There is also reference in the ITO to a May 2010 raid that Milan had been involved in, where a man was charged with possessing 13 ounces of crack cocaine. Milan was the seizing officer on the case, which ultimately resulted in the accused pleading guilty.

Specific details about this case  including the accuseds name, his ultimate sentence and his address  have been blacked out.

(Redacted name) claims he witnessed, with his own eyes, the officer planting the drugs, Misir wrote in the ITO. A necklace owned by the accused also vanished during the search.

Late last year, a Beausejour-area man pleaded guilty to pawning stolen police evidence for a gold-selling scheme with Milan. The 30-year-old admitted to selling two necklaces he knew Milan had stolen.

In total, Milans friend pocketed $3,500 for the two necklaces, which he pawned for more than $5,000 each.

One necklace had been seized from a suspected drug dealer at the Marlborough Hotel in March 2010 only to go missing from a locked drawer accessible only by certain police members, including Milan. It couldnt be returned when the charges against the accused were stayed. It had a gold pendant with a diamond-studded dollar sign.

The accused later sued the City of Winnipeg over his stolen property. In a civil claim settled in 2013, the city paid the man $33,000. The second necklace came from the May 2010 search mentioned in the ITO.

The man with the necklaces met Milan in 2003 when the officer had to notify next of kin about the suicide of the mans twin brother, who was 16. The man had found the body. He went into a downward spiral, and he started using drugs  everything from marijuana to cocaine to pills and opioids, court was told.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Const. Trent Milan's home in Oakbank.

While Mr. Milan was initially a source of strength and support for him, the dynamic of the relationship changed over time, defence lawyer Ted Mariash said during the sentencing hearing last November.

Milan fed the mans drug addiction and began grooming him to exploit him, Mariash said, adding Milan would threaten to report the mans drug use and have him arrested.

Misir summarized the findings against Milan near the end of the ITO.

I believe it is reasonable that Trent Milan has inappropriately and, at times, unlawfully used his informant/handler relationship with (redacted) in connection with the duties of his office for a purpose other than public good which marks a serious departure from the standard of an officer with the Winnipeg Police Service, Misir wrote.

He also hinted at future trouble that might occur with other cases Milan has been involved with.

Trent Milan has compromised informer privilege by engaging and involving his source in criminal activity that has caused police to investigate and identify the source for future potential court proceedings, Misir said.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/01/2017 (2117 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Last summer, Lianna McDonald picked up the phone and called a survivor of child sex abuse.

McDonald chose her words carefully. As director of the Winnipeg-based Canadian Centre for Child Protection, she didnt want to promise more than her organization could deliver to the now-adult woman.

Still, McDonald believed her team was on the brink of a breakthrough in the fight against child pornography. With a new digital tool, she told the woman, it might be possible to stop the spread of child-abuse imagery on the Internet.

SUPPLIED Lianna McDonald - director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection

As McDonald spoke, the survivor began to cry. For years, images of her abuse had been traded by pedophiles lurking online. Many nights, she cried herself to sleep thinking about it. Then the nightmares would begin.

They are being entertained by my shame, and pain, the survivor said later, in an anonymous video. The world came crashing down the day I learned that pictures of me being sexually abused have circulated on the Internet.

The enormity of this has added to my grief, and pain, she continued. They are trading around my trauma like treats at a party, and it feels like I am being raped all over again I can never feel safe so long as my images are out there.

But her tears flowing as McDonald and CCCP staffer Christy Dzikowicz shared their news were hopeful, if not quite happy.

It was the first time anyone had told her that something could be done, McDonald said.

On Tuesday, at a press conference at the CCCP offices in a former residential school building on Academy Road, that groundbreaking project was presented to the world.

Dubbed Project Arachnid, the effort involves a web crawler believed to be the first of its kind. Built with support from Microsoft and Google, Arachnid scours the Internet, hunting for digital fingerprints of known child-abuse images.

After images are detected, they are confirmed by the CCCPs in-house team of analysts, working in a secure area on the buildings main floor. Their work makes Arachnid smarter, reducing the rate of false positives.

So far, the results have been staggering. In just six weeks, the Internet bot has combed more than 242 million websites and detected 5.1 million pages containing images of child sexual abuse involving 1,141 different victims.

The results also tell a story about how images are shared online. As of noon Tuesday, Arachnid had detected 40,973 unique abuse images. Some are distributed more often than others: photos of one victim cropped up 148,862 times.

This in itself is eye-opening. Until now, McDonald said, experts didnt have a clear view of the prevalence of online child pornography. Arachnid provides a detailed picture of those numbers, and highlights the scope of the problem.

Its outrageous, said Signy Arnason, director of Cybertip.ca, the CCCPs child-porn reporting tipline. Its absolutely outrageous. This is a significant, giant problem.

The Survivors Survey Preliminary ReportCanadian Centre for Child Protection

Yet at its heart, Arachnid is, first and foremost, about helping survivors.

Once images are confirmed, the CCCP gets to work sending take-down notices to Internet providers, as they already do with Cybertip.ca. In most cases, McDonald says, providers are quick to comply, often within 24 hours.

This is not the only part of the puzzle. The justice system plays a role in holding sexual predators accountable. But it cannot keep up with the spread of child porn, which  as the survivor described  is an ongoing form of trauma.

Were not going to arrest our way out of this, McDonald said. Justice needs to be served, but it doesnt solve the problem of the Internet and the propagation of the material.

There is greater potential. To operate Project Arachnid, which is run off of CCCP servers, the non-profit tripled its own processing power. Still, the system is queuing up new web pages to scour faster than it can review them.

With increased server capacity, the process could move faster. And the CCCP is also considering adding to its current team of six to eight analysts, in order to build more efficiency in identifying and taking down the images.

Were going to be militant in how were operating this, McDonald said. We are going to choke supply, over time. After a few years, we could take an actively traded series, and reduce the public availability by 85 per cent.

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayor Brian Bowman said Winnipeg needs more long-term treatment facilities to help individuals struggling with opioid and other addictions.

Bowman told reporters hes met recently with families who have lost members to opioid overdoses and their focus is the need for long-term treatment facilities.

Ive met with three families over the last month and a half, all of whom have been directly affected by losses to their family due to fentanyl, Bowman said Wednesday during his weekly question-and-answer session with reporters. Ive asked families directly what could have helped and unanimously they say, we didnt have access to long-term treatment facilities.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 'As a community, we have to do a better job of trying to protect our citizens,' Mayor Brian Bowman said after meeting with several families dealing with loved ones suffering from drug-related issues.

Bowman acknowledged that health care isnt strictly a civic responsibility but he added he believes city hall has a role to play.

Its affecting our citizens so were going to look to see how we can support the efforts of the province, Bowman said. Were open minded and willing to play a role, however we can.

To further those efforts, Bowman said hell be in Ottawa Friday as part of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Big Cities mayors caucus, where they will be discussing the opioid crisis.

The discussions Ive had with (Vancouver) mayor (Gregor) Robertson and other mayors, we want to co-ordinate our efforts, learn from each other about what may be working in each of our cities, Bowman said. Fentanyl is different from other drugs  its more powerful, its more deadly and in some cases people dont realize theyre taking it. It should be alarming to Winnipeggers. As a community, we have to do a better job of trying to protect our citizens.

Bowman said city hall can provide immediate help to the Winnipeg Police Service, to ensure it has the resources it needs to deal with drug dealers.

We want to make sure drug dealers are locked up for a very long time.

Bowman said that while in Ottawa, he and other mayors will also be meeting with federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, to advance the FCM budget submission, which focuses on greater investments in public transit, housing and green infrastructure.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A retired police officers sudden discrepancy in testimony has prompted defence lawyers for Candace Derksens accused killer to raise more questions about how DNA evidence was gathered in the 32-year-old case.

Thirteen-year-old Candace Derksen went missing on her way home from school in November 1984 and was found dead  frozen and bound with twine at the wrists and ankles  inside a shed in Elmwood nearly two months later.

As the second-degree murder retrial of Mark Edward Grant continued Wednesday, retired Winnipeg Police Service officer Robert Parker testified he remembered a new detail in the investigation.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Candace Derken's body was found in an abandoned shed in Elmwood on Jan. 17, 1985, about six weeks after she went missing.

Parker attended to the shed were Candaces body was found on Jan. 17, 1985, and three days later photographed the autopsy. It was his job to take photos for the police service and collect items as they were removed during the autopsy so they could be later examined as evidence.

Parker said testimony hed given during Grants previous trial in 2011 was incorrect  testimony that concerned how he packaged the twine that had been used to tie up the girl. DNA extracted from the twine was later linked to Grant, leading to the second-degree murder charge.

About two weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and realized the twine that was removed from around Candaces hands and feet during the autopsy was put into a paper box, rather than a plastic or paper bag, Parker said.

He said he had recently reviewed his previous transcripts and that detail was bothering me, until he remembered he had placed the twine in a paper box initially used for photo film, which was common practise for police at the time, he said.

Why I recall that, I have no explanation for that, Parker said.

The discrepancy became more apparent when another witness testified he received the twine from the Winnipeg Police Service inside two separate plastic baggies contained in an outer paper bag.

Donald Ogilvie, a retired civilian member of the RCMP, was in charge of the Mounties hair and fibre investigation section in Winnipeg in 1985. He testified Wednesday that he didnt receive the twine in a box, even when viewing a photo of the box provided to him in court.

It would be somewhat unusual to receive an item of that nature in a box like this, he said.

Pieces of twine came to him in separate plastic bags that were labelled twine from hand and twine from feet, he said.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Candace Derksen was walking home from school Nov. 30, 1984 when she disappeared.

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Saul Simmonds asked Ogilvie about the potential for DNA transfer if the twine had been moved from a box to the plastic bags.

I have no knowledge of how clean the box is, or how sterile, or how well it was sealed, he said. I never examined it.

The allegation that the twine was mishandled was one of the arguments Grants defence team used during the appeal of his conviction the first time this case went to trial. Grant was convicted of second-degree murder in Candaces death in 2011, but the conviction was later overturned by the Court of Appeal based on errors made by the first trial judge. The Supreme Court upheld the appeal courts decision in 2015, and the Crown decided to proceed with a new second-degree murder trial.

During his testimony, Parker described seeing Candaces body frozen and her face frostbitten. Some of her clothes and parts of her face appeared to be covered in dust, and her jeans were soiled, he said. In response to a question from Crown attorney Brent Davidson about whether it appeared Derksen had been sexually assaulted, Parker said it didnt appear as though the fastener on her jeans had been interfered with.

As the condition of her daughters body and clothing were described in court, Wilma Derksen sat in the gallery taking notes.

The retrial, which began Monday, is scheduled to last until mid to late February. On Thursday, four witnesses are scheduled to take the stand, including two DNA analysts, a police officer who made decisions about what should be subject to forensic DNA analysis in the case and a knot specialist who examined the twine found on Candaces body.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/01/2017 (2117 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police are looking for a group of teenagers who repeatedly stabbed a man on a city transit bus Sunday evening.

The victim and other passengers were hit with bear spray as the teens fled, police said Tuesday, adding the attack was unprovoked.

The 27-year-old victim suffered non life threatening injuries and was treated in hospital, police said.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Police are investigating the stabbing of a man on a city transit bus Sunday.

We are doing everything we can to identify the suspects. In a situation like this, if youre a witness to something, we want you to come forward, Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said.

The bus was travelling in the area of the rapid transit corridor near Stradbrook and Harkness avenues at about 6 p.m.

Investigators say the assailants were all boys who looked to be between the ages of 14 and 16, and were wearing skinny jeans and red ball caps. The victim was stabbed several times before he and the others were hit with the bear spray.

Upwards of four suspects and we dont know why our victim was targeted. Thats something were still trying to sort out, Michalyshen said. Were talking about a large knife, a physical assault and bear spray.

Other passengers would certainly have been aware of the attack but theres no indication anyone intervened or tried to stop it  probably a wise decision, he said.

Police know the victim got on the bus at Graham Avenue and Fort Street and the teens boarded a few stops later. An argument broke out after the bus left the downtown area, leading to the assault.

This sounds like it was quite a confrontation, Michalyshen said, noting other passengers may have valuable information that will help police identify the suspects.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact investigators at 204-986-2877 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With the world fixated on the unprecedented turmoil within the American political establishment, what might become a seminal moment in world history will quietly occur this week.

On Tuesday, the president of China provided the opening remarks at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

This marked the first-ever appearance by a Chinese leader at the elite club of internationalists and highlights the degree to which China is embracing the benefits of a globalized economy in the vacuum created in the wake of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. Several of the countrys most powerful businesspeople will also be attending the four-day conference alongside President Xi Jinping to push the national agenda. These include the leaders of online giants Alibaba and Baidu, as well as Wanda Group, a leading Chinese conglomerate.

This redoubling of effort to increase Chinas role in global trade should not surprise anyone. With Trump suggesting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will be put on the back burner for the length of his presidency, a timely opportunity unquestionably presented itself to the Chinese business community, which was excluded from the trade agreement. Instead of being on the sidelines of an American-led attempt to integrate its neighbouring countries to western norms, China is now poised to become the centre of power around which the economic aspirations of the entire Asia-Pacific region gravitate.

Nevertheless, a regional trade agreement was becoming almost inevitable, as the rising economies of countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam needed some form of economic integration to ensure longer-term growth. The consequential question was which global power would underpin this agreement. Despite being first-movers, by extricating themselves from this imperative, the United States effectively ensured it lost its leading voice in the worlds most important economic region. So much for U.S. President Barack Obamas efforts to intensify Americas presence in Asia.

Conversely, the overt Chinese commitment to globalization is another clear sign the country will attempt to fill the void and lead the evolution of international trade in the coming years, almost guaranteeing a dose of Chinese capitalism will be coming along the way. Seen through this lens, the TPP was more than just a trade agreement; it was a way to ensure Asian economic standards did not undercut those in advanced countries while also forcing China to eventually abide by them in the longer term.

But will Chinese-led trade initiatives be as stringent as TPP on issues such as labour, the environment and intellectual property? Probably not. We can therefore expect an increased risk of more, not less, unfair competition from low-cost countries as the playing field gets tilted in their favour by the undercutting of western standards.

There are costs to not implementing TPP, and we are about to find out what those costs will entail.

These fundamental questions on Chinese regulatory standards underline the degree to which their brand of capitalism remains opaque and untamed. In fact, beyond the widely cited issues listed above, there remains a lack of clarity on how their trade initiatives would handle state-owned enterprises in a free market and the means by which disputes involving them would be resolved fairly and transparently.

How would the recipient countries perceive such investments? There remains deep resentment toward past Chinese (and Japanese) transgressions in countries such as Korea and Vietnam. They might be apprehensive about the arrival of foreign companies with much more opaque political connections than would be the case with publicly traded multinationals listed on western stock exchanges.

In short, the consequences of the unforeseen American protectionist wave are very real and could be felt relatively quickly. No longer can the world rely on the unshakable support of global trade from the U.S. The inherent optimism behind the American vision of free trade has been severely dented, and countries have no choice but to hedge their bets going forward. Regardless of how long this situation lasts, the ball is now clearly in Chinas court.

This week, while watching Trumps inauguration, remember to take a mental snapshot of what might be the very moment America relinquished its status as uncontested champion and guarantor of global trade.

Mariette Mulaire is the president and CEO of the World Trade Centre in Winnipeg.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In government, its good to be lucky. And thats just what Premier Brian Pallister was on Wednesday.

Pallister convened a news conference in the grand rotunda of the Manitoba Legislative Building  easily one of the most beautiful institutional rooms anywhere in the country  to confirm that France-based Roquette would invest $400 million in a pea-processing plant to be built near Portage la Prairie. Roquette is a global giant in food processing, with more than 8,000 employees in over 100 countries.

Its a good economic news story for a premier who could desperately use some good news as he stares down an extremely difficult spring budget.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler, Chef Gordon Bailey, Premier Brian Pallister, and Roquette chairman Edouard Roquette. France-based Roquette will invest $400 million in a pea-processing plant to be built near Portage la Prairie.

Its not the first time the Pallister government has benefitted from good economic luck. Back in November 2016, we learned that Canadian Kraft Paper Industries would purchase the former Tolko paper mill in The Pas, saving 300 jobs. The prospect of closing the mill hung around the new governments neck like a millstone, opening it up to all sorts of criticism that it was tone deaf to northern issues.

In the end, the new owners of the mill only wanted a respite from pension obligations to complete the deal. Pallister crowed about how his government was able to save the paper mill without millions of dollars in taxpayer-supported subsidies, a nasty habit that he said afflicted the former NDP government.

The fact the paper mill deal closed without any demand or expectation of government handouts was more lucky than good. Still, Pallister deserves a dash of good luck to go with all the bad luck hes going to suffer at the hands of our perpetually anemic economy.

In this most recent case, it seemed that Pallister hit paydirt once again. Here was a $400-million investment coming our way with only modest government support.

The news release issued by the province did not contain any mention of taxpayer support. In a post-announcement news conference, Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler was asked about what, if any, taxpayer support was necessary to get the French food processor here. He said there was only a bit of support to help acquire the land, but offered no other specifics.

In fact, it turns out there is a small but notable contribution of government money. Additional inquiries with the premiers office revealed that there is $6.8 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from the province and the RM of Portage la Prairie, and another $2.5 million from a federal-provincial fund that supports development in the agricultural industries.

Why these details were left out is a bit hard to determine. Its basic information and, in many respects, it is a reasonable investment from taxpayers to secure a nine-figure investment by a successful multi-national company that intends to employ 150 people with an annual payroll of $9 million.

Three possible explanations arise about the lack of disclosure. First, this is a government that desperately wants to show it conducts its business differently than the previous government. This was a key takeaway from the Canadian Kraft Paper deal: Manitobas new government can prime the economy without seeding every deal with taxpayer largesse. It mattered little that the company involved did not ever ask for financial assistance. It was a best-possible-scenario deal and everyone should be happy about it.

The second reason the Pallister government may have withheld some of the details of its financial support  investment attraction package in government parlance  is that big industrial investments like this have a questionable economic impact.

The construction of the plant itself will pay major dividends in terms of increased government tax revenues and employment. However, those are one-off economic benefits that will not dig the province out of its deficit hole.

In the long term, this is a very big plant with a very modest number of employees, typical of large industrial operations in Manitoba. Companies like this are ultimately attracted by the promise of extremely cheap electricity, which was most definitely the case with Roquette. However, the very nature of highly automated or mechanized industrial processing means that the companies involved do not need a lot of people to keep the machines humming.

It was this very fact that caused Manitoba Hydro some years ago to recommend that the electricity rates charged to the largest industrial consumers be increased significantly to account for the fact that they did not make an economic contribution that was commensurate with the amount of power they consumed. Hydros big industrial customers fought back and ultimately the crown utility backed down.

Finally, industry sources confirmed that the investment attraction package helped Manitoba outbid Saskatchewan for the opportunity to host the Roquette plant. The fact that Manitoba, the most recent signatory to the much-ballyhooed New West Partnership trade pact, used government money to outbid Saskatchewan, its NWP ally, is an awkward story. One that the premier likely wished to avoid having to discuss.

None of those facts make this a bad deal for Manitoba. In keeping with the premiers comments Wednesday, this is a net positive for the provincial economy, even though it does not represent a seismic bump in the provinces GDP, something Pallister desperately needs to help ease his fiscal pain.

Its good to be lucky, and we should all wish the premier all the luck in the world as he attempts to stabilize the provinces finances. However, its never a good idea to massage the truth in a bid to appear more lucky than you really are. That will lead to some very unlucky outcomes.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
CONVICTED

 Mitchell L. Seifert, 34, Cochrane, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and failure to pay child support. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years of probation. Other charges of failure to pay child support and possessing meth, drug paraphernalia and synthetic cannabinoid were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

 Jordan F. Hoversholm, 29, Eau Claire, pleaded no contest and was judged guilty of felony second-offense possession of marijuana. Hoversholm was given a year of probation. A 30-day jail sentence was stayed.

CHARGED

 Mark R. Smith, 43, Amery, has a hearing Jan. 27 on a felony charge accusing him of seventh-offense operating while intoxicated. A Wisconsin State Trooper arrested Smith Sept. 24 in the town of Nelson, where Smith crashed his pickup truck into the back end of another vehicle at a stop light near a bridge construction project. Smith also was cited for allegedly refusing to take a test for intoxication after his arrest.

 Charles M. Schrader, 37, Arkansaw, has a hearing Feb. 1 on a felony charge accusing him of exposing himself to a child. He pleaded not guilty in December. A criminal complaint filed against Schrader claims that he intentionally exposed himself to a 16-year-old girl at a video rental store in Mondovi on May 29.

 Robert D. Coey, 31, Winona, has a plea and sentencing hearing Jan. 25 on charges accusing him of second-offense possession of marijuana, felon in possession of body armor, domestic abuse disorderly conduct, bail jumping and possession of drug paraphernalia. Coey pleaded not guilty to all charges in October.

 Daniel S. Johnson, 20, Chippewa Falls, has a hearing Jan. 25 on felony charges accusing him of sexually abusing two girls over a time period of several years. Johnson pleaded not guilty to charges in December.

 Jennifer A. Cortese, 37, Winona, has a plea and sentencing hearing Jan. 25 on charges accusing her of domestic abuse disorderly conduct, bail jumping and possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Cortese pleaded not guilty to charges in October.

 Debra A. Danckwart, 52, Mondovi, has a plea and sentencing hearing Jan. 18 on a misdemeanor traffic charge accusing her of fourth-offense operating while intoxicated. Danckwart pleaded not guilty in April.

 Joshua F. Deetz, 29, Mondovi, has a plea and sentencing hearing Jan. 26 on charges accusing him of domestic abuse strangulation and suffocation, child abuse and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

 John S. Lawson, 26, Colfax, pleaded not guilty to drug charges accusing him of possessing methamphetamine and a controlled substance. A hearing was set for March 8.

 Melissa D. LaCroix, 31, Rochester, Minn., has a hearing Feb. 10 on drug charges accusing her of possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She pleaded not guilty in November.

 James T. Friday, 41, Jackson, Mississippi, had a felony charge accusing him of stealing a semi-tractor truck from Marten Transport in Mondovi dismissed on motion by the prosecution.

 Tyler J. Schafer, 18, Antigo, has a plea and sentencing hearing Jan. 26 on a misdemeanor charge accusing him of sexual contact with a child age 16 or older.
Bhangar has been tense since Monday when police arrested a local leader. By Tuesday, the violence escalated leading to the death of two people.

By India Today Web Desk: A day after violent protests erupted in West Bengal's Bhangar over "forced" land acquisition for a power project, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today blamed outsiders for provoking locals.

According to PTI, the Chief Minister has asked the police to identify the "outsiders" who provoked the villagers.

Bhangar, a block in South 24 Parganas district in the state, has been witnessing protests by locals over forced acquisition of 16 acres of farmland by the state government for Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL).

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Bhangar has been tense since Monday when police arrested a local leader. By Tuesday, the violence escalated leading to the death of two people.

Police, however, refused to divulge details on whether the two people died of bullet injuries.

ALSO READ: Anti-land acquisition stirs in Nandigram, Singur help Mamata win

MAMATA BUCKLES UNDER PRESSURE?

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who rode to power following the Singur agitation, reportedly felt the pressure in the wake of the protests in Bhangar.

As a result, on Tuesday night, she declared that the power grid will not come up in the region. "No land will be acquired if people don't want to give away land. The proposed power grid will be relocated if required," Banerjee tweeted.

Subsequently, she held a high-level meeting at the state police headquarters with senior officers to assess the situation and prevent any recurrence of violence.

Meanwhile, state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury went to the house of the two villagers who lost their lives during the protests.

ALSO READ: Will we get our land back, Singur asks Mamata Banerjee

VILLAGERS CLASH WITH POLICE

Angry villagers today blocked the roads in the South 24 Parganas district and felled trees to stop security forces from entering the area.

In Padmapukur and Machi Bhanga, villagers clashed with police with the latter forced to beat a retreat. Some police personnel were also injured in the clash.

According to villagers, at least six men have been missing since Tuesday's clash and several others have sustained serious injuries.

"Who will take the responsibility of the two men who were shot dead on Tuesday. Also six people from our village are missing. We want an answer from the government," a villager said.

(with inputs from IANS)

ALSO READ: Singur farmers to get their land in 2016 at the price of 2006

ALSO READ: Singur: Mamata returns land to farmers as promised, offers new deal to Tata

ALSO WATCH

--- ENDS ---
The Winona City Council on Tuesday approved continuing to add trees to the citys parks and boulevards in 2017, both to improve the variety and number of trees and to replace those taken as a result of the ongoing fight against the emerald ash borer.

The council voted to approve funding of around $30,000 for the planting of around 200 trees in 2017, and the creation of a gravel bed nursery located by the water treatment plant.

The bare-root trees would be planted in the nursery in the spring, then transferred to locations around the city in mid- to late summer.

John Howard, the citys natural resource coordinator, said that while the city has budgeted based on initial estimates, the overall cost could be less. The number of plantings could increase, too, if Winona State chooses to purchase its own trees to be planted on its campus.

The city has repeatedly led a tree-planting program, including 200 hundred planted in 2015. It is spreading out the types of trees planted to prevent any other mass deaths, similar to the loss of the ash trees in recent years, and in response to Dutch elm disease a half-century ago.

For instance, none of the trees planted in 2017 will be maple, after a recent survey of 6,638 trees in the central part of the city found that 43 percent of the trees were maples.

The plan is to concentrate on areas hit hardest by the ash borer.

Boathouse agreement

The council on Monday also settled a dispute with a Latsch Island boathouse owner, over blacktop laid on an access road and along a trail to a boathouse dock.

Todd Fakler will have to remove the blacktop by May 30, which the city said was illegally put there in an effort to deal with potholes.

Fakler agreed to those terms at Tuesdays meeting.

There was confusion on Faklers part as to what organization to get permission from, and he received permission from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to put blacktop to their right-of-way in the area, but not from the city to put it on the access road on city property.

Fakler said he had talked with someone at the city, but couldnt recall who, and said he thought he had permission to put in the blacktop.

Greg Karow, the citys building official, said the city would have denied a permit, but nothing was presented to the city. The city received reports of the work in October, then put out a notice of violation and correction in mid-November.

You cant just install improvements on city property, Karow said. Its also in a floodplain, so there are problems with that.

Winona Boathouse Association president Richie Swanson told the council they were clear about what boathouse owners are allowed to improve, and that the work hadnt been done with the associations approval.

We take it really seriously, we take our license agreement with the city really seriously, Swanson said.
Mike Munson has been chosen by the Minnesota Blues Society to compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 1-4. Munson will be joined by Mikkel Beckmen, with whom he recorded Live at Eds at Eds No Name Bar in Winona. The pair will compete as a duo in the challenge, with the support of dozens of Minnesota Blues Society members who will make the trip to attend the event. Munson proudly makes his home in Winona, while Beckmen resides in the Twin Cities. Both are honored to represent the state in this way.
This summers Circus World acts will be able to take their performances to new heights as the state historical site will raise the largest big top ever this season.

We could put our old big top inside of this one, said Circus World Ringmaster and Performance Director Dave SaLoutos.

Its going to make a pretty big wow statement when you drive past on Water Street, said Executive Director Scott ODonnell.

The site recently announced its summer lineup of performing acts, which came shortly after Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced it would end its operations after 146 years in business.

ODonnell said the museums phone has been ringing off the hook with callers offering their condolences for the soon-to-be closed circus. But other than sharing locations with the Ringling Brothers former winter headquarters, activities at the museum are not connected to the world-famous circus.

Were still here, and we have a great summer planned, he said. In many ways our legacy is more important now than it ever was.

While the Ringling Bros. Circus folds its tent for the last time in May, Circus World will be raising its largest big top ever.

The tent is more than twice the size of last years and features more comfortable theater-style seating. The tent is currently housed in California and will be brought to Baraboo for Circus Worlds summer season, which begins May 19.

In addition to the new and improved performance venue, Circus World will feature several returning acts this summer, as well as a handful of unique new performers.

One new trouper, Jenny Vidbel, will present two different acts throughout the course of the summer. The first is an equestrian act that will feature a combination of performances by her 18 horses and ponies. The other is a mix of skits performed mostly by dogs, a few goats and a mini pig named Velma  all of which are rescued animals.

Shes a very well known and respected animal trainer, so it will be great to have Jenny with us this summer, ODonnell said.

Circus World will also bring in The Wacky One-Wheeled Wonder Wesley Williams to amaze audiences with his unicycle skills. Another new entertainer, Jacob DEustachio, is a New York juggler, who ODonnell said is like watching the live equivalent of a bingo machine.

Several popular acts from last year are set to return as well, including Brazilian acrobat Adilson Fernandes with his Wheel of Destiny and balancing chair acts, along with the two best clowns in the business Steve Copeland and Ryan Combs. Tiger trainer Ryan Holder will also be back from July through August with his eight Siberian and Bengal tigers.

And, of course, elephants will return to Circus World as well.

They are such an iconic part of the circus heritage and expectation, ODonnell said. I think thats more clear today than ever before.

Circus World will open for its spring season in April as well but wont include performing acts. ODonnell said exhibits will be open to the public for more of a traditional museum experience.

While other closing circuses have donated artifacts and memorabilia to Circus World in the past, ODonnell said no such offers have been made by the Feld family, which currently owns the Ringling and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Should they decide to donate any items, ODonnell said the museum would be honored to accept them.

It started here in Baraboo, and in many ways now its ours to lift up and preserve in the future, he said.
Daniel Edwards

Daniel Edward Edwards, 89, of Baraboo, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at St. Clare Hospital.

Dan was born at St. Marys Ringling Hospital in Baraboo on April 15, 1927, the son of Daniel and Mabel (Wiseman) Edwards. Dan graduated early from Baraboo High School in April 1945 to join the United States Navy, where he served his country on a yard oiler in Korea and China. He was honorably discharged in June 1946 due to the death of his father and returned home as the only child to run the family business, Edwards Pontiac Company. He studied at General Motors in Flint, Michigan. While in high school, Dan was on the track team and excelled in hurdles, setting many records, some of which remain unbroken until the specific track events were retired.

Dan owned and operated the Pontiac dealership which was located at 202 South Blvd. in Baraboo until it was sold in 1977. The business became Edwards Motor Company until it was sold in 1979. In 1980, he and Sandra bought the Spring Hill Motel in Wisconsin Dells which they ran until 1991.

In his spare time, Dan loved cars, flying, boating and riding motorcycles. He became a private pilot in 1947 and he owned a variety of airplanes over the years and restored a Piper J4E taildragger. He was a member of the Baraboo Masonic Lodge No. 34 F & AM, the Scottish Rites, and several circus organizations. In addition, Dan was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder.

Dan was married to Sandra Lou Gollmar on July 15, 1950. They knew each other all their lives and were married for 66 years. Also surviving are two sons, Daniel Jr. (Kathy Lamb) and Robert (Tammi Stemick); five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, at the First Presbyterian Church, Baraboo, with Pastor Lisa Taylor officiating. Visitation will be held from noon until time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the First Presbyterian Church or the Sauk County Historical Society. Rago-Baldwin Funeral Home is assisting the family.
The tradition of presidential farewells goes back to George Washington. Washingtons farewell address was published in numerous newspapers. President Barack Obama decided to turn his farewell into a made-for-TV prime time special in hopes a Hollywood script can save his legacy.

Unlike most past presidents who delivered their farewell addresses from the Oval Office, Obama boarded Air Force One and flew to Chicago, where he delivered his final address at the McCormick Place. It was the perfect finale for a man who seems to believe Americans have money trees growing in their backyards.

Judicial Watch has reported that it costs the Air Force $206,337 for every hour the presidents plane is in the air. A round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. to Chicago runs nearly three hours. The $600,000 bill to the taxpayer was just a portion of the final bill.

Its not very likely the kind folks at Chicagos premier convention center simply donated the space to the president; free gifts like that are a violation of ethics laws. Was the convention center also out of projectors? How much did it cost build that oversized replica of the presidential seal that was hung in front of that blue curtain? How much did it cost in police overtime to move the president from the tarmac to the podium at center stage?

At the end of the evening, if that final speech cost taxpayers less than a $1 million it would be amazing. There is no need to worry, though. Obama seems to believe because he still has has checks left in the checkbook he can keep writing them  even if the account is overdrawn.

Why should we expect anything less from a man whose entire presidential existence has been littered with over-the-top arrogance? Who could forget those Athenian pillars adorning the stage at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado, when he first accepted the Democratic nomination in 2008? How about that massive stage and light show at Chicagos Grant Park on Election Night that November?

This was just a precursor to the lavish spending habits of a president who routinely vacationed in Hawaii. Unfortunately, his spending tendencies extended to the countrys purse strings as well. Under his watch, the national debt grew $8 trillion. His spending habits made George W. Bush look like a penny pincher, despite the fact Bush grew the debt by $5 trillion in 8 years.

Obamas spending behaviors extend well beyond his term in office. In July 2016, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office forecasted that if the current laws remain unchanged, the United States would face steadily increasing federal budget deficits and debt over the next 30 years  reaching the highest level of debt relative to GDP ever experienced in this country.

However, Obamas legacy is being rewritten with the help of his friends in the media. The man who brought us Hope and Change mostly hopes you wont realize the change wasnt good.

This is the president who sided with the Muslim Brotherhood despite their ISIS allies grabbing key territories and killing non-Muslims. These same people used disenfranchised surrogates to attack Americans on our own soil. We are not as safe as we used to be and the world no longer respects us while Russia is now leading the way.

On the domestic side, the police are no longer respected as those who protect and serve. Obama always sided with the thugs despite most of the officers he opposed ultimately being acquitted of any wrongdoing. If your son or daughter is entering the workforce six figures in debt, his economy assures they might never pay back their debt while working entry-level jobs at a local fast food restaurant.

Obamas place in history is assured with the Affordable Care Act  or Obamacare. The program has been a train wreck. Insurance premiums began skyrocketing at rates faster than rates were rising prior to his cost-saving mandates introduction. Even if you werent on Obamacare, odds were very high you didnt keep your doctor.

Obamas legacy ultimately will be marked by his political victories. Since Nov. 4, 2008, the presidents party has lost more than 1,000 seats nationwide.

Democrats no longer control Washington, 44 state legislatures, and 33 governorships. If his actions were that popular, wouldnt the results be flip-flopped?

Obama has used prime time TV in an attempt to rewrite his legacy. Its only appropriate that Donald Trump, the king of reality TV, is replacing him. Hopefully, Trumps legacy doesnt require another Hollywood script.
A flood in 2008 had changed the landscape of downtown Beaver Dam. This year, the landscape will change again with a Walldogs mural festival scheduled for June 28 to July 2.

It took seven years for the idea to go from concept to reality.

In 2009, a subcommittee of the Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce had been meeting to address the need to revitalize downtown. At the time, Karla Jensen, who was the new executive director of the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association, marveled at the local talent among artists and wondered how they could help.

Jensen had served as a licensed Wisconsin real estate agent. She loved showing off the community until they ventured downtown. Guests loved the neighborhoods, shopping developments, lake, parks and schools but she continued to hear, But whats wrong with your downtown?

Jensen recognized the excellent potential for change and revitalization. Between traveling to other communities that showcased murals and coming to understand that Beaver Dam had a vibrant arts community, she felt this could be a wonderful way to increase the citys curb appeal.

Jensen presented her idea at the chamber meeting.

Our downtown could use murals, she said.

Not long after, Downtown Beaver Dam Inc. was launched. In addition to creating and hosting downtown events, DBDI members continued to speak about how to involve local artists for murals. DBDI Board Member Kay Appenfeldt brought the idea of Walldog artists to the table. She had read an article about them in a national magazine.

DBDI contacted the Walldogs. The national artists, around since the late 1990s, informed the DBDI board they only choose one community a year for a festival. Nearly 200 artists show up and in one weekend to paint as many murals as a community can fund.

The community is transformed overnight.

Each mural site would have a captain in charge of the mural during the festival and a designer would also work in advance from vintage photos and images the community itself provides. Only local history is used as the topic for each mural.

Between 2011-2012, the Design Committee engaged in research on how to plan for murals.

We took fieldtrips, including one to Plymouth, Wisconsin, another successful Walldogs community, Jensen said. We learned that tourism could increase exponentially while current businesses thrived and new ones sprouted. DBDI wanted this for our community.

Jensen said, that Walldog representatives finally arrived in Beaver Dam and told the city what was needed. A festival community must have the components of a flourishing arts, downtown development committee or chamber of commerce. Beaver Dam has all three. The community would have to be able to rally volunteers and it must need revitalizing. The city also would need an adequate number of building canvases where murals could be painted.

Walldogs agreed that DBDI could be the perfect group to spearhead this kind of festival and bring about the revitalization. After being chosen, DBDI learned Beaver Dam would be on a five-year waiting list.

To maintain momentum, DBDI fundraised over the next four years to place two murals; one on Richards Insurance (2013) and one on Inter-Quest (2015). The group has also welcomed two local artists who became Walldogs: Judy Beyer and Jessalyn Braun.

Now 2017 has arrived and Walldogs will paint an additional 14 murals from June 28-July 2.

To volunteer or donate, contact Kay Appenfeldt at (920) 382-4322 or mrmsapple@charter.net; or Karla Jensen at (920) 318-1729 or kjensen@wayland.org.

Watch for more information on the mural themes, building canvas sites, events and activities during the festival. Go to bddowntown.com.
Amateur artists from the Wisconsin Regional Art Program and students from Sauk Prairie middle and high schools will have their artwork displayed Jan. 20 at the River Arts Center.

The two shows are separate events held on the same night, said Lindsey Guise-Jua2rez, executive director of River Arts Inc., but share the common purpose of promoting the arts.

It gives the community a little bit of exposure to what we can do and to promote the arts, said Terry Doeler, coordinator of the programs Prairie du Sac show.

The regional art program offers opportunities throughout the year for amateur artists to show their artwork, Doeler said, and the River Arts venue is just one of them. The event provides a chance for people to network, interact and get feedback from the public.

The night also provides the chance for youth to have their artwork displayed. About 140 students will participate. Sauk Prairie High School art teacher Therese Muskulin-Brethorst said the students get to select which artwork they want displayed. Every student who wants to participate is welcome.

We have a mix of everything this year, Miskulin-Brethorst said. Art from the students includes everything from paintings to drawings, mixed media, sculptures, fiber, jewelry and more. Guise-Juarez said the River Arts Center lobby area plays host to many kinds of exhibits throughout the year.

When they built the River Arts Center we knew we wanted a gallery space and to have a space for meetings, she said. We found a good way to balance it.

Guise-Juarez said many students dont get to have their artwork displayed in a gallery setting like what the River Arts Center offers.

Its like a real art opening like you would go to as an adult, she said. Its a really good and positive environment for the kids to have.

Miskulin-Brethorst said its important for the students to see the continuation of their studies.

It takes them up a level, she said. It gives them something to strive for.
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) The Supreme Court today rejected Akali Dal leader and former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaurs plea for suspension of her conviction in the 2000 murder case of her daughter Harpreet Kaur to enable her contest the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab.

A bench, comprising Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit, refused to entertain the plea of Kaur by brushing aside the submission that she was only convicted on charge of conspiracy and not for murder.

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Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Kaur, said the leader had been sentenced for five years by a trial court on the charge of conspiracy but not for murder. Suspension of the sentence will enable her to contest the polls, he contended.

He said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had already stayed the sentence and if the apex court stayed the conviction, then she can contest the polls.

While the sentence was stayed earlier, the high court bench had yesterday dismissed a similar plea by Kaur seeking stay on her conviction in the case.

Kaurs conviction with sentencing of more than two years period makes her ineligible to contest the election as per the Representation of People Act, 1951.

She is out on bail since November 2012 but her appeal against the special CBI courts sentence is still pending in the High Court.

On January 8, 2010, the apex court had directed the Sessions Court to expeditiously decide the case and complete it in six months.

In 2012, she was convicted for offences -? forcible abortion, wrongful confinement, abduction and criminal conspiracy.

The former Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) chiefs daughter Harpreet had allegedly married a person against the wishes of her mother. Harpreet was found dead under mysterious circumstances. PTI MNL ABA SJK RKS ARC

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By Siddhartha Rai: Even as the mercury dipped and the chilly winds made people cling to their woollens, 46-year-old Ravi Kant stood in front of the BJP headquarters on Ashoka Road. While other party supporters jostled to find whether their leaders managed to grab a party ticket in Uttar Pradesh (UP), Kant was there with a different demand.

A board that read 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Abhiyan' hung across his neck. Kant wants a stringent law to be passed against rapists who target or have targeted minors. Kant, who lives near Jama Masjid, wants to meet BJP chief Amit Shah to carry the demand to him in person.

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"I had applied for an appointment with the party president three days ago, but have not received any response. However, my crusade is not subservient to whether a party's president meets me or not," he says. Kant is father to a single child - a daughter - and earns as a small-time real estate agent. "My mother is actually very happy to have a granddaughter than a grandson. She says they are unnecessary trouble," he giggles.

ALSO READ | India lost out by 'keeping women as slaves': Says Prakash Javadekar

Kant started his crusade on August 12, 2015, when he wrote to the PMO. He said the application had been circulated in the Ministry for Women and Child Development and Home Ministry too. Ever since, he religiously stands outside the Parliament whenever it is in session, and distributes pamphlets seeking death penalty for sex offenders who victimise minors.

"I have been standing outside the Parliament and giving these pamphlets to passers-by. At times, I throw them as far as possible in the hope that some leader might pick it up," he says.

So why the BJP office? "Since Modi came to power, there has been hope that the common man can be heard," he said. "People sometimes say I am mad. But at times, they support me too. Many ask what can I achieve alone? I reply that change has to start somewhere. What better way to serve society than giving justice to victims like Nirbhaya and the dozens of minors, whose rapist doesn't even remember how many girls he victimised?"

ALSO READ | Delhi: This man took a train from UP town to Delhi daily to rape schoolgirls

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Engineer-cum-Facilities Manager occupies Chief Operations post

Fana Sibanyoni holds a position rarely found in South African universities but the time for which has come, given the winds of change in the sector.

Sibanyoni is Wits first Chief Operations Officer (COO) and will oversee departments that are instrumental to the Universitys upward trajectory.

As part of the Senior Executive Team and reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor, the COO will provide strategic leadership to portfolios that are the backbone of the University and enable it to achieve academic and research excellence. These portfolios include: Computer and Networking Services (CNS); Business Intelligence Services (BIS); Property and Infrastructure Management Development (PIMD); Campus Planning and Development; and Campus Control.

Sibanyoni has more than the necessary skills for this enormous portfolio  he is a mechanical engineer-cum-facilities manager.

Many CEOs and business owners are engineers, he says. Engineering prepares you in logical thinking. You are able to solve complex scenarios, and it equips you with analytical skills.

Sibanyoni was Born on a farm in Mpumalanga. He holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the former University of Natal, an MBA from the University of Cape Town, and he completed the highly challenging International Executive Development Programme at the Wits Business School.

Prior to joining Wits, he was National Head of Facilities Management at Growthpoint Properties responsible for capital budgets over R1 billion per annum. This was preceded by executive roles at ABSA and Telkom. As an engineer he has worked for Sasol, Sentrachem, Hulett Sugar Limited and the Airports Company South Africa.

Sibanyoni believes that Wits is his destiny  despite fate twice delaying his joining the Wits community. The first time, his bursary placed him at the University of Natal and the second time, he was involved in a horrific car accident just days before his panel presentation at Wits for the COO position.

His presence at Wits today, despite the accident and the tumultuous timing of his arrival is testament to his commitment. He is undeterred by student protests for structural change and demands for free education.

The protests are viewed as negative but they have created a framework for people to engage. It has brought a number of players in the University together. I am hoping to use that platform to engage and collaborate, he says.

The priority for the COO and the University is stability and to capacitate Computer and Network Services (CNS) as it embarks on the R500 million upgrade of the Universitys ICT infrastructure. This project was postponed in 2015 due to funds being diverted to support the shortfall created by a zero percent increase in fees this year.

For Wits to achieve its 2022 vision of providing blended e-learning, it needs to upgrade its ICT infrastructure. Wi-fi facilities are key to todays learning and we need to have state-of-the-art facilities throughout our campuses so that people are able to do their learning easily, explains Sibanyoni.

Apart from installing the right infrastructure, Sibanyoni needs to make sure that he has the right people in CNS to fulfil the needs of a changing and tech-savvy university.

The University is currently recruiting a Chief Information Officer to head CNS. This is the first step in stabilising CNS.

Sibanyoni's next priority is supporting PIMD in undertaking critical maintenance backlogs to ensure that the Universitys property, one of its most valuable assets, does not collapse.

The third and most talked about is the insourcing of contract workers who perform continuous services for the Wits community.

Sibanyonis vision for his office is to achieve service excellence, and support and enable the Universitys academic project to achieve the desired academic objectives.

He is a firm believer in the importance of affiliating to professional associations and contributing to industry.

He is a member of numerous industry bodies including the Institute of Directors Southern Africa, the South African Facilities Management Association, the South African Property Owners Association, the Black Management Forum, the National Society for Black Engineers, and the Institute of Certificated Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, amongst others.
Energizer Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes household batteries, specialty batteries, and lighting products worldwide. It offers lithium, alkaline, carbon zinc, nickel metal hydride, zinc air, and silver oxide batteries under the Energizer and Eveready brands, as well as primary, rechargeable, specialty, and hearing aid batteries. The company also provides headlights, lanterns, and children's and area lights, as well as flash lights under the Energizer, Eveready, Rayovac, Hard Case, Dolphin, Varta, and WeatherReady brands. In addition, it licenses the Energizer and Eveready brands to companies developing consumer solutions in gaming, automotive batteries, portable power for critical devices, LED light bulbs, generators, power tools, household light bulbs, and other lighting products. Further, the company designs and markets automotive fragrance and appearance products, including protectants, wipes, tire and wheel care products, glass cleaners, leather care products, air fresheners, and washes to clean, shine, refresh, and protect interior and exterior automobile surfaces under the brand names of Armor All, Nu Finish, Refresh Your Car!, LEXOL, Eagle One, California Scents, Driven, and Bahama & Co; STP branded fuel and oil additives, functional fluids, and other performance chemical products; and do-it-yourself automotive air conditioning recharge products under the A/C PRO brand name, as well as other refrigerant and recharge kits, sealants, and accessories. It sells its products through direct sales force, distributors, and wholesalers; and through various retail and business-to-business channels, including mass merchandisers, club, electronics, food, home improvement, dollar store, auto, drug, hardware, e-commerce, convenience, sporting goods, hobby/craft, office, industrial, medical, and catalog. Energizer Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri.
BJP sources say that only Rohit Shekhar, son of veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari, has joined the party. This contradicts earlier reports that Tiwari had joined the BJP, reports that Tiwari's family termed shocking.

By India Today Web Desk: Shortly after reports said Congress veteran ND Tiwari has joined the BJP, the party clarified only his son Rohit Shekhar has joined. Sources in the BJP said Shekhar has joined the party ahead of the Uttarakhand Assembly election, while Tiwari has only extended his support to the party.

Earlier today, Tiwari went to BJP president Amit Shah's residence in New Delhi along with his son Rohit and wife Ujjwala, dealing a major blow to a party he served for over five decades ahead of the February 15 election.

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Tiwari, 91, was Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for three terms and was the third Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2007. He also served as a minister at the Centre several times having held charge of key portfolios like Finance and External Affairs.

Tiwari was also the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2007 to 2009, a post he quit after being embroiled in a sex tape controversy.

Tiwari's family today expressed disappointment and shock over reports of his joining the BJP and alleged the decision was being "made for him".

"I would like to inform everyone that the family is extremely disappointed. In fact shocked, at the developments regarding ND Tiwari," his nephew, Manishi Tiwari, said in a statement.

Also read: Pre-election boost: At 91, veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari joins BJP

Also read: Uttarakhand Ratna for ND Tiwari

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CarMax, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. The company operates through two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. It offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions. The company also provides reconditioning and vehicle repair services; and financing alternatives for retail customers across a range of credit spectrum through its CarMax Auto Finance and arrangements with various financial institutions. As of February 28, 2022, it operated approximately 230 used car stores. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, Virginia.
RELX PLC provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers in North America, Europe, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Risk; Scientific, Technical & Medical; Legal; and Exhibitions. The Risk segment offers information-based analytics and decision tools that combine public and industry specific content with technology and algorithms to assist clients in evaluating and predicting risk. The Scientific, Technical & Medical segment provides information and analytics that help institutions and professionals to progress in science and advance healthcare. The Legal segment provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers in decision-making, as well as increases the productivity. The Exhibitions segment is involved in the events business that combines face-to-face with data and digital tools to help customers learn about markets, source products, and complete transactions. The company was formerly known as Reed Elsevier PLC and changed its name to RELX PLC in July 2015. The company was incorporated in 1903 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
A day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray spoke about the modalities of alliance for the upcoming BMC polls, leaders from both the parties met for second round of talks.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: BJP and Shiv Sena continue their tug of war over seat sharing, with both parties demanding a bigger share. The talks have been shifted to the next round.

A day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray spoke about the modalities of alliance for the upcoming BMC polls, leaders from both the parties met for second round of talks.

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Like round one, alliance talks during round two also ended inconclusively.

"In the first phase we have discussed seats from Dahisar to Mulund, we will discuss our respective seats that we are claiming stakes on," said Anil Desai, Shiv Sena Leader and Rajya Sabha MP who is part of the discussions.

Also Read: Uddhav Thackeray: I'm always positive about alliance with BJP

According to sources, BJP has demanded 114 seats in the 227 member house. But the Shiv Sena out-rightly rejected the demand. Shiv Sena it is learnt also demanded 155 seats saying that though last time it contested 135 seats, 20 seats were given to RPI were from Sena quota. With the talks hitting a dead end over demand of seats both parties have now demanded a list of seats they want to contest. The lists would be discussed in the next meeting.

BJP Mumbai chief Aashish Shelar said, "Final decision will be taken by Uddhav Thackeray and Cm Devendra Fadnavis. We plan to take a decision by 21st."

Both the parties have set January 21 as the deadline. But with both the parties adamant on a larger share the big question now is who will blink first.

Also Read:

BMC polls: Fadnavis calls Uddhav Thackeray to discuss alliance, but party leaders continue to fight

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Humana Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Group and Specialty, and Healthcare Services. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. In addition, the company provides commercial fully insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits comprising dental, vision, and other supplemental health benefits; and administrative services only products to individuals and employer groups, as well as military services, such as TRICARE T2017 East Region contract. Further, it offers pharmacy solutions, provider services, and home solutions services, such as home health and other services to its health plan members, as well as to third parties. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 17 million members in medical benefit plans, as well as approximately 5 million members in specialty products. Humana Inc. was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
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The foremost name in this list is that of Rani Pakshalika Singh, who is the wife of sitting Bah MLA and former UP Minister Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh and had recently defected to the BJP from SP with her husband.

By Siraj Qureshi: In Braj region politics, there are currently several politicians testing their mettle to win a state legislative seat in the assembly elections this year, who had lost their bid in the 2014 parliamentary elections. Not discouraged by the debilitating defeat in the parliamentary elections, they are looking at the assembly elections as their hope for reviving their political careers.

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The foremost name in this list is that of Rani Pakshalika Singh, who is the wife of sitting Bah MLA and former UP Minister Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh and had recently defected to the BJP from SP with her husband. Pakshalika Singh had been nominated as the SP candidate from Kheragarh and Aridaman Singh was the party's candidate from Bah. Now, Aridaman is sitting out these elections and his wife will contest his seat on a BJP Ticket.

Interestingly, Pakshalika had contested the parliamentary elections against the BJP candidate Ch. Babulal and had managed to get 211,339 votes on the Fatehpur Sikri seat. She had been ahead of both BJP's Babulal and BSP's Seema Upadhyay in vote tally on Bah assembly area, primarily because her husband is the sitting MLA on this seat.

However, the situation has changed this time and Babulal is displeased with Pakshalika getting the ticket and it is quite possible that she may face internal opposition within the party ranks as her husband is no longer contesting elections and is also losing his influence in the region due to growing discontent against him among the local populace.

Similarly, former BJP OBC Morcha president SP Singh Baghel, who had lost the parliamentary elections to Ramgopal Yadav's son Akshay Yadav, is now again in the fray, contesting from the Tundla assembly seat. Although Baghel had lost the overall election, he had been quite ahead of Akshay Yadav in vote tally of Tundla constituency, getting 104,683 votes.

Another candidate contesting on BJP ticket from Firozabad's Sirsaganj seat is Jaiveer Singh, who is a relative of Rajasthan Governor and former UP CM Kalyan Singh. Jaiveer had contested the 2014 parliamentary election on BSP ticket from Farrukhabad but had lost miserably. Now he is trying his luck in the assembly elections.

Commenting on this scenario, Imamuddin, a senior citizen in Agra said that for some people, politics is not a mere career choice, but they are habitual of the political portfolios and the associated perks and cannot bear losing them. Which is why they keep changing their loyalties and go with the party that has the most likelihood of winning. Such leaders are now displeased at being skipped in the ticket distribution and are burning effigies of BJP leaders.

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Anixter International Inc., through its subsidiary, Anixter Inc., distributes enterprise cabling and security solutions, electrical and electronic wire and cable solutions, and utility power solutions worldwide. The company operates through Network & Security Solutions (NSS), Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), and Utility Power Solutions (UPS) segments. The NSS segment offers copper and fiber optic cable and connectivity, access control, video surveillance, intrusion and fire/life safety, cabinet, power, cable management, wireless, professional audio/video, voice and networking switches, and other ancillary products for the technology, finance, transportation, education, government, healthcare, and retail industries, as well as telecommunications service providers. The EES Solutions segment provides electrical and electronic wires and cables, shipboard cables, support and supply products, low-voltage and instrumentation cables, industrial communication and control products, security cables, connectors, industrial Ethernet switches, and voice and data cables to the commercial and industrial, and original equipment manufacturer markets. The UPS segment supplies electrical transmission and distribution products, power plant maintenance, repair and operations supplies, and smart-grid products, as well as arranges materials management and procurement outsourcing for the power generation and transmission, and electricity distribution industries. The company serves contractors, installers, system integrators, value-added resellers, architects, engineers, and wholesale distributors in various industries, including manufacturing, resource extraction, telecommunications, Internet service providers, finance, education, healthcare, retail, transportation, utilities, and defense, as well as government customers. The company was formerly known as Itel Corporation. Anixter International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois.
The alleged assaulters, after abusing and beating up the north eastern youngsters, also asked them to leave the area.

By India Today Web Desk: A CCTV footage of a Mizoram man getting beaten up by three residents of Banaswadi, Bengaluru was shared on social media on Tuesday and has gone viral since.

The video shows how two men and a woman assault a student, identified as Jerry, and his friend. A man wearing white lungi abuses, hits Jerry with a stick and later with his hands. When another man tried to intervene, the woman warns him off.

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Also read: Bengaluru: Lover rejects girlfriend's proposal, end in hospital

The alleged assaulter is apparently the landlord of the two north eastern tenants. After thrashing them, they also asked the tenants to leave the area. The incident came to light when members of the North East Students' Association approached the police and a suo motu case of assault was registered. The three assaulters were arrested on January 11.

"The incident occurred at 2am and the victim was the neighbour of the accused. The arrested are Clifford Wilson (80), retired security officer, Carlton Wilson (56), former school principal, and Lynn Wilson (54), assistant manager with a private bank," the Banasawadi Inspector said as reported by the News Minute .

Also read: Bengaluru's Hug Me harasser arrested; accosted girls, asked them to marry him

When Jerry heard the sound of a vehicle falling and went down to check if it was his, the neighbours started abusing him because he had parked his vehicle in front of their house.

According to the report by the News Minute, other north eastern tenants in the building have also been asked to vacate. A Twitter user called on BJP leader Kiren Rijiju to ensure safety of north easterners.

Watch the video here:

Video courtesy- oneIndia.com

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Honoring King by sharing hope

Community Day: W&M students select toys and other goods to create care bags for children who are served through Colonial CASA. Photo by Justin K. Thomas

Community Day: In addition to the toys and other goodies seen here, the students also included hand-made cards in the care bags. Photo by Justin K. Thomas Photo - of - Hide Caption

Students create care bags for abused and neglected children during MLK community day

Sitting at a table piled high with Play-Doh, Matchbox cars, puzzles and books, Terelle Robinson 17 turned a piece of construction paper into a message of hope for an abused or neglected child.

It takes a dream to get started, desire to keep going and determination to finish, Robinson wrote inside the card before decorating its cover with star stickers and inserting it into a Ziploc bag filled with toys and other goodies.

The care bag was one of several dozen created by William & Mary students Tuesday morning in the Jamestown Road office of Colonial CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). The project was part of the universitys Martin Luther King Jr. Community Day, organized by the Office of Community Engagement, during which students engaged in learning and service around the topics of hunger, housing, community health and youth services. Approximately 40 students divided into four groups participated, with each group working with two local community partner organizations.

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Robinson co-led the group that focused on youth services with Kim Green 14, fellow for education programs in OCE. In addition to working with Colonial CASA, the students in that group also served with James City County Parks and Recreation before returning to campus to reflect on and share what they had learned.

There are many benefits to college students working in the community around them, said Green. We have our little tight-knit community at William & Mary  a really strong, solid community  and I think its very powerful when students take a look outside of campus and realize that theres work to be done in the larger community.

After arriving at Colonial CASA Tuesday morning, the students  freshmen and seniors  heard about the organizations history and purpose from Program Director Victoria Canady.

We train volunteers here so that they can advocate for children who have been abused and neglected, Canady told the students. The purpose or our end goal is to, as much as possible, keep the family intact as well as make sure the children are in a safe and permanent environment because without that safety, without that permanency, it begins to affect every area of their lives  socially, academically, behaviorally, psychologically and emotionally.

The nonprofit organization, which works with families in Williamsburg, York County, James City County and Poquoson, currently has 16 advocates who are helping 33 children, generally between the ages of 5 and 11. However, Colonial CASA has served up to 200 children at a time, Canady said.

Although students with Kappa Alpha Theta work with Colonial CASA as part of the sororitys philanthropy initiatives, Tuesday was the first time a group from OCE has partnered with the organization, Canady said, adding that she is encouraged to see young people learning more about the community.

A lot of times, if youre not involved and aware of abuse and neglect, you dont know its going on, and I believe it helps with empathy and sympathy, she said.  So I think its just really important for as young as we can on an appropriate level to have people understand whats happening in their own community to help them as they move forward to better the community.

Additionally, students working with Colonial CASA bring a unique outlook to the organization, Canady said.

When you do something for so long, you just believe thats how its done and sometimes having a fresh perspective and a fresh voice can change everything, she said.  They are a culture, and they are diverse, and if we can get what they do and how they live and what they know and fuse it into what we do, it helps us to even better serve the youth that were working with.

Sarah Walker, a freshman from Massachusetts, signed up for the community day project because she has an interest in working with kids as well as education and equality, she said.

I just made a bag for a 12-year-old boy, and I was never a 12-year-old boy so it was interesting trying to figure out what he wanted, Walker said. But it was nice and I hope that when he gets it, it will help him feel just a little bit better.

By participating in the project, Walker hoped she had made some small impact on the Williamsburg community.

I feel like Ive gotten a lot from them just being here for a couple of months, so Im really excited to give back, she said.

Robinson, a public policy major, signed up to lead the trip because of his interest in working as a public servant, he said, adding that the topic of the project spoke to his own story a bit.

My heart kind of goes out to the children who are in need, Robinson said. It speaks to me a lot so this is just a great way to give back.

Even though he and the other students werent able to deliver the care bags or cards themselves, Robinson said there was joy in creating them.

I wont get to see it, but I think the most rewarding part of it is knowing that someone young is going to get an inspirational card, whether or not they know who its from, just so they know that somebodys actually thinking about them and believes in them and really cares, Robinson said. When you are at a young age, you realize anything that someone gives you, it just brings so much joy, so Im just really happy theyre going to get these cards.

Green said that service seemed like an especially appropriate way of honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

I watched a video recently that said that a day for MLK should be a day not just off, it should be a day on when you do the work, Green said. You get the time off so you can get on it and do service for the community, so I think any service in general is just the very essence of what Martin Luther King would want us to do.
Pakistan's spy agency has been linked to the Patna derailment as well as an attempt to blow up railway tracks in Bihar's East Champaran district.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Multiple agencies have been tasked with corroborating claims that the derailment of Indore-Patna Express was orchestrated by the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. Sources say multiple agencies are interrogating three arrested men - Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav to verify the shocking claims.

The three persons arrested on Tuesday Bihar's East Champaran district claimed that they were paid Rs 3 lakh to plant explosives in the district's Ghorasahan area on October 1, 2016. An IED was discovered from the rail track and defused.

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One of the suspect also claimed to have traveled to Kanpur at the behest of the ISI to cause the derailment that claimed over 140 lives. The men behind the Kanpur train accident are believed to be Shamsul Hoda, from Delhi, and Brajkishore Giri, a resident of Nepal. MHA sources say the ISI link to both the cases (the East Champaran IED and the Kanpur derailment) needs to be thoroughly probed.

HOME MINISTRY SEEKS FURTHER DETAILS

The Home Ministry which received report from Bihar police has sought further details from the Bihar government and central security agencies regarding the arrest of Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar and Mukesh Yadav and the shocking disclosures to Bihar Police

Sources in MHA said since there is a terror angle, the role of ISI is likely to be probed by the NIA to find out whether there was a larger conspiracy involving ISI agents based in Nepal and Dubai. Though NIA has so far officially not sounded out, it is learnt that Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi has spoken to DG NIA regarding the case. A two-member team of NIA has been rushed from NIA HQ to Bihar by the Home Ministry to investigare the claims.

SOURCES: CLAIMS NEED TO BE CORROBORATED

Central intelligence agencies are now questioning the three accused. If the claim of the three accused turn out to be true, it would be the first such case of a foreign agency causing a train derailment in India. Sources caution that the claims need to corroborated to check whether there is substance in claims made or whether it is a red herring.

A report is also being sought from the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) about ISI activities in Nepal and India.

Security agencies are now looking for two more persons identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav in East Champaran area for their suspected links in the case.

The role of ISI in the recent train disaster in Kanpur came under suspicion after Bihar Police on Tuesday arrested three persons who they claimed were working for the Pakistani spy agency with the goal of targeting the Indian Railways.

The suspected ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, which claimed the lives of over 140 people, emerged after the interrogation of the trio.

Also read: Pakistan's link unearthed in Kanpur train accident that killed more than 140 passengers, 3 arrested

Also watch: Indore-Patna express accident: India Today's ground report

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Adoption Regulations, 2017, framed by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), as mandated under Section 68(c) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, have now come into force as per the statute and will be placed in the Parliament soon.

By Atir Khan: All child adoptions not adhering to the recently-notified adoption regulations by the Ministry of Women and Child Development will now be considered violation of the law. The new regulations replacing the earlier guidelines have a clear provision for adoption by relatives and step-parents of their spouses' children as well.

Adoption Regulations, 2017, framed by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), as mandated under Section 68(c) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, have now come into force as per the statute and will be placed in the Parliament soon.

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Also read | Adoption in India made simpler with revised guidelines

This move has strengthened the adoption programme in the country by streamlining the adoption process to be followed. The new regulations have been framed to overcome issues and challenges faced by adoption authorities and the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs).

ADOPTION REGULATIONS, 2017 PATH-BREAKING

The 2017 regulations are path-breaking in terms of addressing the need for in-family adoptions, post-adoption support, child-centric provisions, category for immediate placements, flexibilities by way of relaxation committee, extended validity of home-study report, equitable referral of children, time-limit on courts for disposing adoption deeds, consolidation of seniority list, and facilitating the root search even by children below 18 years of age.

What is unique about the regulation is that it defines the procedures related to adoption by relatives, both within the country and abroad. Earlier, only the procedure for adoption by foreigners was in place. The procedure for adoption by step-parents has also been defined. It will help adopted children get their right of inheritance.

Also read | RS chairman refers Surrogacy Bill to Standing Committee

SALIENT FEATURES OF REGULATIONS ARE A fundamental principle relating to all adoptions to be registered on Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) has been included to ensure that all adoptions, including in-family and relative adoptions, are registered with CARA. The scope of children available for adoption has been expanded to include a child of a relative and step-children. The age criterion for prospective adoptive parents has been relaxed for relative/in-family adoptions and adoption by step-parents. The limit on eligibility for adoption has been reduced from 4 children to 3. Therefore, couples with three or more children shall not be considered for adoption except in case of those with special needs or those hard to place as mentioned in regulations and for relative adoption and adoption by step-parents. Home Study Report emphasises the preparedness of the parents and their ability to support a child in adoption - beyond their immediate need. The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) has 3 working days to place advertisement/notification for tracing the parents/guardians in case the child is received in adoption. Earlier, the same was 72 hours. Parents can indicate their preference for the state from which they wish to adopt at the time of registration itself, which will determine their waitlist in that state, for their chosen preference for the gender and age-combination of the child they wish to adopt. Parents can also indicate "All India" if they do not have any specific preference. They will be automatically registered for all the specialised adoption agencies of the state or states they have opted for.

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Regulators and stakeholders

18 January 2017

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There might have been a time in the past when the working of government was less visible and decisions announced as a fait accompli. That is not so much the case today - the arc of history reflects global movement toward broadening information flow and participation, says Stephen Burns.

A seminal article by American public policy analyst Sherry Arnstein, written in 1969, presented a ladder diagram to explain the graduated levels of public involvement in government decision making. The ladder has eight rungs that represent varying levels of public "clout", so to speak, in the decision-making process of those in power. The lower rungs depict non-participation and the middle rungs focus on education and information as well as some consultation. But as you get higher on the ladder - on the rungs that I think we're most interested - you get to partnership.

I do believe that today partnership between stakeholders and regulatory organizations, as well as openness and transparency, are seen more frequently as traits of a good regulator, and are increasingly set out as goals in strategic plans throughout the world. Today, I believe we do expect regulatory decisions to be made openly and after decision makers have carefully examined all the facts and with input from their stakeholders. But that raises a question not particularly addressed in Arnstein's ladder: Who is a stakeholder?

Definition



You've no doubt pondered this yourself and perhaps have discussed this with others in and outside your organization. You might still be having that discussion even today. So, let me offer a departure point. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary there are three definitions for the word stakeholder.

We can ignore the first definition, though it is rooted in the original page of the term, unless we are avid gamblers. It says a stakeholder is a person entrusted with the stakes of bettors. The second definition - one who has a 'stake', that is, an interest or concern in an enterprise - is closer, but it leans too heavily toward those with a financial interest in a business. Which brings us to the third definition: one who is involved in or affected by a course of action. If I had a bell to ring up here, I would ring it for this definition.

In the context of that definition, then, our stakeholders include those who live near or work in nuclear facilities; those who own or run the facilities; those who govern at the national, regional or local level; those who manufacture the components or the fuel; those who regulate the output or use of the facility; those who benefit from the use of radiological material and nuclear installations; those who might be adversely affected in any way by materials or facilities. Stakeholders also include the media who convey information to others, and the nongovernmental organizations that represent the views of many individuals. And we must keep in mind that stakeholders are not only the ones who support your organization and its objectives or who express confidence in what you do, but also those who are deeply sceptical, who offer critiques, constructive and otherwise, and even those who are largely indifferent, except when your organization - or those you regulate - receive media attention. Finally, stakeholders also include regulators around the world who could be affected by events, decisions or issues occurring in your country. You can see stakeholders as consecutive ripples moving outward as your course of action - your decision - lands like a pebble in a pond.

Participation



Now let me talk for a moment about why addressing your stakeholders, listening to their input and involving them, to the extent possible - in other words, reaching the rung of participation in decision making - is simply the right thing to do. Public involvement is a cornerstone of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) strong, fair regulation of the nuclear industry. The NRC recognizes the public's interest - their stake - in properly regulated nuclear activities, and consequently provides many opportunities for individuals and groups to share their views. And the NRC involves stakeholders early in the regulatory process. They are not an afterthought to the process, but a part of the process.

To be trusted, one - whether a regulator, a parent, a friend or a worker - must listen to others, listen to fears and listen to solutions

Taking this point of view helps assure stakeholders that the NRC is making sound, balanced, appropriately informed decisions about nuclear safety. In my view, it underpins their trust in us as a regulator. I've spoken of the concept of trust in other forums, but I think it is worth revisiting the topic. Researchers have found - and I suggest that we know this intuitively - that trust plays an important role in how we accept and respond to risk. If we don't trust the decision maker - or we don't know them well enough to place our trust in them - we are sceptical of their risk calculations and risk communication. We wont believe in the reliability of their information or trust their judgment or their decisions.

Achieving trust can be very difficult for any nuclear regulator anywhere in the world overseeing a highly technical and complex industry that many people simply may not understand, especially when what we're regulating - radiation - cannot be seen or felt or heard. To be trusted, one - whether a regulator, a parent, a friend or a worker - must listen to others, listen to fears and listen to solutions.

Trust is built on relationships; relationships are built on communication and respect. Respecting your stakeholders, even those with opinions very different from your own, listening carefully to their viewpoint, looking for common ground, considering their input, examining their evidence: all of this is part of building trust. And when we all do it - all the nuclear regulators around the world - we build rings of trust in all our countries rippling out from that pebble in a pond.

The NRC does more than provide lip service to this concept. The NRC takes seriously its relationship with its stakeholders. We have public comment periods on agency rules and policies, public meetings, workshops, social media platforms, traditional media outreach, open houses, webinars, roundtables, petition processes. We hold hearings, read emails, take phone calls. Historically, the concept of openness has been part of the agency's strategic plan. Let me quote from our most recent plan: "As an independent regulatory agency, the NRC conducts its regulatory activities as openly as possible with meaningful stakeholder involvement."

Stakeholder interest and expectations across the range of its regulatory responsibilities for nuclear power, use of radioactive materials, decommissioning activities, and management of radioactive waste has certainly not subsided over the years in the United States, nor, I suspect, globally. The NRC considers stakeholder involvement in, and information about, its activities to be a cornerstone of strong, fair regulation of the nuclear industry.

Democracy



The NRC's interest in and commitment to stakeholder involvement, is rooted in fundamental principles of our democracy and derives from basic structures of governance under federal law. It is enshrined in our Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 and other laws pertaining to governance of the administrative state. But how the NRC engages has changed significantly since I first joined the agency more than 35 years ago. At one time, posting information in the Federal Register might have been considered sufficient. Now, we've developed and refined our stakeholder engagement techniques to make them more effective and meaningful, with a greater chance for real partnership with stakeholders.

Let me offer some specifics. The NRC holds hundreds of public meetings each year at its regional office, headquarters and in the field. These meetings may be full Commission briefings, or they may be what we call end-of-cycle meetings about plant performance, issue-driven meetings, or meetings of our advisory committees. Many of those meetings are broadcast via the web or with a phone bridge so interested folks need not even travel to them. Often, transcripts and sometimes videos of the meetings are then posted on the web. Trained facilitators may be employed to make the meetings even more meaningful. And meetings may be augmented by other activities, such as open houses where one-on-one opportunities are more available for those who want to talk personally with NRC staff. Stakeholders are also given multiple opportunities to comment as the agency develops its regulations through written correspondence and sometimes via meetings. All comments received on a rulemaking are addressed in the rulemaking proposal that comes before the Commission for a vote.

We pay attention to the input we receive. As I've acknowledged before, there is not usually only one right approach and the NRC might not have all the answers. The NRC also has a process, rooted in general US administrative law, by which stakeholders can submit a petition for rulemaking and ask us to consider undertaking new regulations. So, in that way, stakeholders do more than comment, but may suggest a course of action for the regulator to pursue. Informed stakeholders are an important part of the process.

The NRC takes advantage of many opportunities to communicate with stakeholders, to keep them apprised of agency activities and decisions. We strive to balance the need for transparency in what we do with the need to protect security information. We use not just typical outreach activities, such the web site or press releases, but also use five different social media platforms to communicate directly with the public.

There have been approximately one million visits to our blog to read some 700 posts that have prompted 6500 comments. We've also sent out 2500 tweets to some 8000 followers on Twitter. Our Facebook page has 3500 followers; our YouTube Channel has seen thousands of minutes of video viewing and there are hundreds of photos available for download from our Flickr platform. The advantage of social media is the ability to communicate directly with stakeholders in our voice, augmenting the coverage of traditional media. Keeping stakeholders informed and aware is an important part of what I see as the unwritten contract of building trust and maintaining relationships.

The NRC works closely with stakeholders in other governments, at the state and tribal level with specially designated staff. We have staff who communicate with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and we coordinate closely with other federal-level departments, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency. They, too, have a stake in what we do and how we regulate.

I know many of you do the same for your myriad stakeholders. For others, these may be new ideas and activities worth considering. And yes, I do believe it's important to recall that our independence as regulators does not mean isolation. We can still maintain our independence while listening and considering the opinions of others and cooperating as appropriate in achieving our regulatory objectives. In the end, sensible regulation is based on the appreciation of our own technical expertise and experience, coupled with being open to outside ideas and concepts - and then making decisions that are consistent and well supported.

While regulators must listen to input on all sides, they must also guard against indecisiveness. After we listen, engage and debate, we must make the decision. And it may be a decision that does not make all stakeholders happy. That is the burden of every regulatory body. We are responsible, when all is said and done, for making a clear decision that we find is the best - not necessarily the one that is the most popular.

Stephen Burns

This is the text of a keynote speech the chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave on 17 January 2017 to the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Workshop on stakeholder involvement in nuclear decision making.

Comments? Please send them to editor@world-nuclear-news.org

Stephen G. Burns was sworn in as a Commissioner of the NRC in November 2014, to a term ending on 30 June 2019. President Barack Obama designated Burns as Chairman of the NRC effective from 1 January 2015. Before returning to the NRC, Burns was the Head of Legal Affairs at the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, in Paris.

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The River Murray is the longest river in Australia. It stretches for 2,508 km from the Australian Alps to the Southern Ocean. Australia is home to many rivers which have been important to indigenous communities for centuries. The rivers of Australia play economic, social, ecological, and cultural roles in modern day Australia.

The Top 3 Longest Rivers In Australia

1. Murray - 2,508 km

The river boasts a rich history, as aboriginal groups have relied on it for sustenance for centuries. The river also had cultural importance for the aboriginal tribes inhabiting the rivers basin. A typical folk tale among the groups was that of a hunter chasing a Murray cod and carving out the river as a result. The river was discovered by European explorers in 1824 after which it was used for navigation, irrigation, and water supply. The Murray River today is home to dams and locks and weirs to control water quantities during drought or floods and hydroelectric projects. Social and recreational facilities such as the annual canoe race are popular in River Murray. Aquafauna present in the river includes Murray cod, perch, catfish, western carp gudgeon, and trout cod. Other fauna on the rivers basin include turtles, koalas, pelicans, Gray kangaroos, and lizards. The river has been negatively impacted by increased salinity levels, climate change, and over-extraction of water.

2. Murrumbidgee - 1,485 km

Murrumbidgee River, a tributary of the Murray River, flows for 1,485 km from the Australian Alps meandering its way to join the Murray River in the riverine plains. Historically, the river provided food and water to the aboriginal people on its banks. In the Wiradjuri language, the rivers name translates to "big water". The river facilitated the settlement of Europeans who used the water for irrigation. The river sustains many tributaries, swamps, and wetlands deemed to be ecologically significant. Navigation was facilitated with the introduction of steamboats and irrigation was further promoted by the construction of dams. In the modern day, the river is crucial for the agricultural and tourism sector of the region as well as for hydroelectric power and water extraction. The water is home to populations of Murray cod, Murray Cray, perch, crayfish, trout cod, Mountain galaxies, and Australian smelt. Threats to the river include increased sedimentation, alien fish species, reduced water flow, and physical disturbances.

3. Darling - 1,472 km

The Darling River is a tributary of the Murray River and flows from southwest Queensland. The river has been used for navigation for centuries. Along its banks, the river's waters are used for small-scale agriculture and grazing. A network of dams and reservoirs have been built to control floods and supply irrigation schemes. Excessive water extraction has however caused the water quantity to decline. Pollution from pesticides and extended periods of droughts has had negative impacts on the flow of the river. The river supports populations of perch, catfish, Murray cod, and Murray hardyhead as well as lizards, frogs, turtles, rats, koalas, and possums.

Other Rivers in Australia

The rest of Australias longest rivers are Lachlan (1,448 km), Warrego River (1,380 km), Cooper Creek (1,300 km) and Paroo River (1,210 km). The sustainability of Australias rivers is threatened by physical disturbance such as the construction of dams, excessive water extraction, human activities, pollution, and climate change.
Taoiseach, the equivalent of a prime minister, is nominated by the lower house of the Oireachtas. The president of the Republic of Ireland officially appoints the nomination. The Taoiseach nominates the other members of government who are appointed by the government upon the consent of the Dail. He or she can advise the president to dismiss a cabinet minister. Taoiseach also appoints the 11 members of the Seanad.

The First Heads Of State Of Ireland

Eamon de Valera

Eamon de Valera was an Irish statesman and politician who was born in 1882. He served for three terms as the head of government and state. Eamon de Valera led the country to the adoption of the Constitution of Ireland. He was a political leader in the War of Independence who began his involvement in politics in 1913. Eamon de Valera founded the Fianna Fail, a political movement in 1926 for which he became the President of the Executive Council (Taoiseach) for the three terms from 1932 to 1948, 1951 to 1954, and 1957 to 1959.

John A. Costello

John A. Costello was a legal advisor to the government of the Irish Free State and the attorney general from 1926 to 1932. He also served as Irelands Taoiseach for two terms from 1948 to 1951 and 1954 to 1957. In 1948, Costello declared the intention by the Irish to exit the British Commonwealth leading to Ireland becoming a republic.

Sean Lemass

Sean Lemass was a politician who was a Taoiseach from 1959 to 1966. He was a war veteran of the 1916 Easter Rising and the Civil War. Lemass became the Teachta Dala in the November 1924 by-election. Lemass served as the Minister of Industry and Commerce in almost all of the de Valera governments where he promoted state involvement in industry and led the country to economic recovery after the Great Depression. He also served as Minister for Supplies.

Jack Lynch

Jack Lynch began as an interim Taoiseach, but he had no intention of stepping aside. He retained the members of the Lemass cabinet as part of his government and adopted a chairman-like approach, allowing the ministers to run their departments. He continued with much of his predecessors projects. In 1968, Lynch attempted a referendum to change the voting system in the country. However, this referendum was rejected by the opposition parties.

The Incumbent Taoiseach Of Ireland

Leo Varadkar has been the Taoiseach since 2017. He is also a member of the Dail Eireann, the Cabinet, the Council of State, and the European Council.
China defended the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Wednesday when asked about the PM's comments on connectivity and sovereignty, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying saying the project targets no third country and it will not affect China's position on Kashmir.

By Ananth Krishnan: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi implicitly criticised China's connectivity projects for "overriding sovereignty" of other nations, Beijing said its corridor through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was neither aimed at India nor reflective of its position on Kashmir.

Speaking at the inauguration of the second Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, the PM said "connectivity in itself cannot override or undermine the sovereignty of other nations".

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"Only by respecting the sovereignty of countries involved, can regional connectivity corridors fulfill their promise and avoid differences and discord," he said, in remarks interpreted by some analysts as criticism of Chinese connectivity projects such as the "Belt and Road".

India isn't among the 60 countries that have endorsed the plan, in part because China under the initiative is building an economic corridor to Pakistan through PoK.

CHINA'S DEFENCE OF CPEC

China defended the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Wednesday when asked about the PM's comments on connectivity and sovereignty.

"In his remarks Prime Minister Modi did not directly mention the CPEC," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. "Regarding CPEC, this is a project that is devised for long term development and cooperation in various fields. It is of great significance in regional connectivity and trade cooperation. It is for regional peace and development."

The project, she added, "targets no third country and it will not affect China's position on Kashmir."

China has told India that its "purely commercial" projects were "without prejudice" to its views on the disputed status of PoK, which was for India and Pakistan to resolve. India, however, has pointed to China's own objections of exploration projects in the disputed South China Sea, suggesting Beijing was applying a different standard.

RESOLVING DIFFERENCES

On Tuesday, the PM was largely optimistic about the future of relations with Beijing, stressing that it was "not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences."

This sentiment was reciprocated by Beijing on Wednesday. Hua of the Foreign Ministry said that in China's view "in the management of our relationship and for peace and progress in the region, both our countries need to show sensitivity and respect for each other's core concerns and interests".

"In this process China has been committed to respect the core interests and major concerns of each other and enhancing mutual interest and promoting cooperation. For the differences and problems we are clear that we will remain in touch with India and properly manage these differences and resolve them through friendly consultation," she said.

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Asked about the persisting differences on India's entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group and its bid to sanction the Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar at the UNSC sanctions committee, Hua reiterated that China did not see them as "bilateral issues", but added that it was Beijing's desire to "resolve these differences through friendly consultation instead of pointing fingers at each other and accusing the other of neglecting their core interests."

Also Read:Natural for large countries like India, China to have differences, says PM Modi

NSG membership not Obama's farewell gift: China hits back at US for backing India

--- ENDS ---
Brady Newman-Caddell and William Luth

By: Chan Yuan WorldWideWeirdNews.com

(Scroll down for video) A woman of Missouri, is angry after police arrested her rapist only after he was accused of raping a police officer.

31-year-old Taylor Hirth of Kansas City, said that she was gang raped in her bed by three men while her 2-year old daughter watched the attack.

One night around 1:00 a.m., Taylors apartment door was forced open. For hours, the men took turns to rape her. She was lying face down on her pillow for some time.

Later, the men put her pajama bottoms over her head. At one point, her 2-year-old daughter woke up. She held her childs hand while they raped her in order for the child to stay calm.

One of the men said that they were gang raping her to celebrate a birthday.

After the attack, Taylor posted a message on Facebook, saying she had just been raped and begged someone online to send police to her home.

One of her good friends logged on about 20 minutes later, and called the police.

Six months later, the Independence Police Department closed the case, saying that they were unable to track down any suspects.

Several weeks later, a Johnson County deputy was kidnapped and raped by two men. 21-year-old Brady Newman-Caddell and 24-year-old William Luth were arrested and charged with the kidnap and rape.

A DNA test matched Newman-Caddell with Tayloras rape.

Newman-Caddell was charged with rape, two counts of sodomy and endangering the welfare of a child.
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
(Scroll down for video) A man caused millions of dollars in damages after trying to cook a squirrel with a blow torch, according to police in Michigan.

Holland police said the man burned down 32 apartments while trying to cook the squirrel that he caught outside his girlfriends home.

The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that the girlfriend is responsible for the $2 million in damages as her name was written on the lease she had with her landlord.

A lower court had ruled that Barbara Pellows is responsible for just $15,000 of the damages.

According to the police investigation, Pellowsa boyfriend was using a torch to burn off the hair from the squirrel he caught outside their home.

The man planned to cook the squirrel, but he left the torch on the balcony and it started a fire. The flames destroyed 32 apartments in the building.

The buildingas insurance company paid more than $2 million for repairs, and they filed a lawsuit against Pellows, to recover the costs.

The Court of Appeals ruled that although the boyfriend started the fire, since Pellows was on the lease, she was responsible for the damage.

However, the womans renters insurance carrier and the complex owners recently settled the case for $300,000.
Woman passed out drunk (illustration)

By: Chan Yuan WorldWideWeirdNews.com

A man took advantage of a drunk soldier and raped her while she was lying unconscious in her friendas bed, according to police in Louisiana.

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Florida man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting the female officer stationed at the Fort Polk Military Base.

Maurice Antuan Speights, 32, of Tallahassee, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald Walter, after being convicted of one count of sexual abuse.

He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release, ordered to pay $3,570 in restitution and is required to register as a sex offender.

According to testimony and evidence presented at the two-day trial, Speights was an acquaintance of the victim who was temporarily residing at a relativeas home in Leesville.

Speights, the victim and a female friend went out for a night of drinking.

The female friend testified that the victim was so intoxicated that by the time the three returned to the female friendas home, the victim passed out.

The female friend and Speights had to carry the victim to an upstairs bedroom. Speights acknowledged engaging in sexual intercourse with the victim, but claimed it was consensual.

The victim took the stand during the two-day trial and testified that she had no memory of anything that occurred until she woke up in the middle of the night with the defendant sexually assaulting her.

The case was tried by the U.S. Attorneyas Office because the crime occurred on the Fort Polk Military Base, where the United States has exclusive jurisdiction.
In Delhi, senior leader Anand Sharma led the protest against demonetisation, while in Guwahati, former chief minister Tarun Gogoi participated.

By India Today Web Desk: The Congress today launched its nationwide protest against demonetisation with party workers gheraoing Reserve Bank of India offices at several locations.

In Delhi, senior leader Anand Sharma led the workers while in Assam, former chief minister Tarun Gogoi participated in the protest against demonetisation outside the RBI office in Guwahati.

In Nagpur, the protest turned violent as police had to resort to lathicharge. Senior Congress leaders Sushil Kumar Shinde, Shankersinh Vaghela and Bharatsinh Solanki were detained by police in Ahmedabad during the protest.

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The party hit out at the Narendra Modi government for not restoring cash flow even after 70 days of demonetisation, and accused it of ruining the central bank's autonomy.

Congress workers protest outside RBI office in Guwahati. Photo: ANI

Here is all you need to know about the Congress' protest outside RBI offices: As part of its nationwide campaign against demonetisation, Congress workers, starting today, are gheraoing the offices of the RBI. Senior leaders are participating in the protests which will continue till January 23. "Modi is the first minister who told the world that our economy runs on black money. This is an insult to the country. What happened to black money stashed abroad?" said Congress leader Anand Sharma. "Note ban is illegal... What kind of preparations were done that it (note ban) caused so much inconvenience to people," asked the Congress leader. The Congress is protesting against demonetisation and the govermment's inability to restore normalcy in its aftermath. "Modi government's and the RBI's decision to not lift the weekly withdrawal restrictions of Rs 24,000 is a treachery with people of India," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had earlier told mediapersons. Accusing the government of destroying the RBI's autonomy, Surjewala had said, "RBI, instead of playing the role of an independent monetary regulator and a key denominator of economic growth, has become a mere post office following the diktats of Modi government like a captive puppet". The decision to hold a countrywide protest against the Narendra Modi government's decision to demonetise high-value currency was taken at the Congress' recent Jan Vedna Sammelan where party vice president Rahul Gandhi had said "achche din will come when Congress comes to power again". Ahead of the assembly elections in five states, the Congress has been upping its ante against the Narendra Modi government over demonetisation causing inconvenience to people. Besides Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former finance minister P Chidambaram have hit out at the Prime Minister for not thinking through the November 8 decision. "Modi ji keeps on saying he will transform India's economy. We know now that the beginning of the end has come... But the worst is yet to come," Manmohan Singh had said at the Congress' Jan Vedna sammelan.

ALSO READ:

Worst is yet to come: Ex-PM Manmohan Singh on Modi's demonetisation

Uttar Pradesh elections: Demonetisation has left 90% people kangaal, says Mayawati

ALSO WATCH

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A couple of weeks ago when reports about raids on Dawood's properties surfaced, even BJP's official social media handles went on an overdrive, claiming it to be a masterstroke of PM Modi's diplomacy.

By Smita Sharma: United Arab Emirates' envoy to India Ahmed Al Banna has denied media reports that wanted underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's properties and assets were raided in UAE.

He dismissed the media reports that claimed property worth Rs 15,000 crore had been seized.

A couple of weeks ago when reports about raids on Dawood's properties surfaced, even BJP's official social media handles went on an overdrive, claiming it to be a masterstroke of PM Modi's diplomacy.

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INDIA TODAY EXCLUSIVE: India media has already painted me black, says Dawood Ibrahim

A series of tweets had credited PM Modi's diplomacy with the success. It said, the prime minister had handed over a list of Dawood's properties during his visit to the UAE in 2015, and demanded the authorities to act against Dawood.

Speaking exclusively to India Today, UAE envoy Al Banna said a legal process has to be followed in the country for an action against any individual.

EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW:

Q: Coming to area of security cooperation, in recent years we have seen an extradition treaty between India and UAE and some individuals have been deported. In terms of one specific name Dawood Ibrahim, there were reports that NSA Ajit Doval has handed over a dossier to UAE, can you confirm it sir?

A: Well, I know there are international laws, rules and regulations, there are bilateral agreements and those agreements you know finalises any or emphasises on any decision that a country might take in terms of extraditing. Now, there is judicial system and there is a legal system and within the international framework within those agreements signed, the judicial and legal system works. Now, I have no information on who specifically they have been looked at or asked for but I know we have a very strong relationship and there has been several meetings between the NSA and our NSA and other organisations in the UAE and within that framework, within the legal framework, within the agreement there will be a final understanding.

Q: Because there are also reports that UAE had cracked down and confiscated some of the properties. Again, we don't know whether it is true, untrue. Would you like to confirm?

A: This is the first time I hear of it. I don't know anything of that as I mentioned UAE is a country where there are rules, regulations, laws, constitution and if there are any proceedings in our legal system, within our jurisdiction system then let it be. I don't think any action can be taken against anyone without that legal process, without the jurisdiction process.

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Q: But if you find substance in India's evidences against Dawood Ibrahim, the UAE will act?

A: Then again, there are agreements as I said. The agreements between India and UAE will handle that and the meetings that will take place will handle that.

WATCH:

ALSO READ:

Dawood's properties seized in Dubai: BJP calls it PM Modi's masterstroke

Revealed: PM Modi's Mission Dawood in UAE

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Appeal to Trace Three Men From Caia Park

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jan 18th, 2017

North Wales Police have this afternoon issued an appeal for the publics assistance in tracing three men from Caia Park.

Aaron McKenzie, 26, (pictured left) is wanted for bail offences. Edmund Partyka, 18, (pictured centre) is wanted for bail offences and a breach of a court order.

Police are also appealing for help in tracing Lucas Partyka, 26, (pictured right) who is wanted on recall to prison.

Anyone with any further information which may help North Wales Police trace them is advised to contact North Wales Police on 101.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111
New NHS Waiting Time App Data Capped At Four Hours

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jan 18th, 2017

The data behind a new app giving waiting time information at Wrexham Maelor and other hospitals has been limited in the raw information it provided, as it was never intended for publication.

Earlier this month an app was released which was described as allowing people to get up to the minute information on waiting times for Emergency Departments via their smartphone or tablet.

Wrexham.com accessed to raw data above four hours however that has been capped, with also a possible difference stated in what information the app displays. Currently a definitive Longest Wait label is shown in the app, however we have been told that figure is based off calculations from the average total time patients are waiting in the department.

At the time Liz Rix, Chief Nurse at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, said: The app gives real-time information on waiting times and show how busy the departments are at any time during the day. This is about empowering patients to make the most appropriate choice for them.

As readers will be aware we sniffed out the data sources via a very simple process, which showed the app requested data from waittimes.uhnm.nhs.uk . Looking at the url further it allowed raw information to be pulled publicly  you can see what is called JSON output here  http://waittimes.uhnm.nhs.uk/APIv2/GetSitesGeo?lat=53.043040&lng=-2.992494&radius=5.

An example of this is below, with the relevant figures shown below for the wait time and queue.

We created a very simple piece of code that grabbed those two numbers every thirty minutes and tweeted them out via our new @WrexMaelorBot. The wait time did not appear capped, with data such as the below showing on the raw feed while the app showed over four hours.

Current longest waiting time at the Maelor is stated as 5 hrs 40 mins. There are 30 people in the queue.  Maelor Wait/QTwitBot (@WrexMaelorBot) January 12, 2017

On Thursday the bot went haywire, and tweeted that the wait time was at that point over a year.

Current longest waiting time at the Maelor is stated as 9999 hrs 99 mins. There are 30 people in the queue.  Maelor Wait/QTwitBot (@WrexMaelorBot) January 12, 2017

We checked the code and the raw information, which was showing as 9999 for the wait time:

After some testing it appeared that now anything over four hours will show 9999 rather than a precise number.

We incorrectly enquired with BCUHB on why the waiting time app had been capped, and was correctly told, There havent been any changes to the app  it has never shown detailed times above four hours.

The app is intended to give the public a helpful guide as to the maximum time they are likely to spend in one of our minor injuries or emergency departments if they attend with a non-urgent condition, to assist in their choice of where best to go. Obviously the time people spend in the departments varies depending on how busy the department is, the clinical urgency of a patients injury or illness, the time needed for tests and scans to be carried out and the nature of any treatment that needs to be provided. The figure displayed in the app is calculated from the average total time that patients currently in the department have been there.

We dont show detailed times for beyond four hours because of the uncertainty in making valid predictions about what the waiting time situation might be like the further ahead you look  wed be claiming a level of accuracy that we couldnt justify.

We returned with a query on the data rather than the app, as it was the raw data that had changed rather than the app (although our initial query did mention app data) and asked has the data provided to the app been capped at four hours, and if so, why.

We were told, The app has only ever been designed to show forecast wait times up to 4 hours because we dont believe we can make detailed predictions of likely waiting times further ahead than that.

Yes, an adjustment apparently has been made to how the data is provided to the app to ensure that this position is maintained.

We then provided examples of the app data showing what appears to be a natural rise and fall in the data we logged of one mornings wait times pointing out that the information over the 4 hour cap appeared at similar granularity to under 4 hour information.

Any information over 4 hours below would show over 4 hours in the app, whereas our twitter bot would show the raw information as below.

BCUHB described this as output of the initial calculations that feeds into the app, adding, It was not being provided to anywhere else and was never intended for publication in that format.

Currently the app and raw data is still capped at four hours.

The current output from our bot is below:

Tweets by WrexMaelorBot
By dropping the 'atom bomb of demonetisation', Narendra Modi has reduced the Indian economy to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 'All are dead', the Sena said in an edit in the party mouthpieces Saamana and Dopahar Ka Saamana.

By Indo-Asian News Service: In a vitriolic attack, the Shiv Sena today compared the fallout of demonetisation on Indian economy with the disaster wreaked by the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"By dropping the 'atom bomb of demonetisation', Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reduced the Indian economy to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 'All are dead'," the Sena said in an edit in the party mouthpieces Saamana and Dopahar Ka Saamana.

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Accusing Modi of "not heeding anybody", the Sena said the Prime Minister did not listen to the advice of even the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before spiking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8 last year.

Also read: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray meets Rajnath Singh over demonetisation

"Just like the deaf-and-dumb parrots sitting in his Cabinet, (Urjit Patel) was appointed the RBI Governor and the country's economy has been reduced to shambles," the Shiv Sena noted.

The party led by Uddhav Thackeray is an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the Centre and Maharashtra.Also read: Uddhav Thackeray meets RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, discusses demonetisation

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In a speech at Lancaster House Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May all but threatened economic warfare against Europe if the UK is not granted unlimited access to European markets after it exits the European Union.

Mays aggressive posture is bound up with efforts to forge an economic and political alliance with the incoming administration of Donald Trump in the United States. Only Mays readiness to act as a bludgeon on behalf of Washington against the EU, and particularly against Germany, can account for the combative stand she is taking prior to triggering Brexit by invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

Mays Lancaster House speech is a marker for gauging the extent of the breakdown in inter-imperialist relations both within Europe and between Europe and America. It came one day after an interview given by Trump jointly to Rupert Murdochs Sunday Times and the German Bild newspaper in which the US president-elect stated that Brexit is going to end up being a great thing. The EU was basically a vehicle for Germany, he added.

Speaking on Tuesday, the same day as Mays aggressive speech, British Chancellor Philip Hammond told the Die Welt Economic Summit in Germany that if Britains demands were not met, [W]e will have to change our model to regain competitiveness. And you can be sure we will do whatever we have to do.

Britains Daily Telegraph editorialised Tuesday that the UK can go it alone and succeed if it makes a promise of Hammonds threat to make Britain a magnet for international business by emulating Donald Trumps expected deep cuts in US corporation tax and junking European regulation.

The Spectator reported that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has been working with the Trump team on the outlines of a US/UK trade deal to be pencilled in before the UK leaves the EU...

Feeling the wind in her sails, May began her speech with platitudes stressing Britains desire for friendly and mutually beneficial trading relations with the UKs best friend and neighbour. Though many fear that Brexit might herald the beginning of a greater unravelling of the EU, she added, it would not be in the best interests of Britain.

Nevertheless, she said, the UK was leaving the EU, the Single Market and the Customs Union in order to strike free trade agreements with other countries, including vital markets such as China. There could not be continued membership of the Single Market, as urged by powerful sections of UK business, because this would mean accepting free movement of EU labour.

May went on to detail the extraordinary demands the UK would be making. They included a free trade agreement with the EU that would not cut across signing trade agreements with other countries. Referencing a comment by President Obama on the eve of the Brexit vote warning of potential damage to Britains economic relations with the US, May boasted, President-elect Trump has said Britain is not at the back of the queue for a trade deal with the United States, the worlds biggest economy, but front of the line.

She added that the UK would not remain a member of the EU Customs Union but would still want tariff-free trade with Europe.

To back up her demands, May stressed the UKs military/security role in Europe. She declared, Britain and France are Europes only two nuclear powers. We are the only two European countries with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, with servicemen and women based in European countries including Estonia, Poland and Romania.

Then came threats of economic retaliation. Noting that there are some voices calling for a punitive deal that punishes Britain and discourages other countries from taking the same path, May warned that this would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe.

Excluded from access to the Single Market, the British government would be free to change the basis of Britains economic model. It could set the competitive tax rates and embrace the policies that would attract the worlds best companies and biggest investors to Britain.

For the EU, it would mean new barriers to trade with one of the biggest economies in the world, threatening half a trillion pounds of European investments, 290 billion in EU exports to Britain and even a loss of access for European firms to the financial services of the City of London.

May and Hammonds economic model for post-Brexit Britain is, in reality, not dependent on whether or not the EU grants concessions. The government has stated its intention to lower corporation tax to 17 percent by 2020 as part of its plan to complete the Thatcher revolution through wholesale deregulation, tax cuts, privatisations and the elimination of what remains of the welfare state. This is a perspective for escalating trade war, combined with an ever sharper turn towards militarism.

The focus for such an economic offensive might initially be Europe, but May claims that on this basis the UK will embrace the world. This is delusional. Trump has expressed consistent hostility to China, the country cited by May as the main prize in the turn out of Europe and into the world. Even as she spoke, Chinas President Xi Jinping was warning the World Economic Forum in Davos, in response to Trumps threats, that no one would emerge as a winner in a global trade war.

Neither is the UK itself free from an eruption of national tensions. One of Mays 12 pledges was to Strengthen the Union, but it was made under conditions where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party (SNP) has repeatedly threatened a second independence referendum, citing the threat to Scottish business interests posed by Brexit.

Immediately after Mays speech, the Scottish parliament passed an SNP motion stating that in the event that the UK government opts to leave the Single Market, alternative approaches within the UK should be sought that would enable Scotland to retain its place within the Single Market and the devolution of necessary powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Moreover, May had to appeal for a spirit of unity in upcoming Northern Ireland Assembly elections that will pit the pro-EU Sinn Fein against the pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party, and she felt obliged to promise to maintain the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland to counter warnings of a hard border between north and south.

Mays speech was above all a declaration of class war, as working people will be made to pay for Hammonds pledge to do whatever is needed to restore competitiveness.

She peppered her speech with rhetoric about building a fairer Britain for everyone who lives and works in this country. But only in order to promise to control immigrationblaming migrants for every social ill inflicted on the working class by her government and previous ones.

The Tories real attitude to working people is expressed in demands raised this week by 50 MPs for banning strikes that affect essential services and are deemed not reasonable and proportionate. If the government has not yet resorted to such measures, it is only because they can rely on the trade union bureaucracy to police and betray workers struggles, as demonstrated by the decision that same day by the Aslef drivers union to suspend a planned three-day strike against Southern Rail.

May pledged a smooth, orderly Brexit, even as she warned the media and opposition parties that demands to know details of our negotiating strategy would mean not acting in the national interest.

With the Supreme Court expected to rule this month that the triggering of Article 50 must be debated in parliament, May promised a parliamentary vote and on the eventual Brexit deal, to be struck by 2019, while warning her opponents not to block the implementation of the referendum result. This led to a pledge on Sky News from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn that We have said all along that we will not block Article 50.

He focused the rest of his remarks on expressing concerns over European market access and stressing that there was a case for regulation of the labour marketa demand posed by Corbyns trade union backers exclusively in terms of combating the impact of migrant labour on wages.
Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mustafa Akinci began formal talks in Geneva last week aimed at reunifying the island. Also present were United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

A request to attend by Russia, which has strong economic links to Cyprus and naval access to its ports, was not taken up.

Cyprus is located in the Eastern Mediterranean to the south of Turkey and is home to about 800,000 Greek Cypriots and 220,000 Turkish Cypriots. It has been split along ethnic lines since 1974 after Turkey invaded in response to a coup instigated by the Greek military junta, which sought political union with Cyprus (enosis).

Since the end of hostilities and the forced displacement that took place, a 180 kilometre-long ceasefire Green Line buffer has divided the island into a northern area inhabited by Turkish Cypriots and patrolled by 30,000 Turkish troops while Greek Cypriots live in the south alongside 1,000 Greek troops.

The Greek Cypriot state is recognised internationally but the Turkish Cypriot state only has formal diplomatic ties with Turkey. Greece, Turkey and the UK, as the former colonial power, comprise the so-called guarantor powers of Cyprus. The UK still maintains its geo-strategic military bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, which have been key staging posts in the US- UK-led bombing campaigns in Iraq and Syria.

The current talks are taking place a decade after a previous UN-brokered settlement plan to coincide with Cypruss accession to the EU in 2004 failed, following a no vote in a referendum by the Greek Cypriot south.

A key stumbling block has always been the issue of security. According to UN special adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, who chaired the talks, The Greek side maintains that they would prefer an end to the system of guarantees and an end to foreign troops in Cyprus, whereas the Turkish position has always been that a system of guarantees should be continued at least in order to see that this new federal structure works because they feel a certain responsibility for the Turkish-Cypriot community.

Another obstacle is the extent of territory that the Turkish Cypriot side would have to cede as part of the settlement in order to allow displaced Greek Cypriots to return to their former homes. Both sides have exchanged territorial maps outlining their proposals, but as yet there is no agreement. Johnson said that the UK is prepared to cede up to half of the territory occupied by its two basesaround 3 percent of the islandin order to ease negotiations.

The first round of talks ended in stalemate last Thursday after Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias demanded the fast and full withdrawal of Turkish troops, declaring, A just solution [to division] means, first of all, eliminating what caused it, namely the occupation and presence of occupation forces.

In response, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, It is out of the question for Turkish soldiers to pull out completely.  If something like this is being considered, then both sides should pull their troops out of there. Erdogan added, We have told Cyprus and Greece clearly that they should not expect a solution without Turkey as guarantor. We are going to be there forever.

However, Eide warned that Larger political developments in the neighbourhood remind us that one should not lose any timea reference to Russias increasing influence in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, which is cutting across US plans to dominate the region. This is most pronounced in the recent Russian-brokered ceasefire in Syria, which undermined US-led plans to oust Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Eides statement was a warning of the implications of Russias increased economic presence.

At the end of last year, Russian state-owned energy company Rosneft signed a deal with Italian energy giant Eni to buy a 30 percent stake in the Zohr natural gas field off the Egyptian coast for $1.6 billion. Egypts Zohr field contains 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gasthe largest in the eastern Mediterranean, almost double the size of Israels Leviathan field and around three times the size of Cypruss Aphrodite field.

Russia also has built up a huge commercial relationship with Cyprus. In 2012, it offered to help the country with a multibillion-euro bank bailout, leading to the German daily Die Welt accusing Cyprus of playing a double game with Russia and the EU.

Today, the island, which has the lowest non-offshore taxes in the European Union (EU) and the lowest non-offshore corporate taxes in the world, has become the top destination for direct investment out of Russia and the largest source of foreign investment into Russia. In 2015, the two countries signed a military cooperation agreement which allows Russian naval ships to dock in Cypriot ports in emergenciesa move strongly criticised by the US and EU.

In this context, a settlement to the Cyprus problem to the advantage of the US and EU is seen in Western ruling circles as a decisive counterweight to Russian influence in the region. Washington has been pushing hard for a settlement, with the State Departments Victoria Nuland visiting the island last year. According to one report, Nulands visit was preceded by hints from senior Cyprus officials that the US has been pressuring Anastasiades to accept Turkish military occupation of northern Cyprus under a NATO flag.

Geopolitical tensions over Cyprus erupted this week when Russias Ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, reacted angrily to a Politico.eu article that blamed Russia for the ongoing stalemate.

The article cited a source close to Anastasiades, who said, The government is aware of Russian activities and monitoring the situation. Continuing its anti-Russian agenda, the article declared, The concern comes amid reports of the Kremlin intervening in US and European elections with cyber-attacks, fake news propaganda and support for populist and anti-establishment movements.

Addressing what is at stake for the EU and US in reaching a settlement, the article stated there is the possibility that a united Cyprus could be pressured into joining NATO, the potential for Turkey and maybe the EU to import new gas supplies along a [currently stalled] pipeline from Cyprus and Israel, and the diplomatic success reunification would deliver to both the EU and the US. As long as Cyprus remains divided by a UN buffer zone, Turkey and the Anastasiades government dont recognize each other. As a result, Turkey hampers NATO efforts to cooperate with the EU, Greek and Turkish relations in NATO remain tense, and Turkey remains reliant on gas deliveries from Russias Gazprom. The EU and Turkey are Gazproms top two customers.

Chizhov responded, Anti-Russian hysteria is becoming contagious. Overzealous fighters of the (dis)information front are working day and night trying to implicate Russia in all sorts of problems, including those that are the direct result of short-sighted and arrogant policies of others.

There can be no viable solution to the division of Cyprus under capitalism. Any settlement reached as a result of the Cyprus talks will not lessen tensions in the region but heighten them by providing another potential flashpoint in the US-led drive to war against Russia. A peaceful solution can only be achieved based on the islands working people overcoming all religious and ethnic barriers in the struggle for a socialist Cyprus as part of the United Socialist States of Europe.
The strike by bus drivers in the German state of Hesse, which began last week, has continued this week. More than 2,000 bus drivers in Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Gieen, Marburg, Offenbach, Hanau, Maintal, Fulda and other municipalities are conducting a struggle against the intolerable conditions in their workplace.

The strike is part of a worldwide wave of labour struggles. In every country the attacks mounted by the ruling elites have reached fever pitch and open class conflicts are breaking out. In the last few weeks and months, workers in bus and transport companies and the public sector have commenced major strikes in France, Italy and the US. In Britain, rail transport workers are also taking action.

In Hesse, workers from a number of private bus companies are on strike. The private companies are organized in the state association of Hessian bus companies (LHO). A tariff agreement between the bus drivers union, Verdi, and the LHO expired in April 2016. Since then, the LHO has refused to raise the gross hourly wage from 12 (US$12.85) to a miserly 12.65 ($13.55) per hour. Verdi is officially calling for a graduated increase in the gross salary wage to 13.50 ($14.45), improved regulations for breaks and an extra days holiday.

Seven months later, the union finally called for a strike on Monday, January 9, apparently anticipating a two-day strike. On the first day, Verdis area manager Ronald Laubrock told the press: We do not want to fire all our bullets in the first week.

Since then Verdi was forced to extend the strike day by day, until on Friday bus traffic in large parts of the region came to a complete standstill. Solidarity also came from drivers not directly affected in the dispute, such as tram drivers in Darmstadt and bus drivers in Hanau and Gieen. Verdi has blocked any wider mobilization of workers in other areas of public transport.

The strike has now achieved at least one objective: It has revealed the intolerable conditions prevailing in Hessian public transport and made them known to a broad public. These are the same conditions that apply among broad layers of the working class, working for bus companies, road cleaning, parcel post, train, airport and childrens day care centresall indispensable parts of the public infrastructure, which Verdi is desperate to maintain isolated.

The striking bus drivers spoke openly about their working conditions with the World Socialist Web Site. With all respect, what we receive as salary is far too little, said Rasko, a bus driver in Frankfurt for the past 15 years. In those 15 years, my basic wage has risen by just two euros. I started with 9.97 euros per hour and now receive 12 euros.

One of his colleagues insists that the public learn what their real wages are: What the media is writing is simply not true: i.e., that we receive an hourly wage of 12 euros. We are being denied breaks, although we cannot even use them often! This has been the case since 2002. According to his calculations, his hourly wage is no more than 10.67 euros gross. This means that we have been robbed of several hundred euros, a young colleague confirmed. With what we get, we are practically on the level of Hartz IV social welfare payments.

Their responsibility is very high, the bus drivers stress. One said, We are responsible on our own for a fully loaded articulated [jointed] bus. Often we have to transport the old, the sick or school children. You have to have your eyes everywhere. If there is any damage the driver alone has to answer for everything. The company does not protect us.

Another driver reports that he worries constantly because he does not know how to pay his rent and provide for his family. My work suffers as a result and the passengers notice it too. Modern slavery, his colleague said, a shame for a world metropolis like Frankfurt, one of the richest cities in Germany and Europe.

Mustapha said that nearly all of his colleagues depend on social support, despite full-time work, receiving either child benefit or housing allowance, or a top-up from the job centre to the level of Hartz IV payments. Its just degrading, he says. Previously, the bus drivers were municipal employees in a secure job, but a wave of privatization swept away all of their benefits: This was accompanied by wage dumping. Colleagues who drive streetcars and subways earn almost double as much as us. They will also receive holiday allowances, company pensions, bonuses, job tickets and other municipal benefits. We do not receive any such thing.

How did this come about?

Verdi, as well as politicians from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens and the Left Party, all try to shift the blame for this state of affairs onto the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Seventeen years ago the state government headed by Roland Koch (CDU) in Hesse introduced the practice of allowing contract bids Europe-wide. As a result, dozens of private companies have split the transport market among themselves. Its just about profit, as one bus driver said.

However, all of the parties in the state have supported this course for many years. In addition to the CDU, the SPD, the Greens and the Left Party also pursued a policy oriented exclusively to profit. Some politicians are today calling for the so-called re-municipalization of the privatized enterprises and wants to concentrate them into a single municipal holding, but this does not change the conditions for the workers in the least.

Public transport in Hesse was exclusively in municipal hands 20 years ago until being fully reorganised in 1995. Today, the LHO shares the local transport market with numerous partially and fully privatized companies. In addition to the ICB, MMF, Alpina, Regiobus or DB bus services, companies belonging to the French Transdev Group and the Italian Netinera Group are also active. Behind the image of modern public transport as portrayed in glossy brochures is a massive worsening of wages and working conditions.

The European Commission has succeeded in liberalizing local public transport, giving competitors the opportunity to participate in public transport bidding throughout the continent. The contracting authorities used the competitive pressure to implement low-wage tariffs in every sphereand every new contract was signed by the public service union Verdi. Together they smashed up the Federal Employment Agreement for Public Transport and divided nationwide around 250,000 transport workers by state and region. Layoffs, wage cuts, reduction of leave entitlement and further social cuts were the result.

In Hesse there has been a cordial agreement between the ministry, private contractors and German trade unions, since the CDU-Green governments presidency under Volker Bouffier (CDU) and Tarik Al-Wazir (Greens) took power. Al-Wazir, the then DGB district chairman Stefan Korzell and Hessian trade union leadersincluding Verdiall took part in a roundtable at the Economics Ministry. They said at the time their aim was to solve all issues of future labour market and economic policy. They decided to establish a so-called hot line between the ministry and trade unions.

Al-Wazir, who is also Hessian minister of transport, told the Frankfurt Rundschau that almost all bus drivers were paid according to contract and that all contracts had been negotiated on the trade union side by Verdi. Although LHO has so far been stubborn and has not yielded an inch, Al-Wazir, on Friday, urged that a resolution be taken as soon as possible to end the strike.
The Indian governments shock and awe scheme to demonetise more than 85 percent of the countrys currency has severely disrupted economic life across India and continues to inflict great hardship on the working class and rural toilers more than two months after its sudden imposition.

Conceding that demonetisation has forced farmers to accept ultra-low prices from wholesalers, depressed consumer demand, and led cash-short employers to lay off workers, both the World Bank and IMF have sharply scaled back their 2017 economic growth projections for India.

In a report issued this week, the IMF said that it now expects the Indian economy will grow by 6.6 percent in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017a full one percent less than its previous forecastand by 7.2 percent in 2017-18 or 0.4 percent less. Indian political leaders have repeatedly said the country needs 8 percent annual growth if the economy is to be able to absorb the ten million youth who join the labour force each year.

However, a sample survey that the All India Manufacturers Organization (AIMO) conducted of 73,000 of its more than 300,000 members indicates the adverse impact of demonetisation may be larger, indeed much larger, than is being anticipated by the IMF or, for that matter, the Indian government.

According to the AIMO survey, during the first 34 days following Prime Minster Narendra Modis November 8 demonetisation announcement, micro and small industries (that is family-owned firms employing no more than a handful of workers) slashed employment by 35 percent and suffered a 50 percent fall in revenue.

While the micro and small industry sector was hardest hit, the AIMO survey found that medium and large enterprises also experienced sharp revenue drops, ranging from 20 to 50 percent, and slashed jobs wholesale. The medium and large manufacturers surveyed had reduced employment by 5 percent. Those that specialize in infrastructure projects, such as road-building, had laid off a third of their employees on average.

The AIMO is projecting that the slump will continue in the coming weeks and forecasts that by March the job losses in the micro and small industry sector will rise to 60 percent, while tripling in the medium and large manufacturing sector to reach 15 percent.

The authors of the AIMO study were themselves stunned by their findings. While [the] AIMO understands, they wrote, certain immediate repercussions of such a bold step (demonetisation) by the government, it did not anticipate or was prepared for such a jolt to industries even after one month.

In December, AIMO leaders made repeated attempts to meet with Commerce Minister Nirmal Sitharam and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, but they were given the cold shoulder. This prompted AIMO President K.E. Raghuram to exclaim, It is high-time the Indian government . wakes up. By March 2017, large numbers of small and medium units might close down. Small and micro industries cannot bear the losses, not even for more than a month.

According to the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, such enterprises provide employment to 81 million Indians including large numbers of financially vulnerable self-employed artisans.

The social dislocation caused by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments demonetisation scheme is further indicated by the sharp spike in destitute rural workers seeking to exercise their right to temporary employment under the central governments Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREGA) program.

Adopted in 2005 by the Congress Party-led, Stalinist-supported, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in order to provide political cover for its pursuit of pro-investor reforms and a global strategic partnership with Washington, the NREGA guarantees 100 days of poorly paid, manual labor per annum to every rural household.

According to an analysis published by the Indian Express, from last July through November three million workers sought NREGA employment daily. Then in December, the first full month after demonetisation, the daily average spiked to 5 million. And by the end of the first week of this year, the daily average had swelled to 8.4 million, well over two-and-a-half-times the pre-demonetisation average.

The average daily wage paid under the NREGA, according to the governments own figures for the current 2016-17 fiscal year, is just 161 Rupees (about US $2.40).

Modi and his Hindu supremacist BJP have claimed that the sudden demonetisation of Indias 500 and 1000 Rupee notes was a surgical strike against black moneythat is assets that were illegally obtained and/or held outside the scrutiny of the tax authorities.

This is a fraud. The vast majority of Indias black money is in the form of real estate, gold, foreign currency, and overseas bank accounts, not Indian currency, and it is in the hands of Indias corporate bosses, real estate developers, other rich and super-rich, and corrupt politicians, not the workers and toilers who are bearing the burden of demonetisation.

Preliminary figures show that a very large portion of the demonetised notes have been deposited in the countrys banks, which strongly suggests that the governments own estimates of the amount being held as black money were highly inflated.

Be that as it may, the real purpose of the governments demonetisation scheme is to shore up Indias ailing banks and government finances at the expense of working people.

By compelling the population to exchange their cancelled old bills for valid new ones through the banking system, the government is hoping to give the banks, which are hobbled by unpaid business loans, a desperately needed cash-injection. The longer-term aim is to dramatically raise the proportion of everyday financial transactions made through the banking system, so as to make them a potential source of revenue for the banks and bring them within the purview of the tax system.

Not surprisingly, Modis pro-investor government has proven callously indifferent to the massive social dislocation caused by its demonetisation scheme. In a speech at the end of last month Modi claimed that he had saved the country by taking a stand against black money and terrorism, and said any hardship would soon pass. In his New Years address, he took a somewhat different tack. He claimed that the pain Indians have borne in fighting corruption will be an example for generations, urged the banks which have had a huge influx of wealth to prioritize the middle class and poor, and announced that a handful of relief measures would be included in next months budget, especially for farmers who desperately need cash so that they can proceed with planting.

A few days later, President Pranab Mukherjee, who was himself a finance minister under the UPA and supports demonetisation, said he feared the poor cannot wait. In an address to Indias governors and lieutenant governors, Mukherjee praised Modis New Years address for providing some relief, but signaled his concern that it will prove woefully inadequate in preventing social unrest. Declared Mukherjee, We all will have to be extra careful to alleviate the suffering of the poor  They need to get succour here and now.

For its part, the rightwing Indian Express published an editorial titled, Heed the President: Government should listen to his warnings about a looming crisis in rural India.

Thus far the opposition parties have proven incapable of capitalizing on popular anger over demonetisation and more generally the Modi governments ultra-rightwing, pro-big business agenda, which includes aligning India ever more completely with Washingtons war drive against China. This is because the entire opposition, from the Congress Party through the Stalinist Communist Party of Indian (Marxist) or CPM, have themselves assisted in the implementation of this agenda. For two decades, from 1989 to 2008, the CPM sustained in office a succession of rightwing governments, most of them Congress-led, which did much of the heavy-lifting in the drive to make India a cheap labor haven for global capital and a satrap for Washington.
Nepals joint military exercises with China, announced in December, underscore the strategic rivalry in South Asia between Beijing and New Delhi. The drill, known as Pratikar 1 and scheduled for February 10, will be the first such exercise with China. Its stated aim is to deal with hostage situations involving international terrorist groups.

The planned exercise is relatively minor compared to Indias long-standing military relations with Nepal and history of joint exercises. India has been the largest supplier of arms to the Nepalese army and under the 1950 Treaty between the two countries has virtual veto power over Nepals purchase of military hardware from other countries.

Nevertheless, India fears any loosening of its grip over Nepal. While Indias State Minister for External Affairs V. K. Singh has said that the drill would not create any rift in relations between India and Nepal, the Indian media and strategic commentators have expressed concerns.

New Delhi-based strategic analyst Jayadeva Ranade told Voice of America: Any increased Chinese presence in Nepal brings China right up to [Indias] border, which is very porous. He added: We [India] look at Nepal as part of our strategic space, so there is a bit of a contest taking place.

Similarly, a senior researcher at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Anuradha Rai, wrote in the Eurasia Review on January 4: China is looking much beyond its trade relations and it is eyeing Nepal as a centre to promote its ambitions in the South Asian region

The situation is getting worrisome for India because from mere words in the past, Nepal has now started to develop its economic and political ties with China. In the recent past, China has also showed similar eagerness to provide an alternative to India for Nepal by providing new trade routes and developing its strategic ties. The recent development to have joint military exercises is one such measure.

Attempting to assuage Indian concerns, Nepals ambassador to India, Deep Upadhyay, told the media that the drills would be small scale. He added: Theres really not much in it. Whichever way you look at it, Nepal has a special relationship with India and thats not going to change because of any such exercise.

Chinas state-owned Global Times dismissed Indian concerns, writing: Indian officials, media and academic circles should not read too much into the two countries security cooperation. It will only enhance the bilateral relations. India should understand and adapt to this trend.

These developments are taking place amid sharpening geo-political tensions in the region, exacerbated by US efforts to isolate China diplomatically and encircle it militarily. President-elect Donald Trump has already made clear that he will intensify the confrontation with Beijing that began with the Obama administrations pivot to Asia. The US regards India as central to its drive against China.

India, under the current government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been rapidly developing closer military-strategic ties with the US. India is also seeking to expand its own strategic influence throughout South Asia and the broader Asia region, further heightening tensions, particularly with its longstanding rival, Pakistan, which has close relations with China.

India is planning to deploy a 90,000-strong Mountain Strike Force along its disputed northern border with Chinaa move that can only generate greater friction with Beijing.

Nepal, which borders both China and India, has become a major arena for growing strategic competition between New Delhi and Beijing. China has made a concerted effort to boost ties with Nepal, particularly since the ousting of King Gyanendra and the abolition of Nepalese monarchy in 2008.

Relations between India and Nepal became very strained after New Delhis support for protests by ethnic Madhesi parties in Nepal demanding greater autonomy, which became a de facto economic blockade of the land-locked country, including of vital energy supplies. The government led by Prime Minister K. P. Oli turned to China and signed a deal in October 2015 to import Chinese petroleum products.

Beijing took advantage of Nepals standoff with India to strengthen ties with offers of financial aid. Oli made a week-long official visit to China in March 2016 where he signed 10 separate deals which increased the number of transit points between the two countries, improved road and rail connectivity and provided for building a new international airport at Pokhara. In doing so, Nepal reduced its dependence on India and facilitated Nepalese exports and imports.

Military relations also developed. In the same month, General Fang Fenghui, a member of Chinas Central Military Commission declared that China was willing to expand bilateral defense and security cooperation, strengthen strategic communication and exchange at all levels between militaries of the two countries.

Oli was ousted last July in a regime-change operation backed by New Delhi because of his increasing tilt towards Beijing. On coming to power, Maoist leader K.P. Dahal announced that his government would maintain a balance between India and China. He sent a special envoy to both India and China to explain his attitude.

However, Dahal made his first visit to India for the purpose of mending damaged relationships and, in early November, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee visited Nepalthe first by an Indian president in 18 years. After the visit and delays in implementing the deals signed with China by Olis government, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed Beijings displeasure by cancelling his planned trip to Nepal in October.

China is working to boost its influence in Nepal, mostly with offers of financial aid. In December, Beijing pledged a grant of one billion yuan ($US146 million) for post-earthquake reconstruction and road construction to the Chinese border.

While trying to balance between India and China, the Nepalese government appears to be tilting towards New Delhi and Washington. Maoist Prime Minister Dahal heartily congratulated Trump on his election victory even as Trump indicated his determination to confront China diplomatically, economically through trade war measures, and militarily.
By Press Trust of India: Chennai, Jan 18(PTI): Italian superbike brand DSK Benelli as part of its product portfolio expansion in the country, would bring in four new models in 2017 and has set a target of selling 6,500 units in 2017-18, a top company official said today.

The company, which assembles at its factory in Pune would be completing the 2016-17 financial year by selling 4,500 units, DSK Motowheels, Chairman, Shirish Kulkarni said.

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"In 2017-18, we hope to sell about 6,000 to 6,500 units. Of course, there was impact due to demonetisation in November (2016). But it (sales and enquiries) picked up from December end..," he said.

The company currently has about 20 retail outlets and it would be increased to 40 in 2017, he added.

Kulkarni was talking to reporters after unveiling the companys second sales outlet, here.

Noting that TNT25 and TNT300 models constitute 50-55 per cent of sales, he said, in 2017 four new products including Classic 380 series would be introduced.

"The total market size of the premium segment above 250cc is about 16,000 units. We expect to reach 20,000 units this year," he said.

On the companys plant at Pune, Kulkarni said the total capacity of the factory was about 100,000 units.

"What we are doing is just about 7,500 units a year operating in single shift. We can expand the capacity as and when required," he said.

To a query on introduction of scooterettes, he replied in the affirmative saying the company was "evaluating" it.

"Why we are evaluating?? We need to offer a product that is India specific.

It should satisfy the average customer here. May be two years down the line, it may happen," he added.PTI VIJ ROH

--- ENDS ---
SCITUATE, R.I. (AP) - Neighbors in Texas of a woman charged with snatching her two girls in 1985 in Rhode Island say they are shocked at the revelations.

Jesse and Fran Vaughan live in the same condominium development in affluent West Houston as Elaine Yates, who is accused of taking the two girls now ages 32 and 35.

AP reporters knocked on the doors of the addresses listed in records for Yates in West Houston and her daughters in Deer Park and Baytown. No one answered at any of the three residences.

"It is a shocker," Fran Vaughan says of the charges against her neighbor. Yates seemed like a nice lady, Fran Vaughan says.

The neighbor says Yates was in charge of putting together the newsletter for the homeowner's association. "Come to think of it, I don't know if anyone knew her that well," Fran Vaughan says.

The Vaughans, who have lived at the complex for 17 years, say they weren't aware that Yates even had daughters.

--

2 p.m.

The father of two girls reported missing in Rhode Island in 1985 and now found in Texas says he wants to see his children, and he is waiting for them to get in touch.

Police announced Tuesday that Russell Yates' daughters, Kelly and Kimberly, were found and their mother was arrested in Houston.

Asked whether the mother should be prosecuted, Yates says that won't help anyone.

The girls were taken from their Warwick home when they were 10 months old and 3 years old.

Russell Yates tells reporters he has always been trying to find his children. He was told by police of Elaine Yates' arrest on Monday.

Police said they gave his information to his daughters so they could get in touch with them. Their father says now, it's up to them.
GADSDEN COUNTY, FL (WTXL) -- The Gadsden County School District is developing plans to save millions of dollars, but the proposal will affect thousands of parents, students and staff at several schools.

School buses might have longer trips to make starting in the 2017-18 academic year.

The district is working to reconfigure where students go to school -- in an effort to save money and be more efficient with space.

WTXL reached out to Gadsden County superintendent Roger P. Milton Tuesday to learn more about the proposal.

The district told WTXL that Milton was unavailable, directing attention to its website, where a 28-page plan outlines the proposal.

One of the major motions is to merge East Gadsden High School and West Gadsden High School. The district says East Gadsden is only 54 percent full. The goal is to bring over students from ninth to twelfth grade at West Gadsden.

At one point, the county had four regional high schools. Now, this means students in the western part of the county like Chattahoochee would have to travel to Havana for high school.

The proposal doesn't just impact the two high schools. In fact, the plans would affect almost every school in the county.

The district lays out five other schools for the upcoming school year and four more in future years.

Middle and elementary schools would be changed in a way to close Gretna Elementary and St. John Elementary.

And in Quincy, the Carter-Parramore Academy would be planned for demolition. It's only 23 percent full, the lowest by far of any school.

The site would be used to build a new school for students from kindergarten to eighth grade.

Overall, the district estimates it will save $2.6 million in the 2017-18 academic year alone.

Milton laid out the proposal to the school board in December, but the community has time to voice concern before anything gets finalized.

The next school board meeting is set for January 24 at 6 p.m.

There's no indication whether or not reconfiguration plans will be discussed but residents are encouraged to attend and address the board with any concerns.
Four strong earthquakes on today shook the same region of central Italy that suffered deadly trembles last year.

By AP: Four strong earthquakes on today shook the same region of central Italy that suffered deadly trembles last year, sending quake-rattled residents into panic and further isolating towns that have been buried under more than a meter (3 feet) of snow for days.

Premier Paolo Gentiloni said it appeared no one was killed, but that it was a "difficult day" for Italy.

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The first tremor, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3, hit Montereale at about 10:25 a.m. (0925 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey. A second quake with a magnitude of 5.7 hit the same area about 50 minutes later, and 10 minutes later a third was measured at magnitude 5.3. Several hours later another 5.1-magnitude quake shook the same area.

Throughout the day, seismologists registered more than 100 aftershocks.

ALSO READ | 6.2 quake rocks central Italy, decimates town, at least 37 dead

Several towns and hamlets in the quake zone had already sounded the alarm in recent days that they were without electricity and were isolated from highways due to the unusually heavy snowfall that has blanketed much of central Italy.

The quakes only made matters worse, knocking out some cell phone service, hampering emergency response and sending quake-weary residents into panic. The Defense Ministry promised to send in army units to help.

"The situation is really getting extreme," said the mayor of Canzano, Franco Campitelli. "It's snowing hard. We're without electricity. We hope the army gets here soon with snow plows or we risk being completely isolated," he told Sky TG24.

ALSO READ | Earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude strikes central Italy

The quakes, which had their epicentres in the L'Aquila region, were felt as far away as Rome, 150 kilometres to the southwest.

In the Italian capital, the subway was closed for hours as a precaution, parents were asked to pick up their children from some schools, and offices, banks and shops were evacuated temporarily.

But elsewhere in Rome at the Vatican, Pope Francis' today general audience went off without a hitch.

In the Umbrian pilgrimage town of Assisi, friars closed the Santa Maria degli Angeli basilica as a precaution. The basilica hosts the famed Porziuncola chapel, birthplace of the Franciscan order of the pope's namesake, St. Francis of Assisi.

ALSO READ | Earthquakes hit central Italy, tremors felt in Rome

Three quakes in mountainous central Italy last year killed nearly 300 people in and around the medieval town of Amatrice and caused significant damage to older buildings. The tower of one of Amatrice's churches toppled in today's quakes.

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L'Aquila itself suffered a devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake in 2009 that killed more than 300 people.

Mayor Maurizio Pelosi of Capitagno, near the epicentre of today's quakes, said even before the earth shook many roads into and out of the town were blocked due to the snow.

A hotel worker in town, Giuseppe Di Felice, told state-run RAI radio people couldn't get out of their homes. "It's apocalyptic," he said.

ALSO READ | Earthquake measuring 5.0 on Richter scale hits central Italy

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By Press Trust of India: Panaji, Jan 18 (PTI) The Centro Cultural India, Embassy of India in Peru, and Quality Council of India (QCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for promotion of yoga in Peru, Bolivia and its adjoining regions.

Sandeep Chakravorty, Ambassador of India to Peru and Bolivia and QCI Secretary General Dr Ravi P Singh signed the MoU yesterday in the presence of A K Ganeriwala, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH in Delhi.

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"I was surprised to see the level of interest in yoga and ayurveda in Peru and Bolivia. Yoga is certainly turning out to be a new tool of Indian diplomacy," Chakravorty said after signing the MoU.

Ganeriwala congratulated QCI for the commendable work in pursuing the objective of promotion of yoga in the national and international arena.

Singh saidvarious steps are taken up by QCI in designing the yoga scheme based on international best practices involving renowned yoga personalities.

"Till date approximate 18,500 aspirants have registered, 6,000 examined and about 900 yoga professionals have been certified. In addition to this, QCI has also designed a voluntary certification scheme for yoga training in schools/institutions/organisations by employing international best practices and adopting/adapting global standards and certification system to ensure internationally acceptable certification," he said.

This would ensure homogeneous training to anyone interested in yoga as also training of yoga teachers, he said.

In order to promote the yoga scheme globally, QCI has been interacting with various organisations across the world.

The QCI had in the past signed MoU with Japan, and is also in talks with other countries such as Malaysia, Poland, Belgium, Russia, Australia and others for such tie-ups, a release issued here said. PTI RPS GK GK

--- ENDS ---
Pacific Power said it had no record of power failures associated with two reports of vehicles striking utility poles along Mead Avenue.

Power failures can sometimes be so short that they do not result in reports from customers, a utility spokesman said.
Despite tensions in the days leading up to the election, U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse says President Donald Trump's speech did a good job of setting
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Matt Fairbank, executive director of the Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas Counties, presents during a mediation training session. (Submitted photo)
Responding to complaints of excessively harsh school discipline in Toppenish, the American Civil Liberties Union will hold an information-gath
By Press Trust of India: Panaji, Jan 18 (PTI) The Centro Cultural India, Embassy of India in Peru, and Quality Council of India (QCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for promotion of yoga in Peru, Bolivia and its adjoining regions.

Sandeep Chakravorty, Ambassador of India to Peru and Bolivia and QCI Secretary General Dr Ravi P Singh signed the MoU yesterday in the presence of A K Ganeriwala, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH in Delhi.

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"I was surprised to see the level of interest in yoga and ayurveda in Peru and Bolivia. Yoga is certainly turning out to be a new tool of Indian diplomacy," Chakravorty said after signing the MoU.

Ganeriwala congratulated QCI for the commendable work in pursuing the objective of promotion of yoga in the national and international arena.

Singh saidvarious steps are taken up by QCI in designing the yoga scheme based on international best practices involving renowned yoga personalities.

"Till date approximate 18,500 aspirants have registered, 6,000 examined and about 900 yoga professionals have been certified. In addition to this, QCI has also designed a voluntary certification scheme for yoga training in schools/institutions/organisations by employing international best practices and adopting/adapting global standards and certification system to ensure internationally acceptable certification," he said.

This would ensure homogeneous training to anyone interested in yoga as also training of yoga teachers, he said.

In order to promote the yoga scheme globally, QCI has been interacting with various organisations across the world.

The QCI had in the past signed MoU with Japan, and is also in talks with other countries such as Malaysia, Poland, Belgium, Russia, Australia and others for such tie-ups, a release issued here said. PTI RPS GK GK JMF

--- ENDS ---
Barack Obamas presidency was an era of historical significance. I believe that Obama had a 
Bruno went missing in Dwarka sector-10 around 15 days ago but one Facebook post by an NGO on the seven-year-old Labrador helped the pet reunite with its owner.

By Chayyanika Nigam: One Facebook post by an NGO on a seven-year-old Labrador, Bruno, helped the pet reunite with its owner who had announced Rs 10,000 as reward for any information about the dog. The owner had also sought help from police in finding his pet.

Around 15 days ago, Bruno went missing near Golak Dham temple in Dwarka sector-10. His owner, who was out of town, was initially unaware about this. Three days ago when the family of Sidharth Bharadwaj, 24, told him that Bruno has been missing, he immediately went to the police station and filed a missing complaint.

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Later, he made out a poster introducing Bruno with picture and announced a reward of Rs 10,000 for any one who would provide any lead about him. He then uploaded a picture of the poster on his Facebook account and somehow an NGO named Friendicoes noticed it. On Monday evening, they uploaded the poster on their official Facebook page that is being followed by around 85,000 Facebook handlers.

ALSO READ | Two days after massive drive, dog reunited with Rajasthan minister

The post went viral on social networking site and the original post was shared by more than 550 people. Meanwhile, in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, the wife of Deepak Palta, a resident of Gurgaon noticed the post and shared it with her husband. Palta then realised that it is the same dog that he had rescued few days before from Pushpanjali Road in Dwarka.

Speaking to Mail Today, Palta said immediately he messaged the owner of the dog (Bruno) that the dog is safe and in a shelter home. The next morning Bharadwaj called him asking for details of the shelter home. Bruno is at his home now.

Speaking about the day he got Bruno back, Palta said: "It took me more than two hours to rescue Bruno who was hiding behind the bushes and he was very scared. I offered him water and biscuit. After two hours he became friendly. I made out a chain from the shopping bags that were kept in my car, then somehow managed to send him to a shelter home."

ALSO READ | Missing for 3 years, dog returns to family

It has been observed that these days the social networking sites, especially Facebook, have turned angel for animal lovers as once an issue or problem is shared, it gets resolved in a shorter span of time. Many Facebook pages of several NGOs, volunteers and animal lovers have come forward and upload issues related to lost pets, cruelty against animals, accident victims (animals) and adoption of stray animals. And animal lovers immediately spread the messages or they themselves turn up for help.

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Meanwhile, Delhi Police has also become sensitive about the issues related to dogs. Now pet owners are easily getting the registrations of missing complaints done at the concerned police stations.

ALSO READ | UK marathon runner reunites with missing dog after 2 months

Dependra Pathak, joint commissioner of police and the spokesperson of Delhi Police said : "Whenever there will be a complaint, FIR will be registered. Be it for a human or an animal. Cops have also been instructed to take action."

Another senior official claims, on an average, around 20 missing complaints (of dogs or cats) are registered every month. Out of these 30 to 35 per cent turn into FIR.

However, the cases of cruelty against animal is comparatively high. But a separate data is not maintained by Delhi Police.

ALSO READ | Kerala stray dog menace: People allegedly barge into homes, kill sheltered dog

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A police officer was killed in the early hours of Wednesday morning during violent clashes in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran in southern Israel, while a Bedouin man who police says tried to run over soldiers with his car was also shot dead.

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Police and other security forces arrived in the village to carry out a demolition order against illegally constructed homes.

The violence, which included the exchange of gunfire between police and the village's residents, broke out after one resident, Musa Abu Alqiyan, attempted to ram his car into security forces and was shot to death.

Violence and anger in the Negev

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As (security forces) were getting there, a car of a terrorist from the area suddenly appeared, an operative of the Islamic Movement, and sped toward the soldiers with intent of carrying out a car-ramming attack, police said. A policeman, Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi, 34, was killed in the incident while five others were wounded. Two of those wounded included another policeman and Arab MK Ayman Odeh, the head of the Joint List party.

Israel Police spokeswoman Meirav Lapidot dubbed this a nationalistic attack, "a vehicular attack exactly as we saw last week in Jerusalem, saying The terrorist sped up in his vehicle toward the security forces and carried out a vehicular attack on them."

Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi killed

The forces were on their way to operations and had not even started them. While they were on their way, the terrorist sped up his car and carried out a car-ramming attack with devastating results, she said earlier.

Lapidot added that they the police have certain details about the attacker indicating that he was part of the southern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel and that he might also have had ties with ISIS.

MK Ayman Odeh

However, family members of Abu Alqiyan professed a conflicting version of events with that provided by the police. According to them, Abu Alqiyan had no intention of harming policemen and even signalled before he turned his vehicle.

The police opened fire and used grenades and attacked people, the residents claimed.

Photo: AFP

MK Taleb Abu Arar slammed what he described as the killing of a Umm al-Hiran resident in cold blood. The police shot him for no reason. The claims that he tried to run over police are not true.

Photo: AFP

Photo: herzel Yosef

Residents fumed over the demolition orders and forced evacuation, promising to remain in their homes at all costs. We will not leave the homes even if they kill us all. This is our land here and we will not move from here even if we have to pay with our lives.

Police clash with residents of a village in the Negev

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One resident said that police suddenly came without warning, threw me on the floor and shot me in the leg. My uncle, who they are saying is a terrorist, is a teacher in a school  He was in his car on a regular journey and signalled.

Photo: AFP

Scene of the car-ramming and shooting

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Umm al-Hiran (Photo: Ilana Curiel)

Lapidot however, rejected the claims of the residents that the police initiated the violence. No one attacked anyone. The mission had not even started.

Asked about the claim that the police fired a rubber bullet, Lapidot said: The Israel Police does not use rubber bullets in any incident involving Bedouin and obviously it didnt in this one. It could be that a wound was caused by the rocks thrown by the protestors themselves."

Musa Abu Alqiyan

Following the outbreak, the police closed the main entrances to the village while leaders of the Arab sector called on Arab civilians to make their way to the village in order to prevent demolitions.
When thousands of members of The Young movement marched last Thursday on the streets of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip, chanting the battle cry of the Tahrir Square, Al sha'ab yureed iskat al-nizam (the people want the fall of the regime), they attracted the attention of quite a few people in the Israeli defense establishment. There was a feeling that we are witnessing a rerun of the Arab Spring, threatening the Hamas regime this time.

This demonstration was the highlight of about 10 popular protests held in the strip in the past month, since the heavy cold wave began. It was the biggest popular protest since Hamas rose to power about 10 years ago, and it was held on the backdrop of the deteriorating living conditions. Palestinian journalists have been referring to this protest as The Electricity Intifada, and it has already generated symbols: A Palestinian who set himself on fire in Jabalia outside the offices of a charity organization, and three babies who died of hypothermia.

One of last weeks protests in Gaza. A sign of things to come (Photo: AP)

Hamas panicked. While its leaders are used to periods of unrest among the public during the heavy cold of January and the heavy heat of August due to the lack of electricity, this year the protest took on dimensions which could have been interpreted as a revolt. Alarm bells began ringing in the regions countries: For the first time, the potential of toppling the Hamas government from the inside was exposed.

Hamas leaders are weighing their options. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has been abroad for the past five months, and the local leadership was split between those who maintained that the protestors should be allowed to let off steam and cahnnel their anger towards the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, which is responsible for supplying diesel oil to the power station in Gaza, and those who argued that the protests should be forcibly oppressed immediately, so that the situation will not deteriorate into a spring akin to that of Tunisia and Egypt.

In the meantime, the decision is to let the street take out its frustration on the PA in Ramallah. At the same time, Hamas military wing has its brigades on the alert in case the protests get out of control and they have to take them over by force. Some 400 people have been arrested, most of them for social media incitement. Hamas police and the armed apparatus have fired in the air to disperse protests. Fayes Abu Ita, one of the Fatah leaders in the strip, who tried to use the incident to incite a revolt, was jailed. He was released only after being severely beaten.

For now, it seems that Hamas will weather this wave. Among the Muslim Brotherhood supporters in the Arab world, however, there is an understanding that if Hamas collapses in the Gaza Strip, it will be the end of the most important political experiment: Gaza is the only place where the Brotherhood rose to power and survived for so many years. If it ends in failure, it could be the end of Hamas as an influential factor in Palestinian society.

Its no coincidence that the leaders of Ankara and DohaHamas patrons in the Muslim worldhave answered Haniyehs cries of distress to save his regime and infused it with copious amounts money and diesel oil in the hopes that they would allow Gazas residents to get through the winter under reasonable conditions of six or seven hours of electricity a day instead of only three.

In the situation that has been created, Israel finds itself in an odd coalition with Turkey and Qatar, whose goal is basically to preserve the Hamas government. Not only is Israel cooperating with the rescue plan organized by Haniyeh and allowing the emergency supply from these two countries, it is also the largest and safest supplier of electricity to the strip. Hamas is therefore careful not to mark Israel as a target for the masses rage.

About 60 percent of the electricity supply to Gaza 125 megawattpass through 10 power lines from Israel to the strip. Israel, by the way, has also built an 11th line to the strip, which may significantly increase the amount of electricity sold by the Israel Electric Corporation to the strip, but the PA is refusing to pay for the connection of the new line, which is therefore inactive.

The Israeli policy is driven by the fear that Hamas collapse at the current stage will create chaos in the strip, which will pave the way not only for ISIS fighters from Sinai but also for 14 armed organizations of different types and dozens of armed clans from within the strip, which will make life in southern Israel intolerable. Moreover, as long as Hamas controls Gaza, the current Israeli leadership is gaining from the split in Palestinian society, between Gaza and Ramallah. So why ruin it?

Palestinians in the streets of Gaza, for their part, have had enough. The slogan used by Hamas to take over GazaIslam is the solutionhas lost its meaning. Ten years of siege and Operation Protective Edge have dealt a death blow to the chance that the living conditions there will ever improve. The Electricity Intifada is an uprising in the making. Its just a sign of things to come.
It will soon happen. The future will arrive. In his meeting with Norways foreign minister, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Paris peace conference was a relic of the past. A last gasp of the past before the future sets in .

Netanyahu usually sees himself as a historian. Occasionally, he explains to us that its not the future waiting for us around the corner but the past.

Trump will soon arrive, and then what? All of Israels troubles and Netanyahus troubles will be solved? (Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO)

In Netanyahus broken clock, the year is always 1938, and the world powers are trying to sell us to the current oppressor. Fortunately, Netanyahu is preventing a disaster with Churchillian valor, while smoking Cuban cigars and drinking French champagne.

This time, however, it seems that the prime minister has decided to let go of history and give philosophy a try. In his philosophical mood, Netanyahu ponders the relativity of time, how every moment in our lives is a future that has turned into the present and that will turn into the past in a moment. The future, Netanyahu believes, is lurking at the end of every moment in our lives and threatening to turn 1938 into 2017, for example.

Okay, fine, that is probably not what Netanyahu meant. Its more likely that without mentioning any names, Netanyahu defined the future as the Trump era. Donald Trump (the future) will soon arrive, and then what? Well change henceforth the old tradition. All of Israels troubles and Netanyahus troubles will be solved. When the reality star sits in the White House, reality as we have known it will be canceled and will be replaced by the vision of the End of Days. Trump will let us build more and more settlements, will give us more and more money, will veto every resolution that has not been approved by Netanyahu beforehand, will appoint his Jewish son-in-law as chairman of the Yesha Council and declare a global war on Islam.

Actually, why dream? The moments before realitys arrivalthe real future, not the imaginary oneare the most optimistic moments. You have just been elected, for example. Anything is possible. You will change and fix and succeed. A moment later, your schedule is filled with Coalition Chairman David Bitan, Knesset Member Dudi Amsalem, Minister Yisrael Katz and police investigators.

The truth is that the future in the Trump era will likely not be as bright as Netanyahu expects, simply because there is no way of knowing what the man, who is about to be sworn in as the US president, will do. Today he can be more Zionist than Netanyahu, and tomorrow? Who knows. If there is something we can learn from Trumps past, its that it all depends on what side of the bed he woke up on. If he woke up on the right side, he is the future. If he woke up on the left side, he is the past.

For a moment, lets put aside the question of Trumps opinions and whether he has any. The worlds strongest power will be headed by an irresponsible person, a megalomaniac narcissist with radical impatience, who does not read books, whose imagery and knowledge are taken from reality shows. And if that were not enough, Donald Trump is going to be the first president who owes nothing to anyone. He doesnt owe a thing to the Republican Party. He doesnt owe a thing to businesspeople. He doesnt even owe his electorate. Why, he even won the support of one-third of the Hispanics, for example, despite treating them in a racist and scornful manner.

A person who doesnt owe anything to anyone, a person who has crossed all lines of polite rhetoric and who has not paid a price for it, a person who doesnt listen to advice and is certain of his ability to succeed without itthat is a dangerous person. Trump is an unexpected person with a simplistic world view, who has surrounded himself with worthless advisors. Are you sure thats a good thing? Doesnt that scare you just a bit? Arent you afraid that the United States policy will be based on the whims of a not so consistent and stable person?

Netanyahu and Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett are not afraid. If Trump supports the settlements, Trump is our messiah. Hallelujah. Even if we assume that Trump will support the settlements (and, as I said, that is uncertain), shouldn't you ask yourselves for just one moment what kind of worldbecause apparently, there is a world outside Judea and Samariais the arrogant and rude reality star preparing for us, with the huge resources of the worlds No. 1 power in his possession?
Arab MKs from the Joint List clashed with police at the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran in southern Israel on Wednesday morning following the violent clashes earlier that resulted in the death of a policeman and the shooting of a resident of the village, who police says tried to ram his car into security forces.

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Police arrived at the village in Israel's southern Negev district early Wednesday morning to carry out demolition orders against illegally constructed homes, creating a human chainwith some mounted on horsesto prevent anyone from entering the village while the planned demolition was underway.

Zoabi, Tibi and Zahalka at Umm al-Hiran

The Arab MKsincluding Haneen Zoabi, Jamal Zahalka, Ahmed Tibi and Aida Touma-Suleimanwere joined by other protesters who tried to push the policemen away. Some of the MKs claimed several of the policemen hit them in their lower body. The two sides also exchanged shouting.

Police form a human chain as demolition underway (Photo: AFP)

"You are interrupting us in doing our job as members of Knesset," the MKs told the policemen. "We won't let you demolish Umm al-Hiran. Why won't you let us in?"

A police officer responded, "We have a dutyboth you and Ito protect them (the residents), and we're not doing this because of your behavior. Give me a chance; we're in the same boat."

MK Tibi confronting police officers (Photo: Israel Yosef)

The MKs rejected this statement, saying "We're not in the same boat. If we won't let us in, we'll come in by force."

According to police, Musa Abu Alqiyan, one of the residents of the Umm al-Hiran, sped towards Israeli troops with his car and tried to ram into them. This is disputed by the Arab MKs and residents of the village, claiming that Abu Alqiyan, who was shot dead, was "murdered in cold blood."

Clashes in Umm al-Hiran

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Police said Abu Alqiyan was a member of the southern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel and that he might also have had ties with ISIS.

During the clashes that ensued, Joint List party leader MK Ayman Odeh was wounded.

"He was wounded and might have also been killed. You keep inciting against members of Knesset," Zoabi accused.

MK Ayman Odeh after he was injured in the clashes

Odeh, who was taken in light condition to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva for treatment, told Army Radio that "some 1,000 policemen came and brutally attacked the people who came to Umm al-Hiran."

Elaborating, Odeh said that "Policemen jumped me, beat me up, brutally shot at me. It's a shame people are killed, it's a shame everything is being destroyed."

The Joint List leader said that the court instructed the state to negotiate with the residents before carrying out the demolition orders. "We need to honor court decisions. So when it comes to Amona, there's no court? Do court decisions only apply to Arabs? This is a disgrace."

Odeh said that even though negotiations were ongoing until midnight, police "carried out an order that came from (Prime Minister) Netanyahu, who wants to inflame the situation. They destroyed homes in Qalansawe and now they're demolishing an entire village."

MK Tibi confronting police (Photo: Reuters)

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, meanwhile, claimed that "Odeh was not part of the negotiations. He was there (at the village) to inflame the tensions and incite to violence."

The minister backed the police, saying "What happened (in the village) was that a terrorist carried out a vehicular attack against police forces who were at the scene ... in an effort to kill as many policemen as possible even before the evacuation has begun."

Erdan decried the "inflammatory calls that distort the picture of what happened on the ground," calling on the Joint List MK to "stop the incitement. Every comment made now could lead to grave results on the ground. Take responsibility over your words and stop inciting to violence and inflaming the situation."

He declared that "violence and terrorism will not win over the rule of law," adding that he "hopes this won't become a day that marks a turn in the relationship between the Bedouin and state authorities. But if it does, MK Ayman Odeh has greatly contributed to the matter."

Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Galant condemned "the Bedouin violence that awakened this morning," saying it is "among the gravest incidents seen in the south in recent years" and calling to answer such violent "with a firm hard and uncompromising measures."

He called on the police and on Erdan "to increase the enforcement in the Negev and demolish all additional illegal homes in the Umm al-Hiran area today."

Galant went on to add that "an incident in which a terrorist takes advantage of clashes during an evacuation to carry out an attack is grave and reflects the potential of the terrorism that is created when the Bedouin population is being incited against the state and its authorities. Security forces must restore order to the south immediately. The State of Israel will not allow the strengthening of terror cells in the Negev."

He slammed the Arab MKs who arrived in Umm al-Hiran to clash with police, saying "MKs cannot use their status and immunity to disturb security forces as they're carrying out their assignments. The participation of Joint List MKs in the Bedouin's protest against the evacuation causes unrest, constitutes incitement and encourages violence."

'A green light to kill'

Protesting the shooting of Abu Alqiyan, Zoabi railed that "the police were given a green light to kill, and that is what they did."

"It's just like the Palestinians who were expelled in 1948. It's this perception that this is land that belongs to Jews: 'We're building for the Jews and expelling the Arabs,'" said Zoabi.

MK Zoabi, along with other Arab MKs, clashing with police (Photo: Israel Yosef)

She slammed journalists for "repeating the police version that this was a vehicular attack," asserting that "This was an incident of expulsion as part of an overall plan of expulsion. You can't turn it into a vehicular attack."

"Show what police are doing to people. There are eye witnesses. Ask the MKs and don't listen to police which is lying over and over against. Police killed 60 Arab citizens in the Negev," Zoabi added.

The firebrand MK further blamed police of "persecution, not just expulsion and demolition," saying "there are those who killed in the past and none of the policemen were investigated."

MK Tibi, meanwhile, asserted that "there is no doubt this is an escalation in the negative treatment of the state towards its Arab citizens. The state treats its Arab citizens as enemies, and that is why even when they are protesting against the demolition of a housewhich is part of their basic right for a roof over their headsthey are being shot and killed, and (police) is attacking both citizens and MKs."

Arab MKs clashing with police (Photo: AFP)

He called on the international community "to provide protection to the Arab minority in Israel vis-a-vis the discriminatory, brutal and aggressive treatment of the Arab minority."

Tibi contended that "someone must be trying to cover up his own problems by creating a conflict and crisis with the Arab public," implying at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently under police investigation. "The deeper the investigation in Jerusalem, the more heads will roll in Qalansawe and Umm al-Hiran."

Meretz MK Issawi Frej concurred with Tibi, noting that "the deeper the investigation, the deeper racism and violence go. Netanyahu knew the transfer of Umm al-Hiran was a powder keg and it is no accident that he decided to blow it up today. The prime minister realizes the only way to divert the attention from the investigations against him is to go to war against the Arab public. After the initial battle in Qalansawe last week, today was the official declaration of war."

Frej went on to call the government "racist and criminal, one that bribes Jewish construction criminals and violently evacuates Arabs from homes they've been living in for 40 years. There's no justification to violence, certainly not to running over policemen, but there's also no justification to a violent and racist evacuation of Arabs just so Jews can be settled in their place."

Similar views also came from Zionist Union MK Erel Margalit: "Netanyahu decided, because of the investigations against him, to set the country aflame by demolishing homes in Hurfeish, Qalansawe and in Umm al-Hiran ... anyone who remains silent is an accomplice. Security forces, which operate with such dedication, have become hostages in (Netanyahu's) planned and timed campaign to inflame the tensions and create a smoke screen to hide the investigations."

The Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, which represented the residents of Umm al-Hiran in the legal battle against the demolition, said it sees "the Israeli judicial system and the government of Israel as responsible for the killings in the village."

The center called the Supreme Court verdict, "which allows the demolition of a village that has existed for over 60 years so a Jewish town can be built on its ruins, is one of the most racist verdicts ever made by the Supreme Court. The Israeli government and the prime minister took advantage of the verdict to continue their policy of demolitions, while Netanyahu praises the use of force against Arab civilians in Umm al-Hiran and Qalansawe.

"The Israel Police, in turn, once again proves it views the entire Arab public as an enemy. Their finger is very itchy on the trigger when it comes to Arab citizens and the shooting policemen are granted immunity by the Police Investigation Unit."
The two terrorists who carried out a deadly shooting attack at Sarona Market in Tel Aviv last year confessed to the murder of three Israelis and 41 attempted murders as part discussions on a plea bargain.

A disagreement has arisen over the death of Ilana Nave, 39, who died after the attack. The state prosecutors office is expected to maintain that she was murdered, while the defense will deny the claim.

The third indicted individual, who stands accused of assisting the the two terrorists prior to the attack, admitted to the charges made in is indictment but has yet to submit and agreement about the section where he is convicted.
Family, friends and policemen visited the family of Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi to offer their condolences after he was killed in what, according to police, was a car-ramming terror attack in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran in southern Israel in the small hours of Wednesday.

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Erez, 34, is survived by his wife Clara and two children aged 5 and 2 years old. He joined the Israel Police in 2002 and was recognized as a distinguished policeman in his unit in 2012.

Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi

Speaking in an interview with Ynet, Claras uncle, Morris Shushan, described Erez as a great man.

He was a wonderful father, there was not a drop of badness in him. He was conscientious and helped his mother-in-law...There was nothing he wouldnt do, Shushan said.

The family is simply mentally destroyed, he added. The small children are asking where is daddy, where is daddy? What can you say to them? Erez was (so wonderful).

A neighbor of the Levi family said that she only had good things to say about Erez. We are in shock. He didnt deserve this, she said.

Erez was killed during violent clashes in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran in southern Israel, when police and other security forces arrived in the village to carry out a demolition order against illegally constructed homes.

Residents claim that the man in the car was shot for no reason and did not attempt to harm anyone. However, police said: As (security forces) were getting there, a car of a terrorist from the area suddenly appeared, an operative of the Islamic Movement, and sped toward the soldiers with intent of carrying out a car-ramming attack.

The violence, which included the exchange of gunfire between police and the village's residents, broke out after one resident, Musa Abu Alqiyan, attempted to ram his car into security forces and was shot to death.

As the level of violence rose, Arab MKs from the Joint List clashed with police at the village.
By Press Trust of India: Jerusalem, Jan 18 (PTI) An advanced military fortification with a well-defined gatehouse complex and donkey stables dating back to the time of King Solomon have been discovered in Israel, a finding that points to the ancient communitys highly organised defence system and long-distance trade.

The fortification dates to the reigns of Kings David and Solomon in the 10th century BCE.

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The fabled mines of King Solomon were believed to be located among copper smelting camps in Israels Timna Valley.

The arid conditions at Timna have seen the astonishing preservation of 3,000-year-old organic materials, which have provided archaeologists at Tel Aviv University with a unique window into the culture and practices of a sophisticated ancient society.

"While there is no explicit description of King Solomons mines in the Old Testament, there are references to military conflicts between Israel and Edomites in the Arava Valley," said Erez Ben-Yosef of TAUs Institute of Archaeology.

"According to the Bible, David travelled hundreds of miles outside of Jerusalem and engaged in military conflict in the desert - striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt," said Ben-Yosef.

"Having found evidence of defensive measures - a sophisticated fortification - we understand what must have been at stake for him in this remote region: copper," he said.

"Copper was a rare product and very challenging to produce," Ben-Yosef said.

"Because copper - like oil today, perhaps - was the most coveted commodity, it landed at the very heart of military conflicts," he said.

"The discovery of the fortification indicates a period of serious instability and military threats at that time in the region," he said.

In the remarkably intact two-room fortification, located in one of the largest smelting camps in the Timna Valley, the researchers also found evidence of a complex long-distance trade system that probably included the northern Edomite plateau, the Mediterranean coastal plain and Judea.

The complex featured pens for draught animals and other livestock.

According to precise pollen, seed and fauna analyses, they were fed with hay and grape pomace - high-quality sustenance that must have been delivered from the Mediterranean region hundreds of miles away.

"The gatehouse fortification was apparently a prominent landmark. It had a cultic or symbolic function in addition to its defensive and administrative roles. It was built of sturdy stone to defend against invasion," said Ben-Yosef.

"We found animal bones and dung piles so intact, we could analyse the food the animals were fed with precision. The food suggests special treatment and care, in accordance with the key role of the donkeys in the copper production and in trade in a logistically challenging region," he said.

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The research was published in The Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. PTI MHN SAR MHN

--- ENDS ---
Police announced Wednesday that after an initial investigation into the terrorist who killed Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi with his car, that the terrorist is an active member of the Islamic Movement's southern branch.

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Police say the investigation is ongoing and a possible connection between the terrorist and ISIS is being examined.

Aerial footage of the attack

A police spokesperson said security forces arrived at the village and that "upon their arrival, the terroristan activist in the Islamic Movementapproached them in his vehicle with the intention of carrying out a vehicular attack. He was neutralized. Consequently, disturbances broke out."

The terrorist who killed Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi, Musa Abu Alqiyan

Family members of the terrorist presented a different version of events, saying that he did not intend to harm police and even used his turn signal before turning.

"This is an educated family," said a close friend of Abu Alqiyan. "Lawyers and doctors. Musa was teacher in a school, his brother is a principal and his father is a doctor. The police just reacted in panic. They just wanted to scare the people here into leaving without a fight. They want to build a Jewish settlement here on these lands. The tractors are even working to ready the land."

Photo: AFP

During the demolition operation, 480 police officers and Border Police personnel took part in order to enforce the demolition order issued by the Israel Land Authority.

"Officers of the Israel Police and the Border Police, together with officials from the Israel Land Authority, completed demolitions according to the court order," said police in a statement. "The Israel Police is calling on the leadership of the Bedouin sector to condemn this act and any extremist ideology."
A funeral procession composed of hundreds of mourners accompanied the family of Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi, the police officer who according to police was killed on Wednesday by a vehicular terrorist attack in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran in southern Israel. Police had initially arrived at the village in Israel's southern Negev district early Wednesday morning to carry out demolition orders against illegally constructed homes, creating a human chainwith some mounted on horsesto prevent anyone from entering the village while the planned demolition was underway. That is when police claim the attacker rammed his car in the police force.

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The Levi family broke down in tears as family members and friends went up to the podium to wish Levi a personal farewell. "They told me to speak from the heart," said Levi's wife Clara in a voice barely audible from tears. "But how can I when my heart's been taken away? How can I speak when my soul's been taken? How could you leave me?"

Levi's funeral procession (Photo: Asaf Magal)

Erez Levi (L) and his widow, Clara (Photo: Asaf Magal)

During the funeral, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh said that "Everyone knows that the terrorist was a teacher at a school where six teachers have already been arrested." He added that "Murderous acts of terror will not dissuade us. On behalf of the Israel Police and a grateful nation, I salute you. May your memory be a blessing."

Alsheikh was referrring to the arrest of six bedouins from the South of Israel in July 2015, four of whom were teachers, with some of them from the same school as the killed terrorist Musa Abu Alqiya. At the time, the investigation concluded that the six arrested were spreading ISIS ideas amongtheir family, friends and community. The Shin Bet found that they had also begun to spread ISIS doctrine among their students, which included drawing out a map of the Islamic State and teaching them songs of incitement.

Alsheikh praised the conduct of the officers who were at the village when the clash with the protestors began. "I had no doubt what would happen next. They immediately charged and took out the terrorist, afterwhich they carried on with their mission until it was finished. Law enforcement within the Arab sector is a difficult task that requires a great deal of resources. Lately, extremist ideologies have been lumped together and referred to as ISIS. The Arab sector asks for policing and law enforcement while knowing that police intervention comes at a cost. You can't just enforce internal violence. Some leaders in the sector chose to incite violence instead of admonishing the attack."

Police form a blockade near the village Umm al-Hiran (Photo: AFP)

Alsheikh's words were a thinly-veiled allusion to Arab MKs from the Joint List who clashed with police at Umm al-Hiran following the violence that resulted in Levi's death. The MKsincluding Haneen Zoabi, Jamal Zahalka, Ahmed Tibi and Aida Touma-Suleimanwere joined by other protesters who tried to push the policemen away. Some of the MKs claimed several of the policemen hit them in their lower body. The two sides also exchanged shouting.

MK Zoabi confronting the police (Photo: AFP)

President Reuven Rivlin also commented on the violence that erupted in the Bedouin village. "We are in the midst of a terrible event where a police officer was murdered, Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi, by a terrorist in a heinous act. In this difficult hour, our hearts are with the grieving family, as we pray for the quick recovery of the injured police officers," he said.

We must clearly differentiate between a serious terror attack and enforcing the law of demolishing illegal buildings. I turn to the Israeli leadership, and especially Arab leaders: This is a difficult hour through which we have to work together and do all in our power to calm the mood, added Rivlin.

"I call on the Israeli leadership in general and Arab leadership in particular: these are difficult and stressful times, and we must all work together and do all that we can to calm people down, in both words and actions." He concluded by saying that "We must address reality and draft a solution to this pressing national, social and civil issue, before it is too late."

Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Minister of Information Gilad Erdan (Likud) was also in attendance. "I look at your grave and my heart breaks, just like everyone else's," said Erdan. He added that "Violence and terrorism will not win out over the law. I hope this day will not mark a turn in the bedouin population's relationship with the state. If it will, MK Ayman Odeh will have been substantially influential in this."
Ten olive trees have been vandalized in a Palestinian grove in the village Turmus Ayya near Ramallah.

Among other things, graffiti bearing the word "revenge" was found on rocks and mentioned the names of outposts. Police officers arrived at the scene, collected evidence and opened an investigation.
President Reuven Rivlin will undergo a heart pacemaker transplant. He will be admitted to the hospital for 24 hours for the procedure. The President's House issued a statement, saying that no change is expected in his ability to fill the position.

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Rivlin's doctors had noticed an irregularity with his pacemaker of late, which had prompted the procedure. The president will undergo it without sedation and is expected to return to the President's Residence after a short hospital admittance.

Rivlin (seated, right) with the Indonesian delegation (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)

Rivlin met with a delegation of Indonesian leaders on Wednesday as part of an Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) initiativeIsrael Australia does not have official diplomatic relations with the South Asian country.

President Reuven Rivlin also commented on the violence that erupted between police and locals in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran in southern Israel on Wednesday. "We are in the midst of a terrible event where a police officer was murdered, Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi, by a terrorist in a heinous act. In this difficult hour, our hearts are with the grieving family, as we pray for the quick recovery of the injured police officers," he said.

We must clearly differentiate between a serious terror attack and enforcing the law of demolishing illegal buildings. I turn to the Israeli leadership, and especially Arab leaders: This is a difficult hour through which we have to work together and do all in our power to calm the mood, added Rivlin.

"I call on the Israeli leadership in general and Arab leadership in particular: these are difficult and stressful times, and we must all work together and do all that we can to calm people down, in both words and actions." He concluded by saying that "We must address reality and draft a solution to this pressing national, social and civil issue, before it is too late."
ISTANBUL -- An Uzbek gunman who killed 39 people in Istanbul's Reina nightclub on New Year's Day told police he had changed his target at the last minute to avoid heavy security and acted on direct orders from Islamic State in Syria, a newspaper said on Wednesday.

The gunman, named on Tuesday as Abdulgadir Masharipov, had initially been told to attack the area around the central Taksim square and said his instructions came from Raqqa, Islamic State's stronghold in Syria, the newspaper Hurriyet cited him as saying in police testimony.
NEW YORK -- Several Jewish community centers in different U.S. states reported receiving false telephone bomb threats on Wednesday in the second wave of promised attacks to target American Jewish facilities this month.

The Jewish Community Center Association, a network of the health and education centers, said on Twitter it was aware of a number of threats and was working with local authorities to ensure people's safety.
Two days before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, outgoing President Barack Obama called his final press conference as commander-in-chief. Answering reporters' questions, Obama also restated his position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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"I continue to be worried about the Israeli-Palestinian issue," said Obama. "Because the status quo is unsustainable, bad for both countries, the region and (US) national security."

President Barack Obama in his farewell press conference (: )

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"We cannot force the parties to arrive at peace, but we can encourage and facilitate it," remarked Obama, in reference to the US's absention at the UN Security Council in December. "I don't see how this issue gets solved in a way that maintains Israel as both Jewish and a democracy if there are not two states." He explained that "The goal of the UN resolution was to say the growth of settlements increasingly make a two-state solution impossible."

President Barack Obama in his farewell press conference (Photo: AP)

He referred to the resolution abstention as "a wake up call" for those involved in the conflict, stressing the "This moment may be passing" and urging both sides to work toward a two-state solution.

Obama clarified that having an incoming president want to change policies and take ongoing debates in a different direction and their perogative, but that it would behoove them to remember that in such serious matters, "each action is usually followed by a reaction," adding, "We'll see how Trump's approach on Israel will play out."
Following the first audit of KKL, State Comptroller Joseph Shapira noted that he found "serious, deep and thorough deficiencies" in the organization.

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Shapira went on to detail instances of projects worth hundreds of millions of shekels that were handled with no clear priorities, extensive financial irregularities and obvious instances of conflicts of interest between KKL board members and politicians.

State Comptroller Joseph Shapira

It is also possible that criminal charges will be brought against those involved as the comptroller submitted his findings to the Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit.

The audit primarily dealt with the core of KKL's activitiesthe Land Development Authority (LDA). The main deficiencies covered in the report deal with KKL projects funded through the LDA, which amounted to NIS 1 billion and were conducted without clear priorities and proper administrative oversight.

The comptroller remarked that the few decision makers who were chosen due to their political qualificationsamong them former KKL Chairman Efi Stenzler and former Co-Chairman Eli Afflalowere the ones who chose what projects KKL would fund and carry out, and under what conditions, as part of the "supreme project committee," whose decisions were never recorded.

Eli Afflalo (right) and Efi Stenzler (Photo: Flash90)

The comptroller discovered that the decisions on the fates of projects worth hundreds of millions of shekels were made with no clear standards and considerations for alternatives. Oftentimes, these decisions were made by committee members who also held political positions in local authorities, constituting a conflict of interest.

For example, during a project in Acre, Zeev Neuman, who was a board member for KKL responsible for fundraising, was also the acting mayor of Acre. Neuman used this position to secure a flight to $7,378 flight to Canada as part of his position as being in charge of fundraising, where he set up an event to raise money for a project in Acre.

In terms of disorganization and no clear set of priorities, Shapira noted that there were several instances in which "centralized decision making was nonexistent, missing documents, and strong influence of outside parties."

The iconic KKL tin donation box (Photo: Herzl Yosef)

For example, during a nature project in Afula, the northern director of the LDA sent the city and the Drainage Authoritythe entity that would be in charge of the projecta signed KKL financial commitment worth NIS 3 million, despite the fact that he did not have the authority to do so.

Shapira further emphasized that there was a lack of coordination with the government, who Shapira said "abandoned their right and duty to the public" to influence priorities within KKL, especially when it comes to the development of land, which is primarily owned by the state.

In response, former KKL Chairman Efi Stenzler said, "I am proud of the momentum I brought to KKL in the 10 years I was chairman and am glad the State Comptroller submitted an audit report that eliminates all the baseless statements made by interest groups who influenced the atmosphere against KKL. The comptroller finishes his report with appreciative words for the workers of KKL and rightly so. They have done and are doing everything to fulfill the mission and vision of the Jewish people."

Trees planted by the KKL (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

Eli Afflalo's attorney, Naama Zer Kavod, said in response, "Mr. Afflalo welcomes the report. As Co-Chair of KKL, Afflalo introduced the organization's social policies which were aimed at reducing disparities between the center and the periphery. Additionally during Mr. Afflalo's tenure in office, the organization adopted the rules requiring KKL to be listed as a public benefit. There is no doubt that everything was done in good faith and with the Zionist mission at heart."

KKL itself responded to the report, saying, "KKL thanks the State Comptroller for his work and believes his critique is an essential tool for efficiently and improvement. Since receiving the interim report, we are working with haste to make improvements and have so far made abundant changes in the organizations culture to increase transparency, sharpness and governance.

"We believe that criticism is a central tool in the improvement and management of every organization, therefore KKL once again calls for the Prime Minister and the Israeli government to adopt the agreement that was signed between the organization and the government, and with the blessing of the State Comptroller, and allow for the State Comptrollers Report to include the organization, a step that will increase the organizations transparency and will assist in gaining the publics trust in the organizations activity."
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beytenu) announced on Wednesday that he has decided to extend IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot's term by another year. This will bring Eizenkot's overall time as the head of the Israeli Army to four years.

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Lieberman said that "Lt. Gen. Eizenkot is an admired chief of staff who has been leading the army with a great deal of success and professionalism." He added that "The productive cooperation with him allowed to continue promoting programs, prepare the IDF for the challenges that lie ahead of it and strengthen Israeli security."

Eisenkot (L) and Lieberman (Photo: Yair Sagi)

Lieberman reportedly consulted on the matter with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision is due to come before the government in a week and a half.

The announcement reached Eizenkot on the eve of his admittance to Beilinson Hospital for a planned medical procedure. Until his expected recovery next week, his duties will be transferred his deputy Maj. Gen. Yair Golan.

Eisenkot (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Lieberman's announcement comes earlya month before Eizenkot's second year is up. The reason for this is assumed to be Lieberman's wish to dispel any rumors surrounding the possibility that Eizenkot would not be offered an extension, due to past statements in which Eisnenkot expressed his clear criticism against Sgt. Elor Azaria , who was recently convicted of manslaughter for killing neutralized terrorist Abed al Fatah al-Sharif in March. As Lieberman himself expressed his support of Azaria , he reportedly wanted to avoid any uncertainty concerning an extension by making the announcement early, thereby granting the army more stability and allowing Eizenkot to complete the long-term IDF plan to counter regional threats, which is codenamed "Gideon."

Eizenkot is the 21st IDF chief of staff. He enlisted in 1978 and served as an officer in the Golani Brigade during the First Lebanon War, eventually becoming the brigade's commander. He also served as the Efraim Brigade's commander and as military secretary under then-prime minister Ehud Barak during Israel's evacuation of South Lebanon in 2000. During the Second Lebanon War, he was promoted to the head of the Israeli Operations Directorate, and eventually moved up to the position of deputy IDF chief of staff, under then-chief of staff Benny Gantz.
Well, we all survived Jupiter (in case you are not aware, the government now names storms). The moisture was sure good but it was a little slick around town. I do have to commend the City of York roads crew for getting out in the middle of Jupiter (that sounds so ridiculous) and getting the roads sanded and salted. We ventured out on Monday without any problems.

It was a productive weekend on Eastridge Avenue. I went to Beatrice to drop off some display banners for a trade show and then did a little shopping for Bobs birthday (this coming Sunday). How old is he? Well, hes been humming a certain Beatles song all week in preparation (hint -- Vera, Chuck and Dave). Also, made a big batch of dill pickle soup for the Milford Souper Saturday fundraiser this weekend, and we did a lot of cooking and baking to boot. Then in a week or so, I am making some refreshments for an event at the Olde Glory Theater  a salute to The Rat Pack. Will also be M.C.ing the event. Then a couple weeks later is the York Uncorked event at the library. Later in February Ill be going to an Agri-Tourism Conference in Broken Bow. Next week is the Seward Chambers Annual event and we will be unveiling our new brand that night.

I have been house sitting for one of our volunteers in Seward while they are spending time in Texas. They have a cat that lives outside that I take care of. Her name is Alley and she is slowly warming up to me. Its nice to have a place I can go over my lunch break for a little nap and yes, Ive overslept a few times. Ive spent the night a few times too  and that was very nice. They have a jacuzzi that I have enjoyed and the peace and quiet is refreshing. I do miss the dogs when I stay thereIm just used to having a little corner of the bed just for me, so its nice to have a whole bed to myself. I have the place for another month and will take advantage of it all I can.

I was driving back from Beatrice on Saturday and got a call from Mom. She found the house she grew up in on a realtors website in New York. It was interesting to hear all about her childhood and the details she remembered  yet she forgets who she is talking to on the phone. There was a place on the website asking if you lived in this house before and she filled out a big paragraph and promptly lost it. She wants me to find it and leave a note with her contact information on it. I have been trying and I think I may have written down the address wrong  I was driving at the time, remember. So, now I must call her and get the number again. That will be a half hour at the very minimum, but it is interesting so Ill do it.

I learned so much about my dads side of the family when he got ill, but Moms side is still a little mystery. The only claim to fame is that my moms brother and family lived in Commack, N.Y., on Long Island. The only other person I know from Commack is Rosie ODonnell.

Moms family is much smaller than Dads. She had a single brother whose name was Joe (just like my dads brother) and he married a woman named Joan (just like my Mom). They had three kids and only one is still living. Since they lived in New York, we didnt get to see them as often as my dads side who were all in Omaha. I do remember my grandfather. He passed away when I was six, but I have great memories of my grandma. She came to visit us each summer and occasionally we went out there to visit. Grandma was so unlike my mom its odd to think they were related. She was a great cook, but on the Czech side. Moms maiden name was Vavrina. Guess who built the house we live in here in YorkCasey Vavrina. scary!! When Grandma would visit, she made kolache for us. they were delicious and my dad loved the prune ones. When my Uncle Joe and one of his daughters came to Omaha to visit, he expected to land in a corn field and did not expect such a vibrant city. He was a typical loud New Yorker and lived to embarrass his sister  which he did with amazing creativity.

Mom grew up in New York City and worked at the J.C. Penny building in Manhattan. She claims she rode the elevator with him several times. It was interesting when we went back to NYC with her. Her accent came back instantly and she was in her element. As I learn more about the New York side of the family, Ill fill you in. Im sure there are some great stories to share with you.
By Tanseem Haider: Crime Branch has arrested a fugitive criminal Ravinder Ravi resident of Aaram Bagh, Paharganj, Delhi on 13 January 2017, who was wanted in a sensational attempt to murder case of Janak Puri, Delhi in which the accused opened fire on a passersby who restricted the accused persons from molesting a girl. The accused is an active member of desperate 'Saddam Gauri' gang, active in West and South-West Districts of Delhi and is previously involved in several criminal cases.

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A secret information was received by Crime branch that a desperate criminal Ravinder Ravi, who is wanted in a sensational attempt to murder case of Janakpuri, would come near Metro Station Sec. 10, Dwarka to meet his aides. This information was further developed and a trap was laid near the expected place of his arrival and accused Ravinder Ravi was successfully apprehended. On interrogation, he confessed his involvement in attempt to murder case of Janak Puri.

Accused Ravinder Ravi basically belongs to a middle class family. He has studied upto MBA. In the year 2010, he came in contact with local criminals and joined Saddam Gauri gang, active in West and South-West Districts of Delhi, which is indulged in several heinous offences, running Satta Mafia and extorting money from other satta operators. Accused remained involved in several criminal cases and arrested 4-5 times by police.

Also read | Mumbai: Sessions court asks CBI to hand over relevant documents on Jia Khan's murder case to mother

He further disclosed that on 19th December 2016 at about 10.30 PM he alongwith his associates namely Anshu Gupta, Ramesh and Pradeep Naag were trying to outrage modesty of a girl near Tilak Pul area. One passerby interfered and asked them not to do so and as a result, they got enraged. On that, Anshu Gupta threatened him on gun point. On their instigation, he fired upon the good sensation. Thereafter, he alongwith associates, fled from the spot. Later, Anshu and Ramesh were arrested but Ravi alongwith Pradeep Naag were evading arrest. The weapon of offence 7.65 bore pistol was further given by the accused Ravinder Ravi to his friend Apache resident of Uttam Nagar.

Also read | Charged with Sheena Bora murder, Indrani Mukerjea now wants to divorce husband Peter

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As the legislature winds down the first full week of the session, senators are furiously scrambling to introduce bills before the Day 10 deadline this coming Wednesday. Senators can only introduce bills for the first 10 days, and there are currently around 400 bills that have been introduced.

At this time, I have introduced over 20 bills, many dealing with retirement issues, but they also include better access to health care for rural Nebraskans, insurance oversight, and tax exemptions for disabled veterans. For more information regarding each bill, committee hearing date, and bill status can be found on the Unicamerals website: www.nebraskalegislature.gov.

Before the legislature is able to bring legislation to the floor for General File Debate, we must vote on permanent rules to govern the body. We are currently operating on temporary rules from last session. The Rules Committee met last Wednesday for an extended hearing and discussed 27 proposed rule changes. We will begin debate and vote on each rule that advances out of the Rules Committee this week. The rules are an extremely important step of how the legislature conducts business each session, and I look forward to the debate.

On Thursday, Governor Pete Ricketts delivered a gritty State of the State Address. Besides highlighting that Nebraska is embarking on our historic 150th year of statehood, Governor Ricketts stressed the need for controlling spending first, then the need for responsible budgeting and responsible tax relief.

As a state senator from a rural area, I continue to be very concerned about the high property taxes in our state. These property taxes impact all citizens who own property, from our retired senior citizens to our farmers and ranchers who rely on the land for their income.The economy in the State of Nebraska relies heavily on agriculture, and with the down turn in the farm economy, we need to work hard to find real and meaningful property tax relief.

While I do not serve on the Revenue or Appropriations Committees  the two committees that will work with taxes and spending  I will rely on the members of these committees as they develop the best way, in partnership, to address the budget challenges we face. Most likely, the solution will involve financial restraint, reliance on money from the cash reserve or rainy day fund, and tax reductions to help spur more growth in our local economy.

Governor Ricketts also spoke about the resilience of Nebraskans  and I agree that our tenacity and ability to work hard to overcome challenges are great traits we need to emulate. One line that really stood out to me during his speech was, We have a chance to give a voice to the voiceless, to improve lives, and to craft policies that build a brighter future for generations to come. With senators coming from diverse backgrounds, it is imperative that we find ways to work together for the good of the people. Reaching across the aisle to make compromises and reach agreements with those you disagree is how we will solve the problems that face our state.

As always, if we can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My door is open and I have made it a goal to be accessible to the constituents of our district. Please stop by any time. My e-mail address is mkolterman@leg.ne.gov, and the office phone number is 402-471-2756. David and Katie are always available to assist you with your needs. If I am not immediately available, please do not hesitate to work with them to address any issues that you may need assistance. Please continue to follow me on Facebook at Kolterman for Legislature and on Twitter at @KoltermanforLegislature.
Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service welcomes new commander

Col. Harold W. Linnean III took leadership of the Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service in an assumption of command ceremony here Jan. 17. Linnean replaced Col. Christopher Nick, who is retiring.



Linnean inherits a recruiting team that has met or exceeded its goals for 16 consecutive years. He will serve as an adviser to the AFRC commander, senior staff, and numbered air force and wing commanders on all matters relating to military recruiting and strategic marketing within the Air Force Reserve.



The Recruiting Service comprises more than 450 military and civilian personnel in 44 main flight locations and numerous recruiting offices across the United States and abroad.



This isnt Linneans first RS assignment. He has served in the organization on three previous occasions, most recently in 2011.

During the assumption of command ceremony, he talked about his time at RS over the years and mentioned what he called the giants of recruiting who helped show him the way.



The recruiting giants prepared me well, Linnean said. I look forward to the responsibility of being your commander. Leadership is a responsibility, and I take it seriously. It is my duty, and a sense of duty is ingrained in me.



For the recruiters attending the ceremony, Linnean shared his vision and expectations for RS.



I believe, deep down, you are part of this organization because you want to be part of something larger than yourself, he said. You want to be part of something that you can be proud of. If that is true, then it also is something that you will fight for.



In these trying times, I need you to fight. I need you committed to the mission. I need you committed to your fellow Airmen. Together, we are an unbeatable team. And I challenge you to.  dare to be great.




The rats were reported to have eaten the eyes of a dead woman, whose body was left unattended at the hospital, and then later began to chew on a cable of the Spec CT Machine at the nuclear medicine department.

By Hemender Sharma: The Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal is facing a rat infestation of epic proportions. This time the rodents entered the nuclear medicine department and chewed away a cable of the Spec CT Machine. In the first week of December 2016, rats had eaten the eyes of a dead woman who was lying unattended in the Gandhi Medical College Campus.

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The rats chewed the cable that connected the Gamma camera to the CT scan imagery. The nuclear medicine department had started conducting CT scans only after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made a surprise visit to the medical college and hospital after the incident of rats eating away eyes of a dead woman was reported.

Chouhan during this surprise visit had in fact changed the entire top management of the medical health department and directed the district collector to personally supervise the sanitation drive that was aimed to make the hospital rodent free.

APATHY TOWARDS PROBLEM

Union Minister of State for Health, Faggan Singh Kulaste, who represents the Mandla parliamentary constituency of Madhya Pradesh in the Lok Sabha had come up with a shocking response to the story of rats eating the eyes of the dead woman, saying no one had any control over rats as they targeted soft objects.

This time around even Kulaste would be shocked as the rats targeted cables that can be called anything but soft.

Alarmed by the developments in the nuclear medicine department, a team of experts from the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre on Wednesday rushed to the Gandhi Medical College to take stock of the situation.

The team, it is reliably learnt, issued orders to shut down the CT scan machine with immediate effect.

According to a professor in the nuclear medicine department fresh cables have been ordered from Bangalore and work is expected to resume at the department by early next week.

HOSPITALS ON CAMPUS INFESTED WITH RATS

The Gandhi Medical College and all its associated hospitals, Hamidia, Kamla Nehru and Sultania, that are located in the same campus are infested by rodents and even the Chief Minister's intervention has been of little help.

According to those associated with managing cleanliness inside the Gandhi Medical College, the main reason behind the flourishing rodent numbers is the leftover food that is not disposed off properly.

"Often philanthropists and religious minded people distribute food to the needy inside the hospital campus. Some of this food is consumed but most of it is wasted and not disposed off and the rodents thrive on it," a member of an NGO working amongst unattended patients inside the hospital said while talking to India Today.

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The ex-president was moved to an ICU at a Houston hospital with pneumonia, his office said.

By Reuters: Former US president George HW Bush has been moved to an intensive-care unit at a Houston hospital with pneumonia and was stable and resting comfortably after doctors performed a procedure to clear his airway, his office said on Wednesday.

His wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, also was admitted to the same hospital on Wednesday as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing, the office said in a statement.

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Bush, who at 92 is the nation's oldest living ex-president, has been at Houston Methodist Hospital since Saturday after experiencing shortness of breath, family spokesman Jim McGrath said on Wednesday.

ALSO READ | Former US president George HW Bush hospitalised with breathing problems

Since then, Bush experienced an "acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia" and was sedated for the unspecified procedure, his office said.

He will remain in the hospital's intensive-care unit for observation, his office said.

Bush and the 91-year-old former first lady marked their 72nd anniversary on January 6.

ALSO READ | Former US President George HW Bush, 91, falls at Maine home, breaks bone in neck

Bush is the father of former President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who sought the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

The eldest Bush, a Republican like his sons, was vice president during Ronald Reagan's two White House terms before being elected president in 1988. He lost his re-election bid to Bill Clinton, then the Democratic governor of Arkansas, in 1992.

ALSO READ | George H W Bush critical of son's handling of 9/11 in new biography

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By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) The listing of 5 state-owned general insurance companies was approved by the government today to encourage them to raise funds from capital markets as also improve corporate governance.

"It could be either by fresh equity or Offer for Sale. Both options are available. We can expand the shareholding so that the government share comes down to 75 per cent," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after the Cabinet meeting here.

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave in principle nod for listing five government owned General Insurance Companies -- New India Assurance Company, United India Insurance, Oriental Insurance Company, National Insurance Company and General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC).

The government shareholding in these companies will be reduced from 100 per cent to 75 per cent in one or more tranches over a period of time, he said.

"All procedural formalities are over. Now the companies will have to comply with the listing requirements with stock exchanges and Sebi," he said when asked whether they will be listed in the current financial year, ending on March 31.

During the process of disinvestment, he said, the existing rules and regulations of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) will be followed.

"Whatever are the regulations, they have to comply with that," he said, when asked if the companies will initially divest 10 per cent stake as per the regulatory requirement.

He said listing on the stock exchange necessitates compliance with a number of disclosures and accounting requirements of Sebi, which acts as an additional oversight mechanism.

The disclosures bring about transparency and equity in the companies functioning, he added.

Listing is expected to lead to improved corporate governance and risk management practices leading to improved efficiency, he said, adding that a greater focus on growth and earnings can also be expected.

Listing will open the way for the companies to raise resources from the capital market to meet their fund requirements to expand their businesses, instead of being dependent on the government for capital infusion.

In his Budget Speech for 2016-17, Jaitley had announced that public shareholding in PSU general insurance companies is a means for ensuring higher levels of transparency and accountability and the insurers owned by the government will be listed. PTI JD DP KKS CS SA

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By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) The government today approved the signing of an agreement between India and the United Arab Emirates in the area of agriculture and allied sectors.

"The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates in the field of agriculture and allied sectors," an official statement said.

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"It will promote understanding of best agricultural practices in the two countries and will help in better productivity at farmer fields as well as improved global market access leading to equity and inclusiveness," it said.

The cooperation in agricultural technology would lead to innovative techniques for increasing productivity leading to strengthening of food security, the statement said. PTI MJH JM

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By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jan 18 (PTI) Indian-American Nikki Haley today pledged to stand up to Russia if approved as US envoy to the UN and slammed the outgoing Obama administration for failing to block a Security Council resolution that condemned Israels settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.

"Russia is trying to show its muscle," Haley, 44, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during her confirmation hearing.

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"We cannot trust them and need to continue to be cautious," the South Carolina Governor said, favouring continuing sanctions against Russia.

Haley reiterated her position against banning Muslims from entering the country.

"There is no need of any registry based on religion for American citizens," she said in response to a question.

"This administration and I dont think there should be any registry based on religion," she said.

"We should stand up to any country that interferes a with our system," she said on questions on alleged Russian interference into US elections.

She said she is aware of Russian hacking. But it is not the only country, she added.

Haley vowed to oppose anti-Israel efforts at the United Nations.

She was critical of the outgoing US President Barack Obamas decision to abstain from the UN Security Council resolution against Israel.

"It is very dangerous when the UN starts to tell what and what should not happen to two different parties...I will always stand with Israel," Haley said.

The South Carolina Governor said says "absolutely" supports the US moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Her strong statement in this regard was welcomed by Israel.

Reflecting an aggressive foreign policy of the incoming Trump Administration, Haley threatened to pull out troops of the countries who do not hold them accountable for their alleged misdeeds at various peace keeping missions.

"We need to represent our country from a point of strength," Haley told lawmakers.

If confirmed by the US Senate, she would be the first Indian-American to hold a cabinet-level position in a presidential administration.

"The world wants to see a strong America,"

she said, in response to a question, adding that is what the world is used to.

The United States, she asserted, needs to start showing its strength. She also insisted on building the American coalition and increasing its ally.

Responding to a question from Senator Robert Menendez, Haley said during her conversation with president-elect Donald Trump both Russia and China popped up in general nature and the challenges in their relationship. PTI LKJ NSA

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<b>This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis</b> <br><br> Truer words were never spoken! Patriotism, heroism, discipline, honour and courage are the words that best describe our Indian Army. Known for their valor and strength, the bravehearts of the Indian Army have attracted me since childhood. Their striking personality has always impressed me. These fine-looking youths after joining the Army inherit a glorious heritage and time honoured traditions. <br><br> Once my uncle  who himself is a retired Major  quoted Benjamin Franklin to describe the spirit of the Indian Army, Where liberty dwells, there is my country. Though I was too young to grasp the full meaning of the words, I did get the gist of it. That was when, I think, I fell in love for the first time in my life. Yes, my first love was the Indian Army. <br><br> I remember the days when, while crossing the Army cantonment area in my city with my papa on his scooter, I used to watch the Army men parading and exercising. The sight never failed to fascinate me. That love has still not faded; in fact, it has grown with the years. <br><br> You won`t believe it, but I joined an Army school just to better understand the army life. That proximity, in its turn, nuanced not only my understanding of the Army, but of life itself. <br><br> ``Be an Army man. Be a winner for life`` the words had a special meaning and inspiration for me. A job in the Army is one of the most difficult in the world. Their life is a struggle. Only a person imbued with passion, discipline and confidence can achieve their dignity and strength and earn the respect and admiration of his peers. <br><br> They are the apple of every girl`s eye and an object of envy for all boys. That they also cut a striking figure is of course an added advantage! <br><br> Till some time back I used to be amazed that there are people who can stay away from their family for long periods of time; though they are always aware that they can die any second. <br><br> All my opinions went through a course correction when I had a small chat with a young lieutenant who was posted in Leh. To quote: `Everyone knows that life is a continuous journey. It does not end when I die. That is what I tell my parents and the ones who care for me, when they worry about me. But I also tell them that even if I were to die and be born again, in my next birth I will again join the Army and serve my nation. Thats my motto for all lives to come. <br><br> His words were an eye-opener for me and I realized why Army men are so different from others. <br><br> Every Army man thinks that it`s his job to protect his motherland. Any enemy to the country is his foe and that gives him the strength to lead a bold and adventurous life. Just imagine if I lived with the possibility of dying the next day how would I behave. I would want to live every moment to the fullest and share the most with my loved ones. That is what they try to do. <br><br> They often serve at places of extreme temperatures. They are posted at Siachen, which is one of the coldest places on the planet, and in the burning deserts of Rajasthan. They leave the comforts of their home to share a minimal life with their colleagues in bunkers. <br><br> <b>Roles for all Goals</b> <br><br> The Army has played a prominent role throughout last year. Whether we talk of Bihar floods or the Mumbai siege, they have done their best to combat the worst situations. They are the ones who stay awake so that we may sleep peacefully. Can we ever forget Sandeep Unnikrishnan and others who gave their lives for the cause of saving Mumbai? <br><br> The Army was helpful even in resolving the recent episode of strikes by Oil PSUs. The Territorial Army monitored the events and maintained a balance especially regarding transportation and loading-unloading activities. <br><br> <b>Lifestyle</b> <br><br> Duties aside, their lifestyle is unusual. Smartly dressed, closely cropped haircut washboard belly and powerful physique makes them most charming and attractive. Adventure is certainly a way of life for them. Their eventful lives involve trekking, and all the daring games that we cannot even imagine in our dreams. Sometimes I just wish even I were a part of that life! <br><br> This world rests on the arms of heroes like a son on those of his sire. These lines speak volumes about heroism and courage of the Indian Army. One who fails to acknowledge this spirit can never understand the nation to which he belongs. <br><br> On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation - Thomas William Parsons. <br><br> Thus, on the occasion of 61st Indian Army Day celebrations I salute our country`s Army men. Jai Hind!
In a recent interview, Hrithik Roshan spoke of his present relationship with ex-wife Sussanne Khan.

By India Today Web Desk: Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan might be divorced but who says love is lost between them?

The actors have repeatedly come together, even after their divorce in 2014, to spend time with their children Hrehaan and Hridhaan. In fact, Hrithik and Sussanne celebrated New Year's Eve together as well in Dubai.

A very beautiful day..?????????? #happysoulsareprettiest #familiasagrada #dublife A photo posted by Sussanne Khan (@suzkr) on Dec 28, 2016 at 7:44am PST

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Hrithik Roshan even celebrated his birthday with Sussanne. Now, that's something...

SEE PICS: Hrithik celebrates birthday with ex-wife Sussanne and kids

ALSO READ: Hrithik opens up on the question of getting remarried

ALSO WATCH: Hrithik and Sussanne finally split

Speaking on her present equation with Sussanne, Hrithik told Mumbai Mirror, "My relationship with Sussanne is peaceful. We are loving parents and friends to each other."

Stressing on the importance of relationships that give, Hrithik added, "If I feel that I am not contributing to a person's growth or vice versa, the whole exercise is pointless."

Earlier, in an interview with Femina, Sussanne had said that she and Hrithik divorced because they did not want a "false relationship."

"We had reached a stage in our lives where I decided that it's better we weren't together. It was important to be aware and not be in a false relationship," Sussanne was quoted as saying.

Here's hoping that the relationship Hrithik and Sussanne have now is... true.

On the work front, Hrithik Roshan will soon be seen in the thriller Kaabil scheduled to release in theatres on January 25. The film is releasing alongside Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees.

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Based on a complaint lodged by Komatireddy Narsi Reddy, brother of Congress MLA in Telangana Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Boaz Augustin was arrested by the Hyderabad Police.

By Ashish Pandey: The cyber crime department of Hyderabad Police has arrested a Harvard University alumnus for allegedly duping businessmen of over Rs 150 crore.

Based on a complaint lodged by Komatireddy Narsi Reddy, brother of Congress MLA in Telangana Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, accused Boaz Augustin was arrested by the sleuths of Hyderabad Police on Tuesday from Chennai.

Sources said at least 30 big businessmen were duped of over Rs 150 crore by the Harvard alumnus in a similar manner. Police have written to banks, requesting them to freeze his accounts.

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Here is all you need to know about the case: In his complaint, Narsi Reddy, who is the managing director of M/s Sushee Ventures Pvt Ltd, said Augustin, chief managing director of M/s Borg Energy India Pvt Ltd, duped him of Rs 1.38 crore by promising to build a solar power project. "Seven cases are registered against Boaz Augustin in Hyderabad in Telangana, Bhimavaram, Tanuku and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and Chennai and Madurai in Tamil Nadu," said Swati Lakra, additional commissioner of police. The officer said there are still others who have not yet approached police. "He has palatial houses and several luxury cars in Chennai and Madurai. There have been previous attempts to nab him," the additional commissioner of police said. The accused, Boaz Augustin alias David Boaz, introduced himself to his "clients" as the chairman and managing director of Borg Energy India Private Limited. His targets were businessmen across the country. He had created websites in the name of borgenergy.com and borgsolar.com with fake information regarding the projects his company had worked on across India. To make the deal attractive to his victims, he offered them 90 per cent of the loan amount through his company Borg Capital Private Limited. After being duped of crores of rupees by the Harvard alumnus, some businessmen reached out to each other through a WhatsApp group and decided to raise an alarm.

ALSO READ:

Shaadi.scam: Man files complaint against wife for marrying 7 other men

How a techie spun a web of forex fraud

Hyderabad: This Ricky Bahl duped women after marriage, had 350 girlfriends

ALSO WATCH

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Donald Trump, who is often trolled online for his tweets, has said that he doesn't enjoy the micro-blogging media platform that much.

By Press Trust of India: US President-elect Donald Trump, whose sensational announcements and criticism on Twitter has the world hooked on, has said he does not like tweeting but has to use the social media platform as a defence against "dishonest" media.

"Look, I don't like tweeting, I have other things I can be doing. But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press.

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And it's my only way that I can counteract. When people make misstatements about me, I'm able to say it and call it out," Trump told Fox News.

"Now if the press were honest, which it's not, I would absolutely not use Twitter," the President-elect said.

Trump evoked his recent Twitter tirade against Georgia Representative John Lewis as an example of why he is forced to express himself over the social media platform.

Also read | Reality TV show contestant sues Donald Trump for denying sexual assault

"When John Lewis said he's never done it before where he's skipped an inauguration -- well, he has, it turned out to be a lie so I'm able to say that. He shouldn't have said a thing like that it was terrible, I'm able to say it," Trump said, referring to the 76-year-old civil rights icon recently announcing he will not attend the President-elect's Friday inauguration.

Trump, during the interview, excerpts of which were released ahead of its telecast, however, boasted about his social media following.

"I'm going to be close to 50 million people, including Facebook and Instagram and different things," the President-elect said.

Trump had said earlier that he has no plans to quit Twitter even after becoming US President this week.

Also read | Obama family to vacation in Palm Springs after Donald Trump's inauguration

Trump, who will become the 45th US President on Friday told The Times that he does not intend to lay off Twitter once he is in the Oval Office of the White House and will keep his @realDonaldTrump account.

Trump has repeatedly used Twitter for savaging opponents ranging from lawmakers to foreign leaders and even celebrities.

Critics have voiced concern, however, that the social media platform's 140-character limit is too simplistic for complex policy issues.

Also read | Those trying to defame Trump are worse than prostitutes: Putin

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Captain Amarinder Singhhas decided on his contstituency and he is targetting to take Prakash Singh Badal head on.

By India Today Television: Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh filed his nomination form in Lambi, setting the stage for massive showdown between Congress and SAD as Lambi is represented by Punjab's outgoing CM Prakash Singh Badal. On a hectic campaign trail, Captain Amarinder Singh spoke to India Today.

Grandfather of All Battles :

'Mother' of all battles was an idiom used by Sadaf Hussain. But in Lambi, it is Grandfather of all battles.

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Prakash Singh Badal has ruined the state:

I am a great grandfather, I don't know about him. I'm going to go and cook his goose in Lambi because he has destroyed and ruined the state in last five years. He doesn't deserve anything.

Also read | Sonia Gandhi will decide Congress CM candidate in Punjab, says Amarinder

On Patiala and Lambi:

I'm a person who started his career 42 years ago from Patiala. This is my last election and that's why I want to end my career in Patiala. But in Lambi because I want to teach this Badal a lesson.

Personal Connect With Lambi :

This place Lambi, was part of Patiala royal state till 30s.. This Bathinda too was part of our estate .. So I have a connection with people of Lambi. They have lots of affection for me.

On who will be your successor:

Also read | Punjab Assembly elections: Navjot Singh Sidhu takes on Badals, threatens to expose scams

Amrinder said ''Can't tell you now''. People are thrown up automatically. When I took the reigns I wasn't told that here you are the heir to the political interests of Patiala. My father had gone out as an ambassador and my mother was in Parliament.. and I just did it on my own. Whoever creates his place, will get it.

On his son Raninder:

He has fought this seat before from Bathinda Parliamentary, Lambi was part of it.. he knows exactly every village and people here very well..

On wife and daughter to handle Patiala??

Yes they are holding the fort in Patiala because I have 115 seats to go for (campaign), so they are going campaign in those two seats. I have 115 other seats to concentrate on.

On Sidhu :

We didn't do road show because Sidhu did his yesterday.. We will go to Darbar Sahib and hold a press conference.

Also read | Sidhuisms continue: BJP is Keikayi, Congress Kaushalya, people know who Manthara is

Captain Who? A Maharaja/Politician/ soldier :

I'm a soldier, was a soldier and will remain only soldier by heart. Neither a Maharaja nor a soldier.

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By Press Trust of India: Ahmedabad, Jan 18 (PTI) Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and Commander of Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) Matar Ali Matar Al-Obaidani today reviewed the progress of the fourth joint exercise between the two countries.

The Indo-Oman air exercise is being held at Air Force Station at Jamnagar, around 300km from here.

The exercise, called "Eastern Brigade IV", started on Monday, and is the fourth in a series of air drills that started in 2009 between the two countries.

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"Chief of Air Staff BS Dhanoa and Commander of RAFO Matar Ali Matar Al-Obaidani reviewed the progress of the exercise at Air Force Station, Jamnagar. During their review they interacted with the participating crew and held bilateral discussions," a defence press release said.

While the RAFO is participating with five F-16s belonging to its No. 18 Squadron, the IAF has deployed Su-30 MKIs, MiG-29s, Jaguars and MiG-27 aircraft for the exercise, it said.

"The RAFO is participating with five F-16 Block 50 Air Defence Fighters belonging to No. 18 Squadron. IAF is participating in the exercise with Su-30 MKI Air Dominance Fighters, MiG-29 Air Superiority Fighters, Jaguar Maritime Strike aircraft and MiG-27 aircraft."

This is the first time RAFOs F-16s are participating in an air exercise outside the Gulf region, it added.

The first joint exercise in the series was held in October 2009 wherein six IAF Jaguars had operated at RAFO Thumrait, Oman.

The exercises are meant not only to enrich the IAF and RAFO professionally but also culturally as Omani and Indians share similar culture. The drill provides an opportunity for rich interaction between the personnel of both countries, the release said. PTI KA PD RSY

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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Recently, reports circulated in the Azerbaijani media stating UNESCO has rejected to acknowledge lavash as an Armenian cultural element and instead adopted the Azerbaijani bid. However, as always, this was another disinformation.

During the 11th session of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee of UNESCO, which was launched on November 28 in Ethiopia, bids presented to be included in the intangible cultural heritage lists were discussed, including the joint bid of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan and Turkey  Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka.

According to our information, the abovementioned bid was submitted in 2015, in response to the Lavash, traditional bread making, significance and cultural manifestations in Armenia bid, which was presented earlier and adopted during the 9th session of the committee.

The Armenian side has numerously announced that Azerbaijan regularly attempts politicizing the activity of UNESCO and transforming it into a platform of political disagreements and clashes from a cooperation format, and the above-mentioned bid is another evidence of it.

Although the Flatbread making tradition is widespread in numerous countries of the region, the preparation of lavash in Armenia significantly differs from similar cultures in other countries by all components, with method of preparation, significance and self- expression of diversity.

The Armenian delegation insisted the Committee to adopt the stance which it expressed in 2014 during the discussion of the bid presented by Armenia. As result of measures taken by the Armenian side, the draft decision of the Committee was amended.

During discussions of the abovementioned joint bid on November 30, the Committee cited the 2014 decision regarding the Armenian bid in its decision, affirming that communities living in the region, as well as other countries, use the types of flatbreads presented in the bid. Therefore, the Committee urges the bid presenting countries to take into consideration the wide cultural inclusion both inside and outside the region of the element when implementing the preservation measures of the mentioned element.

The Committee states that listing the element in the joint bid does not imply that its exclusive, but is also used in and out of the region, and one of the types of flatbread, the lavash, was included in the List back in 2014 as an element used in Armenia.

In regards to the Azerbaijani disinformation, we once again underscore that the Committee did not reject Armenias bid in 2013. It was adopted on November 26, 2014, during the 9th session of the Committee.

Armenia was elected a member of the Committee in June of 2016  with a 4 year term.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strictly condemned the sabotage infiltration attempt launched by Azerbaijan in the Armenian state border on December 29 which resulted in human losses, press service of the MFA told Armenpress.

The MFA issued a statement which says:

We strictly condemn the sabotage infiltration attempt conducted by Azerbaijan today in the Armenian state border that resulted in human losses. We extend our deepest condolences to the relatives and co-servicemen of the fallen servicemen.

In conditions when the serious damage, caused to the settlement process due to the Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh in April, is still not overcome, Baku goes on new adventure by strictly violating the agreements reached in the Vienna and St. Petersburg Summits, the commitment to settle the conflict through peaceful means. Baku responds in such way to the concrete demand stated by the Foreign Ministers of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries in Hamburg to unconditionally maintain the 1994-1995 ceasefire agreements.

The international community, through the three Co-Chairs, has repeatedly urged to respect the ceasefire especially during the Holidays. By conducting the military sabotage on the eve of New Year and Christmas, Baku stands against to the universal values.

The international community, first of all, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries, must awaken their calls and demands through immediate steps directed to the Azerbaijani leadership who insolently ignore them, take countermeasures and who have lost the sense of reality.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ministry of Emergency Situations told Armenpress, on January 18, as of 09:00, roads are passable in Armenia.

Clear ice is formed on Sotk-Karvachar highway.

Fog descends on the city of Ashtarak of Aragatsotn province.

The department of Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia informs that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles in case of using tire chains.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh told Armenpress the Azerbaijani forces made more than 45 ceasefire violations across the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

The Ministry issued a statement which says: Overnight January 17-18 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime more than 45 times by firing over 490 shots from caliber weapons, large caliber sniper rifles at the Armenian positions in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Azerbaijani forces also fired under-barrel grenade launcher (1 grenade) at the northern direction of the line of contact.

The Defense Army forces are in full control of the situation in the frontline and continue conducting the reliable protection of the military positions.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs statement which said the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not Azerbaijans internal affair, reflected the reality and was a reminder directed to the Azerbaijani political leadership, Armenian MP, member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Tevan Poghosyan said in an interview with Armenpress.

This was an emphasis by the Russian Foreign Minister in order the Azerbaijani leadership not to think that the conflict is only its internal affair and it can go on the way of violating the existing agreements. What Lavrov said is the reality and a reminder to Azerbaijan, the MP said.

He said Lavrov with this statement aimed to make it clear to Azerbaijan not to violate the agreements. The talk in this case is about the Vienna and St. Petersburg agreements, as well as the agreement on maintaining ceasefire regime, the lawmaker said.

During an annual press conference, the Azerbaijani reporter asked the Russian FM if Azerbaijan decides to launch military operations in Nagorno Karabakh, whether Russia will intervene in it or not. In response the Russian FM said the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not only Azerbaijans internal affair.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenias permanent representation in the Council of Europe in joint cooperation with the CoE secretariat has organized an event on January 16 in Strasbourg dedicated to the implementation of 2015-2018 Armenia-CoE Action Plan, press service of the Armenian MFA told Armenpress.

Armenias Justice Minister Arpine Hovhannisyan was taking part in the event during which she delivered a welcoming speech.

CoE Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni also delivered a speech and summarized the session results.

Ambassadors of CoE member states, representative of EU external relations service, CoE secretariats officials, diplomats were present at the meeting.

The implementation process and achievements of programs directed towards the human rights protection, strengthening of public administration, electoral reforms, ensuring justice, reforms in correctional facilities were presented at the session.

The participants also highlighted the further steps. It was emphasized with satisfaction the effective implementation of the Action Plan by Armenia which plays an important role in the context of the ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia.

The same day Justice Minister Hovhannisyan met CoE Secretary General Thorbjrn Jagland and CoE Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks during which they discussed a number of issues of bilateral interest.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. US State Department Spokesperson John Kirby commented on the issue of Russian blogger Aleksandr Lapshin who is arrested in Belarus. The Azerbaijani leadership demands his extradition from the Belarussian leadership, reports Armenpress.

This is really something for the relevant countries to speak to, especially when youre talking about extradition requests. Thats really for them to speak to. Obviously, press freedom is important to us, and we talk about it all the time, John Kirby said at a daily press briefing.

He said the US is always concerned with the issue of press freedom.

Belarus police arrested Lapshin on December 15, 2016 in Minsk. Lapshin resides in Moscow and writes for the famous Russian Travel Blog. He is wanted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and criticizing Azerbaijans policy in his blog. Official Baku demands from the Belarussian leadership Lapshins extradition.
By Press Trust of India: From Yoshita Singh

United Nations, Jan 18 (PTI) Describing the nearly three-week Syrian truce as a "much-needed positive development", India has said it is "encouraging" that the peace talks in the Kazakh capital aimed at ending the brutal war are committed to Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"We look forward to the outcome of the direct talks scheduled for later this month in Astana. It is encouraging that the process is committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and is led and owned by Syria," Indias Deputy Permanent Representative Tanmaya Lal said yesterday in a UN Security Council debate on the situation in the Middle East here.

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Lal was referring to the Syrian peace talks scheduled for January 23 that have been organised by Turkey, Russia and Iran.

UN Deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters yesterday that UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has received an invitation to attend the peace talks.

Lal added that "meaningful involvement" of the UN is also essential in the Syrian peace process.

Lal described the truce in Syria, which came into effect on December 30, as a "much-needed positive development."

He told the Council that India welcomes "all efforts" to end violence in Syria and to jumpstart the political process.

The Indian diplomat, however, voiced concern over the ?fragile? situation in the Middle East region, saying peace and reconciliation continue to be elusive.

?Violence and terror continue unabated, leading to large scale suffering and exodus of refugees. The effects of these are being felt far and wide. The international efforts have, however, proven largely insufficient and ineffective in addressing the multiple challenges to peace and security in the region," Lal said.

Lal voiced optimism that despite a gloomy backdrop, the new year will usher in hopeful developments in the context of the Middle East Peace Process, the Syrian truce and the formation of the unity government in Lebanon.

"Whether it is salam or ?shalom?, the deep seated yearning for peace across peoples is only too evident. We hope that 2017 will bring about a surge in diplomacy for peace?," as has been called for by the new Secretary General, Lal said.

"Pragmatism and compromise are essential to move forward in the larger interest. History has shown that only peaceful co-existence is sustainable over long term," he added.

On Palestine, he said the lack of any significant forward movement continues to cause concern and emphasised that only a negotiated two-State solution can bring sustainable peace and lasting security.

"The imperative need is of restraint and moderation on all sides. We stress that it is the collective responsibility of the two sides to ensure that they move closer to a solution," he said. PTI YAS PMS

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YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina issued a statement on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Armenia-Argentina diplomatic relations, the Embassy of Argentina in Armenia told Armenpress.

The statement reads:

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Argentine Republic.

The two countries are successfully cooperating in numerous sectors, including political, economic and cultural ones.

The Armenian famous community of Argentina, which has been completely involved in our public life since its establishment, had its valuable input on the development of bilateral relations by contributing to the mutual recognition of traditions and culture of the two peoples and development of trade-economic relations.

On this special day Argentina wants to reaffirm its readiness aimed at intensifying the friendly and partnership ties between the two peoples.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Following the Azerbaijani sabotage infiltration attempt at Chinari village of Armenias Tavush province on December 29, the Armenian Human Rights Defenders Office immediately started to carry out fact-finding works during those days and following it in order to reveal the human rights violations, reports Armenpress.

In a meeting with reporters, Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan summarized the results of the fact-finding works. Immediately after the Azerbaijani sabotage infiltration attempt our representative of Gegharkunik regional unit has departed for Tavush province by my instruction to launch fact-finding works. I have talked to Chinari community leader, our employees talked to the villagers and analyzed in-detail the situation during fact-finding works, Arman Tatoyan said.

3 Armenian servicemen were killed as a result of a sabotage attack and this occurred in the time when they didnt pose any danger to the Azerbaijani side.

The Ombudsmans Office has been consistent also in the days following the sabotage infiltration attempt, understanding that the Azerbaijani side can launch new provocative actions in that part of the border.

On January 3, at 17:00-19:00, the Azerbaijani side kept Chinari village under shelling, the residents had to hide in shelters. And here I want to emphasize the fact that there is no military unit, a military object near the village, which means that the Azerbaijani armed forces targeted the civilians, the Ombudsman said.

He said on January 3 the Azerbaijani forces mainly targeted the villages kindergarten and school. On the night of January 8 as well the Azerbaijani side fired at Chinari. Moreover, the easiest way to damage the civilians is to shell at night since people are mainly sleeping and are unable to hide or to be protected from it in case of necessity, Arman Tatoyan said.

He also said the report, prepared by a fact-finding works results, also covers the Azerbaijani shelling of Voskepar-Baghanis highway of Tavush province on January 13. Arman Tatoyan said on January 13, at 18:00-19:00, Voskepar-Baghanis highway has been under Azerbaijani shelling.

The Ombudsman also presented photos taken during the fact-finding activities which prove that the Azerbaijani forces deliberately targeted the civilians during those days. The photos clearly show the traces of shelling on the houses, school and kindergarten of Chinari village.

The Ombudsman said in such circumstances carrying out fact-finding activities is going to be major and key directions of his activity. This activity is frequently applied in the international practice. He also informed that he is going to present the results of fact-finding activities to the international structures and a number of his colleagues of different countries.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Galust Sahakyan, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament held a meeting with Ambassador of India to Armenia H.E. Mr. Yogeshwar Sangwan, the Parliaments PR and Press Service told ARMENPRESS.

Galust Sahakyan welcomed the Ambassador, praised the existing warm relations between the two countries and said the current year is an anniversary in the new history of bilateral relations: the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries is to be marked. In this context, Galust Sahakyan said with satisfaction that the Indian-Armenian relations have developed in the atmosphere of mutual trust and mutual understanding in the past years and currently maintain progress in different sectors.

In terms of mutually beneficial cooperation, Speaker Sahakyan highlighted the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation, active interactions of friendship groups and stated that the cooperation is currently on a high level.

Ambassador H.E. Mr. Yogeshwar Sangwan thanked for the warm reception and assured he will do everything possible during his diplomatic mission for contribution to the development and deepening of Armenian-Indian relations.

The parties expressed hope that through active efforts and the direct involvement of the Ambassador Armenia and India will discover the existing potential of cooperation between the countries and will fully realize it.

The sides also discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia and other issues.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan vows to release the report on human rights violations during the Yerevan hostage crisis of July 2016 during the upcoming month.

During a briefing on January 18, Tatoyan said the report has addressed assessments. In terms of the investigation we have the necessity of clarifying few reports. I have sent an inquiry to the investigative agencies, we will receive a response soon and it will be published, he said. The Ombudsman said the report is currently a priority for him.

Tatoyan assured the report will cover all issues, ranging from the murder of the police officers and excessive force against reporters.

On July 17, 2016, gunmen stormed a police precinct in Yerevan and took several hostages. Three officers were killed during the hostage crisis. On 31 July, the crisis ended after the gunmen surrendered. Protests erupted in Yerevan during the hostage crisis.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Armenias Parliament Galust Sahakyan on January 18 held a meeting with newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Armenia Maria Pavlova Tzotzorkova-Kaymaktchieva, press service of the Parliament told Armenpress.

Congratulating the Ambassador on her new post, the Parliament Speaker expressed confidence the Armenian-Bulgarian relations will further develop and intensify during her tenure.

Galust Sahakyan said the old friendship between the two people, a number of cultural ties are favorable basis to develop the bilateral ties.

From the perspective of strengthening the bilateral relations and deepening the cooperation, the Parliament Speaker attached importance to the role of parliamentary diplomacy, as well as Armenia-EU cooperation within the frames of Eastern partnership.

Speaker Sahakyan attached importance to Bulgarias balanced stance over the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in line with the stances of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the EU.

In her turn, the Bulgarian Ambassador highly appreciated the existing relations between the two states, and said the Armenian community of Bulgaria is a bridge on intensifying and strengthening the bilateral ties. She ensured that during her tenure she will do everything possible to further develop and deepen the existing relations.

The sides also attached importance to the close work between the parliamentary friendship groups and the deepening of mutual partnership in various international parliamentary platforms.

Other issues of bilateral interest were also discussed at the meeting.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. The arrest of Russian blogger Aleksandr Lapshin by the Belarussian leadership and his possible extradition to Azerbaijan is a serious threat in terms of freedom of speech and human rights, Armenias Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan told reporters on January 18, reports Armenpress.

I consider concerning the arrest and possible extradition of Aleksandr Lapshin. I think it is a very serious danger in terms of freedom of speech and human rights in general. The accusations against Aleksandr Lapshin contradict to the precedent practice of the European court, the OSCE standards relating to the protection of freedom of speech, the Armenian Ombudsman said.

He said the visit of such persons to the NKR has a preventive meaning in terms of human rights violations since they present the situation as it is, they are more perceived as neutral people, and Lapshin is also a traveler and has nothing to do with politics.

When the information on this became public, from that day I am actively working with my partners, I have sent necessary analysis, all legal issues, analyzed in-detail, were presented, Arman Tatoyan said.

Belarus police arrested Lapshin on December 15, 2016 in Minsk. Lapshin resides in Moscow and writes for the famous Russian Travel Blog. He is wanted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and criticizing Azerbaijans policy in his blog.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Russias Aerospace Force and Turkeys Air Force are conducting the first joint air operation against the Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) on January 18 on the outskirts of the al-Bab town in the Aleppo province, Armenpress reports, citing TASS, Head of the Main Operations Department of Russias General Staff Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi told reporters.

"The air operation, agreed on with the Syrian government, involves nine warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Force, including four Sukhoi Su-24M, four Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft and one Sukhoi Su-34 bomber, as well as four F-16 and four F-4 fighters of the Turkeys Air Force. A total of 36 targets are planned to be hit," he said.

According to Rudskoi, all the targets have been previously fixed by the two countries General Staff and their air force units command. "In the past two days, a reconnaissance mission involving unmanned aircraft and cosmic reconnaissance equipment was carried out in order to help fix the targets," Rudskoi elaborated.

"The joint airstrikes against the IS facilities, delivered by Russia and Turkey, have already proven highly effective," he noted.

Militants still continue to attack the positions of the Syrian troops near the city of Deir ez-Zor.

"The situation remains difficult in the Deir ez-Zor area, the city has been besieged by the IS terrorists for around three years. Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, the militants continue to attack the positions of the Syrian troops. In case the city is taken by terrorists, the residents will face a true genocide. The population of Deir ez-Zor may be exterminated," Rudskoi said.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has the potential to compete with any country, including China by its textile production, Armenpress reports Sasstex representative told reporters on January 18. Particularly in Shirak, in the sidelines of Vartan Sirmakess investment project, Sasstex company tries to restore the once powerful textile industry.

Prior to putting into operation Gyumris garment factory, training workshops are already open in two communities of the province: Artik and Amasia. Here specialists will be trained to work at the factories of Gyumri and Artik. Sasstex director Christian Geleji vows to create 300-500 jobs only in Gyumri. The Government of Armenia has allocated the premise of the former provincial hospital and the surrounding area to the company to foster its activities.

The company reconstructs the premise and builds new houses to get rid of the huts in the area. 16 families living in those huts will receive new houses.

To the question if in the future it will be possible to exclude Turkish-made textile from Armenia, Christian Geleji answered that it is the responsibility of the Government, but stated that the special workwear clothing produced in Shirak is of rather high quality and in the near future they will also cooperate with the prominent ZARA brand.

Currently, construction and reconstruction works of the garment factory are underway. Speaking about the delay of launching Gyumris factory, the Sasstex director noted that it is mainly connected by the huts in the area.

The most difficult issue is to make people work after 25 years of idle period. We have great potentials in Armenia and are able to compete with any country, but we have to teach our people how to overcome the idle period, the Diaspora-Armenian businessman said.

Armenuhi Mkhoyan
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Reporters Without Borders has condemned the 30-month jail sentence that local website editor Afgan Sadygov received on 12 January from a court in the southeastern town of Jalilabad on a clearly trumped-up charge of assault and battery against a woman, Armenpress reports, citing the website of the Reporters without borders.

Sadygov is the main editor of Azel.tv, a website that has often drawn attention to political mismanagement in Jalilabad and nearby regions, including the bad quality of the roads, poor infrastructure maintenance and the waste of public funds.

The court was told that the alleged assault took place at 10 a.m. on 9 August 2016, as Sadygov emerged from the office of the head of the local government, to which he had been summoned for a discussion.

Obvious inconsistencies in the prosecution case were ignored. The alleged victim said she was beaten unconscious and was taken while still unconscious to a hospital where she did not regain consciousness until several days later. But Sadygovs defence lawyer proved to the court that she was not admitted to the hospital until 3:30 p.m. and that she signed her complaint against him the same day.

The four prosecution witnesses were all local administration employees, and two of them were the deputies of the head of the local administration. The court rejected the defences request to view surveillance camera video recordings.

This trial was yet another crude violation of the right to due process and media freedom, which are guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, said Johann Bihr, the head of RSFs Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.

The Azerbaijani justice system and government are obliged to respect the accords they have signed, on pain of sanctions. Afgan Sadygov must be freed and the baseless accusations brought against him must be dismissed on appeal.

President Ilham Aliyevs regime often uses trumped-up charges to silence outspoken journalists and bloggers. The victims include Faiq Amirov and Seymour Khazi. And when journalists continue to criticize the government after fleeing abroad, the same methods may be used against the relatives they left behind.



Azerbaijan is ranked 163rd out of 180 countries in RSFs 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
Britain is expected to formally notify EU authorities of its intention to leave by the end of March, triggering a two-year negotiation

Britain leaving the European single market will damage both the UK and EU member states' economies, the German car industry warned Wednesday, after Prime Minister Theresa May appeared to head for the exit.

"The British economy is deeply woven into other EU countries," Matthias Wissmann, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), told AFP by email. "A hard Brexit would be tough and expensive."

In a high-profile speech on Tuesday, May announced plans to quit the European single market as well as the 28-member European Union following Britons' vote to leave in June last year.

"Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe," May said. "What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market."

Since the Brexit vote, European leaders have insisted that Britain cannot "cherry-pick" elements of the single market by clinging to free movement of goods, services and capital but not labour -- the "four freedoms" that form the single market.

The prime minster added that she still wanted "tariff-free" trade with Europe and "frictionless" business ties in a new deal with the EU.

"Years will go by before new treaties are a done deal," VDA's Wissmann predicted. "Prospects like that scare away investors."

Britain is the German car industry's largest export customer, Wissmann noted, adding that 57 percent of all British car industry exports are destined for the EU.

Around one in five cars produced in Germany is sold in the UK, according to the VDA, while German firms operate around 100 sites producing cars or components in Britain.

"Car firms have a large interest in solutions being found that continue to allow intensive trade and the wealth creation associated with it," Wissmann said.

May should "ensure the UK's negotiations with the EU result in uncomplicated, tariff-free access to the EU single market in future," a spokesman for luxury carmaker BMW, which operates four sites in the UK, told AFP in a statement.

"Not only free trade but also cross-border employment opportunities and unified, internationally applied regulations are of proven benefit to business, the economy and individuals," the spokesman said.

Britain is expected to formally notify EU authorities of its intention to leave by the end of March, triggering a two-year negotiation on the terms of its departure from the bloc.
Yasin Bhatkal, the co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen is expected to be produced before the city civil court in Bengaluru on February 4.

By Rohini Swamy: Yasin Bhatkal, the co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen is expected to be produced before the city civil court in Bengaluru on February 4.

On December 19, a special NIA court in Hyderabad sentenced Yasin Bhatkal and four others to death in the 2013 Dilsukhnagar blast case.

Yasin is also the main accused in the Chinnaswamy stadium blast. In April 2010, two low-intensity blasts outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, in which at least eight people sustained injuries.

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Justice GD Mahavarkar has issued a body warrant based on the application filed by the special public prosecutor. The central crime branch is expected to file a chargesheet against Yasin and have sought his presence in court.

The investigating agencies in Karnataka are hoping to interrogate and get more information on Yasin's involvement in the other terror attacks in the state.

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IMF chief Christine Lagarde says the Fund is now looking more closely at inequality

IMF head Christine Lagarde conceded Wednesday the Washington lender had been late waking up to the widening gap between rich and poor around the world, but is now researching answers to help the middle class.

Lagarde made the admission to an audience of high-flying executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that has been dominated by the worrying inroads by populism across the west.

"There has been a strong backlash (against) economists in particular saying that this was not really their business to worry about these things, including in my own institution," said Lagarde, who is extremely popular with the Davos set.

The International Monetary Fund is "now being very harshly converted to the importance of inequality and studying it and providing policies in response to that", she said.

An Oxfam report coinciding with Davos this week said eight billionaire men -- including Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg -- own the same wealth as the poorest half of the world's population.

That level of inequality "threatens to pull our societies apart", Oxfam said.

Oxfam linked the chasm between rich and poor to the growing discontent with mainstream politics around the world, a view that has been widely discussed at this year's forum.

Top executives said they fretted over the potential ravages of anti-establishment politics manifested by Brexit and the rise of billionaire Donald Trump who assumes office as US president on Friday.

-'Populism scares me' -

"Populism scares me," Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, a major US investment fund, told the audience in Davos.

These movements have become "the most important issue globally", even overshadowing the work of central banks, he said.

But Nobel award-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, who is a harsh critic of the global order as promoted by Davos, said he held doubts over the elite's sudden concern.

The very same elite "set up the conditions for Trump," Stiglitz told AFP as he took a coffee at the Forum.

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"To ask them to fix it is a little bit weird," he said, calling for a "rewrite of the rules" of the US economy.

Lagarde's IMF is often the most criticised for the crunch on the middle class as it often demands deeply unpopular reforms from governments in return for its financial aid.

This almost inevitably stokes voter discontent, including in Greece, a country that has endured six years of harsh reform medicine as prescribed by the IMF.

Lagarde has been trying to make the IMF more responsive to the public disquiet, acknowledging the link between inequality and globalisation that has spurred voter rebellions.

"When you have a real crisis or when you have very strong signals... from the voters from people who say no, it's really time to say ... what more can we do," she said.

"If policymakers do not get the signal now, I don't know when they will."

That view was reflected by ex-US treasury secretary Lawrence Summers, who said voters are seeking a clearer sense of purpose and security in an increasingly confusing world.

"It's a mistake not to recognise that the middle class in my country and in others is concerned that the government is not fighting for it," he said.

This sense of betrayal is also fuelling "a desire for national unity and strength," he said, a trend that moves against the internationalist values defended at Davos.
Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission slapped Qualcomm with a fine of Tw$23.4 billion ($774 million) for harming market competition and manipulating prices following an investigation launched in 2015

Mobile chip giant Qualcomm was hit Tuesday with a US antitrust suit alleging it abused its dominant position in the market for processors used in cell phones and other devices.

The US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit in federal court in California claiming Qualcomm's practices amount to "unlawful maintenance of a monopoly in baseband processors," which are devices that enable cellular communications in phones and other products.

Qualcomm rejected the agency's case as "significantly flawed," arguing that reasoning at the heart of the civil complaint is wrong.

"In our recent discussions with the FTC, it became apparent that it still lacked basic information about the industry and was instead relying on inaccurate information and presumptions," Qualcomm general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a released statement.

Qualcomm, which is the dominant provider of chips for smartphones, has faced similar antitrust investigations in the European Union and China, and last month was hit with a record fine of $850 million by South Korean enforcement regulators.

In the US lawsuit, the FTC said Qualcomm's policy is to supply its processors only on the condition that cell phone manufacturers agree to Qualcomm's "preferred license terms" for patents which are essential for mobile communications.

"By using its monopoly power to obtain elevated royalties that apply to baseband processors supplied by its competitors, Qualcomm in effect collects a 'tax' on cell phone manufacturers when they use non-Qualcomm processors," the lawsuit said.

"This tax weakens Qualcomm's competitors, including by reducing demand for their processors, and serves to maintain Qualcomm's monopoly in baseband processor markets."

Qualcomm's actions have hurt competitors including Taiwan-based Via Technologies, which was acquired by Intel in 2015, and another Taiwan firm, MediaTek Inc.

The suit also alleges that Qualcomm "extracted exclusivity from Apple in exchange for reduced patent royalties," which prevented the iPhone maker from getting processors from Qualcomm's competitors from 2011 to 2016.

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Qualcomm general counsel Rosenberg maintained that the FTC sped up the investigation, filing the suit just days before a change in the US presidential administration and with only three of five agency commissioners in place.

"This is an extremely disappointing decision to rush to file a complaint," Rosenberg said.

"It became apparent that the FTC was driving to file a complaint before the transition to the new administration."

The San Diego, California, group in 2015 agreed to pay $975 million to settle antitrust charges in China.

The tech group is challenging an EU competition inquiry which could result in a fine of up to 10 percent of its annual sales, which amounted to $26.5 billion for Qualcomm in 2015.
Nearly 60 percent of some 400 principal investigators in 195 clinical drug trials analysed had traceable financial ties to the drug industry, the researchers found

Clinical trials which conclude that the drug being tested works are more likely to be conducted by researchers with financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, a study said Wednesday.

The investigation, published in The BMJ medical journal, was fuelled by concerns about bias on the part of doctors and scientists running drug trials.

Nearly 60 percent of some 400 principal investigators in 195 clinical drug trials analysed had traceable financial ties to the drug industry, the researchers found.

Such ties, in turn, "were independently associated with positive clinical trial results", wrote the team, led by Salomeh Keyhani of the University of California in San Francisco.

Financial ties included honorariums, payment for consulting work, and stock ownership.

This did not necessarily mean that results were falsified, the researchers pointed out.

It could also be that the results of failed drug trials are simply not published.

"More thought needs to be given to the roles that investigators, policy makers and journal editors can play in ensuring the credibility of the evidence base," the BMJ study concluded.

The investigation looked at a selection of randomised clinical trials conducted in the United States in 2013.

In a typical randomised trial, a group of volunteers taking a new medication are compared to a group given a look-alike placebo with no active ingredients.

Previous investigations into possible bias linked to financial ties have yielded conflicting results.

In a 2002 survey of more than 3,200 US National Institutes of Health scientists, 15 percent admitting to fiddling with the design, methods or results of a trial under pressure from a funder.

In the peer-review process, medical and scientific journals distribute studies submitted for publication to outside experts for review.

Most journals also require authors to disclose any conflicts of interest.

"Journals could help by rejecting research by authors who are unwilling to share their data, and by penalising authors who fail to disclose financial ties," commented Adreas Lundh of the University of Southern Denmark and Lisa Bero of the University Sydney, also in The BMJ.
Shares of Qualcomm (QCOM) fell 4 percent on Tuesday after U.S. regulators charged the company with using anti-competitive tactics over licensing, in yet another regulatory hurdle to its business.

The Federal Trade Commission alleges that Qualcomm received high royalties for patented technologies that are "essential to industry standards." That creates in effect, "a tax" on manufacturers that used competing processors, the FTC said.

For instance, the FTC statement said, Qualcomm refused to license patents to competing suppliers, and used its exclusive relationship with Apple to keep competitors from getting stronger.

"By excluding competitors, Qualcomm impedes innovation that would offer significant consumer benefits, including those that foster the increased interconnectivity of consumer products, vehicles, buildings, and other items commonly referred to as the Internet of Things," the FTC said in a statement.

Bloomberg originally reported the antitrust case, citing people familiar with the matter, writing on Tuesday that the semiconductors giant could face a suit from U.S. officials for allegedly using "unfair practices in the way it licenses its technology."

In response to the suit, Qualcomm told CNBC that the FTC's complaint is based on "flawed legal theory, a lack of economic support and significant misconceptions about the mobile technology industry." Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel at Qualcomm, said that the company has "grave concerns" about the decision to file the complaint right before the turnover to a new federal administration.

"The complaint seeks to advance the interests and bargaining power of companies that have generated billions in profit from sales of products made possible by the fundamental 3G and 4G cellular technology developed by innovators like Qualcomm," the company said in a statement. "The portrayal of facts offered by the FTC as the basis for the agency's case is significantly flawed. In particular, Qualcomm has never withheld or threatened to withhold chip supply in order to obtain agreement to unfair or unreasonable licensing terms. The FTC's allegation to the contrary  the central thesis of the complaint  is wrong."

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Qualcomm has argued its licensing follows industry standards and are also used by other companies, the report said. Late last month, South Korea's antitrust regulator fined Qualcomm 1.03 trillion won for what it called "unfair business practices," Bloomberg reported.



With Tuesday's losses, the stock is down about 3 percent in the past month.

Qualcomm 5-day chart





 CNBC's Josh Lipton contributed to this report.





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MONTREAL, QuebecThe double lives of two men are revealed in Icon Males newest feature, In the Closet, now on DVD. Award-winning filmmaker Nica Noelle tells the tale of two complex love affairs featuring closeted gay men, played by Lawrence Portland and Roman Todd.

To view box art and product information for Icon Males In the Closet, click here.

The initial reaction weve received for In the Closet is extremely positive, which bodes well for the film to be the first in a long and successful series, said Mile High Media Vice President Jon Blitt. Nica wrote two compelling stories, which were brought to life by a superstar cast.

In the Closet stars Lawrence Portland, Billy Santoro, Michael Del Ray, Roman Todd, and Armond Rizzo.

In the first part of In the Closet, gorgeous businessman Lawrence is married to a woman (Diana Devoe), but he is having an affair with a man. Unable to give up his wife or his lover, Lawrence leads a double life, until muscular Billy gives him an ultimatum.

In a companion story, blue collar stud Roman leaves his fiance in bed to go meet up with his sexy gay lover (Armond Rizzo). In a twist of fate, the lives of these closeted men secretly overlap in this sensitive new series from icon Male.

The latest Icon Male trailers can be seen on IconMale.com.

For Icon Male sales and distribution contact [email protected] .

For the latest news and BTS previews, fans may follow Icon Male on Twitter.

For production stills and content log on to Mile High Medias Press Access site.
As the United States continues to head down a dark, dark road more bomb threats have been phoned in against Jewish community centers across America.

Via NBC:

Jewish community centers around the country were again targeted with bomb threats Wednesday morning, a week after a spate of similar threats against many centers.

In Miami, police responded to reports of a bomb threat at the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center. Threats were called in at the same center a week ago.

Police in Newton, Massachusetts, responded after a suspicious phone call prompted an evacuation Wednesday morning at a local JCC.

Jewish community centers in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and two in Connecticut, one at the JCC of Greater New Haven in Woodbridge and another at The Mandell JCC West Hartford, reported receiving bomb threats.

Threats were made to at least seven JCCs in Florida, New Jersey, Delaware, Tennessee and North Carolina last week.

A JCC building in Marin County, California, was also evacuated as a precaution after a threat.
cdata_tag

Originally published by Travel + Leisure

Photo: Bloomberg Contributor/Getty

If travel more was at the top of your list for 2017 goals, head to the Qatar Airways website. The airline is giving away free flights to Dubai, the Seychelles, Cape Town, and moreif you can find them.

More: Why Airplane Seats Dont Line Up with Windows

You're going to have to do a bit of work, because the airline has hid the free tickets on its website. Starting at 9 a.m. ET on January 12, these tickets will be somewhere, hiding in the depths of the airline's flight schedule. All you have to do is pick the right destination, the right time, and you've got yourself a vacation to plan.

More: Why Airplanes Dim Lights on Takeoff

The airline released a video teaser sharing tips for finding these Golden Tickets. You can also find more information on the airline's Treasure Hunt websitehere are the steps they shared for nailing down a free ticket:

Watch your respective country's video for clues to identify the cities where the golden tickets are hidden. (Don't recognize the city? Look closely at the picture for more hints). On the day the treasure hunt is scheduled for your country, enter the destination(s) in the flights' booking window on qatarairways.com, and select possible travel dates. Keep searching until you find the correct date where the golden ticket is hidden. Once you have found the golden ticket, simply complete your flight booking on qatarairways.com and pack your bags for an adventure of a lifetime.

Qatar Airways departs from a number of major hubs in North America (New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Montreal), so if you find yourself living outside of this list, you would have to buy a ticket to a participating airport. But, still: a long-haul vacation for the price you'd pay to get somewhere in the United States? Completely worth it.

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More: Portugal: Travel + Leisures 2016 Destination of the Year

The airline is also offering noteworthy deals on other flights for its "Travel Festival," so no matter which destination you have in mind, there's a good chance you can grab a good deal if you act quick.

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Commerce Secretary-designate Wilbur Ross testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at his confirmation before the Senate Commerce Committee. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The man U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has tapped to reshape the country's trade policy will soon send a letter to Canadian and Mexican officials urging them to reopen NAFTA talks, according to a report.

The Globe and Mail says Wilbur Ross will want to discuss country of origin rules and the independent dispute-settlement mechanism that are key features of the 1994 free trade agreement.

Ross is under questioning on Wednesday by U.S. lawmakers at his confirmation hearing for secretary of commerce, and was asked from the outset about his views on trade with Canada and Mexico.

"NAFTA is logically the first thing for us to deal with," Ross said. "We ought to solidify relationships in the best way we can in our own territory before we go off to other jurisdictions," Ross said, referring to China, a frequent target of Trump's ire for allegedly unfair trade practices.

Ross said U.S. trading partners who play by the rules should have nothing to fear from a Trump administration, as on the whole, the U.S. is in favour of more global trade  not less.

"I think we should grant access to our markets to anyone who plays fair, plays by the rules and gives everybody a fair chance to compete," he said.

"[But] those who do not should be punished for it and punished severely."

"I am not anti-trade, I am pro trade," Ross said. "But I'm pro sensible trade  not trade that is to the disadvantage of the American worker and to the American manufacturing community."

Views on TPP

Ross's comments on NAFTA were interrupted by protesters who were shouting their opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership  a trade pact initiated under the current administration, but one that president-elect Trump says he will pull America out of after taking office.

"That was not part of my prepared remarks," Ross quipped of the protesters who interrupted his comments, but later went on to say he has come to be in the camp that opposes the broad-ranging trade deal.

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"Initially I was very favourable to TPP," he said, "but as I delved into the thousands of pages of documents I came across, I found some things that were not consistent with what had been advertised."

He specifically cited the deal as being bad for the U.S. auto sector, as in his view, loopholes in it allow manufacturers to have up to 60 per cent of a car's components can come from outside the zone, but still be able to be sold within the zone, without tariffs.

"That didn't strike me as the world's best idea," he said.

Impact on automotive sector

Mathew Wilson with the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, says the automotive sector is one in which import tariffs are especially problematic because of global supply chains.

"It's not quite as easy as saying, 'OK we're going to stop trading with the U.S.,' or whatever," he told CBC News in an interview. "A lot of times the companies don't even know where the products are coming from."

A car manufactured in Ontario is likely to have a transmission made in Michigan and interior components from Mexico, for example, he said.

"All of those goods are being sourced and being created with a mishmash of Canada and U.S. and sometimes Mexican parts in there as well," he said. That makes the prospect of a 35 per cent tax  something the president-elect has threatened to impose on some imports  virtually impossible to enforce, said Wilson.

On the subject of tariffs, Ross said they "play a role both as a negotiating tool and as a way to punish offenders who don't play by the rules, but I'm much more in favour of carrots than of sticks."

Trudeau vows to 'defend' trade benefits

Speaking in Sherbrooke, Que., on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about trade issues with the incoming U.S. administration.

"We've been engaged with the incoming administration over the past few weeks on a broad range of issues and we're working hard to move forward in a constructive way that's going to benefit both of our countries," Trudeau said.

"A constructive working relationship in which we engage in talks about how to move forward is exactly what we've been focused on and what we will continue to focus on when the new administration comes into place," he added.

"We're going to defend the benefits of trade and openness to Canadians."
By Press Trust of India: Asked about anti-India sentiments whipped by some Nepali

Asked about anti-India sentiments whipped by some Nepali political leaders in the recent past, Mahat admitted that ties with India should not be held hostage to domestic politics, but said actions need to be taken by the Indian side to address Nepals concerns so that those forces who dont want good Indo-Nepal ties are deprived of issues.

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The Nepalese Foreign Minister also referred to various projects which needed to be completed as well as redressal of gaps in treaties like water sharing which is perceived as "unfair" to Nepal by many Nepali leaders.

There is a perception in certain quarters that Nepal was not given due share in the three major water deals between Nepal and India, namely the Kosi Agreement, the Gandak Treaty and the Mahakali Treaty, he said. PTI PYK SC

--- ENDS ---
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answered questions ranging from local concerns about public transit to tabling new federal pot legislation at Tuesday night's town hall in Sherbrooke, Que., and he answered them all in French  because, he said, "we're in Quebec."

A woman asked in English what would be done to help Anglo-Quebecers seeking mental health services when those services are only available in French.

"Thank you for your use of both official languages," Trudeau replied in French.

"But we're in a French province so I will answer in French," he answered, as the woman grew visibly annoyed.

"All people who speak one of the two official languages should feel comfortable across the country," he said, in French, while highlighting the federal government's investment in health.

Not everyone fazed

Trudeau spoke exclusively in French, despite a half dozen English questions.

Some in the crowd seemed surprised by the prime minister's decision.

- LATEST ON THIS STORY: Trudeau faces heat over decision to speak French only at town hall

But recent Afghan immigrant Abdullah Hakiemie was too excited to meet his hero to be fazed by a French answer.

"He supports every human being on this planet, and I'm very happy to be a Canadian and to support Mr. Trudeau, and I will support him in every possible way," said Hakiemie.

'We're all so diverse'

Later, a woman wearing a hijab read from notes, in broken English, asking on behalf of all Canadian Muslims if Trudeau would consider giving them a public holiday for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Islamic holy month of fasting, Ramadan.

He answered in French that Canadians' differences are their strength and that embracing those differences enriches our country  whether they be historic differences between the French and English, or more recently with refugees being welcomed into Canada.

"Here in Canada, it's hard to call a certain group 'other,' because we are all so diverse," he said.

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He did not comment on adding a national holiday to the calendar.

Pot legislation

Meanwhile, Guillaume Gagnon, who works in marijuana research and lobbying, asked for details about the tabling of new marijuana legislation due in the spring.

Trudeau said he aims to introduce new law which would make it harder for youth to get access to marijuana.

"It's easier for a 16-year-old to buy a joint than a beer," he said. "Is there a black market for beer in Quebec? No."

He said the legislation would aim to eliminate the black market and criminal elements from the buying and selling of marijuana.

"Be patient. Changes are coming," he told the crowd of roughly 1,000 people.

Most of the attendees who asked questions came from Sherbrooke and its surrounding cities, but some came from as far as Lac-Megantic, about 100 kilometres east.

Business with Trump administration

There was concern from members of the audience over how Canada's economic relationship with the U.S. would be affected by the incoming Trump administration.

President-elect Donald Trump promised voters he would bring jobs back to the U.S., with talk of increased border tariffs on imported goods  stoking fears of damage to Canada's import and export markets.

Trudeau stressed that his government would work with the incoming administration to protect the working class on both sides of the border.

"Our economies are thoroughly integrated. Many industries in the U.S. benefit from strong trade ties with Canada."

With regard to preserving Canada's supply-management dairy industry which was recently targeted by U.S. dairy groups, Trudeau said he would strongly defend Canadian farmers and Canadian economic interests.

He highlighted the investment of $350 million into Canada's dairy sector after signing the Canada-EU trade deal, which created extra competition from foreign cheese imports.

Tour continues

Trudeau is taking the pulse of Canadians in a series of town hall meetings across the country, opting to skip the World Economic Forum's annual global political and business conference in Davos, Switzerland, an event he attended last year.

Sherbrooke was the first Quebec stop on the tour, which started last Thursday in eastern Ontario.

Earlier Tuesday in New Brunswick, Trudeau fielded questions on a whole range of issues, including the troubled Phoenix payroll system, marijuana policy, protection of the environment, job creation  and what Trudeau's daughter wants to be when she grows up.

"She is an eight-year-old princess or rock 'n' roll star," he said. "I impress on my daughter she can be whatever she wants. I also impress upon her brothers she can be whatever she wants."

Trudeau will be at Bishop's University in the province's Eastern Townships on Wednesday morning, followed by a stop in Granby, Que., at 11:40 a.m.
President Obama has commuted the 35-year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, paving the way for the Army intelligence analyst turned high-profile leaker to be freed on May 17, the White House announced Tuesday.

Manning was on a list of 209 commutations and 64 pardons released Tuesday, though they may not be Obamas final acts of clemency before he leaves office at midday on Jan. 20. Edward Snowdens name was not on the list.

Manning was convicted after leaking U.S. military incident logs and diplomatic cables, among other secret government documents, to WikiLeaks, in 2010.

In his final scheduled briefing for reporters, White House press secretary Josh Earnest described Manning and Snowden in starkly different terms.

Chelsea Manning, as a member of the United States armed forces, went through a legal proceeding administered by the United States military under the laws that govern the conduct of members of the United States military, and there was a hearing and a conviction and a sentence, Earnest said. It all went through that regular process. And thats the way we determine guilt or innocence in this country, particularly with regard to the conduct of men and women in our armed forces. And thats the way that our system works.

But Snowden should return to the United States and face the serious crimes with which hes been charged, Earnest said. He will, of course, be afforded the kind of due process thats available to every American citizen whos going through the criminal justice process. But the crimes that hes accused of committing are serious. And we believe that he should return to the United States and face them rather than seeking refuge in the arms of an adversary of the United States that has their own strategic interests in disseminating information in a harmful way.

Earlier this week, WikiLeaks said on Twitter that its founder, Julian Assange, would agree to be extradited to the United States if Obama granted clemency to Manning. He has been living in Ecuadors embassy in London since June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he has been accused of sexual assault.

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If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case https://t.co/MZU30SlfGK  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 12, 2017

The Obama administration has accused the Russian government of using WikiLeaks to influence the 2016 election. The organization published emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee and from Hillary Clintons campaign.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan denounced Obamas commutation decision as just outrageous.

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets, Ryan said in a statement. President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes.

Mannings commutation reads:

Chelsea Elizabeth Manning  Oklahoma City, OK

Offense: One specification of wrongful and wanton publication to the internet intelligence belonging to the United States; five specifications of stealing, purloining or knowingly converting U.S. government records; six specifications of willful communication of information relating to the national defense; one specification of willful communication of information in unlawful possession; one specification of willful communication of information relating to the national defense by exceeding authorized access to a U.S. government computer; one specification of willful communication of information relating to the national defense obtained by accessing a U.S. government computer; five specifications of failure to obey order or regulation; U.S. Army Court Martial

Sentence: 35 years imprisonment (August 21, 2013)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 17, 2017.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Putin has angrily shot down the suggestions (Picture: Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed his countrys prostitutes as the best in the world  but furiously denied suggestions that Donald Trump spent time in their company during a visit to Moscow.

The Russian head of state was addressing unsubstantiated claims that Trump had visited prostitutes during a 2013 visit to the capital, and that Russian officials complied a dossier of comprising information about him.

Putin dismissed the claims as complete nonsense, and slammed those responsible for the reports as being worse than prostitutes.

This is an adult man first of all and, apart from that, a man who for many years took part in organising beauty contests and has communicated with the worlds most beautiful women, Putin told the assembled press.

Putin has denied having a secret dossier on Trump (Picture: dpa)

I find it difficult to believe that he immediately headed off to the hotel to meet with our girls of reduced social responsibility.

Somewhat bizarrely, he then took the opportunity to praise the countrys sex workers as the best in the world.

MORE: One in three people diagnosed with asthma do not actually have the condition, study suggests

MORE: A demonstrator tried to set himself on fire outside Trumps Washington hotel

The claims concerning Mr Trump were originally made last week by former MI6 agent Christopher Steele, who alleged that Russian secret services had compiled a dossier of incriminating information against the President-elect.

Mr Putin added: People who order such fakes that are now circulating against the President-elect fabricate them and use them in political struggle are worse than prostitutes.

They have no moral restrictions whatsoever.

Donald Trump is due to be inaugurated as U.S. President on Friday.
Virtual Roundtable

11 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2017

Five higher ed leaders analyze the hottest trends in education technology this year.

The education technology forecast for 2017 could perhaps be described in a single word: change. "We're now on an exponential pace of technological change," said Daniel Christian, adjunct faculty member and senior instructional designer at Michigan's Calvin College. "Several technologies continue to converge, new forms of human-computer interaction are gaining visibility and traction, and more. The next few years will be interesting indeed!"

We asked a panel of five higher ed leaders from across the country, including Christian, to assess education's top tech-related trends for the coming year  from artificial intelligence to Generation Z. Here's what they told us.

Virtual/Augmented/Mixed Reality

Daniel Christian: We are on the precipice of major changes in how we interact with our computing devices. Numerous companies with deep pockets  including Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Sony and others  have been researching and investing in new forms of human-computer interaction (HCI) such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR). The consumer-based products from these companies have already significantly influenced the types of hardware and software that institutions of higher education have used to deliver their learning experiences.

But to give you another idea of how potentially huge this entire area is, let's look at Magic Leap. Magic Leap is a privately owned company that hasn't really produced anything for us to purchase  yet. But already, Magic Leap is valued at $4.5 billion! These new forms of HCI will likely have an enormous impact in the near future  significant changes in how we use and interact with computing devices.

This prediction is all the more compelling when we think about combining AR/VR/MR with cognitive computing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies (such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing and chatbots).

Some thought-provoking questions include:
ATLANTA - The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) sent a letter to Congressional leaders ahead of actions on health policy, urging lawmakers to adopt a healthcare reform plan that is consistent with the ACR's priority of affordable and accessible healthcare for Americans living with rheumatic diseases.

The ACR stressed in the letter that any proposal should maintain the current ban on insurers excluding coverage due to pre-existing conditions; provide insurance coverage for rheumatic disease specialists and services; maintain coverage of health educational activities for patients with chronic illnesses; limit patient co-payments for specialty drugs and services; and recognize that laboratory, radiological, and infusion services should be conveniently available near the source of a rheumatology patient's medical care.

"More than 52 million people in the U.S. - one in six Americans - live with rheumatic diseases, making it the nation's leading cause of disability," said Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, President of the ACR. "Early and appropriate treatment for rheumatic diseases like arthritis and lupus, provided by trained rheumatologists, can prevent or slow disease progression, decrease the likelihood of disability, and reduce long-term healthcare costs. The ACR looks forward to working with both Congress and the incoming Administration to ensure that every American has access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including care for arthritis and other rheumatic diseases."

The letter stressed the need to ensure clinical rheumatologists are able to run viable medical practices, noting both the growing scarcity of rheumatologists and the increasing demand for rheumatology care.

"The CDC estimates that one in four Americans will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis by the year 2040," continued Dr. Lakhanpal. "With the rates of doctor-diagnosed arthritis on the rise, a thriving rheumatology workforce and affordable access to specialists and treatments will be critical to ensure we meet the care needs of a growing patient population."

Additionally, the ACR recommended that any reform proposal:

Repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board provision;

Minimizes administrate burdens through the use of universal prior authorization systems for multistate health plans; and

Maintains the FDA's authority to approve safe, effective biosimilars to encourage market-based relief from the high costs of biologic drugs.

Read the full text of the letter here.

###

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is the nation's leading advocacy organization for the rheumatology care community, representing more than 6,400 U.S. rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals. As an ethically driven, professional membership organization committed to improving healthcare for Americans living with rheumatic diseases, the ACR advocates for high-quality, high-value policies and reforms that will ensure safe, effective, affordable and accessible rheumatology care.
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Motors Co on Tuesday confirmed it will invest an additional $1 billion (807.82 million pounds) in its U.S. factories in 2017 and will move some parts production from Mexico to the United States that was previously handled by a supplier. The investments are in addition to the $2.9 billion the automaker announced last year, GM said. (http://bit.ly/2iJ9xw0) GM and other automakers have been sharply criticized by Republican U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for building vehicles in Mexico that are imported into the United States. Trump will be sworn in on Friday. GM said the $1 billion investment will create or retain 1,500 jobs. The Detroit automaker said details of individual projects will be announced throughout the year. "Thank you to General Motors and Walmart for starting the big jobs push back into the U.S.," Trump tweeted, referring as well to Wal-Mart Stores Inc's announcement that it will hire 10,000 U.S. workers in 2017 as part of a plan previously announced by the discount retailer. GM also said it will begin work on bringing axle production for its next generation of full-size pickup trucks, including work previously done in Mexico, to operations in Michigan, creating 450 U.S. jobs. The part was previously built by American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc . American Axle did not immediately respond to a request for comment. GM spokeswoman Joanne Krell said the automaker planned to add 7,000 new U.S. jobs over the next two to three years. Krell said the decisions being announced "had been in the works for some time" but she added "the timing was good for us to share what we are doing." The 7,000 figure includes the 450 jobs on axle production, 1,500 jobs tied to the $1 billion announcement and more than 5,000 new jobs tied to engineering, GM Financial and advanced technology. GM in 2014 announced it was investing $5 billion in Mexico and doubling production capacity by 2018. GM said last week it had no plans to cancel Mexican investments despite Trump pressure. GM said it had added about 6,000 U.S. jobs, consisting of 4,000 hourly and 2,000 salaried positions, since the end of 2015 for a total American workforce of 103,000. Since GM's bankruptcy restructuring in 2009, when it had 77,000 U.S. employees, it has added more than 25,000 jobs as it boosted production, acquired an auto finance company and brought information technology work in house. The United Auto Workers union said GM's new investments "have emerged as a result of the 2015" contract with the union. GM shares slightly rose in midday trading, up 0.6 percent, or $0.23 per share, to $37.57. 'BIG STUFF' Trump, who made bringing back manufacturing to the United States a large part of his successful election campaign, has been touting recent automaker investments in the United States. "With all of the jobs I am bringing back into the U.S. (even before taking office), with all of the new auto plants coming back into our country and with the massive cost reductions I have negotiated on military purchases and more, I believe the people are seeing "big stuff," Trump said in a pair of tweets. Trump has been inaccurate in describing some U.S. auto investments, wrongly saying last week that Fiat Chrysler was planning to build a new factory in the United States. The company announced it is investing $1 billion in two existing plants, adding 2,000 jobs. On Jan. 3, Trump threatened to impose a "big border tax" on GM for making some of its Chevrolet Cruze compacts in Mexico - and he has extended that threat to German automakers like BMW AG and Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> over building vehicles abroad. Separately, Hyundai Motor Group said Tuesday in South Korea that it plans to boost U.S. investment by 50 percent to $3.1 billion over five years and may build a new plant in the United States. Hyundai Motor Co <005380.KS> and Kia Motors Corp <000270.KS>, which make up the Hyundai Motor Group, have not been directly criticized by Trump but they may have felt vulnerable because among major brands, they have one of the lowest ratios of cars built in the United States to cars sold. GM also said an unnamed supplier has committed to make components for GMs next-generation full-size pickup trucks in Michigan, moving 100 supplier jobs from Mexico to the United States. But even as GM invests in U.S. plants, it has also been making job cuts. In recent months, the company announced plans to lay off about 3,300 employees at three factories. It said in November it would cut about 2,000 jobs when it ends the third shift at its Lordstown, Ohio, and Lansing, Michigan, plants in January. Last month, it said it planned to cancel the second shift and cut nearly 1,300 jobs from its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant in March. GM's "general plan is to build where we sell, and we're focused on what we're doing in the United States," Chief Executive Mary Barra said in an interview with Reuters on Monday. Barra, who said she planned to attend Trump's inauguration, said GM wants to work with him, adding, "I do believe we have more in common than we have areas that we aren't aligned." (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Frances Kerry and Jonathan Oatis)
By Press Trust of India: Motihari (Bihar), Jan 17 (PTI) The role of ISI in the recent train disaster in Kanpur was being suspected after Bihar police today arrested three people who they claimed were working for the Pakistani intelligence agency to target Indian railways.

The ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police said.

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During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said. He said ATS and central agencies have been apprised of it for comprehensive investigation.

Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav were arrested from Adapur police station area and they allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to ISI to target the railways, Rana told reporters.

The three are "professional criminals" involved in more than a dozen criminal cases.

The three were paid Rs three lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly has connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai who has links with ISI, the SP said.

The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran district, bordering Nepal, in October 1 last year, Rana said.

"Fortunately, the bomb was detected with the help of villagers at Ghorasan and defused which prevented the sinister designs of the terror elements," Rana said. The arrest of the trio came in course of investigation in the murder of two persons of East Champaran district in Nepal on December 28 last year for failing to successfully blast bomb on track in Ghorasan, he said.

Efforts are on to arrest, in this connection, two others identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav, who are "hiding" in East Champaran, he said.

While three persons were arrested from East Champaran district, three others have been captured earlier at Tailaya in Nepal for targeting railways on behalf of suspected terror elements in India, the SP said.

East Champaran is a district bordering Nepal. Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in the district in August 2013. PTI COR SNS NN NSD SC AKK AKK

--- ENDS ---
Hamilton, Bermuda, 18 January 2017 - Hoegh LNG Holdings Ltd. ("Hoegh LNG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a new Shipbuilding Contract (SBC) with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI) for a new Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) for delivery in Q4 2018 (FSRU #9). The FSRU will have a storage capacity of 170,000 m3 and a max regasification capacity of 1,000 MMscf/day and with full trading capabilities.

Reference is further made to the stock exchange notices in December 2016 where Hoegh LNG reported it had signed two 20 years FSRU charters with each of Quantum Power ("QP") for the Tema LNG Project in Ghana and Global Energy Infrastructure Limited ("GEIL") for the LNG import project in Port Qasim near Karachi, Pakistan. Both projects have start-up in Q2 2018. (See stock exchange notices dated 1 and 15 December 2016, respectively.)

The Company has spent considerable efforts optimizing its FSRU portfolio, maximizing charter revenues from FSRUs under construction and reducing overall technical risks. The Company has therefore decided to allocate FSRU#7 (HHI HN 2552) to serve the QP charter in Ghana and to allocate FSRU #9 (HHI HN 2909) to the GEI charter in Pakistan. The initial period of the GEI charter from Q2 2018 will be covered by an interim FSRU from Hoegh LNG's portfolio until the new FSRU is delivered.

The FSRU newbuilding program that the Company entered into with Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (SHI) on 17 January 2017 for one firm (FSRU #10) plus three options is unaffected by the above allocation as the first delivery from SHI is scheduled for May 2019.

Hoegh LNG's President and Chief Executive Officer, Sveinung J. S. Sthle, said in a comment: "First of all I am very pleased that Hoegh LNG through its newbuilding program and market position has been able to establish a contract coverage solution which is in line with our strategy of building new FSRUs. Secondly, I am proud to see that through Hoegh LNG's innovative approach and in-house design of our FSRUs coupled with our long-standing relationship with HHI, Hoegh LNG has been able to secure a newbuilt FSRU in the shortest possible time. With this order, Hoegh LNG now has 10 large size newbuilt FSRUs in operation or under construction, preserving our position as the market leader in the FSRU segment."

* * *

About Hoegh LNG:



Hoegh LNG provides floating energy solutions and operates world-wide with a leading position as owner and operator of floating LNG import terminals; floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), and is one of the most experienced operators of LNG Carriers (LNGCs). Hoegh LNG's vision is to be the industry leader of floating LNG solutions and the strategy is to continue to focus its growth plans in the FSRU market, with the objective of securing long-term contracts with strong counterparties at attractive returns. Hoegh LNG is a Bermuda based company with established presence or operations in Norway, Singapore, the UK, USA, South Korea, Indonesia, China, Lithuania, Egypt, Colombia and Turkey. The company employs approximately 110 office staff and 500 seafarers.

Contacts:

Sveinung J. S. Sthle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Telephone +47 975 57 402

Steffen Freid, Chief Financial Officer, Telephone + 47 975 57 406

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act or the Continuing Obligations of Oslo Brs
Dutch English

REGULATED INFORMATION

GHENT, Belgium, 18 January 2017 - Ablynx [Euronext Brussels: ABLX; OTC: ABYLY] today announced, in conformity with Title II of the Law of 2 May 2007 and the Royal Decree of 14 February 2008, that an additional 154,342 common shares have been issued by the Company in exchange for 1,011,939.05 as the result of the exercise of warrants.

As a result of this transaction, Ablynx now has 61,076,074 shares outstanding.

The total number of rights (warrants) to subscribe to not yet issued securities conferring voting rights currently is 2,457,038 which equals the total number of voting rights that may result from the exercise of these warrants. Currently 1,000 convertible bonds are outstanding entitling the holders thereof to 7,733,952 shares of the Company in the aggregate, upon conversion of such convertible bonds.

About Ablynx

Ablynx is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of Nanobodies, proprietary therapeutic proteins based on single-domain antibody fragments, which combine the advantages of conventional antibody drugs with some of the features of small-molecule drugs. Ablynx is dedicated to creating new medicines which will make a real difference to society. Today, the Company has more than 45 proprietary and partnered programmes in development in various therapeutic areas including inflammation, haematology, immuno-oncology, oncology and respiratory disease. The Company has collaborations with multiple pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eddingpharm, Merck & Co., Inc., Merck KGaA, Novartis, Novo Nordisk and Taisho Pharmaceuticals. The Company is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium. More information can be found on www.ablynx.com.

For more information, please contact

Ablynx:

Dr Edwin Moses

CEO

t: +32 (0)9 262 00 07

m: +32 (0)473 39 50 68

e: edwin.moses@ablynx.com

Marieke Vermeersch

Director IR & Corporate Communications

t: +32 (0)9 262 00 82

m: +32 (0)479 49 06 03

e: marieke.vermeersch@ablynx.com

Follow us on Twitter @AblynxABLX

Ablynx media/analyst relations

FTI Consulting:

Julia Phillips, Brett Pollard, Mo Noonan, Matthew Moss

t: +44 20 3727 1000

e: ablynx@fticonsulting.com

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/042f367b-8978-426d-b814-9d13c302ca73
English Finnish

Tikkurila Oyj

Press Release

January 18, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. (CET+1)



Invitation: Tikkurila's Financial Statement Release for January-December 2016



Tikkurila Oyj will publish the Financial Statement Release for January-December 2016 on Thursday, February 9, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. Finnish time.



Tikkurila will hold a press conference regarding the Financial Statement Release for January-December 2016 for the media and analysts on Thursday, February 9, 2017, starting at 12:00 noon Finnish time at hotel Kamp's Paavo Nurmi cabinet (address: Pohjoisesplanadi 29, 00100 Helsinki). The conference will be held in Finnish. Attendees will be served lunch at the conference premises starting at 11:30 a.m. The Financial Statement Release will be presented by Erkki Jarvinen, President and CEO, and Jukka Havia, CFO.



A live webcast, conducted in English, will be organized on February 9, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. The live webcast will be available at www.tikkurilagroup.com. The participants can also join a telephone conference that will be arranged in conjunction with the live webcast. The telephone conference details are set out below:



+358 9 7479 0404 (Finnish callers)

+44 330 336 9411 (UK callers)

+1 719 457 2086 (US callers)

Participant code: 7761517



An on-demand version of the webcast will be available at www.tikkurilagroup.com/investors later during the same day.



Financial Statement Release and related presentation material will be available before the press conference at www.tikkurilagroup.com/investors.





For further information, please contact:



Tikkurila Oyj

Minna Avellan, Director, Investor Relations and Brand Concept Development, tel. +358 40 533 7932, minna.avellan@tikkurila.com





Tikkurila is the leading paints and coatings professional in the Nordic region and Russia. With our roots in Finland, we now operate in 16 countries. Our high-quality products and extensive services ensure the best possible user experience in the market. Sustainable beauty since 1862.



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By Press Trust of India: On SAARC, in an obvious reference to Pakistans

On SAARC, in an obvious reference to Pakistans obstructionist approach, he said, "We hope to partially remedy this through the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) sub-regional grouping.

"It is also our expectation that the current level of enthusiasm among members of BIMSTEC can be channelled towards more far-reaching initiatives."

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Jaishankar said it is important for India and China not to lose sight of the strategic nature of their engagement, or falter in their conviction that their rise can be mutually supportive.

Talking about geo-political issues, he said the world in 2017 is marked by "unevenness, possibilities and uncertainties" and that US seemed ready to change the terms of its engagement with the world.

"Relations between US and Russia could undergo a transformation that we may not have seen since 1945. Its dimensions, leave alone implications, are hard to predict. Europe, engrossed in multiple domestic challenges and reconfiguring itself, signals less appetite for more distant politics, even as it watches these developments," he said.

The Foreign Secretary said "instead of being driven by headlines ? or tweets ? lets look at whats different and what is not."

"Terrorism remains the most pervasive and serious challenge to international security. Developing a serious global response is of the highest priority, yet hard to do. Climate change is an existential challenge on which some common ground exists, that needs to be consolidated," he said.

Talking about Asia, he said various disputes including in maritime sphere acquired salience in the last few years.

"Broadly speaking, the growth in Chinas power and its expression abroad remain a dynamic factor in Asia," he said.

In the Western world, he said, optimism that trade and investment overcome political divides has also faded.

"More dangers than convenience are perceived from connectivity. And there is a lack of purpose in confronting global challenges like terrorism, though some important exceptions should be acknowledged. The world has not just got flatter. Suddenly, one part of it is also more inward looking; in some ways, more tired," he said.

He said Asia is facing a host of challenges including emerging multipolarity, heightened nationalism and disputed boundaries among others.

Referring to financial slowdown, Jaishankar said globalisation has not stopped and cannot stop, just because "someone somewhere has called time out".

He observed that an immediate precursor to the current global situation was in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and in many ways, this laid the basis for a more multipolar world.

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"Ironically, while the Western-led G8 gave way to the more representative G20, the more diverse UNSC remained as resistant to change as before," he said.

On Indias foreign policy, the Foreign Secretary said the country has actually broadened its footprint and intensified its investment, trade and technical activities in an "unprecedented manner".

"The rapid growth of Chinese power, the strengthening of Indias position, the sharper role of Russia, the activity of Japan, the divisions in the Gulf, the interests of Europe, and the entrenched position of the United States have not made this calculus an easy one," said the Foreign Secretary. PTI MPB IKA

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The court made this observation when a mention was made by an advocate K Balu in the open court about the protests at the Marina on the jallikattu issue.

By India Today Web Desk: The Madras High Court today said it will not interfere on the issue of protests in the city against the ban on bull-taming sport jallikattu.

"First of all, the apex court is seized of the matter. When it is so, even the High Court and Tamil Nadu government cannot do anything and moreover, Marina Road is not a place for any demonstrations. The court does not want to interfere at this stage," the bench said.

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The court made this observation when a mention was made by an advocate K Balu in the open court about the protests at the Marina on the jallikattu issue.

HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Thousands of college students sat throughout the night at Marina Beach in Chennai on Tuesday night demanding the holding of jallikattu as talks with two Tamil Nadu ministers failed. Though, the state government told protesters that it would approach the President seeking an ordinance, the scale of the protests has made it clear that Tamil citizens aren't buying into the state's promises. The support for the protesters is growing with the students of SRM University in Chennai announcing that they would demonstrate outside their institution. College students have also been circulating notices on WhatsApp and other media asking fellow students to skip classes to join the protest. Protests have also continued in other parts of the state as well. It's no longer confined to just Tamil Nadu. More than 500 protesters were detained in Madurai two days back. The government has reportedly raised the issue with the DGP and the commissioner of police but are yet to tackle the protests taking place.

Madras High Court today said it will not interfere on the issue of protests in the city against the ban on bull-taming sport jallikattu.

"First of all, the apex court is seized of the matter. When it is so, even the High Court and Tamil Nadu government cannot do anything and moreover, Marina Road is not a place for any demonstrations. The court does not want to interfere at this stage," the bench said.

The court made this observation when a mention was made by an advocate K Balu in the open court about the protests at the Marina on the jallikattu issue.

HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Thousands of college students sat throughout the night at Marina Beach in Chennai on Tuesday night demanding the holding of jallikattu as talks with two Tamil Nadu ministers failed. Though, the state government told protesters that it would approach the President seeking an ordinance, the scale of the protests has made it clear that Tamil citizens aren't buying into the state's promises. The support for the protesters is growing with the students of SRM University in Chennai announcing that they would demonstrate outside their institution. College students have also been circulating notices on WhatsApp and other media asking fellow students to skip classes to join the protest. Protests have also continued in other parts of the state as well. It's no longer confined to just Tamil Nadu. More than 500 protesters were detained in Madurai two days back. The government has reportedly raised the issue with the DGP and the commissioner of police but are yet to tackle the protests taking place.

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Also Read | We want jallikattu, cry protestors at Chennai's Marina Beach

WATCH THE VIDEO

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While the state is witnessing increasing protests around Jallikattu, the chief minister's absence from the scene and instead attending a movie screening has not gone down well with the people.

By Pramod Madhav: Tamil Nadu has not taken kindly to its chief minister enjoying an MG Ramachandran movie when people are out on the streets protesting against the ban on Jallikattu.

Chief Minister O Panneerselvam is reportedly facing flak for watching the digitised version of MGR and Jayalalithaa-starrer 'Aayirathil Oruvan'.

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala also attended the screening of the movie at the Abhirami cinema hall in Chennai on Tuesday.

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WHERE IS OPS?

On Tuesday, 240 protesters were detained by the police in Allanganallur in Madurai district. People across Tamil Nadu have been protesting against the police action.

In Chennai, thousands of college students sat through the night at Marina Beach demanding the ban on Jallikattu be lifted.

ALSO READ: Chennai: Thousands of people protest at Marina Beach for holding of Jallikattu, ban on PETA

Slogans like "Chinnamma, Chinnamma, OPS yengamma?" (Chinnamma, where is O Panneerselvam?) were heard at the protest venue.

Amid increasing protests around the bull-taming sport, the chief minister's absence from the scene and instead attending a movie screening has not gone down well with the people.

TALKS FAILED

Meanwhile, a meeting between the protesters and two state ministers remained inconclusive on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Jallikattu organised at Ramanathapuram despite Supreme Court ban

Protesters wanted the chief minister to speak with them directly. The ministers told the protesters that CM Panneerselvam was likely to release a statement soon on asking the Central government to bring in an ordinance.

Such assurances however failed to convince the protesters. The protest at Marina Bay today entered its second day.

ALSO READ:

To defy jallikattu ban, cock fight conducted in Tamil Nadu

Jallikattu row: AIADMK chief Sasikala writes to PM, wants change in law

ALSO WATCH

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As Tamil Nadu witnesses massive state-wide protests over jallikattu, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has said that he will ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue an ordinance lifting the ban on the bull-taming sport.

Massive protests have swept Tamil Nadu with demonstrators demanding the ban on jalikattu be lifted

By India Today Web Desk: As protests demanding lifting of ban on jallikattu rocked Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today to seek an ordinance allowing the bull-taming sport.

Panneerselvam has also requested the protesters - thousands gathered at Chennai's Marina Beach alone - to give up their demonstration.

The Supreme Court had on January 12 rejected a plea urging it to pass judgement on the sport before the Pongal festival.

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The apex court had outlawed Jallikattu in 2014 and the state government's review petition was also dismissed last December. It has also reserved judgement on a matter related to the Centre's notification of last year to exempt Jallikattu from the ban.

The Madras High Court today said it will not "interfere" on the issue of protests in Chennai against the ban on Jallikattu, holding that the Supreme Court was seized of the matter.

Meanwhile, a massive state-wide protest, being held demanding holding of jallikattu and banning the animal rights group PETA, entered second day today.

The demonstration began on Tuesday morning after the news of the arrest of jallikattu protesters in Alanganallur town of Madurai district spread.

A number of Tamil Nadu politicians, actors and celebrities have come out in support of the bull-taming sport.

ALSO READ: Jallikattu: As Tamil Nadu CM watches MGR movie, angry Marina Beach protesters ask where OPS isALSO READ: As talks of Sasikala heading Tamil Nadu grow louder, CM Panneerselvam says will follow Amma's path

WATCH VIDEO : Panneerselvam to meet PM Modi for ordinance on resumption of jallikattu

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An investigation into a double murder unraveled the alleged plot cause the Kanpur train derailment, in which over 140 people were killed. Bihar police claims to have unearthed an ISI link to the accident.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The ISI's suspected role in the Kanpur train derailment emerged after three men - Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav - were arrested in connection with the murder of two youths. The murder was allegedly carried about the trio's handler over a failed attempt to carry out an IED blast on railway tracks near Ghorasahan in Bihar's East Champaran district.

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HERE'S HOW THE SUSPECTED LINK EMERGED Brijkishore Giri, the alleged kingpin of the group responsible for the Patna derailment, paid Rs 3 lakh to the trio arrested by the Bihar police, and two others, to plant explosives at the railway tracks near Ghorasahan in Bihar's East Champaran district on October 1, 2016. The latter two, Arun and Deepak Ram, backed out of the plot at the last minute. After police detected and recovered the powerful IED and averted a major accident, Deepak and Arun were punished for their failure. Giri took the duo to Nepal and killed them in a jungle there. It was the investigation into this double murder that unraveled the sinister plan to cause the Kanpur train accident.

THE ISI LINK

Acting on the orders of a man named Shamsul Hoda, who stays in Delhi, Brajkishore Giri and a few other men allegedly planted IEDs on the track which the Indore Patna Express was to take, and also used gas cutters to damage it. This alleged sabotage led to the deadly accident in which over 140 people lost their lives. Hoda is allegedly linked to the ISI.

Central agencies are working to corroborate claims of ISI's link to accident.

Also read: Central agencies to dig into claims on ISI role behind Kanpur derailment

Also watch: Pakistan behind derailment of Indore-Patna Express near Kanpur in 2016?

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Samajwadi Party's Kiranmay Nanda has said that his party is only in talks with Congress over an alliance for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls. Samajwadi Party will be the one to contest from the Rai Bareily and Amethi assembly constituencies, Nanda added.

By Kumar Abhishek: Speaking to Aaj Tak, Samajwadi Party's Kiranmay Nanda said his party did not have any talks with the Rashtriya Lok Dal about an alliance for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly election. Nanda said the Samajwadi Party is only in talks with the Congress.

The SP vice president, who was a central figure in the tussle between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, said while the Congress may be touching base with the Ajit Singh-led RLD over a possible alliance, the SP currently is not giving tickets to any other party in UP.

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Nanda, who was sacked from the party by Mulayam Singh during the infighting, also said there is no decision yet on whether Shivpal Yadav, Mulayam's younger brother, would figure in the Samajwadi Party's plans for the upcoming polls. Only Akhilesh can comment on Shivpal, Nanda said.

Also read: Uttar Pradesh election: Grand Alliance plans hit a hurdle as Ajit Singh's RLD asks for more seats

WANT CONGRESS TO FIGHT IN WESTERN UP

According to Nanda, the SP wants the Congress to fight the election from western UP and has offered most of the seats in the area to the party. Nanda said the SP is in no mood to give up Gandhi family bastions of Rai Bareily and Amethi. Gayatri Prajapati, a minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government, will fight from the Amethi assembly constituency, Nanda said.

Also read: Akhilesh Yadav gets cycle: CM snatches Samajwadi Party symbol, name from father Mulayam Singh

Also watch: Sacked SP leader Kiranmay Nanda alleges forgery of Mulayam Singh's signature on 2 letters

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Even with his inheritance of crores, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh is burdened with a few debts.

By Satender Chauhan, Harmeet Shah Singh: Sprawling estates in Punjab and Uttarakhand, an apartment in Dubai's Goldcrest towers, around Rs 33 lakh in bank deposits and Rs 48 lakh in investments are part of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh's networth. Yet, the scion of the Patiala royalty is running in debts.

In his declaration before the returning officer in the Lambi constituency, Capt Singh disclosed his personal immovable properties were currently priced at Rs 1.21 crore in the market.

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His all movable assets put together valued at Rs 1.41 crore, including jewellery worth Rs 32 lakh, the former chief minister announced in his affidavit.

Also read | Sonia Gandhi will decide Congress CM candidate in Punjab, says Amarinder

Individually, the Captain owns swathes of farmland in Haridwar in Uttarakhand and Kharar in Punjab. A residential flat he bought in Dubai's Goldcrest towers nine years ago is now valued at Rs 96 lakh, according to his asset declaration.

Still, Captain Singh owes a few lakhs to a private firm, Teg Masrado.

The erstwhile royal has borrowed around Rs 7.54 lakh from the Patiala-based company. Government data shows Captain Singh is himself a director at Teg S Masrado Private Limited, with wife Preneet Kaur, since it was founded in 1975. His son Raninder Singh is a third director in the company.

Nevertheless, Captain Singh has yet to pay the loan back to his own establishment.

His bete noire Parkash Singh Badal also declared his networth Wednesday in the Akali stronghold of Lambi.

Also read | Punjab Assembly elections: Navjot Singh Sidhu takes on Badals, threatens to expose scams

The 89-year-old veteran of Punjab politics, who ran the state for two terms in a row over the past decade, has little over Rs 50,000 of cash in hand, his affidavit stated.

Badal Senior's bank deposits stand at Rs 34.07 lakh and his personal transport is valued less than Rs 4 lakh.

Unlike his Congress opponent, the chief minister has himself to recover, if he does, a loan of Rs 3.42 lakh from debtors.

His non-agricultural income in the latest IT return stood at Rs 54.47 lakh. His farm earnings were around Rs 49 lakh during the period, according to his affidavit.

In 2017, Badal's immovable assets are priced at Rs 9.03 crore and his movables are worth Rs 5.45 crore.Also read | Captain Amrinder Singh filed nomination from Lambi, calls it 'Grandfather' of all battles

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The natural mother of Angelina Jolies adopted Ethiopian daughter Zahara, 12, has made a heartfelt plea to the superstar actress telling her: Please just let me talk to my daughter, Daily Mail Online reports.

Poverty stricken Mentewab Dawit Lebiso says she is desperate to be part of her 12-year-old daughters life  and called for Jolie to get custody of her daughter in the bitter split with Brad Pitt.

Mentewab says she has had no letters, photos or money from Jolie since adoption. I just want her to know that I am alive and long to be able to speak with her, she said.

She dreams of one day meeting the girl she gave up as a tiny infant  but said she would settle for the chance to simply hear her voice.

I just want her to know that I am alive and here and long to be able to speak with her. I do not want my daughter back but just to be in contact with her and be able to call her up and talk with her, said Mentewab, who ekes out a living in Ethiopia.

Mentewab is the first to admit that the Jolie-Pitts have given her daughter everything she could wish for, adding: Angelina has been more of a mother to her than I have ever been. She has been with her since she was a baby, but that does not mean I do not miss her.

But she adds: I miss her all the time. I think about her every day and long to hear her voice or see her face. I know when she has a birthday but I am sad because I cant celebrate it with her. I would so much want to celebrate with her on her birthday and other special days. I long to be able to have regular contact with her.

Daily Mail Online tracked down Mentewab to a town in central Ethiopia far from the capital Addis Ababa and tourist attractions of the African country.

During an exclusive interview Mentewab looked close to tears as she mentioned her daughters name and talks of her hopes of one day being reunited with her.

Even now, 12 years after giving up her only child for adoption the pain as she talks about Zahara is clear in her face.

She lowers her eyes, and speaking through an interpreter, says softly in her native, Amharic tongue : I would like Zahara to know she has a mother who loves her as much as Angelina.

I know her life is with Angelina in another country and she speaks another language than me. She has a life that I could never give her, but I would still like to have some contact. I would like to see her face. She has grown into a beautiful woman and I am so proud of her. My heart bursts because I am so proud, Mentewab says.

We all die sometime and before I die I would like her to know about me and that she has family here in Ethiopia. I would ask Angelina to let me speak with her. I do not think it is too much to ask.

The 31-year-old has had no contact with Zahara since she was taken to America by Jolie when she was just six months old in 2005.

Mentewab has not received a card or letter from Jolie in past 12 years. Contact with birth mother is rare for adopted children growing up, however, they have a right to try and trace birth parents when they reach 18.

And despite her and Pitts combined wealth estimated at over $500m Mentewab has not received any financial help to escape the dire poverty that sees her surviving on less than $20 a month and living in a one room home with no running water or toilet.

No money has ever been offered and that does not worry or disappoint me, said Mentewab.

Angelina Jolie was told that Zahara was orphaned when she adopted her in 2005, and had lost her parents through Aids.

It is thought that she had no idea that Mentewab was alive until 2007, when she gave her first interview.

Mentewab is adamant she does not want to destabilize her daughter, nor is she after money. She simply wants any form of contact she can, although she acknowledges that there is no obligation for Jolie to get in touch.
On 3-5 October 2017 Kyiv is going to host the Space and Future Forum to network international experts and youth, many of whom will also participate at the first CosmoHack in the world. Joinfo provides media coverage of the Forum, and some of its topics were already discussed ...
The worlds first three-parent baby was born in Ukraine on January 5, 2017, as a result of an innovative IVF technique that has enabled a previously infertile woman to give birth, said doctor Valery Zukin, director of the reproductive clinic Nadiya (Hope in Ukrainian), Joinfo.com reports citing the report.

A controversial method, the essence of which lies in the pronuclear transfer of nuclei, allowed a previously infertile woman give birth to a healthy boy.

Reproductive specialists applied this method, since a woman had a genetic disorder, and was infertile.

As doctor Valery Zukin explained, this method was effective because the mutated genes carrying the disease remained in the original parent cell, but not in the nuclei. Thus, the nuclei were transferred to a donor egg, allowing a newborn to avoid genetic disease.

Zukin also noted that the conception, pregnancy, and birth of the three-parent baby took place in a natural way without pathologies. As a result, a 34-year-old woman diagnosed with infertility gave birth to a healthy boy. The child has his parents nuclear DNA, containing approximately 25 thousand genes, and cytoplasmic DNA of a donor, with only 37 genes.

This innovative technology can be applied to patients with impaired early stage of embryo development, as well as women who have reason to suspect the birth of a child with mitochondrial disease.
By Press Trust of India: From K J M Varma

Beijing, Jan 18 (PTI) At least three people, including a government official and a media employee were sacked or asked to retire in the past two weeks after their online criticism of Chairman Mao Zedong, the founding father of the Peoples Republic of China, triggered protests from his loyalists.

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On Monday, Zuo Chunhe, a deputy director of the Shijiazhuang Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film, TV, Press and Publication in North Chinas Hebei Province, was fired afterhe called Mao a "devil" in his social media blog and dubbed the annual commemoration of Maos birthday as "the worlds largest cult activity", state-run Global Times daily reported.

Pictures circulating online show Mao supporters protesting in front of the building of Zuos bureau.

Protesters were holding Mao portraits and banners that read, "Down with the anti-Mao traitor Zuo Chunhe."

Zuo was given a major administrative warning and was ordered to deeply reflect on his mistakes. His Weibo account has been deleted.

Maos legacy remains a divisive issue in China after the ruling Communist Party founded by him has changed its ideological course moving away from his hardline Marxist police to reform and opening up three decades ago.

Maos supporters often see China as becoming more capitalist and unequal with the reform and opening-up.

Those who oppose him criticise Mao for the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) in which million killed and welcome a more market-oriented economy.

Zuos removal comes less than a week after Liu Yong, an employee of Luohe Television Station in Central Chinas Henan Province, was fired on January 11 for similar charges of "posting wrong remarks on Sina Weibo" and "serious violations of political discipline and moral standards."

Lius Weibo account has also been deleted, but screenshots circulating online showed his calling Mao "more of a disaster than Yuan Shih-kai," a warlord in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) who tried to restore the monarchy in 1915, presenting himself as the Chinese emperor.

One protester even posted the phone numbers to Luohe TV online and asked his followers to call the station in protest.

Many online netizens have vowed to continue to find people whom they believe are living off the benefits of the system but defile the republics very founder.

On Monday, the Weibo account of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Daily posted an article criticising TV host Liang Hongda for defaming Lei Feng.

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Lei was a PLA soldier singled out posthumously by Mao in 1963 in a campaign that promoted him as an icon representing selflessness and loyalty to the Party.

Mao ruled China with an iron grip for nearly three decades. He died on September 9, 1976 at the age of 82.

He served as Chairman of the Peoples Republic of China from 1949 to 1959, and led the Chinese Communist Party from 1935 until his death. PTI KJV AJR AKJ AJR

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Any glee can probably be traced to the three years it took for the project to happen; the chef's brief resume; advance media attention; and sky-high expectations based on an exorbitant price tag of about $500 a person factoring in wine, tax and tip. Initial reviews, mine included, found a lot missing -- but also glimmers of promise.

I'm not surprised Shaw Bijou closed over the weekend. I do wish the best for the young chef and his team and I hope the space sees another restaurant.

Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining me for another hour of restaurant chat. As I mentioned last week, I'm doing a piece ahead of Valentine's Day on how to do the occasion right away from home. Send your questions to me at tom.sietsema@washpost.com and I'll endeavor to address them in my Magazine column next month.

Let's begin.
I'm one of the people who believe the press did cover trump well during his campaign. But I was chagrined then, and still, that more reports don't quote him directly. When an intelligent reporter "translates" something like (and I'm making this up as an illustration but it's close) "people, you know, they want who they are" to "trump believes individuals are hungry for a personal identity not always consistent with a global setting", it's at total odds with trump's lack of intellectual heft. I realize it must be painful for reporters, for whom language is such an important tool and who use it so well, to dumb down an article with quotations but it's really the best way to make the point that this is a president suffering from a real intelligence gap.




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Credit: University of California, San Francisco

Breastfeeding rates in the United States are rising, and that's good news for babies, because breastfeeding provides babies with protection from certain infections during infancy and, potentially, from some chronic conditions later in life. But African American babies are less likely to be breastfed than other babies in the U.S., a disparity that not only contributes to poorer health outcomes among African American infants and children, but also sets the stage for inequalities that can continue throughout life.

That's why Ifeyinwa Asiodu, an assistant professor at UC San Francisco School of Nursing, is working to close the gap. Her research sheds light on the reasons for the breastfeeding disparity, which she hopes will usher in changes at the individual, community and policy level that will lead to more African American babies reaping the benefits of breastfeeding.

Public Health Nurse to PhD

Asiodu's interest in breastfeeding in the African American community began 13 years ago when she became a public health nurse with San Mateo County's Black Infant Health Program and, later, a senior public health nurse and maternal, child and adolescent health coordinator for the county. While conducting home visits, she encountered many African American women who wanted to breastfeed but didn't have the support or resources they needed to begin or sustain doing so.

At the time, Asiodu was also studying at the School for a master's degree in Advanced Community Health and International Nursing (now the Advanced Public Health Nursing program), but her work with women and babies led her to switch to the Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist program. When her mentors encouraged her to continue her studies in the School's doctoral degree program, she began to think about a research career and what direction it should take.

"I went back to my roots in public health and decided [breastfeeding in the African American community] was an area I wanted to explore more," she says.

Under the mentorship of Audrey Lyndon and Kathryn Lee, Asiodu secured funding from the National Institute of Nursing Research for her dissertation, which focused on identifying barriers to and facilitators of breastfeeding initiation in the African American community. She interviewed first-time African American mothers and their support persons, and spent substantial time in their communities, going to parenting groups and baby showers and visiting their homes.

"I wanted to see how they were thinking about infant feeding, and look at the different family dynamics at play, because I think the infant feeding decision doesn't just involve the lactating person. There are a lot of different influences that either support or hinder," she says.

Examining Cultural Barriers to Breastfeeding

Just as she'd observed during her public health visits, the mothers in her study really wanted to breastfeed but were hampered by systemic, institutional and cultural barriers. Limited family leave and the demands of school made it difficult for many to meet their breastfeeding goals. Many didn't have adequate resources or support, such as help with child care or secure living arrangements, within their communities. Some mothers lacked role models that might have helped them persevere. "They didn't necessarily see successful breastfeeding experiences among either family or friends," says Asiodu.

That lack of breastfeeding role models is, in part, a legacy of slavery, says Asiodu. "African American women weren't in control of their reproduction. They were forced to breed on demand and to be wet nurses. That history has an impact on perceptions of lactation," she says. African American women were especially eager to leave those negative associations behind at a time when attitudes surrounding breastfeeding in general began to shift after the introduction of infant formula, which began to be marketed in earnest in the late 19th century.

Improvements in bottle and nipple design and the advent of in-home refrigeration in the early 20th century made formula an attractive alternative to breastfeeding for the women who could afford it. Breastfeeding began to be perceived as a marker of lower socioeconomic class, a perception that was reinforced as American women joined the workforce in increasing numbers after World War II and began to gain a measure of economic freedom. This, combined with the marketing efforts of formula manufacturers, contributed to a global decline in breastfeeding rates that continued until the 1970s.

Fast-forward several decades, and you have multiple generations of African American women who haven't seen anyone breastfeed, something that Asiodu encountered in her dissertation work. While the participants in her study knew about breastfeeding and its benefits, it wasn't something they saw happening among their peers. "It was something done in private, and even if it was done, [they] got the message that it wasn't something we do," says Asiodu.

In addition, programs and campaigns aimed at increasing breastfeeding have inadvertently reinforced that message with media that have largely left out women of color. "If you go to a breastfeeding or childbirth class, the images and videos are not typically women of color," says Asiodu. As journalist Kimberly Seals Allers wrote in an essay for Bravado Breastfeeding Information Council, "Most of the images we see of black women breastfeeding are semi-naked women in Africa whose lives seem so far away from the modern African-American lifestyle and experience."

Credit: University of California, San Francisco

Socioeconomic Factors in Infant Feeding

In addition to cultural attitudes and experiences, socioeconomic factors contribute to the persistent gap in infant feeding rates. In a perhaps ironic shift, it is now wealthier women who breastfeed at higher rates. The relatively stingy family leave laws in the U.S. mean that new mothers who can't afford to take unpaid time off from work have a short window in which to establish secure breastfeeding relationships with their babies. For working mothers, breastfeeding requires discretionary time for feeding or pumping breast milk  time that is in shorter supply among those with service, retail or other blue-collar jobs than among women with executive or professional positions.

Although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) now requires employers to provide "reasonable break time" and "a place other than a bathroom" for nursing mothers to express breast milk for one year after childbirth, the provision doesn't apply to some workers who are exempt from overtime pay regulations or whose employers have gross revenues of less than $500,000 per year.

Moreover, while the ACA mandates that most insurers cover the cost of a breast pump for lactating mothers, certain plans are exempt. In the case of Medicaid, whether a pump must be covered depends on state law. And, Asiodu adds, the law doesn't specify what kinds of pumps must be covered. Some plans cover only manual pumps or standard electric (rather than hospital-grade) pumps, which can make pumping enough milk to sustain an infant through a day away from its mother difficult and time-consuming.

Equally important, says Asiodu, there is a large variation between plans in terms of the timing in which mothers receive their pumps after submitting a claim. If a woman receives her pump weeks after returning to work, her production of breast milk may already have decreased to the point where she can no longer provide enough for her baby to eat throughout the day.

Building Communities of Support

Despite the inadequacies of current policy in supporting breastfeeding among African American women  which may only get worse if the ACA is repealed  there is progress on the cultural front, thanks to the efforts of groups that focus on supporting breastfeeding among women of color. In 2013, a trio of activists began promoting the final week of August's National Breastfeeding Month as Black Breastfeeding Week. It's grown to an annual celebration that includes community events, presentations and a social media campaign with the hashtag #lifteverybaby.

Groups like Black Women Do Breastfeed and the National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color and their social media presence provide positive images and spaces for women of color to share their breastfeeding stories and receive culturally sensitive support. And, says Asiodu, general breastfeeding advocacy groups are beginning to pay more attention to  and include imaging that features  women of color.

The potential for social media to support breastfeeding surprised Asiodu when it came up in her research. She asked women participating in one of her studies how they received their information on caring for themselves and their babies, expecting them to cite pamphlets, books or classes. Instead, they all mentioned social media apps they used on their cell phones. "These were lower-income, lower-socioeconomic-status women, but they still had access to this technology," she says. "It highlighted that the way in which people are getting information is changing." Asiodu's research in this area resulted in a 2015 paper published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing.

Social media were especially important for women who didn't have other support for meeting their breastfeeding goals. "They went online and found groups with moms who were in similar situations and who looked like them, and they found support and motivation that way, which was nice to see," she says.

One drawback of social media, however, is the potential for inaccurate information to spread. It's a concern Asiodu has heard from lactation consultants and breastfeeding peer counselors. While most groups do a good job of monitoring their communities for inappropriate medical advice, she says, there's a need for more information from qualified experts.

She'd also like to see more health care providers having open-ended conversations with families about feeding options early in pregnancy. Such in-person discussions give the provider a chance to meet a woman where she is and correct misinformation or point her to culturally informed resources and support options specific to her needs. "We need to ask who in her circle is supportive of her decision [to breastfeed] and include them in the conversation," says Asiodu.

Examining Other Factors

Asiodu has been expanding her work to look at other factors associated with breastfeeding in the African American community. After getting her PhD degree in 2014, she did postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois at Chicago with a research team working with the Rush Mothers' Milk Club. The team brought Asiodu in to work on two papers on barriers to breastfeeding among low-birth-weight babies discharged from Rush University Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

They found that factors as disparate as family support, establishment of feeding goals and lack of access to a car affected rates of breastfeeding. This is troubling because breastfeeding is particularly beneficial for these babies, as it can reduce the potential for poor outcomes associated with low birth weight and prematurity, including necrotizing enterocolitis, a potentially lethal disorder that afflicts 8 percent of NICU babies. African American babies have higher rates of prematurity, low birth weight and infant mortality than their peers, so increasing breastfeeding among that population could help reduce associated health disparities.

Asiodu continues to look for other research opportunities to improve the well-being of African American mothers and babies. She's working on grant requests to fund research into additional breastfeeding-related factors that affect health, including breastfeeding's effects on growth and development, and the role of stress in lactation.

While a tremendous amount of progress has been made in the last five to 10 years, there is still a great deal of work to do to achieve breastfeeding equity in this country. "It's going to take a multifaceted approach to address [breastfeeding] disparities," she says. "It's important to move the science forward."

More information: Ifeyinwa V. Asiodu et al. Infant Feeding Decision-Making and the Influences of Social Support Persons Among First-Time African American Mothers, Maternal and Child Health Journal (2016). Ifeyinwa V. Asiodu et al. Infant Feeding Decision-Making and the Influences of Social Support Persons Among First-Time African American Mothers,(2016). DOI: 10.1007/s10995-016-2167-x
Kenar D. Jhaveri, MD, and Richard Barnett, MD, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research scientists and Northwell Health Department of Internal Medicine nephrologists, published a Letter to the Editor in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, which profiles a novel drug combination with the potential to help prevent rejection of a donor kidney in transplant patients undergoing cancer treatment. The novel drug combination allows the rapidly emerging cancer therapies called immune checkpoint inhibitors to be incorporated into a transplant patient's cancer treatment regimen. This observation shows promise for people undergoing cancer therapy who have also had a kidney transplant.

The goal of any course of cancer treatment is to prevent and/or kill future growth of malignant cells. Sometimes this can be challenging as some cancer cells "trick" the immune system into thinking they are healthy cells. Doctors are seeing promise in a group of drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors, which activate the immune system to attack the cancer. While effective in most cancer patients, this course of treatment has been less successful in kidney transplant patients because if the immune system is activated, it causes the patient's body to start rejecting their donor kidney. Dr. Jhaveri and Dr. Barnett observed during the treatment of a patient living with cancer who had a kidney transplant that the combination of steroids and sirolimus, an immunosuppressant that has anti-cancer properties, could prevent a patient's body from rejecting the organ during cancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

In the case that Drs. Jhaveri and Barnett outline in their Letter to the Editor, they observed the treatment of a 70 year-old Caucasian male who received a kidney transplant in 2010 and recently underwent treatment for small bowel cancer which had spread to the liver. The patient was given prednisone, a steroid, and an immunosuppressant (sirolimus) prior to incorporating an immune checkpoint inhibitor (nivolumab). The patient's kidney did not experience any rejection and the cancer regressed as well. In addition, the patient was able to receive the full benefit of this immunotherapy, which attacked the cancer cells without having an effect on the transplant organ. Eight months later, the patient is enjoying his day-to-day life and able to fight his cancer without any rejection of his transplanted kidney.

"In reviewing this patient's case, I think we might have found a novel strategy of using pre-emptive steroids and sirolimus to mitigate organ rejection in transplant patients receiving cancer treatment involving PD-1 inhibitors," said Dr. Jhaveri, associate chief of the Division of Kidney Diseases and Hypertension in Northwell Health's Department of Internal Medicine. "This letter highlights the use of a novel regimen and may give the patients with a kidney transplant and cancer hope of treating the cancer while keeping the kidney and thereby avoiding dialysis."

Thomas McGinn, MD, MPH, center head for the Feinstein Institute's Merinoff Center for Patient-Oriented Research and chair of Northwell Health's Department of Internal Medicine, said: "This work will be important as the use of these cancer agents increases. I commend the authors on a bold and innovative approach in management of a very tough clinical situation."

"Important discoveries begin with a novel observation," said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institute. "I hope that the medical science community now will build on Dr. Jhaveri's discovery so that patients with cancer who must also undergo a kidney transplant can benefit."

Provided by Northwell Health
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Mandarin makes you more musical - and at a much earlier age than previously thought. That's the suggestion of a new study from the University of California San Diego. But hold on there, overachiever parents, don't' rush just yet to sign your kids up for Chinese lessons instead of piano.

In a paper published in Developmental Science, an international team of researchers shows that among the preschool set - or young children between the ages of 3 and 5 - native speakers of Mandarin Chinese are better than their English-speaking counterparts at processing musical pitch.

The implications of the findings go beyond determining who may have a head-start in music, the researchers say. The work shows that brain skills learned in one area affect learning in another.

"A big question in development, and also in cognition in general, is how separate our mental faculties actually are," said lead author Sarah Creel of the Department of Cognitive Science in UC San Diego's Division of Social Sciences. "For instance, are there specialized brain mechanisms that just do language? Our research suggests the opposite - that there's permeability and generalization across cognitive abilities.

The researchers conducted two separate experiments with similar groups of young Mandarin Chinese learners and English learners. They tested a total of 180 children on tasks involving pitch contour and timbre. Where the English and Mandarin speakers performed similarly on the timbre task, the Mandarin speakers significantly outperformed on pitch, aka tone.

Mandarin is a tone language. In a tone language, the tone in which a word is said not only conveys a different emphasis or emotional content, but an altogether different meaning. For instance, the syllable "ma" in Mandarin can mean "mother," "horse," "hemp" or "scold," depending on the pitch pattern of how it's spoken. Mandarin-language learners quickly learn to identify the subtle changes in pitch to convey the intended outcome, while "ma" in English can really only mean one thing: "mother." It's the linguistic attention to pitch that gives young Mandarin speakers an advantage in perceiving pitch in music, the authors conclude.

"Both language and music contain pitch changes, so if language is a separate mental faculty, then pitch processing in language should be separate from pitch processing in music," Creel said. "On the other hand, if these seemingly different abilities are carried out by overlapping cognitive mechanisms or brain areas, then experience with musical pitch processing should affect language pitch processing, and vice versa."

Co-author Gail Heyman, of UC San Diego's Department of Psychology, who specializes in development, added: "Demonstrating that the language you speak affects how you perceive music -at such an early age and before formal training - supports the theory of cross-domain learning."

Tone languages are common in parts of Africa, East Asia and Central America, with estimates that as much as 70 percent of world languages may be considered tonal. Other tonal languages besides Mandarin include Thai, Yoruba and Xhosa.

Creel and Heyman's work follows on a hypothesis first put forth by Diana Deutsch, also of UC San Diego, that experience with a tonal language leads to enhanced pitch perception in music. Deutsch studied skilled adult students of music and tested them on absolute or "perfect" pitch. Absolute pitch is the relatively rare ability to recognize a musical note without reference to any other notes.

Relative pitch, or understanding the pitch relationships between notes, is the focus of the present study. Relative pitch allows you to sing in key and be in tune with other people around you.

"We show for the first time that tone-language experience is associated with advanced musical pitch processing in young children," the study co-authors write. "There are far-reaching theoretical implications for neuroscience and behavior, and our research has important practical implications for designing early intervention programs, or 'brain training' regimes.'"

But that said, don't ditch your child's music lessons for language, or language lessons for music, Heyman and Creel caution. It's still true that to succeed at music, you need to study music. And learning an additional language is a demonstrably good thing in itself, too - whether or not it makes you a better musician.

More information: Sarah C. Creel et al, Speaking a tone language enhances musical pitch perception in 3-5-year-olds, Developmental Science (2017). Journal information: Developmental Science Sarah C. Creel et al, Speaking a tone language enhances musical pitch perception in 3-5-year-olds,(2017). DOI: 10.1111/desc.12503
(HealthDay)Nearly one in 10 patients seeking facial plastic surgery suffers from a mental illness that distorts their perception of physical defects, but doctors often don't spot the problem, new research suggests.

Researchers found that plastic surgeons correctly identified the diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in less than 5 percent of patients who screened positive for the disorder.

According to published reports, many specialists suspect that the late superstar Michael Jacksonwho underwent repeated plastic surgeries that dramatically changed his appearancestruggled with body dysmorphic disorder. Those affected with BDD, considered a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, are overly preoccupied with perceived body defects that are actually miniscule and commonly involve the nose, eyes, skin or hair, the study authors said.

"We all knew patients with BDD were in our practice, but we didn't know the prevalence of it," said study author Dr. Lisa Earnest Ishii. She's an associate professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery in the division of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

"So one of the interesting findings was the high prevalence of BDD [our study] showed," Ishii added. "The other surprise was just how poor we were as surgeons at picking it up."

Prior research indicated that up to three-quarters of patients with body dysmorphic disorder consult plastic surgeons about cosmetic procedures, and up to six in 10 undergo unnecessary surgery to "fix" their perceived defects.

In the new study, Ishii and her team screened nearly 600 patients who sought facial plastic surgery consultations at three medical sites over 11 months. Patients were given a specialized questionnaire that determined if they had body dysmorphic disorder.

Despite how commonly the psychiatric condition was identified by the questionnairealmost 10 percent of patients screened positiveonly 4 percent of patients had been suspected of having the problem by plastic surgeons.

Ishii said she isn't sure why more plastic surgeons didn't suspect body dysmorphic disorder in their patients, but is concerned "we are inherently biased."

"We all went into this [field] with the goal of helping patients," she added. "So I feel we are biased to think, 'This patient just needs good help and I can provide that help, and if I just perform some kind of procedure on them, they will be better.' I think our inherent bias prevents us from seeing what's really there."

But Ishii's view was challenged by another plastic surgery expert. Dr. Rodney Rohrich, editor-in-chief of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, believes that many body dysmorphic disorder patients aim to deceive plastic surgeons about their obsession with their appearance.

"One of the hallmarks of BDD patients is they don't like to be found out," said Rohrich, who is also a clinical plastic surgeon at the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute. "If they're found out, they leave. These patients are very smartmost won't even want to do this [BDD] questionnaire because they're so smart."

Ishii did not have data indicating how often the body dysmorphic disorder screening questionnaire is used by plastic surgeons nationwide, but noted that surgeons have typically felt "they do a very good job at screening for it."

She was reluctant to suggest a policy that would mandate formal screening, but does think the questionnaire should become the standard of care among plastic surgeons.

"The [questionnaire] is very easy to administer and incorporate into a busy practice, and given the patients we miss by not administering it, we stand a lot to gain," Ishii said.

Rohrich said that patient privacy laws would prevent doctors from sharing knowledge about plastic surgery seekers, who may "doctor-shop" if one plastic surgeon turns them down for a procedure because of concerns about the psychiatric condition.

"Every week we see patients like this, but they're very smart and they go from one doctor to another," he said. "But many times they're also very nice, so they do eventually find a surgeon who will operate on them again. And many have the means and resources to do so."

Ishii said plastic surgeons should refer suspected BDD patients to a psychiatrist with special expertise in the disorder. Rohrich said, however, that he feels the proper approach "is to never operate on these types of patients."

"I try to let them down softly. I try saying, 'I don't see what you see.' Sometimes I just tell them, 'I'm not good enough to give you the result you want,' " he said. "You have to be careful about that ... confronting them hasn't worked well. I tried getting them to go to therapy, but they wouldn't go."

The new research was published online recently in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

Copyright  2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: Virginia Commonwealth University

The 2017 Public Policy Poll: Public Safety, Substance Use and Mental Healthconducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth Universityfound strong support for providing treatment to opioid users.

More than six out of 10 (61 percent) respondents felt heroin users should be offered treatment instead of being arrested and criminally charged. Seven out of 10 (72 percent) said the same course of action should be offered to prescription drug abusers. Similarly, citizens surveyed were also supportive of treatment programs instead of incarceration for nonviolent offenders who suffer from mental illness.

In recent months, opioid use and its impact on the criminal justice system has taken center stage in policy debates around the country and Virginia has been no different. In November 2016, Virginia State Health Commissioner Marissa Levine declared a public health emergency and said, "The consequences of opioid addiction in Virginia have risen to unprecedented levels and can now be classified as epidemic."

While respondents strongly support the idea of treatment versus arrest, there were significant differences among those who identified themselves as Democrat, Republican and Independent. For those who favored treatment among heroin users, 38 percent identified themselves as Democrat, 18 percent Republican and 38 percent Independent as compared to 35 percent Democrat, 24 percent Republican and 35 percent Independent who favor treatment for prescription medication abuse.

However, there was overwhelming support for treatment for opioid users suffering mental illness by both Republicans (81 percent) and Democrats (92 percent).

As with issues of substance abuse and mental illness, police community relations are also at the forefront of public debate. Violent events in Baltimore, Tulsa and Charlotte have linked the use of force and poor race relations to unfavorable views about the police. Current public opinion in Virginia does not show similar results. More than three-quarters of poll respondents believe police in their community treat people fairly (78 percent), do a good job handling race relations in their community (75 percent), and use the appropriate amount of force in dealing with suspects (73 percent).

"Public perceptions of police in our community are key to the maintenance of public safety," said Robyn McDougle, Ph.D., faculty director of the Office of Public Policy Outreach and associate professor of Criminal Justice at the Wilder School.

"As many communities around the country are addressing dismal community police relations, Virginians' perceptions of police are very favorable, which is a testament to the continual training and outreach that our police departments have done and continue to do around the commonwealth," she said.

The poll was conducted in partnership with the office of the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. It also addressed issues on national security. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents are concerned about terrorist attacks in Virginia, with a majority stating they would be conducted by U.S.-based hate groups.

"The partnership we have with VCU on this poll presents a tremendous opportunity to check the pulse on a variety of public safety and security issues across the commonwealth," said Brian Moran, Virginia secretary of public safety and homeland security.

"After surveying the results, I am pleased to see that support for our law enforcement officials is trending positively, and the job they are doing in communities is viewed favorably. The poll also demonstrates support for the governor's initiatives with regard to mental health and combating the opioid epidemic," Moran said. "Virginians view opioid abusers and those experiencing lack of treatment for mental illness as an increasingly difficult issue plaguing communities and that treatment options should be available for these users."

Citizens were not, however, as confident in public safety agencies' abilities to respond to acts of terrorism in Virginia. Slightly less than three-quarters of respondents (71 percent) indicated they were concerned about public safety agencies being unable to protect residents from such attacks.

"Terrorist attacks around the world are becoming regularly reported news events and the commonwealth's proximity to the nation's capital has kept concerns regarding personal safety at the forefront of our citizens' thoughts. Recent poll responses highlight the need for continual community conversations and preparations," McDougle said.

More information: 2017 Public Policy Poll: Public Safety, Substance Use and Mental Health: 2017 Public Policy Poll: Public Safety, Substance Use and Mental Health: news.vcu.edu/pdfs/Public-Safety-Poll.pdf
It's the Tuesday night before Christmas as Ian W. Holloway tucks his 2-year-old daughter Sofia into bed and prepares to leave his home.

It's time for Holloway, an assistant professor of social welfare in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, to get back to work.

Along with three UCLA student researchers, Holloway will spend the next several hours bar-hopping in West Hollywood for his latest research project. Their task will be to find and interview gay and bisexual men outside popular nightspots and discover how much they know about a current meningitis outbreak and the steps that health officials have taken to battle it.

Time is a critical factor. The team needs to complete about 500 interviews by February. The data they gather will be analyzed by March to inform a research brief that should help California produce better outreach and programs centered on meningitis vaccination for this population.

Holloway's meningitis study is part of a four-year $4 million grant from the California HIV/AIDS Research Program to produce "what we call rapid-response research," he explains. The idea is to complete research within months, not years, related to timely policy issues that impact people living with HIV or AIDS in California. The meningitis outbreak has led to two deaths since it was first reported last spring, and the researchers need to go where those most at risk can reliably be found.

Because outbreak of the disease in Southern California is primarily among gay and bisexual men, health officials in Southern California are urging all gay and bisexual men and HIV-infected people in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease.

For Holloway, the director of the Southern California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center at UCLA Luskin, this type of on-the-ground research is commonplace. An academic research project involving bar hopping in West Hollywood may seem incongruous, but it is a proven research approach when the target audience is gay and bisexual men in Los Angeles County, particularly those who are HIV-positive. "We use a strategy called venue-based sampling," Holloway explains. "It's a systematic sampling strategy that is one of the best ways we know for how to approximate generalizability among gay and bisexual men."

Outside Urth Caffe, Holloway helps student researchers establish a "line" at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Westmount Drive. Students then approach any man who crosses that line, asking them to participate in the research effort by spending 20 minutes answering questions using an iPad.

But foot traffic at Urth Caffe soon proves to be light. So the survey team moves to the next venue that has been randomly selected the Motherlode, a bar on Santa Monica Boulevard. But when that looks empty, the team goes around the corner to their "emergency backup" site, the Abbey, a West Hollywood landmark.

To gather enough surveys to produce statistically valid results by their deadline, Holloway has put together a rotating team of about 10 UCLA student workers. The majority are Luskin master of social welfare students; two are UCLA Ph.D. students. "We are looking for [student canvassers] who are obviously outgoing and who understand the importance of collecting good quality data," says Holloway. The canvassers also need to be comfortable staying out to the wee hours to chat with strangers they encounter outside bars and clubs.

As noted on its website, the center works closely with community partners from AIDS Project Los Angeles Health and the Los Angeles LGBT Center to tailor research efforts to match urgent needs within the LGBT communities.

"We get community input, synthesize that and then set an agenda for policy research," Holloway explains. "It is  very much aligned with the mission of Luskin and the mission of the Department of Social Welfare."

Holloway's passion to promote better health options for LGBT communities is an outgrowth of growing up in Northern California during the early years of the AIDS epidemic in America.

"Hearing and seeing what happened close by in San Francisco, I think it was pretty impactful for my young life," Holloway recalls.

This type of on-the-ground research is commonplace for Holloway's dedication recently led the Society of Social Work Research to select him to receive the Deborah K. Padgett Early Career Achievement Award.

The award recognizes social research work completed during the recipient's first decade after earning a doctoral degree. "They give just one a year at the society's big professional meeting," Holloway says.

In addition to this study, Holloway is currently shepherding three other major projects:

A two-year study supported by a $1.89 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense is looking at the experiences of LGBT active-duty service members since the 2010 repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell," the law barring homosexuals from openly serving in the military.

A study funded by the NIH uses predictive technologies to understand how gay and bisexual men use geo-social networking apps and other kinds of social media to find substance use and sexual partners.

He is also helping to develop a social networking app for young HIV-positive black men in L.A. County with a grant from California HIV/AIDS Research Program. It will be a virtual community space for them to connect with those with similar experiences, focusing not just on health and medication adherence, but on housing, job assistance, social services and legal needs.

Meanwhile, back on the streets of West Hollywood, students like Ryan Dougherty are learning about more than just health issues that impact today's gay and bisexual men.

"You can spend all day in the classroom learning about research, but to actually do it and overcome the logistical barriers  is a really good learning experience," Dougherty says.

At the Abbey, Dougherty attempts to flag down men who cross his survey line. Some ignore him. A few wave him off. One doesn't qualify because he is not an L.A. County resident.

Then a young man in a white sweatshirt approaches. Dougherty catches his attention. The newcomer meets the research criteria and is willing to take the survey.

Nearby, Ian Holloway nods his approval. And the research interview begins.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are tumors that arise is the wall of the digestive tract, and most often occur in the stomach or small intestine. Though more common in later in life, GISTs can occur in adolescents and young adults (AYA) under 40 years old as well.

Writing in the January 18, 2017 issue of JAMA Surgery, researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine report findings from the first population-based analysis of AYA patients with GIST.

The retrospective cohort study, using the National Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, looked at patients with recorded diagnoses of GIST between 2001 and 2013, with follow-up through 2015. Of the 5,765 patients with recorded cases of GIST, 392 were AYA between the ages of 13 and 39.

The researchers, headed by senior author Jason Sicklick, MD, associate professor of surgery and surgical oncologist at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, found that small intestine tumors in AYA patients were associated with improved survival compared to stomach tumors.

The opposite is true in older adult patients, according to Katherine Fero, lead author of the study. "Many earlier studies, including one from our group, have shown that stomach GISTs have a better prognosis when we look at all patients with GIST. Thus, there is likely something biologically unique about GISTs in younger people."

Perhaps not surprisingly, AYA patients are more likely to be treated surgically than older adults (84.7 percent vs. 78.4 percent), who may have additional confounding health factors. AYA patients whose tumors were managed non-operatively had a 2-fold increased risk of death from GIST. In a subset analysis of AYA patients with metastatic GIST, surgical management was also associated with improved survival: 69.5 percent compared to 53.7 percent five years after diagnosis.

"The study suggests that in AYA patients, surgical management of their GIST is associated with improved overall and GIST-specific survival, including among patients whose cancer has spread," said Sicklick.
By India Today Web Desk: With less than a month left for Neil Nitin Mukesh and Rukmini Sahay's wedding, the preparations are in full swing. The family has already begun giving out the wedding card to close friends. And once-upon-a-time actor Aarti Chabria gave a sneak-peek into the wedding card when she shared a picture of the same on Twitter.

ALSO READ: Neil Nitin Mukesh all set to marry in February, would like to keep it simple

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ALSO READ: The complete details of Neil Nitin Mukesh-Rukmini Sahay wedding

Designed by Ravish Kapoor, the wedding invite the initials of Neil and Rukmini embossed on the card. But what catches your attention are the popular lines.. "Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai, Maujon Ki Ravaani Hai, Zindagi Kuch Bhi Nahi, Teri Meri Kahani Hai" from the 1972 film etched on the card. The song was sung by Neil's grandfather Mukesh in the film.

What an awesome #weddingcard!Heartfelt congratulations 2 ur entire fly & U. Loadsa love to this cutest couple ~ Rukmini & @NeilNMukesh ???? pic.twitter.com/kTAHj3IIAb Aarti Chabria (@aartichabria) January 17, 2017

In an interview to Pinkvilla, Ravish said, "When Neil approached us to do the card, he wanted us to create an invitation that was regal and timeless and had a vintage quality to it. He wanted to also acknowledge his own legendary past and pay homage to his grandfather and the influence it had not only on Neil but how his songs have influenced so many people. His songs are the songs of romance, the songs of love, timeless to this day. We wanted to create something that represented these feelings, something that had a keepsake quality to it, that looked personal.

Neil added that he wanted the wedding card to be very personal. The Prem Ratan Dhan Payo actor told the website, "We decided to go with a compilation of memories. Everything starts and ends with Mukesh in our upbringing and the entire conceptualization for the invite came from my father and my mother. It is like a series of love ballads springing to life and I've already received so many calls from well-wishers telling me how much they have loved the thought behind the invite."

Neil and Rukmini, who got engaged in October last year, will get hitched on February 9 in Udaipur. The family has opted for a grand destination wedding which will be followed by a reception in Mumbai.

(With inputs from Shivangi Thakur)

--- ENDS ---
New research by scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) and the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UM SOD), is highlighted in a special issue of Pathogens and Disease.

The issue focuses on key issues in infection and immunity, which are crucial research areas at the institution. It includes 22 articles, mini-reviews, and commentaries on a range of infectious agents, including Ebola and Clostridium difficile, as well as new vaccine approaches at the UM SOM Center for Vaccine Development and comparative genomics studies of protozoan parasites at UM SOM Institute for Genome Science.

"I'm very proud to be a part of this undertaking," said one of the editors of the issue, James B. Kaper, PhD, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor and Chair in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at UM SOM. "From biofilms to Ebola, this work by scientists at UM SOM and UM SOD is really advancing our knowledge in important ways."

"This special issue, focusing on the work of one institution provides a time capsule of the state-of-the-art research being done at UMB in infectious disease and immunity research," said Editor-in-Chief of Pathogens and Disease, Patrik Bavoil, PhD, Professor & Chair of the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis at UM SOD and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UM SOM. "It also provides a glimpse of the collaborative spirit between the School of Medicine and the School of Dentistry in terms of infectious disease research."

Alan Schmaljohn, PhD, a Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at UM SOM, along with George Lewis, PhD, a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at UM SOM and director of the Division of Vaccine Research at the UM SOM Institute of Human Virology, co-authored a review paper looking at how Ebola antibodies provide protection. It appears that many Ebola antibodies work not primarily by neutralizing the virus, but by targeting cells that have already been infected by the virus. By doing this, the cell-targeting antibodies decrease transmission of the virus from infected cells to healthy cells. The paper illustrates the complex ways by which these antibodies protect against the disease.

Tonya Webb, PhD, an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, contributed two papers. In one, she focuses on sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a molecule that plays a key role in immunity and inflammation. She argues that it may be possible to target the S1P pathway as a way to fight cancer.

In another paper, Dr. Webb looked at the central signaling pathways that activate the innate immune system. One of these pathways is the AMPK pathway, which gets activated during viral infection. Dr. Webb and her colleagues found that the pathway is also active in human tumor cells. This finding has potential clinical significance, because there are certain drugs that can induce activation of the AMPK pathway, including the already-approved diabetes drug Metformin. Treatment with these drugs might increase the ability of the immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells.

Another article details an investigation into the antibiotic-resistant superbug Clostridium difficile, which causes 30,000 deaths in the United States each year and for which, as yet, no effective prevention is available. Antibodies against the bacterial toxins, the culprit of the disease, have proven to be protective against the infection in animal disease models and in clinical trials. However, antibodies are impractical for prevention due to their high cost and short life in serum after delivery. In this study, Hanping Feng, PhD, Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis at UM SOD and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UM SOM, and his colleagues engineered an attenuated virus for delivering anti-toxin antibodies. They demonstrated that virus-infected mice express highly potent anti-toxin antibodies that are fully protective against both primary and recurrent C. difficile infection for up to two months. This novel strategy has great potential for the prevention against C. difficile infection.

An article co-authored by Alison J. Scott, PhD, Research Associate Professor of the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis at UM SOD, along with Robert K. Ernst, PhD, Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis at UM SOD and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UM SOM, focused on new methods and tools to investigate lipid A, advancing the study of lipids in the interactions of bacteria and their hosts. The researchers improved the ability to detect host and bacterial lipids as much as 100-fold, employing the matrix norharmane in mass spectrometric imaging experiments. The paper highlights paths for improving the understanding of how pathogens interact with their animal and human hosts.

"This collaborative work really shows the breadth and depth of the research being done here on infection and immunity," said UM SOM Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, who is also the Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor. "Our scientists are using exciting approaches and innovative tools to analyze and help solve these critical global health challenges."

"The research being conducted here in dentistry and medicine will significantly advance our understanding of the treatment and prevention of an array of infectious diseases. This issue highlights some of the innovative, collaborative work at the University of Maryland," said School of Dentistry Dean Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD.
His mission was to create a space where sexual minorities could congregate openly and provide a platform to work for social change. In 2012, he moved to Beijing, where he and his business partner, Yeh Kenta, established what is now the Two Cities Cafe and Lounge. In an interview, Mr. Lai, 51, discussed the progress he had seen in gay rights, how Taipei differed from Beijing and how he dealt with the occasional visit by the Chinese police.

How do you feel about the passage of the same-sex marriage proposals in Taiwan?

Very happy. It was just drafts that were passed, and they still need to undergo a process of consultation among political parties and more readings, and we dont know what the final outcome will be. But most of my friends are delighted because, after years of campaigning for this, theres finally some progress.

Final passage would be a milestone. Some of my friends in mainland China have told me they might go to Taiwan. Up to now, if they wanted to get married, they had to go to the United States or Europe. I feel that the gay community in China has been greatly encouraged. Since we share a similar cultural background, they believe that if Taiwan can achieve this they can start to expect more for China.

Youve long been part of the gay rights movement in Taiwan. How do you see it developing?

Ive witnessed profound changes in Taiwan society since the lifting of martial law in the 1980s. I saw a lot of civic movements emerging and people taking to the streets to protest. I was quite young at the time and greatly inspired. I started to appreciate the significance of democratization.

Now, more and more people accept that, as a Taiwanese, its right to stand up for the underprivileged and the marginalized. Not just on same-sex marriage but on other issues, like environmental protection. Those who get involved are not always the ones directly affected, but they feel obligated to do something for those who are. Thats why, this time, weve also seen so many heterosexuals joining the demonstrations.
Poynting Antennas, which is known for developing world-class technologies, has been selected by Norway to serve the countrys rescue services.

The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation had a need for accurate weather information in secluded areas, with pilots often forced to turn back when the weather suddenly changed.

To solve the problem, a small weather station was developed to be installed in remote areas.

These weather stations were equipped with 2 to 3 high-end cameras, computers, and various measurement tools, sensors, and electronics.

All data could now be sent over a mobile network via a robust mobile broadband router from Advantech/B+B SmartWorx.

As the weather stations were spread around the mountains and rural areas of Norway, though, there was a need for robust and reliable antennas.

South Africas Poynting Antennas was selected for the project.

Each weather station is equipped with the LR77 Libratum 4G router and 1 or 2 antennas.

Depending of the topography and coverage, they use either the XPOL-2 directional antenna or the omnidirectional OMNI-69/OMNI-121 from Poynting.

Using these antennas, data is sent continuously to and from the weather stations.

Air ambulance bases and pilots, police helicopters, and other operators in the air ambulance service now have access to 100 weather stations and cameras around the country.

Each station transmits images of high quality  including at night  and provides information about pressure and temperature.

The information gives pilots a basis for choosing the best route.

XPOL-2 Cross Polarised High-Gain LTE Panel Antenna

OMNI-121 All-Band GSM Omni-Directional Antenna

OMNI-69 All-Band LTE/Cellular Omni-Directional Antenna
France, Singapore and Switzerland begin joint testing of experimental digital currencies

Oil war is Biden's biggest mistake

Japan considers possible deployment of hypersonic missiles by 2030

Germany to install better air defense system over Defense Ministry buildings

Erdogan and Stoltenberg discuss war in Ukraine

Armenian MOD: Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire in direction of Armenian positions

True cost of Europe's rejection of Russian gas

White House tries to explain Biden's statement about freeing Iran

Former Pakistani Prime Minister: Either we will have a peaceful revolution or a bloody one

Aramyan: Why are police officers' salaries increasing, while defense officers' are not?

Pentagon and U.S. weapons manufacturers to discuss Russia, human resources and supply chain

Ankara says U.S. may approve sale of F-16s to Turkey within few months

IMF: Turkey should tighten monetary policy and give the Central Bank more independence

Pope urges religious leaders to keep the world from brink of abyss

Putin awards Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II with Order of Honor

U.S. says G7 countries realize need for coordinated response to China

Round-the-clock curfew is introduced in Kherson

Borrell says they can't put China and Russia on same level

Olaf Scholz calls on China to influence Russia

G7 foreign ministers express 'unwavering commitment' to protecting Ukraine, criticized PRC and IRI

Political technologist explains why Pashinyan was elected chairman of board of ruling party in Armenia

Erdogan signs up for TikTok

China's army is constantly preparing for war amid provocative U.S. actions

Kalin: Armenia is constructive about normalization of relations

Poland asks EU to suspend fines

Putin: Situation in Ukraine was deadly for Russia

Portugal to test a four-day workweek

US embassy in Armenia issues statement ahead of November 5 protests in Yerevan

Dollar, euro go up in Armenia

Baku authorities once again refuse to allow PFPA to hold protest rally

Iranians commemorate anniversary of US embassy seizure

Richard Kauzlarich: Azerbaijan, Armenia FMs meeting in Washington 'will send message to Putin'

Russia ratifies protocol on requirements for length of service of EEU bodies' employees for pensions

Armenia deputy defense minister in Russia, discusses military cooperation

Yerevan receives proposal to hold Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan interparliamentary talks

Health minister: We will work with fallen Armenia detainees relatives one more time after which bodies will be buried

Putin allows mobilization of citizens with unexpunged criminal record for serious crimes

Arnika, NESEHNUTI NGOs of Czech Rep. issue joint statement on plan to expand gold mine in Armenias Karaberd

Putin urges to evacuate civilians living in Kherson from the war zone

Iran parliament speaker to visit Armenia

Ruling force MP: Canada is opening embassy in Armenia because we are one of worlds most democratic countries

Girl with Armenian roots ends up in Vladimir orphanage

Erdogan says he has agreed with Putin to supply grain to needy countries for free

Armenia President, UK envoy agree to continue cooperation, close contacts

Armenia FM receives EU Monitoring Capacity

Spanish MPs don't approve agreement with Baku as a sign of solidarity with Armenia

Japan says North Korea may go ahead with nuclear test

Armenia government to allocate about $5M to Karabakh refugees support program

Belarusian border service: Border guards intercepts Ukrainian training drone

President appoints Ruben Vardanyan as Karabakh Minister of State

US embassy expresses concern about human rights violation in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan continues muscle play on Iran border

Ibrahim Kalin says Turkey will become an important gas center one way or another

Biden: We're gonna free Iran

Reuters: G7 countries and Australia agrees on fixed price for Russian oil

World oil prices dropping

Wizz Air to launch new flights between Venice, Yerevan

EU assesses Armenia, Azerbaijan border commissions meeting in Brussels as constructive

Artsakh President convenes enlarged working consultation

Envoy: China supports Armenians

Azerbaijan MOD disseminates disinformation, Armenia army did not fire

Armenia ruling party recounts congress voting results

Quake jolts Turkey

Newspaper: Armenia PM once again manipulates topic of negotiations, Karabakh conflict

Newspaper: Studies underway on Armenia MPs business involvement

US wants to prevent Germany, other allies from working together with China

Protests turn violent in Iran's Alborz Province

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
ETCHMIADZIN.  Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, on Tuesday received newly appointed Bulgarian Ambassador to Armenia, Maria Pavlova Tsosorkova-Kaymaktchieva.

The Catholicos stated that the interaction between the Armenian and Bulgarian peoples have been noteworthy with warmth as well as friendly and collaborative relations, ever since the Middle Ages, the Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Ambassador Tsosorkova-Kaymaktchieva, for her part, reflected on the Armenian community in Bulgaria, and stressed that this community is a bridge Armenia and Bulgaria. The diplomat also assured that during her tenure she will do her utmost to further strengthen cooperation and mutual relations between the two countries.

At the ensuing talk, Karekin II recalled his patriarchal visit to Bulgaria. In addition, the interlocutors reflected on the fraternal relations between the Armenian Apostolic and the Bulgarian Orthodox Churches.

At the end of the discussion, the Catholicos of All Armenians wished the newly appointed Bulgarian ambassador a good mission and effective service.
The NGT directed the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) and aviation regulator DGCA to mull over the possibility of rewarding pilots who create least noise pollution.

By Mail Today Bureau: The National Green Tribunal Tuesday directed the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) and aviation regulator DGCA to mull over the possibility of providing incentives to pilots who create least noise pollution while landing aircraft at IGI Airport.

"What do you (ministry) propose to lessen the noise pollution? Why don't you consider providing incentives to the pilots who generate least noise pollution while landing at airports? Think of something constructive," said a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.

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"You people talk of foreign countries. You are not restricting development near airports. Gurgaon, Dwarka, Palam, Vasant Kunj, all these places have come up to IGI Airport. There has to be some limit," it said.

The observations came during hearing a plea filed by the residents of Vasant Kunj, Bijwasan and Indian Spinal Injuries Centre seeking directions to lower noise level near the airport.

ALSO READ | NGT poses 5 questions on pollution, Delhi government draws a blank'

NGT's new year gift to Delhi: Disposable plastic banned, Rs 10K fine for throwing garbage in public places

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An authorized representative of the US Department of State reminded Azerbaijan about press freedom.

When askedduring Tuesdays press briefingabout the case involving well-known blogger Alexander Lapshinwhom Azerbaijan wants to extradite to the country, US Department of State Spokesperson John Kirby responded, in particular, as follows: First, Id say this is really something for the relevant countries to speak to (). Obviously, press freedom is important to us, reported RIA Novosti news agency of Russia.

To note, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had stated that Moscow will try to resolve this matter concerning Israeli and Russian citizen Lapshin, who was detained in Belarus, and for visiting Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

In Lavrovs words, Moscow is against criminalizing journalists or individuals visiting a territory, and against a Russian citizen, who was detained in another country, being extradited to a third country.

On December 15, 2016, Alexander Lapshin was detained in the Belarus capital city of Minsk, and based on Azerbaijans international search and extradition request, due to his visiting Artsakh.

The media report that the Belarusian authorities plan to extradite the well-known blogger to Azerbaijan.
YEREVAN.  Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, on Wednesday held a press conference.

He reflected on the incident that occurred at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as well as the Azerbaijani armys firing of shots toward Chinari village of Armenias Tavush Province, on December 29 of last year.

The ombudsman stated that the Azerbaijani armed forces committed serious violations of human rights.

Tatoyan informed that his representative carried out a fact-finding work at Chinari village, on December 29 and 30.

The village was fired at [also] on the evening of January 3 as well as on the night of January 8 [this year], added the human rights defender of Armenia. Including, toward the [village] school and kindergarten.

The incident, from which it all started, was the killing of three Armenian soldiers [by Azerbaijan]; this was carried out under the conditions of the absence of a threat, by the Armenian armed forces, for the adversary.

During the firing of shots, the village residents had to hide in shelters. The village was shot at in the hours when the civilian population could have been affected.

The ombudsman stressed that there are no military units around the village, and therefore the Azerbaijani side cannot explain its aggression; the objective was to harm the civilian population.

As per Arman Tatoyan, the materials collected attest to a deliberate shooting by the Azerbaijani armed forces.
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov' s words may become decisive in the case regarding the blogger Alexander Lapshin, who visited Karabakh, Italian journalist Simone Zoppellaro writes in an article published in Il Giornale.

The article reads as follows:

''I could be in his position, and not only me. Over 180 foreign journalists are declared personae non grata in Azerbaijan. There are many Italians among them too.

The state propaganda machine of Azerbaijan, consisting of corrupt journalists, trolls, state hackers and zealous officials, is ready to not only attack the local press (according to the freedom of press ratings, Azerbaijan ranks one of the last among the world's counties) but also the foreign journalists, who dare to poke their nose into the business of this regime.

Alexander Lapshin, a blogger with dual citizenshipIsraeli and Russianis under arrest in Minsk for visiting Nagorno-Karabakh and for his critical expressions in his post on Azerbaijani President Aliyev. No other chargeseven fabricated ones, as is the practice in these countrieswere brought against him.

Neither the Israeli nor the Russian diplomacy tries to set him free. The wonderful relations between Baku and Tel-Aviv didn't help either. ''Azerbaijanis wants Lapshin to serve as an example,'' an Israeli diplomat told in an interview with Haaretz, on the condition of anonymity.

The head of the Russian diplomacy, Sergey Lavrov, also stated his opinion on this: We are against criminalizing journalists or private individuals visiting a certain territory in a certain region. This was an apparent indication of Karabakh. Lavrov's words may become decisive, considering Moscow's influence on Minsk.

Alexander Lapshin, 40, is well known in the Russian-speaking world. He has stories and photos of over 120 countries on his blog. He didn't engage in politics and didn't write about the financial scandals of the Azerbaijani president or violations of human rights in that country like many of those who have appeared in the prisons of Baku. Nevertheless, he hangs in the air for already over a month.''
Crime lord Sergey Asatryan and Artur Baghdasaryan are accused of extorting $1.2 million from businessman Karen Mkhitayan. The aggrieved party persistently doesnt appear in the court, while testimonies of witnesses have created a criminal epic involving murder, mysterious death, Chechen debt collectors, etc., Rosbalt reports.

Karen Mkhitaryan appeared in Nikulinski court only at the first hearing on this case, but he was not questioned. Oddly enough, on that day Sergey Asatryan (Sturgeon Junior) was not brought to the court (allegedly because of the confusion in the documents of escort officers). Sturgeon Junion attended all the other hearings, which, however, were not attended by Mkhitaryan. In fact, the latter is under state protection. Moreover, shortly before the process was launched, the businessman accompanied by state protection officers tried to break into the editors office of Rosbalt, dissatisfied with one of the articles published.

Consequently, each hearing starts with a similar scenario: Judge Bobkov inquires from the prosecutor where Mkhitaryan is, to which the prosecutor says that this will be become clear by the next session. However, everything is then repeated.

The case materials are read out and prosecution witnesses testify in the absence of the aggrieved party. The last of the witnesses was attorney Natalya Chekmeneva, who worked at the office of aggrieved Aramayis Khumaryans father-in-law for over ten years. The information provided by her draws out a real criminal epic.

It started over five years ago, when businessman and owner of Kotlyakovo LLC, Gagik Makvetsyan, was imprisoned on charges of smuggling. According to the witnesses, meanwhile he was in the detention facility in Krasnodar, his assets were appropriated by Gagiks acquaintance, authoritative entrepreneur Aramayis Khumaryan.

There were quite a lot of those assets, including the large land parcels ''registered'' to Kotlyakovo and the power substation with 2,000 kW capacity (with market price of over $4 million).

When Makvetsyan was released, he began struggling for returning his companies. He thus entered into conflict with Khumaryan. In spring 2013, Makvetsyan was killed. An unknown person shot him dead in Audi on Shelepikhinski border levee. Immediately after Gagik's death, Khumaryan began selling the appropriated assets. In particular, a large company building a trade center in the neighborhood was in need of power capacity and decided to buy it from Kotlyakovo. Khumaryan received earnest money$1,2 millionagainst receipt for the transaction. But immediately after this, he died under strange circumstances. All his assets, including the land parcels and power substation, which used to belong to Makvetsyan, were inherited by Aramayis' daugher Madlena and her husband Karen Mkhitaryan. The company, which had given a large sum of earnest money began demanding to either complete the transaction or return $1.2 million. However, the witnesses, including Chekmeneva, stated that Madlena and Karen categorically refused doing that. And then ''the heavy artillery'' was put into action. The representatives of the company, which incurred losses, turned to debt collectors from Chechnya, who were disposed quite decisively towards the Mkhitaryans.

Frightened Madlena turned for help to her distant relative, crime lord Sergey Asatryan. ''The criminal general'' went to ''a huddle'' with Chechen debt collectors. On returning, he announced that he had agreed on the non-use of force against Madlen and Karen, but the money was to be returned, since Khumaryan indeed received $1.2 million earnest money, the second party having the relevant documents.

In the witnesses' words, the Mkhitaryans then began looking for this amount. In particular, the son of late Makvetsyan claimed that Karen and Madlena had told him that while reviewing Khumaryan's papers, they had found a due-bill from Gagik for a large amount of money and demanded that he redeem the debt. The man refused doing this. Moreover, he filed a case in Nagatinski court on returning his father's assets, including Kotlyakov LLC, which he said were illegally appropriated.

''Along with this, Artur Baghdasaryan sold by $1.2 million the land parcels and the building, which were owned by his company. Mkhitaryan was a mediator in this transaction and was to receive an interest in the amount of $200,000. Artur trusted him and included him in the list of persons, who had an access to the deposit box, where the money received from the transaction was kept. In fact, the bank assured him that the access to the box was possible only in Baghdasaryan's presence. However, Mkhitaryan managed to mysteriously take it from there and return his debt, most likely exactly the one amounting to $1.2 million,'' the source familiar with the situation told Rosbalt.

After several unsuccessful attempts to return the money, Baghdasaryan told the unpleasant story to his nephew Sergey Asatryan, who joined the talks with Karen Mkhitaryan on returning the disappeared money. However, the crime lord was unlucky. According to the case materials, the telephones of Sturgeon Junior were wiretapped in connection with the investigations on the series of assaults on money transporters.

The investigators recorded several talks on Mkhitaryan's debts, after which they invited the latter for conversation. Mkhitaryan wrote a statement on extortion.

Under the control of the investigators, Mkhitaryan pretended he was ready to begin returning the money. On 19 November 2015, Sergey Asatryan and Artur Baghdasaryan were arrested by the officers of Moscow Criminal Investigations Department on charges of Article 163 of the Russian Criminal Code (extortion).

During the investigation, Mkhitaryan gave testimonies on allegedly receiving threats also from Sergey's father, influential crime lord Eduard Asatryan (Edik Sturgeon), who was convoyed to Moscow from a prison camp, where he serves a sentence for illicit drug possession. During the interrogation Edik Sturgeon denied his guilt. He noted that he was in Greece at the time of the conflict and asked the sides on phone to refrain from ''abrupt moves.'' He also suggested gathering after his return to solve the issues ''cousinly''.

During the line-up, Mkhitaryan confirmed the testimonies of Asatryan Senior. Consequently, new charges were not brought against Sturgeon and he was sent to serve his sentence in the prison camp.
By Nolan Pinto: In a victory of sorts for citizens of the city who have been fighting against the controversial steel flyover, the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal in its hearing today adjourned the case to the 30th of January and hence the stay continues.

But the Bangalore Development Authority or the BDA is not willing to slow down their on-going works. They are all set to complete the soil testing and surveys for the steel flyover. During the last hearing, the NGT had given permission to the BDA to go ahead with sol testing which was seen by the Government of Karnataka as the first step in the right direction towards the construction process. However, green activists and those opposing the steel flyover said that this meant nothing and actual construction cannot take place without the NGTs permission.

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Today CitizensforBengaluru (CfB) impleaded in the case and became a petitioner along with Citizen Action Forum (CAF), indicating the wide public opposition to the steel flyover. CFB will study the response filed by the SEIAA and BDA and prepare the rejoinder for the hearing on January 30.

Also read | Bengaluru molestation: When sexual violence is considered not quite crime enough

The petitioners believe that the steel flyover project will spell a doom to the already fragile air quality and environment and the BDA must heed to the public cries. Srinivas Alavilli, member of CfB is confident that this project will not see the light of day. 'There are enough grounds for the NGT to kill the project and they only need to give that ruling,' he says. Further, he adds that considering the situation in the city, anyone who does an environmental impact assessment will come to the conclusion that the benefits accrued from the flyover will not match the damage caused to the ecology of the city.

According to them, demotorization is the need of the hour considering the explosive growth and dangers to public health in Bengaluru. The almost 2000 crore BDA project is to construct a 6.72-km-long, six-lane steel flyover from Basaveshwara circle to Hebbal to help those commuting to the international airport and will also involve the chopping down of more than 800 trees.Also read | Bengaluru: Wall collapses at Mantri mall, 4 injured

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YEREVAN. - The statement of the Russian FM Sergey Lavrov is merely an accurate assessment of the actions taking place in the zone of Karabakh conflict.

Head of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party of Armnia (RPA), Vahram Baghdasaryan, who is also the deputy of the National Assembly (NA), told the aforementioned to Armenian News  NEWS.am, commenting on Lavrov's statement on that the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is not exclusively the internal matter of Azerbaijan.

To the question as to whether the aforementioned statement can be considered as a sign of a certain change in Russia's position on Karabakh issue, the MP noted: ''I wouldn't say that Russia's position used to be different. This answer was simply more concrete and specific. We spoke of the need of targeted assessments, and Russia, which is one of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries, seems to concertize its position. It is, of course, apparent that Lavrov's words were addressed to the Azerbaijani side.''

The statement of the Russian FM also contained subtle criticism towards the OSCE Minsk Group in connection with the installment of monitoring mechanisms at the contact line, he added.

Asked whether by this statement Moscow hints Baku on the unacceptability of making any steps without Russia's knowledge, the MP said: ''I see only positive things in this statement. If Russia needed to hint something, both Russian President Vladimir Putin and FM Sergey Lavrov could have chosen another way to do this.''

At the 2016 year-end press conference, Russian FM Sergey Lavriv noted that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not abstract, and it is not exclusively the internal matter of Azerbaijan.
AQAP Claims 8 Attacks on Houthis, SBF in Six Days in Abyan, al-Bayda, and Ibb
Remodeling is in progress at Maison, the new French restaurant opening in the former home of Meritage in the Washington Heights neighborhood at 5921 W. Vliet St. According to owner and Chef Michael Quinn, work is on schedule for an opening in late January or early February.

Quinn, who has been putting in countless hours of sweat equity to bring his inaugural restaurant venture to life, says hes getting excited to put the finishing touches on the space. Working at his side is Maison sous chef Joe Roethel, who worked with Quinn for the past two and a half years at Coquette Cafe.

"As cliche as it may sound," Roethel says, "Its been exciting to see this place develop from the ground up. Im really excited to take on a new endeavor and Im looking forward to cooking some new food in a brand new location."

Floors have been stripped down to the original hardwood, which will be replaced in the coming weeks. The bar has also been stripped in preparation for staining as well as a new copper bar top which will match copper detailing planned for the front windows.

Quinn has employed the interior design skills of Andrea Haas, who has helped the crew settle in on a palate of rich greys for the walls, which are hung with contemporary sconces.

Meanwhile, chalkboard paint above the bar will allow staff to post hand-written specials.

Quinn says hes keeping the menu for Maison under wraps for now, noting that he has "probably three or four iterations of it printed out" that hell be finalizing in the coming weeks. However, he says hes most excited about the seafood specials hes planning to roll out.

"We'll be carrying on the tradition of weekly mussels specials," he says, noting that it was one of the things neighborhood residents looked forward to at Meritage.

On the beverage side, Daniel Beres has been working with Quinn on a wine, beer and cocktail list, which will focus heavily on France. Cocktails will each contain a French spirit, including a sazerac which will be made with Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac and offered on draught for $10. House wines will be available in shareable 375-ml carafes for $15, with the option of purchasing an entire bottle for $25. Meanwhile, beer offerings will include both local and international beers, all priced $6 or less.

"The focus is on keeping everything both affordable and accessible to Maisons regular guests, while being able to introduce them to something new," notes Beres.

Maison is currently hiring for a variety of positions, including hostess, servers, bartenders, dishwashers and line cooks. Interested parties should reach out to Quinn at michael.quinn1991@gmail.com
By Press Trust of India: mishap

New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) A two-member team of NIA has been dispatched to Bihar by the Home Ministry for investigation into the claims of three arrested persons that the derailment of Indore-Patna Express was carried out at the behest of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.

The Home Ministry has also sought reports from the Bihar government and central security agencies regarding the arrest of Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar and Mukesh Yadav and their disclosures to Bihar Police.

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Official sources said the role of ISI will be probed by the NIA and find out whether there was a larger conspiracy involving ISI agents based in Nepal and Dubai.

Central intelligence agencies are now questioning the three accused.

If the claim of the three accused turns out to be true, it would be the first such case of train derailment in India carried out at the behest of the Pakistani agency, the sources said.

A report is also being sought from RAW about ISI activities in Nepal and India.

The three persons arrested yesterday in East Champaran district in Bihar had told police that they were paid Rs 3 lakh to plant explosives at Ghorasahan in the district on October 1, 2016.

A report is said to have come from Nepal confirming the Bihar Polices claim that Pakistans ISI had paid Rs 30 lakh to its agent Brajesh Giri for triggering blasts on rail tracks targeting popular trains in Bihar, the sources said.

Central security agencies were now looking for two more persons identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav in East Champaran area for their suspected links with the accused.

The role of ISI in the recent train disaster in Kanpur was being suspected after Bihar Police had yesterday arrested three persons who they claimed were working for the Pakistani spy agency to target Indian railways.

The ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police had said.

During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana had said. PTI ACB SMN SC SMN

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Blending in: This image shows the new nocturnal gecko Paroedura hordiesi. Credit: Frank Glaw

Hidden away in the tropical darkness of nocturnal Madagascar, scientists have discovered a new species of gecko which has been described in the open access journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.

A master of disguise, the new species Paroedura hordiesi has camouflage pattern to blend with its natural habitat, while climbing on rocks and the ruins of an old fort, where it was spotted by scientists.

Home of the new gecko, the karstic limestone massifs in the region of northern Madagascar are believed to still harbour further undescribed reptile species, some of which might be microendemic and threatened by substantial habitat destruction.

The new species P. hordiesi is also proposed to be classified as "Critically Endangered" on the IUCN Red List on the basis that it is known from a single location, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.

The far north of Madagascar comprises a mosaic of heterogeneous landscapes ranging from rainforests on volcanic basement to deciduous dry forests in karstic massifs and littoral habitats on sandy ground. The geological and climatic diversity of this area is reflected by a high species diversity and a high degree of microendemism.

Several taxa including dwarf frogs (Stumpffia), dwarf chameleons (Brookesia), burrowing skinks (Paracontias), leaf-tail geckos (Uroplatus), and the nocturnal geckos of the genus Paroedura have undergone remarkable diversification in northern Madagascar due to the great diversity of habitats, which are separated from each other and thus in part constitute "habitat islands".

"The new Paroedura species from Montagne des Francais described in our paper is just one new contribution to the taxonomic inventory of this massif, which is believed to hold yet undiscovered diversity. This discovery also highlights the threats affecting this microendemic species and other biota in the region." explains the lead author of the study Dr. Frank Glaw from the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (ZSM).

A juvenile and subadult of the new species Paroedura hordiesi. Credit: Jorn Kohler

More information: Glaw F, Rosler H, Ineich I, Gehring P, Kohler J, Vences M (2014) A new species of nocturnal gecko (Paroedura) from karstic limestone in northern Madagascar. Zoosystematics and Evolution 90(2): 249-259. DOI: 10.3897/zse.90.8705
Turin and Shneidermans home in Nepal was destroyed after a 2015 earthquake. Credit: University of British Columbia

Mark Turin and Sara Shneiderman know what it's like to have a home reduced to rubble.

The anthropologists at the University of British Columbia, who also happen to be husband and wife, had shared homes in Nepal with a local family in the capital Kathmandu and the rural district of Dolakha for more than a decade until a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the country in April 2015.

Almost 9,000 people died in the quake, which also injured 20,000 people and destroyed over 600,000 homes. The houses Turin and Shneiderman had helped build, and in which their two small children partly grew up in, were destroyed.

"It was devastating. Entire villages were wiped out," said Turin, who flew to Nepal soon after the disaster to help with relief efforts. "The destruction wreaked by the earthquakes affected those that we are close to in Nepal and our own family very deeply."

Turin and Shneiderman are now building upon their experiences in the region to work on a new research project based in the Himalayas.

The UBC researchers, who are part of a larger team led by Yale University, have received $750,000 USD from NASA to investigate how social change and natural disasters affect patterns of mobility and urbanization in Bhutan, India and Nepal.

Turin and Shneidermans home before the quake. Credit: University of British Columbia

They will use satellite images to track land use change and the impact of natural disasters, like earthquakes, fires, floods, and landslides, in the seismically active zone over the last 32 years and relate them to urbanization and migration.

Turin and Shneiderman's role will be to uncover the data's "social story"  providing the cultural, historical and political context for why the data might show shifts in populations in certain areas over time, and not in others.

"Remote sensing data sets don't reveal how trade routes change or the demographic impact of political instability," said Turin. "This project is an example of how collaborations that bring together bottom-up ethnographic knowledge with top-down big data can yield more nuanced understandings of social and environmental change than either one alone."

The research team will start the work next summer.

Satellite image scan. Credit: University of British Columbia
Professor John Fuerst, University of Queensland. Credit: The University of Queensland

University of Queensland microbiologist Emeritus Professor John Fuerst has a new bacterial genus (a group of related organisms) named in his honour.

In a paper published in Frontiers in Microbiology, German and UK researchers named a new marine bacterium, Fuerstia marisgermanicae.

UQs School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences Head Professor Paul Young said the naming of the genus was "an enormous honour".

"It reflects the global scientific community's high regard for John's contribution to the field," Professor Young said.

"John has carved out an international reputation in marine and aquatic microbial research, focused on solving major questions in evolutionary microbiology, microbial cell biology and microbial ecology.

"The group of bacteria that the new Fuerstia genus belongs to are called planctomycetes, which are important in global carbon and nitrogen cycles.

"Among other seminal discoveries, Professor Fuerst's group uncovered the first evidence that planctomycetes stand at the evolutionary interface between bacteria and eukaryotic cells, possessing a rudimentary nuclear envelope.

"There is no doubt John has played a key role in planctomycete research and it is fitting his achievements are now recognised in this way."

Professor Young said Professor Fuerst's work was a clear example of the exceptional microbiology research conducted at UQ.

As a discipline, UQ microbiology is consistently placed among the top 30 in the world by most university ranking schemes - for example, see the US News Best Global Universities ranking for 2015."

Professor Fuerst said he felt very privileged to be accorded the honour, which also recognised the achievements of his postgraduate students and colleagues in his laboratory, as well as UQ and international collaborators in pioneering research about planctomycete bacteria.

"Planctomycetes include bacteria that are significant for environmental remediation and sustainability due to their ability to oxidise ammonia without the need for oxygen," he said.

"They are also important in understanding the global nitrogen cycle as a major source of atmospheric nitrogen, and are of fundamental significance for understanding the diversity and origins of cell complexity.

"For example, the newly described Fuerstia marisgermanicae cells have tubes connecting mother and daughter cells during division, an unusual feature for bacteria."

The Frontiers in Microbiology paper describes the new bacterial genome, which has 45 "giant genes" greater than 5 Kb long, and a complete "bacterial immune system" used to defend bacteria against their virus attackers.

Academics from Leibniz Institut DSMZ (Deutsche Sammlung Von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen) Braunschweig, Germany; Newcastle University UK; and Helmholtz Centre for Infectious Disease, Germany, conducted the research.

More information: Fuerstia marisgermanicae gen. nov., sp. nov., an Unusual Member of the Phylum Planctomycetes from the German Wadden Sea, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.02079, journal.frontiersin.org/articl  micb.2016.02079/full
Credit: Petr Kratochvil/Public Domain

A new study finds parents who talk with their high schoolers about the relevance of science and math can increase competency and career interest in the fields.

The findings, published Jan. 17 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show a 12 percentage point increase on the math and science ACT for students whose parents were provided with information on how to effectively convey the importance of science, technology, engineering and math. The same students also are likely to be more interested in pursuing STEM careers, including taking STEM classes in college and having a favorable impression of the fields.

The research by Christopher S. Rozek, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Chicago, and colleagues at Northwestern University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Virginia provides new insights as policymakers in the United States look to increase the number of students going into the STEM fields. A strong pipeline of STEM graduates is seen as critical for economic growth and global competitiveness, with recent international tests ranking the United States 35th in math achievement and 27th in science achievement.

"Parents are potentially an untapped resource for helping to improve the STEM motivation and preparation of students," said Rozek, lead author of the research. "We could move the needle by just encouraging parents to have these conversations about the relevance of math and science."

Rozek and his colleagues focused broadly on what's known as expectancy-value theory, and more specifically, on the concept that individuals make choices depending on the relevance or usefulness to a current or future goal.

For the study, researchers designed materials that help parents talk to their children about the relevance of STEM fields, pointing to the role of math and science in how cell phones work or how the subjects factor into specific careers. Parents participating in a decades-long study in Wisconsin were split into two groups, with one group given the materials while the other served as the control. Researchers then tracked a variety of outcomes over several years to assess the effects.

The research follows up on initial findings from the study published in 2012 by Rozek and his co-authors showing that 11th- and 12th-grade students whose parents had access to these materials about the relevance of math and science took, on average, nearly one additional semester of STEM coursework in high school.

In the latest study, researchers found that when parents were provided with the STEM relevance information, their children showed improved math and science ACTs in addition to increased STEM course-taking in high school. The increased high school STEM coursework and higher scores on the math and science ACTs affected the number of college STEM classes in which students enrolled, the careers they pursued and their overall perception of the value of STEM fields.

The latest findings challenge widely held assumptions, including that parents already are effectively talking with their children about the importance of math and science, and that by high school, the views of students have solidified.

"By the time students are teenagers, many parents don't think there is much they can do to change their children's minds or help them be motivated. This research shows that parents can still have a substantial effect," Rozek said.

The findings provide new perspective on discussions at the federal level, where policymakers haven't focused on students' beliefs around STEMan approach researchers described as cost-effective.

More information: Christopher S. Rozek et al, Utility-value intervention with parents increases students' STEM preparation and career pursuit, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1607386114 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
A Chinese fishing vessel brings its catch into port at Zhoushan. Credit: Christopher Costello

China, the world's largest seafood producer, has done something extraordinary. For the past 20 years, despite minimal management and some of the most intense industrial fishing in the world, it has maintained large catches of key species in its most productive waters.

That same kind of intense, lightly managed industrial fishing has collapsed other fisheries, such as Newfoundland's cod fishery in the 1990s. China's ability to sustain its catches has puzzled scientists, some of whom have even questioned the accuracy of the country's catch reports.

A new study from UC Santa Barbara, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests another explanation: By reducing the population of predatory fish, China has increased populations of preyed-upon species.

"If you fish down the large predatory fish, then you can catch more small prey fish, because they are no longer being eaten before you get to them," explained lead author Cody Szuwalski, a fisheries scientist in UCSB's Sustainable Fisheries Group. The group is a collaboration of the campus's Marine Science Institute and Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.

Key to the success of this approach is that predators typically need to eat 10 pounds of prey to add one pound to their own weight, so fishing out predators tends to increase prey catches by much more than it reduces predator catches.

This shortening of the food chain by removing predators to increase harvests is common on land. In fact, it's a key feature of modern farming. "If farmers could earn as much from raising venison on a field as they can from growing corn on it, they probably wouldn't try to keep deer out of their fields," said co-author Matt Burgess, a postdoctoral researcher in the Sustainable Fisheries Group.

But in the oceans, shortening the food chain looks different, because who eats whom in the fish world is generally based on body size rather than species. Bigger fish eat smaller fish, even when the two are from the same species (cannibalism) or the smaller fish are the juveniles of predator species and the bigger fish are adults of prey species. So while it's unlikely that an adult gazelle would eat a baby lion, an adult sardine certainly would eat a young largehead hairtail, a predatory species that is one of China's most common catches.

The study was based on a model of the East China Sea ecosystem built to account for this size-based feeding as well as the history of intense trawl fishing in the region. The model was able to roughly re-create reported catches of all major species.

The research also correctly predicted that under China's current approach, even catches of such predator species as the largehead hairtail would remain high, although they would consist mainly of 1-year-old fish. "This is exactly what you see when you visit Chinese fish markets," Szuwalski said.

Beyond providing an answer to an important fisheries puzzle, the study also offers important lessons for fishery management in Asia. When used to simulate various possible management strategies in the East China Sea, the model predicted that Western-style, single-species management would decrease catches by reversing changes to the food chain that have so far allowed catches to remain high. The same could be true in many other major fishing countries, particularly in East Asia, where fishing histories are similar to those in China.

"The standard refrain is that most countries can catch more by managing their fisheries like we do," said co-author Christopher Costello, co-principal investigator of the Sustainable Fisheries Group. "What if we're giving them the wrong advice?"

Given the negative impacts on biodiversity and potentially reduced ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change, "engineering" ecosystems by removing predators to enable large harvests is not necessarily an advisable long-term fishery management strategy. Still, the study suggests, in places where predator removal has already occurred, managers need to take the food chain into account to avoid unexpected consequences. Indeed, the model predicts that it is possibleat least in Chinafor such ecosystem-level management to increase catches, revenue and biomass.

More information: Cody S. Szuwalski et al. High fishery catches through trophic cascades in China, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2016). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1612722114 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The court also questioned the state government under which law it was blocking the national as well as the state highways on the same day for almost five hours for the human chain event.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: The much hyped formation of world's longest human chain event of the Nitish Kumar government on January 21 in support of prohibition, has come under the scanner of the Patna High Court.

The court on Wednesday asked the state government to explain to it why school going children have been asked to stand and form human chain on January 21. The court also questioned the state government under which law was it blocking the national as well as the state highways on the same day for almost five hours for the human chain event.

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It may be noted that Patna High Court raised these questions after public interest litigation was filed against the human chain event by a lawyer, Shahi Bhushan.

Also Read: BJP claims its pressure on Nitish made him decide not to renew licenses of liquor units

Nitish Kumar government intends to create a world record by forming the longest human chain. Government machinery is working round the clock at the moment to ensure participation of almost 2 crore people for the event. State government has already issued directions for closure of traffic on national and state highways between 9 am to 3 pm for the human chain event on January 21.

The court of Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Dinesh Kumar will be hearing this matter on Thursday.

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Photo shows Early Jurassic lake sediments (black shales) formed in the Tarim Basin, China. Credit: Oxford Science Blog

Geochemical and biological research offers academics a window into earth history, enabling them to piece together events that occurred before records began. Much of our understanding of past climate change is based on geology, in particular the study of sedimentary rocks deposited in the oceans.

The paper that first recognised and defined Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs), written by Oxford professor Hugh Jenkyns and an American colleague, is considered a seminal contribution to geological history, that led the way to numerous studies on the effects of oxygen starvation in the oceans.

The discovery of organic-rich sediments, often described as black shales, at numerous deep-sea drilling sites during the early 1970s, led to the wider acknowledgement of the oceanic impact of climate change. At certain intervals during the Jurassic era, huge bouts of volcanic activity triggered increased concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This then caused a knock-on greenhouse effect, raising the sea-surface temperature and reducing oxygen levels in large parts of the ocean.

At the same, oceans benefited from increased nutrient levels, and as a result marine algae and bacteria bloomed. As they died, these organisms were preserved in sediments that formed on the sea floor and over time changed into source rocks for oil. It is these phenomena that illustrate the causes and effects of OAEs.

New research, published in Nature Geoscience, has for the first time examined the impact of this type of sediment deposition in lakes. The study demonstrates that lake environments responded in a similar way to climate change, developing the same anoxic conditions as in the oceans.

Led by Earth Sciences post-graduate student Weimu Xu, the work offers insight into how environmental factors have affected lake formation throughout the ages. Weimu and the team studied sediments from one of the largest lakes in Earth history - double the size of England and three times the size of Lake Superior - the largest lake (in surface area) in the world today. This ancient lake formed rapidly in the Sichuan Basin, China, as a result of Toarcian (Early Jurassic) climate change, about 183 million years ago.

Weimu spoke with Science Blog about the study's key findings and what they can tell us about climate change today.

What is the key finding that you would like people to take from this study?

The extreme effects of past climatic changes are not limited exclusively to oceans. By dating the lake sediments to the Early Jurassic (Toarcian) period, we were able to show that large lakes formed and were affected in the same way as oceans during an OAE.

As the climate warmed, the continents experienced increased rainfall, creating lake reservoirs, which essentially acted like mini-oceans. Lake organisms became more abundant, drawing-down massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which was eventually deposited into sediments. Overtime, these sediments became source rocks for oil.

Lake environments represent their own unique challenges. Did you encounter any specifically?

The biggest challenge for us was establishing the age of the sediments found in the Sichaun Basin, and proving that they were of similar age to those that formed in the oceans during the Toarcian OAE. The wealth of organic matter found in marine environments makes it quite easy to date an event, by basing it on a fossil's geological age. But lakes do not have such fossils, which makes it much harder to determine the age of the sediments found.

A study of this nature involves a massive amount of work. How did you manage such an extensive undertaking?

Fortunately I worked with a great team. This work was led by myself, co-designed by M. Ruhl, H.C. Jenkyns and S.P. Hesselbo and involved a total of 11 people. The project is a great example of collaborative research.

We used three distinct methodologies, which would be impossible for any one researcher to master. Colleagues from the University of Durham applied radio-isotopic dating to establish the age of the sediments and colleagues from the British Geological Survey studied the pollen, spores and algae preserved in the sediments. Finally, to give us even more detail to support the age of the sediments, together with colleagues from the University of Bristol and at Shell Global Solutions International B.V., we applied stable carbon-isotope to analyse the sediments, plant and algae remains. These varied techniques convincingly showed that the sediments found, had formed at the same time as the Toarcian OAE.

We were fortunate to be able to partner with experts in these three fields, and of course our industrial partner Shell.

How long did the research take to conduct?

The study lasted from the first sampling trip in November 2013 to completion of this manuscript in September 2016. We also had to factor in time to get permission to publish the findings, from the oil companies providing the data.

Are there any long-term impacts associated with your findings?

There are definite links between the climatic event identified in the Toarcian and present-day global warming. A better understanding of past climate systems could help predict environmental and ecological changes in a future greenhouse world. While the lake we studied existed in the Early Jurassic period, there are lakes today in African and British Columbia for example, that have been affected by global warming. They are becoming more and more anoxic and some are losing fishery stocks as a result. People fixate on warmth, but anoxia goes hand in hand with warmth.

There's a certain irony in the fact that the conditions which created oil and gas deposits millions of years ago are being recreated much more rapidly by burning of these fossil fuels.

How would you like to see this work used in the future?

Our study directly links lake formation and sediment deposition to the Toarcian OAE. By studying other lake sediments that were around at that time, researchers could establish if they also link to this event. For a better understanding of major climatic change in other intervals of the Earth's history, people can also look and see if there were other major lake reservoirs that acted similarly.

It would also be useful to understand the impact, not only of carbon deposition, but carbon burial, during times of major climatic change, and how that impacted coal formation. This is something I am very keen to focus on next.

More information: Weimu Xu et al. Carbon sequestration in an expanded lake system during the Toarcian oceanic anoxic event, Nature Geoscience (2017). DOI: 10.1038/ngeo2871 Journal information: Nature Geoscience
Members of the new Hydrogen Council at the Davos World Economic Forum on January 17, 2017. Major industrial groups have decided to join forces to promote hydrogen as a source of energy, with the focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Over a dozen leading European and Asian firms have teamed up to promote the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel and cut the production of harmful gasses that lead to global warming.

Convened on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, the first Hydrogen Council brought together 13 firms, among them top carmakers BMW, Daimler, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota as well as leading industrial gas companies Air Liquide and Linde.

Others at the gathering late Tuesday included energy firms Alstom, Engie, Shell and Total as well as mining company AngloAmerican.

Scientists have long pursued the use of electric fuel cells for cars that use hydrogenthe lightest element with the atomic number 1as the byproduct of its combustion is water and not gases that cause climate change.

Air Liquide's chief executive Benoit Potier described the council as "key leaders of the energy transport and industry sector joining forces to express a common vision of the key role hydrogen will play in the future to bring a solution to the energy transition."

In particular, the firms will share data and research to make hydrogen technologies profitable, as well working on international standards to help speed their adoption.

They will also try to convince governments to support the technology, another indispensable condition for its success.

"At the early stage, unless we have strong government support, this transformation" into a decarbonised society "is impossible".

Energy storage solution

Those participating in the Hydrogen Council insist the applications for hydrogen go beyond fuel cells for cars.

One of the major challenges for renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind is storing the energy produced if it can't be used immediately.

Besides building expensive mega-batteries, current options include pumping water up to reservoirs to produce hydro power when energy is needed.

Fuel cell technology, used in reverse, could help resolve this problem.

"If you take this solar electricity you don't know what to do with, you electrolyse water, this makes hydrogen, which is a gas you can put in the natural gas network," Total's chief executive Patrick Pouyanne told to AFP.

This not only makes use of the surplus electricity, but it also makes investment in solar and wind projects more profitable.

"We've mastered the technology, but the challenge now is to expand its use onto a mass scale," said Pouyanne.

'We can do it'

Bringing down costs will play an important role.

"If we manage to reduce costs all along the production chain, then hydrogen will become a solution for moving energy where it is needed," said Engie's chief Didier Holleaux.

One area that still needs work is improving the efficiency of electrolysers, which split water into hydrogen and oxygen, as well as reducing the cost of them through mass production.

Bertrand Piccard, the Swiss pilot who last year flew around the world in an aircraft powered only by the sun, was enthusiastic about the technology.

"Twenty years ago we were talking about hydrogen a little bit like teenagers are talking about sex, everybody speaks of it but nobody does it," said Piccard.

"Today we can do it."

 2017 AFP
Karaavali is the local name for Indias west coast. Credit: Seshadri K S

A coastal survey in western India has spawned the discovery of a new species hiding in plain sight.

Tadpoles turning into frogs are nothing new, but when a bird is miraculously transformed into an amphibian  and a previously unknown one at that  it's time to sit up and take notice.

In a bizarre turn of events that gives a whole new meaning to the term 'metamorphosis', a frog whose call was initially mistaken for the more familiar sound made by a white-throated kingfisher has just been confirmed as a new species.

O Kannada

It was citizen science that first shed light on the true identity of the Karaavali skittering frog, named after the region where it was first recorded. In the local Kannada language widely spoken in the state of Karnataka, Karaavali is the name for India's west coast.

A local forester, C R Naik, was monitoring the biodiversity around his coastal village in order to document the bird, snake and frog species in the vicinity. Having realised that the kingfisher-like call was actually being emitted by a frog, he had the presence of mind to record it on his mobile phone. During subsequent fieldwork in the Western Ghats he played back the recording to a team of scientists, including several herpetologists, who naturally assumed that they were listening to a bird.

Leap of the imagination

Karaavali skittering frog. Credit: Naik C R

Among them was Seshadri K S, winner of a 2010 Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) award who is currently studying for a PhD at the National University of Singapore. Intrigued by Naik's claim that the call belonged to a frog and not, in fact, to the commonly heard white-throated kingfisher, Seshadri resolved to visit the coastal site and investigate the mystery for himself. Sure enough, a few hours of nocturnal detective work amid flooded paddy fields in the company of Naik revealed that the forester's story was not an elaborate hoax. Subsequent analysis of the call helped to confirm that the species was indeed new to science.

"Often, such scientific discoveries happen because there are foot soldiers like Mr Naik working hard in the field", Seshadri observed. "Him being a forest official and making observations on nature makes this discovery special. We hope this discovery will inspire the staff of the forest departments and research is encouraged. By joining hands with researchers, Naik has come to the forefront of biodiversity conservation. Such efforts will [help to put] biological research in India on a par with [the rest] of the world."

In a wonderful example of the results that can be achieved when enthusiastic and knowledgeable citizens join forces with experts, Naik is among the co-authors of a paper recently published in the December 2016 issue of Asian Herpetological Research, which brought the Karaavali skittering frog discovery to the attention of the wider scientific community.

Public engagement

Karaavali skittering frog in its natural habitat. Credit: Seshadri K S

Dr Gururaj K V, a renowned frog researcher and another co-author of the recent paper, who performed the bioacoustics analysis of the call, is a strong advocate of the need to engage the general public in scientific pursuits and was therefore particularly gratified that citizen science had played such a key role in the discovery: "We were certain that the call was of a bird and [that] he was taking us for a ride; however, Mr Naik was adamant. We conceded that the call ought to be explored more and asked Naik to make a video next time he heard it. He immediately got to work and sent us short video clips and said this was a new species of frog."

Naik himself was equally elated: "I am so happy that a new frog [has been] discovered from my native place and I am doubly delighted to be part of this discovery. I am thankful for the entire team of scientists who took trusted in me. This discovery has motivated me and I will continue making observations, not only about frogs, but in other [areas of] natural history. Such observations can help in creating awareness among citizens about nature."

The newly discovered species is already threatened by nearby infrastructure development in the shape of highway construction and conversion of agricultural land. The paper's authors highlight the fact that the frog appears to be restricted to just three districts in the coastal plains of Karnataka, and recommend that it should be officially classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
The multicorer device being lowered into the ocean takes eight one-foot cores from the seafloor. Scientists analyze such cores for clues to the climate of the past several thousand years. Credit: Peter deMenocal

Rainfall patterns in the Sahara during the 6,000-year "Green Sahara" period have been pinpointed by analyzing marine sediments, according to new research.

What is now the Sahara Desert was the home to hunter-gatherers who made their living off the animals and plants that lived in the region's savannahs and wooded grasslands 5,000 to 11,000 years ago.

"It was 10 times as wet as today," said lead author Jessica Tierney of the University of Arizona. Annual rainfall in the Sahara now ranges from about 4 inches to less than 1 inch (100 to 35 mm).

Although other research had already identified the existence of the Green Sahara period, Tierney and her colleagues are the first to compile a continuous record of the region's rainfall going 25,000 years into the past.

The team's paper "Rainfall regimes of the Green Sahara," is scheduled for publication in the journal Science Advances on Jan. 18.

Archaeological evidence shows humans occupied much of the Sahara during the wet period, but left for about a thousand years around 8,000 years agothe middle of the Green Sahara period.

Other investigators have suggested the Sahara became drier at the time people left, but the evidence was not conclusive, said Tierney, a UA associate professor of geosciences.

Her team's continuous rainfall record shows a thousand-year period about 8,000 years ago when the Sahara became drier. That drier period coincides with when people left, she said.

"It looks like this thousand-year dry period caused people to leave," Tierney said.

"What's interesting is the people who came back after the dry period were differentmost raised cattle. That dry period separates two different cultures. Our record provides a climate context for this change in occupation and lifestyle in the western Sahara."

A crane will lift the 20-foot-long coring device over the side of the R/V Oceanus and lower the corer to a depth of greater than two miles. The resulting sediment core represents about 40,000 years of time. Credit: Peter deMenocal

Tierney and her colleagues also used their rainfall record to suggest ways current climate models can better replicate the Sahara's ancient climate and therefore improve projections of future climate.

Tierney's co-authors are Francesco Pausata of Stockholm University in Sweden and Peter deMenocal of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the National Science Foundation and the Swedish Research Council funded the research.

Researchers had long known the Sahara was much greener in the past, but how much of the Sahara was wetter and how much wetter was not well understood, Tierney said. Although scientists can learn about past climate by examining ancient lake sediments, in the Sahara the lakes dried up long ago and their sediments have blown away.

Instead of lake sediments, Tierney and her colleagues used cores of marine sediments taken off the coast of West Africa at four different sites. Because the cores were taken over a north-south distance of about 800 miles (1,300 km)from offshore Cape Ghir, Morocco, to the northwest corner of Mauritaniathe cores revealed both the ancient rainfall patterns and the areal extent of the Green Sahara.

In terrestrial plants, the chemical composition of a leaf's wax changes depending on how dry or wet the climate was when the plant was growing. Leaf wax also washes into the ocean and can be preserved in the marine sediments that are laid down year after year.

"The waxes record the climate conditions on land," Tierney said.

By analyzing the leaf wax from ancient marine sediments, the team determined the region's past rainfall patterns and also gathered clues about what types of plants were growing.

The team also wanted to know whether the conditions on land interacted with the atmosphere to affect climate, because most of the current climate models don't simulate the Green Sahara period well, she said.

The amount of solar radiation the Earth receives during the Northern Hemisphere summer depends on where the Earth's "wobble," known as precession, is in its 23,000-year cycle.

At the beginning of the Green Sahara, the Northern Hemisphere was closer to the sun during summer. Warmer summers strengthened the West African monsoon and delivered more rain. Toward the end of the Green Sahara, the Northern Hemisphere was farther from the sun and the West African monsoon was weaker.

There's a feedback between vegetation, dust and rainfall, Tierney said. Right now the Sahara Desert is the planet's biggest source of dustbut a vegetated Sahara would produce much less dust.

More information: "Rainfall regimes of the Green Sahara," Science Advances, advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/1/e1601503 Journal information: Science Advances
Early in her career, Jessica Cantlon began studying primates, like this olive baboon at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY, in her search for the origins of numeric understanding. Credit: J. Adam Fenster

For the past several years, Jessica Cantlon has been working to understand how humans develop the concept of numbers, from simple counting to complex mathematical reasoning. Early in her career at the University of Rochester, the assistant professor of brain and cognitive sciences began studying primates in her search for the origins of numeric understanding.

In 2013, she, PhD candidate Steve Ferrigno, and colleagues at Rochester and the Seneca Park Zoo made a surprising discovery: in an experiment using varying quantities of peanuts, baboons (even as young as one year of age) clearly showed an ability to distinguish between large and small quantities of objects.

But the finding raised another question. To what extent might that ability be influenced by other dimensions of those objectssuch as their relative surface areain addition to their number?

This month Cantlon, Ferrigno, and two additional coauthorsSteven Piantadosi, an assistant professor of brain and cognitive sciences at Rochester, and Julian Jara-Ettinger, a postdoctoral researcher in brain and cognitive sciences at MITare publishing the results of a new study suggesting that primates do, in fact, have the ability to distinguish large and small quantities of objects, irrespective of the surface area they appear to occupy.

Study subjects included both humans and primates: adults and children in the United States; adults of the Tsimane', a predominately "low numeracy" cultural group that inhabits an area of remote rain forest in Bolivia, and that has been long studied by Piantadosi and Jara-Ettinger; and rhesus monkeys, a species with strong neural and cognitive similarities to humans.

The researchers found that all groups showed a bias toward numbers over surface area in their estimations.

"This shows that the spontaneous aspect of extracting numerical information likely has an evolutionary basis, because this has been seen across all humans and also with other primate species," said Ferrigno.

The study also showed that the bias toward the numerical dimension was strongest in humans compared to primates, and was correlated with increasing age and math education in humans.

"As children get older, they are more likely to represent numerical information as opposed to other quantitative information," Ferrigno added. "Similarly, when Tsimane' adults had more math education, they were more likely to represent numbers as opposed to other dimensions."

The study, published in Nature Communications, is an exciting development for anyone interested in improving early math education. Because the testing process was nonverbal, it could be especially useful in assessing math abilities in young children. "It's very hard to test young children at age four on their math abilities because it's hard to differentiate what they know, and what they know, but just can't express," Ferrigno said. "With further refinements, this type of numerical bias test could in the future be an indicator of how they are progressing in their education."

The study is the first to compare number perception with a single task performed across a diverse testing population.

To determine the ability to distinguish large and small quantities of objects, the Cantlon lab tested rhesus monkeys, adults and children in the United States, and adults of the Tsimane', a predominately "low numeracy" cultural group that inhabits an area of remote rain forest in Bolivia. This illustration from the study shows the images subjects were presented as part of the trial protocol. Each sample they viewed, for example, was a dot array, followed by two icons for categorizing the array as little (star) or a lot (diamond). Also shown are dot arrays varying in number of dots and the percentage of surface area they occupied. Credit: Cantlon Lab

To test the relative importance of numerical quantities versus surface area, researchers presented subjects with dot arrays, varying in both the number of dots and the relative surface area they occupied. For each array the subjects then selected one of two icons to categorize the array as a large or small quantity.

To keep the task the same across groups, no verbal description of the categories was provided; instead, subjects learned from nonverbal demonstration by the experimenters, and trial and error feedback.

The tests with primates and children and adults in the United States were conducted with touch screen monitors; Tsimane' adults, who have limited exposure to such devices, were tested with laminated printouts.

Cantlon says the study shows "that the initial step toward becoming mathematically sophisticated likely had to do with focusing in on the number of objects, not just total mass or size." In a broader sense, she adds, it shows "how humans got to be the way they are.

"This is about understanding human origins and how humans evolved thought processes that are mathematically sophisticated."

More information: Stephen Ferrigno et al, Universal and uniquely human factors in spontaneous number perception, Nature Communications (2017). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13968 Journal information: Nature Communications
A US startup pursuing Elon Musk's vision for near-supersonic rail transport announced Tuesday an agreement on a feasibility study for a "hyperloop" system connecting two European cities.

Hyperloop Transit Technologies (HTT) said that it had reached an "exploratory agreement" with the Czech city of Brno on a super-fast rail connection with Bratislava, Slovakia.

The bigger vision was to connect to the Czech capital of Prague, according to a statement by the company and local officials.

"Connecting Brno with Prague, and the existing efforts in Bratislava along with other cities in the region with the next generation of transportation will set the stage for a new era," Brno mayor Petr Vokrall said.

HTT said that it was working with officials in Slovakia, Abu Dhabi and elsewhere in the hope of establishing uniform regulations for hyperloop systems.

"Since we have solved all the technical issues, it is now crucial for us to collaborate with governments around the world," said HTT chief executive Dirk Ahlborn.

"New rules and frameworks will need to be written as we begin building out systems in Slovakia, the Emirates and several other to come."

HTT was born out of crowd-funding platform JumpStartFund in late 2013. Its list of collaborators includes engineering management giant Atkins and Europe railway operator Deutsche Bahn.

Rival US startup Hyperloop One earlier this month disclosed a list of locations around the world vying to put the futuristic rail transit system to the test.

The startup company keen to revolutionize the way people and cargo travel said that 35 contenders remained from a field of 2,600 teams in a Hyperloop One Grand Challenge launched in May 2015.

Hyperloop One wants to get three systems underway, according to chief executive Rob Lloyd.

Dubai late last year agreed to a deal to evaluate construction of a hyperloop link that could slash travel times to Emirati capital Abu Dhabi to minutes.

Both hyperloop startups, each of which boasted investments valued at more than $100 million, are building on an idea laid out by billionaire Musk, the entrepreneur behind electric car company Tesla and private space exploration endeavor SpaceX.

Pods would rocket along rails through reduced-pressure tubes at speeds of 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) per hour.

 2017 AFP
A vaquita porpoise swims in the Gulf of California. Less than 60 are thought to exist. Credit: Thomas A. Jefferson/VIVA Vaquita

An ambitious, emergency plan to help save the vaquita porpoise from extinction in the northern Gulf of California has been recommended by the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA). The plan involves relocating some of the remaining vaquitas to a temporary sanctuary, while crucial efforts aimed at eliminating illegal fishing and removing gillnets from their environment continue. The emergency action plan will be led by the Mexican government and supported by a consortium of marine mammal experts from more than a dozen organizations around the world.

Despite substantial efforts by the Mexican government to protect vaquitas, the recovery team recently reviewed the latest results from advanced acoustic monitoring technology that showed the vaquita population continuing to rapidly decline. "We are watching this precious native species disappear before our eyes," said Rafael Pacchiano, Mexico's Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources. "This critical rescue effort is a priority for the Mexican government and we are dedicated to providing the necessary resources in order to give the plan its best chance of success." The plan will be implemented in tandem with ongoing efforts to remove the threat of gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California and eliminate illegal fishing.

VaquitaCPR (Conservation, Protection and Recovery) is an emergency action plan of the Mexican government with the input of an expert group of conservation scientists and marine mammal veterinarians. Recovery operations are set to begin in Mexico in the next few months. The plan acknowledges the many uncertainties involved in finding, catching and maintaining vaquitas in a temporary sanctuary. Vaquitas are not only rare, they avoid motorized vessels and no one can predict how they will react. "Unlike condors, we expect that most vaquitas will remain in the wild as capturing even a few will be very difficult," says Dr. Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, lead vaquita researcher and head of CIRVA. "Having some is still better than having none. The decline is happening faster than solutions for illegal fishing, so we need to have multiple strategies."

While the vaquita is the animal most critically affected by the illegal fishing nets now, the lives of many other important species are also in jeopardy from the very same nets. Even if we are not able to save the vaquita, the situation must be controlled to protect turtles, sharks, dolphins and many other marine creatures. "Experts from around the world have come together and are working to save the vaquita in much the same way conservationists rescued the California condor from extinction in the 1980s," said Dr. Sam Ridgway, President of the National Marine Mammal Foundation. "We recognize that the odds are stacked against us, but the conservation and scientific communities feel a duty to act and we hope our collective expertise can make a difference."

The emergency action plan has been adopted by Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) on the recommendation of their expert advisory group, the Comite Internacional Para La Recuperacion De La Vaquita (CIRVA). Under SEMARNAT leadership, the National Marine Mammal Foundation, The Marine Mammal Center, and the Chicago Zoological Society will help coordinate the efforts of a multi-institutional, international conservation team.

The precipitous decline of the vaquita has been primarily driven by accidental deaths of the porpoises in fishing gillnets. In 2015, the Mexican government instituted a two-year gillnet ban over the range of the vaquita. Additionally, the Mexican government implemented a financial compensation program to provide income to fishermen affected by the two-year gillnet ban. Despite strong enforcement, illegal gillnets are still being set to catch an endangered fish known as totoaba, the swim bladders of which fetch large sums of money on Hong Kong and Chinese black markets. Thus, despite tens of millions of dollars invested by the Mexican government in preventing vaquita by-catch, the population continues to decline.

Provided by National Marine Mammal Foundation
Kenyan and Rwandan authorities said Wednesday they had banned poultry products from neighbouring Uganda, where a virulent H5 strain of avian flu has broken out.

"The government banned importation of poultry and poultry products from Uganda with immediate effect," said Kenya's agriculture cabinet secretary Willy Bett at a press conference.

The move from Nairobi comes two days after Rwanda also blocked poultry imports.

"Rwanda has put in place measures to prevent the disease. We have temporarily halted the import of poultry and poultry products," Christine Kanyandekwe from the country's agricultural department said Wednesday.

She said Rwanda imports 50,000 day-old chicks and 100 tonnes of eggs from Uganda per month. Figures for Kenya were not immediately available.

Uganda's agriculture ministry announced Sunday that it had detected avian flu among migratory birds, saying that it had since spread to a few domestic birds.

In both areas where it was detected the birds tested positive for "the highly pathogenic avian influenza that affects both humans and animals and which causes a high number of deaths in both species", the ministry said.

Uganda's acting commissioner in charge of animal health Dr Anna Ademun told AFP the strain was "confirmed to the level of H5."

Uganda has some 40 million chickens, according to agricultural statistics.

In 2016, 51 countries declared the outbreak of one of the virulent H5 and H7 strains of bird flu, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). These include H5N1, H5N2, H5N5, H5N6, H5N9, H7N1, H7N3, H7N7 and H7N8.

Europe is battling the spread of H5N1, culling millions of birds on farms and moving them indoors to avoid contagion from infected wildlife.

The strain can be transmitted to humans, and is held responsible for the deaths of several hundred people since 2003.

Japan and Iran have also had to cull hundreds of thousands of birds due to outbreaks of the virus.

 2017 AFP
Some baboon males are prone to commit domestic violence when forced to move into a group with few fertile females, researchers find. Credit: Photo by Catherine Markham, Stony Brook University

(Phys.org)A team of researchers from several institutions in the U.S., some with ties to the Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, has found that male baboons in the wild at times engage in feticide. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the researchers describe their observations and offer some theories on why they believe it occurs.

Infanticide has been documented in a variety of species, including lions, rodents, whales, and many types of primates, including humans. The general consensus in the scientific community is that the behavior occurs because it makes the mother more available to the male that does the killing. Less common is feticide, where a male causes harm to a pregnant female that results in the death of the fetus. In this new effort, the researchers report on the first-ever evidence of feticide in baboons.

Prior research has shown that baboons engage in infanticide, but until now, it was not known that sometimes males also engage in feticide. In studying baboons in the Amboseli basin in Kenya the researchers report that they observed a number of feticide episodes by males that were new to a group. They note also that such attacks often left the mother dead as well, thus defeating the purpose of the attack. They report that causing a mother to abort a fetus reduced both pregnancy and lactation times, making the females more readily available for mating if they managed to survive the attack. They noted also that in cases when the female did survive, it was often the case that she would mate with her attacker.

The researchers report that such attacks happened more often during periods of scarce resources; when new males managed to achieve high status quickly; when there were a lot of infants in a group; or if the males remained with a new group for more than three months. The team notes that it was obviously much more difficult to spot feticide than infanticidethey had to change their study habits to follow females after intercourse for a period of time to note changes in physiology or behavior that likely signaled a pregnancy and then to watch for episodes of violence against them and what followed afterwards.

More information: Matthew N. Zipple et al. Conditional fetal and infant killing by male baboons, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2561 Abstract

Sexually selected feticidethe death of infants in utero as a result of male behaviourhas only rarely been described or analysed, although it is presumed to be favoured by the same selective pressures that favour sexually selected infanticide. To test this hypothesis, we measured the frequency of feticide and infanticide by male baboons of the Amboseli basin in Kenya, and examined which characteristics of a male and his environment made him more likely to commit feticide and/or infanticide. We found a dramatic increase in fetal and infant death rates, but no increase in death rates of 1- to 2-year-old individuals, following the immigration of males who stood to benefit from feticide and infanticide. Specifically, fetal and infant death rates were highest following immigrations in which: (i) the immigrant male rapidly attained high rank, (ii) that male remained consistently resident in the group for at least three months, (iii) food availability and social group range overlap was relatively low and (iv) relatively many pregnant females and/or dependent infants were present. Together, these results provide strong evidence for the existence of both sexually selected feticide and infanticide in our population, and they indicate that feticide and infanticide are conditional male behavioural strategies employed under particular circumstances. Press release Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B

 2017 Phys.org
The company behind messaging app Snapchat will place its European base in Britain in a vote of confidence in the economy following the vote to leave the European Union.

Los Angeles-based Snap Inc.'s decision runs counter to that of tech giants like Apple and Google, who have chosen lower tax bases like Ireland. It also comes amid public frustration over alleged tax avoidance schemes of multinational corporations.

Snap, which has 75 staff members in Britain, will pay U.K. corporation tax on its international profits.

Claire Valoti, general manager of Snap Group in the U.K., says that the company believes in the U.K.'s creative industries.

Snap has 150 million users a day worldwide and is planning a U.S. stock flotation with a reported valuation of up to $25 billion.

 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
US President Barack Obama and his family, in accordance with tradition, will board the Air Force One for the final time when they head to Palm Springs in the state of California for a vacation.

By Press Trust of India: Following tradition, outgoing US President Barack Obama and his family will board the Air Force One for the final time as they fly to Palm Springs in California for a vacation after US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.

"The first family is looking forward to flying to Palm Springs, California on Friday. The President vowed to take his family to a destination that is warmer than Washington DC on Friday and Palm Springs fits the bill," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Tuesday.

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"This is a community that the president has visited on a number of occasions as President of the United States. He and his family have enjoyed the time they've spent there in the past," he said.

The Obamas are looking forward to traveling there on Friday and will return to Washington DC after concluding their vacation, Earnest said, adding he did not have details about the how long the vacation will be.

"I did not say how long they're gonna stay. They will arrive on Friday afternoon in Palm Springs, but I don't anticipate having any updates on their travel schedule beyond that," he said.

Also read: The Obamas' final goodbye bash has the most happening guest list

Also read: Happy birthday, Michelle Obama: 6 iconic looks of the First Lady we just cannot seem to get over

The President and his family have rented a eight-bed room house in the upscale residential neighbourhood of Kalorama here. The family would live there for at least next two years.

Its a tradition for the outgoing president to fly out of Washington DC for the final time after being succeeded by a new president.

Before he boards the Air Force One, Obama would give final remarks to the press at the tarmac of Andrews Air Force Base.

Obama is scheduled to address his final press conference at the White House today.

Also read: Obama to Americans: You made me a better president, a better man

Also watch: US President Barack Obama raises the bar with his farewell speech

--- ENDS ---
A simple, linear robot is easy to control. With known goals and a clear understanding of variables, a controller tells the robot the rules to follow. If button A is pressed, for example, the robot picks up an item from the conveyor belt. The item can either be moved to a different belt, or disposed of completely.

A more complicated, nonlinear robot is more difficult. The rules change when neither the goals nor the variables are understood.

"The knowledge of system dynamics is completely unknown and system states are not available... therefore, it is desirable to design a novel control scheme that does not need the exact knowledge of system dynamics but only the input and output data measured during the operation of the system," said Dr. Zhijun Fu, a researcher in the department of mechanical engineering at Zhejiang University, China.

Fu and his research team published a paper describing this novel control scheme in IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica (JAS).

The scientists first had to determine the system states in order to figure out how to control them. They implemented a neural networkan artificial brain capable of quick assessment and learningto observe the system at multiple time scales and to update its information as it studies.

"We cannot apply existing actor-based methods to unknown nonlinear systems directly," Fu said, explaining the appeal of an observer-based method. An actor must be told what to do, while the observer watches the system to learn the requirements for optimal control.

Optimal control is the goal in most robotic systems. It's the budget of the systemhow to achieve the goals at the lowest cost possible.

"The proposed method may be used [in] industrial systems with 'slow' and 'fast' dynamics due to the presence of parameters such as small time constants," Fu said.

Such variable dynamics can typically cost a system a lot, in terms of energy and resources. An observer-based method takes into account each type of parameter and adjusts ideally.

This method also accounts for a common system control problem: the overwhelming of actuators with information. Actuators, the physical sensors in automated machines, can become saturated with information and stop working properly. Since this control method accounts for input constraints (since only the input and output data are measured), the actuators avoid saturation.

Not all of the system control problems are solved, though.

"[In this paper,] we don't consider the state constraints problem," Fu said, referring to potential limitations that scientists may need to apply to a robotic system in some situations. "Future research will be dedicated to solving this problem."

More information: Z. J. Fu, W. F. Xie, S. Rakheja, and J. Ma, "Observer-based adaptive optimal control for unknown singularly perturbed nonlinear systems with input constraints," IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica, Vol. 4, no.1, pp. 33-42, Jan. 2017.

Provided by Chinese Association of Automation
Jeremy Day (center) and undergraduate students Guan-En Graham (left) and Jasmin Revanna (right) use CRISPR technology to illuminate the power and reach of epigenetic modifications in brain diseases.

Guan-En Graham is determined to find out exactly what happened to her father. When she was a child, he developed brain cancer. Since then, she has worked to understand the intricate genetic mechanisms that trigger brain diseases so that one day, perhaps, she can shut them down for good.

Now Graham might have the tool to do it. In the lab of Jeremy Day, Ph.D., the sophomore neuroscience major from Las Vegas is part of a UAB research team investigating CRISPR, a piece of gene-editing technology that could have the potential to prevent disease before patients start to suffer.

Precise and programmable

CRISPR, or Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, is essentially a pair of molecule-sized programmable scissorsscissors that work on the DNA inside living cells. In the few years since scientists have refined the technology, CRISPR has revolutionized gene editing.

The concept of adding, deleting, or otherwise altering an existing DNA sequence is nothing new; scientists have done it in laboratories for decades. But earlier gene-editing technologies can produce "off-target" effects, unintentionally tinkering with other pieces of DNA. CRISPR is more precise, efficient, versatile, and affordable than its predecessors, which has changed how scientists address questions and the speed in which they answer them.

Day, a UAB School of Medicine assistant professor of neurobiology, studies epigenetics, a group of molecular modifications that influence gene activity without changing the DNA sequence. CRISPR enables his research group "to explore how epigenetic modifications affect expression of specific genes. The ability to express genes in a selective fashion gives rise to the amazing diversity of cell types that we possess."

Jasmin Revanna, another neuroscience major working with Day, describes the work as "changing 'tags' on DNA that affect its function in the cell." The goal is to discover the roles those tags, or epigenetic modifications, play in diseases that don't result from DNA mutations, adds the freshman from Jacksonville, Alabama.

"We are applying this to addiction-related diseases to understand how drugs of abuse engage the epigenome to generate long-term alterations in neuron function and behavior," Day says. The findings could lay the groundwork for a variety of CRISPR-related epigenetic treatmentsperhaps boosting or restoring memories for Alzheimer's patients or tamping them down for people with post-traumatic stress disorder. "While our current studies are in their infancy, this technology is a huge leap forward," Day says.

Cut, paste, treat

CRISPR originated in certain bacteria, where it functions as protection against invading viruses. Essentially, it's a "highly efficient and specific" cellular immune system, explains Tim Townes, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics in the UAB School of Medicine. The molecular mechanism recognizes viral DNA and cuts it up to prevent the virus from replicating inside the bacteria.

Credit: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Where CRISPR cuts DNA, researchers can delete or insert a DNA sequence. Townes's lab has applied this technology to successfully correct the genetic mutation causing sickle cell disease (SCD), which can cause chronic pain and organ damage. Current SCD treatments are lifelong and can have severe side effects.

"All patients with SCD have the exact same mutation in the exact same location on the exact same genemeaning we need to correct only one mutation in the bone marrow cells to cure someone of this condition forever," Townes says. The process involves retrieving bone marrow cells from the patient, treating the genes, and then implanting the cells back into the patient. Because the cells are the patient's own, there would be no need for a transplant or risk of rejection. "With CRISPR we have an effective rate of correction for the sickle cell mutation between 30 and 50 percent. Just that portion of cells is enough to cure someone of sickle cell," Townes says.

Currently, each baby born in the United States is tested for the sickle mutation, allowing researchers to know within a month whether the baby will develop the disease. SCD symptoms typically do not appear until children are a year old, "which leaves 11 months to cure them, and they may never have to experience the disease," Townes says. A similar approach could benefit patients with other diseases. In published research, Townes and his team have shown how they used CRISPR to correct the DNA that triggers severe combined immunodeficiency disease, in which children are born with no immune response.

A key to personalized medicine

Both Townes and Day expect human clinical trials of CRISPR-based therapeutics to begin in the next few years. Genetic disorders arising from single-gene mutations, like SCD, are ideal CRISPR candidates because they require only one small correction to be made, and the correction is always the same. However, most genetic disorders aren't so simple, involving complex mutations in multiple genes. As CRISPR technology improves, it may be adaptable for a wider range of disorders, and both Townes and Day predict that it will play a key role in the development of personalized medicine, with treatments tailored to each patient's genetic makeup.

Babies born in Alabama hospitals currently are tested for 35 diseases, "but for about the same price, we could sequence their genome" and pinpoint genes that put them at risk for disease, Townes says. Then, "long before someone develops one of these genetic predispositions, we could correct the gene so that they never experience that disease," Townes says.

Even when gene editing is difficult or impossible, CRISPR's ability to introduce desirable epigenetic modifications may become highly useful, Day adds. "This will be possible in several years as we develop our basic understanding of how epigenetic marks regulate single genes."

Safety monitors

Could CRISPR lead science down a slippery slope, with people wanting to alter their genesor their children's genesfor cosmetic reasons, for example? Safety and ethical considerations are key to CRISPR's progress, Day and Townes say. "We already use many different therapeutics that are capable of altering how our genes are expressed and capable of producing long-term effects," Day says. "The ethical considerations that arise have more to do with the application of technology than with the technology itself. Ultimately, the benefits of CRISPR will outweigh potential risks, provided there is adequate screening and careful observation."

Townes agrees, noting that "overall the scientific community has done well in regulating these new technologies and not acting irresponsibly."

The Food and Drug Administration, which must approve any clinical trial of CRISPR in humans, also is developing regulations on safety and the use of gene-editing technology.
Nickelodeon chose Filipino island of Palawan for the development of its new theme park because it "is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world today"

American children's television network Nickelodeon has announced it will build an underwater resort and theme park on an island known as the Philippines' last ecological frontier, alarming environmentalists.

The firm behind SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer said the park on Palawan island would be part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) undersea development showcasing the area's marine life that would give fans a chance to "interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love".

Palawan was chosen for the development because it "is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world today," Ron Johnson, an executive vice president with Viacom International Media Networks, which owns Nickelodeon, said in a statement emailed to AFP on Tuesday.

Viacom's initial statement announcing the project on Monday said the resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six metres (20 feet) below sea level.

The development would "advocate ocean protection" and conserve coral reefs, the statement said.

But environmental group Greenpeace said it would destroy the area's world-famous marine ecosystem.

"It's sad and alarming because a theme park that big will not promote environmental protection by building those structures," Vince Cinches of Greenpeace Southeast Asia told AFP.

"Why build a viewing deck when you have the whole paradise to enjoy?"

Conservation groups call Palawan "the last frontier" because of its pristine coastlines and forests, which are among the oldest and most diverse in Southeast Asia.

Palawan is home to two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.

Palawan-based environmental activist Grizelda Mayo-Anda also expressed concern.

"I am wary because we have had problems already with resorts built in mangrove areas," Mayo-Anda, executive director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center, told AFP.

"I'm really concerned because sometimes, with all due respect to the local government unit, we get captivated by new projects and we do not judiciously study the impact."

Viacom's Philippine partner, Coral World Park, insisted the resort would not hurt the environment.

"We are taking very, very careful measures to ensure that the biodiversity is kept intact," Coral World Park chairman Paul Monozca told AFP.

Coral World Park said the development would be part of a coral reef conservation programme including a marine sanctuary for species like dolphins and sea cows.

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, a government body, said the project had yet to be approved.

 2017 AFP
Two unique molecules have been discovered by Universite Laval researchers in a species of lichen growing in northern Quebec. A number of compounds with interesting antibacterial properties have also been isolated from the lichen according to an article published in the latest issue of Journal of Natural Products.

"Lichens in the North are exposed to unique environmental stresses, says Normand Voyer, chemist, professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and lead author of the study. We thought that these species might produce special molecules to cope with these very rugged conditions."

The lichen in question, Stereocaulon paschale, generally lives in subarctic and arctic regions of the planet, but can also be found on mountain peaks in the Gaspesie and Charlevoix regions. Professor Stephane Boudreau, of the Biology Department, brought back specimens from Nunavik. Phytochemical analyses yielded 11 compounds, two of which were new molecules that had never before been isolated anywhere on Earth.

The nine other compounds the researchers isolated have already been identified in other living organisms. However, tests conducted by Daniel Grenier, professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, have resulted in another discovery: six of these compounds show potentially interesting antibacterial activity against pathogens that cause problems such as dental caries and periodontal disease.

"It's still too early to know whether the two molecules we've discovered have specific properties that could have medical or industrial applications," explains Normand Voyer. "However, the objective of our study was not to provoke a rush to the molecular treasures northern Quebec species may contain. Rather we wanted to demonstrate that there is a hidden wealth of naturally occurring compounds in northern environments that need to be studied and protected. Numerous phytochemical studies have been carried out in tropical forests, but the North remains largely unexplored. There are surely many other northern species that, like S. paschale, contain unique molecules. We may find the next cancer treatments in these regions. If we do find natural compounds that have useful applications, it will be important to develop methods for synthesizing them in the lab so as not to jeopardize the survival of the species that produce them."

The study was published in the Journal of Natural Products.
Dr. Anthony Cummings is working in Guyana, using drones to track and study how farming impacts the Amazon rainforest's ecosystem over time. Credit: University of Texas at Dallas

Dr. Anthony Cummings sat down with leaders of an indigenous community in Guyana last summer to share an unconventional idea to help them conserve the land their people have lived on for thousands of years.

The assistant professor of geospatial information sciences in UT Dallas' School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences wanted to use drones to capture images of the Makushi people's Amazon rainforest farmland. The goal was to track and study how changes on their farming plots affect the ecosystem and wildlife over time.

Cummings was seeking more than permission. He needed the community's help building and flying the drones. Cummings, who is from Guyana, had already built friendships with Makushi farmers while conducting other research on the ecosystem there. He reasoned that technology and scientific methods could help them better manage their resources and provide data needed to participate in programs that provide financial incentives for avoiding deforestation.

The Makushis have internet access, cellphones and electricity generated through solar panels, but drones were something new. Cummings wanted to ensure that they work together to develop a method for collecting data that respects the Makushi way of life.

"Inclusion in farming and cultural practices is inherent to the Makushi way," Cummings said.

After discussions, community leaders agreed to fly the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) once a month and send the data to Cummings.

Next came the training. Cummings wanted to make sure the residents knew how to maintain and reassemble the drones in case anything went wrong.

A Makushi farmer, Persaud Moses, holds a drone he assembled. Credit: University of Texas at Dallas

"We showed them a video, put the parts on the table and said this is what you need to build a UAV," Cummings said. "Within eight hours we had two UAVs in our hands. They built the UAVs in the time it takes me to put one together."

Soon, Cummings was gathering trainees in an open field to fly their first mission.

"It was such an exciting moment," Cummings said. "Everyone came to see it and had their cameras out. They had a blast. I did too."

A view of a cassava farm taken by a drone. Credit: University of Texas at Dallas

A $5,000 grant from the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences Advisory Council made the project possible. The funds helped cover Cummings' travel, the drone equipment and support for the farmers.

The images started coming last fall. Yogita Karale, a PhD student in the GIS program, sits at her computer, nearly 3,000 miles away, studying the images that look like the top of broccoli stalks to the untrained eye. The images show crops including watermelons, corn and the staple cassava, also called manioc and yucca.

"We are looking for changes over time," Karale said. "In one of the farm data maps I'm working on, vine plants are replaced by manioc and tree logs are being moved. There are a lot of changes even within a time frame of a month in these areas."

The project has worked so well, Cummings said he hopes to expand it. Guyana has more than 100 Amerindian communities and they represent the fastest-growing population in that nation. He hopes that his work will inspire other researchers to continue to explore how UAVs can be used to study indigenous lands to help residents sustain their livelihoods.

Cummings is completing the work in collaboration with the Hydrometeorological Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Guyana and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs.
University of Iowa physicist Usha Mallik is at the forefront in the search to confirm the existence of a particle believed to give mass to all matter. Her group helped build and operates a sub-detector at the Large Hadron Collider, a particle accelerator in Switzerland, to search for bottom quarks, which are thought to appear when a Higgs boson decays. Credit: Tim Schoon, University of Iowa

A University of Iowa physicist is at the forefront of the search for a missing particle that could prove whether the Higgs bosonbelieved to give mass to all matterexists.

Usha Mallik and her team used a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help build a sub-detector at the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, located in Switzerland. They're running experiments on the sub-detector to search for a pair of bottom quarkssubatomic yin-and-yang particles that should be produced about 60 percent of the time a Higgs boson decays.

Evidence of these bottom quarks would confirm the existence of the Higgs boson, sometimes referred to as the "God particle." The Higgs' apparent discovery in 2012 seemed to support the Standard Model, the prevailing theory in physics about how the laws governing the universe work.

But since that find, there's been a hitch: The bottom quarks expected to arise from a Higgs boson's decay have yet to be seen, and scientists need that to happen to know for sure the Higgs, in fact, exists.

"Until we're sure whether it's a Standard Model Higgs or an imposter mixed with another kind of Higgs, we are desperate to learn what is beyond the Standard Model. The Higgs is our window beyond the Standard Model," Mallik says.

Still, the quest remains complicated: A Higgs boson is created about once in 10 trillion tries. Moreover, Higgs bosons decay into other particles almost instantly after they are produced, which makes detecting and defining their decaying constituentssuch as the bottom quarkseven more challenging.

Mallik and her team hope to observe bottom quarks by following the post-collision clutter that arises from the decay of the Higgs or other new heavy particles similar to it.

"It's basically identifying, picking that needle in the haystack while not getting fooled by something else," says Mallik, who spent the past academic year at ATLAS, one of four particle detectors at the Large Hadron Collider. "That is the challenge."

Mallik, three postdoctoral researchers, a graduate student, and a software engineer from the UI have all been at ATLAS sifting through the voluminous data produced by the collisions. Their work is funded through the High Energy Physics program, part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Anindya Ghosh, a first-year UI graduate student from India joined Mallik's group in 2015 after hearing her speak the year before at the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras, India. Ghosh worked with the ATLAS experiments over most of last summer.

He calls it "a fantastic place" to be, with hundreds of scientists, students, and teachers joined in the same quest.

"It's a really great opportunity for a new student like me to learn from the experts," Ghosh says.

The attempt to understand the underpinnings of the universeand human existencehas always fascinated Mallik.

"It's always interested me," she says. "How did we come into being? What led to our universe? It's a fundamental question in many forms."
The new paper analyzes an Antarctic ice core (black arrow at bottom) to show that Southern Ocean winds (yellow arrows) responded to rapid Arctic warming during the last ice age. Previous studies established connections between Arctic warming and ocean currents (red/blue arrows), the northern jet stream (green arrows) and tropical rain bands (green clouds). Credit: Nature Geoscience 2017/Nerilie J. Abram

The global climate is a complex machine in which some pieces are separate, yet others are connected. Scientists try to discover the connections to predict what will happen to our climate, especially in a future with more heat-trapping gases.

A dramatic pattern in our planet's climate history involves paroxysms in Arctic temperatures. During the last ice age, tens of thousands of years ago, Greenland repeatedly warmed by about 10 degrees Celsius over just a few decades and then gradually cooled. Meanwhile the Southern Hemisphere climate stayed fairly stable, with only weak and long-delayed echoes of the temperature chaos up north.

But new University of Washington research shows the fierce winds circling Antarcticaan important lever on the global climateshifted quickly in response to the Northern Hemisphere temperature spikes.

"It's most surprising that we can see these really abrupt changes in the Northern Hemisphere making it very quickly to the Southern Hemisphere," said first author Bradley Markle, a UW doctoral student in Earth and space sciences. "The atmospheric circulation is tightly connected across the globe during these events."

The study is published in the January issue of Nature Geoscience.

Researchers used evidence from a 2-mile-long West Antarctic ice core. That ice core's thick annual layers provide precise dating that allows scientists to match its climate history with those in distant Greenland ice records. The wild northern temperature swings, known as Dansgaard-Oeschger events, are thought to be natural oscillations in the climate system. They have been reproduced in the most sophisticated climate models covering the ice age period. These same models also show a shift in Southern Hemisphere winds.

The new study is the observational support for this shift in the winds.

The Antarctic ice core shows that Southern Ocean winds shifted at the same time, or at most within a few decades, of each rapid Greenland warming event. Antarctic air temperatures, on the other hand, are connected through the slower-moving oceans and took about two centuries to respond.

A freshly extracted section of the 2-mile-deep West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide core, drilled from 2006 to 2011. Sections are now stored in freezers at a national facility in Denver. Credit: Jay Johnson/University of Wisconsin

"We'd never found anything in our ice cores before that show the Southern Hemisphere responding so quickly to what happened in the Northern Hemisphere," said co-author Eric Steig, a UW professor of Earth and space sciences. "What we found is that when it warms up abruptly in the Northern Hemisphere, the winds in the Southern Hemisphere move north, and blow over warmer water. And the opposite happens when it cools down quickly in the north: the winds shift south."

It was already well known that tropical rain bands and the Northern Hemisphere jet stream adjust to the temperature balance between hemispheres. But there was little historical evidence for winds blowing over the icy southern seas.

The new study uses chemical clues in the 70-thousand-year ice core record. As gusting winds evaporate seawater, the fraction of heavier to lighter hydrogen and oxygen atoms in vapor depend on the ocean's temperature. When this moisture eventually falls as snow over Antarctica, it contains a signature of the latitude where it evaporated.

Results show that the winds shifted north toward the equator when Greenland warmed, through a signal that was communicated through the atmosphere.

Author Bradley Markle examines a section of ice core at the West Antarctic field site. He spent two months in the field as a member of the drilling team. Credit: Linda Morris/U.S. Ice Drilling Program

"When it warms up rapidly in the Northern Hemisphere it creates strong temperature gradients, which influence the rain belts in the tropics. The rain belts in the tropics affect where the winds blow in the Southern Hemisphere. So it's a chain of effects," Steig said.

Besides being important for Antarctic climate, the Southern Ocean winds influence rainfall in South America, Australia and southern Africa. These winds also play a role in long-term climate feedbacks that involve Antarctic sea ice and the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the oceans.

"There's a general understanding in the climate science community that global warming is not just about temperature change, it's also about changing winds," Steig said.

While there is some evidence that Southern Ocean winds may be changing today, the causes would be different from those in the study, the authors cautioned. But the results establish a new bridge between the two hemispheres, and support the results from computer models that create detailed simulations of the global climate over thousands of years.

"This gives us confidence that the models that we're using to make those calculations are getting it about right," Steig said.

More information: Bradley R. Markle et al, Global atmospheric teleconnections during DansgaardOeschger events, Nature Geoscience (2016). DOI: 10.1038/ngeo2848 Journal information: Nature Geoscience
Mom, dad, or both? Hamlet fish are simultaneous hermaphrodites: they can be both the father and mother of their offspring. Their genes are more recombinant in the formation of egg cells than in the formation of sperm. Credit: O. Puebla

The hamlet fish can be both the father and mother of its offspring  a characteristic that is helping researchers to understand why genes often undergo recombination more readily in one sex.

Whether in a plant or animal - during the transition from one generation to the next, the genes are reshuffled before being passed to the egg and sperm cells, a process referred to as recombination. However, the genes in the germ cells of the parent having different sex chromosomes, in most cases the male, usually recombine to a lesser extent or not at all. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plon, the Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel, the University of Kiel and the Smithsonian Tropical Institute in Panama have identified a possible cause for this remarkable phenomenon. To this effect, they analyzed the recombination rates of an unusual model organism: the black hamlet fish, Hypoplectrus nigricans, which is native to the Caribbean.

During the formation of sperm and egg cells, chromosomes are snipped apart and reassembled. This allows new genetic variants to be created  an important driving force of evolution. However, the extent to which the genetic blueprint of the germ cells is mixed depends on the sex. Usually, the germ cells of the parent having the same sex chromosomes (XX) are recombined more strongly than those of the parent having dissimilar sex chromosomes (XY)  a phenomenon known as the Haldane-Huxley rule, which is widely observed in both plants and animals.

Scientists have been searching for the cause of this phenomenon for a long time. The black hamlet with its unusual simultaneous hermaphroditic mating system has now shed some light on this mystery. Unlike many other fish species, Hypoplectrus nigricans is not disturbed by observers during its daily mating displays off the coast of Panama. This has enabled divers to observe its curious form of reproduction: not only can the hermaphroditic fish lay eggs, it can also inseminate the eggs of others. Together with a partner fish, it can therefore be, alternatingly, the father or the mother of its offspring.

Egg cells are more strongly recombined than sperm cells

The scientists have now examined the offspring of a hamlet pair in detail, including an analysis of the DNA of the fish larvae. Because they also knew the genetic makeup of the adult fish, the researchers were able to identify which parts of the genome each parent contributed and which DNA segments were recombined. "Our analysis has shown that although the fish, as hermaphrodites, produce both sperm and egg cells, their genes are more recombinant in the formation of egg cells than in the formation of sperm," explains Loukas Theodosiou of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Evolutionary Biology in Plon.

The female meiotic drive theory

By carrying out a detailed DNA analysis, the researchers identified a pattern that is consistent with a specific theory that explains the Haldane-Huxley rule. "As a hamlet produces both egg and sperm cells, we can now rule out other causes for the observed differences in recombination rates," says Theodosiou. According to the female meiotic drive theory, the different recombination rates are the result of differences in the formation of male and female germ cells.

In mammals, for example, the genetic material is distributed from male precursor germ cells to four germ cells. In females, however, three of those cells subsequently perish, leaving only one egg cell carrying genetic code. Thus, during the formation of germ cells the genes of the female organism already compete to be represented in the surviving egg cell.

Some genes or chromosome segments are particularly adept at securing a place in the egg cell with sometimes serious consequences: Chromosomal competition can cause errors in segregation resulting in chromosome loss and gamete sterility. In addition, deleterious alleles can accumulate in the driving regions of chromosomes which tend to be areas of unusual low recombination.

The frequent cutting, exchanging and reinsertion of gene segments during the formation of egg cells may therefore have arisen to prevent gene regions or chromosomes from gaining an advantage. In this case, a specific recombination pattern on the chromosomes would be expected. "And we discovered precisely such a pattern in the black hamlet. Our findings are therefore consistent with the hypothesis that female meiotic drive could account for gender-specific differences in recombination rates," says Theodosiou.

The scientists now want to study the role of recombination during the cross-breeding of different species. During their dives off the coast of Panama, the researchers found many variants of the colourful tropical fish. "Hamlets are in the middle of a speciation process, and new variants are presently being formed. By analyzing the DNA of these variants and their crossed offspring we can therefore observe evolution in progress."

More information: L. Theodosiou et al. Recombination in the eggs and sperm in a simultaneously hermaphroditic vertebrate, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2016). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1821 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Dark brown to black in color, Asian shot hole borers are minuscule in size. Credit: Sonia Fernandez

There's a new pest in town and it's threatening one of the area's top crops: avocados. First discovered in Los Angeles County in 2003, six-legged Asian shot hole borers have been found by UC Santa Barbara researchers in their own backyard.

Last year, the insects appeared in avocado orchards in Ventura County. The UC Santa Barbara research team also detected them at many sites along the Santa Clara River. Now they've been spied in oak and sycamore trees in Montecito.

"Shot hole borers will bore into almost everything, including avocado trees, which is why they are getting a lot of attention," said graduate student Shelley Bennett, a member of UC Santa Barbara's Riparian InVasion Research Laboratory. "But these beetles also affect many native tree species."

Bennett and her fellow UC Santa Barbara researchers are tracking the movements and impacts of these insidious insects in Ventura County. Working with Akif Eskalen and Richard Stouthamer at UC Riverside and the UC Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center, they are exploring ways to better detect the borers' presence and to manipulate their behavior in hopes of curtailing infestations. Eskalen and Stouthamer have been involved with this research in San Diego and Los Angeles counties since the problem was first detected.

Native to Southeast Asia, the tiny borers are part of an insect group known as ambrosia beetles. Two species, the polyphagous shot hole borer and the Kuroshio shot hole borer, have been found in the area stretching from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. Dark brown to black in color, the insects are minuscule in size. Females range from 0.07 to 0.1 inches long and the males are even smaller, usually about 0.05 inches long.

Both species carry a pathogenic fungus that affects tree xylem, the vascular system that conducts water from the roots to the leaves. The fungus causes a disease called Fusarium dieback, which stops the flow of water and nutrients in at least 137 tree species.

The insects carry the fungus in special compartments called mycangia. Pregnant females bore through the bark and create galleries underneath, where they plant the fungus. If the tree is susceptible, the fungus grows and spreads. The females then lay eggs and, when they hatch, the larvae eat the fungus.

It takes about a month for the larvae to reach adulthood, with more developing into females than males. Within seven weeks, one female can produce 57 more females. Virgin females can produce unfertilized male eggs and mate with their male offspring to produce a new colony. Once pregnant, females pick up some of the fungus and leave through the entry holes created by their mothers to start the process again.

The UC Santa Barbara team's efforts are largely focused in Ventura County, which has the second largest avocado crop in the state. Valued at about $400 million in Southern California alone, avocado production is a critical part of the state's agriculture, making threats to the industry crucial to address as quickly as possible.

At the same time, natural riparian areas are fundamental for protecting biodiversity, with roughly half of the listed species locallyand nationallyassociated with wetland ecosystems. A better understanding of the direct interactions between agricultural lands and adjacent riparian systems is imperative to protect and sustain both agriculture and natural resources.

"We need to confirm whether shot hole borers are resident in riparian systems regionally and, if so, what potential risks there are of dispersal from these areas into the agricultural system," said UC Santa Barbara's Tom Dudley, whose team hopes to find additional funding to extend its research efforts into Santa Barbara County. "Protecting high-value locations, such as nest sites of endangered birds, expensive ornamental trees or at-risk avocado orchards, can be accomplished by implementing measures using deterrent chemicals."

Pesticides can provide a certain level of protection for trees with no or recent beetle colonization, which according to researcher Adam Lambert, another investigator on the UC Santa Barbara team, is not enough. "The search is intensifying for biological solutions specific to this species and its biology," he said. "The goal is to provide a cost-effective, environmentally compatible and permanent solution to the problem."
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

(Phys.org)A team of researchers with members from Russia, the U.S. and Australia has found evidence that supports the theory that left-side support of babies by their mothers is tied to brain hemispherical functions. In their paper published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the researchers describe their study of multiple mammal species and how their discovery bolsters a common theory of mother/offspring bonding behavior.

Many people may not have noticed, but mothers have a very strong tendency to support their babies on their left sides, especially when cradling them. Scientists have debated the reason for this with some suggesting that it allows the babies to hear the mother's heart beat better. Others have suggested that it is due to differences in function in the two brain hemispheres. The left side is believed to be primarily concerned with processing language and making calculations, while the right side is more involved with processing emotions, recognizing faces, spatial awareness and music. The two hemispheres are also responsible for muscle control, of course, but it gets reversed in the processingthe right side of the brain controls the left side of the body while the left side of the brain controls movement of the right side of the body. A mother cradling her baby on the left, the theory goes, allows for both parties to engage more with their right hemispheres, which results in stronger bond building.

To test this theory, the researchers conducted a survey of mothers and their offspring regarding left/right tendencies in multiple mammal species including oxen, reindeer, antelope, horses, walruses, sheep, three species of whales and two species of kangaroo. In so doing, they discovered that all of those surveyed had a similar preference for cradling on the left. They also found that during normal activities, offspring tended to hang around on the left side of their mothersduring times of crisis, however, offspring were moved to the other side, presumably to allow the mother to better offer physical protection.

These findings, the researchers suggest, bolster the proposition that left/right preferences between mothers and offspring is based on brain hemispherical function.

More information: Karina Karenina et al. Lateralization of motherinfant interactions in a diverse range of mammal species, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-016-0030 Abstract

Left-cradling bias is a distinctive feature of maternal behaviour in humans and great apes, but its evolutionary origin remains unknown. In 11 species of marine and terrestrial mammal, we demonstrate consistent patterns of lateralization in motherinfant interactions, indicating right hemisphere dominance for social processing. In providing clear evidence that lateralized positioning is beneficial in motherinfant interactions, our results illustrate a significant impact of lateralization on individual fitness.

 2017 Phys.org
By Press Trust of India: Patna, Jan 18 (PTI) Patna High Court today directed Bihar government to reply by tomorrow on school children being roped in for the proposed human chain programme in support of prohibition and under what provision it has decided to stop traffic on national and state highways for it.

The direction was given by a division bench of acting Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh.

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The court was hearing a PIL filed by a non governmental body Forum for Public Interest Litigation.

Arguing for the PIL, advocate Shashi Bhusan Kumar sought to know under what provision school children are being involved in the January 21 human chain programme and also blocking of NHs and state highways on that day.

Principal Additional Advocate General Lalit Kishore appeared for the state.

The Nitish Kumar government has planned a gigantic human chain across the state on January 21 to reaffirm its commitment to the liquor ban.

The proposed human chain would spread across more than 11,292 km involving around two crore people, which would be largest in the world so far.

The chain would be formed for 45 minutes from 12:15 PM to 1 PM on January 21 and Kumar himself would take part in it at the Gandhi Maidan here.

The entire event, for which Rs 10 crore was sanctioned, would be captured by five satellites and videography would be carried out in all the districts with the help of drones and videographers on helicopters, officials said. PTI COR SNS KK DV PS

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Endangered nonhuman primates include, clockwise from top center, the black and white snub-nosed monkey (photo: Paul Garber), the ring-tailed lemur (photo: Matthias Appel), the golden snub-nosed monkey (photo: Paul Garber), the mountain gorilla (photo: Ruggiero Richard) and the northern white-cheeked gibbon. Credit: Fan Peng-Fei

A report in the journal Science Advances details the grim realities facing a majority of the nonhuman primates in the world - the apes, monkeys, tarsiers, lemurs and lorises inhabiting ever-shrinking forests across the planet. The review is the most comprehensive conducted so far, the researchers say, and the picture it paints is dire.

"Alarmingly, about 60 percent of primate species are now threatened with extinction and about 75 percent have declining populations," the authors wrote.

"This truly is the eleventh hour for many of these creatures," said University of Illinois anthropology professor Paul Garber, who co-led the study with Alejandro Estrada of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. "Several species of lemurs, monkeys and apes - such as the ring-tailed lemur, Udzunga red colobus monkey, Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, white-headed langur and Grauer's gorilla - are down to a population of a few thousand individuals. In the case of the Hainan gibbon, a species of ape in China, there are fewer than 30 animals left."

Another critically endangered ape, the Sumatran orangutan, lost 60 percent of its habitat between 1985 and 2007, Garber said.

These species face a host of threats, from hunting, the illegal pet trade and habitat loss as humans continue to log tropical forests, build roads and mine "in needlessly destructive and unsustainable ways," Garber said. "These primates cling to life in the forests of countries such as China, Madagascar, Indonesia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo," he said.

"Sadly, in the next 25 years, many of these primate species will disappear unless we make conservation a global priority," he said. "This, by itself, would be a tragic loss. Now, consider the hundreds of other species facing a similar fate around the world, and you get a sense of what's truly at stake."

Just four countries - Brazil, Indonesia, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo - host two-thirds of all species of primates, the researchers report, making these countries obvious targets for measures to halt - and perhaps even reverse - the global primate extinction trend.

Habitat loss as the result of road building, mining, logging and agriculture, along with hunting and illegal trade in animals and animal parts, is often tied to high rates of population growth and the poverty of communities living nearby, Garber said.

"Addressing local poverty and easing population growth is a necessary component of primate conservation," he said. "Building economies based on the preservation of forests and their primate inhabitants, and broadening educational opportunities for women would begin to address some of the greatest threats to these animals."

Of all the threats, however, the biggest is humanity's swelling agricultural footprint, Garber said.

"Agricultural practices are disrupting and destroying vital habitat for 76 percent of all primate species on the planet," he said. "In particular, palm oil production, the production of soy and rubber, logging and livestock farming and ranching are wiping out millions of hectares of forest."

Mining and drilling for minerals and fossil fuels add to the long list of assaults on the world's forests and their primate inhabitants, he said.

"We have one last opportunity to greatly reduce or even eliminate the human threats to primates and their habitats, to guide conservation efforts, and to raise worldwide awareness of their predicament," the authors wrote. "Primates are critically important to humanity. After all, they are our closest living biological relatives."

More information: "Impending extinction crisis of the world's primates: Why primates matter," Science Advances, advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/1/e1600946 Journal information: Science Advances
The fleshy frontal shields of New Zealand's Pukeko convey their social status. Credit: C. O'Connor

What's in a face? In addition to their plumage, Pukekolarge purple swamphens found in New Zealandconvey information about their status through their faces. A new study from The Auk: Ornithological Advances shows that the strongest predictor of male dominance in Pukeko is the size of their frontal shield, a fleshy ornament on their bill that can change quickly.

Cody Dey of McMaster University (now at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research) and his colleagues measured the plumage coloration and frontal shield width and coloration of 272 adult Pukeko on New Zealand's North Island, then tested how those traits were related to the dominance hierarchies they observed within groups. While shield color and plumage brightness and color were all related to social dominance, the strongest predictor was frontal shield width. Frontal shield width was also strongly correlated with testes mass, suggesting that it is the primary status signal for males.

Pukeko shields can decrease in size in as little as a week in response to aggressive challenges from other males, thanks to hormonal changes. "The take-home message from this study is that birds use both feather coloration and bare-part coloration as signals, but these different types of signals have different properties, and bare-part signals in particular are probably more accurate because they can be updated," says Dey. "Feather-based signals can only change when the individual molts, which usually only happens once or twice a year. Since we have mostly been studying feather coloration in birds, we might have been missing a great deal of information about the role of avian coloration."

"This exciting study on the understudied Pukeko adds strong support to our growing understanding of bare part signaling. In particular, the authors reveal the dynamic nature of pigmented bare in communicating status and condition information," adds Franklin and Marshall College's Daniel Ardia, an expert on signaling in birds who was not involved with the study. "The differences they find between frontal shield signaling and plumage reveal the complexity of signaling and demonstrates that bare parts are not simply redundant signals."

More information: "A bare-part ornament is a stronger predictor of dominance than plumage ornamentation in the cooperatively breeding Australian Swamphen" January 18, 2017, The Auk: Ornithological Advances, americanornithologypubs.org/do  10.1642/AUK-16-119.1

Provided by The Auk: Ornithological Advances
When schools put zero tolerance policies into effect, such rules were intended to address problems such as violence, weapons, drugs or other illegal activities. Consequently, "zero tolerance" policies have been used to punish behavioral issues, including inappropriate dress and other minor transgressions. And like many disciplinary measures, they have disproportionately affected black students. A University of Kansas researcher has co-authored a study calling for more research on zero tolerance policies and for policy makers and educators to consider the implications for such policies on students of color, especially black girls.

Dorothy Hines-Datiri, assistant professor of multicultural education, co-authored the study with Dorinda Carter Andrews of Michigan State University and argues that zero tolerance policies are not colorblind. Much research has been devoted to how discipline policies disproportionately affect black males, but little attention has been paid to how they affect black girls. Hines-Datiri has presented the study at the American Educational Research Association's national convention and it is forthcoming in the Urban Education journal. Black girls who are punished more harshly than their white peers face a host of educational consequences that extend throughout school because they are disciplined more often and viewed by their peers and educators as more likely to be disciplined.

"What we see in data from the U.S. Department of Education is that zero tolerance policies are disproportionately affecting students of color and especially black girls," Hines-Datiri said. "How I see myself as a student has a lot to do not only with how I see myself in general, but how others see me, and it is rooted in where I am, including in schools."

The aforementioned data shows that in 2010, black girls in middle school were suspended four times more than their white female counterparts, and in the 2011-2012 year, black girls were suspended six times as often as white girls.

Hines-Datiri suggests that more qualitative research should be conducted to include black girls' narratives, address intersectionality and explore implicit racial bias of teachers and school staff. More empirical studies should be conducted specifically in the areas of critical race feminism and figured worlds, she wrote. The former explores the intersectionality of race and gender and how it influences daily experiences, while the latter examines cultural contexts and sites where identities are produced in school. Individuals "figure" who they are in relation to their social location and develop relationships within a context that is racialized and gendered by teachers and schools. Thus, black girls' experience in schools are largely shaped by zero tolerance policies that not only hold them to ideals of white, heteronormative femininity but punish them for being their authentic selves and suggests that identities other than their own are more valued.

Zero tolerance policies produce a wide array of negative outcomes, including reduced educational achievement, academic disengagement, higher suspension and dropout rates, lower wages earned in postschool careers and more students placed in the school-to-prison pipeline.

"In essence, we urge educational researchersand K-12 educators and policy makersto consider how disciplinary policies create certain kinds of interactions between adults and female students in learning spaces, and how those interactions around disciplinary offenses create certain role expectations in the classroom, 'adultifies' black female students and solicits certain types of behaviors from them," the researchers wrote.

Zero tolerance policies criminalize and police the types of mannerisms, language, posture and communicative styles of black girls while reinforcing their marginalization in the classroom, Hines-Datiri argues.

Policy makers can help address this issue by rethinking discipline, zero tolerance policies and realizing they are not colorblind. Humanizing black girls in school and viewing their multiple consciousness instead of essentializing them can help to reduce disparities in suspensions, expulsions and punishments given to black girls for perceived disrespect or insubordination.

"Our hope is that school officials and policy makers can rethink not only who these policies hurt, but also who they protect," Hines-Datiri said.

Hines-Datiri, whose research examines school discipline, race and multicultural education, recently received the Paula Silver Case Award for the most outstanding publication in the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership from the University Council for Educational Administration. The award was for a publication examining how race and culture influence school discipline when police are involved in schools.

The hope is that additional research will help schools better understand how zero tolerance policies marginalize young black women and how society and schools influence how kids learn in the classroom, and addressing their overcriminalization.

"It will hopefully bring up some good dialogue, but also results," Hines-Datiri said of the research. "We need to make sure as school personnel that kids have a place to be themselves, and also consider the consequences of the words we speak and how they will affect people who have traditionally been marginalized. We need to look at these issues how they are, not how we perceive them to be. It's about having justice in schools and having equitable schools."
Marissa Mayer is expected to remain with Yahoo's core business, which is being bought by Verizon

Yahoo confirmed on Monday that chief executive Marissa Mayer will quit the company's board after its merger with Verizon.

Mayer is expected to remain with Yahoo's core business, which is being bought by the US telecom titan. Yahoo is selling its internet operations as a way to separate that from its more valuable stake in Chinese internet giant Alibaba.

The share-tending entity, to be renamed Altaba, Inc., will act as an investment company with its board reduced to five members, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Yahoo co-founder David Filo and Mayer will be among those resigning from the board, according to the filing.

When asked what role Mayer will play after the merger with Verizon, the company referred AFP to a Tumblr post from July, after the deal to sell the company's core operations was announced.

"For me personally, I'm planning to stay," Mayer said in the post.

"It's important to me to see Yahoo into its next chapter."

Mayer remains chief executive at Yahoo.

Recent hacking

It still remained unclear on Monday how news of recent large-scale hacks might effect Yahoo's deal to sell its core operating assets to Verizon for $4.8 billion, or Mayer's role going forward.

Yahoo said in December that personal data from over a billion users was stolen in a hack dating back to 2013twice as big as another breach disclosed just three months earlier.

Yahoo co-founder David Filo, seen at Yahoo headquarters in Sunnyvale, Califorina

Verizon said in a statement last month that it would await further news of the investigation before making any decision.

"As we've said all along, we will evaluate the situation as Yahoo continues its investigation," the statement said.

Verizon had said the prior breach was likely "material," meaning it could allow the telecom giant to scrap the deal or lower its offer.

The filing on Monday noted risks faced by the company, including that Verizon might assert claims or renegotiate terms "as a result of facts relating to the security incidents disclosed."

Faded star

The breaches came as a further embarrassment to a company that was one of the biggest names of the internet but which has failed to keep up with rising stars such as Google and Facebook.

Yahoo, after a series of reorganizations, decided late last year to sell its main operating business as a way to separate that from its more valuable stake in Chinese internet giant Alibaba.

Yahoo's plan would place its main operating business within Verizon, which has already acquired another faded internet star, AOL.

The remaining portion would be a holding company with stakes in Alibaba and Yahoo Japan.

Yahoo's valuation hit $125 billion during the dot-com boom, but it has been losing ground since then despite several efforts to reboot.

In the mid-1990s, Yahoo was among the most popular destinations on the internet, helping many people navigate the emerging web.

It became the top online "portal," connecting users to news, music and other content. But its fortunes started to fade when Google began to dominate with its powerful search engine.

 2017 AFP
2017 ASI Reseller Conference will be full of educational sessions, networking and fun

Silver Spring, MD (January 16, 2017)  Action Systems, Inc. (ASI), a POS software developer, is going to hold its 16th annual Resellers Conference at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix, AZ from January 19-21, 2017. Over 170 of ASIs resellers, suppliers and sponsors are scheduled to attend this event.

During this conference, attendees will learn about the status of ASI products for the restaurant market:

Duet is a feature-rich, fast and reliable tablet POS solution that offers top-of-the-line technology at an aordable monthly subscription price. Duet can be run either from the Cloud or from a local/on premise Cloud/Server and also has built-in operational resiliency that allows restaurant operations to continue even when the Internet goes down. Duet is currently being released as a controlled beta and is currently scheduled for a commercial release in the second quarter of this year.

Ideal for table service, quick service, bars and nightclubs, and takeout and delivery, Restaurant Manager is a POS software package that is fast and flexible. Whether its ease-of-use, splitting checks, real-time sales reports, integration to mobile solutions for reporting, customer interaction, mobile payments or integrated EMV for payments processing, this POS software gives restaurants all of the tools needed to boost their bottom line while satisfying customers.

Restaurant Manager and Duet are sold through ASIs reseller channel, which provides local service along with POS and restaurant expertise.

This resellers conference is all about business and will provide significant opportunities for resellers to evolve with the marketplace, said Joe Finizio, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Whether its learning about Duet and Restaurant Manager, networking or leveraging the collective view of the industry, resellers will take the tools that they have gained from the conference and put them to work in 2017.

Duet is a tablet product designed to be marketed by the Reseller Channel as we feel our Channel can deliver the local support and expertise required by today independant restaurant marketplace, added Finizio.

Educational Content and Product Expo

Attendees will also benefit from timely product and business-related educational content. The conference featured new educational sessions that have a direct effect on attendees including Duet, Restaurant Manager, payment processing and support services. The event also features a comprehensive product expo with ASIs Hardware, Payments and services strategic partners.

ASI featured two keynote speakers who provided attendees with tips and techniques on how to grow their business. David Matthews, Senior Advisor for the National Restaurant Association and former CIO and General Counsel for the National Restaurant Association, will provide a restaurant industry update that focuses on whats driving restaruant technology requirements. In addition, Bob Goldberg, attorney for the firm SFNR and legal counsel for the Retail Solution Providers Association, will speak about todays threats and opportunities for resellers.

Sponsors

This event could not have happened without the participation of our sponsors including the Diamond sponsors:

About Action Systems Inc.

Founded in 1987, Action System, Inc. (ASI) designs Point-of-Sale (POS) software for the foodservice industry with a focus on the unique business needs of independent restaurants and regional chains.

ASIs product offerings include Duet, a cutting edge Tablet/Cloud-based solution that runs on tablet computers, and the traditional Restaurant Manager POS application that has been installed in over 20,000 restaurants around the world. Both applications can be configured to create POS Solutions tailored to the business needs and budget of each unique restaurant business, with variable settings for table service, bars, delivery, and QSR operations.

ASI became a world leader in the POS industry by partnering with a channel of highly skilled Value-Added Resellers (VARs) who provide the consulting and technical services that restaurants rely on to realize the full benefit of their POS investment. Thanks to these VAR partners, ASI products are now available in the US, Canada, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.

More POS news:
Squadle announces patented Zero-Touch handheld IoT devices

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/  Squadle, a pioneer in automating multi-unit restaurant operations, announces the issuance of Patent 9,534,938 covering automated handheld measurement devices and algorithms. The first product to implement this technology is the Zero-Touch temperature probe, which will soon be available through select hardware partners. The handheld technology joins other Internet of Things sensors in Squadles back-of-house automation platform.

Squadles Zero-Touch temperature probe enables food service workers to take food and equipment temperatures 83% faster than with a manual thermometer. Workers save on average 1 hour a day while multi-unit owners receive peace of mind through up-to-the minute food safety compliance. Squadle customers experience up to 10% higher per store profits by saving employees and managers time and reducing food spoilage. For case studies or more information, visit www.squadle.com.

The average fast food restaurant is run with expensive manual processes that are tracked on unreliable paper logs. Our operations platform replaces paper logs and automates manual processes, said Le Zhang, founder and CEO, Squadle. Squadles IoT platform is a flexible, scalable and reliable way to simplify our customers processes. Squadle started with an easy-to-use Checklists tablet that replaces paper logs. Franchise owners and managers saw that task completion rose when tablet checklists replaced paper checklists. They also received real-time accountability, operations benchmarks and best practice metrics. Building off of Checklists, Squadle launched its sensor platform and analytics which are revolutionizing multi-unit operations. Squadles innovations with automated probes, checklists and actionable analytics are one part of Squadles ambitious product roadmap. Partners are integrating smart hardware, database, connectivity and analytics to make Squadle the go-to platform to automate multi-unit operations. The goal: to help operators deliver the product and service consistency that drives store revenue and profitability. The IoT space is littered with thousands of automation products that are a pain to make sense of, said Le. Our platform provides an easy, curated, and extremely customizable method to implement automation without disrupting operations. For information, visit www.squadle.com. About Squadle Founded in 2013, Squadles smart, connected operations platform helps multi-units increase profits, reduce risk, and make better decisions using tablets, sensors, and data. Squadle is backed by 500 Startups, Bolt, Accomplice and Walnut Ventures.  2017 Squadle, Inc. Patent Issued.

read more



Other Point of Sale blogs of interest:
By Press Trust of India: (PTI PHOTO: PTI1_18_2017_000263B)

From Laxmi devi

Kolkata, Jan 18 (PTI) President Pranab Mukherjee today unveiled the restored German car in which Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had made his great escape from his ancestral home here in 1941 during his house arrest by the then British government.

Netaji had used Audi Wanderer W24 to escape from his Elgin Road residence to Gomoh railway station in Jharkhand to catch a train to Delhi.

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The car was unveiled to commemorate the 76th anniversary of Netajis Great Escape as well as 60th anniversary of the Netaji Research Bureau (NRB) here.

The President unfurled the flag on cars bonnet. West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathy as well as Sugata Bose, Netajis grand-nephew and also a Trinamool MP, were present at the event.

"I must congratulate Krishna Bose and other members for undertaking the task of refurbishing the car which was used by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose for his great escape," Mukherjee said.

The great escape is known as "Mahanishkraman" which depicts the story of leaving the house, its preparedness and the consequences, he said.

Stating that Netajis life is a most emotive issue in political arena, the President said: "After long gap of his disappearance from India, he is still a centre of so many issues and sometimes many controversies."

Mukherjee talked about undaunted spirit of Sugatas father, Sisir Kumar Bose, who was also at the wheels during Netajis escape from Kolkata.

"Netaji had asked him (Sisir) Amaar ekta kar korte parbe? (can you do some work for me?) in 1940. Sisir Bose never stopped doing Netajis work until he passed away in 2000," he said.

"Many a times I have come here as a Bengali and as resident of Kolkata. Still I accepted the invitation because I thought I must associate at his momentous occasion of 60th anniversary of NRB and also 76th year of the great event performed by the great personality," he added.

The German Wanderer sedan of 1937 make has been restored to its 1941 look by automobile giant Audi.

The sedan was driven regularly until 1957 by Sugatas father and later it was given to Netaji Research Bureau and kept for visitors there. The car was again driven briefly for the Japanese TV project in 1978.

A team of mechanics from Audi Kolkata started working in May 2016 to restore the iconic 4-door Audis (then Auto Union) Wanderer W24 to its former glory.

It is the most prized possession of the Netaji Research Bureau museum. Netaji was said to be the first Indian to own an Audi vehicle in the country. PTI LUX SMJ

--- ENDS ---

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News

Windows Update for Business Could Thwart Client Management Controls

Microsoft recently explained some nuances about its Windows 10 update services that could be frustrating for IT pros managing PC updates and network bandwidth issues.

Organizations typically might use Microsoft's Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to tightly manage Windows 10 clients, including limiting when those clients update. However, IT pros can lose control over when these updates arrive if they use certain values in the registry that are associated with Microsoft's Windows Update for Business solution.

Using those values will cause Windows 10 clients "to also reach out to Microsoft Update online to fetch update bypassing your WSUS/SCCM end-point," explained Shadab Rasheed, a technical advisor for Windows devices and deployment at Microsoft, in a blog post.

Rasheed noted that the following registry values are intended for use with the Windows Update for Business service, but they will invoke the Microsoft Update service if used with WSUS or SCCM:

DeferFeatureUpdate

DeferFeatureUpdatePeriodInDays

DeferQualityUpdate

DeferQualityUpdatePeriodInDays

PauseFeatureUpdate

PauseQualityUpdate

DeferUpgrade

ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate

WSUS or SCCM users wanting to regain control over Windows 10 client updates should verify that those Windows Update for Business values aren't showing up in the Group Policy for Windows Update, Rasheed added.

Windows Update for Business has client management capabilities but it's mostly focused on ensuring that Windows 10 clients are "always up to date with the latest security defenses and Windows features," Rasheed explained. It does so "by directly connecting these [Windows 10 client] systems to Windows Update service." Consequently, it can trip up organizations whose intent was to restrict Windows 10 updates by using WSUS or SCCM management tools.

The issue came up because some organizations found that their Windows 10 clients managed by WSUS or SCCM were still dialing out to get content from Microsoft's content delivery networks.

Rasheed noted another possible reason why an organization's bandwidth gets tapped to connect with Microsoft's content delivery network. Organizations could have Windows Store applications installed. Windows Store apps typically will try to download updates at various times. They tap Microsoft's URL known as "tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com." However, a rule has to be in place for the proxy server so that just the changed bits get delivered for Windows Store apps, instead of all of the bits.

Rasheed explained how to set up that rule. An organization's proxy server should support HTTP RANGE requests for the following URLs:

.download.windowsupdate.com

.au.windowsupdate.com

.tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com

With those HTTP RANGE request settings in place, just the "deltas," or the changed bits, for the applications will get delivered.

Microsoft doesn't recommend trying to disable the Windows Store as an approach to such bandwidth issues. Doing so "breaks the entire store and makes it inaccessible for the clients," Rasheed explained.
Australia's transport minister Wednesday defended the suspension of the undersea search for MH370, after relatives of passengers slammed the decision, and added that it could resume if "credible new evidence" emerges. Australia, Malaysia and China -- where most of the 239 on board the missing Malaysia Airlines jet lived -- on Tuesday pulled the plug on the massive operation in the southern Indian Ocean almost three years since the plane vanished on March 8, 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Transport Minister Darren Chester said the investigation's high cost -- about Aus$200 million (US$150 million) -- was not a factor in the decision. It came after the search of the remote 120,000 square-kilometre zone (46,000 square miles) was completed without success. "I don't rule out a future underwater search by any stretch," Chester told reporters in Melbourne, stressing that the hunt was "not a closed book". But he added, "No-one is coming to me as minister and saying 'We know where MH370 is'. "We don't want to provide false hope to the families and friends. We need to have credible new evidence leading to a specific location before we would be reasonably considering future search efforts." Chester said a future hunt would be primarily a matter for the Malaysian government. "But given the close relationship we have had with Malaysia during this project, I would suspect further conversations would occur between Australia, Malaysia and China at the time." Chester defended the choice of the search zone, which was questioned after analysis by Australian and international experts released in December concluded MH370 was not in that area and might be further north. "We need to understand the very limited amount of actual data our experts were dealing with... it has been the edge of science and technological endeavour in terms of pursuing this search effort," he said. "In future, whether through better analysis of data, if new technology becomes available or through improved equipment or something of that nature, we may have a breakthrough." - Call to extend hunt - The minister said analysis of satellite imagery and the drifting of plane debris in the ocean would continue into February while Australia remained open to help Malaysia, including the examination of other aircraft fragments that may be found. Investigators have so far confirmed that three bits of debris washed up and recovered on western Indian Ocean shorelines came from MH370. Other items recovered mostly on western Indian Ocean shorelines have been identified as likely, though not definitely, from MH370. Relatives of passengers on Tuesday criticised the governments' decision, with some saying they were not convinced their missing loved ones were dead. They called on investigators to extend the hunt into the more more northern 25,000 square kilometre area identified by experts as having the highest probability of containing wreckage. Family members also remain deeply suspicious of Malaysia's handling of the disappearance -- which has become one of aviation's great mysteries -- saying the government and airline have routinely stonewalled requests for more information, a charge they deny. Many next-of-kin have been unhappy about the lack of a coordinated search in the western Indian Ocean and along the African coast, with some of them travelling to Madagascar late last year to comb beaches in search for clues about the lost plane.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan grew up on a small plot of land in rural Vietnam, with just enough food to eat, few new clothes and no disposable income.

Today she works in a Ford factory assembling cars from Chinese, Thai, American and European parts, her children drink imported milk and Coca Cola and she holidays with her family -- winners of the globalisation lottery.

"Before children didn't have a lot of clothes or food, but life improved after their parents got factory jobs," Loan, 36, told AFP at the Ford plant near Hanoi.

She is among millions whose lives have been transformed by Vietnam's free trade embrace, a process that began in the 1980s and has hauled the communist nation out of the penury of the post-war years.

Vietnam now boasts one of Southeast Asia's fastest growing economies driven by exports of cheaply made goods, from Nike shoes to Samsung phones.

The progress is forecast to continue -- albeit at lower-than-expected growth rates -- despite a vow by US President-elect Donald Trump to dismantle a massive Pacific Rim trade deal that Vietnam had hoped would bring a jobs bonanza.

Yet Trump's crusade to save American jobs he says are gobbled up by cheap overseas labour, comes while his own daughter, Ivanka, makes some items for her clothing line in Vietnam.

Even if the sprawling Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact runs aground, Vietnam says it has no plans to close its doors on trade.

"By going global, by going regional, Vietnam has clearly reaped the benefits of globalisation," World Bank Vietnam Country Director Ousmane Dione told AFP, citing large reductions in poverty.

- Farms to freeways -

A glance around Hai Duong, 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the capital, reveals why Vietnam has staked its future on free trade.

Since Ford first opened its doors 20 years ago the area has morphed from an agrarian backwater into an industrial zone peppered with foreign-owned factories churning out electronics, clothing and machinery.

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Vegetable plots and fishing ponds have been replaced by a four-lane highway for trucks carrying goods for export.

Held back by years of war and crippling Soviet-style policies, Vietnam has boasted an annual GDP growth of over five percent for the past five years straight -- though it failed to reach its ambitious target last year.

The country first opened its economy to foreign firms in the 1980s and investment gathered pace after the US scrapped a war-era trade embargo in 1994.

Exports now account for 90 percent of GDP, while the average annual income has surged from some $290 two decades ago to around $2,100 today, according to the World Bank.

In Hai Duong the average Ford factory worker can earn more than twice that -- although still a far cry from the average American manufacturing wage of about $43,000.

"Everything has changed," said Nguyen Van Tuan, 48, a part-time chauffeur, who grew up in a house made of mud and straw.

Today Tuan is proud of his three-storey concrete home -- built from $800 Ford paid for his land 20 years ago.

It sits on a paved road dotted with shops selling iPhones and Japanese badminton rackets.

His two kids have now moved to Taiwan, a country higher-up the manufacturing value chain.

- Centuries apart -

For Ford, Vietnam's abundance of cheap labour and expanding domestic market is a magnet -- it sells cars locally to an upwardly mobile middle class.

Not that the wins of globalisation are universal.

Vietnam remains a tightly-controlled authoritarian regime, independent unions are banned and dissent is swiftly muzzled.

Large foreign firms also stand accused of flouting labour and environmental laws.

Last year Taiwanese firm Formosa was blamed for killing millions of fish through toxic dumping.

The company later said Vietnam has to choose between development and protecting the environment.

"Regulations in regards to environment have loosened, so we've seen some negative effects," said Tran Dinh Thien, head of the Vietnam Institute of Economics Studies.

But for the factory workers of Hai Duong, the trend toward globalisation for now remains welcome.

"Ninety percent of my generation work for companies like Ford," 32-year-old technician Pham Van Hai told AFP, standing before a sea of car parts on the factory floor.

"There's a 20-year age gap between me and my daughters, but the difference in terms of economics is more like a couple of centuries."

jv-lqb/jta/apj/eb/sls
Demolitions in an Arab Israeli village activists say has been targeted by racist policies sparked violence on Wednesday, with a policeman killed and the man accused of attacking him shot dead. A prominent Arab Israeli lawmaker was also wounded in the confrontation in Umm al-Heiran in southern Israel, where activists have long sought to draw attention to what they call the unjust practice of demolishing Arab homes. Police said the man killed, a local resident, was active in the Israeli Islamic Movement and may have been influenced by the Islamic State organisation -- a claim residents strongly denied, calling him a respected teacher. "A vehicle driven by a terrorist from the Islamic Movement intended to strike a number officers and carry out an attack," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said in a statement. "The officers responded and the terrorist was neutralised." Later statements confirmed that the alleged attacker was dead and that a 34-year-old policeman, Erez Levi, was also killed. Village activist Raed Abu al-Qiyan named the driver as Yacoub Abu al-Qiyan, a member of his Bedouin clan. Residents said he was 47, the father of around a dozen children and owned one of five buildings being demolished on Wednesday. "The Israeli narrative is a lie. He was a revered school teacher," he told AFP. "He has no relations with the Islamic Movement. "He was in his car and they shot at him from everywhere." Injured lawmaker Ayman Odeh heads the Joint List, a coalition of mainly Arab parties and the third-largest bloc in parliament. One of his aides said he was wounded by police, with photographs that spread online showing him with a bloodied head. "They attacked the MP and other people -- demonstrators -- with stun grenades, tear gas directly in people's faces," Odeh's aide, Anan Maalouf, told Israeli army radio. "There was no car-ramming attack here. There were no clashes here between the demonstrators and police." - Pre-dawn confrontation - One activist said residents had moved their cars to the entrance of the village at around 5:00 am (0300 GMT) in a bid to block the demolition operation. Police then forced their way in and fired flares, lighting up the pre-dawn sky, according to the activist, Isaac Kates Rose, who was there at the time. Shooting could later be heard and the sound of a car crashing, he said. At some point later, Odeh was caught up in the confrontation and wounded, activists say. Five excavators were later seen entering the village, with demolitions beginning at around 11:15 am (0915 GMT). Security forces took up positions on rooftops and guarded the area around the demolitions, keeping residents away. Residents gathered around the village's mosque, with women wailing as the demolitions started. Israeli authorities regularly carry out demolitions of Bedouin homes they deem to have been built illegally. However, building permits are extremely difficult to obtain, according to residents and activists, who say Jewish Israelis are given preferential treatment. Umm al-Heiran has become particularly symbolic, with residents having waged a years-long legal fight against demolition orders. Located in the Negev desert, the village is home to around 1,000 inhabitants who mainly live in small, concrete buildings, relying on solar panels for electricity and raising livestock. - 'Racist' judgement? - In 2013, Israel's cabinet approved the establishment of two new Jewish communities in the Negev, Kesif and Hiran. In order to make way for the two new towns, the Bedouin village, which is unrecognised by the authorities, must first be removed. In 2015, Israel's supreme court approved the removal, saying that since the residents could theoretically live in the new towns, the move did not constitute discrimination. The government says Umm al-Heiran's residents are to be moved to the nearby Bedouin village of Hura, which is already home to some 300 families. "The Israeli Supreme Court's decision to allow the state to proceed with its plan to demolish the village, which has existed for 60 years, in order to establish a Jewish town called 'Hiran' over its ruins, is one of the most racist judgments that the Court has ever issued," rights group Adalah, which has represented the villagers in court, said in a statement on Wednesday.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. 100 dollar banknotes and Chinese 100 yuan banknotes are seen in this picture illustration in Beijing, China, January 21, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo

By Michael Martina

BEIJING (Reuters) - More than 80 percent of members of a U.S. business lobby in China say foreign companies are less welcome than in the past, a survey released on Wednesday showed, with most saying they have little confidence in China's vows to open its markets.

The American Chamber of Commerce in China's annual survey reinforces growing pessimism in the foreign business community, as it grapples with a slowing Chinese economy and complains of increasing protectionism.

The chamber's report comes a day after China's President Xi Jinping gave a speech at the World Economic Forum championing open markets, and Beijing unveiled proposals to reduce restrictions on foreign investment in China.

Business circles are particularly concerned over the future of U.S.-China commercial ties as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, having pledged to brand China a currency manipulator and threatened to impose tariffs on its goods.

"More companies are slowing investments and deprioritising China as an investment destination due to slowing growth and increased concerns over barriers to market entry, the regulatory environment, and rising costs," the chamber said.

If China took action, including removing "discriminatory barriers" to foreign-invested companies and investment restrictions, the chamber's members would "significantly increase investment", it said.

Asked about the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said investment figures showed China remained an attractive place for U.S. businesses and China was committed to opening up.

"At the same time, we hope that the doors of all countries are fairly opened to Chinese investors," Hua told a daily news briefing.

LACK OF CONFIDENCE

The chamber said the share of companies that identified China as a top three global investment priority dropped to 56 percent this year, compared with a peak of 78 percent in 2012, a record low.

Eighty-one percent of the 462 companies included in the survey, among them U.S. and multinational firms, said foreign business was less welcome in China than in the past, up from 77 percent in 2016.

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Foreign businesses in China, as well as foreign governments, have long complained about a lack of market access in China and restrictive policies that run counter to its pledges to free up markets.

Though President Xi's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos painted a picture of China as a "wide open" economy, more than 60 percent of the chamber's members had "little or no confidence that the government is committed to opening China's markets further in the next three years".

Respondents estimated on average that China's economic growth for 2017 would be 6.1 percent, below what sources have told Reuters would be a government target of around 6.5 percent.

The survey, with responses compiled both during and after Trump's November election victory, showed 72 percent of members felt that positive U.S.-China relations were "critical" to business, but only 17 percent thought they would improve in 2017.

Chamber chairman William Zarit said some of its members would go to Washington in February, months ahead of an annual lobbying trip, to engage with the Trump administration.

"We certainly are not going there to lecture the administration, but we are there to share our ideas on ... a more constructive path forward," Zarit said at a briefing on the survey.

China has warned that it will be tough for its foreign trade to improve this year, especially if a Trump administration and other political changes limit export growth.

(Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Most of us would have heard of the prolific food delivery startup, foodpanda.

Established in Malaysia in 2012, even if you havent used their services before youve probably seen their stickers around at their partner restaurants.

Its quite hard to miss the bright orange paired with the stark black and white of their trademark panda. With over 1000 partner restaurants all over the nation, odds are youve eaten at one of them even if you didnt get the food delivered.

We recently got the opportunity to have a sit-down interview with Yannick Skop, the Managing Director of foodpanda Malaysia and some of his team members.

To be honest, we went in with a rather blase attitude.

After all, how hard can it be to manage food delivery? All you need to do is ensure food gets from Point A, the restaurant to point B, the consumer.

So, we decided to get a glimpse of all the different processes involved.

1. Encountering The Brand For The First Time

The Marketing Team: Working on a limited budget to reach the mass market.

Social media reactions.

If youve seen foodpanda appear on your Facebook feed, its probably thanks to the enterprising marketing team.

Tasked with getting the foodpanda name out there, theyre the ones who have to entice potential new customers to try the service.

According to Yogeetha, the Content & Marketing Manager, theyre always on the lookout for cost-efficient methods that can help to educate potential users about their services on the spot.

One aspect they can never forget? The preferences of the social media crowd can change overnight. One style might please the public one day and receive no interaction the next.

To stay relevant, its all about constant reinvention and keeping abreast of trends. For example, the foodpanda team have jumped onboard with live videos and are using social media influencers to try reach a larger audience.

Positive feedback on social media really makes their day. You know that in the end, all the effort and all the pushing of the foodpanda brand and trying to get the name out there, its working, Yogeetha added with a satisfied smile.

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2. Bringing Customers Favourite Restaurants To Them

The Vendor Team: Even simple things can ruin a customers experience.

Image Credit: foodpanda

Whats the point of being a food delivery business if therere no restaurants to deliver food from?

Thats where the vendor team comes in. foodpanda already works with popular international and local chains such as Nandos, Chilis, Sushi King, and Old Town White Coffee, but also provides a lot of variety by including local restaurants, hidden gems, and even healthy food options.

When it comes to curating the restaurants who then appear on the foodpanda platform, we were surprised to hear about all the criteria involved.

Besides choosing the type of cuisine and quality of food, foodpanda also looks out for social media presence and reviews. This is all part of their stringent qualification process to ensure the best experience for customers.

Also, another major hurdle that they have to face is getting their vendors to understand that paying attention to details can either make or break a consumers day.

One example brought up by operations manager Willy, was a vendor preparing a delicious meal and having everything smoothly delivered on time by foodpanda. The mistake? No cutlery was included, which is a small oversight that would have affected the food delivery experience for the customer.

Its getting the vendors on board with this mindset of perfecting the customer experience that the operations team constantly have to crack their heads over.

To help vendors understand the effect of their actions, whether good or bad, foodpanda sends out automated weekly emails about their performance. These included reviews, number of missed orders and even lost revenue from orders that they might have dropped the ball on.

Also Read Maxis CNY Video Is A Rewrite To A Real Story That Didnt Get Its Happy Ending

3. Getting The Food Where It Needs To Be

The Delivery Team: Everything has a chain reaction.

Image Credit: foodpanda

We asked the delivery team representatives, Sukhveer and Hafizi, what they thought were the biggest challenges, and both of them looked gloomily out of the window at the monsoon darkened sky.

Rain, was the unanimous reply.

Since motorbikes are the mode of transport for foodpanda deliveries, its a no-brainer that bad weather will disrupt their services.

Im sure many foodpanda users have seen the message of how deliveries may be delayed due to the rain, and personally, Ive said a few unkind words out loud. We live in an age where we want what we want immediately and we can be quite unforgiving of external circumstances.

When it comes to delivery, the team agreed that if one thing goes wrong, it could trigger a chain reaction if the issue is not resolved within minutes.

For instance, if a rider gets held back because of the rain, his delay also might affect his timing to his next pickup. Luckily foodpanda has preventative measures in place to minimise weather-related issues, so that customers can enjoy their meal even during monsoon season.

However, we shouldnt be slinging mud at the boys in orange.

The riders actually have to go through intensive training to be polite and professional in their interactions with customers and vendors. Riders have an app through which their performance is carefully measured. The more positive feedback a rider gets, the more orders they will receive.

4. When Customers Want To Feed The Masses

The Corporate Accounts Team: Making sure everything is smooth.

Image Credit: foodpanda

Imagine if you decide you suddenly need 400 cups of bubble tea from Gong Cha (which, according to the team, has happened before).

The corporate accounts team is a relatively new arm of the foodpanda family and is in charge of handling clients who regularly order in larger quantities, say for about 50 to 500 people.

If you think about it, it does make sense to have a separate team handling orders like these.

Having to handle an average of 100 orders per client is no small feat. Things get even trickier if the clients have special requests or demand personalisation or even consistency for bulk orders.

The team shared that its all about understanding the clients needs and demands and orchestrating all the relevant in-house teams to move together to ensure that these are met.

For those 400 GongChas, I decided to drop all my other tasks and help delivering the drinks myself because I wanted to make 100% sure that the client would be happy with our servicethankfully every single one arrived without a single drop spilled! Subha from the corporate accounts team added.

5. When Things Dont Go Exactly Right

The Customer Service Team: The moment its about food, expectations are high.

Image Credit: foodpanda

The hard-working customer service team has two fronts to face: the customers and the vendors.

We asked eagerly for horror stories and waited to be regaled with tales of woe but were severely disappointed when the answer was, Considering how difficult it is to get 100% of deliveries on time, rain or shine, we actually dont get that many complaints.

The secret? Its all about being proactive in calling the customers first. Since they track all the riders and know the status, if theres a delayed delivery, the customer service centre will make a call out to the user to let them know.

Theyre very aware that when it comes to food, customers instantly have higher expectations. To be hangry (hungry and angry) is a very well documented pop-culture phenomenon, after all.

The SOP is also to immediately address problems that come up. Customers can provide feedback via the live chat or by email. This is to help with quality assurance and also allows for greater efficiency.

Communicating in black and white also ensures that theres less chances of misunderstanding or miscommunication, and they can still call out if there is a need.

Well Stick With Publishing, Thank You Very Much

Needless to say, it really was quite a gruelling 4 hours as we got to hear the ins-and-outs of the workings of foodpanda.

As the Vulcan Post managing editor remarked to Yannick, So, its not just an e-commerce platform; youre held responsible for every order. The minute something goes wrong, the consumer would usually look to foodpanda for an answer, not the vendor restaurants.

Even the meeting rooms are named after food.

When you think of the scale and coordination that has to happen for service to be consistent, somehow its more of a wonder that less things go wrong. According to foodpanda, food gets delivered within 40 minutes on average, which is a small miracle in KL.

Well just close with Yannicks words: Its a tough business and not everyone can do it. Every member on our team really cares about what he or she does and is not afraid to work hard to delight our hungry customersthats the only way you can create a delivery business which gives customers reason to smile (and eat!) every time they order.

Also Read GoGet Msia Helps Get Yo Sh*t Together This CNYBefore Your Parents Visit

This article was brought to you by foodpanda Malaysia.

The post We Visited foodpanda Malaysia. Conclusion? We NEVER Want To Run A Food Delivery Startup. appeared first on Vulcan Post.
AFP News

Pope Francis warned the world is on the edge of a "delicate precipice" and buffeted by "winds of war" as he held inter-faith talks with one of Sunni Islam's top leaders in Bahrain on Friday. The 85-year-old Argentine decried the "opposing blocs" of East and West, a veiled reference to the standoff over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in a speech to religious leaders in the tiny Gulf state. "We continue to find ourselves on the brink of a delicate precipice and we do not want to fall," he told an audience including Bahrain's king and Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Cairo's prestigious Al-Azhar mosque. "A few potentates are caught up in a resolute struggle for partisan interests, reviving obsolete rhetoric, redesigning spheres of influence and opposing blocs," he added. "We appear to be witnessing a dramatic and childlike scenario: in the garden of humanity, instead of cultivating our surroundings, we are playing instead with fire, missiles and bombs." The pope's visit, aimed at strengthening relations with Islam, comes with the Ukraine war in its ninth month, and as tensions grow on the Korean peninsula and in the Taiwan Strait. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who met Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in September, told journalists that there had been "a few small signs" of progress in negotiations with Moscow, warning that peace initiatives should not be "exploited for other goals". Francis, who is on his second visit to the wealthy Gulf, later met privately with al-Tayeb, with whom he signed a Muslim-Christian manifesto for peace in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. "This meeting has great symbolic importance, both locally and internationally, for promoting peace and peaceful co-existence between different religions and civilisations," said Hala Ramzi Fayez, a Christian and member of Bahrain's parliament. - Sunni, Shiite talks? - Leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics, Francis has placed inter-faith dialogue at the heart of his papacy, visiting other Muslim-majority countries including Egypt, Turkey and Iraq. Al-Tayeb, who met with the pope on previous Middle East visits, also called on Friday for talks between Islam's two main branches, Sunni and Shiite, to settle sectarian differences. Later, the pope addressed 17 members of the Muslim Council of Elders, an international group of Islamic scholars and dignitaries, at the mosque of the Sakhir Royal Palace. He told them dialogue was "the oxygen of peaceful coexistence". "In a world that is increasingly wounded and divided, that beneath the surface of globalisation senses anxiety and fear, the great religious traditions must be the heart that unites the members of the body," he said. He also struck out at the arms trade, a "commerce of death" that he said was "turning our common home into one great arsenal". The pope, who is using a wheelchair and a walking stick due to long-standing knee problems, began the first papal visit to Bahrain on Thursday by hitting out at the death penalty and urging respect for human rights and better conditions for workers. Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Bahrain's minister of finance and national economy, insisted the country has "led the region" with its criminal justice reforms. "We have some of the most robust and wide-ranging human rights and criminal justice protections in the region," the minister told AFP on Friday. "There are very well-established channels through which any of these critics can go, well established institutions of accountability," he said, adding that the pope's comments on the death penalty did not single out Bahrain. "It is important to note that that reference... was a general reference to countries around the world," the minister said. Bahrain has executed six people since 2017, when it carried out its first execution in seven years. Some of the condemned were convicted following a 2011 uprising put down with military support from neighbouring Saudi Arabia. cmk-lar/par/ho/th/dwo
AFP News

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was recovering in hospital Friday after a gunman shot him in the leg, with his supporters vowing the assassination attempt will not derail his "long march" bid to return to power. The attack on his convoy, apparently by a lone gunman, killed one man and wounded at least 10, significantly raising the stakes in a political crisis that has gripped the South Asian nation since Khan's ousting in April. Khan "was stable and he was doing fine" at Shaukat Khanum hospital in the eastern city of Lahore, his doctor Faisal Sultan told AFP Friday. Seemi Bokhari, a lawmaker with Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, said after visiting Khan the former premier was in high spirits. "The doctors are allowing him to move ... He is feeling perfectly well and he will soon be discharged," she told AFP. The 70-year-old former international cricket star had been leading a campaign convoy of thousands since last week from Lahore to the capital Islamabad when he was attacked. Khan suffered at least one bullet wound to his right leg when a gunmen sprayed pistol fire at his modified container truck as it drove slowly through a thick crowd in Wazirabad, around 170 kilometres (105 miles) east of Islamabad. "Everyone who was standing in the very front row got hit," former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, who was standing behind Khan, told AFP. Senior aide Raoof Hasan said it was "an attempt to kill him, to assassinate him". Chaudhry said party officials would meet later Friday to discuss the immediate fate of Khan's campaign march. "The real freedom long march will continue and the movement for people's rights will remain until an announcement on the general elections," he tweeted. - Threats - Party officials also called for supporters to stage rallies and marches across the country after Friday afternoon prayers, the most important of the week. Protesters lit fires and blocked roads in several cities late Thursday as news of Khan's shooting spread. His campaign truck has become a crime scene for now, cordoned off and guarded by commandos as forensic experts comb the area. Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Thursday the attacker had been taken into custody. Officials shared an apparent confession video that was circulating online. "I did it because (Khan) was misleading the public," says a dishevelled man in the leaked video, shown with his hands tied behind his back in what appears to be a police station. He says he was angry with the procession for making a racket during the call to prayer that summons Muslims to the mosque five times a day. Pervaiz Elahi, the chief minister of Punjab, said officers who leaked the video would be disciplined. Pakistan has been grappling with Islamist militancy for decades, with right-wing religious groups having huge sway over the population. It has been no stranger to assassination attempts during decades of political instability, and the powerful military has led the country several times. Pakistan's first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, was shot dead at a rally in Rawalpindi in 1951. Another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, was killed in 2007 when a huge bomb detonated near her vehicle as she greeted supporters in the city of Rawalpindi. - Kicked from power - Khan was booted from office in April by a no-confidence vote after defections by some of his coalition partners, but he retains huge support. He was voted into power in 2018 on an anti-corruption platform by an electorate tired of dynastic politics, but his mishandling of the economy -- and falling out with a military accused of helping his rise -- sealed his fate. Since then, he has railed against the establishment and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government, which he says was imposed on Pakistan by a "conspiracy" involving the United States. Khan and Shehbaz have for months traded bitter accusations of corruption and incompetence, raising the political temperature in a nation that is frequently at boiling point. Khan has repeatedly told supporters he was prepared to die for the country, and aides have long warned of unspecified threats made on his life. The attack drew international condemnation including from the United States, which had uneasy relations with Khan when he was in power. "Violence has no place in politics, and we call on all parties to refrain from violence, harassment and intimidation," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. sjd/fox/ecl/pbt/dhc
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Throwing its weight behind India, France today said it will ensure that the proposal to designate Pakistan-based JeM Chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist is "reintroduced" at the Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

The strong assertion was made by Jacques Audibert, Diplomatic Adviser to French President Francois Hollande, weeks after China blocked Indias move to get the Pathankot attack mastermind banned by the UN.

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He also exuded confidence on India becoming member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) notwithstanding stiff opposition by China on admitting India into the 48-nation grouping.

"We will make sure that demand is reintroduced. We are still hopeful that the UN will designate him (Azhar) as a terrorist soon," Audibert told reporters on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue when asked about the Azhar issue.

India has already initiated preliminary discussions with several member countries of the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council on once again brining back the proposal to ban Azhar. France is a member of the Sanctions Committee and has been strongly supporting India on the issue.

On Indias NSG bid, Audibert said France supports New Delhis membership as its entry into the grouping will improve non-proliferation regime.

"We have been supporting Indias NSG bid because India is providing necessary guarantee. Indias membership of NSG will improve the non-proliferation regime," he said.

Asked about the Scorpene submarine deal with India, Audibert said he did not think the alleged leak of some secret documents has compromised the project.

Earlier, speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, he made a veiled reference to China on the South China Sea dispute, saying freedom of navigation and law of the sea needs to be defended by all the states.

"India and France act together to improve stability in the region through their cooperation in maritime security," he said.

He also spoke about right of any country to defend itself against a threat of terrorism. PTI MPB ZMN

--- ENDS ---
FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2016, file photo WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. President Barack Obamas decision to commute Chelsea Mannings sentence quickly brought fresh attention to another figure involved in the Army leakers case: Julian Assange. In a tweet in early January 2017, Assanges anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks wrote, If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Barack Obama's decision Tuesday to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence brought fresh attention to another figure involved in the Army leaker's case: Julian Assange.

On Twitter last week, Assange's anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks posted, "If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case."

Obama's move will test the promise. The president commuted Manning's 35-year sentence, freeing her in May, nearly three decades early. Manning has acknowledged leaking a trove of diplomatic cables and national security documents to WikiLeaks in 2010.

In a statement, Assange called Manning "a hero, whose bravery should be applauded."

Assange went on to demand that the U.S. government "should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers, such as WikiLeaks and myself," but he made no mention of the Twitter pledge. His lawyer said he has been pressing the Justice Department for updates on an investigation concerning WikiLeaks.

Assange has been holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he remains wanted on an allegation of rape, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

The Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange, and it's not clear that any charges have been brought under seal.

The department, in refusing to turn over investigative documents sought by Manning under the Freedom of Information Act, has acknowledged that the FBI is continuing to investigate the publication of national security information on WikiLeaks arising from Manning's disclosures.

"That investigation concerns potential violations of federal criminal laws, in the form of serious threats to the national security, and the investigation continues today," Justice Department lawyers wrote in a court filing last year. "From the terms of her request, it is clear that Manning seeks to obtain documents concerning that investigation.

Story continues

Separately, the FBI is also investigating Russian meddling through hacking in the U.S. presidential election. Hacked emails from top Democratic officials and Hillary Clinton campaign officials were posted on WikiLeaks in the final weeks of the presidential race.

With the commutation coming just days before Obama leaves office, any decision on whether to charge or seek to extradite Assange will now fall to the Trump administration.

In a statement Tuesday, a lawyer for Assange did not address whether Assange intended to come to the U.S.

"For many months, I have asked the DOJ to clarify Mr. Assange's status. I hope it will soon," Assange's lawyer, Barry Pollack, said in the statement. "The Department of Justice should not pursue any charges against Mr. Assange based on his publication of truthful information and should close its criminal investigation of him immediately."

Another Assange lawyer, Melinda Taylor, suggested he wouldn't go back on his word. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," she said in a brief telephone conversation with The Associated Press.

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Associated Press writers Danika Kirka and Raphael Satter contributed from London.

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Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
AFP News

Zhang Yao recalls the moment he realised something had gone deeply wrong at the Chinese mega-factory where he and hundreds of thousands of other workers assembled iPhones and other high-end electronics. In early October, supervisors suddenly warned him that 3,000 colleagues had been taken into quarantine after someone tested positive for Covid-19 at the factory. "They told us not to take our masks off," Zhang, speaking under a pseudonym for fear of retaliation, told AFP by telephone. What followed was a weeks-long ordeal including food shortages and the ever-present fear of infection, before he finally escaped on Tuesday. Zhang's employer, Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn, has said it faces a "protracted battle" against infections and imposed a "closed loop" bubble around its sprawling campus in central China's Zhengzhou city. Local authorities locked down the area surrounding the major Apple supplier's factory on Wednesday, but not before reports emerged of employees fleeing on foot and a lack of adequate medical care at the plant. China is the last major economy committed to a zero-Covid strategy, persisting with snap lockdowns, mass testing and lengthy quarantines in a bid to stamp out emerging outbreaks. But new variants have tested officials' ability to snuff out flare-ups and dragged down economic activity with the threat of sudden disruptions. - Desperation - Multiple workers have recounted scenes of chaos and increasing disorganisation at Foxconn's complex of workshops and dormitories, which form a city-within-a-city near Zhengzhou's airport. Zhang told AFP that "positive tests and double lines (on antigen tests) had become a common sight" in his workshop before he left. "Of course we were scared, it was so close to us." "People with fevers are not guaranteed to receive medicine," another Foxconn worker, a 30-year-old man who also asked to remain anonymous, told AFP. "We are drowning," he said. Those who decided to stop working were not offered meals at their dormitories, Zhang said, adding that some were able to survive on personal stockpiles of instant noodles. Kai, a worker at in the complex who gave an interview to state-owned Sanlian Lifeweek, told the magazine Foxconn's "closed loop" involved cordoning off paths between dormitory compounds and the factory, and complained he was left to his own devices after being thrown in quarantine. TikTok videos geolocated by AFP showed mounds of uncollected rubbish outside buildings in late October, while employees in N95 masks squeezed onto packed shuttle buses taking them from dormitories to their work stations. A 27-year-old woman working at Foxconn, who asked not to be named, told AFP a roommate who tested positive for Covid was sent back to her dormitory on Thursday morning, crying, after she decided to hand in her notice while in quarantine. "Now the three of us are living in the same room: one a confirmed case and two of us testing positive on the rapid test, still waiting for our nucleic acid test results," the worker told AFP. Many became so desperate by the end of last month that they attempted to walk back to their hometowns to get around Covid transport curbs. As videos of people dragging their suitcases down motorways and struggling up hills spread on Chinese social media, the authorities rushed in to do damage control. The Zhengzhou city government on Sunday said it had arranged for special buses to take employees back to their hometowns. Surrounding Henan province has officially reported a spike of more than 600 Covid cases since the start of this week. - Distrust - When Zhang finally attempted to leave the Foxconn campus on Tuesday, he found the company had set up obstacle after obstacle. "There were people with loudspeakers advertising the latest Foxconn policy, saying that each day there would be a 400 yuan ($55) bonus," Zhang told AFP. A crowd of employees gathered at a pick-up point in front of empty buses but were not let on. People in hazmat suits, known colloquially as "big whites" in China, claimed they had been sent by the city government. "They tried to persuade people to stay in Zhengzhou... and avoid going home," Zhang said. "But when we asked to see their work ID, they had nothing to show us, so we suspected they were actually from Foxconn." Foxconn pointed to the local government's lockdown orders from Wednesday when asked by AFP if it attempted to stop employees from leaving, without giving any further response. The company had on Sunday said it was "providing employees with complimentary three meals a day" and cooperating with the government to provide transport home. Eventually, the crowd of unhappy workers who had gathered decided to take matters into their own hands and walked over seven kilometres on foot to the nearest highway entry ramp. There, more people claiming to be government officials pleaded with the employees to wait for the bus. The crowd had no choice as the road was blocked. Buses eventually arrived at five in the afternoon -- nearly nine hours after Zhang had begun his attempt to secure transport. "They were trying to grind us down," he said. Back in his hometown, Zhang is now waiting out the home quarantine period required by the local government. "All I feel is, I've finally left Zhengzhou," he told AFP. bur-tjx/oho/je/mca/cwl
By Patricia Zengerle and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's pick for U.N. ambassador echoed his condemnation of the world body and pledged to push for reforms at her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, but broke from the president-elect on some other policy issues, including Russia and NATO. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley seconded criticism of the United Nations by Trump and many of their fellow Republicans before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, especially for what she termed its "bias" against Israel. Some Republicans want to stop U.S. funding for the United Nations over a Security Council resolution last month demanding an end to settlement building that the United States declined to veto, instead of abstaining. Haley pledged that she would not abstain on U.N. votes. But she did not back "slashing" U.N. funding. The United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. budget. Trump took to Twitter in the wake of the Israel vote to criticize the 193-member world body as "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time." He warned "things will be different" after he takes office, without offering details. Haley said Washington should always back Israel. "If we always stand with them, more countries will want to be our allies," she said. Haley said she "absolutely" backs moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. That shift, which would up-end decades of U.S. policy, is supported by Trump and congressional Republicans but seen by the Palestinians and many Arab states as an impediment to Middle East peace. Although some Democrats questioned Haley's lack of diplomatic experience, she is expected to be approved. At the end of the mostly non-contentious hearing, Senator Bob Corker, the committee's Republican chairman, said he expected she would be confirmed "overwhelmingly." Haley, a rising star in the Republican party who turns 45 on Friday when Trump takes office, has only held office in South Carolina. She has been governor since 2011. Haley praised U.N. food programs, efforts to alleviate AIDS, its weapons monitoring and some peacekeeping missions, a departure from Trump's criticisms. Haley also broke from Trump's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin. She agreed that Russian actions in Syria such as bombing hospitals are "war crimes," condemned Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and said she would oppose easing sanctions until Moscow changes. "I think that Russia has to have positive actions before we lift any sanctions on Russia," she said. Haley said she had not had detailed conversations with Trump about Russia or China. The United States and its frequent rivals Russia and China all hold permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, along with U.S. allies Britain and France. Haley did not advocate backing out of the international nuclear agreement with Iran, which is supported by the United Nations, although she said it should be closely reviewed. She also praised the NATO alliance. INFLUENCING TRUMP? Some other Trump nominees, including his choice for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, and his Pentagon nominee, retired Marine General James Mattis, have also veered from Trump's national security positions during their hearings. Several senators, including Republicans, have said they hope some appointees will rein in his more controversial positions. "I would far rather have a strong-willed, capable, elected leader with experience at the state level who says those things than someone who has been a diplomat for 30 years and says: 'Oh, I'll do whatever Donald Trump says'," Democratic Senator Chris Coons told reporters. Some questioned whether the president-elect would change. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said the Tillerson and Haley hearings were in "an alternate universe," given two years of Trump statements backing torture or suggesting NATO is obsolete. "That's all going to change after Friday?" Murphy asked. Haley said she expected Trump's Cabinet would try to influence him. "I do anticipate that he will listen to all of us, and that hopefully we will get him to see it the way we see it," she said. Haley did not endorse Trump during last year's primaries and has warned that some of his most inflammatory statements promoted dangerous hate. She initially backed the presidential bid of Senator Marco Rubio and later Senator Ted Cruz. She acknowledged her lack of diplomatic experience but said her time as governor would stand her in good stead. "I would suggest there is nothing more important to a governor's success than her ability to unite those with different backgrounds, viewpoints and objectives behind a common purpose," she said. Senator Ben Cardin, the committee's top Democrat, praised Haley for being willing to disagree with Trump. Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, rose to national prominent last year after she led a push to remove a Confederate flag from South Carolina's capitol grounds after a white supremacist killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston. She already has fans at U.N. headquarters. "She's a very respected politician and a highly regarded and results-driven professional," France's ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters on Tuesday. Delattre met Haley in his previous role as French ambassador to the United States. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by John Walcott and James Dalgleish)
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkish police rounded up 27 people linked to the suspected gunman in Istanbul's New Year's Eve nightclub attack and the justice minister said Wednesday that the capture of the suspect will lead to a better understanding of the Islamic State group's operations in Turkey.

The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Abdulkadir Masharipov, was caught late Monday in a police operation in Istanbul. Authorities identified him as an Uzbek national who trained in Afghanistan and staged the attack for the IS.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 39 people. Turkish authorities say the suspect has confessed.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag told the state-run Anadolu Agency that the arrest would reveal "important information" on IS' modes of operation and increase the government's ability to thwart attacks. He said there was no doubt the attack was the work of IS.

Anadolu said Turkish anti-terrorism squads had raided seven addresses in simultaneous operations in the northwestern city of Bursa, arresting 27 suspects from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan as well as from China's minority Muslim Uighur community. Fifteen of them were women.

Police also took 29 children into protective custody and seized 40 passports and 15 mobile phones set up with fake identity cards found at an empty house.

Anadolu said that address was connected to a Tajik national identified by the initials of M.S. The report described him as an Islamic State group facilitator for foreign nationals.

Other Turkish media reports fleshed out details about the alleged killer and his IS-sanctioned mission on the night of Dec. 31.

The Hurriyet Daily News, citing security sources, said the Istanbul shooter had received orders directly from Raqqa, the IS's main bastion in Syria.

The report, citing Turkish authorities and police investigations, said the original target of the attack was Istanbul's famous Taksim Square. But the plan was modified in response to boosted security there, according to the report, which cited an account of events allegedly given by the suspect.

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Masharipov reportedly arrived into Turkey on Jan. 16, 2016, through Iran after receiving orders to join the war in Syria. He initially settled in the central Turkish city of Konya.

"While there, I received the order from Raqqa ... to carry out an attack on New Year's Eve in Taksim," he was quoted as saying in the Hurriyet report.

In preparation, Masharipov travelled to Istanbul on Dec. 16, staying first at an IS house in the neighborhood of Basaksehir.

But on New Year's Eve, he was quoted as saying it didn't seem possible to carry out the attack in Taksim due to intense security measures. Masharipov then contacted his handler, who told him to find a new target. He spotted the Reina night club at 10 p.m. while traveling by taxi on the banks of the Bosporus.

He suggested the new target to his handler, who approved. The alleged shooter then went to collect his weapon from the neighborhood of Zeytinburnu, where he went two days before the attack.

The gunman took out a security guard outside of the nightclub and another civilian before entering Reina and letting loose a salvo of bullets on people who were celebrating New Year's Eve.

Turkish officials say the attacker, who switched clothes at the nightclub, melted into the crowd of survivors and escaped the premises.

The Hurriyet report claimed police came close to apprehending Masharipov the day after the attack, spotting him on the back seat of a car. Police were fired on and the suspect escaped.

He reportedly arrived at the address where he was apprehended, a luxury residence in the Istanbul neighborhood of Esenyurt, on Jan. 6. An Iraqi man, the renter of the apartment, and three women were caught in that operation. The women allegedly planned to join IS and did the shopping.

Masharipov had received arms training from al-Qaida in Iraq, according to Hurriyet. Turkish officials have said he trained in Afghanistan.

Turkey's private Dogan news agency, citing security sources, said Masharipov had studied physics in Uzbekistan.

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Soguel contributed reporting from Basel, Switzerland.
When you think of French fries, you probably picture them next to a hamburger or other dish. But now, fries can actually stand on their own as a main course thanks to #getfried Fry Cafe.

Read more about this new spin on fries and the business behind it in this weeks Small Business Spotlight.

What the Business Does

Offers french fries with a twist.

Founder Chris Covelli told Small Business Trends, #getfried Fry Cafe is a quick-serve restaurant franchise specializing in gourmet topped French fries and finger foods for the on-the-go consumer. The concept offers six types of fries: hand cut, coated straight cut, seasoned waffle, curly, sweet potato and funnel cake fries. Fries can then be customized with shredded chicken, ground beef or chili, and topped with chipotle seasoning, gravy, Nutella, hummus or truffle oil.

Business Niche

Variety.

Covelli says, Many competing concepts serve one type of fry. We have six. This offers greater variety and endless customization, ultimately increasing customer satisfaction.

How the Business Got Started

Because of an untapped market.

Covelli explains, I was introduced to French fry cafes in the Netherlands and Canada, and realized the U.S. market was relatively untapped for similar gourmet French fry restaurants. We opened the first #getfried location  in Buffalo, NY in 2015, and now have two locations in Western New York and one in San Antonio, Texas, with others under development.

Biggest Win

Signing its first franchise agreement in San Antonio, Texas.

Covelli says, The group is led by Craig Christopher, a veteran of the restaurant and hospitality industry and former Subway Sandwiches franchise owner. Interested in going into business for himself, he was attracted to #getfried because of the reasonable franchise and development costs, simple operations and edgy brand strategy.

Biggest Risk

Opening in a Buffalo shopping mall.

Covelli explains, Shopping malls in Buffalo depend heavily on Canadian shoppers, and in the past year and a half, the Canadian dollar has weakened. Opening our first location in a mall was a risky move considering the decline in Canadian visitors, but #getfried was a strong concept and the first location was a huge success among consumers  leading us to open a second #getfried in Buffalo shortly afterward.

Lesson Learned

Take advantage of growing trends.

Covelli says, Food trucks are becoming increasingly popular among consumers, and also yield a lower startup cost. If the franchise concept debuted with a food truck, we could have built brand awareness and demand in the region at a lower cost before rolling out a brick-and-mortar location. #getfried now operates a successful food truck in San Antonio, and also expects to debut one in Buffalo, NY in the coming months.

Special Event

Fry eating contest!

Covelli says, To celebrate the grand opening of the first #getfried location, we held a French fry eating contest in the main lobby of the mall. Ten contestants had to eat three large, loaded fry baskets in less than 10 minutes. It was estimated that the three baskets combined weighed between five and seven pounds!

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If Obamacare is repealed without a replacement, two groups are likely to be upset, small business owners and more specifically the self-employed or those in the gig economy.

Coincidentally, those people may be among voters who helped elect Donald Trump  an outspoken advocate of repeal  into office. Of course, they are also undoubtedly among the same people who were essentially priced out of truly affordable healthcare coverage prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act.

The Ties Between Obamacare and Small Businesses

New data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Treasury Department shows that more than one in five Affordable Care Act Marketplace customers in 2014 was a small business owner or self-employed entrepreneur. Thats about 28 percent of signups overall.

That equates to 1.4 million Obamacare customers who identify as small business owners or as self-employed. In 2014, the first year the federal mandate to purchase ACA coverage was enforced on individuals, there were a total of 5.3 million ACA customers.

The Treasury Department report indicates that enrollments in ACA Marketplace plans rose by 50 percent from 2014 to 2015. There was a larger increase from 2015 to last year.

And even though the federal government admitted that premiums were increasing on Obamacare plans in 2017, there have reportedly been record sign-ups since that announcement.

It should be noted that the Affordable Care Act was a key Presidential campaign issue. And its on the campaign trail where President-elect Donald Trump coined the phrase Repeal and Replace to describe his plan for Obamacare once he took office.

And even before Trump takes office, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are working to de-fund federal obligations  the repeal part of the plan  tied to the Affordable Care Act.

HHS and Treasury Department reports that the 10 states with the highest share of small business owners relying on Obamacare coverage (in 2014) were Vermont, Idaho, Florida, Montana, Maine, California, New Hampshire, Washington, D.C., Rhode Island, and North Carolina.

The states with the most small business owners purchasing Obamacare coverage in 2014 were those with the highest populations, mostly: California, Florida, Texas, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Washington, and Virginia.
Advancements in technology and connectivity have undeniably swept in a new golden era for remote working. Last year, 38 percent of Americans were permitted to work from home at least one day a week (PDF)  and almost half of all professionals considered leaving their jobs due to a lack of flexibility.

Yet while generous remote working opportunities may attract top talent and foster a positive office culture, some industries have started to experience an unexpected backlash from encouraging remote working.

The biggest issue has been the overtime expectations that appear to come hand-in-hand with flexible work options.

Because more and more companies have begun to offer remote working as an office perk, theres been a recent spike in the number of professional positions that are overtime exempt. As a result, workers in America, Europe and Asia have all complained of the introduction of unrealistic overtime demands across a wide range of industries  leading to government intervention, legal battles and more.

Here in the U.S., the Department of Labor has been attempting to issue a new Overtime Rule designed to increase the minimum salary for overtime exempt employees from $23,660 to $47,892 per year in order to compensate for unlogged hours. That particular policy was scheduled to go into effect on December 1, 2016, but a federal judge issued an injunction blocking the policy in November amidst objections from business leaders.

The resuscitation of the rule seems unlikely under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Across the Atlantic, another court battle in France saw workers earn the right to disconnect and refuse to check their work emails after business hours without the fear of being penalized by employers.

In December, Japans Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare unveiled plans to establish a new office dedicated to addressing excessive labor after the suicide of an advertising employee whose death was directly linked to being overworked.

Bearing all this in mind, business owners would do well to take it upon themselves to tread carefully in terms of how best to approach the introduction of remote working opportunities.

Its true that workers value flexibility. Studies indicate professionals are more content and more productive when theyre permitted the ability to work when and where theyd like. For many companies, that increase in morale and efficiency may be foolish to ignore.

Yet as flexible working patterns become more commonplace, it will fall on employers and their staff to strike a reasonable balance between flexibility and out-of-office and overtime expectations. Because if flexibility becomes an excuse for unreasonable demands on employees time, evidence suggests the results could be a talent exodus, legal action or worse.
Rakhi Sawant's ex-flame Abhishek Awasthi to tie the knot at the end of this year.

flame Abhishek Awasthi to tie the knot at the end of this year. Picture courtesy: Instagram/Abhishek Awasthi

By India Today Web Desk: Abhishek Awasthi, who rose to fame as actress Rakhi Sawant's boyfriend, has moved on and is ready to settle down with girlfriend Ankita Goswami. The couple have been in a relationship for the last two years, and plan to get married at the end of this year.

Wish u a very very Happy Birthday my Love ?????? ????????????? A photo posted by Abhishek Awasthi (@i_abhishekawasthi) on Jan 12, 2017 at 10:38pm PST

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Abhishek is very happy to have found Ankita as a life partner. "She is the kind of girl I have always wanted to marry. After being at wrong places, God has finally landed me at the right one," Abhishek told The Times of India.

Also read: Everyone is going crazy over Rakhi Sawant's 'sexy' Narendra Modi dress, and not in a good way

Abhishek was in a relationship with Rakhi for about three years. They had even participated in Nach Baliye 3 as a couple and were runners-up on the show. But he regrets his past with Rakhi and has even called her a part of his shameful past in an interview. Prior to Ankita, Abhishek was engaged to Kalpana Sonawane, and they were to get married by the end of 2014.

??? Karwachauth ??? A photo posted by Abhishek Awasthi (@i_abhishekawasthi) on Oct 19, 2016 at 9:39am PDT

Abhishek was recently seen in one of the episodes of Sab TV's Khidki and will soon be seen on Life OK's Chandrakanta - Prem Ya Paheli that also stars Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Khanna.

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Keynote

Genevra Walters: How Tech Can Close the Achievement Gap

Students who struggle need more technology, not less.

As superintendent of Illinois Kankakee School District, Genevra Walters has transformed a lackluster general ed program into the successful College and Career Academy Classrooms. With the help of technology in these classrooms, Walters has helped close the achievement gap for those students who were not enrolled in gifted or magnet programs.

Genevra Walters

In her short tenure at KSD, she has also helped the district go 1-to-1 in second through ninth grades, with kindergarteners and first graders getting easy access to iPads. She said she hopes to attain 1-to-1 access for Kankakee high schoolers within the next few years.

Prior to joining KSD in 2014 (located in her hometown), Walters served as a school social worker, assistant principal, principal and superintendent of SPEED, a special education school district based in Chicago Heights.

Walters hails from Kankakee, IL, about an hour south of Chicago. She graduated from Kankakee High School in 1986 and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago for both bachelors and masters degrees in social work. She obtained her educational doctorate at Illinois State University in 2000.

THE Journal: What role did technology play in special education and the College and Career Academy Classrooms?



Genevra Walters: Students in special education and students with disabilities have an IEP (individualized educational plan). We were even broader in our implementation of technology than you might expect. We used traditional devices, but we also used assisted tech  technology to communicate, mobile, technology to modify instruction.



Students who struggle are often more dependent on technology to learn. More affluent kids are used to lots of technology because they could afford it. We could not afford not to have technology. For the disadvantaged students, their access to technology needs to increase in order to close the opportunity gap.



THE Journal: Parents who see their children playing on electronic devices day and night may have some skepticism about the advantages of technology. What do you tell them?



Walters: Ive been trying to communicate to the community at large, the local community, many of whom believe that our students are becoming too dependent on technology. But technology changes so fast now. We need to understand that were actually training children for jobs that dont even exist now. Because of that, if we dont teach them to make sure technology is part of their everyday lives, they may not be able to access the jobs that are available in 10 to 20 years. Parents, teachers and students need understand it is actually part of a life of a child, not a separate thing that happens to students.



But we also need to monitor the use of technology. There are some students (with whom) we need to make sure that you have a balance. Its important to have a balance in life to become a good, healthy, well-rounded adult.



THE Journal: What is your view of the Department of Educations proposal (under the Obama Administration) that federal funds must supplement, and may not supplant, state and local funds? How does that affect the implementation of technology at the local level?



Walters: We look at schools that have a high poverty rate, and we look at our priorities  Title I funds are for technology first. Then based on whats left, we look at what kind of support we need in the classroom for students to grow. We dont use the money for anything that does not demonstrate student growth.



Local funds are for instructional materials. In terms of technology  thats where were able to use federal funds, which actually helped us get Chromebooks for second through ninth grade and iPads for kindergarten through first grade.



THE Journal: Do you see technology having an impact on the way young people learn?



Walters: Youth culture is different compared to adults. Its different because technology is changing the way their brains operate. Theres research that indicates that children are having a different attention span, or level of attention, than adults. Technology does change the way the brain is forming, or the ability to attend to a project. We still need to teach our students to attend to things with concentration, to build resilience.



THE Journal: What about books and reading?



Walters: I think a combination of both [analog and digital] is best. I still like to feel the page. I like reading online. But I still like to hold a book in my hand.



THE Journal: Do you have an opinion about BYOD, or bring your own device?



Walters: Were struggling with deciding with what that should look like. I think having more devices is actually helping students learn.



THE Journal: What about policies regarding personal smartphones in class and possible cheating?



Walters: In junior high and high school, we have common areas where they can use their smartphones. Or if a teacher asks them to take them out during instruction, thats allowed. Its a device. They can use their iPhones or smartphones when appropriate  the issue is really behavior management.



We have to re-examine this whole concept of cheating anyway. They may be using [smartphones] in a group setting anyway. Is it sharing or is it cheating? We have to work that out.
It's that time in the month again when Brussels moves to Strasbourg. It happens every month for one week only: the European Parliament travelling circus decamps from Belgium to France.

Why? That's another story . This week though is particularly busy here.

The 751 MEPs and all their aides have been joined by the presidents of the European Council and Commission, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker and their staff; gathered to congratulate the parliament's new president on his appointment.

Antonio Tajani, the Italian centre right former Berlusconi aide, was elected late on Tuesday.

The Maltese Prime Minister is also here. Malta holds the EU rotating presidency at the moment and so Joseph Muscat, in a sense, speaks for the Union.

Everyone's had the night to absorb Theresa May's long awaited Brexit speech. And in the UK at least, there's a hunger to find out what they all think.

Will they give the UK a good deal? Are they bothered that the UK will leave the single market? How realistic is Mrs May's desire for a 'new comprehensive bold and ambitious free trade agreement'?

As the British Prime Minister delivered her speech yesterday, my colleagues and I glanced around the parliament chamber. We spotted two of the more than seven hundred MEPs gathered watching her words. Doubtless, more were tuned in one way or another.

But the point is that most here have multiple focuses. There are plenty of fires in Europe. The continent's in a state of crisis. Brexit is just one, albeit rather a large one.

So if Britain wants a singular focus on Brexit, a good negotiation, a fast trade agreement and a future relationship with the EU that's better than membership, then from the perspective of those who'll grant that, they're dreaming.

Of course, we're only at the start of the process. Both sides will give once things get going. But the bottom line from the perspective of the remaining 27 governments is unity; the preservation of the union is their motivating factor in any deal they reach.

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The European Parliament must agree any Brexit deal and, while it includes Eurosceptics (UKIP and their continental allies), it's broadly a pro-Europe body made up of passionate believers in the EU project.

For them to give Mrs May all that she wants would embolden the EU doubters across the continent. They can't allow that to happen.

When Mrs May says 'We don't seek membership of the single market. Instead, we seek the greatest possible access to it', they see that as her having her cake and eating it.

When she says 'we are not going to be half in and half out' but then says that maybe the UK can 'become an associate member of the Customs Union in some way', that to them is cherry picking.

She (Munich: SOQ.MU - news) said: "I do not believe that the EU's leaders will seriously tell German exporters, French farmers, Spanish fishermen ... that they want to make them poorer, just to punish Britain and make a political point."

Consider this though: she has opted for what essentially amounts to a 'hard Brexit'. As the Director of the Centre for European Reform, Charles Grant, says, Mrs May has put the restoration of UK sovereignty ahead of economics. She said herself when she campaigned to remain, that Brexit would hit the British economy.

Using precisely the same logic, don't underestimate the ability of Europe to put their own politics and ideals ahead of logical economics to preserve the union.

The remaining 27, led by a Franco-German axis, may not do a swift, ambitious trade deal with the UK. That could well harm German car makers, French farmers, Spanish fishermen and the rest, but if it preserves the union and discourages other nations from leaving, they may think it's worth it.

:: What Theresa May's 12-point Brexit plan really means

:: Brexit plan attacked as 'threat' and 'theft'

:: Pound sees biggest one-day rally since 2008
NEW YORK, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday revived a lawsuit by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp against five banks including Credit Suisse Group AG stemming from their sale of mortgage-backed securities ahead of the 2008 financial crisis.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that a lower-court judge had erred in dismissing the FDIC's lawsuit, which also named units of HSBC Holdings Plc (Frankfurt: 923893 - news) , Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, UBS AG (LSE: 0QNR.L - news) and Deutsche Bank (IOB: 0H7D.IL - news) AG as defendants. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
SYDNEY (AP)  Australia's Transport Minister Darren Chester said on Wednesday that experts will continue analyzing data and scrutinizing debris washing ashore from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in a bid to narrow down where it crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. But Chester declined to specify what kind of breakthrough would convince officials to resume the search for the missing airliner that was suspended this week after almost three years.

"When we get some information or data or a breakthrough that leads us to a specific location, the experts will know it when they see it," he told reporters in the southern city of Melbourne.

The sonar seabed search ended on Tuesday, possibly forever  not because investigators have run out of leads, but because the countries involved in the expensive and vast deep-sea hunt have shown no appetite for opening another big phase.

Late last year, as ships with high-tech search equipment covered the last strips of the 120,000-square kilometer (46,000-square mile) search zone west of Australia, experts concluded they had been looking in the wrong place and should have been searching a smaller area immediately to the north. But by then, $160 million had already been spent by Malaysia, Australia and China, who had previously agreed not to search elsewhere without pinpoint evidence of the plane's location. More than half of those aboard the plane were Chinese.

Since no technology currently exists that can tell investigators exactly where the plane is, that means the most expensive, complex search in aviation history is over, barring a change of heart from the three countries.

Chester defended the decision to call off the hunt without checking the new area to the north, saying, "No one is coming to me as minister and saying, 'We know where MH370 is.'" And he insisted the enormous cost had nothing to do with pulling the plug.

"It is a costly exercise, but it hasn't been the factor which led to the decision to suspend the search," Chester said. "We don't want to provide false hope to the families and friends. We need to have credible new evidence leading to a specific location before we would be reasonably considering future search efforts."

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The new 25,000-square kilometer (9,700-square mile) area to the north was determined with the help of drift modeling by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, which attempted to calculate where debris that has washed ashore on coastlines in the western Indian Ocean originated. Chester said that drift modeling would continue, and experts will scrutinize any further debris that washes up. Investigators will also continue to refine the satellite data that led them to conclude the plane went down somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Many relatives of those lost on the plane, which vanished on March 8, 2014, during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board, responded to the announcement that the search was over with outrage. A support group, Voice 370, issued a statement saying that extending the search is "an inescapable duty owed to the flying public."

Without understanding what happened to the plane, there's a "good chance that this could happen in the future," said K.S. Narendran, a member of the group.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he empathized with the families, but said search officials had done the best they could under extraordinary circumstances.

"We share their deep disappointment that the plane has not been found," Turnbull told reporters. "It is an unprecedented search. It's been conducted with the best advice over the areas that were identified as the most likely to find the location of the airplane. It is a shocking tragedy and we grieve and we deeply regret the loss and we deeply regret that the plane has not been found."

Tony Abbott, who was Australia's prime minister when the Boeing 777 disappeared, suggested the search should continue. Abbott pledged on the first anniversary of the tragedy: "It can't go on forever, but as long as there are reasonable leads, the search will go on." On Tuesday, he tweeted: "Disappointed that the search for MH370 has been called off. Especially if some experts think there are better places to look."

Chester said he understood Abbott's feelings, given his involvement in the early phases of the hunt.

"The experts who have been working on this project, this has consumed their life for the best part of three years. This is a disappointing and frustrating day for them as well," Chester said. "I understand that former Prime Minister Abbott has some concerns as well. He is entitled to express those opinions but it is not a decision that was reached lightly by the three governments in July last year and we remain open to further analysis of whatever data becomes available into the future."

There is the possibility that a private donor could offer to bankroll a new search. But no one has stepped up yet, raising the bleak possibility that the world's greatest aviation mystery may never be solved.

Investigators have been stymied again and again in their efforts to find the aircraft. Hopes were repeatedly raised and smashed by false leads: Underwater signals wrongly thought to be emanating from the plane's black boxes. Possible debris fields that turned out to be sea trash. Oil slicks that contained no jet fuel. A large object detected on the seafloor that was just an old shipwreck.

In the absence of solid leads, investigators relied largely on an analysis of transmissions between the plane and a satellite to narrow down where in the world the jet ended up  a technique never previously used to find an aircraft.

Based on the transmissions, they narrowed down the possible crash zone to a vast arc of ocean slicing across the Southern Hemisphere. Even then, the search zone was enormous and located in one of the most remote patches of water on Earth  1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) off Australia's west coast. Much of the seabed had never even been mapped.

For years, crews on several ships used sonar equipment to painstakingly comb the search area. The search zone shifted multiple times as investigators refined their analysis, all to no avail. Some began to question whether the plane had gone down in the Southern Hemisphere at all.

Then, in July 2015, came the first proof that the plane was indeed in the Indian Ocean: A wing flap from the aircraft was found on Reunion Island, east of Madagascar. More than 20 pieces of debris confirmed or believed likely to have come from the aircraft have since washed ashore. But while the debris proved the plane went down in the Indian Ocean, the location of the main underwater wreckage  and its crucial black box data recorders  remains stubbornly elusive.

If the plane is never found, the reasons for its disappearance and crash will probably never be known, though Malaysia has said the plane's erratic movements after takeoff were consistent with deliberate actions.

The sister of the pilot, Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, slammed authorities for ending the search without settling the mystery, saying her brother will never be absolved of suspicions he deliberately crashed the plane.

"How can they end the search like that? There will be finger-pointing again," Sakinab Shah said.

Chester said he had not given up hope that the plane may one day be found.

"It's an extraordinary aviation mystery as it stands today," he said. "I'm hopeful that we have a breakthrough in the future. We need to prepare ourselves for the sad and tragic reality that in this foreseeable future, we may not find MH370."
TOKYO (AP)  Caroline Kennedy stepped down Wednesday after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa.

Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013, she had been expected to leave with the coming change in U.S. leadership. President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has also said that all envoys who were political appointees must step down by Inauguration Day on Friday. Trump has not named a new ambassador yet.

Kennedy ruffled some feathers early in her tenure by tweeting her opposition to Japan's dolphin hunt, shortly after her embassy issued a statement expressing "disappointment" that Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had visited a shrine that memorializes World War II war criminals, among others.

During her time, though, the conservative Abe and liberal Obama found common ground despite coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

"She has great skills and authority as a convener, a much needed function in U.S.-Japan relations," said Kent Calder, the director of the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. "She has been more of a network builder than a concrete policy initiator, but that is almost an inevitable role for ambassadors these days."

He said her legacy includes facilitating Obama's historic visit to Hiroshima last May, one of two Japanese cities devastated by U.S. atomic bombs in 1945. Kennedy was in Pearl Harbor at the end of last year when Abe reciprocated with a visit to the site of Japan's 1941 surprise attack that drew America into World War II.

Some will also remember the efforts of the first female U.S. ambassador to Japan to promote literacy and women's and LGBT rights, and for her visits to the northeast region slowly recovering from a deadly and destructive tsunami in 2011.

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"She was true to the Obama administration goals, and she maintained the Kennedy mystique without making it the focal point of her tenure," said Nancy Snow, a professor of public diplomacy at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. "I will remember her as a champion of person-to-person exchange and engagement."

Winning understanding in Okinawa for a reduced but still large U.S. military presence proved an impossible task, and was hampered by a series of incidents from crimes by U.S. base personnel to crashes of U.S. military aircraft.

"In every ambassadorship, there are both enduring issues and unpredictable events," she told Japan's largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, in a farewell interview. "In my case, both were linked to Okinawa."

The daughter of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy arrived in November 2013 to more fanfare than the typical envoy. Thousands of onlookers lined streets to snap pictures and wave as she traveled by horse-drawn carriage to present her credentials to Japan's emperor. The procession was broadcast live on Japan's public broadcaster NHK.

Her popularity strained embassy resources, a 2015 U.S. government report found, because of the demands for her participation in events across the country. It noted that the embassy "has now caught up on the backlog of gifts sent to the ambassador in her first six months in Japan."

Now 59, Kennedy is returning to her Manhattan home with husband Edwin Schlossberg, who split his time between Tokyo and New York. She hasn't indicated publicly what her future plans are.

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Online: Kennedy's farewell video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPcI7txv6V0&feature=youtu.be
TOKYO (AP)  Caroline Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa.

She ruffled some feathers early on by tweeting her opposition to Japan's dolphin hunt, shortly after her embassy issued a statement expressing "disappointment" that Japan's leader had visited a shrine that memorializes World War II war criminals, among others.

During her tenure, though, the conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and liberal U.S. President Barack Obama built a relationship of trust despite coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

"She has great skills and authority as a convener, a much needed function in U.S.-Japan relations," said Kent Calder, the director of the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. "She has been more of a network builder than a concrete policy initiator, but that is almost an inevitable role for ambassadors these days."

Her legacy includes facilitating Obama's historic visit to Hiroshima last May, one of two Japanese cities devastated by U.S. atomic bombs in 1945, Calder said. Kennedy was in Pearl Harbor at the end of last year when Abe reciprocated with a visit to the site of Japan's 1941 surprise attack that drew America into World War II.

On a smaller scale, some will remember the efforts of the first female U.S. ambassador to Japan to promote literacy and women's and LGBT rights, and for her visits to the northeast region slowly recovering from a deadly and destructive tsunami in 2011.

The daughter of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy arrived in November 2013 to more fanfare than the typical envoy. Thousands of onlookers lined streets to snap pictures and wave as she traveled by horse-drawn carriage to present her credentials to Japan's emperor. The procession was broadcast live on Japan's public broadcaster NHK.

Her popularity strained embassy resources, a 2015 U.S. government report found, because of the demands for her participation in events across the country. It noted that the embassy "has now caught up on the backlog of gifts sent to the ambassador in her first six months in Japan."

Now 59, Kennedy is returning to her Manhattan home with husband Edwin Schlossberg, who split his time between Tokyo and New York. She hasn't indicated publicly what her future plans are.
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's government will begin much-delayed formal peace talks with the country's second-biggest rebel group the ELN on Feb. 8, after the guerrillas release a politician being held hostage, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday. The National Liberation Army (ELN) will release politician Odin Sanchez before the start date, meeting a repeated government requirement for negotiations to begin, Santos told journalists in Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum. "If he is not released, there will simply be no negotiation, That has always been the position of the Colombian government and my position," Santos said. The government and ELN will reveal the timeline of talks from Ecuador later on Wednesday. The ELN is expected to release Sanchez to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Sanchez has been captive for more than eight months. The 2,000-strong ELN is considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union. The group has kidnapped hundreds of people over its 52 years to raise funds for the war and to use as bargaining chips with the government. Sit-down negotiations had originally been expected to begin on Nov. 3. Santos late last year concluded a peace accord with the larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrilla group, after it was rejected in a shock plebiscite result in October. The accord was voted down by a margin of just 0.4 percent. Santos won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the conflict with the FARC. More than 220,000 people have been killed in Colombia's conflict, which has pitted leftist guerrillas against right-wing paramilitary groups and the security forces. Founded by radical Catholic priests and inspired by Cuba's 1959 revolution, the ELN has been in on-and-off preliminary talks with the government since 2014. The rebels have remained active, bombing oil installations, although in recent months they have released other captives. Peace with the two groups is unlikely to put a complete end to violence in Colombia, also ravaged by violence caused by drug trafficking. But it would allow economic development in once off-limits areas and shift more resources to fight criminal gangs. (Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Helen Murphy; editing by Grant McCool)
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Diplomats are meeting Wednesday in the Swiss resort of Mont Pelerin, charged with figuring out if the differences are bridgeable in a deal to reunify ethnically split Cyprus.

The report they produce over three days will determine whether the Cypriot leaders and the foreign ministers of Greece, Turkey and Britain will reconvene in Geneva to thrash out a security agreement that will likely pave the way to an overall reunification accord. A complex web of interlocking interests has scuttled previous rounds of talks that have trudged on in successive failures since the island was split in 1974.

Here's the state of play as talks get underway:

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WHERE WE'RE AT:

After 20 months, Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have sketched out the basic framework of a deal reunifying the island as a federation that they feel can earn the backing of the majority of both communities in separate votes. If all goes well, the referendums could happen by mid-year. The two men have made much progress on how to share power in a federation, as well as on the economy and how the federation will function as a member of the European Union.

What remains are issues that lie at the heart of Cyprus' division  highly emotive issues that play on the deepest fears of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

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MAPPING TERRITORY

Both sides have submitted maps delineating the territory they believe their respective federal zones should control. The difference is a single percentage point  the Turkish Cypriots want 29.2 percent of Cyprus' land mass  down from the more than 36 percent they now control  while the Greek Cypriots have proposed 28.2 percent.

Although it seems like a small difference, neither side is happy.

Greek Cypriots want what was previously densely populated territory to be returned under their control in order to allow at least 90,000 Greek Cypriots displaced from the 1974 invasion to reclaim lost homes and property relatively quickly. They say the more people who reclaim homes, the less costly a peace deal in terms of compensation for those who cannot get their property back, and the more support for the deal.

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Conversely, Turkish Cypriots want to limit the number of people now living in Greek Cypriot-owned homes who have to relocate.

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MY TURN, YOUR TURN

The two sides also remain stuck on the concept of a rotating presidency.

The Turkish Cypriots insist the future federation's presidency should alternate between the Greek and Turkish communities to ensure reunified Cyprus would be a genuine partnership.

Greek Cypriots oppose the idea, arguing that according executive parity to the minority Turkish Cypriots would warp democratic principles. Some of the more suspicious Greek Cypriots see a rotating presidency as Turkey running the country by proxy.

Officials said the two sides didn't even take up the issue last week because the two sides are so far apart.

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GUARANTORS, SECURITY, MILITARY INTERVENTIONS

Cyprus' 1960 constitution accorded Britain, Greece and Turkey the right to underwrite the security of the island. Turkey invoked its intervention rights from its status as a guarantor to justify its 1974 invasion following a coup aiming to unite Cyprus with Greece. It still keeps more than 35,000 troops in the breakaway north that don't answer to Turkish Cypriot civilian authority.

Greek Cypriots are deeply concerned about the military might, especially as Turkey descends into deeper authoritarianism. They insist no non-EU country should station troops on the island or have the right to intervene militarily. Anastasiades has proposed the deployment of an international police force.

On the other hand, the minority Turkish Cypriots see Turkish troops as their sole insurance against possible hostilities. Akinci has said this can come under review after a number of years when fear and mistrust melts away.

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Pan Pylas in Davos, Switzerland, and Cinar Kiper in Istanbul contributed to this report.
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) Opposition to nuclear power is driven by market not by ideology, every government in the world has given "implicit or explicit support" to this source of energy, and despite rapid technological advancement, it still remains costly.

These were some of the important points that came up during a debate on financial viability and safety of nuclear power in comparison to other sources of electricity.

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Debating at the Raisina Dailogue 2017, Sony Kapoor, Managing Director of Re-Define, UK, said generating nuclear power is not only expensive but also has its own hazards like the ones witnessed at Fukushima and Chernobyl.

Pitching for renewables, Kapoor said, nuclear power is subsidised by several countries but the cost per unit is much more higher in comparison to the renewable sources of energy.

"Opposition to nuclear power is driven by market and not ideology," he said, adding there has not been a single country where nuclear power has not got implicit or explicit support of the government.

Kapoor claimed the accident at Fukushima and Chernobyl have cost over half a trillion dollars.

Erlan Batyrbekov, Director Genera, National Nuclear Centre, Ministry of Energy, said the technology in building nuclear power reactors has advanced multifold if one looks at accidents at nuclear power stations.

He said, its the reactors that take decisions pertaining to operations in case of any malfunction now, pointing out at the advancement in the technology.

Michael Shellenberger, President, Environmental Progress, USA, said while a section bats for renewable energy like solar, it also incurs heavy costs and requires subsidies to make it financially viable.

He also pointed out that disposal of the waste that is generated from the materials used for producing solar power also becomes a problem.

Shellenberger added that in the US, while nuclear power gives 20 per cent of the total power, solar energy contributes less than an per cent. PTI PR TIR

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By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union needs to reach a deal with Libya to curb the flow of migrants trying to sail on smugglers' boats to Italy, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Wednesday. He said it should be along the same lines as an agreement struck with Turkey last year which was instrumental in cutting the number of migrants and refugees reaching Europe to 387,487 from well over a million in 2015, according to the International Organization for Migration. The treacherous voyage from North Africa to Italy is now the dominant route. The IOM says more than 5,000 people died or went missing while crossing the Mediterranean last year, and at least 219 drowned in the first two weeks of this year alone. "There is no doubt that unless the essence of the Turkey deal is replicated in the central Mediterranean, Europe will face a major migration crisis," Muscat told the European Parliament. Malta holds the EU's rotating presidency and will host a summit on Feb. 3 to try to agree a plan for averting a spring influx of people embarking from Libya. Muscat said the priority was "breaking the business model of the criminal gangs making millions of euros out of this inhumane business". Under such an agreement, diplomats said migrants could be screened before leaving Libya, in camps run with EU funding by the IOM or the United Nations refugee agency. Muscat said the EU could then organise safe passage to Europe for recognised asylum seekers. Establishing any such operations, however, is extremely difficult. While Libya now has a U.N.-backed government in Tripoli, it is weak and does not control its territory. Another key difference is that it those who risk the much-shorter journey from Turkey to Greece are mostly Syrians who are fleeing a war and hence have strong chances for asylum in Europe. For the Libya-Italy route, it is mostly economic migrants from impoverished sub-Saharan Africa who seek to get to much-wealthier Europe. Since they are not fleeing an immediate threat to their lives, EU states are not willing to grant them asylum but are determined to send them back. SUPPORT FOR LIBYA The EU's naval mission in the Mediterranean is already training the Libyan coastguard - something the bloc's leaders agreed to step up last December - and targeting traffickers. A Maltese document, seen by Reuters and due to be discussed by EU envoys in Brussels on Thursday, proposes moving the mission closer to the shore and into Libyan territorial waters. The EU failed to agree on that last year and, as an alternative, the paper proposes a 'line of protection' much closer to the ports of origin. Libyan forces would take the lead, but with "strong and lasting EU support". The plan highlights the need to engage more with Libya's neighbours Egypt and Tunisia, including possibly on shutting supply routes carrying rubber boats or engines for smugglers. Diplomats in Brussels say, however, that Cairo has so far put a high price tag on any additional help, after Turkey was promised up to 6 billion euros ($6.4 billion) under its 2016 migration deal with the bloc. EU foreign ministers are expected to invite Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry for their next meeting in Brussels on Feb. 6. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
VIENNA (Reuters) - The head of Austria's far-right Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, has said he will travel to Washington for meetings "on the sidelines of" the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, though he did not specify who. In a statement on his Facebook page, the head of the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPO) did not say whether he would attend the inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20, but did state he would not be meeting Trump himself. Spokesmen for his party were not immediately available for comment. Strache's visit is likely to raise fresh questions about ties between European far-right parties and people close to Trump. FPO officials met people close to Trump, including his pick for national security adviser Michael Flynn, on a recent visit to the United States, the party said last month. "There is a series of invitations to talks with interesting political representatives of the United States on the sidelines of the U.S. president's inauguration on our packed schedule," Strache said, adding that he would be accompanied by an FPO delegation. French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen was seen at Trump Tower last week, but a spokesman for Trump said she did not meet with him or his team. The Kleine Zeitung newspaper said Strache's delegation would include Norbert Hofer, who narrowly failed to become president last year, which would have made him the first freely elected far-right head of state in Europe since World War Two. Strache said "good diplomatic and economic relations" between Austria and the United States were a priority for him given his party's "possible future government responsibilities". Austria's centrist government's mandate runs until next year. "In order to avoid unnecessary speculation, a meeting with the future U.S. president, Donald Trump, is not planned," Strache said. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
(Reuters) - Indonesia, the country with the world's biggest Muslim population, can do business with a "pragmatic" U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, a senior minister close to President Joko Widodo said on Wednesday. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said outgoing President Barack Obama's "ideological" foreign policy had intensified differences between countries. "President Trump is a pragmatist who is likely to adopt a non-ideological and non-confrontational approach to a diverse political world," Pandjaitan said in an opinion piece published in Singapore's Straits Times newspaper. As well as being close to Widodo - the two were business partners before entering politics - Pandjaitan plays an important role in formulating foreign policy, including in the South China Sea, where China and the United State are vying for influence. His comments come after China has reacted negatively to comments from Trump and some of his Cabinet appointees about Taiwan, U.S. adherence to the "one-China" policy and China's occupation of islands and shoals in disputed waters in the South China Sea. In the most expansive assessment of Trump from a senior Indonesian government member, Pandjaitan said the New York real estate mogul's business background would enable him to strike deals with countries without judging the "color of their political skin". "What matters is what they bring to the table," he wrote. Pandjaitan said this approach would benefit Indonesia, as would the complementary nature of the Indonesian and U.S. economies and Trump's vow to wipe out Islamic State, which has inspired at least eight militant plots in Indonesia in the past 18 months. Like Trump, Widodo was an outsider who had been labeled a "populist", he added. "That word is a loaded term used by the liberal intelligentsia to describe those who have had the audacity to rise to power outside its gilded, guarded gates." Pandjaitan said the policies of the outgoing U.S. administration had unintended consequences. "Under President Barack Obama, America's ideological desire to remould the world, including Europe, in America's image helped precipitate the crisis in Ukraine that ended with Russia annexing Crimea. Its pivot to the Asia-Pacific concluded with China ignoring international law in the South China Sea." Pandjaitan did not refer to Trump's pledge in December 2015 for a "total and complete shutdown" of Muslim immigration, which caused outrage in Indonesia and other Muslim countries. Trump later softened the policy to only suspending immigration from countries compromised by terrorism. Indonesia, whose 220 million Muslims largely practice a moderate form of Islam, has close relations with the United States and many Indonesians think highly of Obama, who spent part of his childhood in the capital, Jakarta. (Reporting by Tom Allard in JAKARTA; Editing by Robert Birsel)
(Reuters) - Indonesia, the country with the world's biggest Muslim population, can do business with a "pragmatic" U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, a senior minister close to President Joko Widodo said on Wednesday. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said outgoing President Barack Obama's "ideological" foreign policy had intensified differences between countries. "President Trump is a pragmatist who is likely to adopt a non-ideological and non-confrontational approach to a diverse political world," Pandjaitan said in an opinion piece published in Singapore's Straits Times newspaper. As well as being close to Widodo - the two were business partners before entering politics - Pandjaitan plays an important role in formulating foreign policy, including in the South China Sea, where China and the United State are vying for influence. His comments come after China has reacted negatively to comments from Trump and some of his Cabinet appointees about Taiwan, U.S. adherence to the "one-China" policy and China's occupation of islands and shoals in disputed waters in the South China Sea. In the most expansive assessment of Trump from a senior Indonesian government member, Pandjaitan said the New York real estate mogul's business background would enable him to strike deals with countries without judging the "colour of their political skin". "What matters is what they bring to the table," he wrote. Pandjaitan said this approach would benefit Indonesia, as would the complementary nature of the Indonesian and U.S. economies and Trump's vow to wipe out Islamic State, which has inspired at least eight militant plots in Indonesia in the past 18 months. Like Trump, Widodo was an outsider who had been labelled a "populist", he added. "That word is a loaded term used by the liberal intelligentsia to describe those who have had the audacity to rise to power outside its gilded, guarded gates." Pandjaitan said the policies of the outgoing U.S. administration had had unintended consequences. "Under President Barack Obama, America's ideological desire to remould the world, including Europe, in America's image helped precipitate the crisis in Ukraine that ended with Russia annexing Crimea. Its pivot to the Asia-Pacific concluded with China ignoring international law in the South China Sea." Pandjaitan did not refer to Trump's pledge in December 2015 for a "total and complete shutdown" of Muslim immigration, which caused outrage in Indonesia and other Muslim countries. Trump later softened the policy to only suspending immigration from countries compromised by terrorism. Indonesia, whose 220 million Muslims largely practice a moderate form of Islam, has close relations with the United States and many Indonesians think highly of Obama, who spent part of his childhood in the capital, Jakarta. (Reporting by Tom Allard in JAKARTA; Editing by Robert Birsel)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister said on Tuesday Tehran opposed a U.S. presence at peace talks on Syria in the Kazakh capital next week, after a decision by Russia and Turkey to invite Washington. "We have not invited them, and we are against their presence," Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying. The United States, which led failed efforts to launch peace talks last year, has not been involved in the latest diplomacy around the Syrian conflict. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, speaking separately on Tuesday at a news conference broadcast live on state television, said: "Iran, Russia and Turkey managed to bring a ceasefire to Syria ... It shows these three powers have influence. "The (Syrian) armed groups have accepted the invitation of these three countries and are going to Astana." Asked why the United States and Saudi Arabia had no direct role in the talks, Rouhani said: "Some countries are not attending the talks, and their role was destructive. They were helping the terrorists." Russia and Iran, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's most powerful allies, and Turkey, pushed for the talks in Astana after Syrian government forces won a major victory in capturing eastern Aleppo late last year. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that Turkey and Russia had decided to invite the United States to the Astana discussions, which begin on Jan. 23. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday he thought it was right to invite the administration of Donald Trump, due to become U.S. president on Friday. (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Andrew Roche)
Moldovan President Igor Dodon attends a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. Moldova's new president, who is visiting Russia on his first trip abroad, is voicing hope for rebuilding "strategic" ties with Moscow. (Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool Photo via AP)

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Moldova's prime minister on Wednesday reacted angrily to a suggestion by the nation's president that the ex-Soviet republic may shelve a trade pact with the European Union.

President Igor Dodon, speaking in Moscow on Tuesday, denounced a pact Moldova signed with the EU in 2014. He says a new government could annul it after 2018 parliamentary elections.

In a statement to The Associated Press, however, Premier Pavel Filip said Moldova's constitution did not allow the president "to announce or take such decisions," which he called "pure, political rhetoric."

Filip said his pro-European government would "not accept any intervention," from Dodon about a matter outside the president's authority.

"Quite the contrary, we will accelerate the implementation of undertaken commitments," the statement said "The Association Agreement is part of our governing program, it's one of the strategic pillars of the country.... and we will deliver on reforms and increase citizen welfare."

He also slammed Dodon who, during his visit to the Russian capital, said Moldova was willing to take on observer status in a Russia-dominated economic alliance. Filip said the president had no authority to weigh in on the issue.

After Moldova signed EU trade pact, Russia placed a trade embargo on Moldovan wine fruit and vegetables. Last year, more than half of Moldovan exports went to EU states.

Filip, who came to office a year ago, said that moves to improve relations with Russia should remain "at a bilateral level."

Dodon's trip to Moscow was his first foreign visit since his election in November, when he beat a pro-EU candidate. He has pledged to restore trade and political relations with Moscow.
By Joseph Sipalan and Ebrahim Harris KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - The United Nations should intervene in Myanmar's Rakhine State to stop further escalation of violence against Rohingya Muslims and avoid another genocide like in Cambodia and Rwanda, said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's special envoy to Myanmar. The conflict which has left at least 86 dead and an estimated 66,000 people fleeing into Bangladesh since it started on Oct. 9, 2016, is no longer an internal issue but of international concern, said Syed Hamid Albar, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Special Envoy to Myanmar. Syed Hamid said the OIC should seek U.N. intervention. His comments come ahead of a special OIC meeting called by Malaysia on Thursday to discuss measures to deal with the conflict affecting the Rohingya minority, who are predominantly Muslim. "We don't want to see another genocide like in Cambodia or Rwanda," Syed Hamid told Reuters in an interview ahead of the meeting in Kuala Lumpur. "The international community just observed, and how many people died? We have lessons from the past, for us to learn from and see what we can do," he said. The OIC represents 57 states and acts as the collective voice of the Muslim world. Refugees, residents and human rights groups say Myanmar soldiers have committed summary executions, raped Rohingya women and burned homes since military operations started in the north of Rakhine State on Oct. 9. The government of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated, and it insists the strife in Rakhine State, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter. The military operations were in response to attacks on security posts near Myanmar's border with Bangladesh that killed nine police officers. The Myanmar government has said that militants with overseas Islamist links were responsible. A Myanmar government spokesman said it will not attend the OIC meet as it is not an Islamic country, but that it had already made its actions clear to ASEAN members at their last meeting in December, and that U.N. intervention would only end up facing "unwanted resistance from local people". "So that's why the international community should have a positive approach and understand widely our country's conflict situation," said Zaw Htay, a spokesman for the office of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw. About 56,000 Rohingya now live in Muslim-majority Malaysia having fled previous unrest in Myanmar. Malaysia, which is Southeast Asia's third-largest economy, broke the tradition of non-intervention by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by speaking out on the conflict, calling on the 10-member bloc to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against the ethnic group. Zaw Htay criticised Malaysia for its outspoken position on the conflict, saying the country should manage "its own political crisis" and "avoid encouraging extremism and violence" in Myanmar. Our new government is working seriously and carefully on the situation in Rakhine. We are working on a very complicated and tough problem with this internal conflict, so we need time to prevent it happening again," Zaw Htay said. (Additional reporting by Wa Lone in Yangon; Editing by Michael Perry)
By Mehreen Zahra-Malik ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A jailed Pakistani doctor believed to have helped the CIA hunt down al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden will be neither released nor handed to the United States, Pakistan's law minister has told legislators, media reported on Wednesday. Dr. Shakil Afridi, hailed as a hero by U.S. officials, was arrested after U.S. forces killed bin Laden in May 2011 in a secret raid in a northern Pakistani town that plunged relations between the uneasy strategic partners to a new low. Pakistan has accused the doctor of running a fake vaccination campaign in which he collected DNA samples to help the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) confirm bin Laden's identity. Afridi was arrested soon after the bin Laden raid and charged with having ties to militant Islamists, which he denied. "The law is taking its course and Afridi is having full opportunity of a fair trial," the Daily Times newspaper quoted Law Minister Zahid Hamid as telling the upper house, in response to a lawmaker's query about reports of a possible release. "Afridi worked against the law and our national interest, and the Pakistan government has repeatedly been telling the United States that under our law he committed a crime and was facing the law." In 2012, Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in prison after being convicted of being a member of militant group Lashkar-e-Islam. That conviction was overturned in 2013, but Afridi was then charged with murder, relating to the death of a patient eight years earlier. He remains in jail awaiting trial. Many Pakistanis were infuriated by the U.S. raid to grab bin Laden in the military garrison town of Abbottabad, just a two-hour drive from Islamabad, the capital. Pakistani officials describe bin Laden's long presence in Abbottabad as a security lapse and reject any suggestion that members of the military or intelligence services were complicit in hiding him. Last May, Pakistan's foreign ministry angrily criticised U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for saying he could get Pakistan to free Afridi "within two minutes". Pakistan joined the U.S. war on militancy after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. But U.S. officials often describe Islamabad as an unreliable partner that has sheltered the Afghan Taliban leadership and demand tougher action against militant groups based along its border with Afghanistan. (Writing by Mehreen Zahra-Malik; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Patel is learnt to have said that the discussion on banning Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes between the central bank and the government began as early as January last year.

By India Today Web Desk: Appearing before a Parliament panel on demonetisaion, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel is learnt to have said that the discussion on banning Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes between the central bank and the government began as early as January last year.

Patel is also reported to have said Rs 9.2 lakh crore of new currency notes have been put into the system since November 8 - the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of high-currency notes.

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Patel was briefing the parliamentary panel about demonetisation, its impact on economy, and the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch following the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

Sources said Patel quoted the figure even as Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, who is a member of the standing committee on finance, rejected the claim.

"The RBI Governor was unable to tell us how much money has come back to the banks, nor was he able to tell us when the system will be normal. The RBI officials were defensive," Roy said.

Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Banking Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal and Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, top bank honchos like Chanda Kochhar of the ICICI Bank and Usha Ananthasubramanian of the Punjab National Bank also appeared before the committee headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily.

Former Prime Minister and a member of the Parliament panel, Manmohan Singh - a staunch critic of the decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, calling it a monumental mismanagement - is also reported to have raised questions on the issue.

Patel is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.

Also read: Demonetisation: 10 big revelations from RBI's note to Parliament panel

Also watch: 'RBI's image has been dented beyond repair,' employees claim in letter to the Governor

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People board the ferry leaving Banjul, Gambia, Wednesday Jan. 18, 2017. Special flights were being organized Wednesday to evacuate British and other tourists from Gambia, where the threat of a regional military intervention loomed as President Yahya Jammeh's mandate expires on Thursday after he lost elections in December. On Tuesday, he declared a state of emergency before he is supposed to cede power to President-elect Adama Barrow. (AP Photo)

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) -- After more than two decades in power, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh faced the prospect of a military intervention by regional forces, as the man who once pledged to rule the West African nation for a billion years clung to power.

After a midnight deadline set by the West African regional bloc to step down, there was no word from Jammeh. But Mauritania's leader appeared to be making a last-ditch diplomatic effort, meeting with Jammeh and then flying to Senegal to meet with its leader and Gambia President-elect Adama Barrow.

Earlier, a military commander with the regional bloc known as ECOWAS announced that troops were positioning along Gambia's borders with Senegal.

"The mandate of the president is finished at midnight," declared Seydou Maiga Moro, speaking on Senegalese radio station RFM. "All the troops are already in place," he added, saying they were merely waiting to see whether Jammeh would give in to international pressure to cede power to Barrow.

As midnight approached, Jammeh met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on the crisis. The Mauritanian leader left Gambia shortly before midnight, telling Gambia state television that "I am now less pessimistic (Jammeh) will work on a peaceful solution that is in the best interest for everyone." He then went to the meeting at the Dakar airport in Senegal, state television there reported.

Thousands of Gambians have fled the country, including some former cabinet ministers who resigned in recent days. Hundreds of foreign tourists evacuated on special charter flights, though some continued to relax poolside despite the political turmoil. Gambia is a popular beach destination in winter, especially for tourists from Britain, the former colonial power.

The downtown area of the Gambian capital, Banjul, was empty late Wednesday, with all shops closed. But there was no visible military presence apart from a checkpoint at the entrance to the city.

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Tiny Gambia is surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean. Late Wednesday, witnesses reported Senegalese soldiers deploying in the Senegalese Kaolack region, north of Gambia, and in the southern Senegalese region of Casamance.

In another sign of the international pressure, Nigeria confirmed a warship was heading toward Gambia for "training," and RFM radio reported that Nigerian military equipment had begun arriving in Dakar. Ghana also has pledged to contribute militarily.

The regional bloc was seeking the U.N. Security Council's endorsement of its "all necessary measures" to remove Jammeh. "There is a sense that the whole situation rests in the hands of one person, and it's up to that person, the outgoing president of the Gambia, to draw the right conclusions," said Sweden's U.N. Ambassador Olof Skoog, the current council president.

The opposition has vowed to go ahead with Barrow's inauguration. It was unclear whether Barrow would take the oath at a Gambian Embassy outside the country or if he would return.

"Those who resist peaceful change, effective 12 midnight tonight, shall face definite consequences, to their peril," said Mai Ahmad Fatty, Barrow's special adviser, in a Facebook post Wednesday in which he urged Gambians to stay indoors. "Anyone with firearms tonight shall be deemed a rebel, and will certainly become a legitimate target."

Jammeh, who first seized power in a 1994 coup, has insisted that his rule was ordained by Allah. He initially conceded defeat after the December vote, but after reports emerged suggesting he could face criminal charges linked to his rule, he reversed himself a week later. He said voting irregularities invalidated the results, and his party went to court seeking a new round of voting. The case has stalled because the supreme court currently only has one sitting judge.

Human rights groups have long accused Jammeh of arresting, jailing and killing political opponents, and there have been widespread fears for Barrow's safety. Tensions have been so high that Barrow has remained in the Senegalese capital since last weekend, at the advice of ECOWAS mediators. He was not even able to return to Banjul for his 7-year-old son's funeral Monday after the child was fatally mauled by a dog.

As other longtime West African strongmen have died or been forced to step down in recent years, Jammeh has remained a rare exception  even launching a campaign to anoint himself "King of Gambia."

In 2007, he claimed to have developed a cure for AIDS that involved an herbal body rub and bananas. Alarming public health experts, he insisted AIDS sufferers stop taking antiretroviral medications.

Two years later, his government rounded up nearly 1,000 people it accused of being witches, forcing them to drink a hallucinogen that caused diarrhea and vomiting. Two people died, according to Amnesty International.

More recently, Jammeh seemed bent on increasing Gambia's isolation on the world stage. In 2013 he exited the Commonwealth, a group made up mostly of former British colonies, branding it a "neo-colonial institution."

He also issued increasingly virulent statements against sexual minorities, vowing to slit the throats of gay men and saying the LGBT acronym should stand for "leprosy, gonorrhea, bacteria and tuberculosis." And in October, Jammeh said Gambia would leave the International Criminal Court, which he dismissed as the "International Caucasian Court."

___

Associated Press writers Abdoulie John in Dakar, Senegal; Robbie Corey-Boulet in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, and Bashir Adigun in Abuja, Nigeria, contributed to this report.
BELGRADE (Reuters) - The United States urged Belgrade and Pristina on Tuesday to avoid "dangerous rhetoric" after Kosovo denied entry to a train painted in the Serbian national colors with "Kosovo is Serbia" emblazoned on its side. Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci has accused Serbia of planning to seize a slice of northern Kosovo using the "Crimea model," a reference to the Russian annexation of the peninsula. His Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic has said Pristina showed it wanted war by deploying special police at the border to block the train. The train was supposed to travel to ethnic Serbian enclaves in Kosovo. Kosovo, backed by the U.S. and major west European states, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Belgrade considers it part of its territory and supports a Serb minority there. "Kosovo is a sovereign, independent country and we respect the right of Kosovo to manage who and what crosses its borders," the U.S. embassy in Pristina said in a statement. "We urge all sides to avoid dangerous rhetoric and continue to work for the normalization of relations." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday tensions were sharply rising in the Balkans and the European Union must help de-escalate the situation there. NATO air strikes on Serbia forced it to withdraw its troops in 1999 after killing about 10,000 ethnic Albanian civilians there. NATO still has around 5,000 troops stationed in Kosovo to keep the fragile peace. Nikolic said after meeting the U.S. ambassador to Belgrade on Tuesday that U.S. politics had caused "trouble" in the region and expressed hoped the new Trump administration would be more supportive of Serbia's policies. Relations between Belgrade and Pristina came under renewed strain on Jan. 4 when former Kosovo prime minister Ramush Haradinaj was arrested in France on a warrant from Serbia, which accuses him of war crimes. Kosovo Albanians make up more than 90 percent of Kosovo's 1.8 million population. Northern Kosovo is home to a Serb minority of around 40,000 to 50,000 people who do not consider Pristina as their capital. Normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia is key condition for both countries to progress toward membership in the European Union both governments are aiming for. (Reporting by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
By Natalia Zinets KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian lawmakers called on Wednesday for an investigation into what they say are anti-Ukrainian actions by Nadiya Savchenko, a helicopter navigator who returned to Ukraine to a hero's welcome last year after being held in a Russian jail. Savchenko, herself now a lawmaker, has sparked anger since her return by holding talks with pro-Russian separatists without the government's consent and also for publishing secret lists of people who were captured or are missing in the eastern conflict. On Tuesday, she suggested Ukraine would have to relax its claim on Russia-annexed Crimea in order to win back control of the eastern Donbass peacefully -- a final straw for some lawmakers who demanded she be investigated. "I would like to appeal to the State Security Service," Ivan Vinnyk told fellow lawmakers at a televised meeting of the parliamentary defence committee, which includes Savchenko. Vinnyk said Savchenko had committed "deliberate acts to the detriment of Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, national security - preliminary indicators of treason". The criticism provides a sharp contrast to the fanfare that greeted Savchenko when she was freed in a prisoner exchange last May. Captured on the frontline by Russian separatists and then held in jail on murder charges that she said were fabricated, Savchenko became a powerful symbol of resistance against Russia to many Ukrainians. In a testy exchange during the committee meeting, Savchenko rejected the allegations against her. "I'm very ashamed of the people here who at one time promoted themselves off the back of my name and continue to promote themselves off the back of names of political prisoners who are behind bars and continue to defend Ukraine in Kremlin prisons," she said. "You were the first to show what betrayal is." Asked about her Crimea comments, a Kremlin spokesman said on Wednesday different claims to the peninsula were not up for discussion, but added: "Russia is doing everything to promote a settlement of Ukraine's internal affairs." Savchenko isn't the only prominent Ukrainian to find herself in hot water. Viktor Pinchuk, one of the country's wealthiest businessmen, sparked a backlash after writing an editorial in the Wall Street Journal in December arguing that Kiev had to make "painful compromises" to secure peace with Russia. Around 10,000 people have died in the separatist conflict that erupted in 2014. Fighting continues despite a ceasefire being notionally in place since February 2015. (Additional reporting by Christian Lowe in Moscow; Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Gareth Jones)
By Stephen Adler and Sujata Rao DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called for a worldwide effort to counter the threat of Russian cyber warfare and urged the United States to "be great again" by demonstrating leadership on issues such as global security. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to improve ties with the Kremlin and open admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin has put Ukraine, whose Crimea region was annexed by Russia in 2014, under the spotlight. Poroshenko played down speculation that Washington could backtrack on its support for Kiev, noting that Trump had said publicly he would stick to U.S. obligations and there had been "promising" statements by nominees to his cabinet. "That gives us a lot more optimism for the future," Poroshenko told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, adding he already had a visit planned to meet the new U.S. president "in a few months". Poroshenko said joint global efforts were needed to halt Russian aggression, both military and cyber: "There is a global cyber war of Russia against (the) whole world, there is lots of evidence. This is a global danger and the world should be together to fight this danger." Ukraine's utility Ukrenergo told Reuters on Wednesday in Kiev that a cyber attack was behind a Dec 17-18 power blackout in the capital city. Ukrenergo did not say who was behind the incident, although Ukrainian security services blamed Russian cyber attacks for similar power outages in December 2015. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in cyber attacks on Ukraine.. Moscow is also alleged to have sought to influence the U.S. election by hacking Democratic political groups, something Russia has dismissed. "The same way as Russian propaganda is an element of Russian hybrid war, cyber (warfare) is an element of the Russian hybrid war, no matter if it's in Germany or United States," the Ukrainian president said. QUESTION OF SECURITY Poroshenko also stressed the importance of NATO as a bulwark against Moscow after Trump stirred unease in Europe by calling the military alliance "obsolete". "NATO, mainly this is not a question of money, it is a question of security. Russian aggression demonstrated again there is no other security system but NATO which was effective to stop the aggression," he said. And to demonstrate its role as a global leader, the U.S. would need to establish trans-Atlantic unity. "America should be great again," he said in a reference to Trump's campaign catchphrase. Poroshenko also said that Ukraine expected to get clearance for visa-free travel to the European Union for its citizens within a "very few" weeks after meeting the bloc's requirements. An agreement reached last month after weeks of stalling has yet to come into effect "This is a direct obligation of the EU....We are waiting for the very few moments or weeks for finishing the paperwork for these things and launching," he said. Poroshenko is also confident of getting Crimea back from Russia, which denies sending troops or military equipment into Ukraine. Kiev this month filed a lawsuit at the United Nations' highest court demanding that Russia halt support for pro-Moscow separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.. Asked whether Ukraine would ever regain Crimea, Poroshenko said: "I have no doubt. This is Ukrainian territory, Ukrainian people. This was brutal violation of international law." (Editing by Alexander Smith)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  Venezuela's president is backing out of a pledge to free opponent Leopoldo Lopez now that President Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of a Puerto Rican independence activist whose release the embattled socialist has long promoted.

In 2015, Maduro said he would release Lopez the day that Obama freed Oscar Lopez Rivera. When asked Wednesday at a press conference about that pledge, Maduro said he'd been joking.

He also went one step further and accused Lopez of being a CIA spy not worthy of being compared to Lopez Rivera, who was serving out a long sentence for his role in a violent struggle for the U.S. island territory's independence.

Lopez is serving a 14-year sentence for allegedly inciting violence against the government during a wave of anti-government unrest.
Congress workers will gherao 26 RBI offices, including in Delhi, to protest against government's failure to restore normalcy 70 days after demonetisation

By India Today Web Desk: Upping the ante against the Narendra Modi government on demonetisation, the Congres today launched a nationwide protest outside several Reserve Bank of India offices.

Starting today, Congress workers will gherao 26 RBI offices across the country, including in Delhi, to protest against the RBI's decision to impose a limit on withdrawal of money even after 70 days of demonetisation.

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Senior leaders of the Congress are expected to lead the protests that will continue till January 23. "Modi government's and the RBI's decision to not lift the weekly withdrawal restrictions of Rs 24,000 is a treachery with people of India," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The Reserve Bank on Monday doubled the daily ATM withdrawal limit to Rs 10,000 but retained the weekly ceiling at Rs 24,000.

ALSO READ: Demonetisation fallout: IMF downgrades India, upgrades China growth estimate

Here is all you need to know about Congress' campaign against demonetisation: The protests will be led by Anand Sharma New Delhi, Surjewala in Mumbai, N Sanjeeva Reddy in Kolkata, Salman Khurshid in Patna, Oscar Fernandes in Chennai and Prithviraj Chavan in Bengaluru. Protests will be held in poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa as well. While Congress veteran Shakeel Ahmad will lead the gherao in Lucknow, former Union minister Kapil Sabil and KC Venugopal will take to the streets in Dehradun and Panaji respectively. "Failure to restore money supply has paralysed India's economy leading to massive loss of jobs and closure of businesses on an everyday basis," Surjewala said. Accusing the government of destroying the RBI's autonomy, Surjewala said, "RBI, instead of playing the role of an independent monetary regulator and a key denominator of economic growth, has become a mere post office following the diktats of Modi government like a captive puppet". The decision to hold a countrywide protest against the Narendra Modi government's decision to demonetise high-value currency was taken at the Congress' recent Jan Vedna Sammelan where party vice president Rahul Gandhi had said "achche din will come when Congress comes to power again". "For the first time in the history, the Prime Minister of India is being ridiculed," the Congress leader had said at the sammelan which was also attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Union minister P Chidambaram. Since the November 8 announcement, the Congress, along with other parties such as the Trinamool Congress, has been holding protests against demonetisation. In December last year, Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a joint conference to target the Prime Minister. "If things remain unresolved even after 50 days, will PM Modi take responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister of the country?" Mamata had demanded. The government was cornered by the Opposition in the Winter session of Parliament over Prime Minister's alleged silence on the issue in the House.

(with inputs from agencies)

ALSO READ:

Demonetisation: 10 big revelations from RBI's note to Parliament panel

Worst is yet to come: Ex-PM Manmohan Singh on Modi's demonetisation

ALSO WATCH

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WASHINGTON  The Latest on President-elect Donald Trump (all times EST):

11:50 a.m.

President-elect Mike Pence says it is deeply disappointing that civil rights icon John Lewis would question the legitimacy of Donald Trumps White House victory.

In an interview with CBS Face the Nation on Sunday, Pence said he respects the sacrifice the Georgia congressman made, but said that he is one of many people making baseless assertions that the president-elects victory was illegitimate.

Trump tore into Lewis on Saturday, just days ahead of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Pence says that Donald Trump has every right to defend himself.

He says the nation faces deep challenges and he hopes Lewis will reconsider his decision to boycott the inauguration and his remarks questioning Trumps victory.

___

11:15 a.m.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence says both he and Donald Trump welcome the oversight work by Congress into reports of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

In an interview with CBS Face the Nation on Sunday, Pence said the incoming administration believes there is no evidence of impact on voting machines, adding that Donald Trump won the election fair and square.

He said that we certainly respect the right of Congress to provide oversight and make inquiries where they see appropriate, but he said that the American people have spoken.

President-elect Trump has described reports questioning the legitimacy of his White House victory as a witch hunt. Pence said Sunday that there are efforts by the national media to demean and question the legitimacy of this incoming administration.

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11:10 a.m.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence is calling the timing of a conversation between Donald Trumps national security adviser and the Russian ambassador to the U.S. strictly coincidental.

In an interview with CBSs Face the Nation, Pence says retired Gen. Michael Flynn sent a text message to the Russian ambassador wishing him a Merry Christmas and offering his condolences for a recent Russian plane crash.

Pence says, it was strictly coincidental that they had a conversation as new sanctions were announced. He insists the discussion did not address a decision by the Obama administration to expel Russian diplomats or extend sanctions over recent allegations that the Russian government interfered with the U.S. presidential election.

Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Pence also says the Trump presidential campaign had no contacts with the Russians ahead of the election.

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10:55 a.m.

Sen. Rand Paul says that Rep. John Lewis record as a civil rights icon shouldnt make him immune to criticism and debate.

In an interview Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, the Kentucky Republican addressed President-elect Donald Trumps recent accusations that Lewis district is crime infested and that he is All talk, talk, talk  no action or results, after Lewis questioned the legitimacy of Trumps White House victory.

Paul said he has a great deal of respect for Lewis, but hes a partisan and I disagree with him on a great deal of issues.

He said, I should be able to disagree with him and not to have it all come back to I have no appreciation for a civil rights icon because of this, and I think thats the part that I think is unfair.

___

10:35 a.m.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is so steamed about the FBI director that he thinks James Comey may want to find another job.

The Vermont senator  who ran against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination  is among the lawmakers still angry about how Comey handled the election-year inquiry into Clintons private email practices.

And now Comey is refusing to say whether the FBI is investigating possible links between President-elect Donald Trumps campaign and Russia.

Sanders tells ABCs This Week he thinks Comey should take a hard look at what he has done. And I think it would not be a bad thing for the American people if he did step down.

The Justice Departments internal watchdog announced last week that hes investigating Comey and the department.

Some Democrats blame Comeys statements and actions in part for Clintons loss to Donald Trump.

Trumps incoming White House chief of staff says the president-elect has confidence in Comey. Speaking on the same show, Reince Priebus describes Comey as extremely competent and says there are no plans to cut short his term as FBI director.

__

10:20 a.m.

CIA Director John Brennan says Donald Trumps talking and tweeting is not in the nations interest and that the president-elect lacks a full understanding of the threat Russia poses to the U.S.

Brennan said Sunday the national security questions Trump will face after becoming president on Friday are not about him. Brennan added that Trump needs to understand that hes going to have an opportunity to do something for our national security as opposed to talking and tweeting. Such spontaneity, Brennan said, is not in the nations national security interests.

Brennan said intelligence officials briefed Trump on a dossier of unverified but potentially damaging information Russia had on him because it was well known and they wanted the president-elect to be aware of it.

The CIA director spoke on Fox News Sunday. Trumps choice to lead the agency is former Rep. Mike Pompeo.

___

10:10 a.m.

President Barack Obamas chief of staff says the president has sought an assessment on any interference in the 2016 election so that policymakers could address the issue.

Denis McDonough says it is important for the president that we get a full assessment to brief policymakers so they can implement policies to make sure that doesnt happen again.

President-elect Donald Trump has lashed out at those who have suggested his win was aided by Russian involvement.

Speaking on CNNs State of the Union, McDonough said the intelligence community is staffed by an unbelievably cadre of professionals and he dismissed the notion that they would seek to undermine Trumps victory as Trump has suggested.

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9:55 a.m.

Donald Trumps team is still plenty steamed after a leading House Democrat described Trump as an illegitimate president  and there are now calls for President Barack Obama to act.

Trumps incoming White House chief of staff says the congressman, civil rights leader John Lewis of Georgia, is being irresponsible and has started a firestorm.

Reince Priebus (ryns PREE-bus) tells NBCs Meet the Press that Obama should step up and call it what it is  its wrong what is happening, its wrong how some of these Democrats are treating President-elect Trump.

Lewis had told NBC that he didnt see Trump as a legitimate president, and believes that Russian meddling in the election helped put Trump in office.

President Barack Obamas chief of staff addressed Preibus call in a separate interview. Speaking on CNNs State of the Union, Denis McDonough said the president is not going to get in the middle of this right now.

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9:35 a.m.

President Barack Obamas chief of staff says Donald Trump should mend relations with civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis to send a message to the American people and the world.

The president-elect tore into Lewis on Saturday for questioning the legitimacy of his White House victory, intensifying a feud with the black congressman days before the national holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

Obamas chief of staff, Denis McDonough, told CNNs State of the Union that Trump should address his differences with Lewis to send a message to the American people not only that we are willing to work together, but to the Russians that we are united.

McDonough noted that Trump should recognize the role Lewis has played to advance civil rights policies, saying Lewis fought, bled and went to jail for the cause.
LONDON  Britain will seek a clean break from the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May said Tuesday in a speech that eliminated any doubt her country would pursue a starkly different path outside the bloc, which for decades has been at the heart of attempts at continental integration.

The speech, long anticipated and rich with detail, was celebrated by Brexit advocates as an endorsement of their most fervent hopes for a full-scale liberation from the dictates of EU headquarters in Brussels. EU advocates countered that May was steering the country toward a potentially calamitous breakup, leaving Britain with the Donald Trump-led United States as a partner but with few true friends in Europe.

European leaders offered measured responses, suggesting that Britain was becoming more realistic about its prospects in the complex divorce negotiations to come. But they also maintained that the United Kingdom would meet resistance as it seeks to cherry-pick the benefits of the EU while throwing off the burdens.

There was no immediate reaction from the incoming American president, who set alarm bells ringing across Europe just a day earlier by signaling that he was indifferent to the future of the European Union  and expected more countries to follow Britains path out.

Whether that prediction proves accurate could hinge on whether May succeeds or fails in charting a new course  one she said would be independent of EU rules on immigration, trade and justice.

After refusing for months to give a running commentary on Britains negotiating strategy, May offered the clearest indication to date of the countrys departure plans, which were set in motion by last Junes referendum on Britains EU ties.

May said Britain wants to be the best friend and neighbor to our European partners but cannot be half-in, half-out of the bloc, which was born from the ashes of World War II and is designed to prevent future conflict by uniting Europe around a common economic and political project. We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave, she said. She went on to reject preexisting models for quasi-membership that have been favored by those seeking a soft Brexit.

Her remarks instead point to a jarring departure that transforms Britains relations with Europe.

Britain, she said, will jettison membership in both the single market  which guarantees the free flow of goods, services and people across national boundaries  as well as the customs union, which dictates the terms of trade between Europe and the outside world.

Instead, she said, Britain will seek preferential trade access to European markets through a new agreement. And she said the country would strike out on its own in negotiating trade deals outside the European Union, which would be left with 27 members spanning from Ireland to Cyprus.

Such a break has been widely anticipated, though never formally spelled out. The British pound climbed Tuesday after drops over the previous several days as excerpts of Mays speech began to circulate.

The pounds value jumped when May said she would give Parliament final say on Britains new deal with the European Union. Unlike the country at large, most members of Parliament favored remain. May declined to answer when asked what would happen if Parliament nixes the deal.

Mays promise to allow for a transitional period  in which any new agreement is phased in  also seemed to please investors. British businesses have been concerned about the potential for a disruptive cliff edge in which the impact of an exit kicks in overnight.

Britain voted by 52 to 48 percent in June to leave behind the European Union after more than four decades of membership in the bloc and its precursors. Britains anti-establishment message was seen as prelude to other populist backlashes around the world, led by the election of Trump in November.

May was a reluctant backer of remain, but in the months since the vote she has done little to disappoint ardent Brexiteers. She has stressed that British voters want tighter control over immigration, and her words Tuesday suggested that will be her priority in the breakup talks  even at the expense of economic pain from losing membership in the single market and customs union.

Brexit advocates were delighted by Mays plan, while critics despaired.

Former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, a Trump ally, tweeted after the speech that May is now using the phrases and words that Ive been mocked for using for years. Real progress.

But Tim Farron, leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, told the BBC that May was careening toward a destructive Brexit that would harm the countrys self-interest. This is a theft of democracy, a presumption that the 51.9 percent of people who voted to leave meant the most extreme version of Brexit available, he said.

Farrons ally, former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, said May was effectively siding with Donald Trump and against [German Chancellor] Angela Merkel and thereby virtually guaranteeing that acrimony rather than compromise will prevail.

Mays speech came a day after the publication of an interview in Britains Times of London and Germanys Bild in which Trump dismissed the European Union as a vehicle for Germany and said that Britain was so smart in getting out.

Trump, who backed Brexit, also expressed enthusiasm for a free-trade deal between the United States and Britain. Such a deal would be possible only if Britain leaves the customs union.

May welcomed those remarks, saying Tuesday that Britain is not at the back of the queue for a trade deal with the United States, the worlds biggest economy, but front of the line.

The comment referenced President Barack Obamas intervention in British politics last spring, when he urged Britons to say no to Brexit and insisted that the U.K. would have to wait its turn before negotiating an agreement with the United States should it leave the EU.

May, who has been in office since July, has repeatedly promised to trigger the start of Britains exit talks by the end of March. Once thats done  through a mechanism known as Article 50 of the EUs Lisbon Treaty  Britain will have two years to negotiate the terms of its departure.

Europe has signaled it will take a hard line with Britain. At a time when other EU countries are flirting with a departure, allowing Britain to keep the benefits of membership while unshackling itself from the burdens could prompt other nations to speed toward the exits.

Mays Tuesday speech was cautiously welcomed across the English Channel, where leaders had previously derided Britain for wanting to have its cake and eat it, too  a charge that British politicians did not exactly deny.

Sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement on #Brexit, tweeted European Council President Donald Tusk.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed a bit more clarity about the British plans. [May] has underlined that Great Britain is seeking a positive and constructive partnership, a friendship, with a strong EU. That is good.

The prime minister delivered her speech at a gilded, neoclassical, 19th-century mansion  Lancaster House  in front of an audience that included foreign diplomats. Margaret Thatcher had used the venue 29 years ago to endorse Britains single-market membership.

May spoke in front of a white backdrop emblazoned with the words A Global Britain, and her speech emphasized the importance of the countrys continuing ties with Europe and beyond.

We are leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe, she said.

But amid generally conciliatory words, there were also barbs.

She said any effort by Europe to negotiate a punitive deal with Britain would be an act of calamitous self-harm.

If Europe fails to negotiate in good faith, she said, she could decide to change the basis of Britains economic model  words that were interpreted as a thinly veiled threat to turn the U.K. into a tax haven that would undercut EU markets.

She also suggested she was prepared to walk away from the negotiating table, an outcome known as dirty Brexit.

No deal for Britain, she said, is better than a bad deal for Britain.

  

The Washington Posts Karla Adam contributed to this report.
A former contestant on the reality show The Apprentice filed a defamation lawsuit Tuesday against President-elect Donald Trump over his response to her allegations that he groped her during a job interview in 2007.

Summer Zervos, a California restaurant owner who appeared on the show in 2006, accused Trump of aggressively kissing and grabbing her when she went to his bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel to discuss a possible job at the Trump Organization a year later.

In her suit, Zervos alleges that Trump defamed her when he denied her account of their interactions in the hotel room, accusing her and other women who made similar accusations of lying and fabricating their accounts. Zervos said she would drop her lawsuit, which was filed in New York, without seeking monetary damages if Trump would retract his claim that she lied and acknowledge his actions.

Zervos appeared at a Los Angeles news conference alongside her lawyer, Gloria Allred, who said Zervos took and passed a lie-detector test before filing her suit.

Enough is enough, Allred said. Truth matters. Women matter. Those who allege they were victims of sexual misconduct or sexual assault by Mr. Trump matter. Allred said that as the lawsuit proceeds, she would seek to depose Trump under oath and could also seek to subpoena recordings Trump made during tapings of The Apprentice.

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks responded in a statement: More of the same from Gloria Allred. There is no truth to this absurd story.

Eleven women spoke publicly before the election, accusing Trump of inappropriately touching or kissing them. They stepped forward after Trump denied ever touching a woman without her consent during a presidential debate in October.

Have you ever done those things? Trump was asked by CNNs Anderson Cooper, regarding comments Trump made during a taping of Access Hollywood in 2005, when he bragged about groping and kissing women without their prior permission. I will tell you: No, I have not, Trump responded.

During the campaign, Trump asserted that each of his accusers was lying and vowed to sue the women for making the claims.

Total fabrication, he said during a campaign rally in Gettysburg, Pa., in October. The events never happened. Never. All of these liars will be sued after the election is over.

Without evidence, he said the women were coordinating with the campaign of his rival, Hillary Clinton. He also mocked some of the women, suggesting they were not attractive enough for him to sexually harass.

Look at her, and look at her words. And you tell me what you think. I dont think so, Trump said at a rally about one of his accusers, a People Magazine reporter who said Trump shoved her against a wall and forcibly kissed her while she was at his Florida Mar-a-Lago estate on assignment in 2005.

Trump has not yet filed suit against any of the women.

The Supreme Court has ruled that presidents can be sued while in office over their private conduct or activities before their election. The ruling came after President Bill Clinton sought to have a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Arkansas state worker Paula Jones delayed until after he left office.

The Clinton case shows the potential peril of such suits for a sitting president. Clinton ultimately settled with Jones, but allegations that he had lied under oath during a deposition in the matter about his relations with intern Monica Lewinsky led to his impeachment.

Trump has already settled other lawsuits to ensure they do not linger into his presidency. In November, he agreed to pay $25 million to settle lawsuits accusing his defunct real estate seminar program Trump University of fraud. He did not admit fault.

In her suit, Zervos asserted that she had gone to the Los Angeles hotel to discuss a possible job with Trump after he had been complimentary of her performance on the television show. In the room, she alleged that Trump kissed her aggressively and groped her breast. As she attempted to reject his advances, she said Trump steered her toward the bedroom, saying, lets lay down and watch some telly telly.

Come on man, get real, she replied, according to the suit. Trump then repeated her words back to her lasciviously, drawing out the second word and saying, get reeeeal, as he began to press his genitals against her, trying to kiss her again, the suit alleges.

Immediately after leaving Trump, Zervos told her father about the encounter, according to the suit.

Zervos said she excused Trumps behavior for years, particularly because she was ultimately offered a job at the Trump Organization, but she had been compelled to step forward after hearing the presidential candidate brag to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush about behaving similarly with other women.

According to the suit, the tape convinced Zervos that Trump was a sexual predator who had preyed on her and other women. She claimed his dismissal of her as a phony and her account as a hoax had resulted in lost business for her restaurant and emotional distress.

Zervos is one of four of Trumps accusers represented by Allred, who also represents more than two dozen women who have accused comedian Bill Cosby of sexual assault.

In the suit, Zervos alleges that Trump knew his statements were defamatory, not just because he knew the truth of their interactions but also because he knew he engaged regularly in this kind of unwanted sexual touching for years, and that was, in fact, how he treated women routinely and how he lived his life.

If the case is allowed to proceed, the claim could allow Allred to explore other allegations made by women against Trump.
A note demanding money. An apparent firearm. A team of undercover detectives.

Those and the names of the three officers who fired their weapons were among the new details Albuquerque police released Tuesday in connection with the fatal shooting on Jan. 7. The police identified the officers as Sgt. Eric Brown and Detectives Russ Carter and Nava Marquez. Carter has been involved in multiple on-duty shootings over the years.

Police said that Gilbert Lovato, 38, used a note to rob a Village Inn before he confronted officers with a BB gun that resembled a real gun.

Audrey Hapke, 35, was Lovatos accomplice and getaway driver and was arrested after the shooting, police said.

Officers and witnesses told investigators they observed the offender hold a gun to the female getaway drivers head, police said in a news release. She is now identified as Audrey Hapke (Guzman) and she also told investigators the offender pointed the gun to her head and threatened her life. Officers have also stated the weapon was pointed directly at them and at fellow officers on scene.

Carter has been with Albuquerque police since 1997. He became a tactical officer in 2002, and has been honored by the department for his work in the K9 unit.

A lawsuit filed against the city alleges that Carter has fired his weapon eight times in the line of duty, not including the recent shooting.

The lawsuit was filed by the family of Jeremy Robertson, who was shot and killed by two SWAT officers in 2014.

According to that lawsuit, Carter shot and killed a dog in 2000; shot at a vehicle in 2003; fired his weapon on two occasions in 2005; fired his weapon during a SWAT standoff in Pecos in 2007; shot Jay Murphy Sr. in 2008; shot Gary Atencio in 2012; and shot at Jeremy Robertson in 2014 while he was assigned to the now-disbanded Repeat Offender Project.

Celina Espinoza, a police spokeswoman, said according to internal affairs records Carter has shot at people four times, dogs twice and a vehicle once.

Carter was charged with a felony in 2008 after he got into a bar fight while on a Department of Energy training session in Fort Smith, Ark.

Carter and other officers are representative of a culture of aggression at APD, Laura Ives, an attorney for the Robertson family, wrote in the Robertson lawsuit, which was filed in 2nd Judicial District Court.

Espinoza said Carters experience as a tactical officer working dangerous assignments is why he has a high number of shootings.

This is one our most highly trained officers who has been involved in confronting the worst of the worst offenders, she said. His job is really to help clear crimes and cases within the city.

In the recent shooting, police said that Lovato had committed an armed robbery shortly before the shooting, which happened around midnight on Jan. 7 near Carlisle and Comanche.

Lovato reportedly had been committing about one robbery a week, police said.

The department on Tuesday posted a note on its Twitter page that he allegedly used, reading: Give me all the money and no 1 (sic) will get hurt while robbing a Village Inn before he confronted officers during a traffic stop.

The department also posted a picture of a BB gun and said Lovato used the weapon to threaten officers and witnesses prior to the shooting.

Real or Fake? Offender used this to threaten officers & hostage (A BB gun), the police Tweeted.

Police said a multi-agency task force responded to the shooting and will complete a report thats submitted to the District Attorneys Office.

Espinoza said that all three officers who fired their weapons have been interviewed by authorities and have returned to work.
The man killed at a motel on University Boulevard south of Interstate 40 on Sunday morning died from at least one gunshot wound, a police spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Fred Duran of the Albuquerque Police Department said officers were dispatched to the Motel 6 at 8 a.m. in response to reports of shots being fired. He said when they arrived they found a man who had been fatally shot.

Detectives have little information about what led up to the shooting and have been working any leads they get, Duran said.

He said the man has still not been identified.

Duran would not say if the man was a guest at the motel, which is located near the intersection of I-40 and Interstate 25  the states largest highways.

Duran also would not say if there are any suspects in the case or if the public is in danger. He would not say if the man was found inside a room or outside.

This is the second homicide at that Motel 6 in less than a year. In February 2016, police said a man was stabbed to death during a random encounter with another guest, believed to be suffering from a mental illness, in the motels office.

An employee at the motel said he could not comment on the shooting, and he said no one else could comment either.

APD hasnt released the names of victims in any of the three homicides they have investigated this year.
DAVOS, Switzerland  Amid growing doubts about the future of free trade and international economic cooperation, proponents of globalization found reasons for optimism as the World Economic Forum opened Tuesday.

The specters of President-elect Donald Trumps protectionist rhetoric and the British exit from the European Union loomed over the annual event that attracts world leaders and dignitaries to this mountain resort town to discuss the state of the global economy.

But despite a populist push against globalism in the West, Secretary of State John Kerry told attendees that the 70-year-journey of expanding economic integration that began after World War II was not over.

I know some people who are looking at the world and saying, Oh my God, you know, the world is coming apart, and this and that, Kerry said. No, it isnt, folks, and it wont.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also offered encouragement, delivering a forceful critique of the protectionism endorsed by Trump and other Western populists.

It is true that economic globalization has created new problems, but this is no justification to write off economic globalization altogether, Xi said, speaking through a translator. We must remain committed to developing free trade and investment.

China was one of Trumps chief antagonists on the stump, and many at the World Economic Forum expressed fear that his administration will begin a new era of global barriers to commercial exchange. Trump, who will be inaugurated on Friday, has threatened tariffs of as much as 45 percent on goods imported from China, arguing that the nations interests must come first in U.S. foreign policy.

Without mentioning Trump by name, Xi offered an opposing viewpoint. Countries, he said, should view their own interests in their broader context and refrain from pursuing their own interests at the expense of others.

No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war, Xi said to applause.

For observers in Washington, Xis appearance in Davos suggested a claim to the kind of international economic stewardship that Trump has rejected.

If we look back five years from now, 10 years from now, you could say this was a turning point, at which China did move up in the direction of asserting the kind of global leadership role that the U.S. has had for about a century and might willfully be abdicating, said Fred Bergsten, the former director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, in an interview before Xis speech.

Speaking to international audiences, Xi typically eschews bold rhetoric, maintaining a low profile. Analysts say he and other Chinese officials are aware that explicit pretensions to worldwide leadership could inflame anxieties in the United States and elsewhere.

The Chinese have been very careful not to describe themselves as a global leader, said Bonnie Glaser, an expert on China at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, before Xis speech.

Xis address Tuesday was characteristically measured and subdued. All the same, his themes of international cooperation and global stability offered an implicit contrast with the rhetoric from Western populist leaders.

The subtext is that the United States and the West are no longer the stabilizing factors in the world order, Glaser said.

Asked about Xis speech, Trump adviser Anthony Scaramucci, a New York financier, reassured attendees that the new administration would support free trade. He argued, however, that existing agreements put the United States at an unfair disadvantage.

Revising those agreements would put globalization on a sounder basis, said Scaramucci, one of the few skeptics of free trade at the forum.

We allowed goods and services to flow freely into the United States, but we allowed our goods and services to be embargoed in other countries, Scaramucci said. All were asking for now is to create more symmetry in these free-trade agreements.

For instance, some American investors say they feel that Beijing treats foreign companies operating in China unfairly. The American Chamber of Commerce, or AmCham China, released its annual survey of business conditions on Tuesday, finding that 4 out of 5 companies feel less welcome in the country than before.

They argue that Xis government is turning more toward protectionism as its economic growth slows. The businesses top concern was inconsistent regulatory enforcement and unclear laws  often, rules adopted and interpreted to favor local companies over foreign ones.

AmCham China still steadfastly supports Chinas active and constructive participation in the global economic system, the groups chairman, William Zarit, said in a statement. However, it is becoming apparent that the benefits of globalization are being taken for granted or even forgotten, as the challenges of managing a complex, modern economy increase.

Nouriel Roubini, an economist at New York University attending the forum, noted that Beijing has prevented many Western firms from investing in China for both political and economic reasons. He cited Facebook and Twitter as examples.

Roubini was heartened by an announcement coinciding with Xis speech that Beijing would ease restrictions on foreign banks, brokerages and other industries seeking to do business in China. Roubini said that while the details were vague, the statement showed China is taking criticism seriously.

Its clear that China is open and wants to be more open to trade in goods and services, he said. Its going to be a process.



The Washington Posts Simon Denyer contributed to this report.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) didnt hesitate.

Im going, he said of Fridays inaugural ceremonies for President-elect Donald Trump.

I want to be there, Brown said. His presence would remind Trump and other Republicans of the fights ahead on banking, civil rights and other issues on which there is a deep divide with Democrats.

I will be there, as well, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., chimed in during a conference call Tuesday about the potential for Trump to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Those views, from two Democrats considered for the 2016 vice-presidential nod, have been echoed by other leading Senate liberals. Over the weekend, Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., also pledged to attend Trumps inauguration while vowing to keep up the fight against his policies in the Capitol.

So far, not a single Senate Democrat has joined nearly 60 House Democrats, almost a third of their entire caucus, who have vowed to boycott Trumps swearing-in. Those House Democrats have pledged solidarity with Democratic Rep. John Lewis (Ga.), who prompted a Twitter war with Trump over the weekend after declaring that Trump will not be a legitimate president in part because of Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

Lewiss declaration became a galvanizing call on the left, for whom the civil rights icon has always been a hero. Liberal activists vaulted Lewiss autobiography up the charts of online book merchants. They jeered Trump. They cheered for the boycott.

But none of it has translated into similar action at the other end of the Capitol.

Senate Democrats represent far broader numbers of people and have to be respectable and responsive to, in most cases, millions of their constituents who voted for Trump. And 25 of them are up for reelection in 2018. So there are 25 senators who probably think its risky, said Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., who will join Lewiss boycott.

Brown plans to be a loud voice opposing Trumps efforts to dismantle key portions of the Dodd-Frank law regulating Wall Street  but he also hails from Ohio, where Trump routed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the largest victory in the Buckeye State since 1988. To be reelected, Brown will need to win over voters who cast ballots for Trump.

The issue is trickier for Senate Democrats with clearer national ambitions. Last week, Booker sat next to Lewis as both testified against Sen. Jeff Sessionss nomination to be attorney general, citing the Alabama Republicans record on civil rights issues. Senate colleagues accused Booker of launching his 2020 presidential campaign.

Yet he wont be at Lewiss side on Friday; he will be on the Capitol terrace not far from President Barack Obama and Trump.

I respect everybodys choice in this, Booker told reporters in New Jersey. My personal feeling is this is the peaceful transition of power.

Warrens most extensive public comments came with members of the Boston press corps after an event honoring Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday. She reiterated her plan to attend the inaugural but ducked the issue whether Trump was a legitimate president.

What I agree with is that John Lewis is a man who has earned the right to have his view of Donald Trumps presidency and legitimacy, she said.

House Democrats have joined Lewis for a variety reasons. Yarmuth said Trump was legally elected and would be a legitimate president, but he could not support Trumps behavior before and after the election.

You have to show respect for the office, he said.

Its not the first time this month that Senate Democrats have disappointed their more activist House colleagues.

Just two weeks ago, during the official tally of the electoral college, House Democrats repeatedly lodged complaints regarding Russian interference, voter access to polling places and other allegations.

But no senator joined the protest; as a result, the objection could not even be considered under the complex rules of the electoral college. Its over, said Vice President Joe Biden, who presided at the event.

Lewis took the attack on Trump to a higher level during an interview taped Friday with NBCs Meet the Press.

The Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. I dont plan to attend the inauguration, Lewis told host Chuck Todd.

Lewis, an original Freedom Rider who was beaten and arrested during civil rights protests in the 1960s, has long been considered a moral compass for House Democrats, if not the entire chamber.

When Democrats faced thousands of protesters over the Affordable Care Act in 2010, they put Lewis at the front of their line, a gavel in hand, and marched from an office building into the Capitol for the final hours of debate.

Last summer, as House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., held off on debate over gun legislation, Lewis became the emotional leader of an overnight sit-in that still angers Republicans.

The response didnt slow him down.

Todd asked Lewis whether Democrats should work with Trump on any issue. Well, its going to be very hard and very difficult, he said. Almost impossible for me to work with him.
SANTA FE  Ricardo Martinez was tired of Venancio Cisneros not paying the money he owed him for drugs, so he carried out a plan to murder Cisneros in October 2014. And Ana Marie Ojeda, Cisneros 13-year-old girlfriend, also was killed just because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Thats how prosecutors described their case against Martinez, 22, as his double-homicide case got underway Tuesday. But Martinezs defense attorney says his client had nothing to do with the killings and that he only fled from Santa Fe to Colorado after being named as a suspect, to wait there while the situation in Santa Fe calmed down.

Martinez allegedly carried out the execution-style slayings of Cisneros, 18, and Ojeda on Oct. 24, 2014, on East Ramada Way in the Valle Vista subdivision south of Santa Fe. Ojeda, who at the time was reported missing by her father, was shot once in the back of her head, and Cisneros died of three shots, also to the head. Martinez is believed to have been sitting in the back seat and shot Ojeda first. Both victims were found with their seat belts on.

Martinezs trial in state District Court is expected to last three weeks with testimony from more than 100 witnesses. Assistant District Attorney Todd Bullion said in opening arguments Cisneros owed Martinez money for cocaine. This is something that was planned, premeditated and carried out, Bullion said of the killing of Cisneros.

He added: There was no reason (Martinez) would kill AnaMarie. AnaMarie didnt owe him money. He kills her because she could have been a witness.

Bullion also said that Martinezs uncle, Melicendro Martinez, acted as the getaway driver. U.S. marshals and Santa Fe County deputies arrested Martinez in a Colorado Springs apartment about three weeks later. Melicendro Martinez was arrested at the same time, for a probation violation in an unrelated 2009 Albuquerque case. Melicendro Martinez isnt charged in the murders but is expected to testify.

Bullion said Ricardo Martinez admitted to Santa Fe County Detective David Jaramillo that he fled to Colorado because of the murders. But defense attorney Mark Earnest said during his opening statement that Ricardo and Melicendro were visiting family in Colorado and said it was Melicendros idea to go there. He never said they participated in these murders, Earnest said. Ricky wanted to go until things died down around here.

Bullion also said in court that Ricardo told fellow county jail inmate Joseph Montoya while awaiting trial that he killed Cisneros because he owed him money and that Melicendro Martinez was the getaway driver. Montoya also is expected to testify, but defense attorney Earnest said Montoya was an opportunist because hes currently facing three felonies in Albuquerque and had his lawyer contact prosecutors here just to strike a deal.

Mondays proceedings included testimony from several Santa Fe County deputies. Jurors were also shown lapel camera footage and photos of the crime scene, which showed Cisneros and Ojeda slumped over in the Toyota Corolla with blood on their bodies and inside the car.
By Press Trust of India: Paris/New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) French auto major Renault expects its sales in India to grow by 8 per cent this year, with the country becoming its eighth-biggest market worldwide riding on the successful entry-level small car Kwid.

Groupe Renault, which saw a record global sales of 31,82,625 units growing by 13.3 per cent in 2016, posted sales growth of 145.6 per cent in India last year.

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"In India, Renault kept its position as best-selling European automotive brand, with sales up by 145.6 per cent. Kwid registrations totalled 1,05,745. India rose five places to become the groups eighth-biggest market worldwide," the company said in a statement.

Globally, its sales were on the rise for the fourth year running, the company added.

"In the Africa/Middle-East/India region, Groupe Renault registrations rose by 36.4 per cent, giving a market share of 6.2 per cent (up 1.7 points)," it said.

On the outlook, it said: "At the international level, the Brazilian and Russian markets are expected to become stable. China shall grow by 5 per cent and India by 8 per cent."

"Groupe Renault should continue to reap the benefit of product range renewal in Europe and the strong dynamics on international markets, with Kwid in India, Koleos and Kadjar in China, Kaptur in Russia, QM6 and SM6 in South Korea, and Alaskan plus the SUV range in Latin America," the company said.

In 2017, the global market is expected to grow by 1.5-2 per cent compared with 2016. The European market is also expected to increase by 2 per cent, with a 2 per cent growth also for France, Renault said.

"Groupe Renault, therefore, expects a sustained growth in sales volume and market share in Europe and in the international markets," it added. PTI MSS RKL ARD

--- ENDS ---
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

The University of New Mexico has told the schools College Republicans organization that it must pay a $3,400 security charge for a scheduled Jan. 27 campus appearance by Milo Yiannopoulos, a controversial speaker, provocateur and writer for right-wing Breitbart News.

Marina Herrera, president of UNM College Republicans, described the charge as a free speech fine and challenged the universitys action. She said the administration is simply attempting to censor a controversial speaker  a claim denied by a UNM spokeswoman.

Herrera said the group was informed about the cost of the event Friday evening despite planning the event for months. She said the organization doesnt have access to that kind of money.

To wait this long to inform us is either poor management or a deliberate attempt to silence speech at a public university, Herrera told the Journal in a statement. Neither possibility is acceptable and we continue to hope that we can come to a workable solution.

UNM spokeswoman Dianne Anderson said the group was given an estimated cost Jan. 10.

Anderson said the university is treating the Yiannopoulos event the same way it treats all campus events sponsored by student groups. She referred to a university policy that says a group hosting the event is responsible for security costs based on the number of police and/or security officers required and the length of event, program or rental.

On Tuesday night, Anderson couldnt immediately provide security charges for other speaking events on campus. She did say additional security could be needed at the Yiannopoulos event, based on planned protests at UNM and previous protests at other campuses.

The College Republicans have been given an invoice for $3,400 that is due three days before the event. Its unclear whether the event will be canceled if the student group fails to come up with the money.

At least one group at UNM, The Red Nation, has announced plans on its Facebook page, saying its goal is to deny Milo a platform at UNM by taking the room, the stage, and the mic.

Yiannopoulos, who according to The Associated Press is permanently banned from Twitter in connection with a harassment campaign against Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones, is speaking at colleges nationwide as part of his Dangerous Faggot Tour.

He is scheduled to speak at the UNM Student Union Building from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 27, according to a Facebook page for the event.

Yiannopoulos has written articles for Breitbart with headlines such as Theres No Hiring Bias Against Women in Tech, They Just Suck at Interviews, and Why Equality and Diversity Departments Should Only Hire Rich, Straight White Men. He also wrote that America has a Muslim problem and that Islam around the world rules through fear and terror.

Yiannopoulos has been greeted with protests on many campuses. A Yiannopoulos event was canceled Saturday at the University of California at Davis after hours of protest.

The Associated Press reported that the schools interim chancellor, Ralph J. Hexter, said that he was disappointed at the events cancellation and that a university is at its best when it listens to and critically engages opposing views, especially ones that many of us find upsetting or even offensive.

Milo Yiannopoulos, a controversial speaker, provocateur and writer for right-wing Breitbart News, is scheduled to come to the University of New Mexico on Jan. 27. The university is charging the student group hosting the event $3,400 in security costs.
PROPHET MARTIN Luther King Jr. damned the Vietnam War in his most controversial speech on April 4, 1967, exactly one year before he was assassinated. King damned the U.S. mass murder of Vietnamese people.

King said, The greatest purveyor of violence in the world today is my own government.

The New York Times, the Washington Post, many newspapers nationwide condemned his strong message of truth. Many whites, many blacks, the White House, even most of Kings inner circle of black leaders condemned his strong message of truth. He suffered much hatred, many death threats.

Why is that speech far less known, far less honored than his I Have a Dream speech? Sadly most King celebrations today castrate his message. Sadly most King celebrations do not emphasize his strong stand against the evils of capitalism and the U.S. empire, against nuclear weapons and against the Vietnam War.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prophet, not a politician, not a rock star. He refused to silence and sell out his conscience and convictions to get the popular support of millions and the approval of the powerful.

DON SCHRADER

Albuquerque
This month in Chicago, a white special-needs teenager was held captive by four black youths. The victim was bound, gagged, tortured, forced to drink toilet water, partially scalped, and subject to racially and politically motivated verbal abuse. The perpetrators streamed portions of their violent savagery on Facebook.

After the victim escaped from his assailants and was found on the streets by a police officer, a Chicago police commander initially said he was unsure whether the attack constituted a hate crime  as if that distinction might calibrate the crimes viciousness.

President Obama was likewise initially hesitant to label this cruelty as a racially motivated hate crime  which was odd given the presidents prior readiness to jump into and editorialize about racially charged cases such as those of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates and Trayvon Martin.

Yet it is hard to imagine what additional outrages the Chicago youths might have had to commit to warrant hate-crime status. After public outcry, Chicago prosecutors  along with Obama  confirmed that the attack did indeed, in their opinion, qualify as a hate crime.

Many in the media still sought to downplay that classification.

I dont think its evil, editorialized CNN anchor Don Lemon, who instead attributed the violence to the offenders problematic upbringing.

What are the lessons from all the verbal gymnastics concerning hate crimes?

Sadly, we are learning that the labeling of hate crimes has become so politicized and ill-defined that the entire concept is unworkable.

The idea of identifying hate crimes gained currency in the 1980s, when reformers wanted lighter penalties for most criminal offenses but also wished to increase punishment for criminal acts that were deemed racist, sexist or homophobic. So hate crimes emerged as new enhancements to criminal punishment, as a way to tack on stiffer penalties for affronts to liberal society at large.

The rationale for designating hate crimes relied on force multipliers in criminal sentencing  such as premeditation that can make murder a first-degree offense. But after years of confusion, how do we consistently and fairly define perceptions of bias or hate as a catalyst for criminal violence?

After all, crimes such as murder and rape are already savage and brutal by nature. Is the killer who shouts bigoted epithets more dangerous to society than the quiet sadist who first tortures his murder victim without comment?

It can be dangerous to redefine a single criminal act as a hate crime against society, given the incentives for manipulation and political distortion.

Recently there arose a spate of reported fake hate crimes in which supposed victims complained that their race or religion earned them violent responses from bigots, suggesting a post-election epidemic of intolerance. Authorities often found that the victims had concocted their stories, either to enhance their political agendas and their own sense of victimization, or simply to win attention and perhaps compensation.

Again, who or what defines a hate crime?

When fanatical Army Maj. Nidal Hasan in 2009 slaughtered non-Muslim soldiers at Fort Hood  shouting Allahu Akbar! (God is great) as he mowed down his victims  was that a religiously driven hate crime? The politically correct Pentagon thought not. Instead, it labeled Hasans murderous rampage as workplace violence.

Progressives originally envisioned hate-crime legislation as focusing mostly on a white majority that presumably had a monopoly on prejudice. But FBI hate-crime statistics show that African-Americans commit a disproportionately large share of hate crimes.

The media usually associate religious hate crimes with offenses against Muslims, and warn against endemic Islamophobia. Yet statistically, Jews, not Muslims, are the far more frequent victims of religious hate crimes.

Sometimes hate-crime status is added to a crime not on the basis of clearly evident prejudice but based on the race of the offender and victim, as the political spin that follows the crime seeks to make larger indictments against society.

In our hypersensitive and litigious society, too many agendas have warped the once-noble idea of hate-crime legislation. It has become a fossilized relic of the 1980s that was well-intended, became incoherent and politicized  and now should be scrapped.
The agency worked hard to find a way in which it could pay individuals for damages due to the incident, but unfortunately, our hands are tied.

 EPA spokeswoman Nancy Grantham

Talk about a huge dose of incompetence followed by a bait and switch. It doesnt take much effort to figure out all that so-called hard work at the Environmental Protection Agency has really been to figure out how to tie the purse strings tight  and stiff the many people damaged by the agencys Gold King Mine disaster.

But lets start at the beginning.

This saga of sorry government began Aug. 5, 2015, when an EPA team intentionally removed a dirt and rock plug from the Gold King Mine in southwest Colorado and dumped 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater laden with more than 880,000 pounds of metals into Four Corners waterways, including the Animas River.

The federal agency charged with protecting the environment and punishing polluters initially tried to minimize the damage. While the Animas River was still an orange sludgefest, the EPA was quick to say it was all an accident, that water quality returned to normal within weeks and there was no need for long-term monitoring. Forget all those heavy metals that had sunk to the riverbed.

Then the agency said it would make things right.

So for the past 16 months, New Mexicans have been submitting claims to show how the aftermath of a toxic orange stew caused loss of employment, loss of income, loss or damage to property, or other claims. Navajo President Russell Begaye had advised tribal members early on not to sign or submit an EPA claim form because it contains offending language that will waive future claims  and preclude our people from seeking full compensation for injuries suffered from the spill. After EPA officials testified on Capitol Hill about the spill in November 2015, Begaye said the Navajo Nation does not trust the EPA, and we expect them to be held fully accountable for what they have done to my people and all people who live along the San Juan and Animas rivers.

In the meantime farmers lost crops or had to haul water for irrigation and livestock. Rafting companies couldnt take visitors on river trips. Homeowners wells were affected.

San Juan County Executive Officer Kim Carpenter says, We steered the citizens to where they needed to go to talk with the EPA, and all of a sudden theres a decision that theres not going to be any remuneration for anybody. On Friday, Begaye told the Navajo Times the EPA decision is childish and shameful.

It took the EPA 16 months to tell the Associated Press it is protected by sovereign immunity and wont pay more than $1.2 billion in claims for damages. In a news release it gave the Navajo Times a different story, saying because the agency was conducting a site investigation at the Gold King Mine under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the agencys work is considered a discretionary function under this law. Therefore, the circumstances surrounding the Gold King Mine incident unfortunately do not meet the conditions necessary to pay claims.

So why is the federal Standard Form 95 for Damage, Injury or Death still on the EPA website for the mine spill?

U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, all New Mexico Democrats, say they are outraged at this last-ditch move by the federal governments lawyers to go back on the EPAs promise to the people of the state of New Mexico.

Gov. Susana Martinez also is correct in observing that if a private company had caused this massive environmental disaster, the EPA would have gone all-out to hold them accountable. But when the federal government dumps millions of gallons of toxic sludge into our rivers, they shirk their responsibility and leave it up to the states to mop up the mess they created.

The EPA announced last month it would pay $4.5 million to state, local and tribal governments for emergency response to the spill but rejected $20.4 million for past and future expenses, again saying its hands were tied by federal law. The EPA said the claims could be refiled in federal court (where the Navajo Nation and state of New Mexico have already filed lawsuits) or Congress could authorize payments.

Its unclear how switching courts or going to Congress unties the EPAs sovereign immunity/discretionary function claims, and it smacks of another attempt to beat already victimized folks down further with bureaucratic paperwork and delays.

What is clear is that EPAs bungling fouled the waters in the Four Corners region, and EPAs dissembling is fouling any belief the agency will ever do right by the people it has wronged.

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.
Lawmakers will consider a proposed expansion of the states drunken-driving law that takes aim at drivers who use other drugs, including marijuana.

The proposal targets drugged driving by setting blood concentration levels for five drugs: marijuana, cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and methamphetamine.

Bill sponsor Rep. William Rehm, R-Albuquerque, said his intent is to assist drugged-driving prosecutions.

The measure would establish a legal presumption that the driver is impaired by drug use, just as existing law makes it illegal to operate a vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher.

A retired Bernalillo County sheriffs deputy, Rehm said existing law makes it all but impossible to prosecute someone for driving under the influence of drugs.

Field sobriety testing for drunken driving is simple and requires little officer training, he said. But officers need extensive training to become drug recognition officers, who can testify in court that a driver was impaired by drug use.

As a result, there are few drug recognition officers in New Mexico, which defense attorneys require to testify about drug use and driving under the influence, he said.

Opponents focus on the bills proposed limits on tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana.

While blood alcohol content provides measurable proof of intoxication, THC is not necessarily indicative of behavioral impairment, said Emily Kaltenbach, state director of the Drug Policy Alliance of New Mexico.

The group, which advocates for drug law reforms, has opposed the bill in previous legislative sessions, she said.

The measure puts the states 33,000 active medical cannabis patients at risk of arrest and criminal prosecution by setting THC limits that are unsupported by scientific research, Kaltenbach said.

The measure would make it illegal to drive with a THC level higher than 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood, based on a blood test done within three hours of operating a vehicle.

Colorado now uses the same 5-nanogram level to prosecute drivers for DUI, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation website.

Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla Park, said he plans to oppose Rehms bill.

We need to be very careful that were not going to punish people who are not impaired when they are driving, McCamley said. THC is unreliable as a marker for impaired driving, he said.

If I use cannabis, I feel the effects for hours, but the active ingredient stays in my system for weeks, even though it is not affecting my senses at all, he said.
The singing of the National Anthem and an invocation, both in the Native American Dine language; a prayer by traditional curanderas wielding chalices billowing clouds of fragrant copal; and a healing circle all helped to kick off the first-ever National Day of Racial Healing in Albuquerque.

The ceremony, held Tuesday in the courtyard of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, was just one of many held in communities around the country and sponsored by 130 national organizations in collaboration with the charitable W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which is spearheading the effort.

We are inviting different organizations and people to be part of this racial healing process, to share stories and support each other, said Joe Martinez, consumer outreach coordinator with Health Action New Mexico. The goal is to have different communities come together as a single community that supports the success of all residents, and to replace policies and structures of discrimination that have existed for many years.

Synthia Jaramillo, chief operating officer for the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, said the organization was happy to host and support the event because it encourages inclusivity, and as an organization thats very important to us, particularly because a majority of chamber members are minorities. It also provided an opportunity to collaborate with other organizations across sectors, she said.

A national day devoted to racial healing is important now more so than ever, Jaramillo said. This country is represented by immigrants and different cultures. Were all different and we should celebrate our diversity. Thats the bottom line.

In a written statement, Gail Christopher, a senior advisor and vice president for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, said that communities, organizations and individuals are being asked to acknowledge that there are still deep racial divisions in America that must be overcome. A National Day of Racial Healing is a way to come together to heal and commit to truth telling, engaging representatives from all racial, ethnic, religious and identity groups in genuine efforts to increase understanding, communication, caring and respect for one another.

The Kellogg Foundation has trained people around the country as truth, racial healing and transformation practitioners, said Martinez, who is among a half dozen people from the Albuquerque area who underwent that training. They will now train others during sessions at the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber. People who become such practitioners will then be able to travel throughout the state in support of efforts to create more inclusive communities and replace policies and structures that were previously discriminatory, said Martinez.

For information on becoming a certified practitioner, contact Tessah Latson at the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, 842-9003. Workshops will be scheduled for the spring.

Link to more photos: National Day of Racial Healing
HOUSTON  Former President George H.W. Bush was admitted Wednesday to the intensive care unit of a Houston hospital with pneumonia, and his wife, Barbara, was hospitalized as a precaution after suffering fatigue and coughing, a spokesman said.

The 92-year-old former president, who had been hospitalized since Saturday, underwent a procedure to protect and clear his airway that required sedation, family spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement.

Bush was stable and resting comfortably at Houston Methodist Hospital, where he was to stay for observation, the statement said.

The 41st president was placed in the ICU to address an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia, McGrath said. He later told The Associated Press that doctors were happy with how the procedure went. Bush was first admitted to the hospital for shortness of breath.

I dont think theres a whole lot of money to be gained betting against George Bush, McGrath said. Were just kind of in a wait-and-see mode.

McGrath said Barbara Bush, who is 91, had not been feeling well for a couple of weeks, and it finally just got to the point this morning where she said she wanted to take it out of committee and have the experts check it out. He described the move as precautionary.

Physicians initially believed the former president would be released later this week following several days of treatment, but his stay has been extended, McGrath said. There is no timetable for his release.

Doctors want to see how the former first lady responds to treatment before allowing her to return home, he said.

The Bushes, who were married Jan. 6, 1945, have had the longest marriage of any presidential couple in American history. At the time of their wedding, he was a young naval aviator. She had been a student at Smith College.

After World War II, the pair moved to the Texas oil patch to seek their fortune and raise a family. It was there that George Bush began his political career, representing Houston for two terms in Congress in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Bush, who served as president from 1989 to 1993, has a form of Parkinsons disease and uses a motorized scooter or a wheelchair for mobility. He was hospitalized in 2015 in Maine after falling at his summer home and breaking a bone in his neck. He was also hospitalized in Houston the previous December for about a week for shortness of breath. He spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues.

Despite his loss of mobility, Bush celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump in Kennebunkport, Maine. Last summer, Bush led a group of 40 wounded warriors on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration.

Bushs office announced earlier this month that the couple would not attend Donald Trumps inauguration because of the former presidents age and health.

My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under. Same for Barbara. So I guess were stuck in Texas, Bush wrote in a letter to Trump.

His son George W. Bush, the 43rd president, still expects to attend the inauguration and does not plan to travel to Houston, spokesman Freddy Ford said.

George Herbert Walker Bush, born June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts, also served as a congressman, CIA director and Ronald Reagans vice president.

George W. Bush was elected president in 2000 and served two terms. Another son, Jeb, served as Florida governor and made an unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination in 2016. Only one other U.S. president, John Adams, had a son who also became president.
WASHINGTON  Democrats attacked Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trumps education nominee, calling her unfit for the job during a contentious confirmation hearing Tuesday evening, while Republicans defended her as a bold reformer who would disrupt the status quo in U.S. education.

DeVos told skeptical senators that she looked forward to working with them to improve the nations schools. But she sidestepped several issues important to Democrats and their allies, declining to take a position on whether guns belong in schools or to commit to upholding President Barack Obama administrations aggressive approach to handling sexual assault on college campuses, and she called the ideas of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., about free college interesting.

A Michigan billionaire, DeVos has lobbied for decades to expand charter schools and taxpayer-funded vouchers for private and religious schools, but she has no professional experience in public schools, never attended public schools and did not send her own children to public schools. She also has not held public office.

DeVos inexperience in the realm of public education appeared at times to be a liability. During rapid-fire questioning by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., she seemed to demonstrate a lack of understanding of one of educations major federal civil rights laws, which requires states that take federal funding to provide children with disabilities the services they need to benefit from a public education.

DeVos said states should decide whether schools should be required to meet those special-education requirements.

So some states might be good to kids with disabilities, and other states might not be so good, and then what, people can just move around the country if they dont like how their kids are being treated? Kaine said.

When Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.,  who has a son with a disability  challenged DeVos to explain whether she understood that the law was a federal civil rights law, DeVos said she may have confused it.

DeVos also declined to say whether she thinks that all schools receiving taxpayer funding  public, public charter, or private  should be held accountable to the same performance standards. She also declined to say whether such schools should be required to report suspensions and expulsions, and incidents of bullying and harassment, to the federal government.

Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000, introduced DeVos on Tuesday and vouched for her leadership, arguing that her status as an outsider is an asset.

She doesnt come from within the education establishment. But honestly, I believe that today thats one of the most important qualifications you could have for this job, the former senator from Connecticut said. We need a change agent.

DeVos is an unusually polarizing nominee for education secretary; most of her recent predecessors have sailed through the confirmation process, winning Senate approval on voice votes. The strong feelings about DeVos were evident in the line of more than 100 people waiting to enter the Capitol Hill hearing room Tuesday evening, including supportive students in plaid uniforms and bright yellow scarves embroidered with National School Choice Week, and a large contingent of parents and teens from Detroit who came by bus to oppose Devoss nomination.

GOP senators cheered DeVos nomination, saying they hope she will champion alternatives to the nations public schools and scale back the federal footprint in K-12 education.

Betsy DeVos, in my opinion, is on our childrens side, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said in his opening remarks Tuesday. Shes devoted her life to helping mainly low-income children have access to better schools.

Alexander dismissed DeVos critics as out of step with public opinion, arguing that Democrats, including President Obama, have embraced charter schools and that vouchers are patterned on the most successful social policy this Congress has ever enacted  the GI Bill, which provides tuition assistance for veterans to attend the college of their choice.

Why is such a great idea for colleges deemed to be such a dangerous idea for K-12 schools? Alexander said.

He restricted senators to one five-minute round of questions, saying he was adhering to committee precedent and the golden rule, treating Trumps pick as the committee treated Obamas nominees. Democrats were dismayed, arguing that the committee has never before cut off questions, and that they needed more time to examine DeVos record.

I think were selling our kids short by not being able to ask follow-up questions, said Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. Franken had asked DeVos for her views on the debate  common in education circles  about whether standardized tests should measure the progress students make during a year, or their grade-level proficiency. He was unimpressed with what he said was her lack of familiarity with that debate.

Im surprised you dont know this issue, Franken said.

Teachers unions and civil rights groups have argued that DeVos support for a free-market approach to education has undermined public schools, which they see as a critical civic institution. DeVos opponents also point to the fact that she has no record on higher education or protecting childrens civil rights, two areas critical to the work of the department she aims to lead.

Asked about her relatives contributions to anti-LGBT groups, DeVos said she believes in equality: I believe in the innate value of every single human being and that all students, no matter their age, should be able to attend a school and feel safe and be free of discrimination, she said.

But she declined, under questioning from Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the ranking Democrat, to say whether she plans to rein in the Office for Civil Rights, which investigates allegations of discrimination in schools.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., asked questions about DeVos qualifications to run the trillion-dollar federal student loan program, with DeVos acknowledging that she has no experience running or managing anything near the size and complexity of the program. DeVos also acknowledged that she had never taken out a federal student loan for herself or her children.

DeVos declined to take a stand on whether guns belong in schools, saying that the decision should be left to local and state officials. She pointed to a rural Wyoming school that is surrounded by a fence to keep bears out: I would imagine theres probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies.

Asked by gun control advocate Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.,  whose constituents include parents of children who were killed in the mass shooting at Newtowns Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012  whether she would support Trump if he moves forward with his proposal to ban gun-free school zones, she said she would support what the president-elect does.

The hearing went forward Tuesday evening over the objections of Democrats, who are concerned that the Office of Government Ethics, which is responsible for vetting presidential nominees for potential conflicts of interest, has not finished its review of DeVos vast wealth and financial investments.

Alexander has said that the committee wont vote until the ethics offices work is complete. DeVos promised to resolve any conflicts of interest the office identifies. I will not be conflicted, period, she said. I commit that to you all.

She said that if confirmed, she will be a strong advocate for great public schools. But when public schools are troubled, or unsafe, or not a good fit for a child, she said, parents should have a right to enroll their child in a high-quality alternative.

I share President-elect Trumps view that its time to shift the debate from what the system thinks is best for kids to what moms and dads want, expect and deserve, she said.

On the campaign trail, Trump proposed a new $20 billion grant program to encourage states to expand such efforts, but he offered few details about how that might work, and there is a tension between the incoming administrations interest in expanding vouchers and charter schools and conservatives interest in leaving decisions about education to states and school districts.

DeVos said Tuesday that she would not coerce states to expand vouchers or charters. But in an exchange with Murray, she also refused to say that she would not work to privatize schools.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., an advocate for vouchers and charters, called DeVos a champion for low-income children who dont have access to great schools.

Mrs. DeVos is not opposed to accountability, he said, refuting one of the Democrats charges against her. What she is opposed to is leaving children trapped in schools that we know are failing, failing the very students that will have no hope if they do not receive a high-quality education.



The Washington Posts Ed OKeefe contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  A majority of the Supreme Court seemed highly skeptical Wednesday that the federal government can refuse to register all trademarks that may be disparaging, casting this as the government improperly taking sides in free speech disputes.

Justice Elena Kagan said that a government program that allowed only positive speech and denied negative speech would be a fairly classic case of viewpoint discrimination, in which the government cannot engage.

The court was considering the case of an Asian American band called the Slants, whose founder was denied trademark registration for the groups name.

The trademark office in 2011 said registering the trademark would violate a part of the 1946 Lanham Trademark Act that prohibits registration of a trademark that may disparage . . . persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt, or disrepute.

The office said the name was likely to disparage a significant number of Asian Americans. But founder Simon Tam said the point of the bands name is just the opposite: an attempt to reclaim a slur and use it as a badge of pride.

Tam lost in the first legal rounds. But then a majority of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said the law violates the First Amendments guarantee of free speech. The government may not penalize private speech merely because it disapproves of the message it conveys, a majority of the court found.

The outcome of the Supreme Court case is to likely affect the legal case of the Washington Redskins, whose trademark registration was revoked in 2014 under the same disparagement clause.

Although the comments suggested the Slants might win, the justices also seemed concerned about going too far and forcing the government to register all trademarks, with no discretion.

The hour-long oral argument was a lively affair, with justices showing how difficult it was to reconcile the law with the First Amendment and then playing devils advocate about their own assertions.

With Assistant Solicitor General Malcolm Stewart in the well, Justice Anthony Kennedy wondered why a negative message could not be registered as a trademark when negative or even offensive speech is eligible for copyright protection.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ventured that a band called Slants Are Superior would receive trademark registration because it was not disparaging, while the Slants would be denied. She wondered why Tams intent did not matter.

You cant say slants because the [Patent and Trademark Office] thinks thats a bad word, Ginsburg said. Does it not count at all that everyone knows that the Slants is using this term not at all to disparage, but simply to describe?

Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. described the governments argument as circular.

Justice Stephen Breyer wondered how rejecting negative trademarks advanced the goals of the government program, which is to aid consumers in identifying specific commercial interests.

At one point, Stewart compared the program to a public university dedicating a room as a place students could express their views, but without using racial epithets or speaking ill of other students.

So the government is the omnipresent schoolteacher? retorted Justice Anthony Kennedy.

The justices did not seem satisfied with Stewarts argument that the band can be called whatever Tam wanted and that its music could receive a copyright, but that the First Amendment does not force the government to register trademarks that are offensive.

Even the vilest racial epithets, insulting caricatures of venerated religious figures would have to be approved by the government trademark office under the arguments the band advanced, Stewart said.

In the second half of the argument, the justices turned around even their own assertions to test the Slants attorney John Connell. But they appeared to be left cold by Connells absolutist arguments.

He argued that the government had almost no leeway when presented with almost any proposed trademark name.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor said he went too far.

No one is stopping your client from calling themselves the Slants, said Sotomayor, adding, You are asking the government to endorse your name.

Kagan, who had toughly questioned Stewart, said Connell did not seem to differentiate between a government program such as trademark registration and prohibited government restraints on private speech.

Some aspects seem like government speech as well, she said, referring to the trademark process, because the trademark is printed in the federal register and sent to foreign countries.

The justices were also concerned that Connell seemed not to believe the trademark office could deny registrations that denigrated an individual or a competitors product.

Sotomayor wondered about a hypothetical trademark: Trump is a thief.

Even if they go to court and prove that thats a libel or a slander, that trademark would still exist and would be capable of use because otherwise canceling it would be an abridgment of the First Amendment? Sotomayor asked.

I believe thats correct, Connell answered.

That makes no sense, Sotomayor said.

The comments seemed to indicate that the court was not ready to discard the entire trademark examination process.

The Redskins filed an amicus brief supporting the Slants.

The teams trademark registration was canceled in 2014 after decades of use. The team asked a district judge in Virginia to overturn the cancellation and was refused. The case is now in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond, Virginia, pending the Supreme Courts decision in the Slants case.

Registration of a trademark provides a nationwide defense against others who would try to use it.
WASHINGTON  South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley departed sharply and sometimes awkwardly from President-elect Donald Trump on a range of foreign policy issues Wednesday and told senators that as United Nations ambassador she would not hesitate to disagree with her boss.

The Republican rising star who had been critical of Trump as a candidate struggled at times to distance herself from some of Trumps most controversial positions without openly contradicting him.

During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Haley voiced heavy skepticism about Russia and optimism about NATO, both deviations from some of Trumps statements. She unequivocally shot down the idea of a Muslim registry or ban, which Trump has never fully disavowed.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., put her on the spot, noting that on some issues Trump has outlined a world view that is the exact opposite of what you are articulating it to be.

Trump has already modified some positions, and more changes are likely once Trump is in office, she said.

Not all of it will change after Friday, but I will control the part of it I can, at the United Nations, she said.

Later, an exchange with Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., upped the tension in the room, as Haley suggested he direct his queries about Trumps comments to the president-elect.

But hes not in front of me and you are, replied Coons.

Wednesdays hearing, which came after a string of others in which Trumps nominees were at odds with him over some of his signature stances, highlighted the potential for deep discord in the new administration.

For her part, Haley framed the disagreements as a positive development.

Thats how an administration works. You surround yourself with people who dont just say yes to what you think, she said.

Haley was supposed to be one of Trumps least-contentious choices for a top government job despite little direct experience handling the global issues and negotiations she would face as the ambassador to the United Nations.

Haley entered her confirmation hearing with the likelihood of at least some Democratic support. But the stakes for Haley rose after the problematic audition last week for the man who would be her boss  secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson.

She pledged to forcefully advance American interests at the U.N. after what she called a retreat from global leadership under the Obama administration.

Haley questioned the priorities and effectiveness of the world body, which Trump has called a toothless debating society, but said she intends to fix what doesnt work.

I have no problem calling people out, Haley said.

The United Nations is often at odds with American national interests and American taxpayers, Haley said, adding that she would use the leverage of potential cuts in U.S. funding to demand reform.

She expressed skepticism about working with Russia. She also said she has not had a detailed conversation with Trump about the U.S. relationship with Moscow.

Russia is trying to show their muscle right now. Its what they do, Haley said. I dont think that we can trust them, she added. We have to continue to be very strong back and show them what this new administration is going to be.

She said she agrees that Russia invaded and seized Ukrainian territory in 2014 and that U.S. and international sanctions were an appropriate response. She said she would consider additional sanctions, something Trump has suggested he may oppose.

Haley said she believed Russias bombing in Aleppo, Syria, constituted a war crime. Tillerson declined to call Russia President Vladimir Putin a war criminal during his hearing last week.

On Iran, the South Carolina governor said that rather than backing out of the nuclear deal that the Obama administration helped broker, the United States ought to monitor the arrangement. Trump has called the deal dumb and suggested that he could pull out of it.

I think what would be more beneficial at this point is that we look at all the details of the Iran deal, Haley said. We see if they are actually in compliance. If we find that there are violations, then we act on those violations.

Haley harshly criticized the Obama administration for allowing the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israel and pledged never to let it happen again if confirmed as the next U.N. ambassador.

I will not go to New York and abstain when the U.N. seeks to create an international environment that encourages boycotts of Israel, Haley said.

She also questioned the priorities and effectiveness of the United Nations in other areas but said she looks forward to representing the United States in the international forum. Her skepticism about the United Nations value echoes Trumps and aides who have said the New York-based body is biased, bloated and ineffectual.

We contribute 22 percent of the U.N.s budget, far more than any other country. We are a generous nation, Haley said. But we must ask ourselves what good is being accomplished by this disproportionate contribution. Are we getting what we pay for?

Haley is best known nationally for her handling of the 2015 racially motivated killings of black worshipers at a historic Charleston church, for which she got generally high marks. She spoke at memorials and ordered the Confederate flag removed from the state Capitol grounds.

  

Video: Gov. Nikki Haley, R-S.C., was nominated to be President-elect Donald Trumps ambassador to the United Nations. Heres what you need to know about the rising Republican star. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

URL: http://wapo.st/2gg5A1y

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By India Today Web Desk: In less than two days, Richard Verma will step down as the US ambassador to India. In a special episode of To The Point and his only farewell interview to television, the departing ambassador spoke to Karan Thapar of India Today. Verma shared his two-years' experience in India, his successes as well as the unfinished tasks, the journey that lay ahead, the challenges and how he feels the state of relationship between the US and India is as he steps down from ambassador's post.

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Verma stressed particularly on two big breakthroughs during his tenure that brought the two countries together - Clean energy and climate change deal and the improvement of India-US economic and trade relationship. The Paris climate agreement, said Verma, stood out as one of the signature global agreements India and the US were able to achieve together.

"If you were to ask President Obama today, how did we achieve Paris deal, he would say it is because of the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi bringing on a number of countries. His work together, closely with Prime Minister Modi..that was a breakthrough. No one thought this was possible to have the US and India to come together the way they did. Also, in this area, was our breakthrough in civil nuclear cooperation. It was a breakthrough that got past the liability issue," said Verma.

TOUGH LINE WITH PAKISTAN ON TERROR

"The threat and the scourge of terror is one of our chief security threat of the day, confronting the United States, India and the people of Pakistan and the broader region. No one nation can stop it on its own. It's a collective response and takes law enforcement, intel, military, economic and social tools. We are working on all of that front. On specific regional issues, we have taken a very tough line with Pakistan over the need to shut down safe havens, hold the perpetrators accountable. We have been very tough and new restrictions put on the Haqqani network, LeT and JeM. We have worked with our Indian colleagues in United Nations to put additional sanctions on terrorist leaders," said Verma.

INCREDIBLE HONOUR

"I never thought it was awkward. It's been an enormous sense of pride for me, particularly because I was able to travel back to Jalandhar in Punjab where my mother and grandmother were raised, or to DAV college where my father went to school. It wasn't that long ago that our family was here in this country, surviving every day like everyone else, uncertain of what the future might hold, but I also the impact they had on their community. I went to the government girls school where my grandmother taught at across from a slum area in Jalandhar. I went to the flat where my grandmother lived, where I went and stayed with her. We had no running water inside. We had one TV on the block. No refrigerator or a stove, other than an open fire pit in the kitchen. Those are my memories, and to come back 50 years later in this capacity, to represent the United States, represent the president, I know what a long shot that is," he said.

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CLASSIC IMMIGRANT STORY

"Mine is a classic immigrant story. I'm so proud of that. I also know I didn't get here on my own. I asked my dad, why did you leave India in 1963, you didn't have to go. I left because of you. I wanted you to have more opportunities and better future. They worked so hard there and here in India. For me to be able to come back is an incredible honour," said Verma.

WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE: These years have seen the best of Indo-US relations: Outgoing US Ambassador Richard Verma

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--- ENDS ---
CORTEZ, Colo.  For the first time in more than 60 years, the Galloping Goose No. 5 will make a winter-time excursion.

Managers of the restored rail bus have partnered with the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for a Durango to Cascade Canyon run Feb. 18 and Feb. 19.

The rare excursion is part of the railroads winter photography weekend special, reported The Journal (http://bit.ly/2jGUaTc).

There will be stops and photo runbys for passengers, said motorman Joe Becker, of the Galloping Goose Historical Society in Dolores. The trip features fantastic winter scenery of the San Juan Mountains.

The on-board wood stove will warm passengers in the back, and a heater will be added for passengers in front.

To make the trip more authentic, the Galloping Goose Historical Society is borrowing a snow plow from Goose No. 6, which is displayed at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden.

Becker said a replica will be made with the help of local welder Ken Vance and attached to Goose No. 5 for the Durango winter excursion.

He is researching stories about the Goose running in winter to share with passengers, including one from the 1930s where passengers had to jump off into snowdrifts at Trout Lake.

For the Durango runs we will follow a steam train, he said. The Goose used to run through the winter, and the track was regularly plowed.

Tickets for Feb. 18 are $119 and include photo runbys and a tour of the Tacoma Power Plant. Tickets for Feb. 19 are $189 and include six photo runbys, breakfast pastries, lunch and beverages.

Tickets are going fast. To purchase them, click on Events at durangotrain.com or call 877-872-4607. If both days sell out, a Feb. 17 excursion might be added.

Goose No. 5 is the only Rio Grande Southern motorcar that regularly runs excursions through the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.

Special thanks to Weeminuche Construction for donating their time and equipment to haul the Goose to the Durango and Chama trips, Becker said.

___

Information from: Cortez Journal, http://www.cortezjournal.com/
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  A great horned owl, injured when it flew into a car, will move to a larger outdoor cage for the next stage of its rehabilitation. A merlin falcon, no longer able to fly because of a wing fracture, will join the Air Force Academys collection of birds of prey. And a tiny northern saw-whet owl, blind in one eye after crashing into a window, will begin training to be an educational bird.

At the Pueblo Raptor Centers intensive care unit, injured and orphaned birds of prey that would be out of luck in the wild get another shot at life, reported The Gazette (http://bit.ly/2jvXfYu).

The center, located off North Pueblo Boulevard, is a temporary home for birds in recovery and permanent residence for many that are unable to be fully rehabilitated.

The ICU sees roughly 250 birds a year  about half of which are released back into the wild after spending a few months in recovery, said Diana Miller, director of the center.

They get hit by cars, they get electrocuted on power lines, they get hung up on barbed wire, Miller said. Theres a million things that can go wrong. Its not an easy life when youre out and about.

Birds spending this winter at the center include a range of species, from an 11-pound golden eagle with a wingspan measuring 7 feet to a miniature flammulated owl weighing in at just a few ounces, with a wingspan of about 14 inches.

All tenants are carnivores  the birds consume upward of 12,000 rats, 3,000 mice and hundreds of rabbits a year  except for Jack the Raven, who often dines on mealworms with a side of Froot Loops or grapes. The organization also cares for corvids, a family of birds that includes species such as crows and magpies.

Some animals spend just a few months at the center, while others spend decades. Aquila the golden eagle, the longest permanent resident, arrived in 1984, just three years after the facility opened as part of the Pueblo Nature and Raptor Center.

Several of the tenants spending the winter at the center are fully rehabilitated but were unable to recover in time for their annual migration.

A red-tailed hawk that didnt bounce back in time to fly south when the cold weather arrived was brought to the center in the spring by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer Zach Holder. The hawk, which he originally found at an archery range in Canon City with an arrow lodged in its wing, now soars back and forth in a 120-foot-long flight enclosure, eager to return to the wild.

People love to see success stories, said Holder, a district wildlife manager.

When a bird cannot be rehabilitated, the center can ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for permission to add the animal to its permanent collection. Permission from the agency is required under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which was passed nearly a hundred years ago to protect native bird species.

But raptors that are too aggressive, physically suffering or likely to be unhappy spending the rest of their days in captivity are often put down, Miller said.

We have to think about quality of life, she said. We want to make sure were choosing a bird that has a good personality and works well with humans.

Animals that meet the right criteria are trained on the glove, a reference to the thick leather gloves that volunteers must wear to protect themselves from the animals powerful talons, and learn how to behave for audiences of visitors and schoolchildren.

The training process requires patience and grit  the gloves arent always heavy enough to prevent pinches and punctures from nervous birds  but is ultimately rewarding, said Kelley Stevenson, one of the centers roughly 30 volunteers.

You get a little bit of a bond with them. To get that trust, its just amazing, Stevenson said. Even as a volunteer, its a dream job.

Diana is the only full-time employee at the center, which sees about 20,000 visitors a year, including roughly 8,000 school children on field trips. Volunteers and a part-time administrative assistant help with the day-to-day responsibilities of cleaning cages, feeding and watering the birds and breeding many of the rodents served daily.

The center also holds weekly Raptor Talks to educate visitors about its permanent residents, who are often presented at fundraisers and other events. Occasionally, event attendees can enter a raffle to help release a bird of prey back into the wild  one of Millers favorite parts of the job.

I dont know how many birds Ive watched fly away, Miller said. It never gets old.

The center is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The Resident raptors next big appearance is scheduled for the Pueblo Eagle Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 4 at Lake Pueblo State Park.

___

Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazette.com
SANTA FE  U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico says President-elect Donald Trumps transition team has not asked the top officials of the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the countrys national laboratories, to stay on until Trump names his own team.

This will be the first time in NNSAs 16-year history, through four different administrations, in which there will not be any continuity in leadership during a presidential transition, Heinrich said in a letter he sent to Trump. He added that we simply cannot afford to allow national security positions to effectively run on auto-pilot. The responsibilities are too important.

Political appointees in the federal government are typically asked to submit resignations when a new president is elected, but incumbents can be asked to remain on the job until the new president chooses to keep them or names replacements.

NNSAs two top jobs are now held by administrator Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz and principal deputy administrator Madelyn Creedon. Heinrich, in his letter to Trump, said that as of Tuesday, Klotz and Creedon had not been asked to continue serving after Trump becomes president on Friday. In New Mexico, the Los Alamos and Sandia national labs are part of NNSA.

I urge you to immediately notify and request high-ranking officials who are currently serving their country to continue serving for a limited amount of time until you nominate their successors, Heinrich wrote to Trump.  Unless directed otherwise by your transition team, our country will lack high-ranking officials in charge of critical responsibilities such as overseeing our nations nuclear stockpile and managing the strongest military in the world. He also wrote that at the
Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has just departed war-torn Damascus following a trip her aides described as a fact finding mission to work toward ending the nearly six year conflict in Syria.

Congressional travel to the devastated country is exceedingly rare, especially as fighting continues in direct violation of a recent ceasefire agreement brokered by Turkey and Russia. This week, Syrian government forces backed by Lebanese militants attempted to recapture a rebel-controlled area near Damascus that includes a pumping station that supplies most of the citys water.

Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran who drew speculation about an appointment in the Trump administration after she met privately with the president-elect in November, has frequently bucked her party and Washingtons foreign policy establishment in debates over the Syrian conflict.

For years, she has opposed a U.S. policy of regime change and says the country will become more unstable and dangerous if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is ousted.

In describing the purpose of the trip, Gabbard spokeswoman Emily Latimer said she felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees and government and community leaders.

Earlier this month, she introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act, which would prohibit the U.S. government from providing funding and weapons to Sunni militants groups working to overthrow the Assad regime, such as the Levant Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and al Qaida.

In interviews, she has called for the U.S. to abandon its goal of removing Assad and focus on eliminating the Islamic State and al Qaida.

Gabbard has long been committed to peace and ending counterproductive, interventionist wars, her spokeswoman told Foreign Policy.

When asked if Gabbard met with Assad, the strongman many blame for a conflict that has killed 400,000 and displaced millions, Latimer declined to comment, citing security and logistical concerns.

To her critics, Gabbard is an apologist to a regime that has committed countless war crimes and destabilized the greater Middle East. To her supporters, shes a lonely voice of sanity against a growing tide of bipartisan interventionism that risks bogging down the United States in another conflict in the Middle East.

She has repeatedly compared Assad to Moammar Gadhafi and Saddam Hussein, brutal dictators who fell prey to Western intervention in conflicts that later became unpopular.

I dont think Assad should be removed, Gabbard told CNN. If Assad is removed and overthrown, ISIS, al Qaida, Al Nusra, these Islamic extremist groups will walk straight in and take over all of Syria . . . they will be even stronger.

President Barack Obama and congressional leaders have maintained that any resolution to the conflict in Syria must result in Assads departure. But Gabbards views have found support from Trump, who has long maintained that the Syrian opposition has been infiltrated by Islamic extremists and can not be trusted.

Stephen Bannon, Trumps top strategist, is reportedly fond of Gabbard for her views on extremism and ability to channel leftist populist sentiment.

After Gabbard met with Trump in November she issued a statement saying the president-elect asked me to meet with him about our current policies regarding Syria, our fight against terrorist groups like al-Qaida and ISIS.

Where I disagree with President-elect Trump on issues, I will not hesitate to express that disagreement, she added. However, I believe we can disagree, even strongly, but still come together on issues that matter to the American people and affect their daily lives.
The light shines bright again for the New Mexico film industry.

According to the new MovieMaker list, Santa Fe and Albuquerque are some of best places to live and work as a moviemaker.

The Duke City comes in three slots down to No. 8 from its 2016 ranking in the big cities category.

Meanwhile, the City Different moved up one notch to No. 2 in the small cities and towns.

MovieMaker credits the generous 25 percent to 30 percent refundable tax credit with no minimum spend in helping make New Mexico a Southwest stronghold.

Albuquerque has been on the list since 2007, even topping it in 2010. In 2013, it fell to No. 11.

Recent film shoots included Soldado, Horse Soldiers starring Chris Hemsworth, and the British-produced Furthest Witness. Television projects include Better Call Saul.

The versatility of the landscape, the endless textured locations, the gorgeous light  you can shoot year-round and save a lot of money, said Hannah Macpherson, creator of the AwesomenessTV series T@gged and the 2016 feature Sickhouse, of Albuquerque in the article.

This talent pool is fed by New Mexicos Film Crew Advancement Program, training crews on the job and encouraging their advancement.

And the Albuquerque Film Office was a finalist for the Location Managers Guild Internationals Best Film Commission honor in 2016.

The magazine also noted the addition of Indigenous Comic Con, which features indigenous creators of all art forms.

That event adds more diversity to a lineup that already includes the Pueblo Film Fest, the New Mexico Italian Film & Culture Festival and the Southwest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The Albuquerque Film and Music Experience counts Robert Redford on its board. And nontraditional festival Movies and Meaning aims for a less violent world through storytelling, the article stated.

Rising to the runner-up position is Santa Fe in the small cities and towns.

Its great for Santa Fe and Albuquerque to be ranked so high, said Eric Witt, executive director of the Santa Fe Film Office. To have two New Mexico locations in different categories getting national attention, it validates the strength of the film industry.

Witt said with Las Cruces making strides with its own film program and he hopes to see it on the list in the not too distant future.

Were here to show how great it is to make a film in New Mexico, he said. All of us are very complementary. Each city brings in a different type of production.

The rankings are based on places to work and live, according to MovieMaker.

This is a testament to the quality of life in New Mexico, Witt said. The level of the support services that we have helps us out greatly. From the crew to the studios, we have a strong foundation.

The article also credits Santa Fe for the production and post-production resources that befit a much bigger city, from MBS Equipment at Santa Fe Studios to Garson Studios at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, housing the largest permanent green screen in the state.

It also mentions the George R.R. Martin-owned Jean Cocteau Cinema, which adds another element to film-watching.

Nick Maniatis, director of the New Mexico Film Office, said hes not surprised of the two cities rankings.

The magazine mentions our crew, our infrastructure, vibrant culture, lifestyle and landscapes, Maniatis said. We also shouldnt overlook the fantastic support of our governor and Legislature, which keeps our program strong.

Top cities to film in

Big cities

(tie) New York and Vancouver, British Columbia

Los Angeles

Atlanta

Chicago

Austin, Texas

Toronto, Ontario

Albuquerque

Boston

Memphis

Montreal, Quebec

Portland, Ore.

Dallas

Houston

San Diego

Small cities and towns

Savannah, Ga.

Santa Fe

Providence, R.I.

New Orleans, La.

Richmond, Va.
WASHINGTON  While Democratic senators tried to put EPA nominee Scott Pruitt on the defensive at his Wednesday hearing before the Environment and Public Works Committee, they found themselves being attacked by Republicans and other Pruitt defenders.

Democrats tried to grill Pruitt over donations made to the Oklahoma attorney generals campaigns by energy companies  firms that he would be in charge of regulating as Environmental Protection Agency director. But Republican members of the committee turned that line of questioning against the Democrats, saying they were trying to undermine a good man  and the good people of a major American industry.

A lot of colleagues on the other side of the aisle spend a lot of time vilifying the oil and gas industry [as] somehow bad actors, polluters, said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. According to the American Petroleum Institute, 364,000 Oklahomans work in the oil or gas industry or related sectors. Are these people bad actors? Are they polluters? Are they evil people?

No, Senator, Pruitt said. They want to comply with the law.

Later, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said that Democrats had for years been unfair to Republicans when they list political contributions and suggest that they make an individual not worthwhile. Specifically, he chided Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., for displaying a chart of energy interests that had donated to Pruitt and allied political organizations.

Hillary Clinton raised significantly more from energy industry employees than Mr. Trump, said Wicker, quoting from the Wall Street Journal. They gave $149,000 to Mr. Trumps GOP campaign, compared to $525,000 to Mrs. Clinton. Presumably based on that argument, Hillary Clinton would have been suspect had she been nominated for this position.

That contradicted what Wicker said, however, and didnt really match what Democrats were saying. Clinton had received donations from employees of the industry  as had her primary opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who was in the room when Wicker spoke. But as the same Wall Street Journal article noted, 90 percent of the money of employees and executives had gone to Republicans. And disclosure rules for some political groups allow them to conceal their donations.

In their defenses of Pruitts nomination, some of his allies portrayed Democrats as hypocrites for questioning the nominees ties while working with special interests of their own. As Sen. Jeff Merkley , D-Ore., drew attention to how an energy company wrote almost all of a 2014 letter from Pruitt and other attorneys general challenging how the EPA estimated air pollution, the pro-Republican group America Rising directed reporters to how Whitehouse, the Rhode Island Democrat, moved to conceal his apparent behind-the-scenes collaboration with environmental groups in a 2016 document.

That complemented some Republican efforts to portray Democrats as out of touch. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the committees chairman, used one pause in the hearing to read a criticism of energy regulations from the National Black Chamber of Commerce. Yet Democrats have criticized that groups proposals because of its large donations from ExxonMobil and a newer stream of support from Koch Industries, earmarked for the groups work on criminal-justice policy.

In the committee, as Democrats continued to ask about energy company money, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., made the boldest attempt to put them on the defensive. Democrats, he said, were impugning Pruitts character and maligning dark money  donations routed to avoid disclosure rules  but were not talking about their backing from multimillionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer.

As Inhofe rattled off the money spent by Steyer to elect Democrats, the committees ranking Democrat, Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del., raised a point of order.

Were these donations from Tom Steyer disclosed? Carper asked.

They were, Inhofe said.

That does not sound like dark money to me, Carper said.

Inhofe laughed and moved on to another issue  whether climate scientists were being corrupted by big international money and influence.
When news broke last weekend that Kamiyah Mobley, snatched from a Florida maternity ward in 1998 when she was only 8 hours old, had been found alive  apparently raised by her accused abductor  many heralded it as happy resolution.

After years of heartache, Kamiyahs birth parents prepared to celebrate. Her paternal grandmother called it the day the family had hoped and prayed would come.

Kamiyahs birth mother, Shanara Mobley, remained too overwhelmed with emotion to comment.

This really is a joyous outcome, said one former Jacksonville County investigator who had been involved in the case early on, according to First Coast News.

But for the abducted child, now an 18-year-old woman living in Waterboro, South Carolina, a world of conflicting emotions and glaring attention was just beginning.

The only mother she had ever known, 51-year-old Gloria Williams, was arrested on charges of kidnapping and interference with custody. In a stark South Carolina jailhouse courtroom last Friday, the teenager wept and called out Momma after Williams quietly acknowledged to a judge the crimes alleged against her.

Amid the tearful scene, the judge allowed the teenager to walk behind her desk and up to the window so that she and Williams could hold hands through the screen, WJXT News reported.

I love you, Mom, the girl told Williams.

Authorities said they would not release Kamiyahs other name, in an effort to shield her privacy.

Still, some news outlets and those who raised her unveiled Kamiyahs other identity. The man who had believed her to be his daughter appeared on ABC News to speak of his heartbreak and reveal the name he had picked out for her.

And in the days after the shocking revelation, the teenager reportedly repeatedly took to Facebook to post about the developments. In one, she defended Williams as no felon. In another, she lashed out at the man who had appeared on ABC as someone who had done little in her life but pay $40 weekly in child support. Her posts attracted hundreds, if not thousands, of comments  with prayers, words of encouragement, unsolicited advice  from those who had heard her story.

Finally, she appeared to shut down her Facebook page entirely.

On Wednesday, the girl born as Kamiyah Mobley spoke publicly in a televised interview for the first time. The first thing she shared was the only identity she knew growing up: Alexis Manigo.

Your whole life, youve been known as Alexis, Lexy. Now its like, people are referring to you as someone else  nationally, Alexis told ABC News reporter Eva Pilgrim. This attention is very overwhelming.

In the exclusive interview that also aired Good Morning America, Alexis said in a soft voice she acknowledged what Williams did was wrong but said she was a great mother.

From that one mistake, I was given the best life. I was. I had everything I ever needed, wanted. I had love, especially, she said. I will always love her.

From nearly the moment Kamiyah Mobley entered the world, her life was defined by two women who cradled her.

One was her biological mother, Shanara Mobley, who was only 16 when she gave birth to Kamiyah in Florida on the hot morning on July 10, 1998.

The other was a mysterious stranger who appeared in the Jacksonville hospitals newborn ward that same day, dressed as a nurse in a blue floral smock and green scrub pants. She carried a pocketbook.

For about five hours, the supposed nurse stayed with Shanara Mobley and her newborn in their room, helping take care of the baby.

About 3 p.m., the woman said Kamiyah needed to be checked for a fever and whisked her away, still swaddled in her white hospital blanket.

For more than 18 years, that would be the last Shanara Mobley saw of her baby.

Devastated, she pleaded tearfully on local news stations with whomever had taken Kamiyah. Will you please, please bring me back my child?

The brazen abduction  and the fruitless search for her over nearly two decades  would grip the attention of Florida and much of the nation. For Kamiyahs parents and family, it would spawn years upon years of compounded heartache.

The childs paternal grandmother called police minutes after the supposed nurse disappeared with the baby. For at least a decade, Velma Aiken would blame herself for not acting on her suspicions: Why had that nurse been carrying a pocketbook? she said she had wondered after passing her in the hospital.

Police said the impostor had been roaming the Jacksonville hospital for 14 hours, asking about the Mobley baby. Authorities sealed the hospital, stopped every visitor, halted buses and put airport police on alert for a baby. Row by row, trains leaving Jacksonville were searched. Room by room, the hospital was combed.

The newborn and her abductor were never found. Still, officials maintained an optimistic outlook.

Theres a high percentage in getting these babies back, a Jacksonville sheriffs spokesman told reporters the day of the kidnapping. We want to put our hands on that baby.

An unbearable number of birthdays would march by. A decade later, Shanara Mobley had three more children but could never stop thinking about her first.

What does she like? What kind of food? Mobley told the Florida Times-Union around what would have been Kamiyahs 10th birthday. What kind of colors? How smart is she? Does she have long pretty hair? Does she have my eyelashes?

She said she prayed to God every day. Please send me a sign that my baby is still alive.

A little more than 18 years after the disappearance, authorities visited Craig Aikens home with a shocking update, WJXT News reported.

They had found Kamiyah, 200 miles away. Alive. And last Thursday, DNA tests confirmed that 18-year-old Alexis Manigo in Walterboro, South Carolina, was in fact Kamiyah Mobley.

Shes taking it as well as you could imagine, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said. She has a lot to process. She has a lot to think about, as you can imagine. I cant even begin to comprehend it.

On Saturday, Craig Aiken and Shanara Mobley made the 200-mile drive from Jacksonville to Walterboro. At the Walterboro Police Department, they saw their daughter again in real life in a private reunion that lasted about 45 minutes.

First meeting was beautiful, it was wonderful, couldnt [have gone] better, Craig Aiken said, according to WSCS News. Its a feeling that you cant explain  its hard to put it in words right now. Were trying to process it. Eighteen years. Its going to be hard to make that up.

From that meeting emerged what appeared to be a selfie Alexis took with her newly discovered biological parents.

Its a relationship she has said she is open to developing.

I feel like I do owe them that, to give them a chance, you know? Get to know them, Alexis told ABC on Wednesday. Im not saying they werent going to be good parents. Im not saying that at all, but it would have been a different life. When you find out youve got another family out there, its just more love.

She said she wasnt too concerned about being called a different name than she was used to.

Its all a bit much for me, but if you know me by Alexis, continue to call me Alexis. If you know me as Kamiyah, then you can call me that, too, she told the news station. Im not really specific right now. I havent even thought about that. Im just taking it one step at a time. I dont want any malice with anybody.  Regardless of what you refer to me to, I know who I am, Ive never questioned myself. I know who I am as a person.

Who Alexis Manigo is on paper, however, will take some legal finagling to sort out. Justin Bamberg, an attorney who has been retained to help Alexis navigate the wake of this unprecedented case, said their first priority will be to obtain the basic documents that someone needs to be an adult in America in 2017. A legitimate drivers license. A Social Security card.

Last year, tips had led authorities from Florida to South Carolina, where investigators realized Alexiss identification papers were fake and called in other agencies for help.

Throughout Alexiss life, what she did is she just relied on Ms. Williams. She got her shots as a baby. She went to her doctors office. She has braces right now, Bamberg said in a phone call with The Washington Post on Wednesday. Its weird speaking about Alexis as though she was a lost child because shes had a very real life, albeit a life that was created for someone else. But no, Ive never seen this situation happen this way.

This week, a woman who had grown up believing she was Alexis half-sister told People magazine that Alexis had actually found out about her real identity two years ago after she applied for a job but couldnt produce her birth certificate or Social Security card.

Lexy kept being hard on her mother, like Momma, where is my stuff? I want to get this job,  Arika Williams told the magazine. Then Miss Gloria just broke down and told her this is why right here, you cant do this. I kidnapped you.

Jacksonville Sheriff Williams said they were still working on developing a fuller picture of what happened. Last week, he had told reporters Alexis had an inkling from about a couple months ago that she might have been involved in the case but did not elaborate.

We dont know how much conversation they had: whether it was over one day or whether it was over multiple days or weeks, the sheriff told People magazine this week. It leaves you with many more questions than answers. Policeman are notorious for believing they figure something out relatively quickly and reading people but this is one of those that the truth is stranger than fiction. It is incredible. You cant make it up.

Alexis also did not want to address when or how she found out she was kidnapped, according to the Good Morning America interview. She was afraid that anything she said could have an effect on Gloria Williamss criminal case and still wants to protect the woman she knew as her mother, her attorney said.

Gloria Williams was extradited to Jacksonville and appeared briefly in court Wednesday, where a judge ordered her to be held without bail, the Associated Press reported.

Some people have criticized Alexis for still caring about Gloria, Bamberg said. Some people dont understand that but you really got to look at it in terms of her own life and what if it was you? Love is an emotion that is not [scripted] for television. You just dont turn it off and turn it on. She does still love Gloria.

Bamberg said they are also exploring the legal possibility of filing a lawsuit on Alexiss behalf against the Florida hospital where she was born. Her birth family had sued the hospital shortly after the abduction, later settling in 2000 in a case that prompted hospitals across central Florida to tighten security for newborns, the Orlando Sentinel reported in 2000.

Infant abductions are extremely rare and have declined significantly over several decades, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Between 1983 and 2016, a total of 308 infants (from birth to six months of age) were abducted by nonfamily members in the United States. Of those, 12 remain missing.

While no two cases are alike, for the small number of families an abduction has affected, both patience and time are important in dealing with the aftermath, according to Lanae Holmes, a family advocacy specialist with nonprofit group. Often, the lives of everyone involved have changed dramatically.

It can help, she said, to think about reunification as a process, rather than an event.

One of the most important aspects of this is to honor and recognize that this will take time, Holmes said. We suggest that families really slow down and they dont make big decisions right away.

For the abducted child, a sense of divided loyalty often develops, as well as trust issues and feelings of insecurity. The joy that a searching family feels upon being reunited may feel overwhelming and foreign for the child, depending on how long he or she was kept away, Holmes said.

What we see happening in cases like this over time and right for Kamiyah is this is so new and so fresh that she will need significant time to process whats happening to her, Holmes said. Her loyalty to the Williams family will likely remain for the rest of her life. But she is learning that she has another completely separate family that has searched for her for 18 years and have lived their lives with this empty spot.

For the searching family, it can be difficult to fast-forward through so much of a childs life. The sense of loss they felt while searching, Holmes said, is not erased just because a reunion has taken place. And acknowledging that a childs life progressed with an abductor can be one of the most difficult steps of all.

We really encourage them to honor the experience that their child is coming to them with, Holmes said. It does more harm to insist on the child denying the last, in this case, 18 years of her existence. It doesnt work that way.  They cannot recreate the past 18 years. They can move forward.

For Velma Aiken, years of anger she felt toward her biological granddaughters abductor seemed to evaporate after she saw she was alive and well. Now, she says, she has forgiven Gloria Williams.

Last Friday, Aiken spoke to Alexis on FaceTime and marveled at how intelligent and poised she seemed. Her heart broke after seeing news reports of Alexis sobbing at the sight of her Momma behind a mesh screen at the jailhouse.

I know shes going through some things right now because she learned to love those people, Aiken told People magazine.She has been in South Carolina for a long time, since she was taken from us when she was eight hours old. Shes got all of those friends and relatives she has accumulated over the years. I wouldnt dare ask her to leave that behind.

Aiken added: The only thing I would tell her is that shes got to pray.



The Washington Posts Avi Selk contributed to this article.



TWEET

EXCLUSIVE: 18-year-old abducted at birth speaks out on https://t.co/GOejfDeDuG pic.twitter.com/cVph86qA1o

#KamiyahMobley  Original composite and sketches released at the time the kidnapping occured. #JAX #JSO #Jacksonville pic.twitter.com/ToqdGprgHL
ELOY, Ariz.  Authorities say a man has been rushed to the hospital after colliding with another skydiver in midair over Eloy.

Pinal County Sheriffs officials say they received a call about the incident around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

They say two skydivers reportedly collided in midair and one of the skydivers became unconscious.

Authorities say the mans parachute was automatically deployed, but he was unable to control it and had a hard landing. The other skydiver escaped injury.

Sheriffs officials say the injured skydiver was taken to hospital. His name and condition werent immediately released.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.

Since last December 2015, three people have died after jumps at a skydiving facility in Eloy, located about 60 miles south of Phoenix.
Albuquerques CBS and Fox TV affiliate has new ownership.

KRQE is now part of Nexstar Media Group following Nexstars acquisition of KRQEs parent company, Media General Inc.

The deal, previously announced but completed this week, may mean channel number changes for some local viewers, but others will see no difference. KRQE General Manager Bill Anderson said Wednesday that Comcast/XFINITY and Dish Network subscribers should not experience any change. DirecTV moved the Fox content to channel 16, while over-the-air viewers will now find Fox New Mexico on channel 13.2.

Thats because Media General sold the KASA signal (channel 2) to the local Telemundo affiliate as part of the acquisition.

We had to divest KASA, but we were able to keep all the programming, all the people, everything everybody knows and loves about that station.  Its really a save for having been forced to divest one of our TV licenses, Anderson said.

While selling the KASA license was a sentimental loss, he said it was required since federal law prevents the sale of two top four stations in a market to the same company. KASA had the fifth highest market share when Media General bought it about 10 years ago but had since cracked the top four, Anderson said.

Nexstars acquisition of Media General, valued at about $4.6 billion in cash and stock, means Texas-headquartered Nexstar now has 171 television stations in 100 markets, according to a news release. Anderson said KRQE becomes the companys first New Mexico station, although the company has had a presence in El Paso. He said the deal now gives KRQE a number of new sister stations throughout the region. Media General had about 43 stations, he said, while Nexstar now describes itself as the second-largest television broadcaster in the U.S.

Im real excited about this part  I think were going to have an enhanced regional news-gathering mechanism thats going to make us really much stronger, Anderson said.
DALLAS  Dallas police have shot fatally the female driver of a car that had been reported as stolen.

Deputy Police Chief Thomas Castro says a report of a suspicious vehicle about 5 a.m. Wednesday brought officers to an apartment building just northeast of downtown. As officers approached the vehicle, the vehicle lurched backward into a police vehicle, then forward into a lattice fence, then backward again. At that point, police opened fire, fatally wounding the driver.

No officers were injured in the incident. No identities have been released.
In a tell-all interview with India Today Television Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, Rishi Kapoor revealed about the story behind him buying a film award for Bobby in 1973.

By India Today Web Desk: Rishi Kapoor spoke to India Today Television Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai in an exclusive interview where he spoke about the various instances from his life that he has written in his autobiography Khullam Khulla: Uncensored.

In his book, Rishi Kapoor mentioned that he paid Rs 30,000 and got a film award for himself in 1973 for his work in Bobby. For Bobby, Rishi did win the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 1974, an award which he claimed to have bought in an year-old interview with The Quint.

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When asked about the same, Rishi said that he never wrote which film award he actually bought, so it can be Filmfare. Or not.

Rishi also said that even though he did pay "a man" the money, he is not sure if it went to the award committee's pockets, so he could have been conned as well.

Incidentally, Rishi Kapoor won the Best Supporting Actor for his work in Kapoor and Sons at the recently concluded 74th Filmfare Awards ceremony.

ALSO READ: If Rishi Kapoor bought a Filmfare award for Rs 30,000 in '74, how much does one cost today?

ALSO READ: 10 interesting facts from Rishi Kapoor's autobiography Khullam Khulla: Uncensored

ALSO READ: Rishi revealing dad's affairs and 5 other times Chintuji shocked the world

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor had tea with Dawood Ibrahim and was offered 'everything'

Rishi Kapoor also spoke of the time he met Dawood Ibrahim at the latter's Dubai residence in 1988. When he said that this was before he became a fugitive from Indian and international law, Rajdeep pointed out that Dawood was still a criminal in 1988.

To this, Rishi responded with a "So what?" and added that as an actor, it was inspiring to meet him because he influenced his portrayal of the gangster Goldman in the 2013 film D-Day.

For the full interview, tune into India Today at 9:30pm to catch Rishi Kapoor Uncensored.

ALSO WATCH: Rishi Kapoor plays a don in D-Day

--- ENDS ---
CHICAGO  Federal authorities say theyre investigating threats to Jewish centers nationwide.

A brief FBI statement Wednesday says it and the Justice Departments civil-rights division are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with threats. The statement from the agencys Washington headquarters doesnt characterize the threats.

But the Anti-Defamation League the same day issued a statement citing a series of bomb threats to Jewish community centers in at least 17 states.

The ADLs Jonathan Greenblatt adds about actual explosives that so far these threats do not appear to be credible. But the statement says centers should still take them seriously.

The ADL says its received reports of threats in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Delaware, Connecticut, Alabama, California, Maine, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Kansas.
ADFEST will soon welcome one of Dentsu Inc.s top creative visionaries, Yasuharu Sasaki, to Pattaya in Thailand where he will lead the Interactive Lotus & Mobile Lotus categories as Jury President. ADFEST 2017 runs from 22nd to 25th March.



Sasaki joined Dentsu Inc. as a Copywriter over 20 years ago in 1995. Since then, hes established a reputation for experimenting with technologies and inventing next-generation concepts that extend beyond traditional advertising as the agencys Head of Digital Creative and Executive Creative Director, based in Tokyo.



Its a really great honor to be a Jury President of Interactive Lotus and Mobile Lotus at ADFEST 2017. Overseeing these two categories will give me the opportunity to bring to light the local cultures and the way of thinking of the people who belong to these cultures. I also look forward to discovering the agencies and thinkers who are shaping our industrys future, and hopefully Ill get to meet them at the festival in March, says Sasaki, or Yasu to those who know him.



With a background in computer science, Sasaki loves inventing ideas and products that live outside the traditional realm of advertising. As an innovator, its no surprise that hes won countless awards at the Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Spikes, ADFEST and Clios.



At Dentsu, Yasu leads innovation teams who are inventing and developing the kinds of services, products and platforms that are revolutionizing our industry. As a digital innovator, hes the ideal person to lead our Interactive and Mobile categories at ADFEST this year, says Jimmy Lam, ADFEST President.



ADFEST 2017 will take place at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya, Thailand. For more information, visit www.ADFEST.com
Nation's consumer durable major, LG Electronics India Limited is going to celebrate this 68th Republic Year of the country, with the launch of the #KarSalaam initiative, dedicated to Indian soldiers, today. The campaign invites the whole nation to come forward and send their wishes to the Indian Armed Forces.

Through this initiave, LG will salute the soldiers spirit of selfless contribution and service towards the country. LG is committed to walk the extra mile, providing a good life to the citizens of India. Accordingly, the company will extend their support and solidarity to our soldiers who play a great role in ensuring that we lead a fearless and good life in this country.

LG will reach out to citizens through radio, on ground and digital communication to capture the wishes of the citizens of India for our soldiers. The company also plans to invite people through social media platforms and encourage them to #KarSalaam (express their gratitude). All Indians are invited to post their wishes for soldiers on www.karsalaam.in . LG also seeks participation from the families of the soldiers to send their heartwarming messages to their near and dear ones who brave all odds to protect our country.

Taking this campaign forward, LG will be contributing a certain amount on every LG product purchased till 26th January towards the India National Defence Fund, which is dedicated to the welfare of soldiers.

At the launch of this campaign, Mr. Amit Gujral, Head - Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics India said, We salute the spirit of our soldiers who valiantly give up their life to protect the country but hardly find an opportunity to reach out to them. Therefore, we took this initiative to bring together the citizens of India to express their gratitude to our soldiers. The selfless devotion our armed forces calls for adulation and what could be a better occasion than this Republic Day. We invite all to pour their heart out and leave no barriers to reach out to them. As a small token of our effort to salute the spirit of India, LG will contribute a certain amount to the National Defence Fund and our citizens wishes will be shared with the Indian soldiers. Lets celebrate heroism, patriotism and a good life! #KarSalaam.
The Federal Council

Bern, 18.01.2017 - The Chinese president, XI Jinping, ended his state visit to Switzerland on Wednesday and was seen off by Federal Councillor Alain Berset, the vice president of the Federal Council, in Geneva. Earlier Federal Councillor Berset and President XI Jinping met for informal talks with the new UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres.

The Chinese president and his wife, PENG Liyuan, were received in Bern on Sunday, 15 January, by the full Federal Council, led by President Doris Leuthard. The official talks, which took place on Monday, focused on economic, finance, trade and science policy issues. Human rights, the protection of minorities, bilateral cooperation on cultural matters and environmental protection, and cooperation at international level were also addressed. Switzerland and China signed ten agreements, conventions and protocols.

In addition to the bilateral part of the state visit there was also a multilateral aspect: on Tuesday the two presidents jointly opened the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, which continues until Friday.

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We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. Georgias President Giorgi Margvelashvili says the deal with Gazprom Export will harm the country, Margvelashvilis spokesperson Eka Mishveladze told reporters on January 17.

Georgia accepted the Gazprom Export deal to shift to monetary payment for Russia -Armenia gas transit, instead of gas. In addition, according to the agreement, in case of necessity Georgia will receive the gas from Russia for 185 USD per 1000 cubic meters, not 215 USD.

With the signing of this deal the countrys energy sector was worsened, Georgias economic and political interests were harmed. In the end we got a worsened situation in different directions, which in the future might be followed by several problems, Mishveladze said.

The President urged the Parliament to take actions.

The President of the country urges the Parliament to fulfill its constitutional obligation: heighten the control function, as well as propose a plan in terms of how to overcome and reduce to minimum the expected risks and threats, the Presidents representative said.




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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Speaking on his relationship with his 34-year-old son Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor said that both he and Ranbir don't like discussing personal lives and that his approach to fatherhood stems from the kind of father late Raj Kapoor was.

By India Today Web Desk: 64-year-old Rishi Kapoor, who is presently touring the country to promote his recently-released autobiography Khullam Khulla: Uncensored, said that his son Ranbir would not like to be a father like him.

"Ranbir feels that when he is going to have kids, he is not going to be like me. It's a generation gap. I cannot be a friend to a son. You must accept me the way I am," Rishi said.

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ALSO READ: 10 interesting facts from Rishi Kapoor's autobiography Khullam Khulla

ALSO READ: Rishi Kapoor revealing his dad's affairs and 5 other times he shocked the world

ALSO READ: When Rishi Kapoor had tea with Dawood Ibrahim and was offered 'everything'

ALSO WATCH: Rishi Kapoor slams Congress

Speaking on his relationship with his 34-year-old son Ranbir, Rishi said that both he and Ranbir don't like discussing personal lives and that his approach to fatherhood stems from the kind of father late Raj Kapoor was.

"For me Raj Kapoor was not only a father. He was my guru, whatever I am today is because of him. When we were kids we knew that we were children of someone very important because wherever we went people looked at us as Raj Kapoor's sons," Rishi said.

Rishi added that he never argued with his father Raj Kapoor and the kind of relationship he had with him, he passed on to the one between Ranbir and himself.

"I really want that there should be love and respect between us," Rishi said, "I am not the type of guy, who will ask him (Ranbir) to share secrets of his girlfriends and all that. I am sorry. It's my failure. I want there to be a wall between me and him where I can see him, but can't feel him."

Rishi revealed that since he would be away working most of the time, Ranbir gradually got closer to his mother Neetu.

"Probably he felt that he needs his father, but I'm sorry I just can't," Rishi said.

--- ENDS ---
All four accused have been identified as Naveen Natha, Dileep Sharma, Amit Kumar and Ravi Gupta who were involved in a burglary at Rani Bagh.

The accused have been identified as Naveen Natha, Dileep Sharma, Amit Kumar and Ravi Gupta involved in burglary in Rani Bagh

By Tanseem Haider: A team of special staff has busted a gang of robbers with the arrest of 4 person involved in series of robberies across Delhi. The accused have been identified as Naveen Natha, Dileep Sharma, Amit Kumar and Ravi Gupta involved in burglary in Rani Bagh.

On the evening of January 14,2017 the complainant Mohd. Murtaza reported that while he was on the way to his factory on his scooty, 2 persons intercepted him near Haryana Maitri Bhawan. They were on motorcycle and snatched his bag containing cash of Rs 7 lakh at gun point and sped away. The complainant came from Sadar Bazar and was going towards Mangolpuri.

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The special staff team worked tirelessly to work out the case. Informers were activated. Technical surveillance was mounted. Sequence of event was reconstructed. After analysis of the available inputs, the team zeroed down on the suspects behind the robbery. Efforts of the police bore fruits when one accused Naveen was confronted with the details of the case.

Also read: Delhi police arrests notorious criminal wanted in two murder cases

Initially he feigned ignorance but spilled the beans after sustained interrogation. Subsequently, Naveens associates who hatched conspiracy and share information regarding carrying of money by the complainant. All four were arrested form different locations.

The team recovered robbed money worth Rs 4,20,000, motorcycle and 5 mobile phone from all four accused. There were total six persons who were involved in this whole crime. Two of the accused who used to keep an eye on the persons carrying huge amount and supplied the information to their associates Amit and Dileep. Efforts are being made to trace them and recover reaming amount.

MODUS OPERANDI

The prime accused Naveen worked for a businessman and looked after his monetary transactions. On the fateful day, he delivered cash to the victim who collected it and left for his destination. The accused passed on the information about the cash, the victim and his destination to one Amit and one other person who is absconding.

Amit transferred this information to one Dileep. He in turn passed the information to Ravi Gupta alias Happy who in collusion with another absconder robbed the victim at gunpoint.

During interrogation it was revealed that these six persons had previously committed three more robberies of Rs 27.40 Lakh in the area of Nabi Karim, Rs 25 Lakh near Sarai Rohilla flyover, and Rs 10.10 Lakh in the area of Pahar Ganj using the same modus operandi. These robberies were claimed to have been committed within span of two-months. These are being verified and connected.

Also read: Escaped criminal from Kolkata arrested in Delhi

--- ENDS ---
A Twitter user mistakenly washed a new Rs 500 banknote along with his clothes in a washing machine and then shared a picture of the 'clean' note on Twitter.

By India Today Web Desk: The unwritten rule is, always check your pockets before you dump your clothes in the washing machine. If you don't, either your machine will break or whatever unwanted is going in will come out bleached, torn and/or in shreds.

However, usually when banknotes get washed by mistake, they get soaked and torn but never quite bleached off its colour and printing.

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But going by a picture that Twitter user Ravi Handa has posted, the new Rs 500 note will note survive a spin in washing machines.

Check your pockets before giving your clothes for a wash.The new notes won't survive a round in the washing machine. pic.twitter.com/h7DaLX5ge2 Ravi Handa (@ravihanda) January 18, 2017

If you a doubtful about this, you could always give try it out for yourself. That, however, won't be advisable in such cash-dry days after the demonetisation drive.

--- ENDS ---
Senegalese troops are moving towards the Gambian border from two sides, witnesses confirmed, as pressure mounts for Gambia's president to step down.

President Yahya Jammeh lost an election on December 1 and initially conceded defeat, but later said voting irregularities invalidated the ballot.
Modified On Jan 24, 2017 04:01 PM By Rachit Shad for Tata Hexa 2016-2020

Current waiting period for the Hexa is already two months

Tata Motors launched the Hexa today and with it came a couple of surprising statistics. The waiting period of the Tata Hexa is already in the vicinity of two months and based on the number of bookings, something that Tata Motors didnt share, customers are more inclined towards variants with automatic transmissions.

The split between the number of bookings currently stands at 60:40 in favour of automatic variants over manual transmission versions. In other words, the number of bookings collectively received for the XMA and XTA variants is higher than that of the total received for the XE, XM, XT and XT 4x4 trims. Tata Motors had begun entertaining bookings for the Hexa in November last year.

Priced between Rs 11.99-17.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the Hexa not only undercuts the price tags of its arch rivals - the Mahindra XUV500 and Toyota Innova Crysta, but also, although unwillingly, takes on its own sibling, the Safari Storme. But you dont have to do the complicated math as we have done that for you. We have compiled an in-depth comparison between the two Tata utility vehicles and explained how the Hexa stacks up against its rivals from Mahindra and Toyota.

Tata Motors has had a good 2016, thanks, primarily, to the Tiago hatchback. The year 2017 promises to be as good, if not better, for the home-grown automaker. The company is expected to launch a compact sedan, the Kite 5, which will share almost all its underpinning with the Tiago. Moreover, to make a debut in the hotly contested compact-SUV segment, Tata Motors is also likely to launch the Nexon. Both the products, just like the Tiago, will feature Tatas new Impact design language.

Recommended read:

Tata Hexa - Features, Specifications and More

6 Things We Would Have Liked To See In Hexa

Tata Hexa - Variants Explained

Toyota Innova Crysta vs Tata Hexa: The Apt Rivalry

Compare:

Mahindra XUV500 and Tata Hexa

Tata Hexa and Toyota Innova Crysta

Watch Video: Tata Hexa Variants Explained

Read More on : Tata Hexa
Published On Jan 18, 2017 12:58 PM By Raunak for Fiat Punto EVO

Replacing the Punto EVO globally, it will undoubtedly be the most anticipated product from the Italian brand in recent years.

Ever since the first alleged test mule was spotted in December 2015, Fiat has been tight-lipped about the successor to the ageing Punto, which is being developed by its Brazilian counterpart. The automaker only hinted that the legendary Punto moniker will not be revived, thus suggesting a different name for the upcoming model. The interiors of the yet-to-be-named successor, codenamed X6H, were spied recently. According to the Brazilian media, Fiat will launch the car around May this year in Brazil, replacing the Punto and the second-gen Palio there.

(In Picture: Fiat Tipo)

If one takes a closer look at the leaked images, the dashboard appears to be inspired by the Fiat Tipo, which is on sale in Europe. The things that seem to be inspired the most are the steering wheel, twin-pod instrument cluster and the free-floating infotainment system. The steering wheel is a big, chunky unit with a plethora of buttons. The Jeep Renegade also uses the same unit.

The infotainment system we are talking about is likely to be Fiats seven-inch Uconnect unit, which supports both Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto. This will help it compete well in India since its rivals such as the Maruti Suzuki Baleno (which already offers Apple CarPlay), the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Honda Jazz will begin offering smartphone integration tech soon.

(In Picture: Fiat Tipo)

Check out our in-depth report  with details about platform, Indian launch, design and mechanicals  about the Puntos successor here: Next-Gen Fiat Punto: What We Know So Far

Source

Read More on : Punto EVO price
The joint aerial exercises on Wednesday were carried out over the IS-held city of al-Bab in Syria's northern Aleppo province, Efe news reported.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Russia and Turkey conducted their first joint airstrikes against positions held by the Islamic State terror group in Syria, military sources said.

The joint aerial exercises on Wednesday were carried out over the IS-held city of al-Bab in Syria's northern Aleppo province, Efe news reported.

"The operation, conducted with the consent of Syria, involved nine warplanes from the Russian Air Force and eight from the Turkish Air Force," the Head of the Russian General Staff Sergey Rudskoy told media.

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ALSO READ | ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi killed in US-led air strike

Calling the operations against the IS in that area highly effective Rudskoy said that nearly 36 target objectives were singled out during 48 hours of drone and satellite surveillance carried out prior to the operations.

Al-Bab, located some 30 km from Aleppo, is one of the last urban strongholds of the IS in the region.

The Syrian government's recent recapture of urban Aleppo from the predominantly Islamist rebels occupying the city's east boosted its power in a region where President Bashar al-Assad's duress was once waning.

ALSO READ | Egypt airstrikes kill 100 militants in North Sinai

Rudskoy also said the Syrian regime had launched a new offensive to recapture ancient Palmyra, a southern city whose military occupants have alternated between the IS and government troops during years of offensives and counter-offensives.

The joint Turkey-Russia operations came during the nationwide ceasefire adopted on December 30, 2016.

According to the Russian military, the relative success of the cessation in hostilities has paved the way for the conflict resolution meeting between between Assad and opposition representatives due to be held on January 23 in Astana, Kazakhstan, which would be mediated by Russia and Turkey.

ALSO READ | US-led airstrikes kill 60 Syrian soldiers, prompting emergency UN meeting

--- ENDS ---
Modified On Aug 29, 2017 08:37 PM By Arun for Tata Hexa 2016-2020

If you've been eyeing the Hexa, we're sure this question has crossed your mind: Should I get the Safari instead? The SUV has its own old-school charm, and there's no denying that, even in 2017, it is a very desirable vehicle. On the flip side, the Hexa is as modern as the Tatas can get, and packed to the brim with the latest features. Here's how things pan out when the big brutes from Tata lock horns.

Before we get going though, let's quickly look at their respective price lists.

Tata Hexa

XE 4x2 MT - Rs 10.96 lakh

XM 4x2 MT - Rs 12.81 lakh

XMA 4x2 AT - Rs 13.91 lakh

XT 4x2 MT - Rs 15.04 lakh

XTA 4x2 AT - Rs 16.13 lakh

XT 4x4 MT - Rs 16.24 lakh

Tata Safari Storme

Lx 4x2 - Rs 9.79 lakh

Ex 4x2 - Rs 11.56 lakh

Vx 4x2 - Rs 13.03 lakh

Vx 4x4 - Rs 14.47 lakh

(All prices, ex-showroom Delhi)

Common Ground

Though it might not seem like it, the Hexa and the Safari Storme Varicor400 share a lot. For instance, both cars are based on the same hydroformed 'X2' platform. However, the chassis itself has been lightened in the Hexa in order to keep the weight in check.

The 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine is shared as well, along with the six-speed manual gearbox. The motor produces 156PS of power and 400Nm of torque, which seems plenty for either car. You can head over to our reviews of the Safari Storme Varicor400 and the Hexa to know how it performs.

Then there are the (rather obvious) facts that both can seat seven, both feature 4x4, and both can munch miles effortlessly.

Advantage Hexa

The better 7-seater

While both vehicles in question can seat seven, it is the Hexa that does a better job of it. The front-facing third row isn't just roomier compared to the jump seats that the Safari gets, but is also far more comfortable. What swings it further in the Hexa's favour is the fact that occupants get their own AC vents, and even 12V sockets to charge their phone. Plus, with the third row in place, there's still a respectable 129 litres of bootspace that can easily carry a couple of backpacks. The Storme is left with virtually no space for the luggage if you are travelling full house.

For the chauffeur driven

Pratap Bose, head of design for Tata Motors, told us that the six-seater layout was integral to the Hexa. In fact, that's the reason it's called 'Hexa' in the first place!

Tata wanted the captain seats to be the best in the house, and it has managed to deliver on that front. The second row features a well-contoured captain seat that gets adjust for reach, tilt and lumbar. The only issue with the six-seater version is a slightly tricky access to the third row, which we think is a reasonable compromise.

Easier To Drive

The Safari isn't exactly a nimble ballerina around our infamous city roads. The heavy steering and the long travel (and also heavy) clutch makes piloting the behemoth quite a task. No, the Hexa is no Nano in comparison. It does make its two ton weight felt, and has a heavy steering too, but just not as heavy. The clutch is noticeably lighter too, and in case you cannot be bothered fiddling with it, there's the automatic variant on offer as well!

Then there are the 'Super Drive' modes that let you tailor the car's behaviour depending on what you want it to do. The flexibility of choosing between Comfort, Dynamic, Rough-Road or just leaving it to its own on Auto is great to have.

Loaded

Unlike the Safari Storme that misses out on a shocking amount of features at the price point, the Hexa happily bundles them in.

The best bit is that the features aren't limited to just the top-spec variants. The base XE variant packs in quite a punch, with features that include projector headlamps, LED tail lamps, six-speaker audio system, and more. The XM and the XT variants are stuffed to the gills with features (recommended read: Tata Hexa  Variants Explained!) which include automatic climate control, cruise control, 19-inch alloy wheels, 10-speaker JBL audio system, and a five-inch touchscreen infotainment unit. There are other feel-good features too, such as daytime running lamps, ambient lighting, reverse camera, and a bunch of supported apps that make the experience richer.

Safer

The top-spec Hexa is home to a plethora of safety technology. Here's a quick list:

Six Airbags

Anti-Lock Brakes with EBD

Traction Control

Hill Hold Control

Hill Descent Control

ESP with Rollover Mitigation

Engine Drag Torque Control

Corner Stability Control

On the other hand, the Safari has to make do with dual airbags, ABS and EBD  something that's available even on the base version of the Hexa.

Advantage Safari

Better off-road

Yes, the Hexa has an advanced four-wheeldrive system that works in conjunction with the ESP and the torque-on-demand system to channel power to the wheels with more traction. The Safari, on the other hand, is more analogue  with a simple knob that lets you select between two-wheel and four-wheel drive on the fly. Approach, departure and breakover angles are bound to be better as well, which gives it better cred off-road.

The 'I want one' feeling

Most of us petrolheads have grown up admiring the Safari. The butch and upright 'are you sure you want to mess with me?' stance is still as intimidating as it was in the early 2000s. The design has remained more-or-less unchanged for close to two decades but, oddly enough, it manages to stand out even today.

It is among the few cars that are likely to be bought by the heart and not the head. And no amount of logical reasoning can turn around a heart buy, can it?

Recommended Reads:

Comparisons

Read More on : Tata Hexa price




2) The Services screen will show what services are running; like all the 3rd parties checking for "updates" (including VS and Office)



3) The Startup Tab on the Task Manager will show the "impact" programs that are listed there have at startup (includes 3rd part nonsense and key / screen loggers)



4) The Task Scheduler will list what ran when; which can reveal more 3rd part nonsense that does not show up in Services, Startup or Task Manager (including Google updates; Nero; etc. as well as other MS apps).



5) Anti-virus software is often the biggest performance hog



The challenge is killing off the (bad) zombies.



(Visual Studio 2017 has a "Load me Lite" option that will reduce startups).

"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".

 Blaise Pascal



This is a continuation of Winforms custom property fails to reload - edited[^]. I'm moving it here (a) because the question with different things retried was getting too big and complex, and (b) this format allows for better discussion of the issue.



So, I have changed my code so that each Control object implements ISerializable. The property I am trying to populate is a member of my Component derived object and looks like this:

C# private DialogControls _controls = new DialogControls(); [DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible)] [Editor( typeof (ControlsEditor), typeof (UITypeEditor))] [Category( " Controls" )] [Description( " A list of controls that are added to the dialog" )] public DialogControls Controls { get { return _controls; } set { _controls = value ; } } bool ShouldSerializeControls() { return Controls.Count > 0 ; } void ResetControls() { Controls.Clear(); Controls.ProminentIndex = -1; }

The ControlGroup and DialogControls objects:

C# [ Serializable ] public class ControlGroup : IList<Control>, ICollection, ISerializable { public ControlGroup() { } List<Control> _controls = new List<Control>(); #region IList<Control>, ICollection implementation #endregion #region ISerializable public ControlGroup(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) { Control[] controls = (Control[])info.GetValue( " controls" , typeof (Control[])); _controls.AddRange(controls); } public virtual void GetObjectData(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) { info.AddValue( " controls" , _controls.ToArray()); } #endregion } [Serializable] public class DialogControls : ControlGroup, ISerializable { public DialogControls() { } public int ProminentIndex { get ; set ; } = -1; public Control ProminentControl { get { return ProminentIndex >= 0 ? this[ProminentIndex + 1] : null ; } } #region ISerializable public DialogControls(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) : base (info, context) { ProminentIndex = info.GetInt32( " prominent" ); } public override void GetObjectData(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) { base .GetObjectData(info, context); info.AddValue( " prominent" , ProminentIndex); } #endregion }

The above is now where the problem occurs. The ControlGroup seems to get serialised, but the individual Control objects do not. Once deserialised, I get an array of nulls.



My Control objects look like this:

C# [ Serializable ] public abstract class Control : ISerializable { protected const ControlState DefaultState = ControlState.Enabled | ControlState.Visible; public Control() { } protected Control(Control other) { _state = other._state; } internal CommonFileDialog _dlg = null ; internal IFileDialogCustomize fdc { get { return (IFileDialogCustomize)_dlg?._pDialog; } } uint _id = 0 ; public uint ID { get { return _id; } internal set { _id = value ; } } protected ControlState _state = DefaultState; public ControlState State { get { fdc?.GetControlState(ID, out _state); return _state; } set { _state = value ; fdc?.SetControlState(ID, _state); } } internal abstract void AddToDialog(CommonFileDialog owner); internal abstract bool CanMakeProminent { get ; } internal abstract string Value { get ; } internal abstract string Description { get ; } internal abstract string Type { get ; } public abstract Control Clone(); #region ISerializable public Control(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) { _state = (ControlState)info.GetValue( " state" , typeof (ControlState)); } public virtual void GetObjectData(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) { info.AddValue( " state" , State); } #endregion }

I then inherit each of the controls (there are a dozen of them, but they all follow the same pattern) like this:

C# [ Serializable ] public sealed class CheckBox : Control, ISerializable { string _label; public string Label { get { return _label; } set { _label = value ; fdc?.SetControlLabel(ID, _label); } } internal bool _checked; public bool Checked { get { return _checked; } set { _checked = value ; fdc?.SetCheckButtonState(ID, _checked); } } public CheckBox() { } CheckBox(CheckBox other) : base (other) { _label = other._label; _checked = other._checked; } public CheckBox( string label, bool check) { Label = label; Checked = check; } #region ISerializable public CheckBox(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) : base (info, context) { _label = info.GetString( " label" ); _checked = info.GetBoolean( " checked" ); } public override void GetObjectData(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) { base .GetObjectData(info, context); info.AddValue( " label" , _label); info.AddValue( " checked" , _checked); } #endregion #region Control overrides internal override void AddToDialog(CommonFileDialog dlg) { } internal override bool CanMakeProminent { get { return true ; } } internal override string Type { get ; } = " CheckBox" ; internal override string Description { get { return Label; } } internal override string Value { get { return Checked.ToString(); } } public override Control Clone() { return new CheckBox( this ); } public override string ToString() { return string .Format( " {0}({1}, {2})" , Type, Description, Value); } #endregion }

Cheers,



Mick

------------------------------------------------

It doesn't matter how often or hard you fall on your arse, eventually you'll roll over and land on your feet.







You've have "getters" without "setters"; which will never serialize, for example.



And no default constructors (apparently) in some cases; which may be needed depending on the type of serialization.

"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".

 Blaise Pascal



do have default constructors, and the serialization does not touch the properties that have the getters without setters - I am only using custom serializers.



It should be serializing an array of objects derived from Control.

Cheers,



Mick

------------------------------------------------

It doesn't matter how often or hard you fall on your arse, eventually you'll roll over and land on your feet.







Well, I "love" my xml. My first impulse would have been to try the following:



Designer Serialization Overview

"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".

 Blaise Pascal





Ta much.

Cheers,



Mick

------------------------------------------------

It doesn't matter how often or hard you fall on your arse, eventually you'll roll over and land on your feet.







I modified the ControlGroup serialisation so that it serialises the list of control objects into a byte array, each control being serialised individually, like so:

C# public ControlGroup(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) { BinaryFormatter fmt = new BinaryFormatter(); byte[] data = (byte[])info.GetValue( " controls" , typeof (byte[])); int count = info.GetInt32( " count" ); using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream(data)) { for ( int i = 0 ; i < count; ++i) { object obj = fmt.Deserialize(ms); _controls.Add((Control)obj); } } } public virtual void GetObjectData(SerializationInfo info, StreamingContext context) { BinaryFormatter fmt = new BinaryFormatter(); using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream()) { foreach (Control c in _controls) { fmt.Serialize(ms, c); } info.AddValue( " controls" , ms.ToArray()); } info.AddValue( " count" , _controls.Count); }



When I try to reopen the test form with values set, it tells me that type CheckBox cannot be cast to type Control. However, if I close and reopen VS, or at runtime, it deserialises OK. I even put in a messagebox to tell me if obj is Control - I get "True" on compile, but "False" in designer.

Cheers,



Mick

------------------------------------------------

It doesn't matter how often or hard you fall on your arse, eventually you'll roll over and land on your feet.



modified 18-Jan-17 10:56am.



In a multi-threaded environment, we must take of concurrent access to writable resources. A common approach is to use Monitor or its shorthand form lock .



Task is at a different abstraction level than Thread . A task may run on a thread of its own (and according to the logs, they do so in our application), but that is not guaranteed. See e.g. c# - What is the difference between task and thread? - Stack Overflow[^]: If the value you are waiting for comes from the filesystem or a database or the network, then there is no need for a thread to sit around and wait for the data when it can be servicing other requests. Instead, the Task might register a callback to receive the value(s) when they're ready. That is, that kind of Task somehow shares a Thread with other running code (I must admit that I do not understand how that works in detail, currently it looks to me like a specialization of the "famous" DoEvents ).



Consequently, Monitor won't be able to distinguish between them, and - because Monitor can be re-entrant - allow both of them access the resource. That is, Monitor "fails".



Examples with Thread s typically use Monitor nonetheless. So I want to ask how I can be sure that Monitor is safe with a Task (or: how can I be sure that a Task is running on a Thread of its own).



C# private int locked = 0 ; private void SomeMethod() { try { if (Interlocked.CompareExchange( ref locked, 1 , 0 ) != 0 ) { return ; } } finally { Interlocked.Exchange( ref locked, 0 ); } }

This space for rent





As for alternatives, I know that they exist.





Perhaps I should try a different wording of my original question: why do developers not care for the fact that there seem to be cases when Monitor is not applicable with Task?





This space for rent



I have a group of checkboxes that need their values checked on submissions. I can't find a convenient way to group them in MVC. Here's what i have in the markup:

HTML < th > Role: < /th > < /tr > < tr > < th > Booker: < /th > < td > @Html.CheckBoxFor(m => m.Booker) < /td > < th > OA: < /th > < td > @Html.CheckBoxFor(m => m.OA) < /td > < th > Hauler: < /th > < td > @Html.CheckBoxFor(m => m.Hauler) < /td > < th > DA: < /th > < td > @Html.CheckBoxFor(m => m.DA) < /td > < /tr > < tr > < th > Booker Only: < /th > < td > @Html.CheckBoxFor(m => m.BAO) < /td > < th > OA Only: < /th > < td > @Html.CheckBoxFor(m => m.OAO) < /td > < th > DA Only: < /th > < td > @Html.CheckBoxFor(m => m.DAO) < /td >



Later on, I'm attempting to send a message to the screen letting the user know AT LEAST one of the boxes must be checked:

JavaScript <script type= " text/javascript" language= " javascript" > function showDialog() { var ddlValue = $( " #ddlPostingMonth" ).val(); var ChkBooker = $( ' #Booker' ).prop( " checked" ); var ChkOA = $( ' #OA' ).prop( " checked" ); var ChkHauler = $( ' #Hauler' ).prop( " checked" ); var ChkDA = $( ' #DA' ).prop( " checked" ); var ChkBAO = $( ' #BAO' ).prop( " checked" ); var ChkOAO = $( ' #OAO' ).prop( " checked" ); var ChkDAO = $( ' #DAO' ).prop( " checked" ); alert( " This is the value: " + ChkBooker); if (ddlValue == " " ) { $( ' #dialog' ). data ( " kendoDialog" ).open(); } if (ChkBooker,ChkOA == false ) { $( ' #dialog' ). data ( " kendoDialog" ).open(); } else { $.post( ' SaveAgentInfo' , $( ' #AgentDetailsForm' ).serialize(), function ( data ) { console .log( data ); }); @*document. location = ' @Url.Action("SaveAgentInfo", "Agent", new { master_OrderNum = item.Master_OrderNum })' ;*@ } }



I've thrown this around in my mind brand for about an hour. I only need ONE box to be checked!! How can I accomplish this and ignore the other boxes if ONE is checked?



Thanks!

-Frustrated Programmer







If only one, consider using Radio Buttons; i.e. only one is "selectable" in a group.



If at least one (and maybe more), consider a multi-select list box; or check boxes (with extra code).

"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".

 Blaise Pascal



C# bool ok = cb1.Checked || cb2.Checked || cb3.Checked || etc. if ok is true, then at least 1 checkbox was checked; you don't have to repeat the "if's" elsewhere.

"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".

 Blaise Pascal



jQuery's .is() filter[^]:

JavaScript var atLeastOneChecked = $( ' #Booker, #OA, #Hauler, #DA, #BAO, #OAO, #DAO' ).is( ' :checked' );





"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."

- Homer











That was EXACTLY what I needed! Now, all is well!! Thank you so much, Sir!



I'm trying to convert an old vb.net program into CSharp but I'm having some trouble accessing an unmanaged DLL - the DLL itself is for a NFS reader (CR95HF Demo Kit) and the application note is here:



[^] (a PDF file)



Just as an example I'm trying to access the gethardwareVersion function.



The problem I have is that the example says the declaration should look like



C++ CR95HFDLL_getHardwareVersion( char * StringReply)



and the source that calls this is



C++ char strAnswer[ 50 ]= " " ; int iresult iresult = CR95HFDLL_GetHardwareVersion(strAnswer)



So far I have:



C# <pre>namespace RWH_DLL { public class RWH { [DllImport( " CR95HF.dll" )] public static extern UInt32 CR95HFDLL_USBconnect(); [DllImport( " CR95HF.dll" )] public static unsafe extern UInt32 CR95HFDLL_getHardwareVersion(char* returnString); } } namespace ReadWriteHardware { public partial class RWHardware { static RWHardware singleInstance = null ; static readonly object padlock = new object (); RWHardware() { } public static RWHardware Instance { get { lock (padlock) { if (singleInstance == null ) { singleInstance = new RWHardware(); } return singleInstance; } } } } public partial class RWHardware { } public partial class RWHardware { public Boolean GetRWBoard() { UInt32 blob = 0 ; blob = RWH_DLL.RWH.CR95HFDLL_USBconnect(); String cmdString = " 260100" ; String rtnString = new string (Convert.ToChar( " " ), 256 ); char[] strAnswer = new char [50]; blob = RWH_DLL.RWH.CR95HFDLL_getHardwareVersion(strAnswer); return false ; } } }



I'm struggling swapping between the pointers and the char arrays. I have had simpler functions from the dll working (those that just return a value and have no input). - the stuff in comments is all the functions I am converting and my vb versions of those functions.



fixed keywords when you call the function

C# char[] strAnswer = new char [50]; fixed (char* pArray = strAnswer) { blob = RWH_DLL.RWH.CR95HFDLL_getHardwareVersion(pArray); } return false ;

you will have to also declare the GetRWBoard method as unsafe



Having said this, I prefer to use unmanaged memory when calling into native functions, and utilise the Marshal class for copying the data into managed memory. As such, I would write the routine as:

C# public static extern UInt32 CR95HFDLL_getHardwareVersion( IntPtr returnString); IntPtr returnString = Marshal.AllocHGlobal( 50 ); blob = RWH_DLL.RWH.CR95HFDLL_getHardwareVersion(returnString); string strAnswer = Marshal.PtrToStringANSI(returnString); char[] arryAnswer = new char[50]; Marshal.Copy(returnString, arryAnswer, 0 , 50 ); Marshal.FreeHGlobal(returnString); return false ;

Cheers,



Mick

------------------------------------------------

It doesn't matter how often or hard you fall on your arse, eventually you'll roll over and land on your feet.



PtrToStringANSI should be PtrToStringAnsi .



for anyone else reading this solution, I used code like



C# string commandString = " 260100" ; IntPtr cmdString = Marshal.StringToHGlobalAnsi(commandString); blob = RWH_DLL.RWH.CR95HFDll_SendReceive(cmdString, returnString);



to enter commands into the dll.





My task is really simple, I just have to Detect another NFC tag and then to Write and Read one message.



Did you finish successfully your task? Or it's better to use another NFC tag reader with available C# DLL?



Greetings Davide.


In early 2013, cybercriminals began deploying in Mexico what some security experts described as one of the most advanced pieces of malware thats ever been built to steal money from ATMs. Nicknamed Ploutus, it evolved to become the first ATM malware that could be controlled remotely by a mobile phone.

Ploutus, which appeared in Latin America and was built in a way that suggested that its developers spoke Spanish, could only target ATMs made by NCR, which is one of the industrys biggest manufacturers. It was coded to interact with an obscure kind of ATM management software from NCR called Aptra.
A Jodhpur court today acquitted Salman Khan of charges of killing a blackbuck 18 years ago. As soon as the news broke, Twitterati went crazy with jokes and quips.

By India Today Web Desk: Trust Twitter for the final writing on the wall.

Moments ago, a Jodhpur court acquitted Salman Khan of charges of killing a blackbuck 18 years ago in Rajasthan while shooting the film Hum Saath Saath Hain. Bhai had earlier pleaded 'not guilty' to the charges - of keeping unlicensed weapons and using them - brought against him under the Arms act.

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ALSO READ: Jodhpur court acquits Salman of charges of killing a blackbuck 18 years ago

ALSO READ: Did Salman's political reach help him in Rajasthan?

ALSO WATCH: Salman unapologetic about 'raped woman' remark, jokes about it

Now, the prosecution failed to find evidence against the actor thereby leaving the big question of: Who indeed shot and killed the blackbuck? His dri... never mind.

Twitterati immediately got to doing what they do best and hilarity ensued. Have a look.

Just Salman Khan things. pic.twitter.com/IRhb4O038Q Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) January 16, 2017

#JodhpurCourt acquits #SalmanKhan after finding black buck guilty of coming in front of bullet. ? ?? (@WoCharLog) January 18, 2017

#BREAKING:#JodhpurCourt Acquits Salman Khan In Arms Act Case. Of Course The Blackbuck Commited Suicide.The Gun Was It's Own Too.#SalmanKhan pic.twitter.com/V5xpObnoSy Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) January 18, 2017

Exclusive picture of evidence submitted by Salman Khan's lawyer. pic.twitter.com/wWF6yR8Fuz Sagar (@sagarcasm) July 25, 2016

"Bhai aaj mere wale case me bhi bari ho gaya wo" ?? pic.twitter.com/4aqQ2R0W0P Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) January 18, 2017

Salman Khan acquitted of Arms Act violations in 1998 case. pic.twitter.com/LP6CZWSQZs Sheharyar Khan (@iSheharyar) January 18, 2017

Salman bhai accidentally running over a lion sleeping on the pavement pic.twitter.com/F3cwUevALI MedievalReactionsIN (@MedievalRxnsIN) May 8, 2015

2015: "Salman Khan wasn't drunk" 2016: "Bhai didn't kill the blackbuck" 2017: "Actually the blackbuck was driving Salman's car that night" Akshar (@AksharPathak) July 25, 2016

The one pic that helped Salman Khan getting acquittal from both of his cases pic.twitter.com/FbpqsmxXgD SRK'S WARRIOR (@SRKswarrior) January 18, 2017

Jodhpur Jails guards disappointed that they wont get a chance to click selfies with Salman https://t.co/qPvxSpZ4l5 Faking News (@fakingnews) January 18, 2017

--- ENDS ---
From student organizations to organized politics, from the campus to the broader community, Joy Shand puts the active in activism.



Joy is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student completing a double major in Canadian Studies and Anthropology. Over the past couple of years, she has become more involved as an activist on and off campus. She has served on the Kings Student Union council and Campus Planning Committee, marched with fellow students in the National Student Day of Action, stood for solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Nation and was recently nominated to the Dal Canadian Studies Society executive.



Joy has also been very involved with the Nova Scotia NDP. She sits on the provincial council, works with the Dalhousie NDP society and is co-chair of the Nova Scotia Young New Democrats.



Every time I sit on a committee or participate in a meeting, I bring a focus on youth issues  and one of the most important aspects of that for me is anti-poverty advocacy, says Joy.

From classroom to action



Joys research interests focus on precarious living, which she says is characterized by a work experience that is short-term, low-paid, contract-based and without benefits.



In other words, working conditions that for many young people, such as myself, have become the norm, and which for many of us has been the only kind of work we have ever known, she explains.



Precarity creates and contributes to a number of social issues, including poorer health, higher stress, greater mental illness, the delay of age milestones (such as starting a family), inability to contribute to the economy or tax base, financial risk aversion and difficulty accessing education, to name just a few.





Joy says her interest in precarious work issues was sparked while taking the course, Good Jobs, Bad Jobs (SOSA 2141) with faculty member Karen Foster.



That class was one of the best I've ever taken," says Joy. "It opened my eyes to the complex interactions that exist between race, gender, age, education, citizenship status and the many other factors that contribute to people's experience of precarity.



As a result, I've become an advocate for Basic Minimum Income (BMI), also referred to as Guaranteed Income, a change that would see every eligible individual receiving a minimum income of approximately $16,000 per year, depending on the variation of the program.



Joy acknowledges that while $16,000 is still not a lot to live on, especially since costs of living vary across the country, BMI provides greater security to those living precariously by giving them a reliable floor for their income.



To be clear, BMI is meant to be only a survival amount  but this shift is fundamentally important, because it disentangles the value of human life from human productivity and the ability to work, she says. BMI is only one step to ending poverty, but I believe it is a crucially important one.

Taking the national stage



Joy took her interests in precarious living, politics and activism to Ottawa this fall when she attended a conference called The Precarious Generation: Millennials Fight Back, hosted on Parliament Hill by MP Niki Ashton. There, she heard from several panelists who are currently strategizing solutions to the problems that precarious work has created.



Jerry Bannister, associate professor in the Department of History and co-ordinator of the Canadian Studies Program, says Joys dedication to addressing social issues is an inspiration.



"Joy's commitment to social justice demonstrates the importance of education beyond the classroom, says Dr. Bannister. Her involvement in conferences and other initiatives shows the power of experiential learning, because it adds a whole new dimension to her work in Canadian Studies."



Learn about some more Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences students who are also using experiential learning to leave a lasting impact.


MINNEAPOLIS - Scanning a premature infant's brain shortly after birth to map the location and volume of lesions, small areas of injury in the brain's white matter, may help doctors better predict whether the baby will have disabilities later, according to a new study published in the January 18, 2017, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 10 babies is born prematurely in the United States.

Lack of oxygen to the brain is the most common form of brain injury in premature infants, resulting in damage to the white matter. White matter contains nerve fibers that maintain contact between various parts of the brain. Damage to white matter can interfere with communication in the brain and the signals it sends to other parts of the body.

"In general, babies who are born before 31 weeks gestation have a higher risk of thinking, language and movement problems throughout their lives, so being able to better predict which infants will face certain developmental problems is important so they get the best early interventions possible. Just as important is to be able to reassure parents of infants who may not be at risk," said study author Steven P. Miller, MDCM, of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada.

For the study, researchers looked at a group of premature infants who were admitted to the Neonatal ICU at British Columbia's Women's Hospital over seven years. They found 58 babies with white matter injury who had an MRI brain scan at an average of 32 weeks after gestation. These babies were then evaluated for motor, thinking and language skills when they were 18 months old.

Researchers found that a greater volume of small areas of injury, no matter where they were located in the brain, could predict movement problems at 18 months. They also found that a greater volume of these small areas of injury in the frontal lobe could predict thinking problems. The frontal lobe is the area of the brain that regulates problem solving, memory, language skills and voluntary movement skills.

The findings from this study highlight the importance of injury location when considering developmental outcomes. For example, premature infants with larger frontal lobe injuries had a 79 fold greater odds of developing thinking problems than infants without such injuries, as well as a 64 fold greater odds of problems with movement development.

Miller said that future studies should evaluate premature infants not just at 18 months, but at various points throughout childhood to determine the long-term consequences of early injuries in the brain.

###

The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, The Research Training Centre at The Hospital for Sick Children and SickKids Foundation, the Ontario Brain Institute and the NeuroDevNet National Centres of Excellence.

To learn more about the brain, visit http://www.aan.com/patients.

The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with 30,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Most people who have tried durian either love it or hate it. The fruit's yellowish flesh is sweet and custard-like, but it comes with an overpowering stench of garbage. Scientists studying the unique fruit have now analyzed a set of 20 stinky and fruity chemical ingredients and found that a mere two compounds can re-create the overall smell. Their findings appear in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Native to southeast Asia - where the fruit is considered a delicacy, but also banned from some public spaces due to its odor -- its appeal has spread to Westerners who relish trying distinct foods from around the world. Scientists interested in the fruit have identified several compounds that contribute to its smell, which has been said to reek of gym socks, garbage and rotting meat. Curious to better understand the complex scent, Martin Steinhaus and colleagues parsed the odor compounds further.

The researchers calculated the "odor activity values" of 19 of the durian's smelly compounds to see which ones were the most potent. Among the strongest were compounds that smelled of fruit, rotten onion and roasted onion. These were followed by chemicals with strong notes of cabbage and sulfur. Further experimentation found that putting just two specific compounds together -- fruity ethyl (2S)-2-methylbutanoate and oniony 1-(ethylsulfanyl)ethanethiol -- effectively resembled the fruit's entire set of odoriferous and fragrant compounds.

###

The abstract that accompanies this study is available here.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With nearly 157,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

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WASHINGTON, DC--Glaciologists have uncovered large valleys in the ocean floor beneath some of the massive glaciers flowing into the Amundsen Sea in West Antarctica. Carved by earlier advances of ice during colder periods, the troughs enable warm, salty water to reach the undersides of glaciers, fueling their increasingly rapid retreat.

"These oceanic features are several hundreds to a thousand meters deeper than what we thought before," said Romain Millan, a graduate student in Earth system science at UCI and lead author of the new study. "It gives new insight into the future fate of these glaciers and the potential influence of warm ocean water that can melt away ice from below."

The discovery is the result of an analysis of gravity data from airborne NASA Operation IceBridge missions from 2009 to 2014 combined with ice motion measurements made by researchers at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), UCI's own mass conservation algorithm, and existing bed topography and ice thickness information. The new study has been accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.

In the new study, the researchers paid particular attention to sub-ice-shelf cavities in front of the Pine Island, Thwaites, Smith and Kohler glaciers in an area known as the Amundsen Sea Embayment. By obtaining a more high-resolution map of the ocean floor below the glaciers, they were able to detect an unmistakable cavity beneath the Pine Island Glacier and a slightly shallower depression beneath Thwaites Glacier.

"Based on our research, we now have a much clearer picture of what is hiding under these large glaciers located in a particularly vulnerable sector of West Antarctica," Millan said.

Millan said the study's most important findings were the gigantic submarine valleys under the Crosson and Dotson ice shelves. The channels start 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) below the masses of ice and slope up to points 500 meters (1,600 feet) beneath Crosson and 750 meters (2,500 feet) beneath Dotson.

Should glaciers in the Amundsen Sea Embayment region of Antarctica completely collapse, the researchers said, the global sea level could rise an additional 1.2 meters (4 feet). As bad as that sounds, they noted, there are some features of the ocean floor topography that might work to slow down the process of glacier retreat.

"We've revealed that West Antarctic glaciers include natural pathways for water intrusion, but all water sources are controlled by a 700-meter-deep [2,300-foot-deep] sill which blocks access to the truly warmest waters," said Eric Rignot, a professor of Earth system science at UCI and co-author of the new study. "This is good news in terms of having these glaciers not fully exposed, but it makes the projections more challenging because all tiny details will be important in controlling ocean heat access to the glaciers."

He said the findings will be instrumental in guiding future investigations of this region of Antarctica, in particular a major study of Thwaites Glacier by the National Science Foundation and the United Kingdom's Natural Environment Research Council scheduled for 2018 to 2023.

###

The American Geophysical Union is dedicated to advancing the Earth and space sciences for the benefit of humanity through its scholarly publications, conferences, and outreach programs. AGU is a not-for-profit, professional, scientific organization representing 60,000 members in 137 countries. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and our other social media channels.

Founded in 1965, the University of California, Irvine is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy.

Notes for Journalists

This research article is open access for 30 days. A PDF copy of the article can be downloaded at the following link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016GL072071/pdf.

After 30 days, journalists and public information officers (PIOs) of educational and scientific institutions who have registered with AGU can download a PDF copy of the article from the same link.

Journalists and PIOs may also order a copy of the final paper by emailing a request to Lauren Lipuma at llipuma@agu.org.

Please provide your name, the name of your publication, and your phone number.

Neither the paper nor this press release is under embargo.

Title:

"Bathymetry of the Amundsen Sea Embayment sector of West Antarctica from Operation IceBridge gravity and other data."

Authors:

Romain Millan, Vincent Bernier, Mathieu Morlighem: University of California Irvine, Department of Earth System Science, Irvine, California, U.S.A.;

Eric Rignot: University of California Irvine, Department of Earth System Science, Irvine, California, U.S.A., and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, U.S.A.;

Pierre Dutrieux: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, U.S.A.

Contact information for the authors:

Romain Millan: millanr1@uci.edu

Eric Rignot: +1 (949) 824-3739, erignot@uci.edu AGU Contact:

Lauren Lipuma

+1 (202) 777-7396

llipuma@agu.org

University of California Irvine Contact:

Brian Bell+1 (949) 824-8249
Financial ties between researchers and companies that make the drugs they are studying are independently associated with positive trial results, suggesting bias in the evidence base, concludes a study published by The BMJ today.

Relationships with industry are common among investigators of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) - raising concerns about the effect that financial ties may have on the evidence base. But studies investigating these relationships have been conflicting.

So a team of US based researchers set out to investigate the association between financial ties of principal investigators and study outcomes in a random sample of 195 drug trials published in 2013.

They focused on trials that examined the effectiveness of drugs, because these studies have a high impact on both clinical practice and healthcare costs.

More than half (58%) of principal investigators had financial ties to the drug industry - including travel expenses, honorariums, payment for advisory work, or stock ownership.

The results show that trials authored by principal investigators with financial ties to drug manufacturers were more likely than other trials to report favourable results.

Even after accounting for factors that may have affected the results, such as funding source and sample size, financial ties were still significantly associated with positive study outcomes.

The authors point to possible mechanisms linking industry funding, financial ties, and trial results such as bias by selective outcome reporting, lack of publication, and inappropriate analyses.

They stress that their analysis is observational and cannot be used to draw conclusions about causation, but say, given the importance of industry and academic collaboration in advancing the development of new treatments, "more thought needs to be given to the roles that investigators, policy makers, and journal editors can play in ensuring the credibility of the evidence base."

More research is certainly needed to identify how industry funding and financial ties could influence trial results, say Andreas Lundh from the University of Southern Denmark and Lisa Bero from the University of Sydney in a linked editorial.

They urge trial authors to share their data and participate in industry funded trials only if data are made publicly available - and suggest journals could help by rejecting research by authors who are unwilling to share their data and by penalising authors who fail to disclose financial ties. The role of sponsors, or companies with which authors have ties, in the research must also be transparent.

In the meantime, trials with industry funding or authors with financial ties "should be interpreted with caution until all relevant information is fully disclosed and easily accessible," they conclude.

###

Research: Financial ties of principal investigators and randomised controlled trial outcomes: cross sectional study

Editorial: The ties that bind

About BMJ

BMJ is a healthcare knowledge provider that aims to advance healthcare worldwide by sharing knowledge and expertise to improve experiences, outcomes and value. For a full list of BMJ products and services, please visit bmj.com
Experts discuss the devastating effects of prohibition and their reasons for reform

The war on drugs has had devastating effects on human rights and public health worldwide, argue experts in The BMJ today.

In November, the journal argued that prohibition laws have failed and called on doctors to lead the debate on alternative rational policies that promote health and respect dignity.

This week, key players in this debate discuss the harms of prohibition and criminalisation and outline their reasons for drug policy reform.

In the first article, Dainius Puras, UN special rapporteur on the right to health, and Julie Hannah co-director of the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy at the University of Essex, say harsh enforcement of prohibition undermines the right to health and fundamental dignity.

They argue that mass incarceration has overburdened criminal justice systems and left countless people languishing in deplorable facilities in inhumane conditions around the world. While outside the criminal justice system, compulsory detention centres hold people identified as drug users without due process.

Yet they point out that, despite the devastating health and human rights effects, incarceration has failed to deter drug consumption or trafficking.

They believe that drug prohibition and criminalisation is a failed policy model and urge health professionals "to lead efforts to combat societal prejudices and enable reforms that rightfully place individuals and communities at the heart of the response."

Because of harsh national policies to fulfil international treaties that insist on prohibition of non-medical drug use, more than five billion people - 80% of the world's population - have little or no access to medicines such as morphine to treat moderate to severe pain, warns Katherine Pettus at the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, in a second article.

She points out that in 2012 the European Society for Medical Oncology described a "pandemic of untreated cancer pain" as a global health scandal. Four years later, a narrative to improve availability of medicines to treat pain has gained traction and precision globally, but "the changes on the ground in some countries are too little and too slow," she argues.

Availability of controlled medicines must be commensurate with clinical need, with safe distribution and dispensing systems, to overcome the scandalously low consumption levels that for too long have been distorted by the "war on drugs," she concludes.

In a final article, Michel Kazatchkine, UN secretary general special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, argues that the war on drugs leads to denial of evidence based treatment for drug users.

Comprehensive and compelling evidence shows that providing clean needles, opioid substitutes like methadone and antiretroviral therapy to people who inject drugs reduces HIV transmission and long term drug dependency, cuts crime and public disorder, and improves quality of life, he writes.

Russia, however, is strongly prohibitionist and rejects all such policies - and, as he points out, is the only region in the world that still has a growing HIV epidemic.

Harm reduction "has become an example of how health is increasingly being politicised and how policy decisions can be disconnected from scientific evidence," he concludes.

###

Observations: Reasons for drug policy reform: prohibition enables systemic human rights abuses and undermines public health (Puras/Hannah)

Observations: Reasons for drug policy reform: millions of people are left with untreated pain (Pettus)

Observations: Reasons for drug policy reform: people who use drugs are denied evidence based treatment (Kazatchkine)

About BMJ

BMJ is a healthcare knowledge provider that aims to advance healthcare worldwide by sharing knowledge and expertise to improve experiences, outcomes and value. For a full list of BMJ products and services, please visit bmj.com
What's in a face? In addition to their plumage, Pukeko--large purple swamphens found in New Zealand--convey information about their status through their faces. A new study from The Auk: Ornithological Advances shows that the strongest predictor of male dominance in Pukeko is the size of their frontal shield, a fleshy ornament on their bill that can change quickly.

Cody Dey of McMaster University (now at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research) and his colleagues measured the plumage coloration and frontal shield width and coloration of 272 adult Pukeko on New Zealand's North Island, then tested how those traits were related to the dominance hierarchies they observed within groups. While shield color and plumage brightness and color were all related to social dominance, the strongest predictor was frontal shield width. Frontal shield width was also strongly correlated with testes mass, suggesting that it is the primary status signal for males.

Pukeko shields can decrease in size in as little as a week in response to aggressive challenges from other males, thanks to hormonal changes. "The take-home message from this study is that birds use both feather coloration and bare-part coloration as signals, but these different types of signals have different properties, and bare-part signals in particular are probably more accurate because they can be updated," says Dey. "Feather-based signals can only change when the individual molts, which usually only happens once or twice a year. Since we have mostly been studying feather coloration in birds, we might have been missing a great deal of information about the role of avian coloration."

"This exciting study on the understudied Pukeko adds strong support to our growing understanding of bare part signaling. In particular, the authors reveal the dynamic nature of pigmented bare in communicating status and condition information," adds Franklin and Marshall College's Daniel Ardia, an expert on signaling in birds who was not involved with the study. "The differences they find between frontal shield signaling and plumage reveal the complexity of signaling and demonstrates that bare parts are not simply redundant signals."

###

"A bare-part ornament is a stronger predictor of dominance than plumage ornamentation in the cooperatively breeding Australian Swamphen" will be available January 18, 2017, at http://americanornithologypubs.org/doi/full/10.1642/AUK-16-119.1 (issue URL http://americanornithologypubs.org/toc/tauk/134/2).

About the journal: The Auk: Ornithological Advances is a peer-reviewed, international journal of ornithology that began in 1884 as the official publication of the American Ornithologists' Union, which merged with the Cooper Ornithological Society in 2016 to become the American Ornithological Society. In 2009, The Auk was honored as one of the 100 most influential journals of biology and medicine over the past 100 years.
Cold Spring Harbor, NY - Neurodevelopmental disorders like autism very likely have their origin at the dawn of life, with the emergence of inappropriate connectivity between nerve cells in the brain. In one such disorder, Rett syndrome, the pathology is traceable to the failure of a specific gene, called MECP2. Today, a team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) publishes results of experiments in mice suggesting how MECP2 mutations further impair affected individuals later on in life.

In mouse models of Rett syndrome - which in humans is seen overwhelmingly in females - the researchers have demonstrated how failure of Mecp2, the mouse equivalent of the human gene of the same name, has biological consequences that prevent adult females from learning how to gather newborn pups in the days immediately following the pups' birth.

"Pup-gathering behavior is a well-studied behavior in rodents, and an excellent way of testing the impact of Mecp2 mutations on the brain in females of child-bearing age," explains CSHL Associate Professor Stephen Shea, who led the research team.

"Although many people with Rett syndrome have severe handicaps from early in life, they frequently live well into adulthood," notes Keerthi Krishnan, Ph.D., now at University of Tennessee at Knoxville, who, with Billy Lau, Ph.D., performed much of the work as postdoctoral investigators at CSHL. "This is the first study in Rett syndrome we're aware of that explores how brain functions related to an experience-based natural behavior affect the adult female brain," Krishnan says.

The team discovered that during the five days following the birth of pups, normal Mecp2 gene expression is required in order for adult females to learn how to gather wayward pups into a nest. Videos shown here compare the learned pup-retrieval behavior in healthy adult females with the inability of females with impaired Mecp2 expression to learn the task when placed in the same cage as a healthy mom.

This inability to learn was traced by the team to a cascade of failures at the molecular level. These problems begin when both affected and unaffected females increase production of an enzyme called GAD67. The enzyme, in turn, spurs synthesis of the neurotransmitter GABA. These events apparently caused normal neural plasticity to go haywire in affected females. Central to this deficit were so-called PV+ neurons that release GABA in the auditory cortex. In mice with Mecp2 mutations, these neurons expressed elevated levels of parvalbumin (PV), a signaling protein.

When presented with the challenge of gathering newborn pups, adult female mice expressing a mutated and non-functional Mecp2 gene were unable to learn the behavior, which is normally triggered by the pups' high-pitched squeals. The neural network in the auditory cortex -- which processes the sounds -- is literally handcuffed. These same neurons also deployed structures called perineuronal nets (PNNs). PNNs are cage-like structures that assemble in the space surrounding individual PV+ neurons, likely restricting their ability to extend threadlike dendrites, or branches, to form synapses with other neurons. In healthy individuals, the transient forging of synapses lies at the heart of experience-based learning.

The work suggests there is a critical window of heightened sensitivity to cues from the senses - in this case, sounds made by newborn pups - during which neurons in adult females must be able to connect with others in order to learn a key behavior. Such plasticity is what the team found to be specifically inhibited in adult females by the train of events initiated by the PV+ neuronal network when Mecp2 was defective.

"This window of vulnerability reveals a role of Mecp2 mutations in facilitating adult plasticity, and this is distinct from the impact of these mutations on early development of the same individuals," Krishnan points out.

Using genetic and pharmacological interventions, the team was able to manipulate GABA in neural networks in the auditory cortex, restoring the ability of adult female mice to learn how to retrieve pups in the critical five-day window following the birth of pups. Shea suggests this restoration reflects the ability of neurons in the auditory cortex to correctly perceive the vocalizations of pups, something the adult mice modeling Rett syndrome are unable to do.

The lab's work on plasticity and learning is continuing, as is its exploration of the various ways in which Mecp2 mutations are expressed in different individuals. In males, with only one copy of Mecp2 owing to its location on the X chromosome, a severe mutation in the gene is often fatal. Females with Rett syndrome, having two X chromosomes and thus two copies of Mecp2, typically have problems with only one of those copies. Whether their "good" or "bad" copy of the gene is expressed in any given cell at any given moment is a random phenomenon, helping to explain the wide range of impacts Mecp2 mutations can have in different female individuals.

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The research described here was supported by Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), National Institute of Mental Health, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation and International Rett Syndrome Foundation.

"MECP2 regulates cortical plasticity underlying a learned behavior in adult female mice" appears January 18, 2017 in Nature Communications. The authors are: Keerthi Krishnan, Billy Y. B. Lau, Gabrielle Ewall, Z. Josh Huang and Stephen D. Shea. The paper can be accessed at: http://www.nature.com/ncomms/

About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,100 people including 600 scientists, students and technicians. The Meetings & Courses Program hosts more than 12,000 scientists from around the world each year on its campuses in Long Island and in Suzhou, China. The Laboratory's education arm also includes an academic publishing house, a graduate school and programs for middle and high school students and teachers. For more information, visit http://www.cshl.edu
The case involves the alleged killing of a deer when the 51-year-actor and his co-stars - Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu - were shooting for 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' in the forests near Jodhpur in 1998.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: Superstar Salman Khan was acquitted by a Jodhpur court in an Arms Act case linked to killing of a blackbuck 18 years ago in Rajasthan. Khan had pleaded 'not guilty' to charges of violating the law by keeping unlicensed weapons and using them. Acquitting the actor, the court said that the prosecution failed to submit enough evidence against the actor.

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Chief Judicial Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit, after completing the hearing on January 9 in a case registered in 1999, had reserved the judgement for today.

"Justice has won. The prosecution completely failed to prove charges under sec 3/25, 3/27 of Arms Act," Salman's lawyer HS Saraswat told India Today.

"We had argued in the court that there was no evidence that he was carrying fire arms either during his stay here or during alleged poaching. What he was found in possession with, were actually air guns," he said.

Moments after the court's verdict, Salman took to Twitter to thank his fans. "Thank you for all the support and good wishes ," he said.

Thank you for all the support and good wishes Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) January 18, 2017

MUST READ: FROM INDIA TODAY MAGAZINE - Salman's formula number one

"He has been given benefit of doubt. We'll decide on appealing against the verdict after analysing the judgement," said the public prosecutor.

"We'll decide on the further action once we receive the copy of the order," lawyer of Vishnoi Samaj said.

In Pics: Unknown facts about Salman Khan

The case involves the alleged killing of a deer when the 51-year-actor and his co-stars - Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu - were shooting for 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' in the forests near Jodhpur in 1998. In 2007, Salman had spent a week in Jodhpur jail before the court granted him bail.

Besides the cases of poaching of endangered antelopes under Wildlife (Protection) Act, a case under sections 3/25 and 3/27 of the Arms Act was filed against Khan for allegedly keeping and using the fire arms with expired licence in the poaching of blackbucks in Kankani near Jodhpur on October 1-2, 1998.

Khan arrived in the Rajasthan city with his sister Alvira Khan and reached the court ten minutes before the verdict was delivered.

The defence also raised questions on the prosecution permission arguing that it was given by the then district magistrate Rajat Kumar Mishra and was not lawful.

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ALSO READ:Black buck case: Did Salman Khan's political reach help him in Rajasthan?

ALSO READ:Salman Khan's acquittal 'travesty of justice', Maharashtra tells SC WATCH

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(New York, NY--January 19, 2017)--The Chapman Perelman Foundation has contributed $1 million to the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) to expand the Chapman Perelman Domestic Violence Initiative. The Domestic Violence Initiative was created in 2014 with an initial $1 million gift from the Foundation to establish a prototype for providing mental health services to victims of domestic violence, a neglected area in the care of this social problem. Anna Chapman, M.D., a Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons alumna, and Jeffrey Lieberman M.D., Chair of Psychiatry at CUMC, conceived this innovative program to provide on-site clinical psychiatric services in concert with the NYC Family Justice Centers which were established by the Bloomberg Administration to provide legal and social assistance to domestic violence victims who tend, more often than not, to be women and children. This innovative private-academic-public partnership began with a pilot program at the Bronx Family Justice Center (BxFJC). Services provided include psychiatric evaluations, psychopharmacologic treatment and psychotherapy and training of other service providers at the BXFJC.

In recognition of the beneficial impact demonstrated by the BxFJC model, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in 2015 that the city would replicate the services provided by this model to Family Justice Centers city-wide. This new gift facilitates the expansion of this program to the NYC Family Justice Centers in each borough. This expanded program will be administered by the New York City Health and Hospitals (H&H) and the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence.

The Chapman-Perelman gift will provide support to Mayumi Okuda Benavides, M.D. and Rosa Regincos, LCSW, the first Chapman Perelman caregivers at BXFJC, and Columbia Psychiatry faculty members Catherine Monk, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Fitelson, M.D. who will provide technical assistance and domestic violence-specific clinical training and supervision of new mental health clinicians. CUMC will also evaluate, assess, and guide the ongoing improvement of the expanded services

Dr. Lieberman noted that "if not for the humanitarian interest and civic mindedness of generous people like Anna Chapman and Ron Perelman too many public health problems would go untreated. Our goal is to provide each person with the best possible care while contributing to a greater understanding of the causes and generational patterns of domestic violence, in order to break the cycle of violence. It is our hope that the Chapman Perelman Domestic Violence Initiative will provide a model of care that can be adopted by other cities and become a standard component of public health care."

"Domestic violence has traditionally been approached as a legal and social issue, and not from a mental health perspective," said Dr. Chapman. "I believe that in order to combat this devastating problem most effectively, it is crucial to offer qualified medical and psychological support. The Chapman Perelman Foundation is proud to expand this unique partnership between the NYC Family Justice Centers and the Columbia Department of Psychiatry, which both enhances the multitude of services that the FJC provides, and fosters a better understanding of how to help future generations affected by domestic violence."

"Too often, people focus on the physical scars of domestic violence, forgetting that the emotional scars can run even deeper. Thanks to the generosity of the Chapman Perelman Foundation, the expanded partnership between Columbia University Medical Center and the NYC Family Justice Centers will help us provide even more support for victims of domestic violence across the city," said First Lady Chirlane McCray, Chair of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City.

The BXFJC is a public-private initiative lead by the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV). The center is designed to bring together under one roof over 60 domestic violence professionals in a collaborative effort to provide domestic violence victims and children greater support and accessibility to services and resources. This collaborative effort makes the entire process less intimidating to victims and their children and more efficient and effective for everyone involved.

"Since their creation, the NYC Family Justice Centers (FJCs) have provided free and comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and elder abuse and their families. Having the capacity and expertise to focus on the mental health and wellbeing of the survivors who walk through our doors, the FJCs are now able to provide an unprecedented level of care and healing," said Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence Commissioner Cecile Noel. "This groundbreaking holistic approach allows us to treat the survivor while simultaneously helping them rebuild their lives. OCDV is grateful for the vision and partnership of the Chapman Perelman Foundation, NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray and the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, the Columbia University Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, and New York City Health + Hospitals. This initiative will help give survivors the support they need as they take steps to live a life free of violence."

The expanded collaboration will continue to draw on an array of Columbia resources, including the CUMC Women's Mental Health Program, a clinical and research program developed by the Department of Psychiatry in collaboration with the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Sackler Parent-Infant Program at Columbia's Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, which conducts clinical research dedicated to the science of infant intervention services.

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Columbia University Department of Psychiatry

Columbia Psychiatry is ranked among the best departments and psychiatric research facilities in the nation and has contributed greatly to the understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders. It is home to distinguished clinicians and researchers noted for their clinical and research advances in the diagnosis and treatment of depression, suicide, schizophrenia, bipolar and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and childhood psychiatric disorders. Visit http://columbiapsychiatry.org/ for more information.

Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence

The Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, established in 2001, oversees the citywide delivery of domestic violence services, develops policies and programs, and works with diverse communities to increase awareness of domestic violence. The NYC Family Justice Centers are a public-private initiative of the OCDV. These one-stop domestic violence service centers reduce barriers and make it easier for victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, and sex trafficking to get the help that they need, in their language, regardless of immigration status, income, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Currently, OCDV operates four NYC Family Justice Centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens with a fifth Center opening in Staten Island in 2015.

The Chapman Perelman Foundation

The Chapman Perelman Foundation is a private foundation formed in 2010 by Anna Chapman and Ronald O. Perelman, which supports a range of social, educational and scientific causes, with a primary focus on advancing the scientific field of neuro-psychoanalysis, mental health, and medical research.

The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City

The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, which facilitates innovative public-private partnerships throughout New York City's five boroughs. The Fund relies on individuals, foundations, and corporations to support public programs in areas including the environment, youth development, financial empowerment, health, volunteerism and the arts.

Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, preclinical, and clinical research; medical and health sciences education; and patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Columbia University Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast. The campus that Columbia University Medical Center shares with its hospital partner, NewYork-Presbyterian, is now called the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. For more information, visit cumc.columbia.edu or columbiadoctors.org.
The construction of the 39-metre ELT, the largest optical/near-infrared telescope in the world, is moving forward. The giant telescope employs a complex five-mirror optical system that has never been used before and requires optical and mechanical elements that stretch modern technology to its limits.

Contracts for the manufacture of several of these challenging telescope components have just been signed by ESO's Director General, Tim de Zeeuw, and representatives of three industrial contractors in the ESO Member States.

Introducing the ceremony, Tim de Zeeuw said: "It gives me great pleasure to sign these four contracts today, each for advanced components at the heart of the ELT's revolutionary optical system. They underline how the construction of this giant telescope is moving ahead at full speed -- on target for first light in 2024. We at ESO look forward to working with SCHOTT, SENER and FAMES -- three leading industrial partners from our Member States."

The first two contracts were signed with SCHOTT by Christoph Fark, Executive Vice President. They cover the casting of the ELT's largest single mirrors -- the 4.2-metre secondary and 3.8-metre tertiary mirror -- from SCHOTT's low-expansion ceramic material Zerodur [1].

Hanging upside-down at the top of the telescope structure, high above the 39-metre primary mirror, the secondary mirror will be largest ever employed on a telescope and the largest convex mirror ever produced [2]. The concave tertiary mirror is also an unusual feature of the telescope [3]. The ELT secondary and tertiary mirrors will rival in size the primary mirrors of many modern-day research telescopes and weigh 3.5 and 3.2 tonnes respectively [4]. The secondary mirror is to be delivered by the end of 2018 and the tertiary by July 2019.

The third contract was signed with the SENER Group by Diego Rodriguez, Space Department Director. It covers the provision of the sophisticated support cells for the ELT secondary and tertiary mirrors and the associated complex active optics systems that will ensure these massive, but flexible, mirrors retain their correct shapes and are correctly positioned within the telescope. Great precision is needed if the telescope is to deliver optimum image quality [5].

The fourth contract was signed by Didier Roziere, Managing Director (FAMES, Fogale), and Martin Sellen, Managing Director (FAMES, Micro-Epsilon), on behalf of the FAMES consortium, which is composed of Fogale and Micro-Epsilon. The contract covers the fabrication of a total of 4608 edge sensors for the 798 hexagonal segments of the ELT's primary mirror [6].

These sensors are the most accurate ever used in a telescope and can measure relative positions to an accuracy of a few nanometres. They form a fundamental part of the very complex system that will continuously sense the locations of the ELT primary mirror segments relative to their neighbours and allow the segments to work together to form a perfect imaging system. It is a huge challenge not only to make sensors with the required precision, but also to produce them quickly enough for thousands to be delivered to the necessarily short timescales.

The signing ceremony was also attended by other senior representatives of the companies involved and ESO. It was an excellent opportunity for representatives of the contractors producing many of the giant telescope's optical and mechanical components to get to know each other informally as they begin to help create the world's biggest eye on the sky.

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Notes

[1] Zerodur was originally developed for astronomical telescopes in the late 1960s. It has almost no thermal expansion, which means that even in the case of large temperature fluctuations, the material does not expand. Chemically, the material is very resistant and can be polished to a high standard of finish. The actual reflective layer, made of aluminum or silver, is usually vaporised onto the extremely smooth surface shortly before the telescope is put into operation. Many well-known telescopes with Zerodur mirrors have been operating reliably for decades. They include, for example, ESO's Very Large Telescope in Chile.

[2] As it is a highly convex, aspherical mirror, fabrication of the secondary is a considerable challenge and the result will be a truly remarkable example of precision optical engineering. As with many elements of the ELT it will be a genuine first in this area of technology. The total weight of the secondary mirror and its support system is 12 tonnes -- and since it hangs over the primary great care must be taken to prevent the mirror from falling!

[3] Most current large telescopes, including the VLT and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, use just two curved mirrors to form an image. In these cases a tertiary mirror is sometimes introduced to divert the light to a convenient focus -- that mirror is typically small and flat. However, in the ELT the tertiary also has a curved surface, the use of three mirrors delivering a better final image quality over a larger field of view than would be possible with a two-mirror design.

[4] The contract for the polishing of the secondary mirror has already been awarded.

[5] The M2 and M3 cells are complex mechanisms more than 6.5 metres wide and weighing close to 12 tonnes including the mirrors themselves. They provide alignment and tracking capabilities with a high precision hexapod with an absolute accuracy of tens of micrometres. The cells also compensate for mirror surface deformations in the order of tens of nanometres by means of an innovative solution using warping harnesses and lateral supports.

[6] At this time 3288 have been firmly ordered (for the ELT Phase 1) and an additional 1320 will be included in the ELT Phase 2, making 4608 in total.

More information

ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the world's largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope, the ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky".

Links

* Further information about the ELT - http://eso.org/e-elt

* Further information on SCHOTT - http://schott.de

* Further information on the SENER group - http://www.aerospace.sener

* Further information on Fogale - http://www.fogale.fr/ and Micro-Epsilon - http://www.micro-epsilon.com/?sLang=en (the FAMES consortium)

Contacts

Richard Hook

ESO Public Information Officer

Garching bei Munchen, Germany

Tel: +49 89 3200 6655

Cell: +49 151 1537 3591

Email: rhook@eso.org
World-renowned researchers from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University as well as Harvard Medical School address the possible but unproven link between statins and diabetes, as well as the implications of prescription of statins for clinicians and their patients, in a commentary published in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine. The editor-in-chief of the journal published the commentary and an editorial he wrote online ahead of print.

Charles H. Hennekens, M.D, Dr.P.H., the first Sir Richard Doll professor and senior academic advisor to the dean, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU; Bettina Teng, BA, a recent pre-med honors graduate of the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College at FAU; and Marc A. Pfeffer, M.D., Ph.D., the Dzau professor of medicine at HMS, emphasize to clinicians that the risk of diabetes, even if real, pales in comparison to the benefits of statins in both the treatment and primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes.

"The totality of evidence clearly indicates that the more widespread and appropriate utilization of statins, as adjuncts, not alternatives to therapeutic lifestyle changes, will yield net benefits in the treatment and primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes, including among high, medium and low risk patients unwilling or unable to adopt therapeutic lifestyle changes," said Hennekens.

In the accompanying editorial, Joseph S. Alpert, M.D., editor-in-chief and a renowned cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of Arizona School of Medicine, reinforces these important and timely clinical and public health challenges in treatment and primary prevention.

"There is no threshold for low density lipoprotein cholesterol below which there are no net benefits of statins either in the treatment or primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes," said Alpert.

The authors and editorialist express grave concerns that there will be many needless premature deaths as well as preventable heart attacks and strokes if patients who would clearly benefit from statins are not prescribed the drug, refuse to take the drug, or stop using the drug because of ill-advised adverse publicity about benefits and risks, which may include misplaced concerns about the possible but unproven small risk of diabetes.

"These public health issues are especially alarming in primary prevention, particularly among women, for whom cardiovascular disease also is the leading cause of death, and for whom there is even more underutilization of statins than for men," said Hennekens.

At its national meeting in November 2013, the American Heart Association, in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology, presented and published its new guidelines for the use of statins in the treatment and primary prevention of heart attacks and strokes, in which the organizations also recommended wider utilization in both treatment and prevention.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading killer among men and women, causing approximately 600,000 deaths each year.

Among the numerous honors and recognitions Hennekens has received include the 2013 Fries Prize for Improving Health for his seminal contributions to the treatment and primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, the 2013 Presidential Award from his alma mater, Queens College, for his distinguished contributions to society, and the 2013 American Heart Association Award, which he shared with the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU for reducing premature deaths from heart attacks and strokes. From 1995 to 2005, Science Watch ranked him as the third most widely cited medical researcher in the world and five of the top 20 were his former trainees and/or fellows. In 2012, Science Heroes ranked Hennekens No. 81 in the history of the world for having saved more than 1.1 million lives. In 2014, he received the Ochsner Award for reducing premature deaths from cigarettes. In 2016, he was ranked the No. 14 "Top Scientist in the World" with an H-index of 173.

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About the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine:

FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of 141 accredited medical schools in the U.S. The college was launched in 2010, when the Florida Board of Governors made a landmark decision authorizing FAU to award the M.D. degree. After receiving approval from the Florida legislature and the governor, it became the 134th allopathic medical school in North America. With more than 70 full and part-time faculty and more than 1,300 affiliate faculty, the college matriculates 64 medical students each year and has been nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum. To further FAU's commitment to increase much needed medical residency positions in Palm Beach County and to ensure that the region will continue to have an adequate and well-trained physician workforce, the FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Consortium for Graduate Medical Education (GME) was formed in fall 2011 with five leading hospitals in Palm Beach County. In June 2014, FAU's College of Medicine welcomed its inaugural class of 36 residents in its first University-sponsored residency in internal medicine.

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU's existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit http://www.fau.edu.
Harvard University and Boston Children's Hospital researchers have developed a customizable soft robot that fits around a heart and helps it beat, potentially opening new treatment options for people suffering from heart failure.

The soft robotic sleeve twists and compresses in synch with a beating heart, augmenting cardiovascular functions weakened by heart failure. Unlike currently available devices that assist heart function, Harvard's soft robotic sleeve does not directly contact blood. This reduces the risk of clotting and eliminates the need for a patient to take potentially dangerous blood thinner medications. The device may one day be able to bridge a patient to transplant or to aid in cardiac rehabilitation and recovery.

"This research demonstrates that the growing field of soft robotics can be applied to clinical needs and potentially reduce the burden of heart disease and improve the quality of life for patients," said Ellen T. Roche, the paper's first author and former PhD student at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and The Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. Roche is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the National University of Ireland.

The research, published in Science Translational Medicine, was a collaboration between SEAS, the Wyss Institute and Boston Children's Hospital.

"This work represents an exciting proof of concept result for this soft robot, demonstrating that it can safely interact with soft tissue and lead to improvements in cardiac function. We envision many other future applications where such devices can delivery mechanotherapy both inside and outside of the body," said Conor Walsh, senior author of the paper and the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences at SEAS and Core Faculty Member at the Wyss Institute.

Heart failure affects 41 million people worldwide. Today, some of the options to treat it are mechanical pumps called ventricular assist devices (VADs), which pump blood from the ventricles into the aorta, and heart transplant. While VADs are continuously improving, patients are still at high risk for blood clots and stroke.

To create an entirely new device that doesn't come into contact with blood, Harvard researchers took inspiration from the heart itself. The thin silicone sleeve uses soft pneumatic actuators placed around the heart to mimic the outer muscle layers of the mammalian heart. The actuators twist and compress the sleeve in a similar motion to the beating heart.

The device is tethered to an external pump, which uses air to power the soft actuators.

The sleeve can be customized for each patient, said Roche. If a patient has more weakness on the left side of the heart, for example, the actuators can be tuned to give more assistance on that side. The pressure of the actuators can also increase or decrease over time, as the patient's condition evolves.

The sleeve is attached to the heart using a combination of a suction device, sutures and a gel interface to help with friction between the device and the heart.

The SEAS and Wyss engineers worked with surgeons at Boston Children's Hospital to develop the device and determine the best ways to implant the device and test it on animal models.

"The cardiac field had turned away from idea of developing heart compression instead of blood-pumping VADs due to technological limitations, but now with advancements in soft robotics it's time to turn back," said Frank Pigula, a cardiothoracic surgeon and co-corresponding author on the study, who was formerly clinical director of pediatric cardiac surgery at Boston Children's Hospital and is now a faculty member at University of Louisville and division chief of pediatric cardiac surgery at Kosair Children's Hospital. "Most people with heart failure do still have some function left; one day the robotic sleeve may help their heart work well enough that their quality of life can be restored."

More research needs to be done before the sleeve can be implanted in humans but the research is an important first step towards an implantable soft robot that can augment organ function.

"This research is really significant at the moment because more and more people are surviving heart attacks and ending up with heart failure," said Roche. "Soft robotic devices are ideally suited to interact with soft tissue and give assistance that can help with augmentation of function, and potentially even healing and recovery."

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The research was co-authored by Markus A. Horvath, Isaac Wamala, Ali Alazmani, Sang-Eun Song, William Whyte, Zurab Machaidze, Christopher J. Payne, James Weaver, Gregory Fishbein, Joseph Kuebler, Nikolay V.Vasilyev and David J. Mooney.

It was supported by the Translational Research Program grant from Boston Children's Hospital, a Director's Challenge Cross-Platform grant from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Science Foundation Ireland.
A multidisciplinary team of researchers at KU Leuven (University of Leuven, Belgium) has developed a dental implant that gradually releases drugs from a built-in reservoir. This helps prevent and fight infections.

Our mouth contains many micro-organisms, including bacterial and fungal pathogens. On traditional dental implants, these pathogens can quickly form a so-called biofilm, which is resistant to antimicrobial drugs like antibiotics. As a result, these implants come with a significant risk of infections that may be difficult to treat.

KU Leuven researchers have now developed a new dental implant that reduces the risk of infections. "Our implant has a built-in reservoir underneath the crown of the tooth," explains lead author Kaat De Cremer. "A cover screw makes it easy to fill this reservoir with antimicrobial drugs (see image 1). The implant is made of a porous composite material, so that the drugs gradually diffuse from the reservoir to the outside of the implant, which is in direct contact with the bone cells (see image 2). As a result, the bacteria can no longer form a biofilm."

In the lab, the implant was subjected to various tests for use with chlorhexidine, a universal mouthwash with a powerful antimicrobial effect. The study shows that the Streptococcus mutans, a type of mouth bacteria that affect the teeth, can no longer form biofilms on the outside of the implant when the reservoir is filled with the mouthwash. Biofilms that were grown beforehand on the implant could be eliminated in the same way. This means that the implant is effective in terms of both preventing and curing infections.

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This study was led by Dr Karin Thevissen, Dr Kaat De Cremer, and Dr Annabel Braem. It is a collaboration between the KU Leuven Centre for Microbial and Plant Genetics, the KU Leuven Department of Materials Engineering, the KU Leuven Biomaterials Research Unit, and the KU Leuven Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis. The study was funded by the KU Leuven Industrial Research Fund.
Michigan State University-led research has found a big difference in the yields produced by alternative agricultural practices in commercial fields compared with the same practices in the small experimental plots ordinarily used to test them.

These differences have important implications for closing the global yield gap between research plots and farmer fields, especially for low-input practices adopted by organic farmers in the United States and by resource-strapped farmers in less developed regions.

The study, published in the latest issue of PNAS, compared the yields of a crop rotation of wheat, corn and soybeans under three different management practices: conventional, low-input and organic. The tests were conducted at small experimental plots and the much larger commercial field level. Though researchers found no appreciable difference in the yields produced at either level for conventional crop management, they noted a significant yield gap for both low-input and organic management.

According to Sasha Kravchenko, lead author and MSU plant biologist, this difference can be attributed to the additional challenges that large-scale production presents to both low-input and organic practices. Conventional management relies on the uniform application of chemical inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides, practices that can easily be scaled up to larger fields. In contrast, low-input and organic management require much more labor-intensive work, as well as the cultivation of cover crops, which is more difficult to perform consistently on large tracts of land. Because of the difficulty of scaling up low-input and organic practices to commercial fields, those farmers may see as much as a 30 percent lower yield than research suggests.

"The big conclusion is that, when you have management practices that require a lot of time and effort, and when the success of the practice requires more work than a farmer could reasonably do in an entire farm, then we as scientists need to adjust our recommendations," said Kravchenko, who's also an MSU AgBioResearch scientist. "Our study shows that if you don't invest in field-scale studies, you run the risk of recommending impractical methods that won't produce the promised level of return."

Kravchenko's team, the Long-Term Ecological Research team at the MSU's Kellogg Biological Station, found a number of factors that influenced the yield gap between experimental plots and commercial fields. One of the most significant factors was the need for cover crops. Because low-input and organic agriculture do not rely on chemical fertilizers, low-input farmers must instead look to cover crops such as red clover to enrich their soil with nitrogen. Chemical fertilizers can be spread uniformly, but the variability in elevation, soil quality and moisture levels present in commercial-scale fields means that cover crops may not perform at the same level throughout, resulting in uneven soil health benefits and subsequently reduced yield overall. In a smaller experimental plot, more care can be taken to ensure that cover crops are established and flourish. This level of maintenance becomes less practical in a larger setting.

The team also found challenges in weed management. Without access to the same volumes and types of chemical sprays to control weeds in conventional systems, low-input and organic farmers must use more time-consuming methods such as rotary tilling in their fields. This can provide sufficient weed control in smaller plots, but again, when scaled up to commercial levels, the practice can become impractical without the right access to labor.

"These findings show that we need to pay more attention to scale in our research, as farmers face tradeoffs and time-sensitive use of resources," said Sieg Snapp, MSU crop and soil scientist and co-author. "This needs to be reflected in our recommendations for more sustainable farming."

Kravchenko said she hopes that this work will highlight the need for more field-scale experiments to provide farmers with the best, most practical information they need.

"My biggest hope is that the study raises awareness," Kravchenko said. "Some level of discrepancy between findings from small plots and what farmers will experience is always anticipated, but this work shows that such discrepancies can be profound. Large field experiments aren't just a luxury but something that must be done, especially for testing practices that require extra skills and labor."

Phil Robertson, director of MSU's Kellogg Biological Station Long-term Ecological Research Program, also contributed to this study.

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An ambitious, emergency plan to help save the vaquita porpoise from extinction in the northern Gulf of California has been recommended by the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA). The plan involves relocating some of the remaining vaquitas to a temporary sanctuary, while crucial efforts aimed at eliminating illegal fishing and removing gillnets from their environment continue. The emergency action plan will be led by the Mexican government and supported by a consortium of marine mammal experts from more than a dozen organizations around the world.

Despite substantial efforts by the Mexican government to protect vaquitas, the recovery team recently reviewed the latest results from advanced acoustic monitoring technology that showed the vaquita population continuing to rapidly decline. "We are watching this precious native species disappear before our eyes," said Rafael Pacchiano, Mexico's Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources. "This critical rescue effort is a priority for the Mexican government and we are dedicated to providing the necessary resources in order to give the plan its best chance of success." The plan will be implemented in tandem with ongoing efforts to remove the threat of gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California and eliminate illegal fishing.

VaquitaCPR (Conservation, Protection and Recovery) is an emergency action plan of the Mexican government with the input of an expert group of conservation scientists and marine mammal veterinarians. Recovery operations are set to begin in Mexico in the next few months. The plan acknowledges the many uncertainties involved in finding, catching and maintaining vaquitas in a temporary sanctuary. Vaquitas are not only rare, they avoid motorized vessels and no one can predict how they will react. "Unlike condors, we expect that most vaquitas will remain in the wild as capturing even a few will be very difficult," says Dr. Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, lead vaquita researcher and head of CIRVA. "Having some is still better than having none. The decline is happening faster than solutions for illegal fishing, so we need to have multiple strategies."

While the vaquita is the animal most critically affected by the illegal fishing nets now, the lives of many other important species are also in jeopardy from the very same nets. Even if we are not able to save the vaquita, the situation must be controlled to protect turtles, sharks, dolphins and many other marine creatures. "Experts from around the world have come together and are working to save the vaquita in much the same way conservationists rescued the California condor from extinction in the 1980s," said Dr. Sam Ridgway, President of the National Marine Mammal Foundation. "We recognize that the odds are stacked against us, but the conservation and scientific communities feel a duty to act and we hope our collective expertise can make a difference."

The emergency action plan has been adopted by Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) on the recommendation of their expert advisory group, the Comite Internacional Para La Recuperacion De La Vaquita (CIRVA). Under SEMARNAT leadership, the National Marine Mammal Foundation, The Marine Mammal Center, and the Chicago Zoological Society will help coordinate the efforts of a multi-institutional, international conservation team.

The precipitous decline of the vaquita has been primarily driven by accidental deaths of the porpoises in fishing gillnets. In 2015, the Mexican government instituted a two-year gillnet ban over the range of the vaquita. Additionally, the Mexican government implemented a financial compensation program to provide income to fishermen affected by the two-year gillnet ban. Despite strong enforcement, illegal gillnets are still being set to catch an endangered fish known as totoaba, the swim bladders of which fetch large sums of money on Hong Kong and Chinese black markets. Thus, despite tens of millions of dollars invested by the Mexican government in preventing vaquita by-catch, the population continues to decline.

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VaquitaCPR is an international conservation program led by SEMARNAT in coordination with the National Marine Mammal Foundation, The Marine Mammal Center, and the Chicago Zoological Society. Key collaborators in Mexico include Instituto Nacional de Ecologia (INECC), Asociacion Mexicana de Habitats para la Interaccion y Proteccion de Mamiferos Marinos (AMHMAR), Baja Aqua Farms, and Acuario Oceanico. United States collaborators include Duke University and the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, Disney Conservation Fund Rapid Response program, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contributing technical support. European collaborators include Dolfinarium Harderwijk, Aarhus University, and Fjord&Baelt. Additional support and expertise has been offered from Dolphin Quest, SeaWorld, and the Vancouver Aquarium. Generous financial support from the Waitt Foundation and the Disney Conservation Rapid Response Fund helped with creation of the emergency action plan. VaquitaCPR operates as a private and public partnership, relying on both individual donors and government grants. For information about the plan, visit http://www.VaquitaCPR.org.
The Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust has renewed its funding commitment to the Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC), an innovative research and education collaboration of Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Chicago that has helped establish the Chicago area as a leader in biomedical sciences.

The Searle Funds has pledged $21 million over five years, including $5 million for the first year, which began Jan. 1. This extraordinary support will continue to stimulate the CBC's multi-institutional, interdisciplinary collaborations for improving human health. During the prior decade of CBC Phase 1, many notable discoveries have been made in a wide array of biomedical fields.

The CBC is launching an important second phase: a focus on fostering a culture of entrepreneurship among university researchers. New initiatives include a forum for academic and industry scientists to discuss commercialization ideas and a program supporting translational research projects with funding and early commercial guidance.

"The CBC is an engine for innovation, powered by the brilliant faculty of three world-class institutions," said Terry Mazany, president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust. "It is this level of innovation that will distinguish cities competitive in the 21st century."

"In the past 10 years, the CBC has made remarkable strides, leveraging the talents and resources of Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and UIC to boost discovery and the Chicago region's economy," said Renee Michaels, vice president of Kinship Foundation, a private operating foundation established to advance the Searle family's institutional philanthropy.

"We're pleased to continue to support the CBC as it enters Phase 2, where it will apply the values of collaboration to strengthen connections within our biomedical ecosystem, build a stronger pipeline for discoveries to reach the marketplace and strengthen the entrepreneurial culture within the universities around life sciences," Michaels said. She and Mazany delivered remarks at a Dec. 16 special event celebrating the Chicago Biomedical Consortium and the continued support of the Searle Funds.

Members of the Searle family were instrumental in establishing the CBC and have supported the enterprise through the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust since the CBC's inception in 2006.

For 11 years, the CBC has enabled risk-taking discovery science, resulting in an increased understanding of the biology underlying an array of medical conditions, such as heart disease, autism, leukemia, diabetes and Parkinson's disease. Areas of supported research include drug discovery, epigenetics, biomedical engineering, proteomics and systems biology, to name just a few.

With a strong foundation in place, the CBC now is poised to accelerate the translation of scientific discovery to clinical application and the development of therapeutics. This will help bolster the biotechnology community in the Chicago area.

The CBC's two new accelerator programs will partner with existing programs at the three universities to help identify promising research for which a boost of advice and support may make a difference in timing and outcome. These initiatives are:

CBC Accelerator Network. This forum will regularly bring together academic and industry scientists to discuss ideas for commercialization and to educate entrepreneurial-minded researchers about market realities.

CBC Accelerator Awards. This program will support translational research and provide university researchers with early commercial guidance. The awards will be used to support the initial -- and therefore highest risk -- stage of commercially directed research. Industry experts will participate in the merit-based selection of projects.

Also new is the CBC Entrepreneurial Postdoctoral Fellowship program. It will identify and support a cohort of young researchers interested in working in the biotech startup space of Chicago.

During its first decade, the CBC distributed close to $50 million for a range of initiatives, including innovative collaborative research, faculty recruitment, cutting-edge scientific instruments, small molecule discovery, entrepreneurship programs and support of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.

More than 1,000 faculty members from the three institutions have applied for CBC funding, with 408 having received awards. The CBC support helped faculty secure an additional $514 million in grant funding from external sources, primarily the National Institutes of Health, since 2006.

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Additional comments about the CBC and the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust:

Michael Amiridis, chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago:

"For a decade now, the vision and commitment of the CBC to link the complementary research strengths of the Chicago area's three major research universities have developed a record of innovation and economic development for the city and the region. And we are only getting started. We are most grateful to the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust and confident that their ongoing support of our tripartite collaboration will continue to produce significant breakthroughs."

Morton Schapiro, president, Northwestern University:

"Over the past decade, the investments of the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust in the CBC have been transformative in fostering scientific collaborations with our partner universities. Through these investments, our scientific teams have made notable discoveries in areas including drug development and cancer diagnostics. We are most enthusiastic about the promise of the CBC Phase 2 award to accelerate the translation of scientific discovery toward clinical applications through its strategies to foster a culture of entrepreneurship."

Robert J. Zimmer, president, University of Chicago:

"The success of the CBC demonstrates the power of biomedical collaboration among these three institutions, made possible by philanthropic support that has produced tangible benefits. It is an important commitment for our region and for continued innovation that is making an impact across many biomedical disciplines. We are grateful for the renewal of support from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust."

Dr. Lucy A. Godley, professor in the section of hematology/oncology, department of medicine, and CBC scientific director, University of Chicago:

"I am extremely appreciative of the support from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust to advance biomedical research across our three universities. I am excited to work with my co-scientific directors Rick Morimoto and Brian Kay, Katie Stallcup and the entire CBC staff, as well as our incredibly talented faculty to realize the vision of expanding the focus of our work within the CBC in the upcoming Phase 2 projects."

Brian Kay, professor of biological sciences and CBC scientific director, University of Illinois at Chicago:

"The CBC has been transformative in the way it has brought together researchers at the three universities and consequently made the city's biomedical scientific community much stronger. Faculty no longer look just to the two coasts for collaborators. In addition, the CBC has facilitated new levels of sharing of instrumentation and core facilities. This has enhanced our infrastructures, which is especially important at a time of limited federal grant support."

Richard I. Morimoto, the Bill and Gayle Cook Professor of Biology in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and CBC scientific director, Northwestern University:

"The CBC's efforts to establish a biomedical community such as this is unique across the country, and it will distinguish Chicago as a destination for research and training. We will continue to bring together the most exciting researchers to share their discoveries and partner with others to accelerate discovery and translation."
Wednesday, 18 January, 2017: An innovative soft robotic sleeve which can help a heart to beat has been developed by researchers including Dr Ellen Roche of National University of Ireland Galway. The soft robotic sleeve wraps around the organ, twisting and compressing in synch with the beating heart, potentially opening new treatment options for people suffering from heart failure.

The research has been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine today.

Dr Roche is the paper's first author and former PhD student at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and The Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. The research took place at Harvard and at Boston Children's Hospital.

While other therapeutic systems known as ventricular assist devices (VADs) are already used to sustain end-stage heart failure patients awaiting transplant, they extend lives albeit at a high risk due to the number of complications that can occur resulting from their design. Complications include the risk of clotting requiring patients to take potentially dangerous blood thinner medications. Unlike VADs, the soft robotic sleeve does not directly contact blood, avoiding that risk.

With heart failure affecting 41 million people worldwide, the hope is the device may one day be able to bridge a patient to transplant or to aid in cardiac rehabilitation and recovery. "This research demonstrates that the growing field of soft robotics can be applied to clinical needs and potentially reduce the burden of heart disease and improve the quality of life for patients," explains Dr Roche, now a postdoctoral researcher with Professor Peter McHugh in biomedical engineering at National University of Ireland Galway, where she also previously studied for her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering.

To create an entirely new device that does not come into contact with blood, the researchers took inspiration from the heart itself. The thin silicone sleeve uses soft pneumatic actuators placed around the heart to mimic the outer muscle layers of the mammalian heart. The actuators twist and compress the sleeve in a similar motion to the beating heart. The device is tethered to an external pump, which uses air to power the soft actuators.

"The sleeve can be customized for each patient", said Dr Roche. If a patient has more weakness on the left side of the heart, for example, the actuators can be tuned to give more assistance on that side. The pressure of the actuators can also increase or decrease over time, as the patient's condition evolves.

More research needs to be done before the sleeve can be implanted in humans but the work is an important first step towards an implantable soft robot that can augment organ function.

"This research is really significant at the moment because more and more people are ending up with heart failure," said Roche. "Soft robotic devices are ideally suited to interact with soft tissue and give assistance that can help with augmentation of function, and potentially even healing and recovery."

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Senior authors on the study are Professor Conor Walsh, director of the Harvard Biodesign Lab, and Dr Frank Pigula, who was at Boston Childrens Hospital when the research was conducted. The study was co-authored by Markus A. Horvath, Isaac Wamala, Ali Alazmani, Sang-Eun Song, William Whyte, Zurab Machaidze, Christopher J. Payne, James Weaver, Gregory Fishbein, Joseph Kuebler, Nikolay V.Vasilyev and David J. Mooney.

It was supported by the Translational Research Program grant from Boston Children's Hospital, a Director's Challenge Cross-Platform grant from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Science Foundation Ireland. Photo captions:

Dr Ellen Roche: An innovative soft robotic sleeve which can help a heart to beat has been developed by researchers including Dr Ellen Roche of National University of Ireland Galway. Dr Roche is pictured at the University where she is now a postdoctoral researcher.

Science Translational Medicine: The research, which took place at Harvard and at Boston Children's Hospital, has been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine today (Under strict embargo until 2pm US ET, Wednesday, 18 January, 2017 or 7pm GMT.)

For further information contact Ruth Hynes, Press and Information Executive, NUI Galway on 091 495695, 0868280521 or ruth.hynes@nuigalway.ie About NUI Galway

The University was established in the heart of Galway City, on the west coast of Ireland, in 1845. Since then it has advanced knowledge teaching and learning, through research and innovation, and community engagement.

Over 18,000 students study at NUI Galway, where 2,600 staff provide the very best in research-led education.

NUI Galway's teaching and research is recognised through its consistent rise in international rankings. The University is placed in the Top 250 of both the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2016/2017 and the QS World University Rankings 2016/17.

With an extensive network of industry, community and academic collaborators around the world, NUI Galway researchers are tackling some of the most pressing issues of our times. Internationally renowned research centres based here include CURAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices, Insight Centre for Data Analytics, Moore Institute, Institute for Life course and Society and The Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy.

NUI Galway has been listed as one of the most beautiful universities in Europe according to Business Insider. For more information visit http://www.nuigalway.ie or view all NUI Galway news here.

*The University's official title is National University of Ireland Galway. Please note that the only official abbreviation is NUI Galway.
On Wednesday, January 11, 2017, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that the Crafoord Prize would be awarded to Specially Appointed Professor Shimon Sakaguchi of the Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC).

The award ceremony will be held this May in Stockholm.

The Crafoord Prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences annually in one of 4 different fields: astronomy and mathematics, geosciences, biosciences, and polyarthritis. Professor Sakaguchi is the 4th Japanese researcher to receive the award, and the 3rd from Osaka University following former Osaka University President Tadamitsu Kishimoto (now Specially Appointed Professor, IFReC) and former Osaka University President Toshio Hirano.

This award in the field of polyarthritis was awarded to three individuals including Professor Sakaguchi "for their discoveries relating to regulatory T cells, which counteract harmful immune reactions in arthritis and other autoimmune diseases."

Comment from Professor Sakaguchi:

Being able to receive this award in the footsteps of Professor Kishimoto and Professor Hirano, both distinguished leaders in the fields of autoimmune diseases and arthritis, is a great honor. Researchers of regulatory T cells have increased in the past 20 years, and research toward application to human beings is being carried out all over the world. I will use this award as motivation for my research endeavors in the future.

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The registration for voter's card ends on February 17. Earliest the Kenyan men register, sooner the boycott ends.

By India Today Web Desk: An MP in Kenya has asked women in the country to restrain from sex with their husbands until the men register as voters for the elections which are taking place on August 8.

The registration for voter's card ends on February 17.

Mishi Mboko, the women's representative for the coastal city of Mombasa says that it was the best strategy to shore up opposition votes.

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"Women, this is the strategy you should adopt. It is the best. Deny them sex until they show you their voter's card," Mboko said, according to a BBC report.

The MP said sex that was a powerful weapon and this denial would encourage reluctant men to rush to register as voters in the exercise that began on Monday.

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Los Angeles, CA (January 18, 2016) SAGE Publishing is pleased to announce the release of the four-volume set, The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science Perspectives. Unlike traditional war encyclopedias that focus on military science and history, The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science Perspectives also covers the effect of wars on culture, trade, societies, and more.

"We need an appreciation of the multiple effects of war, not only on soldiers but on civilians, on the environment, and in diffuse but still powerful legacies that become woven into family life, neighborhoods, the civic sphere, and the organization of the economy," writes Paul Joseph, Editor. "An encyclopedia that deliberately focuses on social science perspectives is well situated to investigate this broader social context of war."

The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science Perspectives includes approximately 700 signed entries on concepts and theories of war, how wars are conducted, issues related to reconciliation, and more. The four-volume set also includes an entry on each nation in the world, religions, and battles with significant legacies, from medieval wars to the War in Afghanistan.

Many of the entries are from key academics in an array of fields, such as communication and mass media, economics, political science, sociology, and more. Other contributors include both war critics and those from military backgrounds.

The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science Perspectives includes a Readers Guide that organizes entries by disciplinary areas and topical themes, and all the entries conclude with cross-references and suggestions for further readings. In addition, the Resource Guide directs readers to books, journals, and electronic resources for in-depth study.

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Read more information about the text on its website. A FREE online trial of SAGE Knowledge, including The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science Perspectives, is available by emailing librarysales@sagepub.com.

The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science Perspectives

October 2016 2,104 pages

ISBN: 978-1-4833-5989-2 Print Price: $650.00

eISBN: 978-1-4833-5987-8

Sara Miller McCune founded SAGE Publishing in 1965 to support the dissemination of usable knowledge and educate a global community. SAGE is a leading international provider of innovative, high-quality content publishing more than 1,000 journals and over 800 new books each year, spanning a wide range of subject areas. Our growing selection of library products includes archives, data, case studies and video. SAGE remains majority owned by our founder and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company's continued independence. Principal offices are located in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC and Melbourne. http://www.sagepublishing.com
While most of us haven't heard of astrocytes, these cells are four times as plentiful in the human brain as nerve cells. Now, a team led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine has found that astrocytes, which perform many indispensable functions in the brain, can take on a villainous character, destroying nerve cells and likely driving many neurodegenerative diseases.

A study describing the findings will be published online Jan. 18 in Nature.

"We've learned astrocytes aren't always the good guys," said the study's senior author, Ben Barres, MD, PhD, professor of neurobiology, of developmental biology and of neurology and neurological sciences. "An aberrant version of them turns up in suspicious abundance in all the wrong places in brain-tissue samples from patients with brain injuries and major neurological disorders from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's to multiple sclerosis. The implications for treating these diseases are profound."

Barres, who has spent three decades focusing on brain cells that aren't nerve cells, called the findings "the most important discovery my lab has ever made." Stanford postdoctoral scholar Shane Liddelow, PhD, is the study's lead author.

Up to now, the pharmaceutical industry has mostly targeted nerve cells, also known as neurons, Barres said. But a broad range of brain disorders may be treatable by blocking astrocytes' metamorphosis into toxic cells, or by pharmaceutically countering the neuron-killing toxin those harmful cells almost certainly secrete.

Role of astrocytes

Once thought of as mere packing peanuts whose job it was to keep neurons from jiggling when we jog, astrocytes are now understood to provide critical hands-on support and guidance to neurons, enhancing their survival and shaping the shared connections between them that define the brain's labyrinthine circuitry. It's also known that traumatic brain injury, stroke, infection and disease can transform benign "resting astrocytes" into "reactive astrocytes" with altered features and behaviors. But until recently, whether reactive astrocytes were up to good or evil was an open question.

In 2012, Barres and his colleagues resolved that ambiguity when they identified two distinct types of reactive astrocytes, which they called A1 and A2. In the presence of LPS, a component found in the cell walls of bacteria, they observed that resting astrocytes somehow wind up getting transformed into A1s, which are primed to produce large volumes of pro-inflammatory substances. A2s, on the other hand, are induced by oxygen deprivation in the brain, which occurs during strokes. A2s produce substances supporting neuron growth, health and survival near the stroke site.

This raised two questions: How are A1s generated? And once they're generated, what do they do? The new study answers both questions.

In addressing the first question, the study showed that the brain's immune cells, microglia, which are known to become activated by LPS exposure as well as in most brain injuries and diseases, begin spewing out pro-inflammatory factors that change astrocytes' behavior.

Pro-inflammatory factors

In a series of experiments using laboratory mice, the scientists identified three pro-inflammatory factors whose production was ramped up after LPS exposure: TNF-alpha, IL-1-alpha and C1q. In the brain, all three of these substances are secreted exclusively by microglia. Each, by itself, had a partial A1-inducing effect on resting astrocytes. Combined, they propelled resting astrocytes into a full-fledged A1 state.

Next, the researchers confirmed that A1s jettison the nurturing qualities they'd had as resting astrocytes, which Barres' group has shown are essential to the formation and functioning of synapses, and instead became toxic to neurons.

In vertebrates, nerve cells called retinal ganglion cells send information from the retina to vision-processing centers in the brain. RGCs can thrive in culture, but only if accompanied by astrocytes. The scientists cultured rodent RGCs with either resting or A1 astrocytes and counted the resulting synapse numbers. RGCs cultured in combination with A1s produced only half as many synapses as RGCs grown with resting astrocytes, and those that formed didn't work very well.

Further experiments showed that A1s lose resting astrocytes' capacity to prune synapses that are no longer needed or no longer functional and whose continued existence undermines efficient brain function.

Indeed, when the researchers cultured healthy RGCs with increasingly stronger concentrations of the broth in which A1s had been bathing, almost all the RGCs eventually died. This and other experiments showed that A1s secrete a powerful, neuron-killing toxin.

The same treatment killed many other types of neurons, including both the spinal motor neurons that die in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the human dopaminergic neurons whose mysterious loss is the cause of Parkinson's disease. A1 bathwater also impaired the development of yet another class of non-neuron brain cells called oligodendrocytes -- essentially fat-filled flapjacks that wrap themselves around nerve fibers, providing electrical insulation that speeds long-distance signal propagation. Autoimmune destruction of oligodendrocytes and their fatty contents gives rise to multiple sclerosis.

Staving off A1 formation

In another experiment, the researchers severed rodents' optic nerves -- an act ordinarily lethal to RGCs, whose outgoing fibers, called axons, constitute the optic nerve. In the central nervous system, severing axons causes the entire neuron to die quickly, but why they die has been a mystery. The investigators determined the cause: A1s. They observed that those reactive astrocytes formed quickly after axons were severed, but that neutralizing TNF-alpha, IL-1-alpha and C1q with antibodies to these three substances prevented A1 formation and RGC death in the animals.

Finally, the researchers analyzed samples of human brain tissue from patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. In every case, they observed large numbers of A1s preferentially clustering where the disease was most active. For example, in the samples from Alzheimer's patients, nearly 60 percent of the astrocytes present in the prefrontal cortex, a region where the disease takes a great toll, were of the A1 variety. Because A1s are highly toxic to both neurons and oligodendrocytes, these findings strongly imply that A1 formation is helping to drive neurodegeneration in these diseases.

An effort to identify the neurotoxin secreted by A1 astrocytes is underway, Barres said. "We're very excited by the discovery of neurotoxic reactive astrocytes," he said, "because our findings imply that acute injuries of the retina, brain and spinal cord and neurodegenerative diseases may all be much more highly treatable than has been thought."

The work is an example of Stanford Medicine's focus on precision health, the goal of which is to anticipate and prevent disease in the healthy and precisely diagnose and treat disease in the ill.

Barres is the co-founder of a biotechnology company, Annexon Biosciences, which has produced, and filed for a patent for, an inhibitory antibody to C1q. Drugs to block TNF-alpha and IL1-alpha already exist.

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Other Stanford co-authors are graduate student Kevin Guttenplan; postdoctoral scholars Laura Clarke, PhD, Todd Peterson, PhD, Brooke Napier, PhD, and Christopher Bohlen, PhD; Frederick Bennett, MD, an instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences; medical student Mariko Bennett, PhD; life science research assistant Alexandra Munch; former postdoctoral scholar Won-Suk Chung, PhD; and Marion Buckwalter, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurosurgery and of neurology and neurological sciences.

Researchers from the University of California-San Francisco, the Technical University of Munich, Boston Children's Hospital, Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University also contributed to the work.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grants R01AG048814 and R01DA015043), the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation, the JPB Foundation, the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, the Glenn Foundation and Vincent and Stella Coates.

Stanford's Department of Neurobiology also supported the work.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med.stanford.edu/school.html. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med.stanford.edu.

Print media contact: Bruce Goldman at (650) 725-2106 (goldmanb@stanford.edu)

Broadcast media contact: Margarita Gallardo at (650) 723-7897 (mjgallardo@stanford.edu)
A study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine has for the first time demonstrated a way to visualize and monitor the behavior of immune cells used to treat cancer patients.

The new technique allows researchers to see where immunotherapy cells go as they hunt down tumors in the human body. The imaging technique also reveals whether the immune cells, called T cells, have found a tumor; how many T cells have arrived at the tumor; and whether the T cells are alive.

The ability to see whether T cells are attacking tumors is useful both for clinicians trying to learn if a treatment is working in an individual cancer patient and also for researchers trying to understand why immunotherapy doesn't always work.

A paper describing the work will be published online Jan. 18 in Science Translational Medicine. The senior author is Sanjiv "Sam" Gambhir, MD, PhD, professor and chair of radiology at Stanford. Lead authorship of the study is shared by former Stanford postdoctoral scholars Khun Keu, MD; Timothy Witney, PhD; and Shahriar Yaghoubi, PhD.

"We can now watch anywhere in your body where those T cells may be," said Gambhir, who holds the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professorship in Cancer Research. "This is the first demonstration in humans of actually noninvasively imaging the immune system in action with reporter gene technology. It's never been done before in a living human, and without the need to remove any tissue."

The work was done in patients with a type of deadly brain cancer called glioblastoma, but the groundbreaking technique could be used to track immune cells targeting any kind of cancer, Gambhir said.

The limitations of immunotherapy

In one form of standard immunotherapy, a medical team harvests T cells from a cancer patient's blood and genetically engineers them to do a better job of hunting down and killing the patient's cancer cells. Such immunotherapy sometimes works, but most often does not. But it's hard for clinicians to tell when it's not working, and challenging to know why it's not.

"That's the problem," Gambhir said. "How do you know whether the T cells are doing their job or not? There's no way to tell."

Right now, the only way to find out if the T cells are attacking the cancer is to wait to see if the tumors shrink, but that can take months. And even when a treatment is working, some tumors may appear to get bigger for a while -- a result of inflammation. So a temporarily enlarged tumor doesn't necessarily mean treatment has failed. Even if clinicians are sure treatment has failed, they don't know why. Did the T cells not reach the tumor? Or did the T cells get to the tumor but fail in their attack?

"We are shooting blind," said Gambhir, who is also the director of the Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection. "There are no real tools to see if treatment is working."

It can take a medical team several months to determine if immunotherapy is working. If it hasn't, the cancer may have spread or become more resistant in the meantime, greatly increasing the likelihood the patient will die.

Releasing the hounds

Ten years ago, Gambhir and his lab began looking for ways to find out what the immune cells do once they are released back into the patient's bloodstream to hunt down cancer cells.

The researchers first engineered T cells to better recognize the patient's cancer cells. Later, they added a "reporter gene" to the T cells. This gene made a protein they could see with a positron emission tomography scan.

The tagged T cells are a little like bloodhounds that bay loudly as they chase down their prey. The baying tells the dogs' human handlers where both the bloodhounds and the prey are. In the same way, the researchers could tell when T cells were near their prey -- a tumor -- because they could see the protein products of the reporter genes clustering there.

PET scans showing the T cells' locations tell researchers how many T cells have reached a tumor -- whether it's 6 million cells or 50 million -- and whether the cells are alive.

"And you can come back and redo the imaging after a few days, weeks or months," said Gambhir. Repetition of the scan provides a timeline of T cell behavior.

One thing the new technique cannot do is tell researchers whether the T cells are actually attached to tumor cells. But that's coming, Gambhir said.

"Right now, the reporter gene is always on," he said. "But we could change the reporter gene so it only comes on after it latches onto the tumor cell and kills it." That approach works in mice, but isn't quite ready for human trials, he said.

Surprises

The new T cell imaging technology can also reveal, indirectly, where other unsuspected tumors are. "In one patient," said Gambhir, "the T cells went to the tumor in the brain, as expected. But some of the T cells wandered away to another area of the brain." Even though the second tumor had been invisible to standard imaging, the "bright" T cells in the PET scan revealed its presence.

But the biggest surprise, said Gambhir, is that the technique worked at all. "Some people are going to say, 'This is not possible; how did they get this to work?'"

Part of it is chance and part of it is a lot of his team's prior research efforts, he said, estimating that his lab has produced 50 papers over the last 15 years in the quest to make the T cell imaging technology work, first in animals, and, now, finally, in humans.

What T cell imaging means for patients

Glioblastoma is a particularly intractable cancer for which immunotherapies have a long way to go, said Gambhir. In all of the cases in the study, the team was able to visualize the T cells. "But in every single case, the patient still died," Gambhir said. "So the question is, what is going wrong? Is it that the T cells just are not surviving long at the tumor site? Is the tumor too aggressive? Do the T cells kill some of the tumor cells but the rest go on?"

For glioblastoma patients, said Gambhir, the new technique will allow researchers to see immunotherapies in action and thus be better able to understand, and hopefully fix, things that go wrong with them.

The work is an example of Stanford Medicine's focus on precision health, the goal of which is to anticipate and prevent disease in the healthy and precisely diagnose and treat disease in the ill.

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Other Stanford co-authors of the paper are statistician Jarrett Rosenberg, PhD, and the Canary Center's director of preclinical imaging core Frezghi Habte, PhD.

Researchers from the Hopital de la Cite-de-la-Sante de Laval in Canada; University College in London; CellSight Technologies; City of Hope; University of California-Los Angeles; Sangamo BioSciences Inc.; and Seattle Children's Research Institute also co-authored the study.

The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute (grants ICMIC P50CA114747, RO1CA082214, RO1CA135486, R01CA155769, R21NS081594 and R21CA189223); the Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation; Sangamo Biosciences; the Wellcome Trust; and the Royal Society.

Stanford's Department of Radiology also supported the work.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med.stanford.edu/school.html. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med.stanford.edu.
In Cook County, Illinois, which has 19 trauma centers, nearly one-third of gunshot wounds from 2009 to 2013 were treated outside of designated trauma centers, according to a study published online by JAMA Surgery.

Each year in the United States, more than 110,000 persons are injured by firearms and more than 30,000 of the wounded die from their injuries. Guidelines recommend that gunshot wounds proximal to the elbows and knees be treated in specialized trauma units even if it means bypassing a nearby hospital. Studies show that injured patients who are treated in designated trauma centers (i.e., facilities with specialized trauma units) have lower in-hospital, 30-day, and 90-day mortality rates.

There is limited information about outcomes for patients with firearm-related injuries undertriaged to nondesignated facilities (i.e., hospitals without specialized trauma teams or units). In this study, undertriaged cases were defined as patients who met the anatomic triage criteria (based on an assessment of the body part affected and the type of injury suffered by the patient) for transfer to a trauma unit but were treated initially in a nondesignated facility. Lee S. Friedman, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois at Chicago, and colleagues evaluated the prevalence, geographic distribution, and clinical outcomes of undertriage of firearm-related injuries of residents of Cook County, Illinois from 2009 to 2013 using outpatient and inpatient hospital databases.

Of the 9,886 patients included in this analysis, 91 percent were male, 76 percent were African American, and 54 percent were ages 15 to 24 years. In Cook County, 29 percent of firearm-related injuries were initially treated in nondesignated facilities. Among the 4,934 cases with firearm-related injury who met the anatomic triage criteria, 18 percent received initial treatment at a nondesignated facility and only 10 percent were transferred to a designated trauma center. The occurrence of undertriage was not uniformly distributed across the geographic region but was substantially more pronounced in certain neighborhoods on the west side of Chicago and in southern parts of Chicago and Cook County.

Although the likelihood of dying during hospitalization was greater among patients treated in designated trauma centers, these patients were substantially in worse condition across all measures of injury severity. A smaller proportion of patients treated in designated trauma centers died during the first 24 hours of hospitalization.

"This study highlights the need for better regional coordination, especially with interhospital transfers, as well as the importance of assessing the distribution of emergency medical services resources to make the trauma care system more effective and equitable," the authors write.

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(JAMA Surgery. Published online January 18, 2017.doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2016.5049. This study is 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 commentary, "Undertriage of Firearm-Related Injuries or Insufficient Granularity of Data?" by Marie Crandall, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville, also is available at the For The Media website.

To place an electronic embedded link to this study in your story: This link will be live at the embargo time: http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/10.1001/jamasurg.2016.5049
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Karolinska Institutet have found that gestational diabetes raises the risk of postpartum depression (PPD) in first-time mothers. This is the largest study of its kind to date, including more than 700,000 women. The results were published online today in the journal Depression and Anxiety.

The researchers also established that women with a history of depression are more than 20 times more likely to experience PPD than mothers without a previous clinical diagnosis of depression. And while gestational diabetes alone increased risk for PPD, a history of maternal depression in conjunction with gestational diabetes further increased the likelihood of PPD.

"Most practitioners think of these as two isolated and very different conditions, but we now understand gestational diabetes and postpartum depression should be considered together," says Michael E. Silverman, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and lead author of the study. "While having diabetes increases PPD risk for all women, for those women who have had a past depressive episode, having diabetes during pregnancy makes it 70 percent more likely that they will develop PPD."

In addition to gestational diabetes, the researchers studied more than a dozen other risk factors, including pre-gestational diabetes, for association with PPD in women with and without a history of depression. Among women with a history of depression, pre-gestational diabetes and mild preterm delivery increased risk. Young age, instrument-assisted or cesarean delivery, and moderate preterm delivery increased risk in women who had no history of depression.

Studying the modifying effect of maternal depression on pre- and perinatal PPD risk factors sheds new light on the relationship between diabetes and depression. Showing that a history of depression modifies some of the risks associated with obstetric and perinatal factors suggests that there may be different causal pathways of PPD in women with and without a history of depression.

PPD can result in negative personal and child developmental outcomes, and identifying previous depressive episodes as a risk factor for PPD allows doctors to pursue earlier interventions. "The reason a doctor asks if you smoke is because they know you are 20 times more likely to get cancer if you do. We believe OB/GYNs should now do the same for depression history," Dr. Silverman said. "With this information, we can now intervene early, before the mother gives birth."

This is the largest population-based study to date to characterize PPD in relation to depression history. Researchers used the nationwide Swedish Medical Birth Register, which includes information on all births in Sweden. Unlike in past studies, researchers relied on clinical diagnoses of PPD since symptom-based PPD inventories have a tendency to overestimate the prevalence of the condition.

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The study was funded by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Development. The team included researchers from the Department of Psychiatry and The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden; and Brown University.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services--from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care.

The System includes approximately 7,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 12 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is in the "Honor Roll" of best hospitals in America, ranked No. 15 nationally in the 2016-2017 "Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report. The Mount Sinai Hospital is also ranked as one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Geriatrics, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology/Neurosurgery, and Ear, Nose & Throat, and is in the top 50 in four other specialties. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked No. 10 nationally for Ophthalmology, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's, and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report in "Best Children's Hospitals."

For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai

The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai conducts progressive research studies aimed at understanding the multiple causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The multidisciplinary team is comprised of experts in the fields of genetics, molecular biology, model systems, neuroimaging, biomarkers, diagnosis, and experimental therapeutics who are dedicated to discovering the biological causes of ASD. The Center strives to develop innovative diagnostics and treatments for integration into the provision of personalized, comprehensive assessment and care for people with ASD. The Seaver Autism Center was founded through the generous support of the Beatrice and Samuel A. Seaver Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.seaverautismcenter.org.
Andrew Morris, associate professor of history, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Among the most competitive academic awards in the country, the fellowships support advanced research in the humanities, allowing recipients to produce articles, books, digital materials or other scholarly resources.

Morris will use his grant to continue work on a book about Hurricane Camille and the transformation of American disaster relief policy.

On Aug. 17, 1969, Hurricane Camille slammed into the Mississippi coast, leaving a path of death and destruction. The Category 5 storm, one of the strongest ever to make landfall in the U.S., killed more than 140 in the Gulf Coast region and leveled thousands of homes and buildings.

Disaster assistance was slow to arrive and criticism over the response helped lead to the 1970 Disaster Relief Act, which made permanent the expansion of a number of federal disaster assistance programs that had been pioneered in limited form in the late 1960s.

The federal law also widened the scope of federal assistance to individual disaster victims, moving beyond the long-standing federal role in reconstruction of public facilities, Morris said.

He has been working on research related to the history of disaster relief since 2009. He eventually decided to focus the book on Hurricane Camille because of its historic significance. The fellowship will allow him to take off spring term of 2018 to work on the manuscript. He plans to have the book ready by 2019 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the devastating storm.

"I was delighted to get the news of the fellowship," said Morris, who joined Union in 2003. "Receiving one is not only great financial and moral support, but it's an affirmation of the significance of the project. It complements the generous support for the project that I've received from the College's Humanities Faculty Research Fund as well as from the Department of History.

"My students have been essential to the project, as well. My research has benefited from the help of College-funded student summer researchers, and my seminar on "Disasters in American History" has given me a forum to try out some of my ideas on my students and to learn from their own research. Being awarded an NEH Fellowship is a really nice capstone for the project. I'm also happy to help show that the research we do at Union is competitive with that done at much larger, research-oriented universities."

Morris's project is among 290 humanities-based research projects in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to receive a combined $16.3 million in the latest round of funding from the NEH.

"The humanities help us study our past, understand our present and prepare for our future," said NEH Chairman William D. Adams. "The National Endowment for the Humanities is proud to support projects that will benefit all Americans and remind us of our shared human experience."

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Quebec City, January 18, 2017--Two unique molecules have been discovered by Universite Laval researchers in a species of lichen growing in northern Quebec. A number of compounds with interesting antibacterial properties have also been isolated from the lichen according to an article published in the latest issue of Journal of Natural Products.

"Lichens in the North are exposed to unique environmental stresses, says Normand Voyer, chemist, professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and lead author of the study. We thought that these species might produce special molecules to cope with these very rugged conditions."

The lichen in question, Stereocaulon paschale, generally lives in subarctic and arctic regions of the planet, but can also be found on mountain peaks in the Gaspesie and Charlevoix regions. Professor Stephane Boudreau, of the Biology Department, brought back specimens from Nunavik. Phytochemical analyses yielded 11 compounds, two of which were new molecules that had never before been isolated anywhere on Earth.

The nine other compounds the researchers isolated have already been identified in other living organisms. However, tests conducted by Daniel Grenier, professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, have resulted in another discovery: six of these compounds show potentially interesting antibacterial activity against pathogens that cause problems such as dental caries and periodontal disease.

"It's still too early to know whether the two molecules we've discovered have specific properties that could have medical or industrial applications," explains Normand Voyer. "However, the objective of our study was not to provoke a rush to the molecular treasures northern Quebec species may contain. Rather we wanted to demonstrate that there is a hidden wealth of naturally occurring compounds in northern environments that need to be studied and protected. Numerous phytochemical studies have been carried out in tropical forests, but the North remains largely unexplored. There are surely many other northern species that, like S. paschale, contain unique molecules. We may find the next cancer treatments in these regions. If we do find natural compounds that have useful applications, it will be important to develop methods for synthesizing them in the lab so as not to jeopardize the survival of the species that produce them."

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The study was published in the Journal of Natural Products by Claudia Carpentier, Normand Voyer, Ste?phane Boudreau, Jabrane Azelmat, and Daniel Grenier of Universite Laval and Emerson Ferreira Queiroz, Laurence Marcourt, and Jean-Luc Wolfender of the University of Geneva.

Information:

Normand Voyer

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Universite Laval

418-656-3613

Normand.Voyer@chm.ulaval.ca
Rainfall patterns in the Sahara during the 6,000-year "Green Sahara" period have been pinpointed by analyzing marine sediments, according to new research.

What is now the Sahara Desert was the home to hunter-gatherers who made their living off the animals and plants that lived in the region's savannahs and wooded grasslands 5,000 to 11,000 years ago.

"It was 10 times as wet as today," said lead author Jessica Tierney of the University of Arizona. Annual rainfall in the Sahara now ranges from about 4 inches to less than 1 inch (100 to 35 mm).

Although other research had already identified the existence of the Green Sahara period, Tierney and her colleagues are the first to compile a continuous record of the region's rainfall going 25,000 years into the past.

The team's paper "Rainfall regimes of the Green Sahara," is scheduled for publication in the journal Science Advances on Jan. 18.

Archaeological evidence shows humans occupied much of the Sahara during the wet period, but left for about a thousand years around 8,000 years ago--the middle of the Green Sahara period.

Other investigators have suggested the Sahara became drier at the time people left, but the evidence was not conclusive, said Tierney, a UA associate professor of geosciences.

Her team's continuous rainfall record shows a thousand-year period about 8,000 years ago when the Sahara became drier. That drier period coincides with when people left, she said.

"It looks like this thousand-year dry period caused people to leave," Tierney said.

"What's interesting is the people who came back after the dry period were different--most raised cattle. That dry period separates two different cultures. Our record provides a climate context for this change in occupation and lifestyle in the western Sahara."

Tierney and her colleagues also used their rainfall record to suggest ways current climate models can better replicate the Sahara's ancient climate and therefore improve projections of future climate.

Tierney's co-authors are Francesco Pausata of Stockholm University in Sweden and Peter deMenocal of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the National Science Foundation and the Swedish Research Council funded the research.

Researchers had long known the Sahara was much greener in the past, but how much of the Sahara was wetter and how much wetter was not well understood, Tierney said. Although scientists can learn about past climate by examining ancient lake sediments, in the Sahara the lakes dried up long ago and their sediments have blown away.

Instead of lake sediments, Tierney and her colleagues used cores of marine sediments taken off the coast of West Africa at four different sites. Because the cores were taken over a north-south distance of about 800 miles (1,300 km)--from offshore Cape Ghir, Morocco, to the northwest corner of Mauritania--the cores revealed both the ancient rainfall patterns and the areal extent of the Green Sahara.

In terrestrial plants, the chemical composition of a leaf's wax changes depending on how dry or wet the climate was when the plant was growing. Leaf wax also washes into the ocean and can be preserved in the marine sediments that are laid down year after year.

"The waxes record the climate conditions on land," Tierney said.

By analyzing the leaf wax from ancient marine sediments, the team determined the region's past rainfall patterns and also gathered clues about what types of plants were growing.

The team also wanted to know whether the conditions on land interacted with the atmosphere to affect climate, because most of the current climate models don't simulate the Green Sahara period well, she said.

The amount of solar radiation the Earth receives during the Northern Hemisphere summer depends on where the Earth's "wobble," known as precession, is in its 23,000-year cycle.

At the beginning of the Green Sahara, the Northern Hemisphere was closer to the sun during summer. Warmer summers strengthened the West African monsoon and delivered more rain. Toward the end of the Green Sahara, the Northern Hemisphere was farther from the sun and the West African monsoon was weaker.

There's a feedback between vegetation, dust and rainfall, Tierney said. Right now the Sahara Desert is the planet's biggest source of dust--but a vegetated Sahara would produce much less dust.

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Co-author Francesco Pausata added additional factors--more vegetation and less dust--to a climate model. His changes improved how well the model replicated the amount of rainfall during the Green Sahara and dry periods.

"Getting a better handle on the important influence of the vegetation and dust feedback will help us simulate future climate change in the Sahara and Sahel," Tierney said.

Researcher contact:

Jessica Tierney

520-621-5377

jesst@email.arizona.edu

Francesco Pausata

Stockholm University

46-(0) 72 14 74 339 (int. 3696)

francesco.pausata@misu.su.se

Peter deMenocal

Columbia University

845-365-8483

peter@ldeo.columbia.edu
A new study by the Bren School examines how China maintains large catches and what it means for fishery management elsewhere

China, the world's largest seafood producer, has done something extraordinary. For the past 20 years, despite minimal management and some of the most intense industrial fishing in the world, it has maintained large catches of key species in its most productive waters.

That same kind of intense, lightly managed industrial fishing has collapsed other fisheries, such as Newfoundland's cod fishery in the 1990s. China's ability to sustain its catches has puzzled scientists, some of whom have even questioned the accuracy of the country's catch reports.

A new study from UC Santa Barbara, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests another explanation: By reducing the population of predatory fish, China has increased populations of preyed-upon species.

"If you fish down the large predatory fish, then you can catch more small prey fish, because they are no longer being eaten before you get to them," explained lead author Cody Szuwalski, a fisheries scientist in UCSB's Sustainable Fisheries Group. The group is a collaboration of the campus's Marine Science Institute and Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.

Key to the success of this approach is that predators typically need to eat 10 pounds of prey to add one pound to their own weight, so fishing out predators tends to increase prey catches by much more than it reduces predator catches.

This shortening of the food chain by removing predators to increase harvests is common on land. In fact, it's a key feature of modern farming. "If farmers could earn as much from raising venison on a field as they can from growing corn on it, they probably wouldn't try to keep deer out of their fields," said co-author Matt Burgess, a postdoctoral researcher in the Sustainable Fisheries Group.

But in the oceans, shortening the food chain looks different, because who eats whom in the fish world is generally based on body size rather than species. Bigger fish eat smaller fish, even when the two are from the same species (cannibalism) or the smaller fish are the juveniles of predator species and the bigger fish are adults of prey species. So while it's unlikely that an adult gazelle would eat a baby lion, an adult sardine certainly would eat a young largehead hairtail, a predatory species that is one of China's most common catches.

The study was based on a model of the East China Sea ecosystem built to account for this size-based feeding as well as the history of intense trawl fishing in the region. The model was able to roughly re-create reported catches of all major species.

The research also correctly predicted that under China's current approach, even catches of such predator species as the largehead hairtail would remain high, although they would consist mainly of 1-year-old fish. "This is exactly what you see when you visit Chinese fish markets," Szuwalski said.

Beyond providing an answer to an important fisheries puzzle, the study also offers important lessons for fishery management in Asia. When used to simulate various possible management strategies in the East China Sea, the model predicted that Western-style, single-species management would decrease catches by reversing changes to the food chain that have so far allowed catches to remain high. The same could be true in many other major fishing countries, particularly in East Asia, where fishing histories are similar to those in China.

"The standard refrain is that most countries can catch more by managing their fisheries like we do," said co-author Christopher Costello, co-principal investigator of the Sustainable Fisheries Group. "What if we're giving them the wrong advice?"

Given the negative impacts on biodiversity and potentially reduced ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change, "engineering" ecosystems by removing predators to enable large harvests is not necessarily an advisable long-term fishery management strategy. Still, the study suggests, in places where predator removal has already occurred, managers need to take the food chain into account to avoid unexpected consequences. Indeed, the model predicts that it is possible -- at least in China -- for such ecosystem-level management to increase catches, revenue and biomass.

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Mandarin makes you more musical - and at a much earlier age than previously thought. That's the suggestion of a new study from the University of California San Diego. But hold on there, overachiever parents, don't' rush just yet to sign your kids up for Chinese lessons instead of piano.

In a paper published in Developmental Science, an international team of researchers shows that among the preschool set - or young children between the ages of 3 and 5 - native speakers of Mandarin Chinese are better than their English-speaking counterparts at processing musical pitch.

The implications of the findings go beyond determining who may have a head-start in music, the researchers say. The work shows that brain skills learned in one area affect learning in another.

"A big question in development, and also in cognition in general, is how separate our mental faculties actually are," said lead author Sarah Creel of the Department of Cognitive Science in UC San Diego's Division of Social Sciences. "For instance, are there specialized brain mechanisms that just do language? Our research suggests the opposite - that there's permeability and generalization across cognitive abilities.

The researchers conducted two separate experiments with similar groups of young Mandarin Chinese learners and English learners. They tested a total of 180 children on tasks involving pitch contour and timbre. Where the English and Mandarin speakers performed similarly on the timbre task, the Mandarin speakers significantly outperformed on pitch, aka tone.

Mandarin is a tone language. In a tone language, the tone in which a word is said not only conveys a different emphasis or emotional content, but an altogether different meaning. For instance, the syllable "ma" in Mandarin can mean "mother," "horse," "hemp" or "scold," depending on the pitch pattern of how it's spoken. Mandarin-language learners quickly learn to identify the subtle changes in pitch to convey the intended outcome, while "ma" in English can really only mean one thing: "mother." It's the linguistic attention to pitch that gives young Mandarin speakers an advantage in perceiving pitch in music, the authors conclude.

"Both language and music contain pitch changes, so if language is a separate mental faculty, then pitch processing in language should be separate from pitch processing in music," Creel said. "On the other hand, if these seemingly different abilities are carried out by overlapping cognitive mechanisms or brain areas, then experience with musical pitch processing should affect language pitch processing, and vice versa."

Co-author Gail Heyman, of UC San Diego's Department of Psychology, who specializes in development, added: "Demonstrating that the language you speak affects how you perceive music -at such an early age and before formal training - supports the theory of cross-domain learning."

Tone languages are common in parts of Africa, East Asia and Central America, with estimates that as much as 70 percent of world languages may be considered tonal. Other tonal languages besides Mandarin include Thai, Yoruba and Xhosa.

Creel and Heyman's work follows on a hypothesis first put forth by Diana Deutsch, also of UC San Diego, that experience with a tonal language leads to enhanced pitch perception in music. Deutsch studied skilled adult students of music and tested them on absolute or "perfect" pitch. Absolute pitch is the relatively rare ability to recognize a musical note without reference to any other notes.

Relative pitch, or understanding the pitch relationships between notes, is the focus of the present study. Relative pitch allows you to sing in key and be in tune with other people around you.

"We show for the first time that tone-language experience is associated with advanced musical pitch processing in young children," the study co-authors write. "There are far-reaching theoretical implications for neuroscience and behavior, and our research has important practical implications for designing early intervention programs, or 'brain training' regimes.'"

But that said, don't ditch your child's music lessons for language, or language lessons for music, Heyman and Creel caution. It's still true that to succeed at music, you need to study music. And learning an additional language is a demonstrably good thing in itself, too - whether or not it makes you a better musician.

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The other co-authors are: Mengxing Weng of Zhejiang Normal University, China; Genyue Fu of Hangzhou Normal University, China; and Kang Lee of Zhejiang Normal University, UC San Diego and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Canada.

Creel was supported by a National Science Foundation CAREER Award BCS-1057080. Lee and Fu were supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China grants 31371041 and 31470993 and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

For more: Developmental Science paper and Creel video summary of the research.
By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jan 18 (PTI) Outgoing US National Security Advisor Susan Rice feels that constant skirmishes in Kashmir between India and Pakistan, some of the Russian actions, Syria along with North Korea are some of the less probable but catastrophic scenarios globally.

Nuclear powered India and Pakistan are constantly skirmishing in Kashmir, the outgoing US National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, said identifying some of the Russian actions, Syria along with North Korea and South Asia or a pandemic flu as some of the less probable but catastrophic scenarios globally.

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"I worry about Russia. And then there are the less probable but catastrophic scenarios. A pandemic flu, frankly, is a major concern. North Korea continuing to advance and perfect its nuclear missile program, or even an unforeseen conflict between India and Pakistan, both nuclear armed nations that are constantly skirmishing in Kashmir," Rice told PBS News in an interview.

Rice was responding to a question on some of her biggest nightmares.

"Ive a number of worries. I wish I had one. But in all honesty, this is a world where the nature of the threats is very diverse and the challenges are multiple. So let me list a few," she said.

"I think anybody in my position would worry about a catastrophic attack on the homeland or on American personnel abroad. So thats nightmare number one. And particularly if it were, God-forbid, to be combined with some form of weapon of mass destruction with a biological... especially WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and terrorism," she said.

"Secondly, I think we need to be very concerned about the potential, deliberate or inadvertent, for Russia to miscalculate and provoke a conflict in the European theater," she said.

"I say that because Russias actions have been increasingly aggressive, whether its surveilling our diplomatic personnel and harassing them, making very unsafe approaches on the seas and in the air, and I think its unclear what Putins intentions are, particularly after the annexation of Crimea and the illegal occupation of Ukraine and, in fact, also, the atrocities hes been a party to in Syria," Rice said.

Rice asserted that the longest American war in Afghanistan has ended in terms of combat.

"The Taliban is continuing to fight. And our world now for two years has been limited to training and advising and assisting the Afghan government forces to deal with the Taliban and to go after the terrorist threat as it remains," she said.

"And there is a residual terrorist threat, an Al-Qaeda residual which is quite small, an ISIL presence, that we will continue to work with the afghans to defeat. I cant say with certainty how long that will be, but I think the Taliban is proving, as you know well, an enduring adversary for the Afghan government," Rice said. PTI LKJ NSA

--- ENDS ---

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Irvine, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017 - University of California, Irvine glaciologists have uncovered large oceanic valleys beneath some of the massive glaciers flowing into the Amundsen Sea in West Antarctica. Carved by earlier advances of ice during colder periods, the subsurface troughs enable warm, salty water to reach the undersides of glaciers, fueling their increasingly rapid retreat.

The discovery is the result of an analysis of gravity data from airborne NASA Operation IceBridge missions from 2009 to 2014 combined with ice motion measurements made by UCI researchers, UCI's own mass conservation algorithm, and existing bed topography and ice thickness information. Study findings appear in the American Geophysical Union journal Geophysical Research Letters.

"Based on our research, we now have a much clearer picture of what is hiding under these large glaciers located in a particularly vulnerable sector of West Antarctica," said lead author Romain Millan, a graduate student in Earth system science.

The researchers paid particular attention to sub-ice-shelf cavities in front of the Pine Island, Thwaites, Smith and Kohler glaciers in an area known as the Amundsen Sea Embayment. By obtaining a more high-resolution map of the ocean floor below the glaciers, they were able to detect an unmistakable cavity beneath the Pine Island Glacier and a slightly shallower depression beneath Thwaites.

Millan said the study's most important findings were the gigantic submarine valleys under the Crosson and Dotson ice shelves. The channels start 1,200 meters below the masses of ice and slope up to points 500 meters beneath Crosson and 750 meters beneath Dotson.

"These oceanic features are several hundreds to a thousand meters deeper than what we thought before," he said. "It gives new insight into the future fate of these glaciers and the potential influence of warm ocean water that can melt away ice from below."

Should the glaciers in the Amundsen Sea Embayment region of Antarctica completely collapse, researchers said, the global sea level could rise an additional 1.2 meters. As bad as that sounds, they noted, there are some features of the ocean floor topography that might work to slow down the process of glacier retreat.

"We find that the warm water's access to the glaciers and ice shelves in this region is almost controlled at a depth of about 700 meters, which is just right above some of the warmest waters in the region," said co-author Eric Rignot. "This means that the glaciers are reassuringly not exposed to the warmest waters, but it makes projections more challenging because the pathways of the ocean heat are narrow and more sensitive to fluctuations."

He said the findings will be instrumental in guiding future investigations of this region of Antarctica, in particular a major study of Thwaites Glacier by the National Science Foundation and the United Kingdom's Natural Environment Research Council scheduled for 2018 to 2023.

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About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit http://www.uci.edu.

Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists.
Only one in six Cook County gunshot patients with injuries serious enough for treatment in a designated trauma center are taken to these specialized hospitals, according to a new report in JAMA Surgery.

The study also found these 'undertriaged' patients are more likely to live on the south and west sides of the county.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health looked at firearm-related injuries in Illinois' most populous county from 2009 through 2013. Inpatient and outpatient cases were analyzed.

Undertriaged patients were those who met the national criteria for transfer to a specialized trauma center but instead were taken to a hospital without one. The criteria are based on severity of the injury and its location, especially between the knees and top of head and from the elbows inward.

During the five years studied, there were nearly 10,000 firearm-related injuries in the county, of which 29 percent were initially treated at non-designated trauma centers, or community hospitals. Of the nearly 5,000 injuries serious enough for treatment at a trauma center, 18 percent were first treated at a non-trauma center, and only 10 percent were transferred to any of the county's 19 designated trauma centers.

The researchers found that patients treated in non-trauma centers were less likely to die than the patients treated in hospitals with trauma centers.

"This is likely because patients treated in these community-based hospitals have less serious injuries," said Lee Friedman, associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, UIC School of Public Health and corresponding author on the paper.

Friedman said that one of the reasons patients whose injuries meet criteria for treatment at trauma centers aren't treated at these facilities is because many are transported to the nearest hospital by friends or family.

"Friends and family don't follow guidelines for who should get transferred to a Level 1 or Level 2 trauma center, only emergency responders are expected to follow these criteria for where to bring and injured patient," Friedman said. "Additionally, EMS personnel sometimes bypass Level 1 or Level 2 trauma centers because those hospitals have signaled that their emergency departments are currently full. It happens all the time," Friedman said.

Friedman and his colleagues also found that a higher proportion of patients on the south and west sides of Cook County who met criteria for treatment in a designated trauma center were brought to community hospitals.

South of 99th Street, Friedman said, "there are no trauma centers, and many of the cities have very limited EMS resources. So the fact that many of these residents aren't treated at a trauma center is not surprising."

"On the west side of the county, which includes the west side of Chicago, the relatively high number of gunshot patients brought to non-trauma centers can be attributed to the sheer volume of gunshot injuries experienced in that area," he said.

Friedman said the data suggest that better communication between hospitals with and without specialized trauma teams is needed, so that patients can be swiftly transferred to a higher level of care if necessary.

###

Dr. Allison Lale and Allison Krajewski of the UIC School of Public Health are co-authors on the paper.
Those concerned with water quality are familiar with nitrogen as a major pollutant whose excess runoff into coastal waters can lead to algal blooms and low-oxygen dead zones. Perhaps less familiar is the significant role that a form of nitrogen gas plays in greenhouse warming and the destruction of Earth's ozone layer.

Now, an international group of scientists including Dr. B.K. Song of William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science have discovered that production of this potent greenhouse gas--known as N2O or nitrous oxide--can be bypassed as complex nitrogen compounds in soil, water, and fertilizers break down into the unreactive nitrogen gas (N2) that makes up most of our atmosphere.

Their discovery, published in a recent edition of Scientific Reports, reveals an entirely new pathway in the global nitrogen cycle and could lead to new ways for farmers and others to reduce their emissions of harmful gases. The study's lead author is Rebecca Phillips of New Zealand's Landcare Research Institute, along with Landcare colleagues Andrew McMillan, Gwen Grelet, Bevan Weir, and Palmada Thilak; as well as Craig Tobias of the University of Connecticut.

Agriculture contributes more nitrous oxide to the atmosphere than any other human activity--primarily through nitrogen fertilization. This greenhouse gas is 300 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide and 10 times more effective than methane. Nitrous oxide also moves into the stratosphere and destroys ozone.

Current wisdom holds that nitrous oxide is inevitably produced when soil nitrogen--including fertilizer components such as ammonia, ammonium, and urea--breaks down. It's also thought this breakdown process requires the action of microbes, and can only occur in the absence of oxygen.

The current research contradicts each of these long-held ideas.

"Our findings question the assumption that nitrous oxide is an intermediate required for formation of nitrogen gas [N2]," says Phillips. "They also throw doubt on whether microbial production of nitrous oxide must take place in the absence of oxygen."

"We now have a pathway that doesn't require microbes," adds Song. "The process of denitrification can happen abiotically, without the need for bacteria or fungi."

The team's discovery could lead to practical applications for decreasing the impacts of excess nitrogen in the environment, a topic they focused on while presenting their findings during a recent meeting in Washington D.C. sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Integrated Water Quality Program.

"It might give us a way to engineer the system to reduce levels of fixed nitrogen," says Song. "By changing the types and ratios of nitrogen compounds in fertilizer, you might have a better way to reduce excess nitrogen, and to mitigate eutrophication or nutrient enrichment in nearby waters."

Phillips adds, "Further research could inform farmers of how to cultivate soil organic matter useful for nitrogen management. Organic forms of soil nitrogen, such as waste products from plants and fungi, could help convert excess inorganic nitrogen--which would otherwise be leached into water or emitted as nitrous oxide--into a form that isn't harmful to the environment."

However, the scientists say more research is needed to test exactly which forms of organic nitrogen are most effective. The team is now developing proposals for further funding that will allow them to investigate on-farm applications for transforming excess nitrogen from soil and water into unreactive atmospheric N2 gas without producing N2O. This may allow scientists to develop options to manage the fate of agricultural nitrogen while avoiding greenhouse-gas emissions.

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This work was partially funded by a USDA grant to Song, and through awards from New Zealand's Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Royal Society of New Zealand International Travel Programme; and the New Zealand Ecosystems and Global Change Fund.

Landcare Research is a Crown research institute focused on environmental science. A key part of their role is supporting agencies tasked with developing and implementing effective environmental policy, regulation and practices for the sustainable management of land, water and ecosystem services.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is one of the largest marine centers in the United States. VIMS provides research, education, and advisory service to help protect and restore Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters. The Institute offers Master's and Ph.D. degrees through its School of Marine Science, part of the College of William & Mary.
January 18, 2017 - Physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia (PAS/E) is a topic of intense debate in society, not least among critical care medicine specialists, who treat many patients at or near the end of life. Core ethical issues involved in PAS/E will be discussed and debated in a unique panel discussion at the Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) 46th Critical Care Congress, to be held January 21 to 25, 2017, at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. These issues are also discussed in Critical Care Medicine, SCCM's official journal, published by Wolters Kluwer. The session will be broadcast live at http://www.sccm.org/live. Follow #SCCMLive.

"We describe major alternative perspectives on four questions central to the ethical analysis of PAS/E in the form of a dialogue between those who favor the legalization of PAS/E and those who oppose it," according to the article by Ewan C. Goligher, MD, of the University of Toronto, and coauthors. They present a "collegial" perspective on these difficult issues by a panel of critical care medicine clinicians and other experts.

Four Core Ethical Issues in PAS/E: Debate on Three Topics, Consensus on One

New laws and legal decisions have sharpened the focus on PAS/E and its implications for critical care medicine. Physician-assisted suicide refers to prescription of lethal medication to be voluntarily self-administered. Voluntary euthanasia refers to direct causation of death by a physician, at the patient's "specific, consistent, and thoroughly considered request."

The four core ethical issues debated are:

Are there patients for whom death is beneficial? One group of authors "find[s] it sometimes justifiable to accelerate a patient's death deliberately as a means of ending suffering." But the other group responds that the benefit from intervening to cause death is "unknown and unknowable to medicine."

One group of authors "find[s] it sometimes justifiable to accelerate a patient's death deliberately as a means of ending suffering." But the other group responds that the benefit from intervening to cause death is "unknown and unknowable to medicine." Is PASE/E morally equivalent to withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining therapy (WWLST)? Authors on the pro side believe that PAS/E is equivalent to WWLST, the latter widely regarded as morally acceptable. But those on the con side point out notable ethical distinctions between PAS/E and WWLST that reflect differences in intent.

Authors on the pro side believe that PAS/E is equivalent to WWLST, the latter widely regarded as morally acceptable. But those on the con side point out notable ethical distinctions between PAS/E and WWLST that reflect differences in intent. Is it morally acceptable for physicians to cause death intentionally? Supporters of PAS/E see no "sufficient rationale" why patients should be allowed to consent to passive plans that will lead to ending life (such as WWLST), but not active plans. Those opposed believe that intentionally causing death "runs counter to ... the moral foundation of medicine."

Supporters of PAS/E see no "sufficient rationale" why patients should be allowed to consent to passive plans that will lead to ending life (such as WWLST), but not active plans. Those opposed believe that intentionally causing death "runs counter to ... the moral foundation of medicine." What is a reasonable accommodation? Both sides agree that physicians have a right of conscientious objection to PAS/E. Patients should respect and expect that many physicians will be unwilling to provide PAS/E. At the same time, physicians who object should be willing to transfer the patient's care to colleagues who are willing to consider PAS/E.

The debate is timely because discussions on PAS/E have become increasingly prominent in healthcare and in society at large. PAS/E is now legal in six U.S. states and Canada. Dr. Goligher and colleagues write, "We hope that our discussion enables readers to reflect critically on their own position on PAS/E in order to care for critically ill patients and their families with ever greater compassion and humanity, and to discuss these issues among colleagues with clarity and respect."

The debate will continue at an SCCM 2017 "Hot Topics" presentation titled "Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the Intensive Care Unit: A Dialogue on Core Ethical Issues." The pro side will be taken by Jan Bakker, MD, PhD, FCCP, of New York University, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Erasmus MC of Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The con side will be taken by E. Wesley Ely, MD, MPH, FCCM, professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. The discussion will be moderated by Timothy G. Buchman, PhD, MD, MCCM, of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

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Click here to read "Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the ICU: A Dialogue on Core Ethical Issues."

Article: "Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the ICU: A Dialogue on Core Ethical Issues" (doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000001818)

About the Society of Critical Care Medicine

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) is the largest nonprofit medical organization dedicated to promoting excellence and consistency in the practice of critical care. With members in more than 100 countries, SCCM is the only organization that represents all professional components of the critical care team. The Society offers a variety of activities that ensures excellence in patient care, education, research and advocacy. SCCM's mission is to secure the highest quality care for all critically ill and injured patients. Visit http://www.sccm.org for more information. Follow @SCCM or visit us on Facebook.

All of the late-breaking literature releases from the 46th Critical Care Congress are available at http://www.sccm.org/literature.

About Critical Care Medicine

Critical Care Medicine is the premier peer-reviewed, scientific publication in critical care medicine. Directed to those specialists who treat patients in the intensive care unit and CCU, including chest physicians, surgeons, pediatricians, pharmacists/pharmacologists, anesthesiologists, critical care nurses and other healthcare professionals, Critical Care Medicine covers all aspects of acute and emergency care for the critically ill or injured patient. Each issue presents critical care practitioners with clinical breakthroughs that lead to better patient care, the latest news on promising research and advances in equipment and techniques. Follow @CritCare Med.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer is a global leader in professional information services. Professionals in the areas of legal, business, tax, accounting, finance, audit, risk, compliance and healthcare rely on Wolters Kluwer's market leading information-enabled tools and software solutions to manage their business efficiently, deliver results to their clients, and succeed in an ever more dynamic world.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2015 annual revenues of 4.2 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, and employs over 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).

Wolters Kluwer Health is a leading global provider of information and point of care solutions for the healthcare industry. For more information about our products and organization, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com, follow @WKHealth or @Wolters_Kluwer on Twitter, like us on Facebook, follow us on LinkedIn, or follow WoltersKluwerComms on YouTube.
A global coalition to create new vaccines for emerging infectious diseases, designed to help give the world an insurance policy against epidemics, launches today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

With an initial investment of US$460m from the governments of Germany, Japan and Norway, plus the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust, CEPI - the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations will seek to outsmart epidemics by developing safe and effective vaccines against known infectious disease threats that could be deployed rapidly to contain outbreaks, before they become global health emergencies.

CEPI also hopes to shorten the time it takes to develop new vaccines to protect against viruses that emerge suddenly as public health threats, as Zika did recently, by capitalising on exciting developments in adaptable vaccine technology and investing in facilities that could respond quickly to previously unknown pathogens.

Today's financial commitments mean that CEPI has raised almost half of the $1bn it needs for its first five years, and it is now calling for proposals from researchers and companies around the world to support the development of vaccines against its first target diseases.

CEPI will initially target the MERS-CoV, Lassa and Nipah viruses, which have known potential to cause serious epidemics. It aims to develop two promising vaccine candidates against each of these diseases before any epidemic, so these are available without delay if and when an outbreak begins. CEPI will also scope out potential support for vaccines against multiple strains of the Ebola and Marburg viruses, and Zika.

To achieve all these goals, CEPI will need significant additional investment, and the initial CEPI funders are calling today for other governments and philanthropic organisations to join them in helping to protect the world against future epidemics. CEPI is looking to complete its fundraising by the end of 2017.

Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, said: "Just over a year ago 193 states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals - the roadmap for the future we want. Epidemics threaten that future. They can ruin societies on a scale only matched by wars and natural disasters. They respect no borders and don't care if we are rich or poor. Protecting the vulnerable is protecting ourselves. This is why we all must work together to be better prepared - and why my Government is fully committed to ensure that CEPI achieves its mission."

Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said: "Ebola and Zika showed that the world is tragically unprepared to detect local outbreaks and respond quickly enough to prevent them from becoming global pandemics. Without investments in research and development, we will remain unequipped when we face the next threat.

"The ability to rapidly develop and deliver vaccines when new 'unknown' diseases emerge offers our best hope to outpace outbreaks, save lives and avert disastrous economic consequences. CEPI is a great example of how supporting innovation and R&D can help the world to address some of its most pressing health challenges."

Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said: "We know from Ebola, Zika and SARS that epidemics are among the significant threats we face to life, health and prosperity. Vaccines can protect us, but we've done too little to develop them as an insurance policy. CEPI is our chance to learn the lessons of recent tragedies, and outsmart epidemics with new vaccine defences. If others join us in supporting CEPI, we can realise our goal of creating a safer world."

CEPI is a direct response to calls from four independent expert reports into the Ebola epidemic for a new system for stimulating the development of vaccines against epidemic threats. It was founded by the governments of India and Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and the World Economic Forum, which has played a key convening role, bringing together stakeholders at the 2016 Davos meeting and other events.

CEPI is also backed by major pharmaceutical corporations, the World Health Organization and Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders, as well as philanthropies and leading academic vaccine research groups.

The Government of India is currently finalising the level of a significant funding commitment to CEPI. In addition to financing for vaccine development that will be available through CEPI's pooled fund, the European Commission will contribute to CEPI's objectives and plans to co-fund actions with CEPI, such as through the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI).

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Additional CEPI partner quotes

John-Arne Rttingen, CEPI interim CEO: "Today we are launching the first call for proposals from CEPI. We know there is a lot of interest from both public research organizations and large and small companies in responding to the threats of MERS, Lassa and Nipah, and we're excited to finally be developing effective vaccines for these and other epidemic threats."

Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare, Government of Japan: "Japan has highlighted the importance of pandemic preparedness and Universal Health Coverage. I believe the CEPI will contribute to achieving them through encouraging development of vaccines."

K Vijay Raghavan, Secretary of the Indian Department of Biotechnology and Chair of CEPI's interim board: "India's partnership in CEPI signals our commitment to work with the WHO and other partners to develop and use vaccines to prevent the spread of epidemic disease. India's vaccine companies have changed vaccine accessibility and availability for routine immunisation and for campaigns globally. We are committed to continuing to support global health and ensuring access to vaccines when and where needed."

Marie-Paule Kieny, Assistant Director-General , World Health Organization: "WHO and CEPI share the goal to research and develop safe, effective, and affordable interventions to address infections of epidemic potential. WHO, through the R&D Blueprint for Action against Epidemics, will support the Coalition in several ways, including by providing normative guidance on priorities, by working with governments to streamline regulations, and by ensuring that policies will support public health and equitable access to affordable vaccines."

Dr Joanne Liu, International President of Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders:

"There is an urgent need for new vaccines, diagnostics and treatments to prevent and treat emerging infections with epidemic potential. For new vaccines to be game changers, they must be developed and tested before outbreaks hit and made accessible and affordable for all communities in times of health crisis. These are the conditions that will determine CEPI's success and ensure this new initiative saves lives."

Sir Andrew Witty, CEO of GSK said: "Finding better ways to anticipate and prepare for future health threats is one of the greatest challenges of our time. We strongly support the creation of CEPI and its focus on vaccines development as a solution to protecting against infectious disease outbreaks. GSK has developed a proposal for a Biopreparedness Organisation, a dedicated and permanent facility that would use our scientific expertise and technologies to develop vaccines that could be deployed to protect citizens in the world's poorest countries against future epidemics and pandemics. This facility would operate on a cost coverage basis to help maximise sustainable access. We stand ready to partner with CEPI to advance epidemic preparedness."

Paul Stoffels, MD, Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson: "We are delighted to be part of this exciting new public health initiative. The most recent Ebola outbreak - the worst in history - was a wakeup call that brought pandemic preparedness to the forefront and showed us how critically important an effort like this is to protecting society. As part of our commitment, we will work together with CEPI partners, regulators, and all stakeholders in forging a path forward to bring our Ebola vaccines to those in need. We are tremendously grateful for the support of the European Commission, Innovative Medicines Initiative, BARDA and NIH."

Julie Gerberding, Executive VP, Strategic Communications, Global Public Policy, and Population Health at Merck: "Private sector vaccine companies have capability, capacity, and commitment to protecting health and wellbeing worldwide. CEPI is potentially an evolutionary leap forward in how we collectively conduct R&D into infectious diseases that come and go, posing challenges for clinical trials, for manufacturing, and for just-in-time delivery."

Rajeev Venkayya, MD, President, Global Vaccine Business Unit, Takeda Pharmaceuticals: "During the next outbreak of an emerging infectious disease, the world will demand a vaccine to protect vulnerable populations everywhere. CEPI will help to prepare for that day, by tapping into the substantial R&D capabilities across industry to create a pipeline of vaccines to address some of the most pressing threats to human health. This is an important global initiative that is applying the many lessons learned from recent outbreaks, and Takeda is proud to be a partner."

Nima Farzan, PaxVax President and CEO, who represents the Biotechnology Innovation Organisation on CEPI's interim board: "Only by working together can we address barriers to vaccine development and prevent and contain infectious global health epidemics. Working alone, industry players face barriers to vaccine development. CEPI's collaborative approach is vital in helping biotechs and other industry leaders pursue innovative efforts to help prepare against future pandemics and fight against global public health threats."

Media contacts

[at Davos] Hannah Isom, Lead Media Manager, Wellcome

+44 (0)207 611 8898

+44 (0)7860 948 890

h.isom@wellcome.ac.uk

Emily Pritchard, Media Officer, Wellcome

+44 207 611 8248

e.pritchard@wellcome.ac.uk

Leonora Diller, Senior Communications Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Leonora.Diller@gatesfoundation.org

CEPI background

Why CEPI is needed

Epidemics cost the world at least $60bn every year1. The most recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed over 11,000 people and caused an estimated economic loss of $2.2bn in the worst-affected countries in 2015 alone2. In a world of greater mobility, denser cities and ecological change, their ability to disrupt society is increasing.

Vaccines are one of the world's most important health achievements. Yet their life-saving potential hasn't yet been realised for many known and unknown epidemic threats, particularly in low-income countries, where the risks and needs are often greatest.

The risks and costs of vaccine development, which are always significant, are especially high for epidemic diseases because outbreaks are sporadic, hit poor countries the hardest and the potential market for any such product is unpredictable.

During the Ebola outbreak the global scientific community, including pharmaceutical companies, academics, funders, emergency responders and the WHO, came together to accelerate clinical trials of several promising vaccines. But this success relied on ad-hoc collaboration and the commitment of a handful of vaccine companies - a model that is unsustainable for future outbreaks.

How CEPI works

CEPI will create a new model to advance promising vaccines through the development process, working with industry, regulators and civil society organisations to ensure that the vaccines developed are affordable and reach the people who need them most.

CEPI will take an end-to-end approach to vaccine development. It will not take on discovery research or vaccine deployment, but it will work through all the steps in between, filling a gap in the current global health ecosystem.

For diseases we know could cause a serious epidemic - as outlined on the WHO priority list - CEPI will develop vaccine candidates "just in case". It will move promising vaccines through preclinical development to phase 2 trials in advance of an outbreak, in contrast to the world's experience with Ebola. If an outbreak does occur, these candidate vaccines could then be deployed rapidly in large-scale clinical trials.

It will also pursue a "just in time" approach, to help defend against unknown or new viruses, which are just as likely to be the source of the next serious epidemic.

Current approaches to vaccine development can take years which means that our current capacity to contain the global spread of a newly discovered and highly infectious pathogen remains limited. CEPI will help to address this by exploring recent breakthroughs in genetic science to explore the possibility of using the genetic sequences of newly discovered pathogens to instruct human cells on how to produce their own antibodies against infection.

The virtue of these DNA- and RNA-based constructs is that could identify quickly effective antibodies and allow for the rapid development of "plug-and-play" vaccines that could be produced and delivered on a mass scale.

How CEPI was formed

Repeated outbreaks, most recently Ebola and Zika, have forged a global consensus that current models for developing sporadic epidemic vaccines are not working, and that a new system is urgently needed. Four expert reports on the Ebola outbreak reached the same conclusion: a new system is needed to drive product innovation to prevent and contain future infectious disease epidemics.

The idea of a global vaccine development fund was proposed in July 2015 by Stanley Plotkin, Adel Mahmoud and Wellcome Director Jeremy Farrar, writing in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Who is involved

CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organisations. It was founded by the governments of India and Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and the World Economic Forum. Other partners include multinational pharmaceutical corporations, the World Health Organization and NGOs.

CEPI is supported by several leading pharmaceutical companies with strength in vaccines - GSK, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda, plus the Biotechnology Innovation Organisation. CEPI will draw on this deep expertise in vaccine research and development to its efforts. Companies have been developing different models to respond to CEPI's forthcoming request for proposal, for example providing scientific expertise and vaccine development and manufacturing capabilities.

Financial contributions

The Norwegian Government are preparing for an investment of NOK 1Billion (currently around $120m) for the initial 5 year period.

The Government of Japan will invest around $25m a year, equivalent to $125M in 5 years.

The Federal Government of Germany has announced an initial commitment of 10m (around $10.6m) in 2017, and is planning to allocate additional funds over 5 years.

Wellcome and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will each invest $100m over 5 years.

The Government of India is one of the founders of CEPI and is currently finalizing the level of a significant funding commitment.

The European Commission will also contribute to CEPI's objectives and plans to co-fund actions with CEPI, such as through the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI).

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. http://www.nap.edu/read/21891/chapter/1

2. http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/health/brief/world-bank-group-ebola-fact-sheet Further detail on CEPI partners:

Funders and founders: Governments of Norway, India, Japan, Germany, plus Wellcome, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Economic Forum.

Industry partners: GSK, Takada, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Sanofi, Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (represented by PaxVax), developing country manufacturers represented by Serum Institute of India

Other governments: South Africa, Australia, Brazil, UK, Ethiopia, Liberia, France, China, USA,

A full list of CEPi Board members, SAC members and Joint Coordinating Group representatives can be found on the CEPI website.

Disease information

MERS-CoV

What is it?

MERS-CoV is the virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). It is a coronavirus, part of the same family of viruses that causes the common cold and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).MERS is a zoonotic disease, meaning it passes from animals to humans. It's thought that camels are a major source of infection for people. Raising camels, eating undercooked camel meat and drinking raw camel milk or urine are risk factors for the disease in humans. MERS-CoV can spread from person to person, usually through close contact.

Where does it occur?

The disease was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and the majority of reported cases have been linked to countries in and around the Arabian Peninsula. According to WHO, 1,864 cases were confirmed between September 2012 and 19 December 2016, in 27 countries.

In 2015, a large outbreak occurred in South Korea, following a single "super-spreader"[1] transmitting the virus to 82 people in three days. In early 2016, Saudi Arabia's ministry of health reported three new MERS-CoV cases[2].

What does it do?

MERS-CoV can infect people of any age. It causes a severe acute respiratory illness with fever, cough and shortness of breath. Gastrointestinal symptoms can also occur. Around 36 per cent of people reported as having MERS have died, many of whom already had an underlying medical condition. There is no specific antiviral treatment for MERS-CoV infection.

How do we currently prevent infections?

People are advised to try and prevent getting infected by avoiding undercooked or raw camel products, and by being hygienic, especially around animals. There is currently no vaccine against MERS-CoV . In December 2015, MERS was included in WHO's list of disease priorities needing urgent research and development attention[3], and MERS-CoV was one of the first targets announced by CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations[4], in January 2017.

References

1. http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-southkorea-mers-idUKKCN0ZO2K5

2. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/infectious-disease-topics/mers-cov

3. http://www.who.int/medicines/ebola-treatment/WHO-list-of-top-emerging-diseases/en/

4. http://cepi.net/

Lassa virus

What is it?

Lassa virus belongs to the Arenaviridae family and causes Lassa fever, also known as Lassa haemorrhagic fever (LHF). It is a haemorrhagic illness that occurs between one and three weeks after infection. Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease, meaning it passes from animals to humans. The natural host of Lassa virus is the rodent Mastomys natalensis, otherwise known as the Natal multimammate mouse or rat. The virus is spread when a person comes into contact with items contaminated with the rodent's urine or faeces - for example, by handling objects, eating or through open wounds. It can also be inhaled. Lassa virus can pass from person to person via bodily fluids, and can spread in healthcare settings if suitable precautions are not taken.

Where does it occur?

Lassa virus was identified in 1969 after the death of two missionary nuns in Nigeria. Lassa fever occurs regularly (is endemic) in parts of West Africa, including Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Various outbreaks[1] were reported in West Africa in 2016. In March 2016, a healthcare worker evacuated from Togo to Germany died and was subsequently diagnosed with Lassa fever. A funeral home employee who handled the corpse then contracted the disease, but recovered. In Sweden, a 72-year-old woman was diagnosed[2] with Lassa fever following a six-week trip to Liberia. She was later discharged.

What does it do?

Around 80 per cent of patients with Lassa fever have no symptoms. Those that do can experience mild fever or headache. More serious symptoms include:

vomiting

swelling of the face

pain in the chest, back and abdomen

bleeding from body parts, including the eyes and nose.

Patients can be given rehydration therapy and supportive care. An antiviral drug ribavirin has been used successfully in some cases. One per cent of infections are fatal, usually within two weeks of symptoms beginning. Around 15 to 20 per cent of people hospitalised with Lassa fever die from it. A common complication in survivors of Lassa fever is hearing loss.

How do we currently prevent infections?

People are advised to avoid contact with Mastomys rodents, including by keeping homes clean and storing food away from rodents. Healthcare workers should follow specific infection control methods[3]. There is currently no vaccine against Lassa virus. In December 2015, Lassa fever was included in WHO's list of disease priorities needing urgent research and development attention[4], and Lassa virus was one of the first targets announced by CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations[5], in January 2017.

References

5.http://www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/lassa_fever/en/

6.http://ofid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/10/19/ofid.ofw198.full

7.https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/abroad/healthcare-workers.html

8.http://www.who.int/medicines/ebola-treatment/WHO-list-of-top-emerging-diseases/en/

9.http://cepi.net/

Nipah virus

What is it?

Nipah virus (NiV) belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family of viruses, genus Henipavirus, alongside Hendra virus. Nipah is a zoonotic disease, meaning it passes from animals to humans. The natural hosts of the virus are fruit bats (also known as flying foxes) of the genus Pteropus. Nipah virus can be spread to people from infected bats, infected pigs or infected people.

Where does it occur?

Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak of illness affecting pig farmers and others living in close contact with pigs. Over 100 human deaths were reported, and over a million pigs were killed to stop the outbreak. No cases of person-to-person spread were reported. In 2001, there was an outbreak of Nipah virus in people in Bangladesh, and a separate outbreak in a hospital in India. In both countries, person-to-person transmission occurred. Outbreaks in Bangladesh happen nearly every year - with over 300 confirmed cases[1] occurring there from 2001 to 2015.

What does it do?

Nipah virus infection can cause severe, rapidly progressive illness that affects the respiratory system and the central nervous system, including inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Symptoms begin between 5 and 14 days after infection, and include fever, altered mental state, cough and respiratory problems.

How do we currently prevent infections?

People are advised to avoid contact with ill pigs and bats in countries where Nipah virus is known to occur. They are also advised to avoid drinking raw date palm sap, which can be infected with bodily fluids from bats. There are currently no vaccines or specific therapeutics against Nipah virus approved for use in humans. In December 2015, Nipah was included in WHO's list of disease priorities needing urgent research and development attention[2], and was one of the first targets announced by CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations[3], in January 2017.

References

1.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X16002966

2. http://www.who.int/medicines/ebola-treatment/WHO-list-of-top-emerging-diseases/en/

3. http://cepi.net/
Wednesday, January 18, 2017

The Herman Trend Alert

January 18, 2017

Unintended Demographic Consequences

In an attempt to limit population growth in China in 1980, the government instituted a strict one-child "policy" throughout the country. For years, Chinese couples were not allowed to have more than one child and doing so had dire consequences---legal, economic, and social. Couples making the difficult choice to have more than one child were penalized financially, shunned socially, and sometimes even jailed.

China's long-term demographic shift

It takes a birth rate of 2.1 for a population to sustain itself. And in China, due to the valuing of boys over girls, even the 2.1 rate would not be adequate. In 2016, the official government statistics bureau of China published data from its mini-census. That data showed China's total fertility rate (the number of children a woman expects to have in her lifetime) had fallen to 1.05---one of the lowest rates in the world.

Population down by 13.1 percent between 2012 and 2015

The number of children born in China in 2015 was 11.3 million, down from more than 13 million in 2012. This 13.1 percent decline represents a continuing trend of a decrease in the number of women of child-bearing age.

Relaxation of China's one-child policy won't help a lot

To increase the number of female babies in China, the country made the decision to relax its one-child policy. Unfortunately, that decision will not make a huge difference. Under the previous policy, in spite of the hardships afforded to couples making the difficult decision to have multiple children, almost half of all births were second or third children.

China's extensive family-planning infrastructure

China's existing family-planning infrastructure employs hundreds of thousands of people, continuing to pursue and fine those couples it believes have too many children. Interestingly, this trend of fewer children for parents "to spend money on, to be educated, and to become future consumers" has resulted in slowing economic growth for the country.

Declining birth rates have meant closing of schools, too

Especially in rural areas, this decline in the population, along with urban migration, have translated to the closing of more than 50 percent of the schools as well as a greater strain on urban schools. As the impact of this population decline continues, expect to see a further slowing of the economy.

What China can expect

Instituted country-wide 37 years ago, China's successful attempt to slow the growth of its population has clearly had a number of unintended consequences: a critical shortage of young women and a significant slowing of its economic growth. In spite of the importation of young women from India and other countries and government intervention, we do not see an immediate, significant change in either area.

Tourism can help, but. . .

Though tourism to China will continue to grow rapidly, that growth is hampered in large cities like Beijing by the lack of English-speaking skills. The hospitality industry in China would do well to launch a major foreign language initiative in this country, looking at the major languages spoken by its tourists.

Special thanks to McKinsey and Company for their recent report on Employment and Growth". Read the full report at http://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/employment-and-growth/can-long-term-global-growth-be-saved.

*********

LOOKING FOR A SPEAKER IN BRAZIL?

Our author, Joyce Gioia, is going to Recife, Brazil on January 28th to deliver the opening keynote for their Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Festival. She has spoken numerous times in Brazil for a variety of clients. Joyce's global perspective can help your organization in Brazil or anywhere else in the world. Her ability to communicate and inspire leaves audiences ready to deal with whatever problems they face. She will be in Brazil until the 4th, and available for booking. For more information about how Joyce can help you engage or retain your audience or workforce in Brazil or elsewhere, call Carl at 336.210.3548.

*********

THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER NEW BENEFIT

What is the most sought-after employee benefit? Actually, the answer is help with financial wellness. Why? Because financial stress is pervasive and painful. Now, you can help your employees be healthier by reducing that financial stress. Best Money Moves will help you increase retention and productivity and thus enjoy better health outcomes. Call 847-242-0550 for a free trial TODAY.

 Copyright 1998-2017 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurist. 336-210-3548 or http://www.hermangroup.com. Visithttp://www.HermanTrendAlert.com to sign up. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc."
Aquaculture company, Seafarms Group Ltd, says its overall production of prawns in Queensland rose by around 24% to 1,728 tonnes in 2016.Seafarms also says a recent outbreak of white spot disease south of Brisbane, which may have come from imported raw prawns, has not affected its operations.The company also gave an update in regards to Project Sea Dragon  its large-scale, land-based prawn aquaculture project in northern Australia. It will submit an environmental impact statement to the Northern Territory government this month.Furthermore, Seafarms expects to complete a Project Development Agreement with the Northern Territory Government in February 2017.Seafarms posted a net loss of $18.4 million at 30 June 2016.
Hawaii MMA X1 World Events Ray Cooper III Time Warner Oceanic PPC Announced

Time Warner Oceanic Cable will show the next X-1 World Events MMA PPV live in Hawaii, where viewers can see Ray Braddah Cooper III in the main event against Matthew Colquhoun. Two world titles will be on the line in a stacked card.

--

A new MMA pay per view event has been set for live viewing through Time Warner Oceanic Cable on January 28 at the Blaisdell Arena. The card includes eight pro MMA fights and 10 amateur bouts with two world titles on the line. Hosted by X-1 World Events, it is set to offer fireworks for people watching live in Hawaii to support their local fighters and around the world.

More information can be found at: http://x1events.com.

The site explains that the whole card has been designed to offer the best in mixed martial arts, providing a night of fights for the whole family. Interested parties are encouraged to make their way to the event to cheer on Hawawii's warriors as they battle it out in the cage for fame and glory.

The main event will feature Ray Braddah Cooper III, who has a record of 10-2 in professional fights, and is currently on a seven win streak. Six of these wins have been achieved either by TKO or knockout in the first round, so he will be one to watch on the night as he takes on Matthew Colquhoun from Jamaica.

Colquhoun 14 amateur fights under his belt, and has achieved a 3-0 record as a professional fighter. He is recognized as an excellent striker, with the vision of coming to Hawaii to take the title back to Florida, where he trains.

The co main event features Chris Cisneros from Big Island, who now lives and trains on Oahu. He will be fighting against Duke Saragosa, who has a reputation for never backing away from any fight, including bouts against Hawaii's toughest opponents.

Promoter Andrew said: "We are going to be witnessing history on Jan 28 as X1 is bringing our production to a level not seen in Hawaii. We look forward to seeing everybody come down and support our local athletes, and if the fans can't make it to Honolulu to watch live they can order it on pay-per-view."

Full details of every fight and how to get tickets or order the pay per view can be found on the URL above.

Contact Info:

Name: Andrew Williams

Organization: X1 World Events

Address: 777 Ward Ave, Honolulu, 96814 United States



For more information, please visit http://www.x1events.com/

Source: MarketersMedia

Release ID: 162401

For more information visit r



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Irani's degrees have been caught in a row after a petitioner alleged she had given contradictory information in her affidavits filed before contesting elections in 2004, 2011 and 2014.

Irani's degrees have been caught in a row after a petitioner alleged she had given contradictory information in her affidavits. (File Photo: PTI)

By Press Trust of India: Amid the row over her educational qualification, Union Minister Smriti Irani had asked the Delhi University not to disclose it to an RTI applicant, the School of Open Learning has told the Central Information Commission.

The Commission has now directed the School of Open Learning (SoL) to produce before it all the records related to educational details of Irani, Union Textile Minister.

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A fresh show cause notice has been issued to the Central Public Information Officer of DU for having failed to produce the records before the Commission as directed.

ALSO READ: Smriti Irani: I am not a political Cinderella waiting to be rescued

Irani's degrees have been caught in a row after a petitioner alleged she had given contradictory information in her affidavits filed before contesting elections in 2004, 2011 and 2014.

'PASSED BA IN 1996'

In her affidavit for April, 2004 Lok Sabha polls, Irani had said she completed her BA in 1996 from DU (School of Correspondence as SoL was then called), whereas in another affidavit of July 11, 2011 to contest Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat, she said her highest educational qualification was B.Com Part I, a petitioner had alleged in a city court.

The matter was dismissed by the court on the ground that considerable time had lapsed in filing the complaint.

The issue is, however, still alive before the Central Information Commission where an applicant had filed an appeal, saying he was not given information about Irani's educational qualification by the SoL.

During a hearing, SoL's Central Public Information Officer O P Tanwar said considering that it was a third party information he had consulted Irani about the disclosure.

"In her response (she) raised objection against (sic) disclosure and requested the public authority not to reveal her educational qualification. The CPIO pleaded that information sought was given by the former HRD Minister in fiduciary capacity and hence could not be divulged as per Section 8(1)(e)," Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said in his order.

Although Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur has divested Acharyulu of the Human Resource Development Ministry portfolio, two days after he ordered disclosure of records of the degree course of BA, 1978, the year in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have passed from Delhi University, he will continue to adjudicate matters in which he has already issued notices and is finalising orders.

The petitioner had sought to know from the School of Open Learning whether the Minister had obtained BA degree in 1996 and passed B Com Part I in 1994 from Delhi University.

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He had also asked for photocopies of her hall ticket and mark sheets, besides admission form with enrolment number, in case she enrolled herself for the course but did not obtain the degree.

'WHY IRANI DIDN'T TAKE EXAMS?'

The petitioner sought to know if the Union Minister was enrolled with the University in 2013 why did she not take any examination.

The SoL cited two exemption clauses--personal information and fiduciary information-- under the RTI Act to deny the information.

The petitioner filed a complaint and asked the CIC to institute an inquiry into "unjustifiable and illegal" denial of information sought by him.

"The question before the Commission is whether the appellant is asking (for) information which is given by the student (Ms Smriti Irani) to the School of Open Learning or whether School of Open Learning has given the degree to its student...," Acharyulu said.

He said to find answers it was necessary to verify the records.

"The Commission summons the concerned records and directs O P Tanwar to produce registers and records containing details of educational qualifications accorded to the student which were sought by the applicant," the Information Commissioner had said in his order.

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He also asked SoL as to in how many cases it has refused to give degree related information under the RTI Act in the year 2016.

The the transparency panel had yesterday directed the Central Board of Secondary Examination to allow inspection of class 10th and 12th school Irani, rejecting CBSE's contention that it constituted "personal information".

ALSO READ:

Make Smriti Irani's Class 10, 12 Board exam results public, CIC asks CBSE

Smriti Irani fake degree case trashed by Delhi court

--- ENDS ---




Haiti - Earthquake 2010 : Statement of the Ambassador of the European Union





Wednesday in the context of the commemoration of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010, European Union Ambassador Vincent Degert expressed his deep solidarity with all the families mourned by this tragedy, the entire population and the Haitian authorities.



"[...] In this day of recollection, it is also useful and relevant to reflect on all the measures that are being taken to strengthen preparedness for natural disasters. In this context, the European Union welcomes the initiative of the authorities to have declared January 12, 2017 'National day of reflection and awareness on the vulnerability of Haiti to the risks and disasters'.



The devastating earthquake of 2010 had brought painful and tragic proof that the preparation was dramatically inadequate. But with a high-risk national territory, from the northern fault to a short distance from Cap Haitien to other fractures that run through the basement of the country such as the Enriquillo fault, the question is unfortunately not whether another earthquake will hit Haiti, but when and to prepare for it.



[...] The European Union, together with its Member States and other international partners, is actively engaged alongside the Haitian authorities and the public in contributing to meeting these challenges of disaster preparedness and capacity building of populations to cope, adapt and recover after a disaster strikes.



These efforts must not only be pursued but redoubled. This is the best way to concretely pay tribute to the victims of January 12, 2010, by showing that we do not forget them and that we are doing what we can to anticipate and reduce as much as possible other tragedies in the future."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : Jovenel Moise met President Medina





Monday afternoon, Jovenel Moise, the elected President of Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19698-haiti-presidential-2016-final-results-jovenel-moise-58th-president.html at the head of a Haitian delegation of businessmen and several of his advisers, arrived in the Dominican Republic on board a Sunrise Airways flight. Upon arrival at the airport, he was welcomed by Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado and the Dominican Ambassador to Haiti, Ruben Silie.



During his stay, President-elect Jovenel Moise will meet with Dominican businessmen and also visit a number of farms and several businesses in different sectors.



On leaving the airport Moise was taken to the National Palace for a bilateral meeting in the office of President Danilo Medina.



At the end of the meeting, Jovenel Moise, accompanied in particular by Idalbert Pierre-Jean, Charge d'affaires of the Haitian Embassy in DR, as well as Ardouin Zephirin and Cristine Coupe, two members of his political team, said he had been questions with his Dominican counterpart of the cooperation between Haiti and the Dominican Republic and subjects concerning the relations of the two countries.



The President-elect of Haiti said that the two countries are on an island and that they should normalize relations, stressing that he had sent clear signals to the Dominicans and the world in this sense.



According to the Dominican presidency, Jovenel Moise "is in the country to take note of several projects put in place by the Government of Danilo Medina. Including those related to the agricultural sector and energy. He is also interested in certain social, educational and tourist programs as well as the construction of housing [...] The presence of Jovenel Moise in the country augurs the strengthening of relations between the Dominican Republic and Haiti," indicates the Dominican Government.



After the meeting with Dominican President Medina, a dinner was held in honor of the Haitian delegation. Jovenel Moise was accompanied by Haitian entrepreneurs including Eddy Salomon, Giovanni Gardere, Jean Marc and Charles Jumelle Appolon.



President Jovenel Moise will return to Haiti tomorrow Wednesday.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - NOTICE : ONI apologizes and denies





The National Office of Identification (ONI) apologizes to the population for not being able to obtain services at its offices in Delmas and Port-au-Prince, located at 4 rue de Miot in Babiole. The Office informs citizens that administrative arrangements have been made for services to resume normally while ensuring that the other communal offices function as usual.



In addition, the ONI wishes to remind everyone that no member of its staff, even those who claim to be from an employee union of the institution, has neither the authorization nor the authority to speak on behalf of the Office, which has found that false and defamatory information is conveyed by these employees in the media, with a view to destabilize the institution for personal purposes. The Office rejects these statements, which give the population a bad image of the ONI, which does not in any way reflect the reality of the institution, despite the many challenges it faces on a daily basis.



The ONI once again thanks the citizens for the patience whose they have always shown and reassures them that they will continue working to improve their services.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : Taking justice into ones own hands or the reign of impunity in Haiti





The Human Rights Section of the Minustah / Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has published a report that analyzes the key elements of lynching in Haiti, a phenomenon well known by Haitians, but that remains poorly documented. The objective of the report is to deconstruct certain myths surrounding this phenomenon and to call on the Haitian authorities to take better account of these cases.



The report recalls that lynching is a crime and not a form of popular justice and emphasizes that homicides by lynching account for 15% of all homicides in Haiti. It states that from 2009 to 2015, there were on average 10 cases of lynching per month, with a slight increase in deaths from lynching, from 7.5 deaths per month in 2009 to 8.1 per month in 2015.



Contrary to popular belief, lynching is essentially an urban phenomenon: 70% of all lynching deaths in Haiti between 2009 and 2015 took place in the west department, where there were 14 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, while the national average, excluding the Department of the West, is 3.4 deaths per lynching per 100,000 inhabitants.



Moreover, the report reveals that in the cases followed by the SDH in recent years, these acts have rarely been the subject of a judicial inquiry, even less of a conviction. Between 2010 and 2015, of the 483 lynching or attempted lynching reported by the Minustah, only 59 resulted in arrests. The report mentioned only one conviction in a lynching case.



The report concludes that in the absence of measures taken by the Haitian authorities to combat lynching, the State is failing to protect its citizens. Among other things, it recommends a better study of the phenomenon in order to better understand it and to develop appropriate intervention strategies.



Download the report "Taking justice into ones own hands or the reign of impunity in Haiti" : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/170117_exec_summary_haiti_-_taking_justice_into_ones_own_hands_-_en.pdf



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - NOTICE : CONATEL convene some FM stations





The Directorate General of the Executive Body of the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) invites all holders of operating authorization of FM radio stations in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area operating on the following frequencies : 93.9MHz; 95.5MHz; 97.1 MHz; 97.5 MHz ; 97.9 MHz; 101.5 MHz; 102.7 MHz; 103.1 MHz; 104.3MHz; 106.7MHz; 107.1 MHz, at a meeting with the technical and legal services of the institution for business concerning them, on Thursday 19 January 2017 at 10.00 am at the Council premises, located at # 4, Ave Christophe, Port-au-Prince.



Furthermore, CONATEL draws the attention of the general public to the recurrent and undesirable situation of nuisances created by the interference between radio stations on the FM band.



In order to find a definitive solution and ensure the governance of the sector, CONATEL encourages media managers to contact the Directorate General of the institution and urges them to respect the thresholds set for the emission parameters as well as the established standards for the power and height of antenna towers.



The Directorate-General reminds the radio stations concerned of the obligation to comply with the requirements of the decree of 17 September 1987 on the payment of annual fees for the use of frequencies. This will enable the regulatory body to strengthen its technical capacity and better serve the population.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















An abandoned temple in Japan has been turned into a Bra sanctuary by someone and now it's one of the most amusing tourist places in Ibaraki.

By India Today Web Desk: An abandoned Buddhist temple situated in Ibaraki, a remote area in northeast of Tokyo, is now known as a bra sanctuary among the locals and visitors.

The temple was shut down because of a fraud case involving alleged fortune-telling. The temple is home to many women's lingerie and Barbie dolls.

Some visitors also claim that there might be a presence of black magic in the complex due to presence of spooky things inside the temple. The temple premises now charge visitors to take a look at the spooky temple.

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Take a look at it yourself:

--- ENDS ---
Brexit is the biggest threat to the farming sector in half a century, according to the Irish Farmers Association.

President Joe Healy says with 40% of food exports going to the UK, no other member state is as exposed in the negotiations.

He has stressed that politicians in Dublin and Brussels cannot ignore the ongoing impact of the sterling devaluation, and direct aid for the farmers and sectors affected must be on the agenda.

Mr Healy says the impact of Brexit is already being felt across the country.

"Farmers have taken most of the pain resulting from the weakness of sterling," he continued.

"Beef farmers took a hit of 150m last year from this alone and mushroom growers saw their margins wiped out.

"These losses are a direct result of a political decision outside farmers control and cannot be tolerated."

Healy stressed that politicians in Dublin and Brussels cannot ignore the ongoing impact of the sterling devaluation. In his view, direct aid for the farmers and sectors affected by Brexit must be on the agenda.

He said: "Agriculture and food cannot become a battleground between Brussels and London. There are too many farm livelihoods and jobs at stake.

"Politics cannot be allowed override our fundamental economic interests."

The IFA expects the Government to use the strong relationship they have with both EU and UK leaders to influence a constructive approach to these difficult negotiations.

Healy also warned against a reduction in the Common Agriculture Programme (CAP) budget due to Brexit.

His comments come as British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed today that her nation would leave the Single Market, setting a course for a "hard" Brexit.
Dont be afraid to come forward if you were a witness to the murder of Aidan ODriscoll in Cork city.

That is the message from gardai to members of the public today, as they start a poster appeal for witnesses to the December 7 shooting in Blackpool to help them.

Gardai believe there are many witnesses who were in the Old Commons Road area when the 37-year-old former Real IRA leader was gunned down after being dropped in the area by colleagues on their way home from work.

The Ballyvolane man was on his way to a painting and decorating job in a nearby house when he was gunned down just before 5pm.

Two large posters appealing for information on the killing are being erected at the shooting scene on Old Commons Road, as gardai probe the possibility that the hit was ordered by local enemies.

Posters looking for information on the murder of Aidan ODriscoll in Blackpool. Pic: Eddie OHare

The move is a departure from traditional appeals for information to the public but gardai said they want to appeal to people who were in the area at the time of the killing to help them in the investigation.

Investigating officers originally considered the possibility that the dead mans past in Limerick and Dublin could have held the key to his killing. However, investigators now believe the killing was organised in Cork.

A red Opel Astra car, believed to have been used to whisk the killers away to the Killeens area shortly after the murder, was found burnt-out just days before Christmas in a ravine in an isolated area between Nadd and Rylane. Gardai believe local knowledge was needed by the gang to organise dumping the car there.

It was only spotted by a local landowner but cannot be retrieved from the ravine because it is too deep.

The getaway car used in the murder, a silver Nissan Almera with the registration number 01 TS 1312, was in the general Blackpool area for a number of hours prior to the killing. That car was found burnt-out at Redemption Road. The gunmen abandoned and set fire to a white Vauxhall Astra van, registered 99 G 12357, in Killeens after the killing, before fleeing in the waiting red Opel Astra.

Gardai are also appealing for anyone who saw a black Toyota Avensis between 2pm and 5pm in the Blackpool area or Killeens on the same day.

Anyone with information is asked to contact gardai in Anglesea Street on (021) 4522000.

This article first appeared in todays Evening Echo.
The oil company said testing at the Erut-1 well at the northern limit of the South Lokichar basin in northern Kenya had shown recoverable oil.

However, shares in London failed to respond to the announcement, hovering around the 3.15 level for most of the day, barely changed from the previous session.

Exploration director at Tullow, Angus McCoss, said: This is an exciting discovery from a bold exploration well that proves that oil has migrated to the northern limit of the South Lokichar basin.

"This extends the known hydrocarbon limits of the basin beyond the successful Etom discovery into the under-explored northern part of the basin where we have several undrilled prospects.

He added that further exploration drilling of the area was now being planned.

The shallow depth of the discovery means future wells should be relatively low-cost, analysts at Davy Stockbrokers said.

The announcement comes just days after it was confirmed that founder and chief executive Aidan Heavey is to step down.

The 63-year-old founded the company in Tullow, Co Carlow in 1986. Mr Heavey will remain as chairman, pending shareholder approval, with chief operating officer Paul McDade taking over as CEO in late April.

Last year was a tough one for the company, with 2016 revenues likely to have fallen by almost 19%, according to the end-of-year trading update and board change statement.

Tullow, which is due to publish its 2016 annual results on February 8, has said revenues for last year are likely to amount to around $1.3bn (1.2bn).

Tullow has interests in more than 110 exploration and licences in 19 countries.
Opposition parties urged the protectionist move last night amid fears thousands of jobs are at stake after British prime minister Theresa May revealed some details of her Brexit plans.

Her admission that Britain will leave the single market, and possibly the EU customs union, has raised the prospect of tariffs being slapped on Irish exports and disruption to Irish trade.

While Ms May said there was no desire to return to the frontiers of the past in the North, TDs in border counties expressed the most concern as the consequences of her speech sunk in.

Ms May said she wanted the common travel area between Ireland and Britain to remain. She also prioritised delivering a practical solution to the question of a border with the North.

However, her 12-point plan will see Britain leave the single market, which allows free trade and movement in the EU. Ms Mays confirmation Britain may not remain a full member of the EU customs union after Brexit and instead negotiate its own trade deals with countries also worries businesses.

Danny McCoy, CEO of employers group Ibec, said these changes could seriously disrupt Irelands trading relationship with the North and Britain.

This is an extremely aggressive move by Britain and Irish business will have to reflect on a new reality, he said.

In the Dail, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin cited Enterprise Ireland and ESRI research, which warns up to 25,000 jobs could be at risk from a hard Brexit and of a big drop in wages nationally.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe also admitted that Brexit was the defining challenge for Government.

While Mr Kenny told the Dail he welcomed some clarity from Ms May, he pointed to Irelands difficult campaign ahead in Europe to get special concessions over Brexit.

Small firms called for special financial assistance for businesses and for Brussels to agree to exemptions here.

The uniquely negative implications for Ireland must be heard at EU level, said Small Firms Association director Patricia Callan.

Border county TDs let their deep concerns be known, especially given Ms May did not signal the North would be a special case.

Former minister and Louth TD Fergus ODowd said he was very worried for the future of the region, as exiting the customs union would establish a new trading border on the island of Ireland.

We should have a one-island economy, but this profound decision means we have new economic partition here, which could not have come at a worse time, given the instability in the North, he told the Irish Examiner.

The matter is set to dominate tonights Fine Gael party meeting, where border TDs will want assurances from Mr Kenny that everything is being done to neutralise the impact of Brexit.

However, opposition demands for a Brexit minister were shot down by the government, with Mr Kennys spokesman insisting the taoiseach would negotiate.

Mr Kenny will travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos today, where he is expected to press EU representatives for Ireland to get a deal from Brussels once Brexit negotiations begin.

Mr Kenny has also asked Downing Street if Ms May would speak to the Dail about Brexit when she visits Dublin this month, following a request by the Greens.

European Council president Donald Tusk warned Ms Mays hard-line Brexit plans were surreal and a sad process that must not break up the united EU.
WHAT was normal is now exceptional.

Yesterdays speech by Theresa May and next Fridays inauguration of Donald Trump, are a new age. In truth, it has been partially in progress since the economic crash of 2008.

A longer view might see it  and a particular perspective does  as a culmination of the legacy of Thatcher and Reagan.

Here, visceral discomfort at the arrival of what is referred to, usually snidely, as new politics is hankering after a bygone age.

It is never returning.

A mildly liberal, and slightly social democratic nexus between politics and media, implicitly subscribed to by the mainstream of business and the public service, is permanently disabled.

Its stalwarts are frustrated and bewildered.

There is a creeping sense of nervousness, among many who assumed self-assurance was their natural lot.

Last January, a forthcoming general election and subsequent commemoration of the Easter Rising, was assumed to herald a return to normalcy.

Certainly, the then government would be clipped.

It might require some independent support.

Even after the results, foolish assumptions of a grand coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail clouded minds.

Instead, what had in theory been sought for years in politically correct circles, happened.

A government accountable to the Oireachtas, instead of one effectively controlling it, arrived.

But the loss of control is proving to be deeply disconcerting, for the mildly liberal and slightly social democratic consensus.

They now realise it is the slap of firm government they wanted all along and this is just too much democracy.

A raucous unleashing, of those they presumed to speak for, but too seldom visited, has unnerved them.

That the street is a new mainstream for public debate, is truly shocking for a superannuated class of former student protestors.

Domestic disorder could be side-lined so long as all was well with the world.

In one of the most globalised economies, what happens in Brussels and Washington is at least as important.

But all is not well with the world.

This is not just the case of a country, prone in its public conversation to disparagement, letting down its own better thinkers again.

No; we are midstream in a deeper flux.

2016 began with the improbability of Brexit and the impossibility of Trump.

Now they are the premise of what is to come.

If Easter 2016 was once looked forward to as an end of and resolution of crisis, by the centenary of the foundation of the state in 2022, practically all assumptions on which 2016 was once surmised, will be consigned to oblivion.

Thus far, our conversation on what is foundational change has been constipated by the discomfort of its digestion.

In ruminating repeatedly on the alleged horrors of what is happening, there is too little consideration of why and how.

There is certainly too little thought given to the underlying formation of society which is never returning to familiar patterns.

The dislocation of the economic crisis crystallised long-masked but accumulating disconnection with established and tribal parties.

Globalisation, secularisation, and apparently infinite new streams of information via information technology, mean all is utterly changed.

We are not yet at peak-dislocation; far from it.

The tension between shifting tectonic plates will be exacerbated by Brexit and Trump.

A swathe of the population has no stake in society, and little feeling except resentment for its institutions.

Arguably, the unrealisable promises of social democracy, are as much to blame for failed expectation, as untrammelled capitalism.

But the reality has dawned that upward mobility, is unlikely to be a permanent mass movement.

In this scenario, government is locked into acute conflict between meeting the expectation of services at halcyon, Scandinavian 20th century standards, in a 21st century where a viable economy requires far tighter fiscal management.

Our aspirations are an amalgam of 1970s Swedish socialism and our own noughties boom.

We refuse to recognise the unaffordability of the former, or the unsustainability of the latter.

The hard Brexit that is arriving, and the harder Trump that may be coming, will further polarise political choice.

The Government in partially front-loading public service pay increases is attempting to configure a subsequent deal  albeit at a cost to public services and economic competitiveness  that at least ensures industrial peace.

That calculation is critical to the aspiration Paschal Donohoe articulated on budget day, of ensuring that the centre can hold.

Looking to 2022, the issue is in fact, whether the centre can hold, or not.

Industrial dislocation and water charges, offer a historic opportunity for the left, to advance.

I do not include either Sinn Fein or Labour in that attribution.

Sinn Fein is simply ambiguous; Labour, of course, is clear cut.

In industrial unrest, one cannot be depended on and the other simply wouldnt be expected.

But dislocation if it comes, will be the next best opportunity for the left.

Whatever gains they make, whatever pressure they create, is, in turn, felt acutely from left to right, or at least from left to centre-left, across the political system.

Ultimately, it is as much about who makes the running, as who makes up the numbers.

The open terrain of public service pay negotiations, important elections in Siptu and its biannual conference this year, are the field on which battle will be joined.

If user charges and potential strikes are tactical means by which the centre can be holed, the aftermath of the next election is another.

Very wisely Fianna Fail stayed out of government, and I doubt if any sensible people in Fine Gael really regret it now.

A coalition will immediately make both parties less than the sum of their constituent parts.

The corrosive prospect is that the next Dail will see a repeat of either the current arrangement or its reverse.

While not a grand coalition, this would be the spectre of it.

Over time, probably not a lot of time, this would signal to a disgruntled electorate that, ultimately, there is too little choice in the Irish electoral system.

The centre has probably one more election left to imagine a new narrative, based on contribution and community, or find itself torn apart by expectations that were impossible, and are now ridiculous.

There is a semblance of that narrative, based on enabling communities and citizens, in initiatives for water metres being a tool to allow people exercise control and make savings.

Similarly, in the as-yet aspirational Creative Ireland initiative, or at least in the political language surrounding it, there is belated appreciation that the sum of politics is not all about economic statistics.

There must be an imaginative, gripping narrative.

The answer to dislocation is to be smart tactically, and not exacerbate it.

But that wont be enough.

Disbelief, must be matched by new wonder.

Commitments must be credible. Surprisingly, there is an audience willing to hear a vision, where in return for real engagement, as distinct from righteous expectation, positive change can come.

People need to be challenged, as well as pandered to.
By Kim Se-jeong



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has come under fire for indifference to the safety of Korean citizens abroad, after a tourist in Taiwan was raped last week.



A Korean woman was allegedly raped by a taxi driver Thursday night after being drugged, during a visit to Taipei with her friends.



The unidentified woman claimed on a Taiwan tourism online community that she called the Korean Mission in Taipei for help, but the response was: "Why are you calling so late, I was sleeping?"



The ministry denied this was what happened Monday. "The official who was on the phone didn't say that," said another official who refused to disclose his name.



The ministry said in a statement that the official who received the call at 3:40 a.m. Saturday, told the victim to decide whether to report the case to the local police, telling her to let him know if she reported it. It said as the victim did not call again, they attempted to contact her multiple times before finally reaching her. "After learning she was at a police station, officials at the mission went there to meet her," the ministry said.



The victim could not be reached for comment.



The incident happened around 8 p.m. on Thursday in Taipei. Three girls in a local tour taxi arrived at the popular Shilin Night Market. Earlier, the driver, Chan Yuju, had given them yogurt drinks that apparently contained a sleep-inducing drug and two of them fell asleep on the backseat.



When the third woman got off the taxi to take a look around the market, Chan allegedly drove the taxi to a secluded spot near the market and assaulted one of the two who were sleeping. The third tourist returned to the taxi after one hour, and they were driven to the hotel.



The next morning, the two realized something was wrong. On Friday, they left a message on the online community for help and called the Korean Mission at 3:40 a.m. Saturday.



By Saturday evening, the 41-year-old suspect turned himself in, admitting that he drugged them. The suspected was detained Sunday afternoon, according to the China Post, a local English news outlet.



The suspect was married and had no previous criminal record. The local police were quoted as saying that he could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted. Sexual assault is a crime punishable with up to 10 years in prison in Taiwan. Drugging someone can be punished with up to seven years in prison.




South Korea has confirmed another case of the Zika virus infection, raising the number of people infected with the virus here to 18, health authorities said Tuesday.

A 40-year-old Korean woman was confirmed to have been infected with the mosquito-borne virus after visiting the Philippines, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

She is presumed to have been bitten by a mosquito during her five-day stay in the Southeast Asian nation earlier this month, they said.

The woman, who received treatment at a hospital in Daegu, is currently healthy, KCDC officials said.

The health authorities said seven other people who traveled to the Southeast Asian country with the Zika-infected woman are also under epidemiological survey.

Fourteen South Koreans infected with the virus were infected while traveling to Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam, while four others made a trip to Central and South American nations, including Brazil, the KCDC said.

The KCDC advises pregnant women and their partners who are worried about potential exposure to consider avoiding travel to such areas. Those who have traveled to affected regions in the past two months are advised to avoid any sexual contact or wear condoms if their partner is pregnant.

The virus, first discovered in Africa, is not life-threatening but may be linked to thousands of birth defects in newborn babies like abnormally small heads and improperly developed brains. (Yonhap)
U.S. Ambassador to Korea Mark Lippert speaks during an interview at Habib House in central Seoul, Tuesday.

/ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Rachel Lee

The following is the transcript of an interview The Korea Times and its sister paper Hankook Ilbo had with outgoing U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert.



Q. President-elect Donald Trump appears to be mending ties with Russia to stymie China's growth. Don't you think that's the right policy to keep Pax Americana alive at least for a while?

A. I am not a Russia policy expert and really do not have much to say. We are very concerned about their actions in Ukraine and other activities like the issue of the hacking. I do not want to comment on Russia, other than to say, there was a time in the relationship early with the Barack Obama administration, the two sides were working constructively together. Recent actions of Russians are well documented. Our opposition to those actions are well documented. I really don't want to speculate what Trump may do or may not do in respect to Russia.

Q. THAAD is a thorny issue. But the cost is too much for Korea as Lotte is balking at the land exchange deal for the THAAD deployment because its subsidiaries in China are under pressure. Would reconsidering the deployment affect the ROK-U.S. alliance negatively?

A. The root of the difficult position is a dramatically growing nuclear missile program by North Korea.

That is in violation of countless Security Council resolutions and international law. The [South] Koreans then took the decision in consultation with their ally United States, who has obligations to protect and defend the peninsula, to deploy the defensive system, aimed only at protecting the Korean population and this country from that threat posed by North Korea.

And that's a sovereign decision for the Republic of Korea and we just asked our Chinese friends that rather than impose punitive measures on South Korean companies for the government's decision, their [should be remembered that it is] their sovereign right and their most important responsibility to protect its people. We would hope that Chinese friends would persuade their ally the North Koreans to roll back their illegal, very dangerous nuclear missile program. That should be resolved.

For the nuclear missile programs to be rolled back and ultimately eliminated, that's the ultimate root of the issue. And that's the ultimate solution to this issue over time. It's only proved that the United States and the Republic of Korea bring the best defensive systems to protect the people of this nation.

Q. Is one THAAD battery enough to cover the entire southern part of the Korean Peninsula?

A. It's part of the solution. Missile defence is a comprehensive solution that you need low-altitude defence and high-altitude defence, and you need conventional forces. Ultimately, all three pieces need to be put together to give you as much protection as possible. And what you do over time is to stick it in and enhance the missile defence, and that's a big important part of a missile defence system that would be layered in Korea because it gives you multiple shots at hitting the missile all the way down.

It's very necessary and important, and that's precisely why the THAAD batteries of the United States are in demand all over the world. A huge demand for THAAD batteries, and we put them where the threat is the greatest. It's not political purposes, it's not for economic reasons, it's threat only. Because we only have a very few number of them and every global combat commander will tell you _ "I need missile defence and I need THAAD batteries."

Q. Is THAAD part of the U.S. national missile defence system?

A. Absolutely not. It's only designed for the Korean Peninsula. That's the sole purpose of the THAAD battery. That's precisely why it's useful here; it does not tie in the national defence system. If we wanted to build more national missile defence, we would build more national defence in Japan and Guam. This is all about the Korean Peninsula. This has nothing to do with our national missile defence system.












By Press Trust of India: Colombo, Jan 18 (PTI) Sri Lanka today said it will not decriminalise homosexuality, saying it did not want to cause "social problems" in the country, amid opposition from the "Buddhist clergy".

The Minister of Health Rajith Senaratne said, "We stand oppose to the request for decriminalising it. Even in some of the European Union nations the Catholic Church has opposed the move. Likewise we have the Buddhist clergy here."

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Senaratne, however, said that no one will be prosecuted for being homosexual.

"The government is against homosexuality, but we will not prosecute anyone for practising it," he said.

The minister further said that the government did not want to create "social problems" by inviting a challenge to the law that makes homosexuality illegal and is punishable by up to 12 years of imprisonment.

The law criminalising homosexuality is based on the countrys 1883 penal code, a legacy of British colonialism in Sri Lanka.

The EU has earlier asked Sri Lanka to comply with 27 conventions on civil and political rights, human rights and labour regulations, including decriminalisation of homosexuality, for the GSP+ preferred duty concessions for its exports.

Decriminalising homosexuality was also prescribed by the National Human Rights Action Plan to remove "discrimination based on sexual orientation".

The opposition has earlier charged that the government was trying to legalise homosexuality in order to win duty free concessions of GSP+ from the European Union. PTI CORR SUA AKJ SUA

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Page 1 of 5

Leon Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution to Brest-Litovsk was written at the Brest-Litovsk peace conference a mere few months after the Bolsheviks had come to power. It gives an excellent introduction to the history of the Russian Revolution.

Introduction

The present booklet was, for the most part, written in snatches, in circumstances but little favourable to concentrated works. It was at Brest-Litovsk, between the sittings of the Peace Conference, that the different chapters of this sketch, which has for its main purpose to acquaint the workers of the world with the causes, progress, and meaning of the Russian November Revolution, were put together. History willed it that the delegates of the most revolutionary regime the world has ever known had to sit at the same diplomatic table with the representatives of the most reactionary caste among all the ruling classes. At the sittings of the Peace Conference we did not for one moment forget that we were the representatives of a revolutionary Class. We addressed our speeches to the war-weary workers of all countries, Our energies were sustained by the profound Conviction that the final word in ending the war, as in all other questions, would be said by the European working class. When speaking to Kuhlmann and Czernin, we all the time had in our mind's eye our friends and comrades, Karl Liebknecht and Fritz Adler. My own free time I devoted to preparing a pamphlet intended for the workers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and of all other countries. The bourgeois Press of the whole of Europe is unanimous in its slanders and execrations of the proletarian regime in Russia. The Socialist "patriotic" Press, bereft of courage and of faith in its own work, has revealed a total incapacity to understand and to interpret to the working masses the meaning of the Russian Revolution. I want to come to their help by means of the present booklet. I believe that the revolutionary workers of Europe and of other parts of the world will understand us. I believe that they will, in the near future, start on the same Work as we are now engaged in, but that, aided by their greater experience and their more perfect intellectual and technical means, they will perform this work more thoroughly, and will help us to overcome all difficulties.

L. TROTSKY,

BREST-LITOVSK,

February 12, 1918

Source: Marxist Internet Archive
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AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. produces and exports pulses, staple foods, and food ingredients worldwide. It operates through three segments: Pulse and Grain Processing; Bulk Handling and Distribution; and Food Ingredients and Packaged Foods. The company offers lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans, popcorn, canary seed, flax, and other specialty seeds. The company also produces pulse proteins, fibers, starches, and flours for food ingredient and industrial uses; milled durum wheat products, such as semolina and pasta under the Arbella brand; and bulgur wheat, as well as medium grain and long grain milled rice. In addition, it offers retail and foodservice dry packaged and canned foods under the CLIC, Pouyoukas, and Freshpop brands; and distributes durum, sorghum, popcorn, coffee, canola, sugar, spices, and various seeds. The company was formerly known as Alliance Grain Traders Inc. and changed its name to AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. in October 2014. AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Regina, Canada.
Lack of rains in the state has caused more than 17 farmer deaths and significant crop losses. All districts in Tamil Nadu have been declared drought-hit due to a deficit in the northeast monsoon last year.

By Akshaya Nath: Andhra Pradesh will release water from Krishna river to drought-hit Tamil Nadu today, which has had to deal with a poor rainy season. All districts in the state have been declared drought-hit due to a deficit in the northeast monsoon last year.

Water will reach Chennai today, in a godsend for people of Tamil Nadu who have waited for over a week for the same. According to reports, the water has covered more than 142 km since its release point Kandaleru Poondi and is expected to reach Uthukottai in Tiruvallur today morning. One of the reasons why the quantity of water from Kandaleru Poondi has been raised to 1,500 cusecs is to provide drinking water to people of Chennai.

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Also read | Tamil Nadu: Panneerselvam to meet Andhra CM, will request release of Krishna river water

Lack of rains in the state has caused more than 17 farmer deaths and significant crop losses. Earlier, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had promised relief aid to farmers following drought situation in the state.

He said, "Relief assistance will be extended for crop damage of more than 33 per cent as per guidelines. A sum of Rs 5,565 will be extended to farmers per acre of paddy crop."

Also read | Tamil Nadu farmers urge government to declare state drought affected

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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.
BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. It also provides global risk management and advisory services. The firm manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. It also launches and manages open-end and closed-end mutual funds, offshore funds, unit trusts, and alternative investment vehicles including structured funds. The firm launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and real estate mutual funds. It also launches equity, fixed income, balanced, currency, commodity, and multi-asset exchange traded funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds. It invests in the public equity, fixed income, real estate, currency, commodity, and alternative markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, SMID-cap, large-cap, and multi-cap companies. It also invests in dividend-paying equity securities. The firm invests in investment grade municipal securities, government securities including securities issued or guaranteed by a government or a government agency or instrumentality, corporate bonds, and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental and quantitative analysis with a focus on bottom-up and top-down approach to make its investments. The firm employs liquidity, asset allocation, balanced, real estate, and alternative strategies to make its investments. In real estate sector, it seeks to invest in Poland and Germany. The firm benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against various S&P, Russell, Barclays, MSCI, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch indices. BlackRock, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in New York City with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; London, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Hong Kong; Greenwich, Connecticut; Princeton, New Jersey; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, District of Columbia; Toronto, Canada; Wilmington, Delaware; and San Francisco, California.
Delek US Holdings, Inc. engages in the integrated downstream energy business in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Refining, Logistics, and Retail. The Refining segment processes crude oil and other feedstock for the manufacture of various grades of gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, asphalt, and other petroleum-based products that are distributed through owned and third-party product terminal. It owns and operates four independent refineries located in Tyler, Texas; El Dorado, Arkansas; Big Spring, Texas; and Krotz Springs, Louisiana, as well as three biodiesel facilities in Crossett, Arkansas, Cleburne, Texas, and New Albany. The Logistics segment gathers, transports, and stores crude oil, intermediate, and refined products; and markets, distributes, transports, and stores refined products for third parties. It owns or leases capacity on approximately 400 miles of crude oil transportation pipelines, approximately 450 miles of refined product pipelines, an approximately 900-mile crude oil gathering system, and associated crude oil storage tanks with an aggregate of approximately 10.2 million barrels of active shell capacity; and owns and operates ten light product distribution terminals, as well as markets light products using third-party terminals. The Retail segment owns and leases 248 convenience store sites located primarily in West Texas and New Mexico. Its convenience stores offer various grades of gasoline and diesel under the DK or Alon brand; and food products and service, tobacco products, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, and general merchandise, as well as money orders to the public primarily under the 7-Eleven and DK or Alon brand names. It serves oil companies, independent refiners and marketers, jobbers, distributors, utility and transportation companies, the U.S. government, and independent retail fuel operators. Delek US Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee.
By Press Trust of India: Hyderabad, Jan 18 (PTI) The Telangana government would bring a bill for providing 12 per cent reservation to backward sections among Muslims in the Budget session of Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said today.

"We will put up the Muslim Reservation Bill in the coming Budget session itself," he said in the Assembly during a debate on welfare of minorities.

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The budget session is expected to begin next month.

The 12 per cent reservation to Muslims was a key election promise of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The state government had appointed a Commission for conducting a study of social and economic status of Muslims and the panel has submitted its report, Rao said in a statement on the issue.

The state government has forwarded the report to the Backward Classes Commission for its opinion.

The BC Commission is gathering views of different groups in the matter for expressing its opinion, Rao said.

"In order to provide 12 per cent reservation to Muslims, a relaxation should be given to the stipulation that the reservations should not exceed 50 per cent.

"The Government of Tamil Nadu introduced Act 45/94 and with the consent of Indian Parliament got incorporated the issue of enhancement of reservation in the 9th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. We will follow the same policy in our state also," Rao said in his statement.

Expressing confidence that the Centre would act favourably on the states move to provide 12 per cent quota, he, however, said the state government would also take a legal recourse on the issue if the Centre does not respond positively.

BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy said the high court had already held that reservations on the basis of religion is against the Constitution.

The issue is also sub-judice as the matter of four per cent quota (being given to backward sections among Muslims that began in undivided AP) is in the Supreme Court, he said.

Rao, however, clarified that the proposed quota is not for Muslim religion.

"I did not say reservation is for Muslim religion. I said clearly in my clarification. We said we will work for the welfare of poor in the group by that name and bring reservation.

"You (Kishan Reddy) said it is sub-judice. There is nothing that Legislative Assemby cannot discuss and pass a bill just because it is sub-judice. We are free to discuss," he said. PTI SJR RS NP

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By Press Trust of India: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jan 17 (PTI) US president-elect Donald Trump met Indian-American Ajit Pai, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, fuelling speculation about his role in the incoming administration.

Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spears said Trump met Pai yesterday.

No other details were immediately available about the content of the meeting that Trump had with Pai.

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The president-elect normally has been holding meetings at the Trump Towers in New York with those who he intends to appoint at senior positions in his administration beginning January 20.

Nikki Haley, his nominee for the US Ambassador to the United Nations, is the highest ranking Indian American in any presidential administration.

Pai is the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Pai is widely expected to be tapped as interim FCC chair when President-elect Trump becomes President on January 20 and could be named permanent chair as well, though his fellow Republican Commissioner Michael ORielly is also in the conversation.

He was nominated to the FCC by President Barack Obama and was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on May 7, 2012.

Pai was born in the US after his parents moved from India to the US in 1971. His mother grew up in Bangalore, and father was raised in Hyderabad. PTI LKJ NSA

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Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. operates as a branded consumer products company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Home and Personal Care; Global Pet Care; and Home and Garden. The Home and Personal Care segment provides home appliances under the Black & Decker, Russell Hobbs, George Foreman, Toastmaster, Juiceman, Farberware, and Breadman brands; and personal care products under the Remington and LumaBella brands. The Global Pet Care segment provides rawhide chewing, dog and cat clean-up and food, training, health and grooming, small animal food and care, and rawhide-free products under the 8IN1 (8-in-1), Dingo, Nature's Miracle, Wild Harvest, Littermaid, Jungle, Excel, FURminator, IAMS, Eukanuba, Healthy-Hide, DreamBone, SmartBones, ProSense, Perfect Coat, eCOTRITION, Birdola, Good Boy, Meowee!, Wildbird, and Wafcol brands. This segment also offers aquarium kits, stand-alone tanks, and aquatics equipment and consumables under the Tetra, Marineland, Whisper, Instant Ocean, GloFish, OmegaOne, and OmegaSea brands. The Home and Garden segment provides outdoor insect and weed control solutions, and animal repellents under the Spectracide, Garden Safe, Liquid Fence, and EcoLogic brands; household pest control solutions under the Hot Shot, Black Flag, Real-Kill, Ultra Kill, The Ant Trap, and Rid-A-Bug brand names; household surface cleaning, maintenance, and restoration products, including bottled liquids, mops, wipes, and markers under the Rejuvenate brand name; and personal-use pesticides and insect repellent products under the Cutter and Repel brands. The company sells its products through retailers, e-commerce and online retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Before groping a female employee's genitals, he told her, "I love this new world, I no longer have to be politically correct." After all, Donald Trump who himself has been accused of committing sexual assault was elected as United States president.

A topless activist from the feminist group FEMEN runs to grab the crotch of a life-sized wax statue of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump

By India Today Web Desk: It is only a matter of few days till sexual assault against women in the US could be accepted tacitly, or so it looks like.

The president-elect Donald Trump, infamously referred to as a "xenophobe" and a "wall-builder overlord" of the US, in the past, was heard saying "Grab them by the p***y," because "when you're a star, they let you do it," while talking about women and how influential people can get away with sexual assaults.

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Watch the video here:

The fears of millions in the United States of America are turning into a reality as a republican in Connecticut was arrested last week after he groped a female employee's genitals, said a Daily Dot report.

Before his shameless manoeuvre, he even told her, "I love this new world, I no longer have to be politically correct."

When she confronted him about it, he responded, "It would be your word against mine and nobody will believe you," according to the police warrant.

Republican Von Keyserling was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, meaning these actions do still hold consequences.

But with Donald Trump becoming president, it might give permission to many since the president does not "even wait" and he just starts "kissing them."

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SUPERVALU INC., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a grocery wholesaler and retailer in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Wholesale and Retail. The Wholesale segment engages in the wholesale distribution of various food and non-food products to independent retail customers, such as single and multiple grocery store operators, regional chains, and the military. It also provides professional services, such as pass-through programs; and various services comprising retail store support, advertising, couponing, e-commerce, network and data hosting, training and certifications classes, and administrative back-office solutions. The Retail segment operates retail stores that provide groceries and various additional products that include general merchandise, home, health and beauty care, and pharmacy products. It provides its products under the Cub Foods, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, and Hornbacher's names, as well as 1 Rainbow stores. The company's stores offer a range of branded and private-label products comprising perishable and nonperishable grocery products. As of February 24, 2018, it operated a network of 3,437 stores, including 3,323 wholesale primary stores; and 114 retail grocery stores. The company was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Global Payments Inc. provides payment technology and software solutions for card, electronic, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Business and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization services, settlement and funding services, customer support and help-desk functions, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security services, consolidated billing and statements, and on-line reporting services. This segment also provides an array of enterprise software solutions that streamline business operations of its customers in various vertical markets; and value-added services, such as point-of-sale solutions, and analytic and engagement tools, as well as payroll and human capital management services. The Issuer Solutions segment offers solutions that enable financial institutions and retailers to manage their card portfolios through a platform; and commercial payments and ePayables solutions for businesses and governments. The Business and Consumer Solutions segment provides general-purpose reloadable prepaid debit and payroll cards, demand deposit accounts, and other financial service solutions to the underbanked and other consumers, and businesses under the Netspend brand. It markets its products and services through direct sales force, trade associations, agent and enterprise software providers, referral arrangements with value-added resellers, and independent sales organizations. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
By Press Trust of India: Hyderabad, Jan 17 (PTI) In the wake of the protests by a group of students at the main entrance gate of the University of Hyderabad yesterday to mark the first death anniversary of Rohit Vemula, the varsity today said a case will be filed soon on charge of breaking locks of the gate.

"Two locks put on the main gate were broken with the help of stones and evidences are available for the same. Police case will be lodged soon," UoH stated in a release.

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The protesters from outside the varsity, comprising members of different students organisations had gathered in front of the main gate as part of "Shahadat Din" of Vemula, the dalit research scholar who had committed suicide in a hostel room on the campus on January 17 last year.

On a call given by a section of students under the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice - UOH to gather at the Rohit Stupa on the campus, the protesters had marched towards the main entrance and tried to forcibly enter by removing the barricades placed there even as members of JAC from inside the campus too gathered at the spot.

As protesters from outside tried to "gatecrash" into the campus, with some of them climbing the gate, the police took them into preventive custody and released them later.

According to varsity officials, UoH Security Officer T V Rao had offered to escort Rohits mother Radhika Vemula to shopping complex (to enable her to visit Rohit Stupa) provided she came alone, but a set of women faculty members and students declined this proposal on behalf of Radhika.

She later addressed the JAC members at the main gate.

"Finally she could not accept the security officers offer," the UoH said. Later, Radhika along with her second son Raja Vemula and others, were also taken away by the police.

With regard to the gathering and programmes, UoH reiterated that no permission was sought by anyone to organise any activity, or by anyone, including the press, to enter the campus, to cover any event.

"A notice was posted on the university website in this regard for everyones information that any one gaining unauthorised entry into the campus would be treated as a trespasser," the release added. PTI VVK NSK

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A Kenyan MP has asked women to withhold sex from their husbands until they register as voters for the August 8 elections.

Mishi Mboko, the womens representative for the coastal city of Mombasa, says it is the best strategy to shore up opposition votes.

Women, this is the strategy you should adopt. It is the best. Deny them sex until they show you their voters card, she said.

The registration ends on February 17.

Ms Mboko said sex is a powerful weapon and would encourage reluctant men to rush to register as voters in the exercise that began on Monday.

She said her husband would not be affected by the boycott, as he had already registered, the Standard Newspaper reports.

Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta will be seeking a second term, and is expected to be challenged by a candidate supported by an alliance of opposition parties, including Ms Mbokos ODM.

Ms Mboko said that the opposition alliance has a better chance of winning the elections if its supporters registered in huge numbers

Calls for sex boycotts are common in Kenya. In 2009, women activists held a week-long sex strike to get then President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga and their allies to reconcile after falling out.
Music producer and Mark Okraku Mantey has dismissed rumours that suggest that he has dropped his intended lawsuit against rapper Sarkodie.

The C.E.O of Slip Music insists he is still suing Sarkodie for infringing on his intellectual property right by recording another version of the late Daasebre Gyamenahs hit song, Kokoko.

In a brief interview with Merqury Quaye on the Cruise Control on Hitz FM Wednesday, he said emphatically, No I didnt say so."

Mr Mantey added that he has only spoken to Hitz FM where he disclosed that Sarkodie gave me a call over the weekend after his [Sarkodie] lawyer had called earlier.

"The calls were actually back to back because I dropped this line and the other one followed. We were supposed to have met today [Wednesday] but I told them I would not be around because Im going to Kumasi to pay homage to Asantehene," the said.

The music producer also gave a brief account of what transpired in the telephone conversation between himself and Sarkodie.

The lawyer who called said she was Sarks lawyer and shes sure I know why she was calling and I said yes. The import of the call is that we need to talk.

"She said its not like they are being disrespectful about hearing that I didnt like the way they went about my song but she was out of town and that was the reason for the delay in sitting down to talk he revealed.

When asked if he has dropped the lawsuit, his answered No! Until we meet and I hear their sides and how the talk will go will inform us as to what to do next.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has moved into full gear, investigating the whereabouts of five (5) allegedly stolen vehicles belonging to the Upper East Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

The Commission has in effect, written to the Regional Director, Ghana Health Service, Upper East Region, Bolgatanga, Dr. Kofi Issah, requesting him to assist investigate Dr. Kuoku Awonoor-Williams, whom he took over from as the Upper East Director of the Ghana Health Service and the Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira.

The duo, Dr. Awoonor-Williams and Dr. Appiah-Denkyira, are at the center of the alleged stolen five (5) vehicles belonging to the Upper East Directorate of the GHS.

Dr. Kuoku Awoonor-Williams, then Director of Health Services in the Upper East Region, was transferred to Accra in 2015 and was replaced by Dr. Kofi Issah.

At the end of 2015 when stock was taken of the vehicles available to the Service in the Upper East Region after Dr. Awoonor-Williams had left the Region, it was realized that five of the vehicles, namely a Mitsubishi Pajero, Landcruiser V8, VW Passat and two pickups could not be accounted for.

Dr. Awoonor-Williams, according to inside sources, secretly took the five (5) vehicles belonging to the Upper East Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service without following laid down procedures for moving public property from one location to the other.

The Transport Unit of the Upper East Regional Health Directorate and the Director who took over from Dr. Awoonor-Williams had no prior knowledge of the movement of the five (5) vehicles from the Region.

Dr. Awoonor-Williams, according to sources familiar with the situation, has put some or all the five (5) vehicles to his private use and has since resisted efforts to retrieve those vehicles back to the Upper East Region.

The Commission in a letter dated November 16, 2016 and signed by D.C. Hammond, Deputy Chief Investigator, is demanding copies of the transfer letter of Dr. Kofi Issah to the Upper East Region as Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service as well as the handing over notes he received from Dr. Awoonor-Williams to assist in investigations.

The Commission also wants Dr. Issah to furnish it with the list of vehicles at the Regional Directorate at the time of his assumption of office at Bolgatanga, and indicating which of them were designated as project vehicles.

Your response, together with the documents should reach the offices of the Commission located at the Old Parliament House, High Street Accra, within twelve (12) days on receipt of this letter, the letter in part stated.

Persons familiar with the situation say the GHS Council has not been so helpful in resolving the situation.

-kasapafmonline
The upcoming all-female Ocean's Eight film has just added a new cast member - Kim Kardashian.

The reality TV star and her half-sister Kendall Jenner will make cameo appearances in the film.

It will be the fourth movie in the Ocean's franchise in 17 years - confusingly coming after Ocean's Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen.

Kardashian and Jenner were photographed in New York on Monday after reportedly filming their cameos.

The pair will apparently appear in scenes set at a fictional gala being held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Kendall Jenner, Kardashian's half sister, has also shot scenes for Ocean's Eight

One scene in the film features a jewel robbery at New York's annual Met Gala - an event packed with celebrities.

The news comes three months after Kardashian was held at gunpoint during a robbery in Paris.

She took a break from social media and public appearances as a result but has recently returned to Twitter and visited Dubai last week.

Rihanna, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway are due to take some of the main roles in Ocean's Eight.

Vogue editor Anna Wintour and fashion designer Zac Posen have also recently been spotted near the set - could they be making cameos in the same scenes?

We'll find out when the film hits cinemas in June 2018.

Kardashian recently visited Dubai

The original Ocean's 11 was released in 1960 and starred Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin - and was remade as Ocean's Eleven in 2001 with Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Unlike Ocean's Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen, the new film won't have major roles for Pitt and Clooney.

Matt Damon will reprise his role for a brief appearance, and James Corden and Damian Lewis will also have cameos.
Rapper Okyeame Kwame has released his first song for 2017. The new highlife track entitled Adonko, which is a form of dance, features highlife greats Kwabena Kwabena.

Adonko, was produced by Kuslin off the rappers upcoming fifth solo album Made In Ghana.

The song is composed on the theme of love, engineered with a rhythm to get the listener dancing with excitement.

Listen to the song below:



Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
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Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Gambia's Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency just days before he was due to step down, with British and Dutch travel agencies scrambling to evacuate thousands of tourists Wednesday.

Jammeh, who has ruled The Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years, initially acknowledged opponent Adama Barrow as the victor in December elections, but later rejected the ballot count as flawed and lodged a complaint with the country's Supreme Court.

He declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to the "unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference in the December 1 presidential elections and also in the internal affairs of The Gambia," Jammeh announced on state TV.

Citizens were henceforth "banned from any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement to violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace," Jammeh said, asking security forces to maintain law and order.

Under the Gambian constitution a state of emergency lasts up to 90 days if the national assembly confirms it -- which the legislature did late Tuesday, a parliamentary source told AFP.

In Washington, the US State Department urged Jammeh to "peacefully hand over power" to Barrow -- who is in Senegal, where he plans to remain until his planned inauguration Thursday.

Gambia's state of emergency

"Doing so would allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect the Gambian people from potential chaos," spokesman John Kirby said. "Failure to do so will put his legacy, and more importantly The Gambia, in peril."

The 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has also repeatedly urged Jammeh to respect the outcome of the vote and step aside, a call backed by the UN Security Council, African Union and others.

Jammeh has rebuffed two high-level delegations by west African leaders pleading with him to go.

"The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high," the British foreign ministry said on its website, a warning echoed on social media by its Dutch counterpart, who both urged citizens to avoid all but essential travel.

Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow (L), flanked by his supporters, arrives in Banjul for a meeting with four African heads of state on December 13, 2016

British travel agency Thomas Cook said it had "implemented our contingency plans to bring all our UK customers home," and was trying to arrange evacuation of up to 3,500 tourists from Banjul airport as soon as possible.

"We will operate a programme of additional flights into Banjul airport over the next 48 hours," the company said in a statement, adding this included four extra flights on Wednesday.

The Dutch travel firm TUI Nederland told AFP it would repatriate "about 800" clients.

String of resignations

Four more cabinet ministers in Jammeh's government defected, a source close to the regime told AFP on Tuesday.

Foreign minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, finance minister Abdou Kolley, trade minister Abdou Jobe and tourism minister Benjamin Roberts all resigned, the source said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

They follow the high-profile defection last week of information minister Sheriff Bojang, who is now in neighbouring Senegal.

Gambia has been plunged into political turmoil since President Yahya Jammeh disputed opposition leader Adama Barrow's December poll victory, refusing to cede power until a judge rules on his legal challenge

Citizens continued to pack their bags and stream out of Gambia -- a small, narrow enclave of Senegal except for its coast -- by road and ferry heading for Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, taking as many possessions as they could carry.

One traveller told AFP that those arriving at 10:00 am would have to wait until the following day to board a ferry at Banjul port to cross the river headed for Senegal, unless they bribed officials, due to huge numbers exiting the city.

Military deployment?

Military intervention in The Gambia seems closer than ever, following declarations by the UN and African Union that boots on the ground could get the green light without a rapid resolution to the crisis.

In Nigeria -- the regional power of west Africa -- a source at the country's military HQ said, "We are deploying to Dakar, Senegal, very soon."

"We are deploying platforms, a few personnel, pilots, technicians and the maintenance crew," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"You already know that this deployment is in connection with the unfolding development in The Gambia."

In Rabat, it was reported that Morocco had offered Jammeh asylum for accepting the election defeat and stepping down "in return for a golden retirement", but Banjul sources were reluctant to confirm the claim.

Seven journalists -- from Sweden and Senegal, plus four from Kenya and South Africa who were working for a Chinese TV channel -- were expelled late Monday soon after they arrived at Banjul airport to cover the ongoing crisis.
The Bihar-style mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance has added to the BJP's headache and the party has every reason to be worried.

A seat-sharing formula between Akhilesh & Rahul Gandhi was finalised even while they were waiting for EC decision.

By India Today Web Desk: It is an open secret that chief minister Akhilesh Yadav favours an alliance with the Congress and a meeting between him and Rahul Gandhi is expected soon.

In fact, sources claim a seat sharing formula has already been finalised and both the leaders were waiting for the Election Commission's decision on the Samajwadi Party (SP) symbol before they could officially seal the deal.

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The Congress and Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal combine may get at least 120-125 seats, while the rest will go to the SP, sources said. The Bihar-style mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance has added to the BJP's headache and the party has every reason to be worried.

ALSO READ | Congress confirms alliance with Samajwadi Party, Sheila Dikshit withdraws as CM face

While the caste arithmetic in UP may be different from that in Bihar, an alliance between SP, Congress and RLD will be a potent force for the BJP. The Samajwadi family feud has only worked to solidify Akhilesh's popular support. While the Congress already enjoys huge support in areas like Amethi, Raebareli and Sultanpur, areas like Etawah and Kannauj are Samajwadi pocket boroughs.

Poll pundits believe amid the bitter Samajwadi battle, it is Mulayam who has emerged 'Bhishma Pitamah'. For the BJP, the lack of a CM face in UP is the biggest issue. On the other hand, Akhilesh has worked his way through to emerge as a pro-development leader. In Bihar, people rejected BJP's plan of projecting Narendra Modi for votes. Also, sidelining local leaders in the state proved costly for it. On the contrary, it announced Sarbananda Sonowal as the CM face in Assam and won.

Modi is scheduled to address at least 15 rallies in UP, far less than what he did in Bihar. But the BJP is yet to find a local face for its campaign. Leaders like Varun Gandhi have been sidelined for reasons best known to the party. Smaller parties like RLD, JD-U, RJD, Nishad Party, Peace Party, Mahaan Dal and Apna Dal (Krishna Patel faction) have also decided to join the Grand Alliance bandwagon in UP.

ALSO READ | SP-Congress alliance in UP may dash hopes of BJP, BSP

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Bamako (AFP) - A suicide bomb attack on a camp housing former rebels and pro-government militia in northern Mali on Wednesday killed 37 fighters, a UN peacekeeping source and a local official told AFP.

The camp is located in Gao, the main city in northern Mali, once the cradle of rebel uprisings and a sanctuary for Islamist fighters.

In 2015, after a French-led international intervention, the rebel alliance signed a peace deal with the government and loyalist militias.
Libreville (AFP) - Defender Michael Ngadeu smashed in the winning goal as Cameroon came from behind to beat minnows Guinea-Bissau 2-1 at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.

Guinea-Bissau had gone in front in the Group A game in Libreville when Piqueti produced a contender for goal of the tournament in the 13th minute.

But the Indomitable Lions, four-time winners of the continental trophy, produced two fine goals of their own to turn things around in the second period at the Stade de l'Amitie.

Sebastien Siani smashed in the equaliser just after the hour mark and Ngadeu emerged as the unlikely hero as he netted the decisive goal with 12 minutes remaining.

After a build-up marred by the refusal of several marquee names to come to Gabon, suddenly Cameroon know a draw against hosts Gabon in their final group game on Sunday will see them progress to the last eight.
18.01.2017 LISTEN

President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assured Ghanaians home and abroad of his government's determination to ignite the can-do spirit in the country, when he met the Ghanaian community in Bamako, on his recent trip to Mali.

His invitation to nationals abroad to come back home is premised on the determination to build a resilient economy that would cater for all Ghanaians, we are told. In the words of the newly-installed Head of State, this country is in the process of re-igniting the Black Star spirit in the country. In other words, something exciting is about to unfold on the home front under his leadership.

For a country whose number of whose citizens have migrated, in many cases under very difficult circumstances as a result of the crumbling economic conditions back home, the Presidential assurance must be music in Ghanaian ears.

It is a fact universally acknowledged that most people have lost what it takes to pride oneself as a Ghanaian. The soul of society has no resting place, a result of reckless economic policies that have landed Ghana in the woods.

That is why the Presidential declaration must reflect the determination of the new leadership to ensure that the average Ghanaian can cater for him or herself. That should translate into state officials stopping the leak at the state treasury. It should also mean that the Akufo-Addo administration would recover state resources in wrong hands.

One of the main reasons why the President and his New Patriotic Party received such an overwhelming endorsement at the polls on December 7 was the perception by most voters, that only the NPP and its leadership could recover the loot from individuals who used cronyism, sole-sourcing and outright thievery to deplete state coffers.

When Mr. Justice Jones Dotse, sitting at the Supreme Court, coined the phrase Loot, create and share the other day to describe the Woyome scandal, which was smelling all the way to the bank, the eminent jurist was also referring to the abuse of the procurement law and its processes, which were deliberately misapplied to enrich state appointees and party apparatchiks in the immediate past.

At that point in our political evolution, the state treasury had deliberately been made to leak like a sieve. State officials, a number of whom had never held a steady job, suddenly became the nouveau rich of society, while hard working Ghanaians could not make ends meet, no matter hard they worked.

The Chronicle toasts to the President's health. The Presidential declaration that turning round the economy could be done, and that the Head of State and his NPP appointees would work hard at it, is music to our ears.

We promise on our honour that The Chronicle would lend a helping hand in our efforts at charting the new course. Our promise though, is premised on the new administration recovering every pesewa stolen from the national treasury. We are not calling for a witch hunt, even though a witch must be hunted out of existence.

What we are asking for is a mechanism to encourage anybody who knows he/she or has amassed wealth at the expense of the state through foul means, to return the loot before the law catches up with him or her. We are looking at a time span to be given for looters to return their loot. Beyond that date, anybody caught by the law for misappropriating state resources should be dealt with as a common criminal.

This country is unable to cater for its citizens, because state officials and their cronies have misapplied state resources. If this administration should clean the slate, it would require a very effective means of recouping stolen assets.

Clearing the mess should mean that when any of the about-to-be-installed officials of state are also caught using their influence to corrupt the system, he or she would not be shielded, but dealt with according to the laws of the land.

When this is done, Ghanaians would respond to the call to work harder, which alone, would increase state resources, and thus expand the national economy.

The Chronicle is absolutely sure that when this nation begins to work again, Ghanaians in the Diaspora would return home to help build a more resilient economy.

There is every indication of happier times ahead for the average Ghanaian. Forward with the national development agenda!
18.01.2017 LISTEN

By Maxwell Ofori, Flagstaff House, Accra

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, together with heads of state and governments from 30 other African countries, has resolved to develop joint border patrols in the fight against Boko Haram, a terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

To ensure that the quest of the leaders materialised, the government of France has also pledged to continue supporting the operationalisation of the Africa Standby Force.

This was contained in a communique issued on Saturday, January 14, 2017, at the end of the 27th Africa-France Summit held in Bamako, Mali.

However, the heads of state, at the summit, welcomed a decision of the African Union to find a sustainable financing mechanism for the Peace Fund, in a move to provide African peacekeeping operations with sustainable and predictable sources of funding.

They also welcomed the European Union's contribution to the financing of these operations, and recalled the need to diversify international support.

At the summit, according to the communique, there were calls for an urgent reform in the United Nations and in its Security Council, through the enlargement of its membership in both categories with a greater African presence, especially, amongst its permanent members, so as to make the Council more representative of today's world.

In other to achieve that, the heads of state and governments emphasised the important role of the African peace and security architecture in preventing, managing and settling conflicts, and, thus, called for more support.

Meanwhile, the heads of state also committed themselves towards ensuring that economic growth in their respective countries would lead to a more inclusive economy, which will create jobs for the youth in the coming years.

It stated that the heads of state agreed to the realisation of the commitment within the framework of the International Sustainable Development Agenda  the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the African Union's Agenda 2063.

To this end, the Heads of State and Governments indicated that education and vocational training would be high priorities, as these will improve human development and the integration of young Africans in the labour market.

They, therefore, agreed to strengthen the management of education systems on the continent, by focusing on quality, particularly, by putting in place efficient training and assessment policies, as well promoting top-quality vocational training.

An appeal was made to 'international partners' to increase their support for the sectors of education and vocational training in Africa, and also for consideration to be given to modern, accessible and vocational content, which meet the needs of the labour market.

President Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the 1st Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs Shirley Ayorkor Botchway; Minister-designate for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah; acting Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante; acting Deputy Chief of Staff, Francis Asenso Boakye; acting Director of State Protocol, Ambassador Hassan Ahmed, and acting Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin.
18.01.2017 LISTEN

Reverend Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, has cautioned incoming political officers to eschew arrogance of power, and rather serve in humility and the interest of the citizenry.

They should not exhibit arrogance of power, insult, attacks, you are over and above all us, you are in office for your personal comfort, and that we dare not raise a voice, Rev Opuni-Frimpong advised political officers in an interview with the GNA on Friday.

He pleaded with the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and all his appointees to be legacy-minded, saying that was what would guide them into the future.

He explained that to be legacy minded-or legacy-conscious meant that leaders must be very clear in their minds what they were into office to offer-right, and have in mind what they want to offer before they exit at the end of services.

Leaders must be very clear in the minds what they are in offices to offer, not when they are exiting, but when they are arriving, how they want to be remembered for, and work towards that  as men and women who came to serve, men; and women who are faithful, humble, and in for the common good of Ghanaians, and for human dignity.

Those who want to make Ghana great and strong  they must live with that mind set  and that is what will guide all their decisions and implementation of whatever policies are on their desks, and the discipline they bring to office, and be able to be accountable to the people, Rev Opuni Frimpong advised.

We are praying with them; we wish them well, but they must know that Ghanaians cannot accept anything apart from the best for ourselves.

We have a nation that must be build; we have a young people that we must be conscious of; that when we exit, we must have a better Ghana for our young people and our children who are yet unborn.

Meanwhile, Rev Opuni-Frimpong has congratulated the new administration on its assumption of office, and for the colourful swearing in ceremony, and said he was hopeful the selection of personalities was done by the President with due diligence.

As they engage society, when they hear people calling for accountability they must not see them as enemies, he said.

Source: GNA


18.01.2017 LISTEN

From Issah Alhassan Kumasi

The Kwadaso Constituency branch of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed gratitude to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for nominating Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto as Minister for Food and Agriculture.

The constituency brach supporters said they felt honoured that after serving the party diligently as a Member of Parliament (MP), President Akufo-Addo thought it expedient to nominate Dr. Owusu Afriyie to one of the most important ministries in the political administration of the country.

A statement, signed and issued by the spokesperson of the constituency branch, Frank Amoako, described the decision as prudent and timely, considering the nominees expertise and experience in the field of agriculture and agric economy.

The entire fraternity of NPP in the Kwadaso Constituency is expressing our gratitude and appreciation to the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, for appointing Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto as Food and Agriculture Minister, the statement indicated.

The Kwadaso NPP branch emphasised that Dr. Owusu Afriyie has a track record of revamping agriculture products such as cash crops (cocoa and coffee), oil palm, fisheries and many others in the country.

He is committed, determined, focused and dedicated for the task, and we trust that he will deliver to the utmost best to solve the deficiency and challenges of food and agriculture of the country.
From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi

A thirty six-year-old fetish priest of Awisem, near Twifo Praso in the Central Rregion, has denounced his sources of spiritual powers and turned to God, after burning the fetish house that accommodated all his deities and powers.

After 25 years of providing spiritual assistance to politicians, pastors, chiefs and individuals from all walks of life, Nana Mframa, alias Mawuli, says he has seen the light and resorted to Jesus as the answer to all solutions.

Nana Mframa has been to Togo, Benin, La Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Libya to help patrons spiritually, but he would have nothing to do with these powers again.

Three months ago, he got in touch with Apostle Kofi Nkansah-Sarkodie, alias Brother Saint Sark of the Open Arms Ministries/Jesus Chapel in Kumasi, and got instant delivery from the snares of evil to end his involvement with dwarfs, marine spirits, witchcraft and deities as his sources of power for the past 25 years.

The father of five, who claims he has been touched by the delivery powers of Brother Saint Sark, intends to go into gospel ministry and help people with his innate healing powers, even in the face of challenges he faces currently.

According to him, he had been to Nigeria to see Prophet T. B. Joshua and Prophet Obinim in Accra, but he could not be delivered. He said he had had to pay monies, ranging between GH200 and GH500, and even selling properties to raise money to about 18 pastors to get delivered, but ended up being exploited.

Nana Mframa said he had traversed the length and breadth of the country, including Accra, Takoradi, Kumasi, and Cape Coast, and the Volta Region, but none could help him until he got to know about Saint Brother Sark in the media.

According to him, he has been tormented by the powers he wielded any time he decided to quit, until Apostle Saint Sark laid hands on him and delivered him from the bondage of Satan, at no cost.

He described Brother Sark, who claims to be Jesus' representative on earth, as a true and anointed man of God, and recommended him (Brother Sark) to all who wanted to know God.

He said there are true men of God and fake ones, to which group he said the majority of pastors belong, and explained that a common characteristic of such fake men of God is the extortion of monies from unsuspecting clients before they were consulted.

Nana Mframa said he had had his calling at age eight and performed wonders. At 18, he had the urge to seek more powers, and resorted to spiritualism, ending up in the spiritual world for three years, and sojourning to the underworld, where he encountered 75 dwarfs, four marine spirits and 12 deities, which he accommodated in ten rooms.

He noted that he assisted about 22 pastors with spiritual powers to grow their churches. Eight of such pastors he helped are in Kumasi, three in Takoradi, five in Accra, four in the Volta Region, two from Dunkwa, and others in neighbouring Togo.

The new convert disclosed that pastors who claim instant healing for ailing persons, by walking over them or sprinkling water or concoctions and oil for bodily contact, use supernatural powers to operate.

He said, with Jesus as his focus, he was going to move to another level of his calling to serve God and help mankind.
18.01.2017 LISTEN

The Chief Executive Officer of Danywise Estate and Construction, Mr Frank Aboagye Danyansah, has decried Ghana's growing housing deficit, which he said would require $34 billion to address the shortfall.

The country's housing needs is in short supply of 1.7 million units, and is projected to climb to two million by 2018, which he said, required the introduction of pragmatic and deliberate policies and private sector participation to raise supply.

Our housing deficit has reached 1.7 million units which is expected to reach two million by 2018 and we would need about 34 million dollars to fix it, he told the Ghana News Agency Thursday.

He said the government would have to build 190,000 to 200,000 units each year for the next 10 years to bridge the gap. This is expected to cost around $3.4 billion for the 200,000 units.

He urged the newly appointed sector minister to revise the current Ghana Revenue Authority tax laws which he described as bogus.

He said the law states inter alia that before one could build affordable housing, it must be in consultation with the sector Minister and the Minister of Finance without spelling out modalities to qualify the company or person venturing into the construction.

Which I think is an avenue for corruption and will encourage loot and share as it happened in the previous government, he said.

He lauded government for creating a separate Ministry for Works and Housing that would largely focus on addressing challenges in the estate sector and close the demand and supply gap.

He said the new Ministry showed government has given priority to the housing sector to help us achieve what we have been talking about that the affordable housing deficit gap is always increasing the ability of a household to spend up to 30 per cent of their gross annual income on rent.

What I am saying is that whoever spends more than 30 per cent of his/her annual income on rent, you are not living in an affordable way, you are living in an expensive way in terms of housing, he said: and to be able to do that, the house has to be broken down.

If the demand is less than the houses then it would force people to come down with the housing rent which would meet their pockets, something of that sort and that is the clear cut definition for affordable housing.

The World Bank, in May 2016, reported that about 48 per cent of the youth from 15 to 24 years in Ghana did not have jobs and estimated that the figure would peak in the coming decade, thus raising concerns about the preparedness of Ghana to deal with the problem.

But the construction expert said the unemployment challenges could be solved substantially by paying attention to the housing industry  which had a value chain that could engage more than 80,000 unwaged youth.

Mr. Danyansha said the new administration ought to look at ways of finishing all the 4,900 housing units started during President John Agyekum Kufuor's era and another 5,000 units by President John Dramani Mahama government as part of austerity measures to fight joblessness.

Source: GNA


18.01.2017 LISTEN

 As Asanteman Goes Black With Kuntunkuni

From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi

All is set for the burial rites (Dote yie) of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II.

Last Saturday was set aside by the traditional authority for general cleaning of the all the nooks and cranny of the metropolis, in preparation towards the occasion, spread over four days, from today, January 16, to Thursday January 19, 2017.

All mourners should be in the official mourning cloth, 'Kuntunkuni', or anything black, except dignitaries from other countries who are not permitted to do so by culture.

Today marks the first of the four days earmarked for the mourning of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, as she is being prepared for her last journey to the village.

Nananom from Asanteman will file past the Queenmother and pay their last respects, from morning till 11 a.m., at which time Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, will also file past his late mother, and subsequently sit in state to receive sympathisers.

Members of the public can also file past the Queenmother after Otumfuo has filed past his late mother.

Tomorrow and on Wednesday, chiefs and traditional rulers from outside the Asante Kingdom would be expected to file past the late Queenmother and pay their last respects.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and past Ghanaian presidents, ministers, government officials, foreign dignitaries, as well as top-notch businessmen and women, will also show their last respects on these two days.

His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will not sit in state on Thursday to receive sympathisers. He, will, however, make himself available for over an hour for some dignitaries from abroad who could not make it on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The late Queenmother will at 11 am on Thursday morning be taken to St. Cyprians Anglican Church for a Burial Mass Service, which would be watched by members of the general public at the Jubilee Park, where a giant screen will be mounted to show what transpires in the Church.

The body will then be marched through Adum to Bantama, where wreaths will be laid. The Queenmother will be taken to Breman, were she will be put to rest. She would be buried at the ancestral burial grounds at Breman, after the Burial Service at the Bantama Mausoleum.

No one is to be seen outside the streets of Bantama to Breman on the night of January 19, from 6:00pm till the next morning, Friday January 20.

The death of Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, Queenmother of the Ashanti Kingdom, was reported during the late hours of November 15, 2016.

She passed away at 111 years of age, and was the biological mother of the current occupant of the Golden Stool.
18.01.2017 LISTEN

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has publicly asked for forgiveness for insulting Mercy Johnson when she gave birth to her first child in 2013.

Mrs Johnson may have long forgotten about the insult but Tonto want to clear her conscience after she became a mother.

Tonto Dikeh said, Ever since I had my baby I have been reminded constantly about an ill statement I made about one of your kids a very long time ago, the actress said, adding, I want to use this media to say I am so sorry. I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart.

As a mom I do realize a lot of things I take in because of the love of my son and I know you only took my insult because of that same loveI am sorry MJ, I am sorry to your lil girl or boy

We dont have to love each other to realize when we are/went wrong

I have/had no excuse for my behaviour and I also apologize to the fans I hurt/Let down with my words that day many years ago ..To Err is human but to forgive is divine!!!

Am not trying to be the better person,You deserve this apology for your Child for the Love I have for God..I found God and everything in my life changed, Let me tell you about him sometime..

Mercy Johnson Accepts Apology

Versatile Nollywod Actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie has responded to her fellow actress, Tonto Dikeh's apology.

Mercy Johnson Okojie few minutes ago responded to Tonto's apology to her for making negative comments about Mercy's kid some time ago. According to the Dumebi actress, she has accepted Tonto's apology.

Read Mercy's full posted on her IG page;

am shaking and in tears as I read your post. I have learnt the more this morning that the holyspirit is true,cus by him you were in my prayers last night and this morning.am in shock.

I always heard of what an Angel you are. Please, I forgave you immediately. King came because I knew that u would have understood how it hurt me.

I Love you and I am short of words now but thank you and trust me I wish so much happiness and peace. I am already hugging you so tightly. It is well and Purity is Blowing you a kiss too.

My God Will Bless You and Keep you Ahead always. MAMAPURITY




By Siddhartha Rai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to dial into the Uttar Pradesh elections with a 4G plan. The new mantra is 'Gaon, Gau, Ganga and Gita (village, cow, river Ganga and Hindu scripture Gita)' while farmers are at the heart of the agenda. In an exclusive interview with Mail Today, BJP Kisan Morcha's newly appointed head Virendra Singh "Mast" outlined the move with the party aiming for a repeat of its 2014 Lok Sabha election performance when it swept the state.

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The Member of Parliament from UP also indicated that the BJP's poll manifesto, or vision document, would be farmer-centric and the general budget too may contain a flurry of sops for the agricultural community after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced several in his address to the nation on December 31. The 4G strategy, Singh said, encompasses all aspects of life of India's peasantry. "Villages are the pivot to growth. The cow, indubitably, is the centre of the lives of the village folk,especially the farmers. Ganga is the lifeline of villages as it irrigates vast swathes of the Gangetic plains which are the most fertile in India. And the centrality of Gita as a marker of our culture and spirituality cannot be denied by anyone, especially as the culture of villages hovers around collective bhajan-kirtan mandalis (groups singing religious and spiritual songs) at the end of the day," he said.

ALSO READ | BJP to tweak UP poll strategy, will educate voters about SP's 'political drama' over cycle

The party realises the significance of the UP polls that have been made even more interesting and equally difficult for the saffron outfit after chief minister Akhilesh Yadav led a coup against his father and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and came out on top, capturing the "cycle" election symbol too. The BJP has been out of power in UP since 2002.

Adding further to the party's woes, the SP and Congress are going into the polls as allies. While the 4G formula devised by Singh has the potential to rally farmers, cutting across caste lines, towards the saffron banner, it has also been customised to the political needs of the 2019 general elections. An MP from UP's Bhadohi district, Singh's elevation to the position of Kisan Morcha chief recently is also seen as a political ploy to appeal to peasants.

"We need to associate the identity of India with that of farmers. Therefore, we have envisioned not just economic well-being of the farmers of the country, but a comprehensive development and overall advancement. The PM has unequivocally stressed that India's rise and well-being are intrinsically entwined with the rise and prosperity of the country's farmers: without them there is no sustainable growth. The lives of the farmers of the country are to be lifted not just economically, but socially, culturally and politically," Singh told Mail Today.

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ALSO READ | With 20 per cent of Uttar Pradesh voters Muslims, Akhilesh-led SP-Congress combine has the edge

Politically, Singh has recommended to the government that grass-roots level elections such as panchayats and blocks must be made corruption-free. "Farmers will have to be given more visibility in Indian politics," he said. "I have recommended to the government that we can do so by nominating farmers as MLCs and Rajya Sabha MPs. If farmers have to be represented, let them be represented by one of their own, rather than by outsiders who just enter the fray and throw money to win elections."

The ideas of Ganga, Gau and Gita are all supported and conserved through villages and the farming societies of India, he added. Farmers can also expect to be at the centre of the ruling BJP's politics in the coming days. Singh told Mail Today that the next move of the Modi government would be to give succour to those providing raw materials to many of the protected industries and handicrafts of India. "We give protection to, for example, the shawl or the carpet industry, but what about the one that provides the raw materials - the farmer," he pointed out.

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ALSO READ | Uttar Pradesh election process begins, notification issued for first of 7 phases

The government also intends to completely stop the import of pulses in the next 3-4 years. "Another area which we want to boost is solar irrigation," Singh said. "Studies have proved that using solar irrigation considerably reduces the cost of production."

Singh also lashed out at the SP and BSP governments of UP. "The long-time politics in UP has been that of looting the public exchequer and in turn promising to punish those who did. The SP accuses that Mayawati looted public money and that they would punish her. When Mayawati comes to power, she accuses the SP to have looted the people's money and promises to punish SP," he said. "But neither ever did anything."

ALSO READ | India Today-Axis Opinion Poll for Uttar Pradesh: BJP dream run to continue, but a hung Assembly likely

--- ENDS ---

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18.01.2017 LISTEN

News Desk Report

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appealed to Ghanaians living in and outside the country to rally behind his administration, as he seeks to return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity.

Addressing a gathering of Ghanaians resident in Bamako, Mali, on Friday, January 13, 2017 after his arrival in that country for the Africa-France Summit, President Akufo-Addo was confident that his government can transform the fortunes of the country, and give citizens a dignified living.

Reiterating his belief that the wishes and aspirations of Ghanaians can be met during his tenure of office, President Akufo-Addo noted that: what we need to understand and believe is that we can also make it in Ghana and improve the standards of living of our people. We can do it.

He, therefore, urged Ghanaians in Mali and those living in other parts of the world to start considering and planning your return home, so you can also contribute your quota in helping move our country forward. Ghana needs your strength and intellect.

On the outcome of the December 7 election, President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana's standing in the league of democratic nations has soared greatly, largely as a result of the peaceful outcome of the elections.

Our elections were conducted without any turmoil. The Ghanaian people exercised their democratic franchise peacefully, and the then sitting President, John Mahama, also conducted himself very well by accepting the verdict of the elections.

Ghana is at peace, and I am confident that very soon there will be a lot of more positive news on the economic and developmental front for all of us, he added.
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Here is a timeline of developments in Gambia since the December election which President Yahya Jammeh lost to opponent Adama Barrow:

Jammeh concedes defeat

- December 1, 2016: Gambians go to the polls to choose their new president from three candidates, including incumbent Jammeh, who has ruled with an iron fist for 22 years, and Barrow, representing a large opposition coalition.

A day later the electoral commission announces that Barrow has won, to scenes of jubilation on the streets.

Jammeh concedes defeat, congratulating Barrow for his "clear victory", adding: "I wish him all the best and I wish all Gambians the best."

Opposition freed

- December 5: Gambian opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, who was jailed in July for taking part in a protest, is freed on bail with 18 others.

In the following days some 40 other members of the opposition are also freed.

Jammeh U-turn

- December 6: The electoral commission says that Barrow has won the election more narrowly than originally thought, and with a lower turnout. He garnered 43.2 percent and Jammeh 39.6 percent of the vote. Third party candidate Mama Kandeh took 17.1 percent.

- December 9: Jammeh announces he has changed his mind, saying: "In the same way that I accepted the results faithfully believing that the Independent Electoral Commission was independent and honest and reliable, I hereby reject the results in totality."

He lodges a complaint with the Supreme Court to overturn the result.

The defiance sparks global concern, with the UN Security Council among those demanding Jammeh hand over power.

Jammeh urged to go

- December 13: Heads of state from West African regional bloc ECOWAS are sent to Gambia, but do not manage to persuade Jammeh to acknowledge his defeat. A new mission takes place a month later.

- On December 31 Jammeh accuses ECOWAS of declaring "war".

Supreme Court stalls

- January 4, 2017: The army chief reaffirms his loyalty to Jammeh.

- January 9: Jammeh fires 12 ambassadors after they called for him to step aside. Several ministers have since been fired or resigned.

- January 10: The Gambia's chief Supreme Court justice says Jammeh's legal challenge against the result will not be heard for several months.

- January 13: The African Union (AU) urges Jammeh to respect the results and quit power peacefully, warning of "serious consequences". It says it will not recognise him "as of 19 January 2017".

Thousands of Gambians fearing unrest cross the border into neighbouring Senegal and further afield to Guinea-Bissau.

Barrow in Senegal

- January 15: Senegalese President Macky Sall announces that he has agreed to "welcome Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow in Dakar until his inauguration," on January 19.

- January 16: The Gambia's top judge pulls out of hearing a bid by Jammeh to halt the inauguration.

State of emergency

- January 17: Jammeh declares a state of emergency, saying foreign powers had created an "unwarranted hostile atmosphere, threatening the sovereignty, peace, security and stability of the country".

African troops ready

- January 18: The Senegalese army says it is ready to intervene in Gambia if there is no solution to the crisis.

Senegal asks the UN security Council to approval any ECOWAS military action in The Gambia to force Jammeh to cede power.
Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister-designate of the Interior, has on the advice of the Northern Regional Security Council and by Executive Instrument renewed the curfew hours on the Bunkprugu Township in the Northern Region.

The Bunkprugu Township curfew starts from 2000 hours to 0600 hours effective Tuesday, 17th January 2017.

This was in a statement signed by the Minister-designate, Ambrose Dery, on Tuesday.

Government continues to urge chiefs, opinion leaders, youth and people of the area to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges confronting them and to use non-violent means to channel their energies into ensuring peace in the area, the statement said.

Meanwhile, it said, there was also a total ban on all persons in the Bunkprugu Township and surrounding arrears from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon and that any person found with such items would be arrested and prosecuted.
The Writer

18.01.2017 LISTEN

While the new cold war is taking its momentum, the world community is gradually forgetting other pressing issues; such as human rights, right to labor, human dignity and respect. Of course, the national and international corporations hereby play a major role when comes to respect and observance of social and labour rights. Even at the Geneva-based world standard-setting organization, that of ILO (International Labor Organization), corporation have a strong say.

What is the degree of due diligence deployed by corporations today? Does the corporate world comply with the law and standards of business conduct, transparency of business operations? And  importantly  does the private sector respect standards of international humanitarian law, especially in situations of armed conflicts and the so-called forgotten conflicts? Places where open hostilities have ceased, but yet peace has never really come. Notably, does the corporate world comply with the set of important international standards such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights or the OECD Guidelines for multinational corporations, to name just a few? Could we go as far as to claim that in some cases the private corporate entities play a decisive role in funding, enabling and facilitating permanent changes in economic, demographic and cultural character of the occupied territories? And if so, does it serve, to say, dual purpose: a corporate gain and a prolongation of the occupation on the given territory?

To understand the gravity of that problem, let take as an example conditions in Caucasus  a typical case of the forgotten conflict  region where war stopped, still peace has never arrived.

Armenian companies, as well as foreign (mostly diaspora controlled, such as the Lebanon-based Artsakh Roots Investment; the US-based Tufenkian Foundation; Armenian General Benevolent Union /AGBU/; Cherchian Family Foundation, etc.) businesses play a decisive role in funding, enabling and facilitating permanent changes in economic (including fiscal and monetary), demographic and cultural character of the occupied territories both for private gain and for supporting the prolongation of the occupation of these territories.

Over the past years, the well-orchestrated transfer of Armenian settlers from Armenia and elsewhere into the contested territories (via e.g. Hayastan All-Armenian Fund), including the areas adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh, in particular the districts of Lachyn, Kalbajar, Gubadly, Zangilan and Jabrayil, has continued with accelerated pace.

To worsen the things, fishing of the human souls exploits an epic human tragedy of Syria and its people: The shadowy Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) is deceiving Syrian Armenians with an instant-better life promise if they relocate from e.g. Qamishli and Aleppo cities in Syria to Caucasus and its occupied territories (e.g. Zangilan, Gubadly and Lachyn districts). Nearly a mass-manipulation replica of the famous call to Bosnian Croatians from Zagreb to settle the former Serb inhabited and ethnically cleansed territories of Croatia. This is of course, a direct criminal meddling into the domestic matters of two sovereign states.

Armenia, directly or via its corporate proxies, continues permanent energy, agriculture, social, residential and transport infrastructure changes in the occupied territories. This is increased and prioritized as to change the demographic character once for good: That of course includes the construction of irrigation networks, water-canalization, roads, power-grids and other vital economic and social facilities. (Several international reports, conducted independently by different FORAs, repeatedly confirmed that property of IDPs has been appropriated. E.g. that empty houses of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons were often dismantled for use as construction materials or that new houses are being built on their lands and properties.)

Armenia exercises pervasive control over the entire economic and commercial system in the contested territories, including inbound and outbound trade flows and economic resources. Tacit presence of the international companies is rather interesting: there are hundreds of various types of US-manufactured Caterpillar machines, farm tractors and equipment of US-based John Deere and Germanys Deutz-Fahr companies, South Korean Hyundai trucks, Belarus MT3-82,3 model farm tractors, as well as other heavy machinery for illegal mining, agriculture, expansion of settlements and construction of the supporting infrastructure. The true ownership for most of those companies remains unclear, as oftentimes registered offshore in Cyprus, Liechtenstein and the like.

Often their funding is channeled through the branches of Armenian banks operating in the occupied territories and conducting international financial transactions via intermediary banks in Russia, EU and elsewhere. Further on, a numerous foreign retailers, from Ukraine, the US and the EU states (particularly from France, Bulgaria, Hungary, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands), as well as from Australia and UAE, have concluded their supply contracts with Armenian companies. That, of course, makes them complicit with Armenias occupation of the territories, drain of resources, expansion of illegal settlements as well as with a violation of fundamental rights of IDPs.

Little wonder, since Armenias high-ranking officials, including President Sargsyan, PM Abrahamyan and other ministers, routinely visit the occupied territories and inspect production facilities there. To camouflage the illegal nature of production there, Armenian agricultural and liquors export companies (e.g. Stepanakert Brandy Factory and Artsakh Fruit CJSC) routinely mislabel the products wholly or partially produced or packed in the occupied territories as originating from Armenia, thus misleading governments, international retailers and consumers.

The agricultural lands in the contested territories along the Araz River (Zangilan and Jabrayil districts, too) have been illegally appropriated and extensively exploited by Armenia. This poses a stress on natural water flows (for consummation, irrigation or opportunity for an illegal electricity generation) and soil (overuse of arable lands and monoculture cropping)  which, in return, alters micro climate and jeopardizes the biota and human existence (e.g. Armenias Arm Water Project Company Ltd. in the Araz Valley).

Dismantling of infrastructure (metals, pipes, bricks and other construction materials) from the ruins of demolished Azerbaijani households and public buildings was previously conducted more sporadic. However, the currently examined cases show that it becomes more organized system of pillage with a clear foreign involvement.

Mining of the precious minerals and metals is one of the main enterprises in the occupied territories. E.g. Gyzylbulag underground copper-gold mine (wholly owned subsidiary of Armenias Vallex Group CJSC, registered in Liechtenstein), led to its almost complete depletion. Similar faith is of Demirli open-pit copper and molybdenum mine. In 2014, Gold Star CJSC reportedly started exploitation of gold near Vejnali village (occupied Zangilan district of Azerbaijan). Since 2007, GPM Gold, a subsidiary of Russia-based GeoProMining Ltd., has been extracting ore in Soyudlu gold mine in the occupied Kalbajar district.

There is an illegal traffic in natural resources across the occupied section of the international border between Azerbaijan and Armenia that is controlled by the armed forces of Armenia via Armenia constructed Vardenis-Aghdara highway. The Government of Armenia, via its Energy Ministry, is directly operating: The ore concentrate from Gyzylbulag is transported to Armenia, where it is further processed into gold containing copper and exported to international markets, mainly to Europe. Armenia is also extracting coal from the mine near Chardagly village in the occupied part of the Tartar district to supply the power plant in Yerevan, Armenia.

There is a clear correlation between the business and the political status quo. Hence, it is safe to conclude that the prolong occupation directly translates into more mineral, agricultural, water resources and other wealth for the neighboring government and gloomy international business. Demographic engineering is a key here, and is  of course  done by conflicting the fundamental human rights and norms of humanitarian law, including those of IDPs.

In its epilogue, a clandestine population-reshuffle coupled with illegal economic activities on the contested territories produces the notorious blood diamonds: socio-political status-quo, demographic inversion, and extension of the armed conflict.

Is there anything larger than a problem of such a huge gravity for the resident population?

Of course, there is. Our silence about it !

About the author :

Aleksandra Krstic, studied in Belgrade (Political Science) and in Moscow (Plekhanovs IBS). Currently, a post-doctoral researcher at the Kent University in Brussels (Intl. Relations). Specialist for the MENA-Balkans frozen and controlled conflicts.

Contact: alex-alex(at)gmail.com


18.01.2017 LISTEN

The country Ghana has had an experienced of various forms of political history that have spanned from pre-colonial through colonial to the modern Ghana. Modern Ghana has also experimented a different kind of political ideologies, this is because the previous democratic governments are not been allow to save their full term in office there are always been interrupted by the military praetorainism.

The country has had four republics after independent, the gain it route in 1992 to constitutional rule this has, to a larger extent, contributed to the multi-party system that the country is currently enjoying as well as an icon of democracy and a beacon for peace and stability in Africa continent. Ghana a nation in West Africa formerly a British colony, known as the Gold Coast, which had it independence in 1957, the first black Africa country in sub-Saharan Africa country to achieve political independence from European colonial rule.

Historical Perspective of Ghana

Drawing from it tradition, before the Europeans came to Africa to trade, Ghana was part of the Mali empire which was also once the Ghana empire, The Kingdom of Ghana was succeeded by the Mali Empire and then Songhai. These later states developed commercial links with the people of what is now Ghana. Local trade and politics were important in the pre-colonial era; this was the era of chiefdoms. The kingdom was ruled by a king, and wealth was a source of power in the kingdom, there were no political parties but the chiefs could organize his people to perform the various function.

Inspire by the works of Nisin, Nkrumah, Yeboah and others I attempt to show how the evolution of politics in Ghana. Ashanti kingdom was the main dominate political state in what is present know as Ghana, sub-Sahara Africa monarchy founded in 1600s Osei Tutu was the first king of the Ashanti kingdom. Osei Tutu transforms the kingdom to centralized political authority. Okomfo Anokye a long-time friend of the king helped to transform the kingdom to a strong permanent political union by writing the first code of laws and constitutions. He also conjured a golden stool from the heavens to symbolize as the seat and power of their leader. As a monarchy system of governance power was fully rested in the hands of the king, but as time goes on the structure of the central government was formalised. Legislature body was formed Asantemanhyiamu (parliment) with the king of Ashanti as its head and other sub-chiefs as it members. All the major ethnic groups had their leaders know us abusua panyini (members of parliament) these leaders meet in the national assemble to make decision on behalf of the community. There were others agencies that were responsible for the day to day activities of the state. The council was made of military and civilians that see the day to day activities of the state, nkontaabuofo (ministry of finance), who manage revenues and expenditures of gold dust modern term ministry of finance, and the kotokuosoafo, who generate revenues by collecting fines, taxes, and other fees, afenasoafo (messengers) that send communication from the central government to other parts of the kingdom. The nkwansrafo (ministry of defense) maintained security along the borders of the kingdom, and the akwanmofo (ministry of roads) responsible for road maintenance.

As I agreed with some scholars that Africa was practicing good governance with system and decision making by all citizens before the coming of the Europeans imperialism in the Africa continent. The only shortfall of the governance in Ashanti kingdom was that power was seen as an inheritance and only the royal family can become leaders of the kingdom.

Colonial government took the rule of the kingdom in 1901 as part of the gold coast thou the colonial government gives the kingdom power on it internal affairs it has however affected the monarchy system of governance. As Gold Coast moves to independence in 1950 and after it gained its independence the country was renamed Ghana with a democratic system of governance. The traditional system of governance still practice across the country, which is the culture of Ghanaians sankofa going back to the old root.

As Ghanaian culture undergoes repeated assaults from foreign values and rapid social political and economic change it remains recognizably and definably the king of Ashanti and the king of Dagbon

Ghanaian societies still see the traditional leaders to be more powerful than their political leader that is to say you cant insult the king of Ashanti. This is an impressive testimony to the strength of Ghanaian culture for many years of the influence of colonial culture and more than 60years of preceding the Ghanaian independence victory in 1957, Ghana had been in the boiling point of the military rule, discontent, anger, revolution and conflict but the monarchy system is maintained.

The very same tradition which is so rich and complex that the politicians would require the support of the chiefs to address political issues, development issues, and attitudes, has provided a powerful glue for holding Ghana together against the centrifugal forces. Each of the ten regions has a regional minister which is nominated by the president and approve by the legislature to coordinate the policies of the government, in the same situation each of ten regions has regional house of chiefs with an elected president as their head, the chiefs also coordinate the development of the region by working with the government but do not take part in the political activities like campaigning for a political party.

As a result, the integration of traditional rule and democratically rule in Ghana. This there leads to my concept of tra-democracy, in modern Ghana, we have two-way, judiciary system (chief palace and the law court), two-way legislature (chief palace and the parliament house), that is the traditional and democratic.

Tra-democracy is much accepted in the country and the practice is been modernize to reflect the current political system in the country. Traditional rule which can be term us monarch forms of government has been integrated to the democratic system of government to form the tra-democracy, the concept of tra-democracy is a form double system of the organs government in the country, there is the traditional judiciary that chief serve as the judge and is non-bureaucratic form of judiciary system as compared to the contemporary judiciary system which is so bureaucratic. The citizenry prefers the traditional court more than the law courts in the society, especially in rural society.

Ajene Abongo Mashood Jacob

Political Researcher

Interim Chairman NPP Russia

You can contact me on [email protected]
Dear Your Excellency President Akufo-Addo,

I wish you Akwaaba (welcome) to the presidency of Ghana. Before you were conceived by your parents, God knew you and had ordained you to be the liberator who would come to set his people (Ghanaians) free from some form of socio-politico-economic slavery at an appointed time.

As biblical Joseph, Moses and David were chosen by God to liberate his chosen people (the Israelites) from hunger, from the slavery in the land of Egypt and from tyranny and dominion of the Philistines, so have you, President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, been selected by God to rescue Ghanaians from poverty, intimidation and purposeful denigration.

God has a purpose for you same as Ghanaians have a high expectation of you to save them from the tormenting joblessness staring them in the face for the past eight years, insecurity, lawlessness, institutional corruption, nepotism and the seemingly NDC-government sanctioned practice of selective justice.

You were not born incorruptible for no reason. You were not trained during your childhood upbringing to respect the laws of the land for no reason. There is a reason behind the personality of whom and what you are. It all has to do with coming to set the Ghanaian captives free from rogue and corrupt politicians, traditional and public leaders.

To succeed in the task set before you by God, and to live up to the high expectation of Ghanaians, I shall advise you to treat all Ghanaians fairly, but firmly as the laws of the land may dictate. There should be no distinction in treatment of Ghanaians depending on their affiliation to political parties, status and their nearness to, or how farther away they are from, you. You must be a father for all without any consideration for a shred of tribalism that may wrongly compel you to treat same Ghanaians but differently.

One thing that can hold you back from achieving the purpose God has for you as the President of Ghana is to allowing the practice of corruption of all shapes and forms to creep into your administration. Corruption can come in the form of embezzlement of public funds, abuse of power, laissez-faire attitudes that may unconsciously encourage your appointees to commit crimes with impunity.

I shall advise in accordance with the idiom, Charity begins at home that as strict a disciplinarian as you are, your intended fight against corruption could best be started first with punishing a member of the NPP who goes against the law for whatever selfish reason. Such instance or occurrence will carry a strong message across to the entire Ghanaian population; instil in them the fear of being dealt with according to the law regardless of their political affiliation.

The moment you allow members of your government, cronies if you have any at all, members of your party, and allow some supposedly powerful traditional chiefs to influence you or intercede with you for their subjects who have committed crimes or are in breach of the law, that will be the beginning of the gradual fall of your presidency.

In the bible all the chiefs who disobeyed the commandments of God to them ended up being disgraced and losing favour in his eyes.

Take a cue from the following two true stories to decide how to go about governing Ghana to the admiration of both God and Ghanaians.

In 1973 at then Kumawu Tweneboa Kodua Secondary School, there came a Senior Prefect called Edward Adusei Pianim, the younger brother of the renowned Ghanaian Economist Kwame Pianim. On one afternoon at lunchtime in the School Dining Hall at around 14:00-14:30 hours, if I have got the time correct, he did something many students ignorantly considered very unusual but it worked wonders.

He called one Stephen Owusu, a family member of his who was one year his junior, to mount the schools rostrum in the middle of the dining hall in the full glare of a student population of nearly one thousand, sat to have their lunch. He reprimanded him by narrating the disgusting breaches Stephen Owusu had committed with same believing that he could get away with them because his brother was the Senior Prefect. Come and see how Stephen was awash in shame and could not look up, although as truant as he was.

Senior Pianim announced that Stephen Owusu would be suspended from classes for a week on the following strict terms. He was going to weed the school compound for a week. He would start his punishment as soon as classes begin in the morning. When classes were in session, he would be outside weeding the compound. When it was time for breakfast, he would stop to go to the dining hall. When classes resume after breakfast, he was back to the field weeding only to stop when classes end at 14:00 hours (2pm) for lunch. He did this from Monday to Friday.

After that Stephen Owusu became a reformed person to never again do the silly things that incurred him the punishment. Senior Pianim was held in awe by almost the entire school population. It became a topic of discussion among students that if he could do this to his own younger brother or family member, what about others who were not related to him in case they caused infractions? Their punishment might be worse.

As strict disciplinarian as he was, during his one year tenure as Senior Prefect, many students behaved themselves. There was less indiscipline among the students at school.

Had he not started with his own ruffian brother, he could not have achieved the level of discipline that prevailed in the school at that time. If he had overlooked his brothers malpractices, many a student would have behaved similarly in the hope of getting away and total indiscipline could have come to reign in the school.

The other true story is when corruption clearly crept into former President Kufuors NPP government, and was questioned as to why corruption was engulfing his government without him trying to do anything about it or bring it under control; he gave an answer that did not sit well with many discerning Ghanaians. He said, Corruption started from the era of Adam and Eve, purporting it was right for people to embezzle public funds or engage in acts of corruption. That was the impression he carried across instead of accepting his failure to defeat corruption within his government by sacking, prosecuting and imprisoning his corrupt appointees.

That marked corruption or the public perception of corruption within his government led to the defeat of NPP in Election 2008, or facilitated the rigging of the election by NDC. The same blatant corruption within President Mahamas NDC-led government partly contributed to their defeat in Election 2016 although God had prepared you to take over the reins of government long ago.

With these two true stories, I mean to tell you it is better to let the law punish anyone who disobeys it without any interference in the favour of the perpetrators by you. If you punish any NPP member, it will send a strong signal to all others to behave themselves properly as you will not spare them at all if you could do that to a member of your own party.

Why this letter to you since you have not fully started work yet, one may ask? My answer is very simple and it is found in Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. It is better to point out certain things to you in advance, in the belief of forewarning you; and to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

I hope you will consider my suggestion or advice carefully but not to see it as a nuisance that must straightway be consigned to the rubbish bin. I want you to be remembered as an exceptionally successful leader who was able to rid Ghana of corruption, the bane of the countrys economic progress, to rather bring prosperity to all.

Yours Faithfully,

Rockson Adofo
18.01.2017 LISTEN

After the December 9 declaration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the 5th President of the 4th Republic of Ghana, many members of the New Patriotic Party have been lobbying for various forms of appointment in one form or the other.

With quite a number of appointments already done and with few days left for the [email protected] celebration, the race for who becomes the next Metropolitan, Municipal or District Chief executive is ripe at it peak.

When you come to the Birim Central Municipal Assembly alone, information available to me indicates that so far, about 6people have submitted their names to want to be given the opportunity to become the "small Presidents" of the municipality with about 8 others expected to submit theirs between today and Friday.

Some of the "wannabes" have turned to social media for massive campaign (as if Social media is the Council of State that will advise the President).

Supporters of some of the "hopefuls" have become Akufo-Addos who are making appointments mostly on Social media.

All of these are good and healthy for our Democracy, but a word of caution to the Constituency vetting panel that will be vetting these candidates, please note that after the NPP's lose in 2008, the party people believed that ex-president Kuffuor did a yeoman's job which should have propelled the NPP to a third therm straight win, however, they attributed their slim lose to arrogance of power, perception of corruption and most importantly NEGLECT of PARTY FOOTSOLDIERS.

Many party faithfuls believed that NPP appointees were just greedy, selfish and were not deserving to be where they were.

The NDC after 8yrs in power performed abysmally in the 2016 Election. Though they believe the "massive" work done in the field of infrastructure, should have helped them, they attribute their defeat to "NEGLECT OF PARTY FOOTSOLDIERS".

The issue here therefore is simple, you can be the best Government in history, provide everything the people need for them, yet immediately your party people begin to complain in a highly polarised Political country like ours, know that you are on your way out of the Jubilee/Flagstaff house.

This is the very reason why the vetting committee should recommend to the president a person whom the party youth and footsoldiers can easily associate with.

The current leadership of the NPP has the Ms. Ophelia Koomson story to guide them. From the very first time of her appointment under H.E. Prof. J.E.A. Mills(may his soul rest in peace), the woman never had support from her own party people and the people of the municipality. It is a known fact that after suffering defeat twice in the hands of the Assembly Members compelling then Eastern Regional Minister HON. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and the president to revoke the Appointment of all Government appointee Assembly members before she succeeded, she was the MCE who suffered most demonstration and press conferences from internally. It is also a known fact that it is not because the people hated her but because they had issues with her human relations.

Aside her own internal issues, she also had series of challenges with almost all identifiable groups in the Municipality including even the media. A group of party footsoldiers that was formed to rally support for her known as JOHN MAHAMA FUN CLUB within a twinkle of an eye started having challenges with her ( you can read my story, "John Mahama rejects Mills' girl). When President Mahama took over as president, there was a wild jubilation among the NDC in the Municipality and the "Agenda get Ophelia Out" resurfaced.

Fast forward, HON. Kwabena Nkansah Asare came into the system and was the darling "boy" of the NDC big wigs in the Municipality.

His calm nature, respect for people and open arms governance won him admiration from people and especially identifiable groups in the Municipality.

Not withstanding the support he enjoyed from the party big wigs and the people in the Municipality, the NDC performed abysmally in the Municipality with the NPP increasing its percentage vote from somewhere 62 to a whooping 75. As I try to understand what caused this, the monster "NEGLECT OF PARTY FOOTSOLDIERS" showed it head. The party footsoldiers attribute their lost in the general election and the lost of many NDC faithfuls during the District Assembly Election to him and claim he neglected the party footsoldiers.

Going forward, the NPP and espercially the Constituency Vetting committee for the MCE has a duty to present to the president a name of a person whom the party footsoldiers can easily relate with.

Someone whom the party youth can easily walk to his/her office and he will be ready to listen to them and console them even if s/he can't attend to all their needs.

Someone who will respond to the calls of the party youth and will always be ready for them.

Someone who is open to the media and is ready to employ the services of a press aid.

Someone, who will consult the party leadership 24/7 and above all some one who is development oriented and will show respect to the people.

Any other person other than such a person, the party will be digging their own grave and we shall all help to push them into it.

The writer is Student leader, Youth & Political Activist and a Journalist.

Kwasi Frimpong SayItRight

0201833775

[email protected]

Facebook: Nana Kwasi Frimpong Sayit-Right

Twitter: @qfrimp
18.01.2017 LISTEN

It is indeed unfortunate that so much Nok material has been looted over time to supply the international art market. Properly excavated, such pieces might have shed valuable light on the Nok culture.

Ekpo Eyo. (1)

The International Council of Museums, ICOM , has issued a Red List of West African Cultural Objects at Risk - Emergency Mali which should interest all those concerned with the continuing looting of West African artefacts. (2) The additional title Mali Emergency indicates that the list was largely inspired

by the emergency in Mali in 2012 that threatened to destroy important manuscripts and artefacts relating to African history. (3)

Terracotta statuette covered in pastilles, Djenne-Djeno (Niger River Valley), Musee national du Mali.

The new guide should help the public, museum officials, government officials, auction houses and dealers to sort out the endangered West African artefacts. As the document states in its introduction, Throughout history, West Africa has suffered extensive losses of its cultural heritage. To be more precise, West Africa suffered its greatest loss of cultural artefacts during the colonial period when Belgian, British, Dutch, German, French, Italian and Portuguese regimes enabled the looting, stealing and transfer of African artefacts and other resources. (4). The U.S.A, Austria and other States, even though not directly controlling colonies, were beneficiaries of the cultural plundering enabled by the oppressive colonial system. That clearly is the explanation of the presence of a huge number of African artefacts now present in Western museums in Berlin, Brussels, London, Paris, New York and other cities.

The Red List urges museums, auction houses, art dealers and collectors not to acquire objects like those presented in the list without first carefully examining their origin and documentation. The introduction ends with this advice: If you suspect a cultural object from West Africa has been stolen, looted or illegally exported, please contact: International Council of Museums(ICOM). This recommendation is not explicitly limited to objects that have been recently stolen, looted, or illegally exported. Does ICOM extend this reporting duty to West African artefacts stolen, looted or illegally exported in colonial times? There is hardly any West African artefact of great value in Western museums or on the Western art market that does not fall into this broad category. For example, most valuable Benin artefacts, including, the ones depicted in the list are from the loot of 1897 by the British army during the notorious Punitive Expedition .

We have it on the word of Ferdinand Luschan, the Austro-German expert on Benin art that before the British invasion of Benin there were hardly any such Benin artefacts in Europe. That also accounts for the impact made by the Benin Bronzes in Europe. (5)

A statement adds that A Red List is NOT a list of actual stolen objects. The cultural goods depicted are inventoried objects within the collections of recognised institutions. They serve to illustrate the categories of cultural goods most vulnerable to illicit traffic.

Queen-Mother Idia, Benin, Nigeria, now in British Museum, London. One of the 3500 Benin artefacts that the British looted in the notorious Punitive Expedition of 1897. A symbol of Pan Africanism that the British adamantly refuses even to lend to Nigeria.

Most looted West African cultural artefacts are in the collections of recognised institutions. (6) One would expect recognised institutions not to acquire looted artefacts or if they unknowingly acquire them, to return them to the rightful owners as soon as they become aware of the illegal status. However, experience has shown that no Western museum is prepared to return looted artefacts unless, as in the case of Italian artefacts, it is forced to do so. Looted West African artefacts such as Nok, Benin, Komaland and Dogon in Western museums have not been returned. It may be significant that in seeking to show examples of West African artefacts at risk, ICOM had to resort in some cases to Western museums for the relevant images. Could it be that in some cases not even the national museums in West Africa have examples that could be used or is there some other consideration in resorting to museums that have looted West African artefacts? And which major Western museum does not have looted West African objects?

It is true that many Westerners have banned morality and justice from questions of restitution of artefacts. Indeed, some museum directors seem to have more sympathy for grave-robbers than for the so-called resource countries. The discourse of many museum directors is an extraordinary narrative in which there is no room for sympathy for those States where artefacts were looted; their energy has been spent in justifying the actions that led to such losses. (6)

Of the 49 artefacts illustrated in the List, 19 are from Mali, 13 from Nigeria, 7 from Senegal, 6 from Cote dIvoire, 3 from Niger and 1 from Burkina Faso. There are no images of artefacts from Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Togo. Does it mean that ICOM could not obtain images from certain countries in the region or did those countries not respond? It should be mentioned though that the Red List of African Archaeological Objects, 2000, contained only 16 images.

The artefacts depicted in the new Red List include historical manuscripts, pendants, ceremonial stools, jewellery, ornaments, headsets, tools, sculptures, funerary vessels and containers. These categories are illustrated with images from actual objects in museums. The images are useful tools for learning about

the varieties of West African artefacts that are considered endangered.

Leather bound paper book-Timbuktu manuscripts, Mali.

This valuable publication also includes a list of international and national legal instruments that govern artefacts in West Africa. Among these international instruments are:

The Hague Convention of 14 May 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict;

UNESCO Convention of 14 November 1970 on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property;

UNIDROIT Convention of 24 June 1995 on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects.

It is interesting to note that very few West African States have ratified these conventions that are supposed to assist in preserving cultural artefacts. For example, only six States in the region have ratified the 1970 UNESCO Convention that is frequently cited by those who write about protection of artefacts: Niger, Nigeria (1972), Senegal (1984), Burkina Faso, Mali (1987) and Cote dIvoire (1990).

Is there any valid ground for the non-ratification by so many other States in the region? We do not see any. (7) It could well be that some Africa States are under the mistaken impression that by ratifying the 1970 UNESCO Convention they forfeit thereby their right to recover the massive amounts of national treasures stolen under the colonial regime. This impression may also have been reinforced by the tendency of Westerners to suggest that the 1970 Convention excludes the right to sue on cases occurring before 1970. The Convention itself explicitly provides in Article 15

Nothing in this Convention shall prevent States Parties thereto from concluding special agreements among themselves or from continuing to implement agreements already concluded regarding the restitution of cultural property removed, whatever the reason, from its territory of origin, before the entry into force of this Convention for the States concerned.

Nothing in the Convention abrogates any previous rights existing before 1970. Thus, individual and collective rights to property existing prior to 1970 may be pursued on other basis than the Convention. One may also recall that the UNIDROIT Convention contains this provision in its Article 9:

(1) Nothing in this Convention shall prevent a Contracting State from applying any rules more favourable to the restitution or the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects than provided for by this Convention.

A list of national legislations is provided for Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo. No national legislations are mentioned for Cape-Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Mauritania, and Sierra Leone. Does this mean that those countries have no national legislations on the protection of artefacts and the punishing of illegal traffic in artefacts? It would be useful to read the explanation of experts on the state of legislation in countries that certainly have remarkable artefacts. Incidentally, Nigeria seems to have only legislations from 1979 and 1999. Has there been no need for a new comprehensive legislation on artefacts? The versions of the Constitution of 1999 that we could find did not include any article 60b and article 60 does not deal with artefacts. (8) Readers may be that surprised to learn that Nigeria does not yet have a comprehensive legislation on cultural artefacts despite the various suggestions made by Nigerian specialists such as Folarin Syllon.

A quick look at the homepage of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) http://www.ghanamuseums.org/upper-east-museum.php reveals that The GMMBs rules and regulations are stated in National Liberation Council Decree(NLCD) 387 of 1969 ( now known as Act 387 of 1969) and Executive Instruments (EI) 29 of 1973 and 42 of 1972. Act 387 deals, inter alia, with the control of antiquities and EI 29 deals with, inter alia, export of antiquities and sale of antiquities. Why are none of these instruments mentioned in the Red

List?

Mali appears to be the only State in the region to have entered into a cultural property agreement with the USA establishing import restrictions on imports of archaeological artefacts from Mali into the USA. The agreement was established in 1997 under Article 9 of the UNESCO Convention of 1970 which provides that:

Any State Party to this Convention whose cultural patrimony is in jeopardy from pillage of archaeological or ethnological materials may call upon other States Parties who are affected. The States Parties to this Convention undertake, in these circumstances. to participate in a concerted international effort to determine and to carry out the necessary concrete measures, including the control of exports and imports and international commerce in the specific materials concerned. Pending agreement each State concerned shall take provisional measures to the extent feasible to prevent irremediable injury to the cultural heritage of the requesting State.

Why would other States in the region not enter into similar agreements with the USA where many looted West African artefacts end up? One could also envisage similar agreements with States where precious African artefacts are located in the West. It is time that African States engaged in direct negotiations with Western States for the restitution of artefacts rather than with their museums. After all, the massive lootings of African artefacts were done by States.

The new Red List of West African Cultural Objects at Risk has been issued without any explicit reference to the earlier Red List of African Archaeological Objects, 2000 . Obviously the two lists are not exclusive but it would be useful if we had some explanations on the relationship between the two ICOM lists. Does it mean that those objects on the archaeological list are artefacts that under are no circumstances may be exported out of their countries of origin because of their importance for the history of the countries whereas those on the new list can be exported out of their countries of origin if proper papers are obtained? Are these later ones of less historical importance? What about the Benin Bronzes that were not on the earlier list but now appear on the second list?

Are they not also important for the history of Benin and Nigeria? Is it significant that the Benin Bronzes were not on the archaeological list but are now on the second list of artefacts? Does it now mean they can be exported on condition that proper papers are provided? We know what proper documentation in the context of artefacts often means even where recognized institutions are involved. The last 20 years have provided enough experience on this matter.

If the requirement of proper documentation is to be taken seriously, then we must have in all West African States well- established and known systems of certification. Each State must indicate who the proper authority is for issuing permission to export and the forms must be published in an accessible form, preferably also at an internet site established for that purpose with copies at a definite place for consultation. A list of permits granted must also be published regularly by the relevant authority. The public must know exactly which authority to contact in case of doubt on the existence of permit. No room should be left for corruption in a region that has enough experience of corruption.

What are the implications the new Red List for Benin Bronzes that are already in Western museums and other recognized collections? Indeed, are there any valuable Benin Bronzes that are not already in recognized collections?

It is noted that Nok and Sokoto sculptures are on the archaeological list and are again on the new list. Can one now legally export Nok sculptures? Can one obtain valid papers for the exportation of objects that are banned from exportation? There is some contradiction here that must be explained.

Are attempts being made here to procure some legitimacy and legality for the Benin Bronzes and the Nok sculptures already in western museums.? Are we moving from the absolute ban on export included in the early archaeological list to a conditional ban in the new list? Clarifications from the experts would be would be very helpful. (9)

Wooden agba (ceremonial stool) for an oba, with metal tacks, Benin, Nigeria, now in Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

We note that terracotta from Komaland (Ghana) was included in the earlier Red List of African Archaeological Objects that are so important for the history of the country that they should under no circumstance be exported out of the country. But are not included in the new Red List (10). The logical conclusion is that the absolute ban on export continues. However, recent auctions and sales have offered Komaland objects for sale and therefore these pieces must be considered as illegally exported from Ghana. What then are the actions and policies of the government of Ghana in this matter? Where can a reader inform herself about what is being done about this and how she can help? Should she report to the government of Ghana or ICOM or keep quiet, on the assumption that these facts are known to all concerned?

Funerary vessel with human figure, Bura, Niger, now in Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, USA.

Recent efforts by ICOM to save endangered West African artefacts must be supported by all who are interested in cultural preservation. Many of the African artefacts have a long history of being at risk. For example, the Benin artefacts have been endangered since the British invasion of Benin City in 1897 that resulted in looting of some 3500 artefacts which were sent to Europe and mostly auctioned. German institutions as well as bought USA collectors bought many. Most of the valuable Benin artefacts are thus outside Benin and Nigeria. So very little was left in Benin that when it was decided to create a National Museum in Benin City, there were no Benin artefacts to exhibit. Commenting on this Ekpo Eyo, the great Nigerian archaeologist, stated:

By the end of the 1960s, the price of Benin works had soared so high that the Federal Government of Nigeria was in no mood to contemplate buying them. When, therefore a National Museum was planned for Benin City in 1968, we were faced with the problem of finding exhibits that would be shown to reflect the position that Benin holds in the world of art history. A few unimportant objects which were kept in the old local authority museum in Benin were transferred to the new museum and a few more objects were brought in from Lagos. Still the museum was empty. We tried using casts and photographs to fill gaps but the desired effect was unachievable. We therefore thought of making an appeal to the world for loans or return of some works so that Benin might also be to show its own works at least to its own people. We tabled a draft resolution at the General Assembly of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) which met in France in 1968, appealing for donations of one or two pieces from those museums which have large stocks of Benin works. The resolution was modified to make it read like a general appeal for restitution or return and then adopted. When we returned to Nigeria, we circulated the adopted resolution to the embassies and high commissions of countries we know to have large Benin holdings but up till now we have received no reaction from any quarters and the Benin Museum stays empty. (11)

The people of Benin and the Nigerian government have been asking for the return of some of these artefacts but to no avail. (12) The British Museum that holds a great number of Benin artefacts has so far not returned a single artefact to Benin or Nigeria but was willing to sell them even to Nigeria. (13) The Germans and Austrians pretend that nobody has asked for the Benn artefacts. Meetings between Nigerians and some Western museums have only ended in plans that do not even mention restitution. (14)

Now that everybody seems to recognize that Benin Bronzes are also endangered or at risk, if you prefer, we should set about considering how these artefacts could be saved for the people of Benin and Nigeria. The first task would be to draw up a list of Benin artefacts that now exist, including those in western museums and in Benin so that we can have an idea about the extent of the danger faced here. We hope the museums will finally agree to tell us how many of such artefacts they hold. Similar lists could be established for other artefacts such as Nok and Dogon, if the resistance of Western museums can be overcome. Incidentally, most African museums are not well provided with Benin Bronzes as Western museums are. Who are Benins neighbours?

Figure of a seated male. One of the looted Nigerian Nok terracotta bought by the French, now in the possession of the Musee du Quai Branly, Paris, France, with a dubious post factum Nigerian consent.

Since West African artefacts are endangered, we could also envisage a moratorium on the sale on such artefacts for 10 years to give the countries of origin time to recover lost ground. Resources and energies must be invested in this effort. In the same period, serious attempts should be made to persuade those museums holding large numbers of Benin artefacts -Berlin Ethnologisches Museum (580), British Museum (900), Weltmuseum, Vienna, formerly Volkerkundemuseum, (167)- to return a few of their Benin objects to Benin and Nigeria. Above all, these museums should be encouraged to end finally, the baseless arguments they have been feeding the public regarding return of artefacts:

-that no one has asked for the return of the artefacts;

-that an ivory mask looted in 1897 from Benin cannot travel because of its fragility;

-that Western museums have better climatic conditions for preserving artefacts looted from Africa;

-that African museums do not have adequate facilities for keeping African artefacts;

-that the artefacts would soon be found again on the free market;

-that Africans could use digital versions of artefacts instead of the physical objects that are best left in Western museums;

-that Western museums are open to the whole world at a time when measures are being introduced to make it impossible for Africans to visit Western States; and

finally, Western museums should stop behaving as if the United Nations, UNESCO and ICOM had not asked them to return some of these artefacts to their countries of origin. (15)

Histories of the acquisition of West African artefacts should be honestly presented to Western public and not distorted to serve the interests of Western museums. This is a duty they owe to their own public.

The Red List of West African Cultural Objects at Risk- Emergency Mali could make a valuable contribution to preservation of cultural artefacts in a region that has always been at risk of Western exploitation. Nevertheless, it is evident that a successful reduction of illicit trade in artefacts in West Africa can only succeed if there are adequate internal structures, resources, and determination on the part of the States concerned to end this plague. So far, there is little evidence of such a strong determination to save artefacts for future generations and none of the West African States has since Independence in the sixties achieved any remarkable restitution of artefacts. West African governments cannot be said to have expended extraordinary efforts to save their cultural heritage. Whether this is due to lack of understanding or the absence of resources, there is sufficient knowledge on the plight of African cultural heritage. (16)

It is more than distressing to read that a State like Ghana is not in a hurry to put in place the necessary legal structures for cultural preservation:

In spite of modest gains in the field of archaeology, some faculty members and graduate students at Legon, doubt the sustainability of the current rate of growth of archaeology and heritage research in Ghana. They often cite the absence of a functioning heritage law as the source of their pessimism. Moreover, since 2005, past governments have failed to even table the revised version of the bill; i. e, the National Liberation Council/N.l.CD 387, for a parliamentary debate and consideration. The draft bill has still not been passed.

A key element of the draft bill requires companies engaged in earth-moving construction activities (including mining and road contractors) to allocate 0.001% of their project budget into a national fund for use for archaeological survey, salvage archaeology and other related heritage management programmes. More so, despite efforts by the department to drum support for the passage of the bill, it is yet to see the light of the day. Therefore, there is no effective law to monitor activities of mining and construction companies whose activities are destroying important sites such as Wodoku and Ladoku in the Accra Plains. Additionally, there is no policy to regulate the conduct, management, and funding of heritage research activities in the country. (17)

Friendship and cooperation with the West has so far not resulted in the restitution of any of the valuable African artefacts in Western museums. States and museums in the region should abandon the policy of quiet diplomacy or silence in matters regarding artefacts That policy has not led to any visible success as far as artefacts are concerned. Moreover, the obligation to educate our public about preservation of artefacts cannot fully succeed when there is silence about the interests of various parties in this context. There should be no impression that those paid to protect our artefacts are more interested in having good relationship with Western museums than ensuring that some of the many artefacts looted or stolen in the colonial period are returned.

The best places to see icons of African art continue to be Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Geneva, London, New York, Paris, Tervuren and other Western cities. (18)

Kwame Tua Opoku, 18 January, 2017.

NOTES

1.Ekpo Eyo, From Shrines to Showcases: Masterpieces of Nigerian Art, Federal Ministry of Information and Communication, Abuja, 2010, p.23.

The preamble to ICOM red List Africa reads as follows: The looting of archaeological items and the destruction of archaeological sites in Africa are a cause of irreparable damage to African history and hence to the history of humankind. Whole sections of our history have been wiped out and can never be reconstituted. These objects cannot be understood once they have been removed from their archaeological context and divorced from the whole to which they belong. Only professional archaeological excavations can help recover their identity, their date and their location. But so long as there is demand from the international art market these objects will be looted and offered for sale. http://archives.icom.museum/redlist ICOM red List See also K. Opoku, Recovering Nigerias Terracotta http://www.modernghana.com

Revisiting Looted Nigerian Nok Terracotta Sculptures in Louvre, Musee du Quai Branly, Paris, http://www.myweku.com http://www.modernghana.com

Does the Demand for the Restitution of Stolen African Cultural Objects Constitute an Obstacle to the Dissemination of Knowledge about African Arts? Comments o a Letter from Philippe de Montebello, Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. http://www.afrikanet.info

2. A Red List of West African Cultural Objects at Risk - ICOM

icom.museum  Press Releases

A Red List of West African Cultural Artefacts at Risk- 

icom.museum/.../a-red-list-of-west-african-cultural-objects-at.../L/ 0

3. See International Criminal Court Judgement in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ahmad AL Faqi Al Mahd Summary of the Judgment and Sentence in the case of The Prosecutor ... https://www.icc-cpi.int/.../160926Al-MahdiSummary.pd

4. Folarin Shyllon, The Nigerian and African Experience on Looting and Trafficking in Cultural Objects, in Barbara T. Hoffman (ed.) Art and Cultural Heritage-Law, Policy and Practice, Cambridge University Press, 2006, pp.137-144; Peter Schmidt and Roderick McIntosh, (eds.) Plundering Africas Past, Indiana University Press, Bloomington ,1996.

Annie E. Coombes, Reinventing Africa, Yale University Press, New Haven ,1994.

For an account of the notorious French Dakar-Djibouti Expedition ,1931-1933, see Michel Leiris, Afrique Fantome, Gallimard,1934. Leiris provides detail information on the brutal and criminal methods the French mission employed to extract from Africans their precious artefacts. Afrique Fantome which is a unique book written by the secretary of the expedition has so far not been translated into English but must be one day translated since it provides incontrovertible evidence of how the French obtained thousands of African artefacts. Musee du Quai Branly-Jaques Chirac, established in 2006, inherited African artefacts that had been in the possession of two institutions. Musee de l'Homme and the Musee National des Arts d'Afrique et d'Oceanie. The objects include artefacts from the notorious Dakar-Djibouti expedition which, through stealing, blackmail and duress, brought to France 3500 cultural objects from the French colonies. The museum refuses even to contemplate their restitution to the countries of origin.

See K .Opoku,  The Logic of Non-Restitution of Cultural Objects from the Musee du Quai Branly. 

K. Opoku, Benin to Quai Branly: a Museum for the Arts of Others or for the Stolen Arts of Others?

www.museum-security.org/.../benin-to-quai-branly-a-museum-fo..

Ivan Lindsay, The History of Loot and Stolen Art, Unicorn Press, London, 2014, pp. 219-239.

Russell Chamberlin, Loot! -The Heritage of Plunder, Thames and Hudson, London,1983.

5. K. Opoku, Benin to Berlin Ethnologisches Museum: Are Benin Bronzes made in Berlin? https://www.modernghana.com/news/157501/1/benin-to-berlin-ethnologisch

6. Many recognised institutions have been involved in the last decades in cases of looted artefacts and indeed a senior curator from a North American institution had to spend time in prison in Italy. K. Opoku, Do Directors of Universal Museums ever Learn from Experience? www.modernghana.com/.../do-directors-of-universal-museums-e.

Declaration on the Importance and Value of Universal Museums: Singular Failure of an Arrogant Imperialist Project. https://www.modernghana.com/news/441891/1/declaration-on-the.

K. Opoku: Dr. Cuno Again - Reviving Discredited Arguments to Prevent Repatriation of Museum Artefacts...

www.africavenir.org/.../kwame-opoku-dr-cuno-again-reviving-d .

Review of James Cunos W ho Owns Antiquity?

www.afrikanet.info/archiv1/index.php?option=com...task ..

Does Dr Cuno really believe what he writes?

https://www.pambazuka.org/.../does-dr-cuno-really-believe-what.

afrikanet.info: Comments on a lecture by Neil Macgregor, British ...

www.afrikanet.info/.../comments-on-a-lecture-by-neil-macgregor...

Kwame Opoku - A History of the World with 100 Looted Objects ...

https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=fil#!topic/african.

K. Opoku, Virtual Visit to Museums Holding Looted Benin Objects http://www.museum-security.org/2012/11/kwame-opoku-virtual-visit-to-museums-holding-looted-benin-objects/

7. F. Shyllon,The Recovery of Cultural Objects by African States through the UNESCO and UNIDROIT Conventions and the Role of Arbitration, www.unidroit.org/english/publications/review/articles/2000-2 ...

K. Opoku , Would Western Museums Return Looted Objects if Nigeria and Other African States were Ruled by Angels? Restitution and Corruption.  https://www.modernghana.com/news/233465/1/would-western-museums...

8. Article 60, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 that I could find reads as follow:

60. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Senate or the House of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for summoning and recess of the House . Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria www.nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm

See F. Shyllon, PDF] NIGERIA I. Information regarding the application of the UNIDROIT .Convention..

www.unidroit.org/english/conventions/.../1meet.../nigeria.pdf

9. There have been some unseeming contortions concerning the ban on exportation of Nok sculpture from Nigeria. See Kwame Opoku: Nok Once More - AfricAvenir International

www.africavenir.org/nc/.../kwame-opoku-nok-once-more.html

F. Shyllon, Negotiations for the return of Nok sculptures from France to Nigeria ... collections.si.edu/search/record/siris_sil_975881

K. Opoku, Revisiting Looted Nigerian Nok Terracotta Sculptures in Louvre/Musee du Quai Branly.Paris. www.museum-security.org/2011/07/kwame-opoku-franco-nigerian. ..

10. Benjamin W. Kankepeyang and Christopher R. De Corse, Ghana's Vanishing Past: Development, Antiquities, and the Destruction of the Archaeological Record.

Ghana's Vanishing Past - SUrface - Syracuse University

surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context..

K. Opoku, They are Selling Records of African History: Who Cares? www.museum-security.org/2015/05/kwame-opoku-they-are-selling...

F. Shyllon wrote: In 1971, Ekpo Eyo, as Director of the then Antiquities Department of Nigeria, made the ominous forecast that unless the theft of Nigerian collection was arrested nothing will be left of Nigerian antiquities in about ten years. Twenty- five years later, Nigerias Minister of Culture, while inaugurating an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the looting of Nigerias cultural property on 23July 1996, warned that we are losing our cultural heritage at such an alarming rate that unless the trend is arrested soon we may have no cultural artefacts to bequeath to our progeny. Also in 1996, Henry John Drewal urged that drastic steps be taken to curb the activities of those plundering Africas past, otherwise Africa will soon have a landscape barren of cultural heritage Barbara T. Hoffman, op. cit. p.139.

11. Ekpo Eyo, Museum, Vol. XXL, no 1, 1979, Return and Restitution of cultural property, pp. 18-21, at p.21, Nigeria. See also Ekpo Eyo, From Shrines to Showcases: Masterpieces of Nigerian Art, Federal Ministry of Information and Communication, Abuja, 2010 p.32.

12. See Annex below

13. Martin Bailey, British Museum sold Benin Bronzes

British Museum Sold Benin Bronzes - Forbes

BBC News | ARTS | Benin bronzes sold to Nigeria

British Museum sold precious bronzes | UK news | The Guardian

Benin bronze, sold off by British Museum in 1950, returns to market, http://theartnewspaper.com/market/auctions/benin-bronze-sold-off-by-british-museum-in-1950-returns-to-market/

Benin Plan of Action for Restitution

www.museum-security.org/.../kwame-opoku-benin-plan-of-actio...

14. K. Opoku, Benin Plan of Action: Will this miserable Document be the Last Word on the Looted Benin Artefacts www.museum-security.org/category/dr-kwame-opoku

15. See the list of United Nations Resolutions on Return of Cultural Property in

K. Opoku, Did Germans Never Hear Directly or Indirectly Nigerias Demand for Return of Looted Artefacts?...

www.museum-security.org/Kwame_Opoku_Germany_Nigeria_Benin.htm

16. Readers will recall the so-called Geneva row where Swiss scholars criticised the exhibition of looted African terracotta which included many items on the ICOM Red List but there was not much reaction from West Africa. See K. Opoku, Let Others Loot for You: Looting of African Artefacts for Western Museums. www.modernghana.com/.../let-others-loot-for-you-looting-of-african-art

K. Opoku  What We Understand by Restitution

www.museum-security.org/.../kwame-opoku-understand-restitution ..

We read with sadness and, in some parts, almost with tears the article by Benjamin W. Kankpeyeng and Christopher R. DeCorse, Ghanas Vanishing Past: Development, Antiquities, and the Destruction of the Archaeological Record. Abstract. https://www.researchgate.net/.../226490464_Ghana's_Vanishing_

Ghana's past is being destroyed at a rapid rate. Although the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board has in some instances successfully intervened to stop the illicit trading of antiquities, the destruction of archaeological sites as a consequence of development over the past two decades has been staggering and the pace is accelerating. The potential of the legislation that established the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and empowered it to manage and preserve the country's archaeological past has not been realized. The lack of political action, limited relevant public education, insufficient funding, and the poverty of the majority of the Ghanaian populace have allowed for the widespread destruction of both sites and historic buildings. Conspicuously, both the absence of integrated development planning by the Ghanaian government and the inability of development partners (both foreign and domestic) to recognize the potential value of cultural resources have contributed significantly to the continued loss of the archaeological record. While the antiquities trade is a continuing threat to Ghana's cultural resources, it is, in fact, tourism and economic development that pose the major menace to the country's archaeological past.

In parts of the article we read,

Perhaps the most disappointing example of GMMB 's unsuccessful intervention in northern Ghana is the destruction of the British fort at the old residency in Wa, which had been used by colonial officials and the regional government up until 2002. The fort was built by the British in the first half of the twentieth century and it continued in service in the early 1970s. By the early 1980s, however, it was in ruins, though still identified as a historic monument by GMMB. Despite this fact, it was demolished in the mid-1980s at the direction of the regional authorities of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) following the creation of the new Upper West Region. The structure was considered to be outmoded and also a security risk because of its location within an area that served as a residency for the Regional Secretary, as well as for visiting military authorities such as the Chairman of PNDC (the Head of State). While the need for new construction cannot be denied, the fact that the concerns of GMMB were largely ignored and no drawings, plans, or archaeological assessments of the site were made prior to its destruction is unfortunate.

Even well-intentioned efforts at preservation sometimes went awry. In 1990, GMMB built a series of walls on the Elmina peninsula to delineate areas for parking and craft kiosks, as well as to afford some protection to the old town site. Excavations for the footings of the more than 1000 m of walls, entirely located within the old town site, were not monitored by archaeologists. The contractor reported that ''... the excavations for the wall revealed that the foundations of the houses [representing the old settlement] were about six inches from the ground [surface] and that, the entire length of the wall's foundations passed over archaeological finds" (letter to Kwesi Agbley from Ato Austin, chairman of the Central Region Development Commission, November 21, 1990; DeCorse, 2001, pp. 217218, n. 39). The fact that the construction work was not monitored is made all the more unfortunate by the fact that the walls have not afforded any protection to the site. Trash dumping and use of the shore as a toilet facility has continued, while a large squatters' village now crowds the western end of the peninsula.

F. Shyllon wrote: In 1971, Ekpo Eyo, as Director of the then Antiquities Department of Nigeria, made the ominous forecast that unless the theft of Nigerian collection was arrested nothing will be left of Nigerian antiquities in about ten years. Twenty- five years later, Nigerias Minister of Culture, while inaugurating an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the looting of Nigerias cultural property on 23July 1996, warned that we are losing our cultural heritage at such an alarming rate that unless the trend is arrested soon we may have no cultural artefacts to bequeath to our progeny. Also in 1996, Henry John Drewal urged that drastic steps be taken to curb the activities of those plundering Africas past, otherwise Africa will soon have a landscape barren of cultural heritage, Barbara T. Hoffman, op. cit. p.139. See also by Shyllon, Unraveling History; Return of African Cultural Objects Repatriated and Looted in Colonial Times, in James A.R. Nafziger and Ann M Nicgorski (eds.), Cultural Heritage Issues: The Legacy of Conquest, Colonization, and Commerce, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2009, pp.159-168.

17. William Norteh Gblerkpor and Samuel Nilirmi Nkumbaan Archaeology and Sociopolitical Engagements in Ghana in James Anquandah, Bejamin Kankpeyeng, Wazi Apoh (eds.), Current Perspectives in the Archaeology of Ghana, Sub-Saharan Publishers, University of Ghana, 201, p.312.

18. A visit to homepages of leading Western museums will confirm this, bearing in mind that many museums do not display most of what they have on the internet or in their exhibition halls.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Home

www.metmuseum.org/

British Museum - Welcome to the British Museum

www.britishmuseum.org/

musee du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac - Expositions

www.quaibranly.fr/fr/expositions.../au /expositions/

Musee royal de l'Afrique centrale - Royal Museum for Central Africa

www.africamuseum.be/home?set_language=f

Ethnologisches Museum: Home - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

www.smb.museum/museen-und-einrichtungen/ethnologisches-museum/home.htm

Weltmuseum Wien

www.weltmuseumwien.at

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

www.mfa.org

Royal Museum for Central Africa - Official Site

www.africamuseum.be

If anyone doubts that the best of African art has been carted to the Western world, she should look at any book on African art, including exhibition catalogues and check the locations of the objects depicted.

-Most of the Nigerian artefacts shown in Eyos, Masterpieces of Nigerian Art, (2010) are in Western institutions. See K. Opoku, Excellence and Erudition: Ekpo Eyos Materpieces of Nigerian Art. ...

https://www.modernghana.com/.../excellence-and-erudition-ekpo .

We noted the following locations of Nigerian masterpieces:

Musee du quai Branly, Paris, France.

Musee Barbier-Mueller, Geneva, Switzerland.

Dept. of Art History and Archaeology, University of Maryland, USA, British Museum, London, United Kingdom.

Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit, USA.

National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institutions, Washington, USA. Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, USA

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Museum Rietberg, Zurich, Switzerland.

Ethnologisches Museum, Berlin, Germany.

Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, USA.

Volkerkunde Museum (now Weltmuseum), Vienna, Austria.

Royal Collection, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, London, United Kingdom. New Orleans Museum of Arts, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA.

Yale University Art Gallery, Connecticut, New Haven, USA. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia, USA. Indiana University Art Museum, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.

Arts of Nigeria in French Private Collections, edited by Alain Lebas, (5 Continents Editions, Milan. 2012), gives us a comprehensive view of the quantity and quality of Nigerian artworks that are in private hands in France

K. Opoku Arts of Nigeria in French Private Collections

https://www.modernghana.com/.../arts-of-nigeria-in-french-priva

African Art-In American Collections, Warren M. Robbins and Nancy Ingram Nooter (Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, U.S.A, 2004) is as complete a book as anyone might wish and shows the wealth of American collections of African art. Could all the museums in Africa assemble such a display of African artefacts?

Dorina Hecht and Gunter Kawik (eds.), Afrika und die Kunst, (Kawik Verlag, Bottrop, Germany, 2010) provides us with a perspective on the impressive collections of African art in Germany. The authors refer to a statement by Jean Paul Barbier, a well-known collector of African art that African art objects should never be returned to Afric.p.11. Similar statement has been made by Jean Paul Barbier in connection with one of his exhibitions; We Westerners are the ones who confer the quality of art to these objects. These statues should not return to Africa. Jean Paul Barbier-Mueller., Ce sont nous, Occidentaux, qui conferons a ces oeuvres une valeur d'art. Ces statues ne doivent pas retourner en Afrique www.artscape.fr

K. Opoku Is Africa closer to Oceania than to Europe? Visit to an Exhibition of African and Oceanian Arts.

https://www.modernghana.com/.../is-africa-closer-to-oceania-tha ..

African art in Italian collections is presented by Chantal Dandrieu and Fabrizio Giovagnoni, in Passion dAfrique-lart africain dans les collections italiennes, Officina Libraria,2009, Milan. The book includes a DVD with images of extraordinary Djene sculptures.

Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Benue River Valley, Maria C. Berns, Richard Fardon and Sidney Littlefield Kasfir, Fowler Museum at UCLA, Los Angeles, 2011. This exhibition catalogue shows how much has been taken away from the arts of this area of Nigeria.

Barbara Plankensteiner (ed), Benin: Kings and Rituals - Court Arts from Nigeria, (Snoeck, Ghent, 2007) gives us an accurate idea about where the Benin artefacts are to be found.

The Ethnologisches Museum, Berlin, Germany, is one of the few major Western museums that facilitate the search for the African artefacts they have. The museums hand book offers information on the number of African artefacts it holds and their history. The museum confesses in its museum guide that it has far more objects than it could possibly display: Today, the Africa collection of the Ethnologisches Museum embraces 75,000 objects: around 40,000 from West Africa (of which roughly 12, come from Cameroon, and 6,000 from the Congo), around 20,000 from East Africa, 5,000 from South Africa, 5000 from North East Africa, and 3000 from North Africa. By far the largest segment of items is not on display, but is stored in the study collection. Ethnologisches Museum Berlin, Prestel Verlag, Munich, 2007. Moreover, the publication, Afrika-Kunst and Kultur, (Prestel Verlag, 1999) provides us images of masterpieces of African art in the museum. See also Peter Junge, Kunst aus Afrika, SMB Dumont, Berlin, 2000.

The Musee du Quai Branly has several publications which give us an idea about its African collection. For example, Yves Le Fur (ed.) Musee du Quai Branly, La Collection, Skira Flammarion, Paris 2009.

The catalogue of the Exhibition, Africa-The Art of a Continent, edited by Tom Phillips, (Prestel Verlag, Munich,1996) offers an incomparable view of African art and locations where the artefacts are to be found. See also, Africa, The Art of a Continent,100 Pieces of Power and Beauty, Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1996.

Members of the nefarious Punitive Expedition of 1897 posing proudly with looted Benin artefacts

ANNEX

LIST OF HOLDERS OF BENIN BRONZES

Almost every Western museum has some Benin objects. Here is a short list of some of the places where the Benin Bronzes are to be found and their numbers. Various catalogues of exhibitions on Benin art or African art also list the private collections of the Benin Bronzes. Many museums refuse to inform the public about the number of Benin artefacts they have and do not display permanently the artefacts in their possession since they do not have enough space. A museum such as Volkerkundemuseum, Vienna, now Weltmuseum, has closed since 17 years (2000-2017) the African section where the Benin artefacts are, apparently due to repair works which are not likely to be finished before 2017.

Berlin  Ethnologisches Museum 580.

Boston, - Museum of Fine Arts 28.

Chicago  Art Institute of Chicago 20, Field Museum 400

Cologne  Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum 73.

Glasgow _ Kelvingrove and St, Mungo's Museum of Religious Life 22

Hamburg  Museum fur Volkerkunde, Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe 196.

Dresden  Staatliches Museum fur Volkerkunde 182.

Leipzig  Museum fur Volkerkunde 87.

Leiden  Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde 98.

London  British Museum 900.

New York  Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art 163.

Oxford  Pitt-Rivers Museum/ Pitt-Rivers country residence, Rushmore in Farnham/Dorset 327.

Stuttgart  Linden Museum-Staatliches Museum fur Volkerkunde 80.

Vienna  Museum fur Volkerkunde now World Museum 167.

Human-shaped terracotta funerary vase with arm-shaped handles and a hole in the base, Akye people, Musee des Civilisations de Cote dIvoire.
Despite seemingly going against the constitution, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South in the Upper East Region, Dr. Clement Apaak believes he did not err in receiving campaign funding from non-Ghanaian sources.

Dr. Apaak, a known anti-corruption campaigner, said he was unaware of the constitutions position on such matters and insisted that receiving campaign funds from non-Ghanaians did not constitute corruption or a breach of the law.

The constitution, however, says, only a citizen of Ghana may make a contribution or donation to a

political party registered in Ghana.

The matter came up on Eyewitness News where Mr. Apaak was speaking to speculation his bid for parliament was supported financially by the Presidency.

He denied such speculations and said his campaign was instead funded on the benevolence of friends and family both home and abroad who made very significant contributions.

When probed on the nature of such funding by the shows host, Richard Dela Sky, Dr. Apaak said he was unable to quantify such funding but said the campaign is a process so depending on when you are going to have activities I made a request and somebody gives you 2000, somebody gives you 3000 and somebody gives you 4000 and it adds up and then you go and engage in your political activity.

If they chose to support me, I think it is their right to so and if I chose to take the support I believe it is my right to do so until otherwise proven if friends and family decide to support my campaign, I really dont think that is any breach of the constitution, the legislator argued.

My daughters are half Ghanaian and half American so how do you place them, Dr. Apaak quipped further in an attempt to explain the matter wasnt as black and white.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Barack Obama saved his parting gift to terror, his worst crime, for last, the War on the Yemeni People. Obamas last war has institutionalized a failed state and which will continue to inflict terror and suffering on 25 million Yemenis for generations to come.

When the Saudi army began its aggression against Yemen, Obama seemed only a reluctant partner, but behind the scenes the military support by the US quickly showed otherwise.

Thanks to SaudiLeaks amongst others, we know that Obama was behind the invasion in the first place for what US President could allow a government allied to Iran to take over one side of the strategic choke point Baab Al Mandeb, the straights between the Indian ocean and the Red Sea.

Asia and Europe are the biggest trading partners on the planet and control of the shipping lanes through the Baab Al Mandeb through which their trade must pass is a strategically critical necessity for the USA in its continued quest for international dominance. The day the USA loses control of the Baab Al Mandeb marks the beginning of the end for Pax Americana.

Opposite Yemen across the Baab Al Mandeb lies the Eritrean coast, some 1,000 kilometers of it heading north. South lies Djibouti, and what is left of the once great Pan Africanist country of Somalia, now Puntland, Somaliland and Somalia.

Historically, the USA opposed Eritrean independence and continues to be hostile towards the Eritrean government, having pushed sanctions through the UN after accusing Eritrea of Support for Terrorism in Somalia/Al Shabab, something Wikileaks has exposed as a fabrication.

Obama and his cronies could not stand by and watch as both sides of the Baab Al Mandeb saw the loss of US military dominance. So the Saudis were given the green light and seeming infinite supply of western military hardware as well as massive logistic support, including aerial refueling to maintain the bombing campaign of terror against the Yemeni People.

Since the Saudi aggression the lives of the Yemeni people, already desperate for a large minority, have seen the majority of Yemeni children now suffering from malnutrition due to the aid blockade and bombing of vital infrastructure.

All of this being armed and provisioned by the USA and its international minions.

The so called Saudi Led Coalition that has invaded Yemen includes the United Arab Emirates, which has pretty much stopped fighting the Houthi/President Saleh coalition and is now focusing its efforts to defend itself from Al Queda on the Arabian Peninsula and Da'esh (ISIS).

The UAEs war against Da'esh and Al Queda is receiving logistical support from Eritrea in the form of use of the Port of Assab and its environs, next to the Baab Al Mandeb.

Saudi Arabia is stuck in a quagmire in Yemen, Saudis Vietnam. Egypt's refusal to join the Saudi invasion of Yemen comes from the early 1960s and Egypt's eventual defeat there and has been an important factor in the recent rift between Egypt and Saudi.

With the collapse of the US/Saudi imposed Hadi regime in Yemen conditions grew ripe for the AQAP and Da'esh to rush into fill the power vacuum in the South. AQAP and Da'esh in Yemen are made up mainly of Saudi fanatics driven out of their home country by the House of Saud into exile in Yemen where with quiet Royal Family support they have survived amongst the southern, Sunni based secessionists.

The new Godfather being coronated in the USA has called for the fight against ISIS etc. to be a priority so maybe Trumps Capos in Defense and the State Department/CIA may intervene more directly than under Obama. US troops are already on the ground in Yemen fighting terror so an escalation could easily be forthcoming from the Pentagon and Foggy Bottom.

Today, the war against the Yemeni People rages on, and thousands of Yemen children have died of starvation while scattered by war across their country. Never knowing when their mothers will be slaughtered when the USA made bombs rain down on a village market, or the slow, hopeless terror of starvation. Obama has saved his worse gift to terror for last in Yemen.

Thomas C. Mountain is an independent journalist in Eritrea, living and reporting from here since 2006.

His speeches, interviews and articles can be seen on Facebook at thomascmountain or he can best be contacted at thomascmountain at gmail dot com
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) Urdu language is the cultural heritage of all Indians and does not belong to a particular religion, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today as he emphasised on communication in regional languages.

"It is very important to communicate with the people in their own language...Urdu language is a cultural heritage of all Indians. It does not belong to one religion, but to the entire country," he said while inaugurating Indian Institute of Mass Communications (IIMC) PG Diploma course in Urdu Journalism here.

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He said Urdu journalism, which played an important role in the freedom struggle, is an integral part of the media and communication landscape of the country.

The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister called upon the institute to strive for journalism courses in all Indian languages in order to cater to the communication needs of the citizens across the country.

He also congratulated IIMC for starting courses in two regional languages-- Marathi and Malayalam.

Stating that he was "not against English", the minister said communication in English was "not mass communication but a class communication".

Meanwhile, to a query regarding Oppositions demand for presenting the Budget after the polls, he said the Budget is a "regular and annual" affair and is not state-specific, but for the entire country.

"The Opposition is rattled because they realise that they are losing elections. They have no issues and are trying to divert the attention of the people on flimsy grounds. They try to make issues out of nothing. Now, they are talking about Budget and social security. Social security is very much need of the country," he said.

Stressing that students aspiring to become journalists must ensure that news and views were not mixed, he urged them to keep abreast with the latest developments, new technology and modes of communication and inculcate the habit of reading to remain relevant and effective.

Naidu also inaugurated the 67th diploma course in Development Journalism and launched the IIMC Journal Communicator.

The 67th batch of Development Journalism course at IIMC has 23 scholars (12 females and 11 males) from 19 different countries. PTI MP SRY

--- ENDS ---
18.01.2017 LISTEN

Brain Builders International believes focusing on youths alone is not enough in driving progress and development, as she feels the younger generation should be carried along so that they can understand their place when they come of age. This is one important vacuum she has since been feeling. In her quest to enlighten and charge the younger generation to believe in theirselves and their potentials, Brain Builders International came up with a Teens Speak Out. Tijani Sheriffdeen, an undergraduate student of the University of Ilorin reports.

The Teens Speak Out which is the third edition of the academic competition of Brain Builders International had over 20 schools in Osun State compete brilliantly for the winning seat. The competition which featured quiz competition, essay writing and oratory contest gave students the opportunity of featuring in categories of their choice, and results from the contests showed that students are really following happenings in Nigeria and can discuss issues pertinent to this country intellectually.

The National coordinator, Mr Olasupo Abideen in his welcome speech at the event made it known that the competition is aimed at stimulating the minds of the younger generation, so that they would understand their place in the development of their nation. He made it known that topics and questions of the different categories of the competition are in line with engaging the students to becoming more academically vibrant while also opening them to their roles in their immediate environment and nation at large. He stressed that works wont end in strengthening the younger generation as they would in no time come to occupy the spaces of the doing men who would also be progressing in the drama of life.

The oratory category of the academic competition had the plummeting price in the international price of crude-oil is the basic cause of recession in the countrys economy, hence is the singular duty of the Nigerian government to address this anomaly as its topic. No doubt it was interesting, as students from different schools came up to present their points brilliantly. The essay category ended up with interesting essays on the topic, recession: government policy induced economic problem as its topic.

At the end of the microphone battle, Zakarriyau Memorial College emerged the first position in the oratory contest; Nacomyo was the first runner-up while Al-Mansoor Model College came out second runner-up. In the category that looked like a tug of war, Al-Mansoor Model College emerged as the best in the quiz category, while Al-Hijrah Comprehensive College was the first runnerup while Islamic College ended up with the bronze medal in the quiz category. Islamic College showed the power in their pen by writing their way to Gold in the essay category while Al-Mansoor Model College was second and Al-Hijrah Comprehensive College was third in the writing battle.
President Nana Akufo-Addo's appointment of Senior Minister nominee, Osafo Maafo is unconstitutional, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has said.

President Akufo- Addo nominated the former Finance Minister under the erstwhile Kufuor administration as Senior Minister last week.

Osafo Maafo's position will require him to supervise the activities of all other appointees and ensure discipline at all levels.

The Bawku Central legislator in a letter written to the President, however indicated that the nomination of any person to be vetted for the post of a Senior Minister constitutes a constitutional aberration, adding that nowhere in the Constitution does the office of 'Senior Minister' exist.

The Senior Minister post which you have created is demonstrably analogous to the office of Prime Minister. I will show, from a review of the history of the enactment of the 1992 Constitution that there was a very conscious decision to avoid creating any office similar to that of a Prime Minister. The idea of having a Prime Minister was explicitly turned down, he further argued.

The letter from the Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga

I am a Citizen and NOT a spectatorOn the matter of the appointment of Hon. Yaw Sarfo Marfo.

17th January 2017

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Flagstaff House

Kanda  Accra

Through: Rt. Hon Speaker, Parliament of Ghana

IN THE MATTER OF THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL NOMINATION OF HON YAW OSAFO-MARFO FOR APPOINTMENT AS SENIOR MINISTER

Mr. President.

I have taken time to write you this letter because you have asked us to be citizens not spectators. Citizens insist on fidelity to the Constitution, which is the basis of every constitutional authority and power exercised. Sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this Constitution. Ghanaians should be made aware that every constitutional power and authority exercised by a President is spelt out in the constitution (or some other law) and the manner in which it is to be exercised is equally laid down. It should therefore not be confusing to non-lawyers when they are told that a power bestowed on a President has been exercised in a manner not laid down in the Constitution. Constitutionalism is concerned with both form and substance.

I write to draw your attention to the constitutional issue arising from your nomination of Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo for vetting to be appointed Senior Minister. I tried to raise the issue in Parliament and at the preparatory meeting of the Appointments Committee of Parliament. My motives are purely to promote adherence to the dictates of our Constitution that Mr. President swore to  at all times preserve, protect and defend I also swore to do the same thing in my Oath of Allegiance as a Member of Parliament. Remember that breach of the constitution is one of the grounds on which you may be removed from office. We therefore have a common duty but sometimes we may have an uncommon understanding of the true meaning of the dictates of the words that enact the authority and powers of a President or any other officer created by the Constitution.

The nomination of any person to be vetted for the post of a Senior Minister constitutes a constitutional aberration. The simple reason is that nowhere in the Constitution does the office of 'Senior Minister' exist. The Senior Minister post which you have created is demonstrably analogous to the office of Prime Minister. I will show, from a review of the history of the enactment of the 1992 Constitution that there was a very conscious decision to avoid creating any office similar to that of a Prime Minister. The idea of having a Prime Minister was explicitly turned down.

Chapter 8 of the Constitution of Ghana 1992 establishes the Executive branch of government and spells out the offices, which shall constitute that branch. Articles 76, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 88 and 256 of the constitution deal with matters relating to the posts of a 'Minister of State' and a 'Deputy Minister of State'. Some of those provisions often refer to the term 'Minister' or 'Deputy Minister' when making references to the post of a 'Minister of State' or a 'Deputy Minister of State' respectively and omitting the expression: 'of State'.

A 'Minister of State' is not the same creature as a Senior Minister. A Senior Minister suggests the existence of a hierarchy among Ministers of State. There is no hierarchy among 'Ministers of State' appointed under articles 58 and 256. At best, there could be informal seniority protocols within government once approval as Ministers of State is given by Parliament. I am not operating in the realm of protocols now. I am asking that we pay attention to the dictates of the language of our Constitution when communicating to other constitutional bodies and arms of government. Co-equal arms of government are guided in the exercise of their own functions by the dictates of the same Constitution. Remember that in the case of the requirement of 'prior approval' by Parliament, the Supreme Court said in Mensah versus Attorney-General that Parliament had to respect the language and act accordingly and not just retain Ministers of the previous government because that was not what 'prior approval' meant.

Literally and ordinarily the word 'senior' means 'higher in standing or rank' relative to another Minister of State. But our constitutional governance architecture only recognizes a 'Minister of State who the Constitution sometimes refers to as a 'Minister'. Ordinarily also, the word 'senior' is used to show that one person is more advanced in age than another. The Constitution does not make that differentiation when it comes to ministerial appointments. Being advanced in age does not entitle you to be vetted by Parliament and given the accolade of 'Senior Minister.

Mr. President cannot simply say that appointing someone as Senior Minister means nothing. If that is the case then simply nominate him to be a 'Minister of State'. Why the discrimination? You consciously seek to elevate Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo to a status akin to that of a Prime Minister. I have, myself, heard Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo grant interviews and say on radio that he is going to oversee the work of other Ministers of State you have nominated, especially for the economic sectors. That is to say that he will superintend over the work of other Ministers of State. That interview betrays the real motives for creating the 'Senior Minister' post. It is going to function very much the same way as a Prime Minister. Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo does not understand that you don't intend to breach the Constitution by creating a Prime Minister status for any one particular Minister of State, if my assumption is right. For him it is not a mere accolade based on his age and wealth of experience.

A proposal was made to the framers of our Constitution to create the post of a Prime Minister and it was rejected. The Consultative Assembly that drafted the final constitution rejected the creation of the office of Prime Minister or any post akin to it. The creation of our Constitution itself went through several stages. There was a nation-wide gathering of public views on the form of government we should constitute for ourselves by a National Commission for Democracy which presented a report on Evolving a True Democracy on 25th March 1991 to the PNDC. On July 31st 1991, A Committee of Experts chaired by Dr. S.K.B. Asante presented Proposals for a Draft Constitution of Ghana to the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC). Then a Consultative Assembly debated the Draft Constitution and came out with a final Constitutional proposal, which was put to a referendum at which Ghanaians voted. The final outcome is this 1992 Constitution.

The Committee of Experts led by Dr. S.K.B. Asante proposed a split executive system comprised of a President elected by universal adult suffrage and a Prime Minister. They had actually been instructed by the PNDC in PNDCL 252 to consider that option of a President elected by universal adult suffrage in addition to a Prime Minister who must command a majority in the National Assembly. These two would work together. The Prime Minister was to  be the head of Government administration and should supervise and co-ordinate the work of Ministers of State and of the Council of Ministers. He or she should be the leader of Government business in Parliament, and should generally assist the President in the execution of the functions of Government. (Emphasis mine) (Report of the Committee of Experts (Constitution) on Proposals for a Draft Constitution of Ghana, page 13) These proposals were presented to the Consultative Assembly set up under the Consultative Assembly Law, 1991 (PNDCL 253). After extensive debates on the proposals contained in the Committee of Experts' Report, the Consultative Assembly rejected the idea of a post of Prime Minister. Another proposal of Council of Ministers headed by the proposed Prime Minister was equally rejected. A Cabinet, as presently constituted, was rather proposed in the stead of the Council of Ministers. This Cabinet will be made up of the President, Vice President and not more than 19 Ministers.

In the language of the Report of the Committee of Experts, the proposed Prime Minister was analogous to a Deputy Chief Executive of the nation. (Page. 13). In the original proposals of the Committee of Experts, the post of a Vice President, as we presently have it in the 1992 Constitution, was not considered at all. Now that we have a Vice President who is the real Deputy Chief Executive of the nation we cannot be entertaining acts aimed at circumventing the status of the constitutionally elected Vice President.

The Consultative Assembly rejected the idea of a Prime Minister or anything akin to it. That has informed the practice of constitutionalism of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). That is why each time NDC is forming government there is no proposal to appoint anyone to a status akin to the position of a Prime Minister such as a Senior Minister. The political grouping from which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is lineally descended boycotted this constitution making process. It is therefore does not come as a surprise that anytime the NPP comes into office, as we saw in the case of Ex-President J. A. Kufour, they come back with this Senior Minister position to fill in the place of a Prime Minister. An idea that was totally rejected by Ghanaians during the Consultative Assembly debates and was never an option presented to Ghanaians for enactment in our Constitution during the referendum. That post undermines the role of the Vice President.

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana makes no provision for a hierarchy of ministers among Ministers of State. The idea of a particular minister being higher in status than other Ministers of State is an anathema to our Constitution right from the beginning. At most, we have some of the Ministers (not more than 19) being in Cabinet and the rest being Ministers of State who have no cabinet membership. It is in the recordings of minutes of cabinet meetings that you notice the difference when the 19 ministers are recorded as 'Members of Cabinet' and the rest are said to be in attendance only.

In exercising the President's appointing authority, where prior approval of parliament is required, fidelity to the clear textual prescriptions of our Constitution is critical. Article 1 of our Constitution provides that, the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this Constitution. Your power to appointment Ministers is clearly circumscribed within the confines of article 78 and 256 of the Constitution. So is the power of Parliament to approve. Parliament can only approve nominations for 'Ministers of State' to be appointed. Indeed, that is why article 295 (1) defines a Minister as  a Minister appointed under article 78 or 256 of this Constitution. Those two articles only mention Minister of State not Senior Minister.

Parliament can only vet nominees to the posts of 'Minister of State' because that is what the text of the Constitution says. Parliament itself cannot arrogate to itself the authority to vet for offices not created by the Constitution or validly enacted by a separate Act of Parliament. In the practice of ministerial nominations, it is often stated that a nominee has been 'designated' to handle a stated Ministry. That simply helps Parliament in the vetting process as it narrows down the scope of the areas within which that nominee will be interrogated to determine capacity to do the work. Otherwise, strictly speaking, the President can simply say he is nominating a person for approval as a 'Minister of State' and leave it at that and he would have complied with the language of the Constitution. But the President cannot nominate someone to be appointed as a Senior Minister. Within the corridors of the Flagstaff House, younger Ministers of State may call any of their colleagues a 'Senior Minister' in deference to his or her age but that is different from an official communication by the President to Parliament in exercise of his powers pursuant to articles 58 and 256 of the Constitution requesting that a person advanced in age be vetted for approval by Parliament to be appointed as Senior Minister. It is ultra vires the powers of the President under our Constitution. This equally bars Parliament from proceeding.

Assuming we let it pass today that we can have someone appointed as a 'Senior Minister' and that is perfectly right within the 1992 constitution then what stops another President from appointing someone tomorrow to be vetted for appointment as a Prime Minister? And who says that Senior Minister is not a term of art? In its signification among governance experts, Senior Minister is almost synonymous with Prime Minister. Can future Presidents send a communication to Parliament requesting that a nominee be vetted for appointment as Super Chief Justice or even Senior Supreme Court Justice pursuant to article 144 of the Constitution? If we accept Your Excellency's conduct today then one day we will be called upon to vet a nomination for Senior Supreme Court Justice (whatever that will mean) and questions cannot be raised. Fidelity to our Constitution and the nomenclature therein is extremely important especially for a President who before assuming office has to take a Presidential Oath to  at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana What is happening is a mutilation of the Constitution. And it is needless. It is constitutionally mandatory for Mr. President to adhere to the appropriate nomenclatures when requesting approval from Parliament.

Your Excellency, I have not forgotten the bad precedent set by Ex President John Agyekum Kufour in nominating Hon J. H. Mensah, his brother-law, for appointment as Senior Minister which the then Parliament accepted. Now that we have heeded to your call to be citizens and not spectators it is time to rise up to the occasion and correct our errors  his then and now yours. I am very hopeful that this matter will not end up in the Supreme Court. If it does, am sure it will be an opportunity for the Supreme Court to pronounce that their decision in Tsatsu Tsikata versus Attorney-General, in the matter of the constitutionality of the creation of the 'Fast Track High Court', was not intended to provide unbridled license to any President or for that matter any appointing authority to wantonly abandon the clear textual prescriptions of our constitution in the naming of officers and institutions. Now that almost all the High Courts are getting automated will the species of courts know as 'High Courts' survive as a judicial nomenclature? I fear there will soon be no 'High Court', only Fast Track High Court. And will it be ok for me to file an application before the Automated Supreme Court? Words used in the Constitution to describe officers and institutions have their significations.

I have combed around the world to see where else the term 'Senior Minister' is used and found some useful precedent in Singapore that is largely a Parliamentary System with a Prime Minister heading cabinet and a President with ceremonial powers. A gazette notification is issued announcing the designation of a Minister as a 'Senior Minister' and his or her functions clearly spelt out in the gazette notification. Nothing is there to show that they were submitted to their Parliaments for vetting as Senior Ministers. In one case the title of 'Senior Minister' was conferred on an ex-Prime Minister when he ceased to be a Prime Minister. They also have a designation of a Coordinating-Minister. The practice in Singapore is understandable because they have a largely parliamentary system in which the Prime Minister is the head of the ministers in terms of hierarchy and actually exercises executive authority. The situation is clearly different in Ghana where the constitution is explicit in its enactment of the offices of Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers of State and does not create a hierarchy of Ministers. To create a Senior Minister's post amends the constitution and Mr. President would be breaching the very oath of office that is the basis of your authority as Head of State.

Mr. President, permit me to say that Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo is an excellent gentleman with vast experience who might bring a lot to your government. Unfortunately, within the context of our Constitution, you cannot give him a ministerial status higher and above the status of a 'Minister of State'. I believe Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo will understand the high regards you have for him and will not be offended if you make the correction needed to enable an incident free vetting. Given his exceptional qualities, I believe an automatic parliamentary approval of his nomination for appointment as a 'Minister of State' is guaranteed.

Alternatively you can copy the good practice of the NDC government. The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) set up by article 86 of the Constitution will be the best place for Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo. That is where we put Dr. Kwesi Botchwey. I am not even saying the former has attained the stature of the latter. But if you want to elevate him above Ministers, especially those Ministers of State manning the economic sectors, I suggest that you appoint him to chair the NDPC. He will superintend over the Minister of Finance and all other Ministers of State, as you may desire. He will even have the Government Statistician, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana on the Commission and many more eminent persons who you can gather on the Commission for him to run a constitutional empire. I urge you to look at the functions of the NPDC and you will find that a fine brain and experienced hand like Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo will be an excellent candidate.

Please accept, Your Excellency, my highest regards and well wishes for your Presidency.

Sincerely,

Hon Mahama Ayariga (MP)

Bawku Central



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @EfeAnsah
Instinct Wave is set to honour and celebrate companies, teams, stakeholders and individuals who have excelled in the procurement sector at the first-ever Ghana Procurement Awards.

Slated for March at the Kempinski Hotel, Ghana Procurement Awards (GPA) is first of its kind, which will celebrate outstanding achievements by companies, teams, stakeholders and individuals.

In a press statement, Instinct Wave CEO, Akin Naphtal, bemoaned the lack of recognition of procurement units by most organisations.

We would like to change this mindset by celebrating, rewarding exceptional talents, teams and organizations that have demonstrated excellence in delivering best practice and innovation in the procurement and supply chain sector in Ghana.

Procurement functions are now playing pivotal roles in the success of their firms, and by playing such strategic roles; their function has risen to a huge prominence in a highly competitive global business environment, he added.

In order to be awarded, procurement units are to submit various projects that have created value for the companies.

The categories for the awards are Procurement Professional of the Year, Industry Personality of the Year, Best Collaborative Procurement Award, Best Innovative Use of Technology in Procurement, Most Progressive Public Procurement, Best Supplier & Enterprise Development Project, Excellence in Procurement: Telecom, Excellence in Procurement: FMCG, Best Innovative Use of Technology in Procurement and Best Procurement Support Organisation of the Year.

Instinct Wave has successfully organized the Ghana Information Technology &Telecom Awards (GITTA), Ghana Construction Awards, West African Telecom Summit & Expo, Ghana CFO Awards, MarketingWorld Awards in Nigeria and Nigeria CFO Awards.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri


Director of Academic Affairs at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College says it will be imprudent for Ghana, on its own, to take any action against President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh.

Dr Vladmir Antwi Danso said any move President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo makes should be based on the decision taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Speaking on Joy FMs Super Morning Show, which was discussing the situation in The Gambia and how regional leaders should deal with it, the security expert said the only thing Ghana can do at this moment is to evacuate its citizens from the country.

If the situation gets worse, we should find a way of evacuating our nationals. That is the only thing we can do. But to take the law into our own hands and want to intervene, unless we are doing it in the name of ECOWAS it is not allowed.

Former President Mahama, Nigeria's Bushari and Chairman of ECOWAS, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in talks with Jammeh

Regional leaders including former president John Dramani Mahama have tried unsuccessfully to get president of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh to hand over power to his opponent Adama Barrow who won polls conducted in the country last December.

In the polls, Mr Barrow won 43.3% of the votes compared with Mr Jammeh's 39.6%. A third candidate, Mama Kandeh, got 17.1%.

Although Mr Jammeh conceded defeat initially, he later refused to hand over power, citing inconsistencies in the results declared by the country's electoral commission.

He has filed an application in court for an annulment the results, requesting a re-run. The situation has brought about a lot of uncertainty in the country.

Many, according to a BBC report, have fled the country whilst as many as five ministers have resigned.

On Tuesday, Mr Jammeh declared a state of emergency. In his televised announcement, he decried "extraordinary" foreign interference in his country's affairs and in the December election.

He added that "any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement of violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace" are banned under the state of emergency.

This ferry, as reported by the BBC takes people across the RIver Gambia towards Senegal's capital, Dakar

Dr Antwi Danso said the situation in The Gambia must be handled with tact and Ghana needs to follow existing protocols at the ECOWAS.

He said if any force is applied, Ghanaians as well as the citizens of the Gambia and other nationals in the country will suffer.

Deputy Commandant at Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre, Brigadier Gen.Dr Emmanuel Kotia, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be thinking of getting in touch with all Ghanaians in the country.

Know where they live so that if theres a need for evacuation, they can be assisted, he added.

He said with the declaration of the state of emergency, information flow from within the country will be difficult and that is disturbing.

However, if the heads of state of ECOWAS are determined, nothing can stop them, he said.

Brig. Gen Kotia cautioned that with the state of emergency and the seeming conflict, t he ECOWAS heads of state must use conflict prevention mechanisms to be able to resolve the issue.

Deterrence is good, but we should aim first at conflict prevention because if there is any intervention, there will be innocent loss of lives.

It is important for us to know that if we exhaust all the conflict prevention mechanisms, then force can be used, but I think that there is still room for conflict prevention mechanisms to be used.

Many more people are fleeing Gambia

He added that ECOWAS could initiate most of its protocols using the counsel of the wise and other negotiating methods to be able to negotiate for peaceful resolution otherwise, civilians and unarmed persons in that country will suffer more.

Meanwhile, a journalist who also spoke on the Show said citizens and other nationals have deserted the country over fear of political unrest.

Kebab Jeffang said the streets are empty, shops have closed, and all the main markets are empty. Business has stalled.

People are leaving, right where I live, an entire compound of about 20 people have fled. If you go to the ferry site, a lot of people are leaving, some are going to Senegal while others are moving towards provincial areas, he said.

He indicated that The Gambian Bar Association, has distanced itself from the stance the president has taken and has asked lawyers who are members of the Association not to take up the case.

They have also advised lawyers who are not members of the Association to avoid dealing with any case brought by Mr Jammeh.

Jeffang said, although Mr Jammeh still has some support from the indigenes, most people are against him.

Most people are telling him that even though we love you, leave the country in peace. If that is the only way to keep the country safe, he should leave.

This is the stance of many people and yet, Yahya Jammeh is not heading to call. The support he has from the Gambian community is less.

Accoding to Jeefeng, Mr Jammehs own lawyer has fled the country.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | [email protected]
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has justified the inaugural speech read by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, which had some paragraphs copied from speeches of former presidents of the United States of America.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, the Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen, argued that President Akufo-Addo cannot be held for academic fraud because the original source of the quote is unknown.

The NDC and their apologists refer to portions of Nana Akufo-Addo's inaugural speech and described his conduct as 'intellectual dishonesty and academic fraud.' The question to ask is who is the original source of the words used by President Akufo-Addo? Certainly not [former] president Bush. Those words were used by President Wildrow Wilson. Since that high profile submission by President Wildrow Wilson, 13 US presidents have used those same words in their inaugural addresses so who has used whose words?

Obiri Boahen

The truth is that, the biographer of President Wildrow Wilson acknowledged that those words were not original from President Wilson. The original person who rendered that powerful sermon remains unknown. The importance of those words found expression in the speeches of 14 American presidents, the last being President George Bush. None of them made attributions because the original source remains unknown. That explains why President Bush was not accused of plagiarism, he added.

Following the swearing-in of the President and his Vice on Saturday, January 7, 2017, social media was awash with some quotes in Nana Addo's speech, believed to have been lifted from speeches by two former American Presidents.

One of the quotes was: I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens building your communities and our nation. Let us work until the work is done.

Obiri Boahen addressed the press conference in response to a similar one held by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) last week, accusing the President of indulging in academic fraud.

He said, Mr. Kofi Portuphy [National Chairman of the NDC] and his colleagues understand that there was no bad faith, no shame, and no disgrace, no improper conduct of intellectual dishonesty and no academic fraud on Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Obiri Boahen further urged the NDC to accord the President the maximum respect.

The NDC indeed wants the nation to show respect to former President Mahama and so they must also show respect to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he added.

Obiri Boahens defense comes on the back of an apology issued by Eugene Arhin , Director of Communication at the presidency a day after the president was accused of plagiarizing those quotes.

Mr. Arhin said the act was an oversight and not a deliberate act. According to him, the President in his speech acknowledged every source of a quote he used, and thus could not have been deliberate.



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
As it is now, The Gambia is under emergency rule as declared by its president of 22 years, Yahya Jammeh. The emergency rule has become necessary in the estimation of Jammeh, following his decision to challenge the outcome of the countrys December 1, 2016 election in which Adama Barrow was declared winner.

The impasse has been largely fuelled by the haste with which the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has not only intervened but also interfered in what should, at this stage, be a purely internal matter of a sovereign nation.

Jammehs decision to challenge the outcome of the election result is very well within his constitutional rights. By this, the man who is said to have ruled his country with an iron fist, is still within his constitutional rights to test the validity of the election result in the law court.

Obviously, it is this right that the ECOWAS nations and indeed a good part of the world has misinterpreted to mean that Jammeh has refused to step down, and this is part of what has heightened the impasse.

Just like in Nigeria, the declaration of results by the electoral body does not mark the end of an electoral process in The Gambia. The political actors are still constitutionally permitted to challenge such results in the law court. Such electoral matters can only be said to have been fully dispensed with after the highest court constitutionally empowered to deal with such matters have done so.

ECOWAS will be making a grave mistake if they send in troops to The Gambia at this stage. What the regional body should be concerned with now is to send in fearless and impartial judges to that country from Nigeria as requested to dispense with the matter speedily and judiciously. It is only after the countrys highest courts have affirmed Barrow as winner and Jammeh refuse to step down and handover to Barrow that a military action would be justified.

Another mistake ECOWAS made was their choice of delegation as led by President Muhammadu Buhari to The Gambia as emissaries of peace and democracy to persuade Jammeh to hand over power peacefully and as scheduled.

Although Jammeh had earlier accepted defeat and promised to leave the stage on the set date of January 19, 2017, he immediately did an about-turn the moment Barrow made the hasty and politically disingenuous statement of probing Jammehs administration.

Jammeh, who from his earlier posture, wanted to play the Goodluck Jonathan card of handing over power to the opposition after an election must have quickly remembered the Nigerian situation where persecution, injustice, oppression, deprivation and gross abuse of the rights of officials of the immediate past administration in particular and the citizens in general have been the order of the day, and recanted his earlier stance immediately.

The appointment of Buhari as leader of ECOWAS delegation to The Gambia is a monumental error. How can a man with no democratic credentials lead a mission of democracy? How can a man who hardly obeys court orders as in the case of Sheikh El Zakzaky, Nnamdi Kanu et al be the one appointed to mediate in a constitutional process? Not even the orders of the same ECOWAS court on Sambo Dasuki has been obeyed by Buhari months after they were given, yet, it is the same man ECOWAS gave the enviable responsibility to convince Jammeh about the need to leave the stage a democrat!

Buhari should not have been on that delegation not to talk of leading it.

With the continued denial of campaign promises and policy somersaults, no leader would take Buharis word for whatever it is worth. With the rascally behavior of some of our security agencies under Buharis watch leading to many innocent citizens being killed just for exercising their rights to assemble and protest, among others, in Jammehs mind, Buharis discussion with him might just seem like a dictator talking to a dictator about the need for a peaceful transition.

In fact, during those dialogues with Buhari, Jammeh might just be saying in his mind, with your antecedents and current style of leadership, how am I sure that you would hand over power to your opponent if you were defeated in 2019?

No doubt, Buhari is not the ideal example of a democratic leader. Such a leader like him needs the intervention of proven democrats to guide him on the inalienable ingredients of democracy.

So for The Gambia to pass through this phase peacefully and speedily, ECOWAS should facilitate the immediate transfer of judges from Nigeria to that country as requested and allow all parties exhaust all their constitutional rights and provisions made available to them.

While that is going on, democrats with proven track record of not being power-drunk and who also have themselves handed power over to members of the opposition including well respected figures like Nigerias Goodluck Jonathan, Ghanas John Mahama, Kofi Annan, Emeka Anyaoku etc should have been in the delegation to the exclusion of the likes of our own Buhari.

It is only after the courts might have ruled against him and such entreaties have failed that a military action becomes desirable.

For now, let the delegation be reshuffled and let The Gambia run the full course of its own constitutional provisions. That way we do not attempt to right a wrong with another wrong.

[email protected] ; Twitter: @stjudendukwe
A 19-year-old final year student of the Dalun Roman Catholic Junior High School in the Northern region has become bedridden and unable to continue his education after he was shot by a policeman.

Abdul Ganiu said he returning from remedial classes on his bike in December last year when a bullet fired by the police who were in the community to effect the arrest of the assemblyman hit him.

His father, Abdul Rahman, is appealing to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to institute an inquiry into the shooting as efforts to get the police to investigate the matter has proven futile.

Speaking to Joy News' Martina Bugri, his father said his son has been in severe pain for the past four weeks.

He said the family hard hit by the incident has been seeking relief for Ganiu by moving him from once place to another since he was shot.

"We had to move him out of the Tamale West Hospital because we could not afford the bills," he said.

According to Mr Rahman, they sent Ganiu to the police before moving him to the Tamale West Hospital, "but after a while, we had to send him to the village because of the bill."

He added that all he is seeking is support for his bedridden son who is unable to go back to school.

Mr Rahman is also demanding a strong sanction against the culprits.

"What I want is an investigation into the matter to take away the pain we are suffering now," he added.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim |[email protected]
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), has questioned the morality of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in condemning post-election violence and takeover of state entities, some of which reportedly led to assault on NDC members.

The NDC in an earlier press conference accused President Akufo-Addo and the NPP leadership of allowing their supporters to unleash mayhem on its members and innocent Ghanaians, following their electoral victory.

But at a press conference organized by the NPP today, ]Wednesday], the Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen, chronicled similar incidents perpetrated by the NDC when they also came to office in 2009.

It is most shocking to have Mr. Kofi Portuphy lead the charge against the NPP about seizures. The NDC National Chairman was one of the principal persons who masterminded or conducted to use foot soldiers who descended on state institutions and facilities. In 2009, Mr. Portuphy led the NDC to physically take over NADMO and impose himself on NADMO until the late President Mills formally requested him to take over. Indeed, Mr. Portuphy was the one who signed the dismissal letter of Mr. Asiedu Akrofi. That is the nature and character of the person who now is charging the heat from his nostrils on the shoulder of Ghanaians and he wants the rest of us to keep mute over his own lack of morality.

We'll respond in equal measure to NDC

Nana Obiri Boahen further said the NPP will respond in equal measure if the NDC tries any act of violence.

He also urged the NDC to accord the president the Maximum respect.

As for Kofi Portuphy, Asiedu Nketia and Koku Anyidoho and their gang, we shall caution that from now on, if they throw mud on the president in whom we unprecedentedly, overwhelmingly, majority Ghanaians reposed their confidence in, we will pay them back in equal measure. Enough is enough; the rains must fall on their ravings and rantingThe NDC indeed wants the nation to show respect to former President Mahama and so they, must also show respect to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he added.



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
The Chief Executive Officer of Consumer Protection Agency Kofi Kapito is advocating a shift in paradigm in relation to appointing a minister to man the countrys Defence Ministry. According to him, system where civilians are appointed to head the countrys defence ministry should be reconsidered as the practice which he considers as putting square pegs in around hole should be stopped. Pointing out that appointing people who are not experts to head ministries is contributing largely to the underdevelopment of the country, since party people being appointed to those sectors contributed nothing or little to the sector. Kofi Kapito is therefore appealing to governments (present and future) to consider appointing at least a former military officer to head the Defence Ministry.

Let me explain something to you, Ghana here we are lucky, elsewhere in the developed countries, civilian will not be appointed to head a security agency, how much more a whole defence ministry. It is unheard of; it does not work like that. Those that we say we are following (USA & Europe) in terms of democracy are not appointing civilians to the positions of security chief but Ghana the situation is different Kofi Kapito asserted.

Consumer Protection Agency boss contended that the position of Defence Minister, whose duty vastly will be dealing with Military, should be reserved for a retired military officer or a senior most serving officer who is in the best position to understand the dealings and operations of the countrys defence mechanisms. The fact that you hold position in parliament as Chairman or Ranking Member of the Defence Committee, is not an automatic guarantee that if your party form government you should be made the defence minister that is retrogressive he said

Kofi Kapito maintained that his call is not against the nomination of MP for Bimbila Dominic Nitiwul has justified himself creditably as former deputy minority leader who also serve on various committees in parliament, as Defence Minister designate I feel that it is time we give that position to people who were once in that field, Ex-Military officers just as it is done elsewhere. Let us put experts into our ministries that is all I am saying. I am not against appointment of my brother Dominc Nitiwul

Ministry of Defence is the governmental department responsible for defending the Republic of Ghana from internal and external military threats and promotion of Ghanaian national defence interests. The Ministry of Defense political head is the Defence Minister of Ghana, which has its Headquarters located in Accra.
18.01.2017 LISTEN

In Southern Kaduna today, many are desperately searching for answers right now. Southern Kaduna indegenes have seen their loved ones slaughtered, raped and brutalized. Some have watched their homes, businesses, villages, and religious places set ablaze and destroyed. Husbands have helplessly watched their wives raped and humiliated. Ordinary people have been killed and burned publicly. For years, Southern Kaduna has been experiencing economic, political and structural siege. Thousands of people are traumatized, resulting in a range of different cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioural effects which impact communities negatively. Hearts are hurting and the suffering is deep!

From the aforementioned, I join myriads of good people of Southern Kaduna to welcome the decision to launch an independent investigation with a mandate to cover allegations of human rights violations since the unabated genocide in Southern Kaduna; I have confidence that the UN panel would indeed be independent, transparent, thorough and effective, with a view to establishing the veracity of the facts before it with a view to bringing to justice the perpetrators of the genocide in Southern Kaduna.

I am confident that the indegenes of Southern Kaduna are ready to assist in ensuring that the investigation is undertaken in line with international human rights standards. I also reiterate our request for access to the affected areas, as the situation on the ground makes it very challenging to access because of the 'lies' put forward by kingpins of the heinous attacks in the region.

More so, given the tense situation in southern Kaduna where a large security presence has reportedly been deployed only on the main streets and NOT in the bushes and hills/mountains where the brutal killers commit their crimes and withdraw to; in the midst of all these, there are still reports of ongoing arbitrary arrests, intimidation and harassment of people, a majority of whom are the victims, this call becomes vital for the survival of the Southern Kaduna nation.

I call on the UN to use its arsenals to ensure that the peoples rights to freedom of peaceful expression are fully protected and guaranteed, and that those detained for exercising these rights are promptly released. Until these are observed, we are afraid the UN intervention might end in the usual "Nigerian way".

The people of Southern Kaduna have confidence in the UN human rights personnel who are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, an independent, fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that addresses either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis independent from any government or organization.

It therefore behoves on the honourable panel to find suitable ways and means of ensuring an independent and impartial investigation without the use of government institutions in whom the people have lost confidence. This will send a strong signal that everyone has the right to live, and those who take away life will NOT go unpunished.

UNDERSTANDING THE TIME FROM A THEOLOGICAL STANDPOINT

As a theologian, I have been trying to understand the theological significance of this moment in our history. It is serious, very serious. For very many Christians in Southern Kaduna, this is the KAIROS, the moment of grace and opportunity, the favorable time in which God issues a challenge to decisive action. It is a dangerous time because, if this opportunity is missed, and allowed to pass by, the loss for the Church, for the Gospel and for all the people of Southern Kaduna will be immeasurable.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem. He wept over the tragedy of the destruction of the city and the massacre of the people that was imminent, "and all because you did not recognize your opportunity (KAIROS) when God offered it" (Luke 19: 44).

A PROPHETIC THEOLOGY

Our present KAIROS calls for a response from Christians that is biblical, spiritual, pastoral and, above all, prophetic. We need a bold and incisive response that is prophetic because it speaks to the particular circumstances of this crisis, a response that does not give the impression of sitting on the fence with a pacifist/defeatist mood but should be clearly and unambiguously taking a stand.

HOPE FOR MY PEOPLE

At the very heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ and at the very center of all true prophecy is a message of hope. Nothing could be more relevant and more necessary at this moment of trial in Southern Kaduna than the Christian message of hope. Jesus has taught us to speak of this hope as the coming of God's kingdom. We believe that God is at work in our world turning hopeless and evil situations to good so that his "Kingdom may come" and his "Will may be done on earth as it is in heaven." We believe that goodness and justice and love will triumph in the end and that tyranny and oppression cannot last forever.

One day "all tears will be wiped away" (Rev 7:17; 21:4) and "the lamb will lay down with the lion" (Isa 11:6). True peace and true reconciliation are not only desirable, they are assured and guaranteed. This is our faith and our hope.

Finally, I call upon our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world to give us the necessary support in this regard so that the daily loss of so many lives may be brought to a speedy end.

United we stand, divided we fall! Long live Southern Kaduna!

Rev Fr Paul Danbaki Jatau is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan. He can be reached via mail at [email protected]
By Ashish Pandey:

A 42-year-old American citizen was arrested in Hyderabad for uploading thousands of pornography and child pornography video on various social media websites. The US citizen identified as James Kirk Jones was residing in Madhapur area of the city. He was nabbed by the cyber crime wing of Telangana CID after he was found downloading and uploading child pornography. advertisement James Kirk works in the legal department of a reputed multi-national company at Madhapur.

James' activity was detected by the Interpol and then the CBI was informed about it. After tracing him back in Hyderabad, the state CID was alerted about an Internet Protocol (IP) address from which child porno was being shared. The CID after registering a case under Section 67A&B of Information Technology Act, 2000, started the investigation and after tracking down the IP address at Madhapur the premises of the accused foreigner were searched and a large number of child pornographic material was found from his possession.

29,288 VIDEOS, 490 GIGATRIBE, 24 TWITTER ACCOUNTS

Kirk Jones confessed that from his childhood in the US, he developed the tendency to watch child pornography and has been downloading, watching and sharing such material ever since. In India, he is working for an MNC law firm and is staying alone. During the search, CID sleuth recovered a laptop having 490 GigaTribe of data. Upon further investigation, 29,288 items containing child pornographic videos and images. profiles and 24 twitter handlers sharing child pornography were found. The investigators also recovered an external hard drive and an iPhone full of adult pornography.

Arrested accused James Kirk Jones has been remanded to judicial custody while the CID is carrying out further investigation about his activities in India and a special investigation has also been initiated to identify the Twitter handlers and profiles to check the Indian connection.

WATCH

--- ENDS ---
Maiduguri (Nigeria) (AFP) - The death toll from a botched air strike on Boko Haram fighters in northeast Nigeria rose to 70 on Wednesday, as aid agencies indicated more could die without urgent treatment.

Nigeria called Tuesday's incident at a camp for displaced people in Rann a mistake and blamed the "fog of war", sparking strong condemnation from aid agencies working in the crisis-hit region.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which lost six members of its Nigerian affiliate, said: "It is estimated that 70 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded."

ICRC surgeon Laurent Singa, part of a team dispatched to Rann shortly after the bombing, described the conditions for post-operative care as "not adequate".

"All the patients must be evacuated to (the Borno state capital) Maiduguri as soon as possible," he added in a statement.

Nine patients were said to be in a critical condition and were evacuated to Maiduguri on Tuesday. Forty-six of the 90 that remain were said to be "severely injured".

Nigeria bombing

They needed to be transferred "as a matter of urgency", the ICRC said, adding: "Patients are attended to in an open-air space in a precarious environment."

Public hospitals and doctors in the city have been put on standby to receive the wounded but there were already reports that some casualty departments were overwhelmed.

'Catastrophic event'

Aid agencies assisting the hundreds of thousands of people in northeast Nigeria in dire need of food, shelter, clean water and healthcare expressed shock and dismay at the bombing.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, called it "a truly catastrophic event", calling for a full investigation to take place to prevent any repeat.

Jean-Clement Cabrol, the director of operations for the medical charity MSF, which earlier gave a death toll of 52 and 120 injured, called the attack "shocking and unacceptable".

The secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, said: "Displacement camps are supposed to be safe havens for people fleeing war and conflict.

People stand next to destruction after an air force jet accidentally bombarded a camp for displaced people in northeast Nigeria on January 17, 2017

"It cannot become the new normal that 'accidental' attacks on camps sheltering the innocent are allowed to happen again and again in conflict zones."

Human Rights Watch's senior Nigeria researcher Mausi Segun said the government in Abuja should provide "prompt, adequate and effective compensation" to victims and their families.

"Even if there is no evidence of a wilful attack on the camp, which would be a war crime, the camp was bombed indiscriminately, violating international humanitarian law," she added.

"Victims should not be denied redress merely because the government decided the bombing was accidental."

Accidental bombings have occurred before in the conflict and senior military commanders called the latest "a mistake" yet maintained humanitarian workers were not targeted directly.

Major General Lucky Irabor, who heads the counter-insurgency operation, said the air force jet had been told to target insurgents in the flashpoint Kala-Balge area but hit Rann instead.

The aid workers were distributing food at the military-run camp housing tens of thousands of people.

Questions asked

Local and international aid agencies have until recently been unable to get to Rann because of bad roads and insecurity in the remote region near the border with Cameroon around Lake Chad.

The military announced last month it has ousted Boko Haram from its camps in Sambisa Forest, in southern Borno, sending fighters north.

Nigeria's military has announced an investigation into what happened. The Daily Trust newspaper reported that clearly marked ICRC tents were bombed, without quoting sources.

It said none of its staff was injured or killed but disclosed that three employees of a Cameroonian firm it hired to provide water and sanitation services lost their lives.

Millions have been displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency and the Nigerian military offensive to drive the jihadists from Borno state

One aid worker told AFP colleagues were "stunned" at what happened and suggested civilians were likely to have been caught up in previous bombing raids in the remote region.

"I'm sure it (the bombing in Rann) is an accident but why would they (the Nigerian military) bomb a place that they're guarding?" the aid worker said on condition of anonymity.

Ties have been strained between humanitarian agencies and the Nigerian authorities, who have accused some aid organisations of exaggerating the food crisis triggered by the insurgency.

In December, Save the Children said 4.7 million people in the northeast needed food assistance and some 400,000 children were at imminent risk of starvation.

The presidency called some of the claims "hyperbolic" while the Borno state governor recently accused some aid agencies of profiting from the crisis.
By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA

Hohoe, Jan. 18, GNA - 2H City Connect, a social group, aimed at undertaking community developmental projects in Hohoe has donated items to the Children's Ward of the Hohoe Municipal Hospital.

The group made up of Natives and Friends of Hohoe, now living outside the Region in partnership with other interested stakeholders seeks to improve the living conditions of the people, especially those most disadvantaged in the communities.

The items donated include toilet rolls, pampers, detergents, drinks and buckets.

Mr Agbemor-Flint Honour, an executive of the group, told the Ghana News Agency that the items would support patients take care of their children on admission.

He said the presentation forms part of the group's annual donations to the community to support the development of the Volta Region, especially Hohoe.

'Our interest is to give back to the community we come from in any little way,' he said.

He said the areas of focus for the group were health and sanitation, education, infrastructural support, empowerment and skill training, food and nutrition and peace building.

Mr Sylvanus Hadzitsey, Nurse-in-Charge, receiving the items on behalf management of the hospital expressed his profound gratitude to the team and promised to make good use of the items.

The team took the opportunity to visit some of the children on admission.

GNA
By A.B. Kafui Kanyi, GNA

Hodzo (VR), Jan. 18, GNA - Ghana's first ethanol plant at Hodzo, in the Ho Municipality has produced 150,000 litres of ethanol from cassava between June and December, 2016.

Kasapreko Company Limited (KCL), a large importer of ethanol, with 40 per cent shares in Caltech Ventures, operators of the plant, lifted the product.

Mr Chris Quarshie, Managing Director, Caltech Ventures, told the Ghana News Agency that the feat followed 10 years of producing high quality cassava flour for the local market.

He said after successfully going through the learning curve, the Company was getting stabilized to triple its production in two years.

Mr Quarshie said carbon dioxide and biogas production plants would be installed within the year for full scale production in 2019.

He called for government support to turn Ho, Adaklu and Abutia, cassava growing areas into a processing hub and increase the production of ethanol to reduce the country's import.

Mr Quarshie also appealed to government to fast track work on the Ho-Hodzo road to open up the area.

Ghana is said to import about 70 million litres of ethanol yearly.

GNA
By Iddi Yire, GNA

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has called for the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance value chain in agriculture production in Ghana.

Ms Pearl Coleman Ackah, the Private Sector Advisor/Outreach Director, USAID Ghana, said the goal of the Agency's Agricultural Value Chain Enhancement Programme in Ghana was to increase maize, rice and soybean competitiveness through increased productivity and access to market and trade.

She said Advance One of the programme targets 36,000 smallholder farmers, while Advance Two targets 113,000 smallholder farmers.

Ms Ackah in her presentation at the ongoing 68th Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana said digital opportunities across agriculture value chain helped farmers tighten relationship with buyers and processors; and to adapt to climate change.

She noted that ICT enabled extension officers to reach more farmers, provide timely reminders/alerts, and empowers them to use behaviour change media to convince farmers to change.

Speaking on the topic: "Strengthening the Agricultural Value Chain through ICTs," Ms Ackah said farmers needed information on market prices to negotiate better.

Ms Ackah said farmers could get better prices by consolidating sales.

She said the main activities with farmers and along the value chains include training and mentorship, demonstration farms, business relationship set up and reinforcements.

She said study showed that Esoko Ghana indicated that all farmers on the programme, which involved the use of mobile telephony to provide information, had eight to nine per cent price increase of their product sales.

Ms Ackah said constraints to the use of ICT in the Agricultural Value Chain programmes were literacy and cost of installation of communication equipment.

She said the Agency was considering to ensure the scalability of Voice Call Centre example Esoko.

The 68th Annual New Year School and Conference is on the theme "Promoting National Development through Agriculture Modernisation: The Role of ICT."

The aim of the School and Conference is to create the form for passionate discussions on how ICT could be integrated into agriculture, to modernise the sector for sustainable national development.

It is being organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education, University of Ghana, under the auspices of the MTN, Eximbank Ghana, and The Kosmos Innovation Centre.

GNA
By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA

Tarkwa (W/R), Jan. 18, GNA - A Tarkwa Circuit Court has fined a 34 year-old galamsey operator GHa420.00 for stealing.

The convict, Romeo Awuah, who pleaded guilty, would serve six months imprisonment in default.

Prosecuting, Detective Inspector Clement Amoah, told the Court, presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Bart-Plange Brew that the complainant, Esther Blay, a trader resides at Wassa Simpa with the convict.

He said on January 11, this year, at about 1900 hours, the complainant, left her fried yam and container containing 400 Ghana cedis in the care of one Somah, Awuah's girlfriend to attend to nature's call.

The prosecution said whilst there the complainant had information that the convict had stolen his money container and that when Esther returned she demanded the container from the convict, but he threatened to beat her mercilessly if she came close to him.

The complainant, therefore, made a report to the Dompim Police and on January 13 they had a tip-off that Awuah had been arrested by the Nsueam police.

Detective Inspector Amoah said based on the information, a police officer from Dompim proceeded to the Nsueam police with the complainant and she identified the convict as the one who had stolen her money.

He said after investigation the convict was charged with the offence.

GNA
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Senegal on Wednesday presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council seeking support for ECOWAS efforts to press Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh to step down, diplomats said.

But the text does not explicitly seek council authorization to deploy troops to The Gambia to force Jammeh to cede power to president-elect Adama Barrow, diplomats said.

The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has repeatedly called on Jammeh to respect the result of the December 1 election and step down after 22 years in power.

Jammeh on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, maintained his inauguration will go ahead as planned on Thursday on Gambian soil.

At Senegal's request, the Security Council will discuss the crisis in the West African country on Wednesday, diplomats said.

The African Union has said it will no longer recognize Jammeh as head of state as of January 19.

UN envoy for West Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas last week told the council that ECOWAS was prepared to ask the council to approve the deployment of troops to the Gambia.

The council last month demanded in a unanimous statement that Jammeh recognize the outcome of the election and transfer power to Barrow.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed criticisms that the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo committed plagiarism in his inaugural speech.

NPP Deputy General Secretary, Nana Obiri Boahen, says what the President did could not qualify for plagiarism.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra Wednesday, he justified the gaffe saying such acts are allowed since the original source of the quote is unknown.

The question to ask is who is the original source of the words used by President Akufo-Addo? Certainly not [former] president Bush. Those words were used by President Wildrow Wilson.

Since that high profile submission by President Wildrow Wilson, 13 US presidents have used those same words in their inaugural addresses so who has used whose words? he quizzed.

President Akufo-Addo in his inaugural address to at least over 6,000 people who had gathered to witness his investiture on January 7, newly sworn quoted part of Thomas Woodrow Wilson's speech without acknowledging him.

His speech was repleted with quotes from other sources which were duly acknowledged such as his uncle Dr. J.B Danquah, Dr. K.A. Busia, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the Bible.

Acting Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, had apologized for the non-acknowledgement of quotes saying "it was a complete oversight, and never deliberate."

This was after the issue went viral on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter hours after the event which was described by both local and foreign nationals as colourful.

But Nana Boahene said the biographer of former US President Wildrow Wilson had acknowledged those words were not original to the former US leader.

"The original person who rendered that powerful sermon remains unknown. The importance of those words found expression in the speeches of 14 American presidents, the last being President George Bush.

"None of them made attributions because the original source remains unknown. That explains why President Bush was not accused of plagiarism, he added.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim


Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Wednesday, 18 January paid a surprise visit to the Registrar General's Department in Accra to learn their difficulties.

Dr Bawumia, during the visit, learned first-hand from some visitors, some of the difficulties they encounter while trying to get their businesses registered.

The Vice President told the acting Registrar General, Mrs Jemima Oware that the new government intends making Ghana the most business-friendly country in Africa, a title currently held by Rwanda.

It was a fulfilled visit and there will be follow-up discussions, Dr Bawumia told the media after his interactions.

Dr Bawumia said he will repeat such visits at other state institutions.

-classfmonline
18.01.2017 LISTEN

The announcement of a new Ministry for Sanitation and Water Resources by the new government has come as pleasant surprise package for the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector of Ghana.

At IRC, we welcome the announcement and fully support the move, considered by many sector stakeholders as 'long overdue and a dream come true', following the long running initiatives and advocacy by sector stakeholders for the repositioning and prioritisation of the sector.

We hope that this will be an opportunity to give water and sanitation services the attention it deserves.

"It is indeed an exciting moment in Ghana for those of us in the WASH sector; the new government has started on a good note with the creation of a new Ministry for Sanitation and Water Resources.

Sanitation and water are at the very core of sustainable development, the creation of the Ministry therefore will go a long way towards achieving much of the developmental targets of the country if given the needed attention and financial prioritization it deserves stated the IRC Ghana Country Director, Vida Duti.

Presenting the second batch of 12-ministerial appointees on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 the newly sworn-in President of the Republic of Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the new Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources among others. He also named Hon. Joseph Kofi Adda, a member of parliament for Navrongo as the minister designate.

According to the president, the decision to respectively split water and sanitation from the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development stemmed from the neglect of the sub-sectors.

Past effort of sector stakeholders through different forms of advocacy has led to some notable changes and achievements including major reforms to address institutional weaknesses. Some of these include changing the name from the then Works and Housing Ministry to the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing (MWRWH); the establishment of the Water Directorate (WD) within the MWRWH; the establishment of

Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the introduction of private sector involvement in the management of urban water service delivery; the establishment of Community Water and Sanitation Agency, the Water Resources Commission, and more recently the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate (EHSD) within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) among others.

The development of strategic investment documents contributed to increased donor involvement and improvement in coverage particularly for water services. The WD-MWRWH and EHSD-MLGRD have driven the formulation of sector policies and strategies for water and environmental sanitation.

These notwithstanding, considerable challenges still remain, especially in the sanitation subsector. In 2015, Ghana reported 89% of its total population and 84% of its rural population with access to improved drinking water sources with basic sanitation lagging behind at 15 % (WHO/UNICEF JMP).

The progress in water services is threatened by the huge challenge of non- functionality of over 30% of the existing rural water and small-towns facilities as reported in a study conducted by IRC and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency in 131 out of the 216 districts (IRC/CWSA 2015).

Whilst the enabling policy environment in the sector has been largely created, sector coordination and financial prioritization remain a challenge. Budgets and resources to convert policy into tangible impact on the ground are insufficient, as is a reliable mechanism for tracking delivery and use of services and reporting on progress.

The reclassification of the Ghanaian economy to Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC) status presents complexities by way of reorganization of institutional responsibilities, system changes and has huge implications for aid flows. The fact that Ghana has attained LMIC status has adverse implications for its access to concessional finance and grants, although it does open up private sector and other non-traditional financing alternative to international development assistance.

To date, revenues have not been enough to support the anticipated investments in key national priority sectors including water and sanitation (OECD, 2014). Such constraints in financing without a clear alternative finance mechanism to bridge the gap in donor funding could result in decline of the gains made in the last years and threatens the ability to meet the national targets for Water and Sanitation.

Equally, recent developments at the global level put enormous responsibility on government for attainment of high quality standards in water and sanitation service provision. The 2030 Sustainable Development Goal for water and sanitation (SDG 6) commits to availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Albert Einstein said Problems cannot be solved with the same mindset that created them. In the same way, while the structures that were established for managing the sector may have been relevant and appropriate to address the issues at that time, new expectations and challenges demand new solutions.

The establishment of the new Ministry will be an opportunity to bring about transformational changes in the sector - ensuring effective institutions and providing government leadership to advance progress in the sector.

We welcome Hon. Joseph Kofi Adda, the Minister designate and look forward to working closely with him and in collaboration with all sector stakeholders towards providing everyone living everywhere in Ghana with sustainable water and sanitation services every moment. We applaud the creation of the Ministry and urge government to give priority in funding, ensure effective institutions and provide dedicated leadership to enable effective delivery as hugely expected by the sector and Ghanaians.

About IRC

IRC is an international think-and-do tank that works with governments, NGOs, entrepreneurs and people around the world to find long-term solutions to the global crisis in water, sanitation and hygiene services. At the heart of its mission is the aim to move from short-term interventions to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services.

With over 45 years of experience, IRC runs projects in more than 25 countries and large-scale programmes in seven focus countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is supported by a team of over 100 staff across the world.

About IRC Ghana

IRC Ghana, based in Accra, is led by its Country Director, Vida Duti. Legally established in Ghana in 2011, IRC Ghana consists of a multi-disciplinary team of some fifteen professional staff, supported by technical specialists from IRC in The Netherlands.
Accra, January 17, 2017- A beneficiary of the Vodafone Foundations scholarship scheme for girls, Seline Delamo has hailed the telecom company for paying her tuition and other academic expenses following the death of her guardian.

Seline, a level 200 student of University of Education, Winneba (UEW), is among thirty students from the UEW to have benefited from the Foundations Scholarship initiative which supports females pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the SHS and University levels. The scheme offers full tuition payment, administration fees, texts books, exercise books and some stipend for the beneficiaries.

Recounting her experience, Seline said:

After secondary school, I was keen on continuing to the tertiary level. Financial challenges, however, meant that I had to go into farming to enable me gather funds to continue my education. After ten years of staying home, I finally gained admission into UEW. Barely a year into my programme, my uncle who was my financier, met his untimely death, leaving me with limited options.

According to Seline, Vodafones timely intervention has turned her life around.

I was excited when I received a call from Vodafone that my fees had been paid in full and that my subsequent fees will be catered for by the Foundation. I will forever remain indebted to them..

The Vodafone Foundation Scholarship scheme seeks to increase womens engagement in Science and Technology in Ghana. The project provides technical and financial support to young girls at the secondary school level. The scheme, which is in its third year, has so far supported 300 Senior High School students and 30 UEW female students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related subjects.
Tiwari's son Rohit Shekhar also joined the party in the presence of BJP chief Amit Shah. ND Tiwari served as the third chief minister of Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2007 and thrice as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh between 1976 and 1989.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: In a major boost to the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the crucial Uttarakhand assembly election, former CM and senior Congress leader Narayan Dutt Tiwari and his son Rohit Shekhar today joined the BJP.

Tiwari and his son joined the BJP in the presence of Amit Shah at the party chief's residence in Delhi.

ND Tiwari served as the third chief minister of Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2007 and thrice as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh between 1976 and 1989.

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The former Congress veteran was also the governor of Andhra Pradesh from August 2007 to December 2009 after which he had to resign amid severe embarrassment for the Congress after allegations of a sex scandal surfaced against him at the Raj Bhawan or Governor's house.

Delhi: Narayan Dutt Tiwari and his son Rohit Shekhar have joined BJP in the presence of party President Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/2kzIezFRs7 ANI (@ANI_news) January 18, 2017

The 91-year-old was earlier embroiled in a paternity row. Rohit Shekhar, acknowledged by the veteran politician as his son three years ago after a six-year legal battle to establish paternity. Surrounded by mediapersons soon after his induction, Rohit said "He had received the blessings of his father".

Also read | Uttarakhand Ratna for ND Tiwari

MOVE TO HELP BJP WOO BRAHMINS

Tiwari's induction into the BJP is seen as an attempt by the party to consolidate the Brahmin vote in Uttarakhand to boost its electoral prospects. The BJP is already facing a rebellion from its own workers in the hill state after naming about 15 new entrants candidates for the assembly election. Some among them are Congress legislators, who rebelled against current Chief Minister Harish Rawat last year, pushing him to seek a confidence vote.

Only recently, Yashpal Arya, his son Sanjeev and former MLA Kedar Singh Rawat left the Congress to join the BJP. In May 2016, former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and Harak Singh Rawat were among nine rebel Congress MLAs who had joined the BJP after revolting against Harish Rawat in Uttarakhand.

Senior Congress leader Narayan Dutt Tiwari, who was admitted to a private hospital in Haldwani after falling unconscious, was discharged on January 15.

In April 2014, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday declared Rohit Shekhar as the biological son of veteran Congress leader Narayan Dutt Tiwari.

(Also read | Paternity suit: Delhi High Court declares Shekhar ND Tiwari's son)

--- ENDS ---
The leading global nuclear company Rosatom through its key engineering division ASE Group of Companies and Autodesk, Inc. signed a partnership agreement on the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies at the sidelines of the International Trade Fair BAU 2017 in Munich, Germany.

The pilot joint technology project is to be tested at one of the facilities of a nuclear power plant. After that, a consistent solution, based on Autodesk and ASE EC competence and software, will be offered for replication by other production companies based in Russia and worldwide.

The joint use of the capital construction information modelling technology offered in Autodesk software and the Multi-D technology created by ASE will provide the opportunity to increase the effectiveness of engineering design, construction, and operation of industrial facilities.

Using the combination of BIM and Multi-D, which, is essentially an implementation of BIM principles on Level 3 and higher, engineering companies will be able to enhance their planning, designing and construction processes, promote environmentally acceptable construction, improve building and facility operation processes, cut down expenses while increasing safety.

We believe the cooperation between ASE and Autodesk in this area of competence to be very effective, Vyacheslav Alenkov, System Engineering & IT Director of JSC ASE Engineering Company, pointed out,

The agreement includes provisions on mutual information and methodological support, cooperation in the area of industry-specific standards, local regulations, and the implementation of common principles and worlds best practices. In the framework of the agreement, Autodesk also provides access to the API of its software products, the template for the BIM standard, training aids software, and its support for professional certification.

NIAEP will launch a pilot project in order to develop a common solution based on Autodesk software to allow BIM implementation and Autodesk software product range build-in into the Multi-D solution. One of the nuclear power plants structures will be selected as the pilot project testing facility.

This combination of innovative BIM systems can be successfully employed on the African continent, where emerging counties like Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria are looking forward to developing complex projects.

For instance the experience of Rosatom 3D modeling technologies can facilitate the development of Ghana LNG terminal construction which is aimed to be completed by 2020. Also modern design technologies may be used in redevelopment of oil and gas plants or other civil engineering objects like air and sea ports.

In Kenya modern technologies can facilitate the development of projects included in Strategy 2030 such as geothermal energy plants and redevelopment of roads and other strategic infrastructure. In case of Nigeria 3D modeling will help in successful developing of waste-to-energy projects and redevelopment of port terminals, as well future nuclear power plant construction. The BIM modeling will be beneficial for Tanzanian efforts to develop different projects in energy sector and civil engineering like railway and airports.

Today, BIM is being efficiently implemented all over the world. It has already become a standard not only for leading developer, engineering design and construction companies, but also for projects initiated by state institutions. The digital model of a construction facility provides the opportunity for detailed analysis and retrieving exact and informative data that can be loaded into the management systems at earlier stages of the life cycle. This reduces the cost of errors, project risks and increases predictability of financial and resource planning.
An IAEA team of experts has started an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission in Ghana. The aim of the visit is to evaluate the status of major infrastructure issues with regard to the Ghanaian desire to embark upon the way to develop nuclear power. In particular the experts will evaluate status of legal and regulatory frameworks, nuclear safety and security, radioactive waste management, human resource development, stakeholder involvement, the capacity of the electrical grid and several others.

Although there are no NPPs in Ghana, the country has competences in nuclear technology, and the country realizes the importance of development of peaceful nuclear program. Ghana is developing the National Nuclear Power Program and has conducted self-assessment of its nuclear infrastructure in accordance with the IAEA standards.

According to Ghanas Ministry of Energy about 76% of Ghana's population has access to the electricity. This is the second results in sub-Saharan Africa. However, according to the estimates of Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research of Ghana would lose from $ 320 million to $ 924 million a year because of the crisis in the energy system. It is also noted that due to the power distribution problems the country is losing between 2% and 6% of GDP.

The commitment to guarantee sustainable electricity supply made the Government of Ghana to consider inclusion of nuclear energy into its future energy mix. In 2012 Russian State Corporation ROSATOM and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Ghana signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy. The memorandum provides for a number of specific areas of the cooperation, including assistance in building up the infrastructure to support nuclear power development in the Republic of Ghana. The development of nuclear energy will help overcome energy shortage, as well as provide a necessary impetus for economic development in the country.

In 2016 ROSATOM and representatives of relevant agencies of the Republic of Ghana held the first meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) as part of implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the peaceful use of atomic energy as of June 2, 2015.

The high-level meeting agenda included all key issues related to the preparation for the implementation of Ghanaian own nuclear power program: infrastructure, staff training, financing, technical issues related to construction of facilities for the joint projects and regulation in the nuclear power industry. The second JCC meeting will take place in 2017.

About Rosatom:

ROSATOM is the Russian state atomic energy corporation bringing together over 262 000 people in 350 enterprises and scientific institutions including all Russian civil nuclear companies, research organizations and the worlds only nuclear-propelled icebreaker fleet. With 70 years' expertise in the nuclear field, ROSATOM remains its leader. ROSATOM is #1 in the world simultaneously implementing projects of NPPs construction.

About INIR Missions:

Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review missions enable IAEA Member State representatives to have in-depth discussions with international experts about experiences and best practices in developing nuclear power infrastructure. The results of the INIR mission are expected to help the Member State to develop an action plan to fill any gaps, which in turn will help complete the development of the national nuclear infrastructure.
The Registrar-Generals Department Wednesday received a surprise guest - Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

According to Aides, Dr Bawumias visit was to apprise himself with the processes of business registration in Ghana.

As part of his elections campaign, the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana repeatedly promised that a New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would build a business-friendly economy.

Wednesdays visit was in furtherance of that objective, the Aides say.

They say the Vice-President wanted undiluted information on whatever frustrations Ghanaians desiring to register business were faced with.

Consequently, he interacted with people who had thronged the offices of the Registrar Generals Department to process their registration papers.

They told Dr. Bawumia that it took months to have their registration papers processed and the needed clearance given to allow to transact business with their companies.

The biggest challenge, the applicants pointed out, is the network failures of the department.

They expressed the hope that the Vice-President would intervene and make the process less cumbersome.

Dr. Bawumia also interacted with the Registrar-General, Mrs Gifty Oware, who laid out a number of challenges that frustrate the speedy registration of companies.

She said the department has only nine lawyers who have been on strike since October last year.

These lawyers have to review all applications for registration of companies to be sure they conform with the law governing company registration in the country.

The Vice-President expressed the hope that his vision of making Ghana the most business-friendly country in Africa would be realized.

He encouraged the Registrar-General to draw lessons from Rwanda which is currently the most business-friendly place on the continent.

Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com
TEXT OF THE WEST AFRICAN CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM DELIVERED BY THE ACTING GENERAL SECREATRY OF WACSOF, MR. AUWAL IBRAHIM MUSA (RAFSANJANI) AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE GAMBIA, HELD AT THE REGIONAL SECRETARIAT IN ABUJA, ON 18TH JANUARY 2017.

On the 1st of December 2016, Gambians went to the polls to vote for a president for the fifth time since current leader Yahya Jammeh came to power in a 1994 coup. Over the past 22 years, President Jammeh and the Gambian security forces have used enforced disappearances, torture, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests as well as summary executions to suppress the people of the Gambia in order to preserve Jammehs grip on power. Ahead of the December 2016 election, the government repeated these tactics, with a crackdown on opposition parties that extinguished all hopes for a free and fair election.

The governments crackdown began with an arrest of over 90 opposition activists, including those arrested with the prominent UDP activist Solo Sandeng, for participating in largely peaceful protests. Courts convicted 39 opposition members and sentenced them to three-year terms, including UDP leader Ousainou Darboe and many of the UDP leadership. Jammeh has also repeatedly threatened opposition parties.

The abuses committed since April 2016, as well as Jammehs repeated threats, intimidation and killings of the opposition and supporters, as well as the Civil Society and journalists, and its domination of state media have reinforced a climate of fear among many opposition politicians and activists that severely limits their ability to criticize and hold Jammeh and his government to account.

International human rights law provides important protections that the Jammeh government has frequently violated, including the rights to security of person, to a fair trial, and to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Gambia has ratified, guarantees the right of every citizen to take part in the conduct of public affairs, the right to vote and to be elected and the right to have access to public service.

In 2001, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (ECOWAS Protocol), which includes specific provisions promoting democratic elections. The ECOWAS Protocol provides that political parties should have the right to carry out their activities freely, within the limits of the law and without hindrance or discrimination in any electoral process. The freedom of the opposition shall be guaranteed. The Protocol also requires that all parties can meet and organize peaceful demonstrations in advance of elections while the armed forces and police shall be non-partisan and shall remain loyal to the nation.

WACSOF has been at the forefront in promoting tenure limit in the region to ensure peaceful, transparent, democratic and participatory election in West Africa. Incidentally, Yahaya Jameh has consistently refused to comply with this as well as the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

The continuous gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the Gambians by dictator Jammeh necessitated WACSOF to intensify a peaceful campaign for election in the Gambia.

The election was conducted in the most peaceful and transparent process according to both local and international observers as well as by the Gambians themselves. After the overwhelming defeat of dictator Jammeh, he conceded defeat and congratulated the President-elect Adama Barrow. This act of Jammeh was hailed by many organizations including WACSOF, unfortunately the dictator as usual was only trying to deceive and mortgage the collective will of the people of Gambia and the electoral process as he withdrew his acceptance and annulled the results on December 2.

Efforts have been ongoing to persuade the brutal dictator to comply with his earlier concession of defeat and to respect the will of the Gambians. The effort of the ECOWAS under the leadership of its Chairperson Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia together with Pres. Muhammadu Buhari or Nigeria, Pres. John Mahama of Ghana, and Pres. Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone has not yielded results for a peaceful transfer of power.

WACSOF expresses concern over the intention of Yahya Jammeh to plunge the country into anarchy. WACSOF is therefore calling on the International Community, Private Sector, Development Partners, United Nations, African Union, European Union, and the ECOWAS to undertake effective and necessary measures to ensure that Pres. Yahya Jammeh hands over power on January 19 to the president-elect Adama Barrow:

We call on all governments to condemn the actions of Yahya Jammeh and transmit such statement to the Gambian embassy in their country.

We also call on the Gambians to embark on a peaceful civil disobedience against the President Jammehs regime until it relinquishes power.

We urge all CSOs and the Media all over the world to continue to solidarize with the people of the Gambia until their verdict as expressed in the December 1 presidential election is respected and the new president inaugurated.
Digital money transfer service WorldRemit and UK Charity Ghana Union today announce a partnership that will support the Ghanaian community in the UK throughout the entire year of 2017 via a wide variety of events and community activities, celebrating Ghanaian culture within the United Kingdom and abroad.

With hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians in the UK and millions in the diaspora, remittances play a significant role in Ghanas economy. According to the World Bank, Ghana received over $5bn in remittances in 2015, almost double the amount in 2014.

With the WorldRemit app or website, customers send more than 580,000 transfers every month to over 125 destinations. WorldRemit, known as the WhatsApp of money, makes sending a remittance as easy as sending an instant message.

Part of its Money In Safe Hands campaign, with this partnership WorldRemit will among others:

Participate as a lead sponsor at the Ghana @ 60 celebrations

Celebrate Ghana Union at the Ghana in the Park event

Support young Ghanaian women via the Miss Ghana UK Foundation

Founded in 1978, the Ghana Union is one of the oldest charities in the UK supporting the Ghanaian community. With over 100 affiliated organisations it has been working hard to ensure its members stay informed, connected and solidary.

Martin Best, Head of Brand Marketing at WorldRemit, comments: Ghanaians makeover 45,000 transactions every month, sending remittances to support their friends and family back home. Each one of these transactions has its own human story. Its a promise made, and a promise redeemed. We are here to make sure these promises are kept by offering a safer, fast and cheaper way to support loved ones abroad through bank deposits, cash pick up and Mobile Money.

Emmanuel Kwesi Quayson, Chairman at the Ghana Union UK, said: We are delighted to enter this partnership with WorldRemit as our official money transfer partner in what is a continuation of their support and engagement with the Ghanaian community. We rely on their expertise to give people the power to share money anytime, anywhere.

ABOUT WORLDREMIT

WorldRemit is changing the way people send money.

Its easy  just open the app or visit the website  no more agents.

Transfers to most countries are instant  send money like an instant message.

More ways to receive (Mobile Money, bank transfer, cash pickup, and mobile airtime top-up).

Available in over 50 countries and 125+ destinations.

Backed by Accel Partners and TCV  investors in Facebook, Spotify, Netflix and Slack.

WorldRemits global headquarters are in London, UK with regional offices in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

ABOUT GHANA UNION

Ghana Union is an independent charity registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales since 27th June 1980. It is endorsed by the Ghana High Commission, Government of Ghana and UK. It was formed by the Ghanaian Chaplaincy in 1978 to meet sociocultural, historical and Welfare needs of Ghanaians in the United Kingdom. It is a non-profit voluntary and friendly organisation established to bring Ghanaians from all walks of life together to foster a common bond and projecting the image and cultural identity of all Ghanaians in the Diaspora.

Ghana Union has a network of other established regional umbrella union bodies in Greater Manchester, Bradford, Liverpool, and Birmingham to coordinate resources towards meeting the larger needs of our community.
18.01.2017 LISTEN

Zongo settlements are communities with a unique cultural practice often bound together by Islam unlike other communities where ethnicity is key.

In the build up to the 2016 general elections, President Akufo-Addo, then a candidate promised to set up a Zongo Development Fund to bridge the gap in development.

On Thursday, he announced Alhaji Boniface Siddique as the Minister to undertake this task as well as see to the development of inner cities.

Joy News' Joseph Ackah-Blay has been spending some time in one these communities to find out what they make of this announcement as well as the possible impact it will have on development and the area.

Watch the video



Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
A security expert has entreated the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to desist from vilifying the police over the arrest of some party agents for allegedly inciting violence post-December 7 elections.

Dr Kwesi Aning said the police administration should be commended for applying the law evenly in the country.

Speaking to Evans Mensah, host of Joy FMs Top Story programme Wednesday, the Head of Research Department at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) said, NPP operatives must feel proud that under [their] administration the police have been bold.

The police have arrested 16 people in connection with post-election violence and seizures of state institutions in the country.

Youth suspected to be supporters of the governing party massed up at premises of state institutions to drive out workers. The incidents took place in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Central and Greater Accra Regions.

In the Brong Ahafo Region, NPP First Vice Chairman in Bechem, Alex Asare and five others were arrested for masterminding the seizure of public toilets in the region.

Mr Asare is said to have led one Justice Appiah to forcibly take over three toilet facilities at Derma near Bechem.

According to police, Mr Asares wife, Yaa Achia also attacked one Veronica Owusu, who was managing one of the toilet facilities. In the scuffle, Mrs Owusu is reported to have lost two of her teeth and some strands of her Rasta plaited hair.

The NPP has not been pleased with development resulting in a press briefing held to caution the police to be mindful of their actions.

NPP General Secretary, Nana Obiri Boahen told the media in Accra Wednesday that police could not jerk up to its functions when there is an issue involving suspected NPP supporters and sympathisers.

He called on the police to be even-handed in their dealing with crime in the country, adding some suspected National Democratic Congress (NDC) members alleged to have stoned the residence of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo should also face the law.

Although he bemoaned the behaviour of the police during erstwhile President John Mahamas government, Dr Aning said what they need is support.

We are hoping that this administration will have the more nuanced understanding of the operation of the police particularly security agencies so that party agents will not misbehave, he said.

He said it would be to the credit of the President if NPP appointees are told to desist from threatening statutory security agencies with dismissal.

It is contingent on the president and the vice president [Dr Mahamudu Bawumia] to send a signal to party agents that there are procedures and processes for redress, he said, adding statements made by Mr Boahene were most unfortunate.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | [email protected]
Yamoussoukro (Ivory Coast) (AFP) - Ivory Coast's government on Wednesday pleaded for calm as deadly protests by angry security forces and troops spread across the country, shutting down the main port of Abidjan.

In a bid to quell the rising unrest, which on Tuesday left four soldiers dead, the government pledged to improve the troops' livelihoods.

"Nothing can be done so long as there is chaos," Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko said after a cabinet meeting over the crisis.

He called the growing tension "alarming", adding that he feared a "contagion" as more troops joined the revolt.

A mutiny among troops over pay erupted on January 5, stoking security fears in the world's top cocoa producer.

Initial protests were quelled when mutineers reached a deal with the government -- but more soldiers have since Tuesday taken to the streets of the west African country demanding similar bonuses.

While the first wave of protests did not cause any fatalities, four soldiers were killed on Tuesday in the administrative capital Yamoussoukro, the government said.

With tension spreading, soldiers and members of the security forces fired shots in the air in Abidjan, the economic capital, and second city Bouake on Wednesday.

Abidjan port, one of Africa's biggest, was closed Wednesday when angry security forces began firing in the air, port staff said.

However the port's management swiftly issued a statement saying that security measures were being implemented to allow operations to resume.

In Bouake, prison guards also staged protests to show their anger, reported an AFP correspondent.

"We cannot accept that part of our army benefits from a bonus of 12 million CFA francs (18,000 euros, $19,000) while others do not. That's why we are shooting in the air," a Bouake prison guard said on condition of anonymity.

'Act of anger'

"Worrisome," screamed the headline of local newspaper Le Patriote. The subheading branded the soldiers' protests an "act of anger".

Several mutinous troops have told AFP that under a deal reached last week, 8,500 troops were promised 12 million CFA francs each. The government has refused to disclose any figures.

Five million CFA francs are due to be delivered by February 5, although it is unclear how the government intends to finance the payments.

According to a statement, the government sought to justify its concessions by saying it in fact owed the mutineers payments in delayed bonuses and salaries.

"The president (Alassane Ouattara) has instructed all the top commanders to begin meetings with all our security forces," the government statement said.

The authorities sought to assure the forces "of the will to improve their living conditions," the statement added.

'Trembling with fear'

But with no solution yet in sight, civilians in Ivory Coast feared a return of unrest.

"We are trembling with fear," said Rachel Kouame, 27, a seamstress in Yamoussoukro.

Kone, the manager of a phone booth, agreed: "There is a heavy mood with the military patrols."

This is not the first crisis involving Ivory Coast's military in recent years.

Bouake, which is home to 1.5 million people, was the cradle of a rebellion in 2002, in a failed attempt to oust then-president Laurent Gbagbo.

The revolt sliced the former French colony into a rebel-held north and government-controlled south, triggering years of unrest.

Ivory Coast has long been west Africa's star economic performer. But when Gbagbo refused to step down despite an election defeat in 2010, 3,000 people were killed in months of conflict.

Later, in 2012, rebels-turned-soldiers protested in Bouake and Abidjan, and briefly brought the country to a standstill.

The government then agreed to a deal that provided amnesty for the mutineers and a financial settlement.

Waves of unrest

With a 10-percent yearly economic growth rate, the west African country is now back on the rails.

The International Monetary Fund said last month that Ivory Coast was on track towards becoming the continent's fastest-growing economy.

The latest mutiny, however, has raised fears the country might slip back into deadly unrest.

In 2016, Ivory Coast approved an ambitious military planning budget seeking to modernise the army and aid in buying new equipment for 1.2 billion euros (1.25 billion dollars).

Now the government could have to delve into those funds to finance the payments of mutinous troops.

However, it wouldn't have enough to offer those payments to all of its security forces, about 15,000 additional troops.
It was with a sad body, morose mood; battered-morale, weakened and attenuated spirit that I received the death of Komla Dumor. Though I had not followed him quite long before his departure to the underworld, I caught glimpses of him travelling round the continent presenting his celebrated programme Focus on Africa on BBC. I could not catch him during his hey days at Joy FM because I was as young as a student in St. Cecilias Basic School in Nima and OReilly Senior High for the period he spent there.

Though I was very current about political happenings around that time; I had neither the time nor the need to listen to morning shows. And so I missed the Boss player as he was known at Joy FM.

Today is exactly three years since he travelled to the land of no return. And the Nima boy once more wishes to express his profound heartfelt condolences to Joy FM, BBC and family of Komla Dumor; our sparkling and dazzling star who kicked the bucket a few days ago.

Komla Dumor posthumously is a great source of inspiration to the people of Ghana and beyond. He was African in every way. His life story is one of the stories that make life worth-living in a seemingly hopeless and worthless world.

Personally, I have an indescribable feeling of the inspiration he left. Partly because I shared part of his life. Komla Dumor studied Medicine at the University of Jos and came out with nothing after four years of grueling academic work. I also studied Science Laboratory Technology at Accra Technical University and came out with only a withdrawal letter.

Komla Dumor simply put, was dismissed for Academic non-performance. Well, all I remember is that I was also handed my withdrawal letter from the polytechnic for Academic non-performance. A secret that has not left my chest; not to even my parents who put me through school until now that I have told a few friends. The letter, I tore it in order to remove traces of the unfortunate from my life. It is indescribable the mental and emotional agony I went through those days.

When you are handed a withdrawal letter a week to wrap up your final exams after years of study is something not even the care-freest man could countenance. Especially when you are the most popular student in your department and coming from a poor family that has hopes of things been better very high because you are about finishing school. So I have a snippet of the feeling he had especially when he indicated that it was difficult for him those days to live as a human being.

But I came out of it with the realization that in order to reach the top of the mountain, you have to climb every rock.

After Komla Dumors botched Medical study, he moved to the University of Ghana to study Sociology and Psychology as I also moved to the University of Professional Studies, Accra still pursuing a degree in Marketing.

For many years he lived like the man shedding tears in the rain. No one saw the tears but he had pain in him. He decided to wear a smile on the pain. And through that he inspired many. He is noted to have said that failure is never the end unless you allow it. Great men they say think in tandem. Hence he decided to live his life just like Muhammad Ali resolved: I hoped to inspire others to take control of their lives and to live with pride and self-determination. I thought perhaps if they saw that I was living my life the way I chose to live it- without fear and with determination-they might dare to take the risks that could set them free.

The Arabs have a peculiar saying that a people died yet they still live among men and a people live yet are dead among men. This is a statement to signify how the world will continue to glorify anyone who strives to outrun the failure that delays him, overcome his weakened faith, never stop the race and have a will that never retires.

The Nima boy believes that Komla Afeke Dumor will have his name echo and reverberate across the centuries for his preponderant impact on Ghana, Africa and the world at large.

Komla is one of the men whose life should be told and retold our upcoming generation to tap from his unquantifiable experience and exposure. I have the firm belief that he has made positive strides and will continue to do so posthumously.

He was indeed an oasis of inspiration in the dry and arid desert of helplessness and despondency in our part of the world. A gem he was and truly a solitaire.

Komla Dumor wrote a four-paragraphed message to some of his friends; the message went viral hours after his death. He hinted in one paragraph:

I remain silent in my personal strife and misery. I kept smiling and pushing on to engage with my audience and increase my following. Long days and frustrating times but I kept going, but I kept going, through the West Gate Mall coverage through Mandelas funeral. Even when illness had me collapsing, I delivered. 

The Nima boy believes strongly that Komla Dumor is a sun that will never set.

Death indeed comes at a time!

Inusah Mohammed.

NB: The Writer is a Nima boy.
(Dakar, January 18, 2017)---President Yahya Jammehs declared state of emergency in Gambia provides no justification for a crackdown on peaceful dissent around the January 19, 2017 deadline for the new government to take office, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today.

Since January 15, security forces loyal to President Jammeh have arbitrarily detained at least five officers and enlisted men suspected of opposing Jammehs bid to remain in office. Since Jammeh rejected the December 1, 2016 election results on December 9, Gambian authorities have arbitrarily arrested opposition sympathizers and closed four independent radio stations. The state of emergency raises fears of further repression against opposition supporters around the planned January 19 inauguration of president-elect Adama Barrow. Many Gambians have fled the country out of concerns for their security.

Respect for human rights must not be a casualty of the current political crisis, said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty Internationals West and Central Africa deputy director. The declared state of emergency must not be used as a pretext to crack down on peaceful dissent.

Jammeh and Gambias National Assembly, which his party controls, on January 17 declared a 90-day state of emergency. If authorized by the National Assembly, this would empower Jammeh to suspend certain basic due process rights, including the prohibition on detaining individuals without charge.

In announcing the state of emergency on state television, Jammeh said that civil liberties are to be fully respected but that acts intended to disturb public order and peace were banned.

Several Gambian youth organizers told Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that they anticipated Gambians would take to the streets on January 19 to celebrate Barrows inauguration. Were not scared anymore, one said. We just want this to be over. One Gambian activist who said that intelligence officers detained and beat him on January 10, said that they warned him, If you try to do anything on January 19, we will crush you like bedbugs.

Since January 15, authorities have detained and held incommunicado at least five members of the armed forces -- including Capt. Babucarr Bah, Capt. Demba Baldeh and Lt. Col. Hena Sambou  for supporting or planning to support Barrow. Sources said the soldiers are believed to be detained at the National Intelligence Agency and have had no contact with family members.

The arrests contradict an executive order announced by Jammeh on January 10 that there would be no arrests until January 31.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that it is preparing a military force led by Senegal and Nigeria for possible intervention if Barrow is prevented from assuming the presidency. Should an ECOWAS intervention occur, all measures need to be taken to ensure the protection of civilians and respect for human rights, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said.

President Jammeh publicly conceded defeat the day after the December 1 election, but then rejected the results on December 9. His refusal to accept the election results has been widely condemned internationally, including by the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and ECOWAS.

On January 13, the African Union stated that it would cease to recognize Jammeh as the legitimate president of Gambia on January 19, and warned him of serious consequences should his action lead to political disorder or human rights disaster. Barrow is currently in neighboring Senegal for protection although plans are still under way for him to be sworn in as president on January 19.

The protection of human rights should be at the core of any solution to Gambias political crisis, said Corinne Dufka, West Africa Director at Human Rights Watch. If ECOWAS deploys military force, all sides will need to ensure the safety of civilians.

Twitter: @AmnestyWaro
This new year we only have one wish as far as Indian television is concerned--to watch our favourites on the small screen again.

By Anvita Singh: New year calls for new beginnings, and the same rule applies for Indian television as well.

Well, without wasting any time, let us get straight to the point. We desperately WANT to see our old favourites make a fresh return to our television screens. And that will be our gift for 2017.

Are you reading this, producers/creative heads?

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Here are seven shows that we want to see on the small screen. Again:

Hum Paanch

A poster of the show. Picture courtesy: Instagram/parkypix

Yes, Ekta Kapoor was responsible for this beloved comedy show. Believe it or not. Before she became the queen of sad and masala-filled saas-bahu sagas, Ekta had launched the brilliant Hum Paanch on our TV screens, and it soon made its way into our hearts.

Who can forget the mad Sweety who loved to open doors, and expected her favourite movie stars to grace her house every time the door bell rang? Exactly. No one. And let us not forget the immensely talented Ashok Saraf who played the adorably frustrated father Anand Mathur. And the talking portrait of his first wife, played to perfection by Priya Tendulkar.

Shanti

The cult classic that launched Mandira Bedi was a content and performance-heavy show, and its popularity rose by leaps and bounds after it was taken off air.

A story of a journalist, Shanti was something that struck a chord with the Indian audience. We want it back in our lives.

Buniyaad

A still from the show. Picture courtesy: YouTube

Based on the 1947 partition, Buniyaad was as hard-hitting as they come. The show was responsible for launching popular actors like Alok Nath and Kanwaljeet Singh.

Directed by Ramesh Sippy, the show really found home in the hearts of people.

Bottom line: It has been quite a while since we saw a show take a realistic approach to the 1947 partition. In fact, there have hardly been any shows on air lately based on this very significant period in our history.

Rishtey

An episodic show that aired on Zee TV once upon a time, Rishtey was one of those gems that featured a variety of talented actors bringing to life various aspects of a human relationship.

We can't have too many of these, can we now?

Also read: You just can't afford to miss these international shows in 2017!

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Malgudi Days

A still from the show. Picture courtesy: YouTube

Where to even begin? Adapted from the classic R K Narayan novels, the TV series was directed by Kannada actor and filmmaker Shankar Nag.

Now let us be honest, there is NOTHING like this on Indian television right now, and it is a pity. Bring this show back, people!

Aarohan

Aarohan was bold, dramatic, and ahead of its times. Aired in the 1990s on Doordarshan, the plot of the show revolved around Pallavi Joshi's character Nikita, who makes it to the Indian Navy and her journey as a navy cadet.

Dekh Bhai Dekh

A still from the show. Picture courtesy: YouTube

We started with a comedy show and we are wrapping this list with the same genre.

A joint family that lives, laughs, and cries together--THE DIWAN FAMILY. What is not to love? Plus in a day and age where everyone wants to live independently, this show will enlighten people about, well, community living.

So, when can we expect them on our TV sets, makers?

--- ENDS ---
Professor Kwame Agyenim Boateng a lecturer at the Kings College University and Law Governance and International Relations Expert has called on the government to create an enabling environment for foreign investors to come and invest in the country.

Prof Agyenim Boateng reacting to comments by the President, Nana Akuffo Addo when he delivered a speech at the New Year School, when he said his government will modernizing agric sector ,he said it on SPACE FM a local radio station based in Sunyani, said that will create jobs for teaming unemployed youths.

He said if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is able to create that enabling environment and put in place sound policies and programs, it will encourage foreign investors to come to Ghana to invest in the all sectors of the economy.

He added that many at times, the foreign investors before they will come and invest in a countrys economy, they first have to look out for some economic policies of the government which are business friendly.

Prof Agyenim Boateng believes, with the rightful economic policies of the NPP government, all sectors of the economy will attract foreign and local investors to invest in the economy or expand their business to employ more people , especially teaming unemployed youths in the country.

The International Relations Expert stated that those businessmen and women want tax guarantee from the government and job security from any government before they can invest in your economy.

He said Ghana will be attractive to more foreign and local investors come and invest in the economy , if the Akuffo Addo led administration is able to put in place some favorably policies that can be a win, win situation for both government and the investors.

Prof Agyenim Boateng said the President, Nana Akuffo Addo, s invitation he extended to Ghanaians and foreign investors at Bamako recently to come home and invest in Ghana was a call in the right direction.

He said job creation is not solely responsibility of the government, but other individuals who have the requisite skills to create jobs for people.

He urged the government to create a friendly atmosphere to attract some foreign business people to come and invest in the Ghanaian economy.
The police in northern region has arrested a 29 year old armed robber, Joe Ezimbasiri at Banda Nkwanta in the Bole Bamboi District for robbing two riders on Tuesday January 17.

The victims Mohammed Ahmed and a colleague were riding motor bikes when Joe attacked them and took a way a total amount of 320 Ghana cedis and mobile phones.

This was revealed by the northern regional police Public Relations Officer,(PRO) ASP Ebenezer Tetteh in an interview with themodernGhanaonline in his office on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Mr. Ebenezer Tetteh, at 9:00 am on Tuesday January 17th, 2017, Joe Ezimbasari met Mohammed Ahmed who was on a motorbike and attacked him robbing him 300 Cedis after which he attacked another rider too taking a way 20 cedis totaling 320 Ghana cedis and mobile phones.

He said issues of robbery is becoming serious on Banda Nkwanta stretch due to the galamsey activities in the area and the police are doing all they can to bring it under control.

And advised people in the area to be vigilant and also report any criminal behavior they foresee in anyone in that area.
18.01.2017 LISTEN

Ghana has committed 200 ground troops to an ECOWAS force expected to get intransigent Gambian leader Yayha Jammeh out of office.

Jammeh has until midnight Wednesday to vacate his seat as president and handover power to the legitimately elected president Adama Barrow or will be forced out ahead of a planned inauguration on Thursday.

Already, the BBC is reporting that Senelagese troops are moving towards the Gambian border to begin what will likely be a bloody takeover ahead of the inauguration.

The movement towards the Gambian border is part of the ECOWAS grand plan to mount pressure on Jammeh to stand down or be removed. He has refused to hand over power despite losing an election in December last year.

Wednesday was supposed to be his last day in office, having served for 23 years but Jammeh has received Parliamentary approval to extend his stay for another three months.

He has also imposed a 90-day state of emergency that would ban any form of social or political gathering in the Gambian country with a population of 2.5 million.

If his intransigence continues, ECOWAS forces are lining up to force him out of office.

According to reports, Nigeria has also sent 200 air force troops to Senegal in support of the possible intervention.

Inauguration

The president elect Adama Barrow is getting ready to be sworn into office despite the potential threat of violence.

It is not clear yet where the inauguration will be held given the state of emergency declared by the Jammeh.

A journalist in Gambia Mudu Lamin told Joy News' Evans Mensah "no one knows what will happen tomorrow."

However, the streets of Gambia have been deserted with residents living in fear of a bloody encounter.

He cannot also say whether or not the Gambian leader is in town but his loyalists remain defiant in the face of the ECOWAS threat.

Meanwhile, an international relations expert Vladmir Antwi Danso is calling for an intelligence led invasion that will only lead to the death of Jammeh and no one else.

He is worried a full blown conflict may lead to needless loss of lives.

"ECOWAS must use intelligence and get his close allies to kill him," he told Joy News.

He was unhappy the situation has degenerated to this level saying, Jammeh could easily have made demands of ECOWAS and stepped down quietly.

He described as a "positive thing" the forward presence of the Senegalese troops which he said could be a deterrent measure for the Gambian leader.

He was also happy Ghana will not be playing a leading role, except to follow the dictates of ECOWAS.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
The executives and members of Communicators for Development, Prestea is calling for the immediate resignation of the public relation officer and manager of Bogoso sub-office of the national health insurance ,Mr. Onipa Yeboah to resign with immediate effect. National Health Insurance Scheme was established under Act 650 of 2003 by Government of Ghana to provide basic health care services to persons resident in Ghana through mutual and private care insurance schemes. The scheme is further supported by L.l. 1809 National Health Insurance Regulations, 2004.

All workers of the authority are civil servants and as such, the Code of Conduct of the Ghana Civil Service clearly instructs civil servants not to engage in partisan politics. For the purpose of clarity, we cite the following relevant provisions of the Code which warns a civil servant not to [my own emphasis]:

a) accept any office, paid or unpaid, permanent or temporary, of any political party or organisation

b) declare himself openly as a registered member of a political party or organization

c) indicate publicly his support for any party candidate or politics

d) make speeches or join demonstrations in favour of any political party or organization

e) engage in activities which are likely to involve him in political controversy.

In light of the above regulations, we wish to state that Onipa Yeboah, who is the Public Relation Officer of the Wassa West Mutual Health Insurance, who also doubles as the manager for the Bogoso Sub-office of the scheme to resign peacefully.

In the run-up of the 2016 General Elections, Mr. Onipa Yeboah represented the then ruling National Democratic Congress as the Party representative on Best 90.5 FM political show dubbed mpu ne mpu, as well as Trinity 96.7 FVM political shows. Both radio stations located in Bogoso, the District Capital of Prestea Huni-Valley District.

Mr. Yeboah also participated in all campaigns of the NDC in all towns

and villages located in Prestea Huni- Valley Constituency.

What has even made our request for resignation necessary is the fact that, the Bogoso sub-office of the Health Insurance has been locked since the beginning of January, 2017. Today, when Trinity 96.7 FM morning show journalist Ohemma Naomi Afriyie Nyannor interviewed him on why they have locked the offices in Bogoso, he said our printers are all broken down. When he was further quizzed on why they have not informed the general public, he said our hands are tight that is why we have not come out with a release.

Meanwhile, citizens of Prestea Huni Valley who need the services of the health insurance authority are stranded, each day visiting the office without meeting any worker.

We are therefore calling on authorities of the National Health Insurance Authority and the Western Regional Manager of the Authority and all stake holders to heed to our request and call on him to resign and employ new people who are committed to serving the good people of Prestea Huni Valley District.

Signed.

*Comrade Francis Eshun

President

0203 961833

*Philip Gyan (Atisco)

Vice President

0573698278

*James Samuel Ackerson

Secretary

0241163129

*Jonas Kyeremanteng (Holy)

Organizser

0244777822
A life insurer in Ghana, SIC Life Company Limited is set to become a Universal bank in 2019.

This was disclosed by the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Aaron Issa Anafure at the launch of SIC Life Pensioners Association in Accra Tuesday.

"The company is preparing towards establishing a bank," he told journalist.

He said the company is "fully capatalised and we hope that we will be able to open up for more shares for an institutional share holding.

Dr Issa Anafure said the company would venture into other areas such as banking industry which would help them to expand their clientele base.

On his part, the acting Interim Chairman of SIC Life Pensioners Association, Harry Staudt expressed confidence that the company would satisfy its customers.

He said the launched association would provide the platform for a healthy and mutual co-operation for the common good of the company and the pensioners.

Mr Staudt pledged that members of the association will be eager to participate in any official function of the company whenever they are called upon

He noted the success of the organisation is attributable to the contributions of the pensioners who distinguished themselves in their service to customers.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
18.01.2017 LISTEN

In the year 1732, when the Ashanti Kingdom was ruled by Otumfuo Opoku Ware I, the Ashantis, mainly from Kuntenase, in an attempt to expand the kingdom, moved towards a place that is now part of the Volta region and to a place called Worawora. They fought the Chokosis and drove them out from their land in 1734 and occupied it. They spoke their Twi language and maintained their culture and traditions. From then on many Akans from many Akan-speaking areas moved in to settle at different places including Jasikan, Donkorkrom and Avetime.

Something interesting happened which led to the creation and popularization of the compound word, Tsoo-boi. Many people and groups have used this compound word, Tsoo-boi without knowing how the word came about, and from which language it originates. Eighty percent of the people I interviewed said Tsoo-boi is a Ga word. Only twenty percent said it was an Ewe word.

Tsoo-boi is a word largely used in Ghana by many people including students, workers, demonstrators, pastors and Imams. When that word is mentioned, the resultant reaction is the same. It is a shout for action, attention and coordination. Furthermore the shout of Tsoo-boi creates a sense of belongingness, oneness, enthusiasm and victory.

In a fishing community in the Volta region, lived two fishermen and their families. They were not on talking terms. One family was Ewe and the other was Akan. The children of both families always had to cross a stream in a canoe to go to school. One day, on their return from school, a strong wind blew the canoe to overturn in the full glare of by-standers. In an effort to get help both the Akan and the Ewe boys began to scream for help in their local languages. The Ewe boy shouted, "tsoo," "tsoo". The Akan boy also screamed urgently, "buei," "buei". These were shouts for help and attention. The onlookers jokingly combined the two words, spelling the Twi word according to how they heard it. This marked the genesis of "tsoo-boi."

The Akans in the Volta Region have their settlements in areas like Jasikan, Donkorkrom, Worawora and Avatime. The majority of the Akan settlers were mostly from the Ashanti Kingdom. They got permanent settlements in these areas through conquests. After living in the Volta Region for more than a century, they still considered themselves as Akans. The Ashantis paid allegiance to the occupant of the Golden Stool. Their Chiefs also swore the oath of allegiance to the stool.

At a press conference in Accra months after Otumfuos visit, the Omanhene of Worawora Traditional Area, Daasebre Asare Baah III, confirmed that, even though Worawora is located in the Volta Region, they will still remain Ashantis. The Omanhene was compelled to react to a "Times" London newspaper headline story which came out after the Asantehenene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware's visit to Worawora traditional area in the early part of 18th century. The front page story was an angry reaction by the chiefs in the Volta Region after Otumfuo's visit. They reiterated that Worawora cannot be under Asante. During the press conference, the Omanhene, his subjects and well-wishers were all clad in black funeral clothes which the Ashantis call "kuntunkuni." This was to protest to the VR chiefs that no Akan chief will swear an oath of allegiance to any VR chief.

The Avatime are another group of Akans who live in the Volta Region. These are Ahanta people who migrated to the place known today as Volta Region during the 18th century, almost at the same time when the Fanti fishermen from Elmina migrated to Togo and finally continued to Dahomey (Benin). More than a century ago, a mystery pot was found hidden in a cave at Biakpa in Avatime. Critical and investigative study of the pot and its content revealed that the Guans have been in Avatime and in Ghana since the Stone Age. Kwame Ampene, a folkloric historian and founder of the Guan Historical Society, depending on oral history, claimed that it was not the Ahantas who migrated to the Volta Region but rather the Igbos who lived among the Ahantas for so many years who later migrated to Avatime. Kwame Ampene admitted that the Ahantas may also have migrated to the Volta Region, asserting that the original homeland of the nuclear Avatime has become a difficult problem which has so far defied any satisfactory solution.

The Avatime people, also called Afatime, Sidemme or Sia, are Akans who are very much loved by the Ewes because they took much interest in the learning of the Ewe language while making sure their own language, Sia or Siyase is not forgotten. The Akans in Avatime live in seven towns and villages of Amedzofe, Vane, Gadzeme, Dzope, Biakpe, Dzoobefeme and Fume. The population of Avatime is approximately 24,000 and majority of them are peasant farmers who grow rice in abundance. Avatime stands out clearly as one of the most popular areas in the Volta Region because the second highest mountain in Ghana, called GEMI, is located in Avatime Traditional area.

So far there has been very much cooperation and peaceful co-existence among the Akans and the Ewes in the Volta Region. When the new president, Nana Akufo-Addo, hinted that some regions including the Volta Region will be divided into two regions and the likelihood is that the Akans may have their own region and the others, including Ewes, will also have one region, many concerned people in the region have stood up against the idea. They will still want to be together as one people in one region. The peace and love existing among the various tribes in the region is superb and phenomenal.

Columnist: Stephen Atta Owusu

Author: Dark Faces at Crossroads

Email: [email protected]
Nzema Youth have come across a publication on Ghanaweb.com on the 16th January, 2017 with the caption "Revoke Catherine Afekus nomination over fraud - Group demands" by a group called Truth And Accountable Governance(TAG).

In this article, the group are demanding for the withdrawal of Hon. Catherine Afeku from the ministerial position she has been offered.

Such unscrupulous Group is not known in the annals of Ghana since they are not registered under the Registrar General Department. They are an illegal body in the Nzema NDC with the aim of denting the image of the first female minister designate in Nzemaland.

Disregard any publication or petition from the Nzema-NDC's so called Truth and Accountable Governance's against Hon. Catherine Afeku, Minister designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Such a petition is bogus and does not warrant public attention.

This petition by this Pro-NZEMA NDC diabolical group is only aimed to demerit Nzemas and through that prevent an Nzema from getting a ministerial position in this incorruptible President Nana Addo's government.

It is a toothless Union. We are challenging them to show their faces rather than hiding behind social media to dent Hon. Afeku's image. They can go to court to challenge her position if they truly believe she has done any wrong.

On records, it is not Parliament who decides cases of fraud but rather a court of competent jurisdiction.

Again, a fraudster has no right to represent a constituency of over 30,000 voters in Ghana, so the electoral commission's acceptance of Hon. Afeku's parliamentary nomination forms without any objections from her political opponents in the constituency and the general public clearly shows her credibility, innocence and a no wrong doing.

Hon. Afeku is the current parliamentarian of Evalue-Gwira constituency of the Western Region so therefore she has the right to the Article 78 (1) of the 1992 Constitution which states that; "Ministers of State shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of Parliament from among members of Parliament or persons qualified to be elected as Members of Parliament, except that the majority of Ministers of State shall be appointed from among members of Parliament."

We wants the so called TAG to answer the following questions

. Is Hon. Afeku a member of Parliament in Ghana?

.Does she enjoys Article 78(1) of 1992 constitution of Ghana?

. Does the constitution of Ghana allows fraudsters to be parliamentarians?

From the above-stated questions, we believe Parliament should not waste time to read any documents by such a coward and an ignorant group since parliamentarians and vetting committee chairman knows better than us.

We wants to use this opportunity to thank His Excellency Nana Addo for recognizing we, Nzemas in his government. We believe and pray that our Heavenly father will bless him and makes his governance successful.

As the saying goes " Oliver twist, we ask for more" so we are pleading with his office to engage more Nzemas in his administration.

God bless Ghana

God bless Nzemaland

God bless Africa.

Peter Ackah

......Signed.....

(0547946200)

CONVENER
Government has been impressed upon to adopt fiscal decentralization policies and reduce the stress on the national budget.

Proponents of this policy believe the overdependence of local governments on the national budget has contributed to increasing government obligations and subsequently the rising debt levels of the state.

In its latest report on the economic priority areas for the new government, the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) explained that achieving a full decentralization should involve provisions for local authorities to raise revenue to finance their priority development needs.

Most District Assemblies are unable to generate enough funds of their own to support their operations, making them to depend heavily on the central government for financial support. The assignment of functions from central to local government is fragmented, and there is no clear definition of responsibilities across the two levels of government.

The Director of Research for the IFS, Dr. John Kwakye explains that abiding by the suggestions should reduce costs to government.

Clearly delineate the functions between the central and local governments, especially in the areas of basic education, health care and infrastructuremake District Assemblies increasingly reliant on their own revenue by revising, managing and sustaining the current revenue sources available to them, specifically property tax, local fees and licenses, he stated.

The call comes at a time that some economists have cautioned against government's continuous use of greater portions of its loans to fund recurrent expenditure.

For instance in 2016, Ghana spent about 6.4 billion cedis out of the 8.5 billion cedis it borrowed on recurrent expenditure; leaving a little over 1 billion cedis for investments into capital expenditure.

Already, there have been earlier attempts to allow the various MMDAs to raise bonds from the local market to fund their developmental needs.

A successful implementation of this policy should ultimately reduce the increasing District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) allocations in the national budget.



By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
The Ashanti regional chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has rubbished reports that he lied during last months polls when he claimed that he had information that some thumb-printed presidential papers had been hidden at the Madison Lodge in the Nhyiaeso constituency in Kumasi.

Following the report, the police raided the place and after a search found three bags containing the said ballot papers which had been thumb-printed for former president John Mahama.

Upon thorough scrutiny, the police found that the ballot papers retrieved from the hotel were fake, since they had no serial numbers and stamps, according to the Ashanti regional police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Tanko.

But speaking Wednesday on Starr Chat, Mr. Wontumi denied ever raising a false alarm regarding the ballot papers.

Its not false alarm, he told programme host, Bola Ray asking, Whats false alarm?

He said all he was doing was protecting the sanctity of the polls.

As a leader, you have to listen to a lot of people; all the informationwe are going to elections so dont ignore anybody. So once people call you pay attention. We had information and we [acted] on it, he said.

He said when he led the police to the scene the ballot papers were there.

Asked by Bola Ray whether there was any evidence that the NDC [National Democratic Congress] was acting shady? He replied that: My brother [Bola Ray], you know what happened in 2012, claiming that the country nearly plunged into civil war as a result of NDCs rigging.
18.01.2017 LISTEN

By Francis Ameyibor, GNA

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - The Convention Peoples' Party (CPP) has called on the Ghana Police Service to deal with politically tinted crime to restore the sanctity of our democratic dispensation; 'We must immediately depoliticize crime and deal with all breaches of the law without fear or favour.

'All those illegal takeover of government properties, forceful eviction of public servants from their lawful state bungalows due to their purported association with the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, seizer of tollbooths, and toilets, dents our democratic credentials.

'The police must immediately arrest and prosecute the culpritsthese elements are not working in the interest of the state, democratic change of government is not a coup d'Atat and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not sanction such ferocious acts,' Professor Edmund N. Delle, the CPP Chairman told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Wednesday.

Speaking on recent warlike annexation of state properties by elements purported to be associated with the ruling NPP, Prof. Delle said: 'Democratically transfer of power from a defeated government to opposition party who won an election is not a military invasion of seat of government, it is peaceful transfer of power.

'We are therefore under obligation to continue to engage and work in the interest of the state. We must not plant seeds of fear in out-going Presidents and government functionaries that when they are out of power they will be harassed unduly and disgraced in public. That will amount to preparing the grounds for a defeated government to refuse to hand power in the near future in Ghana.

'On the other hand any person in government now or previous must understand the need to judiciously use state power invested in him or her through the will of the people. Those who trespass the laws must be dealt with thoroughly through legal meanswe are a country build on the principles of the rule of law, freedom and justice'

The CPP Chairman therefore condemned the recent takeovers, stressing that the possibility of criminal elements within society taking advantage of the transitional process to steal and loot public property cannot be ruled out whilst other elements may want to take political advantage of the environment to 'teach their political opponents some lessons and exhibition of power'.

Prof. Delle who is also the leader of the CPP also tasked the media to stop painting crime with political colours; 'the media quickly jumped to link people with political parties and influential people , a situation which create enforcement challenge to the Police Administration.

'If the media removes the political robe they most often dress people with, the law enforcement bodies would have the courage to deal with crime professionally without looking behind whether a political super power or a big man/woman is coming to interfere'.

The CPP Chairman also called on the leadership of the NPP and NDC to restrain their members and send strong signal to all especially the foot soldiers that; 'leadership of the parties will not protect those indulging in illegality and criminal activities whether for the party or not'.

He said Political Party Executives - from the polling station level through to the national leadership must exhibit a high sense of leadership, direct affairs in the various parties and condemn unpatriotic behaviour of the supporters.

Prof. Delle noted that the new government needed the goodwill of all Ghanaians both home and abroad irrespective of their political, religious, ethnic affiliation, or status in society to govern effectively for accelerated development.

'We must therefore reduce political antagonism, character assassination and media prosecution and convictiongovernance is not propaganda but serious business and the new government need conducive socio-economic environment to deliver on its campaign promises,' Prof Delle noted.

GNA
Here are five things you must know about the creator of Winnie the Pooh, A A Milne, whose birthday is celebrated as a Winnie the Pooh Day across the world.

By India Today Web Desk: Admit it already. Years after they first entered your life, Winnie the Pooh and friends still manage to put a smile on your face every now and then.

Lessons about life, love and friendship--Pooh's stories have so much to learn from. And the man responsible for giving this adorable bear a voice of its own? Alan Alexander Milne or A A Milne. Born on January 18, 1882, the author's birth anniversary has--over the years--become synonymous to the Pooh's birthday too.

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So today, on A A Milne's birth anniversary that is also referred to as Winnie the Pooh Day, here are five things you must know about its creator.

1. A A Milne's stories weren't limited to Winnie the Pooh alone

After contributing as a writer for the magazine Punch, Milne went on to become its Assistant Editor in 1906. He also turned author for The Red House Mystery and adapted The Wind in the Willows into Toad at Toad Hall.

Also Read: Each Winnie the Pooh character suffers from a disorder; do you agree?

2. Pooh and Christopher were real

Yup, Winnie the Pooh's characters were inspired by Milne's son Christopher Robin Milne and his toy, Pooh. Stuffed toys owned by Christopher Jr that resembled Piglet and Tigger became the source of inspiration for more of Milne's characters.

A photo posted by winnie the pooh (@winniethepooh515) on Jul 6, 2016 at 11:46pm PDT

3. Milne was part of an important World War propaganda

The celebrated author was a also a World War soldier up until he fell seriously ill and went on to join a secret propaganda unit, MI7b, in 1916 that--according to Biography.com, wrote about "British heroism and German dastardliness."

Even though Milne didn't exactly like the kind of work he was doing, he considered it a duty more than anything else.

4. His last days weren't blissful

He wasn't very fond with the idea of being referred to a children's writer and wanted to break off that mould. The inspiration behind Winnie the Pooh's human companion, Milne's son, Christopher, developed a sense of dislike for his father.

In fact, Christopher's biography has him mention how his father "had filched from me my good name and had left me with nothing but the empty fame of being his son."

A photo posted by winnie the pooh (@winniethepooh515) on Feb 14, 2016 at 4:27pm PST

5. PG Woodhouse and Milne were friends-turned-foes

Friends during their younger years, Woodhouse and Milne's relationship turned sour after Woodhouse was captured by the German Army and was made to record "light, inconsequential" broadcasts. The broadcasts didn't sit well with most people back home, including Milne who in a note to the Daily Telegraph wrote, "Irresponsibility in what the papers call a licensed humorist can be carried too far; naivete can be carried too far. Wodehouse has been given a good deal of licence in the past, but I fancy that now his licence will be withdrawn."

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(With inputs from Biography.com)

--- ENDS ---
Accra, Jan 18, GNA - Fishermen along the coastal parts of the country have been cautioned to plan their expeditions in line with weather conditions to avoid danger.

'Those who would be fishing especially in the deep sea, which is 100 to 200 kilometers off the coast-line, could experience storms, because of active systems over the sea.'

Mr. Michael Padi, Senior Meteorologist at the Meteorological Services Department, Kotoka International Airport, said this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview.

He said presently, the weather systems over the sea precipitated rain storms, whilst that over land held dryness.

The Senior Meteorologist said in order to avoid unpleasant incidents, it was important for fishermen to plan their trips in accordance with the weather forecast.

'This would ensure their safety at sea,' he said.

Mr. Padi also cautioned motorist saying, 'the periods to be most careful during this season are early morning and at night.'

He said during these periods, mist and fog particles greatly reduced visibility.

Mr. Padi stressed, that it was very easy for a driver to miscalculate distance and ran into an un-seen object at the least mistake.

The Senior Meteorologist said measures such as being extra careful and using fog lights amongst all other safety measures were very necessary during this period.

The Harmattan season which has now peaked, is on the verge of a gradual decline and is expected to come to a complete end in February, Mr. Padi said.

GNA
Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - Four persons have appeared before an Accra Circuit Court accused of robbing three persons of GH 30,000.00 and assorted mobile phones at Appolonia.

They are: Adams Alhassan, aka Dogo America, a 36 year old businessman, Halidu Yussif a 27 year old bicycle repairer, Abubakari Safiu, a 33 year old mechanic, and Dennis Sodzi, a 36 year old mason.

The accused persons who are being held on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime, three counts of robbery have pleaded not guilty.

The court admitted them to bail in the sum of GH 80,000.00 with four sureties each one to be justified. They are expected to reappear before the court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin- Doku on February 7.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Adjei said the complainants are Felix Tetteh Dortey, Bernard Annang and Sophia Debrah all employees of ETODAD Limited, a gravel and sand winning company. The three complainants all reside at Ashiaman.

DSP Adjei said Alhassan and SAfisu resides at New York, Zenu near Ashiaman, whilst Yusif resides at Ashiaman Labanon and Sodzi resides at Kubekrom, near Appolonia.

On March 22, 2016, whiles the complainants were at the company's sites, the four accused persons who were on motor bikes attacked them with cutlasses amidst firing of gun shots.

Prosecution said the accused persons managed to rob the complainants: Sophia of GH 30,000.00 and her two mobiles. The accused persons also took away Dortey's two mobile phones and Annang's mobile phone.

On November 29, last year, Alhassan whom the police described as the leader of the gang was arrested in another case while his accomplices were picked up on January 10 this year.

The accused persons have however refused to give statements to the Police saying they were waiting for their lawyers.

GNA
18.01.2017 LISTEN

By Sampson Adu-Poku, GNA

Kumasi, Jan 18, GNA - Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the Second Lady, Samira, on Wednesday joined thousands of people to mourn the Asantehemaa, Nana Afua Kobi Serwaah Ampem II.

Her body has been lying in state at the Manhyia Palace over the last three days.

The deceased was the biological mother of the reigning Asante King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Installed in 1977, she was the 13th Asante Queen and passed on at the ripe age of 111.

She would be buried tomorrow - deep in the night, at the Royal Mausoleum in Bremang.

Former President John Dramani Mahama had earlier, same day, being to the Palace to pay his last respects to the Asantehemaa.

He was accompanied by former ministers and appointees, who served in his government, alongside the leadership of his political party - the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Also there to commiserate with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and Asanteman on the loss of the Queen, was the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Aaron Ocquaye, Members of Parliament (MPs), Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Diplomats and Chief Executive Officers of some public and private institutions.

Since Monday, thousands of people from all walks of life have been visiting the Palace to say good bye to her.

President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, celebrated Ghanaian Diplomat, Mr. Kofi Annan, Chief Justice Theodora Wood and Togbe Afede XIV, President of the National House of Chiefs, the British High Commissioner, Jon Benjamin, South Korean Ambassador Wen Ki Lio, and the Esama of the Benin Kingdom in Nigeria, Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, are among the tall list of high profile personalities to file past the body.

The four-day funeral is being held amid tight security - strong presence of police and military officers, as the large crowd of people clad in black and red, signifying their somber mood, stood in long snaking queues to bid the Queen farewell.

The beauty, pomp and pageantry of Asante royal funeral, had been at full blast.

As the Asantehene sat under the canopy of huge umbrellas to receive and exchange greetings with sympathizers, the traditional drummers and dancers had been putting up intricate performances amid the clattering of executioner's swords.

The air intermittently had also been filled with deafening sounds from the firing of musketry.

Teams of health professionals alongside the Red Cross Society and the Saint John's Ambulance and the Ghana National Fire Service are present to respond to any emergency.

GNA
By Samuel Akapule, GNA

Bolgatanga, Jan. 18, GNA - Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) have been urged to explore alternatives and pragmatic means in raking in more revenue to complement the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) for accelerated development.

Mr Milton Aberinga, the Programmes Manager of the Development Research Centre (DRAC), made the call at a Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (SPEFA) Forum held in Bolgatanga.

The forum, which was aimed at educating the citizenry and encourage them to show interest and participate in decision-making processes of the assemblies for transparency and accountability, attracted stakeholders including Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), traders and market women, traditional authorities, assembly members, staff of the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, the media, civil society organisations and SPEFA members.

Mr Aberinga, who mentioned private partnerships as one of the major sources where the MDAs could explore to augment their internally generated revenue, urged the assemblies to consider expanding their revenue collection activities to include taxing owners of stray animals and effectively taking tolls for the many shops and business activities that have sprung up.

He stressed the need for the assemblies to implore more innovative and pragmatic ways of raking in their internally generated revenues so as to attract a larger share of the DACF to boost their development plans.

Whilst appealing to the citizenry to honour their tax obligations, he called on the assemblies to be transparent and ensure that they used the tax collected for development projects to encourage more citizens to honour their tax obligations.

Mr Aberinga, who took the participants through topics including the Public Financial Management Cycle, also schooled them on Budgeting and Revenue Management, Procurement and Assessment Management, Financial Regulation and Auditing, Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.

He urged them to show keen interest in the assembly processes particularly monitoring and evaluation.

'Civic engagement is very essential at all levels of governance, particularly at the decentralisation levels. This is to help ensure that the limited resources of the assemblies are properly allocated equitably to all communities,' he said.

Mr Aberinga said the project, which was sponsored by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development with support from the World Bank, was implemented by the SNV, a Netherlands Development Organisation and DRAC in the Bolgatanga Municipality.

It is to empower citizens at the local levels to demand accountability from public servants to ensure that public resources were managed effectively and efficiently in response to the needs of society.

The Chief of Yorogo, Naba Johnson Awuni, who chaired the forum, said accountability cut across all the development sectors and that adherence to it promoted effective delivery and positive results.

He, however, expressed regret at the poor manner most of the MDAs organised their civic engagement fora and indicated that most projects they claimed to have executed and shown to the citizenry at civic engagement fora were not the true reflection on the ground.

Mr Jaul Abdul Fuseini, the Assistant Development Planning Officer at the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, attributed problems of low internal revenue mobilisation and the springing up of illegal structures to political interference.

Participants at the forum stressed the need for the MDAs to ensure that revenue collected were used for the intended purposes as well as ensure that developers sited projects at the rightful places to avoid future development challenges.

GNA
By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - Some traders at the Tema Station in Accra, have since Monday, wore red and black clothing to demonstrate their loss and anguish in mourning the Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II.

This came to light when the Ghana News Agency (GNA) undertook a tour of some parts of the city to observe whether or not the royal funeral with its solemnity had transcended the borders of the Ashanti Kingdom to natives elsewhere.

The GNA found out that the Phone Charging Association of Tema Station had mounted giant speakers to play dirges in honour of the Queenmother, who gave birth to the reigning King of the Ashantis, Otumfuo Osei Tutu Ababio II.

The mood of the mourners was even extended to some of their shops, which had been decorated with red and black.

Nana Afia Kobi, the 13th Asantehemaa, reigned for 39 years. She died in her sleep at the ripe age of 111 at the Manhyia Palace, in Kumasi, on November 14, 2016.

Mr Prince Prempeh, President of the Phone Charging Association, in an interview, said

the Association decided to mourn their 'grandmother' for a week because in diverse ways, she contributed to the development of the Ashanti Region.

'We feel pain in our hearts as we mourn our Queenmother,' he said. 'Our condolences to Otumfuo and the entire family.''

Nana Adu, a member of the Association, said the death of the Nana Afia Kobi was a great loss to the Asante Kingdom, describing the Queenmother as 'peaceful and meticulous.'

He stated: 'Ours is just a simple prayer; God bless you in His care.'

Abeiku Asare, a shoemaker declared: 'A mighty tree has indeed fallen, when groweth another? May God grant you eternal rest Asantehemaa.'

Ms Hagar Adu, a granddaughter of the Nyayasohene in Kumasi, bemoaned the loss of the Asante Kingdom saying, 'I am very sad about the loss of the Asantehemaa, I am a royal, and my grandfather has a stool in at the Manhyia Palace. It is a great loss to us'.

Ms Bernice Sarpong, a trader in ladies footwear, said the loss was not only for the Ashanti Kingdom, but was a national one.

She said the fact that the funeral had attracted people from all over Ghana and beyond indicating that everyone shared the pain of the Ashanti Kingdom.

'We are one people created by God and our tribe does not matter, so we must all embrace one another in times of difficulties,' she said.

Madam Augustina Antwiwaa, a trader in second hand clothing said: 'Otumfuo is a pillar for the Ashantis, we share his pain and pray that God grants the Asantehemaa eternal rest.

Ms Alberta Oppong, a tomato seller, also expressed her condolence to the bereaved Kingdom.

Nana Afia Serwaa Kobi was laid in state on Monday, January 16, to begin four-day burial rites, characterised by the rich culture and custom of the 300 plus-year Kingdom.

Thousands of mourners have since paid their last respects to the legend, who would be buried on Thursday.

GNA
Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - The visit of the Moroccan leader, King Mohammed IV, to Ghana today has been postponed.

A statement issued on Wednesday in Accra by the Office of the President, and signed by Eugene Arhin, the Acting Director of Communication, said King Mohammed IV could not make the visit.

The statement said a new date for the Monarch's visit would be announced.

"Unfortunately, His Majesty the King, Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, has had to postpone his scheduled visit to Ghana. A new date for the visit will be communicated in due course," the statement said.

King Mohammed's visit was aimed at deepening the cordial relations between Ghana and Morocco, as well as seeking new areas of co-operation that would serve the mutual interests of the countries.

GNA
Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - In keeping with its commitment to empower the youth through education, the Youth Excellence League (YEL), an initiative of The BEIGE Foundation, has honoured 90 students from 17 selected schools.

The students were selected from senior high, junior high, technical/vocational schools among others in the Ashanti, Western, Brong Ahafo and the Northern regions of Ghana.

YEL aims at extending its coverage to the rest of the country. The selection of talents began with the southern sector of the country and was done by the management/heads of the schools using three main criteria: students who are brilliant but needy, students that exhibited leadership potential and proactiveness.

Commenting on the rationale for the exercise, the Programmes Officer of The BEIGE Foundation, Ms Anne-Marie Blackmore, said: 'The BEIGE Foundation through YEL, seeks to recognise and award exceptional youth talents.

'Again, this gesture is to train, support and promote youth excellence in the country. Our agenda is to identify and support one thousand (1000) students by the end of 2017'

'It is our belief that persons who perform remarkably in academics or whose overall achievements are outstanding are worthy of celebration. It is for this reason that the project awards their excellence,' she said.

Among the schools from which the students were selected are: Prempeh College, St. Louis, Opoku Ware, Ghana-China Friendship School, Sekondi College, Takoradi Technical University, Techiman Senior High School, Bole Methodist Senior High School, Mpohor S.D.A Basic School, and St. Dominic R/C Basic School.

The YEL project is an initiative of The BEIGE Foundation and it seeks to recognise and honour exceptional youth talents, particularly in the areas of academia: basic, secondary and tertiary levels of education.

At the launch of YEL last year, Mike Nyinaku, the Chief Executive Officer of The BEIGE Group, committed an amount of GHE2 million to support YEL for the year 2017.

Beneficiaries, apart from receiving financial rewards, will be trained and honed as part of a skills development programme run by BEIGE Academy, the talent development arm of The BEIGE Group.

GNA
Benjamin Hallo, GNA

Accra, Jan.18, GNA - Zongo Youths of Darkuman in the Greater Accra Region have expressed their excitement about the creation of the Zongo Development and Inner Cities Ministry, saying it would transform the communities and the livelihoods of the people.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has nominated Mr Boniface Abubakari Saddique, to head the Ministry, which would operate under the aegis of the Office of the President.

Speaking to Ghana News Agency, the Secretary of the Zaniwiyatul Lawshi Lawshi Youths, Mr. Abdul Aziz Issaka, said with the Development Fund to be established, they were hopeful that the Ministry would help to upgrade the Makalantas (Islamic Schools) in complete basic schools.

He said: 'The Ministry must focus more on the reconstruction of our drainage systems to solve sanitation issues. It must also team up with the Local Government Ministry to provide us with refuse containers at vantage avenues.

Mr. Issaka recommended the establishment of Zongo Community polyclinics to make health care more accessible and undertake a decongestion projects to ensure proper layout in the communities.

He must also invest in talented individuals to minimise the unemployment situation.

Mr Issaka said the Minister must, however, undertake proper assessment of every Zongo Community before allocating funds for any project.

Additionally, he urged him to work with the youth to erase the stereotypical perception that Zongo youth were overly violent, through sensitisation programmes.

The Ministry, he said, should assist the youth to set up factories in major Zongo communities to produce 'Sobolo' and other traditional drinks in commercial quantities.

GNA
Many people are curious about the net worth and sources of wealth of the top 10 richest people in Nigeria. These people are worth at least one billion dollars. They have multiple income streams, including investments in various sectors that drive the Nigerian economy. Their financial muscle makes them influential figures in society.

A collage of some of the wealthiest Nigerians in 2022. Photo: @oilmoneyofficial, @femiotedola, @tonyoelumelu, @oukgram (modified by author)

Source: Instagram

Who are the top 10 richest people in Nigeria, and where did they get their monies? Read on to discover who the wealthiest people in the country are and how much they are worth.

Richest people in Nigeria in 2022 and their net worth

The top 10 richest people in Nigeria in 2022 are worth a lot of money. They have invested their money in different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

10. Pascal Gabriel Dozie - $1 billion

Pascal Gabriel Dozie posing for a picture in a black suit. Photo: @Pascal Gabriel Dozie

Source: Facebook

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Date of birth: 9th April 1939

9th April 1939 Age: 83 years (as of 2022)

83 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Investments in banking

Pascal Gabriel Dozie is the founder of Diamond Bank, and his current net worth is $1 billion. He also owns shares in MTN Group, a South African multinational mobile telecommunications company.

9. Tony Elumelu - $1 billion

Tony Elumelu in a black suit. Photo: @tonyoelumelu

Source: UGC

Date of birth: 22nd March 1963

22nd March 1963 Age: 59 years (as of 2022)

59 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Investments in financial services, real estate, hospitality, healthcare, power, oil, and gas

Tony Elumelu is the CEO of Heirs Holdings, a business conglomerate he started after retiring from the banking industry. His company has invested in financial services, real estate, hospitality, healthcare, power, oil, and gas. His current net worth is $1 billion.

8. Jimoh Ibrahim - $1.1 billion

Jimoh Ibrahim smiling for a picture in a black jacket and striped shirt. Photo: @jimohibrahimofr

Source: Instagram

Date of birth: 24th February 1967

24th February 1967 Age: 55 years (as of 2022)

55 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Investments in hospitality, insurance, transportation, oil, gas, and real estate

Jimoh Ibrahim is a politician, lawyer, businessman, and philanthropist with a net worth of $1.1 billion. He owns the business conglomerate called Global Fleet Group. The company has interests in various sectors, including insurance, hospitality, transport, real estate, oil, and gas.

7. Orji Uzor Kalu - $1.1 billion

Orji Uzor Kalu in a black suit and white shirt. Photo: @oukgram

Source: Instagram

Date of birth: 21st April 1960

21st April 1960 Age: 62 years (as of 2022)

62 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Businesses and political career

Orji Uzor Kalu is a successful businessman and politician with a net worth of $1.1 billion. He is the sitting senator of Abia North Senatorial District and the Chief Whip of the House of Senate in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is the CEO of SLOK Holding, a company with investments in banking, shipping, manufacturing, oil trading, and media.

6. Leo Stan Ekeh - $1.2 billion

Leo Stan Ekeh pictured in a striped suit. Photo: @LeoStanEkeh

Source: Facebook

Date of birth: 22nd February 1956

22nd February 1956 Age: 66 years (as of 2022)

66 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Investments in ICT

Leo Stan Ekeh is a businessman worth $1.2 billion. He owns Zinox Group and Konga. Zinox is a leading ICT ecosystem in Africa. It deals with computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing. On the other hand, Konga is an online electronics shop.

5. Femi Otedola - $1.8 billion

Femi Otedola posing for a picture in a brown coat. Photo: @femiotedola

Source: Instagram

Date of birth: 4th November 1962

4th November 1962 Age: 59 years (as of 2022)

59 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Investments in petroleum, shipping, real estate, and finance

Femi Otedola is the biggest shareholder of Forte Oil, a publicly-traded company. The company has more than 500 gas stations across the nation. He also has investments in shipping, real estate, and finance. He has a net worth of $1.8 billion.

4. Alafaa Kariboye-Igbo - $6.1 billion

Alafaa Kariboye-Igbo, alias Oil Money, pictured in a black outfit in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo: @oilmoneyofficial

Source: Instagram

Date of birth: 21st May 1981

21st May 1981 Age: 41 years (as of 2022)

41 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Business investments in real estate, oil, gas, auto dealership, and entertainment

Alafaa Kariboye-Igbo is commonly known as Oil Money. The 41-year-old business tycoon was born into a poor family, but he worked hard to become a wealthy man with a net worth of $6.1 billion. The employer owns Oil Money Records, which helps upcoming artists to release music. He also has investments in real estate, oil and gas production, and vehicle dealership.

3. Abdulsamad Rabiu - $6.5 billion

Date of birth: 4th August 1960

4th August 1960 Age: 61 years (as of 2022)

61 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Cement production, sugar refining and real estate

Abdulsamad Rabiu is the third-wealthiest Nigerian in 2022, with a net worth of $6.5 billion. He is the founder of BUA Group, a company involved in cement production, sugar refining and real estate. In 1988, he started a business that imported iron, steel and chemicals. He also inherited land from his father, a late successful businessman.

2. Mike Adenuga - $6.7 billion

Date of birth: 29th April 1953

29th April 1953 Age: 69 years (as of 2022)

69 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Telecom and oil production

Mike Adenuga is the second-richest person in Nigeria, with a net worth of $6.7 billion. He owns Globacom, a mobile phone network in the country. The network is the third-largest operator in Nigeria. He also owns Conoil Producing, an oil exploration business.

1. Aliko Dangote - $15 billion

Aliko Dangote speaks during a session on the opening day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: @Chris Ratcliffe

Source: Getty Images

Date of birth: 10th April 1957

10th April 1957 Age: 65 years (as of 2022)

65 years (as of 2022) Source of wealth: Cement production

Is Aliko Dangote the richest man in the world? He is not the wealthiest in the world but the wealthiest in Africa. He is the founder and chairman of Africa's largest cement producer, Dangote Cement. He owns 85% of the company. Dangote's net worth in 2022 is $15 billion.

Recap of the top 10 richest people in Nigeria

Aliko Dangote - $15 billion Mike Adenuga - $6.7 billion Abdulsamad Rabiu - $6.5 billion Alafaa Kariboye-Igbo - $6.1 billion Femi Otedola - $1.8 billion Leo Stan Ekeh - $1.2 billion Orji Uzor Kalu - $1.1 billion Jimoh Ibrahim - $1.1 billion Tony Elumelu - $1 billion Pascal Gabriel Dozie - $1 billion

Who is the richest man in the world?

The richest man in the world in 2022 is Elon Musk, with a net worth of $221.5 billion.

Who is the richest man in Africa?

The wealthiest man on the continent is Aliko Dangote, the founder of Dangote Cement. He is worth $15 billion in 2022.

Who is the richest man in Nigeria in 2022?

The wealthiest Nigerian in 2022 is Aliko Dangote.

The top 10 richest people in Nigeria have amassed wealth from multiple streams of income. They inspire others to pursue their dreams because they, too, can make it.

READ ALSO: Nigerian actresses: Top 20 richest women of Nollywood 2022

Legit.ng recently published a list of the top 20 richest Nigerian actresses in 2022. Nollywood is made of seasoned and upcoming actors and actresses who do their best to provide quality entertainment.

Some have struck gold in the industry and are now wealthy. The wealthiest actresses in Nigeria include Mercy Johnson, Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, and more.

Source: Legit.ng
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI) Two sisters today sought help from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in bringing back their mother who is stuck in Oman after being allegedly ill-treated by recruitment agents.

The women from Haryana sought her help through twitter.

Swaraj responding to their complaint asked Indian Embassy in Muscat to "file a case against the persons who indulged in human trafficking and ill-treated our national."

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"@ProtectorGenGOI Pl take stringent action against this agent. We must take this to the logical conclusion./3 @Indemb_Muscat," Swaraj tweeted.

"The lady is in our shelter home. If possible please repatriate her," she asked Indian Ambassador in Oman. PTI NSA

--- ENDS ---
- The battle against corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken another turn with its eyes on private jet owners

- One of those who is currently in trouble is a former governor of Borno whose state has been ravaged by Boko Haram

Borno state has been the headquarters of terrorist activities in Nigeria and has experienced most of the devastations and killings carried out by the Boko Haram sect which many believe was caused by lack of governments insensitivity to the plight of the people as well as corruption.

Wealthy Nigerians compete with private jets while the country is hit by serious maladministration

The Nation reports that the former governor of Borno state is said to be under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and his aircraft was seized on Monday, January 16, 2017 at the Maiduguri International Airport.

The aircraft was said to belong to Mr Samuel Ayodele, the beneficial owner (a beneficial owner is a legal term where specific property rights (use and title) in equity belong to a person even though the legal title of the property belongs to another person.

Mr Ayodele who is the managing director of Skybird is said to have been arrested and helping the agency with information.

READ ALSO: Patience Jonathan does not engage in corrupt practices  Yoruba youths to EFCC

The report also said the anti-graft agency has also seized two private jets allegedly belonging to top politicians under surveillance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The action of the EFCC was said to have followed the tracing of looted funds by some former political office holders to the purchase of the private jets.

We impounded the Dornier 328 on Monday following suspicion in the manner in which it was acquired.

Our detectives are working on clues that the aircraft belongs to a former governor of Borno state but it is being used by a front. We are already looking into relevant records; we want to establish who actually owns it.

Ibrahim Magu, head of the EFCC

We are tracking how and when the aircraft was bought, where it was purchased, the mode of payment and the sources of funds. This is definitely an international transaction; it is easier to trace the inflows and outflows from any account.

There are also some petitions containing allegations against the former governor concerning the aircraft and some public funds. If the aircraft cannot be identified with the ex-governor, the EFCC will release it to the beneficial owner, a source at the EFCC said.

The Nation further reports that Ayodele is said to have told detectives that the aircraft was originally with the defunct IRS Airlines, which bought it with a loan of about N948million from a bank.

I bought the liability from the bank and took over the aircraft because IRS was not able to pay back the loan.

READ ALSO: EFCC honours SERAP petition, begins probe of missing N500m Chibok fund

It is a clean business. Since I graduated from school, I have been working in the aviation sector, the source allegedly quoted Ayodele as saying.

Concerning the two other jets allegedly seized at the Abuja airport, a source was quoted as saying: The movement of the jets is presently restricted until the conclusion of our ongoing probe. All relevant agencies in the aviation industry are collaborating with us on these two jets.

We are working on information made available to EFCC that they were bought with looted funds, Mr Ayodele was quoted as saying.

The source reportedly promised that the identities of the owners would be made public after investigations are concluded.

Source: Legit.ng
- The Nigerian Navy, army and air force will contribute troops for an ECOWAS operation meant to get President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia to step down

- A Nigerian war ship, the NNS Unity, is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana, after leaving Lagos for the operation

- President Yahya Jammeh has declared a national state of emergency 24 hours to the end of his tenure

President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia has been given an ultimatum by ECOWAS leaders to step down on Thursday, January 19, or be removed by force.

The federal government is to send Nigerian soldiers to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) troops in Senegal, ahead of the Thursday, January 19 deadline given to President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia to step down.

READ ALSO: 4 things that may happen in Gambia this week ahead of the inauguration ceremony

The Punch, citing a top military source in the Nigerian Air force, reports that the air force, the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Army would all contribute troops for the operation.

The source said the troops would be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, January 18, before leaving for Senegal.

He said: "I can confirm to you that men of the Air Force will leave for Senegal tomorrow (Wednesday). They will be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Kainji base in Niger State.

That Nigeria is deploying troops is now a certainty after several meetings with The Gambian president yielded no result. The Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries came to Abuja on Saturday, where they discussed what components each member state is expected to contribute to the troops that will force Yahya Jammeh out.

The troops are expected to stay for two weeks and they will be received at a base in Senegal.

Though the number of deployment could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, military sources have disclosed that the Nigerian warship, NNS UNITY, is also heading for the coast of the Gambia to join the operation.

Another military source said the NNS Unity is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana, after leaving from Lagos.

The source said: It is not only Nigeria. Senegal is the host country for the troops, as it would be easy to launch an attack from there.

READ ALSO: ECOWAS issues last warning to President Jammeh ahead of Barrow's swearing-in

Speaking on the Gambia crisis, the director of defence information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubaka has said the Gambai crisis is a political issues left for ECOWAS leaders to solve.

He said: We should not drag the Nigerian military into a political issue. What is happening is a political discussion between the ECOWAS leaders, aimed at solving a political impasse in one of its member states.:

Whatever they agreed to do is what will happen. Therefore, the military is not for any engagement regarding Jammeh or any other person for that matter.

Meanwhile, President Yahya Jammeh has declared a national state of emergency 24 hours to the end of his tenure.

The announcement of the state of emergency is coming hours after Gambia's ministers for finance, foreign affairs, trade and the environment resigned from Jammeh's government.

Jammeh in a national TV address on Tuesday, January 17, said that the 90-day measure was necessary because of "the unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference" in a December 1 presidential vote, which he lost to opposition leader Adama Barrow.

The former coup leader also cited external interference "the internal affairs of The Gambia and the unwarranted hostile atmosphere threatening the sovereignty, peace, security and stability of the country".

Adama Barrow of the opposition party won the December 1, 2016, presidential election but Jammeh, who initially conceded defeat, made a U-turn a week later, saying he would challenge the results.

Despite interventions by the African Union and ECOWAS, Jammeh insisted he would not hand over power to Barrow.

Source: Legit.ng
A banned substance bust in Graz has led to the arrest of 30 migrants, 14 of whom are Nigerians.

14 Nigerians have been arrested in Europe over peddling of banned substances (Pictured)

Express UK reports that police in Austria have arrested 31 men as part of a zero-tolerance crack-down on banned substances culture but only one of the men is an Austrian citizen.

14 Nigerians have been arrested in Europe over peddling of banned substances (Pictured)

Fourteen of the men are from Nigeria, 12 are from Afghanistan, three are from Algeria, one is from Pakistan and one was Austrian.

Officers caught 15 of the men at the weekend after suspecting them of dealing banned substances on the streets of Graz.

READ ALSO: Panic as thousands of unguarded Nigerian children land Italy

14 Nigerians arrested in Austria for peddling banned substances

Police said they also confiscated 2,500 euros of drug money when they seized the suspected criminals.

Austrias Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka is focusing on developing a Safe Austria scheme and said: "In the field of drug-related crime, I believe that a clear zero-tolerance strategy will be developed."

14 Nigerians arrested for peddling banned substances in Austria

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry warned: If an asylum seeker is convicted under criminal law, this can lead to them losing their asylum status or being denied asylum.

The ministry is also looking to speed up the process of deportation for such cases.

14 Nigerians arrested for peddling banned substances in Austria

The criminal complaints against migrants in Austria has soared over the past few years, with interior ministry figures showing that a staggering 42,010 property-related crimes were alleged to have been committed by migrants in 2015.

14 Nigerians arrested for peddling banned substances in Austria

A staggering 23,951 of the charges are alleged to be bodily harm caused by the migrants.'

In Vienna alone, 960 criminal complaints were made against Afghanis in the city between January and August last year, up from 730 for the whole of 2015.

But Christoph Riedl, an asylum expert for the Diakonie charity, pointed out that the figures could have been influenced by more people reporting crimes rather than more migrants actually committing crimes.

He said: Just because the number of criminal charges has risen, this doesnt automatically mean that asylum seekers are committing more crimes.

READ ALSO: SAD! 1,237 Nigerians stopped from entering Germany

14 Nigerians arrested for peddling banned substances in Austria

These are figures for criminal complaints and not per capita statistics.

He added: In order to interpret these figures properly, we need to look at the statistics for the number of convictions.

Earlier in 2016, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari warned that Nigerians' reputation for crime has made them unwelcome in Europe.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Buhari warned his fellow citizens to stop trying to make asylum claims in Britain, saying that their reputation for criminality has made it hard for them to be "accepted" abroad.

Buhari said those who had joined the migrant exodus to Europe were doing so purely for economic reasons rather than because they were in danger.

He added that because of the number of Nigerians imprisoned for law-breaking in Britain and elsewhere, they were also unlikely to get much sympathy.

Source: Legit.ng
- The international community has condemned the mistaken Air Force attack on an IDP camp in Rann, Borno state

- Some of them have started evacuating their injured workers

- Many are calling for investigation into the act

International aid bodies working in the North-east have condemned the mistake of the Nigerian Air Force which dropped a bomb inside the Rann IDP camp in Borno state leading to the death of about 53 people with 120 injured.

File photo of an aid worker attending to children in an IDP camp

The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) described the incident as shocking and acceptable.

In a statement released to the media yesterday, January 17, the director of operations, Dr Jean-Clement Cabrol, of the MSF said: This large-scale attack on vulnerable people who have already fled from extreme violence is shocking and unacceptable.

The safety of civilians must be respected. We are urgently calling on all parties to ensure the facilitation of medical evacuations by air or road for survivors who are in need of emergency care.

READ ALSO: 'How can the army make such a mistake?' - Nigerians react to IDP camp bombing

Similarly, the Nigerian Red Cross Society said six of its members were killed and 13 wounded in the strike.

''We are profoundly saddened with the news of casualties among the Red Cross staff and volunteers in Ran. Our thoughts are with the families of the dead and wounded Red Cross colleagues,'' the society said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

On its part, the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has dispatched a helicopter with four medical personnel, 400 kg of emergency medical supplies and airlifted eight Nigeria Red Cross workers injured in the military airstrike.

This is an unfortunate tragedy that befell people already suffering the effects of violence, said Peter Lundberg, the UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria.

Lundberg said the wounded have arrived Maiduguri with UNHAS and they have been taken by Nigerian Army and ICRC ambulances to hospital.

Reacting to the incident, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, described the incident as ''dreadful''.

He deplored the casualties, adding that aid workers and civilians are not a target.

On his part, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright called on the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure ''this tragic mistake does not recur.''

READ ALSO: Brave: How Nigerian Military rushes aircraft to pick injured soldier from war front

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged federal help to Borno state government in attending to the victims of the operational mistake.

In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the president pleaded for calm, while praying to God to grant repose to the souls of the dead.

Source: Legit.ng
With the inauguration of Donald Trump, the US president-elect, around the corner, some matters are starting to spring up and become a national concern. The incoming American president has some issues with Africa as indicated from the questions asked by his transition team.

In spite of the hatred he is believed to have for Africa and Africans, Donald Trump may not be able to avoid them.

The state department received some questions about Africa from the Donald Trump transition team. These questions revealed the administration's skepticism about Africa's position in US foreign policy.

Trump's team probed the value of US engagement on the continent in humanitarian aid, trade deals and anti-terrorism. The following issues will help you understand the stake of US on major issues in Africa.

1. Fear of totally losing out to the Chinese

Regarding this, different questions were asked in order to ascertain where the US lies in trade. With China moving relentlessly across Africa and gaining more grounds, the United States is almost being locked out. With China's activities, strategic natural resources have been locked down in Africa.

The trade between China and Africa has surpassed that of the US and its African partners ever since year 2009. The question of how US competes with other nations in Africa surfaces with this fact. If China is Africa's top trading partner, it leaves the United States in a very difficult situation.

READ ALSO: 6 brief points you need to know about the IDP bombing in Borno state

2. US has more pressing needs than Africa

The question: 'Why should we spend funds on Africa when we are suffering here in the US?' is a serious one. With corruption, bribery, lavish lifestyles and continuous theft from the state coffers, the position of US with the state of affairs in Africa is clear.

With the majority of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa failing to address this issue, US feels like it is out of their place to interfere. These problems limit foreign direct investment and heighten the risk of conflict.

READ ALSO: See the ex-ministers that have pledged their support to Wike (list)

3. US role in fighting Boko Haram insurgency

The role played by US in fighting Boko Haram has been up for debate for many years. The United States government has refused (for the past three years) to discuss the sales of weapons to Nigeria by citing incidents of corruption on the part of the government in addition to the abuse of human rights by the army.

Ever since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office, a large chunk of the money webbed around arms deal fraud has been uncovered.

With the remarkable achievements recorded under the tenure of the Nigerian president, it is hoped that Trump's administration will change the position of US on selling weapons to Nigeria. The role of US in other African countries can be evaluated here.

Source: Legit.ng
On January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States and thereby commence his 4-year tenure.

Trump Inauguration

As the inauguration draws closer, what are some facts you need to know about the preparations that have been put in place for this history making inauguration:

1. Venue

The inauguration will take place at a public ceremony that is to be held on Friday, January 20, 2017, on the West Front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

2. Theme

The inauguration theme is "Uniquely American", a phrase that highlights the inaugural ceremony as "a uniquely American expression of our Constitutional system."

According to the Trump team, the theme also stresses the peaceful transition of power, and that the American people are "united behind an enduring republic."

READ ALSO: With Trump as President, Nigeria will get less grants - Dr Frank

3. What will it involve?

The inaugural ceremonies will include concerts, the swearing-in ceremony, luncheon and parade, inaugural balls, and the interfaith inaugural prayer service.

During this ceremonies, the presidential oath will be administered to Trump by John Roberts the Chief Justice of the United States, and the vice presidential oath of office will be administered to Pence by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas.

4. The Inaugural committee

The 2017 Presidential Inaugural Committee will organize several other inaugurationrelated events at the direction of the Presidentelect and Vice Presidentelect of the United States, such as the train ride, concerts, parade, balls and prayer service.

Thomas J. Barrack Jr is the chairman of the committee, which expects to raise $70 million. The co-chairs of the committee are Lewis M. Eisenberg and Roy Bailey.

READ ALSO: Donald Trump snubs Buhari, calls other world leaders

5. Schedule of events

The schedule of events is set to commence on January 19 with a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery attended by the President-elect and Vice President-elect.

After which, there will be a concert titled Make America Great! Welcome Celebration which will be held at Lincoln Memorial afterwards.

The following day will be the inauguration ceremony at the US Capitol, followed by the parade on Pennsylvania Avenue and the inaugural balls later on.

6. After events

Following that a National Prayer Service will be held on January 21 at the Washington National Cathedral.

7. Trump's speech

Donald Trump's inaugural address will be written by Stephen Miller, who was the speechwriter of most of his campaign speeches.

The new President and Vice President will also attend several dinners honoring them, and there will be a ball honoring the Armed Forces and first responders.

Below is a video on the Trump inauguration:

Source: Legit.ng
Again, Nigerians are depressed and thrown into a period of mourning with the bombing of the IDP camp in Rann, Borno state.

Military air troop mistakenly bombed an IDP camp in Rann, Borno state.

There are so many weird things going on in the society; the issue of national security has been a major concern for Nigerians in recent times. Although one has to acknowledge the role the government is playing in trying to sort the displaced persons, the bombing of the camp has thrown Nigerians home and abroad into a state of confusion.

The activities of the much dreaded Boko Haram sect has tampered with the peace and harmony of Nigeria as a nation. The victims of war or conflict are not just those who die in the battle, those who live to tell the story live with pains and memories that may never make them remain the same again.

In this light, the displaced persons at the camps have seen a lighter shade of death with the hardship and sufferings they have endured in recent times. Some of them are lost and have no inkling of the whereabouts of their loved ones. Living in the IDP camp is enough reason for them to be depressed and frustrated when they used to be major business owners and land owners.

The bombing of the IDP camp by the Nigerian army is the most disturbing information ever. Check out the points you need to know from this ugly incident:

1. At least 52 people have been killed

The bombing of the IDP camp in Rann was a fatal accident. From report gotten, not less than 52 people have been killed with 120 people sustaining different degrees of injury.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Military jet mistakenly drops bomb on IDP camp

2. The military air troop made a mistake

The Nigerian army have been praised in recent times for their dedication in fighting insurgency in Nigeria. They had gotten wind of some information on the terrorists when they accidentally blew up the IDP camp.

3. Help is being provided for those injured

It should be known that the government is devastated with this news. First aid is being provided to those who are in pains while those who were severely injured have been moved to the hospitals for medical treatment.

Words have been sent out to medical facilities to be ready to receive and treat as many people as possible.

4. It is a large scale attack on vulnerable people

While everyone is thrown into a state of despair, Nigerians should render support and pray for the quick recovery of the affected persons.

This attack is a large scale attack on vulnerable people; it is pathetic to note that these people fled their homes in order to avoid being killed and still ended up facing something as petrifying as this. Many of the people in the IDP camp have a look of dejection on their faces.

5. The bombing was authorised by Lucky Irabor

The theatre commander of Nigerian forces in Borno confirmed that the bombing was authorised by him.

The major general said they received reports about some Boko Haram terrorists around Kala balge local government area of Borno state. However, the strike hit the wrong target and affected locals in Rann according to him.

READ ALSO: Check out Nigerians' reactions to the depressing situation of things

6. President Muhammadu Buhari said it is a regrettable operational mistake

While people were starting to come to terms with the University of Maiduguri bombing, trouble brought forth its ugly head again with the bombing of the IDP camp.

The president is aware of the situation and has said that the federal government will assist the state government in ensuring the victims are sorted.

Watch the video below:

Source: Legit.ng
Following the refusal of Gambia's President, Yahaya Jammeh to step down, the president-elect, Adama Barrow has spoken ahead of the inauguration which is scheduled to hold on Thursday, January 19.

Barrow who is taking refuge in Senegal, in a tweet, said: ''We made history on the first day of December. Our future starts tomorrow. #Gambia''

This is coming after Gambia's National Assembly has passed a resolution giving the incumbent president Yahya Jammeh a three-month tenure extension.

READ ALSO: Gambia's president Jammeh declares state of emergency

The incoming president of the Gambia had earlier said his inauguration would go ahead as planned this week in spite of attempts to thwart it by the incumbent leader.

However, he is expected to be sworn in at the national stadium in the Gambian capital, Banjul. It is remains unclear whether Jammeh will try other means to prevent this.

Adama Barrow of the opposition party won the December 1, 2016, presidential election but Jammeh, who initially conceded defeat, made a U-turn a week later, saying he would challenge the results.

Despite interventions by the African Union and ECOWAS, Jammeh insisted he would not hand over power to Barrow.

Source: Legit.ng
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- Central Bank of Nigeria has banned Nigerian banks from all transactions in virtual currencies like Bitcoin, Onecoin and ripples

- Central bank warned that these virtual currencies are untraceable and can be used by criminals

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday, January 17, has passed a circular to inform all Nigerian banks that all transaction in bitcoin and other virtual currencies have been banned in Nigeria.

Central Bank of Nigeria bans transaction of virtual currencies

The CBN directive is coming after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a warning against virtual currencies.

READ ALSO: How to make money online

According to a report by Premium Times, the circular signed by CBNs director of financial policy and regulation department, Kelvin Amugo, stated that the move was necessitated by money laundering and terrorism financing risks inherent in operations of virtual currencies.

The circular read: The emergence of Virtual Currencies (VCs) has attracted investments in payments infrastructure that provides new methods of transmitting value over the internet.

Transactions in VCs are largely untraceable and anonymous making them susceptible to abuse by criminals, especially in money laundering and financing of terrorism.

VCs are traded in exchange platforms that are unregulated, all over the world. Consumers may, therefore, lose their money without any legal redress in the event these exchanges collapse or close business.

The development of VCs Payment Products and Services (VCPPS) and their interactions with other New Payment Products and Services (NPPS), give rise to the need for guidance to protect the integrity of the Nigerian financial system. There is, therefore, the need to address the Money Laundering/Terrorism Financing risks associated with VC exchanges and any other type of institutions that act as nodes where convertible VC activities intersect with the regulated fiat currency financial system.

The attention of banks and other reporting financial institutions is hereby drawn to the above risks and you are required to take the following actions pending substantive regulation or decision by the CBN.

The Central Bank therefore advised banks to ensure that they do not use, hold, and transact in virtual currencies.

CBN also warned the banks to ensure that existing customers that are virtual currency exchangers have effective AML/CFT controls that enable them to comply with customer identification, verification and transaction monitoring requirements.

Where banks or other financial institutions are not satisfied with the controls put in place by the virtual currency exchangers/customers, the relationship should be discontinued immediately; and any suspicious transactions by these customers should immediately be reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

The CBN stressed that virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, Ripples, Monero, Litecoin, Dogecion, Onecoin and similar products are not legal tenders in Nigeria, thus any bank or institution that transacts in such business does so at its own risk.

Meanwhile, a Nigerian man, Daniel Onowugbeda has called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to help him arrest an alleged fake bitcoin seller who duped him.

According to him, he contacted the bitcoin seller on Twitter, a user identified as, @BuyBitcoinsNg. He was asked to pay N100,000 but the seller blocked him immediately after he paid the money into the account given to him.

Source: Legit.ng
- Ohaneze Ndigbo has said it will throw its weight behind the call for the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra

- The group said it will ensure that peace reigns in the South-East region

Ohaneze Ndigbo has promised to call for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu

The leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo has promised to throw its weight behind the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.

Ohaneze Ndigbo also promised to bridge the gap between the IPOB and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafran (MASSOB).

READ ALSO: IPOB invites DSS, police to join its Trump solidarity rally (SEE EVIDENCE)

Speaking with Vanguard, the new leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo Damian Okeke said the group will ensure that peace reigns in the South-East region.

Okeke said that the agitation for Biafra is for equity, justice and fairness.

He also insisted that the struggle for the freedom of Biafra will not be done violently.

He further assured to establish a link between similar bodies in the South-East to restore the dignity of the Igbo people in Nigeria and in diaspora.

READ ALSO: To spite Uwazuruike, IPOB lists schools Nnamdi Kanu attended

We are no longer prepared to lose any life in the name of the struggle. Ohanaeze Ndigbo will, among other things, reach out to law enforcement agencies and minimize conflicts between them and the people, especially with regard to extortion at checkpoints, Okeke said.

We also intend to empanel a legal team of volunteers to take care of injustices against Igbo and will also assemble medical experts to take care of emergency situations, he said.

Source: Legit.ng
Joachim Iroko, the man who was arrested in 2016 for allegedly naming his dog Buhari appeared in court today, Wednesday, January 18, 2017 with his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.

Joachim Iroko with his lawyers

However, the proceedings in the case: COP v Iroko at the Magistrate's Court of Ogun state holden at Ota could notprogress following the absence of presiding magistrate, PJ Ojikutu who was said to be attending a screening exercise.

READ ALSO: Man who named dog Buhari alerts over threat to life

Iroko, 41, was arrested in August 2016 and detained by the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly naming his pet dog after President Muhammadu Buhari.

The arrest provoked outrage across the country while the police subsequently arraigned him in court for conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

In court on Wednesday, Iroko was represented by three Lagos-based legal practitioners: Adeola Samuel Opeyemi from Lead Solicitors; Tosin Adesioye from the law firm of Adegboruwa & Company as well as human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong from Inibehe Effiong Chambers.

The prosecution, BG Emenike, a deputy superintendent of police was also in court.

READ ALSO: Chinakwe's arrest: Lawyer exposes alleged lies by the police

The case has now been adjourned to March 20, 2017 for hearing of the motion on notice challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the competence of the charge.

Source: Legit.ng
Melinda, wife of one of the worlds top richest men and philanthropist, Bill Gates, is currently in Kaduna meeting with the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Legit.ng has learnt.

Melinda Gates with top officials of the Kaduna state government

Melinda, a co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an organisation which is into charity reportedly met with the governor and his economic team.

READ ALSO: Suspected Fulani hersdmen attack southern Kaduna again, kill 3

Mrs. Gates, whose plane landed at the Kaduna Airport, governor that the Gates Foundation, also lauded Kaduna States drive to improve the range and credibility of data collection. Your commitment to data collection is really admirable. You can't make decisions without data. We are pleased to help you with that.

She assured the governor that the Gates Foundation has a joint interest with the Kaduna State Government to reduce infant mortality. Assessing the progress on routine immunization, Mrs. Gates said the BMGF is impressed by the scale of the polio surveillance mounted by the Kaduna State Government.

Speaking further on the healthcare segment of the partnership between her foundation and Kaduna State, Mrs. Gates said that the primary health centres will continue to be supported so that they can offer a broad range of services to patients.

Mrs. Gates also promised that the BMGF will invest more in agriculture and in promoting access to financial services.

Malam El-Rufai expressed gratitude to the Gates Foundation for supporting Kaduna State. He proposed that the partnership between the foundation and the state should be strengthened by making it to better cohere with the states priorities. These include maternal and child health, child spacing and nutrition. He further suggested that the BMGF should support the states data revolution, its state residency identification system and efforts to promote security and justice, and to address the root causes of poverty and development.

The governor noted that Mrs. Gates direct flight to Kaduna Airport is a welcome endorsement. He added that Kaduna State looks forward to strengthening the relationship between the two partners.

After the meeting, she is expected to be hosted by Hajia Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari and they would discuss issues concerning women.

READ ALSO: Southern Kaduna rep laments in the House of Reps

Mrs Aisha will also be partnering, through the Future Assured, her organisation, with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on issues affecting women and children in Africa.

Source: Legit.ng
- Constituents of Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency have sued the clerk and speaker of the House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara, challenging the legality of suspending their member, Abdulmumin Jibrin

- Hundreds of protesters of Jibrin are calling for the lawmaker to be reinstated to the House and compensated

Abdulmumin Jibrin had alleged that Yakubu Dogara and other members of the House of Representatives inflated the 2016 budget for personal gains.

The Federal High Court in Kano has fixed February 20 as the date for hearing the case filed by constituents of Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency challenging the suspension Abdulmumin Jibrin.

READ ALSO: Senate sets up a committee to probe southern Kaduna Killings

The news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some constituents of Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency sued the Clerk and Speaker Yakubu Dogara, challenging the legality of suspending their member, Jibrin.

The counsel for the plaintiff, Mr Bashir Muqaddam had earlier on Wednesday, January 18, applied for a date to enable him respond to the issues raised in the preliminary objection filed by the defence counsel.

Muqaddam said the defence counsel wanted the consolidation of the two suits  the one filed by the constituency in Kano and the other filed by the suspended lawmaker, Jibrin in Abuja.

The presiding Judge, Justice Sulaiman Akoko, said in the absence of objection to the application for adjournment, the case would come up again for hearing on February 20.

READ ALSO: House of Reps move to amend Labour Act (2004)

Muqaddam, said when the case resumes on his team will argue on the issue of consolidation as raised by the defence counsel.

According to NAN, security was tight as hundreds of protesters thronged the court with placards shouting bring back our member and compensate him.

Recall that Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the appropriation committee, was been suspended by the federal house of representatives for 180 legislative days.

His suspension followed his accusation that theleadership of the House of Representatives inflated the 2016 budget for personal gains.

Source: Legit.ng
- The House of Representatives today, January 18 looked into the issue of abandoned relatives of slain policemen

-The motion was sponsored by Honourable Oghene Emma Egoh, representing Odofin Federal constituency

- The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has been battling with welfare challenges for a long time

The House of Representatives today, January 18 looked into the issue of abandoned relatives of slain policemen.

File photo of the House of Reps sitting

The motion was sponsored by Honourable Oghene Emma Egoh, representing Amuwo Odofin Federal constituency.

READ ALSO: Southern Kaduna rep laments in the House of Reps

Egoh, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member stressed on the need for dependent relatives of over 3000 police personnel who died in active service to be paid their entitlements.

On his part, deputy minority leader, Honourable Chukwuka Onyema said: "It's sad that people work and die for our country and their entitlements are not given to their families."

The Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara put the motion to a vote and it was adopted.

The House, therefore, resolved to call on the Police Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the matter with a view to ensuring the payment of the entitlements within the shortest possible time.

The House also mandated the committee on police affairs to ensure implementation and report back to the House within 4 weeks for further legislative action.

READ ALSO: House of Reps move to amend Labour Act (2004)

Meanwhile, the House of Reps is set to investigate the missing N500 million budgeted fund for reconstruction of Chibok Secondary School.

The lower house yesterday, January 17 considered a motion on a call for an investigation of the N500 million budgeted fund for reconstruction of the Girls Secondary School, Chibok which was razed down by terrorists in 2014.

Source: Legit.ng
- The delegation President Buhari sent to Rann, Borno state on condolence visit to the victims of the accidental bombing by the Nigerian Air Force is made up of top government officials

- The delegation includes chief of staff Abba Kyari; the Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali; Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and service chiefs

Buhari has cancelled FEC meeting to send delegation to bombed IDP camp in Borno

President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled the regular Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting to send a delegation of top government officials to Rann, Borno state, venue of the accidental bombing of an IDP camp on Tuesday, January 17.

READ ALSO: IDP Bombing: Fayose reacts, calls for investigation

The Punch reports that rather than hold FEC meeting, Buhari sent a team on condolence visit to the northern state.

The delegation includes chief of staff Abba Kyari; the Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali; Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and service chiefs.

A scheduled weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council was also called off on Wednesday.

The Punch quotes some government officials as saying that the accidental bombing could be responsible for the development but reports that no official reason was given for the cancellation.

Recall that President Buhari had in a statement by his spokesman Femi Adesina on Tuesday, January 17, just hours after the incident, expressed deep regret at the accidental bombings by the Nigerian Air Force which was engaged in the final phase of mopping up insurgents in the North-east.

READ ALSO: Exercise caution in future operations, Senate tells military

Buhari pledged federal help for the state government in attending to what he called regrettable operational mistake.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has expressed sadness over the accidental air strike by its fighter jet in an Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Rann, Borno state leading to the death of about 53 people with 120 injured.

Source: Legit.ng
A federal government delegation led by Abba Kyari the Chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, has arrived Maiduguri, Borno state, in respect of Tuesdays accidental bombing of an IDP camp by a military fighter jet.

The delegation comprises of the Chief of State, Abba Kyari, ministers of defence and information; Mansur Dan Alli and Lai Mohammed respectively, Chief of Defence Staff Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Air Staff, Sadik Abubakar and the Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai.

The delegation was received at the Maiduguri Airport by the Theater Commander of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Lucky Irabor.

READ ALSO: Exercise caution in future operations, Senate tells military

The team has left for the Borno Government House, where it will meet Governor Kashim Shettima visit State Governor Kashim Shettima, Shehu of Borno Abubakar GarbaI Al Amin El Kanem, and the hospitals where those injured from the bombing are being treated.

The president earlier cancelled the regular Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting to send a delegation of top government officials to Rann, Borno state, venue of the accidental bombing of an IDP camp on Tuesday, January 17.

President Buhari in a statement commiserated with the Borno state government while praying to God to grant repose to the souls of the dead.

READ ALSO: Reactions trail Air Force operational mistake in Rann, Borno state

At least 52 persons were killed and 120 others injured after an Air Force jet mistakenly targeted the IDP camp at Rann.

The Rann IDP camp in Kala-balge local government area caters for thousands of persons displaced by Boko Haram.

Source: Legit.ng
The Emir of Jemaa (Kafanchan), Alhaji Muhammad Isa Muhammad II, has been attacked by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Samarau Kataf, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna state.

One of the vandalised vehicle in the convoy of the emir

Though the traditional ruler escaped by the whiskers, three of his cars which were in the convoy in which he was travelling were destroyed by the rampaging attackers.

READ ALSO: Suspected Fulani hersdmen attack southern Kaduna again, kill 3

Daily Trust reports that the emir was returning to Kafanchan after a security meeting with the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, concerning the violence in southern Kaduna when he was attacked.

El-Rufai has placed a 24-your curfew on the area following renewed attacks and killings.

The report said the Ciroma of Jemaa Emirate, Alhaji Kabiru Tanko, who escaped being killed, confirmed that the convoy was attacked while they were returning from a meeting with the governor late Tuesday, January 17.

When we reach Samaru Kataf, some armed youths surrounded us with all kind of weapons and started attacking our convoy. We immediately turned back to Kachia for our safety, he said while commending Governor El-Rufais administration and the federal government for deploying security officials to the troubled zone.

READ ALSO: Bill Gate's wife visits Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna

He further pleaded with the government to investigate the crises that have snowballed into violence and punish those found culpable without fear or favour.

He also pleaded with Christians and Muslims in the state to embrace peace.

Source: Legit.ng
- Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has insisted that Nigerians do not need counselling in 2019 to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari

- He believes the presidents woeful performance will make Nigerians reject him and his party in totality.

- He also insisted that former President Goodluck Jonathan is more tolerant of opposition than President Buhari

Ayodele Fayose

Ekiti state governor Ayodele Fayose has said that Nigerians do not need counselling to reject President Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2019 general elections.

According to him, the presidents woeful performance will make Nigerians reject them in totality.

READ ALSO: Buhari mistakenly became the president of Nigeria - Fayose

He made this known in a press statement in Ado Ekiti recently.

The vocal governor also said that the living conditions have become unbearable for Nigerians under the present administration. Going further, he accused President Buhari of being intolerant of opposition.

Consequently, he praised former President Goodluck Jonathan for his level of tolerance while in power.

Nigeria of our dream is not what we see now. What I said about President Buhari are coming to pass. Before the polls, I said people should not vote for him.

Nigerians are hungry and they are regretting. If a nobody contests against Buhari in 2019, Buhari will lose. Nigerians dont need counselling to know that they should not vote Buhari in 2019. It is obvious.

President Buhari

Majority of those who voted for him never really knew him as they were mostly in their 40s, people who were toddlers when he ruled Nigeria as a military man in the 80s. Also, he is vindictive and apart from military nature, he does not have what it takes to run Nigeria. His government then was run by Idiagbon.

READ ALSO: APC blames Fayose for death of Ekiti worker

He is also not tolerant. You cant compare him with Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan accepted defeat in an election he conducted.

Nobody will be stopped from aspiring, but we will go through that system to ensure that our candidate is the choice of the people of the state. After that, the partys primary would select, but whatever results we have got from the different groups could guide in party members making the final choice, he said.

Meanwhile, the governor has also faulted the federal governments claims that the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists have been technically defeated and that government was clamping down heavily on perpetrators of the Southern Kaduna killings.

He also said that apart from being an opposition figure, he had chosen the path of revealing the truth and he asked Nigerians to look at events in the country and compare to his previous comments.

Source: Legit.ng
- The explosion in Delta state on Tuesday, January 17 was a fire outbreak caused by bush burning and not a militant attack on oil pipeline, says Operation Delta Safe troops

- The JTF says the fire was escalated by a previous oil spill from one of the facilities of the NPDC located at Ekiugbo Afiesere and Inene Community in Ughelli North Local Government of the state

FILE PHOTO: The Nigerian Army's Operation Delta Safe says there was no pipeline bombing in Delta state on January 17

The Nigerian Armys Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe has denied that some militants blew an oil pipeline on Tuesday, January 17 at Ughelli in Delta state.

Nigerian Tribune reports that coordinator of joint media campaign centre Lieutenant Colonel Olaolu Marcellinus Daudu said in a statement to journalists that the incident was a fire outbreak caused by bush burning and nothing more.

READ ALSO: House of Reps wade into Cross River/Akwa Ibom communal clashes

The fire was increased by a previous oil spill from one of the facilities of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) located at Ekiugbo Afiesere and Inene Community in Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State, the statement said.

The attention of Headquarters Operation DELTA SAFE has been drawn to purported media reports of pipeline explosion caused by militants at Ughelli Delta State.

The incidence that occurred was a fire outbreak as a result of bush burning escalated by previous oil spill from one of the facilities of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) located at Ekiugbo Afiesere and Inene Community in Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State.

It should be noted that no pipeline was affected neither was there any explosion.

READ ALSO: Delta women protest continuous attack by Fulani herdsmen

Joint Task Force Operation DELTA SAFE wishes to use this opportunity to caution all from propagating discord and unsubstantiated stories in other to seek relevance and cause unnecessary tension are advised to desist from such practice.

They should rather be guided by national interest and security as they go about their professional duties, Daudu noted.

Recall that reports emerged on Tuesday that after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo left Delta state on a one-day visit, some militants bombed NPDC pipeline at Ughelli in Delta State in protest.

Source: Legit.ng
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RIGA, Latvia  History has bequeathed this Baltic port capital much beauty, captured in elegant Art Nouveau buildings or the Gothic church steeples that stud the windswept skyline. But it has also left a nasty ethnic rift that has persisted despite Latvias absorption into NATO, the European Union and the euro currency, and which has now deepened with the crisis in Ukraine.

In this nation of two million, about one-third of the residents speak only or primarily Russian. Many  but not all  are people whose families arrived during the decades of Soviet rule here. Ever since Latvia declared independence in 1991, many of these Russian speakers have been in limbo, as noncitizens squeezed out of political life, largely unable to vote, hold office or even serve in the fire brigade.

Those who refuse to acquire proficient skill speaking Latvian do not get citizenship. In the coming October elections, unless the government decides to issue special voting cards, about 283,000 will, once again, not cast ballots.

This weekend the Baltic nations marked 25 years since the Baltic Way, a seminal event in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when two million of their citizens linked hands across nearly 400 miles to declare their goal of independence. Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians took each other by the hand back then to show the world that they wanted to be free, independent states, noted Laimdota Straujuma, the prime minister of Latvia, at a ceremony here on Saturday. It was a shout of three abandoned nations for freedom, said her Estonian counterpart, Taavi Roivas.
As Gulnara has repeatedly stated, she is completely innocent of the charges against her, Mr. Ryan said. She is willing to travel to any court where the rule of law is upheld so she can clear her name. The fact that an Uzbek military court  which sits in secret  has already found her associates guilty makes it almost impossible for Gulnara to be tried fairly in the normal Uzbek judicial process.
NIAMEY, Niger  Demonstrators threw stones and set fire to two churches in Niamey, Nigers capital, on Saturday, as protests continued against the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

A day after five people were killed in Niger during demonstrations over the cartoons, protesters in Niamey attacked a police station and burned at least two police cars on Saturday near the main mosque after the authorities banned a meeting called by local Muslim leaders. The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

They offended our Prophet Muhammad, said Amadou Abdoul Ouahab, who took part in the demonstration.

Thats what we didnt like, he said. This is the reason we have asked Muslims to come, so that we can explain this to them, but the state refused. Thats why were angry today.
DAKAR, Senegal  With the regional war against the Boko Haram militant group widening, Nigers Parliament has agreed to send troops across the border to join the fight.

The vote was unanimous in the National Assembly on Monday night, reflecting the shock produced by at least four attacks in Niger in less than a week, including an explosion at a market in the countrys east that killed a number of civilians.

Chad, Cameroon and Benin have also agreed to contribute troops to an 8,700-member force to fight Boko Haram. Attacks by the militant group, which is based in Nigeria, have increasingly spilled across borders in the region.

Nigerias war has spread to its smaller, poorer neighbor, Niger. In Diffa, the main city in the countrys far east, just across the border from Nigeria, people are in a panic, the head of the Red Cross in Diffa, Abdullai Adah, said by phone on Tuesday, after a bombing at a vegetable market and an attack on the citys prison the day before. At least eight were killed, Mr. Adah said.
On May 13, 2005, military forces dispatched by the government of Uzbekistan fired on a massive protest in the city of Andijon, killing hundreds of Uzbek citizens. The day before, thousands had gathered in Andijons Bobur Square to protest the imprisonment of 23 businessmen and, more broadly, to protest the deteriorating social, political and economic conditions of Uzbekistan.

The next day the crowd grew to over 10,000, some drawn by an expectation that President Islam Karimov would come to address the protest. Instead, demonstrators were greeted by gunfire. According to eyewitness accounts, the military fired indiscriminately, killing innocent bystanders. Human rights activists put the death toll at more than 700.

This is one narrative of what has come to be known as the Andijon massacre. It is the narrative that the Uzbek authorities do not want you to hear. According to the Uzbek government, what happened was this: A jailbreak of criminal businessmen led by a band of terrorists resulted in a necessary military response. Only 187 people were killed, all of them armed insurgents.

Immediately following the violence, the Uzbek government expelled all journalists and human rights campaigners from Andijon and forbade an international investigation. The title of Mr. Karimovs 2005 book on the events sums up the insular regimes philosophy: The Uzbek People Will Never Depend on Anyone. The Andijon massacre was Uzbekistan state business, and anyone who dared promulgate a version that contradicted the official narrative faced arrest or exile.
SKOPJE, Macedonia  An almost surreal scandal involving hundreds of thousands of secretly recorded conversations caught top government officials discussing everything from rigging votes to covering up killings.

Two ministers and the head of the secret services have resigned. Thousands have taken to the streets demanding the right-wing governments ouster. And last weekend, 25 miles north of the capital, a sudden burst of bloodshed left eight police officers and 14 terrorists dead and others wondering why it had happened, and why now.

Macedonia, a country about the size of Vermont with two million residents, an increasingly nationalistic temperament and a history that goes back only 24 years, is on the edge of cracking.

Once seen as a shining light among former Communist states, Macedonia has slowly, over the last decade, slipped into authoritarian rule under a party that has curtailed press rights, emboldened security forces, dominated the judiciary and once even ejected the opposition from Parliament.
This is a video report that Ill never be able to do again. Its about Angola, an oil-rich and fabulously corrupt country that also happens to be the deadliest place in the world to be a child.

Angola, naturally, doesnt welcome journalists. It took me about five years to get a journalist visa to get into Angola, and after my reporting I doubt Ill get another visa as long as the current regime remains in power. So at The Times, we poured a lot of time and effort into the story of what corruption does to a country.

For me, the most compelling moments are those of rural Angola, the villages where people live without any access to doctors or dentists. We simply drove down a highway for hours, and then twice took small dirt roads quite randomly to see where they would lead, and then stopped in villages and chatted with people. Its pretty heartbreaking to see kids suffering untreated from disease and unable to attend school, or to meet a mom who has lost 10 children  and its not just sad, but infuriating when you see it in a country that is rich with oil and diamonds. Then you remember that the Angolan presidents daughter is a billionaire, that Western governments are buddying up to the president  and, well, you feel you owe it to the villagers you met to tell their story in their own words. So we shot some videos to run with my columns. May this add pressure on the government to spend its oil wealth not just on Porsches and Champagne for the leaders, but also on health and education for ordinary Angolans.
PARIS  Twenty-five years after he was overthrown, Hissene Habre, a former president of Chad, went on trial Monday to face charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture in a special court in Senegal backed by the African Union.

The opening session began in chaos as Mr. Habre was forced to enter the courtroom and then, while waiting for the trial to start, stood up and started shouting.

As if on cue, Mr. Habres relatives and supporters in the public gallery shouted slogans and scuffled with security officers. Video from the court showed guards picking up Mr. Habre, 72, in his long white robes, and carrying him out. Mr. Habre denounced the event as a farce staged by African traitors and servants of America, witnesses said.

Mr. Habre, who led a brutal government from 1982 to 1990, might have expected to live out his days peacefully in exile in Senegal. But he was not forgotten by his victims and the human rights groups that campaigned for nearly two decades to bring him to justice.
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso  The troops who staged a failed coup in Burkina Faso have refused to give up their weapons under a political deal negotiated last week by West African leaders, the countrys transitional government said on Monday.

The Presidential Security Regiment  known by its French initials, R.S.P.  has been in control of the presidential palace in Ouagadougou, the capital, since the evening of Sept. 16, when its officers stormed into a cabinet meeting and seized the interim president, Michel Kafando, and prime minister, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida. The officers are allies of former President Blaise Compaore, who was driven from office by mass protests in October 2014 after he tried to change the Constitution to extend his 27-year rule.

The United Nations and the African Union condemned the coup, and the capital and other cities erupted in protest. A general strike paralyzed the country, and the rest of the army refused to support the coup.

After government military forces began moving into the capital last week to reassert control, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States brokered an accord to resolve the crisis: The army would withdraw from the capital, while the regiment would reinstate the interim government, return to its base about a mile from the presidential palace and lay down its arms.
PARIS  Prosecutors have for the first time brought a radical Islamist to the International Criminal Court, accusing him of destroying ancient religious monuments in 2012 when his extremist group overran Timbuktu in northern Mali.

Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, a citizen of Mali, was handed over to the court last weekend and made his first appearance Wednesday before an international judge.

The prosecution described Mr. Mahdi as a zealous member of Ansar Dine, an Islamist extremist group linked to Al Qaeda. It said he played a predominant and active role in Timbuktu as the head of a self-appointed morality squad, working in conjunction with a new Islamist court.

In that role, the prosecution said, he committed war crimes by directing attacks against 10 religious buildings, including widely revered shrines to Islamic thinkers and an ancient mosque. The group deemed much of the culture of Timbuktu, a medieval center of Islamic learning, as idolatrous and in need of cleansing.
SANTA CATARINA PINULA, Guatemala  There was no warning when the waterlogged hillside collapsed, engulfing the neighborhood in the deep gorge below and burying whole families as they slept.

But there had been plenty of warning that such a tragedy could occur. Since 2008, the Guatemalan authorities have issued alerts that the concrete-block settlement of El Cambray II was unsafe.

But the working-class families who had built lives in the neighborhood stayed put.

On Sunday, rescue workers returned for the third day to the site of the mudslide, one of Guatemalas worst natural disasters in years. With the hope of finding anybody alive all but extinguished, the authorities used heavy machinery to push aside the earth and reach the buried houses dozens of feet below.

The death toll stood at 131, but officials estimated that 300 people were missing from the 125 houses now entombed in mud. For two weeks, there had been constant rain, which had loosened the earth above El Cambray II. Where the Pinula River flows, along the settlement, years of flooding had weakened the homes foundations.

Survivors who had spent the previous two days digging frantically with pickaxes for their missing relatives were told they could no longer look. Sergio Cabanas, director of the rescue operation for National Coordination for Disaster Reduction, or Conred, told reporters late Saturday that it was very unlikely that anybody would be found alive.

On Sunday morning, Santa Catarina Pinula, wedged up against one of the richest neighborhoods in Guatemala City, was full. Cars adorned with black bows carried mourners to bury relatives and people dropping off supplies to the survivors.

A hall for community events was set up as a shelter for the survivors rendered homeless. Inside, clowns performed for the children, handing out balloon animals and gifts.

But it was a brief respite against the enormity of the loss.

We have 185 people here who need help, 35 kids who have lost everything, said Estuardo Garcia, director of culture and sport for Santa Catarina Pinulas local government. Mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, cousins. All their friends.

Oscar Suruy Lopez, 38, who lost his house, stood outside the hall, stunned as he watched the movement around him. Fifteen people I knew are gone, he said. He had been at work when the mudslide struck. Only his father-in-law had been at home, and he managed to escape.
On my first trip back to the Dominican Republic in 10 years, as I wandered down the streets of La Zona Colonial, I noticed how their names were weighted with history. Calle de las Damas, a street made specifically for the wives and daughters of noblemen from colonial times to walk down. Calle Jose Gabriel Garcia, named for a Dominican historian and journalist, among other things, who shares a first and last name with my father and made me think of him while I was there. Calle Isabel La Catolica where I felt a connection to my paternal grandmother, Isabel Mireya Garcia. Born in Bani, she lived and died on the right side of Hispaniola and raised my father in Santo Domingo.

During my trip I would text my father pictures of the streets, and he would always text me back a story from his youth that occurred close to or near the street I was on.

Thats the street where I shook Pope John Paul IIs hand in 1979, he texted me, referring to Calle Padre Billini.

He likened La Zona Colonial to Times Square, but to me it resembled too much of the Old World.

The cobblestones, the colonial-style houses that were more like haciendas, Christopher and Diego Columbuss house-turned museum  this all reminded me of the Spanish who once lived here and the continuing reverence for their influence in a country whose residents have African, European and Asian ancestry.
For wealthy Americans looking to veil their assets and shield some of their income from taxation, there is no need to go to Panama or any other offshore tax haven. Its easy to establish a shell corporation right here at home.

In Wyoming, Nevada and Delaware, its possible to create these shell corporations with virtually no questions asked, said Matthew Gardner, executive director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a nonprofit research organization in Washington.

In some places, it can be more difficult to get a fishing license than to register a shell company. And it doesnt cost much more.

The Panama Papers  the cache of leaked documents from a Panama law firm, Mossack Fonseca  have revealed how thousands of the firms clients, including an array of powerful figures around the world, stashed billions of dollars in tax havens. So far only a tiny number of American names have surfaced (although that could change as more of the documents are reviewed).
Panama City  DESPITE their name, the Panama Papers are not mainly about Panama. They are not even primarily concerned with Panamanian companies. The more than 11 million documents, illegally hacked and released last week relating to previously undisclosed offshore corporations, is roiling the world with revelations of the vulnerability for rampant abuse of legal financial structures by the wealthy.

They are unfairly called the Panama Papers because this particular trove of documents came from a single law firm based in Panama. But the problem of tax evasion is a global one.

Panama does not deserve to be singled out on an issue that plagues many countries. But we are willing to accept the responsibility for fixing it, in part because greater transparency is ultimately a continuation of reforms we have recently undertaken. The world must tackle this problem collectively and with urgency, and Panama stands ready to lead the way.

The scope of the information is breathtaking: The files include information on more than 14,000 banks, law firms, corporate incorporators and other middlemen from more than 100 countries, which is just a small part of a worldwide industry that harbors trillions of dollars.
EL MATAL, Ecuador  The narrow, six-mile road that connected this fishing village to the main highway disintegrated from the earths violent heaves, severing it from all outside contact.

It would be days before anyone arrived.

Residents took to the rubble with shovels and sticks, to little avail. Some used their hands to push away debris from a sandy cliff that had collapsed, smothering all the homes below.

There was no water, no electricity. And with all phone lines severed, there would be no calling for help.

On Tuesday, a military helicopter made the 40-minute flight from the provincial capital, Portoviejo, ferrying supplies and a New York Times reporter and photographer.
That the United States would have dealings with such an unpopular figure has dismayed many Moldovans, particularly those who share Washingtons desire to steer the country out of Russias orbit and toward the West.

Image Mr. Plahotniuc, Moldovas most-feared figure, is a nominally pro-Western tycoon with a reputation so toxic that even his political friends usually try to keep their distance in public. Credit... Dumitru Doru/European Pressphoto Agency

We were all in shock when that photograph first appeared, said Natalia Morari, the host of a political talk show who has firsthand experience of Mr. Plahotniucs methods. She said she was threatened by one of the businessmans associates early this year with a smear campaign featuring a sex tape illegally filmed in her own bedroom. The threat followed her shows extensive coverage of anti-government protests fired largely by rage at Mr. Plahotniuc (pla-hoot-NOOK).

Nobody considers Plahotniuc pro-European. He is pro-Plahotniuc and pro-corruption, Ms. Morari said. While accounts of his current power and past sins were perhaps exaggerated, she said, many genuinely pro-Western Moldovans viewed the Washington meeting as a betrayal.

Whether Washington really does support Mr. Plahotniuc is a matter of feverish debate  and a question at the heart of Americas strategy in its neo-Cold War struggle with Moscow over former Soviet lands. Put simply, it is this: Should the West, eager to keep Russia and its proxies at bay, turn to people like Mr. Plahotniuc for help?

Asked what had transpired at the meeting and whether receiving Mr. Plahotniuc had played into the hands of pro-Russian forces, John Kirby, a State Department spokesman in Washington said that the businessman had been received as a member of a delegation led by Moldovas deputy prime minister. Ms. Nuland, he added, had reiterated Washingtons support for Moldovas democratic and economic development, and underscored the need to fight corruption, including within the government.
NAIROBI, Kenya  The Eritrean Embassy in Kenya sent a text message alert Monday morning: The Ethiopians had attacked. Fighting on the border. Situation unfolding.

The jagged line separating Eritrea from its former ruler, Ethiopia, has been one of Africas most combustible flash points. Tens of thousands of soldiers died from 1998 to 2000 in a war that had been called as pointless as two bald men fighting over a comb.

As the news of renewed clashes in the rocky, barren frontier began to spread on Monday, many Ethiopians and Eritreans feared the worst. Witnesses said both sides were rushing troops to the Tsorona border area, and heavy artillery was apparently fired from both sides. On the Eritrean side, several people were reported to have been killed. The reports of fighting and the lack of solid information raised fears that the two countries could be sliding once again toward all-out war.

But by Monday afternoon, the extent of the fighting was unclear. The Ethiopian government said Eritrea started it. Getting more information out of Eritrea is like trying to see into a pitch-dark room: The government is one of the most secretive, isolated and repressive nations in the world.
A Chinese-owned container ship, Cosco Shipping Panama, on Sunday became the first commercial vessel to successfully cross the Panama Canals newly expanded locks, a historic achievement that Panama hopes will keep the canal as relevant in this century as it was in the last.

Panama built the expanded locks, without help from other governments, because the newer ships that increasingly carry the worlds cargo are too large to fit in the old canal.

Seventy heads of state were invited to watch Cosco Shippings inaugural passage through the canals six massive locks  three on the Atlantic side, where the ship entered shortly after dawn, and three on the Pacific side, where the dignitaries patiently waited.
If you visit a certain beach in northeastern Madagascar, dont wear red and dont even think of speaking French. Across most of the island nation, be very careful where you point, lest your finger accidentally find an ancestors grave. And in certain areas of the country, do your best not to defecate in the same place twice.

Behavior in Madagascar is governed by thousands of cultural taboos, or fady (pronounced FAH-dee), many of which involve food (dont eat goat or eel), days of the week (no funerals or farming on Tuesday) and objects (dont use shovels with firm handles to bury the dead).

Specific places associated with ancestors, who are revered, also carry a lot of fady (no playing of a game similar to kick-the-can near a tomb). Some of these prohibitions apply only in a single community, or even to a single family, while others are followed regionally.

Breaking a fady invites both social shame and even direr consequences from the ancestors believed to enforce them. The repercussions can be as specific as the taboos: Sing while eating and your teeth will grow uncomfortably long.
SKOPJE, Macedonia  The four largest political parties in Macedonia have agreed in principle to early elections under a deal brokered by the European Union and the United States intended to resolve a political crisis that has consumed the tiny Balkan nation.

Macedonia, which became independent in 1991 as part of the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, has most recently been in the news for its harsh treatment of migrants passing through from Greece to reach central and western Europe. But the country, which has about 2.1 million people, has been agitated by a wiretapping scandal that emerged early last year.

The scandal revealed widespread fraud in the electoral system, government manipulation of the media and the judiciary and improper surveillance of as many as 20,000 people, including journalists, judges, foreign ambassadors and activists.

Under an agreement reached a year ago, the leaders of the four parties decided to allow a special prosecutor to investigate the wiretapping and, if necessary, bring criminal charges. But President Gjorge Ivanov threatened to scuttle that agreement in April by issuing a blanket pardon to anyone involved in the scandal. Thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Skopje, the capital, and other cities.
If you happen to be invited to a party at the United States Embassy in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, you might address your R.S.V.P. to eyebrows.conforms.zebra. Have a care package for a student at the Institute of Finance and Economics of Mongolia? Writing during.snapper.housework on the parcel will get it there.

These oddly poetic three-word codes will soon act as a stand-in for the more common addressing convention of house number, street name and postal code, which never quite caught on in Mongolia, one of the worlds most sparsely populated countries.

They are the invention of a British start-up, What3Words, that has mapped the world into 57 trillion patches of nine square meters and given each one a unique three-word identity.

Words are easier to remember and communicate than GPS or other alphanumeric systems, said Giles Rhys Jones, a What3Words spokesman.
DAKAR, Senegal  Postelection violence in Gabon left one person dead on Thursday after officials declared the incumbent president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, the winner in a race that the opposition said had been marked by fraud.

A civilian, who was not identified, died as security forces encircled the party headquarters of the opposition candidate, Jean Ping, early Thursday after hundreds of people had taken to the streets of the capital, Libreville. The protesters had set fires and insisted that Mr. Bongo had stolen the vote to claim a second term in office.

Violence surged almost immediately after the release of election results Wednesday night that said Mr. Bongo, whose family has held the presidency since the late 1960s, had narrowly edged out Mr. Ping in voting on Saturday. The military was sent in to quell the demonstrations, aiming tear gas at protesters who were demanding a recount.

The election took place peacefully, although some voters complained about ballot procedures and polling stations that opened late. Results also took longer than expected to tally. Mr. Ping, a former African Union Commission chairman, pointed to that delay as evidence that Mr. Bongos supporters were using the time to concoct a fraudulent victory.
PARIS  Judges at the International Criminal Court ordered a radical Islamist on Tuesday to serve nine years in prison for his role in demolishing historic Muslim shrines in Timbuktu, Mali, in the courts first prosecution of the destruction of cultural heritage as a war crime.

The judges said that Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, a member of a jihadist group linked to Al Qaeda, had committed a war crime in the summer of 2012 when he organized the smashing of the revered shrines, which were built centuries ago above the tombs of venerated Muslim holy men and scholars.

Mr. Mahdi, who was born in Mali around 1975, stood and listened to a translation in Arabic as the presiding judge, Raul Cano Pangalangan, read out the sentence in English. The session was broadcast from the court, in The Hague.

Although the crime of destroying cultural heritage is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, Mr. Mahdis sentence was at the low end of the prosecutors recommendation: nine to 11 years. Judge Pangalangan noted five mitigating factors: Mr. Mahdi had admitted his guilt, cooperated with prosecutors, shown remorse and initially advised against the demolition.
NEW DELHI  The government of the Maldives announced on Thursday that it would leave the Commonwealth, saying it had been treated unjustly and unfairly over questions about its human rights record.

In September, the Commonwealth warned that it might suspend the country for what the organization described as its failure to address several threats to democratic governance.

In a statement, the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision was difficult, but inevitable.

The decision further isolates the tiny archipelago nation during a turbulent political moment. After three decades of authoritarian rule, the Maldives elected Mohamed Nasheed as president in 2008 in its first democratic election. In 2012, he was pushed out of office in what he said was a military coup and imprisoned under an antiterrorism law that critics say was abused. In the last year, the government of the current president, Abdulla Yameen, has prosecuted officials and members of the political opposition amid a growing international outcry.
The nations health insurers, resigned to the idea that Republicans will repeal the Affordable Care Act, on Tuesday publicly outlined for the first time what the industry wants to stay in the state marketplaces, which have provided millions of Americans with insurance under the law.

The insurers, some which have already started leaving the marketplaces because they are losing money, say they need a clear commitment from the Trump administration and congressional leaders that the government will continue offsetting some costs for low-income people. They also want to keep in place rules that encourage young and healthy people to sign up, which the insurers say are crucial to a stable market for individual buyers.

The demands are a sort of warning shot to Republicans. While the party is eager to repeal the law as quickly as possible, and many have promised a replacement, its members are sharply divided over what shape any new plan should take. If they do not come up with an alternative, more than 22 million people would be left uninsured, including the more than 10 million who have bought individual plans on state marketplaces.

On Tuesday, Marilyn Tavenner, the chief executive of Americas Health Insurance Plans, a leading industry trade group, warned that the state marketplaces were already on unstable financial footing. Failing to continue the funding aimed at low-income Americans, she said, would have far-reaching consequences because the business would become much tougher for insurers.
James S. Ackerman, a Harvard art historian whose studies of the architecture of Michelangelo and Palladio remain classics in the field, died on Dec. 31 at his home in Cambridge, Mass. He was 97.

The death was confirmed by his wife, Jill Slosburg-Ackerman.

Mr. Ackerman plunged into the study of architecture while serving in Italy with the Army at the end of World War II. While awaiting a transfer back to the United States, he volunteered to work for the Monuments and Fine Arts Commission in Milan. He was given the assignment of retrieving archives that had been stored for safety in Pavia, in the monastery complex known as the Certosa.

A flame was kindled. His immersion in the Certosa di Pavia generated a masters thesis at the Institute of Fine Arts in New York, where he earned a doctorate in 1952. While teaching art history at the University of California, Berkeley, he was approached by the art historians Anthony Blunt and Rudolf Wittkower to write a survey of Michelangelos architecture for a series of architectural monographs they were editing.

The Architecture of Michelangelo, published in two volumes in 1961, was greeted as an indispensable work on an overlooked subject. In the first volume, a dozen essays aimed at the educated general reader discussed the artists major building projects, which included the Laurentian Library and the Medici Chapel in Florence and the Farnese Palace and St. Peters Basilica in Rome. In the second volume, each project was discussed with full scholarly apparatus appended.
Wilbur L. Ross, nominated to be the nations next commerce secretary, is a very wealthy man with his hands in myriad businesses ranging from banking to energy and real estate loans to the auto parts industry.

The billionaire investor, who made much of his money investing in troubled companies, said in a filing released on Tuesday that he will seek to sidestep potential conflicts of interest by divesting at least 80 assets and investment funds over the next several months. He will also step down from positions with more than two-dozen funds or companies in which he has a financial interest. Mr. Ross, 79, also intends to divest himself of holdings in many of those entities.

The day before Mr. Ross is to appear before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, the federal Office of Government Ethics released his 57-page disclosure statement detailing his extensive financial holdings. By Tuesday afternoon, the ethics agency had posted an agreement it has with Mr. Ross spelling out his plans for divestiture of holdings that could pose a conflict with running the Commerce Department.

The filings reveal that Mr. Ross holds board positions with 82 companies or foundations  many of the businesses are associated with WL Ross and Company, his private equity firm, which is a division of Invesco. The filing notes that Mr. Ross has an art collection valued at over $50 million; $150 million in cash in several brokerage accounts; and a wide assortment of stocks and bonds.
The Justice Department completed a deal with Deutsche Bank on Tuesday that will require the bank to pay $7.2 billion for its sale of toxic mortgage securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, the department said.

The settlement calls on Deutsche Bank to pay a civil penalty of $3.1 billion and provide $4.1 billion in consumer relief to homeowners, borrowers and communities harmed by its practices.

The total is the largest amount ever paid to resolve charges against a single entity for misleading investors in residential mortgage-backed securities, the department said in a statement.

Deutsche Bank did not merely mislead investors: It contributed directly to an international financial crisis, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said.
The Permian, in production for almost a century, is so bounteous that it fueled the Allied forces battling Germany and Japan during World War II. In recent years, though, the basin had been in decline, and big oil companies like Exxon Mobil sold assets to small independents that were willing to scrape the remaining barrels of old wells by flooding them with water and carbon dioxide.

But the Permian received new life about a decade ago when drillers began experimenting with hydraulic fracturing to blast through shale fields that course through the region. Exploration by Pioneer Natural Resources and a few other companies found multiple layers of shale  six to eight oil-rich zones, one on top of the other, like a layer cake  that offer companies the opportunity to drill through multiple reservoirs on the same real estate.

The geological virtues of the Permian, along with an existing robust array of pipelines, have made the basin the cheapest to develop of any shale oil field in the country. The break-even price for the best acreage in the basin is as low as $40 a barrel, where in most other shale fields the break-even price can be $10 to $20 higher. With acreage prices for oil properties multiplying by 10 times or more since 2012, oil executives are starting to talk of Permania.

As a whole, most of the American oil patch remains in the doldrums since the price of a barrel of oil skidded from more than $110 a barrel in 2014 to less than half that. In Texas alone, 100,000 oil workers  one out of three  have lost their jobs in recent years. Only 522 oil drilling rigs are now active in the United States, compared with 1,609 in October 2014, and the number fell by seven last week.
The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm on Tuesday, accusing the company of using anticompetitive tactics to maintain its monopoly on a key semiconductor used in mobile phones.

The agency, which works with the Justice Department to enforce antitrust law, said that Qualcomm used its dominant position as a supplier of certain phone chips to impose onerous supply and licensing terms on cellphone manufacturers and to weaken competitors.

In its complaint, the agency said the patents that Qualcomm sought to license are standard essential patents, which means that the industry uses them widely and they are supposed to be licensed on fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms.

The complaint also accused Qualcomm of refusing to license some standard essential patents to rival chip makers, and of entering into an exclusive deal with Apple.
Having raced out of the Giorgio Armani show, the finale of Milan mens fashion week, and headed for Linate Airport, the fashion crowd lands in Paris for what is traditionally the final leg of the international mens show circuit. Following is a primer on whats new, whats different and whats absent this Paris mens fashion week, which begins on Wednesday morning.

Whos On

Haider Ackermann, the Colombian-French designer, has taken the reins at Berluti since the decampment of its former creative director Alessandro Sartori to Zegna. At his namesake label, Mr. Ackermann makes mens wear in a poetic, Romantic-adventurer vein, all jewel tones, harem pants and fluttering scarves. (Think famous Thomas Phillips portrait of Lord Byron in Albanian dress updated for a 21st-century roue, and youre on your way.) That tack is different from what Mr. Sartori took at Berluti, which is known for custom shoes and suits at the most stratospheric echelons of luxury. But Mr. Ackermann is game for the challenge. It just felt right, he said in September. Like having a new lover. The Berluti show is on Friday.

At Valentino, there is change without change: Pierpaolo Piccioli, the labels creative director, was once half of a design duo. Last year, his partner, Maria Grazia Chiuri, departed for Dior, and Mr. Piccioli assumed solo stewardship. The show on Wednesday will feature his first mens collection since the switch.
ALBANY  Following a weeklong road show complete with bold PowerPoint presentations and standing ovations, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday unveiled the fine print of his plan in the state capital, offering a New York State budget proposal totaling over $152.3 billion to a wary Legislature.

Though far drier than the governors State of the State addresses last week, the budget plan made clear that Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, remained intent on casting his 2017 agenda as an answer to the concerns of the middle class and the economic struggles of upstate New York, a formula that some observers have taken as the prelude to a possible presidential run in 2020.

But much of Mr. Cuomos agenda seemed to hinge on a proposal that the Republican-controlled State Senate has already pushed back on. Under the governors budget proposal, two of the top items on his wish list  covering state college tuition for hundreds of thousands of low- and middle-income New Yorkers, and a package of tax cuts aimed at the middle class  would be made possible in part by a three-year extension of a higher tax on people who make more than $1 million a year, another policy favored by liberals. Along with $2.5 billion in Medicaid and agency cuts, the tax would help fill a $3.5 billion projected deficit in the state budget, caused by falling income tax revenue.

We do not cut taxes for millionaires, Mr. Cuomo said at a Tuesday evening briefing for the news media, explaining that the loss of the tax, which is scheduled to expire this year, would cost the state about $4 billion in revenue. We do cut taxes for the middle class.
Tishira Japa, hit by a car 14 hours earlier that fractured her pelvis in seven places, was stable and settled in the intensive care unit of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. Only then did her stepfather and family turn to the circumstances.

What followed, by the careful account of her stepfather, Allen Sneed, is a case study in what seems to be a public safety agencys indifference to showing basic decency to a citizen who was critically injured and, possibly, the victim of a crime.

Ms. Japa, 21, a senior at Fordham University in the Bronx, was crossing West Fordham Road around 4 a.m. on Dec. 17, a Saturday, when she was struck by a white minivan and sent skidding dozens of feet along the road. Her sister and friends were with her, and they said that the driver got out, looked at her for a moment and then drove off. Witnesses took pictures of the license plate.

Saturday night, we called the police from St. Barnabas and they sent two officers from the 52nd Precinct to speak with us at the hospital, Mr. Sneed, a health club manager, said. They called the precinct and they told me, Were not showing a record of any accidents or a hit and run on Fordham Road. They suggested that he try again in a couple of days, he said.
The sons were raised in Atlantic City, where the legalization of gambling in 1976 turned out to be a windfall for what became known as the Bruno-Scarfo crime family. The family was led by Angelo Bruno from the 1950s until he was murdered in 1980.

Mr. Bruno, known as the Gentle Don or the Docile Don, was succeeded briefly by Philip Testa, who was called Chicken Man, apparently because of his links to the poultry business. Mr. Testa was soon killed by a nail bomb.

Succeeding Mr. Testa, Mr. Scarfo muscled in on the casino boom through his company, Scarf Inc., pouring concrete for the foundations of several gambling palaces, including one that opened as Harrahs Trump Plaza. In obtaining contracts, he capitalized on his close association with leaders of Local 54 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union.

The New Jersey Commission of Investigation concluded in 1989 that through those ties the Scarfo family funneled bribes and engaged in other corrupt deals with Mayor Michael J. Matthews, who pleaded guilty to extortion in 1984 and was sentenced to federal prison.

Nicodemo Domenico Scarfo was born in Brooklyn on March 8, 1929, to an Italian immigrant family from Naples and Calabria. His nephew, Philip Leonetti, later wrote that the family had strong ties to the Mafia in Italy.

His father was Philip Scarfo, a laborer who worked at an Atlantic City hotel and who, according to Mr. Leonetti, was 100 percent legit. His mother was the former Catherine Piccolo. The family moved from Brooklyn to New Jersey when he was 12.

In addition to his two sons, Mr. Scarfo is survived by his second wife, Domenica, Mr. Riley said.

Mr. Scarfo nurtured his reputation early. His high school yearbook said he was out to lick the world. After graduating, he became a notoriously volatile amateur boxer before apprenticing himself to three mob-connected uncles in Philadelphia.
The mayoral election fight of 2017 may be slowly gearing up, with Mayor Bill de Blasio facing his stiffest challenge so far from a Republican real estate developer with deep pockets but little name recognition among New Yorkers.

The developer, Paul J. Massey Jr., raised more than $1.6 million in contributions in the last six months, according to campaign filings made public on Tuesday. Mr. Massey, who is running on the Independence line and hopes to prevail in a Republican primary, has also put in more than $1.2 million of his own money so far, and has vowed to eschew the citys generous campaign finance matching system.

The mayor, a Democrat, raised less money in the latest filing period, which ended last week and covered the last six months of 2016. But he did so from a broad array of New Yorkers, collecting contributions from 3,261 individuals, more than any other mayoral candidate during a single filing period in recent years.

Mr. de Blasio reported contributions of just over $1 million during the six-month period. That was slightly less than he raised in the previous six months, but it came from more than double the number of donors and includes significantly more money eligible to receive matching funds.
They flutter in tree branches and sit balled up under kitchen sinks  plastic bags abound in New York City. To curb their ubiquity, the city last year tried to institute a small fee intended to encourage shoppers to bring their own, more environmentally friendly reusable bag to stores.

But on Tuesday, the Republican-controlled State Senate approved a bill that would kill the fee, amplifying a criticism that has dogged the plan and delayed its implementation by months: that it is not only financially burdensome for some, but also a broad government overreach meant to annoy shoppers into changing their ways.

Many families have a hard time just getting by, paying for groceries, rent and heat, Simcha Felder, a Democratic senator who represents parts of Brooklyn and who introduced the bill, said in a statement before the vote. He described the 5 cents that customers would have to pay for each bag as an effort by the city to shake them down every time they shop just for the privilege of using a plastic bag.

Speaking to reporters in Albany on Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, a Democrat who represents the Bronx, would not directly address whether the bill would move on to the Assembly. Should both chambers approve it, it would have to be signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, to become law. A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo declined to discuss the governors position. If the Legislature passes a bill, we will review it, the spokesman, Frank Sobrino, said.
The white New York City police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man in an apartment in the Bronx in 2012 demonstrated a total unfitness to keep his job, a prosecutor said at the beginning of the officers disciplinary trial on Tuesday.

But lawyers for the officer, Richard Haste, 35, called him a hero and said he was trying to take what he believed to be an illegal gun off the street when he shot and killed Ramarley Graham on Feb. 2, 2012.

The Police Department is seeking to fire Officer Haste, who is charged with exercising poor tactical judgment that led him to kill Mr. Graham, 18, at his home in the Wakefield neighborhood, the prosecutor, Beth Douglas said.

The tragic death of Ramarley Graham at the hands of Police Officer Haste could have, and should have, been avoided, she said in her opening statement.
Then came potshots at Germanys chancellor, Angela Merkel, a strong leader who is facing a tough re-election. He called her brave decision to open Germanys borders to migrants and refugees a very catastrophic mistake. He also suggested that he saw no difference between Ms. Merkel and Vladimir Putin, saying he would, at least initially, trust them equally, even though it was the Russian president who meddled with the American election, bombed civilians in Syria, crushed dissent in his own country and invaded Ukraine.

It is puzzling indeed for a president-elect to publicly denigrate leaders of his countrys closest allies as well as an alliance that for 70 years has stood firm against Russian expansion. And Mr. Trumps criticism of NATOs response to terrorism showed no awareness of the alliances contributions to the fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Mr. Trump did say during the interview that NATO is very important to me, but in the context of his other remarks, this was hardly enough to blunt the impression that he placed little value on NATOs historic role as a defender of democracy and its continued usefulness today. Nor did Mr. Trumps remarks ease concerns that his choices for cabinet members, some of whom seem to have a much firmer grasp of foreign policy than he does, will have little if any influence on administration policy. During their recent confirmation hearings, Rex Tillerson, the nominee for secretary of state, said he saw value in durable alliances; retired Gen. James Mattis, the defense secretary designate, went even further, asserting that if we did not have NATO today, we would need to create it.

Mr. Trumps comments on the European Union almost took the breath away: I dont think it matters much for the United States. The union has its problems, as Britains vote to leave it has shown, but to cavalierly dismiss as unimportant the idea of European integration and the second-largest market in the world is to ignore history and reject the future. Mr. Trump seems eager to help unravel the rules-based international order.

The big winner in all this is Mr. Putin, who has been working assiduously not just to delegitimize American democracy by interfering with the election but to destabilize Europe and weaken if not destroy NATO, which he blames for the Soviet Unions collapse. Mr. Putin will almost certainly try to persuade Mr. Trump to withdraw American support for NATOs plans to reinforce its defenses against a newly assertive Russia. As part of that effort, an American convoy crossed into Poland last week; on Monday, the deployment of 330 American Marines to Norway began. Reversing course any time soon would be a huge mistake.
In the six months since she came to office charged with carrying out the mandate of the British referendum to quit the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May has seemed indecisive and ambiguous about how this might be achieved. That ended Tuesday, when she made clear that Britain intends to leave the single market, the central feature of the historic effort to eliminate all barriers to trade across the union and to uphold the free movement of goods, services, capital and  the one Britain could not swallow  people.

Whatever one makes of Brexit, it is critical to ensure that this extraordinarily complex divorce does as little damage as possible to long-term economic and political relations between Britain and the Continent. So Mrs. Mays speech is to be welcomed for spelling out her governments intentions on the core issue before it formally triggers the two-year exit process, which the prime minister has said she will do by the end of March.

In effect, Mrs. May confirmed what had become increasingly clear: that the core demands of the Brexiteers  an end to the free movement of the blocs citizens and to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice over British law  are incompatible with core tenets of the European Union.
There are several contenders for coolest neighborhood in New York, but the Upper East Side is usually not one of them.

For the past two weeks, though, the Yorkville area has been a destination for culture seekers.

When the Second Avenue subway opened for service on New Years Day, it drew crowds of onlookers, some dressed in Q train T-shirts. Last weekend, the stations at 72nd, 86th and 96th Streets were still bringing in waves of subway tourists eager to check out the architecture of almost a centurys planning, as well as the public art, commissioned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys Arts & Design program, that lines its subterranean walls.

Im one of those old people who didnt think theyd ever see this, Curtis Gibbs, 52, said on Saturday afternoon, describing himself as a photographer by weekend, architect by week. He was on the second stop of his subway tour, at 86th Street, with a DSLR camera and tripod.

He was not the only person there to take pictures.

Yair Strano, 35, stood before a photorealistic mosaic of Lou Reed by the artist Chuck Close. The subway stop includes portraits by the artist of various creative people who are based in New York, including Philip Glass, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker and the artist himself.
Someone has it in for the Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins. In a video posted to YouTube just after Christmas, a woman in a blond wig and lethal-looking lipstick spits rhyming insults at Ms. Pinkins while a backing track plays. Youre a has-been, a hack, a floozy, a slut, she seethes, Your initials are T.P. so  

The tone nose-dives from there.

Yet whats most shocking about the video is its mastermind, major cinematographer and star: Tonya Pinkins.

A year ago Ms. Pinkins, 54, set Off Broadway tongues and fingers wagging after a vexed departure from the Classic Stage Companys production of Mother Courage, an exit as gossiped about as Shia LaBeoufs from Orphans or Jeremy Pivens from Speed-the-Plow. Now she has returned with a video that repurposes that gossip for a higher, hip-hop-inflected end. Rather than trying to protect herself, shes embracing every attack  in ways audacious, profane and uproarious.

The video, Tonya Pinkins Rap Roast (Diss) Challenge YouTube, features Ms. Pinkins in three roles  that blond battle rapper, a brunette battle rapper and a Rastafarian referee. As the female characters slam her, personally and professionally, a passel of guest stars including Ellen Page, Tea Leoni and Bebe Neuwirth look on, appalled. Viewed without context, the piece seems a postmodern taunt or a bridge-burning implosion. But theres something more potent and more joyful at work.
The F.A.L.N., which waged a violent campaign for the independence of Puerto Rico, was considered by the authorities to be among the most elusive and resilient terrorist groups to operate in the United States. Among its notable attacks was a bombing at Fraunces Tavern in New York in 1975 that killed four people.

The group was known for its tight-knit membership, fanatical zeal and hit-and-run tactics, as exemplified by the bombings of four government buildings in Manhattan and Brooklyn on New Years Eve in 1982 that seriously wounded three police officers.

Mr. Lopez Rivera was not specifically charged in the Fraunces Tavern bombing but more broadly with, among other things, the interstate transportation of firearms with the intent to commit violent crimes, and transportation of explosives with intent to kill and injure people and to destroy government buildings and property.

President Bill Clinton offered Mr. Lopez Rivera and other members of the F.A.L.N. clemency in 1999, a decision that stirred an emotional debate. Mr. Clinton said their sentences were out of proportion with their offenses.

While 12 prisoners accepted the offer and were freed, Mr. Lopez Rivera rejected the chance to reduce his sentence because it did not include all of the groups members, his lawyer, Jan Susler, said at the time. If he had accepted the agreement, she said, he would have been eligible for release in 2009.
1. Education secretary pick Betsy DeVos walks into hearing room 2. Cutaway of Devos sitting at table 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lamar Alexande, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair: Betsy Devos in my opinion is on our childrens side. She has devoted to helping mainly low income children have better choices of schools. Most of the criticism Ive heard of her amounts to three things. One, she supports public charter schools. Two, she supports giving lower income parents more choices of schools for their children and three, she has used her considerable wealth and effectiveness to advance those ideas. I believe she is in the mainstream of public opinion, and her critics are not. 4. Cutaway 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Pat Murray, (D) Washington: I am extremely disappointed that we are moving forward with this hearing before receiving the proper paperwork from the Office of Government Ethics. When President Obama entered the White House Republicans insisted on having an ethics letter in hand before moving to a hearing. In fact, leader McConnell wrote a letter to leader Reid, making that explicit demand, an ethics letter in hand with time to review and an FBI background check, before a hearing was held. So I am extremely concerned and I can only hope that cutting corners and rushing nominees through, will not be the new norm. 6. Cutaway 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Lieberman, Fmr. Connecticut Senator: We just cant accept the status quo in education, anymore. We need a change agent and an education reformer to be education secretary. A leader who has one big goal which is to give every child in America, regardless of family income or zip code, a first class education. And that is exactly the kind of education secretary I believe Betsy DeVos can and will be. 8. Cutaway 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Betsy, DeVos, Education Secretary Nominee: Why in 2017 are we still questioning parents ability to exercise educational choice for their children. I am a firm believer that parents should be empowered to choose the learning environment thats best for each of their individual children. The vast majority of children in this country will continue to attend public schools. If confirmed, I will be a strong advocate for great public schools. But if a school is troubled, or unsafe, or not a good fit for a child, perhaps they have a special need that is going unmet, we should support a parents right to enroll their child is a high quality alternative. 10. Cutaway of Senator Bernie Sanders asking question 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I) Vermont: My question is and I dont mean to be rude, but do you think if you were not a multi-billionaire, if your family has not made hundreds of millions of dollars contributions to the Republican party, that you would be sitting here today? 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Betsy, DeVos, Education Secretary Nominee: Senator as a matter of fact I do think that there would be that possibility, I have worked very hard on behalf of parents and children for almost the last 30 years, to be a voice for students and to empower parents to make decisions on behalf of their children, primarily low income children. 13. OUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I) Vermont: Will you work with me and others to make public colleges and universities tution free through federal and state efforts? 14. SOUNDBITE (English) Betsy, DeVos, Education Secretary Nominee: Senator I think that is a really interesting idea and its really great to consider and think about but I think we have to also consider the fact that nothing in life thats truly free, somebody is going to pay for it. (Saunders of camera: somebody will pay for it but thats another issue. 15. Cutaway of DeVos
WASHINGTON  When Speaker Paul D. Ryan needed to stop rebellious fellow Republicans from defanging a popular congressional ethics watchdog office this month, he called a friend from Wisconsin, Reince Priebus, the incoming White House chief of staff, for some stealthy help.

Mr. Ryan asked Mr. Priebus, the congenial and cunning chairman of the Republican National Committee, for a favor: Could President-elect Donald J. Trump intervene?

At the urging of Mr. Priebus, Mr. Trump quickly posted a pair of scolding posts on Twitter: Did Congress really have to make the gutting of the popular Office of Congressional Ethics their number one act and priority? he asked, quickly bringing the insurrection to a messy but welcome end for Mr. Ryan.

This is the way that many mainstream Beltway Republicans, and more than a few tremulous Democrats, pray the Trump White House will work. In a city bracing for convulsive change, Mr. Priebus has emerged as an unlikely symbol of stability, someone who they hope will domesticate the new president and transform his storm-the-gates campaign into a normal, functional White House that can make America sane again, in a phrase making the rounds this week among congressional Republicans.
WASHINGTON  Representative Ryan Zinke, Republican of Montana, pitched himself on Tuesday as a serious steward of federal resources in his confirmation hearing for interior secretary, frequently bucking conservative orthodoxy on ownership of public lands, federal funding for preservation and even, briefly, climate change.

But Mr. Zinke also emphasized his support for drilling, mining and logging on federal lands, activities strongly opposed by many environmental groups.

In wide-ranging testimony before a Senate panel that lasted nearly four hours, Mr. Zinke, a former member of the Navy SEALs who just finished his first term in the House, tried to balance the importance of preservation with use of the nations public lands and waters.

He expressed admiration for Gifford Pinchot, the first United States Forest Service chief, who advocated planned use and renewal. Mr. Zinke also said he supported energy development on federal lands. Recreational activities and mining, for instance, are not mutually exclusive, he said.
Donald J. Trump will take the oath of office outside the Capitol on Friday, officially becoming the 45th president of the United States. But the ceremony is only the centerpiece of the weeks inaugural festivities  and protests.

Weve pulled together a schedule of events to guide you through the week. Exact times are subject to change, but much of it is guided by precedent.

Thursday, Jan. 19

The festivities officially kick off on Thursday afternoon, with a wreath-laying ceremony, a concert and an intimate dinner.

3 p.m. | Wreath-laying ceremony

Mr. Trump will begin his public schedule with an inaugural tradition: laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the nations fallen soldiers.
WASHINGTON  Out with almonds, in with Doritos.

At the stroke of 12:01 p.m. on Friday, as soon as Donald J. Trump is sworn in as president and Barack Obama relinquishes the office, dozens of federal workers will swing into action at the White House to replace one commander in chiefs creature comforts  favorite snacks, clothes, toiletries, artwork and furniture  with those of his successor.

The process, months in the planning but mere hours in its militarylike execution, unfolds mostly away from public view as Americans and the world focus on the pageantry of Inauguration Day: the presidential oath and address at the Capitol, a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, the black-tie balls.

For the roughly 100 people who work in the White House and the employees on hand to help them with perhaps the worlds highest-stakes moving day, the official events double as useful distractions that keep the exiting president and his family and the incoming occupants off-site during the work.

Its very busy  you are on your feet constantly, making sure things are going in the right place and in the right way, and there is very little time to spare, said Betty Monkman, a White House curator for more than three decades who helped supervise the changeover in 2001, when Bill Clinton was moving out and George W. Bush was coming in. The housekeeper and maids are all getting the clothes in the closet and cosmetics and toiletries in the bathrooms, the kitchen staff is preparing the food. There is a lot going on.
While Gross National Happiness has become a political tool around election time, Mr. Ura believes the index has drawn greater attention to social problems. And the results appear to be positive, he said.

In 2015, his staff members released a study that showed 91.2 percent of Bhutanese reporting that they were narrowly, extensively or deeply happy, with a 1.8 percent increase in aggregate happiness between 2010 and 2015.

Those who were educated and lived in urban areas reported higher levels of contentment than their rural counterparts. Men reported feeling happier than women.

Bhutans Constitution, which went into effect in 2008 with the transition to democracy, directs the kingdoms leaders to consult the four pillars of Gross National Happiness  good governance, sustainable socioeconomic development, preservation and promotion of culture, and environmental conservation  when considering legislation.

Born into an agricultural community in central Bhutan, Mr. Ura said his childhood was marked by changes that brought him closer to a world beyond farming. In the 1960s and 1970s, Swiss investors, taken with his districts alpine terrain, helped develop road and water systems. The introduction of a formal education system in Bhutan gradually upended the mind-set of many villagers, who felt schooling took away from responsibilities at home.

After graduating at the top of his class in Thimphu, Bhutans capital, Mr. Ura was sent to St. Stephens College in India, where he at first pursued history. By the time he reached Oxford in 1983, he had begun a longer foray into philosophy, economics and politics.
WASHINGTON  With just days left as commander in chief, President Obama is confronting a wrenching decision on whether to move ahead with plans to arm Syrian Kurdish fighters battling the Islamic State in order to launch the long-awaited assault to retake Raqqa, the terrorist groups de facto capital.

The choice before Mr. Obama has been a stark one.

One option would be forging a closer military alliance with the Syrian Kurds to maintain the momentum in the fight against the Islamic State, even though Turkey has denounced the Kurdish fighters as terrorists.

The other would be for Mr. Obama to leave the decision to the incoming Trump administration. Such a move could delay the Raqqa operation for many months and would mean that Mr. Obama would leave office without a clear path forward for seizing the most important Islamic State stronghold and its base for plotting terrorist operations against the West.

Mr. Obama convened a meeting on Tuesday of the National Security Council, which discussed the question, one of the most momentous of the United States campaign against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
Its a dirty job, but someone has to jump-start serious reconsideration of that dark, amorphous phenomenon known as American painting in the 1980s  a veritable pit of macho swagger, nostalgia and money. Most New York museums have looked the other way, but on Friday, Jan. 27, the Whitney Museum of American Art will revisit this incredibly busy, visually rich if oft-maligned decade with the unveiling of Fast Forward: Painting From the 1980s. This shows 37 artists will be represented by 41 works from the museums collection, mostly paintings, but also drawings and prints. Neo-Expressionism, abstraction, graffiti, feminism, Conceptualism, Pop and appropriation are among the tendencies, strategies and influences to be highlighted. The decades stars  including Julian Schnabel, David Salle and Kenny Scharf  will be shown alongside others who worked with less fanfare, like Nellie Mae Rowe, Kathe Burkhart and Carlos Alfonzo. If the show is not the full-on revisionist effort that the decade needs, it cant help being a necessary beginning. (Through May 14; whitney.org.)
The National Library of Israel has acquired what has been described as the greatest private library of Jewish books and manuscripts ever assembled.

Compiled by collector Jack V. Lunzer over more than six decades, and stored at his home in London, it became known as the Valmadonna Trust Library, a reference to the Italian town that Mr. Lunzers family has long been associated with.

The collection comprises more than 10,000 items that chart the spread of Hebrew printing and the global dissemination of Jewish culture, the National Library of Israel said in a statement.

These items include an incunabula of the Pentateuch, printed in Lisbon in 1491, and one of only two surviving copies of a Passover Haggadah printed in Prague in 1556.
Other presidents, of course, have been followed by successors of the other party who in the end sustained their signal accomplishments. Dwight Eisenhower did not undo Harry Trumans record, nor did John Kennedy undo Eisenhowers. Richard Nixon, given the chance, left Lyndon Johnsons Great Society largely in place. Even Obama preserved many of George W. Bushs achievements, including the vast bulk of his tax cuts, his Medicare expansion, his AIDS-fighting program in Africa and his homeland security architecture.

Trump, on the other hand, is more mercurial, so it is harder to predict how far he will go to wipe out Obamas imprint on the country. He has sent conflicting signals since the election about his commitment to following through on certain campaign promises while Obama has quietly tried to nudge him away from a radical change.

It could well be that Trump unintentionally helps his predecessors case for history as a point of contrast  that whatever Obamas leadership flaws, his calm, no-drama performance will look better in hindsight to many Americans. At the same time, it raises the question that if Obama was so successful, why do so many Americans feel so dissatisfied and left behind? How could an America that twice chose Barack Obama decide to replace him with Donald Trump?

Beyond noting Clintons popular-vote margin, Chait, like others on the left, points to willful distortion by Republicans determined from the start to tear down Obama and cynical news media that were complicit in that strategy. But he also faults liberals who were too willing to flay a president they agreed with because he failed to achieve some impossible standard of progressive perfection.

Indeed, Chaits book seems more like an argument with the left than with the right. The yawning chasm between the scale of Obamas achievements and the mood of his supporters presents one of the mysteries of the era, he writes. Its resolution also helps us understand how to judge the Obama presidency. What would a successful presidency even look like? Would Democrats recognize one if they saw it?

While Chait agrees that Obama has not done the job perfectly, he echoes Michael Grunwald in The New New Deal by making the case that his programs will have long-lasting if often overlooked impact. Obamas fiscal stimulus package, for instance, was a gigantic success, not only by helping stanch job losses but also by investing in the future in the form of renewable energy, transportation infrastructure and scientific research.

Likewise, Obamas health care program covered 20 million more Americans while also producing an economic miracle, Chait says, in slowing the rise of medical costs even though premiums for some continued to rise sharply. Obamas green energy revolution, he adds, has already brought down climate change emissions and changed the economic calculus irreversibly. While Obamas foreign policy may not have transformed the world, Chait concludes, he made incremental progress and avoided catastrophic mistakes.
THE LOST CITY OF THE MONKEY GOD

A True Story

By Douglas Preston

326 pp. Grand Central Publishing. $28.

The year may still be young, but I would wager a small fortune that Douglas Preston has already written the best snake-decapitation scene of 2017. The passage is nestled midway through The Lost City of the Monkey God, Prestons account of accompanying an archaeological expedition through the wilds of eastern Honduras. Shortly after he and his group set up camp in La Mosquitia, a jungled expanse that conceals a trove of pre-Columbian ruins, Preston spots a venomous pit viper next to a hammock. He calls on Andrew Wood, a former British commando who has been hired to keep the expeditions death toll to a minimum, to handle the matter. Wood does so by jabbing at the snake with a forked tree branch, to the snakes clear displeasure.

As its head lashed back and forth, straining to sink its fangs into Woodys fist, it expelled poison all over the back of his hand, causing his skin to bubble, Preston writes. After he finally gets the better of the fight and manages to lop off the snakes skull, Wood apologizes for failing to clean up the bloody aftermath right away; he explains that he had thought it wise to wash off the venom first, since it was starting to seep into an open wound.

Though I was enthralled by Prestons frenetic depiction of man-on-serpent violence, I also feared it signaled that his latest book was about to take a turn for the trite. Memoirs of jungle adventures too often devolve into lurid catalogs of hardships, as their authors take undue glee in detailing every bug bite, malarial fever and bad cup of instant coffee theyve had to endure. But Preston proves too thoughtful an observer and too skilled a storyteller to settle for churning out danger porn. He has instead created something nuanced and sublime: a warm and geeky paean to the revelatory power of archaeology, tempered by notes of regret.

Preston has earned considerable fame as the co-author, with Lincoln Child, of brisk and noirish thrillers like last years The Obsidian Chamber. But he has also long maintained a side gig as a magazine writer who specializes in chronicling quests for dinosaur bones, Egyptian tombs and Anasazi relics. While working on one such assignment for National Geographic in 1996, Preston first heard the legend of La Ciudad Blanca (the White City), an abandoned jungle metropolis said to be hidden deep within Mosquitia. Numerous explorers have sallied forth in search of this alleged archaeological wonder, only to return with empty hands or fantastic lies. One British adventurer named Frederick Mitchell-Hedges, for example, claimed to have stumbled upon the sunken continent of Atlantis while on a failed mission to locate the city in the early 1930s. (Throughout his long and shady career, Mitchell-Hedges also falsely purported to have fought alongside Pancho Villa and to have hunted for sea monsters with Sir Arthur Conan Doyles son.)
Coming this spring from Ignatius Press:

The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise



By Robert Cardinal Sarah, with Nicolas Diat

In a time when there is more and more noise, and technology and materialism continue to exert their hold on us, Cardinal Robert Sarah presents a bold book about the strength of silence.



The world generates so much noise that seeking moments of silence only becomes more necessary. For Cardinal Sarah, modern man, in repressing the divine, finds himself in a deep dilemma, an oppressive and anguishing trial. The Cardinal recalls that life is a silent relationship between what is most intimate in man and God. Silence is indispensable for hearing the music of God: prayer arises from silence and returns to silence with ever greater depth.

In this long and profound conversation with Nicolas Diat, done within the hallowed walls of silence in the famous Carthusian monastery of La Grande Chartreux in France, the Cardinal proposes the question: can those who do not know silence ever attain truth, beauty, love? The response is undeniable: all that is great and creative is formed by silence. God is silence.

After the great international success of God or Nothing, translated into fourteen languages, Cardinal Sarah seeks to restore to silence its place of honor and importance. "Although speech characterizes man, silence is what defines him, because speech acquires sense only in terms of this silence." This is the beautiful and significant message of The Power of Silence.

In this book, Cardinal Sarah has only one aim, which is summed up in this thought from his book: "Silence is difficult but it makes a human being able to allow himself to be led by God. Silence is born of silence. Through God the silent one we can gain access to silence. And a human being is unceasingly surprised by the light that bursts forth then. Silence is more important than any other human work. For it expresses God. The true revolution comes from silence; it leads us toward God and others so as to place ourselves humbly and generously at their service."

Robert Cardinal Sarah was born in Guinea, West Africa. Made an Archbishop by Pope John Paul II and a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI, he was named the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Francis in 2014. Nicolas Diat is a French journalist and author.
 Chinas top judicial official used warlike language to denounce the idea of an independent judiciary, warning judges not to fall into the trap of Western ideology. [The New York Times]

 Australian health experts and protective services opened a campaign against child abuse, reports of which have increased sharply in the past few years. [The Age]

 A suicide bombing killed scores at a camp in northern Mali housing government soldiers as well as former fighters who had signed a peace agreement. [The Associated Press]

 The death toll in Nigerias mistaken bombing of a refugee camp rose to 70. [The New York Times]

 A 360 video captures grim scenes in Manila that characterize President Rodrigo Dutertes fierce antidrug campaign. [The New York Times]

 I am not Leung Chun-ying 2.0. Carrie Lam, a top official under Hong Kongs departing chief executive, is differentiating herself as she begins her campaign to succeed him. [Hong Kong Free Press]

 Russia said the asylum of Edward J. Snowden would be extended for a couple more years. [The New York Times]

 Japan is trying to standardize eight pictograms used to represent functions on the countrys high-tech toilets, which have proved an obstacle for tourists. [The Asahi Shimbun]
1. Last year was Earths hottest year on record.

And its the third consecutive year that weve hit new highs, another first in recorded history. Many experts believe temperatures are heading to levels that will pose a profound threat to the natural world and human civilization.

Heres a close look at the data NASA used to build its analysis. And you can see how much warmer your city was last year here.
LONDON  For top bankers at Deutsche Bank, bonuses are going to be lighter than normal this season.

Germanys largest bank said on Wednesday that it would substantially limit bonuses for the 2016 financial year. The announcement comes after it agreed in December to pay $7.2 billion to resolve an investigation by American authorities into its sale of toxic mortgage securities.

Concerns about the potential size of the settlement have weighed heavily on the banks stock price and its reputation. Deutsche Bank and the Swiss bank Credit Suisse reached settlements with the United States Justice Department late last year over mortgage securities sales.

In a letter to employees that was later posted on its website, Deutsche Banks management board said that employees with the titles of vice president, director and managing director would not receive the individual variable compensation component of their pay for the 2016 financial year.

Eligible employees in those categories would still receive the so-called group variable compensation component, which was introduced last year and is based on the banks overall performance, the bank said.
According to Bertelsmann, the publisher reported 3.7 billion euros, or almost $4 billion, in sales in 2015 and 557 million euros in pro forma earnings.

For Pearson, the move to sell its piece of Penguin Random House comes during a slide in its North American education business. The company said on Wednesday that it expected sales for 2016 to be down about 8 percent as the education unit took a hit from lower school enrollment.

With 2017 looking no brighter, Pearson said it would sell its stake in Penguin to fortify its finances and pay dividends to shareholders. The discussions will begin with Bertelsmann, which has the right of first refusal to buy out its partner.

On a call with analysts on Wednesday, Pearsons chief financial officer, Coram Williams, said the negotiations were expected to take months. If Pearson does not succeed in getting an attractive price, company officials said they would instead borrow against the stake to raise money.

Bertelsmann will have the chance to take full control of Penguin Random House and raise its exposure in the United States, an enormous book market that the German company deems core to its business.
That agenda is anathema to a lot of Davos men and women, said Joseph E. Stiglitz, a Nobel laureate economist and author of numerous books on globalization and economic inequality. More rights to bargain for workers, thats the part where Davos man is going to get stuck. The stark reality is that globalization has reduced the bargaining power of workers, and corporations have taken advantage of it.

Davos is  at least rhetorically  consumed with worries about the shortcomings of globalization. About the deepening anxieties of the middle class in many developed economies. About the threat of trade protectionism and its attendant hit to economic growth. About the fear that robots are on the verge of sowing mass unemployment.

It is a conversation fueled in part by fear: If the world is indeed in the throes of a populist insurrection, the pitchforks could do worse than to point here. The Davos elites have enjoyed outsize influence over economic policies in recent decades as a growing share of wealth has, perhaps not coincidentally, landed in the coffers of people with a need for bank accounts in the British Virgin Islands, while poor and middle-class households have seen their earnings stagnate and decline.

Yet the solutions that have currency seem calculated to spare corporations and the wealthiest people from having to make any sacrifices at all, as if there is a way to be found to tilt the balance of inequality while those at the top hang on to everything they have.

More entrepreneurialism, mindfulness training, education focused on the modern ways of technology: These are the sorts of items that tend to get discussed here as the response to the plight of those left behind by globalization. That perhaps private equity overseers should not be paid 1,000 times as much as teachers while availing themselves of tax breaks is thinking that gets little airing here.
As a reality star, Donald J. Trump turned The Apprentice into a television success. As president-elect, he may be costing it money.

Kawasaki, the Japanese motoring company, said on Wednesday that it would drop its sponsorship of The New Celebrity Apprentice on NBC as long as Mr. Trump retained his involvement in the show.

The companys decision came after it was featured by #GrabYourWallet, a grass-roots online campaign to boycott companies with ties to Mr. Trump, his family and his political donors.

The new version of The Apprentice, now starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, debuted this month to tepid ratings. Although he is no longer featured on-screen, Mr. Trump retained his executive producer credit and is continuing to earn income through his partnership with the shows producer, Mark Burnett.
We thought consumers would want to store their edibles or medicines in containers that were F.D.A.-approved to store food in, said Ms. Diner, so we looked into making them from recycled plastic milk jugs.

They decided to start Higher Standard Packaging in the spring of that year, and since then, they have sold nearly seven million units of packaging to Colorado cannabis dispensaries and beyond.

The initial set of products consisted of plain white canisters in different sizes with child-resistant caps, made by manufacturing partners in California. To find customers, they cold-called more than 100 businesses, mainly in the Denver area, and visited them with samples and price sheets.

Within the first six months, the company began selling other items: tubes, child-resistant caps and more recently, child-resistant, single-serving barrier bags (made of heavy-duty plastic that requires scissors to open). But their mainstay remains plastic containers for flower  the term for dried marijuana that is ready to smoke.

Their adult children thought the venture was an amusing pastime at first. Now, they are proud of their mothers success, Ms. Diner said, and have even helped with technology and market research.
We really need that right now, she said.

For American women, clothing has always provided a means of visual resistance, beginning with those who believed in dress reform, or the right to wear pants, in the 1800s. At the 1963 March on Washington, hundreds of black women opted for denim, overalls and natural hair, resisting sartorial protocol and rejecting expectations. When women showed up at the polls in pantsuits last November, they were not only referring to activists of the past but expressing their support for the first female presidential candidate nominated by a major party.

This march will not be about pantsuits, nor have there been many calls to wear white, the suffragists signature. Instead, more literal sartorial messaging seems to be in style.

In the past, textiles alone  denim, plaid, leather  were most often used to telegraph a womans politics and reject notions of what femininity should look like, according to Tanisha Ford, an associate professor of history at the University of Delaware and the author of Liberated Threads: Black Women, Style, and the Global Politics of Soul. Now text-based protest apparel, from Diors We Should All Be Feminist shirts to $2 Nasty Woman pins on Etsy, is on the rise, she said.

We live in a digital culture, she noted. Words photograph well.

I think one of the benefits of using clothing as a sign of ones politics is that it allows other people who may not get to places like Washington, D.C., to show that they are in solidarity with a movement like the Womens March, Ms. Ford said.
Ultimately, the coalition will need billions of dollars to fulfill its ambitious plans. Members made their announcement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in the hopes that the billionaires and corporate leaders in attendance would take notice and chip in.

The announcement was welcomed by Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which designs vaccines but must partner with private industry to produce large amounts.

Ive been pushing for a global health emergency fund for years, he said, and half a billion dollars is a good start.

Dr. Stanley A. Plotkin, a longtime vaccine researcher and scientific adviser to the new coalition, said members debated which of 10 diseases to target first and picked three because taking a vaccine from soup to nuts costs at least half a billion dollars.

Even if the United States is not now a donor, he said, it already supports vast amounts of vaccine research through its bioterrorism budget, so I hope theyll supplement the coalitions work with theirs.

New epidemics can be expected to occur regularly and spread quickly thanks to air travel, public health experts warn. Stopping them early will save lives and billions of dollars.

The long-discussed idea was given new impetus by the back-to-back Ebola and Zika epidemics.

Experimental Ebola vaccines that worked in monkeys had existed for years, but had never been tested in humans or stockpiled because vaccine companies had no financial incentive to make them. Ultimately, the 2014 epidemic killed 11,000 West Africans, and isolated cases reached Britain, France, Germany, Spain and the United States.
These thoughts were swirling through my mind as I arrived at work on Tuesday, determined to try to tell the story of the mysterious triangular pendant, engraved with the words mazel tov, or good luck in Hebrew. After scanning the website of the Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, which announced the find over the weekend, I learned that the pendant had been discovered at the Sobibor extermination camp, more than 70 years after it had fallen through floorboards, just steps away from the gas chambers.

As I immersed myself in the case, it became clear that the pendant may, in fact, have belonged to Karoline Cohn, who was born in July 3, 1929  less than a month after Annes birthday. That date was engraved on the pendant, along with the word, Frankfurt. But I needed to know more. How had the pendant been traced to Karoline? And what was the connection to Anne?

The mystery of the pendant had particular resonance, and would grab headlines around the world for one reason: It was nearly identical to one owned by Anne Frank.

I knew instinctively that the connection to Anne would generate interest, given the space she continues to occupy in global popular culture and our collective memory. Earlier this year, I had written a story about the discovery of an 8-line poem that Anne had written in a friendship book that had been acquired for $148,000 at an auction in the Netherlands. For that story, I had interviewed Jacqueline van Maarsen, 87, Annes best friend from her childhood in Amsterdam, who was selling the poem. She had told me that she was not surprised by the global fascination Anne had inspired, given the acute intelligence conveyed in her diary. Anne, she added, would have been delighted by all the attention.

On Tuesday, I called Yoram Haimi, the Israeli archaeologist based in Jerusalem who had excavated Sobibor and discovered the pendant. He explained that he had trawled through tens of thousands of names of deportees from Frankfurt on a Yad Vashem database, and had only found one name that matched the birthday  Karoline Cohn.
Insurance Back BIBA pleads for a sectoral Brexit solution and no further increases of the Insurance Premium Tax and supervision costs

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has called for the government to commit to no further increases to Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) and to negotiate for single market access in the EU exit. BIBA has also called for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to prioritise cost-effective supervision following a 70% increase in regulation costs for small insurance brokers, reads the latest association's press release.



The calls have been made in BIBA's 2017 Manifesto 'Enabling the Insurance Market' which was launched in the Houses of Parliament to an audience of Ministers, MPs, Lords, senior Government officials, insurance brokers and media.



IPT is the first issue in the Manifesto where BIBA highlights that between October 2015 and June 2017, 50 million policy holders will see a doubling in IPT through three successive increases to a record high of 12%. BIBA makes a call for no further increases.



Launching the Manifesto, BIBA's Chief Executive Steve WHITE explained that more than 2,700 UK insurance intermediaries have passports allowing them to undertake activities in EU states and that GBP 7.8 billion of European revenues are written or managed in London.



He set out BIBA's preference for Government to consider a sectoral solution, if a whole economy access to the single market isn't achievable. BIBA's Manifesto calls for Government to negotiate for a minimum five year transition period and highlighted the need for a solution for EU workers in the UK's insurance industry and UK insurance professionals working around Europe. BIBA has written directly to the Prime Minister, Theresa MAY, outlining these issues for inclusion in Government's EU exit negotiations.



In addition WHITE committed to the launch of BIBA's Innovation Station, a new insurance innovation focus group and to support new insurtech start-ups.



Jane ELLISON, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: "The UK is a global leader in insurance and the industry provides a vital service to businesses and consumers at home, across the EU and further afield. We look forward to working with BIBA to help the industry innovate, improve and make the most of all the opportunities ahead."



Graeme TRUDGILL, BIBA's Executive Director added: "We welcome the support given to this Manifesto from the FSB, CII, ABI, brokers, insurers and importantly Government in facing down numerous challenges including a 70% increase in the cost of regulation for small brokers, a doubling in Insurance Premium Tax and the EU exit. We all need to work together to enable our brokers to create new innovative insurance solutions to cater for the ever changing threats faced by our customers."



It is BIBA's biggest Manifesto including a reversible section dedicated to the coming EU exit, 38 calls to action and 20 BIBA commitments on the issues that are impacting general insurance brokers and their customers. It carries 17 supportive quotes and includes four case studies demonstrating the value and impact of brokers.



BIBA's Chairman, Lord HUNT of Wirral, commented: "This Manifesto demonstrates how BIBA can help to ensure that insurance brokers and, ultimately, their customers, can continue to secure suitable insurance policies in a time of great uncertainty."



BIBA's 2017 Manifesto issues include:

Designing a market place for tomorrow (A fair system of taxation; diversity; Insurtech; autonomous vehicles; and telematics)

EU Exit (Trading with Europe; transitional arrangements; equivalence; maintaining employment opportunities; motor, travel and trade credit insurance)

Enabling access to the right insurance (Vulnerable customers; an effective system of public financial guidance; and getting business interruption insurance right)

Dealing with threats (Flood insurance and resilience for business; cyber insurance; fraud; and terrorist threats)

Supervision and regulation (The accumulation and cost of regulation; reform of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme; The Enterprise Act; and enabling consumers to understand their insurance)



Author: Daniela GHETU on 18.01.2017





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Updated: May 1, 2017

For students who made predictions at the beginning of President Trumps term, and now want to compare those predictions with what actually happened during the presidents first 100 days in office, we provide the following resources:

 Trumps Campaign Promises 100 Days In (video)

 The Trump Administration: 100 Days in 2 Minutes (video)

 Circling Back to Voters, 100 Days Into Trump Era

 Fact Check: Trumps Account of His First 100 Days in Office

 The Making of a Legacy: First Steps in the Trump Era

 Trumps 100 Days on World Stage: Rallying Some and Repelling Others



_________

Donald J. Trumps freewheeling style defies predictability. As Ross Douthat writes, Anyone who tells you, with perfect confidence, what a Trump administration will do is either bluffing or a fool. Yet even though predictions can often be wrong, we still cant help making them  after all, humans crave some degree of certainty to navigate our lives and prepare for the future in an uncertain world.

In this lesson plan, we challenge students to make predictions about the Trump presidency  but predictions grounded in as much evidence as they can gather. What can we expect from Mr. Trumps first 100 days in office? And as the months progress and students keep an eye on the news, how many of their predictions will turn out to be accurate?

Below, we suggest activities and resources to help students better understand the implications of inaugurating a new president. What will a President Trump mean for domestic policy, foreign policy and the office of the president itself? Students will have a chance to make evidence-based predictions, to voice their opinions and to take action to help create the country and world they want to see.
Quick. What do you think of when someone says organic farmer?

Is your image a romantic one, of an outdoorsy farmhand in overalls getting tan and fit working the land and being one with the rhythms of Mother Nature? Or do you think of an exhausted, dirty, blistered laborer enduring backbreaking work from sunup till sundown, with constant worry about making ends meet and the threat of severe weather destroying crops?

What does being a small-scale farmer conjure up in your own mind?

In Life on the Farm Draws Some French Tired of Urban Rat Race, Benoit Morenne writes:

Powering this small-scale farming drive is a thriving market for organic food that amounted to nearly 7 billion in France in 2016, according to Agence Bio, which tracks the trade in the country. The drive has also been bolstered by an increased awareness of the environmental and health benefits of consuming local products. Before they can set up shop, however, new entrants have to overcome a range of obstacles, including navigating their way through a labyrinthine bureaucracy that oversees building permits and the distribution of land. The Duke of Sully, a minister of King Henri IV of France in the early 17th century, once described plow and pasture as the lifeblood of the French economy, and farming has long been romanticized in a country that values gastronomic treasures like Camembert cheeses and Bordeaux wines. But the reality is much bleaker for most farmers, who say they feel constrained by European Union regulations and who have been hit by global competition, shrinking margins and poor harvests in recent years. Generous agricultural subsidies mostly benefit large farms.

Students: Read the entire article, then tell us:

 Did the harsh realities of small-scale farming in France, including the high suicide rate, surprise or shock you? What did you learn about farming that you did not know before reading the article?

 Why is finding agrarian land the biggest challenge of todays French farmers, and do you think there is any solution to that challenge? Why or why not?

 Would you enjoy life as an organic or small-scale farmer? Would you consider it as a future career? Why or why not?

See this related Times slide show of life on a small-scale California farm about 100 miles from San Francisco.
The Nooksack, as is the case with many tribes, have not always been known by their modern name. Rather, Nooksack, which is also rendered Noxwsa7aq, was the name of one of many villages scattered along what is now called the Nooksack River. When white settlers arrived in the mid-19th century, they applied the name of the village to all the people in the valley. Noxwsa7aq translates to always bracken fern roots, on which people of the village are said to have subsisted during a time of famine. One tribal member told me that she thinks the name captures something of what it means to be Nooksack. It makes her feel like a survivor.

Thats a fair description of Nooksack history, especially in the last few hundred years. For centuries, the people fished their own river valley but also traveled regularly, including to what is now Canadas Fraser River, to fish for salmon or gather shellfish. They intermarried and formed alliances with their neighbors on both sides of what is now an international border. When white settlers arrived and introduced new diseases, many of the Nooksack died. By some counts their numbers plummeted to 450 from perhaps 1,200. In the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliot, in which Coast Salish tribes ceded their lands to the federal government in exchange for small reservations and the right to continue fishing, hunting and gathering, the Nooksack received no reservation. Instead, as settlers moved onto their lands, they were told to go live with the Lummi, in their new reservation by the coast. Most refused. Of those who remained, some filed homestead claims on their own lands; others scattered in search of a livelihood. For the next hundred years, as far as the federal government was concerned, the tribe essentially ceased to exist.

This is not an unusual story. The federal government used the law as a mighty, pulverizing engine to break up the tribal mass, as Teddy Roosevelt said to Congress in 1901. He was referring to the General Allotment Act, under which tribally owned land was carved into small parcels and handed out to individuals. It was a huge blow to the stability and sovereignty of tribes: Within 20 years, Native people lost ownership of 90 million acres. It was also the beginning of the governments reliance on blood quantum to determine Indian status. Those deemed half-bloods or less were regarded as more responsible and given more freedom to handle their land. Even many progressive reformers saw assimilation into white society as the best way to transform tribal members into citizens. Kill the Indian in the student so we can save the man! went the famous slogan of a superintendent at one of the 500 boarding schools that Native children, forcibly separated from their families, were made to attend.

Some Nooksack people, unrecognized by the federal government, stayed on their lands and continued to operate as a tribe. In the 1920s, they joined other Northwest tribes to sue the federal government for lands lost; in the 1930s, even though they werent considered eligible to participate, they voted to accept the Indian Reorganization Act, in which the government backed away from its assimilationist policies and instead encouraged tribes to be self-governing and self-sufficient. (A decade later the United States ended its government-to-government relationships with tribes and returned to promoting assimilation, before changing its policies and pushing self-government again.) In the 1960s, a committee of Nooksacks opened a bid for federal recognition. They gained title to one acre of land in Deming, the first Nooksack Reservation, in 1970, and full federal recognition in 1973. Like many tribes, they adopted a constitution based on a model that the Bureau of Indian Affairs developed during the reorganization period in the 1930s. The new constitution restricted Nooksack membership to recipients of early land allotments, recipients of a 1965 government settlement or people who appeared on a 1942 tribal census. Their direct descendants could also be enrolled, provided they had at least one-fourth (1/4) degree Indian blood.

The Nooksack werent alone in seeing long-lost applicants turn up after the tribe was officially recognized. Ron Allen, the tribal chairman of the Jamestown SKlallam, told me it was common, in the last decades of the 20th century, for the inner-circle communities of northwestern tribes to be surprised by a wave of people who started coming back to places their families once left. He credits the political advancement of tribes, which made members of the broader society feel that it was O.K. to be Indian. Tribes generally welcomed the new arrivals, he said, but still, it was like, Where are all these Indians coming from? 

The most outspoken critics of disenrollment call it a form of genocide. Others dont go quite so far but still view the practice as an outgrowth of policies designed to suppress Native American identity  to control us, to assimilate us, and ultimately, to extinguish us, as John McCoy, a Washington State senator and member of the Tulalip Tribes, neighbors to the Nooksack, wrote in an op-ed for the Indian Country Media Network earlier this year. Robert Williams, of the University of Arizona, argues that disenrollment is a remnant of colonialism and good old-fashioned American racism, with Indians left to deal with the mess. In a 2015 tweet, Sherman Alexie, the Spokane and Coeur dAlene author, put it even more emphatically: Dear Indian tribes who disenroll members, you should be ashamed of your colonial and capitalistic bullshit.

The first person to reply to Alexies tweet  thanking him for speaking out when others were silent  was Gabe Galanda, a member of the Round Valley Indian tribes in California and the lawyer whom the Nooksack 306 hired to represent them. The next replies came from some of Galandas other clients: former members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, who were disenrolled in 2014. Grand Ronde was formed in 1857 when the federal government forced at least 27 tribes and bands to leave their homelands, which ranged from California to Washington, and move to a reservation in Oregon. The 86 Grand Ronde disenrollees descend from a man known as Chief Tumulth, who signed one of the treaties that created the reservation. Decades after they enrolled, tribal officials noted that Chief Tumulth failed to appear on the official base roll, made the year it was founded. It was true: He was hanged the year before, by a lieutenant of the U.S. Army.
LYNCH We had one day of rehearsal. There were a couple of things that Nick and I were given for biographical background. There were recordings of Dick [McDonald]  Dictaphone audio memos to the company, to listen to his voice and the way he regarded his brother. I remember hearing such great love and esteem in his voice. Also, the first day of our shoot was the day they tell the story of their long rise to success. It was a lot of fun and set the groundwork for the remainder of the work.

OFFERMAN In the scene hes talking about, John had several minutes of exposition monologue that was the first thing we shot in this restaurant with Michael Keaton. John rattled the entire piece with enthusiasm and absolute vim and vigor. He finished the take, and everybodys jaw dropped, and Keaton was like, Well. All right. Moving on.

Did you ever work in the food-service industry?

LYNCH I never worked at McDonalds, but I worked at Burger King for a couple of minutes. I was at a waiter at a pub near the Catholic University of America, where I went to college. I waited on Ed Herrmann [the actor] once. I screwed up his order. He didnt want the ribs. I also worked at the Boston Sea Party, in Denver [where he was raised], shucking oysters. Id never seen an oyster, let alone knew how to shuck one. After a series of bloody-handed shifts, I was like, Ive got to get a job at Baskin-Robbins just to heal my hands.

OFFERMAN When Id just gotten my drivers license, a friend of mine was a manager at a Hardees in Joliet. And I wanted to buy a used car for about $1,500. So I started working some shifts for her, flipping burgers. And I had just about amassed the sum that I desired, when I got in a vehicular disagreement with an older lady at an intersection, the long and the short of which is, I was at fault, and it cost me $1,500. I took that as a lesson that a career in restaurant-ing was not for me.
Blink and you might miss Dorothys Day Spa, an unassuming-looking, subterranean beauty and wellness spot tucked amid brownstones on East 90th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues.

Dorothys might not be flashy, but it has a loyal clientele, many with standing weekly appointments. Some have been visiting the spa for decades.

When I started coming here 40 years ago, my conversations were about my kids being in diapers, and now Im talking about my granddaughter going to bar and bat mitzvahs, Sheryl Schwartz said.

Mrs. Schwartz, who was wrapping up a two-hour session on a Tuesday in December, had gotten a manicure, pedicure, foot reflexology and eyelash extensions. Her toenails were freshly painted gold and her fingernails were light pink, courtesy of Indra Ramdhani, her manicurist for three decades.
The guilty verdict centered on Mr. Sampsons relationship with two friends: Edul Ahmad, a businessman from Queens, and Sam Noel, a longtime paralegal in the same federal prosecutors office that was pursuing Mr. Sampson. Mr. Ahmad, who agreed to cooperate with the government after he was charged with mortgage fraud, testified that Mr. Sampson had threatened to silence anyone who was helping the investigators. The prosecutors also played video and audio recordings at the trial of a visibly distraught Mr. Sampson taking a check register that Mr. Ahmad indicated could prove the embezzlement and putting it in his pocket.

Image Sam Noel leaving the courthouse in Brooklyn in July 2015 after testifying in Mr. Sampsons trial. Credit... Michael Appleton for The New York Times

Mr. Noel testified that Mr. Sampson had asked him to use his position in the prosecutors office to look up information about any case being pursued against him. Mr. Noel also told the jury that Mr. Sampson had asked him to look up information about Mr. Ahmads case and that he had used confidential law enforcement databases to make both queries.

Addressing Judge Irizarry at the sentencing on Wednesday in Brooklyn, Mr. Sampson said he was doing what his lawyers told him not to do  speak from the heart. He apologized for his behavior, saying, I understand that these actions caused suffering to my family, my constituents and my man, Sam Noel. He also told the judge that his betrayal of Mr. Noel, who was prosecuted and lost his job, tears at my soul every single day, adding: Bottom line is my parents raised me better than this.

Before Mr. Sampson spoke to the court, Alexander Solomon, an assistant United States attorney, told Judge Irizarry that Mr. Sampsons actions were shockingly disturbing, particularly for a man who had once served as the chairman of the State Senates ethics committee. He was manipulative, vulgar, selfish and greedy, Mr. Solomon said.

Nick Akerman, Mr. Sampsons lawyer, told the court that prison time would be redundant on top of the pain that Mr. Sampson had already experienced. Mr. Sampson, a seasoned lawyer and politician, had lost his position in the Senate, had been disbarred and had suffered tremendous reputational damage, Mr. Akerman said. The shame and humiliation Mr. Sampson feels will stay with him for life.
So far, she and her aides have given no indication about her plans. Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress and a close confidante of Mrs. Clintons, told CNN this month that she did not expect Mrs. Clinton to seek public office again.

Even among the more likely potential challengers to Mr. de Blasio, including the city comptroller, Scott M. Stringer, and the former City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, only Tony Avella, a state senator from Queens, has formally mounted a campaign for mayor. And Mr. de Blasio topped them all in the poll.

Mr. Avella has not shown strength in his fund-raising efforts either, raising just $725 from seven people in the last filing period; the mayor, by comparison, raised more than $1 million from thousands of contributors. Several other declared candidates have not yet raised the sort of money necessary to mount a strong challenge to the mayor.

Polls have not shown broad support for Mr. de Blasio, though his approval rating has inched higher since August, when a majority of those surveyed gave him a negative rating.

The numbers still reflect a strong split between white voters, who largely reject Mr. de Blasios mayoralty, and black and Hispanic voters, who support him for a second term. (In a six-way Democratic primary against a field that did not include Mrs. Clinton, the poll shows the mayor prevailing among all demographics, including white voters.)
The World Economic Forum opened its annual meeting of the worlds richest and most powerful in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday against the backdrop of spreading revolts against global elites. The question now is whether these gilded champions of globalization will choose to address inequality or proceed with the business of wining and dining as usual.

As if to underline the stakes, on the day the Davos meeting began, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain delivered a speech in London outlining her countrys exit from the European Union. The meeting will end on the day Donald Trump  who has cheered the breakup of the European Union, threatened to undo trade agreements and called climate change a Chinese hoax against the United States  is sworn in as president.

On Tuesday, it was President Xi Jinping, the first Chinese leader to attend the Davos meeting, who addressed the American and British retreats directly. The problems troubling the world are not caused by globalization, Mr. Xi told the forum. As for climate change, he urged that signatories should stick to the Paris climate agreement. Though he never mentioned Mr. Trump by name, the target of his remarks was clear. As the Chinese saying goes, he said, people with petty shrewdness attend to trivial matters, while people with vision attend to governance of institutions. Ouch.
To the Editor:

Re China Plans a Big Increase in Spending on Renewable Energy (news article, Jan. 6):

As the incoming Trump administration promises to move the United States backward to an economy built on oil and gas that is dangerous to our health and our future, China pledges to invest in the fast-growing economic sector that is renewable energy.

The Trump administration energy policy not only threatens our physical well-being and that of the planet, but it also threatens to leave us alienated from a future sector of the global economy and cede more leadership to China.

If the United States minimizes job growth in renewable energy fields, we will lose out economically now and for years to come.

So we must look for leadership from the private sector and local and state government to support a competitive renewable energy industry. Here in New York, the business magnate Elon Musk has already started manufacturing solar panels in upstate New York that are competitive in price and output with Chinese solar panels.
The morning after Donald J. Trumps election victory I posted a status update on Facebook that drew praise from both my liberal and conservative social media friends, and revealed something Id thought impossible  a limit to his stalwart supporters loyalty. The post wasnt exactly neutral; I lamented what Mr. Trumps election means to me, a wheelchair user, and recalled the boorish example he set in mocking Serge Kovaleski, the Times reporter, who has a congenital joint disorder.

My partisan posture was clear, but still, the post elicited warm messages of encouragement from even strident Trump supporters. One response was revealing: A friend claimed that the president-elect would do wonders for the country, even as she wholeheartedly denounced him on this issue. (For the record, Kovaleski does not consider himself to be disabled.)

That a statement on disability garnered sympathy from across the political spectrum was unsurprising, at least to me. Ive grown used to my wheelchair trumping (forgive me) other political and moral concerns. Rarely, if ever, do people contest my claims that we must do more for those with disabilities: Greater access? Better employment training? More flexible school curriculums?

Of course! they invariably respond. Who could argue with that?

Disability rights enjoy a seemingly ironclad moral consensus, an ostensible unanimity that is striking given Americas entrenched polarization and the antagonism surrounding other identity movements. Many are wary of L.G.B.T. rights or the Black Lives Matter movement, but it seems beyond the pale  almost cruel  to oppose disability rights. Nobody wants to be anti-disability.
Insurance Back Insurance Europe: Successful conclusion of EU-US bilateral agreement on (re)insurance welcomed

Following the successful conclusion of the bilateral agreement on (re)insurance between the EU and the US in January 2017, Cristina MIHAI, head of prudential regulation and international affairs at Insurance Europe, said:



"Insurance Europe welcomes the recent conclusion of the bilateral agreement on (re)insurance between the EU and the US, and supports the provisions foreseeing the removal of the discriminatory collateral requirements that EU reinsurers were subject to when placing business in the US. Insurance Europe has been very supportive of the EU-US regulatory dialogue and the negotiations of a bilateral agreement on (re)insurance led by the European Commission, and believes the recent conclusion demonstrates the strength of the relationship between the EU and the US.



"The agreement aims for the application of the same requirements to both EU and US reinsurers placing business in each other's jurisdictions, which will help support bilateral trade in (re)insurance, for the benefit of both consumers and economies. Looking ahead, Insurance Europe hopes to see a swift application of the spirit and provisions of this agreement by all relevant authorities, to ensure a successful outcome."



Announcing the successful end of the negotiations, a joint statement was also released by the U.S. - EU negotiations teams, as follows:



WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS - "U.S. and EU representatives are pleased to announce the conclusion of successful negotiations on an agreement that will ensure ongoing robust insurance consumer protection and provide enhanced regulatory certainty for insurers and reinsurers operating in both the U.S. and the EU.



These negotiations resulted in a written Agreement that is a 'covered agreement' in the meaning of the Dodd-Frank Act for the United States and an Agreement under Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union for the EU.



"The Agreement Covers three areas of prudential insurance oversight: (1) reinsurance; (2) group supervision; and (3) the exchange of insurance information between supervisors.



"With regard to reinsurance, the Agreement will enhance consumer protection and will lead to the elimination of collateral and local presence requirements for EU and U.S. reinsurers operating in these markets.



"By virtue of the Agreement, U.S. and EU insurers operating in the other market will only be subject to worldwide prudential insurance group oversight by the supervisors in their home jurisdiction.



For the United States, this preserves the primacy of the U.S. regulators with respect to oversight of U.S. insurance groups. For the EU, this preserves the primacy of EU oversight of EU insurance groups.



The limitations on the exercise of worldwide group oversight outside of the home jurisdiction include limits on matters involving solvency and capital, reporting, and governance.



Supervisors nevertheless preserve the ability to request and obtain information about worldwide activities which could harm policyholders' interests or financial stability in their territory.



The Agreement also encourages insurance supervisory authorities in the United States and the EU to continue to exchange supervisory information on insurers and reinsurers that operate in the U.S. and EU markets.



To support such information exchange, the Agreement includes model memorandum of understanding provisions.



"The final legal text of the Agreement was provided to Congress on January 13, 2017, in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act. The European Union will follow the necessary steps, involving the Council and the European Parliament and pursuant to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to sign and formally conclude the Agreement. U.S. and EU negotiators affirm that the Agreement is balanced, in the mutual interest of both the U.S. and the EU, and provides meaningful benefits for U.S. and EU insurance consumers and for U.S. and EU insurers and reinsurers that operate in both markets."





Author: Daniela GHETU on 18.01.2017





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Insite says that the vast majority of referrals it makes are to treatment or detox  many to Onsite, the detox center right upstairs. Researchers found that Insite was associated (pdf) with a 30 percent increase in use of detox services, which in turn increased the use of long-term treatment and decreased injecting drug use.

Randy Fincham, a staff sergeant at the Vancouver Police Department, said that Insite was not an easy sell with police. Its hard for police officers to look the other way if someones going to consume, he said. But Insites record was convincing, he said  clients have overdosed about 5,000 times and were revived in every single case. Its not the be-all and end-all. Its a Band-aid for opioid consumption until other solutions are introduced. Its taken a few years, but now our members are fully supportive  because of the need.

To measure Insites impact on overdose deaths, researchers tallied deaths in Insites neighborhood in the two years before it opened and then in its first two years of operation, and compared them to deaths elsewhere in the city. Within roughly a third of a mile of Insite, overdose deaths dropped by 35 percent. In the rest of Vancouver, deaths dropped by 9.3 percent.

Researchers also found no increase in crime, and a decrease in public injecting and discarded needles. It has made the neighborhood better, not worse. The same is true in Sydney. Australian researchers found that three-quarters of residents and businesses in the area around Sydneys facility support it (pdf). SIFs cannot be expected to solve all of the drug-related problems within a particular area, but can contribute to their reduction or minimization, said Australias Salvation Army  an organization normally focused on abstinence.

A caution: Small is not beautiful. Insites 13 carrels are not enough  each day starts off with a line around the block. This is bad for the neighborhood, and counterproductive for drug users. Its very hard to stand in line for an hour with a bag of heroin in your pocket.

And to make a difference, sites must be near the clients. Vancouver is unusual in the concentration of its drug injecting in one neighborhood  which is also why there are lines. This is a challenge for other cities where drug use is more disperse, and especially problematic in rural areas; people wont travel to go inject safely.

In New York, Linda Rosenthal, who represents Manhattans Upper West Side in the State Assembly, is preparing to introduce legislation laying the legal groundwork that would allow cities to establish the sites. She believes the facilities should go into buildings that already serve injecting drug users with services such as needle exchange, detox, counseling and connections to social programs.
To the Editor:

Re Mr. Trump Keeps It in the Family (editorial, Jan. 13):

I take issue with your editorial with respect to the legality of Jared Kushners service in the White House.

A decade after the anti-nepotism law was passed, Congress authorized the president to appoint  employees in the White House Office without regard to any other provision of law regulating the employment  of persons in the Government service. The House and the Senate said that this measure gave the president total discretion in the employment  of all employees in the White House Office.

The appointment of Jared Kushner, President-elect Donald Trumps son-in-law, as a White House senior adviser is clearly lawful under this authority.

In addition, it is not only lawyers for Mr. Trump and Mr. Kushner who have concluded that the anti-nepotism law does not apply to the White House Office. Two well-respected members of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia expressed that view in a published opinion, after the Clinton Justice Department advocated for the very same reading of the nepotism law.
The president-elects pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency is the antithesis of what the nation should expect in the next administrator of the agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt of Oklahoma has built his career suing the agency he would oversee to roll back its protection of the nations air and water, and challenging the very idea of federal action to control pollution.

At the same time, while Mr. Pruitt preaches the gospel of states rights, his record suggests he has been far from aggressive in enforcing environmental laws in his own state. Given his anti-regulatory mind-set, skepticism about global warming and support from the industries he would regulate, the Senate, which is set to begin to consider his nomination on Wednesday, should reject him.

His tenure in Oklahoma is instructive. Mr. Pruitt disbanded the environmental protection unit in the attorney generals office and created a federalism unit to litigate against overreach by the federal government. Much of that overreach, in Mr. Pruitts view, was by the E.P.A.
Does anyone seriously think that what Mr. Snowden did was espionage? Ive read the conspiracy theory. But Ive also listened to seasoned intelligence operatives on both sides of the Atlantic. They, of course, disapprove of what he did. They believe he caused real damage by exposing intelligence sources and methods. But they are also sophisticated enough to understand that his motivation was not that of a spy or a traitor.

The more thoughtful among them  again while deploring his actions  go on privately to acknowledge that this was a debate that was inevitable. That it did have to be held in public. And that the security services, having engaged in that much more open discussion, have actually been able to place much that was secret and legally dubious on a more secure and open footing.

It is very difficult to argue, in light of all that has happened in the three years since the Snowden revelations, that there was no public interest in what he did. Numerous lawyers, judges, legislators, nonprofit organizations and academics have demonstrated the contrary. Even Eric H. Holder Jr., the former attorney general, acknowledged last year, We can certainly argue about the way in which Snowden did what he did, but I think that he actually performed a public service by raising the debate that we engaged in and by the changes that we made.

Aspects of what Mr. Snowden showed to be happening have been ruled illegal or unconstitutional going back many years. Laws have been scrapped, reformed or amended. Oversight has been strengthened. The revelations kick-started an overdue conversation among government, citizens and corporations about the poorly understood issue of encryption. President Obamas mature response to the Snowden leaks  commissioning two reviews into government surveillance and how to balance security with civil liberties  assisted that process of understanding and engagement.

The point is this: It is possible to deplore the way Mr. Snowden went about his whistle-blowing while still acknowledging the extreme importance of his actions.

In that respect he is similar to figures such as Daniel Ellsberg  reviled at the time by the Nixon administration for his own act of whistle-blowing over Vietnam, but now broadly regarded as a person of admirable moral convictions who acted in the wider public good.
On the bright side, at least Jenna Bush Hager didnt say Hidden Fences in the Moonlight, mashing together all three of the critically acclaimed movies about African-Americans that are in theaters right now.

Im referring to that cringe-worthy moment at the Golden Globes when Hager, a correspondent for NBCs Today show, mistakenly referred to Hidden Figures as Hidden Fences, something that the actor Michael Keaton also did later that same night. Fences is its own production, and it, Hidden Figures and Moonlight are all in the hunt for Oscar nominations, to be announced next Tuesday.

They tell unrelated stories in unrelated styles. And theyre not equally accomplished, not to my eye. Moonlight has a daring, a visual poetry and a jolting intimacy that lift it well above the other two.

Image Naomie Harris in Moonlight. Her intense, heartbreaking performance as a the drug-addicted mother of a hurting boy has won rave reviews and should earn her a nomination for best supporting actress. Credit... A24

But they are indeed linked, because together they represent a real chance, after the #OscarsSoWhite outcry, for a bit of an #OscarsSoBlack correction, or at least an #OscarsMoreDiverse one. The number of nominations that these three movies do or dont receive will be one of the main lenses through which the 2017 Academy Awards are analyzed, especially in light of this tense juncture for race relations.
Even before Tom Price became President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, he played a big role in shaping health policy in the House. He also frequently traded health care stocks, raising questions about whether he used his position in Congress for personal profit.

Mr. Price, who will testify at a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, has bought and sold stocks worth more than $300,000 over the last four years, The Wall Street Journal reported last month. His trades included shares of at least two companies that stood to benefit from legislation he voted for, had sponsored or was involved in. Democratic lawmakers have called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate the trades for potential violations of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, which prohibits lawmakers, their staff members and executive branch officials from trading on nonpublic information. Experts say Mr. Prices trades may have also violated House ethics rules. The Trump transition team says Mr. Price, who is chairman of the House Budget Committee, did nothing wrong and will sell his stocks to avoid conflicts of interest if confirmed.

These questions come at a moment of utter confusion about the Trump teams position on repealing the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Trump said over the weekend that his replacement for the 2010 law would provide insurance for everybody, but Mr. Price previously proposed a replacement that would greatly reduce government spending on health, making it impossible for millions of people to buy health insurance, especially the old, sick and poor. If Republicans repeal major provisions of the A.C.A. as Mr. Price and his Republican colleagues want, the number of Americans without health insurance will increase by 32 million over 10 years from its current historic low of 29 million, or 9.1 percent of the population, the Congressional Budget Office said on Tuesday.
FRONT PAGE

Because of an editing error, an article on Monday about a gathering of world leaders in Paris for an Israeli-Palestinian peace conference that neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians attended referred incorrectly to the two-state solution endorsed at the conference. Those attending reiterated their support for the existing two-state solution; there is no new proposal.



An article on Saturday about the grocery spending habits of households receiving food stamps misstated the portion of spending used to purchase soft drinks. Households receiving food stamps spent 9.3 percent of their bills on sweetened beverages, a category that includes soft drinks, juices, and energy drinks, among others; they did not spend that percentage on soft drinks alone. In addition, the article misidentified the location of a Walmart store that was used as an example of prices in California. The store is in San Leandro, Calif., which neighbors Oakland; it is not in Oakland.



An article on Friday about Iowa voters views of Donald J. Trump since the election misstated the pattern on the overalls worn by the man in the American Gothic painting by the artist Grant Wood, who was born in Jones County, Iowa. They are solid blue denim, not pinstriped.

INTERNATIONAL

An article on Dec. 19 about Margot Wallstrom, Swedens foreign minister, referred incorrectly to her countrys position on Palestinian statehood. Sweden is one of the few European countries that recognize statehood  not one of a few countries that recognize it. (Worldwide, 136 countries recognize Palestinian statehood).
Through the years, Hudson Square has been a place to print books, broadcast radio shows and wobble through pub crawls, not to mention to slam steering wheels in frustration at backups in the Holland Tunnel.

But to live? Yes, that too, say residents of the enclave, who praise its quiet streets, old industrial hulks and affordability, at least relative to other parts of Manhattan.

Its a little hidden jewel, said Michael El Hadj, 43, who lives with his wife, three children and a Belgian Malinois in a four-bedroom condo. Their apartment, which cost $2.8 million in 2007, is on Spring Street, a night life destination that once drew people from around the city. Mr. El Hadj recalled venturing downtown in the late 1990s, from his one-bedroom co-op on the Upper East Side, to see concerts at Don Hills, a club at the corner of Spring and Greenwich Streets.

But just as Don Hills closed, in 2011, other bars near it have also shut down, meaning less broken glass on the sidewalks on Saturday mornings, said Mr. El Hadj, who works in finance. As a middle-aged man with a family, he said, its been nice to see the seedier side of that aspect put to bed.
There are distinct species that have been around for millions of years, even though they look to our eyes very similar, said Dr. Yoder. Unfortunately, she noted, new species revealed by DNA often turn out to exist in perilously low numbers.

The new research was not all bad news for primates.

Some species are doing O.K., said Katherine C. MacKinnon, an anthropologist at Saint Louis University and a co-author of the study. The ones that are doing O.K. are the ones that arent super-specialists, the ones that are most flexible.

But most species are not so flexible. Every species of ape (including gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and 19 species of gibbons) is threatened, while 87 percent of lemur species are. Other species that are critically endangered include the brown-headed spider monkey of Ecuador, the Niger Delta red colobus, and the crested macaque, an Indonesian species famous for having taken a selfie with a photographers camera.

Its worse than we thought 10 years ago, Dr. MacKinnon said.

She and her colleagues identified a number of human activities pushing primates to the edge, such as hunting. In West Africa, for example, there is a strong demand in local markets for primate meat.

The forests are still standing, but theyve shot everything out of it, said Dr. Rylands.

The incentives to kill primates are not only local, though. A lot of primate meat is making its way to China, along with body parts falsely believed to have healing powers.

Theyll import enormous amounts from around Southeast Asia, said Dr. Rylands. Theyre a driving force through the whole region.

Primates are also threatened by the wholesale destruction of forests to make way for agriculture. In the Amazon, the jungle is being converted to cattle ranches and soybean fields, while in Madagascar, rice paddies are taking the place of lemur forests.
El Nino has now ended, and climate scientists almost universally expect 2017 to be cooler than the year before. But the scale of the heat burst has been startling to many of the experts, and some of them fear an accelerated era of global warming could be at hand over the next few years.

Even at current temperatures, billions of tons of land ice are melting or sliding into the ocean. The sea is also absorbing most of the heat trapped by human emissions. Those factors are causing the ocean to rise at what appears to be an accelerating pace, and coastal communities in the United States are beginning to spend billions to fight increased tidal flooding. Their pleas for help from Congress have largely been ignored.

The finding that a record had been set for the third year in a row was released on Wednesday by three government agencies, two of them American and one British, that track measurements made by ships, buoys and land-based weather stations. They analyze the figures to correct for known problems, producing an annual average temperature for the surface of the Earth. The national meteorological agency of Japan confirmed the findings in a preliminary analysis.

In the British data set, 2016 set a record by only a small amount; the margin was larger in the NOAA data set and larger still in NASAs. NASA does more work than the other groups to take full account of Arctic temperatures, and several scientists said they believed the NASA record to be the most accurate for 2016 for that reason.
Insurance Back SCOR announces several appointments in the top level management team

French reinsurer SCOR announced on January 16, several appointments to Group's top management functions, with immediate effect.

Paul Christoff is appointed Managing Director of the Americas Hub, reporting in this capacity to Romain Launay, Group Chief Operating Officer. Paul Christoff will retain his current responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer of the Americas Hub.

is appointed Managing Director of the Americas Hub, reporting in this capacity to Romain Launay, Group Chief Operating Officer. Paul Christoff will retain his current responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer of the Americas Hub. Eric Pooi , currently Chief Operating Officer of the Life division for Asia-Pacific, becomes Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific Hub, reporting to Romain Launay. Eric Pooi replaces Ben Ho, who has been appointed Advisor to the Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific Hub.

, currently Chief Operating Officer of the Life division for Asia-Pacific, becomes Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific Hub, reporting to Romain Launay. Eric Pooi replaces Ben Ho, who has been appointed Advisor to the Managing Director of the Asia-Pacific Hub. Marc Philippe , currently Deputy Chief Information Officer, becomes SCOR's Chief Information Officer, reporting to Romain Launay. He replaces Regis Delayat , who has been appointed Digital Advisor to the Chairman. Romain Portelli , currently in charge of information systems at SCOR Global P&C, is appointed Deputy Chief Information Officer, in charge of the functional scope of the Group's information technology.

, currently Deputy Chief Information Officer, becomes SCOR's Chief Information Officer, reporting to Romain Launay. He replaces , who has been appointed Digital Advisor to the Chairman. , currently in charge of information systems at SCOR Global P&C, is appointed Deputy Chief Information Officer, in charge of the functional scope of the Group's information technology. Guillaume Ominetti , currently Head of Capital Shield Strategy within the Group Risk Management department, is appointed Advisor to the Chairman and Head of Public Affairs. Denis Kessler, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of SCOR, comments : "The appointments announced today once again bear testimony to SCOR's commitment to developing and promoting talent within the Group, throughout the world. I would like to extend my thanks to Ben for his remarkable contribution to the success of SCOR's operations and for the strengthening of our franchise in Asia-Pacific. Over the past 25 years, Regis Delayat has successfully transformed SCOR's information systems, thereby providing the Group with a key competitive edge. He will now focus on Digital, in line with his role as Chairman of Ruschlikon and with SCOR's commitment to this topic."



Romain Launay, Group Chief Operating Officer of SCOR, comments : "SCOR's Hub structure, which involves the pooling of support functions at regional level, offers an efficient platform for providing high-quality services to our business engines. With the appointment of Paul Christoff in the Americas and Eric Pooi in Asia-Pacific, we will further focus on operational excellence in these regions, which generate around 60% of the Group's gross written premiums. With the appointments of Marc Philippe and Romain Portelli, the Group will continue to invest in the development of our information systems with a view to creating ever more performing tools to conduct our business".



Biographies



Paul Christoff , 45, is a graduate of the University of Toronto, having obtained a degree in commerce and finance. He also holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. Prior to joining SCOR in 2009, Paul Christoff held senior positions in the P&C industry, both in operations and finance.



Eric Pooi , 48, is a Chartered Accountant with ISCA Singapore and an Associate in Risk Management with AICPCU. Having begun his career in auditing after graduating from Nanyang Technological University (Accountancy), he has been in the insurance industry (New Reinsurance, Gerling Global Re & Revios Re) for over 22 years, covering captive insurance, P&C Reinsurance, Composite and Life Reinsurance. Over the course of his career, he has taken on several roles ranging from CFO, COO, HR, IT and Administration. He is currently the appointed Chief Executive for SCOR Global Life Singapore Branch, as well as the Chief Representative for the SCOR Global Life Taipei Representative Office.



Ben Ho , 63, holds an MSc from the University of Manchester in the UK and an MBA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He began his career at SCOR Hong Kong in 1978 as a P&C Facultative Underwriter and has held various positions within the Group's P&C division at the Hong Kong, Paris and Singapore offices. He was appointed Managing Director / Principal Officer SCOR Reinsurance Asia-Pacific P&C in 2003, and became the SCOR Singapore Hub CEO / Chief Executive - P&C in 2008.



Marc Philippe , 48, is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications de Paris. He started his career as a consultant in Information & Technology, successively at CGI - IBM Group, and PWC. He joined SCOR in 1998, occupying various roles within the IT department, especially in the areas of business application development and large corporate projects. He has been leading the Group IT functional team since 2013.



Regis Delayat , 62, is a graduate of the Institut des Sciences Appliquees (INSA Lyon). He has been SCOR's Group CIO for the last 25 years, since 1992. He is the Chair of Ruschlikon, the global association of Insurers, Brokers and Reinsurers, committed to developing e-processing in the (re)insurance industry.



Romain Portelli , 38, is a graduate of the ENSAE - SUPAERO Engineering School. Having begun his career with Accenture in the Paris & New-York offices, spending 8 years at the company, he joined SCOR in 2011 as Head of the SAP Competency Center and Director of the "One Ledger Program". In 2013, he joined the IT department to become the IT Division Manager of SCOR Global P&C.



Guillaume Ominetti , 29, began his professional career with SCOR in January 2012, as Head of Capital Shield Strategy in Group Risk Management. He has mainly focused on monitoring the retrocession strategy and its consistency with the Group's risk appetite. Over the past year, he has been actively contributing to the preparation of the "Vision in Action" strategic plan. He is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and of ENSAE, holds a Master of Science in Mathematical Finance (random modelling) from the University of Paris VII, and is a member of the French Institute of Actuaries.





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This was not how it was supposed to be. Decentralized communications was once a central promise of the internet. In the 1960s and 1970s, with the world on the brink of nuclear Armageddon, a cadre of academic and military engineers set out to create a communications system that contained no single point of failure or control. The network they came up with, which evolved into the modern internet, connected every machine to every other through many different paths. That way, if any portion of the network were wiped out by an attack, traffic would simply route itself to a new path.

As the threat of nuclear attack diminished and the internet grew, its decentralized design became as much a political selling point as a technical one.

Ours is a world that is both everywhere and nowhere, the activist John Perry Barlow argued in his 1996 manifesto, A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace. He predicted that because of the internets everywhere-ness, the worlds governments would never be able to lasso the digital realm. The computer scientist and activist John Gilmore told Time magazine in 1993, The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.

What the creators and early proselytizers of the internet did not foresee was the rapid commercialization of the network. The internet that Mr. Barlow and Mr. Gilmore envisioned was built and maintained by collectives of users; the one that users flocked to was tamed by companies whose very success turned them into some of the largest corporations on the planet.

The internet is now no longer everywhere and nowhere. Just about all of its economic value is instead connected to two very specific somewheres: the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle, the homes of Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook, the four monstrously large companies that own the internets central information platforms. As these companies began to build ever-larger empires online, they have evolved into convenient choke points  the very points of control that the internet was designed to eliminate.

Like all companies, online companies must offer some level of deference to governments. They obey local and national laws, court orders and national security authorities, and bend to other, less transparent means of coercion. They can fight governments  as Apple did when it battled the F.B.I. over unlocking a terrorists iPhone last year  but they often must pick their battles and balance their interests. Apple makes a significant fraction of its profits from China. Can it really risk all those billions to protect a handful of apps?

Apple offered this statement in response to my queries on how it decides to take down apps: For some time now the New York Times app has not been permitted to display content to most users in China, and we have been informed that the app is in violation of local regulations. As a result, the app must be taken down off the China App Store. When this situation changes, the App Store will once again offer the New York Times app for download in China. Google declined to comment.
Cate Blanchett is proving to be a strong box-office draw on Broadway.

The Present, a new adaptation of a little-known Chekhov play starring Ms. Blanchett in her Broadway debut, last week grossed just over $1 million, a sign of strength for any Broadway show, but especially for a nonmusical play.

One illustrative comparison: A revival this season of The Cherry Orchard, also by Chekhov, topped out at $384,000 during its best, and final, week of performances.

The Present, which opened on Jan. 8, received mixed reviews, but has been selling well since beginning previews on Dec. 17. Last week, a so-so week for Broadway over all, was the strongest yet for The Present, which had a healthy average admission price of $129 and played to 95 percent full houses, according to figures released Wednesday by the Broadway League for the week ending Jan. 15.

The adaptation, written by Ms. Blanchetts husband, Andrew Upton, is a modern take on Chekhovs first play, which is most often produced under the title Platonov. Ms. Blanchett, a two-time Oscar winner, plays a Russian widow who is turning 40 and worried about how to hang on to her home. The plays action centers on a wild birthday party at which the characters friends and family have gathered.
In the 18 years since that childs abduction, we have received and followed up on more than 2,500 investigative leads, Sheriff Williams said, recalling an intense, lengthy, detailed, multiagency investigation.

The family reached a legal settlement with the hospital two years later. And every year, the babys mother would wrap a slice of birthday cake in tinfoil and freeze it. The case also went cold.

Late last year, two fresh tips came in, and they led cold-case detectives to Walterboro, S.C., a town of just 5,000 people an hour west of Charleston. There, the investigators found a young woman who had been born on July 10, 1998, just like Kamiyah, but with a different name. Her documents were fraudulent, Sheriff Williams said, and interviews with people supported the idea that the two women were one and the same.

The detectives asked Ms. Manigo for a DNA sample. And of course, like someone who understands their rights, she said: What is this about? Do you have a warrant? said her lawyer, Justin Bamberg.

The investigators returned with one. Ms. Manigo gave her DNA and in short order found out the truth: She was someone elses child.

Conscious of the fact that the woman she knew as her mother will now face trial for kidnapping, Ms. Manigo is unwilling to discuss a lot about the case, including how her family life finally unraveled. She does not want to say which name she plans to use in the future, and she insisted that she was never suspicious  although the police said otherwise at a news conference on Friday.
LOS ANGELES  In the months since the election of Donald J. Trump, California has turned into a laboratory of resistance  championing legal, legislative and political strategies to counter Republican policies while pressing the kind of new Democratic policies that presumably will not be coming out of Washington anytime soon.

The state lieutenant governor, Gavin Newsom, who is running for governor, said California could use its stringent environmental protection law to block Mr. Trump from building a wall along the Mexican border. In Sacramento, Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers are pressing bills to expand environmental protections, provide legal assistance for immigrants facing deportation and raise gasoline taxes to pay for highway construction.

An earned-income tax credit, said Anthony Rendon, the speaker of the Assembly. Huge infusions for early-childhood education. Those types of things are certainly things that we are interested in doing.

Democratic members of the California delegation to Congress are lining up to announce they will not attend the inauguration of Mr. Trump. And in Los Angeles, Sheila Kuehl, a member of the powerful county board of supervisors, has started what she has called Operation Monkey Wrench, urging people, including state and federal government workers, to systematically disrupt Trump policies that run counter to California laws and policies.
Democrats complained mightily about their questions being limited, but the Republicans, who hold the majority, get to set the rules. Four of President-elect Donald J. Trumps cabinet choices faced aggressive questions, but avoided any major stumbles. Here are 10 highlights:

 Representative Tom Price of Georgia, picked to be health secretary, said repealing the Affordable Care Act would not leave millions without health insurance.

 Mr. Price offered lofty goals for replacing the law but gave few details about the administrations plans.

 He did not rule out cuts to Medicare or Medicaid.

 Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general and the pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said he disagreed with Mr. Trumps statement that climate change is a hoax, but hedged when asked how much of it is caused by human activity.

 He defended what he called common sense environmental regulation, arguing that farmers, ranchers and business had been hurt by intrusive federal rules.
President-elect will say so long to Trump Force One

Wednesday night will be Mr. Trumps last ride on his favorite accessory: his blue-and-gold-painted airplane, with his name across the side.

Mr. Trump will return to Washington briefly on Wednesday evening, but will not spend the night. Instead, he will return to New York City for a final stay at Trump Tower before he is sworn in on Friday.

On Thursday, Mr. Trump will be escorted to Washington on a military jet, according to a person briefed on the plans. He will spend that night at Blair House, the presidents guesthouse.

The Secret Service insists for security reasons that the president travel on the official aircraft.

At first glance, Air Force One is an indisputable status symbol for an incoming president who focuses heavily on aesthetics. But Air Force One does not have the gold-plated belt buckles or wood tables that Trump Force One does.

And Mr. Trump is also happiest with things that are familiar, and that he himself owns. He spent most of his campaign with his airplane as his mobile headquarters, writing speeches and giving interviews from his seat. He is one of the only incoming presidents to whom Air Force One might feel like a step down.

Despite Obamas efforts, a Muslim registry could be revived

Warily looking at the incoming Trump administration, President Obama moved in recent weeks to eliminate all vestiges of a program created after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that required men from countries with active terrorist groups to provide their fingerprints and to register with the federal government.
But this time, reflecting the nations deep and persistent political divisions, those spectators attending the inauguration are expected to be joined in Washington by thousands of others who are planning demonstrations for and against Mr. Trump. Mr. Johnson said law enforcement officials had tallied 99 groups planning actions for the inaugural period, including 63 on Friday alone.

Washington and National Park Service police have sought to separate the demonstrating groups from one another and from the main inaugural events, wherever possible.

The largest demonstration should come on Saturday, when hundreds of thousands of people are expected to participate in the Womens March on Washington.

Christopher T. Geldart, the director of homeland security for the District of Columbia, said his team was preparing for 400,000 to 500,000 people at the march and expected that smaller protest actions could crop up elsewhere in the city on Saturday, as well.

Those numbers are quite likely to be larger than any seen at an inauguration since at least the Vietnam War era. Mr. Bushs 2001 inauguration attracted modest protest action, the largest in more recent memory, but it was largely disorganized and caused no significant disruptions. Opposition to the Iraq war drew protesters once again in 2005. Very few demonstrators greeted Mr. Obama in 2009 or in 2013.

For security officials, the presence of protesters  and potential clashes between groups for and against Mr. Trump  will add a layer of concern to the complex plan to safeguard the nations transfer of power that has been under development for much of the last year and will most likely cost more than $100 million.
When Donald J. Trump takes the oath of office on Friday, he will do so with his hand on two Bibles: his own, and one used by Abraham Lincoln in 1861. Only one other president has used that Bible for the oath: Mr. Trumps predecessor.

Thomas Barrack Jr., the chairman of Mr. Trumps inaugural committee, said in a statement earlier this week that the president-elect is humbled to place his hand on Bibles that hold special meaning both to his family and to our country.

Mr. Trumps personal Bible was given to him by his mother in 1955, two days before his ninth birthday, according to a statement from the inaugural committee. He had just completed the Sunday Church Primary School at the First Presbyterian Church in Queens, where he grew up.

A Certain Kind of Electricity

To use the Lincoln Bible, the inaugural committee has to borrow it from its permanent home at the Library of Congress.
WASHINGTON  President-elect Donald J. Trumps choice for White House budget director failed to pay more than $15,000 in payroll taxes for a household employee, he admitted in a statement to the Senate Budget Committee, the sort of tax compliance issue that has derailed cabinet nominees in the past.

In a questionnaire provided to the committee, Representative Mick Mulvaney, a conservative from South Carolina and vocal proponent of fiscal restraint noted, I have come to learn during the confirmation review process that I failed to pay FICA and federal and state unemployment taxes on a household employee for the years 2000-2004.

Mr. Mulvaney said he had subsequently paid more than $15,000 in taxes and awaits the state tax bill, as well as penalties and interests. His confirmation hearing before the committee is scheduled for Jan. 24. The employee was a babysitter hired when Mr. Mulvaney and his wife had triplets in 2000.

Attempts to reach Mr. Mulvaneys office for comment were not successful. A spokesman for the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Michael B. Enzi, Republican of Wyoming, said he would have no immediate comment. Mr. Mulvaney will almost certainly be asked about the issue at his hearing, and Republicans on the committee are most likely aware of its existence.
WASHINGTON  Representative Tom Price, the man President-elect Donald J. Trump has chosen to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, promised on Wednesday to make sure people do not fall through the cracks if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, and set a goal to increase the number of people with health insurance.

But at a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Mr. Price provided only vague reassurance to members of both parties who pressed him for specific policies.

Republicans concluded he was well qualified; Democrats were not satisfied.

Just days ago, President-elect Trump promised, quote, insurance for everybody, said Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the senior Democrat on the committee. But Congressman Price, your own proposals would cause millions of people to lose coverage, force many people to pay more for their care, and leave people with pre-existing conditions vulnerable to insurance companies rejecting them or charging them more.

In four hours of testimony, Mr. Price, an orthopedic surgeon from the affluent northern suburbs of Atlanta, set lofty goals for a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, President Obamas signature domestic achievement, but did not say how he would achieve them.
Stable visitor numbers at Expo Riva Schuh

Italy

The 87th edition of Expo Riva Schuh, the international trade fair dedicated to the volume footwear sector, closed its doors on January 17 with visitor numbers in line with the corresponding January 2016 edition.

According to the organisers, a total of 13,024 visitors from 100 different countries attended the four-day event (13,104 in January 2016). Delegations comprised of more than 40 buyers from 14 countries visited the trade fair, with representatives from main European markets such as Germany and Sweden, but also Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine and Hungary), some Asian emerging markets (Azerbaijan, Iran and Kazakhstan) and Turkey.

Expo Riva Schuh is now an important opportunity for exchange, comparison and growth for all operators in the sector. Our fair is backed by a strong identity, which has never changed neither its course nor its positioning and it is precisely this consistency that paid off over time with a high retention rate among both exhibitors and visitors, said Roberto Pellegrini, President, Riva del Garda Fierecongressi.

A total of 1,449 exhibitors from over 40 countries participated in the January 2017 edition, including the collective pavilions from China, India, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Indonesia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Tunisia and Turkey. The collection previews for the Autumn/Winter 2017-18 season were showcased over 32,715 sq m of net exhibition space.

According to Abicalcados, the Brazilian Shoe Manufacturers Association which organised the participation of over 40 Brazilian companies at this edition of Expo Riva Schuh, the Brazilian exhibitors valued direct business deals carried out during the event at US$3.94 million, and expect this figure to reach US$21.41 million in the next few months. They attribute their successful participation to the format of the event and to the assertiveness of their own collections.

Expo Riva Schuh Spring/Summer 2018 edition: June 10-13, 2017, Riva del Garda, Italy.
WASHINGTON  When President Obama arrived in office eight years ago, the departing President George W. Bush essentially withdrew from public life, declaring that his successor deserves my silence. It was an approach that Mr. Obama greatly appreciated but does not intend to follow.

At the final news conference of his presidency, Mr. Obama made clear on Wednesday that he finds some ideas advanced by President-elect Donald J. Trump so alarming that he laid out markers that would draw him back into the fray.

Theres a difference between that normal functioning of politics and certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake, Mr. Obama told reporters in the White House briefing room.

Mr. Obama continued: I put in that category if I saw systematic discrimination being ratified in some fashion. I put in that category explicit or functional obstacles to people being able to vote, to exercise their franchise. Id put in that category institutional efforts to silence dissent or the press. And for me at least, I would put in that category efforts to round up kids who have grown up here and for all practical purposes are American kids, and send them someplace else, when they love this country.
Mr. Pruitt addressed climate change directly in his opening remarks, saying: Science tells us that the climate is changing and human activity in some manner impacts that change. The human ability to measure with precision the extent of that impact is subject to continuing debate and dialogue, as well they should be.

That statement is not consistent with the scientific consensus on climate change. A 2013 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations group that reviews and summarizes climate science, found it extremely likely that more than half of the global warming that occurred from 1951 to 2010 was a consequence of human emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Mr. Pruitts hearing took place on the same day that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that 2016 was the hottest year on record, surpassing marks set in 2015 and 2014.

Among the largest and most contentious regulatory obligations facing the E.P.A. will be the enactment of Mr. Obamas signature climate change policy, the Clean Power Plan, which would require states to curb their planet-warming pollution from coal-fired power plants. Mr. Pruitt has played a leading role in a 27-state lawsuit against it, accusing the agency of vastly overstepping its authority.

However, Mr. Pruitt said that he would not revisit a landmark 2009 E.P.A. finding that carbon dioxide emissions endanger human life by warming the planet. That finding created the legal requirement that the E.P.A. regulate those climate-warming emissions. It is there, and it needs to be enforced and respected, Mr. Pruitt said. There is nothing that I know that would cause it to be reviewed.

But Senate Democrats pressed Mr. Pruitt to recuse himself from regulatory decisions on cases he has filed against the agency, including the Clean Power Plan.

What the American people are expecting here is that the E.P.A. doesnt turn into every polluters ally, said Senator Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts. The only way to do that is for you to recuse yourself from every case you brought.
WASHINGTON  The Obama administration has written 275 briefing papers for the incoming Trump administration: nearly 1,000 pages of classified material on North Koreas nuclear program, the military campaign against the Islamic State, tensions in the South China Sea, and every other kind of threat the new team could face in its first weeks in office.

Nobody in the current administration knows whether anyone in the next has read any of it.

Less than three days before President Obama turns the keys to the White House, and the nuclear codes, over to President-elect Donald J. Trump, Mr. Trumps transition staff has barely engaged with the National Security Council below the most senior levels. His designated national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, has met four times with his Obama counterpart, Susan E. Rice, most recently on Tuesday afternoon.

But the chronic upheaval in Mr. Trumps transition, a delay in appointing senior National Security Council staff members, and a dearth of people with security clearances have deprived the Trump team of weeks of prep work on some of the most complex national security issues facing the country.

We really wanted to make sure there was nothing a new team needed to know that we hadnt told them, Ms. Rice said in an interview. It took them more time than we expected for them to be ready to engage with us. Now, she added, were racing to make up lost time.
Wilbur L. Ross, the billionaire investor who is President-elect Donald J. Trumps choice to become commerce secretary, vowed on Wednesday to make sweeping changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement his top priority as the incoming administration moves to overhaul its commercial partnerships around the world.

Mr. Trump made Nafta one of his favorite targets of derision during the presidential campaign, using it to blame Democrats for the loss of millions of industrial jobs. At his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Mr. Ross made it clear that the United States northern and southern neighbors should prepare to renegotiate a pact that for decades has eased the flow of commerce among the countries. He said all aspects of the agreement were on the table.

As to Canada and Mexico, the president-elect has made no secret in his public remarks, nor have I, that Nafta is logically the first thing for us to deal with, said Mr. Ross, who will take a leading role in executing Mr. Trumps trade agenda. We ought to solidify relationships the best way we can in our own territory before we go off into other jurisdictions.

Next on his list could be China, Mr. Ross suggested, as he assailed the countrys high tariffs and what he described as empty claims of embracing free trade. Mr. Ross said he wanted to bring the reality closer to the rhetoric when it comes to China.
At the same time, Republicans on Capitol Hill are threatening to withdraw taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, the reproductive rights behemoth. The group is the lead financial sponsor of the Womens March and is helping to organize the event, along with Naral Pro-Choice America and other abortion-rights organizations. Their participation makes it clear: Abortion opponents are out of step with the march.

Reproductive freedom or reproductive justice means that women decide the fate of our own bodies, Gloria Steinem, an honorary co-chairwoman of the march, wrote in an email message. She said if women want to make decisions over their own bodies themselves, and want other women to have the same power, then they should feel very welcome at the march.

Yet many women do not. Among them is Charmaine Yoest, a vocal opponent of abortion who is a senior fellow at American Values, a conservative organization here.

This is what we conservative women live with all the time, this idea that we somehow arent really women and we just reflect internalized misogyny, she said. Of the march, she added: I dont think they represent women. I think they are a wholly owned subsidiary of the abortion movement.

The relationship, and sometimes tension, between reproductive rights and feminism goes back decades, to the inception of so-called second wave feminism in the 1960s; the first wave culminated in women winning the right to vote. Its pioneers, echoing the American lefts fight for racial justice and its opposition to the Vietnam War, embraced the birth control pill as a way to give women more power over their own lives. Thus a sexual revolution was born.

In 1973, just as middle-class women were abandoning homemaking for the work force, inspired by writers like Ms. Steinem and Betty Friedan, the Supreme Court handed down Roe v. Wade. That drove a wedge in the womens movement, said Carole Joffe, a sociologist and reproductive rights advocate at the University of California, San Francisco.
Many people worry that running ruins knees. But a new study finds that the activity may in fact benefit the joint, changing the biochemical environment inside the knee in ways that could help keep it working smoothly.

In my many decades as a runner, fellow runners and nonrunners alike have frequently told me that I am putting my knees at risk. The widespread argument generally follows the lines that running will slowly wear away the cartilage that cushions the bones in the joint and cause arthritis.

But there is little evidence to support the idea, and a growing body of research that suggests the reverse. Epidemiological studies of long-term runners show that they generally are less likely to develop osteoarthritis in the knees than people of the same age who do not run.

Some scientists have speculated that running may protect knees because it also often is associated with relatively low body mass. Carrying less weight is known to reduce the risk for knee arthritis.
BANJUL, Gambia  President Yahya Jammeh once predicted that his rule could last a billion years.

Now, the fate of his nation is hanging on one more anxiety-filled day.

After acknowledging defeat in an election last month, Mr. Jammeh abruptly changed his mind, refusing to step aside for the inauguration of the new president scheduled for Thursday and threatening to drag the nation into a bloody standoff.

Mr. Jammeh, who has long been criticized for human rights abuses and grandiose claims like being able to cure AIDS with little more than prayer and a banana, has insisted on a do-over election. He declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, warning the nation not to engage in any acts of disobedience.

West African nations are preparing to enter the country and force Mr. Jammehs ouster if he does not leave. In response, Mr. Jammeh has threatened that his own military is prepared to defend Gambias sovereignty.
DAKAR, Senegal  The number of people killed in an accidental military bombing at a Nigerian camp for displaced people has increased to 70, aid groups said on Wednesday, with at least nine of them humanitarian workers. The mistaken attack came after a military plane targeted an area crowded with people fleeing Boko Haram militants.

Medical workers were scrambling on Wednesday to assemble equipment to treat dozens of severely injured people who were still awaiting evacuation from the camp in Rann, in northeastern Nigeria. At least 120 people were hurt in the errant strike on Tuesday by the Nigerian Air Force at the camp, which is near the Cameroon border and houses about 20,000 people. Initial reports put the death toll around 50.

Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian aid group, said three employees of a Cameroonian firm that it hired to provide water and sanitation services in the camp were among the dead. Six local workers for the Nigerian Red Cross were also killed, and 13 others were hurt.

Fifty-four injured people were flown to hospitals in Maiduguri, Nigeria, the capital of Borno State. Among them were two young children: a 7-year-old named Yaa Zara with a fractured arm and Kaka Hauwa, 5, whose neck was injured. One of the blasts was so forceful it knocked out two of Kakas teeth, the childrens mother, Fati Yasin, 35, said on Tuesday. She said she left her two children at their home in the camp to collect tickets for food distribution when she heard the loud buzz of a fighter jet overhead.
During her three-year tenure as ambassador, Ms. Power has advanced gay rights, pushed the United Nations to do more to stop sexual abuse by peacekeepers and championed the rights of civil society groups. One of her most lauded achievements came early in her term, when she persuaded the rest of the administration to authorize a peacekeeping force to stop mass atrocities in the Central African Republic, a country where the United States had little to gain.

On Syria, she has come under greatest scrutiny because she has had to explain American inaction in the face of atrocities, including the Syrian governments use of chemical weapons. On Syria, too, she has spoken out most forcefully against Russia. Once, she walked out of the Security Council as the Russian ambassador, Vitaly I. Churkin, was speaking; another time, she accused the Kremlin of barbarism for its airstrikes on Aleppo.

She used her last speech as ambassador, on Tuesday, to inveigh against what she called Russias aggressive and destabilizing actions, from its annexation of Crimea to its meddling in the American presidential election. It served as a warning to President-elect Donald J. Trump without ever naming him. Russias actions are not standing up a new world order, she said at the Atlantic Council in Washington. They are tearing down the one that exists.

For all her impassioned rhetoric, though, Ms. Power has been criticized for using the Security Council more as theater, rather than a platform to resolve conflicts.

In large part, many of her supporters and critics say, her ability to get things done has been limited not just by the widening chasm with Russia but also by her inability to rally the rest of the administration, including on Yemen and South Sudan.

Ms. Power often made a difference on issues like the Central African Republic, and gay rights, said Philippe Bolopion, deputy director for global advocacy for Human Rights Watch. But, he added: Unfortunately, under her watch, atrocities have raged on. While it is unfair to blame any particular individual, the Obama administration was inexplicably gun-shy on sanctions in South Sudan, all too willing to give a pass to Saudi Arabia or Israel for serious violations, and less than creative in overcoming Russias obstructionism on Syria.

In her final words to the Security Council on Wednesday, Ms. Power called the failure to stop mass atrocities in Syria and South Sudan haunting.
GAO, Mali  A suicide bomber in a vehicle filled with explosives led an attack on a military camp in northern Mali on Wednesday, killing at least 60 people.

Many of the casualties were soldiers and former fighters who reached a peace agreement with the government in 2015 and had been working together to try to stabilize the region.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Suspicion fell on Islamic extremist groups that operate in the area and oppose the peace agreement.

The attack occurred in the morning at the Joint Operational Mechanism base in the city of Gao. Dismembered bodies could still be seen two hours after the blast.
President-elect Trumps choices for CIA director and Secretaries of State and Defense have gotten the most attention, with questions surrounding the new administrations prospective foreign policy.

A major question of foreign policy will be how the new administration will handle its relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the wake of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and associated initiatives.

Trumps contempt for that agreement is well known, and it is shared by most of the congressional Republicans with whom he will be working, as well as by a number of Democrats. All of Trumps candidates have made their skepticism of the nuclear deal clear.

Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State-designate, said he would call for a thorough review of the agreement, leaving open the possibility of its cancellation, renegotiation, or even its replacement.

But the Iran problem also extends to the persistent extraterritorial activity of the Iranian regime, as well as its conduct at home. It would be a mistake see it as limited to weaknesses in the JCPOA. In his confirmation hearings for his appointment as secretary of defense, Retired General James Mattis was unequivocal in his description of Iran as the biggest contributor to instability in the region. He said that American policy in Iraq and Afghanistan should be focused on countering Irans malign influence, which is growing.

In a bipartisan letter to President-elect Trump last week, 23 prominent former U.S. officials underscored, It is now clear that Irans leaders have shown no interest in reciprocating the U.S. overture beyond the terms of the JCPOA which gained them significant rewards. They added, Through their extremely high rate of executions at home, and destructive sectarian warfare in support of the Assad regime in Syria and proxy Shiite militias in Iraq, Irans rulers have directly targeted U.S. strategic interests, policies and principles, and those of our allies and friends in the Middle East.

These same hostile and destabilizing activities warrants new economic sanctions in response. In the letter, former U.S. officials emphasized, it is time for the U.S. Government to establish a dialogue with Irans exiled resistance, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

Led by an anti-fundamentalist Muslim woman, Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI, and at its core the principal Iranian opposition movement, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (PMOI/MEK), have articulated a 10-point plan describing the movements aspirations for Iran.

For over three decades, the movement has been Tehrans number one enemy, and the prime target of the regime. It is approximated that 120,000 MEK activists have been executed by the ayatollahs.

Publicly acknowledged by President George W. Bush, it was the Iranian Resistance, relying on its vast network of operatives at home, that discovered and revealed Irans secret nuclear weapons program in 2002.

The movement has long been ignored by American policymakers, out of concern for Tehrans reaction. None the less, its platforms offer something that the current regime never could: a firm commitment to a non-nuclear future for Iran, along with an end to the the political repression that make Iran abusers of human rights and supporters of terrorism.

Weaknesses at home are becoming more evident to the Iranian regime. The incoming administration has the opportunity to chart a new course on Iran. The Trump administration should adopt a policy that opposes Tehrans repression, while supporting the Iranian peoples aspirations to establish a democratic and secular rule.

An article by Rowan Scarborough in The Washington Times, on Tuesday, January 17, also talks about the letter, in which the group of Republicans, Democrats and retired military officers has asked President-elect Donald Trump to abandon Presidents Obamas soft approach to Irans brutal repression and take a stand that puts the U.S. on the right side of history.

The letter was hand-delivered, and the 23 signatories express hope that Mr. Trump will begin an alliance with Irans main resistance group, which would be a shift that would send shock waves through of the Islamic republic. A boost to Iranian dissidents is that former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Guiliani, one of the closest outside advisers to Mr. Trump, signed the letter.

In the letter, former officials say the U.S. lost all leverage with Iran when financial and political concessions were delivered in exchange for the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which blocks Tehrans ability to build nuclear weapons for 10 years. However, the anticipated moderation by Irans hard-line regime has not materialized. Since so-called reformer Hassan Rouhani became president in 2013, Tehran has executed 3,000 people, including women and juveniles.

It is now clear that Irans leaders have shown no interest in reciprocating the U.S. overture beyond the terms of the JCPOA which gained them significant rewards, the letter says. Through their extremely high rate of executions at home, and destructive sectarian warfare in support of the [Bashar] Assad regime in Syria and proxy Shiite militias in Iraq, Irans rulers have directly targeted U.S. strategic interests, policies and principles, and those of our allies and friends in the Middle East.
HONG KONG  Chief Justice Zhou Qiang, Chinas top judicial official, is hardly a radical reformer. But to liberal-minded watchers of the countrys evolving court system, he has nonetheless been an encouraging figure.

In recent years, he has spearheaded an effort to make Chinas judiciary, which is subordinate to the ruling Communist Party, more professional. He has pushed to weed out poorly trained judges and to raise the pay of those with formal legal training, which often includes a heavy dose of Western jurisprudence.

So when the chief justice used warlike language on Saturday to denounce the idea of an independent judiciary and other cherished liberal principles, warning judges not to fall into the trap of Western ideology, observers in China and abroad were shocked and dismayed.

We should resolutely resist erroneous influence from the West: constitutional democracy, separation of powers and independence of the judiciary, Chief Justice Zhou, the head of the Supreme Peoples Court of China, said in a speech to legal officials in Beijing. We must make clear our stand and dare to show the sword.
China is canceling plans to build more than 100 coal-fired power plants, seeking to rein in runaway, wasteful investment in the sector while moving the country away from one of the dirtiest forms of electricity generation, the government announced in a directive made public this week.

The announcement, made by Chinas National Energy Administration, cancels 103 projects that were planned or under construction, eliminating 120 gigawatts of future coal-fired capacity. That includes dozens of projects in 13 provinces, mostly in Chinas coal-rich north and west, on which construction had already begun. Those projects alone would have had a combined output of 54 gigawatts, more than the entire coal-fired capacity of Germany, according to figures compiled by Greenpeace.

The cancellations make it likelier that China will meet its goal of limiting its total coal-fired power generation capacity to 1,100 gigawatts by 2020. That huge figure, three times the total coal-fired capacity in the United States, is far more than China needs. Its coal plants now run at about half of capacity, and new sources of power, like wind, solar and nuclear, are coming online at a fast clip.

Nevertheless, Chinas capacity would have surged well past the 1,100-gigawatt mark by 2020 had it not begun canceling coal-fired plants in the works. The new announcements are in addition to cancellations detailed last year.
Liu He was always kind of a must-stop for Treasury because he had a macro view of the Chinese economy and the global economy, said David P. Loevinger, the senior coordinator for China affairs at the Treasury in President Obamas first term.

Mr. Liu was regarded as an insider with a direct line to the top.

Now he is widely expected to become the director of the National Development and Reform Commission, a powerful agency where he is currently a deputy director. That promotion would increase his visibility as well as his prospects of becoming a deputy prime minister in 2018, when a new government is formed for Mr. Xis second term.

Mr. Liu cannot dictate policy unilaterally, but his proximity to Mr. Xi gives him more sway than his bureaucratic-sounding titles would suggest.

Theres no doubt in my mind that Liu He is extraordinarily powerful, said Christopher K. Johnson, a senior China analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He has shifted from a stance earlier on when he was very careful not to demonstrate the level of influence he had.

Beside pressing for a dose of economic liberalization and more room for markets, he has advocated trimming bloated state-owned industry and sought to curtail Chinas ever-rising debt.

But even as he has gained influence, his ability to push through changes in these areas has been limited. Mr. Xi still calls the shots, and his pledge to revamp the economy jostles alongside his fiercely conservative agenda to restore party control and protect state companies. Mr. Xis promises of shaking up industry and reducing debt clash with vows to keep growth ticking.
MOSCOW  A day after President Obama commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the Russian government clarified on Wednesday the fate of Edward J. Snowden, the other main source of secrets about United States surveillance in recent years.

Mr. Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who was granted asylum in Russia in 2013, will be allowed to remain in the country for a couple more years, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Facebook.

He and his supporters have been campaigning for a pardon from Mr. Obama, but the chances of clemency appear to be vanishingly small given that his name did not appear on a list of pardons on Tuesday.

Mr. Snowden found himself essentially stranded in Moscow four years ago after he was thwarted in his attempts to fly to Latin America following the publication of articles in The Guardian and The Washington Post, based on information he provided, revealing extensive surveillance and data collection programs operated by the N.S.A.
DRESDEN, Germany  At a chandelier-lit beer hall on Tuesday evening, the lean blond mans voice boomed out over a crowd of hundreds  some middle-aged and working-class, but with a contingent of polished young professionals.

The AfD is the last revolutionary, the last peaceful chance for our fatherland, declared the man, Bjorn Hocke, referring to the political party Alternative for Germany, and employing a reverential term for Germany, one of several nationalist buzzwords usually shunned in the countrys politics.

Jawohl! a few shouted. Yes!

When Mr. Hocke (pronounced HOOK-ay) lamented that German history is handled as rotten and made to look ridiculous  a subtle but clear reference to guilt for the Holocaust and other Nazi war crimes  the crowd responded by chanting, Deutschland, Deutschland.

His speech at the rally in Dresden on Tuesday touched off a wave of national alarm by challenging Germanys national atonement for the Holocaust and for its Nazi crimes. His comments drew broad criticism for their venom and because Mr. Hocke, a rising star in the AfD, has found growing success with his messages of extreme nationalism.
Tens of thousands of Mosul residents have fled since the Iraqi military began the recapturing operation in October, beginning with sparsely populated outer districts. Roughly a million civilians are believed to still be in the city.

Members of Iraqs counterterrorism service were the lead fighters in seizing eastern Mosul, and they faced ferocious resistance from Islamic State defenders who had planted booby traps and sent suicide bombers to stop them. American warplanes sought to block the Islamic State from reinforcing fighters in the east by bombing the Tigris bridges linking it to the western side.
JERUSALEM  The sun had not yet risen over the Bedouin hamlet early Wednesday as hundreds of Israeli police officers gathered at its edges. They had come to help demolish part of the village, but two people were dead before the forces had destroyed any houses.

The police fatally shot a resident they said was about to ram them with his car. The vehicle struck one police officer, killing him.

The police version of the events was immediately disputed by the motorists relatives in the village in southern Israels Negev, as well as human rights activists who had come to support the villagers. They insisted that he had plowed into the officers only after he was shot and lost control of the car.

The residents anger was a reflection of a much deeper acrimony between the Bedouins and the Israeli authorities in a land dispute that in some ways parallels the battles over unauthorized Jewish settlement construction in occupied territory.
Every superstitious passenger has ways of dealing with the existential uncertainties of air travel, but the ground crew of one Pakistani airliner raised the stakes on preflight rituals when it sacrificed a goat on the runway.

The age-old custom in Pakistan for warding off evil and bad luck is simple: Slaughter an animal. For extra luck, make it a black goat.

Last month, just a few days after a Pakistan International Airlines propeller plane crashed, killing all 48 people on board, some members of the airlines staff felt the flying public could use some extra luck. A photo went viral of a group of men slaughtering a black goat on the tarmac of Islamabads Benazir Bhutto International Airport, its blood staining the ground in front of an airplane.

Such rituals are common in Pakistan, a majority Muslim country, but the sacrifice was quickly ridiculed by the countrys educated elites. It also seems to have had the unintended consequence of scaring passengers who worried that slaughtering goats was the airlines best effort at ensuring its planes were safe to fly.
Hundreds of demonstrations around the world are being planned for Jan. 21 in conjunction with the Womens March on Washington, which is expected to be the largest inauguration-related demonstration in United States history.

The March Route in Washington

The New York Times | Source: Womens March

Organizers have estimated that 200,000 people could participate in the Washington rally, which will begin at 10 a.m. near the southeast corner of the National Mall. The march is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. and will proceed toward the White House.

Participants are traveling to Washington from all over the country, with many arriving by bus. Many more are expected to participate in hundreds of sister marches throughout the United States.

Womens Marches Around the Nation

WASH. Me. Mont. N.D. N.H. Minn. Vt. Ore. N.Y. Mass. Mich. Wis. S.D. Wyo. Idaho R.I. Conn. Iowa Pa. Neb. N.J. Ill. Nev. Ind. Ohio DEL. Utah W. Va. MD. Colo. Kan. Va. Mo. KY. CaliF. N.C. Tenn. Ark. Okla. Ariz. N.M. S.C. Ga. Miss. Ala. La. Texas ALASKA Fla. HAWAII WASH. Me. N.H. Mont. N.D. Vt. Mich. Minn. Ore. N.Y. Mass. Wis. S.D. Wyo. Idaho R.I. Iowa Conn. Pa. Neb. Ohio Ill. N.J. Nev. Ind. DEL. Utah W. Va. MD. Kan. Va. Colo. Mo. KY. N.C. Tenn. Ark. Okla. Ariz. CaliF. S.C. N.M. Miss. Ga. Ala. La. Texas ALASKA Fla. HAWAII WA NH Me ND Vt Mt Id NY Or Ma Mi Mn Wi SD Wy RI Ia Pa Ct Ne NJ Nv Oh In DE Ut WV MD Il Ks Va Co Mo KY Az Ca NC Tn Ar Ok SC NM Ms Ga Al La Tx Ak HI Fl Me WA NH Mn Mt Vt ND Mi NY Id Or Ma Wi Oh SD Wy RI Ia Pa Ne Ct Nv In NJ Ut WV Il DE Ks Va Co Mo KY MD Tn Ar Ok NC Az Ca Ms NM SC Al Ga La Tx Ak Fl HI

March organizers have said the events primary focus is to promote equal rights for women and to defend marginalized groups. The Womens March on Washington will send a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world, that women's rights are human rights, the groups website says.

More than 200 organizations have signed on as partners for the march, including Planned Parenthood, the NAACP, the National Organization for Women and Human Rights Watch. Cher, Katy Perry and Amy Schumer are among the celebrities who have said they will attend.

Womens Marches Around the World

Helsinki Vancouver Tokyo Erbil Athens San Jose Nairobi Singapore Rio de Janeiro Sydney Cape Town Helsinki Vancouver Tokyo Erbil Athens San Jose Nairobi Singapore Rio de Janeiro Sydney Cape Town Helsinki Vancouver Tokyo Erbil San Jose Nairobi Singapore Rio de Janeiro Sydney Cape Town Helsinki Erbil Tokyo San Jose Sydney Cape Town

Participants outside the United States say they are marching in solidarity with American women and standing up for the rights of women in their own countries.

The recent elections in the United States have shown how real the threat is to our collective rights and liberties, says the Facebook event page for the Womens March on Nairobi. The page for the London event, which 23,000 Facebook users have said they will attend, says, we will march...for the protection of our fundamental rights and for the safeguarding of freedoms threatened by recent political events.

Led by Mrs. Richard Coke Burleson (center, on horseback), suffragists marched on Pennsylvania Avenue on March 3, 1913, the day before President Woodrow Wilsons inauguration. Library of Congress

A previous womens movement found success in an inauguration-related demonstration. The Womens Suffrage Parade of 1913, in which an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 suffragists marched on Pennsylvania Avenue the day before President Woodrow Wilsons inauguration, drew attention to the womens suffrage movement as thousands of spectators in Washington for the inauguration witnessed the procession.

Historians consider the parade a major milestone for the movement to win women the right to vote. It is set to be depicted on the back of a redesigned $10 bill in 2020.
Where the top 1% and the bottom 20% go to college University of Phoenix Top 1% Bottom 20% Johns Hopkins Middle- bury Ford- ham Dart- mouth Lehigh Denver George- town Stanford Syracuse N.Y.U. Villanova G.W. T.C.U. U.S.C. Emory North- western Private Nonprofit Schools WashU Harvard Penn Notre Dame Brown Colleges with insufficient data Not Attending College at ages 1922 Tufts Boston College B.Y.U. Cornell Yale Univ. of Miami Vanderbilt S.M.U. Tulane Wake Forest Boston University Duke Baylor Florida Virginia Colorado Indiana U.C. Berkeley Georgia Texas Arizona A&M Ohio State Auburn Penn L.A. Com. College District State Public Schools Michigan South Carolina Public Schools Private Maryland Michigan State Wisconsin Miami (Ohio) Full Sail Illinois Iowa For-profit Texas Alabama U.C.L.A. L.S.U. Where the top 1% and the bottom 20% go to college University of Phoenix Top 1% Bottom 20% George- town Stanford Syracuse N.Y.U. U.S.C. Emory Private Nonprofit Schools North- western WashU Harvard Penn Notre Dame Brown Not Attending College at ages 1922 Colleges with insufficient data Tufts Boston College Cornell Yale Univ. of Miami Vanderbilt Tulane Wake Forest Boston University Duke Baylor Virginia Colorado Indiana Georgia Texas A&M Arizona Penn L.A. Com. College District State Public Schools Michigan Public Schools Private Maryland Miami (Ohio) Wisconsin Illinois Iowa For-profit Alabama Where the top 1% and the bottom 20% go to college Top 1% N.Y.U. T.C.U. G.W. U.S.C. Emory Private Nonprofit Schools WashU Penn Notre Dame Brown Tufts B.Y.U. Cornell Yale Univ. of Miami S.M.U. Tulane Wake Forest Duke Baylor Virginia Indiana Colorado Georgia Texas Arizona A&M Penn State Public Schools Michigan Maryland Miami (Ohio) Wisconsin Illinois Iowa For-profit Texas Alabama University of Phoenix Bottom 20% Not Attending College at ages 1922 Colleges with insufficient data Private Public Schools Ivy Tech C.C. of Indiana

Students at elite colleges are even richer than experts realized, according to a new study based on millions of anonymous tax filings and tuition records.

At 38 colleges in America, including five in the Ivy League  Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale, Penn and Brown  more students came from the top 1 percent of the income scale than from the entire bottom 60 percent.

38 colleges had more students from the top 1 percent than the bottom 60 percent

Add your favorite colleges to the tables in this article:

Schools added:

Roughly one in four of the richest students attend an elite college  universities that typically cluster toward the top of annual rankings (you can find more on our definition of elite at the bottom).

In contrast, less than one-half of 1 percent of children from the bottom fifth of American families attend an elite college; less than half attend any college at all.

Where todays 25-year-olds went to college, grouped by their parents income

About four in 10 students from the top 0.1 percent attend an Ivy League or elite university, roughly equivalent to the share of students from poor families who attend any two- or four-year college.

Colleges often promote their role in helping poorer students rise in life, and their commitments to affordability. But some elite colleges have focused more on being affordable to low-income families than on expanding access. Free tuition only helps if you can get in, said Danny Yagan, an assistant professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and one of the authors of the study.

The study  by Raj Chetty, John Friedman, Emmanuel Saez, Nicholas Turner and Mr. Yagan  provides the most comprehensive look at how well or how poorly colleges have built an economically diverse student body. The researchers tracked about 30 million students born between 1980 and 1991, linking anonymized tax returns to attendance records from nearly every college in the country.

Were offering detailed information on each of more than 2,000 American colleges on separate pages. See how your college compares  by clicking any college name like Harvard, U.C.L.A., Penn State, Texas A&M or Northern Virginia Community College  or search for schools that interest you.

At elite colleges, the share of students from the bottom 40 percent has remained mostly flat for a decade. Access to top colleges has not changed much, at least when measured in quintiles. (The poor have gotten poorer over that time, and the very rich have gotten richer.)

Access to top colleges has not changed much

Previously, the most widely available data on the economic makeup of college students came from government statistics on Pell grants. Those grants typically go to students in the bottom 40 percent of the income distribution. The government data categorizes students as qualifying for Pell grants or not, but does not distinguish between students who just miss the cutoff and those whose families make much more money.

The Obama administration and Congress have expanded Pell eligibility, which caused the number of Pell recipients at many colleges to rise. Some elite colleges pointed to this increase as a sign that they took economic diversity much more seriously than in the recent past.

But the new estimates show that much of the increase in Pell recipients stems from the expansion of the program. The students at elite colleges, at least as of 2013, were not actually much more economically diverse than in the past, though there are some exceptions.

Elite colleges that enroll the highest percentage of low- and middle-income students

These patterns are important because previous research has found that there are many highly qualified lower-income students who do not attend selective colleges  and because the low- and middle-income students who do attend top colleges fare almost as well as rich students.

Even though they face challenges that other students do not, lower-income students end up earning almost as much on average as affluent students who attend the same college.

Look at the remarkably relative flatness of the colored lines below. An affluent student who attends one of 12 Ivy plus universities (the Ivy League colleges, Duke, M.I.T., Stanford and the University of Chicago) ends up around the 80th percentile of the income distribution on average. A lower-income student who attends one of those colleges ends up around the 75th percentile. Lower-income students who attend less elite colleges also have outcomes similar to others from the same college.

Poor students who attend top colleges do about as well as their rich classmates

Poor children at elite colleges ended up at about the 75th percentile. Their rich classmates fared only a little better. In general, parent income is a strong predictor of child income.

By contrast, the steeper gray line shows outcomes for the entire American population. Most students who grow up poor remain poor as adults, and most students who grow up affluent remain affluent.

The data above covers children born between 1980 and 1982, who are around 35 years old today. Most Americans remain in a similar place on the income distribution from their late 30s through the end of their careers, previous studies have found, so the highest-earning 36-year-olds are likely to become the highest-earning 60-year-olds, at least on average.

Even though most lower-income students fare well at elite colleges, there are relatively few of them there, so less elite colleges may be more important engines of social mobility. The researchers developed a new statistic they call a colleges mobility rate, which combines a colleges share of students from lower-income families with its success at propelling them into the upper part of the distribution.

Colleges with the highest mobility rate, from the bottom 40 percent to the top 40 percent

The mobility rate captures the share of all students at a given college who both came from a lower-income family and ended up in a higher-income family. The top of this list is dominated not by elite colleges, but by mid-tier public ones, including the colleges that make up the City University of New York.
In Iran each year, hundreds are routinely flogged, often in public. In the most recent case, recorded by Amnesty International, a journalist was lashed 40 times on January 5, after a court found him guilty of inaccurately reporting the number of motorcycles confiscated by police in the city. This occurred in Najaf Abad, Esfahan Province.

The authorities prolific use of corporal punishment, including flogging, amputation and blinding, throughout 2016 highlights the inhumanity of a justice system that legalizes brutality. These cruel and inhuman punishments are a shocking assault on human dignity and violate the absolute international prohibition on torture and other ill-treatment, said Randa Habib, Amnesty Internationals Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. He added, The latest flogging of a journalist raises alarms that the authorities intend to continue the spree of cruel punishments we have witnessed over the past year into 2017.

More than 100 offences are punishable by flogging, under Iranian law, covering a wide array of acts: theft, assault, vandalism, defamation and fraud, as well as acts that should not be criminalized, such as adultery, and intimate relationships between unmarried men and women, breach of public morals, and consensual same-sex sexual relations.

Many of these flogging victims are young people who have been arrested for peaceful activities, like publicly eating during Ramadan, or having relationships outside of marriage, or attending mixed-gender parties.

Activities such as these are protected under the rights to freedom of belief, religion, expression and association and should never be criminalized. Iran is legally obliged to forbid torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Unfortunately, Iranian law continues to allow internationally banned corporal punishments, including amputation, stoning, and flogging justifying them in the name of protecting religious morals.

An unmarried couple were convicted of having an illegitimate relationship were sentenced to 100 lashes each, last April. Then, a month later, 35 young women and men were arrested in Qazvin Province for dancing, mingling and consuming alcohol at a party. They were sentenced to 99 lashes each, and the sentences were carried out immediately. 17 miners who protested against their employment conditions and dismissals were also sentenced to lashings which were carried out in May 2016, in West Azerbaijan Province.

Journalists and bloggers have been sentenced to flogging in relation to their work. An appeal court sentenced a journalist, Mohammad Reza Fathi, to 459 lashes for publishing lies and creating unease in the public mind through his writing, last July.

The popular Iranian Facebook page Azadihayeh Yavashaki (My Stealthy Freedom), administered by the journalist and womens rights activist Masih Alinejad, posted detailed accounts from several women who received lashings for consuming alcohol and attending mixed-gender parties which were raided by Irans morality police. The page displayed images of the severe injuries on womens backs, resulting from these lashings. A 28-year-old woman who received 80 lashes for attending a birthday party described the day she was flogged as the worst day of [her] life in one of the posts. She said that after her arrest, her photograph and fingerprints were taken before she was led to a small room where a woman flogged her while her feet were in chains and her hands shackled. With the impact of the first lash, I jumped out of my [seat] uncontrollably. I was so shocked that even my tears would not drop. I wanted to scream, but I could not even control my voice. Every time she hit me hard, she would ask me to repent so that God would forgive me, she said.

Lashed for attending a mixed-gender party to celebrate her recent engagement in the city of Robat Karim, near Tehran, another woman who was also lashed, described how security forces stormed the villa where it was taking place, less than one hour after the party began, and confiscated bottles of alcohol. Several of the guests were questioned and were brutally beaten before being taken to a police station where they were insulted and interrogated. They spent three nights in jail before being sentenced to 74 lashes each. I dont remember how many lashes I had received, but I reached a stage where I was just moaning and had become numb with pain. When I finally arrived home, I was afflicted with a terrible pain on my body while my soul was aching due to the feelings of humiliation and fear that I had lived throughout the entire ordeal, she said about her experience.

Apart from the floggings, Amnesty International also recorded an incident in November 2016, when a man was blinded in both eyes in Tehran as retribution for blinding a four-year-old girl in an acid attack in June 2009. Several other prisoners remain at risk of being forcibly blinded.

Seriously breaching medical ethics, doctors from the Legal Medicine Organization of Iran provide the Supreme Court with expert advice on whether a blinding sentence is medically feasible, and how it can be carried out.

Medical professionals have a clear duty to avoid any involvement in acts of torture and other ill-treatment. Rather than aiding and abetting acts of torture by providing pre-blinding medical assessments, doctors in Iran should refuse to participate in such calculated cruelty, said Randa Habib.

Also recorded by Amnesty International are at least four amputations carried out for robberies in Iran, including cross amputations of several fingers and toes on opposite sides of the victims body.

Severing peoples limbs, taking away their eyesight and subjecting them to brutal lashings cannot be considered justice. The Iranian authorities should urgently abolish all forms of corporal punishment and take urgent steps to bring the countrys deeply flawed criminal justice system into line with international human rights law and standards, said Randa Habib
After meeting with Mr. Trump, though, Carrier said it would keep about half of the jobs . One inducement for the company is $7 million in incentives from the state, which happens to be where the Vice President Mike Pence is from.

One big reason so many companies have moved jobs overseas is that the economics of manufacturing have vastly shifted. Carrier , which makes air conditioners and furnaces, had planned to close two Indiana factories and move roughly 2,000 jobs to Mexico, where labor is far cheaper.

But it is not always so simple. In some cases, the announcements tell only part of the story. On the day of Mr. Trumps inauguration, G.M. followed through on different plans it had announced several months earlier: It cut about 2,000 jobs at plants in Michigan and Ohio. Fords moves will have little net effect on American jobs because of restructuring it is doing elsewhere.

General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A.or pay big border tax!

Ford , Toyota and General Motors were such targets, and subsequently  and very publicly  announced plans to invest in domestic production.

The equation here appears simple. President Trump takes aim at a company for moving jobs out of the United States. Soon after, the company says that it will be investing billions back home, creating or saving scores of jobs.

Donald Trump speaking at the Carrier plant in Indianapolis in December 2016. A J Mast for The New York Times

These companies promoted or made plans to add jobs after President Trump was elected

COMPANY JOBS TOTAL U.S. EMPLOYMENT Softbanks OneWeb 3,000 51 to 200 Sprint 5,000 30,000 IBM 25,000 377,000* Walmart 10,000 1.4 million Infosys 10,000 200,364* Exxon 45,000 71,000* Intel 3,000 53,000 Bayer 3,000 9,000 Fiat Chrysler 2,000 56,000 Hyundai TBD 5,000 *worldwide

For some companies, the new president has meant the possibility of more favorable operating conditions, and has given them the occasion to tout projects that they had been weighing  or even had already been developing.

Fiat Chrysler, for example, said before the presidents inauguration that it would create 2,000 jobs as part of plans to invest $1 billion in its plants in Michigan and Ohio  plans it said were under consideration long before Mr. Trump won the presidency.

It's finally happening - Fiat Chrysler just announced plans to invest $1BILLION in Michigan and Ohio plants, adding 2000 jobs. This after...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2017

Intel, the worlds largest computer chip manufacturer, said in early February that it would invest $7 billion to build a new factory in Arizona. The new factory had been under consideration for years, but Intels chief executive, Brian Krzanich, noted that the tax cuts and deregulatory policies that the president proposed had prompted the company to move forward with the plans.

The German chemical giant Bayer said it would invest $8 billion in the United States and create 3,000 high-tech jobs, according to Sean Spicer, Mr. Trumps press secretary. Bayer has been facing intense scrutiny from antitrust regulators in Washington and Europe over its plan to buy Monsanto for $57 billion. The announcement came about a week after the chief executives of the two companies met with President Trump and made their case for the deal.
Centuries after his death, the Sufi poet Rumi is still a phenomenon. Translations of his work routinely top bestseller listsand have for decades. On sites like Pinterest, his verses are posted, shared, and liked so often that even people who arent familiar with his name would likely recognize a line or two of his work. But many know little about Rumi beyond his poetry, and Brad Goochs new biography aims to change. Rumis Secret: The Life of the Sufi Poet of Love offers historical context and illuminates the ways in which Rumis otherworldly work was shaped by remarkable reality.

Rumi was born Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi in Balkh, near modern Tajikistan and Afghanistan, in 1207. His father was a well-known religious leader who straddled Sufism and Sunni Islam, a combination of tradition that Rumi himself would eventually make the cornerstone of his own teachings. Given his fathers high station and close relationship with leaders across the Persian Empire and into Anatolia, Rumis family was able to travel widely. By the time he reached adulthood, Rumi had seen Samarkand, Baghdad, and Damascus, among numerous other towns and caravan routes. His family eventually settled in Konya, a cosmopolitan city with a diverse population.

Precocious and devoted to his faith from a young age, Rumi inherited his fathers position as an Islamic jurist and teacher around 1240. His compassion, selflessness, and genuine joy in his own faith drew followers of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. But in 1244 he met Shams-e Tabrizi, a wandering poet and philosopher with whom Rumi began and intense but brief companionship. Gooch explains that Shams was difficult and could be cruel, at one point abandoning Rumi as a means to test him. Rumis followers were largely opposed to the gruff man who pulled their leaders attention away from his duties.

In 1248, just four years after they met, Shams disappeared for good, sending Rumi into deep grief. His writing was shaped by his time with and the loss of Shams, with his now famous imagery tied to Shams and other figures of importance in his life.

Gooch does an exceptionalif at times overwhelmingjob of sussing out the trends and connections that mattered most to Rumi, including the remarkable era for human learning in which he lived. As Europe was mired in the Middle Ages, the empires in the Middle East were advancing civilization through patronage of the arts and sciencesand that sense of discovery can be found in Rumis writings. The poet was prolific; at the time of his death, hed written thousands of poems and a six-volume epic called The Masnavi.

For a man who wrote poems that read as near mythic today, seeing his influences laid out in such detail could be demystifying. But instead, Goochs account adds a human touch to a man who appears larger than life. Rumis poems reflect his own, revealing a universal nature through their exploration of grief, love, and pleasure in worship. Although Gooch does not identify what Rumis titular secret was, it seems that it could be as simple as feeling deeply and sharing it with the world.
Lets Talk Beer Styles is a monthly feature that accompanies Pastes large-scale blind craft beer style tastings/rankings. The first month covered the history and modern role of American pale ale, and the next few subsequently tackled everything from Black IPA to classical pilsner to American IPA. The latest covers non-barrel aged imperial stout, of which we just blind-tasted a whopping 102 examples.

Every time I begin work on one of these Lets Talk Beer Styles pieces as a companion to one of our blind style tastings, I do so with a deep breath and the acknowledgement that Im about to go diving into a sea of dubious history. Put as simply as possible, there is just a ton of misinformation out there regarding the history of many classic beer styles, and much of it is very hard to dislodge, once it enters the public consciousness. Its not that the misinformation has been inserted into the narrative for any kind of malicious reasoninstead, the incorrect information typically serves a comfortable, easily digestible narrative. This should never be surprising to us: We, as a species, like our stories neat, tidy and easily repeatable. Complexity just serves to muck things up.

Such it is with styles such as IPA, and again I found the same phenomenon with imperial stout/Russian imperial stout. The Russia connection in particular has been the subject of mythologizing over the course of hundreds of years, with information that began as marketing/advertising copy from breweries eventually finding its way into textbooks and historical records. I cant claim to offer a perfect history here, but Im going to at least try and base it on writers who have done their historical research and consulted actual, primary sources. And if you really care about beer, I certainly encourage you to took for sourcing, when reading this sort of thing.

Anyway. Imperial stout  that heady, roasty nectar of the gods. I remember a time, when I was first getting into craft beer around 2007, that Russian imperial stout was likely the end-all, be-all style of American craft brewing. At that time, most of those beers were what we would think of today as standard imperial stouts: Few adjuncts such as coffee or cocoa nibs, and even fewer that were fruited, soured or otherwise flavored. Barrel-aged stouts were a mystical rarity that only the most intense beer geeks had sampled from breweries such as Goose Island or Founders. It was the age of imperializing and extreme beer, when many craft beer converts and upstart breweries were pushing ABV boundaries in search of the biggest, brashest flavors possible. It only makes sense that imperial stout was their vehicle.

Today, the market has matured substantially. The phrase imperial stout has broadened significantly, and now may conjure the idea of a template to beer geeks: A beer style that is a blank canvas for experimentation. The American beer market takes imperial stouts and does everything imaginable to them, and in doing so theyve somewhat decreased the styles reputation as the King of Craft Beer. In 2017, youre just as likely to find highly rated sours up near the tops of online beer rankings as you are a barrel-aged stout. Non-barrel-aged imperial stouts, meanwhile, have slipped way down the rankings. Look no further than the base version of Three Floyds Dark Lord, which went from #2 overall on Beer Advocate to not even appearing in the top 250 in 2017. Times change, folks.

So lets get into it: The history and modern role of (non-barrel aged) imperial stout, and some versions that are absolutely essential. Keep in mind that we just blind-tasted 102 of these things; you can see the full ranking here.

Once again, let me affirm: This is the best version of the historically accurate record that I can compile from combining a few sources.

It is known that the word porter was first used in 1721 to describe the dark beers that were coming into vogue in London at the time. The strongest versions of those dark brown beers were the first to bear the term stout porter, the word stout previously having been used to describe strong versions of various beersstout ale and etc. The association between stout and these stronger dark ales presumably developed naturally, over time.

Here, we get a bit of misinformation from manufacturers, who have spun a tale about Peter the Great, the Russian Tsar who traveled to England in 1689 and was said to have fallen in love with strong British porter. Obviously, this is problematic, given that the style didnt truly exist for another 30-plus years, but despite this, Peter the Great likely did have some influence here, as his modernization of the Russian economy allowed for the importation of British goods, which included beer.

As in the misinformation surrounding IPA, there are a lot of stories that the imperial stouts then arose due to the need for a product that would not spoil on the long journey, but these are more or less rubbish, given that standard British porter was making even longer journeys to the American colonies and to India at the same time, and doing so just fine. Whats more likely is that the Tsarist court, with money to spend, simply developed a taste for the stronger (and thus more expensive) stout porters. And if theres a demand, then obviously production will follow to meet it.

The first true Russian imperial stouts, then, are attributed to the Anchor Brewery of Southwark, London, established all the way back in 1616 and operated for centuries thereafter, with many changes of ownership. In 1729, the brewery was purchased by one Ralph Thrale, and was known as Thrales Anchor Brewery, and this likely seems to be the cradle of the first Russian imperial stout. The product became significantly more famous, however, after the Anchor Brewery was purchased from Thrales widow by Barclay Perkins & Co. in 1781. By this point, the taste of the Russian court (and ruler Catherine the Great) for the drink had been documented. From the History and Antiquities of the Parish of St. Saviour, Southwark:

The reputation and enjoyment of Porter is by no means confined to England. As proof of the truth of this assertion, this house exports annually very large quantities; so far extended are its commercial connections that Thrales Intire is well known, as a delicious beverage, from the frozen regions of Russia to the burning sands of Bengal and Sumatra. The Empress of All Russia is indeed so partial to Porter that she has ordered repeatedly very large quantities for her own drinking and that of her court. It refreshes the brave soldiers who are fighting the battles of their country in Germany and animates with new ardour and activity the colonists of Sierra Leone and Botany Bay It is not only evident from the exportation of other articles but likewise from the quantity of Porter sent abroad that Thrales Intire extends the reputation of British produce to the most remote quarters of the Globe.

La dee dah, THE EMPRESS OF ALL RUSSIA, guys. Clearly, they were pretty proud of being able to call Catherine a customer. Barclay Perkins Co. continued manufacturing the beer until 1955, when they merged with the nearby Courage Brewery. After that, production of the original stout continued as the classic Courage Imperial Russian Stout until 1993, when it was retired. Most recently, it was revived again under the Courage name by Wells and Young, which brings us all the way to modernity.

I should also mention that at the same time, Russian imperial stout is also likely the progenitor of Baltic porter as a recognizable beer style. Strong porter/stout was by no means being exported solely to Russia, after allby the 1700s and 1800s, this was worldwide brewing enterprise. Baltic porters therefore arose as brewers in northern Europe and Baltic countries attempted to replicate those strong dark beers. The fact that many of them are traditionally strong, dark LAGERS (its surprising how many beer geeks still dont understand this) would presumably be attributed to the cold weather environs where those beers were being brewedmore cold months per year means more use of cool-fermenting lager yeast. Its just common sense.

Like any other U.K. beer style, stout and imperial stout came to the U.S. with European immigrants, and was more or less annihilated by Prohibition, surviving only in small pockets, and of course via the omnipresence of Guinness. Imperial stouts were significantly more rare during the initial 1980s/1990s microbrewery boom, and largely slotted into the role of winter seasonal before they began to personify the ethos of the extreme beer era of the 2000s. Or in other words, it took the beer market a little while to adapt to the intense flavors they offered. Its really quite difficult to track down details online regarding when more imperial stouts first began to appear, but the likes of North Coasts Old Rasputin was winning awards by the mid-90s, and others from the same period such as Victory Brewing Co. Storm King Stout are still around and well-liked today.

Theres no doubt, however, that a major player in the elevation of the styles profile was the arrival of Dark Lord, from Three Floyds Brewing Co. in Munster, IN. First brewed in 2002, and first bottled in 2004, this burly, 15% ABV monster stout completely redefined the relationship between hype, beer availability and demand, setting all kinds of precedents along the way. For this reason, it might very well be reasonable to call Dark Lord the single most influential craft beer of the 2000s, in the way that the response to it shaped the entire industry and the method by which breweries release whales. It was, in effect, the first whale, the paterfamilias of the one-day beer release festival. Without the specter of Dark Lord Day, for good or for ill, we likely wouldnt have gotten Hunahpus Day or any of the others that followed. You simply cant overlook how it affected the way in which special, limited releases are distributed, and the relative value of a 22 oz or 750 ml bottle of rare beer. Dark Lord Day normalized the concept of standing in line to get that special bottle of beer, and the culture that grew up around it.

In the years that have followed, imperial stout has been all over the map in U.S. brewing. Of course it has been the classic canvas for barrel-aging, but I dont really intend to go into that hereIll save it for when we blind taste barrel-aged imperial stouts in February. Rather, allow me to simply note some of the ways the style has come along as it reached its current definition.

- The Russian portion of the title has largely become ornamental and meaningless. I find it odd that a site like Beer Advocate for some reason still has two separate beer styles for Russian imperial stout and American double/imperial stout. Perhaps you could claim that the latter implies a higher hop rate, but current U.S. breweries certainly dont hold to any kind of definition. They brew the beer they want, and label it whatever they choose. Ultimately, theres only one imperial stout.

- Adjuncts have become so common in imperial stout that the concept of a non-adjunct stout, with only malt, seems almost quaint. The addition of coffee is of course extremely common, as are cocoa nibs or alternate methods of infusing chocolate flavor. There are imperial milk stouts, fruited imperial stouts, Mexican hot chocolate-inspired stouts making use of dried chiles, and even the occasional sour stout. There are hop-forward examples that blur the line between stout and imperial black IPA, and artificially flavored monstrosities that come off like diabetes in a bottle. Never has the simple phrase imperial stout on a label told you so little about the actual flavor profile of the beer.

- Imperial stouts have become a fixture of the American craft beer scene that are expected to be present all year round. Not every brewery can release its own bourbon barrel stout in December or January, for risk of complete oversaturation. These days, those beers are almost just as likely to arrive in August as they are in February.

- From my point of view as a craft beer geek who is now about 10 years in the making, the concept of imperial stout feels considerably more normalized in 2017 than it was in say, 2007. It has become a beer style that even neophytes to craft beer no longer find intimidating in the same way that they might find a puckering sour or lambic. In a word, imperial stout has become more approachable over time, at least outside the world of barrel aging.

North Coast Old Rasputin

This is probably the first imperial stout that many nascent craft beer geeks sampled when they began exploring beer styles in the 90s and 2000s, and as such its one of the more influential entries in the history of the style. Its also a good example of the evolution of Russian imperial stout from U.S. breweries, as it represents a somewhat older interpretation of the style. Compared to modern imperial stouts, its ABV may be a touch lower at 9%, but its still readily apparent. Its on the drier side than many current imperial stouts, thinner of body, and also features a touch more hop-derived bitterness. Roasty flavors are the cornerstone, supported by notes of dark fruitiness and berry that are enhanced by fairly overt booziness. Herbal hops become a bit more apparent on repeated sips, and one cant help but reflect on the fact that hoppiness in general has seemingly fallen out of favor in American-made imperial stouts over time. Regardless, this beer is still a template. Its the go-to definition that many breweries would have pointed to over the last few decades to demonstrate Russian imperial stout.

Founders Breakfast Stout

What Old Rasputin is to Russian imperial stout, Founders Breakfast Stout is to coffee stout. A hugely influential, wonderfully tasty brew, it helped pioneer the addition (and combination) of popular adjuncts such as coffee, cocoa and oatmeal in a single stout, with spectacular results that pushed imperial stout brewing into a new dimension, much in the same way that new hop varietals did for IPA. And also, I must admit: This is the first beer that I ever truly, unabashedly fell head over heels for. Early in my beer experimentation, in a time when I was trying new styles, I had discovered some brands that I liked. My first sip of Breakfast Stout was the first time that like turned to love, and likely the moment when I truly became an all-out beer obsessive for the first time. Since then, I confess that Ive had imperial coffee stouts that I enjoy even more, but none of them will ever replace Founders Breakfast Stout in my personal hall of fame. It truly is essential.

Three Floyds Dark Lord

I already went on about Dark Lord above, but I feel like its pertinent to mention it here one more time. As availability of the rare stout increases, its no surprise that online ratings of the beer have fallenthis is to be expected with literally any rare beer, as availability is always correlated with perception of quality. But even moreso than others, Dark Lord has experienced a backlash in recent years; perhaps a bitterness reflected back by beer geeks who are rubbed the wrong way by the brewerys handling of Dark Lord Day events or the way that event affected the culture of rare beer in general. Its also entirely true that the rest of the industry has simply caught up, and that Dark Lord spawned many imitators, some of whom have likely surpassed it.

But at the same time  its still an incredibly delicious stout, if you can get your hands on some. Recently, I was lucky enough to enjoy a 2011 bottle during the Christmas break, the last remaining bottle from the only Dark Lord Day Ive ever attended, or likely ever will attend. And it was great: Massive, vinous, dark fruity flavors, molasses and port wine richness, deep roast and perfectly integrated booze, tempered by five years of aging. The mouthfeel is enviously plush, velvety and thick as a wall. Suffice to say, its not all hype. Theres a reason that a cult started around this beer, and theres a reason why the highest ABV imperial stouts of the 2000s and 2010s often resemble it. Its really damn good.

Jim Vorel is Pastes resident craft beer and whiskey geek, and he doesnt think theres such thing as too much imperial stout. You can follow him on Twitter for much more beer coverage.
As the bloody push to liberate Mosul from ISIS enters its third month, it goes without saying that the mainstream media in the West, by ignoring or bowdlerizing reports of human rights violations by the Iraqi security forces and US-led coalition, will continue to expose themselves as a gang of frauds. Before getting into details about whats happening in Mosul, Ill ask that you cast your mind back to the deluge of fury expressed over the Syrian governments successful efforts to recapture east Aleppo from al-Qaeda, Ahrar al-Sham, Jaish al-Islam and other Wahhabi terrorists.

Do you remember? Of course you doit was all over the news, all the time. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with the help of Russia and Iran, was implementing a policy of genocide. A quarter of a million innocent people were being bombed and/or starved to death inside the rebel enclave. That figure250,000became something of a media mantra, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the fact that it was wildly inaccurate. As veteran journalist Robert Fisk recently observed:

The 250,000 trapped Muslims of eastern Aleppo  now that 31,000 have chosen to go to Idlib, many more to western Aleppo  appear to have been somewhat fewer than 90,000. Its now possible that at least 160,000 of the civilians trapped in eastern Aleppo did not actually exist, but no one says so. That vital statistic of 250,000, the very punctuation mark of every report on the besieged enclave, is now forgotten or ignored (wisely, perhaps) by those who quoted it.

Naturally, anyone who dared challenge this bit of fake news while it was still in rotation risked being slandered as an Assadist or, better yet, an apologist for genocide. Ditto for anyone audacious enough to point out that the moderate rebels holding down the fort in east Aleppo were in fact a collection of jihadists, many of them foreign nationals, all of them supported by the Sunni Gulf states as well as Turkey. Incidentally, a similar slurSaddamistwas once applied to the troublemakers who expressed misgivings about the Iraq war and went so far as to demand evidence of Saddams nonexistent WMD program. These so-called Saddamists were later vindicated, of course, but not before being smeared and ridiculed by the guardians of state power, known colloquially as the corporate media. Needless to say, those peddling the bullshit narrative faced no consequences for their knavery; their propaganda carries no less weight.

Indeed, the media hacks who sold us Bush and Cheneys war of destruction are the same ones who have since agitated for regime change in Libya, Syria and Iran, and who are now doing everything they can to resurrect the Cold War. The song remains the same.

Consumers of world news will recall that media outrage vis-a-vis Syria first reached a crescendo in August 2013, when sarin gas was used to attack a suburb of Damascus, killing several hundred people. While common sense suggested that it was a false flag operation carried out by the oppositionwith the goal of pushing Obama over his so-called redlineevery major news outlet in the US charged Assad with the atrocity and prescribed military intervention as the solution. The utter lack of evidence was, as always, immaterial; here was a prime opportunity to establish a pretext for military aggression, and the armchair warriors would be damned if they let it go to waste.

Their efforts very nearly bore fruit. Citing the horrors of the chemical attack, Obama announced plans to bomb the Syrian government, only to dither and ultimately change tack. Conventional wisdom holds that, in failing to pull the proverbial trigger on Syria, Obama betrayed his innate wimpishness. In fact the opposite is true. He was weak to allow Hillary Clinton to bully him into bombing Gaddafis forces in Libya; it took courage and strength to defy the Syria hawks in the State Department who, channeling Iago, were manipulating him for their own sordid ends. Between that and the Iran nuclear deal, Obama deserves immense credit.

By the time Russia intervened in September 2015, the writing was on the wall: Assad was not going anywhere, and the window for US intervention was closed. A surge in propaganda duly followed, and soon the media had zeroed in on Aleppo, expressing grave concern for the welfare of the civilian population and publishing story after story that relied heavilyoftentimes exclusivelyupon sources embedded in rebel-held territory, because objectivity is overrated anyway.

This contempt for honest and objective reporting came to a head in December, with the official fall of east Aleppo. Taking the cake, I think, is a febrile story in The Daily Beastsensationally titled Women in Aleppo Choose Suicide Over Rape, Rebels Report (something tells me the pitiful qualifier was affixed after publication)in which Islamist fighters and their media activists provide the bulk of the unverified allegations. The authors also cite quotations from the White Helmets, describing them as a volunteer rescue group, in spite of the fact that theyve been exposed as a terrorist propaganda organization on numerous occasions.

The title chargethat women were committing suicide to avoid being rapedcomes from a rebel commander and occupies fully twelve of the articles more than two-thousand words. Moreover, a shocking claim made in the storys subtitle, namely that children are [being] burned alive, is never mentioned again. The Daily Beast, in other words, is giving clickbait a bad name. At any rate, this pseudo-journalistic trash illustrates the depth to which elements of our media were prepared to plunge in the service of demonizing the Syrian and Russian governments. (On that note, one senses that certain Western journalists were actually let down when the Syrian army began safely evacuating civilians out of east Aleppo, as opposed to slaughtering them en masse.)

The point, as I and others have written before, is not that Assad is innocent of all the crimes with which he has been charged (on the contrary, plenty of war crimes have been verified, most notably indiscriminate bombing and torture); rather, its that we in the West wouldnt pay them the slightest degree of attention if Assad happened to be an ally. You would think this would be axiomatic by now; after all, Chomsky and Hermans Manufacturing Consent was published twenty-nine years ago. But no such luck.

It is therefore useful to compare the coverage of Aleppo described above with that of Mosul, since the two conflicts bear a striking resemblance, the only real difference being that the bombs falling on Mosul are dropped by the United States and its allies (and thus explode with benign intent). In both cities, writes Patrick Cockburn, Salafi-jihadi Sunni Arab insurgents were defending their last big urban strongholds against the Iraqi Army, in the case of Mosul, and the Syrian Army, in the case of east Aleppo. Later he contends that, notwithstanding ISIS fierce resistance, the Iraqi army will probably take Mosul, though by then it may not look much different from east Aleppo. In other words, the battle for Mosul is no cleaner than was the battle for Aleppo; its just as ruthless, just as destructive. Various reports by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch bear this out.

On December 21, Amnesty International published a report titled Children Caught in the Crossfire of the Battle for Mosul Suffer Horrific Injuries and Trauma. In it they describe how war-wounded children  find themselves in hospitals overflowing with patients, or in camps for displaced people, where dire humanitarian conditions make their physical and psychological recovery even more difficult. Many others remain trapped in areas where the fighting is raging. They proceed to quote an elderly woman who lost two granddaughters in an airstrike: My grandchildren had fled their home and had been staying in a neighbors basement for the past thirty days. They had run out of food and water completely. The area was recaptured by the army two days earlier so they thought it was safe to go out, but they were bombed as they reached the gate of the courtyard. Concluding their report, Amnesty asserts that despite Iraqi and coalition forces assurances that they are doing their utmost to protect civilians, every day children are dying or being injuredin their homes or as they risk their lives to flee to safety. Sounds like a report out of Aleppo, no?

Another report from November 9 examines claims that residents in and around Mosul have been tortured and summarily executed by Iraqi security forces. According to Amnestys investigation, there is evidence to suggest that up to six people were exrajudicially executed in late October, apparently due to suspicions they had ties to ISIS. Deputy Director for Research Lynn Maalouf explains how men in Federal Police uniform have carried out multiple unlawful killings, apprehending and then deliberately killing in cold blood residents in villages south of Mosul. In some cases the residents were tortured before they were shot dead execution-style. In one specific incident, three mentwo of whom were identified as Ahmed Mahmoud Dakhil and Rashid Ali Khalafwere separated from the larger group [of villagers]. Men in Federal Police uniforms then subjected them to particularly brutal beatings before shooting them dead. Their decomposing remains were found in the same area some five days later. Rashid Ali Khalafs head had been severed from his body.

On December 18, Human Rights Watch (HRW) detailed a separate incident in which an Iraqi government-backed militia  executed at least four men they suspected of affiliation with the Islamic State, adding that murder of prisoners in a conflict is a war crime. Witnesses testified that members of the Iraqi army were present when the killings took place and stood idly by while they witnessed at least one execution.

(You may be tempted to argue that the Iraqi government cant, or shouldnt, be held to account for the behavior of militias, in which case I would ask that you bear in mind what Jan Egeland, UN humanitarian advisor on Syria, wrote on Twitter when east Aleppo was liberated in December: The Govts of Syria & Russia are accountable for any and all atrocities that the victorious militias in Aleppo are now committing! If we are to apply that principle consistently, not only does the Iraqi government bear responsibility for the crimes of militiamen, but so too does the United States government.)

In a related article, HRW reports that a pro-government militia detained and beat at least 22 men from two villages near Mosul. Furthermore, the same unit had been recruiting child soldiers from a camp for internally displaced people since the spring. Nevertheless, the article continues, senior US military commanders  say they are so far impressed with the behavior of the Iraqi forces. No doubt senior members of the Syrian Arab Army were equally impressed with the behavior of their troops in Aleppo.

Russia was bombing hospitals in Aleppo. At least the United States isnt bombing hospitals in Mosul, right? Wrong. On December 8, HRW published an article calling on the US-led coalition to investigate a precision strike on the al-Salam hospital in Mosul city. The coalition had justified the attack by stating that ISIS was using [the hospital] as a base of operations and command and control headquarters. However, the statement makes no mention of whether there were civilian casualties at the hospital that was [according to local residents] still very much operational. Perhaps more disturbing, there is no mention of whether the coalition took a key measure required by international lawto issue an effective warningso civilians could escape.

(Youll recall that similar claims made by the Syrian and Russian governmentsthat jihadist rebels were exploiting hospitals in Aleppo for military purposeswere dismissed out of hand by Western commentators. Under no circumstances, they said, was it admissible to bomb a hospital.)

Less than two months earlier, a health clinic south of Mosul was all but destroyed by either an Iraqi or coalition warplane. According to a report by HRW, on October 18, without warning, an airstrike hit the local clinic in the town of Hammam al-Alil, 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul, which was under ISIS control. The healthcare workers said that the attack  killed at least eight civilians, including five children, and wounded at least two more. While an office of the clinic was indeed occupied by ISIS, it nonetheless remained the main healthcare facility in the area, serving about 70,000 civilians in the town and neighboring villages.

A member of the staff said the clinic was housing around fifty patients when it was struck. Among those killed in the attack were a 72-year-old man and his two grandsons, aged 6 and 7, whom he had taken to the hospital for polio vaccinations. In the same ward  a nurse was killed and another was wounded, with a metal fragment to her shoulder. Three more children were killed in the treatment ward adjacent to the ISIS office. A young man who ran a small convenience store at the entrance of the clinic was also killed. The clinics pharmacists leg was broken.

A search of the New York Times article database turns up zero references to either of the Mosul hospital bombings documented by HRW. One is similarly hard pressed to find any mention of the various atrocities carried out by pro-government militias. No surprise there; the Times has never been particularly keen on broadcasting crimes committed by the United States and its allies. Of course, when they do occasionally decide to acknowledge the elephant in the room, it is invariably done through the optics of empire. For example, a November 9 article in the Times quotes a handful of US military officials who insist that the United States had killed a total of 119 civilians in Iraq and Syria since 2014a remarkable number given Amnesty Internationals declaration that, in June and July 2016 alone, more than 100 civilians are reported to have been killed in suspected coalition attacks on the Manbij area of northern Syria.

Heres how it works: human rights organizations document scores of civilian casualties (Amnesty claims to have credible evidence of some 300 casualties in Syria alone since 2014, while other groups have the death toll much higher); the US military deigns to investigate itself and inevitably arrives at a much smaller number; the New York Times uncritically publishes that number. For instance, the Times article states that as part of its review of itself, the military investigated 257 allegations of civilian casualties and deemed 31 of them credibleor twelve percent. Im willing to bet internal reviews conducted by the Russian and Syrian militaries yield similar findings; the difference, of course, is that we would never accept those findings as legitimate, and that any media outlet (e.g. RT) who published them uncritically would be castigated for spewing pro-government propaganda. Again, this seems like it would be self-evident. Not so.

Sometimes the US media lose whatever self-control they otherwise possess and wind up pushing their disinformation into the realm of absurdity. The venerable Washington Post can usually be relied upon to exemplify what Im talking about. Theyve come through yet again, this time with a piece by Jackson Diehl titled Theres Good News in MosulFor Now. Published on Christmas, well after the human rights reports Ive summarized above were made available, the column draws a sharp distinction between the situations in Aleppo and Mosul. Indeed, Diehl actually uses his lede to lament the fact that our medias obsession with Aleppo has distracted from the feel-good story of Mosul. Humanitarian agencies and human rights monitors, Diehl informs us, say they have been shockedin a good wayby the behavior of the US-backed Iraqi forces that are slowly recapturing the city from the Islamic State. He goes on: There is no indiscriminate bombing or shelling of apartment buildings; no executions of women and children; no mass disappearances of men.

Sweet mother of Christ! I wonder which human rights groups exist in Diehls alternate reality? (For the Iraqi governments sterling record on mass disappearances, download and read this report from Amnesty International.) Central to his thesis is a study by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which simply examines the conditions in three refugee camps outside of Mosul. In other words, it carries no information whatever about the tactics currently being employed by the Iraqi security forces to recapture the city. And while a majority of respondents said their needs were somewhat or mostly being met in the camps, the NRC emphasizes, more than once, that this was almost definitely a reflection of the negative experiences of respondents recent pasts [when they lived under ISIS] rather than of a positive situation in the camps. So Diehl has either misread the report or deliberately misled his readers. Ill let you be the judge.

After citing inflated casualty figures out of Aleppo (his source, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, is run by a single person living in Britain), Diehl quotes Human Rights Watchs senior Iraq researcher, Belkis Wille, as saying that, unlike the sinister Syrian army, the Iraqi security forces are behaving well. No link is provided, however, so we dont know the context in which Wille made that assertion, if she in fact made it. Considering that Wille authored at least one of the reports detailing atrocities (torture, executions, etc.) by Iraqi forces in Mosul, her alleged blanket approval of their behavior is somewhat difficult to fathom.

From the forgoing Diehl concludes, boldly, that in Mosul there is [a] civilian protection strategy embraced by the Iraqi government of Haider al-Abadi under US tutelage. And he juxtaposes that distorted characterization with the scorched-earth, indiscriminate-massacre paradigm of Russia, Iran and the regime of Bashar al-Assad. (Youll notice how Assad always superintends a regime, as opposed to a government.) On a roll, Diehl makes one more self-satisfied allusion to the imagined disparity between Russian-Iranian brutality and US-Iraqi humaneness before wrapping it all up with a grim reminder that, with President Trump on the horizon, the humanitarians quietly celebrating Mosul now have much to fear in the near future.

Thank heavens for US-Iraqi humaneness. Without it our righteous, unrelenting condemnation of Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin, and every other official enemy of the United States, would constitute a truly novel degree of cynicism.

Coming back down to Earth, its worth recalling that ISIS, and the savagery theyve visited on the people of Iraq and Syria, emerged from, and spread as a result of, the hideous conditions wrought by George W. Bushs criminal invasion of Iraqa fine example of the vaunted US humaneness Jackson Diehl and his fellow travelers in the mainstream media are so proud of. Likewise, the tragic fate of Aleppoand, indeed, all of Syriawould have been appreciably less so had the US and its allies not sharply (and illegally) escalated the conflict by providing material and diplomatic support to the virtuous moderate rebels, who differ from the universally-loathed ISIS in name only.

But never mind all that; its better to continue giving resonance to the late Gore Vidals famous backronym for USA. Isnt it?
Art comes in all shapes, forms, and sizes. This is certainly true of the 101st annual Pennsylvania Farm Show butter sculpture. The 2017 butter sculpture has just been revealed. Prepare to be dazzled by the art of over 1,000 pounds of sculpted dairy.

In the past, sculptures have consisted of livestock and produce, but this year, a complete farm ecosystem was carved entirely out of butter. Butter mountains, rivers, trees and cows. You name it.

Marie Pelton and Jim Victor are the marital team and professional sculptors behind the masterpiece. The sculpture was titled A Culture of Stewardship, and paid homage to dairy farmers as stewards of the community.

Pelton and Victor began the sculpture in mid-December to prepare for the event. Pelton described the process as a welcome challenge.

With something like this, youre almost kind of flying by the seat of your pants, Pelton said. So youre using your imagination a lot  its not going to come out exactly the way the original sketch did. And so you kind of fill in the spots and just make it interesting to look at.

After the farm show closes, the butter will be taken to a dairy farm in Juniata County where it will be converted into renewable energy.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural event in the United States. It runs through January 14th and features over 10,000 exhibits. Admission is free.

Photo by Dan Gleiter

Chamberlain Smith is a freelance writer based in Athens, Georgia.
The big Comedy News yesterday was that Netflix announced a massive deal with Jerry Seinfeld, writer and producer of the 2007 film Bee Movie. Netflix will henceforth be the new home of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, previously the crown jewel of Crackle, the little streaming service that could. He will produce 24 new episodes of the series, which cost about $100,000 apiece at Crackle, to be released later this year. He will also create two new stand-up specials and develop unspecified scripted and unscripted programming. Here is what Netflixs Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos, said of the deal: Jerry is known the world over as both a great TV innovator and beloved comic voice. We are incredibly proud to welcome him to the Netflix comedy family. And here is what I have to say about the deal: please no more Seinfeld.

It is customary in essays like this to clarify that actually I respect the thing Im trashing. Well, folks: I respect the thing Im trashing. In my younger and more vulnerable years I watched Seinfeld every night before The Simpsons. My favorite episode was the one where Kramer burst in through the door all funny-like. My second favorite was the one where George Costanza George Costanzad his way into some zany happenstance. My third favorite was Curb Your Enthusiasm. Both Seinfeld and Seinfeld were instrumental forces in comedy and television, paving the way for every young comedian to tell jokes about stuff they see and make sitcoms about hanging out with their buds. Without Jerome Jerry Seinfeld, creator and producer of The Marriage Ref, the tastes and styles that dominate contemporary comedy would certainly be very different, unless someone else did what he did instead. Who can say! Would Bernie have won? Yes. But in recognizing Jerome Jer-Bear Seinfelds incredible influence over popular comedy today, it seems important to recognize how much popular comedy today totally blows chunks. This is why I am asking: please no more Seinfeld.

Broadly speaking, Jerry Larry Seinfeld occupies his current cultural stature because he perfected the form of mundane observational comedy in which one takes a common experience and explains that actually it is ludicrous. Ovaltine? It should be called Roundtine! On account of the can is round. This sort of stuff is funny because it gently jogs our own perceptions of the world. We always suspected something was off; now its been confirmed, with more clarity than we could have produced ourselves. Its surprising but non-confrontational, validating but not condescending. Hes just saying what everyones thinking. Its the style that defined Seinfelds Seinfeld and post-Seinfeld work and its what makes Seinfeld Seinfeld. His 1998 HBO special Im Telling You for the Last Time was filled with jokes about airplane travel, grocery shopping, the differences between men and women. In this 2009 New York Times video he explains in excruciating length how he wrote a joke about pop tarts. The punchline is, They cant go stale because they were never fresh. Get it? Pop tarts are bad. You know what else is bad? That joke about how pop tarts are bad. And for the third beat of this bit, you know what else is bad? Every joke everyone else tells in every club and bar show and open mic thats exactly like that pop tart joke. This style of comedy is everywhere. It is the dominant form. It is only rarely good and usually mediocre. Sometimes it is legitimately harmful. It is for these reasons that I humbly but desperately request: please no more Seinfeld.

Of course Jerry Very Merry Seinfeld is not to blame for the bad lame boring comedy that followed him. He made a good sitcom and a fine show about marriage referees. The man is well within his rights to ride his success into whatever gated community people like him ride their successes into. But instead he has elected to ride around in million-dollar cars with other millionaires, making transphobic jokes and whining about political correctness. Why do people like Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee??? Oh, right: Because it feels weird and good and sexy to watch celebrities do celebrity things, for the same reason that it feels good to watch a YouTube star fly first class. We are not celebrities but what if! I have my share of problems with shows that glorify comedians purely for being comedians, with the main one being that most uber-successful comedians dont know about anything but how to be a comedian, so they really have nothing to give poor little plebs like me except for the envy that fuels American capitalism, which, by the way, is evil. Until now I have put these qualms to the side because Comedians in Cars has been on Crackle, which I remember exists maybe twice a week. Now that it is on Netflix we can look forward to seeing Jerry Scaaaary! Seinfelds face on subway posters and billboards and maybe Tesla ads, if they do a cross-promotional deal or something. The message of these ads will be: This Is What Is Good. Worse is the thought that he surely made many big piles of cash from this deal. Reports indicate that Dave Chappelle made $20 million per special for the three specials Netflix ordered from him. It seems safe to assume that two specials, the rights to Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and vague development deals paid well over $50 million. The message of this money is also: This Is What Is Good. Netflix has tremendous power to dictate tastes. By keeping Seinfeld on a pedestal it will continue to inspire tepid, ideologically hollow comedy for years to come. But there is nothing that makes a Seinfeld joke intrinsically more valuable than an Aparna Nancherla joke, save for the fact that he made much better jokes twenty years ago. Now that his public life consists mostly of flaunting his wealth, one has to wonder whether he really has anything new to offer. So I must respectfully file this motion: please no more Seinfeld.

I recently attended the taping of a popular stand-ups hour special for a major comedy network and/or streaming service. I wont say his name on account of access journalism but I will say that he has steady work and you have probably heard of him and perhaps even heard him. He performs nightly at comedy clubs around this great city of New York City and has been on Conan no fewer than a few times. He is, by most of the metrics, what young stand-up comedians strive to be. He sucked. Approximately every third joke took the form, Why do women get to do this? If I did this, it would be like that! And then there were all the late night monologue-style jokes: You know this Common Thing We Dont Consider Absurd? Thats like if Something Thats Obviously Absurd! Perhaps I would not gripe about these were there not so many in a row, but there were so many in a row. They were obvious. They were hack. Some were baldly sexist or racist. They said nothing new about human experience. They put no value into the world beyond the quick laugh of recognition. Ah yes, I have felt that too! This is the bar Jerry How Dare He Seinfeld set for success in stand-up comedy. This particular comic is not an outlier, nor is his special unusual. He has simply mastered the formula that so many comics in his class are working to master. It is true that alternative comedy is blossoming and that now is the best time to be a weird or un-categorizable comedian, but it is also true that Seinfeldian comics see more and faster success. There is a reason for that and that reason is this: They are broadly accessible. You dont have to think about what they say because they say what you already think. The market disproportionately rewards comedy that encourages you not to think, compared to comedy that even remotely pushes you to think differently. I hope its obvious why this is fucked up but if its not, consider where millions of people not thinking have gotten us lately. The answer is, nowhere good and in fact somewhere very bad! It is for the sake of our future, and specifically my future that I beg: please no more Seinfeld.



Seth Simons is Pastes assistant comedy editor.
Looks like after 86 years of battling the elements, Rio de Janerios famous Christ the Redeemer statue is finally due for some TLC.

The 98-foot-tall monument, an iconic landmark for Brazil and the world, is visited by more than 3 million people a year. Unfortunately, the statue is rusting due to moisture that builds inside the cracks and is struck by lightning, on average, six times a year (ouch).

Preserving the attraction is no light expensemaintenance costs are about $1.5 million per year. Orani Joao Tempesta, the archbishop of Rio, launched an international campaign, Friends of Christ the Redeemer, to raise money for the renovation and to pay for the 30 park employees.

For the past 85 years the monument has been maintained with the help of private donations and the Catholic Churchs own resources, said Reverend Omar Raposo, whos in charge of the statues upkeep, to the Religion News Service. But unfortunately, with the economic crisis in Brazil, we need to appeal for more contributions to make ends meet.



McGee Nall is a freelance writer based out of Athens, Georgia. She was probably eating Nilla wafers and Nutella while writing this.



Photos by alobos Life CC BY NC ND and Rob CC BY NC
First frozen 3D cell based assay made available for European-wide distribution

Contact

Sara Pierre

***@tebu-bio.com Sara Pierre

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-- StemTek Therapeutics (http://stemtektherapeutics.com/en), a private Spanish cancer research startup, and tebu-bio have announced an agreement to make Cell2Sphere3D cell based assays (http://stemtektherapeutics.com/en/cell2sphere)available to Life Sciences researchers throughout Europe.Designed for drug discovery research in industrial, biotech, pharma and academic fields, Cell2Sphere represents a geometric evolution in cell based assay development. Using a patented scaffold-free technology, 3D spheroid cells arrive frozen and grow in a standard 96 well ultra low-adhesion plate for use in molecular compound testing. Cell2Sphere is the first simple 3D tissue culture kit for labs interested in more accurate, scalable and dynamic experimental research, the frozen spheroid tissue culture samples significantly increase the shelf life of today's 3D cultures.Jean-Francois Tetu, Sales Manager, Europe South & UK, tebu-bio, said, "We are pleased to add these novel products to our existing range of cell sourcing solutions. 3D tissue culture is of great interest to researchers testing their compounds and obtaining more accurate in vitro to in vivo prediction at pre-clinical drug discovery stages."Flexibility to conduct experimental planning is a critical success factors for today's researchers. Unlike fresh products, where researchers must plan tissue culture well in advance, Cell2Sphere frozen spheroid cells can be stored for longer times with no required waiting or delivery time. Thus, scientists can speed time to clinical trials while reducing false positives, conduct repeat experimentation and change variables without losing time on logistics. 3D tissue culture also allows for more accurate screening by recreating human cell biology.According to Angel Garcia Martin, CEO and founder of StemTek, "We are entering a stage in 3D tissue culture where 3D cell based assays will be a commodity, easy-to-store and use, a no brainer. With Cell2Sphere there is no training needed in 3D tissue culture, just unwrap the plate, add the supplied medium and place it in the incubator. This will save labs countless hours and resources to focus on their primary work. Working with tebu-bio and other partners we hope to make this simple and intuitive solution available to more labs around the world."Introduced to the market in 2016, Cell2Sphere was initially developed for cancer stem cell research, developed by cellular oncology specialists at Stemtek Therapeutics. However, with additional updates the potential for Cell2Sphere can also be applied to other applications for in vitro testing of novel therapeutics, toxicology and cosmetics, any application where 3D cell cultures may provide increased biological relevance.Founded in 2013, StemTek is a biotech startup entirely dedicated to cancer stem cell research and drug discovery. StemTek uses 3D cell based assay automated for HTS, allowing the company to test thousands of compounds that target cancer stem cells to stop spheroid formation. 3D cell culture systems allow for stronger, more efficient and reliable drug screening. StemTek collaborates with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to accelerate early stage drug screening to develop new anticancer therapies. The company develops Cell2Sphere, a scalable solution for High-throughput screening (HTS) and detection of phenotypic or genetic changes in cancer stem cells. With over thirty years combined experience in molecular and cellular oncology, StemTek's goal is to find treatments that put an end to relapse. Join our fight @StemTekTher or for more information go to: http://www.stemtektherapeutics.com tebu-bio is a pan-European company with 9 local offices throughout Europe, specialized in supplying innovative life science products and laboratory services to pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research institutes. For more than 15 years now, tebu-bio's own laboratories operating in France provide researchers with an ever-growing offer of standard or custom lab services.tebu-bio is an active member of recognised professional networks and clusters (Medicen, Cosmetic Valley...), and received the PM'up award in the Health/Life Sciences sector, attributed to dynamic, high-potential companies by the "Region Ile-de-France"(regional French government). tebu-bio regularly signs new European distribution agreements, proof of the company's dynamism and professional drive. More information on tebu-bio's website at http://www.tebu- bio.com/to/StemTek Margaret Carpopress@stemtektherapeutics.com+34 634 227 572)
Signed by 23 former top officeholders during the past five administrations the letter to the president-elect states, To restore American influence and credibility in the world, the United States needs a revised policy based on universally shared norms and principles reflecting the ideals of peace and justice. A policy highlighting, and demanding an end to, Irans domestic human rights violations and malevolent regional actions will attract broad support and generate needed leverage against Irans threatening behavior.

This bi-partisan urge to the incoming Trump administration to establish a dialogue with Irans exiled resistance, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), who have called for free elections to establish a secular, democratic, non-nuclear republic in Iran, as well as to end to Tehrans religious dictatorship.

Successive US administrations, offering concessions in a futile attempt to moderate the behavior of the totalitarian regime, have failed, and ignored 80 million freedom loving people in Iran.

The OIAC calls on the new administration to reach out to the Iranian people and their well-organized opposition movement, saying that foreign military intervention is not the answer, and that the United States should recognize the aspirations of Iranian people for a free and democratic future as the only effective and viable policy.

Our members have a range of political and party affiliations. However the members are unified in the belief that democracy and human rights in Iran are imperative to the national security of America, peace in the Middle East, and beyond. In this honorable endeavor, we shall welcome your engagement and decisive decision-making.

At a January 24th Congressional briefing, Iranian Americans will also join their representatives to present their policy recommendations on Iran with their representatives in Washington, DC.
From humble beginnings on a farm, to a Ph.d., and an internationally collected artist, there is an underlying theme that has resonated throughout artist Patricia Qualls' life: the privilege of life long learning, hard work and perseverance.

By: Chatterbox PR

Contact

Chatterbox PR

***@straightlinepr.com Chatterbox PR

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-- From humble beginnings on a farm, to a Ph.d., and an internationally collected artist, there is an underlying theme that has resonated throughout artist Patricia Qualls' life: the privilege of life long learning, hard work and perseverance.Qualls is a nationally and internationally known expressionist artist with art in collections in Switzerland as well as in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Phoenix, Dallas, Vail, Sun Valley and Palm Desert, among others. Her work is also part of the George Blair permanent collection at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.Qualls' paintings are large scale and bold. Some of her series' emphasize powerful strokes of color and texture, while others are more subtle with washes of cream and shades of white. While her style is unique, some of her series could be likened to styles found in the great expressionist artists of the early-to-mid 20th century such as Sam Francis, Helen Frankenthaler, Hassel Smith, Joan Mitchell and Jackson Pollock.She opened Patricia Qualls Contemporary Art, a 1,400-square-foot studio/gallery in 2008 in Carmel Valley Village in Monterey County. The studio/gallery's large, open-beamed ceiling with 15-foot walls allowed her to produce the large scale paintings."I love the physicality of painting large...There is something about being able to use my whole body, there is so much synergy...to have room to move...it's like dance...to be fully engaged with my whole being. I don't have to sit in a chair, and at the end of the day I feel like I've had a good days work. I am so blessed to be able to do this!"Its no question where Qualls' work ethic comes from. "I grew up on a farm in Middle Tennessee and there's not much play time on a farm. We used to work seven days a week, which is what I do now as an artist at age 62. It's amazing that I have a profession that brings me such fulfillment,"says Qualls.After life on the Tennessee farm, Qualls left for a job in Nashville. In 1980 she went on a blind date with a man who happened to be from Carmel. "That changed my life," she says.Qualls moved to Carmel, and began the process of personal growth and deep lifelong learning. The precious time with great therapists, kind professors and brilliant mentors opened the door to a life that seemed impossible to ever imagine.She has an executive MBA from Pepperdine University and a Ph.D from the California Institute of Integral Studies.Part of her passion as a therapist entailed holding "Life Presence" 4 day retreats. One of the retreats included a group of artists and it had a profound effect on her."I realized I needed to do something creative and playful," she says.So she took a class on "intuitive painting," and that was all it took. She fell in love. To hear her tell it, "art found me.""I would go to the garage and paint every morning for 15 minutes," she says. "Then I got obsessed. I got so excited I would get up at 4 in the morning and paint. I was just trying to find my own voice." Waking before the sunrise was not new to Qualls, but, unlike waking to the crow of a rooster on her family farm as a child, she would now wake with a hunger to explore her new found passion.Qualls delayed taking art classes or reading art books, just trusting her intuition and inner voice to guide her painting and style. This helped shape her artistic philosophy of experimentation:a willingness to play, free from self judgement or self scrutiny.When she first started painting it was to get out her head and other people's heads and to discover an outlet for her voice: a way to express herself that did not involve words.And what cinched it was an art book on California Expressionists a friend had recommended she read.Up until this point Qualls' desire for pure self expressionvoid of outside influencehad kept her from reading about abstraction. "But when I read that book I cried like a baby, I had found my people."Before long, her therapy practice gave way to painting full time, resulting in her opening her studio/gallery in Carmel Valley Village in 2008. She can usually be found working in her studio, experimenting with color, texture, brush strokes and various tools and techniques.And, just as she wanted to help people as a therapist to access their emotional life, as an artist she wants people to access their creative life. She feels everyone is creative and that all they need is the space for them to express their need to express.Contact:Patricia Quallswww.patriciaqualls.com831.245.8076Contact:Marci Bracco CainChatterbox PRSalinas, CA 93901(831) 747-7455
* Partnership allows Atomia's SMB end users to back up their data with just one click * Distinctive software partnership will target Atomia's 1.5 million SMB end users throughout Europe

Media Contact

Rod North, Managing Director,

Bourse Communications Pty Ltd

rod@boursecommunications.com.au

0395108309 Rod North, Managing Director,Bourse Communications Pty Ltd0395108309

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-- Dropsuite Limited (A S X: DSE) is pleased to announce that it has begun rolling out its suite of backup products through a partnership with Sweden-based Atomia AB (Atomia) with the unique One-Click Website Data Continuity technical integration available to Atomia's 1.5 million small-to-medium business (SMB) end users.This software partnership will allow any SMB logged into the Atomia platform to activate website data backup using One-Click Website Data Continuity by pressing a single red button featured prominently within the dashboard.The Atomia Cloud Hosting Platform is one of the world's most flexible hosting and billing software solutions that provides all the administration and end-user tools for shared hosting, Virtual private server (VPS) hosting, domain and Domain Name System (DNS) providers.Charif Elansari, Chief Executive Officer of Dropsuite, said:"Atomia offers end users a state of the art hosting experience, which Dropsuite can now be an integral part of."Website data backup is one of those things that many SMBs erroneously think is already being protected. But when their website files are suddenly compromised, deleted, or lost due to human error, malware or a hack attack, a business can be severely impacted with days of downtime, lost sales, and hours of wasted time trying to restore old files  if they even have them."We are excited to work with Atomia to offer a super-simple way for SMBs to have a fully automated website and data file backup solution in place with just one click."One of Atomia's first customers to roll out the new One-Click Data Continuity service is Norway-based web hosting company Serve The World, which provides services to over 10,000 SMBs.Magnus Hult, Chief Executive Officer of Atomia, said:"Dropsuite's data backup solution is a fantastic addition to our hosting software."It's a deceptively simple problem to solve, so to have an easily deployed, automated backup service in place is a great value-add to hosting companies and their customers. It is, as the saying goes, a win-win situation."Atomia has already implemented Dropsuite's website backup product and will soon follow with Dropsuite's email backup and archiving, as well as server backup technology.About AtomiaSweden-based Atomia AB was founded in 2009 by a group of hosting industry veterans. The company develops hosting and billing software, providing an all-in-one solution for selling hosting services such as shared hosting, VPS hosting, DNS hosting, and more. Atomia's customers include hosting companies, telcos and ISPs all over the world.Learn more at http://atomia.com About DropsuiteDropsuite is a global cloud software platform enabling SMBs in over 100 countries to easily backup, recover and protect their digital assets. Dropsuite's network of preferred reseller partners has a combined customer reach of millions of small and medium-sized businesses worldwide. Dropsuite's products include website and database backup, email backup and archiving and file-based server backup.Dropsuite works with some of the biggest names in website hosting and the managed services market such as Ingram Micro the the world's largest distributor of computer and technology products, GoDaddy the world's largest hosting company, Blacknight Solutions  the #1 hosting company in Ireland, GMO Internet  the #1 hosting company in Japan, HostPapa  the #1 hosting company in Canada, Singtel  the #1 telco in Singapore, and world leading domain name registrar Crazy Domains in Australia/UAE.For more information please visit: https://dropsuite.com
Expanding our control business in Middle East's power and water infrastructure market

By: Yokogawa

End

-- Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that its subsidiary Yokogawa Middle East & Africa has received an order from the Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority (SEWA) to provide control systems for the Layyah Power and Desalination Station. SEWA, the owner and operator of this plant, is an agency of the Emirate of Sharjah, which is one of the states that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE).SEWA is retrofitting the control systems, auxiliary facilities, and utilities for units 7 and 8 at the Layyah Power and Desalination Station. Each of these units comprises a 75 MW oil and gas-fired thermal power plant and a 27,000 mper day multi-stage flash(MSF) desalination plant.For this project, Yokogawa Middle East & Africa will deliver the CENTUMVP integrated production control system for the boiler, turbine governor, turbine protection system and the desalination plant at each of these units, as well as the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system for burner management and boiler protection. The company will also deliver field instruments such as the DPharp EJA series differential pressure/pressure transmitter, continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS), and steam and water analysis systems (SWAS). In addition to being responsible for engineering, the company will provide support for the installation and commissioning of these systems, with all work scheduled for completion by September 2017. This is Yokogawa's first ever distributed control system order for a power and desalination plant in the UAE.In the UAE and throughout the Middle East, demand for electricity and water is soaring due to rapid economic growth. Power and desalination plants that rely on the region's abundant oil and gas resources make up an important part of this region's infrastructure. Backed by this order, Yokogawa will continue working to expand its control business in the power and water infrastructure market.* A technology that involves the heating and evaporation of seawater in multiple vacuum distillation tanks to produce steam, which is then condensed to produce fresh water. Such systems are energy-efficient because they use the heat from the steam that is created in the vacuum distillation tanks.Yokogawa Middle East & Africa B.S.C. (c) (YMA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation in Japan. The company serves as Yokogawa's regional HQ, supporting users through a team of 1200 professionals operating from our network of local offices spread across Middle East & Africa.Yokogawa's commitment to Customers in Middle East & Africa is maximised through the establishment of 7 affiliate companies, 8 engineering centres, 22 sales/service offices and 13 training centres.
NOVAtime's new Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) reporting provides the resources need for Ozanam Hall to efficiently complete their first report.

By: NOVAtime

Ozanam hall

Contact

Brian Meharry

sales@novatime.com

(877) 486-6682 Brian Meharry(877) 486-6682

End

-- NOVAtime Technology, Inc, a leading provider of Workforce Management solutions for enterprise organizations, supports implementation of Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) reporting for Ozanam Hall. Ozanam Hall located in Bayside, New York has filed their Payroll-Based Journal reporting to comply with the new mandate that went into effect on July 1, 2016 under The Affordable Care Act (ACA).Ozanam Hall (http://www.ozanamhall.org/)has been offering short term rehabilitation as well as skilled geriatric care since 1970. Ozanam Hall was founded on Catholic values that are still present in their mission statement today. The goal of Ozanam Hall is to provide compassion, hospitality, and commitment to over 400 Residents that call their facility home. Ozanam Hall uses 11 fingerprint timeclocks( http://www.novatime.com/Products-Device-NT7000-Employee-Time-Clock.aspx ) for over 800 employees. Ozanam Hall pairs NOVAtime Workforce Management / Time and Attendance system with Great Plains for their payroll needs.Ozanam Hall started using NOVAtime in 2013 when their previous time and attendance system failed to meet their needs. To provide top of the line care and assistance for its residents, Ozanam Hall needed to utilize reports that weren't available to them in the previous system. NOVAtime has over 100 report templates that can be generated and customized by their clients. The Ozanam team stated, "The NOVAtime system is easy to work with and can generate powerful reports we need on a daily basis."An additional benefit of the NOVAtime system is its facilitation of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) PBJ process. Ozanam Hall successfully filed their first Payroll-Based Journal reporting using the NOVAtime system. The Ozanam team explains, "Our first filing of PBJ went very well. When we ran the report, the NOVAtime system displayed the errors in the report so that we were able to correct them before the report was submitted to the CMS."Ozanam Hall is serviced by NOVAtime's premier reseller, Andrews Technology.NOVAtime( http://www.novatime.com/ ) is headquartered in Diamond Bar, California, and has become the leader in integrating Time and Attendance Management with Human Resource and Payroll systems. Known for its scalable and leading-edge software and hardware technology, NOVAtime has been selected as the preferred Time and Attendance / Workforce Management solution provider by many of the best-managed companies in the world. For more information on NOVAtime and how they can help you streamline your workforce management needs, please email sales(at)novatime(dot)com or call 877.486.6682.Original post published here at http://www.prweb.com/ releases/2017/ 01/prweb13965767.htm
Innovative talks will kick off two days of discussion 21-22 February in Prague

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-- Powerful industry experts and leading companies attend the Pharma CI Europe Conference to discuss industry challenges, collaborate with peers, and meet the top executives and teams driving innovation. It all takes place 21-22 February at the Pharma CI Europe Conference & Exhibition at the Prague Marriott Hotel in Prague, Czech Republic.Cutting-edge keynote speakers includeSanofi, who will lead "Disrupt or Adapt?" and, Amicus Therapeutics, who will present "Challenges of Market Access in CEE with Focus on Rare Disease Medications."Additionally, the intelligence heads for three international companies will present "Best Practices of CI Outside of the Pharma Industry." Tackling timely, pressing topics such as best practices in CI collection, analysis, and dissemination in companies that reside outside of Pharma, this panel will surely induce attendees to rethink the direction of the industry and innovate a new path forward.Featured on this panel will be:Olympus Surgical Technologies Europe, Lexmark International, Deutsche Telekom AGExclusive pre-conference Masterclass/Workshops on 20 February are also available (separate registration required).Take a peek into the intensive two days of the conference by viewing the program agenda at: http://pharmaciconference.com/ Some of the other agenda highlights include:The Pharma CI Europe Conference is the best place to find the most celebrated group of companies in one location. Some of the companies taking part this year include: Actelion, Almirall S.A., Amicus Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Cambridge Healthcare Research, Celgene, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Deallus Consulting, Deutsche Telekom AG, Diaceutics Group, Dig Worldwide, Elanco, Evaluate, First Word, GSK, Helsinn Healthcare S.A., IMS Health, INOVIS, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, LARVOL, Lifescience Dynamics, Minesoft, Merck Group, Molekule Consulting, Novaliq, Novartis Pharma AG, Novo Nordisk A/S, Olympus Surgical Technologies Europe, PharmaForce International, Philips Healthcare, Prescient Healthcare Group, Roche, Sanofi, Sanofi, Shield Therapuetics, SOTIO a.s., Springer, Takeda, UCB Pharma, Voxx Analytics, Zambon, and many more.To register to attend the conference, go to: http://pharmaciconference.com/To view the detailed agenda, go to: http://pharmaciconference.com/For more information, call +1-212-228-7974 or email info@pharmaciconference.com
We are leading manufacturer of pure essential oils: www.aosproduct.com Today we offer our all certified products to worldwide need and its based markets location in USA, Africa, Middle east, Far East countries.

By: AOS Products Pvt ltd

Contact

AOS Products Pvt ltd

***@indiannaturaloils.com AOS Products Pvt ltd

End

-- Good day friend,Worldwide brand name: AOS Products Pvt LtdCertified Juniper berry oil Manufacturer as well as ExportersWell, friends and users of essential oils, if you reading our certified article over most useful and traditional essential oils than hearty congratulations. We AOS Products know its not easy steps to go from beginning to end with brands picture and information etc. But if truth be told at the topic of Natural essential oils than we hope that all of you would learn something new plan about of leading Manufacturer, Exporters from India.Find here perfect uses, price, delivery system and about of latest manufacturers information from India. From this year 2017 we have planned to start worldwide goal to target zone as Middle East, USA, UAE, Far East, African countries as B2B and direct B2C. So if you are perfect buyers or importers of any types of essential oils than welcome to deepest field of Essential oil Manufacturers in Delhi India.Juniper berry essential oil is one of the primary aromatics utilized in ancient civilization, and incorporates a colorful history of use. The traditional Greeks burned the pure oil of juniper branches to combat epidemics. In the form of English it also burned out the powerful essential oil; and hoped its sorceries powers would repel evil spirits, witches, and demons etc. Europeans regarded certified berry of juniper oil as a miracle cure for infectious disease, cholera, dysentery, and tapeworms. Several cultures nowadays still price juniper's several advantages. Tibetans still revere juniper and use it as purification incense, whereas Native Americans burn it in their cleansing ceremonies. Medical aid additionally embraces juniper, and considers it extremely versatile and therapeutic oil.Top Listed/Targeted countries by AOS Products: Africa: South Sudan, Sudan, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara and so on Middle East (, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, , Yemen, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and so on ). Far East (Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, North, Korea etc Latin America: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia. North America USA: Cuba, Dominica, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Nicaragua.1.Juniper berry oil comes from a natural tree of Coniferous. It is called as organic essential oil that has a rich history of traditional benefits and uses. Berry of Juniper acts as a natural detoxifying and cleansing agents.2.For acne, eczema, oily complexions, and wounds, place enough oil on a plant disease to form it wet, however don't soak it. Wipe directly on skin condition, exploitation mild movements.3.To alleviate anxiety, drowsiness, exhaustion, nervous tension, and combat stress-related disorders, use 8-10 drops in water. May also use 3 to 4 drops in an exceedingly diffuser.4.For inflammatory disease and rheumatism, add 1 to 2 drops to one ounce of carrier oil and massage into affected areas.5.As AN appetence regulator, use 2 to 4 drops in an exceedingly diffuser or use as a steam inhalation.6.For fat and detoxification, add two to selected 3 drops to one ounce of carrier oil and massage into affected areas frequently. You may also use 5 to 7 drops in water and use as perfect massage oil.7.To fight colds, flu, and infections, use 3- to maximum of 5 drops in an exceedingly steam inhalation. You may also use 6-10 drops in water, or 3 to expected 5 drops of Juniper berry oil in an exceedingly diffuser.8.To facilitate forestall hair loss; combine 3 to 4 drops in unscented conditioner. Leave on hair for 3-6 minutes, rinse as traditional. Use frequently as per your choice of essential oils.9.For headaches, use 3 to 4 drop drops of oil of Juniper berry in an exceedingly diffuser or 8-10 drops in an exceedingly tub. You may also use 2-3 drops of Indian juniper oil in one ounce of carrier oil, and massage gently into temples. Increase profit by adding lavender.10.As a home disinfectant, use approx. five drops in an exceedingly quart of water. Transfer to a twig bottle, and shake before exploitation.Indian Natural oils Manufacturers from Delhi NCR. We are reputed manufacturers & Exporters of pure essential oil, Carrier oils, Aromatherapy oils, Spice oils, Pine oils, Natural butters like Aloe Vera Gel, Aloe Pure white gel, Aloe Butter, Shea Butter, Cocoa butter and so on. All these natural and essential products available at very best cast and quality proof job and offered products. Our priority to provide 100% pure and certified based on Indian and international certifications.Thanks for reading our certified essential oils ( http://www.aosproduct.com/ ) article. If you want to know more details, buying method and other information, kindly mail us: abhilash@aosproduct.com we are looking forward to start B2B business with you.
Huw Roberts, Brings Extensive Global Marketing Experience in Driving Organizational Transformation and Growth

By: BlueCielo

Contact

Huw Roberts

BlueCielo ECM Solutions

***@bluecieloecm.com Huw RobertsBlueCielo ECM Solutions

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-- BlueCielo announced the addition of Huw Roberts as the company's first Chief Marketing Officer. In this capacity Mr. Roberts will develop and manage corporate, industry, and product marketing strategies and programs for BlueCielo's software and services. Mr. Roberts brings extensive experience in marketing of on-premises, SaaS, and mobile software and business services to enterprises that deliver, manage, and operate engineering assets. Before joining BlueCielo, Mr. Roberts served as Vice President of Platform Marketing for Bentley Systems, Inc., a global leader in software solutions for the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure. Mr. Roberts will be based in the company's North American headquarters in Exton, Pennsylvania, USA."We are excited to have Huw join our team" CEO Willem-Jan Scholten said. "BlueCielo has been very successful in its journey to expand from traditional document and drawing management to extended asset lifecycle information management. As we continue to innovate and improve our solutions to help optimize the profitability of our customers, Huw's role will be pivotal to ensure that BlueCielo maximizes our market impact."Rob Blasman, BlueCielo's CFO, added, "BlueCielo's business model continues to evolve, expanding from a leading on-premises software supplier to a full-service SaaS provider. With Huw's experience in similar transformation processes and his focus on branding and user engagement, we will make sure that our strategy and the demands of our customers will be perfectly aligned - which will contribute to our further growth and profitability.""Huw is passionate about helping companies discover and realize business value through technology-empowered business transformation  and that's what BlueCielo is all about" added BlueCielo CTO, Daniel Cozza. "We are committed to providing software that transforms engineering data into actionable plant information, keeping our users informed, compliant, and in control. As we launch exciting new capabilities and services to enhance our Meridian product line, having Huw's strong marketing leadership will help our users best discover that value.""BlueCielo is well poised to build on success. The company has a dedicated community of customers, innovative software and services, and a great team focused on providing value for enterprises all over the world" said Roberts. "There couldn't be a more exciting time to join BlueCielo, and I look forward to bringing the company's vision to the market."BlueCielo provides solutions to manage engineering information throughout the asset lifecycle. BlueCielo Meridian software connects maintenance and engineering, supports concurrent plant modifications, and improves data handover. BlueCielo solutions transform engineering data into actionable plant information, keeping our users informed, compliant, and in control. Serving the world's largest enterprises in the Chemical, Metals & Mining, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceutical, and Utility industries, the Meridian product line increases data integrity, auditability, and efficiency - enabling users to improve productivity and efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, reduce risk, and manage change. With BlueCielo, owner operators run their plants more effectively, safely, sustainably, and profitably.The company is headquartered in The Netherlands and has offices across the United States, Europe, Brazil, and in Singapore, as well as an international network of partners that ensures local service and support. BlueCielo is an official partner of Autodesk, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and SolidWorks.For more information about BlueCielo and its leadership team, click here ( https://www.bluecieloecm.com/ company/bluecielo/ management... ).@BlueCieloECM (https://twitter.com/BlueCieloECM)
By: Belzona Polymerics

Contact

Belzona Polymerics

Marina Silva

***@belzona.com Belzona PolymericsMarina Silva

End

-- As the costs of attaining a University degree continue to rise while the prospects of finding a good job upon graduating are uncertain, school leavers actively explore alternative options to get them onto the career ladder. In addition to these worries, when you are fresh out of school it may be difficult to know what disciplines are appealing enough for you to dedicate three-to-five years to study them.A good alternative to pursuing a University degree is to take up an apprenticeship with a local business. Even better if the company has a global reach and multiple positions that would allow you to trial and explore different business functions to see what you prefer and excel at doing.Belzona Polymerics, a Harrogate based manufacturing company, is offering two bright local school leavers just that. Commencing in September 2017, within its first year this two-year Belzona Training and Development Programme covers hands-on experience in several departments including Research and Development, Quality, Marketing, UK Sales, Export Management, IT, Business Development, Corporate Development, Engineering, Finance, and Operations.Year two of the apprenticeship kicks off with an opportunity to visit and work in one of the company's offices in Thailand, Miami or Canada. The remainder of the second year will then focus on defining a career path dependent on what area of the business is best suited to the candidate. Part of this plan will also be to decide what type of qualifications could be gained that will help develop the necessary skills for their role; this could be anything from an Open University Degree to the Chartered Institute of Marketing.To top it all off, Belzona Training and Development Programme comes with a competitve salary and a range of other benefits which include life assurance, private health cover, Cycle to Work scheme and much more.Belzona believes in rewarding talent and promoting from within. Laura Smith, who together with the management team put this amazing scheme together, has developed a lasting successful career with Belzona. Laura initially joined the company as a Marketing Assistant, eventually progressing onto the Marketing Manager role and then the Head of a newly formed Corporate Development department.Laura commented:For more information and to apply for the Belzona Training and Development Programme, visit Belzona.com/careers ( http://belzona.com/ en/about/opportunities.aspx ). Closing deadline for applications is Friday 24, February 2017.Watch a short video with some highlights from a technical workshop, hosted in Harrogate
Leading areas of cooperation include food, aviation and innovation

By: Orient Planet PR & Marketing Communications

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-- UAE, January 18, 2017 - H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy (MOE), affirmed that the economic relations between the UAE and New Zealand continue to grow and are expected to develop further as the two countries aspire to strengthen cooperation in a number of economic sectors of common interest and prioritized within their respective development plans.The announcement came during a meeting between the UAE Minister of Economy and H.E. Todd McClay, New Zealand Minister of Trade, and his accompanying delegation at the MOE's Dubai headquarters. Both parties demonstrated the potentials of increasing trade and strengthening cooperation in a number of areas, most notably agriculture and food, renewable energy, innovation, civil aviation, and tourism. The officials also discussed the current status of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the GCC and New Zealand. They touched on major issues that could be raised at the next meeting of the Joint Economic Committee which is set to take place this year in New Zealand.Among the MOE officials who attended the meeting were H.E. Eng. Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, Undersecretary for Economic Affairs; H.E. Humaid bin Butti Al Muhairi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Corporate Sector and Consumer Protection; Abdullah Sultan AlFan AlShamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Affairs; and other senior officials and advisers. New Zealand was represented by Jeremy Clarke-Watson, New Zealand's Ambassador to the UAE; H.E. Kevin John Mckenna, Consul General of New Zealand; and the New Zealand Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, Rebecca Wood.H.E. Eng. Al Mansoori stated that the country's leadership prioritizes innovation and thus places great importance on the National Innovation Strategy. He highlighted the strong interest of the UAE Ministry of Economy to closely work and cooperate with New Zealand on innovation initiatives, as it looks to complete the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the parties.The Minister further explained that the next meeting, the 6th session of the Joint Economic Committee, will be an important platform for accelerating the pace of current cooperative agreements. The session will also facilitate discussions on ways to increase development opportunities and overcome potential challenges that may affect the productive bilateral relations, particularly their economic, trade, and investment ties and partnerships with the private sector.The UAE Minister of Economy added that cooperation in the agricultural and food industries and enabling the UAE's agricultural investments in New Zealand through the latest innovative tools top the list of the Committee's agenda for its upcoming meeting given their major roles in addressing the country's food security. The meeting will also focus on cooperation in civil aviation, which is a key factor for the mutual development of trade, investment and tourism.Both Ministers discussed the latest updates on the FTA between New Zealand and the GCC, with H.E. Eng. Al Mansoori clarifying that the agreement is now in its final stages and is currently undergoing legal review by some of the GCC countries before final approval. He noted the importance of the agreement in enhancing trade and investment exchange between the two parties.H.E. McClay expressed his country's paramount interest on the approval of the FTA because of its significant impact on increasing trade volumes with the countries in the region, and commended the UAE's major role through the Ministry of Economy in making this agreement a reality.The Minister also discussed the possibility of bilateral cooperation in gaining access to new regional markets by capitalizing on the economic benefits and the strategic geographical location of both countries. The UAE Minister noted the importance of the UAE as a commercial gateway that ably facilitates New Zealand's trade access to the Middle East, African and European markets, and New Zealand's value as a significant link for the UAE to access South American markets. He called for sustained communication to open up more trade prospects for both countries.Total foreign trade between the UAE and New Zealand reached USD 1.6 billion in 2016, and is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years as both countries continue to push bilateral trade and economic cooperation initiatives.H.E. McClay said that New Zealand will soon push ahead with the development and expansion of hospitality projects in several cities, noting that this move opens an important opportunity for UAE investments that have successfully built a global reputation in this sector.In response, H.E. Eng. Al Mansoori urged New Zealand companies to explore the prospects of doing business in the UAE which offers an advanced economic environment, facilities, benefits and development incentives particularly conducive to the growth of high-value industries.H.E. Eng. Al Mansoori said that these form part of the government's directives towards establishing a knowledge-based economy focused on innovation, creativity and technology, particularly in transport, renewable energy, infrastructure, and small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Lima, Peru, January 2017 - Ankura Brand has launched a funding campaign using the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo.

By: ANKURA

Media Contact

Ankura Brand

***@ankurabrand.com Ankura Brand

End

--Ankura is a Peruvian based women's wear from Lima. Since 2015 they have been making flattering pieces that make a positive change towards ethical and sustainable fashion while making you look effortlessly beautiful.Their clothes are made from Pima Cotton, Organic Cotton and Alpaca Wool, all of which if you haven't noticed are natural fibers located in Peru. This way they wish to reduce their environmental impact. As you can see, being an ethical brand is of upmost priority to the people working at Ankura.The goal is 30.000 and by contributing to their campaign you are enabling Ankura to keep working with Peruvian artisans, with only the finest local materials they find, small workshops and to revive Peru's ancestral handmade techniques which look rather exotic. Think Pocahontas in the modern day with a lot more spunk and spirit.For any further information you can contact them atthat is also where you will be doing your shopping. They also have a facebook page where you can also easily browse through their wares.your support is urgently needed! Please look at all the rewards they have for those who make a contribution. Please consider getting involved, at whatever level you can, and help "get funded!If you can't afford to donate, don't worry - there are plenty of other ways you can help. Please take some time to share this campaign across your social networks and encourage your friends and family to donate.And if you wish to support this interesting new brand you can go to
According to the Tasnim news agency, Zarif said, We are hostile to their presence and we have not invited them. This goes against the position of the other two organizers of the talks  Russia and Turkey  which have said the new US administration of Donald Trump should be represented in Astana on Monday.

This will be the first time, since the conflict began in 2011, that the US has not been at the centre of peace negotiations.

Irans foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told the media on Wednesday, At this stage, we must keep the tripartite set-up. Any enlargement could increase the risk of failure. Our policy is to not add other countries at this stage.

This was concurred in by article in The Washington Post by Liz Sly, on January 17, who wrote, Iran opposes the participation of the United States in Syrian peace talks backed by Russia that are due to be launched in Kazakhstan next week, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday.

This statement contradicts Russias and Turkeys promises, as well as indications from U.S. officials that the Trump administration would be invited to the January 23 talks, scheduled in the Kazakhstan capital, Astana.

The potential for conflict over at least one of the Middle Easts flashpoints between Tehran and the incoming Trump administration is highlighted by these comments, as the new administration indicated that it plans to adopt a more hawkish posture toward Iran than President Obamas administration.

We have not invited the U.S. and oppose their presence Zarif said, according to Irans Press TV. It is not immediately clear whether Iran will refuse to attend, if the United States were invited. The talks are part of a three-way process led by Russia and including Turkey and Iran, who now the three most powerful players in Syria. The talks are aimed at forging a settlement in Syria after the failure of the Obama administrations diplomacy.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow, that the opening round will include representatives of Syrian rebels, meeting with members of the Syrian government to discuss the fragile cease-fire that went into effect on December 29. Representatives of the other invited countries will attend in the role of observers, rather than participants.

If this meeting takes place, it will represent a profound moment for the Syrian conflict, as the military protagonists will be brought together for the first time since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011.

It could also be a significant moment for the wider Middle East, signaling the first major initiative to resolve a regional conflict in which the United States is not playing a leading role. This is a Russian-led process, diplomats said, and Turkey and Iran are partnering with Russia in the effort.

Invitations have not yet been formally issued, partly because Turkish efforts to persuade the Syrian rebels to attend have gone on longer than expected. Rebel commanders confirmed on Tuesday, that half a dozen mostly Turkish-backed groups, most of them based in the north of the country, will send representatives.

One of the three sponsors of the peace talks, Iran has not signed the agreement reached between Russia and Turkey that launched the cease-fire. This suggests that Tehran has reservations about an effort that may erode its influence in Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and President-elect Donald Trump and have said that they regard Syria as one of the areas in which the United States and Russia could cooperate more closely. Trump stated on several occasions that he hopes better relations with Moscow will help counterbalance Irans expanding regional role.

Iran was instrumental in providing the manpower and resources that have helped Assads government hold the rebels at bay.

Sly writes that, Thousands of Iranian-trained Shiite militia fighters from Iraq and Afghanistan are on the front lines, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah is at the forefront of most of the major battles, and Iranian military advisers and commanders are embedded with them in many locations around the country.

These military conquests strengthened Irans role as a dominant player in Syria, and make Irans cooperation essential to any peace deal.
I understand that good people sometimes find themselves in bad situations.

By: Law Office of Aaron M. Black, PLLC.

Aaron Black

Contact

Aaron Black

***@aaronblacklaw.com Aaron Black

End

-- Handpicked by Expertise, the Law Office of Aaron Black has made the top 20 list for best DUI lawyers in Chandler, Arizona. Expertise is a business that works to connect the best local businesses with their readers throughout the United States by creating top hiring guides to give them the confidence to make the right choice when selecting a local company. The selection criteria for the top 20 includes reputation, credibility, experience, availability, and professionalism.DUI Attorney, Aaron Black has been serving Chandler, AZ, and surrounding communities for over ten years. Limiting his practice to criminal and DUI defense in all Arizona city, state and federal courts, Aaron represents a limited number of clients at any given time, allowing him to provide the personalized service.With some of the harshest penalties in the United States for a DUI, a conviction includes mandatory jail time, monetary fines, license suspension and the Ignition Interlock Device, Aaron's ultimate goal is to keep his clients out of jail and the dismissal of their case.A University of South Dakota graduate, Aaron has spent countless hours in the courtroom and has argued over 50 trials defending hundreds of individuals charged with serious felony offenses including Extreme, Super and Aggravated DUI, Aggravated Assault, Manslaughter, and almost every other crime in Arizona.When your freedom is at risk, experience in the courtroom matters and Aaron began his career at the office of Maricopa County Public Defender. As a Deputy Public Defender, Aaron honed his skills in the courtroom and became interested in focusing on DUI in Arizona.A proud member of the State Bar of Arizona, American Bar Association and Maricopa County Bar Association Aaron's AVVO rating is 10/10 and since 2012 he has annually been selected Southwest Super Lawyer Rising Star for DUI Defense. ( http://www.aaronblacklaw.com
Eligible Tours Include 'Romance with the Great Indian Desert' and 'Himalayan Delight - India & Bhutan'

By: Vilasa Luxury Travel

Dinner at the Kohinoor Suite, India

Media Contact

Herman & Almonte PR

***@herman-almontepr.com

212-616-1190 Herman & Almonte PR212-616-1190

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--, the newest luxury brand specializing in upscale, customizable tours to India, announced that it is offering travel agents 20% commission on all of its fixed itineraries, effective through April 30, 2017. Private programs are land-only and feature chauffeur driven transportation, services of an English-speaking guide, and hotels that meet the highest standard of luxury and comfort. Tours are also available to neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives.Working with India's finest hotels and service providers,offers unique culinary, adventure, sports, and spiritual journeys to some of India's most famous cities and attractions. Among its latest fixed programs is the 16-Night "Romance with the Great Indian Desert", featuring some of the most stunning palaces, temples and natural vistas in India; and the 8-night "Highlands and Backwaters of Kerala", a scenic cruise in a deluxe cabin through Southern India's famous, interconnected chain of canals, rivers and lagoons that run parallel to the Arabian Sea and is often compared to the American Bayou."The name 'Vilasa Luxury Travel' says it all," said Mr. Harvinder Singh Duggal, Managing Director for Vilasa Luxury Travels. "Our clients travel in supreme comfort, enjoy the most sumptuous dining experiences, and stay at the best hotels in the world. Whether they select a fixed program or a customized itinerary for their clients, travel agents can be confident in receiving expert and knowledgeable advice, with a dedicated staff that will help them meet their clients' most exclusive needs."One of Vilasa's most unique fixed programs, "Romance with the Great Indian Desert", features 16 nights/17 days of once-in-a-life-time experiences through the great Thar desert of India and its many historic cities. Starting in Delhi, the tour takes clients in a chauffeur driven car to such cities as Bikaner. The city is renowned for its vast complex of elaborate buildings and halls and features the Prachina Museum, which displays traditional textiles and royal portraits. Clients also visit Ranakpur, a city celebrated for its magnificent architecture and marble Jain temple, considered one of the most spectacular of its kind. The city is also famous for its large population of monkeys.The "Romance" package is land-only and includes a rickshaw ride around Chandni Chowk, Delhi's oldest shopping street, an elephant ride at Amber Fort-Jaipur, and a boat ride at Lake Pichola Udaipur, among other experiences. Starting at $7,900 based on double occupancy, travel agents who booked the fixed itinerary before April 30, 2017 are guaranteed $1,580 in commission. Customized versions of the tour are also available at net pricing. Other terms and conditions apply.Vilasa's "Highlands and Backwaters of Kerala" tour takes clients through some of southern India's most scenic bodies of waters, all while enjoying a deluxe cabin on a motorboat boasting all modern amenities. The cruise begins with a stay at the famous Leela Kovalam hotel, a beautiful, sprawling property situated on a hillside overlooking the Arabian Sea. The cruise includes a stop at the coastal town of Kanyakumari on India's southern tip. Renowned for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, the town is also a popular pilgrimage destination thanks to its Bhagavthydedicated to the God Shiva, and Our Lady of Ransom Church, a center of Indian Catholicism.The tour also includes a stop at Thekkady, home to the Periyar National Park and wildlife sanctuary, which is also a noted tiger reserve. Starting at $3,770 based on double occupancy, agents can earn $754 commission when they book this fixed program by April 30, 2017. Additional terms and conditions apply.Other sample fixed programs include "Spiritual Connect  North India", which features a visit to Akshardham Temple, the largest Hindu temple complex in the world, known for its intricate carvings of images depicting flora, fauna, dancers, musicians, and deities; and "The Best of North and West India", among others. Vilasa also offers culinary tours that explore the finest Indian gourmet available in the best restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries, from traditional Indian Thali to regional delicacies."India and its neighbors offer some of the most enchanting historical architecture, monuments, and natural landscape, as well as cultural and culinary experiences steep in history that go back thousands of years," said Duggal. "Vilasa works closely with every travel agent to make sure their clients enjoy the most memorable experience of their lives."Vilasa Luxury Travel is the luxury brand of Minar TravelsIndia's leading destination management company with expertise in travel, tourism, aviation, and MICE. Its in-depth knowledge of India and commitment to quality and personalized service ensure that their luxury travel tours in India and beyond are the very best of their kind. Vilasa thoughtfully designed tour programs meet the highest standards for luxury travel, guiding guests on a "voyage of discovery" that allows them to explore India and its neighboring countries beyond the well-worn paths to find the heart and soul of the land and its people. Vilasa's experienced and dedicated team of travel professionals are in constant contact with their vast network of exceptional heritage properties and top hotels in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives to provide their guests with experiences that are distinctive and unforgettable. Vilasa creates customized itineraries for travel agents at net pricing, which agents can then provide to their clients at their own pricing plans. It also provides fixed programs, which can earn travel agents up to 20% commission if booked as provided by April 30, 2017. For more information, call toll-free 1-844-358-1024 or visit http://vilasaluxury.com
THE MICROSOFT PROJECT SERVER KILLER "ETA is Now Available through MD Tech, Enabling Implementation Of SharePoint-Based and Non-SharePoint Based Solutions Tailored to Government Agencies"  Lance Durante, CEO of MD Tech Solutions, LLC

Contact

Jessica Davis

***@mdtechsolutions.com

540-371-3725 Jessica Davis540-371-3725

End

--MD Tech Solutions, LLC (), a Virginia Based IT Product and Service Firm, is proud to introduce Estimated Time of Arrivalis a Project Management Application, simpler to use and maintain than Traditional Project Management Solutions.is designed to integrate with your existing systems to save valuable time identify and prevent problems before they force work to stop; thus preventing project flow towards completion. Executive Dashboards provides Real-Time Insight into Project Health, Resource Allocation and Budgeting Resource Planning Tools and Analytics for Project Managers Create, Manage and Report on Portfolios and Projects Dynamically Dynamic Graphs and Summaries Of Budget Versus Actual Expenses Over Time Issue Reporting Divided By Severity Tasks and Allocated Hours Reporting By Resource/Task Worker Drag and Drop Task Prioritization, within Project Phases"As a Full Service, HUBZone, SWaM, IT Products and Consulting Firm, we pride ourselves on providing Customers with Cost-Effective, Cutting Edge Software, "enabling Organizations' Top Level Executives to view all Portfolios, Programs, Projects and Budgets for the entire Organization, thus enabling Corporate to make major decisions negating the necessity to reach out to Management Staff "Lance Durante, President/CEO of MD Tech.Software is the perfect Project Management Solution, that provides the latest Methodologies;Waterfall and Agile Scrum Management, suitable for all management styles.is available for purchase via MD Tech Solutions, LLC.Coming Soon, theon GSA  IT Schedule 70Please visit www.mdtechproducts.com for additional information onMD Tech Solutions, LLC) is a Product and Service Company providing Project Management Software Solutions to Commercial Clients, as well as the Federal, State, and Local Governments. All products are Enterprise Solutions with focus on improving the processes Agencies utilize to accomplish their goals, while simultaneously saving money. We provide our Clients with Cutting-Edge Technologies, and the "Know-How" to apply them.For years, MD Tech has provided reliable IT Solutions to Businesses and Agencies in the Washington, DC and Richmond, VA Metropolitan areas. Our Comprehensive Services and Products provide Clients with unique technology solutions customized to meet the specific demands of their Business. Agencies look to our Experts for strategic IT Guidance, Management, and Support eliminating the stresses associated with technology and implementation. This allows Key Players and Decision Makers the ability to concentrate on the most important components of the Agency. MD Tech provides Cost-Efficient Solutions, while accomplishing Critical Managerial Goals.Contact us ( http://www.mdtechproducts.com/ contact-us/ ) Today for a Solution to assist your Agency/Business with any of our Products and/or Services. With our range of Easy-to-Use Project Management Software, Support Desk Software, and Records Management Solutions, MD Tech is primed to assist your Agency/Business achieve maximum efficiency, eliminating the necessity of Over Priced-Expensive Products requiring Extensive Training.www.mdtechproducts.com
By: USOH

End

-- Hindus are urging renowned Merrimack College in North Andover (Massachusetts)to add "Hindu" to its Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations Center to be inclusive for its Hindu students and the community.Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that by including Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought, Merrimack would be implementing its own "Mission Statement" which sought to "increase mutual understanding among peoples of diverse beliefs".Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that Merrimack, by displaying this inclusivity, would be fulfilling its own claim: As a College in the tradition of the Augustinian Order Merrimack is inspired by the vision of St. Augustine that "There is no one in the human race to whom we do not owe love" (Letter 130:13).How a well-known educational institution could accomplish its "mission" "to enlighten minds" when its inter-religious relations center excluded various major world religions? Rajan Zed asked.Zed urged Michael K. Crowe, Dr. Christopher E. Hopey and Joseph Kelley; Trustees Chair, President and Center Director respectively of Merrimack; to work on restructuring its Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations and include Hinduism in it. If they needed any assistance in Hinduism, he or other scholars would be glad to help, Zed added.Moreover, it would be an opportunity for Merrimack to deliver on its "commitment"of spiritual development of students and its "dedication to the Augustinian values of hospitality, community and the pursuit of truth", Rajan Zed indicated.Founded in 1947, Merrimack College on a 220-acre campus attracts students "from all across the United States and around the globe" to its 90-plus graduate and undergraduate academic programs and claims to rank among the top 10 colleges in the North region of USA.
By: Southern California Hopsice Foundation

Leila Keating and Michelle Wulfestieg, executive director of SCHF

Contact

Alvina Olivier

HKA Marketing Communications

***@hkamarcom.com Alvina OlivierHKA Marketing Communications

End

-- A veteran Disney cast member whose passion is helping patients through hospice has been the catalyst for seven consecutive years of grants from the Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund to The Southern California Hospice Foundation (SCHF). Each year, the Disney gift helps the Foundation create its own brand of magic in the lives of children and adults diagnosed with terminal illnesses.Leila Keating's day job is serving as Assistant to the Disney Resorts Senior Vice President of Experience Development. But when not on the job, Leila is still involved with experiences -- dedicated to making a difference as a volunteer at Companion Hospice, affiliated with SCHF, and with the touching experiences created for patients by the Foundation.Keating first became aware of hospice in 2000 when her mother needed end-of-life care. Inspired by the compassion she witnessed, and later when her father was in the hospital in 2004, Keating responded to a newspaper advertisement seeking hospice volunteers.Keating explained, "Seeing my mother in hospice care, followed by losing my father a few years later, I felt a real connection with those in the hospital. I loved hearing their stories. For me, volunteering is about connecting with people who are hungry for interaction. Many of these people just need to be acknowledged with a simple smile because they just feel invisible. For me, volunteering with hospice is incredibly rewarding  I truly get back more than I give!"Michelle Wulfestieg, executive director of SCHF, points out that Keating's passion to help is an example of how the Foundation is able to provide such valuable support to patients. "Leila is extremely compassionate. She not only helps patients as a hospice volunteer, but she also takes that extra step to bring us the support of Disney so that we can provide for patients in a truly significant way. She is one of our angels at the Foundation."Aware of the grants from the Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund, Keating knew the Southern California Hospice Foundation was a perfect recipient of these funds, which are given to meaningful projects across the globe, with a primary focus on communities where Disney operates. Over the years, the small grants have totaled $37,000 for the foundation. A check for $5,000 was personally presented by Keating on behalf of the Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund to Wulfestieg. Together with her team of volunteers, nearly 300 patients receive assistance each year.The funds will assist SCHF in continuing the shared mission of adding magic to the lives of the terminally ill. SCHF offers invaluable assistance through Children's Supportive Care services, Angel Assistance and Community Outreach Programs. Founded by Companion Hospice in 2002, the Foundation helps patients with needs that lie outside of the hospice benefit, such as helping with food, transportation, utility bills and granting final wishes.The Southern California Hospice Foundation was established in 2002 to promote awareness of palliative care options for terminally ill children and adults, helping to enhance the quality of life for those at the end-of-life. Generous donations support programs designed to attend physically and emotionally to each patient's well-being. By supporting the Southern California Hospice Foundation, one becomes part of a compassionate effort that is uniquely focused on quality of life rather than quantity of days. For more information, please visit http://www.socalhospicefoundation.org/
By: McCarthy Building Companies

Justin Kelton, McCarthy Building Companies

End

-- Justin Kelton, president of McCarthy Building Companies' Southwest division, was recently elected treasurer of the board of directors for the Support Sky Harbor Coalition, a nonprofit 501(c)4 organization that supports the Sky Harbor community and its neighbors through education, advocacy and outreach.McCarthy has experience with a number of construction projects at Sky Harbor, including building portions of Terminal 4 and an associated parking structure. More recently, the McCarthy-Kiewit joint venture team completed 0.6 miles of guideway and a single station for the Sky Train project that serves both Terminals 2 and 3 with a pedestrian bridge."McCarthy is proud to participate in the Support Sky Harbor Coalition, and we recognize the airport as a vital economic engine here in Phoenix," Kelton said. "I look forward to the taking on the role of treasurer for the coalition as we start another great year of coalition building."Kelton joined McCarthy in 2001 after serving as a U.S. Marine, and he moved into the top leadership role for the Southwest division this year. He earned a Civil and Environmental degree from Vermont Technical College. He is a board member for the Arizona Builders' Alliance and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Western Maricopa Coalition (WESTMARC). He also participates in McCarthy Heart Hats, the volunteer-based community outreach arm of McCarthy Building Companies that includes McCarthy employees and their family members who support the communities in which they live, work and play by volunteering for community projects and fundraising efforts.McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. ( http://www.mccarthy.com/ ) is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country  with more than 150 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program that span all phases of every project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with value-add technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 16th largest domestic general contractor (, May 2016). With approximately 1,700 salaried employees and offices in St. Louis, Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Portage, Ind.; Kansas City, Kan.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Dallas, Houston; Albuquerque;and San Diego, Newport Beach, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned ( http://www.mccarthy.com/ about/employee- owners/ ). More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/mccarthybuilding), Twitter (https://twitter.com/McCarthyBuild), LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/company/119184?trk=tyah), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mccarthybuild/)and Google+ (http://www.google.com/+MccarthyBuilding)The Support Sky Harbor Coalition (http://www.supportskyharbor.com), formed in 2002, is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization. The Coalition strives to educate the public about the economic benefits and quality of life advantages Sky Harbor brings to the people of Arizona and is dedicated to supporting the continued development of the airport and the enhancement of its existing operations. As the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area continues to grow, it is extremely important that we support the vital services and growth of Sky Harbor, which serves the traveling public and goods.
By: Le Chardon Mountain Lodges

Contact

Lucinda Brook

***@marketingclout.co.uk Lucinda Brook

End

--5 delighted pairs quaffed champagne and canapes, served by their own personal 'cable butler', as they lounged on decadent fur throws to celebrate International Cable Car Day in Europe's newest and most luxurious cable car, with heated faux leather seats, WiFi and a glass bottomed view of Val d'Isere.The private cable car 'cruise' was organised by luxury chalet operator, Le Chardon, on the brand new 10 seated Solaise gondola in Val d'Isere, the result of a 19 million Euro investment.The winners, who cruised in individual cable cars at twilight on January 17, 2017, were treated like royalty with chalet hosts from Le Chardon serving a selection of gourmet amuse-bouches and chilled bubbly in each car, before enjoying a guided torchlit descent with the resort's Ecole de Ski Francais team."I can't think of a better way to celebrate International Cable Car Day!" said Jamie Rennie, general manager at Le Chardon Mountain Lodges. "Tip top personal service and gourmet delights at 2,550m under the stars and above the twinkly village vista. We take for granted the advances in cable car design  we're delighted that Val d'Isere continues to invest in its infrastructure to cement its reputation as a world class resort and luxury destination."The winning pairs were selected at random from entries of ski enthusiasts staying throughout Espace Killy.International Cable Car Day in 2017 marks 146 years since the first patent in relation to a cable car was received by British born, US resident Andrew Smith Hallidie in 1871. The design was originally conceived for San Francisco when Hallidie witnessed horses falling under the strain of trying to pull cars up San Francisco's steep Jackson Street. The cable propelled transit has since evolved to gondolas serving most ski resorts around the globe."This caps it all for us  so much fun! We love coming to Val d'Isere and this has made our trip extra special," commented winning pair, Angela Lowe andSteven Teague from Edinburgh.Le Chardon Mountain Lodges is an exclusive collection of five luxury ski chalets in Val d'Isere, France. Situated in its own private enclave, the chalets are ski in, ski out and offer a spectacular, panoramic view of the mountainside. The package includes luxury chalet accommodation, gourmet dining and open bar with an in resort chauffeur service. The company prides itself on discretion and is a favourite with celebrities, royalty, business and the expat community.For further information, visitSocial channels: Twitter ( https://twitter.com/ lechardon ) Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/ lechardonmountainlodges.valdisere/ ) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lechardonvaldisere/)
A minimum of 52.6 billion of capital is expected to be invested in global real estate during 2017. This represents a total average target allocation of 11.5% for investors - a gain of 1.5% from current allocations. These results from the global Investment Intentions Survey 2017, published today by INREV,

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Believe it or not, a Hyderabad techie has managed to get Hyundai to drop handling charges. The company showroom has returned the INR 6,850 paid as handling charges and INR 3,000 towards registration fees collected with the invoice after Ratan Gandhi won the two year long legal battle.

Ratan Gandhi, an employee of Infosys, based in Hyderabad, purchased a Hyundai Xcent from the company showroom on 27th December 2014. He paid the amount mentioned in the Invoice but was surprised to note that the dealership refused to hand over the possession of the vehicle unless he also paid up INR 6,850 as handling charges.

On questioning, he was told that this charge along with INR 3,000 registration fee was mandatory prior to the release of the vehicle. The staff informed him that these charges were towards fuel and labor charges. With no other option, Gandhi paid up the additional amount at that time and took possession of his vehicle. But he was upset about the episode and decided to press charges. He sent mails to the company for which he received unsatisfactory replies forcing Gandhi to lodge complaints with the Joint Transport Commissioner.

The matter was taken up by G P N Prasad, Central Zone Road Transport Official who found that these additional charges were illegal. After a two year long battle, authorities have finally found the dealer guilty. Gandhi was not only returned his Rs 6,850 and Rs 3,000 towards registration charges which were collected, but a stern warning has been issued to all Hyundai showrooms across India and licenses of two showrooms have been suspended. Hyundai has even issued circulars to all its showrooms to abstain from such additional collections.

Hyderabad Joint Transport Commissioner J. Pandurang Naik said  If showroom dealers ask for handling charges or any other hidden charges over and above the actual invoice, the customers can directly lodge a complaint with us. Well suspend the authorisation of the showrooms.

Speaking about car prices, Hyundai Motors India Limited has announced a price hike of their models from the Eon to Santa Fe. This price hike is to come into effect from 1st January 2017. The company has revealed that the reason behind price hike are increase in input costs and higher costs of spares.

Hyundai Motors India Limited sell a wide range of models right from their entry level Eon which is priced from INR 3.28 lakh to the Santa Fe SUV which is priced from INR 28.85 lakh. This price hike is inevitable and follows similar price hikes announced by other auto manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Renault India, Nissan India, Datsun India and Toyota India.

Toyota and Renault have announced a price hike of up to 3% while Nissan, Datsun have announced hike of up to INR 30,000 while Tata has announced hike of up to INR 25,000. New prices will come into effect from 1st Jan 2017. All eyes are now on Maruti Suzuki, Indias largest car maker, who has not announced the price hike yet.

Commenting on the price hike, Mr. Rakesh Srivastava, Sr. Vice President, Sales and Marketing said, In these challenging year end market conditions, we are constrained to consider price increase on account of factors like increased input costs, fluctuating exchange rates and increasing marketing expenses. The proposed price increase will be up to Rs. 1,00,000 and will be effective from January 2017 across all models from Eon to Santa Fe.

via Deccan Chronicle
Over the past few years, a large fracture has grown across a large floating ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula. The world is watching the ice shelf, now poised to break off an iceberg the size of Delaware into the ocean.

It's not a new phenomenon; this "thumb" of Antarctica, which juts out into the stormy Southern Ocean, has lost more than 28,000 square kilometers of floating ice -- almost as large as Massachusetts -- over the past half-century. This has included the complete disintegration of four ice shelves, the floating extensions of glaciers.

Now, a new study led by Colorado State University provides important details on the extent of sea ice, which can protect ice shelves from the impacts of ocean storms, in the Antarctic Peninsula.

El Nino-like weather patterns in Antarctica

Scientists have long thought that a shift in the Southern Annular Mode, which describes a large-scale pattern of atmospheric variability for the Southern Hemisphere similar to El Nino in the tropics, may produce conditions that can lead to the collapse of ice shelves.

The CSU-led research team offers important details on how the Southern Annular Mode affects storm activity and the extent of sea ice surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula. Sea ice may protect ice shelves from the impacts of ocean storms by weakening wave intensity before it reaches the coastline.

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The researchers utilized a novel approach of studying long-term variations in seismic signals, called microseisms, generated by ocean waves in the region. The findings have implications for the wave environment of the Southern Ocean and, potentially, for factors driving the collapse of ice shelves, which can lead to an accelerated increase in global sea level.

More than two decades of data analyzed

Robert Anthony, who recently received a Ph.D. from CSU's Department of Geosciences and is now a Mendenhall Research Fellow at the U.S. Geological Survey's Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory, said that the team looked at 23 years of seismic data from Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula and East Falkland Island near South America. They looked specifically at seismic signals generated by ocean waves.

"We were able to show that storm and ocean wave activity in the Drake Passage, the ocean basin between the Antarctic Peninsula and South America, increases during positive phases of the Southern Annular Mode, " he explained. "We were also able to verify that sea ice cover does indeed impede ocean swell from reaching the coastline by showing which regions of sea ice impact the intensity of microseisms. This type of analysis may be useful for future applications of using seismic records to track the strength of sea ice over large regions, which has been difficult to determine from satellite observations."

Anthony, lead author of the study, said that based on the findings, the positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode may contribute to ice shelf weakening and potential collapse events by:

increasing air temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula, which can enhance surface melting of ice shelves,

driving off sea ice, which enables ocean waves to directly impact ice shelves, and

generating stronger wave events.

Researchers had previously speculated on a link between ice shelf collapse and the Southern Annular Mode, based mainly on elevated air temperatures. But the CSU team now suspects that the reduction of sea ice and strong wave events in the Drake Passage could also play a role in rapid collapse events, such as the dramatic collapse of the Larsen A ice shelf in 1995 and, perhaps, the ongoing fracturing of the Larsen C ice shelf.

The team's next steps include looking more closely at specific ocean swell events and sea ice conditions during known ice shelf collapses and large iceberg calving events.
Trump has famously described the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as one of the worst agreements in American history. On the campaign trail he promised to tear it up as soon as he assumed office, but in the midst of his White House transition he has scaled back this rhetoric to refer instead to renegotiation. However, it is understood that this would be a serious challenge for the new president, owing to the multilateral nature of the agreement. This was highlighted on Tuesday by Helga Schmid, the secretary general of the European Unions foreign policy service, according to Reuters.

The JCPOA negotiations were concluded in July 2015, with participation from Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China. It was not signed by the participants but is understood to be binding upon all seven as long as each country remains a publicly-declared party to the agreement. The formal cancellation of the agreement would require consensus from all seven parties, but either the US or Iran could conceivably walk away from the agreement without notice, and indeed Iran has repeatedly threatened to do this if it decided that the US had violated the letter or the spirit of the agreement, as by imposing new sanctions, even on non-nuclear issues.

On the American side, critics of the agreement have accused the Iranians of not living up to their own obligations under the agreement. Some such critics have suggested that this could be grounds for Trump to cancel the agreement, or at least grounds for the imposition of penalties on the Islamic Republic. In fact, certain violations are known to have occurred, including two separate instances in which Iran exceeded the limits imposed by the JCPOA on its stockpiles of heavy water, a component of plutonium enrichment. These violations have been treated as insignificant by the Obama administration, which provided Iran with time to correct them and in one case directed the Department of Energy to purchase excess heavy water.

At a minimum, many of Trumps supporters and team members are expecting an end to this conciliatory enforcement approach after he takes office. In fact, Rex Tillerson, Trumps nominee for Secretary of State, said in a recent confirmation hearing that he would use the office to order a top-to-bottom review of the JCPOA, with an eye toward strengthening and fully utilizing its enforcement mechanisms.

This sort of strengthening would supposedly address a situation in which Iran is seen as taking advantage of the new international environment and facing no consequences. The excess heavy water stockpiles are only one sort of example of this. Western Journalism highlighted another on Tuesday when it quoted Olli Heinonen, a former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as saying that Iran was in the process of acquiring an unjustifiable surplus of raw uranium. The JCPOA imposes no restrictions on the Islamic Republic over this acquisition, limiting only the amount and level of enriched uranium that the country may possess at any given time. But Heinonen observes that the quantities of non-enriched material Iran is seeking to obtain are enough to fill its power generation and medical needs for over 15 years. This naturally inflames suspicions that the Iranians are positioning themselves to have greatly expanded nuclear capability once the agreement expires or once Iran or the US decides to walk away from it.

Part of this acquisition was undertaken with the explicit blessing of the Obama administration, thus giving Trumps supporters one last piece of ammunition in their attacks on his handling of the Iran nuclear issue. But at the same time that Tehran was taking advantage of Obamas willingness to look the other way on these controversial activities, the Iranians also indicated that they were taking steps to ship enriched uranium to Russia in order to bring them into compliance with defined limits under the JCPOA. Some analysts and Trump supporters view this as a likely reaction to the incoming presidents change in tone from that of his predecessor. The removal of enriched uranium seems at odds with statements that had been made by Iranian officials in recent weeks, suggesting for instance that the country would restart nuclear-powered submarine programs as direct retaliation for the congressional renewal of the Iran Sanctions Act.

If Iran is indeed changing its behavior with regard to the JCPOA, it may be a reaction to the sentiment expressed by Reince Priebus, Trumps chief of staff. The Wall Street Journal quoted him as saying that he believes the nuclear deal to be on life support. On one hand, this could be seen as a more delicate repeat of Trumps earlier threats to tear up the deal. But on the other hand it could alternatively be viewed as implying that with more rigorous enforcement of the existing deal, the Trump administration will have ample justification for re-imposing sanctions in response to the sorts of Iranian violations already witnessed, thereby possibly prompting Tehran to withdraw from the deal.
Bones from dead turtles washed up on Mexican beaches indicate that Baja California is critical to the survival of endangered North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, which travel some 7,500 miles from their nesting sites in Japan to their feeding grounds off the coast of Mexico.

"These turtles are born in Japan, then migrate to the central and eastern north Pacific Ocean for some part of their juvenile lives before returning to Japan to breed and live out the remainder of their lives," said Carolyn Kurle, an assistant professor of biology at UC San Diego. "But nobody knew how long they were spending in each distinct ocean region."

That dearth of knowledge made it difficult to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for the endangered turtles. So Kurle's doctoral student, Calandra "Cali" Turner Tomaszewicz, who is now a postdoctoral fellow at UC San Diego, set out to find out.

In a study published in the current issue of the Journal of Animal Ecology, Turner Tomaszewicz, Kurle and Jeffrey Seminoff of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, determined that while some turtles may spend more than 20 years feeding in the productive waters off the Baja coast before migrating back to Japan to breed. Some turtles may actually spend only half that much time in this area.

"This is good news for this endangered population of turtles," said Turner Tomaszewicz.

To determine the turtles' migratory patterns at various ages, Turner Tomaszewicz chemically analyzed the stable nitrogen isotopes laid down during bone formation in the concentric growth rings of the humerus bones of dead turtles found on Mexican beaches.

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Like the annual growth rings of trees, powder from these rings of bone allowed her to determine -- when compared to the distinct nitrogen isotope profiles of different parts of the Pacific Ocean -- where the turtles traveled during each year of their lives.

"From a conservation point of view, especially for a migratory species, the most essential goal should be to prioritize conservation efforts where they can have the biggest impact in protecting the population and facilitating recovery, in the most efficient way possible," said Turner Tomaszewicz.

One of those places appears to be off the Baja coast, the scientists concluded in their paper, where the population of loggerhead turtles ranges from three to 24 years of age.

"Cali demonstrated that there is a bimodal distribution to loggerhead settlement into these waters off Baja from the central North Pacific, with one group of turtles recruiting to that area at around an average of seven years of age and a second group recruiting at an average of 16 years of age," said Kurle. "She also determined that loggerheads mature at around 25 years of age, meaning they leave this area when they are about 24 years old to migrate back to Japan so they can breed."

This means that the turtles live from 10 to more than 20 years off the Baja coast, a particularly dangerous region where Hoyt Peckham of Stanford University, another co-author of the paper, had estimated in an earlier study that about 1,000 loggerheads a year are accidentally trapped and killed by fisherman as "bycatch" in small-scale "artisanal" fishing operations. Larisa Avens, of NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, was the fifth co-author of the Journal of Animal Ecology paper.

From those estimates, Turner Tomaszewicz calculated that loggerhead turtles that spend 10 years in Baja have a 30 percent of living long enough to travel back to Japan to breed, while turtles who spend 20 years in Baja have only a 10 percent chance to breed.

"The low survivorship of half of the turtles is somewhat depressing news for the loggerheads, but these data are now being used to develop better management techniques for the Mexican artisanal fishery to prevent such high turtle bycatch numbers," said Kurle. "The discovery that the turtles have a bimodal distribution to their recruitment into the Baja regional from the central North Pacific indicates that not all loggerheads spend upwards of 20 years in this region, meaning some have a greater chance of avoiding negative fisheries interactions and surviving to breed."

"Our study shows that this foraging hotspot is an incredibly important habitat for the reproductively-valuable juvenile life stage for North Pacific loggerheads and that this area needs to be a high-priority conservation habitat for this population," said Turner Tomaszewicz.

Funding for the study was provided by grants from NOAA Fisheries, National Institutes of Health (T32 GM007240), a UC-MEXUS Dissertation Grant, an ARCS Foundation Scholarship and a Jeanne Messier Memorial Fellowship.
Researchers here have made a discovery in materials science that sounds like something from the old Saturday morning cartoon Super Friends: They've found a way to deactivate "nano twins" to improve the high-temperature properties of superalloys that are used in jet engines.

The advance could speed the development of powerful and environmentally friendly turbine engines of all sorts, including those used for transportation and power generation.

The "nano twins" in question are microscopic defects that grow inside alloys and weaken them, allowing them to deform under heat and pressure. In the journal Nature Communications, engineers at The Ohio State University describe how tailoring an alloy's composition and then exposing it to high heat and pressure can not only prevent nano twins from forming, it can actually make the alloy stronger.

In tests, the technique, which they've dubbed "phase transformation strengthening," eliminated the formation of nano twins and decreased alloy deformation by half.

Strong, heat-resistant alloys enable turbine engines to run cleanly and efficiently, explained Michael Mills, professor of materials science and engineering and leader of the project at Ohio State. When an engine can run at very high temperatures, it consumes its fuel more thoroughly and produces lower emissions.

"We found that increasing the concentrations of certain elements in super-alloys inhibits the formation of high-temperature deformation twins, thereby significantly improving the alloys' high temperature capabilities," Mills said.

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These days, the most advanced alloys are designed on computer -- practically atom by atom -- and Mills' team set out to address what he called a deficit in the "quantitative, comprehensive understanding" of how these exotic metal-based materials deform under high stress.

The researchers made the discovery when they were studying nano twin formation in two different commercial superalloys. They compressed samples of the alloys with thousands of pounds of pressure at around 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit -- a temperature comparable to a running jet engine -- and afterward examined the alloys' crystal structures with electron microscopes and modeled the quantum mechanical behavior of the atoms on a computer.

In both alloys, the temperature and pressure caused nano twin faults to develop within the superalloy crystals. And, in both alloys, the material composition in and around the faults changed, but in different ways.

Through a sequence of atomic-scale jumps, some elments -- such as atoms of nickel and aluminum -- diffused away from the faults, while others diffused into the faults. The researchers were able to detect these fine-scale movements using the advanced electron microscopes at the Ohio State's Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis (CEMAS), which offers one of the largest concentrations of electron and ion beam analytical microscopy instruments in any North American institution.

"In the first alloy, which was not as strong at high temperature, atoms of cobalt and chromium filled the fault," said Timothy Smith, former student at Ohio State and lead author of the study. "That weakened the area around the fault and allowed it to thicken and become a nano twin."

But in the second alloy -- the one that didn't form nano twins -- the elements titanium, tantalum and niobium tended to diffuse into the faults instead. As a result, a new and very stable phase of material formed right at the faults. The new phase was so stable that it resisted the formation of nano twins.

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The tendency for particular atoms to diffuse into the nano twin faults depends on the overall composition of the alloy, the researchers found. "We discovered that when the amount of titanium, tantalum, and niobium in the alloy was increased, while decreasing cobalt and chromium, we could actually strengthen the region around the faults and prevent the fault from widening into a nano twin," Smith said.

The researchers' innovative combination of atomic-level imaging and high-end computing is a unique feature of research done at CEMAS, said David McComb, study co-author and director of CEMAS.

"Research such as this perfectly illustrates the power of CEMAS to help drive discovery in new materials and processes," he added.

The team is continuing to study phase transformation strengthening, to see if tailoring the alloy compositions in different ways might enhance the effect.

Smith earned his doctoral degree performing this work, and is now a research materials engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center. The paper's co-authors included Robert Williams, assistant director of CEMAS; Wolfgang Windl, professor of materials science and engineering; Hamish Fraser, Ohio Eminent Scholar and professor of materials science and engineering; and doctoral students Bryan Esser and Nikolas Antolin, all of Ohio State; Anna Carlsson of FEI/Thermo Fisher Scientific; and Andrew Wessman of GE.
Every day millions of people mulling their retirement plan saving choices go online to study the offerings at retirement fund websites. Research shows, however, that they often choose high fee options, underinvest or don't invest at all because they don't understand the performance estimates, risks, recommendations, fee structures, and other disclosures that funds provide.

To address this issue, Junius Gunaratne, a doctoral student, and Oded Nov, an associate professor in the Department of Technology Management and Innovation at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, created the first online, interactive "nutrition label" for financial products that, like the ubiquitous information nutrition panels on food and packaged goods, is simple, easy to read and uncluttered. What's more, the financial label is interactive, allowing people to easily get a sense of the long-term implications of choices they make today.

Their first tests revealed that non-expert investors significantly improved their ability to reach simulated retirement savings goals. The study also revealed that novices who invested using the interactive labels were far more likely to invest in low-fee funds -- a strategy that is widely advised because of the potentially large positive effects of compound interest. Nov and Gunaratne tested variants of their interactive financial labels with 450 test subjects in a retirement simulation experiment, in which the subjects were given $10,000 per simulation year and asked to save $1.5 million over 35 years, distributed among 10 stock, bond, and cash funds.

The participant pool was divided into four groups: those who received "nutrition label" fund information pages requiring interactivity; those who received the same information in static form; those who received pages in which interactivity was optional; and a control group who received financial information in a format currently used by leading investment firms.

"The impetus for taking the nutrition label approach is the need to help people make sense quickly and effortlessly, taking into account future implications of possible actions they make now," said Gunaratne.

"Unlike food labeling, however, we added the ability to check out different choices and their impacts. Interactivity enabled users to learn about the attributes of funds much like repeated decision-making over time helps people better understand risk and reward," said Nov. The information label borrows layout, print size, organization, justification, typography, information design and line spacing from nutritional labels.

Gunaratne and Nov found that interactivity increased understanding and improved decision-making. Those who used the interactive version of the financial nutrition labels (whether by choice or because of the researchers' requirement) were 54% more likely to reach their goal than those in the control group.

"Our motivation is really to build something that is easy for people to understand -- that they can engage with and make personal so they can achieve long-term benefits," said Nov. "This is critical because research has shown that consumers don't save in effective ways, and leave a lot of money on the table."

Gunaratne added that individual investors are paying too much and getting too little, "Which is why the U.S. has a serious problem of underfunded retirement accounts -- most Americans will take serious financial hits and see reduced standards of living when retiring because they don't save effectively, due to uninformed decisions."

The findings hold policy implications: "As demonstrated in our research, interactive financial product information labels can help consumers make better and more informed decisions," the authors wrote. "Regulators should therefore consider mandating the use of interactive information labels for financial products, just as simpler labels are used in other contexts such as food and other consumer products."

"Using Interactive "Nutrition Labels" for Financial Products to Assist Decision Making Under Uncertainty," was recently accepted for publication in the Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology.

A draft version is available at http://faculty. poly. edu/ ~onov/ Gunaratne_Nov_JASIST_final. pdf
Over the past decade, India has emerged as one of world's most important engines of economic growth. In the health sector, India is often associated with its accomplishments in promoting innovation in the delivery of health services and production of pharmaceuticals and drugs. At the same time, in comparison to other large middle-income nations such as Brazil, Russia and China (BRIC), India has failed to assure minimal standards of sanitation and public health. In a paper just published by the Royal Society for Public Health, Gusmano, Rodwin and Weisz document Delhi's health system exceptionalism.

In spite of recent investments in health care and public health in India's global capital city, this original research contribution finds that the capacity to leverage these investments to improve access to effective care have not been sufficient to overcome the crushing poverty and inequalities within Delhi. The Lancet reported, in 2009, that more than half of Indian households have no toilets, over 200 million people have no access to safe drinking water and WHO estimates that 900,000 people die from contaminated water and polluted air. More recently (2013), the Planning Commission reports that progress in meeting millennium development goals has been slow. In contrast to other BRIC nations, public expenditure on health care as a percent of GDP (1%), is the lowest. Total expenditure (public and private) is just 4 percent of GDP, which places India as the lowest spender. Moreover, out-of-pocket expenditure as a share of total health care spending (58%) places India as the BRIC nation that relies most heavily on patient payment at the point of consumption. Gusmano, Rodwin, and Weisz find that large and growing numbers of residents die prematurely each year due to causes that are amenable to public health and healthcare interventions.

Michael K Gusmano is associate professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and Research Scholar at the Hastings Center, Victor Rodwin is professor at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, and Daniel Weisz, MD, is research associate at the Butler Aging Institute, Columbia University. Gusmano and Rodwin, co-direct the World Cities Project, a collaborative venture of their respective institutions. More specifically, their article finds that:
When clamping of the umbilical cord is delayed, iron deficiency up to six months of age can be prevented, according to a new study from Uppsala University, published in JAMA Pediatrics. The study was conducted in Nepal.

anemia affects over 40 per cent of all children under five years of age in the world. anemia can impinge on mental and physical performance, and is associated with long-term deterioration in growth and development. Iron deficiency is the reason for anemia in approximately 50 per cent of the children. When clamping of the umbilical cord is delayed, i.e. for more than three minutes, iron deficiency up to six months of age can be prevented, but this has not been shown to prevent iron deficiency or anemia in older infants.

At birth, approximately one third of the child's blood is in the placenta. If clamping of the umbilical cord is done immediately (early cord clamping), the blood will remain in the placenta and go to waste (or can be stored in stem cell banks). If instead clamping is postponed for three minutes, most of the blood can flow back to the child as an extra blood transfusion, consisting of about one decilitre (half a cup) of blood, which is equivalent to about two litres (half a US gallon) for an adult. A blood donor gives 0.4-0.5 litres of blood.

Blood contains red blood cells that contain haemoglobin. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to the tissues of the body. Haemoglobin contains a lot of iron, and the extra decilitre of blood may contain iron that corresponds to three to four months of an infant's needs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends umbilical cord clamping at one minute or later, while the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) recommends umbilical cord clamping at 30-60 seconds or later.

In the study, the researchers randomised 540 children born at a large obstetrical hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, to early (less than 60 seconds) or delayed (more than 180 seconds) cord clamping. In Nepal, approximately 70 per cent of infants up to one year of age have anemia. Follow-up included blood samples at eight and twelve months of age, to evaluate anemia (haemoglobin) and iron deficiency (ferritin).

Previously, we have demonstrated that after delayed clamping children in Sweden had more iron in the body at four months of age and that the proportion of children with iron deficiency decreased by 90 per cent, from 5.7 per cent to 0.6 per cent.

We have also shown that the children's general intelligence and development did not differ at four years of age, but after delayed clamping the children had improved fine motor and social skills.

At the age of eight months, the incidence of anemia was reduced by nine per cent among the Nepalese infants and even at twelve months of age, eight per cent fewer infants were anemic. The children in the delayed cord clamping group generally had higher haemoglobin values, and the percentage of children who had iron deficiency at eight months of age decreased significantly, by more than 40 per cent.

Major earthquakes occurred in Nepal in the midst of the trial, in May 2015. It was difficult to reach all the infants for blood sampling at eight and twelve months of age. At eight months, three quarters (74 per cent) and at twelve months just under two thirds (62 per cent) were assessed. We had anticipated these problems and had therefore 188 additional children included in the study from the beginning.

More than one fifth (23 per cent) of the infants randomised to delayed cord clamping were still clamped early. Their results were counted among the delayed clamped infants according to 'intention to treat'. If we exclude them, the beneficial effects of delayed cord clamping become even clearer.

This study implies that waiting to clamp the umbilical cord for more than three minutes is important in communities where it is common for infants to have anemia and iron deficiency. Delaying cord clamping for more than three minutes is an action with no cost from which we have not seen any side effects. We hope that those who write recommendations regarding umbilical cord clamping will take our results into consideration in the future.
With winter upon us in full force, outdoor temperatures are plummeting. But inside an intense tornado, it's always chilly -- no matter the time of year. A new study from Concordia proves why that's the case.

In an article forthcoming in the Journal of Aircraft of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, mechanical engineering professor Georgios Vatistas looks into the case of a violent tornado that touched down in 1955 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

During the storm, three broadcasters from the mobile unit of a local radio station were reporting live on the scene and had to take shelter in the basement of a stone building. There, as the tornado's funnel passed overhead, they reported strange climatic changes. The temperature dropped from a mid-summer average, down to chilly, until the broadcasters were actually cold. They also found it difficult to breathe.

For 61 years, the cause of these phenomena remained unexplained. Enter Vatistas -- a leading expert on the topic -- who was able to formulate an analytical approach that allowed him to construct a new mathematical model of a turbulent compressible vortex.

To do this, he expanded on his previous theoretical developments on vortices to include the effects of turbulence and density variation.

"Using this new advanced approach, we were able to identify the cause of the temperature drop inside vortices for the first time ever," says Vatistas, who conducted the study with recent Concordia master's students Badwal Gurpreet Singh (MASc 14) and Rahul Rampal (MASc 14).

"As air pockets move from the outer periphery of the vortex toward its centre, the pockets expand, thereby bringing the temperature and density down."

In the case of Scottsbluff, Vatistas and his team found that the temperature inside the tornado would have dropped from a comfortably warm background temperature of 27o C to a chilly 12o C. And at the tornado's centre, the researchers estimated the air density would have been 20 per cent lower than what's found at high altitudes.

"That's what's known as the 'death zone,' at 8,000 metres in altitude, beyond which mountaineers should not climb without breathing assistance gear," Vatistas explains.

That's why the reporters in Scottsbluff reported feeling deprived of oxygen. Luckily, the tornado passed quickly, and they avoided asphyxiation.

"It's my hope that this important finding will help researchers better understand the many mysterious manifestations associated with violent atmospheric vortices like tornados and waterspouts."

The study will also help engineers improve the operation of refrigeration vortex tubes, which are often used in the cooling of cutting tools during machining, various electronic components, hot melts, gas samples and heat seals.
The average anesthesiologist, emergency physician, pathologist and radiologist charge more than four times what Medicare pays for similar services, often leaving privately-insured consumers stuck with surprise medical bills that are much higher than they anticipated, new research in JAMA suggests.

The problem is that most patients do not actually choose these doctors with the highest markups, allowing them no opportunity to anticipate how high their bills will be, say the researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.

After anesthesiologists (charging six times what Medicare pays), interventional radiologists (4.5 times), emergency medicine doctors (four times), pathologists (four times), neurosurgeons (four times) and diagnostic radiologists (3.8 times) have the highest markups. Those specialties with the lowest markups are internists, psychiatrists, and family doctors -- physicians with whom patients have the most interactions and whom they are most likely to actually choose.

These high charges affect not only the uninsured, but also the well-insured when they see physicians out of their insurer's network. While most people expect to pay more when they choose to go to an out-of-network physician, they are often surprised to be charged four-to-six times more when they are referred to a specialist, see a doctor as part of a medical emergency, or when an out-of-network physician is practicing in an in-network facility. Many times, it is an emergency situation and an out-of-network provider cannot be avoided.

The findings, published Jan. 17, suggest that patients should be vigilant in choosing doctors that are in their network whenever possible, and policymakers should find ways to protect patients from ending up with surprise medical bills.

"The doctors with the highest markups are often the ones that patients don't actually choose," says the study's senior author Gerard F. Anderson, PhD, a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Bloomberg School. "Many people are shocked two weeks or two months later when they get a bill from a doctor they didn't really meet and no one told them what the exam would cost and later they discover the price is outrageous. But this is happening all the time."

Ge Bai, PhD, CPA, an assistant professor of accounting at the Carey Business School, and Anderson analyzed the 2014 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, comparing physician charges to Medicare rates across medical specialties. The data set included more than 400,000 individual physicians in the United States.

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Overall, the researchers found, the average physician charged roughly 2.5 times what Medicare pays for the same service. While the Medicare program determines what Medicare pays for certain services, out-of-network patients -- along with the uninsured, and casualty and worker's compensation insurers -- often pay the full charge, which can be as much as two to six times what Medicare and most privately insured in-network insurers will pay.

There are also regional differences in excess charges. Doctors in Wisconsin, for example, have almost twice the markups of doctors in Michigan (3.8 vs. two).

Among the 10,730 physicians whose markups were among the top 2.5 percent of all physicians, 55 percent of them were anesthesiologists, and 32 percent of them were in 10 regions: Manhattan (NY), Houston (TX), East Long Island (NY), Dallas (TX), Milwaukee (WI), Atlanta (GA), Camden (NJ), Los Angeles (CA), Newark (NJ) and Charlotte (NC).

"Protecting patients from surprise medical bills from out-of-network physicians is an important issue in the ongoing national debate about the affordability of health care," Bai says. "It is particularly frustrating for patients who deliberately select an in-network hospital and an in-network physician only to learn that one of their physicians was out of network long after the care was delivered."

Anderson and Bai say Congress should take steps to require physicians to disclose their network status to each patient before delivering the service and improve price transparency by posting out-of-network prices. Disclosure alone, however, won't solve the problem entirely as sometimes it is not an option for patients in an emergency situation or who are too frail to make decisions.

States are beginning to act. In 2015, New York State enacted a law restricting the amount that out-of-network physicians could charge a patient. Eleven other states have limited the amount that can be charged by out-of-network physicians, but most of the rules apply mainly to emergency care. Anderson says the New York law could serve as a model for reducing excessive surprise medical bills.
Strategies to boost staff performance and morale by manipulating our desire for meaningful work often achieve the opposite - damaging organisations and alienating employees - a new study suggests.

Previous research has shown that important and meaningful work is the single most-valued feature of employment for most of us, bringing a range of benefits for individuals and employers. This is borne out by the so-called 'lottery test', which shows that most people would continue to work after landing a windfall.

Managers have recognised this and employ a range of techniques to harness this natural motivation, such as encouraging us to adopt organisational values, supporting good causes, and linking work to a wider purpose.

But when employees view these strategies as self-serving, not genuine or incoherent - say, if the employer says one thing but does another - then they fall flat and can actually have negative consequences, according to a new paper in the journal Human Resource Management Review.

The lead author, Professor Catherine Bailey in the School of Business, Management and Economics at the University of Sussex, says that the mismanagement of meaningfulness in the workplace is giving rise to what she describes as 'existential labour'.

She says: "Management strategies like this, when executed badly, leave huge numbers of workers who feel compelled to act as if they find their work meaningful, even if they do not.

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"This may be for career advancement, the wish to feel good about oneself or the fear of negative outcomes, such as job loss, stigma or career blocking.

"But faking it in this way, pretending that they believe things that they do not, for instance, takes a huge amount of emotional resource and can leave people exhausted, burnt out or wanting to quit."

Professor Bailey and colleagues at Greenwich, Berlin and LSE identify two forms of 'acting' that employees use when they perceive organisational efforts to manage the meaningfulness of their work.

Surface existential acting is when an employee acts in line with expectations at work even if their true values and beliefs are different.

Deep existential acting, meanwhile, occurs when an employee attempts to alter their own sense of what is meaningful in order to more closely align with their employer. The paper gives the example of a call centre worker who finds meaning in helping vulnerable or worried customers, yet is expected to handle as many calls as possible in a day. That person sets out to deliberately change their perception of the situation so that they instead find meaning in helping the maximum number of people in a day, even if that means sacrificing time spent on each one.

Both can cause problems for individuals and organisations, the researchers say, and managers and HR professionals should take note. Professor Bailey says: "HR professionals should consider the factors that are likely to give rise to forms of organisational acting, such as reward systems that emphasize 'fitting in', and structures and systems that allow little room for individual choice, voice and discretion, and explore the extent to which these are true of their organizations.

"Ensuring that line managers are appropriately trained and developed to help employees find their work genuinely meaningful should be the cornerpiece of a meaningfulness management strategy."
Arizona State University's Psyche Mission, a journey to a metal asteroid, has been selected for flight, marking the first time the school will lead a deep-space NASA mission and the first time scientists will be able to see what is believed to be a planetary core.

The mission's spacecraft is expected to launch in 2023, arriving at the asteroid in 2030, where it will spend 20 months in orbit, mapping it and studying its properties.

It will be part of NASA's Discovery Program, a series of lower-cost, highly focused robotic space missions that are exploring the solar system. The Psyche project is capped at $450 million.

"This mission, visiting the asteroid Psyche, will be the first time humans will ever be able to see a planetary core," said principal investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton, director of ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE). "Having the Psyche Mission selected for NASA's Discovery Program will help us gain insights into the metal interior of all rocky planets in our solar system, including Earth."

Psyche, an asteroid orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter, is made almost entirely of nickel-iron metal. As such, it offers a unique look into the violent collisions that created Earth and the other terrestrial planets.

The scientific goals of the Psyche mission are to understand the building blocks of planet formation and explore firsthand a wholly new and unexplored type of world. The mission team seeks to determine whether Psyche is a protoplanetary core, how old it is, whether it formed in similar ways to Earth's core, and what its surface is like.

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"The knowledge this mission will create has the potential to affect our thinking about planetary science for generations to come," ASU President Michael M. Crow said. "We are in a new era of exploration of our solar system with new public-private sector partnerships helping unlock new worlds of discovery, and ASU will be at the forefront of that research."

Psyche -- a window into planetary cores

Every world explored so far by humans (except gas giant planets such as Jupiter or Saturn) has a surface of ice or rock or a mixture of the two, but their cores are thought to be metallic. These cores, however, lie far below rocky mantles and crusts and are considered unreachable in our lifetimes.

Psyche, an asteroid that appears to be the exposed nickel-iron core of a protoplanet, one of the building blocks of the sun's planetary system, may provide a window into those cores. The asteroid is most likely a survivor of violent space collisions, common when the solar system was forming.

Psyche follows an orbit in the outer part of the main asteroid belt, at an average distance from the sun of about 280 million miles, or three times farther from the sun than Earth. It is roughly the size of Massachusetts (about 130 miles in diameter) and dense (7,000 kg/m).

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"Being selected to lead this ambitious mission to the all-metal asteroid Psyche is a major milestone that reflects ASU's outstanding research capacity," said Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president and chief research and innovation officer at ASU. "It speaks to our innovative spirit and our world-class scientific expertise in space exploration."

Mission instrument payload

The spacecraft's instrument payload will include magnetometers, multispectral imagers, a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, and a radio-science experiment.

The multispectral imager, which will be led by an ASU science team, will provide high-resolution images using filters to discriminate between Psyche's metallic and silicate constituents. It consists of a pair of identical cameras designed to acquire geologic, compositional and topographic data.

The gamma ray and neutron spectrometer will detect, measure and map Psyche's elemental composition. The instrument is mounted on a 7-foot (2-meter) boom to distance the sensors from background radiation created by energetic particles interacting with the spacecraft and to provide an unobstructed field of view. The science team for this instrument is based at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University.

The magnetometer, which is led by scientists at MIT and UCLA, is designed to detect and measure the remnant magnetic field of the asteroid. It's composed of two identical high-sensitivity magnetic field sensors located at the middle and outer end of the boom.

The Psyche spacecraft will also use an X-band radio telecommunications system, led by scientists at MIT and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This instrument will measure Psyche's gravity field and, when combined with topography derived from onboard imagery, will provide information on the interior structure of the asteroid.

The Psyche mission team

In addition to Elkins-Tanton, ASU SESE scientists on the Psyche mission team include Jim Bell, deputy principal investigator and co-investigator, co-investigator Erik Asphaug, and co-investigator David Williams.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory managed by Caltech is the managing organization and will build the spacecraft with industry partner Space Systems Loral (SSL). JPL's contribution to the Psyche mission team includes over 75 people, led by project manager Henry Stone, project scientist Carol Polanskey, project systems engineer David Oh and deputy project manager Bob Mase. SSL contribution to the Psyche mission team includes over 50 people led by SEP Chassis deputy program manager Peter Lord and SEP Chassis program manager Steve Scott.

Other co-investigators are David Bercovici (Yale University), Bruce Bills (JPL), Richard Binzel (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), William Bottke (Southwest Research Institute -- SwRI), Ralf Jaumann (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft -- und Raumfahrt), Insoo Jun (JPL), David Lawrence (Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory -- APL), Simon Marchi (SwRI), Timothy McCoy (Smithsonian Institution), Ryan Park (JPL), Patrick Peplowski (APL), Thomas Prettyman, (Planetary Science Institute), Carol Raymond (JPL), Chris Russell (UCLA), Benjamin Weiss (MIT), Dan Wenkert (JPL), Mark Wieczorek (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris), and Maria Zuber (MIT).
In cooperation with an international team of experts, scientists from the German Primate Center (DPZ) demand immediate measures to protect primates.

Worldwide, around 60 per cent of the 500 known primate species are threatened with extinction. primates live in tropical and subtropical areas and are mainly found in regions of Africa, South America, Madagascar and Asia. However, the extinction of a species must be considered a global problem. An international research team that includes two scientists from the German Primate Center -- Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, evaluated the economic, social, cultural, ecological and scientific importance of primates and the global consequences of species extinctions. They call for a strengthening of awareness and a rethinking of the impending extinction events. In order to protect primates, immediate action must be focused on conservation and sustainability.

Golden snub-nosed monkey, ring-tailed lemur, Javan slow loris, Azara's night monkey -- we still have a large diversity of primates. They are an essential part of tropical biodiversity, contribute to natural regeneration and thus to the functioning of tropical habitats and are an integral part of many cultures and religions. Worldwide, more than half of all primate species are threatened with extinction. In order to evaluate the role of human-induced threats to primate survival, the researchers combined data from the International Red List of the world nature conservation organization International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with data from the United Nations (UN) database. This enabled the scientists to establish forecasts and development trends for the next 50 years. For the next 50 years the scientists predict extinction events for many primate species. "Humans increasingly encroach primate habitats and exploit natural resources," explains Christian Roos, a scientist at the German Primate Center (DPZ) and a co-author of the study.

The natural habitat of primates is mostly found in regions with high levels of poverty and a lack of education. These conditions lead to the exploitation of natural resources. Deforestation for agricultural land-use has become widespread. Road networks are built for the transportation and the export of goods. Around 76 per cent of the species have lost large parts of their habitat because of agricultural expansion. Another major threat is illegal hunting and the primate trade. In some regions, up to 90 per cent of species are affected. Immediate action in these regions should be aimed at improving health and providing access to education for the local populations. In order to preserve the traditional livelihoods that will contribute to food security and environmental protection, sustainable land-use initiatives must be developed. "The lifestyle and the economy in the industrialized countries contribute to the threat for primates. Many of the resources and products such as mineral resources, beef, palm oil and soya that are destroying the habitats of primates are ultimately consumed in industrialized countries," says Eckhard W. Heymann, a scientist at the DPZ and a co-author of the study.

The team of experts calls on government officials, academics, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, the business community and citizens to strengthen the awareness of the extinction events and the immediate consequences for humans. "Conservation is an ecological, cultural and social necessity. When our closest relatives, the non-human primates, become extinct, this will send a warning signal that the living conditions for humans will soon deteriorate dramatically," says Heymann.
Countries & Areas

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German police recently arrested a Pakistani man and accused him of spying for Iran and seeking to gather information on pro-Israel Germans targeted for assassination by Iranian agents. German intelligence analysts believe this is part of a larger program to go after pro-Israel locals in several European countries. Iran is apparently preparing for the possibility that Israel might bomb Iranian nuclear weapons facilities. If that did happen Iran would have limited ways to retaliate effectively. Attacking Israel with ballistic missiles might just increase the degree of humiliation of Israeli anti-missile systems shot down those missiles. Ordering Hezbollah to launch another large scale rocket attack on Israel could also backfire. But assassination for pro-Israeli foreigners would send a message that Iran could plausibly deny.

Iran has had more success with this use of attacks it could deny responsibility for. Since 1975 over 150 assassinations in foreign countries of Iranian enemies have been traced back to Iran and as recently as the 1990s some of the Iranians involved openly boasted of these attacks. Iran has been blamed for several other major terror attacks that were blamed on someone else and these deniable attacks are an ancient practice by Iranian governments.

Iran is particularly eager to strike at Israeli interests because Israel has an even more impressive record of tracking down and killing those responsible for attacks on Israelis in other parts of the world. Iran believes that Israel is behind the recent deaths (some obviously murder) of several key Iranian technical experts associate with nuclear and weapons development. As a result of this covert war between Israel and Iran there have been a growing number of efforts by Iran to establish agent networks in Asia, South America and Europe so that it can carry out more deniable attacks. Numerous failures in this area has apparently made Iran even more determined to succeed.

The current case is, however, the first known instance of a German politician being targeting. Iranian backed assassinations have occurred in Germany before, but these were all Iranians opposed to the religious dictatorship that has run Iran since the 1980s. But now Iran sees Germany as a better place to operate because of the large number of Moslem illegal migrants the Germans have let in as well as the German legal system apparently being more tolerant to anti-Israel terrorism than many other Western nations.
by Austin Bay January 17, 2017

This week Kosovo accused Serbia of preparing to emulate "the Crimea model" and annex a predominantly ethnic Serb enclave within Kosovo.

The accusation reflected a surge of nationalist anger in both countries and stirred legitimate fear of rekindled war. "Crimea model" refers to the 2014 Russian invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula -- the Russia led by President and former KGB colonel Vladimir Putin.

The Obama Administration responded to the Serbia-Kosovo tensions by asking their respective governments "to avoid dangerous rhetoric..."

Bill Clinton's Kosovo War isn't quite over. Eighteen years after NATO forces invaded Kosovo to protect Kosovar Albanians from Serbian militias, passions continue to simmer. A residual peacekeeping force, Kosovo Force, remains deployed as a "peace support operation." It does not have a lot of firepower.

Cynics may argue no Balkan war is ever over, and given Balkan history, the cynics have a case. However, Clinton sold the Kosovo War as a different Balkan war. NATO wasn't invading to change borders. NATO was intervening in Kosovo to protect civilians from Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic. His military forces were engaged in the "ethnic cleansing" of Albanians in Kosovo.

Milosevic was a genuine genocidaire. At his instigation, Serb militias had committed mass murder in Bosnia. Clinton wouldn't permit genocide in Kosovo.

Serbs saw the situation very differently. Serbs still regard Kosovo as the cradle of their civilization. Muslim Turks had taken Kosovo from Eastern Orthodox Serbs in 1389. Serbia finally recovered the province. Yugoslavia may have disintegrated, but Serbs weren't going to let predominantly-Muslim ethnic Albanians have Kosovo. Serbs saw the threat of "Greater Albania" behind the rebellion in Kosovo, at the expense of their vision of Greater Serbia.

In 1999, the U.S.-led NATO coalition intervened. NATO aircraft bombed Serbia. The bombing stopped when Milosevic agreed to withdraw his military forces from Kosovo. KFOR deployed.

Most Serbs didn't believe UN declarations that Kosovo's independence wasn't the first order goal. The Clinton Administration hedged and said that Kosovo's "final status" had yet to be determined.

Independence wasn't the first order goal, but Kosovar Albanians thought it inevitable. George W. Bush's administration, despite the 9/11 terror attacks and the Global War on Terror, continued to support KFOR. Protecting Albanians demonstrated that America wasn't anti-Muslim.Unlike the Obama Administration, which did not sustain the stabilizing US military effort in Iraq, the Bush Administration recognized that KFOR's sustained presence helped stabilize Kosovo and the Balkans.

In February 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. Serbia acknowledges Kosovo's government exists but still considers Kosovo a Serbian province. Is it a hedge? Yes. Russia and China support Serbia. Both Serbia and Russia vow to defend the some 50,000 ethnic Serbs still living in Kosovo (most of them in northern Kosovo). Kosovar Albanians account for 90 percent of the country's 1.8 million population.

NATO-member Spain, fearing Catalan and Basque secession, supports the Serb position. So does Romania. On the other hand, 110 nations in the UN (including the U.S.) now recognize Kosovo's independence.

But the unilateral declaration of independence had quick consequences. In 2008, Russia invoked the "Kosovo precedent" as one reason it had the right to invade Georgia to protect ethnic Russians and other ethnic minorities.

The Bush Administration responded decisively by rapidly airlifting a Georgian infantry brigade from Iraq to Georgia. Russia's invasion fizzled. However, the Russian-supported "state-lets" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia still function as separate "polities" within Georgia.

The Kremlin's invasion of Crimea and subsequent annexation did not elicit a decisive U.S. and NATO response. Russia's decision to violate the 1994 Budapest Memorandum (guaranteeing Ukrainian territorial integrity) stunned the Obama Administration. Military aggression in Europe by a major European power led to political annexation and territorial expansion. The Kremlin got away with it.

Has the Crimean Precedent superseded the Kosovo Precedent? We may find out all too soon.
The war on drugs continues to enjoy popular support in the Philippines despite condemnation from many outside the country. Recent opinion surveys show 85 percent of Filipinos approve of the violent crackdown on illegal drugs but at the same time 78 percent are fearful they, or someone they know, may become a victim of the increased violence. Despite that 89 percent of people have noted a decline in crime since the anti-drug campaign began and find that overall they are safer.

Police have, since the war on drugs began on June 30th, filled the jails to the breaking point with over 45,000 arrested. This effort has killed over 2,250 suspects in the process. Most of the dead were suspects who violently resisted but nearly 40 percent were the result of local vigilantes or drug gangs killing suspected informers or rivals. So far the police have suffered fewer than 122 casualties, mostly wounded but including 38 dead. The extent and intensity of these efforts caused over a million people to turn themselves in. Since 93 percent of those surrendering were users nearly were released, especially if they provided information about their suppliers.

Opinion polls show that support (63 percent approval) of president Duterte unchanged over the last few months. These are very high rating for a Filipino president. This is more remarkable when you realize that Duterte has made some moves that are not popular with most Filipinos or even many of his key aides and advisors. Chief among these contentious items is trying to work with China while discouraging the U.S. from actively opposing illegal Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea. Recent polls find that China is still the least liked and trusted nation for most Filipinos. Thus 38 percent of Filipinos trust China compared to 76 percent trusting the United States, 74 trusting the UN and 70 percent Japan. Only half trusted the EU (European Union) and fewer trusted Russia. All this has not hurt presidential popularity because saying nice things about China has led China to pledge nine billion dollars for an ambitious development plan. So far Duterte has gotten $33 billion in loan or aid pledges for this effort. Most (54 percent) of this came from China and Japan. The goal is $140 billion and Duterte has a good chance of getting that much if he can continue to make progress in bringing corrupt officials to justice. The poll numbers seem to show Filipinos appreciate whats going on here even if a lot of foreign critics dont. So despite all the nice things Duterte says to China his Defense Minister openly denounces the continued Chinese efforts to build artificial islands in Filipino waters so China can claim the new islands as part of China. Duterte is seen as trying to avoid having a war between China and the United States start so close to the Philippines. Filipino military leaders point out that the U.S. would operate at a disadvantage against Chinese military moves without access to some Filipino bases and that the Philippines would probably be attacked by China no matter what. That happened to many neutral countries during World War II and for Chinese territorial expansion to work the Philippines is an obstacle with or without Americans involved. The eventual annexation of the Philippines by China is openly discussed in Chinese media.

Terrorizing Islamic Terrorists

The war on Islamic terrorism in the south continues with growing intensity. The government wants to end the years of Islamic terrorists sustaining themselves through kidnapping and piracy. The president told the military to shut down Abu Sayyaf by mid-year and do whatever was needed to get it done. The president discussed the major problems the security forces have encountered. First there is the ransoms. Military intelligence estimates that Abu Sayyaf took in over a million dollars a month from ransoms during the first six months of 2016 and that the Abu Sayyaf move into piracy off the south coast was based on the need to keep that money coming. Now the military has been ordered to ignore the presence of hostages when attacking or bombing Abu Sayyaf camps. He urged foreign nations to not pay the large ransoms, which have long been illegal in the Philippines. In the meantime foreigners are urged to avoid the southeastern areas of the Philippines, especially Sulu and Basilan, where the kidnappers (mainly Abu Sayyaf) are most active. Without those large and continued infusions of cash the Islamic terrorist activity sharply declines because all that ransom money makes it possible to outlaws like Abu Sayyaf to survive even though local political and religious leaders condemn them. Martial law is also available as an option to ensure that Abu Sayyaf is done by Filipino Independence Day (June 12th). For most of 2016 the government has had 10,000 troops and police carrying out more aggressive operations against Abu Sayyaf and that has caused the Islamic terror group a lot of losses. Since July this has cost the Islamic terrorists nearly 200 men, most of them killed but about a third of them lost to capture, desertion and illness. These non-combat losses are a direct result of the constant pressure. The government has offered to hold peace talks with Abu Sayyaf, but on condition that the Islamic terrorist group cease all kidnapping activity. Abu Sayyaf has made it clear it would never do that because they need the cash to exist. Abu Sayyaf is feeling the pressure and captured members and documents, as well as intercepted messages indicate that the group is burning through their cash faster than expected because of the growing pressure from security forces and pro-government locals. This last group has been growing as local civilians complain about the disruptions in their lives because of the increased efforts to shut down Abu Sayyaf. Some of the locals have been urging Abu Sayyaf to move or do something to give their traditional supporters some relief. Meanwhile a lot of locals are just quietly, often via some discreet (often anonymous) texting to the local military base (local police are less trustworthy) with useful information of Abu Sayyaf activities. This has forced Abu Sayyaf to release some hostages alive, without ransom, when the security forces get too close. This is especially true if the hostages are Moslems, Its one thing to execute a foreign kaffir (non-Moslem) but casually slaughtering Moslem captives is not good for the image (of being protectors of Islam). Families of some foreign Moslems held hostage report getting phone calls from the kidnappers (who put their kin on the line to encourage cooperation) offering freedom for much less ransom if they can pay real soon.

The Communist Threat

The government has kept the peace negotiations with the NPA (the illegal armed wing of the local Communist Party) going despite persistent demands that hundreds of jailed NPA members be freed first. The third round of talks begins this week in Rome. The government has about 500 NPA men in prison and has already released (temporarily) 26 NPA men, including two senior leaders. Some NPA leaders are unhappy with how the peace effort is going. The NPA accused the military of violating the August 21st ceasefire by arresting veteran NPA rebels. The military pointed out that these were men who surrendered and brought his weapons with them and that this is part of a trend. These surrenders played a role in persuading NPA leaders to consider a peace treaty. This led to peace talks in Norway in August and progress is being made. But some NPA leaders oppose peace talks and cannot accept the fact that many, if not most, veteran NPA members are fed up. Thus it is no surprise that NPA violence has declined in the last six months and in some areas there have been no incidents since the August 21 ceasefire began.

The Monster Within

There are other internal problems that need attention. The big one is corruption and its many side effects. One of the most corrupted institutions is the Filipino justice system. Even under the best of conditions it is remarkably inefficient. Many cases take years to reach a conclusion and many suspects cannot post bail and remain in jail while waiting. Wealthy suspects can still afford to delay prosecution or bribe their way out of a conviction. To that end the president is proposing suspending constitutional guarantees of due process. A lot of law-abiding Filipinos oppose this but without judicial reforms (which take a long time) or more prisons (which require money the government has not got) the war on drugs is going to stall because of the problems with prosecuting those arrested. Another side effect of the war on drugs is that criminal gangs, faced with reduced supplies of drugs are turning to other crimes, like kidnapping. That has not replaced the lost drug revenue and does not impact most Filipinos (only those who can pay a ransom) but the gangs will keep seeking new sources of revenue. Finally while the use of vigilantes and a shoot on sight, shoot to kill attitude most of the two million drug users in the country are looking for help in quitting but the help isnt there and never was. The country cant afford it. This use of widespread violence to halt drug use and dealing has been used before (in China in the 1950s, Afghanistan in the late 1990s and so on) and seems to work for a while but the drug use eventually returns.

January 10, 2017: In the south (Jolo Island) Abu Sayyaf released one of their foreign captives. a South Korea ship captain they had kidnapped last October. Also released was one the Filipino crewmen taken from the ship along with the South Korean. Apparently some ransom was paid, but a lot less than the $10 million demanded.

January 9, 2017: In the south (Mindanao province) a fishing boat was attacked near Zamboanga City and eight of the 15 man crew were killed. It turned out that this was a feud between two coastal clans, not another Islamic terrorist pirate attack.

January 8, 2017: In the south (Basilan) an army officer was killed, and four of his soldiers wounded, during a nine hour long running battle with a group of over fifty Abu Sayyaf members. The Special Forces officer was the first military fatality of the year.

January 5, 2017: In the south (Sarangani province) troops killed Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, the elusive leader of the AKP (Ansar Khilafa Philippines). Three other AKP men were captured. AKP is another (rather tiny) Islamic terrorist group that is allied with Abu Sayyaf and ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). The AKP leader was dangerous because of the size of the AKP but because he was an expert bomb designer and builder who was training others. Intel has noted similarities in some of Islamic terrorist bombs used indicating better quality bombs were being used and that all these improved bomb designs appeared to come from the same bomb builder. Maguid was eventually identified as the master bomb builder and for most of the past year security forces in the south concentrated on finding him. They came close several times but Maguid proved capable of evading detection until he wasnt.

January 1, 2017: In the south (Maguindanao province) soldiers repulsed BIFF attacks on three of their bases, killing four of the attackers and wounding another four. This sort of thing has been going on in Maguindanao for several months and pro-government MILF fighters have worked with the military to shut down ISIL affiliated Islamic terrorists trying to establish themselves in the area. Locals bsay these Islamic terrorists as the ones responsible for a growing number of crimes in the area. The most active of these ISIL affiliates is the Maute Group. Since early 2016 the government and MILF have concentrated (mainly in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces) on destroying rouge MILF factions like BIFF and the Maute Group. Together these two factions have fewer than a hundred active members left. Abu Sayyaf by contrast may still have as many as 300 active members. Maute was founded in 2013 by dissident MILF members who did not want peace with the government and preferred to keep fighting. By 2015 Maute had made little progress and decided to proclaim itself part of ISIL. Since then Maute became more violent and threatening. At the start of 2016 Maute had nearly 200 members. Maute has suffered heavy losses this year in part because MILF got fed up with them and quietly helped the security forces with information on exactly who and where Maute was. Meanwhile Maute found that that behaving like ISIL did not help with recruiting and fundraising but just brought more pressure on them. Since November over 70 Manute members have been killed or captured. BIFF has tried to keep up but has not been as ruthless and reckless as Manute.

December 28, 2016: In the south (North Cotabato province) MILF appears to have made progress in stopping a clan war that involves members of MILF. Skirmishing over the last three weeks has left 17 dead and dozens wounded. Hundreds of families have fled their homes to avoid the violence. Clan wars continue to be a major problem in the south, where they have been endemic for centuries. MILF was originally created decades ago as a means for all clans to unite to obtain autonomy for the Moslem south and thus better govern themselves. The autonomy deal was obtained but the chaos remains. The clan divisions have become more prominent in MILF politics and that was what was involved in the recent North Cotabato violence.

December 27, 2016: In the south (Zamboanga City) police raided a local hospital and arrested Hairulla Asbang, a wanted Abu Sayyaf leader and his bodyguard. Asbang was trying to get medical care without his identity being discovered. Asbang had been badly wounded in a recent clash with security forces and was using bribes and other methods to get required medical care. That approach has long worked but not so much anymore.

December 20, 2016: In the south (off Sulu Island) a Filipino fishing boat was found with its four man crew missing. Apparently the crew had been kidnapped and held for ransom.
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Burnu was the first baby wombat to arrive at the wildlife shelter in Victoria, Australia.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

Burnu had been found zigzagging down the main street of a local town - terrified. He was only about 6 months old, and he should've been living inside his mom's pouch. Luckily, a person spotted him, scooped him up and contacted Nicola Rae, founder of Amaroo Wildlife Shelter. Rae rushed to the scene.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

"We assumed that Burnu's mother must have been hit by a car, but after searching the roadsides we couldn't find her anywhere," Rae told The Dodo. "Perhaps she died in the forest nearby, and he was starving in the pouch after the milk dried up and he panicked and went looking for help."

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

Burnu was safe now, but he was understandably frightened at the wildlife shelter. "When we first got him, he used to bite and hide," Rae said.

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Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

After several days, Burnu started to get used to his human caretakers, but he was lonely and probably missing his mom. Rae made him a special fabric pouch, and he'd curl up inside with a plush wombat toy, according to Rae.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

But everything changed when two other baby wombats - Marlee and Tulara - arrived at the shelter.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

Marlee and Tulara had also lost their moms. A car had hit Marlee's mom, and the impact had thrown Marlee out of his mom's pouch, leaving her bruised and bloody. While it's unknown what happened to Tulara's mom, Tulara had arrived at Amaroo Wildlife Shelter severely underweight, and she initially refused to eat. All three wombats have struggled with health problems, as well as anxieties and fears from being away from their moms. But they've all gotten better - and their friendship with each other probably has a lot to do with it.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

"Even though it's almost unheard of for wombats to have twins, joeys in care always do better with a buddy," Rae explained. "They have lost their mums and it is better for them to bond with a wombat friend more than a human foster mum as we want them to eventually not see humans as friends. It's important that they grow up knowing other wombats, so once released back to the wild they are prepared and understand wombat behaviour.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

"They all get along," Rae added. "Burnu and Tulara are very close, and Marlee just tags along like a little brother."

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

"They always sleep together, cuddle together and share food," Rae said. "Burnu also likes to suck on Marlee and Tulara's ears while they sleep."

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

The wombats have been in care for several months now, and they've gotten a lot bigger - too big to fit inside one pouch, according to Rae. But Burnu, Marlee and Tulara refuse to sleep apart.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

"At the moment the wombats are too big to all fit in one pouch, but they all squish into one pouch because no one wants to sleep on their own," she said.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

If they're not cuddling inside a pouch, they're snuggling under a blanket, or lying on top of each other in a wombat heap.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

The wombats also have a new outdoor enclosure to explore together. "We give them lots of tunnels and pieces of wood to chew and play on; they still have hanging pouches to sleep in," Rae said. "I put in ferns and carrots to keep them busy. They have a roof on one end so they don't get wet, and it's open on the other side so they can experience the weather and see the sky."

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

The wombats are currently about a year old. Once they celebrate their second birthdays, they'll be released back into the wild.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

But for now, Burnu, Marlee and Tulara have another year together at the wildlife shelter. They may not have their moms, but they seem to enjoy every moment together.

Amaroo Wildlife Shelter

To see more adorable photos of Burnu, Marlee and Tulara, you can follow Amaroo Wildlife Shelter's Facebook page here.
Have you ever walked into a room to find your cat staring at a wall? Or maybe youve been spooked by how your cat seems to watch one particular corner with intense curiosity  seemingly following *something* around the room. If this has happened to you  youre not alone. Cat parents all around the world have the same question: Can cats see ghosts? To get to the bottom of this burning question, we spoke to Dr. Rachel Barrack  a veterinarian at Animal Acupuncture in New York City. Can cats see ghosts or other things we can't? "When cats appear to be staring into space, they may actually be detecting subtle motion, as their vision is much more acute than ours," Dr. Barrack said. In fact, a 2014 study suggested that both cats and dogs see some spectrums of light that we don't  like ultraviolet (UV) light.

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Something else cool? Compared to human eyes, cat eyes actually have six to eight times as many light-sensing rods, which means they can see much more in very low light  which is probably one of the reasons why they tend to run around the house in the middle of the night having all kinds of adventures. While you might sometimes find your dog staring at a random corner also, it doesnt happen nearly as often as it does with cats. According to Dr. Barrack, the reason for that probably has a lot to do with the differences between dog and cat personalities. "Cats  unlike dogs or other animals  are more curious by nature," Dr. Barrack said. "This could explain their sometimes erratic behavior." So while your cat's curiosity might drive you nuts sometimes  or in this case, make you think she can see into the beyond  she cant really help it.
The truck driver was ready to take off, but first he checked his tires - and it's a good thing he did, since leaning against one of the front tires was a tiny baby aardvark.

ZURI Orphanage

The truck driver, who was based in Namibia, searched the area for the aardvark's mom, but couldn't find her. So he scooped the baby aardvark up and drove him back to the truck company's headquarters. From there, the aardvark was given to Dr. Erika de Jager, a local vet and the founder of ZURI Orphanage, a small animal refuge that de Jager runs from her home.

ZURI Orphanage

The aardvark, whom de Jager named E.T., had no body hair, and was probably about 2 months old.

ZURI Orphanage

As soon as de Jager laid her eyes on the aardvark's little pink body and long, anteater-like snout, she was besotted. "It was love at first sight for me," de Jager told The Dodo.

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ZURI Orphanage

But de Jager had never taken care of an aardvark before, and doing so was a steep learning curve.

ZURI Orphanage

"We had to experiment a lot with different teats," de Jager said. "We also fed him, in the beginning, a local brand of kitten milk, but he did not do well. It was only after we received some advice from a lecturer at Onderstepoort that we had a better idea of what to feed. We then started to feed him the imported milk and he immediately started to pick up weight."

ZURI Orphanage

"It is a full-time job, much like a [human] baby," de Jager added. "They need to be fed every couple of hours. I also had to take him for walks to make sure he gets some exercise."

ZURI Orphanage

Then de Jager had to introduce E.T. to her rescue dogs, Spokie and Zarah. At first, the dogs seemed to have no idea what kind of dog E.T. was, and they were completely bewildered.

ZURI Orphanage

But the dogs quickly accepted E.T. into their pack. "The dogs were interested in him and just reacted as if he was another puppy," de Jager said. "They are used to baby animals like goats and warthogs [at the orphanage], so it was nothing unusual for them. They just played with him like he was one of them."

ZURI Orphanage

Since E.T. was a baby, he did a lot of sleeping, and his favorite snoozing spots were dog beds. "He slept with the dogs and in the dogs' beds like a baby," de Jager said.

ZURI Orphanage

But whenever E.T. was awake, he wanted to follow Spokie and Zarah everywhere. "If the dogs went for a walk, ET was with them," de Jager said. "I don't think ET realized he was an aardvark. I think he just assumed he was a dog."

ZURI Orphanage

E.T. stayed with de Jager for five months before he was released back into the wild. "ET's release took place in stages," de Jager said. "He was first allowed to play outside for an hour, then four hours ... and then one night, he stayed out."

ZURI Orphanage

E.T. may be wild again, but de Jager sees him all the time. "He comes home every night," she said.

ZURI Orphanage

De Jager's experience with E.T. came in good use - a couple months later she took in another baby aardvark, Gertie, who'd also lost her mother. Like E.T., Gertie loves sleeping in dog beds and playing with her dog friends.

To help aardvarks and other African animals, you can support ZURI orphanage by donating here.
A recent video shows what appears to be a group of starving bears at a zoo in Indonesia - and according to one welfare group, they've been like that for months. The clip, which was recorded last week at the Bandung Zoo, shows a troupe of emaciated bears pacing their enclosure. Their frames are nearly skeletal - one sways his body back and forth repeatedly, a sign of captive stress.

They appear to beg for food from visitors, making eye contact with the person holding the camera and even standing on their hind legs as they plead for pieces of fruit. The video was recorded by the Scorpion Wildlife Trade Monitoring Group, an Indonesia-based welfare organization that monitors wildlife in zoos around the country. One of the team members who visited can be seen holding a papaya, which he breaks up and throws to the eager animals. According to Scorpion, which called the zoo "horrific," the bears have been like this for months. The group has posted several videos over the past year of the same starving bears, and claims it's called upon the zoo to improve their welfare or shut down, to no effect. In one haunting clip posted back in June, a skinny male bear can be seen stretching himself himself up to beg for food from visitors, his ribs clearly visible through his black coat.

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"Despite asking the authorities to help these bears and other animals at the zoo, they don't care and nothing is done," Scorpion said at the time. "So we feed them fruit each time we visit." In a similar video from May, a frighteningly thin bear stands up with his arms out and begs as tourists throw him junk food, according to Scorpion. At one point, the bear's sad cry cuts across the happy chatter of the tourist families around him.
When the Reef HQ aquarium in Queensland, Australia, decided to scale back its zebra shark breeding program because of space constraints, a zebra shark couple was separated. Leonie's mate, Leo, with whom she'd had dozens of babies, was moved to another tank. This was back in 2013. Since then, Leonie has never seen a male shark.

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But in the spring of 2016, even though she hadn't come into contact with a male shark since Leo left, Leonie laid some eggs - and they actually hatched. Two healthy zebra sharks, Cleo and CC, were born to Leonie in April, and they're entirely hers.

"Leonie had pups with a male leopard shark until 2013, when the breeding pair were separated for space reasons," Dr. Christine Dudgeon of University of Queensland'sSchool of Biomedical Sciences said in a statement. "In April 2016 Leonie hatched three eggs, despite having no access to a mating partner for three mating seasons." Scientists are amazed by the first recorded instance of a shark reproducing without having sex - they recently published a study about it - but there's also something kind of sad Leonie's remarkable story.

Zebra sharks - also known as leopard sharks - are endangered after years of legal and illegal fishing for their fins, skin and meat decimated the population. At first, after Leonie's eggs hatched, scientists thought Leonie was somehow storing Leo's sperm, until DNA tests showed that the babies were composed entirely of cells from Leonie - she was determined to keep her family going, even if she didn't have a mate. According to Dudgeon, Leonie's ability to reproduce asexually "has big implications for conservation" - which is so important for the endangered animal. "Leonie adapted to her circumstances and we believe she switched because she lost her mate," Dudgeon said. Scientists are now looking into whether similar asexual reproductions could be happening in the wild and whether Leonie's pups will be able to have pups of their own when the time comes - with or without a mate. But reproducing without a mate is not a long-term solution for conserving zebra sharks. That's because lack of genetic diversity in the species wouldn't be very good for the health of the sharks in the long-run.

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NEW YORKAs soon as you approach Pepper, a four-foot-tall robot, she starts sizing you up.

Thanks to facial recognition capabilities, Pepper can determine your gender and age bracket. And as you begin asking her questions, she can draw from a vast volume of cloud-based information to give what she thinks are relevant answers. If you smile, she can tell the conversation is going well and that youre finding her answers helpful. If you dont, she might ask you if shes misunderstanding your requests.

Peppers maker, Softbank Robotics, has a vision of a world in which many retailers incorporate this technology into brick-and-mortar stores, in which it feels normal and reflexive for you to approach a robot with customer service questions.

Its part of a wider push across the retail industry to bring more automation and data science to one of the few parts of the business that largely remains an art: The act of making a sale.

At the National Retail Federations Big Show, an event here attended by tens of thousands of industry professionals, demonstrations abounded of technology that could assist a store employee in closing the dealor, in some cases, that could answer the very questions clerks might typically help with.

These innovations present tantalizing possibilities for retailers, who can ill afford to lose any opportunity to satisfy or even upsell a customer at a time when mall foot traffic is tumbling precipitously. But the advances also raise thorny questions about what the retail workforce of the future will look like if a growing array of tasks can soon be punted to robots or tablet applications.

When you first encounter Pepper, its hard not to be struck by the quirky novelty of the situation: Youre being chatted up by something that looks part anime cartoon, part Star Wars storm trooper. And yet the interaction feels strangely familiar, because of how uncannily humanoid her gestures are. From the way she cocks her head when asking a question to the way her fingers curl up when she draws her hands to her hips, it all feels very integrated.

Because of that, one of the challenges we have from a marketing perspective is managing your expectations of what a robot like this can do, said Steve Carlin, vice president at Softbank Robotics.

In other words, the form-factor is so compelling that people start asking Pepper questions that, at least for now, are out of her depth.

Demonstrators offered several possible use cases for Pepper: Retailers could position her at an endcapthe eye-catching display at the head of an aisleor in a specialty department, where she could answer questions about a featured product. Or she could help you identify which shoes you might want to buy based on what your priorities are. On a budget? Shell steer you toward the cheapest pair. Like to be comfortable? Shell suggest a functional pair of sneakers.

After being used at Softbank Mobile stores in Japan for several years, Pepper made her debut in the U.S. market in November, launching at two Westfield Malls in California. In that iteration, she is programmed to do things like give shoppers directions to a certain store.

Dont expect to start seeing a massive army of Peppers right away: Softbank says that there is only one facility in the United States that is currently equipped to service and repair the robots, and the company doesnt want to deploy the technology too widely until it has built out more logistics and capacity for managing that.

Plus, they dont think theyve come close yet to unlocking the full range of what Pepper is capable of, as software developers are still being unleashed to write programs for the technology. Think, for example, about how you initially came to understand the smartphones power: it was largely thanks to apps built for those devices.

Retailers may be more apt to get on the bandwagon when they can see more use cases. So might hotels, cruise ships, airports or other places that rely on customer service.

Peppers makers stress that they dont see the technology as something that replaces human workers. Rather, they see it as a supplement. While Pepper is answering simple questions such as, Wheres the restroom?, the theory goes, a sales associate can be handling complex tasks such as recommending shoes to go with your dress, or helping you find the last pair of jeans in your size.

The idea of technology as a support system for a sales clerk could be seen at other displays during NRFs trade show. Toshiba, for example, showed off something it calls Lift n Learn. When a shopper lifts an item off a shelf, it triggers more information about that product to come up on a large screen behind the display. But certain customer actions can also send a notification to a sales associate that someone is interacting with that display, providing an opportunity for an employee to swoop in, recommend related products, and so on.

Findmine is a startup that uses artificial intelligence to curate complete outfits from a retailers current merchandise assortment. (You may have seen the technology on e-commerce sites such as John Varvatos, where it powers a complete this look module that shows you a sweater, shoes and jacket that would look good with the jeans you clicked on.) Findmine has the ability to deploy this technology in physical stores, too. So, it could be incorporated into tablets that associates tote around the store. Then, when they notice you are really loving a certain button-down shirt, the employee could use the technology to make recommendations to you about a full ensemble that is consistent with the brands esthetic.

There are other cases where a worker wouldnt have to step in at all. Philips Lighting demonstrated a technology called visible light communications, or VLC, in which store lighting can be used to pinpoint your precise positioning and facing within an aisle of a store. (For this to work, you have to have your smartphone out of your pocket and have opted in to allowing the retailers app to locate you.)

A spokesman offered an example of how this might be used in a pharmacy for what he called selective selling: If youre hovering around the flu medicine, maybe the retailers app could also nudge you to also buy tissues and cough drops.

None of these technologies threatens to completely replace sales associates. But collectively, they might either chip away at the value of those kinds of roles, or at very least alter the skills they call for. Either way, it suggests were on the cusp of major change in what it means to be on the front lines at the mall, big-box store or supermarket.

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From oozing blisters and wheezing to rashes, itchy eyes and sore throats, numerous American Airlines Group flight attendants say their new work uniforms are making them sick.

But after a battery of tests and a tense back-and-forth among their union, the airline and the uniform supplier, its still not clear what exactly is behind the rise in health complaints.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents flight attendants for American, has asked the carrier to recall the new garments, which went to 70,000 employees starting in September.

The airline says it has spent more than $1 million (U.S.) for three rounds of toxicological tests that, so far, havent turned up any obvious causes for the maladies.

American and the union are now conferring on protocols for further examinations  but the issue grew more contentious last week amid a flurry of communications among the airline, the flight attendants union and the uniform supplier.

The union says about 10 per cent, or 2,300, of the flight attendants it represents have reported adverse reactions  among them skin rashes, sore throats, wheezing, fatigue and vertigo  since they started wearing the new uniform.

This continues to be a serious and growing problem, and is not going to go away without some further remedial action by the company, the union said on Thursday in a message to members.

American says an employee call centre it opened in October has gotten 450 formal complaints of health problems, 350 of them from flight attendants.

The uniform controversy has become such a topic of concern at the airline that several executives have begun wearing the outfit, or parts of it, in an effort to allay fears.

Still, the flight attendants believe that chemicals in the uniform  say, a dye or an adhesive  are probably causing the severe reactions the union says are affecting roughly one in 10 flight attendants.

Im very confident that theres something in that fabric thats causing this, said Bob Ross, the unions national president. Some [people] react right away. Lots of other people are feeling the effects just by being around the uniforms.

Ross, a 33-year American veteran, said he himself wore the new uniforms cotton shirt, and by the end of the day my entire chest, neck and arms were red.

It took two showers and disposal of the shirt and its packaging to resolve, he said.

A New York-based flight attendant, speaking via online chat on condition of anonymity, said her throat had begun burning on one flight and that she had grown hoarse and broken out in hives. She said she had been to 12 doctor appointments in 40 subsequent days for tests and consultations.

The uniforms have undergone a battery of tests, and the union, airline and supplier Twin Hill have all hired experts to determine the chemical composition of the uniforms.

So far, testing by American and Twin Hill have not turned up substances that arent supposed to be in the clothes or any chemical levels exceeding safety limits, the airline has said.

The union has hired its own toxicologist to examine the results. It has spent more than $20,000 so far and wants American to reimburse it for its expenses, Ross said.

Last week, the airline denied a grievance Ross had filed on behalf of sick attendants. The safety and comfort of our team members is more important than anything we do, and we know it is at the forefront of the APFAs mission too, wrote Cindi Simone, Americans managing director of labour relations.

American has also reimbursed flight attendants who have bought new work clothes similar to the uniform. It says employees may wear their old uniforms, though many no longer have one.

The public contretemps has prompted supplier Twin Hill to complain that it is being maligned unfairly.

In a Jan. 9 letter to Ross, an executive at the Houston-based supplier, a unit of Tailored Brands Inc., denied any problems with the 1.4 million garments it had provided, citing tests by an independent laboratory it hired.

Union officials public statements have been both inaccurate and damaging to Twin Hills reputation, wrote Daryl Stilley, a senior vice-president at the company.

The company said it plans an all-cotton version of the uniform for those who have had problems with the ones made of wool and polyester, the two main fabrics now being worn.

Ross responded two days later, writing to Twin Hill that its letter had made him angry and disheartened and that the union would not be bullied in its efforts to protect flight attendants health.

Twin Hill has also accused the union of cancelling an appointment to jointly select uniform pieces from a Twin Hill centre in Houston, while American said it was waiting for the union to agree to a date.

The union argues that it wouldnt make sense to pick pieces from that facility because they may have been manufactured somewhere other than where those causing problems were created.

The union wants to explore the interaction of dozens of chemicals used in the uniforms manufacturing, as well as their packaging.

Say theres five different chemicals they test, and they all stay within limits  synergistically, how do they interact? Ross asked.

So far, the problem with the uniforms appears to be concentrated among American Airlines flight attendants.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents about 3,300 flight attendants at Americans Envoy regional subsidiary, has received several complaints, but not to the same degree as the APFA, said AFA spokeswoman Taylor Garland.

Clearly, there is a problem with the uniform rollout at American that requires immediate alternative uniform standards and an overhaul of the uniform rollout, the union said in an e-mail.

Americans 15,000 pilots have not reported widespread problems with their new wool uniforms from Twin Hill, said Gregg Overman, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association.

The health mystery at American isnt the first such dispute over flight attendants uniforms. In 2011, some Alaska Airlines flight attendants made similar complaints about their new uniforms, also from Twin Hill.

The next year, several flight attendants sued the supplier, contending their uniforms contained a dye known to cause skin and respiratory irritation. In September, a California court rejected the case and awarded Twin Hill legal fees from a few attendants who did not drop their claims.

Scott Poynter, the Little Rock, Ark., attorney who brought that suit, is now working with about 10 of the American flight attendants, as is Weitz & Luxenberg PC, a New York-based law firm that handles consumer and environmental litigation.

Several of the American attendants have also contacted prominent consumer advocate Erin Brockovich in search of help for their situation, Poynter said.

Theres a lot of comparisons to make between the Alaska Airlines case and the American Airlines case, Poynter said.

The Alaska Air suit failed, he said, because the judge did not accept the plaintiffs view that chemicals in the uniforms were interacting in ways that collectively caused the adverse reactions, from rashes to respiratory trouble. Theres not a doubt in my mind that the uniforms were the cause. I believe the mixture theory is very solid.

Still, he hopes to see the results of Americans uniform testing before deciding whether to sue.

I think that the American flight attendants are right, too, he said. But from a legal standpoint, the testing is going to become very important. Were looking at it.

Heather Poole, an American flight attendant who lives near Los Angeles and has documented her reactions to the uniform on social media, said many other attendants are reluctant to speak publicly about their own reactions for fear they could be fired or sued.

A hospital gown seems to be the most popular flight-attendant accessory this season, she said. That or an inhaler.

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LISBON, PORTUGAL-With its warm climate, intimate hilly streets and lively town squares, Lisbon has become a popular destination for Canadians. This is a city alive with tasty local food, cheap Portuguese wine and history around every corner. Not to mention all there is to see:

Castles: It seems Castelo de Sao Jorge creeps into almost every tourist photo, and indeed its well worth the hilly climb to explore. But cut across the city into the Bairro Alto district, and you get the best view of the castle from across the old downtown core. In the evening there are street vendors offering everything from handwoven scarves to a cool glass of sangria for 1 that you can enjoy with the locals.

Views: The lineups start before 7 a.m. for the Santa Justa Lift and continue throughout the day until the last lift at 11 p.m., making the it one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city. At dusk, the lift is an architectural wonder, and the 45-metre ride from the historic downtown takes you up to Carmo Square, which offers spectacular views of the city.

Museums: The lineups for the national museums can stretch around the block, so skip them and head to the Berardo Collection Museum of modern and contemporary art. Named after Jose Berardo, the Portuguese businessman amassed one of the most spectacular collections of modern art. Walk in and see mural-size photos by Andreas Gursky, impeccable black and white prints by Bernd and Hilla Becher, as well as works by Jackson Pollock and Pablo Picasso. And the best thing is, admission is free.

Trams: Hop on Tram 28 for about 3, and see some of the great districts of Lisbon: Brixa, Graca, Alfama and Estrela. These trams would be in a museum anywhere else, but these wooden-seat gems can navigate Lisbons steep climbs and sharp turns while tourists point their cameras out the windows at some of the finest buildings and churches. Just remember to give your seat up to the elderly locals that use the tram as their daily transportation.

Trains: A great day trip involves riding the train from Rossio train station to Sintra on the edge of Lisbon. Sintra is know for its 19th-century romantic architectural monuments and buildings. For those in good shape, its a steep walk up to Pena Palace, although hopping on a bus to get there is also an option. The multi-coloured castle tops a hill in the Sintra mountains and is one of the seven wonders of Portugal.

Todd Korol is a Calgary photographer.

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NEVADATheres art, freaky and free, strewn across the Nevada desert. Looping back to Vegas after a spin down the Extraterrestrial Highway, I made time for three down-to-earth, free-range-art moments.

Two mens treasure

Supposedly you can see the International Car Forest of the Last Church from the highway in Goldfield, but as you drive through the south end of the no-longer-booming mining town  where furniture, appliances and vehicles adorn yards  its tough to know if life is imitating art or if art is mimicking life.

Veer off-road and drive toward the big blue upside down bus. Theres a small sign that declares this place the worlds largest national junk car forest and cryptically adds: ARTISTs PLAY GROUND & ATV Park, with Ultra light runways.

Ponder the meaning of that while wandering among 40-odd grafittied and painted junk cars mostly planted nose first in the desert. Thats all the information youll get because creator Michael Mark Rippie was last seen in federal prison on firearm charges, and artist Chad Sorg moved away.

If you are lucky, like I was, it will be a slightly unnerving, solitary experience with only Joshua trees, lizards and braying donkeys for company in a cellular dead zone surrounded by rusted cars and random busted appliances that may be cheekily abandoned or may also be art in this car forest.

Linger and a cheerful tourist will surely appear enthusing about how nice it is to see offbeat stuff like this instead of just going to attractions where you have to pay.

Ghostly setting

Its presumably no accident that the Goldwell Open Air Museum, with its signature ghostly version of The Last Supper, is right beside the ghost town of Rhyolite.

This art destination dates back to 1984, when Belgian artist Albert Szukalski was compelled to create a sculpture west of Beatty near Californias Death Valley.

The story goes that Szukalski wrapped models (human ones) in plaster-soaked fabric and posed them just like Christ and his disciples in Leonardo da Vincis TheLast Supper painting. The models slipped out, the artist coated the rigid figures with fibreglass and here we are three decades and millions of tourists later.

The Last Supper may be the biggest of the nine pieces here, but Lady Desert: The Venus of Nevada  a big pink, busty, Lego-like lady  is the quirkiest. Artist Hugh Heyrman made her in 1992 with a nod to classical Greek sculpture and the high-tech 21st century.

This isnt outlaw art, so pop into the museums miniature gift shop for the free brochure that explains everything. And spend some time across the road in Rhyolite admiring the functional art that is prospector Tom Kellys Bottle House.

Rocky wisdom

Seven Magic Mountains is a natural magnet for the Vegas selfie crowd, but the presence of bikers who whip down S. Las Vegas Blvd. past Jean Dry Lake by the dozens is an unexpected bonus.

Swiss artist Ugo Rondinones seven stacks of limestone boulders painted with fluorescent colours are so hot that this free-range-art scene must post warnings to not climb on, move, dislodge or disturb the art.

Yeah, try telling that to the clan in matching pink Be awesome today t-shirts positioning for that perfect photo.

Well, at least obey the other signs warning about endangered desert tortoises and venomous snakes.

And take time to read the artists statement about how these totems, in stacks of three to six that reach 11 metres, are an artwork of thresholds and crossings, of balanced marvels and excessive colours, of casting and gathering and the contrary air between the desert and the city lights.

Seven Magic Mountains, in Hendersons Ivanpah Valley, will be dismantled in May 2018.

Jennifer Bain was hosted by Travel Nevada, which didnt review or approve this story.

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VALENCIA, SPAIN-Italy has pasta. France has croissants. Vietnam has pho. Spain has paella, where locals in its birthplace, Valencia, feel the utmost passion for the golden rice dish.

One such local is Maximo Caletrio. Hes the paella master in his home, and hes been working with Valencia Tourism for more than a decade.

Traditional paella doesnt have any seafood at all, Caletrio explained right away. Originating as a poor mans dish, a labourers meal, paella was cooked in the fields, with rabbit and maybe chicken on special occasions.

Paella is a matter of local pride and every Valencian man  its usually the men that cook this meal  claims to make the best paella.

Today, paella is a Sunday tradition, said Caletrio. It can take two, three hours. The whole family comes over, the women spend time with the children, and the men have a drink and cook paella.

Related story:Love at first bite (of churros)

Every family has its own paella pan. While most may have a stainless-steel version, traditionally the wide, shallow pan is made of carbon steel or hammered copper.

The perfect paella requires the perfect ingredients, and theres no better place to find them than Mercado Central, one of the biggest and oldest markets in Europe, whose origin goes back to 1839. The building itself is an architectural masterpiece, with iron and glass domes painted with Valencian oranges and vines.

Many vendors are also producers, so they bring their produce straight from their farms to sell here every morning, including saffron, which gives paella its golden hue. The redder the saffron, the higher its quality, and a little goes a long way.

Paella may be a simple one-pot dish, but its easier said than done, so we let the experts take over at La Marcelina restaurant. Situated on Passeig de Neptu, literally translated to Neptunes promenade, it feels like paradise and theres an open kitchen.

Farmers and those that lived off the land would make paella with whatever ingredients were available. The staples usually included rabbit, chicken and a couple of varieties of beans. Our paella at La Marcelina included all of these ingredients, and we watched it cook right before our eyes  amazing but also torture. It takes at least half an hour to 45 minutes to cook paella, and many restaurants will ask you to pre-order the dish when you make a reservation, to make sure its ready for your table.

Ours has been well worth the wait.

Mallika Viegas was hosted by Eurail in partnership with Valencia Tourism, both of which didnt review or approve this story.

When you go

Get there: Fly non-stop 7.5 hours from Toronto to Madrid with Air Canada (aircanada.com). From Madrid, catch an AVE high-speed train (raileurope.com) to Valencia. With 3,100 kilometres of track, the Spanish AVE trains operate on the longest high-speed network in Europe.

Eurail Global Pass: For see-it-all train travellers, the Eurail Global Pass is the best option. Covering 28 countries, the Global Pass allows you to travel freely through most of Europe, from Portugal to Finland to Turkey (except Great Britain). Unlike the Select Pass, the Global Pass offers a consecutive-day continuous version  particularly convenient and cost-effective if youre riding the rails almost every day. Details: Eurail.com

Get around: The EMT (Empresa Municipal de Transportes) (www.emtvalencia.es ) is the local bus system. There are several routes that cover the city and in summer there are extra buses for transport to the beach.

Stay:AC Hotel Valencia (Marriott.com) is a good option in a good location. You can easily explore the newest parts of the city or bike down to the older sites.

Explore: Rent bicycles and bike through Jardines del Turia, a former riverbed converted to nine kilometres of green space, one of the largest urban parks in Spain. Details: visitvalencia.com

Gawk at the City of Arts and Sciences: This city within a city is a feast for the eyes. Comprised of six futuristic buildings built by the much-celebrated Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, this part of the city feels less medieval and more Jetsons. The planetarium, a stunning dome structure that appears to be floating on water, opens and closes like an eyelid. Details: cac.es

Head into Barrio del Carmen (the old part of town): Developed between two walls, the original city gates still remain. Details: visitvalencia.com

Tapas: Head to Colmado LaLola for a taste of the traditional and fusion. The restaurant also brews its own craft beer, and you can experience live Flamenco shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Detalis: lalolarestaurante.com

Do your research: visitvalencia.com

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[January 17, 2017] Embedded Non-volatile Memory (eNVM) Market Size And Trend Analysis By Product (eFlash, eE2PROM, FRAM), By Region And Segment Forecasts, 2012 - 2022

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The global embedded non-volatile memory market is expected to reach USD 471.5 Million by 2022, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. The emergence of memory technology such as RRAM and revamp in the FRAM architecture are expected to drive market growth over the forecast period. Surge in demand for Internet of Thing (IoT) applications in order to build smart devices is also expected to catapult the industry demand over the next seven years.



Demand for automation across several end-use industries including industrial, automotive, and consumer electronics might provide avenues for industry growth. Rapid industrialization in developing regions is also expected to drive product demand over the forecast period.



Development of devices integrating wireless communication technologies such as Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, and ZigBee require miniature components owing to consumer demand for compact devices. Migration from conventional to embedded-NVM owing to low-power consumption and high efficiency offered by these memory devices is expected to impel industry demand over the forecast period. This is also anticipated to be a key growth opportunity for industry participants.





Further Key Findings from the Study Suggest:



In 2014, eFlash dominated the market in terms of revenue with over 33% of the market share in the same year. The segment is anticipated to witness considerable growth over the next seven years owing to upsurge in electric car adoption. Further, the prduct offers high performance, and is primarily used to store data as well as code. Rise in adoption of smart technologies across the automobile sector is anticipated to positively impact product demand over the next seven years. eE2PROM is also expected witness a growth a CAGR exceeding 15% from 2015 to 2022, which might be primarily attributed to increased adoption of devices offering enhanced data security.







FRAM uses hybrid memory technology, and combines the functionality of SRAM as well as flash. Growing adoption of EEPROM memory against FRAM, primarily in IoT-based MCUs are expected to elevate product demand over the next seven years. FRAM's implementation on the basis of CMOS architecture has resulted in elimination of density issues, and is anticipated to provide avenues for market growth.



RRAM is also a hybrid memory technology capable of storing huge data amount on a single chip, using 3D-stacking technology to save space. In addition to the efficient storing features, RRAM has compact structure, and is preferred as a viable option for application in consumer electronics.





Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the eNVM industry owing to the presence of several key foundries as well as smart devices manufacturers in the region. The regional demand accounted for over 30% of the market revenue in 2014. Industrialization in developing countries such as India and China is expected to contribute towards the regional market growth over the forecast period.



Prominent industry participants include United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), Microchip Technology Inc., HHGrace, Kilopass, eMemoryTechnology Inc., and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC)

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04605008-summary/view-report.html



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



http://www.reportlinker.com





__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/embedded-non-volatile-memory-envm-market-size-and-trend-analysis-by-product-eflash-ee2prom-fram-by-region-and-segment-forecasts-2012---2022-300392100.html SOURCE Reportlinker

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Theres an odd disconnect between Justin Trudeaus industrious tour of small-town and mid-sized Canada this week and the events rattling the world outside.

Politically the contrast is probably healthy. On Friday, Donald Trump will proclaim his faith in forgotten ordinary Americans. While he does that, Prime Minister Trudeau is wise to catch up with ordinary Canadians.

Nor is Trudeau ignoring Brexit or the fate of Angela Merkels government while he takes questions from voters about military equipment contracts or soaring energy bills. Indeed, if Stephane Dion comes out of his hole and sees his shadow, the ex-foreign minister  reluctantly recast as the likely ambassador to both the EU and Germany  could be on the next flight out of town to help deal, to the extent any Canadian can, with the fallout from Britains historic choice.

And since Trudeau has decided to let reporters pry the details of his Christmas vacation with the Aga Khan from him one tidbit at a time over many days, its just as well he skip the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this year. Six cabinet ministers are attending the Alpine brainstorm festival in his place, including the ministers of finance, trade and the environment. So were kind of covered off when it comes to Davos.

So Im not accusing Trudeau of any moral or tactical error when I say the world seemed to be rushing ahead without him Tuesday. Its just the way things worked out for a day.

At Davos, the big news was the president of China, Xi Jinping, who posed as a standard-bearer for globalization, open trade and the fight against climate change. The Davos crowd ate it up.

Much of Xis speech was plainly meant as a rebuke of Trump on what was almost the eve of Trumps inauguration. Since Trumps lead economic adviser, Peter Navarro, has made a documentary film called Death by China, which opens with a cartoon image of a Chinese-made dagger stabbing the heartland of America, were off to a great start.

In London, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May outlined her vision of Britains withdrawal from the European Union. There is a snails-pace onset of realism in Mays rare public comments on the issue that will define her career for good or ill. Tuesday was her day for admitting that Britain cannot limit immigration without leaving the European single market, and that since shes stuck with that choice, then to hell with the single market.

May also pleaded with the other 27 members of the EU to be gentle on her country. In return she insisted she wishes the Union no ill will. She wants a strong EU as Britains best partner, she proclaimed.

One of her problems is that no Brexit supporter outside Britain shares her ability to believe two contradictory things at once. For every non-British fan of Brexit, Britains vote is the beginning of the European Unions end. Marine Le Pen took to Twitter to congratulate May and proclaimed that France will be the next country out. Trump told The Times, I believe others will leave. I do think keeping it together is not gonna be as easy as a lot of people think.

Trudeau is not ignoring these big global trends. They consume a large fraction of his spare time. The appointment of John McCallum as ambassador to Beijing and Dion as ambassador to assorted bits of Europe was meant to be part of a response to those issues. And, as has been reported elsewhere, Trudeaus senior staff has already been meeting in New York City with senior Trump advisers.

Trudeau is right to seek peace with Trump. As a citizen, Im free to say Trumps election is, at best, not far short of a global catastrophe. As the head of Canadas government, Trudeau has an obligation to seek common ground with the guy where it can be found.

Hell have his work cut out for him. Trump is set on imposing a border adjustment tax against imports to the U.S. That would impose a huge cost on Canadian exports to the U.S., which is . . . most Canadian exports. The auto industry, cozily implanted in southern Ontario after generations of free trade in car components, would be shattered. Its really hard to see how this would help American carmakers, never mind what it would do to Canadian firms. Supply chains are so integrated there is, in fact, no easy way to tell the difference between the two. Surely Trump will figure that out. All kinds of Canadian interlocutors have sought to make that point to him. If he doesnt carve out an exception for Canada, the likeliest alternative will be a trade war, which may change Trumps mind but not before Canadas economy incurs serious harm.

These are the issues swirling around as Trudeau meets the people. Next week hell huddle with his cabinet in Calgary for two days. Theyll have much to discuss.

Paul Wells is a national affairs writer. His column appears Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

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CALGARYAlbertas police watchdog says two officers from the Calgary Police Service have been charged with serious crimes, including the new head of the citys police union.

Sgt. Les Kaminski has been charged with perjury and assault with a weapon and Const. Brant Derrick has been charged with assault causing bodily harm, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team said Tuesday.

The charges stem from the arrest of Jason Arkinstall following a routine traffic stop in downtown Calgary in 2008 and from the evidence given during his trial on one count of uttering threats against Derrick.

Arkinstall was acquitted in 2011, with Provincial Court Judge Terry Semenuk concluding in his ruling that neither Kaminski nor Derrick were credible or reliable witnesses.

ASIRT executive director Susan Hughson said the case was brought to her agency in January 2014, with an investigation launched the following month.

Kaminski would have known he was under investigation in the lead-up to his election as president of the Calgary Police Association president, she said.

The fact that one of the officers has been elected to the Calgary Police Association is not relevant to my investigation or how we will deal with that officer.

Hughson said its unfortunate it has taken this long for charges to be laid.

The fact is, however, the majority of the delay occurred before ASIRT was directed to investigate, she said, adding the delay did not hamper the investigation, since evidence from the Arkinstall trial had been preserved.

Calgary police Supt. Steve Barlow said a review was conducted after Arkinstalls trial, but it was determined that a broader formal investigation was not required.

In light of the Crowns findings, and in hindsight, the service should have conducted a formal investigation at the time, he said.

He said a complaint was made in December 2013.

The Calgary Police Association said it would address the matter on Wednesday.

In his 2011 written judgment, Semenuk said Arkinstall, who was wearing a Hells Angels T-shirt and pendant at the time of the arrest, became irate and began swearing at Derrick, who called for backup. Kaminski was among the officers to arrive on the scene a few minutes later.

Semenuk wrote that during the arrest, which was caught on video by bystanders, Kaminski threw Arkinstall like a rag doll, face first onto the hood of the vehicle and struck him twice on the back of the neck with a baton.

The judge wrote that Derrick forcefully struck Arkinstall in the back of the head with his right hand, threw him head-first on his stomach into the back of a police van and slammed the doors on his legs and feet.

Arkinstall sustained a big bump on his right temple, a cut to his ear, swelling from the baton hits and pain and numbness in his feet and ankles from the van doors, according to the ruling.

After being released on bail and returning to his home in British Columbia, Arkinstall had headaches, vomiting and blurred vision and was later diagnosed with a concussion, Semenuk wrote.

Both Kaminski and Derrick are to appear in Calgary provincial court on Feb. 7. The allegations against the officers have not been proven in court.

CBC News interviewed Kaminski last week, as word of the criminal investigation began surfacing.

The network reported that Kaminski said he was confident he would not be charged and that he said he had an impeccable 30-year-career that he would not put in jeopardy by doing something untoward.

ASIRT investigates when people are killed or hurt by police or when police officers face serious or sensitive allegations of misconduct.

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CALGARYThe father of a man charged in the deaths of a couple and their young grandchild says his son was angry over some unpaid money.

Archie Garland told court in Calgary that his son, Douglas Garland, and Alvin Liknes seemed to get along well at first when they worked on developing an experimental pump for the oil and gas sector.

But he said the relationship soured and Liknes didnt pay his son the money that he was owed.

Alvin didnt pay Dougie some money and that didnt sit well, he testified Tuesday.

He said he told his son it was just a bump in the road and you cant win them all  but the anger lingered.

Douglas Garland, 56, is charged with first-degree murder in the disappearance of Alvin and Kathy Liknes and their five-year-old grandson Nathan OBrien in 2014.

Garlands father testified garbage on the farm was incinerated in a large burning barrel that wasnt visible from the family home because it was protected by a hedge.

The trial heard on Monday that police found DNA evidence from all three victims on the farm and bits of bone and a tooth in the burning barrel.

Archie Garland said when the burning barrel got too full, it would either be taken to a dump or was just left on the ground.

Under cross-examination, he told defence lawyer Kim Ross that his son could be a bit of a loner.

He had no friends, did he? Ross asked.

He didnt have that many friends, no. He did have the odd one, Archie Garland replied.

I never ever seen him show violence to anybody.

Doreen Garland painted a troubled portrait of her son who she said spent a year studying medicine at the University of Alberta, but quit after suffering some kind of a breakdown.

Hes my son, I love him . . . I think hes an unhappy man, she said. He didnt discuss his problems with me.

Doreen Garland said she had returned home from a memorial service on June 30, 2014, when she turned on the TV news.

The next thing that flashed on the screen was a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Liknes and their grandson, she said.

Doreen Garland told her son that it looked as though the couple had taken Nathan.

He said, I dont know. I dont want to talk about the Likneses. He seemed to have lost interest in any dealings with Mr. Liknes.

She said she didnt notice any change in his demeanour.

Nathan was at an impromptu sleepover at his grandparents after an estate sale. The couple was planning to move to the Edmonton area and spend their winters in Mexico.

When the boys mother came the next morning, she found pools of blood and signs of a struggle.

The Crown alleges the three victims were violently snatched in the night and taken to a rural property where they were killed and their bodies burned as part of a years-long grudge against Alvin Liknes over the pumps patent.

DNA belonging to Alvin Liknes and Nathan was found on a saw. Kathy Likness DNA was found on meat hooks.

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OTTAWAKevin OLeary is refusing to confirm hes ready to join the Conservative leadership race Wednesday after months of testing the waters.

But the possibility that OLeary, a businessman and reality television personality, will enter the race is being taken seriously by candidates vying to replace Stephen Harper.

The CBC reported Tuesday night OLeary would formally enter the race Wednesday.

Amy Mills, a spokesperson for OLearys leadership exploratory committee, refused to confirm or deny the report when reached by the Star on Tuesday.

Mills did confirm OLeary is scheduled to give a number of media interviews to react to Tuesday nights Conservative French-language debate.

Reached by The Canadian Press Tuesday evening, OLeary refused to discuss the CBC report. Instead, he vented his frustration that the Conservative leadership field still has 13 people vying to replace Stephen Harper.

Those 13 candidates gathered in Quebec City Tuesday evening for the leadership contests only all-French debate. OLeary, who does not speak French, has been accused by his rivals of avoiding the Quebec City debate.

Each candidate read a 30-second opening statement at the debate with varying degrees of proficiency in French.

Kellie Leitch quickly fired a salvo at rival Maxime Bernier, accusing him of being a liar for supposedly giving big corporations more than $200 million when he was industry minister while at the same championing himself as someone who wants to end corporate welfare.

MP Steven Blaney also targeted Bernier early on, criticizing his rivals promise to get rid of supply management in agriculture. Blaney, one of only two francophones in the debate, said farmers work hard while Bernier likes to go jogging.

Many of the anglophone candidates, including Lisa Raitt, Deepak Obhrai and Brad Trost, appeared to struggle in the debate and read pre-prepared answers.

OLeary recently pledged that he would try to learn French before the 2019 election, if hes chosen as the partys leader.

The other participants in the debate were Chris Alexander, Michael Chong, Erin OToole, Andrew Scheer, Pierre Lemieux, Rick Peterson and Andrew Saxton.

The Conservatives will choose their next leader at a convention in Toronto this May.

Correction - February 1, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Maxine Bernier promised to get rid of the supply-and-demand system in agriculture.

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Businessman and reality television personality Kevin OLeary announced he would seek the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada on Wednesday.

The Star:You said this morning that the comments you made as a television personality dont matter, and are not necessarily how you feel about policy. If people couldnt trust what you said back then, over the past decade, why should they trust what you say now?

Kevin OLeary: Its not about trust. Think about what I was doing for 10 years, and I learned that quite successfully. I was on the other side of a very intelligent woman in Amanda Lang (on CBCs The Lang and OLeary Exchange), and I didnt agree with anything she said. And we enjoyed a long and successful career, I as a columnist, commentator, and she as a journalist.

None of that was policy. We enjoyed some very vibrant debates around some very controversial ideas. But that is not policy. Theres probably 10,000 hours of tape, Im sure well see all of it come back chopped up. Its all irrelevant.

This is different, this is the real deal. Were trying to figure out how to save Canada, how to make it competitive, so we can bring jobs back here.

The Star: But you made those claims on national television for a decade. Shouldnt people hold you to account about those things that you said, as yourself, not as some kind of character on a reality show?

KO: I explored thousands of ideas, some of them very controversial, some of them very interesting. Some of them we agreed on, some of them we didnt, none of its policy. I wasnt making policy, I wasnt running as a candidate to govern the country. Theres a difference. People arent stupid in Canada, they get it.

The Star: Fair enough. So let me ask you a couple of specific questions, about what you said, and whether you agree with it now. You said that if you prime minister for 15 minutes, you would make unions illegal in Canada. Do you still want to do that?

KO: (Laughing) I remember that debate, and how exciting that was. Of course thats not policy. You could never do that. You cant make unions illegal, thats not even a pragmatic policy. Can you make unions more efficient? Will I negotiate with them? Yes. Theres no chance Im going to make them illegal, you cant do that, thats ridiculous.

But it was great television at the time.

The Star: But are you against unions on principle, or ?

KO: No, not at all. As a matter of fact, within the bureaucracy of Canada  a lot of people dont know this  we have the most highly educated bureaucracy in the world. More masters degrees, more PhDs in the Canadian bureaucracy, we just havent set up a system that lets them flourish and provide tremendous value to us. We have to do that.

These are the most highly educated bureaucrats on Earth. That should be a huge asset, not a liability.

The Star: On another topic, income inequality, which is certainly an issue in the United States and Canada. You once said that the fact that 85 of the worlds richest people owning as much as 3.5 billion of the worlds poorest is a good thing because it inspires the poor to join the rich in this sort of gilded age. Do you still feel that way?

KO: Absurd policy, great television. Of course I dont feel that way. I dont celebrate poverty, thats ridiculous. Everybody knows that what Im all about is entrepreneurialism.

When I was in my 20s, Canada had a blue sky, the potential was limitless. I dont feel that way anymore, and that is of grave concern to me because Ive got two kids that our now in their 20s, and Ive just been told by Justin Trudeau that they are going to inherit a $1.5-trillion deficit. Not a chance in hell Im letting that happen.

The Star: Sorry, did you say a $1.5-billion deficit?

KO: A $1.5-trillion deficit.

The Star: So youre actually referencing the Finance Canada report 

KO: Yeah, its $1.5 trillion, its 38 years of deficits. Is the government lying to me again? That number is ridiculous, and I will not let it happen, I will not do that to my children.

The Star: But its debt, its not deficit. Thats the national debt, thats not a yearly deficit.

KO: The reason it becomes debt is because year after year theres a deficit! Of course! Listen, I can read a balance sheet, my friend. Im not going to let Trudeau do that. Im telling every Canadian not a chance in hell is that going to happen. Zero probability.

Ill tell you whats going to happen here. Justin Trudeau is going to elect Kevin OLeary. Just by doing what he does every day. Every day, people in Canada are starting to figure out he does not know what hes doing. Its that simple.

The Star:You would agree that, based on that report, the economy is expected to grow by so many billions of dollars over that time that the actual debt-to-GDP ratio will be better than it is today

KO: I dont agree with that at all. Trying to forecast out over 38 years, remember that Trudeau will be long gone. What I see now is the actions that hes done in just a short period of time.

Im going to be honest with you: Im very surprised that he didnt pivot when the surprise election of Donald Trump occurred. He had a perfect excuse to roll back his carbon policy, to roll back his increase in taxes, to roll back all the regulations against industries like manufacturing and pipelines and energy. And what did he do? He just marched right into oblivion, swam the wrong direction, without even finding out what the policies would be 100 days from now in the U.S.

Why would anybody build a car plant in Ontario when our taxes are going to be 30 per cent higher? We have a carbon tax they dont have in Michigan, and we dont have the same regulations! Hes absolutely buried the possibility of any growth or any jobs.

Thats just basic negotiations. Hes never done it. Hes basically misinterpreted his mandate, and Canadians are simply feeling the failure. Thats whats happening.  Thats why hes getting all this pushback from young Canadians he promised all those jobs to. Youve seen whats happening at these town halls.

Let me ask you another question, think about this: We spend $12 billion a year buying oil from Saudi Arabia, a country where they grow bamboo and beat the women with sticks. Im not OK with that. I dont want my money going into a culture like that. I dont agree with that at all, I cant find a Canadian who thinks that a good idea. Why? Because Justin Trudeau cant move the oil from where we have it  Alberta  to where we need it  on the East Coast. Thats failure, thats mismanagement, thats poor governance.

The Star: OK, so is morality going to govern you as prime minister? Are you going to say no to Saudi Arabia oil, no to Saudi Arabia exports for weapons, which were currently doing? Are you going to say that the (media) in China is state-run so we shouldnt trade with China? Im just trying to understand what youre criticizing here.

KO: Im criticizing the fact that we are losing jobs every day, and we send $12 billion to a country that doesnt respect our values, when we dont have to.

The Star: Would you sell arms to them?

KO: Does it make sense to anybody in Canada, that we are rich in resources, that we could easily have energy independence in every province, and we dont? Listen, thats just stupid. That makes absolute 

The Star: Does that make much economic sense to you? To use the oilsands and refine it here to make every province energy independent? Or are you advancing a more free trade agenda than that?

KO: No, no, what Im worried about right now is I want to take care of Canadians. Right now, I want to balance these tremendous imbalances. Why would we have only 0.7 per cent GDP growth, do I want to send $12 billion to Saudi Arabia? Listen, we have the ability to supply oil to our East Coast refineries ourselves. We simply need to get the pipelines to them. Now either Trudeau can deliver on that or he cant, thats very easy to measure.

We have provinces like Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, that are rich in natural gas. Why havent we developed it, why dont we have those jobs, why arent we energy independent on that gas there? The question is why? What is the answer? I think Canadians deserve an answer to that.

When you actually have a mandate to turn a country around and get it growing again, you do everything in your power to make it work. So what Im going to do is Im going to try and shine the light of transparency on the Trudeau mandate for the remaining 24 months, to try and get him to do as little as possible. Remember, everything he does makes my job harder when I finally get there.

He should be accountable, and he should be ready to be scrutinized on that. There is no OLeary Foundation. There is no island where I fly to, theres nobody giving me money. I dont owe anybody anything, Ive never been a politician, I dont owe any favour in Ottawa, none of that.

The Star: And this is just a logistical question, but you do continue to pay taxes in Canada, correct?

KO: I am a Canadian resident. I live in Toronto, Canada. I can barely afford to eat because I have to pay Kathleen Wynne such ridiculous taxes.

The Star: Oh, come now, Mr. OLeary. You can afford to eat. Are you kidding me?

KO: Listen, her tax regime is ridiculously uncompetitive.

The Star: That may be, but your suggesting you cant eat is a little bit, forgive me, rich.

KO: Apparently you have no sense of humour, is that what Im 

The Star: I dont know, my friends say I do, but 

KO: Listen, Im not happy with the taxes. The point is I pay tax in Canada, Im a Canadian citizen, Im a Toronto resident. I have many homes around the world, but Toronto is my tax residency and my domicile.

The Star: And where do you see yourself running? In Toronto? In Montreal?

KO: Nowhere, not for the first year. The plan is to go back and retrieve all those people that left the party, the 18 to 35 year olds that voted for Trudeau. I have to get 62 per cent of them back, or I wont get a majority mandate (in 2019). As soon as the leadership race is over Im hitting the road, and Im going after them. I will spend just a few days a week, if that, in Ottawa. Its much more important to get those people back in the party.

I told the caucus privately, and Ill tell you publicly now, if I dont deliver a majority mandate in 2019? They can fire me.

The Star: But theres no mechanism to do that in the partys constitution, is there?

KO: Listen, Im telling you if I dont do the job that Im promising, they dont have to keep me. And Im not going to stick around if I cant deliver, thats the whole point.

Listen, theres a plan here. You cannot win a majority mandate as a Conservative party (leader) unless you get 60 per cent of the votes between 18 and 35 (years old). That is the entire task at hand for the next 24 months. Everywhere Trudeau goes, Ill be there right behind him explaining his policies and why they wont work for those young people hes talking to.

This interview has been edited for space and clarity.

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Toronto Mayor John Torys plan to add 300 child care subsidies by cutting a grant that helps lower costs for parents who use daycares in schools is being called cynical and bad public policy.

What is very sad about the mayors proposal is that he intends to fund fee subsidies for low-income families by increasing fees for parents who are already stretched to pay the full fees, said Councillor Janet Davis.

We should be helping all families to access affordable child care, not taking from one group to assist another, she added. It is cynical, bad public policy and it is definitely the wrong way to address inadequate access to child care in Toronto.

Tory unveiled the plan Tuesday at Dane Avenue Child Care Centre, a new 62-space centre for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers built on city land as part of a condominium development near Dufferin St. and Lawrence Ave. W.

A recent city report found that licensed child care  which costs an average of $1,400 a month for children under 4  is unaffordable for about three-quarters of families. As a result, almost 17,500 kids are waiting for subsidies.

The lack of subsidies also means many daycares have space they cant fill, which puts centres at risk, Tory told reporters.

By adding these subsidies we are improving access to child care for the parents who need it the most, he said. And were helping to ensure that child care operators, like those here in Dane Ave., have stable enrolment, which allows them to run successful, sustainable child care centres over the long-term.

Since each subsidy costs an average of $10,000 a year, Torys proposal would cost about $3 million. He would pay for it by repurposing a city grant that offsets rent for daycares in schools, arguing it is not fair to centres in other locations.

City staff have already proposed axing the grant to save $1.13 million this year and $2.26 million in 2018. Tory asked all departments to cut their budgets by 2.6 per cent to address a $91 million shortfall. City council votes on the budget in February.

If the province acts on the citys request last year to pick up the cost of the grant, it would ensure parents using daycares in schools arent hit with higher fees as a result of the move, Tory noted. But that seems unlikely in the short-term.

A spokesman for Associate Education Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris, said municipalities are responsible for allocating provincial child care dollars and that Toronto already receives $306 million from Queens Park, a 57-per-cent increase since 2004.

The ministry is seeking to engage with school boards and early years partners to review the issue of accommodation costs, as part of the governments work on a broader provincial framework to make child care more accessible and affordable for Ontario families, said Lucas Malinowski in an email.

Councillor Pam McConnell, who is responsible for the citys poverty reduction strategy, said she is pleased Tory is talking about child care. But she noted it is just the beginning of a very necessary discussion with our partners at the province.

In a unanimous vote Monday, the citys community development and recreation committee called on the citys budget committee to add 340 new fee subsidies, including 75 approved last year but not funded as well as 265 to ensure half of new spaces being built in 2017-18 are affordable.

The committee also urged the budget committee to keep the citys occupancy grant for daycares in schools and add $2 million to ensure 2,000 subsidies currently funded through dwindling child care reserves are permanently funded.

I support the province picking up the (daycare) occupancy costs in schools, Davis said. But until that issue has been resolved with the province, the city should not be cutting the grant.

Davis said the mayor is wrong to suggest it is unfair for the city to be subsidizing rent for daycares in schools and not elsewhere.

The city should be making child care more affordable for all families not increasing the cost to some families to make it more affordable for others. Its not fair and it is the wrong direction to go.

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A small poodle found walking alone with its mouth muzzled and malnourished on Christmas Eve in Scarborough has found a new home.

Frankie, a male apricot poodle, about one to two-years-old, was found walking in the area of Rouge River Dr. and Jaguar St. by a passerby.

With an elastic band around his nose, Frankie was obviously distressed and very thin due to chronic malnutrition, said Toronto Animal Services in a news release.

The seven-pound puppy was taken to an emergency veterinarian where he was assessed.

After a week of searching for a new owner, Toronto Animal Services announced on Tuesday that the happy, pleasant, trusting dog had found its new, forever home with his foster mother.

His foster mother, who is active in the rescue community and has been involved in his case from the beginning, will be adopting him, said the agency in a news release.

Frankie has bonded strongly with her and with her other poodle, who is also a Toronto Animal Services rescue dog.

Veterinarians are still determining whether or not Frankie will need surgery next week for the tissue that was damaged by the elastic near his nose.

As is always the case with surgery, vets do not want to perform it unless theyve made certain it is absolutely necessary, said the agency.

At the news of the incident, the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has offered a reward of up to $5,000 to anyone with information on the person responsible for Frankies injuries.

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General Electric Peterborough is laying off up to 150 of its 520 employees.

The layoffs are a result of challenging marketplace dynamics and a current drop in volume of orders from our customers according to Rahim Ladha, spokesperson with GE Global Growth.

Its unclear when the layoffs will take effect.

GE is committed to working with the union and affected employees to provide assistance wherever possible, Ladha said in a statement.

GE employs 520 workers at its Peterborough plant. Another 200 people work in the GE-Hitachi plant on the same property.

MPP Jeff Leal, the son of a 40-year GE worker, says the work slowdown is directly related to the dropping price of oil's impact on the pipeline industry. While GE's Coast Guard ship-building contract moves ahead, the demand for motors to keep pipeline flow moving has diminished.

"There is a lack of new activity," Leal says.

The expectation that the price of oil will remain at $55 for most of 2017 does not help the cause, he adds.

He says if the Keystone Pipeline is resuscitated in the United States that could change GEs fate.

A spokesperson for Unifor, the union presenting GEs workers, was not available to comment on the layoffs since meetings continued Tuesday afternoon with the company.

In a statement, Mayor Daryl Bennett said his thoughts are with the affected employees and their families.

General Electric is making a difficult business decision due to a downturn in customer orders. I sincerely hope that the federal government will deal with the Energy East pipeline application so that we can try to recover some of these lost jobs in our community, Bennett said.

Last month, a Star investigation reported on the struggle of hundreds of former General Electric workers in Peterborough to get compensation for often terminal illnesses like brain cancer they blame on exposure to workplace chemicals in previous decades. The company says it has always taken the health and safety of its employees seriously and that as more information became available about chemical use, GE, like other industrial companies, reduced or eliminated their usage.

General Electric was once one of the citys industrial giants, employing 6,000 people at its peak of production.

Peterborough This Week

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A court has ordered a new penalty hearing at Ontarios medical regulator for a Toronto physician who was suspended for six months for groping four female patients, calling Dr. Javad Peirovys punishment clearly unfit.

The panel of Divisional Court judges also delivered a strong rebuke Tuesday of the discipline committee at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), which had already been criticized for years by experts and victims as being at times too lenient on doctors found to have sexually abused patients.

The publics confidence in the medical profession demands more from the disciplinary process than recent sexual abuse discipline cases suggest, Justice James Ramsay wrote on behalf of the panel, which included Justices Anne Molloy and Michael Dambrot.

In the case of sexual touching of breasts of multiple female patients under the pretense of a medical exam, I would expect the committee to be debating whether to revoke the members registration or impose a suspension measured in years, as opposed to months.

Peirovy had denied the allegations of sexual abuse before the discipline committee. His lawyer, David Porter, did not return a request for comment for this article.

Porter had argued before the court in December that past discipline cases at the college involving sexual abuse showed that Peirovys suspension was well within the range of appropriate penalties, but the judges suggested the penalties in the other cases were not tough enough.

The facts of these cases are base. It is depressing to review them, Ramsay wrote.

They do little to encourage confidence in the committees approach to eradicating sexual abuse in the profession. Consistency in the imposition of sentence is a proper consideration, but a litany of clearly unfit penalties does not justify the penalty imposed in the present case.

The penalty imposed in the present case was clearly unfit. It was inadequate to protect the public and vindicate the integrity of the profession.

The discipline committee is independent of the college. A panel of the committee, chaired by former CPSO president Dr. Marc Gabel, found in 2015 that Peirovy sexually abused the four women in the span of a few months in 2010. In April 2016, the panel suspended him for six months despite the urging of the colleges lawyer to revoke his licence.

That led to two rare moves on the part of the college: its registrar publicly expressed disappointment with the discipline committee, and the CPSO appealed the penalty decision to Divisional Court, arguing the public was at significant risk while Peirovy practiced at a Toronto walk-in clinic.

The college said in a statement to the Star that it was pleased with the appeals outcome, and that a new penalty hearing will be scheduled at the earliest available date.

Sexual abuse is a serious violation of the doctor-patient relationship. As we have advocated for in our sexual abuse initiative, and set out in our proposal to the Minister of Health to amend legislation, penalties for sex abuse must contribute meaningfully to the eradication of sexual abuse in the profession, the college said.

The legal wrangling underscores what critics have said are fundamental problems with the system designed to protect Ontarians from abusive doctors. That was the focus of a 2014 Star investigation that in turn led to a task force report on the issue.

While most forms of sexual abuse, including penetration, oral sex and masturbation, lead to mandatory revocation of a doctors licence, the penalty for groping remains at the discretion of the discipline committee.

Last December, the provincial government proposed new legislation that would expand the list of acts of sexual abuse that lead to mandatory revocation, which would include groping. Health Minister Eric Hoskins has said he hopes the legislation is passed by spring.

This (court) decision acknowledges the longstanding failure of the college discipline process to enforce a zero tolerance policy for sexual abuse of patients, said medical malpractice lawyer Paul Harte, who was not involved in the case.

The current regulations put in place many years ago aim to eradicate sexual abuse perpetrated by health professionals. The deterrent effect of this decision will hopefully go a long way to meeting that objective.

Peirovy now practices at Ultimate Diagnostics in North York. One of the conditions on his licence is that he not practice on women unless supervised by a female health professional.

He pleaded guilty in criminal court in 2013 to two counts of simple assault relating to two of the patients who were later the focus of his disciplinary hearing at the college. He was given a conditional discharge and 18 months probation and was ordered by the court to take counselling.

At the hearing before the disciplinary committee, Peirovy was found to have placed his stethoscope on the nipples of two patients and cupped their breasts. Regarding two others, he touched their nipples when there was no clinical reason to examine the women in that way, the panel found.

These women have lost much of their trust in doctors, especially male doctors, Ramsay wrote in Tuesdays court decision. A short suspension is clearly inadequate to deter others and to contribute meaningfully to the eradication of sexual abuse in the profession.

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In order to stand up to Donald Trump and a rising tide of white supremacy, we need to look at problems in our country first, a panel discussion heard Wednesday night.

Physician, heal thyself, Karen Mock said during the discussion, hosted by the Mosaic Institute.

The election and inauguration on Friday of Trump as the U.S. president has, in the eyes of many critics, helped to usher in an era where racist speech and hatred are becoming tolerated again.

But Ihsaan Gardee, executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said similar issues were raised in Canadas 2015 federal election.

Whether it was the idea of people in face veils taking citizenship oaths  or the so-called barbaric cultural snitch line, weve seen it here in Canada as well, Gardee said.

In Toronto, Rob Ford was Trump before Trump. Drain the swamp and stop the gravy train are eerily similar, Gardee said.

Gardee spoke as part of a four-part panel that also included activist and Star columnist Desmond Cole, Mosaic executive director Bernie Farber and Mock, who is chair of JSpaceCanada. The event was moderated by Warren Kinsella, author of the widely acclaimed Web of Hate: Inside Canadas Far Right Network.

Cole said Canadians need to do a better job of calling out racist language and actions in politics on this side of the border.

I think Kellie Leitch promotes white supremacy because she says the government is supreme over the wishes of its indigenous people. But how is Trudeau going to criticize that when he puts a pipeline over the same indigenous lands against their wishes? Cole asked.

Speaking to the Star before the event, Farber said Trumps appointment of Stephen Bannon as chief White House strategist, the former executive director of the far-right website Breitbart News is worrying.

When you appoint a fellow like Stephen Bannon, who is an avowed white nationalist  as your chief adviser, this is unprecedented in world history, Farber said.

On this side of the border, theres been a rise in hate-based attacks as well, Farber said.

This month, anti-Semitic death threats were painted on a large rock on a Winnipeg womans doorstep. In December, a swastika was scrawled across the front of a Sikh temple in Calgary and in recent months a Toronto teen has been praising Hitler on the Internet, earning a following in the tens of thousands.

Wednesday nights conversation ranged from whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should publicly condemn Trumps more offensive rhetoric to ways to find hope in the face of so much public anger and frustration.

Mock said rather than stoop to Trumps level, Trudeau should seek to take the higher road.

The way to counter Trump is by continuing to be a feminist, by continuing to see the world through an anti-oppressive lens, she said.

Cole said one thing Canadians can do that we dont often talk about is to build up levels of support amongst each other  in order to sustain ourselves for the fight.

I just started seeing a therapist, everybody, and thats because I need to take care of myself in this fight, too.

Recap: Panel Discussion

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[January 17, 2017] WRMT Addresses OTC Markets Group 'Inappropriate' "Caveat Emptor" Designation; Believes That Recent Share Price Growth Is Solely Due To Previously Announced Business Activities

MIAMI, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- World Media & Technology Corp. ("Wor(l)d") (www.worldmediatech.com) (OTC PINK: WRMT), today would like to address OTC Market Group's recent designation of the stock as "Caveat Emptor", citing a Public Interest Concern under its guidelines. WRMT confirms that it is fully compliant with all reporting requirements of the OTC markets alternative reporting guidelines and is Pink Current tier. WRMT also confirms that it is not involved in any type of stock promotion or other activity that would justify a "Caveat Emptor" designation. Instead, WRMT believes that its recent share price appreciation is solely related to the recently announced success of Helo in the marketplace, its partnership with Toshiba at CES and the pending launch of its glucose estimation technology, a world's first in the wearable industry.

Fabio Galdi, CEO, World Media & Technology Corp., said, "It is unfortunate that our success has triggered such a concern by OTC Markets. While our current share price performance may be unusual for a Pink Sheet stock, it cannot be completely unexpected either given that we have publicly announced some significant and tangible news in recent weeks. For example, our partnership with Toshiba, the pre-launch of Helo at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the announcement of, what we believe, is the World's first wearable, non-invasive, continuous, blood glucose estimation technology using Helo which will generate recurring revenues for WRMT."

Mr. Galdi continud, "All of these announcements, combined with the worldwide success of our Helo device in the market, are understandable grounds for significant interest in and demand for WRMT stock. Whereas we fully respect OTC Markets desire and responsibility to protect investors, in this case we firmly believe that this designation is entirely inappropriate. WRMT has few shares available in the public float and if demand for our stock is high, then understandably this may have triggered such rapid recent price appreciation. I can also confirm categorically that WRMT is not involved in, and we are unaware of, any promotion/spam activities at all, and that we are not aware of any investigation for fraud or other criminal activities which normally trigger a "Caveat Emptor" designation. We are currently in discussions with, and are providing some requested information to, OTC Markets Group to resolve this issue as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will continue to focus on our day to day business, despite this unwelcome distraction."





About Wor(l)d

World Media & Technology Corp. designs, manufactures and sells connected, next-generation, innovative wearable devices which use its proprietary Life Sensing Technology. It has end-users in over 80 countries which it supports through its exclusive distribution partnership with Wor(l)d Global Network (www.worldgn.com). For further information, see www.worldmediatech.com.



This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects," "intends," "believes," and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, the ability to secure additional sources of finance, the ability to reduce operating expenses, and other factors described in the Company's filings with the OTC Markets Group and with the SEC. The actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wrmt-addresses-otc-markets-group-inappropriate-caveat-emptor-designation-believes-that-recent-share-price-growth-is-solely-due-to-previously-announced-business-activities-300392246.html SOURCE World Media & Technology Corp.

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Most of Pride's membership has agreed to endorse demands made by Black Lives Matter Toronto when they stopped the 2016 Pride parade, but no one is sure what this means for the future of police participation  including the police.

The demands included removing police floats and booths from all marches, parades and community spaces.

The vote was held during Prides annual general meeting Tuesday night.

Newly-elected Pride board member Akio Maroon said Wednesday night that although the board hasnt even had a chance to meet and discuss the next steps, Maroon personally intends to honour the memberships wishes moving forward.

(In my opinion) the board takes its direction from the membership, and the membership has been very clear on where and what they want the board to do  a complete follow-through on Black Lives Matters demands, Maroon said.

The logistics of how that is done, thats going to be something for us to work out, the fine print. However, theres 110 per cent possibility of us following through on what our members want.

Other members of the board were not available for comment on this story.

In addition, Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash said police have yet to speak to Pride Toronto about the meeting and how, if at all, the endorsement will affect police presence at future events.

Its extremely confusing, said Pugash. Were not commenting until we have some idea, some definitive idea from the organizers, as to what happened (at the meeting).

Black Lives Matter brought the 2016 parade to a standstill for more than half an hour in July, refusing to move until Pride officials agreed to a list of nine demands, which also included committing space, funding and support for the group Black Queer Youth; self-determination for all community spaces; adequate funding for community stages; doubling funding for Blockorama, a showcase for black performers as well as ASL interpretation and headliner funding; reinstating community stages and spaces like the South Asian stage; prioritizing black trans women, black queer people and indigenous people when hiring Pride staff; hiring more black deaf and hearing ASL interpreters; and hosting a public town hall to update the community on the demands.

Prides then-executive director Mathieu Chantelois signed the list, but told the Star the next day he had no intention of honouring the demands before consulting the community.

Pride held two public town halls in August and also issued an apology in September on how it handled the protest, leaving eight demands unresolved.

Mayor John Tory said he is hopeful that the issue surrounding police participation in the pride parade can be resolved.

The Toronto police have had a presence in the Pride parade for more than a decade and continue to make meaningful efforts to build bridges with the LGBTQ2S community. Also, we rely on our police service to keep Pride safe every year and obviously they must continue to do so, he said in a statement Wednesday.

Following the vote Tuesday night, departing Pride co-chair Aaron GlynWilliams told the Star that the previous board supported the demands and will remain committed to progressing on all those issues, but that the presence of law enforcement remains a hot issue.

What were really getting down to . . . is about the police and the role of the police at the festival, GlynWilliams said. This isnt a simple yes or no; this is about implementation and operations, and that will fall to the new staff and new board thats going to be elected tonight to figure out, not the what, but the how.

Banning police from Pride was not on the table under the previous board, he emphasized.

We are very committed to law enforcement and to pushing with law enforcement to consider their role and the way that theyre represented, GlynWilliams said.

A ban is not something that we have considered or would consider, and I think thats the difficult grey area to explain to people, where theres confusion.

GlynWilliams added he thought the discussion on how to handle police presence at Pride would have been better had it took place after the five new board members had been elected.

It was a bit of cart-before-the-horse to talk about it in advance of electing those new voices, because thats really where the community is going to have their voice heard and make decisions on how to figure out the implementation, he said.

The main points on the agenda for Tuesdays meeting included presenting the board of directors annual report and for the election of five new board members, but attendees raised a motion to have a discussion about the remaining demands by Black Lives Matter and then to endorse them. Both were supported by the majority of the room.

Janaya Khan, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto, said the vote was an encouraging step in discussions with Pride Toronto.

What the implementation of the demands will look like, well see. We called for internal structural changes within Pride Toronto, challenged their hiring practices, and essentially cover all grounds of what Pride Toronto is . . . and it seems like thats what the public wants, Khan said.

Our job as an organizing body is to amplify the voice of community members, and this is what the community has called for, Khan added. We dont seek complete consensus. We seek to represent the marginalized. Change is uncomfortable, but it is necessary and we should be having these conversations.

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An average of about 1,400 Canadian immigrants are intercepted at the border each year and ordered removed from the country for not fulfilling their residency obligations, the Star has learned.

Although these newcomers can appeal to a tribunal to restore their permanent resident status under humanitarian considerations, only one in 10 succeeds in the process, according to government data.

The tribunal is supposed to be immigrants last resort as the Parliament has given it the discretionary power to give immigrants a second chance if they breach the law, said immigration lawyer Lawrence Wong, who obtained the data through an access to information request.

But that second chance in reality is hard to come by. The national sentiment is pretty much the same. If you are an immigrant, dont make a mistake. If you do, we want to see you kicked out.

Its believed to be the first time data about the loss of permanent residency at ports of entry has been made public, revealing the extent of residency noncompliance among immigrants trying to get back to Canada after lengthy stays overseas, said Wong.

Canadas immigration law requires permanent residents to be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in every five-year period in order to maintain their status. Otherwise, their residency will be revoked.

According to the Canada Border Services Agency, on average 1,423 permanent residents a year were stopped at the border for failing the requirement from 2010 to 2014, the most recent statistics available. During the period, Canada accepted some 260,000 newcomers annually.

The number of removal orders issued against these individuals had risen sharply to 1,413 in 2014 from 605 in 2008, when former Conservative Immigration Minister Jason Kenney took over the department and cracked down on fraud.

Across Canada, Quebec had the highest detection rate; more than a third of the removal orders were issued in the province against the non-compliant immigrants returning to Canada.

Between 2008 and 2014, a total of 3,575 immigrants were slapped with removal orders for residency non-compliance at Pierre Elliot Trudeau airport in Montreal, dwarfing the 439 and 972 people respectively intercepted at Torontos Pearson airport and the Vancouver International Airport.

The numbers do not include those who had their permanent residency revoked due to criminality and misrepresentation, who were refused travel documents to return to Canada or who applied to voluntarily relinquish their permanent residence.

While all these immigrants who lost their status can appeal to the immigration appeal division based on errors in law or humanitarian and compassionate grounds such as hardship from separation with family in Canada, the border services agency data show their success rate hovers at about 10 per cent  and has declined in the past few years.

Those who successfully restored their permanent resident status dropped significantly from 127 or 17 per cent of 746 appellants in 2008 to 78 or 7.7 per cent of 1,008 people in 2014.

Once you are issued a removal order, the chances of saving your permanent status are really very limited, said Wong.

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Francesca Wheatley does not seem like a police officer, at least not to those around her.

People think Im too nice, Police Const. Wheatley, 21, said, a touch sheepishly. They expect, she said, a middle-aged man.

But Wheatley, slight of build and with an easy smile, is exactly the kind of officer her superiors want to recruit.

For months, she has been patrolling a neighbourhood of Burnley, a northern English town with a history of racial tensions (riots in 2001 left houses and businesses in flames). Like most of Britains police officers, she is unarmed but clad in a flak jacket, carrying little more than a radio, a nightstick and a set of handcuffs.

Wheatley, who studied social policy at the University of Birmingham, joined the police last summer, one of more than 150 officers farmed out across England as part of an initiative by the British Home Office that started in 2015.

The program, Police Now, recruits university graduates and assigns them for two years in the countrys most troubled areas, where they walk the streets and provide a public face for the police.

With police forces in the United States facing accusations of racial bias over shootings involving officers and unarmed black men, the British initiative focuses in particular on the recruitment of women and minorities, looking to diversify a corps often derided as male, pale and stale.

In Burnley, Wheatleys supervisor, Insp. Catherine Platt, has seen the changes to the polices composition firsthand.

When she joined the force in 1993, Platt was required to wear a skirt and stockings and was given a police-issued handbag. (Her baton was smaller than that of male colleagues so it could fit inside.) Her only pair of trousers was for use on night shifts.

Seven gents and myself, Platt, 45, said of her cohort of officers at the time.

Weve still got a way to go, she said. But were always making progress.

The diversity initiative  trumpeted by Prime Minister Theresa May when she was home secretary  is explicitly modelled after Teach First, a British version of Teach for America. As in Teach First, participants have the choice of staying on or leaving after two years.

It is a significant change in a law enforcement tradition that traces its roots to 1829, when the Metropolitan Police, the force responsible for London, was established, thanks in part to Sir Robert Peel, the home secretary at the time.

Police Const. Rhian Samuda, another participant, has no plans to leave.

After joining Police Now in 2015, Samuda, 24, was assigned to Tottenham, one of Londons most violent boroughs. Knife crime is a persistent threat, and a police shooting in the area in August 2011 set off riots across the city.

Samuda, however, is familiar with it all: She was born in the neighbourhood.

The granddaughter of immigrants from Jamaica, she went to college in Nottingham, a city 160 kilometres north of London, before returning to live with her parents in the capital.

I love the fact that I used to live here, she said, sitting in the Tottenham Police Station canteen. And now I give back to this community.

The program aims to address lingering allegations of excessive violence and complaints that efforts to diversify have not gone far enough.

Around 28 per cent of police forces in England and Wales are made up of women, while about 6 per cent of officers are members of minority groups, according to figures released in March. That is up from 16 per cent women and 2 per cent minority members in 1998.

Police Now graduates, though a small proportion of overall forces, are more reflective of population statistics. So far, 176 officers have been hired since the program started in the summer of 2015, and around 250 more are set to join this year. Of those who are already on the beat, 49 per cent are women and 18 per cent are minorities.

Deadly violence at the hands of law enforcement remains rare in comparison with other major Western countries, particularly the United States. Police Now graduates are encouraged to resolve issues without arrests or violence.

Several challenges remain, though, for police forces and for Police Now.

As Britain has sought to curb government spending in recent years, the 5.3 million, or roughly $6.4 million (U.S.), guaranteed to the Police Now program over the next two years has been criticized by police unions.

Experts also note that policing has become more complex in recent years, as officers sort through data and evidence from an increasingly wide array of sources. It is too much for anyone to learn in two years, critics of the Police Now program charge.

The programs organizers say that it has attracted a diverse cohort of officers and that many will follow a career in policing, though there are no explicit retention targets. David Spencer, a Police Now founder and program director, added that those who did leave would become ambassadors for Britains police forces in whatever industry they joined.

Having grown up nearby, Wheatley wanted to patrol Burnley. The town, population 87,000, was long centred on a number of cotton mills, but has fallen on harder times: A 2015 government report said it was among the most deprived areas in Britain.

That feeling is not lost in the town itself. As he walked through the office, one of Wheatleys colleagues jokingly asked when Burnley looked its best. When youre leaving it.

On a recent patrol, Wheatley was accompanied by Police Constable Mark Bewley, her mentor  an experienced officer assigned to team up with her in the early weeks of her career. The pair drove through the areas they are responsible for, and Wheatley sat in as the police representative in a meeting of officials discussing recent episodes at a local care home.

They later walked down a nearby street where three windows had been shattered by bricks. Around the corner, the pair walked by the house of a resident who was suspected of breaking the windows, and briefly stopped to chat with him.

Its always good to know not just the nice people in the neighbourhood, but also the people who might commit crimes, Bewley said.

At the end of the working day, back at the police station, an army veteran approached them. After saying he had been drinking, he added that he was considering overdosing because of his marital problems. The man broke down crying as Wheatley comforted him.

I cant do this again, he said. Im scared.

Wheatley and Bewley drove the man to his brothers house, sat with the men in the living room and calmed the situation. As the officers left, the men thanked them and said they would try to resolve the marital difficulties before approaching law enforcement for help again.

But earlier in the police station, her arm around the mans shoulder, Wheatley had reassured him.

You dont need to be scared, she said. You coming to us was the best thing you could have done.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.  The man suspected of fatally shooting five people and wounding six others at a Florida airport told investigators initially he was under government mind control and then claimed to be inspired by Daesh websites and chat rooms, authorities said at a hearing Tuesday.

FBI agent Michael Ferlazzo also confirmed that the 9mm Walther handgun used in the Jan. 6 shooting rampage at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is the same weapon Anchorage, Alaska, police seized and later returned to 26-year-old Esteban Santiago last year.

Ferlazzo testified at a bond hearing that Santiago mentioned after the shooting that his mind was under some kind of government control. Later in the interview he claimed to have been inspired by Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, related chat rooms and websites, although it is not clear if the FBI has been able to corroborate any terror-related claims.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana Snow set a Jan. 30 arraignment hearing for Santiago to enter a formal plea. Snow ordered Santiago kept in custody as a risk of flight and a danger to the community, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Del Toro said was clear from his actions at the airport.

He has admitted to all of the facts with respect to the terrible and tragic events of Jan. 6, Del Toro said. These were vulnerable victims who he shot down methodically.

Santiago could get the death penalty if convicted of federal airport violence and firearms charges that resulted in death. His public defender, Robert Berube, said Santiago would not contest the pretrial detention order.

Mr. Santiago is prepared to remain in custody, Berube said.

Investigators say Santiago legally brought a gun box containing his weapon and ammunition as checked luggage for his flight, then retrieved it at the Florida airport and went into a bathroom. After loading the gun, authorities say he came out firing randomly and then laid down on the floor after using all 15 bullets in two clips.

Much of the hearing focused on Ferlazzos testimony about what Santiago said after the shooting and what records from Alaska reveal about him.

Ferlazzo said Santiago, an Iraq War veteran who was a member of the Puerto Rico and Alaska National Guard, visited a gun range late last year before booking the one-way ticket from Alaska to Fort Lauderdale. It was previously reported that Santiago visited the FBI office in Anchorage last year complaining about hearing voices and supposed CIA mind control, which led to Anchorage police temporarily seizing his gun and Santiagos brief stay in a mental hospital.

At the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, Ferlazzo said, records show Santiago was given anti-anxiety medications but no prescriptions for drugs that would treat serious mental conditions such as schizophrenia. He was released after a five-day stay with no restrictions that might prevent him from possessing a gun, and his weapon was returned by police.

He was deemed to be stable, the agent testified.

In the post-shooting interviews, Santiago at first repeated claims that he did it because of government mind control but later told investigators he had been visiting chat rooms and internet sites frequented by Daesh or those inspired by it.

It was a group of like-minded individuals who were all planning attacks, Ferlazzo said.

The FBI is examining Santiagos computers and other devices as well as those of family members, but so far agents have not confirmed any terrorism ties.

Other evidence collected so far includes video from 20 different airport camera angles that show the entire shooting episode, Ferlazzo testified. In addition, the roughly six-hour interview in which Santiago supposedly confessed was audio and video recorded.

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CANCUN, MEXICOGunmen attacked the state prosecutors office in this Caribbean resort city Tuesday, and authorities said four people were killed, ratcheting up tensions just a day after a shooting at a music festival in a nearby town left five dead, including one Canadian.

It was too early to say if the attacks were linked, but they were a marked intrusion of bloodshed into Mexicos main tourism zone, a region that had previously been spared much of the violence plaguing other parts of the country.

The governor of Quintana Roo state, Carlos Joaquin, said three attackers and one police officer died in Tuesdays incident. He said five suspected attackers were taken into custody. He urged calmed, saying the federal government was sending more security forces to the region.

A witness said the gunmen who attacked the prosecutors office also threw two explosive devices at a perimeter wall. A reporter at the scene saw police remove a body from a guard post near the building after the attack.

A few hours later, hundreds of people fled the Plaza de Las Americas shopping centre after possibly hearing gunfire inside. It wasnt clear what happened, or if any shots were fired, but soldiers swarmed into the mall.

Irma Huxool, a woman who had just bought tickets to the movies, told The Associated Press that she heard three shots at the entrance to the cinema and people started running in confused panic.

The U.S. Consulate in Merida issued an alert about the incidents in Cancun and urged U.S. citizens to take care and to follow local authorities warnings and directives and consult with their hotels before leaving the premises.

Earlier in the day, the hypothesis of drug links to the shooting in nearby Playa del Carmen before dawn Monday was strengthened after a banner briefly appeared along a roadside, signed by the Old School Zetas, part of the fragmented Zetas cartel, suggesting the attack was carried out as part of a battle against rival gangs.

RELATED:Mexican resort town fears nightclub shooting means drug war has arrived

Quintana Roos attorney general, Miguel Angel Pech, said investigators were looking into whether the banner referred to the BPM music festival or one of its organizers.

Pech said authorities were investigating whether extortion, street-level drug sales or a murder plot was the motive behind the shooting at the closing party for the BPM electronic music festival. Five people died, including Toronto bouncer Kirk Wilson.

Pech said the gunman fired directly at one of the Mexican victims at the Blue Parrot nightclub where the party was being held. A confused shootout ensued in which guards  it is not clear whether festival security personnel or the Mexicans bodyguards  returned fire.

One guard was hit by gunfire, and as he fell, his pistol went off, wounding several concert-goers, Pech said. It was unclear why the Mexican man might have been a target. Pech said his family told prosecutors that he had an important relative in the state government of Veracruz, a state plagued by corruption and violence.

The attacker fled, but Pech told the Televisa TV network that a taxi driver who helped the man escape has been linked to previous extortion attempts. Some businesses in Mexico are forced to pay protection money under threat of being attacked.

Either they didnt reach an agreement over protection payments, directly extortion, or it may be that somebody did not allow them to sell drugs inside the nightclub, Pech said.

Perhaps the strongest hypothesis is that this person had gone there to demand they comply with protection payments, he added at a news conference.

Playa del Carmen residents said the shooting came amid a growing and increasingly open drug scene in the resort town, which has long been spared the violence of Mexicos cartel wars.

Concerns that violence may be creeping into the once-tranquil beachside town were voiced as people attended a Monday evening vigil in front of the Blue Parrot nightclub.

This is a sign of what has been happening, said Lenin Amaro, a local business owner and politician.

It has reached us, Amaro said of the countrys drug violence. We were living in what you could call a bubble.

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WASHINGTONPresident Barack Obama commuted the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning on Tuesday, allowing the Army intelligence officer who leaked scores of classified documents to go free nearly three decades early.

Manning, who will leave prison in May, was one of 209 inmates whose sentences Obama was shortening, a list that includes Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez-Rivera. Obama also pardoned 64 people, including retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during a probe into disclosure of classified information.

These 273 individuals learned that our nation is a forgiving nation, said White House counsel Neil Eggleston, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward.

The actions are permanent, and cant be undone by President-elect Donald Trump. White House officials said Obama would grant clemency to more individuals on Thursday  his final day in office  but that batch was not expected to include prominent individuals like Manning.

A former Army intelligence analyst, Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking more than 700,000 classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court in 2013 of six violations of the Espionage Act and 14 other offences and has spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama last November to commute her sentence to time served.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced, and LGBT rights groups took up her cause and lobbied the president to grant her clemency. She was held at a mens prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and filed a transgender prisoner rights lawsuit, although the military did approve gender-reassignment hormone therapy.

She attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers, citing her treatment in prison. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

White House officials said the president was inclined to grant clemency to Manning because she had expressed remorse for her crimes and had served several years of her sentence. The officials briefed reporters on a conference call on condition of anonymity.

We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obamas action could quite literally save Chelseas life.

But Obamas move was panned by Mannings critics, including several prominent Republicans. House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move just outrageous.

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets, said Ryan, R-Wis. President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes.

The U.S. Army and the Pentagon both declined to comment on Obamas decision.

Mannings commutation came as Obama, days before leaving office, wielded his clemency powers with new-found vigour. Though most of the beneficiaries were low-level drug offenders or little-known financial criminals, a few prominent names made the list, too.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who received a pardon, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Irans nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the U.S. government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

Lopezs term will now expire in May.

Commutations reduce sentences being served but dont erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

It wasnt immediately clear what Obamas commutation for Manning would mean for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who had earlier pledged that he would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning.

Holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, Assange had expressed concern that if he left he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges. But the Justice Department has never publicly announced any indictment against Assange, who is also being investigated by Sweden for a possible sex crime.

White House officials didnt say Tuesday whether there were sealed charges against Assange, but insisted his pledge to surrender to the U.S. didnt play into Obamas decision to commute Mannings sentence.

Melinda Taylor, who serves on Assanges legal team, said he would not go back on his word, though she didnt elaborate about possible extradition.

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BAGHDADU.S.-backed Iraqi government troops announced on Wednesday they were in full control of eastern Mosul after routing Daesh militants from that part of the northern city, three months since the major operation started.

The achievement was a big victory, said Iraqi army Lt. Gen. Talib Shaghati, who commands the counterterrorism forces, describing the success of the Iraqi forces as unprecedented.

Shaghatai, who spoke to reporters in the town of Bartella, just east of Mosul, said plans were now being drawn up to retake the western part of the city. He did not elaborate on when that part of the operation would begin.

Wednesdays advance came after Iraqi troops over the past days intensified their push into the last neighbourhoods controlled by Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, in Mosuls eastern sector, closing in on the Tigris River, which roughly divides the city. Stiff resistance by the militants, thousands of civilians being trapped in their houses by the fighting and bad weather had, in the past, slowed the advances of the troops.

However, skirmishes and clashes continued in some pockets along the Tigris in eastern Mosul, according to Iraqi special forces Maj. Ali Hussein, who said his unit was still pushing into the Ghabat area along the river bank. Small arms fire could be heard and at least one civilian was wounded by mortar fire.

Also, some commanders on the ground disputed Shaghatis claim of full control of eastern Mosul, with Lt. Gen. Abdul-Amir Raheed Yar Allah saying the eastern side has not been fully liberated . . . and the advance is still continuing.

Yar Allah, who commands army operations in Nineveh, where Mosul is the provincial capital, said the special forces have done their duty in eastern Mosul.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued a statement, posted on his website, saying that work is underway to liberate Ghabat and the area housing Saddam Husseins former presidential palaces in eastern Mosul. He also vowed to liberate the western side of the city.

But the prospect of retaking western Mosul looms heavy on Iraqi forces, despite all the support they have by the U.S.-led coalition, as well as Sunni and Shiite volunteer militias. The western half of the city is home to some of Mosuls oldest neighbourhoods, with narrow streets packed with buildings that will further complicate the urban fight.

So far in the Mosul offensive, Iraqs counterterrorism forces, which are by far the militarys most battle seasoned unit, have done most of the fighting, advancing from east of the city.

Regular Iraqi army troops are pushing from the citys southeast and northern edges, and the federal security forces from farther to the west.

Mosul  Iraqs second-largest city and Daeshs last urban stronghold in the country  fell to the militant group in the summer of 2014, when it captured large swaths of northern and western Iraq.

The operation has also left more than 148,000 people homeless, according to the United Nations. Nearly 12,500 people have been forced to flee their homes just over the past week, the UN said.

More than one million people were estimated to still be living in Mosul in October, when Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the city.

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BANJUL, GAMBIA President Yahya Jammeh once predicted that his rule could last a billion years.

Now, the fate of his nation is hanging on one more anxiety-filled day and Jammeh faced the prospect of a midnight military intervention by regional forces.

After acknowledging defeat in an election last month, Jammeh abruptly changed his mind, refusing to step aside for the inauguration of the new president scheduled for Thursday and threatening to drag the country into a bloody standoff.

Jammeh, who has long been criticized for human rights abuses and grandiose claims like being able to cure AIDS with little more than prayer and a banana, has insisted on a do-over election. He declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, warning the country not to engage in any acts of disobedience.

We are waiting so that all political means have been exhausted. The mandate of the president is finished at midnight, Seydou Maiga Mboro, a military commander with the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, declared on Senegalese radio station RFM. The outgoing president should start leaving at that time.

All the troops are already in place, he added, saying they were merely waiting to see whether Jammeh would acquiesce to international pressure to cede power to president-elect Adama Barrow.

As midnight approached, Jammeh met Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, with whom he is on good terms. The Mauritanian leader left Gambia shortly before midnight, telling Gambia state television, I am now less pessimistic (Jammeh) will work on a peaceful solution that is in the best interest for everyone. 

As threats of military intervention mounted, hundreds of foreign tourists began leaving on special charter flights, though some continued to relax poolside despite the political turmoil. Gambia is a popular beach destination in winter, especially for tourists from Britain, the former colonial power.

The downtown area of the Gambian capital, Banjul, was completely empty late Wednesday, with all shops closed. But there was no visible military presence apart from a checkpoint at the entrance to the city, despite the threat of incoming forces.

Senior officials in Jammehs government have resigned in protest or left the country. Thousands of Gambians have fled to the countryside or across the border, fearing violence. West African nations have urged diplomacy but made plans for a military intervention, while Jammeh has threatened that his own military is prepared to defend Gambias sovereignty against foreign interference.

Barrow, who has the overwhelming support of Gambians and international leaders, is forging ahead with plans for an inauguration ceremony on Thursday.

What we are simply and rightfully asking for is to return to the polls and allow Gambians to elect who they want to be their president, Jammeh said, rejecting the previous vote as riddled with irregularities.

Parliament added to the confusion on Wednesday, voting to extend Jammehs term for three months, state television reported, although it was not clear whether the move was binding.

Duelling claims to the presidency have upended countries in the region before, coming to a violent end in Ivory Coast in 2010.

Back then, Laurent Gbagbo, the president, refused to step down after the challenger, Alassane Ouattara, won a presidential election. Gbagbo declined to vacate the presidential palace, while Ouattara was forced to hole up in a hotel with UN peacekeepers watching over him.

The standoff led to months of turmoil and the deaths of more than 3,000 people as armed groups swept across the country and battled for control. Finally, France, the former colonial power, attacked Gbagbos compound and helped drive him out, culminating in his arrest in April 2011.

Many Gambians are worried about a repeat in their country. Samsudeen Sarr, Gambias deputy ambassador to the United Nations, predicted that military intervention in Gambia would lead to a similar civil war if foreign forces intervened.

In another sign of the mounting international pressure, Nigeria confirmed a warship was heading toward Gambia for training, and RFM radio reported that Nigerian military equipment had begun arriving in Dakar in advance of the midnight deadline. In addition to Nigeria and Senegal, Ghana also has pledged to contribute militarily.

Starting a war may be easy, but the aftermath of the war is what should be our major concern, Sarr said. The Gambian army has been very loyal to President Jammeh, and it should not be underestimated.

At first, Gambia seemed on track for a surprisingly simple transition. Jammeh has stiffly ruled the country for 22 years since seizing power in a coup. His government has prosecuted and imprisoned critics, some of whom wound up dead. Thousands of citizens have fled the country amid soaring unemployment. Threats of imprisonment have been a fact of life for years.

Without warning, the country cut off telephone and Internet service around the time of the election, raising fears of government repression to hold onto power. But after election results showed that Jammeh had lost, he suddenly conceded in a polite, jokey phone call to Barrow. Gambians erupted with relief that his rule was over.

Behind the scenes, Jammeh was fuming over the results. His advisers eventually persuaded him to concede to avoid unrest. Then talk of his prosecution for human rights abuses began. Jammeh announced that the vote was flawed and appealed to the Supreme Court.

Regional leaders flew in but failed to persuade Jammeh to accept the vote. A hashtag circulated on social media  #GambiaHasDecided  with citizens calling for him to step down. The court effort stalled, largely because Gambia has not had a full panel of Supreme Court judges in more than a year, after Jammeh fired the justices and refused to refill the bench.

A court hearing on the case was recently rescheduled, but not until May, potentially leaving the fate of the country uncertain for months.

Jammeh called Liberias president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is also the chairwoman of the Economic Community of West African States, appealing for help in assembling a panel of Supreme Court justices to hear his case immediately. Jammeh broadcast the phone call to the nation, unbeknown to Sirleaf, who apparently thought the conversation was private.

Meanwhile, Jammehs Cabinet is showing cracks. His information minister, who for years had staunchly defended him, fled the country. This week the minister of finance resigned, and a day later his replacement also resigned. The minister of tourism and the health and social welfare minister have also quit.

Jammeh has fired others who have called on him to respect the election results.

Even the election winner, Barrow, has left the country. Last week, he flew to Mali to meet with other regional leaders who pledged their support. For now, he is in Senegal, planning his inauguration ceremony and avoiding security risks that might emerge in Gambia. Over the weekend, his 7-year-old son back home died of a wound from a dog bite. The funeral took place without Barrow, who had been advised to stay in Senegal for his safety.

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Gambian president Yahya Jammehs 22-year hold on power ends with surprising speed

With files from The Associated Press

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Emerging from the gilded doors of an elevator in Trump Tower on Jan. 13, Lockheed Martin chief executive officer Marillyn Hewson said shed just promised president-elect Donald Trump to hire 1,800 workers in Texas. Four days earlier, Jack Ma of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba stood in the marble-clad lobby to announce an expansion of his companys U.S. business. That same day, French luxury mogul Bernard Arnault was there to tell Trump that his LVMH group might step up U.S. manufacturing.

Why the CEO parade? Its clear that Trumps threats and tweets are having some effect on global corporations. Lockheed, for one, looks ready to do whatever the new president asks  but thats no surprise, since the Pentagon is its biggest customer. Besides adding jobs in Texas, Hewson promised to lower costs significantly for Lockheeds F-35 fighter jet program, which Trump has blasted for cost overruns.

Most companies, though, simply seem to be trying to avoid the presidential crosshairs by showcasing projects already in the works. General Motors Co. on Tuesday announced $1 billion in U.S. investments that will add or retain 7,000 jobs. But its plans were approved before the election in November, according to a person familiar with the matter. At the Detroit Auto Show, Toyota said itll invest $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years  the same amount it spent during the past five. And on Jan. 3, Ford Motor Co. scrapped plans for a $1.6-billion expansion in Mexico after months of Trump calling for levies on U.S. companies that send jobs abroad. The carmaker later said it wouldve made the same decision regardless of Trumps comments.

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Trump in his tower  he rarely leaves, but hell pick up if you call

Bank of Canada warns of consequences if Trump protectionist policies take hold

Foreign manufacturers have good reason to fear Trumps wrath, as he has proposed new trade barriers to keep their products out of the U.S. In an interview published Jan. 15 by Germanys Bild newspaper, he threatened a 35 per cent levy on BMWs from a new $1-billion factory in Mexico. BMW countered that the Mexico facility will ship cars worldwide, and that its biggest plant in the world is in Spartanburg, S.C., most of which are exported. The company sees no reason to change its plans, Peter Schwarzenbauer, head of BMWs Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, told reporters at a conference in Munich on Jan. 16.

Overseas companies account for a growing share of U.S. manufacturing employment as factory jobs have fallen to 8 per cent of the U.S. workforce, from 13 per cent in 2000. Foreign multinationals created some 11,400 manufacturing jobs in 2015 by expanding their U.S. operations or establishing new U.S.-based ventures, up from 8,300 jobs created in 2014, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. The U.S. remains attractive because of its vast consumer market, skilled workforce, strong intellectual property protections, and predictable regulatory environment, says Aaron Brickman, senior vice president of the Organization for International Investment, a Washington-based association of foreign corporations with U.S. operations. Politics can be emotional, but companies tend to look past emotion when deciding on investments, Brickman says.

Chaney Ho, president of Taiwanese computer maker Avantech, says his company has been expanding its U.S. footprint for several years and now has 90 workers at an assembly facility in Milpitas, Calif., along with more than 500 sales, marketing, and technical-support staff nationwide. That growth would have continued no matter who won the presidential election, he says. The U.S. is quite strong in networking systems, network security and cloud computing, Ho says. A lot of our business comes from that sector.

Foxconn Technology Group, a major supplier to Apple, has said its considering an expansion of its investments in the U.S., stirring concern in China, where many of the Taiwan-based companys factories are located. Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou has promised Chinese authorities that he wont withdraw capital from the mainland, according to people familiar with the matter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., another key Apple vendor, has said it wants to help create jobs in the U.S., without giving details.

Luxury group LVMH, which already makes Vuitton bags in California, has an incentive to increase U.S. production as it seeks to boost sales in the country, says Deborah Aitken, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst. Time to market has become more important, having the product there to meet rising demand as youre expanding, Aitken says. Still, CEO Arnaults visit to Trump Tower was clearly intended to pre-empt adverse moves by the incoming administration, says Luca Solca, an analyst at Exane BNP Paribas in Geneva. Arnault meeting Trump was a masterpiece of diplomacy.

Sometimes, the visits are simply optics. Trump, who has accused China of stealing U.S. jobs and called for higher tariffs on Chinese imports, praised Ma as a great, great entrepreneur, even though Alibaba isnt even planning to hire any U.S. workers. The company does, though, predict it will create 1 million U.S. jobs by recruiting more American small businesses and farmers to sell goods in Asia via its website.

One CEO who apparently didnt get the memo about Trump diplomacy is Fiats Sergio Marchionne. Fiat drew a thank you tweet on Jan. 9 after announcing a $1-billion investment for U.S. production of three new Jeeps and a Ram pickup now made in Mexico. Marchionne, though, quickly pointed out that the move had long been planned. We dont make decisions, Marchionne told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show, based on the risk of a tweet.

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PRISTINA, KOSOVOKosovos prime minister has called on Serbia to refrain from threatening language and turn to dialogue and co-operation.

Isa Mustafa on Wednesday spoke at his cabinet meeting about recent tensions with Serbia which heightened over the weekend when a Serbian train, bearing signs reading Kosovo is Serbia and decorated in the colours of the Serbian flag and Christian Orthodox symbols, was turned back from the border with Kosovo.

Serbias President Tomislav Nikolic has accused Kosovos ethnic Albanian leaders of wanting war and warned that Serbia would defend every inch of its territory.

Mustafa said that there is no alternative to European Union-brokered dialogue, aimed at normalizing their relations.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but that has not been recognized by Belgrade.

Serbia, backed by Russia, has sought to maintain influence in Kosovo, especially in the north where most of the countrys Serb minority lives. NATO-led troops have controlled Kosovos territory since a three-month air war in 1999 to stop a bloody Serbian crackdown against ethnic Albanian separatists.

Serbia officially is seeking EU membership, but has lately been moving toward Russia, its traditional Slavic ally.

Mustafa deplored Serbias intensification of provocations which he considered as unrealizable and anachronistic.

Earlier in January tensions between soared following the detention in France of Ramush Haradinaj, a former Kosovo prime minister and a former guerrilla commander in Kosovos 1998-1999 war for independence from Serbia. Serbia demanded his extradition to Belgrade to face war crime charges. Pristina says Haradinaj has twice been cleared of such charges by a U.N. tribunal.

In December, the Serb ethnic minority in Mitrovica raised a concrete wall in the northern part of the bridge on Ibar River, calling it a technical support barrier against a landslide. Kosovo protested, and its parliament voted to demolish the wall.

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[January 18, 2017] Emerson Selected to Help Convert UK Coal-Fired Plant to Biomass

EPH Lynemouth Power has awarded Emerson (News - Alert) (NYSE: EMR) a contract to help convert the 44-year-old coal-fired Lynemouth Power Station to a new biomass-fueled power plant. As main automation contractor and main electrical contractor, Emerson is responsible for helping the project come online within budget and on time. When the conversion is complete in late 2017, the plant, near Newcastle in the United Kingdom, will be fueled by approximately 1.4 million tons of wood waste per year, supplying the national grid with up to 390 megawatts of low-carbon electricity. The project supports Europe's strategy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while boosting renewable energy and energy efficiency. Emerson's ability to deliver full-scope project execution will help streamline workflow, mitigate risk and reduce costs. Emerson's local team of experts will incorporate project innovations that are key to its Project Certainty initiative in order to deliver the project on time and within budget. Emerson will be responsible for demolition, engineering, installation, start-up, commissioning and coordination of work among multiple suppliers and contractors. Unlike other suppliers, Emerson offers a single integrated automation platform for all applications - turbine, boiler, fuel handling and balance-of-plant processes, as well as electrical systems. This capability, along with the company's project management expertise, were critical factors in EPH Lynemouth Power's decision to select Emerson and its Ovation solution for this project. "Relying on a single supplier and a single technology platform for both the automation and electrical scope provides our client a number of benefits," said Bob Yeager, president, Power & Water, Emerson Automation Solutions. "From a planning perspective, having a single interface and contract for design, engineering and delivery improves overall project efficiency. On the operatonal side, utilizing one technology platform will simplify plant operation and enhance plant performance on an ongoing basis."



Biomass power plants are challenging to operate because the moisture content of biomass fuels can vary, having a negative impact on plant performance. Technology integrated into Emerson's Ovation solution continuously monitors fuel for moisture content, adjusting combustion air as necessary to improve plant efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. According to Yeager, the demand for biomass-fueled power continues to grow as utilities diversify their generating portfolio to meet evolving environmental mandates.

"We are helping the industry meet its targets by seamlessly bridging the automation and electrical aspects of these projects, resulting in a total solution that has a positive impact on the plant's commercial and operational success," Yeager said. Note to Media: Photos available upon request. About Emerson

Emerson (NYSE: EMR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global technology and engineering company providing innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and residential markets. Our Emerson Automation Solutions business helps process, hybrid, and discrete manufacturers maximize production, protect personnel and the environment while optimizing their energy and operating costs. Our Emerson Commercial and Residential Solutions business helps ensure human comfort and health, protect food quality and safety, advance energy efficiency, and create sustainable infrastructure. For more information visit Emerson.com. Additional resources: Emerson's power generation solutions

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WASHINGTONEmbracing his clemency powers like never before, President Barack Obama is planning more commutations in his final days in office after a dramatic move to cut short convicted leaker Chelsea Mannings sentence.

Obama became the president to have granted more commutations than any other when he announced Tuesday that Manning will be freed in May, almost 30 years ahead of schedule. Manning, the transgender Army intelligence analyst who leaked more than 700,000 U.S. documents, was one of 273 people receiving clemency on a single day.

Receiving pardons from the president were retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during another leak probe, and San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, sentenced in 1996 on tax evasion charges. Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Riveras 55-year sentence was commuted.

But Obama is not finished. The White House said Obama would grant more commutations Thursday  the day before his presidency ends  though officials said those would focus on drug offenders and would not likely include any other famous names.

Neil Eggleston, Obamas White House counsel, said the individuals were learning that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward.

The actions are permanent and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offences and spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama last November to commute her sentence to time served.

Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a mens prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests. The former cheered Obamas move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.

Obama did not grant a pardon to another prominent leaker, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, whom the U.S. has been unable to extradite from Russia. Snowden hasnt formally applied for clemency, though his supporters have called for it. Yet the White House drew a distinction between the unapologetic Snowden and Manning, whom officials noted has expressed remorse and served several years already for her crime.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced. She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obamas action could quite literally save Chelseas life.

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move just outrageous, and added, Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets.

Manning, Lopez and many of the others will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry. Obama also pardoned hotelier Ian Schrager, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion.

Commutations reduce sentences being served, but dont erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Irans nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the U.S. government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

The White House noted that absent a commutation, the 74-year-old Lopez likely would have died in prison.

Obamas commutation for Manning also raised fresh questions about the future of another figure involved in the Army leakers case: Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks had earlier pledged, via tweet, that its founder would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning. Holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where hes wanted on a rape allegation, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

But the Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange. WikiLeaks lawyer Melinda Taylor said U.S. and British authorities refuse to say whether the U.S. has requested extradition. Though she praised the commutation for Manning, Taylor made no mention of Assanges earlier promise to agree to extradition.

White House officials said neither Assanges fate nor separate concerns about WikiLeaks role in Russian hacking of the election factored into the decision to commute Mannings sentence. The officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

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When a utility worker in Key Largo, Florida, noticed that a section of a paved street was not settling properly, he decided to remove a manhole cover and descend into the earth.

Moments later on Monday morning, the three-metre-deep hole went silent. Sensing the man was trapped, a fellow utility worker climbed into the drainage hole to rescue him. When he, too, stopped responding, a third worker entered the same hole.

All three men died, overcome by poisonous fumes underground, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. A Key Largo firefighter who made a desperate attempt to save the men also became unconscious within seconds. The firefighter, Leonardo Moreno, an eight-year veteran of the department, was flown to a hospital and was in critical condition Tuesday.

The hole, just wide enough to fit a body, was filled with hydrogen sulphide and methane gas created from years of rotted vegetation, the Miami Herald reported. None of the four men wore masks or carried the air packs that could have likely saved their lives. Moreno descended into the hole without his air tank because he could not fit through the hole with it, according to Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay.

A colleague was able to wear his gear and pull Moreno out. Firefighters also retrieved two of the workers, who were confirmed dead at the scene, and treated a fourth utility worker at the scene. The third deceased workers body was recovered from the hole Monday afternoon.

The men worked for private construction contractor Douglas N. Higgins and were responding to neighbour complaints of sewage backup in the area, Ramsay said. They were identified as 34-year-old Elway Gray of Fort Lauderdale, 49-year-old Louis OKeefe of Little Torch Key and 24-year-old Robert Wilson of Summerland Key.

Mondays tragedy left the Key Largo community shaken, locals said in messages on social media. Its been a very difficult day, Ramsay said.

One towing company posted a message on Facebook reaching out to the families of the men who were killed.

While visitors might see Monroe County as a collection of tropical resorts and tourist getaways, to locals, our little island is a small town like any other, the company wrote. We all know someone, or the families of someone, who was lost today. To say our hearts break for them is an understatement. Nobody can bring our friends and neighbours back.

Three white crosses were left at the 106-mile marker on Long Key Road where the deaths occurred.

A woman who lives near the manhole told Local 10 News that the area has smelled of rotten eggs for the past couple of months.

It smells like rotten eggs, Barbara Guerra said. It was out here again this morning and Im used to it because theyve been a whole year already. She said she knew the workers from walking by the area every morning, and would often wave at them and bring them water.

Three sheriffs deputies who were exposed to fumes were also taken to a hospital for treatment. Five households in the area were evacuated for part of the day Monday, as a Miami-Dade County HAZMAT team performed tests at the scene. Their tests revealed there was both methane gas and hydrogen sulphide gas coupled with low levels of oxygen in the pipe, the sheriffs office said in the statement.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is responding to the scene as part of its own investigation into the circumstances of the workers deaths.

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GAO, MALIA suicide bomber in an explosives-laden vehicle attacked a camp in northern Mali on Wednesday, killing at least 60 people and wounding 115 soldiers and former fighters who are trying to stabilize the region. The attack marked a significant setback for peace efforts.

Suspicion quickly fell on the Islamic extremist groups operating in the area which oppose the 2015 peace agreement that brought the parties together. A Mauritanian news agency that frequently receives communications from extremist groups, Alakhbar, said a group linked to al-Qaedas North Africa branch, al-Mourabitoun, had claimed responsibility.

The morning blast hit the Joint Operational Mechanism base in the city of Gao, home to Malian soldiers and hundreds of former fighters who signed the peace agreement with the government. Witnesses said the car breached the camp as hundreds of fighters were gathering for a meeting.

The office of Malis president late Wednesday put the provisional death toll at 60, with 115 wounded.

Dr. Sadou Maiga at Gaos hospital told The Associated Press that all other hospital activities had ceased with dozens of wounded victims arriving.

Some have died from their wounds, and others are in a very grave state, he said. At this point, its not the toll of dead and injured that interests me, its saving who I can.

The attack underscores the enormous challenges that remain in northern Mali four years after the French military led an intervention to drive the jihadists from power in the major towns across the north. The peace agreement has proved difficult to implement.

The former fighters who signed the 2015 peace deal include ethnic Tuareg secular rebels who once fought the Malian military. Now they are supposed to be forming joint patrols in the area, though the program has yet to begin.

If the security situation continues to deteriorate, then soon there wont be any peace to keep in Mali, UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the UN Security Council on Wednesday. He said attacks are becoming more sophisticated, and that rivalry among armed groups continues to slow implementation of the peace deal.

Ladsous reminded the council that it has the power to impose targeted measures against those who violate the ceasefire.

At the United Nations, Malis Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said the criminal, cowardly, barbaric attack will not deter the government from moving forward to promote peace.

Mali has become the worlds deadliest UN peacekeeping mission. Some 29 UN peacekeepers were killed last year in attacks blamed on jihadist armed groups, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday.

The report details how extremists are extending their reach further into central Mali, trying to implement their strict interpretation of Shariah law and pressuring families to give up their children as soldiers for the cause.

The report also denounces rising levels of banditry, a phenomenon victims say is fuelled by the slow implementation of the peace accord.

Malian Security Minister Salif Traore declined to respond to the reports specifics but said he is well aware of security challenges throughout the region.

French President Francois Hollande, who visited a French military base in Gao just a few days ago, condemned the attack in the strongest terms and reiterated Frances support for Malis peace process.

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WASHINGTONTogether, they delivered a Post-election autopsy with a dire prediction: Republican survival requires embracing a message of tolerance and respect in an increasingly diverse United States.

Now, four years later, with Donald Trumps inauguration nearing, the authors of the Republican National Committees 2013 Growth and Opportunity Project concede their report is little more than an afterthought as members gather in Washington to celebrate their partys success. The authors tell The Associated Press they continue to believe the GOP must improve its standing with women, Hispanics and black voters in the age of Trump, but they disagree on a path forward.

One of the five authors quit the Republican Party to protest Trump. The others stayed, but as their party prepares to control the White House, House and Senate for the first time in nearly a decade, they have abandoned any sense of urgency to address Republicans persistent struggles with women and minorities.

I dont think theres an issue. Trump won, said Glenn McCall, an African-American committeeman from South Carolina who helped write the section of the report that said: The Republican Party must be committed to building a lasting relationship within the African American community year-round, based on mutual respect and with a spirit of caring.

The tough-talking Trump has refused to soften his tone with virtually anyone.

Only this past weekend, the president-elect lashed out at civil rights legend John Lewis as the nation prepared to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday. The incoming president, responding to criticism from the Democratic congressman, called Lewis all talk and charged without evidence that his Georgia district is crime-ridden and falling apart.

Another author of the report, veteran Republican strategist Sally Bradshaw, determined there is no path forward with Trump in the White House.

I still stand by the report, and so much so that I left the party over Donald Trumps treatment of women and minorities, Bradshaw told The Associated Press. That report was a road map for long-term sustained wins by Republicans  celebrity and anger really arent much of a long-term strategy.

Bradshaw, who most recently served as chief strategist for Jeb Bushs failed 2016 presidential bid, now runs a bookstore in Florida.

Another author, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, has given up hope that Trump will adopt a welcoming and inclusive tone, as he called for in the autopsy.

It aint happening. At least not for Donald Trump, Fleischer said.

Trumps 2016 success, he said, came from his unique ability to expand the Republican electorate by winning over new white working-class voters. His performance with women and minorities, however, was little better than Mitt Romneys underwhelming showing four years ago.

Donald Trump was able to come in and expand the party in a way that nobody anticipated, Fleischer said. That doesnt change demographics. And the Republicans central issue remains: America is becoming more diverse. And Republicans have got to expand in order to be successful.

Trump won the presidency by the narrowest of margins.

The president-elect lost the popular vote by more than 2.9 million votes, but he scored the necessary electoral votes with the help of unexpected victories across the industrial Midwest. He won Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania by a combined 82,000 votes out of roughly 13 million cast.

Trump struggled in swing states with larger minority populations, losing Colorado and Nevada where the Hispanic population is booming. And his margin of victory in Texas and Arizona, traditional Republican strongholds with large minority communities, was narrower than that of any other Republican presidential contender in at least two decades.

Among African-Americans, Trump got 8 per cent of the vote, slightly better than Romneys 6 per cent against President Barack Obama, according to national exit polls.

For now, at least, the glass is half-full.

Frankly, theres a lot that those of us who wrote the report could have learned from Donald Trump, said another author, Henry Barbour, a Republican national committeeman from Mississippi. Be more the party of working-class folks.

Yet Barbour described the reports conclusion that the GOP must improve its standing with minority voters a fundamental truth.

Trumps come a long ways in that regard, Barbour said. And hes made plain he wants to be the president for all of America. Im encouraged. I think were making pretty good progress.

Trump will take the oath of office Friday as the least popular incoming president in at least four decades, according to polls.

Perhaps more disturbing to some Republican strategists is Trumps standing among women.

National exit polls showed that Trump lost women overall by 13 points last fall. Fleischer noted that he was the first Republican nominee to lose college-educated white women in the modern political era.

While Bradshaw thinks Trump is a lost cause, Fleischer predicts his performance over the next four years could improve the Republican Partys standing with key demographics regardless of his harsh rhetoric.

Donald Trumps presidency, along with much of the future of the Republican Party, is going to rise and fall with the status of the economy, Fleischer said, then added: If the economy tanks, its a very different future for the Republican Party.

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He may be illegitimate, a bully, or a sneering loudmouth. He may have lost the popular vote by a wider margin than any other electoral college winner in the history of the republic. But Donald Trump will be sworn in as 45th president of the United States on Friday and Americans and the rest of the world are going to need to figure out how to deal with this reality.

How difficult that will be is reflected by the news of the last week. The salacious story that got all the attention was actually a diversion from Trumps comments about Angela Merkel, the EU, NATO, Brexit, and his continuing admiration for Vladimir Putin, to say nothing of his continuing threats against companies investing outside the United States (which includes us).

The country that had been at the centre of the creation the postwar institutional order has not just gone wobbly. The president of the United States is now attacking the European Union and its leadership, NATO, trading relationships that date back to the formation of the GATT in 1947, with nothing to replace any of this except bluster, narrow protectionism, and a bizarre infatuation with the Kleptocrat of All Kleptocrats, Putin.

There are many who continue to believe that the way to handle all this is simply to carry on as if its business as usual. Normalize the Donald. Many of Trumps domestic opponents tried this strategy, and to little effect. It should now be clear to the entire Western alliance that no one is safe from the presidents attacks. To those who say his bark may be worse than his bite, remember that in politics the bark can actually be the bite, that speech itself is a form of action, and that the president has to be taken at his word.

This is not an argument for confrontation for its own sake. But unless the president adopts a very different stance and attitude, a bitter and divisive debate within the Western alliance on trade and security issues is inevitable. In particular, a punitive, unilaterally imposed tariff on companies that choose to invest in other countries (like Canada) is illegal under international trade law, to say nothing of NAFTA and the FTA.

Within his own country there will be another, equally intense, debate and there is no need for the rest of us to weigh in on that, except to note in this day of instant communication, that it is really happening, and that a president with an unprecedented negative approval rating on Day One and with opponents right across the political spectrum, has more challenges than hes prepared to admit.

Someone who can enrage the intelligence establishment and the entire black community in a single day, perhaps even in a single tweet, has a rare, but not necessarily commendable, political talent.

Every country has the right to choose its own leaders, and Americas friends and neighbours need to accept the reality that Donald Trump is indeed president. But we do not have to pretend that we share his values or remain silent when he attacks a fellow NAFTA member like Mexico.

We should have learned by now that hoping the bully will stay angry with someone else and therefore leave us alone is not just cowardly, it is short-sighted. Dont believe for an instant there is any reward for leaving an apple on this teachers desk.

It will take considered, reasoned, and co-ordinated action from Americas allies to persuade the U.S. political leadership that weakening the alliance, destroying trade agreements and undermining other political leaders threaten both prosperity and security, and that the United States will pay a heavy price for the Trump agenda as currently expounded by the president.

There is another challenge that Canada will face. If the Republicans are able to agree on a tax plan, and this becomes law, we shall need to deal with the challenge that such a move will pose. Companies will be moved by the carrot of lower taxes as well as by the stick of President Trumps rhetoric and threat of tariff retaliation.

Already the bank economists are preaching for more Canadian tax cuts to fight potential disinvestment. But can we really have an effective social justice and environmental agenda if all we do is mimic the American tax system? This will dominate our own debate in the time ahead, which will only intensify once the Conservatives and New Democrats have chosen their new leaders.

Bob Rae is a partner at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP and teaches at the University of Toronto.

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Ottawa is four steps closer to winning the bitter federal-provincial fight over health-care funding.

Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories are the latest to bolt from the so-called provincial/territorial united front in order to sign bilateral deals with Ottawa.

They join New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, which abandoned the common front shortly after talks between Ottawa and the 13 provinces and territories collapsed last month.

All seven jurisdictions have agreed to earmark hundreds of millions of dollars in special funds provided by Ottawa for home care and mental health services, both of which are deemed priorities by the federal Liberal government.

The seven have also agreed to accept a funding formula that would see Ottawa reduce its overall share of provincial health care spending from 23 to 20 per cent.

Before their common front collapsed, the countrys 13 provinces and territories had been united in their demands. They wanted Ottawa to boost its share of health care spending to 25 per cent. And they wanted any sweeteners, such as extra money for home care, to come with no strings attached.

For its part, Ottawa wanted to limit its spending increases. And it wanted to ensure that at least some of the money it did spend was used to fund home care and mental health, as promised by the Liberals in the 2015 election campaign.

There were negotiations of a sort. Ottawa made an offer; the provinces and territories said no; the federal government called off the talks.

Then it began to target the provinces and territories one by one.

At one level, this is a story of gamesmanship. Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott and federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau have outgamed their provincial and territorial counterparts. They knew that the poorer provinces and territories would be more likely to break ranks and acted accordingly.

At another level, this is an example of how nothing much changes. Federal governments going back to the Pierre Trudeau era have fretted about financing provincial programs over which they have little control.

It is no accident that Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus formula for reducing Ottawas share of health care spending is near-identical to the one proposed by former prime minister Stephen Harper.

Conversely, provincial governments have long feared getting caught up in Ottawas health care enthusiasms of the moment. Provinces want to know that if they use federal money to establish, say, better home care that this funding will continue.

What does any of this mean for Canadians who need health care? Thats tougher to decipher.

Bilateral health care deals are not new. Greg Marchildon, the former executive director of Roy Romanows royal commission on the future of health care and now a University of Toronto professor, notes that in the 1950s, most health deals were bilateral arrangements between Ottawa and specific provinces, with the federal government retaining the right to determine how its money was spent.

Under pressure from Quebec, which opposed federal oversight in areas of provincial jurisdiction, these were largely replaced in the 1960s by a more hands-off system in which Ottawa transferred money to the provinces under a general understanding that it would be used for health-related purposes.

But now there seems to be a feeling in Ottawa that the provinces are botching medicare  that they are using federal money simply to prop up a wasteful status quo instead of transforming the system.

Hence the federal governments affection for tying at least some health money to specific programs, such as home care. Hence also its willingness to negotiate individual deals with each province and territory.

Ottawas critique is partly true. Even Dr. Danielle Martin, a staunch defender of medicare, argues in her new book, Better Now, that Canadas health system can be made more efficient by, for instance, discouraging unnecessary medical tests.

But the provinces arent wrong when they say they need Ottawas financial help. Home care is capital idea  as long as its not used as an excuse by cash-strapped hospitals to dump patients who need acute care.

Money alone may not suffice to provide good health care. But it is necessary. As Philpott and Morneau pick off the provinces one by one, they might want to keep this in mind.

Thomas Walkom appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Im puzzled. There were lineups to see Prime Minister Trudeau in smaller cities as he began his cross-country tour, with venues changing to accommodate big crowds.

People in London, Peterborough, Kingston, Dartmouth, Fredericton, Sherbrooke, etc. had questions about carbon taxes, tax fairness, pharmacare, electoral reform, clean water for First Nations, transgender prisoners, Hydro prices, public service payroll delays, electoral reform, veterans pensions and many other matters, including some he has no say over.

Meanwhile, excited Ottawa journalists were clutching a pearl, a big cultured thing the size of a ham that they expect will arouse the envy of simple folk. The pearl is Trudeaus Christmas vacation with family and four friends on the Aga Khans private island in the Bahamas. This elitist trip will be the end of him, they say, channelling anti-elitist Khristinn I do have 22 letters after my name, Im not an idiot Kellie Leitch.

They think Canadians dont take Caribbean vacations. Except they do. Even I have, and I detest sand. Oh the boredom of lying on those wretched lounger things and baking like a potato.

The problem is that Trudeau took his winter break with the Aga Khan, who was an honorary pallbearer at his fathers funeral, knew Justin as a toddler and is a rich Muslim. In 2009 Stephen Harper made the Aga Khan an honorary citizen of Canada, and in 2014 co-opened with him the extraordinarily beautiful Aga Khan museum in Toronto.

Trudeau flew to Nassau on a Challenger jet but with no public flights to the island and no bridge, he accepted a helicopter ride. After weeks of bored MPs having the vapours, the ethics commissioner is now studying this.

I know what Trudeau should have done: rented a boat and rowed there. He can paddle, weve seen him. MP friend Seamus ORegan went to Cambridge and surely knows how to scull.

Four hale friends plus Sophie and the children and youve got yourself a modern Three Men in a Boat, the 1898 bro novel by Jerome K. Jerome that remains as fresh and funny as when it was first published. Its about Jerome, Harris and George, and Montmorency the dog, deciding theyre suffering from overwork  they are not  and going boating on the Thames.

(Bros overpack. Bros are object of public mirth in cab rank, at train station, on river, on bank. Bros bring canned goods for lunch but not can opener. Fit of temper. Bros discover advantages of cheese. George buys banjo. Harris falls in. Bros get lost on river, can go neither forward nor back. Tent collapses. Harris burns scrambled eggs, Montmorencys nose. Jerome peels potatoes, Harris instructs, resentment ensues. Harris attacked by swans. George tries to punt, left clinging to stick, stick sinks. There are four islands. Bros get the wrong one.)

Imagine this with the Trudeau family party. Children unimpressed, Sophie distinctly icy. Worried Aga Khan sends out rescue team. Trudeau rowboat towed in by competent staff. Lifelong friendships shattered. (Kate Purchase, badly sunburned, not speaking to husband Tom, Seamus glaring at Justin, does not know what Sophie sees in him, Seamus husband Steve does not know what he sees in Seamus. Gift for Aga Khan  crate of artisanal beer  was drunk on trip. Tom found eating secret biscuits. Steve has sea lice embedded in foot.)

Aga Khan is peacemaker, extracts lice, applies unguent, recommends reading, rest and prayer.

Perhaps the ethics commissioner will limit the PMs friends to a wealth cap of no more than 12 times Trudeaus salary. No, six. He cannot visit mansions  too fancy for you, young man  but townhouses are OK.

Well, he cant stay at our house. I recall having a dozen eight-year-olds for yearly birthday party sleepovers, rivers of laughter from the basement and a night of squealing.

But little girls get along. Im not bringing down breakfast and having Trudeau principal secretary Gerald Butts complain that he doesnt like blueberries touching his pancakes. Rob Silver knows this. He put them there. Rob smirks.

In Davos this week, cabinet ministers will have to bunk in one open-plan ski chalet. Same debacle as rowboat. (After lights out, Chrystia Freeland reads with flashlight under the covers, Francois-Philippe Champagnes long johns are hi-vis, Navdeep Bains gently puts sleeping Scott Brisons hand in bowl of warm water, and Bill Morneau sleepwalks. Screaming fight erupts at 2 a.m. Things are said.)

The easy way out is to do what Harper did, not have any rich famous friends, or indeed any friends at all. Food for thought: prime minister as social isolate. It worked before, or didnt.

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Re: Russia is the winner in hacking scandal, Opinion Jan. 12

Russia is the winner in hacking scandal, Opinion Jan. 12

There are tons of reasons to mistrust the Russian hack story.

First, the need for external enemies has dominated U.S. politics from time immemorial, and Russian President Putin fits the bill. Add to that the Democrats campaign to slander their opponent, and to find a scapegoat for and a distraction from their own failings. Find an outside foe to direct your hatred towards; its the oldest dirty trick in the book.

And yet people want desperately to believe. The hysteria with which the chant has been taken up, and the infantile enthusiasm with which succeeding revelations are greeted, has become truly amazing. Enough people hate U.S. president-elect Donald Trump badly enough that they insist on accepting any story that hurts him regardless of the lack of evidence.

The frenzy reminds me of extremist religion  a mass-hysteria belief in things for which theres no direct physical evidence, and the slandering and shaming of anyone who dares to suggest there might not be anything there.

For insisting that evidence be produced Ive been called pro-Trump, Ive been told Im gaslighting myself, and Ive even been referred to as a True Believer  a bizarrely self-unaware label to use on someone whos skeptical about the story, especially coming from someone who believes it! Itd be comical if there werent so much at stake.

For starters theres the ramping up of tensions with another nuclear power to  even beyond  Cold-War levels. Whats more, if and when the Russian hack story falls apart, its going to hand Trump much more credibility than he deserves. Hell be in a much better position to brush aside any future accusations, true or not.

You wish people would think about the harm that could be done when they swallow the Putin story hook, line and sinker. But then thinking clearly doesnt have much to do with it.

Andrew Brooks, Toronto

Navigating through the maze of Russian hacking constructed by writers Jacqueline Lopour and Eric Jardine, there is only one message at the very end: the elusive evidence against Russia is no where to be found.

It seems the CIA, the U.S. war machine and the Democrats have declared war against a president who is democratically elected by the American people, albeit with a question mark on his suitability for the position.

These unelected and shadowy elements are not only undermining the U.S. democracy but they are also risking the start of a nuclear war that could annihilate live on Earth. Over time, the allegations will prove wrong and will strengthen the Trump position by telling his supporters that his opponents in the establishment lied.

If these people are serious about confronting both Trump and the Russian alleged hacking, they can use the existing political and democratic institutions in the U.S. to deal with them properly and in a timely manner rather than spreading fear and hysteria at an extremely sensitive period in the history of the U.S. when the people have elected a president who seems unfit to govern.

Ali Orang, Richmond Hill

Russia as the bogey man is the recent line being touted by our government, and the media. Why?

Is the report regarding alleged Russian interference in the American election from the same CIA that provided information that allowed the US to engineer a conflict that killed over 4,400 and maimed nearly 32,000 Americans, and left over 100,000 Iraqis dead? That information is now well known to have been wrong. (The fact that the invasion of Iraq followed the conversion to the euro of its oil exports from US dollars, seems to have a more solid grounding than the fabrications we were led to believe.)

Since WW2 the USA has been involved in regular  interferences in the elections and positioning of political leaders in other countries. The history of regime changes by the US has long been widely known. Most recently, of course, being their activities in Syria.

Tulsi Gabbard, a US congresswoman, has recently introduced a bill in congress that seeks to limit US funding and arming of terrorist groups in other countries ( and if that isnt a clear indicator of US interference, I dont know what is). She also called US efforts to oust Assad illegal ( which it is: the US regularly ignores international law). Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Obama accused Russia of going after Americas good guy terrorists.

What about the now well known release of documents exposing US secret spying programs targeting Americans, and its own allies? The innocent outrage of Washington in their recent accusations against Russia would be funny, if it werent such a deadly game they are playing.

Currently, the US has over 60 Drone bases around the world, and over 800 military bases worldwide. This is Imperialistic ambitions on a scale the world has never seen before.

Right now there is a massive US led NATO buildup directed at Russia; NATO tanks and troops surround Russias borders. Citizens in Germany hold massive protests against the movement of these troops through their country. Although this is touted by Obama as defence against Russian aggression, a simple look at a map of NATO bases around the world, and around Russia, clearly indicates who the real aggressor is here.

To our shame, Canada supports these aggressions in what NATO calls its  Enhanced Forward Presence. This dangerous and provocative NATO activity is strangely unreported, and largely unknown by the general public.

Well, I could go on. Lets just ask, why we are now being fed the story that Russia interfered with the American election? Why is Senator John McCain calling this an act of war?

Where are we being led now?

Donna Rivet, Belleville

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Ontarios elementary teachers say the critical lack of support for children with serious behavioural issues has led to a rise in violent outbursts that puts students and teachers at risk.

And they are calling on the province to address it with more funding for special education and childrens mental health.

Increasingly we are seeing incidents of aggressive, destructive student behaviour in classrooms, Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, told a news conference Tuesday.

Many of these students are suffering and we need to step up to help them.

ETFO planned to meet with ministers of education and labour on Wednesday to highlight how profoundly the shortage of supports across the province is affecting schools.

The problem is regularly the number one issue on the table when union representatives across the province meet and something the federation hears about every single day, said Hammond.

Too many children as young as 4 or 5 are stuck on long wait lists for the vital early interventions they need  including assessments that would give them access to supports. Even then, those resources are inadequate to meet the growing demand, he said.

Education Minister Mitzie Hunter said Tuesday the government is currently holding consultations to develop a new strategy to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.

It is a top priority for us, she said.

We want our education workers and staff, we want our students when they walk into a school, to feel that safety. We want to ensure that they have the resources in place.

But Hammond said the province must deliver on that promise without further delay.

Chronic underfunding has led to boards across the province cutting educational assistants  who can be key to the success of special needs students  as they struggle to balance their budgets.

The federation also wants a co-ordinated system that would provide quicker access to childrens mental health services in the community and schools.

We know that students who have timely access to effective supports do better in school, said Janet Bigham, president of the ETFO Simcoe County teacher local.

She said principals and superintendents need more training on how violence affects teachers and how to respond, including by filing violent incident reports, to ensure those students and staff get help.

We cannot allow this type of environment to become the norm.

ETFO did not provide numbers from its members about how frequently they deal with violent incidents. But it cited statistics from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board showing that education workers have one of highest levels of lost time due to injuries as a result of workplace violence. Elementary teachers have more than twice the rate of secondary teachers, Hammond said.

Such outbursts profoundly affect all students and can create so much stress for teachers that they take time off work, said Shirley Bell, union local president for Kawartha Pine Ridge.

Resources are spread so thin that we are left trying to offer Band-Aid solutions that help us survive day to day, she said. But these do not address the real need for services to properly support our most vulnerable students.

With files from Kristin Rushowy

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Stock futures inched higher as Citigroup (C) and Goldman Sachs (GS) joined the series of banks that enjoyed a trading boost in the fourth quarter.

S&P 500 futures rose 0.14%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.14%, and Nasdaq futures added 0.2%.

Goldman Sachs gained 0.5% in premarket trading after posting higher growth following the surprise election win of Donald Trump. Revenue in fixed-income trading rose 78% to $2 billion in the three months through December, outpacing gains at Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Bank of America (BAC) . The bank earned $5.08 a share, above FactSet consensus of $4.76.

Citigroup also saw a strong finish to the year with profit rising by 7%. Net income climbed to $1.14 a share from $1.03 a share a year earlier. The results were slightly better than estimates of $1.12 a share. The stock fell 0.3% in premarket trading.

Consumer prices moved higher in December as inflation continued to trend toward the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Prices rose 0.3% last month, in line with consensus and building upon 0.2% growth in November. Consumer prices climbed 2.1% in 2016, the highest in five years. Core prices rose 2.2% last year.

Industrial production in the U.S. in December rose 0.8%, the strongest gain in two years. November's industrial output was revised to show a 0.7% drop, steeper than an originally reported decline of 0.4%.

Markets slid on Tuesday as Wall Street came to grips with a Trump administration ahead of the President-elect's inauguration on Friday. Stocks have generally outperformed since Donald Trump's unexpected win in November, though the so-called "Trump rally" appears to have run its course. Now, investors are left to determine which of Trump's policy positions are concrete.

Wall Street could get late-session direction from Fed Chair Janet Yellen when she delivers a speech in San Francisco. Yellen is set to speak on monetary policy and its tools in an address to the Commonwealth Club at 3 p.m. EST.

"We see limited scope for her remarks to sound hawkish as the key source of upside risks (fiscal stimulus) remains as uncertain as ever," TD Securities analysts wrote in a note. "Comments on labor market tightness will lend a constructive tone, but in true Yellen fashion should be balanced by emphasis on a gradual pace of policy firming and lingering downside risks to inflation."

The latest "Beige Book" from the Fed will provide insight into economic activity in the 12 Fed districts. The anecdotal reading on economic growth over a six-week period will be released Wednesday afternoon.

Crude oil held lower on Wednesday morning despite an upbeat report from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The group produced 33.084 million barrels a day in December, down 221,000 barrels from November. OPEC also reduced its 2017 forecast for non-OPEC countries as non-members including Russia pledged support for a production freeze agreement.

West Texas Intermediate crude was down 1.5% to $51.67 a barrel on Wednesday morning.

Target (TGT) slid 4% in premarket trading after reporting disappointing holiday sales. Same-store sales fell 1.3% over the holiday season as the retailer suffered from the same weak traffic trends as a number of other store chains. Target now forecasts fourth-quarter same-store sales to decline by 1.5% to 1%.

Fastenal (FAST) reported a mixed fourth quarter. Quarterly earnings of 40 cents a share came in 2 cents above estimates. Revenue climbed 2.7% to $947.95 million, but missed consensus by nearly $4 million.

Eli Lilly (LLY) agreed to buy CoLucid (CLCD) in a deal worth $960 million. The all-cash deal sees Eli Lilly paying $46.50 a share, a 33% premium to CoLucid's Tuesday close. The deal is expected to close by the end of the current quarter. CoLucid shares surged in premarket trading.

Deutsche Bank (DB) continued to decline in premarket trading after the Justice Department on Tuesday finalized a $7.2 billion settlement tied to a mortgage case. The bank will pony up $3.1 billion in fines and an additional $4.1 billion in relief to homeowners and borrowers. The settlement was over how Deutsche Bank sold residential mortgage-backed securities between 2006 and 2007.

It's a busy day on the economic calendar with consumer prices and industrial production for December out before the bell and the housing market index due for release shortly after market open.
[January 18, 2017] Blyncsy Launches Pulse, a State-of-the-Art Movement Analytics System Built for DOTs, Metros and Cities

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Understanding how people move is critical in analyzing, planning, and improving our roadways. Blyncsy Pulse gives Civil Engineers, Planners, and their Consulting Partners insights to improve the outcomes of their projects. From slicing and dicing origins & destinations, events, weather, seeing changes in volumes, getting detailed travel time information, to reliability metrics Pulse empowers its users to see through the mounds of data into meaningful patterns and insights. Blyncsy Pulse is built on the Blyncsy Movement Platform. "The Movement Engine and Platform connects the internet of things to a robust big data analytics engine, allowing various data sources to come together. We then apply our advanced algorithms to get at some incredible insights," says Victor Gill, Chief of Product at Blyncsy. "We've spent countless hours with Project Managers, Civil Engineers and Planners to create a simple and intuitive interface to present this sophisticated analysis." The launch of Blyncsy Pulse also marks the launch of Pulse IO, the input/output system for Pulse. Pulse IO connects your various data sources with the Movement Engine and allows users to pull raw data directly from Pulse. Using an API driven architecture Pulse IO provides increased access to your most meaningful data, including connectivity to DMS/VMS systems. Other key features of Pulse include account management, origins and destinations, travel times, segment management, flex charts, event management, group behavior profiles, and weather analysis. "A highly integrated system is what Blyncy is committed to providing our partners," says Blyncsy CEO Mark Pittman. The Pulse Network allows users to see beyond a given sensor deployment, breaking down the boundaries of smart cities. The Pulse product seamlessly integrates with Blyncsy's current line of sensors as well as a variety of external detection technologies. From the Blync-1212 Bluetooth and Wifi sensor to the newest Blync-0630 sensor, Pulse makes understanding your data easy.



"The release of Pulse gives our partners what they have been asking for in a simple scalable package, it's one of many exciting products we are working on," says Pittman. Current Blyncsy customers automatically qualify for an upgrade to Pulse. Learn more about Blyncsy Pulse

About Blyncsy Blyncsy is a tech start-up headquartered in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Focused on location analytics and big data science Blyncsy helps its customers understand movement through various environments. Blyncsy's Movement Platform assists departments of transportation, cities and other private and public entities to better understand the habits and trends of people by providing insights across data sets. Blyncsy was founded to give cities, companies and leaders better decision-making tools. Movement. Data. Intelligence. Media Contacts: Company Name: Blyncsy, Inc.

Full Name: Carlee McFarland

Phone: (385) 216-0590

Email Address: [email protected]

Blyncsy.com Related Images image1.png image2.png image3.png Related Links Blyncsy Home Page Contact Blyncsy 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/blyncsy-launches-pulse-a-state-of-the-art-movement-analytics-system-built-for-dots-metros-and-cities-300392377.html SOURCE Blyncsy, Inc

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Wilbur Ross is poised to play an outsized role in the Trump administration -- something that may make for an interesting Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, where he will cast himself as "pro-sensible trade."

Ross, the president-elect's nominee for Commerce Secretary, is set to appear before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today. The 79-year-old billionaire once described as the "king of bankruptcy" will likely face a barrage of questioning on his own stances and record as well as those of the president-elect on items like trade, business and jobs.

"I've made my livelihood for over five decades dealing in international commerce," he will tell the committee, according to his prepared opening statement. "I am very well aware of the issues many companies face and I'm sensitive to both the issues abroad and the issues here at home."

"Because Ross is so close to this president-elect, I think you're going to see Commerce have a more forward role than it has in the last two administrations," said Kara Ward, legislative and government affairs counsel at law firm Venable LLP and former attorney at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Ross is a long-time Trump ally and served as a top economic adviser to his presidential campaign.

The president-elect has indicated he will lean on Ross for trade policy, along with White House Trade Council pick Peter Navarro and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer. In statement announcing his decision to nominate Ross, Trump called him "one of the greatest negotiators I have ever met."

"I am pro trade. But I am pro sensible trade, not trade that is detrimental to the American worker and to the domestic manufacturing base," Ross will tell the Senate committee.

Trade is likely to be a major item on the agenda at Wednesday's hearing, but Senators might not be inclined to challenge Ross or the incoming administration's positioning.

"I don't know if the committee's going to go after Wilbur Ross on Donald Trump's proposed trade policies," said Matt Gold, adjunct professor of law at Fordham University and former deputy assistant trade representative under the Obama administration. "A lot of those policies are politically popular, and many of those Senators don't want to be seen by their own constituencies as being against them."

Trump plans to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and potentially renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, which many voters support.

Ross, like a number of Trump's top administration picks, hails from the private sector and has limited policy experience.

He built a name for himself investing in distressed companies, first at Rothschild Inc. and then at his own firm WL Ross & Co., which he sold to Invesco (IVZ) in 2006 for $375 million. He currently serves as chairman and chief strategy officer at WL Ross.

He has assisted in restructuring more than $200 billion of corporate liabilities, according to the firm's website. Forbes estimates his net worth to be $2.5 billion.

U.S. Senator John Thune, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has voiced his support for Ross' nomination. In a statement, the South Dakota Republican said he expects Ross to bring "exceptional real-world business experience" to the Department of Commerce and promised "strong support for keeping a successful entrepreneur at the helm of an agency charged with keeping our nation competitive."

Ross is a "sophisticated global player with experience in operating businesses and manufacturing as well as investing," said Cameron Kerry, senior counsel at Sidley Austin, LLC and former general counsel and acting secretary of the Commerce Department, in a recent post for the Brookings Institution, highlighting his deep experience in China, Korea and Japan.

He noted, however, that Ross will face some big questions during his hearing, trade-related and otherwise.

China is likely to be a major topic of conversation. While Navarro and Lighthizer are rather hawkish on the eastern superpower, Ross' approach is less clear. As a recent Politico profile noted, he has a long and complex history with the country, despite a more recent antagonistic turn.

"Mr. Ross has great experience with China," said Mickey Kantor, former trade representative in the Clinton administration from 1993 to 1996 and Secretary of Commerce from 1996 to 1997, in a recent interview with TheStreet. "He has been a great supporter of a positive U.S.-China relationship and can be quite helpful. I hope he would reach back to where he was a year ago and be a supporter of enhancing that relationship."

Financial disclosures and potential conflicts of interest will be on deck as well. Ross' Senate hearing was postponed last week because of a delay in submitting paperwork to the Office of Government Ethics.

Ross sits on the boards of a number of major companies, according to data gathered by TheStreet's relationship mapping service BoardEx, including ArcelorMittal (MT) , the world's largest steel company, the Bank of Cyprus, Exco Resources (XCO) , Sun National Bank (SNBC) and Nexeo Solutions (NXEO) .

He has not yet stepped down from his positions but according to a letter released by the OGE will resign from them all upon confirmation.

"Ross will be barred from any involvement in party matters in which he has a current interest or has previously been involved, and from issues involving sectors in which he holds an interest worth more than $50,000 or affecting companies in which he had a role in the past two years," Kerry said. "How much will such restrictions required by law limit Ross's ability to perform his duties as Secretary of Commerce and the role envisioned for him in a Trump administration?"

The Commerce Department comprised of 12 bureaus, including the International Trade Administration, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It accounts for approximately 36% of public federal data.

While the focus Wednesday will likely be on Ross' trade-related responses and, perhaps, his financial ties, Senators will likely also inquire about the Commerce Department's other activities. And voters will be wise to pay attention to his responses there, too, not just in the immediate future but over the long haul.

"Wilbur Ross may end up having a lower role in trade than Trump thinks he'll have," said Gold. "Once he gets into a room with people that better understand the implications of violating trade agreements and the difficulties of renegotiating trade agreements, Wilbur Ross may not be so excited about being the lead trade policy person for this administration."
Italian bonds dipped Wednesday after the European Commission turned the screws on the new center-left government, demanding that it propose concrete measures to cut the current year budget deficit by about 0.2% or 3.4 billion ($3.63 billion).

In a letter sent Tuesday, and published on the Italian Treasury's website, the EU's executive branch asked Rome to provide specific commitments to reign in government spending in the eurozone's No.3 economy and gave it a deadline of Feb. 1 to deliver.

Yields on Italy's 10-year bonds climbed more than two basis points in early trading to over 1.93% after the demands came to light, before sliding to trade close to 1.91%. Italy's benchmark yields have climbed 70 basis points from their one year low of below 1.2% in November, widening the gap to Germany's benchmark 10-year bonds, which have a yield of 0.34%. Yields, which reflect the cost of borrowing, move inversely to the price of bonds.

"Additional budgetary measures delivering a structural effort of at least 0.2% of GDP would be needed to reduce the gap to broad compliance in 2017 and hence avoid the opening of an Excessive Deficit Procedure for non-compliance," the EC said in the letter that was signed by its Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis.

Italian officials said they would meet with the Commission to discuss the demands but failed to say if they would meet the demands.

Rome has been under pressure to cut spending since last year, when the EU agreed to fudge rules governing deficits for countries with high overall debt, allowing the then government of Mateo Renzi to propose a budget that predicted a deficit equivalent to 1.8% of GDP. That gap rose to a forecast 2.3% of GDP by the time the budget was officially published in October.

Efforts to negotiate cuts with Rome were thrown into turmoil when Renzi's government lost a referendum on parliamentary reform, leading to the resignation of the Prime Minister and the appointment of a new center-left government under Paolo Gentiloni.

The European Commission is under pressure to show that it can reign in profligate members and avoid the sort of calamity that was experienced in 2009 when Greece's economy collapse under the weight of its debt. The EC has the ability to fine countries that fail to apply EU regulation on deficits

Gentiloni's willingness to comply with the Commission's request could be tested by domestic politics and economics. The ruling party has faced regular criticism for failing to stand up for Italy in Brussels and will be sensitive to the potential political cost of pushing through austerity measures with an election looming either later this year or next year.

The government has claimed that much of the increase in the deficit is due to one-off spending following earthquakes that hit central Italy last year and should be excluded from its calculations. It has also set aside some 20 billion to recapitalize its struggling banking sector including its deeply troubled No.3 lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

Italy's weak economy could also prove sensitive to government spending cuts. On Monday the IMF cut its growth forecasts for Italy by 0.2 of a percent point to 0.7% for 2017 and by 0.3 of a percentage point to 0.8% in 2018.
Citigroup (C) , the U.S. bank with operations in more than 160 countries, may retool its sprawling trade-finance business if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on pledges to stiffen tariffs on imports and increase protectionism to favor domestic companies and jobs.

CFO John Gerspach told reporters on a conference call Wednesday that a distributed "network model" might work better for trade finance in the Trump era than a "hub-and-spoke model," where most loans and money transfers flow through banking centers like New York. The firm boasts more than 200 million clients around the world, with major operations in some of the countries where Trump has cited the need for renegotiation of trade terms, including China and Mexico.

There are "many non-U.S. multinationals who depend on us for trade flow that doesn't even touch the U.S.," Gerspach said. "We've talked in the past about moving away from a hub-and-spoke model to a network model when it comes to trade."

Large U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Goldman Sachs (GS) , have seen their stocks surge 25% on average in the past three months as Trump's surprise election fueled investor optimism about a rollback of regulations imposed since the financial crisis eight years ago. The firms also have reaped a windfall from stock- and bond-trading commissions as surging U.S. Treasury yields and share prices following the Nov. 8 election sent investors scurrying to readjust their portfolios.

Some analysts also say that Trump's erratic, unpredictable and unfiltered approach to policy announcements -- many via Twitter -- could keep markets volatile during his first 100 days in office and continue through the rest of his term. That would lead to a pickup in revenue for big U.S. dealers. Citigroup said Wednesday that fourth-quarter profit climbed 7% from a year earlier, fueled by gains in the trading division.

So the business of financing imports and exports could be just one of many businesses to undergo significant structural change under a Trump presidency.

According to Citigroup's website, its proprietary payments network is the world's largest -- giving the lender an advantage over competitors such as JPMorgan and Bank of America (BAC) with more U.S.-focused franchises.

Citigroup's supply-chain finance business supports more than $40 billion of annual payments, with more than 65,000 companies in 81 countries, according to the website. Products and services include letters of credit for importers and exporters, knowledge of country-specific legal and regulatory requirements, administration of documents and freight-payment processing.

Citigroup also aids smaller banks that lack a global network but want to help their own clients finance imports and exports with short-term loans that are repaid when shipped products arrive at their destinations.

"There's a lot of opportunity that could come out of this," Gerspach said. "Nobody's in a better position to help their clients navigate that than we are."

Trump has pledged to label China a currency manipulator on his first day in office and impose tariffs of up to 45% on imports from the country, while promising to renegotiate the two-decade-old North American Free Trade Agreement that lets many Mexican businesses send products to the U.S. without duties.

"We still don't know how all this plays out," Gerspach said. "But people want to make sure the U.S. is as competitive as possible and that there's a level playing field. We've got a good track record of working with the U.S. trade representative, and we stand ready to help U.S. companies, financial services or otherwise, compete on the global stage."

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Corporate watchdogs are urging President-elect Donald Trump not to be swayed by Bayer AG's (BAYN) promises of billions of R&D spending in the U.S. as one of the benefits of allowing the company to go ahead with its $57 billion deal to acquire Monsanto (MON) .

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said Tuesday that Bayer CEO Werner Baumann and Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant talked up their merger plans when they met with the president-elect at Trump Tower last week.

The merger must be approved by the European Union and Trump's eventual appointees at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Spicer told reporters that the duo pledged to invest $8 billion in research and development in the U.S. over the next six years. Spicer also said Germany's Bayer had committed to maintaining 100% of Monsanto's 9,000-plus workforce in the U.S. and also would add at least 3,000 new jobs in genomics, robotics, satellite-imagery specialists, engineers and advance biotechnology. Spicer also said Monsanto's headquarters would remain in St. Louis.

A pitch like that isn't supposed to sway antitrust regulators at the DOJ, who ostensibly focus only on competition issues when deciding whether to approve a merger. Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute, a watchdog group promoting strong competition enforcement, criticized the meeting with Trump and the CEOs and similar tete-a-tetes hosted by the president-elect.

"Attempts by the incoming administration to broker merger deals or directly negotiate merger concessions signal a fundamental disregard for the law and for due process," said Moss, in a statement. "Every consumer, producer, competitor, and customer should be able to count on a fair, predictable and transparent process for government review of mergers. The end-runs that we are seeing in key mergers, such as Monsanto-Bayer, not only abuse the process, they imperil our markets, our economy and our society."

But Trump has put economic development and investment in the U.S. at the top of his agenda and it's unclear whether he will press his eventual antitrust appointees to deviate from their legal authority.

Monsanto shares have risen since Friday's close and during trading through the early afternoon Wednesday, it climbed to $108.27 from $107.65, largely occurring after Spicer's comments.

Although Monsanto had previously planned to allocate $8 billion for R&D and keep its headquarters in St. Louis, Spicer touted the numbers as a victory for the president-elect.

Trump has used his Twitter feed and other public comments to jawbone companies into doing his bidding-or at least make it appear they are falling into line. Carrier, a subsidiary of United Technologies (UTX) , and Ford (F) have been publicly shamed for plans to move jobs to Mexico. He also has attacked Boeing (BA) for the costs of the new Air Force One now being designed. Trump later took credit for saving jobs and taxpayer money even though it's debatable how much will come to fruition.

And, like the supposed agreements with those companies, corporate watchdogs say Trump shouldn't let Monsanto and Bayer play his ego in return for what are likely to be ephemeral benefits to everyday Americans.

In fact, allowing the acquisition of Monsanto would tighten the grip big agriculture conglomerates have on farmers, whose choice of seed producers have dwindled due to mergers in the past decade, said the group SumOfUs, which is dedicated to checking the power of corporations.

"The proposed merger between Bayer and Monsanto is an existential threat to the American farmer, farmers around the world, and our global food supply" said Toni Preston, a campaigner for the group. "The proposed new mega corporation would be the world's largest seed maker and pesticide company, giving it unprecedented control over all aspects of our food supply - undermining consumer choice and the freedom and stability of America's farmers."

The deal also would give the merged company more power to snare market share for seeds that have been genetically modified to resist herbicides and pesticides, which the group argues are dangerous to the environment and the food supply. "This deal has the potential to usher in a new era of sterile crops soaked in deadly pesticides and President-elect Trump would be wise to recognize that this a bad deal for the American people," Preston said.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson, also called on Trump to reject the merger. "Today's announcement that President-elect Trump's transition team has struck a deal with Bayer and Monsanto is deeply disturbing if it leads to an approval of the Bayer-Monsanto acquisition by the incoming Trump administration," Johnson said Tuesday. "The touted benefits of these deals pale in comparison to the adverse effects family farmers and ranchers will face with continued mergers in the agriculture sector. Corporate consolidation in agriculture leads to less competition and choice in the marketplace and higher input costs for family farmers and ranchers."

Spicer's announcement about the companies' pledge also comes a week after a member of Trump's transition team called on the incoming administration to block the deal and two other mega-mergers pending in the seed-and-chemical industry--Dow Chemical's (DOW) planned $130 billion acquisition of DuPont (DD) and China National Chemical's $46.3 billion bid to acquire Syngenta AG.

Dow is a holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sellsDOW? Learn more now.

Bruce Rastetter, CEO and founder of Summit Agricultural Group, said in a news release that the mergers "threaten farmers worldwide" and "will limit competition, stifle innovative research and stunt job growth -- and will eventually lead to increased costs for farmers." Rastetter is a member of Trump's ag advisory team. However, Dow CEO Andrew Liveris also has Trump's ear as head of his Manufacturing Council.
As a slew of new battery-powered vehicles like General Motors' (GM) Chevrolet Bolt EV begin to reach dealer showrooms, the future of hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles is starting to look more promising too.

A council of 13 automakers, transport and energy companies gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday and committed nearly $11 billion in hydrogen-related investments over the next five years. Automakers and energy companies are searching for ways to comply with ever tighter, contradictory and more confusing regulations covering fuel efficiency, air pollution and the highly-debated and politically charged phenomenon known as global climate change.

The new council, whose members currently invest a collective $1.5 billion annually on hydrogen, said their initiative aligns with the goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, as agreed in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

Building vehicles to satisfy political directives, rather than consumer demand, can be tricky and potentially disastrous from a business standpoint. Customers have shown tepid interest in buying battery powered electric vehicles, despite financial incentives from the government to do so. In the U.S., regulators require automakers to build zero-emission vehicles in limited number if they wish to sell vehicles of any kind.

Toyota Motor (TM) , BMW AG (BMWYY) , Daimler AG (DDAIF) , Honda Motor (HMC) and Hyundai Motor (HYMLF) represent the Davos group automakers that are undertaking "a global initiative to voice a united vision and long-term ambition for hydrogen to foster the energy transition." Until now, companies have independently pursued the technology. For example, Toyota has its Mirai and Honda its Clarity fuel-cell sedans that each sells in the U.S. in limited number.

Automotive engineers and regulators have been growing more fascinated with hydrogen's potential, as technical hurdles have been resolved. Twenty years ago, cold weather hindered operation of a fuel cell, which transforms pure hydrogen into electricity and water into vapor with no CO2 produced. Engineers solved the cold weather problem. Today, the biggest hurdle is a lack of infrastructure for creating and distributing hydrogen in mass quantity, a problem the council says governments must help to tackle.

Ben van Beurden, chief executive officer of Royal Dutch Shell (RYDAF) , said that despite starting a hydrogen business 20 years ago, Shell only operated five hydrogen refueling stations in Germany and three in California.

"You need a coordinated approach to make it work. Hopefully, we can have hundreds (of stations)," he told Reuters.

Don't expect to see immediate results or action from the latest hydrogen initiative, however. Infrastructure is expensive, as is investment in sophisticated technologies related to fuel cells and to processes for isolating hydrogen from hydrocarbons or from water.

As governments are discovering with battery-powered cars, laws may compel automakers to manufacture advanced vehicles for reasons related to policy or ideology - rather than market demand. Additionally, the tax bill for such vehicles can be onerous - and consumers aren't always inclined to buy them.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
If the $853 million fineQualcomm (QCOM) was assessed by South Korean regulators last month over its patent-licensing practices arguably showed why it's in the company's interests to diversify by acquiring NXP Semiconductor (NXPI) , the antitrust charges just brought by the FTC do so even more emphatically.

The company's core mobile chip and licensing businesses, while at no risk of collapsing, is now facing a host of regulatory, competitive and growth pressures that are bound to make life challenging in the coming years.

That said, while some of the FTC's charges against Qualcomm could lead to a large fine and/or business practice changes, others appear to be on shakier ground. And there's a chance that a pending leadership change at the Commission could result in the case being dropped or Qualcomm getting off with a slap on the wrist.

Much like the case brought by Korean regulators, as well as the probe being conducted by EU authorities, the FTC's suit against Qualcomm has much to do with the ties between the company's chip and licensing operations. In a partially redacted complaint, the Commission alleges:

Qualcomm would only supply its baseband modems to phone makers that agreed to its "preferred" license terms, and that those using modems for rival suppliers had to "pay elevated royalties to Qualcomm" for the privilege. As a result, the Commission thinks Qualcomm has been able to achieve royalty rates well above what it could be expected to get via the fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms agreed to by other owners of standards-essential mobile patents.

Qualcomm has refused to license its standards-essential patents to rival baseband modem makers such as Intel INTC )

From 2011 to 2016, Qualcomm had a modem exclusivity deal in place with Apple AAPL) . This deal involved Qualcomm providing "billions of dollars in conditional rebates" to Apple that amounted to partial royalty relief, in exchange for Apple solely using Qualcomm modems within iPhones and iPads.

The FTC concludes by declaring Qualcomm has "monopolized" the 3G EV-DO (CDMA) and 4G LTE baseband modem markets, and that its licensing deals and supply agreements with phone makers amount to an "unreasonable restraint of trade." It calls on a Northern California federal court to issue a permanent injunction against these perceived violations, and to "order ancillary equitable relief."

Qualcomm's shares fell 4% on the news on Tuesday. They're up 1.1% today following analyst defenses of the company. Chances are that Tuesday's decline would've been larger if not for the pending $47 billion NXP deal, which lowers Qualcomm's dependence on mobile baseband and royalty revenue streams.

NXP and Apple are holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells NXPI or AAPL? Learn more now.

Qualcomm was quick to respond to the suit, declaring it's "based on a flawed legal theory, a lack of economic support and significant misconceptions about the mobile technology industry." The company insists it "never withheld or threatened to withhold chip supply in order to obtain agreement to unfair or unreasonable licensing terms."

In Qualcomm's defense, the company does face credible 3G/4G modem competition. As the FTC admits, Apple began partly relying on Intel for its iPhone modem needs last year, via the iPhone 7 launch. Taiwan's MediaTek and China's Spreadtrum supply a number of Chinese phone makers, and Samsung partly uses its own 4G modems within its phones. If Qualcomm is indeed providing royalty kickbacks in exchange for the exclusive use of its chips, and charging "elevated" royalties on sales of phones using rival modems, the strategy has only been modestly successful.

At the same time, charging higher royalty rates on sales of phones that don't feature Qualcomm modems would -- assuming the FTC's claims are accurate -- appear to be an antitrust violation. If the difference in royalty rates is significant -- Qualcomm often keeps details about its licensing deals under wraps -- changes in licensing agreements that remove this "tax" on the use of rival products would ding Qualcomm's royalty income, which still accounts for a majority of its operating profit.

And perhaps more importantly, the FTC's claim that Qualcomm doesn't grant rivals standards-essential patent licenses that allow them to convey those licensing rights to customers is echoed by Korean regulators, and at first glance seems to break with licensing norms.

If rival chipmakers are able to pass on such licensing rights to clients, those clients would probably still need licenses from Qualcomm, just as they need them from other big mobile patent owners such as Nokia (NOK) and Ericsson (ERIC) . But it could give them more leverage in licensing talks to negotiate lower royalty rates, given how high Qualcomm's rates are (up to 5% for phones supporting 3G networks) and the fact many of the company's older 3G patents have expired.

But as The Deal's Bill McConnell pointed out, Donald Trump's pending inauguration could help provide Qualcomm with a reprieve. Republican Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen dissented from the FTC's decision, and is expected to be named chairwoman after Trump takes office. And as Qualcomm notes, current chairwoman Edith Ramirez (a Democrat) is about to depart and only 3 of 5 FTC commissioners are currently in place.

All of that paves the way for a majority-Republican FTC, one that could take a very different view of the agency's case against Qualcomm. But given the nature of the FTC's allegations, and the existence of overseas regulatory probes that touch on the same or related issues, it's far from certain that this case will be completely swept under the rug following an FTC leadership change.
[January 18, 2017] ProfNet Experts Available on Trump's Inauguration, Endangered Species, More

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform EXPERT ALERTS President-elect Trump's Inauguration

Employment Regulation's Shift From Federal to State/Local Authority

Why and How the Bumblebee Became an Endangered Species

Swarm Robotics MEDIA JOBS Politics Reporter  The Independent (DC)

Reporter  Credit Union Journal (NY)

Reporter  Law360 (CA) OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES 2016 Rewind: A Look Back at the Year in Media

How to Grow Your Blog With a Month-by-Month Action Plan

Blog Profiles: Fitness Blogs ------------------------------------------------------------------- EXPERT ALERTS: President-elect Trump's Inauguration

Pavlina Jaine Osta

Millennial Pop-Culture Expert

Osta, who will be attending President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, says: "I expect to see the end of the presidential race but also the beginning of a new administration. I expect to see those committed and those who are full of optimism. But by participating and interviewing part of credentialed media at the women's march in DC, I'm seeing the other side of the issues. I expect to be involved in a front seat at history in the making and influence other Millennial and Generation Z's on the happenings during the next few days that will be historical. I'll be chatting with people who have traveled far and wide for this event, those at the inaugural balls throughout the DC area and newsmakers with their own side to the story, some optimistic, others wanting a stronger voice."

Osta is available to discuss why Trump will have a more challenging task of relating and communicating to Millennials than President Obama did; some of the reasons behind why many young adults are protesting Trump's inauguration; three things Trump can do to help Millennials and utilize their talents to better serve America. She is a sought-after Millennial pop culture/political commentator booked to share her "keep it real" view on all things political or pop culture. Recognized for her swift and fun interviewing style, this engaging Millennial radio and talk show host has been landing her own interviews with the world's notable superstars, athletes and newsmakers on and off the red carpet since the ripe young age of 11.

Website: www.pavlinaosta.com

Contact: Mark Goldman, [email protected]



Employment Regulation's Shift From Federal to State/Local Authority

Susan Drenning

President

ComplyRight

Drenning is available to discuss historical data and insights on employment regulation's shift from federal to state and local authority, tied to Andrew Puzder's confirmation. The promised elimination or rollback of federal employment regulations seems a sure bet as President-elect Donald J. Trump begins working alongside a Republican majority on Capitol Hill, but before businesses bank any expected savings or efficiencies, they should consider what's already happening alittle closer to home. Since 2009, with no movement at the federal level, 31 of 50 states raised their minimum wage requirements above $7.25. Paid sick leave laws already exist with varying requirements in five states, the District of Columbia and more than 10 cities. Businesses can also expect to see more turf wars, as some states have begun battling with cities regarding their legal authority to issue minimum wage and other requirements. Says Drenning: "Deregulation in theory is a positive for small businesses seeking to focus on business activities instead of administrative and human resource demands. However, as we've seen over the past eight years, re-regulation may be the unplanned result. Staying informed at the federal, state and local levels is a must in today's more complex compliance environment. The accelerating pace of state and local employment laws makes increased diligence a necessity."





Florida .

Website: http://www.complyright.com

Contact: Liz DeForest , [email protected]



Why and How the Bumblebee Became an Endangered Species

Robert Gegear

Assistant Professor Biology and Biotechnology

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

"It's going to take the community to help in this cause. With so much attention to bee decline, it's a good time to get the public on board. When I talk about my work, they see beyond 'Let's kill that bee because it's going to sting me!' They become aware of its importance and understand that it's responsible for one-third of what we eat.

Gegear has made it his life's work to understand the mind of bees while also assessing threats to bee populations. Recently he has been engaging "citizen scientists" in monitoring bee populations. He has put together a guide to the eastern bumblebees, and developed a system that makes it simple for anyone to identify the species they encounter and transmit their counts to a central database at WPI.

Website: www.wpi.edu

Contact: Colleen Wamback , [email protected]





Swarm Robotics

Carlo Pinciroli

Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

According to a recent segment on "60 Minutes," the use of artificial intelligence is revolutionizing United States military tactics. One area of particular interest is swarm robotics, a new approach to the coordination of large groups of relatively simple robots. In swarms, these robots can perform complex tasks in a more efficient way than a single robot. A key to the swarm successfully completing their tasks is communication between the robots. Says Pinciroli: "Swarm robotics promises to offer solutions for application scenarios that today are either too expensive, too impractical, or too complex to achieve, such as disaster recovery, ocean restoration, space exploration, smart agriculture, and construction. As the demand grows, research is moving away from the purely natural inspiration that gave swarm robotics its first impulse. The current challenge is the formulation of new methods that allow practitioners, as well as newcomers, to design swarm systems of increasing complexity."

Pinciroli has been studying this technology for years and has developed a programming language, called Buzz, that can be used in all swarm systems, whether the robots are on land or in the air. His articles have been published in MIT Technology Review, Communications of the ACM, RoboHub, and IEEE Computer. He is fluent in Italian and French.

Website: www.wpi.edu

Contact: Colleen Wamback , [email protected] **************** MEDIA JOBS: Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/jobs/ Politics Reporter  The Independent (DC)

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Reporter  Law360 (CA) ***************** OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES: Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line. 2016 REWIND: A LOOK BACK AT THE YEAR IN MEDIA. 2016 was one heck of a year in the world of media. The past year was laden with challenges, including covering a contentious presidential election, making heads or tails of fake news, launching Facebook Live, and processing numerous media consolidations and more layoffs. We take a look back: http://bit.ly/2iFYV1x

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BLOG PROFILES: FITNESS BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry or subject and a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at fitness blogs: http://bit.ly/2ihnaPI **************** PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/profnet-experts-available-on-trumps-inauguration-endangered-species-more-300392934.html SOURCE ProfNet

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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.
Electronic signatures (e-signatures) have been around for a couple of decades, but significant barriers are just now being torn down in many industries and regions of the country. Most recently, a monumental barrier in the state of California was overtaken, thanks in large part to a bill signed by Governor Jerry Brown.

New California Law is a Positive Signal

The use of e-signatures isnt something new. Federal statutes have existed in the U.S. since the turn of the century and trillions of dollars worth of digital transactions have relied upon e-signatures in some form or fashion. But for some reason, convoluted politics and slow processes have put a bureaucratic weight upon the issue in many areas of the country.

So, when Governor Brown recently signed California Assembly Bill 2296 into action, there was reason to celebrate. His signature on the bill simplifies much of the confusing rules surrounding the statutes on how government entities accept signatures on documents electronically  which includes both electronic and digital signatures.

While the two terms are often interchangeable, each term carries a distinct set of defining features and functions, explains Rahim Kaba of eSignLive, a leading provider of e-signature solutions. The broader category of e-signatures  first and foremost a legal concept  often includes digital signatures, which is a specific type of technology used to implement electronic signatures and ensure a secure and trusted transaction.

California Assembly Bill 2296 aims to clarify the many confusing and misleading aspects of legislation that were passed by lawmakers in 1995, as well as the 1999 Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) that was originally designed to outline the validity of e-signatures so that both private and public sectors could utilize them more efficiently. And it appears that the final divisive roadblocks between mass adoption and acceptance of electronic signatures are here.

California is now poised to broadly accept e-signatures and move to paperless processes across the state, Kaba points out. The states commitment to clarifying the laws around electronic records and signatures is timely, as governments and businesses race to ditch paper and digitize transactional processes.

The Why Behind e-Signatures

Why do e-signatures matter? It may seem strange to outsiders that the Governor of California would get directly involved in something as seemingly minor as how documents are signed, but this is no trivial issue. Here are a few specific reasons why they matter:

Security. One of the initial complaints surrounding e-signatures was the belief that they werent as secure or enforceable as standard pen and paper. This is actually a misconception, though. When a signature is performed digitally, theres ample information provided about who accessed and signed the document. Signatures are also encrypted, which makes online storage more secure.

Efficiency. Consider for a moment how inefficient standard approval processes are. Getting multiple signatures on the same document often requires emailing, printing, scanning, faxing, and a long list of other tasks. But with e-signatures, everything happens quickly and securely over the Internet.

Standardization. Whether its government institutions or private businesses, having standardized processes in place greatly enhances output and removes unnecessary points of friction. e-Signatures are a step in the right direction.

As you can see, the adoption of e-signatures is something that matters both to the private and public sectors. Governor Brown got involved in this issue because it holds far-reaching consequences for the future of business, commerce, and contractual integrity.

What Does the Future Hold?

Digital signatures will someday give us the ability to routinely transact official business between government and the public over computer network, digital tech expert Todd Sander predicted all the way back in the fall of 1999. Unfortunately, the political, legal and technical infrastructure necessary to support widespread implementation of such an open public-key infrastructure (PKI) seems to be several years away.

Sander would have no way of knowing just how true his words would ring and how long it would take to actually make some progress in this area. While digital signatures have been used for many years, the newly approved California bill is just another sign that widespread adoption and acceptance are imminent.

From a purely business IT perspective, itll be interesting to watch how things continue to unfold. Much of the onus will fall upon organizations as theyre encouraged to adopt the right software and establish secure environments for digital signatures to thrive. Because e-signatures arent new, and most businesses already have some familiarity with this technology, the learning curve shouldnt be very steep.

While Californias new law may not directly impact very many organizations or individuals right now, the fact that the Governor of California made it a priority to eliminate barriers to digital signature adoption and implementation is a positive sign for the industry as a whole.

Edited by Alicia Young
Deutsche Post AG operates as a mail and logistics company in Germany, rest of Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The company operates through five segments: Express; Global Forwarding, Freight; Supply Chain; eCommerce Solutions; and Post & Parcel Germany. The Express segment offers time-definite courier and express services to business and private customers. The Global Forwarding, Freight segment provides air, ocean, and overland freight forwarding services; and offers multimodal and sector-specific solutions. This segment's business model is based on brokering transport services between customers and freight carriers. The Supply Chain segment delivers customized supply chain solutions to its customers based on modular components, including warehousing and transport services; and value-added services, such as e-fulfilment and returns management, lead logistics partner, real estate solutions, service logistics, and packaging solutions for various industrial sectors. The eCommerce Solutions segment provides parcel delivery and cross-border non-time definite international services. The Post & Parcel Germany segment transports and delivers mail communication, parcels, physical and hybrid letters, and special products for the delivery of goods; and offers additional services, such as registered mail, cash on delivery, and insured items. This segment also provides digital products, including stamps with data matrix codes and various postal services. Deutsche Post AG was founded in 1490 and is headquartered in Bonn, Germany.
Milacron Holdings Corp. manufactures, distributes, and services engineered and customized systems within the plastic technology and processing industry in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Advanced Plastic Processing Technologies (APPT), Melt Delivery and Control Systems (MDCS), and Fluid Technologies (Fluids). The APPT segment designs, manufactures, and sells plastic processing equipment and systems, which include injection molding, blow molding, and extrusion equipment; and auxiliary systems and related parts and services. This segment serves companies who serve in the consumer goods, packaging, electronics, medical, automotive, and construction end markets. The MDCS segment designs, manufactures, and sells hot runner systems, process control systems, mold bases and components, and aftermarket parts and related technologies and services for injection molding, as well as maintenance, repair, and operating supplies for plastic processing operations. This segment serves customers in the plastic processing value chain and manufacturing spectrum, including OEMs, molders, and mold makers in the consumer goods, electronics, automotive, packaging, and medical end markets. The Fluids segment manufactures and markets coolants, lubricants, process cleaners, and corrosion inhibitors that are used in metalworking processes, such as cutting, grinding, stamping, forming, and high speed machining. This segment's products are used in various markets, such as aerospace, medical, automotive, industrial components and machinery, bearings, munitions, packaging, job shops, and glass and mirror production. The company was formerly known as Milacron LLC and changed its name to Milacron Holdings Corp. in May 2012. The company was founded in 1860 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.
This Account has been suspended.
The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. 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Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.

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Militants launched 61 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in ATO area in Donbas over the past day.

This is reported by the ATO press center.

As noted, in Mariupol direction, the enemy used 82 mm mortars to fire at Vodiane, Shyrokyne. Additionally, a sniper was active in Shyrokyne.

In Luhansk direction, terrorists used 120 mm and 82mm mortars to shell Novooleksandrivka and Troyitske. The enemy shelled Stanytsia Luhanska, Popasna, using grenade launchers and small arms.

In Donetsk direction, the militants fired mortars of various calibers on Avdiyivka, Opytne, Pisky.

ish
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko had a meeting with Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein.

This has been reported by the press service of the Head of State.

This is a historic meeting in the relations between our states, for there have been no contacts at the highest level before. This should become a stimulus for the intensification of our bilateral relations, the President emphasized.

Petro Poroshenko expressed gratitude for the principled position of Liechtenstein in response to Russias violation of Ukraines territorial integrity, including the accession to the EU sanctions and support for the respective resolutions in the framework of the UN.

The parties discussed ways to intensify trade-economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.

The Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein informed that his country would introduce the visa-free regime with Ukraine immediately after the adoption of the same decision by the EU.

ish
The EU Delegation to Ukraine calls on the Verkhovna Rada to adopt without delay the bills on decentralization.

This has been said in a statement published by the EU Delegation to Ukraine on Facebook on Wednesday.

"The EU Delegation to Ukraine has urged the Verkhovna Rada to adopt these bills without amendments, as the delay may slow down the process of reforms," redas a statement.

The EU mission has reminded that the Verkhovna Rada will consider three draft laws on decentralization on January 19.

ish
Kyiv is interested in attracting investors to implement infrastructure projects in the city.

Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko said this during the meetings at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, according to the mayor's press service.

"For example, the issue we are tackling is a big-scale overhaul of roads, which are in a very neglected condition. Last year Kyiv became number one in Ukraine in terms of road repairs. We have renewed over 200 kilometers of roads, and set an ambitious goal to repair 300 kilometers this year," Klitschko said.

"But everything demands sufficient funding. That is why we need assistance. For example, a large scale project we are going to implement is the overhaul of the ring road around the capital," the mayor stressed.

Thomas Maier, the Managing Director for Infrastructure at European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, pointed out that the Bank was interested in further cooperation with the city of Kyiv.

ish
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Ukraine Ernst Reichel.

This has been reported by the press service of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current situation in Ukraine and methods of hybrid war waged by the Russian Federation against our country and the countries of Europe. Particular attention was paid to the geopolitical situation settled as a result of aggressive actions of Russia on the global scale.

According to Turchynov, Germany is a strategic partner for Ukraine. "We are grateful to Chancellor Angela Merkel for her consistent position regarding the support of Ukraine and the efforts for a peaceful settlement of the situation in the east of our country," he stressed.

Speaking about the unity of the EU countries regarding the issue of sanctions against the aggressor state, Ernst Reichel stressed that Germany's position was that "it is out of question that the sanctions can be mitigated or lifted, as Russia does not comply with Minsk agreements ".

"Ukraine can further count on our support," the Ambassador of Germany concluded.

ish
A meeting of the Presidents of Ukraine and Turkey is scheduled for the first half of this year in Kyiv.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Turkey Andrii Sybiha has stated this during his speech within the framework of the 'Diplomacy without Borders' project of the Ukraine Crisis Media Center and the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"In the near future, the foreign ministers are planned to meet in Kyiv and hold the Strategic Planning Group. All of these events and meetings at the highest level will be preceded by the major political event of our bilateral cooperation with Turkey - the meeting of our presidents and holding of the Strategic Council, which is also scheduled for the first half of year in Kyiv," he said.

ish
MP Nadiya Savchenko has explained that she published the lists of hostages contrary to the SBU prohibition, because she wanted to speed up the release process.

She stated this at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense on Wednesday, responding to the accusation of the Security Service of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"Minsk process has not showed any results for a very long time, and I wanted to help this process, unveiling the lists of hostages. I did not violate the law," Savchenko said.

She has noted that she is ready to defend each action or word at the court, because "she did not commit any violations."

As a reminder, MP Nadiya Savchenko on her Facebook page unveiled lists of hostages held in Donbas territory not controlled by Ukraines authorities, as well as Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russian prisons and in Crimea occupied by Russia.

ish
In Madagascar, UNICEF and GAVI work to protect health gains for young children

UNICEFs equity-based approach to achieving the Millennium Development Goals aims to reach the poorest and most vulnerable children and families with cost-effective interventions for sustainable progress. Here is one in a series of stories that make the case for equity.

By Suzanne Beukes and Shantha Bloemen

ANKARIERA, Madagascar, 7 June 2011  It is late morning at Ankariera health centre. The small three-room clinic  the only facility in a 10 km radius  is ready for a busy day.

20 May 2011 - UNICEF's Suzanne Beukes reports on a critical vaccination campaign in Madagascar. Watch in RealPlayer

Mothers with small infants clutch their pink child health cards outside the centre, as they seek shade from the hot sun. Next to the clinic, older women and men gather with different produce they have brought to sell at the adjacent weekly local market.

Standing amid it all is paramedic Hantamalala Ramanandraibe, the health centres sole health worker. Only in the job a few months, shes responsible for an estimated 4,600 people.

She does everything from vaccinating adults and children to delivering babies. It is a tough job for this dedicated young woman. She has no running water or electricity at the clinic, and has very limited contact with the nearest referral hospital.

 UNICEF Madagascar/2011/ In Madagascar, an infant waits to be vaccinated. Thanks to UNICEF support, the country has been able to decrease its child mortality rate by 60 per cent over the past two decades.

As it is market day today, everyone comes to the clinic, says Ms. Ramandandraibe calmly. So today I am going to do consultations and family planning vaccinations all at the same time."

Safeguarding child survival

Over the last two decades, Madagascar has been one of a handful of countries to reduce its child mortality rate by 60 per cent. The mortality rate for children under the age of five has fallen from 167 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990 to 58 per 1000 live births in 2009. This has been achieved in part by the successful implementation of the countrys national immunization programme.

Yet many of these gains are under threat and recent data indicates a downward trend. Political crisis has resulted in a government which is not internationally recognized and a subsequent drop in development assistance.

Prior to the crisis, around 70 per cent of Madagascars budget was financed through development aid. Government spending on healthcare reached a 10 year low last year of just $2 per person. If we don't manage to sustain the rate of coverage, we're in danger of seeing the childhood mortality rate go up again, says Marie Therese Baranyikwa, UNICEF Madagascar Immunization Specialist.

 UNICEF Madagascar/2011/ Hantamalala Ramanandraibe, a paramedic at a health centre in Anakariera, southern Madagascar. As the only health worker at the clinic, which serves 4,600 people, she's always busy.

Equity-based efforts

UNICEF, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and the World Health Organization are working to keep the national immunization programme operational and give every child the protection he or she needs from deadly yet preventable diseases such as tetanus and hepatitis B.

This is particularly important for the poorest and most vulnerable children, as UNICEF makes a concerted effort to reach marginalized and disadvantaged communities in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals with equity.

GAVI  a global health partnership funded by governments, foundations, the private sector and other agencies  finances new, affordable vaccines for the worlds poorest countries. The reality is it is the poorest countries which need the most help, yet are often the most challenging as they have the weakest health systems and limited funding to afford new vaccines, says GAVI Media Manager Ed Harris. Yet immunization is one of the most straightforward and successful ways to save a childs life and reduce child mortality.

In Madagascar, GAVI funding is promoting safe injections and introducing new vaccines such as the Pentavalent vaccine, which prevents five childhood killers  including tetanus and diphtheria  in one jab. With additional funding, a new vaccine against pneumococcal disease will be introduced next year.

Vaccines to remote areas

At the central vaccine warehouse in the capital city of Antananarivo, a dedicated team manages the countrys national distribution. Marius Rakotomomga, Head of Vaccination at the Madagascar Health Department, is grateful for the new two cold rooms provided by UNICEF that keep their central stock of vaccines safe and at the right temperature.

 UNICEF Madagascar/2011/ A mother takes her child to be vaccinated in southern Madagascar.

But he worries about other logistical challenges they face in getting vaccines to the countrys 700,000 children under the age of one. We do not have sufficient resources, he says. We also only have one truck and have to rely on commercial flights to move the vaccines around the country.

Funding from partners like UNICEF and GAVI has been critical in keeping the health system going and ensuring vaccines reach the remote health centres, like Ms. Ramandandraibes clinic in Ankariera.

Shortage of funds means the capacity of health workers has also been stretched, leaving many health posts and clinics without staff. To help mitigate this, UNICEF and GAVI help support routine vaccination campaigns and bi-annual mother and child health weeks, where thousands of health workers go door to door to supplement vaccines offered weekly at health clinics.

Critical investment

UNICEF has doubled expenditure on immunization to cover the gap in national funding, arguing there is no choice but to ensure the system does not collapse. The consequences of an epidemic are very grave and complications for Malagasy children are severe, explains Ms. Baranyikwa. They are already vulnerable and poorly nourished.

This critical investment in vaccines is helping ensure that Madagascars children are protected. Back at Ms. Ramandandraibes clinic, another young mother brings her baby in for vaccination. There is no doubt that this small life-saving intervention today will ensure a healthier life tomorrow.
Workers stack beer kegs on pallets inside a container at the port of Antwerp, Belgium on Wednesday. Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the worlds No. 1 brewer, and Katoen Natie, the logistics company of the port of Antwerp, are renewing their partnership for five more years. (Stephanie Lecocq/European Pressphoto Agency)

STUDENT LOANS

Navient failed student borrowers, bureau says

Navient, one of the largest student loan management companies in the country, misallocated payments, steered people into costly plans, supplied the wrong information and ignored borrowers pleas for help, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The case is one of three complaints by government authorities that paint Navient as a company more interested in serving its financial interests than the needs of struggling borrowers  a characterization the firm strongly denies.

Navient has systematically and illegally failed borrowers at every stage of repayment, CFPB Director Richard Cordray said Wednesday. These unlawful practices have cost student loan borrowers across the country both heartache and money.

Among the litany of charges in the complaint, the CFPB alleges that Navient encouraged borrowers to postpone payments through forbearance, an option in which interest continues to accrue, rather than enroll them in an income-driven repayment plan that would avoid fees. As a result, the CFPB says, Navient amassed $4 billion in interest charges to the principal balances of borrowers who were enrolled in multiple, consecutive forbearances from January 2010 to March 2015.

 Danielle Douglas-Gabriel

WALL STREET

Trading boosts Goldmans earnings

Goldman Sachs reported fourth-quarter earnings that beat analysts forecasts Wednesday as the bank recovered from a difficult quarter a year earlier. Results were particularly strong at Goldmans trading desks in the last three months of the year.

The investment bank earned $2.35 billion, or $5.08 a share, compared with $765 million, or $1.27 per share, in the same period a year earlier. The results beat analysts expectations of $4.76 per share.

After a challenging first half, the firm performed well for the remainder of the year as the operating environment improved, chief executive Lloyd Blankfein said in a statement.

Goldman had a strong quarter in its trading operations, benefiting from a market rally after the U.S. presidential election. In Goldmans institutional client services division, which includes trading desks, revenue surged 25 percent, to $3.6 billion. Revenue in its fixed-income, currencies and commodities division rose 78 percent, to $2 billion.

The strong performance in trading helped lift the firms return on common equity, a metric used by investment banks to measure how well they did based on how much capital they have, to 11.4 percent.

 Associated Press

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How wonderful it is that Rumi, the 13th-century Muslim versifier, has become the best-selling poet in the United States! He might enjoy knowing that Trumps America is snapping up translations of his homoerotically tinged work even as the country toys with banning Muslims and rolling back gay rights.

Rumi, like Omar Khayyam, has become the warm and fuzzy ecumenical poet of choice for weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies and funerals. A benign mist dews our lens on a golden-age Islam. Edward Said would rap our bourgeois knuckles for the way we idealize classical Persia.

Rumi's Secret: The Life of the Sufi Poet of Love, by Brad Gooch. (Harper )

Now, to rescue Rumi from this inane Orientalizing comes the poet, novelist and biographer Brad Gooch with Rumis Secret. A dazzling feat of scholarship, but a pedestrian read, the book restores Rumi to the glories and hardships of his momentous age. Gooch spent nearly eight years on the project, learning Persian and traveling to Rumi-relevant lands including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Syria and Turkey, co-translating the verse he quotes, steeping himself in scores of books, and interviewing Rumi luminaries and acolytes.

Building particularly on Franklin Lewiss Rumi (2000), Gooch manages to paint an accessible, tangible portrait of the ancient poet. He makes real for us Rumis boyhood travels from his home in the Tajik village of Vakhsh, his studies in Aleppo and Damascus, and his family and religious life in Konya, in what is now Turkey. Gooch explores Rumis relationship not just with Shams, the older spiritual intimate with whom he became obsessed, but also  later, after Shamss suspicious disappearance  with a goldsmith, Salah, and then with Hosam, trusted longtime friend and treasurer of the informal religious order that had formed around Rumi.

Shams made Rumi question the expectations for his respectable and predictable future. He brought out the religious leaders budding mystic inclinations, including an unorthodox love of music and dance in which Rumis prayers began to evolve into poetry and song. Was sex involved in the mens many cloistered hours together? While no evidence exists of an erotic component, Gooch writes, Rumi chose to speak of their spiritual love in the mode of Persian romantic love poetry, and from weaving the two came his evanescent message. In other words, who knows?

Rumis masterwork, the six-volume spiritual epic The Masnavi, shivers with infinite devotion, but also infinite loss. Shams may have been murdered by one of Rumis sons in jealous conspiracy with other apostles who felt the older mystic was undermining Rumis calling. Or Shams may have felt driven away. Or he may have left to teach Rumi a lesson about separation. After all, hed done that before. In any case, Shamss disappearance, absent any resolution, perhaps echoed in Rumis mind other losses such as the death of his father and the destruction of his boyhood homes by the Mongol armies of the Khans, whose authority increasingly encroached on Konya as well.

Author Brad Gooch. (Dominique Nabokov)

The books title, Rumis Secret, is more a tease than a biographical agenda. For if you consider the secret the nature of Rumis intimacy with Shams or the perpetual mystery underlying great poetic talent, then Rumis secret rests securely with him in his tomb. Then again, the poets secret might be no secret at all. Fasting, whirling, dancing and reciting while Hosam acted as scribe, Rumi, like mystics before and since, may have looked increasingly inward as the outward showed signs of toppling all around him. Worn down to his physical, spiritual and elegiac essence, he turned his back on worldly factions and reached out to Christians and Jews, tradesmen and lepers. At the risk of heresy, he found direct connection to God, to Mohammed and to the Koran, to which he brazenly considered his Masnavi a complement.

Rumis Secret is a strangely dry read considering it has a literally whirling mystic as its subject. As if fearing that too lyrical an approach to such an orphic figure would result in incoherence, Gooch describes this poets life in a decidedly unpoetic way. He offers conscientious chronology: who traveled where, studied with whom, won which royals as patrons, and so on. And he gives us some helpful exegesis, for instance, in explaining a surrealistic dream passage by Rumi drawing on a 40-day period of bread-and-water subsistence in total isolation. But this book wont get anyone excited about Rumi. Instead, it will give those already excited about Rumi help in contextualizing his work.

Look at what has become of Aleppo and Damascus, the centers of learning of Rumis young manhood. Look at todays tatters of his ecumenical outreach. What power compels millions nonetheless to seek out his healing verses? One wishes that Gooch, for all the years he put into understanding Rumi, would offer, beyond quotes from a few Rumi scholars and enthusiasts, some deeper speculation along these lines.

Gooch does equip us to make some guesses of our own. Perhaps in a world of warlords, sects and terror, the enduring appeal is the immediate spiritual self-determination that Rumi promises:

Oh brother, you are nothing but your thoughts

The rest of you is merely skin and bones

If your thought is a rose, you are a rose garden

If your thought is a thorn, you are fuel for the fire.

Or do we see ourselves reflected in Rumis melancholic ambiguities? The religion of love, he asserts, is beyond all faiths. With the Middle East again aflame, the West in another bitter parochial crouch, one wonders, does that mean that supreme love is accessible to all of us, or to none?

Alexander C. Kafka has written about books and the arts for the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune and other publications.
Elena Harris, second from right, and grandchildren Ricky Washington, front left, Jaidyn Turner and Ra-Kahri Washington, right, cool off as Washington had a heat wave in July. Scientists said Wednesday that Earth had the highest temperature for the third straight year. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Government scientists say the Earth sizzled to a third straight heat record last year.

They mostly blame human-made global warming with help from a natural El Nino, which has since disappeared.

The figures announced Wednesday come from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which measure global temperatures in slightly different ways. They said last year passed 2015 as the hottest year going back to 1880.

NOAA calculated that the average global temperature last year was 58.69 degrees, beating the previous year by 0.07 degrees.

NASAs measurements include more of the Arctic, which was warmer than usual. The agency said last year was 0.22 degrees warmer than 2015.

The Arctic was enormously warm, like totally off the charts compared to everything else, said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASAs Goddard Institute of Space Studies, where the space agency monitors global temperatures.

Schmidt said his calculations show most of the record heat was from heat-trapping gases from the burning of oil, coal and gas. Only about 12 percent was due to El Nino, a periodic warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean that changes weather globally, he said.

Of course this is climate change, its overwhelmingly climate change, said Corinne Le Quere, director of Englands Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, who wasnt part of the NOAA or NASA teams. Warming [is] nearly everywhere. The Arctic sea ice is collapsing. Spikes in fires from the heat. Heavy rainfall from more water vapor in the air.

This is the fifth time in a dozen years that the globe has set a new annual heat record. Records have been set in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010 and 2005.
(Nicki DeMarco/The Washington Post)

Ending weeks of cloak-and-dagger secrecy, one of the biggest state secrets of the Trump administration looks ready to be unveiled. According to Womens Wear Daily and other news outlets, Melania Trump has chosen a dynamic duo to create her inaugural wardrobe: fashion legends Ralph Lauren and Karl Lagerfeld. Its a bold move by the designers, as other top dressmakers have just said no to the incoming first lady  setting off a political and social-media firestorm.

Last month, after designers Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs, and others, said that they would refuse to dress Melania, Bryan Fischer, the uber-conservative host of the show Focal Point on American Family Radio, added to the social-media controversy when he tweeted what appeared to be a simple question: If a baker can be forced to bake a cake for homosexuals, can a dressmaker be forced to make a dress for Melania?

On the face of it, this may seem like a reasonable question. If its wrong to say that you wont bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, why isnt it also wrong to announce that you refuse to make a dress for Mrs. Trump? She has rights, too, doesnt she? Or maybe this is one of the extra rights that Ben Carson, the nominee for secretary of housing and urban development, claimed at his confirmation hearing last week that LGBT people seek. For the record, I  and every gay person I know  seek equal, not extra, rights.

Fischers tweet came in response to an unprecedented reaction by certain A-list designers who announced that they would not dress the new first lady. Sophie Theallet proved to be the most vocal  and political  when she tweeted: I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next First Lady, calling out the rhetoric of racism, sexism, and xenophobia in Donald Trumps campaign. She then called on all designers to join her in refusing any such assignment  a fashion boycott, if you will.

[Should designers dress Melania and Ivanka? The question is complex.]

Theallets use of fashion as a form of political protest earned her praise from some, which apparently infuriated Fischer, who not surprisingly doesnt see her as a hero.

Fischer claims that its hypocritical of Theallet to refuse to dress the incoming first lady, which he conceded would violate [her] own conscience and compromise [her] values, because that is exactly what Aaron and Melissa Klein, co-owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, Ore., faced when they refused to provide a cake for a same-sex (or in his words, sodomy-based) wedding in 2013. Cakes crafted by the Kleins, Fischer wrote, represented their artistic talent and communicated a message about their own values.

But Fischer draws a false equivalency between the bakers and the dressmakers, for two reasons. One is purely legal: The Kleins broke the law. A lesbian couple sued them under Oregons Unlawful Discrimination in Public Accommodations law, which protects same-sex couples from discrimination, and won a $135,000 judgment.

No designer is breaking any law by declining Melania Trumps business (or refusing to do her a favor in return for the publicity). As Joe Jervis, a popular LGBT blogger, wrote, Political affiliation is not a protected class in any state.

Theres another reason that the equivalency Fischer makes is off-base  and its not about law but about civility. Were all allowed our personal likes and dislikes, and the designers who demurred are no exception. Designers and their celebrity clients tend to hand-pick one another based on mutual need and desire, and may politely decline to dress or be dressed by anyone. Shes not necessarily my image, Ford said of Melania on The View. Derek Lam explained to Womens Wear Daily, I find it challenging to be personally involved in dressing the new first lady.

Had the Kleins simply disliked their would-be lesbian customers based on rude or disruptive behavior, they would have been within their rights to send them packing, just as any store owner may eject troublemakers. (Managing to refuse or eject every black, Jewish, or Muslim customer for poor behavior would, of course, arouse suspicion.) But by all accounts, the brides are lovely people. Theyre just gay.

Personal preferences (Hes a creep or She doesnt pay her bills) are very different from refusing to provide services to an entire class of people under the guise of religious freedom. Notably, the dissenting designers havent said that they wont dress Ms. Trump because of her religion (Shes an Episcopalian!), her race (Shes white!) or her national origin (Shes from Slovenia!). That would be illegal and discriminatory, and Id say lock em up  or fine them.

And thats the lesson for the rest of us. Were free to shun whomever we choose based on who they are or their politics  but not on what group they belong to. In many cases, such behavior is illegal; in all cases, its odious.

Agree or disagree with my perspective? Let me know in the comments section below.

Email questions to Civilities at stevenpetrow@gmail.com (unfortunately not all questions can be answered). You can reach the author on Facebook at facebook.com/stevenpetrow and on Twitter @stevenpetrow. Join him for a chat online at washingtonpost.com on Jan. 24 at 1 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 19

Citrus sale for charities Features Vermont maple syrup and pecans, sponsored by the Northwest Arlington Lions Club. Thursday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Overlee Pool Bath House (lower level), 6030 Lee Hwy., Arlington. 703-528-1130. lionskk@earthlink.net. Free.

Torpedo Factory postgraduate resident Features paintings by Jay Hendrick. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Continues through March 31. Torpedo Factory Art Center, Studio 12, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-746-4570. torpedofactory.org. Free.

Meet the Chair: Jay Fisette Learn about the new Arlington County chairs initiatives and ask questions in a town hall forum. 6:30-8 p.m. George Mason Universitys Arlington campus, Founders Hall, 3551 Fairfax Dr., Arlington. 703-528-2522. jkenneally@leadercenter.org. Free.

Friday, Jan. 20

Alexandria thrift shop Features clothes, housewares, kitchen appliances, paintings, books and more. Proceeds benefit local charities. Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Church of St. Clement, 1701 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria. 703-998-6166. Free.

Tavern Museums tours on inauguration weekend Learn how taverns played an important role in political conversation during the 18th and 19th centuries. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Gadsbys Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., Alexandria. 703-746-4242. gadsbystavern.org. Free.

Concert for Courage A performance by progressive songstresses Heather Mae, Crys Matthews and Jean Rohe to benefit Planned Parenthood and Equality Virginia. 8 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd. 202-656-2748. stoneroomconcerts.com. Free; donations suggested.

Saturday, Jan. 21

Alexandria farmers market Features produce, meat, poultry, cheeses, breads, pastries, fresh pasta, cut flowers, plants, soaps, jewelry and art. 7 a.m.-noon. Market Square, 301 King St., Alexandria. 703-258-9115. alexandriava.gov. Free.

Arlington farmers market Features produce, cheese, pasta, buffalo meat, flowers and more. 8 a.m.-noon. North Courthouse Road and North 14th Street, Arlington. 202-827-5437. community-foodworks.org. Free.

Del Ray farmers market Features produce, cheese, flowers, meat, eggs, honey, nuts and baked goods. 8 a.m.-noon. Mount Vernon and East Oxford avenues, Alexandria. 703-683-2570. alexandriava.gov. Free.

Ipseity all-media exhibit Works by gallery artists contextualize themes of race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Continues through March 5. Reception Feb. 9 from 6-8 p.m. Torpedo Factory Art Center, Target Gallery, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-838-4565. torpedofactory.org. Free.

Curators Spotlight Kayleigh Bryant-Greenwell, Betsy Johnson, Katy Scarlett and Ann Tarantino showcase the artists and themes of their choice. Noon-5 p.m. Continues through March 26. Reception Feb. 11 from 6-9 p.m. Gallery talks March 4 from 1-4 p.m. Arlington Arts Center, 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-248-6800. arlingtonartscenter.org. Free.

Winter woods scavenger hunt For ages 6-12, explore hiking trails to find frost heaves, winter berries, bird nests and more. 2-3 p.m. Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington. 703-228-6535. Free.

Flying squirrel lore and more For age 4 and older, learn about the nocturnal acrobats. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington. 703-228-6535. registration.arlingtonva.us. $5; registration required (program No. 622957-D).

Family skate night Features a live DJ and moon bounce. Saturdays from 6:30-9 p.m. Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 S. Second St., Arlington. 703-228-7783. parks.arlingtonva.us. $2; skate rental $3.

Sunday, Jan. 22

Columbia Pike farmers market Features produce, chocolate, tea, coffee, cheese and bison meat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. South Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike (Pike Park), Arlington. 703-892-2776. columbia-pike.org. Free.

Four Mile Run farmers and artisan market Produce, beef, desserts, herbs, cheese and crafts. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 4109 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. 804-464-7661. 4mrmarket.org. Free.

Westover farmers market Features fruit, produce, meat, cheese, eggs, prepared food and more. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Washington Boulevard and North McKinley Road, Arlington. 703-405-8232. westoverfarmersmarket.org. Free.

Connecting the Dots: The DMV Artists use the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authoritys train line structure as inspiration. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closing reception, Jan. 27 from 7-9 p.m. Through Jan. 31, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Studio 8, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-746-4570. torpedofactory.org. Free.

Educator open house Features a presentation, meet faculty and administrators, tours of the school campus and more. 1:30-4:30 p.m. St. Stephens & St. Agnes School, Chapel/Performing Arts Center, 1000 St. Stephen's Rd., Alexandria. 703-212-2760. sssas.org. Free.

Winter Warmer Ladies Tea Features a tour, 18th-century desserts, John Gadsbys tea or an American Heritage Chocolate, and a talk about tea by historic guests Martha Washington and Dolley Madison. Seatings at 3 and 3:15 p.m. Gadsbys Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., Alexandria. 703-746-4242. shop.alexandriava.gov. $35; registration required.

Monday, Jan. 23

Habits exhibit Artwork examining patterns, routines, and rituals, juried by Rebecca Chaperon. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Continues through Feb. 5. Torpedo Factory Art Center, The Art League Gallery, Studio 21, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-683-1780. theartleague.org. Free.

Member 25 A retrospective exhibit that celebrates artists with The Art League for 25 years or more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Continues through Feb. 5. Torpedo Factory Art Center, Studio 21, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-683-1780. theartleague.org. Free.

Encore Learning: Meet the Speaker Christine Negroni, an expert on aviation accidents, discusses The Crash Detectives: Investigating the Worlds Mysterious Air Disasters. 3-4:30 p.m. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington. 703-228-2144. jbecker841@aol.com. Free.

Alexandria Agenda program Speakers discuss City Elections: Are We Getting It Right?, with reception and dinner. Cash bar 6:30 p.m., dinner 6:45 p.m., program 7:15 p.m. The Hermitage in Northern Virginia, 5000 Fairbanks Ave., Alexandria. 703-548-7089. agendaalexandria.com. Dinner $32-$42; reserve by Friday. Program only $5; members free.

Tuesday, Jan. 24

Walkfit mall walking program Walk at your own pace, stretch and cool down led by hospital staff. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Fashion Mall at Pentagon City, meet outside Nordstrom and Kay Jewelers, 1100 S. Hayes St., Arlington. Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, 1100 S. Hayes St., Arlington. 703-558-6859. Free.

Home-school program For ages 6 and older, learn how firefighting technology evolved and test the scientific concepts behind how the historic equipment worked. 10 a.m. Friendship Firehouse, 107 S. Alfred St., Alexandria. 703-746-4554. shop.alexandriava.gov. Each child $8; adults free. Registration required.

Art therapy group Enhances the healing process through art. Fourth Tuesday from 1:30-3 p.m. Virginia Hospital Center, Cancer Resource Center, 1701 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington. 703-558-5555. Free.

Piano four hands concert Faces of Liszt program performed by Andrea Varnagy and Zsolt Farkas. 6:30 p.m. Marymount University, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington. 703-921-1124. americanhungarianheritagehouse.org. Free; donations requested to benefit the Hungarian Scouts of Washington.

Prostate cancer support group Facilitated by a prostate cancer survivor. For people undergoing treatment or those with new diagnoses. Fourth Tuesday from 7-8:30 p.m. Virginia Hospital Center, Cancer Resource Center, 1701 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington. 703-558-5555. Free.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

Arlington Neighborhood Village program A discussion by nurse practitioner Diane Hendel of Inova Advanced Illness and Geriatric Care. 10-11 a.m. Langston-Brown Senior Center, 2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington. 703-509-8057. arlnvil.org. Free.

Senior services speaker series A discussion about How Technology Can Enhance Seniors Lives. 10 a.m.-noon. Charles E. Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria. 703-836-4414, Ext. 110. seniorservicesalex.org. Free; registration required.

Figure-drawing workshop Draw or paint a live models short and long poses from 2-5 p.m. and long pose from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Del Ray Artisans, Nicholas A. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. 703-836-1468. thedelrayartisans.org. $10-$12.

Head and neck cancer support group Oncologists discuss challenges and concerns. Fourth Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. Virginia Hospital Center, Cancer Resource Center, 1701 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington. 703-558-6913. Free; registration required.

Thursday, Jan. 26

Faith, Food and Fellowship A service with music, a message from a pastor and lunch featuring Anthony Nunez of INFO Robotics discussing creating robots to assist the elderly, people with disabilities and wounded veterans. Noon. Clarendon United Methodist Church, 606 N. Irving St., Arlington. 703-527-8574. morefaith.org. Free; $5 lunch.

Opera NOVA senior concert Soprano Yulia Petrachuk and others perform opera arias, Broadway songs and excerpts from Scott Joplins Treemonisha. 1-2 p.m. Our Savior Lutheran Church, 825 S. Taylor St., Arlington. 703-536-7557. operanova.org. Suggested admission, $5-$10.

 Compiled by Ria Manglapus

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Details: Announcements are accepted on a space-available basis from public and nonprofit organizations only and must be received at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date. Include event name, dates, times, exact address, prices and a publishable contact phone number.
Bomb threats were called in to more than 30 Jewish organizations across the country Wednesday, community leaders said, and federal authorities said they are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with the calls.

The calls to sites from Southern California to Florida, in at least 17 states, followed similar incidents last week, when at least 16 Jewish community centers received threatening robo-calls, according to the JCC Association of North America.

Some schools and community centers were evacuated, but no injuries were reported.

Paul Laurie, the chief operating officer of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, said the organization received a bomb threat this week and last week, and was evacuated both times.

Its definitely been challenging for our staff and for our members, he said.

After the second round of threats, national community leaders said while were extremely proud of our JCCs for professionally handling yet another threatening situation, we are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats, a statement from David Posner, director of strategic performance at the association, read. While the bombs in question are hoaxes, the calls are not, Posner said.

In a written statement the FBI said that the FBI and the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with threats to Jewish Community Centers across the country. The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence, and will ensure this matter is investigated in a fair, thorough, and impartial manner. As this is matter is ongoing, we are not able to comment further at this time.

Paul Goldenberg, the national director of the nonprofit Jewish Federation of Americas Secure Community Network, said he had been in touch with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security about the threats from people who want to disrupt our way of life.

We are back in our centers, back in our schools and back in our synagogues, he said.

One organization that received a call, the Ronald C. Wornack Jewish Day School in Foster City, Calif., was evacuated Wednesday morning and its preschool was closed for the day, but the scene was cleared at around 12:15 p.m. local time.

Laura Toller Gardner, the chief marketing and membership officer at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, which shares a campus with the day school, said she was encouraged by supportive messages she was receiving about the threats on social media.

These kinds of things are so upsetting when they happen, but keep doing the things youre doing, she said she was told. JCCs are a force for love.
Former Mayor Vincent Gray is unhappy with the quality of construction and materials of the Benning Stoddert Community Center. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

If one wanted to locate D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser in recent days, or to know what might be occupying her thoughts, a good place to start was with the citys former mayor, Vincent C. Gray.

Back from political exile, Gray spent last week as a new D.C. Council member and counterweight to his nemesis, Bowser. He did it by jabbing her in ways that no city politician had dared since Bowser defeated the incumbent Gray in 2014 in the Democratic primary and won the mayors office.

Their awkward pas de deux could serve as a hint of whats to come, as the two jockey for position and Bowser weighs whether shell run for reelection in 2018 while Gray considers whether to challenge her in a mayoral rematch.

The night before his first day back in the John A. Wilson Building last week, Gray invited a television reporter along for a tour of a recreation center in his ward that Bowsers administration recently renovated. For the cameras, Gray pointed out missing lights in a gymnasium, an exposed stove in a family entrance way, and a gas meter blocking a handicapped-accessible restroom. Shoddy, shabby work, Gray said, giving residents in a poor neighborhood east of the Anacostia River the short end of the stick.

One of Bowsers top parks officials was dispatched to the scene, in time for a televised tongue-lashing by the former mayor. This should have been stopped long before now, brother, Gray said.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signs a bill to make tampering with GPS devices a crime. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

A day later, it was Gray on the council dais, shining a spotlight on what might be Bowsers biggest political weakness ahead of her potential reelection effort: a jump in homicides during her first two years in office.

Gray introduced a bill to hire 500 police officers, saying Bowser had let the force dwindle to an unacceptable level. Within hours, Bowsers office announced a news conference to unveil a new patrol strategy. But it was a policy that wasnt new and had been announced a week earlier by the police department.

At a court hearing marking the end of a 40-year legal battle for the city about how it treats mentally disabled residents, it was again Gray onstage.

After Bowser abruptly added the event to her schedule, a federal judge acknowledged both of them from the bench and noted Grays efforts to improve conditions for the citys most vulnerable.

By Thursday, Bowsers team was smarting, and her spokesman dismissed a question about whether Gray had spent the week setting the agenda.

Its not necessarily following Vince Gray, said Kevin Harris.

In an email later in the day, Harris added that the previous election is long gone and she has no political scores to settle, nor the time or interest to engage in a political tit-for-tat. Whenever Councilman Gray is ready to work with the mayor, her door is open.

Vincent C. Gray is sworn in as a D.C. Council member by Chief Judge Lee F. Satterfield, right, during a swearing-in ceremony in Washington earlier this month. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)

Then he went back to the recreation center and offered a second rebuke of Grays grandstanding.

This was an example of the petty politics residents have already rejected, Harris wrote. Ill leave it up to the councilmans constituents to determine if calling the media before you have spoken a word to the mayor, who can actually fix the problem, is the most effective way to get anything done.

One of the last words from Gray on the topic came via one of his Twitter accounts, which maintains the handle @mayorvincegray: Vince is Back  and so is hands-on oversight.

City activist Dorothy Brizill, who has been equally critical of Bowser and Gray over the years, shook her head Friday, discussing the back-and-forth.

What did Bette Davis say? Fasten your seat belt? Well, its going to be a bumpy ride, Brizill said. Gray is pointing out the shortcoming in Bowsers administration, as well as that of her staff, and shes not used to it.

Brizill said she expects the fireworks to only intensify as the time nears for Bowser to announce plans to run for reelection and for Gray to decide whether he will seek a rematch.

Gray is going to be playing to people who are not supportive of Bowser, and he is going to wrap himself in the mantra of What have you done for the city?  especially for the east end of the city  and that is going to resonate with some, she said.

Sitting in his council office late last week, Gray clearly enjoyed recounting how he said the mayor seemed compelled to respond to his first days back in office. Maybe Ill start sending her the agenda so she has advance notice, he said, breaking into laughter.

But seriously, my role is to do the best that I can to serve the people of Ward 7, Gray said. If the mayor happens to agree with my agenda, all the better  I guess I better just get out there fast with it before she makes it her own.

The former mayors willingness to poke fun at the current mayor brought back into stark relief the animosity that lingers between the two from their bitter Democratic primary battle in 2014.

Bowser was among the first to call for Grays resignation when allegations surfaced in 2012 that his associates spent money that was not properly reported to help him defeat Bowsers mentor, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.

Bowser announced her own bid for Grays seat less than a year later and made the accusations against him the center of her campaign. She said the city needed to elect a new leader to get out from under the cloud of suspicion hanging over City Hall. As she rose in polls, Gray fired back, warning that Bowser was too inexperienced for the job. Prosecutors dropped their investigation into Gray after Bowser won, clearing the way for his comeback.

At his swearing-in on Jan. 2, Gray, 74, picked up largely where he left off, with a thinly veiled reference to Bowser, 44, saying it was time to get rid of bumper-sticker politics and for city leaders to maturely approach governing decisions.

Gray continued that line of criticism Tuesday, responding to an audit that found Bowsers administration had spent a record $41 million on cleaning up from a massive snowstorm last January. The auditor found the city failed to negotiate better deals with contractors and broke some federal procurement rules in the process.

[To clean up 1 storm, D.C. spent $41 million, some improperly]

Gray told a Washington Post reporter that Bowser panicked in the face of the storm and that the city was better prepared for bad weather when he was mayor. Harris, Bowsers spokesman, reached out to the newspaper after Grays quote appeared online and sought to redirect blame to Gray: It was the former mayor, he said, who left Bowser with a fleet of snowplows inadequate to handle the cleanup.

The tit for tat didnt end there.

The storm, nicknamed Snowzilla, hit on Jan. 22, 2016, more than a year after Bowser took office, Grays former campaign treasurer, Chuck Thies, pointed out in a subsequent email to a reporter. He sent a link to a Bowser news release three months before the blizzard, touting her teams readiness.

If youre asking me if this is the beginning of silly season, before an election, my answer is I hope not,  said council Chairman Phil Mendelson. I know people want the branches of government to work together, rather than digressing into politics.

But council member Elissa Silverman, whose office is next door to Grays, said its hard to escape the fact that two factions suddenly coexist in District headquarters.

She stopped by Grays office Tuesday, crowded with fruit baskets from lobbyists, and more than a half-dozen people waiting to see the former mayor. Silverman asked a secretary about a lunch date she had requested with Gray. Youre in the queue, the secretary responded, without offering a possible date.

Its a little bit of the D.C. politics wayback machine every time I walk by  Ive run into a lot of former Gray administration officials waiting to see the council member, she said.

Silverman, too, said she wishes for the best. I hope the back-and-forth between Bowser and Gray will be a competition of ideas around the best public policy for our city and not simply a blood feud, she said.

William Lightfoot, Bowsers former campaign chairman, said its up to the mayor to find a way to answer Grays criticism.

Look, the mayors doing just fine. Good things in the city are happening because of her work, he said. But speaking as a former council member, I think what Vince did this past week is appropriate conduct. Council members should prod the local government to improve and bring to public light where conditions can be improved.

Spencer Hsu contributed to this report.
Congressional Republicans are making an aggressive push to gut the Districts progressive policies, introducing bills in recent days to repeal the heavily Democratic citys gun-control measures, undo its new law allowing physician-assisted suicide and ban the District from using local tax dollars to provide abortions for poor women.

The bills have begun arriving on the eve of President Obamas departure from the White House, where he has stifled repeated attempts to pass similar measures with a veto threat.

Those decisions will soon be in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump, and conservative House members said they think that Trump will not impede the will of a newly emboldened Republican-led Congress.

I believe we have a White House and a Congress that see things increasingly similarly  there has been a decided trend line in favor of life, said Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.), who introduced the bill to permanently ban the District from using local tax money to subsidize abortions for low-income residents.

On Tuesday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), reintroduced a bill to repeal the Districts gun-control laws, which are among the most restrictive in the nation. Under one provision in Rubios bill, police in the nations capital would have to drop tight controls on who is allowed to carry a gun outside a home. Instead, the city would be compelled to issue concealed-carry permits to any resident or visitor who meets the most basic criteria.

(Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post)

The back-to-back bills came after Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) vowed last week to use his perch atop the House Oversight Committee to roll back the law making the District the seventh jurisdiction to allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives.

[Chaffetz plans to block assisted suicide law]

The Districts status as a federal district makes it uniquely vulnerable to the whims of Congress. Unlike in the 50 states, Congress has supreme authority, including veto power over local laws and voter-approved measures. It can even reach in and dictate how local tax money is spent if the president agrees.

More people live in the nations capital than in Vermont or Wyoming, and they pay more in federal taxes than their counterparts in 22 states, but the federal district has no voting member of Congress.

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) bristled Wednesday at the rapid-fire assault.

Given that Russia interfered with a national election and millions of Americans are about to lose their health-care coverage, it boggles the mind why Republicans think interfering in our local government is the best use of their time, Bowser spokesman Kevin Harris said.

Democrats have regularly accused Republicans of using their oversight to impose their ideological will  and to score points with their constituents back home.

These officials should stop lording over the District of Columbia as if it were their private kingdom, said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who vowed to fight each piece of GOP legislation aimed at the District. Its the height of arrogance to impose their view against the wishes of the people in the District.

D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who represents neighborhoods on Capitol Hill, said it was also ironic.

These guys love to argue for local control and rail against big government, but they seem to love big government when it comes to imposing what they believe, he said.

Unlike the previous instances in which Republicans gained control of both houses of Congress and the White House, there are fewer moderate Republicans to block bills targeting the District from reaching the presidents desk, said David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report.

The ideological pendulum is swinging further between administrations now than it did 20 years ago. When you go from one to the next, its whiplash, he said. It means that the perceived threat is real for D.C. leaders who fear politicians from thousands of miles away dictating what laws the District can and cannot pass, Wasserman said.

Last week, Bowser hosted a cocktail reception for new members of Congress in an attempt to press her case for D.C. statehood  an effort that now looks fruitless.

This is just the beginning of the assault I fear we will see on the District and home rule and 600,000 people who cant vote, Allen said.

Given other legislative priorities of the new Congress, action on the bills may not come quickly.

A vote to undo D.C. gun laws would represent the most sweeping policy intervention since 1973, when Congress allowed the city to begin electing a mayor and city council to govern local affairs.

The D.C. government maintained a total ban on firearm possession until recently, when gun rights groups won partial legal victories first to allow residents to maintain guns at home and then for some to carry them with permits.

Still, with support from D.C. leaders, city police have approved only a couple of dozen carry permits.

Under the legislation introduced by Rubio, District gun laws would be repealed and replaced with much looser federal laws. D.C. residents would be allowed to purchase guns in neighboring states, including Virginia, where purchasing requirements are among the nations most lenient.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a leading supporter of gun control in Congress, called Rubios idea dangerous.

I cant think of anything more dangerous than allowing people to walk around with assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the nations capital, Murphy said. This city is always a little bit on edge knowing its always at risk. Why raise the anxiety of people who live here by allowing dangerous killing machines to be legally sold and carried on streets?

Josh Horwitz, executive director of the District-based Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, denounced Rubios bill, citing a rise in homicides in the city over the past two years.

Rubios bill would also strip the D.C. Council and mayor of their ability to pass future restrictions on gun rights.

Similarly, the antiabortion bill sponsored by Smith would make a more lasting change, requiring a vote by the House, a supermajority vote of the Senate and the presidents signature to undo it.

For decades, members of Congress have debated annually whether to prohibit the District from spending its local tax revenue  as 17 states now do  to subsidize abortions.

During Obamas first two years in the White House, when Democrats controlled Congress, the District used its local Medicaid contribution to pay for almost 120 abortions for low-income residents.

In 2011 in a low point for Obamas relationship with D.C. residents, the president traded away the right for the District to continue funding those abortions to win a federal budget deal with Republicans. Then-Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) led a sit-in and was arrested for blocking traffic outside the Capitol.

[Obama traded away]

The temporary ban has been continued in every budget deal since.

Smiths bill aims to make it more difficult for any future president to again allow abortion funding.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) plans to introduce the Senate companion to Smiths bill, as he has done in previous years when the measure passed the House but did not get a vote in the Senate.

This time, things are different, Wicker said.

We have a real chance for it to be enacted, he said. I think we have a president who would sign it. I think public opinion is behind us on this issue.

But depending on how Republican leaders proceed, the measure may require a 60-vote majority in the Senate to become law, giving Democrats a chance to block it.

We will fight them tooth and nail on these issues, Van Hollen said. There were lots of terrible ideas introduced in the past that went nowhere that now may have a chance to get farther along in the process. Well be fighting hard to block this effort to make the District of Columbia their personal plaything.

More intervention by conservatives is on the way. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) said he plans to use an appropriations bill to block the city from using funds to regulate recreational marijuana use, which voters approved through a 2014 ballot measure.

The Constitution gives Congress the right  and obligation  to oversee everything that happens in the District, he said.
The door to the apartment in Alexandria opened, and there he was: Richard Spencer, a white nationalist leader in the ultraconservative alt-right (read, make America white again) movement. On the cusp of Donald Trumps presidential inauguration, Spencer, a Trump supporter, was setting up shop to promote his cause in the D.C. area.

Hail Trump, Spencer and his minions had chanted at a convention in Washington after Trumps election in November. Spencer has said that he is neither racist nor a white supremacist but an identarian who advocates for stronger white identity.

[Inside the alt-right world of Richard Spencer]

When Spencer saw who was at the door on Monday evening, he closed it without saying a word. But his presence had been confirmed.

The ethno-nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism, excluding people that are not like them, separating and denigrating others  its anathema not only to our community but to our society, said Dennis Maloney said, a consultant in Alexandria who accompanied me to Spencers apartment.

I had met with Maloney and two other Alexandria residents  business owner Dylan Raycroft and lawyer Jessica Killeen  to hear them discuss ways to protest Spencers mission. The stated goals of some alt-right factions include nonviolent ethnic cleansing and restoration of white culture in a whites-only homeland.

Ive never been a political activist, just a businessman trying to be a part of the community the way normal people do, said Raycroft, who owns a chimney sweep company in Alexandria. But he said the presence of Spencer in the neighborhood crosses a line that cant be ignored. There comes a point when you just have to say, Enough is enough. 

In the aftermath of a presidential campaign seared by Trumps incendiary rhetoric, the Alexandria City Council issued a statement declaring the city a hate-free zone. Then Spencer arrived, as if to mock the councils stated ideals.

For years, there has been a battle for the soul of the city. While one group seeks to make it a more progressive place, another clings fervently to its Confederate past. A recent clash over what to do about a Confederate statue and a street named for the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, ended in something of a compromise: The statue will stay for now; the name of the highway will be changed.

[Alexandrias Confederate symbols will stay put for now]

But the arrival of Spencer has tipped the scales. And no amount of political dealing will right it.

Raycroft had read about Spencers move to the city in a January issue of the Atlantic. The article did not mention the address. So he used an online real estate service to look up interior photographs of recently rented apartments and match them with photographs that Spencer had tweeted of himself inside his new residence.

I think the first step is to bear witness, Maloney said. Maybe its a simple matter of getting people to stand outside that building with signs saying: We are not tolerating this. You are not welcomed. There is no reason why we cant exercise our freedom of speech. That might invite them to engage.

Killeen was optimistic about getting people involved.

The election of Trump has caused a lot of people to become politically active for the first time, she said. People have been aware of what was going on, but this is the first time they are putting boots on the ground and fighting for things we really care about.

As word of the new neighbor spread, fliers and posters began cropping up around South Patrick and King Streets. One read: No Vacancy for Hate with the hashtag, #inclusivealx. Another read Missing Dog and included a photo of Spencer.

The most they could do was use Spencer as a symbol of what the country was at risk of becoming.

We cant let people like him become the norm, Killeen said.

Raycroft shook his head in disbelief.

To read previous columns, go to washingtonpost.com/milloy.


Third-graders at Barack Obama Elementary School in Upper Marlboro, Md., discuss the policies President Obama championed and their feelings about Donald Trump. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Overnight their world had shifted, and now the students at Barack Obama Elementary had a pressing question for principal Megan Ashworth: Would the name of their school change?

Would they, the Maryland kids wondered, attend Donald Trump Elementary School?

That wouldnt happen Ashworth assured them on Nov. 9, the day after the election. She assured them again in December when that question came up during a class she visited. And she will assure them once more, if needed, after Friday when Trump officially replaces Obama.

For those who attend and live around the Prince Georges County school named for the countrys first African American president, the shift in power will not only evoke intense emotions  it will also cut at their identity. This is Obama territory, one of the nations most affluent, majority-black communities, where residents speak of the 44th commander in chief as they would a relative.

Inside the school, the students, almost all of them African American, walk past trophy cases filled with books about the first family and look up to staff members who wear T-shirts that read We Rock at Barack.

Outside the school, along roads where empty swaths of land give way to clusters of big homes, people praise Obamas policies, even as Prince Georges has been slower to recover from the recession than most places in the Washington region.

For eight years here, there has been a shared sense that no matter what happened, the man who occupied the White House cared about them. Now, that is about to change, and the trepidation about what Trump might do runs deep.

Already, an office manager at a church near the school has been fielding calls from friends worried she will lose her health insurance. A mother of two has questioned how the college-educated, African American sons she raised could have voted for Trump. And the students in a third-grade class have scribbled their fears, with occasional misspelled words, in journals.

I feel okay because I know God is always with me at all times, a boy named Iyan wrote. But at the same time terrefied because Donald J. Trump can do anything.

(WUSA9)

Use that voice

Most of the third-graders in Alicia Permenters class are 8 years old and have known only one president.

Like many children their age, they have heard his name slip off their parents lips their entire lives. But unlike their peers, they have studied his policies in-depth as part of a class research project, so words such as preexisting condition roll with ease out of their young mouths.

On a morning when Permenter asked the class about the impact of the Affordable Care Act, hands shot up. A girl sitting cross-legged in her chair, bounced up and down, eager to speak. Her classmate Dylan went first.

The Affordable Care Act was a law that President Obama made for people that didnt have any insurance, he said. A benefit, he said, is you can now keep your children on your health insurance until they turn 26.

Listen to what Dylan said  up until the age of 26,  Permenter said. Think of how that impacts you. Take the discussion further. How old are you? Think in the future. How does that now impact you and what happens if it disappears?

That could affect me, one boy offered, because I have asthma, and once I get out of college I may not be able, if the new president takes away the Affordable Care Act, then I may not be able to get insurance.

The class discussion flowed in that same way  from the broad to the personal  as they spoke about Obamas record in other areas.

The principal sat in on the class that day. Ashworth said her immediate reaction after the election was to avoid encouraging students to discuss the results in class. But then teacher after teacher came to her to say they needed to talk about it.

Even the kindergarten teachers, she said.



Alicia Permenters third-graders have never known another president besides Barack Obama. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

The 8-year-olds have studied President Obamas policies and accomplishments throughout the year. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Now, she listened as the 31 third-graders discussed what she knew many people  adults and children  were also feeling. Some of the students had cried the morning after the election. Others had asked their parents if they would have to move out of the country.

You all have a voice, Ashworth told them. You need to use that voice in a positive way to share the thoughts you shared today with others. Theres no need to flee and be sad. . . . We need to remember Barack Obama left us with a lot of phenomenal work that will impact you and will impact your children when you get older, impact your families, and thats important.

When she finished talking, a girl raised her hand.

Ms. Ashworth, I have a question for you, she said. Were you also mad that Donald Trump won?

Vitriol and hate

Schools are often a reflection of the community, and Barack Obama Elementary is no exception.

The school opened in 2010 to accommodate growth in Upper Marlboro, which is located 21 miles from the White House. Of its 700 students in pre-K through fifth grade, 97 percent are African American and more than 60 percent are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch.

Prince Georges County is nationally renowned for its concentration of black upper-middle class families, but the recession hit many of its residents hard, and the recovery has taken longer than many other places. Foreclosures rates in the county in recent months were double the national average, and the foreclosure rate for the Zip code where the school is located was even higher, according to data from real estate research firm CoreLogic.

[African Americans who bought homes in Prince Georges have watched their wealth vanish]

In the rest of the country the flow of distress has been declining in the last few years, Sam Khater, a CoreLogic economist, said. Thats not what is happening in Prince Georges County and this Zip code.

But ask residents here about their financial problems, and they wont blame them on Obama, pointing instead to an inherited mess. Their votes also show an unwavering support.

An estimated 92 percent of the residents in the schools Zip code voted for Obama in 2012, according to Catalist, a firm that collects and analyzes voter data. Vote tallies are not yet available at the Zip code level for the 2016 presidential election. But in Prince Georges County, Hillary Clinton won 89 percent of the votes, while Trump captured just 8 percent.

Two of those Trump votes came from a house across the street from the school.

The federal worker who lives there beamed as she looked at a photo of one of her sons. She raised him and his brother on her own, and they have made her proud. Her younger son is a senior in college, considering going to law school. Her older son just graduated and is weighing his options in the legal field.

Thats why she has struggled to understand how they, as young, educated African Americans, could have voted for Trump.

I think they will regret it, she said. Her sons did not want to be interviewed or identified, so The Post is not identifying her. Im so concerned with this new administration coming in, this man we elected on a platform of vitriol and hate. And I had no idea that so many people felt that way.



President Obama greets supporters in 2014 after a speech at Wise High School, located beside Barack Obama Elementary, on behalf of Maryland Democratic gubernatorial candidate Anthony Brown. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Just two years ago, the street in front of her home was clogged with cars as thousands made their way to Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School, which sits next to the elementary school, to hear Obama speak during the Maryland gubernatorial campaign.

Arlene White, the office manager at a local church, didnt make it to the school that day. But even if shes never stood in the same room as Obama, she said she feels connected to him. She credits him with giving her what she had lost  health insurance.

In 2011, she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer and in 2013, she lost her job as an administrative assistant for an IT company and, with it, the ability to see the doctor every three months for follow-up care. For a year and a half she missed those appointments. Then she signed up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

In the months since the election, White has heard from people concerned about whats going to happen to her now. She has assured them that there is someone more powerful than Trump.

I said, Im going to do what Ive been doing  Im going to trust God, White said. I believe God is going to take care of me, whether I have insurance or not.

Her pastor, she said, also reminded her and others at the church that he had already prepared them for the unknowns they now faced. The theme for this years Bible study is Surviving the wilderness.

Respect the new president

Ashworth answered the third-grader who asked how she felt about Trump that day in Permenters class.

As a white woman, she knows many students wonder where she stands on the divisive issues the election has surfaced. But she relates to her students on levels that arent obvious. She grew up in Prince Georges, the daughter of a secretary and cigar salesman, and her husband and two stepchildren are African American.

I was very disappointed, Ashworth told the students. I was sad.

What she didnt say was that she carries new worries now. She questions how Trumps choice for education secretary will affect Obama Elementary and other schools across the nation. Trump has tapped charter school proponent Betsy DeVos for the position.

What is education going to look like in the next 10 years? Ashworth said later in her office. Where is America going to go now?



Obama Elementary third-grader Koron Christian, 8, talked about the presidents efforts to help minority farmers. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

These concerns she keeps to herself. In the past few months, she and other adults at the school have had to comfort the grade-schoolers, and in those moments, they have made a point to tell the children that they need to give the new president a chance to lead. They have let them know they can miss Obama and support Trump.

It was a message Permenter passed on that day in class.

You have to remember that the next person who comes into office you may agree or disagree with, but as a citizen you have a job, she said. We do have to respect the new president. He is our leader, but it involves all the people underneath him to make everything happen. It takes us to make things happen. So we have to work together. We have to work . . .

Together! the class shouted in unison.
Governor Larry Hogan, flanked by House speaker Michael E. Busch (L) and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford at the start of the 2017 legislative session. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is entering his third year in office with more than $5 million available for his 2018 reelection campaign, beefing up his defenses against Democrats eager to reclaim the governors mansion in whats been a traditionally deep-blue state.

Hogan and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford raised about $4.5 million in their second year in office, according to 2016 campaign finance disclosures filed Thursday. Thats more than double the $1.7 million Hogan raised in his first year.

Hogans predecessor, Martin OMalley (D), reported having a little more than $1.7 million available two years into his first term. The states last Republican governor, Bob Ehrlich, also had about $5 million halfway into his term, and lost to OMalley in 2006.

Hogan, whose approval ratings have soared above 70 percent, relied on public funding in his successful 2014 campaign against then-Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D). Donors flooded Hogan and the state Republican Party with contributions in the months after his victory.

In 2016, individuals donated about 60 percent of Hogans campaign cash, with organizations and businesses making up much of the rest. About 14 percent of his haul came from donations of $250 or less.

In a memo obtained by The Washington Post, a consultant told Hogan advisers that the campaign was far exceeding its internal goals and fundraising by previous governors.

With our strong fundraising network and foundation, and the governors record high approval ratings, potential challengers will have a difficult time getting any traction before the election year, the memo says.

The early hauls are a sliver of spending in governors races, which have topped $20 million. But potential Democratic challengers have a lot of catching up to do to mount a serious race.

 Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, who is cannot seek re-election in 2018 because of term limits and has said hes considering a gubernatorial run, led the pack of potential opponents with $1.6 million after raising about $460,000 last year. Hes been aided by former OMalley fundraiser Colleen Martin-Lauer.

 Prince Georges County Executive Rushern Baker, also facing term limits, reported about $250,000 cash on-hand. He spent almost as much as he raised in 2016.

 Del. Maggie L. McIntosh (Baltimore), considering runs for state comptroller or governor, had $125,000.

 U.S. Rep. John Delaney, who has been a loud critic of Hogan, can tap only $6,000 from his federal campaign account for a state run, but the wealthy former financier has largely self-financed his political races.

 Doug Gansler, a former attorney general who unsucessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014, reported no fundraising and just $32,000 available, but spent money on several political meetings and dinners in recent weeks. He has said hes been asked to run against Hogan, but has been noncommital about attempting a political comeback.

Ovetta Wiggins contributed to this report.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) on Wednesday accused Gov. Larry Hogan (R) of going back on a five-year deal to provide operating funds for the struggling Prince Georges County hospital system.

We had an agreement, Miller said after reviewing the governors fiscal 2018 budget proposal. The governor is reneging on his pledge to Prince Georges hospital.

Under Hogans budget, the hospital system would receive $7.5 million from the state this year, instead of the $15 million in operating funds it expected. In fiscal 2018, the hospital would get $15 million instead of the expected $30 million.

Doug Mayer, a spokesman for Hogan, said the agreement forged last year is flexible and is not being violated by the governor.

Funding is still on track; its just being pushed into outer years, Mayer said, adding that Hogan consulted the University of Maryland Medical System, which is taking over management of the hospital, before deciding how much funding to allocate.

Mayer said that Miller can ask the legislature to reduce the budget in other areas to provide the additional funds to the hospital.

The governor and the senate president, whose district includes a slice of Prince Georges County, have been at loggerheads over funding for the county hospital system since Hogan took office.

In 2011, during the administration of then-Gov. Martin OMalley (D), an agreement called for the state to provide $15 million annually as part of the transition of the Prince Georges health-care system to one that would include a new, more expansive teaching hospital.

The agreement expired after Hogan took office. The governor refused to provide similar funding in fiscal 2016, prompting Miller and other Democratic legislative leaders to propose a bill requiring funding in future years.

The bill  which called for $30 million in fiscal 2018, $15 million in fiscal 2019 and $5 million each in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021  became law without the governors signature.

In the meantime, Hogan announced in February that he would provide $15 million for the hospital in fiscal 2017 and would give $55 million total in operating funds over five years. The governor did not say how much would be allocated each year.

Miller said Wednesday that he would make sure the hospital got the funding it needs.

Hes just thrown up roadblocks, Miller said of Hogan. But its going to happen.
Elizabeth Croydon and Adam Eidinger roll marijuana joints to be given away in the District on Inauguration Day. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

At 4:20 a.m. on a recent day, a group of marijuana activists, passing around the occasional joint, stood in line outside the Russell Senate Office Building for the first day of the confirmation hearings of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), nominated to be attorney general. They wanted the man who once told his colleagues that good people dont smoke marijuana to see them inside  and to smell their pot-stained clothes.

These dozen or so activists are part of DCMJ, the group formerly known as the D.C. Cannabis Campaign, which was behind the unlikely but successful effort to legalize marijuana in the nations capital in 2015. They didnt achieve the reforms they had hoped for under President Obama, but his administration did adopt a policy of noninterference with state marijuana laws.

They now fear that a Justice Department led by Sessions could set back efforts nationwide to legalize marijuana and could cripple D.C.s local laws.

[Trumps pick for attorney general: Good people dont smoke marijuana]

The activists have protested outside Sessionss Capitol Hill office with pot in their pockets a few times since he was nominated, and they plan to take their demonstration to Inauguration Day, with 4,200 pre-rolled joints free for the taking.

The marijuana giveaway would not happen if Jeff Sessions wasnt nominated as the attorney general, said Adam Eidinger, the head of DCMJ. It is not a smoke-in; it is a giveaway, and people can smoke them when they want.

In D.C., it is legal to possess up to two ounces of marijuana on city land. But it is illegal to possess it on federal land, which makes things complicated in a city where about 29 percent of the total area is federal land.

D.C. law also bans marijuana sales, as well as smoking in public places.

On the morning of the inauguration, Eidinger and other activists plan to march from Dupont Circle to the Mall, along the way handing out marijuana joints to anyone who is interested. A few marijuana groups have been holding sessions over the past couple of weeks to roll the joints. They said they wont encourage people to smoke them along the inauguration parade route, but presumably some people will.

Eidinger said the intent is to urge President-elect Donald Trump to confront the issue of marijuana laws and take a firm stance on the issue. Trump said during the campaign that he supports medical marijuana and thinks states should decide whether they want to legalize the drug  a softer stance than Sessions has stated.

We are trying to force Donald Trump to clarify what he meant in picking Jeff Sessions, in terms of marijuana, Eidinger said.

Eidinger stressed that all the marijuana for the giveaway was donated and that volunteers will not hold more than two ounces at any point  all in keeping with city laws. But if people smoke the marijuana or take it onto federal land, they would be in violation of city and federal laws.

[D.C. smells like marijuana, and residents dont really care]

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) suggested at a news conference on inauguration logistics that police would not be seeking to arrest people smoking marijuana that day.

Were going to be prepared for a peaceful demonstration of First Amendment rights, Bowser said. That wouldnt be our first priority.

Because of D.C.s proximity to Congress, Eidinger sees it as his groups responsibility to take the fight to the federal level, both to push for expanded marijuana legalization and to protect the citys laws.

Because D.C. is not a state, Congress has the power to meddle in local affairs. It is illegal to purchase marijuana in the District because Congress passed a law in 2014 effectively preventing the D.C. government from regulating the sale of marijuana.

Were defending our local laws, and were showing people that we still care, Eidinger said. And we are pushing for federal reform, which protects our local laws.

In recent weeks, DCMJ has hosted a number of Smoke Sessions protests, in which activists go to Sessionss Senate office with marijuana in tow. Eidinger said that staffers there have never called for them to be arrested and that he has had conversations with some of them about marijuana reform. One time, Eidinger said, his group gave the senator a shirt that said Great Americans Evolve on Cannabis.

On the first day of Sessionss confirmation hearings, the activists wore red shirts with slogans like Great Americans Use Cannabis and wore their signature Phrygian hats  conical hats that symbolize harmony.

Im here to let Mr. Sessions know that my daughter is 9 years old, and she uses cannabis to control her seizures, and that doesnt make her or me a bad person, said D.C. resident Dawn-Lee Carty.
Thursday, Jan. 19

National Active and Retired Federal Employees meeting Woodbridge Chapter 1270. 11:30 a.m. Holiday Inn Quantico Center, 3901 Fettler Park Dr., Dumfries. 703-499-8902. vanarfe.org/1270. Free, lunch $18.50. Reservations required.

Woodbridge Toastmasters Club An open-house meeting. Learn effective communication and leadership skills. 7:30 p.m. Ebenezer Baptist Church, 13020 Telegraph Rd., Woodbridge. 703-898-7171. woodbridge.toastmastersclubs.org. $68 membership fee.

Not for Glory: Manassas Veterans and the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan This exhibit, produced in partnership with the Freedom Museum, uses first-person narratives to tell the stories of local veterans who served in the countrys most recent conflicts. Through Feb. 19. Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. 703-368-1873. manassasmuseum.org. Free.

Out of the Classroom, Into the Hall An exhibit of paintings from Creative Brush Studio students. Through Jan. 27. Manassas City Hall, 9027 Center St., Manassas. 703-257-8200. Free.

Turning Over A New Leaf An exhibit of colored pencil drawings by David Cochran of Alexandria and jewelry by Tyler Kulenguski of Annandale. Through Feb. 6. Artists Undertaking, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-494-0584. theartistsundertaking.com. Free.

Friday, Jan. 20

American Legion dinner The public is invited to dinner with a different special every week. Proceeds support local veterans and the community. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. vapost364.org. $5-$15.

Beauty and the Beast auditions Actors ages 8-18 audition by appointment for Pied Piper Theatres April musical production. Friday and Saturday at Center for the Arts, 9419 Battle St., Manassas. 703-330-2787. center-for-the-arts.org. $10.

Saturday, Jan. 21

Crop for Scholarships Xi Delta Gamma invites all croppers, knitters, crocheters and other crafters to participate in a full day that includes door prizes and breakfast, lunch and dinner. Proceeds support scholarships for high school students. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Bethel Lutheran Church, 8712 Plantation Lane, Manassas. 703-304-1746. julie.brill@opm.gov. $35.

Mystery Publishing Three local authors discuss their books, publishing and their favorite authors. 2 p.m. Potomac Community Library, 2201 Opitz Blvd., Woodbridge. 703-792-8330. Free.

Sunday, Jan. 22

Dale City farmers market 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dale City Commuter Lot (behind Center Plaza Shopping Center), Dale Boulevard, Dale City. 703-670-7112 ext. 227. pwcparks.org.

Bingo Proceeds support local veterans. On Sundays, doors open at noon, games begin at 2 p.m. On Mondays, doors open at 5:15 p.m., games begin at 7:15 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. $15 minimum.

Monday, Jan. 23

Job-search network group Discussion of various topics related to the search process. 1-3 p.m. House of Mercy, 8170 Flannery Ct., Manassas. 703-659-1636. Free.

Bingo Proceeds support Dale City Knights of Columbus activities and charities. Doors open at 6 p.m., games begin at 7:30 p.m. VFW Post 1503, 14631 Minnieville Rd., Dale City. 703-491-2378. $9 minimum.

Cabin Branch Quilters meeting 7 p.m. Lake Ridge Baptist Church, 12450 Clipper Dr., Lake Ridge. 571-285-5405. cabinbranchquilters.org. Free.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

Lake Ridge Toastmasters Club Members 18 and older develop their public speaking and leadership skills. 7:30-9:15 p.m. Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Dr., Lake Ridge. 703-491-3020. contact-8913@toastmastersclubs.org. lakeridge.toastmastersclubs.org. $34-$64 membership fee.

 Compiled by Sarah Lane

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Prince William County

These were among incidents reported by Prince William County police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-792-5123.

DUMFRIES AREA

WEAPON

Toms River Loop, 16800 block, 6:50 a.m. Jan. 4. Several gunshots were heard. No one was reported injured.

THEFT/BREAK-IN

Rose Hill Cir., 17600 block, Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. A dirt bike was stolen from an unlocked shed.

GAINESVILLE AREA

ASSAULT

Lee Hwy., 14600 block, 1:21 a.m. Jan. 5. After an argument with an unknown man at a business, a man got into a vehicle and hit the first man, who was standing in a parking lot. The injured man was taken to a hospital.

MANASSAS AREA

ASSAULTS

Lyon Cir., 8000 block, 11:30 p.m. Jan. 8. During an argument, a woman stabbed a male acquaintance in the abdomen with a knife. The man was treated for injuries. A Manassas woman, 26, was arrested.

Rixlew Lane and Ashton Ave., 3:41 p.m. Jan. 4. One of two male attackers hit two male juvenile pedestrians with a gun, then shot one of the juveniles. The two attackers fled in a vehicle with two other men. Two 18-year-old men, a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old male juvenile, all of Manassas, were arrested.

WOODBRIDGE AREA

ASSAULTS

Bayside Ave., 1300 block, 1:02 a.m. Jan. 11. During an argument, a man hit a male acquaintance in the face with a glass bottle. The acquaintance was treated for injuries. A Woodbridge man, 38, was arrested.

Longview Dr. E., 1300 block, 5:25 a.m. Jan. 10. During an argument, a man assaulted a female acquaintance. A Dumfries man, 21, was arrested.

Stevens Rd., 1900 block, 12:10 a.m. Jan. 3. During an argument, a man assaulted a female acquaintance and ransacked a residence. A Woodbridge man, 26, was arrested.

WEAPON

Potomac Vista Dr., 1200 block, 9 p.m. Dec. 29. Several gunshots were heard. A bullet was found lodged in an interior wall of a residence. No one was reported injured.

ROBBERIES

Fisher Ave., 14100 block, 7:18 p.m. Jan. 5. Two men demanded a wallet from a male juvenile at gunpoint. They fled when they realized he did not have a wallet.

Jefferson Davis Hwy., 13600 block, 1:17 a.m. Jan. 11. Two men in a store concealed merchandise. When an employee confronted them, one of the men threatened and pushed the employee.

Welsh Lane, 4400 block, 9:38 p.m. Jan. 10. Two gunmen robbed a female pedestrian of a purse. They fled in a vehicle with a third person.

THEFT/BREAK-IN

Evergreen Dr., 4300 block, 6 p.m. Jan. 4. A person attempted to enter a residence through a rear door. When a resident yelled, the person fled.

Manassas

These were among incidents reported by Manassas police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-257-8000.

ROBBERY

Liberia Ave., 9000 block, 7:45 p.m. Jan. 3. A man robbed a convenience store of cash at knifepoint. The same man attempted to rob a store at 7:30 p.m. in the 9100 block of Mathis Avenue. A Manassas man, 47, was arrested.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Braxted Lane, 8400 block, Dec. 31 to Jan. 2. An MP3 player was stolen from a vehicle.

Harvest Pl., 9500 block, 5 p.m. Dec. 29 to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 30. Loose change was stolen from a vehicle.

Taney Rd., 9200 block, 5 p.m. Dec. 30 to 8 a.m. Dec. 31. Cash was stolen from a vehicle.

Trinity Lane, 10100 block, midnight Dec. 30 to 1:20 p.m. Jan. 1. Cash and other items were stolen from a vehicle.

Verbena Ct., 9100 block, 3 to 6 a.m. Dec. 31. Tools were stolen from two vehicles.

VEHICLE THEFT

Massie St., 9200 block, Dec. 30 to 31. A green 1998 Toyota Camry.

Manassas Park

No reports were received from Manassas Park police for this edition of Local Living. For information, call 703-361-1136.
A man who was fatally shot Tuesday evening in Northeast Washington has been identified as a 44-year-old who lived on the same block where he was attacked, according to law enforcement authorities.

Police said Anthony Irving, of Northeast, was shot about 6 p.m. in the 4400 block of Hayes Street NE, in the Deanwood neighborhood.

Authorities said six or seven gunshots were fired. Officers found Irving struck multiple times and lying face down on the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man was burned Tuesday night after apparently setting himself on fire in the street outside the Trump Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, according to a public safety source with knowledge of the incident.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said that arriving rescue personnel found a 45-year-old man who had been using a lighter and an accelerant.

No motivation could be learned.

However, a construction worker in the area said he saw a man surrounded by flames, uttering the name of President-elect Trump in what appeared to be an angry manner.

The incident occurred in the roadway just outside the hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue.

(WUSA9)

The man was taken to a hospital with what were described as third-degree burns on about 10 percent of his body.

Demonstrations are expected here on Inauguration Day. It could not be learned whether the fire incident was connected with the protests in any way.
A passenger jumped from a car and opened fire in the middle of a D.C. street Wednesday morning after an off-duty police officer spotted a Mercedes being driven erratically and began following it, police said.

The shots were fired shortly before 10 a.m. on a residential street in the Eckington neighborhood, and then the gunman hopped back into the car, which on-duty officers spotted and pursued until it crashed, according to D.C. police.

The off-duty officer, in plainclothes, and his personal vehicle were not hit by the gunfire, police said. Police said it was unclear whether the gunman knew that he was shooting at an officer.

Interim D.C. police chief Peter Newsham decried the mentality where people feel they can discharge firearms in our city.

It has to stop, he said.

The incident began about 9:50 a.m. at Third and U streets NE and ended about a mile away in the crash, a sprawling path marked by three crime scenes. Police said they recovered the vehicle and a handgun and arrested two men.

Newsham said that after the off-duty officer saw the Mercedes moving erratically, he called for help and began to pursue the vehicle. Newsham said the vehicle stopped and a passenger got out and fired multiple shots at the off-duty officer.

The gunman jumped back in the Mercedes, and the driver sped off, the chief said. Then on-duty officers spotted the car and began to pursue it with the help of a police helicopter.

The Mercedes stopped in the unit block of W Street NW in the Bloomingdale neighborhood. There, Newsham said, an officer fired his gun. The chief said he did not yet know why the officer took the shot. No one was injured.

Newsham also said police investigators were checking to determine whether the officers involved had activated their body cameras.

Police arrested the passenger and seized a weapon, Newsham said. The driver sped off and the pursuit continued to the 1900 block of Fifth Street NW, near the Howard Theatre in the Shaw neighborhood, where Newsham said the Mercedes plowed into several parked cars. The driver was caught after a foot chase, the chief said.

Police said Edward Darnell Bolling Jr., 29, of Sacramento was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession with intent to distribute, fleeing and eluding, and leaving after colliding. The identity of the other man had not been released as of Wednesday night. Newsham said detectives were trying to determine whether the Mercedes was stolen.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct an earlier version that stated a D.C. police officer fired on a passenger of a car during a pursuit. The officer discharged his weapon, but not at a passenger.
Thursday, Jan. 19

JobSource mobile career center Help with employment and reemployment. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Charles County Public Library, P.D. Brown Branch, 50 Village St., Waldorf. 301-645-2864. Free.

Charles County Hospice program Learn about what hospice is, its costs and its counseling services. 10-11:30 a.m. Charles County Public Library, Potomac Branch, 3225 Ruth B. Swann Dr., Indian Head. 301-375-7375. Free.

Mobile Veterans Center U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Readjustment Counseling Services will provide services including counseling, outreach and education, and employment referrals. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Waldorf West Library, 10405 O'Donnell Pl., Waldorf. 301-645-1395. Free.

Waldorf National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) meeting Chapter 1972. 12:30 p.m. Mid-Atlantic Seafood Restaurant, 3331 Plaza Way, Waldorf. 12:30 p.m. 301-645-3077.

Calvert County NARFE meeting Chapter 1466. Includes a presentation from Mark Trice of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on the health of the Chesapeake Bay. 1-2 p.m. Calvert Pines Senior Center, 450 W. Dares Beach Rd., Prince Frederick. 410-610-8069 or narfe1466@gmail.com. narfe.org. Free.

Sheriffs office safety seat check Certified technicians will check seats for proper installation. 3-6 p.m. Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad, Station 39, 21685 FDR Blvd., Lexington Park. 301-475-4200, Ext. *8069, or eva.jones@stmarysmd.com. Free.

St. Marys Tech Expo Parents and students can learn about career options in the countys public schools, meet staff members of the Forrest Center and learn about available programs. Inclement weather date is Jan. 25. 5:30-8 p.m. Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center, 24005 Point Lookout Rd., Leonardtown. 301-475-0242. Free.

Career and technology education program Age 12 and older. 6-7:30 p.m. Charles County Public Library, La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Ave., La Plata. 301-934-9001. Free.

Understanding fake news Information expert Ryan OGrady will discuss how to debunk myths in the news. 7 p.m. Calvert Library, 850 Costley Way, Prince Frederick. 410-535-0291, 301-855-1862 or calvert.lib.md.us. Free.

Friday, Jan. 20

American Legion baby-back rib dinner Includes beans, coleslaw, fries, a roll, coffee and tea. Gift certificates available. 5-7 p.m. American Legion La Plata Post, 6330 Crain Hwy., La Plata. 301-934-8221 or alpost82.org. $12.

American Legion meatloaf dinner Includes a side dish, salad and a drink. 5:30-7 p.m. American Legion Post 206, 3330 N. Chesapeake Beach Rd., Chesapeake Beach. 301-855-6466 or alpost206.org. $12.

Saturday, Jan. 21

Prep for the spring semester at College of Southern Maryland Incoming students can explore the campus, take placement tests, meet with advisers, register and pay for classes. The college store will be open to buy books. 9 a.m., College of Southern Maryland, 8730 Mitchell Rd., La Plata; Prince Frederick campus, 115 J.W. Williams Rd., Prince Frederick. 301-934-2251 or csmd.edu. Free.

Constellations Ages 6-11. Learn about constellations and make your own viewer to scan the night sky. 2-3 p.m. Charles County Public Library, Potomac Branch, 3225 Ruth B. Swann Dr., Indian Head. 301-375-7375. Free.

Knights of Columbus bingo Refreshments available. 5:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus Council 2065, 16441 Three Notch Rd., Ridge. 301-872-4641. $20.

Great Mills swing and ballroom dance Bring a snack. Water and soda provided. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus of Holy Face Church. Lessons, 7-8 p.m.; dancing, 8-11 p.m. Little Flower School, 20410 Point Lookout Rd., Great Mills. 315-250-5110 or somdballroom@gmail.com. $10.

Sunday, Jan. 22

Family skate night 2-5 p.m. Leonard Hall Recreation Center, 23145 Leonard Hall Dr., Leonardtown. 301-475-4200, Ext. *1800. $5, skate rental $2.50.

Monday, Jan. 23

La Plata blood drive Sponsored by Sons of the American Legion Squadron 82. 1-6 p.m. American Legion La Plata Post, 6330 Crain Hwy., La Plata. 301-934-8221 or redcrossblood.org.

Computer Basics 3 class Age 16 and older. Introduction to the Internet, including terminology and features. 2-4 p.m. Lexington Park Library, 21677 FDR Blvd., Lexington Park. 301-863-8188 or stmalib.org. Free; registration required.

Indian Head Art Night Age 18 and older. Get help from an art instructor to develop your painting skills. No experience needed. Registration deadline is Jan. 21. Sponsored by a grant from the Charles County Arts Alliance and the Maryland State Arts Council. 6-7:30 p.m. Charles County Public Library, Potomac Branch, 3225 Ruth B. Swann Dr., Indian Head. 301-375-7375 or ccplonline.org. Free; registration required.

College of Southern Maryland theater auditions Age 18 and older. Upcoming performances include 9 Parts of Desire. Prepare a one-minute monologue. Performances will be from March 16 to April 23. Monday and Tuesday from 6-8 p.m., College of Southern Maryland, 8730 Mitchell Rd., La Plata. 301-934-7827 or hhight@csmd.edu.

Tuesday, Jan. 24

Crochet Clique Age 18 and older. Bring yarn and hooks and learn new tips while socializing with other crocheters. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Leonardtown Library, 23250 Hollywood Rd., Leonardtown. 301-475-2846 or stmalib.org. Free; registration required.

Shattered Families: The Collapse of Americas Mental Health System Documentary, sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Chesapeake, Patuxent Friends, Calvert Mediation Center and Calvert Library.A discussion will follow the film. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Calvert Library, 850 Costley Way, Prince Frederick. 410-535-0291, 301-855-1862 or calvert.lib.md.us.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

Indian Head Senior Center Book Club A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman. 11 a.m.-noon, Indian Head Senior Center, 100 Cornwallis Sq., Indian Head. 301-375-7375. Free.

Government grants webinar program Age 18 and older. Learn how to register and search for federal grants. Registration deadline is Jan. 23. Log on from home or at the library. 2-3 p.m. Waldorf West Library, 10405 O'Donnell Pl. , Waldorf. 301-645-1395 or ccplonline.org. Free; registration required.

Techboomers Together class Guided tutorials to teach the use of the Internet. 2-4 p.m. Leonardtown Library, 23250 Hollywood Rd., Leonardtown. 301-475-2846 or stmalib.org. Free; registration required.

Thursday, Jan. 26

Little Minnows program: Sense-Sational! Five Senses Ages 3-5. 10-11 a.m. Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Rd., Solomons. 410-326-2042 or calvertmarinemuseum.com. $5, members free.

Open skate night Thursdays 2-4 p.m. Leonard Hall Recreation Center, 23145 Leonard Hall Dr., Leonardtown. 301-475-4200, Ext. *1800. $5, skate rental $2.50.

Bullet journaling program Age 18 and older. Bring a blank journal and learn to become more organized in 2017 with a new way to combine to-do lists and goal-setting. Registration deadline is Jan. 22 at 9 p.m. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Charles County Public Library, La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Ave., La Plata. 301-934-9001 or ccplonline.org. Free; registration required.

 Compiled by Bonnie Smith

To submit an event

Email: smliving@washpost.com

Details: Announcements are accepted from public and nonprofit organizations only and must be received at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date. Include dates, times, address, prices and a publishable contact phone number.
Calvert County

These were among reports received by the Calvert County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Criminal Investigation Division at 410-535-2800 or 301-855-1194, the Crime Solvers line at 410-535-2880, or the state police Prince Frederick Barrack at 410-535-1400.

HUNTINGTOWN AREA

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Woodbridge Lane, Jan. 2. A garage door at a residence was damaged.

LUSBY AREA

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

H.G. Trueman Rd., Jan 4. A vehicle window was broken.

NORTH BEACH AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Bay Ave. and Fifth St., Jan. 2. Credit cards, gift cards and cash were stolen from a purse that had been hidden in a vehicle.

OWINGS AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Bright Lane, Jan. 3. License plates were removed from a vehicle.

PRINCE FREDERICK AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Dares Beach Rd., 12:45 p.m. Jan. 5. Cigarettes were stolen from a vehicle. A male was seen opening several unlocked vehicles parking in a shopping center.

Charles County

These were among reports received by the Charles County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. For information, call 301-932-2222 or 301-870-3232. The website ccso.us has crime statistics and information on crime prevention programs.

REWARDS FOR INFORMATION

Crime Solvers will pay a reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment. The 24-hour hotline is 866-411-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.

LA PLATA AREA

SEX OFFENSES

La Plata, Jan. 12. A La Plata man, 51, was arrested in connection with the inappropriate touching of a female youth at his home Dec. 24. He was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault and second-degree assault.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

La Plata, 5:17 a.m. Jan. 6. A vehicle reported stolen was traveling at a high rate of speed on St. Charles Parkway. A Waldorf man, 18, allegedly stole the vehicle as it was left running in front of a home to warm up.

WALDORF AREA

ROBBERIES

St. Charles Pkwy. and Leonardtown Rd., 2:15 p.m. Jan. 11. A male assaulted another man, 72, stole his wallet and fled.

Waldorf, Jan. 12. During a traffic stop, a Capitol Heights man, 24, was arrested in connection with a Sept. 7, 2015, armed robbery of a female at a local restaurant. He was charged with armed robbery, first-degree assault and theft.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Industrial Park Dr., 4 p.m. Jan. 9 to 7 a.m. Jan. 10. Two tires were stolen from a truck.

MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS

Hamilton Pl., 2600 block, 6:45 p.m. Jan. 7. A running vehicle that had been left unattended was stolen.

St. Marys County

These w ere among reports received by the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. For information, call 301-475-8008. To submit a tip, call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333. The Leonardtown Barrack of the state police has an anonymous tip line at 301-475-2936.

AVENUE AREA

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Oakley Rd., Dec. 3 to Jan. 9. A trailer was stolen.

CALLAWAY AREA

VANDALISM

Hunting Quarters, Jan. 13. Several vehicles, mailboxes, garage doors and a water facility were spray-painted.

DAMERON AREA

ASSAULTS

Three Notch Rd., Jan. 5. During an argument, a man pushed a knife into an acquaintances throat. A Dameron man, 23, was charged with first- and second-degree assault.

HOLLYWOOD AREA

ASSAULTS

Morgan Rd., Jan. 9. During a domestic disturbance, a woman hit an acquaintance in the face, hit another person who tried to help, grabbed a butter knife and made threatening statements. A Hollywood woman, 43, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault.

LEONARDTOWN AREA

ASSAULTS

Leonardtown, Jan. 8. An inmate at a detention center grabbed a correctional officers arm and the back of his neck after the inmate broke knobs off a fan. A Leonardtown man, 21, was charged with second-degree assault and malicious destruction of property valued at less than $1,000.

Leonardtown, Jan. 8. An inmate at a detention center put salt and pepper packets down another inmates back and ran into that inmates cell. The other inmate grabbed him around the neck and removed him from the cell. A Park Hall man, 23 and a St. Inigoes man, 30, were charged with second-degree assault.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Newtown Neck Rd., Jan. 12. There was a break-in attempt at a home.

LEXINGTON PARK AREA

SEX OFFENSES

Lexington Park, Jan. 11. A man exchanged sexually explicit messages with a 13-year-old girl over a period of time. The man and girl met and engaged in a sexual act. A Lexington Park man, 32, was charged with sexual solicitation of a minor, second-and third-degree sex offense, fourth-degree sex offense-sexual contact and second-degree assault.

ASSAULTS

Abberly Crest, Jan. 6. A man slammed an acquaintance onto a bed and hit the person several times with his fist. A Lexington Park man, 31, was charged with second-degree assault.

Greenleaf Rd., Jan. 17. During a domestic disturbance, a woman scratched an acquaintance with her fingernails, chased the person with a sword and threw the sword at the acquaintance.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Lexwood Dr., Jan. 4 to Jan. 8. A license plate was taken from a vehicle.

MECHANICSVILLE AREA

ASSAULTS

Huntt Rd., Jan. 9. During a domestic disturbance, a man pushed an acquaintance up some stairs and into a wall. A Mechanicsville man, 18, was charged with second-degree assault.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Dean Way, Jan. 7 to Jan. 9. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

E. Spicer Dr., Jan. 6. Property was stolen from a vehicle.

W. Spicer Dr., Jan. 6. Attempts were made to break into two vehicles.
Pauline and Arthur Lee are positive they do not share their Bowie, Md., home with a couple whose names I will redact to Nancy C. and Nelson F.

Weve been living here since 1982, and weve never seen anyone, Pauline told me.

So, I asked, if another couple was living in your house, you would have noticed? Yes, I think we would have, Pauline said. And before we lived here, we lived next door. For nine years.

In all that time  44 years  the Lees have never shared their home or neighborhood with Nancy and Nelson. But that mysterious couple did get a Washington Gas bill at the Lees house.

That was just the latest twist in what seems to be a torturous billing mess involving the gas company. Pauline sent me a very detailed blow-by-blow, which I will attempt to simplify: The Lees used to pay their gas bill the old-fashioned way  with a check. When Washington Gas urged customers to switch to automatic bill-paying, they did.

That payment method became messed up last summer for many customers, as Washington Gas switched to a new computer billing system, so the Lees switched back to paying by check. (I wrote about some of these woes last May.)

Then Arthur heard very recently, in December, that it was okay again to start up, Pauline said. He put in the first payment in December, and thats the one that we lost.

Oh, right. I forgot to mention that the Lees first new direct-debit from their bank account to Washington Gas  $73.91  went missing. The problem appears to be related to a switch Washington Gas made last month: Customers accounts are being switched from a 10-digit account number to a 12-digit account number.

If youre a Washington Gas customer, youll receive your new 12-digit account number with your January bill. In an email, Washington Gass Bernie Tylor wrote: We encourage customers to begin using the new number immediately. We also remind customers to change any references to their old number, such as with direct deposit or other bill-pay services. The format of the paper or electronic bill will not change.

Bernie couldnt say why the Lees received a bill addressed to Nancy and Nelson, but he said the problem has been kicked up to the companys escalations team.

Pauline said she hadnt heard from the escalations team yet, but, after all, Monday was a holiday. She said Washington Gas has assured her she will not be charged late fees.

Bernie from Washington Gas told me that the billing gremlins that bedeviled the utility last year have been vanquished. We are happy to report that we are now, and have been for the past three months, at normal customer satisfaction and complaint levels, he wrote in an email. We remain vigilant and continue to monitor our systems.

[Washington Gas in merger talks with big Canadian utility]

It does sound as if the Lees problems are an aberration. The Maryland Public Service Commission said that except for an uptick in gripes during last summers new billing-system rollout, overall complaints against the company have fallen over the past few years.

Some disputes are still unresolved due to ongoing issues with the companys system, but for others, the company has taken mitigating measures including waiving or refunding late fees, bill credits, service restoration, etc., wrote MPSCs Tori Leonard in an email.

If youre having problems with your Washington Gas bill, contact customer service at 703-750-1000. You can also call the public service commission in your jurisdiction. And dont forget about that new 12-digit account number.

Baby, its cold outside

The photo that ran with my column on Tuesday showed John and Jackie Kennedy striding past a snowy White House. The caption said the first couple  and their entourage  were headed to his inauguration. Not so, said several readers.

They are walking to the inaugural parade reviewing stand after the inauguration, wrote Gordon Thomas.

As someone who will help cover Fridays events, Im trying to decide whether Id prefer cold and dry or warm and wet.

Twitter: @johnkelly

For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly.
Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) is the latest member of Congress to decide to skip the presidential inauguration in protest of the election of Donald Trump.

The five-term congressmans heavily Democratic district spans Fairfax and Prince William counties.

In opting not to attend, Connolly joins about 60 of his Democratic colleagues in the House, including four from states bordering D.C.: Reps. Don Beyer (Va.), Donald McEachin (Va.), Anthony Brown (Md.) and Jamie Raskin (Md.).

All other members of the House and Senate from Virginia and Maryland have confirmed that they will attend Fridays ceremony.

[Nearly 60 Democratic lawmakers now skipping Trumps inauguration]

Connolly released the following statement Wednesday morning:

After long reflection I have decided that I cannot attend the inauguration of Donald J. Trump on Friday. His behavior and harmful words during and after the campaign have left the country I love with open, bleeding wounds. Instead of binding those wounds, he has poured salt on them. Instead of unifying us, he has reveled in driving wedges between us.

His disparagement of an entire religion; his racist rants about minorities; his resurrection of white supremacy; his ridicule of the disabled; his blatant misogyny and boasting of unwanted sexual advances; his intimidation of the press; his repugnant attack on civil rights hero John Lewis; and his disturbing defense of and advocacy for Vladimir Putin  a KGB thug  threaten our democratic institutions. How can I celebrate that? The sordid aspects of his behavior must not become the new normal for America or her presidents.

McEachin, a former state senator who was recently elected to his first term in Congress, also decided Wednesday to skip the ceremony. His district spans Richmond and rural counties along the North Carolina border.

Im not sure what there is to celebrate, he said. The continued hatred and insults even long after the campaign is over is unacceptable. He should have begun to bring people together the day after the election, and he has not started yet.

He added, I simply cannot participate in this celebration of pomp, pageantry and parade.

On Friday morning, McEachin said he plans to join Gov. Terry McAulife (D) and National Parks Service officials to announce a grant to a local church.
Scott Pruitt, who repeatedly has sued the Environmental Protection Agency during his tenure as Oklahoma attorney general, declined to say Wednesday whether he would recuse himself from those ongoing cases if confirmed as the agencys new leader.

Questioned by Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) about whether he would avoid involvement in a series of ongoing cases against the EPA that he has been party to while in Oklahoma, Pruitt said he would rely on the advice of agency ethics lawyers.

If directed to do so, I will do so, he said.

If you dont agree to recuse yourself, Markey said, then you become plaintiff, defendant, judge and jury on the cases you are bringing right now as attorney general of Oklahoma against the EPA.

The exchange was among several tense moments Pruitt encountered Wednesday about his fitness to run the agency, his close ties to the oil and gas industry, his views on climate change and even the water crisis in Flint, Mich.

Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee grilled the 48-year-old former state lawmaker about his financial support from fossil fuel companies, which have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Pruitt and political action committees associated with him.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) displayed a 2011 letter Pruitt sent to the EPA saying it had overestimated air pollution from natural gas drilling  a letter largely written by lawyers for Devon Energy, one of Oklahomas largest oil and gas companies. He accused Pruitt of acting as a direct extension of an oil company rather than on behalf of ordinary Oklahomans.

Pruitt countered that he was not representing any one company but, rather, expressing the concerns of an entire industry in the state.

Pruitt also sought Wednesday to head off critics who call him a climate denier by acknowledging that science tells us that the climate is changing. But he added that precisely how much humans are contributing to the problem and what policy actions to take remain open to debate and dialogue.

It was a debate that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) embraced, challenging Pruitt about his lack of urgency regarding climate change, and on the role of the oil and gas industry in causing widespread earthquakes in the state of Oklahoma.

Why is the climate changing? Sanders asked, requesting Pruitts opinion about the matter.

My opinion is immaterial, Pruitt replied.

(Reuters)

Really? Sanders countered. You are going to be the head of the agency to protect the environment, and your personal feelings about whether climate change is caused by human activity is immaterial?

Pruitt said the EPA has a very important role to perform in regulating carbon dioxide emissions  an intriguing statement from a man who led the charge against the Clean Power Plan, the Obama administrations main effort to cut carbon emissions. He said he would respect EPAs legal obligation to tackle the issue. He also said there is a time and a place for EPA to use its authority to enforce regulations if states refuse to do so.

At the same time, he declined to commit to whether he would allow California to set its own emissions standards for automobiles that exceed federal limitations. Pressed by Markey and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Pruitt promised only that he would review such a policy.

Asked about the water crisis in Flint, Mich., Pruitt said he had not looked at the scientific research about what constitutes dangerous levels of lead exposure. (Health officials have long said there is no safe level of lead, especially in children.)

Thats something I have not reviewed nor know about, Pruitt said, though he added, I would be concerned about any level of lead going into the drinking water or, obviously, human consumption.

[If I could afford to leave, I would. In Flint, a water crisis with no end in sight.]

Pruitt told lawmakers Wednesday that, if confirmed, he plans to steer the agency away from what he sees as an era of overzealous and unlawful regulation during the Obama years. He said his EPA would be one that respects the authority of states and is open to a full range of views.

Pruitt also dismissed the idea that if someone supports oil and gas interests, he cant also favor environmental protection. I utterly reject that narrative, he said. It is not an either-or proposition.

Pruitts tenure as attorney general in Oklahoma has been marked by his role in opposing the Obama administrations key initiatives, often arguing that the executive branch was overstepping its constitutional authority and circumventing the role of Congress.

Pruitt has been a leading voice among a group of Republican attorneys general who also sued over issues including the Affordable Care Act, Wall Street reforms and immigration. But he has been particularly aggressive in attacking the EPAs efforts, suing the agency to challenge its authority to regulate toxic mercury pollution, smog, carbon emissions from power plants, and the quality of wetlands and other waters.

Pruitt received broad support Wednesday from Republicans in the Senate, who are expected to approve his nomination. The committees chairman, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), said Pruitt would help to quell the regulatory zeal of the past eight years. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) called Pruitt the right person to provide the course correction EPA needs.

[At EPA nominees hearing, money becomes a weapon for both parties]

Meanwhile, Pruitts nomination has galvanized environmental advocacy groups, who note that Pruitt dismantled a specialized environmental protection unit that had existed under his predecessor and poured resources into a new federalism unit aimed at challenging unwarranted regulation and systematic overreach from Washington.

They argue that his close ties to the oil and gas industry and his hostile history with the EPA make him a disastrous choice to run an agency created to protect ordinary Americans from pollution.

Even as Pruitt spoke, scientists on Wednesday were declaring 2016 the hottest year on record, making it the third year in a row to earn that title.

[U.S. scientists officially declare 2016 the hottest year on record.]

The small hearing room had just a few seats open for the public on Wednesday, frustrating a large group of protesters whod shown up. Protesters dressed as a BP technician and an oil-stained bird did make it inside, grumbling about the security.

The protester in BP get-up, carrying a fake can of oil, was removed by security after shouting that Pruitt would gut the EPA.

Throughout the day, a flood of social media posts, emails, online ads and television commercials from advocacy groups, lawmakers and industry representatives urged senators to reject Pruitt because he will fail to protect the environment, or to confirm him because he will end the EPAs overaggressive regulations.

Pruitt has repeatedly framed his EPA opposition as driven not by ideology but by constitutional questions over the separation of powers: Congress makes the laws. Agencies administer them. And states enforce them.

Rule of law matters, he said Wednesday. Regulators are supposed to make things regular, to fairly and equitably enforce the rules, and not pick winners and losers.

Chris Mooney contributed to this report.
IRAN

Rouhani: Trump cant cancel nuclear deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump could not unilaterally cancel the nuclear deal Tehran signed with world powers including Washington and that talk of renegotiating the accord was meaningless.

Trump, who will take office Friday, has called the July 2015 agreement the worst deal ever negotiated. He has threatened to either scrap the accord or seek a better deal.

Under Irans settlement with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, Tehran agreed to shrink its nuclear program to satisfy the powers that it could not be used to develop atomic bombs. In exchange, Iran received relief from sanctions, most of which were lifted last January.

The president-elect has shown he is not happy about the nuclear deal, calling it the worst deal ever signed. This is only empty talk, Rouhani told reporters on the anniversary of the removal of sanctions.

I dont think he can do much when he goes to the White House, added Rouhani, a moderate who, through nuclear diplomacy, engineered a thaw in Irans long-antagonistic relations with the West.

Rouhani said he was hopeful about the future of the nuclear deal, which has been buttressed by a U.N. Security Council resolution, and called talk about renegotiation meaningless.

Rex Tillerson, Trumps nominee for secretary of state, said last week that he would recommend a full review of the nuclear deal but did not call for an outright rejection.

Helga Schmid, secretary general of the European Unions foreign policy service in Brussels, said Tuesday that Trumps foreign policy team had misunderstood the deal and that it was not up for renegotiation.

 Reuters

GAMBIA

Jammeh declares state of emergency

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh on Tuesday declared a 90-day state of emergency amid a political crisis.

Jammeh has led the majority-Muslim nation in West Africa since he staged a coup 22 years ago. But in a Dec. 1 election, Gambians voted for his rival, Adama Barrow, by a five-point margin, according to the countrys electoral commission. Jammeh shocked many when he conceded defeat. About a week later, though, he reneged and has since vowed to remain president. His inauguration is set for Thursday. Barrow is in self-imposed exile in Senegal.

Jammeh has ordered the closing of three radio stations and the arrests of numerous opposition activists. Small numbers of people are fleeing the country because of the political turmoil. The ministers of communications, finance, foreign affairs, trade and environment have resigned, as has the mayor of Banjul, the capital.

West Africas regional bloc, ECOWAS, seems to be preparing to intervene militarily should Jammeh not step down. Led by Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari, regional power brokers have been to Banjul, trying to persuade Jammeh to concede.

Beyond ECOWAS, the African Union has bluntly stated it will not recognize Jammeh should he stay in power after Thursday. That sentiment has been echoed by the U.N. Security Council, the United States, the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

 Max Bearak

Lithuania formalizes presence of U.S. troops: Lithuania has signed an agreement with the United States formalizing the presence of U.S. troops in the small Baltic country bordering Russia and Belarus. The agreement will facilitate the deployment of U.S. forces and support staff as well as the implementation of joint exercises and training.

Urgent aid sought for Yemen: About $2 billion in urgent aid is needed this year to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable victims of Yemens civil war, or about 10 million of the countrys 27 million people, the resident U.N. humanitarian chief said. The Arab worlds poorest nation has been racked by war since 2014, when Shiite Houthi rebels swept down from the north and took the capital, Sanaa.

German court rejects ban on far-right party: Germanys Constitutional Court said the far-right National Democratic Party resembles Adolf Hitlers Nazi party but ruled against banning it because it is too weak to endanger democracy. Germanys 16 federal states had pressed for the ban amid rising support for right-wing groups stoked by resentment over migrants.

 From news services
Fredrick Vars is a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law.

Two-and-a-half years ago, Cheryl Hanna had many reasons to be happy. She was 48, a successful Vermont law professor and married with two children. But Hanna was privately battling severe depression. In the days leading up to her suicide, she had twice voluntarily admitted herself to a hospital for psychiatric treatment. Shortly after her second hospitalization, she legally bought a handgun and used it the next day to kill herself.

People at risk for suicide, like Hanna, should have the option to make it more difficult for themselves to buy a gun during a suicidal crisis. What if we allowed people to put their own names into the existing federal background check system and thereby prevent themselves from buying a gun from a licensed dealer? The signup process  whether by mail or online  would be voluntary and confidential and require identity verification. People could have their names removed from the system by request, with a waiting period to ensure adequate deliberation.

This simple proposal could save lives. More than 20,000 gun suicides occur each year in the United States, hundreds committed with recently acquired weapons. One study found that the rate of firearm suicide was 57 times higher among recent handgun buyers than among the general population. Many suicides are impulsive, and most people who survive an attempt change their minds. With a gun, there is seldom a second chance. So it is not surprising that mandatory delays in buying a handgun are associated with lower suicide rates.

Many people at high risk would sign up for the proposal. For a paper e-published Oct. 5 in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, my co-authors Karen Cropsey, Cheryl McCullumsmith, Richard Shelton and I surveyed 200 inpatients and outpatients receiving psychiatric care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. We reported that 46 percent of participants said they would be willing to put their names on a no guns list. Presumably, they would do so because they fear impulsive gun suicide. This suggests that perhaps millions of volunteers would register for the proposal and hundreds of lives could be saved each year.

We did not expect so many volunteers, particularly in Alabama, where gun rights are important to a high percentage of people, but in retrospect this should not have been surprising. People seeking treatment for mental illness understand that they are at high risk of suicide. Almost all would rather live than die. That so many would want to put firearms further out of reach is understandable and a powerful expression of their autonomy and will to live.

Significantly, this proposal has the potential to save lives at little cost. The federal background check system is already operating and funded. The only new permanent expense would be processing signups and removals. A simple federal statute could implement the proposal nationwide, but it could also work at the state level.

Because the proposal is voluntary and confidential, it would not raise any serious constitutional concerns. This is not gun control; it is self-control. The Second Amendment gives us a right to bear arms for self-defense. For some people, self-defense means keeping firearms at a safe distance.

Cheryl Hanna was one of those people. Her suicidal impulses were the motivation for her voluntary hospitalizations. She had sat in her car in the parking lot of gun shop a couple of weeks before her death, contemplating the very course of action she eventually couldnt resist. When asked about this proposal, Hannas husband, Paul Henninge, said: I think she would have signed up for this in the last two months of her life. I know she had her good days. And I think she would have done that.

People who fear suicide should have this option. Help them help themselves.
Jim Campbell is senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, which is providing legal representation for Blaine Adamson, Lorie Smith and Carl Larsen.

Many business professionals yearn to live an authentic life  to conduct themselves according to the principles they hold dear. With the election of Donald Trump, this desire for genuine authenticity has swept through the fashion industry. As a recent Post column noted, a number of famous designers have refused to dress Melania and Ivanka Trump because they abhor the president-elects policies and practices.

As Robin Givhan explained in that column, these artists view fashion as their tool for communicating [their] world vision . . . in the same way that a poets words or a musicians lyrics are a deeply personal reflection of the person who wrote them. In their minds, designing dresses for a member of the Trump family would express approval of the president-elects politics.

As for those designers for whom fashion serves as their voice in the world, Givhan concluded, they should not feel obligated to say something in which they do not believe. Well said. No one should be forced to violate his or her conscience by saying something that conflicts with his or her core convictions.

That same respect for freedom  and the right to live with authenticity  must apply to other artistic professionals, too. That includes people such as Blaine Adamson, a printer in Kentucky who objected to the messages on a promotional item he was asked to create for a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride festival. It also belongs to Lorie Smith, a graphic designer in Colorado who declines to build wedding websites that express ideas in conflict with her views about marriage, and Carl Larsen, a filmmaker in Minnesota who does not wished to be forced to tell the story of certain religious events (like same-sex weddings) that are at odds with his beliefs.

If fashion designers can say no to the first lady, then Adamson, Smith and Larsen must also be allowed to decline to communicate messages that they consider objectionable. A number of now-pending lawsuits will soon decide the rights of these other professionals. So far, a court has ruled only in Adamsons case, finding that he may follow his conscience and decline to print a shirt promoting a gay pride festival. But that ruling is on appeal.

The similarities between the fashion designers stance and that of the other professionals is impossible to ignore. They all share a deep conviction about their need to live authentically. They feel so strongly about this that they are willing to endure great cost to do so.

(Nicki DeMarco/The Washington Post)

For example, by declining to create the first ladys Inauguration Day dress, Givhan observed, fashion designers are forfeiting the chance to be instantly written into the history books, to become a part of fashion lore. Adamson, Smith and Larsen also face stiff costs for their stand: potential loss of all or some of their businesses; calls for boycotts of their companies; streams of hate mail; and, in Larsens case, up to 90 days in jail.

For all these folks, conviction and courage come first. They refuse to betray who they are and what they believe to their core. For that, they deserve our admiration  and our emulation.

Despite this similarity and others, there is at least one notable difference between the fashion designers opposition to the Trumps and Adamsons, Smiths and Larsens unwillingness to express certain messages: The designers objections are tinged with animosity toward the people whom they refuse to serve. As Givhan said, they object to merely associating with Donald Trump or the female members of his family. And these fashion moguls seemingly wont design any clothes for the Trumps, regardless of the event that theyre for.

In contrast, Adamson, Smith and Larsen serve all people, regardless of their political views, race, sex or sexual orientation. What they cant do, however, is speak all messages. So while theyll gladly express certain messages for all people, there are some messages that they cant speak for anyone.

These convictions erect no categorical bar for  and evince no spite toward  any person or class of people. Rather, they reflect these professionals genuine concern with preserving their expressive integrity  their unwillingness to lend their voice to a cause that they cannot in conscience support.

The recent media coverage of these fashion designers reminds us of our nations abiding respect for conscience rights and the freedom to live with authenticity. Amid the political rancor that surrounds the new Trump presidency, those freedoms are something that we all should be able to rally around.
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY by Donald Trumps national security nominees last week suggested that the incoming administration would not seek to dismantle the alliances that have undergirded the West  and U.S. global leadership  since 1945. If we did not have NATO today, we would need to create it, said defense secretary nominee James N. Mattis. The U.S. treaty commitment to defend its European allies, said secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson, is inviolable.

It is still not clear, however, that Mr. Trump agrees. In an interview published by the Times of London on Monday, he recalled his claim last year that NATO was obsolete because it did not fight terrorism (though it does) and because many of its members did not meet its defense spending guidelines. He then went on to say that it doesnt matter to him whether the European Union exists, predicted more countries will leave it and placed German Chancellor Angela Merkel on par with Russian President Vladimir Putin in meriting his trust. Unsurprisingly, Moscow hailed Mr. Trumps words, while senior European leaders reacted with alarm.

Ms. Merkel played down the statements, and maybe shes right: Perhaps Mr. Trumps words  he also said NATO is very important to me  were haphazard and should not be taken seriously. Yet if the president-elects intention was to undermine the transatlantic alliance, encourage the disintegration of the European Union and tear down Ms. Merkel as she begins a reelection campaign  an agenda identical to Mr. Putins  he could hardly have been more effective.

Russia has already launched a disinformation campaign to discredit Ms. Merkel, using fake-news websites and Internet bots in the same way it targeted Hillary Clinton. Germans might be forgiven for thinking that Mr. Trumps intervention was designed to enhance that assault. He accused Ms. Merkel of making a catastrophic mistake by accepting desperate refugees from the Middle East and said Germany was using European integration as a vehicle for its own interests.

Mr. Trumps critiques of the European Union are shared by many Europeans. But he is wrong to suggest that the United States has no interest in the communitys survival. In addition to making war between its great powers unthinkable, European integration has helped consolidate democracy and the protection of human rights in countries across the continent, from Portugal to Romania. If it broke up, more nations would drift into the corrupt, autocratic orbit of Russia.

As for NATO, Mr. Mattis was right to tell the Senate Armed Services Committee that it is the most successful military alliance in modern world history. It has greatly magnified U.S. power and global influence, even when its members were underspending on their military forces. Without it, the West would have no effective way to contain Russian neo-imperialism.

Ms. Merkel said she will wait to see what Mr. Trump does when he is in office. Its probably naive to hope that he will modulate his rhetoric. But Americans who value their countrys place in the world, including Mr. Trumps Cabinet members, should do their best to ensure that he does not act on it. Once destroyed, the Wests alliances will not be easily rebuilt.
I followed the routine on Tuesday that I had hundreds of times covering the Clinton, Bush and Obama presidencies.

I flashed my White House press pass at the guard at the northwest gate, cleared security and walked unmolested up the North Lawn driveway to the West Wing. I entered the press room, dropped my briefcase at the Post desk, then crossed into the briefing room to see the presidents press secretary take questions from all comers.

Over the decades, thousands of other journalists have performed this ritual, a potent symbol of the unparalleled freedom of the press in America: journalists freely accessing the very seat of power  the West Wing of the White House  and demanding answers of high officials.

Now, Donald Trump is considering putting an end to this. Over the weekend, Vice President-elect Mike Pence and incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus confirmed that they were weighing a plan to kick reporters out of the West Wing in favor of a larger site elsewhere in the White House compound. That they are even considering such a move is shocking, yet not surprising.

Journalists have had a regular place to work and to question officials in the White House proper since the McKinley administration, and presidents and White House officials of both parties and journalists of all varieties have honored the custom. Journalists were there the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, and evacuated side by side with Bush officials when it was thought a hijacked plane was headed for the building.

(The Washington Post)

Tuesday was Obama press secretary Josh Earnests 354th and final press briefing, and the first since the talk of evicting reporters from the White House. Earnest was at least as alarmed as the journalists.

Was there ever any consideration by anybody in this White House of shutting this briefing room down, of taking reporters and moving them out of the West Wing? asked ABC Newss Jon Karl.

No, Earnest said, there was not.

The fact that all of you represent independent news organizations and have regular access to the White House, have regular access to . . . the briefing room at almost any hour and can hold people in power accountable is really important, he said. For White House officials, sometimes thats a little inconvenient, sometimes its uncomfortable, he said, but its necessary for the success of our democracy. . . . And your ability to do that is going to be affected if you dont have regular access to the White House.

Bill Clinton press secretary Mike McCurry used to note that his office was 50 feet from the Oval Office and 50 feet from the briefing room  an important symbol of the American free press. To this day, journalists can walk into Earnests office, mere steps from the presidents, and pose questions.

The Trump administrations talk of discarding a system that endured through two world wars suggests more substantive changes are not impossible. During the campaign, Trump banned news organizations he didnt like (including The Post) and kicked a disfavored journalist out of a news conference. During the transition, he has sometimes ditched the pool of journalists traveling with him in case of crisis. Will he now ban unwanted organizations and reporters from presidential events and Air Force One and slip the protective pool of journalists assigned to follow him? Will he prosecute reporters for guarding their sources, attempt (as he threatened) to roll back First Amendment protections and use the Justice Department to go after owners of news outlets he doesnt favor?

At Tuesdays briefing, Earnest gave a sentimental valedictory, and Obama dropped in to praise his spokesman (easy to do when the Oval Office is 100 feet away). But the topic kept returning to the Trump transitions talk of carting reporters out of the White House.

(The White House)

Earnest encouraged the White House press corps to protect the things that are worth protecting, including the daily briefing. The symbolic value of this podium in this room in front of all of you is powerful, and it sends a strong message not just to the American people, but to people around the world, he said.

CBS Newss Mark Knoller, who has been asking questions in this room since the Ford administration, asked whether there were days Earnest dreaded the briefing.

Earnest admitted there were. Still, he said, it will take some getting used to seeing somebody else standing up here doing it.

Or not, he added.

There was laughter, but it wasnt really a joke.

Do you feel like this is the last briefing of this kind that we might see for a very long time? asked CNNs Michelle Kosinski.

I hope not, Earnest said. But I dont know.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
THE MOST galling part of the letter outlining the decision to remove from view a student painting at the center of a congressional controversy is not the claim by the architect of the Capitol to have undertaken a dispassionate review. Its not even when he says the artwork doesnt comply with House rules. Its when he says he looks forward to working with all participating members of Congress for the next, upcoming 2017 Congressional Art Competition.

Really? Why bother?

It is pretty clear that the student-artists work was sacrificed to political pressure and vigilante censorship  in the U.S. Capitol of all places. That should alarm anyone who thinks the First Amendment, unlike art, is not a matter of personal taste and choice.

At issue is Untitled #1, a painting by Missouri student David Pulphus that depicts racial confrontation with police. It won unanimous approval in the Congressional Art Competition in Missouris 1st Congressional District last May and, like the more than 400 other entries accepted and approved, was displayed in the U.S. Capitol. For more than six months, the painting hung in the underground tunnel between the Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building and was viewed by thousands of visitors without incident.

That changed when an alt-right blog and other conservative commentators started a campaign against it, objecting to its imaging of police as animals. Congressional Republicans got in the act, taking it upon themselves to remove it from the wall and give it to Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), who, in turn, joined with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus to have it rehung. Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayers ordered the artwork removed on Tuesday, saying it violates House rules that include a prohibition on subjects of contemporary political controversy. If that determination had been made when the painting was first reviewed (and approved), it might have carried some credibility. But other paintings can be seen as dealing with political themes, and the architects revelation came only after a mean-spirited political campaign, and after House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) weighed in with his own review (Disgusting). That sequence of events sets a sad precedent.

The painting was returned to Mr. Clay, who said he will display it in his office. Young Mr. Pulphus, for his part, has acted with restraint and dignity. His only comment: The art speaks for itself. So does the unseemly stampede in Mr. Ryans House.
A recent tweet from @realDonaldTrump: John Lewis is an American hero. I look forward to working with him in the years to come.

That, my friends, is whats known as fake news. It didnt happen. I made it up.

Heres real news: Just days before his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump got into a verbal battle with Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), one of Americas greatest living heroes and an icon of the civil rights movement.

As all surely know by now, Lewis said that Trump isnt a legitimate president, to which Trump retorted that Lewis is all talk, talk, talk  no action.

Now, now, gentlemen, isnt one of you about to become president of the United States?

(Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

By all means, Irony, take a bow.

How rich that Trump would be so offended by a charge of illegitimacy when he spent years trying to prove the same about Barack Obamas presidency.

But Trump doesnt take an insult lying down, you know; when someone fires at him, he fires right back.

This impulsiveness, once perhaps a quirky habit, can have less amusing consequences in a president whose tweets can upset global relations, or worse.

Domestically, its no picnic, either.

Lewis explained that his position was based in part on alleged Russian interference with the election.

As for all talk and no action, does Trump even know who John Lewis is? The man was bludgeoned bloody by police and hospitalized for peaceably crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge during 1965s historic civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery. Obviously, Trump was referring to Lewiss more recent record, but this is hardly the time to start a war with a hero  not that this is his first time. Trump also criticized Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2015, saying he was a hero only because he was captured.

Nice touch, Mr. Commander in Chief.

More to the point, his takedown of Lewis is such a waste of time and such a squandering of human resources that he may need someday. What profit could there possibly be in firing back at someone so admired by so many, especially within the African American community? By punching back, Trump stoked an opposition movement among congressional Democrats.

Meanwhile, his meeting Monday with Martin Luther King III on the namesake day celebrating his fathers life seemed like a one-upmans stunt contrived to show his bona fides among African Americans. Trump essentially was saying that he didnt need Martin Luther King Jr.s wingman when he has Kings son in his pocket. No offense to King III, but there was only one King who led the civil rights movement  and John Lewis was by his side when it counted.

As Inauguration Day looms, one wishes that Trumps vow to be so presidential would start early. Why wait? If a presidents role is in part to unify the country, he cant start soon enough. Imagine if Trump had taken the high road in this instance. He could have not remarked at all, which would have been refreshing. Or, as suggested in the fake news item above, he could have commended Lewiss record and expressed hope that hed soon change his mind.

Trump would have seemed a beacon of wisdom, self-restraint and generosity. And Lewis, who insists he has a moral obligation to stand against Trumps history of racist and misogynistic speech and behavior, would have been seen as querulous (Lewis also boycotted George W. Bushs first inauguration), while being dispatched without dishonor.

Instead, Trumps unnecessary engagement of Lewis has pitted Democrats against Republicans: Do you stand with Trump or Lewis? Thats a helluva choice.

More than 50 Democratic representatives have sided with Lewis and plan to join him in boycotting the swearing-in ceremony and the peaceful transition of power, in effect joining hundreds of thousands of protesters for what promises to be an animated weekend.

This isnt to suggest that Lewis is necessarily right with the course he has chosen. People will have to decide for themselves if his moral objection to Trump is justified or if boycotting the inauguration is disrespectful of the office of the presidency. (Both is a valid option.)

But theres only one person who can bring this episode to a gracious close. In my fantasy, Trump issues a statement  140 Twitter characters, if he must. It would read as follows: With this, my last tweet until I leave the presidency, I invite Lewis to the Oval Office to find mutual ground in aiding all Americans.

Its the big-league thing to do.

Read more from Kathleen Parkers archive, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook.


CIA Director John Brennan listens while testifying on Capitol Hill. (Cliff Owen/Associated Press)

CIA Director John Brennans biggest concern in the past few years hasnt been Russian hacking or even the wars in the Middle East, but rather, what he calls modernization of the agency. In an effort to improve performance in a notoriously siloed organization, Brennan moved to fuse operations (the agencys vaunted spies) and analysis (its less glamorous but no less essential sifters of information).

To outsiders, this move may sound like a minor bureaucratic shuffle. But inside the CIA, with its fiercely guarded fiefdoms, it exploded like a grenade. The Brennan modernization triggered a mini-rebellion from some colleagues who thought he was destroying the CIAs clandestine culture. A few of the agencys senior-most spies quit in disgust.

Will Brennans revamped structure remain in place after he leaves his post Friday? Even as President-elect Donald Trump has likened the intelligence community to Nazis and blasted Brennan himself as Not good! and a possible purveyor of Fake News, the fate of Brennans modernization is a topic of intense interest in the corridors of Langley.

(The Washington Post)

Brennan knows the reorganization remains a lightning rod, but he kept pushing for it even in his final weeks. He told me bluntly in an interview after Trumps election: I think it would be folly  and it would be disastrous for the agency and our national security  if somebody came in here and said this modernization doesnt make sense and took it apart.

Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for CIA director, at a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing Thursday. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg)

Mike Pompeo (R) , the Kansas congressman tapped to succeed Brennan, told the Senate last week that the objectives of the reorganization make sense, but there is still work to do in implementation, especially streamlining decision-making processes. That wait-and-see answer left Pompeo ample bureaucratic maneuvering room. Skeptics and foes inside the agency will no doubt try to persuade the new director to undo Brennans work.

Whats the right course? After interviewing several dozen CIA officers and veterans over the past several months, my conclusion is that Brennans reforms should continue, but only with adjustments that reduce the bureaucratic layering and duplication that his overhaul unintentionally fostered. The CIAs old culture was broken, as Brennan argued, but a new version hasnt yet taken root. That will be Pompeos challenge.

The CIA needs to be leaner, flatter and more able to operate secretly; some of Brennans reforms instead created a more complicated and confusing organization chart. Analysts and operations officers have different skills and career paths, and Brennans attempt to treat them all as intelligence officers first risked producing a homogenized culture with a duller edge.

When intelligence problems arise, theres often a tendency to add new boxes to the organization chart. Thats what happened after 9/11, when Congress sought to connect the dots by creating a director of national intelligence to oversee the nations 17 intelligence agencies. Inevitably, that created overlap, because insiders insisted on preserving much of the legacy structure, too.

Trumps designated director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, is going to revisit the DNI structure  and he should. The current DNI, James R. Clapper Jr., made it work through brute competence and experience; he has been an intelligence officer for more than 50 years. But a successor wont have the same feel for the sprawl of agencies. Intelligence works best when its lean and nimble. In the secret world, bigger isnt necessarily better.



Then-Sen. Dan Coats of Indiana, Trumps pick for director of national intelligence, on Capitol Hill on Nov. 17. (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)

Outgoing director of national intelligence James R. Clapper during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Jan. 5. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Getting intelligence right may be the biggest challenge for the new administration. After Trumps open war with Brennan and Clapper, the intelligence agencies are confused and demoralized. Restoring trust should be a priority for Trumps national security team, but so should resolving the structural issues posed by the modernization.

***

What did Brennans reorganization do? Basically, it created a matrix that integrated the agencys four main directorates: operations, analysis, science and technology, and support. The gathering points were 10 newly chartered mission centers that focused on geographical areas, such as the Near East or East Asia, or on topics, such as counterterrorism or counterintelligence.

The mission centers were supposed to knock down the old bureaucratic walls and turf barriers. Before, the operators had a Near East division, and the analysts had a separate office for the Near East. Now, the two were merged into a single center. Many companies have made similar reorganization moves, abolishing private offices and creating customer-centered functional units.

But Brennan kept the old directorates, too, to preserve their tradecraft expertise. And thats where the confusion arose. Analysts and operators still looked to their preexisting silos for promotion and long-term career guidance, even as their daily work was done through the mission centers. Officers felt they had to look in multiple directions for approval. When the world is getting flatter, the CIA is adding more layers, complained one former senior operations officer.

Its more complicated to work with this system, conceded a veteran case officer who is now a senior official in operations. (Like some others I interviewed, he spoke anonymously because hes serving undercover.) He noted that a lot of people complain about it within his directorate. But he stressed: The integration piece of modernization is valuable, a proven concept in the field, and were now bringing it to headquarters.

Brennan took another reorganization step that won almost universal praise. He created a Directorate of Digital Innovation to adapt to a world in which technology has transformed the essence of espionage. Today, analyzing selfies picked off the Web (and other social media data) can reveal as much information about an adversary as traditional tradecraft. At the same time, unless the CIA can hide its own agents digital footprints better, spies wont be able to cross borders at all.



The organizational chart of the Central Intelligence Agency. (Central Intelligence Agency)

Like so many directors before him, Brennan has discovered that change isnt easy. As he told me, There are some elements that are opposed to change, because they see it as a threat to the traditional way of doing things. Repeating a line he has used often inside the agency, he said: I dont want the CIA to be the Kodak of the future.

***

Brennans struggle to revamp the CIA has been almost invisible to those who dont follow the agency closely. But it has been a bitter fight that amplified internal feuds that began soon after the CIAs founding in 1947.

When Brennan announced his overhaul in March 2015, the old-timers first response was revolt. The operations chief at the time told Brennan that the changes would gut his directorate  and he quit. So did the head of counterintelligence, along with some other senior operations officers. Others who opposed change hoped to wait Brennan out. Among retired case officers I talked to, there was near-universal scorn for what Brennan tried to do. One described the reorganization as a political reeducation camp.

The senior operations officer, who has been slammed by former colleagues for backing Brennans changes, insisted that Brennan was right. I know what the former officers say: How can you work in that place? I dont have a lot of time for that criticism. Theyre wrong, and they left.

***

To understand the CIA, it helps to think of it as a fancy high school. (Once, that image would be have been an all-male prep school, but the agency is more diverse now.) The cool kids on campus have always been the operators. They were taught in training that they were the real shadow warriors. The analysts were uncool: brainy, fussy about their independence and socially introverted. Its telling that two former senior operations officers both described Brennans effort to meld the spies and the analysts as the revenge of the nerds.

When I graduated from case officer training 30 years ago, we were told we were the fighter pilots who carried the organization on our backs, recalled a veteran operations officer who now heads one of the mission centers. The cafeteria was divided in two when I came in. There were corridors into which analysts couldnt venture without a letter on their badge.

The case officers elite status often translated into disdain for other parts of the agency. Analysts were the nerds. Paramilitary officers were knuckle-draggers. Science and technology specialists were gearheads.

The CIA wasnt exactly Mean Girls, but it was close. In 40 years of writing about the CIA in journalism and fiction, I have described it many times as a dysfunctional culture.

Brennan was personally scarred by this culture, and he has an almost palpable chip on his shoulder when he speaks about the need to give equal status to analysts. A flinty Irish American, he entered the agency 37 years ago hoping to be an ops officer but moved to analysis. For decades, colleagues said, he has been pushing for coequal status for analysts and operators. When he talks about the operators in their ivory towers, the anger shows.

Director Brennan had guts. He saw what we needed to do, and he pulled the trigger, said a former operations officer who headed Brennans initial 90-day study of modernization. This grizzled officer, who is something of a legend in the agency because of his bravery and daring, was denounced by some former colleagues for siding with Brennan.

The retired case officer dismisses the critics and their tribal loyalties. Agency officers who worked in war zones over the past 15 years saw the benefits of bringing analysts and operators together, he said. In places such as Baghdad and Kabul, it didnt matter which tribe you came from.

***



John Brennan speaks after President Obama nominated him to be CIA director on Jan. 7, 2013. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

Brennan was thinking about reorganization from the moment he left the Obama White House in 2013 and became CIA director. He waited a year to launch the project, but in September 2014, he asked a panel of nine senior officers to conduct a 90-day study of reorganization. They punched all the buttons, talking to 80 senior officials, polling 4,000 agency employees and conducting 15 focus groups.

But the mandate was cooked in from the beginning. Brennan says he envisioned a CIA version of the Goldwater-Nichols Pentagon reform that created joint combatant commands that melded the armed services. Similar integration had already worked in the CIAs counterterrorism and counterproliferation centers; Brennan wanted more.

The study group recommended in December 2014 that Brennan start with a pilot project to implement the mission-center approach. The advisers shared Brennans view that the agency should move from separate silo cultures to an agency-wide intelligence officer mind-set. They also recommended a push on digital innovation and better in-house development of talent. But they didnt want to toss out the organization chart.

Brennan rejected the advice to go slow. He overruled the study group and decided to implement a new structure wholesale.

If youre going to do a test . . . if you keep it in an antiquated system, then that is not going to allow that pilot to really thrive, he told me. Its not going to be a fair test, number one. And number two, I know this place well. I know the culture very well. I bear scars. . . . If we continued to do things the old way, we would not be successful.

The new mission centers and digital directorate were launched in October 2015. By most accounts, it was a chaotic start. Officers returning from overseas didnt know where they would land. Division chiefs and deputies suddenly lost titles and status. Analysts and operators werent sure who would decide their promotions  their old bosses in the directorates or their new bosses in the mission centers.

The takeoff wasnt easy, agreed Chris C., the officer whos now chief of the Modernization Task Force. Last March, a year after the changes were implemented, he led an internal Taking Stock exercise that noted problems. It felt like there were more layers, more bureaucracy. [It was] harder to get things done, he said in an interview.

The agency made 14 course corrections  such as limiting review of intelligence reports to no more than three analysts and restoring the directorates authority over promotions. The new digital directorate, meanwhile, worked to explain its mission better to other parts of the agency.

We had to learn to speak in the operations environment. We had to learn a language, said Sean Roche, the deputy head of the fledgling directorate.

Chris C., the reorganization chief, said that the reforms are now widely embraced  except among case officers, who lost their dominant status. Where we see a lag is the DO [Directorate of Operations]. They are trending positive, but lagging behind other directorates.

***

When Brennan departs, some of the passion for integrating operations and analysis will leave with him. The modernization upheaval has reminded agency officers that while they all share some common identity, their specialties are different. Analysts need to be fiercely independent; they must resist the groupthink that sometimes develops within a joint team. Operators need to be bold and manipulative; theyre the recruiters and deal closers.

Analysts and operators both need a shake-up, but they remain vastly different professions. Michael Hayden, a former CIA director, put it this way: Analytic culture needs a more permeable membrane; operations officers need a less permeable one. Creating a single agency that accommodates these internal differences will be tricky.

(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

As modernization settles out, some old practices continue, largely for functional reasons. The operational chain of command hasnt changed at all. Operational decisions are DO decisions, but we consult and no longer work in isolation, insisted the senior operations officer.

As many CIA officers told me, modernization isnt a one-time event but a process. Pompeo, the incoming director, will arrive with broad internal support and a clean slate, without Brennans scar tissue. Hed be wise to leave the organization chart alone for a while and let the agency do its job. For once, thanks to Trumps reckless comments about Nazis, the CIA may even have some public sympathy.

As generations of eager new directors have learned, the CIAs greatest talent may be its ability to frustrate would-be reformers. In part, thats a measure of any healthy organization  that it generates antibodies to protect itself and fight off intruders  but the CIA overdoes it. By pure stubbornness and force of will, Brennan probably changed the agency more than any of his predecessors did. What he leaves, though, is still very much a work in progress.

Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Ahmer Abbasi talks to the Associated Press in Karachi, Pakistan. Abbasi was among several Muslim men who were detained at a federal jail in Brooklyn after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. (Fareed Khan/AP)

The Supreme Court considered Wednesday whether high-level U.S. government officials can be held liable for the alleged unconstitutional treatment of a group of noncitizens detained after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The long-running case dates to the months after the attacks, when hundreds of Arab and South Asian men  many of them Muslim  were arrested and detained as part of a nationwide terrorism investigation.

Six plaintiffs say they were beaten, strip-searched and treated as terrorism suspects because of their religion and ethnicity. The men, who were not U.S. citizens and lacked lawful immigration status, were held for months in highly restrictive conditions in a federal detention center in Brooklyn, but none were found to have any connection to terrorism.

Two of the courts liberal justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer, seemed particularly troubled during oral arguments Wednesday about the length of incarceration and treatment of the men months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

You know from Day One that many of them have nothing to do with terrorists, and yet you allow that system that might have been justified in October to persist for months and months, when these people are being held in the worst possible conditions of confinement, Ginsburg said, pressing the acting solicitor general, Ian Heath Gershengorn, who defended the former government officials in the final case argued by the Obama administration.

Breyer suggested that such lawsuits were sometimes necessary as a deterrence at the highest levels of government.

Theres no blank check even for the president, he said. And if theres no blank check, that means sometimes they can go too far. And if they have gone too far, it is our job to say that.

The question before the high court is not whether the six men were mistreated but whether they can bring a case for civil damages against high-ranking officials in the administration of President George W. Bush.

[Supreme Court to consider lawsuit against former attorney general Ashcroft]

Former attorney general John D. Ashcroft, former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III and other officials appealed a divided decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in New York that allowed the case to proceed in 2015.

Human rights and immigrant advocates say the outcome of the case is even more significant with the inauguration Friday of President-elect Donald Trump because his policy proposals could possibly violate the Constitution. Trump has called for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, a ban on new Muslim immigrants and deeper scrutiny of Muslims within the United States.

The shorthanded court was even more so for Wednesdays argument. Two liberal justices, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, recused themselves, presumably because of their earlier work in the solicitor generals office and on the 2nd Circuit.

[Donald Trump plans to immediately deport 2 million to 3 million undocumented immigrants]

In general, government officials are shielded from civil lawsuits seeking financial compensation when they have acted in good faith. The Supreme Court first recognized a limited right for individuals to sue government officials in a 1971 case. Since 1980, however, the court has generally been hesitant to expand that right.

Gershengorn, the acting solicitor general, urged the justices not to order what he said would be a massive extension. Congress, not the courts, he said, should decide whether to allow legal challenges to national security and immigration policies.

In the aftermath of the attacks, Gershengorn said the officials were trying to avoid the inadvertent or premature release of a dangerous terrorist.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. seemed to agree, saying it would be an extraordinary departure to hold officials personally liable. He suggested that high-ranking officials responding to national emergencies should not be worried about being sued.

I understand the argument that there are constitutional violations. But the question that youre asking the court to do is to shape a remedy for that, a remedy that Congress has not provided, he told Rachel Meeropol of the Center for Constitutional Rights, who argued the plaintiffs case.

If the court sides with the government, Meeropol said there is nothing to deter even more excessive exercises of government power in the future.

The lawsuit is the third filed against Ashcroft and others to reach the high court involving claims of alleged harsh treatment of Muslims arrested after 9/11.

The court ruled in 2009 that top officials were not liable for allegedly discriminatory actions of their subordinates unless they had ordered the measures. In that case, the court split along ideological lines, with Justice Anthony M. Kennedy siding with Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Antonin Scalia, who died last year.

[Supreme Court case sets the state for future officials' accountability]

Only one of the men who filed suit, Benamar Benatta, was in the courtroom on Wednesday. Three others were denied visas to return to the United States, according to Meeropol.

Outside the court, Benatta, now a Canadian citizen, said officials should be held accountable. A former soldier with the Algerian military, he came to the United States for a training exercise. Benatta applied for asylum, but said that his visa expired before the application was received.

Its easy to label someone a terrorist, he said, but its something that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

The case is Ziglar v. Abbasi.

abigail.hauslohner@washpost.com
From left, Yuya Matsuda, Ken Shima and Simon Tam of the band the Slants in Eugene, Ore. (Amanda Lucier for The Washington Post)

A majority of the Supreme Court seemed highly skeptical Wednesday that the federal government can refuse to register all trademarks that may be disparaging, casting this as the government improperly taking sides in free speech disputes.

Justice Elena Kagan said that a government program that allowed only positive speech and denied negative speech would be a fairly classic case of viewpoint discrimination, in which the government cannot engage.

The court was considering the case of an Asian American band called the Slants, whose founder was denied trademark registration for the groups name.

[Will Asian American bands First Amendment argument resonate?]

The trademark office in 2011 said registering the trademark would violate a part of the 1946 Lanham Trademark Act that prohibits registration of a trademark that may disparage . . . persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt, or disrepute.

The Redskins filed an amicus brief supporting the Slants. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

The office said the name was likely to disparage a significant number of Asian Americans. But founder Simon Tam said the point of the bands name is just the opposite: an attempt to reclaim a slur and use it as a badge of pride.

Tam lost in the first legal rounds. But then a majority of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said the law violates the First Amendments guarantee of free speech. The government may not penalize private speech merely because it disapproves of the message it conveys, a majority of the court found.

The outcome of the Supreme Court case is likely to affect the legal case of the Washington Redskins, whose trademark registration was revoked in 2014 under the same disparagement clause.

Although the comments suggested the Slants might win, the justices also seemed concerned about going too far and forcing the government to register all trademarks, with no discretion.

The hour-long oral argument was a lively affair, with justices showing how difficult it was to reconcile the law with the First Amendment and then playing devils advocate about their own assertions.

With Assistant Solicitor General Malcolm L. Stewart in the well, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wondered why a negative message could not be registered as a trademark when negative or even offensive speech is eligible for copyright protection.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ventured that a band called Slants Are Superior would receive trademark registration because it was not disparaging, while the Slants would be denied. She wondered why Tams intent did not matter.

You cant say slants because the [Patent and Trademark Office] thinks thats a bad word, Ginsburg said. Does it not count at all that everyone knows that the Slants is using this term not at all to disparage, but simply to describe?

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. described the governments argument as circular.

Justice Stephen G. Breyer wondered how rejecting negative trademarks advanced the goals of the government program, which is to aid consumers in identifying specific commercial interests.

At one point, Stewart compared the program to a public university dedicating a room as a place students could express their views, but without using racial epithets or speaking ill of other students.

So the government is the omnipresent schoolteacher? retorted Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.

The justices did not seem satisfied with Stewarts argument that the band can be called whatever Tam wanted and that its music could receive a copyright, but that the First Amendment does not force the government to register trademarks that are offensive.

Even the vilest racial epithets, insulting caricatures of venerated religious figures would have to be approved by the government trademark office under the arguments the band advanced, Stewart said.

In the second half of the argument, the justices turned around even their own assertions to test the Slants attorney John C. Connell. But they appeared to be left cold by Connells absolutist arguments.

He argued that the government had almost no leeway when presented with almost any proposed trademark name.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor said he went too far.

No one is stopping your client from calling themselves the Slants, said Sotomayor, adding, You are asking the government to endorse your name.

Kagan, who had toughly questioned Stewart, said Connell did not seem to differentiate between a government program such as trademark registration and prohibited government restraints on private speech.

Some aspects seem like government speech as well, she said, referring to the trademark process, because the trademark is printed in the federal register and sent to other countries.

The justices were also concerned that Connell seemed not to believe the trademark office could deny registrations that denigrated an individual or a competitors product.

Sotomayor wondered about a hypothetical trademark: Trump is a thief.

Even if they go to court and prove that thats a libel or a slander, that trademark would still exist and would be capable of use because otherwise canceling it would be an abridgment of the First Amendment? Sotomayor asked.

I believe thats correct, Connell answered.

That makes no sense, Sotomayor said.

The comments seemed to indicate that the court was not ready to discard the entire trademark examination process.

The Redskins filed an amicus brief supporting the Slants.

The teams trademark registration was canceled in 2014 after decades of use. The team asked a district judge in Virginia to overturn the cancellation and was refused. The case is now in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond, pending the Supreme Courts decision in the Slants case.

Registration of a trademark provides a nationwide defense against others who would try to use it.
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, joined by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, and Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., right, and others, speaks during a news conference discussing women's health care, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Zach Gibson/AP)

A fierce battle over the future of reproductive rights is now underway in Washington as congressional Republicans made the first move last week to slash funding for Planned Parenthood.

In starting to roll back the Affordable Care Act, the GOP is also planning to target the countrys largest womens health-care provider. Planned Parenthood could lose millions in dollars of reimbursements from Medicaid and other funding as soon as this spring, if the repeal effort advances.

President-elect Donald Trumps pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), is likely to be an ally  his ACA replacement bill prevents federal funds from going to health-care plans that cover abortions. A courtesy hearing on his nomination is to start Wednesday before the Senate Health, Education and Labor Committee.

Planned Parenthood has responded by organizing a massive public outreach campaign aimed at convincing Congress that voters support the nonprofit group. Two weeks ago, abortion rights advocates attempted to deliver more than 70,000 petitions to the office of House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.).

[Planned Parenthood fights congressional efforts to defund it]

Actor Wilson Cruz speaks to supporters of Planned Parenthood at the Capitol Pink Out Day 2017 on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. Proponents rallied against House Speaker Paul Ryan's budget bill which would halt federal funding for Planned Parenthood. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

Many of those activists worry that the Republican Congress  helped by Trump  will seize on blanket control of Washington to further restrict and ban some abortion procedures, or even seek to reverse Roe v. Wade, the 40-year-old Supreme Court decision that legalized the procedure.

Right now we are trying to do everything possible to fight back against these attempts and talk to members of Congress, Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Planned Parenthoods chief medical officer, said in an interview. We will continue to be around, but if we are unable to serve that million-plus people, our organization will certainly look different.

Capitol Hill Republicans have given abortion rights supporters cause for alarm. They have long unsuccessfully targeted Planned Parenthood, arguing that no abortion provider should receive federal funding. Next week, they intend to vote on a measure to ban such funding with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.

Although previous GOP efforts to defund the group ended in vetoes by President Obama, Republicans are hopeful that Trump will support such language. Many Republicans were deeply disturbed by undercover video released last year that some viewed as showing Planned Parenthood officials talking about selling fetal tissue.

We dont want to effectively commit taxpayer money to an organization providing abortions, Ryan said at a recent CNN town hall.

Democrats insist that federal law already prevents public money from paying for abortions and argue that Planned Parenthood provides broad health services  from birth control to screening for sexually transmitted diseases to mammograms and other preventive care.

Democrats acknowledge that with no check from the president, congressional Republicans may succeed in using special budget procedures to slash funding for the group by as much as 50 percent.

This has been an easy vote for a lot of Republicans to say theyre going to take a political vote. But this time its real bullets, said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the No. 3 Senate Democrat.

They will have people in their home states, in their communities, who dont get access, she said in a recent interview. They will see Planned Parenthood clinics cut down and the world will go very dark for a lot of people.

Planned Parenthood estimates that half of the 2.5 million patients who visit its clinics each year are insured through Medicaid. Of those patients, about 10 percent are men, and 75 percent meet the federal definition of low or moderate income, McDonald-Mosley said.

Abortion rights supporters worry attacks on Planned Parenthood could be the first volley in a broader strategy. Unlike the ACA, which Ryan and other leaders have said will remain while a replacement plan is phased in, a measure targeting Planned Parenthood is expected to take effect as soon as the repeal bill passes  potentially ending access to services within months for more than a million women.

[Planned Parenthood worries it might be first casualty of rekindled abortion war]

Some moderate Republicans worry that the push could make it look as though the GOP is unfairly and aggressively singling out one health group that mainly serves women.

This is saying that Planned Parenthood is going to be treated differently from other health-care providers when it comes to Medicaid, said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). I think thats wrong.

Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) say they would consider opposing any bill that cuts funding for the group. But they declined to commit to voting against the ACA repeal, saying it has not been written.

That is certainly something I would have to take into consideration, Murkowski said, referring to voting against the entire repeal bill to protect Planned Parenthood.

House Republicans plan to base their attempt to cut the groups funding on a 2015 measure to block Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements for a year. Obama vetoed that measure when it passed as part of a broader attempt to repeal the ACA. But now, Trump is eager to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Trump has praised Planned Parenthood for doing good work.

I would look at the good aspects of it, and I would also look because Im sure they do some things properly and good for women, Trump said on CNN in August. The abortion aspect of Planned Parenthood should absolutely not be funded.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that pushing forward on plans to cut Medicaid dollars for the organization will only make it harder for Ryan to make sure ACA repeal legislation has enough Senate votes.

Public opinion on abortions has been mixed in recent years, but a majority of voters have consistently backed funding for Planned Parenthood.

Last year, a poll conducted by Politico and Harvard University found that 58 percent of voters thought the organization should receive federal funding, including 48 percent of Trump voters.

Republicans already tested the waters on Planned Parenthood in the 2015 bill that served as a dress rehearsal for the ACA fight. At the time, Democrats asked the Senate parliamentarian to rule that a section clearly aimed at ending the groups funding couldnt be included in the final bill.

The parliamentarian ultimately decided that section was allowed under Senate rules. Democrats plan to renew their fight this year.

Republican leaders are relying on a special quirk in Senate rules to repeal the ACA and without the threat of a blockade by Senate Democrats. That quirk could allow the Planned Parenthood defunding language to be passed with a simply majority, or 51 votes  and the GOP has 52 senators.

But those rules are limited to measures related to taxes and spending and those with an impact on the long-term debt and deficit.

Democrats contend there is a serious long-term cost to denying low-income women access to preventive services such as birth control.

The 2015 language was carefully written so as not to target Planned Parenthood by name. Instead, Democratic aides said, the measure aimed to deny Medicaid reimbursements and other funds to essential community nonprofits that provide abortions  a definition that applies almost exclusively to Planned Parenthood.

The funding cuts were also limited to one year. Republicans argued for pausing payments to Planned Parenthood while Congress investigated accusations that some clinics mishandled the tissue of aborted fetuses.

[House panel recommends slashing funding for Planned Parenthood]

Democrats, however, said the one-year limit had far more to do with an independent estimate that cutting birth-control services would eventually cost the government $130 million over 10 years. The costs would come from an increase in the number of unplanned pregnancies and children who would eventually need coverage through Medicaid.

Ryan has said other community health groups will help fill any gap left by Planned Parnthood. But the group maintains it is the only provider for many women across the country.

Murkowski said in an interview that Planned Parenthood is the only entity in Alaska that screens for sexually transmitted diseases for low-income individuals  including for men.

I respect the fact that there are those who feel very strongly about not having federal dollars directed to abortion services, and I have said that that is something I am consistent and in alignment with, Murkowski said. But I also recognize that Planned Parenthood does so much more than abortions.

Sankhya Somashekhar contributed to this report.

Read more at PowerPost
A new analysis that at least 18 million people could lose health insurance in the first year if Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act without replacing it intensified the battle this week over the landmark health-care law as President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans try to figure out how to dismantle it.

Democrats seized on the report, issued Tuesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, to discredit Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare and rally Americans who are insured under the program. The report underscored the political peril that Trump faces in trying to meet one of his top campaign promises  and also the discord among Republicans about how to do it.

The political and public-relations battle over the ACA is now at full speed, with Democrats holding rallies across the country and inviting Americans to Capitol Hill to describe how their lives were improved or even saved by the law. Republicans, meanwhile, accused Democrats of distorting the truth about the much-debated program  but also revealed signs of disunity about how to meet their promise of repeal without political fallout among voters or economic calamity in the insurance market.

[A cross-country bus tour aims to help save the endangered Affordable Care Act]

Trump waded into the fray over the weekend when he declared that his own replacement plan is nearly complete  touting the goal of insurance for everybody and promising much lower deductibles for consumers. That pronouncement appeared to come with little consultation with congressional Republicans, and it conflicted directly with plans laid out by Trumps advisers, including Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), his nominee for secretary of health and human services.

View Graphic See how your coverage could be impacted by four prominent plans proposed by Republicans

On Wednesday, the battleground moves to the Senate, where members of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will question Price about the U.S. health-care system.

While the courtesy hearing will address a variety of issues  including several of Prices stock trades in health-care firms, which have sparked questions about a possible conflict of interest  it will provide a forum for both parties to delve into what will happen once Republicans repeal key parts of the Affordable Care Act.

The fact that Trump has begun to sketch out his own health-care proposal has injected a new element of uncertainty in an evolving fight that could have serious implications for other parts of Trumps policy agenda.

Several Republicans sounded cautious about some of the president-elects more sweeping promises and said there had been only limited consultation between the transition team and key congressional committees.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) told reporters that it is difficult to commit to providing universal health coverage in any upcoming GOP replacement. In 2012, Hatch said it was a disgrace that so many Americans were uninsured, but we cannot succumb to the pressure to argue on the lefts terms.

It would be wonderful if we could do that, Hatch said Tuesday. Weve never been able to do that before.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who leads the committee before which Price will appear Wednesday, said he has not heard any details of Trumps plan.

I thought that was a very interesting observation, and Im going to wait until I actually see his plan in February before commenting on it, Alexander said.

Some congressional Republicans have been more vocal in recent days about concerns that they are hearing from constituents on what comes after the law is repealed. Several also suggested that Democrats are deliberately spreading misinformation.

I think you hear from two categories, said Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa). One are people that think Medicare is going to be affected, and obviously we havent made very clear that theres absolutely no connection with Medicare. And the other one is dealing with the people they think are going to lose their insurance as soon as we . . . repeal.

Democrats are eager to use the uncertainty about what would take the ACAs place to their political advantage.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) will co-host a forum Thursday with Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) on Capitol Hill featuring Americans from across the country who would be hurt by healthcare repeal and the policies supported by Congressman Price.

Theyre coming to the realization that its really easy to tear down the house and much more difficult to build it, Stabenow said of Republicans. Having ideas doesnt make a plan. Having five plans doesnt make a plan.

Senate Democrats called on Republicans to delay Prices initial hearing Wednesday, but Republicans said they would proceed with it, and they set a final confirmation hearing for Jan. 24.

They also held up the new CBO report as evidence that millions could lose coverage if Republicans press ahead with their repeal plan. But AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), called the report meaningless because it amounted to an update of an analysis of a 2015 repeal bill and takes into account no measures to replace the law nor actions that the incoming administration will take to revitalize the individual market that has been decimated by Obamacare.

The 2015 bill passed both chambers, but President Obama vetoed it.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Democrats are deliberately misleading voters.

This whole false narrative of all of a sudden having 20 million people get sick because youre not going to have some sort of solution to them means they are not reading their briefings or theyve got really subpar people in the marketing department, he said.

Price and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) have previously introduced legislation to replace the ACA, and both Ryan and Hatch, who sits on the health committee, have drafted white papers outlining possible paths forward. These plans have several elements in common, including eliminating limits on deductibles and the requirement that individuals buy coverage, establishing private health savings accounts and converting federal premium subsidies to flat tax credits.

But some of these proposals  along with others such as curtailing the expansion of Medicaid coverage and reversing changes the ACA made to Medicare  could alienate voters, and in places they could contradict Trumps plans for a replacement bill. While repealing the presidents signature health-care law has been a central goal of the conservative movement for the past six years, many of the Americans who helped vote Trump into office benefit from federal health programs and the subsidies that flow from the law.

Ezekiel Emanuel, who served as a top White House health-care adviser during Obamas tenure and has met with Trump as well as his aides, said in an interview Tuesday that the president-elect is sincere about the idea of repeal and replace when it comes to the ACA, rather than just repeal and delay.

He does want to get universal coverage, said Emanuel, who leads the University of Pennsylvanias Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy. He wants something he can be proud of.

Drew Altman, president and chief executive of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, said it is technically very difficult to come up with a plan that achieves Republican goals of lowering the cost of insurance premiums without generous federal subsidies and also the goals of the ACA, which expand what kind of services are covered.

As Trump works to deliver on his promises, this week it is Price  a 62-year old congressman from the affluent northern Atlanta suburbs  who will serve as the face of the incoming administration.

The former orthopedic surgeon has staked out controversial positions on Medicare, Medicaid and tax breaks for employer-sponsored health plans. In his most recent health-care bill, Price proposed eliminating the Medicaid expansion under the ACA that has provided new coverage to roughly 10 million Americans and abolishing provisions under the law that provided more comprehensive prescription drug coverage to Medicare recipients.

A transition official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because Price has yet to be confirmed, said that if Price wins Senate approval to head the Department of Health and Human Services, he will focus on running the agency, implementing legislation and advancing the presidents priorities.

Several Senate Republicans have said that any major changes to Medicare will be considered separately from the effort to dismantle and replace the ACA.

This is not the bill for Medicare reform, Alexander said on the Senate floor last week.

Democrats have also raised concerns about Prices investments in health-care firms. In December, the Wall Street Journal reported that Price had traded more than $300,000 in shares in about 40 health, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies over a four-year period starting in 2012, while he was involved with legislation that might affect those firms stocks. On Monday, CNN reported that he had bought shares in a medical-device manufacturing company, Zimmer Biomet, a matter of days before introducing legislation that would benefit the firm.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the trades suggested a clear and troubling pattern on Prices part, and he asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate the Zimmer Biomet trade, which he called possibly illegal.

Transition spokesman Phillip Blando noted that the trade was broker-directed, not directed by Dr. Price, and said the congressman was not aware of the purchase until after introducing his bill. In a letter on Tuesday, Trumps aides wrote that The Presidential Transition Team requests that CNN retract this blatantly false story.

Hatch dismissed any concerns about Prices investments.

Its total BS, he said. Everybody here knows hes an honest guy. Hes disclosed everything. What more can he do?

Kelsey Snell contributed to this report.

Read more at PowerPost
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) didnt hesitate.

Im going, he said of Fridays inaugural ceremonies for President-elect Donald Trump.

I want to be there, Brown said. His presence would remind Trump and other Republicans of the fights ahead on banking, civil rights and other issues on which there is a deep divide with Democrats.

I will be there as well, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) chimed in during a conference call Tuesday about the potential for Trump to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Those views, from two Democrats considered for the 2016 vice-presidential nod, have been echoed by other leading Senate liberals. Over the weekend, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also pledged to attend Trumps inauguration while vowing to keep up the fight against his policies in the Capitol.

Preparations for Fridays inauguration continue at the U.S. Capitol. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

So far, not a single Senate Democrat has joined nearly 60 House Democrats, almost a third of their entire caucus, who have vowed to boycott Trumps swearing-in. Those House Democrats have pledged solidarity with Democratic Rep. John Lewis (Ga.), who prompted a Twitter war with Trump over the weekend after declaring that Trump will not be a legitimate president in part because of Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

[Nearly 60 Democratic lawmakers now skipping Trumps inauguration]

Lewiss declaration became a galvanizing call on the left, for whom the civil rights icon has always been a hero. Liberal activists vaulted Lewiss autobiography up the charts of online book merchants. They jeered Trump. They cheered for the boycott.

But none of it has translated into similar action at the other end of the Capitol.

Senate Democrats represent far broader numbers of people and have to be respectable and responsive to, in most cases, millions of their constituents who voted for Trump. And 25 of them are up for reelection in 2018. So there are 25 senators who probably think its risky, said Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), who will join Lewiss boycott.

Brown plans to be a loud voice opposing Trumps efforts to dismantle key portions of the Dodd-Frank law regulating Wall Street  but he also hails from Ohio, where Trump routed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the largest victory in the Buckeye State since 1988. Brown will need to win over voters who cast ballots for Trump to win reelection.

The issue is trickier for Senate Democrats with clearer national ambitions. Last week, Booker sat next to Lewis as both testified against Sen. Jeff Sessionss nomination to be attorney general, citing the Alabama Republicans record on civil rights issues. Senate colleagues accused Booker of launching his 2020 presidential campaign.

Yet he wont be at Lewiss side on Friday; he will be on the Capitol terrace not far from President Obama and Trump.

I respect everybodys choice in this, Booker told reporters in New Jersey. My personal feeling is this is the peaceful transition of power.

[Trumps feud with John Lewis echoes a long, difficult relationship with African Americans]

Warrens most extensive public comments came with members of the Boston press corps after an event honoring Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday. She reiterated her plan to attend the inaugural but ducked the issue whether Trump was a legitimate president.

What I agree with is that John Lewis is a man who has earned the right to have his view of Donald Trumps presidency and legitimacy, she said.

House Democrats have joined Lewis for a variety reasons. Yarmuth said Trump was legally elected and would be a legitimate president, but he could not support Trumps behavior before and after the election.

You have to show respect for the office, he said.

Its not the first time this month that Senate Democrats have disappointed their more activist House colleagues.

Just two weeks ago, during the official tally of the electoral college, House Democrats repeatedly lodged complaints regarding Russian interference, voter access to polling places and other allegations.

But no senator joined the protest; as a result, the objection could not even be considered under the complex rules of the electoral college. Its over, said Vice President Biden, who presided at the event.

Lewis took the attack on Trump to a higher level during an interview taped Friday with NBCs Meet the Press.

The Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. I dont plan to attend the inauguration, Lewis told host Chuck Todd.

Lewis, an original Freedom Rider who was beaten and arrested during civil rights protests in the 1960s, has long been considered a moral compass for House Democrats, if not the entire chamber.

When Democrats faced thousands of protesters over the Affordable Care Act in 2010, they put Lewis at the front of their line, a gavel in hand, and marched from an office building into the Capitol for the final hours of debate.

Last summer, as House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) held off on debate over gun legislation, Lewis became the emotional leader of an overnight sit-in that still angers Republicans.

The response didnt slow him down.

Todd asked Lewis whether Democrats should work with Trump on any issue. Well, its going to be very hard and very difficult, he said. Almost impossible for me to work with him.

Read more from Paul Kanes archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
This photo taken on June 24, 2015, shows former NSA intelligence contractor Edward Snowden via video link from Russia. (Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images)

For many prominent whistleblowers, the waning days of the Obama administration have brought some clarity as to their fate: Chelsea Manning, the soldier sentenced to 35 years for leaking diplomatic and military documents, had her sentence commuted by President Obama this week and will be released in May.

Julian Assange, according to the WikiLeaks organization he runs, had pledged to leave the Ecuadoran embassy in London where he has lived as a fugitive since summer 2012 and face charges in the United States (although he may now remain, a lawyer representing Assange said Wednesday).

But for Edward Snowden, the fugitive NSA whistleblower whose 2013 flight from U.S. authorities to Russia sparked an airport manhunt and worldwide headlines, the future grew slightly murkier Wednesday, as Russia extended his right to live in the country until 2020  a time when he could theoretically apply for citizenship.

[2013: Edward Snowden comes forward as source of NSA leaks]

For years now, Snowden has lived discreetly in Russia, making no public appearances or divulging meaningful details of how he spends his day-to-day life, while meeting for interviews with Western journalists in unidentified hotel rooms. Digitally, he has become a prominent speaker and guest of honor at conferences supporting greater transparency in government.

Russias decision was announced by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who in a Facebook post said that Snowdens right to live in Russia, where he was granted political asylum in 2013, had been extended for a couple of years. Snowdens Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, gave more details in remarks to Russian state media, saying that Snowdens residence permit had been extended for three more years.

He also said that he hoped the new administration under President-elect Donald Trump would pardon Snowden.

I put great hope on the new administration of the United States and hope that the new administration, the new head of the law-enforcement agencies will understand all the circumstances, and see how much benefit Edward Snowden has brought to the American people, Kucherena said in an interview with the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.

If that is Trumps plan, hes been keeping it a secret.

Snowden is a spy who has caused great damage to the U.S. A spy in the old days, when our country was respected and strong, would be executed, he tweeted in April 2014.

In July 2013, while Snowden was purportedly still hiding in Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport before receiving asylum, Trump called him a a traitor who fled-he knew the crime.

With the inauguration of Americas new law-and-order president set for Friday, the former acting director of the CIA wrote in an op-ed that returning Snowden to the United States, a point of conflict between the Kremlin and the Obama administration since 2013, would help cement a potentially fruitful personal relationship between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

What better way for President Putin to cement the personal tie than to give the President-Elect a high-profile gift  Snowden, Michael Morell, the former CIA official, wrote in the Daily Cipher, an online publication that focuses on security issues. At the same time, what better way for President Putin to poke his finger in the eye of his adversary Barack Obama than to put Snowden on a plane at the very moment Mr. Obama is no longer president?

The release could recall the decision by Iran in 1981 to release dozens of American hostages after 444 days of captivity on the day that Ronald Reagan delivered his inaugural address as president, embarrassing his predecessor, Jimmy Carter, Morell wrote.

The Kremlin on Wednesday said it wasnt involved in Snowdens life or following his movements. Meanwhile, Snowden gave measured praise to Obama on Twitter without reference to his own future: Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama.

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Lawmakers say Snowden is in contact with Russian spies but cite no public evidence

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American companies dont feel welcome in China any more.

And while Chinese President Xi Jinping defended globalization at the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. companies say his government is not practicing what he preached.

An annual survey of business conditions by the American Chamber of Commerce, or AmCham, in China found that 4 out 5 companies feel less welcome in China than before.

Business ties between the United States and China were once considered the bedrock of the two countries relationship. But as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in Washington, they have become a major source of friction.

In Davos, Xi made a vigorous defense of free trade, arguing that pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room in the hope of avoiding danger but, in doing so, cutting off all light and air.

No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war, Xi said.

But while American companies definitely do not want Trump to start a trade war with China, they are increasingly unhappy with the way Beijing is treating them. They argue that Xis government is turning more toward protectionism as its economic growth slows.

AmCham China still steadfastly supports Chinas active and constructive participation in the global economic system, the groups chairman, William Zarit, said in a statement. However, it is becoming apparent that the benefits of globalization are being taken for granted or even forgotten, as the challenges of managing a complex, modern economy increase.

Those concerns are mirrored in other Western countries. German Ambassador Michael Clauss issued a strongly worded statement Monday complaining of rising concerns among European companies that Chinese ministries are trying to tilt the playing field towards purely domestic companies.

The political leadership in China never ceases to assure us that further opening towards foreign investment, a level playing field between German and Chinese companies as well as protection of intellectual property is a priority, Clauss said, adding that many companies say their problems have actually increased.

It often appears that somewhere down the line, political assurances of equal treatment give way to protectionist tendencies, he said.

AmCham China said economic changes had stalled in China, even as growth slows. Most companies surveyed said revenue was still rising, but more said the investment environment was deteriorating rather than improving.

Their top concern was inconsistent regulatory enforcement and unclear laws  often, rules adopted and interpreted to favor local companies over foreign ones.

The second-biggest concern was rising labor costs. The third was increasing Chinese protectionism, a factor that did not make the top five last year.

Despite a long track record of employing and training locals and investing in the local community, when the economy gets tough, the foreign firm is always seen as somehow not friendly to China, the report quoted a senior country manager in the real estate and development industry as writing.



China is trying to transform its economy to a more consumer- and services-led structure, away from a dependence on heavy industry and exports.

But the handbrake of regulation is still firmly on in sectors that should be driving growth, from finance and insurance to logistics and health care, AmChams Zarit complained.

In other words, foreign companies are being denied some of the best opportunities on offer in China today.

Globalization doesnt just mean exporting and buying up foreign assets but also making sure that Chinese workers, private companies, farmers and consumers benefit from dynamic, open markets for goods and services, Zarit said.

Trump puts things much more bluntly. China, he says, is ripping us off  or even raping the United States.

Many U.S. business leaders are worried the next president will start a trade war with China that will seriously damage their interests here. Trumps threat to raise taxes on American companies that manufacture abroad  repeated in a Washington Post interview this past weekend  would represent an even more direct risk to the interests of many firms.

Instead, what U.S. business leaders want is pressure on China to open its economy further to American investment.

Arthur Kroeber, managing director of Gavekal Dragonomics, an economic research firm, said frictions had risen because the material fruits of the United States engagement with China had been very unevenly distributed.

But in a client note, he said the problem could not be solved by browbeating China to change its trade policies or bullying U.S. companies to move factories back onshore  partly because job losses have had as much to do with cheap automation as with competition from a global labor force.

A sensible re-set of U.S.-China economic relations, he argued, should not look backward at trade in goods and manufacturing but instead focus on fostering a better environment for investment, where the U.S. has more leverage and China has more to give.

Mei Xinyu, a researcher with the Commerce Ministry, said Trumps rhetoric would not work on a major economy such as China and warned that if the United States played low, China could play lower.

So many members of Trumps administration have business, big business, in China, they will know the price should there be a trade war, he said.

Of 462 companies responding to the AmCham China survey, 81 percent said they felt less welcome than before, up from 77 percent the previous year.

When it comes to recruiting staff and retaining talent to work in China, 58 percent cited poor air quality as a challenge, followed by 55 percent who mentioned the high cost of living.

Asked about the investment environment, 24 percent said it was improving and 31 percent said it was deteriorating. A quarter of members have moved capacity out of China in the past three years or plan to do so.

This week, Chinese media reported that Oracle, a U.S. computer technology company, plans to lay off about 200 research and development staffers in Beijing as part of a strategic restructuring, while hard-disk manufacturer Seagate was reported to have shut down its factory in Suzhou and axed 2,000 jobs amid subdued demand.

Luna Lin contributed to this report.

Read more:

As Trump prepares for office, concerns about Chinese trade intensify

In substance and style, Trump may be a headache for Beijing

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China is gearing up for the possibility of a trade war with the incoming Trump administration and has fired a small warning shot, according to the American business community here as well as the Chinese themselves.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that a trade war would benefit nobody, but at home, his government is quietly getting ready for one.

China is threatening to, and is preparing to, take steps in retaliation, said Lester Ross, chairman of the policy committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) at a news conference Wednesday to launch the groups annual survey of business conditions.

Publicly, Chinas Ministry of Commerce has responded calmly to Trumps repeated criticism of the two countries relationship, with its spokesman Shen Danyang insisting last month that the transfer of power in Washington wont change ties, which he described as interwoven, interdependent and mutually beneficial.

But behind the scenes, the ministry is not standing still.

Ross cited a decision announced last week to raise duties on distillers dried grains  a byproduct of ethanol production used as animal feed  from the United States.

The Ministry of Commerce raised an anti-dumping tax on imports from the United States from the 33.8 percent announced provisionally in September to between 42.2 and 53.7 percent. An anti- subsidy tax on those imports was raised about one percentage point, to a maximum of 12 percent.

Other anti-dumping duties are on the verge of being institutionalized, Ross said.

Mei Xinyun, a researcher with the Ministry of Commerce, said China had refrained from engaging in a war of words with Trump over trade but said it wont be bullied. He drew attention to the recent anti-dumping measures.

This is a way of saying, We dont want to get into a row with you, but we will take action,  he said. Trump will need to pay the price should he want more trade friction.

AmCham Chinas Ross said some of the anti-dumping measures might have happened anyway but added: It is not as though China is without an arsenal of actions that it could take in response to actions by the United States.

For its part, the Obama administration has frequently imposed anti-dumping penalties on China, including very stiff duties on certain types of steel, although nothing that amounts to a trade war.

On Jan. 12, the administration announced it had brought a new challenge against China at the World Trade Organization for unfair aluminum subsidies, the 16th such challenge it has brought against China.

In fact, Trump will be wading into what is already a trade relationship bubbling with discontent.

Four out of five U.S. companies in China surveyed by AmCham say they feel less welcome here than before, citing unclear laws with inconsistent enforcement as well as rising protectionism and restrictions on foreign investment in many sectors of the economy.

AmCham Chinas chairman ,William Zarit, said the chamber had recommended to both major U.S. presidential nominees that they take a stronger stance in trade and investment negotiations with China, given what he described as an increasingly unfair playing field for U.S. companies.

Wed recommend the U.S. to be more aggressive in talks, he said.

But Zarit also warned Trump not to start a counterproductive trade war and said any move to declare China a currency manipulator would not be grounded in current realities  these days, China is actually trying to prevent its currency from depreciating rather than forcing it lower to stimulate exports.

He welcomed Xis pledge to keep Chinas doors open to foreign trade but said those words had not been backed up by actions in recent years.

The United States and other non-Chinese markets have been quite open to Chinese trade and investment  more open than China has been to their trade and investment, he said.

Zarit said a delegation of AmCham China members would travel to Washington next month in the hope of meeting officials of the new administration to convey their message. That visit is in addition to the groups annual door-knock mission to Washington in May, and a recognition that this is a special" year, he said.

Luna Lin contributed to this report.

Read more:

No longer welcome? American companies fear Chinas turning its back on them. ]

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Indian visitors look at a pen holding bulls ahead of the start of Jallikattu, an annual bull fighting ritual, on the outskirts of Madurai on Jan. 15. (Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty Images)

 Thousands of angry young people flocked to the streets on Wednesday in southern India to protest a three-year-old ban on an ancient bull-taming festival that animal rights activists say is cruel.

In a bitter clash that pits cultural traditions against the campaign for animal rights, the annual harvest-related bull-taming sport called Jallikattu has sharply divided Indians in the past week.

The popular ritual traditionally takes place in villages of the southern state of Tamil Nadu in January. But this is the third year that the event has been banned, and many people are now calling for Indias supreme court to overturn the prohibition.

On the day of the harvest festival, villages across the state typically conduct competitions where the bulls are tied and kept in an excitable state until doors are opened. As the bulls run out, participants chase them and try to tame them by holding on to their humps for as long as they can. This year, the festival was held on Saturday  most villages complied with the bull-taming ban, but a few defied it.

For the last two days, tens of thousands of protesters have lined up along the roads, public squares and beaches across the state to show their support for the bull-taming festival. Some men even buried themselves neck-deep in beach sands to protest. Students skipped classes in schools and colleges to join the crowds. Several Tamil movie actors and directors have also called for Jallikattu to be revived.

Jallikattu is our tradition, it is our identity. We will not allow anyone to play with our emotions, Manoj Kumar, a college student and protester, said in a phone interview from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu.

The Times of India newspaper called it a Tamil Nadu version of the Arab Spring.

These bulls are like children in our families. We do not torture them. This is how we play with them, said C. R. Saraswati, the spokeswoman for All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the party that is in power in Tamil Nadu. This festival goes back thousands of years, and this is an integral part of our harvest festival. Women in the ancient tales would say that they would only marry the men who can tame the bulls. Villagers now say there has been a drought in the state because of the ban on Jallikattu.

The supreme court is now considering a number of appeals against the ban by the state officials. Animal welfare groups like the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are supporting the ban, saying that the animals are tortured to heighten the excitement of the spectator sport. The courts verdict is expected soon.

International groups like PETA do not understand Indian culture. Why dont they first try to ban bull racing in Spain? Saraswati added. (PETA does advocate against bull fights and bull runs around the world.)

Indias law against cruelty to animals lists bull fighting, dog fighting, bull racing and other uses of some animals in performances. In 2011, Indias environment ministry banned the use of bulls in performances across India. In 2014, the Supreme Court said that spectacles like Jallikattu violate the law.

Jallikattu advocates say the sport must be regulated instead of being banned completely.

But animal rights activists say that people had violated many of the regulations stipulated by the court before 2014 and argue that the sport is inherently violent. PETA members have submitted films that showed chili powder being inserted into the nostrils of the bulls, their tails twisted and bitten by participants, and bulls being prodded with sticks and fed with suspected alcohol.

Hundreds of people have been injured and some killed during the sport in recent years.

Many protesters called for a ban on PETA. One prominent politician in Chennai said last week that PETA is an anti-national group.

Manilal Valliyate, the Indian director of PETA, said that the countrys law makes it the mandate of every Indian citizen to have compassion for animals. To stand for kindness is patriotic, to stand for cruelty is un-Indian." He added that PETA does not make laws, but is a law-abiding body, and targeting it is cheap and ineffective.

But Valliyate said, to prevent cruelty to bulls, which is inherent in Jallikattu, ban is the proper, sensible, commonsensical solution.

Another PETA statement said that the purpose of the annual harvest festival is to thank the nature and celebrate life, something that cant be achieved by tormenting bulls and causing human and bull injuries and deaths.

PETA members have been getting threatening calls and emails from protesters,

Valliyate said.

The spontaneous uproar against the ban shows that people are upset with the court and the national government in Delhi, which they say is trying to portray them as a bunch of villains, said Nityanand Jayaraman, an environmental activist in Chennai. There are better ways of addressing such issues without banning them.

Officials in Tamil Nadu have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring an amendment to animal welfare law in the next session of the national parliament, and introduce an ordinance for removing the legal impediments to the sport.

But animal welfare activists wore the mask of bulls this week and protested the move. They held placards in New Delhi this week that said Please Mr Modi: Stay Strong. Dont Weaken Bull Protection Laws.

An earlier version of this story misidentified C. R. Saraswati. The story has been corrected.

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In the predawn hours, hundreds of Israeli police in riot gear, supported by helicopters, horses and armored personnel carriers, swept into this little, hardscrabble Bedouin village. Their mission: to demolish homes, barns and sheep pens deemed illegal.

Then things got ugly.

A Bedouin schoolteacher rammed his SUV into police, killing one officer  Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi, 34, the son of a police officer.

The driver, Yaqoub al-Qian, was shot and killed. Israeli officials quickly called the incident a terrorist attack and said they suspected that the assailant was inspired by the Islamic State.

But the drivers brother told The Washington Post he was just trying to get his vehicle  packed with family possessions  out of the village. Villagers said the ramming was unintentional.

Israeli policemen stand guard next to a car allegedly used in a ramming attack in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran on Jan. 18. (Menahem Kahana/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

A grainy night-vision video taken from a police helicopter appears to show muzzle flashes from Israeli forces shooting at the slow-moving vehicle before it suddenly accelerates, swerves, rams into the police, then crashes.

The early morning deaths quickly became tinder in an incendiary environment in which Arab citizens of Israel complain of being treated as second-class citizens or worse.

During the demolition raid, Israeli lawmaker Ayman Odeh, head of a coalition of Arab parties in parliament, was injured.

Odeh said he was hit twice by sponge bullets fired by police. Authorities denied the charge. Police said that Odehs injuries were from rocks thrown by protesters. Israels top ministers accused him of incitement.

After being treated at a hospital, Odeh returned  his T-shirt bloodied and his head bandaged  and held up the bullet he said struck him in the face.

The site of the unrest, Umm al-Hiran, is one of dozens of small, unrecognized Bedouin hamlets in Israels Negev Desert. The Israeli government says the villages are illegal, and the homes are regularly demolished.

These villages are in Israel, not the occupied West Bank. The Bedouins are Israeli citizens. Three generations of Israeli Bedouins have served in the Israeli army, where they are famous for their skill as trackers.

[After decades of service, some Bedouins wonder about Israeli army service]

But their relationship with Israel is fraying. Many of the roughly 240,000 Bedouin citizens here claim that the widespread demolitions are part of a grand plan to push the Muslim tribes from their ancestral lands. Bedouins have increasingly identified with the struggles of Palestinians, including their fight against Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Israeli officials counter that they offer the Bedouins subsidized homes and land inside planned communities.

But the Bedouins often refuse to abandon their pastoral lifestyle and say the cities they are pressed to live in are slums.

Arab members of Israels parliament arrived at the scene to denounce police violence and what they called the governments unfair treatment of Israels Bedouins.

This is all part of a plan to rid the Negev of Palestinians. To expel us and replace us with Jews, said Haneen Zoabi, a member of parliament.

One of her fellow legislators, Yousef Jabareen, pointed to a nearby hilltop where a planned community, mostly for Jewish residents, is under construction.

They get rid of us, and they build for them, Jabareen said. Thats called apartheid.

Israeli activists at the scene said the soldiers came looking for a fight.

They brought the violence with them, said Isaac Kates Rose, 24, from the peace group All Thats Left.

Another witness, Michal Haramati, 30, said she first heard shots and only then saw a white SUV drive erratically down a hill and hit the police officers.

Bedouin villagers and activists said no rocks were thrown when Odeh was shot and that police were lying.

No, no, no. No stones were thrown. Police were pushing people, throwing stun grenades and firing sponge bullets, said Kobi Snitz, 45, another Israeli activist.

Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman, confirmed that officers used stun grenades and sponge bullets to suppress what he described as a riot.

Odeh, who had turned out to support the roughly 700 villagers and prevent the demolition, said the police employed excessive force.

Police officers fell upon me, beat me, shot me. They shot me brutally. But I am less important. What is important is that two people may have been killed there. Its a shame theyre destroying everything, he said.

Police said they had evidence that the Bedouin driver was a member of a local Islamist movement. But so are some members of the parliament.

Police said the driver, Qian, may have been motivated by the Islamic State.

As evidence, police posted a photo of a newspaper they found in his house dating to Nov. 5, 2015, that had front-page articles about a car-ramming incident in the West Bank and a plane crash in the Sinai blamed on the Islamic State.

The newspaper was the popular Israel Hayom, in Hebrew, owned by American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.

Villagers told reporters that Qian was a respected member of his community, a school principal married to three women and the father of 20 children. Israeli authorities said he taught hate in his classroom.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said Odeh and other Arab members of the Israeli parliament had incited the violence.

Odeh is putting on some kind of charade, with a whining voice, because he apparently understands that he has made a contribution to a very severe incident, which may also have criminal repercussions, Erdan said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed: Not only does this incident not intimidate us, it strengthens us. It strengthens our determination to enforce the law everywhere.

Yair Maayan, director of the Bedouin Development and Settlement Authority in the Negev, said the villagers had moved to the Umm al-Hiran area in the 1990s and built homes there without a permit.

He said the land was owned by the Israeli government and that a legal case to move the residents to the nearby Bedouin town of Hura began in 2004.

The court took 13 years to reach the decision that the families had robbed the land and had to be moved, their houses destroyed, he said. Since May 2015 until today, we have been negotiating with the families to move them to Hura.

Maayan said the government had offered the villagers about 150 free properties and additional compensation to build new homes. He said that at least 20 families have moved to Hura over the past few years.

Last night, the rest of the families came to sign the contract to move to Hura, but at the last minute decided they did not want to do it and canceled the agreement, he said.

Police on Wednesday moved forward with their plans, demolishing a dozen structures, including barns, animal pens and homes.

According to a 2016 report by the Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality, 1,041 structures in Bedouin villages were demolished between 2013 and 2015. A further 1,711 structures were destroyed by their owners after receiving demolition orders.

The house demolition policy is a complicated policy based on various laws and operated by several authorities, the report concluded. The enforcement authorities use many tools: eviction and demolition orders, severe penalties, imposition of costs and civil lawsuits, short time frameworks and high legal costs, making the struggle against the house demolition policy a struggle in which the authorities gain more and more power over time against Bedouin citizens.

The report noted that existing Bedouin towns are already overcrowded and unable to absorb more residents, especially when government building permits are almost nonexistent.

Eglash reported from Jerusalem.

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An Iraqi soldier waves the national flag as security forces patrol on the eastern side of Mosul on Jan. 18. (Khalid Mohammed/Associated Press)

Iraqi forces pushed deeper Wednesday into former Islamic State-held areas of Mosul, extending government control over eastern parts of the city but still facing a fight against the militants in western districts across the Tigris River.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed the advances as another step toward liberation and total victory in the strategic northern city, which had been the stage for months of battles seeking to drive the Islamic State from its main urban foothold in Iraq.

The militants are now left with only a handful of neighborhoods on the citys eastern side, according to military officials.

Across the Tigris River, however, the Islamic State retains firm control over citys western half  home to key government buildings and even more densely packed with civilians.

Authorities said the latest advance was spearheaded by Iraqi counterterrorism units that have endured heavy losses during the three-month campaign to reclaim Mosul.

Gen. Talib al-Kinani, commander of Iraqs counterterrorism service, said the units faced Islamic State attacks including more than 300 car bombs and many suicide bombers.

[After slow start, Iraqi forces pick up pace in Mosul]

Today is the day of joy and victory, Kinani said.

He predicted that the campaign in the citys western half would be easier. Bridges to the western side of the city have been destroyed, making it difficult for militants to add reinforcements and crucial supplies.

As Iraqi forces make headway, more advisers have arrived from the U.S.-led coalition assisting government troops. Airstrikes, meanwhile, have attempted to disrupt car bombs inside the city.

Iraqi officials said their campaign has been slowed in recent months by the presence of civilians.

Car bombs, the deadliest weapons deployed by the Islamic State, pushed the casualty rate among Iraqi counterterrorism forces to as high as 20 to 25 percent at one point, a general, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, told The Washington Post last week.

Officials said the casualty rate has decreased following a two-week pause in fighting late last month during which Iraqi forces received new fighters and equipment.

We are using new tactics and strategies, and we have reduced the casualties during the second phase, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul, spokesman for Iraqs Joint Operations Command, said last week.

Mustafa Salim contributed to this report.

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People pray in front of the Reina nightclub on Jan. 3 in Istanbul after a gunman killed 39 people on New Years Eve. Three recent assaults have served as a stark reminder of Turkeys proximity to the war in neighboring Syria. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images)

The attacks in Turkey came in rapid succession: twin bombs at a stadium, a Russian diplomats murder and then, just a few days later, a mass shooting at an Istanbul nightclub on New Years Eve.

The assaults, carried out over a three-week period beginning in December, were a stark reminder of Turkeys dangerous proximity to the war next door in Syria, and the ways in which that conflict has steadily consumed Turkish domestic and foreign affairs.

Kurdish separatists attacked the Istanbul stadium, while the Islamic State asserted responsibility for the nightclub massacre, warning Turkey against military action in Syria. In Ankara, a police officer invoking the carnage in the Syrian city of Aleppo  but apparently working alone  gunned down the Russian ambassador on Dec. 19.

The turmoil in Syria has deepened Turkeys political and social fault lines, brought violence to its cities and isolated it from traditional allies. Turkish troops are fighting and dying in battles with the Islamic State in Syria, and its relations with a number of countries, including the United States, are noticeably strained.

Any efforts to address the conflict in Syria will boomerang back into Turkeys domestic politics, said Aaron Stein, senior resident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East.

Family members weep in Cayiralan, Turkey, during funeral prayers on Dec. 23 for a Turkish soldier who was killed with 15 others by Islamic State militants in al-Bab, Syria. (DHA-Depto Photos via AP)

Turkey shares a 500-mile-long border with Syria.

But the absence of any political solution means were in for more cycles of violence, he said, adding that Turkey has no answers for how to solve the myriad conflicts at home or in the region.

[How the Syrian revolt went so horribly, tragically wrong]

Turkey was one of the first countries affected by the Syrian conflict, taking in nearly 3 million refugees and leading calls for an international safe zone for civilians.

Turkey initially urged President Bashar al-Assad to refrain from cracking down on peaceful protests in 2011. But Assads heavy-handed response to the demonstrations prompted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was prime minister at the time, to cut ties with the regime, and he soon threw his weight behind the Syrian opposition.

His decision further polarized Turkey, with his Sunni Muslim base rallying to the cause of the rebellion. His left-wing opponents objected to what they said was an adventurist foreign policy and called on Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party to halt support for Syrias Islamist rebels.

Our position on Bashar al-Assad is clear: We dont believe that a united and peaceful Syria is possible with him, said a Turkish official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss government matters.





But years later, Assad is still in power and Turkey is a regional outlier, spurned for its bullish diplomacy and alleged support for Syrian Islamic militants  a claim Turkish officials have strongly denied.

The war in Syria has become Turkeys greatest foreign policy challenge since the end of the Cold War, said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. As a result of its failed attempt to oust the Assad regime, Ankara has the distinction of being hated by all major parties in the Syrian conflict, from the Kurds to [the Islamic State] to the Assad regime.

[Slain partyers came to Istanbul from near and far to celebrate the New Year]

In an attempt to break its isolation, Turkey has recently softened its rhetoric on Syria, and is now partnered with Russia  Assads ally  to restart peace talks and maintain a cease-fire.

Turkey, in cooperation with Russia, brokered the evacuation of eastern Aleppo and a cease-fire in Syria, the Turkish official said.

The planned peace talks, which will be held in the Kazakh capital, Astana, are intended to make progress toward a political solution in the country, the official said. Turkey will attend the talks as a guarantor.

But in a rare public admission, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News that Turkey should correct its mistakes in Syria.

I am one of those who believes our policy on Syria made big mistakes, Kurtulmus said in the interview this month.

While Turkey has pledged to roll back some of its more hard-line policies, its relations with the United States remain fraught with tension over Syria.

Turkey has openly opposed U.S. cooperation with Syrian-Kurdish militias in the fight against the Islamic State. The Syrian-Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, have carved out territory in northern Syria for a future Kurdish state, alarming Turkey, which is worried about the aspirations of its own Kurdish population.

Turkish officials say the YPG is indistinguishable from the Kurdish groups launching attacks inside Turkey, and to which security forces have responded with a devastating crackdown. The United States says the YPG is the most effective fighting force against the Islamist militants.

We are your NATO ally, Erdogan said, addressing the United States in a speech last month. How on earth can you support terrorist organizations and not us?

[U.S. military aid is fueling big ambitions for Syrias leftist Kurdish militia]

Turkey and the United States are NATO allies and strategic partners, the Turkish official said, but there are two sticking points. First, the two countries disagree over the extradition of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen to Turkey, where he is suspected of having masterminded a failed coup attempt last summer.

The second issue is Washingtons support for YPG, the PKKs Syrian franchise, the official said. The PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, has been locked in a decades-long conflict with Turkey and has recently stepped up its attacks.

The shaky relations with the United States will probably force Turkey to transition to a new model of security, said Selim Koru, analyst at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, an Ankara-based think tank. Such a transition cannot be smooth.

Turkeys security has for decades been anchored in its alliance with NATO. But today, Turkeys military, which helped the country weather previous national crises is weakening, Cagaptay said.

In the failed coup last summer, a faction in the military tried to overthrow Erdogan, suggesting that even the military cannot be trusted as a unifying national institution in the current crisis, he said.

In August, Turkish troops launched an offensive on the Islamic State-held town of Jarabulus in Syria. That offensive, named Operation Euphrates Shield, was backed by the United States. But Turkey has since moved unilaterally to battle the Islamic militants in the border town of al-Bab, where Turkish troops have met stiff resistance and scores of soldiers have been killed.

Turkeys occupation of al-Bab would break the Islamic State presence on Turkeys border but would also cut through territory claimed by Syrian Kurds.

Operation Euphrates Shield is a milestone in [Turkeys] foreign policy, Koru said, adding that Turkey has only rarely occupied and held territory on its own.

But in al-Bab, my understanding is that [the Islamic State] was better prepared for Turkish tanks than planners in Ankara expected, he said.

Read more:

U.S. is trapped between its allies ambitions in Syria

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Pfc. William Berczik of Houston, with the 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, stands on top of a Stryker vehicle after a live-fire exercise with 120mm mortars in the desert on March 6, 2014, near Kandahar, Afghanistan. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

For President Obama, the war in Afghanistan has been a matter of profound ambivalence  a strategic necessity and an unmistakable burden.

He has talked about the United States interest in preventing the country from ever becoming a sanctuary for global terrorists. Just as often, he has spoken of ending the war and about the limits of American military power, money, patience and time.

Nearly eight years after Obama began his presidency with a long and contentious Afghanistan strategy review, he is leaving behind for President-elect Donald Trump a war that reflects his divided outlook.

By most measures, the conflict is a stalemate. Afghan troops are fighting hard, but the casualty rate is much higher than we would have hoped, a senior defense official recently told reporters. Taliban forces are taking territory from the U.S.-backed government, but they have not been able to seize and hold any major cities or towns.

Clearly the situation is getting worse, but not to the extent that you see the Taliban winning or the Afghan government is clearly failing, said Andrew Wilder, a vice president and Afghanistan expert at the United States Institute of Peace.

The United States longest and most expensive war  with the largest U.S. troop presence in a combat zone  was mostly absent from the presidential campaign. On the rare occasions Trump has spoken about Afghanistan, he has sounded as conflicted as his predecessor.

Trump has said the fight against extremist groups is his foreign policy priority. But he also has said that he wants to get the United States out of the nation-building business.

I would stay in Afghanistan, Trump said in an interview with Fox News Channel last year. I hate doing it. I hate doing it so much. But again, you have nuclear weapons in Pakistan, so I would do it.

[The U.S. was supposed to leave Afghanistan by 2017. Now it might take decades.]

Not long after his election, Trump and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani discussed the U.S. militarys counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan, the Talibans cross-border havens in Pakistan, and the opportunities to jump-start Afghanistans potentially lucrative and long-dormant mining sector.

So far, all of our interactions have given us the indication that those are going to be the two key areas of interest, said Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistans ambassador to the United States, referring to counterterrorism and business opportunities in his country.

The first big question for Trump is whether he can live with a stalemate that in 2016 cost the United States nine service members lives and $3.8 billion in military aid. For much of Obamas second term, his war strategy was defined by the nations drawdown and eventual departure.

President Obama sits for a military briefing with the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, James Cunningham, left, and Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford at Bagram Air Base in Kabul on May 25, 2014. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Obama had been determined to cut the size of the U.S. force to about 1,000 troops before he left office  essentially ending the U.S. role in the war.

But Taliban advances and the uneven performance of Afghan troops forced him to drop the plan. Today, the 8,400 U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan are focused on fighting international terrorist groups, such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, and helping to train Afghan army and police forces.

Given the president-elects focus on terrorism, there may be opportunities to do more, but I find it difficult to believe that hell do a lot more, said Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan during the George W. Bush administration.

Breaking the current stalemate will be tough, but Trump could bolster the local military effort by boosting the number of U.S. combat and surveillance planes supporting Afghan ground forces in their fight against the Taliban.

[U.S.-backed forces control 70 percent of Afghanistan, U.S. military chief says]

As U.S. forces withdrew from the battlefield after Obamas 2010 troop surge, air and intelligence support to Afghan forces was significantly scaled back. Over the past two years, Obama has authorized steps to restore some of that military support, but Trump could do much more with relatively small increases in the size of the American force.

Eventually, Trump will have to confront bigger questions about the United States long-term plans for Afghanistan and its long-troubled relationship with Pakistan, an unstable nuclear power where key elements of the Taliban find shelter.

The Obama administrations overriding focus on a drawdown, critics allege, meant that the White House never took a long view of the war and the goal of an American presence there. Some senior U.S. military officials have touted Afghanistan as a potential launchpad for counterterrorism operations throughout Central Asia. Others have pointed to the American presence as a means of influencing a troubled region.

If you are going to be projecting force regionally from Afghanistan, then it makes sense to come up with a five-year plan, said Matt Sherman, who served as a senior adviser to the military in Kabul. How could we use our role to pressure Pakistan, Russia, China or Iran? Are there areas of mutual interest where we could cooperate? You could look at Afghanistan in a fundamentally different way.

Trump also will have to decide whether he wants to take a different approach in Pakistan. In 2012, he blasted the countrys leaders, citing allegations that elements of Pakistans military had provided sanctuary to Osama bin Laden.

Get it straight: Pakistan is not our friend, he tweeted at the time. Weve given them billions and billions of dollars, and what did we get? Betrayal and disrespect, and much worse.

More recently, Trump lavished praise on Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, calling him a terrific guy, according to a summary of the conversation compiled by Pakistani officials.

Trump must decide whether it makes sense to put more pressure on Islamabad in an attempt to force the Taliban into peace negotiations. Last year, Obama ordered a drone strike that killed Taliban-leader Mullah Mansour in the countrys southwestern province of Baluchistan, setting a potential precedent for U.S. military strikes in that longtime Taliban sanctuary.

[Senior U.S. general wants to start striking the Taliban again]

Trump could decide to authorize a campaign of similar strikes as part of a broader push to pressure Pakistan to force the Taliban to the negotiating table, a move that Obama rejected as he sought to keep his promise to end the war.

But Trump, who has touted himself as the ultimate dealmaker, could take a different approach to the Pakistan problem by boosting strikes or withholding aid.

There hasnt been accountability, Khalilzad said. Maybe recalibrating the relationship could produce a change?

Trump may have little experience in international affairs, but his foreign policy team has a long history in Afghanistan. Retired Gen. James Mattis, Trumps defense secretary nominee, led the first Marine units into the country in late 2001, and retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, his national security adviser, led U.S. military intelligence in the country from 2009 to 2011.

Both are also painfully aware of the countrys problems, which extend far beyond the Taliban to include corruption, poor governance and a thriving narcotics trade.

Recently, the U.S. special inspector general for Afghanistan reported that as much as half of the fuel purchased by U.S. taxpayers for Afghan police and military forces is siphoned off by mismanagement and corruption. Such statistics are certain to infuriate Trump, who has railed against Pentagon waste.

Ultimately, Trump will have to decide what is possible in the country after nearly 15 years of American support and sacrifice.

The Obama administration tried much too hard to end the war much too fast, weakening the chances for success, said Ronald E. Neumann, who also served as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan under Bush. But, in Neumanns view, the current level of American support appears to be enough to prevent a collapse.

Theres not going to be any evacuation off the embassy roof, he said. Afghanistan is sustainable with what we have now.

A major terrorist attack emanating from Afghan soil or the Taliban takeover of a major Afghan city could change Trumps calculus. For now, though, he will have to decide whether he can live with a hard-fought standoff.

Read more:

Do campaign statements and tweets add up to a Trump foreign policy strategy?

We have to end it: Trump takes over Islamic State fight, vowing to finish it
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who backed Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primary season, speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), who has charged the Obama administration with funneling money to the Islamic State and al-Qaeda-linked groups in Syria, visited Damascus this week on what her office called a fact-finding trip . . . to promote and work for peace.

Gabbards office, which did not announce the trip, said that for security reasons it would release no details on the trip until her return, including whether she met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

She felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees and government and community leaders, Gabbard spokeswoman Emily Latimer said in a statement.

[Gabbard: The Democrat that Republicans love and the DNC cant control]

A member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, Gabbard has called for the administration to abandon all assistance to armed groups and stop seeking Assads overthrow, saying that the effort undermines the fight against the Islamic State there.

The views coincide with those of President-elect Donald Trump, who has said the fight against the militants should take priority and has called for cooperation with Russia, Assads principal foreign backer.

Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, visited Trump in New York after the election. They had a frank and positive conversation in which we discussed a variety of foreign policy issues in depth, she told CNN.

She said Trump had requested the meeting to talk about Syria and counterterrorism.

Gabbards trip to Syria was first reported by Foreign Policy.

A backer of Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) during the Democratic presidential primary, Gabbard last month introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act, which would bar the U.S. government from providing money or other support to the Islamic State or Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, the al-Qaeda group formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or to any of their allies or to any countries that support them directly or indirectly.

If you or I gave money, weapons or support to al-Qaeda or ISIS, we would be thrown in jail, she said in announcing the legislation. Yet the U.S. government has been violating this law for years, quietly supporting allies and partners of al-Qaeda, ISIL . . . and other terrorist groups with money, weapons and intelligence support, in their fight to overthrow the Syrian government.

Citing news reports detailing CIA and other support to groups fighting against Assad  some of which have formed battlefield alliances with al-Nusra  and U.S. cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and others, Gabbard compared the U.S. effort to the Reagan administrations secret funding of Nicaraguan rebels who sought to overthrow that countrys government in the 1980s, despite a congressional ban.

Although Trump has accused Obama of founding the Islamic State by withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011, he has not echoed Gabbards charge that U.S. and allied money is funding the militants. Russia and Syria have labeled as terrorists all of those fighting against Assad in Syria.

Although administration support for the militants has been limited, Obama has repeatedly said that the fight against the Islamic State in Syria cannot be won while Assad remains in power.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley departed sharply and sometimes awkwardly from President-elect Donald Trump on several foreign policy issues Wednesday and told senators that as United Nations ambassador she would not hesitate to disagree with her boss.

The Republican rising star who had been critical of Trump as a candidate struggled at times to distance herself from some of Trumps most controversial positions without openly contradicting him.

During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Haley voiced heavy skepticism about Russia and optimism about NATO, both deviations from some of Trumps statements. She unequivocally shot down the idea of a Muslim registry or ban, which Trump has never fully disavowed.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) put her on the spot, noting that on some issues Trump has outlined a world view that is the exact opposite of what you are articulating it to be.

Trump has already modified some positions, and more changes are likely once Trump is in office, she said.

Not all of it will change after Friday, but I will control the part of it I can at the United Nations, she said.

Later, an exchange with Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.) upped the tension in the room, as Haley suggested he direct his queries about Trumps comments to the president-elect.

But hes not in front of me and you are, replied Coons.

Wednesdays hearing, which came after a string of others in which Trumps nominees were at odds with him over some of his signature stances, highlighted the potential for deep discord in the new administration.

For her part, Haley framed the disagreements as a positive development.

Thats how an administration works. You surround yourself with people who dont just say yes to what you think, she said.

Haley was supposed to be one of Trumps least-contentious choices for a top government job despite little direct experience handling the global issues and negotiations she would face as the ambassador to the United Nations.

Haley entered her confirmation hearing with the likelihood of at least some Democratic support. But the stakes for Haley rose after the problematic audition last week for the man who would be her boss  secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson.

[As U.S. ambassador to U.N., Nikki Haley would face worlds most intractable conflicts]

She pledged to forcefully advance American interests at the U.N. after what she called a retreat from global leadership under the Obama administration.

Haley questioned the priorities and effectiveness of the world body, which Trump has called a toothless debating society, but said she intends to fix what doesnt work.

I have no problem calling people out, Haley said.

The United Nations is often at odds with American national interests and American taxpayers, Haley said, adding that she would use the leverage of potential cuts in U.S. funding to demand reform.

She expressed skepticism about working with Russia. She also said she has not had a detailed conversation with Trump about the U.S. relationship with Moscow.

Russia is trying to show their muscle right now. Its what they do, Haley said. I dont think that we can trust them, she added. We have to continue to be very strong back and show them what this new administration is going to be.

She said she agrees that Russia invaded and seized Ukrainian territory in 2014 and that U.S. and international sanctions were an appropriate response. She said she would consider additional sanctions, something Trump has suggested he may oppose.

[First sign of enhanced U.S.-Russia relations under Trump: An invite to Syria talks]

Haley said she believed Russias bombing in Aleppo, Syria, constituted a war crime. Tillerson declined to call Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal during his hearing last week.

On Iran, the South Carolina governor said that rather than backing out of the nuclear deal that the Obama administration helped broker, the United States ought to monitor the arrangement. Trump has called the deal dumb and suggested that he could pull out of it.

I think what would be more beneficial at this point is that we look at all the details of the Iran deal, Haley said. We see if they are actually in compliance. If we find that there are violations, then we act on those violations.

Haley harshly criticized the Obama administration for allowing the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israel and pledged never to let it happen again if confirmed as the next U.N. ambassador.

I will not go to New York and abstain when the U.N. seeks to create an international environment that encourages boycotts of Israel, Haley said.

She also questioned the priorities and effectiveness of the United Nations in other areas but said she looks forward to representing the United States in the international forum. Her skepticism about the United Nations value echoes Trumps and aides who have said the New York-based body is biased, bloated and ineffectual.

We contribute 22 percent of the U.N.s budget, far more than any other country. We are a generous nation, Haley said. But we must ask ourselves what good is being accomplished by this disproportionate contribution. Are we getting what we pay for?

Haley is best known nationally for her handling of the 2015 racially motivated killings of black worshipers at a historic Charleston church, for which she got generally high marks. She spoke at memorials and ordered the Confederate flag removed from the state Capitol grounds.

Read more:

Tillerson calls U.S. intelligence findings on Russian interference in election troubling

9 foreign policy issues the Trump administration will have to face

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks at a news conference at the end of a visit by New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English in Brussels on Jan. 12. (Stephanie Lecocq/European Pressphoto Agency)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pushed hard Wednesday against President-elect Donald Trumps comments that the Western military alliance is obsolete, saying that the defense organization is constantly evolving to meet modern security threats, including terrorism.

The pushback in a roundtable with journalists  the first public response from the NATO leader since Trump slammed the organization in weekend comments  was the latest in an extraordinary public spat between the alliance that forms the backbone of Western security guarantees and the man who assumes command of the worlds biggest military superpower on Friday.

Stoltenberg said that he looked forward to working with Trump and that he was absolutely certain that the United States will remain committed to security guarantees.

There is strong bipartisan support in the United States for the U.S. commitment to NATO, Stoltenberg said.

Trump has complained that the alliance is too focused on fighting conventional threats and not enough on terrorism. He has also said that European allies do not spend enough money on their own defense, an outlook long shared by President Obama and Stoltenberg, although Trump has gone on to say that he would not necessarily defend allies who didn't meet funding commitments.

New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right. (Eric Vidal/Reuters)

Stoltenberg said that NATO had made major modernization efforts and had quickly adapted to the changed European security landscape after Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimean peninsula.

NATO is constantly changing. Thats why NATO is the strongest military alliance in history, he said.

Trump has forced an unusual public conversation about the role and value of NATO, which had generally been considered a settled question among both Democrats and Republicans, particularly after the flare-up of the 2014 conflict in Ukraine.

But Trumps pressure to reorient NATOs military power toward fighting terrorism has drawn a mixed response among alliance members.

NATO is at the forefront of the fight against international terrorism, the chairman of NATOs military committee, Czech General Petr Pavel, told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday following a meeting of the heads of the 28 member nations militaries. Countering terrorism is a complex challenge that cannot have just a military response.

The alliance leaders comments came as senior officials warned that Russia has France, Germany and others in its targets, seeking to exploit the same digital vulnerabilities that U.S. intelligence agencies say unsettled the race between Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Stoltenberg said that NATO had also seen a major rise in cyberattacks on its own systems last year, saying that they had risen 60 percent in 2016, to more than 500 a month. Many of the attacks were state-sponsored, he said. He declined to identify Russia as the culprit, but he said that NATO saw the same pattern we see in many allies.

And he said that NATO was watching potential threats against its member nations carefully.

We have seen a report from several national agencies that they are concerned about the potential of cyberattacks, hacking, meddling or intervening in the national election process, Stoltenberg said. Its undermining democracy, one of the core values that NATO is there to protect.

The departing U.S. administration has also been warning its European allies about the potential for Russian meddling in this years elections.

With many countries in Europe slated to hold elections this year, we should expect further attempts by Russia to meddle in the democratic process, Vice President Biden said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Their purpose is clear: to collapse the liberal international order.

European leaders say they are trying to apply the lessons.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said this month that he was concerned about a cyberattack against his nations political parties in the run-up to April presidential elections, where anti-immigrant candidate Marine Le Pen has praised both the Kremlin and Donald Trump.

I call everyone to the utmost vigilance, Le Drian told the French weekly newspaper Journal du Dimanche. He said that the heads of political parties were briefed last year about how to prevent hacking.

Germanys parliament was also hacked in 2015, according to that nations intelligence agencies, and security officials have said they believe the culprit was likely the same group that hacked the Democratic National Committee this summer.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is running for reelection this fall. As with her mainstream counterparts in France, she faces far-right challengers who want to pull Germany out of the European Union and strike a warmer relationship with Russia.

The release of internal DNC emails embarrassed the organization, forced DNC head Debbie Wasserman Schultz to resign and fed into perceptions that party leaders had favored Clinton over her primary challenger, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). A hack of Clinton campaign chairman John Podestas email also led to a dripping leak of embarrassing revelations that dominated headlines in the waning weeks of the campaign.

Read more

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Former rebels, predominantly Tuareg, wait in a camp in Gao before participating in joint patrols with the Malian army on Jan. 9. (AFP/Getty Images)

A suicide truck bomb killed at least 60 people, including army personnel, in northern Mali on Wednesday as the country struggles to implement a peace deal crafted after Islamist groups, some linked to al-Qaeda, took over key northern cities.

The groups North African affiliate, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), asserted responsibility for the attack. Some Islamist extremist groups in the area have opposed a 2015 peace pact between Malis government and other militant factions. Among the dead were soldiers, members of pro-government forces and fighters from autonomous armed groups that have signed the peace accord. At least 100 people were injured.

The blast, one of the worst attacks against the nations armed forces, happened in the northern city of Gao at a camp where 600 men from two pro-government militias and the Malian army were based.

The unit had been trained by United Nations peacekeepers and French soldiers, but no U.N. or French troops were wounded or killed.

Just before 9 a.m., a suicide bomber in a truck full of explosives drove through the camps gate, said Radhia Achouri, a U.N. spokeswoman in Mali. Whoever perpetrated [the] attack, its clear the target is the actual peace process, she said.





A number of extremist groups, including AQIM, operate in northern Mali. Ethnic Tuareg rebels occupied Gao and other northern cities in 2012 and early 2013 and declared an independent Tuareg state. They were then absorbed into an al-Qaeda-allied insurgency.

[What drove last summers violence protests in Mali]

After French troops intervened and scattered the radical Islamist forces, the United Nations tried to forge a peace agreement among the remaining armed groups, including the secular Tuareg separatists. The accord did not include the Islamists.

The agreement combined the groups under a single umbrella, called the Operational Coordination Mechanism, known by its French acronym, MOC.

The men who were killed Wednesday were MOC members who were expected to begin their first mixed patrol in the coming days  a key step in the implementation of the peace deal.

Islamist groups and other criminal elements who use northern Mali as a drug or arms-trafficking route oppose the creation of these mixed units and the peace deal itself, which they view as a threat to their territory.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared three days of national mourning after the assault.

Extremist groups in northern Mali have staged devastating attacks over the past year on a U.N. base and the Gao airport, using suicide bombers and cars packed with explosives.

[Mali hotel siege leaves 20 hostages dead]

The amount of explosives involved has been staggering. In the attack on Gaos airport in November, one of the trucks that did not detonate was found to contain more than 1,000 pounds of explosives, U.N. officials said.

The United Nations has more than 11,000 peacekeepers in Mali, which has become the world bodys most dangerous mission. More than 100 U.N. peacekeepers have been killed here since the mission began in 2013.

Frances ties to Mali run deep. The African state was a French colony for nearly 60 years, gaining its independence in 1960. Since 2012, France has been a major military presence in the region.

In January 2013, French President Francois Hollande insisted in a televised address that French troops would remain until the Islamist threat vanished. At stake is the very existence of the Malian state, he said.

James McAuley in Nice, France, contributed to this report.

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On January 9, the US Supreme Court issued a unanimous summary ruling reversing a decision by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and upholding qualified immunity for a police officer who shot and killed Samuel Pauly in an attempt to investigate a traffic incident near Santa Fe, New Mexico in October 2011.

Prior to the shooting, Samuels brother Daniel was involved in a non-violent road-rage incident in which he stopped his car and confronted two women who he claimed had been tailgating him. Daniel subsequently drove home, where he lived with Samuel. Samuel was at home playing video games and had not been involved in the confrontation. Meanwhile, the occupants of the other vehicle called the police, who were able to locate the house where the brothers lived.

At that point, no crime had been committed and there was no legal justification to arrest anyone or to enter or search any house. While the frequency of road-rage incidents is not a healthy sign, they do constitute a fairly common occurrence in American social life.

According to Daniel, when two police officers arrived at the brothers house they failed to identify themselves. Not realizing that it was the police, and believing that they were being burglarized, the brothers armed themselves with weapons. The brothers warned, We have guns! The encounter escalated and there was an exchange of gunfire in which no one was struck. Then a third officer arrived and, without warning, shot Samuel dead.

The phrase qualified immunity refers to a judge-made doctrine that has no basis in the text of the US Constitution, notwithstanding the claims by various Supreme Court justices to be handing down the Constitutions original meaning. In recent decades, this doctrine has quietly been built up to huge proportions within the judicial system, largely without significant media commentary or public discussion. It now plays an important role in blocking civil rights cases and encouraging the ongoing epidemic of police brutality.

According to this authoritarian and anti-democratic doctrine, a judge can unilaterally decide a case in favor of a police officereven if the officers conduct violated the Constitutionif the judge determines that the police officer acted reasonably in light of previous Supreme Court decisions. If qualified immunity is awarded to the police officer, the case can be thrown out of court, never going before a jury, and costs can be imposed against the victim or the victims survivors.

During American election campaigns, it is often claimed by liberal commentators that the election of a Democratic president is necessary to ensure that the Supreme Court is not stacked with ultra-right judges. The fact that the decision in the Pauly case was unanimous highlights the role of both official parties and the judiciary as a whole in the abrogation of democratic rights and the drive towards a police state.

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to award immunity to the officers, instead opting to let a jury decide whether their conduct was appropriate. The Supreme Court reversed that decision in an unsigned eight-page opinion joined by all of the sitting justices, including Obama appointees Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. While the court normally has nine justices, the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last year has not yet been filled.

The text of the Supreme Courts opinion underscores the stunningly irrational character of the doctrine of qualified immunity as it is applied in practice. The Supreme Court held that the officer who killed Samuel did not violate clearly established law because existing precedent had not placed the statutory or constitutional question beyond debate.

In other words, there had not been a nearly identical case decided against a police officer in the past, so the conduct of the officer in this case could not be the subject of a lawsuit. However, since the doctrine of qualified immunity prevents this case from being decided on the merits, the Supreme Courts Kafkaesque logic ensures that the outcome will be the same in every future case.

Moreover, the Pauly case has far more sinister implications then might be apparent from the facts of this particular case. In the written opinion, the justices went out of their way to complain that the lower courts were not granting qualified immunity to police officers often enough.

The justices noted bitterly, In the last five years, this Court has issued a number of opinions reversing federal courts in qualified immunity cases. In other words, while the Supreme Court has been routinely granting immunity to police officers, some lower federal courts have not kept pace. The Supreme Court is signaling the lower courts that they must fall into line.

With the full support of the Obama administration, the Supreme Court over the past five years has routinely insisted on broad immunity for police officers in civil rights lawsuits based on police misconduct. In its May 2014 decision in the case of Plumhoff v. Rickard, the Supreme Courtonce again unanimouslyawarded immunity to three Arkansas police officers who fired 15 bullets at two unarmed people who were trying to escape in a car. Both the driver and the passenger were killed. (See: Supreme Court issues unanimous decision defending police in fatal shooting)

In November 2015, the Supreme Court granted qualified immunity in the case of a Texas trooper who climbed on an overpass and used a rifle to assassinate a motorist who was being pursued by other officers, even after his supervisor told him not to do it. (See: US Supreme Court expands immunity for killer cops)

After killing his victim, the Texas trooper boasted, Hows that for proactive?

In its decision last week in the Pauly case, the unanimous Supreme Court emphasized the significance of the doctrine of qualified immunity, writing, The Court has found [that] qualified immunity is important to society as a whole.

While more than 1,050 people were killed by the police in America in 2016, the unanimous Supreme Court thinks it is important to society for the federal courts to ensure that more police officers enjoy immunity from legal actions that base themselves on fundamental democratic rights.
On January 12, President Barack Obama announced that, effective immediately, the US government would end the so-called Wet Foot, Dry Foot policy, as well as the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program. In a joint statement detailing the changes in migration policy, the Cuban government agreed to accept Cuban nationals deported or returned by the US.

Through these programs, Cubans were extended preferential immigration status and a continued incentive to leave the country, which contributed to a brain drain of trained professionals and provided Washington and right-wing Cuban exiles the fodder for propaganda about state repression in Cuba fueling a constant stream of refugees.

Cubans will now be treated just as brutally as all other migrants and refugees to the United States, subject to an inhuman regime of incarceration and deportation built up by the Obama administration and soon to be administered by the even more virulently anti-immigrant Donald Trump.

Under the previous policy, Cubans who made it to dry land in US territory were permitted to enter the country and take advantage of the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act, which allowed Cubans to claim permanent US residency after one year in the country. Cubans who were interdicted at sea by the US Coast Guard, on the other hand, were returned to Cuba.

The policy was introduced by Bill Clinton in 1994 to restrict Cuban immigration in the wake of the so-called balsero (rafter) crisis, which saw tens of thousands of Cubans leave the island during the economic collapse following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Prior to this, Cubans making it either to the US or into the hands of the Coast Guard were allowed entry and a fast-track to residency and citizenship. In exchange for getting the Cuban government to accept its returned nationals, the US opened up an immigration lottery program giving 20,000 residency visas a year to Cubans.

The much newer but related program, the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, was put in place in 2006 by George W. Bush. It allowed doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to present themselves at any US embassy or consulate and receive a fast-track to US residency and citizenship. It was largely intended to undermine the Cuban economy and health care system by depriving it of personnel that are among the most expensive to train, and was taken advantage of by over 7,000 professionals. Much of the anger directed at the Obama administration by right-wing exiles in Miami is over the termination of this program.

A great deal of Cubas export earnings are derived from its medical professionals, with over 40,000 deployed around the world. Until recently, over 30,000 were in Venezuela providing medical care and training, for which the Cuban government received subsidized oil. Doctors and other professionals working abroad were paid more than their counterparts on the island itselfalthough still low by international standardsabout $180 per month instead of about $23 per month.

While the sending of skilled Cuban doctors to impoverished countries served to boost the countrys image on the world stage, the program also provided a source of earnings for medical services. This was particularly the case in Venezuela, where the employment of doctors in the governments medical programs for the poor was compensated with cheap oil. Groups like the Cuban American National Foundation hysterically denounced this program as a form of slavery or indentured servitude.

The end of these preferential immigration programs is the logical outcome of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba. Indeed, since the announcement of a rapprochement in December 2014, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of Cuban immigrants and refugees reaching the United States. Since 2012, around 118,000 Cubans have entered the US, with over 55,000 reaching the country in 2016 alone.

The sudden shift in policy has stranded thousands of Cuban migrants who were making their way to the US borders, particularly through Central America and Mexico, many with the aim of reuniting with family members residing in the US.

The restriction of Cuban immigration is of a piece with Obamas anti-immigrant policies that have earned him the moniker of deporter-in-chief in immigrant communities. Obamas statement ominously notes, By taking this step, we are treating Cuban migrants the same way we treat migrants from other countries. In other words, Cubans will now be subject to the same monstrous policies as other immigrants and refugees, which have seen around three million deported since 2008 and hundreds of thousands per year incarcerated in a vast network of over 200 detention centers.

Although Cubans will formally be able to apply for humanitarian asylum, as is the case with refugees from other countries, this is notoriously hard to prove. Additionally, once detained by immigration authorities, immigrantseven childrenare routinely denied adequate legal representation.

Obama has created a system that can be seamlessly taken over by Donald Trump, who has promised to vastly expand the scale of deportations. In fact, though Trump has criticized Obamas normalization of relations with Cuba, it is precisely because of its anti-immigrant stance that Trump is unlikely to reverse this latest measure by his predecessor.

For decades, US immigration policy provided preferential treatment to Cuban immigrants as part of Washingtons protracted campaign to undermine the Cuban government and as a means by both major parties to curry favor with the right-wing Cuban lobby in Miami. This policy grated particularly upon immigrants from Central America and Haiti, who have been summarily sent back to countries where they face real threats of persecution.

Nonetheless, there is nothing progressive in the Obama administrations decision to now subject Cubans to the same terrible conditions facing other immigrants and refugees. The policy of the working class must be to uphold the rights of workers to live where they choose.

As stated in the program of the Socialist Equality Party, The Breakdown of Capitalism and the Fight for Socialism in the United States:

The SEP fights for the repeal of all anti-immigrant laws and the disbanding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the US Border Patrol. It calls for all undocumented workers to be guaranteed full legal rights, including the right to work and the right to travel to their home countries without the threat of being barred from returning and torn from their families. Against the attempt to militarize borders and persecute immigrants, not only in the US but all over the globe, the working class must uphold the principle of open bordersthe right of workers to live and work in whatever country they choose with full citizenship rights.
President Obama commuted the 35-year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the military intelligence analyst who made public evidence of US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, allowing Manning to go free on May 17, after completing over seven years in prison.

Army Pfc Bradley Manning was arrested by the Army in 2010 after he turned over military and State Department files to WikiLeaks. Manning had copied hundreds of thousands of internal Army incident logs describing US soldiers experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, which proved that civilian deaths were far higher than reported. This material included the video of an American helicopter attack on civilians in Baghdad in which 16 people were gunned down, including two Reuters journalists. WikiLeaks published the video on the Internet with the title Collateral Murder.

Manning also provided WikiLeaks with some 250,000 diplomatic cables from American embassies around the world, which exposed official US lying, efforts to subvert governments, and dossiers on the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, showing most of them had no significant role in terrorist operations.

Manning always maintained that her goal was to inform the American public about the criminal actions being carried out by US military forces in their name. She pleaded guilty to 20 of 22 charges in August 2013 and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. After the trial, Manning announced that she was transgendered and took the name Chelsea Manning. She said she was seeking hormone therapy and requesting gender reassignment surgery, which the Army has repeatedly denied.

The prosecution and horrific treatment of Manning is itself a crime, for which the US military and the Obama administration are responsible. The commutation of her sentence raises the obvious issue of why the media and the entire political establishment, including the Obama administration, continue to witch-hunt and persecute Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, and Edward Snowden, the NSA whistleblower now in forced exile in Russia.

While Manning has spent seven years in prison for her courageous anti-war action, not a single person has been arrested, charged or jailed for any of the crimes documented in the material published by WikiLeaks, let alone any of the higher-ranking war criminals, right up to George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Mannings treatment since her arrest, in both military detention cells and in Leavenworth Prison, has been nothing short of torture. After her initial arrest, Manning was held in solitary confinement for nearly a year and a half, 23 hours a day, and for much of that time stripped naked as a security measure.

Her 35-year sentence is 10 times the longest previous punishment imposed on any federal employee, military or civilian, for leaking classified information. It is in line with the Obama administrations crackdown on whistleblowers, including the prosecution of more individuals under the Espionage Act than all previous administrations combined.

After conviction and sentencing, Manning was sent to the mens prison where she was repeatedly targeted for brutal treatment because of her actions as a whistleblower and her status as transgendered. Manning has been experiencing extreme psychological and mental stress because of the Armys continued refusal to provide for surgery to complete her transition to female, and she attempted suicide on two occasions in 2016.

Last Friday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest sent a signal of the possible commutation, telling a press briefing that there was a sharp distinction between the cases of Chelsea Manning and Snowden (more than 1 million people have signed a petition seeking a full pardon for the former NSA contractor, who exposed massive illegal spying by the US agency in 2013, and is now in exile in Russia).

Earnest said that since Manning had been convicted and sentenced in a legal proceeding, and had formally petitioned for clemency, she could be considered for clemency. There had been no judicial process for Snowden, who should return to the United States and face the serious crimes that with which hes been charged, he said.

There are likely several considerations in Obamas decision to commute Mannings sentence, none of them having to do with humanitarian feelings about her torture in prison and suicide attempts. First and foremost, the commutation will be used for cynical political purposes to boost the standing of the Democratic Partyand refurbish Obamas imageamong young people, the LGBT community, and those opposed to the ongoing US wars in the Middle East.

The commutation will be used for that purpose by liberal and pseudo-left apologists for Obama, although the action only puts an end to one of the many crimes of which the Obama administration is guilty, and only after it has gone on for more than seven years. Moreover, by commuting Mannings sentence rather than granting a full pardon, the precedent of her conviction remains on the books, as well as the savage sentence of a nearly lifetime term.

There was undoubtedly also concern in the military over the likelihood of Mannings death, either by suicide or brutal mistreatment at Leavenworth, and the public scandal that would result. There has also been disquiet in the ranks over the double standard as it applies to high-ranking officers, like General David Petraeus, in contrast to privates like Manning. Petraeus received a slap on the wrist for deliberately conveying top secret information to his mistress and biographer, while rank-and-file soldiers have received sentences of several years in prison for less severe breaches of security rules.

It is noteworthy that in the same document that announced the commutation of Mannings sentence, Obama issued a full pardon to General James Cartwright, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who pleaded guilty last October to lying to federal agents investigating a leak about the US cyberattack on Irans nuclear program.

The language of the commutation appears to rule out any future legal proceeding against Manning in either civilian or military courts, since it covers all 20 charges for which she was convicted and sentenced. Neither incoming President Donald Trump nor the Republican-controlled Congress has the legal power to overturn the commutation.

Congressional Republicans and some Democrats denounced the commutation as a reward for a traitor, essentially declaring that Manning should have been kept in prison until 2045, when she would be 57 years old.

Obama made one other politically controversial act of executive clemency, commuting the sentence of 74-year-old Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera, who has been in prison since 1981, more than 35 years. Lopez was a member of the Armed Forces of National Liberation, a nationalist group, influenced by Maoism, which carried out a series of bombings in US cities in the 1970s and 1980s. Six people were killed in these bombings, but Lopez was not directly linked to any of the deaths, and all those convicted of actual murders have been paroled or otherwise released.

Lopez refused a conditional commutation from President Bill Clinton in 2001, serving another 16 years in prison because he would not renounce the struggle for Puerto Rican independence. His attorney indicated that he would accept the commutation from Obama.
A report published in December by University of California at Berkeley economists Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman reveals unprecedented levels of social inequality in the United States.

The report documents an immense redistribution of wealth over a period of several decades from the working class to the rich. The bottom 50 percents pre-tax share of national income has fallen from 20 percent in 1980 to 12 percent in 2014, while the income share of the top 1 percent has almost doubled to 20 percent. The wealthiest 1 percent now owns over 37 percent of household wealth, while the bottom 50 percentroughly 160 million peopleowns almost nothing, a mere 0.1 percent.

Though the Piketty, Saez and Zucman report focuses on the top 1 percent, the underlying data sheds light on another phenomenon that is essential to understanding American society: the role of the 9 percent of the population that falls below the 1 percent (the next 9 percent). This layer consists, broadly speaking, of more affluent sections of the middle class.

Among the pseudo-left organizations that orbit the Democratic Party, it has become popular to refer to the need to build a party of the 99 percent.

The call for a party of the 99 percent conflates the interests of the 9 percent of the population that falls just below the top 1 percent with those of the bottom 90 percent. In fact, a chasm separates these two social layers. The World Socialist Web Site has defined the pseudo-left as denoting political parties, organizations and theoretical/ideological tendencies which utilize populist slogans and democratic phrases to promote the socioeconomic interests of privileged and affluent strata of the middle class.

The material position of the next 9 percent

The next 9 percent is comprised of privileged individuals who possess net wealth of between $1 million and $8 million and whose household incomes are between $155,000 and $430,000. They are business executives, academics, successful attorneys, professionals, trade union executives and trust fund beneficiaries. Their social grievances are the product of their privileged position. In every index of quality of lifeaccess to health care, life expectancy, water and air quality, housing and home location, college degrees, vacation time, etc.they live a different existence from the bottom 90 percent.

Data from the UC Berkeley report shows that the next 9 percent owns more wealth than the bottom 90 percent combined. The next 9 percents share of national income increased from 23.1 percent in 1970 to 27.6 percent in 2014. Over the same period, the national income of the bottom 90 percent decreased from 65.9 percent to 52.8 percent. The share of national income of the bottom 50 percent was cut in half over this period, from 19 percent to 10.3 percent. (These figures refer to pre-tax factor income, defined as the sum of all income flows before pensions, taxes and transfers. These are the only value sets for which data on the next 9 percent is available.)

In terms of net wealth (that is, total possessions, as opposed to annual income), the next 9 percent has also seen an increase since 1970. However, its share of household wealth is declining, but that is due entirely to the immensity of the increase in the share going to the top 1 percent. The share of household wealth of the next 9 percent has declined from 42.5 percent in 1970 to 34.9 percent today. Over this same period, the share of household wealth of the top 1 percent has increased from 22.5 percent to 37.2 percent. The bottom 90 percents share of wealth has declined to just over one quarter.

The next 9 percent acquires its wealth in a manner that increasingly parallels the parasitic and speculative methods of the top 1 percent. From 1970 to 2014, the next 9 percents share of total financial income increased from 24 percent to 28.6 percent.

This increase parallels the financialization of the top 1 percents earnings profile (though at a slower rate), but contrasts with the bottom 90 percent, which relies less and less on stocks and capital gains. While the top 1 percent owns about 40 percent of all stock, about 70 percent is owned by the top 5 percent. In contrast, 53 percent of households own no stock.

The economic foundation of pseudo-left politics

The political outlook of the next 9 percent is based on this economic reality. In aggregate, this social layer owes its position to rising share values, the exploitation of the working class and the dominant global position of American capitalism. At the same time, it regards the 1 percent as having acquired an unfair portion of the spoils. The ideology and politics of the next 9 percent dominate at the universities, where many members of this social layer serve as professors, administrators and department heads.

The extent of the chasm separating the bottom 90 percent from the top 10 percent endows the next 9 percents struggle for privilege with a ferocious character. Figures from prior studies show that in the United States, the gross income of a member of the 90th percentile (i.e., the lowest end of the next 9 percent group) is nearly 60 percent higher than a member of the 50th percentile. The gap in terms of net wealth is much higher. The margin in the United States has expanded significantly in recent decades and far outpaces similar statistics in other advanced countries.

Brookings Senior Fellow Richard Reeves noted in his September 2015 article titled The dangerous separation of the American upper middle class:

The American upper middle class is separating, slowly but surely, from the rest of society For many, the most attractive class dividing line is the one between those at the very, very top and everybody else. It is true that the top 1 percent is pulling away very dramatically from the bottom 99 percent. But the top 1 percent is by definition a small group. It is not plausible to claim that the individual or family in the 95th or 99th percentile is in any way part of mainstream America. Two further studies co-authored by Reeves provide insight into how this social distance has produced a high degree of social anxiety among the privileged next 9 percent:

America is becoming a more class-stratified society This separation of the upper middle class by income, wealth, occupation and neighborhood has created a social distance between those of us who have been prospering in recent decades, and those who are feeling left behind, angry and resentful, and more likely to vote for To-Hell-With-Them-All populist politicians, one report notes.

Another study titled Why rich parents are terrified their kids will fall into the middle class explains: As the income gap has widened at the top, the consequences of falling out of the upper middle class have worsened. So the incentives of the upper middle class to keep themselves, and their children, up at the top have strengthened.

Identity politics and the next 9 percent

In the face of these powerful pressures, identity politics becomes an important mechanism for increasing status and financial position.

The main impact of racial politics, including affirmative action, has been the elevation of a small layer of minority groups into the next 9 percent and the top 1 percent. A study from the Pew Research Center showed that from 2005 to 2009, the share of total wealth held by the top 10 percent of households among different racial groups increased drastically across races. The concentration of wealth is most acute among Hispanics, where the share of wealth controlled by the top 10 percent rose from 56 percent to 72 percent over this period, and among blacks, where the figure rose from 59 percent to 67 percent.

The Piketty, Saez and Zucman report also shows that among the top 10 percent, the share of women has risen steadily over the past four decades to roughly 27 percent. But women make up only about 16 percent of the employed population in the top 1 percent. Among the most affluent, the authors write, the glass ceiling is not yet close to being shattered. This helps explain why women in the next 9 percent saw Hillary Clintons pro-war, pro-Wall Street presidential campaign as a vehicle for advancing their own struggle for wealth and privilege.

The party of the 99 percent vs. socialism

The pseudo-left opposes any politics based on an analysis of economic class. This is the political basis for the call by pseudo-left organizations for a party of the 99 percent. Socialist Alternative, for example, has called for the building of a multi-class party. It published an article in the aftermath of the US presidential election titled We need mass resistance to Trump and a new party of the 99 percent, which read: We must start today to build a genuine political alternative for the 99 percent against both corporate dominated parties and the right so that in 2020 we will not go through this disaster again.

The International Socialist Organization (ISO) has also called for a mass, left alternative comprised of unions, movements and left parties. It regularly advances the slogan of the 99 percent, writing in 2014: [W]e need a new party for the 99 Percent to confront the two parties of the 1 percent. Other pseudo-left groups and publications like Jacobin and New Politics have echoed these slogans.

The use of this language is not accidental. The pseudo-lefts call for a party of the 99 percent serves two interrelated purposes.

First, the pseudo-left is seeking to subordinate the working class to the interests and grievances of the most affluent sections of the middle class, closest to the bourgeoisie. They are opposed to a socialist reorganization of society and even any measures that would significantly impact the distribution of wealth. Second, by employing empty left phraseology devoid of class content, the next 9 percent attempts to politically disarm the working class and channel social opposition behind the Democratic Party.

The pseudo-lefts orientation toward the Democratic Party is an essential component of its fight to advance its social interests. The Democratic Party is receptive to the use of race, gender and sexual orientation because it has rejected any program of social reform and instead appeals to the roughly 21 million people who comprise the next 9 percent as the constituency for a broader base.

Clearly, the vast majority of the population does not have the same economic interests as those whose net worth is over $1 million. The wealthiest 10 percent has acquired its wealth through the exploitation of the working class in the US and internationally. Vast levels of social inequality are not the product of an accidental process, but of definite policies implemented by both the Democratic and Republican parties and by their bourgeois counterparts around the world. Private profit is the product of the exploitation of the working class, and this is the rule under capitalism.

Extreme social polarization is an international phenomenon. A report published January 16 by Oxfam shows that eight billionaires own the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the worlds population, some 3.6 billion people. The wealthiest 1 percent own more wealth than the bottom 99 percent combined. A November 2016 Credit Suisse report showed that the top 10 percent controlled 89 percent of international wealth.

The class analysis made here with regard to the party of the 99 percent applies to similar populist appeals by the pseudo-left in countries all over the world.

The working class comprises the vast majority of the worlds 7 billion inhabitants and produces all of the worlds wealth. It possesses immense potential power. But it can advance its own interests only if it is armed with an anticapitalist and socialist program based on the class struggle. In advancing the slogan for a party of the 99 percent, the pseudo-left is perpetrating a fraud aimed at preventing the development of such a struggle and preserving the capitalist system.
Amid the deployment of 3,500 US troops to eastern Poland, which marks an open escalation of the preparations for war against Russia, the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) is continuing its offensive to undermine the parliament as an institution and build up a dictatorial regime.

Last Thursday, delegates of the liberal opposition parties Civic Platform (PO) and Nowoczesna (Modern) ended their nearly one-month-long sit-in protest in the plenary home of the Polish parliament (Sejm).

Their protest had started on December 16, when tens of thousands of people protested under the leadership of the liberal opposition against a planned bill that would restrict the access of media to parliamentary sessions. Several delegates of the opposition in the Sejm supported the protests by occupying the lectern.

In response, the Marshal of the Sejm, Marek Kuchcinski, who is responsible for directing and organising sessions, moved a planned session for the vote on the state budget for 2017 to another hall, with both journalists and opposition delegates banned from the session. This effectively stripped the body of the Sejm of its fundamental right to determine the state budget.

The leadership of the opposition movement, KOD (Committee for the Defence of Democracy) reacted by calling for a blockade of the Sejm, which lasted into the morning hours of December 17, when it was broken up violently by the police. Since then, about a dozen opposition delegates continued their protest in the plenary room. When they announced the end of their protest action, only 6 percent of the population indicated in polls that they would still support it.

While PiS has at least for now withdrawn the bill on limiting the media access to parliamentary sessions, the government has flat-out rejected the demand of the opposition to hold another session for voting on the state budget of 2017. Media reports also suggest that the minutes of the session held December 16 were falsified in order to make the vote look legitimate.

Jarosaw Kaczynski, the head of PiS, ridiculed the oppositions demand for the Marshal of the Sejm to be dismissed and replaced as irrational, if not cabaret-like. He announced that PiS will consider changing the regulations for conduct in the Sejm, so as to make both a blockade and a sit-in protest impossible in the future. He also declared that criminal charges might be pressed against the delegates involved in the sit-in protest.

Moreover, in an ominous signal of his intention to build up a dictatorial regime, Kaczynski remarked during a speech he held before the Presidential Palace that the day will come when Poland will once and for all free itself of all that, of the sickness that we see here. And no shouts, no screams, no sirens will change that. Poland will be victorious against its enemies, against the traitors.

The Marshal of the Sejm has moved the next regular session of the parliament to January 25 with no votes on major policy issues scheduled.

The reaction of PiS to the parliamentary crisis makes clear that the party is now determined to press ahead full speed with the buildup of an authoritarian state. After the virtual paralysis of the Constitutional Court as a functioning and independent body, the impending elimination of the Sejm as a more or less functioning body would mean the total abolition of the division of powers in Poland, effectively placing the judiciary and the legislature in the hands of the government.

This marks the temporary culmination of more than a year of the rapid dismantling of bourgeois democratic rights and institutions that began in the fall of 2015. It includes:

 The take-over of the secret services by the government right after the parliamentary elections in 2015;

 The paralysis of the Constitutional Court for about a year and then a rapid reversal of its administration in December 2016, effectively placing it under government control;

 The institution of government control over state television and radio stations in December 2015, which entailed, in only the first few weeks, the dismissal of over 60 reporters and journalists;

 A law changing the criteria for admission to the police, which ensures that both the head of the police and individual policemen can be dismissed and replaced if their political views and behaviour are deemed incorrect by the government, also in December 2015;

 The placement of the office of the state prosecutor under the supervision of Ministry of Justice in early 2016;

 A new anti-terrorism law from the spring of 2016 allowing for the banning of public meetings under conditions of heightened alleged terrorist alert, as well as a massive extension of domestic spying, the expulsion of foreign citizens and detention without trial;

 The creation and arming of a parliamentary militia that heavily draws from far-right forces and will be integrated into the Polish state as part of the preparations for war with Russia and a potential domestic civil war.

In addition, PiS has extended its already close ties to the Catholic Church, culminating in the proclamation of Jesus Christ as the King of Poland by President Andrzej Duda and the Polish Bishops in November 2016.

Behind the aggressive moves of PiS against the Sejm lies an increasing nervousness in the Polish bourgeoisie about the prospects of a reversal of US-foreign policy under a Trump administration and the prospect of the eruption of violent class conflicts in Poland and internationally. The conclusion PiS has drawn from the breakdown of the post-war order and the increasing social crisis in Poland and Europe as a whole, is that it has to prepare with whatever means necessary for the waging of war on two fronts: abroad, chiefly and foremost against Russia, and at home against the working class.

The parliamentary crisis in Poland coincides with the arrival of thousands of US troops to the eastern part of the country in what is the first stationing of US troops in Poland since 1989, right at Russias doorstep.

The first 2,700 out of the 3,500 troops planned were officially welcomed in a ceremony in the town of Zagan on Saturday by the defence minister. Shortly before that, the Polish senate had approved a plan to increase defence expenditures in 2017 by 3.4 percent, after an increase of 9.3 percent in 2016.

Both the increase in defence expenditures and the deployment of US troops put Poland, which has suffered tremendously from the past two world wars, at the forefront of a possible military conflict of the US with Russia. Nevertheless, no public debate is taking place on the question of war in Poland, with the liberal opposition welcoming and endorsing both the US troop deployment and the massive increase in defence expenditures.

It is in this context that the political prostration of the liberal opposition in the face of the buildup of an authoritarian police state by PiS needs to be understood.

Remarkably, the elimination of the Sejm as a constitutive political body in Poland has been taken basically as an all but established fact by the liberal opposition media.

In the lead article of the current issue of the liberal Polityka, the well-known commentator Rafa Kalukin provided a fairly critical summary of the evolution of the Sejm since 1989 and argued that the main trump of the opposition has become the ability to block changes in the constitution. Of course, this ability disappears with the elimination of both the Sejm and the Constitutional Court as bodies of influence.

Kalukin concludes his article with a gloomy rhetorical question, basically indicating that nothing can be done about the rise of authoritarian regimes and right-wing politics internationally: Perhaps the [good] weather for democratic liberals and other legalists is conclusively ending and the world is entering a new epoch?

The political impotence of the liberal opposition is rooted in its class position. It speaks for a section of the bourgeoisie and the upper-middle class that has tactical disagreements with PiS about the orientation of foreign policyfavouring closer collaboration with German imperialism and the EU. The liberal opposition also fears that the governments policies will destabilise the country and decrease its significance on the international stage. However, just like PiS, it fears more than anything a mobilisation of the working class against the threat of dictatorship and war and the capitalist system from which they emerge.
Over 300 US combat Marines arrived in Norway Monday as part of an increasingly provocative US-NATO buildup on Russias borders in the immediate run-up to Fridays inauguration of Donald Trump as president.

The deployment, carried out under the pretext of training US Marines for combat in Arctic conditions, represents a radical break with nearly 70 years of Norway foreswearing the deployment of foreign troops on its soil in order to maintain peaceful relations with first the Soviet Union and then the Russian Federation.

As in Eastern Europe, Washington is maintaining the pretense that the deployment does not violate NATOs pledge to Moscow in the run-up to the Stalinist bureaucracys dissolution of the USSR that it would not permanently deploy significant combat forces near Russias borders. It accomplishes this by establishing a system of rotation in which the 330 Marines deployed Monday will be replaced by a different unit of the same size within six months.

The Marines will be joined in March by British troops for what has been dubbed Joint Viking exercises with the Norwegian military. The clear aim is to escalate military pressure from NATOs northernmost border with Russia.

The deployment in Norway, which Marine Maj. Gen. Niel Nelson described as a demonstration by Washington to its allies of our willingness to support and defend them and NATO, is part of a far larger buildup against Russia, which over the weekend saw the deployment of some 4,000 troops, backed by tanks, artillery and armored cars, in Poland. These forces are to be stationed across seven Eastern European countries, including the former Soviet Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all of which share borders with Russia.

This larger deployment, which was set to take effect at the end of January, was speeded up with the apparent aim of having the troops in place before Fridays inauguration as part of a bid to cut across Trumps avowed intentions to make some good deals with Russia.

The stationing of US Marines on Norwegian territory has been prepared by a drastic realignment of Norwegian foreign and military policy under the right-wing government of Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

Before joining NATO in 1949, Norway entered a so-called base agreement with Moscow pledging that it would not bring foreign troops to its military bases unless it faced an imminent threat or was attacked. Until now, the country has allowed the US and NATO to stockpile arms and ammunition in tunnels dug under the Norwegian mountains. In advance of the Marine deployment, these stockpiles have reportedly been beefed up with the latest weaponry.

In addition to allowing in the US Marines, the Norwegian government is deploying hundreds of additional troops to the Finnmark region bordering Russia in the countrys far north. We do not consider Russia a direct threat to Norway today, Norwegian Defense Ministry spokesman Audum Halvorsen told the British daily The Independent. But we pay close attention to Russian military activity in the High North.

In addition, the Norwegian government has reversed its earlier abstention from the bid by the US and NATO to establish a ballistic missile defense system surrounding Russia. Solbergs government has indicated that it will now participate, including with the deployment of advanced radar systems near the Russian border and on Norwegian frigates close to the home base of Russias strategic submarines in the Murmansk region.

Moscow considers the anti-missile system part of a US attempt to create conditions in which it could limit any Russian response to a US nuclear strike.

With little more than two days until Trump takes office, the Obama administration continues to supplement the military provocations on Russias borders with a barrage of propaganda painting Moscow as a threat and an aggressor.

Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the United Nations and the standard-bearer for the Obama administrations hypocritical policy of human rights imperialism, delivered what she described as her last speech in office to the Atlantic Council, a US-based think tank and unofficial arm of NATO, in which she described Russia as a major threat and core threat to the United States.

While heaping on the usual denunciations of Russia for aggression in Ukraine, war crimes in Syria, hacking and having interfered in our presidential election, Power insisted that Moscows alleged crimes went beyond any particular actions and were the product of a broader strategy of weakening the rules-based order imposed by Washington in the aftermath of World War II.

For his part, Joe Biden made his last foreign trip as US vice president to Ukraine in order to further escalate the war threats against Russia. Speaking in Kiev Tuesday, Biden affirmed that the international community must continue to stand as one against Russian aggression and coercion.

He praised the Obama administration for having trained your national guard, conventional military forces, as well as special forces; helped you increase your readiness and make your force interoperable with NATO.

Placing the entire blame for the conflict in eastern Ukraine on Moscow, he insisted that sanctions against Russia must remain in place. Toward the conclusion of his remarks, he warned, This next year is going to be a very, very telling yeara very telling year.

And finally, Obama spokesman Josh Earnest told a White House press conference that it appeared that Vladimir Putin was using the talking points of the incoming administration. The remark came in response to a speech in which Putin charged the incumbent administration with attempting to delegitimize the Trump presidency with false allegations.

Earnest went on to describe Trump as deeply misguided in criticizing the US intelligence agencies and, in particular, CIA Director John Brennan, who on Monday criticized Trump for lacking a full appreciation of Russian capabilities, Russias intentions.

Particularly to call into question the integrity of somebody like John Brennan, somebody who has served at the CIA for three decades, somebody who has served the country in dangerous locations around the world to try to keep us safe. I'm offended by it, Earnest said.

The bitter internecine struggles within the ruling establishment in the run-up to Trumps inauguration express deep divisions over strategic aims. While the US intelligence agencies and the Obama administration are demanding a continuation and intensification of the military buildup against Russia, employing neo-McCarthyite rhetoric to counter any opposition, the incoming Trump administration has indicated its intention to shift toward a more direct confrontation with China. Both policies threaten humanity with the prospect of nuclear war.
In a barely veiled attack on the protectionist America-first program of US President-elect Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland hailing free trade and warning of the danger of trade war.

The speech came as divisions mounted in Washington over the incoming Trump administration and panic spread in the European ruling class over Trumps interview Monday hailing Britains exit from the European Union and denouncing the EU as a tool of Germany. In this explosive context, significant sections of the European media hailed Xis speech at Davos, the first by a Chinese president, as a defense of the existing international order.

Xis speech itself was remarkable above all for its bleak outlook on world capitalism. Just over a quarter century after the Chinese Stalinist regime restored capitalist relations and opened up China to international capital, Xi referred to a growing sense among vast numbers of people internationally that capitalism is failing.

Many people are wondering--what has gone wrong with our world? Xi said, adding that capitalist globalization was increasingly seen as a Pandoras box, which, once opened, allowed uncontrollable monsters to escape and wreak havoc.

Just after Oxfam released a report showing that eight billionaires own more wealth than the poorest half of humanity, Xi admitted that the world economy produces worrying levels of social inequality.

Without naming Trump, Xi went on to make clear that this economic and social crisis was provoking a meltdown at the center of the world political system. He bluntly warned that the protectionist policies championed by Trump were doomed to fail and would only trigger escalating conflict. No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war, he declared. Pursuing protectionism is just like locking ones self in a dark room: wind and rain might be kept outside, but so are light and air.

Countering Trumps attempts to blame US decline on China, Xi singled out wars, largely attributable to the reckless foreign policy of the imperialist powers, as the main threats: Some people blame globalisation for the chaos of our world, but our problems are not caused by globalisation. They are caused by war and conflict.

Xi pledged to maintain China as a bulwark of global free trade, saying, China will keep its door wide open, and not close it. He predicted that China, now a leading trading partner of the US and European economies, would import $8 trillion in US goods in the next five years and make $750 billion in foreign investment. He also appealed for continued support for the Paris ecological treaty to stem climate change, which Trump intends to repudiate.

Trumps envoy, financier and US Office of Public Liaison Director Anthony Scaramucci, was left to baldly assert, The new administration does not want to have a trade war. However, he went on to repeat the Trump administrations demands for more reciprocity in trade relations with the United States and its calls for changes to the NATO alliance, founded in 1949. He said, Many people have renovated our homes, weve certainly changed our wardrobes since the 1940s.

Conference speakers and the press referred to Chinas moves to position itself as a world power and to Washingtons ebbing influence.

Trump faced criticism from outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry, who said the president-elects threat to repudiate the Iran nuclear treaty could provoke a global backlash that would isolate Washington. If the United States were to decide suddenly that were not going to pursue this, Kerry said, I bet you that our friends and allies who negotiated this with us will get together, and Russia, China, Germany, France and Britain will say this is a good deal, were going to keep it. And well have done a great injury to ourselves.

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt said, There is a vacuum when it comes to global economic leadership, and Xi Jinping is clearly aiming to fill it. With some success.

Bob Moritz of PriceWaterhouseCoopers said, [T]here is a big question mark as to how China pivots in this world. Will they be more regional or global in their mindset and, more importantly, in their negotiations? Its something we are going to have to watch in the next 12 months.

Several European journalists hailed Xi. Germanys Tagesschau called Xi a voice of reason and pioneer of free trade, adding that as the world economy faces the dangers of a disintegration of global cooperation, Xis voice is of particular importance.

CNN reporter Richard Quest wrote: Its surreal. A Chinese president is giving a speech one might have expected from a US president.

The concerns in US and European ruling circles reflect vast shifts in the world economy that have matured over many decades. The long-term decline of American capitalism, the Soviet bureaucracys dissolution of the USSR in 1991, and the US rivalry with the rising economic power China and the reunified and resurgent Germany have undermined the existing political order. Many institutions, from the US-European NATO alliance against the USSR to the European Union, formed in 1992 in the context of that alliance, are being torn apart by internal contradictions.

The central contradictions of capitalism identified by the great Marxists at the time of the First and Second World wars, between global economy and the nation-state system and between socialized production and private appropriation, are reasserting themselves explosively. As Xis remarks show, the leaders of the major capitalist states are well aware that these conflicts could escalate into a trade war that could bring the world economy to a crashing halt and provoke global war.

European media and political circles are responding favorably to Xis speech amid rising concern over the explosive implications of Trumps policies and his statements Monday to the Times of London and Germanys Bild. Dismissing the EU as a tool of Germany, which he attacked for allegedly unfair trade deals with the United States, Trump hailed the Brexit vote and threatened to impose tariffs on German auto companies. He also made clear that he saw Britain as a tool to challenge the existing structure of European capitalism.

The interview underscored the fact that Trumps protectionism targets not only China, but also Europe and especially Germany. Amid rising tensions over the negotiation of Britains EU exit, there are intense debates within Europes ruling elites over how to respond.

One possibility that is emerging is a closer alliance between continental European powers and the Chinese Stalinist regime. All of the major European powers have already joined Beijings Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), defying US opposition to the bank.

The AIIB provides them with lucrative opportunities to join Chinas ambitious One Belt-One Road (OBOR) project for a network of rail, port, road and energy infrastructure uniting the Eurasian landmass and linking China, across Russia and the Middle East, to markets in Europe. With conflicts set to erupt between the Trump administration and China, as well as Europe, the vast implications--not only economic but also geo-strategic and military--of such projects are emerging more clearly.

China is also turning ever more to wealthy countries, like France, to restructure global governance in the direction it wishes, wrote the French daily Liberation. Each new Chinese initiative will pose the question of French participation--and the conditions in which it occurs--as was posed by the AIIBs launch nearly three years ago. This question is unavoidable and should be anticipated.
Photo credit: Sandals Resorts

From Woman's Day

Ever dreamed of staying in an over-the-water villa? Yeah, us too. But up until recently, you'd have to travel all the way to French Polynesia, the Maldives, Cambodia, or the Philippines for that kind of experience. But now, Sandals Royal Caribbean has introduced an option much closer to home, in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Photo credit: Sandals Resorts

"Hovering above turquoise seas, these gorgeous Tahiti-style bungalows feature see-through glass floors, a Tranquility Soaking Tub, an over-the-water hammock for two, a private infinity pool, and personalized butler service," reads the website's description. "Plus, guests can enjoy private boat transfers to and from the resort-all included."

Photo credit: Sandals Resorts

If that sounds like heaven on earth to you, you're not alone. Sandals Resorts CEO Adam Stewart and his wife wanted just that kind of honeymoon following their wedding back in 2009, but Conde Nast Traveler reports the couple had to embark on the more than 24-hour trek to the Maldives to make it happen. Finally, last month, Stewart unveiled Sandals' own overwater luxury suites.

Photo credit: Sandals Resorts

"The major obstacle was that Sandals was the first to conceive and build over-the-water accommodations and facilities in Jamaica, so there was no legislation in place to consider legalities of what would be required," Stewart told the publication. "We did copious due diligence from other jurisdictions, pulling principles and laws from places such as the Maldives as examples for review with the government. Ultimately, our work in concert with Jamaica established a new set of carefully considered criteria that put safety as well as long- and short-term environmental impact at the forefront."

Each of the five 2,000-square-feet villas start at $2,700 a night for two people, but Sandals is already set to add 12 additional smaller bungalows this spring. From there, the trend (which has been around since the '70s but is experiencing a resurgence) will continue to expand, with Sandals opening more villas at Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals South Coast, Sandals Royal Plantation, and Sandals Grande St. Lucian. The overwater suites will be a fitting addition in St. Lucia especially-it was there that Sandals recently introduced the first-ever over-the-water chapel in the Caribbean for destination weddings.

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Sandals is accepting reservations for stays starting February 1, 2017.

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Moaza Al Matrooshi made history by having a successful pregnancy at 24 years old by using ovarian tissue frozen when she was 9. (Photo: Getty Images)

Sara Matthews, a London-based gynecologist and reproductive medicine specialist, bid a happy farewell to her patient Moaza Al Matrooshi, a new mom, on Jan. 10, but the 24-year-old isnt just any patient.

Al Matrooshi made headlines in December 2016 for being the first woman to have had her ovary frozen before puberty and to have had a successful pregnancy 15 years later.

The new mom, whose ovary was frozen in the U.K. when she was 9 years old before undergoing chemotherapy for an inherited blood disorder, gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Dec. 13. Al Matrooshi, along with her son and husband, Ahmed, flew back to her home in Dubai less than a month later.

Matthews  one of the most highly regarded experts in fertility medicine in the U.K.  played a key part in the proceedings. She helped secure funding, made arrangements for Al Matrooshis frozen ovarian tissue to be moved to Denmark, and assisted a team of surgeons there who have performed such procedures in the past, as well as performed the IVF procedure.

That Moaza placed her trust in me and took such a giant leap of faith is very exciting and introduces a wonderful new time for reproductive medicine, Matthews tells Yahoo Beauty. I saw her before she left for Dubai  she is happy and healthy. Her baby is happy and healthy. I never had any doubt that this would work; I always knew she would get pregnant.

Thats a strong conviction to have, given that Al Matrooshi was born with beta thalassaemia, a blood disorder similar to sickle cell anemia that reduces the production of hemoglobin in the body and can prove fatal if left untreated.

One of Al Matrooshis brothers died from the condition. Another brother, who does not have beta thalassaemia, gave Al Matrooshi his bone marrow for a transplant, but she needed chemotherapy prior to receiving the transplant, and it damaged her left ovary.

Though the chemotherapy cured her [of the beta thalassemia], and Moaza went through puberty getting ad hoc periods, when she came to me she was in perimenopause, Matthews says.

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Because of this, It had been a wise decision by Al Matrooshis mother to have her daughters right ovary removed and frozen pre-puberty (and pre-chemo), with the hope that one day Al Matrooshi would be able to get pregnant.

The procedure

The actual transplant of the ovarian tissue was quick and fairly simple. The Danish surgeons placed 5 fragments of tissue back into Al Matrooshis body, stitching 4 onto the damaged left ovary and one onto the side of her uterus. However, the subsequent IVF procedure was more complicated.

When you go through menopause, your brain is producing [fluctuating] amounts of hormones, so I had to wait and see whether Moazas brain would recognize whether there was a working ovary in her body, Matthews explains. Remember, we were taking a childs ovarian tissue, which had never had any hormones, and putting it into an adult environment, having no idea whether there would be any response.

London-based gynecologist and reproductive medicine specialist Sara Matthews was instrumental in helping Moaza Al Matrooshi become pregnant. (Photo: Courtesy of Sara Matthews)

It took three months for her hormone levels to normalize, then Al Matrooshi began producing eggs naturally. But not knowing how long the ovarian tissue would last, Matthews decided to go ahead with IVF, collecting five eggs in total from Al Matrooshi. Three embryos were then produced, two were implanted earlier this year, and one took, resulting in the pregnancy.

We have one embryo in the freezer and two more tissue fragments in Denmark that we can use at a later date if we have to, but the rest is history  Moaza got pregnant the first time with no complication at all and had a healthy little boy, Matthews says.

She adds: After she has breastfed for a year, I want to bring her back to the U.K. to see whats happening hormonally, if shes getting her period back, and just in case, I want to get more eggs in the bank.

New hope for those with fertility issues

Al Matrooshis case is revolutionary and offers hope for younger girls diagnosed with serious conditions or illnesses that can affect fertility.

Many parents whose children have conditions like beta thalassaemia or who suffer from childhood cancers such as leukemia, know that chemotherapy helps, but the first question they always ask is, Will my children be able to have children? Matthews says.

While older girls can freeze eggs and ovarian tissue, its always been more challenging for younger girls who have not yet gone through puberty, Matthews notes. We are trying to develop ways to hide the ovaries from the destructive effects of chemotherapy, but even then, theres no way to know whether the eggs have been destroyed, so its amazing that we were able to use tissue from an ovary that had been removed in childhood.

She adds: Moaza gives us hope that we can possibly give more girls the chance of a normal life.

Matthews, who has trained with some of the U.K.s top ob-gyns and fertility specialists, is particularly interested in helping young women who face fertility challenges that many believe cannot be overcome.

One case shes especially proud of is that of a young woman whose womb burst during her first pregnancy and who was told by doctors that she would never conceive again.

I operated four times to reconstruct the womb, and not only did she get pregnant again naturally, Matthews says, but she also has been talking about baby No. 2.

Related: Uterus Transplants May Soon Help Infertile Women Have Children

Related: 5 Myths About IVF You Need To Stop Believing

Related: Sofia Vergara Sued by Her Own Frozen Embryos in Bizarre Legal Battle

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Newborn Stolen from Hospital 18 Years Ago Found Safe: She Grew Up Thinking Alleged Abductor Was Her Mom

Kamiyah Mobley, the 18-year-old who was abducted as a newborn from a Florida hospital, is defending the woman who raised her for nearly two decades.

She loved me for 18 years. She raised me for 18 years  I will always love her, Mobley said of her alleged abductor, Gloria Williams, during an interview with ABC News.

Mobley, who identified herself as Alexis, was just hours old when authorities say a woman posing as a health care worker took her from a Jacksonville, Florida, hospital in July 1998. On Friday, officials said at a news conference that Mobley had been found in Walterboro, South Carolina, living under a false identity apparently created for her following her abduction.

Williams was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree kidnapping and third-degree interference with custody, prosecutors said  a fate Mobley said may be too harsh.

 For more on Kamiyah Mobleys abduction, pick up a copy of this weeks issue of PEOPLE magazine, on newsstands Friday

From that one mistake, I was given the best life. I was. I had everything I ever needed, wanted. I had love especially, Mobley said of her life in South Carolina. I understand what she did was wrong but just dont lock her up and throw away the key like everything she did was just awful.

The 18-year-old burst in to tears in court when she saw her mother behind bars.

That did hurt that they had her in cuffs. Shes a gentle woman, Mobley said.

Mobley met her biological parents  father Craig Aiken and mother Shanara Mobley  for the first time on Saturday at the Walterboro Police Department, WCSC reported. It was a meeting Mobley says they deserved.

I feel like I do owe them that, to give them a chance, you know? Get to know them, Mobley said. Im not saying they werent going to be good parents. Im not saying that at all. But it would have been a different life.

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She added: When you find out youve got another family out there, its just more love.

Mobleys disappearance made national headlines in 1998, and the unsolved hospital abduction continued to garnered attention over the years. Mobley said that being in the spotlight now has been overwhelming.

Your whole life youve been known as Alexis, Lexi, you know? she told ABC. Now its like people are referring to you as someone else, nationally.

 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.

In the wake of Mobleys discovery, Charles Manigo, who Mobley believed to be her father, opened up to ABC News about the harsh reality of the situation.

However, a Facebook post on a page that appears to be that of the abduction victim says Manigo did nothing as a father figure.

YOU WERE NOTHING TO ME MY WHOLE LIFE, the user wrote. I CAN COUNT ON MY FINGERS HOW MANY TIMES IVE SPENT THE NIGHT AT YOUR HOUSE.
Two small children were attacked by a pit bull as they walked to school in Atlanta on Tuesday morning, leaving one of them dead and the other badly injured.

At about 7:30 a.m., three children were walking to school when two dogs ran up to them and attacked, according to WSB-TV 2. The station says only two of the children were mauled by the dogs; Logan Braatz, 6, who died, and Syria Sanders, 5, who is in stable condition.

Boy killed, girl injured in pit bull attack: https://t.co/hGFufAfIiO @SophiaWSB is working to learn more about what happened on Ch. 2 at 4. pic.twitter.com/CVGECUyKTq  WSB-TV (@wsbtv) January 17, 2017

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Shamonte Clayton, a neighbor, said he woke to the sound of screams. I knew it had to be something serious because this is the time the kids go to school, he told news station WXIA.

A relative of Syrias, Tamiko Williams, told CBS 46, When I got down there, the dog at the time was mauling on my great niece and she wasnt moving or nothing.

Williams said she and a few other adults ran to help with sticks and bats in an attempt to drive the dogs away.

The dogs was still chasing everybody, there was nothing we could do because they kept coming back, kept coming back, Williams said.

Heartbreaking news today. Child has died as a result of a pit bull attack. Prayers go out to the family. Homicide detectives on the scene.  Atlanta Police Dept (@Atlanta_Police) January 17, 2017

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One dog was shot by police, reports WXIA, while the other was taken into custody. Cameron Tucker, the owner of the dogs, was arrested and charged with two counts of reckless conduct, according to online records.

Logans grandfather told CBS 46 that he was still processing the death of his grandson.

Its been a terrible loss, Bryant Braatz said. Very outgoing, he was the kindest soul youd ever meet. Hed do anything for any other little kid.




Here Are All the Members of Congress Who Are Boycotting Trumps Inauguration  and Why

Donald Trumps inauguration wont be a star-studded affair on Friday  and its shaping up to be skippable by many politicians as well.

Though he won the Electoral College by 306 votes to Hillary Clintons 236, hes starting off his presidency with the lowest approval rate in decades  just 40 percent, according to a CNN/ORC survey. (Before he took office in early 2009, Barack Obamas approval rating was 84 percent, according to the same survey.)

That disapproval has seeped into the Capitol, with 51 members of Congress (at current count) abstaining from Trumps inauguration and the following festivities.

Most notable is Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon and longtime Democratic congressman from Georgia. Though Lewiss lack of attendance is the only one thats gotten Trump fired up on Twitter (so far) others have followed in Lewiss path.

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Trump was asked about the growing number of lawmakers who wont be attending during an interview on Fox & Friends, and claimed he didnt care  and hed like to dole their tickets out to others.

Thats okay, because we need seats so badly, he said. I hope they give me their tickets.

Trumps claim about huge demand notwithstanding, his team has flooded Facebook this week with ads in which Trump is trying to drum up interest in attending by personally inviting Facebook users en masse.

Event planners are expecting no more than 900,000 people, according to NBC. And that number wont include the following members of Congress  and for 20 of them, here are the statements they made to defend their decision:

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

I believe in forgiveness. I believe in trying to work with people. Its going to be hard. Its going to be very difficult. I dont see this president-elect as a legitimate president. I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. I dont plan to attend the inauguration. It will be the first one that I miss since Ive been in Congress. You cannot be at home with something that you feel is wrong. (RealClearPolitics)

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Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA)

For me, the personal decision not to attend inauguration is quite simple: Do I stand with Donald Trump, or do I stand with John Lewis? I am standing with John Lewis. (The Mercury News)

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)

We must stand against Trump's bigotries- birther conspiracies, attacks on Gold parents & civil rights heroes. I won't attend inauguration.  Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) January 17, 2017

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Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)

I cannot go to inauguration of a man whos going to appoint people to the Supreme Court and turn back the clock on women and turn back the clock on immigrants and the safety and freedom that we fought for them. (WGN)

Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA)

My statement on the upcoming inauguration: pic.twitter.com/dQXE0ztvTf  Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) January 5, 2017

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Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)

I am not attending this years inauguration due to my concern over a number of divisive and inflammatory statements made by the president-elect. Over the course of the incoming administration, as ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, I will oppose policies that reverse the progress we have made over the last eight years and support policies that serve to protect rights and liberties of all Americans, including the areas of criminal justice and voting rights reform. I will do everything in my power to ensure that accountability is brought to bear on the administration, and that the Constitution and our nations laws are adhered to, as no one is above the law. (Detroit News)

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)

All talk and no action? @realDonaldTrump, heres @RepJohnLewis leading peaceful protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, 1965 pic.twitter.com/uc55u0SzSA  Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) January 14, 2017

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.@realDonaldTrump: @repjohnlewis stands for best of everything in America. If anyone knows about action not words, it's him. #ImWithJohn  Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) January 14, 2017

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Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)

Ordinarily, on Inauguration Day I would take my place above the west steps of the Capitol and join colleagues and dignitaries in honoring a great and solemn American tradition: the peaceful transfer of power which must always transcend partisan differences. Ordinarily, I would do that without hesitation for any President, regardless of their politics or personality, as a show of respect for the institution and the will of the voters  and as a gesture of goodwill to foster reconciliation and collaboration as we put the election behind us and prepare to work with the new administration. However, there is nothing ordinary about this inauguration or the man that will be sworn-in as our next President. I do accept the election results and support the peaceful transfer of power, but it is abundantly clear to me that with Donald Trump as our President, the United States is entering a dark and very dangerous political chapter. I will do everything I can to limit the damage and the duration of this chapter, and I believe we can get through it. But I will not sit passively and politely applaud as it begins. (PressDemocrat)

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

The peaceful transition of power from one administration to the next is a uniquely American tradition that defines our democracy. Inaugurations are a time for our Presidents to ignite hope, demonstrate humility, and espouse faithfulness to the principles enumerated in the Constitution. The President-elect has yet to demonstrate these traits, and it is with a heavy heart and deep personal conviction that I have decided not to attend the Inauguration on January 20, 2017. (DeSaulniers official website)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

There is unprecedented concern by my constituents about the many threats posed by a Trump administration seeking to implement the President-elects policies on health, environment, nuclear weapons, and immigration, to name but a few. I will forgo the inauguration, spending the day instead in my district talking with Oregonians to hear their priorities, try to answer their questions, and prepare for the coming assault on the values and programs we hold dear, Blumenauer wrote. It is hard to think of a better use of my time on January 20th. (Facebook)

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)

I will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate. I won't be attending Donald Trump's inauguration.  Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) January 16, 2017

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Rep. Adam Smith, (D-WA)

Believe me, I have a lot of statements against Donald Trump, his policies, and the way he behaves. What he said in response to John Lewiss comments was remarkably ignoranteven for him. Im not not going to the inauguration as a statement. Im not going because Id prefer to be home. (The Stranger)

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Inaugurations are celebratory events, a time to welcome the peaceful transition of power and honor the new administration. On January 20th, I will not be celebrating or honoring an incoming president who rode racism, sexism, xenophobia and bigotry to the White House. Donald Trump ran one of the most divisive and prejudiced campaigns in modern history. He began his campaign by insulting Mexican immigrants, pledging to build a wall between the United States and Mexico and then spent a year and a half denigrating communities of color and normalizing bigotry. He called women pigs, stoked Islamophobia, and attacked a Gold Star family. He mocked a disabled reporter and appealed to peoples worst instincts. I cannot in good conscience attend an inauguration that would celebrate this divisive approach to governance. (Facebook)

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)

I will not be attending the inauguration of Donald Trump as our next president. My absence is not motivated by disrespect for the office, or motivated by disrespect for the government that we have in this great democracy. But as an individual act  yes, of defiance  at the disrespect shown to millions and millions of Americans by this incoming administration, and by the actions we are taking here in this Congress. The majority of voters rejected Trump. They deserve respect. The 20 million plus Americans threatened by the repeal of the Affordable Care Act without a replacement deserve respect. The millions who did not vote because they blame both parties deserve respect. (Grijalvas official website)

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

The constituents of the New Jerseys Twelfth District is a cross section of the many groups and millions of Americans that this incoming Administration has turned its back on, Watson Coleman said in a news release. Our nation is founded on democracy and inclusion that unfortunately our president-elect refuses to represent. I can think of no more important place to be than supporting my constituents and renewing my energy to fight for their freedoms. (MyCentralJersey.com)

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)

As I told @JoyAnnReid, I will not be attending #Inauguration. I will be at home in Cleveland. #IStandWithJohnLewis  Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (@RepMarciaFudge) January 15, 2017

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Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY)

The rhetoric and actions of Donald Trump have been so far beyond the pale  so disturbing and disheartening  and his continued failure to address his conflicts of interest, to adequately divest or even to fully disclose his financial dealings, or to sufficiently separate himself from the ethical misconduct that legal experts on both side of the aisle have identified have been so offensive I cannot in good conscience participate in this honored and revered democratic tradition of the peaceful transfer of power. We cannot normalize Donald Trump, and we certainly cannot turn our heads and ignore such a threat to the institutions and values of our democracy. His refusal to adequately address his business conflicts of interest, to show remorse for the inflammatory rhetoric in which he engaged during his campaign, his attempts to intimidate the press, and his continuing failure to demonstrate any interest in uniting Americans reveal a deep disrespect for the office of President. I refuse to sit idly by as he flaunts his illicit behavior without regard for the American peoples interest. I refuse to abide any effort to undermine a free and independent press, which serves a pivotal role in any democratic system and whose rights are guaranteed by our Constitution. I refuse to applaud for a man with a history of offensive and abusive behavior to women and minorities. I refuse to treat January 20, 2017, as business as usual. For these reasons, I have no interest in participating in the inauguration ceremony of Donald J. Trump. (Gothamist)

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA)

I just told hundreds of my constituents that I will not be attending the Inauguration Ceremony this coming Friday. Here is what I said: pic.twitter.com/YLJz5OWjXe  Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 16, 2017

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Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA)

I have always believed the Inaugural of the president of the United States should be a nonpolitical day. As just a regular citizen, it is an event I have always looked forward to watching. Regardless of the person taking the oath and the party taking power, I have always looked at it as a day to celebrate American democracy. It is the continuation of that which started with Washington, the peaceful transfer of power in accordance to the wishes of the people. The election of Donald Trump presents a challenge to my long held view of presidential inaugurations. As much as I cherish this day, can I in good conscience celebrate that which I believe is a grave mistake? Can I sit by mere yards away and applaud the desecration of the most important office in the history of the world?

After wrestling with this question for the last two months, I have concluded I cannot participate in this Inaugural celebration. I do not challenge that Mr Trump won the Electoral College and therefore will lawfully be president. We cannot go down a path in which we do not accept the legitimacy of the choice of the people. In America, it is the people who decide. I accept the decision of the people. I respect it. But I will not celebrate it. (Facebook)

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)

After reading classified Russian hacking doc & @realDonaldTrump offensive tweets to @repjohnlewis I will not be attending the Inauguration. pic.twitter.com/wrEeGfqjrZ  Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) January 15, 2017

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RELATED VIDEO: Watch: Natasha Stoynoff Breaks Silence, Accuses Donald Trump of Sexual Assault

Other members of Congress who will not be attending Donald Trumps inauguration include:

Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR)

Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)

Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO)

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)

Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD)

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC)

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR)

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA)

Rep. Al Green (D-TX)

Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ)

Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA)

Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA)

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)

Rep. Jose E. Serrano (D-NY)

Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL)

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS)

Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY)

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY)

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Photo credit: First Coast News

From Esquire

When a kidnapping goes unsolved for 18 years, the chances of finding the victim are next to impossible. But the impossible happened this week when an 18-year-old woman learned she was Kamiyah Mobley, a girl kidnapped as an infant.

Kamiyah grew up believing she was the daughter of Gloria Williams, but a recent DNA test revealed she was Kamiyah Mobley, daughter of Shanara Mobley and Craig Aiken, who was kidnapped from a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, when she was only eight hours old. Her new name has not been made public to protect her privacy.

The girl's biological mother, Shanara Mobley, said that a woman dressed in scrubs, whom she believed was a nurse, entered Mobley's room shortly after she gave birth in 1998 and told her that her baby had a fever and needed to be seen by a doctor. The woman then left the room with the child, never to be seen again until now.

Hospital staff believed the woman was a member of Mobley's family, which is why no one questioned her being in the room or holding the child. That woman has now been identified as Gloria Williams, who took the baby and raised her as her own.

But, over the years, Kamiya became suspicious that she was not related to the family who raised her. When authorities discovered the girl with the same birthdate as the missing child living in South Carolina, they contacted her and asked her to take a DNA test. The test identified her as the missing girl.

Williams, 51, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and interfering with custody. She could face life in prison if convicted. Kamiya and her parents have not been reunited. Because she is 18, it will be up to her to decide if she wants to see them.

Kamiya's parents said they never gave up hope of finding her. "Every day you get up. There's always hope," her biological father, Craig Aiken told the Florida Times-Union. "I wake up and believe she's awake, too. There's always hope."

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[H/T Florida Times-Union]

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Suspect Arrested in Orlando Police Officers Death After Days-Long Manhunt

Orlando Police Department Chief John Mina revealed in a press conference Tuesday evening that suspected cop killer Markeith Loyd was wearing body armor and carrying two handguns, including one with a magazine capable of holding 100 rounds, when he was arrested.

According to Mina, Loyd, 41, was discovered to be hiding in an abandoned house with ties to some of his former associates. Mina said Loyd resisted arrest when he tried to escape.

The house was surrounded, Mina said. Before the SWAT team arrived, Markeith tried to escape out the back sliding glass doors. He was confronted by Orlando Police officers. He ran inside the house and subsequently ran out the front door.

Markeith Loyd was wearing body armor when he was apprehended. And had these guns in his possession. pic.twitter.com/T0AfzZibmA  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 18, 2017

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Loyd threw his weapons to the ground when he came out the front door of the house, Mina said during the press conference. Mina also said Loyd received facial injuries during his confrontation with police, but the injuries did not look serious.

One of the first phone calls I made was to her husband, Seth Clayton, Mina said. He was relieved and happy, but also sad to know was arrested around the corner from Debras mothers house.

You wore Badge #9 and we lost you on the 9th. 9 days later you were able to use your handcuffs one last time. RIP Lt Clayton pic.twitter.com/MddA3bbPdW  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 18, 2017

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Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demings said Loyd faced multiple charges stemming from an initial incident that occurred on Dec. 13, involving the murder of his former girlfriend, Sade Dixon, and her unborn child. Loyd will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm.

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Loyd also faces two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm for allegedly shooting Dixons brother, Ronald Stuart, who was gravely injured. For allegedly pointing a weapon at Dixons younger brother, Dominique Daniels and her mother, Stephanie Dixon Daniels, Loyd faces two counts of first-degree homicide and one count of attempted first-degree homicide and two counts of aggravated assault.

Markeith Loyd, being escorted out of OPD HQ. pic.twitter.com/MyxP88bHxl  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 18, 2017

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I was extremely happy that this dangerous person was taken off the streets, Mina said. Its been a roller coaster of emotions this week.

Police expect more arrests to be made in connection with Loyds crime, especially those who helped him escape police custody.

That investigation will not stop either, Mina said. Anyone who harbored, aided and abetted him in any way is going to be arrested. We know from our investigation that people did help him out and assist him.

OPD @ChiefJohnMina talks about the tradition of putting the fallen officer's handcuffs on their killer. pic.twitter.com/TrkxvEEVL8  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 18, 2017

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Claytons handcuffs were used to arrest Loyd, Mina said, in a tradition that stems back many years in law enforcement.

Debra Clayton risked her life for this community that she loves so dearly, he said. To put her handcuffs on the bad guy that she was trying to catch when she was killed is meaningful to her family, and to her OPD family.




With far-right nationalist ideologies suddenly a matter of pressing interest to almost everyone, the timing is regrettably ideal for Keep Quiet. This fascinating documentary by co-directors Joseph Martin and Sam Blair finds a stranger-than-fiction hook for probing that disturbing global trend, with their protagonist a prominent, unabashedly anti-Semitic leader of controversial extremist groups whose political career derails when it emerges that his own family was Jewish not so long ago  even falling victim to the same Holocaust he and his cronies have denied.

But the redemptive arc of his embracing a new identity here is shadowed by doubt, as many viewers will question whether this turnabout is sincere or merely opportunistic. The result has a certain unreliable-narrator frisson that lends Keep Quiet an air of thriller-like drama. Kino Lorber plans to launch a U.S. theatrical run mid-February in New York, with Los Angeles following in early March.

Csanad Szegedis 2009 election to the European Parliament was viewed as a triumph for Jobbik, Hungarys radically patriotic Christian party, and viewed with alarm by opponents of its ethno-nationalist rhetoric. Just 27 at the time, Szegedi had risen very quickly through party ranks, and the prior year had co-founded the more overtly neo-fascist Hungarian Guard (Magyar Garda), a paramilitary organization that flaunted Nazi associations and was soon officially banned by the government for opposing minorities constitutionally guaranteed rights. Nonetheless, Szegedis future seemed secure as the acceptable young face of Jobbiks borderline-inflammatory yet politically savvy arch-conservatism.

Or so it seemed until a resentful outlier on the fringes of the movement uncovered the fact that Szegedis maternal grandparents were Jewish  which was news to him, despite the fact that the beloved grandmother in question was still very much alive. Jobbik briefly considered keeping him on as a sort of house Jew whose presence could be utilized to combat accusations of anti-Semitism. But once the news was leaked to the public, the party simply tossed him out. Keep Quiet grows even more bizarre once the shell-shocked subject, abruptly severed from the causes hed championed his whole life, is seen trying to remake himself as a full-blown, observant Orthodox Jew under the sympathetic mentorship of Rabbi Baruch Oberlander. The latter, a New Yorker transplanted to Budapest, believes everyone with Jewish ancestry merits acceptance by the community, and that Szegedi in particular should be given a chance to redeem his harmful past actions.

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Not everyone else is so sure about that, however. After all, Szegedi didnt voluntarily abandon his Jew-baiting, Holocaust-doubting milieu  he was forcibly ejected from it. Is his new focus on a highly public atonement an earnest one, or it just a case of seizing a fresh podium to replace the old one? (A question implicit if not explicitly raised here is to what extent being the star of this documentary itself is motivating him.) Jewish audiences he lectures to, the Hungarian press, and many other observers remain skeptical when not downright furiously dismissive of his born again repentant persona.

Its hard not to share that ambivalence. Even when he travels with actual Auschwitz survivor Eva Neumann to tour the infamous camp where she lost most of her family, Szegedi seems to be playing a role in which he cant quite convey the intended humility. Its easier to accept his more personally focused pain in hearing the confessions of his grandma, who before her death hed videotaped talking about her own experiences  and how the atmosphere in Hungarys post-war, Communist era and afterward remained sufficiently anti-Semitic that she not only didnt discuss the Holocaust, she passed as Christian and hid her concentration camp tattoo under long sleeves for decades. Asked how a Jew should behave in Hungary, she poignantly provides the films title.

A complex tale astutely assembled on all levels, Keep Quiet gains even more of a narrative-drama air from Marton Vizkeletys widescreen photography, and from a spare yet urgent score by cellist Philip Sheppard.

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By Krisztina Than BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Marcelo Cake-Baly came to study in Hungary from wartorn Guinea-Bissau in 1976, and has been working as a tram driver in Budapest for over a decade despite being a trained economist. Now, at the age of 58, his life has taken a new turn. He has made his acting debut in a Hungarian movie about the life of an African refugee who settles in Budapest to work as a security guard in a shopping center. The film, "The Citizen", shows the difficulties of integration in Hungarian society through a tormented love story. The main character, Wilson, applies for citizenship and falls in love with a history and language teacher who tries to prepare him for the tough citizenship exam. Director Roland Vranik's feature film will be shown in cinemas on January 26 - at a time when Hungary has barely any refugees left, after its right-wing government raised a fence on the southern border and imposed tough laws to keep out a wave of migrants. Vranik and Hungarian writer Ivan Szabo crafted their script in 2012, aiming to show how Africans in Budapest put down roots. They started to shoot the movie in 2015, just as Hungary became a transit route for hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa. "What we think does not matter for them: they just need a safe place and clean water. They just need days when nobody tries to kill them," Vranik said. He said "mass psychosis" took hold when Europeans became scared of the wave of migrants. But Vranik remains optimistic: he believes people are still ready to help those in need and says his film is "completely timeless and also spaceless." "It can be anywhere in Europe," he said. Cake-Baly obtained Hungarian citizenship in the mid-1990s and has lived in the country for four decades. But the migration crisis had an impact on him. "In my thoughts ... I feel I am Hungarian, but in the street I look African. It is not written on me ... that I have a Hungarian family, I work here, I am a tax-paying citizen," he said. "People just see me as a migrant." He recalls his university years in the early 1980s as happy ones, when he faced no discrimination. But he lost his job as an economist shortly before communism collapsed in 1989. After trying his luck studying in Belgium for three years, he returned to Hungary and eventually found work on Budapest's trams. He said the migration crisis had divided European societies and made life harder for immigrants. He asked a young man at a tram stop recently not to smoke, as it was forbidden. "He told me he was at home, and I was a migrant ... and I should have drowned in the sea," Cake-Baly recalled. (Editing by Andrew Roche)
The ability of an outgoing president to use his constitutional pardon powers has been controversial in some cases. Here is a quick look at those powers and some famous people who benefitted from them.

Former General James Cartwright

This week, as his second term in office nears its end, President Barack Obama commuted a jail sentence for Wikileaks figure Chelsea Manning and issued a pardon to former general James Cartwright  triggering debates that usually accompany high-profile pardon moves.

The President has pardon or clemency power under Article II, Section 2, Clause 1, of the Constitution, under the Pardon Clause. The clause says the President shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment. The Office of the Pardon Attorney, which is part of the Justice Department, has handled such matters for the President since 1893, and it has a detailed description of the pardon and clemency process on its website.

Although the terms clemency and pardon seemed to be interchangeable, in general terms executive federal clemency is granted after someone had allegedly committed a crime. In most cases, that person is convicted of a crime, and then granted a form of clemency. A pardon allows a convicted person to reclaim lost civil rights after a conviction.

Here is a list of some familiar names of people who benefitted from this power.

Roger Clinton

In January 2001, President Bill Clinton pardoned his own brother, Roger, who had served a one-year jail sentence on a drug conviction. He also pardoned businessman Marc Rich, Whitewater participant Susan McDougal and former Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros.

Caspar Weinberger

In late 1992, President George H. W. Bush pardoned six men implicated in the Iran-contra affair, including former Defense Secretary Weinberger.

George Steinbrenner

In January 1989, President Ronald Reagan pardoned New York Yankees owner Steinbrenner for charges related to illegal campaign contributions made to Richard Nixons presidential campaign.

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Richard Nixon

In the case of President Nixon, he was granted a pardon by Gerald Ford in September 1974 for any crimes he might have committed during the Watergate scandal, even though Nixon wasnt charged with or convicted of federal crimes. (This is known as a pre-emptive pardon.)

Jefferson Davis

On October 1978, President Jimmy Carter officially restored the full citizenship rights of former Confederate president Jefferson Davis, signing an act from Congress that ended a century-long dispute.

Gordon Liddy

President Carter also commuted the sentence of G. Gordon Liddy related to the 1972 Watergate burglary.

Jimmy Hoffa

The Teamsters leader was serving a 15-year prison sentence when President Richard Nixon pardoned him in December 1971.

Eugene Debs

In December 1921, President Warren Harding pardoned the Socialist Party leader who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for an antiwar speech that violated the Espionage Act.

Dr. Samuel Mudd

Outgoing President Andrew Johnson spared Mudd from a life sentence in 1869 for treating Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth for an injured leg.

Brigham Young

President James Buchanan pardoned Young for his role in the Utah War between Mormon fighters and federal troops in the 1850s.

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Niamey (AFP) - Niger's constitutional court has approved 15 candidates for next month's presidential election, the interior ministry announced Saturday, including imprisoned opposition figure Hama Amadou.

Incumbent Mahamadou Issoufou, elected in 2011, is seeking another term and will also be up against chief opposition leader Seini Oumarou, former president Mahamane Ousmane and ex-planning minister Amadou Boubacar Cisse, among others.

At the start of the week the interior ministry put forward 16 names of potential candidates to contest the February 21 election.

Of these only Abdoul-Karim Bakasso, the leader of a minor party, was deemed "ineligible" by the court, Interior Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou told reporters.

His bid was rejected due to "the lack of a medical certificate," said opposition spokesman Ousseini Salatou.

Amadou, seen as one of Issoufou's strongest opponents, has been in prison since November 14, 2015 over allegations he was involved in baby trafficking.

The former prime minister and national assembly president fled the county in August 2014 to escape charges in the matter but was arrested after he returned last November.

Amadou has proclaimed his innocence and considers the legal process against him to be "political".

A legal decision on his latest demand to be freed provisionally is expected Monday.

Former agriculture minister Abdou Labo, who was also implicated in the affair and is currently out on bail, is also on the list of approved presidential candidates.

- 'Deteriorating political climate' -

The political climate in the arid Sahel state has been tense since Amadou joined the opposition in 2013.

The election commission late last month announced that the first round of voting would be held on February 21, followed by a run-off on March 20 if necessary.

The opposition has rejected the timeline, saying there had been no consensus on the dates.

The government on Saturday banned a march that had been planned by the opposition the following day to rally against what it called the "arbitrary arrests" of some of its supporters and to call for "transparent elections".

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According to opposition spokesman Salatou, the authorities said the march posed "a risk to public order".

Niger's influential tribal chiefs on Friday expressed their concern at the "deteriorating political climate".

Last month President Issoufou said the government had foiled a coup plot, a claim rubbished by presidential hopeful Boubacar Cisse.

Politicking aside, whoever wins the race for the top job will have to tackle the pressing issue of Boko Haram attacks from neighbouring Nigeria.

Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, has stepped up attacks on areas of Niger, Chad and Cameroon that border Nigeria while also continuing a devastating campaign of suicide and shooting attacks on home soil.

Electoral campaigning will get under way in Niger on January 30 for both presidential and legislative ballots.
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Last year was Earth's warmest on record since at least 1880, two federal agencies announced Wednesday.

Last year's global average surface temperature eclipsed previous highs set in 2014 and 2015. In fact, both NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that 2016's temperatures exceeded all previous years since instrument records began 137 years ago, and that human-caused global warming was responsible for a majority of the planetary fever.

Scientists are now warning that we should expect more such milestones in the years ahead, along with worsening climate impacts, as global warming progresses.

SEE ALSO: Obama directs $500 million to Green Climate Fund just before Trump takes office

Since the start of the 21st century, annual global temperature records have been broken five times  in 2005, 2010, 2014, 2015 and now last year.

"The string of records reflect the fact that we are going down a path that is dangerous and well-described," Sarah Myhre, an ocean and climate scientist at the University of Washington, told Mashable in an interview.

"Its not a path that I would choose the international community to walk down and its not the path that I would choose for my sons life in the future."

Temperature deviation from the 1951-1980 average, including 2016.

Image: bob al-greene/Mashable

Its precisely the fact that we see series of records being broken that shows the dominant role that human-caused global warming is playing in altering the climate, said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York.

According to NOAA, global land and ocean surface temperatures were 0.94 degrees Celsius, or 1.69 degrees Fahrenheit, above the 20th century average, which beat the 2015 record by 0.04 degrees Celsius, or 0.07 degrees Fahrenheit. The first eight months of the year were each record warm, NOAA found.

Using independent methods, NASA found that globally-averaged surface temperatures in 2016 were 0.99 degrees Celsius, or 1.78 degrees Fahrenheit, warmer than the mid-20th century average. (NASA and NOAA differ in their base period as well as their precise methodology, which accounts for the divergent temperature findings.)

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Taken separately, NOAA found that global land temperatures were the warmest on record last year, while ocean surface temperatures also set a record for the highest temperatures ever observed. ]

Visualization of temperature anomalies from 1850-2016.

Image: Ed hawkins

VNot a single land area on the planet was cooler than average last year, NOAA found.

Instead, record high temperatures were noted across Far East Russia, Alaska, Far Western Canada, parts of the eastern U.S., much of Central America and northern South America, parts of Australia, as well as portions of Siberia and south Asia.

Global warming context

While the annual record is noteworthy, it's the long-term temperature trend that has climate scientists and world leaders worried.

According to NASA, the planets average surface temperature has risen about 1.1 degrees Celsius, or 2.0 degrees Fahrenheit, since the late 19th century, a change scientists blame on increased carbon dioxide and other human-released emissions into the atmosphere.

Global warming has broken more records in recent decades, with 16 of the 17 warmest years in NASA's records occurring since 2001.

The presence of a strong El Nino event in the tropical Pacific Ocean at the beginning of 2016 also boosted temperatures, according to scientists, though it was not sufficient by itself to set an annual temperature record.

Temperature deviation from average by decade ending in 2016.

Image: bob al-greene/mashable

By releasing more heat from the ocean into the atmosphere and altering weather patterns, El Nino events tend to boost global average temperatures.

Myhre, of the University of Washington, said records like this one are expected due to the buildup in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere due to human activities.

She said the continuing progression of global warming is worrisome, even though it is well-understood from a scientific standpoint.

As a scientist I would look at these continued record-breaking years and think 'yup, this makes sense, this is what I would assume would be happening based on my understanding,'" Myhre said.

As a person, as a citizen, as someone who is raising a kid, these milestones are heartbreaking and terrifying, and I would say that what is it going to take? How many more milestones is it going to take? she said in an interview.

We all have to be a bit more emotionally honest about these kinds of milestones.

Arctic differences

While the two agencies both concluded that 2016 ranks first on the list of warmest years, there are important differences between NOAA and NASA's methods that account for the disparity between the magnitude of temperature anomalies that scientists calculated.

Temperature anomaly map for the Arctic in the fall of 2016.

Image: noaa

The NOAA data does not include much Arctic climate data since instruments are sparse in that vast region.

NASA, though, uses data interpolation techniques to account for Arctic temperatures. Since this was the warmest year on record in the Arctic, it's little surprise that NASA's average global temperature anomaly for 2016 is far higher than NOAA's.

The Arctic climate in 2016 was almost off the scale" in its unusually high temperatures, according to NASA's Schmidt. In keeping with this observation, Arctic sea ice hit all-time lows in 2016, and has entered 2017 in a weakened state that could result in a record summer melt season.

Jessica Blunden, a scientist with ERT Inc. who helps maintain NOAA's climate database, said the agency's records may not have captured all of the "incredible warmth" seen in the Arctic this year.

Separately, the World Meteorological Organization, a U.N. agency, combined information from NOAA, NASA and two UK-based research institutions to also establish 2016 as the warmest year on record, with a temperature anomaly of about 1.1 degrees Celsius above the preindustrial era.

That anomaly is perilously close to the temperature target contained in the Paris Climate Agreement.

In that pact, which went into effect in Nov. 2016, world leaders committed to keeping global warming to well under 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels, and also aimed for a more ambitious, though aspirational, 1.5-degree celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, target.

With 2016 already bumping up against the 1.5-degree mark, its clear that this target may be difficult, if not impossible, to adhere to.

"The window of time available for us to choose our future narrows with every year that goes by," said Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University, in an email.

"This record bears witness to the unprecedented experiment we are conducting with our planet: an experiment that puts us all at risk, the further we continue down this path."

Hayhoe and others emphasized that the annual record is just a data point, with many other long-term trends pointing to the seriousness of global warming.

My main caution would be not to lose the forest for the trees. In the terms of understanding and tracking our changing world, this is only a very warm datapoint on a longer series that clearly defines our changing planet. It's the series that matters most, this year only reconfirms and adds to that understanding, said Deke Arndt, chief of climate monitoring at NOAAs National Centers for Climate Information.

2017 may not set another record

A press release from NASA accompanying Wednesday's announcement said researchers have found that the waning El Nino in 2016 increased the annual global temperature anomaly for 2016 by 0.12 degrees Celsius, or just 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

Perhaps to head off claims that most of the warming in 2016 was due to El Nino, Blunden said that compared to 1998, the last year with an extremely strong El Nino event, 2016 was more than a half-a-degree Fahrenheit warmer, owing largely to the additional influence of long-term warming. In the absence of global warming, one would expect 1998 and 2016 to be nearly equal in their temperature deviation from average, Blunden said.

The fact that El Nino has waned heading into 2017 means that it's less likely this year will set an annual temperature record, despite the continued presence of human-caused global warming.

"Short-term climate change includes the up-and-down of El Nino/La Nina, the up-and-down of the sun getting slightly brighter or dimmer and of explosive volcanos not blocking the sun with particles or else blocking it, and the up-and-up of the warming from rising carbon dioxide [concentrations]," said Richard Alley, a climate researcher at Penn State University, in an email.

"There is high likelihood that we will have years without new records in the near future; that does NOT mean that global warming stopped," Alley said.

Blunden told Mashable that even if the globe falls short of setting another temperature record in 2017, some parts of the world still will, such as the Arctic. And more global records will be around the corner, too.

That just means that the impacts are starting to happen faster and faster. We are seeing the impacts of climate change now whether were hitting the records or not, she said.

The 2016 record temperature news comes less than two days before President-elect Donald Trump enters the White House, having vowed to gut programs aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that are causing global warming.
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Climate scientists around the world just announced that 2016 is the warmest year on record, beating out 2015 and 2014 for the dubious distinction.

The temperature milestone means that 16 of the 17 warmest years on record have now occurred since 2001, with each of the past three years setting global heat records.

SEE ALSO: 2016 sets 'terrifying' milestone as Earth's warmest year on record

It's all well and good to say that 2016 was the hottest year on record, but to put that figure into context, you need decades of data.

On Wednesday, NASA and media outlets (including Mashable) released graphics to do exactly that by showing exactly how 2016 eclipsed other years to become Earth's hottest year on record.

The graphics below help drive that grim reality home:

NASA's record warm years animation

The planet's long-term warming trend is seen in this chart of every year's annual temperature cycle from 1880 to the present.

Image: NASA/Earth Observatory.Joshua Stevens

NASA scientists released the above animation showing the long-term warming trend, with record warm years listed on the right hand side.

This graphic makes clear that 2016 exceeded past years by a considerable amount, owing to NASA's inclusion of Arctic temperature data. The Arctic was record warm during 2016, scientists have found, with record low sea ice and other widespread environmental changes.

Decadal Temperature Trends

Temperature deviations from the 1951-1980 average by decade through 2016.

Image: bob al-greene/mashable

This temperature chart, based on NASA data, shows temperature deviation from the 1951-1980 average per decade.

It illustrates that climate change has accelerated in recent decades, with the current decade ranking as the warmest so far, though that could change if there are several unusually cold years from now through 2020.

Temperature anomalies show a world turning red

Both NASA and NOAA released versions of temperature animations showing the progression of temperature anomalies over time, which eventually paint the planet orange and red hues as recent decades show up.

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NOAA found that global land and ocean surface temperatures were 0.94 degrees Celsius, or 1.69 degrees Fahrenheit, above the 20th century average, which beat the 2015 record by 0.04 degrees Celsius, or 0.07 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Wednesday announcement. The first eight months of the year were each record warm, NOAA said.

Using independent methods, NASA found that globally-averaged surface temperatures in 2016 were 0.99 degrees Celsius, or 1.78 degrees Fahrenheit, warmer than the mid-20th century average.

NASA and NOAA differ in their base period as well as their precise methodology, which accounts for the divergent temperature findings.

What's more, according to NOAA, not a single land area on the planet was cooler than average last year.

BONUS: This 30-second animation shows how much the world has warmed since 1880
SAN DIEGO (AP)  Immigrant advocacy groups said Tuesday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are allegedly turning away asylum-seekers before their claims can be heard, violating obligations under U.S. and international law.

The groups said they began fielding reports in the summer that border crossers entering the country from Mexico were being told that they couldn't seek asylum, that they needed visas, or that that they first had to petition Mexican authorities for relief. Under U.S. law, any foreigner may claim asylum.

Many are left with the impression that the U.S. is no longer considering asylum requests, according to the complaint filed Friday to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's inspector general. Six groups, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Civil Liberties Union and American Immigration Council, urged an investigation "to fully address this alarming new trend."

Requests for asylum and other forms of humanitarian relief have surged in recent years, with many crossers turning themselves in instead of trying to avoid capture. After clearing a "credible fear" interview, their cases move to immigration courts, a process that could take years and allow them to remain in the country until a decision is reached.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which does the initial screening, said it had 92,071 cases in the 2016 fiscal year, nearly double the 47,928 cases it handled the previous year and more than 16 times the 5,523 cases in 2009.

The complaint highlights several cases at border crossings from California to Texas. A Salvadoran woman who said she was receiving death threats at home over her membership in a political party was allegedly laughed at, threatened and turned away with her 3-year-old son when she sought protection at a south Texas crossing in November. A former Mexican police officer who had been "brutally attacked by a cartel" was allegedly told by officers in San Diego in July that asylum applications were not being accepted, forcing him into hiding.

Customs and Border Protection, which is part of the Homeland Security Department, said in a statement that there has been no policy change on asylum procedures and that it doesn't tolerate any abuse. If someone expresses fear of being returned to their home country, the person must be sent to an asylum officer for the initial screening.

"The United States has long adhered to international laws and conventions allowing people to seek asylum on grounds that they are being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, political beliefs or other factors," the agency said.
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow was to take power Thursday, capping weeks of tension over Yahya Jammeh's refusal to quit which has seen Senegalese and Nigerian troops massing at the border and tourists racing to leave.

With Senegalese troops backed by Nigerian forces and fighter jets gathering, the country appeared on the brink of a military crisis although the army chief insisted his soldiers would not get involved in a "political dispute" nor prevent foreign forces from entering The Gambia.

Despite a midnight (0000 GMT) deadline for the expiry of Jammeh's term, the situation remained calm in the city overnight, witnesses said following a last-minute mediation attempt by the Mauritanian president.

Jammeh, who has ruled the former British colony with an iron fist for 22 years, initially acknowledged Barrow as the victor in December elections, but later rejected the result, this week declaring a national state of emergency.

With the country in deadlock, hundreds of panicked tourists were rushing to leave after Britain and the Netherlands issued travel warnings, with the small airport near Banjul struggling to handle the influx.

Although Barrow is holed up in Senegal until he can cross the border safely, officials insisted his inauguration would go ahead but there were no immediate details.

- Inauguration to go ahead -

Speaking to AFP by phone, senior coalition official Isatou Touray said her team in Banjul had still not been told where the inauguration would take place or at what time, but was adamant it would go ahead.

And she welcomed a declaration by army chief Ousman Badjie that his troops would not prevent Jammeh's removal by force.

"That's a very positive outlook from him, given that Jammeh's regime is done," Touray said.

"We don't have to risks the lives of innocent citizens."

In remarks at a hotel restaurant late on Wednesday, Badjie said he loved his men and wouldn't risk their lives in a "stupid fight," eyewitnesses said.

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A spokesman Mai Fatty for Barrow's opposition coalition said anyone carrying weapons on the streets "shall face definite consequences, to their peril" in a Facebook post.

Soldiers and police would "certainly become a legitimate target" if they stood in the way of the new government, Fatty added.

Despite the buildup along the border, an army source told AFP Senegalese troops were "not yet" present on Gambian soil.

- Eyes on border -

After 11th-hour talks in Banjul, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel flew on to Dakar where he met with Barrow for talks at which Senegal's President Macky Sall was also present, the private RFM radio station reported.

It was not clear whether the Mauritanian leader had secured a deal or made an asylum offer to Jammeh.

The last-minute intervention by Mauritania came after several unsuccessful attempts at diplomacy by the 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS).

Mauritania is not part of ECOWAS and diplomats have previously reached out to the conservative desert nation in hopes of brokering a deal with Jammeh.

The UN Security Council is expected to meet later on Thursday to adopt a statement on west Africa that will reaffirm the demand for Jammeh to stand down, diplomats said.

- 'An important message' -

Barrow and his team have said the inauguration will go ahead on Thursday on Gambian soil.

But the inauguration's head organiser James Gomez said plans for the ceremony to take place in a huge stadium outside the capital had been cancelled.

On Tuesday, Jammeh announced a state of emergency due to what he said was foreign interference in the December election.

Speaking to AFP at the World Economic Forum in Davos Amnesty International chief Salil Shetty hailed ECOWAS efforts to resolve the crisis.

"ECOWAS has stood up, and they don't always do that, he said.

"It's an important message to Jammeh, both from the people of The Gambia, the people of Africa, and from neighbouring states, that it's not business as usual any more."
By Josh Smith KABUL (Reuters) - International aid groups needs more than a half a billion dollars this year to help millions of Afghans struggling with increased violence and a bleak economy, as a humanitarian crisis worsens, a senior U.N. official told Reuters. The United Nations estimates at least 9.3 million Afghans, or nearly a third of the population, will need humanitarian assistance in 2017, a 13 percent increase from last year. Officials expect hundreds of thousands of refugees to return from Pakistan and Iran this year, even as an average of 1,500 people are newly displaced by fighting every day, said Mark Bowden, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan. "The majority of people returning are very poor ... and have lost a lot," he said on Wednesday in an interview at his office in Kabul. An increasing number of people in Afghanistan are facing prolonged displacement, Bowden said, creating more challenges for the government, which is already struggling to provide basic services while battling a stubborn insurgency waged by the Taliban and other militant groups. The 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan, set to be launched by the United Nations and other organizations on Saturday, calls for $550 million to help about 5.7 million of the most vulnerable people. Such funding requests routinely only meet a fraction of the target, with $197 million received for last year's annual request of $339 million. An additional emergency appeal last year for $152 million to help more than a million refugees returning from Pakistan and Iran, as well as people newly displaced by fighting, raised just over $91 million. "The major impact is that we're not able to address the needs of displaced people as adequately as we want," Bowden said. Afghanistan remains heavily dependant on foreign aid, and the prolonged conflict has kept most private investment away, with disastrous effects for the economy, he said. Prior to the U.S.-led international military force withdrawing most of its troops in 2014, officials had been predicting that gross domestic product would grow by as much as 12 percent per year, reducing the need for humanitarian aid, Bowden said. Instead, the conflict has worsened and annual GDP growth hovers around 1 percent, undermining efforts to wean the country's "distorted economy" off foreign aid, he said. (Reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Randy Fabi)
The managing director of the International Monetary Fund urged global policymakers to stop inflation from becoming a runaway train at a time of extraordinary economic turmoil. The IMFs Kristalina Georgieva noted that the world economy has been hit by one shock after another  the coronavirus pandemic, Russias invasion of Ukraine and a resurgence of inflation. But reining in rising prices should take priority, she said. If we do not restore price stability, we will undermine prospects for growth, she said. The Federal Reserve and other central banks have been raising interest rates to tame inflation. Georgieva acknowledged that the higher borrowing costs would pinch economic growth, but she urged policymakers to show restraint in spending money to ease the pain.
Les Sables-d'Olonne (France) (AFP) - Armel Le Cleac'h appeared poised to defy Alex Thomson's brave late challenge to snatch victory in the gruelling Vendee Globe solo-round-the-world race as they head towards Thursday's scheduled finish.

Thomson, a 42-year-old Welshman, pushed to less than 40 nautical miles of his French rival on Wednesday afternoon but by 2130GMT, Le Cleac'h had steadied and opened up a gap of almost 60nm.

Thomson is bidding to become the first non-French winner of the race which started in Les Sables d'Olonne on France's Atlantic coast on November 6.

But his challenge looked to be fizzling out late Wednesday when he was hampered by problems with his automatic pilot on board his Hugo Boss craft.

Should the two men hold position, the Frenchman will cross the finish line on Thursday between 1400 and 1900 GMT, four to seven hours ahead of the Welsh sailor.

Thomson made up 30 nautical miles on Tuesday but his pace slowed during the night leaving his French rival, on Banque Populaire, still favourite to cross the line first.

The Welshman, in a radio link with organisers, complained of fatigue and was pessimistic about his chances. Asked if he would still win, he said: "I don't think I can... I don't have real options anymore."

Both yachtsmen had to sail past Les Sables d'Olonne toward the English Channel to get a favourable wind to bring them back down the coast faster to the finish line.

"Tell him to stay behind," Le Cleac'h told a French Navy helicopter that flew over the Frenchman's boat and asked whether he had a message for Thomson.

Some 300,000 people packed Les Sables d'Olonne and the nearby coast when the race started with 29 competitors. With the stakes high for the two leaders, big crowds are already gathering in the town for the return.

The winner is heading for a record time. A finish before 1202 GMT on Thursday would mean a circumnavigation in 74 days, four fewer than the record held by Francois Gabart since his win in 2013.

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Le Cleac'h was beaten into second place for the last two Vendee Globe races. Thomson, whose team is based in Gosport on the south coast of England, was third last time, but abandoned in 2004 and 2008.

Third-placed Jeremie Beyou is only expected in port on Monday.

Vendee Globe standings on Wednesday at 2100GMT:

1. Armel Le Cleac'h (FRA/Banque populaire VIII) at 243 nautical miles from the finish

2. Alex Thomson (GBR/Hugo Boss) at 57.6 nautical miles behind leader

3. Jeremie Beyou (FRA/MaAtre Coq) at 711

4. Yann Elies (FRA/QuAguiner-LeucAmie Espoir) at 1,859

5. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA/StMichel-Virbac) at 1,860

6. Jean Le Cam (FRA/Finistere Mer Vent) at 1,850

7. Louis Burton (FRA/Bureau Vallee) at 2,905

8. Nandor Fa (HUN/Spirit of Hungary) at 4,518

9. Eric Bellion (FRA/CommeUnSeulHomme) at 5,186

10. Conrad Colman (NZL/Foresight Natural Energy) at 5,288
Reuters

(Reuters) -U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Friday again declined to block President Joe Biden's plan to cancel billions of dollars in student debt, this time in a challenge brought by two Indiana borrowers, even as a lower court considers whether to lift a freeze it imposed on the program in a different case. Barrett denied an emergency request by the Indiana borrowers, represented by a conservative legal group, to bar the U.S. Department of Education from implementing the Democratic president's plan to forgive debt held by qualified people who had taken loans to pay for college. Barrett on Oct. 20 denied a similar request by a Wisconsin taxpayers organization represented by another conservative legal group.
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - China and the United States are not about to be drawn into a trade war, Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma said on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

"China and (the) U.S. will never have a trade war. Give Trump some time. He's open minded," Ma told a panel at the meeting of business and political leaders in the Swiss Alps.

Ma met U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last week and laid out the Chinese e-commerce giant's new plan to bring one million small U.S. businesses onto its platform to sell to Chinese consumers over the next five years.

(Writing by Alexander Smith; Editing by David Goodman)
President-elect Donald Trump is known to have an itchy Twitter finger, and says he plans to continue his use of the social media platform after he takes the oath of office. But if it were up to the American people, Trump would cut it out.

According to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 69 percent of U.S. adults believe Trumps Twitter habit is a bad idea because his rapid-fire messages can have unintended major implications without careful review.

The survey, conducted Jan. 12 to 15, found a vast majority of Democrats (89 percent) have a negative view of Trumps use of Twitter. Even among Republicans, more people say Trumps tweeting is a bad thing than those who think it is good.

In November, Trump said he would be very restrained in his use of Twitter as commander in chief, but will reserve the right to use it as a method to combat what he perceives as negative stories about him.

Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to "leak" into the public. One last shot at me.Are we living in Nazi Germany?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017

Im going to be very restrained, if I use it at all, Trump said in an interview with CBS 60 Minutes days after the election.

But as president-elect, Trump has been, well, not so restrained, lashing out at the media, U.S. intelligence officials, Saturday Night Live and the cast of Broadways Hamilton, among other targets. His freewheeling tweets, sometimes with typos, will often touch on natural security topics like nuclear weapons and Russian cyberattacks on the United States.

Related: Is there a method behind Trumps Twitter madness?

Yet Trump still claims that he doesnt enjoy using Twitter, but has no choice.

I thought Id do less of it, but Im covered so dishonestly by the press  so dishonestly  that I can put out Twitter, Trump recently told the Times of London. I can go bing, bing, bing, and I just keep going and they put it on. And as soon as I tweet it out  this morning on television, Fox  Donald Trump, we have breaking news.'

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President-elect @realDonaldTrump says he tweets to counteract dishonest press. "I dont like tweeting." pic.twitter.com/twX3xIxkIT  Fox News (@FoxNews) January 18, 2017

Look, I dont like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing, Trump said in an interview that aired on Fox & Friends Wednesday. But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press, and its my only way that I can get out and correct.

The president-elect boasted that he has close to 50 million followers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram combined. (This number is inflated, as many of his fans and foes likely follow him on multiple platforms.)

When people misrepresent me  I have at least a way of saying its a false statement, Trump said. Now, if the press were honest, which its not, I would absolutely not use Twitter. I wouldnt have to.

A strong majority of Americans would like Trump to cut back on his use of Twitter. (File photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Read more from Yahoo News:
WASHINGTON (AP)  European leaders, anxious over Donald Trump's unpredictability and kind words for the Kremlin, are scrambling to get face time with the new American president before he can meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose provocations have set the continent on edge.

One leader has raised with Trump the prospect of a U.S.-European Union summit early this year, and the head of NATO  the powerful military alliance Trump has deemed "obsolete"  is angling for an in-person meeting ahead of Putin as well. British Prime Minister Theresa May is working to arrange a meeting in Washington soon after Friday's inauguration.

For European leaders, a meeting with a new American president is always a sought-after  and usually easy-to-obtain  invitation. But Trump has repeatedly defied precedent, making them deeply uncertain about their standing once he takes office. Throughout his campaign and in recent interviews, Trump has challenged the viability of the EU and NATO, while praising Putin and staking out positions more in line with Moscow than Brussels.

"There are efforts on the side of the Europeans to arrange a meeting with Trump as quickly as possible," Norbert Roettgen, the head of the German Parliament's foreign committee and a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, told The Associated Press.

In fact, eager to stage an early show of Trans-Atlantic solidarity, Donald Tusk  the former Polish prime minister who heads the EU's Council of member state governments invited Trump to meet with the EU early in his administration, according to a European Union official. But a senior Trump adviser essentially rebuffed the offer, telling the AP this week that such a gathering would not be a priority for the incoming president, who wants to focus on meetings with individual countries, not the 28-nation bloc.

Trump backs Britain's exit from the European Union, casting the populist, anti-establishment movement as a precursor to his own victory. In a recent joint interview with two European newspapers, Trump said of the EU, "I don't think it matters much for the United States."

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Such rhetoric alone was enough to set off alarm bells in Europe. And Trump's praise for Putin and promise of closer ties to Moscow have deepened the uncertainty.

Trump has raised the prospect of dropping U.S. sanctions on Moscow and has appeared indifferent to Russia's annexation of territory from Ukraine. The hacking of his opponents during the U.S. election, and Trump's dismissal of the CIA's warnings about Russia's involvement, added a dose of spy drama.

Trump's sentiments mark a dramatic shift in Republican views of Europe, just a generation after George H.W. Bush famously greeted the collapse of the Iron Curtain by calling for a "Europe whole and free."

Trump's top national security adviser has been in close contact with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., conversations that have involved setting up a phone call between the Putin and the president-elect, transition officials have said.

But Trump currently has no plans to meet with Putin, according to the senior adviser, who insisted on anonymity in order to discuss the transition team's internal planning. Aides vehemently denied a recent report in The Sunday Times of London that Trump's first foreign trip would be a summit with Putin in Reykjavik, Iceland, the site of a Cold War meeting between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Still, Europe's leaders are eager to ensure they have Trump's ear before Putin does. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is hoping to meet with Trump quickly, perhaps in Washington, according to a NATO official. And even if Trump rejects a U.S.-EU summit, European officials are said to have discussed the prospect of a smaller meeting with the U.S. president and the heads of the continent's most powerful countries, including Merkel.

Eight of the past 10 presidents have made their official first trip abroad to either Canada or Mexico.

But a Putin meeting wouldn't be without precedent. When Bill Clinton made his maiden trip to Vancouver in 1993, it was primarily for a summit with Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

Aides have signaled that one of Trump's first foreign leader meetings at the White House will be with May, who became prime minister following Britain's vote to leave the EU. The president-elect's team is also working on early invitations to Washington for the leaders of Mexico and Canada, according to the Trump adviser.

Barring other arrangements, Trump and Putin's first meeting of the year might not come until July when the Group of 20 leaders gather in Hamburg, Germany  though Trump has yet to say whether he plans to attend international summits.

If he does, some European leaders could get an audience with him in May at a planned NATO summit and a gathering of the more elite Group of Seven in Italy. Russia had been a member of that group, but the U.S. and Europe ousted Putin after the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

One of the first tests of Trump's loyalties may well be whether he seeks to bring Russia back into that fold.

"If we start to equate democracies and non-democracies, allies and adversaries, this is setting a very dangerous precedent," said Heather Conley, director of the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She said that if Trump were to reach out to Putin ahead of the Europeans upon taking office, "it would be a real cautionary note" for long-standing U.S. allies.

___

Grieshaber reported from Berlin. AP writer Frank Jordans in Berlin and Raf Casert and Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.

___

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Kirsten Grieshaber at http://twitter.com/kugrieshaber
TORONTO (AP)  Jose Bautista is staying with the Toronto Blue Jays, after all.

Toronto said Wednesday the free agent slugger had agreed to an $18.5 million, one-year contract with Toronto that includes mutual options for more years.

Bautista gets an $18 million salary this year, and the deal includes a $17 million mutual option for 2018 with a $500,000 buyout, payable if either side declines. There is a $20 million option for 2019 that becomes guaranteed if Bautista has 300 games played during the next two seasons and does not have a physical impairment that would prevent him from playing in 2019.
Paris (AFP) - Europe's beleaguered Galileo satnav has suffered another setback, with clocks failing onboard a number of satellites in space, the European Space Agency said Wednesday.

Designed to render Europe independent from America's GPS, the 10 billion-euro ($11 billion) project may experience further delays as the cause of the failure is investigated, ESA director general Jan Woerner told journalists in Paris.

Eighteen orbiters have been launched for the Galileo constellation to date, a number that will ultimately be boosted to 30 operational satellites and two spares.

Early, initial services were launched in December, and the failure of nine clocks out of 72 launched to date has not affected operation, Woerner said.

No satellite has been declared "out" as a result of the glitch.

"However, we are not blind... If this failure has some systematic reason we have to be careful" not to place more flawed clocks in space, he said.

Each Galileo satellite has four ultra-accurate atomic timekeepers -- two that use rubidium and two hydrogen maser.

Three rubidium and six hydrogen maser clocks are not working, with one satellite sporting two failed timekeepers.

Each orbiter needs just one working clock for the satnav to work -- the rest are spares.

The question now, Woerner said, is "should we postpone the next launch until we find the root cause?"

The next four satellites were to have been hoisted into space in the second half of 2017.

"You can say we wait until we find the solution, but that means if more clocks are failing then we are reducing the capability of Galileo," the director general said.

"If we launch we will at least sustain if not increase the possibility of Galileo, but we may take the risk (of) a systematic problem."

It was also not known whether the broken clocks can be fixed.

- Taking risks -

ESA boasts that Galileo has the most accurate atomic clocks ever flown for geolocalisation.

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Similar to traditional clocks relying on the tick of a pendulum, atomic timekeepers also count regular oscillations, in this case switches between energy states of atoms stimulated by heat or light.

The project has already experienced many setbacks, taking 17 years and more than triple the original budget before going live last month.

In August 2014, after a more than year-long delay over "technical difficulties", satellites number five and six were placed into a lopsided, elliptical orbit -- delaying subsequent launches.

The civilian-controlled service is seen as strategically important for Europe, which relies on two military-run rivals -- GPS and Russia's GLONASS.

Neither provides a guarantee of uninterrupted service.

Woerner defended the decision to create an autonomous European satnav system based on European technology.

"If you want to be competitive in the global market you should not rely in too many aspects on the technology of others," he said.

"If you only use proven technology, you have no further development... We ought to take risks in order to learn, in order to be competitive in the future."

Last October, ESA's Mars lander Schiaparelli, designed to test technology for a future rover, crashed into the Red Planet.

It had been Europe's second failed attempt to reach the Martian surface.
New York (AFP) - Curling up with a paperback may be a forgotten luxury for many thanks to today's busy lifestyles, but listening to a book on the go, while shopping or jogging, is fast becoming the new norm.

Gone are the cumbersome cassette sets that could cost three times as much as an old-fashioned book and often featured only excerpts to cut down on costs.

Now, audiobooks are just a click away and can be uploaded onto a smartphone for the same, if not lower, price as the print edition.

Mary Beth Roche, president and publisher of Macmillan Audio, says their reader feedback suggests many use audiobooks as a "multitasking tool," a way to "consume books when their eyes are busy."

For others -- whose work lives may involve long stretches at the screen -- they are a way to unplug.

"It's sort of nice to sit back, and relax and have a story told to you," said Roche.

Some 35,574 audiobook titles were released in the United States in 2015, according to the Audio Publishers Association, an eight-fold increase over five years.

That year, sales of books read out loud reached $1.77 billion, an annual jump of 20 percent.

According to the Author Earnings website, Amazon largely dominates the market -- even more so than for the print book industry -- with around 119,000 audiobooks sold per day in January 2016.

At the core of its earnings is industry leader Audible, which Amazon bought in 2008. The tech and retail giant also offers subscription deals, including one book per month for $14.95.

Most major publishers now have dedicated audiobook teams.

- A favorite in the car -

In the United States, audiobooks have long been serious business -- simply because Americans on average spend so much time in their cars.

"What we found out is that's a way for consumers to make that time in traffic, quality time," said Roche.

"Even way back when it was the cassette and then the CD, the number one place that people listen is in the car. We do find that a long car trip or a long commute is often what triggers someone to try an audiobook and to experience it for the first time and then they find other places where they can listen."

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When audiobooks became available in digital format, people started using them during other activities -- when out shopping or jogging, performing household tasks or crafting.

- 'Lose myself' -

For thriller author John Hart, gyms and shops are not necessarily the best place to enjoy a book.

"But if it's a quite contemplative type of environment, driving or working in a quiet manner, it's probably a great way to experience these books," he said.

"Driving your car on a long trip I find for instance an audiobook is every bit as satisfying as sitting in a quiet room and reading and in fact it can even become more so completely immersive. I'd lose myself in the experience."

The audio rights for Hart's first book were sold to Recorded Books. After that, his publisher Macmillan sought to retain control of the audiobook as well as the print rights.

Anthony Goff, senior vice president at Hachette Book Group, noted that authors today have a much keener interest than before in the audiobook version of their works, sometimes suggesting readers or offering to do the reading themselves.

Most celebrities who recently published autobiographical works in the United States also provided recordings of the volumes, including Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Fisher and Bernie Sanders.

On average, audiobooks account for 10 percent of sales of the print version, said Roche. But the figure is greater for some genres, such as science fiction, fantasy and especially self-help works.

Roche estimates that at least 1,000 copies of a given audiobook must be sold in order to start making a profit. That's because they can be expensive to produce.

"We still count on print to lead the charge, but I do believe that audio sales are helping to expand the market and finding new fans for our authors," said Goff.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  The Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial museum is asking Germans and Austrians to donate private letters, memoirs, photos or any other items that could help historians better understand the mentality of the Holocaust's perpetrators.

The museum said Wednesday it seeks "to better understand the influence of populist mechanisms of hatred for human beings." It promised to guarantee the anonymity of any donors.

Museum Director Piotr Cywinski said the historical knowledge of what happened at Auschwitz comes mainly from former prisoners, preserved camp documentation and post-war court trials. He said the archives currently "contain very few private materials created by members of the SS staff."

Nazi Germany operated Auschwitz-Birkenau in occupied Poland during World War II, killing some 1.1 million people there, the large majority of whom were Jews.
CHARLESTON -- Two Eastern Illinois University majors have been taken out of the list of those that might still be considered for removal or consolidation.

EIU President David Glassman confirmed Tuesday that both the pre-engineering program option as well as the chemistry masters degree program will not be even considered for potential deletion or consolidation.

The majors were two of seven at the university that were recommended through the Vitalization Project to be either deleted or consolidated. The Vitalization Project is a months-long endeavor by the university to analyze the programs and services it offers and finds ways to boost efficiency and enrollment at Eastern.

Five majors still remain in the running for potential deletion or consolidation. These are the bachelor's programs in Adult and Community Education, Africana Studies, Career and Technical Education, and Philosophy, as well as a masters program in Special Education.

The administration is considering these other five right now, Glassman said.

However, the university president said the administration is still analyzing and seeking feedback from deans and department chairs on the project workgroup recommendations.

Glassman explained this at the Faculty Senate meeting Tuesday while addressing concerns members of the senate have with the processes used during the Vitalization Project, specifically relating to academic programs.

Since a large portion of the final recommendations was released to the Eastern community, individuals and groups have scrutinized the suggestions, where they came from and how they will potentially be used.

Much of the senates concerns focus around what they consider to be a haphazard list of academic program recommendations made by those involved in the Vitalization Project.

Teshome Abebe, senate member, said he understands the need for program analysis, but he saw the recommendations and the information used from them as misguided and, in some cases, false.

Jemmie Robertson, senate chair, said he is worried about the project in general and the potential that this is a way in which the university might bypass shared governance bodies at Eastern.

Glassman assured those in the Faculty Senate that the recommendations made are by no means the last step toward a majors future.

He said that should a program be considered for deletion, it will go through a couple of boards and committees before it would be considered by the last line of defense for a major, the Board of Trustees.

Glassman clarified that the Vitalization Project's charge, as well as his own charge, is not to cut costs by cutting programs.

We are doing this project to vitalize the university, he said. It is not just to save money. I have said and continually will say we can't cut our way out of here. We can't just keep cutting to excellence. We have to have targeted investments that are going to bring students that come to this place.

I want to see (the university) turn around to about 9,000 students, Glassman said.

He believes the university can get there with a change in the tide from lawmakers hammering out a budget in Springfield and boosts in marketable programs and services for potential Eastern students, he said.
Warsaw (AFP) - The museum at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp in Poland on Wednesday urged Germans and Austrians to hand over any material that could shed light on its wartime staff.

Museum director Piotr Cywinski appealed for "documents, photos, personal letters, diaries, or other materials" associated with people who ran the site.

The ruins of gas chambers, crematoriums and barracks at the site bear witness to Nazi Germany's killing of around 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, at the camp built in 1940 in the southern city of Oswiecim in occupied Poland.

An estimated 232,000 of Auschwitz victims were children.

"Without a comprehensive analysis and understanding of the motivation and mentality of the perpetrators, our efforts to wisely counsel future generations will only remain intuitive. Today, we ask you to help," Cywinski said in the museum's website.

Up to now, museum historians have relied on the oral testimony of former prisoners, preserved camp documentation and post-war court trial files to piece together information about the camp, now an enduring symbol of the Holocaust.

The materials the museum has in its possession "are insufficient to fully understand the greatest tragedy in the history of Europe," Cywinski said.

He also guaranteed anonymity for anyone who "wishes to support our efforts to better understand the influence of populist mechanisms of hatred for human beings".
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday resisted a major cabinet reshuffle despite his waning poll numbers as he named Greg Hunt the new health minister to replace Sussan Ley, who resigned last week amid an expenses scandal. Ley resigned from her cabinet position after it was revealed she claimed expenses for a visit to Australia's Gold Coast where she purchased an investment property. Taxpayers were also charged A$13,000 ($9,816) over the past two years to fly private planes, even though commercial flights were available, in order to keep up her flying hours and maintain her pilot's license. Hunt, who previously served as Australia's minister for industry and innovation, is Turnbull's first major cabinet appointment since he assumed office just over a year ago. But rather than using Ley's resignation as a trigger to refresh his frontbench, with recent polls showing the center-right government trailing the Labor opposition, Turnbull opted for only a minor tweak. "This is not a large reshuffle. We have a very strong team and it is one that is performing outstandingly for the Australian people," Turnbull told reporters in Sydney. Turnbull's legislative agenda has been stymied by a fractious Senate, while he struggles to keep the support of the hard-right of his own party, which still simmers with resentment since he toppled the more conservative Tony Abbott as prime minister in a party-room coup in 2015. Turnbull could have sought to win favor with his conservative wing by bringing Abbott back on to the frontbench, though analysts said Hunt is the better strategic choice. "Turnbull has made a number of concessions to the right-wing and each time they have asked for more," said Peter Chen, professor of political science, University of Sydney. Senator Arthur Sinodinos will replace Hunt as minister for industry and innovation. (Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Michael Perry)
A baby elephant found terrified and malnourished near a palm oil plantation is being nursed back to health at a conservation centre on Indonesia's Sumatra island.

Last week, animal experts in Aceh province received a tip-off about a dead elephant without its tusks.

When the team arrived they found the dead animal, along with the abandoned 11-month-old calf.

"We suspect the adult elephant was shot. He was probably with a group, so the others fled but the baby got left behind," Aceh conservation centre head Sapto Aji Prabowo told AFP.

"The baby was malnourished, so that's why we took him to the elephant conservation centre."

The youngster weighs around 300 kilograms (660 pounds), just over half the typical weight of an animal of his age.

Rangers transported the hungry creature to the conservation center where it is being looked after by specialists.

"It was in a bad condition, depressed, limp. It was obvious from his gestures that was afraid of us. Now it's getting better," said veterinarian Rosa Rika Wahyuni.
CANCUN, Mexico (AP)  Two consecutive days of shooting attacks that left a total of nine dead have put two of the jewels of Mexico's Caribbean coast on edge and spurred a warning to tourists by the U.S. government.

As investigators worked Tuesday at the scene of a shooting the previous day that caused five deaths in the nearby beach town of Playa del Carmen, the region was stunned when gunmen assaulted the Quintana Roo state prosecutors' offices in Cancun, and four people were killed.

Authorities attributed both incidents to organized crime, but made no comment on whether they might be linked.

On Tuesday night, two women embraced and cried while looking at a pool of blood and a flickering candle just inside the gate of the state prosecutors' office. A police officer and three apparent attackers were killed as police repelled the afternoon attack and five suspects were detained, Quintana Roo state Gov. Carlos Joaquin said.

The governor pleaded for calm, saying the federal government was sending more security forces to help local and state authorities. "Cancun residents and our visitors can go about their lives," he said in a televised address. "I repeat: The three levels of government protect society."

But central Cancun, which is away from the hotel zone where most foreigners stay, was palpably tense.

Shortly after the gunbattle at the prosecutors' office, a convoy of police trucks streaked toward the gleaming Plaza de las Americas mall where hundreds of fearful shoppers flooded out the exits after people reported hearing gunfire. Soldiers in full battle gear cleared the property.

Later, an official with the prosecutor's office said the mall scare proved to be a false alarm. Although some shoppers reported hearing gunshots, investigators found no sign of any crime there, said the official, who agreed to discuss the incident only if not quoted by name because he was not authorized to speak with press.

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The U.S. Consulate in Merida issued an alert about the incidents in Cancun and urged U.S. citizens to take care and "to follow local authorities' warnings and directives and consult with their hotels before leaving the premises."

Authorities released few details about the attack on the prosecutors' office, including the number of attackers or information on those detained.

David Franco waited anxiously with his family outside the office Tuesday night, saying they feared his brother-in-law had been wrongly detained after the shooting. He said the man had phoned his own wife saying he was caught in the middle of a shootout and his car had been hit twice by bullets. The last thing his wife heard was: "They're taking us, they're taking us." But she didn't know who or where.

Franco said the family frantically searched all over Cancun looking for his brother-in-law before learning he was inside the prosecutors' office being questioned. Franco said his brother-in-law was just on his way to work. His car was still double parked about 30 yards down the street.

The Cancun shooting came one day after five people, including three foreigners, died during a shooting at a beachside club during the BPM electronic music festival in Playa del Carmen.

On Tuesday, the hypothesis of drug links to that shooting was strengthened after a banner briefly appeared along a roadside, signed by the "Old School Zetas," part of the fragmented Zetas cartel, suggesting the attack was carried out as part of a battle against rival gangs.

Quintana Roo's attorney general, Miguel Angel Pech, said investigators were looking into whether the banner referred to the BPM festival or one of its organizers.

Pech said authorities were investigating whether extortion, street-level drug sales or a murder plot was the motive behind the shooting, which also resulted in 15 people being wounded or injured.

Standing in front of a memorial of flowers and candles at the Blue Parrot club Tuesday, Ruben Aguinaga of Mexico City tried to make sense of the shooting that had shattered an otherwise fun and happy music festival that he had attended for the third time. Asked if he would come back, Aguinaga said he would have to see.

"That this kind of thing happens pains me," he said. "It makes me sad, it makes me feel powerless, it makes me mad."

___

Associated Press writer Maria Verza in Mexico City contributed to this report.
I began writing this column (originally in the form of a blog) in 2009, at the very beginning of Barack Obamas presidency. His election filled me with both hope and trepidation: I admired his eloquence and visible intelligence, and I shared some of his foreign-policy instincts, but my early columns also expressed misgivings about his overly ambitious foreign-policy agenda.

Now, in his final week in office, its only natural to take a look back and offer an assessment. And when it comes to foreign policy, I regret to say my verdict is not particularly favorable.

Lets start with the positive side of the ledger. Here one must begin by recalling the dire circumstances when Obama took office. The world economy was in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and the United States was teetering on the brink of a complete economic meltdown. Unemployment was soaring, and millions of Americans were losing their homes to foreclosures. The United States was mired in two unwinnable wars, Osama bin Laden was still at large, and Americas image in many parts of the world was at historic lows.

What has happened since? Here at home, the U.S. economy recovered faster than any of the other major industrial democracies, were now at full employment, and the deficits that resulted from the 2009 bailouts and stimulus package have shrunk dramatically. Wall Street was at near-record levels even before the recent post-election surge. More than 20 million Americans who lacked health care coverage now have it (for the moment), and we have seen important progress on civil rights for gay Americans and some other minorities. Moreover, Obama managed these important economic and social achievements in the face of extraordinary opposition from the Republican Party, which seemed more interested in thwarting Obama than in doing anything to help the American people.

In foreign policy, the Obama administration successfully negotiated a deal that halted Irans progress toward a nuclear weapon. He fulfilled the George W. Bush administrations plan to get U.S. troops out of Iraq and significantly reduced the U.S. role in Afghanistan. Bin Laden was found and eliminated on his watch. The Paris agreement was an important step forward on climate change, and the pivot to Asia began a much-needed reorientation of Americas strategic focus. Ending the spiteful and counterproductive ostracism of Cuba was equally overdue and will do more for the Cuban people than our lame-brained embargo ever did.

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In both foreign and domestic policy, therefore, this administration notched some genuine wins. And throughout his presidency, Obama conducted himself with the same dignity, humor, grace, intelligence, forbearance, respect for American values and traditions, and above all class that were on display in his farewell speech. Contrast that with the tone of Donald Trumps first post-election press conference, held the day after Obamas speech, which was bombastic, deceptive, abusive, defiant, contemptuous of traditional norms  and entirely consistent with Trumps campaign and business career. (If you think Jan. 20 isnt a watershed moment for political leadership, think again.) No matter how petty or two-faced his opponents were, Obama rarely paid them back in kind. One suspects Americans will appreciate these qualities even more as Trumps egomaniacal circus act wears thin and his plutocratic policies leave his working-class supporters out in the cold.

Yet Obamas presidency is in other respects a tragedy  and especially when it comes to foreign policy. It is a tragedy because Obama had the opportunity to refashion Americas role in the world, and at times he seemed to want to do just that. The crisis of 2008-2009 was the ideal moment to abandon the failed strategy of liberal hegemony that the United States had been pursuing since the end of the Cold War, but in the end Obama never broke with that familiar but failed approach. The result was a legacy of foreign-policy missteps that helped propel Donald Trump into the White House.

For starters, Obama was persuaded to escalate the war in Afghanistan in 2009, in a pointless surge that was doomed to fail and did. Instead of acknowledging that U.S. interests were minimal and the war was unwinnable, his policies prolonged U.S. involvement to no good purpose and ate up a lot of his time and attention. He also decided to embrace and expand many aspects of the Bush administrations approach to the war on terror, especially the use of drones and special operations forces to chase down suspected terrorists all over the world. He rightly banned torture  which is both ineffective and illegal  but otherwise let U.S. intelligence agencies off the hook for their past excesses and did little to rein them in when they overstepped on his watch, as the CIA did when it repeatedly tried to interfere with Senate investigations of the so-called torture regime. Meanwhile, his administration prosecuted whistleblowers and journalists with more vigor than any of his predecessors. The result? The United States is conducting counterterrorism operations in more places than ever before, albeit without apparent success, and Donald Trump has inherited a set of tools he can use to suppress honest reporting if he wishes. Any bets on what hes likely to do?

Second, Obama and his team misread and mishandled the Arab Spring. As Joshua Landis explains in a remarkable, must-read interview, the U.S. response to these events  and especially Syria  was ill-conceived from the very start. In particular, Obama and his team mistakenly viewed the Arab Spring as a large-scale, grass-roots uprising clamoring for liberal democracy and embraced it too quickly. They also underestimated the ability of violent extremists to exploit power vacuums in failed states and the resilience of authoritarian regimes in places like Syria or Egypt. These misunderstandings led to Obamas disastrous intervention in Libya, his inept diplomatic interference in Yemen, and the premature demand that Assad must go in Syria. As regular readers know, I think Obama made the right call when he decided not to wade deeper into the Syrian quagmire, but his handling of this admittedly turbulent and difficult-to-read process can hardly be considered a success.

Regarding Israel-Palestine, Obama took office vowing to achieve a two-state solution by the end of his first term, and he and his second-term secretary of state, John Kerry, devoted endless hours to this quixotic quest. Unfortunately, they followed the standard peace process playbook and got the same results their predecessors did. A two-state solution is further away than ever and probably impossible, in part because Obama never seemed to grasp that relying on pro-Israel advisors with a long track record of not producing an agreement was a pretty good way to guarantee failure again. Nor did Obama and Kerry ever realize that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not interested in a genuine two-state solution and that Israel was never going to cut a deal unless the United States made it clear that failing to do so would lead to dramatic reductions in U.S. military aid and diplomatic protection. Obamas offer of ever larger bribes of U.S. military aid proved inadequate to the task, as Netanyahu quite sensibly pocketed the offer and dug in his heels, even flying to Washington to dis the president in public. I understand why Obama felt he had to tolerate this sort of abuse from a dependent client state (after all, I wrote a book about it), but if he was unwilling to play hardball, he shouldnt have promised to deliver a solution and shouldnt have wasted any time or energy on it.

Obamas handling of Russia deserves no plaudits either. The early attempt at a reset made sense, but Obama and his advisors never understood that what they regarded as innocent and legitimate efforts to strengthen democracy in Eastern Europe or in Russia itself were not going to be viewed as benign by Moscow. Even worse, the White House appears to have been asleep at the switch in the months preceding the crisis in Ukraine and ended up blindsided by Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to annex Crimea. Moscows actions are regrettable on many levels, but Obama and the people in charge of U.S. policy in Eastern Europe should not have been surprised. Great powers are always sensitive to events near their borders, and Moscow had made it clear, at least since 2008, that it would not let Ukraine or Georgia drift toward NATO without a fight. It was also abundantly clear that Putin saw U.S. and EU efforts to draw Ukraine to the West as a step toward bringing them into NATO, and he had both the motivation and the ability to stop it. And he did.

Obamas desire to rebalance U.S. attention toward Asia was sound, and his administration did make important progress toward that goal. But the failure to set clearer priorities or liquidate losing positions faster undermined the effort. Managing relations in Asia is complex, challenging, and time-consuming, and the United States will not be able to manage its Asian alliances and counter a rising China if it is constantly being distracted by events in places of far less strategic importance. The administration also blundered when it decided not to participate in Chinas new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and then found that even close allies like Britain and Israel were ignoring U.S. pressure and eager to join.

As I argued several years ago, the days when the United States could create security and maintain order in nearly every part of the world are behind it, and U.S. leaders must do a better job of deciding which places matter most and which can be left to run themselves. To a large extent, Obama never made that choice.

What explains these various failures? Two things, primarily. First, although Obama took office intending to re-engineer Americas relationship with the world, he was quickly co-opted by the existing national security establishment and bought into its mantra that the United States as the indispensable power must take the lead in promoting a rules-based world order centered on free markets, democracy, and human rights. Here Obama did face a real dilemma: The Democratic Partys foreign-policy apparatus was dominated by dedicated liberal crusaders, which meant there was hardly anyone Obama could appoint who agreed wholeheartedly with his foreign-policy instincts. Once he selected people like Hillary Clinton, Jim Steinberg, Susan Rice, Tom Donilon, Samantha Power, and Anne-Marie Slaughter  along with veteran insiders like Robert Gates, John Brennan, and Dennis Ross  the die was cast. This group had plenty of disagreements, to be sure, but they were all ardent believers in U.S. global leadership, and they rarely saw an international issue they didnt think the United States should play a major role in solving.

Like Bill Clinton, Obama tried to address a vast array of global problems as cheaply as possible (and without boots on the ground), but he never told the American people what their vital interests actually were. Equally important, this most eloquent of presidents never gave voters a simple template to help them distinguish between the places where the United States should stand ready to fight and regions it could safely leave to others. Instead, almost any part of the world could suddenly become a vital interest for which Washington was supposed to have a solution, and failure to act immediately in a crisis anywhere exposed him to charges that he was squandering U.S. credibility or leaving the country vulnerable to some shadowy danger. He who defends everything defends nothing, warned Frederick the Great, and Obamas inability to develop a clear set of strategic priorities hurt him throughout his presidency.

Second, in both domestic and foreign policy, Obama failed to appreciate that his opponents were not as reasonable, rational, cool, or unselfish as he was. If a central theme runs through Obamas approach to politics, it is his conviction that people with differing views can come together, discuss, debate, share information, and gradually come to a mutual understanding that satisfies both sides and that will advance the public interest. This quality made him a great law review editor and a successful community organizer, but it hamstrung him as president in todays highly polarized political environment.

When dealing with Netanyahu, for example, Obama (and Kerry) thought it obvious that two states for two peoples was in Israels interest and that Netanyahu could be persuaded to see this once he was assured of continued U.S. support. They did not consider that Netanyahu might be personally wedded to the Likud partys dream of a Greater Israel or worried that cutting a deal would cost him his job, and therefore no amount of cajoling or coddling would ever win him over. In Putin, Obama saw the leader of a declining power whose best course was to liberalize further and reform the lagging Russian economy. In this view, Putin just needed to be told that the United States was only trying to help his Eastern European neighbors prosper and not seeking to hurt Russia or topple him. Putin had different priorities, however, and in any case was not going to accept verbal assurances as he watched NATO creep ever eastward. Back at home, Obama seemed to think that he could win over Republicans by reaching out to them  as he did when he nominated a highly qualified and decidedly moderate candidate for the Supreme Court  never quite realizing that John Boehner, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, and the entire tea party cared more about Obama failing than they did about America succeeding.

Barack Obama is an intelligent, disciplined, eloquent, upright, patriotic, and wholly admirable man, and in many ways he was an inspirational president. It is no accident that his approval ratings are vastly higher than the man who will succeed him or that he may be the most popular politician in the world at large. He took office at a time when the United States faced genuine perils, and he safely steered the country away from the brink. Had he governed in a more tranquil era, and with a spirited but constructive party opposing him, he might have achieved even more.

But in foreign policy Obamas record was mostly one of failure. Neither the state of the world nor Americas position in it is stronger today than they were when he took office. The outcome in Iraq and Afghanistan may not be his fault, as those wars were failures even before he took office, but some of his decisions compounded the mistakes he inherited.

But as I said in my column earlier this month, just because things look grim today does not mean they cannot get worse. And if they do, Obamas presidency, despite the missteps and missed opportunities, will seem like an era of honor and decency that Americans willfully cast aside and may never fully regain.

Photo credit: ALEX WONG/Getty Images
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Nothing like putting down an icy cold beer. Except, of course, achieving a higher state of being and eventual transcendence of the Self through the practice of yoga.

But what if you could do both, at the same time?

SEE ALSO: Australia's oldest living prime minister really knows how to chug a beer

Yes: Beer yoga is here. After being enjoyed by Berlin hipsters, it's now found its way to Australian shoresa land where beer's most definitely a religious practice, at least as much as yoga. And not in the best way.

Germany's BierYoga A.K.A BeerYoga bills itself as the "marriage of two great lovesbeer and yoga. Both are centuries-old therapies for mind, body and soul," according to its website.

And if you think they're just being cute, think again.

Image: bieryoga/facebook

"BeerYoga is fun but it's no joke," founder and yogi Jhula writes. "We take the philosophies of yoga and pair it with the pleasure of beer-drinking to reach your highest level of consciousness."

But even Jhula wasn't the first person to promote enlightenment through yoga under the influence of alcohol. The instructor told Ex Berliner they first saw it done at (American culture festival/desert apocalypse party shitshow) Burning Man.

But wherever it came from, it's definitely now a thing, and a thing being marketed unironically Down Under.

Two special sessions of beer meets asana will take place in Sydney this weekend, where students can learn yoga poses involving "beer salutations" and balancing beer bottles on one's headjust watch out for bottle smashes.

The event page assures would-be attendees that no yoga experience is necessary. Just an "open mind and a love of beer."

And if you think that all this does nothing to curb binge-drinking and/or cheapens a legitimate and sadly oft-perverted spiritual practice, then you can just Namaste away.



[h/t Broadsheet]

BONUS: NBD, just a massive alligator out for a stroll
Donald Trump advocated on the campaign trail for a $20 billion federal school-voucher program. But during her confirmation hearing on Tuesday evening, Betsy DeVos, the president-elects choice to lead the U.S. Education Department, said school choice should be a state decision. She framed school choice as a right for students and families. And she said during the hearing that she was committed to strengthening public education for all students.

While the Michigan billionaire has backed charter schools and vouchers, which let families use public money to pay for private schools, DeVos would not, she said, try to force states to embrace school choice. But a number of organizations, largely Democratic, that had raised questions about DeVoss commitment to expanding charters and vouchers and about her familys financial holdings and religious causes were unlikely to find much more of the hearing reassuring.

Throughout the three-hour-plus exchange between DeVos and members of the Senates Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, DeVoswho has never taught public school, never attended public school, and never held elected officesidestepped questions about everything from how she will ensure that groups she has backed financially in the past will not feel pressure to behave a certain way to whether guns belong in schools. At one point, she seemed to suggest that a federal law governing how students with disabilities are educated could be left to states, prompting Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan to express concern about her grasp of the departments obligations.

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Noticeably absent from the hearing were substantive discussions of the Common Core standards, which Trump has lambasted; how DeVos would handle racial inequity and school segregation, which have been priorities of the Obama administration; and issues around standardized testing, accreditation, and for-profit schools. She offered little clarity around her views on higher education and early-childhood education, broadly. But she did push back at the idea that college is the only pathway to success, and indicated that she would support vocational schools and career-training programsa nod to Trumps voter base.

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She is and has been on our childrens side.

The evasion tactics (which nominees of both parties have employed for as long as confirmation hearings have been a thing) left Democratic members of the committee calling for more hearings. The convening was more intense than most hearings in recent memory involving nominees for education secretary in part because DeVos is an unusual nominee. She and her family have vast financial holdings, and she is the first of Trumps nominees to go through the hearing process without a signed ethics agreement in place for how she plans to resolve any conflicts of interest.

While the prominent Republican donor faced critical questions about those holdings and other education issues from senators such as Elizabeth Warren and Tim Kaine, she also received praise from Republicans, such as from the former education secretary Senator Lamar Alexander, who think Washington has overstepped its reach on education under the Obama administration. She is and has been on our childrens side, he said.

Recommended: Your Guide to Who's Performing at Trump's Inauguration

* * *

In the weeks leading up to the hearing, a number of prominent Republicans, including former presidential contenders Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush, came out in support of DeVoss work to support school choice. But civil-rights groups and teachers unions have challenged what they see as her lack of experience in public education and her familys ties to conservative religious organizations.

Broadly, DeVos has fought to expand charter schools and the use of vouchers, including to pay for religious schools. DeVos has spoken in the past about advancing a Christian agenda through education. And critics are worried that her involvement with a variety of causes and lawmakers will complicate her ability to serve as secretary.

According to the left-leaning Center for American Progress, DeVoss family has given nearly $1 million to more than 20 senators who will vote on her confirmation, including roughly $250,000 to members of the education committee. The family gave Senator Tim Scott, the Republican from South Carolina who introduced DeVos at the beginning of the hearing, nearly $50,000, and he served as keynote speaker at last years annual summit for the American Federation for Children, an organization she chaired until recently.

In a 1997 op-ed, DeVos acknowledged that she expects to gain something from these contributions. I have decided to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence, she wrote. Now I simply concede the point. They are right.

Recommended: Trump's Ethics Train Wreck

Some lawmakers have also raised concerns about her connections to certain industries she would oversee as secretary, among them student loans. As the Washington Post noted recently, DeVos has ties to a firm that loaned money to a debt-collection agency that did business with the U.S. Education Department. That agency, Performant Financial Corp., recently failed to win another bid with the department, but, as secretary, DeVos would be able to affect which companies win such contracts and how they are handled. DeVos said during the hearing she and her husband would distance themselves from such education investments.

In her opening statement, DeVos said, I share President-elect Trumps view that its time to shift the debate from what the system thinks is best for kids to what moms and dads want, expect and deserve. She spoke of a visit when her oldest child was young to a Christian school serving low-income children, where she saw the struggles and sacrifices many of these families faced when trying to choose the best educational option for their children. That experience, she said, helped spark a commitment to school choice.

Thats a record that has won her favor not only with many Republicans, but with a few Democrats, too. Anthony Williams, the former mayor of Washington, D.C., and a Democrat, praised DeVoss support of vouchers. The city has the countrys only federally funded voucher program, which Williams backed. And she was introduced by the former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat who later became an independent. Lieberman sits on the board of the American Federation for Children, which DeVos chaired until recently.

Yet according to a 2015 PDK/Gallup poll, most Americans favor the idea of charter schools, but less than a third support the concept of vouchers. Many economists also question the idea of privatizing the U.S. education system. As Susan Dynarski, a professor of education, public policy, and economics at the University of Michigan noted in the New York Times recently, a panel of economists who generally support a free-market approach to things like ride sharing was not inclined to support the use of vouchers. In some cases, she writes, charter schools (publicly funded but privately run) that are closely overseen can create healthy competition for traditional public schools. But critics have pointed out that Michigan, where DeVos has concentrated many of her efforts, has some of the worst-performing, least-regulated charter schools in the country.

Senator Alexander, who chairs the committee, said it would meet early next week to consider DeVoss nomination, provided her agreement with the ethics office is in place by Friday.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It would be better for the United States to carefully review the 2015 Iran nuclear deal rather than unilaterally withdraw from it, Nikki Haley, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, said on Wednesday. "I think what would be more beneficial at this point is that we look at all the details of the Iran deal, we see if they (the Iranians) are actually in compliance. If we find that there are violations that we act on those violations," Haley told lawmakers at her Senate confirmation hearing. (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by James Dalgleish)
SPRINGFIELD -- The new Illinois General Assembly will have to address two different proposals on raising Illinois minimum wage.

As part of a bipartisan budget package being considered in the Senate, members propose raising the minimum wage, currently $8.25 an hour, by 50 cents each year until reaching $11 in 2021. Meanwhile, a House bill would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by October.

In a 2014 advisory referendum, about 63 percent of voters favored raising the minimum wage for adults from $8.25 to $10 by Jan. 1, 2015.

Following the referendum, the Senate approved bills in 2014 and 2015 that would have raised the minimum wage to $11 an hour by 2019. The House has not approved a minimum wage increase.

The new Senate bill is being considered in conjunction with a grand bargain on the state budget that also includes tax increases, spending cuts, new casino licenses and other proposals.

State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, the bills sponsor, was unavailable Tuesday for comment, but Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate have said lawmakers from both parties will support all the pieces of the package.

The sponsor of the House bill, state Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, said raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour is necessary because some employees must work two jobs to support their families and are in need of programs such as day care and welfare.

We are expecting them to do more with less, Flowers said. We need to provide them with the tools that they need and that is a wage of $15 an hour so they can pay their rent.

Flowers added that a minimum wage of $11 an hour as proposed by the Senate is not sufficient for peoples basic needs.

Flowers said Illinois economy would benefit by reducing spending on programs for low-income people.

Raising the minimum wage would also help bring in more sales tax revenue because people who earn more would spend more, she said.

James Muhammad, a spokesman for the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois, said the union agrees with Flowers that the minimum wage should be raised to $15 an hour.

Fifteen dollars is just a beginning, Muhammad said. But it is a start we feel would be significantly helpful to families who are trying to scratch out an existence in a time where prices of basic necessities keep going up but wages stay stagnant.

Muhammad said the Senates proposal to gradually raise the wage to $11 an hour by 2021 would not help low-wage workers.

Any proposal to raise Illinois minimum wage will run into opposition from business groups.

Mark Grant, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said small businesses cannot afford the wage increases.

They would need to find ways such as cutting jobs or reducing workers hours to afford paying a higher wage, Grant said.

He added that increasing the minimum wage could put some establishments out of business.

Raising minimum wage pushes up all salaries for all hourly rates, he said. If the government decides to do this, they have to find other ways to help (businesses) cope with the increase.

Illinois minimum wage was last raised in July 2010 from $8 to $8.25 as a result of a 2006 law.

Surrounding states such as Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa have a minimum wage of $7.25, which is also the federal rate.
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Beyonce's feminist rallying cry, "Ladies, now let's get in formation," will take its most literal form at the Women's March on Washington D.C.

And with her latest Facebook post, Bey herself is lending her voice to the movement. "We can make our voices heard and turn awareness into meaningful action and positive change," she writes.

SEE ALSO: Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde's son had a Beyonce-themed birthday AND she got him a present

It's important to note that this status update doesn't indicate that Beyonce will actually protest at the March herself. But her sister, Solange, will be headlining The Peace Ball on Thursday evening at the new African American Museum of History and Culture, which will, "celebrate the accomplishments and successes of the past 4 years and the vow to continue to be the change we want to see in the world." So here's to hoping for a double dose of Knowles sisters to help us get through the weekend.

Beyonce has previously performed to support Global Citizen and Chime for Change. She also supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and encouraged her audiences to vote. Notably, she and Jay Z headlined a concert for the Clinton campaign in Ohio.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, can't even pronounce her name.
Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) - Russia is the main threat to the "liberal" world order, US Vice President Joe Biden told the Davos elite on Wednesday, in his final speech before leaving office.

Biden used the big stage of the World Economic Forum in the posh Swiss resort to warn of threats posed by the Kremlin two days before Donald Trump's administration takes over in Washington.

Though he also mentioned China and threats from the Middle East, his attack on Vladimir Putin's Russia was a direct warning to Trump, who is accused of cosying up to the Russian president.

"The greatest threat ... springs from the external actors who equate their success on fracturing the liberal international order," Biden said.

"I'm not going to mince words, this movement is principally led by Russia," added the 74-year-old, who used the Davos forum to promote his signature campaign against cancer.

Biden laid down his assessment a day after China's President Xi Jinping gave a landmark speech at Davos that stressed his commitment to globalisation, in contradiction to Trump's protectionist approach.

Biden, known for his everyman touch, is increasingly seen as a standard-bearer for the Democrats against Trump, who won the US presidency on a wave of middle-class and white voter discontent.

Putin is "working with every tool available to them to whittle away at the edges of the European project," Biden told the Davos audience, who gave him a standing ovation as he came on stage.

Putin is "testing the faultlines among Western nations" and working to return the world to a system "defined by spheres of influence".

"We even saw it in the cyber intrusions against political parties and individuals in the United States," he said, after a US intelligence report that Russia worked to tip the election in Trump's favour.

"Again, their purpose is clear, to collapse the liberal international order," Biden said.

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- 'Unshakable commitment' -

Biden also gave a heated defence of NATO after Trump on Monday slammed the US-led military alliance as "obsolete".

"The single greatest bulwark for our transatlantic partnership is the unshakable commitment of the United States to all our NATO allies," Biden said.

"An attack on one is an attack on all. That can never be called into question."

Biden also had strong words for the world's richest one percent, hugely represented in the Davos audience.

"The top one percent are not carrying their weight," he said, urging them to invest in education.

He also echoed Xi in warning against protectionism but stressed "that globalisation has not been an unalloyed good".

"It has deepened the rift between those racing ahead at the top and those struggling to hang on in the middle, or falling to the bottom," he said.

Biden assured his audience that he would continue to fight for liberal values.

"As I re-enter private life, I want to assure you today that I will stand with you as you carry this fight forward," he said.

Biden has said he will continue his work to promote cancer research once he leaves office on Friday.

The vice president lost his son Beau Biden to brain cancer in 2015. The US administration soon after announced a cancer "moonshot" programme intended to speed up research into the disease.

On Monday in Davos, Biden urged the Trump administration to continue the programme.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  When author Crystal Wilkinson of Kentucky learned she won the 2016 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, she said she reverted to her 12-year-old self, shrieking and squealing with glee.

"I am over the moon," Wilkinson told The Associated Press about winning the nationally acclaimed prize for "Birds of Opulence," her novel exploring generations of troubled women in the fictional Southern black township of Opulence.

The Gaines Award and its $10,000 prize were created by a philanthropic group, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, to recognize outstanding work by rising African-American fiction writers. The 54-year-old winner is Appalachian writer in residence at Berea College in Kentucky and will be presented the award Thursday in Baton Rouge.

Her first novel-length work, "Birds of Opulence" follows several generations of women of the Goode-Brown family who are plagued by mental illness, illegitimacy and the embarrassment that ensues. As younger generations watch their mothers and grandmothers die, they fear going mad and fight to survive.

"This gives me a huge boost at this point in my career," Wilkinson said. "It gives me huge confidence to know that I can do the next one and the next one and the next one."

Originally from the small community of Indian Creek, Kentucky, Wilkinson earned a journalism degree from Eastern Kentucky University in 1985 before embarking on her literary career. Many of her works have garnered critical acclaim.

"Blackberries, Blackberries," a collection of short stories, won the 2002 Chaffin Award for Appalachian Literature. "Water Street," another short-story collection, was a finalist for the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award and the U.K.'s Orange Prize for Fiction.

"There are lots of awards out there, but not one better fitted to me," Wilkinson said. "I've loved Ernest Gaines' work so much and for years have thought of him as one of my mentors."

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The award honors Gaines' extraordinary contributions to the literary world.

A Louisiana native, Gaines wrote the critically acclaimed novel "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," one of four of his works that were adapted for films. His 1993 novel "A Lesson Before Dying" won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction.

Now 84, Gaines said he was glad that writers such as Wilkinson have emerged to keep themes about rural life in the forefront.

"You know, that's the world I write about and have always written about," Gaines said. "Now, people who come around years from now will be able to reference those different lifestyles in our works. Not everyone lives in the big city."

Gaines downplayed the recognition of having a literary award named after him.

"I think those kinds of things should be named after you when you're dead," he said, laughing. "My job is just to write. If the award gets more people to read more books, that's great too."

Wilkinson said her future absolutely involves more writing.

"My sort of romantic view is that I would live in a farm house somewhere and just write. I'm sure I will continue to teach, but I also want to get the other works I'm working on out into the world," she said.
By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Angelique Kerber celebrated her 29th birthday with a shaky 6-2 6-7(3) 6-2 win over Carina Witthoeft at the Australian Open on Wednesday but the world number one will have much to ponder in her title defense once the candles are blown out. The top seed opened nervously in a three-set grind with unseeded Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko on Monday and again suffered a meltdown when well on top of 89th-ranked Witthoeft at a breezy Rod Laver Arena. German Kerber squandered a 2-0 lead as she headed for victory in the second set, then shipped 10 successive points to lose the tiebreak and then her serve in the first game of the deciding set. But the plucky 21-year-old Witthoeft, who had swung hard at every ball to rattle the champion, suddenly fell away, allowing Kerber to rally and close out the 128-minute tussle. "I'm trying ... to play more aggressive. But today I was doing a few more mistakes," said Kerber, who next plays another left-hander in 58th-ranked Czech Kristyna Pliskova, the twin sister of U.S. Open finalist Karolina. "I was not finding my rhythm from the first ball," she added. "At the end I won, and this is all that counts for me." As against Tsurenko, Kerber wrapped up the first set quickly but was knocked off her stride by the free-swinging Witthoeft, who began finding the lines after a wayward start. It may have been Kerber's special day but she handed out all the presents after taking a 3-1 lead in the tiebreak. She double-faulted twice to allow Witthoeft to nose ahead 4-3 and sprayed a backhand wide to give up three set points. Desperate and stranded mid-court, Kerber netted a backhand to lose the set and returned to her seat, only to be stunned once more in losing her serve to love. The Kerber who upset Serena Williams in a classic final on the same court last year was replaced by her old self before her breakout 2016 - the top 10 player who lacked the mental strength to trouble the best players at the majors. Luckily for the twice grand slam champion, her opponent's belief wavered and her baseline rockets began firing long and wide. Witthoeft crumbled to trail 4-1 and Kerber closed out an unconvincing win when her opponent slapped a forehand wide on match point, her 69th unforced error. Kerber would head for a "nice dinner" with her team but not before trying to find her game on the practice court, she said. "It's again, like tournament rhythm and I will just practice once ... just maybe 45 minutes or 60 minutes. Just have the rhythm back, and that's it," she added. (Editing by Peter Rutherford)
A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister Theresa May has defended Boris Johnson after Britains Foreign Secretary compared French President Francois Hollande to a World War Two guard administering punishment beatings.

The famously gaffe-prone Johnson was asked, during a trip to India, about a comment made by an aide of Hollandes stating that the U.K. should not expect a better trading relationship with the E.U. after leaving it, the Press Association reports. If Monsieur Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anyone who chooses to escape, rather in the manner of some World War Two movie, then I dont think thats the way forward, Johnson said.

Opposition figures were quick to object to his choice of language. We are all aware that the Foreign Secretary has a habit of making wild and inappropriate comments, a Labour Party spokesman said. Talking about World War Two in that context is another one of those. Johnson has previously caused controversy by suggesting that President Obamas part-Kenyan heritage had led him to remove a bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office.

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliaments chief Brexit negotiator, decried Johnsons comments via Twitter and called on Theresa May to condemn them.

Yet more abhorrent & deeply unhelpful comments from @BorisJohnson which PM May should condemn. https://t.co/GdVQh0AMX1  Guy Verhofstadt (@GuyVerhofstadt) January 18, 2017

Mays spokeswoman dismissed the outcry as a hyped-up media report. He was in no way suggesting that anyone was a Nazi, she said.

[Press Association]
BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Brazilian Air Force is planning to privatize the running of its telecom network used for defense, surveillance and air traffic control, an Air Force spokeswoman said on Tuesday. The planned public-private partnership is aimed at reducing the cost to the Air Force of modernizing the system and would involve about 4.3 billion reais ($1.3 billion) in investment and operating costs. Brazilian newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo reported earlier that 17 companies participated in public hearings on the possible privatization. U.S. defense contractor and information technology company Harris Corp and Mexico's America Movil, which owns Claro, Brazil's third-largest cellular telephone company, were the most interested, it said. "We have demonstrated interest in pursuing the program, but are not able to provide any additional input at this time," Jim Burke, Harris Corp's global public relations director, said by email. Claro representatives declined to comment on the issue. Estado newspaper, citing an Air Force official in charge of air traffic control, said the private company picked for the project would be expected to invest 1.5 billion reais to modernize and operate the telecom system. While the network would be privately managed, air traffic control for commercial and military aviation, would continue to be run by the Air Force, Colonel Andre Jansen told the newspaper. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle, Ana Mano and Brad Haynes; Editing by Alan Crosby)
Natal (Brazil) (AFP) - Brazilian authorities on Wednesday started transferring some inmates from a prison wracked by deadly gang violence for days, as troops were mobilized elsewhere to help confront a broad crisis in the overcrowded penitentiary system.

Elite officers entered the Alcacuz prison near the northern city of Natal to start the process, AFP journalists saw.

The facility has been the scene of gruesome violence between two rival gangs since the weekend, when 26 inmates were massacred, most of them beheaded.

"We are going to carry out this transfer as carefully as possible, respecting all security issues," a spokesman for the state police, local mayor Eduardo Franco, told reporters.

Four buses were brought in to take away prisoners who were members of one of the gangs. Three of the buses arrived with inmates from other facilities that were to be put in the vacated cells.

Wives and girlfriends of some of the prisoners being taken away tried to block the road but were dispersed when police fired rubber bullets.

The prisoner transfer underlined the tinderbox climate within Brazil's prison system, in which 134 people have been killed in prison violence this year according to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, citing justice ministry figures.

- 'National emergency' -

Authorities are accused of long having allowed gangs to run the jails, which are filled well beyond their intended capacity.

In a bid to wrest back control, the government on Wednesday said it was deploying 1,000 troops to "clean out" arms, explosives and cellphones from various cellblocks in the country.

Defense Minister Raul Jungmann, who called the situation a "national emergency," said the soldiers "will only enter when the risk of rioting is minimal or nonexistent.... The armed forces are not going to confront these groups."

The troops, who include teams used during last year's Olympic Games in Rio, don't have the constitutional authority to take control of the prisons, only to confiscate dangerous contraband items.

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Brazilian police had stormed the Alcacuz prison early Sunday to halt the bloodbath, but were still not in full control three days later.

Inside, the situation remained volatile as inmates from the rival drug gangs, the Sao Paulo-based First Capital Command (PCC), the country's biggest drug-trafficking group, and the Rio de Janeiro-based Red Command, squared off across a 50-meter (-yard) courtyard.

Officers had entered the facility earlier Wednesday -- amid inmates lighting fires and chanting -- with the aim of keeping the two sides separate while the transfer operation was prepared.

"We want those from the PCC to go to another state," an inmate had told AFP by telephone earlier. "We won't rest until (the authorities) take them away from here."

The uprising was tied to a turf war over control of cocaine trafficking within Brazil.

- Fear of attacks -

The rise of gang violence in the prisons and the increasingly tough measures to quell it raised anxiety in the public of a return to organized criminal action in Brazilian cities in towns.

A repeat of a May 2006 offensive by the PCC in Sao Paulo, the economic heart of the country, was especially feared.

Over three days, the gang launched some 200 attacks on police stations and cars, resulting in 90 deaths.

The subsequent ripple of terror triggered school, public transport and office closures, leaving the streets of the metropolis nearly deserted.

Other, more disparate and smaller attacks followed. In all, more than 500 people were killed, including police officers, PCC members and bystanders.

Walter Maierovitch, who served as a senior counternarcotics official in 1999, the latest prison crisis was the result of authorities essentially leaving gangs to charge of the penitentiaries.

"The government has always acts when the horse has already bolted. It left the prisons in the hands of organized criminals," he said.

Brazil has the fourth biggest prison population in the world, with 622,000 inmates.
Oslo (AFP) - A lawyer for jailed Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik said Wednesday the neo-Nazi's isolation was harmful to his mental health, a key point in his legal battle over prison conditions.

Breivik's "mental vulnerability" was a central issue in an appeals case pitting the Norwegian state against the 37-year-old who killed 77 people in his 2011 attacks.

The state argued during the six-day hearing that ended Wednesday that he is holding up well under his strict prison regime.

Breivik's lawyers meanwhile maintained it is aggravating his fragile psychological state.

"Is this man healthy in a general sense?" Breivik's lawyer Oystein Storrvik asked in his final remarks to the court. "His mental health doesn't seem good, in my opinion."

Breivik is serving a 21-year prison sentence handed down in 2012, which can be extended indefinitely as long as he is considered a threat.

Last year, an Oslo district court stunned victims' families when it found the Norwegian state guilty of treating Breivik "inhumanely" and in "degrading" fashion, in breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

It noted the main reason was his prolonged isolation. Breivik has been held apart from other inmates since 2011 for security reasons.

The state appealed that ruling.

The killer has complained of headaches and told the appeals court last week his isolation has radicalised him further.

In July 2011 Breivik, disguised as a police officer, tracked and gunned down 69 people, most of them teenagers, at a Labour Party youth camp on the island of Utoya, shortly after killing eight people in a bombing outside a government building in Oslo.

He said he killed his victims because they worked for multiculturalism.

While the state's lawyers have painted a picture of an inmate in strong physical and psychological health, Storrvik said he had doubts about Breivik's mental health, citing among other things the inappropriate content of his correspondence and his persistent insensitivity over his crimes.

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"It is because of these elements ... that, at least to me as a lawyer, he can in no way be considered as being in good health as defined by the European Court of Human Rights," he said.

At his side, Breivik, who sees himself as an ideological leader, listened to the remarks motionless with his eyes cast downward.

- 'A VIP inmate' -

Storrvik also noted that the length of his client's isolation "is soon approaching six years" and argued that Breivik's prison conditions are all the more important given that he would in all likelihood spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The state has argued that Breivik has not been isolated, noting his multiple contacts with guards, with whom he plays backgammon, a prison visitor, his lawyers and pastors.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Fredrik Sejersted told the court Breivik was "a VIP inmate" who enjoyed "cosy" conditions, including three cells, some of which have views of nature outdoors, where he can play video games and watch television.

He also has a computer without internet access, gym machines, books and newspapers.

But Breivik's lawyer has insisted that while his client has contact with professionals, these are not people with whom he can build relationships.

He called for Breivik to be allowed contact with other inmates, suggesting they could for example play badminton together.

Breivik has also complained about the frequent use of handcuffs and full-body searches as well as the strict controls on his correspondence.

His lawyer argued that this "censorship" was another violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

On that point, the lower court found in favour of the state, which had argued that Breivik remained a dangerous man still trying to spread his ideology, and that checking his mails was necessary to prevent him from building a network capable of carrying out further attacks.

The appeals court was expected to issue its ruling in late February.
CHARLESTON -- A man who was one of two people suspected of breaking into an Eastern Illinois University student's apartment and robbing him at gunpoint admitted to his role in the crime.

Royce D. Hughes was sentenced to eight years in prison for taking part in the Oct. 16, 2015, incident at an apartment at 1429 Seventh St. in Charleston.

Hughes, 24, for whom court records list an address in Chicago, pleaded guilty to a home invasion charge that accused him of entering the apartment while armed with a gun and knowing someone was there, then using or threatening force against the resident.

The offense requires a prison sentence of six to 30 years with a conviction with no option for probation.

Payment of about $6,000 in restitution was also ordered as part of the sentence. The EIU student's van, cellphone, TV and other items were taken during the robbery, according to case records.

Hughes received credit on his prison sentence for about a year and three months he was jailed while his case was pending. His case in Coles County was delayed at times because of proceedings in a weapons possession charge in Cook County for which he was eventually acquitted.

Coles County Circuit Judge Brien O'Brien imposed the sentence by accepting the terms of a plea agreement that State's Attorney Brian Bower and defense attorney Terese Matthews recommended.

Records also say the man who was robbed identified Hughes and a woman as possible suspects because they were part of a group of people he'd recently met and who'd visited his apartment.

The man said two people wearing masks and hooded shirts forced their way into his apartment. He said one suspect put a pillowcase over his head and hit him with a gun, the records say.

The other suspect in the break-in, also charged with home invasion, is Monique C. Williams, 19, for whom records list addresses in Charleston and in Chicago.

Williams' case is still pending and she has another court appearance scheduled for later this month.

Also, another woman was arrested for reportedly providing police with false information about what she knew about the others' plans to commit the robbery.

Brittany L. Bush, 23, also with addresses on record in Charleston and Chicago, was originally charged with obstructing justice, a felony offense.

With a plea agreement reached in December 2015, Bush pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor resisting police charge and was sentenced to probation.

Records in Bush's case say she eventually told police she overheard Hughes and Williams plan the robbery. She also said she saw them cover their faces before leaving to commit the robbery, and Hughes had a pellet gun with him at that time, the records say.
Brussels (AFP) - Theresa May's proposals for a hard Brexit have met a mixed response in the European Union, where it always takes 28 countries to tango, and where many feel Britain may be dancing with two left feet.

Here are the views from Brussels and other capitals on the British prime minister's demands:

- Single market -

May's announcement that Britain would leave Europe's single market in order to control EU immigration came as a relief.

Many officials had feared difficult negotiations as Britain tried to unpick the bloc's "four freedoms" of movement of people, goods, capital and services.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the "clarity" while EU President Donald Tusk said London had "finally understood and accepted" the four freedoms were inseparable.

Officials also believe it will make it easier for the EU to maintain unity.

"In some ways a hard Brexit is better than years of negotiations. It's easy for us to be united, we are not asking for anything," one senior EU diplomat told AFP.

- New trade deal -

But Europeans see problems with May's demand for the "greatest possible access" to the European single market through a "new, comprehensive, bold and ambitious free-trade agreement".

Firstly many detect a backdoor attempt to get the benefits of the EU such as zero tariffs, without the downsides of membership.

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator, said it was an "illusion that you can go out of the single market and that you can cherry pick."

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, meanwhile insisted that any future deal "necessarily needs to be inferior to membership".

The second is the sheer time and effort needed to reach trade agreements, with a recent EU-Canada pact taking seven years.

Key questions would revolve around what sectors it would include. Say, for example, that Britain gets a deal on financial services in the City of London in exchange for the European car industry getting benefits, one senior EU official told AFP. That would be fine for big auto-maker Germany, but what about other countries that rely on other sectors?

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- 'Phase in' -

May's call for a "phased approach delivering a smooth and orderly Brexit" refers to the likely need for a transitional arrangement.

This would cover the period between the end of the official two-year divorce process and whenever the new trade pact comes into effect.

This would avoid the "cliff edge" of trade tariffs being suddenly introduced.

But in practice European officials say this is a minefield.

Would Britain have to keep unchecked immigration during this period? Would it still be subject to the European Court of Justice? Would it still have to pay contributions? How long would it last?

The European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has said that the EU could only agree to a transitional deal once the shape of an eventual trade pact has been fully sketched out during the two-year period.

Barnier also stressed after May's speech that an "orderly exit is (a) prerequisite for future partnership".

This raises the spectre of a "disorderly" Brexit in which Britain cannot even agree on the formal divorce agreement with the EU, which is separate to any future trade deal.

- The divorce bill -

The divorce agreement is one area that May barely covered but which is very much in the minds of EU officials.

This only covers the exit bill that Britain has to pay, and reciprocal rights for Britons living in the EU and vice versa, and must be sealed within two years.

The EU has estimated the bill Britain will have to pay at 55 billion to 60 billion euros, EU sources told AFP. This includes budgetary requirements and pension liabilities for all EU officials, not just British eurocrats.

"They will obviously try to get the figure down, then we can talk about instalments" if necessary, a senior EU figure said.

- The warnings -

May warned the EU that trying to punish Britain to discourage others from leaving would be an "an act of calamitous self-harm" and that Britain would walk away if it got a bad deal

British politicians evoked World War II and newspapers hailed her tough stance, comparing her to "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher, but European officials played it down.

Tusk said May's comments on Britain's ties to Europe were "closer to Winston Churchill than those of President-elect Donald Trump". Muscat meanwhile insisted they were 'not a declaration of war:".

Officials also said May's warnings about the risk of the EU disintegrating is also overblown.

"The political resilience is bigger than people realise," the senior EU official said.
New Delhi (AFP) - Britain's foreign minister warned Wednesday against World War II-style "punishment beatings" after France indicated it would not accept improved conditions for the UK outside the single market.

Boris Johnson said it would not be in anyone's interest to penalise Britain for exiting the European Union, comparing proposed trade tariffs to punishments meted out to escaped prisoners in World War II movies.

His comments came a day after Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain would leave Europe's single market and warned the EU against imposing harsh terms on its divorce from the bloc.

"I think that if Monsieur Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who chooses to escape, rather in manner of some sort of World War II movie, than I dont think that is the way forward," he told delegates at a political conference in New Delhi.

"I think it's actually not in the interest of our friends and our partners."

May said on Tuesday that Britain would look to strike a new customs agreement with the EU, which accounted for 44 percent of the country's exports in 2015.

But French President Francois Hollande has consistently said Britain would not be granted better trading terms outside the single market.

On Wednesday, Johnson said Britain's decision to exit the single market did not mean it wanted to stop having access to EU countries.

"We should be working together. It seems absolutely incredible to me that in the 21st century, the European Union... should be seriously contemplating the introduction of tariffs or whatever to administer punishment to UK," he said.

"And dont forget, these things cut both ways. After all, the Germans, as is well known, export one-fifth of their motor manufacturing output."

The British foreign secretary is due to meet India's prime minister and finance minister during his two-day trip to the country.

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Britain has made clear its desire to boost trade with India, the world's fastest-growing major economy.

"I think time is fast upon us that we need to turbo charge this relationship with a new free trade deal such as we would shortly be able to do," Johnson said.

"We can't negotiate it now but we can sketch it out in pencil, on the back of an envelope," he added.
Before Nov. 8, the vast majority of British politicians did not believe they would be dealing with a U.S. President Donald Trump.

But most politicians from the governing Conservative Party have come to accept the need to do business with the next leader of the free world  especially now that Trump has pledged to seal a trade deal with Britain very quickly, in an interview with Conservative lawmaker and former Justice Secretary Michael Gove this week.

Detail was scant, but Britain needed such news. During the U.S. election, Trump said Britain would be better off outside the E.U. and assured the country would get a good trade deal with his administration if it left. This was a direct rebuke of President Barack Obama, who suggested the U.K. would be left in the international wilderness in the event of Brexit.

Ultimately, waves of anti-establishment contempt rode both Brexit and Trump to shock victories. On Tuesday, British Prime Minister confirmed what most pundits, rivals and colleagues had suspected since she came to power in July: the U.K. would go for a hard Brexit when it starts the two-year long negotiations to leave in March.

This means not being a formal member of the E.U.s single market, even with its huge economic advantages of simple trade with member states. May, however, struck an optimistic tone about the future deals that Britain might strike with the E.U.  even citing the Gove interview in arguing Trump had shown Britain is not at the back of the queue for a trade deal with the United States  but front of the line.

The U.K. has been running trade deficits with the rest of the world since 1998, partly because of declines in its manufacturing base and oil & gas production. However, its biggest surpluses are with the U.S., Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates and May wants to build on these strong trading relationships. Free from the strict food standards of the E.U., it is thought the U.K. might look at agriculture imports from the U.S.

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But lawmakers across Parliament told TIME they feared the U.K. might be incapable of striking a fair trade deal with the Trump administration. This concern is palpable among M.P.s who campaigned to stay in the E.U. and they command huge support in a deeply divided country  the Brexit vote was wafer-thin, with 48.1% voting to stay in the bloc.

Nicky Morgan, the pro-E.U. Conservative lawmaker who was Education Secretary until May sacked her on becoming Prime Minister in July, said the government must avoid a quick deal with the U.S. just to prove the U.K. can indeed survive and thrive economically outside of the E.U. We dont want to be so keen to be seen to rush into a trade deal that we rush in, she said. If this happens too quickly we ultimately might end up repenting on it.

Angus MacNeil, a lawmaker for the Scottish National Party who chairs Parliaments powerful International Trade Committee, also says he is concerned the U.K. is rushing into a trade deal. He tells TIME that Liam Fox, Mays International Trade Secretary, will face his committee next month, when he will demand answers over the Governments increasingly close relationship to Trump.

A key concern is whether Britain is equipped to get what it wants from a deal. The U.K. has had no experience of negotiating trade deals since 1975, when the country voted to become part of the European Economic Community  the precursor to the E.U. Since then the bloc has taken charge of trade deals from the heart of Europe. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, however, has 200 officials dedicated purely to specialized trade issues.

Theres an asymmetry in experience and knowledge between these sides, and the side that doesnt have that knowledge or experience is the U.K, MacNeil says. I will caution them against running headlong into a trade deal with the U.S. for the sake of it  its something we will raise with Fox when he is before the committee.

Others question Trumps motive in seeking a deal with the U.K. Vince Cable, the former Liberal Democrat lawmaker who served as the U.Ks business secretary from 2010-15, suggests Trumps interest in a deal is fueled mainly by a desire to anger his political enemies in Europe. The President-elect has been particularly critical of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who he said made a catastrophic mistake over her policy of allowing in hundreds of thousands of refugees as a result of the Syria crisis.

Trumps proposals are politically driven, theyre not detailed trade benefits, theyre wider than that to snub the E.U., particularly Merkel, he says. On the British side, it seems there is desperation for a special trade deal, the purpose of which escapes me. Its not clear what Britain would get out of it, given U.S. barriers are usually at state not country level.

Left-wing politicians are particularly worried the U.S. will try to open up private sector access to public services such as Britains state-backed National Health Service, considered by all parties as the countrys most precious asset. From the U.S. perspective, I fear they will look at getting access for their private service providers to our public services, says Jonathan Edwards, who sits on Parliaments committee for Exiting the European Union for the Welsh nationalist Plaid Cymru party. He cautions the U.K. not to forget that American negotiators are probably one of the best exponents of getting what they want in trade dealing.

Then theres the question of whether Britain wants to be in the Trump business at all. Cable, the former business secretary, argues the U.K. should distance itself from an administration that seems intent on facing down China. The U.K. has been assiduously cultivating China for several years and has already convinced the worlds second biggest economy to pour billions into a new wave of civil nuclear reactors. Trump seems to want a trade war with China, which is not in British interests, Cable says. British interests shouldnt involve collaborating with Trumps questionable administration.

Of course, U.S. trade with the U.K. is not nearly as large as that between Britain and the E.U. Its relationships with its neighbors May should be focusing on, says Keir Starmer, the Labour opposition secretary for Exiting the European Union, instead of prioritizing the U.S. Any trade agreement has to be on the right terms, he tells TIME, but the Prime Minister should focus first on the right deal with the E.U.

May might have hoped a U.S. trade deal would be simple rebuttal to claims Britain will struggle outside of the E.U. As ever in this national drama, any sense of an easy answer is illusory.
From Popular Mechanics

There's a Florida company specializing in used military aircraft sales, and boy have they got a deal for you: 20 jet airplanes for less than $250,000. The 20 Fouga Magister trainers are sitting in Israel just waiting for someone of modest means who wants to start his or her private air force.

As reported by The Aviationist, Raptor Aviation of Port St. Lucie, FL, is handling the sale of the Magisters. Made by French aviation company Fouga, the Magister was designed to train pilots of the 1950s how to handle jet aircraft. The plane is powered by two Turbomeca turboject engines and features a distinctive V-tail.

The Magister was pressed into service in a number of wars in developing countries as a light ground attack aircraft, with two 7.62-millimeter machine guns in the nose and up to 310 pounds of bombs carried on the wings. Magister served in combat in such diverse locations as the Congo, El Salvador, and Morocco.

The planes advertised by Raptor Aviation are currently in Israel and the buyer would have to arrange for shipping to their final destination. The aircraft also need about $20,000 to $25,000 in repairs. The planes come with a large complement of spare parts-about 829,000 in total. That's good, because Fouga went out of business in 1961.

Source: The Aviationist.

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Rep. Tom Price took pointed questions on his personal investments during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday to be the countrys next Health and Human Services Secretary, including on his investments in six pharmaceutical companies reported by TIME.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee questioned the Georgia congressman and Trumps nominee for the countrys next health care for more than three hours on his views on Medicare, the countrys healthcare system, as well as his stock investments.

TIME first reported on Tuesday that Price invested as much as $90,000 in six pharmaceutical companies that later benefitted from positions he took in Congress. The Georgia congressmens investments have raised questions from ethics watchdogs about whether he used his authority as a member of Congress to benefit his stock portfolio.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut questioned Price on his investments. Two weeks after you invested as much as $90,000 in six pharmaceutical companies, said Sen. Murphy, you became the leader in the United States Congress in opposition to this [Medicare] demonstration project that would have hurt the companies. Thats a damning timeline, Representative, Murphy said.

Price said that he himself did not make the trades, but that they were made by a broker on his behalf.

The fact of the matter is that I didnt know any of those trades were being made, Price responded to Murphy. The reason you know about them is I appropriately reported them in an above-board and ethical manner as required by the House of Representatives.

Price led an effort in April 2016 to squash a regulatory action that would have reduced incentives for doctors to prescribe expensive drugs to Medicare patients; the six companies in which he made investments also opposed the regulatory action. He proposed legislation to block the rule and led a public relations effort.

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Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren questioned Price on his investments in a biomedical company, Zimmer Biomet, and legislation he introduced that would have benefited the company, first reported by CNN. The stock was bought by a broker, said Price. I wasnt making the decision.

Price, 62, has called for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, reforming Medicare and in the past has opposed rules that would allow Medicare to bargain with pharmaceutical companies on drug prices. He is known as a social conservative and a budget hawk, admired by conservatives as a stalwart and a wonk but viewed by Democrats as an ideologue.

Price would run the $1 trillion, 80,000-employee Department of Health and Human Services, which runs major health insurance programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

Democrats led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have called for an ethics investigation into Prices finances. This isnt a witch hunt. These are serious and disquieting allegations, Schumer said Tuesday.
Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia is facing mounting calls, from rights groups all the way up to the head of state, to reform a law that jails youths for a year for smoking a joint.

"Repression is not effective at all... I am totally against imprisonment," the country's secretary of state for youth, Faten Kallel, said in La Presse newspaper.

Law 52, dating back to 1992 during the rule of toppled dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, lays down a mandatory jail sentence of one year for use of narcotics and rules out any mitigating circumstances.

Before Tunisia's 2011 revolution, the law was used to suppress criticism of the Ben Ali regime.

Its use has since become widespread, with thousands of young Tunisians locked up each year mostly for use of cannabis.

Between 2011 and 2016, the number of trials under Law 52 shot up from 732 to 5,744, official figures show.

"Long prison sentences are cruel, disproportionate, and counterproductive punishment for recreational users," Human Rights Watch said in a report entitled "All this for a joint".

Behind bars, those convicted often have "to share an overcrowded cell with persons imprisoned for serious crimes", said HRW.

"People convicted for drug use or possession leave prison with a criminal record that often prevents them from gaining employment and subjects them to social stigma and police harassment," said the New York-based rights watchdog.

Civil society groups hailed an amendment which the government proposed to parliament in December that would not lay down prison sentence for first- or second-time offenders.

But "the enthusiasm was short-lived", said HRW's Amna Guellali.

The justice ministry, at the bidding of a parliamentary legal commission, has restored the possibility of prison terms for first-time offenders.

"Deputies thought the original version was too tolerant," the commission's Hassouna Nasfi told AFP.

He said the commission would hear the views of civil society groups on Thursday and of detainees next week.

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- 'Serious consequences' -

At a meeting on Wednesday night, a group of non-governmental organisations including HRW and the Tunisian League for Human Rights said they had sent a letter to deputies warning of the "serious consequences" on society of the legislation.

In its latest form, the proposed law would "demolish" the changes proposed by the government, they wrote.

The backdown has mobilised public opinion against the drugs law, gathered around the "Sajin 521" (Prisoner 52) movement.

President Beji Caid Essebsi, who is aged 90, is also an advocate for reform.

"We must not wreck young people's future," he told a group of foreign students last week.

Yassine Brahim, leader of liberal centre-right party Afek Tounes, has warned that convicted youths -- in a country struggling to redress its economy and faced with jihadist threats -- risked radicalisation behind bars.

On the Islamist side of Tunisian politics, Lotfi Zitoun has joined the clamour against Law 52.

The numbers are "crazy: almost a third of the prisons' population is made up of young Tunisians who used illicit substances. Among them are students, pupils, our children," Zitoun, who is close to Rashed Ghannouchi, leader of the powerful Islamist movement Ennahdha, told a forum.

Calling for the use of cannabis to be decriminalised, he warned that penal sentences could throw disenchanted young Tunisians facing a bleak future into the clutches of terrorist groups.
By Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen filed a $1-million defamation lawsuit against opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Wednesday, keeping up pressure ahead of elections. Political tension has been growing in the Southeast Asian country ahead of local elections this year and a general election next year, in which Hun Sen's three-decade grip on power will be challenged. Sam Rainsy lives in exile in France and was sentenced in absentia last month to five years in prison for posting a fake government pledge to dissolve the border with Vietnam. The latest lawsuit against Sam Rainsy, in the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, accuses him of defamation over claims made in France that the prime minister bribed an activist to break up the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party. "What Sam Rainsy did was an act of distorting truth, affecting the prime minister's reputation," said Ky Tech, Hun Sen's lawyer. Responding to the accusation, Rainsy said on Twitter he welcomed lawsuits with Cambodia's "kangaroo court". "Its discussion means more publicity for Hun Sen's shameful acts," he said. The activist, Thy Sovantha, also filed a suit against Rainsy for saying she had taken money from Hun Sen. Opposition politicians accuse the authorities of intimidation ahead of the elections. In the 2013 general election, the CNRP won 55 seats in the National Assembly, leaving Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party with 68 in the 123-seat assembly. The latest lawsuits were a sign of the ruling party's concern over its election prospects, said Miguel Chanco, regional lead analyst of the Economist Intelligence Unit. "The government is using every tool in the box to discredit and suppress the opposition," Chanco said. (Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Clarence Fernandez)
Ottawa (AFP) - The United States will seek a new dispute resolution mechanism and tighter country of origin rules in a rejigged continental trade pact with Canada and Mexico, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

The daily Globe and Mail said incoming US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross informed the Canadian government of the administration's demands.

A formal letter will reportedly be sent to Ottawa within days of Donald Trump's inauguration, outlining the US position in a proposed renegotiation of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which the president-elect has panned as the "worst deal in history."

Asked about it, a spokeswoman for Canada's foreign minister would only say: "We have a constructive working relationship with Mr. Trump's transition team and talks are in progress."

The country of origin rules spell out exactly how much content from outside North America a product can contain and be shipped duty-free within the trade bloc.

The Trump administration is expected to seek to slash the allowable amount of overseas content.

It also wants to ax NAFTA's independent dispute resolution tribunals, which the United States has long complained give too much power to Canada and Mexico.

Most of the requested changes to NAFTA will target Mexico, an unnamed Canadian government official told the Globe and Mail.

"The clear indication we have gotten from that side of the operation is that they are targeting Mexico and not us," the official was quoted as saying.

"We are keeping an open line of communication with them so we know what things they are planning to do with Mexico and that have a major knock-on effect with us."
By Alastair Sharp TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's self-appointed "Mr. Wonderful," a millionaire businessman and reality TV star who has proposed selling seats in the Canadian Senate, on Wednesday joined the crowded race to lead the opposition Conservatives, vowing to make Canadian business more competitive. Kevin O'Leary, known for his appearances on reality shows "Shark Tank" and "Dragons' Den", where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas, is often compared to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in style, wealth and self-promotion. "It's official, I'm in. The Conservative Party of Canada needs a candidate who can beat (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau and bring back jobs to this country!" O'Leary tweeted. In a video posted on his Facebook page, the 62-year-old O'Leary spoke over a ringing siren, which he said was a warning about the impact Trump's trade policies would have on Canada. "It means that we have to pivot, we have to be competitive. While he's lowering taxes, we're raising them. While he's eliminating carbon taxation, we're making it even more expensive to operate a business here." O'Leary, who has no political experience and had been hinting at a leadership bid for months, dismissed any similarities with Trump but echoed his outsider pitch, saying his inexperience was an asset rather than a liability. "I don't have a money problem. I don't have a name-recognition problem. I want to do what's right for the party," he told CBC television on Wednesday. "I don't owe anybody any money. I don't owe anybody any favors. I have never been a politician." O'Leary offered few policy specifics on Wednesday, saying he plans to take "the best ideas" of other leadership candidates if he becomes party leader. He is the fourteenth candidate in the Conservative leadership election, scheduled to be held May 27, 2017. The candidate chosen by party members will be their flag bearer for the October 2019 general election, against Trudeau's Liberals. "I think he'll be a serious contender," said Frank Graves, president of pollster Ekos. "He's a good communicator, obviously, and he may well be able to catch this populist wave that propelled Trump and Brexit to victory." An April Ekos poll showed that 17 percent of Conservative party supporters chose O'Leary as their preferred candidate, but the race has shifted since then. Former government minister and surgeon Kellie Leitch has vaulted to the front of the race by pushing a hard-right "Canadian values" platform that taps into discontent over the sluggish economy and Canada's acceptance of 37,000 Syrian refugees. University of Toronto political science professor Nelson Wiseman said OLeary will likely push a platform of smaller government and cutting regulations but would strike a different tone than Leitch on immigration. "Hes going to be very liberal on immigration, Wiseman said. "He himself is half-Lebanese and he makes a big point of that." (Additional reporting by Anna Mehler Paperney in Toronto and Sai Sachin Ravikumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese and Alan Crosby)
Caroline Kennedy on Wednesday stepped down as US ambassador to Japan, the embassy said, ending a three-year tenure for the rookie envoy who was welcomed into the job with movie-star fanfare.

The sole surviving child of assassinated US president John F. Kennedy took up the post in November 2013 as her boss, Barack Obama, focused on Asia in the face of a rising China and unpredictable North Korea.

Despite being wartime enemies, the US and Japan are close allies and thousands lined the streets of Tokyo to catch a glimpse of Kennedy when she arrived to start the job. The event was broadcast live on television.

Kennedy's replacement has not yet been appointed by incoming US leader Donald Trump.

A first-time envoy, Kennedy, 59, had a high profile in Japan and regularly visited the northeast, which was devastated by the 2011 quake-tsunami disaster.

She also participated in memorial ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the targets of the US atomic bombing in the final days of World War II.

Last year, Kennedy joined President Obama on an historic visit to Hiroshima, the first serving US president to do so.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, accompanied by Obama, visited Pearl Harbor in December, opening a new diplomatic chapter for the two former enemies -- 75 years after Japan's surprise attack that led to America's entrance into the war.

"I think that both the president's visit to Hiroshima and the prime minister's visit to Pearl Harbor really show how far our two countries have come together," she said in an interview with the top-selling Yomiuri newspaper published Wednesday.

"To be able to be at both of those events during my ambassadorship, I feel so incredibly fortunate and privileged."

Kennedy also witnessed tense negotiations over moving a major US military base in Okinawa, which hosts more than half of the approximately 47,000 American military personnel stationed in Japan.

Despite the two countries' close relationship, the presence of US troops has led to diplomatic flare-ups.

The popular diplomat raised eyebrows in 2014 when she expressed concerns on social media about what she called the "inhumaneness" of a Japanese village's traditional dolphin hunt.

Japan's whaling and dolphin hunting is a sore point in relations with many Western nations including the United States.
The Center for Public Integrity is proud to have been cited in a recent survey as among the news media leaders in its use of Freedom of Information Act litigation to obtain data from government agencies.

In fact, the Center ranked second among outlets in its filing of FOIA suits since 2000, with a total of 17, according to recently updated research by the FOIA Project, a new initiative from the Transactional Records Research Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. That put the Center behind only the New York Times.

The FOIA Project report said the Center was among the "small number of clearly dominant players" in filing FOIA suits." The report went on to say that the Center "has been a notable pioneer in creating and sustaining a new model for the delivery of investigative reporting," adding that the Center "also clearly demonstrated that it is not necessary to be a large legacy news organization to sustain an active profile in litigating FOIA matters."

Much of the credit for the Center's FOIA work belongs to our research editor, Peter Newbatt Smith. Smith is a man of many hats at the Center; he meticulously fact-checks every major story produced by our journalists, but as an attorney, he is also the Center's indispensible resource on all matters FOIA. Smith receive his bachelor's degree in medieval Europen history from Harvard University, and obtained his law degree from American University. He joined the Center in 1999.

Smith is planning to file another FOIA lawsuit this week. But he found time recently to discuss the FOIA process.

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The Freedom of Information process begins with a letter, right? Why does it become necessary to sue?

We bring a lawsuit either when it takes too long for a government agency to respond to our request, or when they do respond but withhold records that we believe should be disclosed.

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Why has the Center pursued FOIA suits so vigorously? How does the Center differ from other organizations in that regard?

In one sense, weve been very restrained  our reporters have filed thousands of FOIA requests since 2000, and weve sued 17 times. But we use FOIA, and FOIA litigation, more than most other newsrooms do. Most small news organizations cant afford to bring a lawsuit because they dont have an attorney on staff. At a larger media company, the legal department is probably focused on other issues, including business operations and libel claims. At the Center, the larger part of my responsibilities is editorial, working with the Centers reporters and editors on fact-checking our reports, but Im given the support I need when I have to devote a chunk of time to a legal case. Apart from news organizations, of course, there are also several advocacy organizations with in-house lawyers who regularly file FOIA suits.

How long does the litigation process typically take, and how does it work?

Most of our lawsuits have lasted from several months up to a couple of years. After we file a lawsuit and serve process, a federal agency has 30 days to file a response with the court. After that, the assigned judge will set a schedule for the remainder of the case. Typically, that includes a deadline for the agency to finish processing the FOIA request. Its often possible for the Center and the agency to reach a compromise and settle the case. If not, the agency files a motion for summary judgment, together with a written legal argument that attempts to demonstrate that the agency has produced all the records it is legally required to and is justified in withholding the ones it has not. I then file a cross-motion, arguing why the agency should release additional records or make fewer redactions. After one more round of written arguments from each side, the judge gets the case and prepares a written opinion that decides the issues based on the evidence and arguments.

What kinds of information has the Center gotten from FOIA suits that it couldnt obtain elsewhere?

Some examples include records involving government contracts related to Iraq and Afghanistan, George W. Bushs initiative to fight AIDS in foreign countries, and audits of the Medicare Advantage program.

For which Center stories/projects have FOIA litigation results proved essential?

Id say that litigation has been critical in several projects that centered on the analysis of government data. For instance, through a settlement in 2010, we were able to obtain about two terabytes of Medicare claims data that we used in Cracking the Codes to show how some medical providers were inflating the bills they submitted to the federal government.

Which agencies have proven particularly difficult to deal with regarding FOIA requests?

The State Department stands out in that respect. For as long as Ive been at the Center and involved in FOIA requests, State has been taking not weeks or months to respond to their average FOIA request, but years. Thats according to their own reports. In addition, they handle almost all FOIA requests through one central office, so there arent some divisions that do better and some worse  the delays are uniformly terrible.

President Obama talked a strong game about transparency and freedom-of-information, but what was the reality?

Obama and his first attorney general, Eric Holder, announced some changes that were supposed to direct federal agencies to withhold or redact less information in response to FOIA requests, but those were relatively small changes at the margins. The available statistics suggest that FOIA requests still get denied at the same or higher rates and that response times are still unacceptably long. The most significant improvement Ive seen, which was beginning to occur before the Obama administration but has continued, is that most agencies have become more professional and organized in the way they respond to FOIA requests. When you try to ask them, When will you have a response to my FOIA request? you can usually get a response by phone or email. But the answer is likely to be, Another month or two.

Do we have any signals/indications about President-elect Trumps policies in this regard?

Im not aware that President-elect Trump has said anything specifically about FOIA. Its not clear how much practical effect the presidents attitude has on how FOIA is implemented, but the signals Trump has sent by refusing to disclose his personal tax returns arent encouraging. At his recent news conference, he said, You know, the only one that cares about my tax returns are the reporters, okay?  I dont think [the American people] care at all.

Given your depth of experience in these matters, what quick tips would you give to journalists pursuing FOIA requests?

As best you can, try to describe the records youre looking for in a way that will make sense to the agency employee searching for them. So mention the name the agency uses for the program youre looking into, and give them a case number or other identifying number if you have it. Remember that FOIA doesnt require government employees to answer the questions you have; it only requires them to give you copies of the records that you specify.

Another tip: When you know of one specific record, and you also want other records like it, give a description of both. For example, Inspector Generals Report #16-301, dated March 2016, and all other Inspector General reports from January 2016 to the present concerning allegations of sexual harassment by agency employees.

This story is part of Inside Publici. Stories were working on, the impact of our investigations, news about our fundraising efforts, and other issues that shape our work. Click here to read more stories in this topic.

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Copyright 2017 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
CHICAGO (AP)  Police say a 5-year-old Chicago girl is in serious condition after she shot herself in the abdomen with a handgun that she found in her mother's purse.

Police said Wednesday that the girl's mother, 22-year-old Larrinita Starks, has been charged with child endangerment.

The shooting happened Tuesday night in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the city's West Side. Police say the girl got the gun from her mother's purse in a bedroom.

Starks is due in court March 16. She doesn't have a listed phone number and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Police say the injured girl is in serious condition. Her grandmother, Oretha Miller, says the child is stable and recovering.
BEIJING (AP)  China on Wednesday called on the U.S. to bar a Taiwanese delegation from attending Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday, underscoring concerns that the incoming president could seek to redefine relations between Beijing, Taipei and Washington.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the request had been passed to Trump's transition team and to the current administration of Barack Obama.

"We urge the U.S. side once again not to allow the Taiwan administration to send the so-called delegation to attend the inauguration and to avoid any forms of official exchange with Taiwan," Hua said at a daily briefing.

China firmly opposes "anyone from the Taiwan administration engaged in activities that interfere or undermine the China-U.S. relationship in the U.S. under any pretext," she said.

Delegation leader and former Premier Yu Shyi-kun departed for Washington on Monday together with politicians from both Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition Nationalists.

Along with attending the inauguration, the delegates plan to hold talks with politicians, academics and overseas Chinese community representatives.

Trump angered Beijing and upset decades of diplomatic precedent by talking by phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen shortly after winning November's presidential election.

Last week, he said in a newspaper interview that Washington's "one China policy" under which it recognized Beijing in 1979 was open to negotiation, and earlier questioned why the U.S. should be bound by such an approach without China offering incentives.

The U.S. has no formal relations with Taipei in deference to China, which claims the island as its own. However, the two maintain robust informal ties, while Washington sells Taiwan arms and is legally bound to regard any threat to the island as a matter of grave concern.

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have risen since Tsai's election last year, with Beijing cutting off contacts and working to deepen Taiwan's diplomatic isolation.
China may allow foreign companies to launch IPOs on its stock exchanges and issue corporate bonds, the government said, after President Xi Jinping promised the world his country was committed to opening its markets.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, late Tuesday posted on its website a notice saying it had granted approval in principle for foreign companies to launch IPOs and issue corporate debt and other financing instruments to "support the widening of foreign companies' financing channels".

The announcement was the latest in a series of liberalisation pledges from China as it braces for the incoming Donald Trump administration.

Trump has repeatedly blamed China, and globalisation, for the loss of millions of US jobs, raising fears of a trade war between the world's number one and two economies.

The State Council gave no further specifics or timing on the potential IPO and debt-market reforms, saying relevant regulations must first be drawn up.

Such pronouncements can take years to become reality, and analysts said it was too early to predict when, or in what final form, any changes would be introduced.

"This IPO plan is still at a very early stage and the matching mechanisms haven't been created and implemented," said Zhang Fayu, research director for private equity firm Million Tons Capital.

"Bond issues would start very slowly with one-by-one trials to minimise the market impact."

China has moved gradually toward opening its capital markets.

In 2014, a trading link between the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges was introduced, and another was started in December between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China's other exchange.

The links give foreigners some access to China-listed shares, while also allowing Chinese firms to buy Hong Kong-traded stocks.

China's regulators have recently approved a surge of new IPOs as Chinese companies line up to raise capital, with several debuting weekly since November, compared to a usual twice-a-month rate.

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But traders have blamed the rush of new IPOs for drying up market liquidity, and the benchmark Shanghai index lost ground for five straight sessions before rebounding on Tuesday.

In a speech at the World Economic Forum at Davos on Tuesday, Xi warned against protectionism and promised China would continue to liberalise, sketching out an alternative view to Trump's.

Foreign companies and China's trading partners continue to complain about access to its markets.

China ranked 84th globally -- behind Saudi Arabia and Ukraine -- in the World Bank's ease of doing business index for 2016, and second to last in an OECD report on restrictiveness towards foreign investment.

Last month China said it would allow foreign firms to operate fully-owned subsidiaries, rather than joint ventures, in sectors including rail transportation equipment and motorcycles, and loosen a range of other restrictions.
China is suspending local meteorological bureaus from issuing smog alerts, media reported Wednesday, raising suspicions the government is attempting to suppress information about the country's air pollution as public anger over the issue grows.

China's Meteorological Administration notified local bureaus Tuesday to "immediately stop issuing smog alerts", according to a photo of a notice posted on China's Twitter-like social media platform Weibo.

Instead, the local departments can issue alerts for "fog" when visibility is less than 10 km, according to the notice.

The notice was issued because local "meterological bureaus and the environmental protection administration often disagree when they issue smog-related information," a representative from the China Meteorological Administration told the Chinese website The Paper.

"A joint alerting mechanism will be formulated to consult how to and who should issue alerts for smog," the representative said.

One single department will now be responsible for issuing smog alerts, The Paper reported.

The reports met with stinging criticism from online commentators who have long doubted the credibility of official data on air pollution.

"Before, they cheated us separately, and now, they are going to cheat us together," one person said on Weibo.

"Even though they are working on a unified alert standard, they should not stop the existing alert system," another replied.

The Chinese government has a colour-coded system of smog alerts, topping out at red when severe pollution is likely to last more than 72 hours.

The notice sets off a series of emergency measures, ranging from taking cars off the road to closing heavily polluting factories.

Local authorities have long hesitated to issue the notices over fears that they will harm economic performance, even when pollution levels are literally off the charts.

In late 2015, China issued its first ever red alert in response to public anger over the government's reluctance to take action after a wave of suffocating smog hit the country's northeast.

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In the past, local and national authorities have issued contradictory, confusing alerts, one ordering factories and schools to be closed and one not.

Bad air is a source of enduring public anger in China, which has seen fast economic growth in recent decades but at the cost of widespread environmental problems.

In recent weeks, parents in particular have expressed outrage over the miasma that regularly affect hundreds of millions and has led to high levels of lung cancer, demanding that schools be equipped with air purifiers.

Earlier this month, many took to social media to express their anger about the thick smog that choked Beijing for over a week around the New Year but found their articles quickly deleted, a move that only increased their frustration.

"When people are gagged, the sky will be blue," said one sarcasm-laced Weibo comment.
By Ben Blanchard and J.R. Wu BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United States should not allow a delegation from Taiwan to attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, raising a new bone of contention in Beijing's relations with the incoming government. Trump broke with decades of precedent last month by taking a congratulatory telephone call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, and he has also said the "One China" policy was up for negotiation, a position Beijing strongly rejected. A Taiwan delegation, led by former premier and ex-ruling party leader Yu Shyi-kun, and including a Taiwan national security adviser and some lawmakers, will attend Friday's inauguration, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said this week. It is typical for Taiwan to send a delegation to U.S. presidential inaugurations. A spokesman for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's office said no meetings were scheduled with the new Trump administration while the delegation was there for the event. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, with no right to have any kind of diplomatic relations with other countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China was opposed to Taiwan using any excuse to send people to the United States to "engage in activities to interfere in or damage China-U.S. ties". "We again urge the relevant side in the United States not to allow the Taiwan authority to send a so-called delegation to the United States to attend the presidential inauguration and not have any form of official contact with Taiwan," Hua told a regular news briefing. "China's position has already accurately and unmistakably been given to the U.S. administration and Trump's team." China's ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, will attend the inauguration on its behalf, she added. Defeated Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the Communists. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and proudly democratic Taiwan has shown no interest in wanting to be run by Beijing. China is deeply suspicious of Taiwan's Tsai, whom it suspects of wanting to push for the island's formal independence, a red line for China. Tsai, who visited the U.S. this month while travelling to and from Central America, says she wants to maintain peace with China. The administration of President Barack Obama has repeatedly reinforced the U.S. commitment to the "one China" policy, under which Washington acknowledges China's position of sovereignty over Taiwan, since Trump's call with the Taiwanese leader. Trump is to be sworn into office on Friday. (Additional reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Randy Fabi and Clarence Fernandez)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China is willing to play a constructive role in seeking a political resolution to the crisis over Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Ukrainian counterpart, adding that he considers the eastern European country a friend. China has walked a fine line over Ukraine since Russian annexed Crimea in 2014, saying it respects Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty but that Western powers should take into consideration Russia's legitimate security concerns. China and Russia see eye-to-eye on many international diplomatic issues. And, Beijing has been careful not to be drawn into the struggle between Russia and the West over Ukraine's future, not wanting to alienate a key ally in Moscow. Meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Xi told Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that the two countries have a long tradition of friendship, China's foreign ministry said late on Tuesday. China sets great store on developing ties, and wants to deepen cooperation, Xi said. "We genuinely hope that Ukraine maintains social stability and economic development, and are willing to play a constructive role in promoting a political resolution to the crisis," the statement paraphrased Xi as saying, without elaborating. China has previously shown little interest in getting involved in diplomatic efforts to end the crisis. Poroshenko told Xi that Ukraine welcomed Chinese investment and there was great potential for cooperation in areas like logistics, ports, steel and agriculture, China's foreign ministry added. Outgoing U.S. Vice President Joe Biden made a call, while in Kiev this week, for sanctions on Russia to stay, urging the world to stand up to its "coercion and aggression" after President-elect Donald Trump mooted ending the measures under a possible deal with Moscow. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese authorities have asked an unnamed Chinese province to turn off its early warning alert system for smog to avoid mismatches between environment and meteorological authority forecasts, state media reported late on Tuesday. Nearly three years into a "war on pollution", large swathes of northern China have been engulfed in smog over the New Year, with dangerous air quality readings in major cities like Beijing, Tianjin and Xian forcing many people to stay in doors. Chinese authorities use a color-coded system of alerts to warn companies, schools and individuals of incoming smog, and to try to fight the haze by limiting production in polluting industries and banning older cars from city streets. The system's accuracy and fair application has become the focus of public discussion, and people regularly take to the internet to question discrepancies in alerts issued by different Chinese authorities in different locations. An image of a notice from the provincial capital's weather forecasting authorities tells county and city forecasters to immediately cease releasing early warnings for smog was widely shared on Weibo, a popular Chinese microblog, on Tuesday. The Paper, an online publication under the government-backed Shanghai United media Group, confirmed the notice with an unnamed official from China's National Meteorological Administration. The note was an internal memo, not for public release, the official told the paper, adding it was sent "because there has previously been incidents of the meteorological administration and the environmental protection ministry frequently releasing different information about the smog". The county and city authorities may continue to release fog alerts for low visibility, the notice said. The National Meteorological Administration declined to comment when telephoned by Reuters. The instruction has drawn ire from online commentators who ask why weather authorities are not allowed to post smog warnings. "The meteorological administration fought the environmental protection ministry and lost," the Nanjing Meteorological Institute said on its official Weibo account. "Thus, early warnings about smog, a kind of meteorological calamity, cannot be issued by the meteorological administration," it said. Earlier this month, Beijing issued its highest fog alert while only issuing the second highest level for smog, which raised questions from some living in the city. The episode of smog which blanketed cities, disrupting flights, port operations and schools, was caused by increased coal use for winter heating and unfavorable weather conditions, authorities said at the time. (Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Michael Perry)




Charlotte Kilroy made some delicious dishes on her way to winning Chopped Junior Wednesday night. Along with the satisfaction of crushing the competition, Charlotte also won $10,000, and she already knew what she wanted to do with it. Before she won, the shows host, Ted Allen, asked Charlotte what she would do with the money and she said, I will donate it to The Trevor Project. Its a suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth. I have friends who are not in good places, and theres nobody there for them, so I really support that project.

Charlotte was able to win due to her secret weapon: aquafaba. For those who dont know, which is likely most people, aquafaba is the liquid from cooked chickpeas, which can be substituted for egg whites. Charlotte made marshmallow fluff out of aquafaba to serve on top of her bread pudding, which put her over the top at the end.

Chopped Junior airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Food Network.

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By Jonathan Landay LANGLEY, Va. (Reuters) - The Central Intelligence Agency on Wednesday unveiled revised rules for collecting, analyzing and storing information on American citizens, updating the rules for the information age and publishing them in full for the first time. The guidelines are designed "in a manner that protects the privacy and civil rights of the American people," CIA General Counsel Caroline Krass told a briefing at the agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia. The new rules were released amid continued public discomfort over the government's surveillance powers, an issue that gained prominence following revelations in 2013 by former government contractor Edward Snowden that the National Security Agency (NSA) secretly collected the communications data of millions of ordinary Americans. The guidelines were published two days before President elect-Donald Trump is sworn into office and may be changed by the new administration. Trump has said he favors stronger government surveillance powers, including the monitoring of "certain" mosques in the United States. The CIA is largely barred from collecting information inside the United States or on U.S. citizens. But a 1980s presidential order provided for discrete exceptions governed by procedures approved by the CIA director and the attorney general. Known as the "Attorney General Guidelines," the original rules over time became a "patchwork of policies and procedures" that failed to keep pace with the development of technology that can store massive amounts of digital data, said Krass. In 2014, legislation gave U.S. intelligence agencies two years to develop procedures limiting the storage of information on U.S. citizens. The new procedures, under development for years, were signed on Tuesday by CIA Director John Brennan and Attorney General Loretta Lynch. While the 1982 guidelines were made public two years ago, sections were blacked out. The updated procedures were posted in full for the first time on the CIA's website on Wednesday. The updated procedures include what the CIA must do when it clandestinely obtains a computer hard drive holding millions of pages of text, hours of videos and thousands of photos containing information on foreigners and U.S. citizens. Because extensive time and many analysts are required to assess such large volumes of data, the new rules regulate the handling of material whose intelligence value cannot be promptly evaluated. They also regulate how such data can be searched and create strict requirements for dealing with unevaluated electronic communications, which must be destroyed no later than five years after the are first examined. The rules were unveiled a week after civil liberties groups decried new guidelines approved by the Obama administration expanding the NSA's ability to share communications intercepts with other U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA. (Additional reporting by Warren Strobel; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Former soldier Chelsea Manning, who gave more than 700,000 secret documents to WikiLeaks, was granted clemency Tuesday by outgoing President Barack Obama.

The transgender inmate twice tried to kill herself last year in the mens prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. She had repeatedly asked to be transferred to a female civilian correctional facility.

Read: Army Whistleblower Chelsea Manning Hospitalized After Suicide Attempt

The former U.S. Army private had served seven years of a 35-year sentence, the longest punishment ever handed down for leaking classified information.

Shortening her prison stay was one of Obama's last official acts in office. He also pardoned Gen. James E. Cartwright, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who pleaded guilty in October to making false statements to investigators during a probe into leaked materials that detailed a covert cyberattack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

"We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning.

She is scheduled to be released in May.

The White House had no comment on a Jan. 12 tweet from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange saying he would agree to be extradited, from the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to the U.S., in exhange for Manning's release.

GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan called the clemency just outrageous.

White House officials said Obama granted Manning a shorter sentence because she had expressed remorse for what she did and had already served several years behind bars, The Associated Press reported.

The officials spoke to journalists via a conference call on condition of anonymity, the wire service said.

Read: Edward Snowden Leaves Behind Pole Dancing Girlfriend

Obama also granted 64 other pardons and 207 other commutations, mostly of drug dealers.

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Manning, who was born a male, deployed to Iraq in 2009 as Pfc. Bradley Manning, a low-level intelligence analyst who nonetheless had access to classified computers.

Manning copied thousands of documents that exposed detainee abuse by Iraqi military officers working with Americans, as well as video of a U.S. helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed civilians and two Reuters journalists.

The soldier passed that information to WikiLeaks, which was just gaining fame under Assange.

Manning ultimately pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors. After being demoted to private, the soldier announced she was transgender and began gender-reassignment treatment.

Watch: Trump Blasts Intel Report, Calls CNN 'Fake News' at First Presser as President-Elect

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Quito (AFP) - Colombia announced a deal Wednesday to hold peace talks with its last active rebel group, the ELN.

The move aims to seal "complete peace" after the signing of a historic deal with the bigger FARC guerrilla force, President Juan Manuel Santos said.

"I can tell you we have come to an agreement" on launching talks, having settled a dispute about the release of a hostage that National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels were holding, Santos said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Delegations from the two sides meeting in Ecuador said later they had agreed that the ELN would release the hostage and the government would in return grant pardons to two members of the rebel group.

The talks will then start on February 7, they said.

"We have been trying to start these official negotiations for three years now and the truth is it has been a very difficult process," Santos said.

"This second stage that is going to begin next month is extremely important because it will allow us to achieve a complete peace, not only with the FARC but with the ELN, too."

- Sealing the peace -

Santos has already signed a historic peace accord with the country's biggest rebel group, the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

That deal is seen as effectively ending Latin America's last major armed conflict.

It will demobilize and disarm the 5,700-strong FARC and transform them into a political party.

To completely seal the peace, Colombia wants to include the leftist ELN, estimated to have about 1,500 members.

Negotiations had stalled in October due to disagreement over the release of the hostage, an ex-lawmaker.

- FARC renegades -

The FARC meanwhile on Wednesday reported bloodshed involving a breakaway faction of fighters from its ranks led by a commander opposed to the force's peace deal with Santos.

Commanders of the FARC's Southern Bloc said in a statement the violence erupted on January 10 near the southern central town of San Vicente del Caguan.

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"There was an armed confrontation between units of this bloc and a squad led by Alexander Mojoso, who resolved to abandon our ranks on the grounds that he disagrees with the current peace agreement," it said.

"In the clash, one member of Mojoso's group is said to have been killed."

The FARC is due to start disarming in the coming weeks under UN supervision.

The Colombian conflict grew out of a crushed peasant uprising in the 1960s. It has killed more than 260,000 people and left 60,000 missing.

The conflict has drawn in not only the Colombian armed forces, the FARC and the ELN, but drug gangs, right-wing paramilitaries, and other leftist rebel groups that have since disbanded.

- Risk to peace -

In October, voters taking part in a referendum rejected a peace deal with the FARC after opponents condemned what they said were concessions made to the rebels.

The deal allows the FARC to transform into a political party.

The opposition campaign complained that Santos granted the rebels seats in Congress, saying he should have jailed them for war crimes.

Santos won the Nobel Peace Prize five days after the referendum defeat.

He and the FARC revised the peace deal and had it ratified in Congress, rather than in another referendum.

Apart from Santos' political rivals, there are concerns over sectors of the FARC opposed to the peace accord.

Mojoso "is working to unite rural people, to discredit the peace process and to oblige them through threats to support him unconditionally," the FARC statement said.

Santos has warned that delaying implementation of the accord raises the risk that fresh violence will break out.
A Colorado woman is among five people killed in on Monday at a Mexico nightclub when a gun-wielding man attempted to enter the popular hot spot packed with American tourists, according to multiple reports.

Alejandra Villanueva Ibarra of Denver died as she attempted to flee the Blue Parrot nightclub early Monday morning in the Mexican resort town of Playa Del Carmen, according to the Denver Post.

The 18-year-old was among dozens at the club for the 10-day BPM music festival when a man with a gun was stopped at the door by security personnel at around 2:30 a.m., the Post reports. The gunman exchanged fire with another person and the clubs guards came under fire as well, according to the Post.

The gunfire sent concertgoers running from the club and Ibarra was trampled in the stampede as they fled the chaotic scene, according to ABC News.

Caos en las calles de playa del carmen. NO SALGAN. Chaos on the streets. STAY SAFE. #blueparrot #bpm pic.twitter.com/ZHJZRq7PD3  Pipe Llorens (@pipellorens) January 16, 2017

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Ibarras brother, Robert Aaron Martinez, spoke through tears as he remembered his sister in an interview with ABC.

She was a hard worker. She was always looking out for my mom and my little brothers, Martinez said. She was working and going to college and pretty much the only one helping my mom.

He started a GoFundMe page in the wake of his sisters death, writing that Ibarra cared for her younger siblings as her mother suffered health issues.

 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.

Video of the frantic scene posted online showed dozens of people running from the club. And a New Zealand tourist, Tyler Klee, told the Post that he feared for his life.

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Everyone ran, everyone was terrified, looking for their friends, Klee said. We were running away and then you hear more shots fired, like you dont know if youre going to be shot in the back or not.

 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.

Officials investigating the incident said they believe the shooting was not a terrorist act, but was likely related to the drug trade, ABC reports.

At least three people have been detained as a result of the shooting, but their involvement has not been made public, according to El Mundo.

At least 15 people were injured in the shooting. Eight of them have been discharged while one remained in serious condition early Tuesday, Quintana Roo Gov. Roberto Angulo said, according to El Mundo.

Officials with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PEOPLE.




New York (AFP) - The prospect of a Hillary Clinton comeback after her shock loss to Donald Trump could hardly be less certain, but in New York where she is revered, plenty of people dream of her running for mayor.

Her public appearances since the election have been largely confined to walks in the woods close to her Chappaqua home, where she is photographed in minimal make-up by neighbors mourning her defeat and repelled by the president-elect.

The 69-year-old former secretary of state otherwise emerged to present pop star Katy Perry with an award at a UNICEF ball and has been photographed at smart restaurants such as the Polo Bar, dining with fashion designer Ralph Lauren who custom-made the pantsuit in which she conceded defeat to Trump.

Then there was also a December meeting with donors at which the New York Times said that she blamed her loss on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the late-hour FBI intervention over her email scandal.

In a city where nearly 80 percent of the electorate voted for her, Clinton can forget that she polarized the electorate and the millions of Americans who consider her the incarnation of an abhorrent political class.

On January 8, she got a standing ovation on Broadway when she attended the last night of The Color Purple -- in stark contrast to Vice President-elect Mike Pence who was booed and lectured when he went to Hamilton in November.

On Friday she will attend Trump's inauguration -- her first major appearance in months -- when cameras will be watching for the slightest reaction from the woman who hoped to shatter the ultimate glass ceiling and become the first female commander-in-chief of the world's most powerful democracy.

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For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

While the Democrat lost the crucial Electoral College by 232 to 306, she won the popular vote by more than 2.7 million ballots -- more than any white man as her supporters delight in pointing out.

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Confidante Neera Tanden told CNN that Clinton would never run for office again, but several media outlets have reported on rumors and speculation that she's been asked to consider a run for New York mayor this November.

The job would put her in charge of Trump's hometown, but the fact that the current incumbent -- Bill de Blasio -- once managed her New York senate campaign and is running again, makes the prospect reportedly more unlikely.

- Trump's hometown foe -

But as the rumors have spread, Clinton has done nothing to give them credence or to shoot them down.

Even tabloid the New York Post, which was hostile to Clinton the presidential candidate, urged her to run against the left-leaning mayor it opposes.

"Secretary Clinton, we'd love to see you run for mayor. New York City needs you," it wrote on January 6.

It listed her attributes and work ethic, and implied it would not be difficult for Clinton to become a city resident and build ties to city neighborhoods.

"While it's not the glass ceiling she hoped to break, New York has never had a woman mayor. Isn't it past time for that to change?" finished the editorial.

Sam Abrams, professor of political science at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, told AFP that something "inconceivable" months ago was "not ridiculous at all" given the scale of New York's antipathy to Trump.

"We live in a city that opposes him ideologically more than any other city on this planet," said Abrams.

"She has been doing this for years... she has the money, the infrastructure, the experience," he said. "If she wants to keep fighting -- it is a great way to keep fighting," he added.

The former first lady, New York senator and secretary of state also "brings all that star power that de Blasio does not have," he advised.

"It's a great opportunity to be an oppositional mayor to the president."
WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump says his inauguration will have "an unbelievable, perhaps record-setting turnout." Organizers of a protest the next day call it the biggest demonstration in history to welcome a new president.

Exactly how many people actually show up for both events will likely never be known.

Counting the number of people at major public events is as much art as science, and there will be no official tally of how many people attend either Friday's inaugural festivities or the Women's March on Washington on Saturday.

Here's a look at why crowd size is so mysterious.

___

IT STARTS WITH THE MILLION MAN MARCH

For decades, the National Park Service provided official crowd estimates for gatherings on the National Mall. That changed after the Million Man March in 1995, a gathering of black men meant to show renewed commitment to family and solidarity. The park service estimated 400,000 people attended the march, making it one of the largest demonstrations in history in Washington.

But organizers believed they reached their goal of 1 million participants. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, one of the march organizers, threatened to sue the park service, arguing its count was motivated by "racism, white supremacy and hatred for Louis Farrakhan." Researchers at Boston University did an independent analysis and said the crowd was much bigger, pegging it at more than 800,000.

No lawsuit was filed, but the dispute was enough to get the park service out of the head-counting business. The following year, Congress passed an appropriations bill that barred the agency from spending money to count crowds. While that language didn't appear in subsequent budgets, refusing to count crowds became park service policy.

The agency still estimates crowd size for its own planning purposes, but does not publicly reveal the figures.

"No matter what we said or did, no one ever felt we gave a fair estimate," U.S. Park Police Maj. J.J. McLaughlin, who had been in charge of coordinating crowd estimates, said in 1996 when the agency confirmed it would no longer count heads.

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HOW CROWDS ARE COUNTED

Before it stopped, the park service came up with its crowd figures by studying aerial photographs. Using a grid system, the park service would divide the Mall into sections of equal square footage. Then it counted the number of people in each section of the grid by looking at how tightly packed the crowd was and assigning a number of people per square foot.

Not much has changed since about the way crowds are estimated, said Steve Doig, a journalism professor at Arizona State University who specializes in measuring crowd sizes.

The figure that corresponds to a "loosely packed crowd," Doig said, is 10 square feet per person, "which sounds like a lot but it's really not." That means people could reach out and touch those closest to them on all sides.

"A tighter crowd would get down to maybe 6 or 7 square feet per person," he said. "A scary mosh pit crowd would be maybe 3 to 4 at most."

Crowd estimates for events in Washington are difficult in general because the city's lack of tall buildings and security restrictions on aircraft make it tough to get comprehensive aerial images, Doig said.

Christopher Geldart, the District of Columbia's homeland security director, has said consistently that he expects between 800,000 and 900,000 people to attend Trump's inauguration. He said he would use the tried-and-true grid method to provide his own crowd estimate on the Monday after the swearing-in.

___

WOMEN'S MARCH

The largest-ever demonstration in Washington, according to park service figures, was an anti-Vietnam War protest in 1969 that drew 600,000 people. The Mall can easily accommodate crowds in the hundreds of thousands; between 300,000 and 400,000 regularly attend the July Fourth fireworks.

Organizers of Saturday's Women's March on Washington have received a permit from D.C. police for a gathering of 200,000 people. Geldart said he expects the number of participants to exceed that figure, based on data including bus, hotel and train bookings. He cautioned, however, that organizers have not yet told authorities to expect more than the permitted total.

___

PAST INAUGURATIONS

The park service did not dispute a widely reported estimate that 1.8 million people came to Washington for President Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009, believed to be the largest inaugural crowd in history. The biggest crowd the park service counted at an inauguration was 1.2 million for Lyndon Johnson's 1965 swearing-in.

Doig isn't sure about either of those figures. His analysis of aerial photographs led him to conclude that just 800,000 were on the Mall for Obama's first inauguration, though he did not include the parade route, where thousands more people waited all day to catch a glimpse of America's first black president.

The estimate was difficult because the density of the crowd varied widely, he said, despite aerial photographs that appeared to show the Mall full of people between the Capitol and the Washington Monument. Further away from the Capitol, people huddled around television monitors, leaving big tracts of mostly empty space.

Any time a crowd reaches into the hundreds of thousands, it's a noteworthy gathering, Doig said, but boosters will always try to politicize the turnout for their chosen cause.

"One of the things that aggravates me ... is the need for it to be huge," he said. "It sort of drives the numbers into areas where it just clearly is fiction and it undercuts the reality of what really is an amazing crowd."

Trump clearly cares about posting a big number.

In a video ad posted on social media Wednesday, he said: "Hopefully we're going to get a million people. We're going to really make a big statement."

___

Follow Ben Nuckols on Twitter at https://twitter.com/APBenNuckols
Yes, Simon's Cat is between the covers again The new book is called Simon's Cat vs the World and you can win your own copy, acco...
(WASHINGTON)  President-elect Donald Trumps pick for commerce secretary said Wednesday that he favors sensible trade, is pro-union and believes his vast business dealings have given experience fighting other countries unfair trade practices.

Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross cited his relationship with the United Steelworkers Union, which has endorsed him for the Cabinet post, as proof that he will work to protect American jobs.

Im pro-trade. But Im pro-sensible trade, not trade that is detrimental to the American worker and to the domestic manufacturing base, Ross told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

I think Ive probably had more direct experience than any prior cabinet nominee has had with unfair trade in the steel business, in the textile business, in the auto parts business and other sectors, Ross said.

Worth an estimated $2.9 billion, Ross has extensive business ties around the globe. Supporters say that makes him ideal to represent American business interests abroad.

I believe his extensive management experience in the private sector, and his understanding of the challenges faced by workers and businesses alike, will equip him well for the job of leading the Department of Commerce, said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the committee chairman.

Trump has said Ross will play a big role in American trade policy. Trumps views on trade are at odds with many congressional Republicans. He has pledged to re-negotiate existing trade deals and scrap a pending one with Asian countries.

Ross said the North American Free Trade Agreement, involving the U.S., Canada and Mexico, is logically the first thing for us to deal with.

That will be a very, very early topic in this administration, Ross added.

The commerce secretary has several roles in promoting American business interests in the U.S. and abroad. The department works on trade issues, working to attract foreign investment in the U.S. The department also oversees agencies that manage fisheries, weather forecasting and the Census Bureau, which will conduct a census in 2020.

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Ross said he has unique experience at that agency; he was a census-taker while he attended business school.

Unlike the president-elect, Ross has agreed to divorce himself from a vast financial empire.

Ross has signed an ethics agreement with the Office of Government Ethics. In it, he agrees to divest from 40 different businesses and investments within 90 days of being confirmed. He agreed to divest from 40 more within 180 days.

Among the businesses he will separate himself from is WL Ross & Co., the private equity firm he founded in 2000.

Trump has had a run-in with the head of the ethics agency because he says he wont completely divest himself from his business empire. Instead, Trump says he will turn control of his business over to his sons.

Walter Shaub Jr., who directs the office, said Trumps plan is insufficient to avoid conflicts of interest.

Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, the top Democrat on the Senate committee, praised Ross for divesting from most of his personal holdings.

I believe thats the right thing to do and it tells me youre committed to doing the job the right way by placing the publics interests ahead of your own, Nelson said. Its my hope that President-elect Trump will follow your lead and the example you set.

Ross private equity firm buys failing companies and repairs them to make them presentable to investors. The firm then sells the investment through a sale or public offering.

Much of the firms work is in struggling industries, including textiles, subprime mortgage servicing, steel and coal.
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Keon the Irish wolfhound now holds the Guinness World Record for longest tail on a dog, thanks to his massive 2.6-foot long tail, beating the previous record by about 1.7 inches.

Guinness World Records visited the wolfhound and his owners at their home in Belgium to present Keon with his official certificate and to capture footage of the world's longest dog tail in motion.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has made an unannounced trip to Syria and Lebanon, traveling to the region two months after she sat down with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss foreign policy.

The Hawaii congresswoman has frequently challenged President Barack Obama on national security issues. In the meeting with Trump, she warned him about escalating the civil war in Syria by establishing a no-fly zone to protect civilians from bombing. She has said she believes that creating such a safe zone off limits to military aircraft could bring the U.S. into direct conflict with Russia and result in nuclear war.

Spokeswoman Emily Latimer said Wednesday that Gabbard, who is a major in the Army National Guard, "has long been committed to peace and ending counterproductive, interventionist wars."

Latimer wouldn't say if Gabbard met with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"As a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, and as an individual committed to doing all she can to promote and work for peace, she felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees and government and community leaders," Latimer said in a statement.

She said she wouldn't provide any additional details on the trip until Gabbard returns.

Al-Watan, a pro-government Syrian daily, reported that a U.S. delegation including Gabbard visited the city of Aleppo. The paper said the delegation visited the Aleppo citadel, which has been partially damaged by fighting, along with parts of eastern Aleppo that had until Dec. 22 been in rebel control.

The State Department has issued a travel warning for Syria and continues to warn U.S. citizens against all travel to the country.

A State Department official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, said as the trip was private, the department was not involved.

The office of House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., was not consulted prior to Gabbard's trip, according to a senior Republican aide.

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In 2005, the administration of President George W. Bush withdrew the ambassador from the U.S. Embassy in Damascus following the assassination of Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, for which Syrian agents were blamed.

Two years later, the Bush administration and numerous Republicans were critical of then Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., when she made a visit to Syria and met with Assad. In 2010, Obama returned an ambassador to Syria only to remove him and close the embassy a year later amid the Assad government's worsening crackdown on opposition protesters that turned into the country's civil war.

As a senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary of State John Kerry made at least two trips to Damascus in 2009, before Obama nominated a new ambassador.

In her November meeting with Trump, Gabbard said the two discussed legislation she is pushing that would end what she described as "our country's illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government."

Trump asked for the meeting, Gabbard said then, to discuss Syria, the fight to defeat the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, and other foreign policy issues.

Gabbard, who backed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary, said she accepted the meeting with Trump over concern that a wing of the Republican Party known as the neocons will grow in influence once Trump takes office in January. She said that could push the U.S. more deeply into Syria, where the war now in its sixth year has killed as many as a half-million people.

The Obama administration has refrained from setting up a no-fly, or safe, zone for civilians in Syria partly because of the complexity in enforcing it and the potential for direct military confrontation between the U.S. and Russia.

The administration has refused to target Assad's forces directly but has provided air support to the battle-hardened Syrian Kurds. Trump, however, has expressed skepticism about U.S. backing for Syrian rebels and hinted at working more closely with Moscow against the Islamic State.

Gabbard's trip was first reported by Foreign Policy.

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AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee and reporter Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
A global study from Deloitte taking in the opinions of 22,000 consumers in 17 different countries finds that although attitudes to autonomous vehicles are becoming more positive, the majority of consumers need evidence that these technological advances will lead to safer cars.

Whether in Germany, Korea, India, China, the US or Japan, a lack of trust was the number-one answer when consumers were asked about whether they'd consider a self-driving car.

In South Korea, 81% of respondents said that they had safety concerns, followed by Japanese (79%) and German consumers (72%). Even in the US where real-world testing of autonomous cars is a reality in a number of states, 74% feel that self-driving cars won't be safe.

However, 68% of Americans said they'd change their opinion once such cars have proven they're safe, and 54% said they'd travel in an autonomous car if it had been built by a brand they trust.

"Automakers and technology companies first have to earn consumers' trust, then turn that trust into a willingness to pay for a must-have feature," said Craig Giffi, vice chairman and US automotive industry leader, Deloitte LLP, and co-author of the report. "Today trust is lacking. Ironically, fully autonomous vehicles are being engineered to be much safer than today's vehicles."

And it could prove especially challenging for the US automotive industry to gain this trust. Deloitte found just 47% of US consumers trust carmakers to deliver an autonomous car (compared with 51% in Germany and 76% of Japanese respondents) but it's worse still for tech companies.

Google may have taken an early lead in the race to develop a truly self-driving car, or at least the technology underpinning them, but only 20% of Americans said that they would trust a car from an established Silicon Valley company.

The report comes as a number of carmakers, from Honda and Toyota to Volvo, have reiterated that despite the rapid pace of technological development, they haven't lost sight of the fact cars are first and foremost built for people.

"The important question isn't whether future vehicles will be equipped with automated or connected technologies," said Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota during his CES presentation. "It is the experience of the people who engage with those vehicles."
OSLO, Norway (AP)  An appeals court in Norway is considering whether the prison conditions under which mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik is being held amount to a violation of his human rights.

The six-day trial ended Wednesday in a makeshift courtroom inside Skien prison in southern Norway where Breivik, 37, is serving a 21-year sentence for killing 77 people in a 2011 bomb-and-shooting rampage.

Breivik's lawyer, Oystein Storrvik, spent most of the last day seeking to show that restrictions on his client's visitors and the strict control over Breivik's mail and phone calls have led to a lack of human interaction and privacy, which amounts to a violation of his rights.

The case is "really about a person that is sitting very, very alone in a small prison within a prison" since 2012, explained Storrvik.

He dismissed the benefits of the weekly visits by a state-appointed prison confidante for Breivik, saying "it's a paid job."

Addressing the court last week, Breivik said his solitary confinement had deeply damaged him and made him even more radical in his neo-Nazi beliefs.

The Norwegian state rejected the criticism and said efforts to find a prison confidante show the authorities have "gone out of their way" to remedy the situation.

In a surprise verdict last year, the Oslo District Court sided with Breivik, finding that his isolation was "inhuman (and) degrading" and breached the European Convention on Human Rights. It ordered the government to pay his legal costs.

But it dismissed Breivik's claim that his right to respect for private and family life was violated by restrictions on contacts with other right-wing extremists, a decision that Breivik is appealing.

If the state loses the appeal, Breivik's prison regime will have to be revised. The government could decide to take the case to the Norwegian Supreme court.

A ruling is expected in February.
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A crowdfunding campaign hopes to reinstall an Australia Day billboard that was taken down after the company behind it received threats.

The digital billboard featured two young girls in hijabs with an Australian flag, and advertised the local government's upcoming Australia Day celebrations in Melbourne on Jan. 26.

Launched Wednesday, the campaign on GoFundMe has received more than A$14,000 ($10,561) in just two hours.

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An image of the Carrum Downs billboard was posted on a number of rightwing Facebook groups over the weekend, according to AAP, and was later removed by the outdoor media company QMS after it received threats. QMS declined to comment on the nature of the threats.

I see happy Aussie kids as I do when singing the national anthem at school assemblies in Lalor electorate. #iamyouareweareaustralian # pic.twitter.com/UkrdN5VKqn  Joanne Ryan MP (@JoanneRyanLalor) January 17, 2017

A photo of the billboard was shared on the Facebook page of the far right group United Patriots Front on Jan. 13. "They're making every effort to re-define your nation and gradually erase you from history," the group wrote. "Makes me sick to my core seeing this propaganda," one commenter added.

Australia is better than how these girls have been treated. pic.twitter.com/nDrVW3wIms  Sam Dastyari (@samdastyari) January 17, 2017

According to AAP, the photo was originally taken on Australia Day 2016 at celebrations in Docklands, Melbourne. The country's national day is itself divisive, as it's considered by many to mark the beginning of colonial subjugation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott said it was disappointing to see the attacks against "proud Australians."

"Anyone who considers this a victory needs a refresher on the true meaning of Australia Day," he told Mashable in a statement. "It's very disappointing to see a small minority attacking proud Australians for their love of their country."

The crowdfunding effort was launched by Dee Madigan, creative director of the Sydney advertising agency Campaign Edge. Madigan told Mashable she was "really cross" when she saw the billboard had been removed and decided to take action.

"It was just two Australian girls celebrating Australia Day, that's it," she said. "It's almost like they can't win  it was just so spectacularly unfair."

While she couldn't fund the billboards all by herself, she pointed out that people donating to the campaign so far have come from all sides of the political spectrum. If they reach their goal, they'll aim to put a version of the billboard back up wherever they can.

"It's not about making a political statement," she added. "I don't want Australian Muslims to feel like they're not welcome."

Any extra funds will be donated to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
A Czech fugitive wanted in his homeland for knowingly spreading HIV to multiple victims has been arrested on a Thai resort island after living in the country for more than a year, police said Wednesday.

Zdenek Pfeifer, 49, was detained at his apartment on the island of Phuket on Tuesday evening, Thai Interpol said in a statement.

His arrest came after reports warning of his presence in the popular holiday nation went viral on Thai social media this week.

"Thai police will contact Czech Interpol once he has been prosecuted for local violations," Thai Interpol said, adding he was arrested for illegally overstaying his visa.

Czech media reports said Zdenek fled the country in June 2015 after he was charged with deliberately infecting more than a dozen men with HIV, including a minor.

Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen, Thailand deputy national police spokesman, said Pfeiffer faced "sex offence" charges back home.

He first entered Thailand in June 2015 on a tourist visa which ran out in August of that year.

"Along the way we received the red notice from Interpol and police arrested him yesterday for overstaying," he told AFP.

Lieutenant-General Nathathorn Prousoontorn, commander of Thailand's immigration police, told reporters that there was currently no complaint filed locally that Pfeiffer had knowingly infected anyone with HIV.

Phuket is a hugely popular southern Thai island known for its many resort hotels as well as a seedy red-light district centred around Patong Beach.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- With his country's elections rapidly approaching, Toma? Prouza says public interest is high for a new unit designed to confront the latest iteration of a decades-old problem: media propaganda from larger, outside powers.

This month the Czech government launched a specialized anti-fake news unit with the goal of educating the public of the difference between news and disinformation. The country is among the continent's first to embark on such an initiative and officials here want to reduce public consumption of such sources ahead of legislative elections scheduled for October.

In recent months, countries like Sweden, Germany and France flagged a marked uptick in fake news websites, but with no precedent to combat the problem, media outlets and government leaders are turning to an unconventional choice to help guide them past the threat : the Czech Republic.

"It has generated a lot of interest outside of the Czech Republic," says Prouza, the Czech state secretary for European affairs and Czech digital coordinator who helped establish the unit. Prouza says his team has been advising officials in Sweden, Finland and Germany on how to set up similar operations.

He also says they have consulted with international media outlets like the BBC. Last week, they announced they would assemble a team to fact check and debunk deliberately misleading and false stories. "We are in the lead on this, so that is important."

Prague's stand on the issue has putit on the frontlines of what is widely believed to be a disinformation war instigated by the Kremlin. No stranger to Russian provocation, the former Czechoslovakia -- a union of the existing Czech and Slovak republics -- endured more than four decades of totalitarian rule during the communist era until the Velvet Revolution in 1989.

As U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to be sworn into office, the issue is timely. The American presidential campaign witnessed a rise in alternative media websites, many pedaling slanted or entirely false stories to a partisan, divided public. U.S. intelligence experts say Russia hacked into Democratic Party emails, and concern is growing across Europe of interference from Moscow in elections scheduled for across the continent later this year.

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More than 40 Czech fake news websites have launched in the past two years, with the purpose of undermining the democratic process, says Prouza. The sites routinely cover topics dominating politics across the continent: the Syrian war and the subsequent crisis of refugees spilling into Europe, blame for the Ukrainian conflict and the rise of nationalism.

The origin of such websites is obscure, but Prouza points to the Russian state-funded outlet Sputnik as an example. Widely criticized in the mainstream media, much of the website's coverage aggregates news that looks favorably on Russia, while highlighting Washington's missteps around the world.

Opened on Jan. 1, the Center Against Terrorism and Hybrid Threats is notifying the public of disinformation and providing relevant expert analysis. What it will not do is take down any websites, or "lock anyone up," according to its website.

They will be starting from behind. According to Kremlin Watch, a local think tank, 25 percent of the 10.5 million people in the country accept disinformation sources.

"General trust in public media and serious journalism is being continuously undermined, which helps to create an atmosphere of chaos and fear," says Veronika Vichova, a member of the group.

The unit will be working in a climate of populist politics. Czech President Milo? Zeman, who is notably cozy with Russia, told Czechs during his annual Christmas speech that migrants are responsible for terrorism.

With politicians cultivating uncertainty, public opinion is changing in a country that was once staunchly pro-U.S. According to a study last month, half of Czechs believe the U.S. is to blame for the Syrian crisis, while 28 percent believe Russia is helping solve the fighting. In Ukraine -- where Russia forcibly annexed the Crimea in March 2014 -- 38 percent surveyed believe that that crisis was caused by the United Kingdom and the U.S.

"It is because of Zeman that the less educated people who do not have much knowledge of these things... start believing in it," says Josef Bilek, chairman of the East European Information Center (EEIC).

Like the new government unit, the EEIC seeks to disprove false news by posting debunking evidence online, something that has irritated its political opponents.

"Every time we put out a story that the Russians don't like, suddenly there are comments from people we have never seen before, coming with quite vitriolic comments," Bilek says.

Regardless of the rise of fake news, Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, remain decidedly unpopular in the Czech Republic.

"[Russia's] main interest is to get the Yankees out of Europe," says Gen. Andor Sandor, the former chief of Czech Defense Intelligence."Their major enemy is NATO and a weaker NATO is better for the Russians, and they will obviously use their propaganda and intelligence or whatever in countries that are considered to be weak points."

Still, Sandor says he is skeptical that disinformation could have any real impact on the upcoming elections, and even more skeptical that the new government unit will solve anything.

Philip Heijmans is a journalist based in Prague, Czech Republic. You can follow him on Twitter here.
By Liz Hampton HOUSTON (Reuters) - Energy Transfer Partners has filed a motion to bar the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from initiating an environmental study for its controversial Dakota Access pipeline crossing at Lake Oahe in North Dakota. Energy Transfer Partners requested on Monday that a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia stop the Corps from initiating the environmental impact statement process until a ruling has been made on whether the company already has necessary approvals for the pipeline crossing. The Corps said it would publish a notice in the Federal Register on Wednesday stating its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the requested easement at Lake Oahe. The notice will invite interested parties to comment on potential issues and concerns, as well as alternatives to the proposed route, which should be considered in the study. The Corps in December denied Energy Transfer Partners an easement to drill under Lake Oahe, a water source upstream from the Standing Rock Sioux reservation that has been the focus of protests. Members from the Standing Rock Sioux and others say the line could damage drinking water and desecrate sacred grounds. In July 2015, the Corps had granted Energy Transfer Partners permission for its proposed pipeline crossing at Lake Oahe. A representative from Energy Transfer Partners did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a request for comment. The 1,172-mile (1.885 km) Dakota Access Pipeline will transport 570,000 barrels per day of crude from the Bakken shale of North Dakota to the Midwest. The Standing Rock Sioux said the tribe was confident the environmental impact statement would support its claim that the pipeline cannot cross under the lake, adding that the best way to analyze new routes is through an environmental impact statement. Comments on the scope of the environmental impact statement will be due no later than Feb. 20, the Army Corp said. (Reporting by Liz Hampton; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Last year, when Joe Biden spoke at Davos, he gave an incisive and passionate address reminding the CEOs and leaders in the audience of their responsibilities to the have-nots of the world. It was powerful stuff, and at the conclusion of his remarks, my dear partner, Carla, leapt to her feet to give him a standing ovation. I stood beside her and then, scanning the room, realized we were the only ones standing.

This year, when Biden was introduced for his valedictory speech as vice president of the United States, half the audience stood. The applause was resounding. It was clear that the packed plenary audience would miss the plainspoken, passionate son of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Watching him deliver the speech, it was also clear that Biden would miss audiences like this one.

His remarks were thoughtful and important. But behind his eyes was an undeniable wistfulness. This man has been on the world stage for 44 years. He is a born politician. But he is much more than that. For decades, this dedicated public servant  from his youthful Senate days to the highest levels of government  has fought not just for social justice, nor just for his base at home as many politicians might, but for the entire international community.

Of course, something else about his remarks will make the nightly news headlines. His speech was an evisceration of a man whose name was never mentioned, a man who will be the next president of the United States. One by one, Biden enumerated issues that were vital to the international order and to global security. He argued why the liberal international order that emerged in the wake of World War II was the right response and had served the world well. He spoke up for the merits of trade  even as he acknowledged that work needed to be done urgently to aid those dislocated by globalization and technological progress. He underscored how vital the Atlantic alliance was to the United States and to the world. He expressed his views about the importance of Europe and the multilateral system. He made the case for NATO and with real passion described the principle that an attack on one was an attack on all as a sacred obligation.

Then he turned to threats and touched upon terrorism, enemies of democracy, and the international order. But he saved his strongest words for Russia, calling it out as the leading power seeking to undercut democracy and international law. He made it clear that Russian meddling in the U.S. elections was real  he defended the intelligence community  and that it was intolerable.

In other words, while the name Donald Trump never arose in his remarks and Biden was deeply respectful of the peaceful transition of power that has been a hallmark of U.S. democracy for more than two centuries, the force and weight of Bidens valedictory was aimed directly at the next president of the United States. It was clear that Biden sees him as a deep threat to all he has held dear throughout his career. And there is good reason for that: Trump is just such a threat.

Biden, however, was not the only wistful person in the big Congress Centre auditorium. It was clear from the reception he got that many there were wistful that tragic circumstances  the death of his son  had conspired to keep him from running for president. Given the narrowness of Trumps victory and the fact that Biden was not burdened with an email scandal or beholden to an establishment political dynasty; given that of all the leaders on the U.S. national stage he was the one with the most legitimate links to the anxious majority of working Americans; and given his own remarkable record and passion, he likely would have won. This address might have been something altogether different. And the outlook for America and the world might have been altogether different.

But there is no time for what might have been in the fast-paced, next quarters results-oriented world of Davos. So as Biden left the stage  the legacies of a lifes work at risk  we were left only with his wise words and the hope that somewhere out there are the next Joe Bidens. We need them, and in American politics of late, they seem an endangered species.

Photo credit: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has just departed war-torn Damascus following what her aides described as a fact-finding mission to work toward ending the nearly six-year conflict in Syria.

Congressional travel to the devastated country is exceedingly rare, especially as fighting continues in direct violation of a recent cease-fire agreement brokered by Turkey and Russia. This week, Syrian government forces backed by Lebanese militants attempted to recapture a rebel-controlled area near Damascus that includes a pumping station that supplies most of the citys water.

Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran who drew speculation about an appointment in the Trump administration after she met privately with the president-elect in November, has frequently bucked her party and Washingtons foreign-policy establishment in debates over the Syrian conflict.

For years, she has opposed a U.S. policy of regime change and says the country will become more unstable and dangerous if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is ousted.

In describing the purpose of the trip, Gabbard spokeswoman Emily Latimer said she felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups, including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees, and government and community leaders.

This month, she introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act, which would prohibit the U.S. government from providing funding and weapons to Sunni militant groups working to overthrow the Assad regime, such as the Levant Front, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, and al Qaeda.

In interviews, she has called for the United States to abandon its goal of removing Assad and focus on eliminating the Islamic State and al Qaeda.

Gabbard has long been committed to peace and ending counterproductive, interventionist wars, her spokeswoman told Foreign Policy.

When asked if Gabbard met with Assad, the strongman many blame for a conflict that has killed 400,000 and displaced millions, Latimer declined to comment, citing security and logistical concerns.

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To her critics, Gabbard is an apologist to a regime that has committed countless war crimes and destabilized the greater Middle East. To her supporters, shes a lonely voice of sanity against a growing tide of bipartisan interventionism that risks bogging down the United States in another conflict in the Middle East.

She has repeatedly compared Assad to Muammar al-Qaddafi and Saddam Hussein, brutal dictators who fell prey to Western intervention in conflicts that later became unpopular.

I dont think Assad should be removed, Gabbard told CNN. If Assad is removed and overthrown, ISIS, al Qaeda, al Nusra  these Islamic extremist groups will walk straight in and take over all of Syria.  They will be even stronger.

President Barack Obama and congressional leaders have maintained that any resolution to the conflict in Syria must result in Assads departure. But Gabbards views have found support from Trump, who has long maintained that the Syrian opposition has been infiltrated by Islamic extremists and cannot be trusted.

Stephen Bannon, Trumps top strategist, is reportedly fond of Gabbard for her views on extremism and ability to channel leftist populist sentiment.

After Gabbard met with Trump in November she issued a statement saying the president-elect asked me to meet with him about our current policies regarding Syria, our fight against terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Where I disagree with President-elect Trump on issues, I will not hesitate to express that disagreement, she added. However, I believe we can disagree, even strongly, but still come together on issues that matter to the American people and affect their daily lives.
(Corrects in 6th paragraph to clarify rules) By Lisa Lambert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats sliced holes in billionaire Betsy DeVos' credentials to be the next U.S. Education Secretary at a confirmation hearing on Tuesday, raising doubts whether President-elect Donald Trump's pick will win approval in the full Senate. The nomination of DeVos to head an agency that sets policy for younger children and universities and also administers a college financial aid program of $1 trillion has outraged Democrats who believe the Michigan Republican wants to dismantle public education. Teachers unions, a major constituency for the party, roundly oppose DeVos, a philanthropist and investor. "Do you think if you were not a multi-billionaire, if your family had not made hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to the Republican party, that you would be sitting here today?" asked Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who recently ran to be the Democrats' presidential nominee. Democratic Senators have made their opposition clear in recent days in letters, speeches and most notably at the hearing. Next Tuesday, the Education Committee will likely approve sending her name to the full chamber when it votes in an executive session next Tuesday. Then, Democrats could attempt to block the nomination on the Senate floor. Because nominations other than those for the Supreme Court only require a simple majority vote, they will not be able to use a filibuster and would have to convince Republicans to join them in voting against the nomination. Former Senator Joe Lieberman, Democrats' candidate for vice president in 2000, gave DeVos a laudatory introduction at the hearing, but other party members were wide-ranging in their criticism. Minnesota's Al Franken expressed surprise DeVos was unfamiliar with a hot education debate over measuring student achievement by proficiency or by growth. Connecticut's Chris Murphy was dismayed when DeVos did not condemn guns in schools. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, an advocate of tough financial regulation, asked whether DeVos or her children had attended public schools, borrowed student loans or received federal financial help known as Pell grants. "You have no experience with financial aid," Warren summed up when DeVos answered "no." Many were dismayed DeVos would not pledge to carry out rules on sexual assault, for-profit colleges and fair access for students with disabilities, only saying she would review the policies. Generally, Democrats pressed on how DeVos will manage her investments and companies in the education sector, including an on-line charter school, while serving as the most powerful public figure in the area. They also asked repeatedly if she intended to divert money to charter schools that operate independently of school districts and are frequently run by corporations and if she would undermine public schools. "I have major concerns with how you have spent your career and fortune fighting to privatize public education and gut investments in public schools," said Washington's Patty Murray, the committee's senior Democrat. DeVos scrambled to reassure them she supports taxpayer-backed education. She also said she will work to give parents choices in the schools their children attend, treat all students equally and respect states' decisions on education. The hearing, which was delayed from last week over missing financial disclosures, began at 5 p.m. (EST). Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander only allotted each member five minutes for questions. Democrats called foul, saying that because DeVos has not finished requisite ethics paperwork they are in the dark on issues and need more time. Alexander said the Office of Government Ethics will produce by Friday a letter outlining resolutions for her potential conflicts of interest. Committee Republicans universally backed DeVos, applauding her support of vouchers that families may use to pay for private education and of charter schools. They praised her history with The Potter's House, which provides "Christ-centered" education, and spoke of her dedication to literacy. (Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)




Tired of the same suit-wearing late-night hosts? Viceland has you covered with Desus & Mero. Desus Nice and The Kid Mero have developed their popular podcast into a late-night show thats a little rough around the edges.

Although they dont have a traditional monologue, Desus Nice and The Kid Mero do crack jokes about current events. On Tuesdays episode, they traded jokes about Donald Trumps alleged use of prostitutes in Russia.

They also tackled hip-hop culture, making fun of Wycleaf Jeans ill-advised release of a song on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Nice said, Wyclef is missing the guy in his crew thats like, No, this is a terrible idea.'

Though the show doesnt draw huge celebrities as guests, it did include a segment in which they started beef with Ray Romano, saying he had a punchable face and that he looked like a failed cop. Romano might want to stick to more traditional late-night shows.

Desus & Mero airs Monday  Thursday at 11 p.m. on Viceland.

Watch: Michael Strahan flexes his Pyramid host muscle at Jimmy Fallon



Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Cynthia LuCiette, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank <DBKGn.DE> will slash bonuses for senior employees including investment banker in London and New York by about 90 percent and announce the move on Wednesday, Spiegel reported, without citing the source of the information.

Chief Executive John Cryan is pushing restructuring at Germany's biggest lender, which is grappling with a deteriorating banking environment in Europe and other markets as well as a steep legal bill for past missteps.

The bank has signed a $7.2 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over its sale of toxic mortgage securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, the U.S. government agency said on Tuesday.

Bonus cuts for 2016 will affect employees who are not bound by a collective wage bargaining agreement while other groups of employees are due to get compensation packages to avert a mass exodus of staff, the German weekly magazine reported on Tuesday.

Deutsche Bank declined comment.

(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Additional reporting by Kathrin Jones; Editing by Alison Williams)
It looks like the conspiracy charges against Oliver Schmidt, Volkswagens top emissions compliance executive in the U.S., aren't the end of potential emissions cheats by diesel-engine carmakers. A few days after Schmidt's arrest by the FBI last week, regulators announced that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had not disclosed software that hid regulation-breaking excesses of nitrogen oxide emissions.



The allegations by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board cover about 104,000 diesel-engine Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks sold in the U.S. with the EcoDiesel 3.0-liter V-6 engine.

Fiat denies trying to skirt Clean Air Act rules. The firm has talked with regulators for months to explain its emissions control technology, according to a company statement, and floated possible software solutions that could be implemented in these vehicles immediately to further improve emissions performance.



The new case follows directly from the work that we did in helping to expose Volkswagen, Drew Kodjak, executive director of the International Council on Clean Transportation, told Men's Journal. One week after the EPA announced its notice of violation in September 2015 against Volkswagen, it informed car manufacturers that the EPA would be conducting additional testing as part of certification. That would include testing during normal operations, which before then had not been the case.



Fiat failed to report eight pieces of software to regulators, says Kodjak. The open question is whether those are illegal defeat devices versus justifiable engine calibrations.



Another is whether automakers' dreams of a mass market for diesel-fueled passenger cars can survive new consumer doubts. [With] VW, we know for a fact, the defeat devices were in the global fleet in Europe, the U.S., and elsewhere, said Tyson Slocum, the director of the energy program at Public Citizen. French, German, and U.K. regulators are also at varied stages of investigating Fiat, and France is probing Renault's diesel technologies as well.

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VW, possibly Fiat, potentially Renault... just how deep does this emissions cheating go?

U.S. diesel emissions standards remain reliable, says Kodjak, because they have passed not just the traditional test, but also the enhanced testing that EPA now does on all vehicles, to be sure their emissions are just as clean under normal use as under testing.

Luke Tonachel, who directs the clean fuels and vehicles project at the Natural Resources Defense Council, agreed that consumers can continue to trust emissions ratings. From what I've read, some of the Fiat Chrysler vehicles that were subject to this notice of violation were vehicles already in production when the VW scandal broke.
Melbourne (AFP) - Second seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams look to have easy rides into the Australian Open third round Thursday, but it could be a trickier assignment for Rafael Nadal.

Six-time champion Djokovic is looking to reach round three at Melbourne Park for the 11th straight year with wildcard Denis Istomin, ranked 117, standing in his way.

It should be plain sailing for the Serb who has beaten the Uzbek in all five previous encounters, and has only lost once to anyone outside the top 100 in the last seven years -- Juan Martin del Porto at the Rio Olympics.

Williams, off to a solid start in her quest for an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam trophy, faces Lucie Safarova, who saved nine match points before beating Yanina Wickmayer in round one, on Rod Laver Arena.

The American great, who lost the top ranking to Angelique Kerber last year, has hardly played since the US Open but is happy with how she is progressing as the new season unfolds.

"I think it was pretty good," the 35-year-old great, chasing a seventh Australian crown, said modestly of her impressive form in swatting aside her dangerous first round opponent Belinda Bencic.

Victory over Safarova -- who has lost all nine of their previous meetings -- would keep her on track for a potential quarter-final encounter with either in-form Briton Johanna Konta or sixth seed Dominika Cibulkova.

Konta, who won the lead-up Sydney International, faces Japan's Naomi Osaka while Slovak Cibulkova, a finalist in 2014, takes on Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei.

Following Williams onto centre court in the evening session will be 14-time Grand Slam winner Nadal, who is looking to write another chapter in his storied career.

On the comeback trail from an injury-riddled 2016, he takes on unpredictable Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, a crowd favourite who lost to Roger Federer in the 2006 Australian Open final.

"I feel that if I am playing well and I am healthy, I think I can be much better," Nadal said after his solid first round outing.

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On an outside court, big-serving Ivo Karlovic will be backing up from his epic record-breaking first round match that went for more than five hours.

At 84 games, it was the longest at the Australian Open since the tiebreak era began in 1971, with the 37-year-old Croat testing his stamina again against Australian Andrew Whittington.

Elsewhere, Pole Agnieszka Radwanska is up against Mirjana Lucic Baroni, while men's third seed Milos Raonic squares off with Gilles Muller and sixth seed Gael Monfils takes on Alexandr Dolgopolov.
In December, Pacific Investment Management Co., best known as Pimco, agreed to pay nearly $20 million to settle claims by the Securities and Exchange Commission that the firm misled investors in its Pimco Total Return Active ETF bond fund (ticker: BOND).

The case highlights concerns many investors have in the back of their minds: How do you know the fund's net asset value, or share price, accurately reflects the values of the assets it holds? What if the fund has liquidity problems -- trouble buying assets it wants or selling ones it doesn't?

"Liquidity risk is real and ordinary investors need to understand it," says Yuen Yung, CEO of Casoro Capital, a private equity firm in Austin, Texas, specializing in real estate. Setting accurate prices can be a problem with any investment in assets that are not frequently traded, he says.

"Market value is based on what one willing buyer and one willing seller agree to," he says. "When there are not a lot of comparables, then valuation becomes difficult."

[See: 9 Psychological Biases That Hurt Investors.]

This isn't something ordinary investors should have to worry about. After all, the whole idea of a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund is that professional mangers do the buying and selling so the individual investor doesn't have to. And funds tout their liquidity. ETF shares trade like stocks and you should be able to buy and sell with a few clicks of a mouse. Mutual funds can be bought or redeemed through the fund company at the closing price on any trading day.

Experts generally say mispricing worries should not keep ordinary diversified investors up at night, as government regulations and fund procedures should ensure accurate pricing. Still, it's worth remembering that a fund owning bonds issued by small foreign companies you've never heard of may have a tougher time gauging values than one holding U.S. Treasury bonds.

"Most of the time, this is not something that ordinary investors need to worry about, though we think that professional investors should be mindful of liquidity issues and consider them before allocating assets," says Anna Dunn Tabke, director of research at Alpha Capital Management in Atlanta.

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She adds, though, that "this becomes more of a concern for investors who venture outside of plain vanilla stock and bond funds."

In the Pimco case, the SEC said the firm overvalued some mortgage securities bought in odd lots, or batches of less than $1 million. The result, the SEC said, was to make the fund look like it was performing better than it was, and better than its competitors, during its first few months of operation in 2012. While the SEC characterized this as a securities violation, Pimco neither admitted nor denied guilt, arguing it had been able to find bargains among odd lots.

This was an unusual case. But fund managers doing their level best, may find it hard to value certain assets. Suppose your real estate investment trust owns strip shopping centers. Real estate values are typically estimated by looking at sales of comparable properties nearby, but there aren't always lots of examples to go by. And even if there were, what if the fund wants to sell the property and no one wants to buy?

Mutual funds meet shareholder redemptions with cash on hand or by selling assets. Tabke says this usually works but that a flood of redemptions can cause problems.

"A fund that is forced to liquidate securities quickly to meet redemption requests is particularly vulnerable when they hold underlying securities that do not offer the same liquidity, and when those securities turn out to be more difficult to sell than expected," she says.

She cites Third Avenue's Focused Credit Fund ( TFCIX), which ran into trouble in late 2015 and refused additional redemptions because it could not raise enough cash on illiquid assets.

[See: The 10 Best REIT ETFs on the Market.]

Even if a fund has a good method for valuing illiquid assets, prices can change dramatically with new information, says Anthony D. Criscuolo, portfolio manager with Palisades Hudson Financial Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

"If a mutual fund owns a large position in an illiquid asset which has a significant valuation markdown, it could negatively impact the fund's (net asset value) and trigger shareholder redemptions," he says. "But the fund may not be able, or willing, to sell the illiquid asset at the depressed price, if it is able to sell it at all. Thus, the fund would need to sell other liquid holdings to meet the redemptions, which leaves the illiquid position as a larger portion of the fund overall."

Securities regulations limit illiquid assets in ordinary funds to 15 percent of the holdings, Tabke says. These "Level 3" holdings are valued by the fund itself because "there is not an active market or a closely comparable instrument to price," she says. Level 1 securities are actively traded and therefore easily priced. Level 2 means securities that are not as actively traded but can be priced based on other securities.

ETFs work differently from ordinary mutual funds, which may have to sell holdings to meet redemptions. When an ETF investor wants out, she simply sells to another investor, as with stocks. So ETFs do not need to unload assets to raise cash for redemptions. Also, ETFs deal with a type of market maker whose role is to buy and sell assets when the ETF wants to -- if a large swing in demand for ETF shares creates a need to add to reduce the shares in circulation, for instance.

How can investors protect themselves from mispricing and liquidity risk? The first safeguard, Yung says, is that old standby, diversification. The more holdings you have, the less likely one can do you real harm.

He also suggests making sure that the fund is audited by an outside firm at least once a year.

Of course, investors should be especially wary of funds that hold non-mainstream assets like obscure foreign stocks and bonds, bank loans or real estate. Ask how much of the fund is in Level 3 holdings, or could not be liquidated in five to seven days.

Investors should look closely at a fund's prospectus to see what limits it has on illiquid securities, and should take a close look at the holdings and ask a fund rep to explain any illiquid positions, Criscuolo says.

[See: 12 Steps Toward a Strong 401(k).]

"If the exposure is too large, it should be a red flag," he says.

Jeff Brown spent nearly 40 years as a newspaper reporter, columnist and editor, including 20 years writing about investing, personal finance, the economy and financial markets. He spent 20 years at The Philadelphia Inquirer and has been freelancing since 2007.
President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office Friday with the lowest approval rating of any new Oval Office entrant in at least four decades, as his efforts to bridge divides among his supporters and his detractors have been a day late and a dollar short. Trump continues to take potshots at those who arent supportive of him, which isat the very leastdistracting from his agenda. But thats the way the incoming president likes it. Trump relies on media firestorms to take the pressure off his policy promises and his disagreements with Capitol Hill Republicans, which are only growing in size and scope. Trump, who has manipulated and benefited from the New York tabloid scene for a generation, is taking the same approach to governing. So buckle up.

As President Obamas administration winds down, historians begin to assess his legacy. Obama will have his last opportunity to try to shape it while still in office Wednesday afternoon when he holds the final press conference of his Administration.

Trump national security team gets off to a slow start. More House Dems plan to skip the Inaugural festivities. And Obama commutes Chelsea Mannings sentence.

Here are your must reads:

Must Reads

10 Historians on What Will Be Said About President Obamas Legacy

As the 44th President of the United States prepares to leave office, 10 experts imagine how future historians will judge his legacy [TIME]

Donald Trumps Cabinet Pick Invested in 6 Drug Companies Before Medicare Fight

More questions for Tom Price [TIME]

Trump National Security Team Gets a Slow Start

Little coordination with the outgoing administration [New York Times]

More Than a Quarter of House Democrats to Skip Inauguration

Reasons cited include Trumps comments about women, immigrants and Rep. John Lewis, as well as Russian hacking accusations [Wall Street Journal]

Donald Trump Is Venturing Into Uncharted Territory

The new administration by the numbers [Fortune]

Story continues

How Donald Trump Came Up With Make America Great Again

And he reveals his re-election slogan [Washington Post]

Sound Off

I want to thank all of the people in the room. We have so many friends, 147 diplomats and investors, never been done before.  President-elect Donald Trump at his Chairmans Global Dinner Tuesday with foreign diplomats and top donors to his Inauguration committee

All I said was that I give everybody an even start; thats all I said So, I give everybody an even start; that right now, as far as Im concerned, everybodys got an even start.  I think people start off on a somewhat equal footing.  President-elect Trump on foreign leaders in an interview with Axios

Bits and Bites

Former Apprentice Contestant Sues Donald Trump for Defamation Over Sexual Harassment Accusations [TIME]

President Obama Commutes Chelsea Mannings Prison Sentence [TIME]

Watch President Obama Surprise Press Secretary Josh Earnest at Final Briefing [TIME]

Repealing Obamacare Would Leave 18 Million Without Insurance: Report [Associated Press]

The One Reason We Cant Assess President Obamas Place in History [TIME]

George H.W. Bush hospitalized in Houston for shortness of breath [USA Today]

One President Out, Another In: You Dont Just Hire 2 Guys With a Truck [New York Times]
The 2016 elections focused more on U.S. international trade than any presidential election since 1992, particularly due to the criticisms that Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump expressed toward free trade policies and key U.S. trade agreements. Trumps candidacy also brought renewed consideration to the historically Republican use of protectionist tariffs as a means to aid American business and manufacturing.

Prior to winning the election, Donald Trump proposed several trade policies as part of his Contract with the American Voterhis original 100 Days Planincluding a proposal to renegotiate or to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) of 1994, to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and to establish tariffs to end offshoring. Trump described these actions as aimed to protect American workers. Now President-elect Trump, as CNN reports, will begin the process of reshaping Americas trade policy on Day 1 of his administration, according to a memo drafted by his transition team. For instance, Trumps team has discussed a proposal to impose tariffs as high as 10 percent on imports, which could be implemented via executive action or as part of a tax reform package pushed through Congress. Trumps Chief of Staff Reince Priebus also proposed a 5 percent tariff on imports.

But what will higher tariffs mean for the U.S. economy? Is there any historical precedent for what Trump is proposing? A brief review of the history of tariffs and trade in the United States might help to put Trumps tariff proposals in perspective.

History of protectionism

Tariffs and trade were important issues during the Founding of the nation, and one of the many issues that divided Hamilton (a Federalist) from Jefferson (an Anti-Federalist). The origins of semi-protectionisminstituting higher domestic tariff rates to encourage home market growth of industrycan be traced back to Alexander Hamilton. Hamiltons Report on Manufactures (1791), drafted while he served as the nations first Treasury Secretary, summarized for Congress methods to improve U.S. manufacturing. Hamilton argued for: protective duties on foreign imports (except certain raw materials) to enable U.S. manufacturers to undersell their foreign competition and to raise national revenue; prohibitions on certain exports to ensure a cheap domestic supply, with losses offset by a steadier, more extensive home market; government-funded bounties (or subsidies) to promote production; and lowered duties on certain raw materials used in domestic manufacturing.

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Hamilton offered theoretical justifications for protecting manufacturing as an economic philosophy, countering Jeffersonian arguments that agricultural development was the ultimate source of wealth; instead, manufacturingwhich could increase productivity, improve agriculture, and diversify employmentshould be protected and encouraged, he argued. As Dartmouth economist Douglas Irwin writes, To this day, the report is often heralded as the quintessential American statement against the laissez faire doctrine of free trade and for activist government policiesincluding protectionist tariffsto promote industrialization. Hamilton, however, was not an extreme protectionist; he was skeptical of exorbitant tariffs that could grant to manufacturing a premature monopoly of the markets and even beget a general spirit of smuggling.

Jefferson, the republican agrarian, initially advocated for freer trade policies, fearing that high tariffs would favor northern industrialists over southern farmers. In a report he drafted as Secretary of State in 1793, Jefferson envisioned a global commercial system based on friendly arrangements and freed of the shackles of restrictive duties. Only against those countries that maintained duties would the United States be justified in enacting defensive and protecting measures. As President, for instance, Jefferson enacted a disastrously strict embargo against England and suspended trade with Europe in retaliation for harassment of U.S. ships. Yet over time, even Jefferson changed his mind on the benefits of manufacturing and leaned toward protectionism in order to foster it. In 1816, he wrote to Benjamin Austin: We must now place the manufacturer by the side of the agriculturist. . . . Shall we make our own comforts or go without them at the will of a foreign nation? He, therefore, who is now against domestic manufacture must be for reducing us either to dependence on that foreign nation or to be clothed in skins and to live like wild beasts in dens and caverns. I am not one of these. As Jefferson recognized, the United States was a manufacturing nation, and its tariff and trade policies affecting manufacturing interests were intricately intertwined with the future and success of the American economy.

Congress passed the first protective tariff in 1789, placing a 5 percent tax placed on most imported goods. From 1790-92, subsequent Acts raised rates to as high as 15 percent, yet (in the absence of a federal income tax) were mostly aimed at raising revenue. But in 1816, the Jeffersonian Congress adopted an explicitly protectionist tariff, with rates between 25-30 percent. Protectionism peaked in 1828 with the so-called Tariff of Abominations, under which average tariff rates rose to nearly 49 percent. This precipitated the Nullification Crisis and foreshadowed Southern secession, leading to the Civil War.

By 1857, tariffs were down again, to around 20 percent; yet protectionistsculminating in the Republican Standpatters of President William Howard Tafts daywanted to keep tariffs high. The Hamiltonian emphasis on moderate duties to encourage, but not protect, domestic producers, served the interests of port-city merchants, but did not meet the demands of domestic manufacturers who wanted to shut the door on foreign imports. As Paul Wolman explains in Most Favored Nation: The Republican Revisionists and U.S. Tariff Policy, protectionists further argued that the size and value of the U.S. market justified higher foreign rates, and warned that too-low rates would encourage the growth of cheap labor in Europe and would hurt the U.S. market in the long run. As steel, oil, and other Northern and Midwestern industries demanded protection, protectionism would come to dominate most of the Republican Party and its policies. Over time, U.S. industries like steel and oil soared; U.S. Steel became the first billion-dollar company in the United States.

Rates were finally lowered under President Woodrow Wilsons Underwood Tariff of 1913, yet raised again by the infamous Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930, the last outrage inflicted by the Republican protectionists, which raised rates on imports to their highest levels in over 100 years as a response to the Great Depression. Yet this led to retaliatory tariffs by major U.S. trade partners, which restricted trade and contributed to prolonged effects of the depression. As a report by the CATO Institute notes, the memory of the Smoot-Hawley tariff has kept Americans committed to a free-trade policyat least until recently.

From revisionism to free trade

Tariff revisionists who fought the protectionists for lower rates came from variety of businesses, organizations, and political partiesfrom conservative Democrats to progressive Republicans. At the beginning, revisionists did not go so far as to advocate free trade, as some Democrats did, but instead focused on moving away from high protectionism to reduce, but not eliminate, tariffs. They argued that U.S. manufacturing had already passed through its infancy stage and no longer needed absolute protectionwhat was more important was strengthening the growing European and American market interdependence. Soon, political leaders began to agree that the United States needed lower rates in order to maintain its industrial and financial growth, as many European states began to enact open door trading policies across the world. The protectionist tendencies of U.S. businesses increasingly conflicted with the expanding and increasingly complex international economy: If the United States did not keep up by adjusting some rates downward, it would be left out.

Eventually, as U.S. corporations realized the virtue of the global economyand the potential for the nation to become the worlds dominant economic power, perhaps even empirethey too leaned toward reductionism and freer trade policies. Consumers would join the fight for revisionism as well, as they often paid the price for protectionism. High tariff walls both increased the price of imported goods as well as enabled domestic manufacturers to charge higher pricescreating an artificial price floorwithout fear of foreign competition lowering prices in the U.S. marketplace. Tariff reductionism gave way to a stronger free-trade consensus, which led to modern free trade bilateral and multilateral agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that abolished tariffs between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Trumps Protectionism revival

President-elect Trump has pledged to raise tariffs to protect domestic manufacturing jobs and to punish U.S. businesses that offshore jobs for cheaper labor. Though there are limited ways that Trump could alter tariffs himself, as well as unilaterally withdraw from trade agreements like NAFTA, under Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, comprehensive tariff reform may require congressional action.

Some commentators point out that Trumps brand of protectionism may result in businesses bringing extra-economic considerations to bear on their decisions about when and how to downsize, lay off workers, outsource jobs, and make other communally disruptive changes, and thereby decide to keep U.S. manufacturing jobs. Others argue that bringing back higher protective tariffs wont result in more jobs, because rising productivity and technological advancements are the real cause of job loss in manufacturing, regardless of what trade barriers may be in effect. By the same token, other economists argue that although free trade creates wealth, it also does not necessarily create jobsit instead creates income for the community by reallocating jobs and capital from lower-productivity to higher-productivity sectors of the economy. So free trade may reduce domestic labor-intensive manufacturing or textile jobs, but may breed more technical jobs in electronics, for instance, where skilled employees may have a comparative advantage.

But Trump seems committed to pursuing a protectionist agendaevidenced by his nomination of protectionist Robert Lighthizer for U.S. Trade Representative. Yet this may put Trump further at odds with the pro-trade wing of the Republican Party.

Democratic President Grover Cleveland in 1894 tread dangerous ground by taking up the tariff battle. The resulting Wilson-Gorman bill failed to satisfy western agrarian interests, and the struggle split the Democratic Party; after its defeat in 1896, it would not come back into power until the election of 1912. President William Howard Taft decided to take on the tariff issue again in 1909, something that even his ordinarily-combative predecessor, Teddy Roosevelt, had hesitated to do as Roosevelt was aware that a tariff battle could divide the Republican Party. Indeed, the Republican Party did split over the Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909, which helped lead to Democratic wins in the 1910 and 1912 elections.

As the protectionist House speaker Uncle Joe Cannon once observed: No matter how great an improvement the new tariff may be, it almost always results in the party in power losing the election. If Trump indeed decides to take up tariff revision, he and the Republican Party may be treading historically fraught ground, and will test whether Cannons thesis rings true.

Lana Ulrich is associate in-house counsel at the National Constitution Center.

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Donald Trump may not have A-list performers at his inauguration this Friday, but at least he has a poem one that many people already hate.

According to the Independent, the poem was written by American Joseph Charles McKenzie and pays homage to the president-elects Scottish roots, from his mothers side.

It refers to a great hero who comes down from his tower (Trump Tower?) to snatch power from a tyrant and save the people from slaverys chains. Does that make President Obama the tyrant in this situation? The poem, of course, is open to interpretation.

Also Read: 'SNL': Watch Golden Showers Ruin Alec Baldwin's Trump's First Press Conference (Video)

McKenzies poem also gives a shout out to harridans  a word for bossy, belligerent women.

Whilst hapless old harridans flapping their traps/Teach women to look and behave like us chaps/The Domhnall defends the defenseless forlorn/For, a womans first right is the right to be born.

Many on social media were not pleased.

This harridan may never stop throwing up, wrote one Twitter user.

This harridan may never stop throwing up. https://t.co/7M0jaLaTu3  Beth Walsh Zuniga (@moustratus) January 17, 2017

Other users thought the poem was so great they couldnt even pick out a favorite verse.

Cant even decide what my favorite (most terribly awful) part is, theres just too much to choose from, wrote one person.

Can't even decide what my favorite (most terribly awful) part is, there's just too much to choose from https://t.co/4WEuZxq8dJ  Leila A. McNeill (@leilasedai) January 17, 2017

This is sarcastic, right? Lets all pretend this is sarcastic, said another.

This is sarcastic, right? Let's all pretend this is sarcastic. https://t.co/0r3mVKwIjt  Liesbeth Corens (@onslies) January 17, 2017

In 2008, Trump said I think I do feel Scottish, to the Guardian while on a visit to his mothers hometown. While on a stop over in Scotland after Brexit, Trump praised the country for taking their country back and voting to leave  except that Scotland had voted to stay in the United Kingdom.

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Also Read: 'SNL': Kate McKinnon's Susan B. Anthony Is Very Eager and Clueless (Video)

Scottish social media had a field day with the Donald, tweeting messages at him that said things like They voted Remain and they hate your guts, you ludicrous tangerine ballbag.

Read the full poem below:

Come out for the Domhnall, ye brave men and proud,

The scion of Torquil and best of MacLeod!

With purpose and strength he came down from his tower

To snatch from a tyrant his ill-gotten power.

Now the cry has gone up with a cheer from the crowd:

Come out for the Domhnall, the best of MacLeod!

When freedom is threatened by slaverys chains

And voices are silenced as misery reigns,

Well come out for a leader whose courage is true

Whose virtues are solid and long overdue.

For, hell never forget us, we men of the crowd

Who elected the Domhnall, the best of MacLeod!

When crippling corruption polluted our nation

And plunged our economy into stagnation,

As self-righteous rogues took the opulent office

And plump politicians reneged on their promise

The forgotten continued to form a great crowd

That defended the Domhnall, the best of MacLeod!

The Domhnalls a giver whilst others just take,

Neer gaining from that which his hands did not make.

A builder of buildings, employing good men,

Hes enriched many cities by factors of ten.

The honest and true gladly march with the crowd

Standing up for the Domhnall, the best of MacLeod!

True friend of the migrant from both far and near,

He welcomes the worthy, but guards our frontier,

Lest a murderous horde, for whom hell is the norm,

Should threaten our lives and our nation deform.

We immigrants hasten to swell the great crowd.

Coming out for the Domhnall, the best of MacLeod!

Academe now lies dead, the old order rots,

No longer policing our words and our thoughts;

Its ignorant hirelings pretending to teach

Are backward in vision, sophomoric in speech.

Now we learned of mind add ourselves to the crowd

That cheers on the Domhnall, the best of MacLeod!

The black man, forgotten, in poverty dying,

The poor man, the sick man, with young children crying,

The soldier abroad and the mother who waits,

The young without work or behind prison gates,

The veterans, wounded, all welcome the crowd

That fights for the Domhnall, the best of MacLeod!

Whilst hapless old harridans flapping their traps

Teach women to look and behave like us chaps,

The Domhnall defends the defenseless forlorn;

For, a womans first right is the right to be born.

Now the bonnie young lassies that fly to the crowd

Have a champion in Domhnall, the best of MacLeod!

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With just two days to go before the inauguration, Donald Trump is blasting the 55 Democratic members of Congress who are boycotting his swearing-in ceremony.

Read: Trump Tweets at Wrong Ivanka as He Weighs In on TV Special Featuring Daughter

He told Fox and Friends host Ainsley Earhardt Wednesday: I hope they give me their tickets."

In the interview, he also doubled down on his feud with Civil Rights icon John Lewis, which sparked the boycott.

He [Lewis] got caught in a very bad lie, so let's see what happens. As far as other people not going, that's OK because we need seats so badly," Trump said.

Trump referenced Lewis claim that his inauguration would be the first he would miss, despite skipping George W. Bushs swearing in in 2001. His office claimed Lewis had forgotten the incident.

Trump fired back on Fox and Friends saying: You dont forget something like that.

Many Hollywood A-listers have also planned to boycott the inauguration and the president-elect is totally OK with it.

"Many of the celebrities that said they are not going... they were never invited," Trump said. "I don't want the celebrities there. I want the people there."

Trump kicked off inauguration ceremonies with a black tie dinner in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night.

It was a whirlwind visit to the capital. He arrived in the nations capital on Trump Force One at about 8 p.m., jetting back to New York City two-and-a-half hours later. Future first lady Melania Trump did not accompany him on the trip.

As Trump was having his dinner in the capitol, protesters took to the streets of Washington outside the newly opened Trump International Hotel.

The hotel was the scene of a gruesome incident, when a protester was hospitalized after setting himself on fire Tuesday night, according to reports.

Read: Meryl Streep Blasts Trump in Golden Globes Speech, Calls Her Overrated

The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries.

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Protesters near the blaze took to Twitter and reported that the man was allegedly attempting self-immolation, but that has not yet been confirmed by authorities.

#BREAKING: Man lights fire near #TrumpInternationalHotel. Employees call police. Man told me he's from CA & protesting #TrumpInauguration pic.twitter.com/noUwttKRL5  Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) January 18, 2017

Fire dept puts out fire where man self immolation in front of Trump Hotel DC. He put fire out himself before walking to police. pic.twitter.com/10g5SKXiUJ  Michael Shoag (@MikeShoag) January 18, 2017

Watch: Food Fight: Protesters Stage 'Cough-In' at Jean-Georges Restaurant in Trump Protest

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The Hague (AFP) - Two months before Dutch elections the polls are narrowing with the Liberal party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte catching up with MP Geert Wilders' far-right party, an aggregated survey showed Wednesday.

Peilingwijzer -- which combines a number of polls in The Netherlands to get an average tally -- showed Wilders' Freedom Party would still emerge the largest group in parliament, if elections were held today.

But the PVV has dropped to between 29-33 seats in the 150-seat lower house, compared to 31-37 seats at the last aggregated prediction in mid-December.

Meanwhile, Rutte's pro-capitalist People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) would garner 23-27 seats, up from 22-26 in December, Peilingwijzer said.

The gap between the two parties appears to have shrunk from nine to 11 seats, to six to seven seats now.

Peilingwijzer combines polls from respected polling organisations Ipsos, I&O Research, Kantar Public, Peil.nl and De Stemming/Een Vandaag.

Wilders saw his popularity shoot up in December after being convicted for discrimination over comments he made about Moroccans living in The Netherlands, cashing in on anti-EU sentiments and fears about immigration -- particularly from Muslim countries.

He was further boosted by the annual debate here over Black Pete, the jolly folklore blackface character who accompanies Saint Nicholas in early December bringing gifts to children.

Dutch public newscaster NOS said there was no news in the media in January about either topic, which could explain why the PVV's poll number have dropped.

The PVV and VVD are followed by the central Christian Democrats, with 15-17 seats, and the progressive D66, with 14-17 seats.

The Labour Party, a junior coalition partner in Rutte's ruling government, looks set for a drubbing and has slid to 11-13 seats, down from 38 in the 2012 parliamentary polls.

Dutch voters on March 15 will launch a "super election" year in Europe, followed by French presidential polls in April and general elections in Germany in September.
East Timor will hold a presidential election on March 20, an official said Wednesday, and Nobel Peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta may try to make a comeback as head of state.

It will be the third presidential vote in the tiny half-island nation since it won independence in 2002 following a brutal, 24-year occupation by neighbouring Indonesia.

"The president... issued a decree Tuesday which stated that the first round of the presidential election will be held on March 20," Nelyo Isaac Sarmento, state secretary for social information, told AFP.

Ramos-Horta, who lived in exile during the years of occupation and was East Timor's voice on the international stage, was a major figure in the country's politics for a decade after independence serving as both prime minister and president.

He lost his post as president in 2012 elections and vowed to step back from politics, but analysts say he is considering running in the March polls for the largely ceremonial post.

However his likely rival Francisco Guterres -- a former guerrilla fighter known by his nom de guerre "Lu Olo" -- is seen as a stronger candidate.

Up to six candidates are expected to compete in the first round in March, said Sarmento, although none has officially declared their candidacy.

No candidate is expected to win the required 50 percent of the vote on March 20, meaning a run-off will likely be held on April 20.

Incumbent President Taur Matan Ruak is not expected to stand.

"Ruak has said he will not stand again as president and is very widely expected to run for parliament, with the intention of becoming prime minister," said Damien Kingsbury, an East Timor expert at Australia's Deakin University.

Nearly 750,000 Timorese are registered voters, Sarmento said.

The presidential poll sets the stage for parliamentary elections expected in July, which are more important as they will decide who becomes prime minister.

During the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, a poor country of 1.1 million people with an oil-dependent economy, around 183,000 people died from fighting, starvation or disease.
Miami (AFP) - Last year, the Earth sweltered under the hottest temperatures in modern times for the third year in a row, US scientists said Wednesday, raising new concerns about the quickening pace of climate change.

Temperatures spiked to new national highs in parts of India, Kuwait and Iran, while sea ice melted faster than ever in the fragile Arctic, said the report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Taking a global average of the land and sea surface temperatures for the entire year, NOAA found the data for "2016 was the highest since record keeping began in 1880," said the announcement.

The global average temperature last year was 1.69 Fahrenheit (0.94 Celsius) above the 20th century average, and 0.07 degrees F (0.04 C) warmer than in 2015, the last record-setting year, according to NOAA.

This was "not a huge margin to set a new record but it is larger than the typical margin," Deke Arndt, chief of NOAA global climate monitoring, said on a conference call with reporters.

A separate analysis by the US space agency NASA also found that 2016 was the hottest on record.

The World Meteorological Organization in Geneva confirmed the US findings, and noted that atmospheric concentrations of both carbon dioxide and methane reached new highs.

- Upward trend -

The main reason for the rise is the burning of fossil fuels like oil and gas, which send carbon dioxide, methane and other pollutants known as greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and warm the planet.

The mounting toll of industrialization on the Earth's natural balance is increasingly apparent in the record books of recent decades.

"Since the start of the 21st century, the annual global temperature record has been broken five times (2005, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016)," said NOAA.

Another factor has been the Pacific Ocean warming trend of El Nino, which experts say exacerbates the planet's already rising warmth.

El Nino comes and goes. The latest episode became particularly strong in 2015, and subsided about halfway through 2016.

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But El Nino was responsible for just a small fraction of last year's warmth, according to Peter Stott, acting director of Britain's Met Office Hadley Center.

"The main contributor to warming over the last 150 years is human influence on climate from increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," he said.

This year is likely be cooler, but probably not by much, said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York.

"Because the long-term trends are so clear, it is still going to be a top-five year in our analysis. I'm pretty confident about that." he told reporters.

- Scenes from a warming world -

Last year, all of North America was the warmest since records began in 1910, breaking that region's last record set in 1998.

Europe and Asia each saw their third hottest years on record, while Australia marked its fourth warmest year since records began more than a century ago.

Unusual spikes in temperature were seen in Phalodi, India, which reached 124 F (51 C) on May 19 -- marking India's hottest temperature ever.

Dehloran, Iran hit 127 F (53 C) on July 22, a new national record.

Meanwhile, Mitribah, Kuwait hit an all-time high of 129 F (54 C) on July 21, which may be the highest temperature ever recorded in all of Asia, NOAA said.

Planet-wide, the heat led to more melting at the poles. In the Arctic, average annual sea ice extent was approximately 3.92 million square miles (10.2 million square kilometers), the smallest annual average in the record, NOAA said.

Antarctic annual sea ice extent was the second smallest on record.

- Dangers -

Unusually hot years wreak havoc on the planet by increasing rainfall in some parts of the world while leading to drought in others, damaging crops.

Fish and birds must migrate farther than ever to find suitable temperatures and habitats.

Diseases can spread faster in the warming waters, sickening marine life and killing corals.

Glaciers and polar ice caps melt, accelerating sea level rise that will eventually swallow many of the globe's coastal communities, home to some one billion people.

Experts say the only solution is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, in favor of Earth-friendly renewable energy such as wind and solar.

"Climate change is one of the great challenges of the twenty first century and shows no signs of slowing down," said Mark Maslin, professor of climatology at University College London.

"The decarbonization of the global economy is the ultimate goal to prevent the worst effects of climate change."
(WASHINGTON)  Education secretary pick Betsy DeVos said Tuesday that American parents must be able to send their children to high-quality schools, including charter, magnet and religious schools, if public schools are failing.

Responding to fierce criticism from teachers unions that the Republican donor and school choice activist is working against public education, DeVos told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that she will be a strong advocate for great public schools.

But, she added, if a school is troubled, or unsafe, or not a good fit for a child  perhaps they have a special need that is going unmet  we should support a parents right to enroll their child in a high-quality alternative.

Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., a former education secretary, expressed confidence that DeVos is an excellent choice for the job. She is on the side of our children, he said.

But Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state, the top Democrat on the committee, said she was extremely disappointed that DeVos has not yet finalized her financial and ethics disclosures ahead of the hearing.

DeVos, 59, also said she will seek to address rising higher education costs and massive student debt, but also advance trade and vocational schools as well as community colleges because craftsmanship is not a fallback  but a noble pursuit.

Another priority for DeVos will be weakening burdensome federal regulations and giving local communities greater control over education policies.

President-elect Trump and I know it wont be Washington, D.C., that unlocks our nations potential, nor a bigger bureaucracy, tougher mandates or a federal agency, DeVos said. The answer is local control and listening to parents, students and teachers.

DeVos, the wife of Dick DeVos, the heir to the Amway marketing fortune, has spent more than two decades advocating for charter schools in her home state of Michigan, as well as promoting conservative religious values.

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Labor unions, Democrats and civil rights groups have opposed her appointment. She and her family have donated millions of dollars to Republican politicians and groups over the years, including campaign contributions to several committee members.

Murray, in a statement, said she wants DeVos to answer questions about her extensive financial entanglements and potential conflicts of interest and also to provide additional information about her finances, calling her disclosures incomplete. The senator lamented that DeVos has spent her career and wealth fighting to privatize public education and gut investments in public schools.

In a letter addressed to the committee, 38 prominent education groups and teachers organizations expressed concern that DeVos track record bodes ill for public education.

Over the course of her career as a major campaign contributor, soft-money donor and lobbyist, DeVos has used her considerable wealth to influence legislation and the outcomes of elections to advance policies that have undermined public education and proved harmful to many of our most vulnerable students, the letter said.

LGBT groups also have protested Trumps choice of DeVos, saying she has funded conservative religious groups that promote what they consider to be traditional family values, including one organization that supports conversion therapy  counseling of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people with the aim of changing their sexual orientation.

In an apparent response to that criticism, DeVos said in her statement, Every child in America deserves to be in a safe environment that is free from discrimination.

DeVos supporters, meanwhile, applauded her nomination. Eva Moskowitz, CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools, said that American public education is in deep crisis, with 35 countries outranking American schools in math and 20 in reading.

I believe Betsy DeVos has the talent, commitment and leadership capacity to revitalize our public schools and deliver the promise of opportunity that excellent education provides, and I support her nomination as U.S. secretary of education, Moskowitz said in a statement.
Eighteen companies in sectors ranging from nanotechnology and apparel manufacturing to medical devices and consumer goods were named at the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, as the finalists for the 2017 TIME India Awards.

Time Inc. vice chairman Norman Pearlstine will announce the winners at a ceremony on Jan. 27 at the Confederation of Indian Industrys Partnership Summit in Andhra Pradesh state.

Selected from a pool of 15,000 companies after a rigorous evaluation process conducted with McKinsey & Co., the knowledge partner for the awards, the finalists were announced on Jan. 17, at a special Davos panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges that digital disruption brings for India  one of the worlds fastest growing economies. Time Inc. chief content officer and Fortune editor in chief Alan Murray moderated the panel on the Digitization of India, which included Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu; Secretary of Indias Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Ramesh Abhishek; McKinsey & Co.s Asia chairman Kevin Sneader; and T.V. Narendran, managing director of Tata Steel.

Alongside prizes for the Innovator for the Year and the Global Manufacturer for the Year, the 2017 TIME India Awards will recognize the countrys most exciting small and medium-size businesses and startups. The 18 finalists were named across six categories, representing an expansion in size and scope from the inaugural TIME India Awards in 2016, which had nine finalists across three categories.

The finalists for the second TIME India Awards represent real innovation in manufacturing and are making a significant impact on the Indian economy, with products that benefit the world, said Pearlstine. The Confederation of India Industrys Partnership Summit is one of Indias most prominent international business events and promotes discussion and collaboration around global economic growth. This event is an ideal forum for this years awards.

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This years judges include General Electric vice chairman John Rice; Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy; ICICI Bank managing director and chief executive officer Chanda Kochhar; Clay Chandler, Time Inc. executive editor, international; and McKinsey & Co.s Sneader. Pearlstine will chair the jury.

Rajat Dhawan, senior partner, McKinsey & Co., said, Alongside exhibiting overall competitiveness and pursuing innovation, shortlisted companies stand out for at least one zing factor  either their remarkable export orientation, pioneering adoption of Industry 4.0, focus on sustainable manufacturing, or attempts to solve a societal problem.

The 2016 awards were held at the Make in India summit in Mumbai on Feb. 13, with TATA Steel, Indias first private-sector steel company, winning the prize for Best in Class Manufacturing. Hero MotoCorp, the worlds largest maker of two-wheelers by volume, was named the Manufacturing Innovator of the Year, while Yogesh and Rajesh Agrawal, joint managing directors of specialty pharmaceutical company Ajanta Pharma, took home the Young Maker of the Year Award.

The finalists for the 2017 TIME India Awards are:

TIME India Innovator for the Year

Amara Raja Batteries

Hindustan Unilever

Mahindra & Mahindra

TIME India Global Manufacturer for the Year

Bharat Forge

Shahi Exports

Zydus Cadila

TIME India MSME Innovator for the Year

Advanced Enzyme Technologies

Phoenix Medical Systems

PTC Industries

TIME India MSME Manufacturer for the Year

KHS Machinery

Paragon Apparels

Rangsons Electronics

TIME India Startup Innovator for the Year

Barrix Agro Sciences

E-Spin Nanotech

Versa Drives

TIME India Startup Sustainability Pioneer for the Year

Ananya Seeds

Greenway Grameen Infra

Swasti Agro & Bioproducts
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said on Wednesday he will review the Obama administration's recent decision to lock in fuel efficiency rules.

On Friday, outgoing EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy finalized a determination that the landmark fuel efficiency rules instituted by President Barack Obama should be locked in through 2025, a bid to maintain a key part of his administration's climate legacy.

"It merits review and I would review that," Pruitt said during a contentious Senate confirmation hearing, questioning the decision of McCarthy to finalize the determination just two weeks after the public comment period closed on Dec. 30.

Pruitt said separately he would not commit to allowing California to continue its own clean vehicle rules under a 2009 decision by the Obama administration.

Major U.S. and foreign automakers have appealed to Trump, who has been critical of Obama's climate policies, to review the rules requiring them to nearly double fleet-wide fuel efficiency by 2025, saying they impose significant costs and are out of step with consumer preferences.

As part of a 2012 regulation, EPA had to decide by April 2018 whether to modify the 2022-2025 model year vehicle emission rules requiring average fleet-wide efficiency of more than 50 miles per gallon.

In 2011, Obama announced an agreement with major automakers to raise fuel efficiency standards to 54.5 miles per gallon. This, the administration said, would save motorists $1.7 trillion in fuel costs over the life of the vehicles, but cost the auto industry about $200 billion over 13 years.

The EPA said in July that because Americans were buying fewer cars and more SUVs and trucks, it estimated the fleet will average 50.8 mpg to 52.6 mpg in 2025. In November, the agency moved up the timetable for proposing that automakers can meet the 2025 standards.

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McCarthy said her determination, a legally binding decision to maintain the fuel efficiency rules, rested on an extensive technical record. She said the rules are "feasible, practical and appropriate" and in "the best interests of the auto industry."

Senator James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, on Wednesday said McCarthy's determination was an "extreme action" that "broke the deal" with automakers.

Legal experts have said it will be more difficult for the Trump administration and Congress to undo the determination than to unwind other regulatory actions issued by the Obama administration during its final months in office.

The 2025 determination is not a new regulation, so the EPA under Trump would likely have to go through an extensive process before withdrawing it and could face lawsuits from environmental groups if that step was taken.

Separately. California's new Democrat Senator Kamala Harris asked Pruitt whether he would commit to upholding the California waiver. Pruitt did not say outright that he would uphold the waiver, which allows California to pursue its own emission standards that are more stringent than the federal rules.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington. Additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington; Editing by Alan Crosby)
President Elect Donald Trumps nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offered a greatly scaled-back vision for the agency during a confirmation hearing Wednesday while rejecting the President-elects claim that global warming is a hoax.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt called for an expanded role for states in environmental regulation, what he termed cooperative federalism, and suggested that wide ranging regulatory actions of the EPA under President Obama often amounted to regulatory overreach. Pruitt framed his stance on regulations as a question of following the rule of law and supporting economic growth.

As Attorney General of Oklahoma, I saw examples where the Agency became dissatisfied with the tools Congress has given it to address certain issues, and bootstrapped its own powers and tools through rulemaking, Pruitt said in his remarks, as prepared for delivery. This, unfortunately, has resulted only in protracted litigation, where the courts suspended most of these rules after years of delay.

Read More: What You Need to Know About Scott Pruitt, Trumps Pick for EPA

Pruittwho sued the EPA 13 times during his tenure as attorney generalfaced sharp questions from Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ranging from his close ties to the oil and gas industry to his planned approach to toxic chemical regulation.

The nominee approached most questions with a more moderate tone than Trump and at one point even refuted the President-elects characterization of climate change as a hoax. But Pruitts views on global warmingalong with a slew of other issues discussedstill remain incompatible with the view of the vast majority of climate scientists who say that humans are the primary driver of global warming.

Pruitt acknowledged global warming as a reality, but said he was unsure how much humans contribute to the problem. The climate is changing and human activity contributes to that in some manner, said Pruitt. I believe the ability to measure with precision the degree of humans impact on the climate is subject to more debate.

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Read More: Climate Scientists Fear Trump May Fatally Undermine Their Work

Pruitts understanding of science also appeared muddy when he said he was unsure the concentration of lead the human body can withstand. The EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both say that lead is unsafe at any level.

Regardless of Pruitts scientific views, he acknowledged that the EPA has an obligation to regulate carbon dioxide emissionsthe primary contributor to climate changein order to comply with federal law and court rulings. The statement suggests that the incoming Trump administration will not try to overturn a scientific conclusion from the EPA, known as an endangerment finding, which concluded that the federal government needs to regulate carbon dioxide to protect human health. Because of that finding Pruitt and Trump will need to create their own measure to regulate carbon dioxide emissions if they nix Obamas Clean Power Plan as the president elect repeatedly promised to do on the campaign trail.

Another tense moment came as Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts challenged Pruitt to commit to recusing himself from the many matters where he has sued the EPA. Pruitt promised only to follow the guidance of the agencys ethics office.

Republicans on the committee seemed eager to praise the nominee for what they described as appropriate use of the law to protect the environment during his time in Oklahoma. GOP Senator James Inhofe of Oklahomawho has himself denied the science of climate changeintroduced Pruitt as a defender of the rule of law and an expert of balancing economic growth and environmental stewardship.

Read More: Donald Trump Says Hell Bring Back Coal. Heres Why He Cant

Without Republican opposition to Pruitts nomination he will likely win easy confirmation, but nonetheless several Democratic senators and environmental groups have expressed ardent opposition to the choice. Opponents of the nomination pointed to a long record of close ties to oil and gas companies as the foremost reason to block his nomination. Pruitt has has received more than $300,000 in contributions from the fossil fuel industry since 2002 and has often supported the interests of those companies in court. In one striking example, he sent a confrontational letter to the EPA with text copied nearly verbatim from language suggested to him by industry lobbyists.

A public office is about serving the public, said Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, at the Wednesday hearing. Why do you need an outside oil company to draft a letter when you have 250 people working for you?
ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Etihad Airways is not looking to take a stake in German carrier Lufthansa <LHAG.DE>, a spokesman said on Wednesday, denying a report in an Italian newspaper that sent Lufthansa's shares higher on Tuesday.

"We can confirm that are not looking to take a financial stake in Lufthansa," the spokesman said, after the Wall Street Journal quoted Etihad Aviation Group CEO James Hogan as saying he was interested in a closer partnership but not buying shares.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Lufthansa and Etihad were in talks, but over cooperation on code shares and catering, rather than equity stakes.

Etihad is grappling with ways to turn around two of its loss-making investments - Air Berlin <AB1.DE> and Alitalia [CAITLA.UL], which are struggling with high costs and tough competition from budget rivals.

Etihad Airways bought stakes in Germany's Air Berlin in 2011 and Alitalia in 2014 as part of a strategy to expand its route network but the two have failed to return to profitability.

Hogan said in a statement on Wednesday that other carriers in which Etihad has invested, such as Jet Airways, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Etihad Regional have all become more efficient and profitable.

"However, we have faced greater challenges with Air Berlin and with Alitalia. Both are operating in very tough competitive environments, and need to address long-standing issues facing their businesses," he said according to the text of a speech that was delivered in Dublin on Wednesday.

"We are committed to our equity partner strategy  it delivers a huge amount to our business," Hogan said.

Etihad has already agreed a deal with Lufthansa for the German carrier to lease 38 crewed planes from Air Berlin, and has set up a joint leisure airline venture with TUI <TUIT.L> for Air Berlin's tourist flights, deals which will see Air Berlin's fleet halve.

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Meanwhile, Alitalia is due to present a detailed restructuring plan this month.

"I believe Air Berlin's strategy is now on track and Alitalia is finalizing a business plan to address its issues," Hogan said.

(Reporting by Stanley Carvalho & Victoria Bryan; editing by Jason Neely and Susan Thomas)
STRASBOURG (Reuters) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday he told Prime Minister Theresa May that EU negotiators were "not in a hostile mood" toward Britain but that Brexit talks would be "very, very, very" difficult. The EU chief executive told a news conference that he had spoken to May on Tuesday after she outlined her plans for leaving the European Union and welcomed the clarity she gave. He said EU negotiators would seek a fair deal for both sides. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, whose government holds the rotating presidency of EU councils, was asked at the same news conference if he heard a threat in May's warning that EU measures to penalize Britain would damage the continental bloc. He replied that he had not heard a "declaration of war". (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; editing by Philip Blenkinsop)
By Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European leaders applauded Theresa May for providing clarity by finally outlining her plan for a clean break with the EU, but said she needed to be realistic about the price Britain would pay for leaving. May's vision of a "global Britain" cutting itself off from European Union's single market and launching negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement with the bloc is a form of "hard Brexit" continental leaders were prepared for. For months Europeans expressed frustration that British officials would not accept in public that their determination to curb immigration from the continent meant Britain must leave the common market. May's speech on Monday put an end to that. "Sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement on Brexit," tweeted Donald Tusk, the former Polish premier who will oversee the divorce negotiations between London and the other 27 member states in the European Council. EU leaders are keeping their negotiating powder dry until May formally launches talks in the coming months. But officials who are preparing for the process noted that May had not spelled out many downsides for Britain's economy. "Where is the give for all the take?" asked the Czech Republic's secretary of state for EU affairs, Tomas Prouza, on Twitter. May accepted that there would have to be "give and take" and "compromises" if Britain is to keep "maximum" access for its goods and services while shedding its single market obligations, such as paying in to the Union budget, accepting rulings by EU courts and letting any EU citizen come to work in Britain. Europeans, including German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, renewed their insistence London would not be allowed to "cherry pick" EU benefits without paying for them. Some countries, such as Canada, have negotiated extensive access to the single market, though less than Britain now enjoys. They are generally subject to arbitration by neutral tribunals and have typically taken seven years or more to negotiate. NOT "ZERO SUM" May stressed how free trade with Britain was in the economic interests of all -- it was "not a zero sum game", she said. Many in Europe accept that is the case, at least in the short term, and for that reason are willing to try and limit the damage. But while May said an effort to "punish Britain and make a political point" would harm the economic interests of workers on the continent, EU leaders are worried that a sweetheart deal for London would encourage voters in other countries to try and emulate Britain's referendum last June. "We shall never accept a situation in which it is better to be outside the EU and the single market than to be a member," said Guy Verhofstadt, the liberal former Belgian prime minister who is the point man on Brexit for the European Parliament. British officials have suggested they could be forced to slash corporate tax rates to stay competitive if the EU imposes a deal that includes punitive tariffs. "If we don't (get a sensible Brexit deal) the people of this country are not simply going to lie down and accept that they will be poorer," May's Chancellor, Philip Hammond said. "We will do whatever it takes to maintain our competitiveness and protect our standard of living." Verhofstadt said such remarks would not make it easier to reach a deal: "Saying ... we are going to make a sort of free zone or tax haven of Great Britain, I dont think this is useful," he said. "We need a fair agreement and certainly not under threats." (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; @macdonaldrtr)
What's new in the world of food for 2017? Here's a look at some of Europe's latest theme bars and restaurants.

Paris, France

> Crabe Royal

The Kaspia group, which renovated chic Parisian haunts Caviar Kaspia and La Maison de la Truffe, starts 2017 on a saltier note with a restaurant entirely dedicated to king crab. Located in the French capital's Place de la Madeleine, the eatery celebrates the flavors of this king-sized crustacean, which can measure up to two meters across. Rather than the Norwegian species, it is the red king crab (also known as the Kamchatka king crab), fished off the coast of Alaska, that inspires the menu. Echoing the current trend for lobster hot dogs -- now also embracing octopus -- the giant sea creature will be served in a burger bun, wrapped in a spring roll or accompanied by noodles. Crab fans with more classic tastes can enjoy the legs grilled, caramelized or served in a gratin

19, Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France.

> Saucette

Sausages such as France's tripe-based andouillette and other specialties are back in vogue in the French capital. A new restaurant, opened at the beginning of January, hopes to bring a chic upmarket vibe to meaty treats in a menu where sausages take center stage. Saucette has sourced quality fare directly from regional producers to serve up a selection of "proper" sausages, with evocative names such as the "Louboudin," a black pudding ("boudin noir") sausage from Mortagne au Perche, and "Socis Reding," a marinated beef and sesame seed concoction. Seasonal dishes can be enjoyed at the restaurant or to take away.

30 rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris, France.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

> Blood and Wine Bar

In Scotland, the latest tribute to the hit TV series "Game of Thrones" takes the form of a bar where customers can sample wines, of course, or cocktails with evocative names such as "Myrish Fire Wine." Everything here is reminiscent of Westeros, the world in which the historical fantasy series is set. The bar has the look of a tavern, adorned with shields, swords and the skins of various beasts. Fans may be disappointed to hear that this is only a temporary pop-up, open every Wednesday and Thursday in January and February. The team behind the project previously opened a "Breaking Bad" pop-up and could strike again with "Harry Potter" or "The Walking Dead" theme bars. Watch this space ...

26B Dublin Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

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London, England, UK

> Pip&Nut Toast Bar

Peanut butter brand Pip&Nut has opened an eatery dedicated to its star spread in a famous London department store. The pop-up, located in the Selfridges Foodhall, serves grilled toast-based concoctions featuring nut spreads. Open daily from 7:30am to 12:30pm until February 12, the bar serves recipes featured in the brand's recent cookbook, such as toast with grated apple, peanut butter and maple syrup.

Selfridges Foodhall, 400 Oxford Street, Marylebone, London, UK

Amsterdam, Netherlands

> The Avocado Show

Whether fried, in a burger or smashed, avocado will be served in all kinds of creative ways at this eagerly awaited bar, set to open in Amsterdam this February. Guacamole will obviously be on the menu, and the superfood will also be whizzed up into smoothies. Fans of the fruit can enjoy avocado-based delights from dawn to dusk, as the bar will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner until midnight.

Daniel Stalpertstraat 61, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker promised Wednesday to seek a "balanced" deal for Britain's exit from the EU and not be "hostile", after Prime Minister Theresa May unveiled her Brexit plan.

"For my part, I will do everything so that the negotiations reach a balanced solution, with full respect for our rules," former Luxembourg premier Juncker told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

"I welcome the clarifications given by Mrs May, but I said to her last night that a speech will not launch the negotiations," he said, adding that could only happen when Britain triggers formal divorce proceedings.

May has promised to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty by the end of March but set out key proposals in her speech in London on Tuesday, including Britain's withdrawal from the European Union's single market.

"There will be an unprecedented negotiation which must finish within two years and the consequences will be considerable for the United Kingdom, its 27 partners and the whole union," Juncker said.

Juncker said he told May in a telephone conversation Tuesday evening that the commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and the rest of the executive "are not in a hostile mood".

Juncker added: "We want a fair deal with Britain and a fair deal for Britain but a fair deal means a fair deal for the EU too."

But he acknowledged "it will be very, very, very difficult negotiation because Britain has to be considered as a third country" and no longer an EU member.

- No 'declaration of war' -

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, whose country holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, reiterated that any Brexit deal must be "inferior" to membership of the bloc.

"We want a fair deal for the UK but that deal necessarily needs to be inferior to membership. This should not come as a surprise to anyone -- indeed thinking it can be otherwise would be a detachment from reality," Muscat said.

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He said May's determination to leave the single market was a "somewhat positive development" as it confirms the EU 27's position that access to the market could not be separated from the bloc's commitment to freedom of movement.

May said Tuesday it was more important for Britain to be able to limit immigration from the rest of the EU than to keep unfettered market access.

The Maltese premier added that the EU would hold an "extraordinary" summit on Brexit "a short period of time" after Article 50 is triggered, probably four or five weeks later.

In the later news briefing with Juncker, Muscat said he did not see "the sort of declaration of war" some media are depicting when May warned the EU that it would be committing "an act of calamitous self-harm" if it backed a punitive Brexit deal to deter others from leaving.

"I saw a statement of clarity on which one might have reservations," he said.
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f351443%2f1360f041-07a4-41bc-8435-5b09d1f33e99

India's apex court has weighed in resoundingly on a petitioner who wanted all stray dogs killed. It has observed that "nobody can destroy stray dogs in entirety. They also have a right to live," the Press Trust of India reported.

However, a methodical culling is possible, it has said.

SEE ALSO: This Indian city wants its roads fully watched by CCTV and drones

The apex court has been hearing a series of petitions filed by NGOs and civic bodies across the country on stray dogs that have become a menace, especially in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

The bench informed that a panel headed by a former Kerala High Court judge had received around 400 matters related to dog bites and it was working on it. Some deaths have also been reported.

In September last year the Supreme Court had called for compassion towards street dogs. But it had also warned, "These animals cannot be allowed to become a menace to the society. A balance needs to be created for dealing with such situation.

In Kerala, one of the petitioners is reportedly building dog shelters in his area and has been asked by the apex court to submit a concrete proposal.

Most Indians seem unhappy with the "poor judgement" though. They lashed out at the Supreme Court for not valuing human lives.

@IndianExpress At the Cost of human lives its a dangerous, though absolutely admit that human beings are Custodians of Nature & must protect  Vivek Verma (@vivekvermabpl) January 18, 2017

@timesofindia but without making any harm to the common people. ..shame on the judiciary. .common man have no value. .  Prabhath U Varma (@puvarma) January 18, 2017

@timesofindia I think stray dogs've right to live when they're not stray anymore. why don't the municipality drop them to outskirts  Bheeshaj Trivedi (@bheeshaj) January 18, 2017

@IndianExpress Poor judgement. It will worsen the problems which all cities face caused by packs of feral stray dogs  Vipul Mohan (@MohanVipul) January 18, 2017

@ttindia That's Right But Then Who Is Going To Own Their Upkeep Akin To Millions Of Begging People.No One Wants Them, Sterilization Big Nah  pradip kumar (@Adipkr) January 17, 2017

@timesofindia @Swamy39 Is there constitutional guarantee for dogs to bite ppl and spread diseases too ? SC/country going 2 Dogs  Amit kumar (@amitkumar1968) January 18, 2017

@IndianExpress living in palatial bungalows deprives one of woes of those living surrounded by colony of stray dogs  bluu_topaz (@bluu_topaz) January 18, 2017

@IndianExpress let the Supreme Court pay for medical treatment and damages to the people who are not by these stray dogs  Jean (@fnkey) January 18, 2017

@IndianExpress then maintain the dogs with all medications and vaccinations. Dnt let them harm people #dogs  Thamizhan (@fromsham55) January 18, 2017

@IndianExpress Supreme Court is no longer for humans .. it is Court of Justice for non humans.  MPM (@reachmpm) January 18, 2017

Ouch!

BONUS: Firefighters rescue dog that slipped through the ice on Lake Michigan
Seoul (AFP) - The former head of ailing South Korean vessel builder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine was sentenced to 10 years in prison for accounting fraud on Wednesday, among the longest penalties imposed on a businessman for financial crime in the country.

Ko Jae-Ho's punishment epitomises the decline of Daewoo, which was once one of the country's biggest conglomerates, or chaebol.

The group fell into financial difficulties and was broken up in the late 1990s, leaving the shipbuilder -- one of the world's largest -- as the biggest carrier of the name.

But the shipbuilding sector, which also includes a Hyundai unit, has suffered turmoil of its own more recently in the face of a global glut of vessels and ferocious price competition from China.

The Seoul Central District Court found Ko guilty of manipulating the company's books in 2013 and 2014, when he was the CEO, and using them to raise bank loans.

"The accused was aware that there were extensive accounting frauds but failed to correct them", the court said in a statement.

"Overall, his intent about the fraud is sufficiently recognised, and (he) is responsible for his failure to redress it", it said.

Investors sustained serious financial losses as the company's credit ratings and stocks plunged after the window-dressing came to light, the statement said.

"The calibre of this crime is great," it said.

The court also sentenced a former vice president of the company to seven years in jail for his involvement in the fraud case.

Two state-run banks -- Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea -- have announced an injection of some $2.4 billion of fresh funds into the shipbuilder to keep it afloat.

Once hailed as a major driver of the country's export-reliant economy -- Asia's fourth-largest -- South Korean shipyards have shed thousands of jobs and assets to stay afloat over the past two years.
(Reuters) - Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush has been moved to an intensive-care unit at a Houston hospital with pneumonia and was resting comfortably after doctors performed a procedure to clear his airway, his office said in a statement on Wednesday.

His wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, also was admitted to the same hospital on Wednesday as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing, the office said.

(Reporting by David Ingram in New York; Editing by Bill Trott)
Washington (AFP) - Former president George H.W. Bush was admitted to an intensive care unit Wednesday suffering from pneumonia, highlighting concerns about the health of a political dynasty's patriarch just as a new US leader prepares to enter office.

Bush, 92, was initially hospitalized Saturday for shortness of breath, but was moved to intensive care "to address an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia," Bush's office said in a statement.

"Doctors performed a procedure to protect and clear his airway that required sedation."

Early Wednesday, Bush's wife, the former first lady Barbara Bush, 91, also was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital "as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing," it said.

"President Bush is stable and resting comfortably in the ICU, where he will remain for observation," said the statement, posted by Bush spokesman Jim McGrath on Twitter.

President Barack Obama, who was holding his final news conference before Donald Trump is sworn in as his successor Friday, said he has been in touch with the Bush family and that he and First Lady Michelle Obama were sending their prayers.

"They have not only dedicated their lives to the country, but they have been a constant support and good counsel for Michelle and me," Obama told reporters.

"They are as fine a couple as we know."

Bush, who served as the nation's 41st commander-in-chief from 1989 to 1993, is the oldest of the four living former US presidents and uses a wheelchair. He has seemed frail in recent public appearances.

Former president Bill Clinton tweeted: "41 and Barbara -- thinking about you both and sending wishes for a speedy recovery. Love, 42."

Trump also said he was thinking of the Bushes.

"Looking forward to a speedy recovery for George and Barbara Bush, both hospitalized," Trump tweeted. "Thank you for your wonderful letter!"

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- 'In spirit' -

On January 10, Bush wrote Trump a warm personal letter offering regrets that he and his wife would not be able to make it to Friday's presidential inauguration in Washington.

"My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under. Same for Barbara," he wrote.

"So I guess we're stuck in Texas. But we will be with you and the country in spirit."

In July 2015, Bush was treated in a Maine hospital after falling and breaking a bone in his neck. The previous December, he was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital for breathing problems.

He was treated at the same facility in November 2012 for bronchitis, spending nearly two months in the hospital.

George Herbert Walker Bush was born June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts to a wealthy New England political dynasty, the son of Prescott Bush, a successful banker and US senator for Connecticut.

He deferred his acceptance to Yale University in order to join the US Navy and head off to World War II, before marrying Barbara and heading to west Texas to crack into the oil business.

As a rising political star, he served in the US House of Representatives, as US ambassador to the United Nations, and director of the Central Intelligence Agency before becoming vice president to Ronald Reagan for eight years.

As president, Bush steered the United States through the end of the Cold War and drove Iraq from Kuwait, only to be denied a second term over a weak economy.

Bush is father to former president George W. Bush (2001-2009) and former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who was a contender in the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

Barbara Bush has been protective of her powerful family. But she made headlines when she suggested that Jeb not run for the office, even though he was the "best qualified man" to serve.

"I think it's a great country, there are a lot of great families, and it's not just four families or whatever," she told NBC's Today show in 2013 when asked if she wanted to see Jeb, who was then governor, make a White House run.

"There are other people out there that are very qualified, and we've had enough Bushes."
By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former New York state senator was sentenced on Wednesday to five years in prison for seeking to obstruct a federal investigation into whether he had embezzled proceeds from sales of foreclosed properties.

John Sampson, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dora Irizarry in Brooklyn, where the Democrat had been a state senator from 1997 until his conviction in July 2015 on charges that he obstructed justice and made false statements.

A spokesman for Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Robert Capers confirmed the sentence, which also included a $75,000 fine. Sampson's lawyer, Nick Akerman, said his client looked forward to appealing his conviction.

The case is one of several corruption probes involving politicians in Albany, New York's capital, in recent years. Former leaders of the state's two legislative houses, Democrat Sheldon Silver and Republican Dean Skelos, were convicted in 2015.

Sampson, an ex-minority leader for the state's Senate, was initially charged in 2013 with embezzling $440,000 from escrow accounts related to Brooklyn properties he controlled in his role as a court-appointed referee in foreclosure proceedings.

Prosecutors accused Sampson of using the money to help pay for an unsuccessful 2005 primary bid for Brooklyn district attorney.

But Irizarry dismissed the embezzlement charges in October on statute of limitations grounds, leaving prosecutors to take him to trial on charges that Sampson attempted to impede their investigation.

Prosecutors said that in 2006, Sampson asked Edul Ahmad, an associate in the real estate industry, for $188,500 to help repay some of the stolen money, out of fear it could subject him to prosecution.

After Ahmad was indicted in 2011 as part of a mortgage fraud scheme, Sampson attempted to prevent him from cooperating with authorities and sought information about that case from Sam Noel, a paralegal in the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's office.

Both Ahmad and Noel ultimately pleaded guilty to federal charges and testified at Sampson's trial.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Richard Chang and Lisa Von Ahn)
By Steve Stecklow

LONDON (Reuters) - A major Chinese education company that was subsidizing a project to verify transcripts of Chinese students applying to U.S. colleges has pulled out after Reuters reported that the firm itself stands accused of widespread application fraud.

Shanghai-based Dipont Education Management Group has withdrawn from the project, Jerome Lucido, who heads a University of Southern California research center that has been working on it, said in a statement to Reuters.

Jeff Zhu, Diponts vice president, said the projects advisory board, which includes representatives of some of Americas top universities, had recommended that the company withdraw to eliminate any possible question of who has control over the project.

The projects future is now unclear. A committee of participating schools  including Stanford University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Los Angeles  is on hiatus and plans to reconsider how it approaches the project, Lucido said. At least two schools  Swarthmore College and Pomona College  dropped out.

The legitimacy of applications coming out of China has become a growing problem for many U.S. colleges, which have come to rely on Chinese students able to pay full tuition. Hundreds of Chinese companies have sprung up to help students get into American universities, and their services sometimes include falsifying documents, Reuters found.

Dipont operates international programs in Chinese high schools and also offers college counseling services. Last year, 17 former Dipont employees told Reuters how the company had engaged in college application fraud, including writing essays for students and altering teacher recommendation letters.

Brian Perkins, an American who taught at a Dipont school in Hangzhou from 2012 to 2014, said he was pressured by Chinese supervisors and other employees to give good grades to students who skipped class. He said he did it under protest.

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In a statement, Dipont disputed the accounts of academic fraud but said it would promptly and thoroughly investigate any credible evidence of any situation in which the companys legal and/or ethical standards may not have been upheld by any of its employees.

Meanwhile, the status of a $750,000 pledge by Diponts founder and chief executive, Benson Zhang, to the USC Rossier Center for Enrollment, Research Policy and Practice is now unclear. According to Zhu, the center, which helped launch the transcript-vetting project, can keep the $525,000 paid to date. But Zhu didnt address whether Zhang planned to make good on the rest. USC declined to comment.

The first payment - $300,000  was made on Zhang's behalf by a New York-based non-profit set up by two Dipont consultants. Zhang said he repaid that money. The New York State Attorney Generals office said it is reviewing the charity, the Council for American Culture and Education Inc. Reuters reported that the charity hadnt disclosed its ties to Dipont in New York and federal tax filings.

Zhu said the charity, which was another sponsor of the verification project, was no longer involved.

Reuters also has reported that Dipont paid thousands of dollars in perks or cash to admissions officers at more than 20 top U.S. colleges to come to China and counsel some of its students. Dipont will decide at a later date whether to continue the summer admission institute, Zhu said.

(Additional reporting by Renee Dudley in Boston. Edited by Blake Morrison)
By Souleymane Ag Anara GAO, Mali (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's North African affiliate said a suicide bomb attack on a military camp in northern Mali that killed up to 60 people and wounded more than 100 others on Wednesday was punishment for groups there cooperating with France. The attack struck at the heart of still-fragile efforts by the government and rival armed groups to work together to quell violence that has plagued the restive desert north for years. The bombers forced their way into the camp shortly before 9 a.m. (0900 GMT), running over several people before blowing up their vehicle just as 600 soldiers were assembling, said Radhia Achouri, a spokeswoman for Mali's U.N. peacekeeping force MINUSMA. "We will fight you. We will defeat you. You will not have the last word," President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said in a televised address late on Wednesday. Mali will observe three days of national mourning. In a statement released by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, the militant group said the attack was carried out by its close ally al Mourabitoun. It gave the bomber's name as Abdul Hadi al-Fulani. Malian state media had earlier said there were five bombers. "We do not permit the establishment of barracks and bases or the convening of patrols and convoys belonging to the French occupiers, to wage war against the mujahideen," the statement read. France intervened in Mali in 2013 to drive back Islamist groups that seized the desert north a year earlier and maintains a regional operation aimed at stamping out insurgents. Al Mourabitoun, led by veteran jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar, is believed to have carried out a number of high-profile attacks against military and civilian targets in Mali and other West African nations. Together with AQIM and the Massina Liberation Front, it claimed an assault by jihadist gunmen on a Radisson hotel in the capital, Bamako, in November 2015 in which 20 people died. "SYMBOLIC ATTACK" State media put Wednesday's death toll at 60 and said another 115 were wounded. It was not clear if the figure for the dead included the five suicide bombers that were earlier reported to have carried out the attack. The camp housed government soldiers and members of rival armed groups who were due to begin conducting joint patrols under a U.N.-brokered peace deal aimed at easing local tensions so that the government can focus on fighting Islamist militants. "We are not used to this kind of violence. These are practices that are imported here to turn us away from the path of peace," Defense Minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga said as he visited some of the wounded in hospital in Gao. Despite the successful French-led military intervention, Islamist militants still conduct frequent attacks in northern Mali and use it as a base for operations in neighboring countries. "The significance of this attack is that it strikes at the very heart of the Algiers peace agreement," said Sean Smith, a West Africa analyst at Verisk Maplecroft. French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux described the blast as a "highly symbolic attack" in an area visited only days ago by President Francois Hollande. Gao is a dusty town of 50,000 people on the banks of the Niger river. The 13,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali has the highest casualty rate of any U.N. mission in the world, and a truck bomb flattened its offices in Gao in December. (Reporting by Adama Diarra and Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako, Nellie Peyton in Dakar and David Lewis in Nairobi; Writing by Ed Cropley and Joe Bavier; Editing by Kevin Liffey and James Dalgleish)
The families of two missing Pakistani bloggers claimed their loved ones were innocent on Wednesday after a virulent social media campaign painted the activists as blasphemers deserving execution under the country's draconian laws.

A total of five men, who had stood against religious intolerance and at times criticised Pakistan's military, vanished within days of each other earlier this month, sparking fears of a government crackdown.

No group has claimed responsibility for their abduction and security sources have denied involvement.

But blasphemy accusations targeting the disappeared activists have been multiplying on Facebook and Twitter, triggering a flood of threats.

The allegation can be fatal in deeply conservative Muslim Pakistan, where at least 17 people remain on death row for blasphemy.

"People are making this up, it is hearsay," said Mesha Saeed, the wife of Ahmed Waqass Goraya who went missing from Lahore on January 4.

"People are saying that Waqass is affiliated (to blasphemy). But the content attributed to Waqass on that page, he would never do that.

"Whatever content is on that page, we condemn it and he is not responsible for any of it.

"Im just a student, Im a simple person. I don't understand why are we being trapped like this," she said.

Rights groups have long criticised the colonial-era blasphemy legislation as a vehicle for personal vendettas as even unproven allegations can result in mob lynchings.

A number of NGOs and observers say the online campaigns are to silence progressive voices and are carefully coordinated.

Several liberal online commentators have already closed their social media accounts in the wake of the accusations.

Pakistan is ranked among the world's most dangerous countries for journalists, and reporting critical of the military is considered a major red flag.

Rights groups say activists and journalists often find themselves caught between the country's security establishment and militant groups including the Taliban.

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Faraz Haider, brother of Professor Salman Haider, who disappeared from capital Islamabad on January 6, said the charges were also putting the lives of other family members in danger.

"This propaganda does not only impact the people who are already missing, but also, us, their families," he said.

"We are really concerned about this. Keeping in mind the seriousness of such affairs in Pakistan, we are worried that this will surely cause danger for all of us in the future."

Social activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir said a petition has been filed in the supreme court and the National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) for the recovery of the missing bloggers and a halt to the blasphemy accusations.

He said the case had become "a humanitarian crisis".
Hai Duong (Vietnam) (AFP) - Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan grew up on a small plot of land in rural Vietnam, with just enough food to eat, few new clothes and no disposable income.

Today she works in a Ford factory assembling cars from Chinese, Thai, American and European parts, her children drink imported milk and Coca Cola and she holidays with her family -- winners of the globalisation lottery.

"Before children didn't have a lot of clothes or food, but life improved after their parents got factory jobs," Loan, 36, told AFP at the Ford plant near Hanoi.

She is among millions whose lives have been transformed by Vietnam's free trade embrace, a process that began in the 1980s and has hauled the communist nation out of the penury of the post-war years.

Vietnam now boasts one of Southeast Asia's fastest growing economies driven by exports of cheaply made goods, from Nike shoes to Samsung phones.

The progress is forecast to continue -- albeit at lower-than-expected growth rates -- despite a vow by US President-elect Donald Trump to dismantle a massive Pacific Rim trade deal that Vietnam had hoped would bring a jobs bonanza.

Yet Trump's crusade to save American jobs he says are gobbled up by cheap overseas labour, comes while his own daughter, Ivanka, makes some items for her clothing line in Vietnam.

Even if the sprawling Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact runs aground, Vietnam says it has no plans to close its doors on trade.

"By going global, by going regional, Vietnam has clearly reaped the benefits of globalisation," World Bank Vietnam Country Director Ousmane Dione told AFP, citing large reductions in poverty.

- Farms to freeways -

A glance around Hai Duong, 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the capital, reveals why Vietnam has staked its future on free trade.

Since Ford first opened its doors 20 years ago the area has morphed from an agrarian backwater into an industrial zone peppered with foreign-owned factories churning out electronics, clothing and machinery.

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Vegetable plots and fishing ponds have been replaced by a four-lane highway for trucks carrying goods for export.

Held back by years of war and crippling Soviet-style policies, Vietnam has boasted an annual GDP growth of over five percent for the past five years straight -- though it failed to reach its ambitious target last year.

The country first opened its economy to foreign firms in the 1980s and investment gathered pace after the US scrapped a war-era trade embargo in 1994.

Exports now account for 90 percent of GDP, while the average annual income has surged from some $290 two decades ago to around $2,100 today, according to the World Bank.

In Hai Duong the average Ford factory worker can earn more than twice that -- although still a far cry from the average American manufacturing wage of about $43,000.

"Everything has changed," said Nguyen Van Tuan, 48, a part-time chauffeur, who grew up in a house made of mud and straw.

Today Tuan is proud of his three-storey concrete home -- built from $800 Ford paid for his land 20 years ago.

It sits on a paved road dotted with shops selling iPhones and Japanese badminton rackets.

His two kids have now moved to Taiwan, a country higher-up the manufacturing value chain.

- Centuries apart -

For Ford, Vietnam's abundance of cheap labour and expanding domestic market is a magnet -- it sells cars locally to an upwardly mobile middle class.

Not that the wins of globalisation are universal.

Vietnam remains a tightly-controlled authoritarian regime, independent unions are banned and dissent is swiftly muzzled.

Large foreign firms also stand accused of flouting labour and environmental laws.

Last year Taiwanese firm Formosa was blamed for killing millions of fish through toxic dumping.

The company later said Vietnam has to choose between development and protecting the environment.

"Regulations in regards to environment have loosened, so we've seen some negative effects," said Tran Dinh Thien, head of the Vietnam Institute of Economics Studies.

But for the factory workers of Hai Duong, the trend towards globalisation for now remains welcome.

"Ninety percent of my generation work for companies like Ford," 32-year-old technician Pham Van Hai told AFP, standing before a sea of car parts on the factory floor.

"Theres a 20-year age gap between me and my daughters, but the difference in terms of economics is more like a couple of centuries."
On Jan. 11, members of Turkeys parliament gathered in Ankara to debate a package of constitutional amendments that includes a dramatic expansion of presidential power. Perhaps it was only fitting that it quickly devolved into a fistfight.

During the heated debate, opposition lawmakers took control of the parliament chairs seat in an attempt to filibuster or block the amendments from moving forward. Deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) protested, and moved in to retake the stand. A filibuster is one thing, but a physical occupation of the chair was against parliamentary procedure, they later argued. Punches were swiftly thrown. Video footage of the incident shows a frenzy of MPs pushing and shoving each other.

In one photo, AKP lawmaker Ravza Kavakci Kan looks on at the rugby scrum of men in suits. Her arms are folded, her lips pursed in a look of utter disappointment. I couldnt physically go in between men to stop them. There wasnt anything I could do. I was thinking the Turkish people deserve better. We shouldnt have this in the parliament, she told TIME in a phone interview. There is no right or wrong here. We could have been able to just talk about it and express our differences through our words.

Ravza Kavakc Kan'dan hepinizden nefret ediyorum durusu pic.twitter.com/qv5A56M8Dn  Burak Dogan (@doganburak29) January 12, 2017

The brawl in the house of parliament was an illustration of the yawning divide in Turkey between supporters and opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his party, the AKP, in the wake of the failed military coup last July. As the bill moves through parliament on the way to a referendum expected in the spring, the proposed revisions to the constitution are at the center of a fierce political fight. The proposal effectively replaces the current parliamentary system with a presidential system. Proponents say the changes will bring governmental stability. Opponents say they sling Turkey further down the road to autocracy.

The proposed overhaul of the constitution would abolish the office of the prime minister, and grant the president the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. It would also expand the presidents authority over the judiciary, and eliminates parliaments right to interpellation, or the ability to submit formal questions on the governments actions to the executive. The president would be directly elected every five years.

The proposed constitution is seen by Erdogans critics as an endgame in Turkeys grand political contest, a step that could permanently transform the Turkish state and complete Erdogans grip on power for years to come. Turkey will transition from symbolic presidency to a symbolic parliament, says Aykan Erdemir, a former member of parliament from the liberal opposition Republican Peoples Party (or CHP). Parliament will basically be a rubber stamp, and the parliament will have little capacity and little opportunity to check, basically, the executive.

In Turkey, discussions over the merits of the constitution inevitably turn to the man who occupies the office, and who could remain in power for some time. Erdogan became president in 2014 after serving for more than a decade as prime minister. He is riding a surge of popular support and nationalist feeling after the coup, and has launched a clampdown on political opponents, leading authorities to detain journalists, academics, and about a dozen opposition members of parliament. Even though the presidency is theoretically less powerful than the prime ministers office in the current system, Erdogan is by far the more influential leader, far overshadowing prime minister Binali Yildirim.

That raises a question. If Erdogan already enjoys nearly unchecked power, why transition to a full presidential system? Analysts point out that Erdogan is maneuvering in the context of Turkeys hard knuckle politics, where the cost of losing is potentially greater than a simple exit from office. Modern Turkey has a history of civil unrest and military coups, including one that resulted in the execution of the elected prime minister, Adnan Menderes, in 1960. Erdogan has told confidants that he was deeply affected by the memory of Menderes killing, recalling his father weeping when he heard the news broadcast. I think what drives Erdogans push is fear, says Erdemir.

There is also a political rationale. The new presidential system would allow Erdogan to control his political future, regardless of how his party fares in parliamentary elections. Its an interesting decoupling. Erdogan is basically decoupling his prospects from the prospects of the party, that is, the AKP. Because he knows that the AKP is fallible, says Erdemir, who is also a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

Still, supporters of the government insist the constitutional changes are a healthy shift, toward a system some compare to the American presidential system. This is not a change in the Turkish regime. Were still a republic. Were still a democracy, growing democracy. But this is a proposal to change the way democratic governance is done. This is a system change, says Kavakci, the AKP lawmaker.

The centralization of power around the presidency has prompted ripples of opposition even from within Erdogans own party. Former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, an influential AKP figure, said in remarks published in Turkish media on Thursday that he had delivered feedback, responses and concerns to Erdogan about the new presidential system. Its right to collect executive powers in one center but this formation has to take shape around separate legislative and judicial powers, he was quoted as saying.

Critics of the presidential system claim their opposition is based on principle, rather than on opposition to Erdogan himself. Anyone with this power would be a nightmare for Turkey, because they would basically be more powerful than Ottoman sultans, says Ilhan Tanir, a Washington-based political analyst.

After it is approved by Turkeys parliament, the proposed constitutional amendments are headed for a referendum later this year. The public vote on the changes injects an element of unpredictability into the constitutional process. Recent public opinion polls show that the public is split over the changes, with some surveys showing a small majority opposed to the amendments. The outcome of the vote will depend on myriad factors, including mobilization by various parties and the power of Erdogans personal following. Expect more fighting  and not just in the Turkish parliament.
After an 18-day, 12,000-kilometre (7,450-mile) intercontinental journey, the first freight train from China arrived in Britain on Wednesday.

The lengthy journey is the latest manifestation of China's drive to strengthen trade links with western Europe along a modern-day "Silk Road" trade route.

The yellow and red locomotive bearing a Deutsche Bahn logo arrived at Barking in east London, slowing down as it made its final approach.

It broke through a paper banner reading: "First Freight Train from China to UK -- Jiwu to London -- January 2017" and was showered with confetti.

The train is filled with clothes and other retail goods in 24 containers -- far less than ships which can carry between 10,000 and 20,000 containers.

The train left on January 1 from the industrial city of Jiwu, crossing Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before entering Britain through the Channel Tunnel.

The train that arrived was different from the one that left China since the locomotive and the carriages had to be changed because of the larger gauge on railways in the former Soviet Union.

London is the 15th city to be linked to a new freight network offered by the state-run China Railway Corporation, which is billed as cheaper than air transport and quicker than shipping.

China, the world's top trading nation, in 2013 announced a new "Silk Road" to strengthen trade ties throughout Asia, Russia and Europe.
The film festival founded by Robert Redford will be held January 19-29 in Salt Lake City in the mountains of Utah, USA. This veritable springboard for independent cinema is in its 33rd edition this year.

Since launching in 1991, the Sundance Film Festival has scouted out the talent of several major directors (Tarantino, Jarmusch, the Coen brothers) and has previewed several future Oscar nominees. In fact, "Manchester by the Sea," "Whiplash," "Animal Kingdom," "Memento," "Reservoir Dogs" and "Sex, Lies, and Videotape," all made their debuts at Sundance.

This year, a total of 118 films (full-length features, short films, documentaries, etc.) will be screened at the festival, with different juries selected to scrutinize each specialist field. Actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Peter Dinklage ("Game of Thrones") join director Jody Hill on the jury picked to examine this year's selection of American full-length movies.

Here's a selection of five movies from the festival's 118 films that are likely to create a buzz when they screen at the event.

Manifesto

German experimental filmmaker Julian Rosefeldt has cast Cate Blanchett in not one but 13 different roles in this highly artistic film. The performance of the Australian actress, who plays 13 very different characters, isn't likely to go unnoticed.

Ghost Story

After attending last year's festival to present "Manchester by the Sea" -- a serious Oscar contender -- Casey Affleck is back in 2017 with "Ghost Story." This David Lowery movie, filmed secretly last summer in Dallas, is set in a house haunted by a ghost. Rooney Mara is also on the cast.

The Yellow Birds

Alexandre Moors has picked a sensitive subject for his new film, telling the story of Bartle and Murph, two young Americans serving in Iraq under the command of Sergeant Sterling. Bartle is tormented by a promise he made Murph's mother just before they left. Alden Ehrenreich, the future Han Solo, plus Tye Sheridan ("X-Men: Apocalypse") star in the lead roles, accompanied by Jennifer Aniston, Toni Collette, Jason Patric and Jack Huston.

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Before I Fall

Zoey Deutch plays a high school student forced to constantly relive the last day of her life until she makes the right decisions. Due out March 3 in US theaters, the film, directed by Ry Russo-Young, is based on the 2010 book of the same name by Lauren Oliver.

The Little Hours

This third film from Jeff Baena is also his third Sundance selection. After "Joshy" and "Life After Beth," the filmmaker is back with a historical movie starring Alison Brie, Dave Franco, John C. Reilly and Molly Shannon. The story, set in the Middle Ages, follows a young servant who flees his master and takes refuge in a convent of emotionally unstable nuns.
A year ago, Flint, Mich., was engulfed in crisis. After officials belatedly acknowledged that the citys water supply had been contaminated with lead and had poisoned local children, both Michigan and the federal government declared a state of emergency. Furious residents questioned what government officials knew about the dangers of the drinking water and why they didnt act sooner.

Today, Flint has largely dropped out of the national headlines, but the battles unleashed by the public-health disaster are far from over. Flints residents still cant drink the water without a filter, requiring most families to rely on bottled water for everything from brushing their teeth to cooking and bathing. More than a dozen state and local officials have been criminally charged over Flints poisoned water, including two former emergency managers who could face decades in prison if convicted, while the states attorney general tells TIME that the investigation is not yet over.

The city has made progress in improving the water qualityafter switching from the corrosive Flint River back to Detroits safer water supplyand tens of millions of dollars have gone toward the recovery, which includes the daunting task of replacing 30,000 lead pipes. But even as that work is underway, some residents say change isnt coming quickly enough, and they question whether they can trust what theyre being told about the water.

Heres a breakdown of where things stand in Flint today:

The water still isnt safe to drink

Officials say the quality of Flints water has improved dramatically since the height of the crisis in 2014 and early 2015. The problems began in April 2014, when Flint switched its main water source from Detroit to the Flint River to save the city money. But officials did not properly treat the water coming from the Flint River, which leached lead from Flints aging pipes into the drinking supply. For months, residents complained about the smell and discoloration of the water even as government officials told them it was safe to drink. The city finally switched the water back to Detroits supply in October 2015, but by then the damage was done.

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Now, a working group tasked with monitoring the citys water, which includes representatives from local, state and federal agencies, says the water quality is improving but still unsafe to drink without a filter.

Marc Edwards, the Virginia Tech environmental engineer who first independently confirmed the waters high lead levels and has continued testing Flint homes as part of that working group, says the water today is likely safer than water in many other areas of the country.

Theres no reason to believe the water in Flint is any more dangerous than other U.S. cities, Edwards tells TIME.

Tests of more than 150 homes around Flint have shown that a vast majority of residences are below federal limits on lead and copper and that bacteria levels are also dramatically lower than they were a year ago. But the group has yet to come to a consensus that the water is safe to drink and appears hesitant to do so anytime soon despite the recent test results. Everyone is erring on the side of caution, Edwards says.

Some residents, however, are highly skeptical of those findings. Melissa Mays, a local activist and organizer of the group Water You Fighting For?, is pushing for more extensive testing for homes in Flint to check for bacteria like Legionella, which led to a local outbreak of Legionnaires Disease that followed the water switch in April 2014 and killed 12 people. Mays says she still develops a rash from water in her home and questions the official findings about improving water quality. At a town hall meeting last week, a number of Flint residents crumpled plastic water bottles in protest as officials presented their research.

We feel like were right back at the beginning, Mays says.

Edwards, who presented his findings at the meeting, says he understands the skepticism aimed at officials who are telling residents that the water quality has improved, considering the misinformation officials gave residents for months in 2014 and 2015. You cant blame Flint residents for never trusting the water or a government agency or a scientist ever again, Edwards says.

Where the criminal investigation stands

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has filed 48 charges against 13 state and local officials who played a role in allowing lead to leach into the citys water supply. In December, Schuette charged two state-appointed emergency managersGerald Ambrose and Darnell Earleywith multiple felony counts. They are the highest-ranking officials charged so far in the year-long investigation.

Read more: Flint Water Crisis May Cost the City $400 Million in Long-Term Social Costs

In an interview with TIME, the attorney general describes the Flint investigation as probably the biggest investigation in terms of criminal activity in Michigans history, at least modern history and says he believes financial concerns drove many of the poor decisions that led to the crisis.

For $200 a day, had the leadership put phosphate in the water as an anti-corrosive, this wouldnt have happened, Schuette says.

The question moving forward is whether the probe will reach higher levels than the citys former emergency managers. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has been a routine target of protesters who allege he hasnt told the truth about what he knew about the water. Snyder says he first learned of the problem in October 2015, but a state task force found that the governor and his aides discussed water quality problems in Flint as early as that summer.

Were not concentrating on any one person or group of people or department, nor are we excluding anybody, Schuette says. Nobodys off the table, nor are we trying to focus on any one person.

Read more: How Flint Residents Are Fighting the Water Crisis in Court

It remains unclear how long the investigation will continue, but Schuette did offer a general range. Were much closer to the end than we are to the beginning, he says.

What happens next

While some residents may never trust anything that comes out of their taps, replacing the citys lead pipes could go a long way to easing their concerns.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver has pledged to dig up and replace the citys almost 30,000 lead service lines, but so far only about 700 have been replaced. Weaver blames the slow pace on inclement weather and a lack of state funding. At the town hall last week, officials said it could take up to three years for a complete overhaul.

The city has received $27 million from the state for the project, money Weaver describes as enough to get us started but not enough to finish. In a smaller sign of progress, last Friday the state announced that up to 4,000 Flint homes could receive new faucets to replace brass ones that could potentially contribute to lead contamination in the water.

Its a shame its taken this long, Weaver says. We need and deserve new pipes.
Former president George H.W. Bush has been taken to a hospital after falling ill this week. His wife and former first lady Barbara Bush has also been hospitalized "as a precaution."

The 92-year-old is being treated in Houston after complaining of shortness of breath at his home there, the Houston Chronicle reported early Wednesday.

Read: George H.W. Bush Will Defy Party With Vote for Clinton, a Kennedy Claims

Doctors say Bush is responding to treatment and should be discharged in the next couple of days.

The father of George W. Bush has been hospitalized on multiple occasions in recent years, at least one of which was for respiratory issues.

In late 2012, Bush was treated for a bronchitis-related cough, released, then re-admitted. He spent the next couple of months in intensive care before finally being released at the start of 2013.

Bush was hospitalized again in 2015 after he fractured his neck in a fall at the family's home in Maine.

Bush's chief of staff Jean Becker told reporters her boss is on the mend.

"He's there. He's fine and he's doing really well," Becker, said.

However, a subsequent release from the former president's office painted a grimmer picture.

Read: Wounded War Vet Proposes to Girlfriend in Front of Bush 41 and 43, Reveals It Was Their Idea

"Shortly after our previous report on President Bush's condition, he was admitted to the ICU at Houston Methodist Hospital to address an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia,'' the statement said.

While the statement said President Bush was resting comfortably following a procedure to clear his airways, it also said that his wife, Mrs. Barbara Bush, had been admitted to the same facility "as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing."

Watch: Jimmy Carter Actually Filed a UFO Report with NASA Before Becoming President

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By David Ingram and Brendan O'Brien

(Reuters) - Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush has been moved to an intensive-care unit at a Houston hospital with pneumonia and was stable and resting comfortably after doctors performed a procedure to clear his airway, his office said on Wednesday.

His wife of 72 years, former first lady Barbara Bush, also was admitted to the same hospital on Wednesday as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing, the office said in a statement.

Bush, who at 92 is the nation's oldest living ex-president, has been at Houston Methodist Hospital since Saturday after experiencing shortness of breath, family spokesman Jim McGrath said on Wednesday.

Since then, Bush experienced an "acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia" and was sedated for the unspecified procedure, his office said.

He will remain in the hospital's intensive-care unit for observation, his office said.

Bush and the 91-year-old former first lady marked their 72nd anniversary on Jan. 6.

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At a White House news conference, President Barack Obama said that the Bushes have been a constant source of friendship and good counsel to him and to first lady Michelle Obama.

"They are as fine a couple as we know, and so we want to send our prayers and our love to them," Obama said.

Bush is the father of former President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who sought the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

The eldest Bush, a Republican like his sons, was vice president during Ronald Reagan's two White House terms before being elected president in 1988. He lost his re-election bid to Bill Clinton, then the Democratic governor of Arkansas, in 1992.

A naval pilot during World War Two, Bush became an occasional skydiver after leaving the presidency and marked his 90th birthday by parachuting from a helicopter with jump partner.

He has used a wheelchair in recent years and was hospitalized twice in 2014, once for seven weeks with pneumonia and again for breathing difficulties. In July 2015, he broke a bone in his neck in a fall at the family home in Maine.

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Bush and his wife were already planning to miss President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday due to health reasons.

"My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under," Bush wrote to Trump on Jan. 10, according to a copy of the letter released on Wednesday. "Same for Barbara. So I guess we're stuck in Texas."

Trump was critical of George W. and Jeb during the 2016 presidential campaign, and their father did not endorse Trump in his race against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

But in his letter, Bush said he and his wife would be with Trump in spirit at the inauguration and wished him "the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country."

Republican Senator John McCain and the Carter Center, founded by former President Jimmy Carter, posted tweets wishing Bush a quick recovery.

In December Bush marked the 75th commemoration of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor by attending a ceremony at his library at Texas A&M University.

(Reporting by David Ingram in New York and Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Bill Trott and Diane Craft)
Agen (France) (AFP) - A court in southwest France on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the extradition of a suspected paedophile who is one of Britain's most wanted fugitives.

Stephen Carruthers, 43, was arrested by police on January 8 after he was involved in a car accident. He was found to have been living in France for a year under a false identity.

Carruthers was arrested in Ambleside in northwest England in March 2014 and detectives found a computer containing more than 5,300 photographs of children of a sexual nature, including some showing sexual acts.

He was released on bail but fled Britain.

Carruthers was named on the British National Crime Agency's (NCA) list of runaways believed to be hiding abroad.

The appeals court in the town of Agen said his extradition to Britain, on a European arrest warrant which was issued a year ago, could proceed.

"The court orders the suspect to be handed over to English authorities and that he be remanded in custody until that time," the court's chief judge Thierry Perriquet said.

Asked if he had any objections, Carruthers replied: "No."

His lawyer said the procedure could take around 10 days.

The court was told Carruthers faces up to 10 years in prison in Britain if found guilty.
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande told British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday that negotiations over Britain's exit from the European Union should begin as soon as Britain invokes Article 50, a presidential sources said. Hollande and May held a telephone conversation after she set a course for a clean break with the EU trading bloc in a speech on Tuesday. May said Britain would quit the bloc's single market. "The president took note of this clarification and indicated that he hoped negotiations would begin as soon as possible after the notification of the planned exit by the end of March," the source said. May informed Hollande of her desire to establish an economic relationship with the EU in the framework of a trade agreement and insisted on the importance of Franco-British cooperation in the areas of security and defence, the source said. May intends to trigger Article 50, to launch the formal process of negotiating the terms of Britain's exit from the EU, by the end of March. (Reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Alison Williams)
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - The Gambia has been plunged into political turmoil since President Yahya Jammeh disputed his rival Adama Barrow's election victory.

With just days to go before the planned inauguration, Jammeh declared a state of emergency.

Here are five things to know about the small west African nation.

- Bloodless coup -

The Gambia, the smallest country on mainland Africa, was a British colony from 1888 until independence in 1965.

It became a republic in 1970, when the then prime minister Dawda Jawara was appointed president.

In a bloodless coup in 1994, Jammeh overthrew Jawara.

- 'Climate of fear' -

Rights groups accuse Jammeh of cultivating a "climate of fear" and of going all-out to crush dissent.

Repression and poverty have driven many Gambians to risk their lives at sea in search of a better life in Europe.

With a population of less than two million, The Gambia's migrants are the largest group per capita crossing the Mediterranean to Italy, according to the International Organization for Migration.

- Widespread poverty -

Some 60 percent of Gambians live in poverty, UN data shows, with a third of those living on less than $1.25 (1.2 euros) a day.

The Gambia's agricultural base is weak, and the main crop is peanuts. The economy is also supported by tourism and remittance payments by the large number of Gambians who have made it to Europe.

Per capita gross national income (GNI) fell to $460 in 2014, from $750 in 1993.

- Islamic republic -

In 2013, Jammeh said that the country would withdraw from the Commonwealth, which he called a "neo-colonial institution", and in 2014, he said that The Gambia would drop English as its official language.

In December 2015 he declared that the country, which had a history of religious tolerance, was an Islamic republic that had broken free from its "colonial legacy".

Muslims account for about 90 percent of the population, with Christians and animists making up the rest.

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In October 2016, The Gambia became the latest African nation to pull out of the International Criminal Court, which it accused of "persecuting" Africans.

- Mystical cure for AIDS -

In early 2007, Jammeh claimed to have mystical powers which, along with a herbal remedy, allowed him to treat asthma and HIV/AIDS.

After the UN envoy to Banjul commented on his claim to Britain's Sky News broadcaster, she was "given her marching orders because of irresponsible comments," the pro-government Daily Observer reported.

Jammeh has called homosexuals "ungodly, Satanic... vermins," and has threatened to slit the throats of men who wanted to marry other men, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Homosexuality is illegal in The Gambia, and the crime of "aggravated homosexuality" carries a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
BANJUL (Reuters) - Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after refusing to hand power to opposition leader Adama Barrow, who won an election last month. State televison said the emergency would prevent a power vacuum while the supreme court rules on Jammeh's petition challenging the election result. That suggests Jammeh will stay in power beyond Thursday, when Barrow was due to be sworn in as president. Regional leaders have threatened to intervene militarily if Jammeh does not step down and on Tuesday a senior Nigerian army source said Nigeria and other West African states were preparing a military force. "I...hereby declare a state of public emergency throughout the Islamic Republic of Gambia," Jammeh's declaration said. The state of emergency banned "acts of disobdience" and "acts intended to disturb public order". Jammeh took power in a coup in 1994 as only the second president since Gambia's independence in 1965 and his government gained a reputation for torturing and killing perceived opponents, rights groups say. In 2015, he declared that the country was an Islamic Republic. Pro-democracy activists across Africa welcomed his defeat and his refusal to step down has provoked an internal crisis as well as a test of mettle for regional leaders. Gambia's top judge on Monday declined to rule on Jammeh's election petition and in a political blow to the president, the ministers of finance, foreign affairs, trade and the environment have resigned, according to ministry sources. [nL5N1F64IT] The Nigerian source said that defence chiefs of staff of West African countries met on Monday to discuss strategies to remove Jammeh. "Some West African countries will be contributing troops, including Nigeria, for the operation," said the source, adding that the United Nations and African Union had offered support to regional body ECOWAS for the plan. State television said on Monday Finance Minister Abdou Kolley was being replaced by Benjamin Roberts, the Minister of Tourism. Finance ministry sources said on Tuesday Roberts had also resigned. Ministry sources said other government figures, including Foreign Minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, had left the government and the country. The mayor of the capital Banjul has also resigned, according to sources at the city council. [ID:nL5N1EZ6A9] Hundreds of Gambians have fled into Senegal, Gambia's only neighbour, fearing for their safety because of the turmoil, and Senegalese authorities have increased security. Barrow is also in Senegal, his aides say. "We are scared. There are soldiers with guns all the time," said Awa Sanneh, 25, from Birkama in Gambia, who was leaving with two children and 24 other family members. One of the smallest countries in Africa, Gambia is reliant on tourism and one main crop, peanuts, to fuel its economy. (Reporting by Felix Onuah in Abuja and Emma Farge in Diouloulou; Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Melbourne (AFP) - Garbine Muguruza proved too strong for American Samantha Crawford as the seventh seed overcame a tough examination to make the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday.

The hard-hitting Spaniard struggled through 7-5, 6-4 and will next play Latvian 32nd seed Anastasija Sevastova, who beat Kristina Kucova in two easy sets.

The French Open champion, with her right thigh strapped after complaining of a sore leg during her first round clash, is yet to go beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park.

But she said ahead of the tournament she had matured and learned to better handle the pressure of being a top-10 player.

"She was super-powerful and hit the ball very hard, which made it difficult," Muguruza said. "Today, I had to concentrate and wait for my opportunity."

Muguruza showed few signs of early nerves on a cool evening on Rod Laver Arena.

Rather it was 76th-ranked Crawford, a former US Open junior champion, who had the jitters, struggling to find her touch with a string of unforced errors as Muguruza rushed to a 3-0 lead.

But the American, who made a big run to the semi-final in Brisbane last year which remains her career highlight to date, started to get in the zone and broke in game four to get back in the contest.

Muguruza has always struggled with consistency and was rattled by Crawford's blitz, dropping four games in a row to go 3-4 behind.

Both players are thunderous hitters of the ball and there were some fierce rallies before the Spanish star finally got a break in the 11th game and held on to take a tough set.

But it was far from convincing from a player who opened her season with a run to the Brisbane International semi-finals.

The two, in their first career meeting, went neck and neck in the second set with little between them until Muguruza broke to go 5-4 ahead and served out the win.
Former President George H.W. Bush on Jan. 7. (Photo: Eric Christian Smith/AP)

Former President George H.W. Bush said and his wife, Barbara, are bowing out of attending Donald Trumps inauguration, saying in a note to the president-elect that he might not survive it.

My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it will likely put me six feet under, Bush said in the letter, which was released by his office. So I guess were stuck in Texas.

Bush, 92, was hospitalized in Houston over the weekend for shortness of breath. But the note is dated Jan. 10.

We will be with you and the country in spirit, Bush wrote. I want you to know that I wish you the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country. If I can ever be of help, please let me know.

Bush and his son, former President George W. Bush, did not endorse Trump and reportedly did not vote for him. The younger Bush, former President Bill Clinton and defeated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton plan to attend the inauguration.

Read the letter below:

Screen Shot 2017-01-18 at 11.31.25 AM

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Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - Britain leaving the European single market will damage both the UK and EU member states' economies, the German car industry warned Wednesday, after Prime Minister Theresa May appeared to head for the exit.

"The British economy is deeply woven into other EU countries," Matthias Wissmann, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), told AFP by email. "A hard Brexit would be tough and expensive."

In a high-profile speech on Tuesday, May announced plans to quit the European single market as well as the 28-member European Union following Britons' vote to leave in June last year.

"Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe," May said. "What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market."

Since the Brexit vote, European leaders have insisted that Britain cannot "cherry-pick" elements of the single market by clinging to free movement of goods, services and capital but not labour -- the "four freedoms" that form the single market.

The prime minster added that she still wanted "tariff-free" trade with Europe and "frictionless" business ties in a new deal with the EU.

"Years will go by before new treaties are a done deal," VDA's Wissmann predicted. "Prospects like that scare away investors."

Britain is the German car industry's largest export customer, Wissmann noted, adding that 57 percent of all British car industry exports are destined for the EU.

Around one in five cars produced in Germany is sold in the UK, according to the VDA, while German firms operate around 100 sites producing cars or components in Britain.

"Car firms have a large interest in solutions being found that continue to allow intensive trade and the wealth creation associated with it," Wissmann said.

May should "ensure the UK's negotiations with the EU result in uncomplicated, tariff-free access to the EU single market in future," a spokesman for luxury carmaker BMW, which operates four sites in the UK, told AFP in a statement.

"Not only free trade but also cross-border employment opportunities and unified, internationally applied regulations are of proven benefit to business, the economy and individuals," the spokesman said.

Britain is expected to formally notify EU authorities of its intention to leave by the end of March, triggering a two-year negotiation on the terms of its departure from the bloc.
Berlin (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government on Wednesday set September 24 as the date for a general election, as she seeks a fourth term facing populist headwinds over a record migrant influx.

The decision, adopted by Merkel's right-left coalition cabinet, must still be formally approved by President Joachim Gauck.

But the announcement fires the starting gun for an election campaign that Merkel has said will be her toughest yet due to opposition to her liberal asylum policy.

Merkel, 62, is nevertheless the clear frontrunner in the race and enjoys solid popularity in Europe's top economy.

A poll released Wednesday showed her conservative Christian Union bloc (CDU/CSU) as the strongest political force in the country with 38 percent.

It was followed in distant second by the Social Democrats (SPD), the current junior partners in Merkel's "grand coalition" government, which polled at 21 percent.

The right-wing anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has railed against Merkel's decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015, lost one percentage point compared to last week to reach 11 percent.

The head of the Forsa opinion research institute which conducted the poll, Manfred Guellner, said a jihadist attack on a Berlin Christmas market last month that killed 12 people and was committed by a rejected asylum seeker had failed to boost support for the AfD.

"Although the security debate after the Berlin terror attack is running high, the AfD is unable to capitalise on it," Guellner said in a statement.

"It is actually losing support while the CDU/CSU and the SPD are stabilising."

- Radical surge -

The AfD, born as a eurosceptic party in 2013, has attempted to harness public unease with migration and asylum and, due to its relative strength, threatens to scramble the potentially complicated arithmetic of coalition building after the election.

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It hopes to become the first populist party to gain seats in the Bundestag lower house of parliament in post-war Germany.

The AfD, seeking to gain momentum from a surge of European radical parties, will host a meeting of far-right leaders in the western city of Koblenz on Saturday.

Leaders expected to attend include Marine Le Pen, the presidential candidate for France's National Front; Harald Vilimsky of Austria's nationalist FPOe party; and Dutch MP Geert Wilders of the anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV).

The Forsa poll, conducted January 9 to 13 among a representative sample of 2,053 eligible voters, showed the ecologist Greens and the far-left Linke each at nine percent and the pro-business Free Democrats at six percent.

The Greens, who have been mentioned as potential partners in government for Merkel after the election, on Monday chose two members of their pragmatist wing, Cem Ozdemir and Katrin Goering-Eckardt, to lead the party into the general election.

Both have praised Merkel's stance on refugees.

However, Merkel has faced blowback from within her own conservative bloc, with the Christian Social Union in the southern state of Bavaria agitating for an upper limit on new asylum seekers -- a bid Merkel has repeatedly rejected.

US President-elect Donald Trump said in a newspaper interview Monday that Merkel had made a "catastrophic mistake" in letting migrants flood into Germany.

Yet some analysts say German uncertainty over the future of the post-war order with Trump at the helm in Washington and Britain leaving the European Union could help Merkel's campaign as voters long for stability.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany wants to reach out to the future U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump to safeguard essential trans-Atlantic relations, Chancellor Angela Merkel's foreign policy advisor Christoph Heusgen said on Wednesday. Speaking to lawmakers in Merkel's conservative party, Heusgen also said Germany would have to shoulder more international responsibilities in future. He said Germany would steadily increase military spending towards the NATO goal of 2 percent of gross domestic product. Earlier, Merkel said there would be contacts at all levels with the United States in the run up to meetings of the Group of 20 this year of which Germany is the chair. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Michael Nienaber)
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The country's most radical cookie-selling organization is coming to Washington D.C.

Last night, the Girl Scouts of the USA came under fire after the release of parade participants revealed that they would be marching at the inauguration. Critics and parents accused the organization of marching for a President who doesn't respect the rights or bodies of young women, or even the values of their own organization.

SEE ALSO: Can we please stop branding compassion as 'liberal elitism?'

On Twitter, the Girl Scouts defended the move, arguing that they had supported inaugurations for over a century, hoping to teach young girls about democracy and civic responsibility.

@scATX Since 1917, Girl Scouts have engaged in Presidential inaugural events to learn about the US democratic process & civic engagement.  Girl Scouts (@girlscouts) January 17, 2017

The Girl Scouts decision to participate came as a shock to many long accustomed to the organization's otherwise progressive values. The group has embraced transgender youth long before many Americans did. In June 2015, one chapter of the organization handily rejected a $100,000 donation that required that only cis girls benefit from it.

Even though Scouts will not be forced to march, Twitter was not happy, and the outrage continued well into Wednesday morning.

.@girlscouts Trump has sexualized young girls again &again. How can you defend sending children to the inauguration? https://t.co/nMhZM3uM6N  Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) January 17, 2017

@girlscouts I'm the mother of a Girl Scout and I hope you reconsider your participation. Trump does *not* honor your values, as shown below pic.twitter.com/ozT3Qm3ZrN  Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) January 17, 2017

If you wouldn't leave a girl scout in a room alone w/ donald trump, you shouldn't be participating in his inauguration, @girlscouts. #resist  Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) January 17, 2017

Really disappointed to see @girlscouts on this list.  https://t.co/p9mNi3scrn  Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) January 17, 2017

Why are the @girlscouts participating in the inauguration parade? I expect the Boy Scouts to be all over that but not the Girls. https://t.co/PvNPcauw1m  Jessica Luther (@scATX) January 16, 2017

i was a brownie scout leader; the idea of @girlscouts marching to celebrate inauguration of a proud sexual predator makes me want to vomit  Tim Dickinson (@7im) January 17, 2017

.@girlscouts How does "nonpolitical, nonpartisan add up to encouraging girls to march for a man who admits to committing sexual assault?  Happy ValengrimesDay (@andreagrimes) January 17, 2017

For many progressives, it's a strange turn of the events for the historically tolerant and (presumed to be) left of center organization. The Family Research Council once accused the Girl Scouts of promoting promiscuity, liberal indoctrination and same-sex marriage. Betsy Devos, Trump's pick for Education Secretary, contributed to the creation of that group.

While the Scouts may claim to to be non-partisan, their participation sends a disappointing message to many of their biggest supporters.

BONUS: NBD, just a massive alligator out for a stroll
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Wednesday progress had been made in ending a decades-old stalemate over the division of Cyprus, but urged Turkey to drop 'aggressive rhetoric' to reach a deal. "We are optimistic but with prudence and responsibility, as this situation merits, we will continue to work hard...and hope that we have positive results in the near future," Tsipras said in a speech in the Greek parliament. "A precondition to that is that the other side... particularly Turkey, come to negotiations in similar spirit, putting aside aggressive rhetoric, and work seriously and responsibly." Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974, triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. The conflict is a key source of tension between Greece and Turkey, which are fiercely defensive of their respective ethnic kin on the east Mediterranean island. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has accused Greece of "fleeing" efforts to reunite Cyprus and said Turkey will retain troops there for ever to protect minority ethnic Turks. Talks in Geneva last week failed to produce a breakthrough over the former British colony, though Britain, Greece and Turkey - its 'guarantor powers' under a 1960 independence treaty - agreed to continue consultations on security arrangements which could govern Cyprus after a settlement. Officials from the three countries were due to meet at a Swiss resort later on Wednesday to discuss the matter. At issue is a dispute primarily between the Turkish and the Greek sides on whether the system of guarantee should stay in place, allowing Greek and Turkish forces to remain stationed on the island, and the right of intervention in the event of a breakdown of constitutional order. (Reporting by Michele Kambas, editing by Renee Maltezou and Mark Trevelyan)
Mexico City (AFP) - A gunman and two workers were killed during an attack on the state prosecutor's office in Cancun, authorities in the Mexican tourist city said.

The armed attack took place at the prosecutor's office for the state of Quintano Roo on Tuesday. It comes one day after a shooting at an electronic music festival at a Playa del Carmen beach resort in the same state, which left five dead.

The gunman in Tuesday's shooting was killed when police responded during the assault by an undetermined number of armed aggressors, according to a Twitter message sent by Rodolfo de Angel, secretary for public security in the region.

Monday's attack at the Blue Parrot club during the BPM electronic music festival in the usually placid Playa del Carmen killed three foreigners and two Mexicans.

Officials were investigating whether a feud over local drug sales sparked the violence.
WASHINGTON (AP)  South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley declared her support for moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a shift firmly endorsed by Donald Trump but one that could trigger increased violence in the Middle East.

Haley, Trump's pick to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that she "absolutely" backs the embassy move because that's what Israel and congressional Republicans want. But a spokesman for Jordan's government recently told The Associated Press that the embassy move would be a "red line" for Amman and "inflame the Islamic and Arab streets."

Jordan serves as custodian of a major Islamic shrine in east Jerusalem and the Palestinians seek a capital there.

Congress ordered the embassy relocation more than 20 years ago, but presidents ever since, Republican and Democrat, have refused to comply. Several Republican senators have proposed legislation that would withhold 50 percent of the State Department's 2017 budget until the embassy move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is completed.

During a confirmation hearing that lasted nearly three-and-a-half hours, Haley took a tougher stance against Russia than Trump, who will be sworn in Friday, and agreed with a Republican senator who said Syria is committing genocide against its people.

Haley said she believes Russia committed war crimes by bombing Syrian civilians in the city of Aleppo. Rex Tillerson, Trump's choice for secretary of state, declined to make that accusation during his confirmation hearing last week.

While Trump has said he believes Russia can be a partner, Haley said she doesn't think Moscow can be trusted right now. She said she's opposed to lifting existing sanctions against Russia unless it changes its behavior in Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere. Cooperation with Russia in such areas as counterterrorism, Haley said, depends on Moscow altering course.

"The problem is there are no boundaries with Russia," said Haley, who added that the U.S. needs to let Moscow know "we are not OK" with Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its incursions into eastern Ukraine.

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Haley assailed the Obama administration for failing to block a U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned Israel's settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. She pledged to reject future measures that she said unfairly targeted the Jewish state, if the Senate confirms her nomination.

Haley said she won't go to U.N. headquarters in New York and "abstain when the U.N. seeks to create an international environment that encourages boycotts of Israel." She told the committee the U.N. resolution was "a terrible mistake" that makes a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians harder to achieve.

Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, thanked Haley in a statement issued during the hearing for her "unequivocal support and her clear statement regarding the U.N.'s discrimination against Israel."

Haley acknowledged she is new to international diplomacy. But she said while the U.N. has had many successes, citing health and food programs that have saved millions of lives, "any honest assessment also finds an institution that is often at odds with American national interests and American taxpayers."

The United States contributes 22 percent of the organization's budget, and Haley questioned whether such a sizable investment is worthwhile.

"We are a generous nation," Haley said. "But we must ask ourselves what good is being accomplished by this disproportionate contribution. Are we getting what we pay for?"

Haley said she would focus on "fixing" the U.N. and agreed that money should not continue to be funneled into programs that don't work. But she said she's not in favor of a "slash and burn" strategy in which American dollars are used as leverage. She said she doesn't agree with conservative lawmakers who want to withhold any U.S. financial contributions to the U.N. until the Security Council resolution is repealed.

Last December, Israel and its supporters lashed out at Obama for his decision to abstain and allow the U.N. Security Council to approve the resolution, which called the Israeli settlements "a flagrant violation under international law."

But Secretary of State John Kerry defended the decision in a speech last month, saying the U.S. was standing up for a two-state solution when it abstained on the resolution. He criticized Israel for settlement building and blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for dragging Israel away from democracy.

___

Follow Richard Lardner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rplardner
Its not cheap to be sworn in as leader of the free world.

President Barack Obama made headlines with his record-setting inauguration costs in 2009, totaling an estimated $170 million, according to ABC News. This year, President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration could cost between $175 million to $200 million, according to the Washington Post.

Inaugurations are typically expensive, though its tough to determine exactly how much they cost, according to a 2013 report by the Congressional Research Service.

Thats because funds used to support the Inauguration often come from accounts that arent specifically labeled for Inauguration purposes. The Department of Homeland Security, for example, designates the Inauguration as a National Security Special Event.

The Inauguration of President Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States. January 20, 2009

We do know the money spent for an Inauguration comes from a mix of taxpayer funds and private donations. Public funds tend to support the swearing-in ceremony, security, maintenance, construction, bleachers, fencing, according to the Congressional Research Service. Taxpayers end up paying roughly $1 million for the swearing-in ceremony hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, according to the Washington Post.

Many other inaugural activities are heavily funded by large donors via the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), which is a privately funded non-profit created after the election.

The PIC, which accepts donations, is in charge of most of the activities that happen during the Inauguration, including most of the inaugural activities such as the National Day of Service, opening ceremonies, inaugural parade, concerts, and inaugural balls.

Obamas 2013 inauguration accepted over $44 million in total donations, according to the FEC, but Trump hopes to top that number by at least $20 million, The New York Times reported in November. Inaugural package deals, gifts that allow large donors access to special events with Melania, Donald, and top officials, range from $25,000 to $1 million.

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Each PIC has its own rules about who can donate to the Inauguration. Trump is banning registered lobbyists from donating, but does not limit individual donations. Corporations may donate up to $1 million.

Barack Obama hugs Michelle as they dance at the Eastern Regional Inaugural Ball in Washington January 20, 2009. REUTERS/Jim Young

In 2009, Obama campaigned on and banned corporate gifts and capped individual donations at $50,000 per person or $100,000 per couple following a particularly expensive campaign. Facing fears that donations would dry up, Obama lifted the ban on corporate gifts and restrictions on the size of those from individuals in 2012, sparking criticism.

The past 40 years or so have seen a rise in private funding for inaugurations. In 1973, Richard Nixon accepted an estimated $4 million in donations. By 1985 Ronald Reagan had taken in an estimated $20 million. That number had nearly doubled by 2005 when George W. Bush accepted approximately $42.3 million.
Hong Kong's unpopular pro-Beijing leader Leung Chun-ying faced protests Wednesday as he spoke out against the city's independence movement in his final policy address.

Leung will step down in July after a four-year term marked by anti-Beijing rallies as fears grow that Chinese authorities are squeezing Hong Kong's freedoms.

Frustration at lack of political reform has sparked movements seeking self-determination or even independence for the semi-autonomous city, angering Chinese authorities.

As he struggled to start his speech due to heckling, some pro-democracy lawmakers held up signs depicting Leung as a monkey and calling him a "liar".

"As we benefit from the opportunities brought by the development of our country and the national policies in our favour, we must clearly recognise that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of our country," Leung said in the annual address.

"This is both a legal fact and an internationally recognised political reality, leaving no room whatsoever for Hong Kong to become independent or separate from the motherland in any manner," he added.

Residents must "safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity", said Leung, who did not mention any plans for kickstarting democratic reform in his speech, after a controversial Beijing-backed package was shelved following massive protests in 2014.

Joseph Cheng, a political scientist and pro-democracy activist, criticised Leung for sidestepping "basic issues" including his "political suppression of the opposition".

Answering reporters' questions, Leung said his government had worked hard to push political reform and that a minority had resisted.

He said people must accept Beijing's roadmap, which declared the public could vote for its leader, but only after nominees were vetted by an election committee.

Currently that committee -- which is largely made up of special interest groups skewed towards Beijing -- selects the leader with no public vote.

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The Beijing-backed reform plan was dismissed as "fake democracy" by opponents and voted down in the legislature by pro-democracy lawmakers.

- Liberty and democracy -

Amnesty International Hong Kong last week said human rights were at their worst since the city was handed back to China by Britain in 1997, in the wake of the disappearance of five city booksellers known for publishing salacious titles about Chinese leaders, and interference by Beijing in a range of areas, from media to education.

The government has also been accused of a witch hunt after two pro-independence lawmakers were forced to give up their seats last year. Four more pro-democracy legislators face a judicial review into whether they should be disqualified.

However, Leung said the city still enjoyed a high degree of autonomy and pledged his government would "uphold Hong Kong's core values, including human rights, liberty, democracy, the rule of law and integrity".

Leung framed the city's economic strategy within Beijing's latest five-year plan and its One Belt, One Road initiative, which calls for constructing vast rail and infrastructure links connecting Chinese exporters to markets across Eurasia.

Around 100 protesters gathered outside the legislature, protesting over pension funds and workers' rights.

Wealth inequality and perceived cosiness between politicians and the business elite is driving discontent.

Leung promised 460,000 new housing units in the next decade and a rise in the minimum wage. However he rejected the idea of a universal state pension.

The city's election committee will choose a new leader for Hong Kong in March, with Leung's tough deputy Carrie Lam tipped to be Beijing's favourite.

Critics fear she will be another hardliner, but Lam said Monday she wanted to heal divisions in society.
Hong Kong's stock market regulator has filed a lawsuit against major banks Standard Chartered and UBS along with consultancy firm KPMG over a 2009 initial public offering on the city's bourse.

A writ of summons to the High Court filed by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) on Monday alleged "market misconduct" in connection with China Forestry Holdings IPO prospectus and the firm's financial statements for 2009 and the first half of 2010.

London-based, Asia-focused lender Standard Chartered had said in November that authorities were looking into its conduct while co-sponsoring the listing in 2009.

A Standard Chartered spokeswoman said the bank would not comment on the matter as legal proceedings where under way.

The lawsuit is the latest in a string of legal problems for the bank, which paid $667 million in 2012 to settle charges it violated US sanctions by handling thousands of transactions involving Iran, Myanmar, Libya and Sudan.

Swiss giant UBS said in October it could face a fine and suspension from sponsoring IPOs in Hong Kong over an unspecified listing in the city, with speculation at the time that it related to China Forestry.

The SFC, in its lawsuit, also sued China Forestry, its former chairman and former chief executive officer.

Trading in China Forestry Holdings has been suspended since 2011 and it is in the process of becoming delisted from the Hong Kong bourse.

The firm in its latest filing to the stock exchange in August last year said its auditors had identified possible irregularities during the audit process of its financial year ending December 31, 2010.

Hong Kong was the second largest market for new listings last year with $25.2 billion in deals.
London (AFP) - HSBC bank would likely switch 1,000 jobs to Paris from London, with Britain planning to leave the EU single market under Brexit, chief executive Stuart Gulliver told Bloomberg Television.

Speaking from the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort Davos, Gulliver said in an interview that "about 1,000 jobs which are carrying out activities which are covered by European legislation... would probably need, in our case, to go to France".

While Gulliver had in the past already hinted at such a switch of investment banking jobs, his comments appeared more precise as he suggested France would take precedence over other EU nations.

"We bought Credit Commercial de France in 2002, so we have a full service universal bank in France. And so for us, it's France."

Activities covered by European financial regulation that would need to move equate to about 20 percent of revenue earned by HSBC's investment bank division in London, Gulliver added.

He was speaking Tuesday, shortly after British Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain would pull out of the European single market to control EU immigration, as she unveiled plans for a clean break from Brussels for the first time.

At the same time however, May stressed the need for the greatest possible access to the market with Britain as an outsider.

The UK financial sector has long feared the loss of "passporting" rights -- which allows EU member states to trade across national borders. That provides a crucial gateway for companies to access the rest of the bloc.

Lobby group the British Bankers' Association cautioned in October that international lenders with operations in the UK are ready to transfer some of their activities out of the country from early 2017.
IHOP, owned by DineEquity, Inc. (ticker: DIN), is the latest brand facing major social media uproar -- except it says its Twitter account was hacked, reports the Huffington Post.

After investigation, we have confirmed that our account was hacked this morning. We appreciate our fans bringing this to our attention.

-- IHOP (@IHOP)

January 15, 2017

The firm's account re-tweeted an anti-Hillary Clinton tweet last weekend, igniting a barrage of tweets as a result.

Whoever is tweeting for @IHOP today should start getting his resume in order. pic.twitter.com/aPzla2slZh

-- Darren List (@DarrenList)

January 15, 2017

crazy someone would "hack" @IHOP just to retweet ONE thing pic.twitter.com/R364PHtemy

-- eve peyser (@evepeyser)

January 15, 2017

.@IHOP Was it really a hack? Or did whoever runs your account just RT Pooja? It seems odd to hack IHOP just to RT @poojaslays

-- Pinko.Snob (@pinko_snob)

January 15, 2017

why hack IHOP twitter

just what is the motive there

-- Darian Dyer (@dariandyer_)

January 15, 2017

The company tweeted Sunday about its investigation into the incident, and also addressed the media in a statement:

"At the core of the IHOP brand is a desire to bring people together and a commitment to creating a warm and welcoming environment for guests and fans everywhere, both in our restaurants and online," the statement reads. "After a thorough investigation, we have confirmed that the IHOP Twitter account was hacked this morning. The retweeted post in question was immediately removed, and we have taken the necessary steps to ensure the security and integrity of our social media accounts. We appreciate our fans bringing this to our attention and recognizing that this is not normal content shared by IHOP."

This incident from IHOP follows several other recent prominent social media episodes from companies like Cinnabon and Wendy's (WEN), though of different natures. Cinnabon wrote a cheeky tweet following the death of Carrie Fisher, and Wendy's sassy Twitter account tweeted (and deleted) a tweet of the Pepe the Frog meme, which has become a mascot for white supremacy.

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David Oliver is Associate Editor, Social Media at U.S. News & World Report. Follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, or send him an email at doliver@usnews.com.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will consider Apple's request for incentives to invest in the country with an "open mind", Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on Wednesday. "We will very much like Apple to come and have a base in India," Prasad said. Apple has sent a list of demands to the Indian government, seeking tax concessions and several other policy exemptions, as necessary pre-requisites before it starts production of its iPhones in India. Prasad also said a government panel headed by the cabinet secretary would now clear investment proposals in the electronic sector above $1 billion, instead of them going through multiple government departments. Prasad's comments came after the federal cabinet revamped a subsidy programme for electronic manufacturing, tightening some of its provisions following objections from the finance ministry. He announced a cap of $1.5 billion on the amount of subsidy the government provided under the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) designed to boost electronics manufacturing. The finance ministry had raised concerns about the scheme because of a lack of clarity about the subsidy payout, delaying a slew of investment proposals. Apple has offered to manufacture iPhones in the country both for the domestic market as well as exports, in a potential boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" programme to expand a domestic industrial base and create millions of jobs. "We want to make India a big hub of electronic manufacturing," Prasad said. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Mike Collett-White)
Tehran (AFP) - An Iranian bodybuilder has been arrested for publishing revealing photos of herself on social media, the judiciary's news agency reported on Wednesday.

"One of the female bodybuilders who recently published nude photographs on social networks has been arrested," the agency said.

In Iran, "nude" can refer to any woman who is not wearing a headscarf or revealing parts of her body such as arms and legs that must be covered in public.

The unnamed bodybuilder has been sent to prison because she was unable to post bail of two million rials ($50,000, 47,000 euros), the Mizanonline news agency said.

She is thought to be one of two women reported in September to have taken part in an international competition.

Iranian women are allowed to take part in international sporting events, but must respect Islamic rules on clothing at all times.
Tehran (AFP) - Iranian officials said Wednesday they were strongly opposed to the United States joining Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan next week, local media reported.

"We are hostile to their presence and we have not invited them," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said late Tuesday, according to the Tasnim news agency.

That goes against the position of the other two organisers of the talks -- Russia and Turkey -- which have said the new US administration of Donald Trump should be represented in Astana on Monday.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council which oversees international coordination on the Syrian war, confirmed on Wednesday that Iran had refused to invite the US.

"There is no reason for the United States to participate in the organising of political initiatives in the Syrian crisis and it is out of the question that they should have a role in the Astana negotiations," he said, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Next week's talks, which aim to bring together representatives of the Syrian government and rebel groups, mark the first time since the conflict began in 2011 that the US has not been at the centre of peace negotiations.

Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told AFP that any expansion of participants "could increase the risk of failure".

"Our policy is to not add other countries at this stage," he said.

The talks come in the wake of President Bashar al-Assad's symbolic victory last month in retaking Aleppo, Syria's second city and a key rebel stronghold through much of the war.

Iran and Russia have been the key diplomatic and military backers of Syria in the war, while Turkey has supported rebel groups.

The three countries are still discussing which officials will travel to Astana, Ghasemi said, adding that other countries could be included in later stages if the "first steps" are successful.

"The meeting will not be at the ministerial level. It will probably be at the deputy minister level," he said.
By Angel Krasimirov SHUMEN, Bulgaria (Reuters) - Iran's first two women volleyball players to compete outside the Islamic Republic joined Bulgarian club Shumen this month, a move which has taken years of negotiation with Iranian authorities and which could help break down some gender barriers at home. Women are still not allowed to attend men's volleyball matches in Iran despite attempts since President Hassan Rouhani's election in 2015 to relax some of the strict Muslim rules that limit women's activities to the family and home. Maedeh Borhani, 28, and team captain Zeinab Giveh, 34, arrived in the northeastern town of Shumen amid a rising tide of nationalism, sparked by huge migrant inflows to Europe over the past two years, with Bulgaria being a popular transit routes. Shumen has a centuries-old Muslim community and Muslims make up about 12 percent of Bulgaria's population of 7.2 million, but in September the government banned wearing face veils in public. Borhani and Giveh will be the first in the Bulgarian league wearing hijabs but Borhani said what players wear should not be what matters. "The hijab is worn with pride by the Iranian women," she told Reuters. "Hijab is a belief, it's a religion and that's not important when we're playing." Borhani also said that the move to Shumen could also perhaps open a new frontier for Iranian women athletes to move abroad. "I think (the transfer) is opening a new way for all female athletes in Iran, especially volleyball players," she said. Giveh agreed: "I think there are other Iranian players who can play in Europe." (Editing by Lidia Kelly and Louise Ireland)
By Isabel Coles BARTELLA, Iraq (Reuters) - Elite Iraqi forces have ousted Islamic State insurgents from all districts of eastern Mosul they were tasked with recapturing, their commanding officer said on Wednesday, bringing almost all of the city's eastern half back under government control. Lieutenant-General Talib Shaghati said the Counter Terrorism Services (CTS), who have spearheaded the three-month-old offensive against Islamic State (IS) in the northern Iraqi city, had taken the eastern bank of the Tigris river. Regular army troops were still fighting the ultra-hardline militants in northeast Mosul, however, according to a military statement. A few parts of the bank further north had yet to be fully taken. "Today we celebrate ... the liberation of the eastern bank in Mosul," Shaghati told reporters in the nearby town of Bartella. He said that recapturing Mosul's western half, which the jihadists still fully control, would be an easier task. Officers have previously said that the more densely populated west bank of the Tigris could pose additional military challenges. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said victory was near. "The promise of final liberation and total victory in Mosul has come close to being realised," he said in a statement. "Work is under way now to liberate what remains of the forests and palaces (along the eastern bank) and few areas" where IS was still holed up. Bridges across the Tigris, which bisects Mosul from north to south, have been hit by U.S.-led warplanes to prevent IS reinforcements joining the fighting in eastern neighbourhoods, and more recently by the militants trying to block a future westward advance by the military. If the U.S.-backed campaign is successful it would probably spell the end of the Iraqi side of the jihadist group's self-styled caliphate, which also extends well into neighbouring Syria, that it declared during a lightning offensive in 2014. The Iraqi army, special forces and elite police units have operated in tandem to capture different areas of eastern Mosul. The army is mostly deployed in the north, the CTS in the east, and the federal police in the south. Army units advanced into the northeastern neighbourhoods of Qadiya 2 and al-Arabi, the military statement said. Abadi said late on Tuesday that IS had been severely weakened in the Mosul campaign, and that the military had begun "moving" against it in western Mosul, without elaborating. Residents reached by phone said air strikes against Islamic State deep inside western Mosul had increased in recent days. More than a dozen missile strikes in the Yarmouk district targeted weapons depots and workshops the militants used to make explosives, and also destroyed two car bombs stored there, according to one resident. Some raids had killed or wounded civilians, including in the Mosul al-Jadida neighbourhood and an industrial zone, residents said. Reuters could not independently verify the witness accounts. (Reporting by Isabel Coles in Bartella, John Davison and Saif Hameed in Baghdad; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Paris (AFP) - An Iraqi jihadist was among the three suicide bombers who blew themselves up outside the Stade de France during the November 2015 attacks on Paris, a French intelligence source said Wednesday.

Until now, only one of the bombers who detonated their explosives outside the stadium during a France-Germany friendly had been identified: Bilal Hadfi, a 20-year-old Frenchman living in Belgium.

France's DGSE intelligence agency now believes that one of Hadfi's accomplices was Ammar Ramadan Mansour Mohamad al-Sabaawi from the Iraqi city of Mosul.

He and the third attacker, whose identity is still unknown, are believed to have slipped into Europe with a group of refugees who landed on the Greek island of Leros on October 3, 2015. Both were carrying fake Syrian passports when they died. IS had said both were Iraqi nationals.

One person was killed in the Stade de France attack which marked the start of a series of coordinated strikes around Paris on the evening of November 13, 2015, that was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.

In all 130 people were killed as a group of jihadists went on the rampage, spraying bars and restaurants with bullets and killing 90 people attending a rock concert at the Bataclan theatre.

They were the worst terror attacks in French history and left the nation traumatised.

In a memo from February 2016 that was declassified in December, intelligence agents said IS paid the Iraqi bomber's family $5,000 (4,670 euros) in Iraqi dinars in compensation for his death.

According to the memo, the IS operatives had avoided mention of the Paris attacks, telling the family instead that he had carried out a suicide attack in Baghdad.

The only known living member of the group of attackers, Salah Abdeslam, was arrested in Belgium in March 2016 and transferred to France.

He is refusing to cooperate with French investigators.

IS has singled out France -- the country with Europe's biggest Muslim minority -- as one of its top targets.

Eight months after the Paris attacks, a Tunisian attacker rammed a truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day, July 14, in the southern city of Nice, killing 86 people.

IS claimed that the assault by Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel was the work of one of its "soldiers". Bouhlel was killed in a shootout with police at the scene.
Already the unprecedented has become routine, the unthinkable has a pattern.

It goes something like this: The president-elect of the United States tweets something no president-elect has ever said, and certainly never tweeted, before. There is a flood of response  a mix of support, outrage, disbelief at the very fact of it, and warnings that the tweet is a distraction from something even worse.

Pause a few days. Or hours. Repeat.

All of this raises a number of questions as this president-elect becomes president: Is his unfiltered spew of thought really unprecedented? Is it in fact deliberate, or just instinctive? And does the difference matter?

As Esquire writer Jack Holmes put it: Can Trump simply not control himself, or is Twitter his weapon of mass distraction to keep us away from the real story?

Or, as late-night host Seth Myers asked less delicately: Are these tweets  calculated distractions or just the ramblings of an unhinged narcissist?

Those who view Trumps pattern as strategic have a growing list of examples. Just before the controversial nomination of Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to head the Department of Health and Human Services, for instance, Trump tweeted that flag burning should be illegal. When the intelligence community concluded Russia had been trying to help his campaign by hacking the DNC, Trump unleashed a Twitter tirade against Meryl Streeps Golden Globe speech. The most iconic of the tweets as distraction was when Trump lashed out at the cast of Hamilton on the day he agreed to a settlement on fraud lawsuits.

Wow the audience at Hamilton booed so loud that the news didnt hear about Trump paying $25m to settle his fake university lawsuit, Daily Show host Trevor Noah wrote on Twitter.

And Glenn Thrush tweeted: Trumps tweet storms arent impulsive. He wants us to be talking about Hamilton, not stories like these.

Its not just Trump critics who are spreading the master manipulator theory. Many in his inner circle subscribe as well. After the media spent several days writing about possible internal division over a potential Mitt Romney appointment as secretary of state, Newt Gingrich said on Fox News that Trump had planned for the press to do exactly that. He understands the value of showmanship, Gingrich said. And, candidly, the news media is going to chase the rabbit. So its better off for him to give them a rabbit than for them to go find their own rabbit.

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A few weeks later, after Trump seemed to question decades of thinking on nuclear disarmament by tweeting that the U.S. must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability, Newt Gingrich told Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday: I think its brilliant because  hes able very quickly, over and over again, to set the agenda.

Trumps press secretary Sean Spicer also suggested a method to Trumps Twitter madness, telling David Axelrod on The Axe Files podcast: He is a very, very strategic thinker. He understands the outcome he wants to achieve and kind of works backward and uses the tools at his disposal to achieve that goal. In some cases, yes, hes sat down and said this is where I want to end up, this is what I am going to do. Theres many times when theres a method or a decision behind something.

But even those who say that many times the Twitter tirades are deliberate agree that many times they arent. Like the morning when Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway sat on the couch on Fox & Friends, staring at the shows hosts phone and watching in real time as her boss taunted Arnold Schwarzenegger for his poorly rated Celebrity Apprentice debut.

Hes typing, well, good for him, Conway said, in a tone that seemed somewhere between amusement and resignation, while waiting for his next tweet to appear.

The expanding universe of those who study Trumps tweets, a world of academics, politicians and data geeks, has analyzed such things as the differences between the ones he types himself, on his Samsung Galaxy, and the ones crafted for him by staff, sent on his iPhone (his are angrier); the frequency with which he uses certain words (badly and crazy are favorites) and the time of day he is most likely to tweet (between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m.).

Their growing consensus is that while some of Trumps messages are deliberately timed to distract, most are more instinctive spotlight grabs by a man who is happiest being the center of attention.

He has learned over his whole adult life, not just this presidential campaign, that he can get attention for certain things by being outrageous, says journalist Michael DAntonio, author of The Truth About Trump and the new book A Consequential President: The Legacy of Barack Obama.

I think that he just selects from his fevered mind a topic that has always interested him and says something provocative because he wants all eyes on him, DAntonio says. Often those impulses are retaliatory  fighting back against a statement by John Lewis or Meryl Streep, or a poll result saying he is unpopular, or a story he saw on the news. But others appear to come out of the blue.

Trump is proud of the power of his tweets (he has been said to describe himself, according to the Washington Post, as the Hemingway of Twitter), but he cares far less about the content of the tweets than the press does, DAntonio believes. While everyone is racing around trying to figure out what this means for future policy, he has no such thoughts. All hes thinking about is the attention it gets. His view is, If you supported me you know what kind of guy I am. Im the guy at the end of the bar just spouting off. 

What we have seen in this election, then, is that guy at the bar meeting his perfect communication tool, suggests David Greenberg, a Rutgers University historian and author of Republic of Spin: An Inside History of the American Presidency. Because its not his ability to bypass the press that is new, he says, as much as his understanding of how to use this new medium to do it.

What people have been saying about Trump and Twitter is mostly wrong, Greenberg says. The thing I keep hearing is that Twitter gives him a chance to reach the public directly. Yes, it does. But so do speeches on television, or press releases, or forms of media that politicians have had access to for 100 years.

Similarly, he says, he is not the only politician to use Twitter. Obama was the first president on Twitter. Hillary Clinton had a huge head start in number of followers at the start of the 2016 race. But just as FDR is credited as the first radio president, even though Calvin Coolidge actually gave the first radio State of the Union and inaugural address, Trump is the first real Twitter politician, even though others were there sooner.

Coolidge just took his standard speech and gave it on the radio, Greenberg says. But FDR created speeches designed for radio. He was made for radio. Obamas tweets were careful; Hillary Clinton, we learned, would consult with 14 staffers about what to say in each tweet. Twitter is made for short, impulsive, emotional outbursts. Whether he plans it, or just happened to fall into it, the result is its perfect for who he is.

Greenberg says that the politician Trump most reminds him of in his use of the media of the day is Joseph McCarthy. What McCarthy thrived on was the oxygen of media coverage, he says. The press knew they were being played, but they didnt quite know how to resist it. He would make accusations with no proof, and journalists felt obliged to cover it because, of course, hes a senator with an investigative committee.

The final straw historically was the question asked of him at the Army-McCarthy hearings by opposing attorney Joseph Welch: Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?

Twitter, however, rewards the opposite of decency. And that leads Jay Rosen, a professor of journalism at NYU and author of the blog Pressthink, to conclude that the question of whether Trumps use of social media is Machiavellian or monkey at the keyboard is the wrong one. The better question is, why that use of social media is so effective  not how this person makes it work, but rather why it works so well for this particular person.

Rosen laid out this view in a series of tweets recently, saying, I dissent from the view widely-held  by journalists and others  the Trump is some master media manipulator. Instead, he wrote, the power of his tweets stems from a seminal, subconscious trait, specifically, He cannot be shamed.

Everything explained by attributing to Trump some mastery of media arts is better explained by his indifference to being a clown figure, he continued.

The difference is crucial, Rosen said in an interview, because the way a free press pushes back against Manipulator in Chief Trump should be different than No Shame Trump. In effect the current approach  pointing out factual errors and rudeness  is asking the equivalent of have you no decency, he and Greenberg both suggest. But his goal is not to be decent but to be provocative.

What, then, is the best approach to this provocation? Finding it will be the primary job of the press in the new administration. Rosen suggests it includes covering his tweets, yes, but with a dial-down in the temperature, finding a midpoint between normalizing the most unprecedented and giving them oxygen.

Some, like Pulitzer Prize winner and Trump biographer David Cay Johnston, believe it requires a new form of journalism entirely.

Donald is the most masterful manipulator of the conventions of journalism that Ive ever known, says Johnston, author of The Making of Donald Trump. Mainstream news organizations havent figured out yet that their well-developed ways of covering people will not do the job.

Johnston is raising funds for a journalistic entity, DCReport, that would, pointedly, not cover what the new president says, because Johnston has concluded that the words do not actually state Trumps intentions.

For as long as Ive known him he says things that he will contradict a moment later, Johnston says of Trump. So rather than writing about each statement, Johnston believes reporters should focus on the internal workings of government, following paper trails of proposed policy changes and writing about them before they happen, when they can still be influenced.

Donald understands that whenever news organizations react to what he says, what theyre not doing is focusing on what he does, Johnston says. Deliberate distraction, instinctive distraction. Whatever the cause, the result is were distracted.

Read more from Yahoo News:
BEIRUT (Reuters) - One of Syria's strongest rebel factions, the conservative Islamist Ahrar al-Sham group, said on Wednesday it will not attend peace talks to be held in Kazakhstan on Jan. 23. Several other leading rebel groups decided on Monday that they would be at the talks, which will be attended by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and are backed by Russia and Turkey. Ahrar al-Sham said in a statement posted on social media that although it was not going, it would support the rebel groups that did plan to attend if they could achieve a beneficial result. The talks come in the context of a ceasefire declared by Russia and Turkey at the end of last month that has reduced, but not ended, fighting between pro-government forces and rebels that began almost six years ago. Ahrar al-Sham said its stance was in reaction to continued military activity by the Syrian army and Russian air strikes, and was aimed at preventing new divisions between those rebels who supported, and those who opposed, the talks. Russia has waged an air campaign in support of Assad since October 2015 and the Syrian president is also backed on the battlefield by Iran and Shi'ite Muslim militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan. Turkey has been one of the biggest supporters of the mainly Sunni Muslim Syrian rebel groups but its main focus since last year has been on securing its border after a series of attacks within its frontiers by Islamic State and Kurdish militants. Ahrar al-Sham has tried to maintain good relations with jihadist factions like former al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, but not Islamic State, as well as nationalist rebels supported by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the United States. (Reporting by Angus McDowall; editing by Mark Heinrich)
By Humeyra Pamuk ISTANBUL (Reuters) - An Uzbek gunman who killed 39 people in Istanbul's Reina nightclub on New Year's Day told police he had changed his target at the last minute to avoid heavy security and acted on direct orders from Islamic State in Syria, a newspaper said on Wednesday. The gunman, named on Tuesday as Abdulgadir Masharipov, had initially been told to attack the area around the central Taksim square and said his instructions came from Raqqa, Islamic State's stronghold in Syria, the newspaper Hurriyet cited him as saying in police testimony. "I came to Taksim on New Year's Eve but the security measures were intense. It wasn't possible to carry out the attack," he was quoted as saying. "I was given instructions to search for a new target in the area. I toured the (Bosphorus) shore at around 10 p.m. in a cab," he said. "Reina looked suitable for the attack. There didn't seem to be many security measures." Hurriyet did not say how it had obtained the testimony and Reuters was not immediately able to verify the report. Masharipov was caught on Monday in Esenyurt, a suburb of Istanbul, along with an Iraqi man and three women from Africa, one of them from Egypt. On Wednesday Turkish police raided six locations in the western province of Bursa in connection with the nightclub attack and detained 27 suspected Islamic State members, the state Anadolu news agency reported. The detainees included 15 women and Uzbek, Kyrgyz and Tajik nationals. Police also seized fake IDs and passports in the raids, Anadolu said. NEW YEAR SLAUGHTER Neighbors of Masharipov said he had been quiet and unobtrusive. "We rarely heard that door being opened or shut. They never put their trash out. There were hardly ever any shoes outside their door," said a neighbor living on the same floor who gave her name as Hulya. A security guard at the entrance of the gated apartment complex where Masharipov was captured said it had been under police surveillance since last week. "They said they were looking for someone. A police vehicle waited across the entrance all night long," he said. The guard said he never saw Masharipov. "I heard he always used the back door and had only been here for the past three or four days," he said. Masharipov had shot his way into the exclusive nightclub and opened fire on New Year's revelers with an automatic rifle, throwing stun grenades to allow himself to reload, and shooting the wounded on the ground. Islamic State claimed responsibility the next day, saying the attack was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria. Turkish troops entered Syria last August to push Islamic State away from the border and halt Kurdish militia advances. Like many cities around the world on New Year's Eve, Istanbul had taken additional security measures, deploying 25,000 police officers to try to thwart attacks after a year of bombings by Islamic State and Kurdish militants. Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said on Tuesday that Masharipov had admitted his guilt and that his fingerprints matched those at the scene. Sahin described him as well-educated and able to speak four languages, and said he had received training in Afghanistan. Hulya said the occupants of the apartment did not seem unusual but they always remained reclusive. "We were never suspicious. My husband said he used to speak to the Iraqi man. They chatted about the rent," she said. "How could we possibly have known?" (Additional reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Gareth Jones)
Istanbul (AFP) - The man suspected of killing 39 people at an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Eve has claimed he received the order to attack from Islamic State jihadists in Syria, local media reported Wednesday.

Turkish authorities on Monday detained Abdulgadir Masharipov, 34, who spent 17 days on the run following the attack which was claimed by the extremist group. They also arrested an Iraqi man and three women from Egypt, Senegal and Somalia.

Officials identified him as an Uzbek national who trained in Afghanistan, saying he confessed to carrying out the attack and that his fingerprints matched those of the attacker at the scene.

Using the code name Ebu Muhammed Horasani, the man told police he entered Turkey through Iran in January 2016 and moved to the central city of Konya, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.

"When I was in Konya, an order came from (the Syrian city of) Raqa for me to carry out an attack in Taksim" Square in Istanbul, he told Turkish police. Raqa is the self-declared capital of IS in Syria.

He moved to Istanbul on December 16 and scouted out a suitable place to attack.

"I arrived at Taksim on New Year's Eve but there were very intensive (security) measures. It was not possible to carry out an attack," he said.

"I re-established contact with the person who gave me the order and we agreed that Taksim was not suitable for an attack. I was ordered to scout a new target in the area."

- Green light from Syria -

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday hailed the police as "farsighted" for their nationwide hunt for the killer involving around 1,000 officers.

And Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said the authorities had used every means available from cameras to digital data in order to trace the gunman in comments published by the official Anadolu news agency.

Images initially released by police during the hunt were taken from a chilling silent video he purportedly took in the square with a selfie stick, before carrying out the bloodbath.

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The suspect said he later took a taxi for a tour along the shores of the Bosphorus at around 1900 GMT when he spotted the Reina nightclub.

"It didn't look like security measures were high. I explained the situation to the person who gave me the order and told him that Reina was suitable.

"He agreed and asked me to carry out the attack at Reina," the man told police, according to Hurriyet.

After getting the green light from an unnamed IS jihadist in Syria, the suspect said he took a taxi to Istanbul's Zeytinburnu neighbourhood, picked up the weapon from home and came back to attack the club.

- Police detain 27 suspects -

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said he hoped the man's capture would expose forces behind him.

"We are hoping to reveal all the details of who the main force is behind him, who guided the assailant or assailants to go there," he said, quoted by Anadolu.

Turkish police on Wednesday detained 27 suspects as well as 29 children, in anti-IS raids targeting seven addresses in the northwestern city of Bursa, Anadolu reported.

The suspects are believed to have links to the Reina attack, it added.

The carnage at the elite club, just 75 minutes into 2017, shook Turkey which had already been on edge after a string of attacks in 2016 blamed on Kurdish militants and jihadists.
(BRUSSELS)  Antonio Tajani of the EPP Christian Democrat group was elected president of the European Parliament on Tuesday in a daylong polling series during which he defeated his socialist opponent.

Before the first round of voting, the EPP, the largest group in the European Unions legislature, and the ALDE liberals, the fourth-largest, announced a coalition that gave Tajani a big early lead over S&D socialist Gianni Pittella.

He maintained the lead through four rounds of voting at the legislature in Strasbourg, France.

The battle among the two Italians was won by Tajani on a vote of 351-282 in the decisive final round, which only the top two candidates could enter.

Tajanis victory gives the Christian Democrat group all the biggest jobs in the EU, with Donald Tusk as Council President and Jean-Claude Juncker as Commission chief.

Tajani, an ally of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, devoted his victory to the victims of Augusts earthquake in Italy and to all victims of terror.

We must devote our attention to all those who are in tough living conditions, he said during a short acceptance speech.

To make the coalition with the EPP work, ALDE leader Guy Verhofstadt withdrew from the election among the European Parliaments 751 legislators.

Today, the political landscape in the European Parliament is dramatically changed with the birth of a new conservative block. We will constructively oppose this block, Pittella said.

Tajani will head the parliament for the next 2.5 years.

The election followed the decision by S&D leader Martin Schulz not to seek a new term. Schulz is heading into national politics in Germany ahead of September elections.

The parliament president chairs the plenary sessions of the legislature and is the face of the parliament in the EU and on the international stage. Under the charismatic Schulz, the posts standing increased.

With more legislative clout, the parliament has an ever bigger impact on EU decision-making. For example, any Brexit deal will have to be approved by parliament on top of getting the blessing of the member states.
Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) - Italian Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan on Wednesday took aim at the EU, saying it was creating its own problems because of a lack of vision, and called on policy makers to take populism seriously.

"The problem in Europe is Europe," he told the World Economic Forum (WEF).

"The challenge the Brexit and Trump is posing is that there is a vision. You may agree or disagree with that vision, But there is a challenge that the Brexit is posing and Trump is posing. We don't have a vision in Europe, not a vision that is comparable in terms of powerfulness," Padoan said during a debate.

"All those who vote for populist ideas are not the bad guys. In most cases they are good guys, they are fellow citizens and they have real concerns about the future of their children, job opportunities, concerns about security," he added.

"In many, if not all the European countries, there is a strong (position) to say that our problems are generated in Brussels or sometimes in Frankfurt, it depends where you live," he said.

Italy, which is one of the EU's founding countries, is in the EU Commission's crosshairs for failing to cut its debt mountain to below 60 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) as required by eurozone rules.

Rome and Brussels have been discussing ways to avoid punitive measures against Italy.

Rome's 2017 budget calls for a deficit of 2.3 percent of GDP, well above the 1.8 percent demanded by Brussels to make a dent into its debt level which stood at 133 percent of GDP last year -- the second worst of any EU country.

Italy asked for leniency due to exceptional costs linked to earthquakes and extra spending on a massive influx of migrants.

In November, the EU Commission told Italy and seven other countries to improve budgetary discipline or face sanctions.
Rome (AFP) - With his Sherlock Holmes-style penchant for using multiple disguises to help crack his cases, Giuseppe Dosi was no ordinary policeman.

And nearly 36 years after his death, Italians are still discovering the secrets of the "artist detective".

Dosi, who was born in 1891, abandoned his dreams of a career on the stage as a young man. After two years treading the boards however, he never lost his relish for the challenge of taking on a new role.

A priest, a banker, a German doctor and a Czech army officer with a pronounced limp were just some of the parts the Rome-born officer played in the course of a long career.

And like Arthur Conan Doyle's eccentric creation, Holmes, the Italian was not opposed to a little cross-dressing, if he felt posing as a woman would help him get his man.

Interest in Dosi has been spurred by a new biography, written by a serving police chief, a documentary about his life and by some of the detective's professional archives being placed online.

"He had a type of postcard printed for friends and colleagues which showed him in 17 different disguises corresponding to the different identities he assumed in the course of 17 different investigations," said Alessia Glielmi, an archivist at Rome's Historical Museum of the Liberation who is an expert on Dosi.

"As well as the disguised characters, he had four fully-formed identities he used with all the necessary papers and back story to support them," Glielmi told AFP.

- Mysterious balcony fall -

After his entry into the police force, Dosi's bosses quickly found ways of making use of his talent for imitation, trusting him with sensitive missions in Italy and abroad.

One early one involved infiltrating a group of Swiss-based Italian anarchists who were, it was feared, plotting to assassinate the then king, Vittorio Emanuele III.

In 1922, when the poet and politician Gabriele D'Annunzio fell from his balcony in mysterious circumstances, it was Dosi who was put in charge of the delicate investigation.

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"That involved one of his best disguises," said Glielmi, describing how the detective adopted the persona of Karel Kradokwill, an exiled Czech who spoke Italian with a thick German accent and trailed one ostensibly semi-paralysed leg behind him as a result of a war wound.

By going undercover in this way, Dosi was able to establish that D'Annunzio's balcony mishap was down to a row with his combustible mistress rather than any political plot against him.

The case was closed, prompting D'Annunzio, once he became aware of the deception, to denounce Dosi as a "dirty cop."

What the writer did not know was that the officer had also used his time in his house to make copies of some of the poet's private correspondence -- racy love letters to his mistress only recently identified as historical documents for the insight they offer into the life of D'Annunzio.

In 1927 Dosi became involved in a famous miscarriage of justice case centred on a series of murders and rapes of young girls in Rome.

Under pressure to find a culprit, the authorities pinned the blame on a photographer, Gino Girolimoni, feeding incriminating details to the press that led to the suspect being dubbed the Monster of Rome.

- Investigator for Allied forces -

Dosi was not convinced and managed to get the investigation reopened, putting together a case against a British clergyman who may have been the actual culprit but was able to skip the country before his arrest.

In an Italy then under fascist rule, this kind of independent thinking did not go down well, although Dosi was far from being an active resistant to dictator Benito Mussolini's authoritarian rule.

Towards the end of the 1930s he began to think of leaving the police and wrote a memoir which revealed numerous details of his investigations as well as treating his bosses to some stinging criticism.

That was to prove a final straw for his superiors. Suspended from the police, Dosi was imprisoned in Rome in 1939 and then transferred to an asylum for the mentally ill, where he languished for 17 months until his release in January 1941.

After three years confined to a desk job, another noteworthy episode got him back in the investigative saddle.

In June 1944, as Allied forces were entering the Italian capital, an angry mob attacked a former German prison, freeing the prisoners and then setting it ablaze.

With the help of a young German soldier, Dosi went into the burning building and recovered a huge stock of documents that were to prove vital for subsequent prosecutions of Italians, who had collaborated with the Nazis.

Dosi handed the papers over to Allied commanders and got taken on as a special investigator for two years. In 1946 he returned to the ranks of the Italian police, rising to the grade of commissioner before his retirement, 10 years later.

He died, aged 89, in 1981.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has inked a major deal to move his popular series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" to Netflix and film new two new stand-up specials exclusively for the streaming giant.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Seinfeld is ditching Crackle (also a streaming service) to move to Netflix, where he will bring 24 new episodes of the award-winning series. The new shows will begin rolling out gradually this year and through to 2018.

The first of his stand-up specials will air later this year as well.

Seinfeld is poised to become a big presence at Netflix, where he will also develop scripted and unscripted programming at the service.

The news comes after Netflix shelled out a record $40 million to bring a pair of Chris Rock stand-up specials.
Helsinki (AFP) - For just one hour of work, Juha Jarvinen had to fill out piles of paperwork only to see his unemployment insurance docked. But with Finland's universal basic income test, he's hoping for a fresh start.

As of January 1, a two-year experiment will see 2,000 unemployed Finns receive a monthly unconditional payment of 560 euros ($590).

If the test is successful, the plan will be rolled out nationwide, though the exact amount and conditions remain vague at this stage.

Finland's pro-austerity, centre-right government wants to test whether the guaranteed income, perhaps somewhat counterintuitively, spurs the jobless to get off the couch and find work.

Jarvinen, a 37-year-old father of six, will receive the money no strings attached, in addition to his monthly child allowance benefits of 800 euros.

The big difference compared to unemployment insurance is that if he finds a job he is free to earn as much money as he can, and it won't affect his universal basic income.

The Finnish Social Insurance Institution (KELA) insists none of the test participants will lose out financially during the experiment.

Jarvinen is enthusiastic, convinced the guaranteed income will be a game-changer.

"Five years ago my business went bankrupt and ever since I've wanted to become an entrepreneur again," he tells AFP.

But each time he was tempted to take odd jobs to make a little extra cash, there was no incentive for him to work since his unemployment insurance would have been reduced by the same amount.

Describing the period after his bankruptcy as a "humiliation", Jarvinen ended up turning down small jobs, holding out instead for a full-time job with a proper salary.

His family has had to scrape by with his wife's salary from her nursing job, his modest unemployment benefits, and their child allowance benefits.

But they've had to do without extras, in a country home to one of the most generous cradle-to-grave welfare states but where the cost of living is high.

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Designed as an incentive to help the unemployed get a foot back in the labour market, the universal basic income experiment has received broad backing across Finland's political spectrum.

The public is however more divided. Left-wing voters support the idea -- some even say the amount is too low -- while those on the right see a risk of complacency.

- Stimulate employment -

The national confederation of employee unions, SAK, says it fears a sale on labour.

"We're not in favour of labour markets where decent wages are not paid and employees' living is partly financed by social security. In practice, that'd be a subsidy to the companies," SAK chairman Jarkko Eloranta says.

Eurozone member Finland is slowly recovering from a three-year recession that ended in 2015, but its unemployment rate is still relatively high at 8.7 percent and, more worryingly, every third unemployed person has been out of work for over a year.

While Prime Minister Juha Sipila's pro-austerity government has promoted the project as a way of stimulating employment, his detractors claim he has ulterior budget motives.

They say the end result -- if implemented on a national scale -- would be a reduction in government payouts of social benefits.

Sipila insists his aim is to pull idle people back into working life.

"The government assigned us to find out how basic income could solve welfare traps, make accepting a job easier and reduce bureaucracy," says director Olli Kangas, who heads the experiment at KELA.

The universal basic income scheme means jobless people will no longer have to report any earned income to the unemployment insurance bureau, thereby reducing bureaucratic hassles.

If rolled out nationwide, all Finns will automatically receive the universal basic income, but those earning proper salaries would in all likelihood see it taxed back.

The trial is restricted to those between 25 and 58 years old who are receiving the minimum unemployment allowance, excluding other groups on low income such as pensioners and students.

Kangas and his team of researchers regret cost-fearing politicians rejected a sample group of at least 10,000 Finns, which would have allowed for more scientifically solid results.

Despite its defects, Finland's experiment is pioneering in Europe, although Scotland and the Canadian province of Ontario are planning to run their own trials of a universal income scheme.
Vice President Joe Biden warned Wednesday that the liberal international world order is at risk of collapse, using his final speech to global leaders to frame the stakes on the world stage as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office.

Biden urged leaders in Europe and the U.S. to defend democracies against dangers that he said include Russian President Vladimir Putin. Biden, in remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland reported by CNBC, said Putin has a different vision of the future, and he accused the Russian leader of trying to roll back decades of progress.

Russia is working with every tool available to them to whittle away at the edges of the European project, test for fault lines among Western nations, and return to a politics defined by spheres of influence, Biden said.

Russia has been accused of meddling in the 2016 presidential election through the hack and release of Democratic documents.

Biden also said the top 1% are not paying their fair share, causing social instability to rise. We need to tap into the big heartedness, Biden said. This is a moment to lead boldly.
Congressman John Lewis life story is heading to the small screen in John Lewis  Get in the Way, a new documentary biography, PBS and Georgia Public Broadcasting announced Tuesday.

The documentary is set to premiere Friday, Feb. 10  less than a month after his feud with President-elect Donald Trump erupted last week  and will highlight Lewis rise to power, from his humble beginnings as the son of sharecroppers to cementing his place in U.S. history as a civil rights activist. Lewis arrest, jail time, and assaults in the 60s eventually helped lead to the Voting Rights Act, and he has been a member of Congress since 1986.

The documentary, produced and directed by Kathleen Dowdey, will span more than 50 years of Lewis life, and will feature never-before-seen interviews with Lewis, fellow civil rights activists Andrew Young and Juanita Abernathy, and congressional colleagues like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Footage for the film, which PBS said will be the first documentary biography about Lewis, was shot over 20 years.

Through the years, weve shared the stories of many of the movements greatest heroes with Georgia ties, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Andrew Young, Georgia Public Broadcasting President and CEO Teya Ryan said in a statement. We are thrilled to bring a film that so eloquently captures the legacy of John Lewis to a national audience through PBS.

The news of the film comes after the congressman announced on Meet the Press that he would not be attending Trumps inauguration, as he didnt view Trump as a legitimate president due to Russian interference in the election. Trump accused Lewis of being all talk and no action or results, which led to an outpouring of support for Lewis, and even sent his books to the top of Amazons charts. Late night hosts Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, and Seth Meyers have all defended Lewis as well.

The film will air as part of a line-up of Black History Month programming on Friday, Feb. 10 at 10:30 p.m. ET on PBS.
Tegucigalpa (AFP) - A journalist has been shot dead in northern Honduras, hospital officials said, becoming the 69th member of the media killed in the violence-plagued Central American country since 2003.

Igor Padilla, a reporter for the Canal Hable Como Habla (HCH) network, arrived at the hospital "already dead" with "several bullet wounds", according to doctor Arturo Bendana of a private clinic in San Pedro Sula, Honduras's second-biggest city and one of the world's most violent.

An unidentified cameraman who was with the reporter said that Padilla had stepped out to answer a phone call and was shot by men in police uniforms on Tuesday.

Eduardo Maldonado, director of the HCH channel, said that the reporter -- who covered police in the city -- was hit with some 20 bullets and demanded authorities investigate.

Security Minister Julian Pacheco told HCH that a team had been mobilized to probe the shooting death.

Since 2003, 69 media workers have been killed in Honduras, according to the National Human Rights Commission.

Only about four of those cases have been investigated by authorities.

The Violence Observatory of the National Autonomous University of Honduras estimates that the country's homicide rate is 60 per 100,000 inhabitants, six times the UN-established global average of 8.9.
Getty Image / US Army

On Tuesday, President Obama commuted the bulk of Chelsea Mannings sentence, which will set the U.S. Army analyst free from a military prison in May. After plenty of public reaction  much of it partisan in nature and played out on social media  many eyes turned towards Julian Assange. And for good reason. The WikiLeaks founder famously offered himself up for extradition to the U.S. last week in exchange for clemency to Manning.

If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case https://t.co/MZU30SlfGK  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 12, 2017

One has to wonder about Assanges motives here. The dude has been hiding away in Londons Ecuadorian Embassy for over five years. Hes received visits from Pamela Anderson and Michael Moore, plus he has a pet cat, a sun lamp, and a mostly serviceable internet connection. Still, hes not exactly living.

Perhaps Assange caught the ultimate case of cabin fever because hes standing by his extradition offer, according to a tweet that followed Mannings good news.

Assange lawyer @themtchair on Assange-Manning extradition 'deal': "Everything that he has said he's standing by."  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 18, 2017

His stakes are high, however. Assange faces a European arrest warrant from Swedish prosecutors, and he could potentially be extradited to the United States for a lengthy sentence (in relation to the thousands of cables that WikiLeaks published via Manning). Perhaps Assange simply wishes to bypass Sweden and come straight to America?

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On Tuesday, the WikiLeaks account tweeted several times, including this assertion that Assange would win a fair trial in the U.S.

Assange is confident of winning any fair trial in the US. Obama's DoJ prevented public interest defense & fair jury. https://t.co/Mb6gXlz7QS  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 17, 2017

Despite outward appearances, its hard not to imagine that this is whats really going on in the Ecuadorian embassy
Baghdad (AFP) - Iraqi government forces launched a major offensive to recapture the city of Mosul from the Islamic State jihadist group on October 17, 2016.

On Wednesday, the head of the elite Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), Staff General Talib al-Sheghati, said they now controlled the entire eastern side of the city, though districts to the west of the Tigris River are still firmly in IS hands.

Here are key dates:

- Battle for Mosul Begins -

- October 17: Iraqi forces launch a drive to force IS out of Mosul, where the jihadist group declared an Islamic caliphate in June 2014.

IS overran Mosul and swathes of other territory north and west of Baghdad in 2014, sweeping aside security forces ill-prepared to face the assault.

Around 30,000 troops from army, police and counter-terrorism units are thrown into the long-awaited counter-attack with air and ground support from the US-led coalition.

By the end of October, the army has recaptured the Christian village of Qaraqosh, 15 kilometres (10 miles) from Mosul. Dozens of other nearby towns are retaken within two weeks.

- Entering Mosul -

- November 1: The army says it has entered Mosul itself for the first time since June 2014.

- November 3: IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi breaks a year-long silence to urge his fighters to defend Mosul to the death, and the advance of Iraqi forces begins to slow down.

- November 8: Kurdish peshmerga fighters say they have reached Bashiqa, a dozen kilometres (about eight miles) north of Mosul.

- November 13: Iraq says it has recaptured Nimrud, an ancient city southeast of Mosul.

- November 23: Shiite-dominated paramilitary units known as Hashed al-Shaabi say they have cut IS supply lines between Mosul and Raqa, the self-declared jihadist capital 400 kilometres (250 miles) to the west in Syria.

- Change of tactics -

- December 27: Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says Iraqi forces need another three months to eliminate IS fighters putting up stiff resistance with car bombs, mortar attacks and sniper fire.

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- December 29: Government troops end a two-week pause by launching the second phase of their offensive with a change of military tactics.

- January 4: A US-led coalition spokesman indicates the number of Western advisors in the battle has doubled to around 450.

- Tigris beachhead -

- January 8: Iraqi units reach the Tigris River that divides Mosul and take up positions near one of the city's five bridges, which have been knocked out one by one in air strikes.

- January 14: CTS units take control of the sprawling campus of Mosul University.

The United Nations puts the number of displaced persons at over 125,000 since the offensive began, of which some 14,000 have been able to move back into their homes. The number of estimated military casualties has yet to be released.

- Halfway there -

- January 18: General al-Sheghati announces "the liberation... of the left bank" of the Tigris River, two days after Iraqi forces reach the iconic Nabi Yunus shrine, also known as "Jonah's tomb" and which IS destroyed in 2014.

The western side of Mosul, home to the old city and traditional jihadists' bastions, is expected to offer much stiffer resistance.
Washington (AFP) - US President Barack Obama faced the media for the last time on Wednesday, two days before Donald Trump takes office.

The following are key quotes from the press conference:

- On Trump -

"I have offered my best advice (...) I can tell you that -- this is something I have told him -- that this is a job of such magnitude that you can't do it by yourself. You are enormously reliant on a team."

-- Obama, saying why it's important to pay attention to confirmation hearings for Trump's cabinet picks.

- On the Middle East -

"I think the status quo is unsustainable -- that it is dangerous for Israel, that it is bad for Palestinians, bad for the region and bad for America's national security. (...) Obviously it's a volatile environment. What we've seen in the past is when sudden unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive."

-- Obama, in an apparent reference to Trump's plan to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

- On Russia -

"I think it's in America's interest and the world's interest that we have a constructive relationship with Russia. That's been my approach throughout my presidency."

"I think it's fair to say that after President Putin came back into the presidency that an escalating anti-American rhetoric and an approach to global affairs that seem to be premised on the idea that whatever America's trying to do must be bad for Russians (...) that returned to an adversarial spirit that I think existed during the Cold War, (that) has made the relationship more difficult."

-- Obama, in perhaps some advice to Trump, who has said improving ties with Russia is a priority.

- On the media -

"You're not supposed to be sycophants, you're supposed to be skeptical. (...) And having you in this building has made this work place better. It keeps us honest, makes us work harder."

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-- Obama in a rather veiled dig at Trump, whose staff have floated the idea of moving the press corps out of the White House to the Old Executive Office Building next door

- On race -

"We've got more work to do on race. It is simply not true that things have gotten worse. They haven't. Things are getting better. And I have more confidence on racial issues in the next generation than I do in our generation or the previous generation. I think kids are smarter about it."

-- America's first black president on race relations

- On Chelsea Manning -

"Let's be clear. Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence. (...) I know I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent."

-- Obama, responding to criticism about his decision to commute the 35-year sentence of the transgender army private who leaked classified US documents to WikiLeaks. Manning will be released in May after serving seven years.

- On his future -

"I want to do some writing, I want to be quiet a little bit and not hear myself talk so darn much. I want to spend precious time with my girls."

-- The Obamas will head on vacation to Palm Springs after Friday's inauguration.

- On speaking out -

"There's a difference between that normal functioning of politics and certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake. (...) that would merit me speaking out."

-- Obama, citing any infringement on a free press, systematic discrimination or efforts to "round up" immigrants and deport them as subjects that would prompt a reaction.

- On future of America -

"Democracy is messy and doesn't always work the way you want, doesn't guarantee certain outcomes. But if you are engaged and involved, then there are a lot more good people than bad in this country."

"What we've also tried to teach them is resilience and tried to teach them hope and that the only thing that is the end of the world is the end of the world. (...) At my core, I think we're going to be okay."

-- Obama, when asked about how his daughters Sasha and Malia were taking Trump's election.
Beirut (AFP) - Key rebel group Ahrar al-Sham said on Wednesday it will not take part in peace talks in the Kazakh capital next week aimed at ending Syria's nearly six-year-old war.

The announcement came as Russia and Turkey -- which along with Iran organised the talks starting in Astana on Monday -- carried out their first joint air strikes against the Islamic State jihadist group in the war-torn country.

Ahrar al-Sham, which counts thousands of fighters in central and northern Syria, said it would not attend the Astana talks due to "the lack of implementation of the ceasefire" in force since December 30 and ongoing Russian air strikes over Syria.

The Islamist faction was among the signatories of the ceasefire deal that does not include IS and Fateh al-Sham, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after breaking ties with Al-Qaeda.

The truce, brokered by regime supporter Russia and rebel backer Turkey, has largely held across Syria although fighting has persisted in some areas.

Ahrar al-Sham cited "the regime's offensive against our people in Wadi Barada", an area 15 kilometres (10 miles) northwest of Damascus that is the capital's main source of water, among its reasons for staying away from the talks.

President Bashar al-Assad's forces have pressed an assault to retake the area from rebels after mains supplies were cut last month, leaving 5.5 million people in Damascus and its suburbs without water.

Ahrar al-Sham said however that it would support decisions taken by other rebel groups represented at the Astana talks if they were "in the interest of the nation".

Mohammad Alloush of the Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) faction will lead a "military delegation" in Astana of around eight people, backed by nine legal and political advisors from the High Negotiations Committee umbrella group.

Syria's UN ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari is to head the government delegation.

- US involvement? -

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Regime and rebel figures are headed for Kazakhstan with diametrically opposed approaches to the aims of the talks.

Damascus has insisted it will seek a "comprehensive" political solution to the conflict, while rebels say they will focus solely on reinforcing the frail nationwide truce.

Next week's talks mark the first time since the conflict began in 2011 that the United States has not been at the centre of peace negotiations.

Iranian officials said on Wednesday they were strongly opposed to Washington joining the talks.

Turkey and Russia -- which started air strikes in support of Assad's regime in 2015 -- have however said the new US administration of Donald Trump should be represented.

Around the town of Al-Bab in Syria's northern province of Aleppo, nine Russian and eight Turkish planes on Wednesday took part in the "first joint air operation" against IS, a Russian military official said, destroying "36 targets".

IS has faced assaults on several fronts since it overran large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014.

- IS smokescreen -

In the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, the jihadist group set tyres ablaze to create a smokescreen from regime and Russian warplanes on Wednesday as fierce clashes gripped the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

IS launched a fierce assault on Saturday to capture the government-held third of Deir Ezzor city, as well as the adjacent military airport.

Since Saturday, 160 people have been killed -- 75 IS militants, 46 regime fighters and 39 civilians -- according to the Britain-based Observatory.

An activist group said IS had executed 10 regime fighters captured during the jihadist onslaught.

Besieged by IS since early 2015, the regime-controlled part of Deir Ezzor city is home to around 100,000 people.

Residents on Wednesday said they were terrified of falling victim to the mass killings for which the jihadists have become infamous.

"Civilians in the city are terrified and anxious, afraid that IS will enter (government-held parts of) the city since they accuse us of being 'regime thugs'," said Abu Nour, 51.

He said fellow residents were haunted by previous abductions and mass executions carried out by IS in the broader oil-rich province of the same name, most of which is controlled by IS.

The UN's World Food Programme said on Tuesday it could no longer carry out air drops above Deir Ezzor because of the fighting.

Syria's war has killed more than 310,000 people and displaced thousands since it erupted in March 2011 with a brutal repression of anti-government protests.
Philippine police kidnapped and murdered a South Korean businessman, then led his wife to believe he was alive for months to extort money from her, authorities said Wednesday.

The killing is the latest in a long series of criminal acts by the Philippine police force, regarded as one of the nation's most corrupt institutions, and has fuelled concerns about its role enforcing President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly crime war.

The man disappeared from his home in the northern city of Angeles in October last year, and his wife initially paid a ransom of five million pesos ($100,000), national police spokesman Dionardo Carlos told AFP.

- Fake drug raid -

However, the man was strangled to death and burned to ashes in a crematorium on the day he was abducted, the South Korean foreign ministry said, citing a Philippine government report.

The crematorium was owned by a former police officer, the foreign ministry said.

The South Korean government identified the man only by his surname of Ji and said he was in his 50s. Philippine media said he was a businessman who had been living in the Philippines since 2008 and had been working for a manpower company.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se demanded answers after receiving a phone call from Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay to inform him of the murder.

"Minister Yun, expressing grave shock over the implication of Philippine police officers in the case, asked that the Philippine government get to the bottom of the case and bring those responsible to justice," a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Ricky Santa Isabel, one of the officers accused of going to Ji's house and abducting him, surrendered this week, according to Carlos, the police spokesman.

He said another two officers who went with him to the house, as well as their superior, were under investigation.

All four accused officers were from the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group based at national police headquarters in Manila, according to Carlos.

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He said a retired police officer was also believed to be involved but had fled to Canada, and that there were South Korean accomplices. Carlos did not elaborate on the identities or actions of the South Korean suspects.

Santa Isabel and his two colleagues went to Ji's house on the pretext of a drug raid, according to Carlos.

The abductors demanded from Ji's wife a ransom of eight million pesos on October 30, 12 days after he was killed, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper, which first reported the news.

It said that she paid five million pesos ($100,000), but the kidnappers then demanded another 4.5 million pesos and continued to say he was alive.

The case has drawn criticism from some lawmakers and media in the Philippines as an example of corrupt policemen expanding their illegal activities after being given freedoms by Duterte to prosecute his war on drugs.

Duterte has encouraged police to kill drug traffickers and addicts, and vowed to shield them from prosecution.

Nearly 6,000 people have died in Duterte's drug war since he took office in the middle of last year.

Carlos insisted to AFP the abduction of Ji was not related to Duterte's drug war, saying the problem of kidnappings for ransom by corrupt police had existed for a long time.

"It turned out it was an old modus operandi where bad cops claim there is a drug raid and turn it into a kidnap for ransom," Carlos said.

At least 167 policemen are under investigation for being involved in various money-making rackets, some of them under the cover of the drug war, Metro Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde told reporters.

The police force was among the most corrupt national agencies, according to a 2015 report from the national ombudsman.

A 2013 survey by anti-graft watchdog Transparency International also found that the police force was perceived by Filipinos to be the Philippines' most corrupt institution.
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a Lincoln businessman's petition that it take up his case against Nebraska banking regulators for going after him after he called President Barack Obama a communist.

A U.S. District judge condemned the actions of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance officials and employees, but dismissed Bob Bennie's lawsuit. In May, the 8th Circuit upheld the decision.

Bennie's attorneys then asked the nation's highest court to take the case and settle a dispute among federal appeals courts on how to review whether the retaliation taken would have chilled the speech of a person of "ordinary firmness."

On Tuesday, the high court denied the petition.

The U.S. Supreme Court receives 7,000 to 8,000 petitions for it to hear appeals to lower court decisions each term and grants them in about 80 cases, according to the court's website.

In 2011, Bennie accused Banking Department employees of singling out his business, Bob Bennie Wealth Management, after his political opinions were included in a Feb. 1, 2010, article in the Journal Star in which he called Obama an evil man and a communist.

State regulators said they looked into whether he might have violated advertising regulations, but they ultimately determined that the article -- as well as a TV ad in late 2009 offering new clients $100 toward the purchase of a gun -- didn't violate any rules, and they took no action against him.
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Kosovo's government has created a commission of experts to measure the country's territory to prove that they have not lost land in a deal with neighboring Montenegro.

The opposition has contested the Aug. 2015 border demarcation agreement with Montenegro saying Kosovo is ceding territory, an excuse it has exploited to disrupt parliamentary work with tear gas canisters, whistles blowing and water bottles. Street rallies by opposition supporters have also routinely turned into violent clashes with police.

The Cabinet on Wednesday said experts would come from different public institutions, opposition parties and also the United States, European Union and NATO.

The European Union has set the approval of that deal as a precondition for Kosovo if it wants to enjoy visa-free travel with Europe's Schengen member countries.
Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) - IMF head Christine Lagarde conceded Wednesday the Washington lender had been late waking up to the widening gap between rich and poor around the world, but is now researching answers to help the middle class.

Lagarde made the admission to an audience of high-flying executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that has been dominated by the worrying inroads by populism across the west.

"There has been a strong backlash (against) economists in particular saying that this was not really their business to worry about these things, including in my own institution," said Lagarde, who is extremely popular with the Davos set.

The International Monetary Fund is "now being very harshly converted to the importance of inequality and studying it and providing policies in response to that", she said.

An Oxfam report coinciding with Davos this week said eight billionaire men -- including Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg -- own the same wealth as the poorest half of the world's population.

That level of inequality "threatens to pull our societies apart", Oxfam said.

Oxfam linked the chasm between rich and poor to the growing discontent with mainstream politics around the world, a view that has been widely discussed at this year's forum.

Top executives said they fretted over the potential ravages of anti-establishment politics manifested by Brexit and the rise of billionaire Donald Trump who assumes office as US president on Friday.

-'Populism scares me' -

"Populism scares me," Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, a major US investment fund, told the audience in Davos.

These movements have become "the most important issue globally", even overshadowing the work of central banks, he said.

But Nobel award-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, who is a harsh critic of the global order as promoted by Davos, said he held doubts over the elite's sudden concern.

Story continues

The very same elite "set up the conditions for Trump," Stiglitz told AFP as he took a coffee at the Forum.

"To ask them to fix it is a little bit weird," he said, calling for a "rewrite of the rules" of the US economy.

Lagarde's IMF is often the most criticised for the crunch on the middle class as it often demands deeply unpopular reforms from governments in return for its financial aid.

This almost inevitably stokes voter discontent, including in Greece, a country that has endured six years of harsh reform medicine as prescribed by the IMF.

Lagarde has been trying to make the IMF more responsive to the public disquiet, acknowledging the link between inequality and globalisation that has spurred voter rebellions.

"When you have a real crisis or when you have very strong signals... from the voters from people who say no, it's really time to say ... what more can we do," she said.

"If policymakers do not get the signal now, I don't know when they will."

That view was reflected by ex-US treasury secretary Lawrence Summers, who said voters are seeking a clearer sense of purpose and security in an increasingly confusing world.

"It's a mistake not to recognise that the middle class in my country and in others is concerned that the government is not fighting for it," he said.

This sense of betrayal is also fuelling "a desire for national unity and strength," he said, a trend that moves against the internationalist values defended at Davos.
PARIS (AP)  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange retreated from his pledge to accept extradition to the U.S. if Chelsea Manning was granted clemency, arguing Wednesday via his lawyers that what he was really asking for was an immediate pardon for the ex-Army analyst.

It was only last week that Assange raised eyebrows across the internet when he appeared to offer himself up as a kind of swap for Manning, the former private convicted of leaking the hundreds of thousands of documents that made WikiLeaks a household name.

"If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case," WikiLeaks said, apparently referring to the U.S. Department of Justice's continuing investigation into the radical transparency website.

But when Obama granted clemency to Manning on Tuesday, setting a May release date that lops almost 30 years off her sentence, Assange's lawyers said it wasn't enough.

"There's no question that what President Obama did is not what Assange was seeking," said Barry Pollack, who represents the WikiLeaks chief in the United States. "Mr. Assange was saying that Chelsea should never have been prosecuted, never have been sentenced to decades in prison, and should have been released immediately."

Melinda Taylor, who also represents Assange, agreed, saying in an email that clemency was "far short of what Mr. Assange asked for and what Ms. Manning deserved (which is to be pardoned and freed immediately)."

Neither supplied any evidence that Assange had used the words "immediate" or "pardon" in relation to his extradition offer, but Pollack said it was clear that was what Assange meant  noting that the Australian computer expert had previously pushed for Manning's pardon.

"Why would he be called for Manning's release in a few months from now?" Pollack said. "You can parse his tweets any way that you want to parse them. I think his position has been clear throughout."

Story continues

Critics of Assange had a field day, accusing him of dishonesty or using Manning's case to win publicity. "Julian Assange Backpedals on Extradition Promise in Record Time," read one headline in tech website Gizmodo.

It's not the first time Assange's pronouncements in relation to Manning haven't quite worked out as advertised.

In December 2010, journalists revealed that WikiLeaks had failed to honor a pledge to help support Manning's legal defense fund. It was only after the story was aired in the media that WikiLeaks paid up, reducing its expected contribution from $50,000 to $20,000 and then finally to $15,100, according to press accounts at the time.

Even earlier, in June 2010, WikiLeaks said that claims "that we have been sent 260,000 classified US embassy cables are, as far as we can tell, incorrect."

Four months later, the site began publishing Manning's huge trove.

___

Online:

Raphael Satter is reachable on: http://raphaelsatter.com
CANCUN, Mexico (Reuters) - At least four people were killed after gunmen opened fire at government offices in the Mexican beach resort of Cancun on Tuesday, a day after at least five people died in a shooting at a music festival nearby. Rodolfo del Angel Campos, chief of police for the state of Quintana Roo, said gunfire broke out at the state attorney general's office in Cancun, a city that is one of the most popular seaside destinations for foreign tourists in Mexico. Police intervened, and the alarm was sounded, activating federal police and the armed forces, del Angel said, adding that other installations were also attacked. Television broadcast outbreaks of afternoon gunfire in Cancun. One policeman and three suspected gunmen were killed, and a further five suspects arrested, state governor Carlos Joaquin told Mexican television on Tuesday evening. "The state is under control and in order," Joaquin said, adding that he had arranged with the Interior Ministry to send federal forces to reinforce security. "People from Cancun and our visitors can go about their lives as normal." Joaquin, who took office in September, described the attacks as a reaction by gangsters to his crackdown on organized crime, which he said had enjoyed impunity for years. The ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) has been reviewing disciplinary action against Joaquin's predecessor, former PRI state governor Roberto Borge, whom the opposition has accused of fraud and corruption. He denies any wrongdoing. Lying on the Caribbean coast of eastern Mexico, Quintana Roo has suffered sporadic violence in the past few years as drug cartels battle for control of the lucrative local market. Changes in power have been known to inflame turf wars between gangs as they fight for supremacy. On Monday, at least five people were killed and 15 wounded when a gunman opened fire in a nightclub at the nightclub in the resort of Playa del Carmen. The shooting is not being investigated as a suspected terror attack. (Reporting by Noe Torres and Dave Graham; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Beirut (AFP) - Fierce clashes gripped the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor on Wednesday, a monitor said, as the Islamic State group set tyres ablaze to create a smokescreen from regime warplanes.

An activist group publishing news on the besieged city told AFP that IS had executed 10 Syrian regime fighters captured during the jihadist onslaught.

IS launched the brutal assault on Saturday to capture the government-held third of Deir Ezzor city, as well as the adjacent military airport.

More than 150 people are reported to have been killed in the fighting.

Syrian and Russian warplanes have carried out intense bombing raids in a bid to halt the jihadist advance, according to a military source and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

IS on Tuesday tried to generate a smokescreen to shield its positions from fresh air strikes.

"The Islamic State group set tyres and barrels of crude oil on fire in Deir Ezzor... to block Syrian and Russian jets heavily bombing the city," the Observatory said.

Since Saturday, 46 regime fighters and 75 IS militants have been killed, along with more than 30 civilians, according to the Britain-based monitor.

A local activist group told AFP on Wednesday that IS had killed at least 10 Syrian government fighters captured during the clashes.

"IS executed them last night by driving over them with tanks," said Omar Abu Leila of Deir Ezzor 24, which publishes news on the eastern city.

He said the gruesome killings took place inside IS-controlled neighbourhoods of the city.

"If IS seizes regime-held neighbourhoods, it could carry out massacres. This is a huge source of concern for us," he said.

The jihadist group, excluded from a nearly three-week ceasefire in Syria, has carried out mass killings of military rivals and civilians, often with particularly grisly methods.

As it advanced on ancient city Palmyra in 2015, it killed dozens of civilians and then staged mass executions of government troops in the city's theatre.

The World Food Programme on Tuesday said the clashes had forced it to suspend aid drops to Deir Ezzor, where more than 100,000 people have lived under IS siege since early 2015.

The WFP has been dropping humanitarian aid into Deir Ezzor since April 2016, and the government-held area is the only place in Syria where the agency has permission for the drops.
Nate Walcott studied piano as he entered fifth grade at Sheridan Elementary. But he was anxious to pick out an instrument he could play in the school band.

I wanted to play the saxophone, that was the cool instrument, Walcott said. But there were too many saxophone players. They wouldn't give me saxophone. They said, You can take the trumpet. I was like, All right, Ill take the trumpet."

That choice began a musical journey that has taken Walcott around the world as a member of Bright Eyes and, now, keyboardist with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who will stop at Pinnacle Bank Arena Friday.

Almost instantly after being introduced to the trumpet, Walcott said, he knew he wanted to be a musician.

When I heard my first band teacher play trumpet, I knew that was what I wanted to do in some way, he said. I remember going to see Branford Marsalis at the Lied Center not long after that. I was in the fifth grade. That was the most mind-blowing thing Id ever heard. I knew Id be doing music in some way. I knew how important it was at a really young age.

Fast forward 20 years from 1996, when he graduated from Lincoln High and left for Chicago and DePaul University to study jazz performance, and Walcott found himself touring with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The gig came via Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who Walcott met in 2003 when he was touring in Europe as the multi-instrumentalist in Bright Eyes, Conor Obersts Omaha-based folk-rock group, and Klinghoffer was playing with Beck.

The two stayed in touch and after Walcott moved to Los Angeles in 2009, he discovered that Klinghoffer was playing in a band with another former Lincolnite, Jonathan Hischke. That was just before Klinghoffer took on full-time guitar duties with the Chili Peppers.

Its really quite a small, little world, Walcott said. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' last record has quite a bit of keyboards on it. When they realized they needed a keyboard player, Josh called me up. That was back in May. Since then weve done Europe, Russia, Asia and now the U.S.

Moving from Bright Eyes to the Chili Peppers -- folk rock to funk rock -- would seem to be a big jump. But Walcott said he was instantly comfortable with the Chili Peppers.

Outside of Bright Eyes, Ive been pretty busy doing a lot of different kinds of music, going back to when I was in Lincoln playing in Kid Quarkstar with James, playing at Yia Yias Thursday nights, he said. In that way, the familiarity is there. It feels comfortable to me.

James is James Valentine, now guitarist for Maroon 5. He was Walcotts first musical collaborator and remains one of his best friends.

Valentine and Walcott began playing jazz together in junior high, then formed Kid Quarkstar. Next for Walcott came Plastik Trumpet. Then he met producer/engineer Mike Mogis, who was going to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and joined with Mogis to record with Lullaby for the Working Class.

Walcott also studied keyboards with John Carlini and trumpet with Dean Haist. Haist, he said, passed on a vital piece of advice.

One thing I remember he said is Keep your mind open to anything. Thats been an important part of what Ive been doing.

What Walcott has been doing is film scores. Hes done three with Mogis, often returning to Omaha, where Mogis has his studio.

He and Mogis scored the well-received indie picture The Fault in All Our Stars. Walcott scored Come and Find Me, which was released last year, and finished the score for the forthcoming Midnight Sun late last year.

Hes also appeared on recordings by She & Him, U2, Beck, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5, done arrangements for First Aid Kit, Jenny Lewis, Cursive and The Faint and toured with Rilo Kiley, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Broken Bells, serving as musical director for the group led by James Mercer of The Shins and Brian Modest Mouse Burton.

Walcott also continues to work with Mogis and Oberst, as he has since he joined Bright Eyes in 2003.

What he hasnt done lately is spend time in Lincoln. His family has moved away. Most of his Nebraska friends are now in Omaha. And touring hasnt brought him back in years.

I dont think Ive played Lincoln since I dont remember, Walcott said. I think maybe my first Bright Eyes tour, in 2002, we played the Rococo. But I dont think Ive been through for a show since then. I played some songs with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings at the Zoo Bar in 2007. That was funny because we played there in Kid Quarkstar and that was a big deal for us.

Throughout a half-hour interview Tuesday before a St. Louis concert, Walcott reflected on the importance of supporting music and the arts. That is something he, Valentine and Hischke learned about in Lincoln two decades ago.

Lincoln was a real fertile place, Walcott said. It was a great place to grow up for music. I think that says a lot about Lincoln. Ive been thinking about that a lot recently. Were in such a crazy time in our society and our world. I was thinking about the importance of supporting the arts right now. Its important we have people inspiring change, inspiring people to heal the world right now.

I was really fortunate. I not only had terrific players to play with and places to play in Lincoln, but terrific teachers and so much support. Somebody put a trumpet in my hand when I was in the fifth grade. I wouldnt have had these opportunities if that wouldnt have happened.
U.S. Army Private Chelsea Manning's 35-year sentence for leaking classified information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks has been commuted by President Barack Obama to about seven years, including the time she spent locked up before she was convicted in 2013. Her sentence is now set to expire May 17.

Here's a look at the key elements of the case:

WHAT WAS MANNING CONVICTED OF?

A judge convicted Manning, then known as Bradley, on July 30, 2013, of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud. She was sentenced to 35 years out of a possible maximum of 90. She was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy, which carries a possible life sentence.

WHAT DID MANNING DO?

The now 29-year-old native of Crescent, Okla., leaked more than 700,000 classified Iraq and Afghanistan war logs and diplomatic cables in 2010 while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad. Manning also leaked a 2007 video clip of a U.S. helicopter crew killing at least nine men, including a Reuters news photographer and his driver. The Pentagon concluded the troops acted appropriately, having mistaken the camera equipment for weapons.

WHAT HARM DID THE PROSECUTORS' EVIDENCE SHOW?

Government witnesses testified the leaks endangered people who were named as information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of them move, even to other countries, for their safety. Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.

Prosecutors showed that al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula used material from the Apache helicopter attack in a propaganda video. Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden obtained and presumably read some of the leaked documents, the evidence showed.

WHAT WERE THE DEFENSE'S PRINCIPAL ARGUMENTS?

The defense produced evidence that the Army disregarded Manning's emotional turmoil over her gender identity and isolation in a military that barred homosexuals from serving openly. The day after she was sentenced, Manning announced in a statement that she was a woman named Chelsea and demanded hormone therapy, which the Army eventually approved.

Story continues

WHY DID SHE DO IT?

Manning said she leaked the material to expose the U.S military's "bloodlust" and disregard for human life, and what she considered American diplomatic duplicity. She said she chose information she believed would not harm the United States. After her conviction, she apologized for unintentionally causing harm, but not for revealing U.S. secrets.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF ANY APPEAL?

Manning's lawyers filed an appeal of the court-martial findings in May to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals. Court Clerk Malcom H. Squires Jr. said Tuesday he didn't know how the commutation of Manning's sentence could affect the appeals process. Further appeals can be made to the military's highest court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trumps education secretary nominee, received criticism from Democrats for appearing unwilling or unprepared to take a stance on several key issues in education policy during her confirmation hearing Tuesday night.

Heres a closer look at a few of those notable moments:

Measuring proficiency vs. growth

DeVos appeared unfamiliar with a long-running debate over the benefits of measuring proficiency or growth among students when she was asked for her opinion on it.

I think, if Im understanding your question correctly around proficiency, I would also correlate it to competency and mastery, so that each student is measured according to the advancement theyre making in each subject area, she told Minnesota Sen. Al Franken .

Well, thats growth. Thats not proficiency, Franken responded.

This is a subject that has been debated in the education community for years, Franken said. It surprises me that you dont know this issue.

Franken has argued that growth is a more useful metric because it accounts for individual progress over a period of time. He said its a more useful tool for assessing advanced students, who begin at a proficient level already, as well as struggling students, who might not reach proficiency but should make progress compared to their own starting point.

Those on the other side of the debate argue that all students should strive to meet a common level of proficiency.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

DeVos said states should be responsible for deciding whether and how to enforce a federal law that protects the rights of students with disabilities, and she suggested that she didnt know it was a federal law.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires schools to provide a free and appropriate education to all students with disabilities, but it has been the subject of disputes over how it should be applied in some states and school districts.

Story continues

So were you unaware when I just asked you about the IDEA that it was a federal law? said New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, for whom the issue is personal because her son has cerebral palsy.

I may have confused it. DeVos said, adding that federal laws must be followed.

School accountability

DeVos dodged a question from Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine about accountability standards across different schools and states. When he asked multiple questions about whether all schools that receive federal funding should be held to equal standards of accountability, DeVos gave the same answer four times, saying only, I support accountability.

Visibly frustrated, Kaine asked if she agreed with him that all schools that receive taxpayer funding should be equally accountable. DeVos said no, and Kaine interrupted to ask another question before she could explain the reasons for her disagreement.

The exchange touched on the debate over charter school accountability. Charter schools are public, but they operate independently from a school district and are usually granted more autonomy. Some charter school advocates argue that charter schools should operate with less government interference. Others, including Kaine, have argued for increased accountability.

Gun-free zones around schools

When asked whether she thinks guns have a place in or around schools, DeVos said she would leave that decision up to state and local authorities.

I will refer back to Sen. [Mike] Enzi and the school that he was talking about in Wapiti, Wyoming. I think probably there, I would imagine that theres probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies, DeVos said, referring to a Wyoming school that has a grizzly bear fence surrounding it. DeVos also said she would support whatever stance the president-elect takes on the issue.

The original question came from Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, who has been a vocal proponent of gun control measures since the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in his home state in 2012. His question referred to Trumps promise this month that he would eliminate gun-free zones around schools on his first day in office. The Gun-Free School Zones Act, enacted in 1990, bans possession of a firearm in a school zone. But some Republicans and gun rights advocates, including the National Rifle Association, have argued that people should be allowed to carry guns in such zones for self-defense purposes. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie introduced a bill earlier this month that would repeal that act.
A man was burned Tuesday while trying to set himself on fire outside a Trump property in Washington, DC.

The man was transported to the hospital after officials say he suffered burn injuries outside of the newly opened Trump International Hotel.

Read: Steve Harvey Breaks Silence After Trump Meeting: 'I Didn't Expect the Backlash to Be So Fierce'

Witness Michael Shoag posted about the bizarre sight on Twitter between 9 and 10 p.m.

Fire dept puts out fire where man self immolation in front of Trump Hotel DC. He put fire out himself before walking to police. pic.twitter.com/10g5SKXiUJ  Michael Shoag (@MikeShoag) January 18, 2017

"Man lit himself on fir in front of Trump hotel DC. Crazy!" Shoag wrote.

Shoag said the man appeared to quickly seek help. "He put fire out himself before walking to police," he tweeted.

According to local reports, the man said he set the fire as a protest against the election of Trump.

The man was treated for non-life threatening injuries, authorities said.

Read: Food Fight: Protesters Stage 'Cough-In' at Jean-Georges Restaurant in Trump Protest

On Twitter, Shoag expressed similar sentiments to many in D.C. as the city braces for both a massive inauguration and a potentially larger simultaneous protest.

"Crazy is the new normal in DC," wrote Shoag. "The crazy is just getting started I am guessing."

Read: Poll Says Trump Has Lowest Approval Rating of Any Recent Incoming President; He Calls Survey 'Rigged'

Related Articles:
By Jeff Mason and Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that former military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning had served a tough prison term and his decision to commute her 35-year sentence to about seven years served would not signal leniency toward leakers of U.S. government secrets. Obama told his final news conference as president that he felt it made sense to commute Manning's sentence because she went to trial, took responsibility for her crime and her sentence was disproportionate to those received by other leakers. "Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence," Obama said of his decision to reduce her sentence, which was announced Tuesday in a batch of 209 commutations and 64 pardons granted. "I feel very comfortable that justice has been served." Manning gave classified information of more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks in 2010, the biggest such breach in U.S. history. Congressional Republicans criticized the commutation as a dangerous precedent for leakers. Sean Spicer, the press secretary for President-elect Donald Trump, told reporters Wednesday it sent a "very troubling message." Obama said the commutation was done without regard to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who said on Twitter last Thursday that if Manning was freed, he would accept extradition to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks. "I dont pay a lot of attention to Mr. Assanges tweets," Obama said, adding that he did not see a contradiction with his administration's approach to Assange and Manning and referring more questions on WikiLeaks to the Justice Department. What I can say broadly in this new cyber age, were going to have to continually work to find the right balance of accountability and openness and transparency that is the hallmark of our democracy, but also recognize that there are adversaries and bad actors out there who want to use that same openness in ways that hurt us," Obama said. Barry Pollack, a U.S.-based lawyer for Assange, said in an email Wednesday that Obama's commutation of Manning fell "well short" of what Assange sought because he had called for her "to receive clemency and be released immediately." A U.S. official said the Justice Department was investigating "civilian" individuals associated with the leaking of government secrets via WikiLeaks. "The Department of Justice is conducting an investigation and it remains ongoing. I am not able to provide any further information," said Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Alexandria, Virginia. WikiLeaks returned to prominence during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, publishing hacked emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of senior Democrats. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies were responsible for the hacks and that they were carried out as part of a campaign by Moscow to help Republican Donald Trump win and discredit Democrat Hillary Clinton. Obama said the intelligence agencies were not conclusive in their assessment of the hacks "whether WikiLeaks was witting or not in being a conduit" for Russia's efforts to use cyber attacks to influence the election. Assange has said the Russian government was not the source of the emails. Manning, formerly known as U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. The White House said on Tuesday that her sentence would end on May 17 this year. Manning twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, men's military prison. Her case became a rallying cause for civil liberties advocates who saw the punishment as too severe and an attempt to chill whistleblowers from speaking up about government misdeeds. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Dustin Volz; additional reporting by Mark Hosenball and David Alexander; editing by Grant McCool)
UFC heavyweight titan Mark Hunt currently has two big UFC fights ahead of him. One with Alistair Overeem in Vegas at UFC 209 and another outside the Octagon with the UFC, Dana White and Brock Lesnar. On Mondays edition of The MMA Hour, The Super Samoan stated that his heavyweight tilt in March wasnt something he chose. Instead, it was foisted upon him.

They put me in a position, like well what am I supposed to do? said Hunt when speaking with host Ariel Helwani. They forced this fight on me, pretty much.

At present, Hunt is suing the UFC for racketeering, fraud, negligence and other claims in the fallout of his UFC 200 co-main event where he lost to Brock Lesnar, who in turn would lose to a drug test. The 42-year-old fighters never been shy about speaking up about drug cheats in MMA (Cheaters gotta die. Die in a fire.) and that made his scheduled fight with Overeem at UFC 209 all the more perplexing. Overeem has previously been popped for a failed drug test and this pairing seems strange considering the Hunts issues with the company. According to Hunt, theres simply nowhere else hes allowed to fight and a release from his contract hasnt been granted.

I couldnt go anywhere else, he explained. Thats the position right now it is. If I couldnt work anywhere else and Im still trying to get my fair deal in this thing, what am I supposed to do? If theyre going to let me go, let me go. At least I can go work somewhere else. Ive gotta look after my family and my commitments as well. And they cant just sit me at the back of the bus without having any work. You cant do that.

This dynamic adds a strange twist to the upcoming Hunt/Overeem fight and gives Hunt a babyface aura as a clean fighter with his back against the wall due to sinister forces. Factor in Woodley/Thompson II and Khabib Nurmagomedov taking on Tony Ferguson and you have an intriguing main card with loads of time to promote. Also, Conor McGregor probably has some interest in how both of those fights pan out.

(Via MMA Fighting)
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A 22-year-old Massachusetts man is accused of smuggling a young girl into the U.S. from El Salvador to be his woman and have sex with her, prosecutors and police said.

Luis Santos was arrested late last week and charged with multiple crimes, including kidnapping, rape of a child with force and human trafficking of a minor, the Worcester Police Department said in a a statement. He is accused of paying $5,000 to have the 14-year-old girl from El Salvador illegally smuggled across the border in December 2016 after first speaking with her over Facebook, police said.

Its extremely troubling, on a number of levels Worcester Police Sgt. Michael Hanlon said, in remarks reported by NECN. Obviously the 14-year-old female had no idea where to go when she became a victim. She doesnt speak English, she didnt really know anyone here, so Im sure she was in fear and had nowhere to run.

Authorities said Santos forced the young girl to sleep in the same bed as him and forcefully touched her more than once. He is also accused of preventing the victim from attending school by locking her in a bedroom and refusing to let her use the phone.

Santos denies any allegations of sexual assault against the victim, according to his attorney, Jose Rosario. He has no consciousness of guilt because he didnt commit a crime, Rosario said, in remarks reported by MassLive. Santos, who was arraigned in court Tuesday, entered a not guilty plea.
By Andy Bruce LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May has finally outlined what Brexit really means for her: Britain going it alone, fully disentangled from the European Union while hoping the bloc will agree to a comprehensive trade deal. Britain will exit the EU's vast internal market for goods and services and will instead try for a "bold and ambitious" free trade agreement (FTA), rejecting the kind of arrangements some other European countries, such as Norway and Switzerland, have for trade with the world's biggest economic region. In her speech on Tuesday, May called for a deal to be done within two years, emphasised cooperation with the bloc and called for a "phased-in" transition to Brexit. The value of the pound reversed recent losses and staged its biggest single-day rally against the U.S dollar since at least 1998. But there was a lukewarm reception from political leaders in EU countries, a reminder that agreeing the kind of trade deal May wants will be an arduous - even painful - task. "Where is the give for all the take?" asked the Czech Republic's secretary of state for EU affairs, Tomas Prouza, on Twitter. Ireland's government said it was under no illusion about the scale of Brexit. May outlined 12 negotiating priorities, including limiting immigration, exiting jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, and ending full membership of the customs union that sets external tariffs for goods imported into the bloc. Aiming for a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) means she can enter negotiations with an almost blank canvas, largely free of politically unpopular compromises around freedom of movement or large payments into the EU's budget. FTA CHANCE But the process of agreeing an FTA is fraught with risk. May has said she wants to agree Britain's future relationship with the EU within two years, followed by a period of implementation. Free trade deals usually take far longer than two years to agree -- Canada's FTA with the EU will have taken seven years by the time it is expected to come into force. "(The) prolonged uncertainty over forming agreements will present a significant challenge to the economy and one from which consumers cannot be called upon to buy our way out," said Jagjit Chadha, director of Britain's National Institute of Economic and Social Research. Consumer spending has been a main driver of Britain's economy recently, with other sources of growth like trade and investment lagging. Getting rid of barriers to trade in services, the dominant sector in Britain's economy, is also likely to be hard, although those backing Brexit argue barriers already exist within the EU. And the deeper the trade agreement, the more EU regulation Britain would have to abide by, according to the Centre for European Reform think tank. Supporters of the FTA option argue this would allow Britain to trade with the EU largely as before while also leaving it free to agree trade deals directly with other countries such as the United States, its biggest individual export partner, and emerging markets such as Brazil and India. Brexit supporters also point to Britain's large goods deficit with the EU -- a record 8.59 billion pounds in November 2016. They say the bloc could not afford to cut it off. NUCLEAR OPTION May seems to see this as a bargaining chip, stating in her speech that no deal is better than a bad deal - effectively acknowledging that Britain could resort to World Trade Organisation rules, which set upper limits on tariffs countries can impose. In such a scenario, Britain would face barriers on services, particularly in highly regulated sectors such as finance. That would be a "very dangerous path", according to J.P. Morgan economist Malcolm Barr. "One might expect a successful negotiating strategy to have ambitious objectives and a credible fall back position. May certainly has the former. But we doubt the prime minister has the latter," he said in a note to clients. Tellingly, just as May was setting out her pitch for an internationalist Britain built on cooperation, her Chancellor Philip Hammond told parliament that Britain could get tough if a comprehensive FTA with the EU is not forthcoming, and slash business taxes in retaliation. "If we don't (get a sensible Brexit deal) the people of this country are not simply going to lie down and accept that they will be poorer," Hammond said. "We will do whatever it takes to maintain our competitiveness and protect our standard of living." (Additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Alistair Smout, graphic by Christian Inton, editing by William Schomberg and Peter Graff)
By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - McKesson Corp, one of the largest U.S. distributors of pharmaceutical drugs, will pay a record $150 million to resolve a U.S. investigation into whether it failed to report suspicious orders of addictive painkillers. Tuesday's deal with the U.S. Justice Department followed an earlier settlement with the company over similar violations in 2008. The latest accord came as U.S. authorities continue to grapple with the nation's opioid drug epidemic. "The consequences of McKesson's decision to circumvent its obligations are too devastating to ignore and warrant today's punishment," New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, whose office was involved in the deal, said in a statement. Under the settlement, San Francisco-based McKesson must on a staggered basis suspend sales of controlled substances from distribution centers in Colorado, Ohio, Michigan and Florida for several years. It will also be subject to new and enhanced compliance obligations and be required to hire an independent monitor to assess compliance, a first of its kind arrangement under a Controlled Substances Act civil penalty settlement. McKesson in a statement said it has implemented significant changes to its monitoring and reporting processes and was committed to combating prescription drug diversion and abuse. "We are committed to tackling this multi-faceted problem in collaboration with all parties in the supply chain that share the responsibility for the distribution of opioid medications," McKesson Chief Executive Officer John Hammergren said in a statement. Each day about 78 Americans die of an opioid overdose, according to authorities. Oxycodone, a big source of profit for drug dealers, is abused by over 13 million Americans annually, prosecutors say. Tuesday's accord came after McKesson in 2008 reached a $13.25 million settlement resolving claims that it failed to design and implement an effective system to detect and report suspiciously large or frequent orders. The Justice Department said that following that deal, from 2008 until 2013, McKesson supplied various pharmacies an increasing amount of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, both opioid drugs that are frequently misused. The Justice Department said the evidence showed that McKesson did not fully implement or adhere to its own compliance program designed after the 2008 settlement. As one example, the Justice Department said that in Colorado, McKesson processed over 1.6 million orders for controlled substances from June 2008 through May 2013, yet only reported 16 as suspicious. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; additional reporting by Eric Beech in Washington; Editing by Bernard Orr)
LONDON (Reuters) - Global consulting firm McKinsey & Co signed a long-term lease for a new office in London, signalling its commitment to Britain at a time when the country's coming withdrawal from the EU means some groups are relocating staff away from the UK. McKinsey announced a deal on Wednesday to take 100,000 sq ft (9,300 sq metres), plus an option for a further 130,000 sq ft, in the Post Building in London's West End from 2018. The firm will be moving from its Jermyn Street offices in central London where it currently has 115,000 sq ft of space, a spokesman said. "It represents a renewed commitment to London and the UK," McKinsey's UK and Ireland managing partner Vivian Hunt said in a statement. "The Post Building gives us the flexible and modern office space we need for our growing operations." It did not say exactly how long the lease would last. McKinsey's commitment to Britain comes as companies such as Google and Facebook have said they plan to expand in the UK, defying predictions that international companies would shrink in the country as leaving the EU will make it a less attractive place to invest. But some companies are turning away from Britain. HSBC said on Wednesday it would move staff generating around 20 percent of its trading revenue to Paris following Brexit. British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will trigger the process to leave the EU by the end of March, opening two years of negotiations. (This version of the story corrects to show option is for up to 130,000 sq ft, not a for a further 130,000 sq ft.) (Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Adrian Croft)
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Being murdered by animals is one of Australia's top national obsessions. Specifically, Aussies enjoy discussing which animal is the best at murdering.

It's not hard to see why. The country is one big, dirt-covered homicide party. That said, it seems Australia's most prolific killers aren't getting the credit they deserve.

SEE ALSO: Oh nothing, just a terrifying snake eating another freaking snake on video

According to a new study from the University of Melbourne's Australian Venom Unit, the idea of death by snakes and spiders is more a cliche than an everyday reality.

For example, despite their fearsome reputation, arachnids have accounted for only one death in a 39-year period. Get out of here, you garbage creatures.

A national disappointment.

And though it's true they look terrifying, snakes rarely do much actual killing. Sometimes they even get knocked off by spiders, which given the abysmal annihilation capabilities of arachnids, is a genuine embarrassment.

Just two losers, wasting everyone's time.

Scared of sharks? Don't be. They kill about three people a year. Meanwhile, humans are reportedly killing 100 million of them worldwide annually.

As the university report suggests, it's actually the humble bee that's one of Australia's biggest killers, responsible for the deaths of 27 humans in 13 years.

Then there's Australia's real MVPs: Horses and cows. Over a 10 year period horses, cows and dogs were found to have killed 137 people in Australia.

"Don't kid yourself, Jimmy. If a cow ever got the chance, he'd eat you and everyone you care about!"

But given the vast ecological damage Australians cause by exporting and burning coal  it's fair to say humans are probably country's most deadly creature all up.

But hey, who wants to think about that? Better to load up on scary animal pictures instead. Look, a spider eating a bird!

Never change, Australia. Never change...

Image: Reddit

BONUS: Wasp versus huntsman spider
If youve been vacationing with a remote community that has no contact with the outside world for the last six months, you might have missed the fact that Samsungs most recent phablet has an unnerving tendency to catch fire. All reasonable human beings have returned their phones, as requested by Samsung, cell carriers, and the laws of common sense.

But its 2017, theres an internet out there, and among the internet-dwellers are those who figure its a smart and adult decision to hang onto their toys with both hands, consequences be damned.

Don't Miss: How Trumps interview with Tim Cook about US-made iPhones probably went

Samsung, and the cell carriers that sold the phone, have taken every reasonable step to take Galaxy Note 7 devices out of the wild. Owners have had ample opportunity to turn them in, and cell carriers are now forcing updates on the phone that prevent it from charging, or stop outgoing cell calls.

But that hasnt stopped a few particular users from Reddits Galaxy Note 7 subreddit. The users take a peculiar delight in their objectively dumb decision, mostly rationalizing that the chances of their specific phone exploding is small, and anyway, they dont go on airplanes all that often.

This is true. Despite the recall, the chances of one particular Galaxy Note 7 spontaneously combusting is relatively low, and using one is probably safer than driving on US roads.

Still, I wont try and argue their case for them. As internet commenters, theyre perfectly capable of doing that themselves:

My new  headset. Bought all this for only $50. No SIM, no updates, no problems.

 ticktockaudemars

I rarely fly, and when I do I dont take the phone. I am a heavy S-pen user, and will not get stuck with old technology when a new one is on the horizon. What the company and carriers want is irrelevant once a phone is bought it is no longer their property to decide.

 Afflink

Go away cry baby. Did you miss your nap time? I know that it is hard for you liberals to realize that some of us are capable of making our own decisions, but we are. Regardless of what the govt, Saumsung, or those running around on here crying their eyes out.

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 Osensnolf

Then, youve got all the threads of users trying to get around technological blocks. When it was first announced that Samsung would be pushing updates to brick devices, users started working out how to prevent updates and still use their phones.

Now that Verizon has begun blacklisting Note 7 devices from its network, users are discussing how to spoof the IMEI to pose as a different device on the cellular network.

To their credit, the majority of users on Reddit seem to have given up their phones, and are actively trying to get other people to do the same. But as per usual, a small minority of internet trolls seem determined to ruin it for everyone.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Berlin (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday welcomed the "clarity" provided by British Prime Minister Theresa May's speech laying out her plans for Brexit.

After talks with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in Berlin, the leader of Europe's top economy said that the remaining EU member states would enter into the negotiations with London with a united front.

Merkel said that May's keenly anticipated address Tuesday had provided a "clear impression of how Britain wants to move forward".

"However the negotiations would only begin when Article 50 is triggered," she told reporters, referring to the part of the EU's Lisbon Treaty under which a country officially declares its intention to quit the bloc.

Looking to Gentiloni, Merkel said that Germany and Italy would "closely coordinate" with each other and with "our respective industrial sectors" as the Brexit talks progressed.

"I am not worried that we won't stand together -- the most important thing is that Europe won't let itself be divided and we will ensure this with very close contact," she said.

Gentiloni, speaking through an interpreter, said that May's speech had "put some meat on the bones" of the British position on leaving the European Union.

He pledged there would be "solidarity" among the other 27 EU member states but also "of course friendship" with Britain.

"I'd like to stress two things that are to me important and positive: that Theresa May recognised and underlined her support for international alliances and secondly that the agenda for Britain leaving will stick to the treaties," he said, citing the terms laid out in Article 50.

"There will be an agreement one day on this basis."

May on Tuesday said Britain would leave the EU's single market in order to restrict immigration in a clean break from the bloc but would seek a free trade deal giving "the greatest possible access" to the market on its departure.

But she warned that London would be free to change its economic model and "set competitive tax rates" if EU leaders insisted on a "punitive deal" for a trade pact with the bloc.
Monterrey (Mexico) (AFP) - A 15-year-old boy shot at his classmates at a high school in northern Mexico on Wednesday, injuring at least five people including himself, officials said.

The pupil opened fire at Northeastern College in the city of Monterrey, civil protection official Oscar Aboytes told AFP.

He said the school initially told the civil protection service that three people had been killed, but when experts arrived at the school, they found those victims to be "extremely seriously" injured.

The shooter unsuccessfully tried to kill himself, Aboytes said.

In total five people were hurt, four seriously, including the shooter, state security secretary Aldo Fasci told reporters.

He said there was a video showing the boy shooting at a teacher and another pupil before shooting himself.

Mexico suffers regular gang violence but so far nothing appeared to indicate that the school shooting was gang-related.

"It is an unprecedented situation. Nothing like this has happened before" in schools in the surrounding state of Nuevo Leon, Fasci said.

Wednesday's attack came as the northeastern state of Quintana Roo, hundreds of miles from Monterrey, reeled from two shootings, thought to be linked to gangs or drug dealers, that left nine people dead.

In 2014, 43 students from a teacher training college in southern Mexico went missing and are believed dead.
Cancun (Mexico) (AFP) - A tranquil Mexican seaside region reeled Wednesday from two shootings that left nine people dead and shattered the peace in a beach resort area beloved by US and European tourists.

Mexico's so-called "Mayan Riviera" had largely avoided the major drug-related violence plaguing other regions.

But on Tuesday gunmen opened fire on the state prosecutors' office in Cancun, triggering a firefight a day after a murky nightclub shooting in a nearby resort sent music festival-goers fleeing in terror.

Three gunmen and a police officer were killed in the exchange of fire, which unfolded in broad daylight seven kilometers from the Caribbean coast city's hotel district. Five assailants were arrested, said Governor Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez.

The gunfight came just a day after three foreigners and two Mexicans died in a shooting at an electronic music festival in the seaside town of Playa del Carmen.

While it was not known whether the two shootings were linked, the back-to-back attacks broke the peace in a spot beloved by American, Canadian and European tourists that has been spared from the sort of drug-related violence afflicting other parts of Mexico.

Francisco Lopez, the state's secretary general, blamed organized crime and said Tuesday's attack was in reaction to a state campaign against corruption.

"We will not let ourselves be intimidated by these criminal groups that are trying to control the area," he said in an interview with Televisa.

State security chief Rodolfo del Angel said in a video message on Twitter that authorities activated "code red" after the shooting -- a security protocol combining state and federal police and the army.

"At the moment the state is peaceful, the citizens can remain calm, Cancun is doing well at this moment," Angel said.

Local media said authorities set up three checkpoints near the tourist zone.

The US Consulate in Merida issued a security message urging Americans to "follow local authorities' warnings and consult with their hotels before leaving the premises."

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- Streets deserted -

Mexican television showed footage in which intense gunfire could be heard. Soldiers and police guarded the prosecutor's office after the shooting.

State attorney general Miguel Angel Pech was not in the building at the time, the spokeswoman for the mayor's office said, adding that the city hall was evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Sandra Ramirez, a 33-year-old maid who lives seven streets away from the prosecutor's office, said she could hear the gunfire and "explosions" woke her up from her nap.

"I went out later and police were reviewing every car that was going by," Ramirez told AFP by telephone.

In the past, she said, "things have happened, a dead person has appeared here or there, but never something like this."

Several stores were closed and the streets were deserted, she said.

A store manager at the Plaza Las Americas shopping center, located at the start of the hotel zone, told AFP on condition of anonymity that shots were heard inside the mall and that people tried to hide in the shops.

"The soldiers came, cordoned off the area and began to evacuate people. They told us that the shots were part of the chase" against the assailants, the manager said.

- Nightclub attack: drug link? -

Meanwhile, authorities were investigating the motive behind Monday's pre-dawn shooting at the Blue Parrot club during the BPM music festival in Playa del Carmen, 68 kilometers to the south.

Pech said a gunman fired five times at a Mexican man at the club and the victim's bodyguards or other people fired back.

When the shooter fled the club, he hit another person who was also armed and whose gun went off when he fell, wounding other people, Pech said.

A Canadian man and an Italian man, both of whom worked for the BPM electronic music festival, plus a Mexican man died from bullet wounds. According to local prosecutors, an additional Mexican person was also killed.

An American woman was trampled to death in a stampede as people fled the club in panic. Fifteen other people were hurt.

Four people were detained but officials have not said if the shooter was among them.

Officials are also investigating whether the incident was linked to a dispute over an extortion racket against the club, or because the dealers were not allowed to sell drugs inside the club.
Michelle Obama took her final stroll through the White House, and we are sobbing so hard

The moving vans have arrived and the Obamas are gearing up for the transition to their new home in the Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, D.C. So of course, Michelle Obama took one final stroll the White House  and she has us in tears.

In a video posted to her Instagram page earlier today, FLOTUS and the Obamas two dogs, Sunny and Bo, walk the hallowed halls of the Peoples House in a memorable, but clearly emotional, tribute to the eight years the family has spent living there.

Taking it in one final time, Michelle passes through different rooms in the house, gazing on portraits of presidents past and, presumably, locking in the many memories the Obamas have made there.

Taking it in on one last walk through the People's House. A video posted by First Lady Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Jan 18, 2017 at 9:55am PST

Oh, how well miss this glorious first lady!

Though the Obamas will remain in the White House until Friday, theyve already begun to move their belongings into their gorgeous new D.C. home (theyve decided to stay in the capitol while Sasha finishes school). WUSA9 reporter Bruce Leshan spotted one of the familys moving vans earlier this week, sharing this photo on Twitter.

Moving van outside the Obama's new home in Kalorama. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/GZVf5aPN3o  Bruce Leshan (@BruceLeshan) January 16, 2017

Nice digs, yall!

They wont be heading straight to the new house after the inauguration, though; the family is jetting off to Palm Springs, California for a well-deserved vacation on Friday. Heres one thing: Im not setting my alarm, President Obama said in an interview with 60 Minutes that aired over the weekend. Im going to spend time with Michelle. And, you know, we got some catching up to do. Weve both been busy.

Well leave you to it then, Mr. President!
GULFPORT, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi man has pleaded guilty to capital murder in the 2014 death of a 5-year-old girl.

Local media report Alberto Garcia pleaded guilty Wednesday in Harrison County Circuit Court, ahead of a trial set next week. He had been jailed without bond after the death of Ja'Naya Thompson.

The plea means there will be no trial. Prosecutors say a sentencing hearing will determine whether Garcia is sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.

The child's body was found in an abandoned trailer in July 2014.

An investigator at Garcia's preliminary hearing said Thompson had been sexually assaulted. The investigator also said Garcia gave details that only the killer would know.

Garcia had implicated Julian Gray, a neighbor. A grand jury found insufficient evidence to indict Gray.
Washington (AFP) - Mobile chip giant Qualcomm was hit Tuesday with a US antitrust suit alleging it abused its dominant position in the market for processors used in cell phones and other devices.

The US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit in federal court in California claiming Qualcomm's practices amount to "unlawful maintenance of a monopoly in baseband processors," which are devices that enable cellular communications in phones and other products.

Qualcomm rejected the agency's case as "significantly flawed," arguing that reasoning at the heart of the civil complaint is wrong.

"In our recent discussions with the FTC, it became apparent that it still lacked basic information about the industry and was instead relying on inaccurate information and presumptions," Qualcomm general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a released statement.

Qualcomm, which is the dominant provider of chips for smartphones, has faced similar antitrust investigations in the European Union and China, and last month was hit with a record fine of $850 million by South Korean enforcement regulators.

In the US lawsuit, the FTC said Qualcomm's policy is to supply its processors only on the condition that cell phone manufacturers agree to Qualcomm's "preferred license terms" for patents which are essential for mobile communications.

"By using its monopoly power to obtain elevated royalties that apply to baseband processors supplied by its competitors, Qualcomm in effect collects a 'tax' on cell phone manufacturers when they use non-Qualcomm processors," the lawsuit said.

"This tax weakens Qualcomm's competitors, including by reducing demand for their processors, and serves to maintain Qualcomm's monopoly in baseband processor markets."

Qualcomm's actions have hurt competitors including Taiwan-based Via Technologies, which was acquired by Intel in 2015, and another Taiwan firm, MediaTek Inc.

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The suit also alleges that Qualcomm "extracted exclusivity from Apple in exchange for reduced patent royalties," which prevented the iPhone maker from getting processors from Qualcomm's competitors from 2011 to 2016.

Qualcomm general counsel Rosenberg maintained that the FTC sped up the investigation, filing the suit just days before a change in the US presidential administration and with only three of five agency commissioners in place.

"This is an extremely disappointing decision to rush to file a complaint," Rosenberg said.

"It became apparent that the FTC was driving to file a complaint before the transition to the new administration."

The San Diego, California, group in 2015 agreed to pay $975 million to settle antitrust charges in China.

The tech group is challenging an EU competition inquiry which could result in a fine of up to 10 percent of its annual sales, which amounted to $26.5 billion for Qualcomm in 2015.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Moldova's prime minister on Wednesday reacted angrily to a suggestion by the nation's president that the ex-Soviet republic may shelve a trade pact with the European Union.

President Igor Dodon, speaking in Moscow on Tuesday, denounced a pact Moldova signed with the EU in 2014. He says a new government could annul it after 2018 parliamentary elections.

In a statement to The Associated Press, however, Premier Pavel Filip said Moldova's constitution did not allow the president "to announce or take such decisions," which he called "pure, political rhetoric."

Filip said his pro-European government would "not accept any intervention," from Dodon about a matter outside the president's authority.

"Quite the contrary, we will accelerate the implementation of undertaken commitments," the statement said "The Association Agreement is part of our governing program, it's one of the strategic pillars of the country.... and we will deliver on reforms and increase citizen welfare."

He also slammed Dodon who, during his visit to the Russian capital, said Moldova was willing to take on observer status in a Russia-dominated economic alliance. Filip said the president had no authority to weigh in on the issue.

After Moldova signed EU trade pact, Russia placed a trade embargo on Moldovan wine fruit and vegetables. Last year, more than half of Moldovan exports went to EU states.

Filip, who came to office a year ago, said that moves to improve relations with Russia should remain "at a bilateral level."

Dodon's trip to Moscow was his first foreign visit since his election in November, when he beat a pro-EU candidate. He has pledged to restore trade and political relations with Moscow.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Embracing his clemency powers like never before, President Barack Obama is planning more commutations in his final days in office after a dramatic move to cut short convicted leaker Chelsea Manning's sentence.

Obama became the president to have granted more commutations than any other when he announced Tuesday that Manning will be freed in May, almost 30 years ahead of schedule. Manning, the transgender Army intelligence analyst who leaked more than 700,000 U.S. documents, was one of 273 people receiving clemency on a single day.

Receiving pardons from the president were retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during another leak probe, and San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, sentenced in 1996 on tax evasion charges. Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera's 55-year sentence was commuted.

But Obama is not finished. The White House said Obama would grant more commutations Thursday  the day before his presidency ends  though officials said those would focus on drug offenders and would not likely include any other famous names.

Neil Eggleston, Obama's White House counsel, said the individuals were learning "that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance."

The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump. Still, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the incoming president was "troubled" by Obama's decision, which he called disappointing.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and spent more than six years behind bars.

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Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a men's prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests. The former cheered Obama's move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.

Obama did not grant a pardon to another prominent leaker, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. Snowden hasn't formally applied for clemency, though his supporters have called for it. Yet Obama has taken a dim view of Snowden because he refuses to return to the U.S. from Russia to face charges.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced. She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

"We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obama's action could "quite literally save Chelsea's life."

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move "just outrageous," and added, "Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets."

Obama's press secretary, Josh Earnest, told reporters on Wednesday that Obama was inclined to grant Manning clemency because she'd expressed remorse and started serving her sentence, which he said was much longer than sentences that less prominent leakers had received for similar crimes.

Manning, Lopez and many of the others will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry. Obama also pardoned hotelier Ian Schrager, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion.

Commutations reduce sentences being served, but don't erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a two-year sentence.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

The White House noted that absent a commutation, the 74-year-old Lopez likely would have died in prison.

Obama's commutation for Manning also raised fresh questions about the future of another figure involved in the Army leaker's case: Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks had earlier pledged, via tweet, that its founder would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning. Holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he's wanted on a rape allegation, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

But the Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange, and WikiLeaks has said authorities have refused to say whether the U.S. has requested extradition. Following Obama's announcement about Manning, it was unclear whether Assange planned to abide by his earlier pledge.

White House officials said neither Assange's fate nor separate concerns about WikiLeaks' role in Russian hacking of the election factored into the decision to commute Manning's sentence. The officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

___

Associated Press writers Vivian Salama, John Hanna, David Dishneau, Darlene Superville, Kathleen Hennessey and Danica Cota contributed to this report.
By Anastasia Moloney BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A prominent environmentalist in Mexico was shot dead over the weekend, highlighting the dangers facing activists in Latin America and prompting calls for better protection of land and indigenous rights campaigners. Isidro Baldenegro, an environmental rights activist, was killed by gunmen on Sunday in Mexico's northern state of Chihuahua after having received death threats. A community leader of Mexico's indigenous Tarahumara people, Baldenegro was known for his fight against illegal logging in the country's Sierra Madre mountain region. For years he led non-violent protests against logging projects, including sit-ins and human blockades. "The killing of Isidro Baldenegro Lopez is a tragic illustration of the many dangers faced by those who dedicate their lives to defend human rights in Latin America, one of the most dangerous regions in the work for activists," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, in a statement on Wednesday. "It is imperative that Mexico investigates this crime and that all governments across the Americas take more action to promote and protect the very important work human rights activists do with so much courage." Baldenegro, one of Mexico's most prominent environmentalists, was awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2005 for his work against deforestation. He is the second recipient of the prize, given to grassroots environmental activists, to be murdered in less than a year. Honduran environmental campaigner Berta Caceres, who won the Goldman Prize in 2015 for her battle against construction of a dam that threatened to displace indigenous people, was killed in March 2016. Campaign group Global Witness also urged Mexico to make sure Baldenegro's killers are brought to justice. "This crime must not be met with impunity, like the majority of these killings are," Ben Leather, a campaigner for Global Witness, said in a statement, also on Wednesday. "The Mexican authorities must act with conviction, prosecuting those responsible for Isidro's murder and protecting his family and colleagues." At least 33 right defenders were killed in Mexico from 2010 to 2015, according to a 2016 report by Global Witness. Baldenegro's murder came at the start of a nine-day mission by United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Michel Forst to Mexico. Making his first visit to Mexico, Forst planned to assess the situation facing the country's human rights defenders and measures Mexican authorities are taking to protect activists. "I'm deeply outraged by the murder of Isidro Baldenegro," Forst wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. Mexico's state prosecutor's office has started an investigation into Baldenegro's murder. One gunman, who reportedly fled the crime scene, has been identified but not detained, according to local media. (Reporting by Anastasia Moloney @anastasiabogota, Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org)
Melbourne (AFP) - Top seed Andy Murray sped into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday but bad boy Nick Kyrgios was booed and accused of not trying as he crashed to a stormy defeat.

Roger Federer progressed despite unexpected resistance and women's world number one Angelique Kerber celebrated her 29th birthday with a hard-fought win.

Murray painfully rolled an ankle and needed treatment in the third set against Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev, but he shook off the problem to win 6-3, 6-0, 6-2.

While the world number one cruised, Kyrgios stood accused of tanking, or giving up, during his 1-6, 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 loss to Andreas Seppi.

Kyrgios, who is returning from a ban for "lack of best efforts" in a match in Shanghai, played lethargically and casually, especially in the fifth set.

"Obviously it's not the greatest thing to hear," he said of the booing. "I didn't have the best preparation coming into the Australian Open. Pretty banged up, my body."

"I don't even know what the score was in the end. Was it 10-8? 10-8 in the fifth, getting booed off, definitely not the best feeling."

Tennis legend John McEnroe said Kyrgios's lack of effort was a "black eye for the sport". Kyrgios explained that "my body was sore. I was hurting.

"I mean, John McEnroe. Good on him. Great career. Good on him."

Asked how he could have been better prepared, Kyrgios, who hurt his knee playing basketball, said: "I don't know, maybe just not play as much basketball. Actually take my pre-season seriously."

Earlier Federer was made to work by 200th-ranked Noah Rubin for a 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win that set up a third-round assignment against his old rival Tomas Berdych.

"I know what he's got. I don't need to tell you where he's beaten me," Federer said of Berdych. "Then again I've played him here, played him on many occasions, as well, when it went my way."

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- Happy birthday -

Federer wasn't the only leading player challenged in the second round as Kerber, the women's defending champion, dropped a set against world number 89 Carina Witthoeft.

Kerber won 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 before being treated to a rendition of "Happy Birthday" by the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

"I was doing I think a lot of mistakes in the important moments. But at the end, I'm happy that I won the match," said the world number one.

In the men's draw, Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori marched into the third round alongside former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, with both winning in straight sets.

Nishikori was extended to five sets in his first-round win over Andrey Kuznetsov, but he found the going a little easier in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory against Jeremy Chardy.

Nishikori, who believes he is due a first major win this year, next plays Lukas Lacko, with Berdych or Federer waiting in the fourth round.

France's Tsonga, who is seeded 12th and was runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2008, beat Serbia's Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to go through.

Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 winner, recovered from his tetchy five-setter with Martin Klizan to beat Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

In the women's draw, 36-year-old Venus Williams continued her smooth progress when she beat qualifier Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-2 to set up a meeting with China's Duan Yingying.

Williams, the oldest player in the women's draw, pulled out of the doubles competition with her sister Serena as a precaution to rest a sore elbow.

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova thrashed Australian wildcard Jaimee Fourlis 6-2, 6-1 to set up a third-round clash with 31-year-old Serb Jelena Jankovic.

And Britain's Dan Evans claimed the highest-ranked scalp of his career when he stunned former US Open champion Marin Cilic, the world number seven.
Malaysia's prime minister Thursday urged Myanmar to end its crackdown on the Muslim Rohingya minority, warning that Islamist extremists may exploit the crisis.

The plight of the Rohingya, a stateless group denied citizenship in Myanmar and reviled as illegal immigrants by the majority Buddhist population, has become a lightning rod for anger across the Muslim world.

Since October Myanmar's army has carried out "clearance operations" in the north of western Rakhine state to root out insurgents accused of deadly raids on police border posts.

At least 66,000 Rohingya have subsequently fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, alleging rape, murder and torture at the hands of security forces. But Myanmar denies the allegations.

"Far too many people have lost their lives in Myanmar," said premier Najib Razak, speaking in Kuala Lumpur at the opening of a special meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"Many have suffered appalling deaths, and those that have lived through the atrocities have witnessed or endured unspeakable cruelty," he added.

"For a start, the killing must stop. The violation of women and girls must stop," he said, adding that "the persecution of your fellow men and women, simply on the grounds that they are Muslim, must stop."

Najib, who has called the crisis a "genocide" and whose prominent defence of the Rohingya comes as he battles a massive graft scandal at home, warned the issue could fan the flames of international jihad.

"OIC member states are well aware that terrorist organisations such as Daesh (Islamic State) could seek to take advantage of this situation," he said.

"This should concern the international community as a whole, as the threat of a new home for terrorist groups has the potential to cause death and destruction well beyond this region."

Najib added that Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya -- tens of thousands of whom have languished in displacement camps since communal riots in 2012 -- was a "stain" on the 10-member Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN.

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Najib said Malaysia would deploy a food flotilla and provide 10 million ringgit ($2.25 million) for humanitarian relief.

- Stop the killings -

The plight of the Rohingya has put Myanmar's democracy champion and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi under immense international pressure.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner is accused of standing by while the Rohingya have been persecuted.

She has appointed a commission to investigate the latest violence and has urged the international community to give Myanmar time to heal a bitter and complicated issue.

Myanmar refuses to recognises Rohingya as an official ethnic group.

Instead it describes them pejoratively as Bengalis -- or illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh -- even though many have lived in Myanmar for generations.

The secretary-general of the 56-member OIC, Yousef Al-Othaimeen, urged Myanmar security forces to use restraint with civilian populations or risk fuelling a violent reaction from oppressed groups.

Meanwhile the OIC in a joint communique called on Myanmar to end the "violence and discrimination" against the Rohingya Muslims.

"Myanmar should ensure that the security forces act in accordance with the law and that all perpetrators of acts of violence be held accountable," it said.

The OIC also shared Najib's jihadists fears, saying that if the root causes of the Rohingya are not addressed there could be "infiltration of radical elements" into the community and called for the "reconciliation process", including a safe return of Rohingya refugees.

Myanmar authorities accuse militants with overseas training of launching the October attacks on border posts in Rakhine.

Analysts say Najib's embrace of the Rohingya in part aims to burnish his international image after the damaging 1MDB graft scandal.

The premier has been buffeted by allegations that he took part in the looting of billions of dollars of public cash through state fund 1MDB.

Both he and the fund vehemently deny the allegations.
Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha on Wednesday introduced legislation designed to increase voter participation by authorizing all counties to conduct all elections by mail.

Wayne, a freshman lawmaker, said he intends to amend his bill (LB619) to couple mail elections with establishment of a few voting centers to retain the option of voting in-person for Nebraskans who wish to participate in the traditional manner of casting their ballots at polling sites.

Mail balloting would increase access to voter participation by "people without transportation, disabled people, those who are working three jobs, workers who need easier access to the right to vote," Wayne said.

Recent consideration of the option of moving to a vote-by-mail system has been fueled in part by the aging of election machinery throughout the state. Some counties have said that the cost of replacing that technology would be prohibitive.

Wayne said he and fellow freshman Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha are proposing a range of legislation designed to increase voter participation.

One of the bills proposed by Vargas would provide for automatic electronic voter registration in conjunction with application for motor vehicle driver's licenses.

Meanwhile, Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln introduced a proposed constitutional amendment (LR15CA) on Wednesday that would ban voter ID requirements in Nebraska.

The constitutional language would prohibit "requiring a voter to present identification prior to being able to vote."

Morfeld's proposal countered LR1CA, previously introduced by Sen. John Murante of Gretna. Murante's proposed constitutional amendment would require voter ID in Nebraska.

Shortly after introduction of his proposal, Morfeld tweeted: "Two can play at this game."
By Anuradha Nagaraj CHENNAI, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An Indian court has sentenced 39 people to 10 years in prison each for buying and selling girls in Karnataka state, signaling a rare victory for prosecutors in a country where fewer than two in five trafficking cases ends in a conviction. Human traffickers, pimps and brothel owners were among those convicted by a district court in Ballari on Tuesday, according to prosecutor Rathod Ramsingh, who said he hoped the verdict would deter others. "Normally only the pimps get picked up but this time everyone involved in buying, selling and reselling of these girls has been found guilty," Ramsingh told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The convicted offenders were also fined 247,000 rupees ($3,630) each by the court on Wednesday. The prosecution came after Ballari police raided several brothels in 2013, rescuing 43 women and 21 children, including a 13-year-old, and seizing evidence including cash and account ledgers. Seven of the rescued victims were from Bangladesh and the rest were from Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka and Odisha. A further 48 suspects in the case are being tried in three separate cases in Karnataka. Of an estimated 20 million commercial sex workers in India, 16 million women and girls are victims of sex trafficking, according to non-governmental organizations working in the country. The U.S. State Department said in its 2016 Trafficking in Persons report that investigations, prosecutions and convictions for human trafficking were low in India even though the government has stepped up its law enforcement efforts. Of the 2,075 human trafficking cases that were prosecuted in 2015, 824 ended in a conviction, according to India's national crime records bureau. Campaigners welcomed Tuesday's verdict, saying it should encourage other victims to come forward. "This conviction is because of the courage of the survivors, all young women, who walked into the packed courtroom to identify their traffickers and the men who abused them," said Adrian Phillips of non-profit Justice and Care that worked with the police on the case. "Offenders who previously assumed they would get away with the crime will now know otherwise." ($1 = 68.0749 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Anuradha Nagaraj, Editing by Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking and climate change. Visit www.trust.org)
By Lisa Richwine and Anya George Tharakan (Reuters) - Streaming video pioneer Netflix Inc added over a third more subscribers than expected in the last quarter of 2016, a sign of success for its ambitious global expansion that sent its shares up 8 percent in extended trading. Netflix signed up 7.1 million new subscribers globally, far more than the 5.2 million analysts had expected, according to research firm FactSet, beating targets at home and abroad even as it raised prices. Original shows like "Marvel's Luke Cage" and British drama "The Crown" performed strongly around the world, Netflix said, noting that competitors were adapting to compete. Amazon.com Inc recently expanded its Amazon Prime Video service globally, and Britain's BBC announced plans to release entire series at once to allow the "binge watching" popularized by Netflix. "It's becoming an internet TV world, which presents both challenges and opportunities for Netflix as we strive to earn screen time," the company said in its quarterly letter to shareholders. Netflix, in its earnings report, said it added 5.1 million subscribers outside the United States and 1.9 million in its home market in the quarter ended Dec. 31. (http://nflx.it/2jyes47) Analysts had forecast 3.73 million non-U.S. additions and 1.44 million at home. "The future battleground at home is now in keeping hold of customers as much as it is in trying to acquire new ones," said Neil Saunders, head of retail analyst firm Conlumino. "In our view, the fact that consumers have readily absorbed the price increase, and that Netflix has continued to advance its subscriber numbers in spite of it, indicates the company is now firmly in pole position in the streaming arena." Netflix said it planned to release more than 1,000 hours of original programming this year, up from 600 hours last year. It recently signed a deal with comedian Jerry Seinfeld to stream his show "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" as well as two new stand-up specials and other shows he will develop. The Los Gatos, California-based company said revenue rose 35.9 percent to $2.48 billion in the December quarter. Analysts on average had expected $2.47 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company said it expected to add 1.50 million subscribers in the United States in the current quarter, fewer than the FactSet estimate of 1.79 million. In international markets, Netflix said it expected to add 3.70 million subscribers, above the average estimate of 3.05 million. Netflix projected negative free cash flow of about $2 billion in 2017, up from negative $1.7 billion in 2016. Up to Wednesday's close of $133.26, Netflix's stock had risen 33.5 percent since it reported third-quarter results in October. Netflix rose as much as 8.2 percent in after-hours trading, adding nearly $5 billion to the company's stock market value. (Reporting by Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Henderson and Richard Chang)
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The Dutch government on Wednesday joined several other European Union states in bidding to become the host country of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) once Britain leaves the bloc. The London-based EMA has a workforce of about 900. It reviews experimental drugs and makes recommendations on market approval which the EU Commission usually follows. The tussle over its future location is expected to form part of a complex horse-trading process triggered by Brexit. Italy, Spain, France and Poland - among others - have also put themselves forward as potential hosts. The Netherlands "can offer EMA staff excellent housing, healthcare, education and public transport, and an environment where English is widely spoken," the government said in a statement, also pointing to its experience in hosting international organizations. The Netherlands is already the site of the International Criminal Court for war crimes, European Union law enforcement agency Europol and the United Nations' highest judicial instance, the International Court of Justice. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by John Stonestreet)
Lagos (AFP) - Nigeria has sent 200 soldiers and air assets including fighter jets to Senegal as part of a regional force to enforce the result of Gambia's contested election, the country's air force said Wednesday.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had "today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, light utility helicopter as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia".

The Economic Community Of West African States has repeatedly called on leader Yahya Jammeh to respect the result of the December 1 election and step down after 22 years in power.

Jammeh on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as President-elect Adama Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, maintained his inauguration will go ahead as planned on Thursday on Gambian soil.

Nigeria said the forces were part of an ECOWAS military standby intervention force "tasked by ECOWAS heads of state to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in The Gambia".

"The deployment is also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may result from the current political impasse in The Gambia," it added in a statement.
UYO, Nigeria (Reuters) - The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed to Senegal in case of the need to enforce Gambia's election mandate, it said on Wednesday. As part of a regional response, Senegal's forces are at the Gambian border and will enter the country if veteran Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who lost a Dec. 1 election, does not step down when his official mandate ends at midnight. "The NAF today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, light utility helicopter as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia," it said in a statement. (Reporting by Tife Owolabi; Additional reporting by Camillus Eboh in Abuja; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
GENEVA (Reuters) - At least 76 people were killed in Tuesday's accidental Nigerian Air Force strike on a refugee camp and more than 100 were wounded, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC) said on Wednesday. The air force has said an unknown number of civilians were killed and wounded in the mistaken strike in Rann, Borno state. The state has been the epicentre of Boko Haram's seven-year-long attempt to create an Islamic caliphate in the northeast. The air force has said civilians were accidentally killed and wounded in the attack, which was aimed at the jihadist group, but neither it nor the government has provided an official figure for the number of casualties. Aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has said 52 were killed and 120 were wounded. ICRC said six Nigeria Red Cross members were killed and 13 wounded. "In addition to aid staff, it is estimated that 70 people have been killed and more than a hundred wounded," it said in a statement. Lai Mohammed, the information minister, said "the accidental bombing is not a true reflection of the level of professionalism" he had witnessed in the air force. The strike followed a military offensive against Boko Haram in the last few weeks. The group's insurgency has killed more than 15,000 people since 2009 and forced some two million to flee their homes, many of whom have moved to camps for internally displaced people. (Reporting by Tom Miles; additional reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Gov. Pete Ricketts was among the dignitaries traveling to Washington for Donald Trump's inauguration.

A spokesman said Ricketts will attend inauguration events, including a dinner to honor the Republican president-elect, a celebratory parade and a ball. He's scheduled to return to Nebraska on Saturday. First lady Susanne Shore didn't travel to D.C. She's staying home with the Ricketts' children, who have school Friday.

Days before Nebraska's May primary vote, Ricketts greeted Trump with his endorsement at an appearance in Omaha. The governor offered his support despite some public conflicts between Trump and members of Ricketts' family.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters)

President-elect Donald Trumps choice for ambassador to the United Nations said Wednesday that she hopes to be part of a national security team that will educate Trump, and that she wants to change Trumps mind about the importance of the organization.

He had made comments about the U.N., but those are not my feelings, said South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

I will show him that the U.N. matters.  Hopefully we can get him to see it the way we see it, she said.

Trump has recently dismissed the U.N. as little more than a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time.

When do you see the United Nations solving problems? They dont. They cause problems, Trump said in December. So, if it lives up to the potential, its a great thing. And if it doesnt, its a waste of time and money.

Haley and many of the senators questioning her on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee did voice many criticisms of the United Nations shortcomings  most notably what Haley called its long history of anti-Israel bias and sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers against civilian populations they are supposed to protect. However, they also acknowledged the importance of the organization and its successes, and noted that if the United States cuts back on its role in the organization, China and Russia and others will fill the vacuum.

More broadly, Haley expressed sharp differences with Trump on a range of foreign policy issues, continuing a trend among the president-elects nominees for top military and diplomatic posts.

Like Trumps nominee for secretary of defense, Ret. Gen. James Mattis, Haley affirmed the importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, only days after Trump said NATO was obsolete.

I think NATO is an important alliance for us to have, Haley said. I think its one we need to strengthen.

Haley also said that Trump no longer wants to ban all adherents of the Muslim faith from entering the United States, as he proposed in December 2015. The president-elect has corrected his statement, Haley said.

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Haley was a vocal critic of Trump during the Republican presidential primary, particularly when he announced the idea of such a ban idea in her state. Haley called Trumps idea an embarrassment and said it was absolutely un-American and unconstitutional. She said at the time that it defies everything that this country was based on, and its just wrong.

Trumps campaign never removed from its website his announcement of the proposal for a ban on Muslims entering the country, and Trump has refused to say it was a mistake, but he has shifted his focus to excluding from the country immigrants from areas and countries associated with terrorism.

Haley gave a general disavowal of Trump statements she disagrees with.

Any comments that the president-elect has made, those are his comments, she noted.

The 44-year old mother of two and two-term governor argued that Trump will be more restrained as president than he was as a candidate, in part because she and others on his national security team will help him to understand the consequences of his words and actions.

Haley, asked by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., for reassurance about the differences between Trumps statements and those of his nominees, said it is natural for a candidate or an incoming president to look at everything and to say things. Once you govern, it becomes very different.

Once the president-elect gets to hear from his national security team, I think what he says after that will be most important, she told Murphy. And I think those are the focuses that we are going to have with the National Security Council and making sure that we educate and inform him of what we know  and go along with whatever decision he decides to make.

A few of the senators on the panel pressed Haley on questions that exposed her inexperience in foreign affairs, but the only notable criticism came from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on the U.S. agreement with Iran on its nuclear program.

I would encourage you to read the agreement, because what you just stated about the agreement is quite inaccurate, Kaine told Haley, after the governor said Iran had been given a free pass to acquire nuclear weapons after the agreement expires.

Haley did not give a clear indication as to whether she would support withdrawing from the Iran agreement, but certainly did not sound as if she would advise for it. She was even more vague on where she stood in regard to the U.S. involvement in the 2016 Paris Accord climate agreement.

But Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the committee, was enthusiastic about Haleys skills and personality. He told her he thought she would speak truth to power both when it meant standing up to Trump if she disagreed with him, and when it meant pushing back against Russian and Chinese representatives in the U.N. who seek to put the U.S. on the defensive.

Im convinced that youre going to speak up for whats right, Cardin told Haley.

Committee chairman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said the committee would vote Monday on Haleys confirmation.

Im certain that youre going to be confirmed overwhelmingly, he told her.
By Khalil Ashawi AL-RAI, Syria (Reuters) - Sifting through ripped up textbooks and writing on broken whiteboards, Syrian children returned this week to a dilapidated small-town school that was used by Islamic State militants as a prison for more than two years. With no chairs or desks, around 250 children huddled in classrooms on mats to stay off the cold concrete at the Aisha Mother of the Believers school in al-Rai, in the northern Aleppo hinterland near the Turkish border. The students, aged 5-15, were given notebooks and pens on their first day back on Monday by seven volunteers who teach reading, writing and maths and helped get the school habitable again over the past six weeks. "(I feel) joy, because I was able to bring back to school this number of students in a short period," said volunteer Khalil al-Fayad. "(But also) heartbreak because of the bad condition (of the school)." The school previously taught 500 students before being seized 2 1/2 years ago by Islamic State insurgents, who slapped logos on school bags bearing the slogan "Cubs of the Caliphate", residents said. The principal and teachers fled the area when Islamic State took over and parents stopped sending their children to the school, which closed after two months and was used to house prisoners of the ultra-hardline jihadists. Volunteers set about trying to return the school to its previous standards last month in al-Rai after Syrian Free Army rebels backed by the Turkish military ousted Islamic State from the area. With shattered windows, bullet strewn walls, debris and broken equipment still present, there is plenty left to do for the team of volunteers, who say they are seeking funding from local and Turkish authorities. "(I) fear not being able to continue what we are doing if the situation remains the same and the lack of support continues," Al-Fayad said. (Writing by Patrick Johnston; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Nurses and other health care workers increasingly face verbal abuse, physical assaults and injuries, often from the patients they're trying to help, according to testimony at a Jan. 10 meeting held by the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Capitol Hill. There, registered nurses called on OSHA to promptly pass regulations to prevent violence and protect employees in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care workplaces nationwide.

Joanne Ogaitis, a Maryland Nurses Association member who testified at the meeting, gets calls when violence-related complaints occur at the hospital where she's a clinical supervisor. Now back on the front lines after a recent stint in a hospital corporate office, Ogaitis, an RN for more than 20 years, is dismayed at the frequency of incidents. "It's very rough out there," she says, with verbal threats a nearly daily occurrence, and physical threats almost monthly.

Scratching, biting and pushing -- by adult patients -- take nurses away from their assignments as they may become patients themselves. "It's disruptive to care," Ogaitis says. "It's also hard on concentration because there's an emotional element when a nurse is distracted or hurt." Already-stretched hospital staffs are further strained when an incident erupts. "It takes a security team, the charge nurse, the supervisor and the primary nurse," she says. "Sometimes the physician is involved. The care team is basically pulled into the situation to evaluate and reevaluate."

The victim is referred to the employee health unit or the emergency room, Ogaitis says, while his or her patients are reassigned to remaining staff members. The emotional effect on the nurse involved and ability to return to work the next day varies.

"Some nurses that are very seasoned, particularly a psychiatric or emergency room nurse, are used to dealing with this," Ogaitis says. "The toll can be less on them. If it's a new nurse or graduate nurse, they could be very frightened. They might need time off and/or some emotional support."

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[See: Coping With Depression at Work.]

Hospitals are extremely concerned about these incidents and are trying to come up with best practices in response, Ogaitis says. The rising violence within hospitals reflects what's going on in the surrounding community, she believes, such as increasing substance abuse, opioid addiction and serious, untreated mental illness.

Violent patients on drugs can disrupt an emergency room. "We have protocols in place to deal with it," Ogaitis says. "We're increasingly working with police out there in the community." Police help ER teams prepare by alerting them in advance, but these admissions are challenging. "Sometimes we don't know what drug they've used," she says. "There are so many synthetics, and it's just hard to know what we can do for this patient to stabilize them."

Training, awareness drills, protocols, de-escalation training and back-up to call would help nurses feel safer, Ogaitis says. "What's Plan A, Plan B, Plan C?" While nurses and doctors in ERs and psychiatric units already have a lot of training, she says, "It's to the point where it's beneficial to have some [training] across the board."

During testimony, Ogaitis says, OSHA representatives listened intently but made it clear that creating a nationwide standard and taking it though the federal regulatory process would be a lengthy undertaking. However, she says, "These incidents happen now. I would hope they keep it as a front issue."

Not Just "Part of the Job"

Jean Ross is a registered nurse in Minnesota and co-president of National Nurses United, which in July 2016 presented a petition for a federal workplace violence prevention standard to protect health care workers to U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez and Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels.

Part of the problem is cultural, Ross says: "It's long been looked at, when you get spat on or verbally abused, pinched, hit over that head with something ... not just by the nurses and health care workers themselves, but by people in positions of authority, that this was just part of the job and it's something you know you accept when you decide to go, for example, into nursing."

The issue of assault by patients is complicated by the recognition that, in most instances, it's not deliberate, Ross says: "Most of these people are not trying to harm you." Patients whose thinking is clouded by drugs or dementia may believe they're protecting themselves, Ross says, when staff members attempt to start an IV line or prevent patients from putting themselves at risk by yanking out a urinary catheter.

[See: 14 Things You Didn't Know About Nurses.]

Seeking Safety

A 2010 California tragedy galvanized the movement to reduce the threat of violence against health care workers, when nurse Cynthia Palomata, was killed by an inmate in a county detention facility. After faking a seizure, the inmate was taken to the jail's nursing station where he grabbed a lamp and struck Palomata in the head, according to multiple news reports. California has since enacted landmark safety legislation, sponsored by the California Nurses Association and scheduled to go into effect statewide in April.

Among statistics included in the National Nurses United petition was U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data on nonfatal injuries from workplace violence for health care workers. In 2014, the rate was 154 injuries for 10,000 workers in public hospitals, with an even higher rate of 228 violence-related injuries per 10,000 workers in nursing homes. In all, nearly 17,000 incidents were reported that year.

The petition calls for nationwide prevention standards for health care workplaces, including outpatient facilities like clinics. One element is identifying and addressing environmental risk factors such as isolated areas including patient rooms, poor illumination, blocked visibility, lack of effective escape routes and lack of physical barriers between health care workers and people who pose a risk for committing workplace violence.

Designing facilities to avoid loose furnishings that can be used as weapons is one safeguard, Ross says. Hands-on training is also needed on defensive techniques like breaking away from patients or others who become violent, she says -- online programs aren't enough. Health care workers need the ability to practice with colleagues, talk to instructors, ask questions and get feedback.

[See: 10 Reasons to See a Physician Assistant.]

Adequate staffing is the most important protective measure, Ross says, along with a nationally mandated prevention plan. "A standard that is useful at every facility, no matter how small or how large," she says. "The same things happen in rural areas that do at Level 1 trauma centers downtown."

Lisa Esposito is a Patient Advice reporter at U.S. News. She covers health conditions, drawing on experience as an RN in oncology and other areas and as a research coordinator at the National Institutes of Health. Esposito previously reported on health care with Gannett, and she received her journalism master's degree at Georgetown University. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at lesposito@usnews.com.
Wrapping up the final press conference of his consequential eight years in office, President Obama delivered a personal message on Wednesday to any Americans distraught over Donald Trumps victory: Were going to be OK.

It is true that behind closed doors, I curse more than I do publicly, and sometimes I get mad and frustrated like everybody else does, but at my core, I think were going to be OK, the president said. We just have to fight for it, we have to work for it and not take it for granted.

In the hourlong question-and-answer session, Obama also defended the news media, which Trump likes to bash, and listed the political and social issues that would lead him to speak out after he leaves the White House to his successor. He denounced stories about in-person voter fraud as fake news, and traced voter suppression back to the legacy of slavery. He mused that advances in gay rights on his watch wont prove reversible. He suggested that Trump build a strong team, saying the presidency is a job of such magnitude that you cant do it by yourself. Obama warned him to think through any sudden changes to Middle East policy, like moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. And the president defended his handling of the United States relationship with Russia and his decision to show clemency to convicted national security leaker Chelsea Manning.

Obama was not asked, and did not volunteer anything, about any misgivings or mistakes he may have made, beyond a joking reference to Michelle Obama talking him out of wearing a tan suit to the press conference (he was mocked for wearing a tan suit to an August 2014 session with reporters). There were no questions about Syria, North Korea or the Iran nuclear deal.

The final question, from a White House reporter who has known him since his days in the Illinois statehouse, was about how he explained Trumps election to his daughters Sasha and Malia, given first lady Michelle Obamas impassioned denunciation of Trump in a mid-October speech.

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They paid attention to what their mom said during the campaign, he said. But what weve also tried to teach them is resilience, and weve tried to teach them hope and that the only thing that is the end of the world is the end of the world.

So while his daughters were disappointed on Nov. 8, Obama continued, they know that You get knocked down, you get up, brush yourself off and you get back to work. And that tended to be their attitude. I think neither of them intend to pursue a future of politics, and in that, too, I think their mothers influence shows.

President Obama leaves the briefing room after his final press conference at the White House. (Photo:Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Asked whether the country would someday again elect a black president, Obama predicted growing diversity in the Oval Office. If, in fact, we continue to keep opportunity open to everybody, then yeah, were going to have a woman president. Were going to have a Latino president. And well have a Jewish president, a Hindu president. You know, who knows who were going to have, he said. I suspect well have a whole bunch of mixed-up presidents at some point that nobody really knows what to call them.

Obama did not offer much detail about his telephone conversations with Trump, but disclosed that he had urged the president-elect to take particular care in choosing his advisers.

Thats probably the most useful constructive advice and the most constructive advice that Ive been able to give him: That if you find yourself isolated because the process breaks down, or if youre only hearing from people who agree with you on everything, or if you havent created a process that is fact-checking and probing and asking hard questions about policies or promises that youve made, thats when you start making mistakes, the president said. Reality has a way of biting back if youre not paying attention to it.

Asked about the U.S. relationship with the Arab world, and about Trumps vows to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Obama cautioned the incoming team that this is volatile stuff.

While it is right and appropriate for a new president to test old assumptions and re-examine the old ways of doing things, Obama said, just make sure youve thought it through.

Before taking questions, Obama said he had reached out to the Bush family upon hearing word that former President George H.W. Bush and his wife had been hospitalized.

They have been a constant source of friendship and support and good counsel for Michelle and me over the years. They are as fine a couple as we know, and so we want to send our prayers and our love to them, he said.

And he delivered a strong defense of the news media, which Trump has repeatedly denounced as dishonest, corrupt and even scum.

America needs you and our democracy needs you, Obama said. My hope is that you will continue with the same tenacity that you showed us, to do the hard work of getting to the bottom of stories and getting them right and to push those of us in power to be the best version of ourselves and to push this country to be the best version of itself.

Obamas relationship with the news media has been complex, and sometimes deeply adversarial. He has pursued more leak prosecutions than all of his predecessors combined. His Justice Department spied extensively on reporter James Rosen of Fox News, an outlet that the White House at one point declared was not a legitimate news organization. He has overseen the construction of a highly sophisticated digital communications operation that, like a virtual state-run news organization, competes with traditional media. Members of the media have butted heads with the White House over the practice of excluding reporters and photographers from events that were then covered by official photographers or video makers.

I have enjoyed working with all of you. That does not, of course, mean that Ive enjoyed every story that you have filed, Obama said. But thats the point of this relationship: Youre not supposed to be sycophants, youre supposed to be skeptics, youre supposed to ask me tough questions.

And, amid questions about whether Trump will boot the press corps out of the space in the West Wing where it has worked for decades, Obama said, Having you in this building has made this place work better. It keeps us honest, it makes us work harder.

You have made us think about how we are doing what we do and whether or not were able to deliver on whats been requested by our constituents. And for example, every time youve asked, Why havent you cured Ebola yet? or, Why is there still that hole in the Gulf?, it has given me the ability to go back and say, Will you get this solved before the next press conference?

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On Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to the White House press corps for the final time, thanking them for their work and covering a range of issues from Russia to voting rights to Israel. He offered warnings to President-elect Donald Trump, but sidestepped direct criticisms of him.

Obama lavished the media with praise, an indirect dig at Trumps unhinged press conference last week, in which he referred to CNN as fake news and BuzzFeed as a failing pile of garbage. Rumors are swirling of Trumps team kicking the press out of the White House, though Trump said his team may just pick the reporters who are allowed in.

Obama, in contrast, told the reporters that Having you in this building has made this place work better, urging reporters to continue with the same tenacity that you showed us to do the hard work of getting to the bottom of storiesand to push this country to be the best version of itself, he said.

Asked about Trumps suggested quid pro quo of removing sanctions on Russia in exchange for shrinking nuclear stockpiles, Obama warned the incoming president that rescinding sanctions on Russia wouldnt serve American interests. He reminded Trump why sanctions were slapped on in the first place: Russias occupation of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea were a frontal challenge to the existing order, Obama said.

It would probably best serve not only American interests, but also the interest of preserving international norms, if we made sure that we dont confuse why these sanctions have been imposed with a whole set of other issues, he said.

Obama also defended his controversial decision to grant 11th hour clemency to former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who shared classified U.S. documents with Wikileaks. Having served years of her prison sentence, Obama said, Manning will not likely set an example that hacking Americas secrets comes risk free. I feel comfortable that justice has been served, he said.

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He also defended his stance on Israel  and, by extension, the recent U.S. abstention on Resolution 2334 at the U.N. Security Council, which censured Israels expansion of settlements in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.

Taking indirect aim at Trumps incoming Israel policy, Obama defended efforts to advance a negotiated solution to the decades-old impasse. Ultimately, what has always been clear is that we cannot force the parties to agree on a peaceful two state solution, he said But if they do not come to those terms on their own, he said, I dont see how this issue gets resolved in a way that maintains Israel as both Jewish and a democracy. Because if you do not have two states, then in some way or fashion you are extending an occupation; functionally you end up having one state in which millions of people are disenfranchised.

Trump and David Friedman, his pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel, have urged a more pro-Israel stance, including reversing that U.N. resolution and moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. Obama urged policymakers to remember that the actions that we take have enormous consequences and ramifications  I think it is right and appropriate for our new president to test old assumptions and reexamine  make sure youve thought it through.

Likewise, on issues from immigration to LGBTQ rights to racism and criminal justice, Obama warned the country to protect our core values. Deporting undocumented children who have grown up in the United States is a challenge to those values, as is systematic discrimination, whether due to race or orientation. Weve got work to do on racism, criminal justice reform, and voter disenfranchisement, he said.

It traces directly back to Jim Crow and the legacy of slavery, and it became sort of acceptable to restrict the franchise  thats not how America works best. I hope people pay a lot of attention to making sure that everybody has a chance to vote.

Despite it all, though, the outgoing president insisted he does not despair for the future of the country. The only thing thats the end of the world, he helpfully tautologized toward the end of his final press conference, is the end of the world.

After taking the final question, Obama thanked the press corps for its work over the course of his presidency. Good luck, he said to the room  and seemingly to the rest of the nation  as he stepped off the podium for the last time.

Photo credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
President Obama says his priorities after leaving the White House are to write, spend time with his family and take some time for quiet reflection. But as a citizen, Obama said, there may be times he will speak out against his successor, Donald Trump.

Im still a citizen and I think it is important for Democrats or progressives who feel that they came out on the wrong side of this election to be able to distinguish between the normal back and forth, ebb and flow of policy, Obama said Wednesday during his last press conference in Washington as president. Im confident on my rightness on a lot of these points, but we got a new president and a new Congress who are going to make the same determinations.

But theres a difference between that normal functioning of politics, Obama said, and certain issues or certain moments where our core values are at stake.

Among them, the president said, are systematic discrimination, voter suppression, institutional efforts to silence dissent or the press and the targeting of so-called DREAMers, or children who immigrated into the country illegally with their parents.

And for me at least, Id put in that category efforts to round up kids who have grown up here and for all practical purposes are American kids and send them someplace else, Obama said.

During the 2016 campaign, Trump vowed to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico and deport millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Critics have said such a plan would threaten the more than 700,000 young people protected from deportation under Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that launched in 2012. Trump has said he is working on a plan to accommodate those children.

The notion that we would just arbitrarily or because of politics punish those kids, when they didnt do something themselves  would merit my speaking out, Obama said.

Earlier, the president said he plans to spend precious time with my girls and to make sure first lady Michelle Obama, his wife of nearly 25 years, is willing to re-up and put up with him.

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Washington (AFP) - US President Barack Obama will give his final presidential press conference Wednesday, a traditionally mild-mannered ritual given fresh political weight by the rocky handover to Donald Trump.

Obama has given over 150 news conferences since becoming head of state eight years ago. His last takes place two days before he turns over the Oval Office.

The outgoing Democratic leader had vowed a smooth transition of power to the Republican Trump, but the reality has been a little more tricky.

The 44th and 45th presidents have traded barbs in public and the incoming administration has faced a momentous challenge to staff-in in time for Friday's first day at work.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer sought to play down any troubles, praising Obama and his staff and saying this transition may come to be seen as a "gold standard."

Still, Obama's words will be carefully scrutinized, no more so than by the 70-year-old president-elect, who has proven quick to retaliate at any slight.

His words will also carry extra political weight thanks to his popularity: his approval rating stands at 60 percent -- according to a CNN/ORC poll -- the highest level since June 2009.

On Tuesday, Trump dismissed the polls as "rigged" after a Washington Post-ABC News survey found his 40 percent approval rating was the lowest of any incoming president-elect since Jimmy Carter in 1977.

- Symbolism -

Even the venue for Obama's press conference -- the White House briefing room, has taken on political significance.

Trump's team has floated the idea of evicting the White House press corps from the West Wing, ending daily on-camera briefings and handpicking who gets access, although some of those suggestions have since been rowed back.

Obama's outgoing press secretary, Josh Earnest, used his final briefing Tuesday to defend opening the White House doors to the press, saying harsh questioning had held the administration to account and made Obama a better president.

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"It's uncomfortable to be in a position of authority, certainly a position of responsibility, and to be subjected to those kinds of questions," Earnest said.

"That's true even when you're doing the right thing for the right reasons. But it's a necessary part of our democracy."

When president George W. Bush was on his way out the door he voiced a similar sentiment.

"Sometimes didn't like the stories that you wrote or reported on. Sometimes you 'misunderestimated' me," he joked. "But always the relationship I have felt has been professional. And I appreciate it."

Obama may not be quite so effusive. While defending the press, he has been a searing critic of shallow and flitting reporting.

- News of the day -

Obama is likely to weigh in on his controversial decision to slash the sentence of transgender army private Chelsea Manning, who was jailed for 35 years for handing classified US documents to WikiLeaks.

On Wednesday, Obama pardoned 64 people and commuted the sentences of 209 others -- including 29-year-old Manning, who will now be released in May -- in one of his final acts as president.

Manning was convicted in August 2013 of espionage and other offenses, after admitting to the leak of 700,000 sensitive military and diplomatic documents.

The cache included military logs from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and cables offering sensitive -- and often embarrassingly bareknuckle -- diplomatic assessments of foreign leaders and world events.

Trump's spokesman Spicer joined fellow Republicans in condemning that move Wednesday, describing it as "disappointing."

"It sends a very troubling message," he said, adding that the decision was a "bit of irony and double standard" given Democrats' outcry over Russian election-related hacking.
Supporters of public-private school choice see an opening to advance their cause in Nebraska this year, emboldened by political shifts locally and nationally.

Measures introduced Wednesday in the state Legislature would create a new accountability system for Nebraska's public schools, then allow for private-school vouchers or charter options for students in lower-rated schools.

"We need an open and honest discussion about education in Nebraska  about outcomes and about cost," said state Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who sponsored two of the measures and cosigned a third.

Linehan's daughter, Katie Linehan, leads the pro-school choice group Educate Nebraska.

The school choice bills were among 177 measures introduced on the Legislature's last day of bill introduction for the 2017 session.

One bill (LB662) sponsored by Sen. Linehan would require the Nebraska Board of Education to establish an A-F grading scale to measure performance of the state's public schools and school districts.

Another Linehan bill (LB608) would provide vouchers for students to attend private school if their local school is among the lowest performing statewide.

The vouchers would equal 75 percent of the district's per-pupil revenue or the cost of private school attendance, whichever is less; the remaining 25 percent would go toward lowering property taxes in that district.

A third bill (LB630), introduced by Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill and cosigned by Linehan, would allow charter schools in districts with low-performing schools. The charter schools would be approved and overseen by a new Independent Public School Authorizing and Accountability Commission, which Larson's bill would create.

Similar efforts have failed in previous years. They generally experience fierce opposition from public school groups, which argue charter schools and vouchers divert critical resources from local districts.

Ann Hunter-Pirtle, executive director of the pro-public school group Stand for Schools, cautioned against using public school funding for "privatization schemes like charters and vouchers."

Steve Joel, superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools, asked what change people would like to see, given the state's high graduation rates, college-going rates and ACT scores.

"At the end of the day, Nebraskans have been very, very pleased with the educational outcomes schools produce. If we bring about change for changes sake without regard for the work already done and without increasing existing resources ... it will negatively impact kids.

But school choice proponents say change is merited, and see local and national momentum swinging their way.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for U.S. education secretary, Betsy DeVos, is a strong proponent of charter schools. And Nebraska's budget crunch means many state lawmakers will be looking to "do things better with less," Linehan said.

A key hurdle for any school choice measure in Nebraska is the Legislature's Education Committee, which has generally bottled up such bills in the past.

This year's committee is relatively split on ideological lines, although its new chairman, Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte, said he supports accountability for public schools and would consider measures to allow vouchers or charters.

"These kids only get one shot at an education," Groene said Wednesday. "Accountability is important."

Bills traditionally must advance from the relevant committee to be debated by the full Legislature. However, a majority of senators can also vote to pull a bill out of committee and force a full debate.

School choice proponents want Nebraska to follow 17 other states that have adopted accountability systems assigning A-F grades to schools and districts.

Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt declined to comment on the proposal Wednesday.

The state's current system, adopted in 2015, classifies schools as excellent, great, good or needs improvement.

The Linehans argue the system, called AQuESTT (Accountability for a Quality Education Today and Tomorrow) relies too much on subjective data and is less meaningful than an A-F scale. They also question whether AQuESTT complies with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, the rewrite of No Child Left Behind which President Barack Obama signed into law in December 2015.

"This bill will start a discussion that's going to happen regardless," Katie Linehan said.

State education officials have been working with the U.S. Department of Education to get Nebraska's current accountability model approved.

School choice advocates tried to compile their own A-F grades of Nebraska schools using existing data last year. Gov. Pete Ricketts' office and at least two state senators tried to help obtain the data, but the Board of Education said some of the data was confidential and could only be obtained through a special process for researchers.

The conservative group Americans for Prosperity-Nebraska applauded Wednesday's bills as well as two introduced earlier in the session by Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion.

One Smith bill (LB554) would task the state Board of Education with creating a website to document spending by schools, school districts and educational service units.

Matt Litt, Americans for Prosperity's state director, said the group is "excited" about that measure and Linehan's accountability bill: "Both of these measures equip taxpayers with valuable information to hold school districts accountable and advocate for children across the state.

Smith's other bill (LB295) is backed by the Nebraska Catholic Conference and would provide tax credits for people who contribute to private-school scholarship funds for low- to middle-income students.
They were the best and the brightest. But, most of all, they believed they were right. Although the scale of disaster was considerably different, the same that was said of those who oversaw foreign policy under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson could be said of the Obama administration.

These were academics, intellectuals, and technocrats who were not only very smart; they took pride in being practical, grounded in reality, and wedded to facts. After the supposed anti-intellectualism and ideological rigidity of the George W. Bush administration, many of us welcomed the prospect of a president who was cerebral and professorial. Even those sympathetic to President Barack Obamas foreign-policy instincts, however, will agree that it didnt quite go as planned.

The very notion of facts has been demeaned by Republicans, and most of all by Team Donald Trump. As Trump surrogate Scottie Nell Hughes put it, Theres no such thing, unfortunately anymore, as facts. In response, Democrats have doubled down on their tendency to wield facts as cudgels, demonstrating their righteousness in the process. It would be a loss, though, if this came to be seen as merely another partisan schism. As it turns out, Obamas foreign-policy legacy can offer an important window into whether factsand being reality-basedare quite as critical to real-world policy success as we might like to think.

Unlike Kennedy and Johnson, Obama was very much the technocrat-in-chief, setting the tone for the people he would surround himself with. His intelligence was generally in little doubt. During his eight years in the Oval Office, the president was an almost unbelievably voracious reader, devoting around an hour on most days to books of history, philosophy, biography, or even sci-fi novels. But being smart and well-read doesnt necessarily lead to good judgment or bold vision; in some cases, even, the former can undermine the latter.

Recommended: The Real Meaning of Putin's Press Conference

The best and the brightest entered the American lexicon, with more than a hint of irony, through David Halberstams landmark book on the men who dragged America into the Vietnam War. In his foreword to the book, Senator John McCain writes of these men: They misjudged the world. And, most of all, they misjudged themselves.

Matters of judgment still loom large four decades later. I, or any critic of Obamas foreign policy, could sit with an Obama administration official, and, even if we agreed on all the facts and specifics of a particular country or conflict, it wouldnt matter much. Divergences in how people interpret Obamas legacy have much more to do with fundamentally different starting assumptions about Americas role in the world and even human naturein other words, the very reasons why we do what we do. In fact, looking back at my own meetings with officials during the Obama era, rarely do I ever recall hearing something and thinking to myself that I had just heard some gross error of fact. This is why I found such meetings so frustrating and circular: The only things we disagreed on were the most important.

For example, I have little disagreement with the technical aspects of the Iran nuclear deal. The problem, well before negotiations even started, was the initial decision to treat Irans nuclear program as the top U.S. priority in the Middle East. On Syria, opponents of intervention against the Assad regime would often claim that various military options were prohibitively difficult to implement, and that those who claimed otherwise werent military experts. Of course, Obama himself is not a military expert either. Either way, the claim was disingenuous: Senior military officials had readied a military response to Assads violation of the red line drawn over the use of chemical weapons in August 2013, and with no notable dissent. Ultimately, the divide over Syria was about deeper questions of moral responsibility, Americas role in the world, and whether an intervention would be worth the cost (something which, of course, cant actually be measured). As Steven A. Cook wrote in early 2012 when only around 7,000 people had been killed in Syria: Is it a morally superior position to sit by as people are being killed rather than take action that will kill people, but nevertheless may end up saving lives as well?

Recommended: Tulsi Gabbard, the GOPs Favorite Democrat, Goes to Syria

It was Obama, at the 11th hour, who, coming to his own very personal answer, abruptly reversed course. This, like the decision to prioritize the Iran deal over all else, was no accident of history. There are, in fact, a set of basic, overarching ideas that appear to animate Obama and his most loyal aides, which come through in any number of interviews and profiles. They include what Nina Hachigian and David Shorr call the responsibility doctrinethe idea that stepping back allows others to step in and take responsibility for their own region. In the Middle East, though, the success of such an approach depends on having allies that share American interests or American values, when, in reality, most share little of either.

Due to the formative experience of the Iraq war, as well as domestic political considerations, Obama hoped to reduce Americas footprint in the Middle East. This meant a general bias toward disengagement, irrespective of whether greater U.S. involvement could produce better outcomes in particular crises (even the Iran nuclear deal was basically about removing the possibility of an American war with Iran). There was also a general discomfort around the direct use of U.S. military force, a discomfort which was as ideological as it was practical.

Obama wanted others, friends and enemies alike, to act rationally in what he thought was their own interest.

These starting assumptions seemed colored as much by objective assessments of fact as by Obamas distinctiveand seemingly well-developedperspectives around human nature. As Michiko Kakutani notes, Obama has thought deeply about these things: During [Obamas] last two years in college, he spent a focused period of deep self-reflection and study, methodically reading philosophers from St. Augustine to Nietzsche, Emerson to Sartre to Niebuhr, to strip down and test his own beliefs. Some of these views are just as applicable to domestic issues as they are to foreign policy. In Ta-Nehisi Coatess profile of Barack Obamas evolution on race, there are a number of recurring themes: a built-in optimism that makes it more difficult to process defeats, or, for that matter, evil; and a set of assumptions about the inherent rightness and rationality of the American people, including his adversaries. As Coates writes, Obama, who experienced relatively little direct racism in his own life, appealed to a belief in innocencein particular a white innocencethat ascribed the countrys historical errors more to misunderstanding and the work of a small cabal than to any deliberate malevolence or widespread racism.

Evil, then, was something outside of history, a history which, Obama liked to remind people, bended toward justice. Obama often seemed annoyed with others resistance to this march of historical progress. He wanted others, friends and enemies alike, to act rationally in what he thought was their own interest: Iran, after a deal, would be more likely to play a constructive regional role; Israeli leaders didnt realize that the Iran nuclear deal was in their own interest, but theyd surely come around; Russia, after aggressively intervening in Syria, would soon come to see the error of its ways (I think Mr. Putin understands that  with Afghanistan fresh in the memory, for him to simply get bogged down in an inconclusive and paralyzing civil conflict is not the outcome that he's looking for, Obama commented).

Recommended: A Nigerian Nobel Winner Exits Trumps America

President Obama also disparaged Arab tribalism, a catch-all word that captured not just his impatience with tribalism, narrowly understood, but the uncontrolled passions of ideology, identity, and religious fervor. If only everyone could be like the Scandinavians, this would all be easy, Obama was known to say to aides. But no one, apparently even Scandinavians, could be like the Scandinavians.

Obamas cool rationalism and emotional remove could easily devolve into disdain, whether disdain toward Middle Eastern allies or disdain toward Donald Trump and his electoral prospects. As his tenure wound down, Obama seemed as resistant as ever to adapting his views, despite everything that had happened under his watch, whether at home or abroad. The president believed that history moved with him, but in an era of resurgent ideology and nationalism, he was the one who increasingly seemed like an outlier, out of place and out of time.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Speaking Wednesday at his final White House press conference, President Obama offered a reminder of the racist history behind some U.S. voting restrictions.

The reason that we are the only country among advanced democracies that makes it harder to vote  traces directly back to Jim Crow and the legacy of slavery, Obama said, arguing that there is an ugly history to [voting rights] that we should not be shy about talking about.

President Obama speaks during his final presidential news conference. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

The president expressed concern about continued efforts to restrict voting rights and said, I hope that people pay attention to making sure everybody has a chance to vote make it easier, not harder.

In recent years, a number of Republican-controlled state governments have instituted restrictions like those requiring voters to carry identification. But Obama dismissed the idea of widespread in-person voter fraud as fake news.

The notion that there are a whole bunch of people out there who are going out there and want to vote and are not eligible to vote  we have the opposite problem. We have people who are eligible to vote who dont vote, he said. And so the idea that we put in place a whole bunch of barriers to people voting doesnt makes sense.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama Wednesday defended his decision to commute the sentence of transgender army private Chelsea Manning, who was jailed for 35 years for handing classified US documents to WikiLeaks.

Obama was addressing his final presidential news conference a day after he pardoned 64 people and commuted the sentences of 209 others -- including Manning, who will now be released in May -- in one of his last acts in office.

"With respect to Chelsea Manning I looked at the particulars in this case the same way I have with the other commutations I have done and pardons I have done and felt in light of all the circumstances that commuting her sentence was entirely appropriate," Obama said.

Manning was convicted in August 2013 of espionage and other offenses, after admitting to the leak of 700,000 sensitive military and diplomatic documents.

"It has been my view that given she went to trial, that due process was carried out, that she took responsibility for her crime, that the sentence that she received was very disproportionate relative to what other leakers had received and that she had served a significant amount of time, that it made sense to commute and not pardon her sentence," Obama said

"Let's be clear, Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence," the president added. "I feel very comfortable that justice has been served."

The cache of documents leaked by Manning included military logs from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and diplomatic cables offering sensitive -- and often embarrassingly blunt -- assessments of foreign leaders and world events.

Manning pleaded guilty and was sentenced by military court martial. She has since been held in an all-male prison, at times in solitary confinement, and has attempted to commit suicide twice.

Activists had argued her sentence is excessive and point to the psychological frailty of the transgender soldier.
By Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday shortened the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. military intelligence analyst who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, the biggest such breach in U.S. history.

A White House official said there was no connection between Manning's commutation and renewed U.S. government concern about WikiLeaks' actions during last year's presidential election, or a promise by founder Julian Assange to accept extradition if Manning was freed.

Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks - a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Obama, in one of his final acts before leaving office, reduced her sentence to seven years, angering some Republicans.

"This is just outrageous," House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. Ryan, a Republican, said the decision was a "dangerous precedent" for those who leak materials about national security.

"Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets," Ryan said.

Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a U.S. Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news staff.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton said the leak endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies.

"We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr," Cotton said.

TOOK RESPONSIBILITY

Manning, formerly known as U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. The White House said her sentence would end on May 17 this year.

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Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, men's military prison, accepted responsibility for leaking the material -- a factor that fed into Obama's decision, a White House official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said Obama's decision was rooted in Manning's sentence being longer than sentences given to others who had committed comparable crimes. Obama, who leaves office on Friday and is scheduled to give his final news conference on Wednesday, is expected to discuss his decision then.

WikiLeaks also published emails in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 presidential election that U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies hacked the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of leading Democrats, part of a campaign by Moscow to influence the election.

But Obama's decision had nothing to do with the latest WikiLeaks controversy, the White House official said.

"The president's decision to grant clemency and offer commutation to Chelsea Manning was not influenced in any way by public comments from Assange or the WikiLeaks organization," a White House official said on a conference call with reporters.

Assange has been holed up at Ecuador's London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for the investigation of allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape there in 2010. He has said he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks sent a tweet quoting Assange's attorney, Melinda Taylor, saying he would abide by his promise to accept extradition if Manning was freed. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," Taylor said, according to the tweet.

Civil rights groups praised the move, calling it overdue.

"Chelsea Manning exposed serious abuses, and as a result her own human rights have been violated by the U.S. government for years," said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.

STUXNET

Obama also pardoned retired U.S. Marine Corps General James Cartwright who pleaded guilty in October to making false statements to the FBI during an investigation into leaks of classified information.

The aggressive prosecution of Cartwright, who last served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent shockwaves through the Pentagon.

He lied during questioning by the FBI over a book written by a New York Times reporter that exposed a malicious computer software program known as "Stuxnet" designed to disrupt Iran's nuclear program. Cartwright denied being the source of the leak.

Obama weighed Cartwright's service along with his motive when making the decision, the White House official said, noting Cartwright had not divulged material that the journalist was not already aware of, and that his conversations were focused on preventing the publication of material that could hurt national security.

"It's clear in this case ... that General Cartwright's motive was different than most people who are facing charges of leaking classified information to a journalist," the official said.

PUERTO RICAN MILITANT

Also on the pardon list: Oscar Lopez Rivera, who was sentenced in 1981 to 55 years in prison for his involvement with Puerto Rican militant group FALN, which claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings in the 1970s and 1980s.

Lopez Rivera -- who turned down a similar offer from President Bill Clinton in 1999 -- was the last remaining member of FALN still in prison.

"Mr. Lopez Rivera is now in his 70s. He has served 35 years, nearly half of his life in prison," a White House official said. "The president determined that was sufficient amount of time to serve, although the president certainly believes that the crimes that were committed were serious."

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders campaigned for the release of Lopez Rivera during his unsuccessful campaign against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Manning and Lopez Rivera were among 209 commutations granted by Obama on Tuesday and Cartwright was among 64 pardons.

In total, Obama has commuted sentences for 1,385 federal prisoners -- a total greater than that of the 12 previous presidents combined -- and he is expected to announce more on Thursday, the White House official said.

Most of the commutations were a part of Obama's effort to reduce the number of people serving long sentences for non-violent drug offenses.

(additional reporting by Phillip Stewart, Patricia Zengerle and Dustin Volz)
By Jeff Mason and Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama suggested on Wednesday that moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem could have "explosive" results and said he was worried that the prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were waning. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to re-locate the embassy to Jerusalem, breaking with longstanding U.S. policy. Israel and Palestinians both claim Jerusalem as their capital, and such a change would draw international condemnation. "When sudden unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive," Obama said at his last news conference as president. He said his administration had warned the incoming Trump administration that big shifts in policy had consequences. "That's part of what we've tried to indicate to the incoming team in our transition process, is pay attention to this because this is ... volatile stuff," he said in response to a question about a potential embassy move. Obama has said repeatedly that Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem is an impediment to creating two states, which the United States believes is the best solution to decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. He said his administration did not block a recent U.N. resolution on Israeli settlement activity because it felt a two-state solution was the only option for peace. "The goal of the resolution was to simply say that the ... growth of the settlements are creating a reality on the ground that increasingly will make a two-state solution impossible," Obama said. "It was important for us to send a signal, a wakeup call that this moment may be passing." Israel described the decision by the United States to abstain in the vote rather than wield its veto as "shameful." The U.S. move, along with a sharp speech by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry about the issue, reinforced tensions between the outgoing Obama administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Additional reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Tom Brown)
Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday warned his successor Donald Trump against any "sudden, unilateral moves" on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in an apparent reference to his plan to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

"The president-elect will have his own policy," Obama told his final news conference, two days before leaving office.

"But obviously it's a volatile environment. What we have seen in the past is when some unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive."
Washington (AFP) - Barack Obama vowed to speak up if Donald Trump threatens core US values and reassured Americans "we'll be okay" Wednesday, in a political swansong after eight years as president.

During his final press conference and public appearance before Trump's inauguration on Friday, the 55-year-old said he was stepping back but would return to the political breach in extremis.

"I want to do some writing, I want to be quiet a little bit and not hear myself talk so darn much. I want to spend precious time with my girls," he said.

But, he added, any effort to enforce systematic discrimination, erode voting rights, muzzle the press or round up young immigrants, would cause him to speak out.

"There's a difference between that normal functioning of politics and certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake."

During the campaign Trump vowed to ban Muslims from entering the United States and deport millions of illegal immigrants, many of them Latin Americans long-settled in the country.

His strident tone since winning election and the contrast with eight years of Obama's liberal agenda has given the country something akin to political whiplash.

- Can't do it alone -

Trump's supporters are euphoric that political business as usual may be over, while his detractors are fearful of a mercurial and untested leader.

Against this backdrop, the traditionally mild-mannered ritual of a final presidential press conference was given added political weight.

Obama was in turn resolute and reassuring. "I have offered my best advice," he said, describing his conversations with the president-elect.

"I can tell you that -- this is something I have told him -- that this is a job of such magnitude that you can't do it by yourself. You are enormously reliant on a team."

He also warned Trump to think through foreign policy decisions that may be domestically popular, like his vow to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

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"It's a volatile environment. What we have seen in the past is when some unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive."

Asked about Trump's stated intention to seek a thaw with the Kremlin, Obama stopped short of criticizing his successor -- but noted that his own overtures to Russia were frustrated by an "adversarial spirit" when Vladimir Putin regained the presidency.

He also defended his decision -- slammed by Trump's Republicans -- to commute the sentence of transgender army private Chelsea Manning, jailed for 35 years for handing classified US documents to WikiLeaks.

"Let's be clear. Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence," Obama said. "I know I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent."

- Going to be okay -

Asked about how his daughters Sasha and Malia were taking Trump's election, he said he and First Lady Michelle Obama had "tried to teach them hope and that the only thing that is the end of the world is the end of the world."

"This is not just a matter of 'no-drama-Obama'," he said, joking about his reputation for a cerebral, even detached approach. "This is what I really believe."

"It is true that behind closed doors I curse more than I do publicly, and sometimes I get mad and frustrated like everybody else does, but at my core, I think we're going to be okay."

Given the rocky transition to Trump's presidency -- which has seen the 44th and 45th president trading barbs -- even the venue for Obama's press conference in the White House briefing room, took on political significance.

Trump's team has floated the idea of evicting the White House press corps from the West Wing, ending daily on-camera briefings and handpicking who gets access, although some of those suggestions have since been rowed back.

Obama hinted at the changes that may be afoot as he paid tribute to the reporters who covered his two terms in office.

"You're not supposed to be sycophants, you're supposed to be skeptical," he said. "And having you in this building has made this work place better. It keeps us honest, makes us work harder."

He has not always been so effusive. While defending the press, he has been a searing critic of shallow and flitting reporting.

When he appeared on the national political stage a decade ago, Obama's oratory pulsed with vitality and hope.

Today, the gray haired leader appeared like a man who was setting down a heavy burden and accepting of his place in history.

He exits with approval ratings that stand at 60 percent -- according to a CNN/ORC poll -- the highest level since June 2009.

On Tuesday, Trump dismissed the polls as "rigged" after a Washington Post-ABC News survey found his 40 percent approval rating was the lowest of any incoming president-elect since Jimmy Carter in 1977.
Turnover is so great in some state facilities that the health and safety of vulnerable clients and the workers that care for them must be addressed, the Nebraska public employees union said Wednesday.

Mike Marvin, executive director of the state employees union, sent a statement to the Legislature's Appropriations Committee on Wednesday that said the biggest financial problem the state is facing is in the operation of its 24-hour facilities, such as the veterans homes, regional centers, youth treatment centers and prisons.

State management inaction is jeopardizing those clients and workers, Marvin said. Paying a competitive wage and reducing excessive overtime could reduce high turnover and provide safe workplaces, he said.

Turnover has been highest among care technicians, child and family and social services trainees, corrections officers, and youth and mental health security specialists, ranging in past years from 35 percent for mental health security specialists to 94 percent for staff care technicians. The data is from 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Eighteen classes of workers have a 30 percent or higher turnover rate, and 37 classes have a higher than 20 percent turnover rate, including many in the Department of Health and Human Services, he said.

At the veterans homes, the turnover of direct care staff is so high that wages alone would not solve the problems, according to Marvin. A change of management is necessary, especially at the Grand Island and Norfolk facilities.

"They treat those people out there like they're indentured servants," he said. "They are a couple of dollars an hour behind what is prevalent for those kinds of jobs in their area."

At the youth residential treatment centers, turnover of security staff is in the 30 percent to 40 percent range.

In the next two-year budget, the governor has proposed adding 31 direct-care staff positions at the states two youth Developmental Centers in Kearney and Geneva.

"No other group of people better understand that the state is in a budget crunch than our members," he said. "That being said, we believe that there are some job classes that the turnover is so dramatic that, budget crisis or not, the wages needed to be addressed above and beyond what we negotiated."

The labor agreement that is currently undergoing a statewide ratification process calls for a 1 percent raise in calendar years 2017 and 2018, and a 1.5 percent raise in the six months of the fiscal year beginning in 2019, except for seven classes of employees in critical areas that will get 3 percent raises in 2019, rather than 1.5 percent.

The union proposed 3.5 percent the first year and 2.5 percent the second year across the board, with the critical jobs receiving an additional 5 percent adjustment.

The union also asked for a longevity plan that would start in the fifth year and pay 1 percent to 1.7 percent each year depending on the number of years of service. In negotiations, it got a quarter percent bump every fifth year.

The state needs to worry about retaining the people it has at those facilities that are so understaffed, he said.

But Gov. Pete Ricketts appears to be rejecting that in his call for income and property tax cuts, Marvin said, both of which benefit the largest landowners and economically well off at the expense of essential public services.

The state can't afford a tax cut, he said, but rather needs to put more money into retaining people.

Jason Jackson, Ricketts' human resources officer, said state employees are fairly compensated in regard to the array of states to which Nebraska is compared. Special adjustments were made for workers in protective services, and management and operation of the state's 24-hour facilities, which Jackson agreed are some the most critical functions of government.

Jackson said the state took a broad approach to salaries in the next budget, with a proposed investment of $54 million in new spending over two years on employee pay, including the raise, retirement contribution and health insurance.

"We believe that represents a pretty sizable investment," Jackson said.

When workers are deciding whether to stay in their jobs, he said, they look not only at base pay but the total compensation.
Retired Marine Gen. James Cartwright. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

President Obama gave a full pardon Tuesday to retired Gen. James Hoss Cartwright, who was convicted of lying to the FBI during an investigation into a leak about American efforts to sabotage the Iranian nuclear program. The pardon followed an intense lobbying campaign on behalf of Cartwright that included expressions of support, relayed by Cartwrights lawyer, from former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, according to sources familiar with the effort.

The pardon was announced by the White House along with clemency for Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who gave tens of thousands of State Department cables to WikiLeaks and had been sentenced to 35 years in a military prison. Mannings sentence was effectively commuted to time served, and she will be released May 17. That was not unexpected, given what many legal analysts had deemed an excessively harsh sentence. Neither was Obamas refusal to pardon former NSA contractor Edward Snowden in light of what White House press secretary Josh Earnest called his serious crimes and fugitive status in Russia during a briefing Tuesday.

But the decision to pardon Cartwright  the former vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was once described as Obamas favorite general  stunned many national security lawyers who noted that it came barely a week after Justice Department prosecutors asked a federal judge to sentence him to two years in prison for lying to the FBI.

But Cartwright, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge in October, had powerful supporters, many of whom were recruited by his chief lawyer, Gregory Craig, Obamas former White House counsel. Among them were three former national security advisers, Steve Hadley and Condoleezza Rice (who both served under Bush) and James L. Jones (from Obamas first term)  all of whom had worked with Cartwright, the sources said. Craig also relayed to the White House the views of Bush and Cheney that Cartwright should be pardoned, the sources said. Cheney did not directly lobby the White House but let it be known that he was supportive of a pardon, said Terrence ODonnell, a lawyer who has represented Cheney. He worked with him and thinks highly of him, said ODonnell.

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A senior administration official told reporters today that Obamas decision was influenced by Cartwrights nearly 40-year military career, adding that the retired general had dedicated his life and his career to protecting the country and that this weighted heavily in the presidents decision. The official also noted that one of the journalists who allegedly received classified information from Cartwright said that the general did not share any details he didnt already have and that the conversations were about preventing the publication of secrets that would harm U.S. national security.

In 2011, Gen. James Cartwright looks on as President Obama speaks during an event to welcome the Wounded Warrior Projects Soldier Ride to the White House in Washington. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)



Cartwright was convicted of lying to the FBI about his talks with two journalists  David Sanger of the New York Times and Daniel Klaidman, then with Newsweek and now Deputy Editor of Yahoo News, both of whom wrote letters to the sentencing judge saying they were urged to talk to Cartwright by officials at the Obama White House and reached out to him to confirm details they already had gotten from other sources. General Cartwright did not provide any new facts and did not provide any documents, Klaidman wrote in his letter, according to a court filing by Cartwrights lawyers last week.

I am thrilled that President Obama examined the evidence and facts before him and concluded that General Cartwright deserved to be pardoned, Klaidman said in a statement Tuesday. This was the right decision and one that serves the public interest.

Still, the pardon is likely to prove controversial in light of the prison terms  in one case as long as three and a half years  given to other, much lower level government officials prosecuted by the Justice Department in leak-related cases. If nothing else, the move appears to undercut a significant argument made by the office of U.S. attorney for Maryland Rod Rosenstein in a court filing last week, that when an individual is found to have made unauthorized disclosures, particularly one serving in a senior position, it is critically important to hold that person accountable. (Rosenstein, who was originally nominated by President Bush and served for eight years under Obama, is now slated to be deputy attorney general  the second-highest-ranking position in the Justice Department  in the Trump administration.)

The pardon sends a horrible message, said Mark Zaid, a veteran national security lawyer who has represented government officials in leak cases. Hes basically telling anybody below the rank of general, you can go to jail. But if youre at the rank of general or higher, you go free. This smacks of a double standard  and of elitism.

The pardon of Cartwright essentially stands as the final chapter in what was an unprecedented wave of leak prosecutions by the Justice Department and the U.S. military under Obama. Since he took office, 10 individuals have been prosecuted in leak-related cases  more than during all previous administrations put together.

Cartwright was by far the highest-ranking official to get caught up in such probes. He appeared on the FBIs radar screen after the Justice Department opened an investigation into the disclosures about a highly sensitive U.S.-Israeli program  approved by Obama  to mount a cybersabotage operation against Iran, injecting a computer virus known as Stuxnet to disable centrifuges used in that countrys nuclear program.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and then-Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. James Cartwright take part in a briefing at the Pentagon. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP)

The Stuxnet campaign appears to have been successful, and its disclosure, originally in a front-page New York Times story and a book by Sanger, helped burnish Obamas national security credentials leading up to his 2012 reelection campaign. But FBI agents, after obtaining his email traffic, soon identified Cartwright  who had by then retired but continued to serve on the Defense Policy Board  as a key suspect. When he was interviewed in November 2012, Cartwright initially denied that he ever discussed classified information with Klaidman and Sanger. Then, FBI agents showed him his email correspondence with Klaidman. At that point, Cartwright took off his glasses, started rubbing his eyes and told interviewing agents, You got me, according to a court filing by prosecutors last week.

The agents then showed Cartwright an email exchange he had with Sanger. After reading through the email, Cartwright was shaking, losing color in his face and clearing his throat. Cartwright attempted to explain the email; however, his speech became slurred and he subsequently slumped over in his chair and lost consciousness, according to the court filing.

Cartwright was immediately rushed to the hospital. After his release a few days later, he agreed to another interview with the FBI and confessed that he had indeed discussed classified information with the journalists. He formally pleaded guilty last September and was due to be sentenced next week.

In a statement released by his lawyers Tuesday, Cartwright said: I want to thank President Obama for his action. With the greatest pride, I have served my country as a member of the military for more than 40 years. This action allows me to continue that work as a private citizen. I love this country and believe it to be the greatest nation on earth.

I have never lost faith in that belief. God bless the United States of America.

Read more from Yahoo News:
By Mubasher Bukhari LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani security forces said on Wednesday they had killed the leader of the banned Sunni Muslim militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) along with three other militants accused of killing hundreds of civilians. The Counter Terrorism Department of the eastern province of Punjab said its forces had killed Asif Chotoo and his comrades during a shootout in the city of Sheikhupura after a tip-off that the group was planning an attack in nearby Lahore. However, an intelligence official with knowledge of the operation told Reuters that Chotoo had been in custody since August and was "eliminated" by authorities, something Punjab police spokesman Nayab Haider called "baseless". The incident came 18 months after police gunned down Chotoo's predecessor, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi's longtime leader Malik Ishaq, in what police sources said bore halmarks of an "encounter", a term government critics use for extrajudicial killings in custody staged to resemble a shootout. Authorities deny any such practice exists. The actions against LeJ, which targets minority Shi'ite Muslims, could signal a harder line against sectarian militants by a government regularly accused of being softer on them than on militants seeking to overthrow the government, such as the Pakistani Taliban. LeJ was once believed to have support from Pakistan's military intelligence agency, accused of using such groups as proxies in India and Afghanistan and to counter Shi'ite movements, something Pakistan denies. Last week, opposition members walked out of parliament after Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said: "You cannot equate banned sectarian organizations with the banned terrorist organizations," local media reported. Pakistan banned dozens of militant groups under a National Action Plan, launched after Pakistani Taliban fighters killed 134 students at an army-run school in Peshawar in 2014. (Additional reporting by Mehreen Zahra-Malik; Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Randy Fabi and Robin Pomeroy)
Parents of students at a Southern California elementary school are petitioning for the expulsion of a 5th grader who reportedly wrote up a "kill list" that named fellow children.

The principal of Lake Mathews Elementary School in Riverside wrote parents a letter January 12 describing what she called a "comprehensive" review process that followed after the student was reported by classmates.

Read: Widow of Orlando Massacre Shooter Arrested in San Francisco by FBI Agents, Charged with Aiding and Abetting

"We immediately began an investigation, convened our site threat assessment team, and notified law enforcement," Principal Pamela Williams wrote.

According to the Press Enterprise, the 5th grader showed a list of student names labeled a kill list to other pupils. However, Williams said the school determined the student not to be a threat.

"As a result of this comprehensive process, it was determined that there was, and is, no danger to any of Lake Mathews students," she wrote.

The student was reportedly suspended for two days and set to return Wednesday, leading some parents concerned enough to keep their children out of school.

"This is not something to be taken lightly," said one mother, whose daughter's name was reportedly on the list.

One parent even sent a petition with 86 signatures of people demanding the boy's expulsion to the school board.



"As concerned parents we feel that allowing this student on the school premises presents an imminent danger to our children," the petition says. "Thus, we decided that we will not allow our children to attend school until the 5th grade student has been removed from the school premises permanently."

Read: Boy, 6, Killed and Girl, 5, Critically Injured in Dog Attack While on Their Way to School Bus

However, in a statement Tuesday, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office appeared to support Principal Williams' stance and called the threat "not credible."

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While some parents have vowed to keep their kids out of school until their demands for expulsion are met and the parents of the boy in question were offered alternative schooling options, the boy will be allowed back to school.

On Wednesday, more than 100 students did not attend class, according to a report. Officials will not reveal whether the boy who penned the "kill list" was among them, citing student privacy laws.

Watch: Good Samaritan Rushes to Aid of Officer Shot in the Leg During Traffic Stop

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Fallujah (Iraq) (AFP) - More than six months after Iraqi forces retook Fallujah from the Islamic State group, reconstruction is slow and the government risks alienating those residents who have returned to the city.

"There are no members of the Daesh terrorist organisation left in Fallujah," the police chief, Colonel Jamal al-Jumaili, told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

"Fallujah is a safe city," he insisted.

Iraqi forces retook Fallujah, an emblematic jihadist bastion just 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad, in June 2016 with relative ease but that victory came at a hefty price.

A large number of homes were destroyed by the fighting and several neighbourhoods are still off-limits to civilians due to the possible presence of booby-traps planted by IS in their retreat.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said last month that only about 10 percent of homes in Fallujah were inhabitable.

"Nothing works here, there's no water, no electricity and houses have been destroyed," said Firas Mahmud, a 25-year-old who returned to Fallujah after IS was defeated and is currently unemployed.

Another man met on the street in Fallujah had the same grievances and complained of the lack of services and jobs.

"The authorities must do something," said the young man, who gave his name as Mustafa.

The Fallujah municipality defended its record but Mayor Issa al-Sayer mostly called for "the help of the international community to allow Fallujah residents to live in stability."

- Lack of funds -

Baghdad has promised to enable the speedy return of Fallujah residents, who were all displaced during the reconquest of their city, but the government is cash-strapped.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's government "lacks or may lack the focus and resources to adequately budget for an adequate reconstruction effort," said Omar Lamrani, an analyst with the Stratfor think tank.

"Baghdad's finances are already stretched with low energy prices and the costly demands of war, and corruption and cronyism affect the direction of the limited funds available," he said.

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The risk that observers were warning against before the operation to retake Fallujah even started is that unkept promises will fuel a sense among its Sunni residents that they are being marginalised by the government, which is dominated by Shiite parties.

Fallujah has long been known as a rebel city and over the past decade and a half been a hub of opposition, first to occupying US-led forces and then to the Iraqi government.

In the winter of 2012-2013, protests spread across Anbar province, in which Fallujah lies, complaining that Iraq's Sunni minority was being stigmatised by then prime minister Nuri al-Maliki.

In January 2014, rebels took control of the city, which was eventually overrun by jihadists from what became known as the Islamic State group.

To retake Fallujah, Baghdad relied on its regular forces but also on the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation), a paramilitary organisation dominated by Shiite militia groups with close ties to Iran.

- Hashed presence -

The police chief insisted that "only the army and the police are present" inside the city. Hashed al-Shaabi forces hold positions in towns and rural areas around the city, he said.

Some residents of the overwhelmingly Sunni area continue to be afraid of the Hashed al-Shaabi, some of whose components have been accused of sectarian-motivated abuses against civilians.

United Nations human rights chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein said in July that there was strong evidence that Ketaeb Hezbollah, one of the main militias that fought alongside security forces in the operation, carried out atrocities.

Such allegations complicate the government's efforts to win over the population, "a critical step if it wishes to maintain a secure control over the city in the long run," Lamrani said.

Hashed "leadership has increasingly exerted efforts recently to crack down on negative sectarianism, though such behaviour unfortunately continues to exist at some level in the lower ranks," he said.

The analyst warned the same concern applied to Mosul, IS's last major stronghold in Iraq.

Three months into a huge operation, the head of Iraq's special forces announced that the eastern side of the city had been "liberated" but the other half is still fully under IS control.

Hashed forces have cleared vast, mostly desert areas southwest of Mosul but not entered the city.
By Gene Emery (Reuters Health) - The worst form of drug-resistant tuberculosis isn't just arising from inadequate treatment, it's mostly being spread from person to person, according to a new study of hundreds of cases in South Africa that has important implications for how the deadly disease is treated. Researchers tracked TB that is resistant to at least four key drugs and found that 69 percent of the victims had never received treatment, an indication that they had acquired it from others with extensively drug-resistant TB. TB develops resistance to drugs when it is attacked with lackluster therapy, allowing the slow-growing bacterium to become insensitive to well-established therapies. Strains that are simultaneously resistant to at least four drugs have been reported in 105 countries. "For many years, there was this thought that maybe drug-resistant TB strains might not be able to be transmitted as efficiently a regular TB strains," coauthor Dr. Neel R. Gandhi of Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta told Reuters Health by phone. The results published in the New England Journal of Medicine "turn this idea on its head," said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Atlanta who was not involved in the research. The study team's estimate that two thirds of the cases are surfacing because the disease is spreading by person-to-person contact "is mostly likely a minimum estimate," Gandhi said. "This is an epidemic we've known about for 10 years and we don't seem to be making a dent in it," he said. "And that may be because the driver isn't what we thought it was." "It raises the possibility of turning the clock back to the 1930s and 1940s" and requiring infected people to live in sanitariums so patients can't inadvertently spread the disease, Schaffner said. "You also have to do better at diagnosing them earlier. We're going to have to be a lot more aggressive in finding the infected people early. These are substantial public health challenges." Drug resistance has gotten so bad, the rate of successful treatment can be less than 40 percent if a person acquires an extensively drug-resistant strain. It can be particularly deadly in people who also harbor HIV, the AIDS virus. In South Africa, where the new study was done, there has been a 10-fold increase in the number of extensively drug-resistant cases in the past decade. One in 36,000 are now infected. The team of researchers used contact tracing to find where the TB patients were spending at least two hours per week, trying to uncover any links. They found 31 clusters of the disease, the largest of which accounted for 84 percent of the 404 patients they studied. Living with someone with TB accounted for most of the acquired cases, although the disease was also spread in the workplace (representing 13 percent of cases) or in other community settings such as a church, bar, beauty salon or prison (accounting for 8 percent of cases). "Certain networks spanned multiple homes, family generations, and community settings," the study team writes. Complicating control is that people can be infectious before they know they have drug-resistant TB. "We know people transmit (the disease) for weeks or months before they come for a diagnosis," said Gandhi, an associate professor of epidemiology, global health and infectious diseases at Emory. "You have to focus on stopping the chain of transmission," he said. "You have to identify early and intervene early. When you diagnose, drug susceptibility should be part of that diagnosis. And we have to do a better job creating facilities where transmission doesn't take place, particularly in healthcare settings, hospitals, homeless shelters in the United States and in schools and workplaces." The other researchers involved in the study were from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, the province of 10.3 million people where the study was done. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2jRqpOY New England Journal of Medicine, online January 18, 2017. (This version of the story was refiled to correct the spelling of Gandhi in paragraph 15)
Paris (AFP) - Clinical trials which conclude that the drug being tested works are more likely to be conducted by researchers with financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, a study said Wednesday.

The investigation, published in The BMJ medical journal, was fuelled by concerns about bias on the part of doctors and scientists running drug trials.

Nearly 60 percent of some 400 principal investigators in 195 clinical drug trials analysed had traceable financial ties to the drug industry, the researchers found.

Such ties, in turn, "were independently associated with positive clinical trial results", wrote the team, led by Salomeh Keyhani of the University of California in San Francisco.

Financial ties included honorariums, payment for consulting work, and stock ownership.

This did not necessarily mean that results were falsified, the researchers pointed out.

It could also be that the results of failed drug trials are simply not published.

"More thought needs to be given to the roles that investigators, policy makers and journal editors can play in ensuring the credibility of the evidence base," the BMJ study concluded.

The investigation looked at a selection of randomised clinical trials conducted in the United States in 2013.

In a typical randomised trial, a group of volunteers taking a new medication are compared to a group given a look-alike placebo with no active ingredients.

Previous investigations into possible bias linked to financial ties have yielded conflicting results.

In a 2002 survey of more than 3,200 US National Institutes of Health scientists, 15 percent admitting to fiddling with the design, methods or results of a trial under pressure from a funder.

In the peer-review process, medical and scientific journals distribute studies submitted for publication to outside experts for review.

Most journals also require authors to disclose any conflicts of interest.

"Journals could help by rejecting research by authors who are unwilling to share their data, and by penalising authors who fail to disclose financial ties," commented Adreas Lundh of the University of Southern Denmark and Lisa Bero of the University Sydney, also in The BMJ.
People going to mass at one of the most famous churches in the Philippine capital over Christmas were met by a disturbing sight: poster-size pictures of Filipinos dying in pools of blood.

The shock Baclaran church exhibit was part of a campaign by one of the nation's oldest and most powerful institutions to stop the killings under President Rodrigo Duterte's war against drugs, which has claimed about 6,000 thousand lives.

"The Church right now is asserting its influence, that's why in the coming months the Church will be at the forefront in leading against extrajudicial killings," Jerome Secillano, public affairs chief for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, told AFP.

The Catholic Church, counting eight out of every 10 Filipinos among its flock, wants the Duterte presidency to succeed, but would be remiss in its moral obligation to protect life by keeping quiet, according to Secillano.

"(The drug war) is not any more in accord with the legal processes, and the moral norms are being violated and so now is the time for the Church to speak up," he said.

Duterte was elected in a landslide last year, after vowing on the campaign trail to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of people.

Police have reported killing 2,250 drug suspects since Duterte assumed office, with 3,710 others murdered by unknown suspects who at times have left signs at the crime scenes accusing their victims of being drug dealers or addicts.

Duterte has made no apologies for the killings, saying he would be happy to "slaughter" three million drug addicts to stop the Philippines from descending into a Latin American-style narco state.

- Popular crackdown -

While Duterte's crackdown has been condemned by human rights activists and some Western governments for allegedly unleashing a wave of extrajudicial killings, the president has retained huge support from Filipinos hoping his strongman style will fix crime, corruption and other intractable problems.

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With such support and also because of various intimidation tactics, few politicians or other influential people have spoken out.

For months the Church, which played a leading role in the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and corrupt president Joseph Estrada, also held its tongue.

Church leaders said they wanted to give Duterte, who won the May elections by 6.6 million votes, a chance to implement his programmes and make the Philippines a safer place.

They had also hoped to influence him quietly, holding a series of private meetings with Duterte and one of his top aides, according to Manila priest Atilano Fajardo, who is now helping to lead the Church's campaign against the killings.

Meanwhile, some priests and bishops, like ordinary people, were too scared to speak out, according to Secillano.

"Not too many churches and people are actually keen on speaking up against these killings because of fear," he said.

- Campaign begins -

To start the pushback, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the bishops conference, issued a pastoral letter to his flock in October.

"I am ashamed of the things I read about the Philippines in the international media and more ashamed of what I hear from our leaders," Villegas said then.

"I can no longer give a word of condolence to the bereaved families because I also need to be assured even a bit that things will get better and not become worse."

In a Christmas message, Manila Cardinal Luis Tagle, the country's highest-ranking Church official, lamented Filipinos losing their sense of "hospitality", in what was seen as a criticism of the killings.

"Why is there room for destroying lives but minute space for saving them?" Tagle said.

Some churches around the Philippines have since put up banners denouncing extrajudicial killings, while priests have helped to organise relatives of the slain into a watchdog group called Network Against Killings in the Philippines.

Over the coming weeks, the Church also plans to train widows and other female relatives of men killed in mainly slum communities to document the deaths so they can bring criminal charges against police.

Church leaders take pains to emphasise they have not given up on Duterte and they are not campaigning against his rule, just the killings.

"Prayer can move mountains. We believe that Duterte can still change his position, so we need to pray," Fajardo said.

What impact the Church campaign against the killings will have on government policy remains uncertain.

But it is taking heart from a fresh survey showing eight in 10 Filipinos now fear they or their friends could be next to be killed.

"When you speak to people on the ground, there is a lot of fear... many people, especially the urban poor, feel that anybody can be tagged and killed," Manila bishop Broderick Pabillo told AFP.

Visitors at the Baclaran photo exhibit who agreed to speak to AFP were generally hesitant to criticise the government but said they had seen enough.

"What is happening is horrible. They should not be killing defenceless people," said churchgoer Gina Loranza, 48.
Odds & ends

Lawmakers rejected a motion by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha to move an abortion-related bill (LB59) from the Health and Human Services Committee to the Judiciary Committee. The motion failed on an 11-23 vote.

A few dozen people gathered on the Capitol's west steps over the lunch hour to protest partisan influence in the Legislature.

Coming Wednesday

Morning debate is scheduled on more motions by Chambers to move bills to different committees. Afternoon hearings are scheduled on proposed adjustments to this year's state budget, as well as bills related to occupational licensing,
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday appeared to rule out declaring martial law, but said he could do so if he wished, and anyone questioning his justification should "shut up" and stay out of his business. The former prosecutor has threatened several times to invoke military rule to help his war on drugs and said he had the power to declare martial law, even though narcotics did not meet conditions required by the constitution. The mercurial leader has been criticized by opponents for acting in an authoritarian way and for showing willingness to circumvent the constitution. Some have ridiculed him for his contradicting remarks on whether he intends to pursue martial law. "I will not declare martial law, and if I declare martial law, I will not make noise," he said in a speech on Wednesday. "And if you ask 'what is the basis?', you son of a bitch, it's none of your business. Just shut up, all of you." The constitution states martial law can only be declared in the event of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it. Congress can revoke a president's declaration, as can the Supreme Court, but there is no scenario in the constitution outlining which of the two institutions would prevail should they disagree. "Who decides now? Supreme Court says 'no', Congress says 'yes', who decides? The sitting president - me," he said. "For me, it is not found in the constitution, it is not written there. But if I feel as a president that I have to preserve my country, I will declare martial law." He also said the military felt the security climate did not warrant martial law. "The military is correct, there is no compelling reason really." Legal issues aside, Duterte's comments offer little clarity about why he is discussing martial law at a time when his approval ratings are high, political opposition is muted, and the government is touting success in its crackdown on drugs. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Sunday criticized media for reporting Duterte's statements on martial law and for headlines that "sow panic and confusion". He called that "the height of journalistic irresponsibility". The presidential palace press corps hit back on Wednesday urging the government to stop chiding journalists. "We are disturbed and appalled by the propensity of the officials of this administration to blame the media whenever the inflammatory statements of the president stir controversy or draw flak," the media group said in a statement. "We hope that such behavior is not an attempt to discredit or undermine the media." (Reporting by Martin Petty and Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Randy Fabi)
MIAMI (AP)  Police say rival gangs are to blame for a shooting at a park following the annual Martin Luther King Day Parade in Miami.

News outlets report that Miami-Dade police announced Tuesday that the gunfire that wounded eight people at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park on Monday was an exchange between gangs.

Hundreds of people had gathered in the park after the MLK Day parade in the Liberty City neighborhood. People scattered in all directions when they heard the shots fired.

The wounded ranged in age from 11 to 30. Police say two people were arrested on un-related weapons charges. The search for the shooters continues.

Police director Juan Perez says a $21,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
Tasmanian Richie Porte buried his demons from two years ago by demolishing his rivals and clinching the second stage of the Tour Down Under in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Porte, who made a costly tactical error on the same stage in 2015 that foiled his chances of winning the Tour, made a decisive move with two kilometres (1.24 miles) remaining in a gruelling 148.5-kilometre stage through the Adelaide Hills.

Movistar's Gorka Izaguirre went with the BMC Racing rider, but the Spaniard did not have the legs to stay with Porte who won the stage in three hours, 46 minutes and six seconds.

Porte, who has three times fallen short of winning the overall standings at the Tour, signalled his intentions by pulling away and Izaguirre was left to battle it out with Colombia's Esteban Chaves for the second spot.

Izaguirre won that duel in the end, finishing 16 seconds behind Porte, with Chaves at his rear wheel as they crossed the line.

Porte's BMC team-mate and 2015 Tour Down Under winner, Rohan Dennis, finished fourth.

The riders were spared the searing heat of the opening day, when the route was shortened due to the brutal conditions and Caleb Ewan prevailed.

It was a satisfying win for Porte, who finished fifth in last year's Tour de France, but had not raced since breaking his shoulder in a crash at the Rio Olympics in August.

"I've got good climbing legs and I didn't want to wait around," said Porte. "I have got a good gap on general classification. There's some stressful days coming up, so we won't be counting our chickens until they hatch."

It was Porte's first win since stage five at last year's Tour Down Under.

Germany's Jasha Sutterlin was the first rider to break away and, at one, point led by close to five minutes.

The margin was steadily whittled away and halfway through the stage Belgian Thomas De Gendt led a push off the front of the peloton.

However it did not last long and Sutterlin extended the lead back out past four minutes again as they entered the final lap of the circuit.

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The pack reeled him in about 40 kilometres out as teams started working to outmanoeuvre each other heading towards the gorge section leading to the finish.

World champion Peter Sagan was up near the front and first-stage winner Ewan led the pack for a brief period, before Jose Goncalves made a move four kilometres out as the main pack thinned out.

However, Goncalves quickly eased off, setting the scene for Porte's bold move.

Stage three will see riders cover 144 kilometres from Glenelg to Victor Harbour.
As Constitution Daily counts down to Inauguration Day, we look back at three presidential ceremonies from the 1800s that ended very badly.

Mobs descend on Jacksons White House.

Usually when historians recount the pomp and circumstances of swearing in a new president, its the stirring speeches, the dramatic balls, and the swelling parades that are recounted.

But like any large public event, theres always a potential for problems, and back in the 19th century, there were times when chaos and calamity had a place on Inauguration Day, too.

For example, there were constant rumors that Abraham Lincoln would be killed at his 1861 inauguration. The rumors were taken seriously: Lincoln took a special overnight train from Baltimore as a matter of security. In the aftermath, the media questioned Lincolns courage.

Four years later, the Lincoln team had to deal with another public relations problem: His new vice president, Andrew Johnson, apparently showed up drunk for his own speech. There were theories why Johnson appeared to inebriated, including claims he was ill and had used alcohol as part of a recommended treatment.

These incidents, however, paled in comparison to three really, really bad situations that developed at inaugurations in 1829, 1841, and 1857, which left the White House ransacked by a mob, one president dead, and another 36 people as victims of a fatal disease (including three congressmen).

The first famous incident was the inauguration of President Andrew Jackson in 1829 after his bitter campaign against John Quincy Adams.

Jackson was the first president to take his oath outside at the Capitol in Washington. A huge crowd for the time period, at least 20,000 people, waited for the new president.

What happened next is truly legendary. The crowd migrated to an open house at the White House, as part of another tradition that lasted until the time of President Grover Cleveland.

The crowd quickly turned into a rowdy, drunken mob that smashed objects inside the White House. Jackson escaped either through an open window or side door, and organizers put large amounts of free booze on the White House lawn to lure the mob out of the building.

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To make matters worse, an open feud broke out at the inaugural ball when the wives of Jacksons cabinet members shunned a fellow wife, as part of what was later called the Petticoat Affair.

The most famous infamous inauguration gone wrong is that of President William Henry Harrison, who was literally killed by his own speech in 1841.

Harrison, 68, decided to give a two-hour speech, in very cold, wet weather, without wearing a coat or a hat. The crowd was reportedly not thrilled by the speech, during which he spent a lot of time talking about ancient Rome.

The new president then attended a parade and three inaugural balls, possibly in the same wet clothing he wore outside during the speech. He also drank at the inaugural balls.

Within a month, Harrison was dead from pneumonia and pleurisy. While theres a debate about what exactly killed Harrison, the inauguration was linked to his death.

One theory is that Harrison caught a cold that developed into pneumonia, while another is that the president had pre-existing conditions that were aggravated by his outdoor antics.

But the most tragic of inauguration horror stories happened in 1857, at James Buchanans ill-fated inauguration.

Buchanans fate was linked to an episode in 1857 called the National Hotel disease, an outbreak of an illness tied to pre- and post-inauguration activities that left at least 36 people dead.

In an eerie resemblance to the Legionnaires disease outbreak in Philadelphia a century later, guests who attended events at one of Washingtons biggest hotels came down with a mystery illness, and then died quickly or over the course of the following two years.

Buchanan himself contracted the disease twice and survived: once before his inauguration and once shortly after it. In both cases, he was at the hotel.

Among the 36 fatalities were people who attended the official post-inauguration banquet at the hotel, including three U.S. congressmen.

Rumors spread that Buchanan had also died, but he recovered after spending the first weeks of his presidency in bed.

Today, experts believe inadequate sanitary conditions existed in the hotel, including problems with its sewage system. It was mostly people who ate at the hotel who became ill, while bar patrons showed no symptoms.

The hotel was demolished in the 1920s and now a tourist attraction, the Newseum, sits on its location.

Inauguration Stories on Constitution Daily

When presidential inaugurations go very, very wrong

Great inaugural addresses: Abraham Lincolns two speeches

Great inaugural addresses: Franklin Roosevelt
BARRE, Vt. (AP)  A prosecutor who disarmed a suspect in a fatal shooting of a social worker said on Wednesday he is no longer carrying a gun to work following a newspaper report that some courthouse workers were concerned.

State's attorney Scott Williams said he believes that as a law enforcement officer he has the authority to carry a gun to work but he decided to stop doing so after learning from a Times Argus report that some courthouse workers were concerned about public safety.

"I don't want people uncomfortable because of me," he said.

The executive director of the Vermont Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs, John Campbell, asked the state attorney general to review the Vermont law. He said his understanding is that only a public law enforcement officer who has received certification through the Criminal Justice Training Council may carry a firearm in a state building.

Williams grabbed a rifle away from Jody Herring after she shot Lara Sobel outside a state office building in August 2015, authorities said. Herring, who authorities say was upset about losing custody of her daughter, has been charged with Sobel's death and the slayings of three relatives.

Herring, who's from Barre, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of her cousins Regina Herring and Rhonda Herring, her aunt Julie Falzarano and Sobel.

Williams said he never took his gun into the courtroom. He said the offices in the courthouse building, including the Department for Children and Families, get monthly threats such as by phone or social media but most of them are not serious.

Williams, a former public defender who served eight years in the Navy, said he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder five years ago but worked through it with the help of counseling.

Before learning about workers' concerns, he said, he thought that having a gun at work might help prevent further tragedy if he was faced again with similar circumstances. He said he thought, "I can add something to the state worker safety mix if everything goes to hell."

Williams testified before the legislature several months after the shooting about ways to improve worker safety, but he said on Wednesday he thinks it's taking too long for the state to make improvements. He said he plans to talk to legislators to clarify the law on prosecutors carrying guns if it is unclear that they can.

The National District Attorney's Association does not have a position on whether prosecutors should be able to carry weapons, and the laws vary from state to state, said association board member Joshua Marquis, the district attorney in Oregon's Clatsop County.
BERLIN (AP)  German prosecutors have charged three women and two men with forming a "right-wing terrorist crime organization" for operating a website that spreads neo-Nazi ideology.

Federal prosecutors say the five Germans ran a website called Altermedia Deutschland that was used to incite hatred against foreigners and deny the Holocaust on a "massive and systematic" scale.

Prosecutors said Wednesday the website's servers were initially based in the United States but then switched to Russia in October 2012. The site was banned and taken offline in January of last year.

Prosecutors say 48-year-old Jutta V. and 28-year-old Ralph-Thomas K. led the group. A 54-year-old man, Uwe P., 63-year-old Irmgard T. and 61-year-old Talmara S. were also charged.

The five, whose surnames weren't provided in line with German privacy rules, are free pending trial.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Prosecutors argued Wednesday that the case against the Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Philando Castile during a July traffic stop should proceed, saying several issues raised by the defense team  including the suggestion that Castile was negligent  must be left for a jury to resolve.

Attorneys for St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez asked in December that the case be dismissed because Castile was negligent in his own death and did not obey the officer's commands.

But evidence disputes those claims, prosecutors said in a Wednesday court filing, adding that even if Castile was negligent, it was not an intervening, superseding cause of his death as a matter of law.

A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for Feb. 15.

Castile, who was black, was killed July 6 after being pulled over in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. The shooting's gruesome aftermath was streamed live on Facebook by his girlfriend, who was in the car along with her young daughter. Prosecutors said the 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker was shot at seven times after he told Yanez he was armed. Authorities later discovered that Castile had a permit to carry a weapon.

Yanez, who is Latino, is charged with manslaughter and other offenses. He has not yet entered a plea, but his attorneys have indicated he will plead not guilty.

Prosecutors' filing said the evidence suggests Castile was trying to get his wallet when he was shot and that squad video and audio, which has not been made public, shows Yanez never told Castile to show his hands, disputing Yanez's claim that Castile disobeyed that order.

Defense attorneys also claimed last month that Castile was negligent because he was high on marijuana. Prosecutors said THC was found in Castile's blood, but there is no evidence of erratic driving and the squad video shows Castile conversed normally with Yanez and followed directions.

Prosecutors also said that Yanez's claim that he believed Castile was an armed robbery suspect is unreasonable. They said Yanez did not carry out a high-risk traffic stop, and he asked Castile for his driver's license and proof of insurance without determining if he was armed.

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"Thus, even crediting Defendant's account that he shot Castile because he could not see one of his hands, Defendant recklessly created the perceived risk he now claims justified his use of deadly force," prosecutors wrote.

___

Follow Amy Forliti on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amyforliti . More of her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/amy-forliti
A ban on a bull-taming festival, which has been blighted by allegations that the beasts are doped with liquor and then taunted with chilli powder, triggered street protests in southern India Wednesday.

Demonstrators, mostly students, thronged the busy Marina Beach area in the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state to demand the lifting of the ban on the traditional Jallikattu event which is held during the winter harvest festival.

Authorities ordered over two dozen colleges in the city to close down on Thursday as the crowds swelled at the main protest site in the capital.

"We are protesting against the ban and demand that it should be immediately lifted. We are here in support of preserving the culture of Tamils," Selva Kumar, a student leader at the protest site, told AFP.

The protesters in Chennai, who began gathering on Tuesday night, say they will camp out until the authorities announce that the event will be allowed in future.

India's Supreme Court outlawed Jallilkatu last year after a plea by animal rights groups which have long argued that the event -- held every year in different parts of Tamil Nadu state -- is cruel.

Unlike in traditional Spanish bullfighting, the animals are let loose into open fields and young men then compete to subdue them bare-handed.

Critics say organisers lace the bulls' feed with liquor to make them less steady on their feet and chuck chilli powder into their faces to throw them into a sudden frenzy as they are released from a holding pen.

The rights group PETA has released footage it says shows bull farmers doping their animals ahead of the event.

But organisers of the festival insist the animals suffer no harm and Jallikatu is an established part of Tamil culture.

Tensions have been escalating for the last week after hundreds of people were detained by police for allegedly organising local Jallikatu contests in defiance of the court ban.

Police say the protests have remained peaceful so far but have spread to large parts of the state.

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Several popular Tamil film stars have voiced their support for the demonstrators as has India's leading spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin.

Opposition and ruling parties in the state have also criticised the ban and want Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to have it overturned.

A government led by Modi's predecessor did order a ban in 2011 but it was effectively ignored until last year's Supreme Court ruling.

Tamil Nadu witnessed large scale protests by students in 1960s over the imposition of Hindi as the official language in the southern state, with the majority Dravidian community fiercely opposing it before the order was rolled back by the central government.

The state's chief minister O. Panneerselvam will be flying to New Delhi late Wednesday to meet Modi, as many fear the protests may snowball into a major agitation.
A Grand Island man has been sentenced to prison and a York woman to probation for their roles in a plot to steal a rural York man's safe by setting a fire that lured him away from his home.

York County District Judge James Stecker last month sentenced Brian Schall, 28, of Grand Island, to 5-12 years in prison and ordered him to pay $16,976 in restitution for burglary, theft by unlawful taking over $5,000 and second-degree arson.

Last week, Stecker sentenced Emily N. Anderson, 23, of York, to five years of probation and 100 hours community service, plus restitution, for aiding and abetting theft by unlawful taking.

She also is sentenced to serve 60 days in jail, half in December 2017, half a year later, unless waived.

Anderson, described as a lookout, pleaded no contest.

In court records, York County Sheriff's investigators said they suspected Schall and Matthew Aunkst, of York, torched a 49-year-old man's vacant rental house near York on Feb. 21 to distract him while they stole a safe, $30,000 and a cache of guns from his home.

He got home later to find a large John Deere gun vault containing at least four shotguns, a 9mm-handgun, cash, gold coins and legal documents missing from the house.

Law enforcement arrested Schall and Aunkst at a casino hotel in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Aunkst is set for sentencing next month on two counts of burglary and a second-degree arson charge.
When Theresa May confirmed in a Tuesday speech that Britain would be seeking a hard Brexit, few people were likely listening more intently than Guy Verhofstadt.

The former Belgian Prime Minister was last year appointed as the chief Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament, which must approve any deal struck between the European Union (E.U.) and the British government. He has become one of the key voices in Europe defending the supranational project against what many see as the beginning of its disintegration.

An outspoken Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Verhofstadt this month publishes a book outlining his vision for the E.U., Europes Last Chance: Why the European States Must Form a More Perfect Union. In it, he argues that the E.U. is doomed to failure unless its member states integrate further  a position which puts him at odds with the populist forces that helped drive the Brexit vote.

In an interview with TIME, he reflects on how the E.U can meet the challenges of rising populism, nationalism and euro-skepticism, and reacts to Mays speech, in which she confirmed that Britain will leave the E.U.s single market, but said she wanted to continue to be on favorable trading terms with the rest of Europe:

Are you encouraged by Theresa Mays Brexit speech, or do you still feel there are unrealistic expectations in Westminster about what can be achieved?

Theresa May has provided some much-needed clarity on the fact that she wants a hard Brexit. But youre right that there were a lot of unrealistic expectations in the prime ministers speech. We will not let the U.K. leave the union only to cherry-pick its way back into our common market for example. Whats also an unproductive negotiation tactic is the threat to turn Britain into a tax haven. It will hurt British people and damage Britains credibility in the international community.

Do you think Britains experience so far will deter other countries from going down the same path?

When you see the polls, yes. Support for an exit is falling in the Netherlands from nearly 50% to 30%, thats quite impressive. You see it everywhere. The shift you see is very clear, and that can only be an encouragement to do this fundamental reform of the union.

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So you think Brexit could end up being a good thing for the E.U.?

It is a unique opportunity in the coming two-and-a-half years not only to talk about Brexit in a defensive way, but also what are the existential reforms needed by the European Union to fix that fundamental problem of the political institutional deadlock which we are in.

Your new book is called Europes Last Chance. Thats quite a pessimistic title. Is it really that bad?

Brexit is the most evident sign of it being at the brink. The problem is political, its institutional. The E.U. is not a union  this is a loose confederation of member states based on unanimity rule, meaning we react always too little too late. There is a need for a general overhaul of the union, and to be conscious of the fact that this will lead us to catastrophe, or disintegration of the union if we dont.

Whats the solution?

We need a different system. Instead of a confederation based on unanimity rule, where the governing of Europe is given to Prime Ministers and Heads of States who are deciding by unanimity based on their national interests, you need to create a federal system.

You argue for a United States of Europe mirroring the U.S. model of governance. What parallels can you see?

An American would laugh if Florida could opt out of the Border and Coastguard, or if Vermont could say I wont participate in the FBI, or California could stick to the old Spanish peseta. Everybody would say you are nuts. But that is exactly what is happening [in the E.U.].

How do you sell this idea of federalism when the public seems to want less E.U. involvement in their day-to-day lives, not more?

You need leaders who are developing such a vision. In the past, we had that, the Mitterrands, the Schumans, the Delors of the world. That is what we need to establish again. Most of our leaders are falling into the nationalist and populist rhetoric.

Do you have any hope that such leaders will emerge?

We have so many crises, we have so many enemies, that finally even the most Euroskeptic national leaders have to recognize that only in a reformed European Union can we withstand that. With politicians, they have to have their backs against the wall before they act. But I think that we have enough now  we are enough with our backs against the wall to say, OK., lets go forward.

You have spoken of a ring of autocrats, including Russias Vladimir Putin and Turkeys Recep Erdogan, surrounding Europe. How must the E.U. respond?

Europe has only one thing to do: to put its own house in order as fast as possible and be ready for this more insecure world.
Bogota (AFP) - Colombia's FARC rebels on Wednesday said one person was believed killed in fighting last week between their forces and renegade members opposed to a historic peace deal with the government.

The violence threatens to disrupt efforts by leaders of the communist rebels and the government to push through a peace accord to end a nearly 53-year conflict.

Commanders of the FARC's Southern Bloc said in a statement the violence erupted on January 10 near the southern central town of San Vicente del Caguan.

"There was an armed confrontation between units of this bloc and a squad led by Alexander Mojoso, who resolved to abandon our ranks on the grounds that he disagrees with the current peace agreement between President Juan Manuel Santos's government and the FARC," it said.

"In the clash, one member of Mojoso's group is said to have been killed."

- Rallying support against accord -

After more than five decades of territorial and ideological conflict with the government, the FARC is due to start disarming in the coming weeks under UN supervision.

The Colombian conflict grew out of a crushed peasant uprising in the 1960s.

It has killed more than 260,000 people and left 60,000 missing.

The conflict has drawn in not only the army and the FARC, but other leftist rebel groups, drug gangs and right-wing paramilitary units.

In October, voters rejected the peace deal after opponents condemned the concessions made to the FARC.

The deal allows the FARC to transform into a political party.

The opposition campaign complained that Santos granted the rebels seats in Congress, saying he should have jailed them for war crimes instead.

Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize five days after the referendum defeat, sent his negotiators to work out a revised deal with the FARC.

The second time around, he had it ratified in Congress.

But apart from Santos's political rivals, there are also sectors of the FARC opposed to the peace accord.

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Mojoso "is working to unite rural people, to discredit the peace process and to oblige them through threats to support him unconditionally," the FARC statement said.

- Risk to peace -

Santos has warned that delaying implementation of the accord raises the risk that fresh violence will break out.

Civil groups in some rural areas have reported that various of their leaders have been assassinated in recent months as the peace process has taken shape.

The accord was the fruit of four years of negotiations between the government and FARC.

It will effectively end the conflict, though to achieve what Santos calls "complete peace," one more rebel group remains to be disarmed: the left-wing ELN.

The government is in discussion to launch formal peace talks with the ELN.

Earlier efforts to start such talks stalled due to disputes over the release of hostages by the ELN.

Authorities estimate the ELN has 1,500 fighters, mostly in remote rural areas.

The FARC says it has some 5,700 fighters waiting in demobilization zones to disarm over the coming months.
Ottawa (AFP) - Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tasked a retired general Wednesday with helping Ottawa build bridges to Donald Trump's incoming US administration.

Retired lieutenant general Andrew Leslie was appointed parliamentary secretary to the foreign affairs minister, a position from which he will help steer Canada's most important bilateral relationship.

Leslie, who was elected to parliament last year, will "play a critical role in building ties with the new US administration," a government statement said.

Leslie served 35 years in the Canadian military, including a deployment to the former Yugoslavia during the conflict in the Balkans.

Canadian media said he is a close friend of Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and soon-to-be Defense Secretary James Mattis.

Trudeau told reporters he hopes to nurture a "constructive working relationship" with the Trump administration.

"That's why our ambassador and senior members of my team have been engaged with the incoming administration over the past weeks to talk about a broad range of issues," he said.

"Much of it focused on trade," he added, reflecting on the "millions of middle class jobs" both in Canada and the United States that rely on Canada-US free trade.

Trudeau last week reshuffled his cabinet, only one year into his mandate, to reflect the new reality in Washington.

Notably, foreign affairs minister and Trump critic Stephane Dion was sacked and replaced by former trade minister Chrystia Freeland, a leading Russia critic who shares some of Trump's concerns that globalization is failing workers.

About 75 percent of Canadian exports last year went to the United States, through the North American Free Trade Agreement that Trump has panned as the "worst deal in history."

Canada has said it is open to renegotiating the 1994 pact with the United States and Mexico.

In her new job, Freeland will maintain responsibilities for Canada-US trade issues.

Trudeau has also informally tapped former Tory prime minister Brian Mulroney to lobby Trump and his team behind the scenes.

Mulroney has a vacation home in Palm Beach, Florida neighboring Trump's, and is friends with incoming US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Ross attended the 2011 wedding of Mulroney's son.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Several thousand people marched through the Romanian capital on Wednesday night to protest the government's plan to pardon thousands of prisoners  a surprise move to allegedly reduce overcrowding in prisons that would also benefit some notable government supporters.

Premier Sorin Grindeanu wants to implement the measure through an emergency ordinance, which would not require the approval of parliament or the president.

The move has provoked sharp criticism, with Raluca Turcan, leader of the opposition Liberal Party, accusing the government of trying to sneak the measure in.

"This is an abuse of trust, an act that favors the criminal, an act against the general public," she said.

Braving frigid temperatures, the protesters massed outside the government's main offices. "Resignation!" they yelled, calling the ruling Social Democratic Party "the red plague."

Smaller protests against the plan were also held in the cities of Cluj, Sibiu, Iasi and Craiova.

The justice ministry published a draft of the plan Wednesday, surprising Romania's top prosecutor and opposition politicians. The proposal could affect 2,500 prisoners  primarily those with sentences under five years, except for those convicted of crimes of a sexual nature, violence or corruption. Prisoners over 60, pregnant women and inmates with young children would see their sentences halved regardless of their convictions.

Among those who could benefit from the measure is the chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, who got a two-year suspended sentence in 2016 for vote rigging. He is currently banned from being prime minister due to his conviction, something he says is unfair.

Media mogul and government supporter Dan Voiculescu is another possible beneficiary. The 70-year-old is serving a 10-year sentence for money laundering.

General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar also criticized the proposal, saying it lacked transparency and had not been discussed publicly.
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Thousands of Romanians protested in Bucharest and the western city of Cluj on Wednesday against government plans to grant prison pardons and decriminalize some offences through emergency decrees that could weaken an anti-corruption drive. In Bucharest, about 3,000 people carrying signs that say "We see you" and chanting "In a democracy, thieves stay in prison" marched toward the government building. Earlier on Wednesday, President Klaus Iohannis attended his first government meeting since taking office in 2014. He urged ministers not to amend the criminal code via decree and sought to ease concerns about backsliding on commitments to tackle corruption. "There are two elephants in the room and no one is talking about them: the emergency pardoning decree and the decree that changes criminal codes," Iohannis, a center-right leader, said at the start of the cabinet meeting. "I stress that...the prime minister is committed not to introduce such issues overnight at any government meeting." The drafts of the decrees, published after the government meeting, showed an intent to pardon convictions of less than 5 years for several crimes. The government also aims to decriminalize abuse of power that has caused budget damage of less than 200,000 lei ($47,522). The government, which took office after a Dec. 11 parliamentary election, has cited a need to get the criminal code in line with recent constitutional court rulings. It has also said granting pardons would help ease the burden of Romania's overcrowded prisons. Critics have raised concerns about legislating via decree rather than going through parliament, where the government has a solid majority but would face a challenging debate. Decrees come into effect immediately. Judges, the prosecutor general and chief anti-corruption prosecutor have all criticized plans to amend criminal legislation without consulting the judiciary. Abuse of power accounts for a third of anti-corruption investigations. Ruling Social Democrat Party leader and parliament lower house speaker Liviu Dragnea is currently on trial in an abuse of power case. He is also serving a two-year suspended jail sentence in a vote rigging case. The European Commission keeps Romania's legal system under special monitoring. It has praised magistrates' efforts to fight widespread graft, but noted Romanian politicians have a history of trying to pass legislation to weaken investigative powers. Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu told reporters the two decrees were not on the agenda this week, but that they could be once the judiciary is consulted. "It is just as constitutional as the president attending a government meeting for us to issue emergency decrees in all areas that the law allows us to," he said. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; editing by Ralph Boulton)
Bucharest (AFP) - Romania's president on Wednesday held up a series of controversial legal changes that would have protected corrupt politicians in the graft-tainted country from prosecution.

The move came as the Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea, whose PSD party won last month's parliamentary elections, prepares to go on trial for alleged abuse of power.

Observers say the proposed legal amendment may have enabled Dragnea to escape the charges.

"Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu has committed himself to not rush the project through... but submit it for public consultation, as is the law," Klaus Iohannis told ministers.

"I am sure that we all want to reinforce the rule of law, which means respecting the rules."

The bill sought to decriminalise certain offences and redefine what constitutes an abuse of power.

The draft changes also included a new pardon law to help ease pressure on Romania's overcrowded prisons.

The justice minister had hoped to pass the proposals by emergency decree in Wednesday's cabinet meeting, which would have seen them enter into effect immediately.

A previous attempt in 2013 to pass the legal amendments was dropped after protests from non-governmental organisations.

Romania's anti-corruption agency has repeatedly cautioned against passing the proposals without public consultation.

The agency has spearheaded a major anti-corruption drive welcomed by Brussels as long overdue in the European Union's second-poorest country.

Keeping close tabs on Bucharest's justice reform, the European Commission is due to release its annual report into Romanian corruption at the end of January.

In its 2015 report, Brussels warned Romania against approving laws that could help to "whitewash individuals found guilty of corruption offences".
Moscow slammed former acting CIA Director Michael Morells suggestion that Russian President Vladimir Putin gift former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden to President-elect Donald Trump for his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Noon on January 20th provides an excellent opportunity for Russian President Vladimir Putin to give President-Elect Donald Trump the perfect inauguration gift  Edward Snowden, Morell wrote in an op-ed published Sunday in the Cipher Brief, a security and intelligence publication.

Im well aware that Russia does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S., but I am confident that President Putin is creative enough to find a way within his own legal system to deport Snowden, the former intelligence official wrote.

The Russian foreign ministry called Morells proposal an ideology of betrayal adding that Moscow will not abandon its principles. In a Facebook post, spokeswoman for the ministry Maria Zakharova added that Snowdens asylum, which was due to expire in 2017, was extended by a couple more years.

But seriously, the essence of what the [former] CIA [head] is proposing, is the ideology of betrayal. It is clear that, for the CIA-mans firm, it is normal to present people as gifts and give up those who seek protection, Zakharova reportedly wrote, adding that Morell was unaware that Snowden has had the deadline for a residence permit in Russia extended for a couple more years.

This is not the first time he [Morell] has made misanthropic, inhumane statements, she reportedly wrote, referring to an August 2016 interview in which Morell said the U.S. should make Iranian and Russian soldiers pay a price for their involvement in the Syrian war.

Morell, who served as deputy CIA director from 2010 to 2013, first became acting CIA chief in 2011 and once again for four months from 2012 to 2013. He has been a staunch critic of Putin, Trump and Snowden, calling the president-elect a gift to Putin.

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Russias statement extending Snowdens asylum comes shortly after President Barack Obama decided to commute the sentence of a U.S. military whistleblower Chelsea Manning. Manning leaked 700,000 documents to WikiLeaks and was sentenced in 2013 to 33 years in prison.

Snowden, who has been living in exile in Moscow since 2013, urged Obama last week to commute Mannings sentence.

The NSA whistleblower is wanted in the U.S. under the Espionage Act for leaking classified information. Snowden revealed NSA had been spying on U.S. citizens using the mass surveillance programs set up after 9/11.

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By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said its war planes had joined forces with Turkish jets for the first time on Wednesday to target Islamic State militants holding the town of al-Bab in northern Syria, evidence of increasingly close cooperation between Moscow and Ankara. Russia and Turkey are the main organizers of a new round of Syrian peace talks due to take place in Kazakhstan on Jan. 23 and have set aside their differences over the political fate of President Bashar al-Assad to try to forge a wider Syria deal. Moscow backs Assad, while Ankara has diluted its demands for the Syrian leader to urgently step down as part of what some sources say is a backroom deal aimed at dividing Syria into informal zones of regional power influence. Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi, a senior Russian Defence Ministry official, said that nine Russian jets and eight Turkish war planes had together struck targets in al-Bab, which is located around 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Aleppo. "Today the Russian and Turkish air forces are conducting their first joint air operation to strike Islamic State in the suburbs of al-Bab," Rudskoi said. "The assessment of the initial results ... showed the strikes were highly effective." Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wants Turkish-backed rebels to capture al-Bab to prevent Kurdish militias from doing so. Rudskoi said the joint mission had been conducted in agreement with the Syrian government. He said the Russian air force was also providing air support to Syrian government troops trying to fight off an Islamic State assault around the town of Deir al-Zor. The town's civilian population could be massacred if Islamic State took Deir al-Zor, he said. Russian jets were also backing a Syrian army offensive near the town of Palmyra, said Rudskoi, who added that Islamic State militants were planning to blow up more of the ancient city's historical monuments. "We have received information, confirmed by several sources, that a large amount of explosives has been brought into the Palmyra area and that the terrorists plan on destroying the city's world-class historical legacy," he said. Significant numbers of Islamic State militants fleeing the U.S.-led coalition offensive against Mosul in neighboring Iraq were streaming into Syria "almost unobstructed," Rudskoi said. (Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Moscow (AFP) - Russian authorities have extended US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden's Russian residency permit by three years, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Snowden's residence permit has been extended "until 2020," ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told AFP.

She had previously indicated on Facebook that Snowden's permit had been extended by two years, using a phrase that can be ambiguous in Russian.

Snowden's Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena confirmed to RIA Novosti state news agency that the Russian immigration service in early January extended Snowden's permit by three years, while he has already spent more than three years in the country.

Kucherena added that if Snowden ends up staying in Russia for five years, he will be able to apply for Russian citizenship.

"This will be legally possible in the near future," Kucherena said.

The former National Security Agency contractor shook the American intelligence establishment to its core in 2013 with a series of devastating leaks on mass surveillance in the US and around the world.

The announcement came as outgoing US President Barack Obama commuted the sentence of army private Chelsea Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for handing classified US documents to WikiLeaks.

Snowden was not on Obama's list of commutations or pardons.

Snowden has been living in exile in Russia since the summer of 2013, ending up in the country after spending weeks in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.

He was initially granted permission to stay in Russia for one year amid the rapid deterioration in Moscow's relations with Washington.

Kucherena said Snowden "has quite an active life, he travels and visits the provinces, he works."

Snowden has not made any public appearances in Russia since his arrival although he has given interviews in secret locations.

The revelations from the documents he leaked sparked a massive row over the data sweeps conducted by the United States domestically and in allied nations, including of their leaders.

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Snowden welcomed the action on Manning's sentence, writing on Twitter: "Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama."

Asked about Snowden's possible future given Obama's decision, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Wednesday that "this isn't a question for the Kremlin, we don't have any information on what Mr Snowden is doing."

All Snowden's contacts with the outside world are through his lawyers in Russia and the United States, Peskov added.

Former CIA acting director Michael Morell in an opinion piece this week suggested that Putin could hand over Snowden to mark Donald Trump's inauguration.

But Zakharova condemned what she called Morell's proposal to "hand over those who seek protection," adding: "You still don't understand Russia, Michael Morell."
Moscow (AFP) - Russia and Turkey on Wednesday staged their first joint air strikes against the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria, the Russian defence ministry said.

Nine Russian and eight Turkish planes took part in the "first joint air operation" in the area around the town of Al-Bab in the Aleppo region, Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoi told a briefing.

The announcement came less than a week after Russia said Moscow and Ankara had signed an agreement spelling out mechanisms to coordinate their air forces in Syria when conducting strikes "on terrorist targets".

Rudskoi said that "36 targets" had been destroyed. He said Syrian authorities had agreed to the operation that he hailed as "highly effective."

Russia, Turkey and Iran are organising Syria peace talks that begin in the Kazakh capital Astana on Monday in a bid to bolster a frail truce brokered by Moscow and Ankara last month.

The truce went into effect on December 30 and has brought calm to much of Syria, although fighting persists in some regions.

The ceasefire excludes IS and its rival the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from Al-Nusra Front after breaking ties with Al-Qaeda last year.
A South Korean judge began deliberating Wednesday whether to formally arrest the heir to the Samsung empire over his alleged role in a corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun-Hye.

Lee Jae-Yong, 48, was tight-lipped as he left the Seoul Central District Court after a four-hour hearing, television footage showed. He declined to speak to reporters.

The potential detention of the de facto head of a giant conglomerate -- whose revenues are equivalent to a fifth of the country's GDP -- raised concerns over its possible wider impact.

Samsung is the country's largest exporter and world's biggest smartphone maker, and the top-selling Chosun Ilbo newspaper said the firm could face a "global beating" from authorities in major trading partners, including Washington.

"If Lee faces legal punishment, the US government could review measures to slap sanctions on Samsung under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)," the paper said in a front-page article.

It warned that Samsung's global brand image -- which took a pounding over last year's Galaxy Note 7 recall debacle -- would also be further tarnished.

Prosecutors said Monday they would seek an arrest warrant for Lee on suspicion of bribery, embezzlement and perjury in connection with the scandal which has already seen President Park impeached.

It centres on Park's secret confidante, Choi Soon-Sil, who is accused of using her ties with the president to coerce top local firms to "donate" nearly $70 million to dubious non-profit foundations which she used for her personal benefit.

Samsung is the single biggest contributor to the foundations and separately paid Choi millions of euros, allegedly to bankroll her daughter's equestrian training in Germany.

In total, Samsung is allegedly implicated in payments of 43 billion won ($36.4 million) although Lee has denied any wrongdoing during a 22 hour marathon questioning last week.

"The key point is whether any favours were given. We explained our position very clearly," Lee's attorney told reporters after Wednesday's hearing.

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The court ordered Lee to wait at a detention facility on the outskirts of Seoul for the judge's ruling, a court spokesman said, with the decision not expected to be reached until late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

- 'Economic sentiment' -

Lee became Samsung's de facto leader after his father suffered a heart attack in 2014. If the court approves his detention he would be the first South Korean senior executive to be arrested over the scandal.

Prosecutors in particular are probing whether Samsung's payments were aimed at securing government approval for a controversial merger of two of its units in 2015.

The combination of Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T was seen as a key step towards ensuring a smooth third-generation power transfer to Lee.

It was opposed by many investors who said it wilfully undervalued Samsung C&T's shares. But it was backed by the National Pension Service, a major Samsung shareholder.

Park, accused of colluding with Choi to extract money from the firms and letting the friend meddle in a wide range of state affairs, was impeached by parliament last month.

Both Park and Choi, who is on trial for coercion and abuse of power, have denied any wrongdoing as the Constitutional Court is reviewing the validity of the impeachment.

If the court upholds the impeachment, a presidential vote will be held in 60 days, with Park immediately losing executive privilege that protects her from criminal indictment.

South Korea's central bank earlier this month cut its growth forecast for this year to 2.5 percent, citing "deteriorations in economic sentiment".
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Matthew Miller BOSTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - The hedge fund investment firm founded by Anthony Scaramucci said it will sell a majority of itself to RON Transatlantic EG and an arm of Chinese aviation and tourism conglomerate HNA Group, four days after Scaramucci took a position in President-elect Donald Trump's administration. SkyBridge Capital announced the deal on Tuesday. Terms of the sale, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017, were not disclosed. For HNA Group, which announced about $20 billion of deals in 2016 alone, the stake purchase through its financial arm HNA Capital represents the latest move into financial asset management. Last week, HNA said it would spend $460 million to purchase New Zealand asset finance firm UDC. "Our investment in SkyBridge is an important step in HNA Capital's strategy to build a global asset management business," Guang Yang, CEO for HNA Capital U.S., said in a statement. The deal comes as HNA Group is rapidly expanding in the United States, where authorities have stepped up scrutiny of Chinese state-backed deals. HNA Group, best known as the owner of Hainan Airlines Co, announced in October that it will fork out $6.5 billion to purchase a 26 percent stake in hotel chain Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. HNA's Avolon Holdings also agreed that month to buy CIT Group's aircraft leasing assets worth $10 billion. The $12 billion SkyBridge's investment management team, lead by Ray Nolte, will continue to run the company, offering clients access to hedge funds such as Daniel Loeb's Third Point, Michael Vranos' Ellington Management Group and Steven Tananbaum's GoldenTree Asset Management LP. Scaramucci, who founded SkyBridge in 2005 and joined forces with Nolte five years later when he bought Citigroup Alternative Investments Hedge Fund Management Group, will no longer be affiliated with the firm or its well-known industry conference, the SkyBridge Alternatives Conference. Known on Wall Street as the "Mooch", Scaramucci announced on Friday that he would be joining the White House staff as an adviser and public liaison to government agencies and businesses. Word spread among bankers in mid-December that he had put the company up for sale as he was setting his sights on a position in Washington. HNA Capital (U.S.), a unit of HNA Capital, and RON Transatlantic already owned a minority stake in SkyBridge. Between the two, the new majority owners are involved in beer brewing, tourism, logistics and financial services. "Now, together with the world-class resources and networks of HNA and Transatlantic, we feel the 'sky' is the limit for how far we can take SkyBridge," George Hornig, Chief Executive of RON Transatlantic Financial Holdings, said in the statement. The SkyBridge Alternatives Conference, called SALT, grew into one of the industry's biggest hedge fund conferences as Scaramucci got former U.S. presidents, generals and money managers, along with thousands of others to join him for days of lectures and sunning by the pool in Las Vegas. The conference will be spun off as a standalone entity, the company said. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston and Matthew Miller in Beijing; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Alan Crosby and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
Washington (AFP) - The inauguration of Donald Trump as America's 45th president is the highlight of several days of pomp and circumstance in the US capital. Here's a look at the timeline of events.

Thursday, January 19

10:35 am - Performances begin at Lincoln Memorial. "Voices of the People," the first act of a day-long public concert, will feature groups such as the DC Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, the Republican Hindu Coalition, high school marching bands, choirs and baton twirlers.

3:30 pm to 4 pm - Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of the nation's veterans.

4 pm to 6 pm - Trump will deliver remarks during the second act of the concert at Lincoln Memorial, dubbed the "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration." The event, broadcast live nationally, will be headlined by country stars Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood and feature a fireworks finale.

Trump is expected to spend Thursday night at Blair House, the presidential guest residence across the street from the White House.

Friday, January 20

Morning - Trump, Pence and their families are expected to attend services at St. John's Episcopal Church, just steps from the White House.

Afterward, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome Trump and his wife Melania to the White House for morning tea. The two couples will then travel together to the Capitol by motorcade.

9:30 am - Inauguration ceremony begins on the west front of the Capitol with musical performances.

Attendees will include members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, diplomats and the public. Former presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will attend, as will Trump's election opponent Hillary Clinton.

Former president George H.W. Bush is in frail health and will not be present.

Sixteen-year-old soprano Jackie Evancho will sing the national anthem. The Rockettes dance troupe will also be performing, at a time yet to be announced.

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11:30 am - Opening remarks. Religious leaders will offer the invocation and readings.

Pence will be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Noon - Trump will recite the oath of office, administered by US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. He will use president Abraham Lincoln's inauguration Bible, as well as the Bible that Trump's mother gave to him at his Sunday school graduation in 1955. Afterward, Trump will deliver his inaugural address.

12:30 Ceremony ends.

Afterward, in keeping with tradition, Trump and Pence will attend the Congressional Lunch in the Capitol.

3 pm to 5 pm - Inaugural parade. The newly minted president and vice-president make their way 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, trailed by some 8,000 parade participants. They will include members of all US military branches, as well as high school and university marching bands, equestrian corps, first responders, veteran groups and even a tractor brigade.

7 pm to 11 pm - Trump, Pence and their wives will make appearances at three official inaugural balls, two of which will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the other at the National Building Museum. A number of semi-official and unofficial balls also will take place throughout the city.

Saturday, Jan 21

10 am to 11 am - Trump and Pence attend the interfaith National Prayer Service, held at the Washington National Cathedral.
Pressed by Democratic senators for his views on the causes of climate change, the Trump administrations choice to run the Environmental Protection Agency insisted at his confirmation hearing Wednesday morning that his personal opinion was immaterial to how he would do his job.

Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee questioned Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt closely on his history of suing the agency he has been nominated to lead, his statements questioning mainstream climate science and his close ties to the oil and gas industries. Republicans were much friendlier, mostly lamenting the impact of regulations on fossil-fuel industry jobs, something Pruitt promised to take into account.

Coincidentally, the hearing came as two leading scientific agencies  NASA and NOAA, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration  announced that 2016 was the hottest year in history, the third consecutive year that global temperatures set a new record. Stretches of the Arctic Ocean, they said, were an astonishing 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

Pruitt is part of a group of state attorney generals that is suing the EPA over the Clean Power Plan, which was first proposed in June 2014. It aims to fight anthropogenic climate change by limiting greenhouse gas emissions related to electricity generation from power plants. He has been involved in more than a dozen other lawsuits against the EPA.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., had a particularly heated exchange with Pruitt over the overwhelming scientific consensus that carbon emissions from human activities are the primary cause of the climate change thats already had destructive consequences around the world.

As I indicated in my opening statement, the climate is changing and human activity contributes to that in some manner, Pruitt said.

In some manner? Sanders said. 97 percent of the scientists who wrote articles in peer-reviewed journals believe that human activity is the fundamental reason that we are seeing climate change. You disagree with that?

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In defiance of mainstream climate science, Pruitt insisted, There should be more debate over whether human activities are actually contributing to climate change. Sanders pushed back and asked Pruitt to provide an explanation as to why the climate has been changing.

Scott Pruitt, President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to run the Environmental Protection Agency, testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 18, 2017. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Well, senator, the job of the administrator is to carry out the statutes as passed by this body, Pruitt said.

Why is the climate changing? Sanders asked again.

Senator, in response to the CO2 issue, the administrator is constrained by statutes he said.

Im asking your personal opinion, Sanders insisted.

My personal opinion is immaterial, he responded.

In disbelief, Sanders said, Really? You are going to be the head of the agency to protect the environment, and your personal opinions about whether climate change is caused by human activity and carbon emissions is immaterial?

Senator, Ive acknowledged to you that the human activity impacts, Pruitt said.

Sanders shot back: Impacts? The scientific community doesnt tell us it impacts. They say, It is the cause of climate change. We have to transform our energy system.

When asked if he believes the U.S. must change its energy system, Pruitt repeatedly dodged the question and answered along these lines: I believe the administrator has a very important role in regulating CO2.

In response to questions from Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, Pruitt did distance himself from President-elect Donald Trumps pledge, as a candidate, to get rid of EPA in almost every form.

A protester is detained during Pruitts confirmation hearing. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., hammered Pruitt for sending a letter principally drafted by Devon Energy in October 2011 to the EPA disputing findings that methane is about 30 times more potent as a heat-trapping gas (volume for volume) than carbon dioxide. The energy company, which had a vested interest in downplaying the devastating effect of methane, directly contributed 979 out of the letters 1,016 words  roughly 97 percent.

Merkley accused Pruitt of using his office as a direct extension of an oil company rather than for the health and interests of the people of Oklahoma.

Democratic senators questioned Pruitt closely on his philosophy of regulation, which the nominee described as cooperative federalism. For Democrats, especially those from Eastern Seaboard states downwind from the industries and utilities of the Midwest, letting states regulate their own emissions amounts to a prescription for doing nothing. Air and water pollution does not stop at state lines.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., asked Pruitt to address 14 lawsuits in which Pruitt specifically fought the EPAs attempts to reduce air pollution. Among other issues, Pruitt challenged mercury and air toxics standards, national ambient air quality standards, carbon dioxide emissions standards from new power plants and the Clean Power Plan.

Booker, a former mayor of Newark, N.J., was particularly concerned with Pruitts unsuccessful lawsuit against the EPA challenging the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). Scientists estimate that every year in the U.S. the CSAPR saves up to 34,000 lives and prevents 400,000 asthma attacks.

The fact pattern on representing polluters is clear. Youve worked very hard on behalf of these industries that have their profits externalized; negative externalities are their pollution, Booker said.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., questions Pruitt. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Pruitt dismissed the notion that hes a tool of the fossil-fuel industry. He said he was representing the interests of his state. But Booker accused Pruitt of standing up for polluters at the expense of Oklahomans health.

According to data published by the nonpartisan American Lung Association, more than 111,000 children in Oklahoma (more than 10 percent) suffer from asthma. Thats one of the highest asthma rates in the United States.

Youve been writing letters on behalf of polluting industries. I want to ask you, how many letters did you write to the EPA about this health crisis? If this is representative government, did you represent those children? Booker said.

Pruitt said the state of Oklahoma would need to have an interest before it could bring cases on issues like cross-state pollution: You cant just bring a lawsuit if you dont have standing, if theres not some injury to the state of Oklahoma.

Booker interjected, Injury? Clearly, asthma is triggered and caused by air pollutants. Clearly, there is an air pollution problem. And the fact that you have not brought suits [at any level against] the industries that are causing the pollution is really problematic.

Pruitt was introduced at the hearing by Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., who has a wide reputation as a friend of the fossil-fuel industry and a denier of climate science. He described the nominee as a good friend who has built a reputation for keeping the federal government in check by fighting overreach.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., during Pruitts confirmation hearing. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Pruitt will ensure that the agency fulfills the role delegated to it by Congress  nothing more and nothing less, Inhofe said. Oklahoma is an energy and agriculture state, but its also a state that knows what it means to protect the environment while balancing competing interests.

Inhofe made much of Pruitts role in helping to resolve a long-standing dispute over water rights involving Oklahoma City and two Indian tribes, the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Other Republicans also gave considerable weight to EPAs relatively popular role in enforcing the Clean Water Act  and to jobs.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., sided with Pruitt in his battles against the EPA. She accused the EPA of failing to take into account the devastating impact its policies would have on coal-mining jobs in her region.

For the past eight years, the EPA has given no indication that it cares about the economic impact of its policies, she said.

Similarly, Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said her states public power utilities are grappling with how they could ever comply with the EPAs restrictions on carbon emissions. Nebraska farmers, she said, are waiting for new technology thats stuck in a broken regulatory process, and biofuel investors face uncertainty under the Renewable Fuel Standard program, which aims to replace petroleum-based fuel with clean energy.

As a result of the activist role the EPA played for the past eight years, families are concerned about the future of their livelihoods, she said.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Maiduguri (Nigeria) (AFP) - The death toll from a botched air strike on Boko Haram fighters in northeast Nigeria rose to 70 on Wednesday, as aid agencies indicated more people could die without urgent treatment.

Nigeria called Tuesday's bombing of a camp for displaced people in Rann a mistake and blamed the "fog of war", sparking strong condemnation from aid agencies working in the crisis-hit region.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which lost six members of its Nigerian affiliate, said: "It is estimated that 70 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded."

The air strike happened as aid workers distributed food at the military-run camp housing tens of thousands of people.

ICRC surgeon Laurent Singa, part of a team dispatched to Rann shortly after the bombing, described the conditions for post-operative care as "not adequate".

"All the patients must be evacuated to (Borno state capital) Maiduguri as soon as possible," he added in a statement.

Nine patients were said to be in a critical condition and were evacuated to Maiduguri on Tuesday. Forty-six of the 90 that remain were said to be severely injured.

They needed to be transferred "as a matter of urgency", the ICRC said, adding that patients were being treated in the open air in a "precarious environment".

An ICRC spokeswoman in Abuja told AFP: "We are hoping that by nightfall all patients in need of hospital care will be transferred."

- 'Catastrophic event' -

Aid agencies assisting the hundreds of thousands of people in northeast Nigeria in dire need of food, shelter, clean water and healthcare expressed shock and dismay at the bombing.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, described it as "a truly catastrophic event", calling for a full investigation to prevent any repeat.

Jean-Clement Cabrol, director of operations for the medical charity MSF, which earlier gave a death toll of 52, said the attack was "shocking and unacceptable".

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The secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, said: "It cannot become the new normal that 'accidental' attacks on camps sheltering the innocent are allowed to happen again and again in conflict zones."

Human Rights Watch's senior Nigeria researcher Mausi Segun said the government in Abuja should compensate victims and their families.

"Even if there is no evidence of a wilful attack on the camp, which would be a war crime, the camp was bombed indiscriminately, violating international humanitarian law.

"Victims should not be denied redress merely because the government decided the bombing was accidental."

Accidental bombings have occurred before in the conflict and senior military commanders called the latest "a mistake", saying humanitarian workers were not targeted directly.

Major General Lucky Irabor, who heads the counter-insurgency operation, said the air force jet had been told to target insurgents in the flashpoint Kala-Balge area but hit Rann instead.

A delegation headed by President Muhammadu Buhari's chief of staff Abba Kyari and including armed forces chiefs visited Maiduguri on Wednesday and was also scheduled to visit Rann.

Kyari called the bombing "very unfortunate" and noted "incidents of friendly fire are as old as history of mankind" but said that was no excuse and he was happy there was no cover up.

- Questions asked -

Local and international aid agencies have until recently been unable to get to Rann because of bad roads and insecurity in the remote region near the border with Cameroon around Lake Chad.

The military announced last month it has ousted Boko Haram from its camps in Sambisa Forest, in southern Borno, sending fighters north.

Nigeria's military has announced an investigation into the incident. The Daily Trust newspaper reported that clearly marked ICRC tents were bombed, without quoting sources.

MSF said none of its staff was injured or killed but that three employees of a Cameroonian firm it hired to provide water and sanitation services lost their lives.

Ties have been strained between humanitarian agencies and the Nigerian authorities, which have accused some aid organisations of exaggerating the food crisis triggered by the insurgency.

In December, Save the Children said 4.7 million people in the northeast needed food assistance and some 400,000 children were at imminent risk of starvation.

The presidency called some of the claims "hyperbolic" while the Borno state governor recently accused some aid agencies of profiting from the crisis.
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Pristina (AFP) - A propagandist train, a rising wall and the ghosts of the late 1990s conflict: Serbia and Kosovo are engaged in a disturbing war of symbols and words, unprecedented in recent years.

"Kosovo is Serbia" said a message in 20 languages on the side of a train, painted in the colours of the Serbian flag, which left Belgrade on Saturday, destined for northern Kosovo.

The move was lambasted as a "deliberate provocation" by Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci, who suggested it was part of a plan to annex the Serb-populated north of his country.

"Serbia counts on the assistance of Russia," said Thaci.

A former Serbian province with a predominantly ethnic Albanian population, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008, a decade after its Albanian insurgents fought the forces of Belgrade's late strongman Slobodan Milosevic.

Kosovo's sovereignty has since been recognised by more than 100 countries, but not by Serbia and its traditional ally Russia.

The train, decorated inside with Serbian Orthodox religious imagery, supposedly represented the freedom of movement of Serb people -- a crucial point in a normalisation process between the two sides that began back in 2011.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic eventually halted the train before it crossed the border but he also upped the pressure, saying he took the decision to "avoid a conflict and save lives" based on fears the train would be attacked.

He accused the Kosovo government of sending police units to the north to "provoke a wide-ranging conflict", alleging plans to blow up the tracks that were denied by Pristina.

- Ready to send army -

"We do not want war, but we will even send the army if needed to protect Serbs from possible killings," Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic told reporters on Saturday.

Speaking to Western diplomats the following day, Kosovo's Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said that Belgrade's actions towards Kosovo "show that Serbia wants to ignite new conflicts".

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Belgrade and Pristina both aspire to join the European Union, and EU-brokered talks between the two sides since 2011 have led to greater freedom of movement and goods and improved police cooperation.

But nearly 20 years after the Kosovo war in which 13,000 people were killed, progress has stalled.

The disputes are accumulating: Kosovo's citizens were outraged at the January 4 arrest in France of former premier Ramush Haradinaj on suspicion of war crimes, owing to an international arrest warrant issued by Belgrade.

A former head of the insurgent Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Haradinaj has been released on bail but cannot leave France while an extradition request from Belgrade is examined, which could take months.

He has twice before been tried and acquitted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at The Hague.

- Building a wall -

Relations have further deteriorated in the town of Mitrovica in northern Kosovo, where Serb authorities have started erecting a concrete wall on the banks of the Ibar river.

The wall's construction, by a bridge that divides the town's Serb-dominated north and largely ethnic Albanian south, has angered Pristina, which says it is cementing the town's divisions and must be knocked down.

But the mayor of North Mitrovica, Goran Rakic, says the wall is simply practical and will protect pedestrians from traffic.

It is not up to Pristina to decide "what would and what would not be built," he warned.

Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that the issue of the wall "will be settled in accordance with the law".

Serbian political analyst Aleksandar Popov said the renewed tensions could be explained by domestic politics, with Serbia entering a campaigning period ahead of presidential elections in April.

Kosovo remains a sensitive issue 18 years after a NATO bombing campaign against Serbia aimed at ending the war, and Popov said the ruling SNS party wanted to anticipate voters' criticisms over how they have handled Kosovo and relations with Europe.

Belul Beqaj, a political sciences professor in Kosovo, said Belgrade's leaders had a habit of trying to distract voters from internal problems by focusing on Kosovo ahead of elections.

"It is a dangerous game with fire that cannot be fully controlled," he warned.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  A Serbian rights group said Wednesday its activists were beaten after interrupting an event organized by the ruling populists that included an appearance by a convicted war criminal.

Youth Initiative for Human Rights said its nine activists were hurt, two of whom sought medical help after the incident late Tuesday in Beska, northern Serbia.

The group said they broke into the event hosting Veselin Sljivancanin, a former Yugoslav army officer sentenced by the U.N. court in the Netherlands for war crimes during Croatia's 1991-95 war.

Activists spread a banner reading "War criminals must shut up so we can talk about victims," but were thrown out and allegedly beaten outside the venue.

One activist, Ana Mitic, told local N1 television that "several men followed us through the corridor and then continued to beat us."

"They beat us hard and we started to run," Mitic said, claiming that the attackers kicked one of the activists who fell down on the floor.

The governing Serbian Progressive Party has protested an intrusion by "hooligans" and the "fascist incident." The party urged the authorities to punish those responsible.

Serbia has seen a resurgence of nationalism stemming from the 1990s Balkan war in which some 100,000 people died. President Tomislav Nikolic last week met with another convicted war criminal, former Bosnian Serb leader Momcilo Krajisnik.

The youth group criticized a "warmongering tone" by Serbia's government and ruling party officials as "very dangerous" and a threat to peace and stability in the Balkans.
Now these two missing sisters have been found after disappearing 31 years ago and they're alive.

Their father, Russell Yates, told journalists outside his home: "You live 30 years wondering what the hell is going on  if anything has happened to anybody."

He said "it is a great feeling" knowing they are alive and well.

Read: Teen Abducted 18 Years Ago Doesn't Want to See Alleged Kidnapper Jailed: 'She Will Always Be Mom'

Yates' ex-wife, Elaine, now faces abduction charges. Authorities say she built a new in Houston -- 1,800 miles from her home in Rhode Island.

Kimberly Yates was three and her kid sister, Kelly, just 10 months old when their mom allegedly snatched them in 1985.

"I had an extramarital affair, there was a lot of arguing back and forth, it was the worst thing I had ever done in my life. I am very sorry about it," he told reporters.

He did admitted to reporters that he slapped his wife back then.

Police say a tip led them to a condo in Houston, where Elaine Yates was living under the name Liana Waldberg.

Houston businessman Rick Archer knew the mom from the dance cruises he organized and which she went on.

"She is an extremely poised, polished woman, intelligent, well liked. She is not like a fugitive looking over her shoulder," he told Inside Edition.

Kimberly is now 35 and Kelly is 32. Both have families of their own.

The distraught father says he now has another grown daughter from another relationship.

"I cant run down to Texas and convince them, I dont want to scare anybody. I gotta sit back and wait to see if they want to get in touch with me," he told reporters.

The suspect appeared in court in Rhode Island Wednesday to face the charges.

Read: Teen Meets Biological Parents After Alleged Abductor Raised Her as Her Own Since 1998

She was asked to state her name and she said: Liana Waldberg. She was then asked if she was Elaine Yates and she replied yes.

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She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Watch: After Kamiyah Mobley Kidnapping, Experts Show Technology Being Used to Track Newborns in Hospitals

Related Articles:
SHIPROCK, N.M. (AP)  The father of an 11-year-old Navajo girl who was abducted and killed has sued the tribe for failing to have an emergency notification system that he claims would have saved his daughter's life.

The civil complaint filed last month by Ashlynne Mike's father, Gary Mike, says the Navajo Nation had numerous opportunities to develop an alert system before Ashlynne was kidnapped near her bus stop in May and found dead a day later. An Amber Alert didn't go out until the morning after her disappearance, leading to outcry that the public did not get notice of a child in danger during the crucial hours of the search.

The nation's largest Indian reservation has struggled to launch an emergency notification system since it was proposed years ago. The tribe announced last week that a new system should be working within a couple of weeks and that training for law enforcement was expected to start this month.

Attorney David Jordan, who is representing Gary Mike and his family, said his clients want the Navajo Nation to acknowledge its wrongdoing to vindicate Ashlynne's life. The suit does not include a request for compensation but demands a jury trial.

"They filed the complaint to get some justice for their daughter," Jordan told The Daily Times in Farmington. "The Navajo Nation had all the means and ability to put in place a structure that would have saved her life, and they funneled that money away in kind of a shameless way."

Navajo President Russell Begaye acknowledged that past leaders secured funding to implement an alert system.

"We don't know why the previous administration didn't pursue establishing such a system on the Navajo Nation," the president said in a statement to the newspaper. "However, we are thankful that we now have a system in place."

The tribe, whose reservation spans 27,000 square miles on parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, received $330,000 in federal funding as part of a U.S. Justice Department pilot project announced in 2007 to expand Amber Alerts on tribal lands.

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Half the money was used to buy equipment such as megaphones and pop-up tents, but the rest went unspent.

The complaint also pointed to a grant of $357,000 that was awarded in 2011 to help the tribe upgrade its fingerprint identification system to share information with national databases and enhance technology resources by buying computers, hard drives and scanners.

Ashlynne Mike's father filed a missing person report for his daughter, but an Amber Alert issued by authorities in New Mexico didn't go out until around 2 a.m. the day after her disappearance.

Tom Begaye Jr. of Waterflow, New Mexico, has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in Ashlynne's death. He told investigators he sexually assaulted the girl and struck her twice in the head with a crowbar, and that she was still moving when he left her in the desert, according to court documents.

"If a concentrated search had been begun immediately upon the making of the report, it would have saved her life," the complaint filed by Ashlynne's father said. "The entire investigation and search was mishandled, and the Navajo Nation's own failings directly contributed to Ashlynne's death."

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Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com
More than two years after police say she was stabbed 19 times by two friends and left for dead in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Payton Leutner has settled back into her life as a high school freshman.

Theres some normalcy after this horrific premeditated crime, and were just very proud of her, Leutner family spokesman Steve Lyons told WISN.

On May 31, 2014, police say Payton was lured by friends Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser into the woods near their homes, where she was attacked by the other two as part of a murder plot. The girls left her to die, but Payton managed to crawl to a bike path where a passerby found her and called 911, according to investigators.

All three girls were 12 at the time of the attack.

Anissa and Morgan later told police they committed the stabbing in the name of Slenderman, a fictional online character popular in horror stories. The case is the subject of an upcoming HBO documentary, Beware the Slenderman, which debuts Jan. 23.

The suspects have been in custody since the attack, on charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, while they await trial. They have both pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

 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.

Meanwhile, Payton, now 14, has kept a low profile as she navigates high school like any other teen. Shes in AP classes, studying French and even took a trip to Canada with her schools French Club, Lyons told WISN.

But while she continues to move forward with her life, she is fully aware that she might have to testify in the upcoming trial, which is expected to begin this summer.

Having to relive that is very difficult, Lyons said, but at the same time, they do believe that at the end of the day, justice will be served.




SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's finance minister said on Wednesday it was "not yet time" to discuss what impact the arrest of Samsung leader Jay Y. Lee would have on the economy if it happens. "The court should make a decision before I say something; now is not the time," Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting in Seoul. Jay Y. Lee, the 48-year-old leader of Samsung Group, is due to appear at a court hearing on Wednesday morning where a judge will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant over his alleged role in a corruption scandal that has engulfed South Korea. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim and Christine Kim; Editing by Michael Perry)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's finance minister said on Wednesday it was "not yet time" to discuss what impact the arrest of Samsung leader Jay Y. Lee would have on the economy if it happens. "The court should make a decision before I say something; now is not the time," Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting in Seoul. Jay Y. Lee, the 48-year-old leader of Samsung Group [SAGR.UL], is due to appear at a court hearing on Wednesday morning where a judge will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant over his alleged role in a corruption scandal that has engulfed South Korea. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim and Christine Kim; Editing by Michael Perry)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's special prosecutor's office said on Sunday it will decide whether to seek an arrest warrant against Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee on Monday.

Spokesman for the special prosecutor Lee Kyu-chul told reporters during a briefing investigators will also decide whether to seek arrest warrants against other Samsung Group executives at the same time as when it makes a decision on Lee, named a suspect in an investigation into whether the country's top conglomerate paid bribes to pave the way for a 2015 merger of two affiliates.

"We are considering all factors and will make a determination based on the law and principles," he told reporters.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Se Young Lee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
A South Korean court on Thursday refused to authorise the arrest of the heir to the Samsung business empire, in a setback to prosecutors probing a corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun-Hye.

Officials on Monday sought the arrest of Lee Jae-Yong on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury, sending shock waves through the group, which is a major part of the South Korean economy and includes the world's largest smartphone maker.

It is already reeling from the debacle over the recall of its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device and reports have suggested it could face sanctions from overseas authorities if Lee is punished.

Lee, who became Samsung's de facto head after his father suffered a heart attack in 2014, is accused of bribing Choi Soon-Sil, Park's secret confidante at the centre of the scandal, and receiving policy favours from Park in return.

But the court rejected the request on grounds of insufficient evidence, which could mar investigators' plan to question Park -- impeached by parliament last month -- on charges of bribery.

A spokesman for the prosecution team described the decision as "very regrettable" but said they will "carry on with our probe without wavering".

Analysts questioned the decision.

Kim Nam-Geun, a Seoul lawyer and a political commentator, accused the court of being soft on Samsung because of media pressure and the potential wider economic impact of Lee's arrest.

"A court usually approves arrest warrants over bribery cases involving such an enormous amount of money and circumstantial evidence," Kim said.

Samsung is South Korea's largest business group and its revenue is equivalent to about a fifth of the country's GDP.

As well as the investigation of Park, the decision could weaken prosecutors' probes into the heads of other conglomerates implicated in the scandal, said Choi Chang-Ryol, a professor of politics at Yongin University.

"It would be far easier for prosecutors to quiz Lee if they have him under detention, and eventually build a bribery case against Park as well," he said.

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- Camera flashes -

Lee, 48, was seen early Thursday leaving a detention centre where he had awaited the decision for the previous 18 hours, following a hearing by the court.

With a slight smile, wearing a long coat and tie and carrying a shopping bag, he was led out by a security guard to a barrage of camera flashes, and was driven away without responding to questions from a horde of journalists.

Investigators said Lee gave or promised some 43 billion won ($36.3 million) worth of bribes to Choi, allegedly in return for the state pension fund's backing of a merger of two Samsung affiliates -- deemed crucial for Lee's hereditary succession at Samsung.

Lee and his lawyers have claimed Park pressured it into making donations, but that it did not expect special favours in return for the funds.

In a statement released by the prosecutors, the court said it was "difficult to accept the reasons, need and justification" for his arrest.

"We appreciate the fact that the merits of this case can now be determined without the need for detention," Samsung said in a statement on Thursday.

- Merger deal -

Choi is accused of using her presidential ties to force top local firms into donating nearly $70 million to two non-profit foundations controlled by her.

Samsung is the single biggest contributor to the foundations and separately paid Choi millions of euros, allegedly to bankroll her daughter's equestrian training in Germany.

Prosecutors have been probing whether Samsung's payments were aimed at securing government approval for the controversial merger of Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T in 2015.

It was opposed by many investors who said it wilfully undervalued Samsung C&T's shares. But it was backed by the National Pension Service, a major Samsung shareholder.

Park, accused of colluding with Choi to extract money from the firms and letting her friend meddle in a wide range of state affairs, was impeached by parliament last month.

Both Park and Choi, who is on trial for coercion and abuse of power, have denied any wrongdoing as the Constitutional Court is reviewing the validity of the impeachment.

If the court upholds the impeachment, a presidential vote will be held in 60 days, with Park immediately losing executive privilege that protects her from criminal indictment.
Tyrants don't allow open questioning, and they hate the free press. They want total control.

That's why the incoming Trump administration is considering evicting the White House press corps from the press room inside the White House and moving them -- and news conferences -- to a conference center or to the old Executive Office Building, according to three senior officials on the transition team.

This may sound like a small logistic matter. It's not. The White House press room contains work stations and broadcast booths, and the briefing area for presidential news conferences. Reporters have had workspace at the White House since Teddy Roosevelt was president, in 1902.

But we're in a new era, the reign of King Trump.

Sean Spicer, Trump's press secretary, acknowledges "there has been some discussion about how" to move the press out of the White House. Spicer says it's because the new administration would like a larger room to allow more members of the press to attend press conferences.

Rubbish. It's because a larger room would allow the administration to fill seats with "alt-right" fringe journalists, right-wing social media, Trump supporters and paid staffers. They'd be there to ask the questions Trump wants to answer, and to jeer at reporters who ask critical questions, and to applaud Trump's answers.

The move would allow Trump to play the crowd.

That's exactly what happened at Trump's so-called "news conference" on Jan. 11 -- the first he's held in six months.

It wasn't really a press conference at all, and shouldn't have been characterized as one. It was a fake news conference that took place in a large auditorium.

In the audience were paid staffers who jeered and snickered when reporters asked critical questions, and cheered every time Trump delivered one of his campaign zingers. It could easily have been one of his rallies.

Just as he did in his rallies, Trump continued calling the press "dishonest" -- part of his ongoing effort to discredit the press and to reduce public confidence in it.

And he repeatedly lied. But the media in attendance weren't allowed to follow up or to question him on his lies.

For example, Trump wrongly stated that "the Democratic National Committee was totally open to be hacked. They did a very poor job. ... And they tried to hack the Republican National Committee, and they were unable to break through."

Baloney. FBI Director James Comey said there was evidence that Republican National Committee computers were also targeted. The critical difference, according to Comey, was that none of the information obtained from the RNC was leaked. Also, according to Comey, the Russians "got far deeper and wider into the [DNC] than the RNC," noting that "similar techniques were used in both cases."

Trump further asserted at his fake news conference that "I have no deals that could happen in Russia, because we've stayed away. And I have no loans with Russia."

Wrong again. Trump repeatedly sought deals in Russia. In a 2008 speech, Donald Trump Jr. said, "Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets," and "we see a lot of money pouring in from Russia."

Trump's statements at his fake news conference were, and are, big lies. They influence public understanding and opinion about two critically important issues: Did the Russians help Trump win the election, and, if so, why might they have done so?

At the very least, they should have been followed up with questions from the White House press corps. That would have happened at a real news conference in the White House press room, holding 45 correspondents from major media outlets who are assigned full-time to report on the president.

And that's precisely why Trump wants to evict the press from the White House.

A senior official admitted the move was a reaction to hostile press coverage. The view at the highest reaches of the incoming administration is that the press is the enemy. "They are the opposition party," said the senior official. "I want 'em out of the building. We are taking back the press room."

The incoming Trump administration is intent on neutering the White House press corps. If it happens, it will be another step toward neutering our democracy.
Sri Lanka's cabinet has rejected a proposal to end discrimination based on sexual orientation because it could legitimise homosexuality, which is illegal on the island, a government minister said Wednesday.

Sri Lanka's 1883 penal code, a legacy of its British colonial rulers, makes sex between men punishable by 12 years in jail, although the law is rarely enforced.

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said the cabinet had refused to endorse a provision in a proposed human rights plan that would have undermined the code.

"There was a provision referring to the sexual orientation of individuals and we clearly said it was not acceptable," said Senaratne, who is also the government spokesman.

"The government is against homosexuality, but we will not prosecute anyone for practising it," the minister said, adding that the island's conservative Buddhist clergy was also opposed to the provision.

He said the proposed National Human Rights Action Plan included a provision to remove "discrimination based on sexual orientation".

"People could interpret this (rights plan) in their favour," the minister said, adding that the government did not want to create "social problems" by inviting a challenge to the law.

Following intense campaigning by a gay rights group in 1995, the then government agreed to review the penal code that prohibited sex between men.

But rather than repeal the law, they expanded it to include women.

Rights activists say although there have been no known prosecutions in recent decades, Article 365 of the penal code is discriminatory and stigmatises homosexuality.

They also argue that it has led to the abuse of gay people.
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota officials are optimistic that a 1992 Supreme Court ruling saying sales taxes can't be collected from companies not physically present in the state can be overturned.

The Argus Leader (http://argusne.ws/2jZO0wS ) reports District Court Judge Roberto Lange ordered on Tuesday that a state-filed lawsuit requiring four out-of-state internet companies remit sales taxes to the South Dakota Department of Revenue be heard in state court. The order follows a legislative passage of a bill last year requiring some out-of-state internet companies to remit sales taxes on purchases in South Dakota.

The lawsuit was filed in state court against Wayfair, Inc. of Boston; Systemax, Inc. of Port Washington, New York; Overstock.com, Inc. of Salt Lake City; and Newegg, Inc. of City of Industry, California. But the companies asked Lange to move the proceedings to federal court, arguing that it belonged there because the issue dealt with a Supreme Court ruling and the Commerce Clause.

The state argued state court was the proper jurisdiction for a state tax issue, and Lange agreed.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard's chief of staff, Tony Venhuizen, said that the administration was pleased with the ruling but that it didn't have any further comment on pending litigation.

Earlier this month, Daugaard announced that online retail giant Amazon agreed to begin collecting state and local sales taxes on purchases in South Dakota.

Lange's ruling could move the case more quickly to the U.S. Supreme Court, which would give the state an opportunity to overturn the 1992 ruling. Still, the U.S. Supreme Court only takes a small number of cases each year, and an even fewer percentage are heard from state courts, said Jonathan Van Patten, a law professor at the University of South Dakota School of Law.

The state has at least one thing in its favor. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in a recent Supreme Court opinion about his desire to re-evaluate the 1992 decision, noting the evolution of consumer buying habits in the age of the internet.

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"It's got a chance, particularly if one of the justices has signaled his interest in revisiting the issue," Van Patten said.

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Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  Stephen Miller was a teenager in California when got his first political gig as a regular guest on a local conservative talk radio show, eager to complain about his liberal high school. In columns written for local newspapers, he took on what he called its plague of political correctness.

The school's decision to make announcements in Spanish "demeans the immigrant population as incompetent, and makes a mockery of the American ideal of personal accomplishment," Miller wrote. He complained about the school offering condoms to underage students, allowing a club for gay students and failing to ask students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day.

"You thought he was like a 35-year-old constitutional lawyer," Steve Bannon, President-elect Donald Trump's chief strategist and senior adviser, said of Miller's radio days. "That's how he built his reputation."

The young caller who caught the ear of prominent conservatives, including the late Andrew Breitbart, founder of Breitbart News, went on to do the same with Trump after joining his campaign a year ago. Starting Friday, Miller assumes the role of assistant and senior adviser to the president for policy, a job that starts with helping Trump as the president-elect writes his inaugural address.

If you've heard Trump speak at any point over the last year, you've likely heard Miller's work.

"I think he and Trump hit it off from the very beginning," Bannon said. "You could tell the difference in Trump's speeches. ... The ideas became more powerful, they were a little crisper."

"I think he helped Trump find his voice," Bannon said.

A throwback to an earlier era who speaks in a punctuated staccato and is rarely seen in anything but a dark suit and signature skinny tie, the 31-year-old Miller started in Trump's campaign as senior policy director, but quickly became a jack of all trades in the Republican's threadbare operation.

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He assumed the role of Trump's chief speechwriter, channeling the candidate's freewheeling talking points into structured, teleprompter-ready prose. He even warmed up the crowd at Trump's signature rallies. Jason Miller, who served as the campaign's communications director, said when others were unwinding after a long day on Trump's campaign plane, "Steve has his little keyboard up and he's still furiously typing away."

Traveling from rally to rally on the plane, Stephen Miller kept a close ear on what Trump was saying, said Jason Miller said, cataloguing his comments and using them as the building blocks for the candidate's formal speeches.

"When Steve presents the president-elect with an idea, it's already something that the president-elect is supportive of or has suggested himself," Miller said. "(Trump) always knows what he wants to say and he always has key points he wants to make."

Miller, who declined a request for an interview, built on his high school days as a conservative provocateur at Duke University, quickly becoming a minor campus celebrity as he founded a chapter of Students for Academic Freedom and led the Duke Conservative Union.

In his column for the campus' student newspaper, Miller described himself as "a deeply committed conservative who considers it his responsibility to do battle with the left." He railed against liberal professors, against attempts to curb the sale of cigarettes on campus and against Hollywood movies that "promote alternative lifestyles and erode traditional values."

When three Duke students who played lacrosse for the Blue Devils were accused of rape, Miller advocated tirelessly on their behalf. When the racially charged case fell apart and the three were declared innocent by the state's attorney general, Miller was hailed by conservatives for his outspoken defense of his fellow students.

He moved to Washington after graduation, taking a job with then-Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and, later, Alabama Sen. Jeff Session. In seven years as a Sessions aide, Miller fought efforts to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, and warned of the dangers of radical Islam and what he and his boss called the Republican Party's failure to communicate with the nation's working class.

"When it comes to policy, issues and messaging, there isn't anybody else that I've known who would be as valuable to a White House and a new administration as Stephen is," said Sessions, who is Trump's pick to serve as attorney general.

"He is not a hired gun," Sessions added in a statement. "He understands and supports the Trump movement" and he "understands America, loves her great values and people, and since high school in Los Angeles has defended them with passion and success."

Sam Nunberg, who helped lay the groundwork for Trump's campaign, said that Miller was the first aide on Capitol Hill to be really open and accessible to the billionaire businessman's campaign.

"We had a similar message and similar policies as Sessions. And we were a vehicle to promote that agenda," Nunberg said. "So we had mutual objectives."

But Garrett Murch, who worked side-by-side with Miller for five years in Sessions' office, said the Trump and his soon-to-be-speechwriter also shared an anger and attitude.

"What seemed to drive Stephen as much as anything was his rightful disgust with how inadequately Republicans communicated with everyday working Americans," he said, adding: "Steven saw a lot of incompetence in the Republican Party and its messaging that I think he'd spent years thinking about. It would only seem natural that they would bond over that alone."

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Follow Jill Colvin on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/colvinj
Gao (Mali) (AFP) - A suicide bombing targeting militia groups committed to restoring peace in Mali left around 50 people dead Wednesday and struck a fresh blow at long-running efforts to stabilise the troubled north.

The car bomb attack in Gao, the region's biggest city, targeted a camp housing former rebels and pro-government militia who are signatories to a 2015 peace accord struck with the government.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita ordered three days of national mourning following the attack, the worst in the country in recent years.

The group of Algerian jihadist and Al-Qaeda ally Mokhtar Belmokhtar claimed responsibility, in a statement, for the suicide bombing.

The group, allied to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), identified the attacker as Abdelhadi al-Foulani, in a statement cited by the US-based SITE watchdog and Mauritanian news agency Al-Akhbar.

Defence Minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga swiftly headed to Gao following the blast.

The attack occurred as former rebels from the Tuareg-led CMA movement prepared to go on a joint patrol with pro-government militia members, under the terms of the peace deal.

- Powerful blast -

Mali's north fell under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. The Islamists sidelined the rebels to take sole control.

Although they were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013, implementation of the peace accord has been piecemeal with insurgents still active across large parts of the region.

The joint patrols, which also include regular Malian army troops, are supposed to help prepare for the reorganisation of the army.

"The provisional toll is 47 dead, including five suicide bombers, and several dozen injured", the government said in a statement.

A Malian military source told AFP that 53 people had been killed and 110 injured.

The UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA said in a statement that "dozens of deaths and dozens of injuries are reported among the 600 individuals hosted in the camp".

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The attack took place at 0840 GMT as the former rival groups "were due to soon leave on a joint patrol," a MINUSMA source added.

The powerful blast, which went off during a training session, ripped apart bodies, scattering limbs across the camp, a witness said.

The vehicle used in the blast bore the logo of the unit coordinating the joint patrols, army spokesman Diarran Kone told AFP.

- 'Fragile peace' -

The assailant "came to town alone to procure equipment and fit the vehicle out to commit a suicide attack", a Malian security source who asked not to be named told AFP.

The camp is very close to Gao airport, a key transport hub which was closed briefly in late November following an attack blamed on jihadists.

The car bomb destroyed prefabricated hangars used by MINUSMA's aircraft and damage to the installations and debris on the runway made the airport temporarily unusable.

"The joint patrols were the target," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told French media on Wednesday. "The political aim is to hamper the peace process and reconciliation."

"Peace remains fragile," he added.

France is considering a UN Security Council draft resolution that would set up a sanctions regime for Mali to target opponents of the peace deal signed 19 months ago.

The UN Security Council met Wednesday and agreed to consider setting up a sanctions regime for Mali to punish those who are hindering the struggling peace deal.

Condemning the attack, council members said "persistent delays threaten the viability of the agreement" signed by the Malian government and rebel groups 19 months ago, said Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog, this month's council president.

The proposed sanctions regime would set up a mechanism to allow individuals and entities to be blacklisted by the United Nations. Targeted sanctions include a global travel ban and an assets freeze.

The United Nations has deployed 13,000 troops in Mali to serve in the MINUSMA force, considered one of the deadliest missions in peacekeeping.
Washington (AFP) - Muslims in the United States who were rounded up and detained in the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks took their case before the US Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The US high court reviewed whether the men, who say they were held after the Al-Qaeda attack based solely on their identity as Arab Muslims, had the right to sue top US officials including then-attorney general John Ashcroft and Federal Bureau of Investigation director Robert Mueller, for their allegedly illegal detention.

The men were among 750 Muslims rounded up after the terror attacks, many on grounds that they did not have legal US immigration papers.

They said they were held in small isolation cells for up to 23 hours at a stretch and subjected to mental and physical abuse. They were held in detention for three to eight months.

A lower court had ruled in the men's favor, and the officials appealed that to the Supreme Court, arguing that the national security and immigration requirements of the time justified the sweeping arrests.

A ruling on whether the men had a right to sue rests on court precedents involving constitutional protections against illegal search and seizure.

But Justice Stephen Breyer got to the hub of the broader case: whether the atmosphere at the time justified such a broad reaction.

"I can understand after a bomb attack and 3,000 people are killed," Breyer said. "I can understand that the first reaction of the law enforcement authorities is pick up anybody you might think is connected, and we'll worry about the rest of it later."

"Now, eight months?... The answer is pick up anybody who might have a connection, and then just keep them there?" he asked.

The current Barack Obama administration came in on the side of Ashcroft, Mueller and the others being sued.

"This is something that was done as the officials are trying to sort through how to respond to the very difficult situation," said Justice Department Lawyer Ian Gershengorn.

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"Some of the people on the list had ties to terrorism -- may have had ties to terrorism. Some of them may well not have," he said.

But officials had to take the time to figure that out, and in the meanwhile did not violate any laws, including those on discrimination, he said.

But Rachel Meeropol, arguing for the men who had been detained, said it was an issue of illegal discrimination.

"This court has a historic role to play in ensuring that race and religion do not take the place of legitimate grounds for suspicion and in deterring future Federal officials from creating government policy to do the same," she said."
BEIJING (AP) -- China is preparing to retaliate if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump raises duties on Chinese goods and already has toughened its stance, an American business group said Wednesday.

Trump, who is due to be inaugurated Friday, threatened during his campaign to raise import duties on Chinese goods to 45 percent. American companies are frustrated by Chinese market barriers and want Washington to take a tougher stance toward Beijing but worry reckless action might trigger retaliation.

Already, China has ordered unusually high anti-dumping penalties against a U.S.-made agricultural chemical.

"China has indeed threatened to and is preparing to take steps in retaliation if such actions take place," said Lester Ross, a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce, at a news conference.

In an implicit rebuke to Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphatically defended free trade in a speech Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. A "trade war" would harm all countries involved, he said.

On Jan. 11, the Ministry of Commerce raised duties on DGGS, an additive for livestock feed, to up to 53.7 percent, nearly double the 33.8 percent rate it recommended in September before Trump was elected.

The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Officials have not said publicly that China is preparing retaliatory measures but state media have emphasized its importance as a market for U.S. soybeans and other exports and warned against starting a "trade war."

Asked at a Jan. 6 news conference whether Beijing would retaliate by hiking import duties on U.S. goods, a deputy Chinese commerce minister, Wang Shouwen, said, "I believe mutually beneficial Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations will be further developed in the future and no one will destroy the win-win relationship."

The United States and China have one of the world's biggest and most complex trading relationships but American companies increasingly complain Beijing is blocking access to technology and other promising industries.

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While Beijing has promised to open more industries to foreign companies, they also have issued new rules on electric car manufacturing, data security, internet censorship and other fields.

In a reflection of companies' concerns, the American chamber's chairman, William Zarit, said it plans to send seven or eight businesspeople to Washington in February to meet lawmakers and Trump administration officials. Zarit said that is in addition to a delegation that makes an annual visit to Washington in April or May because this year is "special in many ways."

"We certainly are not going there to lecture the administration but we will share our ideas on a win-win path forward," Zarit said.

In a report released Wednesday, the chamber said a survey found American companies are increasingly unhappy with what they see as unfair treatment in China.

"We would recommend that the U.S. be more aggressive in talks," Zarit said. However, he said, "We don't want to do things that are counterproductive to both countries."

The chamber said 81 percent of companies that responded to a survey feel "less welcome" in China, up from 77 percent last year. It said one in four is shifting operations to other countries due to concern about the regulatory environment, higher costs and other reasons.

"Most respondents say China's environment now discourages investment," the report said.

Communist leaders have promised to make China's state-dominated economy more productive by opening more industries to private and foreign competitors. In December, the Cabinet promised to open fields including banking and motorcycle manufacturing.

Zarit and Ross said foreign companies welcomed such announcements but have yet to see significant changes in operating conditions.

Beijing also faces U.S. and European complaints it is threatening thousands of jobs abroad by exporting steel, aluminum, solar panels and other goods at improperly low prices.

The American chamber said its survey found 83 percent of companies expect U.S.-Chinese ties "to remain the same or to deteriorate in 2017." It said the "big question" for them is "what steps both governments will take to ensure a positive business environment."

For their part, European companies also are increasingly frustrated with Chinese trade policy. They complain they are blocked from acquiring assets in China at a time when Chinese companies have bought leading brands including German robot maker Kuka in a multibillion-dollar global acquisition spree.

On Tuesday, German Ambassador Michael Clauss urged Chinese leaders to make good on promises to open wider to foreign investment and give foreign companies a "level playing field."

"Many companies keep telling us that their difficulties in these areas have increased," Clauss said in a statement. "It often appears that somewhere down the line, political assurances of equal treatment give way to protectionist tendencies."

___

American Chamber of Commerce in China: www.amchamchina.org
(Reuters) - The suspect in the killing of an Orlando, Florida, police officer this month was captured on Tuesday, authorities said, ending an extensive manhunt.

Markeith Loyd, 41, was wanted in the fatal shooting of Master Sergeant Debra Clayton on Jan. 9. The shooting took place as police were trying to capture Loyd for the December murder of his pregnant former girlfriend.

"We've got him! Markeith Loyd in OPD custody," the Orlando Police Department said on Twitter. Authorities had offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Online video footage showed Loyd being hustled into police headquarters by sheriff's deputies and police, some of them masked. "They beat me up," he shouted to reporters outside the building.

Clayton, a decorated 17-year veteran of the Orlando Police Department, was shot while responding to a sighting of Loyd at a Walmart.

She exchanged fire with Loyd, who was wearing body armor at the time and continued to fire when Clayton was down, police have said. Clayton died at a hospital.

Loyd fled the shooting scene in a car and fired at a deputy who tried to the stop him, authorities said. The deputy was unharmed.

Police have said three people were arrested in Florida on charges of having helped Loyd avoid capture in recent weeks.

An Orange County sheriff's deputy in the manhunt for Loyd was killed in a collision between his motorcycle and a van.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Damascus (AFP) - Alone in her room at an overcrowded retirement home in Damascus, Naz Ashiti thumbs through photographs of her daughters overseas, her eyes lingering on features she has not seen in years.

Sending ageing family members to a retirement home was once unthinkable for most Syrians, but almost six years of war and displacement have left many with little choice.

As the conflict has claimed the lives of young people, or forced them to escape abroad, their parents have been consigned to increasingly oversubscribed care homes.

Ashiti, 85, is one of the 140 elderly Syrians being cared for at Dar al-Saada (Home of Happiness) -- one of the capital's biggest homes for old people.

"I came here because my house was destroyed and my children were each displaced to a different country," says Ashtini, a member of a well-off family that owned land near the capital.

Her three daughters now live in Jordan, Germany, and Iraqi Kurdistan, but Ashiti stayed in Damascus after she was forced to flee the rebel-held town of Douma under government siege since 2012.

Every day, Ashiti reads or writes in her diary, waiting for her children to call.

She watches her small television set in her room whenever there is electricity, hoping to hear good news about her home in Douma or the countries where her children are living.

"We were living with dignity in our house. Here the service is excellent, the place is warm, but today I feel humiliated by my solitude," she tells AFP.

"I didn't expect to spend the rest of my life looking at photos of my children and lamenting over them."

- Bed as refuge -

Residents at Dar al-Saada pay a monthly fee of $120 for meals, care and a bed in a room with two other people, equipped with a television, a small table and an electric heater.

Metal railings are mounted on the walls for support, and there are lifts so the elderly can skip the stairs.

Of the complex's four floors, one is reserved for residents who cannot afford to pay for their accommodation.

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The home was already nearing capacity before war broke out in Syria in 2011, but would only receive requests for a bed there once or twice a month.

But since the eruption of Syria's war -- which has displaced millions and killed at least 310,000 -- elderly Syrians without families are flocking to Dar al-Saada.

New requests come in daily, says 82-year-old general manager Lamis al-Haffar, who helped found the charity that runs the home 25 years ago.

Despite her own advanced age, Haffar shuffles around on her walker and oversees all the home's operations -- down to the amount of salt in the stew.

"Because of the problems in Syria, many young people were forced to flee and leave their parents, who stayed on their own and weren't able to provide for themselves," Haffar says.

Out of seven old people's homes in Damascus, three are private and four are government-run.

"Every time there is a new empty bed I feel sad and happy at the same time -- I know someone has died and left us, but I'm happy because that bed will be a refuge for someone in a tough place, who hasn't found anywhere to sleep," says Haffar.

"Getting a bed here has become a final dream for many old people in that situation."

- Separated by death, siege -

The home in the Mazzeh district west of Damascus welcomes visitors, but few of its elderly residents there are called on by their children.

Hassania, 75, keeps a small box of sweets to distribute to occasional visitors and her fellow residents.

She lost her son Ahmed in 2012, when he was killed in an explosion near Damascus, and still asks her friends to pray for him.

"I depended on Ahmed for everything. I never thought there would come a day when he would die and leave me all alone," Hassania says.

Nearby, Hamida al-Haddad fiddles with her prayer beads, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she recites the Quran under her breath.

Haddad has gone two years without seeing her children, who live in their besieged hometown of Madaya, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Damascus.

"I was sick at home and my son brought me to hospital in Damascus two days before they closed the road," the 85-year-old says.

"When I wanted to go home, the road was closed and I was forced to sleep in the street until a young man brought me to Dar Al-Saada."

With heartbreak in her eyes, she stares out of the window, trying to avoid the gaze of those around her.

"The war pushed me away from my children and grandchildren, and I feel I will die before the road opens and I see them again," she adds.

"Death with my children is better than life away from them."
MOSCOW (AP)  The Russian military said Wednesday it has teamed up with Turkey to conduct joint airstrikes, coordinated with Damascus, against an Islamic State group's stronghold in northern Syria. It is the first acknowledgement of Russian cooperation in support of Turkey's offensive in the area.

It is also the first incident of indirect coordination between the Turkish and the Syrian governments. Ankara has been calling for the ouster of President Bashar Assad and has supported the armed rebellion against him. Syrian officials have called Turkey's operations on Syrian territories an "occupation."

In a sign of a possible new ground for cooperation in the area, U.S. defense officials said Tuesday the U.S-led coalition have also carried out attacks against IS in the same area al-Bab, in the province of Aleppo  at a time when Turkish troops have struggled there since November.

Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi of the military's General Staff said nine Russian warplanes and eight Turkish jets have taken part in the strikes on the outskirts of al-Bab. He said the joint airstrikes were "coordinated with the Syrian side."

Rudskoi's statement was the first acknowledgement of the Russian strikes in support of the Turkish offensive on al-Bab, which began in mid-November.

It highlighted an increasingly close alliance between Russia and Turkey, which last month jointly brokered a Syria truce and are working to prepare Syrian talks in Kazakhstan next week. The two nations have backed opposing sides in the nearly six-year Syrian conflict, with Moscow supporting Assad and Ankara backing his foes.

In August, Turkish troops rolled over the border to help Syrian opposition forces battle IS and halt the advance of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are also fighting the extremists. But as IS puts up a fight for al-Bab, Turkey has become bogged down in a grueling battle over the town, one of the few remaining IS strongholds in northern Syria.

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Turkey, which for years supported the Syrian opposition drive to oust Assad, has recalibrated its priorities toward fighting Islamic State militants and thwarting Kurdish aspirations for autonomous rule along Syria's border with Turkey. In doing so, it has also pivoted toward Russia, working with Moscow to call for a cease-fire in Syria and organize the talks scheduled for Monday, bringing the government and the opposition together.

"Today, the Russian and Turkish air force are conducting the first joint air mission to strike the IS on the outskirts of al-Bab in the province of Aleppo," Rudskoi said at Wednesday's briefing.

He said that Russian and Turkish aircraft struck 36 targets, which have been jointly selected by General Staffs and air force officials of the two militaries.

Rudskoi added that drones and satellites had been involved in target selection over the past two days.

Last week, the Russian and Turkish militaries signed an agreement to prevent mid-air incidents and ensure air safety during operations over Syria. "It created the basis for unprecedented joint action against international terrorist groups in Syria," Rudskoi said.

Turkey had criticized the U.S. for its lack of support for the offensive in al-Bab. In December, Ankara said Russia had conducted airstrikes near al-Bab. At the time, U.S. officials said they have seen no indication of Russian-Turkish coordination, reporting only independent Russian airstrikes there.

On Tuesday, U.S. army Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition, said the coalition has conducted several reconnaissance missions and airstrikes in support of Turkey and the Syrian opposition fighters on the ground operating against al-Bab.

"The coalition will continue to work with our Turkish partners to maximize these and other counter ISIL operations, on as many fronts as possible, to ensure the military defeat of ISIL provides stability to the region and security to our homeland," Dorrian said in a briefing Tuesday, using an alternative acronym for IS.

Iran, also an ally of Assad which is a co-guarantor of the cease-fire, criticized the reported Russia-Turkey aerial cooperation. Earlier this month, senior Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujaerdi said coordination with Moscow is not the same thing as coordinating with Damascus. If Ankara hadn't sought permission from Damascus, Boroujaerdi said, it should leave "immediately."

Meanwhile, Rudskoi criticized the U.S.-led coalition, saying its operations in Mosul have effectively caused a flood of IS fighters into eastern Syria.

"The actions of the U.S.-led coalition in Mosul have amounted largely to squeezing significant forces of the IS from Mosul into eastern part of Syria," he said. "They have been carrying weapons, explosives and personnel to Palmyra, Deir el-Zour and al-Bab."

Rudskoi said that the Islamic State group is preparing to blow up ancient ruins in Palmyra, shipping large amounts of explosives to the ancient city with the aim to destroy historic heritage sites there.

___

El Deeb reported from Beirut.
I read in the paper that Donald Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner, was tapped as a senior adviser (" Kushner given a senior role ").

Now, if I was a part of the Trump's family, perhaps I could be given a job of putting on his socks and shoes. I would hope to be qualified.
The young woman who saw her world turned upside down as she learned the woman she believed to be her mother actually snatched her 18 years ago is speaking out in defense of the alleged abductor.

Read: Teen Meets Biological Parents After Alleged Abductor Raised Her as Her Own Since 1998

Kamiyah Mobley, whose name was changed to Alexis Manigo after her 1998 abduction, said she hopes her accused kidnapper, Gloria Williams, won't do hard time.

I understand what she did was wrong but just dont lock her up and throw away the key like everything she did was awful," Manigo told Good Morning America Wednesday.

From that one mistake I was given the best life. I was," she added. "I had everything I ever needed wanted. I had love, especially.

The teen, who has been thrust into the spotlight after being reunited with her biological parents over the weekend, discussed coping with the attention.

She said: Your whole life you've been known as Alexis, Lexi and now its like people are referring to you as someone else nationally. This attention is very overwhelming."

The teen expressed no love for Charles Manigo, who got major national attention when he tearfully told ABC News how he always thought she was his biological daughter.

She's still my child. That's not going to change. I will always love her, he said.

But in a blistering Facebook post that has since been deleted, the teenager declared: "You were nothing to me my whole life. I can count on my fingers how many times Ive spent the night at your house."

When Inside Edition producers approached him at his South Carolina home to discuss her claims, he sped away in his car.

Read: Man Who Raised Abducted Teen Is Heartbroken He's Not Her Biological Father: 'It's a Shock to Me'

Meanwhile, after 18 years of hoping and waiting, her biological parents have finally reunited with their child for the first time.

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I'm not saying that they weren't going to be good parents, Im not saying that at all. It would have been a different life, she told GMA.

Watch: After Kamiyah Mobley Kidnapping, Experts Show Technology Being Used to Track Newborns in Hospitals

Related Articles:
The teenager snatched from a hospital when she was a newborn 18 years ago says she still loves the woman who allegedly took her when she was just hours old.

Read: Teen Abducted 18 Years Ago Doesn't Want to See Alleged Kidnapper Jailed: 'She Will Always Be Mom'

I love her, 18-year-old Alexis Manigo told Inside Edition.

She came to the defense of the accused kidnapper, Gloria Williams, who appeared in court in Jacksonville, Florida, Wednesday. They speak by phone every day, despite Williams being in jail.

She did raise me, she did love me; for that I see now fault in her, the teenager said. She loves me. She loved me for 18 years. She took care of me for 18 years. I am just not going to let that go down the drain.

When asked what it is like to see her mom in custody, she said: "It hurts, but I am dealing with it.

She added: "I dont think she should be thrown away like some animal."

Manigo said she had a fantastic and normal life while living with Williams, who she believed to be her mother.

She was loving, she was gentle, the teenager said. "It is so many ways to describe her, you cant even think of one word. She is fantastic."

We are getting to know each other," Manigo said of her birth parents, with whom she reunited over the weekend. "We are moving forward."

Read: Teen Meets Biological Parents After Alleged Abductor Raised Her as Her Own Since 1998

While she is learning about her biological family, Manigo says she will still recognize Williams as her mother.

I have two moms. It will have its challenges, but I am learning how to balance it out, she declared.

Watch: After Kamiyah Mobley Kidnapping, Experts Show Technology Being Used to Track Newborns in Hospitals

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By Jon Herskovitz AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The leaders of Texas Planned Parenthood asked a federal judge on Tuesday to block the state's bid to halt Medicaid funding for the healthcare group, which has long been targeted by Republicans for providing abortions. Planned Parenthood has said the threatened funding cut, by terminating Planned Parenthood's enrollment in the state-funded healthcare system for the poor, could affect nearly 11,000 patients across Texas. It is seeking an injunction from Judge Sam Sparks in federal court in Austin to stop the cutoff, part of a protracted legal and political fight. Texas and several other Republican-controlled states have pushed to cut the organization's funding since an anti-abortion group released videos it said showed Planned Parenthood officials negotiating prices for fetal tissue collected from abortions. The defunding efforts could gain traction now that Republicans, who already control the U.S. House and Senate, are expanding their powers with this week's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Ken Lambrecht, chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and a plaintiff, testified his group does not participate in fetal tissue donation for medical research. Planned Parenthood has denied wrongdoing nationally, saying the videos were heavily edited and misleading. The Medicaid cut was "unconscionable," Lambrecht testified, adding it would make it more difficult for some of the state's poorest people to access services his affiliate provides, such as cancer screenings and HIV testing. Texas has said other medical facilities could provide similar services as Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood affiliates across Texas received about $4.2 million in Medicaid funding during the 2015 fiscal year, the state's Health and Human Services Commission said. None of that money went to abortions, plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Texas and the Medicaid defunding plan have said. Sparks said he does not see the videos as a central to the hearing, which opened Tuesday and is scheduled to run through Thursday. He called on the state to present evidence to back up its allegations that Planned Parenthood violated the law. Texas investigated Planned Parenthood over the videos and a grand jury last January cleared it of any wrongdoing. The grand jury indicted two people who made the videos for document fraud but the charges were later dismissed. The state took no further criminal action against Planned Parenthood after that but has repeated its accusations that the abortion provider may have violated state law. Planned Parenthood gets about $500 million annually in federal funds across the United States, largely in reimbursements through Medicaid. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Tom Brown and Lisa Shumaker)
An 18-year veteran of the Little Elm Police Department, Texas, Jerry Walker, was fatally shot and killed Tuesday afternoon during a standoff with a gunman that stretched for hours and forced dozens of neighbors to evacuate.

Detective Walker died at a hospital, said Little Elm Police Chief Rodney Harrison at a news conference Tuesday night. Walker, 48, was among the first Little Elm officers who responded to the call from 1400 block of Turtle Cove around 3 p.m. (4 p.m. EST) after someone reported seeing a man with a "long gun." Denton County sheriff's Lt. Orlando Hinojosa reportedly said that officers heard a man screaming at them from the backyard of the home, and they backed away when they saw a gun. Between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., the man went into the home and started shooting through a window or a door, and officers fired back.

Walker was shot in the upper body, and other officers were able to get him to a vehicle and take him away from the scene. He was taken by air ambulance to Medical City Denton, where he later died.

The shooter remained barricaded in a home in the 1400 block of Turtle Cove Drive. Police had evacuated residents from nearby homes. The Denton County Sheriffs Office confirmed that the standoff in Little Elm is over and the man who allegedly shot and killed Walker is dead.

Walker, who was promoted to detective in 2013, has four children, the youngest a few months old and the oldest 22. "He was a model officer and someone who will be missed by the department and here in the town of Little Elm," Harrison reportedly said. Walker is the first North Texas officer to be fatally shot in the line of duty since the ambush on officers in downtown Dallas on July 7, 2016, and the only for the Little Elm Police Department.

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Bangkok (AFP) - A resort complex in northwest Laos targeting Chinese visitors has become a "lawless playground" for the trade in illegal wildlife ranging from tiger meat to bear paws, an advocacy group said Thursday.

Customers "can openly buy endangered species products" in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone on the border between Laos, Myanmar and Thailand in Laos' Bokeo province, according to a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).

The London-based group, together with the non-governmental group Education for Nature Vietnam, also documented restaurants offering "saute tiger meat", bear paws and pangolins on their menus.

Laos is becoming a growing hub for the trade in endangered species with foreign tourists, particularly from neighbouring China, driving the demand for illegal products, according to environmental groups.

Many Chinese believe rare animal meat and body parts contain aphrodisiac or medicinal qualities.

The EIA report called on Laos to immediately set up a task force to tackle the trade and seize all illegal products in the Special Economic Zone.

"China also needs to understand and accept that its legal domestic trade in the skins of captive-bred tigers is doing nothing but driving consumer demand," said Debbie Banks of the EIA in a statement.

According to the report the Laos zone "appears more like an extension of China" -- running on Beijing time, employing mostly Chinese workers and displaying signs in Chinese characters.

Similar temples of excess have sprung up in Myanmar where some border towns -- often outside of central government control -- have become open markets renowned for selling rare animals, sex and gambling trips to Chinese visitors.

China's seemingly insatiable appetite for rare animal meat and parts has also led to a thriving smuggling scene across much of Southeast Asia.

Authorities in Vietnam and Thailand routinely uncover large hauls of endangered animals heading north in what conservationists say is likely just a fraction of the species smuggled into China.
LONDON (Reuters) - A waxwork of Donald Trump was unveiled on Wednesday amid tight security at Madame Tussauds museum after protests at a similar ceremony in Spain earlier this week. Striking a bullish pose in his navy suit and Republican red silk tie, the model stands in the museums Oval Office exhibit, alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Dalai Lama and India's Mahatma Gandhi. "Our studio team have been frantically busy matching his infamous glowing tan and trademark hairstyle in time for the start of his presidential reign," said Edward Fuller, General Manager of Madame Tussauds London. "Our guests will now find him standing imperiously in the Oval Office section within the attraction where hell reside for the remainder of his presidency." Security was tight at the unveiling following a protest in Madrid on Tuesday, where a topless woman from the feminist group FEMEN attacked a Trump statue at a waxwork museum. Reuters journalists there saw the woman push past security ropes and place her hand on the statue's crotch while screaming "grab patriarchy by the balls." In a recording leaked last October, Trump spoke of grabbing women "by the pussy". There were no such scenes at the museum on Wednesday but environmental and anti-racism groups are planning to stage demonstrations in Britain on Friday, the day Trump is inaugurated as U.S. President. (Reporting by Luke Bridges; editing by Stephen Addison)
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Here is a timeline of developments in Gambia since the December election which President Yahya Jammeh lost to opponent Adama Barrow:

- Jammeh concedes defeat -

- December 1, 2016: Gambians go to the polls to choose their new president from three candidates, including incumbent Jammeh, who has ruled with an iron fist for 22 years, and Barrow, representing a large opposition coalition.

A day later the electoral commission announces that Barrow has won, to scenes of jubilation on the streets.

Jammeh concedes defeat, congratulating Barrow for his "clear victory", adding: "I wish him all the best and I wish all Gambians the best."

- Opposition freed -

- December 5: Gambian opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, who was jailed in July for taking part in a protest, is freed on bail with 18 others.

In the following days some 40 other members of the opposition are also freed.

- Jammeh U-turn -

- December 6: The electoral commission says that Barrow has won the election more narrowly than originally thought, and with a lower turnout. He garnered 43.2 percent and Jammeh 39.6 percent of the vote. Third party candidate Mama Kandeh took 17.1 percent.

- December 9: Jammeh announces he has changed his mind, saying: "In the same way that I accepted the results faithfully believing that the Independent Electoral Commission was independent and honest and reliable, I hereby reject the results in totality."

He lodges a complaint with the Supreme Court to overturn the result.

The defiance sparks global concern, with the UN Security Council among those demanding Jammeh hand over power.

- Jammeh urged to go -

- December 13: Heads of state from West African regional bloc ECOWAS are sent to Gambia, but do not manage to persuade Jammeh to acknowledge his defeat. A new mission takes place a month later.

- On December 31 Jammeh accuses ECOWAS of declaring "war".

- Supreme Court stalls -

- January 4, 2017: The army chief reaffirms his loyalty to Jammeh.

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- January 9: Jammeh fires 12 ambassadors after they called for him to step aside. Several ministers have since been fired or resigned.

- January 10: The Gambia's chief Supreme Court justice says Jammeh's legal challenge against the result will not be heard for several months.

- January 13: The African Union (AU) urges Jammeh to respect the results and quit power peacefully, warning of "serious consequences". It says it will not recognise him "as of 19 January 2017".

Thousands of Gambians fearing unrest cross the border into neighbouring Senegal and further afield to Guinea-Bissau.

- Barrow in Senegal -

- January 15: Senegalese President Macky Sall announces that he has agreed to "welcome Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow in Dakar until his inauguration," on January 19.

- January 16: The Gambia's top judge pulls out of hearing a bid by Jammeh to halt the inauguration.

- State of emergency -

- January 17: Jammeh declares a state of emergency, saying foreign powers had created an "unwarranted hostile atmosphere, threatening the sovereignty, peace, security and stability of the country".

- African troops ready -

- January 18: The Senegalese army says it is ready to intervene in Gambia if there is no solution to the crisis.

Senegal asks the UN security Council to approval any ECOWAS military action in The Gambia to force Jammeh to cede power.
Lome (AFP) - Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe has won a third term with 58.75 percent of the vote in Saturday's polls, the electoral commission said, with his main rival Jean-Pierre Fabre taking 34.95 percent.

"The national electoral commission states that Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe has been elected based on provisional results which are subject to confirmation by the Constitutional Court," the commission's head Taffa Tabiou said late Tuesday.

Outside the headquarters of the ruling party, about 50 of his supporters danced to campaign songs late at night shortly after the results were announced.

"It is the victory of the Togolese people who want, with the president Faure Gnassingbe, to continue advancing toward progress and in peace," the presidency said.

Fabre could not be reached and his spokesman did not wish to comment.

Unsurprisingly, Fabre came out on top in Lome, the capital, which historically goes to the opposition, despite gains by Faure there.

The number of people who stayed away from the polls was 40.01 percent against 35.32 percent in the previous presidential election in 2010.

Gnassingbe's family has ruled the small west African country for almost half a century.

The president, who first came to power in 2005 on the death of his iron-fisted father Gnassingbe Eyadema, saw his bid for a third term sharply boosted by overwhelming support from the north of the country, a family stronghold.

- No limits on re-election -

The EU, Togo's leading international lender, said Tuesday the election "went off calmly, confirming the Togolese people's attachment to democracy."

The African Union and regional bloc ECOWAS also said the vote was free and transparent.

The opposition struggled to offer a real alternative, with three other candidates also going to the polls.

The most successful was Tchaboure Gogue, one of the three candidates from small opposition parties who chose to take on Fabre and the president, and took 3.08 percent of the vote.

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Despite international monitors calling the vote free and transparent, opposition members had accused the government of engaging in election fraud to try to hold on to power.

However later Tuesday the tone eased, with Fabre telling AFP that he would "leave the CENI to do its work", referring to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Togolese political analyst David Ihou expressed surprise about the accusations, saying "all records" of the polling stations had been signed by "representatives of each candidate", and criticised what he termed "an obstructionist strategy" by the opposition.

Currently there are no limits on the number of times a president can stand for re-election. The opposition wants a two-term limit.

The army provoked an outcry when it first rushed Gnassingbe into office after General Eyadema died in February 2005, leaving a power vacuum following his rule of 38 years.

Gnassingbe swiftly stood down and an election was hastily organised which saw him win his first five-year term, but the result was marred by violence in which 400 to 500 people were left dead and thousands injured, according to the UN.

He was re-elected in 2010, winning against Fabre, in a vote disputed by the opposition but judged acceptable by the international commmunity.

Togo was formerly administered by Germany then France. It celebrated 55 years of independence on Monday.
Tom Price, Donald Trumps nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, was pressed to explain how Republicans would repeal and replace Obamacare while simultaneously keeping the president-elects promise of insurance for all.

Over the four-hour hearing, the Georgia congressman was grilled by Senate Democrats about Trumps health care promises, as well as stocks Price traded in medical companies, which they argued represented conflicts of interest.

I think theres been a lot of talk about individuals losing health care coverage  that is not our goal, nor is it our desire, nor it is our plan, Price said. He said he wanted to lower the temperature of the debate and reassure Americans that Republicans would not pull the rug out from under people with an immediate repeal.

But Price was not specific about what the Republicans replace plan would entail, saying only that his goal was to cover as many or more people than the Affordable Care Act while providing more choices to patients and control to states.

He said this would not be done in one comprehensive bill replacing the Affordable Care Act, but rather in a piecemeal way. The last thing we want to do is go from a Democrat health care system to a Republican health care system, Price said.

When pressed by Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Republican from Tennessee, Price would not commit to a March 1 deadline for starting the repeal and replace plan. Alexander said he hoped the government would continue to provide subsidies for those in the Obamacare exchange while building a better approach for them.

Trump upended the previous Republican plan to repeal Obamacare and then delay its implementation for several years while they came up with a plan when he said earlier this month that lawmakers should repeal and replace simultaneously. Trumps departure from the party line on health care often put his nominee in a tough spot during the hearing, as he was asked to commit to the president-elects more liberal promises.

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Health and Human Services secretary nominee Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 18, 2017, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. (Photo: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Sen. Bernie Sanders asked Price if Trump still stood by his campaign vow to not cut Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. I have no reason to believe thats changed, Price said of Trumps views.

But when pressed by Democratic senators, Price would not commit to that promise himself. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts asked him repeatedly whether he would promise not to cut Medicaid or Medicare. Price said he believed money should not be the metric going forward. Instead, he wanted to focus on the quality of care and how many people are insured.

You might want to print out the president-elects statement [vowing not to cut Medicare and Medicaid] and post that above your desk in your new office, Warren shot back.

Warren also asked Price to answer whether he proposed to cut $1 trillion from Medicaid. You have the numbers before you, Price said.

Price dodged several questions about whether he agreed with Trump that the government should negotiate with pharmaceutical companies directly to lower their prices. He said only he agreed that drug prices should be reasonable.

Sanders also pushed Price on his statement that he believes every American should have access to quality health care.

I have access to buying a $10 million house, but I dont have the money to do that, Sanders said.

Price then clarified that he wanted health care to be financially feasible for Americans.

Democrats also aggressively questioned Price on his investments in medical companies while legislating on issues that affected those companies. Price said the stock trades were made by his broker, not him, and that he was transparent in reporting them.

But he did admit to personally directing his broker to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of stock in the Australian pharmaceutical company Innate Immunotherapeutics, which he said Rep. Chris Collins of New York had told him about. I studied the company for a period of time and felt it had significant merit and promise, Price said. He said he knew he was being offered the stock as part of a small group of people, though he said he was not aware the price was lower than the price offered to regular investors.

It really begs credulity, sir, when you say you did not know you got a discount on this, said Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota. This was a private offering to a very small number of people.  This sounds like sweetheart deal.

Price said he was offended that his colleagues were questioning his motives. Everything we have done has been above board, transparent, ethical and legal, Price said.

Republicans grumbled about the tone of the hearing. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas joked it was like an anger management meeting for his Democratic colleagues. Alexander said it was too testy and that Republicans and Democrats were behaving like the Hatfields and McCoys of West Virginia.

Weve forgotten who killed who in the first place, and were not absolutely clear what were fighting about, Alexander said.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Senator Bill Kintner would like to flip the rules from private to open voting on officers and chairperson positions. He stated that voting in secret does not hold senators accountable ("Senators propose 27 rules changes," Jan. 10). My question is who are they accountable to? In my opinion, a senator should vote for what she or he believes is right for Nebraska. A senator should not feel pressure or, worse, retaliation from others. I wonder if Senator Kintner had an epiphany about accountability in his cybersex play?
Late one February night in 2013, Massachusetts state trooper Eric French pulled over a blue SUV with its rear lights out. When he approached the car, he saw smoke and smelled pot. The driver, Thomas Gerhardt, could count backwards from 75 to 62 and recite the alphabet from D to Q. But he couldnt stand on one leg or walk nine steps and turn, standard measures on a field sobriety test. The trooper determined that Gerhardt was impaired, and he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of marijuana.

Was Gerhardt even high? And if he was, was he too high to drive safely?

This month his lawyer argued before the states high court that French proved neither that night.

More From The Marshall Project

Massachusetts is one of eight states, plus the District of Columbia, where recreational marijuana use is now legal. Twenty more states have legalized use of medical marijuana. But science and the law have not kept pace with this rapid political change.

We take for granted that not being able to walk a straight line or stand on one leg means that youre drunk, and that being drunk means its unacceptably dangerous to drive. But there is no clear scientific consensus when it comes to smoking pot and driving. And few of the tools police officers have long relied on to determine whether a driver is too drunk to drive, like a breathalyzer, exist for marijuana.

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Cases like Gerhardts are on the front lines of a new effort in courtrooms, labs, and government agencies around the country to pin down how high is too high to driveand how to reliably know when someone is as high as that.

Most (but not all) studies find that using pot impairs ones ability to drive. However, overall, the impairment appears to be modestakin to driving with a blood alcohol level of between .01 and .05, which is legal in all states. (The much greater risk is in combining pot with alcohol.) The increased crash risk with pot alone is so small you can compare it to driving in darkness compared to driving in daylight, says University of Oslo political scientist Rune Elvik, who conducted several major meta-analyses evaluating the risk of drugged driving. Nobody would consider banning people from driving in the dark. If you tried to impose some kind of consistency standard, then there is no strong case, really, for banning it.

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When it comes to alcohol, science and the courts have long established a direct line between number of drinks, blood alcohol level, and crash risk. As one goes up, so do the others. Not so for pot. Scientists cant say with confidence how much pot, in what concentration, used in what period of time, will reliably make someone high. (This is especially difficult to gauge because most of the existing studies used pot provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which tends to be a lot less potent than what smokers can buy on the street or in pot shops.)

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Blood levels of THCtetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical component of pot that makes you highspike quickly after smoking and then decline rapidly in the hours afterwards, during the window when a smoker would feel most high. Whats more, regular smokers could have THC in their blood for days or weeks after smoking, when they are clearly no longer high.

Still, laws in 18 states tie drugged driving charges to whether drivers have THC (or related compounds) in their blood. Some states prohibit driving with any amount, and some specify a threshold modeled after the .08 limit states use for blood alcohol. But the lag time between being pulled over and being transported to a hospital for a blood drawon average, more than two hourscan lead to false negatives, while the tolerance developed by regular users (and the tendency for THC to stick around in their bloodstreams) can lead to false positives. This is why, researchers say, blood THC laws make little sense.

If youre stopping someone who just tried it or uses it occasionally, a little bit of THC goes a long waytheyre very impaired, says Washington State University political scientist Nicholas Lovrich. But people are demonstrably able to drive at high levels of THC if theyre a frequent user.

Regular smokers could have THC in their blood for days or weeks after smoking, when they are clearly no longer high.

The more sensible strategy appears to be prohibiting driving while high, and 31 states take this approach. But proving that a driver is high turns out to be tricky terrain, too.

One of the issues that Thomas Gerhardt raises in his lawsuit is whether police officers with standard training are qualified to make a judgment that a driver is high. Courts in a few states, including New Jersey, Vermont, and Montana, have ruled that they are not. Unlike alcohol intoxication, the New Jersey high court ruled in 2006, no  general awareness exists as yet with regard to the signs and symptoms of the condition described as being high on marijuana.

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Research shows that failing a standard field sobriety test (a series of tasks like walking a straight line) correlates closely with having a blood alcohol level above the legal limitplus officers have a breathalyzer to confirm their findings. But the gap between assessment, cannabis use, and driving is really not completely closed, says Professor Thomas Marcotte of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California-San Diego. Frequent pot userseven when theyre not stonedmay not be able to stand on one leg, for example, whether theyre safe to drive or not. Marcotte and his colleagues are working on validating a new field sobriety test calibrated for pot use. Their iPad-based measures test skills like tracking an object on the screen and accurately estimating time. (Police may not yet have a validated tool, but for those who want to gauge their own ability to drive after smoking, apps have begun to appear that measure things like reaction time and hand-eye coordination.)

Some police departments use drug recognition experts, specially trained officers dispatched to evaluate suspected drugged drivers. Commonly referred to as DREs, these officers use an hour-long 12-step process, including taking the suspects blood pressure and pulse, conducting several eye exams and balance tests, to generate an opinion about whether the driver is intoxicated, and, if so, by what. Preliminary research seems to indicate their opinions are of mixed quality, and not all judges allow DREs to testify to their findings. Theyre not EMTs. Theyre not medically trained, says Lovrich, the Washington State University professor, who, in a recent study of five years of DRE data in Washington and New Mexico, found a false-positive rate for pot intoxication ranging from 38 percent to 68 percent. Everyone in the DRE business knows its really hard to do this.

The gold standard would be a breathalyzer-like device that can objectively measure whether someone has recently smoked, and how much. Lovrich is working on developing such a tool, using the same type of technology that security screeners use at airports to check for explosives. He says it will be at least two years before the technology is perfected, miniaturized, and engineered to be durable enough to toss in the back seat of a squad car.

In the meantime, people like Thomas Gerhardt will fight it out in state courts. A ruling on his case is expected this spring.

This story was originally published by The Marshall Project in partnership with VICE. The Marshall Project is a nonprofit newsroom covering the U.S. criminal justice system.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
SYDNEY (AP)  The leader of Australia's most populous state resigned Thursday after his popularity plummeted over a series of decisions during 2016. Sydney-based New South Wales Premier Mike Baird used social media to announce that the ruling Liberal Party would elect a new leader at a meeting on Tuesday. He would then quit the state parliament immediately after a 10-year career. Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian, the party deputy, has said she will be a candidate and is widely regarded as the Baird's most likely successor. The surprise resignation comes during a turbulent era in Australian politics when state and federal leaders' careers are often shorted lived.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A Seoul court on Thursday denied a request to arrest one of South Korea's most powerful men, the heir to the Samsung Electronics juggernaut, in a setback to prosecutors investigating an influence-peddling scandal that toppled South Korea's president. The Seoul Central District Court said that a judge concluded that there was not enough justification to detain the 48-year-old billionaire Samsung vice chairman, Lee Jae-yong, at this stage. The announcement, made around 5 a.m. local time, allowed Lee to return home after a long night. He had been waiting for the court's decision at a detention center south of Seoul for more than 12 hours after a court hearing the previous day.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Every night they sleep above cold concrete, curled up in sleeping bags on rubber mattresses in a tent made of plastic sheets held together with tape. Their heads are inches away from cars zooming by  and from a bronze statue of a young girl that sits across from the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. Most of the protesters are not much older than the girl the statue depicts. It represents thousands of women enslaved for sex by Japan's imperial forces before and during World War II, when Korea was a Japanese colony. Some of these young protesters have been camping here for more than a year, determined to protect the small monument, which plays an outsized role in relations between Seoul and Tokyo, two vibrant democracies and U.S.

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SYDNEY (AP)  Three nations shelled out around $160 million and years' worth of work on the underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The result: No plane. The only tangible  and arguably most important  clues into what happened to the aircraft have come courtesy of ordinary citizens, who bore the costs themselves. The deep-sea sonar search for the vanished Boeing 777 was suspended on Tuesday after officials conceded defeat following the most expensive, complex aviation search in history. But while search crews spent years trawling in futility through a remote patch of the Indian Ocean, people wandering along beaches thousands of kilometers (miles) away began spotting pieces of the plane that had washed ashore.

BEIJING (AP)  China is preparing to retaliate if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump raises duties on Chinese goods and already has toughened its stance, an American business group said Wednesday. Trump, who is due to be inaugurated Friday, threatened during his campaign to raise import duties on Chinese goods to 45 percent. American companies are frustrated by Chinese market barriers and want Washington to take a tougher stance toward Beijing but worry reckless action might trigger retaliation. Already, China has ordered unusually high anti-dumping penalties against a U.S.-made agricultural chemical. "China has indeed threatened to and is preparing to take steps in retaliation if such actions take place," said Lester Ross, a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce, at a news conference.

SYDNEY (AP)  Australian officials defended their suspension of the fruitless deep-sea sonar search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, insisting on Wednesday that the enormous costs involved played no role in their decision to halt the nearly three-year hunt. Australia's Transport Minister Darren Chester also said that while the search had been called off on Tuesday, work behind the scenes would go on, with experts continuing to analyze data associated with the doomed aircraft's final hours and examining any future debris that washes ashore. But he declined to specify what kind of breakthrough would convince officials to resume the search for the Boeing 777's underwater wreckage.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Malaysia's foreign minister said Wednesday that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is expected to call for a halt to violence against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority and for the safe return of refugees. Malaysia, which has urged Myanmar to stop what it calls a policy of genocide toward Rohingya, is hosting a meeting of foreign ministers from OIC nations in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to discuss the crisis. Security forces in Buddhist-majority Myanmar are accused of widespread abuses against Rohingya, including killings, rape and the burning of thousands of homes, that have driven an estimated 65,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh in the past three months.

TOKYO (AP)  Caroline Kennedy stepped down Wednesday after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013, she had been expected to leave with the coming change in U.S. leadership. President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has also said that all envoys who were political appointees must step down by Inauguration Day on Friday. Trump has not named a new ambassador yet. Kennedy ruffled some feathers early in her tenure by tweeting her opposition to Japan's dolphin hunt, shortly after her embassy issued a statement expressing "disappointment" that Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had visited a shrine that memorializes World War II war criminals, among others.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Cambodia's exiled opposition leader is facing two new defamation lawsuits stemming from a Facebook post that accused Prime Minister Hun Sen of offering a young political operative $1 million to attack the opposition. Hun Sen said in his lawsuit filed Wednesday that opposition leader Sam Rainsy's post was false and demanded $1 million in compensation. The political operative named in the social media post, Thy Sovantha, also denied the accusation and filed a separate defamation case on Tuesday that seeks $250,000. "I welcome Hun Sen's complaint to Cambodia's Kangaroo Court as its discussion means more publicity for Hun Sen's shameful acts," Sam Rainsy responded on Twitter.

BEIJING (AP)  China's top judge dismissed the concept of judicial independence as an "erroneous Western ideal" in remarks that seemed to emphasize the Communist Party's ultimate control over all areas of public life. Zhou Qiang, the head of the Supreme People's Court, has at times been seen as a reformer keen on limiting the influence of government officials on the courts, but his recent statement drew criticism from legal professionals. Chinese state media quoted him over the weekend as instructing leading judges to "draw your sword" against words and actions that run counter to party dictates. Since seizing power in 1949, the party has maintained strict control over the government, judiciary and military despite the rapid social change accompanying breakneck economic growth.
Bartalla (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi forces have retaken control of east Mosul from the Islamic State group, commanders said on Wednesday, three months after a huge offensive against the jihadist bastion was launched.

Elite forces have in recent days entered the last neighbourhoods on the eastern side of Mosul, on the left bank of the Tigris River that runs through the city.

Speaking at a news conference in Bartalla, a town east of Mosul, Staff General Talib al-Sheghati, who heads the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), announced "the liberation... of the left bank".

Sheghati added however that while the east of the city could be considered under government control, some work remained to be done to flush out the last holdout jihadists.

The "important lines and important areas are finished," he said, adding that "there is only a bit of the northern (front) remaining."

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said "the efforts of our brave forces were successful in the shape of the completion of the main plan of clearing the left side."

Operations were ongoing to clear some parts of east Mosul, including some forested areas along the Tigris, Abadi said in a statement.

Wednesday's announcement marks the end of a phase in the operation launched on October 17 to retake Mosul, Iraq's second city and the last major urban stronghold IS has in the country.

The offensive, Iraq's largest military operation in years with tens of thousands of fighters involved, began with a focus on sparsely populated areas around Mosul.

CTS entered the city proper in November and encountered tougher than expected resistance from IS, whose fighters launched a huge number of suicide car bombs against advancing Iraqi forces.

The going was tough for weeks but a fresh push coordinated with other federal forces and backed by the US-led coalition was launched in December and yielded quick and decisive gains.

- Narrow streets -

The west bank of Mosul is a bit smaller but is home to the narrow streets of the Old City -- impassable to most military vehicles -- and to some of the city's traditionally most dyed-in-the-wool jihadist neighbourhoods.

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Brigadier General Yahya Rasool also stressed that despite Sheghati's announcement, there would be more fighting in east Mosul in the coming days.

"Sheghati is the head of CTS and he was talking about areas under CTS control. There are some neighbourhoods that are still being liberated and that could take a few days," he told AFP.

Mohammed Hayal, a resident of Al-Arabi neighbourhood in northeastern Mosul, said his part of the city was not yet free of IS fighters.

"Daesh members are still in my neighbourhood and firing mortar rounds on liberated areas," he told AFP by phone.

All the bridges across the Tigris in Mosul have been either blown up by IS or destroyed by coalition air strikes, which has made it very difficult for IS to resupply its fighters in the city's east.

It will also make it difficult for elite Iraqi forces to attack the west bank without redeploying to other fronts west of the river that have been largely static for weeks.

Interior ministry and federal police forces have held positions just south of Mosul airport, which lies on the southern edge of the city and west of the Tigris, since November.

Punching into densely populated areas however and confronting intense resistance from IS in urban environments is a type of operation which is left largely to CTS.

- Blow to IS -

The fighting inside Mosul has been complicated by the continued presence of much of its population, which did not or could not flee when Iraqi forces started advancing.

According to the United Nations, around 150,000 people are currently displaced as a result of the three-month-old offensive.

Mosul lies around 350 kilometres (220 miles) northwest of Baghdad in the country's north and had an estimated population of close to two million when IS overran it in early June 2014.

Jihadist supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a "caliphate" straddling parts of Iraq and Syria from a mosque on the west bank of Mosul days later.

The full recapture of Mosul by government forces would effectively end IS's days as a land-holding force in Iraq and deal a death blow to its claim of running a state.

Observers have said they expect a short lull in operations after east Mosul is brought fully under control.

"Mosul is already effectively surrounded, and IS has no choice but to fight on or surrender in the city and its surroundings," said Omar Lamrani, Middle East analyst with US intelligence firm Stratfor.

"Nevertheless, that does not mean that a deadly insurgency will not continue after Mosul is retaken," he said.
By Makiko Yamazaki and Kentaro Hamada TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp wants to sell a minority stake in its core semiconductor business and is considering potential buyers including U.S. partner Western Digital Corp, a source said, as the Japanese group prepares for a multi-billion-dollar writedown. The laptops-to-engineering conglomerate, still recovering from a $1.3 billion accounting scandal two years ago, shocked investors in December by announcing major cost overruns at a U.S. nuclear business it bought in 2015. That could now mean a charge against profit topping $4 billion. The exact scale of that number is due to be made final next month, Toshiba said. Toshiba, still on the Tokyo Stock Exchange watchlist after the 2015 scandal, does not have many options to offset the impact of a writedown of that size, which could wipe out shareholder equity. Analysts and investors have expected a spin-off and a part-sale of the profitable chips business to be part of any solution, potentially along with other, smaller asset sales. "It is true that we are discussing a spin-off of our memory chips business, but nothing has been decided," Toshiba said in a statement on Wednesday, after the Nikkei business daily reported the firm was considering such a move. The chips unit generates most of the Japanese firm's operating profit. While Toshiba did not confirm whether it was looking to sell around 20 percent in the unit to Western Digital at a price in a range of $1.76 billion to $2.7 billion, as Nikkei reported, a source briefed on the matter said Toshiba and Western Digital were in talks for a "minority stake" sale. The two companies jointly operate a NAND flash memory plant in the city of Yokkaichi in Mie prefecture. "Toshiba doesn't have any other options. I have an impression that this deal is their last-ditch measure," said Yasuo Sakuma, portfolio manager and executive officer at Bayview Asset Management Co. Industry sources told Reuters that Toshiba could also ask funds to invest in the chips business, a unit that sources have said could be valued at more than 1 trillion yen ($8.9 billion). One analyst at a foreign investment group estimated on Wednesday a valuation of 2 trillion for the unit. "There are several candidates for investment," one of the sources said, without giving details. Toshiba is also currently in talks with its creditor banks, who are expecting details on the writedown over the coming days. It is not clear what guarantees the banks have sought. GROWTH ENGINE The Japanese company is aiming to complete the spin-off by the end of March, the sources said, adding Toshiba could eventually list the unit but would retain a majority stake in a unit that, while cash intensive, is also a key growth engine. According to researcher IHS, Toshiba had a 20.4 percent share in the global NAND flash memory market in April-June last year in terms of revenue, ranking second after Samsung Electronics which had a 34.9 percent share. The combination of Toshiba and California-based data storage company Western Digital would create a new industry leader. Western Digital did not immediately respond to requests for comment on a deal. Toshiba shares closed up 2.4 percent, versus a 0.4 percent gain in the benchmark Nikkei average. The company reported an operating profit of 78.3 billion yen from its chips and devices business over April-September 2016, accounting for 81 percent of its total operating profit. ($1 = 112.9200 yen) (Additional reporting by Laharee Chatterjee and Yoshiyuki Osada; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
Japanese car giant Toyota voiced concern on Wednesday about its operations in Britain after Prime Minister Theresa may presented her masterplan for Brexit including withdrawal from the EU's single market.

"We have seen the direction of the prime minister of the UK, we are now going to consider, together with the suppliers, how our company can survive," Toyota chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada told the Financial Times at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The activities of foreign car manufacturers could be affected by the clean break outlined by May on Tuesday.

In a highly-anticipated speech she said she wants a new free trade agreement with the European Union and a new customs deal that will allow Britain to strike its own deals with third countries outside the EU.

"We are considering and discussing with the government how to maintain the competitiveness," Uchiyamada said.

But he stressed that the carmaker had not taken any decisions yet and was waiting to see how the European Union would respond to Britain's demands.

Toyota has two factories in Britain, an assembly plant in Burnaston in central England and a motor making factory in Deeside in Wales, employing 3,400 people.

Toyota's concerns mirror similar worries expressed by competitor Nissan, which in October announced new investment at its Sunderland plant in northeast England after obtaining government guarantees.

Toyota has operated in Britain since 1989.
A former campus president of a Missouri college was fired after he allowed a homeless student to stay overnight at school during a winter storm, offering him a place to sleep when he learned the young man planned to stay outside on a night expected to dip into negative temperatures, he told InsideEdition.com.

Brian Carroll was locking up the Kansas City location of Vatterott College for the night on Friday, January 6 when he realized he wasnt alone in the building.

I could hear someone talking to himself, and then I saw it was one of our students, Carroll told InsideEdition.com.

The young man has schizophrenia and is inherently weary of the government and filling out forms, so finding housing had been difficult, Carroll said.

"I know the student... so I said, 'Where are you staying?' and he said, Im living out in the woods in a sleeping bag,'" he said. "I said, 'Its -2 degrees tonight,' and he said, 'Thats where I stay.'"

The student admitted he was not on his medication, as he was unable to afford the prescription, which added to his plight, Carroll said.

Read: Homeless Couple Gets Wedding and Home Thanks The Kindness of Strangers

He said he needed $6 for the deductible, so I gave him $10 and said Ill let you sleep in the library in front of the furnace... you can take a shower if youd like. But at 9 a.m. you need to be on the bus to get your medication,'" Carroll recalled. "This guy does what he said he will do. If he tells you hes going to do something, he does it. So he said okay, and on Monday he was back in class, not talking to himself."

Carroll said school officials confronted him on Monday, January 9, about his decision and after he admitted to allowing the student to remain in the building, he was fired.

"I told them the truth... I said, I really didnt have any other options.' They said I did and I said, 'Really? Lets go through the other options,'" he said.

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Carroll said school authorities told him that while he was also not allowed to let the student into his vehicle or bring him to his home, he couldve gotten the man a hotel room.

If I went out and bought a hotel [room], with my own money, mind you, Id have to put him outside in the cold, leave him there, come back and tell him to walk to that hotel Id have found, Carroll said. If I had to do it over again... I still wouldve gotten fired, because I wouldve gotten him a hotel but I wouldve let him get into my car to take him there.

Carroll said he pleaded with authorities to reconsider, arguing that his offense wasnt fire-able and that in the more than five years he had served as campus president at Vatterott Colleges Kansas City location, he had never gotten into trouble.

Youd think theyd give me a little break. I said, 'Why dont you write me up? and they said, 'No, it was too serious,'" Carroll said, noting that authorities told him he put the schools equipment and building at risk of being damaged or stolen.

Read: Man Who Spent Most Of Life As Homeless Alcoholic Finally Graduates College

But nothing happened... Theres no exact written policy that you cant keep someone overnight. It was a calculated risk, he said. "To me, minus two degrees was a life-threatening situation for the student."

The overnight temperatures in that location hit four degrees below zero, records show.

Carroll has not spoken with the student since their fateful run-in, and hes unsure if the man knows what happened.

Since his termination, Carroll has received an onslaught of support and encouragement, which he said has helped in preparing to box up his things and make the 25-hour drive home to California, where his wife and family live full-time.

Hes been an educator for a long time... Its been a journey that took him away from home, his wife, Dawn Carroll, told InsideEdition.com. He followed his passion and provided for the family, and the sacrifices made paid off. But at least the blessing here is that hes going to come home.

Though the prospect of searching for a new job is daunting, Carroll said he would do it all over again.

Thinking back to his days in the United States Marine Corps, Carrol said: They taught us to obey lawful orders, not all orders  you need to call on your judgement and experience, draw on it all, and make the right decision. Youve just got to go on your gut about this.

Vatterott College has not responded to InsideEdition.coms request for comment, but the College's spokesperson, Julie Bishop-Cross, told WDAF the school's policy is not to comment on personnel matters.

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Skopje (AFP) - More than 20,000 people rallied in Macedonia's capital on Sunday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's government which is grappling with a deep political crisis and an outbreak of violence.

Waving Macedonian, but also Albanian flags, opposition protesters chanted "Victory! Victory!" at the demonstration in Skopje, the culmination of months of wrangling between Gruevski and his centre-left opponents that has already sparked clashes.

Macedonia's problems deepened last weekend when 18 people were killed in a shootout in the northern town of Kumanovo between police and ethnic Albanian rebels.

The main opposition leader, Zoran Zaev, has vowed that Sunday's protest will be peaceful, although the police brought in large supplies of anti-riot gear.

On a warm day, volunteers left bottles of water in front of the government building, in expectation of a long day.

Zaev said protesters would remain in front of the government building until Gruevski -- who has been in power for nine years -- and his cabinet stands down.

"The protest will continue. Some 4,600 activists, mostly young people, have said 'we'll stay regardless of whether you will or not'," he told the NOVA online television channel.

At the protest, Aleksandar Krstevski, a 33-year-old psychologist from Kumanovo, told AFP: "We will stay as long as it takes, until the final victory, until the prime minister's resignation."

Carrying a placard with the inscription "Goodbye Nikola", 29-year old Jelena said "there is a need to finish with this government."

The unrest last weekend was the worst in the former Yugoslav republic since its 2001 conflict between the government and ethnic Albanian rebels.

Eight police officers were among the 18 dead.

Thirty alleged gunmen, including 18 ethnic Albanians from neighbouring Kosovo, have been charged with terror offences following the shootout.

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But the opposition and analysts have suggested the timing of the violence was suspicious, given the huge pressure on Gruevski's government.

Zaev's opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) is calling for the government to resign, accusing the ruling party of wiretapping 20,000 people, including politicians, journalists and religious leaders.

Zaev has released snippets of the alleged recordings that appear to show widespread government corruption, a murder cover-up and other wrongdoings.

His party has also boycotted parliament since an election in April last year, in which it claims Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE party committed fraud.

"The time has come to show that we no longer want to live in a state led by Gruevski," the SDSM said in a statement.

Gruevski has remained defiant, insisting in an interview Saturday that he would not resign.

His government denies making the phone recordings released by Zaev, but not that the voices are authentic, although it says some are heavily edited or taken out of context.

The government in turn accuses Zaev and his followers of spying and of seeking to destabilise the country. It is due to hold a rival street protest on Monday.

- 'Survival manoeuvre' -

Gruevski, Zaev and ethnic Albanian party leaders held talks this week to resolve the crisis, which could further hamper Macedonia's stalled bid for EU and NATO membership.

All sides pledged to condemn violence and support democratic values, but there was little sign of a serious resolution.

Two ministers and the intelligence chief resigned on Tuesday, after being accused of involvement in the wire-tapping scandal.

But Muamer Pajaziti, a Macedonian professor on European integration at Pristina University, said the resignations were only "a survival manoeuvre" by an increasingly unpopular government.

"The opposition and the public will not accept it as a solution. There is a critical mass for change led by the opposition. Slowly, on a larger scale, there are preparations for a broad anti-government coalition," Pajaziti told AFP.

Ethnic Albanians make up about one quarter of Macedonia's 2.1 million population.

Macedonia obtained EU candidate status in 2005, but is yet to begin accession talks.
One of the more than a dozen women who have accused President-elect Donald Trump of sexual misconduct filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming that Trump defamed her when he branded her allegations a lie.

The legal action in New York by former "Apprentice" contestant Summer Zervos  who claims Trump groped her in a Beverly Hills, California, hotel room in 2007  came three days before Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated as president.

Zervos, who is represented by high-profile plaintiff lawyer and Trump antagonist Gloria Allred, first went public with her allegations against Trump last October after an audio-tape emerged of him bragging to then-"Access Hollywood" reporter Billy Bush about being sexually aggressive toward women.

In response, Trump denied Zervos' claims, said she and other women who made similar allegations against him were "liars" and threatened to sue them.



In November, Zervos called on Trump to retract his threat and his claim that she was lying.

Trump has not retracted either since then.

"More of the same from Gloria Allred. There is no truth to this absurd story," said Hope Hicks, spokeswoman for Trump.

"He has left me with no alternative other than to sue him and vindicate my reputation," Zervos said Tuesday, while sitting next to Allred at a press conference in Los Angeles.

The suit claims defamation and infliction of emotional distress by Trump, but does not seek damages for the alleged sexual assault. Allred said Zervos has taken and passed a polygraph test that questioned her about her allegation of sexual assault.

Allred on Tuesday called Trump a "sexual predator."

Zervos and Allred said they were willing to dismiss the suit against Trump if he retracted his claims about her and admitted the truth of her allegations about sexual misconduct by him.

Allred said she expected Trump's attorneys to "fight this with everything they have."

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"We're ready," Allred said.

The lawyer also said she might seek, via legal subpoena, video outtakes of Trump on the NBC show "The Apprentice."

Allred noted that the United States Supreme Court had previously ruled that a civil lawsuit could proceed against a sitting president.

That case, involving President Bill Clinton and Paula Jones, a woman he allegedly sexually harassed while serving as governor of Arkansas, ultimately led to Clinton's impeachment for lying under oath by denying he had sex with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.





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By Valerie Volcovici and Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of Interior, on Tuesday said he would consider an expansion of energy drilling and mining on federal lands but would ensure sensitive areas remain protected. The former Navy SEAL sought to outline a measured approach to the job of managing Americas national parks, forests and tribal lands during a four-hour Senate confirmation hearing that was mostly cordial, lacking some of the hot-tempered grilling that has marked other sessions to vet Trumps cabinet nominees. "Yes," he said in response to a question from Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska about whether he would review drilling curbs imposed by President Barack Obama's administration in her state, home to vast petroleum deposits both onshore and beneath Arctic waters. "I can guarantee you it is better to produce energy domestically under reasonable regulation than overseas with no regulation ... We need an economy." But he added he was committed to protecting sensitive wildlife habitats and to keeping federal lands under federal control to ensure they are preserved for future generations, so "my granddaughters children can look back and say that we did it right." The Interior Department oversees territories covering a fifth of the United States' surface from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico, including rich deposits of oil, gas and coal and important pasturelands for ranchers. Zinke, an avid hunter and angler, emerged as a surprise pick to head the department in part because he has embraced federal stewardship of public land, diverging from the Republican Party's official position to sell off acreage to states. But as a congressman he has also fought for increased energy development, a position that has worried conservationists and which fits neatly with Trump's campaign vows to bolster the U.S. energy sector by scaling back regulation. Over the last eight years, the Interior Department has sought to limit industry access to federal lands and played a key role in Obama's agenda to combat climate change by curbing greenhouse gas emitting industries. Under Obama, the department banned new coal mining leases on federal property early in 2016. More recently the agency placed parts of the offshore Arctic and Atlantic off-limits to drilling and declared national monuments that protect large parts of Utah and Nevada from development. Zinke said he believed Trump could "amend" Obama's moves to declare millions of acres of federal property as national monuments. But he said that any move Trump made to rescind a designation would immediately be challenged. He did not comment directly on whether he would seek to reverse Obama's federal coal-lease ban but said he believed coal plays an important part in the U.S. energy mix and has previously pushed to end the moratorium. Zinke was the first of three Cabinet heads Trump has chosen to oversee his environment and energy portfolio to face Senate scrutiny this week. All three have opposed Obama's measures to combat global climate change by targeting carbon dioxide emissions. Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, was to testify on Wednesday, and Trump's choice for Energy secretary, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, was to testify on Thursday. CLIMATE CLASH Zinke told committee members that he believes humans contribute to global climate change  a statement that appeared to clash with Trumps views. Before running for the White House, Trump called climate change a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese to weaken U.S. businesses, a position he has since defended. "I do not think it is a hoax," Zinke said. But he added that he believed there is still debate over the degree to which humans have an impact, and what should be done about it, adding that regulations could sometimes hurt jobs without helping the environment. He said, for example, he would support efforts by the U.S. Congress to cancel recent regulation imposed by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management aimed at preventing leaks of methane - another gas scientists blame for climate change - from oil and gas installations. In his opening remarks, Zinke struck a moderate tone, saying that he recognizes that some federal lands require strong protection. He also called himself an "unapologetic admirer of Teddy Roosevelt," a former Republican president who pioneered public land conservation. Zinke also said he would tackle a multi-billion dollar backlog in maintenance at national parks and promised to ensure greater sovereignty for tribes.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump's choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that climate change is real, breaking with both the president-elect and his own past statements.

In response to questions from Democrats during his Senate confirmation hearing, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said he disagreed with Trump's earlier claims that global warming is a hoax created by the Chinese to harm the economic competitiveness of the United States.

"I do not believe climate change is a hoax," Pruitt said.

The 48-year-old Republican has previously cast doubt on the extensive body of scientific evidence showing that the planet is warming and man-made carbon emissions are to blame. In a 2016 opinion article, Pruitt suggested that the debate over global warming "is far from settled" and he claimed that "scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind."

At the hearing before the Senate Energy and Public Works Committee, Pruitt conceded that human activity contributes "in some manner" to climate change. He continued, however, to question whether the burning of fossil fuels is the primary reason, and refused to say whether sea levels are rising.

Pruitt's testimony came shortly after NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a joint statement affirming that 2016 was officially the hottest year in recorded history. Studies show the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have decreased in mass, while the world's oceans have risen on average nearly 7 inches in the last century.

Pressed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to answer in detail about his beliefs about climate change, Pruitt responded that his personal opinion was "immaterial" to how he would enforce environmental laws.

In his current post, Pruitt joined a multistate lawsuit opposing the Obama administration's plan to limit planet-warming carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Pruitt also sued over the EPA's recent expansion of water bodies regulated under the Clean Water Act. It has been opposed by industries that would be forced to clean up polluted wastewater.

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The lawsuits are among at least eight pending cases Pruitt has joined against the agency he is in line to lead.

Under questioning from Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., Pruitt said he has "every willingness to recuse" himself on a case-by-case basis if directed to do so by the EPA's ethics office. Markey said that was not enough to reassure Americans of his objectivity, adding that Pruitt should commit to a blanket recusal.

Pruitt said that if were confirmed by the GOP-run Senate, he would work with states and industry to return the federal watchdog to what he described as its proper role.

"Environmental regulations should not occur in an economic vacuum," Pruitt said. "We can simultaneously pursue the mutual goals of environmental protection and economic growth."

Environmentalists opposing Pruitt's nomination cite his cozy relationships with oil and gas industry executives who have donated to his political campaigns.

As the hearing got underway, shouting could be heard from people who were not allowed in. The room accommodated fewer than 100 people; most seats were taken by congressional staff, reporters and others who were allowed in early. Only a few seats remained for the public.

One woman was quickly wrestled out of the room by three police officers as she pulled out a roll of yellow crime scene tape and shouted "We don't want EPA gutted!"

Later, a group of coal miners wearing hard hats were allowed in to show support for Pruitt. Trump has pledged to bring back tens of thousands of lost coal mining jobs once inaugurated, though he has not yet detailed how. The president-elect has also said he will "renegotiate" the international accord to reduce carbon emissions signed in Paris at the end of 2015.

Senate Republicans uniformly praised Pruitt what they described as his robust record of enforcing environmental laws "when appropriate." Court records show scant evidence of Pruitt acting to protect the environment in years as a state regulator.

Shortly after Pruitt took office in Oklahoma in 2011, he disbanded the unit responsible for protecting the state's natural resources. He reassigned his staff to file more than a dozen lawsuits challenging EPA regulations.

Senate Democrats focused on Pruitt's record of siding with polluters in court as he collected campaign contributions from them.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., pressed Pruitt on money he raised from energy companies such as Exxon Mobil and Devon Energy, as well as the corporate "dark money" raised by groups with which he is involved that are not required to disclose their donors.

Earlier this month, Pruitt resigned from the board of the Rule of Law Defense Fund, a Washington-based group supporting the legal agendas of GOP attorney generals that Whitehouse described as "a complete black hole into which at least $1 million goes." In his response, Pruitt declined to provide details about whether the group's donors included fossil fuel companies or utilities with regulatory issues before EPA.

Though Pruitt ran unopposed for a second term in 2014, public campaign finance reports show he raised more than $700,000, much of it from people in the energy and utility industries.

Pruitt has also faced criticism from environmentalists for failing to take any action to help curb a dramatic spike in earthquake activity in Oklahoma that scientists have linked to the underground disposal of oil and gas wastewater.

Pruitt said his support for legal positions advocated by oil and gas companies was in the best interest of Oklahoma, which is economically dependent on the fossil fuel industry.

___

Associated Press writer Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP environmental writer Michael Biesecker at Twitter.com/mbieseck
A block from Nebraska's Capitol, with its unique one-chamber, nonpartisan Legislature, is the lobbying office of Bill Mueller and Kim Robak, who embody the make-it-work spirit of this city: They're husband and wife, Republican and Democrat.

And though neither was a Donald Trump booster, they are trying to remain positive about his presidency and even hope it might make hyperpartisan Washington, D.C., a bit more like Lincoln.

"Wouldn't it be cool if it could actually work?" asks Robak with a trace of the peppy small-town girl she was before rising through the political ranks to serve as her state's lieutenant governor. "I'm not holding my breath, but if we could actually break the gridlock? That's what the voters want."

"It's not starting off in that direction," says her less-optimistic-sounding husband, as Republicans in Congress gear up to repeal the Affordable Care Act. "You should have listened to MSNBC this morning. It's white and black, good and bad, God and the devil  and if you're in the other party, you're the devil."

Lancaster County, home to Lincoln as well as the politically diverse Mueller-Robak family, is among the most evenly split on political lines of any major county in the nation. Hillary Clinton won here by only 310 votes out of 132,569 cast.

And yet, in the middle of the polarized America Donald Trump takes charge of on Friday, this place has somehow risen above the divisiveness, or at least learned how to live peacefully in opposition. Democrats and Republicans reside amiably side-by-side in farmhouses on gravel roads, old brick buildings converted to condos in the city center and subdivisions of prairie-style houses in between.

They speak cautiously about their expectations for the Trump administration. Maybe it's their low-key Midwestern attitude, or maybe its that people are simply exhausted after the grueling campaign of 2016.

"A lot of the quiet is because no one is exactly sure what's going to happen," says Ari Kohen, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who contrasts the ideological diversity of his students with the blanket liberalism of those he taught on the East Coast. "People keep asking me what's going to happen, and I keep telling them no one knows."

That uncertainty crosses party lines.

"We'll find out pretty soon if it's going to work or not," says Eddie Kramer, 29, before tucking into eggs and hash browns with his wife, Abby, at a firehouse-themed cafe.

If it works, the Kramers, who both work for insurance companies and voted for Trump, hope their health insurance bills shrink. The monthly premiums for them and their two children increased about $50 last year, and they had to pay $80 for required medications after their 7-year-old's tonsils were removed.

Still, they've tried to keep the Trump talk down since Election Day.

"We have a lot of friends on both sides," Abby Kramer says. "We try to keep our opinions to ourselves because we don't want to offend anyone."

With its population of 277,000, Lincoln is a big city for Austin Wendt, a computer science major at the university. He's from Columbus, 78 miles to the north. "It would be an understatement to say I was raised Republican," he says.

On Election Day, Wendt watched the returns with friends, some Trump supporters, some Clinton supporters. He expected to have a nice drink while watching his candidate, Trump, lose. Instead, his Clinton friends melted down.

Wendt wants Trump to follow through on his promise to stop illegal immigration to help Americans reclaim jobs he believes have been taken from them. "We have these laws in place and they're not being carried out," he says.

But he's conflicted: One of his closest friends at the university is a student from Brazil who's gotten a job with Microsoft but fears losing his work visa if Trump follows through on his campaign promises. Wendt himself has a programming job lined up after he graduates this spring.

Across town, Suliman Bandas teaches English as a second language, his students immigrants and refugees from Iraq who say they feel safe in a town that, so far, tolerates difference. But Bandas, a refugee from the Sudan, worries about America's reputation as "a country of refuge, a country of protection" under Trump.

"It should not be up to a president to change a country's value and principle," he says.

Vince Powers is also looking ahead warily. The outgoing chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party thinks "it's going to be worse than anyone imagines." He's not worried for himself; he's a successful plaintiff's attorney and expects to benefit from Trump's proposed tax cuts tilted toward the wealthy. He is concerned for immigrants and those who depend on the Affordable Care Act or government aid.

But Powers finds solace in his hometown and his friends and neighbors, many of whom voted for Trump.

"The thing about Nebraska is, we don't have mountains, we don't have any oceans. All we have is people," he says.

"We have a great quality of life, and I'm not going to let politics sap the way I approach life."
Donald Trump will be handed the keys to the White House on Friday, but the president-elect has yet to learn how to handle his own Twitter account properly.

Trump delights in communicating with the public through his social media account, but when he attempted to praise his daughter Ivanka on Monday, he accidentally sent the message to a British digital consultant.

@Ivanka Trump is great, a woman with real character and class, the message read, replying to Massachusetts chiropractor Lawrence Goodstein, who had mistakenly tagged @realDonaldTrump and @Ivanka in a prior tweet.

Also Read: Donald Trump Sued by 'Apprentice' Alum Who Says He Grabbed Her Breast

The handle @Ivanka is actually owned by Ivanka Majic of Brighton, England, while the future first daughter goes by the handle @IvankaTrump.

Majic didnt miss this opportunity to rip into Trump in a reply that was shared with his 20 million followers, writing: And youre a man with great responsibilities. May I suggest more care on Twitter and more time learning about #climatechange.

@realDonaldTrump @drgoodspine And you're a man with great responsibilities. May I suggest more care on Twitter and more time learning about #climatechange. pic.twitter.com/kBMEGZYtig  Ivanka Majic (@ivanka) January 17, 2017

Also Read: NFL Says 'Nonsense' to Report It Barred Lady Gaga From Trump Super Bowl Criticism

Unfortunately for Trump, he singled out someone who actually knows what shes talking and Majic went on to tweet data pointing out that 97.5 percent of publishing climatologists and about 90 percent of all publishing scientists supported the human-induced climate change theory, The Guardian reported.

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The interesting thing about my being dragged into a Twitter conversation with Trump is that my politics are very different than his, Majic told CNN, referencing Trumps repeated claims that climate change is a hoax.

Its not every morning, well its never really, that I wake up and find that lots of international news agencies want to talk to me, she continued. I had many, many mentions. I normally try to reply politely, but Im not going to be able to get back to everyone today.

Also Read: Trump Official Rips Democrats Skipping Inauguration: 'Put Your Big Boy Pants On' (Video)

Ive got my 15 minutes of fame and this is how Im choosing to use it, Majic told The Guardian.

Included in that 15 minutes is doubling her Twitter followers, currently totally 7,544.

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Brussels (AFP) - Europe must pull together or risk being sidelined as Donald Trump signals the end of a postwar transatlantic partnership credited with keeping the peace for the past 70 years, analysts and officials say.

Fears about the US president-elect's isolationist stance became a reality this week when Trump challenged basic assumptions about the role of an "obsolete" NATO and backed the break-up of the European Union.

The shock was palpable among countries who up to now have considered themselves among Washington's closest allies but now face a sobering new reality when the billionaire businessman is inaugurated on Friday.

Europe already faces a host of problems -- Britain's impending EU exit, a nasty stand-off with Russia, and turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa driving terrorism and the worst migrant crisis since World War II.

Against this backdrop, Europe could now have to take the difficult but very costly steps required to provide security for itself after decades of sheltering under the US security umbrella.

"If EU leaders fail to pull together and speak up much more loudly than before, they risk being sidelined," said analysts Stefan Lehne and Heather Grabbe, writing for Carnegie Europe.

"To the extent that Washington engages with Europe at all, it will likely deal with countries individually. When a leader opposes his agenda, Trump's government may well seek to play off one European against another."

- Europe its own master -

European leaders reacted with shock at Trump's comments.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom Trump said had made a "catastrophic decision" to let in a million refugees, insisted that "we Europeans have our fate in our own hands." Her foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said there was "astonishment" in the EU.

French President Francois Hollande meanwhile insisted Europe "has no need for outside advice to tell it what it has to do".

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France and Germany have led recent efforts to create an EU defence plan, based on coordination and shared weapons procurement in order to cut costs and boost integration.

EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini has in turn formulated a global strategy based on the idea the bloc should achieve "strategic autonomy," coupled with increased cooperation with NATO.

NATO groups 22 of the EU's 28 member states and many of those, led by Britain but including several former Soviet satellites in the east, believe that the US-led alliance -- not Brussels -- is the only real collective defence option against a more assertive Russia.

On that basis, President Barack Obama won NATO leaders' backing for the biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War in response to Russia's Ukraine intervention and annexation of Crimea.

But what if NATO under Trump is not so willing to come to their aid?

"If President Trump calls into question the European decision (to bolster NATO), EU member states will have to consider increasing strategic autonomy by reinforcing collective defence inside the EU," said analyst Felix Arteaga at the Elcano Royal Institute think-tank in Madrid.

A key test would be if Trump goes over Europe's heads to do a Ukraine deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, badly wrong footing the allies, analysts said.

- Europe, US shared interests -

Other analysts say Trump may have been misunderstood or had talked too loosely.

Professor Zbigniew Lewicki, chairman of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, said: "I think he considers NATO obsolete in the sense of being ineffective fighting terrorism rather than trying to disband it, which I don't think he wants to do."

"When it comes to deeds, I don't think he will do anything to destroy NATO, or for that matter, to destroy, if he could, the European Union. I trust him more than his words."

Ian Lesser, vice president at the German Marshall Fund of the United States in Brussels, said Trump's comments should be treated seriously but not over-dramatically.

His call, for example, for the allies to share more of the NATO spending burden reflected longstanding and well-known US concerns that had also been pushed by Obama, Lesser said.

The bottom line was that the US and Europe have shared interests and values binding them together.

"The US commitment to Europe was not a bargain deal; it was driven by very important US interests and that remains the case," he said.
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f351964%2f3713cdb3-99f5-4508-8f89-d66acef7a3de

President-elect Donald Trump's pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wrongly suggested on Wednesday that scientists still don't know exactly why climate change is happening.

Scott Pruitt, the Republican attorney general of Oklahoma, claimed during his Senate confirmation hearing that climate experts are still debating the extent to which human activity is driving up global temperatures.

In reality, most climate scientists debate the precise impacts human-caused climate change is having, as well as the rate and severity of global warming yet to come  but they don't debate that human activity is the leading cause.

SEE ALSO: Climate activists protested Rex Tillersons nomination in T. Rex costumes

"I believe the ability to measure with precision the degree of human activity's impact on the climate is subject to more debate, on whether the climate is changing or whether human activity contributes to it," Pruitt said Wednesday in a tense exchange with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a prominent climate advocate who lost the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Pruitt had previously acknowledged at the hearing that "the climate is changing and human activity contributes to that in some manner."

He also distanced himself from his prospective boss, saying he did not agree with Trump's earlier claims that the Chinese government fabricated the idea of climate change.

"I do not believe climate change is a hoax," Pruitt told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

As EPA administrator, Pruitt would oversee the most important federal programs to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, including regulations of carbon dioxide from power plants and methane emissions from natural gas well sites and pipelines.

Global average temperature anomalies per year, with the warmest years listed, including 2016.

Image: nasa giss.

When Sanders pressed Pruitt to give his personal opinion on why the climate was changing, the EPA nominee replied that his feelings on the topic were "immaterial" to his role as potential EPA chief.

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"Really?" Sanders interjected, incredulously. "You are going to be the head of the agency to protect the environment, and your personal feelings about whether climate change is caused by human activity is immaterial?"

Pruitt responded indirectly, saying, "Senator, I believe the administrator has a very important role to perform in regulating CO2."

Counter to Pruitt's claims of uncertainty, the overwhelming majority of the world's climate scientists agree that human activity  such as burning fossil fuels and clear-cutting forests  is the No. 1 reason why the planet is warming at such a staggering rate.

2016 culminated a remarkable 3-year streak of record warm years for the globe says @NOAANCEIclimate https://t.co/5sDkZyODpI #StateOfClimate pic.twitter.com/7O54sWd3Dz  NOAA (@NOAA) January 18, 2017

In fact, during the confirmation hearing, global climate monitoring agencies including NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the UK Met Office announced that 2016 was the warmest year on record.

The agencies concluded that human-caused global warming was primarily responsible for the dangerous climate milestone.

Scientists and environmentalists have expressed alarm that the top U.S. office for regulating climate change could be run by a person who disputes mainstream climate science.

From the hallways outside the senate hearing of Scott Pruitt for EPA. pic.twitter.com/EKbqnXYj3l  Jeremy Symons (@JeremySymons) January 18, 2017

TODAY: we're on the hill saying #RejectPruitt! RT if you agree we cannot let a climate denier run the EPA. pic.twitter.com/YRUPXGaRCZ  LCV (@LCVoters) January 18, 2017

Earlier this week, over 170 environmental and social justice groups sent a letter to the Senate committee that claimed Pruitt's "views and actions run counter to the EPA's critical mission to protect our health and the environment."

His critics also note that Pruitt has spent years fighting to dismantle the EPA's key environmental rules, often with the support of Oklahoma's powerful oil and gas industry.

Pruitt is part of a coalition of Republican attorneys general who reportedly forged an alliance with some of the nation's biggest oil and gas producers to fight against the Obama administration's environmental agenda.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, points to a chart as he questions EPA nominee, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, in Washington on Jan. 18, 2017.

Image: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Democratic senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Kamala Harris also pushed Pruitt to disclose whether, if confirmed as the EPA chief, he would recuse himself from the litigation he brought against the EPA as Oklahoma's attorney general.

Pruitt said only that he would step down from those cases if directed by the EPA's Ethics Office.

The attorney general's top supporters on the Senate committee applauded Pruitt's efforts to limit "federal overreach" by the EPA and defend the jobs of hundreds of thousands of workers in the fossil fuel industry.

"As head of the EPA, attorney general Pruitt will ensure that the agency fulfills the role delegated to it by the laws passed by Congress," Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, the Senate's most prominent climate change-denier, said during the hearing.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  Incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer said President-elect Donald Trump is disturbed by President Obamas decision to commute the prison sentence of convicted leaker Chelsea Manning.

I think the president-elect is troubled by this action, Spicer said during a Wednesday news conference at Trumps presidential transition team headquarters.

You have an individual whos convicted of espionage sentenced to 35 years in jail and  to see someone who has given away this countrys secrets and been convicted of it through military court, its disappointing, he continued. And it sends a very troubling message when it comes to the handling of classified information and  consequences to those who leak information that threatens the safety of our nation.

Spicer was also asked if Trump wanted to see WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange make good on a promise to allow himself to be extradited to the United States if Manning was given a deal. Last week, the official WikiLeaks Twitter account posted a message saying Assange would agree to US extradition if Manning were granted clemency. Through his lawyer, Assange subsequently said Obamas commutation wasnt enough, according to The Hill.

Ive got to be honest with you, I think the focus right now has been on the concern and message that was sent with respect to PFC Manning and  that signal that it sends, Spicer said of Trumps thoughts about Assange.

Manning, a United States Army soldier, was convicted in 2013 of leaking 750,000 pages of military documents and videos to WikiLeaks in 2010. WikiLeaks published some of the material, including footage of a U.S. helicopter attacking journalists and civilians in Iraq in 2007. Manning was originally sentenced to 35 years and is now scheduled to be released on May 17 after spending almost seven years in custody.

Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since the summer of 2012 after seeking asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden on a sexual assault allegation.

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WikiLeaks played a major role in last years presidential election by publishing emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clintons campaign chairman. Trump praised Assanges work during the race and focused much of his campaign messaging on the leaked emails.

Donald Trump and Chelsea Manning (Photos: Evan Vucci/AP, U.S. Army via AP)

Earlier this month, officials from the major U.S. intelligence agencies released a joint report saying the emails were leaked by hackers affiliated with the Russian government as part of an effort to help Trump win.

Spicer further suggested it is a double standard for Democrats to support Obamas decision to grant a commutation to Manning after their denunciation of WikiLeaks campaign leaks.

Theres a bit of irony and double standard that goes into this when you realize the outrage that theres been regarding leaks of information and the use of it, particularly from the left, the Democrats, to see them get up and support the commutation of a sentence from someone who was duly convicted of a very, very serious crime, Spicer said.

Obama announced 209 commutations and 64 pardons on Tuesday including Mannings. During his administration, Obama has commuted the sentences of 1,385 people  the most grants of commutation issued by any president in the countrys history. In a statement released on Tuesday, White House counsel Neil Eggleston said Obama believed those granted commutations deserved a second chance.

While the mercy the president has shown his 1,597 clemency recipients is remarkable, we must remember that clemency is an extraordinary remedy, granted only after the president has concluded that a particular individual has demonstrated a readiness to make use of his or her second chance, Eggleston said.

Read more from Yahoo News:
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkey's parliament on Wednesday embarked on a second round of voting on a contentious package of constitutional amendments that would give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office new executive powers.

Legislators are set to vote separately on 18 proposed amendments before holding a final vote on the whole package by the end of the week.

Debate on the draft amendments that would turn Turkey's parliamentary system into a presidential system has been tense, resulting in brawls last week between ruling and opposition party lawmakers.

Founded by Erdogan, the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, argues that a strong presidency is needed to strengthen Turkey as it confronts multiple terrorism threats. Critics say the changes would concentrate too much power in Erdogan's hands and erode checks and balances on his rule.

Erdogan, whom critics accuse of authoritarian tendencies, has long pushed for a presidential system. He says a strong head of state would propel Turkey toward its goal of becoming a world power by 2023, when the Turkish Republic marks its centenary. Currently, the presidency is largely ceremonial.

The New York-based advocacy group, Human Rights Watch, urged Turkish lawmakers to reject the proposed amendments. It said the proposals would render permanent many of the emergency powers the president assumed in the wake of a failed July coup to overthrow him.

The botched July 15 coup set the stage for a sweeping purge of state institutions that has alarmed rights groups and Western governments.

"Parliament should reject these constitutional changes, which would hollow out the rule of law, and profoundly undermine the country's democracy," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW.

Erdogan renewed his support for the changes on Wednesday. Switching to a presidential system and abolishing the office of the prime minister would avert possible power struggles between the premier and the president, he said. Both Turkey's prime minister and president are popularly elected. Erdogan became the country's first directly elected president in 2014,

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If the reform bill secures at least 330 votes in the 550-seat assembly, it would then be put to a national referendum.

The reforms, which have support from the opposition Nationalist Movement Party, have garnered sufficient votes in the first round of voting last week.

The main opposition Republican People's Party vehemently opposes the amendments. Its leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, met Wednesday with his nationalist party counterpart to "convey his concerns."

When deliberations started hours later, Muharrem Erkek of the Republican People's Party warned that Erdogan would be "the only person who enjoys freedoms," if the reforms are adopted.

Members of his party stood up in unison at 6 p.m., part of a wider protest campaign that called on Turkish citizens to "stand up" to the proposed presidential system at designated times over three days.

Lawmakers of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, whose leaders are behind bars on terror-related charges, pushed for their jailed representatives to be allowed to vote.

Separately, the Ankara prosecutor's office launched an investigation of a complaint filed by a lawmaker from Erdogan's party. AKP legislator Muhammet Balta has alleged someone bit his leg during a skirmish at the assembly last week, the private Dogan news agency reported.

The debate coincides with tough times for Turkey, which has suffered a wave of bombings, the Jan. 1 shooting attack on an Istanbul nightclub, renewed conflict with Kurdish rebels in the southeast, a military offensive in Syria and the coup attempt.

__

Associated Press writers Neyran Elden in Istanbul and Dominique Soguel in Basel, Switzerland contributed.
By Timothy Mclaughlin

(Reuters) - The U.S. Army on Wednesday began the process of launching an environmental study of the Dakota Access pipeline crossing in North Dakota, a move that has been challenged by the company constructing the controversial project.

The Army said on Wednesday it is gathering information to prepare an environmental impact statement regarding an easement to cross at Lake Oahe, a water source upstream from the Standing Rock Sioux reservation that has been the focus of months of fierce protests due to fears the pipeline could damage drinking water and desecrate sacred grounds.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in December denied Energy Transfer Partners an easement to drill under the lake.

The Army announcement comes as demonstrators renew opposition against the $3.8 billion project, with arrests this week bringing the total to more than 600, according to law enforcement.

Energy Transfer Partners requested on Monday that a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia stop the Corps from initiating the environmental impact statement process until there is a ruling on whether the company already has necessary approvals for the pipeline crossing.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg had scheduled a hearing in the case for Wednesday afternoon.

In July 2015, the Corps granted Energy Transfer Partners permission for its proposed pipeline crossing at Lake Oahe.

For months, Native Americans and environmental activists have been protesting the pipeline, garnering support from celebrities and on social media.

Following the Army Corp's December announcement, the Standing Rock Sioux asked demonstrators to disperse and many did. However, some have remained.

Sixteen people were arrested on Monday and Tuesday for a number of offenses, including engaging in a riot and assault on a peace officer, bringing the total number of arrests to 603 since Aug. 10 which was around the time the protests began, according to Maxine Herr, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff's Department.

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The department is hoping that President-elect Donald Trump will deploy federal help to law enforcement managing protesters.

"When Trump takes office we foresee a significant change in terms of federal assistance," Herr said.

The North Dakota National Guard had deployed a missile defense system to the area near the protest site, but it was unarmed and being used only for observation purposes, said Amber Balken, a spokeswoman for the North Dakota National Guard.

The Avenger missile system had been in place for a "few weeks," but would be removed Wednesday, Balken said.

(Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday revived a lawsuit by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp against five banks including Credit Suisse Group AG <CSGN.S> stemming from the sales of mortgage-backed securities ahead of the 2008 financial crisis.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that a lower-court judge had erred in dismissing the FDIC lawsuit, which also named units of HSBC Holdings Plc <HSBA.L>, Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc <RBS.L>, UBS AG <UBSG.S> and Deutsche Bank AG <DBKGn.DE> as defendants.

The FDIC declined to comment as did Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and HSBC. Representatives for the other banks did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The FDIC sued the banks in 2012, accusing them of violating a federal securities law in connection with the sale of $140.5 million in mortgage-backed securities in 2007 and 2008 to Citizens National Bank and Strategic Capital Bank. Both banks later failed.

Another panel of the same appellate court in May revived another lawsuit by the FDIC against several banks over similar claims. The U.S. Supreme last week declined to review that case.

In both cases, the court held that a federal law passed in 1989 after the savings and loan crisis extended the time period that the FDIC could sue on behalf of two failed banks that it took into receivership.

The latest ruling reversed a March 2015 decision by U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan, who concluded that the FDIC had waited too long to sue the banks.

The case is FDIC v Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp et al, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 15-1037.

(Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jeffrey Benkoe)
Attorneys representing Gage County asked the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a federal jury ruling or set a new trial in the Beatrice 6 case on Tuesday, the opening salvo in what is expected to be a lengthy appeals process.

Six people -- Joseph White, Ada JoAnn Taylor, James Dean, Thomas Winslow, Kathleen Gonzalez and Debra Shelden -- were convicted in the 1985 murder of 68-year-old Helen Wilson in her downtown Beatrice apartment.

They were arrested following a 1989 cold case investigation, and all but White took plea deals. He was convicted at trial, and the six spent a combined 75 years in prison.

In 2008, DNA testing of crime scene evidence showed a seventh man, Bruce Allen Smith, raped Wilson and beat her to death.

The six were exonerated and later sued Gage County, former Sheriff Jerry DeWitt, Deputy Burdette Searcey and Reserve Deputy/psychiatrist Wayne Price in 2009 for violating their civil rights.

The case went to trial in U.S. District Court in 2014 and ended in a mistrial. The 8th Circuit Court ordered a new trial in 2015 that took place in summer 2016, ending with the jury awarding the six a combined $28.1 million, plus attorneys fees and other costs.

The county declared its intention to appeal in October, and after several extensions, its attorneys submitted a 107-page brief earlier this week.

Attorneys for the six will have one month to respond.

Arguing on behalf of Gage County, Searcey and Price, the team of private-practice attorneys said the judgment issued by the federal jury last summer rests upon evidence that Searcey and Price should have known the six were innocent. Searcey retired in November.

Should have known, of course, is the language of negligence, the brief states, adding that judgment in the case amounts to a misunderstanding of negligence as a conscience-shocking due process violation of the sixs civil rights.

The countys attorneys also said much of the plaintiffs' case relies on a theory that DeWitt, who was in office 1987-2007, directed the investigation that led to the civil rights violation.

In the brief, the attorneys say that previous rulings by the 8th Circuit Court decided the county could be held liable only if DeWitt was a policymaker who made policy that directed the violation of the sixs constitutional rights.

In the jury verdict handed down in July, DeWitt, who died in 2012, was cleared of claims he led a reckless investigation, manufactured false evidence and entered into a conspiracy to commit both.

Examining the evidence in 2015 when the six asked the 8th Circuit for a new trial after the mistrial, the panel of judges said the county was liable if a jury arguably could find that DeWitts alleged direct involvement warranted municipal liability.

Attorneys for Gage County said that, under Nebraska law, sheriffs are not responsible for setting or directing policy. The law unambiguously defines the County Board as the policymaking entity.

Evidence that a county-policymaking body cannot supervise the sheriffs law-enforcement activities undercuts any argument that the county can be held responsible for the sheriffs law-enforcement actions, the brief states.

Rather, the brief says, then-County Attorney Richard Smith was involved during all parts of the investigation and had the duty to evaluate the sufficiency of evidence and to decide whether to go forward with a criminal complaint.

Smith has been granted immunity under state law.

The countys attorneys also said the U.S. District Court erred in denying the countys motion for a new trial over statements during the trial to turn this into a trial about whether (the six) were actually innocent and/or whether they were wrongfully convicted, rather than a trial about whether (the county) violated their constitutional rights.

Despite repeated reminders by the court, the brief says, attorneys for the six clearly and repeatedly stepped over the line in suggesting the case surrounded their clients guilt or innocence, not whether the investigation into Wilsons murder had violated their civil rights.

Gage County asked the 8th Circuit Court to consider if the district court took enough steps to remedy the situation in court, or if the statements affected the jurys decision.

Furthermore, attorneys for the county argued, the court improperly defined reckless investigation in its instructions to the jury, which allowed the jury to find the county, Searcey and Price liable if they determined unreliable evidence had been gathered.

Under that definition, the brief says, the term reckless investigation did not meet a standard that determined the investigation had shocked the conscience.

Finally, the county says in its appeal, no evidence was presented at trial that either Searcey or Price fabricated false evidence to frame any of the six.

In order to find that either Searcey or Price engaged in a reckless investigation the proof must be that their actions were intentional or reckless and the district court must find that it shocks the conscience, it says.

According to the argument, two previous reviews of the case by the 8th Circuit said it was possible for a jury to believe Searcey and Price engaged in a conspiracy -- or intended to fabricate evidence and commit a reckless investigation -- but the jury rejected all conspiracy claims in the case.

The brief closes by asking the court to grant Gage County, Searcey and Price a judgment in their favor, or a new trial.
By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice for commerce secretary, voiced sharp criticism of China's trade practices on Wednesday, telling senators he would seek new ways of combating them. In his confirmation hearing, Ross also said that renegotiating the North American Free Trade agreement with Mexico and Canada would likely be the Trump administration's first priority, calling it a "very, very early topic." Ross, who made his fortune turning around troubled companies in steel, auto parts, textiles and other industries, called China the "most protectionist" country among large economies, with high tariff and non-tariff barriers to imports. The 79-year-old billionaire vowed to level the playing field for U.S. companies competing with Chinese imports and those trying to do business in China. Chinese officials, he said, "talk much more about free trade than they actually practice. We would like to levelize that playing field and bring the realities a bit closer to the rhetoric." Ross said that state-owned enterprises in China were a particular problem that needed to be dealt with, charging that up to one-third have never made a profit and this has fueled overcapacity that has led to dumping of products such as steel and aluminum. "They're being kept alive by state-owned banks. To me that looks and feels and tastes a lot like artificial subsidies," he said, adding that the Commerce Department will be "very scrupulous" in identifying unfair subsidies that require countervailing duties. Ross did not specifically mention Trump's threats to levy punitive tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the United States but said countries that dump products below costs or fail to provide a fair trading field should be "severely punished." He said he would pay particular attention to sectors in need of anti-dumping tariffs, including steel and aluminum. The Commerce Department may initiate some anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases on its own, rather than relying on private companies to build the cases, to shorten the processing time, he said. Ross also was critical of moves by Chinese firms to buy control of U.S. entertainment and distributors when Beijing was denying such opportunities to U.S. firms in China. Trump has criticized China's trade practices and NAFTA, accusing both of causing millions of manufacturing job losses in the United States. The president-elect has pledged to renegotiate NAFTA to be more favorable to U.S. manufacturers or leave the 23-year-old trade pact. The Toronto Globe and Mail newspaper reported on Wednesday that Ross had informed Canadian officials that a formal request for negotiations would be sent within days of Trump's inauguration on Friday, with rules of origin a priority. Ross said it was possible for the U.S. economy to grow faster than the Obama administration. It could achieve about 3 percent growth by adopting Trump's proposals to roll back some business regulations, expand domestic energy production, reduce U.S. trade deficits and rebuild crumbling domestic infrastructure, he said. Ross also said more wireless telecommunications spectrum, sales of which are managed by the Commerce Department, was needed by the private sector. He pledged to press government and military agencies that control it to release what they do not need. "I am not anti-trade. I am pro-trade," Ross said. "But I am pro-sensible trade, not trade that is to the disadvantage of the American worker and to the American manufacturing community." Ross disclosed on Tuesday that he would sell investments valued at up to about $300 million, including his stake in his private equity firm, to avoid conflicts of interest as commerce secretary. The position's responsibilities range from trade enforcement and economic data publication to telecommunications auctions and weather forecasting. {nL1N1F720V] (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Bill Trott and Tom Brown)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the state of Illinois planned to announce a major legal action on Wednesday afternoon, according to a notice from the watchdog.

A spokesman for the CFPB, which was created to guard individuals against fraud in student loans, mortgages and other forms of debt, would not say who was the target of the enforcement. The Illinois Attorney General's office would not comment.

The Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan led a national probe of student loan servicer Sallie Mae, now called Navient Corp, that started in December 2013, and the CFPB sent the company a notice in April 2014 saying that it was considering taking legal action against it. According to Navient's latest regulatory filings, both investigations are still open. The company's spokespeople did not return requests for comment.

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Andrew Hay)
By David Ingram NEW YORK (Reuters) - Twenty-seven Jewish community centers in 17 U.S. states reported receiving false telephone bomb threats on Wednesday, prompting evacuations and an FBI probe into the second wave of hoax attacks to target American Jewish facilities this month. The JCC Association of North America, a network of health and education centers, said the threatened organizations were working with police and many had resumed operations after no bombs were found nor injuries reported, as was the case after the earlier series of threats on Jan. 9. No one claimed responsibility for the calls on Wednesday nor nine days ago, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has not named any suspects nor described a likely motive. The FBI and the Justice Department are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with threats, the FBI said in a statement. "The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence, and will ensure this matter is investigated in a fair, thorough, and impartial manner," the statement said. In Miami Beach, Florida, a center received a call at 9:54 a.m. (1454 GMT) and was evacuated, police said on Twitter. Officers and police dogs searched the area but found no bomb and the center reopened, they said. Two centers in Connecticut said on Facebook they had received threatening phone calls and had evacuated. No bombs were found, they said. The Jan. 9 threats targeted 16 Jewish community centers in nine U.S. states, prompting the FBI to look into the source of the calls, some of them made using an automated "robocall" system. It was not immediately clear if there was overlap between centers that received calls on Jan. 9 and those that received them on Wednesday, but the volume of threats was unheard of, said Paul Goldenberg, national director of the Secure Community Network, a nonprofit that advises Jewish groups on security. "These are individuals or groups that want to disrupt our way of life," Goldenberg said, adding that they would not succeed. "We're not going to shut down institutions because of this." After last week's threats, the JCC Association of North America trained staff and reviewed security plans, the group said. "While we're extremely proud of our JCCs for professionally handling yet another threatening situation, we are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats," David Posner, director of strategic performance at the association, said in a statement. (Reporting by David Ingram in New York; Editing by David Gregorio and Jonathan Oatis)
By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice to run the Department of Health and Human Services may have broken the law by making a stock purchase just before he introduced legislation that would have benefited the firm, the Senate's leading Democrat charged on Tuesday. A confirmation hearing for Tom Price, a Republican congressman and orthopedic surgeon from Georgia, was scheduled for Wednesday before the Senate Health Committee. If confirmed, he would be a key player in carrying out Trump's plans to overhaul Democratic President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law. CNN reported on Sunday that Price bought between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of shares last March in Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc , a medical device manufacturer. Days later, he introduced legislation in the House of Representatives that would have delayed a regulation that could have ultimately damaged the company, CNN said. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate, called on the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate whether Price had violated the 2012 Stock Act, a law designed to combat insider trading. Schumer said Price's Zimmer Biomet purchase may have been in violation of that law. "It may be that this trade was illegal," Schumer said on the Senate floor on Tuesday afternoon. The Trump transition team said late on Monday that the stock purchase was directed not by Price but by a broker and that the congressman himself did not become aware of the stock buy until well after the legislation was introduced. The transition team urged CNN to retract the story. "Any effort to connect the introduction of bipartisan legislation by Dr. Price to any campaign contribution is demonstrably false," said transition spokesman Phil Blando. Schumer did not sound convinced. "Now they say there's a broker, it's kind of strange that this broker would pick this stock totally independently of him introducing legislation that's so narrow and specific to this company," Schumer told CNN on Tuesday. WARNING ON OBAMACARE REPEAL Sean Spicer, who will serve as Trump's White House spokesman, defended Price. "Regarding dem attacks on @RepTomPrice: this is a stock trade worth $300. You couldn't get into a @SenSchumer fundraiser for that amount," Spicer said in a tweet. Another sign of trouble for Republicans in the healthcare arena emerged on Tuesday when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said a repeal of Obamacare - a top priority of both Trump and congressional Republicans - would increase the number of people without health insurance by 18 million in the first year. That number would grow to 32 million by the year 2026 and premiums would double in that time, the CBO said. The report based its analysis on a Republican repeal bill that was passed a year ago but vetoed by Obama. Republicans say the same bill is the blueprint for the repeal effort now under way in Congress. But House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, characterized the CBO projection as "meaningless." He said it did not take into account measures under consideration to replace the law or "actions that the incoming administration will take to revitalize the individual (insurance) market that has been decimated by Obamacare." Price, an ardent advocate of Obamacare repeal, is one of eight Trump Cabinet nominees who will face Senate confirmation hearings this week. The hearings started on Tuesday with Ryan Zinke, a Republican congressman from Montana tapped for interior secretary, and Republican philanthropist Betsy DeVos, the nominee for education secretary. Trump's presidential inauguration is on Friday and his team is hoping to have as many of his nominees as possible, perhaps as many as seven, confirmed by then. Price, however, will not be one of them. A second Senate panel, the Finance Committee, must also hold a hearing and a vote on Price's nomination, and it has not yet scheduled its hearing. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney)
LONDON (Reuters) - UBS Chairman Axel Weber has said that around 1,000 of the Swiss bank's 5,000 employees based in London could be impacted by Britain's exit from the European Union. "We have roughly 5,000 people in London. Real passporting business is probably down to about 1,000 of those employees in London and for them we have to look at what the ultimate deal will be mapped out with," Weber said in a BBC television interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. "So were still looking at what is happening but of course we have to look at optionality and weve largely done that so far." CEO Sergio Ermotti has said previously that 20 percent to 30 percent of those London-based employees could be affected should the Swiss bank decide to move. In 2016, UBS set up a bank in Frankfurt to consolidate most of its European wealth management operations in an effort to conserve capital and simplify its structure. Other banks are expected to announce more concrete plans for how they will adapt to Brexit in the coming months after Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed in a speech on Tuesday that Britain would leave the European single market. (Reporting By Anjuli Davies; Editing by Rachel Armstrong.)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Brexit minister David Davis said the government had received positive responses from Brussels after Prime Minister Theresa May set out her priorities for upcoming negotiations on leaving the European Union. "Some of the other responses we got back from Brussels overnight reflected that, that this was a positive response, something that they were, I think they were hoping for, frankly," Davis told BBC radio on Wednesday. May said in a speech on Tuesday that Britain would seek the greatest possible access to European markets but aim to establish its own free trade deals with countries beyond Europe, and impose limits on immigration from the continent. Asked how things would change for Britons the day after the country left the EU, Davis said he did not expect travel restrictions but customs checks were up for negotiation. "You won't see any difference, let's say, in the right to travel. We have got 35 million people who come here from Europe each year," he said. "We will see (about customs checks). That is one of the things we will have to negotiate." (Reporting by Kate Holton, writing by Sarah Young, editing by David Milliken)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's decision to leave the European Union's single market does not mean it won't retain access to it, Brexit minister David Davis said on Tuesday. Prime Minister Theresa May set out her priorities for Brexit earlier, including ditching membership of the single market as she pitched her plan for a "hard Brexit" divorce from Britain's biggest trading partner. "Pretty much every country in the world that is not subject to sanctions has access to the single market. We will have access to the single market, the question that this is about is the terms," Davis told parliament after May's speech. "My job ... is to persuade our opposite numbers in Europe that it is in their interests too that we all have equal access to each other's markets." (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Alistair Smout; editing by Stephen Addison)
London (AFP) - Britain's Supreme Court will rule Tuesday on whether or not Prime Minister Theresa May has to seek parliamentary approval to trigger Brexit, the court said Wednesday.

"Judgment in these cases will be delivered at 9:30 am (0930 GMT) on Tuesday 24 January 2017," the court said on its website, following the government's appeal against a previous ruling.

The judgment will be handed down in the largest courtroom of the court's grand headquarters opposite parliament in central London.

All 11 Supreme Court judges convened in December to hear four days of arguments on behalf the government and the claimants, who say May cannot begin Britain's departure from the European Union without first getting the go-ahead from lawmakers.

It was the first time all 11 judges have sat together to hear an appeal.

The appeal came after a High Court ruling in November that said the government did not have the executive power alone to invoke Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, formally starting exit talks.

The decision enraged Brexit supporters with some newspapers accusing judges of thwarting the will of the 52 percent who voted "Leave" in the June 23 referendum.

The lead claimant in the case, investment fund manager Gina Miller, says she has received death threats and boycotts against her business.

She told AFP in an interview last year that she did not want to "subvert" the result of the referendum, adding: "This is not about whether we should stay or leave -- this is actually about how we leave."

Her legal team successfully argued that parliament had to approve Article 50 as it would involve a change in domestic law.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright, the government's chief legal advisor, countered that the government had authority over foreign affairs, including the right to withdraw from treaties, under so-called "royal prerogative powers".

MPs in December agreed not to delay May's plans to begin the EU exit talks by the end of March in return for more details on her Brexit negotiating demands, which she outlined in a keynote speech on Tuesday.

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May announced for the first time that Britain will leave Europe's single market in order to control EU immigration.

The Conservative leader also said lawmakers would get a vote on any final Brexit agreement negotiated with Brussels.

The government is facing other Brexit legal fights including a challenge over whether parliament must also approve Britain's departure from the European Economic Area.
By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom's Supreme Court will deliver its ruling next Tuesday on whether Prime Minister Theresa May can begin leaving the European Union without parliament's assent, potentially giving lawmakers a chance to have a vote on Brexit. May has said she would trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the formal means of exiting the bloc, by the end of March and on Tuesday detailed her vision for a clean break with the EU by quitting its single market. She believes the government can trigger Article 50 without needing lawmakers' approval using executive powers known as "royal prerogative", but last November London's High Court dealt her a blow by ruling it would be unlawful for her to act without parliament's approval. The government appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, the United Kingdom's highest judicial body, which held four days of hearings in front of all its 11 justices last month. Their ruling will be handed down at 0930 GMT next Tuesday, the court said. Many lawyers say May is likely to lose the case, and ministers have already prepared legislation to go before parliament if they are defeated. The government's lawyer told the Supreme Court ministers could put forward a simple one-line bill giving May the authority to trigger Article 50 if the ruling went against them. Any such bill is likely to be put before the lower House of Commons the following week. Sources from both May's ruling Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party have told Reuters there was scope for a bill to be accelerated through parliament, without restricting debate, to ensure it could pass before the end of March. DEVOLVED ASSEMBLIES Investors believed that giving lawmakers, the majority of whom backed staying in the EU, the chance to vote on Article 50 would lessen the chances of a "hard" Brexit where Britain gave up preferential access to the single market in favor of immigration curbs. But, Labour cautiously welcomed elements of May's speech which clearly set out her intention for a clean break with the bloc and in a non-binding vote last December, lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to back a motion supporting her timetable. "We wont frustrate invoking Article 50, we've said that from the first day after the referendum result. On the other hand we want to hold the government's plans to account in parliament," a Labour source said. May has also promised that the final deal struck with the EU after two years of divorce talks would be put to parliament. While the thrust of the Supreme Court case centered on whether the British parliament had to give its assent, the judges also heard arguments from the Scottish government and lawyers for Northern Irish challengers that Britain's devolved assemblies must give their approval too. If the court agrees, the current political crisis in Northern Ireland could derail May's timetable following the collapse of the province's power-sharing government. Other legal challenges are also underway to argue that Britain would remain in the European Economic Area, which provides access to the single market even if it leaves the EU, and that Article 50 is reversible. (Additional reporting by William James; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Ralph Boulton)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN officials are demanding the Chadian government explain why a Central African rebel leader was able to travel freely to Chad in defiance of Security Council sanctions against him.

Nourredine Adam, the second-in-command of the ex-Seleka band of mostly Muslim rebels, was able to fly to Chad despite an assets freeze and a travel ban imposed by the UN in May 2014, the world body's sanctions committee said in a report obtained Friday by AFP.

Adam also seems able to continue to travel freely to countries like Kenya, Chad and Ethiopia said the group, which is in charge of monitoring sanctions imposed on the Central African Republic.

Adam declared he had met Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, Special Envoy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General in the Chadian capital on December 21, 2015, according to the report.

The OIC is the world's largest inter-governmental Muslim body, representing 57 states.

The sanctions panel "intends to request Chadian authorities for further information on Adam's travels to Chad during the latter half of 2015, it said.

However, the committee had previously requested information dating to December 2014 and April 2015 "concerning Adam's previous travel ban violations," without a response, it noted.

In contrast, following a UN request, Ethiopian Airlines in December 2015 added Adam to its list of people banned from flying the airline.

One of the poorest and most unstable countries in Africa, the Central African Republic plunged into chaos after president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was ousted in a coup in March 2013.

The mainly Muslim Seleka rebels behind the coup went on a rampage that triggered the emergence of equally dangerous anti-balaka (anti-machete) militias in mostly Christian communities.

The transition authority established after the Seleka were chased from power in a French-led military intervention in 2014 is struggling to get the country back on its feet after decades of unrest and oppression.

The Security Council has sanctioned the heads of the rival Seleka and anti-balaka militias, as well as former president Bozize.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Wednesday agreed to consider setting up a sanctions regime for Mali to punish those who are hindering a struggling peace deal, the council president said.

The council discussed the faltering peace effort in Mali after a car bomb killed 50 people in the northern city of Gao in an attack on joint patrols set up under the agreement.

Condemning the attack, council members said "persistent delays threaten the viability of the agreement" signed by the Malian government and rebel groups 19 months ago, said Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog, this month's council president.

The council discussed ways to shore up the peace deal "including the possibility and implications of establishing a sanctions regime to increase pressure on those who obstruct implementation or resume hostilities," Skoog told reporters.

The United Nations is pushing for full implementation of the peace accord signed in June 2015 between the Malian government and rebel groups aimed at ending years of fighting in the north.

Mali regained control of the north after a French-led military intervention in January 2013 drove out jihadists, but insurgents remain active across large parts of the region.

Addressing the council, UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous backed sanctions that he said should target those who violate the ceasefire and undermine the peace process.

The proposed sanctions regime would set up a mechanism to allow individuals and entities to be blacklisted by the United Nations. Targeted sanctions include a global travel ban and an assets freeze.

- No more peace to keep -

Ladsous said the absence of state authority in northern Mali had allowed the "terrorist phenomena to take on increasingly worrisome proportions," and warned that the "window of opportunity to generate tangible peace dividends is closing."

"If the security situation continues to deteriorate, there will be no more peace to keep in Mali," he warned.

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The United Nations has deployed 13,000 troops in Mali to serve in the MINUSMA force, but they have repeatedly been targeted in attacks.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said sanctions could be "extremely appropriate" to put pressure on opponents of the peace deal, but no draft resolution was presented to the council.

The head of the MINUSMA force warned that the pullout of seven Dutch attack and transport helicopters from the peacekeeping mission will deal a serious blow to operations.

The Netherlands will pull out the helicopters at the end of February, but the mission will have to wait at least two months for Germany to send replacements, said Mahamat Annadif.

"Without them, I can't do anything," Annadif told reporters of the helicopter unit, adding that it was "unacceptable" for the mission to be left without the necessary air support for such a period of time.

The council is planning to hold a special meeting of troop-contributing countries to generate more helicopters, armored personnel carriers and other equipment needed for MINUSMA.
Washington (AFP) - Nikki Haley, nominated to be the next US ambassador to the United Nations, told senators Wednesday that she supports Donald Trump's plan to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

The embassy is located in Tel Aviv, and outgoing secretary of state John Kerry believes that moving it to Jerusalem would be "explosive" since both Israel and the Palestinians claim the city as their capital.

Haley, the 44 year-old governor of South Carolina and daughter of Indian immigrants, was asked at her senate confirmation hearing if she supported Trump's campaign trail promise to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

"Absolutely," Haley said. "And not only is that what Israel wants, but that is what this Congress has said that is what they support."

Haley was also asked about her priorities if she gets the new job.

"I think that the biggest part is how we represent America going forward," Haley said. "We need to represent our country from a point of strength. We need to remind the rest of the world that we are the moral compass of the world, and we need to express our values as we go forward."

If the US embassy is moved to Jerusalem, it would break decades of US policy and be at odds with the overwhelming majority of other nations, which believe the status of Jerusalem must be resolved through negotiation.

Kerry warned in a recent interview on CBS against moving the embassy.

"You'd have an explosion, an absolute explosion in the region, not just in the West Bank, and perhaps even in Israel itself, but throughout the region," Kerry told CBS.

Trump had seemed to take into account warnings and was more circumspect when asked about the move in interviews with Britain's Times and Germany's Bild over the weekend.

"I don't want to comment on that, again, but we'll see what happens," he told the newspapers.

One possible compromise being discussed would be to move the office of the new US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, from Tel Aviv to the US consulate in West Jerusalem.

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Trump nominated Friedman, a staunchly pro-Israel bankruptcy lawyer who opposes the two-state solution, to be the next ambassador in December.

The final status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel considers the Jerusalem -- including East Jerusalem, the Palestinian section occupied by Israel since 1967 and annexed in 1980 -- as its indivisible capital.

The Palestinians however want to make East Jerusalem the capital of their future state.
While prospective students are often anxious about receiving an acceptance letter this time of year, most colleges are concerned about meeting their enrollment targets.

The yield -- part of recruitment -- is the percentage of students who enroll at the school after being admitted.

A higher yield typically indicates a school's popularity and desirability in a student's eyes and is often associated with a "first-choice school," experts say.

Stanford University, known for a competitive college acceptance rate, had the highest yield among any National University for fall 2015, according to the data that 295 ranked National Universities submitted to U.S. News in an annual survey. The California institution boasted a yield of 80.4 percent, while Harvard University came within striking distance at 79.8 percent.

[Find out the 10 most and least expensive private colleges.]

Among National Liberal Arts Colleges, the United States Naval Academy reported the highest yield for fall 2015 at 86.7 percent. That's according to the data reported to U.S. News in an annual survey from 216 ranked National Liberal Arts Colleges.

A National Liberal Arts College is a school that places emphasis on undergraduate education and awards at least 50 percent of its degrees in the liberal arts, whereas a National University offers a wider range of undergraduate majors as well master's and doctoral degrees.

The Annapolis, Maryland-based military academy isn't the only tuition-free National Liberal Arts College with a high yield. The United States Military Academy in New York had a yield of 83.2 percent, followed by the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado at 79.7 percent and Berea College in Kentucky at 72.4 percent.

But not all schools have a high yield. In recent years, studies show that yields have declined at many schools as students submit more college applications to various schools -- reducing the probability that they'll attend a particular school.

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[See which colleges and universities claim to meet full financial need.]

The average yield among National Universities was 32.9 percent, slightly lower than the average of 33.6 percent for fall 2014. That number is even lower among National Liberal Arts Colleges, which had an average yield rate of 27.5 percent for fall 2015 -- down by less than 1 percentage point compared with the previous year.

The tables below show the ranked schools with a yield of 50 percent or higher for fall 2015. The rate can be affected by a student's early decision or early action options, since some of those programs bind students to attend if accepted. These data reflect first-time, first-year, degree-seeking students only.

Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.

National Universities With High Yields

School (state) Students accepted Students who enrolled in fall 2015 Yield Stanford University (CA) 2,140 1,720 80.4% Harvard University (MA) 2,080 1,660 79.8% Brigham Young University--Provo (UT) 6,427 5,127 79.8% Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1,519 1,106 72.8% University of Alaska--Fairbanks 1,136 798 70.2% Princeton University (NJ) 1,948 1,319 67.7% Yale University (CT) 2,031 1,364 67.2% University of Pennsylvania 3,787 2,435 64.3% Columbia University (NY) 2,220 1,398 63.0% University of Nebraska--Lincoln 7,425 4,628 62.3% Yeshiva University (NY) 1,254 776 61.9% University of Chicago (IL) 2,521 1,537 61.0% Kennesaw State University (GA) 8,323 5,032 60.5% Georgia Southern University 6,082 3,495 57.5% Brown University (RI) 2,875 1,615 56.2% University of Notre Dame (IN) 3,595 2,007 55.8% University of Nevada--Las Vegas 6,781 3,784 55.8% University of West Georgia 4,381 2,410 55.0% Lindenwood University (MO) 2,302 1,221 53.0% University of Louisiana--Lafayette 6,023 3,179 52.8% North Dakota State University 4,974 2,552 51.3% University of Florida 14,237 7,204 50.6% Cornell University (NY) 6,315 3,180 50.4%

National Liberal Arts Colleges With High Yields

School (state) Students accepted Students who enrolled in fall 2015 Yield United States Naval Academy (MD) 1,373 1,191 86.7% United States Military Academy (NY) 1,486 1,236 83.2% United States Air Force Academy (CO) 1,559 1,242 79.7% Berea College (KY) 597 432 72.4% Thomas Aquinas College (CA) 119 79 66.4% Principia College (IL) 120 79 65.8% Bard College at Simon's Rock (MA) 178 117 65.7% Soka University of America (CA) 208 127 61.1% St. John's College (NM) 144 77 53.5%

The yield data above are correct as of Jan. 18, 2017. For additional admissions data, complete rankings and much more, access the U.S. News College Compass.

Farran Powell is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering paying for college and graduate school. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at fpowell@usnews.com.
Washington (AFP) - A US congresswoman made a rare secret visit to Syria as part of her effort toward ending the years-long conflict in the Middle Eastern nation, her office said Wednesday.

House Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran, made a fact-finding mission to the capital Damascus despite continued fighting in the war-torn country in contravention of a frail ceasefire.

"As an individual committed to doing all she can to promote and work for peace, she felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees and government and community leaders," said Gabbard spokeswoman Emily Latimer.

The exact dates of the trip were not provided for security reasons, but her office said she was currently in the Middle East.

The congresswoman from Hawaii met with US President-elect Donald Trump in November two weeks after his election victory to discuss Syria policy, raising speculation that the incoming commander in chief might consider her for a position at the Pentagon or State Department.

Gabbard said at the time that she shared with Trump "my grave concerns that escalating the war in Syria by implementing a so-called no fly/safe zone would be disastrous for the Syrian people, our country and the world."

Gabbard, who often clashes with her own party on issues related to Syria, has long opposed a US policy of regime change there, arguing that the country would descend further into chaos should President Bashar al-Assad be ousted.

Latimer declined to say whether Gabbard met with Assad on her trip, which also included a stop in Lebanon.

On January 13, Gabbard introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act, which bars US taxpayer dollars from supporting organizations allied with or backing "terrorist groups like ISIS (an acronym for the Islamic State) and Al-Qaeda in their war to overthrow the Syrian government."

The measure would prevent the US government from providing funds or weapons to groups seeking to overthrow the Assad regime, including the Levant Front and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.

"Our limited resources should go toward rebuilding our communities here at home, not fueling more counterproductive regime-change wars abroad," she said on the House floor as she urged her colleagues to "stop this madness."
Washington (AFP) - The US-led coalition has conducted four strikes near the Syrian town of Al-Bab, a significant move that will help Turkish forces fighting the Islamic State group there, a US official said Tuesday.

"These strikes were the result of continued cooperation with Turkey, and we saw a window of opportunity where it was in our mutual interests to get those targets destroyed," coalition spokesman Colonel John Dorrian said.

"This is something that we expect to continue doing."

Among the targets destroyed in this week's strikes near Al-Bab included IS tactical vehicles and a tactical unit.

Turkey has been fighting the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria since August, but the battle to take town of Al-Bab has proved tough and casualties there are on the rise.

Ankara has in recent weeks called for greater US support in Al-Bab in northern Syria.

Up until now, air support had been limited to surveillance and reconnaissance.

The United States is in a tricky position: Although it wants to help Turkey fight IS, it does not want Turkish forces to attack coalition-backed local Kurdish troops, who also are fighting the jihadists.
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When you don't see a future with a Tinder match, trolling is a delightful alternative to letting an interaction go to waste. There are, after all, plenty of fish in the sea.

A East Carolina University freshman named Carly Karnatz decided to pull the ultimate movie themed prank on a guy she was talking to on Tinder. Using the very familiar plot line of the children's movie Finding Nemo, Karnatz was able to trick the guy, whose name is Matthew, into believing that her younger brother was kidnapped and currently resided in a tank.

SEE ALSO: Finding Nemo Leads Charge of Classic Pixar Films Turned 3D

The conversation started with Karnatz admitting that her family was looking for her brother "Reese."

Image: @karnatz_carly

She then told Matthew that her father tried to swim after her brother but bumped into some sharks instead.

Image: @karnatz_carly

Karnatz explained that her brother was being held in a tank with other children by a man named "Phillip Sherman".

Image: @karnatz_carly

The messages ended with Karnatz thanking a cop named "Nigel" for helping the family and that she was worried for "Reese's" safety since his captor was planning to give him away to a woman who has "killed a child before."

Image: @karnatz_carly

The tweet has 400 likes and counting with commenters loving the joke and tweeting it to Ellen DeGeneres so it could be featured on her show.

I literally quoted Finding Nemo to this boy and and he still thinks my brother was taken by divers and kept in a tank ITS THE PLOT TO NEMO pic.twitter.com/pfpnoqJu6s  Carly (@karnatz_carly) January 17, 2017

Karnatz told Mashable that she knew that she wanted to prank someone, so she pulled up different movie scripts and went through her Tinder messages to pick a boy to prank.

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"the boy I picked wouldn't stop messaging me because I hadn't messaged him back so as payback for him being annoying I decided to prank him," she said. Sounds fair to us.

After the screenshots on were posted to Twitter, Karnatz still went along with the joke but, after she told Matthew that the kidnappers were keeping her brother at the address 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney, Australia, he realized he was being pranked.

Apparently fish aren't just friends, they're awesome bait.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Virginia inmate set to be executed on Wednesday for murdering two young sisters during a 2006 killing spree has asked the Supreme Court for a stay, arguing that the first-ever use of compounded lethal drugs violates his constitutional rights.

Ricky Gray, 39, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Wednesday evening at the Greensville Correctional Center if the U.S. high court turns down his bid for a stay.

Gray's lawyers filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, saying that the three-drug combination could cause Gray unnecessary suffering and thereby violate constitutional guarantees against cruel and unusual punishment.

The execution would mark the first time a U.S. state has used two of the drugs - midazolam and potassium chloride - provided by a compounding pharmacy, according to the court filing.

Gray's lawyers argue that compounding pharmacies typically follow an informal recipe attempting to approximate the patented process approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Midazolam is an anesthetic and potassium chloride stops the heart. The third drug in the so-called cocktail, rocuronium bromide, causes paralysis

Gray's attorneys say that midazolam has already failed to render prisoners unconscious during executions in Alabama, Arizona, Ohio and Oklahoma.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have stopped making some drugs available for use in executions, and Virginia state law allows the vendor's identity to remain secret.

Arizona last month reached a settlement with lawyers for death row inmates that would bar midazolam from use in executions.

Gray was sentenced to die for the 2006 slayings of sisters Ruby Harvey, 4, and Stella Harvey, 9, in Richmond. He also killed their parents, Bryan Harvey, 49, and Kathryn Harvey, 39.

His accomplice, Ray Dandridge, was sentenced to life. The pair also killed Ashley Baskerville, 21, who had been a lookout when Gray killed the Harveys as well as her mother, Mary Tucker, 47, and stepfather Percyell Tucker, 55.

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Gray has said he is willing to die by firing squad, which is not an option for executions in Virginia.

If carried out, the execution will be second in the United States this year. The United States has executed 1,453 people since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson, editing by G Crosse)
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Kanye West has been on this earth for less than 40 years but there's already so much to learn from his insane life.

So much, that now there is actually is a college course at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, dedicated to unraveling the many elements behind his career as a producer, rapper and fashion designer.

SEE ALSO: Kim Kardashian shares intimate home video of Kanye West and the kids

According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 75 students have enrolled in the Politics of Kanye West: Black Genius and Sonic Aesthetics" course, and many more are currently on the waitlist for the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies class.

I always wanted to teach a course looking at black genius and the impossibility of black genius for the American public, associate professor Dr. Jeffrey McCune told the Post-Dispatch.

Were always thought of as maybe being articulate or smart but not really genius," he said, before explaining the value of hip hop platforms for cultivating creativity, especially with young people.

The course will include lessons on West's public moments with Taylor Swift, listening sessions, "hip-hop's queer love languages" and morebut will not be focused on either outright condemning or praising the artist, and rather examine "politics, race, gender, sexuality and culture" through a Kanye lens.

"I knew my students had connections to Kanye," McCune explained. "Theyre always referencing his music and performances and videos and fashion....What better time than now to take seriously Kanye West as a cultural icon?"

That Kanye West teddy bear would be proud.

[H/T St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Melania Trump has been absent from the spotlight in the days leading up to her husbands inauguration.

Read: Donald Trump Tells Democrats Boycotting His Inauguration: Give Me Your Tickets

She was absent from the first big black tie event of the pre-swearing-in hoopla Tuesday night in Washington, D.C.

Trump, along with top aide Kellyanne Conway, VP-elect Mike Pence and his wife all attended, but Melania was nowhere to be found.

She stayed behind at Trump Tower in New York, and is expected to fly down to the capital Thursday with her husband and the rest of the family.

She'll stay through the weekend and reportedly return to Trump Tower Sunday night in time for her 10-year-old son, Baron, to start school.

Melania has put her foot down and said she is not going to move to the White House right now, but i think there will be pressure because that is where the American people will want their first lady to be, White House historian Kate Anderson Brower told Inside Edition.

Many are speculating what the future first lady will wear on Inauguration Day.

Women's Wear Daily reports its likely to be Ralph Lauren, whose dress she wore on election night.

Karl Lagerfeld is also said to be a frontrunner.

Read: Trump Tweets at Wrong Ivanka as He Weighs In on TV Special Featuring Daughter

In an interview with Fox & Friends Wednesday morning, the president-elect was asked about designer Tom Ford, who has said he wouldnt dress Melania.

Did she even ask him? No. And she does not like Tom Ford and never has," he said.

Watch: Little Flak Dress: Dolce & Gabbana Under Fire After Praising Melania Trump's New Year's Frock

Related Articles:
Not since Rosa Klebb attacked James Bond with exotic darts in her boots have Americans been so obsessed with evil Russians. Hillary Clinton fans blame Vladimir Putin for her defeat; President Obama warns that Russia is trying to weaken us, and John McCain says Moscow is out to destroy democracy.

At the same time, the country has been riveted by titillating materials purporting to show that Russia has the goods on Donald Trump, unnerved by reports that incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has had private conversations with the Russian ambassador, and alarmed by CIA Director John Brennans warnings that Trump doesnt have a full understanding of Russias capabilities and intentions.

Related: House Intel Chief Sets up Showdown Over Allegation Russia Helped Trump

Why this reversion to Cold War anxieties? Four reasons: First, Russia has become a convenient scapegoat for Clintons defeat (along with Comey, and fake news and racism and GOP voter suppression and the Electoral College). Second, President Obama failed to take cyber warfare seriously for eight years even as the intrusions from Russia, China, North Korea, the Syrian Electronic Army, Iran and elsewhere became bolder and costlier, finally emerging as an unacceptable effort to sway our election. Third, Donald Trumps assertions that Putin is smart (as he indeed is) and a strong leader (also true) have allowed critics to portray the President-elect as somehow besotted by and in league with the Russian strongman.

Four, Putin is indeed evil and always has been. But, it is not Trump who has been naive about the threat from Russia. That dubious honor belongs to President Obama. In 2012 when Mitt Romney said Russia was our number one geopolitical foe, Obama mocked him saying, The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because the Cold Wars been over for 20 years. Obama still had a lot to learn.

Nonetheless, Trump opponents, including some in the GOP, are piling on, hinting that his cabinet nominees have nefarious ties to Russia. A righteous Marco Rubio feigned astonishment that Rex Tillerson, Trumps pick for Secretary of State, would not declare Putin a war criminal based on Russian attacks on Syrian civilians. Surely Floridas junior senator knows that no responsible candidate for our top diplomatic post would take such an undiplomatic stance.

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Related: Trump Is Wrong About Russia, but He Does Get One Thing Right

Tillersons transgression is that under his leadership, Exxon Mobil has acquired interests in Russias Arctic, the Black Sea and Western Siberia, in partnership with state-owned Rosneft, led by a close Putin ally. Given that Russia ranks eighth in proven world oil reserves, and that the country has historically relied on western technology to produce oil in challenging regions like the Arctic, it follows that Exxon would work to secure access to reserves in Russia  something that most leading oil companies have done, and that would be impossible without a local partner.

Why explore in a hostile land? In 2015 Exxon Mobil was unable to replace the oil and natural gas it produced for the first time in twenty-one years. Easy-to-access oil reserves are increasingly rare and much has been put off limits due to environmental concerns. Russia has potential. Tillerson and other industry executives have had to balance the risks of operating in a country without the rule of law against providing shareholders a diminishing asset.

Make no mistake; every U.S. CEO is well aware of the dangers of operating in Russia, or any other unfriendly country. They are routinely briefed by our intelligence agencies (who also seek information gleaned by U.S. firms abroad) and in addition hire outside advisors that specialize in political information before committing shareholder funds.

To protect its interests, Exxon Mobil lobbied against various sanctions in recent years that threatened its Russian operations. Thats what companies do.

Related: Making Friends with Russia May Be Harder than Trump Seems to Think

At the heart of all the Sturm und, Drang about Russia is a desperate and absurd effort to undermine Donald Trump by making him out to be an ignorant and willing tool of Putins aggression. While the indignant New York Times has fulminated about Trumps embrace of Putin, even they had to acknowledge that his nomination of James Mattis to be his Secretary of Defense points in another direction. Mattis has long been outspoken on the dangers posed by Russia, and reiterated his position during recent Senate hearings, declaring the country to be the number one threat to U.S. interests. Does The Times not think Trump knew of Mattis hard-headed position? That he picked his name out of a hat?

Like Obama, President-elect Trump has proposed that a good working relationship with Russia would be a positive for the U.S. After all, that was what Hillary Clintons reset was supposed to achieve. Obama in effect welcomed such a partnership when he asked Putin to take over the disposal of Bashar al-Assads cache of chemical weapons in Syria, and just recently reiterated that ambition, saying at a press conference in Germany he hopes Trump will find areas where we can cooperate with Russia, where our values and interests align.

At that same forum, Obama also said he hoped that his successor would stand up to Russia. That, of course, is what the White House failed to do. President Obama once promised that Vladimir Putin would pay for his sins by being isolated by the international community, but he then rescued Russia from that very isolation by inviting Moscow to resolve Syrias chemical weapons issue. He also asked for Russias acquiescence in his legacy Iran nuke deal, allowing Putin to become the major power broker in the Middle East.

Related: A Timeline of Trumps Flirtation With Putin and Russia

There were good reasons for Clinton to attempt a reset with Russia. We need allies in the fight against ISIS and Russia fears Islamic terrorism as much as we do. However, Putin, who like all bullies respects only strength, did not respect President Obama. The White House could have adopted a more robust playbook by accelerating natural gas exports to undermine Russias energy grip on Western Europe, for instance. Or we might have committed troops to the Baltic states earlier on, reinforcing our commitment to our NATO allies. Only recently has Obama allowed that show of force.

The bottom line is that our relations with Russia under Obama have been hostage to his legacy ambitions  primarily the Iran deal. This was a conflict of interest second to none presented by Trump or his incoming cabinet.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest defended President Obamas decision to shorten the sentence of Chelsea Manning, who had been sentenced to serve 35 years in prison for leaking government and military secrets.

In a decision announced on Tuesday, Mannings sentence will now expire in May 2017.

During a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor in Washington on Wednesday morning, Earnest said the president made that decision in pursuit of justice.

Chelsea Manning was convicted of serious crimes. she also took responsibility for those crimes. She expressed remorse for those crimes. She has spent most of the last seven years behind bars in the [prison at Fort Leavenworth] for those crimes, Earnest said. The president made a decision to commute her sentence because her 35 year sentence was much longer than the sentence that was handed down to people who committed similar crimes but got much less attention.

The president has faced criticism for the commutation, which was announced along with over 200 others on Tuesday evening. President Obama also issued 64 pardons in his latest act of executive clemency. The majority of the sentences commuted aligned with the presidents goals to lessen the impact of the war on drugs, but Mannings commutation stood out given the high profile nature of her case. House Speaker Paul Ryan called the presidents decision outrageous.

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets, Ryan said in a press statement. President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes.

Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Marco Rubio of Florida called the decision a grave mistake and shameful in separate statements.

Earnest attacked Congressional Republicans for criticizing President Obama, while supporting President-elect Donald Trump, who has spoken favorably of WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange.

The argument that they make against Chelsea Manning and the presidents decision to commute her sentence requires the American people to willfully ignore those comments from the president elect, the man that they endorsed, Earnest said at Wednesdays breakfast. Im tempted to say that this is an astonishing display of intellectual dishonesty from Congressional Republicans but its actually just par for the course for them.
I do not often disagree with my good friends, the legal sharpshooters over at Lawfare. Ben Wittes, a senior fellow in governance studies at Brookings, Susan Hennessy, also a fellow there, and the other contributors have going the most important conversation anywhere on issues of national security and law. Yet I believe they are overlooking an important national security ramification of their argument in favor of clemency for convicted leaker Chelsea Manning. In particular, they are prejudicing the views of civilian approaches to justice over those of the military, in which Manning was a voluntary participant and by the legal standards of which she has already been treated leniently.

Extending legal reasoning appropriate to our civilian society into the military in ways that dont align with the purposes of military activity corrodes the militarys ability to serve its function  a problem Wittes and Cody Poplin wrote about persuasively in their chapter on legal issues in Warriors and Citizens, the book I edited with Gen. James Mattis. The problem, as Wittes and Poplin conclude, is particularly acute on issues of social justice, because civilians have experience with these issues that forty years into an all-volunteer force few have with other elements of military life, and therefore tend to make false equivalences. I agree with Wittes on this, but not on Manning.

The argument Wittes and Hennessy advance for commutation rests on four elements: 1) Manning accepted culpability for her actions; 2) the Manning decision was really about another leaker  Edward Snowden; 3) Mannings case presents mitigating mental health circumstances; and 4) many outside the military view the sentence as excessive. Let me take each of them in turn.

That legal proceedings allowed for public evaluation of Mannings crimes, whereas Snowden remains unrepentant and beyond the reach of U.S. law are, as Wittes and Hennessy argue, important distinctions between the cases. They should negatively weight judgment against Snowden, but not attenuate judgment about Manning. Manning didnt have a choice of whether to participate in justice proceedings. She was found out, arrested, tried, and convicted. She was not a voluntary participant in the undertaking, and therefore ought not to accrue credit for adopting what was the best prospect for minimizing the potential penalty. Manning may deserve greater leniency than Snowden, but that is a relative rather than an absolute merit.

Which brings us to the second argument: The decision is really about showcasing this defendant as different from and more deserving than Snowden. President Barack Obama is trying to build a firewall of distinction between a traitor who continues to advocate his treason as righteousness and a junior soldier deeply troubled by what she considered barbarous targeting of civilians. But the commonalities between the two are likewise relevant: Both released thousands and thousands of classified documents without consideration of the damage they would do to innocent people or their countrys security. Both considered their judgment and personal code of conduct superior to that of their organization and the law. Both violated vows they freely undertook and betrayed people who trusted them. Both put lives in danger by their actions and damaged the countrys ability to protect and advance its interests.

Mannings mental state is clearly troubled. She is in psychological anguish and has attempted suicide more than once. But there is an inherent bias of excusability in the argument for lenience. To argue for clemency on those grounds is to argue either that her crime is more excusable or her circumstances more deserving of leniency. To take an extreme counterexample, it is unlikely Obama would commute the sentence of someone who opened fire on a school or a church, although in several recent cases the mental state of the shooters was also troubled. Those are, rightly, unsympathetic defendants. But to sustain the argument for Manning is to argue that her anguish is uniquely deserving of sympathy.

Moreover, Obama has aggressively prosecuted leak cases  so vociferously that people holding security clearances were prohibited from even accessing the WikiLeaks site, although the posted documents were declassified in practice once posted there. It goes beyond routine political hypocrisy to suggest that Manning deserves clemency for having released the documents while those who see legal and operational purpose to making use of them continue to be penalized. The presidents favorite general, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Cartwright, who surprisingly got snared in the investigation of the Stuxnet leak, got an outright pardon, so perhaps leniency for military was the deciding rule.

Which segues to the third argument: Many civilian legal experts consider Mannings sentence of 35 years too harsh. This importation of civilian standards into a military setting is exactly the kind of intrusion Wittes and Poplin worried about as they reviewed the surveys of public attitudes about the military.

While privacy hawks do exist in the ecosystem of the military, as do a considerable number of passionate advocates for justice  especially throughout the Judge Advocate General Corps  Id be very surprised if the views that Manning is different in type from Snowden or that her sentence is excessive hold much sway in the military community. And it should matter that Obamas intrusion into military justice proceedings will have impact on the norms of behavior that hold fighting units together and the views of the people most affected by Mannings actions. We would rarely hold that the publics view of civilian law is irrelevant  peoples assemblies make and modify law as attitudes change. In exceptional cases where localities infringe on Constitutionally protected rights, the public can be overruled, but Mannings case does not exhibit those higher principles that might justify imposing on the military a verdict or a sentence at variance with its legal practices.

There is a reason the founding fathers, who knew something about exigencies that require a military to excel at war fighting, created for it a justice system separate from its civilian counterpart, and likewise why the Supreme Court has maintained the integrity of that system across numerous challenges. We civilians ought perhaps to take a humbler approach from such a distance as we inhabit and give our military brethren and sisters the benefit of the doubt that they proceed in ways appropriate to the unique demands of their dangerous and important work.

The counterexample, of course, is that President Abraham Lincoln pardoned deserters, even in the middle of the Civil War. That great man and great president was so lenient that his secretary of war fulminated often about the derogatory effect on military morale. But Lincoln had a riven nation to stitch back together; the political was always paramount for Lincoln, and well it should have been for so monumental an undertaking. I dont think the same can be said for Obamas decision to commute Mannings sentence. Obama has commuted sentences mostly to relieve those who received what he considered unfair penalties. That sends a terrible signal to the military about their civilian masters understanding of the obligations it undertakes for our country.

Photo credit: RONNY HARTMANN/AFP/Getty Images
During his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, Secretary of Commerce nominee Wilbur Ross admitted that hed recently fired one of his household employees upon discovering that this person was an undocumented immigrant.

The billionaire investor acknowledged that, after receiving the nomination to be commerce secretary for the Trump administration, hed decided to recheck the immigration status of all current and former household staff in order to verify the legality of the employment.

Of the dozen or so household employees hed hired over the years, Ross said that all but one were able to produce appropriate records and, in many cases, they had advanced to the point where they are citizens.

He said only one person, whod apparently provided Ross with a Social Security card and valid drivers license when he hired him or her in 2009, was unable to do so when asked again. He said the person therefore was terminated. Ross had disclosed this information to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee ahead of Wednesdays hearing.

In 1993, similar revelations  dubbed Nannygate  also derailed two of President Bill Clintons nominations for attorney general. Theres no sign that Ross Wednesday announcement will be affected, however, and he is expected to sail through the Republican-controlled Senate.

In 2009, one of Obamas Cabinet nominees, Tim Geithner, also faced extra scrutiny after it was revealed he had employed an immigrant housekeeper who did not have proper work papers, and he did not pay proper taxes as a result. He was eventually confirmed as treasury secretary. But another Obama nominee, then-health secretary designee Tom Daschle, withdrew from the process after his own tax flap.

Ross isnt the only Trump Cabinet appointee to discover potential problems with his personal payroll during the confirmation review process.

According to the New York Times, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., Trumps pick for White House budget director, has informed the Senate Budget Committee that he failed to pay more than $15,000 worth of payroll taxes for a babysitter he and his wife employed from 2000 to 2004.

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Mulvaney will likely be asked to address the issue during his confirmation hearing on Jan. 24.

Read more from Yahoo News:
A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit against a popular Bahamas resort after she claims she found hundreds of bedbugs in her hotel room.

Cindi Avila, who currently lives in Miami, was on vacation at the Atlantis on Paradise Island last January when she says she discovered the infestation.

One morning I woke up and I noticed I had some bites on my body, within a minute," Avila told InsideEdition.com. "I then saw a bug jumping on the bed and I smashed it. All of sudden my body was just popping out with bites everywhere. It was immediately very painful, very itchy."

Read: Couple Films Bedbugs Crawling Across Their Sheets in Manhattan Hotel

Avila said she immediately called management and went to see a hotel nurse, but hotel brass initially insisted on inspecting her room after she checked out.

Avila said she inspected the room herself, and couldn't believe what she found.

I could not believe my eyes. I pulled up the mattress and there were hundreds of bedbugs. I knew this had probably been there for months and this bed skirt had never been changed, Avila said. I think thats what I was most stunned aboutand how many other people did this happen to? How many other people is it going to happen to?

In a video that Avila says she captured in the hotel room, bedbugs can be seen crawling on a bed skirt, along with a good amount of bedbug excrement.

Avila said she waved down a housekeeper and called management and they all witnessed the bugs crawling on the bed.

However, Avila claims that the hotel acted as though they did not care, but did later refund her the money for her stay.

Avila says she had to take steroids to get rid of the bites and spent a fortune on several expensive creams.

"I was in more pain than you can ever ever imagine. It was about five days of no sleep. I felt like my body was on fire. It was as if I had burned. Nothing offered relief," Avila said.

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Representatives for the Atlantis said that they immediately took the room out of service once Avila checked out and called in a professional pest company to eradicate the problem.

Read: Dirty Bathrobe at Trump's New Hotel Not Washed Between Guests, Investigation Finds

They added that an offer was extended to Avila to help with her medical bills, but she wouldn't accept it.

"The resort offered to reimburse Ms. Avila for any medical bills resulting from her experience, which she declined. Since that time, Ms. Avila has repeatedly, and through three different attorneys, attempted to extract a large financial settlement from the resort and threatened intimidation in the media if her financial demands were not met, their statement said.

Avilas attorney, Michael Winkleman, said that although they did offer a financial compensation previously, it simply wasnt enough.

"Atlantis did make a nominal settlement offer but it was insulting in relation to the harm done to Cindi," Winkleman said. "We look forward to a jury ultimately resolving the issue of what is a fair money award for what happened to Cindi due to the hotels gross negligence."

Watch: Investigation Discovers That Some Bed Sheets Weren't Changed at Marriott Hotel

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DUBAI (Reuters) - The World Bank will provide $450 million in aid to help Yemen cope with a humanitarian crisis after nearly two years of war, the bank announced on Tuesday. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund and many foreign embassies suspended their work in Yemen in early 2015 after the Iran-allied Houthi group seized the capital, Sanaa. A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in the civil war in March of that year to back the exiled government of the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country. The alliance imposed a near-blockade on Yemen's ports as the conflict pounded already scant infrastructure, leaving four-fifths of Yemen's 28 million people in need of some form of aid. In a statement, the World Bank said the funds would go to health and nutrition projects throughout the divided country, mostly through two Yemeni development projects based in Sanaa but operating independently of the Houthis. "It is vital that children do not miss out on critical vaccinations and nutrition, and that communities across Yemen have the income support and access to services to meet their basic needs," said Hafez Ghanem, the World Bank's group vice president for the Middle East and North Africa. (Writing By Noah Browning, editing by Larry King)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The world needs China and the United States to have a stable and cooperative relationship, Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, just days before new uncertainty looms with Donald Trump taking office as president. Meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Xi told Biden that he "positively appraised" his efforts to increase friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries, China's Foreign Ministry said late on Tuesday. "In the 38 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, relations between the two countries have weathered wind and rain, but generally have continued to forge ahead," the statement paraphrased Xi as saying. Under President Barack Obama, there has been a "correct" development in relations, and important and positive results achieved, with trade and people-to-people exchanges reaching new highs, Xi added. "The basic interests of the people of both countries and the world need China and the United States to work hard, to form a long-term, stable cooperative relationship," Xi said. The statement cited Biden as saying that the United States hopes the two countries can continue to deepen mutual trust and expand cooperation. It made no mention of Trump, though China's top diplomat, State Councillor Yang Jiechi, who last month met a senior advisor to Trump, also attended the Xi-Biden meeting, the foreign ministry said. Trump, who takes office on Friday, has rattled Beijing with threats to impose tariffs on Chinese imports and by questioning the United States' commitment to the "one China" policy, under which Washington acknowledges China's position that Taiwan is part of its territory. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Authorities in Turkey denied entry to a veteran New York Times correspondent and forced him to take a flight back to London, the newspaper said on Wednesday, in what its executive editor denounced as "an affront to freedom of the press". The Times said its correspondent Rod Nordland was told after arriving at Istanbul's Ataturk airport on Tuesday that his name was on an Interior Ministry order denying him entry. The newspaper cited one of its Turkish lawyers as saying that airport police had told a colleague that the reason was "national security", but gave no further details. Four senior Turkish officials contacted by Reuters declined to comment. "The Turkish government's action is an affront to freedom of the press and an effort to keep the world from having access to independent reporting from Turkey," Dean Baquet, executive editor of the Times, said in a statement. Turkey has a poor record on free speech, with at least 81 journalists imprisoned, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). More than 130 media outlets have been shut since a coup attempt in July, according to announcements from Turkish officials. The crackdown, part of wider purges which have seen around 120,000 mostly public service workers suspended or dismissed since the coup attempt, has drawn criticism from President Tayyip Erdogan's opponents and some Western allies, who fear he is trying to silence dissent. Most of the detained journalists and writers are accused by the authorities of spreading terrorist propaganda. Government officials say these individuals are not being held for their journalistic work, but on terrorism-related charges. Those being held work for Turkish news organizations. But action has also been taken against foreign news media. A Wall Street Journal correspondent, Dion Nissenbaum, was detained for what the newspaper said was allegedly violating a government ban on publication of images from an Islamic State video. He was held for two and a half days in December without access to lawyers or family. The Journal's editor in chief Gerard Baker said at the time that while the newspaper was relieved by his subsequent release, it was "outraged at his peremptory detention". Turkish officials did not comment on the case. (Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Alison Williams)
Photo credit: Getty

From Town & Country

In control of Congress and soon the White House, Republicans are readying plans to roll back the influence of the Endangered Species Act, one of the government's most powerful conservation tools, after decades of complaints that it hinders drilling, logging, and other activities.

Over the past eight years, GOP lawmakers sponsored dozens of measures aimed at curtailing the landmark law or putting species such as gray wolves and sage grouse out of its reach. Almost all were blocked by Democrats and the White House or lawsuits from environmentalists.

Now, with the ascension of President-elect Donald Trump, Republicans see an opportunity to advance broad changes to a law they contend has been exploited by wildlife advocates to block economic development.

"It has never been used for the rehabilitation of species. It's been used for control of the land," said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop. "We've missed the entire purpose of the Endangered Species Act. It has been hijacked."

Bishop said he "would love to invalidate" the law and would need other lawmakers' cooperation.

The 1973 act was ushered though Congress nearly unanimously, in part to stave off extinction of the national symbol, the bald eagle. Eagle populations have since rebounded, and the birds were taken off the threatened and endangered list in 2007.

In the eagles' place, another emblematic species-the wolf-has emerged as a prime example of what critics say is wrong with the current law: seemingly endless litigation that offers federal protection for species long after government biologists conclude that they have recovered.

Wolf attacks on livestock have provoked hostility against the law, which keeps the animals off-limits to hunting in most states. Other species have attracted similar ire-Canada lynx for halting logging projects, the lesser prairie chicken for impeding oil and gas development, and salmon for blocking efforts to reallocate water in California.

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Reforms proposed by Republicans include placing limits on lawsuits that have been used to maintain protections for some species and force decisions on others, as well as adopting a cap on how many species can be protected and giving states a greater say in the process.

Wildlife advocates are bracing for changes that could make it harder to add species to the protected list and to usher them through to recovery. Dozens are due for decisions this year, including the Pacific walrus and the North American wolverine, two victims of potential habitat loss due to climate change.

"Any species that gets in the way of a congressional initiative or some kind of development will be clearly at risk," said Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife and a former Fish and Wildlife Service director under President Bill Clinton. "The political lineup is as unfavorable to the Endangered Species Act as I can remember."

More than 1,600 plants and animals in the U.S. are now shielded by the law. Hundreds more are under consideration for protections. Republicans complain that fewer than 70 have recovered and had protections lifted.

"That tension just continues to expand," said Jason Shogren, professor of natural resource conservation at the University of Wyoming. "Like a pressure cooker, every now and then, you've got to let out some steam or it's really going to blow."

Congress reconvened last week with two critics of the law holding key Senate leadership positions - Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso as the incoming chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as chairwoman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Spokesman Mike Danylak said Barrasso will seek to "strengthen and modernize" the management of endangered species but offered no specifics.

Barrasso's predecessor, Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, suggested in an interview that one species should be removed from the list every time another is added. Another Republican, Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, said he wants to limit applications for protections to one species at a time.

In the House, Rep. Tom McClintock of California, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, said he wants to ease logging restrictions in national forests to reduce tree density blamed for catastrophic wildfires.

Some Democrats, too, have been frustrated with the law: Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson and two other Democrats joined 11 Republicans last week on a bill to end protections for wolves in the Great Lakes and Wyoming.

Simply by striking a few key words from the law, it could be transformed from a tool to protect huge areas of habitat for imperiled species into little more than limits on hunting for protected animals, said J.B. Ruhl, a Vanderbilt University law professor considered a leading expert on the act.

Trump's position is unclear. A strong advocate for energy development, he has lamented environmental policies he says hinder drilling. But his appointment of Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke as Interior secretary was seen by some conservationists as a signal that Trump will support protections for public lands to the benefit of fish and wildlife.

The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment. The incoming administration already has immigration, the health care law repeal and infrastructure improvements atop its agenda.

If the administration or Congress wants to gut the law, "they certainly can do it," Vermont Law School professor Patrick Parenteau said. "The real question with the Endangered Species Act is where does it rank?"

Advocates and senior Obama administration officials argue the law's success is best measured by extinctions avoided - for 99 percent of protected species, including black-footed ferrets, whooping cranes, American crocodiles and hundreds of others.

"There's a lot of evidence that some species are conservation-reliant," Ruhl said. Political fights over certain species have dragged out for decades, he added, because recovering them from "the brink of extinction is a lot harder than we thought."

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The longest hunt for a missing aircraft in modern aviation history was called off after it failed to produce any results.

Investigators from Australia, Malaysia and China announced on Tuesday that they were calling off the three-year search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370.

The fruitless investigation started after the aircraft mysteriously disappeared on March 8, 2014. The Boeing 777 was on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

From satellite data, authorities know that the plane flew for one hour until it disappeared from radar. After flying for about six hours, authorities believe the plane plummeted 25,000 feet per minute and landed somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean.

But after years exploring a 46,000-square-mile area, authorities are no closer to piecing together the mystery of the disappearing jet. The underwater search has been called the largest and costliest in aviation history.

We remain hopeful that new information will come to light and that at some point in the future, the aircraft will be located, transportation ministers said in a joint statement.

MH370 will remain unsolved

Australian investigators valued the three-year investigation at $135 million.

The first piece of debris from the plane washed up on Reunion Island in July 2015. Since then, four more pieces were found on Africas eastern seaboard. Authorities have not found any trace of the people on boardnot bodies, luggage or even life jackets designed to float.

Although the cause of the crash is still unknown, investigators have several theories. Some believe the plane ran out of gas while others believe pilots attempted an emergency landing at sea. Others suggest that a pilot went rogue or the plane was hijacked.

In February 2016 when the investigation was in danger of being shut down after two years, Martin Dolan, head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, spoke about the quest for information.

Theres always this question: Have we missed something? he told Bloomberg.

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Zendaya frolicked around Capri, Italy, for D&Gs Spring 2017 campaign. (Photo: Getty Images)

When shes not recording music, filming movies like Spider-Man: Homecoming, or dancing up a storm, 20-year-old stunner Zendaya is modeling. And her latest campaign is for none other than Dolce & Gabbana. The Spring 2017 collection campaign was shot by Franco Pagetti in Capri back in October, according to Fashionista.

Aside from her talent and spunk, being relatable is part of the performers undeniable charm. True to form, she shared candid, behind-scenes photos from her D&B shoot on both Instagram and her personal app recently. In one of the photos posted to her 37.2 million followers, the biracial beauty is hanging out on a seaside dock, wearing a bootleg D&G shirt, a fitted below-the-knee skirt, and cool white kicks. She captioned the photo A campaign  but the tee kind of gave it away!

A campaign A photo posted by Zendaya (@zendaya) on Jan 13, 2017 at 1:47pm PST

A second closeup shot is eerily reminiscent of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo; Zendaya is seen in a bright, oversized flower crown along with an off-the-shoulder corset top revealing black bra straps. She cheekily wrote, Im very comfortable in a tiara. The posts garnered more than 2 million likes combined.

I'm very comfortable in a tiara A photo posted by Zendaya (@zendaya) on Jan 13, 2017 at 7:13am PST

But its her app where she really gave a candid look at all that went down at the shoot. There, we see photos of the vivacious brunette kicking up her stiletto heels while wrapping some very enticing pasta around her fork. We see her joking with a crew member in wicker chairs at what appears to be an outdoor restaurant, munching on a snack while clad in some seriously studded-and-chained slacks, and tending to a group of eager children while wearing a matador-inspired jacket and a whimsical polka-dot scarf around her head.

Other shots show her joined by similarly dressed models  a roster of famous millennial faces including Luka Sabbat, Presley Gerber, Cameron Dallas, Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, Rafferty Law and Thylane Blondeau  descending a staircase while a crowd looks on. In one particularly charming shot, Zendaya, in dangling earrings and clutching a chic black purse, is sharing a laugh with an elderly Italian woman.

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Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana enjoying #DGMillennials during the #DGCampaign in Capri #DGSS17 A photo posted by Dolce & Gabbana (@dolcegabbana) on Oct 23, 2016 at 10:04am PDT

Zendaya wrote on her site, This shoot in Capri, Italy for the new Dolce & Gabbana SS17 Womens campaign was a dream!!! I looooooove the way everything turned out. Wanted to share my personal behind-the-scenes shots with yall! Shout out to amazing photographer Franco Pagetti and my muse, my stylist Law Roach!!! #DGCAPRI. She had an amazing time, and it shows!

In one of her most recent posts, the precocious performer shared a video of her trip to Washington, D.C., in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In a voice-over, she shares what shes learned and the ways in which shes inspired by the late legend. Next to a still shot, she wrote simply, Thank you Dr. King.

We cant wait for the Dolce & Gabbana campaign to launch so that we can see all the breathtaking Italian landscapes and of course the chic new collection  but in the meantime, Zendayas app and Instagram provide such candid updates on her life, were eager to see what debuts there too.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.


Twitter plans to broaden restrictions on hateful content that would include a ban on tweets dehumanizing people based on race, religion, sexual orientation (AFP Photo/LOIC VENANCE) (AFP/File)

San Francisco (AFP) - Google is acquiring Twitter's mobile application developer platform Fabric, a move which could give some breathing room for the social network after charting an independent path without a suitor.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

Twitter last year was in talks to sell itself with several firms including Google parent Alphabet, but without a deal decided to continue on an independent path, cutting jobs and refocusing on its core services.

The sale of Fabric will shift to Google the platform used by developers for mobile apps.

"When we launched Fabric in 2014, our goal was to provide the best tools to help developers create amazing apps," the Fabric team said in a blog post.

"Today we enter the next chapter for Fabric and are pleased to announce that we've signed an agreement for Fabric to be acquired by Google and for our team to join Google's Developer Products Group, working with the Firebase team."

Google Firebase product manager Francis Ma said buying Fabric will "continue the great work that Twitter put into the platform," adding that "our missions align closely: help developers build better apps and grow their business."

Twitter has been in a reorganization phase as it seeks to hit profitability for the first time, and to boost user growth which has been stagnating in comparison with other social networks.
Google continues to improve its interest-based social network. In fact, the Mountain View giant is planning to release three new updates for the platform in the coming weeks. The company said that these updates were made based on the feedback it got from users.

On Tuesday, Google+ product manager Danielle Buckley announced on the official Google blog that they are releasing "much requested updates" soon. Buckley emphasized that the updates for the Android, iOS and web versions of its social network were made thanks to the feedback people sent them.

The first update is designed to alter the way comments appear on a posts feed. This alteration will hide low-quality comments or bury them deep and prioritize comments that matter most to users. Buckley said this will motivate users to engage in good conversations. Should they want to view all of the comments, they may do so by clicking View more comments.

The next update is bringing a new but overdue functionality to the platform. This update will add zoom to the web version of Google+. Thus, users will be able to get a close-up view of photos being shared on the platform. Buckley noted that the functionality was added because photographers upload big photos on Google+ regularly.

Finally, the last update is going to bring back Events to the social network. This feature allows users to create events on the Google+ web version and they can also join events created by other people. Events promote interactions of users through content shared on a specific date. The update is slated to arrive on Jan. 24, the same date that the old version of Google+ will shut down, according to TechCrunch.

Since 2015, Google+ has shifted from being a basic social network to a content curation platform. Google has since introduced more features and tools to better the user experience the service offers. Buckley said the team behind Google+ intends to improve the platform even more, so she is encouraging users to use the Send Feedback tool in the apps and the web version.

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WATERFORD  In June, the Village of Waterford unveiled its new Fox River canoe and kayak launch site at Village Hall Park, 123 N. River St.

For next summer, the village intends to take greater advantage of its new launch by incubating a local kayak and canoe rental business near the site. Village Administrative Analyst Barb Messick said Tuesday that the village chose Sherri Mertz, who runs SherriKayaks in Wind Lake, to operate the rental business.

She has a long background in lessons and excursions, working with other municipalities to run training programs, Messick said of Mertz. Sherris developed a wonderful business plan and is interested in expanding her business.

Mertz said she has two decades of experience teaching kayaking, which includes work with Brookfield-based outdoors goods merchandiser Laacke & Joys and running her own business since 2009. Her new business in Waterford, Fox River Paddle Sports, is slated to open on May 19 and will rent canoes, kayaks and standup paddle boards to the general public.

Through all of that time, I know that there is a severe shortage of on-water rental opportunities in southeastern Wisconsin, Mertz said. I knew that there was a need for it. When I was approached, I thought maybe it was the kick in the pants I needed to start doing rentals and not just instruction.

Mertz has taught classes near the Village Hall on the Fox River before, calling it one of the only places in the area where she can teach a moving water class. She added that she already has her own fleet of boats, so her biggest challenge will be hiring a staff.

The biggest thing involved with going into rentals was hiring employees because to this point Ive been a one-person shop for eight years, she said

Complements

river trail plan

The new business is to be discussed at tonights Waterford Plan Commission meeting. Village President Tom Roanhouse called the addition another way we deliver quality of life to our community.

From here to the state line, its almost like virgin territory, Roanhouse said. Its probably the most pristine waterway in southeastern Wisconsin and most of it is unencumbered by motorized watercraft because it doesnt lend itself to that.

Both Roanhouse and Messick mentioned the villages ongoing efforts to obtain recognition for the water way as a national water trail through the National Park Service as instrumental in the the decision to add a rental business. According to Roanhouse, the proposed Fox River Trail will be about 220 miles in length, starting in Waukesha County and ending in Ottawa, Ill., where the Fox meets the Illinois River.

All in all, its an exciting opportunity for Mertz, who continues to dedicate her career to water sports.

Im looking forward to it, she said. It was a hobby and it kept morphing into more and more of my life.
Apple is widely expected to adopt OLED displays for the iPhone, a first for its flagship product. Multiple reports said so far that only one of Apples three anticipated new iPhones for 2017 will have an OLED screen, the iPhone 8. The iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus, the logical successors of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, should still use LCD screens, the same reports said.

However, theres a chance that some iPhone 7s versions will also have OLED screens.

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The new development comes from a research note from Cowen and Company seen by Apple Insider.

Analyst Timothy Arcuri said that Apples iPhone 8 will feature a 5.8-inch OLED screen with a wraparound screen unlike anything else seen on a phone so far. The iPhone 7s will retain the expected 4.7-inch screen, and the iPhone 7s Plus will have a 5.5-inch display.

Arcuri says that Apple may yet choose to use OLED displays in the iPhone 7s models. Two factors may influence this decision, including Samsungs capacity to deliver the enough OLED screens that match Apples requirements, and consumption of Apples existing LCD inventory.

Recent reports said that Samsung will be the only OLED display manufacturer for the iPhone, but even the South Korean giant cant possibly meet Apples demand. Thats why only the iPhone 8 will get the new OLED screens.

Furthermore, reports claimed that other smartphone makers have been taking notice of iPhone 8 OLED rumors and are looking to secure OLED supply for their own handsets.

Apples switch to OLED for the iPhone should significantly improve the overall screen performance. Samsungs Galaxy S7 and Galaxy Note 7 have been widely praised for their OLED screens, which offer superior features to the iPhones LCD screen.

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By Ju-min Park and Se Young Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - A South Korean judge questioned Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee behind closed doors on Wednesday to decide whether he should be arrested over his alleged role in a corruption scandal that led parliament to impeach President Park Geun-hye. Lee, 48, in dark overcoat and purple necktie, did not answer questions from reporters as he left the Seoul Central District Court after the nearly four-hour hearing and headed by car to a detention center to await his fate. One of the five attorneys representing Lee struck a positive tone, saying the legal team had argued its case sufficiently. "We are confident the court will make a wise decision," attorney Song Wu-cheol told reporters. The special prosecutor's office on Monday said it would seek a warrant to arrest the third-generation leader of the country's largest conglomerate on suspicion of bribery, embezzlement and perjury. Lee, who has been the de facto leader of South Korea's biggest conglomerate since his father Lee Kun-hee was incapacitated by a 2014 heart attack, was questioned last week for 22 straight hours at the prosecutor's office in Seoul. He has denied wrongdoing. Park, 64, was impeached last month by parliament over the influence-peddling scandal, a decision that if upheld by the Constitutional Court will see her become the country's first democratically-elected leader forced from office early. Park, who remains in office but stripped of her powers while the court decides her fate, has denied wrongdoing. The judge may not announce his decision on the arrest warrant for Lee until after midnight, a court official told Reuters on Tuesday. The court ordered Lee to be held at the Seoul Detention Centre, a half-hour drive away, while it reviews the warrant request. The special prosecutor has accused Lee of paying bribes totaling 43 billion won ($36.70 million) to organizations linked to Choi Soon-sil, a friend of the president who is at the center of the scandal, to secure the 2015 merger of two affiliates and cement his control of the family business. Earlier this week, the special prosecutor indicted the chairman of the National Pension Service (NPS), the world's third-largest pension fund, on charges of abuse of power and giving false testimony. NPS chairman Moon Hyung-pyo was arrested in December after acknowledging ordering it to support the controversial $8 billion merger in 2015 of the two Samsung Group [SAGR.UL] affiliates while heading the health ministry, which oversees the NPS. The special prosecutor's office has said it did not seek arrest warrants for three other Samsung Group executives that also underwent questioning, in order to minimize the impact on Samsung business. The group's flagship, Samsung Electronics <005930.KS>, is the world's biggest maker of smartphones, flatscreen TVs and memory chips. ($1 = 1,171.6900 won) (Reporting by Ju-min Park, Se Young Lee and Christine Kim; Writing by Tony Munroe and Jack Kim; Editing by Nick Macfie & Simon Cameron-Moore)
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Ride-hailing service Uber inaugurated a support center in Brazil's biggest city on Tuesday with plans to invest 200 million reais ($62 million) and create 2,000 jobs, underscoring an aggressive growth strategy in Latin America's biggest nation. The new facility in Sao Paulo may employ up to 7,000 people by the end of the year, providing technical support for around 9 million users in Brazil along with thousands of drivers, the company said in a statement. Uber's latest investment in Brazil comes just weeks after Didi Chuxing, China's largest ride-hailing company, announced it was investing more than $100 million in Brazilian company 99, an on-demand taxi and ride sharing service. After a bruising battle in China, Uber agreed in August to sell its unit there to Didi, which is also investing $1 billion in San Francisco-based Uber Technologies in the deal. Didi has also formed an alliance with Lyft in the United States, India's ride service Ola and Southeast Asian startup Grab in an effort to compete with Uber's global dominance. (Reporting by Brad Haynes; Editing by Bernard Orr)
Verizon is having some trouble getting customers to give up their Galaxy Note 7 devices. So now, it's taking its efforts to the next level.

Speaking to Fortune in an interview on Tuesday, a Verizon spokeswoman said that the company still has "thousands" of customers that haven't turned in the Galaxy Note 7 and continue to use the ill-fated handset on its network. The person added that they have skirted a Verizon software update that would have left the customers with a bricked Galaxy Note 7.

Credit: Jeremy Lips

Credit: Jeremy Lips

Verizon said it will now place all Galaxy Note 7 users into a category within its customer base that will re-route calls. So whenever a Galaxy Note 7 owner tries to place a call, he or she will be automatically redirected to Verizon customer service, which will ostensibly request the customers get a new device.

If that doesn't work, the Verizon spokeswoman said, the company could bill customers for the full cost of the Galaxy Note 7. Verizon previously reimbursed all Galaxy Note 7 customers that amount after the handset was discontinued.

MORE: Galaxy S8 Has a Secret Weapon Against iPhone

Samsung last year released the Galaxy Note 7 in hopes of delivering a device that would beat the iPhone 7. And early reviews suggested the Galaxy Note 7 hit all the right points to be a success. However, soon after its release, customers reported overheating problems. In some cases, the Galaxy Note 7 caught fire and exploded.

Soon after, Samsung responded by issuing a recall on the device and promising that replacement products would be safe. However, after similar reports surfaced with its second-run handsets, Samsung was forced to discontinue the device.

Over the last several months, Samsung and its carrier partners around the world have been working to retrieve all Galaxy Note 7 devices. The company has offered credits towards new products and made the turn-in process as simple as possible.

Verizon's comments on Tuesday, however, suggest that some subscribers have found a way around the update and continue to use the device.

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See also : 21 Most Hilarious Galaxy Note 7 Memes
A single text message could cause your iPhone to temporarily freeze and restart, according to several reports. The troublesome text wont affect devices running Apples latest software, iOS 10.2, but could lock up phones running earlier versions of iOS 10.

The string of text that is said to be triggering this effect includes a waving white flag emoji, a zero, and a rainbow emoji, as YouTube channel EverythingApplePro demonstrates, which says it heard about the bug through a tip. French iOS developer Vincent Desmurs claims to have discovered the hack, according to The Guardian. Although the message may only show those three characters, the text capable of causing iPhones to freeze also includes an invisible character called a variation selector, which The Guardian says can be copied into any iMessage.

Upon receiving the message, the touchscreen and buttons on the recipients iPhone become unusable for a short period of time, after which the device may reboot. This can last for about a minute, according to The Telegraph, while the YouTube video notes it could take about three to five minutes. The string of characters is said to cause a lockup even if the victim doesnt open the message in question.

Apple hasnt responded to a request for comment, and TIME was unable to reproduce the issue on an iPhone 7 running iOS 10.01. But there is an explanation for what appears to be causing the crash. Since a rainbow flag emoji doesnt officially exist, a targeted iPhone tries to combine the code for both the white flag and the rainbow symbols using the variation selector, the reports note. Its unable to do so in this scenario because of the zero in the middle, which is said to be causing the freeze.

Those who have updated to the latest version of Apples iOS mobile operating system arent vulnerable to this specific problem. Still, EverythingApplePro says it created a shareable file that reportedly produces a similar effect on devices running the new software.

This isnt the first time iPhone users have reported that their devices have become frozen after receiving a specific text message. A similar bug was reported last year, which made it possible to crash an iPhone by sending message that included a certain string of characters in English, Arabic, Marathi, and Chinese. In November, a video surfaced that would cause Apple smartphones to slow down and eventually stop working for a few minutes when played in Safari.
Aaron Paul in The Path. (Photo by: Greg Lewis/Hulu)

In case you held off on getting hooked on The Path when it debuted on Hulu last March, heres your second chance to join the cult. Ahead of its Season 2 premiere on Jan. 25, the entire 10-episode first season is now available to binge-watch on Yahoo View. Allow us to offer five reasons why you should follow The Path straight to Yahoos streaming service.

1. Its eerily timely

At a moment in history when debates over fake news and the accuracy of intelligence are causing some to speculate whether America is creating two realities, The Path takes us inside a community that has its own distinct interpretation of our modern world. Welcome to Meyerism, the brainchild of Dr. Stephen Meyer, who lifted himself to enlightenment via a path he called the ladder. Other humans can ascend to similar heights rung by rung provided they follow his teachings, which start from the base level that mankind is damaged by its very nature. This movement started with one man, but its sense spread to more than 6,000 souls, with Meyerism-based communities in such far-flung locations as San Diego, Peru, and Parksdale, N.Y., where the shows main characters, husband and wife Eddie and Sarah Lane (Aaron Paul and Michelle Monaghan) are based.

Paul and his onscreen kids. (Photo by: Greg Lewis/Hulu)

2. Meet Papa Paul

Thanks to Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul is forever preserved in our mind as twentysomething screwup Jesse Pinkman. But in real life, Paul is 37, which places him squarely in an actors prime dad years. Thus, The Path awards Eddie and Sarah two onscreen children to care for: teenage Hawk (Kyle Allen) and younger sister Summer (Aimee Laurence). As a performer, Paul is well-suited to fatherhood; Eddie is clearly a caring presence in his kids lives, even as his faith in their guiding philosophy is shaken by secret meetings with a convincing Meyerist defector: Alison Kemp (Sarah Jones).

3. Michelle Monaghan finally gets a juicy part

Hollywood has never quite known what to do with Monaghan, who was briefly poised to become the Next Big Thing after roles in big-budget blockbusters like Mission: Impossible III and Eagle Eye. Her heart, however, always seemed to lie with smaller fare, be it the 2008 drama Trucker, which she executive-produced, and 2014s Fort Bliss. The Path marries those two worlds, using the expanse of TV to tell a bigger story, while also remaining dialed in on the characters emotional states. And Sarah in particular goes on a major journey over the course of the first seasons 10 episodes, moving toward a future as a Meyerist leader alongside Cal (Hugh Dancy), the man she previously rejected for Eddie. Its a complex role that demands, and receives, the best from Monaghan.

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Michelle Monaghan in The Path. (Photo by: Greg Lewis/Hulu)

4. Never turn down a chance to see Kathleen Turner work

Due to health issues, Turner is an increasingly rare onscreen presence, which makes each appearance she does instantly worthy of your attention. In The Path, the Body Heat star puts in a one-episode appearance as Cals mother, Brenda, whose alcoholism undoubtedly contributed to his pursuing a different path in his own life. Heres hoping for an encore appearance in Season 2.

5. Listen for the echoes of Jonestown and Waco

While The Path starts quietly, tensions soon escalate when the government  in the form of FBI investigator Abe Gaines (Rockmond Dunbar)  takes an active interest in the Meyerists activities. That sets the stage for a late-episode standoff thats deliberately reminiscent of the stare-down between the Branch Davidians and the FBI in 1993, not to mention the infamous Peoples Temple mass suicide in 1978. For now, at least, the Meyerists havent met an end that tragic. Well see what happens at the end of Season 2.

Binge all 10 episodes of The Path Season 1 on Yahoo View. Season 2 premieres Jan. 25 on Hulu.
President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter to mock Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who is boycotting the inauguration and questioned the legitimacy of Trumps election.

Lewis, who worked closely with Martin Luther King, Jr., is skipping the inauguration and Business Insider reported, It will the first time he will miss an inauguration since 1986.

However, a Washington Post article from 2001 proves that Lewis has skipped inauguration events in the past, and Trump called him out on it.

Also Read: Trump Official Rips Democrats Skipping Inauguration: 'Put Your Big Boy Pants On' (Video)

John Lewis said about my inauguration, "It will be the first one that I've missed." WRONG (or lie)! He boycotted Bush 43 also because he  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2017

"thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bush's swearing-in.he doesn't believe Bush is the true elected president." Sound familiar! WP  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2017

Also Read: Rob Schneider Ripped for Lecturing John Lewis About MLK

Some members of the Black Caucus decided to boycott Inauguration Day; John Lewis, for instance, spent the day in his Atlanta district. He thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bushs swearing-in because he doesnt believe Bush is the true elected president, the Post published back in 2001.

Lewis said on NBCs Meet the Press that he doesnt see Trump as a legitimate president, which prompted Trump to say Lewis is all talk.

Meanwhile, vice president-elect Mike Pence is also upset that Lewis plans to skip the festivities and said Trumps win isnt legitimate.

I served with John Lewis and I disagree with him on many issues, Pence told Fox News. But I respect the role hes played in the civil rights movement and the voting rights movement. Thats why I was just so disappointed that he would make the statement that he made suggesting that President-elect Trump is not a legitimate president.

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Trump Official Rips Democrats Skipping Inauguration: 'Put Your Big Boy Pants On' (Video)

CNN Slams Trump's Press Secretary: 'Just Because Sean Spicer Says Something Doesn't Make It True'

Trump's Press Secretary Rips 'SNL' as 'Mean-Spirited,' 'Not Funny' (Video)
Steve Harvey issued an apology on Tuesday for a segment on his talk show that poked fun at Asian men.

The show  which aired on Jan. 6  featured Harvey mocking the title of self-help books. After showing the cover of How to Date a White Woman: A Practical Guide for Asian Men, Harvey launched into a minute-long monologue about how no women  white or otherwise  would ever go out with an Asian man.

Watch the segment below:

Excuse me, do you like Asian men? Harvey asked rhetorically. No. Thank you.

You like Asian men? he asked again. I dont even like Chinese food, boy. It dont stay with you no time. I dont eat what I cant pronounce. Harvey then doubled over while the audience uncomfortably laughed.

Members of the Asian American community did not find the segment humorous.

In an open letter to The New York Times, author Eddie Huang  whose memoir Fresh Off the Boat was turned in an ABC sitcom  said Harvey perpetuated the stereotype that women dont want Asian men. Huang adds: He speaks openly about issues facing the black community, he is a man of God, and he has a huge platform to speak from. Unfortunately, hes also the type of guy who orders Krug champagne for himself and Cooks for every one else. For his own personal profit, hes willing to perpetuate the emasculation of Asian men regardless of how hypocritical it is.

Last Thursday, a spokesman for The Steve Harvey Show issued a statement to Buzzfeed. Steve Harvey was poking fun at unusual book titles in a comedic segment from Fridays show, it read. His comments were never meant to demean the Asian community and the show sincerely apologizes to anyone who was offended.

On Friday, Harvey  who had not apologized personally  said, I aint been laughing that much over the past few days. Theyre kinda beating me up on the internet right now for no reason. But, you know, thats life, aint it?

Apparently, Harvey figured out the reason for the backlash, tweeting a personal apology on Tuesday morning.

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Wanted to share this today. pic.twitter.com/mpKGBZic5k  Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) January 17, 2017

I offer the humblest apology for offending anyone, particularly those in the Asian community, last week. It was not my intention and the humor was not meant with any malice or disrespect whatsoever, he wrote.

The mea culpa came on the comedians 60th birthday and two weeks before he is scheduled to host the Miss Universe pageant in Manila, Philippines.

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So much for a smooth transition of power.

With only days to go before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, soon-to-be former president Barack Obama went ahead with the deployment of U.S. Army units into Poland last week as part of a commitment to NATO to bolster troop presence along the Russian border.

The unanswered questions about the troop deployment include: Why now? and Did Obama clear the augmentation of NATO troops  which is supposed to be followed up with further deployments into Baltic states  with the president-elect?

Given that Trump has been critical of the NATO alliance in the past  and reiterated it last weekend, calling it obsolete and again questioning whether European countries are paying their fair share for the alliance  the timing of the build-up did the new administration no favors.

What is the new Trump administration to do? Order the troops in Poland to do an about-face and return to Germany, then back to Colorado?

The consequences of that could potentially be calamitous. Our European allies would denounce it and view it as a betrayal of the first order. Trumps detractors would call it a capitulation to Russian President Vladimir Putin and an abandonment of sanctions imposed after the Russian taking of Crimea from the Ukraine.

While Trump has pledged to build a friendlier U.S. relationship with Russia, he has also stacked his appointments with military hawks who dont necessarily subscribe to the president-elects views, and that could cause some serious internal strife within the new administration as it moves to sort things out and establish its footing.

As he heads out the door, Obama clearly didnt do the new president any favors with the timing of the NATO troop buildup.

Now it will be up to Trump to sort things out.
Seeking to disabuse the notion that public resources in Wisconsin are scarce, a coalition of labor, health care and liberal advocacy groups is calling for nearly $900 million in new state spending on jobs, health care and education paid for by ending tax breaks for manufacturers, farmers and investors.

Speaking to reporters at the state Capitol on Wednesday, Mary Froiland, bishop of the local Evangelical Lutheran Church in America synod, said the current budget climate in the state fosters anxiety, fear and hoarding, pitting those who have little against those who have less.

Viewing state finances as abundant, she said, would foster cooperation and generosity to help improve society.

As we consider the state budget, its easy to believe theres not enough, Froiland said. This alternative budget we propose today discredits that myth.

The group is calling for the elimination of the manufacturing and agriculture tax credit, which Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans created in 2011 and is now fully phased in.

The credit virtually eliminates state tax liability for manufacturers and farmers costing the state $284 million in tax revenue per year. Those making more than $1 million a year receive about 77 percent of that reduction, and 11 taxpayers earning more than $35 million a year are expected to receive $21.5 million this year.

The group also wants to eliminate the exclusion of 60 percent of capital gains from taxation, saying the majority of those benefiting from the longstanding law make more than $100,000 annually. Doing so would generate $164 million per year.

Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, characterized the tax credit and exemptions as gigantic giveaways to special interests. He noted the tax credit is not tied specifically to job creation, though it is tied to producing goods in Wisconsin.

Scott Manley, a lobbyist for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, said taxing manufacturers more isnt the way to stimulate economic development in the state. He said in the five years before the tax credit was enacted  a period covering the Great Recession  the state lost 81,000 manufacturing jobs, and in the five years after the state added 34,000 jobs. However he said hes not aware of a study that has linked that shift to the tax credits.

The new spending over two years would include $170 million to increase wages for those caring for seniors and the disabled, $150 million for lead pipe remediation, $115 million to increase teacher pay, $110 million to expand the earned income tax credit, $100 million for free technical college, $100 million for one-on-one tutoring for 29,000 struggling first and second-graders, $90 million for drug treatment in high schools and $55 million to create jobs for low-income workers focused on environmental cleanup.

Walker plans to include significant increases for public education, worker training, higher education and other areas without raising taxes in his 2017-2019 budget proposal next month, spokesman Tom Evenson said in response to the announcement.

Walker has not said what a significant increase for K-12 schools means. He plans to cut University of Wisconsin System tuition by an unspecified amount and provide additional aid to the System to make up for the lost revenue.

He has called a special session of the Legislature to take up various proposals to combat the states heroin epidemic, including about $3 million a year in new funding.

He also has committed to increasing local road aid by $65 million and asked for $35 million for rural broadband expansion.

As the governor stated in his State of the State Address, continuing to develop Wisconsins workforce will be his top priority for 2017 and beyond, Evenson said.

Ken Taylor, executive director of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, said its long past time to raise wages for teachers and care providers, make technical college free and get lead out of drinking water.

If someone tells you that he cares about a big problem and then promotes a small solution, that tells me that person doesnt really care all that much, Taylor said.

The coalition includes Citizen Action of Wisconsin, the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, the Lutheran Office for Public Policy, Madison-Area Urban Ministry and unions representing service employees, social workers, teachers and health care professionals, among others.
YORKVILLE  The Yorkville School District Board on Tuesday night unanimously approved resolutions that will put a $490,000 recurring operational referendum on the April 4 ballot.

The board governs the grades 4K-8 Yorkville Elementary School, 18621 Washington Ave.

District Administrator Dave Alexander told the board the district would be insolvent within five years if nothing is done.

We looked at our financial forecasting long term and we know that we needed to make our future sustainable, Alexander said.

The board heard from a consultant who conducted a community survey that showed support for a tax increase ballot question. There were 182 respondents to the survey; three information sessions on the proposed referendum were held last fall.

While the referendum language still needs to be finalized, it would ask voters whether the district should be allowed to exceed state-imposed revenue limits with a recurring increase that amounts to $1.05 per every $1,000 of property value.

Steps already taken

Alexander said the forecasted recurring deficit needed to be further addressed, even after cost-saving measures which included eliminating post-employment benefits, eliminating two teaching positions and changing employee health insurance. They also refinanced a building addition and conducted an energy savings project for more savings.

Alexander said the problem is a revenue issue, not a spending issue.

There is always something people point at that we could do ... use a different brand of toilet paper, Alexander said. But there is nothing we can cut out of our budget, without substantially changing our programming, that would close the gap that were seeing.

According to the district, expenditures are $9,981 per student and the revenue limit per student is $10,746.

Current student enrollment is 472 in grades 4K through eight, according to district numbers. In 2015-2016, enrollment was 486 students.

School officials blame a slow recovery from the housing crash during the Great Recession, as well as state officials not allowing an increase to the revenue limit, as contributing factors to the deficit.

We had to take our own action and ask our local voters to approve this referrendum, Alexander said.

Even open enrollment, which used to help the budget, was not sufficient. Currently 29 percent of the districts students are open-enrollment students; in 2006-2007 that number was 14 percent, according to the district.

The board will now work on a public information campaign regarding the referendum.

Theyll be able to preread what that ballot question will say and understand why we need it and what its going to be used for, Alexander said. We have confidence that we have enough time for it.

The last time the school district asked voters for added revenue was in 2006, according to Alexander. That year, district voters approved a $5.9 million facilities referendum, part of which was used to pay for eight classrooms and a new cafeteria, kitchen, library and gymnasium.
PM Dahal underscores cross-border cooperation to combat crimes

The 23rd Interpol Asian Regional Conference kicked off in Kathmandu on Wednesday bringing together police from various countries to discuss issues including terrorism, human trafficking, border security and cybercrime.
Australian artist donates Rs 2m worth of clothes to quake victims

An Australian artist Fedrich Grief has donated approximately Rs 2 million worth of food and clothes to the earthquake victims of April 25, 2015.
Bairagi for enhanced cooperation among ACD countries

Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi has underscored the importance of enhanced cooperation at bilateral, sub-regional and regional levels to ensure sustainable, affordable, reliable and modern energy to all as promised in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Degree in midwifery

Its a key step, but it should be accompanied by proper incentive mechanisms
Derelict Nuwakot palace awaits restoration

The reconstruction of Nuwakot Durbar, which was damaged in the 2015 April earthquake, has delayed as the Department of Archaeology (DoA) has not prioritised the palace renovation, according to the palace caretaker committee.
Ethnic Thami people find home in Charikot

Many ethnic Thami people, who had been living in the northern region of Dolakha, have found their home in Charikot, the district headquarters, after they were forced to leave their landslide-prone settlements following the 2015 April earthquake.
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.
First phase complete

The first phase of construction of 220kV Khimti-Dhalkebar electricity transmission line was completed on Tuesday.
Govt considers waiving VAT on cooking gas

The Ministry of Supplies has proposed to waive value added tax (VAT) on cooking gas in a bid to provide relief to ordinary consumers.
Govt flouts two crucial agreements signed with Dr KC

The government has been dragging its feet on implementing the agreements signed with Dr Govinda KC.
Tika R Pradhan is a senior political correspondent for the Post, covering politics, parliament, judiciary and social affairs. Pradhan joined the Post in 2016 after working at The Himalayan Times for more than a decade.
Hetauda banda in protest of demolition campaign

Hetauda Bazaar locals have enforced a town shutdown for the last two days to protest the demolition of homes and business establishments close to the East-West Highway.
Himalaya Airlines to link Yangon, KL

Himalaya Airlines plans to extend its wings to Myanmar and Malaysia by the second week of February after getting another brand new Airbus 320. The carrier expects to induct the second jet into its fleet by January-end.
Hotels operating in ACAP start getting registered

A large number of hotels and restaurants operating in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) have started getting registered.
Illegal workers to get Masia temp permits

Malaysia on Tuesday said it was issuing temporary permits to foreigners working without legal status and allowing employers to legally retain undocumented workers.
Locals demand Kalaiya be declared sub metropolitan, enforce chakka jam

Locals and political parties have enforced vehicular strike in Kalaiya, headquaretrs of Bara district, demanding the municipality be declared sub-metropolitan city.
Mahat takes up trade issues in New Delhi

Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, who is currently in the Indian capital to attend a conference, on Tuesday met Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and State Minister for External Affairs VK Singh.
Memorandum submitted to chief justice

Government attorneys and trade unions of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Chief Justice Sushila Karki, demanding a review of the recommendations made by the Judicial Council (JC).
Nepal, China all-weather friends

Reaffirming Nepals unwavering commitment to one-China policy, leaders of political parties have stress on the need to have a closer look at its northern neighbour.
Nepal Police HQ summons SSP Khatri

Nepal Police has summoned Senior Superintendent of Police Shyam Khatri, who was stationed at the Tribhuvan International Airport, to the headquarters as investigation into the high profile case of 33 kg gold smuggling intensifies.
Nigeria air strike error kills dozens in refugee camp

A Nigerian military jet has mistakenly bombed a camp for displaced people in the north-east, killing at least 52 people and injuring many more.
NTA may not be able to stall issuing Ncells licence

The Nepal Telecommu-nications Authority (NTA) has said it may not be able to further stall issuing Ncells 4G licence for non-payment of capital gains tax as it has not been formally informed about the telecom companys tax liabilities.
Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence

President Barack Obama has commuted Chelsea Manning's sentence for leaking documents to Wikileaks in 2010.
Oil tanker plunges into Trishuli, driver missing

A person has gone missing when an oil tanker returning to Amlekhgunj after unloading fuel in Kathmandu plunged into Trishuli River at Chandibhanjyang-5 in Bharatpur, Chitwan, on Tuesday night.
Only 4 docs in whole of Siraha district

People in Siraha are compelled to travel outside the district for treatment due to a shortage of doctors at health institutions.
Anup Ojha is a reporter for The Kathmandu Post primarily covering social issues and human interest stories. Before moving to the social beat, Ojha covered arts and culture for the Post for four years.
SC moved

Lawyers affiliated to the Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Judicial Councils decision of recommending 80 judges for High Courts.
Ten years after

The Madhes movement has helped to make Madhesis more confident and assertive
The Constitutional court has issued an interim order halting the trial of Nakawa Municipality MP Michael Kabaziguruka before the General Court Martial until the final hearing and determination of a petition he filed questioning the legality of this Army Court.

Presiding Justice Remmy Kasule ordered that the trial which was scheduled to commence tomorrow before the seven members of Army Court is suspended until the 31st/January 2017.

The said order has been issued in the presence of Jane Francis Nafuma who represented the Attorney General and Medard Ssegona, Kabazigurukas advocate.

The state alleges that Kabaziguruka connived with serving army officers to contrive a plot to overthrow the Government of Uganda between February and June last year.

He spent several months on remand at Kigo prison until October last year when he was granted bail by the High court.

He then petitioned the Constitutional court calling for dissolution of the General Court Martial on grounds that it is unlawfully established and has no powers to either try civilians or UPDF officers as its jurisdiction is limited to instilling discipline in errant soldiers.

In the petition Kabaziguruka also seeks for orders discharging him and any other persons facing trial before the court which he terms as an administrative tribunal.
By Benjamin Jumbe

The outgoing Chief of Defense Forces Gen Katumba Wamala has cited poor welfare as one of the key challenges he leaves behind.

While handing over office today, Gen. Katumba said he regretted failure to do enough in improving the welfare of UPDF troops especially in terms of provision of decent accommodation.

He challenges his successor Gen. David Muhoozi to take on from where he has left and ensure this is achieved.

He however says he leaves very happy and proud to be without any blemish.

Meanwhile, the new Chief of Defense Forces Gen. David Muhoozi has pledged to ensure the country remains peaceful and stable.

In his acceptance speech at the handover ceremony in Mbuya, Gen Muhoozi saluted his predecessor for the strong foundation he has laid in the force vowing to continue with the good work.

While presiding over the handover ceremony, Gen Elly Tumwine has challenged the new team to ensure continued improvements of the force and not to disappoint the appointing authority and Ugandans.
By Damali Mukhaye

Over 4,000 students of Makerere University Business School face may not graduate come 21st February 2017 at Makerere University over the failure by its management to remit the functional fees amounting to Shs4bn to the main campus.

According to Makerere Bursar, Augustine Tamale the business school has failed to remit students functional fees for the past three years explaining that each Ugandan/East African student from this institution is supposed to pay Shs 420,000, while international students pay Shs1,027,500 but MUBs is yet to comply.

He explains that out of the over 6bn MUBs was supposed to pay, only Shs 1.4bn has been cleared.

Tamale now says students from this institution will not graduate if MUBs does not remit the money to Makerere University Council bank account as soon as possible.

However, when contacted, the spokesperson of MUBs Peter Odoki says they do not owe Makerere any money.
By Moses Kyeyune

The Prime Minister Dr.Ruhakana Rugunda has told parliament that the public need not worry about the scrapping of Swahili and other subjects from the education curriculum, promising prompt government intervention.

Rugunda was responding to a question raised by Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa on the justification for the scrapping of Swahili at a time when the push for a common language for the regional integration agenda is at its peak.

The Prime Minister says that government is handling the matter and a statement will be issued son by the ministry of education and sports.

The Uganda National Examinations Board has announced that it will not be examining Fasihi ya Kiswahili, political education, additional mathematics, health education among others subjects on grounds that the National Curriculum Development Center has directed that they be dropped.
The Rwandan authorities have announced a ban on the import of chicken and poultry products from Uganda.

The announcement made today Tuesday follows confirmation of an outbreak of avian flu in Uganda.

In a statement issued in Kigali, the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture said that in a bid to mitigate avian flu outbreak, a temporary ban had been imposed on the import of poultry and poultry products from Uganda.

According to the Rwandan food authorities, the infected birds could be a source of infection to poultry which could infect human beings.

It said that all farms across Rwanda were now under observation, following confirmation of the presence of H5N1 virus in one neighboring farm in Uganda.
This important volume will be out soon!

My contribution is, "The Eschatology of the Reformers"



Here's the publisher's (Crossway) summary:

About Reformation Theology

Far too often, the Protestant Reformation is seen as a bygone and irrelevant movement in church history. Some of the best theologians and historians of today, including Michael Reeves, Gerald Bray, Michael A. G. Haykin, Carl R. Trueman, and many others, have collaborated to counter this view, showing how Reformation theology is not only still relevant but actually essentialeven five hundred years later. Offering readers accessible summaries of a host of important doctrinal issues discussed and debated by the Reformers, this comprehensive book includes entries on topics such as biblical authority, the Trinity, the attributes of God, predestination, union with Christ, justification by faith, the church, the sacraments, and more. Perfect for both individual and classroom use, this volume demonstrates that Reformation theologyfar from being irrelevantis more crucial to the vitality of the church than ever.

Recommendations:

Dr. Barrett has gathered a full stable of blue-ribbon theologians for this winning volume. All the essays are carefully contextualized, the Reformers judiciously selected, and the bibliographies thoughtfully assembled. Some chapters are especially notable for the breadth and depth of the authors research, others for their adroit summaries of complex themes. There is little doubt that Reformation Theology will ably serve the church and academy as a textbook for students and a reference work for scholars. It is already reshaping my own teaching on late-medieval and early-modern theology, and I commend it heartily.

Chad Van Dixhoorn, Chancellors Professor of Historical Theology, Reformed Theological SeminaryWashington, DC

This delightful volume is a breath of fresh air in Reformation studies, putting theology back at the center. It shows with crystal clarity how the Reformers expounded the heart of the Christian faith, and why these evangelical doctrines still matter so much.

Andrew Atherstone, Latimer Research Fellow, Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford

This rich book takes up the challenge to think beyond 2017 and does so in a very stimulating manner. Each of the contributors is an expert in his field and knows that the Reformation is a highly relevant treasure for both the church and theology. They convincingly encourage the readers to think through this treasure and adopt it. Everyone eager to not just look back at five hundred years of reformation but also look forward finds here the perfect material.

Herman Selderhuis, Director, Refo500; Professor and Director of the Institute for Reformation Research, Theological University Apeldoorn, the Netherlands; author, Calvins Theology of the Psalms

Dr. Matthew Barrett has assembled a first-rate team of pastors and scholars to write an anniversary volume of the Reformation that promises to receive a welcoming readership across a wide spectrum of the evangelical community. At a time when some are suggesting that for all practical purposes the Reformation is over, Barretts Reformation Theology offers a needed corrective by showing the relevance of the Reformation for healthy church ministry and the Christian life today.

Philip Graham Ryken, President, Wheaton College; author, Loving the Way Jesus Loves

This collection of essays is both necessary and appropriate. Its necessary because the issues addressed mattered then and matter now. Its appropriate because this is how we best remember our past and honor the Reformers. The Reformation is our pivot point in the past, and the issues it addressed remain the pivot point for church life and discipleship.

Stephen J. Nichols, President, Reformation Bible College; Chief Academic Officer, Ligonier Ministries; author, Martin Luther: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought and The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World

A superb collection of first-rate essays on Reformation theologyone of the best I have seen. A welcome addition to the swell of literature in this year of Reformation remembrance.

Timothy George, Founding Dean, Beeson Divinity School; General Editor, Reformation Commentary on Scripture

An anniversary is a great moment to do a book like Reformation Theology. And with the passing of time, Reformation truths and the importance of the Reformation as a milestone in church history get forgottenincredible as that sounds. But it is true. Perhaps we should not be surprised. How many times in the Old Testament do we read that the Israelites forgot? So I am enthusiastic about Reformation Theology.

David F. Wells, Distinguished Senior Research Professor, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; author, The Courage to Be Protestant: Truth-Lovers, Marketers and Emergents in the Postmodern World

Matthew Barrett is certainly to be congratulated on bringing together this outstanding group of top-tier theologians and Reformation scholars to produce this wonderful resource. Not only are readers given a masterful survey of historical theology illuminating the key reformational themes of the sixteenth century, but also we are provided thoughtful and insightful guidance to wrestle with the important theological issues facing the church in the twenty-first century. I am delighted to recommend this comprehensive work.

David S. Dockery, President, Trinity International University

Reformation Theology promises to be an influential book indeed. Written by recognized historians and theologians, this volume aims to clearly articulate the teaching of the Reformers according to traditional theological categories. It is a genuine contribution and a great read besides.

Fred G. Zaspel, Pastor, Reformed Baptist Church, Franconia, Pennsylvania; author, The Theology of B. B. Warfield: A Systematic Summary and Warfield on the Christian Life: Living in Light of the Gospel

Nothing would benefit American evangelicals more than a real rediscovery of the Reformationnot a superficial regurgitation of the familiar talking points but a powerful, experiential encounter with the learned depth, wisdom, humility, piety, and practical know-how of our Reformation forefathers. A volume like the one Dr. Matthew Barrett has put together is a big step in the right direction.

Greg Forster, Director, Oikonomia Network at the Center for Transformational Churches, Trinity International University; author, The Joy of Calvinism

The lineup of authors in Reformation Theology and their respective topics reflect the very best in Reformed evangelical scholarship. The book should be of widespread interest. Not only would seminary and college students find the volume profitable in their studies, but all informed Christians would benefit from the essays.

W. Andrew Hoffecker, Professor of Church History Emeritus, Reformed Theological SeminaryJackson; author, Charles Hodge: The Pride of Princeton

A clear articulation of ones Reformed faith requires familiarity with the ideas and events in which that faith is rooted. Unfortunately, there are few books on the subject currently in print that are both learned and accessible. Thankfully, this volume offers an outstanding solution to this problem.

Chris Castaldo, Pastor, New Covenant Church, Naperville, Illinois; author, Talking with Catholics about the Gospel; coauthor, The Unfinished Reformation: What Unites and Divides Catholics and Protestants after 500 Years

You can pre-order it here: Reformation Theology
BOULDER CITY, Nevada -- This distinctive World War II-era weapon design would no doubt turn heads if you took it to the range.

New from firearms manufacturer American Tactical is the GSG MP40p pistol, an updated take on the German-made submachine gun that saw extensive action during the Second World War. Like the original, the weapon fires 9mm rounds, said James Silvernale, purchasing agent for American Tactical. But the new model is a closed-bolt, semi-automatic system, making it legal to buy and shoot.

It is 24.5 inches long and weighs nearly eight pounds. American Tactical is angling to appeal to collectors, promising that the first 1,100 guns sold will come with a wooden display crate, styled like a 1940s-era ammo case, and stamped with an MP40 logo.

But Silvernale said the gun, which retails for $650, is also enjoyable for shooting recreation.

"It's fun to shoot and, since it's 9mm, it's cheap to shoot," he said.

In terms of shooting, the weapon handles similarly to an AR15 pistol, with similar recoil and control, although he said it keeps its muzzle down better than the AR.

"It's a great centerpiece," Silvernale said. "Mount it on your wall; take it to the range."

He said the company eventually plans to make a version of the gun that includes a foldable stock.
BOULDER CITY, Nevada -- It looks like something RoboCop would carry, but SilencerCo LLC., has decided to put its Maxim 9 integrally suppressed pistol on the civilian market.

SilencerCo came out with the futuristic-looking, 9mm sidearm about two years ago and the interest has been growing ever since, Matt Pinnell of SilencerCo said at SHOT Show 2017.

When we came up with the idea, a lot of people said it wasnt possible, he said. Its in production right now, and it will be on the shelves this April. The interest from the general public has been extremely high.

The Maxim 9 is 10.75 inches long and weighs 2 pounds five ounces, but it used to be a lot heavier, Pinnell said.

The weight when we first created it was really substantial, he said. We just really shaved down a lot of the corners and edges.

Its 10.75 inches long, but much like our Salvo 12 shotgun suppressor, there are rails that run through the Maxim 9; you can actually take those rails, remove them and take out two of the baffles and bring the Maxim 9 down to 9.45 inches.

Despite its size, holster companies such as Blackhawk have begun designing holsters for the Maxim 9.

An early version of the pistol was based on a Smith & Wesson M&P, but thats all changed, Pinnell said.

One of the earlier designs did have a Smith & Wesson M&P grip and it took M&P mags, Pinnell said. We didnt want it to be an M&P; we didnt want it to be a Glock. We have designed the whole thing, everything from the grip, to the suppressor part, to the trigger.

The Maxim will retail for $1,500.

When we were designing it, we realized this is so cool and unique, we could sell it for $6,000 easily and people would buy it, Pinnell said. But this isnt a gun just for gun collectors. This is a gun for your neighbor, for a police officer.
LAS VEGAS -- To make sure that its new BR-4 Cutlass maritime rifle was truly water- and salt corrosion-proof, the staff at Battle Rifle Company submerged it in Galveston Bay, Texas--waters that production manager Karl Sorken once patrolled as a member of the Coast Guard.

The first test turned up a few issues: the screws holding the rail had failed and the milspec dust metal dust cover had surface rust. But after putting in stainless steel replacement screws and coating the dust cover with the same NP3 nickel-teflon finish used on the other components, the rifle passed its dunk test with flying colors.

When we pulled it out of the water after 30 days, we did a basic functions check, made sure it was safe to fire. After that, we ran about 300 rounds through it flawlessly, which even surprised us, Sorken told Military.com.

Here at SHOT Show, the company underscored the guns waterproof features by displaying it in a tank surrounded by swimming goldfish.

The latest in the companys BR4 line, which includes rifles tailored to law enforcement and other uses, the Cutlass is designed so that theres no ferrous metal-to-metal contact anywhere on the gun, eliminating a major cause of corrosion. All major metal elements are NP3-coated, and theres a zinc washer in the pistol grip to further eliminate component corrosion and rust.

Battle Rifle Company production manager Karl Sorken displays the BR4 Cutlass maritime defense rifle.

Sorken said the veteran-run company designed the weapon with Coast Guardsmen, SEALs and customs officials in mind, talking to people actively serving in those fields to design the weapon.

Dealing with these guns in real-life situations, we know they dont get the maintenance they should get all the time. And when that happens, you have guns that are worthless and can no longer protect the crew using them, Sorken said. And with a weapon system like this, you want [troops] to treat it the right way. But if they dont, this gun is still going to go click-bang every time. You can ride it hard and put it away wet, and its still going to fire when you pull it out a month later.

Battle Rifle Company is not currently in conversations with the military about the rifle, which retails for $1,595. But Sorken said he hopes the features of the gun will get the attention of military units that work and fight on the water.

That was our goal with this in the first place, he said. We hope to do that eventually.
By Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom



IRVINE  When Donald Trump won the United States' presidential election in November, he had a lot of Chinese fans. But Trump's popularity has since plummeted, owing to his statements  often via Twitter  on contentious issues, such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. This isn't the first time China's view of a US leader has deteriorated rapidly.



The abrupt change in Chinese sentiment toward Trump is reminiscent of what happened to US President Woodrow Wilson after his reelection a century ago. At the time, many Chinese intellectuals, including the young Mao Zedong, admired Wilson, a political scientist and former president of Princeton University. Then, in 1919, Wilson backed the Treaty of Versailles, which transferred control of former German territories in Shandong Province to Japan, rather than return them to China. Wilson quickly lost his luster in China.



The shift was similar  but the reasons are very different. A century ago, China was driven to support Wilson, and then to loathe him, by its own weakness. Today, it is China's strength that is guiding its view of the US president.



In 1916, the year Wilson was elected to his second term, China was in terrible shape. While the republic established in 1912 was ostensibly a single entity, it was actually highly fragmented. Military strongmen controlled different regions, while foreign powers, through bribes and bullying, seized large swaths of China's territory. For Chinese intellectuals, Wilson offered a bookish contrast to thuggish warlords.



But Wilson's appeal in China went beyond image. In 1918, Wilson's popularity soared  and not just in China  following an address to Congress calling for national "self-determination." Overlooking Wilson's support of Jim Crow in the US and the invasion of Haiti on his watch, intellectuals in imperialism-ravaged countries from Egypt to Korea took his declaration to heart, and began to view him as a savior and champion of the oppressed.



Chinese patriots, in particular, hoped that, under Wilson's leadership, the US might deepen its involvement in Asia in ways that would help protect China from the predations of Imperial Japan. For them, Wilson's support of the Treaty of Versailles constituted a profound betrayal.



The China of 2016 is unimaginably different from the China of 1916. It has leap-frogged even advanced countries in the global economic hierarchy. It is unified under a strong and focused leadership. And it is very big, including nearly all the territories that were part of the Qing Empire at its peak. A rare exception is Taiwan, but the "one China" diplomatic fiction sustains the fantasy that someday, somehow, the democratic island and authoritarian mainland will be reintegrated.



In short, China no longer needs US protection. Instead, it wants a US president who is occupied largely with domestic issues, and is not much concerned with constraining China's rise, as Barack Obama was. That way, China could get to work reshuffling power relationships in Asia for its own benefit, without having to worry about American interference.



Before the election, Trump was already known to level wild accusations at China, typically related to economic issues like trade. But his apparent lack of interest in foreign policy was very appealing for Chinese leaders. He seemed far more likely than his opponent, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to leave China alone. His suggestion that he would be less committed than his predecessors to supporting traditional US allies in Asia, like South Korea and Japan, was music to Chinese nationalists' ears, much as his questioning of American commitments to NATO was music to Russian President Vladimir Putin's.



Like Wilson, Trump also gained some fans simply by virtue of a personality that is atypical for a politician. Of course, Trump is no bookworm. But many people liked that he seemed to say (or tweet) whatever he felt, offering "straight talk" that contrasted sharply with the approach of more polished politicians, including President Xi Jinping, who watches his every word.



A similar desire for "authenticity" has fueled  albeit in a very different way  the popularity of another US official, Gary Locke, who became the US ambassador to China in 2011. Photographs of Locke carrying his own daypack and buying coffee at Starbucks  humble acts that high-ranking Chinese officials would have underlings do  spurred a flurry of online posts celebrating him as a virtuous public servant. How different America must be, his fans claimed, from China, where corrupt officials and their pampered offspring indulge in luxurious lifestyles reminiscent of the imperial families of dynastic times.



It is hard to imagine that particular US-China contrast carrying weight now, as photos of Trump's garish Manhattan penthouse and opulent Mar-a-Lago parties continue to emerge. And while Trump's communication style remains striking, particularly in comparison to Xi's, it becomes far less appealing when one is the target of his blunt comments on touchy topics. Just as a weak China was not able to count on Wilson's protection, a strong China will not be able to count on Trump to get out of its way  at least not without throwing a few elbows.



Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom, professor of history at UC Irvine, is the editor of The Oxford Illustrated History of Modern China and the author of Eight Juxtapositions: China Through Imperfect Analogies from Mark Twain to Manchukuo. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate.




That log furniture in your living room may look awesome, but it may also be home to some uninvited guests from overseas.

Minnesotans whove purchased rustic log furniture should look for signs of insect damage, the state Agriculture Department said Tuesday, noting that bugs can live in your furniture for two years or more.

Last year, the department said it probed two incidents of rustic log furniture harboring invasive insects. The brown fir beetle was found in rustic pine log furniture imported from China into Minnesota. The velvet longhorned beetle was discovered in rustic walnut log furniture, described as hickory, also imported from China into Minnesota.

Minnesota and other states along with the United States Department of Agriculture are working with importers and customers at various retailers to collect and destroy infested furniture, state officials said.

This is a good reminder that invasive insects, which can do great harm to Minnesotas natural resources, can get into the state in many ways, Geir Friisoe, director of the state Agriculture Departments plant protection division, said in a statement.

There is furniture manufactured in this style that is safe out there; however, it is important when shopping for this type of furniture to remember that buying local is always best and reputable sources should be used, Friisoe added.

Minnesotans who own rustic log furniture made outside the U.S. should look for these signs of insect infestation, according to the department:

Sawdust around the furniture  a possible sign that insects are active in the wood

Visible exit holes  small, round tunnels that may be evidence insects have burrowed their way out

Wood damage such as loose bark with tunneling beneath that may indicate the wood was infested at some time

People who suspect they own infested furniture can check the departments website on the issue or call its Arrest the Pest line at 888-545-6684.
The International Owl Center in Houston is offering free entry to residents of Winona, Fillmore and Houston counties on Jan. 21-22.

The center, located 30 minutes south of Winona, will feature four live ambassador owls -- Ruby and Rupert the great horned owls, Uhu the eurasian eagle owl and Piper the barn owl. Uhu will fly over the audience during programs.

There will be touchable wings and tails, nine species of lifelike mounted owls, owl art from children around the world, skulls, eggs, cultural items from around the world and more. The gift shop has local and fair trade owl items.

The staff will be present from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The city of Houston itself has other owl-centric landmarks. There are 10 owl sculptures in the city, Baristas Coffee House is decorated with owls and Carlson Roasting Co. offers two owl-themed coffees.

The center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students ages 4-17, and children 3 and under and members are free.

More information is available at www.internationalowlcenter.org or by contacting the center at 507-896-6957 or karla@internationalowlcenter.org.
The Root River Soil and Water Conservation District wants producers and farmers to plan for on-farm research projects.

They may be available for funding if the projects are sound. The funding opportunities are sponsored grants through Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. Read more at www.sare.org and www.mncorn.org.

Root River Soil and Water Conservation District Assistant Manager Bob Scanlan asks producers and farmers to start small.

My suggestion is to keep it simple. Compare one thing at a time in a given field or test plot and keep it small while taking accurate measurements of yield, cost savings, and/or improvement in soil health, he said. For instance, are you interested in switching from minimum tillage to no-till but are unsure of the impact on yield or weed control? Try a few acres in a side-by-side comparison on your own farm or rented acres.

Some of the on-farm research projects work well with livestock producers.

For example, experimentation with rotational grazing.

Focus on a few acres of permanent pasture with an electric barbed wire fence. Compare the regrowth of the acres after removing livestock for 30 days to the open acres.

Devising and carrying out small research tests with an organized design can bring reliable, valuable answers to some of the most pressing production questions, he said.

Scanlan encourages farmers to collaborate with extension educators, conservation staff and, or other farmers for the benefit of their creativity, experience and resources.

For more information, call Scanlan at 724-5261.
April Renee Nelson, 34, and Lucas Gerod Horstman, 26, both of Brownsville, and Barbara Ann Coleman, 41, of Mauston, Wis., have been charged with third- and fourth-degree burglary, theft and damage to property in connection with a Jan. 10 burglary at The River Station convenience store in Brownsville.

Houston County sheriffs deputies and La Crescent police responded to the early-morning call.

Evidence found at the scene pointed investigators to a Brownsville residence, and investigators armed with a warrant searched the residence and vehicles. Merchandise believed to be removed from the convenience store was found, as well as drug paraphernalia and a small amount of narcotics.

Nelson was also charged with fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance.

Sheriff Mark Inglett said execution of the search warrant was assisted by K-9 Chance and officers from Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Enforcement Team.
Nineteen states, including New York and California, rang in the New Year with an increase in the minimum wage.

Massachusetts and Washington state now have the highest minimum wages in the country at $11 per hour.

Voters in Arizona, Maine, Colorado and Washington approved wage increases on election day 2016. Seven other states, Alaska, Florida, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio and South Dakota, have automatically raised their states minimum wage. The other states seeing increases are Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan and Vermont.

Additional increases are slated for later in the year in Oregon, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

Workers and labor advocates argue the increases will help low-wage workers now barely making ends meet, but many business owners oppose the higher wages, saying they would lead to higher prices.

The national minimum wage was last raised to $7.25 in 2009.

My wife and I frequent a restaurant in a neighboring town and I thought Id get a little perspective on working for minimum wage from a cordial waiter working there.

Matt N. is a 29-year-old single man with one child hailing from that central Indiana town. He has one job, waiting tables at that restaurant, but he will take on odd jobs when they come. He works 37 to 38 hours a week, including nights and weekends.

Matt confided in me that he makes only $2.13 an hour with no benefits. Thats no typo. Servers, who rely on tips, are often paid an hourly rate below minimum wage because gratuities are factored in. However, the employee, not the employer, is required to pay taxes on those tips.

When Matt was asked to comment on his current employment situation he had the following to say: I roll with the punches. In a way, I did this to myself. I didnt finish school and I have been in a bit of legal trouble in the past. This has hindered me in getting certain jobs I think. I can say this though, as a single father raising a little girl this isnt what I had in mind as far as a career. Its merely surviving. I would be lying if I said that organized crime or the mob life didnt seem appealing at times. But that is a whole other story.

Not finishing college was a bad move, I believe. It certainly wouldnt have hurt anything to have a degree of some kind. But then I feel that because I have been in some trouble, even having some college seems to have no merit in the eyes of a lot of employers.

Working for minimum wage is a bummer at age 29 from a males perspective. The stigma of men and work is something I think about often.

I have grown fond of Matt since Ive got to know him. He always garnishes a smile and hes astoundingly upbeat considering his present stay in life. Some might say hes a victim of corporate greed, but you would never hear him echo that creed.

No two individuals are dealt the same hand in life. Some may be dealt a winning hand early on, others may be playing to an inside straight, and then again others may just be all in hoping for a miracle. No matter where we are in life its fruitless to constantly blame someone else for the circumstances we face. My Mom often says: Lifes not always a bowl of cherries. My Grandma, who raised a house full of kids during the Great Depression, never let me forget that when you fall down you dust yourself off and get back in the fight. I can tell Matts not a quitter and I admire that.

When I asked him what hed like to tell my readers he said: People who work for minimum wage are people too. No matter what they have done to get there. At least they have a job. They are just as much part of the machine as anyone else with a better paying job. We are all in this together. No matter how much this generation thinks its every man for himself.

A day or two before I interviewed Matt I got a fortune cookie with the following saying in it: The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance. My perception of working for minimum wage has been forever altered by a kind soul who took the time to educate me.
A Georgia investment company seeking to build a Monroe County frac sand terminal says if it isnt allowed to fill 16 acres of pristine wetland forest, the current landowner will clear cut the land to pay off previous wetland violations.

Meteor Timber, one of the largest private landowners in Wisconsin, wants to build a processing and loading facility along Interstate 94 near the town of Millston to dry and ship frac sand the company will mine from a nearby site it acquired in 2014. The company expects to ship about 1.5 million tons of processed sand each year using the adjacent Union Pacific rail line.

Meteor applied in March to the Corps of Engineers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for permission to fill about 16 acres of wetlands, including about 13 acres of pristine hardwood swamp.

Both agencies have requested additional information, including an explanation for why Meteor could not find another site.

On Friday, a Milwaukee public relations firm announced Meteor was filing an amended permit application, 12 days after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published a story noting the 16 acres would constitute the states single largest loss of wetlands to a sand project and about 60 percent of all sand-related wetland permits issued by the DNR since 2008.

Meteor says it will mitigate the loss by restoring and preserving other wetlands  in excess of what the law requires  and will make additional environmental enhancements at the 752-acre site.

The plant is expected to cost about $65 million and will support an estimated 100 full-time jobs, according to the company.

The site, which Meteor says is the only feasible location close enough to its mine, includes about 558 acres owned by the A & K Alexander Cranberry Co., which was sanctioned in 2013 by the Environmental Protection Agency for illegally filling 5.6 acres of wetlands. As part of the penalty, the EPA required A & K to restore 2.2 acres of the filled wetlands and to get an after-the-fact permit for the rest.

According to documents filed with the DNR, A & K managing partner Marty Alexander took out a one-year loan for $321,470 in August to purchase wetland credits needed to settle the case.

Alexander did not respond to a request for comment, but in a letter to Meteor he said if the sale does not go through, clear cutting the property is his only way to avoid foreclosure.

Thats what presents the demonstrable threat to the property, said Evan Zeppos, a spokesman representing Meteor. He has the right to go ahead and cut it if there isnt a transaction.

A memo from a forest management company owned by Meteor says when distressed properties are logged, the results are typically devastating.

Every stick of merchantable timber is harvested, the memo states. (T)here are huge piles of tree tops/limbs near public roads, and is just raw dirt being eroded away by the weather.

Sara Geers, staff attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates, said while clear cutting would be an environmental loss, the DNR should not allow Alexander and Meteor to hold them hostage.

No matter the trade-off, thats not something the agency should be allowed to use in making its decision, Geers said. It sets a bad precedent that future landowners can use.

The nonprofit environmental law firm, in partnership with the Ho-Chunk Nation, has urged the Corps to deny Meteors permit application as submitted.

In the updated application, Meteor vows to rehabilitate about 58 acres of wetlands on the site, restore about a third of a mile of Rudd Creek, which has been modified for cranberry farming, and to put 413 acres of the land into a conservation easement, which would protect it from all future development.

Geers said the problem is that Meteor is proposing to restore wetlands on its own site, which would not have the same level of governmental oversight as other wetland mitigation programs.

The history of that has been an abysmal failure, she said of permittee-responsible mitigation. Theyre not successful in restoring or creating wetlands. Thats because restoring and creating wetlands is hard to do.

Wetlands are a key component of the ecosystem, acting as natural water filters and supporting a wide range of wildlife, including a disproportionate number of rare and endangered species. According to the DNR, Wisconsin has only about half the amount of wetlands it did when the first European settlers arrived. Most of those remaining 5.3 million acres are in the northern third of the state.

Both the Corps and the DNR have questioned the economic feasibility of the project, given a 43 percent drop in consumption of proppant sand from 2014 to 2016.

In spite of a recent industry slump, Meteor is in a unique position to have a profitable mining operation, according to an economic analysis prepared by a Pennsylvania consulting firm. Thats because the group owns land with large reserves of fine sands that are now in demand and if allowed to move forward would be able to load entire trains and put them onto the Union Pacific system, which would provide a direct link to Texas oil fields.

But according to the analysis, Meteor could not find another site on the UP line that could accommodate such a large loading facility, and drying the sand at the mine site would cost another $6 million and add 30 to 50 percent more operating costs.

Meteor has also said it would remove an old town road, reconnecting fragmented wetlands, re-introduce trout to the restored creek and install eco-passages designed to allow wildlife to pass under the rail spur.

Meteor wants to make this an environmental win, Zeppos said. We think it demonstrates a big positive to the state of Wisconsin.
MCGREGOR/NEW ALBIN, Iowa  Stanley Stan Norbert Schulte, 57, of McGregor, formerly of New Albin died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at his home. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to time of Mass Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Albin. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing, Iowa, is helping the family with the arrangements.
The Reverend Monsignor Donald W. Grubisch, 91, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at St. Elizabeths Healthcare Center and Nursing Home in Wabasha, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday at Church of the Crucifixion in La Crescent, Minn., with visitation from 9 a.m. to time of Mass, with burial at 4 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Owatonna. A reception will follow at Crucifixion School. Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of La Crescent is assisting the family. A complete obituary will follow.
Martin Luther King Jr. may have been taken from us nearly 50 years ago, but his voice echoed into the 21st century Tuesday evening.

The annual La Crosse Community Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration was postponed a day due to Mondays freezing rain. Instead, hundreds came out Tuesday evening to celebrate MLKs legacy at the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center Main Theatre and hear orator Nucleus Johnson channel his voice.

Johnson presented Kings Drum Major Instinct sermon, delivered just two months before his death in 1968. In the sermon, King admonished that selfish instinct people have to want to be the first in line and the destructive behaviors it causes.

That instinct leads to materialism and a constant struggle to live beyond our means  keeping up with the Joneses. That instinct also leads to the prejudices of man against man along racial and social lines. And it led to the struggle between nations of the nuclear arms race of the Cold War and the atrocities of the Vietnam War.

It is has led to the most tragic expressions of mans inhumanity to man, Johnson intoned as King.

Instead, King said, the words of Jesus called on people to turn the drum major instinct around. Greatness is not about being better than anyone else, but being first to give back, to give love and serve others.

Everybody can be great, Johnson said. Because everybody can serve.

All you need is a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.

At the celebration, John Medinger, former La Crosse mayor and Wisconsin Assembly representative, was honored with the 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leader Award. Past winners include La Crosse School District cultural liaison Naohoua Tony Yang and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion Barbara Stewart.

The 68-year-old community volunteer was presented with the award by Yang, who cited Medingers lifelong commitment to social justice. His many accomplishments include co-chairing a fundraising committee to build the Hmong Cultural Community Center and supporting the citys anti-racism task force.

I consider John my mentor and a role model, Yang said. I believe his leadership has inspired people and communities alike. Because of people like John, La Crosse is a better community today for all.

La Crosse County Circuit Judge Ramona Gonzalez emceed the celebration, which she said was needed at a time when the country is more divided than it has been in a very long time.

The history of America has been one of struggle for unity and equality. It has not been an easy road and wont become one going forward.

But it is a struggle worth having, she said. We all have to make a resolution to be a part of the solution we so hunger for.

As part of his Echoes of a King address, Johnson took questions from those in attendance and answered them as he believes King would have. He spoke of how Kings faith in God and the people he encountered along the journey buoyed him during the fight for civil rights and dark times such as the death threats he received during the Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama.

Among the audience questions were requests for a strategy to combat hate and Kings guidance for the country as Donald Trump assumes the office of president on Friday. To these, Johnson spoke of the power of love and the necessity of people to come together no matter their differences.

I would say you overcome hate with love, Johnson said echoing King. Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.

Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. All you need is a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love. Nucleus Johnson
The La Crosse Regional Airports incentive program has yet to net new airline service, but airport director Clinton Thorp remains confident some tweaks presented to the Aviation Board on Tuesday will help bring in new business.

The program, instituted in May 2016, rewards airlines for adding destinations that have not been served nonstop from La Crosse within the past two years. Airlines must operate the new service route, which must have at least two weekly departures, for at least a year to receive the benefits of the program.

Torp wasnt concerned that no airlines had taken advantage of the offer in its first six months.

Its tied to new airline service honestly, so its one of those long-term plays, Torp said.

Under the terms of the program, the airport agrees to waive a landing fee and terminal rental for a year to each airline that operates out of La Crosse, with the amount varying depending on the size of the planes flying into the terminals. Flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Florida would be eligible for two-year landing fee waivers.

Those expanding service to include more flights would also be eligible under the second part of the program. Torp recommended tweaking the program to make more tiers under the expanding service portion of the program, suggesting the airport offer additional levels of advertising dollars to airlines.

There are a couple minor changes for the most part, Torp said. The biggest change is going from $30,000 for part B incentives to a $50,000 tier for more flight options.

The two airlines that already operate out of the municipal airport  Delta and American Airlines  are also eligible, provided they add more service than the current nonstop flights to Minneapolis and Chicago that are available through the city-owned airport.

The expansion would serve the people of the La Crosse area by offering them more flight options with more convenience than if they drove to larger airports in Minneapolis, Milwaukee or Madison, according to Torp.

The airport hopes its new LSE Leaders program, offered to local businesses, will help work together with the program to keep the airport growing.

One piece of it is keeping the local momentum going. The more business travelers use the airport, the more flights we have, Torp said. Business travel is very important for a market like La Crosse.

The LSE Leader program, offered in partnership with the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, asks local businesses to consider a fly-local policy. Businesses are asked to either implement or modify an existing travel policy to put preference on flying out of La Crosse Regional Airport, which has the airport code LSE.

Twenty-three businesses have signed up so far.

Some businesses have gone so far as to modify their travel policies to require travel from La Crosse, Torp said. Its really flexible for the business to determine what works best for them, but it just shows the support.

The airport lists the businesses on its website and then takes that local support to its potential airline partners to bring in more flight options.

Under the terms of the program, the airport agrees to waive a landing fee and terminal rental for a year to each airline that operates out of La Crosse, with the amount varying depending on the size of the planes flying into the terminals. Flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Florida would be eligible for two-year landing fee waivers.
McKesson Pharmaceuticals announced plans for layoffs at its La Crosse distribution center Tuesday, the same day the company agreed to pay a record $150 million civil penalty for alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act.

A total of 67 employees will lose their jobs beginning March 31 as the San Francisco-based company consolidates operations at a new distribution center in Clear Lake, Iowa. The closure, reported Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, was originally announced in February 2015.

The settlement, among the most severe agreed to by a DEA-registered distributor, requires McKesson to suspend the sale of controlled substances from distribution centers in Colorado, Ohio, Michigan and Florida, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. The settlement also imposes new and enhanced compliance obligations on McKessons distribution system.

The closure of the La Crosse facility is unconnected to the settlement, according to McKesson.

They are completely unrelated, company spokeswoman Kristin Hunter said Wednesday.

It is the second such penalty leveled in the past decade against McKesson, one of the nations largest drug distributors. McKesson was fined $13.25 million in 2008.

According to federal prosecutors, McKesson failed to implement a system to detect and report suspicious orders to its customers, which include independent and chain store pharmacies. Between 2008 and 2013, McKesson shipped a growing volume of oxycodone and hydrocodone, two frequently abused opioid pain relievers.

A multi-state investigation found that McKesson didnt adhere to a compliance program it was required to set up after the 2008 settlement. Out of 1.6 million controlled substance orders processed at its Colorado distribution center, McKesson flagged just 16 as suspicious, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for western Wisconsin.

The La Crosse distribution center filed no suspicious order reports between 2008 and an April 2013 inspection by the DEA.

As part of the new settlement, McKesson agreed to enhanced compliance for the next five years, including staffing and organizational improvements and periodic audits as well as financial penalties for failing to comply.

"Weve settled all allegations with the US Attorneys office and there are no operational impacts in La Crosse," McKesson said in a written statement to the Tribune. "The planned closure of our La Crosse facility was communicated to our employees nearly two years ago and weve provided outplacement services to help support employees as they identify their next job opportunity. The quality and integrity of the McKesson employees in La Crosse is unmatched, and were confident that they will be an asset for future employers in the La Crosse area."
HUDSON, Iowa  A man who allegedly fled into the cold after shedding his soaking clothes has been detained.

Neil Lawrence Heminover, 54, and another man allegedly fled from Black Hawk County sheriffs deputies who responded to an alarm at a rural Kimball Avenue residence around 8 a.m. Tuesday.

During the foot pursuit, Heminover is believed to have jumped or fallen into a creek and removed his clothing, said Capt. Rick Abben with the sheriffs office. He said authorities recovered the wet clothing Tuesday and searched the area for about three hours out of concern for his safety.

A Waterloo police K-9 officer found the other man, who hasnt been identified, hiding in weeds nearby on Tuesday. He was released after questioning.

Deputies believe the alarm was related to an unoccupied car that was discovered in a ditch near the home around 6:15 a.m. that day.

On Wednesday, deputies and Hudson police were again called to the home after an alarm sounded around 6 a.m., and authorities found Heminover inside an outbuilding without his clothing, Abben said.

He was naked, completely naked, Abben said.

Court records indicate Heminover was found nude inside a cardboard box complaining of frostbite.

Hudson medics took Heminover to Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo where he was treated for hypothermia. Heminover, of 1904 Sycamore St., Waterloo, was later released and arrested for trespassing and third-degree criminal mischief for damage done to a security system keypad panel, Abben said.
Prosecutors Wednesday charged a mother and daughter with 29 crimes each after authorities discovered emaciated dogs, horses and rats living in squalor on their town of Onalaska property.

Linda West, 74, and Carol West, 37, are charged in La Crosse County Circuit Court with two counts of child neglect, six counts of felony mistreating animals and 21 counts of misdemeanor mistreating animals, all as party to the crime. Their preliminary hearings are Tuesday.

A La Crosse County sheriffs deputy smelled animal urine and feces when Linda West opened the door to their house at N5788 Hauser Road on Oct. 16 after a neighbor reported her horses tore up his grass, according to the complaint.

An investigator found rat feces and urine in a bedroom that Carol West said she shared with her two children, ages 8 and 11, and rats in cages in the hallway outside the door. Debris filled the shower.

Deputies and the Coulee Region Humane Societys animal control officers searched the dwelling with a warrant on Oct. 19. The animal control supervisor noted the overwhelming smell of feces and urine made breathing difficult.

That smell was so bad that she started to choke, according to the complaint.

Authorities described the living conditions as deplorable with only narrow pathways through debris and a kitchen covered with garbage and dirty dishes.

They found six emaciated dogs locked inside feces-laden plastic kennels without access to water, 44 rats inside filthy cages and 32 dead rats in a freezer, according to the complaint.

The countys health department condemned the property. Linda West told deputies the house isnt that bad, according to the complaint.

Sixteen horses in corrals layered with feces or loose on the property had no grass or water. Barn pens for the horses and sheep, now missing, had manure four-feet thick.

A total of 44 rats, 16 horses, eight dogs and one cat seized were evaluated by veterinarians and treated for wide-ranging injuries and conditions, including lesions, low muscle tone, overgrown hooves and infections, the complaint stated.

All animals in the care of the humane society are doing well and others are in foster care for individual care, said animal control supervisor Kathy KasaKaitas. The humane society is looking for families to foster the dogs and rats and donations of senior horse feed, cracked corn and beet pulp.
Campus concealed carry legislation hasnt been formally introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature, but University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students and leaders are letting their opposition be known.

Jacob Schimmel, the UW-L Student Association president, said his organization took a stance when concealed carry legislation was introduced in 2015. More than three-fourths of the students responded to a campus-wide survey, saying they were against it, and the student association at the time passed a resolution opposing the bill.

Were going to stand by that again this year, Schimmel said.

Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, introduced the bill last session, which would overturn public colleges and universities authority to ban weapons from campus buildings, something which both UW-L and Western Technical do. That 2015 bill fizzled out without a hearing, but Kremer has said he would like to bring it back and was confident he could get enough support this time, even though it wasnt one of his priorities.

This bill itself  campus carry  isnt something Ive even been promoting the last few weeks, Kremer told the Wisconsin State Journal. Its something UW (the UW System) has been doing a great job of promoting for me.

UW-Ls spring semester starts Monday, and Schimmel said he will call on the student association to voice its opposition again. UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow has asked students and faculty to let legislators know they are opposed to the proposal.

The people the bill is supposed to serve, students and faculty, are strongly opposed, Schimmel said, as well as the officers in the UW Systems police departments. Instead of making people feel safe on campus, Schimmel said, many students have told him they would feel the opposite, and he worried if an incident on campus ever happened that it would make a chaotic situation even more complicated.

I dont think a good guy with a weapon will be as effective against a bad guy with a weapon as people think, Schimmel said.

UW-Green Bay graduate Alton Olson is state director for the Wisconsin chapter of Students for Concealed Carry. He said his organizations stance is that publicly funded spaces such as universities should be held to the same rules as others public spaces that allow concealed carry permit holders access to their firearms.

Police can only react to crimes, he said, not prevent them. He argues an armed citizenry can prevent crime. He cited the story of Amanda Collins, a concealed weapons permit holder who was unarmed when she was raped in a University of Nevada-Reno parking garage in 2007.

When she was accosted, her weapon was in her vehicle, Olson said, and Collins has testified to her belief that the rape would never have happened if she had been armed. Olson claimed communities with armed citizens are safer than those that restrict guns.

I am an advocate for people being able to protect themselves, he said. On campus, you should have all the rights and freedoms of a public place.
MOSCOW  President Vladimir Putin took a parting shot at the Obama administration Tuesday, accusing it of trying to undermine Donald Trumps legitimacy with fake allegations and binding the president-elect hand and foot to prevent him from fulfilling his election promises.

In his first public remarks about an unsubstantiated dossier outlining unverified claims that Trump engaged in sexual activities with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel, Putin dismissed the material as nonsense.

People who order such fakes against the U.S. president-elect, fabricate them and use them in political struggle are worse than prostitutes, Putin said. They have no moral restrictions whatsoever, and it highlights a significant degree of degradation of political elites in the West, including in the United States.

Separately, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the dossier, compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele, was a rude provocation. The diplomat contemptuously called its author a runaway swindler from MI6, Britains foreign intelligence agency. Trump has rejected the sexual allegations as fake news and phony stuff.

The statements by Putin and Lavrov reflected the Kremlins deep anger at President Barack Obamas administration in a culmination of tensions that have built up over the crisis in Ukraine, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. election.

Putin said the allegations were part of efforts by the Obama administration to undermine the legitimacy of the president-elect despite his convincing victory.

Asked about Putins remarks, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said it was not the first time the intelligence community has had some uncomfortable things to say about Russia.

These are the kind of things Im sure the Russians would rather not to hear, but ultimately, and this is something that the next administration is going to have to decide, theres a pretty stark divide here, he added.

Putin voiced hope that common sense will prevail and Russia and the United States will be able to normalize relations once Trump takes office Friday.

I dont know Mr. Trump, Putin said. I have never met him and I dont know what he will do on the international arena. I have no reason whatsoever to assail him, criticize him for something, or defend him.

Putin ridiculed those behind the dossier for alleging Russian spy agencies collected compromising material on Trump when he visited Moscow in 2013 for the Miss Universe pageant.

He wasnt a politician. We didnt even know about his political ambitions, Putin said at a news conference. Do they think that our special services are hunting for every U.S. billionaire?

Putin also sarcastically suggested that Trump, who met the worlds most beautiful women at the pageant, had a better choice for female companionship than Moscow prostitutes, even though Putin claimed they are also the best in the world.

He said Trumps foes are ready to go as far as to stage a Maidan in Washington to prevent Trump from entering office  a reference to the alleged U.S. role in organizing protests in the Ukrainian capitals main square, Maidan, that forced the nations Russia-friendly president from power in 2014.

People who are doing that are inflicting colossal damage to the interests of the United States, Putin said. How can you do anything to improve U.S.-Russian relations when they launch such canards as hackers interference in the election?

At a separate news conference, Lavrov also said Moscow hopes for better relations with Washington once Trump takes office.

Russia and the United States can reach common ground on nuclear arms control and other issues if each country proceeds from its national interests and shows respect for the other side, Lavrov said.

He voiced hope that Trumps team will consist of pragmatic people who will not engage in moralizing and will try to understand the interests of their partners just as they clearly uphold their own interests.

Lavrov denounced the foreign policy of the Obama administration and its allies as messianic attempts to impose Western values on the rest of the world, which has led to instability and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere.

He said Moscow is inviting representatives of the Trump administration to talks Monday on Syria in Kazakhstan  discussions brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran. He voiced hope that Russian and U.S. experts could discuss fighting terrorism in Syria.
The article "DNR chief Cathy Stepp downplays her view on climate change" (Jan. 16 Tribune) shows how our state agencies are mimicking Donald Trumps views. I voted for Trump, but I certainly did not vote for a government take-down of my state's most important assets, our environment and economy. Scott Pruitt, the nominee for the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, wants to dismantle the agencys ability to keep water clean and protect state borders from other forms of pollution.

As the attorney general of Oklahoma, Pruitt has a long history of suing the EPA, for which the taxpayers paid the bill. What is even more troublesome is that Pruitt was suing the big poultry business in Arkansas for millions of dollars to clean up contamination from poultry farms bordering Oklahoma. Kansas was due to receive large settlements of money, but that lawsuit conveniently went away after big poultry business contributed to Pruitts campaign. Eastern Kansas is still heavily contaminated with phosphorous and nitrates.

I do not want to return to a time when I have to worry about the amount of toxins in the fish I catch. It is our duty to call our senators, Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin, and implore on them that we want them to vote against Scott Pruitt as head of the EPA. Who is going to want to buy homes, do business, visit, grow crops or just enjoy life in Wisconsin if we cannot protect the environment in which we live?

Mike Degan,

Holmen
WASHINGTON (TNS)  President Barack Obama has sharply reduced the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the U.S. Army private convicted of leaking thousands of classified reports to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

The president also pardoned a retired Marine Corps general, James E. Cartwright, who pleaded guilty in October to lying to FBI agents about his discussions with reporters concerning secret U.S. efforts to damage Irans nuclear program.

Manning, formerly known as Pfc. Bradley Manning, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in August 2013 after she was convicted in military court of leaking hundreds of thousands of classified military and diplomatic records, cables and videos to WikiLeaks in 2010.

She will now be released from military custody on May 17.

Im relieved and thankful that the president is doing the right thing and commuting Chelsea Mannings sentence, Chase Strangio, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Unions LGBT Project representing Manning, said in a statement.

Since she was first taken into custody, Chelsea has been subjected to long stretches of solitary confinement  including for attempting suicide  and has been denied access to medically necessary health care. This move could quite literally save Chelseas life, and we are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many.
In "Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis," political scientist Robert Putnam cites research that points to the billions of dollars lost to American society, over a generation, when a large portion of our young adults are under-educated and under- or unemployed. These costs include literal costs to social welfare structures, as well as lost tax revenue.

In a recent article for "Public Administration Review," former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson extolled the value of the University of Wisconsin Systems Wisconsin Idea. Gov. Thompson singled out the La Follette School at UW-Madison when he wrote that ...graduates have the ability to critically analyze information, challenge assumptions, and defend their positions. These skills and knowledge are the threads of a strong and vibrant society.

In an earlier book, "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community," Robert Putnam wrote of the need for strong social capital in order to ensure the well-being of our communities. A key component of social capital is civic engagement.

What is the connection among "Our Kids," Gov. Thompsons article, and "Bowling Alone?" How does the Wisconsin Idea manifest itself in the UW Colleges, leading to less burden on our states economy and strengthened social capital?

The UW Colleges is the transfer institution within the UW System. The Colleges also awards an associates degree and an applied bachelors degree. By fulfilling each of these portions of our mission, the UW Colleges educates Wisconsin residents  95 percent of our enrollment comes from Wisconsin  preparing them for well-paying employment and, just as importantly, for support of their communities through civic engagement and leadership. The attributes Gov. Thompson ascribes to the La Follette School are central to how the UW Colleges educates and prepares students for the next stages of their educational and professional careers.

The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, for 2015, the national unemployment rates for holders of associate degrees and bachelors degrees were only 3.8 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively. Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce reported in 2016 that 95 percent of the jobs created nationwide since the Great Recession have been filled by employees with more than a high school education. Wisconsins publicly-funded higher education system helped our state post an unemployment rate of only 4.1 percent compared to 4.9 percent nationally in October 2016 (wisconsinjobcenter.org); these Wisconsin rates include all ages and levels of education.

State investment in the UW System supports Wisconsins public-education infrastructure, making it possible for the UW Colleges to support our states civic, economic, and social foundation. The partnership that the UW Colleges has with its host counties and municipalities further strengthens that foundation at the local level.

The UW Colleges is an essential component of the UW System, which is essential to Wisconsins ability to remain culturally, economically, and socially strong. Through the Wisconsin Idea, the UW moves our state forward. Strong public support of the University of Wisconsin System is essential to the success of the UW Colleges, which are emblematic of the Wisconsin Idea and which help build strong social capital.

As our state moves into a new budget cycle, Wisconsin residents will face critical questions of how best to use our states fiscal resources. How will we fund initiatives to ensure that our state remains a vital place to live, work, and raise families? Where does publicly-funded education  from K-12 through the baccalaureate degree and beyond  fit in this picture of strengthening our social capital, of preparing civically-minded citizens, of cultivating tomorrows leaders? As our elected officials grapple with these questions, they will look to us, their constituents, for input.
Old-fashioned unadulterated apple cider is now being made by a new tenant at the Food Enterprise Center (FEC) in Viroqua. Polly Dalton and Oren Jakobson of Field Notes Farm are following the age-old tradition of allowing their cider to ferment naturally without adding any sugar, sulfites, yeast, or other ingredients. Their product, to be labeled Upstream Cider, will first be available next spring.

Polly and Oren have a background in farming. Theyve been growing 150 varieties of vegetables on their farm in Custer, Wis., near Stevens Point, and selling through a CSA for several years. As Oren explained, they had also been pressing apples while running another farm and enjoyed it so much that they continued doing it for a home brew and for their CSA.

When Polly and Oren knew they wanted to take their cider pressing to the next level, they began looking around for a cost effective opportunity. They had already begun planting an orchard of cider apple trees and were working with four farms on the west side of the state for apples.

They also had connections with other entrepreneurs at the FEC and became aware of the great community of people working in the space, Oren said. Polly and Oren helped his mother KJ on Driftless Co-Option distribution days at the building and became familiar with the infrastructure available there for new or expanding businesses. Oren also learned about biodynamic practices from tenant Brian Wickert of EZ Farming and Kickapoo Valley Produce, and he met Wisco Pop co-owner Austin Ashley when he was in high school.

The Food Enterprise Center is really appropriate for us, Oren said. It provides us what we need at an affordable price. What the building offers us is invaluable and doesnt exist in other communities.

The couple and three helpers began pressing apples at the FEC on weekends last October and November and now only stop by to check on the secondary fermentation process of their cider. They plan to bottle Upstream Cider in the spring. Their goal for 2017 is 2,500 bottles, the size of a 750 ml wine bottle, which they will sell by the case or half case direct to their CSA members and at farmers markets.

Were committed to organic agriculture, Oren said, adding that half of this years cider will be from certified organic apples and half will be from apple farms that are in transition to organic. Eckers Apples in Trempealeau and Future Fruit in Spring Green provided a majority of our apples this season, he said. Their own apple trees are young at this point, but they hope to grow more of their own apples and to motivate other apple farms to go organic as well.

How would they describe Upstream Cider? Polly and Oren liken their cider to dry wine in terms of dryness but with its own unique complex blending of flavors from the variety of apples pressed.

Welcome, Polly and Oren! We look forward to Upstream Cider joining the specialty beverages made at the Food Enterprise Center and available for Wisconsin consumers.

FSC annual meeting Feb. 15

Fifth Season Cooperative will hold its annual membership meeting Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Food Enterprise Center, 1201 N. Main St., Viroqua. The meeting is open to members and anyone interested in learning more about the co-op, which coordinates bringing locally produced food to regional institutional food service markets.

A financial report, a review of the past year, a sales report, and information on new markets and new members are among the topics to be presented. Members will also vote on three open board of director seats. Please RSVP by Feb. 8th to the Fifth Season office at 608-638-2667 if you are planning to attend.
Three Chicago teens have been arrested after a high-speed chase that ended in Tomah Sunday.

Yoel Cruz, 17, Malic Smith, 18, and a 15-year-old face multiple charges after a chase on Interstate 94 that reached speeds of 110 mph.

The chase began around 7:40 a.m, when a Wisconsin State Patrol officer attempted to stop a Buick Encore for speeding on Interstate 94 near Black River Falls. The vehicle drove into a rest area in Jackson County and then fled southeast toward Tomah, where it ran over a spike set by law enforemcent and crashed into a snowbank on Highway 12.

The teens then fled from the car. The juvenile was immediately taken in to custody, but Cruz and Smith eluded police and ran toward the Econo Lodge Motel.

Later that evening, Tomah police responded to Econo Lodge at 10:30 p.m. after a clerk saw two males matching descriptions of those involved in the pursuit enter a room they hadnt rented.

Both immediately fled on foot. One was tackled and arrested after a foot chase. A Tomah police officer injured his hand during the chase and was treated at Tomah Memorial Hospital.

The second suspect kicked in the door to an unoccupied apartment and barricaded himself inside, according to police. He later called 911 to surrender and was arrested without incident.

Authorities found a stolen gun and ski masks inside the car, police said.

Police lauded Econo Lodge staff. In a statement, the police department said, Without that information, these suspects may have never been located.

Cruz and Smith face charges of criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass to a dwelling, possession of marijuana, obstructing police and fraud to a hotel, while the juvenile also faces charges. All three are being held in the Monroe County Jail.
In my studies through the years, the people in history I have learned to love and respect had core values, strong character, and clear and decisive ethics  all built on a foundation developed through their faith. This strong foundation gave men like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who we celebrate today, the courage to follow their convictions and dreams even in the face of severe adversity. And how did he know what was right? By turning to his Bible for guidance when developing his leadership and decision-making.

We are facing major challenges in many of our Wisconsin schools. In districts large and small, we hear students complaining about fights in their schools, and we see teachers leaving the profession. In many of our schools, we are failing to provide a safe and nurturing environment. When such basic needs are not met, as Maslow first suggested in his hierarchy of needs, a students ability to achieve deteriorates, and we become faced with our nations worst achievement and graduation gaps, and unacceptable proficiency scores and dropout rates.

In his 1967 lecture series, published under the title Trumpet of Conscience, Dr. King stated: If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. Our current failing school system is stealing that hope and vitality from far too many of our children, but our State Superintendent of Public Instruction does nothing, preferring to protect the system instead of our kids.

When the implementation of the Opportunity Schools Partnership Program  Wisconsins most significant reform initiative since 1990  failed due to insufficient stakeholder collaboration, before and after it was passed, one must wonder what our State Superintendent does all day. Sadly, he remained silent, providing no public leadership  not even one tweet or a single mention in two consecutive State of Education addresses  as the educators he ultimately oversees wrestled with and ultimately broke the OSPP law. Remarkably, on October 16, he finally acted, courageously redefining what the lowest performance category is and administratively declaring the Milwaukee Public Schools fixed in correspondence to MPS Superintendent Driver and County Executive Abele. In everyone elses reality, however, the system continues to fail our teachers and thousands of kids.

When elected as the Wisconsin State Superintendent, I will fix these problems using experience gained as a teacher, a Wisconsin Principal of the Year, and a superintendent in both rural and city school districts. I have improved school districts, and I will do it again. Our children will have a State Superintendent who will fight for them, and our parents and teachers will have a State Superintendent who listens and is not afraid of reform and competition.

Its time for change. We have no choice  our children deserve to dream.
Coon Creek Fire & Rescue is deeply grateful for the generosity of people in the Coulee Region who helped the organization fulfill a financial challenge, which was the icing on the cake as they signed on the dotted line to purchase a new first responder vehicle to service its large coverage area.

Chief Russ Cornford said over the past three years of fundraising the organization has already raise $40,000 toward the overall vehicle purchase price of $181,000. Then on Oct. 10, an anonymous donor contacted Cornford offering to donate $20,000 toward the remaining funds needed to purchase the new vehicle. The only condition the donor placed on the gift was that the public would step up and match his donation before they would receive his contribution.

Once the fire department raised half of the total funds needed to purchase the new vehicle, the Coon Creek Fire Association agreed to fund the remainder of the purchase costs. The timing of the donation coincided perfectly with the fire departments annual fundraiser held in November. The dance and raffles raised a large portion of the funds needed and an article in the Westby Times fueled the need for urgency and put the fundraising efforts over the top, Cornford said.

To date, outside matching contributions totaled $41,101, including the $20,000 matching fund gift. That combined with the $40,000 the department had already put aside from the past three years of fundraising tipped the scale and allowed for the new purchase to move forward.

The new first responder vehicle will replace the 1999 suburban the organization currently relies on. The new vehicle purchase was approved by the CCFFA board and was ordered earlier this month. Three bids were received with Alexis Fire Equipment in Illinois selected.

The truck is designed specifically for emergency organizations and has more storage space for supplies, allowing for quicker access during emergency situations. The light rescue will carry both emergency medical supplies, along with rescue equipment, including extrication tools, jaws of life, rescue ropes, water rescue equipment, grain bin rescue equipment, and numerous other tools related to life saving situations.

Members of Coon Creek Fire & Rescue are proud to serve the public and are grateful beyond words for all the past and continued support they receive.

The goal has been met and the donor wrote his check. The new truck was approved by the board and the new rig has been ordered. The new vehicle will allow us to better serve the community and in anyones time of need a quick response with the proper equipment might mean the difference between a patient living or dying, Cornford said. We are so appreciative to the public for their generous donations. Thank you to the Power of One Hundred plusDriftless Region; the Coon Valley Business Association; our major anonymous donor; and the Westby Times for the coverage, Cornford said.

Anyone still wishing to donate to Coon Creek Fire & Rescue for future supplies and vehicle upgrades should mail contributions to, Coon Creek Fire & Rescue, PO Box 74, Coon Valley, WI, 54623. For more information about Coon Creek Fire & Rescue call Russ Cornford at Star Auto (608) 452-3077, during the day.
At last! The community room system is complete: April used our new equipment at Family Movie Night last Friday. Mark Jelinek has been a real champ in doing so much work for this project; without his expertise and installation, we would not have this new asset to our community room. Thanks also to the city of Westby, Westby Lions, Vernon Communications, WCCU and the Sons of Norway for their contributions, as well as to the library board, who gave me the go-ahead to spend needed money from the library funds to complete the project.

The community room also has a more powerful Wi-Fi signal, enabled by a library project that installed Rookus access points this fall. Streaming video in the community room is now an option for all groups using that space  we are so high-tech now!

Looks like big changes are afoot at Bekkum Library. At our January board meeting, the library board reviewed average attendance and circulation at Bekkum Library. Usage of the library means both the circulation of items (book, DVDs, etc) and use of the space  computers, reading area and programming.

Bekkum Library had seen our circulation increase every year since 1999  from 19,000 items in 1999 to 62,000 five years ago. However, that increase in circulation has been gradually dropping every year; in 2015 our circulation was just over 50,000. In July, we installed a people counter on our entry door to help give us an idea of the actual amount of people who come in the library, perhaps to use computers, attend programs or read newspapers but who do not check out items.

The library board is seriously considering shortening the hours of the library, when usage has been shown to be low, in particular eliminating nights after 6 p.m. and Sundays. The board strongly feels that this would free library staff to plan more programming and give me more time to better administrate the library. We would like input from our community! This is your library. How will these changes affect you? We will set up a digital survey linked to the library website, www.wrlsweb.org/westby, and our Facebook page. Please take the time to let us know how you feel about these proposed changes.

Looking ahead

Arts-in-the-Library Feb. 26 4 to 6 p.m. This is an annual event showcasing music and art, co-sponsored by the Friends of Bekkum Library and the Fine Arts Foundation. This year our musicians will be Bob Hill and Susan Sweet Frank, and our art displays will feature Norwegian folk art. Wine and cheese will be served. Arts-in-the-Library is a free event highlighting local art talent. Donations are welcome.

Rumble and Read after-school club meets Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. This program is canceled when school has been canceled. After two Tuesday school closings due to weather in January, Alisha and the kids are looking forward to February!

Preschool Story Time meets Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

Fourth Friday Editions book group meets Friday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m. We will discuss Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger. Copies are available at the circulation desk.

New and coming DVDs

A Man Called Ove; The Librarians, season 2; The Vessel; When Elephants Were Young; Sherlock Series 4; USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage; Blair Witch.
Dear reader, we're asking for your help to keep local reporting available for all today during our fall fundraiser. Your financial support keeps stories like this one free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood.

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If Shirley Manson's happy only when it rains, she must be entering a stage of nirvana right now, because L.A. has been getting plenty of moisture. December, in fact, was the wettest month recorded in downtown L.A. since 2010. And now we're getting word that the gravy train will continue rolling, as three storm systems are expected to hit L.A. in the upcoming days.

The first storm is expected to move in on early Wednesday evening, and will remain through Thursday. Forecasters say that the county should expect about an inch to half-an-inch of rain, with most of it falling on Wednesday night. Elevations above 5,000 feet are expected to see four to eight inches of snowfall.

We'll have only a few hours of dry respite, as the next storm system will come barreling in during the day on Friday. The heaviest rainfall should happen during the late afternoon, with intermittent showers expected for the night. The county should see one to one-and-a-half inches of rain, and mountain areas could see as much as 3 inches. Elevations above 5,000 feet may see anywhere from eight to 16 inches of snow.

If you're seeing a pattern of increasing severity, you're totally on point, as the third storm system may be the wettest of all. This storm could arrive early Sunday afternoon and continue throughout Monday. According to Joe Sirard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, the rainfall from this system may be "fairly sustained" and "very persistent." We could expect one-and-a-half to three inches of rain in the county. Mountain areas could get as much as five inches. As for snow, it's still too early to tell how much will be falling, but Sirard says we can expect several inches at elevations above 5,000 feet.

What's the cause of this triple-headed wave of storms? As we reported last week, an "atmospheric river" was behind a string of recent showers, but Sirard says that this isn't the cause. An atmospheric river would bring in moisture from the tropics, and it just isn't the case this time around.

As Sirard notes, much of California's drought crisis could be blamed on what scientists deemed the "Ridiculously Resilient Ridge," a high atmospheric pressure that, for several consecutive winters, had hovered over the Northeastern Pacific and steered winter storms away from California. Sirard said that the ridge's effects have been absent lately, meaning the storms are given the green light to saunter into the Golden State.

But it's not all roses. Sirard did his civic duty and told us to remind readers to stay safe out there. "If you live in an area that had seen recent wildfires, you'll want to watch out for rock and mud slides. This is also dangerous in canyon areas," said Sirard. "And, in general, be cautious of flash floods. Also expect some travel delays." For updates and advisories, you can check in with the National Weather Service's website or their Twitter.

And, in case you're wondering, Sirard says "We're still officially in a drought." Though, as we'd noted this weekend, victory may be in sight for some regions of California.

Related: A Guide To Driving Safely In The Rain

Here Are Ten Tips For Biking In The Rain
LAS ARMAS DE CORONEL Ver tambien mi website: www.armasdecoronel.com para leer dos de mis libros, entrevistas, etc.
2 Preparations continue at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo: B. Allen/VOA)
There is a colorful Caribbean art gallery and gift boutique located downtown in Naples, Florida. The store is small and offers a large collection of beautiful Haitian paintings and other art that you cannot find anywhere else.

The store is named The Lady From Haiti. Behind its funky name is a story of love.

Melody Bales owns the store. Bales took an interest in the Caribbean early in life, partly because of its art.

It was the paintings originally that attracted me to Haiti. I had seen one in a studio in a gallery on St. John's Island, one of the American Virgin Islands. And I speak French. I was fascinated by the sound of the language and my parents had gotten me a book when I was a young kid called The Slave Who Freed Haiti. And it was the story of Toussaint Louverture, the slave that led the revolt against Napoleon.

"So I think the fact that that was somehow embedded in my consciousness and the sound of the French language and my love for the Caribbean. So that made me want to go to and live in Haiti.

So, that is what she did.

In the mid 1980s, Melody Bales moved to Haiti, where she taught second grade students.

I landed there and I was in shock that I couldn't use my French too much because the official language is French, but the people speak Creole. But I adjusted really well to my class. It was a second grade class.

"I had wonderful children from diplomats from all over the world because Port au Prince is a capital city and I had the children of American businessmen before the embargo had ruined their businesses and the Haitian elite sent their children to our school. It was an American curriculum and that's what they wanted."

Bales also taught swimming after school and in the summertime. She fell in love with Haiti, especially its people.

I think the people of Haiti are wonderful. They're very, very sweet. They're humble, they're accepting of their plight, a lot of times. They work very hard if they get a chance.

"They're modest they're kind, they're sharing, all the different things that, people that aren't in a big rush to get somewhere fast and achieve and to grab more and more for themselves. A lot of the things that we don't experience so much in our country anymore are still present in Haiti.

Bales says she wishes that Americans knew more about the Caribbean islands rich culture as well.

I would love people in this country to understand that Haiti has so much more to offer, even though it's not an educated society, for the most part. They have so much more to offer creatively, musically, artistically. The poetry, the literature, they come from a rich background"

Bales stayed in Haiti for six years, much longer than expected. She says each time she planned to return to the U.S., something held her back. And, then came the chance of a lifetime: a Haitian baby girl in need of a mother.

I had wanted to have a childI had done an unsuccessful in vitro and then I told a doctor friend of mine, a Haitian doctor friend of mine, that it didn't work. And he said, So, are you ready for a Haitian baby? I said, 'I just want a baby.'"

Soon, Bales was connected with a pregnant woman who could not afford to care for the coming baby. But, there was little time left to act.

I met this mother, she was going to have the baby within two weeks. So, in that period of time I took her to the doctor, another friend of my doctor friend's, and had a sonogramand I was thrilled to see that it was a healthy developed girl.

Melody Bales says it was a match made in heaven. She named her daughter Rachel.

I tell my daughter Rachel I've known her longer than she's known me. I saw her first.

Bales returned to the United States with her daughter Rachel to begin their lives together.

Rachel was the inspiration for The Lady from Haiti store. Bales says she wanted her daughter to grow up surrounded by the Haitian native culture, with its beautiful colors, creativity and spirit.

The art in Haiti is one of the strongest features about the Haitian culture. There are basically five schools, different schools of art in Haiti. The ones that a lot of people think of [are] the market scenes or the peaceable kingdom scene, the jungle animals. And those are very charming.

And then there's a school of the voodoo art, which is -- it's pretty strongVoodoo is a pantheistic religion that came from Africa and the Haitian people brought a lot of those beliefs with them.

Another popular Haitian art form found at The Lady from Haiti is made from recycled material.

"It's called fer decoupe which means cut metal, and it's literally 55-gallon drums that have been cut with a cold chisel and a ball peen hammer.

Bales explains that a design is drawn on the metal before the artist begins to make the cuts.

And they're fashioned into the most beautiful creations, sometimes they're exotic animals or religious icons or country scenes. But each time I see one, it's just it's really satisfying because I realize it's hard work, sweat, a wonderful imagination and I love them because they have so much detail.

Bales also loves the papier mache art made in Haiti.

"I think the Papier Mache is cute just because it's so whimsical. It's made from recycled cement bags. They use a heavy- duty craft paper in Haiti, which is so heavy that it actually cracks when you fold it. And they use a ground up root, I believe it's called manioc, as the paste and they make really charming little animals.

Melody Bales is grateful for the wonderful things Haiti has given her, especially daughter Rachel. The Lady From Haiti gallery will continue to give back to the island as it shares Haitian art, color and spirit with the rest of the world.

Im Marsha James.

Marsha James wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Next time on People in America, meet Henry Reese, Co-founder of City of Asylum Pittsburgh.

Listening Quiz

See how well you understand this story by taking a listening quiz. Play each video, then answer the question.

Quiz - Melody Bales, the Lady from Haiti Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

___________________________________________________________

Words In This Story

boutique  n. a small store that sells stylish clothing or other usually expensive things

funky   n. adj. stylish or appealing in an unusual way

gallery  n. a room or building in which people look at painting, sculptures, etc.

embedded  v. to place or set something firmly in something else

consciousness - n. the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you

diplomat  n. a person who represents his or her countrys government in a foreign country

elite  n. the people who have the most wealth and status in a society

curriculum  n. the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc.

in vitro  adj. fertilization of an egg outside the mothers body

sonogram  n. a picture that is taken of the inside of a persons body by using a special machine

voodoo  n. a religion that is practiced chiefly in Haiti

pantheism  n. a doctrine that identifies God with the universe

papier mache  n. a material that is made of paper mixed with water, glue, and other substances and that hardens as it dries

grateful  adj. feeling or showing thanks
Turkish security forces say they have arrested the main suspect in the attack on a nightclub in Istanbul on December 31.

The attack killed 39 people and injured several others.

The Hurriyet Daily News said Abdulkadir Masharipov was detained Monday in Istanbul's Esenyurt area. He is said to be an Uzbek national.

Turkish television and other news agencies said police seized the suspect in a raid on a house. Five others in the house also were detained. They included one person from Iraq and women from Egypt, Senegal and Somalia.

Turkeys Deputy Prime Minister congratulated police in a Twitter post Tuesday. He also said that Turkey's "war with terror and the powers behind it will continue to the end."

The hunt for Masharipov had been going on for days once police identified him as the main suspect.

Istanbuls governor said the arrest was part of a well-organized operation. The search for the suspect involved more than 2,000 police officers.

More than 40 other foreign nationals were detained as police searched for suspects. The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The New Year's Eve attack was the third in Turkey in the past two years linked to militants from Central Asia who admitted links to the Islamic State group.

Islamic State jihadists from Central Asia were said to have carried out two earlier attacks, including one on Istanbul's Ataturk airport in June. That attacked killed 44 people and wounded more than 230 others. The Turkish government said the three suicide bombers responsible for that attack were from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

A suicide bomber from Russia's republic of Dagestan was identified after she exploded a bomb outside an Istanbul police station in January 2015. Eighteen police officers were killed in that blast.

Intelligence agencies have described Turkey as a crossing point for hundreds of Central Asian extremists. They have been moving into Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State group in its aim to establish a caliphate in Syria and parts of northern Iraq.

Im John Russell.

Lou Lorscheider and Chris Hannas wrote this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

nightclub - n. a place that is open at night, has music, dancing, or a show, and usually serves alcoholic drinks and food

jihadist - n. a person who fights to defend or spread Muslim beliefs

caliphate - n. the rule or reign of a caliph or chief Muslim ruler
British Prime Minister Theresa May says Britain will leave the European Unions single market.

May spoke to government employees and diplomats at Lancaster House in London on Tuesday. She had been under pressure to provide a plan following Britains vote last June to leave the European Union.

May also said Britain will break with the European Court of Justice. She said the U.K. must regain control of its laws and borders, and will seek a new trade agreement with the E.U.

May said that the final plan would be presented to parliament for a vote.

Good news for the pound

The speech appeared to lend support to the British pound, which has fallen around 19 percent against the U.S. dollar since the vote. Shortly after May described her vision of free trade and strong economic ties, the pound rose in value.

Leaving the single market

The E.U. single market makes it easy for EU nations to trade with one another. It permits free movement of goods, workers, and services around the E.U. without tariffs. Some non-E.U. countries, such as Norway, have made agreements with the E.U. that permit them to be part of the single market if they meet conditions.

The possibility of losing access to the single market has worried many people in Britains large financial services industry.

In her speech, May said she wants to create a new relationship with the E.U. based on free trade.

This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the E.U.'s member states. It should give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets, and let European businesses do the same in Britain, May said.

The E.U. has created separate customs union agreements with countries that vary in their rules and what goods are covered.

New immigration rules

May also spoke about immigration: "The message from the public before and during the referendum campaign was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. And that is what we will deliver."

The exact model for such control has not yet been confirmed. The British government has said that all possibilities are being considered.

However, May tried to calm fears that the Brexit will mean a more inward-looking Britain. She said she wants the country to be "stronger, fairer, more united and more outward-looking than ever before."

Im Phil Dierking

This story was originally written for VOAnews.com by. Phil Dierking adapted this story for Learning English using other media. Caty Weaver was the editor.

Do you think Brexit will help or hurt the United Kingdoms economy? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

access  n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone

Brexit - n. a term for the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

tariff n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country.

vision - n. something that you imagine.
With a new U.S. president coming Friday, changes in foreign policies and aid will likely follow. What those changes will be are not yet fully known.

But overseas aid will come under question from a president and a secretary of state known to follow the bottom line as businessmen. In business, the bottom line is a companys profit, or loss.

Rex Tillerson is the Secretary of State nominee. In his confirmation hearing, U.S. Senators asked the former head of Exxon-Mobil how to prevent U.S. assistance from being stolen by corrupt foreign countries. He said:

"If we're going to deliver aid into a country where we know this is a risk, what can we do in the execution of the delivery of that aid?"

It is likely that President-elect Donald Trump and his administration will be giving foreign aid to countries to improve property rights, the rule of law, and to fight corruption.

James Roberts is with the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.

"Too much of the foreign aid given by the Western countries -- U.S., OECD countries -- has ended up only securing in power corrupt regimes."

Republicans now control the White House and both houses of Congress. This means that some programs opposed by religious conservatives could face review, and maybe be cut, or completely ended.

Amanda Glassman is with the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C.

"Certainly there are worries, especially in areas of family planning and reproductive health, especially in the areas of HIV-AIDS prevention and treatment."

The United States is the biggest global donor. And John Kerry, the outgoing secretary of state, says the U.S. needs to do even more than the current spending of $34 billion for this year.

Kerry is calling for a new Marshall Plan like the one that helped rebuild Europe after World War Two. He wants the plan to make sure there is education for young people at risk of becoming followers of Muslim fundamentalists.

"There are about a billion and a half children in the world under the age of 15. Somewhere upwards of 400 million of them will not go to school, and that is a problem for all of us."

Throughout American history, diplomacy, development and foreign aid have had strong support from both political parties. U.S. diplomats hope that the Trump administration will also see overseas assistance as important for Americas security and economic interests.

Im Anne Ball.



Steve Herman wrote this story for VOA. Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

rule of law  n. government by law

family planning  n. use of birth control to determine the number of children there will be in a family and when they will be born

reproductive health  n. related to the reproductive processes, function and reproduction system
The memory of a beloved pet inspires one couple's fight against injustice.
COZADClint Krehbiel, the new director of the animal science program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, visited Cozad Thursday morning during a cross-state tour.

An informal meet and greet for Krehbiel was held at the Green Apple Cafe in downtown Cozad, organized by Al Svajgr of Cozad.

Krehbiels background in agriculture spans his whole lifefrom helping his father and grandfather with cattle operations in Kansas, to judging livestock at Hutchinson Community College and at Kansas State University and even leading dairy cows all hours of the night as an undergraduate student.

I love Nebraska, the people are just really genuine. Of all the places I have lived in, Nebraska is my favorite place, he said.

Having led a research laboratory and with a focus on biochemistry nutrition in his career, Krehbiel said he knew the importance of having a strong research program in a university.

Krehbiel noted that UNL is known nationally as one of the top two research schools in cattle/beef.

An advantage of UNLs animal science program compared to its peers, such as Oklahoma State University, is the large number of faculty to serve enrolled students. The current ratio is 40 faculty for about 360 students, he said.

Krehbiel said UNL does a great job of embodying the three pillars of a land grant university: it has a proactive extension system, a strong teaching core and a distinguished research arm.

Krehbiel said one of his goals is to increase enrollment in the animal science department to more than 400 students.

Any student coming out of high school who wants a degree in agriculture or animal science, I want them, he said.

Promoting the scholar-focused nature of study at UNL based on science and encouraging students to get involved with judging programs were two things Krehbiel would spotlight about the department.

Something that has been reinforced in me, so far here, is the value in judging programs. Ill put an emphasis on opportunities there for students. It teaches communication skills, how to visualize and how to defend your decision, Krehbiel said.

Svajgr agreed with the impact that participating in judging events had on him. The most important thing it taught me was to make a decision, he said.

When recruiting both in-state and out-of-state students, Krehbiel said he would seek to highlight and build on the departments strength, such as great facilities and a wide-variety of animals made available to students.

We need to capitalize on our strengths. Its important to have all species, to maintain animals on campus. Its expensive. Its important because students want hands-on with animals. We need to expose students to animals, he said.

In his opinion, Krehbiel said UNLs animal science building is second to none.

Two other big strengths for the department are having the financial support of the University of Nebraska Foundation, which provides funding for endowed professorships, and the use of the Gudmundsen Ranch, known as the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory.

According to UNL, the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory is located amidst the Sandhills in Grant, Hooker and Cherry counties. The site provides opportunities for joint projects with animal, range, soil, veterinary, economics, entomology, geology, hydrology, forestry and wildlife and increases understanding of the Sandhills ecosystem.

There is not another state that has a facility that is as extensively used as the Gudmundsen Ranch, Krehbiel said.

Krehbiel began his duties at UNL Jan. 1. Prior to that, he had been at Oklahoma State University for 17 years, advancing through the ranks of assistant, associate, professor and Regents Professor and he was the inaugural holder of the Dennis and Marta White Endowed Chair in Ruminant Nutrition and Health, according to a biography from UNL.

His research interests focused on developing methods to reduce costs of production and optimize outputs that enable cattle producers to improve animal health, increase consistency and quality of their end product and become more profitable.

He earned a bachelors degree and a masters degree from Kansas State University and a doctorate from UNL in 1994.

He was a post doctoral fellow at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center from March 1995 to July 1996. Prior to his time at Oklahoma State University, Krehbiel was an assistant professor of animal science at New Mexico State University.
COZADA new alternative for fresh produce is now available in downtown Cozad.

Mini Market El Ranchito, located at 707 Ave. J, offers a wide variety of fresh produce, Mexican sauces and items used to make three types of tamales.

The business opened in Cozad on Dec. 3. Produce not always seen in a traditional grocery storealong with regular items like oranges, apples and lemonscan be found at the store.

Fresh shipments of produce are received each Tuesday, while freshly made tamales are sold at the store Saturday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m.

Mini Market El Ranchito is owned by Delfino and Carmen Vargas and Rosalba and Jose Rascon assist with the operation of the business.

All four are from Mexico. Both Rosalba and Carmen are from Cuidad Juarez, located across the border from El Paso, Texas; Jose is from Chihuahua and Delfino is from Michoacan.

The business is open from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

Items that will be stocked include fresh cheese from Oaxaca, Mexico, and a type of cheese mixed with chili. The owners are also in the process of working out a purchase agreement with a Kearney seller of fresh Mexican creams and cheeses.

The store is expecting a large shipment of spices from the company La Costellano that will include cinnamon (canela), tomillo, jamaica, vanilla and more.

The spice display is expected to fill the whole front area of the store behind the front window, Rosalba said.

The store also carries three different kinds of chili used to season tamalespasila, pasila dark and chili arbol.

It has Peruvian white beans, garlic, pinto beans, corn husk leaves used to wrap Mexican tamales and plantain leaves used to wrap El Salvadorian and Guatemalan tamales. And it carries Maseca mix.

It also offers Guerrero brand corn tortillas and tostadas, which are very popular, as well as Tapatio sauce and Tajin fruit seasoning.

Additionally, it carries pork rinds or chicaron, which are cooked and packaged in-house, made fresh every three days. The pork pieces are purchased from Grand Island pre-cut and flavored.

Frozen items include grapes, cherries, kiwi, papaya and nopales. A mild red sauce and a hot green sauce for tacos and meats are sold in small containers.

Cold beverages and sodas are sold, including the Mexican brand Jarritos, with flavors such as pina, guava, manzana and agua mineral.

The owners are in the preliminary stages of launching a carry- out food business from the kitchen of the Mini Market El Ranchito.

Rosalba said they hope to offer a carry-out meal service in the coming months as a way to attract more people to the business and provide a Mexican food option to the community.

We want to fill the store with customers, she said.

The owners anticipate each day will feature a new entree, such as tacos one day, enchiladas another day and tortas another day, Rosalba said.

Delfino said he sees the business growing once the carry-out restaurant is able to open in the coming months.

Our goal is to maintain and carry fresh produce, nothing but fresh. After we fix up the back area, we want to open a carry-out restaurant that serves fresh food with fresh veggies, he said.
It is often asserted that the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 proved that HWA was right and he really did see the future.

This of course is nonsense. Herbert W. Armstrong said that Christ would return within twenty years in his book Mystery of the Ages. (PCG has since deleted those words so someone in there knows HWA spoke nonsense.) How convenient for them to forget this.

Also Herbert W. Armstrong never said the Soviet Union would collapse. He thought it would survive intact until a few years after Christ's return. It shows how biased some many in the COGs are that they never seem to notice this. This inconvenient truth is just tossed into the memory hole.

It is true that HWA said that some Eastern European states would break away from Moscow's orbit and join the European Empire he said would arise at any moment. But he never talked of the Soviet Union collapsing. He did not teach that. Also he portrayed the rise of the European Empire to be far quicker then what has actually happened. In Mystery of the Ages Christ was supposed to return by 2005 at the most.

So assertions that the fall of the Berlin Wall somehow prove that HWA was right is just complete nonsense spread by people who, for whatever reason, are still in denial that HWA was a false prophet who merely talked out of his own "human reasoning".
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A local Walmart is closing its doors in St. Petersburg and its not the first big grocery chain closure at this location.

Walmart Neighborhood Market on 22nd Street South closing March 4

Store opened in 2014, replacing Sweetbay grocery store

75 employees displaced, residents left without grocery store

In a statement Tuesday it was announced the Walmart Neighborhood Market on 22nd Street South and 18th Avenue South will be closing down. The store will close on March 4. The pharmacy will close Feb. 1.

The Walmart opened in 2014. It replaced a Sweetbay grocery store after that chain of stores closed.

Now the 75 employees will either transfer to another Walmart location or find someplace else to work.

Walmart released a statement Tuesday, citing a number of factors for the closure, including financial performance.

The company also offered the 75 current employees who can't or don't want to transfer resume and application training.

This closure is also bad news for people like Curtis Williams, who catches to the bus to the store to shop once a week.

We need a store here right in the neighborhood for people who dont have transportation. I dont have a car. Im sitting here now waiting on the bus. Ive got my bag full of groceries right here, Williams said.

Like Williams, many others depend on the location. Temeika Reynolds said she takes the bus the store at least a couple times a week. Its real convenient, especially for a lot of people who dont have transportation to get to the further out Walmart. It was very convenient, she said.

St. Petersburg Councilmember Karl Nurse represents this area, and he said he doesnt think all things were considered with this closure.

Its a kick in the teeth, Nurse said. Part of what makes it so difficult is that national stores are just looking at numbers and they may know nothing about the community, they may nothing about whats coming down the pike. Its just, heres our weakest stores. Heres the line. Theyre closing.

Nurse said a solution may take months or a even a year. No matter the timeline, he says hes hoping theres a solution that helps this community.
A Hernando County family is desperately searching for answers in the disappearance of 30-year-old Paul Marvella.

Marvella was last seen and heard from on Sunday. He works for the company Alternative Transportation Services, which transports the deceased.

Paul Marvella hasn't been seen since weekend

Family fears he crashed vehicle

Anyone with information asked to call 352-754-6830



He was returning from a work trip to Jacksonville when he went missing.

Marvella's girlfriend, Kristen Gould, said the past three days have felt like an eternity.

"Paul's my heart, I love Paul. Paul is everything to me," Gould said.

"I have been out every day. When he didn't show up by 11 o'clock (Sunday) I had started driving, not really knowing where I was going, just driving," Gould said.

Gould said Marvella had been talking to one of his friends on the phone around 8 p.m. and told him he was in the area of Starke. She said that same friend called Paul back about 20 minutes later and his phone went to voicemail.

"Paul's a really good guy, he's a really responsible guy. His phone is never off. This is incredibly out of character for him," Gould said.

The family has been searching by car, foot and plane and they think Paul may have crashed somewhere in a wooded area.

"He was an Eagle Scout," said family member Wendy Marvella. "Even if he was hurt, he would crawl somewhere unless he was so bad, he's staying put. It's been three days and I know in my heart I can't go there, to the worst, but somebody has got to find the car."

The family is asking anyone who may have seen Paul Marvella to call the Hernando County Sheriff's Office at 352-754-6830 or your local law enforcement agency.

He was last seen wearing black dress pants and a dress shirt.

He was driving a black, 2014 GMC Yukon, with Florida tag DNSK41.
This story was posted on: 7:23 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.

Markeith Loyd was taken from Orlando Regional Medical Center to the Orange County Jail on Tuesday evening, about 24 hours after a massive nine-day manhunt culminated in his arrest.

Loyd was taken by an unmarked white van from ORMC, where he had been under supervision, to the jail. There were two unmarked vans and an undercover law enforcement vehicle that arrived at the jail at about 6:30 p.m.

Murder suspect Markeith Loyd was just transported inside the Orange Co. jail. @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/MmbVt0tdPi  Erin Murray News 13 (@emurray1) January 18, 2017

He was found at an abandoned home in the Carver Shores neighborhood, right around the corner from Clayton's mother's home. He was armed with two handguns  one with a 100-round magazine  and was wearing body armor, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said during a news conference Monday night.

Loyd was injured during the arrest, suffering a severely bruised face and cuts and bruise over his body. Mina said Loyd resisted arrest.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which investigates law enforcement agencies, said Wednesday that it won't investigate any use of force following Loyd's arrest because their agreement is for deadly force.

FDLE spokeswoman Angela Starke wouldn't comment on how police officers found Loyd, but she did say, just as Mina did Monday night, that it wasn't because of one of the 1,400 tips that came into Crimeline but good, old-fashioned police work.

The FDLE had about 20 agents working on the manhunt, including three agents who were there during Loyd's arrest.



Law enforcement's presence was heavy at ORMC on Wednesday morning. Heavily armed Special Response Team members left without Loyd in the early morning hours.

Loyd is accused in the slayings of his pregnant ex-girlfriend on Dec. 13 and Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton on Jan. 9. So far, Loyd has only been formally charged by the Orange County Sheriff's Office in the shooting death of Sade Dixon. He faces several charges, including first degree murder with a firearm, killing of an unborn child by injury to mother and aggravated assault with a firearm.

Loyd was officially booked by Orange County Corrections at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday despite still being in the hospital. Loyd is currently scheduled for a first appearance during the Thursday morning session, which begins at 9 a.m.

Collective sigh of relief

On Wednesday, Loyds capture weighed heavy on many minds, including Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

Before a crowd of about 500 at the Orange County Convention Center, Jacobs opened her annual Economic Summit by talking about the exhaustive search for the accused shooter coming to an end Tuesday night.

You want to talk about extraordinary and collaboration. Those are things that constantly come to mind, she said, continuing, all of them working so hard to bring to justice a killer in our midst. How thankful we are for some good old-fashioned police work.

Reverend Justin Felton with the Central Florida Urban League couldnt agree more.

Slowly walking past flowers and tributes to the slain lieutenant at Orlando Police headquarters, Felton said he was happy that Loyd was off the streets  but still mourning his friend.

Debra was my girl. This is how you should commemorate someone who is a real local hero, he said. I feel relieved. I definitely feel relieved.

Now, the FDLE, OPD and others are actively looking into who may have helped Loyd stay under the radar for so long.

We definitely what to know who else was helping him, Felton said.

Judge sets bond for man accused of helping Loyd at $400,000

In an appearance at the Orange County Courthouse on Wednesday, bond for the first of three people accused of helping Loyd was set at $400,000.

Zarghee Mayan was arrested and charged with giving "inconsistent statements" about seeing Loyd and giving him money in the time between Dixon's December slaying and Clayton's slaying.

Mayan's sister-in-law, who owns the Texas Fried Chicken where he also worked as a manager, testified that he only makes about $3,000 a month.

Lyle Mazin, Mayan's attorney, said that because of Mayan's work, family and the small amount of cash on hand, Mayan is not a flight risk and should be granted bond.

Prosecutors questioned the sister-in-law and learned that Mayan does have access to large sums of money, from the restaurant receipts and from several homes he co-owns in a real estate business with his brother and that he could pose a flight risk.

The judge granted a bond of $400,000 with full collateral. That means he is not eligible to put down 10 percent with a bonds company but must have $400,000 in collateral to offer to the court. Mayan was also ordered not to have any contact with his co-dependents, not allowed to have weapons and must surrender his passport.

When all of those conditions can be met, Mayan's attorney can request a hearing, and a judge could then release him on bond before his pending trial.

The two others facing charges related to helping Loyd  Lakensha Smith-Loyd, 27, Loyd's niece; and Jameis Slaughter, a former girlfriend  were granted bond last week. Smith-Loyd was granted $750,000 bond. Slaughter was granted a $500,000 bond for charges that she helped Loyd evade police and a $5,000 bond for charges that she gave a false name to law enforcement.
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC), is now accepting applications to participate in the successful Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) event at its premier HITEC Amsterdam. Hospitality technology startups who would like to apply for the exciting opportunity can do so by visiting the event website. Deadline for submissions is 22 February. The competition will take place as part of HITEC Amsterdam's pre-conference events on the afternoon of 28 March 2017 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. HoReCa.digital will serve as the exclusive Entrepreneur 20X sponsor at HFTP's inaugural HITEC Amsterdam.

HITEC Amsterdam E20X participants will compete for a grand prize of 2,500 EUR. As in the previous E20X competition, there will be two E20X awards given  the Judge's Award and the People's Startup Award. The Judge's Award recipient will be determined by the expert panel of judges and also receives the grand prize. The People's Startup Award recipient will be determined by HITEC Amsterdam attendees and serve as the popular, or crowd favorite, vote. HITEC Amsterdam attendees will be able to watch the companies compete, visit with company representatives and vote for their favorite competitor via the upcoming HITEC app. Immediately following the competition, HITEC Amsterdam attendees are encouraged to visit the E20X participants in room E108 in the convention centre to learn more about each company.

"This will be the third Entrepreneur 20X HFTP has hosted since the program's creation two years ago at HITEC Austin," said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE. "With the overwhelming, positive feedback on E20X from competitors and spectators, we are thrilled to debut the program in Europe at our inaugural HITEC Amsterdam. The technology presented demonstrates what kind of technology is on the cusp for our industry  from the outlandish to the practical  and is another reason HITEC is an essential event. "

HFTP's expanding E20X program features ambitious and innovative entrepreneurs presenting breakthrough business concepts to a panel of expert judges including hospitality CIOs, angel investors, serial entrepreneurs and industry insiders. The competition will be open to all HITEC Amsterdam registrants.

"We loved the HITEC E20X competition," said David Temple, from Hello Scout Inc., the winner of the Judge's Award at the HITEC New Orleans E20X competition on June 20, 2016. "It provided us with great exposure and let us get our story in front of lots of people that we wouldn't have otherwise been able to reach. That the judge's chose us as the winner was the icing on the cake."

Videos from last year's E20X competition at HITEC New Orleans are available on the HFTP/HITEC YouTube channel.

In addition to accepting participant applications for the HITEC Amsterdam E20X competition, HFTP is also accepting participant applications for the second E20X competition in 2017 at HITEC Toronto on 26 June in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Applications must be submitted separately via each event's respective website, accessed directly from www.hitec.org.

HFTP's inaugural HITEC Amsterdam is the first of three HITEC events planned for 2017, and will take place 2830 March at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The pre-conference events will take place on 28 March, followed by the full HITEC Amsterdam event featuring two full days of education, an expo and networking party. HITEC Amsterdam registration is now available on the HITEC Amsterdam website.

In addition to HITEC Amsterdam, in 2017 HFTP is producing the larger HITEC Toronto on 2629 June and HITEC Dubai in Fall in partnership with Naseba. For more information about HITEC and HFTP's other global activities, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected] or visit www.hftp.org and www.hftp.org/hitec.

Stay tuned to HFTP's main webpages: HFTP/HITEC; the world's first hospitality-specific search engine: PineappleSearch  mobile app available via iTunes App Store and Google Play; HFTP's official blog: HFTP Connect; HFTP's industry-specific, informational news sites: HITEC Bytes (technology), HFTP Club Bytes (club), HFTP Finance Bytes (finance) and HFTP News (association); and HFTP's social media sites: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@HFTP), Instagram (HFTP_HITEC), YouTube and Flickr for the latest updates.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) is a global nonprofit hospitality association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, that uniquely understands the industry's problems. HFTP has about 5,000 members and several thousand stakeholders across the globe. HFTP assists its members in finding solutions to industry problems more efficiently than any organization via its expert networks, research, conferences such as HITEC and certification programs. HFTP also owns the world's only hospitality specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segment of the hospitality industry. For more information about HFTP, e-mail [email protected].

Jessica Blankenship

Public Relations Manager

HFTP
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Enlisting the coercive power of the government to force the Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome to surrender their racing greyhounds is now the final hurdle for Anima (Macau) in securing the animals safe retirement.

Following confirmation last week from Portugals Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development that the country is open to accepting some 650 greyhounds from the Canidrome, Anima (Macau) president Albano Martins said all that remains is to secure the help of the MSAR government.

The animal rights activist was in Portugal last month, where he met a government minister to discuss a special exemption to animal import regulations. Usually, it is only possible to import a maximum of seven animals at a time, he told the Times, which would make it too costly to arrange the transportation of 650 dogs.

I was told before that Portugal would not permit [the import of] so many animals [] but on January 11, I received a letter from the cabinet of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development explaining the conditions for [their import], Martins told the Times yesterday.

The answer was very clear: once blood tests, vaccines and certificates are [arranged], there will be no obstruction to their import.

Now all we need is for the Canidrome to release the dogs. This will become likely if the Canidrome is forced to [release them] by the government, he said. We will try to convince the Secretary for Economy and Finance to ask the Canidrome not to kill the animals.

The Canidrome facility has been under pressure since it came to light in 2015 that around 30 injured greyhounds were euthanized there each month. Activists blame the state of Macaus racing track, which they consider inappropriate and harmful to the animals.

The reports, which led to the Macau Canidrome being labeled the worst greyhound-racing center worldwide, soon prompted an international campaign to close the facility, led by local group Anima (Macau).

Martins told the Times yesterday that the Canidrome has been forced to reduce the number of races it holds each week in order to keep the facility operational until the end of its concession period in 2018.

Following an Anima (Macau) campaign last year to obstruct the import of greyhounds to the MSAR, Martins said the facility has been forced to hold fewer races in order to maintain the number and strength of the dogs it currently manages.

If they raced the greyhounds today like they used to [in 2015 and before] with those death rates, then they would run out of dogs before their concessionaire ends in 2018 [] and by the terms of their contract, they need to hold at least 12 races per day, the animal rights activist explained.

So they need to reduce the number of days per week [that races are held].

Martins said a source had told them that the Canidrome will soon reduce the number of racing days to just two per week.

Martins also said he welcomes sponsors to help provide funding and accommodation for the dogs, prior to their certification and transportation to Portugal. He said that there are some European organizations that may help with this project, but that finding space for the animals will remain a challenge.

Borba could be greyhound retirement home

Albano Martins revealed this week that he has obtained permission to have the greyhounds sent to Borba, Portugal. After meeting with a Portuguese government minister and a local mayor, Martins said that the favored location for the animals is a site in Portugals Borba municipality, located in the District of Evora, which will be converted into a greyhound sanctuary with an area of up to 50 hectares. While they are still considering other potential sites, the association wants the arrangements for the greyhounds finalized before the end of the Canidromes government concession in 2018.
Sixteen members of the Macao Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) visited government headquarters yesterday morning to meet Chief Executive (CE) Chui Sai On and Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong.

The 16 current FAOM members will succeed the associations outgoing leadership from February 9, becoming the 34th generation of leaders in the history of FAOM.

Future FAOM president Chan Kam Meng, when talking to the media, provided information about the topics that FAOM and the CE had discussed.

According to Chan, the group invited the CE to attend the 34th FAOM inauguration on February 9, in the hope that the CEs presence would inspire them.

During the meeting, FAOM and Chui discussed labour training policies and the livelihood of the local community.

We had a talk with the CE and with Secretary Leong, said Chan, adding that the CE and the secretary are both pleased with the new FAOM leadership, and that they talked about how to serve FAOM amid the citys economic diversification and adjustments to the conditions of the gaming industry. They also discussed how the association can meet members needs more efficiently.

Another topic under discussion was the Labor Affairs Bureaus plan to launch a new policy regarding the citys non- local workers, particularly non- professional workers and domestic helpers. The planned policy will require these workers to present an identification card when entering the territory.

The plan should have advantages, mainly in protecting Macaus local employees, explained Chan, saying that a few extra regulations can be added to meet the conditions required by local employees.

In some cases, people that arrive in Macau as tourists end up becoming legal workers. Chan said that it is the responsibility of job agencies to help people confirm a job offer before they come to Macau.

During their meeting, Chan reminded the CE to pay attention to fostering local talent, as well as housing policies.

Last year, several controversies arose involving local occupational drivers. Employers have been suggesting that the city open its market to non-local occupational drivers, a proposal which was met with much opposition from employees.

When asked whether the topic was discussed during the meeting, Chan said, it was not particularly mentioned.

However, he said both parties had agreed that Macau should carefully manage non-local employees policies, so as not to affect local employment.
Four days before climate change skeptic Donald Trump becomes president of the U.S., his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will appear at Davos. His theme is responsible business and his speech is expected to tout the worlds largest polluter as a leader in the fight against global warming and shift toward renewable energy.

President Xi will likely underscore Chinas continued commitment to decarbonizing its economy and providing leadership on climate change, said Alden Meyer, director of policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. By contrast, President- Elect Donald Trump has downplayed the risks of climate change.

Xi will be the first Chinese head of state to address the World Economic Forums annual meeting in a year when the gathering of global politicians, financiers and business leaders in the remote Swiss ski resort will focus more than ever on climate change.

While Trump has threatened to reverse President Obama policies on tackling climate change and pull the U.S. out of the 2015 Paris Accord, China is strengthening its commitment to the issue. Earlier this month, it pledged to invest 2.5 trillion yuan (USD360 billion) in renewable energy through 2020 to reduce greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming.

Chinas government also plans to suspended 101 coal-power projects across 11 provinces as it moves toward cutting carbon dioxide emissions. The deferred investments are worth about 430 billion yuan ($63 billion), Chinas financial daily Caixin reported yesterday.

If the U.S. does step back from leadership in the climate process then China will step forward, not least for pure realpolitik reasons, said Michael Liebreich, founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance. If youve got large parts of the world including all of Africa, really hungry for investment and energy solutions, then the U.S. is seen as an unreliable partner, or trying to push dirty solutions, then I think China will step into that breach.

China already leads in renewable energy investment, spending almost $88 billion in 2016, one-third more than the U.S. according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Chinas investment has already created 3.5 million renewable energy jobs and thats expected to grow to 13 million by 2020, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Its not just rising global temperatures and sea levels concerning China. The nations increasingly wealthy middle class is worried about the quality of air it breathes and water it drinks and has become more vocal about complaints. With Beijing again cloaked in smog at the start of the year, Xi faces continued pressure to show hes doing what it takes to clean things up.

Xis comments on climate change will help reassure clean energy investors at a time when the future of the U.S.s own renewables market is doubt, said Li Shuo, policy adviser at Greenpeace East Asia.

The U.S. political situation provides an external driver for China to go forward from being a reluctant leader to climate hero, he said in a phone interview. Jessica Shankleman, Bloomberg
The first French Comics Festival will run at Sofitel Macau until February 5, showcasing selected prints by two renowned French cartoonists.

Organized by Alliance Francaise de Macao (AF), the aim of the festival is to promote French comic culture in the territory.

The festival showcases renowned comic series Lucky Luke and Cestac pour les Grands, penned by French cartoonists Achde and Florence Cestac respectively. The artists were present at book-signing events and drawing workshops.

AF president Xavier Garnier explained that the festival is also a way for the association to further promote an aspect of French culture in Macau.

Usually we know French culture through fashion, food and art. In Asia, many dont know about comics [but] its actually quite [an] old tradition in France and in Belgium, said Garnier.

Lucky Luke is a comic series created by Belgian cartoonist Maurice De Bevere, better known as Morris. French artist Achde continued the series after Morris passed away in 2001.

According to Achde, his books are currently translated into 32 languages.

He dedicated himself fully to drawing in 1985 and began illustrating newspapers and self-published Destins Croises, his first comic book.

The local artist visited Macau back in 2015 for a book-signing event organized by AF, but this is his first time showcasing his drawings in the region.

I really like Macau because after being in China [for] fifteen days [], Macau is completely different, he told the Times.

Achde, who used to be in the medical field, affirmed that comics in France are viewed similarly to classic literature, and stressed that comics are a part of French culture. Achde added that Lucky Luke is now published in China.

Meanwhile, Florence Cestac brought a selection of her prints from Cestac pour les Grands (Cestac for Grown-Ups).

Cestac is the only woman to have won the prestigious Grand Prix de la ville de Angouleme.

Cestac said most of her comics  which often feature characters with large noses  portray the daily lives and problems of an adult. She has published a total of 38 comic books.

Cestac is visiting Macau for the first time, but previously visited Hong Kong for a book signing.

Meanwhile, Sofitel Macau hotel manager Guillaume Gallas stressed that the hotel is keen to promote such events.

The big picture of what were trying to do is to always promote whatever is French related because its part of the DNA of the hotel, he said.

So whenever we have French ambassadors from music, novels, [etc.] that we can basically support, we do it every time, Gallas added.

In 2016, AF and Sofitel Macau collaborated on some nine French events.

According to Gallas, the hotel intends to host similar events this year in order to promote French activities in Macau.

On average, these French events attract audiences of up to 200, depending on the nature of the event, he said.

The French Comics Festival, sponsored by Macao Foundation and Sofitel Macau commenced on January 10.

On Sunday and Monday, the two artists held drawing workshops at Ze Ai Nursery and Macau Polytechnic Institute targeting local children and teenagers.
The modern employment relationship is, more often than not, haunted by the ghost of the past and present bonuses. Among other entitlements, it is usually the cherry on the top of the cake which employers use to entice new employees to join their ranks or, as frequently occurs, to continue their service for as long as possible.

As simple as it might seem, however, bonus entitlements are not as straightforward as they look at first sight.

For starters, not every bonus is actually a bonus. According to Macau law, bonuses are considered variable remuneration, i.e., non-regular payments made on a case-by-case basis by the employer to the employee. Moreover, the bonus is, by nature and generically, an unexpected contribution paid on top of the normal salary that aims to reward the performance of employees. As such, bonuses are not part of the employees base remuneration. In order to truly fit the variable remuneration definition, they should not be linked to predetermined conditions/criteria that, if met, enable the employees to receive them on a recurrent and expected basis.

So, it is not the case that should the employer call a certain benefit granted to employees a discretionary bonus that such payment automatically becomes either discretionary or a bonus.

In fact, Macaus Labour Law regards the 13th month, or other periodic benefits of similar nature, to be payments that are part of the basic remuneration. In practical terms, this means, for example, that the very popular Chinese New Year Bonus of one months salary paid every year by some employers should not, actually, be considered or treated as a bonus, but as a part of the base remuneration of employees.

For a bonus to be a true bonus its characteristics and eligibility requirements should be linked to and/or dependent on factors that are vary in accordance with the circumstances. At the same time, those characteristics and eligibility requirements should give no grounds for employees to claim having any kind of expectations about receiving them. Generally speaking, a bonus that is, for example, dependent on the employees and the companys performance would, in principle, have the characteristics of a true bonus if the criteria for eligibility are rightly tailored.

Another aspect to consider when it comes to the bonus is, naturally, whether it is payable or not upon termination of the work relationship. As we all know, it is a common practice among Macau employers to deny the payment of a bonus when employees leave the company. This causes most employees seeking new job opportunities to tender their resignations immediately or shortly after they have received their bonus. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry, which would be a valid position for employees working for companies with true discretionary bonus schemes that, among other factors, link the attribution of the bonus to the actual and future employment of the employees with the companies.

However, for employees working for companies that have bonus schemes that are not really bonuses, but actually part of the employees remuneration, then the fact that the employees submitted their resignation should not create an impediment to pay said bonus upon termination. In fact, if the bonus is not really a bonus, but a periodic payment similar to the 13th month, then upon termination employees are entitled to claim the payment of those benefits in proportion to the time they have worked, according to the law.

That being the case, to pay or not to pay a bonus seems to be a question much less rhetorical than it has become in the employment market!

* Senior Associate, MdME
After nearly three years, the hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 ended in futility and frustration yesterday, as crews completed their deep-sea search of a desolate stretch of the Indian Ocean without finding a trace of the plane.

The Joint Agency Coordination Center in Australia, which helped lead the USD160 million hunt for the Boeing 777 in remote waters west of Australia, said the search had officially been suspended after crews finished their fruitless sweep of the 120,000-square kilometer search zone.

Despite every effort using the best science available, cutting-edge technology, as well as modeling and advice from highly skilled professionals who are the best in their field, unfortunately, the search has not been able to locate the aircraft, the agency said in a statement, which was a joint communique between the transport ministers of Malaysia, Australia and China.

Accordingly, the underwater search for MH370 has been suspended. The decision to suspend the underwater search has not been taken lightly nor without sadness.

Officials investigating the planes disappearance have recommended search crews head north to a new area identified in a recent analysis as a possible crash site. But the Australian government has already nixed that idea.

Last year, Australia, Malaysia and China  which have each helped fund the search  agreed that the hunt would be suspended once the search zone was exhausted unless new evidence emerges that pinpoints the planes specific location. Since no technology currently exists that can tell investigators exactly where the plane is, that effectively means the most expensive, complex search in aviation history is over.

There is the possibility that a private donor could offer to bankroll a new search, or that Malaysia will kick in fresh funds. But no one has stepped up yet, raising the bleak possibility that the worlds greatest aviation mystery may never be solved. For the families of the 239 people on the doomed aircraft, thats a particularly bitter prospect given the recent acknowledgment by officials that they had been looking for the plane in the wrong place all along.

In December, the transport bureau announced that a review of the data used to estimate where the plane crashed, coupled with new information on ocean currents, strongly suggested the plane hit the water in a 25,000-square kilometer (9,700-square mile) area directly north of the search zone. But Australias government rejected a recommendation from the bureau that crews be allowed to search the new area to the north, saying the results of the experts analysis werent precise enough to justify continuing the hunt.

The three countries transport ministers reiterated that view in their statement yesterday, noting: Whilst combined scientific studies have continued to refine areas of probability, to date no new information has been discovered to determine the specific location of the aircraft.

The lack of resolution has caused agony for family members of the flights passengers, who have begged officials to continue the hunt for their loved ones.

The whole series of events since the plane disappeared has been nothing but frustrating, said Grace Nathan, a Malaysian whose mother was on board Flight 370. It continues to be frustrating and we just hope they will continue to search. [] Theyve already searched 120,000 square kilometers. What is another 25,000?

Investigators have been stymied again and again in their efforts to find the aircraft since it vanished during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Along the way, hopes were repeatedly raised and smashed by false leads: Underwater signals wrongly thought to be emanating from the planes black boxes. Possible debris fields that turned out to be sea trash. Oil slicks that contained no jet fuel. A large object detected on the seafloor that was just an old shipwreck.

In the absence of solid leads, investigators relied largely on an analysis of transmissions between the plane and a satellite to narrow down where in the world the jet ended up  a technique never previously used to find an aircraft.

Based on the transmissions, they narrowed down the possible crash zone to a vast arc of ocean slicing across the southern hemisphere. Even then, the search zone was enormous and located in one of the most remote patches of water on earth  1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) off Australias west coast. Much of the seabed had never even been mapped.

For years, search crews painstakingly combed the search area in several ships, largely pinning their hopes on towfish, small vessels equipped with sonar that sent information back to the boats in real-time. The ships slowly dragged the towfish through the ocean just above the seabed, hoping the equipment would detect some trace of the plane. Unmanned submarines were used to examine areas of rougher terrain and objects of interest picked up by sonar that required a closer look.

The search zone shifted multiple times as investigators refined their analysis, all to no avail. Some began to question whether the plane had gone down in the southern hemisphere at all.

Then, in July, 2015, came the first proof that the plane was indeed in the Indian Ocean: A wing flap from the aircraft was found on Reunion Island, east of Madagascar. Since then, more than 20 objects either confirmed or believed to be from the plane have washed ashore on beaches throughout the Indian Ocean. But while the debris proved the plane went down in the Indian Ocean, the location of the main underwater wreckage  and its crucial black box data recorders  remains stubbornly elusive.

The transport ministers praised the efforts of the search crews and said the search had presented an unprecedented challenge.

Todays announcement is significant for our three countries, but more importantly for the family and friends of those on board the aircraft. We again take this opportunity to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives and acknowledge the enormous loss felt by their loved ones, the ministers wrote. We remain hopeful that new information will come to light and that at some point in the future the aircraft will be located.Kristen Gelineau, Sydney, AP

Malaysia air on rebound as missing flight search called off



Nearly three years after twin disasters took it to the brink of financial collapse, Malaysia Airlines new CEO says an overhaul aimed at turning the ailing carrier around is going better than expected.

CEO Peter Bellew called the disaster an awful tragedy.

Theres people I work with every day who lost some of their friends, so theyre living with that, he said yesterday. We owe it to the people that lost their lives and the families and everything to make sure that the place is a success and that it survives, because thats the right thing to do, Bellew said when asked about the disaster at an industry gathering in Hong Kong.

Bellew said the airline is on track to meet key performance goals, including turning an annual profit by 2018 and relisting on the stock exchange the following year.

The companys jets are carrying more passengers, including on its London route, he said. London is the carriers last remaining European route and one where it uses superjumbo Airbus A380 jets that must carry many passengers to be profitable.

Just months after Flight 370 disappeared, a second Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 carrying 298 people was shot down over Ukraine.

Those tragedies deepened the carriers already daunting troubles.

But lower jet fuel prices have since helped cut costs, and revenue has improved thanks to strong traffic growth in the region.
Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc agreed to pay about 670 million pounds (USD807 million) to resolve long-running U.S. and U.K. investigations into allegations its representatives bribed foreign officials to win business.

Europes largest maker of commercial jet engines will pay the U.K. Serious Fraud Office 497.25 million pounds plus interest, and the U.S. Department of Justice about $170 million, the company said Monday in a statement. The British penalty is the biggest-ever sanction issued against a company by the U.K.

Its a very large fine which we didnt see coming: its something of a bolt from the blue, said Nick Cunningham, an aerospace and defense equity analyst at Agency Partners in London. Usually these settlements are relatively moderate compared to the size of the company.

The settlement still offers a slight reprieve for Chief Executive Officer Warren East, who has been working to turn around the ailing engine-maker since taking over in 2015. Allegations that Rolls illegally used middlemen to conduct deals in about a dozen countries has weighed on the company even as East tries to recover from a slew of profit warnings.

The company also said profit and cash performance for 2016 was better than expected ahead of its full-year results next month. The shares rose 3.5 pence to close at 665 pence Monday shortly before the settlement was announced.

A spokesman for the Justice Department declined to comment. The global pact also includes a pledge to pay $25.5 million to Brazilian authorities.

In December 2012, Rolls-Royce disclosed it had handed over documents to the SFO relating to allegations of corruption at some of its overseas businesses, including China and Indonesia, following a request from the prosecutor. A year later the SFO opened an investigation and in 2014 the company revealed it was also being probed by the Justice Department.

Since then, the U.K. investigation expanded to include about a dozen countries, among them places like Nigeria, and the SFO was granted extra government funding for the case. Only two arrests from the probe have become public: high-profile Indian businessmen Sudhir and Bhanu Choudhrie. The father and son were arrested in London in February 2014 and havent been charged.

A lawyer for the pair said his clients hadnt been accused of anything and have always conducted their business lawfully. Sudhir Choudhrie has been a major donor to U.K. political party the Liberal Democrats.

The SFO said in a separate statement that it will seek court approval for the U.K. settlement  known as a deferred prosecution agreement  at a hearing today [Macau time].

The financial implications of the payments, which will add up to about 293 million pounds in the first year, will be provided when the company reports annual results Feb. 14. The DPA is only the third such agreement the SFO has entered into since the enforcement tool, which is commonly used by U.S. prosecutors, was introduced in the U.K.

The total penalty dwarfs the first few DPAs struck a year ago under new U.K. legal powers, said Lisa Osofsky, European chair of Exiger, a financial crime and risk adviser. It sends a clear signal that the U.K. means business in cracking down on global bribery and corruption. Suzi Ring, Benjamin Katz, Bloomberg
Chinas top underwriter of green bonds said the government may accelerate approvals in 2017 as the nation battles a toxic wave of smog.

Guotai Junan Securities Co. said the government should boost incentives for notes with proceeds earmarked for environmental projects, after a Peoples Bank of China researcher said it may recommend tax breaks for investors. Chinese firms including banks, automakers, developers and power producers sold a world-leading 186 billion yuan (USD27 billion) of the debt in the domestic market in 2016, including the nations debut offering onshore.

This affects the air we breathe, it affects everyone, said Huang Baoyi, general manager in the debt financing department of Shanghai-based Guotai Junan, which managed 11 percent of 2016 issuance. The government should support and encourage green bond investors.

Dirty air forced more than 60 Chinese cities to issue health alerts this year, delaying hundreds of flights and encouraging consumers to stay at home. China plans to invest 2.5 trillion yuan in renewable energy through 2020 and outlined measures to channel funds toward reducing pollution at the G20 meeting in Hangzhou in September. President Xi Jinpings speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos yesterday will be watched for signs China will take global leadership in fighting climate change as the U.S. retreats.

Ma Jun, chief economist at the PBOCs research bureau, said in March the monetary authority will recommend steps such as waiving tax for holders of the notes, though no such policy has been introduced. The central bank hasnt responded to faxed questions.

I think it is likely and would be a natural first step by the government, said Magdalene Teo, head of fixed income research Asia in Singapore at Bank Julius Baer & Co., a Swiss private bank that includes responsible investing principles in its analysis. Offering tax breaks to bond investors will incentivize issuers such that they will pay a lower coupon and at the same time help change the mindset of enterprises towards sustainable investments.

The worlds most-populous nation accounted for $31.3 billion of the $78.1 billion in total global green bond sales in all currencies last year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. HSBC Holdings Plc, which ranked 5th in managing those deals, sees issuance around the world reaching between $90 billion and $120 billion this year. Its starting a new unit to help mobilize sources of sustainable finance.

China is central to our focus on sustainable financing, having set out a clear path to a lower carbon economy, said Alexi Chan, global co-head of debt capital markets at HSBC. Market-based reforms are aligning the financial system with Chinas green objectives and stricter environmental standards are being enforced.

An HSBC survey published last month showed three-quarters of 300 investors planning green investments globally said they lack credible opportunities and quality research. The PBOCs Green Bond Guidelines, which insist funds get independent assurances and regularly audited disclosure from issuers, are a very good step forward, Chan said.

New incentives will be needed to encourage more sales, said Guo Shizai, head of bond innovation department of Haitong Securities Co., the fifth-ranked underwriter of such debt onshore.

Green bond issuers dont enjoy enough benefits, Guo said. Bloomberg
A former premier will represent Taiwan at Donald Trumps inauguration Friday, a visit likely to be closely scrutinized by China for signs the incoming president intends to make good on remarks suggesting a shake-up in relations between Taipei, Washington and Beijing.

Yu Shyi-kun will be joined by lawmakers and local government officials representing both the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition Nationalists, the Foreign Ministry announced. It said the delegation, which intends to express the importance our government and people place on close friendly bilateral relations, left Monday.

Along with attending the inauguration, the delegation will hold talks with politicians, academics and overseas Chinese community representatives, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Taiwan-U.S. relations have a lengthy history and have made significant progress in recent years, the statement said. Congratulating Trump on his election, it said the government would continue to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. relations in future on the basis of excellent mutual trust and interaction.

The U.S. has no formal relations with Taipei in deference to China, which claims the island as its own. However, the two maintain robust informal ties, while Washington sells Taiwan arms and is legally bound to regard any threat to the island as a matter of grave concern.

Trump upset decades of diplomatic precedent by talking by phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen shortly after his victory in Novembers presidential election. Last week, he said in a newspaper interview that Washingtons one China policy under which it recognized Beijing in 1979 was open to negotiation, and had earlier questioned why the U.S. should be bound by such an approach without China offering incentives.

This week, Chinas Foreign Ministry said the one-China principle regarding Taiwan is not negotiable and any attempt to reconsider the issue would be self-defeating.

Not everything in the world can be bargained or traded off, Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.

China threatens to use force to assert control over Taiwan and tensions across the Taiwan Strait have risen since Tsais election last year. Beijing has cut off contacts with her government and is using its diplomatic clout to further isolate the island.

Yu served as premier under former President Chen Shui-bian, who was despised by Beijing for his defiantly pro- independence stance. AP
President Barack Obama granted clemency to Chelsea Manning yesterday [Macau time], allowing the transgender Army intelligence officer convicted of leaking more than 700,000 U.S. documents to go free nearly three decades early.

Embracing his clemency powers days before leaving office, Obama also pardoned 64 individuals including retired Gen. James Cartwright, charged with making false statements during another leak probe. Manning was one of 209 inmates with sentences commuted by Obama, who has now granted more commutations than any other president in history.

Neil Eggleston, Obamas White House counsel, said the individuals would learn that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward.

Manning, Cartwright and Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera were the more prominent names on a list otherwise made up mostly of nonviolent drug offenders. The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama last November to commute her sentence to time served.

Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a mens prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests. The former cheered Obamas move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.

Yet Obama did not grant a pardon to another prominent leaker, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, whom the U.S. has been unable to extradite from Russia. Snowden hasnt formally applied for clemency, though his supporters have called for it. Yet the White House drew a distinction between the unapologetic Snowden and Manning, whom officials noted has expressed remorse and served several years already for her crime.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced. She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obamas action could quite literally save Chelseas life.

But House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move just outrageous, and added, Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets.

Manning and many of the others receiving commutations will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry.

With just days left as president, Obama also pardoned hotelier Ian Schrager, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion. The White House said Obama will announce more clemency actions Today  his last full day in office  but said those would focus on drug offenders and would not likely include any other famous names.

Commutations reduce sentences being served, but dont erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who received a pardon, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Irans nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the U.S. government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

The 74-year-olds term will expire in May. The White House noted that absent a commutation, Lopez likely would have died in prison.

Obamas commutation for Manning also raised fresh questions about the future of another figure involved in the Army leakers case: Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks had earlier pledged, via tweet, that its founder would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning. Holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where hes wanted on a rape allegation, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

But the Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange. WikiLeaks lawyer Melinda Taylor said U.S. and British authorities refuse to say whether the U.S. has requested extradition. Though she praised the commutation for Manning, Taylor made no mention of Assanges earlier promise to agree to extradition.

White House officials said neither Assanges fate nor separate concerns about WikiLeaks role in Russian hacking of the election factored into the decision to commute Mannings sentence. The officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.Josh Lederman, Eric Tucker, Washington, AP
BRITAIN Prime Minister Theresa May has made it clear: the U.K. will make a clean break from the European Union and leave its single market of some 500 million people. In her most direct remarks since the June 23 vote, May said yesterday that Britain must regain control of its laws and borders, even as she called on the bloc to negotiate a free-trade agreement that will benefit both sides.

TAIWAN-US A former premier will represent Taiwan at Donald Trumps inauguration Friday, a visit likely to be closely scrutinized by China for signs the incoming president intends to make good on remarks suggesting a shake-up in relations between Taipei, Washington and Beijing.

VIETNAM Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday urged Japan to invest more in the Southeast Asian country to become its top foreign investor. He said Vietnam would like to see Japan invest more in infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing and services.

INDONESIA A shallow earthquake rattled Indonesias third-largest city Medan, damaging houses and sending thousands of frightened people into the streets. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the quakes magnitude at 5.7 and said it struck at a depth of 10 kilometers southwest of Medan on the island of Sumatra.

SYRIA Representatives of some Syrian rebel groups said they will attend talks sponsored by Russia and Turkey scheduled later this month, despite mounting violations of a cease-fire across the war-ravaged country. A rebel adviser said the talks will initially focus on ways to strengthen and monitor the cease-fire that went into effect Dec. 30.

TURKEY Police captured the gunman who carried out the deadly New Years nightclub attack in Istanbul, with officials saying yesterday that hes an Uzbekistan national who trained in Afghanistan and confessed to the massacre.

UKRAINE-RUSSIA Ukraine has filed a case against Russia at the United Nations highest court, accusing Moscow of illegally annexing Crimea and illicitly funding separatist rebel groups in eastern Ukraine. Kiev also is seeking compensation for deadly incidents including the 2014 shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

MEXICO Gunfire broke out in a crowded beachfront nightclub throbbing with electronic music, causing five deaths and setting off a bloody stampede by screaming concertgoers at an international festival in a Caribbean resort. At least one person died in the crush to escape and some of the 15 people wounded or injured were hurt in the rush out, authorities said.
MALI A suicide bomber in an explosives-laden vehicle attacked a camp in northern Mali yesterday, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 100 soldiers and former fighters now trying to stabilize the region. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, suspicion quickly fell on the Islamic extremist groups operating in the area.

CAMBODIAs exiled opposition leader is facing two new defamation lawsuits stemming from a Facebook post that accused Prime Minister Hun Sen of offering a young political operative USD1 million to attack the opposition.

MALAYSIAs foreign minister says the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is expected to call for a halt to violence against Myanmars Rohingya Muslim minority and for the safe return of refugees. Malaysia is hosting a meeting of the organization in Kuala Lumpur today to discuss the crisis.

THAILAND Police say they have arrested a Czech man in Phuket who is believed to be infected with HIV and is wanted by Interpol for alleged sexual offenses against minors back home.

JAPAN A fast-growing Japanese hotel chain is facing criticism over a book penned by the chains owner that says the Rape of Nanking was fabricated. APA Group drew fire for spreading the revisionist views of company president Toshio Motoya by putting the books in hotel guestrooms and also selling them.

IRAQs prime minister is demanding full disclosure about events surrounding the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Haider al-Abadi told reporters that he would like to see a thorough investigation into what took the U.S. forces from liberating the country to occupying it.

BOSNIA The President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has dismissed U.S. sanctions imposed on him for obstructing the peace accords that ended Bosnias war two decades ago, calling it a reversible act of revenge by the departing Obama administration.

GERMANY-BRITAIN German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pledging to ensure that the Brexit process doesnt divide Europe. Merkel said yesterday that British Prime Minister Theresa Mays speech has offered a clearer impression of what London wants, but stressed that negotiations will begin only when Britain formally triggers exit talks.

US Obama became the president to have granted more commutations than any other when he announced that Chelsea Manning will be freed in May. Manning, the transgender Army intelligence officer who leaked more than 700,000 U.S. documents, was one of 273 people receiving clemency on a single day.
Even by his standards, President-elect Donald Trumps statements on trade have been stunning in their recklessness. His proposals essentially amount to the repudiation of a system that has fostered global stability and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty over the last several decades  and if he actually intends to execute his radical agenda, theres little to stop him.

In other areas of economic policy, such as budget matters, Congress will make the crucial choices. On trade, the White House has wide discretion. The stakes could hardly be higher.

During the campaign Trump threatened to rip up existing trade pacts, withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement, and put punitive tariffs on imports from Mexico and China. Hes called the World Trade Organization, which promotes liberal trade and adjudicates disputes, a disaster, and he has said the U.S. might pull out. Congratulating Britain on its decision to quit the European Union, he says the U.K. and the U.S. can design a new trade deal  but that it makes no difference to the U.S. whether the EU, a vehicle for Germany, stays together or falls apart.

Trumps nominee for commerce secretary, meanwhile, appears to believe in the top-down management of trade: We should treat ourselves as the worlds biggest customer and treat nations that are selling to us as suppliers to us, Wilbur Ross told the Financial Times. The global economy, according to this thinking, is not about myriad firms competing across borders to give consumers everywhere the best products at the lowest cost; its a zero-sum battle between two monolithic collectives: us and them.

Trumps other trade appointments arent reassuring. Peter Navarro, named as head of the new National Trade Council, seems opposed to imports on principle. He says they subtract from economic growth, which is nonsense. The nominee for U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, brings his experience as an advocate for restrictions on imports of cars and steel  restrictions that made U.S. consumers worse off and impeded the ability of U.S. manufacturers to compete.

Congress wouldnt be able to do much to restrain the new teams trade measures, especially in the short term. Laws authorizing existing trade agreements, as well as other statutes delegating authority to the president in times of emergency, grant the president wide powers to take unilateral action such as terminating previous commitments and imposing tariffs, quotas or other restraints. Such moves would surely face a legal challenge, but before the cases were resolved, President Trump could very well kill or cripple Nafta, the WTO and any prospect of orderly market-driven trade arrangements.

Americans have legitimate concerns over trade, jobs and living standards. But they should be addressed in the same way as the threat from automation and other kinds of technological advancement  forces that are likely to be more disruptive in the future than trade. And the record of nations trying to resist trade and innovation speaks for itself: It leads to economic stagnation.

The right approach is to focus on competitiveness, opportunity and effective social insurance. Education reform, tax reform, deregulation, and investment in the right kind of infrastructure could raise the long-term rate of growth and spread the benefits to more workers. Trump deserves some credit for taking up some of these points. Doing more to help workers retrain and move to new jobs would also relieve the stress, as would more effective unemployment and health insurance.

If Trump follows through on trade, it wont be long before he and his supporters regret it. Declaring a trade war on the world can only lead to collapsing confidence and recession. Yet if the system of international commerce, painstakingly put together over decades, is carelessly torn down, rebuilding it wont be easy or quick  however much a chastened Trump administration might wish to.

Mr. President-elect: Just dont do it. The Editors, Bloomberg
China is taking the worlds most elite annual gathering by storm.

President Xi Jinping leads a Chinese delegation of over 100 officials and scores of business executives attending the World Economic Forum, embodying a tectonic shift at an event that started nearly a half-century ago among Europeans and Americans.

Xis opening plenary address yesterday to political and business leaders is shaping up as perhaps the highlight both of this years WEF and Xis one-country European visit to ultra-stable and chronically neutral Switzerland.

The two countries will strive to maintain world peace and stability, promote common development and jointly maintain a global trade system which is open and tolerant, Xi told reporters at a joint briefing with Swiss President Doris Leuthard earlier. We will push global governance toward a fairer and more reasonable direction.

It comes as mainstream Western democratic leaders have been grappling with populist movements at home, including the one that helped undergird Donald Trumps U.S. presidential election victory. Trumps transition team plans to have only one top adviser, Anthony Scaramucci, attending the forum ahead of Fridays presidential inauguration.

Such transitions have given an opening for Xi, who arrived by train in the Alpine snows of Davos to a red carpet welcome Monday, to project political stability while drumming up business for China.

The bumpy run-up to the Trump administration  Trumps poll numbers are low for an incoming president  has given the Chinese leader a convenient opportunity to advance his goal of giving his country a more assertive leadership role on the world stage.

China previously sought to capture the mantle as a supporter of world trade after Trump said he would pull the United States out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal championed by President Barack Obama.

Chinese media have trumpeted Xis moves in the global arena as a force for stability. But analysts say he isnt likely to address Trump straight on.

People will be asking, Will he say anything about Trump? Steve Tsang, director of SOAS China Institute in London, said. He would want to play his cards close to his chest at this stage. It would not make sense for him to say anything about Trump at the moment.

Francois Godement, head of the Asia and China program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the Chinese are extremely careful about what they say about the incoming Trump presidency.

I think right now they must be very busy watching and wondering what will come next, Godement said. But I have no doubt that he (Xi) will try to portray China as open, corporatist, stable, predictable, reliable on a number of global issues. Even if he doesnt cite the Trump administration, hell try to project a contrast.

Xi is the first Chinese head of state to visit Davos, and he will be trailed by four government ministers.

Russia also will be represented, with two deputy prime ministers and dozens of business leaders attending the gathering. When the first Davos conference took place in 1971, it was all about European leaders trying to tap into U.S. business acumen.

Speaking Monday before the conferences official opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab said this years event is not just a Western meeting. One-third of the participants are from the emerging world  including the largest-ever delegations from China and India, Schwab said.

In todays era of populism, a presence at uber-elite Davos can be a bit unseemly for Western leaders.

Bear in mind that elites, bankers and top businessmen are not usually popular with voters in democracies, so I can see that democratically elected leaders dont rush to show themselves in Davos, Godement said.

Whereas, more authoritarian regimes, they believe in business So they think of Davos as an arena for influence for the people who matter, he said.Jamey Keaten, Davos, AP
BURLEY  A Malta man was sentenced Thursday to two to 10 years in prison for the sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl.

In an agreement with the state, Gabriel Reyes-Villa, 48, entered an Alford plea to one count of rape, which was amended to felony injury to a child.

A person using an Alford guilty plea does not admit to all elements of a charge but admits prosecutors may have enough evidence to prove they are guilty.

Reyes-Villa was charged with two more counts of rape that were dismissed in the plea agreement.

He was charged after police said he raped the girl multiple times between July and August 2014.

Police said he gave the girl dolls in exchange for sex and offered her a car and money. Reyes-Villa, police said, made the girl and a 9-year-old boy watch pornographic movies.

According to court records, he was also convicted of beating a boy with an extension cord.

Reyes-Villa was given credit for 842 days spent in jail and he has to provide a DNA sample and thumb print to officials.
GOODING  Four Magic Valley teenagers are embarking on a trip to the nations Capitol this week to witness history in the making.

Wasim Hussni, Karlee Robinson, Zak Jones and Quike Lopez  all students at the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind in Gooding  are receiving an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. after their school won an online contest.

Theyll participate in the Presidential Inauguration Leadership Summit and will attend President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration Friday on the National Mall.

For the students, it will be their first time in Washington, D.C., and theyll be exposed to top-notch speakers at the summit.

Lopez, who is blind and lives in Jerome, said he has heard presidential inaugurations on television.

But hes excited to be in Washington, D.C. in person, including for his 18th birthday on Sunday.

Im looking to witness history, Lopez said. He later added: Other than building the wall, Im happy with what (Trump is) going to do.

Building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is too extreme, he said, and he doesnt think it will accomplish anything.

The ISDB student were set to leave Boise on a 6:30 a.m. flight Wednesday. Theyll return early Monday, arriving back in Gooding around 3 a.m.

While in Washington, D.C., students will participate in leadership summit activities and hear from speakers including Gen. Colin Powell, Spike Lee and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.

ISDB is one of three prize-wining schools in the Champions for Change contest that launched this fall, Envision and Discovery Education announced last week.

There were more than 35,000 entrants, and three schools with the most public votes online were selected.

I honestly thought when we registered for this contest we couldnt have a chance because were such a small school, said Gretchen Spooner, principal at ISDB.

She was shocked to find out the school won.

Her next question while talking with event organizers: Will it be accessible to her students? Two are blind and two are hard of hearing.

Spooner said organizers told her there will be interpreters at each venue and Braille workshop materials.

ISDB officials found out in early December the school was selected, but couldnt publicly say anything until Envision and Discovery Education made the official announcement.

In December, Spooner held an emergency meeting with high schoolers to talk about the opportunity. School administrators had less than a week to decide which students would attend.

Interested students had to get a permission slip signed by their a parent, and wrote a letter of interest about why they want to attend and how theyll represent their school.

Jones, a 19-year-old Wendell resident who is hard of hearing, said hes excited to hear from speakers at the leadership submit. Plus, we get to see a big city.

Robinson said she wonders if presenters are only going to talk about bigger cities. The 18-year-old  who is hard of hearing  wants to see little towns represented, too.

Robinsons family has a farm in Oakley. She lives at the ISDBs Gooding campus during the school week  Mondays through Thursdays  and then heads home over the weekends.

In their work groups, (students will) have an opportunity to be a voice for rural America, Spooner said.

The Presidential Inauguration Leadership Summit happens every four years, and its the ninth time the event has been held.

The goal is to bring vibrant young people in, Spooner said.

Students will work in small groups to tackle topics related to world problems. For example, Robinson and Jones are assigned to a group about health.

Lopez is assigned to a group about promoting peace in a turbulent world. He said hes overwhelmed by whats happening with wars, bloodshed and the refugee crisis.

I want to promote peace, he said, adding its important for countries the U.S. trades with, used to be allies with and for diplomatic work.

Lopez will also experience a big milestone on the trip: his first commercial plane ride. He said hes looking forward to feeling the force of the plane while on board.

Lopez said he loves big cities and grew up near Los Angeles. But Robinson said the biggest city she has ever seen was Denver, Colo.

Twin Falls resident Hussni, 18  who is blind  is looking forward to visiting museums in Washington, D.C. But hes most excited about learning new stuff.
BOISE  After three hours of debate and five failed motions, the committee in charge of making state employee pay recommendations decided to stick with the governors proposal.

Gov. C.L. Butch Otters plan, which passed the Joint Change in Employee Compensation Committee 9-8 Tuesday, will give 3 percent merit raises to state employees in 2017-18 and shift the states pay scale 3 percent to give an extra bump to some lower-paid employees.

Extra pay that can be used to attract people to some hard-to-fill positions would remain, and the state would continue to split this years 11 percent increase in health insurance costs the way it was before, with the state paying 90 percent and the employees 10 percent.

Medical costs are going up from $303 million this year to an estimated $351 million next year. The 3 percent merit raises add up to an estimated $40 million, of which $18 million comes from the states general fund and the rest from other funds, said committee Co-Chairman Sen. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls. The pay scale shift will cost about $129,000.

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee still needs to take up the recommendations, after which they need to pass the Legislature.

The CEC committee had held several meetings already, taking public testimony and going over a report on employee pay, put together by the states Division of Human Resources, that found Idaho ranks seventh out of eight western states in state employee pay. The reports conclusions were one of many topics of debate Tuesday, with some on the panel arguing cost of living differences muddy the waters too much to compare, and others arguing Idaho still competes with those areas in drawing talent.

Patrick said after the meeting he was happy with the committees work.

We learned a lot and we ... studied it, and we did our due diligence to make sure we were comfortable with it, he said.
Charles (Chuck) Pat Reas

August 18, 1929 - November 25, 2016

BURLEY - Charles (Chuck) Pat Reas, 87 year old Burley resident, passed away Thursday, November 25, 2016 at home surrounded by his loving family. He passed away from natural causes with complications from Lewy-Body Dementia.

Chuck, an only child, was born on August 18, 1929 in Liberal, Kansas to Fred and Dorothy Reas. During his high school years he worked for the U.S. Forest Service. After graduating from Caldwell High School, he attended Cal Poly University for two years majoring in air conditioning and refrigeration, and was then drafted into the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in Germany for two years and was honorably discharged with a good conduct medal.

Chuck then went to work for the JR Simplot Company in Caldwell. In 1958, he was transferred to Heyburn to oversee the building of the refrigeration part of the new JR Simplot Company. After almost 30 years, he retired as plant facilities manager and did consulting work for other Simplot plants as well as volunteering for the Simcoe Credit Union.

Chuck and Joyce Hill were married in Emmett, Idaho in 1959. To this union they welcomed two sons, Mike and Mark.

Chuck loved to travel whether it was on the Snake River pulling the family skiers, traveling down the Middle Fork with the scouts, to numerous dog shows or getting wood from the south hills. Eventually he and Joyce spent many enjoyable hours traveling with the D.L. Evans Premier Club.

He was a 20 plus year volunteer at the Cassia Hospital and the Burley-Rupert Chamber of Commerce earning Volunteer of the Year for both.

Chuck will always be remembered as a loving husband (of 57 years), son, father, grandfather and friend to all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, sons Michael (Cheryl) of American Falls, ID and Mark (Amber) of Federal Way, WA. Three grandchildren, Caitlin of American Falls, ID, Cadence and Charlie of Federal Way, WA. Sisters in law Bonnie Hill of Jerome, Joan Hill of Boise, Judy Thelin of San Ramon, CA and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in laws Cash and Rose Hill, five brothers in law Alan, Doyle, Gene, Larry and son Rex Hill and Gale Thelen.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Parkview therapists, Cassia Home Health and Hospice for their loving assistance and care (especially Irene and Stephanie) for their loving care that helped brighten the last days.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at the Morrison Payne Funeral Home 321 East Main Street in Burley.

Interment will take place in the spring. Those who wish to can contribute to Cassia Home Health and Hospice or to a charity of their choice.
Janet H. Bankhead

January 1, 1935 - January 15, 2017

MALTA  Janet H. Bankhead, 82, of Malta, died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at Minidoka Memorial Hospital in Rupert, surrounded by family.

She was born Jan. 1, 1935, in Logan, Utah. She was the oldest of seven children born to Cleon and Leah Jorgensen Humphreys.

She attended elementary school in Millville, Utah and graduated high school from South Cache.

She married Gerald Bankhead in the Logan LDS Temple on July 8, 1955. They lived in Wellsville, Utah until 1977, when they moved to Malta, Idaho, where she resided until she passed.

Janet was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in many capacities; including Relief Society President, Compassionate Service Leader, Primary Teacher, Visiting Teacher Supervisor and Scout Leader.

She was blessed with three children; a son, Jerry (Lisa) Bankhead of Malta; daughter, Rachel Bankhead (deceased); and daughter, Connie (Rich) Redman of Albion.

During her life one could always find her serving those around her. She took great pride in chauffeuring her widow friends to and from Burley for doctor appointments, lunch or groceries. Mom had a knack for keeping you laughing with her plentiful, witty one-liners.

BIG Grandma was adored by her grandchildren (16), and especially her great-grandchildren (17). Grandma loved teaching them nursery rhymes, reading stories and rocking them in her big chair.

Mom had many amazing gifts, but the one she spent hours and hours honing was her healing touch. If she could not heal you immediately you would get a call maybe an hour or even sometimes days later with a remedy she had researched. No was never an acceptable answer.

If you knew her, you loved her; if you ever visited her home you just wanted to curl up in her cozy warm home and take a nap. When you left she never let you leave without something. She will be dearly missed.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; daughter, Rachel; her parents; brothers, Orvan and Dale; and sister, Maurice.

The funeral will be held at 12 noon Friday, Jan. 20, at the Malta LDS Church, 280 N. 1st St., in Malta, with Bishop Dallan Spencer officiating. Friends may call from 11 until 11:45 a.m. preceding the service at the church. Burial will follow at the Valley Vu Cemetery in Malta.

The family suggests that memorial contributions in Janet's name be sent to the Primary Children's Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 58249, Salt Lake City, Utah 84158.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.
Margaret J. Peg Pratt

May 22, 1926 - January 14, 2017

TWIN FALLS - Margaret June Peg Pratt, longtime resident of Twin Falls, ID and formerly of Oakland, MD, and Webster Springs, WV, passed away on January 14, 2017 in Twin Falls.

She was born on May 22, 1926 in Webster Springs (also known as Addison), WV, to Richard F. and June (Wooddell) Marsh. Always an outstanding student, she graduated third in her class at Webster Springs High School and then attended West Virginia Wesleyan College and the University of Virginia.

In 1952, she married Thomas J. Pratt of Kitzmiller, MD. While residing in Oakland, MD, Peg was employed at the Garrett County Welfare Board, the Garrett National Bank, and the First National Bank of Oakland. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church and sang in their choir for years. In 1968, she moved to Twin Falls, ID, and began a career in the insurance field, working for the J.R. Simplot Company and for Sierra Life Insurance. Peg was a member of St. Edward's Catholic Church and sang in their choir, also. At more than one midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the crowded and silent congregations were in awe of her solo singing of O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Peg belonged to the Twin Falls Audubon Society and a star-gazing group. She was an expert on birds and astronomy. A prodigious reader, her entire book collection was donated to the Twin Falls distribution center of the Idaho Youth Ranch. Her sense of humor kept us laughing in good times and bad, and we were strengthened by her always positive outlook.

Peg was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Mary Ruth Treacy Babbitt, of Ft. Walton Beach, FL, and a beloved aunt, Kathryn Kitty Gonder, of Oakland, MD.

She is survived by her son, Joseph, of Boise, ID; her daughter, Betsy Nickels, her grandson, Andy (Shambray) Nickels, her two great-grandsons, Brayden and Drew Nickels, all of Idaho Falls, ID; an uncle, Dr. Hopwood (Karen) Wooddell, of Mt. Lake Park, MD; one niece, eight nephews, and several cousins.

Per her wishes, cremation has taken place and her ashes will be scattered at the Hagerman Wildlife Refuge and interred at the Twin Falls Cemetery, next to her parents. A private service will be held at the cemetery later. Arrangements are under the direction of Reynolds F7uneral Chapel, 2466 Addison Ave E., Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.reynoldschapel.com.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to either the Audubon Society, or Idaho Public TV, or the charity of your choice.

Peg's family is very grateful for the excellent care she received at Bridgeview Nursing Home.

One of the wisest things Peg said was, All life is a preparation for death, because death is the door to eternal life. If you knew her, and want to honor her memory, go outside on a clear night, and holding the hand of someone you love, be amazed at the magnificent stars that God made for us.
TWIN FALLS  Dish Network was scheduled to stop carrying KMVT and KSVT programming beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but negotiations for a new contract proved fruitful.

KMVT is the local CBS affiliate found on Channel 11, and KSVT is the FOX affiliate on Channel 14.

Negotiations took place Tuesday between Dish and KMVT and KSVT parent company Gray Television.

Gray Television and Dish have come to an agreement so there will be no disruption of service, KMVT and KSVT Vice President and General Manager Tim Coles told the Times-News.

Coles had said earlier that afternoon that the looming deadline was just a negotiation tactic but the stations were hoping that it all gets worked out.

Coles said customers can also watch KMVT over the air.

Anyone in our market can get our signal free of charge right now, Coles said.
A South Korean businessman who went missing in the Philippines three months ago was kidnapped by policemen and murdered on the day he disappeared, a Seoul official said Wednesday.

The family of the man, in his 50s and only identified with his surname Ji, reportedly sent the suspects a ransom of five million pesos ($100,000) two weeks after he was seized in Angeles, near Manila.

But he had already been strangled to death and burned to ashes in a crematorium owned by one of the gang, a former police officer, said an official at Seoul's foreign ministry, citing the Philippine inquiry's findings.

Eight suspects, including three current Philippine policemen, were being investigated, the official said.

"The Philippine police told us that several police officers had been named as suspects in the kidnapping and murder," said an official at Seoul's foreign ministry.

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Crimes targeting South Koreans in the Philippines have often made headlines. Nearly 50 South Koreans have been killed in the country since 2012.

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PEOPLE going to mass at one of the most famous churches in Manila over Christmas were met by a disturbing sight: poster-size pictures of Filipinos dying in pools of blood.

The shock Baclaran church exhibit was part of a campaign by one of the nations oldest and most powerful institutions to stop the killings under President Rodrigo Dutertes war against drugs, which has claimed about 6,000 thousand lives.

The Church right now is asserting its influence, thats why in the coming months the Church will be at the forefront in leading against extrajudicial killings, said Jerome Secillano, public affairs chief for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

The Catholic Church, counting eight out of every 10 Filipinos among its flock, wants the Duterte presidency to succeed, but would be remiss in its moral obligation to protect life by keeping quiet, Secillano said.

SPECTRAL SIGHT. Two church-goers look at the exhibit of pictures, in this photo taken Dec. 21, 2016, showing the deaths of alleged drug dealers and users, while taking the breeze at the courtyard of the Catholic Baclaran Church, six months after President Rodrigo Duterte launched his anti-illegal drugs drive. AFP

[The drug war] is not any more in accord with the legal processes, and the moral norms are being violated and so now is the time for the Church to speak up, he said.

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Duterte was elected in a landslide last year, after vowing on the campaign trail to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of people.

Police have reported killing 2,250 drug suspects since Duterte assumed office, with 3,710 others murdered by unknown suspects who at times have left signs at the crime scenes accusing their victims of being drug dealers or addicts.

Duterte has made no apologies for the killings, saying he would be happy to slaughter three-million drug addicts to stop the Philippines from descending into a Latin American-style narco state.

While Dutertes crackdown has been condemned by human rights activists and some Western governments for allegedly unleashing a wave of extrajudicial killings, the President has retained huge support from Filipinos hoping his strongman style will fix crime, corruption and other intractable problems.

With such support and also because of various intimidation tactics, few politicians or other influential people have spoken out.

For months the Church, which played a leading role in the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and President Joseph Estrada, also held its tongue.

Church leaders said they wanted to give Duterte, who won the May elections by 6.6-million votes, a chance to implement his programmes and make the Philippines a safer place.

They had also hoped to influence him quietly, holding a series of private meetings with Duterte and one of his top aides, according to Manila priest Atilano Fajardo, who is now helping to lead the Churchs campaign against the killings.

Meanwhile, some priests and bishops, like ordinary people, were too scared to speak out, according to Secillano.

Not too many churches and people are actually keen on speaking up against these killings because of fear, he said.

To start the pushback, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the bishops conference, issued a pastoral letter to his flock in October.

I am ashamed of the things I read about the Philippines in the international media and more ashamed of what I hear from our leaders, Villegas said then.

I can no longer give a word of condolence to the bereaved families because I also need to be assured even a bit that things will get better and not become worse.

In a Christmas message, Manila Cardinal Luis Tagle, the countrys highest-ranking Church official, lamented Filipinos losing their sense of hospitality, in what was seen as a criticism of the killings.

Why is there room for destroying lives but minute space for saving them? Tagle said.

Some churches around the Philippines have since put up banners denouncing extrajudicial killings, while priests have helped to organize relatives of the slain into a watchdog group called Network Against Killings in the Philippines.

Over the coming weeks, the Church also plans to train widows and other female relatives of men killed in mainly slum communities to document the deaths so they can bring criminal charges against police.

Church leaders take pains to emphasize they have not given up on Duterte and they are not campaigning against his rule, just the killings.

Prayer can move mountains. We believe that Duterte can still change his position, so we need to pray, Fajardo said.

What impact the Church campaign against the killings will have on government policy remains uncertain.

But it is taking heart from a fresh survey showing eight in 10 Filipinos now fear they or their friends could be next to be killed.

When you speak to people on the ground, there is a lot of fear many people, especially the urban poor, feel that anybody can be tagged and killed, Manila bishop Broderick Pabillo said.

Visitors at the Baclaran photo exhibit who agreed to speak were generally hesitant to criticize the government but said they had seen enough.

What is happening is horrible. They should not be killing defenseless people, said churchgoer Gina Loranza, 48.

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Twenty years ago, the Philippines captured the imagination of the science community and the Filipinos when it was described in the book "Vanishing Treasures of the Philippine Rain Forest" described it as "The Galapagos Islands times ten" . Galapagos Islands have a special meaning for biologists, because of the unique plant and animal species and high biodiversity of the place.





The Philippines was regarded as one of the 17 mega-diversity countries in the world because it is blessed with an exceptionally rich diversity of species and an amazing abundance of endemic species. Endemic species refers to those organisms that are found nowhere else in the world except the particular place specified. Source





Two decades later it has lost its ranking. Other countries did their best to be biodiversity champions. The Philippines? It simply appears to have forgotten to preserve and protect the environment.





Why?





In the Philippines, habitats where animals live are threatened by poverty, migrations, logging and industry. Many of these problems are manifestations of unchecked population growth, poverty and corruption.





Many regard the Philippines as the hottest biodiversity spot of all because its vast numbers of species and the predicament they are in. Of the 1,196 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles in the country, nearly 46 percent are endemic. Among plants, the number is around 40 percent. Habitat loss threatens more than 70 percent of the 500 species unique to the Philippines.





No doubt the extinction of some them is unavoidable. Only about 5 percent of the Philippines land area is under some form of protection. Source

Venezuelas Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall.

Photo by Rhett A. Butler









The top 10 most biodiverse countries





by Rhett Butler





Just missing the top 10:





Several countries  Bolivia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Malaysia, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, and Tanzania  narrowly missed the top 10. For some plant and animal groups, some of these countries do make their respective top 10s, including South Africa for vascular plants and Papua New Guinea for animals.





#10 (tie): United States and Venezuela





While they may be polar opposites in terms of current political ideology, Venezuela and the United States have at least one thing in common: incredibly high levels of biodiversity. Due to its diversity of freshwater and marine ecosystems, the United States ranks particularly high in terms of fish species, while Venezuela is one of the worlds most biodiverse countries when it comes to birds.





#9: Ecuador





Despite having a smaller land area than the state of Arizona, Ecuador outpaces the entire United States when it comes to biodiversity. The country  which spans the Andes-Amazon region and includes the Galapagos archipelago  outranks the U.S. in bird (1588 bird species in Ecuador versus the USAs 844 species) and amphibian species (539 species versus 300 species).





#8: India





With a large landmass covering a range of ecosystems, India scores well across the board in terms of species richness. It ranks especially high when it comes to reptiles and birds. Some of Indias best known species are charismatic megafauna: elephants, rhinos, lions, and tigers.





The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the worlds largest coal reef.

Photo: Rhett A. Butler









Australia really outperforms when it comes to reptiles and fish, leading the world in both categories according to The Reptile Database and FishBase. The Great Barrier Reef and terrestrial ecosystems ranging from dry deserts to tropical rainforests give the continent-nation a boost in the rankings.





#6: Peru





Unsurprisingly, three of the top six countries on this list are in South America, which is home of the worlds largest rainforest: the Amazon. Peru is second only to Colombia in terms of birds and ranks in the top five globally for amphibians, mammals, and plants.





#5: Mexico





Spanning Meso-American rainforests, dry forests, mountain habitats, and deserts, Mexico scores well across most plant and animal groups. Its strongest ranks come among birds, mammals, reptiles, and plants.









While most Americans probably think of massive cities when someone mentions China or perhaps the panda bear, the giant East Asian country is actually home to a staggering array of habitats, from tropical rainforests in Yunnan to the Gobi desert. China ranks particularly well for birdlife, plants, and fish.

Rainforest in Indonesia. Photo: Rhett A. Butler





#3: Indonesia





An archipelago of more than 10,000 islands, Indonesia has a wide array of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including parts of the worlds third largest rainforest and the famed Coral Triangle. Indonesia has the most mammal species of any country and is narrowly edged out by Australia when it comes to fish species, according to FishBase. It ranks fourth with 1615 bird species, according to BirdLife International. Indonesia is the only place on Earth where rhinos, orangutans, elephants, bears, and tigers can be found living in the same forest.





Jaguar in Colombia. Photo: Rhett A. Butler





#2: Colombia





Colombias incredible bird, amphibian, and plant richness allow it to beat out Indonesia on our index. With 1826 species, Colombia has more species of birds than any country on Earth. Colombias biological richness is a product of its variety of ecosystems, including tropical forests in the Amazon and Choco, mountain habitats like the Sierra Nevada and Andes, the grasslands of the llanos and paramos, and islands like Gorgona in the Pacific and San Martin in the Caribbean.







The giant monkey frog lives across the Amazon rainforest.

Photo by Rhett A. Butler

#1: Brazil





Brazil is the Earths biodiversity champion. Between the Amazon rainforest and Mata Atlantica forest, the woody savana-like cerrado, the massive inland swamp known as the Pantanal, and a range of other terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, Brazil leads the world in plant and amphibian species counts. It ranks second in mammals and amphibians, third in birds, reptiles and fish.








Peace talks that would begin in Kazakhstan on Monday to end the six-year old Syrian war have begun facing first stumbling blocks following Irans objection to the presence of the United States in Astana.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Tehran is hostile to their presence and we have not invited them while a spokesman for the ministry, Bahran Ghasemi, stressed that the policy of the Iranian government is to not add other countries at this stage because it could increase the risk of failure.

The Astana talks were organized after a trilateral meeting between Iran, Russia and Turkey in Moscow at the beginning of the year. Ankara and Moscow stated earlier this week that the Trumps administration would be invited to the talks as the U.S. President-elect is expected to be sworn-in on January 20, three days before the talks commence.

Head of Irans Supreme National Security Council (SNNC), Ali Shamkani, also noted that there is no reason for the United States to participate in the organizing of political initiatives in the Syrian crisis and it is out of the question that it should have a role in the Astana negotiations.

He said only armed groups that have signed and abide by a ceasefire agreement and UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura would be invited to the January 23 gathering. The SNNC oversees Irans international coordination on the Syrian war.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ghasemi did not rule out inviting other countries if the first steps in Astana, which will probably be a meeting at deputy ministers level, are successful.

Syrian President, Bachar al-Assad, said he is willing to discuss everything with regards to Syria with the real Syrian opposition on the basis of the constitution while rebel factions expected to be present at the talks underlined that they will lay emphasis on the matter of the ceasefire and the violations by the regime and humanitarian actions.

Members of the Syrian rebel groups, Fastaquim and the Free Syrian Army, said they would attend the talks.
Irans President Hassan Rouhani has warned U.S. President-elect Donald Trump against sidelining the nuclear agreement that was reached between the so-called P5+1 because it is a finished deal that has been approved by the UN Security Council and has become an international document.

Rouhani vowed that there would be no (new) negotiations with regards to the nuclear agreement reached in July 2015 while the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, criticized Trumps opinion of the deal as negative, and said Tehran does not take it seriously.

During his campaign, the incoming U.S. president described the nuclear agreement as the worst deal ever negotiated by Washington. He also assured the influential American Israeli Public Affairs Committee that his number-one priority would be to dismantle the disastrous deal because he thinks that Tehran could keep the terms and get to the bomb by simply running out the clock.

Rouhani told reporters at a press conference that the agreement is a multilateral accord.

The deal was signed between Iran, the U.S., Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

The Iranian President believes that campaign promises are different from what takes place when presidency is assumed. These are mostly slogans he said as he regards the statements made by Trump, before the assumption of office, in respect of the deal as meaningless.

Rex Tillerson, nominee for Secretary of State of the incoming administration, is calling for a full review of the agreement but Salehi reiterated that Iran has no plans for renegotiations and if Trump tears up the nuclear deal, we will not lose anything.

Outgoing U.S. President, Barack Obama, still thinks that the deal achieved significant, concrete results in making the United States and the world a safer place by stopping Iran from being a nuclear state.
Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.
A challenge I have grappled with a lot

A few years earlier, Nagata had told his parents, both ordained clergy, that he was gay, and they had been supportive, he said. But he could not imagine how his host family or his Kenyan colleagues might react to this news, given the very different political climate for the LGBT community in the East African country.

Its a challenge I have grappled with a lot, said Nagata, 30, who is now a fellow in adolescent medicine at UC-San Francisco. I wondered to what extent it would be safe or practical to come out to colleagues whom I would be working with internationally. Because coming out is a very big deal. I was still hiding a big part of myself from others, like my host family.

Michele Barry, MD, professor of medicine and director of Stanfords Center for Innovation in Global Health, said she advises medical residents working abroad to be cautious on issues of sexual identity. The center sponsors the Johnson & Johnson Global Health Scholars program, which sends residents abroad for rotations of up to six weeks.

I talk to the residents about really being very circumspect and suggesting that they not share their sexual orientation, she said. I think it can be very charged information. I give residents an opportunity to opt out of the program if they dont feel comfortable in not being open about their sexuality.

Value vs. risk of openness

Barry said she views the issue in the context of respecting local culture.

Its like dressing culturally appropriately, even if you dont agree with it. Its very akin to women who go into a culture where they have to wear a hijab, she said. They may not agree with it, but they are guests in the country, so I ask them to respect that others wear a hijab and not argue the fact. We have to be respectful of the culture.

In his commentary, Nagata weighs the value of being open about ones sexual minority status with the possible risks and dangers of exposure. He said U.S. clinician-scientists may change minds and open up the conversation on the issues by revealing their status to people who might not otherwise interact with an LGBT individual.

I was still hiding a big part of myself from others, like my host family.

Peoples opinions of LGBT rights and same-sex marriage might be changed if they experience solidarity with an LGBT family member or friend, he wrote.

U.S. scientists also may have the opportunity to advocate for change in their host countries by working with local activists who are experienced and understand the risks, he said. For instance, they could seize the opportunity to call attention to the health issues prevalent in the LGBT community and the difficulties these individuals face in finding doctors willing to treat them and able to provide appropriate care. Because of stigma and discrimination, LGBT individuals are more prone to anxiety, depression and suicide and suffer from higher rates of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, he said.

He said researchers from the United States who are open and speak out on the issues might be somewhat insulated from backlash because they come from a country where LGBT rights are protected.

On the other hand, he said, they have to be cognizant of the risks they may face, including physical violence. Not everyone can be a martyr and put their lives in danger for a cause, he writes.

Its a conundrum

Barry agreed. I completely empathize with the urge to show solidarity, but its not the time to endanger yourself, she said. Its a conundrum.

In his own case, Nagata said he agonized about how to approach his Kenyan host family, whom he plans to revisit to continue his work.

Even as some of my friends and colleagues reviewed the article, they advised me not to come out under any circumstances to my host family, he said. Though sentiments have changed in the United States in recent years, there are still very strong sentiments [against homosexuality] in Kenya. So while I think it would be an interesting viewpoint for them to hear, I could see them saying, Youre not welcome anymore.

For the moment, he has decided to confine his advocacy to working from afar by writing about the issues.

I think my advice overall is that there is no one right answer for how to deal with this, he said. People have to balance the potential risk of adverse consequences with their own ideals for advocacy and promotion of universal human rights.

While it would be great to fight for a cause you believe in, there are also practical consequences to think about, he said.
Three ministers of Gambian President Yahya Jammehs outgoing government have resigned on Monday as the political crisis deepens in the West-African nation.

The resigning ministers were holding the key portfolios of Foreign Affairs (Neneh Macdouall-Gaye), of Finance (Abdou Kolley) and of Trade (Abdou Jobe.)

The move comes days after President Yahya Jammeh filed a petition to stop the swearing-in ceremony of the President-elect Adama Barrow.

Jammeh has hired judges from Nigeria and Sierra Leone to hear the petition, but they have failed to arrive in Gambia.

The chief justice said the court would be adjourned until the next regular session in either May or November, but added that the petitions could be heard if the judges arrive sooner.

Adama Barrow, the opposition coalition candidate who was declared winner in the December 1 polls, is expected to be sworn in as the new President on January 19.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the event, Barrow who is in neighboring Senegal, is expected to be flown in to be inaugurated.

The regional political bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has failed to mediate in the post-election crisis largely due to the rigid stands taken by Jammeh. ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) have said they would not recognize Jammeh as a legitimate president.

ECOWAS has hinted that they would consider a military option if needed to respect the will of the Gambian people as expressed in the elections.
The United Nations on Monday accused South Sudan for failing to render justice after grave human rights abuses were committed during an explosion of violence in the world youngest nation in July.

More than 300 people, including at least 73 civilians, were killed during deadly clashes between Forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar.

According to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the U.N. Human Rights Office, 217 cases of rape have been documented, including gang rape, committed by the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA), the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) and other armed groups.

The fighting that erupted in July 2016 was a serious setback for peace in South Sudan and showed just how volatile the situation in the country is, with civilians living under the risk of mass atrocities, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement.

The absence of any semblance of justice and accountability for the violations perpetrated  including possible war crimes  such unbridled outbursts of violence could quickly escalate (and) civilians will continue to suffer immensely, he said.

Machar led a two-year rebellion against forces loyal to his longtime rival President Salva Kiir before the two sides reached a peace deal in August 2015. Under the deal, Machar returned to Juba in April 2016 to resume his role as Vice-President.

Since the outbreak of fighting in July, Kiir has sacked Machar from his post and replaced him by Taban Deng Gai, a former opposition negotiator who broke ranks with Machar.
Security forces in Cote dIvoire on Monday, fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse protesting students as nationwide strikes intensified in the West-African nation.

The strike comes less than a week after soldiers sealed off the main road into Bouake, the countrys second city, in what was thought to be an army mutiny over the payment of bonuses.

Our men dispersed the protesters  who were stopping workers going to their jobs in the ministries, a senior police official who asked not to be named told Reuters. They were obliged to use teargas. He said.

State employees also went on strike last week protesting pension cuts and a plan to raise the retirement age.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara who presides Africas fastest-growing economy, said the country is looking everywhere for investors as it recovers from internal conflict.

Ouattara, 74, revived growth and encouraged investment by building new highways and dams, cutting red tape for businesses and increasing cocoa output but still faces key threats to national stability.

The countrys economy is expected to grow by an average 7.4 percent between 2017 and 2020 after reaching 8.5 percent last year, the International Monetary Fund said.
Big Pharmas sketchy drug marketing practices cost Canadians $15B in overspending

Just when you thought the wasting of hard-earned dollars couldnt get any worse, recent reports reveal that the Canadians have wasted a staggering $15 billion in just five years on overpriced drugs. At least part of the immense waste is thought to be due to questionable pharmaceutical sales tactics.

The gross overspending was revealed thanks to some extensive research and a hidden camera investigation led by The Fifth Estate. Express Scripts Canada, a health benefits company, helped to conduct research which shows that between 2011 and 2015, employer-funded private insurance plans across the country wasted more than $3 billion per year. How did this happen? Companies were covering the cost of expensive drugs that have cheaper options, and were paying for extraneous dispensing fees. (RELATED: See more examples of rigged pricing and fraud across society at Rigged.news)

In total, about 20 percent of the nations $81 billion spent on medication during that time could have been eliminated.

John Herbert, director of strategy, product development and clinical services for Express Scripts Canada, says, Its quite a staggering number. The Ontario-based company helps the private insurance industry eliminate wasteful spending.

Its key for Canadians to know this because they can save themselves as well as their employer money by choosing to take advantage of those lower-cost, clinically effective medications, Herbert added.

In the case of type 2 diabetes medications, doctors prescribe more expensive drugs without first trying more affordable alternatives, 30 percent of the time. In Canada, spending on diabetes drugs is the fastest-growing realm of medication spending according to IMS Health, a healthcare data company.

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The Diabetes Association of Canada even suggests that care providers first prescribe generic Metformin to their diabetic patients before trying anything else. This prescription is extremely affordable, equating to just $65 per year. The organization states that more expensive alternatives, which can add up to $3,000 per year, should only be used if the Metformin generic fails to work.

Is this actually what physicians do when they are prescribing the medication? Of course not. The research conducted by Express Scripts Canada uncovered the harsh truth: $100 million was wasted over the course of 2015, thanks to disregard for the guidelines. That is a huge sum of money to waste in just a single year.

The experts do note that sometimes there may be a medical reason for skipping over the generic Metformin, but they also note that that doesnt explain away all that wasted money.

Sheryl Spithoff, a family doctor from Toronto, commented, My guess is that drug promotion is very influential in terms of doctors not following the guidelines. Its incredible. Its a lot of money that could be used for other things in the health-care system.

Behind the waste

Poor prescribing practices top the list of reasons for healthcare overspending, according to experts. As is the case in the U.S., many Canadian doctors tend to rely on the pharmaceutical companies to teach them about new drugs, uses and side effects. Of course, any reasonable person would say that is probably not the best practice.

Companies will always favor their own products.

During their hidden camera investigation, The Fifth Estate planted a doctor at the annual Family Medicine Forum in Vancouver. They found that at every booth the doctor visited, they were greeted with questionable marketing tactics  ranging from not disclosing side effects unless prompted, to even promoting the product for off-label uses.

You can see why the pharmaceutical industry shouldnt be responsible for physician education. (Learn more about the waste and fraud of the pharmaceutical industry at Medicine.news)

Its not just Canada thats overspending

A report released in 2012 by the U.S. Institute of Medicine revealed that we are also overspending on healthcare. The agency estimated that in 2009 alone, the United States wasted a shocking $750 billion on inefficient spending and care. A graph in the report suggests that excess services and treatments accounted for $210 billion of the waste.

Other reports have shown that Americans pay more for medications than people do in any other country in the world.

Clearly, there is a huge issue with overspending in the healthcare industry. And if Canada is any kind of example, the pharmaceutical industry plays a significant role in it  as do healthcare providers through their complacency.

Sources:

CBC.ca

DrugWatch.com

KHN.org
Three new factories to open in Georgia

Three new factories are to be opened in different regions of Georgia with the aid of state-funded programs, Produce in Georgia and Georgian Tea Program.First, a construction material factory will be established in Georgias Mtskheta municipality, where approximately 1.3 million GEL (about $474,477/449,423*) will be invested.Meanwhile, Georgias Chkhorotku municipality will welcome 130,000 GEL (about $47,447/ 44,942*) in investments that will be used to set up a new hazelnut and bay leaf processing factory.These two enterprises will be created within the Produce in Georgia state-funded program, while the Georgian Tea Program will support the establishment of a tea processing plant in the village Nagomari, in Georgias Guria region.Both state programs aim to support and stimulate Georgias agricultural industry.The Government of Georgia approved all three projects at todays Government Meeting.
Georgia received interesting proposal

By Messenger Staff

Georgias Minister of Energy, Kakha Kaladze has stated Georgia has received an interesting proposal from Russias energy giant Gazprom Company at January 10 meeting.The Minister stressed the Government of Georgia planned to discuss the proposal.Several meetings have been held with Gazprom but without any result as our positions were very different, Kaladze said.The conversation mainly referred to the issue of financial reimbursement, the Minister added.Experts believe that Georgia should not receive the price of the gas transit to Armenia as financial reimbursement; for his part, Kaladze says this point of view is misguided.In March last year, Georgia reached a verbal agreement with Gazprom to continue cooperating as it did in the past, meaning Georgia would receive 10% of natural gas that transits through the country to Armenia instead of monetary compensation.To date, Georgia has received 200 million m3 of natural gas per year from Russia in return for transit, Kaladze stated then.The Minister also claimed in January 2016, the country faced a gas deficit especially in winters and the deficit could be filled via Gazprom.The statement caused a large-scaled stir in Georgia among the opposition and the civil sector, who opposed additional gas transit from Russia when the country occupies 20% of Georgias land.Later, after meeting with Azerbaijans SOCAR leadership, Kaladze stressed that Georgias natural gas supply deficit challenge was solved until 2030 as during the next 14 years Georgia would receive an additional 500 million cubic metres (m3) of natural gas from Azerbaijans national oil company, SOCAR, raising the amount it receives from 800 million to 1.3 billion m3 per year.Azerbaijan is the main gas supplier of Georgia, with a share of 77.9% of the total volume of gas imports of the country.About 686 million cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas came as part of the agreement in the frames of the BP-operated South Caucasus Pipeline, which transports gas from the Shah Deniz offshore field in the Caspian Sea to Turkey via Georgia. A total of 1.21 billion cubic meters were imported as part of a separate deal with Azerbaijan.Georgia received 267.7 million cubic meters of gas from Russia in 2014, of which 206.1 million was dubbed a transit fee. As a fee, Georgia receives 10% of Russias gas transited to Armenia through the North-South Pipeline. Georgia also imported 61.6 million cubic meters of Russian gas in 2014.It is interesting now what type of interesting proposal Georgia received from Gazprom, a company that is generally used for political purposes by Russia.Georgia has already seen that depending on Russias energy products is very dangerous, as in case of any tension Russia will use its resources against its opponent.Georgia must be very cautious when increasing its dependence on Russia, as it remains an occupant country which violates Georgian interests on a daily basis.
The News in Brief

Parliamentary Group on Amending Surveillance Regulations Launches Work



An ad hoc parliamentary working group was established to draft amendments to Georgias surveillance regulations for bringing it in line with the Constitutional Courts decision that ruled certain provisions of the existing regulations as unconstitutional.



The Constitutional Court ruled on April 14, 2016 that the legislation allowing the State Security Agency to copy and store the personal data for two years and to have direct, unrestricted access to telecom operators networks to monitor communications is unconstitutional.



The court said then that it understood the fundamental legislative amendments, as well as institutional and technical application of the new system, stemming from this verdict, required time and for that reason, set the March 31, 2017 as the deadline for implementing the court decision.



The parliamentary working group, which is led by Parliamentary Legal Issues Committee Chairperson Eka Beselia, includes MPs, representatives of executive and judiciary authorities, as well as the non-governmental organizations, who have been campaigning for the restriction of security agencies direct, unfettered access to telecom operators networks for almost three years within the This Affects You campaign.



The campaign participants have developed their own legislative proposals, in which, among other issues, they insist on transferring the so called surveillance key from the State Security Service to an independent agency.



The United National Movement claims that the government will not agree on removing the surveillance function from the State Security Service.



The particular model which will replace the existing surveillance regulations will be developed by the parliamentary working group.



We all agree on one thing, that the protection of our citizens security should be guaranteed and this responsibility of the state should be secured by all relevant instruments, so that [we manage] to avoid disproportionate interference in the privacy  we all agree on observing this balance. We also agree that we may think about additional control mechanisms, external control besides personal data protection inspector and the court, which will be kept as an external control tool anyway. We are also thinking about increasing the parliamentary control, Eka Beselia said on January 9 after a meeting with representatives of the This Affects You campaign.



Beselia, who was the co-author of the regulations, part of which was considered unconstitutional, added that we cannot afford such an experiment and further increase the threats in Georgia, which has rather difficult geopolitical location.



In 2014, Parliament passed the package of legislative amendments setting tighter rules for the law enforcement agencies to carry out surveillance activities, including through introduction of higher standards of justification required for security agencies to obtain court warrant on surveillance, as well as through increasing authorities of the personal data protection inspector. But the key issue, which has been in legislation since 2010 and which allows security agencies to operate the so called black box spy devices in telecommunications service providers networks, remained unchanged.



After Parliament passed the package, President Giorgi Margvelashvili vetoed it, but Parliament overrode the veto. The amendments failed to allay the concerns of civil society groups, who claim that until the security service retains direct access to telecom operators servers, law enforcement agencies will be able to carry out illegal surveillance bypassing the personal data protection inspector. The Constitutional Court called for amending the disputable provisions based on the lawsuits filed by the Public Defender and the This Affects You campaign organizers. (Civil.ge)







Presidents annual report to reflect all important issues



According to Parliamentary Secretary Ana Dolidze, the Presidents annual report will reflect all the important issues that bother the Georgian population.



She refrained from elaborating on further details.



We have not launched consultations in this regard. Naturally, the report will reflect all important issues that bother the Georgian population. I cannot provide further details, said Dolidze.



MPs will listen to the President at the beginning of the spring session. A review of the most important state issues by the President once a year is envisaged by the constitution.



According to the Parliaments Rules of Procedure, it usually takes place on the first day of the spring session. (IPN)







EU interested in Georgias capabilities for migration



Zviad Kvachantiradze, head of the Committee of Diaspora and Caucasian Issues, has met with the Head of the European Union Delegation to Georgia, Janos Herman.



Visa liberalization for Georgia, the ongoing processes in the EU countries and the issue of migration were discussed at the meeting.



As Ambassador Janos Herman said at the meeting, migration is one of the serious challenges in the EU countries and the EU is interested in Georgias role and capabilities in this direction. According to him, it is important the Parliament to have a coordinator of the mentioned issue.



The two sides discussed future cooperation and agreed on that more meetings will be held to address a number of issues.



"We have had interesting business relations with the EU Delegation for years. At today's meeting we discussed prospects of cooperation in various directions", - Zviad Kvachantiradze said after the meeting. (IPN)




@amysherman1

The mass shooting at the airport in Broward County has raised several questions about security, but government officials who met Tuesday said it will take time to reach conclusions about any long-term changes related to firearms in airports, paying for security or other measures to protect passengers.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat whose district includes the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, said one of the key questions is whether the U.S. should continue the policy of allowing guns in checked baggage. Wasserman Schultz met with law enforcement, aviation and government officials at the Broward Sheriffs Office Tuesday to discuss airport security. The meeting was closed to the public, but officials spoke at a press conference after the meeting.

There was no professional who was in the room today that said, Oh, we definitely should continue to allow firearms to be checked in baggage traveling on airplanes, Wasserman Schultz said. No one said that. In fact, there was pretty universal consensus that it needs to be addressed.

When asked if the Transportation Security Administration wants to change the policy that allows guns checked in baggage, TSA Chief of Operations Gary Rasicot said any changes to that I defer to the congresswoman and her colleagues.

Providing more airport security comes at a price.

We are all about saving dollars and we all have budgets, but I think we should be more about saving lives, Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said during the press conference. Whatever we need to make Broward County safe I will be asking for that money soon.

In an interview with the Herald, Israel said that it cost his agency about $300,000 to respond to the shooting on Jan. 6th. Additionally, it will cost BSO about $100,000 a month in overtime to provide more security, he said.

I will be going to the county asking to finance that bill, he said.
For years, National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer has clashed with Florida sheriffs on gun issues. But what truly rankles Hammer is the spectacle of sheriffs traveling to Tallahassee at taxpayer expense, armed and in full uniform, to battle elements of the NRA's agenda such as open carry or campus carry legislation.

"It's just patently wrong," Hammer told the Times/Herald. "They are there to protect our rights, not to come to Tallahassee at taxpayer expense to take away our rights." She said it's "intimidation" for a sheriff to lobby for gun free zones while standing before a legislative committee with a holster strapped to his hip.

Hammer said a sheriff who wants to lobby for stricter gun laws should be required to take a day off from work, switch to street clothes and travel to Tallahassee at personal expense. She said she has found a House sponsor for a bill to address the issue, but no such proposal has surfaced yet, and the idea will face resistance because the timing seems all wrong.

House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, has criticized the practice of local governments hiring outside lobbyists and says sheriffs and other elected officials should walk the halls of the Capitol, not pay other people to do it for them. Corcoran agrees with the NRA on gun issues, but he said sheriffs should be lobbying in person in Tallahassee.

"I think they have a First Amendment right to do that," Corcoran said. "A sheriff absolutely has the constitutional right to come up and advocate for what he thinks is best for the safety of his county."

An obvious target of Hammer's wrath is Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri (at left), who again this session will be the Florida Sheriffs Association's point man on legislative issues and who has never backed away from a fight with Hammer.

Gualtieri called Hammer's criticism "self-serving and disingenuous," noting that the NRA doesn't appear to have a problem with sheriffs in uniform showing up to support the gun lobby's priorities, as Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey did in the 2016 session on open carry legislation. That bill stalled amid resistance from law enforcement and the singular opposition of a committee chairman, former Republican Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla of Miami.

"It's totally self-serving," Gualtieri said of Hammer. "Let people engage. Let the chips fall where they may. They (the NRA) can wrap themselves in the Constitution all they want. I listen to my constituents."

Sheriffs are constitutional officers, and Hammer accused Gualtieri of violating his oath of office in his actions. "Sheriffs are elected and sworn to uphold the constitutional rights of their constituents," Hammer said. "Continuing to talk about taking away those rights is contrary to their oath of office."


@PatriciaMazzei

The genteel people of Palm Beach, home to the old-money fortunes of captains-of-industry scions, once ridiculed even their wealthy Kennedy neighbors  with their Irish Catholicism, Hollywood paparazzi and family scandals  as contemptible nouveau riche.

Then came Donald Trump.

Immediately branded by the notoriously insular locals as a vulgar arriviste, he acquired the late cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Posts landmark Mar-a-Lago estate  and the desirable social standing it bestowed  in 1985, only to spend the following three decades suing the town over and over again when it got in his way. The squabbles between Trump and the Palm Beach establishment became the stuff of tabloid legend.

My, how times have changed. Or at least, Trumps place in the world has.

With Trumps imminent presidential inauguration, Palm Beach has become far more tolerant of its most famous, and now most powerful, part-time resident. One might even be tempted to say the town has  gasp!  wrapped Trump in its collective embrace.

Thats going too far, chuckled Carey ODonnell, a public relations and advertising exec and longtime resident who now lives on one of the three bridges leading to barrier-island Palm Beach. (The uninitiated often mistakenly identify Mar-a-Lago as being on the decidedly less upscale mainland city of West Palm Beach.)

Trumps relationship with Palm Beach has evolved over time, ODonnell conceded. But certainly now theres a drastic change. You wouldnt call it an evolution anymore; now its a drastic shift  out of necessity, of course.

And so, good luck finding a Palm Beacher today who offers something other than praise for the president-elect.

More here.

Photo credit: Charles Trainor Jr., Miami Herald staff
@MaryEllenKlas

Florida's teachers union struck out Wednesday in its latest effort to dismantle Florida's tax credit scholarship program as the Florida Supreme Court rejectedits appeal for legal standing to challenge the voucher-like program that finances students from low-performing schools to attend private schools.

The Florida Education Association and other plaintiffs, including the NAACP, allege the scholarships are unconstitutional because the program diverts money that would otherwise go to the states accounts that fund public K-12 education. They also argue that the scholarship program pulls poor students out of the public school system in favor of private schools, diminishing funds to nearly 2.8 million children served by public schools.

The groups had previously been told by both the trial court and appeals court that it did not have legal standing to challenge the 15-year-old program adopted by the Legislature and Wednesday's rejection ends is their final appeal. Florida businesses earn dollar-for-dollar tax credits by donating to designated organizations -- primarily "Step Up for Students" -- which fund and distribute the scholarships.

The decision is a victory for supporters of the scholarship program and comes one year after the rally they held on the steps of the state Capitol to protest the lawsuit. Thousands of supporters gathered at the rally led by Martin Luther King III, son of the civil rights leader.

The event was organized by the "Save Our Scholarships Coalition" and other school-choice groups to emphasize support for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship. The groups have waged an expensive year-long television and social media marketing campaign that urged the teachers' union to "drop the suit."

Attorneys representing the state and the parents of scholarship recipients argued the union had no standing to sue because no scholarship money actually enters or leaves the state treasury. The scholarships are funded directly through private donations from businesses, which can then earn dollar-for-dollar tax credits from the state for their contributions.

In 2015, Leon County Circuit Court Judge George Reynolds III agreed with that explanation and rejected the teachers' lawsuit. The First District Court of Appeal agreed last year.

Justices Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince, Charles Canady and Ricky Polston agreed the union could not challenge the law. Justice R. Fred Lewis wanted to allow them to have oral arguments. Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and newly-appointed Justice Alan Lawson did not vote.

The program funds scholarships for more than 78,000 children to go to private, often religious, schools. Jacksonville-based Step Up For Students facilitates almost all of the money; $447 million was doled out this school year.

Proponents of the scholarship argue that if the teachers' union is successful in its lawsuit then the students would be "evicted" from private school because their families wouldn't be able to afford it anymore.

More than a quarter of the scholarship recipients -- almost 20,900 -- live in Miami-Dade County, and almost 70 percent of them are black or Hispanic.

The teachers union has been at war with the GOP-led Legislature for nearly two decades over the diversion of state funds into the voucher-like programs. In some of his first remarks as the new Florida House speaker last year, Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, accused the teachers union of being "downright evil" for its legal challenge to the tax credit scholarship program.

On Wednesday, Corcoran called the decision a great victory for school children, parents, and classroom teachers who want the best for their students.

Miami Herald staff reporter Kristen Clark contributed to this report.

Photo: 2016 rally at the Florida Capitol in support of school voucher programs. By Steve Cannon, AP


via @adamsmithtimes

Donald Trump had met Orlando Police Sgt. Debra Clayton while in Florida and was horrified to hear she had been shot and killed Monday while trying to track down suspected murderer Markeith Loyd, Attorney General Pam Bondi told The Tampa Bay Times.

"He was deeply, deeply disturbed by the murder of Sgt. Debra Clayton. In fact, he called and spoke with Seth (her husband)," said Bondi, who hooked up Trump and the officer's widower. "He had met Sgt. Clayton and remembered her well, and the president-elect was very upset by her homicide and we're just thrilled they have her widower in custody."

--ADAM C. SMITH, Tampa Bay Times
via @learyreports

WASHINGTON - The University of Miami was buzzing over hosting the first presidential debate between George W. Bush and John Kerry and for one undergrad, it was a career defining moment.

Kaelan Richards started out as an undeclared major then history, then political science. I loved politics but didnt necessarily know what that means in terms of a job, she said.

Richards staffed the 2004 debate, taking tickets at the door. Then a coordinator said she and a group of other volunteers could go inside. It was life changing, recalled Richards, who grew up on Anna Maria Island.

I was like, Ive got to do this. I dont know how yet, but I have to do it.

This week, Richards wrapped up her dream job in the White House press shop. Its an incredible honor to be here, she said in an interview. With anything ending, theres a little bit of nostalgia and wistfulness.

Richards' work kept her focused on Florida. She was a senior regional communications director interacting with reporters in the southeast, midwest and the west coast.

While national outlets and broader media trends change, people still rely on their local news. Thats a really important job and Im honored to do it, she said.

She worked on Capitol Hill for Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and joined the White House team in April 2014.

One of her biggest moments was briefing President Obama for the first time in January 2016. The president was sitting down with regional news reporters to talk about the Affordable Care Act and Richards and others were tasked with filling him in on local issues.

Theres really nothing that can match walking into the Oval Office for the first time to do your job, Richards said. It was a little bit nerve-racking but mostly exciting. This is dream job, a dream opportunity.

The job ended Tuesday.

Richards walked out to see Press Secretary Josh Earnest give his final briefing to reporters. She took photos with colleagues from the North Lawn and turned in her badge.

She says shell take some time off, and maybe visit Florida, before deciding what to do next. Its a unique opportunity to get a little perspective and think about things.

Earnest, who worked on Jim Davis' 2006 gubernatorial campaign against Charlie Crist, said Richards "has worked tirelessly and effectively to bring President Obama's message outside of the Washington beltway, directly to people living in communities across the country. She's done so with a level of integrity and enthusiasm that has earned her the admiration of journalists and colleagues alike."

--ALEX LEARY, Tampa Bay Times

Photo credit: Courtesy the White House
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ALERT: Help Mike McGuff fight Alzheimer's disease by donating to his 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer's team
HELENA  Two of the three bills that would change rape laws in Montana sailed to the final passage stage in the Senate with unanimous votes Wednesday, but one that would lessen the penalties in so-called Romeo and Juliet cases received some pushback.

Senate Bill 22, carried by Sen. Sue Malek, D-Missoula, and Senate Bill 29, carried by Sen. Diane Sands, D-Missoula, passed without any opposition, 48-0.

SB 22 would allow a civil proceeding to terminate the parental rights of a rapist if a judge finds convincing evidence. SB 29 would revise the definition of consent to remove the requirement of force when determining if a rape occurred, among other changes.

The Senate heard more pushback on Senate Bill 26, which would lessen potential penalties for non-violent sexual assault without consent for teens 14 to 18.

Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, said he worried the bill would conflict with state law that says teens under the age of 16 cannot consent. And Sen. Jedediah Hinkle, R-Belgrade, questioned if children under the age of 16 were mature enough to understand sexual acts and give consent.

The legislation moved to final passage stage on a 36-12 vote.

If the bills pass third reading, they will move onto the House. Several other interim committee bills addressing rape laws are making their way through the House and Senate as well.
BILLINGS  Marne Hayes was all ears Tuesday as Ryan Zinke auditioned for interior secretary before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

A Bozeman businesswomen, Hayes had a half dozen things she needed to hear before supporting her congressmans nomination, one that would make Zinke the first Montanan in a presidential cabinet.

President-elect Donald Trump nominated Zinke for interior secretary a month ago, surprising many.

Hayes needed Zinke to oppose the sale of public lands, and she wanted confirmation of his objection to a proposed gold mine on the Montana edge of Yellowstone National Park. She also wanted affirmation that federal royalties from offshore drilling would continue to be spent on improving public land access.

Zinke delivered on all three, a good thing considering Hayes had assembled more than 100 members of the group Business for Montanas Outdoors to oppose Zinkes nomination if he didnt.

Generally, for the things the Business for Montana Outdoors put out for him previously this week, I think he did pretty well, Hayes said.

Montanans from Trout Unlimited, to the timber industry, to Indian tribes spoke approvingly of Zinkes responses. The states U.S. senators, both of whom spoke on Zinkes behalf at the beginning of the hearing, welcomed his nomination to a government department so broad in scope its nickname is the department of everything else.

Nationally, the Department of the Interior manages 500 million acres, onshore and offshore, with a staff of 70,000 and a $12 billion budget. The department manages billions in revenue collected from leases on coal, oil and natural gas, as well as revenue from national parks. It also includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Interior Department manages more than 20 million federal acres in Montana, including the Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.

Ahead of the hearing, the Democratic Party and several outdoor groups had suggested that Zinkes response to questions about transferring public lands to state, tribal and local governments could trigger opposition. The Republican had dispelled attacks in the 2016 election that he favored auctioning off lands to the highest bidder. But in the first days of the year, Zinke then voted with other Republicans on an annual set of House rules that included language Democrats said would make selling public lands easier.

Zinke reiterated Tuesday that the House rules package did not reflect his position on public lands, which he doesnt support selling. The assurance was enough for Montanan Corey Fisher of Trout Unlimited.

What we saw in todays hearing was him very clearly articulate that hes against the sale or transfer of public land, which was definitely a good thing," Fisher said.

Fisher said securing protections for the North Fork of the Flathead River near Glacier National Park, as well as support to end the possible gas drilling on Rocky Mountain Front land sacred to the Blackfeet Tribe, are the kinds of Western bipartisan solutions that Montanans can work toward with Zinke as Interior secretary.

CJ Stewart, a member of the Crow Tribe, attended the confirmation hearing and said afterward he was confident Zinke would represent Native Americans well as overseer of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, an Interior Department agency.

I think it went really well. One of his strong points is hes a strong supporter of Native American communities. He respects tribal sovereignty and its not just lip service, Stewart said. Congressman Zinke was helpful with the Blackfeet water settlement and with the recognition of the Little Shell Tribe. Hes always been an advocate for treaty rights.

Stewart worked with Zinke on Crow coal mining issues after the Department of Interior under current Secretary Sally Jewell butted heads over coal. Later, Zinke attempted to intervene when the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers cancelled work on a proposed Puget Sound coal port for Crow coal.

That Army Corps' decision was made after the Lummi Nation of Puget Sound said the coal port threatened its treaty fishing rights. Zinke had contended the crow had a treaty right to sell coal, also.

When Sen. Patty Murray, raised the coal port dispute Tuesday, Zinke said he was not lobbying against the Lummi, but rather wanted the environmental study of the coal port to go through without ignoring the treaty rights of either tribe.

Sen. Steve Daines, who is on the confirmation committee, announced Zinke ready for full Senate confirmation.

Ryan grew up 30 minutes from Glacier National Park, and I grew up 60 minutes from Yellowstone National Park. We both understand the importance of our National Parks, Daines told the committee. Ryan is intimately familiar with the vast jurisdiction of the Department of Interior because he lived it. Hes seen his own hometown suffer due to bad government policies that hurt rural communities like Libby, Malta, and Colstrip that depend on public lands access.

Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, was little more cautious.

I believe it is very important for someone who knows the West to serve as Interior secretary, Tester said. The job of Interior secretary is incredibly important, especially today as Americas public lands come under attack by folks who want individual states to manage them. That is the first step in selling off our public lands to the highest bidders.

The warning about transferring the management of federal lands to states was an added nuance to Testers message about public lands threats. Hed previously said the transfer of ownership to the states was the danger.

But Zinke had last June endorsed a bill handing management of federal lands to state or local governments, while leaving ownership of those lands to the feds.

Of course, there are those issues where Congressman Zinke and I dont see eye to eye, Tester summarized. But, if he provides you with the answers he has provided to me, I expect you will find that he is equipped to hold this post with accountability. As a westerner, I know he knows whats at stake.
In his opening statement, attorney Michael Sherwood didnt tiptoe around his views of the more than 200 fraud charges facing his client George Leslie Manlove, the former CEO of Vanns Inc.

What the prosecution has told you is things that just arent the truth at all, he said. Theyre not going to prove that George intended to defraud Vanns at all.

After four hours of jury selection in U.S. District Court in Missoula on Tuesday, eight men and five women were selected as the jury and an alternate to decide on the charges facing Manlove. The former CEO was indicted in December 2015 of defrauding Vanns, an electronics and appliance retailer that closed in 2013 after declaring bankruptcy.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dana Christensen said he didnt know how long the case would last, saying he expected it to be between 10 and 15 days. The judge read a list of more than 50 people who may be called as witnesses in the case over the coming weeks.

In questioning potential jury members on Tuesday, Christensen touched on everything from what news coverage the pool had read about the case, to any accounting or finance experience they had, to who had been a customer of Vanns when it was open.

While nobody was dismissed for having purchased a refrigerator, several people were let go because they said they had read stories in the newspaper about the case and had already formed an opinion about Manlove.

***

The charges against Manlove and former Vanns chief financial officer Paul Lyn Nisbet included allegations they created real estate holding companies, bought property (including one building already owned by Vanns) and had Vanns lease those properties back from them, all without approval from the companys board of directors. Manlove also allegedly used company funds to pay for tuition, vacations and gifts for himself and family members.

Mr. Manlove profited personally while Vanns shareholders paid the price, Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Duerk said.

Under terms of a plea agreement, Nisbet was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison on a single count of conspiracy.

On Tuesday, the opposing attorneys presented very different views about what they believe Nisbet will say when he testifies.

Duerk said Nisbet had taken his orders from Manlove. He will tell you that some of these orders made him sick to his stomach, he said.

Sherwoods version is that Nisbet will testify there was no conspiracy to defraud the company, and that he had only entered into the plea agreement to make these people smile, with a gesture to the prosecutions table.

***

Among the allegations of personal gain at company expense, Duerk said Manlove traded company goods to a Missoula jeweler in exchange for a $11,750 pair of princess-cut diamond solitaire earrings, and that he spent money to send family on a vacation.

What benefit was there to Vanns for a mother-daughter shopping trip to New York City? Duerk said.

Sherwood responded to the accusation by saying he would prove the New York trip was paid for by Manloves wife.

Manloves attorney asked the jury to keep in mind that there was a difference between having potentially done something wrong and meeting the specific elements of the charges his client is facing.

Manlove, he said, started at the company in the mid-1980s to work for his father-in-law and Vanns founder Pete Vann. Over the next two decades, annual sales increased from just under $2 million to more than $147 million, Sherwood said.

Vanns fiscal problems had nothing to do with George, he added.

Sherwood said one of the same things Manlove is accused of doing, buying buildings and then leasing them back to the company, was a practice Vann had used for years, and was also done by other members of the companys senior management. Richard Samson, a bankruptcy lawyer installed as trustee after Vanns declared bankruptcy, testified Tuesday that there were never any signed leases for these rental agreements.

When Sherwood came to the dozens of charges of wire fraud facing Manlove, he indicated that they werent legitimate. By the time the company used the wires to pay American Express for the company credit card charges Manlove racked up, his client had already profited, and therefore hadnt himself used the wires to take money, the attorney contended.

Sherwood said that Manlove believed he needed more education to help the company as profits slipped in the late 2000s, and decided to enroll in an executive MBA course at the Kellogg School of Business outside Chicago, where he was a student at the same time as being CEO.

Duerk said Manlove spent more than $200,000 on the schooling, all without ever receiving approval from the companys board of directors, and that he took a job with another company shortly after finishing the degree.

But Sherwood declared that Manlove was well within his power as CEO to charge the schooling to the company. He thought he had the authority and he did have the authority, he contended.
All systems are go again to build a new Russell Street Bridge in Missoula, along with 29 other highway construction projects across the state.

Gov. Steve Bullock said last week the state had found the $14.5 million it needs to match federal funding after putting the projects on hold last month.

Its good to know, but nothing for me has changed operationally on Russell Street, said Ed Toavs, Missoula District administrator for the Montana Department of Transportation. Weve got a few design issues to work through, and then the right-of-way issues.

Just over half the property procurement along Russell Street is secured for a $27.5 million project, which has a scheduled bid letting date of April 13. Its actually two projects. The $20.7 million Broadway-to-Idaho Street end entails building a new bridge across the Clark Fork River. For another $6.8 million, Russell Street will be widened and improved three more blocks to the south of Idaho Street, to Dakota Street.

The states shares of the two projects are roughly $1.8 million and $540,000, respectively. Its all expected to take two full seasons to complete.

The Russell Street projects are easily the most expensive of the $144.5 million worth of jobs statewide that MDT director Mike Tooley put on hold pending legislative action.

The state Highway Special Revenue Fund, which leverages federal matching dollars with money from the state gas tax, is projected to be depleted in July.

Bullock announced on Thursday that a $10 million loan from the state general fund would be tapped for Montanas share. It will be repaid with revenue from the state gas tax. The remaining $4.5 million will come from MDTs working capital balance, Toavs said.

Three other 2017 projects in the Missoula district that were threatened will proceed as planned. The biggest, at $14.3 million (state share $1.8 million), is reconstruction of the 10-mile Frenchtown Frontage Road from Huson east to Highway 93 North. It has a tentative bid letting date of May 25, and Toavs said that while all right-of-way acquisitions arent in hand, the vast majority are.

Advertising for bids was scheduled to begin Thursday for the resurfacing of some 17 miles of Highway 83 north of Seeley Lake. It might not be quite that soon, Toavs said.

Well try to get that out sooner than later. We dont have right of way to get on that one, he said of the $5.75 million job ($709,000 state share). 

A bid-letting date of March 18 is slated for work on 10 miles of Interstate 90 on either side of Frenchtown. Thats a $251,000 project, of which the state is obligated to spend $29,000.
Hamilton attorney Rob Myers is facing a third professional misconduct complaint by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for a series of advertisements mailed and aired during his failed campaign to unseat Ravalli County District Judge Jeffrey Langton.

The complaint filed Tuesday with the Montana Supreme Court accuses Myers of making statements that he knew to be false or with reckless regard for the truth concerning the integrity of Langton.

The three inflammatory advertisements were produced as mailers or radio spots from mid- to late October 2016. They included a song that played on the radio and internet that began "Liquor Langton, Liquor Langton..."

After being reelected in November, Langton said he had never seen anything remotely like the smear campaign mounted by Myers, which included a number of bizarre accusations.

Neither Langton nor Myers returned messages from the Ravalli Republic Tuesday.

As a judicial candidate, the complaint said Myers was required to follow provisions of the Montana Code of Judicial Conduct, which required candidates to be scrupulously fair and accurate in all statements made by them and their campaign committees. It also requires candidates to review and approve campaign content before it is disseminated.

The complaint seeks a formal hearing before an adjudicatory panel, with a report of that panels findings to be forwarded to the Montana Supreme Court for potential disciplinary action.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed two professional misconduct complaints against Myers last year for allegedly breaking ethics rules by making false statements against Langton before the primary.

Those complaints have not yet been resolved.

The battle between Myers and Langton stretches back to 2014 when Langton filed a 42-page order that found Myers had made misrepresentations to the court and ordered Myers to pay $10,000 in sanctions.
Tower Pizza, an iconic restaurant at 3000 Brooks Street in Missoula that has been open since 1971, announced on Facebook on Wednesday that it will be closing soon.

"We are sad to announce Tower Pizza will be closing to the public after 45 years of service," the Facebook post read. "We plan to be open for a few more months, and will keep you posted when we find out more. Party plans are in the works!!"

Owner Russ Hage did not immediately return a call seeking comment. The Facebook post had over 200 "sad" clicks and over 400 shares as of 2:30 p.m.

"Noooo!! Such sad news!" wrote Facebook commenter Katie Engleson.

Actor JK Simmons, who attended the University of Montana and who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the movie "Whiplash," once told the Montana Kaimin student newspaper that "Tower Pizza is a big favorite" of his.
After a couple of fits and starts, a forecast freezing rain looks pretty certain to hit northwest Montana Wednesday morning.

Theres a good stream of moisture moving across north-central Idaho, National Weather Service meteorologist Lance VandenBoogart said on Tuesday afternoon. The question is how much rain we get in the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys. Ice accumulation is really going to hit more in the Orofino, Noxon, Libby, and Troy areas along the Montana-Idaho border.

Weather checks on Monday called for the freezing rain to come either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday for the area around Missoula. Tuesday afternoons forecast called for snow at first, with freezing rain developing at different times of the night as the moisture front moves across the border.

Missoulas notorious air inversion makes the prediction tougher, VandenBoogart said. The stream of high-altitude moisture should drop rain as it crosses into Montana. As that moisture falls into the pool of sub-freezing air trapped in the valley bottoms, it may turn to sleet, or land as rain and promptly freeze on the ground. Winds blowing from the south-southwest will churn some of that cold air out of the valleys, warming the general temperature and possibly reducing the impact of the ice buildup.

In Hamilton and the southern Bitterroot Valley, those winds could bump temperatures up to the low 40s on Wednesday. After the moisture passes on, the temperature should drop down to the 30s on Thursday and back below freezing by Friday.

Missoulas mercury could get above freezing on Wednesday before dipping back to the upper 20s on Thursday through Saturday.

But northwest Montana faces a risk of freezing drizzle starting late Tuesday afternoon and continuing through the night. National Weather Service forecasts warn of ice accumulating on trees and power lines overnight into Wednesday morning.

That means motorists should watch for black ice developing on parts of Interstate 90, U.S. Highway 2 and Montana 200 close to the Idaho border. Highway 93 north of Whitefish might also see some ice developing, although the lower amount of precipitation forecast for the Flathead County area makes this uncertain.

VandenBoogart said the weather event should be brief enough to avoid major ice breakups on creeks and rivers across western Montana. While warm spells can cause frozen waterways to melt and jam, this weather system doesn't appear to pack enough precipitation and warmth to affect Montana ice floes.
The Electoral College (EC, for short) is one of the most undemocratic institutions to disserve our country. For years a substantial majority of Americans has consistently, and rightly, supported the ideal that our president should be elected according to the popular vote. Yet in 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016, the person elected president was not the candidate who the majority of people voted for.

Indeed, in 2000, the winning candidate, George W. Bush, lost the popular election by nearly 540,000 votes. And in 2016, Donald Trump lost the popular election by over 3 million votesyet, he was declared the winner because of the EC votes.

The EC is embodied in Article II, Sections 2-4 of the federal Constitution: Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress ... And, a lengthy process for utilizing the EC then follows.

Electors controlled by the state legislatures might have had merit at the founding of the country when the only people allowed to vote were white, male property owners. In theory, the EC was adopted to reconcile divergent state and federal interests, provide less populous states political leverage, ensure some degree of popular election, guarantee a presidency independent of Congress and save the election process from political manipulation. The EC never did fulfill its lofty purposes, though.

Worse, this institution continues to frustrate the ideal of a popularly elected president  as happened twice in the last 16 years. The EC requires candidates to devote disproportionate resources in pivotal swing states and ignore the rest (like Montana). The EC tends to decrease voter turnout. In non-swing states (like Montana), voters, anticipating the probable outcome of an election, simply dont bother to votethey know that even if they vote with the popular majority, the EC may nullify their vote (as happened in 2016). In short, the EC is a historical artifact, antithetical to democracy.

Is it realistic to expect Congress or the state legislatures to amend the Constitution to repeal the Electoral College? No.

But there is another avenue to effectively accomplish the same result. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an agreement among states and the District of Columbia to award their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the most popular votes in the 50 states and D.C. The compact comes into effect only when it will guarantee that result.

As of January 2017, 10 states (California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington) and D.C. have joined the compact. These signatories have 165 electoral votes (presently, 61.1 percent of the 270 EC votes needed to give the compact legal force).

A bill (Senate Bill 290) was offered in Montanas 2007 legislative session to join the compact, but the proposed legislation failed. Is it realistic to expect that Montanas legislature might reconsider and join the compact? No.

For Montana voters who demand change, there is another viable approach, however. Article III, Section 4 of Montanas Constitution permits the people to enact laws or amend our state constitution by way of a citizen initiative. In other words, if a citizen initiative to join the NPVIC was enacted by the people, Montana would become a member of the compact by statute or constitutional amendment; its three EC votes would then be cast for whichever candidate won the popular vote.

With the NPVIC in effect nationwide, each Montana vote would have the same power as each New York, California and Ohio vote. No Montanans vote would be nullified by a federal constitutional relic. America would elect its president in the most direct and democratic way possibleby the popular vote of the people.

We the people need the NPVIC; we need to finally say to the EC: Youre fired!
The best thing that happened to Donald Trump all week is that BuzzFeed published the raw Russia dossier about him.

It can't be pleasant for anyone to see his name associated with prostitutes and a bizarre sex act in print  the principle that all publicity is good publicity can be taken too far even for Donald Trump. But in the media's ongoing fight with Trump, BuzzFeed's incredible act of journalistic irresponsibility represented the press leading with its chin.

Trump thrives off media hostility, and the more hostile  and the less defensible  the better. It allows him to portray himself as the victim of a stilted establishment. It fires up his supporters. It keeps the debate on terrain that is familiar and favorable to him -- whether or not he is being treated "fairly" -- and allows him to adopt his preferred posture as a "counterpuncher."

There are legitimate questions raised about how determined Trump has been to ignore evidence of Russia's hacking operations prior to the election. BuzzFeed unintentionally did more to obscure and delegitimize these questions than Trump Tower could ever hope to. By publishing the uncorroborated dossier, BuzzFeed has associated the Russia issue with fantastical rumors and hearsay.

Its decision to post the document has to be considered another chapter in the ongoing saga of the media and Democrats losing their collective minds. If the election had gone the other way, it is hard to see BuzzFeed publishing a 35-page document containing unverified, lurid allegations about President-elect Hillary Clinton that it didn't consider credible. This was an anti-Trump decision, pure and simple.

It created a media firestorm, even though everyone should realize by now that media firestorms are Trump's thing. They have been literally since the day he got into the presidential race. They suck the oxygen away from everything except the transfixing melodrama surrounding Donald Trump. The question is always, "How can he possibly escape this?" And at the center of attention, vindicating his own honor and that of his supporters by proxy, he always does.

The paradox of the Trump phenomenon is that he may be ripping up sundry political norms, yet he benefits when his opponents and adversaries do the same. When Marco Rubio descended to Trump's level in the primaries and mocked the size of his hands, it hurt Rubio most. The Democrats have done themselves no favors by implicitly refusing to accept the election results after browbeating Trump for months to accept the results in advance. And if the press is going to lower its standards in response to Trump, it will diminish and discredit itself more than the president-elect.

For all that Trump complains about negative press coverage, he wants to be locked in a relationship of mutual antagonism with the media. It behooves those journalists who aren't partisans and reflexive Trump haters to avoid getting caught up in this dynamic. If they genuinely want to be public-spirited checks on Trump, they shouldn't be more bitterly adversarial, but more responsible and fair.

This means taking a deep breath and not treating every Trump tweet as a major news story. It means covering Trump more as a "normal" president rather than as a constant clear and present danger to the republic. It means going out of the way to focus on substance rather than the controversy of the hour (while Trump did a fine job shaming reporters at his news conference, he was notably weak on the details on how he wants to replace Obamacare). It means a dose of modesty about how the media has lost the public's trust, in part because of its bias and self-importance.

None of this is a particularly tall order. Yet it's unlikely to happen, even if it was encouraging that so many reporters opposed BuzzFeed's decision. The press and Trump will continue to be at war, although only one party to the hostilities truly knows what he is doing, and it shows.
A letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:

David Friedman is a poor and dangerous choice as ambassador to Israel, and I urge you and other members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee not to approve of his nomination.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel holds an important and strategic position in the U.S. diplomatic force, and David Friedman has disqualified himself in the following ways:

1. He has no diplomatic experience.

2. He is hostile to the two-state solution, referring to the West Bank as Judea and Samaria  the term used by those in Israel who support the annexation of the West Bank  a move that would consequently turn Israel into an apartheid state.

3. Friedman aligns himself with the Israeli Settlement Movement. Note that nearly all nations in the world, as well as the World Court, consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Criticism of Israeli settlement expansion has been a U.S. position for decades, and it is widely accepted that this expansion stands in the way of a peaceful settlement in the region.

4. Friedman does not represent American best interests, and does not represent the positions of a majority of American Jews. (According to a 2013 Pew Centers Poll, only 17 percent of American Jews say that continued settlement building help Israels security).

Most thoughtful Americans, Jewish members of Congress, and a majority of American Jews see the nomination of David Friedman as both dangerous and out of step with any movement toward peace in the Middle East. I have lived in Israel, and I know that the selection of David Friedman represents a slap in the face to many Israelis I know who have devoted their lives to a peaceful future.

Samuel Neff,

Whitefish
HELENA - About 20 filmmakers and others who benefit from the industry packed a small meeting room Wednesday to speak against a move to divert money from promoting Montana as a place to shoot movies, commercials and television shows and use it to open a trade center in Canada.

Filmmakers want to come and check out Montana because theres a certain amount of romance about this state and this place, said Don Andrews, executive director of the Covellite International Film Festival in Butte. To me, its not a time to take money away from an industry thats growing.

Senate Bill 75, carried by Sen. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse, would direct the Department of Commerce to open a trade center in Calgary to promote trade and tourism between residents of Canada and Montana. If passed, the funding would sunset in five years. The Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee, which heard the bill, took no action Wednesday.

The money to open the office would come from the 4 percent lodging facility use tax charged on hotel and motel rooms, campgrounds, dude ranches and other overnight facilities. The state also charges a 3 percent sales tax, for a total of 7 percent tax consumers pay on lodgings.

Of the 4 percent lodging use tax collected in the state, 64.9 percent goes to the Department of Commerce for direct use. The bill would let only 1 percent of that amount be used by the Montana Film Office. That number had been closer to 11 percent in years past, according to department. That would be roughly $200,000 of the nearly $20 million that the department anticipates receiving.

Sean Becker, division administrator of the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development under the Department of Commerce, said the current budget for promoting films is $1.1 million.

The film office uses the money, in part, to provide grants that filmmakers who testified said made the difference between the the films being shot in Montana or somewhere like Canada, where the U.S. dollar goes further, or states that offer more financial incentives.

In fiscal year 2015 the film office funded 47 projects through grants. It paid out roughly $500,000 a year on grants alone, new film commissioner Allison Whitmer told the committee.

She said those productions spent nearly $6 million in traceable money in the state that year on labor, lodging, car rentals, purchasing things like antiques, renting state parks and more.

Andrews, of Butte's Covellite festival, said that the film industry brings money into the state, which is especially important in his economically depressed town.

After his first film fest, Andrews said five directors came back to start scouting locations in Montana, two are shooting films now and a third is going to start in May.

This could be a huge, huge industry that could employ thousands of people directly and indirectly affect tens of thousands of people.

Brown, who used to operate an RV park near Glacier National Park, argued the amount the department collects from the use tax is increasing and the $200,000 amount would increase.

In 2012, the department got $14 million from the bed tax; by fiscal year 2019 that amount is expected to be $23.5 million. That would allow $235,000 to be spent on film production.

She also told the committee that the state needs to capitalize on Canadians, saying more than 3 million live within driving distance of Montana.

The state has opened tourism offices before, one in Taiwan and one in Japan. The one in Japan is still operation and the contract employee there works to promote travel to Montana and its universities.

Opponents to the bill also questioned if a brick-and-mortar office was the best way to promote the state, given the proliferation of digital marketing. One person spoke in support, saying the bill would help boost the state's outfitters if more Canadians came to Montana.
A seven-person coroners jury on Tuesday unanimously cleared a Butte police officer of any criminal action relating to last Junes shooting death of armed Iraq war veteran Peter Grandpre during a gun battle in his Clark Street home.

The jury arrived at its decision after 40 minutes of deliberation following four hours of sworn testimony from Lt. John OBrien, who shot Grandpre, Butte police Sgt. Chad Kriskovich, Montana Crime Lab experts and Montana Department of Justice criminal investigators.

Montana law requires a coroners inquest for any death involving police to determine whether officers acted legally, unless a coroners inquest is a judicial inquiry, not a criminal investigation.

Questioning was done by Butte-Silver Bow deputy county attorney Ann Shea, and the inquest was led by Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Coroner Gerald Thomas in place of local coroner Lee LaBreche, who recused himself due to his close working relationship with Butte police.

The inquest began with a recording of the 911 call placed by Grandpres wife, Brook Grandpre, requesting assistance at 1:50 a.m. on June 16. Brook said in the recording that her husband was drunk, throwing objects around the house and was armed.

Hes got a knife, he has two guns, she told the told 911 dispatcher, he has a house full of them.

Brooks told the dispatcher she wasnt afraid for her safety or the safety or her two kids upstairs, but was worried of what might happen should she and the children leave.

Im afraid that if we leave he will basically let the cops shoot him, she said.

Grandpre could be heard yelling in the background of the call, which Shea shut off after Grandpre was shot.

They killed my husband, Brook repeatedly screamed.

OBrien, a veteran police officer, testified that he was dispatched on a domestic disturbance involving a man with two guns, a woman and kids. He said domestic disturbances involving firearms are some of the most dangerous calls to which officers respond, and that he followed proper procedure, including parking down the street to avoid aggravating the situation and turning on his body camera.

OBrien arrived alone to the house, with four other officers on the way. He said he saw both the husband and wife through the window, and that Grandpre was turning the house lights off, which police training suggests means a suspect is barricading.

He doesnt want us to be able to see inside the house, OBrien testified.

The lieutenants testimony matched his body cam footage, which Shea played for the jury.

OBrien said he drew his sidearm when he saw Grandpre walk by the window with a rifle, and advanced on the house when Grandpre turned off the porchlight. The officer testified that he planned to take cover to the right of the door.

The video, filmed from OBriens chest rig, showed Grandpre opening the door while looking away into the interior of the house, which he then moved into, unaware of OBrien. OBrien raised his sidearm at Grandpre, who was wearing a military-style tactical vest and was in the living room, and told him several times to get on the ground. Grandpre pulled a pistol from a holster and raised it at the officer.

OBrien and investigators said it is unclear who fired first, but the first exchange of rounds brought Grandpre to the ground while OBrien took cover to the right of the door. Slowed footage from OBriens body camera later showed bullets striking the reinforced steel doorframe next to OBrien. Another volley of shots was fired, and then OBrien advanced into the houses threshold.

Body camera footage from Kriskovich showed the sergeant move up behind his lieutenant at this point, and the pair then advanced into the house. Kriskovich said when he entered the house that Grandpre was slumped against the couch and was still trying to raise his pistol.

OBrien swept the pistol from a prone Grandpres left hand with his foot before disarming the man of a second pistol, a knife and a hatchet, handcuffing him and beginning first aid.

The lieutenants footage ended with OBrien and a screaming Brook trying to stem Grandpres bleeding and resuscitate him as paramedics arrived.

Why is he wearing a tac vest? OBrien asked Brook.

Because hes a vet and has PTSD, Brook said.

Grandpre was taken by paramedics to nearby St. James Healthcare where he was pronounced dead at 2:32 a.m., the cause of death blood loss.

Nikki Mourtzinos, deputy medical examiner of the state crime lab, testified that she performed Grandpres autopsy, finding two gunshot wounds to his left leg, two to his chest, one to his abdomen and one to his hand, which passed through.

Anthony Poppler, state criminal investigator, testified that Grandpres tactical vest should have come standard with a bulletproof plate in the front and back, but that the front plate had been removed.

I dont know if it was a mistake or it was intentionally done that way, he said.

Poppler said investigators found thousands of rounds of ammunition in the home, as well as 11 additional firearms and supplies to manufacture suppressors.

State criminal investigator John Sullivan testified that Grandpre fired seven rounds and OBrien six based on the number of missing bullets in each of their loaded pistol magazines and body camera footage.

Lynette Lancon, state forensics examiner, testified that five casings matching OBriens pistol and seven matching Grandpres were recovered.

Five bullets matching OBriens pistol were recovered from Grandpres body, and the sixth ricocheted into the kitchen. Five of Grandpres bullets were recovered from the wall near the door frame, and Sullivan said the remaining two likely passed through the door way but were unrecoverable.

After the verdict was delivered Shea thanked the jurors and officials for their time.

This isnt an easy job, she said.
LIBBY  The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office says suspicious circumstances are involved in the death of a man whose body was discovered over the weekend in the Yaak.

Undersheriff Brandon Huff said the deceased is an Idaho man who was reported missing over the weekend. His name was not released.

David Thompson Search and Rescue assisted with the recovery of the body.

Due to suspicious circumstances, the manner and cause of death are being investigated, Huff said in a news release, and an autopsy is being performed.
WEST GLACIER  If you are 62 or older and think you might ever visit a national park or two before you die, let us offer you some advice:

Get thee to a federal recreation site  be it a national park, national forest or Bureau of Land Management office  and buy a lifetime senior pass that gains you entrance to all federal lands that charge entrance fees, for as long as you live.

The cost of one will be increasing by 700 percent.

To be clear, the current price  $10 for a lifetime of access to any and all national parks and federal lands  may be the best of all bargains available to Americas seniors. For less than the price of a pizza, you can gain admittance to every national park, from Acadia to Yosemite, from Denali to the Everglades, and every Glacier and Yellowstone in between, at any time, for the rest of your life.

In all, the $10 pass gains seniors access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas.

But last month, Congress raised the price of a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands senior pass to $80.

The steep hike was a little-discussed provision of the National Parks Centennial Act, which received bipartisan support in the House and unanimous consent in the Senate when it was passed in December.

Eighty dollars for a lifetime senior pass is still pretty reasonable, said National Park Service spokesman Jeff Olson. Everybody else pays $80 a year for an annual pass.

***

The $10 senior passes will be honored as long as the person it is issued to is alive. Thats why anyone 62 or older who doesnt have one  and anyone who will turn 62 before the new price goes into effect  can still get in on the $10 deal.

Making it even better is the fact that, so long as the senior pass holder is in a vehicle, everyone else in the vehicle, no matter what their age, can enter on the same pass.

While published reports have predicted the $80 senior pass will begin later this year, or sometime in 2018, Olson said the National Park Service has not set a date for raising the price.

We have administrative work to do before it can go into effect, Olson said. In any case, its not going to be $10 one day and $80 the next.

NPS officials have said they recognize that $80 can still be a significant amount to people on fixed incomes, and are planning on offering an alternative that will allow seniors to, effectively, make payments of $20 a year for four years.

That will be done by letting seniors buy single-year senior passes, good for entrance to all national parks and federal lands, for $20.

Once they buy four in a row, they can turn them in for a lifetime pass, Olson said.

At Glacier National Park, spokeswoman Lauren Alley said 14,264 of the $10 senior passes were sold during fiscal year 2016, which ran from Oct. 1, 2015, to Sept. 30, 2016. Another 391 have been sold during the current fiscal year.

***

There was a time the senior passes were free. In 1994, Congress established the $10 senior pass, and the price was never raised until the passage of the NPS Centennial Act just over a month ago.

The act creates more opportunities for investment in the countrys national parks, which face a backlog of $11.9 billion in deferred maintenance projects. It creates a National Park Foundation endowment, and a Centennial Challenge Fund to maximize private investment in the nations parks.

But it also hikes the senior pass from $10 to $80. No other fees in the National Parks and Recreational Lands Pass Series, also known as America the Beautiful passes, were raised.

Olson said the new fee is expected to generate approximately $35 million annually, and all the money will be used on deferred maintenance.

***

There are more than 2,000 federal recreation sites that charge entrance fees, and America the Beautiful pass-holders, including those with senior passes, can enter them all.

That includes national wildlife refuges like the National Bison Range, national recreation areas like Bighorn Canyon and national monuments like Pompey's Pillar.

Of the 417 units overseen by the National Park Service, only 175 have any sort of fees, and just 126 have entrance fees, Olson said.

By a long shot, entrance to most of the National Park System is free, Olson said.

The six agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program and honor the senior passes at sites that charge entrance fees are the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

This story has been updated to reflect the correct percentage increase, and the fact that senior passes cannot be purchased at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in Deer Lodge.
HELENA  Orthodox Jewish rabbis said Wednesday they will counter white supremacists' harassment of the Jewish community in the Montana town of Whitefish by sending students to visit the Auschwitz concentration camp and by mailing a Torah to every Jewish family in the state.

The delegation of rabbis from Canada and across the United States presented Montana Gov. Steve Bullock with a copy of the holy text and thanked him for defending the state's Jewish residents.

"We hope to inspire you to be a source of strength in the future for the Jewish community and that these horrible threats and terrible words of bullying and intimidation never come to a reality," said Shmuel Herzfeld, rabbi of the prominent Ohev Sholom congregation in Washington, D.C.

Whitefish became a focal point for white supremacist anger late last year after the mother of white nationalist leader Richard Spencer said a local real estate agent pressured her to sell her property in town.

A website called the Daily Stormer called for an internet troll storm against "Jews targeting Richard Spencer's mother for harassment and extortion," which prompted death threats to members of the Jewish community and a group that promotes diversity called Love Lives Here in the Flathead Valley.

The website also tried to organize a march of armed white supremacists through Whitefish on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The march never materialized after problems with the group's event permit, but about 50 counter-protesters showed up and marched through the town instead.

The delegation of rabbis arrived in Montana from Washington, D.C.; Montreal; Sacramento, California; and San Antonio, Texas. They were hosted by Orthodox rabbis from Bozeman and Missoula.

The group said they have raised enough money so far to send Torahs to 350 of the estimated 1,500 Jewish families in Montana. They also plan to raise money through their congregations to send four non-Jewish students from Whitefish to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland. After the trip, the students would then travel the state and tell other students what they learned.

More than 1 million people died in the Nazi concentration camp during World War II.

Bullock said in response that people should never forget the horrors of Auschwitz with the passage of time, and they should never accept intolerance.

"What happened in Whitefish, that's not who we are," Bullock said. "Certainly as the governor, I will continue to underscore who we are."

The delegation also met with legislative leaders and representatives from northwestern Montana before they headed to Whitefish to meet with Jewish community members. One of those lawmakers, Rep. Dave Fern, D-Whitefish, said he is Jewish but he sees no difference between Whitefish and the rest of the nation  there are bad apples everywhere.

"Sometimes we come to the intersection (where) free and obnoxious speech meets with religious liberty and freedom," Fern said. "I think it's a wonderful challenge for our community to stand up."
Last week Montanans pulled two bright bits of news out of the cold, dark depths of an ominous situation.

First, temporary boating restrictions at two Montana reservoirs were lifted after it was determined that the water temperatures had dropped low enough to thwart any reproduction of invasive aquatic mussels.

Second, Montanas House Appropriations Committee agreed to give the state $1.9 million in additional spending authority so that Montana can fight the newly discovered invasive species, which were detected in the state for the first time last November.

Invasive aquatic mussel larvae was found in samples taken at Tiber Reservoir in north-central Montana, and subsequent testing showed the possible presence of larvae in the Missouri River and Canyon Ferry Reservoir near Helena, as well as downstream of Nelson Reservoir in northeastern Montana. These discoveries triggered a natural resource emergency declaration that called for an interagency rapid response team to assemble and begin testing additional bodies of water quickly.

The Montana Mussel Response Team immediately began searching for additional indications of quagga or zebra mussels, and so far have covered 182 bodies of water. While the testing is ongoing, results so far indicate the infestation is isolated to the Missouri River Basin.

In western Montana, samples taken from the Bitterroot River and from Como and Painted Rock lakes tested negative, and results are pending on the 117 samples taken from sites around Flathead Lake.

In the meantime, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes also declared an official emergency and are lending their support to testing and preventive efforts. They too recognize the pressing need to stop the spread of invasive aquatic mussels.

Quagga and zebra mussels present a real and significant threat. Indigenous to the Ukrainian region, they reproduce rapidly, choking out native wildlife, forming huge clusters and causing heavy damage to boats, docks, even dams. They were first introduced to the Great Lakes around 1990, and the environmental and economic devastation they can cause has been well documented.

CSKT Natural Resources Department Head Rich Janssen estimates the local economic impact of an infestation at $90 million a year. Thats counting not only the harm done to the hydropower facilities on Flathead Lake, but to irrigation equipment many agriculture businesses depend on for their water, and fishing and tourism-related industries too. Imagine a once-inviting beach clogged with sharp-edged shells.

We do not want that devastation to happen in Montana. We cannot afford to scrimp on a response; Montanans of all interests must support an immediate, sweeping, sustained campaign to stamp out this threat.

It is heartening to see the states elected and tribal leadership agree. Now, during the cold winter months, is the time for Montana to marshal its resources and put together a plan for fighting the threat once the ice thaws and tourists being pouring in from out-of-state, many of them with their fishing gear.

An effective inspection program means more check stations, and here's where Montanans must set the example. Most people don't enjoy stopping at check stations and waiting in line for the go-ahead to hit the road again. Nevertheless, boaters should plan on making these important inspection stops, and try to have a little extra patience for the folks working at the check stations.

In addition to ongoing inspection, Montana must be ready to institute boating restrictions wherever necessary, for as long as necessary, with strong penalties for any violations. While none of us like to have our favorite water getaway closed for any length of time, its a small price to pay to prevent the spread of aquatic species. Montanans need to respect these restrictions ourselves, and report anyone who isnt.

Thats just one piece of an education campaign that needs to be taken up in every corner of Montana. Visitors and residents alike must make it a habit to wash their boats and equipment thoroughly after every outing, even if no mussels are visible. The larvae are quite tiny, and while the more mature mussels usually attach to hard surfaces, they will also attach to vegetation. A single adult female mussel can produce up to 1 million eggs each season. Once introduced to a new environment, they can quickly spread downstream.

And not just boaters, but all Montanans who spend any time in the rivers, lakes and streams, need to learn how to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. A good source of information is the Montana Mussel Response website, musselresponse.mt.gov, which includes links to additional resources that explain how to tell the difference between native and invasive mussels, how long they can survive outside water and other useful information.

For its part, the Montana Legislature must ensure the state has the necessary funding to perform testing, inspection, education and outreach until the threat has well and truly passed. It appears enough money is being appropriated but it's up to the full legislature to confirm this expenditure. We cant afford anything less.

 The Missoulian
HELENA  Police chiefs have partnered with media organizations to support a bill that would clean up public records law, clarifying that mug shots taken upon arrest are not confidential.

State law currently lists photos taken by police as confidential information.

That was generally understood to be photos of crime scenes and other photos, Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, said. One thing thats caught in a grey area is booking photos . It should be defined and it should be defined as public information.

House Bill 236 would clarify that booking photos are part of the initial police report, which is specified as public information as state law, and that any photos with evidentiary or investigative value, such as images of victim wounds or property damage, would remain confidential.

Lobbyist Mark Murphy said the Montana Association of Chiefs of Police support the bill.

Since the passage of the 1972 Constitution, two of the provisions have been in constant litigation for the last four decades: the publics right to know and the individual right to privacy. Government has no privacy The public right to know is substantially more important to the courts than the individuals right to privacy, he said. This makes it much clearer, keeps us out of litigation and hopefully saves us some money.

John MacDonald, a lobbyist for the Montana Newspaper Association, said the bill would simply codify what is already common practice. He said many law enforcement officials currently do release booking photos in response to public records requests.

Both Garner and MacDonald references a court case last year in Park County, where a man demanded that his booking photo not be released. The judge ruled that the mug shot had no evidentiary value and therefore should be part of the public arrest record, not the confidential investigation file.

The Montana Broadcasters Association has also said it supports the bill. No one spoke in opposition. The committee did not take action on Wednesday.
Brennan Lorack plans to submit a Notice of Intent to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to be covered under the NPDES General Permit No. 2 "Storm Water Discharge Associated with Industrial Activity for Construction Activities.

The storm water discharge will be from agricultural construction located in SW 1/4 of Section 12, T76N, RO5W, Louisa County.

Storm water will be discharged from 1 point source(s) and will be discharged to the following streams: Iowa River.

Comments may be submitted to the Storm Water Discharge Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034. The public may review the Notice of Intent from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the above address after it has been received by the department.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing to renew the Title V Operating Permit for Grain Processing Corporation. This facility is located at 1600 Oregon Street, Muscatine, IA 52761. DNR is currently reviewing an application for renewal submitted by Grain Processing Corporation to operate their existing corn wet milling facility.

Grain Processing Corporation is required to obtain a Title V Operating Permit pursuant to 567 Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) 22.101. This facility has the potential to emit the following air pollutants annually:

PM-2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter): 237.66 tons

PM-10 (particulate matter ten microns or less in diameter): 473.68 tons

Particulate Matter: 535.65 tons

Sulfur Dioxide: 17,366.10 tons

Nitrogen Oxides: 2,224.45 tons

Volatile Organic Compounds: 797.32 tons

Carbon Monoxide: 913.48 tons

Lead: 0.00 tons

Hazardous Air Pollutants: 145.28 tons

Based on the information provided in the Title V Operating Permit renewal application, the DNR has made an initial determination that the facility meets all the applicable criteria for the issuance of an operating permit specified in 567 IAC 22.107.

The Fact Sheet (which describes the facility and summarizes the permit review) and draft Title V Operating Permit are available for public inspection on the Air Quality Bureau's website at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Air-Quality/Operating-Permits/Title-V-Draft-Final-Permits

Local public internet access to view the Fact Sheet and draft Title V Operating Permit is available at:

Musser Public Library

304 Iowa Avenue

Muscatine, IA 52761

Phone: (563) 263-3065

For additional information or for a copy of the draft permit or fact sheet contact:

Karen Lodden

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Air Quality Bureau

7900 Hickman Rd., Suite 1

Windsor Heights, Iowa 50324

Phone: (515) 725-9520

A complete record of the permit review, including the renewal application and the draft permit, is available for public inspection Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at the DNR address shown above.

The public comment period for the draft permit will run from January 18, 2017 through February 17, 2017. The beginning date of this public comment period also serves as the beginning of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 45-day review period, provided the EPA does not seek a separate review period. During this time, anyone may submit written comments on the permit. Mail signed comments to Karen Lodden at the DNR address shown above.

Written requests for a public hearing concerning the permit may also be submitted during the comment period. Any hearing request must state the person's interest in the subject matter, and the nature of the issues proposed to be raised at the hearing. DNR will hold a public hearing upon finding, on the basis of requests, a significant degree of relevant public interest in a draft permit. Mail hearing requests to Karen Lodden at the DNR address shown above.

DNR will keep a record of the issues raised during the public participation process, and will prepare written responses to all comments received. The comments and responses will be compiled into a responsiveness summary document. After the close of the public comment period, DNR will make a final decision on the renewal application. The responsiveness summary and the final permit will be available to the public upon request.
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The College of Engineering has appointed two alumni as members of its Engineering Advisory Board.

They are Sharon K. Tinker (BSChE 1980) and Christopher Day (BSE 1991 Civil Engineering). Both will serve four-year terms starting with the April 7, 2017 board meeting.

Tinker, of Ankeny, Iowa, is retired process safety engineer in the ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company. After graduation from the University of Iowa, she joined the Exxon Chemical Company and worked in technical and management positions in chemical plants and refineries in Texas, California, Louisiana, and Singapore. She has served as a member of the UI Chemical and Biochemical Department Advisory Board and the college's Campaign Task Force.

Day, of Muscatine, Iowa, is vice president and client service manager with the U.S. Federal and International Programs Market. He is a licensed professional engineer in four states. He joined the company in 1992 and was elected vice president in 2012.

The Advisory Board provides value to the college in developing and achieving its strategic plan/vision. The board provides advice by drawing upon perspectives, knowledge, and experiences from global trends. Meanwhile, the college provides awareness and knowledge of new technologies and educational trends, and informs the board of its progress in achieving the strategic plan.

Board members benefit by being part of ongoing communication between the world of engineering education as represented by the college and the full spectrum of engineering activities.
CEDAR RAPIDS  When Craig Tierney returned from California to Iowa hoping to continue his work in film production, he found employers here wanted him to have a college degree.

So, he headed back to school and found a minimum-wage job to help pay the bills.

The 40-year-old Tierney attends classes at the University of Iowa while also working at the Irish Democrat Pub & Grille as a bartender and a waiter. When bartending, he makes the state and federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour; when he waits tables, he makes $3.60 per hour, the minimum wage for tip-based jobs.

Tierney said he works 30 to 40 hours per week depending on his full-time class load.

It is a struggle to be able to survive on the income, Tierney said.

Tierney said its even worse for minimum-wage workers with families.

Spurred to action by counties that have increased the minimum wage at the local level, state lawmakers are considering writing a new law that would create a statewide minimum wage and possibly overrule those local ordinances.

In September, the Linn County Board of Supervisors voted to establish an $8.25-per-hour minimum wage with annual increases raising it to $10.25 on Jan. 1, 2019. That followed decisions in Polk County to go to $10.75 by 2019 and $10.10 in Johnson County this year and in Wapello County by 2019.

Many Republicans  the party for the first time in 20 years has complete control of the lawmaking agenda in the Iowa Capitol  have expressed a desire to curtail the hodge-podge of varied minimum wages within the states borders.

In the states highest office, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad also seeks a statewide minimum wage.

I would prefer that we have a uniform statewide minimum wage rather than a hodge-podge of county-by-county, city-by-city minimum wages that could be, I think, very confusing for people, Branstad told reporters this past fall. We know this is a controversial and difficult issue, but I think its one that hopefully we can address.

Branstad signed into the law the states first minimum wage: $3.35 per hour in 1989. Iowas minimum wage has been raised five times since then, most recently in 2008, when it was lifted to the current $7.25 per hour.

Although Branstad and Republican legislative leaders agree with the need for a statewide minimum wage, they thus far have not revealed what that wage should be.

Advocates and Democratic state lawmakers in recent years have pressed for minimum wage increases to $10.10 per hour and even $15 per hour. Branstad said the latter is not feasible.

Whatever number the state lands on, Tierney thinks the minimum wage should be increased. Even though he hopes to soon obtain his degree and no longer work a minimum wage job, Tierney has volunteered with a coalition that is advocating for an increase.

Tierney said he is motivated, more so than his own experience working minimum wage jobs, by some of his co-workers with families.

As much as its a struggle on me, a single man doing it, its really a struggle for people who have families, even people in dual-income households, Tierney said. They still have to balance out paying for day care and all that stuff.

A report from the liberal Iowa Policy Project suggested the adults in a two-worker, one-child household in Iowa without employer-provided health insurance would need to make $13.32 per hour to meet basic needs and adults in a two-worker, two-child household would need to make $16.89 per hour.

With a $7.25-per-hour minimum wage, what happens instead, Tierney said, is people work multiple jobs and 50 to 60 hours per week in order to earn sufficient income.

A lot of them have to split it up among two places, usually working 50, 60, 70 hours a week just to make ends meet, Tierney said. Its really about getting to a point where they can live and survive at that job 40 hours a week. ... And just allowing people to have more time with their family. These kids deserve to have their parents home with them.

Tierney said he thinks a minimum wage increase would spark the economy, giving workers more spending money and eliminating the need for some taxpayer-funded low-income assistance programs.

But opponents of raising the minimum wage say it was never intended to serve as a livable wage for full-time earners but instead should serve as a stepping stone to better-paying jobs. Opponents also say they think increasing the minimum wage would cause companies to cut jobs, thus actually hurting minimum wage earners in the process. Studies, however, have not shown a direct correlation between minimum wage increases and widespread job losses.

Republican Statehouse leaders also think the current situation with different county minimum wages is bad for businesses.

The patchwork system doesnt work, said Linda Upmeyer, Republican speaker of the Iowa House. We have a federal minimum wage, we have a state minimum wage. We need to seek to clarify that so that we dont have a patchwork system that doesnt work very effectively for many folks who are thinking about starting a business, and their decision on where to locate is based on (the) minimum wage doesnt make much sense.

Advocates of a minimum wage increase have expressed concern that Statehouse Republicans will implement a statewide wage that halts the increases passed by those few counties.

Upmeyer said Republicans will not lower any workers wages.

Were going to clarify, she said. Were not going to change anybodys wages. Were going to clarify what is the state minimum wage and the federal wage, and those are the minimum wages. (Employers) can pay whatever they like.

Tierney said he hopes lawmakers establish a statewide minimum wage that helps full-time minimum wage workers pay for their most basic needs.

The intention of the minimum wage was to create a fair days pay for a fair days work, Tierney said.

(James Q. Lynch of The Gazette in Cedar Rapids contributed.)
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 []
A woman from Kibingoti Village in Ndia, Kirinyaga County allegedly stabbed her husband to death after she caught him talking with an ex-girlfriend.

The unidentified middle-aged woman stabbed and killed James Mutugi Gakono on Monday at a cattle dip in his home.

The deceaseds brother, John Mwangi, said he found Gakono arguing with his wife, and when he tried to intervene, the woman chucked a kitchen knife at him before stabbing Gakono to death.

The suspect who fled from the scene after the incident and remains at large, phoned Gakonos sisters and told them that she had finally managed to kill her husband after several threats and previous unsuccessful attempts.

Gakonos body was taken to Karatina District Hospital mortuary.
NAPA  A total of 51 affordable housing units are planned for a vacant parcel located at 2951 Soscol Ave. north of La Homa Drive and near the Old Soscol Way split.

In the fall of 2015, the city of Napa selected Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) to develop the affordable housing rental property. Representatives from SAHA recently submitted their proposed plans for the project with the city planning department.

Called the Manzanita Family Apartments, the project is estimated to cost approximately $25 million. The three-story complex will have a selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom units and be managed by SAHA as well.

Rents will depend on family size and average monthly income but will range from an estimated $425 to $920 for a one-bedroom, $490 to $1,080 for a two-bedroom and $550 to $1,230 for a three-bedroom.

The need for affordable housing in Napa is great, said Lark Ferrell, housing manager for the city of Napa.

Our vacancy rate is extremely low, said Ferrell. Its very hard for people to find housing. And due the demand, rents arent affordable to low income residents. Many people in our community cannot afford to live here, and families are often the most impacted.

Ferrell recalled that when a new affordable housing complex, Oak Creek Terrace, opened on First Street, hundreds of people applied for 40 units.

That just shows you theres just such a need, she said.

Affordable housing is a huge challenge, said Aubra Levine, associate director of housing development at SAHA. This is a critical piece of the puzzle  not just to help one person but to help the whole community.

This particular project is a good fit for the Soscol Avenue parcel, which was not being used by the city, said Ferrell.

Its a good site for housing, she said. Its close to grocery stores, pharmacies, schools. Its close to the hospital; its on the bus line. Its a good infill site.

SAHA, based in Berkeley, is already working on another Napa County project  a low-income senior housing complex in American Canyon. That project  called Valley View  is currently securing funding.

While working on that project, representatives from SAHA became familiar with the needs for affordable housing in Napa.

There is a really can-do attitude within the city leadership with regards to the need for affordable housing, said Levine.

After reviewing the submitted proposals for the project, Ferrell said the city chose SAHA for several reasons. First, they have a very strong community involvement process.

It was collaborative. It gave people the opportunities to give feedback, Ferrell said.

A visit to another SAHA project in Sonoma County also reflected well on SAHAs capabilities. That impressed us, she said. It seemed like something we would be proud to have in our community.

Levine said that SAHA has been working with residents and immediate neighbors to encourage feedback and comments about the project.

At the initial meeting, folks were a little skeptical  and rightly so, Levine said. Im glad they are looking out for their community. By the end of the process we were able to come together to better the design, she said.

That included adjusting where trash receptacles would be placed, the size of the interior courtyard, more parking and other aesthetics. For example, instead of carports, the developers are hoping to use trees as an alternative approach.

This wont be just an apartment building. SAHA will also coordinate resident activities that could include life skill and educational workshops, potlucks, town hall meetings and other events.

It depends on the needs and wishes of residents, Levine said.

The development will feature offices for property management and supportive services staff, and other amenities such as shared laundry, a community kitchen, protected bike storage and the courtyard equipped with outdoor seating and playground.

Everything is geared towards allowing folks to live the fullest and most independent lives they can and develop a community that will support them in doing that, said Levine.

Besides development support from the city and county, a good chunk of the $25 million will come from a mix of state programs and federal funds, including the low income housing tax credit program. A conventional mortgage will also be used.

Were in it for the long term, said Levine. SAHA will own the complex for 55 years or longer, she said.

We invest in materials and maintain the building for the long term. Were not trying to cut any corners.

Ferrell said that the city currently has 1,607 affordable rental units. The entire county has a total of 2,212 units, not including seasonal farmworker centers.

Fifty new affordable apartment units might seem like a drop in the bucket, but It makes a difference to those 50 families for sure, Ferrell said.

For more information, prospective residents are encouraged to subscribe to a notification mailing list on the SAHA website, www.sahahomes.org/. Six months prior to project completion, an application period will open and residents will be chosen by lottery.

Everyone has an equal shot, Levine said.

The planning department is currently reviewing the project. After that, the project will be scheduled for a public hearing with the Planning Commission. The Commission will then make a recommendation to the City Council who will then hold their own hearing and take final action on the application.

We hope to secure entitlements and submit our first competitive financing applications (for public funds) this Spring. Once entitlements are secured our focus will be to secure the remaining funds needed to begin construction in spring 2018, said Levine. The project could be completed in 2020.

Levine explained the name of the complex.

We found that the native manzanita tree seems to be widely appreciated in Napa Valley, with trails, wineries, and parks all showing appreciation through naming.
With Inauguration Day looming, immigration advocates and lawyers informed residents in American Canyon about what might lie ahead for documented and undocumented immigrants under the Trump administration.

Everybody in this room feels this fear, said Clarence Mamaril, an immigration attorney with 20 years of experience before a packed room at the American Canyon Library last Thursday.

Whats going to happen because of Trumps campaign rhetoric? said Mamaril, who practices law in Vallejo and lives in American Canyon. The things hes said out loud, the things hes posted, the advisers hes chosen for his administration  all of which generally have an anti-immigrant tone.

Joining Mamaril for the nearly two-hour talk was Napa immigration consultant Marisa Loza, who said: Everyone is afraid of separation. Thats the main concern  if families are going to stay together, if theyre going to be able to do their immigration process.

Whats going to happen to them [after Jan. 20]? said Loza, referring to the day Donald Trump is sworn in.

Mamaril, Loza, and City Councilmember Mariam Aboudamous, another lawyer specializing in immigration law, spoke at length on how life may change  and not change  for immigrants once Trump assumes the Oval Office.

The discussion ranged from the general to the specific, offering hope and reassurance as well as pessimism and dire warnings.

Were here to support American Canyon and the diversity of our residents, said Mamaril to a room of 75 people that reflected the citys multicultural makeup. Those in the audience included representatives of the International Institute of the Bay Area, which offers low-cost legal services to immigrants.

Mamaril also struck a more realistic tone, saying: In the short term, theres going to be a pushback on immigrant rights. Be prepared for that.

Audience members, many of whom relied on a translator to ask questions and receive answers, peppered the legal experts with queries about upcoming changes in immigration law and policy.

One example involved DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a key immigration policy established under President Barack Obama five years ago. DACA has helped about 750,000 young immigrants, according to Mamaril, gain work permits and avoid deportation.

Because Obama created DACA by Executive Order, Trump could dissolve the program without help from Congress, Mamaril explained.

We dont think DACA is going to be around for much longer, he said.

Loza advised those applying for DACA to hold off, unless they want to risk losing their filing fee while waiting on an answer from the federal government.

If theyre going to start the process for the first time, it will be better if they talk to an attorney to check other options instead of applying because we dont know whats going to happen later on [with the program], said Loza.

One attendee asked if field workers, particularly those who pick grapes, will be at risk of being deported by the Trump administration.

Aboudamous and Mamaril said they shouldnt worry about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents swooping into Napa Valley vineyards anytime soon.

Both attorneys said they expect Trump to continue another policy established by Obama that instructed ICE to focus on apprehending unauthorized immigrants with records of violent crime.

I think under the Trump administration were going to see more of the same, said Mamaril, that the priority is going to be the undocumented who have committed crimes and less so for agricultural workers doing their jobs.

Immigrant labor is here to stay, said Mamaril. We cant have an economy without it.

Aboudamous said immigrants shouldnt worry about being singled out by local law enforcement.

If you are pulled over for speeding, you will not be asked your immigration status anywhere in the county, including American Canyon, said Aboudamous, based on her conversations with law enforcement officials. You will not be taken to ICE for a DUI.

Loza informed the audience that immigrants, including the undocumented, have legal protections under the law if they are arrested or detained by police.

You have the right to remain silent and to have access to an attorney and call your family and contact your consulate, said Loza.

A man in the audience who identified himself as Enrique and said he was a teacher asked if the government would use the schools to identify undocumented immigrants.

The events translator, Karina Servente, who works at American Canyon Middle School as a parent liaison, assured Enrique that the schools wont be much help to immigration authorities.

The school district does not ask if you are legal or not. Your kids are safe at the schools, said Servente.

Aboudamous backed up Serventes remarks, saying public schools dont ask about legal status for K-12 students.

In addition to answering legal and policy questions, the legal experts advised the audience to not be afraid to speak up in the coming days ahead.

Mamaril said now was not the time for immigrants to shrink from talking about themselves, or any injustices that may come their way.

Report inequalities, said Mamaril. Theres a lot of fear that people of color are going to be discriminated against under Trump. He noted that cell phones, particularly smartphones, can be a tool to broadcast wrongdoings on social media.

The longtime immigration lawyer also suggested to his audience that they share their stories to erase certain misconceptions some Americans have about immigrants.

One of the things that led us into this situation [with Trump] are stereotypes  the idea that [immigrants] are trying to take away jobs and do bad stuff, said Mamaril, who was born in the Philippines and grew up in Vallejo. Were not that. We have immigrant stories.

Share that story, he said, and help flip some stereotypes around.
Eight years after they began appearing at local intersections, Napas red-light traffic cameras may finally be coming out.

The photo enforcement system installed and run by Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. is in limbo after the City Council decided not to renew the companys contract, which expires at the end of February.

In a shift of stances on the driver-slowing but controversial red-light cameras, four council members voted Tuesday night against a new deal with Redflex, possibly putting an end to a system that has photographed drivers  and mailed them fines of nearly $500 each  since 2009.

Barring a last-minute about-face by the council or a successful counter-offer by Redflex, the decision appears to spell the removal of electronic eyes at the four Napa crossings covered by the equipment. Drivers are photographed and ticketed at Jefferson and First streets, the Highway 29 and 12/121 junction, Trancas Street and Big Ranch Road, and Soscol and Imola avenues.

Despite a push from Napa Police leaders to keep a program they credit with reducing injury wrecks caused by speeding, signal-beating motorists, a majority of council members decided the benefit was no longer worth the cost in money, or in the ill will of tourists and residents  especially low-income ones  slapped with hefty fees.

I dont think the benefit outweighs the detriment, said Peter Mott, a former red-light camera supporter who voted against continuing the program. And I dont think thats the community we are.

Napa had moved to a month-by-month contract with Redflex in 2015 and received proposals by other traffic enforcement companies, but city staff finally chose  with police department support  to recommend staying with Redflex to prevent any interruption of service.

Since the installation of cameras starting in 2009, the number of collisions at the four intersections has dropped 40 percent, compared to a 13 percent decrease for the city as a whole, said police Lt. Brian Campagna.

My fear is that were going to regress to where we were in 2006 and that era, Campagna told the council. You may hear, again, that we have a rampant red-light-running problem and that our streets are not safe. Even with the traffic increasing, we are still holding (accidents) at bay and even reducing those collisions.

Its not a popular program and I know that, but our concern is for peoples safety and security, added police Chief Steve Potter. Even when a motorist escapes injury from another driver running a signal, he said, just the damage can take a person out of work for a day or two, when many people live paycheck to paycheck.

You talk about people living paycheck to paycheck  Im concerned about the penalty, said Mayor Jill Techel, the only council member to oppose camera enforcement during the projects approval in 2008. If someone is living paycheck to paycheck and gets a bill in the mail for $500, thats a huge penalty.

Another sign of the red-light programs wavering city support came from Juliana Inman, who, while still agreeing the cameras encourage safer driving, expressed her impatience with the opacity of Redflexs fees.

The Australia-based Redflex had offered to charge the city $3,500 per month at each of the four surveyed crossings, or $14,000 total, down from $17,700 (at $4,425 per intersection) under the contract that ends Feb. 28. A new contract would have lasted at least three years, with Napa receiving three one-year extension options.

But Inman questioned why Napa was not given an even greater discount for equipment now several years old, and unfavorably compared Redflexs offer to the extension terms it gave Elk Grove, a Sacramento suburb, in 2014: $2,000 monthly for each of seven intersections.

Why is it $2,000 in Elk Grove and $3,500 in Napa? That question has not been answered, she said, adding such enforcement shouldnt be a moneymaking operation at the expense of those less able to pay the fines.

Earlier, police said that the monthly fees to Redflex will be paid using red light violation fines, which produced an average of $25,102 in monthly revenue during the 2015-16 fiscal year. Additional revenue has gone into traffic safety improvements such as lighted pedestrian crossing assist signals, radar speed feedback signs, and bicycle helmets for children.

Only Scott Sedgley was left to support continued camera enforcement, but his motion to renew Redflexs contract drew no supporters. Casting the only dissenting vote against ending the program, he urged the city to keep a system he said protects not only safe drivers but those on bicycle and foot.

Repeat offenders are next to zero; its a learned behavior, said Sedgley, who earlier opposed the camera system before switching sides in later years. Thats the benefit of the program, that people are aware of the cameras and the cost of tickets. The fine does seem high, but thats the cost of breaking the law.

Dont run through yellow lights  its that simple. To change the speed of people going through intersections has made a huge difference. For people to say this makes them uncomfortable is not a reason to end the program.

While only two residents spoke up at City Hall about the red-light program  both seeking to end it  Gentry described receiving a deluge of phone calls, emails, letters and even postcards urging her not to let the cameras and their resulting tickets continue.

Not one single person wrote to me who said I should support it, and youve got to put weight in that, she said after the vote. You have to recognize this is something that matters to them.

Despite a reduction in red-light-related collisions from 664 to 472 since camera patrolling began, opponents pointed out an even steeper decline started in 2006  from 1,353 to 664 in the three years before Redflexs arrival in Napa.

I supported it initially because I saw it as a tool, but I dont see enough effectiveness to say (the improvement) is just because of red-light cameras, said Mott.

Furthermore, he suggested, some of the reduction in wrecks may be the result more of avoidance than good behavior. About 60 percent of the tickets go to non-residents  thats what I attribute the non-repeated offenses to, quipped Mott. Theyre not coming back. Theyre pissed off.

Instead of patrolling busy roads with automated cameras, Napa resident Susan Rushing-Hart preferred to see her city invest in more in-person police staffing to keep drivers honest.

Id like to see police parked at the places with the worst traffic at the busiest times of day, said Rushing-Hart, who said she was ticketed at the Napa-Vallejo Highway in June 2012 while slowing down to make a left turn onto Imola Avenue. If you see a police car, you behave. I know I was driving safely, and to slam on the brakes there would have been unsafe.

Gentry, too, questioned camera-only enforcement as constitutionally shaky, despite conceding some safety benefits from photo enforcement  though not so much as to dramatically reduce serious injuries by itself.

Injuries tracked on Napa roads could just be a bump on the head; its not necessarily death or dismemberment or the loss of a limb, she said afterward. It doesnt necessarily mean a life-changing injury. When I weighed that against the idea that rights might be violated, I felt I needed to stick with my judgment of not supporting the red-light cameras.

Police recommended a new Redflex contract despite the companys ensnarement in bribery scandals in Chicago and Columbus, Ohio. We have not experienced the issues that other communities have had, Potter said last week.
Baris Yildiz, a successful Napa restaurateur, hasnt forgotten his childhood roots in a Kurdish part of Turkey. He has committed himself to helping people stuck in dismal conditions in refugee camps.

The last area I went, to be honest, was pretty scary, said Yildiz. So Im going to wait a little bit. Im going to go back maybe in four months. Probably in the spring.

The return Yildiz referred to one recent morning in Ristorante Allegria, the downtown Napa eatery he co-owns with his brother Rodi, was a potential third trip to the refugee camps of eastern Turkey. Specifically, Yildiz said, he is eyeing Gaziantep, a camp in a particularly dangerous region just a stones throw from the border of war-torn Syria.

In the last six months, Yildiz made two separate trips to Turkey and Greece to witness firsthand the plight of Syrian refugees living in camps in both countries, and to offer what he could to help.

On his most recent trip to visit several camps in Greece, he took close to 200 jackets for the resident refugees. During his first trip, Yildiz delivered clothes and toys for children, whom he estimated make up the majority of the camps residents.

Funding the trips himself, Yildiz said, The whole idea was to be able to help kids. A native of eastern Turkey who was born to a Kurdish family, Yildiz immigrated to the U.S. at age 14.

If youre a Kurd back home, youre like second-class people ... youve got no rights. They still dont.

That early adversity is in large part what prompted his returns, Yildiz said, noting that coming from there, you want to make everything fair.

You want to make sure the new generation ... especially kids, they have rights, they learn better, they do good because thats our future.

Yildiz arranged his trips after contacting volunteers familiar with and working in each area. From the volunteers, Yildiz gleaned what refugees were most in need of, but from there, he said, I pretty much did everything on my own.

With Rodi taking full responsibility of Allegria during his brothers trips, Yildiz was able to spend several days visiting camps in the region.

The people he met were just like us, he said. There were some lawyers I met, some doctors  that are living in these campsites in tents. Its a big life change for them.

For those living in the camps, he said, Their condition was really bad. Theyre being put to these places where they dont really get help.

One of the worst, Yildiz said, was a camp in Greece named Softex. Yildiz and his guide had been inside the camp maybe five minutes, he said, before they were surrounded. This group, it was five, all of a sudden theres 50 of them just circling around.

Unable to understand the Arabic-speaking crowd, Yildiz waited tensely while his guide tried to diffuse the situation. I think what happened, he said,  they heard me speak English. Realizing Yildiz was, as he puts it, an outsider, the crowd became hostile.

Finally, a member of the crowd recognized Yildizs guide, he said, and the pair were able to safely leave the camp. Though once outside of the camp, the two were faced with several hours of walking, Yildiz said, as their driver had fled for fear of his own safety.

Though he had been warned not to go to the infamous Softex camp, Yildiz wanted to go, he said, to really see how bad this campsite is.

The camps notoriously poor conditions exist in part, Yildiz said, because the volunteers are scared to go to this campsite. They dont know whats going to happen to them.

While the close call has made him hesitant to visit the camps again immediately, Yildiz has been encouraging other Napans to contribute what they can to the camps residents remotely.

One recent benefactor was real estate broker Michael Holcomb, who has funded several refugee families in their moves from the camps to apartments. Holcombs recommended method of donating, he said, is via the website humanwire.org, which allows a contributor to see directly where their funding is going.

In making a contribution, Holcomb said, the theory is that in the six months, or however long it takes, they can get their feet on the ground. They can then be moved to another city that maybe needs workers and dont have to deal with the confines of this camp and the day-to-day treatment.

Citing one family whom he helped to relocate from a camp, Holcomb noted, From the bowels of that place they were in, these people now have an apartment and they have food.

In addition to their direct contributions, Holcomb said he and his wife contact these families and let them know  there are people here who really do care.

Despite the harsh conditions in the camps and the close call at Softex, Yildizs overall impression of the refugees he met on his trips was one of complete generosity. What little they have, he said, they offer you. Theyre just so giving. They dont have anything and theyre still trying to give to you.
Its a wine country food fight.

Napa Vision 2050 and sectors of the wine industry have clashed over proposed, large wineries and tree-clearing hillside vineyard development. Now they are having a smaller disagreement over a pizza fundraiser.

Last Friday, Napa Vision 2050 announced that it would have a Jan. 22 pizza dine-and-donate day at Forge Pizza Napa and one subsequent day each month. Forge would pay to Vision 2050 a small amount of the proceeds for a meal when the diners showed a Vision 2050 coupon with their payment.

Thats a common fundraising method for organizations ranging from schools to clubs.

But soon after the event was announced, Forge canceled it. According to Vision 2050 President Dan Mufson, the pizzeria reacted to pressure from wine industry members. Goliath gobbled our pizza money, he reported in an email.

You feel like a little kid on the playground  Someone came and took my money away, Mufson said on Monday.

Rex Stults of Napa Valley Vintners saw things differently. The wine industry cant make Forge cancel an event, he said.

Its so silly, Stults said. We have no control over who they dine-and-donate to.

Michael Karp, a business partner with Forge, said the restaurant started getting calls over the event, perhaps six to eight. Thats when Forgewhich opened last year in the South Napa Century Centerfound out it had gotten involved in something polarizing, which it doesnt want to do.

There was no threat, there was no anything, just a lot of noise of people discussing it, Karp said. We didnt know we were choosing a side and people were asking, What side are you on? 

Call it a tempest in a teapot, a cataclysm in a cafe, a paroxysm in a pizzeria. Or perhaps just a sign of the times, given the recent skirmishes over wine country growth.

Napa Vision 2050 formed two years ago as a coalition of 14 local groups ranging from Save Rural Angwin to Protect Rural Napa to Napa Sierra Club. It has opposed certain proposed wineries that it says resemble events centers in agricultural areas and development it says could hurt watersheds.

The groups Friday announcement of the pizza dine-and-donate event was widely circulated in an email blast. That brought a reaction from a wine industry that sometimes clashes with Vision 2050.

Stults said he started receiving emails on Friday from people, some in the wine industry, saying they like Forge pizza, but wouldnt go there again because of the Vision 2050 event. That prompted Stults to call Forge in part to find out if it was really holding an event.

I would have a hard time believing a local restaurant wants to dine-and-donate for Vision 2050 and alienate the Napa Valley wine industry who they rely on for a large part of their business, Stults said.

Stults said he simply made a courtesy call, given that Forge is a new business and might not know about Vision 2050. He knows of one other person in the wine industry who also contacted Forge.

Karp said the restaurant found out Friday that it was in the middle of things.

Were new to the community, Karp said. We dont want to take sides of any kind on strong issues with a polarizing point of view. Our job is to go in there and do great food and do great service and be there for the community and just be a fun and happy place.

Vision 2050 Vice President Kathy Felch said she received a phone call on Saturday from the Forge corporate office canceling the event. She stressed that Vision 2050 doesnt blame Forge and would still like to do dine-and-donate events there.

Although Mufson said the amount of money at stake is paltry- maybe a couple of hundred dollars  he called the wine industry a bully. He said the situation reminds him of West Virginia coal companies that dont care about the locals.

I guess were doing something right, Mufson said. If we werent, they wouldnt care about our fundraisers, would they?

Stults called Vision 2050 a small, divisive group of people with the ambition of taking down the Napa Valley wine industry.

Felch saw the incident as being about more than pizza.

I think it really discloses how wide the fault lines are here, which is too bad, Felch said.
I write in dismayed reaction to Ed Coupal's op-ed that you chose to publish in the Register. His screed is remarkable for the level of invective and the number of insults and half-truths in such a short missive.

For starters, it somehow escaped Coupal that the "Reid Rule" changes to the U.S. Senate's procedures did nothing to alter the confirmation rules of Supreme Court justices.

In addition, any student of U.S. history can see other rhetorical flourishes that don't pass muster. "Court packing" is universally a reference to the ill-conceived (in my view, and the view of many others) effort of FDR to re-make the Supreme Court in 1937. It would have increased the number of justices from nine up to a maximum of 15, with the additional seats created one-for-one for every justice over the age of 70 and six months.

The "Reid rule" did not increase the number of judges on the D.C. circuit--it lowered the bar for confirmation of qualified nominees to a simple majority. Therefore--no packing involved, just the constitutional "advise and consent" role for the Senate.

As for filling the Cabinet "quickly," as Coupal writes, apparently that means voting on nominees who have not cleared FBI background checks and the financial disclosures required by Senate rules. That Majority Leader McConnell seems to have forgotten his own absolute requirement for such vetting back in 2009 in order that the Senate be able to make "an informed decision," in the words of McConnell's letter, somehow escapes Coupal's notice.

But those errors are trivial compared Coupal's tortured invoking of the bombardment of Fort Sumter and the beginning of the Civil War.

South Carolina had seceded from the Union to preserve slavery--human bondage, the ownership as property of one human being by another. To go on to invoke Lincoln's Second Inaugural address in the current environment confirms my belief that Coupal is without shame, or is incredibly ignorant, or both.

"With malice toward none, with charity for all" were words spoken by Lincoln as the Civil War was ending and a little more than a month before his assassination. Does Coupal think that those words are anything but painfully ironic when we listen to the president-elect at his press conference on Wednesday or read his peevish stream of tweets?

On Monday, we honored the memory of Martin Luther King Jr., who attempted to help this nation live up to its creed expressed in the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." The added irony is rich.

David Graves

Napa
This week, we will have a president of the United States who does not believe many of us should have any rights. A president who won the hearts of Americans based on a campaign of racist hate, grotesque bigotry and infuriating patriarchal stances. A president who blatantly does not support the freedom of press, religion, speech, or peaceful assembly.

What, praytell, is American about that?

Trump and his ever-growing Cabinet of frighteningly incompetent politicians have made clear that women should not have control of their own reproductive rights, that oil barons should be in control of the environment, and that immigrants should practically never be regarded as human. As a proud and loyal resident of the Napa Valley, this terrifies me.

In Napa, where the bulk of our very existence is dependent on migrant labor tending to gorgeous land, we have much at stake. We all should be organizing to elevate the voices of our LGBTQ, immigrant, youth, indigenous, disabled, and low-income neighbors and all people of color, in a time when our federal administration will be working arduously to silence them.

We have much work ahead of us. But a great place to start is to attend the Welcome to the Resistance Inauguration Day Demonstration. At this indigenous-led ceremony, we will gather in prayerful and peaceful resistance to share messages of love, solidarity, and unification.

Meet at Veterans Memorial Park at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 20, for a ceremony and march around downtown Napa. Instead of tuning in to our TVs to boost a reality show stars ratings, lets instead gather with our community. We will have decorated umbrellas with messages on them in case of rain.

Afterwards, join us at the Black and White Center for an art show featuring local visual artists, musicians, and spoken-word poets. As a public artist, I believe that nothing is more unifying than art, so let us express and mourn and celebrate in song, word, movement and image. For, in fact, perhaps the very act of artistic creation is one of the most radical acts of all.

Chelsea Ritter-Soronen

Napa
The second annual Bookmark Napa Valley, which benefits the Friends & Foundation, St. Helena Public Librarys nonprofit support team, will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, in the Carriage House at St. Helenas Charles Krug Winery.

The event begins with a wine reception, continues with dinner by Oak Avenue Catering and presentations by four authors, and concludes with book signings. The four authors are:

Allison Brennan, who has written more than 30 mysteries and thrillers;

Antonio Garcia Martinez, a veteran of the Silicon Valley tech industry whose memoir Chaos Monkeys was a best seller;

Lisa Napoli, a former NPR correspondent whose book Radio Shangri-La told of her efforts to establish a radio station in Bhutan;

Scott Stambach, who teaches math and physics at a San Diego community college and just published his debut novel.

Tickets are $150 per person and available by calling 707-307-3706 or at supportSHlibrary.org
Buses from all over the country are heading to the nations capital to bring people to the Womens March on Washington, which will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21.

The lone bus from California left Oxnard on Sunday and although St. Helenan Susan Shay wont be on the bus, she will be part of Saturdays event, which begins with a rally at 10 a.m. featuring a wide range of speakers at the intersection of Independence Avenue and Third Street SW. The march begins at 1:15 p.m.

According to the Womens March on Washington website, hundreds of buses will head to Washington, D.C., including 131 from Maryland alone. Chicago is sending 12 and as of Tuesday afternoon, many were already full.

Shay said she knows at least a dozen people who are heading to Washington, D.C., including the Rev. Wendy Watson and Katie Kimsey, who both attend Grace Episcopal Church, as does Shay. Many others are planning to march in Napa, San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento.

The website lists 616 sister marches with an estimated 1.03 million people registered. Locally, the Napa march begins at 10 a.m. at the Oxbow south sidewalk and ends at Veterans Memorial Park. Other marches are being held in Sonoma, Ukiah and Santa Rosa. After attending the presidential inauguration on Friday, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) will attend both the Napa and Santa Rosa marches.

Marches will be held throughout the world.

The website states the marches are for women to stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families  recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.

The rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonized, and threatened many of us  women, immigrants of all statuses, those with diverse religious faiths particularly Muslim, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Native and Indigenous people, black and brown people, people with disabilities, the economically impoverished and survivors of sexual assault. We are confronted with the question of how to move forward in the face of national and international concern and fear.

In the spirit of democracy and honoring the champions of human rights, dignity, and justice who have come before us, we join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore. The Womens March on Washington will send a bold message to our new administration on their first day in office, and to the world that womens rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.

Vanessa von Hessert, a St. Helenan and documentary filmmaker, plans to make a short documentary of the days marches, no matter where they take place. She invites anyone to shoot a video of themselves on their phone and tell where they are marching and why. The videos should be 60 seconds or less and should be sent to von Hessert at FilmTheMarch@gmail.com. She said the short video will be distributed online.

My goal is for the edited video to show the scope of the anti-Trump/pro-womens movement, which is being led by women around the world. My hope is that the video will go viral.
Another species of bee added to the endangered list, almost wiped out by Monsanto

In case you thought that reporting on the rapidly diminishing number of bee colonies around the country was being over-hyped, this should tell you that prior warnings were spot-on, and indeed, prophetic.

For the first time ever, a rare bee species is being placed on the endangered species list, giving them special legal protections enshrined in U.S. code that, hopefully, will save them from extinction and billions of people from starvation.

As reported by Agence France Presse (AFP), U.S. officials with the Fish and Wildlife Service said in recent days that the decision was made following major declines in the rusty patched bumblebee population.

Monsanto, as weve reported in the past, has a hand in this. Fish and Wildlife Service officials say that the precipitous decline in the bee population is due to pesticides, disease and climate change (okay, so two of the three causes are real). The primary ingredient in Monsantos widely used Roundup herbicide, glyphosate, was tied to declining bee populations more than three years ago. (RELATED: How is glyphosate affecting the environment? Keep current on the issue at Glyphosate.news.)

The federal agency says that the once-common bumblebees are now balancing precariously on the brink of extinction, according to a statement released by the department and cited by AFP.

Abundance of the rusty patched bumble bee has plummeted by 87 percent, leaving small, scattered populations in 13 states and one province, said the statement. This is down from 28 states in the 1990s, the Fish and Wildlife Service noted.

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AFP reported that the final rule listing the rusty patched bumble bee as endangered was published in the January 11 edition of the Federal Register. The designation becomes official on February 10.

The news agency noted further:

Experts say the bees are important because they pollinate economically important crops such as tomatoes, cranberries and peppers across the central and northern United States, as well as parts of Canada.

The decline of the population, officials say, is likely tied to a number of factors, including loss of habitat, disease, parasites, use of pesticides and extremely small population size.

The designation as endangered means that the remaining bees are in danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a portion of their range, FWS said in their statement. The agency added that its number one priority is to act quickly to prevent total loss of the species, according to FWS Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius.

Listing the bee as endangered will help us mobilize partners and focus resources on finding ways right now to stop the decline, he added.

Late in 2016, seven species of bees found in Hawaii were the first to be placed on the U.S. list of endangered and threatened species. The yellow faced or yellow masked bees are now endangered thanks to a host of factors in that state, including loss of habitat, according to wildlife experts.

The pervasive use of pesticides is most likely one of the top causes, if not the top cause, as we have reported. A study published in September 2014 in the Journal of Experimental Biology demonstrated for the first time both chronic and acute effects in honeybees that had been exposed to Roundup.

A joint laboratory and field analysis that was conducted by researchers from the University of Buenos Aries in Argentina discovered that Roundup exhibited harm at sub-lethal levels  meaning that the exposure did not kill bees necessarily, but otherwise still affected them.

In August, we reported further that 57 different herbicides were linked to rapidly declining bee populations, and were responsible for poisoning European honeybees.

What are the implications of the extinction of entire species of bees? According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, every third bite of food you take was pollinated by bees or other pollinators. Research indicates that at least 30 percent of food crops are pollinated by bees, as are 90 percent of wild plants.

Without bees to spread seeds, many plantsincluding food cropswould die off, the organization said in a fact sheet on bees.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for Natural News and News Target, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources:

Yahoo.com

NaturalNews.com

NRDC.org[PDF]

BigGovernment.news

NaturalNews.com
Speaking about the event, MBDA CEO Antoine Bouvier, stated: "The Italian notification strengthens the Aster programme well beyond the financial and technological contribution. Once again, cooperation in Europe adds up to far more than the sum of its parts. After the current Aster 30 Block 1, which gave Europe its first defence capability against theatre ballistic missiles, the Aster 30 Block 1 NT will allow to extend this capability to more complex threats and will also deal with the emerging threat of Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBM)."

Speaking about the event, MBDA CEO Antoine Bouvier, stated: "The Italian notification strengthens the Aster programme well beyond the financial and technological contribution. Once again, cooperation in Europe adds up to far more than the sum of its parts. After the current Aster 30 Block 1, which gave Europe its first defence capability against theatre ballistic missiles, the Aster 30 Block 1 NT will allow to extend this capability to more complex threats and will also deal with the emerging threat of Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBM)."

About the Aster system The Aster 30 Block 1 NT missile evolution consists in a new seeker operating in Ka band, replacing the current Ku band seeker, as well as a new improved weapon controller. This change delivers a significant performance enhancement. The new missile will be capable of intercepting threats of the entry of the MRBM (Medium Range Ballistic Missiles) domain whereas the current Aster 30 Block 1 deals with SRBM (Short Range Ballistic Missiles) of up to 600 km range and it will also be capable of dealing with missiles with separable warheads. Launched in 1988 by France and Italy, the Aster family (also known as FSAF  Future Surface-to-Air Family) exists as a ground based air and missile defence system (SAMP/T) in service with the Italian Army and the French Air Force. It is also deployed in its naval versions for the self defence of the French and Italian Navies aircraft carriers and provides the self, local and fleet area defence capability on British, French and Italian frigates and destroyers. The UK, which deploys Aster missiles on its Type 45 destroyers, declared during the Franco-British summit held in Amiens in March 2016, that it is considering the new Block 1 NT version for this class of ships. Aster systems play an active role in NATOs ALTBMD (Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence) in defending allied forces against ballistic threats and, as such, represent a major Franco-Italian contribution to this programme. Aster systems deployed on Orizzonte Italian frigates took part in the No-Fly Zone mission over Libya decided by the United Nations in March 2011. SAMP/T systems operated by the Italian Army are today deployed in Turkey as part of NATO assistance to defend against a possible missile threat coming from the Syrian territory.

About the Aster system The Aster 30 Block 1 NT missile evolution consists in a new seeker operating in Ka band, replacing the current Ku band seeker, as well as a new improved weapon controller. This change delivers a significant performance enhancement. The new missile will be capable of intercepting threats of the entry of the MRBM (Medium Range Ballistic Missiles) domain whereas the current Aster 30 Block 1 deals with SRBM (Short Range Ballistic Missiles) of up to 600 km range and it will also be capable of dealing with missiles with separable warheads. Launched in 1988 by France and Italy, the Aster family (also known as FSAF  Future Surface-to-Air Family) exists as a ground based air and missile defence system (SAMP/T) in service with the Italian Army and the French Air Force. It is also deployed in its naval versions for the self defence of the French and Italian Navies aircraft carriers and provides the self, local and fleet area defence capability on British, French and Italian frigates and destroyers. The UK, which deploys Aster missiles on its Type 45 destroyers, declared during the Franco-British summit held in Amiens in March 2016, that it is considering the new Block 1 NT version for this class of ships. Aster systems play an active role in NATOs ALTBMD (Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence) in defending allied forces against ballistic threats and, as such, represent a major Franco-Italian contribution to this programme. Aster systems deployed on Orizzonte Italian frigates took part in the No-Fly Zone mission over Libya decided by the United Nations in March 2011. SAMP/T systems operated by the Italian Army are today deployed in Turkey as part of NATO assistance to defend against a possible missile threat coming from the Syrian territory.
Community is at the center of public events and activities planned next month to celebrate the Feb. 8 inauguration of Emory President Claire E. Sterk as the universitys 20th president and first female chief executive.

While it can appear that an inauguration is celebrating a person, President Sterk would be the first to tell you that the focus is really about celebrating the institution  both honoring the past and looking boldly to the future, says Michael Kloss, executive director of university events.

Featuring a tour that recognizes Emorys earliest history, the presentation of specially commissioned artwork and poetry, an academic symposium that examines global health challenges and a ceremony to formally mark Sterks inauguration as president, the schedule of events was designed to invite campus community engagement, he says.

Whenever there was an opportunity to make an event more inclusive, we did, he adds, from events with the Oxford College community and Emory alumni to a casual Wonderful Wednesday gathering with students and campus tree planting following the formal induction ceremony.

The campus communities will also be connected through a live broadcast of the Seney Hall bell at Oxford College tolling 20 times for Emorys 20th president during the inauguration ceremony at Glenn Memorial Auditorium, Kloss notes.

Tickets to the inauguration ceremony and academic symposium are available for Emory faculty, staff and students to claim at president.emory.edu. Seating is limited, but both events will be available for viewing via live webcast, Kloss explains.

A leading international expert in public health and anthropology, Sterk joined the university in 1995, earning the title of Charles Howard Candler Professor of Public Health. She also chaired the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education and was associate dean for research at the Rollins School of Public Health.

After joining the Office of the Provost in 2005, she focused on faculty development and enhancing the undergraduate experience, becoming provost and executive vice president for academic affairs in 2013.

Since taking office as president on Sept. 1, 2016, Sterk has presented a vision for strengthening academic excellence, achieving a deeper engagement with Atlanta, enhancing the universitys global reputation and reach, and enhancing the impact of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center.

She succeeds James W. Wagner, who retired at the end of August 2016 after 13 years as president.

Events reflect traditions old and new

The weeks inauguration events will begin with a celebration of the universitys rich history and traditions at Oxford College, Emorys historic original campus, and conclude with a bold outlook for the future of Emory, Kloss notes.

The formal investiture ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 8, will include Emory University trustees, government officials, and student, faculty and staff representatives, as well as more than 150 presidents and delegates from other academic institutions, Kloss says.

During the ceremony President Sterk will receive her presidential hood, medallion of office and mace, as well as symbolic items from the Board of Trustees including a torch, trumpet, keys, the original university charter and a sprig of East Palatka Wesley holly.

Former Emory President Wagner will assist with the presentation of the medallion of office, and former presidents James T. Laney and William M. Chace will help hood President Sterk, who will be wearing a new gown of office, Kloss notes.

Both live and highlight archive videos of the inauguration and academic symposium will be available at president.emory.edu.

Inauguration events include:

Monday, Feb. 6

"A Celebration of Emorys History and Traditions," Oxford Campus, 7-8:30 p.m.

The Oxford College community is invited to celebrate the universitys origins and traditions with a walking tour of the central Oxford campus, where Emory was founded. Dessert reception follows at the Library and Academic Commons.

Featured events include musical performances by the Oxford College a cappella group Oxapella, the Oxford Gospel Choir and the Oxford Chorale, along with presentations at Seney Hall, Few Monument, Phi Gamma Hall and the Chapel. At the Few Monument, Emory Chief University Marshal Bobbi Patterson will light the flame that will be preserved until Wednesday and presented by torch at the inauguration.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Revelations, Michael C. Carlos Museum, 5:30-7 p.m.

Emory alumni are invited to register for a special reception prior to the evenings academic symposium to meet acclaimed artist and Emory PhD student Fahamu Pecou. The artist will reveal his commissioned inaugural art piece in honor of President Sterk and offer insight into his creative process. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information, visit here.

Inauguration Academic Symposium: Health Challenges and Bold Opportunities, Glenn Memorial Auditorium, 7:30-9 p.m.

Carlos del Rio, Hubert Professor and chair of the Department of Global Health at the Rollins School of Public Health and professor of medicine in Emory University School of Medicines Division of Infectious Diseases, moderates a panel discussion on global health challenges. Featured speakers will include:

Michel Sidibe, executive director UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, and under-secretary-general of the United Nations.

Deborah Watkins Bruner, associate director for mentorship, education and training at Winship Cancer Institute; professor in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and Emory University School of Medicine.

Elaine Walker, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, director of Emory University Development and Mental Health Research Program.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

Inauguration of Claire E. Sterk, 20th president of Emory University, Glenn Memorial Auditorium, 10-11:30 a.m.

Beginning with a grand procession of dignitaries and academic delegates from around the world, this special convocation will blend time-honored Emory traditions and modern ceremonial elements. Emory neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta will provide the keynote address. The program will include a performance by the Vega Quartet and the reading of a poem by Kevin Young, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, commissioned for the occasion.

Wonderful Wednesday, Asbury Circle, noon to 2 p.m.

The student body is invited to join in a casual inauguration-themed gathering.

Tree planting, Emory Quadrangle, 2:30 p.m.

In honor of President Sterk and in celebration of Emorys commitment to sustainability, the campus community is invited to attend a tree planting on the Quad.
As a scholar and immigration advocate, Marie Marquardt has spoken in classrooms and communities across the nation about how the U.S. immigration system is broken and why it needs to be repaired.

Through her work as co-chair of El Refugio, a non-profit program that aids immigrants detained at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, shes had a close view of both the systems flaws as well as its human costs.

But a few years ago, Marquardt decided to try something new, turning her experiences working with immigrant families and refugees into stories that could help readers connect with these families complicated lives in a more meaningful way.

This month, Marquardt, a scholar-in-residence at Emorys Candler School of Theology, is releasing The Radius of Us  her second young adult (YA) novel  which examines the hardships Latin American teens face fleeing gang violence and seeking asylum in the U.S.

This Thursday, Marquardt will be joined by illustrator Carlos Morataya to discuss the novel at an author talk and book signing at the Barnes & Noble at Emory Bookstore in Emorys Oxford Road building. The 7 p.m. event is free and open to the public.

Next month, shell serve as a workshop leader at the third annual Leadership and Multi-Faith Program (LAMP) symposium, a partnership between Candler School of Theology and the Georgia Institute of Technology. The Feb. 6 event will focus on Asylum, Refuge and Relocation: Multifaith and Community Responses to Global Migration.

On Feb. 9, Marquardt will also be featured in a panel discussion on Intersectionality and Immigration at Emorys Legal Association for Women Students (LAWS) Conference from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Emory School of Laws Hunter Atrium.

With immigration and refugee issues drawing headlines around the world, Emory Report caught up with Marquardt to talk about her work.

How did immigration become a focus of your scholarship?

It initially developed as an academic interest out of professors who fed my interest in the role of religion and social movements. In the early to mid-1990s, there was quite a bit of activity around Latin American immigration and anti-immigration sentiment. I began doing ethnographic research, which I sometimes call disciplined hanging out, spending a lot of time in churches and other organizations where there were a lot of Latin American immigrants and became interested in the role of religion in Latin American communities.

How has social justice advocacy continued to inform your work?

As things became increasingly difficult for Latino and Latina immigrants  especially here in Georgia  I helped found El Refugio (The Refuge), a small nonprofit that provides hospitality to detained immigrants at Stewart Detention Center and their families. The Radius of Us has emerged from my experiences there. We actually work with a lot of Emory groups and student volunteers, from undergraduates to those studying public health and law.

Why did you decide to tackle immigration through YA fiction?

I care about the stories of young people  I think theyre very compelling. My first YA fiction, Dream Things True, came out in September 2015. It was the story of a young woman who was brought by her parents to the U.S. as a child and grew up undocumented.

As a reader, I think YA fiction is extraordinary. There are so many great YA authors who are bold and so engaged in issues that matter. Theyre telling stories in ways that arent preachy and allow young readers to dive into important issues. I think most YA readers are eager to do that. Not enough of us know whats happening with young immigrants and asylum seekers; I want to make sure those stories are accessible to young people.

What issues inspired The Radius of Us?

Beginning in about 2013, the Stewart Detention Center saw a surprising shift. The people who were requesting visits from El Refugio were increasingly teenagers and young adults whod been detained at the U.S./Mexico border and flown to Stewart.

In most cases, they werent trying to sneak into the U.S., but were actually presenting themselves to the U.S. Border Patrol to seek asylum. No criminal record, no criminal activity. And almost all of them were deported back to dangerous communities in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Most of what is happening in their communities is linked to gang violence, recruitment and extortion. The book tells the story of a boy who escapes El Salvador looking for a safe place to call home. Its also a love story.

Why is it an important story to tell at this time?

I write love stories because I believe that when we face complicated issues, looking through the eyes of love changes the way we engage these issues. The next administration has framed immigration in a way that is almost impossible for me to understand, as a threat to our nation when its historically been the very lifeblood of our nation. Theyve described immigrants and asylum-seekers as dangerous. I think of brave, scared young men who really believe the U.S. is a place of refuge where theyll be allowed to contribute to the life of our nation.

My love stories try to bring out connections against what some would argue are insurmountable differences. In the past, Ive spent a lot of time sharing data and statistics that could change peoples minds about the myths and realities (of immigration), but what it really comes down to is our interconnectedness and relationships. Thats why its so important to keep telling these stories.

How do you weave these issues into the classes you teach?

Im affiliated with Candler School of Theology, where Ive taught since 2012. In 2014, I co-led The Church on the Border, a short-term social justice course that gave students first-hand experience with people and places affected by U.S. immigration policies. Next year, Ill be co-teaching an ethics course with David Jenkins that will involve a trip to the U.S./Mexico border.

What do you find gratifying about your advocacy work and scholarship?

Its always the relationships, the deep and enduring friendships, both with the people we serve and the people we work with. As a person of faith, Ive learned the profound, central importance of hospitality as a virtue. The work we do allows us to recognize the divine presence in each person; Ive been changed by it.
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Justice Minister Zahid Hamid informed the Senate on Tuesday that Dr Shakil Afridi was considered a hero in the US for his help in locating Bin Laden, but in Pakistan he was regarded as a traitor, reported the Daily Times.

The minister said Afridi helped the US in tracing Bin Laden under the cover of a fake polio campaign, which delivered a crippling blow to Pakistan's efforts in eradicating polio from the country.

"He severely harmed the polio vaccination campaign, and 50 vaccinators were thereafter being suspected of being foreign intelligence agents," the minister said.

Hamid said Afridi broke the law and worked against national interest and has been brought to justice for his crime.

Afridi was arrested shortly after the Al Qaeda leader was killed in an operation by US Special Forces on May 2, 2011, at his residence compound in Abbottabad city.

A year later, Afridi received a 33-year prison sentence for links to terrorist groups, although it was subsequently reduced to 23 years in 2014.

The doctor has appealed the sentence and is still awaiting a court hearing.

The sentence was severely criticised within and outside the country, and the United States has termed it unjust and unnecessary.

--IANS soni/dg

( 246 Words)

2017-01-18-21:24:06 (IANS)
"The tourists visiting Taj Mahal in the morning were exasperated as the chilly breeze from the river forced them to wrap themselves in woollens and shorten the duration of their stay. Many elderly people wanted to rush back," tourist guide Ved Gautam told IANS on Wednesday.

Due to bright sunshine on Tuesday afternoon, it was a pleasant outing for the tourists but the number of tourists in the morning sessions has seen a dip.

Meanwhile, district authorities ordered schools to remain closed for another two days.

District magistrate Gaurav Dayal said schools in Agra will remain closed till January 19. School managements had been warned to follow the directive or face administrative action, he added.

The weather office in Lucknow expects conditions to improve before the Republic day.

--IANS bk/sm/vm

( 183 Words)

2017-01-18-11:06:09 (IANS)
In a decisive speech on Tuesday that sets a course for a clean break with the European Union, British Prime Minister Theresa May promised to quit the EU single market and seek a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU).

The 12-point blueprint has been dubbed a "hard Brexit", Xinhua news agency reported.

May has "made clear that she wishes to secure the closest possible future economic relationship for Britain with the EU, a goal that Ireland shares", the Irish government said on Tuesday.

"For Ireland, the priorities for the negotiation process that lies ahead are unchanged: our economic and trading arrangements, the Northern Ireland peace process including border issues, the common travel area and the future of the EU," a statement said.

"She made clear that her priorities include maintaining the common travel area and avoiding a return to a hard border with Northern Ireland, both of which are welcome," it said.

The Irish government said its preparation was extensive, adding that important organisational changes were implemented in government departments and agencies, with additional resources provided in key areas.

Meanwhile, the Irish government said an extensive programme of engagement with all other EU governments and institutions, including the Commission's Brexit Negotiations Task Force, is under way.

The Irish Prime Minister will continue to meet and engage with their EU counterparts over coming weeks to emphasise its concerns and ensure that they are fully reflected in the EU position once negotiations commence, the statement said.

"The government is under no illusion about the nature and scale of the Brexit challenge. But it is ready."

The statement said economic opportunities for Ireland will be pursued vigorously and that engagement with other member states and EU institutions will intensify.

--IANS py/

( 314 Words)

2017-01-18-11:28:06 (IANS)
The meeting of Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance with the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Urjit Patel over demonetisation and its aftermath began here this morning. The committe is led by Congress leader Veerappa Moily. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh is also a part of the committee. In the meeting, Patel is expected to face questions over the criticism that the RBI compromised its autonomy in order to toe the line of the government. Senior officers, including Banking Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal, Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikant Das and Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia will also attend the meeting and brief the committee about demonetisation and its impact on the economy. The RBI has been criticised for relinquishing its autonomy as the central bank of India to head the cirulation of currency in the nation and blindly following the Union Government's diktat. The RBI is also said to have failed to carry out the necessary checks ahead of banning the high-end value currency notes. Throughout the demonetisation drive, rules for cash withdrawal from the bank ATMs were also changed frequently. There have also been demands to know how much of the 15.44 lakh crores in banned notes has returned to the banks. Patel will also be asked if the decision of demonetisation was legal and feasible enough. The RBI Governor will also appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament on January 20. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], Jan 18 (ANI-NewsVoir): CFA Society India hosted the 7th India Investment Conference on 13 January, 2017 at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The theme for this year's conference was 'Searching for Alpha in a Divergent World'. Nearly 500 investment management professionals attended the conference, which focused on the challenges faced by the Indian investment management industry. "India's GDP growth to remain strong. Expect strong GDP numbers for India in the next 15-20 years," said Sunil Singhania, CFA, CIO - Equity Investments, Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd., who was part of an insightful panel discussion on asset allocation. Jayesh Gandhi, CFA, President, CFA Society India (volunteer) and Senior Portfolio Manager, Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company, aptly summed up the 7th India Investment Conference: "Against the backdrop of global uncertainties, conference delegates heard prominent geopolitics and policy experts, economists and fund managers who presented alternative perspectives to investment themes, asset allocation strategies, business opportunities and challenges. We are excited to see the continuous growth of this conference and look forward to closer collaboration with industry professionals who left with many new themes and ideas." What industry says: "We are relatively positive on India because we think that the underlying reform agenda will remain in place. There has been a setback with this demonetisation decision but it will ultimately pay off," said Peter Berezin, Chief Strategist, BCA Research. "The overall investment scenario for India looks good. Companies with high equity returns will be benefitted most." - Heather Brilliant, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, Morningstar Australasia "Financial advice should be focused around three major areas - accessibility, intelligence and alignment." - Jonathan B. Stein, CFA, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Betterment "India has great potential and should mobilize its resources to build infrastructure along with focusing on tangible targets." - Andy Xie, Independent Economist. (ANI-NewsVoir)
After the furore over calendars and diaries, in which Mahatma Gandhi's photos were replaced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's, the Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) struck back at the employees here on Wednesday. The KVIC Deputy CEO handling Administration and HR has slapped a memo to the employees union, asking it to explain why they staged an "unauthorised protest" on its premises on January 12. In a three-point show-cause notice issued to the Shiv Sena-affiliated Khadi Gramodyog Karmachari Sena (KGKS) office-bearers, the KVIC claimed that the protest had spoilt the "image of the organisation". The letter dated January 16, with a handwritten addition of January 18, has demanded a KGKS response within 48 hours. A grim KGKS President and five-time Shiv Sena MP Anandrao V. Adsul said he has asked the KVIC management to refrain from initiating action against any union leader or staffer. "If they persist, we shall be forced to strike work all over India. Employees are not required to take 'permission' for staging a peaceful silent protest durng lunch hour," Adsul told IANS. He demanded to know whether the KVIC management "had taken permission from the PMO" before replacing Mahatma Gandhi's pictures with the PM's photos. "The show-cause notice tantamouts to a dictatorial attitude of the management in a democratic country," Adsul said without mincing words. Some KGKS office-bearers, requesting anonymity, termed the memo as yet another instance of how "autocracy and dictatorship" has entered the KVIC and now employees cannot even "stage a silent, Gandhian form of protest" and were sought to be penalised. On Thursday January 12, the IANS first reported how the KVIC had suddenly replaced Mahatma Gandhi with Modi from its prestigious annual calendars and diaries, sparking off outrage across India. That afternoon, shocked employees had performed prayers at the Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the KVIC Central Prayer Hall and staged a half-hour lunch-time silent protest, with black bands around their mouths. The KVIC show-cause notice claims that it came to know of the employees' silent protest after it was flashed on national television channels, print media and social media that day. It has sought to know from the KGKS whether it sought written permission in advance from a competent authority for staging the protest and allegedly raising the matter in the media. The KVIC's surprise decision has been widely condemned by all political parties, including several leaders of Shiv Sena, an ally of the ruling BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, prominent Gandhians, among them being Tushar A. Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and trolled in the social media. --IANS qn/nir ( 444 Words) 2017-01-18-22:18:06 (IANS)
According to the airline, the Kolkata ATC took the decision to declare the 'precautionary flight diversion' as a 'full emergency for landing' on a 'suo moto' basis.

"IndiGo's Captain-in-Command operating Delhi-Dibrugarh flight 6E-3645, decided to divert aircraft to Kolkata due to a technical snag as a precautionary measure," the airline said in a statement.

"Despite that the cockpit crew did not declare any emergency, ATC declared full emergency on its own. The aircraft landed safely," the airline maintained.

The airline elaborated that it has reported the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

"An internal enquiry has also been initiated in the matter," the statement said.

The aircraft was ferrying 178 passengers, six crew and two infants.

The airline did not elaborate what the "technical snag" on board was which compelled the Captain-in-Command to effect the 'precautionary flight diversion'.

--IANS rv/dg

( 189 Words)

2017-01-18-22:20:06 (IANS)
According to a report in the daily South China Morning Post on Wednesday, many cities and counties in Liaoning province reported widespread fraudulent economic figures, raising doubts about the reliability of Chinese statistics just two days before the country releases its 2016 GDP figures.

Analysts regularly question Chinese data, and even official media alleged inflated figures were used to project economic activity greater than the actual in Liaoning, one of the provinces whose economy began shrinking in 2015, Efe news reported.

The Communist Party chief in the province between 2009 and 2015, Wang Min, expelled from the party in October last year, is now under investigation for alleged graft.

Meanwhile Chen Qiufa, Liaoning governor since 2015, told the assembly the National Audit Office had shown tampering with fiscal revenue figures, among other indicators.

"The fake fiscal figures influenced the central government's economic judgment and accordingly led to a lowering of the size of transfer payments to the province," said Chen.

In China, government officials are promoted based on assessments that largely depend on the economic performance of their administration, which can nudge them into falsifying data.

--IANS vgu/

( 221 Words)

2017-01-19-03:14:07 (IANS)
According to Variety, King plays the role of a 17-year-old who discovers her mother's suicide after 12 years, and is being bullied in high school for the same reason.

King's character is embarrassed by her manic, hoarder father (played by Ryan Phillippe) and ignored by her longtime crush.

However, all that changes when her father comes home with an old music box whose inscription promises to grant its owner seven wishes, a perfect thing until the people closest to her begin dying in violent ways after each wish.

Also starring Ki Hong Lee, Mitchell Slaggert, Shannon Purser, Sydney Park, Kevin Hanchard and Sherilyn Fenn, the fantasy thriller is directed by John Leonetti from a script by TV writer Barbara Marshall. (ANI)
To encourage the conservation in the fragile areas, scientists have named a new moth as 'Neopalpa donaldtrumpi' in the honour of U.S President-elect Donald Trump. Biologist Dr. Vazrick Nazari from University of California named the moth officially as 'Neopalpa donaldtrumpi' because it stands out with yellowish-white scales present on the head in adults and in these scales he found an amusing reference to Trump's hairstyle and turned it into an additional justification for its name. The study, published in the open access journal ZooKeys, hopes that the fame around the new moth will successfully point to the critical need for further conservation efforts in the fragile areas such as the habitat of the new species. "The discovery of this distinct micro-moth in the densely populated and otherwise zoologically well-studied southern California underscores the importance of conservation of the fragile habitats that still contains undescribed and threatened species and highlights the paucity of interest in species-level taxonomy of smaller faunal elements in North America," said Nazari. Following thorough analysis of these moths as well as material from other institutions, they confirmed he had discovered the second species of a genus of twirler moths. Being a substantially urbanised and populated area, the habitat of N. donaldtrumpi is also under serious threat. "By naming these species after the 45th President of the United States, I hope to bring some public attention and interest in the importance of alpha-taxonomy in better understanding the neglected micro-fauna component of the North American biodiversity," Nazari added. Donald Trump's flying namesake is announced only a month following the recently described species of basslet named after predecessor president Barack Obama, also published in ZooKeys. The fish is only known from coral reefs in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, NorthwesternHawaii, a nature reserve which the 44th President of the United States of America expanded to become the largest protected marine area in the world.(ANI)
"Demonetisation is a thing of past; normalcy is fast returning; now the withdrawal limit has been increased to 10,000 in ATM per day. People are happy and have reconciled to present situation," BJP leader S. Prakash told ANI.

He said the Congress is unable to find an issue to hit the street, so they are hitting their dead horse repeatedly with no result.

The Congress Party will today protest outside the RBI offices in Mumbai, Nagpur, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad over the issue of demonetisation.

The party had yesterday demanded the resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel over the bank's "loss of autonomy". (ANI)
Taking on Congress-Samajawadi Party alliance in upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday expressed confidence over sweeping the upcoming election in the state, adding that the alliance will not have an impact on the mindset of people. "People of Uttar Pradesh have seen enough of law and order situation with the Samajawadi Party, enough of corruption with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and absolute mismanagement with the Congress Party. Therefore, the natural choice clear is the BJP. So, whether an alliance happens or does not happens, I don't think it will change the mindset of people of the state," BJP leader Shaina NC told ANI. She said it is absolutely clear that people of Uttar Pradesh want to vote for progressive government called BJP, irrespective of whether Samajwadi Party and Congress have an alliance or not. Putting all the speculations to an end, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad yesterday said that his party would enter into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls under the leadership of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav also confirmed that the party will lock itself in a pre-poll alliance with the Congress. Meanwhile, Sheila Dikshit, who was named as the chief ministerial candidate of Congress for Uttar Pradesh polls, withdrew her name stating that there cannot be two chief ministerial faces in case of an alliance in the politically crucial state. (ANI)
With just a year left for the assembly election in Left-ruled Tripura, two tribal-based political parties, Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) have declared the formation of a new forum under the banner of 'All Tripura Indigenous Regional Parties Forum (ATIRPF)' to step up their activities and push their demands. ATIRPF would organise "Delhi Abhiyan" and called for a strike in the state both in coming month to press their demands to the central government opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. ATIRPF on February 8 called for a strike in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) area and a six-hour-long sit-in-demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on February 21 press their demand to the central government. "The CPIM has commented against us terming our forum as unholy, we protest against it. If the minority microscopic tribal gets united for their development what is illegal in it, why do they hate this unity? If the CPIM dreams that they shall be in power always that is wrong. They should have been welcomed the unitedly fight for the rights of the weak rural tribal section ," people but they have condemned it. We are very sorry and protest against this," said Bijoy Hrangkhawl, senior member of the newly formed ATIRPF and former MLA. Meantime, the Tripura unit of the BJP has welcomed the newly formed ATIRPF which basically is a union of non-left tribal parties in the opposition. Central observer and state in-charge of BJP Sunil Deodhar said: "CPIM had win in election as two tribal parties fought separately. Now they getting together in the long term are uniting of the anti-CPIM forces for us. However, if it is also their view or not we do not know, but from this angle this is good for us. Now if they have any confusion and when it is felt necessity we shall discuss it with them. But we shall not allow the anit-Left forces to get divided." (ANI)
The committee, headed by former union minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily, has called Patel to brief the panel about government's demonetisation drive.

The secretaries of finance ministry will also appear and brief about demonetisation and its impact.

Patel has been summoned, days after the United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and employees wrote a letter to the RBI governor alleging that the image of the central bank has been dented beyond repair post the government's demonetisation move.

Raising objection to the government "impinging on RBI autonomy" the employee unions of the central bank also asked Patel to take action against the "unwarranted interference".

"We request the Governor of the RBI, its highest functionary and protector of its autonomy and prestige, to do the needful urgently to do away with this unwarranted interference from the Finance Ministry and assure the staff accordingly as the staff feels humiliated," the letter said.

The finance ministry, however, clarified that the government fully respects the independence and autonomy of the RBI.

In a statement, the ministry said that consultations between the Centre and the RBI are undertaken on various matters of public importance, wherever such consultation is mandated by law or has evolved as a practice. (ANI)
The United Democratic Front (UDF) will hold a march to the Raj Bhavan today to protest against the state government's policy on cooperative sector. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala will lead the march to be attended among others by KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran and former chief minister Oommen Chandy. (ANI)
NTR's sons N. Harikrishna, N. Balakrishna, grandsons Junior NTR, Kalyanram and other family members and leader of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) paid floral tributes at NTR Ghat on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad.

The late leader's second wife Lakshmi Parvathi, daughter Bhuwaneswari, wife of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and her daughter-in-law Brahmini also visited NTR Ghat to pay tributes.

Balakrishna, a leading Telugu actor and TDP legislator, garlanded NTR's statue at Rasoolpura junction and launched Amar Jyothi rally which concluded at NTR Ghat.

Speaking on the occasion, he said NTR was the greatest leader, who fought for self-respect of Telugu people, worked relentlessly for the welfare of poor and backwards sections of society and launched many revolutionary schemes.

Balakrishna said TDP founded by NTR was not merely a political party but a system. He claimed that no other party has such a huge cadre base.

He added the TDP would bring pressure on the central government to confer country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on NTR.

Popular actor Junior NTR said though NTR physically left this world 21 years ago, he would always remain in the hearts of Telugu people.

Chandrababu Naidu's son and TDP leader N. Lokesh paid tributes to NTR in Vijayawada and inaugurated NTR Museum on the occasion.

Legendary actor NTR had launched TDP in 1982 on the slogan of Telugu self-respect and created record of sorts by coming to power within nine months, ending the single party rule of Congress in the undivided Andhra Pradesh.

He died on January 18, 1996, a few months after Naidu led a revolt in the party and became the Chief Minister.

--IANS ms/sm/vm

( 314 Words)

2017-01-18-11:14:06 (IANS)
With the Intelligence Bureau (IB) issuing an advisory of a possible terror attack during the celebration of Republic Day, Uttar Pradesh police has issued a high alert in the state, while a special drive has been launched in several parts of the state, particularly on the porous Indo-Nepal border. UP police has to make dual effort due to the Republic Day, as well as the coming seven phase Assembly elections in the state between February 11 to March 8. wwwwwwAll check-posts along the inter-state borders and connecting Nepal have been put on maximum alert, officials said. Dog and bomb squads have been deployed at vulnerable spots to thwart any subversive activity. State Director General of Police Javeed Ahmed has directed the officials and the District Collectors to make an elaborate security plan, to ensure peaceful celebration of the Republic Day. According to IG (Law and Order) Hari Om Sharma, in Lucknow and other sensitive places, including vital installations, local security personnel were taking the services of 'drones' to thwart any possible terror attack. "The security forces had already ensured aerial survey of all the important places where flag hoisting would take place. Lucknow has been also given about a dozen companies of reserved police force, along with Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Anti-Terrorists Squad (ATS), just to meet any SOS-kind situation," he added. According to reports, besides aerial survey in Lucknow, roof top patrolling has been put in place all along the route, through which Republic Day procession and replica will be taken out. Local police has so far identified 25 high rise buildings, from where monitoring will be done during the Republic Day function. Sources said that special measures has been also taken following inputs from IB. A special vigil has been kept at all the important bus stands, railway stations and government buildings. Sources maintained that the services of Central Para-Military Forces (CPMF) have been also taken to assist the local police in maintaining law and order situation. Besides deployment at important establishments, frisking and checking exercises have been also put into action on all important and vital entry and exit points, specially connecting the Nepal border. Local police here in Lucknow has been directed to carry out checking in hotels and dharamshalas and an appeal has been made to the public to immediately pass on the message about movement of any suspected person or any object found lying unclaimed. A control room has been also been set up for monitoring the Republic Day function and IG (security) has been made its incharge. SSP Lucknow has been provided services of jammers, anti-sabotage and anti-mine gadgets, along with Bomb Detection and Disposal Teams. IG Lucknow Zone has been entrusted to ensure that no untoward incident took place during celebration, Mr Sharma said.UNI MB RJ 1158 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1112120.Xml
The Bihar Police's assertion came with arrest of three persons in East Champaran district of the state.

During interrogation, the arrested persons have confessed to having been paid Rs. three lakh by a Nepalese citizen identified as Brajesh Giri allegedly connected with the ISI for planting a bomb on railway tracks at Ghorasahan in East Champaran district on October 1 last year to cause an accident.

The Bihar Police has sought help of the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing for further investigation in this regard.

Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said that the arrested persons have confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact supposedly linked to the ISI to target the Indian Railways.

The Indore-Patna train accident claimed lives of about 150 passengers. (ANI)
"We don't decide to provide security on our own. If the state government recommends or if it is so desired, we will support," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told media here.

Zaira, who portrayed the young Geeta Phogat in the recently released movie 'Dangal', issued an apology for 'offending' and 'unintentionally hurting' the people after she met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, and was subsequently trolled on Twitter. She later deleted her post.

Since then, many celebrities including Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, who essayed the role of Zaira's father in the movie, and political leaders, like Omar Abdullah, have come out in her support.

The BJP-PDP government in Kashmir has also come out in support of the actor, warning extremists not to threaten or blackmail any Kashmiri. (ANI)
A campaign against MNC products especially Chinese will be launched in Kerala as part of a nation-wide awareness campaign by Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM). Talking to UNI, SJM National Organising Secretary Kashmirilal said India's trade deficit with China had crossed 52 billion, which is the highest -- 40 per cent -- compared with any other countries, affecting country's key economic sectors badly. The large level import of Chinese products has created a crisis in India's manufacturing sector, leading to large level unemployment and loss of jobs. "So it is our responsibility to safeguard the manufacturing sector of India to create more employment generation and arrest loss of jobs," he added. "SJM is also so keen on its campaign against Chinese products in Kerala as there are certain lobbies -- who had supported China's aggression on India -- still active in our soil and they should also be exposed." It is also to be noted that the sale of Chinese fireworks was brought down during the previous Diwali festival following a campaign against them in the country. Seminars, pada yatras, signature campaign, meetings of traders, youths, businessman and intellectuals are also planned as part of the campaign. SJM State Convenor Ranjith Karthikeyan and Co-convenor Varghese Thottuparambil will lead the agitational programmes in the State. The SJM is also planning to hold a National programme in New Delhi on November next in connection with All India Campaign. UNI DS APA CS 1224 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0324-1112200.Xml
Madras High Court today refusedto "interfere" on the protests held by youths and students on the Marina beach front in the city on the Jallikattu issue, holdingthat the Supreme Court was seized of the matter. When the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Mr Justice M Sundar assumed their seats, advocate K Balu mentioned the issue and said police had switched off power on the Marina to dissuade the protesters, who were holding a peaceful demonstration on the issue. To this, the Bench said the Supreme Court was already seized of the matter and it had not passed any orders even after a mention was made before the Jallikattu even last week. Observing that Marina Beach was not a venue for protests, the Judges said it could not do anything about the ongoing protests. ''The court does not want to interfere at this stage'', the Judgessaid. UNI GV CS 1415 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1112378.Xml
A local court here today acquitted Bollywood star Salman Khanin a 19-year old case under the Arms Act giving the Actor benefit of doubt in the want ofconclusive evidence. Chief Judicial Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit while holding that the evidence against Khan were not enough to convict, discharged him of all charges in the case. The hearing that involved testimony by 20 witnesses, was completed in the court onJanuary 9 but the Magistrate had deferred the pronouncement of verdict for today. The 51-year-old Bollywood heartthrob was present in the court along with sister Alvira to hear the verdict. This was one of the four cases cases lodged against the Actor in connection with poaching of deers in this district between September26 and October 2, 1998. Whilethree cases were pertaining to the poaching of deers/black bucks, one case was filedunder the Arms Act against Khan for using a weapon license of which was expired. The Rajasthan High Court while admitting the Actor's appeal had already acquittedhim of charges in two cases of poaching of deers in Bhawad and Ghodha Farm House during two successive nights between September 26 and 28, 1998 when the Actor andhis co-stars were halting in the district for shooting of Hindi feature film "Hum Saath Saath Hein". The Rajasthan Government had filed an appeal before the Supreme Court against theHigh Court's verdict that is still pending before the apex court. Another case in connection with poaching of two black bucks in Kankani region inthe district on October 1 & 2 night in the same year, is presently pending beforethe same CJM court. Besides Salman, other accused in this case included Actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabbu and Neelam.UNI Team SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-1112509.Xml
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates on the Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Competency, Union Minister for communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad said. The proposed MoU will pave way for recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, training documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates for seafarers issued by the Government of the other country in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1/10 of the Convention, and cooperation between the two countries in training and management of seafarers. The MoU will ensure that the education, training and assessment of seafarers, as required by the STCW Convention, are administered and monitored in accordance with of the STCW Code for each type and level of training assessment involved. UNI AR SHK 1625 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-1112665.Xml
Chief Minister T R Zeliang has reiterated that holding elections to the Urban Local Bodies in Nagaland, with 33 per cent women reservation was a Constitutional obligation which the state government could not escape because reservation was Constitutional provision as provided by Article 243T of the Constitution of India and not an Act of Parliament. According to a release by the CMO, Zeliang said this while addressing Naga Peoples' Front (NPF) candidates of nine Town Councils of Shamator, Meluri, Phek, Aboi, Naginimora, Longkhim-Chare, Noklak, Pungro and Kiphire, at the party's head office in Kohima yesterday. He said those candidates, who had filed their nominations, have not done anything wrong, but was following the laws provided and required by the Constitution of India as well as adhering to the principles and ideologies of party. As legislators have sworn allegiance to the Constitution of India, so also, as NPF members "our allegiance should be to the party we belong to and not any organisation," Zeliang said. He also lamented that the Constitutional obligation to be performed by the state government had been misunderstood, misinterpreted and even politicised in certain cases. If objections were raised before the provision of the Constitution was incorporated in 1993, he said Nagaland may have been exempted from reservation for women in ULBs. "But now, it is too late since Article 243 T is already a Constitutional provision which we cannot do away with," he said. Clarifying on the misconception that the State Assembly could do away with all laws and rules of the Central Government if Nagas do not want them, Zeliang said, "Article 371 A clearly says that 'not withstanding anything in the Constitution, no Act of the Parliament in respect of 'four points' shall apply to the State of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides." He said, there was a need to differentiate between Acts of Parliament and Constitutional provisions. To this, he said Article 243 T, which cites reservation for women in ULBs, was not an Act of the Parliament which Nagaland Legislative Assembly can decide whether or not to adopt. "As long as we are part of the Union of India, the Constitution of India will be binding on us and we cannot deny this fact. And debating over an Article of the Constitution of India whether we should apply it or not is a futile exercise," he added. In this regard, Zeliang said the September 22, 2012 Assembly resolution was questioned by legal luminaries on the grounds that only the Parliament was competent to exempt any State from the purview of any part of the Constitution of India. He claimed that the assembly (four years later) withdrew that resolution in 2016 to rectify the "legal anomaly." He said not fulfilling obligation as per Article 243T would also not go well either for the State Government or the people of the State. Zeliang also appealed to all legislators and candidates present at the meeting to reach out to various tribal or social organizations and to urge them to let the elections be held peacefully. Others who addressed the meeting include NPF president Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu, NPF secretary general K G Kenye, ministers Y Patton, Tokheho Yepthomi, P Longon, Nuklutoshi, advisor S I Jamir, parliamentary secretaries, Tohanba, Yollow and Azo Nienu, MLA, the CMO release said. UNI AS AKM 1643 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-1112712.Xml
Floral tributes were paid to Telugu Desam Party founder and former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao on the occasion of his 21st death anniversary here today. TDP National General Secretary Nara Lokesh paid floral tributes to portrait of NT Rama Rao at a programme, organised in the premises Siddartha Pharmacy College. He also inaugurated NTR photo exhibition in the college premises. Later talking to media, he said that the NTR Trust would set up an NTR Museum in Amaravathi. Ministers D Umameshwara Rao, P Narayana, MP K Srinivas were among who paid floral tributes to NTR on the occasion. The TDP leaders also garlanded the NTR life size statue at Patamata. The NTR statue was unveiled in the premises of SRR & CVR college, where NTR studied at Machavaram area. Speaking on the occasion, TDP MLC Buddha Venkanna urged the Government to name after Krishna district as NTR district. Meanwhile, the PDSU students opposed the installing of NTR statue in the college premises. Some students tried to obstruct the programme, however they whisked away by the police. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas said that some old students of the college installed the statue since NTR studied at the college.UNI DP JW SNU 1600 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1112491.Xml
Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police arrested eight members of a cyber thug gang, who were engaged in the criminal activities through call centres in Sarojininagar and Krishna Nagar area, STF Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amit Pathak said here today. The eight cyber crime thugs including mastermind of the gang Ajit Verma, Vimal Prakash, Alok Mishra, Kailash Yadav, Jyoti Pandey, Sumit Verma, Ashish Kumar Singh and Sunita Singh were arrested yesterday. STF has recovered 65 mobile phones, three laptops, two desktop, about 400 SIM cards, 30 ATM cards, 20 passbooks, Rs 46000 cash from them. Mr Pathak said that complaints of cyber crimes were coming from past some days. After information of online frauds in Lucknow and nearby areas, senior police officers were deputed to look into the matter. Sources said that with information STF raided at different places and arrested eight accused. During interrogation, one of the accused said that mastermind of the gang was Amit Verma and her sister Sumit Verma.UNI JDM MB JW SNU 1622 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1112623.Xml
HDFC, a private bank, has worked on a major plan to boost the digital platform for the customers with launching several new initiatives to make the banking system for consumers friendly.The bank has gone for major haul for making the customers aware for digital banking system and would hold 250 Digital Literacy camp in Uttar Pradesh till February. Over 15,000 normal customers and 10,000 traders have been benefitted with the digital services of the bank so far. HDFC has also advocated for UPI system, through which account holders of all banks, private of PSUs ,will get an unique virtual ID number and then can use any bank for their transition. HDFC Bank, Regional head UP, Sanjeev Kumar told reporters here today that 71 percent of his bank customers have already gone digital.HDFC has 435 branches in UP with 60 percent of them in the semi-urban and rural areas."HDFC banks digital literacy camps are aimed at helping customers and traders in their transition from cash to less-cash economy in line with the government of India's objective of promoting digital economy," Kumar said while disclosed that already around 80 such camps have been completed held at different places including schools, Government offices, Universities and recreation centres.As part of this awareness initiative, HDFC bank officials will demonstrate through a presentation the various transactions that can be easily,quickly and safely conducted through NetBanking, Mobile banking, USSD, PoS and apps. such as HDFC bank's mobile app, UPI and PayZapp.Mr Kumar said in UP, HDFC bank has payment Gateway partnerships with over 450 Government and educational institutions, where residents can pay taxes, fees, utility bills and donations among other things using any debit and credit card. The bank has also a started a free missed call number 7308080808 so that customer can recharge their mobile phone immediately.UNI MB SWSNU 1557 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1112490.Xml
Rich tributes were paid to veteran freedom fighter and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Jeevanandam on his 54th death anniversary here today. Puducherry Chief minister V Narayanasamy, Special representative of the Puducherry government in New Delhi John Kumar and legislators were among others garlanded the statue of Jeevanandam at Saaram Avvai thidal here. Floral tributes were also paid to a decorated portrait of the leader kept at the pedestal of the statue. CPI leaders and caders led by state secretary R Viswanathan and National Council member Na Ra Kalainathan also garlanded the statue to mark the occasion.UNI PAB CS 1740 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1112863.Xml
Jammu and Kashmir Government today said that no case of ex-gratia for martyrs of Uri attack received so far from the concerned authorities. "The ex-gratia cases in respect of NOKs of Uri attack of 2016 have not been received from the concerned units/authorities so far, in the Home Department," Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Minister in-charge Home in a written reply has said.The question was raised by BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia.She also said that no ex-gratia relief has so far been provided to the NOKs of Chamel Singh, who was killed Lakhpat Jail of Lahore in 2013. On a question whether compensation paid or announced to be paid to NOKs of Khalid Muzaffar Wani and Burhan Wani, the Minister replied, "no ex-gratia or compensation has been paid to the NOKs of Khalid Muzaffar Wani and Burhan Wani."Meanwhile, on ex-gratia to the NOKs of six jawans of Dogra Regiment attained martyrdom in 2015 in Manipur, Ms Mufti replied that in terms of Govt order number 723-GR (GAD) of 1990 read with amendments, the NOKs of only those Army/CAPF personnel who got killed within the territorial jurisdiction of State of J&K in militancy-related incidents, violence attributable to breach of law and order etc including while on leave/inter station movement are eligible for sanction of ex-gratia. She further said that Rs 1,66,00,000 ex-gratia sanctioned in respect of 77 Army/CAPF personnel killed since January 2015 till date. On policy, the Minister in-charge said that grant of ex-gratia in respect of killed or permanently/partially disabled directly as a result of violence attributable to breach of law and order/militancy related incidents. The amount of ex-gratia payable in favour of the NOKs of the deceased personnel in terms of government order is Rs 2-lakh for death of non state subject and Rs 5-lakh for death of state subject, she said.UNI VBH JW SNU 1730 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1112760.Xml
The MoU was signed between Ambassador of India to Peru and Bolivia Sandeep Chakravorty and Secretary General, QCI Dr Ravi P Singh in presence of Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH A K Ganeriwala yesterday.

After the signing of the MoU, Mr Chakravorty said, "I was surprised to see the level of interest in Yoga and Ayurveda in Peru and Bolivia. Yoga is certainly turning out to be a new tool of Indian diplomacy".

Mr Singh spoke about the various steps taken up by QCI in designing the scheme based on international best practices involving the renowned Yoga personalities from various streams of Yoga.

Mr Ganeriwala explained the genesis of the development of Yoga scheme for Yoga professional and Yoga school and congratulated QCI for the commendable work in pursuing the objective of promotion of Yoga in the national and international arena.

To ensure quality of Yoga practices across the world and in the wake of declaration of International Day of Yoga, the AYUSH Ministry identified Quality Council of India (QCI) to develop a Voluntary Scheme for Evaluation and Certification of Yoga Professionals.

To promote Yoga scheme globally, QCI has been interacting with various organisation globally. It had in the past signed MoU with Japan, and is in talks with other countries such as Malaysia, Poland, Belgium, Russia and Australia.UNI RBE SHK 1725

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-1112807.Xml
Additional Commissioner of Police Hemant Nimbalkar told newsmenthat following a complaint by the victim, a case has been registeredand based on CCTV footage in the Pub where the incident took placetwo people including Ricky Uthappa alias Tamanna and Yemen CitizenAyub were arrested.

He said that though the incident had taken place on the night ofJanuary 13 the girl has filed complaint on January 15. Banasawadipolice have registered a case and investigating.

It was alleged that the girl, an alcoholic, on that night she hadcontacted Ricky, who was also her friend and on his invitation hewent to the Pub and started drinking alcohol. Later by aboutmidnight, when she was drunk and not in sound mind, the youthsallegedly sexually assaulted her before dropping her near PGaccommodation where she was staying.

She woke up after more than 24 hours sleep and along with herfriends came to Police Station and complained about alleged sexualassault on her.

The victim was working in a private company and staying in aPaying Guest room. Police are investigating.UNI MSP RS cs 1712

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0286-1112753.Xml
NetApp global CEO George Kurien allayedfears that the Donald Trump government in United States, that takesreigns tomorrow, will have any effects of curbs on the IT sectorboth in US or India. Replying to a question at a press conference, after launchingRs 1000-crore NetApp India Global Center of Excellence in Whitefieldon the outskirts of the city, the Chief of Silicon Valley based DataManagement major said US recognises India as a partner global basedrelationship. ''So I expect that will be good for (IT) business in both Indiaand US. Mr Trump also recognises that the technology industry is asource of employment, leadership and pride for Americans. We believethat he will have a set of policy support that will boost growth ofour institutions. Meanwhile, Mr Kurien, who was born and brought up in Bengaluru,lauded the digital initiatives of the Narendra Modi government andsaid NetApp was already a major partner of both Union and some Stategovernments in India. Digitisation can bring revolutionary changes in medical servicesthat deliver affordable healthcare to the homes rather than bringingpatients to the hospital. It also helps provide banking services inplaces where there is no infrastructure to set up bank branches. Insuch places digital banking can replace physical banking. ''There is large number of experiences that we can bring to theIndian market. We also realise that the union government has a bigagenda for digitisation and we are already part of many of thoseinitiatives. This includes Smart City initiatives where we havebrought local expertise and an ecosystem of partners. We hadenormous success in digital smart cities initiatives." NetApp India Vice President and Managing Director DeepakVisveshwaraiah said the company was participating in digitaltransformation of India in a big way. ''Especially in banking sector a lot of these initiatives likepayment gateways, data systems, digital valets we are executingprojects with SBI, HDFC banks and others. Similarly we are alsoinvolved in smart city and safe city initiatives with government ofRajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, with AAI for security of airports andother places,'' he added. He said similarly the company was involved in citizen services,e-governance projects, across the system of citizen services,security, banking, telecommunication services NetApp was involvedwith the government. Mr Kurien, talking on the Bangalore global centre said thecompany had decided to invest broadly across all of the functions toestablish a true global centre for excellence in the city. ''This is because we believe in Asian markets and India being oneof the strongest and largest of them and other economies where 21century will be creative. One of the important things to do that isto be in that country to serve those customers best mostintimately,'' he explained. He said data management industry was growing faster in India thanit did across the world. It was representation that digitisation isaccelerating in this part of the world through public-privatepartnerships. Our technology for data management is important partof digital agendas. He said NetApp had a total total workforce of 10,000 peopleacross the world and 2000 of them are highly skilled engineers fromIndia working in this country. ''This will be the largest R and Dcentre we have in the entire globe. It will be multi-dimension andmulti-functionary site in the next seven years. We are excited tohave a home that has world class facility hat track the best talentin India,'' he added.UNI RS MSP CS 1716 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0286-1112774.Xml
Red Hat, a provider of open source solutions, hosted a half-day technology event in Colombo at Hotel Cinnamon Lakeside on Wednesday. Under the theme of 'Power of Participation', the event discussed how enterprises can transform and innovate by learning, networking, and collaborating via open source technology. The keynote address was delivered by Amarjeet Manchanda, Director, Presales, Red Hat India, who spoke about the potential of open source to influence change and enable innovation. He emphasised that open source is now at the forefront of every major breakthrough. According to him, Sri Lanka is an exciting market that's primed for disruption and Red Hat is geared to play an important part in this transformation journey. Through this event Red Hat hopes to connect and educate potential customers, clients, influencers and policy makers of its services and unique offerings in open source. The event gathered some of the brightest minds in the country to discuss the power of open source and best practices that can help accelerate innovation in Sri Lanka's digital economy. Red Hat's primary focus will be to help businesses accelerate digital transformation in the areas of BFSI, telecommunications and government In Sri Lanka. With the government's big push in critical infrastructure to enable digital technologies, Red Hat's innovative offerings are well positioned to help its expansion plans in Sri Lanka. Red Hat will also focus on developing an ecosystem of partners to empower a framework for open source technologies in Sri Lanka. Industry interactions will also be held in academic institutions to help students understand careers in IT and open source. Discussing about the event, Amarjeet further shared, "Red Hat is optimistic about the opportunities in Sri Lanka and has received a very positive interest from existing customers and new ones to extend Red Hat's services in this region." He further highlighted that during their initial conversations with policymakers, partners and customers there has been a strong willingness to embrace open source technology. During his session, Neeraj Bhatia, Director, Partner, Alliances and Commercial Sales, Red Hat India, said, "Red Hat is one of the most engaged and collaborative partners in the ecosystem that is driving innovation and enabling businesses to benefit from the digital technologies. Partners lead and deliver a high share of Red Hat's business in the region and the company is keen to invest in strengthen its existing partner relations while also forging new ones in a nascent market like Sri Lanka. (ANI)
Goa Congress secretary Savio D'Souza told UNI that while former MLA Agnelo Fernandes will contest from Saligao constituency, activist Ramkrishna Jalmi would be contesting from Priol constituency.

With today's announcement, the number of candidates announced by the party has gone up to 36.

While the party has seat adjustment with Goa Forward Party in Fatorda and Siolim constituencies, it has extended support to former minister Atanasio Monserrate of United Goan Party (UGP) in Panaji and Rohan Khaunte, an independent candidate, in Porvorim constituency.UNI AKM SS SW ADG 1859

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1113041.Xml
Telecom major Vodafone today launched its Vodafone Supernet 4G service in city. The service was launched in the presence of Dadaji Bhuse, Minister of State for Rural Development, government of Maharashtra, and Anhish Chandra, head of Business for Maharashtra & Goa circle, Vodafone India. Nashik is the second city in Maharashtra after Nagpur, where the service was launched.After announcing the launch of the 4G service in here, Mr Chandra said, ''Maharashtra is a key market for Vodafone India and as one of the leading telecom services providers, 1.87 crore customers in the circle have a lot to look forward to, beginning with key business and residential corridors of Nagpur.''Vodafone is now expanding its services across Nashik and the entire state in a phased manner, he informed.''We invite our data savvy customers in the city to make the most of the bonanza of special benefits being offered to enjoy the best mobile Internet experience,'' he said.He further said the revolutionary 4G service would give the customers a new mobile experience.''Vodafone's global expertise and experience of launching 4G across 20 countries gives us a better understanding of this technology and the needs of the 4G customers. We have received overwhelming response from customers where Vodafone Supernet 4G is already available. Vodafone Suspernet 4G Service will berolled out across all major towns and cities of Maharashtra by March,'' Mr Chandra said.The launch of 4G Service in Maharashtra follows the successful roll out of service in Kerala, Karnataka, Kolkata, Delhi and NCR, Mumbai, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (east & west).Gujarat, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Assam and North East circles. With launches planned in Goa and Chennai, Vodafone Supernet 4G coverage will be available in 2,400 towns across the country by March, he added. UNI RDS SS NP1934 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1113160.Xml
A dispute over the identification of seats in Uttar Pradesh has delayed the formal announcement of a pre-poll alliance between the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) before the crucial seven-phase Assembly elections starting from February 11. The Congress has been demanding at least one seat from 75 districts each besides most of the seats in Amethi and Rae Bareli, creating a problem for the SP, which has to lose some vital seats if it accommodates the Congress, RLD and other smaller alliance partners. However, most of the differences have been solved and the announcement is expected to be made tomorrow or a day after tomorrow. Earlier, there were reports that SP President Akhilesh Yadav would be addressing a press conference at 1300 hrs today but it turned out to be a hoax. Senior SP leaders, including Ram Gopal Yadav, Naresh Agrawal and Kiranmoy Nanda, at the Chief Minister's residence were working on to finalise the candidates list with accommodating most of the candidates suggested by party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mulayam had given a list of 38 candidates to Akhilesh yesterday to be included in his list. It has been reported that the party leaders has finalised the list for the first two phases of the elections. The last date for submission of nominations for the first phase is January 24. Mr Nanda told UNI that SP has finalised its list and it could be released any time. "We are waiting for the Congress to complete its process," he said, adding that the formal announcement of the alliance could be made any time.Sources in the Congress said the problem now is of accommodating the party in Lucknow district. "Congress had one sitting seat of Lucknow Cantonment, but candidate Rita Bahuguna Joshi had joined the BJP. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh want the seat for his wife Amita. But on the other hand, SP wants the seat for their family member Aparna Yadav, the youngest daughter-in-law of Mulayam which has created a bone of contention," a senior Congress leader said.Besides, as Amita, who had contested last time from Amethi seat would not get it this time as there is a sitting SP member, hence, she wants to shift to Lucknow Cantonment seat, which could be a safer one. But SP leader Aparna Yadav was campaigning in the segment for the past two years and would not leave the seat at any cost. SP has agreed to the Congress demand to give all the seats in Amethi and Rae Bareli districts expect that of two ministers Gayatri Prasad Prajati from Amethi and Manoj Kumar Pandey from Uchahar seats. In the 2012 assembly elections, Congress failed to win a single seat in Rae Bareli but won one from Amethi, but the lone Congress MLA too joined the BSP last year.UNI MB ADG SW -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1112633.Xml
The children would be operated between January 23 to 27 at ESICMedical college and hospital here.

Addressing presspersons here today, Raflur Rehman, AssistantProgram Manager of Mission Smile said the foundation was keen tocreate awareness about Cleft Lip in society and its cause which isdue to poor nutrition levels of mothers during pregnancy. He saidthere are an estimated 10 lakh untreated cases of clefts in India.Every year over 35,000 children in India are born with clefts.

He said there was good response to the awareness camps held inthe backward area of Hyderabad-Karnataka. After the surgery patientswill be given free post operation care.

On the occasion, ESIC Medical College Dean C Chandrashakher andother faculty members were present.UNI SD RS CS 1834

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0286-1113007.Xml
Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today gave ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam in the field of Cyber Security, Minister for Communications and IT Ravishankar Prasad said. It was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), India and the Cyber Security Department, Ministry of Public Security, Vietnam on 3rd September 2016 at Hanoi. The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of cyber security-related incidents between India and Vietnam. Implementation of the MoU will result in significant mutual benefits in the cyber security sector, through institutional and capacity-building in the field of cyber security in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. UNI AR SHK 2003 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-1113291.Xml
The alleged accused, Chandrashekar Shetty, had promised to send the victim's son to the US for further studies but he kept him captive in Kolkota, Surat, Goa and Navi Mumbai and extracted money from the complainant builder from time to time, police said today.

This happened since 2011, the complaint stated and alleged that the accused even drugged the boy now 24-year-old and made him cook stories to his father.

The accused also threatened to kill the boy, the builder stated in the complaint with the Virar police last evening.

The Virar police has lodged a complaint under sections 420, 328, 344, 365, 368 and 506 of Indian Penal Code against the alleged accused and are carrying out further probe into the crime.

No arrest has been made so far in connection with the FIR, the sources added. UNI XR SS SB 2022

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1113297.Xml
The influential Roman Catholic Church in Goa on Wednesday said the priests as individuals can promote candidates they are voting for but as an institution the Church authorities were in no way involved in selection of candidates of any political party. "Catholic priests have always been advised not to use the church platform to promote a given candidate or party. Nothing, however, impedes them from revealing to others whom they are going to vote for and why," the Archbishop's House in Panaji said in a statement on Wednesday. "Such disclosures are not to be taken as the official position of the Church," it added. The statement expressed regret over "misleading and mischievous" statements and comments in the media about the involvement of the Goa Church in local politics ahead of the February 4 assembly elections. "We wish to categorically state hereby that the Church authorities in Goa are in no way involved in the selection process of any candidate of any political party or in the drawing up of party strategies, as it is being made to appear," the statement said. Last week, former Industries Minister and Congress leader Aleixo Sequeira quit politics after being denied a ticket to contest the upcoming polls. In a press conference however, Sequeira alleged that Church officials were involved in spiking his candidature. The statement also denied recent posts on the social media, in the recent past, which alleged that the Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrai had a "lavish dinner" with top politicians in the state to plan strategies against a political leader. "The reported date of the alleged meeting-cum-dinner was November 20, 2016, when the Archbishop was actually out of Goa, on an official engagement in Kerala," the statement also said. The statement however adds that the Church is "deeply concerned" about the well-being of the local population and had therefore taken up the "duty-bound task of guiding Catholics and people of goodwill on how to exercise their franchise according to their conscience without, however, promoting any particular candidate or political party". At least 1.5 million people, nearly 26 per cent of state's population, are Catholic. --IANS maya/lok/dg ( 366 Words) 2017-01-18-21:24:08 (IANS)
Jammu and Kashmir police rescued 80 people, including 33 children, from snow-bound south Kashmir district of Kulgam, a police spokesman said here tonight. He said in view of the heavy snowfall and apprehension of snow avalanche in Waltengoo Nad area of Kund Devsar, Senior Superintencent of Police (SSP) Kulgam constituted rescue teams and under the supervision of SDPO and SHO Qazigund. The teams rushed to the spot and after clearing the snow on about 15 kms of road from Qazigund to Waltengoo. During the rescue operation more than 80 people, including 33 children, were rescued after strenuous efforts. They were evacuated to Government Middle School Naubugh and arrangements for their stay, meals, bedding and heating were made by district administration. Moreover, two children-- Riyaz Ahmad, son of Abdul Rashid Deedad and Naseema, daughter of Abdul Rashid Deedad, resident of Waltengoo Nad-- who were suffering from hepatitis have been shifted to hospital for treatment.UNI BAS SB 2133 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-1113397.Xml
Police said accused Ravinder, 30, was an active member of 'Saddam Gauri' gang active in west and outer Delhi.

"Ravinder of Paharganj area was previously also involved in several criminal cases. He was arrested on Tuesday night from Dwarka's Sector 10 Metro station when he arrived there to meet one of his accomplices," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said.

Ravinder, along with Ramesh and Ashu Gupta, opened fire at Sanjay, 27, a taxi driver from Rajokri, on January 13, 2017, when the latter tried to stop them from molesting a woman in Janakpuri area, Yadav said. Sanjay was shot once and later recovered in hospital.

Ramesh and Ashu were arrested while Ravinder was on the run, the officer said.

Ravinder and his accomplices collected extortion money from different gambling (satta) operators in west and outer Delhi, police said.

--IANS sp/tsb/dg

( 186 Words)

2017-01-18-22:08:08 (IANS)
The injured were taken to the emergency ward of the S.N. Medical College.

According to the police, those travelling in the tractor trolley were headed for the cremation of a relative in a village.

An eyewitness told the police that the tourist bus hit the trolley from the rear. At least two persons were badly crushed by the speeding bus.

--IANS bk/lok/dg

( 111 Words)

2017-01-18-22:22:07 (IANS)
The much awaited 12 per cent reservation bill for backward sections among Muslims will be brought by Telangana government during the coming budget session in Legislative Assembly, expected to begin next month. This was announced by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in the assembly during a debate on welfare of minorities today. The government will put up the Muslim Reservation Bill in the coming Budget session itself, the CM said the government had already appointed a commissioner for conducting a study of social and economic status of Muslim. The Commission had submitted its report, Mr Rao said in a statement in the House. The 12 per cent reservation to Muslims was an election promise by ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). The state government has forwarded the report to the Backward Classes Commission for its opinion. The BC Commission is gathering views of different groups in the matter for expressing its opinion, Rao said. "In order to provide 12 per cent reservation to Muslims, a relaxation should be given to the stipulation that the reservations should not exceed 50 per cent. "The Government of Tamil Nadu introduced Act 45/94 and with the consent of Indian Parliament got incorporated the issue of enhancement of reservation in the ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. We will follow the same policy in our state also," Mr Rao said in his statement. Expressing confidence that the Centre would act favourably on the state's move to provide 12 per cent quota, he, however, said the state government would also take a legal recourse on the issue if the Centre does not respond positively. BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy said the high court had already held that reservations n the basis of religion is against the Constitution. The Chief Minister clarified that the proposed quota is not for Muslim religion. UNI KNR PY 2240 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1113460.Xml
Babbar Butt, 32, who lived in the Houston, Texas, confessed before federal Judge Keith P. Ellison and was convicted.

Prosecutors said that Butt opened accounts with FedEx and shipped cellphones and electronic goods to Dubai and other places but would not pay the charges.

When the accounts were deactivated because the charges could not be collected, he would open other accounts and repeat the same thing, prosecutors said.

--IANS arul/vgu/

( 103 Words)

2017-01-18-04:42:06 (IANS)
A top aide to US President Barack Obama reiterated the stance of the current administration that the One-China policy is "not negotiable", slamming any effort to reopen the issue as "dangerous". "It's not negotiable in the sense that our entire relationship with China is founded upon the One-China policy. That was a basis for the Shanghai Communique and the reestablishment of diplomatic relations," Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security advisor, said at a briefing in Washington on Tuesday. Rhodes called the One-China policy "an agreement we reached with the biggest country in the world" and "the framework under which we do everything", Xinhua news agency reported. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Friday, US President-elect Donald Trump said that the One-China policy is up for negotiation and that he is not fully committed to it. In response to Trump's remarks, China's foreign ministry said on Saturday that the One-China policy is the political foundation of bilateral ties and "is non-negotiable". At Tuesday's briefing, Rhodes warned the upcoming US administration against seeking a new approach to the issue, calling such potential move "dangerous" and "destabilizing". "It's dangerous. The risk of escalation in the Taiwan Strait is just a flashpoint the world does not need right now. The United States certainly doesn't," Rhodes said. The senior foreign policy aide to Obama added that he does not see any benefit to the US in changing the long-standing policy. "China is not going to negotiate anything, so I am not sure what is accomplished by pursuing an approach where you seek to reopen it," he said. "Getting into the space of something like Taiwan just risks destabilizing that relationship without any potential benefit that I can foresee." --IANS vgu/ ( 297 Words) 2017-01-18-07:32:06 (IANS)
A video broadcast showed Valls exiting from the Lamballe city hall on Tuesday and shaking hands with a group of people while a youth among them caught him a light slap in the face before being seized by security guards, Xinhua news agency reported.

The 19-year-old man was arrested and placed into custody on charges of "violence against a person having public authority".

Speaking to reporters shortly after the incident, Valls said: "I have never been afraid of having contact with French people whatever their opinions. Democracy can never mean violence."

Valls has been the polls' favourite to win the left ticket and challenge conservative candidate Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen, head of far-right National Front party.

However, he was losing momentum after two televised debates that offered a boost to former Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg, days ahead the competition's first round.

--IANS sm/vm

( 191 Words)

2017-01-18-11:14:08 (IANS)
Outgoing President Barack Obama has commuted the majority of the remaining prison sentence of Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of stealing and disseminating 750,000 pages of documents and videos to WikiLeaks. The President on Tuesday took the decision to free the transgender US Army soldier on May 17 after overruling the objections of Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. Manning had been sentenced to 35 years in military prison in 2013 for leaking hundreds of thousands of documents to WikiLeaks. The decision by Obama rescued Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year, from an uncertain future as a transgender woman incarcerated at the men's military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. She has been jailed for nearly seven years, and her 35-year sentence was by far the longest punishment ever imposed in the United States for a leak conviction, the New York Times reported. The President also pardoned James Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, who pleaded guilty in October last year to the charge of making false statements to federal investigators in 2012. Cartwright was questioned about leaking top secret information on US efforts to cripple Iran's nuclear programme to two journalists. Cartwright, 67, served 40 years in the US Marine Corps and was widely regarded within the military for his technical acumen and work in the areas of nuclear proliferation, missile defence and cybersecurity. A former intelligence official termed the decision to commute Manning's sentence as shocking. He said the move was "deeply hypocritical given Obama's denunciation of WikiLeaks' role in the hacking of the (Democratic National Committee)". The material, which the former soldier leaked and WikiLeaks published in 2010, included a classified video of a US helicopter attacking civilians and journalists in Iraq in 2007. The video titled "Collateral Murder" depicts a 2007 air strike in Baghdad during which a US helicopter crew fired at and killed innocent journalists. The video has been viewed millions of times and is considered a major turning point in the Iraq War. When she was initially imprisoned in 2010, Chelsea Manning was still known as Bradley Manning. Manning also fought for treatment for her gender dysphoria while imprisoned, which includes a sex reassignment surgery something the military has no experience providing prisoners with. Though found guilty on 20 out of 22 possible charges (including violating the US Espionage Act), Manning was acquitted of the most serious one -- aiding the enemy, which could have earned her a life sentence. Manning in a hearing apologised for "hurting the US" and said she had mistakenly thought she could "change the world for the better". She was also demoted from private first class to private and dishonorably discharged. Nancy Hollander, an attorney for Manning, told CNN the former soldier has been "nervous the last few days". She learned of the commutation around the time Obama made the announcement. "She knows she's going to be free," Hollander said. Asked to describe the difference between the situations of Manning and former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who is living in exile in Russia after leaking state secrets, a source in the White House said there was a "fundamental difference". Snowden on Tuesday tweeted his support, urging her to "stay strong a while longer". President-elect Donald Trump did not immediately comment on the matter, but when asked about WikiLeaks in the wake of the releases in 2010, he had said: "I think it's disgraceful. I think there should be like death penalty or something." Human rights activists and lawyers for Manning celebrated the decision. Chase Strangio, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Manning, said he was "relieved and thankful". "Manning exposed serious abuses, and as a result, her own human rights have been violated by the US government for years," Margaret Huang, the group's executive director, said. Republican members of Congress, however, expressed outrage. "This was grave harm to our national security," Senator Tom Cotton, Representative from Arkansas, told CNN. House Speaker Paul Ryan, denouncing Manning's "treachery", said she "put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets". Republican Senator John McCain said the President's decision was "a grave mistake that I fear will encourage further acts of espionage". Obama has commuted 1,385 sentences and issued 212 pardons, more than the total granted by the past 12 presidents combined, the BBC reported. A presidential commutation reduces the sentence being served but does not change the fact of conviction, whereas a pardon forgives a certain criminal offence. --IANS py/rn ( 769 Words) 2017-01-18-15:42:13 (IANS)
Poland is considering deals offered by Airbus, Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky subsidiary and Leonardo-Finmeccanica to buy 14 army helicopters this year, its defence minister said."We are in the process of choosing an offer," Antoni Macierewicz told journalists at a press conference. He did not say when a decision will be made.He also said Poland may buy more F-16 fighter jets from the United States, depending on terms proposed, and that he hopes that a contract to purchase three submarines will be signed at the end of 2017 or in early 2018.REUTERS VS AN1603 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0440-1112582.Xml
Russia will ask the US President-elect Donald Trump's new administration to stop the alleged kidnapping of Russian nationals in third countries."The practice of persecution of our citizens in third countries is absolutely unacceptable," Russian Foreign Ministry Human Rights Ombudsman Konstantin Dolgov said in an interview to Russian daily Izvestia."We will demand its end during our contacts with the new administration," Dolgov added. He also pointed out that Russia has suggested to the US to use the 1983 Strasbourg Convention on the transfer of convicted persons to return Russians to their country of citizenship. He said Russia was prepared to use the convention's mechanism in favor of US citizens currently serving sentences in Russian prisons. UNI XC JW SNU 1726 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1112481.Xml
Sifting through ripped up textbooks and writing on broken whiteboards, Syrian children returned this week to a dilapidated small-town school that was used by Islamic State militants as a prison for more than two years.With no chairs or desks, around 250 children huddled in classrooms on mats to stay off the cold concrete at the Aisha Mother of the Believers school in al-Rai, in the northern Aleppo hinterland near the Turkish border.The students, aged 5-15, were given notebooks and pens on their first day back on Monday by seven volunteers who teach reading, writing and maths and helped get the school habitable again over the past six weeks."(I feel) joy, because I was able to bring back to school this number of students in a short period," said volunteer Khalil al-Fayad. "(But also) heartbreak because of the bad condition (of the school)."The school previously taught 500 students before being seized 2 1/2 years ago by Islamic State insurgents, who slapped logos on school bags bearing the slogan "Cubs of the Caliphate", residents said.The principal and teachers fled the area when Islamic State took over and parents stopped sending their children to the school, which closed after two months and was used to house prisoners of the ultra-hardline jihadists.Volunteers set about trying to return the school to its previous standards last month in al-Rai after Syrian Free Army rebels backed by the Turkish military ousted Islamic State from the area.With shattered windows, bullet strewn walls, debris and broken equipment still present, there is plenty left to do for the team of volunteers, who say they are seeking funding from local and Turkish authorities."(I) fear not being able to continue what we are doing if the situation remains the same and the lack of support continues," Al-Fayad said.REUTERS VS PR2001 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0440-1113281.Xml
Families and supporters of five missing Pakistani activists today denounced what they called a campaign to accuse the men of blasphemy, a highly charged allegation that could endanger their lives were they to reappear.The accusations, made online and in a complaint to police, have unsettled Pakistan's small community of social activists.The families of two of the missing men, Salman Haider and Waqass Goraya, described them as part of a "malicious campaign"."This campaign can only be meant to divert public sympathy away from our plight and the plight of our loved ones, who have been illegally abducted," the two families said in a statement handed out at a press conference in the capital, Islamabad.Associates and supporters of all five men deny they have blasphemed.The liberal activists disappeared since January 4, and some rights groups and newspapers have questioned whether state or military agencies were in some way involved.Pakistan's Interior Ministry has said it is seeking information and the Federal Investigation Agency says it has not arrested them. Other state agencies and the country's military declined to comment.Haider, a leftist writer and professor, disappeared in early January as did liberal bloggers Goraya, Aasim Saeed and Ahmed Raza Naseer, as well as Samar Abbas, head of an anti-extremism activist group in Karachi.All were reported missing separately by their families within a week of each other.In recent days, the missing activists have been accused of blasphemy in online posts and by at least three television commentators.Haider Shah, of the Rationalist Society of Pakistan, said the blasphemy allegations endangered the activists.Even if they were freed without charge, they could be targeted by extremists who believe violence is justified to defend Islam, he added."These people will be running from these allegations for the rest of their lives," Shah said.In 2011, a Pakistani governor, Salman Taseer, was assassinated by his bodyguard after calling for reform of the blasphemy laws. His killer was hailed a hero by religious hardliners, and tens of thousands of supporters attended his funeral after he was executed last year.POLICE REVIEWING COMPLAINTOne of the first blasphemy allegations appeared on Jan. 9 on the pro-military Pakistan Defence page on Facebook.The anonymous Urdu-language post displayed photos of Haider, Goraya and Saeed linking them with a Facebook group called Bhensa, which it said contained "blasphemy toward the Koran".When contacted by Reuters via email, an anonymous administrator for Pakistan Defence said the Facebook page and website were an "open source debate platform" and that comments were linked to members who "contribute anonymously".The administrator added that, while many posts praised Pakistan's powerful military, the army was in no way associated with it.A group called Civil Society of Pakistan filed a police complaint over the weekend against the missing men, demanding that they be charged with insulting the Prophet Mohammad, a crime in Pakistan that carries a mandatory death sentence.Tariq Asad, chairman of Civil Society of Pakistan, said the organization filed its police complaint in outrage after reading about the case."Every Pakistani has awareness of this issue and many have asked us to take this up ... Whoever does not love the Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, more than his own family is not a true Muslim," Asad said.Police officer Khalid Awan, based in Islamabad where the complaint was lodged, said it was under legal review, but so far formal criminal charges had not been brought.Both Pakistan Defence and Civil Society of Pakistan dismissed suggestions that they were part of a coordinated campaign.Critics of Pakistan's blasphemy laws say they have long been used by individuals and religious groups to settle disputes, but activists say that the accusations against the five signal a worrying escalation."The intensity of it is very worrying," said Shahzad Ahmed, director of cyber-security group Bytes for All."There is mainstream media, social media: the way it is being projected and repeated, the kind of force that they are using is unprecedented."REUTERS PY BL2204 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1113435.Xml
One of Syria's strongest rebel factions, the conservative Islamist Ahrar al-Sham group, said today it will not attend peace talks to be held in Kazakhstan on Jan. 23.Several other leading rebel groups decided on Monday that they would be at the talks, which will be attended by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and are backed by Russia and Turkey.Ahrar al-Sham said in a statement posted on social media that although it was not going, it would support the rebel groups that did plan to attend if they could achieve a beneficial result.The talks come in the context of a ceasefire declared by Russia and Turkey at the end of last month that has reduced, but not ended, fighting between pro-government forces and rebels that began almost six years ago.Ahrar al-Sham said its stance was in reaction to continued military activity by the Syrian army and Russian air strikes, and was aimed at preventing new divisions between those rebels who supported, and those who opposed, the talks.Russia has waged an air campaign in support of Assad since October 2015 and the Syrian president is also backed on the battlefield by Iran and Shi'ite Muslim militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan.Turkey has been one of the biggest supporters of the mainly Sunni Muslim Syrian rebel groups but its main focus since last year has been on securing its border after a series of attacks within its frontiers by Islamic State and Kurdish militants.Ahrar al-Sham has tried to maintain good relations with jihadist factions like former al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, but not Islamic State, as well as nationalist rebels supported by Turkey, Gulf monarchies and the United States.REUTERS PY PR2232 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1113462.Xml
Militants killed at least 42 people and wounded more than 100 others when they detonated an explosives-laden vehicle inside a military camp in Mali's northern city of Gao today, the deadliest suicide bomb attack in the country's history.The attack struck at the heart of still fragile efforts by the government and rival armed groups to work together to quell the violence that has plagued the restive desert north for years.The bombers forced their way into the camp shortly before 9 a.m. (0900 GMT), running over several people before blowing up the vehicle just as 600 soldiers were assembling, said Radhia Achouri, a spokeswoman Mali's U.N. peacekeeping force MINUSMA.A Reuters reporter at the site soon after the blast saw dozens of bodies lying on the ground alongside the wounded as ambulances rushed to the camp and helicopters circled overhead."I've just left the hospital where there were bodies ripped to pieces and wounded piled up," said Gao resident Kader Toure.President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared three days of national mourning.State media put the death toll at 47, including five suicide bombers, and army spokesman Diarran Kone said that 115 people were also wounded."SYMBOLIC ATTACK"The camp housed government soldiers and members of rival armed groups who were due soon to begin conducting joint patrols under a U.N.-brokered peace deal aimed at easing local tensions so the government could focus on fighting Islamist militants.A French-led military intervention in 2013 drove back insurgent groups, some with links to al Qaeda, that had seized northern Mali a year earlier.But Islamist militants still operate in the region and conduct frequent attacks."The significance of this attack is that it strikes at the very heart of the Algiers peace agreement," said Sean Smith, a West Africa analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, referring to the U.N.-brokered accord.French interior minister Bruno Le Roux described the blast as a "highly symbolic attack" in an area visited only days ago by President Francois Hollande."This attack does fit into the idea that Islamists would attack anyone who works with the government," a diplomat told Reuters.Gao is a dusty town of 50,000 people on the banks of the Niger river. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali is the world's most dangerous, and its offices in Gao were flattened by a truck bomb in December.In addition to the 13,000-strong U.N. force, France also has troops in the region.Before Wednesday's blast, the worst militant attack on the former French colony was a November 2015 assault by jihadist gunmen on a Radisson hotel in the capital, Bamako, in which 20 people were killed.REUTERS PY PR2243 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1113469.Xml
A book "Traces of the Chinese on this side of the Atlantic" was presented on January 15, 2017, in Havana, Cuba. (Xinhua/ Joaquin Hernandez)

HAVANA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- A revealing description of the Chinese migration to the Americas is written in the book "Traces of the Chinese on this side of the Atlantic", which was presented here Sunday as part of the activities celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year.

At the Min Chih Tang society of Havana's Chinatown, dozens of people gathered to hear from the voices of the different authors of the new book, exploring peculiarities, characteristics and varied facets of the Chinese migration on this side of the world.

Composed of 13 articles or essays, the book seeks to bring the reader closer to the influence of Chinese migration in Cuba and other countries. In particular, the text highlights the influence of the Chinese community in Mexico, as well as the contributions of Chinese migration in Cuba, introducing the Chinese culture, culinary and music to readers.

"The most important thing about this book is that it offers a rich information of the Chinese presence in Cuba and other countries in the region," and "the support and contributions made by Chinese migration in our continent," Sergio Valdes, one of the authors in the book, told Xinhua.

Not only writers from Cuba, but also prestigious scholars from universities in the United States contributed to the new book.

"This is a very important book because it's a text that addresses an area of studies which was little written about," said Paul De Castro, another author and researcher at the University of California.

"The Chinese presence in Cuba, although it is well known, has hardly been studied in depth so I think it is the beginning of a series of studies about the Chinese influence in Cuba," he said.

A book "Traces of the Chinese on this side of the Atlantic" was presented on January 15, 2017, in Havana, Cuba. (Xinhua/ Joaquin Hernandez)

Mercedes Crespo, another author, emphasized the different topics the book addresses, which allow readers to learn about the Chinese influence in the economic, social and even political development of the Cuba before the revolutionary triumph of 1959.

The authors agreed that this publication will help Cuban people to understand the outstanding contributions of the Chinese immigrants to the island and could help start new studies on similar topics.

"The importance of this book is to lighten up the interests of Cubans and Chinese descendants for new studies on the influence of Chinese migration to the island and other parts of Latin America," said Valdes.

"Traces of China on this side of the Atlantic" was compiled by Cuban researcher Mitzi Espinosa who had the support of the Min Chih Tang Society of Havana's Chinatown.

Cuba's Jose Marti publishing house edited the book. The book will be available to Cuban readers at the upcoming International Book Fair Cuba 2017.

Also on Sunday, as part of the Spring Festival activities, a Chinese language children's contest was held, with kids demonstrating their language skills.

Since Jan. 13, the Chinese community in Cuba launched activities to celebrate the Spring Festival of the Rooster Year which falls on Jan. 28. Many cultural functions will be organized throughout whole one month in Havana's Chinatown, such as art exhibitions, concerts and traditional Chinese dance shows.

The year 2017 marks the 170th anniversary of the arrival of the first Chinese to Cuba, therefore their descendants, grouped in societies, have prepared multiple activities which will be extended throughout the year.
Chinese PresidentXi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Jointly Shoulder Responsibility of Our Times, Promote Global Growth

Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping

President of the Peoples Republic of China

At the Opening Session

Of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017

Davos, 17 January 2017

President Doris Leuthard and Mr. Roland Hausin,

Heads of State and Government, Deputy Heads of State and Your Spouses,

Heads of International Organizations,

Dr. Klaus Schwab and Mrs. Hilde Schwab,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

Im delighted to come to beautiful Davos. Though just a small town in the Alps, Davos is an important window for taking the pulse of the global economy. People from around the world come here to exchange ideas and insights, which broaden their vision. This makes the WEF annual meeting a cost-effective brainstorming event, which I would call Schwab economics.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. These are the words used by the English writer Charles Dickens to describe the world after the Industrial Revolution. Today, we also live in a world of contradictions. On the one hand, with growing material wealth and advances in science and technology, human civilization has developed as never before. On the other hand, frequent regional conflicts, global challenges like terrorism and refugees, as well as poverty, unemployment and widening income gap have all added to the uncertainties of the world.

Many people feel bewildered and wonder: What has gone wrong with the world?

To answer this question, one must first track the source of the problem. Some blame economic globalization for the chaos in the world. Economic globalization was once viewed as the treasure cave found by Ali Baba in The Arabian Nights, but it has now become the Pandoras box in the eyes of many. The international community finds itself in a heated debate on economic globalization.

Today, I wish to address the global economy in the context of economic globalization.

The point I want to make is that many of the problems troubling the world are not caused by economic globalization. For instance, the refugee waves from the Middle East and North Africa in recent years have become a global concern. Several million people have been displaced, and some small children lost their lives while crossing the rough sea. This is indeed heartbreaking. It is war, conflict and regional turbulence that have created this problem, and its solution lies in making peace, promoting reconciliation and restoring stability. The international financial crisis is another example. It is not an inevitable outcome of economic globalization; rather, it is the consequence of excessive chase of profit by financial capital and grave failure of financial regulation. Just blaming economic globalization for the worlds problems is inconsistent with reality, and it will not help solve the problems.

From the historical perspective, economic globalization resulted from growing social productivity, and is a natural outcome of scientific and technological progress, not something created by any individuals or any countries. Economic globalization has powered global growth and facilitated movement of goods and capital, advances in science, technology and civilization, and interactions among peoples.

But we should also recognize that economic globalization is a double-edged sword. When the global economy is under downward pressure, it is hard to make the cake of global economy bigger. It may even shrink, which will strain the relations between growth and distribution, between capital and labor, and between efficiency and equity. Both developed and developing countries have felt the punch. Voices against globalization have laid bare pitfalls in the process of economic globalization that we need to take seriously.

As a line in an old Chinese poem goes, Honey melons hang on bitter vines; sweet dates grow on thistles and thorns. In a philosophical sense, nothing is perfect in the world. One would fail to see the full picture if he claims something is perfect because of its merits, or if he views something as useless just because of its defects. It is true that economic globalization has created new problems, but this is no justification to write economic globalization off completely. Rather, we should adapt to and guide economic globalization, cushion its negative impact, and deliver its benefits to all countries and all nations.

There was a time when China also had doubts about economic globalization, and was not sure whether it should join the World Trade Organization. But we came to the conclusion that integration into the global economy is a historical trend. To grow its economy, China must have the courage to swim in the vast ocean of the global market. If one is always afraid of bracing the storm and exploring the new world, he will sooner or later get drowned in the ocean. Therefore, China took a brave step to embrace the global market. We have had our fair share of choking in the water and encountered whirlpools and choppy waves, but we have learned how to swim in this process. It has proved to be a right strategic choice.

Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big ocean that you cannot escape from. Any attempt to cut off the flow of capital, technologies, products, industries and people between economies, and channel the waters in the ocean back into isolated lakes and creeks is simply not possible. Indeed, it runs counter to the historical trend.

The history of mankind tells us that problems are not to be feared. What should concern us is refusing to face up to problems and not knowing what to do about them. In the face of both opportunities and challenges of economic globalization, the right thing to do is to seize every opportunity, jointly meet challenges and chart the right course for economic globalization.

At the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in late 2016, I spoke about the necessity to make the process of economic globalization more invigorated, more inclusive and more sustainable. We should act pro-actively and manage economic globalization as appropriate so as to release its positive impact and rebalance the process of economic globalization. We should follow the general trend, proceed from our respective national conditions and embark on the right pathway of integrating into economic globalization with the right pace. We should strike a balance between efficiency and equity to ensure that different countries, different social strata and different groups of people all share in the benefits of economic globalization. The people of all countries expect nothing less from us, and this is our unshirkable responsibility as leaders of our times.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

At present, the most pressing task before us is to steer the global economy out of difficulty. The global economy has remained sluggish for quite some time. The gap between the poor and the rich and between the South and the North is widening. The root cause is that the three critical issues in the economic sphere have not been effectively addressed.

First, lack of robust driving forces for global growth makes it difficult to sustain the steady growth of the global economy. The growth of the global economy is now at its slowest pace in seven years. Growth of global trade has been slower than global GDP growth. Short-term policy stimuli are ineffective. Fundamental structural reform is just unfolding. The global economy is now in a period of moving toward new growth drivers, and the role of traditional engines to drive growth has weakened. Despite the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and 3D printing, new sources of growth are yet to emerge. A new path for the global economy remains elusive.

Second, inadequate global economic governance makes it difficult to adapt to new developments in the global economy. Madame Christine Lagarde recently told me that emerging markets and developing countries already contribute to 80% of the growth of the global economy. The global economic landscape has changed profoundly in the past few decades. However, the global governance system has not embraced those new changes and is therefore inadequate in terms of representation and inclusiveness. The global industrial landscape is changing and new industrial chains, value chains and supply chains are taking shape. However, trade and investment rules have not kept pace with these developments, resulting in acute problems such as closed mechanisms and fragmentation of rules. The global financial market needs to be more resilient against risks, but the global financial governance mechanism fails to meet the new requirement and is thus unable to effectively resolve problems such as frequent international financial market volatility and the build-up of asset bubbles.

Third, uneven global development makes it difficult to meet peoples expectations for better lives. Dr. Schwab has observed in his book The Fourth Industrial Revolution that this round of industrial revolution will produce extensive and far-reaching impacts such as growing inequality, particularly the possible widening gap between return on capital and return on labor. The richest one percent of the worlds population own more wealth than the remaining 99 percent. Inequality in income distribution and uneven development space are worrying. Over 700 million people in the world are still living in extreme poverty. For many families, to have warm houses, enough food and secure jobs is still a distant dream. This is the biggest challenge facing the world today. It is also what is behind the social turmoil in some countries.

All this shows that there are indeed problems with world economic growth, governance and development models, and they must be resolved. The founder of the Red Cross Henry Dunant once said, Our real enemy is not the neighboring country; it is hunger, poverty, ignorance, superstition and prejudice. We need to have the vision to dissect these problems; more importantly, we need to have the courage to take actions to address them.

First, we should develop a dynamic, innovation-driven growth model. The fundamental issue plaguing the global economy is the lack of driving force for growth. Innovation is the primary force guiding development. Unlike the previous industrial revolutions, the fourth industrial revolution is unfolding at an exponential rather than linear pace. We need to relentlessly pursue innovation. Only with the courage to innovate and reform can we remove bottlenecks blocking global growth and development.

With this in mind, G20 leaders reached an important consensus at the Hangzhou Summit, which is to take innovation as a key driver and foster new driving force of growth for both individual countries and the global economy. We should develop a new development philosophy and rise above the debate about whether there should be more fiscal stimulus or more monetary easing. We should adopt a multipronged approach to address both the symptoms and the underlying problems. We should adopt new policy instruments and advance structural reform to create more space for growth and sustain its momentum. We should develop new growth models and seize opportunities presented by the new round of industrial revolution and digital economy. We should meet the challenges of climate change and aging population. We should address the negative impact of IT application and automation on jobs. When cultivating new industries and new forms models of business models, we should create new jobs and restore confidence and hope to our peoples.

Second, we should pursue a well-coordinated and inter-connected approach to develop a model of open and win-win cooperation. Today, mankind has become a close-knit community of shared future. Countries have extensive converging interests and are mutually dependent. All countries enjoy the right to development. At the same time, they should view their own interests in a broader context and refrain from pursuing them at the expense of others.

We should commit ourselves to growing an open global economy to share opportunities and interests through opening-up and achieve win-win outcomes. One should not just retreat to the harbor when encountering a storm, for this will never get us to the other shore of the ocean. We must redouble efforts to develop global connectivity to enable all countries to achieve inter-connected growth and share prosperity. We must remain committed to developing global free trade and investment, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation through opening-up and say no to protectionism. Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. While wind and rain may be kept outside, that dark room will also block light and air. No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war.

Third, we should develop a model of fair and equitable governance in keeping with the trend of the times. As the Chinese saying goes, people with petty shrewdness attend to trivial matters, while people with vision attend to governance of institutions. There is a growing call from the international community for reforming the global economic governance system, which is a pressing task for us. Only when it adapts to new dynamics in the international economic architecture can the global governance system sustain global growth.

Countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are all equal members of the international community. As such, they are entitled to participate in decision-making, enjoy rights and fulfill obligations on an equal basis. Emerging markets and developing countries deserve greater representation and voice. The 2010 IMF quota reform has entered into force, and its momentum should be sustained. We should adhere to multilateralism to uphold the authority and efficacy of multilateral institutions. We should honor promises and abide by rules. One should not select or bend rules as he sees fit. The Paris Agreement is a hard-won achievement which is in keeping with the underlying trend of global development. All signatories should stick to it instead of walking away from it as this is a responsibility we must assume for future generations.

Fourth, we should develop a balanced, equitable and inclusive development model. As the Chinese saying goes, A just cause should be pursued for common good. Development is ultimately for the people. To achieve more balanced development and ensure that the people have equal access to opportunities and share in the benefits of development, it is crucial to have a sound development philosophy and model and make development equitable, effective and balanced.

We should foster a culture that values diligence, frugality and enterprise and respects the fruits of hard work of all. Priority should be given to addressing poverty, unemployment, the widening income gap and the concerns of the disadvantaged to promote social equity and justice. It is important to protect the environment while pursuing economic and social progress so as to achieve harmony between man and nature and between man and society. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development should be implemented to realize balanced development across the world.

A Chinese adage reads, Victory is ensured when people pool their strength; success is secured when people put their heads together. As long as we keep to the goal of building a community of shared future for mankind and work hand in hand to fulfill our responsibilities and overcome difficulties, we will be able to create a better world and deliver better lives for our peoples.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

China has become the worlds second largest economy thanks to 38 years of reform and opening-up. A right path leads to a bright future. China has come this far because the Chinese people have, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, blazed a development path that suits Chinas actual conditions.

This is a path based on Chinas realities. China has in the past years succeeded in embarking on a development path that suits itself by drawing on both the wisdom of its civilization and the practices of other countries in both East and West. In exploring this path, China refuses to stay insensitive to the changing times or to blindly follow in others footsteps. All roads lead to Rome. No country should view its own development path as the only viable one, still less should it impose its own development path on others.

This is a path that puts peoples interests first. China follows a people-oriented development philosophy and is committed to bettering the lives of its people. Development is of the people, by the people and for the people. China pursues the goal of common prosperity. We have taken major steps to alleviate poverty and lifted over 700 million people out of poverty, and good progress is being made in our efforts to finish building a society of initial prosperity in all respects.

This is a path of pursuing reform and innovation. China has tackled difficulties and met challenges on its way forward through reform. China has demonstrated its courage to take on difficult issues, navigate treacherous rapids and remove institutional hurdles standing in the way of development. These efforts have enabled us to unleash productivity and social vitality. Building on progress of 30-odd years of reform, we have introduced more than 1,200 reform measures over the past four years, injecting powerful impetus into Chinas development.

This is a path of pursuing common development through opening-up. China is committed to a fundamental policy of opening-up and pursues a win-win opening-up strategy. Chinas development is both domestic and external oriented; while developing itself, China also shares more of its development outcomes with other countries and peoples.

Chinas outstanding development achievements and the vastly improved living standards of the Chinese people are a blessing to both China and the world. Such achievements in development over the past decades owe themselves to the hard work and perseverance of the Chinese people, a quality that has defined the Chinese nation for several thousand years. We Chinese know only too well that there is no such thing as a free lunch in the world. For a big country with over 1.3 billion people, development can be achieved only with the dedication and tireless efforts of its own people. We cannot expect others to deliver development to China, and no one is in a position to do so. When assessing Chinas development, one should not only see what benefits the Chinese people have gained, but also how much hard effort they have put in, not just what achievements China has made, but also what contribution China has made to the world. Then one will reach a balanced conclusion about Chinas development.

Between 1950 and 2016, despite its modest level of development and living standard, China provided more than 400 billion yuan of foreign assistance, undertook over 5,000 foreign assistance projects, including nearly 3,000 complete projects, and held over 11,000 training workshops in China for over 260,000 personnel from other developing countries. Since it launched reform and opening-up, China has attracted over 1.7 trillion US dollars of foreign investment and made over 1.2 trillion US dollars of direct outbound investment, making huge contribution to global economic development. In the years following the outbreak of the international financial crisis, China contributed to over 30% of global growth every year on average. All these figures are among the highest in the world.

The figures speak for themselves. Chinas development is an opportunity for the world; China has not only benefited from economic globalization but also contributed to it. Rapid growth in China has been a sustained, powerful engine for global economic stability and expansion. The inter-connected development of China and a large number of other countries has made the world economy more balanced. Chinas remarkable achievement in poverty reduction has contributed to more inclusive global growth. And Chinas continuous progress in reform and opening-up has lent much momentum to an open world economy.

We Chinese know only too well what it takes to achieve prosperity, so we applaud the achievements made by others and wish them a better future. We are not jealous of others success; and we will not complain about others who have benefited so much from the great opportunities presented by Chinas development. We will open our arms to the people of other countries and welcome them aboard the express train of Chinas development.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

I know you are all closely following Chinas economic development, and let me give you an update on the state of Chinas economy. Chinas economy has entered what we call a new normal, in which major changes are taking place in terms of growth rate, development model, economic structure and drivers of growth. But the economic fundamentals sustaining sound development remain unchanged.

Despite a sluggish global economy, Chinas economy is expected to grow by 6.7% in 2016, still one of the highest in the world. Chinas economy is far bigger in size than in the past, and it now generates more output than it did with double-digit growth in the past. Household consumption and the services sector have become the main drivers of growth. In the first three quarters of 2016, added value of the tertiary industry took up 52.8% of the GDP and domestic consumption contributed to 71% of economic growth. Household income and employment have steadily risen, while per unit GDP energy consumption continues to drop. Our efforts to pursue green development are paying off.

The Chinese economy faces downward pressure and many difficulties, including acute mismatch between excess capacity and an upgrading demand structure, lack of internal driving force for growth, accumulation of financial risks, and growing challenges in certain regions. We see these as temporary hardships that occur on the way forward. And the measures we have taken to address these problems are producing good results. We are firm in our resolve to forge ahead. China is the worlds largest developing country with over 1.3 billion people, and their living standards are not yet high. But this reality also means China has enormous potential and space for development. Guided by the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, we will adapt to the new normal, stay ahead of the curve, and make coordinated efforts to maintain steady growth, accelerate reform, adjust economic structure, improve peoples living standards and fend off risks. With these efforts, we aim to achieve medium-high rate of growth and upgrade the economy to higher end of the value chain.

 China will strive to enhance the performance of economic growth. We will pursue supply-side structural reform as the general goal, shift the growth model and upgrade the economic structure. We will continue to cut overcapacity, reduce inventory, deleverage financing, reduce cost and strengthen weak links. We will foster new drivers of growth, develop an advanced manufacturing sector and upgrade the real economy. We will implement the Internet Plus action plan to boost effective demand and better meet the individualized and diverse needs of consumers. And we will do more to protect the ecosystem.

 China will boost market vitality to add new impetus to growth. We will intensify reform efforts in priority areas and key links and enable the market to play a decisive role in resources allocation. Innovation will continue to feature prominently on our growth agenda. In pursuing the strategy of innovation-driven development, we will bolster the strategic emerging industries, apply new technologies and foster new business models to upgrade traditional industries; and we will boost new drivers of growth and revitalize traditional ones.

 China will foster an enabling and orderly environment for investment. We will expand market access for foreign investors, build high-standard pilot free trade zones, strengthen protection of property rights, and level the playing field to make Chinas market more transparent and better regulated. In the coming five years, China is expected to import eight trillion US dollars of goods, attract 600 billion US dollars of foreign investment and make 750 billion US dollars of outbound investment. Chinese tourists will make 700 million overseas visits. All this will create a bigger market, more capital, more products and more business opportunities for other countries. Chinas development will continue to offer opportunities to business communities in other countries. China will keep its door wide open and not close it. An open door allows both other countries to access the Chinese market and China itself to integrate with the world. And we hope that other countries will also keep their door open to Chinese investors and keep the playing field level for us.

 China will vigorously foster an external environment of opening-up for common development. We will advance the building of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific and negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to form a global network of free trade arrangements. China stands for concluding open, transparent and win-win regional free trade arrangements and opposes forming exclusive groups that are fragmented in nature. China has no intention to boost its trade competitiveness by devaluing the RMB, still less will it launch a currency war.

Over three years ago, I put forward the Belt and Road initiative. Since then, over 100 countries and international organizations have given warm responses and support to the initiative. More than 40 countries and international organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China, and our circle of friends along the Belt and Road is growing bigger. Chinese companies have made over 50 billion US dollars of investment and launched a number of major projects in the countries along the routes, spurring the economic development of these countries and creating many local jobs. The Belt and Road initiative originated in China, but it has delivered benefits well beyond its borders.

In May this year, China will host in Beijing the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which aims to discuss ways to boost cooperation, build cooperation platforms and share cooperation outcomes. The forum will also explore ways to address problems facing global and regional economy, create fresh energy for pursuing inter-connected development and make the Belt and Road initiative deliver greater benefits to people of countries involved.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

World history shows that the road of human civilization has never been a smooth one, and that mankind has made progress by surmounting difficulties. No difficulty, however daunting, will stop mankind from advancing. When encountering difficulties, we should not complain about ourselves, blame others, lose confidence or run away from responsibilities. We should join hands and rise to the challenge. History is created by the brave. Let us boost confidence, take actions and march arm-in-arm toward a bright future.

Thank you!

Related:

10 takeaways from Xi's Davos speech

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech on Tuesday at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos.

Here are 10 quick takeaways from the 50-minute address, which touched upon globalization, protectionism, world economy and China's development among other subjects. Full story

Xi at Davos: key quotes that win over global elites

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping grabbed global elites in Davos on Tuesday with an unusually straightforward keynote address on global issues at the World Economic Forum.

Speaking on globalization, trade protectionism, climate change, development and China's economy, the Chinese president stroke a deep chord with business and political leaders at the annual gathering. Full story

Xi at Davos: Also a master of metaphors

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ali Baba's treasure cave, double-edged sword, vast ocean, isolated creeks, dark room, express train ...

In the snow-clad, star-studded Alpine town of Davos, Chinese President Xi Jinping has once again proved that he merits another title: master of metaphors.
LONDON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Europe's response to British Prime Minister Theresa May's "hard Brexit" speech should not be apologetic or shrinking, a leading academic in European affairs said Tuesday.

Prof. Erika Harris, Director of Postgraduate studies in Politics and Co-Director of the Europe and the World Center at the University of Liverpool, gave her response to Xinhua following May's speech.

In the decisive speech that sets a course for a clean break with the European Union, May promised to quit the EU single market and seek a free trade agreement with the EU.

The 12-point blueprint has been dubbed a "hard Brexit".

"The speech by Theresa May did not reveal that much new. ... She merely confirmed that Britain is leaving every institution of the EU and seeking the best possible deal for Britain," Harris said.

"In fact, the whole speech can be summed up by one value only -- a good deal," she said.

The prime minister also confirmed that Britain was never comfortable within the European Union.

May also revealed a number of threats should the EU adopt a punitive approach to British negotiations, such as loss of access to the British business and no sharing of intelligence information, Harris said.

The UE should seek its own best deal and prevent further disintegration of the EU.

Forthcoming French and German elections will be extremely important because the right wing parties there are anti-EU, and Brexit and the U.S. presidential election are undermining the EU.

"Hence, the EU's response should not be apologetic and shrinking, but confident in its future and principles that underpin it.

"After all, at the beginning of negotiations, both parties should start from a position of strength and with a degree of bluff, which is exactly what Theresa May did in her speech," Harris added.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- John McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee in U.S. senate, is proposing a defense budget for the fiscal year of 2018 worth 640 billion dollars, 54 billion dollars above what had been projected by the outgoing Obama administration.

Combined with a projected 60 billion dollars for a war fund known as the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account, McCain's plan would bring the country's 2018 defense budget to a total of 700 billion dollars, according to a TheHill news daily report on Tuesday.

"President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to 'fully eliminate the defense sequester' and 'submit a new budget to rebuild our military.' " McCain wrote in a 33-page white paper released over the holiday weekend, attacking the defense budget cut under the Obama era.

McCain's plan would pay for more troops for the Army and Marine Corps, more ships for the Navy and more planes for the Air Force. And over five years, the plan would add 430 billion dollars more than current projections, bringing the defense budget to 800 billion dollars in fiscal 2022.

However, it would require caps on defense spending to be overturned, an action that has eluded Congress since such caps were enacted in 2011 and that fiscal conservatives are expected to continue pushing against, said the TheHill report.

For the Navy, McCain calls the plans to increase the fleet to 355 ships from 274 by 2022 "unrealistic." But, he said, the Navy could by 59 ships in that timeframe; including five fast attack submarines, five fleet oilers, three destroyers, two amphibious ships, two undersea surveillance ships and one aircraft carrier.

McCain said the Marines could add 3,000 troops a year to reach 200,000 by 2022, "with the possibility of exceeding that if operational requirements demand it."

The Marines should also buy 20 more F-35 fighter jets, while the Air Force should buy 73 more, he said.

But the Air Force's goal of ultimately buying 1,763 F-35s "is unrealistic and requires reevaluation, and likely a reduction, of the ultimate size of the F-35 fleet," McCain added.

For the U.S Army, adding 8,000 soldiers a year through 2022 is a "realistic objective," McCain said.

During the election campaign, Trump once laid out his hawk defense plan, pledging an end to mandatory budget caps and spending billions of extra dollars to expand every branch of the military if elected.

The Obama administration has been criticized for overseeing a shrinking of the Pentagon's budget, partly due to the removal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, and partly due to the mandatory budget caps.
ROME, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Up to 180 people were feared dead in a latest shipwreck of a migrant boat off the Libyan coasts, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday.

The United Nations (UN) migration agency released the figure after gathering testimonies from four survivors, three men and one woman, who were rescued and brought to the port town of Trapani in Sicily on Monday evening.

"They said there were an estimated 180 people on board of a barge," Flavio Di Giacomo, IOM spokesperson and coordination officer for the Mediterranean, told Xinhua.

"The engine broke down some five hours after setting sail from an unspecific location in Libya, and the boat started slowly to take on water and to sink, some 30 nautical miles off Libya."

The four survivors -- two Ethiopian and two Eritreans -- reported that several hours passed before rescuers came to save them.

"One of the men told us he was travelling with his wife, who did not survive. He also tried desperately to save another woman, yet she also drowned after some hours in the waters," Di Giacomo said.

All of the people on board were believed to be migrants and refugees from Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, according to the officer.

The survivors were finally saved by a French vessel operating as part of the rescue mission of the European Union (EU) border agency Frontex. On Sunday, they were transferred to a Norwegian ship of the same mission, the Siem Pilot, which brought them to southern Italy.

Besides the four survivors, rescuers also recovered four bodies in the area. The Siem Pilot reached the port of Trapani in the evening of Monday, also bringing to land another 34 migrants rescued in a previous operation.

Some 2,876 arrivals by sea were registered up to January 15, including 2,185 in Italy and 691 in Greece, according to IOM data published on Tuesday.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR put the figure at 2,353 in Italy alone in the same period. Arrivals had been 5,273 throughout the same month last year, according to UHNCR.

The inflow of migrants and refugees to Europe by sea has been relentless so far, despite the winter season and rough sea conditions.

While overall figures showed a downward trend, Italy remained on the frontline of the crisis with a record high of 180,375 arrivals in 2016.

In a statement on Tuesday, the IOM stressed many survivors kept attempting the dangerous sea crossing also to flee violence and abuses in Libya.

"They claimed to have no option but to put themselves in the hands of unscrupulous smugglers, who often forced them onto boats, despite the rough sea conditions," the UN agency reported.

"Many people told us that, when they get to the beach, those who change their mind and do not want to go are forced to get on board, sometimes with violence," Federico Soda, director of IOM's Coordination Office for the Mediterranean in Rome, said in the statement.
File photo taken on Jan. 13, 2016 shows White House Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes speaks during a press briefing at the Foreign Press Center in Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Jiao Min)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A top aide to U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday reiterated the stance of the current administration that the One-China policy is "not negotiable," slamming any effort to reopen the issue as "dangerous."

"It's not negotiable in the sense that our entire relationship with China is founded upon the One-China policy. That was a basis for the Shanghai Communique and the reestablishment of diplomatic relations," Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security advisor, said at a briefing in Washington.

Rhodes called the One-China policy "an agreement we reached with the biggest country in the world" and "the framework under which we do everything."

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Friday, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said that the One-China policy is up for negotiation and that he is not fully committed to it.

In response to Trump's remarks, China's foreign ministry said on Saturday that the One-China policy is the political foundation of bilateral ties and "is non-negotiable."

At Tuesday's briefing, Rhodes warned the upcoming U.S. administration against seeking a new approach to the issue, calling such potential move "dangerous" and "destabilizing".

"It's dangerous. The risk of escalation in the Taiwan Strait is just a flashpoint the world does not need right now. The United States certainly doesn't," Rhodes said.

The senior foreign policy aide to Obama added that he does not see any benefit to the U.S. in changing the long-standing policy.

"China is not going to negotiate anything, so I am not sure what is accomplished by pursuing an approach where you seek to reopen it," he said. "Getting into the space of something like Taiwan just risks destabilizing that relationship without any potential benefit that I can foresee."
Soldiers of pro-government militia are pictured in Aleppo, Syria, on Dec. 11, 2016. (Xinhua/Yang Zhen)

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations has received an invitation for the upcoming Astana peace talks on Syria and has designated a team to attend the meeting, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said Tuesday.

Haq said the office of the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has received an invitation to Astana. "The Special Envoy has designated a team led by his Deputy, Ramzy E. Ramzy, and his political director, Robert Dann, to represent the UN at the meeting," he added.

A ceasefire agreement was reached between the Syrian government and oppositions at the end of last year after intense diplomatic efforts by Russia, Turkey and other countries. The new round of peace talks in Astana of Kazakhstan was scheduled on January 23.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on December 31 to welcome efforts by Russia and Turkey to end violence in Syria and start a political process.

The council viewed the peace talks in Astana "as an important part of the Syrian-led political process and an important step ahead of the resumption of negotiations," the resolution said.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence officer who was sentenced 35 years for giving classified material to Wikileaks.

Manning will be freed in May this year, according to a statement from the White House. She was originally set to be released in 2045.

She was arrested in 2010 after leaking 700,000 military files and diplomatic cables to Wikileaks. The 35-year sentence Manning received was the longest ever imposed for a leak conviction in the United States.

"I take full and complete responsibility for my decision to disclose these materials to the public. I have never made any excuses for what I did." Manning wrote in her petition in November to have her sentenced commuted.

"I pleaded guilty without the protection of a plea agreement because I believed the military justice system would understand my motivation for the disclosure and sentence me fairly. I was wrong." she said.

Manning announced she was a transgender woman the day after her sentencing. She has reportedly tried to commit suicide twice and spent time in solitary confinement as punishment at the military prison in Leavenworth, Kansas.

"The bottom-line is this: I need help and I am still not getting it. I am living through a cycle of anxiety, anger, hopelessness, loss, and depression. I cannot focus. I cannot sleep. I attempted to take my own life," she wrote.

Also on Tuesday, Obama pardoned former Marine General James Cartwright, who was convicted of making false statements to federal investigators as they probed whether he leaked details of a cyberattack on Iran's nuclear program. He pleaded guilty in October, and prosecutors have requested a two-year prison sentence.

A commutation shortens a convict's sentence, but unlike a pardon, does not forgive the crime.

Edward Snowden, the fugitive former NSA contractor who leaked his cache of documents detailing U.S. intelligence efforts around the same time as Manning's crime, called earlier for Manning's clemency.

"Mr. President, if you grant only one act of clemency as you exit the White House, please: free Chelsea Manning," Snowden tweeted. "You alone can save her life."

However, at a White House briefing last week, Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said there was a "stark difference" between Manning's crime and Snowden's actions, with Snowden's being "far more serious and far more dangerous."

The move was part of a final push of pardons and commutations in the closing days of the Obama administration, and Obama has now shortened the sentences of more federal inmates than any other president.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday slapped sanctions on Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, for actively obstructing the 1995 peace agreement that ended the war in the Balkans.

Dodik was designated for his role in defying the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in violation of the rule of law, thereby actively obstructing the peace agreement known as the Dayton Accords, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.

The President of Republika Srpska, one of two entities that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina, was also designated for conduct that poses a significant risk of actively obstructing the Dayton Accords, the statement added.

As a result of the action, any property or interest in property of Dodik within U.S. jurisdiction is blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with him.

"By obstructing the Dayton Accords, Milorad Dodik poses a significant threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina," said John Smith, a senior official of the U.S. Treasury Department.

"Today's action underscores the U.S. commitment to the Dayton Accords and supports international efforts for the country's continued European integration," Smith said.

The Dayton Accord was signed in 1995 to end three-and-a-half years of war in the Balkans. It creates two entities of roughly equal size, one for Bosnian Muslims and Croats, the other for Serbs.
Chinese PresidentXi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for joint efforts to chart the course of economic globalization and forge new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development.

Xi made the remarks while addressing the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He is the first Chinese head of state to attend the Davos meetings in Switzerland.

Amid a rising tide of global concerns for protectionism, anti-globalization sentiment and other economic and political issues, Xi's presence with Chinese wisdom and experiences at Davos bears tremendous historic significance, said WEF founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

GUIDING GLOBAL ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE

In his keynote speech, Xi stressed the importance of adapting to and guiding economic globalization and delivering its benefits to all.

Blaming economic globalization for the world's problems is inconsistent with reality and unhelpful to solving the problems, Xi said, underlining the need to act pro-actively and manage economic globalization appropriately, so as to release its positive impact and rebalance its process.

Xi called on all countries to follow the general trend, proceed from their respective national conditions, and embark on the right pathway of integrating into economic globalization with the right pace.

He stressed the need to strike a balance between efficiency and equity to ensure that different countries, different social strata and different groups of people all share the benefits of economic globalization.

"President Xi's remarks objectively elaborated the role of globalization in the entire process of human history and suggested that its role should be viewed dialectically," said Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Trade protectionism, populism and nationalism can quell public dissatisfaction for the time being, but in the long run, they will harm the overall interests of all," Zhang said.

Analyzing the root causes of the sluggish global economy, Xi pointed to a lack of robust driving forces for global growth, inadequate global economic governance, and uneven global development.

He stressed the importance of developing a dynamic innovation-driven growth model, a model of open and win-win cooperation featuring a well-coordinated and inter-connected approach, and a model of fair and equitable governance in keeping with the trend of the times, and a balanced, equitable and inclusive development model.

"China aims to tackle the problems of inequality, exclusiveness and inefficiency in the previous globalization process and provide better global governance products for the world," said Fan Yongpeng, an associate professor with the China Institute of Fudan University.

"Since the G20 Hangzhou summit this year, we have heard more of China's sober, rational and constructive voice at a time when no one is willing to take on a leading role," Fan said.

Citing the contributing role his country -- the world's second largest economy -- has played in economic globalization, Xi said China's rapid growth has been a sustained, powerful engine for global economic stability and expansion, and the inter-connected development of China and a large number of other countries has made the world economy more balanced.

China's remarkable achievement in poverty reduction has contributed to more inclusive global growth, and its continuous progress in reform and opening-up has lent much momentum to an open world economy, he added.

China, noted Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao, has been "integrated into the world more than ever before, becoming an active participant, builder and contributor of the global economic system."

"Proceeding from its own development philosophy, China has made important contributions to the reform and improvement of the existing international system," Zhu said.

CHINA'S COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL GROWTH

Xi pledged that China's development will continue to offer opportunities to business communities in other countries.

In the coming five years, China is expected to import 8 trillion U.S. dollars of goods, attract 600 billion dollars of foreign investment, and make 750 billion dollars of outbound investment, said the president, adding that Chinese tourists will make 700 million overseas visits.

Social media users commented while watching the live streaming of Xi's Davos speech. "China is humble, kind, helpful and getting stronger and stronger, contributing more to the world," said one who goes with the name Cheah KH. Another, Bern Chen, described Xi as "an exemplary heart-centered statesman sharing his views with other world leaders and the global community."

China will keep its door wide open, Xi also told the forum, voicing hope that other countries will also keep their door open to Chinese investors and keep the playing field level for them.

China, he said, will advance the building of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific and negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to form a global network of free trade arrangements.

China has no intention to boost its trade competitiveness by devaluing the RMB, still less will it launch a currency war, Xi stressed.

"China has been a locomotive of growth, especially for the emerging world, but really for the whole world," said Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS, a consulting firm. "More positive perspective of China is an accurate one."

On the progress of the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi told the audience that China's circle of friends along the Belt and Road is growing bigger, and Chinese investment in the countries along the routes has surpassed 50 billion dollars in the past three years.

Over 100 countries and international organizations have given warm responses and support to the initiative, and more than 40 have signed cooperation agreements with China, said the Chinese president, who put forward the initiative in 2013.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies have launched a number of major projects in the countries along the routes, spurring the economic development of these countries and creating many local jobs, Xi noted.

The Belt and Road Initiative, envisioned as an infrastructure and trade network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes, originated in China, but it has delivered benefits well beyond its borders, he said.

China plans to host a Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in Beijing this May to brainstorm on interconnected development, the president announced.

The upcoming forum will explore ways to address regional and global economic problems, generate fresh energy for interconnected development, and ensure that the Belt and Road Initiative delivers greater benefits to the people of the countries involved, Xi said.

Noting that world history shows that the road of human civilization has never been a smooth one, and that mankind has made progress by surmounting difficulties, he encouraged the international community to join hands and rise to the challenge.

"History is created by the brave. Let's boost confidence, take actions and march arm-in-arm toward a bright future," said the president while concluding his speech.

Xi arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for a four-day state visit and the WEF annual meeting, which is themed "Responsive and Responsible Leadership" this year. About 50 heads of state and 1,700 political, business, academic and media leaders from across the world attended the opening ceremony.

In his first overseas trip in 2017, Xi will also travel to Lausanne and Geneva to visit the International Olympic Committee, the World Health Organization and the UN Office at Geneva.

Related:

Jointly Shoulder Responsibility of Our Times, Promote Global Growth

Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping

President of the Peoples Republic of China

At the Opening Session

Of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017

Davos, 17 January 2017

President Doris Leuthard and Mr. Roland Hausin,

Heads of State and Government, Deputy Heads of State and Your Spouses,

Heads of International Organizations,

Dr. Klaus Schwab and Mrs. Hilde Schwab,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

Im delighted to come to beautiful Davos. Though just a small town in the Alps, Davos is an important window for taking the pulse of the global economy. People from around the world come here to exchange ideas and insights, which broaden their vision. This makes the WEF annual meeting a cost-effective brainstorming event, which I would call Schwab economics.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at the 47th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 17, 2017. The 47th WEF's annual meeting kicked off in Davos on Jan. 17 and will last to Jan. 20. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday urged Europe to "believe in itself" and to remember the reasons why the European Union(EU) was founded.

"Europe's got to remember why we have been on this 70-year journey," Kerry said at the World Economic Forum(WEF) here, referring to the long period of peace that has held throughout most of the continent since the end of World War II.

He celebrated the historic effort, saying: "On the face of the planet, no region, no assembly of countries has grown as significantly or as powerfully as Europe has."

Kerry joined the WEF in the final days of his role as U.S. Secretary of State, as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is due to be sworn into office on Friday, bringing with him a new administration.

Even as his work as secretary comes to an end, however, John Kerry pledged to remain engaged: "Given the issues that are on the table and the challenges that we face globally, I intend to be extremely active and involved and continue to press in the same direction that we've been pressing in."

He also tried to assure the audience about the future of global initiatives with the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump. Taking the Iran Nuclear Agreement as an example, Kerry put his belief in the conviction of allies around the world to maintain the work of international diplomacy.

If the U.S. reneges on its commitments, however, "We'll have injured our own credibility," he said.

John Kerry also saw much to celebrate at the end of President Obama's administration, including the first high-level talks between the United States and Iran in 35 years, shared perspectives with Russia and other parties on the situation in Syria, and the Paris Climate Agreement.

Speaking of the Paris Agreement, Kerry gave recognition to the cooperation of China and the United States in paving the way for getting the deal off the ground..
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The wife of Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen knew her husband was going to attack and had assisted him, prosecutors said on Tuesday, seven months after 49 lives were lost in the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. history.

"She knew he was going to conduct the attack," assistant US Attorney Roger Handberg told the federal court in Oakland, one day after Noor Salman was arrested at her parents' home in the San Francisco suburb of Rodeo.

She was charged of aiding and abetting her husband, who pledged allegiance to the extreme group Islamic State during the attack on June 12.

Investigators believe Salman acted of her own free will and knowingly took steps to obstruct the probe into the massacre, a CNN report quoted law enforcement officials as saying.

Months before the attack, Mateen added the name of his wife to his life insurance policy and made sure she had access to his bank accounts. He also bought his wife an expensive piece of jewelry, said the report.

Two hours after the attack started, Mateen texted his wife at 4 a.m. and asked her whether she had heard any news about the shooting. At one point, Salman sent a text to Mateen saying that she loved him, a law enforcement official said.

Her family, meanwhile, maintains she had no idea that her husband was going to attack the popular Pulse nightclub.

"Noor Salman had no foreknowledge nor could she predict what Omar Mateen intended to do that tragic night," family attorney Linda Moreno of Tampa, Florida, said Monday.

Her case will be heard in Florida afterwards, where the killings happened and where Salman and Mateen lived with their young son at the time, Handberg said.

"This is a matter that we continue to take very seriously," Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Monday when confirming Salman's arrest.

"We said from the beginning we were going to look at every aspect of this case, every aspect of this shooter's life - to determine not just why did he take these actions, but who else knew about them, was anyone else involved, is there any other accountability that needs to be had here in this case." said Lynch.

Salman married Mateen in 2011 and lived with him and their son in Fort Pierce, Florida. Authorities interviewed Salman immediately after the shooting, but she remained free until Monday.

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People hold signs calling for the release of imprisoned wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning while marching in a gay pride parade in San Francisco, California June 28, 2015. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence officer who was sentenced 35 years for giving classified material to Wikileaks.

Manning will be freed in May this year, according to a statement from the White House. She was originally set to be released in 2045.

She was arrested in 2010 after leaking 700,000 military files and diplomatic cables to Wikileaks. The 35-year sentence Manning received was the longest ever imposed for a leak conviction in the United States.

"I take full and complete responsibility for my decision to disclose these materials to the public. I have never made any excuses for what I did." Manning wrote in her petition in November to have her sentenced commuted.

"I pleaded guilty without the protection of a plea agreement because I believed the military justice system would understand my motivation for the disclosure and sentence me fairly. I was wrong." she said.

Manning announced she was a transgender woman the day after her sentencing. She has reportedly tried to commit suicide twice and spent time in solitary confinement as punishment at the military prison in Leavenworth, Kansas.

"The bottom-line is this: I need help and I am still not getting it. I am living through a cycle of anxiety, anger, hopelessness, loss, and depression. I cannot focus. I cannot sleep. I attempted to take my own life," she wrote.

Also on Tuesday, Obama pardoned former Marine General James Cartwright, who was convicted of making false statements to federal investigators as they probed whether he leaked details of a cyberattack on Iran's nuclear program. He pleaded guilty in October, and prosecutors have requested a two-year prison sentence.

A commutation shortens a convict's sentence, but unlike a pardon, does not forgive the crime.

Edward Snowden, the fugitive former NSA contractor who leaked his cache of documents detailing U.S. intelligence efforts around the same time as Manning's crime, called earlier for Manning's clemency.

"Mr. President, if you grant only one act of clemency as you exit the White House, please: free Chelsea Manning," Snowden tweeted. "You alone can save her life."

However, at a White House briefing last week, Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said there was a "stark difference" between Manning's crime and Snowden's actions, with Snowden's being "far more serious and far more dangerous."

The move was part of a final push of pardons and commutations in the closing days of the Obama administration, and Obama has now shortened the sentences of more federal inmates than any other president.
KATHMANDU, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Himalaya Airlines, a China-Nepal joint venture airline company announced on Tuesday it would fly to two destinations, Kuala Lumpur and Yangon, in its scheduled flights as it is receiving its second aircraft.

Currently, the airlines has been conducting scheduled flights operations to Doha, Qatar and Colombo, Sri Lanka from Kathmandu since last year with its one aircraft.

The company said that it will welcome new aircraft, Airbus 320-214, by the end of January 2017 which will help it to extend its air service in other routes.

According to the plan, the airlines will launch scheduled flights on the Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur-Kathmandu route with a weekly frequency of five flights from Feb. 10, whereas flights to Yangon, Myanmar will be conducted twice a week from Feb. 24.

With addition of new destinations, the airlines said it has strengthened Nepal's connectivity in Asian, according to a press release.
DHAKA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A four-day exhibition has been organized at Bangladesh's top Dhaka University as part of celebrating 2017 as "the year of exchange and friendship" between Bangladesh and China.

Dhaka University Vice Chancellor AA M S Arefin Siddique Tuesday inaugurated the exhibition styled, "Bangladesh-China Ceramic Exhibition" at university's Zainul Art gallery.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, a workshop has also been arranged to provide Dhaka University with a wide range of opportunities to explore enriched and traditional Chinese methods of ceramics.

Scores of Dhaka University's Fine Arts Faculty students participated in the workshop.

Apart from the Dhaka University students, a 5-member delegation from China also took part in the workshop and exhibition which will end on Jan. 20.

Organizers say both exhibition and workshop have been organized as part of celebrating the year 2017 as a "year of exchange and friendship" between Bangladesh and China.

Organizers say more colorful events would be held to carry forward Sino-Bangla traditional friendship this year.
SYDNEY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The University of Melbourne has once again been crowned as the best higher education institution in Australia.

Figures released by Simon Birmingham, the Federal minister for Education, on Wednesday revealed that the University of Melbourne has the highest rate of degree completion in the country at 88 percent between 2009 and 2014.

Margaret Shiel, acting Vice-Chancellor of the university of Melbourne, said the university's completion rate came as a result of the institution imposing strict requirements on incoming students.

Shiel said the model has also given students flexibility to "find their way" which had improved retention rates.

"The curriculum allows them to try different things," she told Fairfax Media on Wednesday.

"Often they find something that is more appealing and more attractive. It opens up more opportunities."

The data also revealed that a third of university students nationwide were not completing their degrees within six years.

Victoria's Federation University recorded the worst completion rate with just 52.5 percent of students who began their degree in 2009 having finished it by 2014.

Marcia Devlin, Federation University's deputy vice-chancellor of learning and quality, said that Federation University being a regional institution meant many students were mature-aged with families and a full-time job.

"They therefore have slower or lower completion rates than traditional students, who are often unencumbered, child-free middle-class school leavers who either live at home free with Mum and Dad or whose family pay for them to live on campus in college. These are the typical Melbourne university students," Devlin said.

"Regional universities do the 'heavy lifting' in Australia in terms of enrolling students often from low socioeconomic status backgrounds."

The figures were released as thousands of secondary school graduates received the first round of university offers for 2017.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (C) receives interviews before a court hearing in Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 18, 2017. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong appeared in court on Wednesday for determination on his arrest warrant which prosecutors sought two days earlier. (Xinhua/Lee Sang-ho)



SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The heir apparent of Samsung Group, South Korea's largest family-run conglomerate, appeared in court on Wednesday for determination on his arrest warrant which prosecutors sought two days earlier.

The hearing on whether to detain Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong will be held at about 10:30 a.m. local time (0130 GMT). The result is forecast to come out around midnight.

If the court accepts the detention request, Lee will be taken into custody immediately. If it is rejected, he will be allowed to return home.

The grim-faced heir apparent did not answer any questions from a crowd of journalists surrounding him, local TV footage showed.

An independent counsel team, which is investigating a scandal involving President Park Geun-hye, requested the arrest of the Samsung heir for charges of bribery, perjury and embezzlement.

Samsung is suspected of bribing President Park's longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil and Choi's daughter in return for getting support from the national pension fund in the 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates.

The merger was extremely crucial to Vice Chairman Lee to inherit Samsung's overall management control from his ailing father Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

The impeached leader and the Samsung heir met face-to-face around the time of the merger. The independent counsel claimed President Park and her decades-long friend had shared private interests, indicating bribing Choi equivalent to bribing the president.
Nepalese former Prime Minister K. P Sharma Oli (L) addresses the inauguration of the two-day "China-Nepal Think Tank Conference 2017" in Kathmandu, Nepal, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)

KATHMANDU, Jan. 18 (Xinhua)-- Bilateral relations between Nepal and China have always been "cordial, cooperative, marked with mutual trust and friendship," said Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party and former Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa.

Thapa made the remarks at a two-day "China-Nepal Think Tank Conference 2017" which was inaugurated in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

The conference was jointly organized by Xinhua News Agency's Kathmandu Bureau and Nepal Study Center at Hebei University of Economics and Business of China.

Inaugurating the event former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN UML K.P Sharma Oli said "Nepal and Nepalese people won't allow any elements to jeopardize friendly relations between the two countries."

"Nepal has firm, steady and stable relation with China," Thapa said.

Nepalese Congress Central Committee Member Gururaj Ghimire said that Nepal-China relations are unbreakable. "No force can shake the Nepal-China relations," he said expressing his party's firm commitment toward One China Policy.

Madhes-based Sanghiya Samjabadi Party leader Shivajee Yadav recalled the role of China during the unrest after the constitution promulgation in September, 2015.

"China did not interfere in Nepal affairs at that time. It respected Nepal's sovereignty. We are thankful to China," he said.

Huang Youyi, Secretary General, International Advisory Board of The Chahar Institute of China, said that China is reliable friend of Nepal.

"Nepal is China's special friend," he said, "and we will build a mechanism to implement what you have initiated during your tenure," he added.

Fourteen Chinese scholars from different universities are participating in the two-day event. During the two-day event, experts from China and Nepal are sharing their ideas on various issues including political parties' role in Sino-Nepal relationship, role of media in cementing friendly cooperation between Nepal and China, the Belt and Road Initiative, China-India-Nepal trilateral partnership as well as Economic and Cultural Corridor (CINECC).

The main objective of the symposium is to strengthen cooperation between the Chinese and Nepalese Think-Tanks-Institutions so as to enhancing bilateral relations.
YANGON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China ranks first among foreign countries providing training programs to Myanmar in terms of the number of short-term training programs and trainees, the official newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported Wednesday.

China's Ministry of Commerce provides training programs to Myanmar in such fields as education, culture, healthcare, economy, trade, finance, administration, industry, agriculture, fishery, forestry, communication, aviation, media, police, law, environmental conservation, city management, Chinese language, disaster prevention and management.

The Chinese embassy has also helped send 17 Myanmar teachers and officials from vocation schools to take part in training programs in China in 2016, the report said.

The training programs are expected to assist Myanmar in capacity building, a Chinese embassy official was quoted as saying.

Among all the trainees received by the Chinese ministry, the number of trainees from Myanmar ranks fourth in Asia and eighth worldwide in 2016, the report said.
CANBERRA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has not ruled out a future underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 so long as "credible new evidence" arises, Australia's Transport Minister Darren Chester said on Wednesday.

Following Tuesday night's joint statement from China, Australia and Malaysia that the "largest search in aviation history" had been suspended following the completion of the official 120,000 square-kilometer search, Chester said Australia had not ruled out recommencing the hunt if new evidence can point to the location of the missing Boeing 777 aircraft.

"I don't rule out a future underwater search by any means, but it's a question of if we have credible new information," Chester said in a press conference on Wednesday.

"It would be a matter for the Malaysian government certainly, but given the close relationship we have, I suspect some further conversation would occur between Australia, Malaysia and China at that time.

"I don't rule it out, but what I'm saying today is the search in the 120,000 square-kilometer search area has been completed."

Chester said any "credible new information" would need to be "information or data that leads to a specific location" of the aircraft.

"The experts will know it when they see it," he told the press on Wednesday.

The minister added that information published last month which pointed to a new search zone was only "in the order of another potential search area" and was no certainty to be the resting place of the plane.

Instead, Chester described it as "the next best" patch of ocean.

"No one is coming to me as minister and saying 'we know where MH370 is,' the new information is saying that 'if we were to going to extend the search, this is where we would target next'," Chester said.

"The (original) zone was defined on the limited data available but has been reference checked with the drift analysis with debris which has been found."

The minister was also forced to defend the decision to suspend the search, but denied the ongoing cost of the investigation, almost 150 million U.S dollars, was the main reason.

"The cost hasn't been the deciding factor in the tripartite decision to suspend the search," Chester told the press.

"There's no question it's been a very costly exercise. It's costly but wasn't the deciding factor in the decision to suspend the search."

Meanwhile the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's (ATSB) Chief Commissioner, Greg Hood told the press it was disappointing not to come away with some "closure" for the families and loved ones of the 239 missing passengers and crew.

However despite the completion of the underwater search, Hood said, the ATSB would continue to undertake land-based "residual" research into the location of the missing jetliner.

"Although the underwater search is suspended, some residual search-related activity is continuing, including debris, drift analysis and further detailed analysis of satellite imagery. This activity is anticipated by the end of February 2017," Hood told the press.

"The ATSB will continue to support any further requests by Malaysia, including the examination of any further debris that may come ashore in months to come."

Also in the wake of Tuesday night's announcement, family members of the missing have also voiced their disappointment.

Perth woman Danica Weeks told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) that she was most angry at the Malaysian government for calling off the search.

Weeks' husband, Paul, was on the flight, but she said the families would continue to seek closure even if governing bodies were "giving up."

"It is (Malaysia's) plane, their responsibility; they're the ones that promised they would bring them home and now they are just giving up," Weeks told the AAP.

"We will keep fighting. I'm not going to leave him out there or wherever he is, we're not going to leave our loved ones out there."

MH370 was a scheduled passenger flight from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. It disappeared on March 8, 2014, with 239 passengers and crew on board.
By Xinhua Writers Guo Ying, Yuan Quan

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Qing fondly reflects on her summer camp at UWC (United World College) Changshu, in south China. She cherishes "the sense of belonging and sense of being herself" she gained at the two-week camp.

With more than 130 other teenagers from 14 countries, Zhao, 15, took part in outdoor adventure activities and workshops at the camp and became firm friends with an American girl who shared her interest in philosophy.While Zhao's camp experience would be common in some Western countries, it is much less so for a Chinese teenager.

Her camp was organized by Initiate Development for Education and Service (IDEAS), a pioneer of China's camp industry. Zhao Wei, president of the China Camp Education Alliance and founder of IDEAS, says recognition of the education potential of camps has surged among Chinese parents and educators in recent years.

"In China, we prefer to use 'camp education' because camp is not just about play - it is education through play," says Zhao Wei. "Unlike travel or study tours, camps actually create a community for experiential learning with well-arranged activities. It is a powerful vehicle to teach young people 21st-Century skills and dispositions, including leadership, communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity."

Zhao Qing attends the Affiliated High School of Peking University. She says the attraction of camp lies in the activities that require teamwork and developing a sense of achievement from effective collaboration in solving practical problems.

In the Refugee Camp Challenge, her group played refugees and the camp mentors played officials from the government and social institutions. The mentors gave them bamboo poles, woven bags, rope, tape and other tools. The group had to design a large tent to accommodate them all for a night.It brought home the hardships facing real refugees and she improved her understanding of "leadership".

"In school and daily life, teachers and parents also emphasize leadership, but they usually focus on whether you are elected a class monitor or course representative," says Zhao. "I liked the free environment where we had no designated leaders, but we helped each other to make the most of ourselves. I think real leadership means helping others to be better people - not necessarily someone with a title."

John Jorgenson, president of the International Camping Fellowship, says there is a consensus among educators internationally on the limitations of formal education and the values of nonformal education.

Jorgenson has been to many Chinese schools and talked with many Chinese parents. He notices that educators and parents are seeing deficits in noncognitive skills of their young people and are looking for tools to help create more well-rounded learners.

"I found that in China, there is a growing interest in what the children are doing outside the school. Camping has caught the attention of Chinese educators because it offers powerful lessons in teaching the soft skills needed to flourish in the future," Jorgenson says.

With the increased recognition of camp education, the Chinese government and some social organizations have built a range of camps across the country.

The Beijing International Youth Camp, initiated by the Beijing Municipal Youth League Committee, has created about 10 sites in Miyun, Changping and Haidian districts over three years, providing new experiences for primary and secondary school students in Beijing.

Lu Yongli, principal of Beijing No. 2 Experimental Primary School, has studied camp education. In her opinion, good education should be a mix of family, school and social education. As a model of social education, camps are a perfect supplement to school and family.

"Camp education gives children a miniature version of a real society in which the child is self-managing and self-supporting. They have to schedule their time, resolve conflicts and face frustration without their parents' help," Lu says.

Scott Brody, a board member of the American Camp Association, operates Camps Kenwood and Evergreen in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. In recent years, they have received more Chinese children, whose parents want them to have a cross-cultural camp experience.

"I believe that Chinese youth have high demand for high quality camp activities," says Brody. "I have met many enthusiastic Chinese camp professionals who are willing to borrow expertise and personnel from all around the world to help improve China's camp education."

Zhao Qing's mother, Dr. Gao Bo is delighted at her daughter's personal development during her two weeks at camp.

"She is more confident in challenging herself and expressing herself, and she shows a stronger sense of responsibility," says Gao.
By Will Koulouris

SYDNEY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Most young Australians participate in unpaid work experience at some point, but a new report released Wednesday reveals those from a lower socio-economic background have far less opportunities than their more wealthy counterparts.

A landmark study commissioned by Australia's Employment Department examined those who had participated in unpaid work in the past five years, but stopped short of including volunteer work.

The figures show that over 58 percent of people aged 18-29 had done some form of unpaid work, with 63 percent being from a higher socio-economic status, as opposed to only 53 percent from disadvantaged backgrounds.

One of the authors of the report, Dr Damien Oliver, of the University of Technology in Sydney, told Xinhua on Wednesday that organisations need to "play their part" in helping those from low socio-economic backgrounds have access to workplace opportunities.

"Universities need to do what they can to provide paid placements, as well as unpaid placements, to their students and graduates...assisting them to find helpful workplace experience," Oliver said.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), one of the other authors of the report and Adelaide University Law Professor, Andrew Stewart, was quick to point out the logic of the pitfalls of asking an employee to work without pay.

"If it's not OK for somebody to agree to take 50 cents an hour less than the minimum wage for their particular job, why should it be OK for them to agree to take nothing?" Stewart said at the time.

But Oliver insists there is a good case to be made for unpaid work in many situations, and said when unpaid employees are providing productive work for the company, the situation should be reassessed.

"In those cases it would make good sense to pay that intern or unpaid work experience participant a training wage, or the minimum wage, whatever might get worked out, in what is a fairly complicated regulatory space," Oliver said.

The report did find however, that more than two-thirds of those surveyed has a positive experience when undertaking unpaid work, with 27 percent of those surveyed being offered a paid role at the conclusion of their work experience.

"Our study showed that unpaid work experience is viewed very positively by those who took part, and certainly they think it has helped to improve their employment prospect in the labor market," Oliver said.

The report comes as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is set to announce his Prepare-Trial-Hire (PaTH) program on April 1, aimed at helping those under the age of 25 secure internships, with a small financial supplement provided to them by the government.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's hot property market in major cities has continued to stabilize after authorities took a series of measures to contain prices, according to an official survey Wednesday.

Of 70 large and medium-sized cities surveyed, 46 saw prices for new residential housing climb month on month in December, down from 55 in November and 62 in October, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

In Beijing, new residential house prices dipped 0.1 percent month on month, while Shanghai prices fell 0.2 percent. House prices in Shenzhen, a southern metropolis neighboring Hong Kong, slid 0.4 percent.

Year on year, house prices in the three cities have risen 28.4 percent, 31.7 percent and 23.8 percent, respectively.

According to the NBS, new residential house prices in second-tier cities rose 0.2 percent on a monthly basis, retreating 0.2 percentage points from the growth seen in November.

Third-tier cities saw new residential house prices gained 0.4 percent month on month, down from a 0.8 percent increase in November.

"Monthly growth in the country's 15 first-tier and major second-tier cities have slowed and house prices have stabilized as local governments' tightening measures took effect," said NBS statistician Liu Jianwei.

Since October, dozens of Chinese cities have announced measures, including purchase limits and tightened mortgage restrictions, to prevent prices rising out of control.
DAVOS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A top aide to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday highlighted the shared interests between China and the United States during a public event at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

"The Chinese and the Americans have a common cause," Scaramucci, Trump's assistant and director of public liaison, told WEF moderator Philipp Rosler. "I think we need to have a very strong bilateral relationship."

Interviewed on the same day when President Xi Jinping gave a historic speech on the future of globalization, Scaramucci said: "I respect China, I certainly respect the president of China, and we want to have a phenomenal relationship with the Chinese."

Xi on Tuesday called for joint efforts to chart the course of economic globalization and forge new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development.

Trump comes to power at a time when Washington and other world capitals are struggling with an ever rising tide of nationalism, populism, trade protectionism and the urge to backtrack on globalization.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang on Wednesday exchanged views with U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew via telephone on issues related to the two countries' economic relations.
Chinese artists perform "Dancing on Seven Trays" at a Spring Festival concert in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Artists from the Huaxia Ancient Music Orchestra of China's Henan Museum performed traditional dances and music here Tuesday night to celebrate upcoming Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival.

Held at the Chenla Theater, the two-and-a-half-hour show, presided over by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo, attracted about 600 spectators.

Namhong said the concert had importantly contributed to enhancing cultural relations and people-to-people contact between the two countries.

"In Cambodia, most Cambodian people as well as overseas Chinese celebrate the Spring Festival," he said, adding that the Cambodian people usually observed New Year three times a year, namely Universal New Year, Chinese New Year, and Cambodian New Year in April.

The deputy prime minister said he had noted that the Chinese Spring Festival had been celebrated broadly around the world, including in France and the United States.

Xiong said that Henan province is the cradle of ancient China's Huaxia civilization and more than 20 dynasties chose their capitals to be located in Henan.

He said the Huaxia Ancient Music Orchestra of Henan Museum is the living fossil of Chinese ancient music.

The ambassador said the concert had not only entertained the audience, but also provided an opportunity for them to learn about Chinese ancient music and dances.

Chinese artists perform "Parting At Yangguan" at a Spring Festival concert in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

At the event, Cambodian artists also performed their traditional music and songs.

The concert has received strong admiration from viewers.

Tep Savry, the senior student at the Royal University of Fine Arts, said it was the first time that she had watched Chinese arts performance and praised China for having preserved its ancient culture well.

"It was an amazing performance that featured Chinese culture in old times," she told Xinhua after the show. "Previously, I used to see Chinese ancient dances and music through movies only, but now, I see them with my own eyes."

"All artists are very talented and they have performed well," she said.

Another spectator said he had never seen such a wonderful performance before.

"The concert brings closer cultural relations between the two countries and encourages Cambodian people to study Chinese language so that they can learn more about Chinese culture," said high-school student Lim Hong Sreng.
SYDNEY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Using emojis can be an effective way to communicate and gives insight into contemporary human behaviours, a new international research showed.

"Contemporary behaviours such as emojis can be considered true forms of emotion on a neurological and interpersonal level," according to the research project released Wednesday by the Australian Catholic University and Britain's Edge Hill University.

"Using emojis and emoticons help add emotional depth to our written communication, provides context in the same way body language does in face-to-face interactions, but it can also give us insight into contemporary human behaviour."

The research found personality traits such as extraversion and openness to experience, could be calculated with reasonable accuracy, by assessing an individual's use of emojis.

"Online data can be utilised to investigate how personality is communicated online and whether virtual portrayals of emotion impact how the user is viewed by others," researchers said.

Although the use of emojis has increased rapidly, there are still many circumstances where people opt to avoid revealing their emotions.

"Online expression of emotion is also dependent on who we talking to, as emoji usage is much higher in social media than in a more formal email setting," researchers said.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Beijing launched a new specialist police force Wednesday.

Lan Yang, deputy chief of the force under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, said that the force will have over 150 police officers divided into four groups: environmental protection, food and drugs, tourism and a group with a flexible focus.

Lan said that corresponding sub-forces were also being organized and trained in lower bureaus.

Beijing's acting Mayor Cai Qi announced early January the forming of an environmental police force to tackle air pollution, after a spell of smog in the city lasting for more than a week.
SYDNEY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Global financial ratings agency Standard & Poors has increased it price forecast on a number of key Australian export commodities on Wednesday.

According to S&P, Iron ore prices are set to surge, with the agency now predicting prices to reach an average of 55 U.S. dollars per tonne in 2017, well above their previous mark of 45 U.S. dollars.

The increase is due to positive impact of economic enhancement measures in China, and an increasing demand for steel in the first six months of 2017, S&P said.

The price of iron ore had dramatically fallen to ten year lows at the beginning of 2016, but have made up ground over the last few months to hit marks of 80 U.S. dollars per tonne.

S&P also expects some movement in the price of gold, speculating the price will round out to 1,250 U.S. dollars an ounce, up from their last estimate of 1,200 U.S. dollars per ounce.

Copper prices are also set to be on the rise according to the ratings agency, with an average price of 5,070 U.S. dollars per tonne expected for the 2017 calendar year.

The improved price estimates could potentially ease the strain on some Australian mining companies, according to S&P, but the agency does not expect any other significant changes to be made to their current ratings.

S&P says their ratings of miners will be under review, with financial results set to be released in February.
SYDNEY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Australian market struggled Wednesday with the major lenders all suffering loses.

At the end of Wednesday trade the S&P/ASX 200 index was down 20.6 points or 0.36 percent at 5678.8. The broader all ordinaries index had fallen 21.0 points or 0.36 percent at 5733.70.

"Banks were the main weight on the market today, all the lenders were in negative territory," Commsec market analyst, Tom Piotrowski told Xinhua.

"We saw weaker earnings from U.S investment firm Morgan Stanley overnight and that was the catalyst in pushing lenders lower."

Mining also dipped, however "Energy stocks did quite well when you consider that oil prices have been under a lot of pressure, Piotrowski said."

Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 1.05 percent, National Australia Bank lost 0.88 percent

Westpac dropped 1.28 percent and ANZ ended 1.05 percent lower.

BHP Billiton dropped 0.62 percent, Rio Tinto recovered to gain 0.57 percent and Newcrest was also up at 0.73 percent.

Santos added 2.09 percent, Woodside Petroleum also made gains up 1.22 percent while Oil Search slipped, losing 0.41 percent.

Wesfarmers edged higher, up 0.19 percent and Woolworths finished lower, down 0.61 percent.

Qantas tumbled, losing 2.97 percent and Telstra was also down at 0.67 percent.
by Deng Qian

DAVOS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A former World Bank chief economist said Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered wisdom and insight on economic globalization in his speech at an annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

"It is a very important speech at a very critical moment," Justin Yifu Lin, former chief economist and senior vice president of the World Bank, said in an interview with Xinhua.

"I think it is very crucial that President Xi clarified the concept to the world, to continue to promote globalization, to promote global development, and to push forward the global agreements that have been reached in the past, such as the Paris climate agreement," Lin said.

At the opening plenary of the WEF's 2017 annual meeting held Tuesday here, Xi called for joint efforts to chart the course of economic globalization and forge new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development.

The Chinese leader said many of the problems troubling the world are not caused by economic globalization. Just blaming economic globalization for the world's problems is inconsistent with reality and will not help solve the problems, Xi said.

"The Chinese people have a saying that to suit the remedy to the case," Lin said, adding that the current problems facing the world include a slowdown in global economic growth, the international governance that fails to reflect developing countries' contribution and social inequality that is arising in some developed countries.

"The cause is not stemmed from globalization," Lin said, urging the world to focus on how to realize the rapid development of global economy.

In his speech, Xi called on all countries to follow the general trend, proceed from their respective national conditions, and embark on the right pathway of integrating into economic globalization with the right pace.
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed on Tuesday after gunmen opened fire at government offices in Cancun, in southeastern Mexico, according to media reports.

Armed gang members targeted the city's security facilities, including the Control, Command, Computing and Communications Center (C4) and the office of the attorney-general, along the Xcaret Avenue.

Police then responded. One policeman and three suspected gunmen were killed and five suspects arrested, state governor Carlos Joaquin said on Mexican television Tuesday evening.

In a statement, Adriana Mezquita, the communications director of the local government, said a group of about ten people fled on motorcycles after firing at the buildings, according to news website Milenio.

As gunfire erupted between the attackers and the authorities, shots could be heard alongside Coba Avenue and Nichupte Avenue, with three people reportedly injured near the Gran Plaza shopping center.

The local government has closed Cancun's famous hotel strip, one of Mexico's main tourism destinations, and the city's road exit toward Playa del Carmen to the south.

Writing on Twitter, Cancun mayor Remberto Estrada said: "The attack on the state attorney-general's office is unacceptable."

The mayor also called for calm among the citizens, adding that authorities "have applied strict protocols to control the situation and catch those responsible."

This attack comes a day after five people were killed in a shootout in Playa del Carmen.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian police on Tuesday succeeded in preventing another prison riot at the Alcazuz State Penitentiary, where 26 inmates were killed in a riot during the weekend.

Police used tear gas and non-lethal weapons to block a group of inmates armed with rocks and bats from trying to break into a different wing.

"The situation was very tense," prison warden Wellington Camilo told local media.

Also on Tuesday, Brazil's federal government authorized Armed Forces to be deployed in prisons to carry out inspections and search for weapons and other forbidden materials.

The government does not allow the soldiers and criminals to have any contact, so the Armed Forces will not serve as wardens in the jails.

"The Armed Forces will not deal with the inmates," said Defense Minister Raul Jungmann. "That will be a role for the police forces and prison wardens."

The announcement was made after a meeting between President Michel Temer and representatives of the cabinet and intelligence organs. The government has been trying to reach an agreement on how to tackle the prison crisis in the country.

"In an innovative and pioneering initiative, the president offered state governments the support of armed forces," Alexandre Parola, presidential spokesman, said.

The decision followed a string of violent clashes at prisons, mainly in Brazil's poorer northern region.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been several riots in prisons all over Brazil, and the death toll from those riots is far above 100. States have been requesting the National Security Force to help them regain the control of prisons.
OTTAWA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Canada's second-highest-ranked military commander was removed from his post over allegations that technical information related to the country's multibillion-dollar shipbuilding program may have been leaked, local media reported Tuesday.

Vice Chief of the Defense Staff Mark Norman, who was removed from his post Monday, was involved in the alleged leak of classified information on the building of new warships for the Royal Canadian Navy, The Globe and Mail newspaper quoted a source as saying.

The leaked information included technical evaluations of shipbuilding proposals and the allegations involved the period of time when Norman was in charge of the navy from 2013 until he was promoted to the current position in August 2016, the report said.

The source could not say how or why information might have been leaked.

Norman, 53, was responsible for security within the military. Chief of Defense Staff Jonathan Vance, who heads the Canadian armed forces, gave no explanation for Norman's removal.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that he backed the removal of Norman, but declined to elaborate on why it was necessary.

Canada's 30 billion-Canadian dollar (23 billion-U.S. dollar) national shipbuilding program is supposed to oversee the building of new fleets for the Navy and the Coast Guard. But projects have fallen behind, and some are now over budget, according to the media.
PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A terrorist has been killed by Afghan security forces during a cleanup operation in Pul-e-Khumri, capital of Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province on Tuesday, provincial police chief Noor Habib Gulbahari said Wednesday.

According to the official, the terrorist was involved in killing several people including the murder of head of Development Department of Baghlan province Mohammad Safa Sanae on Monday.

A police personnel was slightly injured in the operation, the official added.

Taliban militants who have claimed responsibility for the murder of Sanae are yet to make comment on the death of the suspected terrorist.
KABUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Four persons were detained by Afghan law enforcement agencies for alleged drug-related crimes within a week, authorities said on Wednesday.

"Counter-Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA) and Afghan security forces have cracked seven drug cases and detained four persons involved in the cases over the last one week," the Counter-Narcotics Criminal Justice Task Force of Afghanistan (CJTF) said in a statement.

The suspects were detained in eastern Parwan and western Herat provinces.

After initial investigation, the CNPA has handed over the cases to the Central Narcotics Tribunal (CNT), a special Afghan court for jurisdiction of major drug cases, the statement noted.

Over the same period, a special CNPA unit destroyed four illegal drug-processing factories in Khogyani district of eastern Nangarhar province, according to the statement.

The CNPA and security forces also found and seized 22 kg of heroin, 3,500 kg morphine, 4,300 kg of opium, 180 liters of liquid chemical substance, 900 kg chemical substance and 4,430 kg of hashish within the past seven days, the statement said, adding the CNPA also seized two vehicles and six mobile phones from the arrested.

Much of the world's opium poppy is cultivated in militancy-hit Afghanistan, particularly in western and southern parts of the country, where government security forces have little presence.

Some 1.9 million to 2.4 million adult drug addicts have been living in Afghanistan, according to the Afghan officials.
China's world-renowned sculptor Wu Weishan presents a Pierre de Coubertin statue as a gift to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Jan. 16, 2017.(Xinhua/Gao Peng)

LAUSANNE, Jan.16 (Xinhua) -- China's world-renowned sculptor Wu Weishan presented a Pierre de Coubertin statue as a gift to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) here on Monday.

The ceremony, held at the IOC headquarters building, was attended by IOC President Thomas Bach.

On behalf of the IOC, Bach expressed his appreciation to professor Wu and awarded him an IOC Presidential trophy. "Your work is a masterpiece," said Bach. "You are like Olympic athletes, always striving for excellence and setting yourself no limits. That's why I think the trophy fits you very well," Bach added.

Wu, who is director of the National Art Museum of China, noted that the 76 cm statue embodies the "holy Olympic spirit" and shows "respect for the founder of the modern Olympic Movement" as well. Wu said it took him about six months to finish the work.

The statue will be kept for posterity at the Olympic Museum, Bach promised.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday laid out his plan to lead global efforts in charting the course of economic globalization.

Xi's address at the 2017 World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, Switzerland beamed the much-needed confidence into the global economy amid grave concerns over rising protectionism and uncertainties in the wake of Brexit and the election of next U.S. President Donald Trump.

CLARIFYING GLOBALIZATION

Though economic globalization has created new problems, this is no justification to write economic globalization off completely, said Xi,the first Chinese head of state to attend Davos meetings.

"Rather, we should adapt to and guide economic globalization, cushion its negative impact, and deliver its benefits to all countries and all nations," Xi told the audience led by WEF founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

The Chinese president warned that any moves to turn back to protectionism runs against historical trend.

"Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big ocean that you cannot escape from. Any attempt to cut off the flow of capital, technologies, products, industries and people between economies, and channel the waters in the ocean back into isolated lakes and creeks is simply not possible." said Xi.

"No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war," Xi said.

The president called on the international community to face up to the problems caused by the globalization instead of dodging them.

"In the face of both opportunities and challenges of economic globalization, the right thing to do is to seize every opportunity, jointly meet challenges and chart the right course for economic globalization," he said.

The president pointed out the rise of China as the world's second largest economy is the result of its integration into the vast ocean of the global economy.

"We have had our fair share of choking in the water and encountered whirlpools and choppy waves, but we have learned how to swim in this process. It has proved to be a right strategic choice," he noted.

Honson To, Chairman at KPMG China, said Xi presented a clear case for an urgent and courageous response from global leaders.

"I was deeply moved by the strong sense of China's purpose as a responsible leader on the world stage," he said.

"I think it is very crucial that the Chinese President Xi clarified the concept to the world, to continue to promote globalization, to promote global development," said Justin Yifu Lin, the former Chief Economist of the World Bank.

A SOLID PLAN

Analyzing the root causes of the sluggish global economy and the problems for which globalization has been made the scapegoat, Xi pointed to a lack of robust driving forces for global growth, inadequate global economic governance, and uneven global development.

He stressed the importance of developing a dynamic innovation-driven growth model, a model of open and win-win cooperation featuring a well-coordinated and inter-connected approach, and a model of fair and equitable governance in keeping with the trend of the times, and a balanced, equitable and inclusive development model.

"China aims to tackle the problems of inequality, exclusiveness and inefficiency in the previous globalization process and provide better global governance products for the world," said Fan Yongpeng, an associate professor with the China Institute of Fudan University.

"Since the G20 Hangzhou summit this year, we have heard more of China's sober, rational and constructive voice at a time when no one is willing to take on a leading role," Fan said.

Xi pledged that China's development will continue to offer opportunities to business communities in other countries.

In the coming five years, China is expected to import 8 trillion U.S. dollars of goods, attract 600 billion dollars of foreign investment, and make 750 billion dollars of outbound investment, said the president, adding that Chinese tourists will make 700 million overseas visits.

China, he said, will advance the building of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific and negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to form a global network of free trade arrangements.

On the progress of the Belt and Road Initiative, envisioned as an infrastructure and trade network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes, Xi told the audience that China's circle of friends is growing bigger and the initiative has delivered significant benefits.

Over 100 countries and international organizations have given support to the initiative, and more than 40 have signed cooperation agreements with China, said Xi, who put forward the initiative in 2013.

Meanwhile, Chinese investment along the routes has surpassed 50 billion dollars in the past three years with a number of major projects being launched in the countries along the routes, spurring the economic development of these countries and creating many local jobs, Xi noted.

China plans to host a Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in Beijing this May to brainstorm on interconnected development as part of China's efforts to make globalization more inclusive and beneficial to all, the president announced.

CHINA ASSUMING A LEADING ROLE

Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that in a time when the world is facing the danger of de-globalization and disintegration of global cooperation, the voice of China as "a strong geoeconomical and geopolitical power" is "particularly important."

"I think it is very important to have China represented as a responsible and responsive leadership country in the world," Schwab said.

Swiss President Doris Leuthard noted the "difficult situation" that the world is facing, and expressed her expectation that China would "show its world power status and how it can be a factor of stability."

Recalling Xi's addresses from the APEC meetings in the Philippines in 2015, to the G20 Hangzhou summit in 2016 and now to the 2017 Davos forum, Jack Ma, the founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, said he saw China's increasingly mature role on the world stage, and growing leadership and accountability as a big country.

"President Xi's instinct and foresight in today's speech is impressive," he told Xinhua after listening to Xi' s keynote speech. "He saw today from the future, and saw China from the world," Ma said.

Social media users commented while watching the live streaming of Xi's Davos speech. "China is humble, kind, helpful and getting stronger and stronger, contributing more to the world," said one who goes with the name Cheah KH. Another, Bern Chen, described Xi as "an exemplary heart-centered statesman sharing his views with other world leaders and the global community."

Xi arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for a four-day state visit and the WEF annual meeting, which is themed "Responsive and Responsible Leadership" this year. About 50 heads of state and 1,700 political, business, academic and media leaders from across the world attended the opening ceremony.

In his first overseas trip in 2017, Xi will also travel to Lausanne and Geneva to visit the International Olympic Committee, the World Health Organization and the UN Office at Geneva.

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DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for joint efforts to chart the course of economic globalization and forge new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development.

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DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ali Baba's treasure cave, double-edged sword, vast ocean, isolated creeks, dark room, express train ...

In the snow-clad, star-studded Alpine town of Davos, Chinese President Xi Jinping has once again proved that he merits another title: master of metaphors.
Leung Chun-ying, chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, delivers the policy address for the year of 2017 at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

HONG KONG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong enjoys endless opportunities with its participation in the national strategies, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Leung Chun-ying said during his last annual policy address on Wednesday.

"China is playing an increasingly prominent and leading role in the global economy," Leung said, adding that "Hong Kong's dual advantages of 'one country, two systems' and its role as the 'super-connector' are becoming more apparent."

He said leveraging the National 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong enjoys endless opportunities as it excels in "what the country needs, and what Hong Kong is good at."

Leung said the Hong Kong SAR government is exploring further with the Chinese mainland the expansion and enhancement of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in the areas of investment, economic and technical cooperation.

"We expect to achieve some concrete results by the middle of this year," he added.

"The National 13th Five-Year Plan has confirmed Hong Kong's status as a global offshore RMB business hub," Leung said, adding that "the demand arising from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Mainland-Hong Kong Mutual Recognition of Funds Arrangement will enable Hong Kong to further expand its RMB business."

In regard to the Belt and Road Initiative, Leung reiterated that the SAR government will continue to fully support it and will strive to give full play to Hong Kong's role as a "super-connector," as well as creating opportunities for young people and boosting the social and economic development in the coming decades.

For example, he said, in support of the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong can provide training programs for the Belt and Road countries.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Academy has embarked on initial discussions with the rail operators of several countries.

The Hong Kong International Aviation Academy established by the Airport Authority signed an agreement last month with National School of Civil Aviation of France to jointly nurture aviation professionals for Hong Kong and the region.

The SAR government is also prepared to organize talks or short-term training on the operation of the SAR government for visiting officials from Belt and Road countries.

The government will continue to promote cooperation and exchanges in education to help Hong Kong students gain a better understanding of the countries along the Belt and Road, thereby strengthening people-to-people bonds, he said.

New initiatives include updating or fine-tuning primary and secondary school curricula and producing appropriate teaching resources, providing students with more opportunities to study foreign languages, increasing the quotas to 5,600 for students' mainland exchange programs along the Silk Road this year, and encouraging, through the Quality Education Fund, students to engage in exchange activities in the Mainland and countries along the Belt and Road, he said.

To foster cooperation and exchanges between Hong Kong and countries along the Belt and Road, Leung said the government will consider relaxing visa requirements for nationals of those countries for employment, study and visit. "We have reached a consensus with Belarus on mutual visa exemption and are planning to relax visa requirements for Cambodian nationals."

He also mentioned the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and said Hong Kong can support the AIIB in such areas as project financing, bond issuance, investment, financial management and foreign exchange management.

"Hong Kong has been officially invited to join the AIIB. We expect the relevant procedures to be completed by the middle of this year," he added.
KABUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Up to six militants of the Islamic State (IS) militant group were killed and four others wounded after Afghan army personnel launched an operation in the country's eastern province of Nangarhar, a military statement said on Wednesday.

"Personnel of Afghan National Army conducted a cleanup operation in Haska Mina District, Nangarhar province on Tuesday, killing six IS militants and injuring four others," the brief statement issued by Defense Ministry said.

Nangarhar province with Jalalabad city as its capital, 120 km east of Kabul, has been the scene of clashes between security forces and IS militants.

The militant group has yet to make comments.

In neighboring Laghman province, an army engineering team found and defused an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Tuesday, and foiled a possible terrorist attack, an army official Shir Aqa Faqiri told Xinhua earlier on the day.
Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Leung Chun-ying (front) delivers his annual policy address at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

HONG KONG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong enjoys endless opportunities with its participation in the national strategies, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Leung Chun-ying said during his last annual policy address on Wednesday.

"China is playing an increasingly prominent and leading role in the global economy," Leung said, adding that "Hong Kong's dual advantages of 'one country, two systems' and its role as the 'super-connector' are becoming more apparent."

He said leveraging the National 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong enjoys endless opportunities as it excels in "what the country needs, and what Hong Kong is good at."

Leung said the Hong Kong SAR government is exploring further with the Chinese mainland the expansion and enhancement of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in the areas of investment, economic and technical cooperation.

"We expect to achieve some concrete results by the middle of this year," he added.

"The National 13th Five-Year Plan has confirmed Hong Kong's status as a global offshore RMB business hub," Leung said, adding that "the demand arising from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Mainland-Hong Kong Mutual Recognition of Funds Arrangement will enable Hong Kong to further expand its RMB business."

Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Leung Chun-ying poses with the print version of his 2017 Policy Address at a press conference in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

In regard to the Belt and Road Initiative, Leung reiterated that the SAR government will continue to fully support it and will strive to give full play to Hong Kong's role as a "super-connector," as well as creating opportunities for young people and boosting the social and economic development in the coming decades.

For example, he said, in support of the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong can provide training programs for the Belt and Road countries.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Academy has embarked on initial discussions with the rail operators of several countries.

The Hong Kong International Aviation Academy established by the Airport Authority signed an agreement last month with National School of Civil Aviation of France to jointly nurture aviation professionals for Hong Kong and the region.

The SAR government is also prepared to organize talks or short-term training on the operation of the SAR government for visiting officials from Belt and Road countries.

The government will continue to promote cooperation and exchanges in education to help Hong Kong students gain a better understanding of the countries along the Belt and Road, thereby strengthening people-to-people bonds, he said.

New initiatives include updating or fine-tuning primary and secondary school curricula and producing appropriate teaching resources, providing students with more opportunities to study foreign languages, increasing the quotas to 5,600 for students' mainland exchange programs along the Silk Road this year, and encouraging, through the Quality Education Fund, students to engage in exchange activities in the Mainland and countries along the Belt and Road, he said.

To foster cooperation and exchanges between Hong Kong and countries along the Belt and Road, Leung said the government will consider relaxing visa requirements for nationals of those countries for employment, study and visit. "We have reached a consensus with Belarus on mutual visa exemption and are planning to relax visa requirements for Cambodian nationals."

He also mentioned the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and said Hong Kong can support the AIIB in such areas as project financing, bond issuance, investment, financial management and foreign exchange management.

"Hong Kong has been officially invited to join the AIIB. We expect the relevant procedures to be completed by the middle of this year," he added.
CAIRO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and two others wounded Wednesday when a microbus overturned into a canal in Egypt's Daqahliya province north of Cairo, reported the state-run Al-Ahram news website.

In the early morning on Wednesday, Egyptian traffic authorities temporarily closed several main roads nationwide, including highways connecting Cairo with Suez, Ain Sokhna and Alexandrian cities, due to the heavy fog in order to avoid traffic accidents.

Also on Wednesday, a private car killed a pedestrian after the vehicle struck a pavement on a highway in Upper Egypt's Luxor province, according to the official MENA news agency.

Traffic accidents are common in Egypt due to nonexistent highway monitoring systems, poor road maintenance and negligence of traffic rules.

"About 12,000 people die annually in Egypt due to road traffic crashes, a road traffic fatality rate of 42 deaths per 100,000," stated a report from the World Health Organization.
JERUSALEM, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli authorities said a policeman and a civilian were killed during clashes following the arrival of police forces intent on demolishing a Bedouin village in southern Israel on Wednesday.

The incident occurred before dawn, as hundreds of police officers arrived in the village of Umm al-Hiran, a village not recognized by Israeli authorities, in order to evacuate its residents as part of a government plan to build a Jewish town in its place.

A police official informed Xinhua that the civilian was shot by police forces after ramming his vehicle into a group of security personnel.

The official deemed the incident a "car-ramming terrorist attack," adding that the "terrorist" struck and killed a policeman before police forces shot him dead.

In addition, the official said the driver was "a member of the southern branch of the Islamist Movement and possibly affiliated with the Islamic State (IS)."

Raja Zaatri, spokesman for the Arab-Jewish Joint List party, identified the 20-year-old male driver as Yaqub Musa Abu al-Kayan, a teacher at a local school.

His death sparked outrage and protest in the Arab society in Israel, as eyewitness accounts denied the attempted attack against police forces.

Raed Abu al-Jihad, resident of the village of Umm al-Hiran and an eyewitness, told Israeli Radio that al-Kayan did not attempt to drive over the policemen.

"They shot him as he was driving his jeep, so the vehicle then started sliding out of control, eventually hitting the cops," he said.

Rabbi Arik Ascherman of Haqel, a Jewish-Arab human rights group, said the police "raided the village and assaulted" residents using excessive force, including tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber bullets.

Ayman Odeh, a legislator and leader of the Joint List faction, was injured during the clashes and transferred to a hospital.

Odeh's spokeswoman said he suffered a head injury caused by a rubber bullet.

Arabs account for around 20 percent of the Israeli population.

They have full citizenship yet frequently face unfair discrimination and treatment in employment and housing sectors.

Currently, about 192,000 Bedouins, or indigenous Arabs, live in the Negev Desert.

Most of their villages which were erected before the 1948 Israeli statehood, remain unrecognized by the state, and suffer from a lack of infrastructure and resources.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 17, 2017. Rouhani said Iran will not accept a review of its international nuclear deal, reported local media on Wednesday. The international nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), resolved Tehran's decade-long controversial nuclear issue. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)



TEHRAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will not accept a review of its international nuclear deal, reported local media on Wednesday.

The international nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), resolved Tehran's decade-long controversial nuclear issue.

"Renegotiation (of the deal) is totally meaningless, and a return to the past is impossible," Rouhani said in response to recent remarks by Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump's choice as secretary of state.

Tillerson said in his Senate confirmation hearing that he recommends a "full review" of the nuclear deal with Iran.

"Mr. (Donald) Trump as President-elect of the U.S. has so far made some unsettling remarks about the JCPOA," said Rouhani on Tuesday.

However, "negotiations have already been conducted, completed, and approved by the UN Security Council," Rouhani stressed.

Earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for the United States and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi also said that Iran "has reiterated several times that the nuclear dossier will not be opened again under any circumstances."

Iran will not allow a renegotiation of the agreement and this stance is shared by the six world powers, including Russia, China, the U.S., Britain, France and Germany, who participated in diplomatic efforts with Iran on its nuclear program, said Ravanchi.

Iran has repeatedly accused the U.S. of violating the JCPOA since its implementation in January 2016.

Iran and the six world powers reached an agreement on Iran's nuclear issue in July 2015 which lifted the sanctions imposed upon Iran yet limited its nuclear program.

The deal limits Iran's nuclear activities as it would take Tehran at least a year to produce enough fissile materials to produce a nuclear weapon.

Also, Iran will allow regular inspections of its facilities, according to the agreed-upon deal.

In return, the U.S. and the European Union suspended nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran, and lifted past UN Security Council sanction resolutions.

Several U.S. legislators expressed concern over the deal, warning that Tehran could evade inspections and use the funds from sanction relief to destabilize the region.
ANKARA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 243 military personnel over the attempted coup throughout the country, reported the state-run Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.

The suspects are believed to have used Bylock, an encrypted cell phone messaging application which the government says was used by Fethullah Gulen's network, the U.S.-based cleric Ankara accuses of masterminding the coup attempt.

Police forces launched operations across 54 provinces following the arrest warrants issued by prosecutors in Istanbul.

Previously, the public prosecutor's office also issued arrest warrants for 575 military personnel based upon the same allegations.

A little over 350 suspects were detained by the police.

Turkey has been conducting an extensive investigation of suspects with alleged links to Gulenists following the coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

Operations are ongoing in the military, police and judiciary fields, as well as in state institutions across the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Hi, here's what you need to know about China:

DAVOS, Switzerland -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for joint efforts to chart the course of economic globalization and forge new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development.

Xi made the remarks while addressing the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He is the first Chinese head of state to attend the Davos meetings in Switzerland.

Amid a rising tide of global concerns for protectionism, anti-globalization sentiment and other economic and political issues, Xi's presence with Chinese wisdom and experiences at Davos bears tremendous historic significance, said WEF founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

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DAVOS, Switzerland -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed the importance of adapting to and guiding economic globalization and delivering its benefits to all.

Xi made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 47th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

In his speech, Xi said blaming economic globalization for the world's problems is inconsistent with reality and unhelpful to solving the problems.

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SYDNEY -- The search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 has been called off, in a joint statement made by Australian, Malaysian and Chinese governments on Tuesday.

For the past two years, authorities have combed a 120,000 square km patch of the Indian Ocean to no avail, with no sign of the plane yet to be found.

"Despite every effort using the best science available, cutting-edge technology, as well as modeling and advice from highly skilled professionals who are the best in their field, unfortunately, the search has not been able to locate the aircraft," the statement said.

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SHANGHAI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- As soon as President Xi Jinping landed in Switzerland on Sunday, the Swiss Tourism Bureau extended a warm welcome on its official Chinese microblog account, accompanied by a picture of the splendid Alpine landscape.

With over 270,000 followers, the account shares useful travel tips and photographs of the European country almost every day.

According to predictions by China's largest online travel agency Ctrip, 50 percent more Chinese tourists will visit Switzerland during the Spring Festival over the same period of 2016.

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BEIJING -- China is willing to enhance intellectual property right (IPR) cooperation with other countries, but opposes accusations and abuse of IPR to exercise trade protectionism, according to a senior official Tuesday.

Gan Shaoning, deputy director of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), said at a press conference that since the reform and opening-up, China had established a complete and internationally-recognized legal system for IPR protection with Chinese characteristics.

He said it incorporated both administrative and judicial protection, and that the system was something that had taken developed countries hundreds of years to achieve.

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TBILISI -- Georgia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese energy company on cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Georgian government said Tuesday in a statement.

Under the MoU, Georgia mulls over selling 75 percent of the shares of its Poti Free Industrial Zone to CEFC China Energy Company Limited (CEFC China), the statement said without unveiling any detail of the planned selling.

Close to Poti Sea Port off the eastern Black Sea coast and covering 3 million square meters, the Poti Free Industrial Zone is Georgia's first free industrial zone.
TOKYO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) approved an assessment on Wednesday to restart two reactors in Saga Prefecture, western Japan, although public concern remains regarding the safety of the plant if operator Kyushu Electric reboots the reactors.

The NRA has been hearing concerns from officials and citizens in the region about the plant's safety, since the draft assessment on the rectors being restarted was being compiled over a three-year period.

The NRA believes that tighter safety regulations implemented in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, however, have been adhered to and, along with some serious provisos, the Nos. 3 and 4 units of the Genkai plant, will be the second Kyushu Electric-operated plant to go back online, following its Sendai plant.

The Genkai facility will mark the fifth nuclear plant overall that has passed the NRA's safety requirements and have received provisional approval to restart their reactors.

However both official opposition to the restarts and pubic sentiment remains a stumbling block for the plants' operators with both parties citing continued safety concerns which have made the restarting of the reactors an arduous and protracted process for the utilities and the government of Japan.

The government is fully supporting bringing all of Japan's nuclear reactors idled in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, the worst of its kind since Chernobyl in 1986, back online, as import cost for burning fossil fuels to power the nation have and continue to dig a large hole in the government's ever-decreasing funds, with the costs punctuated by a persistently weak yen.

In fact, only two reactors out of some 40 commercial facilities in Japan are currently operating in Japan. These being the the Number 1 reactor at Kyushu Electric's Sendai plant in Kagoshima Prefecture and the Number 3 reactor at Shikoku Electric Power Co.'s Ikata plant in Ehime Prefecture.

While Sendai plant's Number 2 unit is operable, it is undergoing regular safety checks and the two units at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Takahama plant in Fukui Prefecture, which were controversially rebooted last year, were forced to be taken offline by a court injunction citing safety issues.

The pro-nuclear government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continues to face local opposition about the nationwide restarting of the idled plants.

With respect to the the Genkai plant, an NRA secretariat official said Wednesday that criticism had been made of the operator failing to reflect and learn from the lessons following a series of powerful quakes rocking nearby Kumamoto Prefecture in April 2016.

The official said while approval has been provisionally granted, details still need to be provided for the Genkai plant's quake resistant design, and local consent still needs to be given, before the reactors are switched back on.

The likelihood of the reactors being fired up would be in the summer at the earliest, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.

Other issues that have been brought to light are evacuation protocols for elderly and physically challenged people living in the vicinity of the plant. And those residing on small islands near the plant also need to have infallible evacuation systems put into place, sources sceptical of the plant's restart said.

While the NRA's new safety checkups in the wake of the Fukushima disaster are purportedly supposed to be the toughest in the world, according to local media recently citing the Japan Atomic Power Co. and nine utilities that manage nuclear power plants, the vast majority of Japan's 42 viable commercial nuclear reactors have not had detailed checkups performed on the air conditioning and ventilation systems of their central control rooms.

Extensive corrosion and holes, including one measuring 30 cm by 100 cm, were found last month in the ventilation pipes of the Number 2 reactor at the Shimane nuclear plant, in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, which is operated by Chugoku Electric Power Co.

The covering on the pipes had not been removed since the plant went into operation in 1989, it was reported.

Chugoku Electric has since told the NRA the pipes "were not functioning properly" due to the massive degradation.

Of all the nuclear power plants brought back online since 2015, five reactors have not had their pipes and the pipes' insulation inspected as part of the standard safety checks.

The Number 1 reactor at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Sendai plant in Kagoshima Prefecture and the No. 3 reactor at Shikoku Electric Power Co.'s Ikata plant in Ehime Prefecture are currently in operation, despite not having had their pipes checked.

Due to the Shimane plant's monumental oversight, the NRA now plans to, retroactively, check the condition of the pipes at all of the nation's plants, sources close to the matter have said, as the NRA believes that such corrosion, as was detected at the Shimane Number 2 rector, is likely in violation of nuclear regulatory standards.

The majority of Japan's reactors are located close to the sea as they require a huge intake of water to keep the reactor rods cool. The potentially fatal level of corrosion at the Shimane plant may have been accelerated by salt from the sea degrading the pipes, a utility official was quoted as saying recently.

"As the plant is located near the sea, salt-containing air may have flowed into the pipes and hastened corrosion," a Chugoku Electric official said.
SINGAPORE, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Singapore on Wednesday officially opened the fifth plant that produces NEWater, a kind of home-grown reclaimed water.

The new plant in Changi with total cost of about 170 million Singapore dollars (119.65 million U.S. dollars) is among one of the biggest NEWater plants in Singapore and has a capacity of producing 228,000 cubic meters or 50 million gallons of water per day.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said that the water levels of Johor's Linggiu Reservoir in Malaysia, which enables Singapore to draw water for import, have fallen from 80 percent in early 2015 to 20 percent in October last year, before making a "slow recovery" to the current 26 percent.

The minister said that water supply for Singapore and Malaysia's Johor state could be affected if the level of the Linggiu Reservoir continues to fall.

He added that the latest NEWater plant is one of the major investments in water infrastructure to strengthen Singapore's resilience against weather uncertainties.

In partnership with PUB, Singapore's national water agency, the fifth NEWater plant is the first built by a foreign-local consortium, comprising BEWG International, a subsidiary of Beijing Enterprises Water Group Limited listed in China's Hong Kong, and UES Holdings, a Singapore-listed firm.

The NEWater is highly purified recycled water produced using membrane technology. It is potable and suitable for industries that require highly purified water.

Together with the other four NEWater plants, NEWater can now meet 40 percent of Singapore's water demand. The PUB expects NEWater to meet 55 percent of Singapore's water demand by 2060, when the water demand is expected to increase significantly.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- An Indian court Wednesday acquitted Bollywood star Salman Khan in a case of keeping firearms illegally.

The court in the western Indian state of Rajasthan's Jodhpur city held the 51-year-old actor "not guilty" by giving him the "benefit of doubt," saying that the prosecution had not been able to prove that he used firearms to kill endangered black bucks nearly two decades ago.

During the course of the trial, Khan's lawyer had argued that the actor only possessed air guns and there was no evidence that he had used guns to kill two black bucks, a protected antelope species in India. An eyewitness for the prosecution never showed up.

Soon after his acquittal, the actor tweeted thanking his fans for their support. "Thank you for all the support and good wishes," he wrote.

This was the third in a series of four related cases against Khan. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has already been acquitted in two cases of poaching. A fourth case is being heard.

All the four cases date back to 1998 when Khan was in Jodhpur during a location shoot for his popular film "Hum Saath Saath Hain." In 2007, he spent a week in jail in Jodhpur before being granted bail in the cases.

In 2006, a trial court had convicted the actor in two related cases of poaching of chinkara deer and sentenced him to five years in prison. However, the Rajasthan High Court suspended the sentence the following year, and eventually acquitted him last year. The case is now in the Supreme Court.

Khan, who is one of Bollywood's biggest stars, is not new to controversies. In 2015, he was acquitted after being charged with running over and killing a homeless man in a driving accident in Mumbai. The state government of Maharashtra has challenged the order in the Supreme Court.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A printing of the complete version of an 18th century edition of the Tripitaka, a collection of Buddhist scriptures, has been collated by the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City.

The Tripitaka, which is of great religious and cultural importance, has several versions published at different times and in various languages, such as Tibetan and Mongolian.

The compilation of Qing Dynasty's imperial edition of the Tripitaka, China's last official collation of the work in Chinese, started in 1733 and finished in 1738.

It was carved on 79,036 pieces of wood and weighed 360 tonnes. Each plate weighs 4.5 kilograms, and they were stored in the Forbidden City after completion.

Unfortunately, over 9,600 woodblocks have been lost and nearly 14,000 pieces are subject to different degrees of damage.

In 2009, restoration of the woodblocks began, with researchers sent to museums, research institutes and temples at home and abroad to study different version of the Tripitaka.

The complete content of the Tripitaka has been recovered through collecting lost parts of its initial Qing Dynasty printing.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Indian police have arrested a 42-year-old U.S. national in the southern city of Hyderabad on charges of circulating pornographic videos and images involving minors.

"Based on a tip-off by Interpol, the cybercrime wing of the Criminal Investigation Department of the southern state of Telangana nabbed James Kirk Jones, who is employed with a multi-national firm in Hyderabad, Tuesday," an official said.

The suspect was produced in a court Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, he said, on condition of anonymity.

Cops said Jones has confessed to the crime. "During interrogation, the suspect told us he has been downloading, watching and sharing child pornography since his childhood in America," the police official said.

The tip-off came from Interpol, which alerted the Telangana Police that pornographic material was being circulated through a certain Internet protocol address located in Hyderabad. Investigation led cops to the suspect's rented home in the city.

"We have seized the laptop and external hard drive as well as the mobile phone of Jones, and also registered a case against him under the Information Technology Act," the police official said.
MACAO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Macao recorded 30.95 million tourists arrivals in 2016, with overnight-stay visitors exceeding same-day visitors, the special administrative region's tourism office said on Wednesday.

Macao's total visitor arrivals in 2016 reached a record of 30.95 million, up by 0.8 percent from 2015. Around 28 million visitor arrivals came from the Chinese mainland, China's Hong Kong and Taiwan, a slight increase of 0.1 percent from 2015, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes told the press during MGTO's annual press conference.

According to MGTO data, Macao welcomed over 20 million mainland visitors last year, up by 0.2 percent, with 44 percent of them coming from neighboring Guangdong province. As for independent visitors from the mainland, the record reached 9.56 million, accounting for 46 percent of total mainland visitor arrivals.

An increase of 8.8 percent was recorded for the Taiwan market, whereas the sum of Hong Kong visitors dropped slightly by 1.8 percent from 2015.

International visitor arrivals also surged by 7.9 percent. South Korea still ranked the first, contributing over 660,000 visitors to Macao last year, with a robust growth of nearly 20 percent.

Visitors from Thailand and Indonesia marked high growth rate of over 30 percent and 11.7 percent respectively. Japanese visitor arrivals increased by 6.5 percent, and the United States tourists arrival grew by 4.6 percent.

The MGTO director said another upbeat statistic is overnight-stay visitor arrivals exceeded same-day visitor arrivals in 2016 for the first time in the last 10 years.

Preliminary data show that the overnight-stay visitors in 2016 exceeded 15.7 million, up by 9.8 percent, accounting for 50.7 percent of total arrivals. The average length of stay of overnight-stay visitors stood at 2.1 days and that of visitors in general was 1.2 days.

In terms of the hotel sector, there are 113 hotel establishments in Macao supplying a total of 37,634 rooms by the end of 2016, a year-on-year increase of nearly 14 percent.

Among them, there are 47 establishments of budget accommodation with a total of 1,513 rooms. The average occupancy rate in 2016 ranged from 82 percent to 84 percent, a year-on-year increase of 1 to 3 percentage points. The average room rate of three to five star hotels was 161 U.S. dollars in 2016, down by 12.7 percent.

Looking forward the office's work in 2017, Maria said MGTO will complete its formulation of "Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan" and carry out new and ongoing projects to ensure diversified and sustainable development of tourism industry.

"We will also carry out the tourism development goals in the Five-Year Development Plan formulated by the SAR government and its progress of building Macao into a World Tourism and Leisure Center," she added.
JUBA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed and 13 others injured during a cattle raid in South Sudan's eastern state of Jonglei on Monday evening, a local government official said Wednesday.

Jonglei State Information Minister Jacob Akech Dengdit told Xinhua by phone that the attackers ambushed a cattle camp in Duk County, leaving 12 people dead, including four attackers.

Dengdit blamed the attack on raiders from neighboring Buma state. Youth from both regions have previously engaged in brutal cattle raids that have killed hundreds of people and thousands of cattle stolen.

According to the official, at least 25 people were killed and 12,000 cattle raided since last December, while the 56 children adducted in 2016 from the same area remain missing.

War-torn South Sudan is one of the countries with the largest number of cattle in Africa. According to official data, there are 11.7 million cattle in the East African country. But due to high proliferation of arms in the hands of civilians, pastoralists often stage violent inter-tribal cattle raids.
TEHRAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani expressed optimism on Wednesday that the upcoming meeting concerning Syria will be a real start for the peace process for Syrians, reported the official IRNA news agency.

"We hope the conclusion (of the talks) will be satisfactory for the Syrians," Rouhani remarked during a meeting with visiting Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis.

"Today, we need to seize this unique opportunity to fight terrorism effectively," Rouhani said referring to the upcoming peace talks between Syria's government and opposition groups in Astana, Kazakhstan, on January 23.

He further reiterated Iran's opposition to the participation of the United States in the talks, saying that "there is no justification for the United States to attend the meeting. Iran sees no role for the United States in the talks," he said.

On Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran opposes the United States's participation in the approaching Syria peace talks.

"We have not invited the United States and we oppose the U.S.'s presence" in Kazakhstan next week, the minister was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

Following Russian, Turkish and Iranian extensive diplomatic efforts, the Syrian government and opposition groups reached a ceasefire agreement earlier in January.

It was later announced that a new round of peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups will be resumed in Astana, Kazakhstan, on January 23.

Russia and Turkey both invited the United States to the talks.
NANJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese historian has criticised a Japanese hotel for placing in its rooms a book denying the Nanjing Massacre and the forced recruitment of comfort women.

In response to the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Tuesday urged the Japanese government to ensure that Japanese people are exposed to authoritative versions of history.

Despite the protest, the APA hotel chain has refused to remove "The Real History of Japan" by Seiji Fuji, the pen name of the hotel CEO, from its rooms.

Zhang Jianjun, chief researcher with the Nanjing Massacre research institute, said the book is a fabrication based on the rhetoric of the Japanese right-wing.

Nanjing was home to more than 600,000 people before the slaughter of around 300,000 soldiers and civilians in December 1937, but the book claims that there were only 200,000 people in the city at the time.

In addition, the book said there are no eyewitness accounts of the massacre by either Chinese or Japanese observers, despite the existence of a plethora of diaries, letters and photographs.

"It is nonsense," said Zhang, curator of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.

More than 20 people from Europe and the United States recorded the atrocities and their documents have been preserved by UNESCO in its Memory of the World Register, Zhang said.

"The book portraits Japan as the victim of the war. The attempt to whitewash its role as the invader confuses right and wrong," Zhang said.
ISTANBUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Wednesday detained 27 Islamic State (IS) suspects in northwestern city of Bursa over their links to the shooting attack on an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day, local media reported.

Fifteen women were among the foreigners netted by anti-terror teams in seven places in Bursa, and 40 passports, 38 fake ID cards and 15 mobile phones were seized in an empty apartment, press reports said.

The apartment was used by two Tajik citizens, who also rented several flats in Istanbul, Bursa and the western city of Izmir on behalf of IS members by introducing themselves as dentist, doctor, businessmen or trader, the state-run Anadolu Agency said, citing the authorities.

One Tajik national was caught by the police, while the other is on the run, the report said.

A gunman, identified as Abdulgadir Masharipov, a Uzbek national, shot dead 39 people and injured 69 others in Istanbul's Reina nightclub early on New Year's Day.

He was captured on Monday night after 17 days on the loose. The IS has claimed responsibility for the mass shooting.

According to Masharipov, the IS gave him 197,000 U.S. dollars after the attack for him to flee to Raqqa, an IS stronghold in Syria, CNNTurk said.

The same amount of money was found on the gunman when he was seized in a police operation in Istanbul.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China hopes Britain and the European Union (EU) can reach a win-win agreement through negotiation, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Hua Chunying's remarks came after British Prime Minister Teresa May said in her speech on Tuesday that Brexit would produce a new and equal partnership between her country and the EU.

This is May's first important speech on her government's guiding principles on Brexit since the Britons voted to leave the EU in a referendum in June last year.

Noting China always firmly supports the process of European integration, Hua said China believes a prosperous, stable and open Europe is in the interest of all parties concerned.

China is ready to continue building China-Europe partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization, Hua added.

Saying China attaches importance to Britain's status and role, Hua called on both sides to deepen cooperation based on mutual respect and benefits.
by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people, mostly youth, gathered in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday demanding lifting of ban on Jallikattu, a bullfighting sport.

The protesters have gathered on Marina beach in Chennai, capital city of Tamil Nadu, since Tuesday night.

"Jallikattu has been a popular sport for centuries in the state and we are simply demanding revocation of ban that Supreme Court of India has imposed on it," Ramesh Srinivasan, a protester told Xinhua via telephone from the Marina beach.

"We are peacefully staging the protest and have decided to go on with it indefinitely unless state government intervenes and sorts the matter with the government in New Delhi."

Most of the protesters are college and university students who made it to the venue through appeals for protest posted on social media.

Reports said similar protests were being organized in other parts of the state.

The protesters are carrying banners that read, "Lift ban on Jallikattu","Ban PETA."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a U.S.-based animal rights organization and operates in India as well.

Reports said many celebrities from the state including Vijay, G. V. Prakash Kumar and Suriya have backed protesters.

Locals said Jallikattu is a form of bullfighting which has been popular for centuries in Tamil Nadu.

"Jallikattu is part of Tamil culture and pride," Uttam Rajshekhar another protester said. "We will not allow others, whosoever it may be, to destroy our identity."

Jallikattu was banned since 2014 after animal rights activists seeking prevention of cruelty to animals cited to India's top court that bulls in the sport were "severely harmed".

Last year, India's federal government amended its order and issued a notification saying bulls may continue to be exhibited or trained as a performing animal, at events such as Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu subject to conditions and proper supervision. The government order evoked strong condemnation from animal rights bodies.

However, the Supreme Court of India upheld the ban in 2016 and suspended the federal government notification of allowing Jallikattu after various bodies including Animal Welfare Board of India filed petitions to challenge it.

Following the ban, no major Jallikattu events were organized in the past two years. However, during the past few days, media reports said people at many places tried to organize Jallikattu in defiance of the Supreme Court order, however, they were chased away by the police forces that were deployed across the state.

Police also detained hundreds of the people who tried to defy the ban.

The sport was traditionally practised as part of the harvest festival of Pongal. Jallikattu involves men chasing bull attempting to grab its hump and ride it for as long as possible or stop it and remove piece of cloth affixed to its horns.

Over the years, many people have been gored or trampled to death during the sport. Even bulls suffered injures and sometimes get killed in the contests.

Nikunj Sharma, spokesperson for PETA in India told Xinhua, they stand against all forms of cruelty inflicted on animals. According to Sharma people indulge in inflicting cruelty on the animals during Jallikatu.

"PETA is not against Jallikatu but we are against any animal cruelty against animals as a whole. Our job is to present facts to the court and then leave it to the wisdom of the judges there to make decisions," Sharma said.

"People force fed bulls with alcohol, poke them with sharp objects and even twist their tails in order to make them run faster."

Sharma said his organization had anticipated such protests and have written to the president and prime minister of India.

"It is unfortunate that political parties in the state are pitching people against PETA and one can see how much complacent they are in all this affair," Sharma said.

On Monday evening, a 40-year-old man was gored to death by a bull during a bull race in Vellore district, local media reported.

Last week, the ruling party in Tamil Nadu demanded the federal government to promulgate an ordinance to revive the banned Jallikattu.

The party head of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khazagham (AIADMK), V. K. Sasikala has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to bring an ordinance to revive the sport.

Besides, a delegation of AIADMK lawmakers submitted a memorandum at Prime Minister's office in New Delhi, seeking removal of bulls from the list of performing animals through an ordinance for the smooth conduct of Jallikattu.
TIKRIT, Iraq, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 security members were killed and five others were abducted during overnight attacks by extremist Islamic State (IS) group militants against military bases in Iraq's Salahudin province, said a provincial security source on Wednesday.

One of the attacks occurred after midnight when IS militants assaulted a police commandos outpost in a rugged area by the provincial border between Salahudin and Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, killing at least 11 police commandos and wounding eight others, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The attackers kidnapped five police commandos before they fled the scene, the source said.

Meanwhile, fierce clashes took place when dozens of IS militants with heavy machine guns, mortar and rockets blasts advanced toward the paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters posts in the area of Jillam al-Dour in Tikrit, 170 km north of Baghdad, the source said.

The fighters, part of the government-backed Hashd Shaabi units, repelled the attack, killing three IS militants and destroying one of their vehicles, while four paramilitary fighters were killed with nine others wounded, the source added.

A third onslaught occurred when IS militants attacked the Ajil oil field, 30 km east of Tikrit.

However, security forces backed by the army's helicopter squad repelled the attack, killing three militants and destroying one of their vehicles which was carrying a heavy machine gun.

Three police force members tasked with protecting the oil field were wounded during the clashes, he said.

Salahudin's vast rugged open land has witnessed major offensives in order to drive out extremist militants and prevent them from using the province in their attacks against civilian and military targets, in the provinces of Diyala and Salahudin.

The attacks came as Iraqi security forces backed by the anti-IS international coalition carried out a major offensive to drive out IS militants from its last major stronghold in Mosul.

Many blame the current instability, violence, and emerging extremist groups - such as the IS - on the U.S., following its invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and subsequent occupation.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday sent a message of condolences to his Kyrgyz counterpart, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, over a cargo plane crash in Kyrgyzstan.

On behalf of the Chinese government, Li mourned the dead and extended condolences to their families.

A cargo plane owned by ACT Airlines of Turkey crashed Monday upon landing in foggy weather in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. At least 37 people were killed, with the majority being local residents on the ground.
JAKARTA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has been aiming to grab more visitors from Southeast Asian nations by taking part in the ongoing Travel Exchange ASEAN Tourism Forum (Travex ATF) held in Singapore, a minister said on Wednesday.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said proximity in terms of culture, customizations and distance among people in the region hold crucial factors in helping the nation's efforts in attracting regional visitors.

By taking part in the annual event, Indonesia expects to attract over 2.27 million Singaporean visitors this year, higher than 1.5 million which was the largest number of foreign visitors that came to Indonesia last year.

Besides through the Travex ATF event, Indonesia would maximize its efforts in attracting regional visitors through Cross Border Tourism program which was apparently successful last year, the minister said in a statement.

The tourism ministry has scheduled several tourism events in the nation's border areas with Singapore and Malaysia this year. Among those events were food, cultural and music festivals, he said.

Those events would be held in Bintan, Batam which are close to Singapore and in Aruk and Sambas located in West Kalimantan, Indonesia's bordering province to Malaysia.

Indonesia sent 40 travel firms from several provinces across the country in the three-day event slated to end on Friday themed "Shaping Our Tourism Journey Together" that marks 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Indonesia has set a target to welcome 15 million foreign visitors, earnings of 200 trillion rupiah (about 14.9 billion U.S. dollars) and 13 percent of contribution to GDP from tourism sector this year.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- A high-ranking UN official Tuesday commended Chinese President Xi Jinping for his remarks on globalization in Davos, saying the remarks are "very positive."

Lenni Montiel, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, told Xinhua that Xi sent "a strong message" to the world by defending globalization and condemning protectionism in his speech delivered at the Davos World Economic Forum.

"The call and position are to ensure that we do not go back to protectionist policies," said Montiel.

"That (if going back to protectionism) will definitely affect the well-being of the population, and definitely affect the rate of economic growth," he said.

President Xi said Tuesday that globalization has powered worldwide growth and should not be blamed for the problems in the world.

"Fundamentally, this position of defending globalization has always been a consistent position of the United Nations," said Montiel, adding that it's "so important" and "so relevant" today.

Montiel highly commended Xi for his attending the Davos Forum, saying "it's very important for the rest of the world."

"The Chinese leader's going to Davos and having a clear position are very, very positive," said Montiel, who also attended the launch event of the UN annual economic report on world economic situation and prospects.

He told a press conference that in the United Nations, there has always been support for globalization, noting that "it has never been a question."

"In the same way, in the United Nations, there has always been attention and a very strong call to ensure economic policies address the needs of all members of the population," he said.
Photo taken with mobile phone shows the bodies of victims of a car bomb attack in Gao, Mali, Jan. 18, 2017. More than 80 people were killed in a car bomb attack on Wednesday morning in front of a military camp in Gao, northern Mali, according to hospital sources. (Xinhua)



BAMAKO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- More than 80 people were killed in a car bomb attack on Wednesday morning in front of a military camp in Gao, northern Mali, according to hospital sources.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani attends a news conference in Tehran, Iran January 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

TEHRAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will not accept a review of its international nuclear deal, reported local media on Wednesday.

The international nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), resolved Tehran's decade-long controversial nuclear issue.

"Renegotiation (of the deal) is totally meaningless, and a return to the past is impossible," Rouhani said in response to recent remarks by Rex Tillerson, Donald Trump's choice as secretary of state.

Tillerson said in his Senate confirmation hearing that he recommends a "full review" of the nuclear deal with Iran.

"Mr. (Donald) Trump as President-elect of the U.S. has so far made some unsettling remarks about the JCPOA," said Rouhani on Tuesday.

However, "negotiations have already been conducted, completed, and approved by the UN Security Council," Rouhani stressed.

Earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for the United States and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi also said that Iran "has reiterated several times that the nuclear dossier will not be opened again under any circumstances."

Iran will not allow a renegotiation of the agreement and this stance is shared by the six world powers, including Russia, China, the U.S., Britain, France and Germany, who participated in diplomatic efforts with Iran on its nuclear program, said Ravanchi.

Iran has repeatedly accused the U.S. of violating the JCPOA since its implementation in January 2016.

Iran and the six world powers reached an agreement on Iran's nuclear issue in July 2015 which lifted the sanctions imposed upon Iran yet limited its nuclear program.

The deal limits Iran's nuclear activities as it would take Tehran at least a year to produce enough fissile materials to produce a nuclear weapon.

Also, Iran will allow regular inspections of its facilities, according to the agreed-upon deal.

In return, the U.S. and the European Union suspended nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran, and lifted past UN Security Council sanction resolutions.

Several U.S. legislators expressed concern over the deal, warning that Tehran could evade inspections and use the funds from sanction relief to destabilize the region.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Some 400,000 families, or 1.4 million people, living in areas known to be geological disaster hot spots will be relocated, according to a government plan released Wednesday.

These families live in areas where geological disasters can not be prevented or reduced through human intervention, according to the plan, and they will be moved by the end of 2020.

Throughout the 2016-2020 period, measures will be taken to address geological risks such as gullies or slopes with loose debris or landslide hazards, and protection projects will be launched in populated areas.

Groundwater exploitation will be outlawed in areas with serious subsidence or ground fissures, according to the plan, and the geological authorities will ascertain potential hazards that may result in loss of life or earnings.

China has suffered some of the world's worst geological disasters, as 65 percent of its landmass is mountainous or hilly. From 2011 to 2015, China saw more than 60,000 geological disasters, killing 2,008 people and causing losses in excess of 20 billion yuan (about 2.9 billion U.S. dollars), according to the Ministry of Land and Resources.
Cars are driving on Arcturus Road which is full of potholes in capital city Harare, Zimbabwe, on January 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

HARARE, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Harare's suburban roads have become so pothole riddled that motorists are now mapping their trips around the more navigable ones to avoid damaging their vehicles.

Potholes are a perennial problem in the city during the rainy season with Harare City Council failing to patch them amid concerns of poor remittances from a statutory body that collects fees for road construction and maintenance throughout Zimbabwe.

"It is no longer a matter of jumping onto your car and driving to your destination. You must now plan which route to use, no matter how long, so that you save your vehicle's suspension from damage.

"In fact, some of the shorter routes end up being longer in terms of time as they are hardly passable," said motorist Gift Chatindo.

Pictures on social media show gapping potholes along many roads with vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road.

Where possible, motorists completely avoid the roads and create their own side roads, which is an offence according to Zimbabwe's motor traffic regulations.

The state of some roads no longer requires mere patching of potholes but complete resealing and reconstructing, according to city engineers.

About 25 percent of roads need rehabilitation and 75 percent preventive maintenance.

Pothole patching is also difficult during the wet season, so motorists will have to negotiate their way through the maze until the rains end.

Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni recently accused the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (ZINARA) of remitting much less than the city's requirements for roads rehabilitation yet it rakes in millions from motor vehicle licenses for the city's motorists.

Prior to the establishment of ZINARA by the government in 2001 with the aim of enhancing the road network system throughout the country, local authorities collected license fees for motor vehicles domiciled within their areas and used the funds for road maintenance and construction.

ZINARA took over this function and now disburses various amounts to the local authorities as it deems fit.

Manyenyeni told a local newspaper recently that residents should raise complaints of poor road maintenance with ZINARA since it was responsible for disbursing the funds for road maintenance.

"We should be getting about 40 million (U.S.) dollars per year from ZINARA for road maintenance but they are only remitting 1 million dollars which is not enough for standard repairs," he said.

According to Harare's Director of Engineering Services Phillip Pfukwa, the council needs 200 million U.S. dollars a year for road maintenance but gets little from ZINARA.

For instance, in 2014 ZINARA disbursed between 250,000 and 300,000 dollars against a budget of 15 million dollars, he said.

The council has as a result been mulling taxing local motorists in a bid to raise funds for road maintenance, but the motorists have reacted angrily to the proposal.

Tire fitters are also making brisk business as motorists plunge into invisible water-filled potholes and puncture their tires.

One fitter said he had noticed a surge in the number of motorists bringing tires for repairs while others sought replacements.

"I keep old tires which some motorists would have replaced with new ones for sale to those who are desperate. An old tire can sell for 20 dollars," he said.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China will take proactive employment policies from now to 2020 to create more jobs and support economic growth, the country's cabinet, the State Council said Wednesday.

Employment is the top concern for livelihood and the fundamental support for economic growth, said a statement released after a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, which passed the 13th Five-Year Plan for promoting employment.

The government will offer more jobs by developing sectors such as advanced manufacturing, modern logistics, healthcare and elderly care and encourage labor-intensive companies to move to central and western regions and the northeastern area where jobs are needed, the statement said.

China will also continue to promote entrepreneurship to create more jobs, especially businesses related with the sharing economy.

The government will reduce barriers to market entry and offer more supportive policies to encourage technical talents and migrant workers to set up their own businesses, the statement said.

For those who have difficulty finding jobs, the government will offer public welfare positions and other support; for those laid off by overcapacity cut drive, more training will be taken to help them find new jobs.

China also encourages enterprises to be more active in creating employment-facilitating information platforms and taking more professional training to help improve the efficiency and quality of the human resource market, according to the statement.
GUANGZHOU, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Deng Qilin, former chairman of major Chinese steelmaker Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Corp., stood trial on Wednesday on charges of taking bribes.

Deng, who was tried at the Intermediate People's Court of Foshan City, Guangdong, was accused of taking bribes totaling over 55.4 million yuan (8.1 million U.S. dollars) from 2000 to 2015.

Deng took advantage of his positions to seek profits for others in promotions, business operations and construction projects, said a statement from the court.

Deng pleaded guilty and expressed remorse during the trial.

More than 50 people, including representatives of local legislators, political advisors, journalists and members of the public, were present at the open trial.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate announced an investigation into Deng in January, 2016.

The verdict has yet to be announced.
MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Wednesday announced complete control of the main part of the eastern side of Mosul after defeating extremist militants of the Islamic State (IS) group.

"The Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) forces have completely retaken control of the eastern side of Mosul," Lieutenant General Talib Shghati, the commander of the CTS forces, told a press conference near Mosul.

"The only neighborhoods left in Mosul are in the northern part of the city which the army units are fighting to liberate soon," the commander added.

Shghati also said Mosul's five bridges over Tigris are all under the control of the security forces.

The CTS troops have so far killed 3,300 IS militants and destroyed 300 car bombs in the battles of Mosul, according to Shghati.

His announcement came after the elite CTS troops freed central areas on the eastern side of Mosul after recapturing the archaeological site and the adjacent Tal Nirgal area, the last areas assigned for the CTS forces within the major offensive to free Mosul from IS militants.

Also in the day, army soldiers made a new advance on the northern front of eastern Mosul when they recaptured al-Qadhiyah neighborhood and are fighting on the edges of the adjacent al-Arabi neighborhood, according to a statement by the Joint Operations Command.

On Tuesday, the CTS forces made fast advances against IS positions in Mosul and recaptured ten neighborhoods, making the Iraqi troops closer to recapturing the whole eastern bank of the city.

According to military officers, the Iraqi forces have recaptured roughly 95 percent of eastern bank of the Tigris River which bisects Mosul. Once they recapture the whole eastern side they will begin a new phase of the anti-IS major offensive on the western part of the city.

On Dec. 29, the CTS commandos, army troops and federal police launched the second phase of a major offensive to free the eastern bank of Mosul.

Last month, battles in Mosul slowed down as extremist militants used civilians as human shields, resorted to suicide car bombs and made mortar and sniper attacks in stiff resistance.

On Oct. 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city.

Since then, 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.

Mosul, some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A sound China-India relationship is important to BRICS and developing countries at large, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

The comment came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the rise of India and China an "unprecedented opportunity" for the two countries and for the whole world at a geo-political conference on Tuesday.

"China applauds Modi's positive comments. Chinese and Indian leaders have a common understanding that our shared interests far outweigh our differences," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a regular news briefing.

As a member of the BRICS -- which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- China supported India when it hosted the BRICS summit in 2016. The 2017 summit will be held in Xiamen, Southeast China, in September.

The development of China-India relations is important to the strength of the BRICS and as a tool to promote world multipolarization, Hua said.

Responding to Modi's view that it was "not unnatural" for two large neighboring powers to have some differences, Hua said China is committed to increasing trust, expanding cooperation and properly resolving any differences with India.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China hopes Britain and the European Union (EU) can reach a win-win agreement through negotiation, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Hua Chunying's remarks came after British Prime Minister Theresa May said in her speech on Tuesday that Brexit would produce a new and equal partnership between her country and the EU.

Noting China always firmly supports the process of European integration, Hua told a regular press conference that China believes a prosperous, stable and open Europe is in the interest of all parties concerned.

China is ready to continue building China-Europe partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization, Hua added.

This is May's first important speech on her government's guiding principles on Brexit since the Britons voted to leave the EU in a referendum in June last year.

May said she wants Britain to remain as a "best friend and neighbor" to Europe, but also reach out to the rest of the world as a global trading nation, to countries such as China, Brazil and the Gulf States.

Saying China attaches importance to Britain's status and role, Hua called on both sides to deepen cooperation based on mutual respect and benefits.
RIYADH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi police said on Wednesday that a Saudi young man was shot in his leg on Tuesday evening by two suspected terror fugitives in Qatif region of the Eastern Province.

The 20-something man sustained a number of gun wounds in the leg on his way to see a relative, said the police.

The incident came a day after the announcement of the arrest of suspected terrorist Hussain Mohamed Al Faraj.

As one of the few predominantly Shiite areas in Saudi Arabia, Qatif suffers on-and-off violence and rioting from those who demand more rights.
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Anti-terrorism forces in Pakistan's Punjab province had killed the chief of a banned militant group and three others, officials said Wednesday.

Rizwan alias Asif Chotu, chief of the banned sectarian "Lashkar-e-Jhangvi" (LeJ) and three members of the group, who were blamed for series of attacks on the security forces and Shiite Muslims, were killed in a clash with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) near Sheikhupura, a main town near Lahore, the capital of Punjab, a spokesman for the CTD said.

LeJ was involved in the recent attacks on a crowded shrine and Shiite Muslims in Balochistan province that killed dozens of people. Security officials believed that the group was now coordinating with Daesh (the Islamic State) to carry out attacks.

The CTD spokesman said in a statement that Chotu was wanted in over 100 murder cases and that the government had announced a head money of 3 million rupees.

He said the terrorists were planning an attack on staff and offices of a security agency in Lahore. "They were heading to Lahore for the terrorist attack from Sheikhupura when the CTD force encountered them."

"On a tip-off, the CTD team blockaded the Railway crossing late on Tuesday. The team asked the terrorists to surrender but they fled and later took positions and started firing indiscriminately on the police party chasing them. The police responded and found four terrorists dead while three terrorists succeeded in fleeing from the scene," the official said.

The CTD members also recovered two Kalashnikovs, two pistols, three kg explosives, prima cord and live bullets.

Chotu was appointed the LeJ chief, after his predecessor Malik Ishaq was killed in Punjab in July 2015, along with two sons and nine other militants after they tried to flee from the police custody. He was released after seven years of imprisonment in 2012. He later went underground and organized many attacks on the law enforcement agencies and Shiite Muslims.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and over a dozen injured during clashes between locals and government forces in eastern Indian state of West Bengal, officials said Wednesday.

The clashes broke out at South 24 Parganas district during the protests by locals against land acquisition by government officials for a power project.

Villagers at Bhangar on Tuesday blocked roads and lit bonfire of used tyres to protest the construction of an electric grid station by state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, triggering clashes.

Officials said irate villagers vandalised police vehicles and set several vehicles on fire besides hurling brickbats on policemen. Police officials fired tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charging to chase the agitators.

Locals said both the villagers were killed in police firing, an allegation officials blatantly reject.

"Two people were killed during the clashes yesterday," a local pleading anonymity said.

However, a senior police official Sunil Chowdhury was quoted by a local newspaper Indian Express saying policemen did not opened fire during clashes.

"There was no firing from the police side. A large number of police personnel have been injured following firing and bombing by the agitators," the newspaper quotes Chowdhury as having said.

Officials blame the "outside" hand in the killing of villagers during protests.

Authorities have suspended work on the power grid being built on about 16-acre plot following the protests by villagers who also object to the erection of transmission towers and laying of high-tension lines passing over their agricultural land.

On Wednesday situation in Bhangar remained tense.

Reports said authorities were thinking in terms of relocating the power grid in wake of the ongoing crisis.

"We are talking to villagers and we will not acquire any land if people are not comfortable with it," a senior official said.

The clashes have brought back memories of the fierce anti-land acquisition agitations at Nandigram in 2007 and Singur in 2008 in the state. The incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was then an opposition leader had led massive protests against the acquisition of land by the then Left Front government for SEZ (Special Economic Zone) and the Nano car project of the Tata.

Tata motors moved their operations out of West Bengal in 2008 amid the agitation. Last year, the Supreme Court ordered that the 1000 acres of farm land acquired for the Nano factory be returned to farmers.

In Indian states confrontation over land acquisition often occurs because of the growing demand of land for industrial and development projects. Farmers are usually reluctant to give up land and often demand employment and higher prices, which often triggers violence.
NAIROBI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government said it was closely monitoring the drought situation in the country, which has left 1.5 million people in need of relief food.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was briefed on Wednesday that 23 arid and semi-arid counties are facing serious drought.

Kenyatta said in a statement that the national government will realign its budget to address the situation and urged the county governments to come up with counter measures.

Measures undertaken by the government include livestock offtake, provision of supplements and vaccines for livestock, scaling up of school feeding programs and other relief transfers.

The meeting came after Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri said last week that both national and county governments have put in place intervention measures.

The poor performance of the 2016 March-May long rains season has resulted in drought that reduced forage and water for livestock and poor crop harvest, especially at the Coast and lower Eastern regions, according to Kiunjuri.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in December warned that Kenya was highly likely to see another drought in early 2017 and a rising food insecurity. Current estimates show some 1.3 million people are food insecure.

"Those most at risk are small-scale herders in the arid and semi-arid lands, where livestock rearing can account for as much as 90 percent of employment and family income," FAO said.
TIRANA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Albania is to get another loan worth 20 million euros (21.3 million U.S. dollars) from Germany's KfW development bank that will be used to finance a 400 kilovolt (kV) interconnection line between Albania and Macedonia, local media reported Wednesday.

Albanian Parliament has approved the agreement between Albania and Germany for the funding of the power line. This is the second loan agreement signed for this project, following the first loan of 30 million euros.

Official sources said Wednesday that building the interconnection line would start this year and is expected to be completed by 2020.

The line is to start in Fier-Elbasan, central Albania and end in Bitola, Macedonia, sources from the ministry of energy said.

Albanian authorities believe that implementing this project will strengthen Albania's interconnection ties with the region.

This project also includes the construction of new lines and connection with the transmission network, local media reported.

The total value of the Albania-Macedonia interconnection line project is estimated at 70 million euros.

A total of 50 million euros are provided by the German KfW bank, five million euros will be provided by the Albanian government, while the remaining funds will be provided by the European Union (EU). (1 euro = 1.07 U.S. dollars)
Edward Snowden is seen on the screen during a live remote interview at CeBIT 2015, the world's top trade fair for information and communication technology, in Hanover, Germany, on March 18, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

MOSCOW, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia has extended its asylum for U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden for "a couple of years," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

The decision was made in defiance of a recent statement by former CIA deputy director Michael Morell saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin had a great opportunity to extradite Snowden as a "perfect inauguration gift" to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

"The essence of what the former CIA man is offering is the ideology of betrayal," Zakharova said on Facebook.

"What you have leaked, Mr. Morell, makes now clear to everybody that for your office it is normal to present gifts in the form of people and extradite those seeking protection," she added.

Snowden's residence permit has been extended until 2020 and soon he will have all legal grounds to apply for Russian citizenship, the whistleblower's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agency Wednesday.

According to Russian law, one has to live in the country for no less than five years to apply for citizenship.

Snowden, a computer professional who had done contractual work for the U.S. National Security Agency, fled to Russia in 2013 after revealing thousands of classified documents to the press. He was wanted by Washington on charges of espionage.

Russian authorities initially granted him asylum for one year before a three-year extension.

On Tuesday, outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama commuted the sentence of another whistleblower, Chelsea Manning, from 35 years to seven. The former U.S. Army intelligence officer was sentenced for giving classified government information to Wikileaks.

The commutation of Manning's sentence raised concerns about the possible alleviation of charges against Snowden.

However, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said last week that there was a "stark difference" between Manning's crime and Snowden's actions, with Snowden's being "far more serious and far more dangerous."

Responding to the issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying that they did not know what Snowden had done.

Related:

U.S. Congress Committee report further dims hope of Snowden returning home

BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. Congress report Thursday on Edward Snowden, the "whistleblower" about U.S. intelligence aggression against private phone calls, has further dimmed his hope of returning home without being punished.
TOKYO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A number of F-35 fighter jets arrived at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture, western Japan on Wednesday, marking the first deployment of such aircraft outside the U.S. despite safety concerns from some people in Japan.

The F-35Bs, which are the Marines variant of the F-35 plane, departed from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona, United States, on Jan. 9, said local media, quoting the U.S. military.

The rest of the 16 F-35s set to be deployed at the Iwakuni base will arrive in Japan later.

Local people, however, have been concerned over safety risks caused by such aircraft, especially after a F-35 fighter jet caught fire in mid-air in October 2016 in the U.S. when carrying out a training mission.

The incident was listed by the U.S. Naval Safety Center as a Class A mishap, which means that the aircraft sustained a damage worth at least two million U.S. dollars.

It was the third fire in three years for the stealth aircraft. In 2014, an Air Force F-35A caught fire while preparing for takeoff. In September 2016, a F-35A caught fire during start-up, forcing the pilot to exit the aircraft.
by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua)-- The agreement for the sale of 100 percent stake in Greek railways operator TRAINOSE to Italian railways Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane for 45 million euros (48 million U.S. dollars) was signed here on Wednesday, Greece's privatization fund announced.

"The share purchase agreement was signed following the approval of the transaction by Greece's Audit Court, its completion is subject to the competent EU authorities' approvals," according to a press release by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF).

"The closure of the European Commission's State Aid dossier on TRAINOSE's debt to Greek railways organization OSE is pending, amounting to more than 700 million euros," the fund said.

Should the sale not be concluded, TRAINOSE would have to return the 700 million euros in state aid to the EU, which would most likely lead to its collapse, according to financial experts in Athens.

Addressing the signing ceremony, HRADF chief Antonis Leousis welcomed the completion of the privatization of TRAINOSE four years after the launch of the relevant international tender process, expressing confidence that the Italian railways "will help create a major provider of railway services".

The sale of the loss making TRAINOSE was part of the Greek privatization program launched in 2010 which has suffered many delays.

Greece aims to raise some two billion euros from privatizations during 2017, according to the state budget ratified by Greek MPs in December.

In 2016 Athens raised only 500 million euros out of the initial target of 2.5 billion euros. (1 euro= 1.06 U.S. dollars)
KHARTOUM, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government reiterated Wednesday that the rapprochement between Sudan and the United States after Khartoum's sanctions are partly eased would not be at the expense of any other country.

"We deal with each country according to our interests and our relations with any country will not be at the expense of another country," said Kamal Ismail, Sudan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, at a press conference in Khartoum Wednesday.

"We do not know sales under the table, so if we make rapprochement with America after lifting the sanctions from us, that will not be at the expense of our friends who stood with us and supported us," he noted.

Yassir Khidir, Sudan's information ministry under-secretary, echoed Ismail's arguments.

"What has been rumored about possibility of a change in Sudan's relations with some friendly countries which have always supported Sudan is not true. This is not of our ethics," Khidir said at a press conference.

Ismail also expressed confidence that Sudan would fulfill its commitment to the sanction-lifting terms in the six-month time limit set by the U.S. government.

"It is difficult to reverse what has happened now, and though everything is possible, but the assessment period will not change anything. Sudan will safely pass the assessment period and we are confident that the sanctions will be fully lifted," he said.

On Jan. 13, the outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama issued a decision to cancel two executive orders imposing economic sanctions on Sudan.

The United States has been imposing sanctions on Sudan since 1997 and putting it on its list of countries sponsoring terrorism since 1993.

Since then, Washington has been renewing its sanctions on Sudan due to the continuing war in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions in addition to a number of outstanding issues with South Sudan such as the territorial dispute over the oil-rich Abyei area.

In Feb. 2015, however, the U.S. announced its decision to loosen sanctions on Sudan by allowing exports of personal communications hardware and software including smart phones and laptops, in what it said a move to help the Sudanese integrate into the global digital community.
Photo taken on Dec. 22, 2016 shows a telescope projecting red beacon beam at the quantum communication ground station in Lijiang, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The world's first quantum satellite "Micius" was put into use on Wednesday after four-month on-orbit tests. China launched the satellite on Aug. 16, 2016. It is nicknamed "Micius," after a fifth century B.C. Chinese philosopher and scientist. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's quantum communication satellite, launched last August, is officially operational after four months of in-orbit testing, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said Wednesday.

Testing of the satellite, payloads and space-ground links have been completed, the CAS said, adding that everything was operating properly.

The Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) satellite is the first-ever space-ground test platform for quantum communication, said Wang Jianyu, executive deputy chief engineer of the project.

The research team has begun to carry out experiments and preliminary data has been obtained, said Pan Jianwei, chief scientist on the project.

China successfully launched the world's first quantum satellite from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Aug. 16, 2016.

QUESS will explore "hack-proof" quantum communications by transmitting unhackable keys from space, and provide insight into the strangest phenomenon in quantum physics -- quantum entanglement.
GENEVA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- WHO chief Margaret Chan on Tuesday praised Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "visionary and strategic leader", saying that she looks forward to talking with him about how China will bring its particular vision for health as a centerpiece for international cooperation.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Chan made the remarks in a written interview ahead of her meeting with Xi scheduled for Wednesday at WHO's headquarters in Geneva.

"China has made remarkable investments in R&D (research and development) and innovation to solve many enduring health challenges," she said, adding that China is in the process of becoming a powerhouse in terms of both the discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines.

The benefits of this drive have been especially tangible within China, where officials have set in motion far-reaching and widespread reforms to improve access to health care for millions of its citizens.

Underpinned by universal health insurance coverage, fiscal subsidies, expanding benefits and an increase in the size and skill level of the health workforce, reforms have also meant that infrastructure and equipment at all levels have been expanded and upgraded, she said.

"China's health care reforms are a world-leading example of a government trying to achieve universal health care," Chan said.

The WHO chief also commended the decision made by the government to emphasize that "health is a precondition for economic and social development in their Healthy China 2030 vision."

The "Healthy China 2030" blueprint released in October includes 29 chapters that cover areas such as public health services, environment management, the medical industry, and food and drug safety.

Besides, over the years, China has made important headway in implementing globally recognized strategies which aim to limit as much as possible the impact of future health emergencies.

This forward-thinking strategy is seen in the establishment of 37 national Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), with plans to upgrade a number of them into global EMTs and Public Health Rapid Response Teams.

Made up of groups of health professionals, EMTs are crucial in providing support to national health systems by delivering clinical care to populations affected by natural disasters and disease outbreaks.

Chan said that Xi's drive to make health an explicit national priority is also reflected in China's economic development schemes, including the Belt and Road Initiative envisioned as an infrastructure and trade network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.

Meanwhile, the official highlighted China's pivotal role on the international scene.

China's leadership and initiative were perhaps most visible during the deadly Ebola epidemic which struck three West African countries in 2014, resulting in the deaths of over 11,000 individuals, the WHO chief said.

"China was the first international donor to provide hands-on clinical support, working in dangerous conditions and returning with no infections," Chan added.

In addition to committing 120 million U.S. dollars to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, China sent 1,200 workers to affected regions and trained 13,000 medical staff to treat Ebola patients in nine African countries.

According to Chan, China not only draws from its experience as a middle income country but also from how it tackled the Ebola outbreak and national pandemics such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), avian influenza and MERS (Middle-East respiratory syndrome).

"China's challenges and experience in overcoming them can be very relevant, and more relevant than experiences from upper income countries which have a very different social and economic situation," she said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (central L) waves to the media during the welcoming ceremony of the Polish President Andrzej Duda (central R) in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Luay Sababa)



RAMALLAH, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the international community on Wednesday not to waste the opportunity of implementing the two-state solution "because this year, it's the last chance."

Abbas made the remarks during a joint news briefing held in the West Bank city of Bethlehem with his visiting Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda.

Abbas reiterated during the news briefing that peace for the Palestinians "is strategic."

"I reviewed with President Duda the latest developments and efforts exerted to push forward the peace process as well as the outcomes of Paris Peace Conference," said Abbas.

Abbas expressed the Palestinian side's readiness "to reach an everlasting and comprehensive peace," and stressed on "the necessity of forming an international system to follow up on any political process with a specific time frame."

According to Abbas this can be achieved via international resolutions, mainly the latest 2334 resolution, the Arab peace initiative and signed peace agreements.

He also called on countries which still don't recognize the state of Palestinian, to follow in the footsteps of the 138 countries who do recognize the state of Palestine, the last being the State of the Vatican, which inaugurated an embassy for the state of Palestine.

Asked about the new U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's intentions to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Abbas said "We heard about that, but officially we will wait to hear it when he takes office in the White House."

"Such a measure, if taken, would certainly undermine the peace process, and is illegal of course. It would be the very first time a country moves its embassy to Jerusalem, while all other state embassies are in Tel Aviv."

Meanwhile, the Polish President told reporters "let President Trump officially take office and then we will judge," adding "We hope the U.S. adopts a balanced policy, because it is a strong powerful military and political world country."

President Duda reiterated the necessity of establishing two independent states living side-by-side, and added "peaceful coexistence can be achieved through direct bilateral talks according to the accepted terms by both sides in order to attain permanent peace."
SINGAPORE, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday launched the "Visit ASEAN@50" campaign to promote ASEAN as a single and unified travel destination during the Opening Gala of ASEAN Tourism Forum 2017.

Lee called the initiative "an entirely achievable objective", which aims to increase the number of international arrivals by 10 percent to 121 million, and urged ASEAN countries to work together.

"Tourism is one area where by working together, we can get win-win benefits, growing our economies, creating jobs, and drawing our peoples together," said Lee, adding there is huge potential in tourism.

Noting that ASEAN itself offers an enormous richness of attractions and the middle class in ASEAN countries is growing fast, the prime minister said beyond jointly marketing campaigns and promotions, ASEAN countries need to do hard work, overcome problems and build capabilities, thus creating the basis for a vibrant tourism industry.

Lee also suggested three things need to be done to make a difference. Firstly, ASEAN countries should continue to strengthen air links as affordable and convenient air travel is one of the most important factors driving tourism growth.

Secondly, ASEAN countries can build up cruise tourism, which has immense potential for development and needs multi-lateral efforts.

In addition, Lee stressed talent, saying workers in ASEAN countries need to develop specific skills to deliver the high standards for international tourists.

In his opening speech, Lee also told the forum the spirit of regional cooperation is "all the more" important in these uncertain times.

"In this uncertain global environment, ASEAN is an important life raft for all of us," said Lee. "While ASEAN has made significant progress, there is a lot more work to be done."

Themed on "Shaping our Tourism Journey Together", the five-day tourism forum involves ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) Meetings, ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting, ASEAN Tourism Conference as well as exhibitions on tourism etc.

Established in 1981, the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum is a useful platform for the region's tourism ministers, government officials and travel industry players to come together and discuss ways to further stimulate tourism growth.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, has issued a guideline on private education.

Private institutes should reinforce the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and they should cover socialist core values throughout their curriculum and increase teacher and student confidence in the guiding theories, political system and culture of the country, said the guideline.

The guideline said investment into private education should be made easier, and there should be multiple channels from which private schools can source funding.

Li Xiaohong, vice minister of education, said Wednesday that there should be no restrictions on non-governmental investment in education, as long as the investment adheres to laws and regulations, and it is not detrimental to third-party interests, public interests or national security.

In order to encourage private education attendance, students will be able to access the same student loans, scholarships and other state aid as those who attend state schools, Li said.

Funds, including government allowances, procurement services, student loans and philanthropic scholarships, will be also be made available to the private education sector.

In addition, private schools should raise the quality of both education and management.

Local education departments must release standards in accordance with local conditions to improve private education.

Two related rules released on Wednesday also noted that social organizations and individuals are allowed to run for-profit private institutions of higher learning, senior high schools, professional high schools and kindergartens. They are not allowed, however, to run for-profit private primary schools and junior high schools, said the rules jointly published by the Ministry of Education and several other agencies.

By the end of 2016, China had 171,000 private schools, 8,253 more than that a year ago, with more than 48.25 million students, 2.54 million more than in 2015.
HANOI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam expected the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will become a reliable investment and capital channel to offer effective assistance for Asian countries in infrastructure improvement and development, said a Vietnamese official on Wednesday.

Pham Binh Minh, Vietnam's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, made the remarks at a meeting with D.J. Pandian, AIIB vice president, in capital Hanoi.

According to Minh, the visit by AIIB's high-level delegation to Vietnam right after the AIIB president met with the Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during Trong's visit to China in Beijing showed AIIB's goodwill and interest for cooperation with Vietnam.

Minh highlighted efforts by AIIB members and leadership board to speed up the foundation and operation of AIIB as one of the main international financial institutions whose goal is to bring prosperity to Asia through infrastructure investment and connectivity, reported the Vietnamese government's e-Portal.

Minh, who also heads Vietnam's national steering committee on official development assistance (ODA) and preferential loans, said at the meeting that Vietnam wishes to diversify its loans for infrastructure development, including those by AIIB.

The Vietnamese official urged AIIB to closely coordinate with the State Bank of Vietnam and relevant agencies to reach consensus in cooperation.

D.J. Pandian, who is also the bank's chief investment officer, said in less than one year of operation, AIIB has yielded optimistic results, expanded cooperation mechanisms with other international financial organizations, attracted interest and desire to participate of many countries.

AIIB was formally established in Beijing in December 2015 and started operation in January 2016.
Inmates stage a demonstration on the roof of the Alcacuz State Penitentiary in Nisa Floresta, Natal, northern Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil, on Jan. 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Magnus Nascimento/Tribuno Do Norte/AGENCIA ESTADO)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian police on Tuesday succeeded in preventing another prison riot at the Alcazuz State Penitentiary, where 26 inmates were killed in a riot during the weekend.

Police used tear gas and non-lethal weapons to block a group of inmates armed with rocks and bats from trying to break into a different wing.

"The situation was very tense," prison warden Wellington Camilo told local media.

Also on Tuesday, Brazil's federal government authorized Armed Forces to be deployed in prisons to carry out inspections and search for weapons and other forbidden materials.

The government does not allow the soldiers and criminals to have any contact, so the Armed Forces will not serve as wardens in the jails.

"The Armed Forces will not deal with the inmates," said Defense Minister Raul Jungmann. "That will be a role for the police forces and prison wardens."

Bodies of killed inmates are carried away from the Alcacuz State Penitentiary in Nisa Floresta, Brazil, on Jan. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Josemar Goncalves/AGENCIA ESTADO)

The announcement was made after a meeting between President Michel Temer and representatives of the cabinet and intelligence organs. The government has been trying to reach an agreement on how to tackle the prison crisis in the country.

"In an innovative and pioneering initiative, the president offered state governments the support of armed forces," Alexandre Parola, presidential spokesman, said.

The decision followed a string of violent clashes at prisons, mainly in Brazil's poorer northern region.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been several riots in prisons all over Brazil, and the death toll from those riots is far above 100. States have been requesting the National Security Force to help them regain the control of prisons.
URUMQI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Senior official Yu Zhengsheng has urged Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) to deepen reform and play its role in ensuring social stability and lasting peace in the region.

Yu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from Monday to Wednesday.

Yu, who is also chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, visited farms, companies, communities and enterprises and spoke with officials and people from all walks of life about reform, development and stability of the XPCC, which is an economic, semi-military institution stationed in Xinjiang.

To establish and improve the role of the XPCC is a CPC Central Committee strategic arrangement, in addition to strengthened frontier governance, he said, calling on the authorities to fully comprehend the importance of deepening reform under the current circumstances.

He called for efforts to enhance the Party's core leadership, improve the administration of the XPCC, reform its fiscal management system and that of state-owned enterprises, and improve its ability to maintain stability and defend frontiers.

A sound environment should be created to promote reform and protect the interests of all staff, as well as to enable the XPCC to better undertake its role, Yu said.

He stressed the importance of improving the economy and people's quality of life, and facilitating communication among various ethnic groups.

Yu also pledged to continue to crackdown on the three forces of separatism, terrorism and extremism to maintain social stability.
Syrians wait to fill plastic containers with water provided by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in the capital Damascus on January 10, 2017. (AFP/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Intense battles raged on Wednesday between the Syrian government forces backed by Hezbollah group and an array of rebel groups in the rebel-held water-rich Barada Valley northwest of the capital Damascus, coupled with tens of airstrikes on that area, a monitor group reported.

The battles were concentrated around the Ain Fijeh spring in Barada, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said the Syrian air force targeted the rebel positions in that area with tens of airstrikes, in the latest bid to retake Ain Fijeh, the main spring feeding Damascus with drinking water, which has been scarce in Damascus since the spring were rendered out of service on Dec. 22.

Both conflicting parties exchanged accusations over the water crisis in Damascus, as the government accused the rebels' al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front of cutting the water deliberately to use it as a weapon to push the government to succumb to their demands, while the rebels blamed the government forces' shelling for the damage that had befallen the spring.

The capital's over five million inhabitants have been struggling to secure their needs of water, with the government using its reserve wells to partially feed Damascus with water.

Meanwhile, a military source told Xinhua that the Nusra militants started setting homes on fire in Ain Fijeh area, as a sort of revenge for the military's resolve to take that area.

This comes a week after a truce was reached in that area for the government to enter and fix the spring, in exchange of allowing ultra-radical groups to evacuate the area to the northwestern province of Idlib.

However, the truce was quick to fall on Saturday, as the rebels with Nusra Front fired sniper shots at maintenance workers, who entered the area to fix the spring.

They also shot dead retired Brigadier Ahmad Ghadban, who was tasked by President Bashar al-Assad to supervise the truce and the reconciliation file in Barada.

The truce deal walked on thorny road till it was reached last Wednesday, as the Nusra Front was among the rebels who attempted to repeatedly thwart any understanding with the government.

Part of the deal also included the reconciliation with the rebels who accept the truce with the government, as such rebels will have their records cleared and will be tasked by the government to protect the Barada Valley.

As for those who refuse the truce, the plan was for their departure to Idlib.

The deal also provides for the entry of government workers to fix Ain Fijeh, which sustained damages during the weeks-long battles, during which both warring sides traded barbs over the damage and the water outage.

Maintenance workers withdrew on Saturday after the Nusra militants fired sniper shots at them, after managing to fix part of the spring before their departure.

It's worth mentioning that Barada Valley consists of 10 villages, some of them refused the truce, prompting the army to continue the offensive in the parts that didn't accept the truce, while negotiating with others who were desirous to end the conflict in that region.

Last week, the UN has warned that the water crisis afflicting the Syrian capital may constitute a war crime, without identifying the party responsible for the water crisis.

"In Damascus itself, 5.5 million people have had their water supplies cut or minimized," the UN's humanitarian adviser to Syria, Jan Egeland, said.
LONDON, Jan 18 (Xinhua) -- Judges in the British Supreme Court will deliver their ruling on Jan. 24 over who should decide on Britain's Brexit measures.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said her government should determine when Britain triggers its process for exiting the European Union, and also decide on a final deal.

But her strategy faced a challenge in the courts from a group of individuals demanding that parliament should be in the driving seat.

May has already indicated she plans to trigger the Article 50 mechanism for leaving the EU by the end of March.

In her keynote speech Tuesday, May announced that both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will be given a vote on a final Brexit vote.

The ruling by the judges of the Supreme Court, the highest court of law in Britain, is expected to determine whether May's government can start the Brexit process without the parliament's approval.

The judges spent several days before Christmas hearing legal arguments in what was described as the most important case in British legal history.
TEHRAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday that Iran is open to economic relations with the United States despite the existing differences between the two countries, Tasnim news agency reported.

"We are interested in expanding our relations with the EU... and we are open to economic relations even with the U.S.," Zarif said addressing the World Economic Forum underway in the Swiss city of Davos.

"While we have our political differences with the U.S., we are not closed to economic relations (with it)." He also mentioned the recent deal with the Boeing, saying that it indicates Iran's will for engagement with the U.S. companies.

Iran sealed the deal with the Boeing in December to buy 80 planes within 10 years. The first deliveries are expected in 2018.

The Iranian nuclear deal in July 2015 ended the disputes over the country's nuclear program. It put significant restrictions on the nuclear activities of the Islamic republic in return for the removal of nuclear-related international and the U.S.-led sanctions against it.

The deal was implemented in January 2016.
DAMASCUS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army stormed the outskirts of the Ain Fijeh town, where the main water spring feeding the capital Damascus is located, under cover of heavy rocket fire on Wednesday, in the latest bid to restore that area to resume the water pumping into Damascus, the Syrian military media said.
DAMASCUS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army stormed the outskirts of the Ain Fijeh town, where the main water spring feeding the capital Damascus is located, under cover of heavy rocket fire on Wednesday, in the latest bid to restore that area to resume the water pumping into Damascus, the Syrian military media said.

The army backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters stormed the outskirts of Ain Fijeh town in the Barada Valley, northwest of Damascus, amid rocket and artillery shelling targeting the rebel positions in that area, where the Ain Fijeh spring is located.

The aim of the wide-scale offensive is to recapture the spring, and secure the resumption of the water pumping to Damascus, which has been struggling with the scarcity of water since Dec. 22, when the spring went out of service due to the intensity of battles.

Opposition activists said intense battles raged on Wednesday between the Syrian government forces backed by Hezbollah and an array of rebel groups in Barada Valley, coupled with tens of airstrikes on that area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian air force targeted the rebel positions in that area with tens of airstrikes.

Both conflicting parties exchanged accusations over the water crisis in Damascus, as the government accused the rebels' al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front of cutting the water deliberately to use it as a weapon to push the government to succumb to their demands, while the rebels blamed the government forces' shelling for the damage that had befallen the spring.

The capital's over five million inhabitants have been struggling to secure their needs of water, with the government using its reserve wells to partially feed Damascus with water.

Meanwhile, a military source told Xinhua that the Nusra militants started setting homes on fire in Ain Fijeh area, as a sort of revenge for the military's resolve to take that area.

This comes a week after a truce was reached in that area for the government to enter and fix the spring, in exchange of allowing ultra-radical groups to evacuate the area to the northwestern province of Idlib.

However, the truce was quick to fall on Saturday, as the rebels with Nusra Front fired sniper shots at maintenance workers, who entered the area to fix the spring.

They also shot dead retired Brigadier Ahmad Ghadban, who was tasked by President Bashar al-Assad to supervise the truce and the reconciliation file in Barada.

The truce deal walked on thorny road till it was reached last Wednesday, as the Nusra Front was among the rebels who attempted to repeatedly thwart any understanding with the government.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) countries experienced a surge in agri-food exports last year due to the strong market performance of its two largest trade partners -- the United States and China -- official data showed Wednesday.

In November 2016, the bloc managed to export agri-food valued at 11.7 billion euros (12.5 billion U.S. dollars), 813 million euros higher than one year ago, and hitting a new record, said the European Commission, the EU executive body which monitors trade development.

The surge was mainly attributed to Washington and Beijing as exports to the United States and China recorded increases of 146 million euros and 117 million euros respectively.

Despite a decrease in imports, the EU recorded a trade surplus worth up to 19 billion in agri-food between December 2015 and November 2016, and the United States and China again contributed the most, the EU said.

The value of exports to the United States during the 12 months reached 1.5 billion euros, increasing by 8.0 percent, while that to China hit 1.1 billion euros, up by 11 percent. Meanwhile, pork, spirits and liqueurs, and wine emerged as the bloc's most popular exports to those markets last year.

Looking ahead, the EU said it expected a further export increase as its trade deal with Andean countries welcomed new member Ecuador in January. (1 euro = 1.07 U.S. dollars)
DAMASCUS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) group said it made new progress on Wednesday in the battles against the Syrian army in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, capturing strategic locations.

IS' Amaq news agency said the IS militants captured the electricity company building and its vicinity in the mountain area, northwest of the Deir al-Zour airbase, where the IS fighters took key areas around it.

It added that one of its militants blew himself up in a position of the Syrian army in the vicinity of the company, killing 15 and injuring others.

Other activists said the IS also controlled the tanks battalion in that area.

State news agency SANA said Wednesday that the Syrian army backed with air cover heavily struck positions of IS in areas the terror group has recently infiltrated in Deir al-Zour.

It said the Russian and Syrian warplanes carried out several aristrikes on the IS position in the factories area and Tamin hilltop, as well as the graveyards area and other areas in Deir al-Zour.

The airstrikes, according to SANA, led to the destruction of the IS vehicles and killed many of them.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Wednesday that smoke is still bellowing over Deir al-Zour, as the IS terrorists have burned tires and crude oil to blind the Syrian and Russian warplanes, which have been heavily striking the IS positions in Deir al-Zour, since the group unleashed its major offensive against the government positions in that area earlier this week.

The Observatory said the IS militants made important gains on Monday, capturing areas around the Deir al-Zour airbase, which enabled the group to cut the road between the base and the city, just a day after the militants captured the mountain overlooking the city.

This progress is dangerous as the airbase is the only lifeline left for the city, which has been besieged by IS since early 2015.

Cutting the road is not only cutting a lifeline but also divides the government-controlled parts of the city into two parts, eastern and western, which tightens the noose on over 500,000 civilians in the city.

The IS next step is apparently attempting to capture the airbase, and in near future to storm the government-controlled parts of the city, if there was no surgical military operation to put an end to the marching IS terrorists.
NAIROBI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Lecturers from Kenya's public universities on Wednesday declared a nationwide strike from Thursday after the government failed to implement a salary rise deal signed in 2013.

The Universities' Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya University Staff Association (KUSA) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotel, Educational and Allied (KUDHEA), representing teaching and non-teaching staff in 33 public universities threatened to paralyze the country's education sector in the country.

UASU Secretary General Constantine Wasonga called on the three unions to remain united in their resolve to achieve better standards of living for their members.

"Without the 2013-2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), there will be no learning; no research activities; no innovation across all the public universities," Wasonga told journalists in Nairobi.

The pay dispute between government and university workers has been going on for years, with lecturers and non-academic staff calling for strikes.

Among other demands, UASU wants the salary of an assistant lecturer to be 3,600 U.S. dollars per month while a lecturer should earn 10,000 dollars.

The union is also demanding that house allowance be adjusted so lecturers and tutorial fellows get 1,350 dollars a month as professors pocket 2,500 dollars.

Union officials claimed that the last time teaching staff in public universities were awarded a salary increase was in 2010.

They regretted that salaries for university teaching staff have remained stagnant for a long period during which the cost of living rose tremendously.

The unions accused the government of failing to take into account UASU's proposals to the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Inter Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) submitted in December 2012, despite awarding CBA's to workers in other sectors including the contentious agreement between doctors and the government, signed in 2013.

The move comes after the Employment and Labour Relations Court on Wednesday extended orders stopping the university academic staff strike.

Lady Justice Hellen Wasilwa gave directions in a case in which the Inter Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum of Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) have sued the Universities Academic Staff Union.

The judge directed that the strike should not take off so as to pave way for negotiations to continue this week.

FKE lawyer Grace Kanyiri said that they have offered a counter proposal to UASU but the union is insisting on basing the negotiations on the CBA of 2012.

The lawyer for UASU however said they are willing to suspend the planned industrial strike that was slated for Thursday and embark on talks on condition that the talks are based on the two documents, the 2012 CBA and the 2017 counter proposal from the government.

The negotiations are scheduled for Jan. 23 with Justice Wasilwa directing the parties to report to court after a fortnight on Feb. 1 to give an update on the talks.

The pay dispute in the recent past saw lecturers down tools accusing the government of failing to implement in total a 2008/2009 CBA signed between unions and Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum.

The lecturers were then pushing for 40-percent pay hike. The salary talks are long overdue -- the Salaries and Remunerations Commission directed all government departments in 2012 to initiate talks that would culminate in CBAs for 2013-17.

The looming strike will affect 33 public universities where majority of youth from low-income families enroll for higher education.

University lecturers have since mid last year threatened to go on strike due to poor remuneration despite their heavy workload.
LUSAKA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's Immigration Department said Wednesday that it had arrested at least 45 illegal immigrants in Lusaka, the country's capital.

Namati Nshinka, the department's spokesperson said the illegal immigrants were arrested after an operation conducted in four townships of the city last Friday and Saturday.

Of the 45 illegal immigrants nabbed, 20 are Zimbabweans, 13 Somalians, four Rwandans, six Tanzanians and two Burundians, he added.

The immigration department also arrested two Zambians who were obstructing immigration officers in the execution of their duties, he said in a statement.
STRASBOURG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday that he welcomed British Prime Minister Theresa May's speech on Brexit.

The comment came when Juncker addressed the European Parliament during its plenary session here.

May confirmed on Tuesday that Britain would leave the European Union (EU) single market, which guarantees the four rights of freedom of movement of goods, capital, services and people, while insisting it wanted to remain "the best friend and neighbor" to European partners.

However, Juncker stipulated that "a speech alone could not trigger negotiations. Once the UK has triggered Article 50, the negotiations will start, and they should be concluded within two years."

Until May's speech, much secrecy had surrounded the negotiation strategies Downing Street hoped to employ ever since the country voted last June to leave the EU. In Tuesday's address at Westminster, the head of the British government confirmed that Britain would not seek a "half-in, half-out" solution.

May's government indicated it would trigger Article 50, the formal procedure by which an EU member state notifies the European Council that it intends to leave the bloc, by the end of March.

Meanwhile, Juncker stressed, "the negotiations are going to be of great significance to that country, but also to the 27 member states."

"I will do everything to make sure that the negotiations will be according to the rules and will yield good results," he promised.

The president of the European Commission decided to double-down on the European vision, using his speech on Wednesday to emphasize solidarity and renewal in Europe.

"We need to show those people that think this is the time to deconstruct Europe, to let it fall apart, we have to show them that they're wrong," insisted Juncker. "On their own, no country will be able to organize the economy, fight unemployment, welcome in migrants and fight terrorism."

Greeting the Maltese presidency of the Council of the EU, Juncker offered partnership.

"The Maltese presidency can count on the support of the European Commission," he declared, "so that we can stand together and...have a clear vision for the future, so that we can refound Europe, if you will."

The commission president also addressed other matters, such as managing the ongoing migrant crisis via speedy reform of the Dublin rules, and the creation of a "credible and long-term solution" to asylum policy.

"This is a matter of the honor of Europe," he asserted. "Europe must protect its borders while at the same time having an asylum policy that is marked by solidarity."
LUSAKA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zambia joined the rest of Africa in commemorating the Pan African Postal Day on Wednesday with a challenge to players in the sector to embrace technology and innovation to improve efficiency and service delivery.

While acknowledging the potential of the sector to contribute immensely to the country's development, Margaret Mudenda, the director-general of the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), the country's communication technology regulator, said investing in technology will enhance service delivery of postal services.

"As we commemorate the 37th anniversary, allow me to appeal to all the players in the sector to utilize technology and venture into innovative ways of doing their business. It should not be business as usual," she said.

She further added that the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) were a backbone of a vibrant postal sector anchored on e-commerce, which could contribute to rapid social and economic development.

The theme for this year's commemoration is "The Post: An Essential Infrastructure for the Development of E-commerce in Africa".

Younouss Djibrine, the secretary-general of the Pan African Union (PAPU), said the theme was in line with the top priorities for development of posts identified by all regions of the world during their respective strategic conferences.

PAPU is a specialized agency of the African Union (AU) responsible for development of postal services in Africa.

He added that through the theme, the postal fraternity was conveying a strong message that it was committed to further developing and putting its extensive global network at the disposal of governments, customers, businesses and other stakeholders to spur growth.

The theme resonated very well with the new vision for the postal sector known as "Vision 2020" which was helped on three pillars of Innovation, Integration and Inclusion, he added.
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least five people, including four teenagers and a teacher, were critically injured early Wednesday, after a student opened fire in a classroom at a private school in the northern city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon state.

"The young man takes out a gun, shoots the teacher, immediately points at another classmate, then at a third, instants later at a fourth, pauses as if he is going to reload or something like that, gives instructions to other classmates and then shoots himself," Nuevo Leon spokesman for security matters Aldo Fasci told a radio station Grupo Formula.

Most of the injured were shot in the head, including the 24-year-old teacher, a girl and two boys, and the shooter, who are all 15 years old. All were taken to area hospitals.

Local media have only identified the shooter by his first name, Fernando, and have described him as a young man suffering from mental problems.

The incident, which took place at the American School of the Northwest, has sparked discussion about the need to resume a policy of checking students' backpacks, a measure that was cancelled after parents complained.
A footage screengrab of a Russian Su-34 jet bombing terrorists in Syria, provided by the Russian Defense Ministry on August 18, 2016.

MOSCOW, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Turkey have started their first joint air operation against militants of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria's northern province of Aleppo, a senior Russian military officer said here on Wednesday.

"The air operation, agreed with the Syrian side, involves nine Russian combat planes and eight Turkish jets," Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff, told a news briefing.

A total of 36 facilities have been targeted, and drones and satellites conducted an additional reconnaissance of the targets over the past two days, said Rudskoy, adding that the joint operation was "highly successful."

The "previously unparalleled joint action" became possible after Russian and Turkish Air Forces signed a memorandum on Jan. 12 on preventing incidents and ensuring aviation safety during operations in Syria.

With support of Russian jets, the Syrian government forces are now attacking IS terrorists around Syria's ancient city of Palmyra, the Lt. General said.

Russia and Turkey brokered a nationwide truce in war-torn Syria from Dec. 30, but it does not apply to IS and other terrorist groups.

Ceasefire violations were recorded every day, but the number was on the decline.

Mediators and Syrian conflicting factions are expected to meet in Astana, Kazakhstan, later this month to seek a settlement of the chronic crisis, which has claimed more than 300,000 lives and displaced nearly 11 million others.

Conditions should be created to ensure a real dialogue between all responsible sides for the interests of the Syrian people during the upcoming Astana talk, said Rudskoy.
Edward Snowden is seen on the screen during a live remote interview at CeBIT 2015, the world's top trade fair for information and communication technology, in Hanover, Germany, on March 18, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

MOSCOW, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia has extended its asylum for U.S. whistleblower Edward Snowden for "a couple of years," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

The decision was made in defiance of a recent statement by former CIA deputy director Michael Morell saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin had a great opportunity to extradite Snowden as a "perfect inauguration gift" to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

"The essence of what the former CIA man is offering is the ideology of betrayal," Zakharova said on Facebook.

"What you have leaked, Mr. Morell, makes now clear to everybody that for your office it is normal to present gifts in the form of people and extradite those seeking protection," she added.

Snowden's residence permit has been extended until 2020 and soon he will have all legal grounds to apply for Russian citizenship, the whistleblower's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agency Wednesday.

According to Russian law, one has to live in the country for no less than five years to apply for citizenship.

Snowden, a computer professional who had done contractual work for the U.S. National Security Agency, fled to Russia in 2013 after revealing thousands of classified documents to the press. He was wanted by Washington on charges of espionage.

Russian authorities initially granted him asylum for one year before a three-year extension.

On Tuesday, outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama commuted the sentence of another whistleblower, Chelsea Manning, from 35 years to seven. The former U.S. Army intelligence officer was sentenced for giving classified government information to Wikileaks.

The commutation of Manning's sentence raised concerns about the possible alleviation of charges against Snowden.

However, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said last week that there was a "stark difference" between Manning's crime and Snowden's actions, with Snowden's being "far more serious and far more dangerous."
ALGIERS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Wednesday urged Malian warrant parties to stick on peace process as it condemned the suicide bombing attack that targeted the northern city of Gao.

"Algeria strongly condemns the murderous terrorist attack that took place today in Gao, in the north of Mali," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdelaziz Benali Cherif was quoted as saying by the official APS news agency.

"Algeria will spare no effort for the scrupulous and rigorous implementation of this deal, in coordination with Malian actors and the international community," the diplomat added, referring to Algeria's chairmanship of the Follow-up Committee of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.

A suicide bombing attack, targeted a military camp, hit the northern city of Gao on Wednesday, killing at least 50 and injuring some 60 others, according to local media.
A footage screengrab of a Russian Su-34 jet bombing terrorists in Syria, provided by the Russian Defense Ministry on August 18, 2016.

MOSCOW, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Turkey have started their first joint air operation against militants of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria's northern province of Aleppo, a senior Russian military officer said here on Wednesday.

"The air operation, agreed with the Syrian side, involves nine Russian combat planes and eight Turkish jets," Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff, told a news briefing.

A total of 36 facilities have been targeted, and drones and satellites conducted an additional reconnaissance of the targets over the past two days, said Rudskoy, adding that the joint operation was "highly successful."

The "previously unparalleled joint action" became possible after Russian and Turkish Air Forces signed a memorandum on Jan. 12 on preventing incidents and ensuring aviation safety during operations in Syria.

With support of Russian jets, the Syrian government forces are now attacking IS terrorists around Syria's ancient city of Palmyra, the Lt. General said.

Russia and Turkey brokered a nationwide truce in war-torn Syria from Dec. 30, but it does not apply to IS and other terrorist groups.

Ceasefire violations were recorded every day, but the number was on the decline.

Mediators and Syrian conflicting factions are expected to meet in Astana, Kazakhstan, later this month to seek a settlement of the chronic crisis, which has claimed more than 300,000 lives and displaced nearly 11 million others.
PARIS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A BVA-Salesforce poll released on Wednesday predicted former French prime minister Manuel Valls to fail to snatch his place in the presidential race after being beaten on Jan. 29 by either of his challengers, both ex-ministers in his government three years ago.

Valls, 54, is seen collecting 48 percent of vote whether against Arnaund Montebourg, ex-economy minister or Benoit Hamon, former education minister, both expected to garner 52 percent of the vote in the primary's second round.

In the first round scheduled next Sunday, 34 percent of 10,000 respondents said supporting Valls. But, he lost 10 points compared to a November survey, according to the pollster.

Valls, an advocate of pro-business ideas, has been the polls' favourite to win left ticket and challenge the conservative candidate Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen, head of far-right National Front (FN) in 2017 presidential election.

However, he was losing momentum after two televised debates that offer a boost to Montebourg days ahead the two-round competition.

In a further upset for the Spanish born ex-premier, a youth on Tuesday caught him a light slap in the face before being seized by security guards during a campaign tour northern France.

"I'm the one targeted in this campaign, of course, because I was responsible, because I had to make tough decisions when I was interior minister and prime minister," Valls told France inter radio.

"I'm targeted because I am the one who can win. So, I will not be impressed and I will continue my campaign to win, to make the Left win," he added.

In a last chance to defend their credentials, the seven contenders vying for the Left nomination will meet for a final debate on Thursday.

Handicapped by a record low popularity of Socialist president Francois Hollande, the winner of primary elections has a little chance of making it to the run-off round of the presidential election, according to pollsters.
BUJUMBURA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Commissioner for Peace and Security for the African Union, Smail Chergui, Wednesday afternoon started a two-day visit in Burundi amidst the east African country's threat to withdraw its peacekeepers from Somalia.

Upon landing at Bujumbura International Airport, the senior AU official was welcomed by three Burundian ministers including Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe, Defense Minister Emmanuel Ntahomvukiye and Security Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni.

Chergui then visited Mpanda cemetery, 12km west of the Burundian capital Bujumbura where he paid tribute to peacekeepers who were killed while serving in the African Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Those who died on the battle field in Somalia include Major General Juvenal Niyoyunguruza, former deputy-commander of the AMISOM, killed on Sept. 17, 2009 in a suicide attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

"Somali officials and citizens commend the work of Burundian troops serving in the AMISOM. A senior Somali official wrote on Twitter, saying that Somali people will never forget achievements of Burundian peacekeepers," Nyamitwe said.

During his visit, Chergui is expected to meet with Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza and human rights observers and AU military experts.

Chergui's visit happens at a time when Burundian First Vice-President Gaston Sindimwo earlier this week announced the pullout of Burundian troops serving in the AMISOM over failure by the AU to pay Burundian troops.

Sindimwo said, "If the African Union has failed to pay Burundian troops serving in the AMISOM, we will withdraw them from Somalia, and we will also withdraw their equipment."

Sindimwo was referring to a letter from the office of President Nkurunziza that recommended the Ministry of External Relations and International Cooperation to get in touch with the AU Commission and inform it about the violation of the memorandum of understanding linking the AU to Burundi.

The east African country's foreign ministry was recommended to inform the AU of an "imminent pullout an immediate return" of Burundian troops and equipment from Somalia.

The Burundian contingent of the AMISOM has not been paid for about 12 months.

In his message to the nation at the New Year's Day, Nkurunziza said that the Burundian government was going to sue the AU over unpaid salaries for Burundian troops serving in the AMISOM.

Since 2007, Burundi has sent six battalions, comprising of about 5,500 troops into Somalia to restore security in that country where al-Shabaab terrorists are active.

Following the outbreak of Burundi's crisis in April 2015 with Nkurunziza bidding and winning a controversial third term, some army and police officers were sent to lead peacekeeping missions in Somalia and the Central African Republic, but were refused for their alleged involvement in violent repression during demonstrations against Nkurunziza's third term bid.
NAIROBI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday appointed new commissioners to head the electoral body expected to run the presidential and parliamentary polls in August.

Kenyatta appointed Wanyonyi Wafula Chebukati as chairman and Consolata Nkatha Bucha Maina, Boya Molu, Roselyn K. Akombe, Ambassador Paul Kurgat, Margaret Wanjala Mwachanya and Professor Abdi Guliye as members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after they were vetted and approved by Parliament.

"The President's appointments bring to a close the process of the reconstitution of the IEBC," Kenyatta said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

He said the reconstitution was a bi-partisan process that breathes new life into the electoral body while at the same time restoring confidence in its capacity and competence to deliver on its Constitutional and Statutory mandates.

The new team will replace the outgoing IEBC officials whose removal from office in mid last year sparked a series of street protests by the opposition which demanded that they quit office because of corruption and other malpractices, leading to a bi-partisan process by the leaders from across the political divide.

The opposition staged weekly demonstrations for six weeks in a row in major towns and cities, with the biggest turnout in western Kenya, Nairobi and the coastal town of Mombasa.

The police then responded to the demonstrations by using teargas and high-powered water cannon and in most cases, violently dispersing the demonstrators resulting in the death of at least six people.

However, the outgoing IEBC commissioners remained defiant, vowing never to bow to pressure by the opposition to resign and called on the opposition leaders to observe the rule of law in addressing the issue.

The opposition coalition CORD, which lost the 2013 election, accused the outgoing electoral commissioners of corruption, bias and lack of independence and insisted that the same officials should not be allowed to preside over the 2017 general election.

However, the ruling Jubilee party defended the officials thus leading to protests. The government then maintained that the reforms or changes should be pursued within the confines of the constitution.

The new team will be tasked with restoring confidence in the electoral body in handling the August polls which is shaping out as a hotly contested race in which Kenyatta who is seeking re-election faces the opposition which is working toward fronting a single candidate through an outfit known as the National Super Alliance (NASA).
BAKU, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A scientific seminar commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the birth of the Chinese Neo-Confucian philosopher and cosmologist Zhou Dunyi was held here on Wednesday.

The Confucius Institute of the Azerbaijan's University of Languages hosted the seminar under the theme of "Neo-Confucianism as the traditional Chinese system of philosophy."

The seminar has brought together Azerbaijani scholars and experts in China who exchanged views on Neo-Confucianism as a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy.

Director of the Confucius Institute, Professor Rafig Abbasov told about the origin and development of Neo-Confucianism in China, emphasized the importance of the teaching of this philosophy that regards the world as an organic whole. Other speakers touched upon the fundamental ideas and practical significance of this philosophical movement, the role it plays in Chinese philosophy, the ethical and religious aspects of Neo-Confucianism.

The seminar also highlighted the life and thoughts of the Chinese thinker Zhou Dunyi, who is considered the most important precursor of Neo-Confucianism and the founder of the Cheng-Zhu school of this philosophy.
DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The government of Tanzania said on Wednesday that it was planning to carry out a countrywide census for hippopotamus.

The move followed reports indicating that poachers are now targeting the animals for their teeth which have a profitable market in Asia.

Alexander Songorwa, the Director of Wildlife in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, said the last countrywide census specifically for hippos was conducted in 2001 and the result showed there were 20,079 of them.

"The government plans to conduct a new census to know the number of the huge animals," said Songorwa, adding that the ministry was currently soliciting funds for conducting the hippo survey.

He said Tanzania has a licensing system, which allows sport hunting and sale of hippopotamus teeth collected from animals that die from natural cause.

However, issuance of permits for export of hippo teeth was suspended since 2004, meaning that no hippo teeth were exported legally except those obtained through sport hunting, said Songorwa.

He said Tanzania believed that with the existing regulatory mechanism and intensified anti-poaching efforts the country's hippopotamus population was not threatened by the existing level of legal harvest.

Records from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) show that between 2004 and 2014 Hong Kong reported importing almost 60 tonnes of teeth from wild hippos in Africa for commercial purpose.

Trade figures show that the source countries for hippos teeth were now predominantly Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

A report by the National Geographic released in December 2016 titled: "Fighting the Underground Trade in Hippo Teeth" said poaching cartels operating in Tanzania and elsewhere in Africa have recently turned to hippos for their teeth which are curved into ornaments which fetch millions of dollars in Asia.
PRETORIA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- People traveling through the South African ports of entry nationally increased by 3.78 percent between December 9, 2016 and January 14, 2017 as compared to the previous year.

At a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said, the top 10 nationalities that arrived in the country over the festive period were from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, the United Kingdom, the United States, Namibia, Germany and Zambia.

He said, "I am happy to announce that, movements recorded at ports of entry nationally amount to a total of 5,504,022. In spite of perceptions in some quarters, South Africa remains an attractive tourist destination."

Gigaba said there was a marked increase in the movement of people and goods across borders for different reasons. Some were for cross-border employment, business, academic and educational endeavors.

He said, "We also observed a high number of travelers crossing borders for holiday and tourist purposes, which is one of important priorities for the country."

He also noted that the border operational hours were extended to facilitate the movement of people and goods. Additional staffs were also added at the points of entry.

The minister said security alert was raised during the festive periods to prevent illegal immigrants and those considered undesirable in the country.

Gigaba also revealed that on December 16, 2016 an ISIS member was denied entry into the country and sent back.

Gigaba said they want to put more resources in the next financial year and increase the employees to maintain efficiency and ensure the safety of the citizens and tourists.
STRASBOURG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- There will be no place for pick and choose tactics in future Brexit negotiations, European Council President Donald Tusk warned on Wednesday.

Tuesday's speech by Prime Minister Theresa May proves that the unified position of 27-member states on the indivisibility of the single market was finally understood and accepted by London, Tusk said.

In the decisive speech that sets a course for a clean break with the European Union, May promised to quit the EU single market and seek a free trade agreement with the EU.

She also pledged to restrict access to Britain by EU citizens and end the jurisdiction in Britain of the European Court of Justice. The 12-point blueprint was dubbed a "hard Brexit".

Tusk had travelled to Strasbourg, where the European Parliament was located, to present the Council's views on the results reached by talks held between European leaders at the end of 2016.

Members of the European Parliament, meeting for a plenary session in Strasbourg, shared perspectives on Brexit negotiations in the day.

They showed a rare agreement with the European Council and the European Commission in a debate with representatives of the institutions on the outcomes of the last European Union Summit in December.

Migration and defense cooperation were also important topics, but Brexit negotiations topped the list of concerns among EU lawmakers.

"We're very grateful for the new elements that have been clarified in the speech yesterday, but I don't think this provides us real clarity just yet," said Manfred Weber (Germany) for the European People's Party Group (EPP).

"We are not going to accept that the Euro will be managed largely in the city of London, if London no longer belongs to the European Union," Weber affirmed.

Guy Verhofstadt, the lead Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament, agreed with both Tusk and his colleague Manfred Weber.

"No cherry-picking at all, we shall never accept it," the former Prime Minster of Belgium said.

European Commission Vice-President Katainen shared the view that unity would be of importance to all parties in Brexit negotiations.

"Even Prime Minister May says she doesn't want other countries to follow the UK, because she says a strong EU is important for the UK," the Finnish Commissioner asserted.

May has indicated that Britain will trigger Article 50, the formal procedure by which an EU member state notifies the European Council that it intends to leave the block, by the end of March.

Once triggered, Article 50 requires "divorce" negotiations to be completed within two years.

Realted:

EU's Juncker welcomes British PM's Brexit speech, doubles down on European vision

STRASBOURG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday that he welcomed British Prime Minister Theresa May's speech on Brexit.

The comment came when Juncker addressed the European Parliament during its plenary session here. Full story

British lawmakers grill May over Brexit; Sturgeon warns of Scotland independence re-run

LONDON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Politicians in Britain's House of Commons had their first chance Wednesday in grilling Prime Minister Theresa May following her keynote speech outlining her plans for leaving the European Union.
KIGALI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's Ministry of Health Wednesday issued an alert on avian flu outbreak days after it was reported in neighbouring Uganda.

Wednesday's alert came a day after the Ministry of Agriculture announced a temporary ban on import of chicken and other poultry products from affected countries, including Uganda and several European countries.

The disease is suspected around Uganda's Lake Victoria, where some migratory birds were found dead in the areas of Entebbe, Masaka and Karangala.

In a statement, Rwanda's health ministry said the disease is suspected to have killed the birds.

The ministry said it was closely monitoring the situation in conjunction with other institutions and partners with preventive measures in place to protect Rwandans.

"Avoid touching poultry, cooking and eating dead poultry or those showing symptoms of swollen heads, necks and oesophagus, experiencing difficulty in breathing, coughing and diarrhea," the ministry cautioned.

It advised members of the public to report to nearby health center in case of suspicion after coming in contact with poultry.

A person who has contracted avian flu shows several symptoms such as fever over 38 degrees, pain in the oesophagus, headache, flu, cough, chest pains according to medics.

The viral disease had earlier been reported confirmed in Hungary, Germany, France and Denmark.
LISBON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The former chief executive of Banco Espirito Santo, the lender of the Portuguese empire which collapsed in 2014, has been held defendant and is being interrogated by Portugal's Public Ministry, the Attorney General's office said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the Attorney General's office, Ricardo Espirito Santo Salgado is suspected of committing crimes relating to corruption, breach of public trust, influence peddling, money laundering and tax fraud.

Salgado was held defendant on Wednesday morning and is being interrogated by the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action as part of Operation Marques, which led former Prime Minister Jose Socrates to be arrested in November 2014.

Socrates spent over 9 months in preventive prison, also having been accused of fiscal fraud, money laundering and passive corruption.

The family patriarch, Salgado, had been arrested on suspicion of fraud, money-laundering and document falsification back in July 2014, as part of the "Operation Monte Branco", a probe into alleged transfers to Switzerland.

He was released after paying a 4-million-U.S. dollar bail and then resigned after three decades as head of the lender, which had to be split into a "good bank" (Novo Banco) and a "bad bank" as part of a-4.9-billion-euro rescue in 2014.

According to local media reports on Wednesday, 23 million euros kept in Switzerland by former prime minister Jose Socrates' friend, Carlos Santos Silva, are at the center of the investigation.

The money, which had been transferred to his account in Portugal in 2004, 2010 and 2011, was declared by Santos Silva, however the country's public ministry suspects that the money actually belonged to Socrates.

Novo Banco is now up for sale, with the country saying that the top bid was from U.S. fund Lone Star amid five bids. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

There are 19 defendants involved in the Operation Marques. The investigation is scheduled to be completed by March 2017.
BUJUMBURA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A special envoy of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday met with Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza and requested Burundi's support for the post of African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security.

"I am a holder of a message from Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Nigeria has a candidate for the post of AU Commissioner for Peace and Security and Burundi has a candidate as well. We (Nigeria) want support from Burundi for that post," the special envoy of the Nigerian president, also the west African country's Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, told reporters after meeting Nkurunziza.

Onyeama underlined that Buhari's priority areas include peace and security, good governance and economy.

He said, "We believe that there are many conflicts in Africa, but we are ready to address them."

He indicated that on top of two candidatures from Burundi and Nigeria, there is also a candidature from Algeria that has already occupied the post for 16 years.

"We want mutual support during the election. If Nigeria has more chances to win, we are requesting Burundi to support us, and on the contrary, if Burundi has more chances to win, we will support Burundi," Onyeama said.
TIRANA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A second contingent of the Albanian Naval Force troops was deployed Wednesday to the Aegean Sea, as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission there, the Albanian defense ministry said in a statement.

The first contingent of troops was deployed about two months, marking Albanians first-ever maritime mission with NATO in the Aegean Sea.

This operation was developed as part of international efforts to stop the illegal trafficking and migration, the defense ministry said.

The second 21-soldier contingent will continue to support the NATO mission in Aegean Sea and cope with the wave of refugees and the problems that this phenomenon has brought, according to the statement.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

GENEVA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China and the World Health Organization (WHO) pledged here Wednesday to step up health cooperation under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

A memorandum of understanding in this regard was signed between the two sides at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, witnessed by visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.

"China welcomes the WHO's active participation in the construction of the Belt and Road, and of a 'healthy' Silk Road," Xi said during a meeting with Chan.

Chan echoed Xi's remarks, saying that the WHO is willing to enhance cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, amid efforts to improve the public health in countries along the Belt and Road.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Xi in 2013, refers to the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.
GENEVA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China will offer 200 million yuan (29 million U.S. dollars) of new humanitarian assistance to help Syrian refugees and displaced people, President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday.

He made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).
Wang Wentian (R), charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, receives a certificate of returning the valuable cultural properties from a Canadian official in Ottawa, Canada. The Canadian Ministry of Heritage held an official ceremony in Ottawa on Wednesday to return illegally exported valuable cultural properties to China. (Xinhua/Li Baodong)

OTTAWA, Jan.18 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Canadian Heritage held an official ceremony in Ottawa on Wednesday to return illegally exported valuable cultural properties to China.

The returned cultural properties are two fossils of over 220-million years old from Guizhou province and a pair of carved wooden roof supports from Yunnan province in south China.

These objects were illegally exported from China and were detained by the Canada Border Service Agency and Police. China claimed these objects as their cultural properties and requested their return.

At the ceremony, Wang Wentian, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Canadian government for returning those precious cultural properties to China.

It is the third return of cultural heritage objects to China by the Canadian government. Wang said it once again demonstrates Canada's ongoing commitment to prevent the illicit traffic of cultural property and its return to its country of origin, adding that it is also another strong testimony of Canada's leadership role in honoring the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

Both Canada and China are signatories to the convention.

Since 1997, Canada has returned illegally exported cultural property to 12 states on 21 occasions.
RABAT, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said on Wednesday that Morocco's return to the African Union (AU) reflects the kingdom's attachment to the continent.

This attachment will enable Morocco to strengthen its presence in the continent as well as to contribute to Africa's development, Mezouar told the press on the sidelines of the Moroccan parliament's review of the constituent act of the African Union (AU), its additional protocol and the bill on the approval of the act.

Morocco's parliament is expected to adopt the bill this week prior to the start of the AU summit on Jan. 22-31 at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The council of ministers approved the draft texts on Jan. 10 as part of its bid to rejoin the organization.

Morocco left the organization of African Unity, which later became the AU, in 1984 after the group recognized Western Sahara's independence.

The North African country made an official request in last September to join the AU.

In recent weeks, the Moroccan king has toured several African countries seeking support for the bid.
LAGOS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government Wednesday deployed troops and fighter jets to Gambia, as part of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) mandate to enforce the Dec. 1, 2016 election result in the West African country.

Spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Ayodele Famuyiwa, said in a statement reaching Xinhua that the contingent for the Gambia operation were air lifted from the 117 Air Combat Training Group Kainji, in Niger state, to be on standby in Dakar, Senegal.

The troops airlifted in an Hercules C-130 transport plane included combat support group, technicians, special forces, and medical personnel.

Other platforms also deployed to Gambia are fighter jets, helicopters gunships, and a Hercules C-130 among others.

The regional bloc and the African Union (AU) plan to force President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia out of office and install the president-elect Adama Barrow.

The 51-year-old Jammeh refused to accept the result of the Dec. 1 election, which saw him lose power to Barrow, a real estate mogul little known before his candidacy.

Barrow, who is scheduled to be sworn in as president on Thursday, fled Gambia to the Senegalese capital, Dakar, amid fears of violence on Saturday.

Senegalese President Macky Sall had accepted to host Barrow at the request of the ECOWAS after repeated attempts failed to convince Jammeh to cede power.
LUSAKA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Zambia on Wednesday announced the arrest of three foreigners who were found with 10,000 U.S. dollars counterfeit notes.

Among those arrested included a Liberian businessman and two Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) nationals who were found with 10,000 dollars in 100 dollar bills, according to the Drug Enforcement Commission.

The trio, who live in Zambia as businessmen, were arrested by the anti-drug agency's anti-money laundering unit.

They are expected to appear in court soon.
KIEV, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's agricultural production rose by 6.1 percent in 2016 to about 9.2 billion U.S. dollars, official figures showed on Wednesday.

Last year, 22 out of 24 Ukrainian regions recorded an increase in the farm products output, the country's Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

The output expansion was achieved due to the substantial increase in crop sector, including a bumper grain harvest, it said.

Last year, Ukrainian farmers reaped their biggest grain yield of 66 million tons since the country's independence in 1991.

In 2015, Ukraine's agricultural output, which generates some 14 percent of the country's gross domestic product, decreased by 4.8 percent from a year before.
By Maria Spiliopoulou, Anthi Pazianou

ATHENS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Greece and Europe have a "humanitarian imperative" to alleviate the situation on the Greek islands for the refugees and migrants as well as for island inhabitants, a senior EU official said Wednesday.

Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, made the appeal during his visit to the Greek Lesvos Island.

The EU migration policy chief praised Greek peoples' solidarity with the thousands of refugees and migrants who have landed on Greek shores over the past two years.

No country should bear such a burden alone, Avramopoulos said.

Avramopoulos urged the EU to take more immediate actions to decongest the northern Aegean Sea islands and improve the living conditions of the 15,300 people who are accommodated in overcrowded facilities in harsh weather conditions.

"So it simply cannot be that refugees are left out in the cold, to brave the worst of winter without a roof over their heads.

"Solutions must be found today, not tomorrow, not next week, but now," he said.

Avramopoulos underlined that the EU has already offered Greece one billion euros (1.06 billion U.S. dollars) in financial aid since 2015, but money alone cannot solve problems.

The Commissioner urged the Greek authorities for better coordination to step up the assessment of asylum bids and in parallel called on other EU member states to accelerate procedures for the relocation of thousands of refugees across Europe.

Under the EU-Turkey agreement launched last March to stem the influx into Europe, all newcomers in Greece stay in Greece and face deportation back to Turkey unless their asylum request is accepted.

Approximately 62,300 refugees and migrants have been stranded in Greece since the closure of Balkan borders last winter, according to the latest official estimate released on Wednesday from the Greek government.

According to the Greek Asylum Service, during 2016 about 7,000 refugees were relocated across Europe from Greece, while Athens received 4,415 requests from EU countries to take back migrants as it was the first country of entry.

Only three persons were returned to Greece, the asylum service said in an e-mailed statement.

Despite the closure of borders, refugees and migrants keep entering Greece from Turkey. A total of 691 people have arrived in the country by sea during the first 15 days of 2017, according to figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday.

"We need the further support of the EU and international community. Visits and ascertainments alone do not resolve the problem. We need actions," Christiana Kalogirou, head of the North Aegean Regional Authority, told reporters after Wednesday's visit on Lesvos.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Last year's global average temperature was the hottest on record, marking the third year in a row global heat records have been shattered, according to reports published Wednesday by two U.S. government agencies.

The agencies bolstered the scientific conclusion that our planet is getting warmer.

CLEAR TREND

Data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed that in 2016 the average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 1.69 degrees Fahrenheit (0.94 Celsius) above the 20th century average of 57.0 degrees Fahrenheit (13.9 Celsius).

"This was the highest among all years in the 1880-2016 record, surpassing the previous record set last year by 0.07 degrees Fahrenheit (0.04 Celsius)," the NOAA report said.

"Since the start of the 21st century, the annual global temperature record has been broken five times (2005, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016)," it said.

In a separate analysis of global temperature data, scientists from the U.S. space agency NASA also found 2016 to be the warmest on record, a finding also confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization and other agencies.

Last year "is remarkably the third record year in a row in this series," said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, "We don't expect record years every year, but the ongoing long-term warming trend is clear."

According to NASA, most of the warming occurred in the past 35 years, with 16 of the 17 warmest years on record occurring since 2001.

PERFECT RECIPE

The announcements by NOAA and NASA are something that can be expected, since the first eight months of the year had record high temperatures for their respective months.

"That 2016 was the hottest year on record comes as no big surprise," said Professor Dave Reay of the University of Edinburgh. "The combination of a strong El Nino event with human-induced climate warming was the perfect recipe for another record-breaker."

A strong El Nino event, which warms the upper tropical Pacific Ocean, was in effect for most of 2015 and the first third of 2016, but experts believed that it only played a small role last year.

Deke Arndt, climate monitoring chief at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, told reporter on a conference call that last year's El Nino event may "have contributed a quarter to a third" of the warming, while Schmidt estimated about "10 percent."

The long-term warming trend means that 2017 will likely be another very warm year globally, despite the presence of "a very mild La Nina," which cools the upper tropical Pacific Ocean.

"It's still going to be a top five year in our analysis. I'm pretty confident about that," said Schmidt. "But it's unlikely to be another record year."

RECORD WARMTH EVERYWHERE

During the final month, the December combined global land and ocean average surface temperature departure from average was the third highest on record for any month in the 137-year record. Only the Decembers of 2014 and 2015 were warmer.

Overall, record warmth was observed around the world in 2016, including Far East Russia, Alaska, far western Canada, a swath of the eastern United States, much of Central America and northern South America, and southern Chile.

Much of eastern and western Africa, north central Siberia, parts of south Asia, much of southeast Asia island nations and Papua New Guinea, and parts of Australia, especially along the northern and eastern coasts, also experienced record high temperatures.

No land areas were cooler than average for the year, the NOAA report said.

In the sea, the estimated average annual sea ice extent in the Arctic was about 10.15 million square kilometers in 2016, the smallest annual average ever recorded and continuing a trend of decline seen in recent years.

In Antarctica, the annual sea ice extent was the second smallest on record, behind 1986, at 11.16 million square kilometers. Both the November and December 2016 extents were record small.

Higher above Earth's surface, separate analyses, drawn from both satellite and weather balloon observations, found that 2016 was the warmest year on record for the planet's lower troposphere, which represents roughly the lowest eight kilometers of the atmosphere, and its middle troposphere, the layer between roughly three to 10 kilometers above the surface.

Satellite analyses found that 2016 was the coolest of the 38-year record for the lower stratosphere, the layer of the atmosphere between roughly 13.5 and 21 kilometers above the surface.

WARNING SIREN

The NOAA and NASA reports came just two day before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has called climate change a "hoax" and has threatened to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement that took effect last year.

Specially, a senior Trump advisor has reportedly said the new administration wants to eliminate all climate change research done by NASA as part of its efforts to crackdown the so-called "politicized science."

In an article published in the highly regarded research journal Science recently, outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama warned Trump against walking away from the Paris Agreement and predicted that without further action, the world could see a rise in average global temperatures by four degrees Celsius.

"The decisions we make in the next few years will significantly shape the trajectory of our efforts toward a zero-carbon economy," Lou Leonard, senior vice president of climate and energy of the World Wildlife Fund, said in a statement.

"America's safety, health and prosperity is contingent on remaining a part of the Paris climate agreement and an active player in overall international efforts to address climate change," said Leonard.

Professor Mark Maslin of the University College London said the idea of a pause or a hiatus in global warming "must now be abandoned" with the announcements that 2016 was the warmest year on record.

"Climate change is one of the great challenges of the twenty first century and shows no signs of slowing down," Maslin said. "The hottest year on record is such a clear warning siren that even President-elect Trump cannot ignore."
Antonio Tajani speaks at a press conference in Madrid, Spain, Nov. 29, 2011. (Xinhua/Ginnette Riquelme)

STRASBOURG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Antonio Tajani of the European People's Party Group promised "total availability" to all political groups in an acceptance speech in Strasbourg after being elected President of the European Parliament on Tuesday evening.

"Allow me to thank all of you, those who voted for me and those who voted for my friend Gianni Pittella in this last round," Tajani declared in his first speech from the head of the hemicycle, just minutes after the results were announced. "And I would like to thank all of those who voted for other candidates from other political groups."

"As I said today, I will be the President of all I will respect all members of Parliament and all groups," the new head of the European Parliament insisted after his victory.

Tajani led the first three rounds of voting, but was not able to secure the absolute majority necessary to win earlier in the day.

After the grueling contest, he emerged victorious after defeating Gianni Pittella, leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, in a final fourth voting round, by 351 votes to 282.

A founder of the Forza Italia party, Tajani is former European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, and has a reputation for strong commitment to business and deep personal ethics.

At the end of his work at the European Commission, Tajani refused the so-called "golden handshake," a three-year 468,000-euro(about 501,000 U.S. dollars) payout to former Commissioners intended to help them transition out of the public sector.

Tajani takes over the Presidency in a difficult time for European politics, with ongoing economic and migrant crises, internal and external security concerns, Brexit, and the ever-present threat of terrorism looming over the continent.

Critics on the left-wing of the hemicycle have accused President Tajani of being a supporter of failed austerity politics, with S&D Vice-President Udo Bullmann claiming in a press release last week that the Italian's election would lead to "three more years of disastrous neo-liberal economic policies."

For his part, Antonio Tajani promised to represent all interests, addressing his colleagues before the first round of voting in English, French, and his native Italian.

He also dedicated his victory to the victims of the recent earthquake that struck central Italy last October, many of whom are still in difficult conditions as a predicted cold snap descends on Europe this week: "I think we should express our solidarity to all of them, as well as we should express our solidarity to all the victims of terrorism. And those who are suffering at the moment. Those who are homeless and those that are unemployed."

President Tajani closed on a note of cooperation: "I think this is a common feeling which we all share. And I think this is the message Strasbourg should share with all our citizens."

He replaces outgoing Socialist President Martin Schulz, whom he thanked for the work he did during his mandate, and will serve a renewable 2.5-year term.

Tajani takes office immediately and, in his first duties, will oversee the election of 14 Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors on Wednesday.
Picture taken on May 23, 2014 shows that machines are displaying during the Novi Sad agriculture fair, in Novi Sad, Serbia. About 1,500 companies participated in the 2014 agriculture fair in Novi Sad, Serbia. The 81st International Agricultural Fair that opened on May 20 displays the latest machines and other products from agricultural industry, as well as livestock.(Xinhua/Nemanja Cabric)

BELGRADE, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Serbia on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in agriculture.

The MOU was signed in the Serbian capital Belgrade by visiting Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu and his Serbian counterpart Branislav Nedimovic.

China and Serbia will enhance cooperation in agricultural investment and technological development, especially in the areas of meat processing and vegetable and fruit processing, Han told reporters after the signing.

"Regarding trade of agricultural products, we welcome the imports of safe and quality products from Serbia, which not only gives Chinese customers more choices, but also benefits Serbian farmers," he said.

The MOU serves as the starting point of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, Han said, while urging the two sides to enhance cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative and the "16+1" cooperation mechanism.

The "16+1" refers to China and the 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

Nedimovic said the MOU was set to bring Chinese investment into Serbia and such cooperation was vital to the country's food processing industry.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) meets with Peter Thomson (L), president of the 71st session of United Nations General Assembly, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

GENEVA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday that the United Nations, the most universal, representative and authoritative inter-governmental organization, should play a central role in global governance.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Peter Thomson, president of the 71st UN General Assembly, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN office in Geneva.

China will stick to the path of multilateralism, safeguard UN charters and related principles, and support the world body's bigger role in maintaining world peace and promoting common development, he said.

In the current situation, the UN's role needs to be strengthened instead of being weakened, he said, adding that multilateralism should be upheld in face of all kinds of global threats and challenges.

The Chinese president also said that while economic globalization is a result of growth in productivity and the tide of history, it needs to be properly managed and guided, so as to unleash more of its dividends.

"The interests of all nations are connected, while their future is shared. The old way of chasing profits and hegemony must be banished, and should be replaced with a new pattern of using rules and institutions to better coordinate relationships and interests," he said.

He said China always advocates that all nations are equal and can follow the development path which can best accommodate their different conditions, adding that Beijing would like to, via the United Nations, share its experience in running the country.

For their part, Thomson and Guterres noted that the Chinese president had reaffirmed China's commitment to multilateralism in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos Tuesday.

Xi's statement, which has been highly regarded by the international community, is a key guarantor for the UN and the multilateral enterprise, they noted.

They also applauded China's long-term contribution to combating climate change, reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development, and supporting peacekeeping missions.

The UN is willing to join China in promoting world peace and development, and in realizing the goal of building a community of shared future for mankind, said the two senior UN officials.
VILNIUS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Around 1,200 soldiers from NATO multinational battalion will be deployed in Lithuania by mid-summer with first personnel to arrive in Lithuania next week, according to the Lithuanian army on Wednesday.

The first combat group from NATO enhanced forward presence battalion will arrive in Lithuania in February, and the first military and logistics personnel is expected next week.

The mission of the multinational battalion is defensive, the Lithuanian army claimed.

"Allied troops come to Lithuania to attend joint exercises and in the case of aggression they would join the defense of Lithuania," said Major General Vitalijus Vaiksnoras, the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

Roughly 1,200 troops will be deployed in Lithuania. The German-led battalion is to reach its full operational capacity by mid-June, according to the Lithuanian army.

The deployed battalion will rotate every half a year and is to stay at Lithuania "for unlimited time".

The deployment of NATO multinational battalion in Lithuania is the result of agreement made by NATO allies at the NATO Summit in Warsaw last year.

According to the agreement, multinational battalions are to be deployed in Baltic states and Poland.

Also on Wednesday, Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite said the implementation of NATO decisions in the Baltic region is very important, given the challenges to the Baltic States and Europe.

Grybauskaite made the remarks during a meeting with foreign ambassadors, according to a statement released by the presidency.

"We must enhance NATO's defense and deterrence measures; keep the transatlantic bond strong; consistently increase defense spending and continue modernizing military forces," she said.

Ambassadors from 57 countries attended the annual meeting which focused on internal and external political issues, global tendencies and challenges.
GENEVA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech here on Wednesday at the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Here are 10 key quotes from the 50-minute address, which elaborates on China's solution to current global challenges: building a "community of shared future for mankind" that features all-win cooperation and sharing:

1. The essence of sovereign equality is that the sovereignty and dignity of all countries, whether big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, must be respected, their internal affairs allow no interference and they have the right to independently choose their social system and development path.

2. Nuclear weapons, the Sword of Damocles that hangs over mankind, should be completely prohibited and thoroughly destroyed over time to make the world free of nuclear weapons.

3. No country in the world can enjoy absolute security. A country cannot have security while others are in turmoil, as threats facing other countries may haunt itself also. When neighbors are in trouble, instead of tightening his own fences, one should extend a helping hand to them.

4. Fighting terrorism is the shared responsibility of all countries. In fighting terror, we should not just treat the symptoms, but remove its root causes.

5. China has decided to provide an additional 200 million yuan of humanitarian assistance for refugees and the displaced of Syria.

6. As terrorism and refugee crises are closely linked to geopolitical conflicts, resolving conflicts provides the fundamental solution to such problems. Parties directly involved should return to the negotiating table, and other parties should work to facilitate talks for peace, and we should all respect the role the U.N. plays as the main channel for mediation.

7. Trade protectionism and self-isolation will benefit no one.

8. The Paris Agreement is a milestone in the history of climate governance. We must ensure this endeavor is not derailed.

9. Swiss army knife embodies Swiss craftsmanship. When I first got one, I was amazed that it has so many functions. I cannot help thinking how wonderful it would be if an exquisite Swiss army knife could be made for our world. When there is a problem, we can use one of the tools on the knife to fix it. I believe that with unremitting efforts of the international community, such a knife can be made.

10. China's development has been possible because of the world, and China has contributed to the world's development. We will continue to pursue a win-win strategy of opening-up, share our development opportunities with other countries and welcome them aboard the fast train of China's development.

Related:

Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind

Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping

President of the Peoples Republic of China

At the United Nations Office at Geneva

Geneva, 18 January 2017

Your Excellency Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly,

Your Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General,

Your Excellency Mr. Michael Mller, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

As a new year begins, everything takes on a new look, and it gives me great pleasure to visit the United Nations Office at Geneva and discuss with you the building of a community of shared future for mankind, which is the call of our time.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 18 (Xinhua) -- The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous Wednesday condemned the suicide attack targeting a military camp in Mali, saying it was clearly aimed at derailing the peace process.

"This is an ignoble attack, which should be condemned in the strongest possible terms," Ladsous told a UN Security Council meeting, adding that the bombing attack, which killed at least 50 and injured some 60 others in the northern city of Gao, is "a direct attack on the peace process" .

"There was no other objective behind this attack than to derail the peace process by undermining confidence between the parties and the population that aims to undermine the most recent progress in the security arrangements for the peace agreement," he said.

Ladsous said that the peace process is at a critical juncture though little significant progress has been made after over 18 months of interim period following the signature of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.

The peacekeeping chief stressed the urgency to make progress and called on the signatories to fully engage in the implementation of the agreement.

"I really want to share with you a sense of urgency. The peace process in Mali is at a concerning state and yet this remain the only possible way to achieve peace and reconciliation. Therefore it is necessary for everybody to commit wholly to its implementation and we don't have much time to do so," he said.

On May 15, 2015, in absence of the Mali's main rebel coalition Coordination of Azwad Movements (CMA), which include three major rebel groups in northern Mali, Mali's government signed the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation with pro-government militias as well as some of the country's minor rebel groups.

CMA signed the agreement in the African country's capital Bamako a month later, completing the signing process of the accord that is aimed at ending hostilities and launching development programs in the troubled northern Mali, as well as restoring peace and stability to the nation.
RABAT, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan House of Representatives, the lower house, unanimously approved here on Wednesday the constitutive act of the African Union (AU).

The house also adopted the additional protocol and the bill on the approval of the act to allow the Moroccan government to go on with its bid to rejoin the AU as of its 28th summit scheduled on Jan. 22-31 at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The House of Advisors, the upper house, announced Wednesday that it will hold on Thursday a plenary session to vote on the same texts to become laws before the end of the week.

The council of ministers, which is chaired by the king, approved the draft texts on Jan. 10.

Morocco left the organization of African Unity, which later became the AU, in 1984 after the group recognized Western Sahara's independence.

The North African country made an official request in last September to join the AU.

In recent weeks, the Moroccan king has toured several African countries seeking support for the bid.
Photo taken on Sept. 12, 2012 shows the meeting hall of European Parliament in Strasbourg, northeastern France.(Xinhua/Thierry Monasse)

STRASBOURG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- As Antonio Tajani takes over the role of President of the European Parliament following his election on Tuesday, filling the office vacated by Martin Schulz, the Italian conservative will be seeking to assure his colleagues and European citizens that he will usher new energy into the institution.

"Change" was the watchword during the Presidential election campaign, with nearly all six candidates for the post making a claim to bringing change to the institution and to Europe. For many, this was code for the end of what has been known as "The Grand Coalition," a power-sharing agreement between the two largest political groups, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Group (S&D), and the European People's Party Group (EPP), that has held sway over the hemicycle since 2014.

Ostensibly a power-sharing agreement between the two parties, the Grand Coalition has faced accusations of going beyond the orchestration of a Presidency for the European Parliament alternating between the EPP and S&D, extending into back room power dealing on a variety of issues. Critics have accused outgoing President Martin Schulz, formerly head of S&D, with using the coalition to broker agreements behind closed doors, gaining visibility and autonomy for the Parliament, but at the expense of transparency and democratic principles.

When Socialist Schulz announced in November that he would not stand for reelection, choosing instead to return to national politics in his native Germany, the coalition should have led to S&D supporting an EPP choice for the Presidency. Instead, in December, the leader of S&D, Gianni Pittella (Italy), simultaneously announced his candidacy and the end of the Grand Coalition.

"We will never again have a grand coalition," Pittella declared in his Tuesday morning presentation of candidacy just prior to the first round of voting, "we will never have a privileged agreement."

It seems that Mr. Pittella's hopes have been dashed two-fold, not only losing his bid for the presidency, but also as a new coalition has formed in the vacuum left by the old one, this time without the socialists.

The news broke with a surprise announcement on Tuesday morning, just before the candidates addressed their colleagues, when President Schulz informed the hemicycle that Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), had withdrawn his candidacy that had been confirmed just the evening prior. Applause broke out among the right wing ranks of the chamber.

Between the Monday evening sitting and Tuesday morning's vote, EPP and ALDE had negotiated a new, supposedly pro-European coalition, inviting other groups to join.

"This is a first important step in the construction of a pro-European coalition to reform and strengthen our union, which is absolutely necessary," explained Guy Verhofstadt, former Prime Minister of Belgium and European Parliamentary representative on Brexit, in a Tuesday morning press release from the ALDE group.

The coalition agreement purports to address a wide range of issues to help save the Europe against multiple threats trying to "destroy" the Union, with Manfred Weber (Germany), EPP President, characterizing the agreement as "content-based" and "positive" on pro-European policies.

Crucially, however, ALDE's press release indicates that as part of the agreement, both groups would back the EPP candidate for President, explaining Guy Verhofstadt's last minute withdrawal from the race, as well as what eventually became President Tajani's decisive win.

If Verhofstadt appeared sheepish in the moment when President Schulz announced the ALDE leader's decision to quit the race, it may be due to his reputation for speaking frankly - and loudly - in favor of a transparent, accountable, and fully democratic European Parliament and European Union, which appears contradictory to the closed-door deal making with which such a coalition is associated.

This new coalition may prove more difficult to manage, though, for President Tajani, a former European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship. The conservative politician with reputation for strong commitments to the business sector, once a spokesperson for controversial and eventually convicted Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, has made attempts to show personal integrity and ethics. Notably, he refused the so-called "Golden Handshake" at the end of his time at the European Commission by refusing the 468,000-euro(about 501,000 U.S. dollars), three-year transitional allowance normally given to outgoing Commissioners.

Displays of personal integrity will not be enough, however, to easily win parliamentary votes without the support of the second largest political group in the Parliament, S&D, unless more political groups join the EPP-ALDE coalition. Likewise, accusations of back-room dealing are likely to continue from both the hard right and hard left political groups, calling into question Tajani's commitment to transparency.

The President's close ties to former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, under fierce criticism for conflicts of interest since taking a high-ranking position in 2016 with investment bank Goldman Sachs, could lead to more skepticism about Tajani's claims to want to represent all Europeans as President of the European Parliament.

Populist leaders and Euroskeptic politicians are likely to use President Tajani's election and the new EPP-ALDE as fodder for renewed attacks on the credibility of the Parliament and other European Union institutions. With another last minute deal clinching the presidential elections, the question does come to bear: is this Brussels politics as usual? It will be up to President Tajani and his coalition colleagues to demonstrate that this partnership can, despite appearances, still lead to a freer and fairer Europe.
Riot police are seen in the streets of Milan, Italy, April 30, 2015. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)

ROME, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 45 people were arrested in an anti-mafia operation carried out in Naples on Tuesday, the Italian police said.

The operation targeted two clans of the local Camorra mob leading the cocaine traffic in some central districts of the city, according to prosecutors of the Anti-Mafia District Directorate (DDA) in Naples.

Several children were involved in the illegal business of the gangs, which used them to wrap drug doses, and have them delivered at the clients' homes, chief prosecutor Giovanni Colangelo told a press conference.

"Some of the children were not even 10 years old," DDA prosecutor Filippo Beatrice explained.

All of the minors involved in the trafficking were under the age of 14, and as such were not indictable, the authorities added.

Those arrested were variously charged with mafia association, drug trafficking, extortion, and illegal possession of weapons. All the latter charges were aggravated by mafia methods.

Overall, the 45 arrests carried out on Tuesday involved members of the Elia clan; in the same operation, another 17 arrest warrants were issued by the DDA against the Amato-Pagano family. The two Camorra clans were allegedly confronting each other in order to extend their control on drug dealing over the northern districts of Naples.

Some weapons were seized in the operation, which was carried out by Italy's military police force Carabinieri.
RIGA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A planned deployment of a multinational NATO battle group in Latvia will be completed by June 2017, Latvia's new Chief of Defense Leonids Kalnins told reporters on Wednesday.

The battalion unit will include more than 1,000 soldiers from six countries, with Canada leading the battle group as its framework nation.

Small contingents of the NATO battalion are expected to arrive in Latvia in late winter and spring, to prepare for the arrival of the whole battalion, Kalnins said.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in New York, the United States, on Jan. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Gary Hershorn)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Partisan feud fuels, confidence floundering, marches and protests on the way, while hundreds of thousands of supporters for Donald Trump's White House also being rallied to celebrate his Friday inauguration in and outside Washington D.C.

Low confidence:

Latest polls find U.S. President Barack Obama will leave office Friday with his highest approval rating since June, 2009, his first year in office, while his successor Donald Trump is entering White House with lowest popularity rate as a president-elect in the past four decades.

About two-thirds (65 percent) say Obama's presidency was a success, including nearly half (49 percent) who say that was due to Obama's personal strengths rather than circumstances outside his control, according to a new CNN/ORC poll issued Wednesday. His approval rating stands at 60 percent days in the final days of his 8-year presidency.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump enters office as the most unpopular of at least the last seven newly elected presidents, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds, with ratings for handling the transition that are also vastly below those of his predecessors.

Sixty-one percent of Americans surveyed lack confidence in Trump to make the right decisions for the nation's future, only 40 percent see Trump favorably overall or approve of the way he has handled the transition, the national surveys shows.

However, these polls also show six out of ten Americans have high expectations on the newly elected U.S. president on certain issues, especially the economy, jobs and fighting terrorism. About half of them also expect he can do well in three other issues: helping the middle class, handling the deficit and making Supreme Court appointments.

"The same people who did the phony election polls, and were so wrong, are now doing approval rating polls" Trump backfired on Twitter in response to the spate of negative poll results.

"They are rigged just like before", he claimed.

Though Trump will start his presidency with Republicans' majority in both chambers of Congress, his general unpopularity is an unprecedented hurdle, whose impact on his ability to govern remains to be seen, Justin McCarthy, a Gallup analyst, said earlier this week when his company issued similar poll results.

Spreading protests

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are heading to Washington, D.C. this week, many of them to celebrate Trump's swearing-in as the nation's 45th president, many of them for the opposite goal.

D.C.'s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is expecting 800,000 to 900,000 people to attend the ceremony overall, which is significantly less than Obama's inauguration in 2009 that drew 1.8 million and forced the city into gridlock.

Meanwhile, protesters from a group called DisruptJ20, as well as some others, are planning to block Trump' s inaugural ceremony and inaugural parade on Friday. The Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coaltion also plans to hold a demonstration from early Friday morning in downtown Washington, just hours before the inauguration starts.

The largest protest is expected to come the day after Trump's inauguration. The U.S. National Park Service, in Washington D.C. alone, has already issued permits for at least 25 separate demonstrations set over this weekend, according to a USA Today report.

The number of such events is "pretty well unprecedented", said Mike Litterst, a park service spokesman.

Among the weekend protesters, at least 200,000 are expected to gather in for the Women' s March on Washington. Organizers say that they see the demonstration as not being solely anti-Trump but in support of a range of issues affecting women, including abortion rights, health, equal pay and gun violence.

"It's quite noteworthy. If they get those kinds of numbers, it will far exceed any previous inaugural protest," Inaugural Historian Jim Bendat told local reporters.

Sister marches are planned across the country, including one set to pass in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, as well as other demonstrations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

An estimated one million people plan to demonstrate against Trump's presidency in all 50 U.S. states and 32 countries, according to local media reports.

Partisan feud:

As the country braces for Trump's inauguration, partisan feud is also fuelling.

Two days before Trump's swearing-in ceremony, roughly 60 Democratic lawmakers have already announced their boycott, some citing Trump's campaign remarks about Mexicans and women, some citing his Twitter attacks on House Democrat John Lewis, a well-known icon of the civil rights movement who last week called Trump an illegitimate president.

"I cannot go because of the president-elect' s inflammatory comments, his racist campaign, his conflicts of interest, his refusal to disclose his taxes," House Representative Jerry Nadler said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the partisan battle over Trump's Cabinet picks dominates Capitol Hill this week. Nine of Trump's high-profile nominations, including Jeff Sessions for attorney general and Betty Davos for education secretary, are all facing questions before Senate committees.

As expected, Tom Price, Trump's pick for health and human services secretary, was grilled Wednesday by Senate Democrats for his stand on the Obamacare repeal and his buying and selling of health-related stock.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday that Price may have broken the law with at least one of those trades while Republican leaders in the Senate said they believe Price is absolutely qualified and want to see him confirmed as soon as possible.

Walter Shaub, chief of the independent Office of Government Ethics, warned Saturday that several of Trump's nominees potentially have "unknown or unresolved ethics issues", describing it as an unprecedented situation in his office's 40-year history.

It remains unclear how many cabinet appointments could be affirmed on the day Trump is sworn in. In 2009, seven Obama's Cabinet picks were passed in the Senate on the Inauguration Day.

Sean Spicer, the incoming White House spokesman, said Wednesday that Trump may take four or five executive actions on Friday after being sworn into office, bringing confusion since Trump himself announced Tuesday that "Day One" of his administration will be Monday, not his inauguration day.

During the campaign, Trump promised to begin dismantling his predecessor's eight years of work on the first day he is in White House, including overruling many of Obama's executive orders.
COPENHAGEN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Novozymes, the world's largest producer of industrial enzymes, announced on Wednesday that it will lay off 198 employees in January to safeguard profitablility.

In its 2016 annual report, the Copenhagen-based company said 62 of the laid-off employees are from Denmark, as the company seeks to "allocate additional resources to high-growth opportunities, primarily in emerging markets, while safeguarding profitability."

The company said it sees long-term opportunities within industrial biotechnology and will continue to invest in innovation to realize the potential of its pipeline.

"2017 will be a year with sustained investments in new innovation," said Peder Holk Nielsen, president and CEO of Novozymes. "The divisions have reviewed their strategies and made significant changes to accelerate growth, for example shifting more resources to the emerging markets."

"As a consequence, we unfortunately need to lay off 198 employees to enable investments in market opportunities in both 2017 and 2018," Nielsen said.

According to the report, the company's sales in 2016 grew by 2 percent organically from the previous year, primarily driven by Agriculture & Feed and Technical & Pharma.

Meanwhile, net profit in 2016 increased by 8 percent year-on-year to 3.05 billion Danish kroner (about 437 million U.S. dollars).

In 2017, Novozymes expects to deliver organic sales growth of 2 to 5 percent, with contributions from all five business areas.

Novozymes employs about 6,500 employees globally, and it has a market share around 48 percent.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

GENEVA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday that China remains unchanged in its commitment to upholding world peace.

He made the remarks while delivering an address at the UN Office at Geneva.

"For several millennia, peace has been in the blood of us Chinese and a part of our DNA," said Xi.

"Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you," he quoted from Confucius, a great ancient Chinese sage.

He noted that China has grown from a poor and weak country to the world's second largest economy not by committing military expansion or colonial plunder, but through the hard work of its people and their efforts to uphold peace.

"China will never waver in its pursuit of peaceful development. No matter how strong its economy grows, China will never seek hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence. History has borne this out and will continue to do so," he vowed.

The Chinese leader also pledged that China will remain unchanged in its commitment to pursue common development.

"China's development has been possible because of the world, and China has contributed to the world's development. We will continue to pursue a win-win strategy of opening-up, share our development opportunities with other countries and welcome them aboard the fast train of China's development," said Xi.

According to Xi, China has provided foreign countries with over 400 billion yuan (about 58.4 billion U.S. dollars) of aid between 1950 and 2016, while since the outbreak of the international financial crisis, China has contributed to over 30 percent of global growth each year on average.

He went on by saying that in the coming five years, China will import eight trillion dollars of goods, attract 600 billion dollars of foreign investment, make 750 billion dollars of outbound investment, adding that Chinese tourists will make 700 million outbound visits.

"China remains unchanged in its commitment to foster partnerships," he said in the speech.

He also said that China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, and is ready to enhance friendship and cooperation with all other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

China has formed partnerships of various forms with over 90 countries and regional organizations, and will build a circle of friends across the world, he said.

The Chinese president said China will strive to build a new model of major country relations with the United States, a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination with Russia, partnership for peace, growth, reform and among different civilizations with Europe, and a partnership of unity and cooperation with BRICS countries.

China is also going to remain unchanged in its commitment to multilateralism, said the president.

He hailed multilateralism as an effective way to preserve peace and promote development, saying that for decades, the UN and other international bodies have made a universally recognized contribution to maintaining global peace and sustaining development.

China will firmly uphold the international system with the UN as its core, the basic norms governing international relations embodied in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the authority and stature of the UN, and its core role in international affairs, he added.

Related:

Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind

Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping

President of the Peoples Republic of China

At the United Nations Office at Geneva

Geneva, 18 January 2017

Your Excellency Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly,

Your Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General,

Your Excellency Mr. Michael Mller, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

As a new year begins, everything takes on a new look, and it gives me great pleasure to visit the United Nations Office at Geneva and discuss with you the building of a community of shared future for mankind, which is the call of our time.

I just attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. In Davos, many speakers pointed out in their speeches that todays world is full of uncertainties and that people long for a bright future but are bewildered about what will come. What has happened to the world and how should we respond? The whole world is reflecting on this question, and it is also very much on my mind. Full text

Backgrounder: 10 key quotes from Xi's speech at UN Office at Geneva
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in New York, the United States, on Jan. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Gary Hershorn)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Partisan feud fuels, confidence floundering, marches and protests on the way, while hundreds of thousands of supporters for Donald Trump's White House also being rallied to celebrate his Friday inauguration in and outside Washington D.C.

LOW CONFIDENCE

Latest polls find U.S. President Barack Obama will leave office Friday with his highest approval rating since June, 2009, his first year in office, while his successor Donald Trump is entering White House with lowest popularity rate as a president-elect in the past four decades.

About two-thirds (65 percent) say Obama's presidency was a success, including nearly half (49 percent) who say that was due to Obama's personal strengths rather than circumstances outside his control, according to a new CNN/ORC poll issued Wednesday. His approval rating stands at 60 percent days in the final days of his 8-year presidency.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump enters office as the most unpopular of at least the last seven newly elected presidents, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds, with ratings for handling the transition that are also vastly below those of his predecessors.

Sixty-one percent of Americans surveyed lack confidence in Trump to make the right decisions for the nation's future, only 40 percent see Trump favorably overall or approve of the way he has handled the transition, the national surveys shows.

However, these polls also show six out of ten Americans have high expectations on the newly elected U.S. president on certain issues, especially the economy, jobs and fighting terrorism. About half of them also expect he can do well in three other issues: helping the middle class, handling the deficit and making Supreme Court appointments.

"The same people who did the phony election polls, and were so wrong, are now doing approval rating polls" Trump backfired on Twitter in response to the spate of negative poll results.

"They are rigged just like before", he claimed.

Though Trump will start his presidency with Republicans' majority in both chambers of Congress, his general unpopularity is an unprecedented hurdle, whose impact on his ability to govern remains to be seen, Justin McCarthy, a Gallup analyst, said earlier this week when his company issued similar poll results.

Workers work on a stage to be used in the presidential inauguration on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

SPREADING PROTESTS

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are heading to Washington, D.C. this week, many of them to celebrate Trump's swearing-in as the nation's 45th president, many of them for the opposite goal.

D.C.'s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is expecting 800,000 to 900,000 people to attend the ceremony overall, which is significantly less than Obama's inauguration in 2009 that drew 1.8 million and forced the city into gridlock.

Meanwhile, protesters from a group called DisruptJ20, as well as some others, are planning to block Trump' s inaugural ceremony and inaugural parade on Friday. The Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coaltion also plans to hold a demonstration from early Friday morning in downtown Washington, just hours before the inauguration starts.

The largest protest is expected to come the day after Trump's inauguration. The U.S. National Park Service, in Washington D.C. alone, has already issued permits for at least 25 separate demonstrations set over this weekend, according to a USA Today report.

The number of such events is "pretty well unprecedented", said Mike Litterst, a park service spokesman.

Among the weekend protesters, at least 200,000 are expected to gather in for the Women' s March on Washington. Organizers say that they see the demonstration as not being solely anti-Trump but in support of a range of issues affecting women, including abortion rights, health, equal pay and gun violence.

"It's quite noteworthy. If they get those kinds of numbers, it will far exceed any previous inaugural protest," Inaugural Historian Jim Bendat told local reporters.

Sister marches are planned across the country, including one set to pass in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan, as well as other demonstrations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

An estimated 1 million people plan to demonstrate against Trump's presidency in all 50 U.S. states and 32 countries, according to local media reports.

Capitol Hill are closed in preparation for the presidential inauguration on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

PARTISAN FEUD

As the country braces for Trump's inauguration, partisan feud is also fuelling.

Two days before Trump's swearing-in ceremony, roughly 60 Democratic lawmakers have already announced their Boycott, some citing Trump's campaign remarks about Mexicans and women, some citing his Twitter attacks on House Democrat John Lewis, a well-known icon of the civil rights movement who last week called Trump an illegitimate president.

"I cannot go because of the president-elect' s inflammatory comments, his racist campaign, his conflicts of interest, his refusal to disclose his taxes," House Representative Jerry Nadler said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the partisan battle over Trump's Cabinet picks dominates Capitol Hill this week. Nine of Trump's high-profile nominations, including Jeff Sessions for attorney general and Betty Davos for education secretary, are all facing questions before Senate committees.

As expected, Tom Price, Trump's pick for health and human services secretary, was grilled Wednesday by Senate Democrats for his stand on the Obamacare repeal and his buying and selling of health-related stock.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday that Price may have broken the law with at least one of those trades while Republican leaders in the Senate said they believe Price is absolutely qualified and want to see him confirmed as soon as possible.

Walter Shaub, chief of the independent Office of Government Ethics, warned Saturday that several of Trump's nominees potentially have "unknown or unresolved ethics issues", describing it as an unprecedented situation in his office's 40-year history.

It remains unclear how many cabinet appointments could be affirmed on the day Trump is sworn in. In 2009, seven Obama's Cabinet picks were passed in the Senate on the Inauguration Day.

Sean Spicer, the incoming White House spokesman, said Wednesday that Trump may take four or five executive actions on Friday after being sworn into office, bringing confusion since Trump himself announced Tuesday that "Day One" of his administration will be Monday, not his inauguration day.

During the campaign, Trump promised to begin dismantling his predecessor's eight years of work on the first day he is in White House, including overruling many of Obama's executive orders.
CAIRO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- In the heart of Egypt's ancient Islamic capital near Cairo, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), the first museum of civilization in the Arab world, will partially open within weeks.

The museum will be the only one in the North African country to present the full range of the richness and diversity of Egyptian civilization throughout the ages.

For now, and due to financial difficulties, only one temporary exhibition gallery will be opened soon, with costs estimated at about over two millions U.S. dollars.

The ministry will rely on local and international fund-raising campaigns, as well as profits made by the museum itself, to cover the costs of completing the whole project.

Although only one showroom will be inaugurated, the long-awaited museum still means much with regards to Egyptian and human civilization.

"The museum will focus on intellectual achievements in historical stages of Egypt's ancient civilization," Saeed Mahrous, supervisor-general of the museum, told Xinhua. "The museum will also display rare antiques from the pre-history stage."

Mahrous said it will portray the Egyptian contribution to world civilization in a way that extends beyond what is visible, to include information about knowledge, skills and values.

The museum's 5,000 collections will be displayed in a core permanent exhibition of the principal achievements of Egyptian civilization, with six thematic galleries covering the Dawn of Civilization, The Nile, Writing, State and Society, Material Culture, Beliefs and Thinking and the Gallery of Royal Mummies.

"It will also have temporary exhibition spaces, an auditorium and an education and research center, as well as an exhibition on the development of the modern city of Cairo," the official said.

The museum is built over some 130 acres in the archaeological site of al-Fustat.

It lies to the north of Coptic Cairo, which encompasses the Babylon Fortress, the Coptic Museum, the Hanging Church, the Greek Church of St. George and many other Coptic churches and historical sites.

Its corner stone was first laid in 2002, and construction work started in 2004.

The museum was scheduled to be inaugurated in 2011. However, construction was suspended for some three years after the 2011 revolution which dethroned former leader Hosni Mubarak after his ruling for 30 years.

The museum's cost is estimated at over 80 million dollars that are fully covered by the Egyptian government. However, UNESCO is providing technical support in the construction process.

The museum was designed by Egyptian architect al-Ghazzali Kosseiba and Japanese interior designer Arata Isozaki.

"Its collection will include archaeological and ethnographical artifacts, paintings and jewelry, intangible heritage collection and master pieces ranging from pre-history to nowadays," Mahrous said.

The museum will also act as a venue for a variety of events, including film screenings, conferences, lectures and cultural activities.

"It utilizes state of the art exhibition methods to present innovative and interactive visions of Egyptian civilization, thus connecting the past with the present," Mahrous explained.

Egypt, one of the most ancient civilizations, has been working hard to preserve its archaeological heritage and discover the secrets of the archaeology of Pharaohs and other ancient civilizations across the country.

It's in a bid to revive the country's ailing tourism sector which has been suffering an acute recession over the past few years due to political turmoil and relevant security issues.

The North African country netted just 6.1 billion dollars in tourism revenues in 2015, a drastic downturn from 12.5 billion in 2010, according to the country's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.

In an age of globalization, Mahrous added, the museum stands as an educational lighthouse projecting different facets to Egyptians.

"The museum is not only focusing on showing the Egyptian civilization, it will be a pioneering institution in the region; it can thus become a world-wide hub for inter-cultural dialogue," the official said, adding that it is also a national centre for research, conservation, restoration and a secure antiquity storage facility.

Designed as a major attraction for visitors to Egypt, the museum will have an important role to play in raising awareness of modern and contemporary Egyptian history and society, hosting events and temporary displays and exhibitions and providing an important center for the country's youth.

"It is not just a museum. It is a cultural facility showing the cultural, social, economic and artistic evolution of Egypt's 7,000-year-old civilization," Mahrous Sanadidi, the museum's chief archaeologist, told Xinhua as he observed workers setting up shelves in the temporary showroom.

Unlike other museums which show artifacts, Sandidi said, it will view Egypt's intangible heritage through documentaries and multimedia-based tools showing Egyptian daily life traditions, industries, agriculture development and many other cultural aspect.

The official said that the museum will help restore the ailing tourism in Egypt, pointing out that the location of the museum helps make it a tourist attraction.

"The museum is surrounded by many significant tourist and archaeological sites. It is hugged by many ancient monuments as well as Cairo's only remaining lake," he said.
HAVANA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cuba and the U.S. signed on Tuesday an agreement to expand cooperation on air, sea search and rescue.

The deal was inked by the charge d'affaires of the U.S. embassy in Havana, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, and the Cuban Deputy Minister of Transport, Marta Oramas. It aims to strengthen collaboration in this area and increase the efficiency of assistance being provided to victims of accidents.

"Coordination on this issue is essential for our countries, particularly as authorized trade increases as well as the flow of travelers between the two nations," said DeLaurentis after the signing ceremony.

DeLaurentis added that both governments have worked together on search and rescue operations for more than 20 years, and stressed that this alliance will continue to save lives.

Oramas pointed out that the agreement establishes the commitment of both governments to work together in a coordinated way when necessary to rescue and save lives.

She referred to the joint adoption in 2014 of operational procedures and good implementation practices in the rescue of accident victims by air and sea.

Oramas said that the agreement will also allow for joint exercises, periodic reviews through communication channels, reciprocal visits by experts and the exchange of information.

This agreement comes at an active time for bilateral ties, after the resuming of direct regular flights last August between the two countries.

Cuba and the U.S. restored relations in July 2015 after more than five decades of political enmity.

Since then, Havana and Washington have endorsed several cooperation agreements on issues such as aviation, science, and healthcare, among others.

Cuba received 614,333 visitors from the U.S. in 2016, a 34 percent rise over 2015.
Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2017 shows a fossil of over 220-million years old from China's Guizhou province. (Xinhua/Li Baodong)

OTTAWA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Canadian Heritage held an official ceremony in Ottawa on Wednesday to return illegally exported valuable cultural properties to China.

The returned cultural properties are two fossils of over 220-million years old from Guizhou province and a pair of carved wooden roof supports from Yunnan province in south China.

These objects were illegally exported from China and were detained by the Canada Border Service Agency and Police. China claimed these objects as their cultural properties and requested their return.

At the ceremony, Wang Wentian, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Canadian government for returning those precious cultural properties to China.

Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2017 shows a pair of carved wooden roof supports from south China's Yunnan province. (Xinhua/Li Baodong)

It is the third return of cultural heritage objects to China by the Canadian government. Wang said it once again demonstrates Canada's ongoing commitment to prevent the illicit traffic of cultural property and its return to its country of origin, adding that it is also another strong testimony of Canada's leadership role in honoring the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

Both Canada and China are signatories to the convention.

Since 1997, Canada has returned illegally exported cultural property to 12 states on 21 occasions.
Actors from the National Ballet of China perform "The Red Detachment of Women" in Wuding County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 17, 2017. This special performance was hosted by the Ministry of Culture. (Xinhua/Li Yan)
Black-necked cranes fly over the Nianhu Lake wetland of the black-necked crane state nature reserve in Huize County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 18, 2017. Black-necked cranes are world endangered animals. (Xinhua/Chen Haining)
Residents dance at a community Spring Festival gala in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 18, 2017. Residents from Changqing Subdistrict in Hefei staged a community Spring Festival gala to welcome the upcoming Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Liu Junxi)
Christie sings Junipers praises

Christie sang Junipers praise while addressing the completion of the fabrication of the topside of the Juniper offshore platform at the Trinidad Offshore Fabricators (TOFCO) Yard, Labidco Industrial Estate, La Brea on Sunday. The platform is bpTTs 14th locally fabricated offshore installation.

He said the entire Juniper project which would include the drilling programme and sub sea infrastructure, would cost approximately US$2 billion.

The biggest spend on the project was on wells which are off shore and includes drilling and sub sea infrastructure, Christie said as he described the project as having real significance for Trinidad and Tobago. He noted that at its peak, over 700 people worked on the platform with approximately 55 percent hailing from the La Brea community.

He noted that while there were setbacks on the project, the companies involved were able to recover and deliver a project well within earmarked timeline. The Juniper offshore project, located in the East Mayaro Block (Block EM) off Trinidad and Tobagos south-east coast, comprises the development of the Corallita and Lantana gas fields owned by bpTT.

The two fields are located 50 miles (80.4km) off the south-east coast of Trinidad and Tobago, in water depth between 330 ft and 360 ft.

The project was sanctioned in August 2014 and the fabrication of the gas gathering platform began in the same year. He said for the past 26 months, TOFCO, Technip and BP worked together with support from the Ministry of Energy to make history as he proudly pointed to the Juniper platform saying it is 5,100 tons of, collaboration, knowledge transfer and commitment. Along with collaboration and knowledge transfer, the story of the Juniper topside is also a story of commitment.

The Juniper topside is the sixth major facility fabricated at TOFCO for bpTT. Starting with Cannonball in 2005, and following with Mango, Cashima, Savonette, Serrette and now Juniper, we are immensely proud for having contributed to the development of a local fabrication industry here in La Brea, he added.

Asked about the Angelin natural gas field project, Christie said negotiations are still ongoing and the company (bpTT) has to remain competitive if other projects were to be realised in Trinidad and Tobago. If we reach an agreement, the project will be a go, that was the prerequisite and I was delighted to hear the affirmation from the Energy Minister but he said something else that is important.

He said we can have a project but we also have to stay competitive, the reason I cant give you any iron clad commitment around where work will be done is because of course there are competitive negotiations which have to be concluded and if they are competitive then we will obviously build where things are competitive, Christie said.
He was too harden

This from Stacy Roberts yesterday as she reacted to the death of her son Jamal Matthias, 17, who was one of two persons shot dead by police during an anti-crime exercise at Ramkissoon Trace in San Juan on Monday night. Sharmatee Mongroo, mother of the other victim - Kerron Mongroo, 23 - yesterday claimed her son was unarmed when he was killed by police.

All I want to do right now is bury my son, Roberts said. I cannot even call for justice, because what would I get? My son is already dead, she added. The anti-crime exercise was conducted at Ramkissoon Trace, Santa Cruz Old Road in San Juan at about 9.30 pm.

After police locked down the area (cordoned off and guarded all entry and exit points), officers were attacked by gunmen and returned fire. When the smoke cleared, Mongroo and Matthias were on the ground bleeding from gunshot wounds. They died while en route to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EW MSC) in Mt Hope. Police sources said they recovered firearms at the scene.

Roberts told reporters yesterday that hours after her son left home, she heard of the shooting incident. Admitting that he was a hardened child, Roberts said her son did not deserve to die like this. He attended a school in Woodbrook, but at that time, he was most hardened, said Roberts.

So I took him out to learn a trade. He used to do all kinds of things. He would do mechanics and he liked to work on cars.

I would always tell him about the friends he kept. He had gotten in trouble recently with a different set of children, but he still wouldnt listen. Sharmatee Mongroo, mother of 23-year-old Kerron Mongroo, yesterday claimed that he was among friends playing cards when police ambushed them. She was told by neighbours that they heard her son begging for his life, just before he was shot.

Neighbours told me that the police came with masks on their faces and they had a road block down the road. They came charging at them with their guns in hand. What did they expect them (the card players) to do? This is not right. I need justice for my son, Mongroo said.

She added that her son was very careful not to get into any trouble with the law after he was held on trumped up gun charges in 2015. He did not have any further charges and was not wanted in connection with any other matters, according Mongroo.

Even if they came looking for someone, why shoot my son? they could have done something else instead of shooting him.

They could have handcuffed him...arrested him, because I know he did not have anything on him, said the mother of five.

Autopsies are expected to be conducted on Mongroo and Matthias today at the Forensic Science Centre in St James. Investigations
Police audit committee established

The Ministry of National Security,. in a press release yesterday stated. that seven committee members. received their instruments of appointment. and terms of reference. from Minister Edmund Dillon,. which was signed by Rowley. The. release said the committee will. be chaired by Professor Ramesh. Deosaran and include other members. of the committee being Ag. Deputy Commissioner of Police. Harold Phillip, Assistant Commissioner. of Police Erla Christopher,. Permanent Secretary (Retired). Jacqueline Wilson, attorney Allan. Meiguel, Security Management. Consultant Dr Levi Guy-Obiakor. and Ag Assistant Superintendent. of Police (Police Social Welfare. Association) Anand Ramesar.

Dillon thanked committee. members for their willingness to. serve on the committee and noted. the importance of the exercise. aimed at getting a good understanding. of the manpower and. resources required to achieve the. strategic aims of the Trinidad and. Tobago Police Service. The objectives. of the Committee will include. examining the existing manpower. strength at all ranks and related. units of the Police Service; an. examination of the developmental. policies and the current standards. and practices in the recruitment,. deployment, training and career. progression of officers; making a. qualitative and quantitative assessment. of the extent to which the. expected levels of efficiency, effectiveness. and accountability have. been achieved, the release stated.

Dillon further stated that it is. the Governments expectation that. this manpower audit will be the. first step toward reforming the. administration and operations of. the Police Service, as well as enhancing. the nature and quality of. the relationship it shares with the. public.

.
Man on rape, buggery charges

The third charge read to Walters by the magistrate is that on a date unknown in April and July 2016, he committed an act of grievous sexual assault on the woman.

On those three charges, Forde- John informed Walters that he was not being called upon to plead because the charges were laid indictably. The fourth charge read to Walters is that on a date unknown between August 21 and October 2016, he attempted to bugger the woman. The fifth charge alleges that on a date unknown also in August 2016, and during the period of October, 2016, he committed an act of grievous sexual assault on the woman.

The sixth charge alleges that on a date unknown in August 2016, he committed an act of grievous sexual sexual assault on her.

The seventh charge alleges that on a date unknown in August, Walters had sexual intercourse with the woman against her will.

Court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan told Magistrate Forde-John that he was not objecting to bail but would like conditions imposed so as to maintain the integrity of the matter before the court.

The charges were laid by WPC Karyn George of the Gasparillo Police Station. Attorney Frank Gittens who represented the defendant, said that Walters is gainfully employed and lives in Gasparillo.

Magistrate Forde-John granted Walters bail in the sum of $150,000 with a surety. She warned the defendant that he must not make physical contact with the alleged victim, including through cell phones and social media networks. Walters was ordered to report to the Gasparillo Police Station. The case was adjourned to April 24.
Woman sues NWRHA over bad blood

Angela Badree, of 7 Rajack Street, Williamsville, has sued the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) for the negligence of the medical staff who placed her blood in a bottle that was wrongly labelled and which led to her receiving the wrong blood type.

Badree, who has been told that she can no longer work, three years after the botched transfusion, still experiences pain and discomfort and her mobility has been severely affected. The once active pensioner now walks with a walking stick or uses a wheelchair and has to get help to move around.

Badree was expected to undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery, scheduled for February 21, 2014. She was told she needed to pints of blood before the surgery.

Over a two-day period - February 18 and 19  Badree was given B Positive Blood on four occasions on the instructions of a doctor at the hospital.

Her blood type is A Positive.

The procedure had to be stopped at intervals after Badree complained of a series of ailments including, uncontrolled itching, pain and shortness of breath. The procedure was eventually stopped on February 19, by another doctor.

Her surgery was cancelled and after she began passing blood in her urine, Badree was advised to get a blood test done at a private nursing home. Several days later on February 27, Badree said she was told by a doctor at the hospital that she was transfused with B Positive blood when in fact her blood type was A Positive. She later learned her blood was placed in a bottle that was labelled with someone elses name and she experienced an acute reaction to the transfusion .

Badrees lawsuit contends that despite her complaints, medical staff at the Port of Spain General Hospital conducted the transfusion four times instead of rechecking and reverifying her name, blood group and hospital information.

According to the nurses notes obtained by Badrees lawyers, Anand Ramlogan, SC, Jayanti Lutchmedial and Trishana Ramnath, it documented the distress she experienced during the failed transfusion attempts.

Notes of an inquiry conducted by senior haematologists at the hospital also noted that at no time was a sample of blood sent to the lab for a cross match when units of blood was returned to the blood bench.
Shannons file not yet with DPP

This was revealed yesterday when the man accused of killing Banfield, Dale Seecharan, reappeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court yesterday.

Sitting in for Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar was Magistrate Cheron Raphael, who adjourned the matter to January 30.

Seecharans attorney, Larry Williams, enquired whether the DPPs Office received the file to have a State attorney appointed to prosecute his client. In response, police prosecutor Insp Winston Dillon said as far as he was aware the file was still in transit. Williams then questioned the slow pace with which the State was moving with the matter.

It has been about a month now that this man has been charged and up to now the file has not reached the Office of the DPP? What was the police doing for all that time, still gathering evidence? Williams asked.

He was reminded that there was a process to be followed.

And you know how the process goes Mr Williams, the file is in transit, said the magistrate.

Seecharan is charged with murdering Banfield sometime between December 4 and December 9 at Charlotte Street in Port-of-Spain.

Banfield went missing on December 5 and three days later, her decomposing body was found at the warehouse of IAM and Company.

Seecharan, who was an employee at the store, was charged for the murder about two weeks later.
Mom on arrest warrant takes daughter to court

Present also was the accused, Dipchan Deonanan, 52, who is facing the charge of indecently assaulting the girl in 2014. In December last year when Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John realised that the mother had failed to obey a summons which she had been issued for her to bring the child to court to testify, she issued a bench warrant for her arrest. The mother, who is 46 years old, was arrested and last week Wednesday she appeared in court in handcuffs to explain why she disobeyed the courts summons. Forde-John placed the mother on $10,000 bail and postponed the case to yesterday whilst ordering her to bring the child to court to testify. The magistrate also threatened the mother with incarceration if she failed to do so.

Deonanan is charged with indecently assaulting the girl on June 11, 2014. She was nine years old at the time. The accused was arrested on June 17, 2014 and was granted $150,000 bail.

She adjourned the matter to May 24.
US prisoner returned under transfer programme

A release from the US Embassy said that during their visit, Gallagher and Meyers, engaged with Trinidadian court administrators and the Commissioner of Prisons to ensure that procedures as laid out by the Prisoner Transfer Treaty were adhered to, for a smooth transfer process.

They held meetings with authorities from the Prison Service, and toured the Womens Prison in Arouca where they were apprised of various projects for reintegration of released prisoners and the ongoing juvenile court project.

Gallagher also met with members of the Judiciary and other diplomatic missions to discuss current programmes and developments in the judicial system in TT.

The International Prisoner Transfer Programme began in 1977. It permits the transfer of prisoners from countries where they have been convicted back to their home country.

The Prison Transfer Agreement went into effect with TT in 1994.

The release said that the US has continuously engaged with law enforcement authorities in TT on this programme and other security issues through bilateral coordination and through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.

Enhanced information sharing and collaboration between security officials has bolstered the close relationship our two countries share and promoted Trinidad and Tobago as a regional leader, the release said.

Both countries have collaborated in the spirit of bilateralism to ensure that American violators of local laws can be returned to their country of origin as is the same for TT citizens convicted of crimes in the US, the release said.
Roy Cape still heads the All Stars

The band was advertised as Blaxx, Ricardo Drue and the All Stars for the Central Banks all-inclusive fete on its Facebook page. However, the bands new publicist Tenille Clarke told Newsday the name stays the same for now as the band focuses on building its musicianship.

There was confirmation by the fetes organisers that the name change was an error. In other information at Ticketfederation.com the banks page says: You will be entertained by the sounds of Kes the Band, Blaxx, Ricardo Drue and the All Stars (formerly Roy Cape All Stars), and Dil-E-Nadan. The band featuring Blaxx, Drue and Tanzania Tizzy Sebastian performed at Soka in Moka, Trinity Courts, Maraval last Sunday.

Clarke said: With regards to the band, Roy Cape has been in the business for the last 31 or 32 years, he has kind of stepped away from the limelight a little bit but we also have to be able to maintain a standard of integrity and quality that he has built from the musicianship perspective. The band made several changes with the addition of St Lucias Teddyson John and Tizzy from Antigua.

There was an attempt, Clarke added, to make the band more Caribbean- inclusive.

We are already anchored in Trinidad but it is important for TT, the rest of the Caribbean and then the rest of the world to know what Roy Cape is about. It is about musicianship. It is about good vocals and it is about putting on a performance that everyone would be able to remember, she said.

She said there were not many brand changes this year but that the public would be informed when it happens.

Asked about the iconic musicians name not appearing as part of the band for Central Banks all-inclusive fete, Clarke said, that was probably an error. If you look at all of the other events that are being advertised, Roy Cape is being advertised featuring Blaxx, Ricardo Drue and Tizzy. Asked if the name will remain the same despite Cape no longer being a central feature, Clarke said, We hope so but we are not entirely sure as yet but right now we are just focused on Roy Cape All Stars and thats it. She was firm that the Roy Cape was still the bands owner and its head. Papi still has ownership of the band.

Roy Cape is still very much the brand. He is still the head. He still very much has input and converses with the musical director. He would always be the leader of the band. His advice is integral to how the band operates, she said.

When people think about Carnival, people automatically have a tendency to think about TT but as a Caribbeanist cultural institution because Roy Cape is often referred to as a university of music. It is our duty and Papi always felt that it was his duty to extend the reach and assistance where he can. He has never been someone about self. He has always tried to inculcate in the organisation that we have the opportunity to share with the rest of the world. She said there would be some surprises which would demonstrate that it was not just about TT. The band did a video tribute to Roy Cape before the start of its performance at Soka in Moka.
5 murders in 10 hours

This was how relatives described the execution-styled murders of a man and his common-law wife who were shot in their heads as they slept on a bed in their Guapo home during the early morning hours yesterday. The victims, Luenda Anthony, 29, a mother of one and Rickey Mohammed, 40, a father of three, were shot once and twice to the head respectively as they lay side by side on their bed in their Limefield Road, Cochrane Village home.

The couple was among five persons murdered between Monday and yesterday, in a 12-hour span, which sent the countrys murder toll to 27 in the first 17 days of this year. Anthony was a security officer.

No motive for the murders has been established although investigators told Newsday that the victims were embroiled in a land dispute with a woman.

Police said that at one oclock yesterday morning, gunshots were heard inside the couples house.

Anthonys mother Nicole Anthony, 45, who lives nearby heard the shots and ran to her daughters house to investigate. On seeing the bodies of her daughter and son-in-law covered in blood on the bed, Anthony screamed, causing other neighbours to come running to see what had happened.

When I heard the gunshots, I ran to their house and called out to my daughter. I said, Lu Lu just before I entered the bedroom. When I saw her soaked in blood next to her husband who was bleeding from the head, I almost collapsed, Anthony said. Her daughter appeared to be dead, the anguished woman related, while husband Mohammed groaned and said to call an ambulance.

Those were his final words.

He stopped moving and did not say anything else, Anthony said.

A report was made to the police and officers who arrived on the scene and cordoned off the house, later found a bag of marijuana in the roadway. It is believed that in their haste to get away, the killers dropped the bag of marijuana.

Saying that a person has to be possessed by the Devil to go into another persons house and commit murder, Anthony cried that her daughter and son-in-law did not deserve such a violent end.

My daughter worked hard Monday to Friday as a security officer and on Saturdays she worked at KFC. She worked hard to provide for her family. She did not deserve this. Whoever did this is not human.

This was a demonic act, she cried. The couple lived together for just over a year. Another occupant of the house, Luendas nine-yearold daughter Christina was at the time, spending the night at her grandmothers home. Mohammed worked part time as a labourer in the Pt Fortin Borough. Up to press time, no arrest had been made and investigations are continuing.
MP hits diplomat on FATCA

In a TV6 television interview Estrada said he was disappointed about the innuendos put out about FATCA, a law passed by Congress and no mere presidential decree.  This can will be kicked down the road, because there are some folks __ some of them that are fighting this (FATCA) - probably have cocoa in the sun, as you say here. There are some of them, and I stand by it. Estrada said, This (FATCA) targets US citizens, folks that are involved in tax evasion, money laundering, terrorism financing, illegal accumulation of wealth, and yet we have folks that are saying this is trampling on the rights of the ordinary Trinbagonian. He was fine with the US authorities accessing US citizens tax details from TT banks.

I pay my taxes. I want all my fellow citizens to pay their taxes. I want to know if they are financing terrorism (or) accumulating illegal wealth. So this is all about US citizens.

I suspect that a lot of the opposition comes from folks that have lots of wealth hidden in banks in the US. I suspect they may have family members and their concern is that eventually that information will be shared one day as our countries continue to share information. He said, If this (FATCA) is not taken care of, the citizens of TT will face some very tough financial consequences.

Estrada said FATCA does not trample the rights of ordinary TT citizens. We have people in this country who say they believe in fighting corruption, they believe in fighting terrorism (so) why would you not support a law like this? He said the US is a land of law where taxes are paid.

There are people with interests who are willing to take this country down, with them, to protect their interests. Estrada said the US will mull various strategies on TTs FACTA stance.

Charles in a statement alleged that Trinidad- born Estrada was farce and out of place.

Outgoing ambassador Estrada seems to think that our country is some banana republic where we uncritically, without review, or detailed analysis support without question the dictates and impositions of our colonial masters, or massas as our founding father was wont to say, the MP hit in a statement.

Ambassador Estrada is farce and out of place firstly to flout diplomatic conventions and engage frontally in our domestic affairs where one can, based on his comments, take the view that he supports one side of the political divide. Charles hit Estrada for allegedly suggesting that persons who sought a review, as provided for by a Joint Select Committee, must have cocoa in the sun.

The MP said Estrada ignores the fact that no one is against FATCA but many persons have called for a purposeful and comprehensive review of what it is, its implications for our country and the readiness of our institutions to comply with its mandates.

Charles alleged that Estrada lacks a full appreciation of the processes of the TT Parliament which he said exists to ensure the best laws are enacted in the interest of all citizens.

Charles said Estrada does not appreciate that at the Oppositions insistence, proper procedures were put in place to ensure that the FATCA Bill will be passed in time to comply with US mandates, while ensuring its full review by interest groups in TT.

Is he aware for example that payment to the IRS by US citizens working in our country and earning TT dollars have to be paid in US and not TT dollars? If this is true, as I am sure it is, we have to understand fully the implications for our foreign exchange situation and put mechanisms in place to effect same. Charles lamented that as a TT national by birth, Estrada had all the goodwill for his posting to be a success and take TT forward, with a balanced, nuanced and informed perspective on deliberations on important issues.

He missed many golden opportunities to be a transcendental figure and that is most unfortunate, Charles concluded. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
National Single Pan prelims kick off tomorrow

They have selected an Austin (SuperBlue) Lyons composition Fete as its tune of choice, arranged by Ken Professor Philmore.

The band is led by Steve Jack.

The judges will visit Hope Pan Groovers of Hope Village next, and hear an Austin Lyons / Robbie Greenidge composition arranged by Ojay Richards.

Last on the schedule for the night is the band Natural Mystic that has chosen Steve Sealeys Break Away arranged by Rickie Williams.

The action continues in Trinidad on Friday beginning with the steelbands in the South/Central Region.

In all, some 67 Single Pan Bands have registered to participate in this years competition which will run over ten days across Trinidad and Tobago.

On Friday and Saturday, 11 bands from the South/Central Region will go through their paces, then it will be the turn of another 24 bands in the Eastern Region to face the judges on Sunday and Monday with the remaining 29 steelbands in the North going through a similar phase from Tuesday to Thursday next week.

Start time for each day is 6 pm and judging takes place in the respective pan yards.

The opening of the bands score sheets will take place on January 27 at City Hall, Knox Street, Portof- Spain, from 10 am.

Single Pan steelbands are permitted to perform with 20 players in the qualifying round with a maximum of 30 players for the finals which is scheduled for January 29 at the Arima Velodrome, Arima, from 7 pm.
Senate Prez refuses murder debate

Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen said that predators, psychopaths, socio paths and gangsters are on the loose and threatening the lives of citizens of TT. He made this declaration as he attempted to raise the issue of murders, especially the murder of youths as a matter of definite, urgent public importance in the Senate. Charging that the Government is oblivious to the rising fear and despair of the population to the levels of crime, Ramdeen said, Our cities towns and villages are now under attack by predators, psychopaths, socio paths and gangs who are daily becoming bold in their activities. The senator said, On Friday last, we lost one of our children Rachael Ramkissoon, she was strangled, she was only 16. Ramdeen continued, On Saturday, the criminals took to the highway and shot to death Balmatie Bachan, a passenger in a car along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway. For the record, 27 murders have been committed within the first 17 days of this year with the last five being committed within a ten-hour period between Monday evening and yesterday.

Not one person has been charged, Ramdeen said. With criminals becoming more brave and brazen, Ramdeen said, we cannot continue to lose our citizens at a rate of one per day. However, Senate President Kangaloo turned down Ramdeens request, indicating she was not satisfied his motion qualified under the Senates Standing Orders.
Mark says UNC supports marriage at 18

In his contribution to debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill 2016, Mark said the UNCs position on the issue of child marriage was made clear by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar last May. Not referring to any person or group by name, Mark said the UNC has always facilitated, the views of powerful organisations in this country, even if it did not agree with those views.

He said, It is a position we have taken in the past, we have taken it in the present and we shall take it in the future. Alleging that the executive of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha and Muslim groups in the country have not been consulted on the bill, Mark warned Government against using its power in Parliament whimsically and capriciously to pass the bill. He called for the legislation to be referred to a joint select committee (JSC) for the next three to six months so that a happy compromise can be reached amongst all stakeholders.

Stressing the bill will impact on four major religious groups in TT, Mark said Government cannot say, Away with the Hindus, away with the Muslims, away with the Orishas, away with the Christians. He called on Government to ensure there is genuine consultation on the legislation and not to bring the hammer down on the heads of people because it believes it has power in Parliament. Mark told senators that the Executive is always accountable to the Parliament.

While supporting the legal age of marriage at 18 years, Mark said exceptions could be made in the cases of persons between the ages of 16 to 18 years.

He said those exceptions should involve the consent of parents, consent of a judge, the involvement of the child and adequate legal aid.

Saying that 2,500 children under 18 years are raped annually and there are 2,000 unofficial rapes annually, Mark said the Government is being, very quiet on this matter. After he alleged that Government is starving the Childrens Authority of resources, Mark asked government senators, Is the Government prepared to legalise abortion? Mark said some of these unplanned pregnancies are the result of rape and statutory rape is a crime in TT.
Senator: Stop child abuse

Reminding senators that persons under the age of 18 years cannot vote, Stewart said, The concern is here is that why should we as a nation continue a practice that allows girls to become brides and boys to become bridegrooms at an an age where they cannot give consent to sex. She continued, Anyone under the age of 18 years, if you engage with someone over the age, it could be called statutory rape. So we are saying yes to statutory rape if we continue to allow these laws on our law books.

Telling senators she was married on New Years Day at the age of 30 years, Stewart said marriage involves maturity and responsibility.As she reflected on her childhood memories from her home in Tobago, Stewart said no 12 year old child should have a memory of, walking down the aisle to meet someone as old as Mommy and Daddy.

The senator also indicated that research conducted by different international organisations such as UNICEF that girls who are married under the age of 18 years are more prone to various mental illnesses.

Stewart told her senatorial colleagues that they were being offered a once in a generation opportunity to do something to prevent children from being deprived of their childhood.
Legalise abortion, repeal homosexual laws

In his contribution on the debate in the Senate to raise the age of marriage from 12 to 18, Mahabir declared, I am a pro choice advocate and I would like for us to step up with womens rights as we talk about the marriage age. He said that in raising the age of marriage to 18, girls should be given the option, should they become pregnant while underage, to have legal access to abortions.

My position is that when you are going to service your car and you need to change the oil, you cannot change the oil only. You have to change the filter as well, he said. We cannot say we want to raise the marriage age so that we are going to confirm with greater gender equity and rights of women (and) girls without speaking and opening up the issue of abortion, he said.

As the issue of gender equality, and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals were being looked at, he said, We want to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago has stepped up its position with respect for equality to women. He said that while there have been opposition to raising the age of marriage by the Muslim and Hindu communities, he said, he has not heard from the Orishas, and the Roman Catholics which is governed by canon laws and allow marriage at age 12 or even below in ceratin circumstance.

Yet he noted, that the Catholics, Hindus and Muslims were pioneers in the education of girls in TT.

Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Italy, he said are all countries with huge Roman Catholic populations and they were mature enough not to allow religion to enter into the rights of the woman. To that list he added, South Africa, India and Barbados that have legalised abortions.

For the record, he said, I Senator Dhaneshwar Mahabir, am of the view that Act 11.08 Section 56 ought to be struck off our books, he said.

And still the rights of women, Mahabir said that TT needs to look not only at the archaic abortion laws but laws governing homosexuality.

In the law books, he said, was the most oppressive of laws on homosexuality in this day and age that will incur a penalty of 25 years in jail.

It was wonderful, he said, that there was an Independent bench in the Parliament because partisan politicians were afraid to address the issue but he will.
Sinanan: Uber service illegal in TT

He continued, We therefore ask citizens to be cognisant of this fact before considering utilising the service offered by the company. The minister indicated a letter has been sent to the agents of Uber requesting a meeting with them today. Reminding senators that the ministry issued a statement on Monday about the proposed Uber service, Sinanan said further information will be provided to the public once this meeting takes place.

Uber, the location- based taxi app, launched its service in Trinidad at 11 am on Monday, with soca star Machel Montano being its first local customer.

The ministry subsequently indicated it was seeking legal advice to determine if the service can continue to operate within TTs legislative framework and has advised the public to exercise caution and due diligence. The ministry said a major concern regarding Ubers operation in TT is whether private vehicles would be used for hire.

The ministry said the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act provides that no person shall drive on any road, a taxi registered as such, unless he is the holder of a taxi drivers licence issued to him by the Licensing Authority under these regulations. The ministry continued, When you travel with an authorised taxi, you are ensuring that the relevant checks and balances have taken place. Further, the use of a private vehicle for hire is contrary to its registration
  

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LG X300 Enters the Budgeted Smartphone Arena: Specs Unveiled

New Delhi, Wed, 18 Jan 2017 NI Wire

LG has made a foray into the mid-range phone segment with LG X300 as an attempt to stretch its product portfolio. The electronics major released the specifications of its brand new model at an event in South Korea.

The company already had an impressive line-up of products on display in the CES 2017 and is ready with a smartphone which is, as of now, exclusive only to the South Korean markets. There was no announcement of its availability in other regions in the press conference. The phone will be sold at a price of KRW 253,000 which is equal to around USD 217 (INR 14, 745 approx.).

As regards the specs of this medium-range device, it has a High Definition LCD screen of 5-inch with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, In-Cell touch and In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology. The phone with curved glass in the front has round-edged and features a fingerprint scanner at the back. The primary LED camera lens, situated above the sensor, is of 13-megapixel and the front shooter is of 5-megapixel. The imaging is enabled with many shooting modes apart from Auto Shot and Gesture Shot. Moreover, the rear cover of the device has fine ribbed patterns for ensuring a good grip.

In terms of the CPU, the Android 7.0 Nougat based smartphone is dependent on the Quad-core Snapdragon 425 SoC clocked at 1.4 GHz. The Adreno 308 GPU further boosts the system. The phone offers storage of 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of expandable inbuilt memory. The 142 gram phone has a 3.55 mm audio jack towards the lower side. Packed with a 2500 mAh battery, the relatively small handset is available in Dark Blue and Silver tints. On the connectivity side, LG X300 is endowed with 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, NFC and microUSB 2.0 Port.
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Not long ago, the Nokia 6 was first revealed, and by all indications it was a sign that next generation communications kingpin Nokia (News - Alert) was ready to bring out a major new front in the device wars. The news it would only be available in Chinaat least for nowbrought no small disappointment with it. However, new reports suggest that the device is already doing land-office business, as based on the over one million registrations for the device found on China's JD.com site.





Reports note it took just 24 hours for the device to clear the quarter-million mark, and now, it's well over the one million mark. Though the device doesn't actually go on sale until tomorrow, it's already slated to sell well over a million thanks to advance registration. There's still no confirmation if this will go global, or if there will be other versions meant for other markets, but current word suggests the upcoming Mobile World Congress (News - Alert) event in Barcelona will have answers for at least some of these questions.

Indeed, there's word that Nokia already has a more powerful piece waiting in the wings. Known as the Nokia 8, it's set to offer a more advanced Snapdragon processor than the Nokia 6 boastsan 835 to the Nokia 6's 430as well as a 23 megapixel camera backed up with a Carl Zeiss lens. The idea of a further launch was underscored by HMD Global, which makes the devices exclusively for Nokia and said that India was a major market for its products. A move into that market, therefore, should be expected in days to come.

Nokia's strategy here is a bit unclear. While it's definitely making great strides in the Chinese marketeven if the Nokia 6 runs $100 a device, or its equivalent in yuan, it's still made nine figures already from one deviceit's actively ignoring the rest of the planet. Hopefully there will be more guidance on the plan soon, because Nokia shareholders have to be a bit concerned right now. It would be easy to say it's staying out of a glutted mobile device market, and is instead working fields that aren't so crowded with iDevices (News - Alert), but that's one big market it's denying.

Still, Nokia's comeback is looking like a pretty good one already, and this only in one market. It may go on from here, but it will bear watching closely to see just where it ends up.

Edited by Alicia Young
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The Netherlands-based Non-profit Christian organization Open Doors has hailed Moroccos tolerance and religious openness, saying it is a land promoting cohabitation between civilizations.

In its 2016 report, the NGO, which is present in over 60 countries around the world, says Morocco stands out in the Arab World and in the North African region for its tolerant Islam allowing other religions to enjoy peace and full expansion.

The North African country, despite terrorist threats, is the best example of good cohabitation between different religions and a model in this field thanks to King Mohammed VIs sustained efforts to promote an open, tolerant and moderate Islam, the NGO states.

In the Open Doors report, Libya tops the list of countries in the region where Christians are permanently persecuted. The now divided North African country ranks 11th globally.

Egypt ranks 21st globally followed by Tunisia in the 29th place. Algeria comes in 37th position for its persecutions of Christians. Mauritania ranks 47th and is also tagged among countries where Christians are persecuted
Several Algerian villages in the central and eastern regions of the North African country, member of the OPEC, have been isolated by snow, adding more misery to the Algerians who are already suffering from military crackdown, soaring prices and deteriorating living conditions.

According to latest weather forecasts, the conditions will get much worse in the coming days as more snow and blizzards are expected to hit several cities in the north of the country including the capital.

The most affected regions are Setif, Bejaia, Bouira, Batna and Constantine, which are cut off from the rest of the country after heavy snowfall blocked several roads, forcing the inhabitants to remain inside their home while the administrations and schools closed their doors.

In Kabylie, several roads are still closed, isolating villages, particularly in Tizi-Ouzou region. This chaotic situation has generated a real crisis of supply of butane gas causing the outbreak of new social unrest in over 20 provinces.

Many flights were also cancelled due to bad weather, which killed so far a dozen of people and caused many road accidents, according to local authorities which are finding it more and more difficult to quell growing demonstrators demanding justice, decent life, good governance and jobs.

The Kabylie and other neighboring provinces have been rocked lately by violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators protesting against the rising cost of living and higher taxes imposed by the appropriation bill, which came into force on 1st January. The 2017 law voted in December included new increases in taxes on fuel, tobacco and electricity to stem losses due to falling crude oil prices.

This sharp rise in violence is similar to that occurred in Algiers early 2011. At that time, the youths uprising, which started in Bab el Oued before spreading to other districts in the capital, had been described as bread and sugar riots (two products subsidized by the state) in protest against the increase in the price of basic products.

However, the government went on to blame certain business interests for the unrest in 2011 and is now making the same claims. Instead of addressing the legitimate socioeconomic claims of protesters, Algerian authorities are choosing a hardline. Are they pushing the country towards a new civil war?
A video posted on a website loyal to the terrorist Islamic State group has threatened that Algeria and Andalusia will be targeted as part of the campaign to increase territories under the groups control. In the video, two individuals who identified themselves as Abu al-Baraa al-Jazayiri and Abu Hafs al-Jazayri urged Algerians to rally behind the extremist group in order to introduce Islamic law in the country.

The five-and-a-half minute slickly produced video entitled A Message to the Algerian People is believed to have been recorded in the northern Syrian province of Raqqa. The logo of IS was also visible in the video.

The two individuals warned that Algeria will pay a heavy price for its crackdown on jihadists before adding that we wont be satisfied until we reach Andalusia which is currently part of southern Spain.

Algerian authorities will surely take seriously the video promising a massacre.

Mountainous areas and the vast Sahara desert are used by terrorists in Algeria as a hideout. The two videoed men called for more allegiance from other jihadists in the region and said they arehappy that jihadists in Skidda (eastern Algeria) and the Algerian desert have sworn loyalty to the Islamic State.

Jihadists in the North African country were encouraged to attack unbelievers and fight against democracy that is considered as an impious religion in order to replace it with Sharia.

Algeria has suffered several terror attacks especially in the regions located in the desert but it has been able to contain it and one of the deadliest was the In Amenas gas plant attack in 2013.
Jeff Zucker. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Turner

At his press conference last week, President-elect Trump refused to take a question from CNN reporter Jim Acosta, denouncing the network as a purveyor of fake news. Trumps ire was in response to CNNs explosive report that U.S. intelligence chiefs had briefed Trump on claims that the Kremlin had collected compromising information on him. In the wake of CNNs report, BuzzFeed published the unedited, and unverified, opposition-research dossier referenced in the intel briefing, which included lurid allegations about Trumps behavior and his campaigns ties to Russia.

On Tuesday morning, I sat down with CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker for a wide-ranging discussion about that controversial scoop, Trumps threat to press freedom, and why hes not worried about losing access to the White House.

After Trump attacked CNN for reporting on the intelligence chiefs briefing on the Russian dossier, you issued a strongly worded statement defending your story. What made CNN decide to publish reporting on the existence of the dossier?

I actually think this was a pretty easy call in terms of its news value. The fact is, the top four intelligence chiefs of the United States decided to include in their briefing to the president and president-elect a two-page summary of allegations involving the president-elect. That is newsworthy by any definition.

Even if the allegations themselves werent verified?

We didnt pass judgment on the allegations. We reported we had not been able to corroborate them. But the news was that the two most powerful people in the world had been briefed on the existence of these allegations.

I was at the press conference at Trump Tower, where Trumps incoming press secretary Sean Spicer and Trump himself denounced CNN and BuzzFeed as fake news. What do you think of BuzzFeeds decision to publish the complete dossier?

They made a decision for themselves, and they have to live with it. Im not going to pass judgment on their decision. We did not think it was appropriate for us given that we had not been able to corroborate the allegations.

Its just unfortunate that the most powerful person in the world is trying to delegitimize journalism.

When you have the president-elect saying, Dont trust CNN, its fake news, is that harmful?

Its just unfortunate that the most powerful person in the world is trying to delegitimize journalism and an organization that plays such a vital role in our democracy. I think hes entitled to his opinion, but its  to use one of his favorite words  sad.

Over the weekend, it was reported that Trump is considering moving reporters out of the West Wing. How worried are you about Trumps attacks on the press?

As Tim Russert said, the role of the media is the accountability of government. I think the press plays a much more important role in this administration. Their willingness and inclination to cherry-pick facts, conflate and inflate things, will make covering this administration very challenging. That means our role is more important than ever. We think that CNN has a job to do, which is to hold their feet to the fire. They may not like it, but they should respect it.

Acosta didnt get to ask a question at last weeks press conference. The first question went to Fox News, and Breitbart got to ask a question. Are you concerned about getting access to Trump?

I think the era of access journalism as weve known it is over. It doesnt worry me that Donald Trump hasnt done an interview with CNN in eight months. I think our credibility is higher than ever, and our viewership is higher than ever, and our reporting is as strong as ever. One of the things I think this administration hasnt figured out yet is that theres only one television network that is seen in Beijing, Moscow, Seoul, Tokyo, Pyongyang, Baghdad, Tehran, and Damascus  and thats CNN. The perception of Donald Trump in capitals around the world is shaped, in many ways, by CNN. Continuing to have an adversarial relationship with that network is a mistake.

Wouldnt Trump say thats what Twitter is for? He can shape his own perception.

If hes relying on Twitter to shape his own perception in the capitals of the world then I think hes making a big mistake.

How does CNN plan to cover Trumps tweets?

I think we should look at his tweets on a case-by-case basis, just like wed look at the comments of any president, and make an editorial decision on which ones to report, discuss, and cover. So I dont think we should knee-jerk-cover every tweet just as we didnt knee-jerk-cover every comment Barack Obama made. We should use our editorial judgment.

I noticed that Trump is sitting down with Fox & Friends. And in recent days, hes given interviews to The Wall Street Journal and the Times of London, both Murdoch papers. What do you think of Trumps alliance with Murdoch?

I think youre trying to goad me here. But youve made the right observation. Look, I dont think its any coincidence that friendly outlets have been the ones that have ended up with the interviews with Donald Trump. Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, the Times of London  the fact that theyre all Ruperts publications  I dont think its any coincidence those are the outlets that ended up with the interviews.

It was reported that MSNBCs Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski were at Mar-a-Lago on New Years Eve. They said it was because they were trying to get an interview with Trump. Was it appropriate for journalists to attend the president-elects private party?

I think in that case, optically, it would have been a lot better to have just made a phone call and ask for the interview.

Trumps feud with CNN is ironic, in a way, because you have perhaps more history with him than any media executive. Some people say you made Trumps presidential run possible with The Apprentice. Did you?

Its true I put him on television with The Apprentice in 2004. Ive never run away from that. But in no way do I think thats why hes the president. You have to give the guy credit. He ran a campaign that worked.

So you dont ever regret that the Trump phenomenon arguably started with you?

No. Listen, I dont regret putting The Apprentice on television.

Another irony of the current antagonism is that CNN has sometimes been perceived as being too close to Trump. You got a lot of flak for covering his speeches in full during the primaries and for hiring his former campaign chairman Corey Lewandowski. What do you think of the criticism?

We didnt bend over backward for Trump; we did what we felt was in the best interest of our viewers and readers to understand the story. The reason we hired a number of voices to reflect the Trump point of view was to help the audience understand who he was, where he was coming from, and what he was thinking. Given the results of the election, it turns out we were exactly right to do so. We had a much better sense on our air what the Trump point of view was than most others.

Were you in touch with Trump regularly throughout the campaign?

Obviously weve known each other for a long time. Just because Ive known somebody for more than 15 years doesnt mean they get a pass.

So how often did you talk to him?

Probably once a month?

Do you still talk to him?

I havent talked to him in more than a month.

Some criticized the Ivanka Trump special that aired on CNN as an effort to curry favor with the White House. Was it?

I dont think were the only news organization that did a profile of Ivanka Trump. Thats silly. Lets remember the stories weve broken in the last week: the original story on the intelligence briefing; the fact that Monica Crowley was a plagiarist; the fact that Congressman Price may have broken the law on his stocks; the fact that Trumps pick for Labor was having second thoughts  All those stories were broken by CNN. Tell me another news organization thats broken more news on Donald Trump in the last week? Please.

Your corporate owner Time Warner is currently going through an $85 billion merger with telecom giant AT&T. Trump has suggested he may try to block the deal because it would concentrate too much media power in one company. Have you spoken with Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes about that?

No. Its one of the things I respect about Time Warner and Turner: their understanding of CNNs independence. Theres been absolutely no conversations or anything of the sort between us and Time Warner.

Some have suggested that CNN might have to be spun off in order to have the deal approved by Trumps Justice Department. Are you worried about that?

No.

You had the biggest night in cable-news history on Election Night, 13 million viewers. Whats your plan to maintain ratings in 2017?

Our viewership continues to be significantly higher than it was a year ago and frankly much higher than we expected it to be. Theres been no evidence of any falloff at all. I think people are coming to us because they know well report both sides of the story. We expected wed be down 25 percent from last year because you had all the election nights, debates, and conventions, but if the first three weeks of this year are any indication, Im not so sure it will be down that much.

In December, the Drudge Report reported you were wooing Megyn Kelly. Did you try to hire her?

I had one conversation with Megyn about coming to CNN in prime time. It never got serious, it never got real.

What do you think of her move to NBC?

I wish her nothing but success. I think NBC News is a great fit for her and shell be a big star there.

During the Bush years, MSNBC saw its ratings skyrocket by being the voice of opposition. Since Election Day, MSNBC has held on to much of its election-year audience, suggesting the network might enjoy similar success during the Trump years. Whats your assessment of MSNBC?

I think all of the cable-news networks are healthy and vibrant and at a good place in the history of cable news. In terms of audience, theres a clear No. 1, a clear No. 2, and a clear No. 3. In terms of reporting and breaking news, theres only one true cable-news network.

So, what would be the best scoop now? If CNN got Trumps tax returns would you report them?

If we could verify they were real and legitimate, just like any other news organization, we would report on them. Sure.

* This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

** Disclosure: I am an MSNBC contributor.
Did Gabbard gab with Assad? Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard is on her way home from an unannounced fact finding trip to Syria where she met with humanitarian workers, refugees, and government leaders, her staff told Foreign Policy Wednesday. Whether Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was among those leaders, her spokesperson would not say.

Gabbard, a major in the National Guard and Iraq War vet, has been critical of the Obama administrations insistence that Assad be removed from power in Syria, despite his war crimes. Ousting Assad would only create instability, she argues. Shes also chided Obama for his refusal to use the phrase radical Islamic terrorism, an attack he typically gets from the right.

In November, Gabbard and Trump met when the congresswoman was reportedly under consideration for a cabinet position. At the time, she said she took the meeting to dissuade Trump from dragging us into an escalation of the war to overthrow the Syrian government.

Gabbards stance on Assad has made her a polarizing figure in D.C. A prominent Bernie Sanders supporter, she also has an admirer in Trumps senior counselor Steve Bannon. And hes sure to only like her more after this trip, which has reportedly angered congressional leaders. If theres one thing Trump and Bannon love, its pissing off both Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi.
In her brief confirmation hearing, Donald Trumps nominee to become U.S. secretary of Education made it clear she thought parents, not taxpayers, should call the shots. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

For reasons that are not clear, the Senate held its confirmation hearing for Betsy DeVos, Donald Trumps pick for secretary of Education, late on Tuesday, and each senator was limited to one five-minute round of questions. Democrats on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee complained a lot about the brevity of the hearing, which reduced the time DeVos had to bob and weave her way through potentially perilous questions. I look forward to working with you on that issue was her most frequent answer.

DeVos still had to put up with acerbic comments about her vast wealth, her incomplete ethics paperwork, and her potential conflicts of interest. She was pressed to explain aspects of her educational philosophy (and Trumps) in areas where they are not widely known. She labored to sidestep or minimize highly controversial issues like Common Core education standards. Elizabeth Warren mentioned Trumps fake university and suggested crooks and swindlers would do back-flips at DeVoss intention to review regulations disliked by for-profit higher-education institutions. Patty Murray brought up Trumps Access Hollywood comments, and DeVos was challenged on her own commitment to fight sexual assault on college campuses. While there were many of these contentious exchanges, the nominee managed to keep her composure.

DeVoss big challenge, however, was to defend her long-time advocacy for the use of public funds for private schools with a minimum of accountability. And despite the best efforts of several Democrats and even some Republicans (notably Lisa Murkowski) to get a clear commitment from her with respect to accountability, she kept returning to vague assertions.

DeVoss prepared opening statement to the committee provided an important clue that her idea of accountability is not one most policy-makers would share. She continually embraced the principle that public-education policy should be all about what parents want, with occasional kibitzing from teachers and school administrators.

I share President-elect Trumps view that its time to shift the debate from what the system thinks is best for kids to what moms and dads want, expect and deserve.



Parents no longer believe that a one-size-fits-all model of learning meets the needs of every child, and they know other options exist, whether magnet, virtual, charter, home, religious, or any combination thereof. Yet, too many parents are denied access to the full range of options choices that many of us  here in this room  have exercised for our own children.



Why, in 2017, are we still questioning parents ability to exercise educational choice for their children? I am a firm believer that parents should be empowered to choose the learning environment thats best for their individual children.

That is very clear. And if it is not, theres this conclusory statement: For me, its simple: I trust parents, and I believe in our children.

Whos left out in a publicly financed education system in which individual moms and dads call all the shots? The people financing that system, the public itself. Yes, many of them are moms and dads, too  but in their capacity as taxpayers and as allegedly self-governing voters they should have the right to ensure that public dollars benefit the public as a whole via a system that offers equal access and train a well-educated citizenry. And this is the very idea that separates DeVos from actual defenders of public education, including many who support public-school choice and public charter schools (privately operated public schools that are free, that offer equal access, and that are accountable to public authorities via a specific performance agreement, a.k.a. a charter).

DeVos and her husband have devoted themselves and much of their vast wealth to severing any link between public-education funding and public accountability, championing the idea that parents, with zero accountability to anyone, should be the sole distributors of taxpayer dollars. Thats why they have supported attaching funds to the individual child, to follow them wherever their parents choose. And thats why in addition to supporting the use of public funds at private or religious schools  or for religiously motivated home-schooling  the DeVoses have fought to make charter public schools in their own state of Michigan as unaccountable as possible  contradicting the very idea of the charter.

Is it possible parents handed a public subsidy and total freedom to use it however they want could make a poor education decision for their kids or their community? Of course they could, particularly if they are being advised by their spiritual leaders to steer those public dollars to the Academy of the Vengeful God, where boys are taught to be servant-leaders to their submissive homemaking wives. (LGBT folk need not apply!)

Asked back in 2001 if she disagreed with the idea that private schools should rely on private dollars for their support, DeVos said this:

There are not enough philanthropic dollars in America to fund what is currently the need in education  [versus] what is currently being spent every year on education in this country  Our desire is to confront the culture in ways that will continue to advance Gods Kingdom.

It is perfectly possible for a secretary of Education to serve her or his God and the American people simultaneously. Using public schools to place the latter in submission to the former without their consent is to betray the public trust.

Unfortunately, there wasnt time for such deep questions at Tuesdays hearing. The committee is set to vote on DeVoss confirmation next week, probably on more-or-less a party-line basis. Barring some unexpected disclosure, she will probably become the first secretary of Education whose commitment to the very idea of public schools remains in question.
NEW VIDEO #BREAKING:

Man says Trump is a dictator. He tried to light himself on fire at #TrumpInternationalHotel for #TrumpInauguration pic.twitter.com/laJDUPepO6  Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) January 18, 2017

A man protesting dictator Donald Trump briefly lit himself on fire outside of the president-elects D.C. hotel Tuesday. The fire was small and the mans injuries were relatively minor, according to the Washington Post. The unidentified 45-year-old was reportedly taken to a hospital with third-degree burns on 10 percent of his body.

An NBC reporter caught up with the protester for a brief interview after the police arrived. Heres his explanation: I was trying to set myself on fire as an act of protest. Protesting the fact that weve elected somebody whos incapable of respecting the Constitution of the United States.
Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

During her confirmation hearing on Tuesday evening, Betsy DeVos did her best to appear moderate and conciliatory, but the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee was clearly deeply divided on Donald Trumps pick for Education secretary.

Republicans hailed the Michigan billionaire, who is a strong advocate for charter schools and publicly funded vouchers for private education, as a reformer who will give parents more choice in their childrens education. In his introduction, former senator Joe Lieberman said DeVoss lack of experience  shes never attended public school or held a government job  is an asset. She doesnt come from within the education Establishment. But honestly, I believe that today thats one of the most important qualifications you could have for this job, he said. We need a change agent.

However, Democrats had many issues with DeVos, beginning with the hearing itself. They initially complained that there should be no hearing since the Office of Government Ethics has not finished reviewing DeVoss ethics and financial disclosures for potential conflicts of interest. Then Senator Lamar Alexander, the committees chairman, limited each senator to just five minutes of questioning, which Democratic senators said was insufficient time, especially considering DeVoss wealth and controversial views on education.

In the time they did have, Democrats grilled DeVos on potential conflicts of interest related to her familys contributions to conservative religious organizations, her qualifications, and her advocacy for policies that they say would take funding away from public schools. DeVos repeatedly tried to dodge questions by cheerily telling senators that she looked forward to working with them as secretary, but as listed below, there were still many contentious exchanges.

A vote on DeVoss nomination is set for next Tuesday, but Alexander said it will be rescheduled if her ethics review is not completed by the end of the week.

Privatizing Public Schools

Senator Patty Murray asked DeVos if she would promise not to privatize public schools or cut funding from public education. DeVos said, Not all schools are working for the students, and she hopes to work with Murray to find ways to empower parents to make choices on behalf of their children that are right for them.

I take that as not be willing to commit to not privatizing public schools or cutting money from education, Murray responded.

When asked, to commit to preserving funding for public education, Betsy #Devos wouldn't. pic.twitter.com/FfqivbUG03  Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) January 18, 2017

Education Policy

When Senator Al Franken asked DeVos to give her opinion on whether schools should be judged by students proficiency or growth, DeVos seemed unfamiliar with the terms. Franken explained that the question of which metric should be used in federal education policy has been a subject of debate for years. It surprises me you dont know this issue, Franken said.

Sen. Al Franken discovers Trump Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos doesn't know the difference between proficiency and growth. pic.twitter.com/QFQchwHhuc  Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 18, 2017

Free College Tuition

Senator Bernie Sanders asked DeVos if shed work with him to make public colleges and universities tuition-free. She called Sanderss proposal a really interesting idea, but added, We have to consider the fact that theres nothing in life that is truly free. Somebody will pay for it.

Campus Sexual Assault

DeVos said that while her moms heart has really piqued on the issue, committing to uphold 2011 regulations that require colleges to investigate sexual assault more thoroughly would be premature. The guidelines now require schools to use a lower standard of evidence  a preponderance of evidence rather than beyond a reasonable doubt  in administrative disciplinary hearings on sexual assault.

Senator Bob Casey noted that DeVos has donated to a group that sued the Department of Education over the new standard, saying it denies the accused their due process.



Later, Senator Murray asked if DeVos would consider unwanted kissing and groping, like the behavior described by Trump on the Access Hollywood video, to be sexual assault. She said yes.

So Betsy DeVos who's on Donald Trumps Cabinet admits his actions would constitute Sexual Assault?  #DeVosHearing pic.twitter.com/iDTiYWTcwp  Zack (@steelzack1) January 18, 2017

Students With Disabilities

When Senator Tim Kaine asked if all taxpayer-funded schools should be required to comply with the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, DeVos said, I think that is a matter best left to the states.

Are you saying that some states might be good to kids with disabilities, and some states might not be so good, and then people can just move around the country if they dont like the way their kids are being treated? Kaine asked.

Betsy DeVos isnt going to stand up for students with disabilities. She just said so: pic.twitter.com/UQ8oXREIs7  The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) January 18, 2017

Later, DeVos walked back her remarks, saying she does think schools that accept federal funding must comply with federal law. When Senator Maggie Hassan asked if she was unaware of the federal law protecting students with disabilities, DeVos said, I may have confused it.

Stunning: Maggie Hassan (who has a disabled son) realizes that DeVos doesn't know the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act exists. pic.twitter.com/ht2dK9iqL8  Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) January 18, 2017

Guns in Schools

DeVos told Senator Christopher Murphy  who represents Newtown, Connecticut  that she thinks the issue of whether guns should be allowed in schools is best left to locales and states to decide. Referencing an earlier remark from Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi about a school in his state that is threatened by bear attacks, DeVos said, Theres probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies.
Photo-Illustration: Daily Intelligencer. Photos: Drew Angerer; Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Donald Trump wants to lower the trade deficit and boost American manufacturing. To accomplish this, he would like to slap a 35 percent tariff on the goods of any company that relocates outside the United States  and on all cars made in Germany  while also hitting Chinese imports with a 45 percent tariff, and making Americas respect for the (decades-old) One China Policy conditional on Beijings cutting the U.S. a better deal on trade.

Which is to say: The president-elect would like to put America first by radically increasing the cost of consumer goods in the U.S., starting trade wars with several countries, and, quite possibly, an actual war with China.

House Republicans dont want to do any of that. But they would like for Trump to be able to tell his Rust Belt faithful he did something to bring their jobs back. And so, Paul Ryan has responded to the president-elects wild proposals by saying, in so many words, Yes, Trumps right  we should stop taxing U.S. exporters on their overseas sales.

The technical name for that proposal is a border adjustment tax (or BAT), and it would effectively increase business taxes on importers while giving U.S. exporters a significant tax break. The BAT is the cornerstone of the House GOPs corporate tax reform. Over the next ten years, its expected to generate roughly $1 trillion in new revenue  funds Ryan needs to (partially) offset a massive cut in the overall corporate rate.



And, it was supposed to simultaneously satisfy Trumps appetite for protectionism. In mid-November, the president-elects economic adviser Stephen Moore warned the House GOP leadership that they no longer belonged to a conservative party, but to a working-class, populist one.

One week later, Moore held up the BAT as evidence that the House had heeded his counsel.

If we have a border-adjustable tax system, that can solve a lot of these trade issues that Trump is talking about, Moore told Reuters. Youre going to tax whats imported and not going to tax whats exported. So were going to reduce the trade deficit and were going to have more companies come in here.

But in an interview with The Wall Street Journal last Friday, Trump rejected this sunny assessment of the BAT. Anytime I hear border adjustment, I dont love it, Trump said. Because usually it means were going to get adjusted into a bad deal. Thats what happens.

The president-elect also decried the measure as too complicated  according to Politico, the Trump teams specific concern is that the measure is too complicated to sell to voters.

And the president-elects preference for putting public opinion above Paul Ryans agenda extends beyond issues of trade. Over the weekend, Trump promised that his partys Obamacare replacement would provide insurance for everybody.

There was a philosophy in some circles that if you cant pay for it, you dont get it, Trump told the Washington Post. Thats not going to happen with us.



Of course, the philosophy Trump cites here is conservatism, and the circles are those that the House GOP swims in. The Republican Party has no desire to guarantee universal health-insurance coverage. They merely want to guarantee universal access to such coverage. Which is a bit like saying your public-transportation plan is to provide universal access to Lamborghinis  anyone who can afford one will have the freedom to access it!



The president-elect also told the Post that he intends to follow through on his campaign promise to pressure pharmaceutical companies into cutting the prices of their drugs, an initiative that the House GOP has zero interest in, but which the public overwhelmingly supports.

Whether Trump is any more sincere about these positions than he is about forcing Mexico to finance our border wall remains to be seen. On Tuesday, the president-elect appeared to take several steps in Paul Ryans direction, telling the news site Axios that border adjustment was still on the plate, and that Medicaid block grants could be one way to ensure that people with no money are taken care of.

Still, at the very least, Trump is complicating the House GOPs messaging  and likely inspiring a few Republicans to think of how much easier life would be with President Pence in the Oval Office.
Photo: Gary Waters/Getty Images/Ikon Images

A question for the ages: Are you stuck with yourself?

Plenty of researchers who study personality would answer in the affirmative. For a long time, the study of personality was stuck in two extremes: Some psychological scientists argued that your personality is so stubborn that it forms once and for all in early childhood, staying essentially the same from first grade into adulthood. (Personality Set For Life By 1st Grade, was one headline on the matter in 2010.) You are who you are, and there is not much that you can do about you. Others would say that personality is so unstable that trying to measure any change is hardly worthwhile. Lately, personality psychologists have taken a more moderate view: If personality traits do change, they change slowly, and the overall difference over time tends to be modest.

All of which is why a big new review of studies on personality-trait change is so intriguing. In an analysis of 207 studies, published this month in the journal Psychological Bulletin, a team of six researchers found that personality can and does change, and by a lot, and fairly quickly. But only with a therapists help. (Imagine that.)

Therapy, this analysis found, seems to be especially effective at decreasing neuroticism, a trait that not only disposes you to anxiety and other negative emotions, but to spending lots of time ruminating about all those feelings, as my colleague Drake Baer has put it. Past research (not to mention common sense) has suggested that peoples personalities generally tend to mellow as they get older; in particular, neuroticism tends to decrease with age. This is like that natural process, only sped way, way up: The review found that three months of therapy lowered neuroticism by about half the amount you might expect to see over 30 to 40 years of adulthood, as science writer Stephanie Pappas succinctly explains it. Lets restate that, because it is bonkers: Thats half of the change it would typically take 40 years to accomplish, done in just a few months time when guided by a therapist.

A persons gender or age didnt make a difference one way or another; likewise, the type of therapy didnt matter much, though psychotherapy was a bit better than medication on its own. These changes happened quickly, as most of the gains were made within the first month of therapy, the authors write, and there was no evidence that the effects of therapy faded with time. (By the way: You can get a good idea of your own personality traits with this test Jesse Singal and Ashley Wu published on Science of Us in December.)

A somewhat strange thing about research in psychology, or so Ive found after many years as a journalist reporting on it, is how separate it usually stays from clinical psychology. Psychotherapy is one thing; psychological research is often quite another. In this new paper, however, the authors  led by Brent W. Roberts of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign  acknowledge this mild absurdity, and they pull all 207 of those studies from their counterparts in clinical psychology, where there is a long-standing, if relatively unappreciated, current of research on personality-trait change.

Because clinical psychology is, in many ways, an obvious field to draw from if youre trying to study personality change. Lots of fields of psychology do experiments. But in a lot of areas, the experiments are inducing short-term changes to isolate phenomena in laboratories, Sanjay Srivastava, director of the Personality and Social Dynamics Lab at the University of Oregon, told Science of Us in an email. (Srivastava was not involved with this current research, but he is familiar with it, and called it a careful and thoughtful paper.) A lot of clinical psychology, by contrast, is about developing interventions that change people in real and consequential ways, he added. So if you are interested in personality change, its a better match.

There are some caveats here, of course. Roberts and his colleagues acknowledge that its possible that these changes in neuroticism may be a return to baseline rather than a true personality-trait change; if someone is in therapy for depression or anxiety, for example, their neuroticism may be operating at a higher level than usual, and perhaps their therapist is simply helping them return to normal.

Its also worth noting the work of Brian Little, a personality psychologist at the University of Cambridge and author of the A-plus 2015 book Me, Myself, and Us: The Science of Personality and the Art of Well-Being, who draws a distinction between what he calls biogenic traits and sociogenic traits. According to Little, biogenic personality traits are genetically programmed, and, therefore, fixed; sociogenic traits, on the other hand, tend to be more malleable. The authors do not claim, nor have they shown, that what I call the biogenic aspects of personality have been influenced by clinical intervention, Little said in an email. But they have shown that there are measurable changes in the ways we present ourselves to others (and to ourselves)  closer to what I think of as the sociogenic features of personality.

Really, though, the key takeaway here may be the optimistic notion that changing your personality is possible at all. For a long time, the argument between the extreme positions was dominating the conversation, Srivastava explained. Now we are learning that the people who werent drawn in to either of those extremes were right all along. In an intriguing study that Cari Romm reported on last fall, when high-schoolers were given simple writing exercises encouraging them to think about how personality can change in adolescence, they were better able to reframe their social dramas with the other kids at school as mere challenges, as opposed to insurmountable obstacles. Taking the long view of their own personalities, in other words, seemed to help them gain a similar zoomed-out perspective on the problems they were currently facing, too. Your problems can and will change; so can and will you.
Photo: Caiaimage/Sam Edwards/Getty Images

Earlier today, I published a blog post in which I aggregated a BuzzFeed article by Tom Chivers about so-called mindset theory. Mindset theory, which is mostly the work of Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, postulates an important distinction between growth or fixed mindsets. If you have a growth mindset, you respond to failure with an attitude something like, Well, Im going to have to get better at this so I can succeed next time (Im cribbing from my original post). If you have a fixed mindset, on the other hand, you might say, Im clearly not good enough to do this  I should give up and move on.

Mindset theorys proponents claim that this simple concept can go a surprisingly long way toward explaining why some people succeed and others fail, and also that people  schoolkids, most excitingly  can be induced to adopt a growth mindset, which leads to better performance. As a result, the concept has spread far and wide in education circles.

Chiverss article raised a number of troubling points about the quality of evidence undergirding these ideas. [S]ome statisticians and psychologists are increasingly worried that mindset theory is not all it claims to be, he wrote. The findings of Dwecks key study have never been replicated in a published paper, which is noteworthy in so high-profile a work. One scientist told BuzzFeed News that his attempt to reproduce the findings has so far failed. An investigation found several small but revealing errors in the study that may require a correction. Chivers went on to lay out evidence suggesting people should be more skeptical of the claims made by Dweck and other mindset theory proponents.

In my original post, I more or less endorsed Chiverss argument, encouraging people to read his article. After it went up, though, I received an email from David Yeager, a psychology professor at the University of Texas at Austin who has conducted mindset-theory research. Yeager argued, convincingly, that Chiverss article failed to mention a bunch of research that would have complicated his story line. I looked back at my own post and realized that I hadnt been skeptical enough in my aggregation of someone elses work, especially given that this is a subject area where I dont have a great deal of familiarity.

Which brings us to this post. My original blog post on Chiverss article used to live at this URL, but I realized that it would have required significant enough updates and corrections that it made more sense to fully rewrite it and explain my errors. For transparencys sake, the old post is here in its original form, and Ill spend the rest of this post explaining what happened.

The short version is that since Chiverss article focused primarily, in its rundown of the mindset-theory research, on that single study by Dweck that has failed to be replicated, I in turn leaned too heavily on that study. Specifically, I wrote that Much of [the excitement over mindset theory] is based on a single article Dweck published in 1998 with Claudia Mueller. This was an overblown claim on my part. In fact, as Yeager pointed out, enough research has been conducted on mindset theory that one meta-analysis examining the link between mindset and performance looked at 113 studies, finding that people with mindsets characterized by the belief that human attributes are malleable rather than fixed were significantly more likely to engage in a number of goal-related behaviors and strategies linked to enhanced performance. (Its worth noting, as always, that correlation doesnt imply causation.) Another meta-analysis, in the context of a broader examination of 92 educational interventions, looked at six studies of mindset interventions pertaining to Dwecks ideas and found that they appeared to be fairly effective at improving educational performance.

Now, it is also the case, as Chivers pointed out, that Dweck has made some overheated-seeming claims about mindset theory: Her website claims that a fixed mindset caused the Enron scandal, while a growth mindset can encourage cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, he wrote. Almost every truly great athlete  Michael Jordan, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Tiger Woods, Mia Hamm, Pete Sampras  has had a growth mindset, she believes. In addition, Dwecks foundational study, which offered up eye-popping results, has failed to replicate and contained some fairly important statistical errors (which she has since acknowledged). Chivers also noted that some other papers in the mindset-theory space appear to have statistical problems of their own, and quoted Columbia statistician Andrew Gelman, an extremely credible voice on these matters, as saying Dweck and her colleagues are using statistical methods that are known to be biased (Gelman has also expressed skepticism of some of Dwecks work on his blog). And he isnt the only statistically sophisticated researcher who has questioned the the quality of this research  Chivers quoted others, too.

So it could be argued that mindset theory, like so many other ideas in pop psychology, has sometimes been oversimplified and overhyped, and/or that there appear to be some holes in it here or there. But its not fair to level such critiques, or to amplify them as I did, without also addressing the other side of the ledger: There is a decent quantity of published evidence which at least partially supports Dwecks ideas. I do think Chivers should have mentioned those meta-analyses, if only to explain why he didnt buy their conclusions (theres one fleeting mention of meta-analyses that comes in a quote, but nothing from Chivers himself), but thats not an excuse: My blog post had my name on it, not his, and it was sloppy of me to aggregate his story without first seeking to better inform myself about the mindset-theory research landscape.

Anyway, Ill do better in the future. In the meantime, heres a blog post just published by Dweck defending her work. If you read Chiverss article, read Dwecks post too.
Zuck jacks in. Photo: GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP/Getty Images

In a federal courtroom in Dallas yesterday, Mark Zuckerberg took the stand to explain that Facebook did not steal virtual reality when it paid $2 billion to acquire Oculus in 2014. Wearing a suit and tie (!), Zuckerberg was subjected to a grilling about contracts and legal technicalities in a lawsuit that could throw a major wrench in the companys road map.

But lets back up. Facebook is being sued by ZeniMax Media. Thats not a name that many people recognize, but it is the parent company of a few well-known video-game developers. They own Bethesda Game Studios, makers of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, and id Software, the studio that made Doom and Quake. When they acquired id a few years ago, ZeniMax also acquired legendary designer and tinkerer John Carmack, who was working on VR tech of his own.

To hear Facebook tell it, Carmack and Oculus founder Palmer Luckey met on a VR message board, and they worked together to refine the technology, eventually bringing a rough but promising prototype to E3, the video-game trade show, in 2012. In late November of 2013, it was announced that Carmack was officially leaving id to work for Oculus as their CTO. On his way out the door, he copied thousands of emails and files from his ZeniMaxowned computer  intellectual property that ZeniMax claims that they own.

From Gizmodo:

While he was questioned by ZeniMaxs lawyer last week, Carmack admitted to taking thousands of documents and lines of code. I copied files that I shouldnt have. I think stealing is an uncharitable way to look at it since I didnt benefit and ZeniMax didnt lose, but I shouldnt have done it, and I did, Carmack said while being questioned by ZeniMaxs lawyer. In testimony, Carmack was eager to talk about the documents he took, and explained that by the strict intellectual property definition his copying of documents was considered stealing. Carmack argued that the emails he copied didnt contain source code, rather just snippets of source code, but, Carmack said, there may have been source code included in the attachments of the emails.

ZeniMax is suing Facebook for $2 billion, the same amount Facebook paid for Oculus. They are also claiming that Oculuss kid-genius (and right-wing meme funder) Palmer Luckey violated a 2014 NDA he signed with ZeniMax in order to look at some of Carmacks work. Oculus is the entity being sued here, not Facebook, but lawyers for ZeniMax are claiming that Facebook did not perform due diligence about Carmack and Luckeys contractual relationships before closing the deal.

Facebook, unsurprisingly, is trying to cast ZeniMax as bitter and jealous, having turned down a chance to get in on the Oculus ground floor by rejecting deals that would have given it a stake in the budding company.

Which brings us to yesterday, when Zuckerberg took the stand. Heres what we learned.

Zuckerberg claims to have never heard of ZeniMax before the Oculus deal.

He appeared confident that the court would rule in Oculuss favor. It is pretty common when you announce a big deal or do something like that, he said. All kinds of people come out of the woodwork and claim that they just own some portion of the deal. Still, lawyers were curious about how Zuckerberg didnt know about the very recent history of Carmack, who is revered in the gaming and tech industries.

Facebook rushed the deal.

Zuckerberg wanted a deal drafted Friday to be signed Monday, although he claimed that Facebook spends months considering potential acquisitions before they pull the trigger. ZeniMaxs lawyer, Toni Sammi, continued to press Zuckerberg on the rushed deal, however. He noted that Zuckerberg did not learn about the aforementioned NDA that Luckey had signed until 2016, and presented texts in which the Facebook CEO said, keep pushing forward until we have something we can sign on a moments notice, then we can figure out how long we wait for diligence.

Zuck: "Our new motto is build fast by building stable infrastructure. It doesnt have quite the same ring to it.  _ (@MikeIsaac) January 17, 2017

The VR rollout is slow going.

Zuckerberg also admitted that the virtual-reality effort has been more complicated than originally anticipated. These things end up being more complex than you think up front, he told a lawyer from Oculuss defense team. If anything, we may have to invest even more money to get to the goals we had than we had thought up front.

Mark Zuckerberg does, in fact, own a suit.

You know its serious when he shows up in something other than a gray hoodie or T-shirt.

The trial resumes today, when Palmer Luckey is expected to take the stand.
Photo: Handout/Getty Images

Russias Foreign Ministry clarified today that it was permitting NSA leaker Edward Snowden to remain in the country for another three years, extending the asylum he was granted in 2013 shortly after fleeing the United States. Snowden had just extended the term of the residence permit in Russia for another couple of years, Russian government spokesperson Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook. According to the New York Times, Snowdens lawyer told a state-run news agency that the permit was valid until 2020.

Snowden has long argued that his actions, which shed light on the NSAs vast, covert surveillance apparatus, are worthy of a pardon. The Obama administration has indicated that it has no plans to issue a pardon, noting that Snowden has not surrendered or stood trial for his purported crimes, unlike Chelsea Manning, who was granted clemency yesterday. It is nearly inconceivable that incoming president Donald Trump would pardon Snowden.
Alexis Manigo.

Its been less than two weeks since 18-year-old Alexis Manigo discovered that she had been abducted from a Jacksonville, Florida, hospital as a baby  and that the woman she had always known as mom was actually her alleged kidnapper. Now, in a new interview with Good Morning America, Manigo  who was born with the name Kamiyah Mobley  opened up about her experience.

Manigo told Good Morning America that she doesnt resent Gloria Williams for allegedly abducting her; instead, she feels Williams gave her a great life and will always be Mom to her. She made one mistake, but I was loved. From that one mistake I was given the best life, Manigo said.

The teenager wouldnt reveal how she found out that Williams had abducted her, as she feels obligated to protect her in any way possible. I understand what she did was wrong, but just dont lock her up and throw away the key like everything she did was just awful, Manigo said. She loved me for 18 years. She cared for me for 18 years.

Manigo has since been reunited with her birth parents, and told Good Morning America that shes giving them a chance to get to know her. Im not saying they werent going to be good parents. Im not saying that at all. But it would have been a different life, she said.

The teenager apparently still talks to Williams on the phone every day, even though shes behind bars. Manigo is also currently working with her lawyer, Justin Bamberg, to get her valid drivers license, Social Security Number, birth certificate, and other necessary documents. Bamberg also addressed the online criticism both Manigo and Williams have received, encouraging people to try to put themselves in the teenagers shoes.

Until you are in that situation, I dont think you should be so quick to judge, Bamberg said. I want you to ask yourself, What would I say if I woke up tomorrow and I found out that my mother was not my mother?
Photo: Maritz Verwey/Getty Images/Gallo Images

Dear Polly,

Im writing from what feels like a place of despair and hopelessness. I quit my mediocre and extremely unfulfilling job several years ago and embarked upon a mission to land myself in a doctorate program  something I would have done years ago if Id had more faith in myself (and fewer student loans). Somehow, I got in and am now partway through, and Im never less than fully aware of how lucky I am to be here. The problem is that a lot has changed in my life over the past few years, and Im no longer sure if this is really what I want to be doing. I cant tell if its just because Im anxious and depressed all the time (occupational hazard, probably) and am filtering everything through that, or if its just a function of a heavy workload and a high degree of precarity, or if this truly is not the great fit for me I thought it would be. Even in a best-case scenario, the job prospects arent great, and my financial situation has always been pretty tenuous. (Admittedly, I knew all of that going in and went for it anyway.)

Adding to this is the fact that my Ph.D. quest has already been disastrous for my personal life, especially where romantic relationships are involved. Ive moved continents twice over the last four years, have endured the implosion of two long-term partnerships, feel disconnected from friends and family, and hate where Im currently living but will need to be here for a while yet. On top of all that, I live in constant fear that I will be kicked out of my program and will have nowhere to go, and I worry that Im starting to make this a self-fulfilling prophecy by not performing at my best.

I know that I should be counting my blessings and the fact that Im here against all odds should be a source of confidence. I really want to be able to buck up and do the work, and Im genuinely ashamed to think that I might just be a bleak, whiny, and possibly lazy person at heart. But I am honestly at the stage where it seems perfectly rational to think that this is as good as it can get for me  Im hamstrung when it comes to other options and feel like I can only become unhappier whether I stay in my program or leave. And if Im already this viscerally miserable, whats the point?

Ive always been a very determined person, good at achieving whatever I set out to do, but I feel unable and possibly even unwilling to tap into that right now. I have been in therapy for a while and started taking meds a few months ago. So far, neither has helped much. How can I keep hanging on to what I have when I feel existentially exhausted? How do I avoid losing everything Ive worked for before I have a chance to appreciate (and actually want) it?

Yours in self-aware self-pity,

Window on the Void

Dear Window on the Void,

The problem with neurotic overachievers like you and me is that we take responsibility for everything, including our own unhappiness. This can turn a mildly Meh! mood into a three-week downward spiral. This is compounded by the fact that we tend to have parents who publicly chide laziness but privately feel guilty about everything they do, thereby creating little mini-mes to join in that eternal dance of conflicted, self-flagellating alienation. (Its not a very lively dance. Audiences tend to sneak out the back exit during the first intermission.) Relying on your bad brain to solve this problem, mostly by asking big, important questions like Should I really finish grad school? and Is this career meant for a lazy sack of shit like me?, is destined to send your brain spinning in circles, buzzing and throwing off sparks until youre panicked but no closer to an answer than when you started.

Your brain cant do this job. It just cant. And your brain also, very understandably, doesnt want you to focus on your coursework or your research or whatever else you have floating in front of your eyes. Your brain says FUCK THAT! IM WORKING HARD ENOUGH ALREADY JUST TRYING TO SORT OUT WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANT FROM ME! IM FLAMING OUT, HERE! CAN YOU NOT SMELL THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF YOUR EARS, YOU MISERABLE FUCK?

Its time to let your brain off the hook. Lets imagine it as a Jell-O mold, melon-flavored with little red grapes jiggling and glistening throughout. Let it just sit there and jiggle, looking pretty. Give your sweet melon-flavored brain some credit for doing nothing. You dont have to work hard right now, you can say. Be gorgeous and empty for once. Let your brain stop adding and subtracting and just lie like a glistening melon-hued jellyfish in the middle of the beach.

And once your brain is an inert gelatinous blob, listen: Youre going to be fine. Youve made it this far. You have entered a period of questioning, thats all. You are plagued by big, looming questions and small, chafing questions and irrational self-doubt and slow, sinking depression. Its hard to separate these things from each other.

Start with the physical: Maybe you should adjust your meds or try something new if what youre taking isnt working. Maybe you need to eat more green things and get more sleep. Do you exercise? Do you allow yourself to ponder the same terrible questions all day long while eating badly, never moving, and sleeping badly? You wont make any progress until you get very practical about how to take care of your physical self and let off some steam by sweating a little, eating good things, and sleeping a lot. If you mess with just one of these variables, everything goes haywire.

Academics and writers and other freelancers with relatively flexible schedules and big deadlines who work from home always have to keep in mind how fucking hard it is to live the way we do. Even though in some ways were very spoiled, in other ways our lives are structured to drive us fucking insane. Human beings dont do that well with unstructured time. We eat ourselves alive whenever we have a new opportunity to do so.

Trust me. I have many, many opportunities every day to conclude that I am worthless and lazy and disappointing. If I dont exercise constantly, in fact, my bad brain tells me that I am a shitty person whos designed to fail at all things. Giant opportunities in particular can transform quickly into huge blunt weapons designed to bludgeon my sorry, overreaching ass to death. Im starting two enormous new projects at this very moment, in fact, and the excitement and adventure of these challenges sometimes feels like its giving way to a crushing wave of dread. I am doing stuff that I havent done before. This is fun! I say to myself insistently. And it is fun, when I let my brain turn to jelly and just enjoy it. But other times, Im also worried.

Why am I worried? Because Im a fucking human being, thats why.

Youre deep enough into grad school and this new town you live in now that you have some time to think about what an enormous mistake it all is. You probably dont have that many friends in your town, and you dont have a partner, and you have to face all of these huge decisions youve made all by yourself. You also have tons of free time (compared to many people with 50-hour-a-week jobs and friends and partners and families to see)  unstructured free time that can be quickly crafted into a mallet to smack yourself in the face with, over and over again.

Of course you feel like shit! And of course your shitty feelings are making your brain spin. What if you hate this program? What if you hate this field? What if you never get a job? What if you quit and youre just as unhappy? Where will you go? What will you do next?

Every single human alive would be anxious and depressed if they were alone, in a crap town, with a scary-hard academic to-do list in front of them. Forgive yourself for feeling overwhelmed! Youre just exhausted because youve moved a ton, and youve been through a lot, and you want a break. You want to know that youre in the right place. You want to believe. You want to feel good about the big picture. You want to be loved and supported. You want to live somewhere you like. You want close friends who tell you to keep going, you can do it, youre the best.

But you dont get those things. All you have is your own fucked-up brain. All you have is you. And even if you werent in grad school, Im going to guess that you wouldve landed here. This is a place of reckoning, where everything feels worthless, a place you werent going to avoid. And its a place youll visit again, trust me. The kinds of people who become writers and academics and artists are often people who, consciously or not, want to interrogate and audit their lives. They need proof that what theyre doing is worthwhile. And they need to know themselves well and feel proud of themselves just to proceed.

And yes, that is a gift, and its also a MOTHERFUCKER. So accept that, first: This is a tough time. Im in the dark. I feel discouraged. But anyone in my shoes would feel discouraged. The things Im going through are not necessarily specific to me, and theyre not all my fault. This is just where I happen to be at this particular juncture in my life.

I would not decide to quit school right now if I were you. In fact, I wouldnt make any big decisions while youre feeling discouraged and depressed. I would adjust your meds, work out more if that tends to help, turn off your brain, and do your fucking work without questioning it. If you ask me, this is not your big moment to redefine everything you want and need in your life. This is your big moment to get er done.

My husband often talks about how hard it was to finish his dissertation. He was battling depression and lots of other suboptimal factors. But he forced himself to focus, push through, and get his degree, and he uses a lot of the methods he learned then to push through his work now. He knows how to push through, even when hes not really feeling it.

There are times when we believe that giving up will bring us relief, because we were driven too hard (or drove ourselves too hard) for most of our lives. These times make our depression flare up. But they also test us. At times like these, our inner, pissed-off children, who always felt guilty for being sad and unproductive, come out of the dungeon to haunt us. They want us to baby them. They want us to tell them that they dont have to work hard. Its OK, you can quit, they want us to say. You never really wanted this anyway. This was a bad decision. Youll feel better once you quit.

Those little bastards can be dangerous! They can really fuck up our plans. Because when we indulge them way too much, we end up giving up on ourselves.

You can tell your inner, pissed-off child, Its not your fault that you feel shitty, and still say, Now get out of my face, Ive got work to do. But you have to be firm. Youre not telling me you hate what youre studying, and youre not telling me theres something else you want to do instead. Youre just saying, I am doubting myself and I want to quit but I dont think it will help anything because what then? Youre just saying you like feeling inspired and youre not remotely inspired by anything right now. Everything feels wrong instead.

In order to work harder, you have to take the question of whether or not to quit off the table. Thats what I have to do when Im in a rough spot with my work. I dont say, I chose this, so fuck me, I have to finish it either. I say, I am going to question this every single day, naturally, because I question every goddamn thing, because I am a regular human being and we all do that. But I am going to work really fucking hard anyway and get this shit done. And not only am I going to GET IT DONE, I am going to hit it out of the park, too.

That last part is important. Its the part you forget when youre procrastinating. You forget that your worries and your avoidance and your depression dont mean that the best you can do is finish your work in the most mediocre way possible. They merely mean that youre someone who is conflicted, like most writers and academics and freelancers are, day after day after day. This is how we live. You dont get to create amazing things without ambivalence. It hardly ever happens. Artists and writers and people who want to do big things are almost always a little tortured. They are tortured not because they merely want to write or study or create. Theyre tortured because they want to write AMAZING things and study and teach INCREDIBLE stuff and create PASSIONATELY.

The big myth about passion is that its there all the time or its not there at all. But passion comes and goes. If you want to feel passionate, you cant take your temperature constantly. You have to just show up, start working, and hope that your hard work eventually leads you somewhere that feels passionate. When youre inspired, sure, you run with that. But most of the time youre just trudging along, putting words on a page, waiting for a light to shine through the darkness.

Try to enjoy the trudging right now. Once you power down your brain a little and tune into the misery of hard work, youll be surprised at how satisfying that blind misery can feel, actually. Conjure the melon-flavored jellyfish! Even though youre using your brain to work, theres a thoughtlessness to it, nonetheless. Getting into the zone brings a sweet melon scent with it, even when you dont know where the fuck youre headed!

Just trust me that as you start down the road of hard, hard work, in that shitty town of yours, with no friends and no belief in what youre doing, if you try to tune into the feeling you have as you BEGIN to work, in earnest, in an absence of inspiration, youll notice that it feels good. I feel it every morning, in fact, when I put my cup of tea on my treadmill desk 



YEAH THATS RIGHT BITCH, I HAVE A TREADMILL DESK. You know why? Because Im old so when I sit in one place for four hours, my back feels like shit and my head hurts. In fact, last fall I had a serious crisis, not unlike yours: I was in constant pain and I wasnt writing well and I had to make some change that would set me down a new path. At the time, I wasnt sure if I was making the right decisions about my career, either. Everything felt a little arbitrary, and I wasnt that inspired. Mostly my back hurt.

But in the morning, when I put that cup of tea on my desk, I realize: NOW YOU HAVE TO WALK AND TYPE AT THE SAME TIME. And I dont want to do that shit. I want to sit down instead. But I know that if I dont use the treadmill desk first thing in the morning, I wont use it at all. And I also know that even though I feel blah about it, in a few hours, without even noticing, Ill be into my work and I will have walked 4 miles, too, and I wont get up from my desk feeling like Im in traction and looking to murder the nearest person with my bare, broken hands. Ill feel reasonably good.

My jellyfish brain likes to walk and type, once it starts. Writing while walking can feel oddly relaxing and mindless, once I push past the resistance and get into the groove of it a little. I dont overthink things when Im walking. I go with the flow. The words fall onto the page. New paths open up. Sometimes I feel inspired, other times I dont. But I dont feel flat and helpless and half-dead and discouraged. There is no space for circular thinking or big looming questions. There is room for faith.

People like you and me, we have to take extreme measures to really thrive and not just survive. Thats not a burden, once you accept it completely. Its an opportunity. Because over the years, even though you might wish you didnt hit the same wall over and over, you start to believe in your own ability to scale that wall. And you start to actually ENJOY that challenge, once your jellyfish brain finally accepts it.

Make some room in your life for faith. Cultivate it. Be kind to yourself, and let your faith in what you do blossom. Faith will grow out of hard work. When you avoid hard work, you lose faith.

For now, resolve to stop torturing yourself with big questions. Learn to live where you are. Learn to work hard in a vacuum of praise and love. Lean on your family and friends and therapist, but dont tell yourself a story about how youre too lazy to do this. You can do this. Find your strength. Find your focus. Shift into high gear. Do what needs to be done.

And most of all, learn to enjoy it. Trust me, you can enjoy this strange, difficult, dark time. You really can. Let go of old stories and old worries and old ideas of yourself that are no longer accurate. Your life is very hard right now, thats all. You are doing your best. Power down your doubts and get to work.

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 will appear 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.
Boo you, whore. Photo: Paramount Pictures, Getty Images

More than 50 lawmakers have said they wont attend Donald Trumps inauguration, and while some, like Democratic Representative John Lewis, have openly said theyre skipping because they dont agree with Trumps politics, others are just, like, really busy that day, okay?

Washington representative Adam Smith will spend the District Work Period at home in Washington state meeting with his constituents, according to a statement he gave Seattle NBC affiliate KING 5 News. And New Hampshire representative Carol Shea-Porter will be super busy attending religious services on Friday. Florida representative Frederica Wilson is going to a wedding, and Californias Juan Vargas will be praying. As for Secretary of State John Kerry, hell be too busy enjoying personal time this weekend to attend the ceremony.

Political equivalent of "I have to wash my hair". https://t.co/VCs1m4t5tz  Seema Kalia (@seemakalia) January 18, 2017

Dozens of other lawmakers have taken a stronger stance, including Oregon representative Kurt Schrader, who told Oregon Public Broadcasting, Im just not a big Trump fan. He hasnt proved himself to me at all yet, so I respectfully decline to freeze my ass out there in the cold for this particular ceremony.

And then there are the lawmakers whove expressed their distaste for Trumps Twitter attack on Lewis with the hashtag #StandWithJohnLewis. According to Politico, its pretty common for lawmakers to skip the inauguration  Its usually cold. Members of Congress have the week of inauguration off, and many would simply rather be home  regardless if they like the president or not. Its less common for lawmakers to boycott the inauguration for political reasons.

When asked whether the whole boycott thing was getting to him, Trump laughed it off. Thats okay, because we need seats so badly, I hope they give me their tickets, he said. In other words: Boo you, whore.
Photo: US Army

The Obama administration announced today that the president will commute the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the soldier who leaked a large cache of secret documents to WikiLeaks in 2010, disrupting international diplomacy, and putting WikiLeaks  and Julian Assange  in the spotlight. The files detailed thousands of military incident logs, including an infamous video of an American helicopter attack that killed two civilian journalists working for Reuters in Iraq.

Manning was convicted of numerous charges relating to the leak, which occurred in 2010, and sentenced to 35 years. She will now be released on May 17 of this year. The former army intelligence officer was known as Bradley Manning at the time of the leak, and subsequently sentenced to a male prison. Following the conviction, she came out as transgender, and pushed for the Department of Defense to provide treatment including gender-reassignment surgery. Manning also tried to commit suicide twice last year.

From the WH announcement: pic.twitter.com/ThNoBQNMui  Philip Bump (@pbump) January 17, 2017

The decision to commute Mannings sentence might seem to be at odds with the administrations refusal to offer a deal to that other famous leaker, Edward Snowden, currently camped out in Russia. But the Obama administration has consistently said that until Snowden undergoes an actual trial, in the U.S., it wont (and, in fact, cant) pardon him. Manning, obviously, has  and has served significant time following her trial. Speaking over the weekend, press secretary Josh Earnest explained that Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing. (Snowdens disclosures also arguably did more damage to national security.)

The commutation comes at an odd political moment, in which the outgoing Democratic administration is more closely aligned with the national-security establishment than the incoming Republican one. Trump infamously benefited from stolen emails published on WikiLeaks, and has praised Assange, and the commutation could be seen  if youve got a particularly simplistic idea of the complicated moral and ethical questions at stake  as an endorsement of WikiLeaks. One theory, based on this currently circulating WikiLeaks tweet, might be that commuting Mannings sentence is the carrot needed to accomplish the long hoped-for extradition of Assange to the United States:

If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case https://t.co/MZU30SlfGK  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 12, 2017

But it seems like a bad idea to base decisions on the word of someone like Julian Assange. Indeed, its just as likely that Obama is commuting Mannings sentence because the harsh conditions under which shes been imprisoned, including prolonged solitary confinement and 18 months without hormone treatment, outstrip her crime, and because the incoming administration  as friendly as its figurehead has been to WikiLeaks  would likely have worsened those conditions. (Among other things, Trump has promised to review the militarys transgender policy.) Whether you think its basic moral decency or some sophisticated 13th-dimensional chess move aimed at rattling Trump or dislodging WikiLeaks, certainly no one in Mannings camp is going to spend too much time examining Obamas motivations.
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Vinexpo Explorer targets UK buyers for international buying community

Vinexpo is targeting 10 leading UK buyers to be part of a 100-strong annual buying trip taking in some of the most unheralded but progressive regions.

Vinexpo Explorer eschews the exhibitions and fairs that Vinexpo has made its name with and takes buyers into vineyards and cellars.

The first chapter of Vinexpo Explorer takes place on September 11-12 this year in the vineyards of Austria.

The idea is that this same group of 100 international buyers will meet each year  with a few buyers naturally being replaced if they cannot make it or have moved onto a new job  and visit a different region.

The Douro, Sicily, Oregon, western Australia and Swartland are the sort of regions Vinexpo has in mind, and it also plans to run Vinexpo Explorer buying trips to spirits producing regions and countries like Scotland.

Guillaume Deglise, chief executive at Vinexpo, which runs exhibitions in Bordeaux and Asia, said: We want to create a community of buyers. Vinexpo is a partner of the industry and we need to know our customers much better. These will meet every year, at least once a year, in a different place, share their views and experiences, and we will run workshops to make the wines more successful.

This is a very high-profile concept, a great opportunity for the hosting region to show its best wines or spirits to the best buyers.

It cannot be a very recognised region. We arent going to do it in Bordeaux. Most international buyers know Bordeaux. Austria has potential on the international market. Its not yet on the radar of international buyers, but it can be in future thanks to Vinexpo.

You can see Austria is one of the hottest rising destinations for wine and top sommeliers in New York, London and Sydney know about it, but the consumer is not fully aware of the characteristics of Austrian wine. It produces all three colours  four if you include orange  along with sparkling and sweet wines. It has a good image but there is work to be done to accelerate sales of Austrian wine around the world.

The idea is that wineries will the scale and desire to export will pay a fee to be there for the two days. A hundred buyers that can also sell decent volumes and have an interest in the region will fly in for an intense two-day trip full of workshops, masterclasses, tastings, vineyard visits and dinners, and be bombarded with top wines from the region while also networking and sharing best practice.

Vinexpo said it would use its extensive database to identify the worlds top 100 buyers  10 of them coming from the UK  taking in retail chains, department stores, hotel groups and so on.

When asked how it will persuade these busy buyers to attend and keep coming back each year, Deglise told OLN: This event is unique and we will advertise the fact that they can be part of a community of buyers, which doesnt exist, and its a great opportunity for a UK buyer to meet up with someone from a Scandinavian monopoly, a buyer from the USA, a buyer from Japan and so on.

We will check that all buyers have an interest in buying Austrian wine, and thats why the flight needs to be at their own expense, to show a motivation for the event.

He said the buying group can change a bit each time. For instance, there wont be many Germans on the first trip as Germany is already well-versed in Austrian wine, but when they visit the next region they will be more prevalent.

Willi Klinger, managing director of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, added: From our side we feel the obligation to make this a once in a century event. The tasting formats have to be unique. We have to pull out bottles you normally cant get. Everything will be perfect and we will make sure this event will be something you cant have when you just visit the country.

In 2014-15 we grew sales 17% in the UK. Our average price is one of the highest and we are in the fine wine business. We had a wine crisis in 1985 and it took 20 years to get it back and start growing sales again, and now we are one of the most dynamic wine producing countries. We also have Riedel producing great glassware, and fantastic coopers, so it should make a great occasion.

Related articles:
Concha y Toro: UK commitment pays major dividends

Concha y Toro believes it now owns more hectares under vine than anyone else on the planet, with 9,194ha in Chile, 1,142ha in Argentina and 468ha in California. It is a colossal player in the wine world, dwarfing all other South American producers, and its largest market is the UK.

Our island, 7,452 miles north east of Chile, drinks nearly a quarter of the wine CyT produces. It set up a UK subsidiary in 2001 and has grown rapidly to become one of our trades largest wine suppliers. Annual sales of 6.8 million cases leave it vying with Treasury Wine Estates for the position of number two supplier, behind only Accolade.

Thats a reflection of commitment to the UK, says Simon Doyle, general manager of the UK subsidiary. The company has taken a long- term perspective and no other South American company has done that. The Australians started the model, we came in on the back of that and it has certainly paid dividends.

When we set up, to be close to Jacobs Creek and Wolf Blass was a massive aspiration for Casillero del Diablo. But it has overtaken them and is now the fourth largest brand in the UK.

Casillero del Diablo passed the 2 million case mark in the UK in 2016.

Across our brands, we have the UKs number one Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Viognier.

We can plan for growth. If you dont invest in infrastructure to allow you to deliver then its meaningless, adds Doyle. Having these vineyards, wineries and brands allows us to realise the distribution goals we have and sustain growth.

We have had that nice growth platform. Its built on good distribution and a strong, dedicated team. We have strong investments in customer marketing, insights, revenue management and commercial finance. We are making good progress across all functions of the business to support the channels we want to invest in to do better.

The growth figures on CyTs brands are phenomenal: Casillero del Diablo is up 46.1%, Isla Negra 21.2%, Vina Maipo 36.1%, Cono Sur 21.2%, Frontera 6.5% and Trivento 62% (IRI, year to November 2016).

UK sales have been soaring for years, so the obvious question is: can the company keep it up? Commercial director Clare Griffiths is bullish about its chances. A lot of our growth has come from household penetration, she says. Casillero del Diablo penetration went from 5.8% to 8.5% in 2016 (Kantar). The highest penetration in wine is Hardys at 18%-19%. Even if we were to get to that, there is still a big opportunity to get to more households. Seventy per cent of households buy wine and there is a big opportunity for growth. Cono Sur has gone from 2.6% to 2.9%, Trivento from 1.9% to 2.8%.

Concha y Toro has been very strong in supermarkets but has not grown to the same extent in the convenience channel, so that is a priority for 2017. There is still an opportunity for distribution. It is around getting retailer distribution and shopper penetration, says Griffiths. Brands are key for consumers in a convenience store. Its an occasion purchase, they dont have much time and brands are reassuring.

CATEGORY ADVICE

One of CyTs main tools for growing the overall wine category in convenience is a free service called Wine Wise. It is similar to Molson Coors 60 Second Shop, or Diageos My Store Matters in that it offers category advice for retailers that do not have extensive knowledge of wine, and 1,200 have signed up so far.

Wine Wise tells retailers the top three brands in each of the best-selling grape varieties, along with pronunciation, taste profile, food matching and information on how to display wine.

We have a barrier with retailers when talking about wine, because its a very complicated category, with varietals and countries of origin, and a lot of products look the same, says CyTs Laurie Billson, customer marketing manager and the brains behind the service. There are 28,000 licensed independent c-stores and thats a great opportunity, but also a challenge because there are 28,000 decision-makers running stores and some know wine but the majority dont have the foggiest. Some arent drinking alcohol for religious reasons. Its a different tack we have to take. Rather than the quality of the grapes and the accolades, they want the reassurance that these are brands people are looking for. They want to de-risk it.

Wine is a signpost of a good store. A good wine selection makes it worth crossing the street for. You wouldnt go out of your way to find a better store for tinned vegetables but you would for wine.

Its in our interests to keep it as objective as possible. We are one of the leading suppliers but its a fragmented market and its in everyones interests to get retailers better at wine. Wine is worth twice as much as carbonated soft drinks to convenience stores.

While the wine category is down 3.4% in volume and 2.9% in value, in convenience it is up 1.3% in volume and 1.5% in volume (IRI), with supermarkets suffering the decline.

CyT sees great potential for the convenience channel to grow even further. Convenience is doing a really good job in the 6-7 price band, says James Leacy, category and commercial planning controller. In the total market only 18% share of volume is at 6-7. Within convenience that jumps to 27%. In forecourts it jumps to 29%. Typically they will carry a slight premium anyway because of the nature of the store, but it shows consumers are willing to pay that bit more in these stores.

So, rather than having this big range of rose, why not stock more stuff at 6-7 or even 7-plus and put people in danger of spending that bit more. That comes with the backdrop of having to do that through big brands where people are assured of the quality they are going to get, but theres also the opportunity for store owners to eke out that bit of extra spend from customers by not just having a really big range of cheap wine in their stores.

YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC

Leacy adds: The top 10 brands account for 29% of sales in the total market. When we look in convenience that jumps to 42% of sales. Big brands are really important to convenience stores. Typically convenience stores have a younger demographic and they are less educated about wine, so having things they recognise becomes more important. That tends to be why rose wines such as Echo Falls and Gallo do really well in this channel, both because its over-faced, but also because consumers are familiar with them because their parents drink them or whatever. Getting the right mix of top 10 brands across relevant price bands can really grow sales in this channel.

Chile is the sixth most popular country of origin for UK wine shoppers, but within convenience it jumps up to third thanks to the strength of its brands (IRI). It is one of the star performers in convenience, with sales up 20%, while New Zealand is growing at 18% and Argentina at 29%.

CyT has the leading brands from Chile and the top Argentinian brand in Trivento, and further growth in 2017 should come from specific brand plans. Each has a clear role to play in the portfolio and a clear idea of which consumers it is targeting.

The leading volume driver is Casillero del Diablo, and 97% of its sales come from its core Reserva range, but it is planning to champion its more expensive Reserva Privada in 2017.

People are looking to trade up and they want to spend a bit more and have that reassurance of the brand, says marketing controller Laura Thomas. Its from the best valleys, its more site-specific. Its saying, if you want to spend a little bit more, come with us. It offers quality and good value for money versus its competitive set. She points to Wolf Blass and Jacobs Creek as doing a good job on tiering their ranges and believes Casillero del Diablo could emulate that.

It is the number four UK wine brand  an impressive feat. When you think the top three all sell at a much lower price point and a very different proposition, thats fantastic. We are pretty much the number one premium wine brand. We could easily become the number three brand by dropping the price and going for it, but we want to keep the special premium nature.

Cono Sur is another priority for the company. Dan Featherstone, marketing manager for Cono Sur and Isla Negra, says: Cono Sur has grown from 8.4 million to 24 million in two-and-a- half years. It has real momentum. In the context of a flat wine market we are really proud of that. We have the number one Pinot Noir and Viognier.

In 2017 we will build our momentum in grocery and build and scale an impulse business. Bargain Booze and Nisa are key retail partners but we dont have a scale impulse business. We want to go from 30,000 cases to 250,000 cases in the next three years in impulse.

Its not a brand a lot of retailers are aware of. We need to convince retailers its low risk and it will sell off the shelf. We are just going to focus on Pinot Noir. Its the UKs fastest-growing grape variety after Malbec.

Isla Negra is a top 30 BWS brand comparable with Guinness. It has the UKs number one Merlot and number one Sauvignon Blanc  close to 2 million cases a year. It is between 300,000 and 400,000 cases in impulse and we want to go to 750,000 in the next three years. Hardys is 2 million cases in impulse and thats what our ambition should be for Isla Negra.

The final core brand is Trivento. Brand manager Natasha Erlandson says: Trivento consumers are AB demographic, 25 to 40-year-old blokes enjoying wine on grown- up occasions. We are going after barbecues. It makes perfect sense. Argentina is synonymous with barbecues, bold flavours, bold wines and great meat, especially steak. We are launching the campaign in May. National BBQ Week is at the end of May. Retailers start promoting it in May and it doesnt end until September.

On-pack promotions offer consumers the chance to win the ultimate barbecue party, cross-category promotions link it to meat at Nisa and a Wine to Water promotion gives a free bottle of water with every bottle of Trivento retailers buy at wholesale. Outside barbecue season a neck collar promotes Triventos position as the UKs number one Malbec.

A key challenge for the wine trade is attracting younger drinkers, and CyT believes Frontera can do that thanks to its sponsorship of the Brit Awards, a label that apes craft beer and on-pack promotions giving away festival and gig tickets. Brand manager James Hick says: We have proven appeal to younger wine drinkers. Research shows it appeals to 18 to 35-year-olds. Echo Falls and Blossom Hill have a female bias, but this appeals to both males and females. Its a brand that targets risk-averse young adults, and we reached 6.6 million through the Brit Awards sponsorship.

With all these bright young things determined to keep UK growth accelerating, plus a global business based on ownership of vineyards and control of the supply chain, the future is looking positive for CyT.

We can plan for growth, says Doyle. If you dont invest in infrastructure to allow you to deliver then its meaningless. Having these vineyards, wineries and brands allows us to realise the distribution goals we have and sustain growth.

Related articles:
wow op i literally saw this post and was going to ask the same thing. i haven't seen anything on the two of them in a while

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do a lot of celebs use Weibo? I feel like I rarely see Lee stuff anywhere except the odd time he tweets.

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yup. part of hollywood's "pander to china" agenda.



i think he has double followers there than twitter, but there's rarely lee stuff to see as it is, so

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ir somebody saying in a diff lee post that he uses it bc he has a large fanbase in china so its good for his career lol. i assume other celebs do this too? but we only see it in lee posts bc he gives us nothing else to talk about

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I guess I find it weird that he uses Weibo for his career but not Instagram, Snap, etc. unless I'm clearly missing out on his social media

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Tupperware party is such a horrible name for a film, or for anything really. I hope they change the title.

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yeah IA. like, don't sabotage your own damn movie. I need rom coms to be a Thing again!



(if it is a rom com. a user in the richard post said it was)



Edited at 2017-01-18 12:13 am (UTC)

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Omg is it? Am I getting closer to kween of rom cons Karen Gillan??

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Was the plot of the movie edited in after? Because... That does not sound like a comedy.

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Makes me want it to be a creepy, Stepford-esque horror movie. Guess what's in the Tupperware?

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like, if it was a film set in the 1950s that actually featured Tupperware Parties, I'd understand (and tbh, I'd probably watch it). anything else? idgi

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owwwwww. I feel u Lee, I am tall and I fall a lot and it is indeed a long way down

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Same omg



Im tall and clumsy not in a cute way more like in a constantly injured kinda way

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yeah it's not cute to fall :( I have MS and it throws off my balance. I spent like all of 2014 with broken feet from falls it really can be treacherous.

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same - I thought it was satire of suburban housewife culture or something

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same lol

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i honestly thought that was the topic of the movie

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I see you, with these back-to-back Lee Pace and Richard Armitage posts, lol.



Seriously, there is not a hotter couple more worthy of space on ONTD. You do the Lord's work.

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prayer circle they're still together / get back together tbh

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WAIT they're really dating????

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LOL this Lee post on top of a Richard post

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on top of a Richard post"



"LOL this Lee postpost"

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semi-ot but anna friel's instagram is so qt. i love how close they still are



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i wish bryan will stop dicking around and gives us the pushing daisies comeback we deserve

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Tears forever that this show got canceled. WeCould'veHadItAll.mp3

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gah i love anna

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I had a nightmare and threw myself off the bed (over my mom) and into the end table and wall and ended up with a nasty looking bruise on my arm.



I don't know if I could do anything if I had a bruise like that. The one on my arm was bad enough, but I lean on my elbow too much at work, so I couldn't survive with that bruise.



And Tupperware Party is not a good name for a film

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Glad to see the Karen tag getting use!! :D



I have no idea what to expect from this, but I am so happy that Karen is writing roles for herself and then directing as well. Didn't know Lee Pace was involved but I am hft.

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lol OP, bless you for these posts cause idk how i'd stay updated on these guys otherwise. i refuse to check their tumblr tags

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i think their messy fans are on twitter / reddit now. wordpress for RA stans coz they're old

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it sucks that bryan fuller's shows never get a long run but its kind of nice that theyre so easy to re-watch. you can knock one out in a weekend

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The Canada episode is so great! I just rewatched it.

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Welp

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phew i'm so glad this went thru

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Have you gotten rejected a lot?



I have! :(

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actually no it got thru on the first go! i was sweating about it 'cuz this post is long as hell

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Sunshine 3rd ACT is awesome and you will deal with this fact.



Edited at 2017-01-18 12:20 am (UTC)

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don't make me pull of that trump gif

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SPOILER (don't watch this until you've seen the film) - How can one does not get chills when this part of the film @ 3m5s starts?







Edited at 2017-01-18 01:51 am (UTC)

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i like that film - and cillian murphy - so much that i will forgive the third act

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mte i love it

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Edited at 2017-01-18 01:16 am (UTC)

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I remember watching that in theaters and everyone laughing at the farting.



I have seen 14 of these movie.

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21 and I think I may have seen some of them and forgetten them entirely lol

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Me too. I know I saw Alien but I don't remember it.

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i refuse to see that garbage "war of the worlds" with tom cruise but i really liked the book

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oh dang



i really liked the movie lmao

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I like Tom Cruise movies. He's a practical action guy and it really shows.

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It's really fun. My sister even gifted me the dvd on xmas yeeears ago because I used to watch it wherever it was on.

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it's good tho

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A+++ post, OP!



lots of really good movies here. my favorites are The Thing <3, Sunshine & Children of Men.



and since i'm on a norwegian roll, i'm really curious about The Wave now - especially since you included it in the 'good ones' list despite the hot mess potential the plot alone suggests.

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if u don't trust my taste



On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 80% "Certified Fresh" score based on 74 reviews

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based on your list, i do trust it :) that's precisely why i was immediately interested

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the wave is excellent, I really liked it

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I might have to watch it. As a tsunami survivor myself (2011 Tohoku quake), I have morbid curiosity about how movies treat them.

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fave epidemic/zombie movie -> Train To Busan!!!





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the fight sequence with the big buff guy (and the drum beating?) was probably the best part of the movie

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THIS



The movie was everything.

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I watched Deepwater Horizon last night and was surprised that I ended up liking it. Really sad though :\



I will never get over the dialogue in the Happening lmao my god

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i got pretty emotional when that guy climbed up that crane(?) to stop that scaffolding from falling on everyone

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I had the list of people who died on my phone while watching it so I wouldn't get as attached.

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lol irl

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I love this comment. The documentary that was made about the the crash is just as good.

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LMAO the gif for the Happening! I used to love natural disaster movies as a kid. I saw both Dante's Peak and Volcano and was so horrified yet delighted at the melting people scenes. The boiled mean grandma in acid and that hero dude on the train melting like a candle is forever burned in my memory.



I love Children of Men and Sunshine so much. I actually saw CoM semi-recently and noticed a lot of parallels with what's going on in our world now. We're living in some scary times too.

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That scene on the subway where the city worker is saving a guy and his shoes are melting. Then HE falls in but saves the guy...Worst. Fucking. Nightmare. I literally had those dreams when I was little.

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It is an INSANE death scene! So over the top and horrifying. I was so scared of melting as a kid.

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me taking notes from these films to survive the Trump presidency

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god, i'm just so depressed about friday.

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What's happening on Friday? I have my Netflix all queued up on that night.

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mte

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It was simpler times when we were making fun of Ellis and her stupid ass diary 

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oh I love these kinds of movies, thank you OP



although I must say I love all the questionable natural disasters movies you listed (except the happening)



also mars attacks gave me nightmares as a kid. I had to sleep with my windows closed cause I was afraid an alien would come in and pulverize me

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lmao all he questionable disaster films are still worth watching and enjoyable! i love 'em all honestly!

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omg I was the same with Mars Attacks, it came on tv once when I was little and seriously scarred me for life. When I realised it was meant to be a comedy I was like ???? lol I was super terified of those aliens. I still won't watch it.

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mark me down as another young child who was TERRIFIED by Mars Attacks

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JFC Mars Attacks still gives me nightmares and I've never actually watched since that one time

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Omfg count me in as one of the kids who got nightmares bc of mars attack, i rmb waking my mom in the middle of the night bc i thought the aliens were in our tiny house lmao

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only missing surviving other ppl tbh







&



great post!only missing surviving other ppl tbh

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gorl do u see how long this post already is!

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that's why I'm helpig you out tbh obv



you reminded me that I need 2 see the b/w version of The Mist btw, ty!

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lmao the edge poster

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eden lake

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oh hell yes!!



bookmarking this, thanks op!!!

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Twister is one of those movies I could watch a hundred times. Like I don't find it particularly good but I guess it's one of my ~comfort movies.

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Honestly, I prefer the ridiculous to the serious disaster movies. Give me flying cows, skittering heads, grandma dissolving in lemonade lake, grandma saving the world with Slim Whitman yodeling, and a giant supercold snowicane that kills the royal family.

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same. it's the blanket you can't throw away

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Watch David Yates fuck another film up

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Lol, that was actually Chris Columbus

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From the studio that bought us Harry Potter ?! I guess stranger things have happened.

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If it's a remake of the japanese movie then no thank you.

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It could be a hit but I don't see it happening.

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Still don't understand any logic in cutting out one of the main and most popular characters.

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I watched it and already forgot it, who did they cut?

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I heard nothing but bad things about the Japanese movie so no thank you (and especially if David Yates is directing it).

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have they actually figured anything out in the three years since the first season of the anime came out? like what's in the basement?

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"what's in the basement?" Disappointment and stupidity, tbh. It was more coherent before we knew.

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[ Ohhh, gurl. ] They found Grisha's memoirs of a Marleyan Empire, lots of historical shit was explained, including where Titans come from, Annie/Bertholdt/Reiner's mission, and why the walls. Bertholdt was eaten to save Armin, while Erwin bled out. And apparently Eren's titan is called "Shingeki no Kyojin," and it sends memories through time. Yes...

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lmfao boy am i glad i was never invested in this Eren's titan is called "Shingeki no Kyojin," and it sends memories through time.lmfao boy am i glad i was never invested in this

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Ha, thanks! People had been vague blogging in the corners I was hanging out in, and I was too lazy to go look deeper. I did know about the character deaths though

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Nazis

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Well, I suppose if they cast white people, it wouldn't be be whitewashing this time! But lbr, they'd probably whitewash Levi and Mikasa and change her name to Michelle.

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so............ they'll probably cast all white people and remove all asian main characters, right?

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Comment twins!

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And then throw in a popular black actor so they can say LOOK HOW MUCH MORE DIVERSE IT IS!!!

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watch it be marco

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This reminds me of the trailer of The Wall where Matt Damon is the star about a movie that takes place in the great wall of china.



and matt damon is the lead hero.



at the great wall of china.



matt damon.

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It gonna be tragic as fuck. SAD!

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Lol I swear you guys haven't watched the series and are just flapping your lips! But I understand how this is normally the case with hollywhite so I can't blame you.

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Have you watched the show? It's set in Germany and the majority of the characters are caucasian. I have't watched it a while but Mikasa's mom was the last asian woman left in her village (if i remember correctly). They'll probably still white-wash Mikasa tho

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Aren't most of the characters bar probably Hanji and Misaka European based though? So this argument is kinda

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Lmao did u even watch the anime

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They are all white tho minus Mikasa who is the last Asian alive

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Theres literally on like one or two asian characters though the rest are all white

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People say "they're European" like there are no mixed race characters in this... Not Asians (apart from Mikasa) but nobody anywhere says that they're all white.

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Joke post? Most of the characters are Europeans or Eurasians at most. Their names are either German or French sounding, with Mikasa being the exception since she's Eurasian.

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this anime so insanely overrated, minus the first three or so episodes....its so awful and corny

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i still haven't seen it but had a sneaking suspicion of this very thing

almost all the popular shows tend to be crap, i dont get anime fans nowadays

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I only read and watch for Armin so I don't really care for more material or anything that brings more Levi or Eren to this world.

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I remember when I was soo into this manga, despite the shitty art, and then i realized it was the lost of manga with new and new misteries and I thought they weren't going to wrap that up in a logical manner so I dropped it and from what i read I was right lmao.



But I don't want gringos near this, I'm sure they'll white wash the asian characters and make this a convoluted mess.

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Gurl do you even watch or read the manga? 99% of the characters are white explicitly noted and all!

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I know that, that's why I said asian characters because they exist, Mikasa is one of them.

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This should be easy for hollywhite since the creator is lowkey racist and self hating for making 99% of the characters white!

Spoiled myself and wow at the origin of the titans! The series is good for what it is I guess.



Edited at 2017-01-18 03:02 pm (UTC)

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This should be easy for hollywhite since the creator is lowkey racist and self hating for making 99% of the characters white!



But isn't that 90% of the anime/ manga community?



But isn't that 90% of the anime/ manga community?

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lol wut? I'd say the vast majority of anime/manga characters are Japanese

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He also hates Koreans TBH

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Smh

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Animes with exaggerated plots like this don't translate well into live action just like dragonball and just like naruto would be trash as well! Few animes can be translated to live action.

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Oh Dragonball. I always forget that was a thing. There's something to be said for trash that awful.

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The only positive thing about that shit movie is that it somehow pissed off Toriyama so much that he came back and Dragonball Super was born. Though why couldn't he have come back sooner after fucking GT?

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While all eyes are on OPEC to see whether or not they will follow through on production cuts, there is another major source of oil supply that will have a substantial impact on prices this year, and very few people are talking about it.

China is often a central player in oil market analysis, but usually in terms of oil demand. But even as China is the worlds second largest crude oil consumer, and the largest importer, it is also no slouch in terms of production. Crude oil output climbed steadily over the past three decades, rising from 2 million barrels per day in the 1980s to a peak of about 4.4 mb/d in 2015, enough to rank it as the fourth largest producer in the world after the U.S., Russia and Saudi Arabia, and roughly on par with Canada.

However, the collapse of crude oil prices has forced Chinese oil production into a state of decline. Many of Chinas oil fields are old, mature and require heavy investment to stave of depletion. The market meltdown for crude oil beginning in 2014 forced Chinas state-owned companies to take a hard look at whether or not pumping money into their older fields was still a worthy investment.

In May 2016, we wrote about forecasts for Chinese oil output, projecting a decline of roughly 5 percent for the year. Those estimates turned out to be too conservative  some older and costly fields were shut down, forcing the countrys output to decline by 335,000 bpd in 2016, or about 6.9 percent. But even as oil prices have climbed back above $50 per barrel, the declines are expected to continue. Output could fall by an additional 7 percent this year, taking another 240,000 bpd off the market, according to several oil watchers interviewed by Bloomberg, including Bernstein & Co., Nomura Holdings Inc., and CLSA Ltd. Related: Saudi Arabia To Spend $50 Billion On Massive Solar Push

Some of Chinas oil fields are just too costly in todays pricing environment. Chinas domestic crude output decline will certainly help OPECs plan to reduce global supply, Nelson Wang, an oil and gas analyst at CLSA, told Bloomberg. Even if that isnt Chinas intention, its just the reality that China cant produce more under the current circumstances.

Bernstein analysts say that there is little hope of a rebound from the older fields, while Chinas state-owned firms likely will fail to find adequate new discoveries to offset the decline.

The supply problem is larger than just China. Across the entire Asia-Pacific, oil supply will fall in the coming years as upstream investment has suffered from the collapse of oil prices and new exploration tends to be focused on natural gas. For the whole of the Asia-Pacific, "[w]e estimate 2016 production of 7.5 million barrels per day will fall by over a million barrels per day by 2020," Angus Rodger, the Asia-Pacific upstream research director for Wood Mackenzie, said this week.

China will account for half of those losses. Much of Asias production comes from giant fields in Indonesia, Malaysia and China, but the fields are super mature and will require expensive techniques, high break-evens and capex cuts, Rodger added. Decline rates will spiral across the region as very few new discoveries come online to offset more drastic cuts to spending. We don't see any large greenfield oil developments coming stream by 2020, he said. Related: OPEC Production Cuts: Heres The Cheat Sheet

Chinas central government is not ready to concede as much, publishing figures this week as part of its 2016-2020 five-year plan that pegs output at 4 mb/d in 2020. Wood Mackenzie thinks Chinese output in 2020 will be more like 3.5 mb/d.

At this point, the upside potential in China is in the domestic shale gas sector rather than oil. The EIA estimates that China has 1,115 trillion cubic feet of unproven technically recoverable shale gas reserves, the largest resource base in the entire world and about twice as much as the United States. China has struggled to develop those reserves to date as an array of obstacles stand in the way, including complex geology, lack of infrastructure and water scarcity. Ramping up LNG imports is another avenue to help meet domestic energy needs that China has prioritized in its five-year plan.

In the near-term, Chinas oil production declines are one more factor to consider when trying to get a gauge on the supply/demand balance this year. To put it in context, the 2017 loss of 240,000 bpd from China is more than the promised cuts from Iraq as part of the OPEC deal, and about half of the cuts that Saudi Arabia is undertaking.

Chinas declining output will also help offset the bearish news regarding the countrys slowing demand growth. Chinas imports rose at the fastest rate in a half-decade last year as it rushed to fill up its strategic petroleum reserve. With many storage facilities at capacity, Chinas crude import demand was set to slow in 2017. But in order to satisfy domestic demand, China will need to find more supply to offset its declining output from its aging oil fields. That means more imports from abroad.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
OPEC, in its latest Monthly Oil Market Report, raised its forecast for global crude oil demand to 95.60 million barrels daily, up by 1.16 million bpd from the estimated 2016 average of 94.44 million barrels daily. This is a slight upward revision from the previous 1.15 million bpd estimated for global daily oil demand this year.

The group said that the upward revision was prompted by a better than expected performance in the European and Asia-Pacific members of OECD, especially thanks to an expected increase in demand in Europe in the first quarter of this year.

Demand for oil produced by OPEC members, the report went on, is estimated at 32.1 million bpd, up by almost a million barrels from the 2016 estimate of 31.2 million bpd.

On the supply side, OPEC said that production of non-members this year is likely to rise by 120,000 barrels daily, after an estimated 710,000-bpd decline last year, thanks largely to expectations of higher oil production in the U.S., which will offset declines in Norway, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and Congo  all parties to the December agreement with OPEC to prop up international oil prices by cutting output.

The rise in U.S. output is projected at 230,000 barrels daily. OPECs own supply should reach 32.5 million bpd some time before the end of June, as per the agreement. Related: OPEC Commitments Push Iraq Towards Oil Export Deal With Kurds

Earlier this month, a number of OPEC members, notably Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait, told media that they are fulfilling their obligations under the production cut agreement, with Saudi Arabias Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih noting that the kingdom had gone beyond its quota and had cut more than its share of 486,000 bpd.

Russia has also confirmed it has started cutting output, by 100,000 bpd initially, to rise to 300,000 by the end of the six-month period that the agreement will be in force.

Prices immediately jumped after each of the announcements, although hard evidence is yet to be seen. According to OPECs head, Mohammed Barkindo, world inventories of crude oil should fall by the second quarter of the year.

Earlier this week, al-Falih said that the agreement wont need to be extended beyond June 2017 as its will yield results by then.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
There was one significant part of last years OPEC deal that was absent, and it may prove to be its undoing. Just weeks into the deal and days from a first inspection, there are rumours not everyone is playing by the rules.

On the face of it, reports are positive. Output fell in December from a record high, the result of planned cuts and forced cuts- Nigeria was not able to export any Forcados crude after a pipeline was attacked.

However, several reports raise concerns about Iraq reneging on the deal, with the Wall Street Journal talking of an unexpected twist: instead of cutting its crude production by 4 percent as promised  Iraq instead plans to increase crude oil exports in January. Investors.com quotes Omar Al-Ubaydli from George Mason University who believes that itll be the first to cheat as Baghdad needs oil revenue to continue fighting the Islamic State and lacks control of all of its oilfields.

Theres also the issue as raised by CNBC.com about how Iraq can fulfil its contractual commitments to international oil companies occupying fields in the south. Reuters reported in November last year that the companies get compensation if production is curtailed. CNBC quotes Jessica Brewer, Wood Mackenzies principal analyst for Middle East and North Africa upstream oil and gas, as saying, Of the Middle East producers that agreed to the cuts, it's probably the one that has the most [international oil company]-operated production. There are a lot more parties involved, which makes it more complex." Information obtained by Thomson Reuters suggests exports exceeded a record high in November.

Despite this, last week Iraq said it had already started to put in place the measures needed to reduce output. Thats at odds with the official government record the WSJ says it examined, which suggested exports would be increased by 7 percent, however Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is already putting the blame squarely on the Kurds, claiming, "The region is exporting more than its share, more than the 17 percent stated in the budget. Under the 2017 budget  passed in the face of a boycott by Kurdish representatives - the region is allowed to export 250,000 bpd from oilfields under its control. Iraq is exasperated by a lack of control over Kurdish exports due to the pipeline to Turkey completed in 2013. Related: $25 Trillion Investment Needed To Meet Future Oil Demand

Others appear to be playing ball  like Kuwait which cut production to 2.7m bpd by last Friday. Doing so meets its requirement under the deal. Saudi Arabia too met its target of 10.05m bpd  cutting at least 486,000 bpd. These positive moves have supported a positive market response  process increased nearly 9 percent in December and oil futures finished on Friday having climbed for a fourth straight week.

That leads us to the next fly in the ointment. Increases in oil prices could encourage producers who havent signed up to the agreement  namely those in the U.S., Libya and Nigeria. Marketwatch.com notes FGE consultancy is predicting a sense of fellowship is missing; With output in Libya and Nigeria probably rising this month to some 700,000 barrels a day and 1.7 million barrels a day, respectively, we estimate that actual total OPEC output in January could be closer to 33.5 million barrels a day than to the official ceiling of 32.5 million barrels a day. Related: Oil Prices Fall In Spite Of Bullish OPEC Data

Reuters reported on Friday that Iran has pressed the sale button on more than 13 million barrels of oil it had held on tankers at sea for the past three months. As many as 30 tankers had been afloat since the summer holding 29.6 million barrels, but now data from Thompson Reuters Oil Flows shows the volume of oil at sea has dropped to 16.4 million. Iran scored a major goal when it was not only excluded from the November agreement to cut production but allowed to increase it as well, and Reuters quotes unnamed industry sources who say that it, is also looking to use the opportunity to push into new markets in Europe, including Baltic and other central and eastern European countries.

The problem is that there is a distinct lack of consequence for any country thats reneges on the deal. As Al-Ubaydli puts it, There is no mechanism to punish violators. So even if they detected a violation, the only thing they can do is to retaliate by cheating." The fear is, once the foundations start to crumble, others may quickly follow. And those who benefit from pain suffered by the group en masse may enjoy a short-lived honeymoon.

By Precise Consultants

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Incoming President Donald Trump might quickly move to resolve the massive problem that Energy Transfer Partners has on its hands in the Dakota Access Pipeline, but the company is in the midst of stumbling into another potential controversy that could turn into the sequel to the Keystone XL and Dakota Access sagas.

The Bakken is a substantial source of crude oil, producing just under 1 million barrels per day. That oil has to be moved by rail or pipeline out of the state, where it moves to refineries either on the Eastern seaboard, or down to the Gulf Coast. But the extreme distances that North Dakota crude has to travel inevitably lead to conflict as pipelines run into local communities.

That potential for conflict became very stark with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota. President Trump has suggested that the Army Corps of Engineers, under his control, will move quickly to approve the pipeline, although protestors will surely do their best to stop construction. If Trump is successful, Energy Transfer Partners will be relieved to put that controversy behind it.

But the story isnt over there. Upon completion, the Dakota Access Pipeline will allow North Dakota oil to reach Illinois. From there it will tie into existing pipelines that will allow the oil to flow down to Texas and then on to Louisiana. But at that point, the path forward gets rocky again, and this is where Energy Transfer Partners could run headlong into its next brawl with local communities.

Energy Transfer Partners, along with joint owners Phillips 66 Partners and Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., are proposing the Bayou Bridge Pipeline (BBP), a 163-mile pipeline that will run from Lake Charles, Louisiana to a key oil hub just west of New Orleans in St. James Parish. The oil will end at a terminal owned by NuStar Energy L.P., from which the oil could reach any number of customers, such as refiners along the Gulf Coast or be sent abroad as exports.

In other words, if the Dakota Access Pipeline is completed, the Bayou Bridge Pipeline will be the last key link connecting a greater volume of North Dakota oil to international markets. The BBP will carry 280,000 barrels of oil per day, with the potential to expand up to 480,000 bpd. Construction is slated to reach completion by the second half of 2017. Related: OPEC Production Cuts: Heres The Cheat Sheet

The problem with the Bayou Bridge Pipeline is that it runs across the Atchafalaya Basin, a national heritage area that also happens to be the worlds largest natural swamp. It is home to endangered wildlife and also has a successful crawfishing industry. The pipeline route through the worlds largest swamp will cross 600 acres of wetlands and 700 bodies of water, which provide drinking water to over 300,000 people.

Because of this, there are signs that a popular resistance akin to the Dakota Access protests is starting to emerge. At a packed public hearing on January 12, a raucous crowd filled with pipeline critics from disparate backgrounds spoke out against the project. The crowd jeered and hissed at former Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, who testified in favor of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline. She now lobbies on behalf of Energy Transfer Partners.

But Energy Transfer Partners notes that pipelines are much safer than the alternative of shipping crude by rail; rail shipments are 4.5 times more likely to suffer an accident compared to pipeline, a 2015 Fraser Institute study showed. And the Atchafalaya Basin is already home to a spider web of old pipelines, the industry argues. However, the damage done to Louisianas wetlands from decades of pipeline construction are exactly why local communities, particularly the states fishing industry, are opposed to the Bayou Bridge Pipeline.

This may seem like a local story, but so did the Dakota Access Pipeline until mid-2016. Protests that delay construction have a tendency of blowing up the issue into a national flashpoint.

Above and beyond the PR disaster that could await Energy Transfer Partners, real money is also on the line. Energy Transfers stock lost 20 percent between the summer of 2016 and just before the election, a period of time that saw protests turn violent, as well as action from the federal government that put a hold on construction. The companys share price has regained some of those losses on the back of Trumps victory, but it has not rebounded to the high point of $43/share reached before the protests made national headlines. In fact, Energy Transfers share price started to nosedive in September after it was embarrassed by national headlines of attack dogs released on protestors in North Dakota. Related: OPEC Commitments Push Iraq Towards Oil Export Deal With Kurds

Protest can be dismissed as mere sideshows, but they can have a concrete impact. When financial analysts warn investors to steer clear of companies like Energy Transfer Partners because of the political risk, the public backlash to large infrastructure projects should be taken seriously.

There are also broader implications for the oil and gas industry. Environmental groups have been battle-tested by the multi-year Keystone XL fight, having constructed an infrastructure around protesting, disruption and media relations. That was on display with the Dakota Access blitz, which ultimately spurred the Obama administration to block construction. The incoming Trump administration will likely make it easier for companies to obtain federal permits, but environmental protests are not going away.

Even as the protests in the frozen prairie of North Dakota could be in their final act, the spotlight could shift more than 1,000 miles to the south to the swampy wetlands of the bayou.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

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Following poor success across Europe, including Poland, Ukraine, France, the Netherlands, and Denmark, the UK now remains the last candidate province for European shale gas and oil in the near term. And a fracking moratorium in Scotland has further reduced that to England & Wales. The British government is in favour of developing the resource and has opened up significant acreage in the 14th Onshore Round. Nonetheless, some resistance remains.

Meanwhile, North Sea production has been waning and the current deficit amounts to around 1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) per annum, with the figure set to double over the next 20 years. 1/3 of gas imports come from either Russian fields or LNG supplies of mixed provenance. And with Brexit looming, it will be vital for the UK economy to secure long term, reliable energy.

(Click to enlarge)



Figure 1. Falling North Sea gas production could create a huge energy deficit

The British Geological Survey has estimated around 1300 Tcf GIIP (P50) for the Bowland Shale in Northern England and 4.4 Billion barrels (Bbbl) OIIP for the southern Weald Basin. A further 80 Tcf GIIP and 6 Bbbls OIIP (P50) have been inferred for the Scottish Midland Valley but  due to the fracking restrictions  this basin is off-limits for the foreseeable future. Smaller CBM potential has also been identified within a number of coal measures in Wales and the English midlands.

(Click to enlarge)



Figure 2. UK shale gas licences and key shale plays Related: 200,000 New Energy Jobs Forecast In 2017

The recent news that Third Energy will be allowed to frack an existing well at Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire has been met with cautious optimism. The upstream operators and investors are generally cheered by the progress but are keeping their expectations in check for a few reasons, not least being that both regulatory process and limited onshore drilling capacity suggest it will still be only a handful of wells per year for the near term. Looking ahead, here are the likely main players:

 INEOS holds 35 percent of the net licensed acreage and has promised to drill up to 30 shale wells  the first planning application went in at the beginning of 2017. INEOS owns Grangemouth refinery in Scotland and is keen to identify domestic condensate feedstock sources;

 Cuadrilla has begun site preparations at Preston New Road in Lancashire, but will not drill until Q2. The company faced significant local opposition but has obtained permission to drill up to four wells at the site following Central Government intervention, and may still get consent to drill four more at the nearby Rosacre Wood site;

 IGas has some investor issues at the moment which are likely to hamper any aggressive push on their unconventional assets although they do have a pending application alongside Egdon Resources;

 Egdon is mainly focussed on its conventional assets in the near term;

 ENGIE, Total, Centrica have taken up substantial acreage but have been more reserved in their approach with Total and Centrica content to participate rather than operate;

 UK Oil & Gas is focused on the Horse Hill tight reservoir discovery near Gatwick but has some prospective shale acreage in the Weald Basin;

 A number of other significant players  including Horizon Energy Partners and Hutton Energy  are keeping cards close to their chest for the time being.

Over 12,300 sq km of prospective acreage has been licensed to 24 companies.

(Click to enlarge)



Figure 3. UK shale acreage holders (net sq km)

To date only Cuadrilla has actively drilled for shale gas, with six wells (including two sidetracks) in Lancashire during 2010  2012. Only one of these was fracked  Preese Hall 1  but seismic activity was detected during testing and led to suspension of operations. A number of earlier wells intercepted the shale horizons and have contributed to preliminary play mapping. Related: Russia Boosts Domestic Oil, Gas Pipeline Capacity

Nonetheless, even if INEOS, Cuadrilla, and the other companies successfully drill their 14th Round commitments, there will still only be around 50 exploration shale wells. Compare this to 74 in Poland (far less the thousands in the U.S.) and it becomes obvious that the UK will need to be fortunate to gather substantial data. This links with the energy supply perspective that unconventional reservoirs are not expected to become a significant part of the domestic energy mix in the near to medium term. Longer term/industrial development of shale is of course highly reliant on adequate data gathering and a consistent investment environment  its still too early to make a call on either. The Horse Hill oil discovery does provide some potential relief as successful development of this tight reservoir may stimulate onshore E&P.

In terms of shale play development, there is a long way to go but Third Energys planned frack at Kirby Misperton and Cuadrillas expected spud in Q2 lie on the immediate horizon, with INEOS and possibly IGas to join the party later in the year. This hardly amounts to exciting times for the UK sector, but at least it is encouraging that there will soon be some real data and results to work with, and hopefully the foundations will be set for a more vibrant industry in the medium term.

By Bruce Walker via DrillingInfo

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The state-owned companies of Argentina and Bolivia, YPF and YPFB, respectively, have signed an oil services agreement that will see the two partner in the exploration of the Charagua block in hopes to strike commercially viable reserves of natural gas.

The block, spanning 99,250 hectares in eastern Bolivias Santa Cruz department, is estimated to contain 2.7 trillion cu ft of gas. According to YPFB, if the partners make a commercial find, they will then proceed to form a consortium and invest over US$1.1 billion in the development of the deposit, with daily output estimated at 10.2 million cubic meters.

The Bolivian company will hold 51 percent in the consortium and YPF will have the remainder. The contract signed on Monday has duration of 40 years, suggesting this is how long the productive life of the deposit has been calculated at. Additional revenue for the Bolivian budget from oil extracted at the deposit is seen at US$12.36 billion over the lifetime of the project.

For Argentina, the development of Charagua will help tackle a deficit of natural gas on its domestic market. Last year, between January and November, the country imported around 30.8 million cubic meters of gas on a daily basis, some of it from Bolivia, and some from overseas in the form of LNG. It needed more than this, Platts notes, but it has no sufficient regasification capacity to process imported LNG. Another problem for Argentina was the slower than expected growth in gas production in Bolivia.

According to last years estimates of the Bolivian Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy, the countrys gas reserves stand at 62 trillion cubic ft, or 1.75 trillion cubic meters. Of this, Santa Cruz accounts for around 350 billion cubic meters, which makes it last among the three largest areas where Bolivias gas reserves are concentrated. Tarija holds some 500 billion cubic meters, and La Paz, the largest, holds an estimated 560 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Iraqs oil exports are back in the spotlight with shipments so far in January suggesting that exports from the southern ports have droppeda sign that Iraq might be fulfilling its production cut obligations after all.

According to shipping data tracked by Reuters, Iraqs crude oil exports from its southern ports have averaged 3.25 million bpd between 1 January and 16 January, compared to the record-high 3.51 million bpd in exports for December 2016.

Exports are definitely down, despite what the loading schedule suggests, Reuters quoted an industry source monitoring Iraqs shipments as saying.

Recent loading schedules viewed and reported by various media have indicated that Iraq would be boosting January and February exports despite the OPEC cuts.

There is no strict correlation between production and exports, but reports of lower January exports from the south could lend further credence to official Iraqi statements that Iraq is following through with its pledges.

After having pleaded exemption from the supply-cut deal and disputed secondary-sources figures as a baseline for production levels, Iraq conceded and committed to cut 210,000 bpd to 4.351 million bpd as part of the OPEC deal.

However, unlike Saudi Arabia, which is in full control of its oil production, Iraq - OPECs no.2 producer  has contractual commitments that it has made with international oil companies that operate its massive southern oil fields. Under these commitments, the Iraqi government must compensate the oil companies when production is curtailed for reasons that are beyond the control of the driller.

To further complicate Iraqs compliance to the deal is the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which controls fields in the north. The Kurds may or may not join the cuts.

So far, Iraqi officials have said that the country had reduced production by 160,000 bpd, but there are no details on where these production cuts have been made.



By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Independent oil and gas player Noble Energy said it will buy smaller peer Clayton Williams Energy in a bid to expand its footprint in the Permian shale play. The US$2.7-billion deal will comprise cash and stock, the buyer said in a news release.

Clayton Williams shareholders will receive US$34.75 in cash plus 2.7874 Noble Energy shares for each Clayton share they hold, which comes up to 55 million shares and US$665 million in cash. Noble will finance the cash portion of its offer with a draw on a US$4-billion revolving debt facility.

Noble Energys chief executive commented that This transaction brings all the key elements we value: excellent rock quality, a large contiguous acreage position adjacent to our own, and robust midstream opportunities, reinforcing the Delaware Basin as a long-term value and growth driver for Noble Energy.

Among the assets that Noble will take control over under the deal are a total of 171,000 net acres in the Permian, of them 71,000 acres adjacent to Nobles own acreage in the Delaware Basin, which comprises 47,200 net acres.

The Delaware Basin contains part of the Wolfcamp shale, which recently made headlines after the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the deposit could contain as much as 20 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil.



Related: China Leads Unprecedented Drop In Asian Crude Production

Noble Energy said that there are already 2,400 identified drilling locations in parts of the Wolfcamp play, with estimated net unrisked resources of around a billion barrels of oil equivalent. In the rest of the new acreages there was also significant upward potential.

The buyers immediate base plan is to increase the output from the newly acquired acreage from the current 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent, of them 70 percent oil, to 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent by 2020.

The deal also includes midstream operations in the Permian, comprising more than 300 miles of oil, gas and produced water gathering pipelines.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbanjos visit to the Niger River Delta didnt usher in the period of peace for which Lagos had hoped.

Less than a full day after the senior officials departure, gunmensuspected militants associated with the struggle to repatriate the Deltas oil resourcesset on fire a crude oil pipeline in Ughelli on Tuesday.

The line belonged to the Niger Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and stood ablaze around 4:30 p.m. behind the SETRACO construction yard.

Local residents suspect that the incident may not be associated with groups such as the Niger Delta Avengers, which have spent the past year demanding that the federal government improve the quality of life of those living in some of Nigerias most oil-rich areas.

The cause of the incident is as a result of bush burning, an anonymous security source quoted by Vanguard said. Someone set fire on the area and the pipeline, which had some crude oil spill on it and the surrounding environment went up in flames, sending huge balls of flame into the air. We are ensuring the maximum protection of oil and gas facilities in the area and I can assure you that there would be no form of attacks on oil facilities in the area like in the past.

Osinbanjo addressed the reality of an oil-less future during his visit to the oil-producing region on Monday.

America has stopped buying oil from us, he said. All the countries of Asia that buy oil from us are building alternative means of power - China and Japan are developing electric cars. In fact, Japan has more charging stations than petrol stations and solar power is getting cheaper.

In another 20 to 30 years, our oil wont be as precious as it is today and that is reality, Osinbajo added.

By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com

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By Oregon Liberty Allaince,

4th Annual Oregon Freedom Rally sponsored by the Oregon Liberty Alliance. Rally to support fiscal responsibility, life, family values, public safety and religious liberty. Join us and support Freedom at the 2017 Freedom Rally on February 25th at 12 PM



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Ghana intends to tap into Israels expertise in agriculture in order to boost production and create more jobs in the sector, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has said.



According to him, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government's promise to construct one dam in every village is something the Israelis have been able to do, irrespective of their proximity to the Sahara desert and will, therefore, be a step in the right direction to study the Israeli approach in order to fulfil the campaign promise made to Ghanaians.



The Suame legislator made this known when the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Ami Mehl, paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, on Tuesday January 17.



The government of the day is talking about a transformational development agenda. Weve spoken about One-Village-One-Dam, One-District-One-Factory and really the base is developing agriculture, but so far as agricultural development is concerned, Ghana has a lot to learn from Israel, especially given the fact that this one village one dam concept is being spoken about in a particular zone  the savannah zone  yet Israel is a country that has conquered the desert. So we think that there is a lot that we could share with Israel in having these promises or pledges materialise, he stated.



He added that Ghana and Israel are alike in the geopolitics of the world. Israel [in the past] provided some assistance to Ghana in the field of agriculture and also a very significant contribution they provided was in the construction of the Kpong dam. Thereafter, theres been some collaboration in many areas. Israel as you do know is the oasis of peace in the Middle East, just like Ghana has been in the sub region. So one could say that in the geopolitics of the international world, Ghana and Israel share a lot of similarities he expressed.



He noted that another area Ghana and Israel shared similarities was in the area of religion and, therefore, it would not be out of place to foster and deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.



The Israeli ambassadors visit was to introduce himself to Prof Mike Oquaye and also congratulate him on his elevation to the position of Speaker.







Source: classfmonline.com









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The Nana Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party government is warning investors against engaging in corrupt practices in the course of doing business with the country.



The Government is also encouraging investors, who are seeking to do business in the country, to report all corrupt acts they may encounter in the process of getting their businesses started or executing their business activities.



The Finance minister-designate, Ken Ofori Atta, who gave the warning while addressing a cross section of business operators at the Ghana-Morocco Economic Meeting, stressed: "this is a country in which that (corruption) would not be tolerated."



Mr. Ofori-Atta reiterated that corruption is a major issue the Nana Akufo-Addo government is determined to tackle,since "it is sometimes 3-5 percent of GDP, interns of cost."



We're going to run a government that is clean, and please report anything you find. It takes two people to do it; both the person coming in and the person here to receive it," he added.



He said corruption is a major issue that the Akufo-Addo government is bent on tackling, since it is sometimes 3-5 percent of GDP, in terms of cost.



He went on to say that: Were going to run a government that is clean, and please report anything you find. It takes two people to do it; both the person coming in and the person here to receive it.



The Finance minister designate further announced that government would introduce the Fiscal Stability and Fiscal Responsibility Acts by the end of te eyar "just to ensure we stay within the ambit of sustainability and avoid excessive deficit."



He describing the fiscal regime under the previous Mahama-led National Democratic Congress government as weak and assured that the Nana Akufo-Addo government would strengthen fiscal and financial stability through the establishment of institutional guidelines.



Mr. Ofori Atta, added that the government would be committed to increasing revenues whilst ensuring that our expenditures are value for money driven.



He expressed optimism that these acts when enforced after the approval of the 2017 budget which is to be presented to parliament in March, would safeguard the public purse.



He stressed: To be able to have macro stability and to hold the currency, we as a government are going to subject ourselves to such an Act and this Act will then enjoin us to function within certain parameters which will not derail the economy.



The Ghana- Morocco Economic Meeting was jointly organised by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Investment Promotion Center. It sought to boost the volume of trade between the two countries, which currently stands at USD 67 million.



Leader of the Moroccan Business Delegation to Ghana, Mrs. Miriem Bensalah-Chaqroun expressed confidence in the ability of the business communities in the two countries working together to improve the partnership between the two to mutually increase the growth of the private sector.





Source: The Daily Statesman









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Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced his state budget proposal includes a extension of the State Film Tax Credit Program at the full $420 million annual level through 2022.

"The proposed extension of the proposed incentive program will ensure our member companies continue to grow their investment in New York," said Chris Dodd, chairman and chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America, in a press release.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, on Jan. 4 introduced legislation to allow military spouses to retain residency status in their home state for state and local taxation purposes, according to the Library of Congress government information web site.

The legislation would add the following sentence to existing law: "The spouse of a service member may elect to use the same residence for purposes of taxation as the service member regardless of the date on which the marriage of the spouse and the service member occurred."

The legislation specifies that a spouse accompanying a service member to an assigned duty station is not deemed to have lost a residence in the home state solely because of the temporary move.

The legislation -- HR 282 -- did not have any co-sponsors, as of Wednesday,
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QUEENSBURY  The Glens Falls man who shot up a downtown building during a burglary pleaded guilty to a new felony Wednesday and asked a judge for a break in the shooting case.

Nathan A. Nevins, 33, is serving an 11-year state prison sentence for the March 18 break-in at 9 Broad St., during which he threatened a man with a handgun he found in the building and fired several shots into walls before a standoff with police. He pleaded guilty last summer to felony counts of burglary and criminal mischief, criminal possession of a firearm and lesser counts in the break-in at the office and retail building known as Union Square.

He was charged in September with vandalizing a parked car on Broad Street the same day, a crime that came to light after the burglary. He was linked to the damage by DNA tests of blood found in the vehicle, which was repeatedly stabbed with a screwdriver and sustained broken windows that amounted to $2,865 in damage.

Nevins pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony criminal mischief for the car case, and Warren County Judge John Hall sentenced him to 1.5 to 3 years in state prison, which is to run concurrently to the 11-year sentence.

Hall also held a restitution hearing in the burglary case Wednesday, with Nevins opting not to contest an order that he pay $13,152 for the break-in case and $2,865 for the car damage.

Nevins lawyer, Warren County Public Defender Marcy Flores, said her client was doing well at prison and trying to turn his life around.

Hes taking classes and trying to do the right thing, she said.

But she said the nature of his convictions is keeping Nevins from prison programs that only those convicted of nonviolent felonies can access, and Flores asked Hall to grant Nevins an override of his violent felony convictions.

The judge said he wasnt sure if he could, but directed Flores to make a request in writing.

I dont think he is eligible, as the charges allege he used a firearm, Hall said.

Nevins is serving his prison term at maximum-security Five Points Correctional Facility in central New York. He is eligible for parole in August 2025.
GLENS FALLS  A Glens Falls man has been arrested for his alleged role in three burglaries at Glens Falls bars and an attempted burglary at another business on the citys east side in a span of a week, police said.

Austin J. Knapp, 18, of Maple Street faces three felony third-degree burglary counts, an attempted burglary charge and numerous misdemeanor petit larceny, conspiracy and criminal mischief charges for the break-ins in late December and early January.

Knapp broke into Lawrence Street Tavern twice, Peters Pub on Maple Street once and entered Askco Electric on Cooper Street before being scared off by a burglar alarm, Glens Falls Police Detective Lt. Peter Casertino said.

In all, the burglar or burglars netted less than $300 cash as well as liquor and cigarettes, Casertino said.

These were early morning break-ins, going in when they were closed and no one was around, Casertino said.

A door was damaged at Askco Electric. Surveillance cameras helped police determine Knapp was involved, he said.

Lawrence Street Tavern owner Dan Girard said there appeared to be more than one person involved, and they entered through a window.

They got in the register and stole some cash and took some bottles of liquor. They came back a second time to grab about 10 more bottles, he said. They didnt wreck anything, so that was good.

The investigation was ongoing but police dont have evidence that ties Knapp to any other commercial burglaries in the region.

The Warren County Sheriffs Office is investigating a spate of break-ins at businesses in Warrensburgs Main Street corridor late last year, but police do not believe they are related to the Glens Falls thefts.

Knapp was arraigned and sent to Warren County Jail for lack of bail, but had posted bail as of Wednesday afternoon.

Glens Falls Police detective sergeants Kyle Diamond and Seth French and Patrol Officer Andrew Mija are investigating the case.
GLENS FALLS  Gov. Andrew Cuomos proposed Empire State Trail system would include a paved, off-road bicycle and hiking trail between Lake George and the Canadian border, roughly following the path of state Route 9, said Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Its going to come right through here, she said Wednesday, in a presentation in Heritage Hall at Glens Falls Civic Center about Cuomos state budget proposal.

Hochul said the Lake George to Canada connection would be completed in the third year of a three-year plan to create a 750-mile cross-state trail system from Buffalo to Albany and north to the Canadian border.

The project would fill in gaps in the partially completed Erie Canal and Champlain Canal trails.

Hochul said the trails would attract international tourists who currently use similar trail systems in Europe.

You dont need to go to Europe anymore. You can do it right here in New York, she said. I tell you, if youve thought about opening a bed and breakfast  get ready!

About 150 people attended the presentation, a day after Cuomo released his budget proposal in Albany.

Hochul touted a $2 billion program to assist municipalities with water infrastructure improvements as a key element in the budget.

There are areas of our state that are afficted with water quality issues, Hochul said. If we dont do it, shame on us.

Warren Board of Supervisors Ron Conover, who also spoke, said he will encourage area legislators to find a way to enact Cuomos infrastructure proposal.

Conover, the Bolton supervisor, said infrastructure improvements have far-reaching benefits.

Imagine what we could accomplish for our regional economy and environment, he said.

Queensbury Supervisor John Strough, who was in the audience, applauded and grinned when Hochul talked about the importance of improving airports.

Strough is a vocal supporter of the controversial plan to extend the Warren County airport runway.

There was a comical moment when, about halfway through her presentation, an aide interrupted Hochul to inform her she was using the PowerPoint presentation from last years budget.

Hochul continued speaking extemporaneously while the aide switched to the right presentation.

Hochul said Cuomos proposal for free tuition for middle-class students to state universities and community colleges in New York would fill in the gap left after federal Pell grants and state TAP grants are used.

We will complete the final mile. Whatever the shortfall is, we will make up the difference, she said.

Hochul said the program pays only tuition, not room and board.

Speaking with reporters after the presentation, Hochul said the proposed program does not give state schools an unfair edge in competition with private colleges.

Hochul also said Cuomos proposed Buy American initiative would provide American companies with preferential status for state contracts over $100,000.

This is something we should be proud of, she said.

She asked those attending to advocate in support of Cuomos proposal to allow ride-sharing operations such as Uber to operate upstate.

Hochul said executives and tourists are accustomed to using ride-sharing services in New York City and other states.

This is something that needs a grassroots effort, she said.

Glens Falls Mayor Jack Diamond, speaking at the presentation, said Hochul has become familiar with Glens Falls.

Shes been here at least seven or eight times, he said.

Hochul said she is impressed by the beauty and revitalization of downtown.

Sometimes it takes a stranger to come to town and say, Do you realize the spectacular architecture you have? she said.

Hochul said she toured the Civic Center before her speech to see improvements the state provided $2 million in funding for.

It was great to come here and sort of inspect what youve done with the money. Youve done a great job, she said.
MOREAU  The South Glens Falls Central School Districts nearly $58 million capital project will not be done under a project labor agreement.

The Board of Education on Tuesday voted against entering into negotiations for a PLA in which every contractor that works on the project would have to sign and be bound by its terms.

PLAs often supersede individual union contracts, and the cited benefits include preventing work stoppages from labor disputes.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Patton said after voters approved the proposition in December 2015, the board was approached by the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council about exploring a PLA. The board hired a consultant to perform a study to determine whether there would be cost savings under an arrangement.

The board had tabled the matter from a contentious December meeting, where advocates for and against PLAs spoke out and the districts consultant, attorney David Wukitsch, walked out in frustration over criticism of his report.

Wukitsch had recommended against a PLA because he could only come up with about $400,000 in projected savings. However, he said he believes it would limit competition for bidders and may lead to higher bids. That anti-competitive aspect would not be sufficient to offset the potential savings from the PLA.

Board members directed the parties to meet to discuss the issue. That meeting occurred on Jan. 3, and Bill McMordie, the schools project manager, presented a summary of the discussions at the Board of Educations meeting on Tuesday.

McMordie said PLAs have not been used very often for school construction projects. South Glens Falls used one for a 1999-2001 project, and the only other one he could find in the Capital Region was in the Albany school district for multi-year improvements from 2002 to 2015.

McMordie said one factor is whether there would be a shortage of labor. Despite a potential phase two of improvements at GlobalFoundries and other construction in the area, he said he does not foresee a problem finding workers.

The labor market has been relatively stable for that amount of time. There hasnt been any massive shortages, he said.

One reason PLAs are used are to negotiate a different rate for second-shift work. McMordie estimated that only about 14 percent of this project would be done during the second shift. Not a lot of night work can be done because the district has to have the buildings open in the morning for students.

He said if about 25 percent to 30 percent of the work was being done on second shift, then a PLA might make more sense.

Another potential savings could come from the elimination of paid breaks. However, McMordie said it is tough for a construction manager to try to keep track of when everybody wants to take a break.

Its difficult to have somebody come in and work eight hours and not give them a break other than a lunch break, he said.

McMordie said he could not find a significant impact from using apprentice labor.

He did believe that a PLA would limit the number of bidders on the project, as some merit  or nonunion shops  do not bid on PLA projects. McMordie said about five to seven bidders for the work is the sweet spot for savings.

Joshua Reap, director of government affairs for Associated Builders and Contracts, said he has spoken to several nonunion shops that are hoping to bid on this job.

Tab DeNovellis, vice president of Southern Tier Insulation, also spoke in opposition to PLAs.

Weve proven that our hard work and dedication is equal to or above any other contractor thats out there, and we are only looking for a fair shake. In my opinion, taking away competition drives up price.

Board members said they appreciated the additional information on PLAs.

While I see they might be an appropriate and wise plan for some situations, I dont think it makes sense for ours, said Lisa Hogan.

The board voted 7-0 not to use a PLA. Board member Nelson Charron abstained because he works as the marketing representative for the United Association of Plumbing and Pipefitters Local 773. Thomas Kurtz was absent.

The board also signed off on plans for the site work at Moreau and Harrison elementary schools and the new transportation facility.
QUEENSBURY  A group of SUNY Adirondack students are going to witness history up close by attending Fridays presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.

Members of the community colleges Veterans Club and some student senators left the Queensbury campus at 6 a.m. Wednesday to head to Washington.

Wendy Johnston, professor of political science, said the college had been planning the trips for several months before the election.

The two student organizations are splitting the roughly $10,000 cost, with the funds coming from student activity fees.

Ive always wanted to go, so I was very happy to chaperone, she said.

There are 13 students, Johnston and her son, and Beth Faller, professor of counseling, on the trip, according to Johnson. She said it is a mix of students who supported Trump or students who did not.

Either way, it is a great opportunity to go to an inauguration, she said.

The college was able to obtain tickets from U.S. Rep. Elise Stefaniks office.

Johnston said she is not sure exactly where they will be to view the swearing in of the 45th president, but they will be standing and not sitting.

On Thursday, the group will be visiting museums and other sites and picking up the tickets from the congresswomans office.

Jon Brady, a Navy veteran, said he was excited for the inauguration.

Ive never been to an inauguration before and this seemed to be a very monumental event, he said.

John Morgan of Warrensburg said he wanted to go on the trip because it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

My candidate didnt necessarily win, but I think its worth it going down and just seeing the process, she said.

Richard Caldicott, of Saratoga Springs, agreed.

I did not vote for Trump, but I honestly am not that upset either way, he said.

About 40 Saratoga Springs High School students are heading to see the inauguration under the direction of Kevin Crotty, who teaches economics. Most of them are in his Advanced Placement macroeconomics class.

Kevin felt like it would be a relevant and unique experience for his 12th-graders to witness/participate in the inauguration events, said Ronald Schorpp, social studies chairman, in an email.
Letshego is an inclusive finance focused group with consumer lending, microfinance and deposit-taking subsidiaries across Southern, East and West Africa.

The acquisition of afb adds to Letshegos expansion of its West African presence after its 100% acquisition of Letshego Nigeria MFB (formerly FBN Microfinance Bank) in 2015.

In view of this, afbs trading name will be changed to Letshego Ghana Limited and its brand to Letshego in 2017.

afb in Ghana currently offers innovative credit products to over 60,000 customers across its network of more than 25 branch and customer access points.

READ ALSO: Yamoah bemoans absence of key sectors on bourse

Managing Director of afb Ghana Plc, Arnold Parker said the Ghanaian team was happy to be joining the Letshego Group, with very clear ambitions for inclusive finance-oriented growth across the continent.

We are excited to be joining the Letshego Group, and I have no doubt that we will benefit from this vision and strategic focus. While we have a profitable and successful customer delivery model, we look forward to the innovations and capacity-building that Letshegos engagement will bring to our business, the Ghanaian people, and the economy.

On his part the Group CEO of Letshego Chris Low also said it was exciting to be welcoming the afb team from Ghana into the Letshego family at this time.

As a Group, we continue to focus on the acceleration of all four of our strategic pillars, namely embracing financial inclusion, growing the franchise, enhancing our customer experience and embedding our future capability model. We believe afb has a platform that will enable us to roll out our full-service inclusive finance model of loans, savings, payments and micro-insurance in support of development of the economy of Ghana.
During his visit he met with the Registrar General, staff of the Department and ordinary Ghanaians who had gone to register their businesses.

The people who had come to register their businesses expressed their displeasure at the bureaucratic processes in registering their establishments.

Dr Bawumia said the NPP government is bent on making Ghana a business friendly country. He observed that such a vision must start with a smooth registering process at the Registrar-Generals Department.

READ ALSO: Dangote is the highest taxpayer

A stunned acting Registrar General Mrs. Jemima Oware Mrs. Oware said the three-month-old state attorneys strike was having a heavy toll on the process because the lawyers need to review the applications.

Dr Bawumia after being briefed said the visit was a fulfilled visit and there will be follow-up discussions.

He said the Nana Addo-led administration will use the benchmark of Rwanda which is currently ranked the most business-friendly country in Africa.

Dr. Bawumia further appealed to officials at the Department to speed up the processes and to do their best to position Ghana as a business-friendly environment.
Yamoah said this does not make for a true measure of economic activity in the country.

Exchanges, throughout the world, are more or less barometers of economic activity in the country they operate in. And so, if you have an exchange that doesnt have telecom represented, and telecom is a big sector as far as the country is concerned, then that is a problem.

Let me say that mining is also a big sector as far as the country is concerned, and also the banking and the insurance sectors. The oil and gas sector can also be seen as key as far as the economy of the country is concerned now. And if we have all that I have mentioned underrepresented on the exchange, then, the exchange doesnt become a true barometer of what economic activity is in this country, he added.

READ ALSO: Govt to introduce fiscal Stability Acts by end of 2017

Yamoahs concern follows a poor performance by the bourse for two consecutive years. I n 2015, the GSE recorded a negative 11.77 percent growth in cedi terms, in 2016, as the all-share index presented a negative 15.33percent growth.

Market capitalisation dropped from GH57.116billion in 2015 to GH52.690billion in 2016.

Yamoah said this is causing a lot of investors to move from the equity market to the fixed income market.

It explains the fact that the equity market has been seriously down in 2016; this is the second year of negative territory for the equity market and we believe something ought to be done about it or we may go into the new year with the same problems which will not be good for the market.
According to the Authority Dangote Cement contributed an average of GHC150 million to government revenue as at December 15.

The Cement manufacturing company was awarded at an event organized by the Tema Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority to recognize the compaies that contributed significantly to government revenue by way of taxes within the previous year.

READ ALSO: Govt to introduce fiscal Stability Acts by end of 2017

The amount of tax the company paid is due to the importation of 1000 trucks last year, in a bid to increase its distribution channels across the country. That, coupled with the expansion of production silos at its Tema plant, led to the creation of more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The Commissioner General of the GRA, George Blankson commended Dangote Cement for its contribution to Ghanas revenue. He called on other businesses to carry out their tax obligations to ensure economic growth.

The Media Relations Manager of Dangote Cement Etornam Komla Buami who received the award on behalf of the company said they are committed to strengthening Ghanas economy through the payment of taxes.

This demonstrates our commitment to making a significant contribution to the growth of Ghanas economy through the payment of taxes. Moving into the future, we are looking at continuing this feat through the creation of more jobs and expansion of our operations to cater for our clients in all parts of the country.
In a tweet, she said:

READ ALSO: Madly In Love

She earlier took to the same social media platform to condemn critics of her husband.

The former First Lady Lordina Mahama said those trying to disgrace her husband John Mahama, in connection with the state bungalow saga, will fail.

READ ALSO: Photo Of The Day

The former Presidents earlier request to keep his official residence as part of his retirement package met serious criticisms from some Ghanaians. He subsequently withdrew his interest.

In a response, Mrs Mahama tweeted quote This too shall pass. Their efforts shall fall flat because you are a man of integrity & principle. They shall be put to shame by #MahamaLegacy, unquote.

READ ALSO: Ghana Music
Dr Gilbert Buckle explained that the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital "doesn't pay bonuses and has never paid bonuses".

Earlier reports by Accra-based 3FM indicated that Dr Gilbert Buckle alone, the chief executive officer of the nations biggest hospital, took home 21,000 cedis in bonuses at the end of 2016.

According to 3FM, each staff member received 100 cedis while those in management positions took home in total 17,000 cedis.

The management members who benefited from the amount included Director of Medical Affairs, Director of Administration, Ag. Director of Pharmacy, Director of Finance, Director of Nursing Services, Ag. Director of General Services and Director of Human Resources, the news report said.

When Professor Anthony Sallar, the board chairman of the hospital, was contacted, he said: I'm highly surprised and would be very disappointed if it's true because management cannot propose and approve. I mean in corporate Ghana, such an amount is to come to the board for approval and it looks like it was done at the blind side of us.

But speaking to Accra-based Joy FM, Dr Buckle said that there is just too much mischief in this thing, explaining that if the hospital were to pay its 6,000-strong staff a GHC100 each, the total bonus payment would be GH600,000 not GH100,000.

The CEO believed that the payment could be an allowance that has finally been processed after a long delay.
READ ALSO: 24 year old MP complains about unbearable financial demands

The suspect, Emma Darteh, allegedly made an attempt to murder his father for refusing to make him continue his education to the senior high school level after he completed junior high school.

The 30 year-old Rastafarian unlike his 6 siblings who had secondary and tertiary education was not allowed to further his education after he completed his basic education.

The suspect, Emma Darteh is the second of Mr. Effah Dartehs seven children.

READ ALSO: Landlord kills tenant for not flushing toilet

According to Accra-based Rainbow radio, on several occasions Emma entreated his father to make him continue his education after completing junior high school but all proved futile.

Out of frustration, Emma pulled out a knife and threatened to kill his father for refusing to see him through higher education.
Asantehemaa Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II is lying in state at the Manhyia Palace, where mourners will be filing past her body until Thursday, when she would finally be buried.

Kufuor in a tribute said, "The Asante belief in reincarnation should explain the close bond of relationship Nana graciously extended to Apagyafie. Thankfully, her son Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his entire royal family continue to sustain this favour towards Apagya."

Read below Kufuor's tribute:

From my infancy, I was privileged to know Nana because of the close friendship my mother, Ama Dapaah of Apagyafie, had with her.

Nana always called me not by my name, but by the affectionate word Agya, meaning Father or Daddy. And this is because historically her great-grand ancestress after whom she was named Nana Afua Kobi, Asantehemaa in the mid-eighteeth century, was the daughter of my great-grand ancestor Oheneba Owusu Afriyie, Apagyahene, the son of Otumfuo Osei Kwadwo Okoawia, Asanthene.

The Asante belief in reincarnation should explain the close bond of relationship Nana graciously extended to Apagyafie. Thankfully, her son Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his entire royal family continue to sustain this favour towards Apagya.

Nana, blessed with exceptional longevity coupled with clarity of mind and memory, always pampered me with endearments and made me feel very special.

Nana you very successfully fulfilled your historic role of destiny. You will remain much beloved in your Kingdom, Asante, and by many beyond who were fortunate to come close to you. We already miss you dearly.
"Opuni will go to jail and I will make sure he pays dearly for his crimes. If we refuse to jail him, Ghanaians will vote against us in the next four years and so we need to get corrupt officials like him away from the country" Kennedy Agyapong said.

According to him, Dr Opuni may have been removed from office, his deals had cost the country dearly and therefore "it is time we make him pay for his bad deeds".

Dr Opuni was given up to the end of Friday, 13 January, to vacate his office.

The letter said Dr Opuni "ceases to hold office as CEO of Cocobod upon assumption of office of President Nana Akufo-Addo."

Speaking on Adom TV, he noted that, "Opuni went to his office on Tuesday at 1 am and started shredding documents.

"He again went there on Wednesday at 2:00 am to do the same thing and I will expose him. Why is he doing that, is it because he knew he would be sacked" he said.
Ghana is set to migrate from analog to digital broadcasting this year, after failing to meet the stipulated 2015 deadline.

The Communications expert believes the development will aid the media to improve in various aspects.

READ ALSO: 24 year old MP complains about unbearable financial demands

The digital migration has been scheduled to occur in three phases.

The first phase will involve the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions, while Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Volta regions form the second face. The Western, Eastern and Central regions complete the third phase.

READ ALSO:Rawlings responds to allegations on land for Foundation

Kwaku Sakyi-Addo added that though the introduction of digital broadcasting comes with advantages, it will also provide fierce competition for the various media houses since new ones will emerge.
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Dumor died on 18 January 2014 in his London home after a cardiac arrest, having been on air the day before. President of Ghana John Mahama said in a message on Twitter that Dumor was one of Ghana's "finest ambassadors" and "was a broadcaster of exceptional quality and Ghana's gift to the world."

Read more: Komla Dumor Center for Broadcast Journalism inaugurated

He won the Ghana Journalist of the Year award in 2003 and joined the BBC three years later.

From then until 2009, he hosted Network Africa for BBC World Service radio, before joining the World Today programme.

Komla Dumor was listed among the top 100 most influential personalities in Africa by the New Africa times. (Komla Dumor Foundation)

On 3 February 2014 Komla Dumor's body was flown back to Ghana, where it was received at Kotoka International Airport by a group of family members, friends, government officials, sympathizers and members of the Aflao traditional council, who also performed some traditional rites, since Aflao was his hometown.

In life and even in death, Dumor was an inspiration to many, a clear example that there is no such thing as overnight success, but success is a sure thing with hard work and perseverance.
He alleged that, they are both active members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to him, "We will get rid of Superintendent Cephas Arthur who is the Police PRO and the IGP will be shown the exit because they have been acting in the interest of the NDC".

Speaking on UTV, he said, "As for that PRO, the least said about him the better. Is he not the one who has been snitching on Kwesi Ofori? We will see."

Before the 2016 elections, the Member of Parliament for the Assin Central Constituency, Kennedy Agyapong launched a scathing attack on John Kudalor over violence at Nana Addos residence.

He launched unprintable words on the IGP over what he described as his indifferent attitude to the whole incident.

"What kind of police do we have in this country? If it is the opposition, crime committed, but if it an NDC no evil seen. He is an asshole, a foolish IGP and bias," he said.

According to him, the IGP should be the first to be replaced immediately when Nana Addo is sworn into power because they have shown they work for NDC and not all Ghanaians.

Prior to becoming the IGP, COP John Kudalor was the director of Police operations and many in the NPP find it hard to forgive him for supervising the use of tear gas and water canon to stop the Let My Vote Count protestors who were bent on storming the electoral commission, contrary to a restraining court order last in 2015.
The director of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ernest Thompson, managing director of Bulk Oil Storage and Transport (BOST), Kingsley Kwame Awuah-Darko, and former chief executive officer of COCOBOD, Stephen Opuni would be the targets of three big investigations into alleged corruption during the opposition National Democratic Congress eight-year rule, the legislator said during a television discussion.

Analysis

The MP for Assin Central is infamous for making wild, unverifiable and untrue allegations of this nature in the past. In June 2016, he accused Charlotte Osei; the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) saying that: she was appointed in exchange for sex. He has since then said that comment was a joke.

He is also known for his sharp tongue and lack of political correctness especially during media interviews. In a recent television discussion, he described the countrys police chief as an asshole.
The 200,000 electoral officers engaged by the EC will range from GHS800 to GHS1500. He said the delay was due to the the failure of the Ministry of Finance to release funds to the EC.

Director of Public Affairs of the EC, Eric Kofi Dzakpasu said, "Although voting in the 2016 elections is over, the processes relating to the elections are not over yet. There are few things we at the EC will need to do to complete, such as payment of allowances."

Read more: AMA cautions parties to remove election posters

He added that, "We are taking steps to ensure the final release of the cash from the Ministry of Finance so we can pay. We have made some progress towards that and so they will be paid shortly."

Read also:

Meanwhile, prior to the elections, workers of the EC demanded 50 percent of their salary as allowances for their inability to engage in social and political activities as staff of a neutral organization.

The demand was made in a leaked internal memo for negotiations delivered to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in Accra by the workers of the Commission.

According to them, unlike other members of the public service, they are restricted in their social interactions for fear of being tagged political.

"There are certain public places open to all that employees of the Commission cannot participate since they may be wanting. The exercise of neutrality becomes more sensitive during and after the conduct of elections since we are most of the times perceived wrongly by our actions in the course of our work," the memo said.

Read also: Members of the NDC committee to probe defeat unveiled
Following the 171 parliamentary seats secured by the NPP as against the 104 obtained by the NDC in the December 7, 2016 parliamentary election, the NPP occupies majority seats in Parliament.

Before election 2016, the NDC held the majority in parliament with 148 seats as against the NPPs 123.

Read more: Mike Oquaye is next Speaker of Parliament

In an interview on Accra-based Asempa FM, Obiri Boahen said, "In 2020, NPP members will be able to do effective campaigning without fear and intimidation from the NDC.
On Tuesday, January 10, 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, rolled out names of the first batch of his ministerial appointments including Mr. Osafo Marfo who was designated as senior Minister.

The nominees would have to go through vetting and approved by Parliament before they can take over their rightful positions in government.

However, Ayariga said it is unconstitutional to appoint a senior Minister when the Constitution makes provision for only two kinds of Ministers being Cabinet and non-cabinet.

The MP in a letter to President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, January 17 said, "The Senior Minister post which you have created is demonstrably analogous to the office of Prime Minister. I will show, from a review of the history of the enactment of the 1992 Constitution, that there was a very conscious decision to avoid creating any office similar to that of a Prime Minister. The idea of having a Prime Minister was explicitly turned down.

Read also: Nana Addo makes fun of plagiarism gaffe

"Chapter 8 of the Constitution of Ghana 1992 establishes the Executive branch of government and spells out the offices, which shall constitute that branch. Articles 76, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 88, and 256 of the constitution deal with matters relating to the posts of a Minister of State and a Deputy Minister of State. Some of those provisions often refer to the term Minister or Deputy Minister when making references to the post of a Minister of State or a Deputy Minister of State respectively and omitting the expression: of State.

"A Minister of State is not the same creature as a Senior Minister. A Senior Minister suggests the existence of a hierarchy among Ministers of State. There is no hierarchy among Ministers of State appointed under articles 58 and 256. At best, there could be informal seniority protocols within government once approval as Ministers of State is given by parliament. I am not operating in the realm of protocols now. I am asking that we pay attention to the dictates of the language of our constitution when communicating to other constitutional bodies and arms of government. Co-equal arms of government are guided in the exercise of their own functions by the dictates of the same constitution. Remember that in the case of the requirement of prior approval by Parliament, the Supreme Court said in Mensah versus Attorney-General that parliament had to respect the language and act accordingly and not just retain Ministers of the previous government because that was not what prior approval meant."

Below is the full letter:

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Flagstaff House Kanda  Accra

Through: Rt. Hon Speaker, Parliament of Ghana

IN THE MATTER OF THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL NOMINATION OF HON YAW OSAFO-MARFO FOR APPOINTMENT AS SENIOR MINISTER

Mr. President.

I have taken time to write you this letter because you have asked us to be citizens not spectators. Citizens insist on fidelity to the Constitution, which is the basis of every constitutional authority and power exercised. Sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this Constitution. Ghanaians should be made aware that every constitutional power and authority exercised by a President is spelt out in the constitution (or some other law) and the manner in which it is to be exercised is equally laid down. It should therefore not be confusing to non-lawyers when they are told that a power bestowed on a President has been exercised in a manner not laid down in the Constitution. Constitutionalism is concerned with both form and substance.

I write to draw your attention to the constitutional issue arising from your nomination of Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo for vetting to be appointed Senior Minister. I tried to raise the issue in Parliament and at the preparatory meeting of the Appointments Committee of Parliament. My motives are purely to promote adherence to the dictates of our Constitution that Mr. President swore to  at all times preserve, protect and defend I also swore to do the same thing in my Oath of Allegiance as a Member of Parliament. Remember that breach of the constitution is one of the grounds on which you may be removed from office. We therefore have a common duty but sometimes we may have an uncommon understanding of the true meaning of the dictates of the words that enact the authority and powers of a President or any other officer created by the Constitution.

The nomination of any person to be vetted for the post of a Senior Minister constitutes a constitutional aberration. The simple reason is that nowhere in the Constitution does the office of Senior Minister exist. The Senior Minister post which you have created is demonstrably analogous to the office of Prime Minister. I will show, from a review of the history of the enactment of the 1992 Constitution that there was a very conscious decision to avoid creating any office similar to that of a Prime Minister. The idea of having a Prime Minister was explicitly turned down.

Read also: Nana Addo presents second batch of ministerial nominees to Parliament

Chapter 8 of the Constitution of Ghana 1992 establishes the Executive branch of government and spells out the offices, which shall constitute that branch. Articles 76, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 88 and 256 of the constitution deal with matters relating to the posts of a Minister of State and a Deputy Minister of State. Some of those provisions often refer to the term Minister or Deputy Minister when making references to the post of a Minister of State or a Deputy Minister of State respectively and omitting the expression: of State.

A Minister of State is not the same creature as a Senior Minister. A Senior Minister suggests the existence of a hierarchy among Ministers of State. There is no hierarchy among Ministers of State appointed under articles 58 and 256. At best, there could be informal seniority protocols within government once approval as Ministers of State is given by Parliament. I am not operating in the realm of protocols now. I am asking that we pay attention to the dictates of the language of our Constitution when communicating to other constitutional bodies and arms of government. Co-equal arms of government are guided in the exercise of their own functions by the dictates of the same Constitution. Remember that in the case of the requirement of prior approval by Parliament, the Supreme Court said in Mensah versus Attorney-General that Parliament had to respect the language and act accordingly and not just retain Ministers of the previous government because that was not what prior approval meant.

Literally and ordinarily the word senior means higher in standing or rank relative to another Minister of State. But our constitutional governance architecture only recognizes a Minister of State who the Constitution sometimes refers to as a Minister. Ordinarily also, the word senior is used to show that one person is more advanced in age than another. The Constitution does not make that differentiation when it comes to ministerial appointments. Being advanced in age does not entitle you to be vetted by Parliament and given the accolade of Senior Minister.

Mr. President cannot simply say that appointing someone as Senior Minister means nothing. If that is the case then simply nominate him to be a Minister of State. Why the discrimination? You consciously seek to elevate Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo to a status akin to that of a Prime Minister. I have, myself, heard Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo grant interviews and say on radio that he is going to oversee the work of other Ministers of State you have nominated, especially for the economic sectors. That is to say that he will superintend over the work of other Ministers of State. That interview betrays the real motives for creating the Senior Minister post. It is going to function very much the same way as a Prime Minister. Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo does not understand that you dont intend to breach the Constitution by creating a Prime Minister status for any one particular Minister of State, if mu assumption is right. For him it is not a mere accolade based on his age and wealth of experience.

Read also:Nana Addo names Ministers

A proposal was made to the framers of our Constitution to create the post of a Prime Minister and it was rejected. The Consultative Assembly that drafted the final constitution rejected the creation of the office of Prime Minister or any post akin to it. The creation of our Constitution itself went through several stages. There was a nation-wide gathering of public views on the form of government we should constitute for ourselves by a National Commission for Democracy which presented a report on Evolving a True Democracy on 25th March 1991 to the PNDC. On July 31st 1991, A Committee of Experts chaired by Dr. S.K.B. Asante presented Proposals for a Draft Constitution of Ghana to the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC). Then a Consultative Assembly debated the Draft Constitution and came out with a final Constitutional proposal, which was put to a referendum at which Ghanaians voted. The final outcome is this 1992 Constitution.

The Committee of Experts led by Dr. S.K.B. Asante proposed a split executive system comprised of a President elected by universal adult suffrage and a Prime Minister. They had actually been instructed by the PNDC in PNDCL 252 to consider that option of a President elected by universal adult suffrage in addition to a Prime Minister who must command a majority in the National Assembly. These two would work together. The Prime Minister was to  be the head of Government administration and should supervise and co-ordinate the work of Ministers of State and of the Council of Ministers. He or she should be the leader of Government business in Parliament, and should generally assist the President in the execution of the functions of Government. (Emphasis mine) (Report of the Committee of Experts (Constitution) on Proposals for a Draft Constitution of Ghana, page 13) These proposals were presented to the Consultative Assembly set up under the Consultative Assembly Law, 1991 (PNDCL 253). After extensive debates on the proposals contained in the Committee of Experts Report, the Consultative Assembly rejected the idea of a post of Prime Minister. Another proposal of Council of Ministers headed by the proposed Prime Minister was equally rejected. A Cabinet, as presently constituted, was rather proposed in the stead of the Council of Ministers. This Cabinet will be made up of the President, Vice President and not more than 19 Ministers.

In the language of the Report of the Committee of Experts, the proposed Prime Minister was analogous to a Deputy Chief Executive of the nation. (Page. 13). In the original proposals of the Committee of Experts, the post of a Vice President, as we presently have it in the 1992 Constitution, was not considered at all. Now that we have a Vice President who is the real Deputy Chief Executive of the nation we cannot be entertaining acts aimed at circumventing the status of the constitutionally elected Vice President.

The Consultative Assembly rejected the idea of a Prime Minister or anything akin to it. That has informed the practice of constitutionalism of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). That is why each time NDC is forming government there is no proposal to appoint anyone to a status akin to the position of a Prime Minister such as a Senior Minister. The political grouping from which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is lineally descended boycotted this constitution making process. It is therefore does not come as a surprise that anytime the NPP comes into office, as we saw in the case of Ex-President J. A. Kufour, they come back with this Senior Minister position to fill in the place of a Prime Minister. An idea that was totally rejected by Ghanaians during the Consultative Assembly debates and was never an option presented to Ghanaians for enactment in our Constitution during the referendum. That post undermines the role of the Vice President.

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana makes no provision for a hierarchy of ministers among Ministers of State. The idea of a particular minister being higher in status than other Ministers of State is an anathema to our Constitution right from the beginning. At most, we have some of the Ministers (not more than 19) being in Cabinet and the rest being Ministers of State who have no cabinet membership. It is in the recordings of minutes of cabinet meetings that you notice the difference when the 19 ministers are recorded as Members of Cabinet and the rest are said to be in attendance only.

In exercising the Presidents appointing authority, where prior approval of parliament is required, fidelity to the clear textual prescriptions of our Constitution is critical. Article 1 of our Constitution provides that, the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in this Constitution. Your power to appointment Ministers is clearly circumscribed within the confines of article 78 and 256 of the Constitution. So is the power of Parliament to approve. Parliament can only approve nominations for Ministers of State to be appointed. Indeed, that is why article 295 (1) defines a Minister as  a Minister appointed under article 78 or 256 of this Constitution. Those two articles only mention Minister of State not Senior Minister.

Read also:

Parliament can only vet nominees to the posts of Minister of State because that is what the text of the Constitution says. Parliament itself cannot arrogate to itself the authority to vet for offices not created by the Constitution or validly enacted by a separate Act of Parliament. In the practice of ministerial nominations, it is often stated that a nominee has been designated to handle a stated Ministry. That simply helps Parliament in the vetting process as it narrows down the scope of the areas within which that nominee will be interrogated to determine capacity to do the work. Otherwise, strictly speaking, the President can simply say he is nominating a person for approval as a Minister of State and leave it at that and he would have complied with the language of the Constitution. But the President cannot nominate someone to be appointed as a Senior Minister. Within the corridors of the Flagstaff House, younger Ministers of State may call any of their colleagues a Senior Minister in deference to his or her age but that is different from an official communication by the President to Parliament in exercise of his powers pursuant to articles 58 and 256 of the Constitution requesting that a person advanced in age be vetted for approval by Parliament to be appointed as Senior Minister. It is ultra vires the powers of the President under our Constitution. This equally bars Parliament from proceeding.

Read more:

Assuming we let it pass today that we can have someone appointed as a Senior Minister and that is perfectly right within the 1992 constitution then what stops another President from appointing someone tomorrow to be vetted for appointment as a Prime Minister? And who says that Senior Minister is not a term of art? In its signification among governance experts, Senior Minister is almost synonymous with Prime Minister. Can future Presidents send a communication to Parliament requesting that a nominee be vetted for appointment as Super Chief Justice or even Senior Supreme Court Justice pursuant to article 144 of the Constitution? If we accept Your Excellencys conduct today then one day we will be called upon to vet a nomination for Senior Supreme Court Justice (whatever that will mean) and questions cannot be raised. Fidelity to our Constitution and the nomenclature therein is extremely important especially for a President who before assuming office has to take a Presidential Oath to  at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana What is happening is a mutilation of the Constitution. And it is needless. It is constitutionally mandatory for Mr. President to adhere to the appropriate nomenclatures when requesting approval from Parliament.

Your Excellency, I have not forgotten the bad precedent set by Ex President John Agyekum Kufour in nominating Hon J. H. Mensah, his brother-law, for appointment as Senior Minister which the then Parliament accepted. Now that we have heeded to your call to be citizens and not spectators it is time to rise up to the occasion and correct our errors  his then and now yours. I am very hopeful that this matter will not end up in the Supreme Court. If it does, am sure it will be an opportunity for the Supreme Court to pronounce that their decision in Tsatsu Tsikata versus Attorney-General, in the matter of the constitutionality of the creation of the Fast Track High Court, was not intended to provide unbridled license to any President or for that matter any appointing authority to wantonly abandon the clear textual prescriptions of our constitution in the naming of officers and institutions. Now that almost all the High Courts are getting automated will the species of courts know as High Courts survive as a judicial nomenclature? I fear there will soon be no High Court, only Fast Track High Court. And will it be ok for me to file an application before the Automated Supreme Court? Words used in the Constitution to describe officers and institutions have their significations.

I have combed around the world to see where else the term Senior Minister is used and found some useful precedent in Singapore that is largely a Parliamentary System with a Prime Minister heading cabinet and a President with ceremonial powers. A gazette notification is issued announcing the designation of a Minister as a Senior Minister and his or her functions clearly spelt out in the gazette notification. Nothing is there to show that they were submitted to their Parliaments for vetting as Senior Ministers. In one case the title of Senior Minister was conferred on an ex-Prime Minister when he ceased to be a Prime Minister. They also have a designation of a Coordinating-Minister. The practice in Singapore is understandable because they have a largely parliamentary system in which the Prime Minister is the head of the ministers in terms of hierarchy and actually exercises executive authority. The situation is clearly different in Ghana where the constitution is explicit in its enactment of the offices of Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers of State and does not create a hierarchy of Ministers. To create a Senior Ministers post amends the constitution and Mr. President would be breaching the very oath of office that is the basis of your authority as Head of State.

Mr. President, permit me to say that Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo is an excellent gentleman with vast experience who might bring a lot to your government. Unfortunately, within the context of our Constitution, you cannot give him a ministerial status higher and above the status of a Minister of State. I believe Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo will understand the high regards you have for him and will not be offended if you make the correction needed to enable an incident free vetting. Given his exceptional qualities, I believe an automatic parliamentary approval of his nomination for appointment as a Minister of State is guaranteed.

Alternatively you can copy the good practice of the NDC government. The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) set up by article 86 of the Constitution will be the best place for Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo. That is where we put Dr. Kwesi Botchwey. I am not even saying the former has attained the stature of the latter. But if you want to elevate him above Ministers, especially those Ministers of State manning the economic sectors, I suggest that you appoint him to chair the NDPC. He will superintend over the Minister of Finance and all other Ministers of State, as you may desire. He will even have the Government Statistician, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana on the Commission and many more eminent persons who you can gather on the Commission for him to run a constitutional empire. I urge you to look at the functions of the NPDC and you will find that a fine brain and experienced hand like Hon Yaw Osafo-Marfo will be an excellent candidate.

Please accept, Your Excellency, my highest regards and well wishes for your Presidency.

Sincerely,
The National Democratic Congress recently held a press conference, accusing the President of indulging in academic fraud.

But Nana Obiri Boahen believes that The question to ask is who is the original source of the words used by President Akufo-Addo? Certainly not [former] president Bush. Those words were used by President Wildrow Wilson. Since that high profile submission by President Wildrow Wilson, 13 US presidents have used those same words in their inaugural addresses so who has used whose words?

The truth is that the biographer of President Wildrow Wilson acknowledged that those words were not original from President Wilson. The original person who rendered that powerful sermon remains unknown. The importance of those words found expression in the speeches of 14 American presidents, the last being President George Bush. None of them made attributions because the original source remains unknown. That explains why President Bush was not accused of plagiarism, he added. Following the swearing-in of the President and his Vice on Saturday, January 7, 2017, social media was awash with some quotes in Nana Addos speech, believed to have been lifted from speeches by two former American Presidents, he said.

Mr. Kofi Portuphy [National Chairman of the NDC] and his colleagues understand that there was no bad faith, no shame, and no disgrace, no improper conduct of intellectual dishonesty and no academic fraud on Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Obiri Boahen added.

READ ALSO: Nana Addo makes fun of plagiarism gaffe

He argued that the NDC wants the nation to show respect to former President Mahama and so they must also show respect to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Analysis
READ ALSO:

He warned that As for Kofi Portuphy, Asiedu Nketia, Koku Anyidoho, and their gang, ladies and gentlemen, we shall caution that from now on if they throw mud at the president in whom we unprecedentedly and majority of Ghanaians reposed their confidence in, we will pay them back in equal measure. Enough is enough.

The National Democratic Congress last week condemned attacks on its members by the beastly Invincible Forces of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The national chairman of the NDC Kofi Portuphy said the New Patriotic Party government and Ghanaians at large should not blame the NDC if they decide to respond to the attacks in equal measure.

His warning comes on the back of seizure of state properties by alleged NPP members following the investiture of Mr Akufo-Addo.

This had often resulted in clashes between supporters of the two parties.

READ ALSO: Angry suspected NPP youth besiege government institutions

Mr Portuphy argued that the NDC bequeathed a peaceful Ghana to the NPP and hence the new administration must endeavour to protect it.

But Nana Obiri Boahen said even though he condemns the violent attacks by the NPP supporters, the NDC must also be reminded of the series of attacks perpetrated by their supporters in 2009.
This was made known by Frank Agyekum, the spokesperson of former President Kufuor.

Frank Agyekum said in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM.

The revelation comes after it was disclosed that former President Jerry Rawlings has recently requested and been given a four-acre land by the Mahama administration for the purposes of a foundation.
Desmond Kofi Decker is a journalist with Accra-based Class FM and if voted for by an electoral college, would be the youngest ever member of the council, whose main responsibility is to advise the president on key national decisions.

What informed my decision to run for Council of State for the Greater Accra Region was that: it is the conviction and love to serve mother Ghana.

he told Pulse.com.gh in an interview.

he added.

He is also to challenge the notion that young people cannot offer wise counsel by virtue of their age.

The president is mandated to consult the council in the selection of Supreme Court judges, the head of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

Analysis

Fifty-one percent of the worlds population is under 30 but only two percent of parliamentarians worldwide are under 30.

As such, Desmond Deckers resolve to join this body is unprecedented and will undoubted cause other young to feel enjoined to engage in national political discourse. Deckers run follows the successful election of 24-year-old Francis Oteng-Mensah to become the Member of Parliament for the Kwabre East Constituency during the 2016 elections. She is currently the youngest parliamentarian in the seventh parliament.

When Oteng-Mensah was elected the NPPs parliamentary candidate, the head of Department of Political Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Richard Amoako Baah described her as too young and inexperienced for the task.

In 2016, the United Nations Youth Envoy Ahmad Alhendawi, endorsed a campaign by a youth group based in Nigeria dubbed Not Too Young To Run.

The campaign not only encourages young people to run for office, but calls on countries to eliminate age barriers set on public offices.

According to the campaign, 73 percent of countries worldwide have age-barriers to those who can run for elected office although they can vote for those same offices.

Despite the numerous advantages to having younger leaders, including policies which reflect contemporary thinking and aspiration, there are significant barriers even if age limits are lowered.
"I would like to see him be successful, I really would," Damon told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Swiss ski resort where movers and shakers from the political and business worlds are holed up this week.

But he added: "I wish him well, and we all must. A successful American president is good for all of us."

Damon defended fellow A-lister Meryl Streep over her verbal brawl with the US president-elect, who labelled her "one of the most overrated actresses in Hollywood" after she used an awards speech to trash him.

"He's right, she's totally overrated as an actress," Damon joked, before adding: "I thought what she said about bullying was very important... Bullying people with less power is unhealthy, and it's behaviour that children will model."

Damon said he was still nervous about what the next four years will bring now that Trump is about to become "the most consequential person on the planet".

He drew reference to the "beautiful handwritten note" that George H.W. Bush wrote in 1993 to Bill Clinton as the then president handed over to his Democratic successor, which read, "I am rooting for you".

"It was just the most graceful and wonderful and heartfelt sentiment, and I think that's what, in this moment, we all have to be feeling," Damon said.

The actor is in Davos to promote his charity Water.org which works to improve global access to clean water and sanitation.

"This problem is completely solvable -- we solved it for ourselves in the West a hundred years ago and for 663 million people, it really is kind of what animates their entire lives," Damon told AFP in an interview.
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
The event was hosted by Akinola Fafowora and in honour of the restaurants official opening, all patrons were welcomed by waiters and waitresses. The event served the purpose of a platform for the restaurant to showcase amazing food, drinks and services.

Guests feasted on exquisite selection from the food menu and stylish drink infusions while the sensational saxophonist, Yhumie publicly known as Yomi Sax, added to the exuberant atmosphere. The opening was a well-attended event; various celebrities and societal influencers graced the event with their presence.

The likes of Tuface, his wife Annie Idibia, Basketmouth, Bovi, Olisa, Mai Atafo, Elma Godwin, Shina Peller, Pearl Cardy, Rukky Sanda, Ketchup celebrity stylist Swanky Jerry, Jessica Ulo, Stephanie Coker, Air Boy, Que Peller and many others graced the opening.

6IX Restaurant was established in December 2016. The breath-taking restaurant features a fully lit up glass box area with unmatched aesthetic values, a unique bar and a private dining area. The restaurant transcends into a display of opulent decor and modern architecture.

6IX brings forth cutting-edge service, style and design, creating an ambience that works perfectly for both intimate dining and late night lounge with the menu, however, extending far beyond intercontinental norm but also infused with creativity and flair.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 17 other passengers were injured in the incident which occurred at about 12:30 a.m. at Irepeni village on the highway.

NAN also reports that the accident involved a white colour Toyota Hiace bus with registration number 14B  888- DT and an unmarked black Peugeot 206.

The bus, which belonged to Delta Line, was said to be fully loaded with passengers and was heading to Abuja while the Peugeot car was coming from Lokoja.

The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Olusegun Martins, who confirmed the incident, said 23 people were involved while two of them escaped without injury.

He said that passengers with serious injuries were taken to the State Specialist Hospital and Cross Nation hospital, all in Lokoja.

According to him, the corpses were also deposited at the morgue of the specialist hospital..
Gwandu, who stated this at a news a conference on Wednesday in Benin, said there is no sacred cow in the force.

He also disclosed that the command had in the last one week arrested 27 suspected criminals in different hideouts in the state.

He said police detectives arrested the suspects with various dangerous arms and ammunition.

The commissioner said those arrested included six suspected armed robbers, five suspected kidnappers, 13 suspected cultists and three cyber crime suspects.

He listed some of the arms and ammunition recovered from them to include cut-to-size guns, cartridges, pistols, locally made short guns, double barreled gun and pump action gun.

He restated the commands preparedness to combat crime in the state and stressed that Edo was no longer a safe haven for criminals.

Gwandu enjoined all residents of the state to be law abiding and cooperate with the Police by volunteering useful information that would assist the command in taming criminal elements.

He said all the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations into the cases were concluded.
Malam Dauda Mamuda, the brother to the district head, who is a Ward Head, was also kidnapped by the suspects.

A resident of the community, Malam Musa Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gwaram that the incident took place in Gwaram 5.00 a.m on Tuesday.

Ibrahim said that residents were worried over the incessant kidnapping of Fulani herdsmen in the area.

He added that the people of Rijin, Basirka and other areas had resorted to sleeping with their two eyes opened, in view of the incessant kidnapping in their communities.

Ibrahim appealed to Jigawa Government and the Police Command in the state to come to the aid of the affected communities.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the Command in the state, Abdu Jinjiri said the command was aware of the incident.
How does she get out of his grip and free herself from the ghost of her late husband?

Read her story here:

"My name is Calista, a 30-year-old widow. I lost my husband, Roland three years ago in a ghastly motor accident and since then, he (or his ghost I would say), has refused to let me live my life.

I met Roland when I went for an interview at a shipping company in Lagos and though we did not hit it off immediately, it was a just a matter of time before we fell madly in love.

He worked for an oil and gas servicing company that did business with the company I had gone to look for a job. We started out being friends and from there, we became lovers.

Roland was so besotted on me and did everything to make me happy and fulfilled. He went out of his way to show me so much love and care and I became the envy of my friends who had all been praying for such a caring and doting man.

After two years of dating, Roland proposed to me and six months later, we got married and I could not have been happier as I was getting married to a man who loved and cared for me more than he did to himself.

Everything Roland did was to make sure I remained a happy woman. But there were some things he used to say which today, has turned out to be my albatross.

Roland used to tell me that even death could not quench his love for me and that we would die at the same time. At such times, I never took his words seriously because I thought they were words of a man in love and he never meant what he said.

But how was I to know that he could have been predicting what would happen if he died suddenly because today, I know better.

I remember the dark day death snatched my husband from me vividly. He had to travel to the headquarters of his company in Port Harcourt and had to go with the company vehicle.

I was expecting him to call me when he got to his destination but the next call I had was from an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps three hours later telling me my husband was involved in an accident along the Ore-Benin road.

The official who called only said I or any member of his family should come to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and refused to answer any further query from me.

I called Rolands younger brother and frantically told him the message I got and he went off to Benin that same day.

He came back late that night with some of their family members to tell me my husband had died on the spot of the accident.

My world came crumbling before my very own eyes on hearing the news. I fainted and came back to life three days later in a hospital.

After Rolands burial, I mourned him for close to one year as the culture demands and after the mourning period, I decided to move on with my life but that has been very difficult because Roland has refused to let me be.

He appears to me at all times, even in the daytime, with tears and blood dripping from his eyes, telling me how much he loves me and how lonely he is wherever he is.

Most nights, he would appear in my dreams and make love to me and when I wake up, it would be so real as semen would be dripping out of my private parts.

Anytime I try to get into any relationship, Roland would appear in the dream begging me never to leave him for another man. There was a time one of my male friends took me to a restaurant for lunch.

He sat beside me and started begging me never to leave me. In my fear and desperation, I shouted at him to leave me, making everyone in the restaurant to stare at me like a mad woman.

Needless to say that the man cut all ties with me, thinking I had gone mad. This has gone on for far too long and all the places I have gone to seek help has not helped.

I want my late husband to allow me to live my life in peace but it seems the more I seek help, he intensifies his efforts to frustrate me.

What do I do?

Calista.

How Nigeria voted:

She should go to a spiritual church to break the bonds - 21%

She should go to a powerful native doctor to cut all ties with her late husband - 4%

She should go to a man of God who would help her - 63%

She must make some sacrifices to sever any links between them - 12%
Photographer Amos Chapple from New Zealand decided to visit the chilly village to document life there. Before going to Oymykadon, Chapple went to Yakutsk, a city close to the village. Yakutsk happens to be the coldest city in the world.

During his trip there, Amos Chapple experienced what it means to live in the world's coldest region. He said that his tongue froze multiple times when talking.

If that wasn't crazy enough, his camera equipment froze when he tried taking shots outside.

Also because the village is so cold, it is nearly impossible to have indoor plumbing. To answer the call of nature, the villagers have to do their business outdoors.

ALSO READ: 3 women who want to make history for Nigeria at Winter Olympics

Despite the cold conditions, the villagers are happy here.

An average Nigerian who has spent his life in the tropics would be sick in his first couple of hours in this village.
Peter, 46, who resides in Ikola area of Ipaja, Lagos State, is facing a three-count charge of forgery, stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Clifforf Ogu, told the court that the accused on Oct. 30, 2016, fraudulently received N667, 000 from the complainant under the pretext of procuring him schengen visas.

The complainant approached the accused, who claimed to be a travelling agent, to help him procure schengen visa for two of his family members.

The accused charged him N667, 000 and got the visas for them. It was at the airport that the authorities discovered that the visas were faked, he said.

The offences contravened Sections 312 and 363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused faces 15 years jail if found guilty of the offence.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Joshua-Ndom gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Keffi.

He spoke on the sidelines of a lecture entitled: What You Need to Know about Lassa fever organised for workers of the centre.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Iya, has confirmed that four persons have lost their lives to Lassa fever outbreak in the state.

Iya told journalists on Monday in Lafia that 16 suspected cases have been recorded in the state, out of which four were confirmed positive and all of them have died.

Joshua-Ndom said that the lecture was to sensitise the workers on the preventive measure against Lassa fever.

He said, The lecture was organised in order to educate our staff on what Lassa fever is, its transmission mode, prevention and treatment.

I want to use this medium to appeal to my workers, patients and members of the public to remain calm as necessary steps have been taken to avert the spread of the virus.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness/fever caused by a single stranded RNA virus which belongs to arenaviridae family with the main reservoir as a multi-mammate rat.

Joshua-Ndom said that human beings could be infected whenever they come in contact with the infected animals.

The medical director also advised the residents to promptly report to the nearest hospital or health centre any suspected case of Lassa fever for timely professional care.

Joshua-Ndom listed the common symptoms to include: headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, rashes, severe malaria, typhoid fever, among others.

The medical director also reiterated the commitment of the centre to continue to key into project that have direct bearing on the lives of the doctors, other medical workers and Nigerians at large.

NAN reports that Lassa fever could be transmitted to human through contamination of broken skin via direct or indirect contact with infected rat excreta or urine on floors, home surfaces, in food or water.
According to a report by TheCable, the victims lost their lives in the violence that erupted in Samaru Kataf, Zangon Kataf local government area after gunmen invaded a market filled with traders.

A witness reportedly said: Some weeks ago, the herdsmen wrote to the community that they were coming to attack. The community reported to the police; now it has happened.

Three people were killed while four were injured in the devilish attack.

This is happening despite heavy security presence here, so how can we have confidence in security agents?

However, the Kaduna state police command spokesman, Aliyu Usman, is yet to confirm or deny the report.

The latest attack in Southern Kaduna has seen the state government reversing the decision to relax the 24-hour curfew in Zangon Kataf LG.
Humanitarian organization, Doctors Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) otherwise known as Doctors Without Borders confirmed the death toll in a statement issued to the media in Borno state on Tuesday.

It said 120 people were also injured.

The MSF said its workers are already providing first aid to the 120 injured persons while calling on immediate evacuation of those in need to emergency care.

"The safety of civilians must be respected. We are urgently calling on all parties to ensure Bomb victims the facilitation of medical evacuations by air or road for survivors who are in need of emergency care," MSFs Director of Operations, Jean-Clement Cabrol said.

The mistaken bomb was dropped on an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Rann, headquarters of Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Theatre Commander of Nigerian forces in Borno, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, confirmed that he authorised the bombing.

In a statement issued after the strike, Irabor said: "This morning (Tuesday), we received reports about gathering of Boko Haram terrorists somewhere in Kala Balge Local Government area of Borno State. We got a coordinate and I direced that the air should go to address the problem.

"Unfortunately the strike was conducted but it turned out that the locals somewhere in Rann were affected."

Over 24 hours later, the Commander, who also said two soldiers were killed in the incident, is yet to release details of the casualties.
He gave the advise when he received the President of Childrens Government of Nigeria, Miss Hauwa Musa and other delegations on Wednesday in Minna.

According to the governor, such step will enable public schools attain efficiency and relevance if they are patronised by politicians.

He decried the neglect of public schools and health centres by the elites in the society, as members of their family do not patronise such public facilities.

It is sad that we have reduced our public schools to the background because the children of governors, deputy governors or commissioners and those in position of authority are not in public schools.

In our public schools, we have instances where one teacher attends to more than one hundred pupils sitting on the floor or stones to receive lessons.

The only way for our public schools to function is when children and family members of political office holders attend such schools. That will help to review our public schools policy.

Public schools and public health facilities where common man takes solace are in bad shape, government should make them functional and reduce the burden on the people, he said.

Earlier, Musa assured that her administration would give priority on the welfare of families of the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
Ademola was among the seven Justices in the sting operations carried out by the Department of State Services (DSD) on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9.

He is standing trial alongside his wife Olabowale and Mr Joe Aji (SAN) on a 16-count of criminal conspiracy to receive gratification in various ways.

The offences contravened Section 8(1)(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.

On the resumed hearing, Mr Eugene Odukwu, Director of Administration in the National Judicial Council (NJC), tendered a copy of the petition filed by Mrs Fatima Shaibu against Ademola.

The NJC is an executive body established by Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution as amended to enforce discipline among judicial officers.

Odukwu also tendered a certified true copy of the proceeding of the Council arising from the petition and their report.

Odukwu is fourth in the 14 prosecution witnesses that the prosecutiing counsel, Mr Segun Jegede, intended to call to prove his case.

All the defence counsel did not object to the documents tendered.

Also, Ojima Etuh, a research assistant in the Federal High Court who worked under Ademola in his court said that she had never received any gratification from anyone on behalf of Ademola.

Etuk said under cross examination Ademolas counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu that she never paid any proceeds of any gratification to his principals account.

She said that Ademola presided over anti terrorism case against Sanni Shaibu Teadi, which led his wife Fatima to petition the NJC.

Etuk said that Teadi allegedly forged birth certificate to perfect bail condition when cross examined by Mr Jeph Njikonye, counsel for Aji.

She also said that the case was later dismissed by NJC.

The fifth witness, Christie Ende, Deputy Registrar, Litigation, Federal High Court, Abuja, also tendered some documents which were not objected to by the defence.

The sixth prosecution witness, Mr Malik Babatunde of Guaranty Trust Bank could not tendered the document from the bank due to objections from all the defence counsel.

Ikpeazu, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN) and Njikonye counsel to the defendants all argued that the witness was not front loaded in the prosecutions proof of evidence.

Jegede submitted that the prosecution has met the requirements of Section 379 of ACJA

The judge, Justice Jude Okeke, said  considering the fundamental nature of the case, the court will give considered ruling on the matter
No fewer than 52 innocent people were reportedly killed in the mistaken airstrike that hit the Rann internally displaced camp in Kala Balge area of Borno State.

The International medical humanitarian organization, Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which has teams in the bombed area, has described the incident as "shocking and unacceptable."

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Tim Shenk, the organization said the vulnerable people who have already fled from extreme violence only to be killed at a place they thought was a safe haven.

"The safety of civilians must be respected. We are urgently calling on all parties to ensure the facilitation of medical evacuations by air or road for survivors who are in need of emergency care," Dr. Jean-Clement Cabrol, MSF director of operations, said.

"The group's medical teams are currently providing first aid to 120 wounded patients in its facility in Rann. The organzations medical and surgical teams in the region are preparing to treat evacuated patients," the statement added.

ALSO READ: Nigerian Fighter jet drops bombs in IDP camp, many dead
The house made this known on Wednesday while noting that the move will forestall further loss of lives and property.

The house also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to the affected communities.

This followed a motion by Rep. Henry Archibong, representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom, which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

Moving the motion, Archibong said that there had been crises between the Ibibios in Itu Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom and Efiks in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River since the 70s.

He explained that the inter-communal conflict between the two communities had resulted in loss of lives and destruction of properties.

He disclosed that on Dec. 17, 2016, armed men with sophisticated weapons, chanting war songs and shooting sporadically, attacked people of Oku Iboku and its environs.

The lawmaker claimed the gunmen killed 38 persons in the attack

He called for immediate intervention by security agencies, adding that social and economic activities in the affected communities had been paralyzed.
We impounded the Dornier 328 on Monday following suspicion in the manner in which it was acquired, an EFCC source told The Nation.

Our detectives are working on clues that the aircraft belongs to a former governor of Borno State but it is being used by a front. We are already looking into relevant records; we want to establish who actually owns it.

We are tracking how and when the aircraft was bought, where it was purchased, the mode of payment and the sources of funds. This is definitely an international transaction; it is easier to trace the inflows and outflows from any account.

There are also some petitions containing allegations against the former governor concerning the aircraft and some public funds. If the aircraft cannot be identified with the ex-governor, the EFCC will release it to the beneficial owner, the source added.

The beneficial owner of the jet has been identified as Samuel Ayodele, the Managing Director of Skybird Air.

An asset is said to be beneficially owned where specific property rights are granted to the beneficial owner but the legal title of the property belongs to another person.
Like mistakenly dropping bombs atop the heads of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

On Tuesday, January 17, 2017, a Nigerian Airforce fighter jet got its coordinates wrong and struck a camp milling with IDPs, staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Medicine San Frontiers (Doctors without Borders).

By the time the dust settled around Kala Balge local government area of Borno State, where the camp is situated, more than 100 civilians had been confirmed dead and many more left critically injured.

Their only offence was being at the right place at the wrong time, through no fault of theirs.

How do you mistakenly drop bombs on displaced persons?

Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole (code name for this phase of the war against terrorist sect Boko Haram), Major General Lucky Irabor, said the air-strike stemmed from a miscalculation.

"We received reports about gathering of Boko Haram terrorists somewhere in Kala Balge Local Government area of Borno State. We got a coordinate and I directed that the air component of the operation should go and address the problem.

Unfortunately, the strike was conducted but it turned out that the locals somewhere in were affected.

We are yet to get the details of the casualties. But we heard that some civilians were killed, others were wounded and we also have two of our soldiers that were also wounded. Among some that were wounded were local staff of the Medecines Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders) as well as ICRC, Irabor said.

In a statement made available to Pulse, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it was saddened by the incident.

NAF is saddened by the accidental air strike by its fighter jet at Rann in Kala Balge area of Borno State in which some innocent lives were lost.

"The loss occasioned by this unfortunate incident is deeply regretted.

NAF commiserates with those affected and their families and would update the public as soon as detailed facts emerge from the investigation, the statement read.

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the incident as a "regrettable operational mistake".

The President also promised to team up with the Borno State government to aid the wounded and their families and provide whatever support is needed.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Borno Governor Kashim Shettima, have also thrown in their condolences.

"For now, all focus should be on the evacuation of victims and the provision of emergency medical services to them with the hope that they quickly recover, Shettima said in a statement.

While we all pray that the souls of the victims rest in peace and cater to the wounded, attention should also immediately shift to why this kind of mistake occurred in the first place, in order to avoid a repeat.

It's bad enough that Nigerians fleeing Boko Haram bombs have been forced to endure harrowing and deplorable living conditions in crowded camps in the North of Nigeria. To have these same Nigerians bombed by their own government is simply unacceptable.

Yes, mistakes do happen in war time and civilian casualties are often the unwanted consequences of a war of this kind. But by jove, how do you drop a bomb from a military aircraft without being absolutely sure?

Was there nothing in the geo-location app in the aircraft that could show that an IDP camp was in the neighbourhood?

Was there sufficient communication between air and ground troops to have warranted the air-strike?

How many more Nigerians have been killed by 'mistaken air-strikes' who we never heard of because their brutal murders never made the headlines?

It was a horrendous piece of mistake and General Irabor and his men have a lot more explaining to do.

It was a sloppy piece of work and heads have got to roll.
According to reports, Garuba Umar takes over from Owoseni following a posting by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

While Umar replaces Owoseni as the Lagos CP, Owoseni is expected to proceed to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, in Jos for leadership course.

Umar, who once served as the Divisional Police Officer, Ikoyi, Lagos, and Mobile Police Unit 19 Commander in Port Harcourt, was before his promotion the Officer in Charge of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) monitoring unit.

It was also reported that Umar's posting came just after his promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police.
This followed unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Muhammed Zoro (APC-Jigawa) at the plenary in Abuja.

In the motion, Zoro said the legislature regretted the deaths and injuries sustained by the IDPs and humanitarian workers following the accidental air raid on an IDP Camp in Rann, Kale Balge Local Government area of Borno.

Zoro said that the lawmakers noted the preliminary explanation by the armed forces that the incident was not a deliberate hostile act on civilian population whose lives were their duty to protect.

He said that the investigation was to ascertain whether the air strike was in strict observance of the rules of engagement under the Air Law and International Humanitarian Law.

The lawmaker advised that the House should constitute a 10-member committee to visit the scene of the IDP camp and commiserate with bereaved families and the Government of Borno over the unfortunate incident.

Zoro said the committee should also ascertain the level of emergency assistance needed by the survivors and the level of health service being extended to the victims of the mishap.

In his contributions, Rep. Nnebe Anayo (Anambra-PDP), described the incident as avoidable and irresponsible that would not have happened if the NAF was diligent.

He said the Air Force had not done well and lives of innocent Nigerians had been lost in the incident.

Anayo said the incident must be deeply looked into to ascertain its details.

Rep. Orker-Jev Yisa (Benue-APC), however, said it was regrettable for a member of the legislature to have described the NAF as irresponsible as a result of this mistake.

He said the force had fought gallantly to dislodged terrorists from the North East of the country and the mishap occurred in an attempt to finally terminate insurgency in the area.

The lawmaker recalled that a similar mistake was recently made by the U.S. Air Force, considered as one of the best air forces in the world, when it mistakenly bombed a hospital mistaking it for an ISIS camp.
Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu, Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the reports were frivolous and false as troops in the area reported no breach of the pipeline as claimed.

He explained that the fire caused by residents who burnt bushes near the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) oil field was falsely presented as an attack by a faceless militant group.

NPDC is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Development Company (NNPC).

The incidence that occurred was a fire-outbreak as a result of bush burning escalated by previous oil spill from one of the facilities of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

The oilfield is located at Ekiugbo Afiesere and Inene Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta.

It should be noted that no pipeline was affected, neither was there any explosion.

The Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe wishes to caution all from propagating discord and unsubstantiated stories in order to seek relevance and cause unnecessary tension, to desist from such practice.
Dan-Ali gave the directive in Maiduguri on Wednesday while speaking at a condolence visit to the Shehu of Dikwa, Alhaji Muhammad Masta, in his residence.

He said that the objective of the investigation was to prevent future recurrence of the problem.

As the Honorable Minister of Defence, I have directed the Defence Headquarters to conduct a detailed investigation with a view to making sure that such ugly situation would never happen again in future operations, Dan-Ali said.

He said that the Military had been directed to offer all necessary emergency assistance to the victims of the unfortunate incident.

I have authorised the Armed Forces to offer all necessary emergency assistance to the victims of those involved through casualty evacuation and provision of immediate medical care, he said.

The minister said that the visit was to condole with the government and the people of the state over the incident.

We are here to condole with the government and people of the state over Tuesday`s unfortunate incident that led to loss of lives and injury to others, as a result of rockets mistakenly dropped by the Nigerian Air Force on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Rann.

The incident is heart-troubling, highly regrettable and could have been avoided.

However, this incident is an isolated case which happened rarely in a theatre of battle even among more advanced troops in the world.

I pray to almighty Allah to grant the souls of those who died a perfect peace and also give the bereaved families the fortitude to bear the loss.

I also wish the injured a quick recovery, Dan-Ali said.
The leader of the caucus, Dr Chijioke Udu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the call became necessary following the rot in the institution.

Udu urged the state government to take the needed steps to address the challenges that had reduced the institution to the unfortunate level, adding that a state of emergency will do a whole lot to salvage it.

According to him, the situation in ABSUTH is such that no one will like to take their dear ones there for medical attention.

It is very critical. You cannot even afford ordinary hand gloves.

There is decay in all the facilities there and the workers who are trying to salvage what is left there are asked to go hungry due to non-payment of salaries, he said.

Udu, who is the president of NARD, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, said that there was no tertiary health facility in the zone that did not have issues.

But there are ones you can overlook while the situations are getting out of hand in others.

As a caucus, we will not sit down and watch our members being victimised and punished for the sin they did not commit.

You cannot ask one to work for four months without salaries and expect them to give their best. Patients cannot even get the basic things they are supposed to get, he said.

Workers in ABSUTH have been having perennial salary issues for several months. Anytime the state government clears the debts they will begin to accumulate another one.

That is why in that centre you cannot begin to imagine what is happening there. Patients are not getting the best, he said

Udu said that the only functional tertiary health centre in the state, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, was being overburdened as a result of the rot in ABSUTH.
Also joined in the suit are; Skye Bank Plc, and a former Special Assistant to ex-President Jonathan, Waripama-Owei Dudafa.

Others include Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Globus Integrarted Service Ltd.

She also prayed the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order, as well as restrain the EFCC and its agents from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, Jonathans lawyers, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), sought for an adjournment to enable him serve his clients amended claims on the companies.

He added that other defendants had been served with copies of the processes, while they have also served their counter-affidavits on the plaintiff.

In the absence of any objection from the EFCCs counsel, the matter was eventually adjourned to Feb. 13 for further hearing.

In an affidavit in support of Jonathans suit and deposed to by one Sammie Somiari, he avers that on March 22, 2010, she (Jonathan) had opened five different accounts with Skye Bank, with the aid of one Damola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi.

He averred that the account mandate forms were duly completed and signed by her.

Somiari stated that Jonathan subsequently discovered that apart from one of the accounts that bore her name, the other four accounts were opened in the name of four companies which belonged to Dudafa.

He also averred that she observed that the ATM cards of the said accounts were issued in the names of the companies, adding that she complained to Dudafa, who promised to effect the necessary changes.

He said Dipo Oshodi also promised to effect the necessary changes.

According to Somiari, Jonathan is not a director, shareholder or participant in these companies and the funds in the said accounts are solely owned and operated by her.

Dudafa does not own any part of the funds in the said accounts.

According to the deponent, the Skye Bank official, (Oshodi) did not affect the instructions of the plaintiff to change the name of the said accounts to her name, in spite of repeated request.

He averred that notwithstanding the refusal of the bank to effect the necessary changes, she had been using the said ATM cards without any interference.

The deponent averred that sometimes in July, Jonathan discovered that the ATM cards were not functioning, and immediately contacted the bank which informed her that a No debit/freezing order have been placed on the accounts.

He also averred that on further enquiry, the bank informed her that the accounts were frozen on the directive of EFCC as a result of ongoing investigation in relation to Dudafa.

Jonathan, therefore, contends that she was never arrested or invited by EFCC prior to the freezing order placed on the accounts.

She further contends that the freezing order on her funds by the directive of EFCC without an order of the court is unlawful and illegal.
He added that they had also, through their leader, promised to return more and surrender weapons as proof that the peace moves were yielding enormous results.

Tanko, who spoke with journalists in Gusau on Wednesday, said the committee headed by the States Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, met all stakeholders in the area recently where peace was agreed to.

According to him, the committee had equally gone round communities and rural markets across the state to pacify warring factions and extracted commitment to the peace initiatives from them.

Even though some of the bandits are yet to surrender their weapons, they have assured the committee of their willingness to do so at an agreed date, he added.

He implored all in the state to lend their support to the peace initiatives.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that cattle rustlers participated in a dialogue aimed at addressing security challenges in the state.
The actress took to social media to share her experience and appeal to the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, to do something about the situation.

According to the AMVCA nominee, she has settled the area boys everyday since she commenced shoot, but they have still fought her crew.

She mentioned that they broke bottle to stab her crew, and even seized her van key.

ALSO READ: undefined

" I am totally fed up! Shooting in Lagos State is such a difficult experience. I've been settling area boys everyday yet they still fight us.

The other day, they broke a bottle to stab my crew and seized my van key. You have to settle different factions. I'm a tax paying citizen of Lagos State. As filmmakers, we pay taxes even on a loss.

Na beg we dey beg o help us. We are fed up!!! So many people are getting paid on this set.

We are bringing commerce and boosting the economy. Pls help!!! My money is not for area boys! They think it's their birthright! It's indeed very sad!"

ALSO READ: undefined

Omoni Oboli is currently on set of an unknown movie. Her upcoming star-studded movie "Okafor's Law" will make its debut in March.
Speaking to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, Fayose stressed that Nigerians dont need counselling to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2019 polls.

Fayose said the the abysmal performance of the party and the President has already made the people to grow weary of it.

In his words: Nigeria of our dream is not what we see now. What I said about President Buhari are coming to pass. Before the polls, I said people should not vote for him. Nigerians are hungry and they are regretting.

"If a nobody contests against Buhari in 2019, Buhari will lose. Nigerians dont need counselling to know that they should not vote Buhari in 2019. It is obvious. Majority of those who voted for him never really knew him as they were mostly in their 40s, people who were toddlers when he ruled Nigeria as a military man in the 80s," Fayose said.

ALSO READ: Buhari's govt is lying about Boko Haram

Speaking further, he said: "Also, he is vindictive and apart from military nature, he does not have what it takes to run Nigeria. His government then was run by Idiagbon.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto under the Jubilee Party are seeking re-election pitting them against a formidable but crowded opposition that has yet to pick a sole candidate among themselves with elections barely seven months away.

The opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Senator Moses Wetangula have recently been joined by another former Vice President Musalia Mudavadi.

Mudavadi, the chief architect behind the formation of yet another coalition outfit National Super Alliance (NASA), was this month given the title of Luhya spokesperson" in an attempt aimed at consolidating the vote rich Western region.

However his entry has received a lukewarm reception by supporters of Wetangula, another political supremo from Western, giving credibility to the long held myth that the Luhya community can never be solidly united under one leader heading into a general election.

Ethnic numbers

The tribal factor and ethnic superiority numbers in various strongholds of these leaders will once again play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the elections.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga while urging his supporters to turn out in large numbers, said that these elections will be won during the voter registration exercise which ends on February 14.

The coming elections will be won in the next 30 days. No sleeping, no taking alcohol until we have all the numbers. It will be a do-or-die for us, said Raila, who will be taking a fourth stab at the presidency in August.

President Kenyatta last week kicked off his re-election bid by launching an ambitious five-million member recruitment drive and tasked over 10,000 Jubilee Party aspirants to lead the recruitment as well as registration of voters.

During the last elections in 2013, Kenya had a total of 14.3 million registered voters out of which 12.3 million cast their ballot on polling day.

President Kenyatta garnered 6.1 million of these representing 50.07 percent of the total vote thereby avoiding a runoff with his closest challenger Raila who received 5.3 million (43.3 percent).

IEBC targets

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is targeting to enlist 6.1 million new voters to take part in the August elections, a critical figure which can tilt the outcome of the presidency to either side.

Already the IEBC has 15.9 million registered voters in its data base and it seeks to hit the over 20 million mark  the largest ever voter base in the countrys history.

Of the 9.1 million unregistered voters, the IEBC is targeting 6.7 million voters that the opposing political sides are keen to bring to their side within the next 30 days and eventually clinch power for the next five years.

IEBC national outlook on targeted voters

Rift Valley  4.97 million

Eastern  3.34 million

Nyanza  3.09 million

Central  3.08 million

Nairobi  2.69 million

Western  2.36 million

Coast - 2.03 million

North Eastern  488, 060

BVR Kits distribution

A total of 7793 Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits will be distributed by the IEBC across 1450 wards in the countrys 290 constituencies.

The IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba allayed fears over allegations of skewed distribution of the kits to favour certain strongholds.

"We have used a fair and the most equitable formula to distribute the BVR kits to each county assembly ward," Chiloba said before the start of the exercise.

According to the distribution, North Rift region will get 918 followed by Central Rift 676, Lower Eastern 651, Nyanza Central 529 and Nyanza South 501 kits.
Vocal Mombasa Women Representative, Mishi Mboko has urged women across the country to deny their husbands conjugal rights until they register as voters.

The second and last Mass Voter Registration began on Monday and will continue until February 14 in readiness for the general elections scheduled to take place on August 8.

Powerful weapon

Mboko, an opposition MP, said women should realise that sex is a powerful weapon that should now be used to bring about change in the country.

This is the strategy you should adopt. It is the best. Deny them sex until they show you their voter's card," she said at a public event at the Jommo Kenyatta showground in Mombasa.

She said it had reached a point where they will have to resort to denying sex to their spouses in order to ensure they garner the maximum amount of votes needed to oust the ruling Jubilee Party from power.

Her sentiments echoed another woman legislature; Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi who earlier last year called on women to deny men conjugal rights and food until they register as voters during the first Mass Registration exercise.

She also urged pastors not to allow followers in their churches unless they produce their national identity and voters cards.

Women who also do not get listed should also not be given money to buy food or for any other use, the MP added.

No public services

Last week, the Governor of Vihiga County, Moses Akaranga declared residents without voter cards would not be served by the county government.

Anyone coming to seek services from the county departments will first have to show us that he is registered as a voter, Akaranga said.

He further directed county officers to ensure the directive is adhered to by checking on locals who seek services at the countys offices.

He however excluded those seeking medical attention from the directive.

Alcohol restriction

Earlier this month, the Muranga Business Owners Association said no one will be served alcohol across the county if they do not have a voters card.

The chairman of the association, James Waweru, said they want to be active participants in the voter registration process hence the move.

He said they will demand to see a voter's card from anybody entering hotels and bars and no one will be allowed to drink without showing they are registered voters.

Just like you cannot drive without a driving licence, then you cannot drink without a voters card, Waweru added.

He also urged public service vehicles and boda boda operators, to follow their suit to ensure all eligible voters are registered.

The Coast Parliamentary Group had also earlier this month suggested that the voter registration exercise be extended to funerals, weddings and palm wine drinking joints.

The groups chairman Gunga Mwinga said this would help the commission to gather more voters ahead of the August elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Godwin Obaseki had, in December 2016, presented the 2017 budget estimate of N150.11 billion to the house for its consideration and passage.

Leading the debate for the consideration of the bill, Majority Leader, Foly Ogedengbe (APC Owan East), said that when passed, it would squarely address youth unemployment in the state.

The bill also seeks to improve health care delivery in the state.

I want to urge my colleagues to support the passage of the bill because it touches all sectors of the economy, he said.

Mr Festus Edughele (APC Esan South East), supporting Ogedengbes submissions, also noted that the bill, when passed, would tackle the unemployment rate in the state.

The bill has not only effectively captured the challenges, but will help the state governor to also consolidate on the achievements of the past administration, Edughele said.

Other lawmakers, in their contributions, supported the bill and argued in favour of its quick passage.
This resolution followed a motion by Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

Moving the motion earlier, Chinda expressed concern over the dismissal of six policemen attached to the state governor over alleged professional misconduct.

Chinda said that the alleged misconduct was said to have been committed when the policemen accompanied the governor, Nyesom Wike, to polling stations during the election.

I'm aware that the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), have set up committees to investigate the events surrounding the elections.

The government of Rivers has set up a judicial panel of inquiry to also investigate the issue arising from the said election, he said.

The lawmaker expressed worry about the trend of events concerning election in the country in recent times, particularly those held in Edo, Rivers and Ondo state.

He said that committees empanelled by the government agencies to look into the outcome of the elections were bodies that directly participated in the exercise.

He said that as a result, they were generally observed to be biased and made their assignment a drain on public funds.

Chinda added that if the trend of allegations and counter allegations and wanton exercise of power without discretion were not checked, it would create credibility problem in the system and consequent chaos in the polity.
In a condom-related spat that is seen by some as a proxy war between liberals and conservatives in the Catholic church, Francis last month appointed a five-strong team to examine recent turmoil at the Order, a Church-linked charity body descended from the crusading knights of the Middle Ages.

The Knights' hierarchy is currently refusing to cooperate with the probe. They say the dismissal last month of the Order's number three, Grand Chancellor Albrecht von Boeselager, is an internal affair of a sovereign entity which the Church has no reason to interfere with.

And the increasingly public row took a new twist with the leaking of a letter written by the Order's Grand Master, Matthew Festing.

In the letter, Festing claims three of the Vatican's appointees have "personal and financial" links to a Geneva-based fund in which the Order also has a stake.

As the sacked Grand Chancellor previously oversaw the Order's interest in the fund, this creates a potential conflict of interest, Festing writes in the letter without elaborating.

The letter appears to have triggered a statement from the Vatican on Tuesday in which Francis reiterated his confidence in the investigative team and rejected "all attempts to discredit the members of this group and their work."

Von Boeselager's dismissal has been widely interpreted as being the result of him being too liberal for the tastes of Raymond Burke, the American cardinal who has acted as the Vatican's liaison with the Holy See since being sidelined from more important roles by Francis.

Burke is a prominent conservative figure who has been outspoken in his criticism of Francis's efforts to reform Church teaching on questions related to the family, marriage and divorce.

Reports in the specialist Catholic press have suggested Boeselager was targeted because of a row over the use of condoms in Africa to prevent the spread of AIDS - something conservatives say violates Church teaching but has been deemed acceptable by Francis and his predecessor Benedict XVI.

The Order of Malta was founded in Jerusalem in 1048 as a community of hospitals caring for the sick.
MEST already accepts candidates from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Cote D'Ivoire into its fully sponsored, year-long program.

Entrepreneurs who sign up for the program will have access to new and diverse cultures, seed funding ranging from $50,000 - $100,000 (courtesy of the MEST Foundation), and skills to help them become globally competitive.

Right now, the MEST program itself still holds only Ghana, but the incubator is looking to open an incubator in Johannesburg or Capetown for South African entrepreneurs who have graduated from MEST.

ALSO READ: School holds informal meet for prospective candidates in Nigeria

According to an Innovation Village report, interested South Africans are required to:

- Possess the passion for building a globally successful software company

- Have entrepreneurial or corporate work experience

- Be able to commit to spending a year in Accra, Ghana participating in the MEST training program starting August 2017
The statement said the death toll included five suicide bombers.

A vehicle loaded with explosives blew up just as troops had gathered together, said Abdedoula El Kader Toure from the vigilante group Association des Jeunes Patriotes de Gao.

The vehicle was painted with army colours to allow it to pass unnoticed by security guards, according to army sources.

The hospital is full and dismembered corpses can be seen everywhere, local resident Arboncana Maiga said.

The Malian presidency said on Twitter that Defence Minister Abdoulaye Maiga was travelling to Gao and that the government had decreed three days of mourning.

The military camp houses government soldiers and members of armed groups, who stage joint patrols in the framework of a 2015 peace agreement.

A French military intervention in January 2013 turned back a jihadist and separatist insurgency in Malis north, but various Islamist groups still stage attacks.

French President Francois Hollande, who attended a Franco-African summit in Malis capital Bamako on Saturday, condemned the attack and reiterated Frances support in implementing peace and reconciliation agreements in Mali.
The commemorative coins, which has "In Trump We Trust" inscription on them, were unveiled ahead of Trump's presidential inauguration scheduled for Friday, January 20.

According to Vladimir Vasyukhin, the company's director, only 45 pieces have been made.

It features a cherubic mug of Trump as well as the Statue of Liberty.

"There are more hopes associated with Trump with regards to the lifting of sanctions; maybe the environment (between the U.S. and Russia) will change," Vasyukhin told The Associated Press Television Network.

Vasyukhin said the coins will sell for thousands of dollars, adding that the company, named Art-Grani, is making arrangements to present the first coin to Trump himself.

After his victory, Trump had praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a strong leader who is "very smart."

This fuelled insinuations from U.S. politicians as well as U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia was behind hackings that was believed to have shrunk Hillary Clinton's chances of succeeding outgoing President Barack Obama.
Police said Antonio Saca was sent to the Mariona prison, an overcrowded facility on San Salvador's northern outskirts that holds 5,000 inmates -- four times the number it was designed to incarcerate.

He was transferred with six other people suspected with him of pocketing $246 million in public funds during his 2004-2009 mandate, the national police service said on its Twitter account.

They had been held in cells in the police's counternarcotics division, but a court ordered their move in line with a request from state prosecutors.

Saca was arrested in October with his former private secretary and former communications secretary, among others.
Igor Padilla, a reporter for the Canal Hable Como Habla (HCH) network, arrived at the hospital "already dead" with "several bullet wounds", according to doctor Arturo Bendana of a private clinic in San Pedro Sula, Honduras's second-biggest city and one of the world's most violent.

An unidentified cameraman who was with the reporter said that Padilla had stepped out to answer a phone call and was shot by men in police uniforms on Tuesday.

Eduardo Maldonado, director of the HCH channel, said that the reporter -- who covered police in the city -- was hit with some 20 bullets and demanded authorities investigate.

Security Minister Julian Pacheco told HCH that a team had been mobilized to probe the shooting death.

Since 2003, 69 media workers have been killed in Honduras, according to the National Human Rights Commission.

Only about four of those cases have been investigated by authorities.
Based on a tip-off by Interpol, the cybercrime wing of the Criminal Investigation Department of the southern state of Telangana nabbed James Kirk Jones, who is employed with a multi-national firm in Hyderabad.

The suspect was produced in a court on Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, an official said, on condition of anonymity.

Cops said Jones has confessed to the crime.

During interrogation, the suspect told us he has been downloading, watching and sharing child pornography since his childhood in America, the police official said.

The tip-off came from Interpol, which alerted the Telangana Police that pornographic material was being circulated through a certain Internet protocol address located in Hyderabad.

Investigation led cops to the suspects rented home in the city.
With two days left of his mandate, Jammeh has caused a political crisis by refusing to step aside and allow president-elect Adama Barrow to take power following his December 1 election victory.

Foreign minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, finance minister Abdou Kolley, trade minister Abdou Jobe and tourism minister Benjamin Roberts had all resigned, the source said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

The latest resignations came after the high-profile defection last week of information minister Sheriff Bojang, who is now sheltering in neighbouring Senegal.

Meanwhile, citizens packed their bags and streamed out of Banjul by road and ferry for Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, taking as many possessions as they could carry.

One traveller told AFP that those arriving at 10am would have to wait until the following day to board a ferry at Banjul port to cross the river headed for Senegal, unless they bribed officials, due to huge numbers exiting the city.

The UN's refugee agency has said several thousand Gambians have crossed the border in the last few weeks to shelter with extended family while they await January 19, when Jammeh is due to hand over power.

Barrow is in Senegal, where he plans to remain until the inauguration on Thursday.

Military arrests

The spectre of a military intervention in The Gambia has arisen in recent days following declarations by the United Nations and African Union that boots on the ground could get the green light without a rapid resolution to the crisis.

Fears of conflict were ramped up in Banjul following the weekend arrest of soldiers suspected of being sympathetic to Barrow, underlining significant disagreement within the armed forces over whom they will support come Thursday.

"Captain Babucarr Bah and some junior officers close to him were arrested on Sunday night at the Fajara barracks by members of the Republican Guards," a security source told AFP, adding they were still being held at the headquarters of the feared National Intelligence Agency.

Republican guard commanders personally protect Jammeh and are picked for their loyalty.

Bah had told the guards that the army should be loyal to the state and Gambian people, the security source added, when the elite troops came to solicit support for the president just days ago.

Elsewhere Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf hit out at Jammeh for broadcasting a conversation they held by phone on Sunday on Gambian television without her knowledge.

"Unfortunately, being the person that he is, Jammeh recorded and televised their conversation without advising her of his intent to do so," a statement from the Liberian presidency said.

Sirleaf was then quoted as saying that as of Monday "there is no change in ECOWAS position. The Constitution of The Gambia must be respected."

The 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has repeatedly called on Jammeh to respect the result of the vote and leave after 22 years in power.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Sirleaf and Ghana's ex-president John Mahama have appealed to Jammeh to step down twice in person, without success, most recently on Friday.

Asylum offer

Jammeh has lodged a challenge to the election result with The Gambia's Supreme Court and last week filed a fresh injunction to prevent the chief justice from swearing Barrow into office.

But on Monday, Chief Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle said he could not hear the new case, dealing a blow to Jammeh's efforts to halt Thursday's inauguration.
Damascus has insisted it will seek a "comprehensive" political solution to the nearly six-year conflict at the meeting, while rebels say they will focus solely on reinforcing a frail nationwide truce.

Several rounds of negotiations hosted by the United Nations, most recently in April 2016, have failed to bring an end to the war that has killed more than 310,000 people.

During those talks, government negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari and leading rebel figure Mohammad Alloush often clashed, with Jaafari calling his rival a "terrorist".

The pair will return as the respective heads of the government and rebel delegations in Astana.

Alloush is a prominent figure of the Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) faction and studied Islamic jurisprudence in Saudi Arabia.

He will head a "military delegation" of around eight people, backed by nine legal and political advisors from the High Negotiations Committee umbrella group.

Jaafari, meanwhile, is a silver-haired diplomat who speaks multiple languages and belongs to the same Alawite religious minority as President Bashar al-Assad.

His team will include "figures representing the military and the Syrian judiciary", according to the Al-Watan daily, which is close to the regime.

It said the delegation "will be similar to the delegation that previously went to Geneva".

'Political solution'?

But the personal rivalries pale in comparison to widespread differences on the ultimate aim of the talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday said "one of the goals of the Astana meeting is, first, reinforcing the ceasefire".

The truce, brokered by rivals Turkey and Russia, came into force on December 30 and excludes jihadists like the Islamic State group.

In announcing their participation in the Astana negotiations, rebels said that the talks would focus on strengthening the truce, while a political deal would be negotiated in Switzerland in February.

"The main agenda, for us, includes reinforcing the ceasefire, halting forced displacement, and delivering aid to besieged areas without limitations," leading opposition figure Ahmad Ramadan said.

He earlier told AFP that "the details of the political process will be left to Geneva", referring to talks hosted by the United Nations.

Damascus, however, insists it will be pursuing a "comprehensive political solution" to the war, according to an editorial Tuesday in the Al-Watan daily.

"No one thinks Damascus is going to Astana to discuss a halt to military operations, as some want to suggest, or to reinforce the so-called ceasefire," editor Waddah Abd Rabbo wrote.

"Damascus is attending in the framework of its vision for a comprehensive political solution to the war on Syria... and to re-impose the hegemony and sovereignty of the state on all Syrian territory," he wrote.

Abd Rabbo said the Astana talks were effectively "between Damascus and Ankara, sponsored by Russia and Iran, in a land free of Western pressure".

But they could succeed, he wrote, as the attending rebel factions "are on the ground and control thousands of Syrian fighters".

'Freeze', not end conflict

Years of efforts by the international community have failed to put a stop to the war raging in Syria since the spring of 2011.

Last year, the United States and Russia worked hand-in-hand to put a temporary truce in place and sponsored several rounds of talks in Geneva, but they did not secure a political solution.

In late 2016, a new partnership between Moscow and Ankara emerged to take the lead, and the talks in Astana will be the first test of the nascent alliance.

Donald Trump's transition team said Saturday it had been invited to take part in the talks, but indicated that it had yet to respond.

"I think the United States is invited to go there and I would urge the new administration to do that," outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday.

"We are supportive of the efforts of the Russians and the Turks and Iranians to go to Astana," he told Sky News Arabia.

Ramadan said the opposition had yet to receive an agenda on the talks and did not know whether they would be face-to-face.

He said it was also unclear whether previous international agreements, like the Geneva Communique which calls for a transitional governing body, would apply for the Astana talks.

The opposition and the regime remains bitterly divided on Assad's future role, with anti-government factions insisting he should leave at the start of any transition.
Jammeh concedes defeat

- December 1, 2016: Gambians go to the polls to choose their new president from three candidates, including incumbent Jammeh, who has ruled with an iron fist for 22 years, and Barrow, representing a large opposition coalition.

Jammeh concedes defeat, congratulating Barrow for his "clear victory", adding: "I wish him all the best and I wish all Gambians the best."

- December 3: Barrow holds talks with his team to plot his transition to power, telling reporters: "We are not witch-hunting anybody, nothing is personal."

Opposition freed

- December 5: Gambian opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, who was jailed in July for taking part in a protest, is freed on bail with 18 others.

In the following days some 40 other members of the opposition are also freed.

Jammeh U-turn

- December 6: The electoral commission says that Barrow has won the election more narrowly than originally thought, and with a lower turnout. He garnered 43.2 percent and Jammeh 39.6 percent of the vote. Third party candidate Mama Kandeh took 17.1 percent.

- On December 9 Jammeh announces he has changed his mind, saying: "In the same way that I accepted the results faithfully believing that the Independent Electoral Commission was independent and honest and reliable, I hereby reject the results in totality."

He lodges a complaint with the Supreme Court to overturn the result.

The defiance sparks global concern, with the UN Security Council among those demanding Jammeh hand over power.

Jammeh urged to go

- December 13: Heads of state from West African regional bloc ECOWAS are sent to Gambia, but do not manage to persuade Jammeh to acknowledge his defeat. A new mission takes place a month later.

- On December 31 Jammeh accuses ECOWAS of declaring "war".

Supreme Court stalls

- January 4, 2017: The army chief reaffirms his loyalty to Jammeh.

- January 9: Jammeh fires 12 ambassadors after they called for him to step aside. Several ministers have since been fired or resigned.

- January 10: The Gambia's chief Supreme Court justice says Jammeh's legal challenge against the result will not be heard for several months.

- January 13: The African Union (AU) urges Jammeh to respect the results and quit power peacefully, warning of "serious consequences". It says it will not recognise him "as of 19 January 2017".

Thousands of Gambians fearing unrest cross the border into neighbouring Senegal and further afield to Guinea-Bissau, according to the United Nations refugee agency and Guinea-Bissau officials.

Barrow in Senegal

- January 15: Senegalese President Macky Sall announces that he has agreed to "welcome Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow in Dakar until his inauguration," on January 19.

- January 16: The Gambia's top judge pulls out of hearing a bid by Jammeh to halt the inauguration. Seven foreign journalists are barred from entering the country.

State of emergency
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
There are two meanings behind the name of Josh Graves recording studio.

On one level  that Graveyard Studios sounds like his last name  its a reminder that this is his own place and a place the former computer science nerd worked hard to open.

On another level, its a daily reminder for Graves to keep chasing his dream, and keep helping artists chase their dreams, until hes in the grave.

Now that theres this momentum growing in the hip-hop scene, we just cant quit, Graves said. When I started this five years ago, it seemed like there was nothing. Now, people are seeing that were not going away.

Beginnings

Before Graves, 31, of Davenport, opened his recording studio in the East Village of Davenport, he spent four years building up a reputation while working out of a makeshift studio at his house.

Before that, when Graves was pursuing a career in information technology, music was a lifelong hobby.

Its hard for people to take you serious when youre doing it out of your house, he said. I knew I had to make a change."

Armed with a $20,000 loan from the Iowa Small Business Development Center, he opened the recording studio on Jersey Ridge Road in April.

He holds about 60-70 sessions per month, mostly with artists in the hip-hop genre, in that space with sessions costing $35 per hour. Along with recording songs, he produces commercials, voice-overs, music videos and promotes artists work.

Brandon Hodges has worked with Graves from the start as a hip-hop artist and now as the studios assistant sound engineer.

At first, youve got a notebook full of raps and nowhere to record, Hodges, 21, said. The biggest thing he gave me was a safe place to grow and figure out what kind of musician I am.

Together, Graves and Hodges hope to extend that safe space to other musicians.

I want to help artists develop themselves, Graves said. No one else can be in that moment when a song is being created. I want this to be a motivating place."

The musicians he works with run the spectrum: Some dont know how to stay on beat and some are ready to record a full album.

No matter their skill level, Graves wants to help them get better.

I take an artist that has the drive and help them get their songs to where they want them to be, he said. That can be everything for an artist.

Giving back

Graves has a long list of goals for his studio, his soon-to-be formed record label and the hip-hop scene here.

Hes already accomplished a goal he didnt know he had: reaching the younger generation.

Last week, Graves was on a high after a group of kids from the Boys & Club of the Mississippi Valley took a field trip to Graveyard Studios.

It was so meaningful, he said. We got to bring kids in and teach them what we do. When a 9-year-old kid sees us in a studio, they think that music is valid.

Sharon Stokes, the organizations unit director, wanted to take kids to the studio to see how the music they live off of every single day is made.

We have a lot of children that are so talented here and love music  they dance, they sing, they rap, Stokes said. I didnt think they knew the process of how the music they listen to is made and produced."

She wanted the kids to see it firsthand.

You can always take the kids to the museum or the park, but its important to offer something different, Stokes said. It was so fun for them and theyre still talking about it.

Proving grounds

Graves doesnt just want to watch the hip-hop scene grow from inside his studio.

In October, he launched a monthly rap battle event called Proving Grounds, which gives 10 artists the chance to perform a song at McManus Pub in Moline. The winner, selected by a team of judges, gets free recording time at Graveyard Studios.

Its a chance for artists to prove themselves without the pressure and in a positive environment, Graves said. Its also for the hip-hop community to prove that were not going away.

He has been impressed by the response.

The amount of talent here just goes on and on, he said. Every time I think Ive met every hip hop artist in the Quad-Cities, I find out about another one.

Caleb Hasselman, 22, who won the first rap battle, is one of those. He had never rapped in front of a crowd of 300 or so people before his turn at Proving Grounds.

Songwriting gives you an opportunity to have your voice heard in a way that it wouldnt be otherwise, Hasselman, who is studying business management at Scott Community College, said. Thats the goal of Proving Grounds, too.

Hasselman, who plays in a rock band and previously interned at Graveyard Studios, said the monthly competitions signal a positive change for hip-hop artists.

I think its been showing people that the hip-hop community doesnt always bring bad news with it, he said. Its an outlet that is needed.

Graves, a Quad-City native, said he wants the positive tune to continue.

Just like any genre, this kind of music has an influence on people, he said. Its one of the ways we can speak to each other and express our emotions. Emotions arent always raindrops and butterflies, but they're important because they're real."
In one of the most rural elementary schools in the metropolitan Quad-Cities, a quiet revolution is beginning in the science curriculum.

On Tuesday, Buffalo Elementary School formally introduced virtual reality, or VR technology, that will become part of the school's  and district's  science curriculum.

The innovations, Davenport Community Schools Superintendent Art Tate said, are a critical part of the future.

"We can't sit still and let these students get behind," Tate said during a media event in Buffalo.

Buffalo Elementary is said to be the first in the country to incorporate VR into the Next Generation Standards Science Curriculum.

Three students, including Shelbi Buchanan, who wants to explore space some day, showed off a top-of-the-line VR system. The fifth-graders explored lessons on the solar system and on water quality, which featured the work of Living Lands and Waters and activist Chad Pregracke.

Kate Runge, with Living Lands and Waters, said education is a large part of the organization's purpose.

"Cleaning up rivers is one thing we do, but keeping them clean is another," she said.

Use of the VR devices expands the reach of the organization "in a huge and awesome way," Runge said. Curriculum creators flew to Louisville to film Pregracke and his crews, who explained the work they did along the Ohio River, from Cincinnati to Louisville, Kentucky.

Steve Grubbs, owner of Victory VR, talked about curriculum development. It was only last summer when the VR devices became commercially available, he said, so Victory VR explored the technology in an effort to elevate learning potential.

Grubbs listed three benefits to using the technology, which was purchased through a grant from the Bechtel Trust:

 It removes distractions and focuses on a lesson plan.

 Students are transported, realistically, to the area of study.

 The experience helps instructors explain what students are seeing, and it captivates the children's interest.

The curriculum is intended for grades 5-8; there are 23 science units in the Davenport curriculum. Victory VR has so far produced two of the 23 units but will finish the others by next school year, Grubbs said.

Future efforts to film and form curriculum are to include the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico and a tour of the California tech firm Oracle.

Buffalo Principal Heidi Gilliland called the educational benefits "almost limitless" and noted VR helps the Buffalo students overcome budget and time constraints based on the school's location in the west end of the district, 13 miles from central Davenport.

Virtual reality creates an enthusiasm for learning, beyond traditional methods, Chris Cournoyer said. Cournoyer, a member of the Pleasant Valley School Board, works for Victory VR. The video feeds allow the students to travel to places far beyond the borders of Buffalo, she said.

Shelbi, for example, asked to see the solar system with her VR headset because she likes to study the planets, and the galaxy.

"I want to explore it some day," she said.

Tate, a champion for innovation in Davenport, saluted the new curriculum and VR devices.

"I'm so proud of Buffalo," he said. "You're moving forward."
Bettendorf and some of its downtown businesses support the formation of a downtown association, but as the idea comes closer to fruition, some of the details still need to be ironed out.

Before the formation of the association, which was one top Bettendorf's top goals for 2016, it must be determined whether creating a self-supported municipal improvement district (SSMID) is necessary.

SSMIDs, which began in Iowa in 1977, are zones within commercial and industrial areas in which property owners agree to pay a fee on top of property taxes for projects and services aimed at keeping the district economically competitive.

To help make this decision, the City of Bettendorf has authorized the Bettendorf Development Corp. to take the lead role and hire personnel to determine the best course of action.

The city had already budgeted $30,000 this year toward supporting the creation of the association and those funds will be used toward making a hire.

Economic Development Director Jeff Reiter said a discussion with business owners in December yielded the need to hire personnel because that way the businesses would know someone was working on their behalf and with their interests and concerns in mind.

Reiter said the businesses would like this representative, who would operate independently of the city, to go through vetting an SSMID for a period of a year or so.

During that period, if there is strong consideration for a district, businesses will help determine how the zone is bounded.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority's recommended timeline for the creation of a SSMID is between one and two years.

Reiter said the time to go through the process would help downtown businesses build some cohesion and determine a direction they would like an association to move in.

With that said, Reiter said it would likely take a year for the association to get off the ground.

"The big goal right now is we want this to be for downtown by downtown if you will," Reiter said. "There's a lot of charge downtown (from businesses) to better the whole platform and environment."
A growing number of congressional Democrats will not attend Friday's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, but area Democratic lawmakers said they will attend.

In a statement Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., said she would attend, despite "my vehement disagreement with President-elect Trump's behavior and billionaires-first agenda."

Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, agreed, saying he would attend out of "enormous amount of respect for our nation's history of a peaceful transition of power." But he said there was "no question that our nation, and in fact the President-elect himself, would be best served if he started behaving in a manner more reflective of the leader of the free world."

More than 50 congressional Democrats have said they will not attend, according to The Associated Press.

Some lawmakers already had said they would not attend, but Trump's criticism of Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia has spurred others to skip it, too.

Lewis had said last week he didn't view Trump as a legitimate president. That prompted the president-elect to tweet the Democrat's district was "crime infested" and that Lewis, a prominent civil rights figure, was "all talk."

Loesback plans to attend the Women's March in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, while Bustos plans to attend the Women's March in Chicago the day after the inauguration, they said. The march, which was organized after the 2016 election, is aimed at furthering women's rights and civil liberties.

Bustos said the march will send a message that the "true majority rejects President-elect Trump's politics of divisiveness."

A Trump spokesman responded to the plans to skip the inauguration on a conference call, according to The Associated Press.

"We'd love for every member of Congress to attend, but if they don't, we've got some great seats for others to partake in," the spokesman, Sean Spicer, said. "It's a shame that these folks don't want to be part of the peaceful transfer of power."
DES MOINES  Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey loves his job, but if he gets a call from Donald Trump  or Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds  hell answer it.

Northey, halfway through his third term leading the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, said Tuesday he would entertain calls about either heading up the United States Department of Agriculture or serving as Reynolds lieutenant governor after she succeeds Gov. Terry Branstad, who is slated to become ambassador to China.

Certainly, if I got a call I would be interested in talking, Northey said.

Northey, 57, a Spirit Lake farmer, emphasized he likes what hes doing. He believes he has made a difference, especially in pushing for more action and resources to address water quality issues in rural and urban Iowa.

However, the former president and chairman of the National Corn Growers isnt limiting himself only to opportunities in Iowa.

I love what I do, but I know you can make a big difference in a lot of other positions, so Im certainly game to talk, he said, quickly adding, I have not gotten a call. I do not have any travel plans to Trump Tower.

Hell get a call if the president-elect listens to Sen. Chuck Grassley, who has been tweeting out his support for Northey.

ChuckGrassley @ChuckGrassley Jan 8

Still do not hv Ag Secy picked. Why don't THEY settle on a gr8 VOICE FOR AGRICULTURE BILL NORTHEY Iowa secretary of Ag for 10 yrs

What a great compliment from Sen. Grassley  somebody who cares about agriculture and loves it, and is very well respected, Northey said.

At the same time he is being promoted for the USDA post, there is speculation Reynolds will tap Northey as her replacement when she moves into the governors office. That was fueled in part by his announcement on the heels of the Branstad-to-China news that he would not run against Reynolds for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2018.

I would certainly entertain a conversation, he said, but Reynolds has not spoken to him about the job.

Although interested in either position, Northey said there is a huge pool of great people who could do these jobs.

If he leaves his current post, Northey said it would have to be for something where I think I can make a good difference.

I love what Im doing and I think weve made some positive differences, he said. Ive got a great position to work from.
The Alcoholic Beverages Division administrator has upheld a Department of Inspections and Appeals decision that stated the city of Davenport did not have sufficient cause to revoke Shenanigans' liquor license.

In 2015, the city filed a petition to revoke Shenanigans' liquor license on the grounds that the business permitted or failed to control illegal activity on its property and that it's owner, Burton Davison, lacked the "good moral character" required by state law to hold a liquor license.

A stabbing incident on Halloween night and another series of incidents were cited in the argument that the bar posed "an immediate danger to the welfare, health, peace, morals and safety of the citizens of Iowa" and the subsequent decision to grant a suspension order.

Last year, however, Administrative Law Judge Margaret LaMarche vacated the suspension order and reinstated Shenanigan's license, prompting the city to file an appeal.

The State of Iowas January 13, 2017 decision affirmed that Shenanigans was operating their establishment lawfully in downtown Davenport," attorney Mike Meloy said. "This is an important property rights ruling for all Davenport businesses.

The city contended that stabbing of Antonio Thomas, who was wounded 13 times, occurred on Shenanigans premises, but in in reviewing the evidence, Administrator Stephen Larson determined it was entirely unclear where the stabbing occurred.

As to the argument that Davison lacks the "good moral character" required by state law, Larson ruled there was insufficient evidence to support the claim.

The city had cited a 2015 incident in Davison's past in which he was arrested and charged with aggravated misdemeanor assault while using or displaying a dangerous weapon.

Davison pleaded guilty and was given a deferred judgment by the court with unsupervised probation for six months.

In vacating the suspension order last year, the administrative law judge ruled that Davison's conduct was an isolated incident and there was not sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that we was ineligible to hold a liquor license.

The city has 30 days from Jan. 13 to file an appeal with the Iowa District Court. Davenport officials have not responded to requests for comment.
A Henry County, Illinois, man is one of the federal prisoners whose sentence was commuted Tuesday by President Barack Obama.

Daryl Joseph Shaw, 49, who at the time of his arrest in January 2007 was a resident of Kewanee, was sentenced Feb. 1, 2008, to serve 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and one count of manufacture of methamphetamine, according to federal online court records.

Shaw was accused of making and trafficking methamphetamine in Henry County from March 2004 through January 2007 when federal authorities took him into custody.

He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joe Billy McDade to 20 years on each count with the sentences to run concurrently.

Shaw is being housed in the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, according to Bureau of Prisons electronic records.

Shaws prison sentence was to end April 19, 2024, when he would be placed on five years supervised release. His prison sentence now will expire on Jan. 17, 2019, provided he enrolls in a residential drug treatment program.

Shaws criminal records include convictions in Henry County Circuit Court for burglary and theft in 1990 for which he was sentenced to seven years and five years respectively in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He also was sentenced to five years in the Illinois prison system in 1994 for delivery of cannabis.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  A 22-year-old Muscatine man will face felony drug charges after he was allegedly found in possession of more than 1/2 pound of marijuana.

Miguel Aguilar will face one count of possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony, on count of drug tax stamp violation, a class D felony, and one count of possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor, according to online court records.

Aguilar was the passenger in a vehicle stopped for expired registration on Jan. 8 when he was found in possession of 242.6 grams, or more than 1/2 pund of a substance smelling like marijuana, according to the criminal complaint.

A preliminary hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Emily Wenger of the Muscatine Journal
WAUWATOSA, Wis.  An innovative disaster relief trailer that will be equipped with a unique radio mobile communications unit, air conditioning unit, and ample storage for emergency product distribution such as beverages and small meals, is being unveiled Wednesday (Jan. 18) at The Salvation Armys Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Divisional Headquarters in Wauwatsosa, Wis.

The trailer was donated to the division by Sqwincher Corporation, a leading manufacturer of heat and cold stress hydration products and a subsidiary of Kent Precision Foods Group and Kent Corporation.

The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) system will allow the trailer to serve as the hub for communication transmissions during disaster relief efforts and general ministry outreach throughout the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan area, a first for this region. The trailer can accommodate two to three staff people at any given time.

Following the dedication event, the trailer will be based out of Eagle River. The trailer will make its first appearance at the IronLine Sled Dog Race on Friday, Jan. 27, in Iron County, Mich., where it will be used for dispensing hydration products to event staff and participants.

This trailer is the first of its kind for The Salvation Army in this territory that provides a dual purpose in terms of support and outreach at an event, said Major Steven Merritt, Divisional Commander of the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Division, one of 10 divisions that make up the Central Territory of The Salvation Army. Not only are we going to be able to communicate effectively to the residents of a particular community during an emergency, but also help sustain them with supplies of hydration products and other necessities. This trailer really allows us to broaden our reach in terms of the number of people we can now serve in this area.

The idea for the trailer donation originated when the two companies joined efforts to help storm victims in Baton Rouge, La., following the historic flooding there this past August. Sqwincher had donated 47 pallets of hydrating drinks and other products to the ongoing relief effort. At the time, Salvation Army volunteers were utilizing numerous drink coolers to store the products as they were being distributed to the Baton Rouge residents.

We realized immediately how much more effective a product dispensary and vending trailer would be in assisting during a disaster and community outreach situations like this, and we wanted to help, said Dan Rosado, vice president of sales and marketing at Sqwincher. The Salvation Army provides a critical support system for people in need and we are thrilled to be able to help in this effort.

Rosado said Sqwincher had completed its mission of promoting proper hydration through a nationwide taste tour of industrial plants and decided to donate the unit to The Salvation Army. The trailer will soon be outfitted with the emergency radio communications system. Unique to this trailer, is the ability for staff to dispense products from three sides simultaneously, the rear and both sides.
Police and the policed: They live in two different realities.

That's the take away from a hugely important report released last week by Pew Research Center. The survey of 8,000 officers in cities throughout the country offers a telling, yet troubling glimpse into the minds of rank-and-file cops in the age of Black Lives Matter. It also suggests racial divisions  festering throughout the country  also are deeply seated within police ranks, too.

Take, for example, perceptions of deadly police encounters with young black men. Just 39 percent of the population think these encounters are merely isolated instances and reject the argument that they're symptomatic of systematic racial bias. Seventy-two percent of officers included in the survey hold that opinion. Yet a solid majority of black officers agree with public perception that the highly publicized deaths are, in fact, rooted in systemic prejudice.

That internal racial division, too, carries through with police perceptions of the protests sparked by the killings. Only 27 percent of respondents believe Black Lives Matter protesters have a genuine interest in holding officers accountable. But 69 percent of black cops think accountability is the main thrust for BLM protesters. At a global scale, 92 percent of officers surveyed believe that the U.S. has made ample changes to address racial inequality. That number dwindles to just 29 percent among black officers alone.

Only about a quarter of officers agreed that their department does an adequate job rooting out bad cops. Yet a massive majority support internal use-of-force guidelines. And a whopping 86 percent say the public doesn't appreciate what they do.

Police are also substantially less likely to support gun control efforts, especially bans on assault-style weapons, than Americans at large.

Overall, Pew's survey paints of a picture of a nation full of cops who feel misunderstood and isolated. But it also includes hints of a fraternity that rejects the concerns of the very civilians who pay them. That's dangerous.

We've said it before: Police can be respected while also scrutinized. It's a red herring to argue that expectations of transparency and accountability are, somehow, out of whack with general appreciation.

Police are, after all, public employees who wield substantial power. Cops have long been the sharp edge of the spear when government targeted certain groups. Civilian oversight is the only barrier against abuse and the bulwark of mutual trust.

Yet, time after time, police unions howl at even the most justified criticism. They rally against right-minded reforms. And they do it in the face of mounting evidence of a broken system. Just last week, the U.S. Justice Department issued its damning report of Chicago Police Department. The scathing assessment detailed widespread abuse of power and use-of-force practices that, on the ground, targeted racial minorities.

The vast majority of rank-and-file officers deserve utmost respect. They do a tough, necessary job. But it's also true that cops are most effective when they have the full confidence of their communities. And that's only possible if police and residents alike share a common interest.

At present, the police and the policed aren't even experiencing the same universe.
CEDAR RAPIDS  A week after opening its 2017 session, the Iowa House finally has some bills to work on.

No bills were introduced during the first week of the session, but Tuesday, 22 bills and a pair of resolutions were read in and are now eligible for consideration. Senators, on the other hand, have filed 97 bills since Jan. 9.

Other years, weve read them in sooner, House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said.

She chalked up the change to the pomp and circumstances of the opening week and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Monday.

Upmeyer also said she has been trying to focus lawmakers attention on the Legislatures first order of business: Cutting the current year budget by about $118 million.

I think now were ready to start looking at other things, she said Tuesday afternoon.

Among the bills read in Tuesday were several proposals majority Republicans say are part of their smaller and smarter government agenda. They include proposals for school vouchers, eliminating a variety of business- and occupational-related regulations, removing a requirement that taxpayers indicate on their tax returns whether they have health care coverage for their dependent children, exempting Iowans from required vaccinations based upon personal conviction and calling for the future repeal of the individual income tax checkoff and the Iowa election campaign fund.

Also introduced was a resolution designating the regal fritillary as the state butterfly as the perfect symbol to represent the prairie heritage of Iowa.

The budget adjustments are necessary because of reductions in projected tax collection growth brought on by sluggish farm prices and other economic factors.

Gov. Terry Branstad proposed adjustments of $25 million at regent institutions, $20 million for the Department of Human Services, $15 million for prisons and community corrections, $8.7 million for community colleges, $7.7 million for the courts, $5.5 million for the Department of Education and $3.8 million for public safety.

Republicans in the House and Senate have said they are looking at options to the cuts Branstad proposed in his Condition of the State address Jan. 10. They have an agreement in principle, Upmeyer said.

You know there are always details we want to make sure we can work out, but at some point, we also need to move forward, Upmeyer said. We have much work to do this session, and we cant be waiting on this bill forever. We need to get moving.

However, the legislative process moves slowly.

The way the paper moves, we certainly cant have it to the floor this week, but we can start moving it through the process this week, she said.
DES MOINES  Never say never, Iowa state Sen. Liz Mathis says about running for governor, but not in 2018.

The Cedar Rapids Democrat has ruled out seeking her partys nomination next year, saying the timing isnt right for her and her family.

Mathis, first elected in 2011, said Wednesday she had been thinking about running. Some considered her the frontrunner among several Democrats seen as potential challengers to Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is set to become governor when Gov. Terry Branstads nomination to be ambassador to China is approved. Over the past several months, Mathis said, she was approached by several groups asking if she was interested in the job. However, she was focused on winning re-election.

After the November election, she continued the discussion with more than two dozen people and groups about everything from what the financials would look like to my possibility of running to the dedication it would take to run a campaign over 18 months.

I came to the conclusion that it probably wasnt the right time for me to do that for a number of reasons, she said.

A gubernatorial bid would be quite a big leap for her family, Mathis said. Although they are comfortable with her serving in the Senate, as a gubernatorial candidate, youre wide open to scrutiny, and I dont think I want to do that, and I dont think they want to do that, she said.

Mathis, a former television news reporter and anchor in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo who now works for a child welfare agency, said she was concerned about the $10 million to $15 million estimated cost of a campaign.

Thats a very steep climb even with the support she would expect to receive, Mathis said.

Shes also committed to rebuilding the Democratic majority in the Senate. Iowans voted out six Democratic senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, giving the GOP a 29-20-1 majority.

When she made her announcement Tuesday night at a Des Moines Democratic gathering, Mathis suggested Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, as a possible candidate.

Im not endorsing anyone at this point, she said Wednesday, but she thinks Petersen would be a good candidate. I dont know what she thinks about that, but shes tenacious.

Mathis expects several other people to step forward, but she doesnt plan to endorse anyone until after the June 2018 Democratic primary.

Among those who are expected to run are current Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire, Polk County Conservation Director Rich Leopold, Rep. Todd Prichard, D-Charles City, and former Sen. Steve Sodders of State Center.

Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, who was elected by his Democratic colleagues to serve as minority leader, reiterated his position Wednesday that he has no plans to run for governor in 2018.

In ruling out a bid for governor, Mathis did not close the door on challenging second-term Rep. Rod Blum in 2018.

Who knows what happens? she said.
Authorities are seeking the publics help to find two abducted children from Wisconsin believed to be in the Black Hills area.

Cathy Brown, 37, is alleged to have kidnapped her two children  Averie, 11, and Dalton, 9  in December, said a release from the U.S. Marshals Service. They may be in a remote campground.

Brown may be helped by another adult named Amanda Hull, who also goes by the name Amy Clark. The vehicle is a 2001 red Chevrolet Silverado K1500 pickup with the Wisconsin license plate LV5652.

Authorities have concerns for the childrens well-being due to the extreme weather conditions combined with the remote and primitive conditions in which they are believed to be hiding, the release said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the U.S. Marshals Service at 342-6331.
Devils Tower resident Grace Anderson, a junior at Wyoming Virtual Academy (WYVA), has just been chosen as a delegate for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP).

As a delegate, she will receive a $10,000 scholarship from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., in March, where she will meet newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump.

"Grace is a leader who already serves her community in a meaningful way," said state superintendent Jillian Balow. "She is an outstanding student, and I'm proud to have her represent Wyoming and meet our nation's leaders."

Wyoming Virtual Academy (WYVA), is a public school program of Niobrara County School District #1. The WYVA high school program serves full-time and part-time students in grades 9-12 who are official residents of the state of Wyoming.
A couple who strongly believes in empowering their employees and giving back to their community have been named the recipients of the 2017 South Dakota Retailer of the Year Award.

Scott and Susan Peterson, owners of Scott Peterson Motors in Belle Fourche and Sturgis, were honored at the South Dakota Retailers Associations annual Awards Banquet in Pierre on Jan. 9. The event was attended by state legislators, constitutional officers, and retailers from throughout the state.

Susan Peterson said the award was a surprise and an honor to receive.

"The award is special because it highlights our customer service beliefs, standards and the way we do business" Susan said.

The common thread throughout their business history has been "opportunities," Susan said.

Susan said the couple's check and balance relationship made for an interesting ride.

"Scott is a jump-in kinda guy and I'm pretty conservative, but somehow we balance" she said.

The couple started a used car lot in Belle Fourche in 1988. Three years later, they purchased an existing new car business in Belle Fourche. The couple was 26 and 24 at the time.

"We thought that would be a great opportunity, but we were young and broke," she said. "We talked to the big wigs at corporate and made it work. Twenty-five years later we realized what a great opportunity this was." The Petersons were chosen for the award by a committee of retailers in recognition of commitment to running an excellent business, and outstanding service to their community.

After graduating from high school in Revillo, in eastern South Dakota, Scott and Susan Peterson moved to the Black Hills to attend college, and started the used car lot in Belle Fourche.

They celebrated 25 years in that business in September. They have made major renovations and additions to the Belle Fourche business in the last three years, including adding a 25,000 square foot shop with 24 bays for vehicles, and they are currently in the final stage of remodeling their show room.

At the same time, they have expanded the business. In July of 2013, they purchased a dealership in Sturgis. They faced a major setback, however, when the roof caved in during the Atlas Blizzard in October of 2013. They not only decided to keep that business going, but they relocated and built a brand new facility. They always strive to do better. Just because something works today, they say, doesnt mean thats the way you should do it forever.

They were nominated for the award by customers, employees and business colleagues, who said the Petersons run their business with integrity and honesty, and truly care about their employees, their customers, and their community.

Their motto is: We want customers for life.

They tell their employees that 100 percent of the time, 100 percent of their customers must have an experience that will bring them back, SDRA Board President Gary Cammack of Cammack Ranch Supply in Union Center said when presenting the award. To meet that goal, they empower their employees to make decisions about how best to take care of the customers. It may cost more to make a customer happy, but if that person becomes a customer for life, they figure it was money well spent.

People who nominated the Petersons for the award commended them for treating their employees with respect. They have about seventy employees, many of them long-time members of the staff. Over 70 percent have been with the business 10 years or more, and about 12 percent of the staff have been with them from the start.

Presenting the award, Cammack said the Petersons believe that for the community to be successful, they need to give back, and they do it in meaningful ways. They coordinate an annual food drive for the local food pantry. In the last six years, they have given over $100,000 and 14 tons of food. They sponsor a Crush Cancer drive that has resulted in over $100,000 in donations to local cancer charities over the last ten years. Theyve been responsible for providing nearly $100,000 in funding to other local charities and fundraisers in the last four years.

Their employees are also encouraged to give back to the community, and they do it enthusiastically.

The Petersons are modest about all those contributions to their community. Its just what you do, they said.

Cammack noted that, when asked what advice hed give people just starting out in business, Scott Peterson said three things: Work hard, work honest, and treat people the way you want to be treated, and if you do that, things work out."

They view the future with optimism for themselves, their community and the state, Cammack noted. The Petersons say you can still live the American Dream in South Dakota and thats what theyre doing. They truly do represent the best in retailing, and its a pleasure to present them with this award.

But the Petersons say life is about more than their careers and say they have been blessed with two wonderful children, Jon and Jayme, great family, friends and employees.

"We are very blessed. I just give thanks to the Lord for the blessings he has given us," Scott Peterson said.

The South Dakota Retailer of the Year Award has been presented annually since 1982 by the South Dakota Retailers Association.
Tax relief is key to growing Nebraska. We have to become more competitive in order to grow the number of people in our state and opportunities for more and better paying jobs. While this might seem like common sense, not everyone shares this view. The new legislative session has begun and the lobbyists and special interests have returned to the State Capitol. Some are suggesting the state should raise taxes, even though I have presented balanced budgets that restrain spending without tax increases.

Throughout the session, I will be working with State Senators to protect you, the taxpayer, and I will work with the Legislature to fight against proposals to raise your taxes. I encourage you to follow the debate on taxes at the State Capitol closely, because your voice will be critical in building support for tax relief and stopping tax increases. Some advocates for tax relief will tout plans that actually raise taxes on one group of people to give to another. Be forewarned: talk about finding revenues and new resources and rebalancing is simply code for raising taxes!

This week, I proposed a tax plan in my State of the State address to provide substantial property and income tax relief to Nebraskans. When I am traveling the state, Nebraskans make it very clear that they are tired of the government taking their money. My plan controls the rate of growth in property valuations for tax purposes and puts more money back into your pocketsit does not simply shifts taxes around.

The first part of my tax plan changes the way we value ag land for taxation purposes with the Agricultural Valuation Fairness Act sponsored by Ag Committee Chair Lydia Brasch. Under this bill, the method for assessing property value is changed from a market-based system to an income-potential assessment. Income potential is a much fairer measure, and will slow the growth of ag land valuation increases. If this system were in place for 2017, it would reduce ag land valuations by about $2.2 billion.

Income potential based property tax assessment for ag land is used in North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. This method is standard across similar states with ag-based economies. It is why many Nebraska ag producers have suggested it to me. If the bill passes, the state would transition to the new system beginning in 2019 to give local taxing entities and county assessors plenty of time to prepare.

The second part of my plan provides income tax relief. Did you know its been 20 years since middle class Nebraskans saw an income tax rate cut? Income tax rate reductions should not be a once-in-generation event! High income taxes not only burden our families, but they also make our state less competitive. Only one of our bordering states has higher income tax rates than Nebraskathats Iowa. Wyoming and South Dakota have no income tax, and Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri all have lower rates.

Im also partnering with Revenue Chairman Jim Smith to to take the top income tax rate down roughly one-tenth of one percent per year, starting in 2020, as long as the states revenue growth exceeds 3.5 percent. In effect, we will have a trigger when we hit 3.5 percent growth to take that income tax rate from 6.84 percent down a little each year until its under six percent. If our revenue doesnt grow fast enough, the tax rate doesnt come down. This mechanism will protect taxpayers, and ensure the state doesnt face a budget crisis.

As the session progresses, I will work with senators on these plans, and to provide tax relief for you. Passing tax relief will not be easy, and we will need your help and support to make it a reality. Some will try to say that passing tax relief this session shouldnt happen because state revenues have slowed. However, we can still pass responsible tax relief the Nebraska way. The budgets I have proposed put the state on solid fiscal footing, preparing the way for tax relief, which will help spur growth.

If you want to see property or income tax relief happen this session, I encourage you to register your support with your State Senator. Your voice as a taxpayer matters in this discussion. You can find their information by visiting www.NebraskaLegislature.gov. As always, you can contact my office at pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or 402-471-2244.
A Rapid City woman who police say dumped her stillborn child behind a local motel in July is facing a misdemeanor offense that could put her in jail for a year.

Wita Hope Davis, 39, has been charged in 7th Judicial Court with disposal of a dead body without a permit. The child is identified in court documents as Angel Marie Davis, born last July 3, the same day authorities said she was discovered wrapped in a cloth in an alley behind the Colonial Motel.

South Dakota law requires a permit before a dead body, or a fetus that is at least 20 weeks old, may be discarded. Davis was arrested in November and is detained at the Pennington County Jail in lieu of a $2,000 bond. Her next court date is Jan. 24.
Rapid City officials identified the woman who was fatally stabbed during an apparent beer theft early Wednesday morning in Rapid City, and said they have two suspects in custody.

The victim was Kasie Lord, 45, of Rapid City, who was a clerk at the Loaf 'N Jug convenience store and gas station at 1627 Mount Rushmore Road.

Rapid City Police Chief Karl Jegeris said the woman was "brutally stabbed and left to die in front of the Loaf 'N Jug," at about 4:45 a.m., during what he described as a beer theft in progress.

Just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, police said they had detained "people of interest" in the case. By Wednesday afternoon, police said they had made two arrests: 19-year-old Cody Grady, of Rapid City, and a 17-year-old male, who has not been identified.

Grady has been charged with murder and second-degree robbery. Police said a decision on charges against the 17-year-old will be made on Thursday morning by the Pennington County States Attorneys Office.

Police said the suspects were trying to steal beer from the convenience store when the stabbing happened. Officers responding to the scene found Lord on the ground in front of the store with multiple stab wounds.

Rapid City Police spokesman Brendyn Medina said Lord was transported to Rapid City Regional Hospital, where she died from her injuries.

"Obviously, everybody is just devastated," Jegeris said Wednesday morning, referring in particular to the employees and management at the store.

Jegeris posted a Facebook video and tweeted about the incident at approximately 6 a.m. At 7:45 a.m., police and Pennington County Sheriff's Office vehicles were still lined up in the 700 block of St. Andrews. Police were marking evidence on St. Charles Street and in an alley between St. Charles and St. Andrew, and one lane of southbound traffic was still blocked in front of the Loaf 'N Jug.

Police say they found the suspects in the 700 block of St. Andrew Street.

Lord's death has elicited a strong response on social media. People quickly took to Facebook and Twitter to express a range of emotions, from grief to anger to bewilderment at what they often termed a "senseless" tragedy.
"Net neutrality" is the principle that Internet service providers should give equal access to all content and applications without blocking or favoring specific products and websites.

The rule is enforced by the Federal Communications Commission, but I believe it is now jeopardized, generally, by the election of Donald Trump, and specifically, by the fact that our U.S. Sen. John Thune has been a vigorous opponent of the concept for years.

When the FCC voted 3-2 in 2015 to regulate the Internet  a ruling upheld last year by a federal court  Thune was incensed, calling it "partisan ... a power grab ... and federal overreach."

Thune's reaction reflected the general attitude among Internet service providers, who would probably love to develop their services into multi-tiered offerings of speed and quality, giving customers levels of service that vary with prices.

AT&T and Verizon last month were tangling in an issue over the subject with the FCC and will likely be most supportive of taking net neutrality out of the communications lexicon as soon as the Trump administration starts staffing it with friendly commissioners. Of some note, AT&T and Verizon are two of the top five contributors to Thune's campaign committee and leadership PAC during the period 2011-2016.

South Dakotans who are used to unlimited Internet accessibility to all sites and apps with the same speed applied to each of them should be aware of this likely change.

The incoming Republican majority at the FCC can immediately hit the "undo" button and reverse course on net neutrality simply by refusing to enforce the rule. As it stands now, Internet service providers are banned from blocking or slowing legal Internet sites and apps or generally using their connectivity to favor some sites over others.

The problem for consumers will come when the service providers begin showing some form of favoritism toward content that they might happen to own. Speedier access to premium sites is a possibility.

You can make a case that a more lucrative operational setting will drive greater research and development among telecom companies, but the numbers don't back that up. Using the industry's own data from U.S. Telecom, broadband investment is about 50 percent higher than it was in the mid-90s.

My guess is that once consumers get wind of what's going on with this a backlash will emerge. Dependence on Internet access is about as common as dependence on earlier forms of communication as they were being developed.

I doubt that passage of the Federal Communications Act in 1934 granting oversight similar to net neutrality hindered telecom research and development during the ensuing decades. I doubt that leaving the status quo intact will do so in the future.
Pennington County Commissioners declared a state of emergency Tuesday, though somewhat delayed, because of the damage from the Christmas Day blizzard. The reason is to qualify for federal assistance.

The blizzard that hit South Dakota on Dec. 25 and 26 left more than 1,200 county residents without power for days in extremely cold weather.

The Rapid City-Pennington County Office of Emergency Management estimates damage in the county to be about $383,000. Most of the damage was done to power poles, lines and other power infrastructure.

The assistance will be available only to publicly owned infrastructure like that of West River Electric, a rural electric cooperative.

Commissioner Mark DiSanto noted that, from his perspective and that of many of his constituents, that is one reason the Federal Emergency Management Agency exists.

Pennington County joins 24 other counties and four tribal reservations across the state that have declared a disaster from the storm.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard requested assistance from FEMA to review damage to public property last week.

FEMA personnel will be in South Dakota this week to work with local and state officials for a process called a Preliminary Damage Assessment, according to Tony Mangan, public information officer for the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, which houses the Office of Emergency Management.

In other action, the commission adopted a new procedure for comments from the public. People wishing to comment on an agenda item will now have to notify the commissioners at the beginning of the meeting which agenda item they want to comment on, and they will get that chance when the agenda item comes up.

Previously, members of the public could speak on any agenda item as it came up.
Ruling to hand over Crimean gold treasures to Ukraine appealed

MOSCOW, January 18 (RAPSI, Vladimir Yaduta)  Ruling of the Amsterdam District Courts returning collection of gold artifacts from Crimea to Ukraine was appealed, Michiel van Leeuwen, from the Boonk Van Leeuwen Advocaten N.V. company, representing interests of Crimean courts in this case, told RAPSI on Wednesday.

On December 14, the court ruled that return of collection to Ukraine is partly justified since it is a part of the cultural heritage of the country, while arguments of Crimean museums that artefacts are a part of Crimean cultural heritage were dismissed on the grounds of neither Crimea, nor the Autonomous Republic of Crimea being sovereign states. In addition, the court noted that Crimea was part of Ukraine when collection was lent to Allard Pierson Museum.

The Amsterdam District Court recused itself from judging whether Scythian gold collection belongs to Ukraine or Crimea and ruled that this dispute is to be resolved by Ukrainian court. Both sides have three months to appeal the ruling and in those three months collection is to stay at the museum.

Ukraine was ordered to pay 111,000 to refund the costs for the temporary storage of the artefacts. Crimean museums are to pay 2,800 in legal costs to Ukraine and Allard Pierson Museum.

Russias Culture Ministry issued a statement condemning the courts ruling. According to the ministry, such ruling serves as an example of cultural organization rights violation and destruction of collections unity. The ministry believes that it is also a violation of principles for exchange of exhibits between museums.

The exhibition The Crimea: Gold and Secrets of the Black Sea opened in Germany in mid-2013 and then moved to the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam in early February 2014. The artifacts from five Crimean museums include a ceremonial gold helmet and jewels.

In March of 2014, Kiev demanded the gold be returned to Ukraine, not Crimea, since the latter had voted for independence and later joined Russia. Crimea, however, dismissed the demands as groundless.

The Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam decided to keep the disputed collection of Scythian Gold items until the ownership dispute is resolved either amicably or in court.

The exhibition closed in late August 2014, but the collection has not been sent back to the Crimean museums because of disputes between Ukraine and Crimea.

In November 2014, four Crimean museums filed a lawsuit with a court in Amsterdam seeking to return the Scythian gold that was exhibited in the Netherlands to Crimea.
Hamilton attorney Rob Myers is facing a third professional misconduct complaint by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for a series of advertisements mailed and aired during his failed campaign to unseat Judge Jeffery Langton.

The complaint filed Tuesday with the Montana Supreme Court accuses Myers of making statements that he knew to be false or with reckless regard for the truth concerning the integrity of Langton.

The three inflammatory advertisements were produced as mailers or radio spots from mid to late October 2016.

After being reelected in November, Langton said he had never seen anything remotely like the smear campaign mounted by Myers that included a number of bizarre accusations.

Neither Langton nor Myers returned messages from the Ravalli Republic Tuesday.

As a judicial candidate, the complaint said Myers was required to follow provisions of the Montana Code of Judicial Conduct, which required candidates to be scrupulously fair and accurate in all statements made by them and their campaign committees. It also requires candidates to review and approve campaign content before it is disseminated.

The complaint seeks a formal hearing before an adjudicatory panel, with a report of that panels findings to be forwarded to the Montana Supreme Court for potential disciplinary action.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed two professional misconduct complaints against Myers last year for allegedly breaking ethics rules by making false statements against Langton before the primary.

Those complaints have not yet been resolved.

The battle between Myers and Langton stretches back to 2014 when Langton filed a 42-page order that found Myers had made misrepresentations to the court and ordered Myers to pay $10,000 in sanctions.
America must return to conservative principles of less government,reduced taxes, less spending and a balanced budget! Cut,cap and balance!
"I would like to say 'This book is written to the glory of God', but nowadays this would be the trick of a cheat, i.e., it would not be correctly understood."--Ludwig Wittgenstein



"Talk to me about the truth of religion, and I'll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I'll listen submissively. But don't come talking to me about the consolation of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand."--C.S. Lewis
Golez: We should have an intense campaign to entice American investors to come to the Philippines now that their interest in China has declined. This is the time to think of the Philippine economy first. The Department of Foreign Affairs should be at the forefront of this effort:

"China is becoming less of an investment priority for companies, with 56 percent of those in an American Chamber of Commerce survey placing the world's second largest economy on the top three spots o n their priority list, down from the peak of 78 percent in 2012.
The Taiwanese military is preparing for a Chinese invasion as fears grow about the impact that future Donald Trump policies towards Beijing may have on regional stability.

A two-day military drill that began on Tuesday simulated an attack by the Peoples Liberation Army across the 112-mile (180km) Taiwan strait that separates the mainland from the island nation of 23 million, amid deteriorating relations between Beijing and Taipei.

The islands armed forces gathered in Taichung, central Taiwan, for annual drills that saw troops test their combat readiness with tanks, attack helicopters and artillery. Skydivers, known as Team Mighty Dragon, also demonstrated their precision landing skills.

The operation mimicked a scenario where Chinese war vessels had crossed over the middle line of the Taiwan strait.

The military has active measures to deal with the situation in the Taiwan strait and the South China Sea , so the public can rest assured, defence spokesman Chen Chung-chi said. We will enhance training 365 days a year.

The drills come one week after China set off alarm bells in Taiwan by sailing its only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, through the strait, accompanied by a fleet of warships.

The Liaoning did not sail in Taiwanese waters, but entered an area covered by the islands air defence zone. It was a show of strength that prompted Taiwans air force to scramble its fighter jets to surveil and control the passage of the fleet.

The Taiwanese government, led by the president, Tsai Ing-wen, has sought to reassure the public over growing Chinese military threats following an unprecedented call with Trump , the incoming US president, in December.

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The call smashed decades of protocol that have prevented direct engagement between the two presidents since the US switched its diplomatic recognition of China from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.

China considers Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy, as a breakaway province that will eventually be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. It views any attempts to recognise Taiwan identity as an attack on its sovereignty.

In recent weeks Trump has angered the Chinese government by intimating that its One China policy could become a bargaining chip in future trade talks.

On Monday, one government-run Chinese newspaper warned that if provocation over Taiwan continued, China would be forced to take off the gloves.

In addition to the drills, the air force has confirmed an upgrade of Taiwans 143 F-16 fighter aircraft.

The defence minister, Feng Shih-kuan, also recently called for increased vigilance over China, urging the islands youth to join the military.

Ross Darrell Feingold, from Taipei-based political risk consultancy DC International Advisory, played down the significance of the routine exercise.

Obviously Taiwan faces an ongoing military threat from China, whether its from Chinese exercises intended to pressure Taiwan, or the long-term potential of a full and military invasion, he said. The perception of many observers is that military exercises in Taiwan are sometimes meant as much for public relations.

However, experts warn that China, Taiwan and the US could be dragged into a messy military conflict if Trump continues to press Beijing over Taiwan once in power, forcing the Chinese president, Xi Jinping , to react rather than look weak at home.

Xi will see this as a very humiliating situation that Trump is putting him in, a humiliating position in the eyes of his own people, warned Susan Shirk, the former US deputy assistant secretary of state. And that is going to force him to push back very strongly in order to protect his position inside China.

Shirk, who is now chair of the 21st Century China Centre at the University of California San Diego, added: The risks are huge. The risks are right up to direct military confrontation.
Why is the South China Sea so important to the US?

"The South China Sea has become important to the US because of Chinas challenge to the liberal rules-based order that America has promoted since the Pacific war. The post-war regional order was based on the American presence, which set the stage for impressive economic growth and regional prosperity without the threat of war or conflict.

"It ensured that maritime disputes and territorial claims would be resolved through negotiation and not military power. And it served as the basis for the development of trade and regional economic relations from which all countries in the region benefited.

"Americas concern with the South China Sea is a result of Chinas effort to secure control over the maritime territory and the resources it contains. China insists on indisputable sovereignty over the area but a number of other claimants  Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines  have the law on their side.

"The South China Sea has become an important area for the implementation of Chinas naval strategy, including blockading Taiwan, and power projection into the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It also has some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

"The Chinese often say that they respect freedom of navigation but can they be trusted? The Japanese think not. During a territorial dispute with Japan in 2010, the Chinese banned the supply of rare earths, which were necessary for Japans electronics industry, to the country.

"The Chinese could block Japanese trade, which would need to be diverted elsewhere at considerable cost. Indeed, control of the South China Sea would allow China to interfere with Japanese and South Korean trade conducted through the area.

"For America, then, the future of the current regional order and the security of its allies  Japan and South Korea  is at stake. To maintain its geopolitical position in the western Pacific, the US is obliged to defend the regional alliance system, and reassure local powers who are concerned about Chinas intentions.

"Leaving the South China Sea to the Chinese would undermine that alliance system and Americas presence in the western Pacific. China would become the dominant power in the area and regional countries would gravitate towards it.

"By all indications, the Trump administration is likely to be more aggressive in resisting China in the South China Sea and more forceful about preventing the erosion of Americas position in the region.

"Trump has already broken with diplomatic convention by speaking with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen over the phone. More can be expected to demonstrate a new American assertiveness.

"One possibility is the formation of an American South China Sea naval squadron that would maintain a regular presence in the region to show the Chinese that they cannot dominate the area. The Trump administration might also strengthen security ties with Japan and attempt to orchestrate the creation of a coalition of powers bringing together Australia, India, as well as Japan, to stand up to China."
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One of the most seminal aspects of any great industry or art form is the lasting impact the products or art have on the population at large. It is hard to believe that over a hundred years ago, the idea of blockbuster horror films was nothing short of lunacy. When Thomas Edison fully funded the first commercially-released horror film in 1910 (though the first horror film to be made was Georges Melies Le Manoir Du Diable in 1896), he would not realize that this magnificent piece of the silent era would be a commercial failure. Even in its infancy, the motion picture industry would release many major films in the United States in 1910, including movies that would come to shape how the industry would run itself in the coming years, as well as how it would come to look at the horror genre.

The first important release was by veteran director Francis Boggs, who would be tragically murdered the following year. His discovery of western actors Hoot Gibson and Tom Mix to star in Pride of the Range would add the fuel to the fire of the American love for the western genre. Though there had been film westerns already beginning with The Great Train Robbery released in 1903, this is when the industry (at that moment) seemed solidified in how movies were to be made and what genres appealed most to the masses. Until the advent of the talkies, westerns would be one of the highest grossing genres in film. One of the significant aspects of Boggs filmmaking was that though he did not release nearly as many films as would his major contemporaries, his films were of general high quality considering the loose guidelines by which film was currently being produced.

However, even though Boggs was riding high on the western wave that had engulfed the nation around this time, legendary director D.W. Griffiths impressive 98-film release in 1910 (several, including The Two Brothers starring Arthur V. Johnson, being westerns), had the nation enraptured. And though this could simply be seen as a commercial director appealing to the masses, Griffith had only been in the filmmaking business for roughly two years at this point, but had already proved to be a resounding success.

Griffith initially travelled to New York to make it as a playwright, though his first production failed abysmally. He then applied to be a scenario writer for Edison Studios, for they were offering $15 an idea, and he was starving and almost homeless.

When submitting his ideas, he fell under the gaze of Edwin Porter (long-time Edison collaborator and writer/director of The Great Train Robbery), who not only was the premiere filmmaker at that present time, but dismissed Griffiths writing abilities and made him an actor instead, casting him in the short film Rescued from an Eagle's Nest. This moment was a crucial point in history that would come to impact the release of movies in 1910, as well as the direction from which movies would forever evolve.

Griffith, having been so unceremoniously swept aside by Porter so quickly, decided to toy with the idea of a screen acting career in response, at that moment feeling that what Porter had done had weight due to his inflated status at the time. With no attempt to prevent anything by the management at Edison Studios, he would go and be cast as an extra in the film Professional Jealousy, thus meeting the cameraman G. W. Bitzer (who would come to be his most treasured professional friend), and starting his relation with one of Edisons rival production companies at the time, the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.

Though Edisons primary rival would have been J. Stuart Blackton & Albert Smiths Vitagraph Studios at the time, Biograph had been founded a year after Edison Studios and was very much on the rise as a formidable producer. Less than six months later, Griffith would not only release his first directed short film with Biograph, he would create over 40 short films that year alone. This not only would set up his drive as one of the most prolific filmmakers in movie history, but also as one of its great innovators.

His productions (mainly starting in 1910) would set events into motion that would prop himself up to lead the movement toward establishing a brand new hub of the filmmaking industry which would evolve into modern Hollywood. This can be attributed to his short film In Old California being the first film ever shot in Hollywood, well as his first feature film Judith of Bethulia (shot four years later) causing waves of controversy for its depiction of sex and setting the tone from which the pre-Hayes Code Era (from the late-1910s into the early-1930s) would get its infamy. However, these works (primarily The Fugitive in 1910, Birth of a Nation in 1915, Broken Blossoms in 1919 and Orphans of the Storm in 1921) would also lead to the rewrite of all contemporary constructs in film and he would create what would become the groundwork for not only pre-Code movies, but also Golden Era films (early-1930s to early-1950s). This would also directly inspire filmmakers such as Orson Wells to act along similar lines to rewrite the ways films are made and stories are told to where it is basic concepts by todays standards (see Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil and The Magnificent Ambersons).

The director of Rescued from an Eagle's Nest, returning to the production that sealed the distance between Griffith, Porter and Edison, however was J. Searle Dawley, who was also in the infancy of his career, having started working at Edison Studios the year prior. With Griffith taking much of the shine away from Edison Studios, a lot was gambled on promoting Dawley as the next big director out of the industry (this would be later compounded by Dawley himself claiming that he was the first motion picture director). First released from Dawley in 1910 was one of the first adaptations of Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. It was an instant sensation which sparked nationwide interest in actor Marc McDermott.

However, this was not bold enough for Dawley; for Griffith was dominating by sheer numbers alone (not taking his innovations into account) and competition with other major releases by William Selig (such as the first adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, and The Sanitarium, starring comedian Fatty Arbuckle at the peak of his pre-scandal career) and Cherry Kearton (releasing his major breakout documentary hit, Roosevelt in Africa) was driving Edison Pictures into a corner.

So, in reaction to this wave of ideas and images, each one fighting for the front of the que, Dawley would create the first ever screen adaptation of Marry Shellys Frankenstein ; in turn, creating the first commercially released horror film ever made in America. Utilizing (or maybe even inventing) filming techniques that wouldnt be used at great length or improved upon to any effect until the advent of German expressionist film.

That isnt to say Dawleys vision of horror led to the creation of German expressionism. The film, according to The Edison Kinetogram, was designed to gloss over the horrific aspects of the story and to revolve around the mystic and psychological problems presented. So, even off the bat, horror wasnt the desired impact of the movie. Like most (if not all) movies at the time, it was simply about the spectacle of the moving image. In the opinion of this critic, it is one of the main reasons it sank so horribly into obscurity in the instance of its release. So again, Dawley was not the sole spark that ignited German expressionism, but its impossible to deny his impact. Here is why.

At that time, film as a major art form existed primarily in two places: America, led by Thomas Edison, J. Stuart Blackton and William Kennedy Dickson (the founder of Biograph) and France, led by Georges Melies, Auguste & Louis Lumiere (creators of the cinematograph) and Leon Gaumont (founder of Gaumont, the oldest film production company in the world), but it was becoming more evident as the months rolled on which place would take the crown as the premiere industry.

However, in the next couple years and the outbreak of World War I, instead of the French film industry getting into Germany, it was the Americans that permeated the barrier until their eventual involvement in the war (though it resumed in full force after the appeasement). Edison and Biograph capitalized on their reach and the German film market would remain one of the lifelines to the companies and later to Hollywood until the rise of Nazism.

When observing the way Dawleys Frankenstein was shot and built, namely comparing it to key works of expressionist directors such as Robert Wiene (The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, Fear), Fritz Lang (M), Stellan Rye (The Student of Prague) and most evidently F. W. Murnau (Nosferatu, Faust, Sunrise, The Last Laugh), the correlation is rather evident. From the construction of slanting backdrops with emphasis on manipulation of shadows and angles, to gothic set pieces, to the props, make-up, costumes and special photographic effects, it was if Dawley had made a very rough sketch of what was to emerge in a few very short years, also setting the groundwork for what would be the template of Universal monster movies of the 1930s (including remake of Frankenstein with Boris Karloff).

The one element that distinctly separates Dawley from the works of those like Stellan Rye or even his American contemporaries is that he was a very economical filmmaker, both in budget and in execution. In other words, rarely were his films different from a series of master shots depicting the whole of the story in as short a time as possible (Frankenstein was shot in three days). However, this is in part due to film as an art being commonly shot and presented in this fashion. Film language would not be rewritten to include close-ups and reverse-image shots as part of narrative (with Griffiths Birth of a Nation), as well as performances taking less inspirations from vaudeville and more from the ideas Konstantin Stanislavsky and Lee Strasberg (Method Acting) till a couple years later. Then, of course everything changed again when the idea of montage and complex editing was explored and made the standard by Sergei Eisenstein in Battleship Potemkin in 1925, sparking the pre-Code boom.

So, after all of this rant, why was 1910 so important to horror? Because this was the fulcrum in which several key things would forever change. Though it would be a few decades before horror would start catching on as a viable genre in America, the world over saw it differently and took hold of the genre to give it life that no writers could manage at that point in time, creating some of the greatest examples of filmmaking in all of history as well as the benchmark for which all succeeding horror installments would inspire to pass. This year was not only the true introduction to the world stage for both Dawley and Griffith, but both would work (though at-odds) to mold the industry and the art in ways people considered ludicrous and would define an art form in the very process, thus creating the mythos that was Hollywood and propelling American art down an avenue that the world would aspire to follow.

So when a friend might ask why these old films are held so high when really they arent all that compared to the roster of todays shockfests, the context of the time and the minds that made it are important for not only understanding its significance or performance, but also their intentions. It is commonly forgotten that existing even this early in history (but most prominently making itself known in the mid-60s till now), horror is one of the most evident pictures painted of social awareness and political astuteness. Did I prove that in this introduction? No. Will I attempt to do so? Absolutely. Welcome to Psycho Pompous.
2008 film deals with current hot button issue immigration from both sides of the argument

When filmmaker Corinne Jayaweera and her company Documented America made her feature documentary The I Word in 2008, she wanted to take a hard look at the immigration issue from both sides of the argument in a Post 9-11 World. Little did she know how prescient she was and that almost 10 years later the subject of immigration was among the most divisive issues in the 2016 Presidential Election.

The documentary, a rich tapestry of faces and cultures features, among others California politician Michael Antonovich, actress Carla Ferrigno, and LA fashion designer Shelley Komarov, who immigrated to the US in 1977 from her native Russia. The United States is a nation of immigrants. Despite being built on the strength of this diversity, problems created by a troubled immigration process, combined with increases in illegal immigration have created a rift in the nations unity  sparking heated debates, demonstrations and calls to action.

Documented America examines the current and proposed policies and challenges, presenting facts and dispelling myths at the core of this emotionally charged issue. Weaving together statistics, discussions, and personal stories, this exploration seeks to unify through a commitment to an immigration policy that is fair and welcoming to all seeking access to this great nation, while protecting this who call it home.

According to Jayaweera: "The purpose of the film was to give both sides of the argument a voice and an opportunity to listen to the other and with any luck come up with a solution that makes sense."

The film can be seen on Documented Americas website:

http://documentedamerica.com/docs/#iword

Along with Jayaweera, who sore three hats on the film: director, executive producer her partner of the film Dabling Harward also executive produced, served as the DP and operator and edited the informative film.

In 2016 Jayaweera directed the documentary short The Spirit of Iris - the story of Iris Cummings Critchell, a trailblazing woman who swam for the US in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, and went on to be one of the earliest groups of women to ferry planes for the Air Transport Command in World War II. The film competed at the American Pavilion Film Festival, the Newport Beach Film Festival, LA Femme International Film Festival, and Palm Springs Short Film Festival, among others. Jayaweeras most recent narrative short, Recos Magic is a family affair, executive produced by her husband, Surya, and written by their three children: Kaylee-Anna, 17, Everett, 14, and Sorin, 12.

Corinne Jayaweera was born and raised in Southern California where she still resides today. Since childhood, her passion has been fine arts and International Relations. She graduated from the University of Redlands with a double major in Asian Studies and Sociology/ Anthropology with minors in Music and Dance. CJ has enjoyed her career in various academic roles, most recently at Claremont Graduate School as an event coordinator for the Mentor Program and Kravis Concept Plan business competition. But her first love of fine arts was still exerting its pull, and she left her stimulating academic career to focus on her fledgling film production and event planning company. She is extremely proud of her growing, multicultural family. Her personal charitable causes include raising funds for cancer research at the City of Hope, ALS research directly with Augies Quest.

For more information on the film or to schedule an interview with the director, please contact Deborah Gilels, LA Media Consultants at 818-758-6509, or email ddgilels@prodigy.net.



# # #

http://documentedamerica.com/docs/#iword
 Prez Obama issues clemency to 273 more individuals (209 commutation and 64 pardons) and Chelsea Manning among those getting a commuted sentence | Main | "Dear President Trump: Heres How to get Right on Crime, Part 1" 

January 17, 2017

Extended dissent laments First Circuit panel's rejection of Eighth Amendment attack on 160-year sentence for stash house participant

I just notices a lengthy and blog-worthy opinion issued by the First Circuit late last week in US v. Rivera-Ruperto, No. 12-2364 (1st Cir. Jan 13, 2017) (available here). The start and final substantive paragraphs of the majority opinion provides the factual background for the Eighth Amendment claim and its formal fate:

This case arises out of a now-familiar, large-scale FBI investigation known as "Operation Guard Shack," in which the FBI, in an effort to root out police corruption throughout Puerto Rico, orchestrated a series of staged drug deals over the course of several years. For his participation in six of these Operation Guard Shack drug deals, Defendant- Appellant Wendell Rivera-Ruperto stood two trials and was found guilty of various federal drug and firearms-related crimes. The convictions resulted in Rivera-Ruperto receiving a combined sentence of 161-years and 10-months' imprisonment..... At oral argument, counsel for Rivera-Ruperto argued that we should be swayed by the fact that, in this case, the crime involved fake drug deals. A near two life-term punishment where no real drugs and no real drug dealers were involved, he contended, is a punishment that is grossly disproportionate on its face. But in coming to this sentence, the judge below was guided by and correctly employed a sentencing scheme that is written into statute -- a statute that makes no distinction between cases involving real versus sham cocaine. At each of the six stings, in fact, Rivera-Ruperto repeatedly and voluntarily showed up armed and provided security services for what he believed to be illegal transactions between real cocaine dealers. The crime of possessing a firearm in furtherance of such a drug trafficking offense is a grave one, and Congress has made a legislative determination that it requires harsh punishment. Given the weight of the case law, we see no Eighth Amendment route for second-guessing that legislative judgment. We thus cannot conclude that Rivera-Ruperto has established that his sentence, which is largely due to his consecutive sentences under  924(c), is grossly disproportionate to the crime, so as to trigger Eighth Amendment protections.

The start and end of Judge Torruella's 35+-page dissent provides a much fuller primer on the Eighth Amendment and one judge's concerns about its application in this case:

The majority today affirms a sentence of 160 years and one month without the possibility of parole for Rivera-Ruperto. The transgression for which Rivera-Ruperto was punished in such an extreme manner was his participation as a security guard in several fake transactions, while the FBI duped Rivera-Ruperto into believing that the composite was actually illegal drugs. The FBI ensured that more than five kilograms of composite moved from one agent's hands to another at each transaction; the FBI also made sure that the rigged script included Rivera-Ruperto's possession of a pistol at each transaction. This combination -- more than five kilograms of composite, a pistol, and separate transactions -- triggered the mandatory consecutive minimums of 18 U.S.C.  924(c), which make up 130 years of Rivera-Ruperto's sentence. In a real drug transaction, all participants would be guilty of a crime. And, in general, the greater their knowledge of the crime would be, the harsher the law would punish them. In the fictitious transaction we are faced with today, however, only the duped participants, who had no knowledge of what truly transpired, are punished. The other participants are not only excused, but indeed rewarded for a job well done. If Rivera-Ruperto had instead knowingly committed several real rapes, second-degree murders, and/or kidnappings, he would have received a much lower sentence; even if Rivera-Ruperto had taken a much more active role in, and brought a gun to, two much larger real drug deals, he would still have received a much lower sentence. For these and many other crimes Rivera-Ruperto would have received sentences that would see him released from prison during the natural term of his life. For the fictitious transgressions concocted by the authorities, however, Rivera- Ruperto will spend his entire life behind bars -- a sentence given to first-degree murderers, 18 U.S.C.  1111, or those who cause death by wrecking a train carrying high-level nuclear waste. 18 U.S.C.  1992. From the majority's approval of the draconian sentence imposed in this case, I respectfully dissent. Rivera-Ruperto's sentence is grossly disproportionate to his offense, and therefore violates the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. While some seemingly excessively harsh sentences have withstood Eighth Amendment challenges, such harsh sentences have been sanctioned only in the context of recidivists or those who otherwise dedicated themselves to a life of crime -- a context that explained the severity of the sentences. But Rivera-Ruperto has no criminal record, nor has he dedicated himself to a life of crime. Not even under the infamous  924(c) has a first-time offender like Rivera-Ruperto ever been condemned to spend his entire life in jail.... Never before has a first-time offender who has not dedicated his life to crime been condemned to spend his entire life in prison for a transgression such as Rivera-Ruperto's, not even in cases in which the transgression was real -- and Rivera's-Ruperto's transgression is fictitious. The Government has effectively asked this court to pronounce the Eighth Amendment dead for sentences for a term of years. I respectfully refuse to join in this pronouncement. "Unless we are to abandon the moral commitment embodied in the Eighth Amendment, proportionality review must never become effectively obsolete." Graham, 560 U.S. at 85 (Stevens, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, JJ., concurring).

January 17, 2017 at 06:01 PM | Permalink

Comments

another case crying out for supreme court reversal and presidential pardon or commutation. Any and all sentences that are factually declared at beyond natural life should automatically be set aside, and judges forced to justify a whole life sentence against the test of "the worst of the worst". Those that sit in ivory towers need to revisit the human concepts of humility and mercy.

Posted by: peter | Jan 18, 2017 5:04:28 AM

My friend Sholam Weiss is serving a sentence of 835 years for white collar crimes that did not involve either drugs or guns. Many of us are praying that he will receive a Commutation before President Obama leaves office. Notably, the Chancellor of Austria (from which Mr. Wiss was extradited, based upon assurances from the DOJ and the State Department that have not been fulfilled) has personally asked President Obama to grant the commutation.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jan 18, 2017 11:41:09 AM

160 years let's see. "At oral argument, counsel for Rivera-Ruperto argued that we should be swayed by the fact that, in this case, the crime involved fake drug deals. A near two life-term punishment where no real drugs and no real drug dealers were involved, he contended, is a punishment that is grossly disproportionate on its face."

Now that is truly frivolous defense argument. X murders 5 people and gets 160 years. Y pretends to murder 5 people. Of course Y should get the same sentence as X. Obvious is it not.

That the defense counsel had the temerity to argue otherwise is quite unbelievable.

Posted by: anon | Jan 19, 2017 10:58:20 PM

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In March of 2015, Debra Follingstad's Facebook post went viral, a story that served as a "sign of the times" anecdote about the state of San Francisco eviction scares and housing horrors. In hindsight, the situation was actually sort of singular in its weirdness, and in the end, the tables have turned for the parties involved, as San Francisco magazine learns in an update to Follingstad's saga.

Follingstad, who works as an acupuncturist, had been in her Bernal Heights apartment for 10 years before it changed hands to Nadia Lama  whose father owned several buildings in the neighborhood, and willed this one to her after his death. In order to get Follingstad, who lived on the upper floor, and another tenant living in the downstairs area, out of the building, Lama allegedly first bullied the lower-floor tenant out. His unit wasn't legal, though he had been in it for a long time, and he had no recourse. Once he was gone, Lama converted his in-law apartment into "storage space," ripping out his bathroom. Then in March 2015, Nadia Lama upped the rent at the supposedly rent-controlled building from the $2,145 she had been paying to a whopping $8,900. As a single-family home, Lama claimed, as the building had been at least on paper all along (with the in-law unit not considered as such) rent-control didn't apply. For the $8,900 a month plus a deposit of more than $12,000, Lama offered to rent Follingstad the whole place. All told, the price was way more than she or likely anyone else was going to pay for the apartment, and it was all a ploy in the end so that Lama herself could move in.

The novel tactic, probably not applicable in many other situations, was a de facto eviction but Lama and her attorney didn't believe it required the work of an actual Ellis Act or owner move-in eviction and the ensuing buyout or mandated relocation fees. After Follingstad was displaced, she bounced around, staying with friends and looking for permanent housing, and a year after her ersatz eviction she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She moved in with her boyfriend while she went through radiation treatments. Meanwhile, for what she claimed was essentially a wrongful eviction, Follingstad sued Lama, and a week before a jury trial was set to begin, the landlord agreed to a $400,000 settlement.

That's a lot more than the $9,250 that an owner move-in eviction relocation payment would have cost Lama had she just done this properly two years ago. In fact, it's that missing relocation payment times forty. As Follingstad's lawyer Joseph Tobener explains, the damages a jury could have awarded might have been even higher, although he calls this sum "the highest amount we've ever settled a case [of this type]."

Per SF Mag:

Why such a big payout? Why 40 times the required relocation payment, and not, say, 10? It all goes back to the damages a jury could award, says Tobener. Tenants who unfairly lose rent-controlled tenancies get compensated for the rent savings they would have accrued over some number of years. Then there are damages awarded for emotional distress, if the tenant's side can show that the landlord had a reckless disregard for the tenant's rights. And this is the real doozy: Rent damages are automatically tripled under San Francisco's Rent Ordinance. Emotional distress damages, if they are awarded, get tripled too. "Part of the reason wrongful eviction cases tend to settle is that emotional distress damages are unpredictable," says Tobener.

"It's hopefully a warning to landlords who want to be greedy," Follingstad tells the magazine, who do note via Lama's attorney that the settlement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing. SF Mag also points out that Follingstad won't see all $400,000, as Tobener will take at least a 30 percent cut, leaving her $280,000 to then be taxed, which she says she'll likely spend on medical bills.

Last, it remains to be seen what Lama will be able to pay. After all, KQED speculated back in 2015 that Nadia Lama may have opted for the rent increase instead of paying relocation fees as she was feuding with her two sisters, three brothers, and some children, over family assets accrued by her father, a native Palestinian who moved to Chile and then San Francisco, building a small real estate empire in the Bernal Heights neighborhood. Lama at the time was being evicted from a home up the street by her own siblings, and was still awaiting a payment from the sale of two other properties their father had owned.

Previously: [Update] Landlord Uses Loophole In Rent Control Law To Raise Woman's Rent To $8900

[Update] Lawyer Behind Egregious Bernal Heights Rent Increase Gives Snide Statement Denouncing Rent Control

Bernal Heights Woman Who Was Given 400 Percent Rent Hike Moves Out Today
A big week, this one, with Sketchfest in full swing  a guide to that here  and lots of action centered around Trump taking office. Everyone is going to want to approach recreation/demonstration differently this week, so here are just a few ideas.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17

REDUCTRESS LIVE AT SKETCHFEST: Fans of the satirical women's website Reductress are amassing quickly thanks to its Onion-style stories with headlines like "How to Appreciate His Sense of Humor When It's Just Your Own Jokes Loudly Repeated Back to You" and "Are You Depressed Or Just Doing It For Attention Because You're Depressed?" As part of Sketchfest, the publication comes to life with a live show featuring standout Bay Area comedians like Kate Willett, Luna Malbroux, and certified comedy powerhouse Jena Friedman. If you miss this, check out the appearance of Reductress writers planned for Wednesday at Green Apple Books on the Park. The Punch Line, 8 p.m. 444 Battery Street, $20

ON BECKETT AT THE STRAND: Bill Irwin, a master circus performer and actor, displays his deep appreciation for the playwright Samuel Beckett in a tribute, On Beckett, at ACT's Strand Theater through the 22nd. Although SFist found the piece at times a bit baggy, "as a performer with immense talent for movement, and bodily control, there's no getting around how unique Irwin's perspective is on Beckett's writing." The Strand, 1127 Market Street, 7:30 p.m., $20-$45

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18

TENDERLOIN MUSEUM VOLUNTEER FAIR: Looking to get more involved locally? This annual volunteer fair hosted by the Tenderloin museum is an opportunity to meet and greet with local nonprofits and service organizations like Glide, Project Open Hand, 826 Valencia Tenderloin Center, Larkin Street Youth Services, and more. Expect a brief reception and then a variety of presentations to fill you in on their work. Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy Street, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Free

BEER SHUTTLE: Wet your whistle in anticipation of Beer Week next month with the Brewer's Guild's beer shuttle, a free hop-on, hop-off Chariot van showing up every ten minutes at spots like Local Brewing, 21st Amendment Brewing, Black Hammer Brewing, and more SoMa beer destinations. Start out at ThirstyBear Organic Brewery and meet the brewers there before you head on your merry way. ThirstyBear, 441 Howard Street, 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., free

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19

THE GHOSTLIGHT PROJECT: A collective action across the US on the eve of the inauguration, theater community members are gathering to engage in a symbolic gesture based on the tradition of leaving on a "ghost light" in a darkened theater. The aim of the demonstration is to renew the pledge of the theater as a space for artists to show compassion and inclusion, and lots of Bay Area theaters are participating in this national Ghostlight Project, such as ACT and the Berkeley Rep. If you plan to go, consider making a sign and/or bringing a flashlight. ACT Geary, 415 Geary Street, 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., free

THROWBACK DANCE PARTY FUNDRAISER: Playing '90s and '00s jams for good, this fundraiser at Rickshaw Stop is tangentially anti-Trump in that it's going to be raising money for charities including Planned Parenthood and Earthjustice, but it also just sounds like a fun way to get down and relax. The music promises to be a lot better than what they'll play at the inauguration, that's for sure. Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell Street, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., $15-30

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

GREAT GOOD FINE OK AT GAMH: Infectiously fun Brooklyn synthpoppers Great Good Fine OK will put a smile on your face, just watch:



See? Catch them at Great American Musical Hall, or should I say, "Great Good Fine OK American Music Hall." You see what I did there. Openers are Flor and Bad Wave. GAMH, 859 O'Farrell Street, 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, $15 advance / door, $39.95 dinner

THE GROUNDLINGS AT SKETCHFEST: LA's longest running long-form improv troupe is in town for Sketchfest, and you don't want to miss them and have to go all the way down there. You'll recognize individual players from appearances on Arrested Development, Modern Family, The Tonight Show, and more, but it's their group chemistry that makes the Groundlings so beloved. Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., $25

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21

GEORGE MICHAEL DRAG TRIBUTE: A heartfelt send off to the gay pop icon from drag queen mother Heklina's weekly cabaret show, nee Trannyshack. The Mother gang will surely take us through George Michael's hits from Wham! onward, and all are welcome, save bachelorette parties. No bachelorette parties are allowed. Oasis, 298 11th Street, 10 p.m. doors, 11:30 p.m. show, $10

WOMEN'S MARCH: Expecting a turnout of 60,000, this march for all people to show their solidarity with women the day after the inauguration will feature speakers like Supervisor Jane Kim and performers like DJ MicahTRON. It's just one of many events planned this weekend that's tied to showing support and unity in the face of the uncertain times ahead: Some more are listed here. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. rally at City Hall, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. march down Market Street

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22

GOOD FOOD AWARDS MARKETPLACE: Showcasing and elevating food that's good  and doesn't just taste that way, but is aimed to do good for people and the planet  the annual Good Food Awards brings together vendors at this marketplace in the first opportunity for many to taste their award-winning, artisan products. Expect beer, cider, charcuterie, cheese, coffee, confections, pickles, pantry items, and more. Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., $5-20 admission

FREE EXPLORATORIUM DAY: A heads up that the Exploratorium has generously made admission free for a community day, with entry subject to capacity. As you play around with their demos at what's basically the world's coolest science fair, you won't even realize you're learning stuff, but you probably are. Pier 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free
Chef-restaurateur Thomas Keller opens up to the Wall Street Journal Magazine today about the ongoing, four-year-long renovation project at the French Laundry in Yountville, something that he says began just with a rebuild of the wine cellar and has morphed into something far more complicated, including a newly opened 1,981-square-foot kitchen designed by Norwegian architects Snhetta, and 2,000 new square feet housing offices, a butchery facility, and wine storage, all totaling $10 million. There's also been a total makeover of the surrounding landscaping, and now he tells WSJ Magazine that there's one more phase to come: a small hotel on the property.

The two new buildings already completed are described as "a pair of modernist Scandinavian barns" by the magazine, and Keller says he was inspired by the 1980's addition of those glass pyramids to the Louvre by architect I.M. Pei  elements of "timeless modernity" added to a classical complex of buildings.

And, Keller reveals that one initial concept, gladly abandoned, was to build a brand new, modern restaurant across the street, where the Laundry keeps a small plot of farmland. But Keller remained convinced they had to retain the original stone building, once upon a time a saloon that became a French laundry during Prohibition.

We did a sketch for it, [says architect Craig Dykers]. I was conflicted with the whole thing, says Keller, because the restaurant has a reputation for being one of the top restaurants in the world. And it doesnt represent that sense of luxury, like when I walk into Michel Bras, where you have these extraordinary architectural buildings. We dont have that. Its just a very modest building that weve had to kind of nurse along.

One reason the start-from-scratch approach didnt happen is that Keller got stuck on the restaurants name. If it moved, would he have to change it? At the end of the day, says Keller, still visibly relieved he chose to build around his original structure, thats not the French Laundry. What would I call it? The French Laundry Across the Street?

The big news buried at the end of the piece is that Keller and his restaurant group have purchased the adjacent property, presumably referring to what's currently the Vintage Inn, for an eventual small (and no doubt violently expensive) hotel. Keller says it's a "natural extension" of the restaurant to provide a place to stay  much like the new fine dining destination in Healdsburg, Single Thread, as Eater points out. And, he adds to the Journal, that after years cultivating his brand and his restaurant group, now over 10 locations strong, "My goal is to be able to retire from my other stuff and reimmerse myself in the French Laundry  even more than in the past." (And that's presumably after the supperclub project at New York's Hudson Yards, announced last year, gets off the ground.)

Given that the French Laundry kitchen project has taken four years, one can expect the hotel to take at least that. But stay tuned.

Previously: Thomas Keller Opens Up About Terrible NYT Review, And His Upcoming New Project
Noor Salman, the widow of Pulse nightclub mass-murderer Omar Mateen, appeared briefly in federal court in Oakland Tuesday morning facing charges that could potentially send her to prison for life. As the Chronicle reports, she was indicted by a grand jury in Orlando on Thursday and charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization and obstruction of justice  with the indictment just unsealed today. She arrived in a yellow t-shirt and gray sweatpants, and ABC 7 provides the sad courtroom sketch of her shown above.

The New York Times reports that she "shook visibly" while facing judge Judge Donna M. Ryu, and her voice was "scarcely audible" when she made her only vocal response, acknowledging that she understood the charges against her.

The language of the charging document says that Salman did "knowingly aid and abet Omar Mateens attempted provision and provision of material support or resources" to ISIS.

TV journalists from around the state swarmed Salman's uncle, Al Salman, who gave statements to the press outside the courtroom denying that his niece bore any responsibility for the tragedy, the worst mass shooting in US history, which claimed the lives of 49 people last June.

"She didn't know what was going on," the uncle said. "The only thing in her life is she wants to raise up her son. If she knew about what that crazy guy was going to do, she wouldn't be here. She would take her son and run away from him." He added, "Shes a very soft, sweet girl. I know shes innocent. I raised her."

Uncle of wife of Orlando nightclub killer defending her in front of courthouse this morning- says she is sweet girl. pic.twitter.com/wSdCmhqizV  Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) January 17, 2017

When asked about her contact with her husband the night of the shooting, Al Salman said he called his cellphone to find out where he was (previous reports had it that they only texted). "He said, Dont you see the news? She told him no. He said, I love you babe. Thats all she knows," said Salman.

NBC News reports that Salman was reached the night of the attack by her mother-in-law, asking about the whereabouts of Mateen, to which she apparently replied "He's not here, let me call him."

The content of that last exchange between the couple notwithstanding, federal prosecutors say that Noor Salman "knowingly misled" FBI agents in the days following the shooting and during the twelve hours during which she was initially questioned about her husband's planning of the event, and what she may have known about it.

In the seven months since the attack, federal investigators have clearly compiled enough evidence to prosecute Salman despite her denials, though further details of what they know about her actions are still to be revealed. Salman's arraignment, and a discussion of the terms of her detention, are expected to happen Wednesday.

It's been widely reported via FBI statements that Salman admitted to driving Mateen to the nightclub at least once prior to the attack, and driving him to a Walmart where he purchased ammunition  something she told the New York Times in November was just a routine errand, because he was a security guard and frequented a shooting range. At the time she claimed she was "unaware of everything" her husband had planned, however she admitted to knowing that he watched jihadist videos online.

Prosecutors now say Salman was involved in her husband's plot as early as April, perhaps pointing to a trip they took with their son to Disney World that month. The couple returned there in June, and it's been suggested that Mateen had first considered the amusement park as a target, before settling on the nightclub.

An argument is expected to be put forth by her attorneys that she was the victim of domestic violence, and was therefore too scared of her husband to inquire about his plans, or too much in the dark because he kept her there.

One of Salman's previous lawyers, Linda Moreno of Tampa, has already cited domestic abuse as an issue, saying it is "misguided and wrong to prosecute her," per the NYT. A provisional public defender spoke in court on Salman's behalf today, saying that Charles Swift, the director of the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, was en route to Oakland to represent her.

Salman has, according to the Chronicle, been living with her ailing mother in Rodeo, east of San Francisco, since sometime last year, and her son is being cared for by relatives. Salman and Mateen were married in the Bay Area, where Salman grew up, in 2011, and later moved to Fort Pierce, Florida, where they had their son. In December, SFist learned that Salman had filed a petition in court in Contra Costa County to have her son's name legally changed  he currently has his father's surname, and Omar for a middle name.

She was arrested Monday and taken into custody as Santa Rita jail in Dublin, pending the unsealing of the indictment against her.



Previously: FBI Arrests Noor Salman, Widow Of Orlando Shooter, Outside San Francisco
Three people were injured in San Francisco Friday, when a driver struck them as they crossed the street.

According to the San Francsico Police Department, a 70-year-old woman walking with a 7-year-old boy and a 2-year-old boy were crossing Sylvan Drive at Ocean Avenue at 6:03 p.m. Friday when they were struck by a 92-year-old female driver headed west on Ocean Avenue.

In the SFPD report on the incident, they say that the "intersection is not controlled," which means that there aren't any traffic signs or signals. However, a look on Google Maps shows that traffic at Sylvan has a stop sign, while traffic on Ocean does not.

All three pedestrians were left with injuries police say are life threatening, and were transported to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment.

Multiple media reports characterize the intersection as without crosswalks, but we know better  as we've discussed multiple times, unless otherwise marked, corners are actually considered crosswalks in the state of California. That said, it's unclear if the pedestrians in question were crossing at a corner, and a call to SFPD for clarification was not returned at publication time.

Police say that the driver was not arrested at the scene, and did not provide details on if she'd be cited. As of Wednesday, an update on the condition of the victims was not available.
Chinese bike-sharing startup Bluegogo may have to backpedal on its plans to expand to San Francisco. City officials are warning the company not to proceed without permits and perhaps to the detriment of infrastructure and in violation of local law.

The Chronicle confirms speculation that Bluegogo, which is expanding aggressively with more than 100,000 bikes in four cities so far, plans to make San Francisco its next conquest. In total, Bluegogo says it hopes to add 200,000 bikes to American cities this year.

Mashable explains that Bluegogo is one in a growing crop of bike share startups. Like two other major players  Mobike, which is backed by Tencent, and ofo, supported by Xiaomi  its bikes are "stationless." Because they're GPS-connected, they're located throughout a given city, via an app, from which you can both find and unlock them. Bluegogo is also cheaper than the average bike share: In Shenzhen, for example, use of a Bluegogo bike requires a $14 deposit and just 8 cents per half hour.

Bluegogo, which is headquartered in Beijing, is the newest of the three companies and a relative latecomer to the industry, making up for lost time with grand gestures. The company's 28-year old founder Tony Li claims Bluegogo produces 10,000 bikes a day at its own plant and with eight factories through manufacturing partnerships.

In what Forbes frames as a clash of East and West customs surrounding regulation, local officials are concerned that Bluegogo thinks it can just barge in to town and drop off thousands of bikes. According to the Chronicle, some in San Francisco are exchanging photos of Chinese bike-share bikes left piled up on sidewalks and streets. SFMTA Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin and Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru sent Bluegogo a letter warning the company that the city "will not tolerate any business model that results in obstruction of the public right of way or poses a safety hazard," according to Bay City News.

Meanwhile, concerned Supervisor Aaron Peskin held an emergency press conference Wednesday morning and declared that Bluegogo's plans represent "the age old tech arrogance," as he told the Examiner. There are dozens of laws that would apply to them, from public nuisance to littering, he added to the Chronicle. In the end, they are going to use the public commons for their financial gain at great cost to citizens of San Francisco. They cant use San Francisco as an experiment lab, and our citizens arent guinea pigs.

A letter to the mayor from San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Executive director Brian Wiedenmeier obtained by Bay City News also urges caution. "The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is deeply concerned about the impact of this planned launch on the accessibility of the public realm, as well as on the health and safety of all San Franciscans," Wiedenmeier writes. As opposed to the current system in San Francisco, which has specific docks for bikes and enforces safety and cleanliness standards, "Bluegogo's model would leave thousands of uninspected and unpermitted bicycles to be stored unattended for long periods of time on sidewalks, in parks and on our streets," worries Wiedenmeier.

A spokesperson for Bluegogo tells the Chronicle that reports on the company's plans so far have been based on rumor, speculation and false facts." The tech company listing website AngelList does indicate that Bluegogo is hiring for several positions in San Francisco, and the company's vice president of US operations, Ilya Movshovich, revealed to the Chronicle that he has been in discussions with the SFMTA to get on the same page. Bluegogo only intends bikes to be placed where it is legal to park them, he says  but that's basically anywhere that isn't blocking sidewalks, driveways, or streets.

Another point of contention: San Francisco has entered into a 10-year agreement granting exclusive rights to use the public right of way for the purposes of bike sharing to our existing Bay Area Bike Share system. That launched in summer 2013 and in September 2016 the automaker Ford announced it would partner with the originators of the system, bike sharing company Motivate, to rebrand the system as Ford GoBike and expand the system's 700 bikes to 7,000 by 2018.

Related: Ford Is Buying SF-Based Shuttle Service Chariot; Also They're Taking Over Bay Area Bike Share
Noe Valley is a picturesque neighborhood that is located almost directly in the center of San Francisco. Thanks to adjacent Twin Peaks, it is sheltered from the coastal fog and winds that tend to blanket the rest of the city, giving it a unique microclimate that is warmer and sunnier than many other districts.

Noe Valley is also home to the highest concentration of row houses in San Francisco, lending it an overall striking appearance. The neighborhood is lined with classic Victorian and Edwardian residential architecture, along with friendly, high-end retail and hospitality businesses, making the district feel like a small town. The shape of the neighborhood is also a result of the few major thoroughfares that come into the area, keeping the streets free from the usual heavy city traffic.

Unlike most residential neighborhoods, Noe Valley has an exhilarating rhythmic energy. While it has a small-town feel, the neighborhood itself is quite expansive. There are two main commercial strips lined with upscale restaurants and decor boutiques with dozens of kid- and pet-friendly storefronts and cafes. The area is known to have more stroller traffic than automobiles, making it a popular place for young families; but it has an equally large population of young professionals that fill up the neighborhood bars and restaurants late into the night.

Noe Valley locks in a truly traditional residential San Francisco haven. Its thriving pulse, convenient location, and distinctive charm keep longtime inhabitants happy while attracting new residents. For the latest Noe Valley listings, check out Zephyrre.com.

Noe Valley is 1 of 89 neighborhoods in San Francisco. With so many distinct areas, understanding the Citys real estate market requires a nuanced and highly local approach. As a business operating in San Francisco since 1978, with nearly 400 agents, Zephyr Real Estate is specially positioned to cater to your real estate needs, whether buying or selling.

Have a question about the local market? Contact Zephyr Real Estate today through their site or 415.496.2600. They'll match you up with a member of their team who can assist you.

This post is brought to you by Zephyr Real Estate.
Noor Zahi Salman, the 30-year-old widow of Orlando mass murderer Omar Mateen, made her second appearance in federal court in Oakland Wednesday, which served as her arraignment. Salman pleaded not guilty to charges that she both lied to FBI investigators last June about what she knew prior to the June 12, 2016 massacre at Pulse nightclub, and that she knowingly aided and abetted Mateen in his "attempted provision and provision of material support or resources for a terrorist organization." As the local CBS affiliate KPIX reports, Salman appeared in a red jail jumpsuit, having changed from the sweatpant pajamas in which she was arrested on Monday, and which she wore to court on Tuesday.

Salman will now remain behind bars at Santa Rita jail in Dublin, California awaiting a bail hearing on February 1 and a decision about her possible extradition to Florida, where federal prosecutors would like to see her tried.

Salman is currently being represented by San Francisco attorney Sam Amin, who says he has not yet met with his client. Former JAG attorney Charles Swift, currently the director of the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, came from Texas to represent Salman in the Oakland hearings, as he did during the investigation, but he is not yet approved to represent her in California. As NBC News reports, Swift is a retired lieutenant commander in the Navy who is best known for representing Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a Yemeni detainee who admitted to being Osama bin Laden's personal driver, who was in US custody from 2001 onward and faced one of the first military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. Swift took the case to the Supreme Court, which ruled against the Bush Administration in 2006, and Swift subsequently was forced to retire from the military.

Swift sat in on Salman's hearing today, as well as an interview for her upcoming bail hearing, according to KPIX.

Salman's uncle, Al Salman, returned to appear in court as he did on Tuesday, and Salman reportedly blew him a kiss on her way out. He came with a backpack of clothing for her, but it's unclear if he was ever allowed to get it to her.

Federal prosecutors believe they have evidence to prove that Salman knew about her husband's deadly plans and did nothing to prevent them or to warn authorities, contributing to the deaths of 49 people. It is known that they were in touch via phone and text message in the hours after the killings, while Mateen was still alive and barricaded inside the club.

For the last several months, Salman has reportedly been living in the home she grew up in in Rodeo, California, across the Bay from San Francisco, along with her four-year-old son, caring for her ailing mother. She was arrested there early Monday morning.

Salman said in a November interview with the New York Times that she was "unaware of everything," and her attorneys are expected to argue that she was the victim of domestic abuse, and despite having driven Mateen to the nightclub to case it, and driven with him to purchase ammunition, she was kept ignorant of his plans.

The case has some similarities to the friend of Charleston church shooter Dylan Roof, Joey Meek, who was charged in September 2015 for his involvement in the crime, because he both knew about Roof's plans ahead of time and lied to authorities in the aftermath.

Meek pleaded guilty last spring, and could ultimately face up to eight years in prison.

Previously: Uncle Of Orlando Shooter's Widow: 'I Know She's Innocent, I Raised Her'

FBI Arrests Noor Salman, Widow Of Orlando Shooter, Outside San Francisco


Just as San Francisco bears down for the anti-immigration agenda of the coming Trump Administration, lauding and reaffirming its Sanctuary City policy, a man who was detained in 2015 by SFPD after reporting a stolen car and then turned over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials is suing the city for allegedly violating that very policy. Pedro Figueroa-Zarcen, a 32-year-old El Salvadoran, is seeking unspecified monetary damages and more in a federal lawsuit according to the Chronicle, who spoke with his lawyer about his case.

Figueroa, a Mission District resident, reported his car stolen in November 2015, and when SFPD contacted him to say it had been found, he went to get a police report so he could reclaim it from where it was impounded. But instead of getting back his car, he was taken away in handcuffs and held in Martinez at a detention facility for two months while authorities auctioned off his car without telling him or his family, the current lawsuit claims.

The thrust of Figeruoa's case is that San Francisco officials breached the Sanctuary City ordinance, which discourages local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, as well as his right to due process by alerting the ICE of his location. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, who oversee the ICE, local police ran a routine background check on Figueroa and discovered an outstanding warrant of a decade ago for his deportation.

That warrant arose from a failure to appear at an immigration hearing in San Antonio in 2005, and a 2012 conviction for drunk driving. According to Figueroa, he never meant to defy immigration authorities: He originally planned to file for asylum and cite violence in his native El Salvador, and told immigration authorities he was going to stay with his aunt in San Francisco. But then Figueroa says he never heard from authorities again and had no knowledge of the outstanding warrant. When police officers made contact with the Sheriff's Department's central warrant bureau, deputies contacted the ICE service center, and an ICE duty officer was told where to find Figueroa by SFPD and that service center.

As a victim of crime, Pedro Figueroa was exactly the type of person who should have been protected by our sanctuary ordinance, an Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus staff attorney Saira Hussain told the Chronicle of her client. Instead, he sought help from SFPD to find his stolen car and was arrested and turned over to ICE."

With an incoming federal administration threatening mass deportations and targeting sanctuary cities, Hussain added we must hold SFPD and the Sheriff's Department accountable and ensure that every single officer is following the city's due process protections.

Just so you know how this is playing out on among conservatives who like to tell themselves San Francisco sucks, the alt-right platform Breitbart news seemed to celebrate all of this last year with the headline "Illegal Accuses ICE of Deporting Him Against San Frans Sanctuary City Laws."

I know, so gross. Don't call it San Fran.

Figueroa is scheduled in May to appear at an immigration hearing, his attorney told the Chronicle, but with immigration courts log jammed, that hearing could be two years away. Finally, in addition to the monetary damages sought in the lawsuit, Figueroa's lawyers claim that Mr. Figueroa was the victim of false imprisonment, since establishing him as the victim of a crime could make him eligible for a visa.

Previously: Report: SFPD Violated Sanctuary City Policy, Reported El Salvadoran Resident To Immigration
Fast on the heels of the news that Super Duper Burgers is getting ready to double the size of its original Castro location  something that the Planning Commission just approved last week  the restaurant group behind the chain announces plans for two new locations in the East Bay, as well as an outpost at SFO's Terminal 1, and they say "we now feel that the time is right to expand into exciting markets abroad." Does that mean Canada? Super Duper Paris?

A release reveals that deals have been inked for two East Bay locations: 2355 Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley (the former Smart Alec's sandwich shop at the corner of Durant, as first reported by Berkeleyside), and in Concord at The Veranda (2001 Diamond Boulevard).

And, opening in early 2018 will be the SFO location, the chain's first airport concession.

These will be the 11th, 12th, and 13th locations for Super Duper, which opened its first burger shop in the Castro in 2010. Each year they mark the occasion on Super Duper Day in April (on or around the 28th), giving away free burgers to 100 customers at each location.

But where will these "exciting markets abroad" perhaps be?

Also, this is just the latest in the multiple directions of empire-building that have been undertaken by restaurateur Adriano Paganini and his Back of the House Restaurant Group, which now has over 20 restaurants around the Bay Area including Belga, Beretta, Lolinda, Starbelly, Uno Dos Tacos, and the brand new Flores in Cow Hollow. Earlier this month we also learned that Paganini had snatched up the now vacant former La Urbana space at Divisadero and Grove, and we've yet to hear which of his many concepts might be installed there  or if it will be a new one entirely.

Next up: the group's yet-to-be-revealed new restaurant at 450 Hayes Street, announced back in August 2015, now about a year delayed.

Related: Super Duper Burger Looking To Double In Size In The Castro




Back in the early 1990s the Shepherd Express did something that occurred to no one else in the local media: produce a Best of Milwaukee contest whose winners are selected by the people of our city. Since then other publications and broadcasters have scrambled to keep up with their own best-ofs, but the Shepherd Express remains the citys largest as ranked by the number of voters and by the value it brings to winners. There are no better people than the residents of our city to select the best the Milwaukee area has to offer in dining and drinking, shopping and health, education and politics. The Shepherd Express congratulates the winners and runners-up and thanks them for helping make Milwaukee a great city in which to live, work and play.

2016 Winners

Click on a Category below to see the winners.

Thanks for participating in Shepherd Express' Best of Milwaukee! See you again in 2017!
Renaissance Theaterworks next production in its Secrets and Lies-themed season is Luna Gale, a recent work by Rebecca Gilman exploring the complexities of our countrys foster care system. Director Mary MacDonald-Kerr describes the plot: Luna Gale is the story of a social worker who is facing the end of her emotional resources, the end of a long career of putting out fires, running into brick walls, settling for almost enough. The story also includes a baby girl named Luna, her teenage meth addict parents and her lonely Christian grandmother. The play examines the pitfalls and heartbreaks of the foster care system, the cyclical nature of abuse and the grey area that the system has to function within to make any forward progress. The topic is serious, but the writing is often funny, dry and unsentimental, says MacDonald-Kerr.

A superb ensemble of performers and technical artists populate the production. Milwaukee theater veteran Tami Workentin tackles the meaty role of the social worker grappling with the storys central ethical dilemma, while rising stars April Paul and Marques Causey take on the roles of Lunas young parents. Laura Gray, David Sapiro, Solana Ramirez-Garcia and Matt Daniels fill out the cast. On the production side, look for an ingenious set by Lisa Schlenker, whom MacDonald-Kerr praises for meeting the challenge of the plays seven locations within the Broadway Theatre Centers 99-seat Studio Theatre. Asked about Lunas visual elements, MacDonald-Kerr notes that the set is inspired by the idea of Caroline (the social worker) being a cog in the machine of the foster care system, caught on a treadmill-like cycle of problems. The set pieces all live on stage, being pulled in and out of place by the actors as the story unfolds.

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Gilman is known for her issue-oriented plays which focus on problems that audiences might not otherwise consider, generating dialogue about complex and timely social mores rather than vindicating any single perspective. MacDonald-Kerr states, Societal problems, by definition, belong to all of us. I believe it is the responsibility of theaters and theater artists to require society to pay attention to these issues. Surely the U.S.s already under-funded foster system is worth our attention as we move into an administration that has promised record cuts to social safety net programs. Likewise, the methamphetamine crisis continues to destroy countless lives. Although the opioid epidemic receives more press in Wisconsin, the availability and abuse of meth remains deeply troubling as well.

Of the storys import to audiences today, MacDonald-Kerr says, We [the ensemble] all agree that no character should be considered the villain in the story, that all sides of the problem are valid, and weve worked hard to maintain that perspective. She continues, There are morally ambiguous decisions made along the way. I hope audiences leave the theater in heated discussions about what they would do, could do, should do in the same situation.

Renaissance Theaterworks Luna Gale opens Friday, Jan. 20 and runs through Feb. 12 at the Broadway Theatre Centers Studio Theatre, 158 N. Broadway. For tickets, call 414-291-7800 or visit r-t-w.com.
Seen from above in the opening scene of 20th Century Women, Santa Barbara, Calif., is a flat, one-story town of low ambitions. Its an indistinct backdrop for an unusual film that slips out of the normal templates for movie storytelling.

But perhaps more than a story, 20th Century Women is simply a milieu inhabited by a handful of characters with enough dimension to feel fully human, unlike the stick figures that fill most Hollywood productions. Writer-director Mike Mills (Beginners) comes from indie filmmaking and imbues 20th Century Women with an indie filmmakers respect for reality on a human scale. However, the movies title may be misleading. Of the five main characters, only three are women. The film might instead have been called 1979 after the year of its setting, which Mills establishes as a time of transition (but when is time not in transition?).

20th Century Women Starring: Annette Bening, Lucas Jade Zumann

Directed by Mike Mills

Rated R

The five characters are 15 to 55 in age; although only two are related by blood, all live under one roof. Dorothea (Annette Bening), a divorced mom, is raising her teenage son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) and rents rooms to 20-something punk rocker Abbie (Greta Gerwig) and philosophical ex-hippie William (Billy Crudup). Jamies friend, Julie (Elle Fanning), climbs up to the second floor and sneaks into his room most nights for a sleepover. But theyre not making love or anything else. Friends cant have sex and still be friends, Julie insists. She has a point.

As a child of the Great Depression, Dorothea had dreams not easily fulfilled by women of her generation. Shes a supportive, perhaps even permissive mother, yet has reached that stage when the once companionable relations with her child have turned daunting, even hurtful. Julie is testing her expanding resume of experiences with lessons from books on the vagaries of sex and romance and the distinction between love and being in love. A former art student inseparable from her Nikon camera, Abbie explains that she dyed her hair red after seeing David Bowie in The Man Who Fell to Earth. She exposes Jamie to feminist ideas and a greater awareness of womens perspectives.

The details are strikingly true to the era. When Dorothea is dismayed by the caustic music of The Raincoats, Abbie explains that the bands passion is bigger than their toolsas good a defense of punk rock as any. Everyone is vaguely aware that cigarettes can kill yet most everyone smokes anyway.

Dorotheas household is a microcosm of convergence as the Greatest Generation grapples with its children, an already old counterculture encounters a rising alternative scene and Jamie awkwardly stumbles from boyhood toward manhood. 20th Century Women is elegantly edited and composed. Periodic post-facto voiceovers are heard from major characters, their thoughts woven subtly through dialogue in the present tense. Having your heart broken is a tremendous way to learn about the world, Dorothea tells her son. He will learn that lesson soon enough.
Mr. Perkins Family Restaurant (2001 W. Atkinson Ave.) is in an elite group of Milwaukees long-lasting eateries. Established in 1969, the restaurant adheres to an old-school aesthetic and approach that works: fantastic food, excellent service and an incredibly friendly ambiance.

I barely had a foot in the door before a server greeted me from behind the bar and asked if I was dining in or carrying out, and I was welcome to sit down if I was eating in. The dude was super nice, and I quickly realized, as folks trod in and out, that carry-out orders keep the kitchen bustling and it was totally feasible that I was coming in to pick up some of their delicious food to go. I sidled up to the counter and ordered some coffee.

Mr. Perkins only operates in the morning and afternoons, so the coffee tends to flow there, dripping as frequently as the bell letting servers know food is ready rings and rings and rings. Its a busy spot, but the kind of busy where you feel major gratitude to be able to sit and enjoy your time in the pleasant eatery and you tip well, knowing your server and the cooks are working like crazy.

Oh, in addition to enjoying your time, you will enjoy the food. The neck bones ($9.25)available on Saturday only, along with their holy-cow delectable chitterlings ($18.25)consists of a sumptuous serving of turkey necks still on the bone. Its all dark meat in all its glory, and the meat itself is Thanksgiving-juicy. I recommend a dollop of hot sauce every couple of bites to bring a bit of salt and acidity to it, but otherwise, its an amazing entree, one you can eat with your hands or with a fork, depending on either your company or how hungry you are.

Each entree comes with two sides, of which there are nearly a dozen from which to choose. Its tough to decide, but the dressing, which is homemadeactually, everything is homemade, it was stressed to meis the best Ive ever had. Savory and herbal and perfectly chewy, its the kind of dressing you wish you could make at home, but always over-salt or overcook or what have you over the holidays. Not at Mr. Perkins; its perfect year round.

Their collard greensslow-cooked and absent of any meat products, so vegetarians can dig in, tooare so good you catch yourself making weird little happy noises as you eat.

Meals also come with two round discs of cornbread that are reminiscent of corn fritters, but they do a lot of work as a sort of palate cleanser with the kind of meal where you never know what to take a bite out of next because everything is so good.

Id be remiss if I didnt note that a waitress beside me at the counter who had just got off of her shift, swore by the grilled cheese and fries, and I wanted to try them, but I got so full off my plate I couldnt have gotten anything else. Ill absolutely be back to try that grilled cheese; Ill return super often to try the rest of their menu. Mr. Perkins has some of the best food in Milwaukee, bar none, and it is an absolute must-try for anyone in the city.
Milwaukee musicians never produced a sound as distinct and universally recognized as San Francisco or Athens, Ga.; Milwaukee was never a music industry hub to rival New York or Los Angeles. It was neither the birthplace of jazz nor the mecca of the blues. And yet, compared to many cities, Milwaukee has a history at once uniquely interesting and replete with artists and companies that left their mark on the world.

That history is on display in Melodies and Memories: 200 Years of Milwaukee Music. The exhibition at the Milwaukee County Historical Society seeks to encompass its subject from Native Americans circa the arrival of European settlers through the end of the 20th century and includes everything from the requisite concertina to music by The Rusty Ps at the listening stations.

We were thinking of future exhibitions on big accessible topics that would bring in larger audiencessubjects that people could connect with in different ways, explains curator Ben Barbera.

Spread across the ground floor and mezzanine of the venerable Historical Society building at Pere Marquette Park, Melodies and Memories groups its wall cards, artifacts and interactive components in broad sections representing facets of the citys sonic story. Milwaukee isnt usually associated with the music industry, yet one of the exhibits ground floor displays honors such locally based firms as Koss, the headphones pioneer, and Hal Leonard, the worlds largest sheet music publisher. Cascio Interstate Music furnished an interactive area with guitars, keyboards and drums audible only through headphones worn by the player. Its great for novices. No one else can hear, Barbera says.

However, most of Melodies and Memories is for looking, not touching. In curating the exhibit, Barbera began with the Historical Societys permanent collection. Its heavily late-19th, turn of the 20th century, he says. We have an extensive sheet music collection from that era. And we have a lot of classical music stuffmany photos through around 1970 but not much post-1970. Going into this exhibition, it would clearly be a collaborative effort to bring in artifacts from local organizations and members of the community.

The musical instruments on display represent the citys ethnic mosaic with everything from a West African drum to a Central European zither. Included are such oddities as a mandolin-zither hybrid dating from the early 1900s when mandolin orchestras proliferated in Milwaukee.

No one will be surprised to find polka in Melodies and Memories, but Milwaukee, while far from Nashville, nurtured a country music star in Pee Wee King (born Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski on the citys South Side). The 1940s-50s African American neighborhood called Bronzeville gets a nod with panels mentioning jazz clubs such as Thelmas Back Door and Maymes Ebony Bar. Information on the pre-1970 blues scene must be sketchy; the genre is represented by a large panel on Short Stuff, one of the areas most popular blues acts in the 70s.

One corner of the exhibit is covered in early 80s posters and flyers promoting shows at The Starship and other punk rock clubs by The Violent Femmes, Plasticland, Die Kreuzen and The X-Cleavers. A gown worn by chanteuse Hildegarde adorns a mannequin; a copy of the Florentine Operas Grammy-winning CD, Elmer Gantry, sits in a glass display case. The listening stations include 70 selections of local recordings in many genres.

Milwaukee always had a unique focus on music education, perhaps from the German cultural influence, Barbera says. In the 1940s and 50s accordion schools enrolled thousands of students. Also, Milwaukee had organizations like UPAF that have supported the arts for the last 50 yearsone of the largest efforts of its kind in the country. And Summerfest is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. 2017 is going to be the year of Milwaukee music!

Melodies and Memories: 200 Years of Milwaukee Music is on display through April 29 at the Milwaukee County Historical Society, 910 N. Old World Third St. For more information visit milwaukeehistory.net.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | For the past six years, Mike Newhouse said, he and others involved with Siouxland Freedom Park have heard variations of the same question:

When is the park's visitor center going to be built?

Newhouse finally has an answer.

"We will break ground in April of this year," Newhouse said during a Wednesday morning announcement at South Sioux City Hall.

Six years ago, the park awarded the design for a two-story, 12,000-square-foot visitor center to be built in the South Sioux City park located on Riverview Drive and Foundry Road near the Missouri River on the city's east side. Fundraising did not progress as planned, and construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall cost much more than initial estimates.

Rather than try to raise another $1.5 million needed for the initial center design, Newhouse said Siouxland Freedom Park Inc. decided to go with Plan B: a scaled-down version that will cost $500,000-$600,000.

"What we are doing is being practical," said Newhouse, Siouxland Freedom Park president.

The visitor center will be a single level covering 5,000 square feet, including nearly 4,000 square feet of room in three exhibit areas that will include static and traveling exhibits recognizing veterans from all branches of the military from the Revolutionary War to the present.

It will also include a reception area and restrooms. A large American flag on an exterior wall will be illuminated and visible from Interstate 29 around the clock.

The center is tentatively set for completion in October. A grand opening would take place next spring.

"This is pretty incredible. We've been waiting for this to happen. It almost brings me to tears. It's really going to be something," said Bill Johnston, Dakota County Veterans Service Officer, who has been involved in the project since the initial idea for the park was dreamed up after The Wall That Heals, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., visited South Sioux City nearly 10 years ago.

Newhouse also announced the kickoff of a six-month, $500,000 fundraising campaign to add to $350,000 currently in hand. The new campaign will fund completion of the center and execution of an exhibit contract.

Once completed, the visitor center will be operated and maintained by the city, and volunteers will staff it. It will be the latest addition to the 55-acre park, which includes a dog park and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which will be linked via a walkway to the visitor center.

Other monuments and features could be added in the future, but for now, the focus is on building the visitor center.

"It's been at the top of our dream list for six years now," Newhouse said. "It will be something we can be proud of."
HINTON, Iowa | A threatening email claiming to be tied to the Islamic State group was sent to the Hinton school administration Monday.

"We received an email later on last night that indicated somebody was going to bring a gun and a bomb to school today," Superintendent Peter Stuerman said Tuesday. The email was signed by the "ISISGang," he said.

Stuerman said the school's emergency plan was implemented and law enforcement was contacted. They searched the building and didn't find the threat to be valid.

Due to icy roads, Hinton cancelled schools on Monday and Tuesday so no classes were being held at the time of the threat.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the email was believed to be from Germany, Stuerman said. The FBI said the source is known to have made similar empty threats to other schools in the United States.

Parents were notified by the school's automatic notification system Tuesday, and they will also be updated on the situation Wednesday, he said.

The investigation is ongoing.
SIOUX CITY | Iowa 4th District Rep. Steve King has joined President-elect Donald Trump in criticizing Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia.

In a radio interview, King said Lewis "trades off" his standing as a civil rights icon of the 1960s.

"I have long contemplated the idea, just going to the floor and saying, 'John Lewis, thank you for your contributions to civil rights during the civil rights era. I would appreciate if you'd contribute something since then.' King said in an interview with WHO Radio on Des Moines. "It's been a half a century. A number of us have watched that, and said he trades off of it, I guess that's fine. But he should be doing some other things too and I haven't seen it happen from him."

The Republican congressman's comments came in the wake of a high-profile feud between Trump and Lewis in the midst of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday and Trump's inauguration as the nation's 45th president on Friday.

In a tweet Saturday, Trump ripped Lewis for saying he would skip the inauguration because he does not consider the Republican billionaire a legitimate president due to Russian hacking of emails of the Democratic National Committee and a top aide to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the campaign.

Trump tweeted that Lewis "should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results."

The incoming president added in a tweet: "All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!"

Lewis, a 16-term congressman who represents an Atlanta district, marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s, and suffered a skull fracture from a beating during the historic 1965 march in Selma, Alabama.

In the WHO Radio interview, King also took issue with the Congressional Black Caucus, in which Lewis is a member. The Iowa Republican said he found it odd that a group could be created on the basis of race.

"They are the self-segregating caucus," King said in the interview.

King, who was easily re-elected in November, also said he is ready for Trump's inauguration, so Republicans can began moving legislation of importance.

"The level of optimism is so high...There is a spring in our step, at least on our side of the aisle," he said.
SIOUX CITY  Missouri River Historical Development Inc. is set to contribute a quarter-million dollars in scholarship funds to four Sioux City colleges.

MRHD awarded $65,000 each to Briar Cliff University, Morningside College and Western Iowa Tech Community College, and $55,000 to St. Lukes College of Nursing for a total donation of $250,000. The colleges administer the scholarship funds.

MHRDs latest round of donations was announced Wednesday at the Betty Strong Encounter Center in Sioux City.

With these scholarship funds, MRHD encourages students to study, work and live in Woodbury County, said MHRD president Mark Monson. However, remaining in the county after graduation is not a scholarship requirement.

Students from a Woodbury County high school who enroll in one of the four local colleges are eligible for the scholarships. Additionally, students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or below. Up to $2,000 per semester will be awarded.

Education is one of the key areas MHRD focuses on when determining how to disburse grant funds. The others areas are human services and health services; civic, public, patriotic, charitable and religious groups; economic development, community improvement and tourism; and leisure, cultural and historical efforts.

MRHD is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all people in Woodbury County," Monson said. "Were honored to demonstrate that commitment through scholarships for our college students.

The nonprofit organization that holds the state gaming license for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City has distributed more than $28 million to local nonprofits since 1994.
Todays top picks from our online calendar. Find more events at siouxcityjournal.com/calendar.

Promenade Improvement Project

The City of Sioux City will host a public meeting to allow for public input and an opportunity to review the preliminary design of the Promenade Improvement Project. The meeting will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Sioux City Public Museum, 607 Fourth St.

John Bush & Dwayne Clark

Johns rock-solid comedy show covers it all, from his childhood relocation from Hawaii to Minnesota to his UFO sighting in New York City. Must be 21 or older to attend. Tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. at Anthem. Tickets $16.05-$26.75.

History of Brewing in Sioux City

Exhibit details early breweries such as Rudolph Seltzer's Pioneer Brewery, which opened in 1860 as the city's first major brewery, and concludes with Jackson Street Brewery, a taproom owned by brewer Dave Winslow that operates across the street from the museum. 10 a.m. at the Sioux City Public Museum.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | A sickening stench continues to linger in a number of South Sioux City homes, and the city this week is making another attempt to pinpoint the cause.

Innovative Business Consultants, a Sioux City firm hired by the city, plans to begin collecting air samples this week from three homes in a neighborhood affected by ongoing odors. The samples will be tested for 22 different sulfur-related compounds in the homes.

The homes belong to residents who are among the dozens impacted by noxious hydrogen sulfide gas that four months ago began emanating from a sewer line connected with the Roth Industrial Park. The gas was initially tied to Big Ox Energy, a South Sioux City renewable fuel plant that at the time shared a sewer line with the homes.

Since then, the city has rerouted the Roth Industrial Park's sewage stream around the area, and hydrogen sulfide levels have decreased to a safe range in all 39 of the homes that were tested for the gas.

However, around a dozen families are still displaced from their homes due to ongoing odors with sickening symptoms -- residents have described burning eyes, throat constriction and nausea, among other effects.

"Theres still something in there, and I dont know what it is, but it gets to you," said displaced resident Mike Klassen.

Aaron Iacino, a risk manager with IBC, said the firm will gather air samples this week to send to a lab in Utah for testing. Results should take seven to 10 days to complete, he said.

"Our best guess now is that H2S has degenerated or mixed with something and formed another compound that has a minor irritation," Iacino said. "Hopefully we can find what's irritating these folks' eyes."

The city has also hired Texas-based Armstrong Forensics to begin testing sheet rock in the three homes for hydrogen sulfide to see if residual gas could also be the culprit.

"Our thought pattern was if we tested on these three homes that should give us a pretty good indication as to whats going on in the other homes," said Tina Mowry Hadden, a spokeswoman for the city.

While testing for other odors and testing sheet rock are among requests the residents have made to the city, Klassen said he wishes the city would have gone with an outside firm with no local ties in order to ensure objectivity of the results.

"We asked for independent testers from outside the area," he said.

The testing comes as tension around the situation continues, and associated costs continue to rise.

After one South Sioux City resident announced at last week's City Council meeting that he had "lawyered up," a number of residents reportedly met Sunday with David Domina, a prominent Nebraska attorney, to discuss their situation.

Since early November 2016, the situation has resulted in more than $700,000 worth of expenses, including hotels, meals and other living expenses for displaced residents, professional cleaning of their homes, gas testing, sewer line construction and odor mitigation chemicals. The amount has more than doubled since Christmas.

Big Ox Energy has agreed to reimburse the city for several of the expenses.

Meanwhile, progress continues in working toward a solution to the hydrogen sulfide gas problems that city officials believe led to the situation.

According to a news release from the city, multiple test results from 39 area homes conducted by two companies have shown hydrogen sulfide levels are safely below the state-mandated 7.17 parts per billion threshold.

The release said levels in the sewer line have abated since sewage was separated. New sewer test results updated Thursday showed the levels had continued to remain relatively stable in the residential line.

Big Ox two weeks ago began pumping its waste through the separated line and has been working at full capacity for the past 10 days, according to the release. The city is continuing to monitor testing sites throughout the area.

State and federal regulators are also monitoring the situation. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts told the Journal last week during a visit to South Sioux City that representatives of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had visited and are "keeping an eye on" the situation.

David Bryan, an EPA Region 7 spokesman, said Tuesday that the EPA had sent a mobile air monitoring crew to South Sioux City last week to check for possible air pollutants, including hydrogen sulfide, to support the NDEQ's efforts. Bryan said the results of those tests are not yet available.
DES MOINES | A woman who suffers mental or physical distress in the aftermath of an abortion procedure would have a legal cause to bring civil action for damages against the physician who terminated the pregnancy under legislation getting consideration in the Iowa Legislature.

Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, said the bill is designed to protect women, but critics say Senate File 26 will have a chilling effect on doctors who provide a controversial medical procedure and likely would not withstand a challenge in court.

The legislation, which cleared an initial subcommittee discussion Tuesday, seeks to establish legal recourse for a woman who suffers any emotional distress independent of a physical injury that she alleges was the result of a physicians negligence or failure to obtain informed consent prior to performance of the abortion. The bills provisions would not apply to situations where an abortion was performed due to a medical emergency.

Under the proposal, legal action seeking to recover damages could be brought against a physician at any time during the womans lifetime and indicates that her signing a consent form detailing the procedures risks would not negate the civil cause of action but could reduce her damage recovery.

Chelgren said the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed for legal abortion states it is incumbent upon each state to protect both the physical and mental well-being of the woman in the performance of the procedure.

Thats exactly what the bill does, he said in pushing to extend medical malpractice provisions to include mental duress from an abortion procedure. I want to make sure that we protect mothers and protect women from all sides of the equation.

Its a question of whether or not somebody who in good, healthy mind is sold a bill of goods that turns out to be something that its not, Chelgren added. When someone is under a lot of stress and theyre making decisions, we need medical professionals who are looking after their best interests and not looking after how much money they can make off of them.

However, Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, called the bill a legislative over reach in providing a cause of civil action and recovery of damages in circumstances where there was no error in the medical procedure or problem in delivering a service.

Its very rare, if not a completely novel thing, to introduce a cause of action, to bring a lawsuit against someone who you cannot say did anything wrong, noted Boulton, who said S.F. 26 would introduce a legal premise that would be wholly foreign to medical malpractice in our state and in our country.

In this legislation I did not see any statute of limitation period in terms of medical liability so this would really be a major change to the landscape in Iowa, Boulton added. This concept is really kind of an outside-the-box thinking of an approach to the issue and I just dont think as you look at the legal merits of it that it can stand on all fours.

If the bill were to become law, he said, it likely would become very difficult for a doctor who provides safe and legal abortion services to find any kind of medical liability insurance and would have a chilling effect on physicians and clinics that would affect access. He said the effect of the law would be to run providers out of our state.

I just dont see this as being an appropriate piece of legislation for us to consider, said Boulton. Its tough to predict what the future of this bill will look like at the governors desk. I think without some major reform I dont think this is going to get very far.

Gov. Terry Branstad, who is ill this week and did not attend his weekly news conference, in the past has been resistant to legislative changes that appeared to be headed for legal entanglements that resulted from protracted challenges in other states.

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who ultimately could decide the fate of Senate File 26 if it clears the legislative process and she becomes governor once Branstad is confirmed as new U.S. ambassador to China, said she is taking a wait-and-see approach although she concurred that it doesnt really serve the purpose to head down a path where it just gets tied up in the courts and nothing ever happens.

Reynolds said she will let the legislative process run its course and give both sides an opportunity to weigh in on the issue.

Were going to wait and let the process take its course, she said. I want to see what the bill looks like in its final form.

Before moving the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 2-1 vote, committee members indicated they would like to see the measure amended to establish some time limitation for bringing a claim similar to other medical procedures.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa | When Craig Tierney returned from California to Iowa hoping to continue his work in film production, he found employers here wanted him to have a college degree.

So, he headed back to school and found a minimum-wage job to help pay the bills.

The 40-year-old Tierney attends classes at the University of Iowa while also working at the Irish Democrat Pub & Grille as a bartender and a waiter. When bartending, he makes the state and federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour; when he waits tables, he makes $3.60 per hour, the minimum wage for tip-based jobs.

Tierney said he works 30 to 40 hours per week depending on his full-time class load.

It is a struggle to be able to survive on the income, Tierney said.

Tierney said its even worse for minimum-wage workers with families.

Spurred to action by counties that have increased the minimum wage at the local level, state lawmakers are considering writing a new law that would create a statewide minimum wage and possibly overrule those local ordinances.

In September, the Linn County Board of Supervisors voted to establish an $8.25-per-hour minimum wage with annual increases raising it to $10.25 on Jan. 1, 2019. That followed decisions in Polk County to go to $10.75 by 2019 and $10.10 in Johnson County this year and in Wapello County by 2019.

In Woodbury County, supervisors rejected two separate efforts to consider raising the raise.

Many Republicans  the party for the first time in 20 years has complete control of the lawmaking agenda in the Iowa Capitol  have expressed a desire to curtail the hodge-podge of varied minimum wages within the states borders.

In the states highest office, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad also seeks a statewide minimum wage.

I would prefer that we have a uniform statewide minimum wage rather than a hodge-podge of county-by-county, city-by-city minimum wages that could be, I think, very confusing for people, Branstad told reporters this past fall. We know this is a controversial and difficult issue, but I think its one that hopefully we can address.

Branstad signed into the law the states first minimum wage: $3.35 per hour in 1989. Iowas minimum wage has been raised five times since then, most recently in 2008, when it was lifted to the current $7.25 per hour.

Although Branstad and Republican legislative leaders agree with the need for a statewide minimum wage, they thus far have not revealed what that wage should be.

Advocates and Democratic state lawmakers in recent years have pressed for minimum wage increases to $10.10 per hour and even $15 per hour. Branstad said the latter is not feasible.

Whatever number the state lands on, Tierney thinks the minimum wage should be increased. Even though he hopes to soon obtain his degree and no longer work a minimum wage job, Tierney has volunteered with a coalition that is advocating for an increase.

Tierney said he is motivated, more so than his own experience working minimum wage jobs, by some of his co-workers with families.

As much as its a struggle on me, a single man doing it, its really a struggle for people who have families, even people in dual-income households, Tierney said. They still have to balance out paying for day care and all that stuff.

A report from the liberal Iowa Policy Project suggested the adults in a two-worker, one-child household in Iowa without employer-provided health insurance would need to make $13.32 per hour to meet basic needs and adults in a two-worker, two-child household would need to make $16.89 per hour.

With a $7.25-per-hour minimum wage, what happens instead, Tierney said, is people work multiple jobs and 50 to 60 hours per week in order to earn sufficient income.

A lot of them have to split it up among two places, usually working 50, 60, 70 hours a week just to make ends meet, Tierney said. Its really about getting to a point where they can live and survive at that job 40 hours a week. ... And just allowing people to have more time with their family. These kids deserve to have their parents home with them.

Tierney said he thinks a minimum wage increase would spark the economy, giving workers more spending money and eliminating the need for some taxpayer-funded low-income assistance programs.

But opponents of raising the minimum wage say it was never intended to serve as a livable wage for full-time earners but instead should serve as a stepping stone to better-paying jobs. Opponents also say they think increasing the minimum wage would cause companies to cut jobs, thus actually hurting minimum wage earners in the process. Studies, however, have not shown a direct correlation between minimum wage increases and widespread job losses.

Republican Statehouse leaders also think the current situation with different county minimum wages is bad for businesses.

The patchwork system doesnt work, said Linda Upmeyer, Republican speaker of the Iowa House. We have a federal minimum wage, we have a state minimum wage. We need to seek to clarify that so that we dont have a patchwork system that doesnt work very effectively for many folks who are thinking about starting a business, and their decision on where to locate is based on (the) minimum wage doesnt make much sense.

Advocates of a minimum wage increase have expressed concern that Statehouse Republicans will implement a statewide wage that halts the increases passed by those few counties.

Upmeyer said Republicans will not lower any workers wages.

Were going to clarify, she said. Were not going to change anybodys wages. Were going to clarify what is the state minimum wage and the federal wage, and those are the minimum wages. (Employers) can pay whatever they like.

Tierney said he hopes lawmakers establish a statewide minimum wage that helps full-time minimum wage workers pay for their most basic needs.

The intention of the minimum wage was to create a fair days pay for a fair days work, Tierney said.

James Q. Lynch of the Journal Des Moines Bureau contributed to this story.
Progress has been slow, but there are signs some of the key issues involved in the Dakota Access pipeline protests may be resolved.

Theres no longer anything to be gained by maintaining the main protest camp. The issue is in the hands of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the courts.

Those at the Oceti Sakowin main encampment have been warned they are in a flood plain and theres danger of spring flooding. They have been asked to move and camp leaders indicate they are in the process of relocating to a different site on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. It will take them time to clean up the present camp site, especially under the difficult winter conditions. There are an estimated 700 to 1,000 people still living in the camps.

Another issue that has had protesters and law enforcement on edge could come to an end soon.

The Backwater Bridge on N.D. Highway 1806 has been ruled structurally sound, but will remain closed until law enforcement is satisfied protests at the bridge have ended. The bridge has been closed since Oct. 27 when law enforcement pushed protesters from a northern camp atop the pipeline route. During the clash, vehicles were burned on the bridge, which is now blocked with concrete jersey barriers and concertina wire.

Officials say repairs to the guardrails and surface of the bridge are needed before it reopens. First, law enforcement officials say, protesters must leave the bridge alone. Protesters and tribal members complain the barricade causes economic damage to the tribe and prevents emergency services from reaching the camp and reservation. In this case the responsibility lies with the protesters. They need to leave the bridge alone, allow repairs and not hinder traffic. Law enforcement has announced the bridge wont be fully opened until these steps are taken.

The tribe has been taking a more aggressive approach to the protests. Tribal Chairman David Archambaults comments about the problems at the camp have become more blunt. He wants the main camp closed and cleaned up and he acknowledges the accusations of criminal activity surrounding the camp.

Recently, Gov. Doug Burgum along with state and Morton County officials met with more than 50 farmers, ranchers and other residents near St. Anthony to hear about problems with trespassers, vandalism and theft of hay. They also were told about missing or dead livestock and roads and access to fields blocked by protesters. The Bismarck Tribune had reported earlier on the problems encountered by residents in southern Morton County.

Its clear that state, county and tribal officials have lost patience with the problems involving the protests. At the same time, some of the main protest groups are changing their tactics, shifting to a national campaign. Dallas Goldtooth, an organizer with the Indigenous Environmental Network, told the Associated Press: "The fight isn't over  it's just the front line is transitioning to a new place, and that's a national campaign."

Protesters dropped a banner at a Minnesota Vikings game and appeared at the Rose Bowl Parade.

The Indigenous Environmental Network, Honor the Earth and the International Indigenous Youth Council have asked people to no longer come to the camp. They are now encouraging action in local communities.

While Archambault has been critical of the camp and actions by protesters, he remains opposed to the pipeline. He says hes still committed to stopping the pipeline.

The Bismarck Tribune understands why theres opposition to the pipeline. We dont agree with them, but peaceful protests are OK. Its time to end the turmoil. The bridge and highway need to open, the camp should close, the harassment of local residents must end and the protests must be done in a civil manner.

Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune
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Inc., Pearson PRH Holdings Limited, Pearson Pension Nominees Limited, Pearson Pension Property Fund Limited, Pearson Pension Trustee Limited, Pearson Pension Trustee Services Limited, Pearson Professional Assessments Limited, Pearson Real Estate Holdings Inc., Pearson Real Estate Holdings Limited, Pearson Schweiz AG, Pearson Services Limited, Pearson Shared Services Limited, Pearson South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Pearson Strand Finance Limited, Pearson Sweden AB, Pearson VUE Philippines Inc., Pearson in Practice Holdings Limited, Pearson in Practice Skills Based Learning Limited, Pearson in Practice Technology Limited, Penguin Capital LLC, Phumelela Publishers (Pty) Ltd, ProctorCam Inc., Reading Property Holdings LLC, Rebus Planning Associates Inc., Reston Publishing Company Inc., Rycade Capital Corporation, Shanghai AWL Education Software Ltd, Silver Burdett Ginn Inc., Skylight Training and Publishing Inc., Smarthinking Inc., Sound Holdings Inc., Spear Insurance Company Limited, Stark Verlag GmbH, Sunnykey International Holdings Limited (BVI), TQ Catalis Limited, TQ Clapham Limited, TQ Education and Training Limited, TQ Global Limited, TQ Group Limited, TQ Holdings Limited, The Financial Times (I) Pvt Ltd, The Learning Edge International pty Ltd, The Waite Group Inc, Trio Parent Holdings LLC, US Learning Services LLC, USLS Holdings LLC, Virtual Nerd, Vue Testing Services Israel Ltd, Vue Testing Services Korea Limited, Wall Street Institute Kft., Williams Education GmbH, eCollege.com, and Editions Du Renouveau Pedagogique Inc..

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This is a current list of the top 250 companies by market capitalization on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Learn more .

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is one of the largest, and most recognizable, stock exchanges in the world. The NYSE is in New York City, New York at 11 Wall Street. The NYSE has been in existence since the earliest days of the United States becoming a nation, in 1792 and is primarily made up of blue-chip companies with large market capitalizations. In fact, many of the stocks that make up the Dow Jones Composite Index (i.e. The Dow) are listed on the NYSE.

This article gives a brief history of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, it covers topics such as what kind of stocks trade on the exchange, what are the listing requirements, how trading is performed, and what the daily price movement of the NYSE tells investors about investor sentiment.

What Were the Origins of the NYSE?

Today, the New York Stock Exchange is known as the center of the financial universe. However, the exchanges origin is far more humble. On May 17, 1792, 24 stockbrokers signed the Buttonwood Agreement creating a centralized exchange to help provide order to the securities market in what was still a young nation. The "Buttonwood Agreement comes from the tree of the same name under which the founders signed the agreement.

An initial benefit of the exchange was how it removed the need for auctioneers when trading commodities like wheat and tobacco and to set a commission rate. The exchange initially focused on government bonds.

However, the exchange had no formal home. Business was usually conducted informally in the local coffeehouses. In 1817, the exchange changed its name to the New York Stock & Exchange Board which later became the New York Stock Exchange. At this time, the exchange adopted a constitution that set the rules for trading. A group of stockbrokers met twice a day at 40 Wall Street to trade 30 stocks and bonds.

Over time, the exchange moved became the financial hub of the country and moved to its current location in 1865.

What Kind of Stocks Trade on the NYSE?

As of June 2022, the NYSE includes approximately 2,400 companies with a market capitalization of over $28.2 trillion. Although the NYSE trades stocks of all market capitalizations, its best known for trading the stocks of large cap companies. These have the benefit of being mature companies in mature industries. And many of these companies reward shareholders with dividends.

However, that also means that many of these companies are better suited for value investors as opposed to growth investors. In bear markets this stability can be a benefit for investors as these stocks tend to perform less bad than more volatile stocks. But in a bull market, these stocks are not likely to provide investors with the growth that they look for.

An interesting fact about how the NYSE and NASDAQ operate is that the companies with the five largest market caps on the NYSE are also listed on the NASDAQ exchange.

What Are the Listing Requirements For the NYSE?

The NYSE has strict guidelines that govern the types of companies that can list on the exchange. Here are the major requirements that all companies must meet:

The company must have at least 2,200 shareholders

The company must trade over 100,000 shares per month

The company must have a market valuation of over $100 million

The company must generate more than $75 million in annual revenue

However, there is at least one advantage of having such stringent requirements. That is the companies that meet the requirements generally find it easier to get more investors funds when they hold their initial public offering (IPO).

Once a company begins trading on the NYSE, it must continue to meet these requirements. If it doesnt it can be delisted. In addition to these requirements, the stock must continue to trade above $1. If the price of a stock drops below $1 for more than 29 consecutive trading days, the stock receives an Initial Price Violation Notice.

At that point, the company has 10 days to provide the exchange with a plan for bringing their shares above $1.

How are Trades Executed on the NYSE?

For over a century, the floor of the NYSE was the place for investors to be. This meant trades were conducted by traders who ran buy and sell orders across the trading floor looking to broker a deal for their clients. But with the birth of the NASDAQ exchange in 1971, the New York Stock Exchange began conducting electronic trading.

However, the NYSE continues to conduct trades in an auction style. Brokers purchase stocks on behalf of their clients or firms. Every order features a broker who will enter the order electronically and a specialist who serves as the market maker for that stock. The specialist posts bid and ask prices and manages the actual execution of the trades. And there are still a handful of stockbrokers who still traffic buy and sell orders physically on the floor of the exchange.

How Does the NYSE Signal Investor Sentiment?

Like its counterpart, the NASDAQ, the NYSE measures the risk appetite of investors. When the NYSE is moving higher over a length of time, it signals that a risk on environment. Conversely when the NYSE moves lower over a significant period, it signals that investors are moving to a risk off position.

Some Final Thoughts on the NYSE

Financial news networks plan their programming schedule around the opening and closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. Its still considered a distinguished honor when individuals or groups are invited to ring the opening bell. In fact, Warren Buffett is attributed with saying that in the short term, the stock market acts like a voting machine. A fact that many U.S. presidents will attest to.

The NYSE is the oldest and most recognizable of all the stock exchanges. It also has the most stringent requirements for inclusion. And those requirements must be maintained even after a stock begins publicly trading on the exchange.

Although the NYSE still has a small in-person Trading Floor, much of the trading is done electronically to provide traders with the speed to execute trades.
Tidewater Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides offshore marine support and transportation services to the offshore energy industry through the operation of a fleet of marine service vessels worldwide. It provides services in support of offshore oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production, as well as windfarm development and maintenance, including towing of and anchor handling for mobile offshore drilling units; transporting supplies and personnel necessary to sustain drilling, workover, and production activities; offshore construction, and seismic and subsea support; geotechnical survey support for windfarm construction; and various specialized services, such as pipe and cable laying. The company operates and charters deepwater vessels, including platform supply and horsepower anchor handling tug supply vessels for use in transporting supplies and equipment from shore bases to deepwater and intermediate water depth offshore drilling rigs and production platforms; towing-supply vessels for use in intermediate and shallow waters; and crew boats, utility vessels, and offshore tugs to transport personnel and supplies from shore bases to offshore drilling rigs, platforms, and other installations. It also operates offshore tugs for use in tow floating drilling rigs and barges; and assisting in the docking of tankers, as well as in pipe and cable laying, and construction barges. The company serves oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production companies; mid-sized and smaller independent exploration and production companies; foreign government-owned or government-controlled organizations, and other related companies; drilling contractors; and other companies, such as offshore construction, windfarm development, diving, and well stimulation companies. As of December 31, 2021, it owned 135 vessels. Tidewater Inc. was incorporated in 1956 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
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.
Joan Janet Lloyd, 82, of Hollywood, MD formerly of Greenbelt, MD died January 14, 2017 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on February 5, 1934 in Washington, D.C. to the late Maj. Robert Thompson (USAF) and Vivian Hildebrand Thompson. Her family was one of the original Greenbelt families, as she moved to Greenbelt in 1938.



On February 7, 1954, Joan married her beloved husband, Harold E. Lloyd in Mount Rainer, MD. Together, they celebrated over 63 wonderful years of marriage. She was employed as a dedicated secretary for the State of Maryland for many years until her retirement. She was an avid reader, enjoyed completing the daily crossword puzzles and was an excellent cook. She enjoyed crocheting and made many beautiful Afghans, some of which she won first place ribbons for at the St. Mary's County Fair. She enjoyed travelling, especially to Florida to visit family. She and her husband took a month long trip across the country, ending at the Grand Canyon. Her family was her first priority and she loved spending her time with them, especially her grandchildren.



In addition to her beloved husband, Joan is survived by her son, James Robert "Jimmy" Lloyd (Nikki) of Hollywood, MD; her brothers, Robert Thompson (Susan) of Claremont, FL and Richard Thompson (Ellen) of Claremont, FL; her grandchildren, Brian and Jolyn Lloyd of Hollywood, MD; and many extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents.



A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Walter Tappe on Monday, January 23, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Hugh of Grenoble Catholic Church, 135 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770. Interment will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.
The Dalai Lama by Mayank Chhaya

In recent days I have read a bunch of stories and commentaries suggesting a sharpening of Indias Tibet policy as a counter to Chinas hardening positions on some issues that affect New Delhi. Many of them have particularly mentioned how the government might be subtly accentuating the Dalai Lamas public engagement in India as part of that strategic shift.

Over the past 20 years or so since I became involved in writing about Tibet generally and the Dalai Lama particularly I have frequently touched upon this theme. Prompted by this sudden spate of pieces about Indias apparently shifting Tibet policy I think it is only fair that I offer my bit.

Immediate expediency rather than a broad and principled strategy seems to be driving Indias recent discernible shift in its China policy using the Dalai Lama as a decisive player in the equation.

In his own nuanced and subtle way, the Dalai Lama has always maintained that India has been unduly cautious about its own strengths with Beijing, in no small measure buttressed by the Buddhist masters presence in the country. Since his exile in 1959, when he came to India as a 24-year-old, until very recently when he is 81, New Delhi has rather steadfastly equivocated on using him as a powerful instrument of its China policy.

However, in the past few months there appears to be a recognizable willingness on part of the Narendra Modi government to at the very least showcase the Dalai Lama in settings that may be a tad more than just ceremonial. Last month President Pranab Mukherjee played host to a summit at the Rashtrapati Bhavan where the Dalai Lama was a conspicuous presence. That was a rare and extraordinary direct meeting between any Indian president and the Dalai Lama in decades.

The meeting was inevitably not lost on Beijing, which swiftly protested it. New Delhi countered it saying the Dalai Lama is a widely revered spiritual leader in India and as such always an important presence on that score.

Then there is an international conference on Buddhism in March in Bihar where the Dalai Lama has been invited, once again to Chinas chagrin. As if to underscore that those two may not be a coincidence, the government has also cleared his visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the northeastern Indian state bordering Tibet, which Beijing is always antsy about and treats the states incorporation into India with deliberate ambiguity.

It is possible that officially New Delhi may play down these engagements involving the Dalai Lama as routine but together they do add up to a signal to Beijing. Known to read more meaning in anything involving the Dalai Lama anywhere in the world than there may be, China may perhaps understandably find these moves a part of a new dynamic.

That dynamic on the Modi governments part is seen as a result of some recent unfavorable positions taken by China against India. From blocking the designation of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist by the United Nations Security Council to standing in the way of New Delhis admission to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), China has made its intentions quite plain. Even developments such as the suggestion that it will help Pakistan increase the range of its nuclear missiles and pushing the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passing through Kashmir are all of a piece with this toughening of its stand.

There is also the clumsy handling of Indias relations with Mongolia, a country India regards as Chinas backyard where gaining any strategic foothold would be a plus. To that end Prime Minister Modi during his May, 2015 visit to Ulaanbaatar not only extolled historic cultural ties between the two countries pledged a credit line of $1 billion. The credit line was hailed by Mongolia as a gesture that would strengthen its standing against China. The credit line is hanging fire even as Mongolia battles existential challenges caused by both a slowdown in China as well as the latters economic blockade, including the levy of border tariff. Ulaanbaatars decision to host the Dalai Lama in November, last year for a four-day-visit backfired with Beijings toughening its stand and New Delhi not particularly standing by its spiritual neighbor.

With things not working out the way Mongolia had expected to with Indias support, on December 21 Ulaanbaatar apologized to Beijing with its Foreign Minister Tsend Munkh-Orgil saying that the Dalai Lama was no longer welcome to the country. It was a pathetic surrender for a country battling a serious economic downturn. The public apology restarted Mongolias negotiations with China for a loan of $4.2 billion.

Taken together all these factors illustrate the need for India to sharpen its Tibet policy using the long presence of the Dalai Lama on its soil. It is not necessarily a winning policy in the long-run but in so much as it satisfies some immediate needs such as playing hardball with Beijing it may be useful. Notwithstanding his age and Chinas repeated attempt to thwart his international movements, the Dalai Lama retains much of his influence to weigh down Chinas options vis-a-vis Tibet.

If the Dalai Lamas intuition about his own longevity is any measurehe said on January 14 in Bodh Gaya during a Kalachkra empowerment ceremony that he had a dream he would live to be 113then India has a good three decades to leverage his presence. Of course, I say this in jest because as he himself would tell you his dreams and intuitions cannot be the basis of serious foreign policy even though the whole foundation of his being a reincarnation and therefore his consequence is mystical. In my last meeting with him, he said he was hopeful of returning to Lhasa in his lifetime and when that happens I would accompany him. I look forward to that.

However, as hardscrabble policy-making goes with China the likelihood of the Dalai Lamas premonition longevity cannot be considered a practical factor. I cannot tell what Indias endgame is if there is indeed a shift in its Tibet policy. Unless New Delhi is willing to take the stance to its logical conclusionwhich among other things might mean the Dalai Lamas return to Lhasa amid fanfare as Chinas recognition of his consequentiality to TibetI am not quite clear what the objectives might be. If the idea is to unsettle Beijing in the short-term by prominently backing the Dalai Lamas public engagements, then I am afraid it might be a limited goal.

Of course, for the record India is officially not conceding to any change in its Tibet policy by maintaining that as a revered spiritual figure the Dalai Lama continues to do what he has for decades.
Here's the latest in lesbian, bisexual and transgender news!

Lesbian - Same-Sex Couple Hired to Lead Historic DC Baptist Congregation

(EDGE) The Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. announced Monday that they hired a same-sex couple to serve as co-pastors for their historic church. This marks the first time the progressive church has had openly LGBT leadership for its congregation.

Sally Sarratt and Maria Swearingen were presented as Calvary Baptist's senior ministers Sunday, January 8 during morning worship, and were enthusiastically approved to be the church's new leadership team.

Sarratt has been serving as associate chaplain for behavioral health in the Greenville Health System and Swearingen as associate chaplain at Furman University. Sarratt has also been filling the role of part-time associate minister at Greenville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Both Sarratt and Swearingen were ordained at their home church, First Baptist Church of Greenville, after it adopted and implemented a non-discrimination policy in 2015.

Sarratt and Swearingen accepted Calvary's call to serve as co-pastors, telling church members: "We have found it so easy to fall in love with Calvary and its longstanding commitment to be a voice of justice and compassion for those who perpetually find the wholeness of their humanity disregarded and maligned."

Sarratt and Swearingen are scheduled to begin their service at Calvary Baptist Church February 26.

Bisexual - Daughter of Christian Radio Host Comes Out with Message of Love

(SFGN) Brandi Burgess, daughter of conservative Christian radio host Rick Burgess, cohost of Birminghams Rick and Bubba Show wrote a guest column for The Birmingham News on Friday, on what it was like to come out as bisexual to her father:

For the past three years, my father and I have been debating Gods stance on homosexuality. It started with my Instagram post at a Pride parade. A picture of a mother holding a sign saying I love my gay son. I got a text demanding its removal: How dare you compromise my platform!?, Remember who you represent., Are you a gay?

I have been praying, researching, and meditating on the many emails, sermons, verses my dad has sent me. I always come back to the same conclusion. Love is love. I shared this with him. I love you. Im sorry. I still love God. I promised to be discreet.

Burgess describes her fathers reaction to her coming out as a constant barrage of shame, which caused her to withdraw from her family. They finally separated when Burgess was forced to choose between her partner or her familys values. But she hopes to share a positive message with those in similar struggles.

So now, I am writing to the young women who feel like they don't belong in their bodies, to the boys who want to kiss boys, and those on the spectrum between:

I love you. Your worth is untouchable. Find a good friend. Invest in therapy. Dance in the middle of the night and hold yourself accountable to the life you've always wanted. At the root of all this hate speech is fear. This is not your fear to carry. Release it.

Transgender - SD Police: Hate Crime Unlikely in Death of Transgender Woman

(AP) Police say it doesn't appear the apparent homicide of a transgender woman in Sioux Falls was a hate crime.

At a briefing Monday, Sioux Falls Police Capt. Blaine Larsen said police don't have any information leading them to believe the death of 28-year-old Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow was related to her gender identity.

KELO-TV says investigators are searching through texts and social media to determine the relationship between Wounded Arrow and the 25-year-old man in custody. Police describe them as acquaintances.

Larsen says security video shows the man entering the victim's apartment. He says a weapon was recovered. The victim's body was found in her Sioux Falls apartment Friday after police were called for a welfare check.
Chelsea Manning will soon be free.

Manning, 29, the army intelligence analyst responsible for leaking classified information, received a commuted sentence from U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday.

She was in the seventh year of a 35-year sentence. Obamas decision means Manning gets out of prison on May 17, 2017 instead of 2045.

While imprisoned in Fort Levenworth, Kansas, Manning transition from Bradley Manning, a male, to Chelsea Manning, a female. She attempted suicide twice and tried a hunger strike.

The American Civil Liberties Union had advocated for Mannings sentence to be commuted.

The information she disclosed served a clear public interest, helping raise awareness regarding the impact of war on innocent civilians, wrote Chase Strangio, ACLU staff attorney for LGBT and HIV projects.

Deployed to Iraq in 2009, Manning was assigned to assess insurgency activity. She had access to incident logs from American embassies and war maneuvers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2010, Manning revealed global diplomatic cables, turning many of the classified documents over to the WikiLeaks organization. Some of the damaging information included abuses of prisoners, civilian deaths and an American helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed two journalists.

Once imprisoned, Manning soon became the face of whistleblowers worldwide.

Manning is one of 273 individuals to receive a commuted sentence by Obama on Tuesday.
Nixon had his Watergate, but it was not until his second term. It appears the Trumpie Pie is going to have a Watersportsgate, even before he is sworn in on January 20.

Related: Trump Books Anti-LGBT Clergy for Inauguration

I mean we all knew the president elect could get pussy whenever he wanted. Who ever expected he would get so pissy though?

One reporter tweeted directly to the Donald after the soggy scandal broke: Are there going to be golden showers at urineauguration?

Dont worry if you have to work and might miss the Trumpmeisters speech. It is going to be live streamed on the net. And now we know why they give his plane a water salute after winning the election last November.

By the way, the weather for inaugural day calls for bright and sunny skies with the possibility of mid-day showers. Some say they might even be golden. We can only say for sure America is safe; that there will be a pee-ceful transfer of power. And maybe we better understand what he meant when he said he wanted to drain the swamp.'

Oh, the sweet irony of it all. As SFGN goes to press, Penthouse Magazine has doubled down on its $1 million offer to anyone who could provide real tapes of President-elect Donald Trumps alleged and unproven sexual escapades at the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow. This episode gives a whole new meaning to Wikileaks.'

Chief Orange Hair is in a shampoo tizzy, calling the entire thing a lie, fake news, and yet another attempt by the media to sabotage him. But actually Donnie Pee Pee should be lamenting the fact that Penthouse is just too cheap for his pleasure.

I mean, five years ago, when Birther Don was questioning the legitimacy of Obamas citizenship he offered $5 million to the Commander in Chief to produce papers showing his birth certificate. Well, it now appears like Hillarys emails are not the only thing leaked to the press these past few months.

Anyway, the entire golden shower affair has now hit the press big-ly. Its huge. The internet is just, why, dripping with jokes about the Commander in Chiefs partying in Russia. But one writer has made the presidential position very clear: This administration is going to pee in foreign hotel rooms and Moscow is going to pay for it.

Another Internet writer laments the entire story, complaining that what if is not true, and we are all defiling the good name of a pussy grabbing Putin puppet? Nothing like coming to the commanders defense. I heard R. Kelley may even perform at the ceremonies.

Trumpie says the release of these documents is scandalous, and asks are we living in Nazi Germany? The Internet has responded in force, saying, No, not yet. But we are demanding proof of hooker free peeing in the Hilton. After all, we dont want to be guilty of yellow journalism.'

And Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live stayed on point, recognizing the incredible job creating possibilities the billionaire Donald Trump could deliver to the American public. He said Trump will bring back a thick stream of jobs to this country; the biggest, strongest, steadiest stream ever; that the country will be showered with jobs, cause Trump is a major whiz at it. It will be a golden opportunity for the president to make a splash.

Stephen Colbert was not exactly generous either, noting that the Donald Trump was making a huge splash flooding Twitter, but that it was just an unfortunate leak just trickling down but he was finished making jokes about itafter all, it was just a wee little leak

James Corden of CBS later followed the same theme, noting that news cycles were saturated with the story. It, was he noted, with a pun, the number one story on the net: Not Number 2, he said, no, number 1.

Related: Caitlyn Jenner Invited to Trumps Inauguration

Jimmy Kimmel joined in the fun as well, using a skit with a Russian official telling CNNs Wolf Blitzer the reports are false, that No there was no peeing involved. I saw the tape myself. It was just your typical totally normal heterosexual hooker sex partythat never happened.'

George Takei, the gay hero from the original Star Trek, who has become one of Trumps harshest critics, went on Twitter and posted Twinkle, Twinkle, little czar. Putin put you where you are.

Not to be outdone, another critic played on the words of Obamas candidacy with a new twist. Instead of a silhouette of Obama with the words, Yes We Can, below his face, a new image of Trump appeared, with the words Yes Pee Can under his. Me? I am just wondering what kind of water was in that bucket last year when Donald took the ALS Bucket Challenge.

Another writer wrote that Trump is bringing a new dimension to Reagans trickle down economics. Heck, now we at least know why he talked about the gold toilets at Mar-O-Lago in Palm Beach. He really does have gold toilets and gold carpeting and gold drapes in the bedroom. Now we know why. The stains wont show.

One writer from Massachusetts wanted to send Trump a note wishing him the best, though: Urine for a great four years, he tweeted. Well, its a golden opportunity for Trump to give a great speech tomorrow. I understand that in lieu of a speech though, he may just have Elton John sing Yellow Brick Road.

Payback is a bitch, Donald. You wanted the world to listen to your every word. And now you are a victim of the Chinese curse, Be careful what you wish for. You may get it.

As if we had not heard enough, the bathroom jokes about Trumps golden showers just keep on, uh, how shall I say this discreetly- flowing, non-stop. One of my favorites was The Daily Shows take on Goldfinger, titled Goldshower: Here is the link to it: https://www.queerty.com/daily-shows-goldshower-trump-themed-007-film-youve-waiting-20170113

There is just a flood of salacious material pouring out everyday, each one giving comics a golden opportunity to piss, I am mean, pass on the master of mendaciousness, Donald Trump. Heck, with these revelations I may have to alter my tweets and start calling him Chief Yellow Flow instead of Chief Orange Hair. You let me know.

As a general rule, I dont laugh at bathroom jokes. They seem juvenile, puerile, childish. But as I think about it, this is where the presidency in 2017 has brought us: to the toilet, with a chauvinistic charlatan taking the oath of office to be our president. And the home which once held Abraham Lincoln will now house Donald Trump. What else can you do but laugh about it?
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.




Ancient Martian Mud? NASA

Scientists used NASAs Curiosity Mars rover in recent weeks to examine slabs of rock cross-hatched with shallow ridges that likely originated as cracks in drying mud.

Mud cracks are the most likely scenario here, said Curiosity science team member Nathan Stein. He is a graduate student at Caltech in Pasadena, California, who led the investigation of a site called Old Soaker, on lower Mount Sharp, Mars.

If this interpretation holds up, these would be the first mud cracks  technically called desiccation cracks  confirmed by the Curiosity mission. They would be evidence that the ancient era when these sediments were deposited included some drying after wetter conditions. Curiosity has found evidence of ancient lakes in older, lower-lying rock layers and also in younger mudstone that is above Old Soaker.

Even from a distance, we could see a pattern of four- and five-sided polygons that dont look like fractures weve seen previously with Curiosity, Stein said. It looks like what youd see beside the road where muddy ground has dried and cracked.

The cracked layer formed more than 3 billion years ago and was subsequently buried by other layers of sediment, all becoming stratified rock. Later, wind erosion stripped away the layers above Old Soaker. Material that had filled the cracks resisted erosion better than the mudstone around it, so the pattern from the cracking now appears as raised ridges.

The team used Curiosity to examine the crack-filling material. Cracks that form at the surface, such as in drying mud, generally fill with windblown dust or sand. A different type of cracking with plentiful examples found by Curiosity occurs after sediments have hardened into rock. Pressure from accumulation of overlying sediments can cause underground fractures in the rock. These fractures generally have been filled by minerals delivered by groundwater circulating through the cracks, such as bright veins of calcium sulfate.

Both types of crack-filling material were found at Old Soaker. This may indicate multiple generations of fracturing: mud cracks first, with sediment accumulating in them, then a later episode of underground fracturing and vein forming.

If these are indeed mud cracks, they fit well with the context of what were seeing in the section of Mount Sharp Curiosity has been climbing for many months, said Curiosity Project Scientist Ashwin Vasavada of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. The ancient lakes varied in depth and extent over time, and sometimes disappeared. Were seeing more evidence of dry intervals between what had been mostly a record of long-lived lakes.

Besides the cracks that are likely due to drying, other types of evidence observed in the area include sandstone layers interspersed with the mudstone layers, and the presence of a layering pattern called cross-bedding. This pattern can form where water was flowing more vigorously near the shore of a lake, or from windblown sediment during a dry episode.

Scientists are continuing to analyze data acquired at the possible mud cracks and also watching for similar-looking sites. They want to check for clues not evident at Old Soaker, such as the cross-sectional shape of the cracks.

The rover has departed that site, heading uphill toward a future rock-drilling location. Rover engineers at JPL are determining the best way to resume use of the rovers drill, which began experiencing intermittent problems last month with the mechanism that moves the drill up and down during drilling.

Curiosity landed near Mount Sharp in 2012. It reached the base of the mountain in 2014 after successfully finding evidence on the surrounding plains that ancient Martian lakes offered conditions that would have been favorable for microbes if Mars has ever hosted life. Rock layers forming the base of Mount Sharp accumulated as sediment within ancient lakes billions of years ago.

On Mount Sharp, Curiosity is investigating how and when the habitable ancient conditions known from the missions earlier findings evolved into conditions drier and less favorable for life. For more information about Curiosity, visit:

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl
NASA Town Hall Meeting SpaceRef

Last week NASA Administrator Bolden and his deputy, Dava Newman, held a farewell town hall meeting for NASA employees. While the event was not publicly televised I had a chance to watch it shortly after it aired live. Here are @NASAWatch tweets of the highlights of the event.



 NASA Landing Team has asked #NASA CFO David Radzanowski to stay on to help get them over the hump According to Charlie Bolden

-Bolden Dava and I are going to leave Dave [Radzanowski] here to take care of Robert [Lightfoot] #NASA

 NASA internal Town Hall: Lightfoot: We need to show that we can transition our agency and not miss a beat

 Bolden gave @DavaExplorer the #NASA Distinguished Service Medal today

 Town Hall: Bolden talking about @DavaExplorer coming to the A Suite said we did OK before  but she brought some pizazz 1/2

 But Bolden made no mention of @LoriGarver and how she kept him out of trouble for 6 years 2/2

 Town Hall: Bolden: My first two years were horrible. I thought I just sucked as the #NASA Administrator

 Town Hall: Bolden: To put it bluntly I wasnt comfortable.

 Town Hall: Bolden: I still come to work each day scared about what is going to happen that day

 Town Hall: Bolden: We brought Mike French and David Weaver over. Mike French encouraged me to do my job.

 Town Hall: Bolden: French  Youre the NASA Administrator & do not have to sit back & just say yes. You can tell ppl what you want to do

@NASAWatch Funny  I thought our first two years at NASA were our best years. Sorry Charlie didn't agree!  Lori Garver (@Lori_Garver) January 17, 2017

 Bolden presented the #NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Mike French today

 When asked at Town Hall if the new Administration will continue with SLS and used it to send humans to Mars Bolden said yes.

 Bolden When I came here in 2009 Constellation was a great idea  but it was an idea

 Bolden our entrepreneurial partners are really excited about what they are doing

 Bolden we have met those goals that we have established

 Bolden tells NASA employees to become thebest story teller that there is in explaining to others what they do at #NASA

 Bolden: if you take care of your people they will take care of you #NASA

 Bolden: Dont forget about the other people who make it possible for you to do what you do.

 Lightfoot noted that a kid sent him a Xmas card  sat next to him on a plane while Lightfoot showed him a #NASA powerpoint presentation
Sometimes one cafe, one city, or even one country just isnt enough.

For The Coffee Academics from Hong Kong, spreading themselves across the continent was part of the demand for what they call seeking a better quality of life. Coffee has that universal language after all. Sip sip, smile. Across cultures, we all drink coffeehowever differently we may brew it, we all savor it, all of us are fueled in the same manner, says Jennifer Liu, The Coffee Academics founder.

When I was a young girl, spending father-and-daughter time every Sunday morning was precious to me, says Liu. He would read his newspaper over coffee, while I sipped on a glass of fresh milk, she recountedremembering the turning point when her father finally told her, at age seven, that she was now grown up enough to join him in drinking coffee. Since then coffee is just close to my heart, she shares.

And it is this very open-hearted sentiment that now has taken The Coffee Academics ace-quality, highly educational coffee operation to Chinas answer to New York: Shanghai. The companys latest store opened in July this year in an industrial chic hot spot in the city near Dongping Lu. But for The Coffee Academics, its less about opening another cafe, or doing things in one certain way, and more about unfurling the sensory domain of coffee. And since Liu has that sharpened entrepreneurial way of thinking, Hong Kong was just the embryo.

Since its inauguration, The Coffee Academics has been setting new standards in coffee quality, says Liu. Taking Hong Kongs coffee culture to new heights and offering a unique sensory playground for coffee aficionados in Singapore and now Shanghai, our guests enjoy the latest innovations and technologies that enhance this coffee experience. And for her, future-orientation means looking at the sustainability of coffee, above all things.

Coffees sustainability will not be possible without respect from all of the industry collectively, Liu says. It has to come from the heart from the consumer, the barista, the roaster, the bosses, the staff, the agents, and right down to the farmer. We know our coffee passes through 40 pairs of hands before it is drunk by our customers. It is important for every pair of hands to be respectful and ethical towards the trade, she continues.

But all of this came to fruition in 2012 in Hong Kong when Liu opened in Causeway Bay with one goal in mindto redefine the coffeehouse experience. Liu believes that the Hong Kong coffee drinker was hankering for specialty coffee and so she gave them exactly what they wanted.

Asking Liu how the Hong Kong and Shanghai coffee drinker differ, she smiles. The Hong Kong coffee drinker enjoys an espresso, we figured perhaps due to our really quick pace of life. The Shanghainese coffee drinker at The Coffee Academics usually comes with [a] very in-depth knowledge of coffee and is very curious about our quality controls, roasting decisions, and origins.

The Hong Kong stores were quickly followed by Singapore and Shanghai, and next Liu is looking at Tokyo and Paris. But its not in Lius nature to make it easy for herselfshes planning to keep herself on her toes, as she says. Each of our outlets features a unique interior that speaks to its environment. We use a different coffee machine in each, and offer a slightly different menu too, she shares. And so our teams are always on a constant lookout for what our customers new demands and needs might be.

And then there is Lius pet projectsomething that excites her more than anythinggrowing her own beans. My family is supporting a conservation of an offshore island in Hong Kong, she tells me. Whats been interesting is that we have a plot of land that can be used for agriculture, and we are attempting to grow coffee plants! she gushes. We may soon be brewing our very own locally grown beans.

For Liu, the maestro, it really is about the curation of coffee, directly from farmers worldwide, roasting onsite to finesse the inherent character of coffee, and meticulously cupping to ensure quality. Every molten pearl of coffee speaks of our interpretation of the perfect brew, she says. For Liu, there is always another interesting avenue to explore, or a way of exploring the world of coffeeshes the eternal explorer. A Mexican agave and cracked black pepper latte challenges the senses while opening up the coffee to sweetness. And in Singapore she works with local ingredients to include that in her offeringlike kaya (think French toast) or gula melaka (think palm sugar). In Hong Kong, she roasts three tons of coffee in the city per month. And she turned one of her stores into a beach hut to reflect a local Hong Kong beach.

Maybe the world isnt enough.

Photographs courtesy The Coffee Academics.
Longshot bettors were ecstatic when the horses crossed the finish of Northfield Parks 10th race on Tuesday when #8 Arrow rocketed from the back to win at odds of 60-1.

Growth Opportunities, LLC of North Canton, Ohio owns the five-year-old pacer. Dean Santantonio trains Arrow and called upon Sam Schillaci for the winning drive. Tuesdays triumph was Arrows first win this year in three starts and represents his eighth lifetime score.

Arrow was followed across the wire by #6 Village Jackson (2-1), #2 Battle Call (2-1) and #4 Moreland Flash (50-1).

Arrow returned $123.00 to win; the 8-6 Exacta paid $502.00; the 8-6-2 Trifecta returned $1,831.60; and the 8-6-2-4 20 Superfecta paid $695.65. Arrows win came as the third leg of the evenings $1 Pick 4 which returned a whopping $13,854.50.

Although his horse was scratched from race 10 and did not compete against the evenings richest winner, driver Jason Merriman made six trips to the winners circle on Tuesdays 15-race program.

Jason s triumphs were with Lion Image ($17.20) in race one, Talladega Hanover ($5.80) in race three, Urlacker ($18.80) in race five, Wheres The Clicker ($6.60) in race seven, High Blue ($10.60) in race nine and Albert A Scootin ($12.20) in race 13.

Merriman won his first race in 2003, a $4,900 condition event in 1:59.3, at Pompano Park aboard I C U Talkin.

Since breaking his maiden, Jason has scored 2,236 more times with purse earnings approaching $11 million.

(Northfield Park)
Post Time with Mike and Mike presented by BetAmerica has announced its line-up for Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Herve Filion will join the program to talk about his illustrious career. The show's co-hosts will talk with him about some of the horses he has had and some of the most memorable races he has won in his career.

Western New York driver Drew Monti has taken The Meadowlands by storm over the past couple weekends and he will come on the show to talk about how he got his start, what got him to the Meadowlands, and what the last few weekends has been like. He will also discuss what went into the decision to stay apart of the driving colony there during the winter.

Murray Brown from Hanover Shoe Farms will join to talk about his book Full and Closed, which was recently released.

Post Time with Mike and Mike's on-going series with Pompano Park Announcer/Director of Racing Gabe Prewitt will continue this week with a discussion on some of the happenings at the winter home for harness racing.

You can listen to Post Time live at posttimewithmikeandmike.com or on the archive at betamerica.com/BARN.

(With files from Post Time with Mike and Mike)
Terri Schiavo Archives: A Permanent Place at Ave Maria University for Learning Terri Schiavo's Historic Story

Contact: Tom Shakely, Executive Director, Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network , 855-300-4673, tshakely@lifeandhope.com PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- Terri Schiavo's 2005 death by starvation and dehydration marked the start of America's slide toward treating euthanasia generally, and assisted suicide specifically, as if they were forms of medicine. Knowing the true story of Terri's fight is important for understanding the roots of America's culture of death.Since Terri Schiavo's death, her parents and siblingsMary and Robert Schindler, and siblings Bobby and Suzannehave envisioned a supportive, permanent home for the public records that tell the story of Terri's battle. Thanks to Ave Maria University's Canizaro Library, the Schindlers have found that home."We knew that my Terri's death wouldn't be the last time someone was fatally denied food and water," reflects Mary Schindler, Terri's mother. "She had a brain injury. She wasn't terminal, she wasn't dying. She was conscious. We knew when she was killed that she was just the first victim of many yet to come."It was this conviction that led the Schindlers to preserve dozens of boxes worth of materials that tell the story of Terri and her family's struggle to protect her, with the belief that future researchers inquiring into the history of American euthanasia would need to understand Terri's story in an unbiased and straightforward way.The Terri Schiavo Archive will be available for privileged access to students, researchers, and visitors interested in learning more about Terri's fight, available by inquiring with Ave Maria University's Canizaro Library directly. The Terri Schiavo Archives represent the first ever comprehensive collection of the records pertaining to Terri's prolonged legal clash , and the first time these materials are available to the public."We were thrilled to donate these materials to Ave Maria University," reflects Tom Shakely, executive director of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network. "We know Terri's case remains profoundly important not only in itself, but also in relation to the larger battles for the dignity of the human person.""We're so pleased to add the Terri Schiavo Archive to our growing collection," shares Jennifer Nodes, Ave Maria's Director of Library Services. "It is a wonderful opportunity to preserve unique primary source materials for research, teaching, and scholarship and will no doubt shape lives and perspectives far into the future."Ave Maria is located in Southwest Florida, roughly 45 minutes from Naples on the west coast, and approximately 90 minutes east from Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Ave Maria University was founded by Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza, as an orthodox Catholic university.The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network upholds human dignity through service to the medically vulnerable. This mission is expressed by affirming essential qualities of human dignity, which include the right to food and water, the presumption of the will to live, due process rights for those facing denial of care, protection from euthanasia as a form of medicine, and access to rehabilitative care. The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network has supported more than 2,000 families and has directly advocated hundreds of cases since its founding. Visit lifeandhope.com
Kaiser Permanente Northwest announced Monday it is awarding $2.27 million in grants to seven nonprofit agencies across the region, including Love Overwhelming in Kelso.

The grants will support programs that use community health workers and peer support counselors to help find and sustain housing for those suffering from mental illnesses and addiction disorders.

Love Overwhelming was the only nonprofit in Southwest Washington to receive grant money. The six other nonprofits are all located in Oregon. Love Overwhelming will receive $325,000 over the next three years to help fund two full-time peer support counselors on staff, said Chuck Hendrickson, executive director for Love Overwhelming.

Peer support counselors are individuals who either have a mental health diagnosis, have been through addictions, or are currently in the recovery process. They receive specialized training from the state to provide support to people still making their way towards recovery, said Catherine Potter, safety net partnerships manager for Kaiser Permanente Northwest. Love Overwhelming currently has several staff members already certified as peer support counselors, with another two to three working on their certifications, Hendrickson said.

Mental illness and addictions still carry a lot of stigma in our society. Its hard for people to talk about and its hard for people to get the treatment they need, Potter said. When people are peers of the same community, someone who looks, acts, talks or has the same history as you is probably going to be more successful with helping you connect with your issues and barriers and will hopefully be someone who can build a bridge and help you connect with the services that could be helpful to you.

Kaiser officials said they chose Love Overwhelming because the agency is already doing work in the areas of housing and health, and because of their numerous community partnerships and the ability to integrate the peer support model.

Agencies had to apply to for the grants early in 2016, and each agency was thoroughly vetted, Potter said. Only two other nonprofits in Southwestern Washington applied for the grant, she said.

Hendrickson said the housing market in Cowlitz County is flooded and that many people in the area  especially those who are homeless  have a hard time accessing permanent housing. Love Overwhelming will use the grant money to work with people who have multiple barriers to finding and obtaining housing, according to Hendrickson.

This will increase the capacity for us to serve the population with the highest needs and the highest vulnerabilities who are not able to access traditional mental health behavioral treatment, Hendrickson said. We go out to them and work with them where they are....Its a pretty big deal being able to support people and develop something in them that empowers them to move forward.
Even though the four Lower Snake River dams are nearly 300 to 400 miles away, breaching them could unleash far-reaching effects on Cowlitz County. Local electricity rates, port industries and fisheries could all be impacted by removing the dams. And thats exactly what some want.

Advocates say removing the dams is the fastest and best way to save wild salmon runs, which would be a boon for both commercial and recreational fishers here and across the region.

It just seems like its common sense. Were facing climate change. Were facing ocean acidification. But the one thing we can do to give them a shot against all these other factors is opening up this huge piece of habitat, said Sam Mace, outreach director for Save Our Wild Salmon.

But Cowlitz PUD officials, like other utilities in the region, worry that removing the dams would drive up electricity rates for their customers. Paper mills like Norpac contend it could hike up their costs, making their products less competitive on the global market. And several area grain mills  including one in Longview and two Kalama  would have to find a new ways to get white wheat from Idaho, possibly driving up costs.

Whether dam removal would increase or decrease greenhouse gas emissions remains a hotly-debated concern.

Rob Rich of Shaver Transportation argues the four dams play a vital role for the whole river system. Can you take a large blood vessel out of your leg? Yes you can actually. And eventually your leg will function again. It will just never function as well, Rich said.

Dams at issue again

Debates have swirled around the four Lower Snake River dams for 30 years. Last May, a federal judge rejected the governments fifth plan to manage endangered salmon and ordered the three federal agencies responsible for dams to prepare a new plan and take a hard look at all options, including dam removal.

Despite billions of dollars spent on these efforts, the listed species continue to be in a perilous state, Judge Michael Simon wrote in his decision. The (Federal Columbia River Power System) remains a system that cries out for a new approach.

His order triggered a new five-year environmental review of the entire Columbia-Snake River system, led by Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation. A comment period on the scoping of the environmental impact statement ends Feb.7.

How fish would fare

Dams present some tough challenges for juvenile salmon: Warmer water temperatures behind the dams, predators and the energy-intensive process of swimming through locks and ladders can be lethal for baby fish trying to make it to the ocean.

A total of 13 salmon and steelhead species were listed as endangered or threatened after reaching dramatically low number in the 1990s. Since then, federal agencies have invested billions of dollars into making the dams more fish-friendly by increasing the number of ladders, spillways and diversions, and even transporting salmon around the dams by barge and tank trucks. In Cowlitz County, about 25 cents of every dollar Cowlitz PUD pays to Bonneville goes toward BPAs fish and wildlife program.

We really believe that the survival of fish coming through the system is better than it used to be, said Micheal Milstein, spokesman for NOAA Fisheries. In the 1970s and 1980s, just about 80 percent of fish successfully survived through each individual dam. Now about 95 percent to 98 percent of fish survive from the top of each dam to the bottom. Thats the a pretty significant improvement, Milstein said.

Despite the improvement, last year NOAAs five-year review of Snake River salmon and steelhead runs found that there wasnt a significant enough improvement to take them off the endangered species list.

And advocates say that fish recovery rates are a far cry from where they need to be. For every 100 salmon that go out to the ocean, about 2 percent to 6 percent of them must return for sustained recovery, according to targets from Northwest Power and Conservation Council. According to the Fish Passage Center, over the last 15 years, return rates have frequently hovered around 2 to 4 percent, but have dipped to 1 percent or lower at some points. And in 2015, a heat wave killed off thousands of returning Columbia Basin salmon, compounding the problem.

Electric rates to rise?

About 5 percent of the regions power comes from the Lower Snake River dams. Thats enough to power the City of Seattle, according to BPA.

Advocates claim power from the dams could be replaced with renewable energies. But theres a hitch: energy from wind and solar cant be stored, so they cant mimic the continuous reliability of hydropower. Instead, BPA says it would have to replace the dams with gas-fired power plants, which are expensive and have higher greenhouse gas emissions.

While BPA isnt certain how removing the dams would affect electric rates, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council estimated in 2010 that Bonnevilles rates would rise anywhere between $1 to $8.15, per megawatt hour. As BPAs second largest customer, Cowlitz PUD gets 80 percent of its power from the federal agency. Any increases to BPA costs could have a direct impact on customer rates here.

And a potential increase could be a blow for paper mills and energy-intensive industries here, dam supporters say.

For industry here on the river, especially Noparc, Weyerhaeuser, Nippon Dynawave and KapStone, low-cost electricity is absolutely critical to our survival. Thats one of the reasons why these industries are here today, because of the hydroelectric system, said Craig Anneberg, CEO of Norpac, who also serves on the board of Northwest Riverpartners, a pro-hydroelectric group. Any increase in electricity costs could hurt paper mills competitiveness on the global market, Anneberg said.

This issue could have an impact on jobs, especially in our county, he added.

But anti-dam advocates say fears about electricity rates spiking are overblown. Todd True, an attorney with Earthjustice, said studies suggest residential bills may increase by about $1 per month. He argues that additional gas-fire plants could be avoided by using a combination of wind, solar and smart gird management and planning.

How would it affect industry?

Paper mills arent the only industries paying attention: the dams are used to move barges of wheat, wood chips, logs and the occasional large, odd-sized cargo smoothly from Idaho to the mouth of the Columbia River. Without the dams, rapids, waterfalls and swift-moving currents would make the river impassible. About 10 percent of all U.S. wheat exports move through the Snake River, according to Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. In Cowlitz County, grain terminals in Longview and Kalama rely on the dams for shipments of white wheat from the Snake River region.

If we were not able to get it by barge ... that makes us noncompetitive on the the global stage, said Matthew Kerrigan, manager at EGT in Longview. I really dont know if we would be able to get (the wheat) elsewhere but rail shipments may also be more expensive, he added.

While opponents to the dams claim freight traffic over the dams has been trending downward over the last 20 years, Pacific Northwest Waterways Association shows cargo use of the dams spiked 34 percent between 2012 to 2014.

Regardless of how often or for what purpose the dams are use, opponents believe the economic benefits are far outweighed by the damage to native salmon.

The (dam navigation) system were subsidizing with taxpayer dollars is destroying the salmon runs, which are huge economic asset,said True, the Earthjustice attorney. We have alternatives that can be just as efficient and just as (positive for) economic without the Snake River dams.
The Columbia County Sheriffs Office has arrested three men on suspicion of stealing checks from mailboxes across three Oregon counties.

Deputies arrested Rodney Oates, Michael Welch and Charles Lockridge III.

According to the sheriffs office, the men would break into mailboxes, find checks and deposit them into an automated teller machine. They would then withdraw cash from the ATM and withdraw more money once the check cleared.

An audit of Oates personal account found that 20 stolen checks were deposited into his account fraudulently between Dec. 3, 2016 and Jan. 3, 2017.

The total amount stolen by the three men still is unknown.

Oates was arrested Jan. 7 after deputies searched residences at 56813 Raasee Lane in Warren, and at Lockridges apartment at 280 St. Helens Street in St. Helens. Officials found large amounts of stolen mail and check stubs.

Lockridge was located and arrested Jan. 11 while walking back to his apartment. Welch was arrested Jan. 12 after he crashed a stolen Ford F150 pickup near the intersection of Bennett Road and Old Portland Road. Deputies found a large amount of stolen mail inside the truck during a later search.

Oates was later released pending completion of the investigation. As of Monday, Welch still was in custody, but Lockridge was not, though it was unclear why.
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The heads of some of the world's biggest oil firms and automakers agreed on Tuesday to push for broader global use and bigger investments in using hydrogen to help reduce emissions and arrest global warming. The oil firms' and car makers' chiefs said the plan was part of global efforts to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, an ambitious goal agreed by 195 countries in Paris in 2015.

"In this context, we are convinced that the unique contribution that hydrogen solutions offer needs to be strongly reaffirmed now," the participants, including the chiefs of oil firms Total and Royal Dutch Shell, Patrick Pouyanne and Ben van Beurden, said in a statement.

The declaration was also signed by the CEOs of car makers BMW, Daimler, Honda, Hyundai, Kawasaki and Toyota as well as miner Anglo American and energy and engineering firms Engie, Linde and Air Liquide. Hydrogen does not release any CO2 at the point of use and its technologies and products have progressed significantly, the firms said in a statement.

They aim to accelerate investment in developing and commercialising the hydrogen sector, currently amounting to just 1.4 billion euros a year - compared with the hundreds of billions of dollars invested annually by the oil sector. "We need governments to back hydrogen with actions of their own - for example through large scale infrastructure investment schemes," the statement quoted the head of Air Liquide Benoit Potier as saying.

"We are not trying to bring hydrogen only to cars or trains. We are trying to bring a systemic approach. Hydrogen can generate power, produce heat and it is close to the chemical industry. And it is the most abundant element in the universe," Potier told a news conference.

The head of oil major Shell Ben van Beurden said that despite starting a hydrogen business 20 years ago, his firm today had only had five hydrogen refueling stations in Germany and three in California. "You need a coordinated approach to make it work. Hopefully, we can have hundreds (of stations)," he said. The head of Total Pouyanne said hydrogen was also the best way to store energy and Total was studying those opportunities.

Reuters
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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm Inc on Tuesday, accusing the company of using "anticompetitive" tactics to maintain its monopoly on a key semiconductor used in mobile phones.

The FTC, which works with the Justice Department to enforce antitrust law, said that San Diego-based Qualcomm used its dominant position as a supplier of certain phone chips to impose "onerous" supply and licensing terms on cellphone manufacturers and to weaken competitors.

Qualcomm said in a statement that it would "vigorously contest" the complaint and denied FTC allegations that it threatened to withhold chips in order to collect unreasonable licensing fees. Qualcomm shares fell 4 percent to $64.19 on Tuesday.

The complaint is likely the agency's last major action under current Democratic Chairwoman Edith Ramirez, who will step down Feb. 10, and comes just days before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Friday. Trump is expected to name Republican Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen as acting FTC chairwoman and will fill three vacancies that will reshape the agency.

Ramirez and fellow Democrat Terrell McSweeny voted to approve the complaint but Ohlhausen dissented, saying that the lawsuit was based on a "flawed legal theory ... that lacks economic and evidentiary support." In its complaint, the FTC said the patents that Qualcomm sought to license are standard essential patents, which means that the industry uses them widely and they are supposed to be licensed on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

The FTC complaint also accused Qualcomm of refusing to license some standard essential patents to rival chipmakers, and of entering into an exclusive deal with Apple Inc. "Qualcomm's customers have accepted elevated royalties and other license terms that do not reflect an assessment of terms that a court or other neutral arbiter would determine to be fair and reasonable," the FTC said in its complaint.

The FTC asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Jose to order Qualcomm to end these practices. For its part, Qualcomm accused the FTC of a last-minute dash to court. "This is an extremely disappointing decision to rush to file a complaint on the eve of Chairwoman Ramirez's departure and the transition to a new administration," Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm general counsel, said in a statement. "We look forward to defending our business in federal court, where we are confident we will prevail."

The company has faced a series of antitrust rulings and investigations from regulators across the globe. South Korea's antitrust regulator fined Qualcomm Inc 1.03 trillion won ($854 million) in December for what it called unfair practices in patent licensing, a decision the U.S. chipmaker said it will challenge in court.

In February 2015, Qualcomm paid a $975 million fine in China following a 14-month probe, while the European Union in December 2015 accused it of abusing its market power to thwart rivals.

Reuters
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It is unlikely Germany, France or many countries would allow a foreign takeover of their major banks, which raises uncertainty about how far they will allow overseas firms to run payments and other parts of finance, one of the top names in private equity said. "It's unlikely Deutsche Bank will be allowed by the German regulators to be bought by somebody that is not German," said David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-CEO of The Carlyle Group.

"Most countries want to have at least one major bank. I don't think you'll see the French regulator allowing one of the major banks bought by a non-French entity," he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. "That nationalist feeling is still going to be around for a while."

Rubenstein said the rise of big firms in payments and financial infrastructure posed a dilemma on how dominant overseas firms like China's Alipay will be allowed to be in Europe and the US. "Will American politicians be happy to allow all the payment systems to be run by companies that are based in China?" he asked.

Rubenstein and other members of a panel on the Future of Finance said new technology is transforming the industry in all areas - mostly for the good of customers - but raising questions about cyber security for regulators and politicians. "This is a big political problem going forward," said Mario Greco, CEO of Zurich Insurance. "Finance wants to be international and yet the political system just doesn't come close to having the mechanism for dealing with it."

The increased use of technology will see banks cut jobs and improve efficiency and controls, which Deutsche Bank CEO John Cryan said should see staff "add more value". "We need to replace a lot of people who are performing the function of a computer. Our mantra is to stop people using their hands and eyes and start using their brains," said Cryan. He is in the process of cutting 9,000 staff at Deutsche.

But he warned there was a limit to giving too much power to machines, and a human check was needed. "The more complex our algorithms get, the less safe those algorithms are because they are harder to monitor," he said.

New technologies could see greater disintermediation of banks from areas they have dominated in the past. Kenneth Rogoff, professor or economics and public policy at Harvard University, said that includes the impact of growth in central bank digital currencies in the next 20 years, or even the next five.

"(That) has profound implications for disintermediation of the system, people being able to go to central banks directly rather than through banks to fund themselves," Rogoff said.

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

C.V. Vishveshwara, the scientist whos better known as Indias black hole scientist, passed away yesterday at the age of 78.

Vishveshwara was a pioneer in black hole research and was among the first to analyse the structure of black holes. He was also the man who discovered the so-called quasinormal modes (which describe the perturbations of an energy field as it decays over time) of black holes and who proved the stability of a non-rotating Schwarzchild black hole (one that has no electric charge or angular momentum).

As The Hindu describes it, Vishveshwaras calculations described the signal thats formed when two black holes merge, the same waveform that was detected by a LIGO facility in the US.

Vishveshwara has authored a number of technical papers, co-edited and published books on relativity and was the director of Indias first planetarium in Bengaluru.

Vishveshwara joined the Columbia University to study particle physics and later, transferred to the University of Maryland to study General Relativity, where he earned his Ph.D. He has served at various universities in the US and on returning to India, served at the Raman Research Institute and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
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Stating that technical prowess of India's unique identification number is "well accepted" the world over, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today asked global chip maker Qualcomm to look at innovations around strengthening digital payments based on Aadhaar.

"Can you come with an innovation of a chip which can become integral to Aadhaar itself as far as determining verifiable digital identity is concerned. Aadhaar's technical prowess is now well accepted...the whole world is appreciating that," the Minister told senior Qualcomm executives at a conference here.

He said that a new payment system powered by Aadhaar is on verge of finalisation.

"We are just going to finalise the whole process very soon of an Aadhaar enabled payment where, at a flick of your thumb, you can make digital payment. Can Qualcomm think of supporting innovation in this field to make this new unique digital platform more flawless," he said.

The Minister said that Jan Dhan accounts had been linked to Aadhaar and to mobiles. "...and we started sending out the entire subsidy directly to their bank accounts through mobile and we saved Rs 36,000 crore which used to be pilfered by the middlemen," the Minister said.

Noting that India is at a cusp of a digital revolution, Prasad said that initiatives like Make in India, Start up India, Digital India, and smart cities were working in sync to make the country a technologically empowered society.

"Indians are creating IP, innovating, researching for big companies. Please given them a helping hand so they also innovate for India, create Indian patents, design it for Indian conditions. Maybe you will see evolution of Indian Qualcomm company. That is what Indians are capable of," the Minister said.

PTI
tech2 News Staff

Microsoft has acquired Swedish automatic 3D data optimisation company Simplygon. The announcement follows close on the heels of Microsoft acquiring Maluuba, a Canadian artificial intelligence startup. The acquisition of Simplygon will help accelerate the 3D For Everyone strategy. Microsoft intends to democratise 3D content, making it easier for regular users without a graphics background to make and animate 3D content.

The 3D for Everyone strategy was first introduced in the Windows 10 creator's update announcement last year, which is expected to land in April this year. Simplygon technology will be used to improve the capabilities of Windows 10, the new paint, and the online 3D content creation community at Remix3D.com. The new Paint allows users to create content in 3D, use 3D content in their creations that have been made by others, and share the creations with collaborators.

Simplygon has been optimising and enhancing 3D content for over ten years now. Simplygon helps third party developers and studios streamline workflows and optimise content creation pipelines. Simplygon has an SDK used by AAA game studios, has forayed into augmented reality as well as virtual reality experiences, and deployed automatic 3D content optimisation technologies. 3D for Everyone is the next challenge that the team at Simplygon will tackle.

"The leadership team, led by CEO Matt Connors, founder and CTO Ulrik Lindahl and co-founder Koshi Hamedi, bring a depth of knowledge around 3D creation optimization, and were excited to welcome the team to Microsoft." Kudo Tsunoda, Corporate Vice President, Next Gen Experiences, Windows and Devices Group, wrote in a blog post by Microsoft. "Were excited to announce that Simplygon has been acquired by Microsoft! Thank you to everyone who has helped us along the way  our customers, partners, investors and employees," noted a joint blog post by Simplygon CEO Matt Connors, Founder & CTO Ulrik Lindahl, and Co-Founder Koshi Hamedi.

Conan Exiles, Star Fox Zero, Metal Gear Solid V, Mafia III and Far Cry 4 are some of the titles that have used Simplygon technologies. Simplygon technologies managed to reduce the polygon count in Dying Light assets by 70 per cent. Simplygon has previously worked with Microsoft to automatically improve CAD models for Microsoft HoloLens. Simplygon technologies are used for engineering, design, architecture and infrastructure projects as well. Simplygon cloud is integrated into the 3D content creation offerings by Autodesk, including Maya and 3DS Max.
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Microsoft has offered to collaborate with Andhra Pradesh in the areas of e governance and cyber security, an official statement said here on Tuesday.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently in Davos, met Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday.

Nadella suggested that Andhra Pradesh should nurture hybrid cloud technology and that it will be a great leap in technology for India and Andhra Pradesh in particular, according to a statement here.

Microsoft has recently acquired LinkedIn and it is working closely with the Singapore government.

Skill profile of the population, professionals etc are also being digitised, said the Microsoft CEO and added that the same may be replicated in Andhra Pradesh.

Nadella and Naidu agreed to make significant progress in hybrid cloud technology within a year.

The Chief Minister explained the various technological initiatives e being implemented in Andhra Pradesh. He also spoke at length on the technology that the state is using for real time governance.

Naidu mentioned that he is keen on increasing the digital transactions which is at 30 percent now to 70 percent by March this year.

IANS
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With India being one of the fastest growing smartphone markets, mobile handset maker Samsung India is looking to maintain its strong position, riding on the back of innovative launches, a senior official of the company said here today.

"Double digit growth is there annually in smartphones. India is the second largest market in the world right now and it's a very healthy situation for smartphones. With innovations, it will stay healthy and we are very positive about India," Samsung India Director (Mobile Business) Vishal Kaul said when asked about growth in the mobile category.

"...Last year aggregate market share till November, which is the last report we have, Samsung had a smartphone value share of 46.9 per cent. We are leaders in the market by a huge margin...Last year has been pretty good for us and we have grown on the back of very innovative launches. 'J' series is a series which Indian consumers love. "Then we have the mid-high 'A' series and on top we have the flagship series. We have feature phones, we have tablets, we have accessories, we have wearable devices," Kaul told reporters here after announcing the launch Samsung India's new smartphone, the Galaxy C9 Pro.

He further said, "the C9 Pro is a new series of devices, which we have launched...and this is the first one we are launching in India. The C9 Pro has a 6 GB RAM, which is a first from Samsung...it is feature packed phone. Priced at Rs 36,900 for consumers, so it is a high-end device, and it will be for a discerning consumer who is looking for a powerhouse of a device."

"Interested customer can pre-book the C9 Pro through select stores and online channels from January 27. The device will be available across all retail channels in the latter half of February 2017," he said. Asked about 'Make for India' initiative of Samsung, Kaul said, "we have always have had innovations which are specific to India... C9 Pro also carries those Make for India innovations".

PTI
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President-elect Donald Trump's stern warning to American companies for not doing enough to keep jobs in the US does not make Microsoft's India-born CEO Satya Nadella nervous as he is confident about the tech giant's role as a job creator.

"We're a US-based company that operates worldwide and our predominant employment is in the United States," Nadella said on Trump pressing the business world to boost activities on American soil.

"We've already created a tremendous amount of high-paying jobs in the US," he told CNNTech at the DLD tech conference in Munich yesterday.

Microsoft employs more than 113,000 people worldwide, more than 64,000 of whom are in the United States, mainly in Washington state, according to the company.

In the wake of Trump's win, companies are eager to play up the number of Americans they employ, the CNNTech said.

Companies like Amazon have made public announcements about the jobs they expect to add, with messaging that seems to be in direct response to Trump's win.

Amazon recently announced that it plans to create more than 100,000 new full-time jobs in the US in the next 18 months, bringing its total workforce in the country to 280,000.

However, Nadella is confident about Microsoft's place as a job creator and said Trump's ascent has not changed the roadmap much for Microsoft.

"If anything, we'll double down on what we've always done, which is be a US company that operates in the United States very responsibly, but also being a multinational company that contributes into every country that we work in."

Trump has primarily used his Twitter account to go after the automotive and aviation industries. So far, tech has mostly been spared.

Last month, the US President-elect met with Nadella and top execs from Amazon, Tesla, Apple, Facebook and several other large tech companies in New York after months of clashing over creating more jobs and increasing investments in the US.

PTI
tech2 News Staff

The United States Army has completed flight tests of its first hoverbike prototype.

The bike, which is essentially an oversized quadcopter, took off from the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland on 10 January, reports Engadget.

The report adds that the bike started life as a Kickstarter project by Malloy Aeronautics. The project was eventually funded and it offered backers a hoverbike at the rock-bottom price of $595 (around Rs 41,000).

The US Army later expressed interest in the project, however, and signed a contract with Malloy. A defence company, Survice Engineering Co. assisted in the development of the bike, which became a project that was expanded to include the US Marine Corps.

The Military has dubbed the bike JTARV or Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle, so that might mean its not fit for humans. However, the plan is to develop a hoverbike that could, eventually, transfer troops and supplies to where theyre needed.

The current prototype is reportedly very basic, with low range and payload. The military apparently hopes to fit the device with a hybrid engine that will extend the range to around 200 km and the payload to over 360kg.

Regardless of what the military says about the bike though, all I can think of is the Speeder Bike chase on Endor.
9 get jail term for embezzlement



Chittagong Special Divisional Court on Tuesday awarded nine persons including two former Agrani Bank officials to five years rigorous imprisonment (RI) for misappropriating over TK 75.57 lakh through fraudulence.

The court also fined Tk. eight lakh 39 thousand 700 each, in default to suffer RI for six months more. The court, however, acquitted two other former Bank officials.

The Special Judge Mir Ruhul Amin delivered the verdict convicting former Agrani Bank, Khatunganj branch Manager Ansarul Hoque, former cash in charge Abdus Sukkur, importers - Swpan Kumar Gosh, Abdun Nur, Jamal Uddin, Kurban Ali, Mohammad Azizur Rahman, Mohammad Shahidur Rahman, and Mohammad Hossain, court sources said.The judge delivered the verdict in absentia of all the convicts as all of them remained fugitive.

The then Bureau of Anti Corruption during an investigation found that the convicts in connivance misappropriated Tk. 75.57 lakh through fake import certificates in importing CI sheets from 10 September to 13 October in 1988. Abu Mohammad Arif Siddique, inspector of the Bureau on Oct 13, 1988 filed a case with Kotwali thana against 11 persons including four Agrani Bank officials in this connection. The court also directed the respective district magistrates to realize the money and deposit it to the government exchequer.

Terrorist gets 10-yr jail : A court here yesterday sentenced a terrorist to 10-year rigorous imprisonment in a case filed for recovering arms that was used for terrorist activities.

The court of Chittagong 5th Additional district & Sessions Judge Nur -e- Alam delivered the verdict convicting Joysen Barua, hailing from Halodia village under Raozan upazila of the district.

Court sources said a team of Hathazari thana police arrested Joysen Barua on December 22, 2003. Police also recovered a country made LG gun from Boalia Bridge area under Hathazari thana, according to his confession.

Later, a case was filed against him with Hathazari thana in this connection. The investigation officer of the case submitted a charge-sheet against Joysen on December 22, 2003.

The court today examined a total of seven prosecution witnesses, out of 14, and passed the verdict.

Court sources said the convict Joysen Barua had been absconding after getting bail from the court.


Man hacked to death in Jhenaidah village

Jhenaidah Correspondent :



A man was hacked to death in a village of Sailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah on Tuesday evening. The deceased was identified as Asalat Hossain Saikh, 65, son of Minal Saikh of Mailmari village o f the upazila. Previous village was mainly liable for the killing incident, the police said.

Sailkupa police station officer in charge Tarikul Islam said, Asalat in the afternoon of the day went to his agriculture plot to procure grass. When he was returning home, a number of young men led by Saddam Hossain beaten up him. He was taken back to his resident, while succumbs to his injuries in the evening.

Police man said, village enmity was mainly liable for the incident. They sent the body to Jhenaidah general hospital morgue for post mortem examination. The police was preparing to file case in this connection. Leader of the killing incident Saddam managed to flee, OC said.
Experts recommend intensified anti-drug collaboration

BSS, Rajshahi :



Experts at a view-sharing meeting here on Tuesday suggested Bangladesh's intensified cooperation with two neighbours as they identified trend of growing social crimes and debacles as major consequences of drug abuse in the country.

"More effective engagement of Bangladesh is needed with neighbouring India and Myanmar to stop influx of drugs," additional director of Department and Narcotics Control (DNC) Mujibur Rahman Patwary told the meeting as part of DNC's month-long nationwide anti-drug campaign.

He added drug dealers should be the focus of attention of the law enforcement campaign while the community level interventions were needed to build a drug-free society to protect people particularly the young generation from deadly aggression of drugs.

More than 600 members of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) from various educational institutions in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions joined the meeting in the conference hall of Bangladesh Postal Academy.

Commander of BNCC's Mohasthan Regiment Lt Col KM Imam Ahsan addressed the meeting as the chief guest while 5 Mohasthan Battalion Commander (BTFO) Major Mohsin Ali, PUO Dr Nur Salam Khatun and TUO Mustafizur Rahman spoke as special guests.

Rahman Patwary said social or family maladjustments, rising crimes, health hazards, murders and suicides are the major consequences of abusing of drugs like heroin, phensidyl, hemp, pathedrine and tranquilizers.

He said the law enforcement agencies alone are not capable of to combating the social disease but community participation coupled with family and social contribution was very important to this end.

The meeting was informed that 80 percent of the drug addicts belong to the age group of 15 to 30 in the country.

Col Imam Ahsan said the present government is pledged bound to free the society from drugs addiction and urged all the attending guardians, parents and others concerned to supplement the government endeavor for welfare of the nation.

Chapainawabganj Correspondent adds: Anti-drug campaign and human chain, Procession and discussion meeting was held in Chapainawabganj on Tuesday. Balugram Adarsha College in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila on Tuesday arranged an anti-drug guardians gathering and opinion exchanging meeting at Principal Belal Uddin auditorium of the college. The meeting was held with the principal of the college Md. Matiur Rahman in the chair and was addressed among others by vice principal NSM Mahbubur Rahman, guardians Md. Aminul Islam and Md. Hasan Ali and teachers AKM Rezaul Karim, Mokhleshur Rahman, Azad Ali and Rokeya Khatun. The speakers asked the guardians to come forward to save the young generation from Narcotics.

On the other hand, District Narcotics Control Department of Chapainawabganj arranged an anti-drug human chain, procession and discussion meeting at Nawabganj High School auditorium on Tuesday noon. The meeting was held with the head teacher Md. Hasinur Rahman in the chair and was addressed among others by the president of the managing committee of the school Md. Golam Mostafa, Inspector of District Narcotics Control Department Md. Ilias Hossain Talukdar. Before the meeting a human chain was held on school premises and the procession paraed the main roads of the town. The program was organized as mark of the anti-drug campaign month January 2017.


Obama administration trying to undermine Trump: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a joint news conference with Moldovan President Igor Dodon (not seen) in the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday.

AP, Moscow :



President Vladimir Putin took a parting shot at the Obama administration on Tuesday, accusing it of trying to undermine Donald Trump's legitimacy with fake allegations and "binding the president-elect hand and foot to prevent him from fulfilling his election promises."

In his first public remarks about an unsubstantiated dossier outlining unverified claims that Trump engaged in sexual activities with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel, Putin dismissed the material as "nonsense."

"People who order such fakes against the U.S. president-elect, fabricate them and use them in political struggle are worse than prostitutes," Putin said. "They have no moral restrictions whatsoever, and it highlights a significant degree of degradation of political elites in the West, including in the United States."

Separately, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the dossier, compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele, was a "rude provocation." The diplomat contemptuously called its author a "runaway swindler from MI6," Britain's foreign intelligence agency. Trump has rejected the sexual allegations as "fake news" and "phony stuff."

The statements by Putin and Lavrov reflected the Kremlin's deep anger at President Barack Obama's administration in a culmination of tensions that have built up over the crisis in Ukraine, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. election.

Putin said the allegations were part of efforts by the Obama administration to "undermine the legitimacy of the president-elect" despite his "convincing" victory.

Asked about Putin's remarks, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said it "was not the first time the intelligence community has had some uncomfortable things to say about Russia."

"These are the kind of things I'm sure the Russians would rather not to hear, but ultimately, and this is something that the next administration is going to have to decide, there's a pretty stark divide here," he added.

Putin voiced hope that "common sense will prevail" and Russia and the United States will be able to normalize relations once Trump takes office Friday.

"I don't know Mr. Trump," Putin said. "I have never met him and I don't know what he will do on the international arena. I have no reason whatsoever to assail him, criticize him for something, or defend him."

Putin ridiculed those behind the dossier for alleging Russian spy agencies collected compromising material on Trump when he visited Moscow in 2013 for the Miss Universe pageant.

"He wasn't a politician. We didn't even know about his political ambitions," Putin said at a news conference. "Do they think that our special services are hunting for every U.S. billionaire?"

Putin also sarcastically suggested that Trump, who met the world's most beautiful women at the pageant, had a better choice for female companionship than Moscow prostitutes, even though Putin claimed "they are also the best in the world."

He said Trump's foes are ready to go as far as to "stage a Maidan in Washington to prevent Trump from entering office" - a reference to the alleged U.S. role in organizing protests in the Ukrainian capital's main square, Maidan, that forced the nation's Russia-friendly president from power in 2014.

"People who are doing that are inflicting colossal damage to the interests of the United States," Putin said. "How can you do anything to improve U.S.-Russian relations when they launch such canards as hackers' interference in the election?"

At a separate news conference, Lavrov also said Moscow hopes for better relations with Washington once Trump takes office.

Russia and the United States can reach common ground on nuclear arms control and other issues if each country proceeds from its national interests and shows respect for the other side, Lavrov said.

He voiced hope that Trump's team will consist of pragmatic people "who will not engage in moralizing and will try to understand the interests of their partners just as they clearly uphold their own interests."

Lavrov denounced the foreign policy of the Obama administration and its allies as "messianic" attempts to impose Western values on the rest of the world, which has led to instability and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere.

He said Moscow is inviting representatives of the Trump administration to talks Monday on Syria in Kazakhstan - discussions brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran. He voiced hope that Russian and U.S. experts could discuss fighting terrorism in Syria.

Asked about Trump's recent remarks in which he indicated he could end sanctions on Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea in return for a nuclear arms reduction deal, Lavrov said Moscow was ready to hold nuclear arms talks with Washington.

Lavrov noted he didn't see Trump's words as an offer to cut arms in exchange for canceling the sanctions, rather as an expression of readiness to look at reviewing the sanctions while engaging in negotiations on arms control, among other issues.

Like Putin, Lavrov rejected allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. election as "absurdities" and "fakes" intended to hurt Trump.

He said U.S. intelligence agencies have failed to produce any evidence to back those claims, adding that officials who engaged in the effort "deserve to be fired, as they receive their salaries for nothing."

Lavrov described the allegations of Russian election meddling in the U.S. vote as the final "spasms of those who realize that their time is coming to an end."

"The time of foreign policy demagogues is over, and, feeling hurt, they fabricate all kinds of fakes," he said. "First, officials leak fakes to the media, then media start spinning them and, finally, officials comment on them as facts."

Lavrov also accused U.S. officials of repeated attempts to recruit Russian diplomats in the U.S. as spies, including a deputy chief of mission.

In her final speech as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power accused Russia of pursuing a policy of "deny and lie" to raise doubts about its actions in Syria and Ukraine, to undermine international institutions and, citing U.S. intelligence analysis, repeated allegations that Moscow used a well-crafted, multipronged attack to disrupt the U.S. election through hacking and misinformation.

"I know some have said that this focus on Russia is simply the party that lost the recent presidential election being 'sore losers,'" Power told the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank, "but it should worry every American that a foreign government interfered in our democratic process."

She said the U.S. must reassure its allies that Russia will pay a price for interfering in other nations' sovereign affairs, and that means maintaining sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine as well as meddling in U.S. politics.




World needs China, US to have stable relationship : Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday.

Reuters, Beijing :



The world needs China and the United States to have a stable and cooperative relationship, Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, just days before new uncertainty looms with Donald Trump taking office as president.

Meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Xi told Biden that he "positively appraised" his efforts to increase friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries, China's Foreign Ministry said late on Tuesday.

"In the 38 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, relations between the two countries have weathered wind and rain, but generally have continued to forge ahead," the statement paraphrased Xi as saying.

Under President Barack Obama, there has been a "correct" development in relations, and important and positive results achieved, with trade and people-to-people exchanges reaching new highs, Xi added.

"The basic interests of the people of both countries and the world need China and the United States to work hard, to form a long-term, stable cooperative relationship," Xi said.

The statement cited Biden as saying that the United States hopes the two countries can continue to deepen mutual trust and expand cooperation.

It made no mention of Trump, though China's top diplomat, State Councillor Yang Jiechi, who last month met a senior advisor to Trump, also attended the Xi-Biden meeting, the foreign ministry said.

Trump, who takes office on Friday, has rattled Beijing with threats to impose tariffs on Chinese imports and by questioning the United States' commitment to the "one China" policy, under which Washington acknowledges China's position that Taiwan is part of its territory.

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered a vigorous defence of globalisation on Tuesday, pushing back against the "America First" rhetoric of incoming US president Donald Trump and signalling Beijing's desire to play a bigger role on the global stage.

Xi's speech to political leaders, CEOs and bankers at the World Economic Forum in Davos was a first by a Chinese leader and marked a possible shift in the global political landscape as western democracies struggle with the rise of populist nationalism.

China, a one-party communist state that maintains tough restrictions on foreign investment, would seem an unlikely champion of free markets at an event that has become synonymous with global capitalism.

But with Trump promising a more protectionist, insular approach and Europe preoccupied with its own problems, from Brexit to terror attacks, China sees an opportunity to fill what could become a vacuum in global economic leadership.

Speaking before a vast audience that included US Vice President Joe Biden, Xi likened protectionism to "locking oneself in a dark room" and cutting off all "light and air".

"No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war," Xi said in the nearly hour-long speech.

Real estate mogul and former reality TV star Trump, who will be inaugurated as U.S. president on Friday, campaigned on a promise to confront China more aggressively on trade and renegotiate or ditch multilateral trade agreements.

His entourage has accused China of waging economic war against the United States.

But Xi pushed back against the accusations of unfair trade practices, saying Beijing would not devlaue its currency for competitive advantage, as Trump has repeatedly accused it of doing in the past.

Xi also urged all signatories of a landmark climate deal agreed in Paris roughly one year ago to stick to the agreement, a clear message to Trump, who has criticised the deal and indicated he may pull the United States out of it.




ULAB signs MoU with Yunnan Open University, China

Campus Report :



The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) and Yunnan Open University (YNOU), China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently paving the way for collaboration via faculty and student exchange, joint research and publications, joint art exhibitions, seminars and academic meetings, setting up a Chinese Language Centre at ULAB, conducting special short-term academic programmes, and internship arrangements for ULAB students in China.

Prof Imran Rahman, Vice Chancellor of ULAB and Prof Lou Ji, Vice President of YNOU signed the MOU in Kunming, China on behalf of their respective universities. Abu Rasel, Director, ULAB Career Services Office, and Prof Li Rui, Vice Dean, YNOU's International Affairs were present during the signing ceremony.
President Abdul Hamid seen with the leaders of Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) who met him at Bangabhaban to discuss formation of Election Commission yesterday.
Chelsea to be released early as Obama commutes sentence

The New York Times, Washington :

President Obama on Tuesday commuted all but four months of the remaining prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the Army intelligence analyst convicted of a 2010 leak that revealed American military and diplomatic activities across the world, disrupted Mr. Obama's administration and brought global prominence to WikiLeaks, the recipient of those disclosures.

The decision by Mr. Obama rescued Ms. Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year, from an uncertain future as a transgender woman incarcerated at the men's military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. She has been jailed for nearly seven years, and her 35-year sentence was by far the longest punishment ever imposed in the United States for a leak conviction.

At the same time that Mr. Obama commuted the sentence of Ms. Manning, a low-ranking enlisted soldier at the time of her leaks, he also pardoned James E. Cartwright, the retired Marine general and former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who pleaded guilty to lying about his conversations with reporters to F.B.I. agents investigating a leak of classified information about cyberattacks on Iran's nuclear program.The two acts of clemency were a remarkable final step for a president whose administration carried out an unprecedented criminal crackdown on leaks of government secrets. Depending on how they are counted, the Obama administration has prosecuted either nine or 10 such cases, more than were charged under all previous presidencies combined.

In addition, Mr. Obama on Tuesday commuted the sentence of Oscar Lopez Rivera, who was part of a Puerto Rican nationalist group that carried out a string of bombings in the late 1970s and early 1980s; the other members of that group had long since been freed. Mr. Obama also granted 63 other pardons and 207 other commutations, mostly for drug offenders.

Under the terms of the commutation announced by the White House on Tuesday, Ms. Manning is set to be freed on May 17 of this year rather than in 2045. A senior administration official said the 120-day delay was part of a standard transition period for commutations to time served, and was designed to allow for such steps as finding a place for Ms. Manning to live after her release.
Truck kills two motorcyclists in city

Staff Reporter :

Two persons were killed and another was injured when a speeding truck hit a motorcycle on Nazimuddin Road in the old part of Dhaka early Wednesday.

The deceased were identified as Suny, 20, and Akash, 25. The injured motorcyclist Ripon, 20, was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in a critical condition.

Chawkbazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Samiur Rashid Talukder said, "The speeding truck hit the motorcycle in front of Aftab Hotel on Nazimuddin Road area, leaving the three riders critically injured. They were rushed to the DMCH around 1:30am and the on-duty doctors declared Suny and Akash dead." Police arrested the driver of the truck, Sheikh Hanif, 50, and also seized the vehicle, the OC said. A case was filed with the Chawkbazar Police Station, he said.
`Hustle and bustle` ease

HAWKER-FREE ROAD: City\'s main thoroughfare wore a clean look on Wednesday morning hours from Paltan to Motijheel Shapla Chattar as hawkers were not allowed to run their business on the footpaths till mid-noon.

Reza Mahmud :

The traditional 'hustle and bustle' centering footpath business at Motijheel Commercial Area in the capital has eased significantly on Wednesday following the ongoing eviction drives of hawkers by the Dhaka South City Corporation.

The pavements of the area were seen free from footpath vendors helping easy movement of pedestrians as well as vehicles on roads from Motijheel to Tikatuli.

Pubic buses and cars on the day could easily pass through the Motijheel Shapla Chattar to Dainik Bangla intersection as a result of a changed situation after the eviction drive.

Vehicles were taking only few minutes to pass through the area on the day instead of around half an hour time in previous days.

But in Gulistan and adjacent areas, the hawkers used to sit for business at noon defying the DSCC's ban.

"Now we can easily pass through from Tikatuli to Motijheel Shapla Chattar as hawkers remained off the pavements and besides main roads. It helped to ease day-time tailbacks making easier way for the vehicles," Sagir Mian, a bus helper, told The New Nation yesterday.

"I used to walk from Tikatuli residence to my Fakirapool office everyday. It takes more than half an hour to reach my office due to footpath occupation by street vendors. But now I found the pavement free. It makes my way easier and prevents waste of time," Abu Taher, a private service holder, told The New Nation.

While talking to this correspondent, many pedestrians expressed their happiness over the DSCC's action and demanded preventing illegal car parking on road in Motijheel Commercial Area.

"We hope the Mayor would not bow down to any pressure from any groups and keep the city streets clean from hawkers and illegal parking," Arif Hossain, another pedestrian, told The New Nation.

When contacted, DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon told The New Nation yesterday that he will take action against illegal parking after completion of ongoing eviction drive against footpath grabbers.

Meanwhile, the DSCC's drive to evict street vendors in Gulistan, Ramna, Motijheel and adjourning areas was on for the fourth consecutive days on Wednesday.

DSCC's executive magistrate Khan Mohammad Nazmus Shoaib led the drive with the help of law-enforcers.

On the otherhand the pavements of Gulistan, Ramna, Paltan and Baitul Mukarram areas were found partially free till 1:00 pm. The hawkers were found playing 'thief-police game' till noon and then they fully opened their shops in pavements.


UN must intervene

Rohingya issue not an internal matter: OIC discusses steps in KL today

Staff Reporter :

The United Nations should intervene in Myanmar's Rakhine State to stop further escalation of violence against Rohingya Muslims and avoid any more genocide like in Cambodia and Rwanda, said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's special envoy to Myanmar.



The conflict which has left at least 86 dead and an estimated 66,000 people fleeing into Bangladesh since it started on October 9, 2016, is no longer an internal issue but of international concern, said Syed Hamid Albar, the OIC's Special Envoy to Myanmar.



The OIC will discuss 'genuine steps' today in Kuala Lumpur what the OIC and the international community should take to address the root causes of violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar, according to a news agency and human rights bodies.



The meeting is expected to urge the Myanmar government to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Rakhine State, address the root causes of the violence, and widen the scope of dialogue among the groups to ensure the return of the displaced Rohingya population to their homes in safety and dignity, the OIC said in a statement ahead of the meeting.



The OIC foreign ministers will hold the 'extraordinary meeting' in the Malaysian capital upon the request of the Malaysian government to discuss the situation of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.



State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam will represent Bangladesh at the OIC meeting and uphold Bangladesh's position, a Foreign Ministry official said



The OIC Special Envoy to Myanmar, Syed Hamid Albar, said the OIC should seek UN intervention. His comments come ahead of a special OIC meeting called by Malaysia on Thursday to discuss measures to deal with the conflict affecting the Rohingya minority, who are predominantly Muslims.



"We don't want to see any more genocide like in Cambodia or Rwanda," Syed Hamid Albar told Reuters in an interview ahead of the meeting in Kuala Lumpur.



The OIC represents 57 states and acts as the collective voice of the Muslim world.



Refugees, residents and human rights groups say, Myanmar soldiers have committed summary executions, raped Rohingya women and burned homes since military operations started in the north of Rakhine State on October 9 last year.



The government of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated, and it insists the strife in Rakhine State, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter.



A Myanmar government spokesman said it will not attend the OIC meet as it is not an Islamic country, but that it had already made its actions clear to ASEAN members at their last meeting in December, and that UN intervention would only end up facing "unwanted resistance from local people".



"So that's why the international community should have a positive approach and understand widely our country's conflict situation," said Zaw Htay, a spokesman for the office of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw.



About 56,000 Rohingya now live in Muslim-majority Malaysia having fled previous unrest in Myanmar.



Malaysia, which is Southeast Asia's third-largest economy, broke the tradition of non-intervention by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by speaking out on the conflict, calling on the 10-member bloc to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against the ethnic group.



Zaw Htay criticized Malaysia for its outspoken position on the conflict, saying the country should manage "its own political crisis" and "avoid encouraging extremism and violence" in Myanmar.



Meanwhile, more than 40 Myanmar-based civil society organizations in a statement on Wednesday called for a "truly independent" international investigation into the situation in Rakhine State, where state-sponsored attacks against Rohingya Muslim civilians have escalated in recent months.



Muslim and Buddhist communities in Rakhine State have faced human rights violations with impunity for decades.



The statement recommends the establishment of a "commission of inquiry to fully assess the totality of the situation in Rakhine State and provide clear recommendations for the current government to effectively address and prevent further problems."



"This initiative is important for the entire country," said Matthew Smith, chief executive officer at Fortify Rights. "It's time for the government to get on board and support the establishment of an impartial and independent inquiry."



The statement comes a day before Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC)-an intergovernmental body of 57 member states-will meet in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the situation of Rohingya in Rakhine State.



The diverse signatories to the statement include women-led organizations, human rights groups, academic institutions, and development organizations working throughout the country and with various ethnic communities.



More than 65,000 Rohingya men, women, and children have fled to Bangladesh since October, joining a longstanding Rohingya refugee population of an estimated half a million people.
Success of the judgement is to be seen in the behaviour of law enforcing agencies

Nazrul Islam, a panel mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation who was in good terms with Mayor Ivy Rahman, with three associates and his driver went missing from Fatullah area of Narayanganj on April 27 of 2014. His lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarker who was following the car of Nazrul Islam, also went missing on the same day with his driver from the same place. Within one week of the event, the dead bodies of the victims were seen floating on the Shitalakshya River on which the Narayanganj District stands on. Two cases were filed in connection with the murders. Nazrul's wife Selina Islam Beauty filed a case against six people, including former councillor Nur Hossain, while Chandan's son-in-law Bijoy Kumar Paul filed the other case against Nazmul Haque partner of an engineering firm and some unknown people. Nazrul's father-in-law Shahidul Islam alleged that (RAB) personnel abducted and killed Nazrul in exchange for Tk 6 crore from local ward councillor Nur Hossain.



Several probe committees were formed by the government, Police and RAB. CID was given the charge to investigate the case as per the directive of the High Court while the government assigned Detective Branch of Police with the task. On November 12 of 2014, the Supreme Court after hearing a petition of attorney general exempted CID from the investigation. More than a year later, on June 4 of 2015, the High Court directed RAB, the government's seven-member probe committee, the inspector general of police and the CID to submit progress reports on their investigations. RAB found 21 of its members including three top officials of RAB-11 unit involved in the incident. The RAB personnel are: Hamidul Haque, Hira Miah, Belal Hossain, Abu Tayab, and Arif Hossain, all of whom are the members of RAB 11.



The three top officials of RAB 11 unit Lt Colonel Tareque Sayeed, Lt Commander Masud Rana and Major Arif Hossain made confessions of their involvement in the case. All the three top officials of RAB, including Tareque Sayeed, who is the son-in-law of Food and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury were sent to forced retirement by the military forces of the country. Nur Hossain, the prime accused in the case who fled to India after the murders took place, was arrested in Kolkata on June 14, 2015. And the other one (Nazmul Haque) is missing after November 2014 in the same place in India. In November 12, 2015, Indian government handed over Nur Hossain to Bangladesh.



After over a year of investigation, the Detective Branch of Police pressed a charge sheet against 35 people on April 8, 2015. On February 8, after a number of hearings, the Narayanganj court indicted all the 35 names of the charge sheet for the seven murder incident. The formal trial of the case in Narayanganj began on February 2016. On January 16, 2017, the court awarded death penalty to 26 people including former Awami League leader Nur Hossain and 16 ex-RAB officials including Tareque Sayeed, Arif Hossain, and Masud Rana in the seven-murder case. Nine other associates of Nur Hossain and ex-RAB members were also sentenced to different terms in the verdict. The judge on his verdict, said that the charges of abduction, murder, concealing the bodies, conspiracy and destroying evidences were proved beyond any doubt.



This prompted Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha to say on January 17th that no offenders, however big they may be, would get impunity. He said that while the murders have stunned the nation the offenders were put on trial due to the timely interference of the Supreme Court and this act increased the faith of the people in the judiciary. CJ Sinha said the media have been playing an important role in the judiciary's development and implementation of its reforming activities by publishing and broadcasting timely reports. The Chief Justice congratulated the press, journalists, the print and electronic media on behalf of the judiciary.



While peoples faith in the judiciary may have been restored it took a thorough involvement by both the press and the judiciary to ensure that justice would ultimately occur. The fact remains that the incident should never have occurred in the first place. RAB was created to combat crimes and it was allowed to go unchecked for many years as criminals were mysteriously killed in crossfires. This created a culture of impunity and a moral and judicial vacuum which allowed some of its members to think that they could get away with anything. But it should never have occurred in the first place as its members were supposed to come from the most disciplined forces of the country--the army and navy, among others.



The success of the judgement is to be seen how much strict the law enforcement agencies have become in enforcing law. The example of some RAB members must be held as horrifying and they have to do their utmost to improve their image. It is also not right to say that punishing the few for terrible crimes is enough for improving the justice system in protecting the innocent ones.


The Undead Archives

I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world.
THREES ARE WILD: From left, Vanessa Anseman, Susan Theall and Candyce Perret

[Editor's Note: Candidate Theall has clarified to The IND that she did not read directly from the court documents and transcripts when she spoke to the Lafayette Trial Lawyers Association last week, though she confirms that she had in her possession the court documents, which she had pored over in preparation for the meeting. This story has been corrected to reflect that misunderstanding between the reporter and Theall.]

With Justice Jimmy Genovese having taken his spot on the Louisiana Supreme Court, the race to fill his seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeal is on, and it cold be a bruising battle  even by standards set in recent Louisiana judicial elections.

Candyce Perret, Susan Theall and Vanessa Waguespack Anseman filed qualifying papers on successive days last week for the March 25 special election, setting the field of three Republican women seeking Genoveses unexpired term. Genovese's former Division B seat covers Acadia, Allen, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion parishes; all three women live in Lafayette.

Perret, an Avoyelles Parish native, is the wife of Lafayette businessman Hunter Perret and the daughter-in-law of respected attorney and former head of the Louisiana Board of Ethics Hank Perret. Perrets campaign ran a half-page newspaper ad announcing her candidacy, burnished with the names of more than 140 people she says have endorsed her, including Louisiana House Speaker Taylor Barras, Democratic state Sens. Eric Lafleur and Gerald Boudreaux, Republican state Reps. Stuart Bishop and Dustin Miller, and Trent Brignac and Bo Duhe, district attorneys from the 13th and 16th judicial district courts, respectively. Those same people (some are couples, making the list much longer) also are listed on her websites endorsements page.

The impressive list gave Perrets candidacy an air of inevitability.

Theall, the former 15th Judicial District Family Court judge, though, sent tremors through the legal community when she spoke on Monday, Jan. 9, at a meeting of the Lafayette Trial Lawyers Association. Sourcing court documents and transcripts of cases involving Hunter Perrets Louisiana Specialty Institute and allegations of fraudulent medical billing by the firm, Theall declared her intention to run to defend her profession.

According to a 2008 medical industry story announcing its affiliation with Bayou Medical Management  which provides financing for personal injury attorneys  LSI is a surgical specialty facility that Hunter Perret, identified as a "medical venture capitalist," designed to cater to attorneys and their clients.

**

Finally, defendants have learned that LSI arbitrarily added additional charges to the actual bills of Stelly's medical providers on a routine basis and then billed the charges as its own.  allegations in attorney Ian MacDonald's 2013 motion seeking to have medical expenses billed by Hunter Perret's company thrown out of court**

The cases Theall referenced to her peers are from the 15th and 16th judicial district courts. Its unclear whether any of the cases remain open.

Theall discussed a 2013 motion in a traffic accident case in Vermilion Parish where insurance defense attorney Ian MacDonald of Jones Walker moved to have the court throw out medical expenses billed by LSI in the case. The bills cited in MacDonalds motion, which The IND has obtained, covered medical services ostensibly provided to plaintiff Audrey J. Stelly by 18 institutions and medical professionals in the treatment of injuries Stelly suffered in the motor vehicle accident.

Since LSIs submission of the bills, MacDonald wrote, Defendants have learned that some or all of the aforementioned providers of services to [the plaintiff] have no connection with LSI.

MacDonald, in his motion, stated that one of the doctors whose services were included in the charges submitted in the LSI billing confirmed that he had no affiliation or contractual relationship with LSI. "He has no explanation why his services were billed through LSI," the attorney wrote. Another doctor included in the LSI billing, according to MacDonalds motion, denied having assisted on a surgery as indicated in LSIs billing.

MacDonald continued: "Finally, defendants have learned that LSI arbitrarily added additional charges to the actual bills of Stelly's medical providers on a routine basis and then billed the charges as its own."

And attorney MacDonald concluded: "LSI's bills represent nothing more than a misrepresentation of its involvement in Stelly's treatment and an attempt to profiteer."

The judges ruling in favor of MacDonalds motion in that 2013 case barred the LSI billing from consideration in the case. The ruling in that case subsequently became part of a 2011 St. Martin Parish personal injury case in the 16th Judicial District Court. That case went to trial in 2014.

Theall says she cited the transcript of Hunter Perrets testimony in that case during which he was questioned by corporate defense attorney Bryan Scofield of Scofield & Rivera on medical billing for treatments of injuries connected to that case.

As in the case handled by MacDonald, court records show that the issue boiled down to the accuracy of medical records and LSIs billing for them, including some of the same medical providers from in the earlier case.

Theall tells The IND she also referenced one former LSI physician who confirmed in court testimony that he went to the U.S. Attorney and the FBI about unauthorized use of his electronic signature by LSI. In another 2013 sworn affidavit, a different physician declared that he did not personally see the patient. I did not personally provide any medical treatment or services to the patient. Further, I did not provide any opinions to help treat the patient.

In a telephone interview, Theall says that testimony puts Candyce Perret, who served of counsel at LSI, at the center of an operation Theall believes undermines public confidence in the legal profession.

Theall says she only got into the race after 15th Judicial District Court Judge John Trahan decided not to run. She says thats when she started hearing more about LSIs questionable medical billing. LSI is still operating at 501 W. St. Mary Blvd.

In her campaign literature, Candyce Perret says she is general counsel and co-owner, along with her husband, of The Perret Group, which specializes in real estate, health care and oil and gas. In response the Thealls remarks, she issued the following statement to The IND:

Im glad to respond to questions anyone has about my husbands company, including the facts of these cases that originated before I came on board. Im disappointed any candidate would lead with attacks before even qualifying as a candidate, and I hope this is not the kind of campaign we can expect. Our voters deserve better. I intend to run on my qualifications as an attorney with diverse legal experience, small business owner and former city prosecutor with backing from law enforcement.

Vanessa Ansemans LinkedIn profile describes her as a Full Time Mother, Community Volunteer and Attorney. Shes also been a yoga instructor at River Ranchs City Club since 2012. The sometime attorneys entry in the race (she lists her most recent legal employment as a seven-year stint at Liskow & Lewis that ended in 2013) came late Friday afternoon and is fraught with potential intrigue.

Her husband, Norman "Skeet" Anseman III, is a partner in Jones Walkers Lafayette office, which is headed by Ian MacDonald. Jones Walker started making a bigger name for itself in the Lafayette market in 2008 when it merged with Perret Doise, a law firm originally co-founded by Hank Perret, Candyce Perrets father-in-law. (Perret had left the firm about two years before the merger, and it had been renamed Longman Russo).

In case youre not yet convinced just how ugly this race is going to be (and not to bury what could very well have been the lede of this story), local political consultant Joe Castille is working for the Anseman campaign.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Thunderstorms, some strong early, becoming clear after midnight. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 42F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms, some strong early, becoming clear after midnight. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 42F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
NEXT POST

SpamCop The majority of email marketing solutions allow you to make these types of tests. If yours does not, it is time to start searching for a new software package or another service provider. Rule No 5: Follow the rules. Swarmed by offers, Bernie Sanders is currently assessing future choices. The rules about which I speak here, are international laws that will prevent your emails may or not be labelled as spam. Some things that you need to do are: include your physical address in each email, include an easy way to unsubscribe from your list in each email, remove subscribers that den unsubscribe from their list within 14 days, remove all data of persons giving unsubscribe from your list. These are just some of the rules regarding email. One last thing: be extremely cautious about the lists you buy! In the majority of cases the names and emails are taken without the permission of the people. So when your emails are starting to show in the tray of input, they're going to think that you are a spammer, and can even inform your ISP or organization anti-spam like SpamCop. Even though the people on the list gave permission to get in touch with them, most are simply not your niche market, and are not interested in your offer. And why have problems emailing with someone is never going to buy something to you? Well, this is our top 5 smart rules to start with email marketing. Just remember, if you follow the rules and it is a good email citizen, then you can grow a responsive list of subscribers who will be eager to read your emails. And a responsive email list is equal to more sales for you. Original author and source of the article.
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.
HARRISBURG  The Harrisburg man accused of killing his wife last year and burning her remains was denied a venue change for his murder trial in a court appearance Tuesday.

Brian Burns, a local physician, was arrested in March and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege he killed his wife, Carla Burns, burned her body and spread the ashes to hide the crime. He also faces charges for allegedly soliciting the kidnapping of Saline County States Attorney Mike Henshaw while in jail.

In a motion, Brian Burns' defense attorney, Bryan Drew, said he believed his client would face jury prejudice were his trial to be conducted in Saline County. He said between March 8 and Aug. 31, there were 256 news stories filed through various media outlets, which he claimed have tainted the local jury pool.

Citing a survey conducted by a third party, Drew said of those surveyed, which met the guidelines of potential jurors, nearly 80 percent knew of the details of the case, and many could name the parties involved. He said many had already established an opinion on his client's guilt.

Drew said reports that Burns had been charged in an alleged attempted kidnapping of the state's attorney also brought notoriety to Burns and the case. Drew said notoriety alone was not grounds enough to change the venue of the trial, but argued that because the notoriety seemed to have already influenced the potential jury pool, it was a factor in the case.

Assistant States Attorney Jason Olson said it was premature to make the judgement that the jury pool in Saline County had been tainted, adding that this should be determined during jury selection. He also cited an Illinois Supreme Court Case that stated that exposure to a case is not enough to disqualify a trials venue. He said jurors did not need to be completely ignorant of the case to qualify.

Responding to the survey, he said less than 1 percent of the more than 16,000 residents of Saline County were surveyed. Sixty-one of 67 people surveyed were used in the results.

Judge Walden Morris agreed with Olson. He said it was too early to decide. Morris said Drew should ascertain prejudice during juror interviews, Olson said.

Drew presented a second motion, asking Morris to reduce Burns bond to $500,000 or less. Drew said Burns did not, as it was previously testified, present a flight risk. Because of his long history in Saline County, family in the area and lack of funds needed to flee, Drew argued Burns bond should be reduced. He reminded the court that bond is used not as a punitive tool, but as security that court dates are met.

Olson said based on interviews with Burns in which he is quoted as saying he could leave the area and never be found again, he did pose a flight risk. He added that with the added charge of attempted aggravated kidnapping he was still a danger to the community.

Judge Morris also denied this motion.

Burns is set to appear in court again March 2 for his final pretrial hearing.
A 50-year-old Kentucky man was sentenced to eight years in state prison after he pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to predatory criminal sexual assault of a child younger than 13.

Christopher D. Smith, of Morganfield, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to the Class X felony in Gallatin County Circuit Court, according to a news release from the Gallatin County State's Attorney office.

Smith admitted to the allegations in a Dec. 14 charge alleging that he committed an act of sexual penetration with a child under the age of 13 while Smith was over the age of 17 in May 2006.

Smith will also have to register as a child sexual predator for the rest of his life and faces parole after released from prison for a period of 3 years to natural life.

The case was investigated by the Illinois State Police Zone 7 Investigations, the Gallatin County Sheriffs Department and the Shawneetown Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the Gallatin County States Attorney Office.

 The Southern
MARION  A new bill introduced in the Illinois Senate would, if passed, impose a tax on sugary beverage sales in the state.

Senate Bill 9 imposes a tax on distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages, syrups or powders sold or offered for sale to a retailer for sale to a consumer. It places a penny-per-ounce tax on such products that contain more than 5 grams of caloric sweetener.

The bill was introduced a week ago by State Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights. If passed, the bill is expected to generate $560 million annually for the state.

According to a synopsis of the bill on the Illinois General Assembly website, 98 percent of revenue gathered from the tax would be added to the state's general fund. The remaining 2 percent would be placed in the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund for the administrative costs of the Department of Revenue.

If passed, the bill will take effect May 1.

The bill would also require distributors to acquire annual permits for sales.

John Rains, executive vice-president and general manager of Pepsi Mid-America in Marion, said the bill's passage would double prices for customers.

"I went to lunch today and I was talking to an owner of a restaurant and I was asking him, I said, 'Do you know that if (the bill) passes, the price you pay for your product is going to double,' and he was somewhat aware of the law but didn't know the impact," Rains said.

"He would be taxed $38.40 on a purchase that's roughly about $60. So it is devastating."

As frequent retailers themselves, Rains said, schools might also feel the sting.

"Schools rely on businesses in the area to support a lot of their programs and businesses won't be in a position to be as supportive," he said. "And the schools themselves if they're going to (use the products) for resale are going to be taxed."

Overall, Rains said he would prefer legislators to focus on spending.

"Rather than continue to put burdensome taxes on the consumers, they need to look at running the state in a more professional and businesslike manner," he said. "You just can't tax, you have to look at how you're spending money."

As for Elissa Bassler, CEO of the Illinois Public Health Institute and executive director of the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity, the bill gets her full support.

"We're very supportive of a tax on sugary drinks like as described in SB 9, in fact we've been working on that for a few years," Bassler said.

Bassler also mentioned her hopes for legislators to use its generated revenue for community programs that promote a healthier lifestyle and reduce chronic disease and health care costs.

"We're also interested in seeing that the resources are dedicated to health," Bassler said.

"So (that will include) putting some of the resources toward community health improvements for communities, health and nutrition programs, and also funding into Medicaid."
Lets distinguish fact from fiction and separate out whining from winning. Vladimir Putin did not elect Donald Trump to serve as the next president of the United States. The American public did.

Like it or not, Trump is our official president-elect, and its past time for brokenhearted Clinton voters to accept this reality and help our country move forward.

The fixation of some people to desperately look for a Russian scapegoat to blame for Trumps presidential election victory is further deepening already hyper-polarized political divides, a painful wedge that chips away at U.S. solidarity and undercuts the notion of a United States of America.

On Jan. 20, Trump will take the presidential oath of office as a result of a strategic, successful and laser-focused plan that targeted the states Trump needed to win the electoral vote.

Americans who preferred other presidential candidates to Trump should accept the official outcome of the election results, and stop woefully harping on Hillary Clintons win of the popular vote. Its not how our system works, and not a good look for Democrats.

Instead of dwelling and laying blame on others, Americans must not lose sight of the bigger picture: Our country cast its votes on Election Day, those votes were tallied, Trump won and is going to be serving as the next president.

To be clear, there is zero evidence incriminating the Russians in hacking American voting machines and thereby swaying the election. There is no proof to show that a single actual votes cast by an American was tampered with or impacted by the Russians.

Whether Russian hackers were behind the robbery and publication of DNC emails or not, commentary and speculation about Russian influence is simply that: commentary and speculation. Russian leader Putin did not cast a single vote in the American election, and not one of our intelligence agencies has made the audacious claim that Russians actually impacted the vote count.

According to an assessment publicly released by the U.S. intelligence community on Jan. 6, Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump. So what? Every country has preferences based upon policy positions and personalities of other nations leaders. Again, that does not provide even the most remote basis upon which to claim that Moscow impacted the number of American votes cast in favor of Trump.

What matters is the mathematical bottom line. Clinton lost the critical votes in the key states necessary to win the election. Game over.

It is time for some disgruntled voters and dishonest media pundits to stop this feckless speculation and make a concerted effort to transition to this next American chapter under President-elect Trump. The mainstream media should take some responsibility for continuing to stir this emotional pot.

The press, which has openly expressed its disdain toward Trump, continues its relentless obsession with churning out story after story and headline after headline alleging that Russian hacking is somehow the reason for Trumps win.

Clearly, the haughty prognosticators who were dead wrong with their predictions are still reeling from their colossal failure to accurately forecast the election results.

Most recently, irresponsible media outlets have begun leaking unverified stories alleging that the Russians are armed with compromising information related to personal information on Trump, as well as some financial matters.

Trump has forcefully denied these allegations, classifying these false claims as part of a witch hunt targeting him.

Despite numerous and significant questions surrounding the lack of substantial evidence implicating Russia, President Barack Obama did not hesitate to sanction two Russian intelligence services and expel 35 Russian officials in the U.S. last month, based on allegations that Russia launched cyberattacks against the United States. Yet, last year, Obama chose to lift biting economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the worlds largest state sponsor of terrorism with a clear track record and proof of lying, cheating and aggressively pursuing its dangerous anti-Western goals of nuclear terrorism. On his way out the door, President Obama is leaving a shameful foreign policy legacy behind.

As Trump prepares to enter the White House, and with the press corps continuing to try to read into the intentions of the Russian government at the highest levels, we are left with one indisputable fact: Americans, and not Russia, elected Donald J. Trump to be the next president of the United States of America.
A presidents legacy cannot be accurately assessed at the end of one or even two terms. That is  and is not  the case with Barack Obama.

The nations first African-American president will be remembered for much more than such, but the very fact he made history with his 2008 electoral triumph and re-election in 2012 will mark his time in the Oval Office as transformational.

As president, Obama has been particularly inspirational to minorities and young people. African-Americans openly stated in 2008 that they never thought they would see the day a black man was president. And throughout the Obama presidency, many African-American leaders have talked of the positive nature of being able to tell young people  of all races  to look no further than Obama to see what can be achieved.

This past week, Obama made his farewell speech in Chicago, again displaying the speaking skills that have served him so well from his political beginnings to completion of a second term in the nations highest office. And again Obama displayed the humility that has characterized him as a president and is in such contrast to the in-your-face style of the incoming president, Donald Trump.

To his credit, Obama has publicly traveled the high road, telling those booing Trump during the presidents speech in Chicago that was inappropriate.

No, no, no, no, no," Obama said. The "hallmark" of the nation's democracy is "the peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next," he said.

Yet Obama is surely distressed beyond any publicly stated words about Trump taking over in the White House, particularly with the new president promising to undo so many of the programs and prerogatives of the past eight years.

For his part, charting such a course is exactly what Trump promised during the campaign, telling America that Obama was too liberal in every aspect of governance at home and weak in his foreign policy. In red states such as South Carolina and swing states in the 2016 election, a majority of voters agreed, rejecting the presidents endorsement of Hillary Clinton and his plea to carry own progressive policies with a Democratic president.

Orangeburg Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, a Democratic National Committee member, says an honest evaluation of Obamas presidency is in order. She said constant attacks on Obama from the beginning have led to too few headlines about accomplishments such as reducing the budget deficit and fostering job growth. And the presidents health care plan has provided care to millions previously without insurance.

She rejects that Obama has been a weak president as Trump and other critics contend.

His leadership reflects the 21st century, she said of the Obama foreign policy designed to build a bridge with other countries. Rather than war, he pushed sharing American values abroad while respecting the values of others.

I want someone who will give thought before going to war, and that was the Obama way, Cobb-Hunter said.

History will give him credit, Cobb-Hunter said.

How much or how little will be gauged by developments of the future as well as those during the eight years of the Obama administration that are coming to an end.
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By Trend





President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Prime Minister, Minister of State of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel.

Prime Minister, Minister of State of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel said his country was interested in boosting relations with Azerbaijan in various fields, as well as in the areas of finance and investment.

Xavier Bettel said there is successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in the field of air cargo, adding the areas of ICT, space, industry, banking, and finance developed in his country. The Prime Minister said his country was ready to the cooperation with Azerbaijan in these fields.

President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan was interested in cooperation with Luxembourg in various fields. The head of state said the special attention was paid to the development of ICT in the country. President Ilham Aliyev said government allocated great investment to this field.

The head of state said space industry developed in Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev noted the country was interested in cooperation with Luxembourg in these fields.

During the conversation, they exchanged views on the prospects of cooperation in fields of mutual investment, high-technologies.




By Trend





President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard in Davos on January 17.

President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard extended congratulations on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of establishment of Azerbaijan`s state independence. The President said relations between the two countries developed in various fields. President Doris Leuthard said cooperation between Azerbaijan and Switzerland have covered new fields, adding successful relations were established in the financial sector. The President said both countries fruitfully cooperated in the field of energy.

President Ilham Aliyev recalled with pleasure the visit of President Doris Leuthard to the country. The head of state said successful partnership existed between Azerbaijan and Switzerland.

President Ilham Aliyev spoke about the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan in various fields, as well as the works done in the country in eliminating the impacts of sharp decline of oil prices in the world and the development of economy and diversification of economy and export.

The head of state said the country has great transit opportunities. President Ilham Aliyev noted Azerbaijan turned to an important transport transit centre.

During the meeting, existence of good cooperation between the two countries in the field of railway was emphasized.

They exchanged views on prospects of cooperation in the TAP and TANAP projects, as well as in the fields of investment, finance, credit, agriculture, pharmaceutics.












By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

The Austrian OSCE Chairmanship supports the efforts undertaken by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in line with their statement on the return of the body of Azerbaijani soldier, Austrias Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs told Trend on January 17.

The Austrian OSCE Chairmanship thinks that humanitarian questions should be dealt as such, the ministry added.

A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on December 29, 2016. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders and suffered heavy losses. During the fighting, Azerbaijani serviceman Chingiz Gurbanov went missing. Later, it was clarified that he was killed by the Armenian Armed Forces and his body remained on the territory controlled by the Armenian armed forces.

To receive back the dead body of the Azerbaijani soldier from Armenia, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry officially appealed to the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), OSCE Minsk Group, as well as to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Despite numerous insistent appeals of international structures regarding the return of Chingiz Gurbanovs body, the Armenian government still keeps the dead body.

Armenian Armed Forces are still holding the body of an Azerbaijani serviceman killed in the fighting, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group  Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France and Richard Hoagland of the US  said in a statement from January 9.

Violations of the ceasefire are unacceptable and are contrary to the acknowledged commitments of the parties, who bear full responsibility, not to use force. The co-chairs also urge the return, without delay, of human remains, in accord with the agreements of the Astrakhan Summit of 2010, bearing in mind the exclusively humanitarian nature of this issue.

In the comments to Trend, the Austrian side reported that the OSCE Chairmanship actively supports the work of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group through the personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, as well as the special representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Gunther Bachler.

Following its long-standing tradition as a neutral country, Austria stands ready to facilitate or host a meeting of the sides, the ministry 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. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

Armenias refusal to return the body of the killed Azerbaijani soldier, despite quite clear mechanism and procedures on handover of the bodies, is a flagrant violation of the norms of international humanitarian law, human rights and the Geneva Conventions, which Armenia joined as well.

Lieutenant General Madat Guliyev, the chairman of the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People and head of the State Security Service (SSS), announced about this as he met with Elena Ajmone Sessera, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Azerbaijan.

Guliyev noted that President Ilham Aliyev is closely following the issue of the return of the body of soldier Chingiz Gurbanov, who was killed in an armed clash at the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, and has given necessary instructions in this regard.

Guliyev said the State Commission appreciates the efforts of the ICRC and OSCE Minsk Group on the return of the body.

Given the fact that Armenia has also previously practiced such inhuman actions as keeping bodies for a long time, the State Commission urges the relevant international organizations to prevent such cases and demands Armenia to comply with the requirements of the Geneva Conventions, the SSS head said.

Stressing the constructive cooperation between the State Commission and the ICRC, Guliyev expressed hope for further development of this cooperation.

Sessera, for her part, said that the ICRC delegations in Azerbaijan and Armenia continue joint efforts for the soonest return of Gurbanovs body.

Highlighting the work done jointly by the ICRC Delegation in Azerbaijan and the State Commissions Working Group in 2016, Sessera gave detailed information about the projects planned for 2017.

Moreover, the parties exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest at the meeting, which was held in the atmosphere of mutual understanding.

A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on December 29, 2016. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders and suffered heavy losses. During the fighting, Azerbaijani serviceman Chingiz Gurbanov went missing. Later, it was clarified that he was killed by the Armenian Armed Forces and his body remained on the territory controlled by the Armenian armed forces.

To receive back the dead body of the Azerbaijani soldier from Armenia, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry officially appealed to the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), OSCE Minsk Group, as well as to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Despite numerous insistent appeals of international structures regarding the return of Chingiz Gurbanovs body, the Armenian side still keeps the dead body.
By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

Austrias Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, whose country assumed this year's rotating chairmanship of the OSCE, said the organization needed Russia to support its endeavors, Sputnik reported.

"Russia can play a decisive role in fostering constructive dialogue to peacefully resolve the current crises, he said.

"Russia can help ensure the OSCEs ability to deal with the challenges facing the participating states by supporting measures to give it sufficient resources to fulfill its wide-ranging mandate.

The Austrian minister will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on January 18.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the situation in Syria, Ukraine and Transnistria are among topics of the meeting.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.
Oman-based Gulf Mining Group plans to invest in a substantive portfolio of mining-related ventures including a potash mine over the 2017-2018 timeframe, a report said.



Planned initiatives include investments in a new calcium carbonate project in Sohar, a ferro-manganese smelter in Freezone Sohar, a manganese beneficiation plant, a gypsum board manufacturing facility in Salalah, and a world-scale sulphate of potash venture in Duqm, Mohammed Al Shabibi, group vice chairman was quoted as saying in an Oman Observer report.



A new 120,000-tonnes-per-annum calcium carbonate project is proposed to be set up at Sohar Industrial Estate, the report said.



Limestone as feedstock for the plant will be sourced from one of Gulf Minings large portfolio of licensed mines. The facility, set for launch in 2018, is expected to create over 100 direct jobs.



Gulf Mining Group is in the process of developing a potash mine and building a plant in central Oman, the vice-chairman said, noting that full production is slated by 2020 with a pilot facility set to come on stream next year. Raw potash production, initially targeted at 500,000 tonnes per annum, will be scaled up to 1 million tonnes over a five-year period.



These facilities could become one of the largest potash plants in the region with a minimum investment of approximately RO115 million ($297 million) over the minimum estimated project lifespan of 20 years, said Al Shabibi. An estimated 500-plus direct jobs are anticipated, while on the downstream side, the employment generation potential is estimated at 1,000  2,000-plus jobs.


McDermott Arabia, a leading engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contractor, has appointed Dustin Whiteley as the general manager for its Saudi Arabia business.



Dustin, who holds a degree in structural engineering from New Mexico State University, has over 25 years experience in the oil and gas industry.



He joins McDermott from Halliburton, where he worked in several senior roles across the globe including US, Indonesia, UK, Thailand and most recently as country manager for Saudi Arabia.



Linh Austin, VP and general manager, Middle East and Caspian area, said: We are very pleased to welcome Dustin to McDermott. His extensive experience in business development, projects and operations combined with his in-depth knowledge of the local market will be invaluable as we continue to focus on and grow our business in Saudi Arabia.



McDermott has extensive experience offshore Saudi Arabia, having worked in the region for over 50 years.



In 2015, the company won a lumpsum contract from Saudi Aramco for brownfield work which was the largest single award for McDermotts Middle East Area operations in company history.



More recently the firm landed an EPCI contract for four jackets and three gas observation platforms, the third fast-track project they have been awarded by Saudi Aramco in the past 18 months.



On his new role, Dustin said: "I am very excited to be joining McDermott. Its reputation for safety and quality is second to none and it is an exciting time for the business as they continue to grow in the region."



"I am looking forward to advancing our plans in Saudi Arabia, which includes a strong focus on supporting Saudi Aramcos drive for localization through the IKTVA program," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Honeywell, a technology and manufacturing leader, has announced the launch of the BW Clip4, a new four-gas, portable monitor with a two-year runtime, in the Middle Eastern market.



The fit and forget portable monitor once turned on can operate continuously for two years without the need to change sensors or charge batteries, helping customers boost safety compliance and reduce maintenance costs, said the company in a statement.



With safety and sustainability a priority of regional government agendas, the non-charging BW Clip4 is an energy efficient life-saving gas detecting technology suitable for a wide range of industries including oil and gas, wastewater management, manufacturing, construction, pharmaceuticals and other applications, stated Honeywell.



The instrument is cheaper to own and operate than other solutions on the market, and the technology significantly reduces maintenance costs that are usually associated with fleets of portable gas detectors by eliminating repair work and the need to stock additional sensors and spare units, it added.



Moreover, because it is always on, the clip helps drive safety compliance by assuring that workers wearing the device are always protected, said the company.



Bishoy Gerguis, portable gas detection leader for Honeywell Industrial Safety, Middle East, Turkey and Africa (Meta), said: The new instrument operates on a fit and forget cycle  simply turn it on once and replace the detector two years later when the unit prompts you to do so.



The low-maintenance solution offers a whole new combination of benefits in multi-gas detection that haven not been possible until now: two years of battery runtime without re-charging or changing batteries, small size and ease-of-use, the functionality of a multi-gas detector, and improved safety compliance at a time when regional safety regulations are becoming stricter, he noted.



Using non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology, previously available only in fixed-gas detectors from Honeywell Analytics, the BW Clip4 consumes 1,000-times less battery power than a catalytic bead (pellistor) sensor, the traditional technology used to detect flammable gases in a portable device, it added.  TradeArabia News Service
The UAE Ministry of Economy officials recently signed a deal with its Japanese counterparts on key aspects concerning innovation and development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the UAE.



The agreement aims to promote joint initiatives, knowledge and technology transfer, exchange of experiences, and the streamlining of business operations of SMEs across the country, said a statement from the ministry.



The initiative is in line with the ministrys agenda for enhancing and expanding this important sector so that it can better support the national economy and raise the UAEs regional and international competitiveness, it said.



The memorandum was signed by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy and Hiroshige Seko, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.



Also present at the signing ceremony were Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Saleh, undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade and Industry; Juma Mohammed Al Kait, UAE assistant undersecretary for Foreign Trade; Abdulla Sultan Alfan Alshamsi, assistant undersecretary for Industrial Affairs, and a number of senior ministry officials.



The Japanese delegation comprised Kanji Fujiki, ambassador of Japan to the UAE, and a number of Japanese economic officials and diplomats.



Moreover, another agreement was signed between the RAK Investment Authority (Rakia) and Takenaka Middle East, on the sidelines of the event for setting up a joint venture manufacturing plant for anti-rust material in the emirate.



Yasser Abdullah Al Ahmad, head of government and institutional relations for Rakia, signed the memorandum.



Al Mansoori said that the economic relations between the UAE and Japan serves as an important model of joint cooperation characterised by a clear vision and pioneering development plans aimed at realising the aspirations of the two countries.



He also noted that SMEs form an important sector with the potential to significantly increase cooperation as a vital element of the business and economic agendas of both countries.



Al Mansoori pointed out that the SME sector currently accounts for more than 60 per cent of the UAEs gross domestic product (GDP) and that the country is keen to further expand this figure to around 70 per cent by 2021 under the national agenda.



He also referred to innovation as a key driver for the sector, apart from being one of the countrys pillars for sustainable development.



Additionally, the UAE official explained that the close ties between the UAE and Japan are reflected in the continued growth of trade volume between the two countries particularly in recent years.



According to him, Japan was the UAEs sixth largest trading partner in 2015, with their total bilateral non-oil foreign trade put at $14.7 billion.



Non-oil foreign trade during the first half of 2016 stood at around $7.1 billion, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia-based Al Salem Johnson Controls (York), a leading provider of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, security systems and controls, showcased its latest energy efficient innovations at the HVACR Saudi Expo 2017, which concluded yesterday (January 17), in the kingdom.



York displayed its latest state-of-the-art products and solutions, particularly air conditioning systems, chillers, and air handling units during the expo at Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events.



These products are locally manufactured and assembled at the companys factory in Jeddah, using its global technologies and following its standards, said a statement from York.



A wide range of York products are being distributed in the Saudi market, as well as exported to overseas markets in the Gulf, as well as some Asian and African countries, it said.



The company seeks to be a key player in the kingdoms vision to achieving a sustainable economy and diversifying resources.



In light that the HVAC solutions consume 70 per cent of the kingdoms energy, the companys drives its expertise and efforts towards innovating and developing smart HVAC energy efficient solutions and control systems, it added.



During the expo, York presented educational workshops focusing on energy efficiency, addressing this vital issue by different topics; the first discussed speed control methodology to different types of chiller technologies, which save up to 30 per cent of energy, ensuring reduced electricity bills round the year, said a statement.



The second discussed the concept of Energy as Services Company Model (ESCO), which provides a broad range of energy solutions, showcasing a detailed case study. Lastly, the third reviewed emerging technologies for energy efficient buildings.



Dr Mohanad Alshaikh, CEO, Al Salem Johnson Controls, said: We are committed to finding solutions that help reduce energy consumption; in line with the Kingdoms Vision 2030, which prioritises energy conservation.



We seek to remain the leading provider of energy efficient solutions, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
State oil giant Saudi Aramco sees an equilibrium returning to the oil market in the first half of this year, after a rollercoaster ride in prices in recent years, said a report.



Opec in November agreed to cut production by 1.2 million barrels a day from January 1, in an attempt to boost oil prices after they plummeted by more than half, reported Arab News.



Amin H. Nasser, head of Saudi Aramco, said he sees the market balancing.



"The recent agreement I think it is stabilizing the market, the market is balancing. We are hoping by the first half of 2017 there will be an equilibrium, and there will be a growth. Because demand, what we are seeing, is strong. There will be a need for more resources to come," stated Nasser.



He was speaking at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.



Khalid Al Falih, Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources said that setting oil prices at high levels was no longer feasible.



Certainly were not in the business of setting a price $100, $60 or $70 is no longer a realistic expectation. Some of the Opec member countries may desire this, but we certainly cannot do it, he added.
Iran plans to hold a major international tender for LNG projects in the near future, the managing director of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) was quoted as saying in an Iran Daily report.



The NIOC has been in talks with a number of major firms to attract more foreign investment in LNG projects, Ali Kardor told Tasnim News Agency.



The oil ministry is conducting preliminary studies on diversifying gas export routes, he revealed.






Tilal Liwa Hotel, situated on the edge of Rub Al Khali Desert in Abu Dhabis Empty Quarter, welcomes the Chinese Lunar Year, and invites residents and guests to indulge in colorful festivities at the heart of the desert.



The year 2017 is considered the Year of the Fire Rooster and from January 27 to 28, Tilal Liwa Hotel offers overnight stays from Dh599 ($163) with buffet breakfast and Chinese themed buffet dinner. Toss to an auspicious start and have a gastronomical feast at Al Badiya Restaurant where guests can relish in tantalizing Chinese dishes and foods that bring good fortune throughout the year.



Khaled Sharabassy, general manager, Tilal Liwa Hotel said: The Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday in China, and we love to share the excitement on that day by offering to all individuals, whether the Chinese people or Arabs and foreigners to experience the colorful Chinese delights we are offering on this occasion, and make a little tour to China.



In China, New Year's Eve is seen as an important date, with families gathering together for a reunion dinner. Firecrackers are then let off to signal the end of last year and the beginning of next. The day is traditionally marked with the giving of gifts and celebrations with family, as well as looking to what the sign of the Rooster will mean for the year ahead. Rooster gold coins, which have 99.99 per cent purity, are expected to be exchanged between members of the family.



The Chinese New Year offer is subject to 10 per cent service charge, 6 per cent tourism fee, 4 per cent municipality fee and Dh15 ($4) municipality room fee per room per night.



For enquiries and reservation, please contact Tilal Liwa Hotel at TLHOTEL (85 46835), email [email protected] or enter the promotional code SP-CHINA-BB while booking on the brand website. - TradeArabia News Service


Sabre Corporation is supporting Emirates airline with industry-leading technology that personalises the travel experience for consumers by enabling them to easily purchase a range of customised fares.



Sabre and Emirates have also signed a new long-term global distribution agreement to make the airline's fares available to travel agents globally who use Sabre.



Emirates, the world's largest international airline, operates more than 3,600 flights per week to over 150 destinations across six continents. Sabre's technology will enable the airline to effectively market and sell its expansive roster of fares globally through the Sabre Travel Marketplace, reaching more than 425,000 travel agents across the world.



Sabre Branded Fares enables travel agents to meet a growing demand and expectation from consumers for more personalised products and services. Using Sabre's enhanced solution, travel agents can now provide travellers with Emirates' range of branded fares, which enable passengers to choose fares based on what is most important to them  such as purchasing a budget fare, earning the most air miles or having the greatest degree of flexibility.



"Emirates airline is a brand that invests significantly in differentiating the traveller experience, and personalisation plays a central role in this strategy," said Dean Bibb, vice president EMEA at Sabre. "The airline's new range of branded fares offers passengers more choices and greater control over their travel experience, which often means happier travellers and higher satisfaction. Helping our airline customers put travellers at the heart of their operation is a major focus for Sabre and our investment efforts."



Travel agents using Sabre can now offer clients more informed choices and a higher level of customer service, while also driving upsell opportunities based on enhanced visibility to specific brand offerings.



Emirates joins a growing list of carriers that merchandise and sell their branded fares and ancillary products and services, to their travellers through Sabre.



Sabre's travel marketplace plays an important role in facilitating the marketing and sale of airfares, hotel rooms, rental cars, rail tickets and other types of travel, to more than 425,000 travel agents and thousands of corporations who use it to shop, book and manage travel. It is one of the world's largest marketplaces, processing over $120 billion in estimated travel spend. - TradeArabia News Service


Wednesdays support meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 5:09 P.M., 917 N. Beech; 5:30 p.m., 1124 Elma, Imitate the Image Church; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 8 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m, 328-1/2 E. A, closed; 8:23 p.m., 719 3rd St., Evansville. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back); 7:30 p.m,. 805 E. Richards, Ste. 1. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: 307-351-1688.

Al-Anon: 7-8 p.m.,500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200, 12-24 Club, for grades 6 and up. Info: 377-7260 or 258-1444; 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 302 E. 2nd. Use east entrance, meet downstairs in Room 12.

Narcotics Anonymous: noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 8 p.m., 302 E. 2nd St., Methodist Church, enter east side. Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

Nicotine Anonymous: noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club. Info: Pam M., 577-0518; Troy Y., 267-6326.

OIF/OEF Support Group: 6:30-8 p.m., Casper Vet Center, 1030 N. Poplar St., Ste. B. All OIF/OEF Veterans are invited to attend. No need to pre-register. Info: 261-5355.

Teen Addiction Anonymous: 7- 8 p.m., 12-24 Club Teton Room. Info: 258-7439.

TOPS #35 Weight Loss: 6:45 a.m., First Christian Church, 520 CY Ave. Weight Loss Support Group, Weigh-in is from 6:30 a.m.-8 a.m. Info: 258-2603 or 234-5644.

TOPS #162: 8:30 a.m., United Methodist Church, 1880 Poplar. Anyone interested is invited to join. Info: 472-4926.

Red Hats lunch

Red Hats Queen Bees will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m., at the Arepa Barn, 1040 N. Center to try the Venezuelan cuisine and gluten-free menu. A buffet with a variety of options is available. Please call Janice Traylor at 237-7463 or Mary Burgess at 234-2951 to RSVP.

After School at the Library

The Natrona County Library will host a Winnie the Pooh Day celebration for elementary-age students at 4 p.m. Students will watch a Winnie the Pooh video, play pin the tail on Eeyore, and make a Winnie the Pooh craft. All supplies provided. Call 577-READ ext. 5 for more information.

Home school art starts at Nic

Home school students are welcome to attend weekly art classes at the Nicolaysen Art Museum on Wednesdays from Jan. 18 to Feb. 22. Grades K to 2 will meet from 1 to 2 p.m., and grades 3 to 8 will meet 2 to 3 p.m. Fees are $40 for members and $50 for non-members per student. The Nic offers families $15 off for a second or third child to attend.

These multidisciplinary, curriculum-based classes offer an unending variety of art projects and promote problem solving skills, communication and collaboration. The class will focus on art concepts and personal interpretation, while enhancing students individual techniques.

For workshop and class descriptions, pricing and registration forms, visit www.thenic.org or call 235-5247.

Tot tumbling, youth gymnastics at rec center

The Casper Recreation Center offers the following classes, beginning Jan. 18:

Tot Tumbling is for ages 3 and 4 and held from 4:30 to 5:10 p.m. on Wednesdays. Children will have fun learning to tumble and be introduced to gymnastic equipment including balance beam, vault and bars.

Youth Beginning Gymnastics is for ages 6 and over and is held 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays.

For more information or to register for upcoming classes, please call the Casper Recreation Center at 235-8383, register on line at www.activecasper.com or stop by 1801 E. 4th St.

Community impact at Pizza Ranch

Pizza Ranch, 5011 E. Second St., hosts Community Impact nights from 5 to 9 p.m., normally on Mondays and Wednesdays. Members of nonprofit groups bus tables for tips, and 20 percent of meal tickets from diners who mention the group are donated as well. Dine-in, delivery or pickup orders qualify. Wednesdays nonprofit is Evansville Elementary.

Fastpitch parent info meeting

Casper Voltage fast pitch softball team tryout parent information meeting is at 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the CCA/FMS Cafeteria. Parents will receive program and tryout information for Casper Voltage Softballs 12U, 14U and 16U teams. For more information, email richard_robinson@natronaschools.org or call 259-0073.

Baked potato bar at Elks

Wednesday Night Special at the Casper Elks Lodge is baked potato bar with all the fixings  baked potato, sauteed mushrooms, peppers and onions, cheese, broccoli and cheese, bacon bits, ham cubes, taco meat, chips for nachos and green and red chili. All you can eat, $7 for adults, $3 for children 5 to 12. Dinner is served from 6 to 7 p.m., while it lasts. Members, significant other and guest accompanied by a member. For more information, call 234-4839.

UU hosts potluck

The public is invited to attend the Unitarian Universalist Community of Casper services and other events at 1040 West 15th St. The next Care N Share potluck, Soul Food, will be held at 6 p.m., and will feature a round table discussion on the theme of Search for Truth and Meaning. Participants are asked to bring a dish to share, along with cans of soup to donate to Joshuas Storehouse.
Almost 40,000 acres of national forest in western Wyoming was permanently protected Tuesday.

USDA undersecretary Robert Bonnie signed a record of decision preventing oil and gas leasing in 39,490 acres of land on the eastern side of the Wyoming Range in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The forest service cited overwhelming public comment and significant recreation, wildlife and watershed values.

The leases were a holdover from when Congress created the Wyoming Range Legacy Act in 2009, which protected 1.2 million acres from development. The leases were never developed.
A Casper doctor and his wife pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court to all charges related to the couples alleged sale of prescription painkillers.

A federal jury handed down a 21-count indictment Thursday that alleged Dr. Shakeel Kahn and Lyn Kahn sold 30-day prescriptions of powerful painkillers like Oxycodone for $500. Some of the doctors patients would then sell the pills on the street, court documents show.

Shakeel Kahn, 50, pleaded not guilty to 20 federal counts at his arraignment Tuesday, loudly responding Not guilty, your honor, to each charge as the judge read them aloud.

His answer became more forceful when the judge read the single count of continuing criminal activity  the only charge that carries a potential for life imprisonment.

Absolutely not guilty, he said after the judge read the charge.

Lyn Kahn, 45, pleaded not guilty to eight charges, each potentially punishable by maximum sentences ranging from four to 20 years in prison.

If found guilty, the couple could also be ordered to pay millions in fines and forfeit homes, vehicles and cash that was allegedly earned or bought with profits from the sale of the drugs.

The Kahns remained in custody Tuesday at the Natrona County Detention Center while waiting for a Thursday hearing on alleged violations of their bond conditions.

Prosecutors will now turn over all the evidence compiled during the months-long investigation into the Khans to the couples defense attorneys. A trial was tentatively scheduled for March.

Federal and state law enforcement agents arrested the Kahns in their Casper home in November after months of investigation. Investigators recorded the couples phone conversations and tracked the amount of prescriptions for painkillers the doctor was prescribing, according to court documents.

The doctors medical licenses in both Arizona and Wyoming were suspended after reviews from the state medical boards found his prescribing practices suspicious.
CHEYENNE  University of Wyoming president Laurie Nichols says she was going above and beyond in cutting the universitys budget, intentionally reducing the institutions spending more than is required by the drop in state funding.

Were overcutting a little bit right now, Nichols told a gathering of municipal officials here last Thursday.

Theres a little saying: Never let a good crisis go to waste, she said. Its really a good opportunity to get some additional flexibility built into the budget.

The university has lost $42 million in state funding for the current two-year budget cycle and has announced $29 million in budget cuts so far, with more on the way.

University of Wyoming leaders approve more budget cuts The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees approved Friday another $10 million in budget cu

Nichols said that she was up until 1 a.m. her first day on the job last spring, looking at ways to cut the budget. As she has sought to make the states only four-year university more efficient, Nichols said she is seizing opportunities to maximize budget cuts without sacrificing the institutions core mission.

Nichols described counting the people riding buses around campus to gauge whether the current public transit system justified the expenditure.

Do we need to run as many routes? Do we need as a high a frequency? Do we need as big of buses? Nichols said she asked herself.

I think Im going a little crazy with it, honestly.

Nichols had been asked to speak about her strategies for cutting the universitys budget as the keynote speaker at the Wyoming Association of Municipalities winter workshop last week.

Nichols, who was hired from a vice president position at South Dakota State University, outlined five strategies she has used to reduce the University of Wyomings budget since last May:

Focus on your mission; Question how every decision will impact your mission; Make tough decisions if they are critical to that mission; Increase efficiency and analyze the status quo; Review every vacancy.

Our mission is to provide high-quality education to our students, Nichols said. Everything we do in terms of budget reduction I scrutinize against that mission.

She said that 85 percent of the universitys budget was tied to employee salaries and that she expected 400 positions to be eliminated by the time cuts were complete.

Nichols also said her intention in creating room in the budget was to offer pay increases to the employees who remain at the university.

Im trying very hard to get a salary increase out to the employees, she said. These wonderful employees need to be rewarded.

To cut spending, Nichols said she had asked faculty to teach more classes and was reviewing every vacancy as it came up to either eliminate it or redefine the position, generally to increase the duties.

Students to pay more

The university is also raising tuition by 4 percent and introducing program fees for the first time, with students in certain majors paying a fee unique to that field. Nichols said the programs implementing fees were generally majors where graduates could expect to earn more in their careers.

Affordability remains a priority, Nichols said.

There is no one out there more affordable than the University of Wyoming, she said. Its not even close.

Its a wonderful, wonderful thing what this state has done to create a university and keep it so affordable  so (fees are) not going to go through the roof, but we have some headroom and we can move up a little bit.

Annual tuition and mandatory fees for the University of Wyoming is currently $3,196, according to the universitys website.

That represents the lowest mandatory total of any public university in the country, according to data compiled by US News and World Report.

However, the University of Wyoming estimates total yearly costs for attending the school at about $15,026, a number more in line with other states.

The University of Montana, for example, estimates annual costs at $15,041 for state residents.

The University of Idaho offers a ballpark of $16,800 in total fees for state residents.

The Wyoming Constitution dictates that the universitys tuition will be nearly free as possible.

As we ask the students to do a little bit more tuition and program fees, we can also turn around and offer more scholarships to them to keep college very affordable, she said.

Priorities for UW

Nichols said she had three priorities moving forward:

Create a seamless transition between community colleges in Wyoming and the university;

Recruit more students from Wyoming high schools;

Aid the state in diversifying its economy.

Nichols said that currently only between 22 percent and 23 percent of Wyomingites have a college degree and she wants to raise that to 30 percent.

Wyoming doesnt have the strongest college-going culture in the world, Nichols said. We need to help every individual have a bright future.

She also said the universitys research could be brought to market and turned into commercial applications in a way that could help the states economy.

Its really (about) taking the technology and innovation thats being created at the university and pushing it out, trying to get it out as start-ups and businesses in the state, Nichols said.

As the university works on creating a five-year strategic plan, Nichols has been traveling the state and participating in listening sessions. While acknowledging that every public institution in Wyoming is hurting during the economic downturn, Nichols said she was heartened that she had not heard calls for the university to slash its programs or research.

I didnt hear anyone suggest the University of Wyoming pull back on anything were doing at all, Nichols said. In fact, I heard many suggestions about scaling up.
CHEYENNE  Cheyenne resident Brian Carver said being an Uber driver has been a great stopgap for his income during his transition from military to civilian life.

Carver, who testified for a rideshare services bill before the House Corporations Committee on Tuesday, said hes been driving for Uber for five months in Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado.

He said he thinks having services like Uber would provide another form of transportation for Wyoming residents and have effects like keeping more drunken drivers off the road.

And under House Bill 80, Carver and others would be able to start driving for Uber in Wyoming.

I believe this helps bring Wyomings economy into the 21st century, he said.

HB 80 outlines how ridesharing services, known legally as transportation network companies, can operate in Wyoming, as state law does not currently address that business model.

The bill is nicknamed after Uber, a popular ridesharing service. It was advanced unanimously out of the committee Tuesday.

Ridesharing services use smartphone apps to connect passengers with drivers. Drivers use their own vehicles and are paid for the ride, with the ridesharing service receiving a commission.

The entire transaction is cashless, with the app charging the ride to a preloaded credit card or payment method.

Uber specifically has been pushing for the bill in order to operate in Wyoming, and the company sent out an email to users with Wyoming ZIP codes asking those users to email lawmakers concerning the bill.

Wyoming is one of just a handful of states in which Uber has no presence.

The bill addresses issues facing ridesharing services and is modeled after legislation proposed by both ridesharing and insurance companies.

Were excited about Uber coming to Wyoming, said Mike Morris of Farmers Insurance, who has spoken to lawmakers in the past about the bill.

The bill outlines insurance requirements of the driver and the ridesharing services, as well as which policies are in effect during the duration of the trip.

An amendment passed by the committee also ensures Uber collects sales tax for rides.

However, there are some lingering concerns over the bill as it moves forward.

Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, the lead sponsor of the bill, said the one section of the legislation that may be concerning is little state oversight of ridesharing services.

Were basically allowing them to self-regulate, he said.

Also, the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, while supportive of the bill generally, was concerned about a section of the proposed law that limits the ability of local governments to regulate ridesharing companies.

Thats unlike taxi services, where cities do have some regulatory oversight, former Cheyenne mayor and association interim director Rick Kaysen said.

There is some concern to municipalities having very limited to no oversight of (transportation network companies), Kaysen said.

Those issues may be addressed as the bill moves through the Legislature.

The committees decision to advance the bill means it will go before the full House of Representatives. If passed there, it will go to the Senate.
Nearly 80 percent of Wyoming high school students graduated on time last year, the highest level since 2010, state Department of Education officials announced Tuesday.

It was the fourth straight annual increase, said state superintendent Jillian Balow. The 2014-15 class had a graduation rate of 79.41. While the state accountability system shines a light on graduation rates, she said, much of the work to improve the rate happens locally.

Im reluctant to say its anything were doing at state level, she said in a news conference Tuesday morning. Its our schools and districts doing the bulk of the work.

The rate is the closest Wyoming has come to reaching the 80.42 percent rate its high schools achieved in 2010. That peak was followed by three straight years of decline before the rate began to rebound. Its difficult to say what caused the drop or the subsequent climb because of how much work happens on the local level, said Vincent Meyer, the senior statistician for the department.

The Natrona County School District had a graduation rate of 76.58 percent in 2015-16, consistent with its numbers the year before. In 2011, the rate was 71.3 percent. Walt Wilcox, the districts associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said the school district wasnt surprised by the numbers.

He said the school districts top strategic priority is increasing high school graduation, with the target being an 85 percent graduation rate by 2019. He pointed to Natrona County High School, which he said has an 81 percent graduation rate. Using the school as an example of what the districts other high school are generally doing, Wilcox said NCHS has placed an emphasis on tracking and intervening with their students as they progress through high school.

He acknowledged that the district was below the state average but added that the graduating classes from either Kelly Walsh or Natrona County high schools were larger than the entire graduating classes from some districts. He also said that Natrona County, like many other districts, requires more credits to graduate than what is required by the state.

Overall, Wilcox said, the numbers could be better, but the growth the district has seen in the past several years is encouraging.

Were pleased but always want to see that rate higher, he said. Were not unhappy that were seeing improvement.

Campbell County School District No. 1 and Laramie County School District No. 1, who along with Natrona had the largest graduating classes in the state, had rates of 74.6 percent and 78.8 percent, respectively. Campbell No. 1s rate declined compared with last year, while Laramie No. 1s improved.

Across Wyoming, 82.7 percent of female students graduated, while 77.3 percent of male students graduated. The difference is similar to the disparity in 2014-15. Young women have bested their male peers for at least the past 20 years, and experts have speculated that economic factors, like job availability, may explain part of the reason.

Of the racial groups identified in the departments data, Native American students had the lowest graduation rates in 2015-16. Fifty-three percent graduated, compared with 82 percent of their white peers and 74 percent of Hispanic students. Asian students had the highest graduation rate, with 84.75 percent, but were the second-smallest group, behind Pacific Islanders.

Balow stressed that 80 percent of Wyoming students graduating high school, which is below the 2014-15 national average, isnt good enough.

When we have two out of 10 students who are not graduating from high school, thats an issue, she said. That doesnt mean those two out of 10 students are failures; thats on us as a Wyoming education system to determine what it is about schools that is not relevant.

Statewide, Balow said, graduation rates improved for a number of what the department called classically marginalized populations: Native American and Hispanic students had improved scores compared to 2014-15, as did special needs students and students receiving free and reduced lunch.

Thirteen of the states 48 school districts have graduation rates over 90 percent, according to state Department of Education data. Those include Park County School District No. 16 and Sheridan County School District No. 3, both of which had 100 percent graduation rates.

Fremont No. 21 had the lowest graduation rate, at 40.74 percent.

Balow referenced a recent survey that said Wyoming is first in the nation for school finance and seventh in overall education quality. Asked about whether Wyoming was getting the results into which it was heavily investing, Balow said the state was focused on student achievement and keeping education as a funding priority here, though she again acknowledged that the graduation rate isnt as high as she wants.

Well continue to really aim for every student to graduate from high school and be successful no matter what their next step, Balow said.
I would never have supposed that our Wyoming delegation in Washington would not support public education in our state. I was flabbergasted to hear from Sen. Michael Enzi that, I want to give our students as many educational resources as possible -- no one ever wants to see those opportunities lessened. I support giving states and local educational agencies flexibility in order to tailor their programs to give children the resources they need.

Since this was in response to my letter to him voicing my concern about a nominee for a cabinet post who is an opponent of public schools I have to assume that the senator also doesn't support public education. Party unity can go too far when people who are elected to represent us won't or don't do what is best for people in Wyoming.
This blog represents my personal views and is not reflective of the views or opinions held by any company, contractor, client or employer I work for currently or have worked for in the past. These views are not an endorsement to take any action in the markets or of any political position, figures or parties.




Here are three more dont-miss events in the opening week of the fifth annual Tucson Desert Song Festival.

Doing triple duty

Soprano Heidi Stober has come a long way to participate in the Tucson song festival, and boy is she getting a workout.

The German-based vocalist will do triple duty:

She has a solo role in the Tucson Symphony Orchestras Brahms A German Requiem on Friday, Jan. 20, and Sunday, Jan. 22.

 At 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, shes leading a masterclass at Tucson Symphony Center, 2175 N. Sixth Ave. Admission is free and its open to the public.

 On Thursday, Jan. 26, she joins pianist Allen Perriello to perform a recital with Arizona Opera.

Im excited that I get to do all these different artistically and personally fulfilling things in a week in a half, she said, calling from Houston, where she spent last week working with a former teacher.

The recital program opens with German lieders from Mozart, songs about motherhood and parenting from Strauss and works by Debussy.

For me theres so much fantastic French repertoire out there, but Debussy has always spoken to me because when I was a pianist, which is how I started off, Debussy was my favorite composer to play, she said.

The recital will end with American composer Samuel Barbers Knoxville, Summer of 1915.

I think Barber set this so beautifully, Stober said. Its a very moving piece for me and one that I definitely, in a couple points, have to fight back tears. It makes me think a lot about life in America. I didnt grow up in the South; I grew up in the Midwest, but the word painting, descriptive quality in this piece and talking about family and parents and loss. For me its just a very special piece that I thought about ending the evening.

The Jan. 26 recital begins at 7 p.m. at Holsclaw Hall, North Park Avenue and East Speedway at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. Tickets are $25, $15 students through azopera.org

Double duty

Tenor Rufus Muller also is pulling dual roles at the festival, starting with a free masterclass for the UA Fred Fox School of Music at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at Holsclaw Hall.

On Sunday, Jan. 22, he teams up with Arizona Early Music Society and lutenist Daniel Swenberg for a recital at Grace St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. Tickets are $25 through azearlymusic.org

Tucsons own gets spotlight
Donna Nordin just cant get out of the kitchen.

Lucky us.

Nordin, the co-owner/chef at the now-closed-but-fondly-remembered Cafe Terra Cotta, has been holding intimate cooking classes at a private home since the restaurant closed in 2011.

The next series of classes starts Feb. 22  but only 10 students are allowed in each, so they fill up quickly.

Nordin, who began her career as a cooking teacher in San Francisco in 1973, used to rely on Terra Cotta favorites for her classes.

But she doesnt like repeating herself, so shes branched out.

Some classic dishes, very French, I delve into the Italian end  Ive become eclectic, said the Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef about what shell be teaching.

And dont expect the latest food trends to show up on the menus in this series, either.

There isnt anything really new, she says. Instead of trends right now  pizza and burgers have been big ones over the last several years  Things are being redone, or reinvented.

Her cooking classes are demonstration style  which means you wont get your hands dirty, but youll get to watch the food come together and, best of all, get to eat it.

Nordins theory is that students have a narrow vision when its hands-on. If you can see every part of the menu done, you see everything, she says.

And thats important to Nordin, who intends to have her students learn something new at each class. Its what guides her when she designs the menus.

I have to choose my recipes  to make sure I teach something, or help someone do something easier, she says. Her goal: That students go home and cook.

Classes are $65, and include the meal. One class, with famed Chinese chef Joyce Jue, is $85. Nordin no longer holds the classes in her home; she has friends with suitable kitchens who host the two-hour classes. Most of those are in the Catalina Foothills area.

Register at donnanordincooks.com for a class. The schedule, with classes starting at 10:30 a.m.:

Feb. 22 and 25: Creme Dubarry (cauliflower soup), Paella Valencia, Pots de Creme Chocolat.

March 1 and 4: Corn Fritters, Mint and Chile Sauce, Stuffed Pork Roulades (Ricotta and bell peppers), Chocolatissmo.

March 15 and 18: Mushroom Cakes, Red Pepper Coulis and Avocado Pesto, Duck Breasts with Madeira Sauce, Blanc and Noir Cake.

March 29 and April 1: Coulibacs (salmon in puff pastry), Cauliflower and Red Bell Medley, Lady Baltimore Layer Cake.

April 5 and 15: Mediterranean Potato Tortilla, Leg of Lamb Provencal, Classic Tarte aux Fraises.

April 19 and 22: Blackened Sweet Potato, Salsa Negra, Peanut Mole Sauteed Chicken, Pay de Aquacate (avocado cheesecake).

April 29 with guest teacher Joyce Jue: Thai Lemongrass Coconut Chicken Soup, Green Papaya Salad with Shrimp, Red Curry Salmon, Green Beans and Thai Basil.

May 3 and 6: Moroccan Spiced Short Ribs, Vegetable Couscous, Semolina-Coconut Cake with Rosewater and Candied Rose Petals.
Adopt A Friend

Butch is a vibrant, young, neutered male American Pit Bull Terrier mix. He is about 4-5 yrs old & weighs about 50lbs. Butch is in need of a new forever family since his mom passed away. He is fantastic with children and he is obedience trained. He knows the commands: touch, sit, down, come and place. Butch is great with other dogs, but if going to a home with other dogs, we do require a meet and greet to ensure success. Butch needs a home with NO cats or small animals please. If you are interested in meeting Butch, please complete an adoption application at www.radrescueinc.org or call 520-260-6936.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Jan. 18 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages.
When Rep. Bob Thorpe ran for re-election in November, the areas in and around the Northern Arizona University campus were among the areas that provided his lowest vote tallies.

Thorpe won anyway, with strong showings in the largely Republican Gila and Navajo county portion of his legislative district.

Now the Flagstaff lawmaker wants to keep students from voting at all unless they happen to already have been living there with their families before they started school.

HB 2260 would make it illegal to use a dormitory address or other temporary college or university address like an apartment to register to vote. Instead, Arizona law would presume these to be a temporary address with intent to return to some other permanent address.

Thorpes legislation also comes just months after voters in Flagstaff approved an initiative to eventually move that citys minimum wage to $15 an hour.

That measure passed by a margin of 54-46 percent citywide. But in multiple areas around the NAU campus, the margin was closer to 2-1, and even approached 3-1 in two precincts that include parts of the campus, enough to overturn the vote in some residential precincts where it failed.

What Thorpe proposes would have statewide effect on candidate, bond and initiative elections in communities with public and private colleges with students in residence on or near the campus.

Separately, Thorpe has crafted HB 2124 to not only bar local communities from ever enacting their own living wage laws higher than the state minimum, but also retroactively repeal what Flagstaff voters approved in November.

And he proposes in HB 2255 to make it illegal for individuals and businesses who do not reside in Arizona to contribute money in support or opposition to ballot measures.

Thorpe declined to speak about any of his proposals.

But Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, the assistant minority leader, said the measure on student voting is bad public policy.

The problem were having with young voters now is theyre not voting often enough, said Farley, whose district includes areas in and around the University of Arizona. If theyre committed to their college community, committed enough to want to re-register to vote there, then we ought to encourage that.

What it also is, according to Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen, is illegal.

You cant single out a group of people, she said. Hansen cited a 1979 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that upheld a lower court ruling voiding practices by Waller County, Texas, that involved special treatment for college students when they sought to register to vote.

Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan has her own problems with what Thorpe wants to do.

Im not in favor of that just as somebody who spent the last year on all of the college campuses personally registering people to vote, she said. That would fly in the face of everything weve tried to do in the past year.

In fact, Reagan said she is working with Arizona State University on a pilot program to let students register to vote when they register for class.

And Reagan said HB 2260 makes the presumption that students are somehow linked to where their parents live.

Theyre not using their home address anymore, Reagan said. Theyre using their student address.

Thorpe is doing more than trying to change rules for who can vote. He wants to amend a pair of statewide initiatives voters already have approved, one in 2006 and one just last year, that set a statewide minimum wage.

HB 2124 would say that only a statewide minimum wage is permitted. And if approved, it would be retroactive to Oct. 31, meaning it would effectively nullify the Flagstaff vote.

It also has language allowing employers statewide to pay a wage below the state minimum to employees who are in training. Thorpes measure does not say how little that can be.

Thorpe also wants to limit who can contribute to ballot measures, like that just-approved minimum wage hike.

Existing law allows any individual or corporation to give money to try to get an initiative approved or rejected. The only requirement is that the campaign committees that get the cash detail from who it comes.

HB 2255 would make it illegal for anyone from outside Arizona to contribute funds for or against ballot measures. But it would leave the door open for out-of-state residents to give to political candidates.
PHOENIX  A House panel agreed to ease the rules for when new cities and towns can be formed, a change in law that foes insist will harm the ability of existing communities to grow.

HB 2088 would create an exemption from laws that give cities the power to veto any new nearby incorporations. That power extends out six miles for cities of at least 5,000 and three miles for smaller towns.

Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, is pushing the measure specifically to give the opportunity for residents of San Tan Valley in northeast Pinal County to decide if they want to incorporate. That effort has so far been blocked by Florence.

Alex Vidal, lobbyist for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, defended that veto power, saying the buffer zone provides room to grow through annexation. He said what San Tan wants to do is incorporate right up to the border of Florence, effectively stopping its growth there.

But Vidal said this isnt a strictly local fight. He said this change, if it gets signed into law, sets the stage for similar incorporations  and similar limits on expansion of existing cities and towns  throughout the state.

Vidals objections were not enough to keep the Committee from Local and International Affairs from approving it by a vote of 4-3.

It now goes to the full House, which approved a virtually identical measure last year. But since that time, more than 20 members of the 60-member chamber have been replaced.

San Tan resident Tisha Castillo said the approximately 100,000 residents of the area have a right to decide our future.

Farnsworth, who does not represent the area, agreed. He said its unfair to give Florence, with a population of about 26,000, veto power over what would be a much larger community.

Vidal argued that nothing in current law stops San Tan from incorporating  as a smaller town. He said all proponents have to do is draw lines that are at least six miles from Florence.

Farnsworth said the opposition from Vidals group, which represents the existing 90 cities and towns in the state, goes beyond their right to annexation.

He pointed out that Arizona provides a certain amount of revenue-sharing each year, divided up among cities and towns based on their population. Farnsworth said if there is suddenly a new city with 100,000 people, that means less money for everyone else.

The measure now needs approval of the full House.
Cindy Cantrell's victim impact statement

"I dreamed about you every night for weeks after the shock of learning that you secretly kept the twins my husband and I were to adopt. Then, in the still hours of the early morning, I awoke with such joy that I bounded out of bed, sometimes weeping with relief. This is all a misunderstanding, a terrible mistake! I convinced myself each and every day. After all, I hadnt actually spoken to you. Surely, you were alone and scared, just like me, wondering how to make this situation right! But within a few minutes, whatever trick my brain had conjured in order to find sleep cleared and the weight of your deceit engulfed me with despair again and again, day after suffocating day.

Instead of joyously celebrating Christmas with twins, and sending out birth announcements with them cradled in Santas arms, I stood in long holiday lines returning the gifts I had bought for the babies  and for you. We were committed to our open adoption agreement, and we would have loved you along with them.

In an effort to comfort me, my husband would repeat, Those were never our children. Yet they were real to me, and I loved them, because I heard their heartbeats and saw them at the ultrasound appointment you cruelly took me to. Now I know you did so only so we would continue to give you money  which is all you ever cared about.

It has now been 14 months, and still the trauma you caused runs in my head like a muffled TV I can hear from a different room. I still feel a jolt when I see babies, but especially twins, at the mall, in restaurants, at my job. I wonder, are they as old as the twins are now? Are the twins happy in their foster home? And I spiral, reliving every lie you told over those long five months and agonizing that you would wreak the same psychological violence on another hopeful couple who only want what you take for granted: being a parent.

We want to publicly thank Tucson Police Detective Jennifer Burns, Pima Deputy County Attorney Benjamin Mendola and their law enforcement teams for holding you accountable for the crime you committed against us legally, financially and emotionally. It is solely because of their support, dedication and compassion that we healed enough to find the right birth parents to make our family complete.
PHOENIX  A Flagstaff lawmakers bid to financially punish colleges and universities that teach ethnic and social justice courses is apparently going nowhere, at least not this year.

Rep. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, who chairs the House Education Committee, will not hear the measure proposed by Rep. Bob Thorpe, which was assigned to his committee.

Thorpe said Wednesday he is not dissuaded by the setback  or even the negative national publicity  saying he believes he accomplished something by starting a conversation on the issue.

I think Ive almost started a nationwide, if not international, debate on social justice and of the things that are being taught, he said.

If were talking about higher education, isnt it good?

Whether theyre talking about it positively or negatively, thats fine if it ends up on The Daily Show, he added.

Thorpes proposal would have prohibited the use of public funds at any community college or state university for any course, activity or event that would promote division, resentment or social justice toward another race, gender, religion, political affiliation or social class.

Also forbidden would be any activities that negatively target specific nationalities or countries.

It would have left it up to the attorney general to determine what falls outside of permitted activities.

The attorney general would have had unilateral power to withhold up to 10 percent of state aid to any institution found in violation.

In proposing the legislation, Republican Thorpe specifically cited a course at Arizona State University entitled Whiteness and Race Theory.

Among the required books is The Everyday Language of White Racism, described on Googles website as providing an incisive analysis of everyday language to reveal the underlying racist stereotypes that continue to circulate in American culture.

Thorpe also complained about a voluntary activity at the University of Arizona known as the privilege walk.

It is described in UA literature as helping participants recognize the privileges that they have been granted and to learn about the backgrounds of their peers.

Among the exercises is telling students to step up if they meet certain criteria, like having more than 50 books in a home, going to a private school or having inherited money.

Conversely, those who were raised in a single-parent household, had to rely on public transportation or were ashamed of their clothes while growing up take a step back for each.

Participants are supposed to notice where they are in relation to others.

Thorpes legislation got national attention.

Quoting elements of the bill from the original Capitol Media Services story, activist Shaun King wrote a column for the New York Daily News calling the measure completely and utterly disgusting.

That an aloof lawmaker who wants to actually oversee and monitor individual activities and events to prohibit students and staff from discussing economic and skin privilege in this country is not just petty, its deeply problematic, King wrote.
Tucson behavioral-health agency La Frontera Arizona will lay off 30 employees this month in response to reduced funding from Cenpatico Integrated Care, its CEO said.

About three times as many layoffs might have been needed to offset funding cuts if the agency hadnt taken steps to mitigate the fallout, agency CEO Dan Ranieri said. Those steps include discontinuing a productivity bonus program for employees, narrowing the scope of case-management services and reducing 22 staff positions through attrition and disciplinary actions in December, Ranieri wrote in a Jan. 13 email to his staff, which was forwarded to the Star.

But an official with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS, the states Medicaid program, said overall behavioral-health funding is actually up this year.

The cuts affect La Fronteras funding in the category of general mental health and substance abuse for low-income adults insured by AHCCCS who are not designated as seriously mentally ill.

In that category, La Fronteras funding from insurer Cenpatico Integrated Care was reduced from $10.2 million  which was actually somewhat more than the agency needed, Ranieri said  to $4.3 million in the current contract year, which began in October 2016.

Yet La Frontera received a big bump in funding for childrens behavioral-health care this year and a modest increase in funding for adults with serious mental illness, resulting in a net reduction of about $3 million for the agency to absorb, Ranieri said.

In an interview, Ranieri said he understands the rationale behind the cuts, but he said its unfortunate how quickly they must be implemented, comparing it to the chaos of a fire drill.

The reduction is larger than we expected and more sudden than we expected, he said.

Cenpatico  the for-profit subsidiary of publicly traded St. Louis-based Centene Corp.  is one of three regional behavioral-health authorities that contract with AHCCCS to distribute Medicaid funding to on-the-ground provider agencies, like La Frontera.

AHCCCS pays Cenpatico a per-person, or capitated, rate based on its members utilization of behavioral-health services, Beth Kohler, AHCCCS deputy director, said in a Tuesday email. This year, AHCCCS reduced the payment rate for Cenpaticos general mental-health-care funding stream, since utilization ended up being lower in that category. Cenpatico, in turn, adjusts the amount it pays its contracted agencies based on their reported utilization rates, Kohler said.

While La Fronteras utilization was down somewhat last year for adults without serious mental illness, the related funding cut from Cenpatico was out of proportion to the decline, Ranieri said.

Overall funding in the behavioral-health-care system is up compared with last year, Kohler said. Cenpaticos overall capitation rate increased by 4.5 percent in the current contract year, she said.

Cenpatico told La Frontera about the funding changes in December, and Ranieri decided to delay reductions until after the holidays, he said in the email.

The agency is hoping to help affected employees find jobs in the behavioral-health field, including with La Fronteras operations in Maricopa and Pinal counties, Ranieri said. Vacated critical positions within the agencys childrens services will be filled with transfers from La Fronteras adult services  where some vacated positions may not be filled at all  so more existing employees can keep their jobs, he said.

OPIOID EPIDEMIC

The cuts are retroactively effective to October 2016, which marked the start of Southern Arizona behavioral-health agencies second contract year with Cenpatico as a regional behavioral-health authority.

The nation is in the grip of an opioid epidemic, and La Frontera wont reduce its funding that goes toward supporting substance-abuse patients and local methadone or suboxone clinics, which are seeing growing enrollment, Ranieri said.

Previously, about 20 percent of total general mental-health and substance-abuse funding was devoted to outpatient care related to the opioid epidemic. Those services will now eat up about 40 percent of the reduced funding amount, he said.

Theres more heroin on the streets now than at any time I can remember, he said. You certainly dont want to pull away dollars from that type of treatment because were in the midst of a pretty significant epidemic.

Case-management services will no longer be offered automatically to all La Frontera clients, but rather will be offered when prescribed as part of a patients treatment and only for as long as necessary.

Ranieri said that strategy makes sense, and those who need case management will still get it. But the low-need patient  for example, an adult seeking counseling for depression  wont automatically get a case manager, he said.

A lot of the folks who we see who are not in the SMI (seriously mentally ill) system probably dont want or need case management, but weve been providing it as a matter of routine, he said.

Ranieri is optimistic that patients wont be harmed by the cuts and said the squeeze will probably prompt more partnerships between local providers. This spring, Cenpatico is also implementing a new funding model that will give large provider agencies more discretion in how they use their funding, he said.

Its a lot of significant shifts and change happening all at once, he said. I actually think the outcome is going to be healthier.
Help India!

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

New Delhi: Hindu vigilante groups attacked Muslims and Dalits over suspicions that they had killed, stolen, or sold cows for beef. The violence took place amid an aggressive push by several BJP leaders and militant Hindu groups to protect cows and ban beef consumption, Human Rights Watch has said in World Report 2017.

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The human rights advocacy group has said, the governments failure to rein in militant groups, combined with inflammatory remarks made by some BJP leaders, has contributed to the impression that leaders are indifferent to growing intolerance.

The report also cites various other cases like that of March 2016, in which a Muslim cattle trader, Mohammed Mazlum Ansari, 35, and a 12-year-old boy, Mohammed Imteyaz Khan, were found hanging from a tree in Jharkhand; their hands tied behind their backs and their bodies bruised. In August, a man was killed in Karnataka state by members of a nationalist Hindu group while transporting cows.

In July, four men in Una, Gujarat were stripped, tied to a car, and publicly beaten with sticks and belts over suspicions of cow slaughter.

The report also talks about the limits on free speech and attacks on religious minorities, often led by vigilante groups that claim to be supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are an increasing concern in India.

Authorities continue to use sedition and criminal defamation laws to prosecute citizens who criticise government officials or oppose state policies. In a blow to free speech, the government in 2016 argued before the Supreme Court in favour of retaining criminal penalties for defamation. The court upheld the law, reads the report.

The report also censors Modi government for its continuous use of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which regulates foreign funding for civil society organisations, to cut off funds and stymie the activities of organizations that question or criticize the government or its policies.

Even as authorities were using FCRA to tighten restrictions on NGOs, the government amended the law in March to retroactively legalise funding by foreign entities to political parties, reads the report.

The report also mentioned the Kashmir unrest and said, Impunity for police and security forces largely continued amid new allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings, including reports of sexual assault and other abuses by security forces in Kashmir and the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
Help India!

By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: A Srinagar-based entrepreneur and social activist, Affan Yesvi, 27 was recognised as Indias Top 100 Young Leaders Award 2017 at an award function in New Delhi on Sunday, January 15.

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Yesvi, who has received awards in the past for his social activities, is a regular contributor to Huffington post, Hindustan Times, The Tribune, DailyO, The Quint and the First Post and also presented research papers in various international conferences.

Awards like these act like a motivation to work more selflessly. They encourage me and my team to work hard and serve more, a jubilant Yesvi told TwoCircles.net.

He founded a non-profit organization by the name of The Inner Call  a forum for Evolution, Development and Awareness in 2009 which has been contributing in spheres of mental health, environment protection, women empowerment, youth activities and social research with the aim of promoting human values.

I have been working in Jammu and Kashmir along with working whereever I see the opportunity. I serve in an individual capacity or through my organisations. I have organised few programs outside Jammu & Kashmir too, Yesvi told TCN.

In 2011, the young social activist founded another non-profit organisation, Yasawi Foundation, dedicated to promote research and aesthetic development in the world of Sufi heritage.

Yasawi Foundation has been actively conducting Sufi Workshops and research in mysticism. Currently, I am working on Sufi Project through Yasawi Foundation. I would be holding a Sufi talk event on Wednesday in New Delhi. I am also planning on organising a Sufi conference in Summer in Kashmir Valley, says Yesvi.

Yesvi is the second youth from Kashmir to receive the honour. Amood Gulzar, from Baramulla district, was also selected for 100 young Leaders Award 2017 by Indian Youth Forum.

A social activist and worker, Gulzar is currently pursuing masters in commerce from the Aligarh Muslim University. He has been working as the member of Aligarh based non-government organisation Sochbeyond the imagination through which he has been instrumental in providing social interventions back in Valley and elsewhere.
Help India!

By Faisal Fareed, Twocircles.net

Call it an election gimmick or an agenda of the Central government, but the announcement to set up a panel for examination of Hajj subsidy is unlikely to spark a massive debate among the Muslim community even during the current election campaigns.

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By and large, Muslim leaders including clerics have opposed the idea of Hajj subsidy. For many, it is in fact, a process of fleecing Hajj devotees in the name of subsidy. There has been little resentment within the community over a possible end to the Hajj subsidy and the idea that Hajj Subsidy helps Muslims to perform their pilgrimage has few takers if any. The subsidy, which originated during the British era, has continued ever since, making India the only country in the World to offer Hajj subsidy.

Hyderabad MP and President of All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen Asaduddin Owaisi has, in fact, said it time and again that the Hajj subsidy should be scrapped. He believes that the amount can be spent better; say, on educating Muslim girls. For past 11 years, I have been demanding that the Hajj subsidy be scrapped. It is not helping the Muslims, we do not require it. It is a means to bail out the airlines at the cost of a subsidy, Owaisi said.

Similarly, Mahmood Madani, in 2006, had supported the idea of abolishing the Hajj subsidy. Speaking to the Indian Express, he had said, It is against the Shariat to be under any kind of obligation while undertaking Hajj. According to the Quran, only those Muslims who can afford the expenses should perform Hajj. Its recommended only for adult, financially able and sane Muslims.

In 2012, the Supreme Court directed the UPA government to end the Hajj subsidy over the next 10 years. Indias Apex court believed, similar to the claims of Owaisi, that that the money could instead be spent on education and other social development schemes for the Muslim community. Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Ranjana P Desai suggested that Indian Muslims would also support the abolishment of the subsidy on the grounds that the Hajj pilgrimage is only mandatory for those who can afford expenses. Also, as has often been claimed by a number of people, the subsidy is more for the airlines-Air India-than the pilgrims.

According to media reports, last year over Rs 500 crore was paid by the government, mostly in form of airfare. Let us break down as to what the Hajj Subsidy comprises of, and see why the subsidy is not advantageous to the pilgrims. It is important to point out that the majority of subsidy is used for air fares.

Cost: Hajj 2016 as from Lucknow

Green category Rs 2,18,400, which includes the following:

Stay in MeccaRs 81,000

Stay in MedinaRs 9,000

Air TicketRs 45,000

Other expenses Rs 76,320

Azizia CategoryRs 1,84,500, including the following:

Stay in MeccaRs 47,340

Stay in MedinaRs 9,000

Air ticketRs 45,000

Other expensesRs 76,320

In 2016, an amount of Rs 7,000 from green category and Rs 6,800 from Azizia category were taken extra from devotees.

A break-up of the subsidy

Mostly in form of air tickets. The round trip costs around Rs 70,340 from Lucknow of which the pilgrim pays Rs 45,000 while rest is paid as subsidy. The air tickets are provided by the central government through the respective Hajj Committees.

But more interestingly, the price quoted by Air India for people from Varanasi was Rs 85,776, which is nearly double than that from Lucknow. So in effect, the government claimed to be subsidising over Rs 40,000 for pilgrims boarding from Varanasi. Similarly, an amount of Rs 53, 889 was quoted for pilgrims boarding from Delhi.

But are the prices to Jeddah so high as claimed by the government? Not really, given that even from Delhi, a pilgrim has to pay Rs 45,000 per ticket.

If you were to book a ticket even in an emergency, two-day window and the return trip two weeks later, most quotations start around Rs 32,000. Given that most visits to Hajj are planned well in advance, if the tickets are booked with a two-month window, the round trip will start at Rs 25,000 from Delhi. In effect, there will be no need for Hajj Subsidy, if it were not for the ridiculously high prices quoted by Air India.

Owaisi claimed that there should be global tender for air ticket. Believe me, he said, Worlds best airlines will come to your doors at cheaper rates. But we are forced to take tickets only from Air India or Saudi Airlines. There is a big scam in this as last year even Turkish Airlines plane flew pilgrims which mean that these airlines have further sublet the ticketing. Now there must be something fishy in it, he said.
Help India!

By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net

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New Delhi: Commemorating the first anniversary of research scholar Rohith Vemulas suicide, students of Jamia Millia Islamia on Wednesday under of banner of Muslim Student Federation organized a protest inside the campus.

Muslim Student Federation (MSF) is a student organisation affiliated to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

The protest was part of MSF social Justice week from January 17-23, 2017, which is being held in various university campuses across the country to highlight the issues being faced by the students.

The protest march started from the central canteen of Jamia Millia Islamia and after passing through the various departments of the university concluded at the same canteen. Protesting students raised slogans like, Rohit Vemula Amar Rahe, Brahmanwad nahi chelega, Sathi Najeeb ko wapis lao.

Addressing the gathering, MSF speakers expressed apprehensions about the stifling of freedom of speech and expression in the university campuses across the country.

While censoring the Delhi Police for not properly investigating the case of missing Najeeb Student, Ahmed Saju, Vice President of MSF said, Students who question BJP or its associate student wings are being tagged as anti-national and they are not let to speak up freely. An environment of fear is being created in the country.

Ateeb Maaz Khan, President, MSF Delhi unit and student of AJK Mass Communication told TwoCircles.net, Students are rising against the oppression being perpetrated on the students across the university campuses. They can kill one Rohith but we are all Rohith Vemula and Najeeb Ahmed.

Rohith questioned fascist movement in the HCU campus thats why he was suspended. We salute him for his position and for uniting the oppressed, he added

The protesters also demanded enactment of Rohit Act. The protesters also demanded enactment of Rohit Act.

Enacting Rohith Act will redress caste discrimination within the institution of higher learning, Aliah Khan, a student of Department of Political Science told TCN.
Help India!

New Delhi : The Congress on Wednesday approached the Election Commission with a complaint and demanded stern action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for violation of the pre-poll Model Code of Conduct for invoking Bhagwan Ram and Hanuman at an event.

It also demanded that the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) poll symbol must be cancelled and withdrawn.

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The complaint was submitted to the Election Commission by All India Congress Committee Secretary K.C. Mittal, who heads the partys Legal and Human Rights Department.

On January 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural event of Ramayana Darshanam Exhibition at Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari, via video conferencing, the complaint said.

The Prime Minister found this an occasion to utilise the event as a part of election campaign in the name of religion by invoking and making statements regarding Bhagwan Shri Ram, Ayodhya, Ram Rajya, Hanumanji and Bharat repeatedly, the complaint submitted to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and others read.

The complaint also said the Prime Minister deliberately mentioned about Bhagwan Shri Ram, Hanumanji and other characters from the Ramayana and compared the policies of his government with those of Bhagwan Shri Ram.

The whole idea and tenor of his speech was to invoke religion to further the election prospects of the BJP and their candidates in poll-bound five states, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and other states generally, it added.

The complaint also drew the ECs attention to the photograph of the Prime Minister during the video conferencing, which showed him with the national flag as the backdrop along with Ashoka symbol with slogan Rama became Lord Rama when he empowered the poor inscribed at the top of the photograph.

The Congress claimed this was used with an eye to the poll campaign in poll-bound states.

It is, therefore, requested that the Commission may be pleased to take immediate stern action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and issue appropriate orders and direction, since the BJP and their prominent representatives have been flouting the Model Code of Conduct repeatedly, the complaint read.

It is an appropriate case where the symbol of BJP may be cancelled and withdrawn, it added.
Help India!

By TCN News

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The arrival of the New Year may have been celebrated in myriad ways by people across the globe; but for 120 students, December 31 and January 1 will remain cherished for slightly different memories. Over these two days, thanks to the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin, they were bestowed with scholarships worth Rs 4 crore for attaining distinction in board exams.

The event was organised as part of the organisations silver Jubilee convention held at the Kedar Nath Sahani Auditorium in New Delhi to celebrate the accomplishments and mark a milestone in the organizations history. The convention was held in coordination with the Delhi Youth Welfare Association.

The 120 students, selected from across the India, were awarded gold, silver, and bronze for attaining meritorious distinction in the board exams. In addition, the prestigious Sir Syed Ahmed Khan Award conferred to leading Mumbai philanthropist Dr. Abdul Kader Fazlani Sopariwala.

The Mir Taqi Mir Award was given to Sanjiv Saraf, founder of the popular web portal Rekhta, for his contributions in promoting the Urdu language. The website now features more than 22,000 titles of Urdu books.

Excellence Awards were given to former Chief Electoral Commissioner S.Y.Quraishi and the historic Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School.

The awards to top students were given at the hands of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. He praised the work of AFMI and that more such efforts need to be undertaken to uplift the society. He mentioned that education remains the top priority of the Delhi government with as much as 25% of the state governments budget dedicated to it.

AFMIs flagship awards program has been instrumental in spreading awareness about educational excellence and empowerment across the country. Dr.A.R. Nakadar, AFMIs founding trustee, said that the fruits sown by AFMI at its inception are now bearing fruit. He said that due to such efforts there has been a remarkable improvement in the educational scenario of Indian Muslims.

Citing the latest census reports, published in Indian Express, he stated that there has been a 98.8% increase in the number of Muslim graduates between 2001 and 2011. During the same period, the Indian Muslim literacy rate increased from 59.1% to 68.5%. He said that the day is not too far when, through the collective efforts of all, AFMIs dream of 100% literacy will be realised.

The inaugural session of the convention was addressed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, Anil Swarup, Secretary Education and Literacy (Government of India), Naseem Ahmad, Chairman of National Commission for Minorities, and convention chairman Mohammad Naeem, president of Delhi Youth Welfare Association. The session was ably moderated by AFMI Trustee and leading scholar Dr. Aslam Abdullah.

The convention was also addressed by Prof. Akhtarul Wasey (Vice Chancellor of Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur); Mr.Siraj Hussain, IAS, former VC Jamia Hamdard, Dr. S.Y.Qureshi (former Chief Election Commissioner), Justice Fakhruddin, Ali Quraishi (New Mexico), Tayeb Poonawala (New York), Siraj Thakore (Canada), Farhad Rahmani, Ayub Khan, Prof. Janaki Rajan, Dr. Shabistan Gaffar, Mohsin Siddiqui, Suhel Tirmizi (Editor, Gujarat Today), Dr. Husain Nagamia (Florida), Shafi Lokhandwala (Detroit), Khalil Ahmad, etc.

Dr. Nakadar thanked all the organisers and volunteers of Delhi Youth Welfare Association, under the leadership of Mohammad Naeem, for a memorable convention.
Help India!

By Pritam Singh Tinna, Twocircles.net

The first death anniversary of Rohith Vemula was observed at the Ambedkar University, Delhi, by students from marginalised communities under the aegis of Dalit Bahujan Adivasi Collective (DBAC), who spoke of how Universities continued to remain casteist to its very core.

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Speaking on the occasion, Dilip Yadav, one of the students suspended by the JNU administration and a member of United OBC forum, said, In 56 central universities the percentage of OBC students, who constitute 60% of the entire population of India, is less than 6%. All these universities have devised various ways to keep Dalit-Bahujan students out from the education system. One such thing happened when UGC gave a Gazette notification of May 5, 2016, making viva voce the sole criterion for selecting students at the MPhil and PhD level.

Along with Dilip Yadav, the other speakers of the event were T. Praveen who is a member of BAPSA (Birsa Phule Ambedkar Students Association) and Dawa Sherpa who is a member of DSU (Democratic Students Union).

Dawa Sherpa, while talking about how the Brahmin left betrayed the movements of Dalit-Bahujans and Muslims, said, During the post 9 February event, more than 25 buses of students had gone out from JNU in support of Kanhaiya Kumar (Bhumihar) while it was even difficult to get even two buses of students from JNU in support of Najeeb (Pasmanda Muslim).

While talking about viva voce and the Brahminism that creeps into this form of examination he said, Dalit-Bahujan students have been getting the lowest marks in these viva voce exams the maximum. While a Dalit-Bahujan student gets out of 30 is 4 or 5 marks while Savarna students get more than 24-25. This is just another way to keep Dalit-Bahujan students oppressed and to keep them in the same hereditary work of the caste system.

Other things like the complete lack of interests in the implementation of reservation while the selection of teachers and students in these central universities were also discussed.

It is important to point out that even in Ambedkar University, there are less than 5 Dalit professors, while Dalit-Bahujan students have to fight against the Brahminical Election Committee and Students council for their simple right of representing themselves and having separate electorates in the council elections.

T. Praveen also said that the degenerated leftist parties like CPIM, CPI (ML) and other such Brahminical parties have been diluting and capturing the cause of Dalit-Bahujans.

Renu, a member of DBAC, AUD said, We call people from the oppressed sections from the other universities so that we all can work together and fight against our oppression this is a step to create our own leadership for our own fight.

Talking about the same issue, Riya Dakini a member of the DBAC said, You see, not many Savarnas came here to listen to Dalit-Bahujan students. They instead would come after the event. Many Savarna students have even been boycotting such lectures and talks, same had happened when our university had organised a talk by Bezwada Wilson.

The students gathered at the event said these universities are Brahminical in their laws and acts like Rohith Act should be passed and formulated so that oppression in these Universities against Dalit-Bahujan and Adivasi students is reduced.
The United Kingdom will not be half in continental Europe and half off, and even though Theresa May did not want to evoke a Brexit '' hard '' (hard, opposed to soft), This is what we are talking about. According to the Prime Minister, the UK will seek a partnership of equality, excluding the one for which Norway or Switzerland has opted. If the United Kingdom intends to trade with the continent as freely as possible, in the event of over-binding measures, it may turn into a tax haven by minimizing corporate taxes.

European Union and Britain

Gradually, the United Kingdom will withdraw not only from the European Union, but also from the Court of Justice.

Theresa May evokes a twelve-point plan that she will detail on Tuesday. These include the introduction of visas for EU residents intending to settle in the UK. But the three million citizens of member countries currently resident in the United Kingdom will not be subject to special measures if and only if reciprocity applies to British people who have chosen to reside in the European Union.

A solid economy

Despite the fall of the pound sterling, the British economy has continued to grow and projections suggest a rate of 1.5% for 2017. Theresa May, speaking Monday evening to the diplomatic corps, did not disclose the details of the 12 points mentioned, but some will seek to reassure Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as universities anxious to retain the enrolment fees of many foreign students.

But the Scottish government could begin the process leading to a second referendum on independence. Announcing a twelve-point roadmap is one thing, ensuring that they are stated in a sufficiently explicit manner is another.

12 Objectives

The presentation of a plan into 12 objectives falling under four essential principles is not clearly perceived by a majority of Britons.

Only a quarter of respondents believe that the Prime Minister has a clear idea of the future. The same applies to parliamentarians of both the majority and the opposition. What will happen to provisions for aeronautical companies, and for so many other sectors, are questioning parliamentarians and business leaders. Her statements have been interpreted differently, and even in very contrasting ways.

Financial Markets

The Times felt that in order to calm the financial markets, it has watered down its remarks, while some titles closer to conservatives favourable to a 'hard' Brexit seemed cheerful. But cartoonist Matt of the Telegraph summarized the prevailing opinion with a couple wondering: If only Putin could hack documents on the Brexit and tell us what is going on. If its "Plan B" is to turn the UK into a tax haven, the EU will find itself at the foot of the wall: both towards the ex-partner and the United States of Donald Trump, Canada, Australia, but also China and Japan
After six months of confusion and parliamentary squabbles since the day of the referendum results, Theresa May finally gave a speech laying down her plans for UKs exit from the European Union.

She talked about UK pulling out of the single market of EU, a fact which has been circling newspapers for some days. She made it clear that Britain will be going for a clean Brexit and that there wont be a situation where the countrys position will be hanging in the middle.

There will be new trade agreements in place between the EU and the UK which in Mays terminology will be a thread of relationship between the two.

The PM at last settled the dust over the fact that the Parliament will have the final say over the decision which also resulted in a positive growth for the Sterling.

Positive words, negative laws

What was interesting is that manner in which she started her speech, using the words global and claiming that UK was a magnet for international talent. As an international student studying in London at the moment, I guess I can also consider myself in the same category. The picture she wants to paint through her speech is not in tune with her decisions she has made regarding immigrations and visas.

Her cap on the Immigration of international students will and already is, severely affecting the number of students coming into UK for education.

On top of that, international students pay more fees than their local counterparts and they pay it because they feel their expenditure will be repaid in the future when they acquire employment, which is not the case. Also, due to immigration ceiling, the UK can lose up to 2 billion pounds which can be a big setback for the economy.

International students who come to study in London are attracted by the opportunities the city has to offer. She talked about Britain being a country which will a home to pioneers and innovators. How will the innovators and pioneers invent and add value to the society if they find it difficult to get employed after their courses are over?

Or does she mean that the so-called pioneers and innovators can only be UK locals and not international students?

Weathering the storm!

If she really goes by her words, then she must create an atmosphere which is more welcoming for international students. She has to create conditions which ease the restrictions for non-EU students to get employment.

She is a good orator and spoke sternly. She did her best to make Brexit seem like a viable and positive option. Detaching from the single market of EU, restricting international students along with formulating new trade agreements which can take a lot of time and result in trade uncertainties does not paint a good picture.

The unfortunate aspect of this is that such a situation has been created by the people themselves. If the situation turns grim, I hope they have the strength to weather it.
Summer Zervos, a former contestant on "The Apprentice USA," is suing president-elect Donald Trump for defamation of character pertaining to claims that he groped and kissed her. Summer Zervos filed the lawsuit on Tuesday morning, demanding that Trump "vindicate her reputation by verifying the allegations".

At a Los Angeles press conference, Zervos announced that she would be suing the forty-fifth president of the United States three days before he is inaugurated. Zervos' claims revived the sexual predator theme that surrounded Trump throughout his successful election campaign.

'A sexual predator'

"I want Mr. Trump to know that I would still be willing to dismiss the case against him for no monetary compensation if he retracted his defamatory statements. I only want him to acknowledge that I was telling the truth," said Zervos. Filed at a New York court, the twenty-page suit makes several claims against Trump, branding the incoming president as a "sexual predator" and "unrepentant misogynist" that sexually assaulted countless women.

Zervos said that she would join the women's rights march in Washington on Saturday, the day after Trump is inaugurated. Zervos came forward after a tape leaked by Access Hollywood recorded Trump boasting about sexual assault. "You know, I'm drawn to beautiful women, I just start kissing them.

It's like a magnet, just a kiss. I don't even wait. When you're famous, they let you do it. Grab them by the p*ssy, you can do whatever you want," Trump was caught saying on the tape.

A David vs Goliath case

Zevros competed on the fifth season of Trump's "The Apprentice" alleging that the incident occurred in Trump's office in December 2007.

Zervos alleges that Trump kissed her twice without consent before pressing his genitals against her.

In response, a Trump spokesperson said:" There is absolutely no truth to this story. It is complete fiction and yet another attempted to delegitimise the president-elect". Trump dismissed the claims, stating that he had never assaulted anyone. According to the lawsuit, this statement is a "bare-faced lie".
Before arriving in the Britain, migrants must be able to speak a basic level of English to enter the United Kingdom or be forced to attend English language classes upon arrival, a group of MPs has stated today. The cross-party group stated that migrants having basic English language capabilities will help promote "full participation in our society and economy".

A change of tack

In December 2016, a report published by Dame Louise Carey warned that many communities in the United Kingdom, particularly in larger cities in England, were becoming more segregated due to language barriers.

According to the cross party group, local governments should be responsible for setting community quotas to prevent social segregation, arguing that substituting the current model will promote "more positive discourse surrounding the topic of Immigration". Furthermore, the report suggests that speaking English should be a "prerequisite for meaningful engagement with British people".

Labour MP Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham, said that social integration was a "two way street in which both migrants and British people are responsible for making function. By ensuring all migrants possess basic English speaking skills, we can instill confidence among migrant skeptic members of the public. It is abundantly clear that immigration has vastly altered communities across the UK.

In many ways, these changes have alarmed many. It is incumbent on the government to address issues surrounding integration and detoxify the debate surrounding the subject of immigration".

Although a clear model has yet to be outlined by Theresa May's government despite her notes being recently leaked, one of the key issues in Brexit discourse was immigration.

After Britain voted leave in June, the government has promised to implement greater controls on migration from the European Union. Currently, net migration is above the government's yearly target of 100,000.

Canadian success

The cross-party group of MPs highlighted the success of a similar approach to immigration in Canada. In Canada, provincial governments are responsible for setting regional requirements for migrants. Umunna said: "The Canadian model has proven incredibly successful in promoting social integration".
Nightlights is the debut storybook by Author and Illustrator by Lorena Alvarez. Due to be released in March of 2017 by Nobrow Press, Nightlights is a graphic novel that is colorful yet creepy and thereby intriguing for teens and adults rather than small children. Creator Lorena Alvarez was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, and her hometown and Catholic school clearly influenced many aspects of her first book. Lorena, who has been praised by the Junior Library Guild, also holds a university degree in Graphic Design and Arts. She has been involved with an experimental puppetry club called "La Procesion Puppet Club since 2008 and has illustrations for well-known companies such as Paragon, Disney, Nickelodeon, Usborne Books, Puffin Books and more.

Lorena recently described her experiences working as an author and artist.

Writing

Blasting News (BN): What prompted you to become an author and illustrator?

Lorena Alvarez (LA): I made the decision to become an artist when I was a kid. I imagined myself in an animation studio in front of a canvas throwing paint at it or designing gowns and costumes. After I graduated from high school I got accepted to the Graphic Design program at Universidad Nacional. Although there wasnt an illustration program I met teachers and students who were interested in illustration and comics and I started to explore from there. Attending illustration workshops and talking with more experienced illustrators helped me to understand the basics of the trade and start my portfolio.

BN: So far, how many books have you published?

LA: Nightlights is my first book as an author. As an illustrator, Ive worked on many. My favorires are The Wizard of Oz, The Noon Balloon, Hattie B and Equis in New Zealand."

BN: How many books have you published so far in your career?

LA: When I started writing my own stories I became interested in how we build our reality using our dreams, our beliefs and fears.

In the case of Nightlights the first idea I had was from a game I used to play at night when I was a kid, I used to imagine little bright dots all over the darkness and I took those dots and give them any shape I wanted. The memories from my school days and the fantastic stories we used to share there also inspires me to write.

Drawing

BN: How did you find out about Nobrow Press?

LA: When I finished the first draft of Nightlights I was living in a small town in Arkansas and found some Nobrow books at the library. I was really impressed by the care they put in every publication, their values and the creators they have published. They were accepting submissions so I sent my story to them. Working with Nobrow is a great experience for me. As a new author, Im shy when it comes to show my ideas, but they were helpful and encouraging. It was overwhelming when I finally had my book in my hands!

BN: Whats the best thing about working as an author and illustrator?

LA: Being an illustrator has given me the opportunity to work with great authors and editors.

Working with authors is particularly rewarding, I treasure the opportunity of contributing to a story with my point of view and participate in a constructive dialogue with the author. I also love the fact that I learn a lot while working in each project, reading the texts, doing the research, and looking for references. Being and author means that I have to grow a unique voice and work to let it out, being brave enough to share my stories, find the balance to work without being too self-demanding or insecure. This is a huge leap for me and taking the chance to do it is rewarding in itself.

BN: What do you hope to be doing in ten years from now?

LA: Id like to see myself writing and drawing more and better.

Id love to participate in projects involving new media, to see my work adapt and evolve. Im working in my second book, which is a little bit frightening, but thats a good feeling if you know how to use it!
President Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. Army analyst convicted of espionage and a host of other charges for leaking hundreds of thousands of secret documents to WikiLeaks.

The former Army private, who went by the name of Bradley Manning before undergoing a sex change operation last fall, is serving what would have been a 35-year sentence in the Armys Fort Leavenworth Prison in Kansas after being convicted of providing nearly 750,000 documents to Wikileaks in 2010. Many of those documents contained classified information about U.S.

military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as sensitive diplomatic communications.

In commuting Mannings sentence on Tuesday, Obama also commuted the sentences of 208 other prison inmates and pardoned 64 others. The White House says the president has now commuted the sentences of 1,385 people serving time on various charges -- the most grants of commutation issued by any president in U.S. history.

Bradley considered 'whistleblower' by some, threat to others

Bradley has been lauded by some as a whistleblower for leaking the documents while serving in Army intelligence, but critics said by revealing military and diplomatic secrets American lives had been endangered. In a statement released to the media Tuesday afternoon Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, blasted the move by the president, saying it would encourage more espionage against the U.S.

.@POTUS's commutation of #ChelseaMannings sentence is a grave mistake that will encourage further acts of espionage https://t.co/nB5SeHCrKM  John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) January 17, 2017

It is a sad, yet perhaps fitting commentary on President Obamas failed national security policies that he would commute the sentence of an individual that endangered the lives of American troops, diplomats, and intelligence sources by leaking hundreds of thousands of sensitive government documents to Wikileaks, a virulently anti-American organization that was a tool of Russias recent interference in our elections, McCain said in the statement.

CNN: Defense Department official 'shocked'

Indeed, CNN reports the decision by the president shocked a senior Defense Department official, who told the network the move was made over the objections of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. CNN says the official, who it did not name, said the intelligence community was deflated by the decision.

ACLU, WikiLeaks applaud decision

But the American Civil Liberties Union, which had previously filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Manning, applauded the move by the president. In a statement the ACLU said that Manning had raised public awareness of wars impact on civilians.

Im relieved and thankful that the president is doing the right thing and commuting Chelsea Mannings sentence, Chase Strangio, a staff attorney with the union's LGBT Project, said in the statement.

WikiLeaks also celebrated the decision, calling it "victory" and thanking activists who supported Manning. WikiLeaks posted a statement from Manning's lawyers, Nancy Hollander and Vince Ward, who called Manning the longest serving whistleblower in the history of the United States.

Joint statement on Manning clemency announcement by Manning appellate lawyers Nancy Hollander & Vince Ward: pic.twitter.com/Hi87FdRgvV  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 18, 2017

With her sentence being commuted Manning will be released from prison on May 17. Otherwise she would have remained behind bars until 2045.
In just four days, President Obama will officially leave the White House as Donald Trump becomes the new commander in chief. With Obama ending his second term as president, he will leave with a historically high approval rating, much to the chagrin of the president-elect.

Obama era ends

When President Obama came into office in January 2009, he entered the White House with an approval rating of 78 percent. Over the next eight years, Obama's favorable rating from Americans would drop, as is the usual case, going as far down as the mid 40s in approval.

However, with the 2016 presidential election providing the American people two candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, that were both viewed in a negative light by the majority of the country, Obama saw his own favorable rating increase. According to a recently release Gallup poll, reported by The Hill on January 16, the current president his ending his time as commander in chief on a high note.

Poll: Obama leaves office with 58 percent favorability https://t.co/5mJV6oc55c pic.twitter.com/rcD9EjbbvX  The Hill (@thehill) January 16, 2017

In the aforementioned Gallup poll, Obama will conclude his presidency with a 58 percent approval rating. Obama's exit rating is the highest of any outgoing president since 1992 and former President George H.W.

Bush, who left office with a 62 percent favorable rating. Former President Bill Clinton ended his tenure as president in 2001 with a 57 percent approval rating, slightly lower than Obama. When comparing Obama's numbers to former President George W. Bush, who exited the White House during the start of the Great Recession, the gap is wide, with only 40 percent of Americans approving.

Trump's drop

Another historic number from the Gallup poll is the favorability rating of incoming president Donald Trump. Only 40 percent of those polled by Gallup give Trump positive remarks, compared to 55 percent who view the billionaire real estate mogul in a negative light. Five percent said they had no opinion. With a 40 percent incoming favorability rating, Trump now equals the marks given to George W.

Bush when he left the White House in January 2009. According to the latest Quinnipiac University poll released earlier this week, Trump's favorability rating is even lower, sitting at only 37 percent.

The latest political ratings are in -- and Donald Trump won't be pleased. https://t.co/CRnxmflrpZ  USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 10, 2017

Moving forward

Despite the low numbers and growing backlash against him and his administration, Donald Trump is now just four days away from being sworn into office as the 45th President of the United States. While the former host of "The Apprentice" is getting ready to celebrate, over 100,000 protesters are expected to be on hand to voice their opposition.
Holy alligator shoes and purses! No, this is not a scene from a new sequel to "Jurassic Park" nor is it a promotional snapshot for another "Lake Placid" film. Recently, visitors at the Polk County Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, Florida were stunned when an alligator estimated to be between 14 and 16 feet in length casually crossed their path. The scary looking behemoth seemed as though he couldn't care less as tourists gasped at the sight while calmly taking photos.

Witness Kim Joiner posted a video of the encounter on the Polk Nature Discovery Center Facebook page.

Joiner wrote that although she has visited the 1,267 acre nature preserve for years, this was the biggest gator she has ever seen. Joiner told local news station WFLA that it was typical to see gators walk from one marsh to another, but she was excited to be present at the right time to see this one.

Land of lakes, lovely swans and yes, alligators

The Circle B Bar Reserve is a stretch of protected land located in the Central Florida city of Lakeland. Home to the Fortune 500 Publix grocery store chain and Detroit Tigers' training camp, Lakeland is a beautiful small city filled with gorgeous homes, swaying palm trees, great shopping and 38 lakes spread throughout. Located off the I-4 corridor, Lakeland is conveniently sandwiched between Tampa and Orlando.

Last year, the city made headlines when another, less larger alligator was seen with a human body in its mouth. The alligator was spotted in Lake Hunter, which is a part of the Lake Hunter residential community near the downtown area. Frightened by all the commotion, the gator dropped the body and left the area, allowing authorities to retrieve the remains.

Brave locals often water ski in Lake Hunter.

There is no swimming around alligators

It is quite common to see alligators in many of the Sunshine State's lakes, rivers and streams. It's just part of the natural order of things there. Therefore, people are cautioned against swimming in bodies of water where these creatures may be prevalent, particularly at night. Splashing in water tends to attract this other type of "Jaws."
Noor Salman, the widow of the Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen, has been taken into federal custody. FBI investigators believe that Salman may have aided her late husband in the planning and execution of the Orlando nightclub massacre that happened back in June. Now, Salman has been charged with obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting in connection with her husband's crimes.

Investigators believe Noor Salman aided Omar Mateen in planning the Pulse nightclub massacre

The Monday arrest of Noor Salman was first reported by the New York Times.

Salman is believed to have worked "of her own free will" to obstruct the investigation into the Pulse nightclub shooting. They have accused her of knowing that Mateen was planning something heinous and not only did she do and say nothing, but she might have actually helped him with his homophobic attack.

According to the report, Salman claims that her husband was abusive and because of that, she was too afraid to turn him in. FBI investigators believe otherwise, leading to the charges against Salman. Charges were filed in the Middle District in Florida. Noor Salman will have a hearing on Tuesday in Oakland, California since she was arrested in the San Francisco area, where she has been living since the deadly Pulse nightclub attack.

It is expected that she will be extradited back to Orlando.

Orlando police chief expresses gratitude, relief over Noor Salman arrest

Orlando police Chief John Mina expressed his relief that investigators are finally catching up to Salman. In a statement released by Mina, he said that he is "grateful that they have seen to it that some measure of justice will be served."

Omar Mateen murdered 49 people and injured at least 50 more when he opened fire inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando last June.

Mateen was killed by law enforcement after barricading himself inside a club bathroom during the massacre.

The investigation into Noor Salman's involvement in the Pulse nightclub shooting proved that she did have knowledge that Omar Mateen was planning to do something bad. She reportedly gave conflicting information to authorities about her husband's plans.

She also divulged at one point that Omar Mateen wanted to become a martyr in a Jihadist attack but claimed that she had no knowledge of his actual plans to do so at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

The evidence against Noor Salman is overwhelming

Evidence suggests that Noor Salman may not have been completely honest. Part of that evidence includes Omar Mateen adding Salman to his life insurance policy just months before the deadly shooting. He also sold his share of the home they shared with his sister and brother-in-law to them for just ten dollars.

Mateen is accused of buying thousands of dollars worth of guns and ammunition just weeks before the deadly Pulse nightclub attack. He is also believed to have been scouting Disneyworld for an attack there instead, and he brought Salman along with him when he did it.

There are also reports that Omar Mateen was in communication with Noor Salman during the attack on Pulse nightclub, It was reported that about two hours into the attack, he texted Salman to find out if the news had been reporting on the crime he was in the midst of committing. She texted him back to tell him that she loved him.
Forbes is reporting on a bizarre new twist on the energy wars. Hitherto both the federal and some state governments have thrown restrictions on the drilling and use of fossil fuels. Now the state of Wyoming in contemplating what is, in effect, a ban on solar and wind energy in the state.

The idea is that only oil, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric, or nuclear power would be permitted sources of energy for Wyoming utilities. Companies that choose to generate electricity from solar and wind would incur a penalty of $10 a kilowatt hour, pricing them out of the market.

No one knows exactly what the motivation for the proposal legislation is or how seriously it is being pushed. As far as anyone can guess, the bill is a push back against the so-called War on Coal that has been waged by the Obama administration. Coal mining is a major industry in Wyoming, so restrictions on coal-fired power plants would tend to hurt that states economy.

The proposed legislation is, at best, ill-considered and ill-advised. Even supporters of the unrestricted extraction and use of fossil fuels tend to be, at worse, agnostic about Renewable Energy. If wind and solar can compete in the energy market, by all means, let those methods of electricity production flourish.

Indeed, in Texas, a state usually associated with oil and gas, is the fastest growing wind power state.

Wind farms have sprouted in north and west Texas, where constant winds persist and have been connected with the energy-hungry cities of central and east Texas by power lines subsidized by the state government. Texas is currently contemplating a big play in solar energy. The Lone Star State is approaching energy production from a pragmatic, business-oriented perspective.

Oil and gas, thanks to the fracking boom, will always be part of Texas economy. But the political and business leaders of the Lone Star State, if they know anything, recognize the virtues of diversification. The price or oil and gas rise and fall according to market conditions. Wind and solar are always available, waiting to be tapped. Wyoming should follow the example of her bigger sister state.
President Obama extended his hand in gratification to his support system, as well as the American people. He reflected on his 8-year journey as our president. He expressed how the journey was not easy, neither was it amicable, but much progress has been made throughout the years, such as affordable healthcare for the world and marriage equality. He also reflected on the racial issues that encompass our society as whole.

True enough, America has come a long way

However, in the reflection of racism, we are nowhere near where we could be as a society.

Daily, we are still dealing with the negative effects of racism in our society. These effects have driven us so far back into history that we as Americans have lost our way. Shameless acts of terrorism towards race has been an infringement to our society as a whole. In the address, President Obama quotes a line from Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird in which he quoted You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. President Obama expressed that we as a society should have empathy towards one another, not only for Blacks and other minorities but also for the Whites. We dont know each others struggles.

However, empathy compasses all morality

President Obama has not only extended empathy in race but also through all walks of life. Just because our walk of life is different from someone else doesnt justify judgment, but instead should help us to show more compassion. He ends his address with optimism towards our future, offering up words of encouragement to bring about change.

Through his presidential journey, he has always stood behind progression, not regression. His progression was not perfection, however, persistence will always be more important than perfection.

President Obama has kept his promises

President Obama's campaign slogan was "Yes we can" and "Forward". He said Yes we can and we did and he wanted to move us forward and we have moved forward as a nation and progressed. In my final words, the past eight years have been very trying for a nation, however, He has handled it with grace and competence. I would like to say Job well done Mr. President, now take a bow.
HANGZHOU -- Chinese people are expected to take 8.4 million carpool trips during the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush, Chinese on-demand mobility (ODM) firm Didi forecast on Thursday.



Although railways have long been top choice for the annual migration known as "chunyun" in China, train and air services cannot fully meet the mammoth transportation demand. To meet these needs, Didi launched its ride-sharing service Hitch ahead of last year's "Chunyun."



The month-long travel rush, which starts on Friday this year, is forecast to see 356 million trips via railways, up 9.7 percent year on year.



Didi said on Thursday that the number of carpool trips is forecast to account for 11.8 percent of high-speed railways' passenger volume.



Didi began releasing its "chunyun" data in 2016, when it reported more than 1.9 million Hitch rides.



The service allows users to pair travelling needs not only within a city but also across the country, making it possible for drivers to take passengers when travelling home for the Chinese new year.



Hitch customer Li Xiu, 25, is a white-collar worker in the eastern city of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province. She failed to book railway tickets online to return to Hangzhou from her hometown in Dezhou City, Shandong Province, although she managed to get a ticket to her hometown.



Li said the carpool cost her 480 yuan ($69 dollars) for the 990-km trip, which is about the same as a ticket for the high-speed train.



Didi said most of the carpool bookings were made for trips with a distance between 50 and 1,000 km, while distances beyond 1,000 km accounted for 3 percent of the total.



Liu Qing, president of Didi, said the Hitch service has given passengers an alternative to conventional transportation and helped ease China's heavy transportation pressure during "chunyun."
China wants 5 million plug-in cars on its roads by 2020 and the pedal's to the metal.

More electric cars are already sold in China than in the rest of the world combined, Reuters reports.

The catch is that they are mainly locally branded models that are cheaper with a shorter range than the vehicles offered by foreign plug-in car makers like Tesla and Nissan.

The Chinese-branded electric vehicle (EV) market is propped up by substantial government subsidies as part of Beijing's policy to become a global leader in clean energy.

China has spent billions of dollars on subsidies to help companies - including Warren Buffett-backed BYD and BAIC Motor - achieve large-scale production of plug-in vehicles, which are gaining traction among urban drivers, taxi fleets and government agencies.

China's domestic EVs don't have the fast, long-range, luxury status of a Tesla. They sell on price.

In Shanghai last year, a two-door battery electric Chery eQ cost around 60,000 yuan ($8,655) after subsidies. Without subsidies, the eQ would cost an additional 100,000 yuan ($14,500) or so. At last week's Detroit auto show, General Motors showed off its latest Bolt EV, with a $30,000 price tag (after a $7,500 federal tax credit).

"EV cars are very cheap (in China)," said Xie Chao, who works for a chemical company in Shanghai. "You'll only spend a little money to buy a car. If you just go to work or use an EV in the city, it's OK for using within 100 km (62 miles)."

Chinese electric cars tend to come with identical specs, so price is the deciding factor, said Dawei Zhang, CEO of EVBuy, a dealer.

"It's a transport tool," he added, "purely for mobility rather than for showing off."

Some EV buyers in China's big cities mainly buy plug-in vehicles because it's easier to get a license plate. China's biggest cities tightly control license plates for gasoline cars, but freely award plates for plug-ins.

Still, cost is the name of the game.

"I only considered BYD and BAIC. I definitely can't afford the 300,000-600,000 yuan price of a luxury-style Tesla or Denza," said Qu Lijian, a 31-year-old government worker in Beijing, who eventually opted for a BYD Qin pure electric.

Denza is a Chinese brand produced by a joint venture between BYD and Daimler.

China's cocktail of pro-electric policies is a challenge for global automakers, as foreign manufacturers can access subsidies only via joint ventures with local partners, producing cars under new made-for-China brand names such as Denza.

The version of the Leaf that Nissan's joint venture with Dongfeng Automobile offers in China, under the Venucia brand, "isn't selling very well," Nissan's global chief Carlos Ghosn told Reuters in November. Chinese EV buyers don't want to spend much more than $8,000, after incentives, and the Nissan vehicle is too expensive, Ghosn said.

The playing field for foreign brands in China should, though, gradually even out as subsidies are phased out by 2020.

Local EV manufacturers have, with the help of subsidies, been able to build economies of scale, pushing down their cost per unit and allowing them to spend more on R&D, Li Yunfei, BYD's deputy chief of branding, told Reuters.

"By 2020, China will have no subsidies, but your scale has expanded, your costs have come down, and you'll be able to hit a price that consumers can accept," he said.

While China has grabbed early-mover advantage, global automakers plan to quickly ramp up their plug-in offerings in the world's biggest market. GM's local joint venture, for example, promises to spend $3.8 billion on electrification and developing 10 "new energy" models by 2020.

It won't be one-way traffic.

Chinese brands such as GAC Motor and BYD are looking to advance on global rivals' home turf.

GAC Motor debuted its pure electric GE3 sport utility vehicle at the Detroit show last week, announcing plans to enter the US by 2019.

Shenzhen-based BYD already sells its electric buses in Africa, Europe and South America and has a factory in the US. The company is preparing "on all fronts" to enter foreign passenger car markets, Li said, without elaborating.

"Because Chinese companies have this large Chinese market, when they have big enough scale and their power grows, their products improve and they increasingly understand foreign markets," he said.

"In the future, they will definitely take the world stage. The potential is huge."

Contact the writer at chrisdavis@chinadailyusa.com.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, December 20, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

TEHRAN -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday his country is opposed to the participation of the United States in the imminent peace talks about Syria, Tasnim news agency reported.

"We have not invited the United States ... and we are opposed to the US presence" in Kazakhstan next week, the minister was quoted as saying.

The remarks came after Zarif and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov exchanged views on the Syrian peace talks in a phone call on Monday, the report said.

Following the intense diplomatic effort by Russia, Turkey and Iran, Syrian government and the opposition groups reached an agreement on a ceasefire earlier this month.

Later, it was announced that a new round of peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition groups will be resumed in Astana of Kazakhstan on January 23.

Russia and Turkey have invited the United States to join the talks.
Chain link fence and concertina wire surrounds a deserted guard tower within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp Delta at the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba March 21, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON  The White House said Tuesday that the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba will still be open when President Barack Obama leaves office, conceding that a core campaign promise will go unfulfilled.

Administration officials had long insisted that the president was continuing to work toward closing the facility even when it became obvious that it would no longer be possible for practical reasons before President-elect Donald Trump takes office Friday.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that the administration determined it wouldn't happen when they realized they did not have enough time left to comply with the 30-day deadline for notifying Congress in advance of a detainee transfer.

"At this time, I don't anticipate that we will succeed in that goal of closing the prison," Earnest said. "But it's not for a lack of trying, I assure you."Over the weekend, the US transferred 10 low-level detainees from Guantanamo to Oman. Eight were from Yemen and two from Afghanistan, including an insurgent, Abdul Zahir, who was accused of possessing a white substance suspected to be a chemical or biological weapon but that turned out to be salt and sugar, according to his lawyer, Air Force Lt. Col. Sterling Thomas. All were deemed eligible for release after authorities determined they no longer posed a threat.

Their release lowered the number of detainees to 45, with a few more releases expected in the administration's final days.

Trump said during the campaign that he not only wants to keep Guantanamo open but "load it up with some bad dudes." Earlier this month, he said there should be no further releases of men he called "extremely dangerous people."The US began using its military base on southeast Cuba's isolated, rocky coast to hold prisoners captured after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack and at the start of the war in Afghanistan. At its peak, the facility held nearly 680 detainees. It was down to 242 when Obama took office in 2009, pledging to close what had become a source of international criticism over the treatment of detainees and the notion of holding people indefinitely, most without charge.

Congress thwarted Obama's effort to close the detention center with restrictions on transfers, including the requirement of a 30-day notice, and a ban on moving detainees to the US for any reason, including trial. The administration launched a case-by-case review process to winnow down the population, moving 193 prisoners to 42 countries for repatriation, resettlement or prosecution.

Earnest blamed politics for failing to close the detention center, which he called a waste of money and "recruiting tool" for terrorists. "Members of Congress in both parties, frankly, played with this issue," he said.

Human rights groups and others who have called for the closure of the detention center have criticized Obama for not acting forcefully enough to shutter it at the start of his administration.

Tom Wilner, a Washington lawyer who helped secure the right of detainees to challenge their detention, hopes Trump will take a fresh look at the situation.

"I think if he looks at the facts objectively he will really see that Guantanamo really is a bad deal for America," Wilner said. "There's no benefit to it, it's grossly expensive and it hurts our reputation."
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian police on Tuesday succeeded in preventing another prison riot at the Alcazuz State Penitentiary, where 26 inmates were killed in a riot during the weekend.

Police used tear gas and non-lethal weapons to block a group of inmates armed with rocks and bats from trying to break into a different wing.

"The situation was very tense," prison warden Wellington Camilo told local media.

Also on Tuesday, Brazil's federal government authorized Armed Forces to be deployed in prisons to carry out inspections and search for weapons and other forbidden materials.

The government does not allow the soldiers and criminals to have any contact, so the Armed Forces will not serve as wardens in the jails.

"The Armed Forces will not deal with the inmates," said Defense Minister Raul Jungmann. "That will be a role for the police forces and prison wardens."

The announcement was made after a meeting between President Michel Temer and representatives of the cabinet and intelligence organs. The government has been trying to reach an agreement on how to tackle the prison crisis in the country.

"In an innovative and pioneering initiative, the president offered state governments the support of armed forces," Alexandre Parola, presidential spokesman, said.

The decision followed a string of violent clashes at prisons, mainly in Brazil's poorer northern region.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been several riots in prisons all over Brazil, and the death toll from those riots is far above 100. States have been requesting the National Security Force to help them regain the control of prisons.
ISTANBUL - Turkish police on Wednesday detained 27 Islamic State (IS) suspects in northwestern city of Bursa over their links to the shooting attack on an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day, local media reported.

Fifteen women were among the foreigners netted by anti-terror teams in seven places in Bursa, and 40 passports, 38 fake ID cards and 15 mobile phones were seized in an empty apartment, press reports said.

The apartment was used by two Tajik citizens, who also rented several flats in Istanbul, Bursa and the western city of Izmir on behalf of IS members by introducing themselves as dentist, doctor, businessmen or trader, the state-run Anadolu Agency said, citing the authorities.

One Tajik national was caught by the police, while the other is on the run, the report said.

A gunman, identified as Abdulgadir Masharipov, a Uzbek national, shot dead 39 people and injured 69 others in Istanbul's Reina nightclub early on New Year's Day.

He was captured on Monday night after 17 days on the loose. The IS has claimed responsibility for the mass shooting.

According to Masharipov, the IS gave him 197,000 US dollars after the attack for him to flee to Raqqa, an IS stronghold in Syria, CNNTurk said.

The same amount of money was found on the gunman when he was seized in a police operation in Istanbul.
More than half of all investors who received green cards through the federal EB-5 investor program between 2009 and 2014 chose to live in California, according to the Department of Commerce.

Between 2009 and 2014, more than 8,000 EB-5 investors and their family members resided in the state, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services data (USCIS), the report said. USCIS, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), administers the EB-5 program that grants foreign investors green cards in exchange for a minimum investment of $500,000 in job-creating projects in the US.

The second-biggest EB-5 settlement area was New York, which had roughly 1,500 EB-5 residents during the same period. In addition to California and New York, the top five states where EB-5 investors and families resided were Florida, New Jersey and Washington.

California also surpassed New York and all other states on total EB-5 investment. Nearly $1.5 billion flowed through its regional centers into 38 projects between 2012 and 2013, while New York saw $1.2 billion in 17 projects, the report found. Chinese companies have invested heavily in downtown Los Angeles for new residential units in skyscrapers, with Greenland USA's Metropolis among the developments funded by EB-5.

Ten states account for roughly 85 percent of all immigrant investors and families, and every state except Montana and the District of Columbia has EB-5 related immigrants, according to the report, and the majority of immigrant investors and family members reside in coastal states.

By using EB-5 investment and job creation estimates over the two-year period of fiscal years 2012 and 2013, the report released on Jan 10 said there were 10,644 investors, total dollar value of investment was $16.4 billion and 169,759 jobs were expected from 134 projects in EB-5 regional centers.

"California attracts a lot of investment because of its size and population, and EB-5 is a job creation program after all," Gregory Karns, an attorney at Cox Castle & Nicholson who specializes in Asian investment, told The Real Deal in an article published on Jan 12. Investors can also expect larger returns in Los Angeles than in New York because the city has more favorable capitalization rates and underwriting terms, he said.

Karns said, however, that the flow of EB-5 money into Los Angeles may level off as investors turn to cities with lower cap rates. "I'm already seeing these investors looking at Portland, Austin, and around Boston," he said. "They're beginning to branch out. There's a learning curve, but the low cap rates will end up driving them outside of the three big choices: New York, San Francisco, and LA".

A major attraction of Los Angeles is that the majority of EB-5 investors are Chinese nationals and Los Angeles County has Chinese enclaves, such as Arcadia.

"For the Chinese, there's a lot of appeal in Beverly Hills and other tony locations like Bel Air and Holmby Hills," Nourmand of Beverly Hills-based brokerage Nourmand & Associates, told The Real Deal. He said that Chinese buyers are partial to new construction, and that they tend to stay within the $3 million to $12 million range.

Sally Forster Jones, president of John Aaroe Group's Beverly Hills office, said, "At the moment, the number of my Chinese clients is a fraction of what it used to be."

aiheping@chinadailyusa.com
Matt Drudge has stirred up a firestorm that suggests many in the media have little to no idea how tax law works for small business owners after he announced on the Drudge Report that he just paid his Obamacare penalty tax.

Last week, Drudge tweeted Just paid the Obamacare penalty for not getting covered IM CALLING IT A LIBERTY TAX.

Drudge is referring to the provision in Obamacare that requires every American to have health care insurance that meets the governments approval regarding benefits they must have. Among these are maternity care for men and older Americans who are beyond their child bearing years.

Recognizing the political lightning rod of passing a law that contained the largest tax increase in American history, Democrats and the administration attempted to argue the penalty was a fee. However during arguments at the Supreme Court, the government, in an attempt to get the justices to uphold the law, then argued it was a tax, which Congress has complete discretion to pass. The justices agreed with this argument when they upheld the law, which means the federal government now has the power to tax Americans for not buying any product it chooses.

Immediately following the tweet, the White House went into panic mode, recognizing the influence Drudge has.

Jesse Lee, the Director of Progressive Media at the Obama White House responded that Drudges claim that he had paid the tax was a Flat lie, no fee for the previous year, and Scary how much influence he once had.

Lees statement about Drudge no longer having influence is inaccurate, as the site is the top rated news site on the Internet and is read by millions of viewers.

Liberal media outlets also jumped to Obamas defense over the Obamacare tax, with Dylan Scott at TPM writing a story saying that Drudge was probably lying.

Americans dont pay a penalty for not having health insurance until they file their 2014 taxes  in 2015, Scott wrote. So either Drudge is lying or he paid a huge penalty a year earlier than he needed to.

Other liberal writers from media outlets, including the Huffington Post, echoed the same line that the tax does not kick in until this year, and therefore is not due until a person files next years tax returns in 2015.

However, their attacks on Drudge reveals how little administration officials and members of the media understand about how the massive health care law that will affect many small businesses.

Like many small business owners, Matt Drudge is unemployed and files his taxes as a sole proprietorship. This method is used by millions of small business owners across the country.

While those who receive a paycheck are now paying their taxes for last year, those who file as a sole proprietorship and are self-employed must pay quarterly taxes during the given tax year to the IRS.

Indeed, the IRSs own website backs up Drudges statement that he would need to pay the Obamacare tax upfront during this year.

As a self-employed individual, generally you are required to file an annual return and pay estimated tax quarterly, the IRS website reads.

This means that when Drudge calculates his quarterly taxes he must pay to the IRS, part of that amount must be the Obamacare tax penalty as it currently exists.

As many more small businesses are required to make these types of payments, it could cause a further drag on hiring because of the extra money they are now being forced to pay to the government at a time when they are struggling to just get by.

Dazed team Obama media reporters think Opt-Out tax year away? Drudge tweeted. Not for small businesses that file Qtr estimates. Were there NOW, baby #pay.
Google has announced that it is changing terms to be able to release the identity of its users in its advertising. Beginning Nov. 11, the search giant wants permission to use names, photos and product reviews in advertising that it sells to businesses.

That means the reviews of restaurants, shops and products that are created by users would be fair game. Content, including songs that are purchased in the Google Play store could also be included in ads that are displayed to friends, connections and the public general as they conduct Google searches. These new ad features are being called shared endorsements.

As an example, Google may have a user named John Doe. John may write a review detailing his weekend stay at a resort in the Daytona Beach, Fla., area. That resort may decide to advertise with Google. As the ad appears on the screen, a photo of John Doe and his review could appear underneath it, sort of as an endorsement to recommend the resort to his friends and family. What if someone doesnt want their photos and information shared? They can opt out. Google has some 390 million users who are active each month.

When explaining the changes, Google said, We want to give you  and your friends and connections  the most useful information. Recommendations from people you know can really help.

Instead of opting out, if a user wants to limit an endorsement to specific friends or business circles, that restriction will be respected in any ads that use an endorsement, according to the company.

Googles move follows on the heels of a similar move by social networking site Facebook. Back in August that company said it would show the faces and names of users who clicked like for products in ads. Privacy groups were very critical of the proposal and asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into the proposal farther.
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Concerns that not all of the unions will agree to ratify their labor agreements have caused rail shippers and other transportation industry stakeholders to push President Joe Biden to act.
Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front row taxi ridesymbolic of the shows content as a fun ride that takes audiences from point A to point B. Gabina VOAs main goal is Enlightening young people, introducing them to cutting-edge technological innovations, exposing them to new processes and ideas so they can be productive, informed and self-governing citizens.
Making Maps

Big Ancient Mediterranean: A project that marries texts, network analysis, and ancient geography. It currently allows you to see the people and places in the Book of Luke within the module Terra Biblicabuilt to house texts connected to early Christianityand to explore a map of Latin authors. Project PIs are Sarah Bond, Paul Dilley, and Ryan Horne.

GPS Visualizer: GPS Visualizer is do-it-yourself mapping, for both beginners and power users. Its strengths are its simplicity and flexibility in terms of input, and its enormous number of options regarding the output. When you upload your GPS data, GPS Visualizer will automatically detect what kind of file it is and process it accordingly. The output can be in the form of KML files for Google Earth, JPEG maps, SVG drawings, elevation profiles, GPS Visualizer is do-it-yourself mapping, for both beginners and power users. Its strengths are its simplicity and flexibility in terms of input, and its enormous number of options regarding the output. When you upload your GPS data, GPS Visualizer will automatically detect what kind of file it is and process it accordingly. The output can be in the form of Google Maps plain-text tables with all your raw data, or GPX files that can be used with many other GPS-related applications. Moreover, all of the maps and profiles can be adjusted in innumerable ways using the options on the input forms: you can change the size, the colors, the background map, etc. In the case of Google Maps, there is even more you can do to edit your map after its been created, if youre comfortable with HTML and/or JavaScript.

Google Earth and Google Earth Pro: Google Earth reads and produces a file called KML. KML, or Keyhole Markup Language, is an XML grammar and file format for modeling and storing geographic features such as points, lines, images, polygons, and models for display in Google Earth, Google Earth reads and produces a file called KML. KML, or Keyhole Markup Language, is an XML grammar and file format for modeling and storing geographic features such as points, lines, images, polygons, and models for display in Google Earth, Google Maps and other applications. You can use KML to share places and information with other users of these applications. You can find example KML files on the KML Gallery and Google Earth Community site that describe interesting features and places.

Harvard World Map: WorldMap is an open source web mapping system that is currently under construction. It is built to assist academic research and teaching as well as the general public and supports discovery, investigation, analysis, visualization, communication and archiving of multi-disciplinary, multi-source and multi-format data, organized spatially and temporally. The first instance of WorldMap, focused on the continent of Africa, is called AfricaMap. Since its beta release in November of 2008, the framework has been implemented in several geographic locations with different research foci, including metro Boston, East Asia, Vermont, Harvard Forest and the city of Paris. These web mapping applications are used in courses as well as by individual researchers.

Leaflet: Leaflet is a modern open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps. It is developed by 33 KB of JS , it has all the Leaflet is a modern open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps. It is developed by Vladimir Agafonkin with a team of dedicated contributors . Weighing just about, it has all the features most developers ever need for online maps. Leaflet is designed with simplicity, performance and usability in mind. It works efficiently across all major desktop and mobile platforms out of the box, taking advantage of HTML5 and CSS3 on modern browsers while still being accessible on older ones. It can be extended with a huge amount of plugins , has a beautiful, easy to use and well-documented API and a simple, readable source code that is a joy to contribute to.

LEGO Build with Chrome: is a web application that allows users to explore and build a world of digital LEGO creations. A collaboration between Google Chrome and The LEGO Group, Build with Chrome was originally developed by a team of Google Australia developers for the LEGO Festival of Play. In January 2014, Google Plus account to help you find builds that people in your circles have created, a new categorization system for completed builds, and Build Academy. (Pulled from ) is a web application that allows users to explore and build a world of digitalcreations. A collaboration betweenBuild with Chrome was originally developed by a team ofdevelopers for the LEGO Festival of Play. In January 2014, the Google Chrome team opened up Build with Chrome to everyone and added features such as the ability to sign in with aaccount to help you find builds that people in your circles have created, a new categorization system for completed builds, and. (Pulled from )

MapBox: is one of the biggest providers of custom online maps for major websites such as Pinterest,[2] Since 2010, it has rapidly expanded the niche of custom maps, as a response to the limited choice offered by map providers such as [2] Mapbox is the creator of, or a significant contributor to many popular open source mapping libraries and applications, including the MBTiles specification, the TileMill cartography IDE, the is one of the biggest providers of custom online maps for major websites such as Foursquare Evernote , the Financial Times and Uber Technologies Since 2010, it has rapidly expanded the niche of custom maps, as a response to the limited choice offered by map providers such as Google Maps Mapbox is the creator of, or a significant contributor to many popular open source mapping libraries and applications, including the MBTiles specification, the TileMill cartography IDE, the Leaflet JavaScript library, the CartoCSS map styling language and parser, and the JavaScript library. (Description via Wikipedia)

Pelagios Project : A great tool for geography and for finding material culture for a certain area. It plugs you into the linked open data network for antiquitye.g. inscriptions, ceramics, coins, and archaeological remains. Via the Pelagios Blog: The aim of [the] work with Pelagios has been to create a static (non-layered) map of the ancient places in the Pleiades dataset with the capacity to serve as a background layer to online mapping applications of the Ancient World. Because it is based on ancient settlements and uses ancient placenames, our map presents a visualisation more tailored to archaeological and historical research, for which modern mapping interfaces, such as Google Maps, are hardly appropriate; it even includes non-settlement data such as the Roman roads network, some aqueducts and defence walls (limes, city walls). Thus, for example, the tiles can be used as a background layer to display the occurrence of find-spots, archaeological sites, etc., thereby creating new opportunities to put data of these kinds in their historical context.

Tools

DIRT: Digital Research Tools: The DiRT Directory aggregates information about digital research tools for scholarly use. It evolved from Bamboo DiRT, a version of the directory developed by Project Bamboo , which itself developed out of Lisa Spiros DiRT wiki. The DiRT Directory makes it easy for digital humanists and others conducting digital research to find and compare resources ranging from content management systems to music OCR, statistical analysis packages to mindmapping software.

Google Fusion Tables: Fusion Tables is an experimental data visualization web application to gather, visualize, and share data tables. Fusion Tables is an experimental data visualization web application to gather, visualize, and share data tables.

Esris StoryMap: A video tutorial for using Esris Story Maps. Check out Odysseus Journey HERE. for using Esris Story Maps. Check out Odysseus Journey

World Atlas: Find Longitude and Latitude: Find longitude and latitude coordinates quickly. Caveat internetor: Ancient places are not this Atlas strong point. Go with the Pleiades data. Find longitude and latitude coordinates quickly. Caveat internetor: Ancient places are not this Atlas strong point. Go with the Pleiades data.

Free Data

Data.gov: Downloadable data from the US government. Downloadable data from the US government.

Eurogeographics: EuroGlobalMap is a 1:1 million scale topographic dataset covering 45 countries and territories in the European region. EuroGlobalMap is a 1:1 million scale topographic dataset covering 45 countries and territories in the European region. It is now available as opendata. EuroGlobalMap is perfect for use as background to many applications from planning, monitoring and network analysis to presenting environmental policies.

Pleiades: Get complete and regular shapshots of all Pleiades resources, available in multiple formats including CSV, KML, and RDF. Get complete and regular shapshots of all Pleiades resources, available in multiple formats including CSV, KML, and RDF.

USGS: The National Map : The Global Map is an international effort by national mapping organizations to produce consistent and accurate mapping data of the world at a scale of 1:1,000,000. The 1997-2014 Edition of the National Atlas of the United States originally supplied all American data to the Global Map. The National Map will continue to publish two data collections at one million-scale: one for Global Map users and one for National Map users. In terms of vector geometry, the lines, points, and areas in these data collections are identical. The difference is in the attributes assigned to these features. The Global Map edition includes just the data fields and attribute values in the Global Map Specifications Version 2.2. National Map vector data includes all of the Global Map data fields and attributes plus those in the National Map data dictionary.

GIS Classes (Some Free, Some Not So Free)

ESRI Virtual Campus Courses: online, self-paced, step by step lessons that cover a variety of topics related to GIS applications and technology. Currently there are 40+ course selections to choose from that are included with our standard subscription, and many more seminars are available that are free to the public. online, self-paced, step by step lessons that cover a variety of topics related to GIS applications and technology. Currently there are 40+ course selections to choose from that are included with our standard subscription, and many more seminars are available that are free to the public.

Coursera: Maps and the Geospatial Revolution: This course brings together core concepts in cartography, geographic information systems, and spatial thinking with real-world examples to provide the fundamentals necessary to engage with Geography beyond the surface-level. We will explore what makes spatial information special, how spatial data is created, how spatial analysis is conducted, and how to design maps so that theyre effective at telling the stories we wish to share. To gain experience using this knowledge, we will work with the latest mapping and analysis software to explore geographic problems. This course brings together core concepts in cartography, geographic information systems, and spatial thinking with real-world examples to provide the fundamentals necessary to engage with Geography beyond the surface-level. We will explore what makes spatial information special, how spatial data is created, how spatial analysis is conducted, and how to design maps so that theyre effective at telling the stories we wish to share. To gain experience using this knowledge, we will work with the latest mapping and analysis software to explore geographic problems.

Classroom Activities

Google Editable Map : Ask students to contribute to an editable map and place information about themselves on it. This is a great way to start off a class and introduce spatial thinking, maps, layers, and data sharing.

serpent column and how we can represent inscriptions and other textual sources geographically using . The full Pleiades workshop video with this activity is available for viewing HERE. Serpent Column : This activity explore the monument of theand how we can represent inscriptions and other textual sources geographically using . The full Pleiades workshop video with this activity is available for viewing

Mapping Spartacus: Using in order to teach the Third Servile War (i.e. The Spartacan War). Using in order to teach the Third Servile War (i.e. The Spartacan War).

Finding Digital Humanities Projects
HCM CITY  Viet Nam is expected to export 360,000 tonnes of cashews for a value of US$3 billion this year, an increase of 3.4 per cent in volume and 5.6 per cent in value over last year, according to the Viet Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas).

Speaking at a meeting in HCM City on Monday, Vinacas chairman Nguyen uc Thanh said that global demand for all kinds of nuts was expected to remain high this year because of the widely reported health benefits of nuts.

However, domestic cashew processors had not had enough materials to process for exports, he said.

Last year, enterprises imported from many countries 1.06 million tonnes of raw cashew nuts for processing for export. The imports, mostly from African countries, represented an increase of 14 per cent over 2015.

About 1.1 million tonnes of raw nuts are expected to be imported this year.

The cashew nut production and trading sector is expected to have a good year but difficulties might occur if unseasonable weather adversely affects domestic cashew nut output.

Cashew export enterprises are also facing increasing competition.

In Viet Nams large import markets like the US, the Netherlands and China, demand is expected to increase but each market has its own difficulties, according to Vinacas.

In the US market, for instance, starting from February, supermarkets are expected to raise cashew prices, causing concern among Vietnamese exporters that the move would affect US consumption.

Vu Thai Son, general director of Long Son JSC, said in the near future that Chinese authorities would tighten exports of the nut via border trade and enhance requirements on hygiene and food safety.

He said that Vietnamese exporters must prepare for stricter requirements.

African countries are offering incentives to encourage foreign investors to invest in processing the nuts to reduce their exports of raw nuts, according to delegates at the meeting.

In addition, Chinese firms with deep pockets can easily invest in the sector in Africa, leading to severe competition.

Ta Quang Huyen, chairman of the board of Binh Phuoc-based Hoang Son 1 Company and Vinacass deputy chairman, said cashew nut prices reached a peak by the end of last year, but prices could drop this year.

He said that domestic cashew nut processors and exporters, to avoid risks, should not keep a high inventory or import raw materials en masse if they do not have export contracts.

Enterprises exported 348,000 tonnes of cashew last year, earning $2.84 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.6 per cent in volume and 18.4 per cent in value.

Viet Nam exported cashews to 90 countries and territories, with the US being the largest import market (accounting for 35 per cent of Viet Nams total cashew export volume), followed by the EU and the UK (25 per cent) and China (18 per cent).

Viet Nam has been the worlds largest cashew nut exporter for 11 consecutive years, accounting for 42 per cent of the worlds total cashew nut export volume last year, according to Vinacas.  VNS
Brand building must be the core of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) competition strategies going into the fourth industrial revolution, experts said at conference on Monday in Ha Noi.  VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI  Brand building must be the core of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) competition strategies going into the fourth industrial revolution, experts said at conference on Monday in Ha Noi.

Nguyen Van Nam, Director of the Institute for Brand and Competition Strategy, stressed that the fourth industrial revolution was rapidly changing the ways of doing business and significantly affecting SME operations.

However, most SMEs were reportedly using outdated technologies, Nam said, citing statistics showing that only 10 per cent of SMEs have applied modern technologies.

Updating SMEs approaches is essential to their competitiveness, Nam said.

According to Nguyen Quoc Thinh, National Branding Programme consultant, SMEs should not aim at competing by price but by brand. When asked, roughly 90 per cent of firms said that improving competitiveness could be achieved through lowering prices and enhancing quality. However, SMEs should note that creating market demand should be the target.

Economic expert Vo Tri Thanh urged SMEs to link with each others to develop the value chain. This will be an efficient solution for SMEs to develop their brands.

Applying technology in production is also vital, which will create pressure on firms to use resources efficiently and create high-added value products, Thanh said.

Le Van Anh, Director of the Centre of Law Consultancy and Human Resource Development, said that only 21 per cent of Vietnamese SMEs managed to participate in the global value chain, compared to 30 per cent in Thailand and 46 per cent in Malaysia. Vietnamese SMEs are mainly services firms with a mere 20 per cent operating in manufacturing. About 85 per cent of them have revenue below VN2 billion (US$88,800) per year.

From a different angle, Nguyen Van Toan, Viet Nam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprisess Deputy President, said that SMEs credit access must be improved.

Toan said capital had been among the biggest difficulties for SMEs; they struggled to get credit due to a shortage of mortgaged assets and an ineligibility for trust-based loans.

He said that the Government should raise policies to promote venture capital to create resources for start-ups.

o Thuy Duong, director of TalentPool, an SME operating in capacity training, said that the dynamics of SMEs were of significant important in competition. SMEs, themselves, must be active. Competition is for development, not inhibition.

A survey by the Association of SMEs revealed that SMEs accounted for 98 per cent of the total number of firms in Viet Nam. Just 2.2 per cent of the firms were of medium size, while the rest were of small and super small sizes.

However, SMEs provided jobs for 51 per cent of the countrys workforce and contributed to 40 per cent of the gross domestic product.

The Government is drafting a law on supporting SMEs which is expected to give them a boost. The private sector is recognised as a main driver for Vietnamese growth.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Viet Nam expected Japan to become its top investor, with more high-tech investments in areas such as green growth, infrastructure development, high-quality agriculture and services as well as privatisation of State-owned enterprises.

Phuc was speaking at a business forum co-hosted by his counterpart Shinzo Abe and attended by big firms from both sides yesterday during Abes two-day visit to Viet Nam.

Viet Nam expects Japan to become its top foreign investor, Phuc said.

Japan currently ranks second, after Korea, out of 142 countries and territories with investments in Viet Nam. So far, Japan has poured around US$42 billion into the Southeast Asian country, which is striving to improve its investment climate and expand exports.

Japan is also the leading official development assistance donor and the fourth largest trade partner of Viet Nam.

Phuc said that Viet Nam expected to receive Japanese investments in promoting green growth, developing high-quality infrastructure projects, financial, banking and tourism as well as agricultural production.

Japanese investments were encouraged in the process of privatizing State-owned enterprises in Viet Nam and promoting the development of start-ups.

Phuc stressed the important role of businesses in enhancing the bilateral partnership between the two countries.

Abe said at the forum that Viet Nam was rising to become a manufacturing hub in ASEAN. He called on the Government of Viet Nam to continue supporting and listening to Japanese firms, adding that Japan, with its strength in technologies and experience in manufacturing, wanted to contribute to the development of the Vietnamese economy through technology transfer and human resource training.

There are around 1,600 Japanese enterprises operating in Viet Nam.

Abe reaffirmed the two countries determination in boosting the strategic partnership through promoting trade, investment, ODA and cooperation.

Vinatex and Itochu

During his two-day visit, Abe and his counterpart witnessed the signing of several agreements between enterprises of both sides.

Viet Nam Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) on Monday signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Japanese firm Itochu.

Under the agreement, trading firm Itochu will assume the role of a consulting partner for Vinatex and its member companies in developing the textiles and garment supply chain from fibre to thread, fabric and sewing, retail distribution, co-operation and introducing domestic and foreign partners.

Shuichi Koseki, senior managing executive officer, manager of CPCITIC Strategy Office, president of Textile Company and representative director, said Viet Nams textiles and garments were an important part of Itochu, therefore it wanted to develop this area with Viet Nam, so that Vinatex could become its number one partner.

In the near future, he said Itochu would boost co-operation between the two sides to develop textiles and garment products and supply them globally.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Le Tien Truong, general director of Vinatex, said the two sides would discuss in detail the co-operation plan and implement actions immediately to make a change in Vinatexs textiles and garment production and business method from CutMakeTrim to Free on Board, developing a sustainable retail distribution network to enjoy long-term benefits.

Itochu signed a framework agreement to support several projects in dyeing and materials production in Viet Nam, training in the countrys dyeing sector and utilising the capacity of Vinatexs dyeing factories in the central region in 2015.

At that time, Itochu owned 5 per cent stake in Vinatex through a subsidiary company.

Itochu, one of the leading economic groups in Japan operating in various areas, including textiles and garment, has co-operated with some 100 textiles and garment companies of Viet Nam.  VNS
Deputy Minister Vuong inh Hue urged the State Audit of Viet Nam (SAV) to pay more attention to human resource management at State-owned enterprises (SOEs) when auditing their activities.  Photo viettimes.net.vn

HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue urged the State Audit of Viet Nam (SAV) to pay more attention to human resource management at State-owned enterprises (SOEs) when auditing their activities.

At a meeting yesterday with SAV authorities on restructuring the activities and business valuation of SOEs, Hue emphasised the importance of improving personnel management in SOEs over the next five years.

It is necessary to review the number of employees at State-owned corporations and groups. Low productivity and low business efficiency stem from personnel redundancy, he said.

Hue said improving organisational and personnel management was key to improving the efficiency of business activities and of State capital in enterprises. It is also one of the goals of the equitisation process that has been conducted at major SOEs in recent years.

According to Government regulations, all enterprises wholly-owned by the State must be audited on business valuation and handling financial issues before their equitisation plans can be approved.

A report by the SAV on the implementation of the Plan for restructuring and business valuation at SOEs in 2011-2015 shows that 499 enterprises underwent equitisation during this period. All enterprises recorded better business performance after being equitised, which contributed more to the State budget and increase workers income.

By divesting from these enterprises, the State earned about VN36.5 trillion (US$162.2 million) from a book value of VN26.2 trillion (US$116.5 million).

However, SAV said it figured out that in many cases, the process of business valuation and handling of financial issues before announcing the value of enterprises were inaccurate and did not comply with current regulations. This resulted in the devaluation of State properties and considerably affected the States benefits.

The Deputy PM said that in order to tackle the problem, the Ministry of Finance was in the final phase of compiling a decree on defining the value of SOEs, with a focus on trademark and trade advantages.

He also asked the SAV to pay more attention to the assessment of allocating land funds before equitisation. This is due to the fact that many investors failed to use land in conformity with State planning despite a commitment to do so before the equitisation began.

He said the Government was asking related ministries and sectors to study whether enterprises should be allowed to change the purpose of land after equitisation and if so, who should be responsible for granting such permission. He also asked the SAV to contribute its views to the Government on this issue.

The Deputy PM emphasised that the State must maintained its role as major stake-holder in key enterprises and try to turn them into strong corporations and brand names highly competitive not only domestically but also internationally.

The number of SOEs may be reduced, but their business efficiency must increase and they must become stronger, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  The Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) cannot delay its plan to divest by June 2017, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan.

VRG must also ensure it makes available its initial public offering (IPO) during the first quarter of 2017, Tuan said, adding that he would submit a report for the Government to review VRGs divestment from member companies, to assure the divestment is carried out efficiently.

Most of the VRGs rubber producers are located in remote and disadvantaged areas where living conditions are poor, therefore, the divestment must assure local people are cared for and the land is managed effectively, according to Tuan.

Tuan was responding to the VRGs proposal, sent to the Steering Committee for Business Renovation and Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to extend the deadline for the equitisation of the group by three months.

The proposal is aimed at avoiding the re-evaluation of the groups value in case the equitisation cannot be completed by the end of June 2017. If the proposal is approved, the VRG would have to complete the equitisation of the parent and member companies by the end of the third quarter this year, instead of the initially approved deadline that is for the end of June 2017.

According to Tran Thoai, Deputy General Director of VRG, the group has completed all necessary parts of the equitisation plan, however, it would take the group more time to resolve unexpected problems that may occur when they try to match its work with the requirements stated in Decree 59/2011/N-CP on transforming a 100-per cent State-funded business to a joint stock company.

VRG also proposed that the steering committee allow the group to sell the stakes in its member companies after the group completes equitisation so that the divestment could be completed more efficiently, and allow VRG to seek potential buyers for its subsidiaries in Cambodia.

"The Enterprise Law 2014 states that a State-owned group and its member companies cannot share ownership in the same business, so VRG will have to complete divestment before July 1, 2017," Thoai said.

VRG owns most of the capital in its member rubber companies, therefore, the group will sell its stakes in those companies to recover its investment. But if the divestment starts now, it would be difficult for VRG to look for buyers, and the divestment could be handled more efficiently.

Thoai said that most of those companies started in 2007 and their products had just been introduced into the market. In the first three years of operation, rubber producers often have low margins of profit, given that the rubber price remains very low in global trading.

Further, it would become a sensitive topic for the group to divest from member firms in Cambodia, because the group is uncertain about who could be buyers, while the local public and media might misunderstand the purposes of the divestment.

According to the decision of the Prime Minister, VRG will have to equitise the group and 20 member companies. In 2016, the rubber group successfully sold stakes in two subsidiaries, the Tan Bien and Ba Ria limited companies. The group has completed evaluating its own value, as well as that of its member companies, and is preparing reports for the steering committee to approve.

On December 31, 2016, VRG sold its stakes in 24 non-administrative units and collected more than VN2.9 trillion (US$128.9 million).

VRG earns 51 per cent gain in pre-tax profit

In 2016, VRG registered a revenue of VN15.4 trillion, an increase of 14.4 per cent from its targeted figure for last year.

That helped increase its pre-tax profit by 51 per cent to VN2.36 trillion, including VN378 billion from rubber production and VN418 billion from wood production.

According to Tran Ngoc Thuan, VRGs general director, last year was the toughest for the agriculture sector due to the impact of the climate change. The rubber industry, in particular, was affected by some factors such as rising global supply and lower rubber trading price.

VRG this year has set a target of VN4.18 trillion in pre-tax profits, a year-on-year increase of 47 per cent, though the rubber industry is forecast to face a lot of challenges, especially the unpredictable impact of climate change.  VNS
The Vung Ang II thermal power build-operate-transfer (BOT) project agreement was inked on Monday in Ha Noi.  Photo hatinh24h.com.vn

HA NOI  The Vung Ang II thermal power build-operate-transfer (BOT) project agreement was inked on Monday in Ha Noi.

The agreement was finalized between the General Directorate of Energy (GDE) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Vung Ang II thermal power joint stock company.

The 1,200MW plant consists of two 600MW generators, with the first turbine group to be put into operation in 2021, while the other one will become operational one year later.

The US$2.2 billion project will supply electricity for economic development in the northern region, ensuring national electricity security.

The GDE will support the investor in preparing procedures on investment licence and arranging finance.

Apart from the Vung Ang II thermal power BOT plant, the GDE is also involved in 17 other thermal power BOT projects with total capacity of 23,000 MW.

On the same day, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh handed over the project agreement to the Japanese BOT investor Mitsubishi on the occasion of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes visit to Viet Nam.  VNS
HA NOI  The life of the Vietnamese diaspora in Russia will be reflected in a new soap opera produced by Viet Nam Television titled Moscow  Mua Thay La (Moscow  Season of Falling Leaves).

This is Viet Nam Televisions first film to be completely shot in Russia.

Director Trong Trinh said the romantic yellow colours of the fall in Moscow and the emotional story of love and friendship will be key factors in attracting audiences.

The film stars Hong ang and Hong Diem, the couple who won viewers hearts in the TV series Cau Vong Tinh Yeu (Love Rainbow), which aired in 2015.

In Moscow  Mua Thay La, ang and Diem play Minh and Phuong, each others first love, who are separated by an unexpected upheaval. After many years, they meet again in Moscow and find that their hearts still beat for each other. However, there is a big gap between them because Phuong is married to uc, one of Minhs friends. Phuong is in a difficult situation because she has to choose between present happiness and the deep love of her past.

Diem performs her role in the film very successfully and so does ang, said director Trinh.

Their teamwork was perfect, although theyd not worked together for a year or so.

I believe that the film will touch peoples hearts. Its worth waiting for.

The film was shot in Moscow and neighbouring areas. For Vietnamese people who have lived and studied in Russia, the film offers a trip down memory lane to familiar sites like the Red Square, Lenin Hills, Moscow Metro and the multi-functional Ha Noi-Moscow complex.

The film crew moved to different areas to find beautiful autumn scenes. When shooting began in Moscow, the leaves hadnt changed colour. So the film crew had to travel to Sergiyev Posad City where autumn had already arrived.

A lot of effort and hard work by the film crew made the peaceful and beautiful autumn scenes possible, Trinh said.

We had to manage the weather, food, the time zones, traffic jams and the distance between countries.

The four-episode film will be screened on VTV1 from January 29 to February 1.  VNS
HA NOI  Various traditional customs of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year will be featured this Sunday, January 22, at So Villages communal house on the western outskirts of Ha Noi.

The event is an annual gathering hosted by the inh Lang Viet (Vietnamese Communal House) Group, a Ha Noi-based community of people keen on preserving ancient values of communal houses.

The event will include a ceremony to erect cay neu, a tall bamboo tree in the communal houses yard. The bamboo pole is stripped of its leaves except for a tuft on top so that it can be wrapped or decorated with red paper for good luck. Bows, arrows, bells and gongs are hung on the treetop with the hope that all the bad luck of the past year is chased away and everyone has a happy New Year.

A traditional worship ceremony will be held, along with events featuring the art of drawing calligraphy and folk singing.

Both men and women participating in the gathering are encouraged to wear the traditional long dress.

The event is set to take place in Cong Hoa Commune, Quoc Oai District, some 20km to the west of Ha Nois centre, between 8am and 5.30pm on Sunday, January 22.  VNS
HA NOI  The management board of the Hoa Lo Prison museum yesterday received memorabilia from the family of late US Commander Walter Eugene Wilber.

The memorabilia belonged to Wilber until his last days, said the commanders son Thomas Eugene Wilber.

Memorabilia included a letter that Wilber wrote to his family from Hoa Lo prison on January 22, 1970 and a matchbox that the Vietnamese Government presented Wilber when he was released back to US in February 1973.

The collection also includes a hat that the US government provided Wilber for the war in 1968, a cup and two clothing items that the pilot while imprisoned in Hoa Lo as well as some pictures of Wilber before and after he was released to his home country.

The memorabilia will help bring people from the two sides closer. It also represents the humanity of the people from different countries who share the goal of a peaceful and cooperative world, the museum management board said.

Thomas Eugene Wilber said the memorabilia granting event coincided with the 87th birthday of his father.

When Wilber joined the war in Viet Nam, he was captured and imprisoned in Hoa Lo and provided with food, clothes as well as considerable health care. He believed he was treated well in the prison, especially concerning the difficulties facing Vietnamese people at that time, said Wilbers son.

The Americal pilot was shot down on June 16, 1968 over the central province of Nghe An. His parachute landed in Thanh Chuong District. Several days later, he arrived at Hoa Lo Prison.

Museum visitors are very much interested in the artifacts related to captain Wilber. These are valuable artifacts that reflect part of life prisoners of war in Hoa Lo as well as the humanitarian policies of the Vietnamese government, said tour guide Nguyen Truong Giang.

On August 2016, Thomas Eugene Wilber granted 19 artifacts and documents of his father to Hoa Lo museum, following the captains wish before he passed away.  VNS
LONDON  British conductor Simon Rattle on Tuesday called for a new concert hall in London to make the city more competitive on the international music scene, as he takes up his baton at the London Symphony Orchestra.

He threw his weight behind a 280 million pound (324 million euro, US$347 million) project aimed at creating a "Centre for Music" equipped for the digital era.

The plans involve building a new hall on the site of the Museum of London, which is relocating nearby, which would become the new home of the LSO.

Rattle, 61, will head the LSO from September while also conducting his final season at the Berlin Philharmonic until 2018.

He said the Barbican Centre concert hall where the LSO is currently based only allowed him to put on 80 percent of the works he would like to play.

"Obviously the stage was beautifully designed for a certain size of orchestra but not for a very large orchestra and certainly it was made without a chorus in mind," he told reporters at a briefing.

"Sometimes you need some space for sound to expand and develop," he said.

The project has suffered a series of setbacks in recent months, including the withdrawal of government funding.

The City of London Corporation, which governs the financial heart of the city, has since said it will make up the shortfall.

But Rattle admitted there was still "an enormous amount of fundraising to do".

The conductor said his opening season would draw on the "goldmine" of British composers.

Asked about his double role in Berlin and London, he said: "Im doing the insane thing I said Id never do, which is run two orchestras at the same time."  AFP
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) meets with Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the committees Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh in Ha Noi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien

HA NOI  As part of his visit in Ha Noi yesterday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his desire to help Viet Nam implement managerial personnel training projects.

Human resources training is very important, Abe said during a meeting with Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the committees Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh.

He praised the intensive, practical co-operation between the two countries parliamentary groups, which he said helped enhance Viet Nam-Japan relations.

Chinh, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians Group, celebrated thriving ties between the two nations with strong political trust and growing collaboration in security-defence, economics, agriculture and local exchanges.

Appreciating the activities of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, Chinh said he hoped that the Japanese PM would continue supporting the two groups in their contributions to Viet Nam-Japan relations.

The same day, the Japanese leader met with the President of Ha Noi-based Vietnam National University (VNU) Nguyen Kim Son and lecturers and students from the VNUs Vietnam-Japan University.

Son proposed the PM promote official development assistance (ODA) investment in the Vietnam-Japan University as well as its organisational, operational and financial regulations.

Abe called the university an important co-operation project between Viet Nam and Japan, which is expected to train high-quality human resources for both countries.  VNS
QUANG NAM  Two students died of diphtheria at a boarding school in the mountainous Tay Giang district of Quang Nam province, director of the provincial health department, Nguyen Van Hai, confirmed to the Viet Nam News on Tuesday.

Hai said the two students  Bhling Boong, 17, from A Vuong commune, and his schoolmate ZoRam Sao, 17, from A Xan commune  died on January 4 and 9, respectively.

He said 11 other students, kitchen staff and teachers, suspected of being infected with the disease, had tested negative for diphtheria and were well and 21 students have been quarantined for further monitoring at local medical centres and at home.

According to the provincial health department report on Monday, Bhling Boong displayed signs of illness on December 24, when he had difficulty breathing and a high fever. He died on the way to hospital on January 4. Local medical staff did not conduct any tests on his excrement.

ZoRam Sao, 17, was found ill on January 2 before going to hospital on January 7, where he died two days later. Saos stool tested positive for diphtheria.

Three cases of fever and sore throat, symptoms of the bacterial infection, are being treated at a Nang pediatrics and obstetrics hospital and Tay Giang districts health centre. They tested negative for the disease.

The department, in collaboration with the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute, carried out chemical spraying and cleaning of houses and schools in 10 communes of Tay Giang district over 10 consecutive days, as well as vaccinating residents.

The district has a population of 16,000, of which 90 per cent are members of ethnic groups. Many live in poor households and some were not immunised against the disease.

The school, 50km west of Quang Nam Provinces Tam Ky City, is home to 789 students, 71 teachers and kitchen staff.

In 2015, three people in the provinces Phuoc Loc Commune also died of diphtheria.  VNS




National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presents Tet gifts to poor households in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre on the threshold of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival on January 17.  VNA/VNS Photo Tran Thi Thu Hien

HA NOI  National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presented Tet gifts to poor households in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre on the threshold of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival on January 17.

She also attended a ceremony to hand over four primary schools, two health care stations, and nine rural transportation works to the local government of Giong Trom town in Ben Tres Giong Trom District.

At the ceremony, 100 newly-built houses were also presented to the poor in the locality. The facilities are worth a combined total of over VN33.7 billion (USD1.49 million) funded by the Vietnam Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank).

The leader also paid a Tet visit to the Military Headquarters of Ben Tre where she expressed her hope that the headquarters would continue collaborating closely with the local Party Committee and government in fulfilling all socio-economic tasks and ensuring security and defence in the locality.

She made a Tet visit to the Bishop of Vinh Long Diocese, Huynh Van Hai, and workers at Luong Quoi coconut processing factory in An Hiep Commune, Chau Thanh District.

Meanwhile, Vice State President ang Thi Ngoc Thinh paid a Tet visit to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, underprivileged children and poor households in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai the same day.

She handed over 100 scholarships from the Vietnamese Children Sponsoring Fund to children living in the provinces social sponsoring centre. She visited and presented scholarships and gifts to local ethnic minority people in Ia Phi Commune, Chu Pah District. VNS
HA NOI  The Ha Noi Peoples Court on Tuesday sentenced two men to eight years and 10 years imprisonment for murder.

Nguyen Van Chien, now 17, from Me Linh District, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. He committed the crime when he was 15 years old. Nguyen uc Tuan, 17, from ong Anh District, committed the crime when he was 16 years old and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

Chien befriended an 18-year-old girl on Facebook and fell in love with her. Subsequently, Chien discovered several emotional messages between the girl and another man on her mobile phone. Overcome by jealousy, Chien wanted to harm the girl.

He asked Tuan, a friend, to help him.

On February 28 last year, Chien and Tuan took the girl to the latters house. Seeing the girl standing at the balcony on the second floor, Chien and Tuan came near and pushed her to the ground.

The two men then took the girl to hospital, and told her mother that she slipped. She was treated at the Saint Paul Hospital but died on March 2 last year due to serious injuries.

The two men were ordered to VN100 million (US$4,400) as compensation to the girls family.  VNS
QUANG BINH  Quang Binh Province is not building a suspension cable to Son oong Cave, the worlds largest cave located in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

This was revealed by deputy chairman of the central province Peoples Committee Tran Tien Dung to Zing e-newspaper on Tuesday.

The province had not discussed the work contrary to rumours doing the rounds recently, he said.

Dung said if the province did plan to set up the Son oong suspension cable, it would have to seek opinions from a number of related ministries and sectors and make a report on the impact on the environment.

In particular, the province would require permission and agreement from the UNESCO.

Following a conference on a working plan for this year held by the Quang Binh Department of Tourism on Monday, there were reports that the province had approved a plan to build a suspension cable to Son oong Cave.

Several accounts on social network said the province had even chosen investors and companies to execute the work.

Many people raised objections as they worried that the building would damage the beauty of the famous wonder of the world.

Leaders of the Quang Binh Department of Tourism denied these reports.

During the conference, we discussed a plan to ease difficulties for the tourism sector and attract more tourists to the province. The conference did not mention the suspension cable, Ho An Phong, director of the Quang Binh Department of Tourism, said.

Viet Nams Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which boasts of having the worlds largest cave Son oong, was recognised as a world heritage site for the second time by UNESCO in 2015. The park was first added to the World Heritage List in 2003.  VNS
HA NOI  Physical barriers will be installed on Ha Nois roads on a pilot basis to make the bus rapid transit (BRT) system more effective.

The plan, which has got a nod from the city Peoples Committee, is expected to be implemented before Lunar New Year (January 26).

As of now, the dedicated BRT lanes are indicated through road markings and signs and are managed by the traffic police.

Barriers will now be installed to prevent other vehicles from entering the BRT lanes and slowing down the purportedly fast public transport system. The city is introducing BRT to try and reduce rush hour traffic.

The installation of physical barriers on roads in the BRT route has proved to be successful in big cities such as Jakarta, Indonesia, where the BRT system has provided an effective traffic solution.

Experts have a word of caution, though. The plans to set up barriers should be studied carefully as roads in the city are already heavily congested during peak hours, they said. The risk of accidents is higher on such roads, and the barriers will affect traffic regulations if there are jams.

Nguyen Hoang Hai, director of Ha Noi Public Transport Management and Operation Centre, said barriers would be set up at some places from the bus shelter to the next intersection to limit lane encroachment.

In the future, the citys transport department will install warning systems at intersections and fine violators to discourage lane encroachment, Hai said.

The citys first BRT route became operational on January 1. The 14-km route runs along the streets of Ba La, Quang Trung, Le Trong Tan, To Huu, Le Van Luong, Lang Ha, Giang Vo, Giang Van Minh and Cat Linh. The bus is expected to complete its one-way journey within 30-45 minutes.

People have responded positively to the BRT system, statistics from the Ha Noi Transport Corporation shows, with around 130,000 passengers using it in 10 days.

Under Government Decree No 46/N-CP, issued last year, a biker will be fined VN300,000 to 400,000 (US$13-17) if caught driving in the BRT lane deliberately. The fine is VN800,000 to 1.2 million ($35-52) for cars.  VNS
HA NOI  A decade and a half ago, in 2003, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) received a meagre 32,134 units of blood (each unit 350ml), 73 per cent of which was from professional blood sellers. The national rate was roughly the same.

In addition, screening tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV in the blood used dated technology. Immunological safety in the blood units was virtually non-existent due to limitations in the machinery and technology and the prohibitive cost of importing foreign materials.

The shortage of blood donors and the doubtful safety of blood and blood products made it a struggle to meet the demands for blood transfusions and blood products for emergencies and treatment.

New development

However, over a period of 12 years, from 2004 to 2015, NIHBT received some 1.5 million units of blood and produced 2.7 million units of blood products on an industrial scale.

In 2015 alone, the institute received 252,000 units of blood, eight times higher than two years before. The most significant change was that nearly all of the blood received  98.3 per cent  came from voluntary blood donors, translating to a jump of 71.3 per cent compared to 2003. In 2016, the amount of blood units received rose 10.6 per cent to 280,765 units.

The blood received met the demands not only for patients in the cities and big urban centres, but also for the more remote areas, upland regions, islands and border regions. Awareness raising campaigns have been a central part of the success, together with models like "Live Blood Bank" and "Rare Blood Donors Clubs", to ensure a sustainable supply of blood donations.

Had it not been for the blood donation campaign, my wife wouldnt have received enough blood and couldnt have survived. said Lau Nhia Cha, a farmer from the HMong ethnic group. His wife was the first patient to receive a successful blood transfusion in a mountainous district in the northern province of ien Bien.

Enhanced safety measures

Nguyen Anh Tri, Director of the NIHBT, said the institute has researched and proposed to the Ministry of Health adopting the Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) technique to better detect HIV, HCV, HBV in a shorter time.

He said implementation of NAT screening would open a whole new chapter for blood transfusions, helping ensure a safe, timely, and sufficient supply.

Among the most important technology the institute has recently mastered is the production, storage and supply of A Vietnamese red blood cell sample panel that aids in screening tests and identifying abnormal antibodies that attack red blood cells. The entire process can be done domestically, bringing down costs, expanding its use to more areas, and helping to ensure the immune safety of blood used in transfusions.

Paul Rogers, an expert from the World Health Organisation, two years ago, has lauded the institutes major change in experience and capabilities and the effectiveness of its national blood donation programmes.  VNS
Chu Lan Huong

Should we celebrate Tet at all?

And/or, why are we celebrating two New Years every year?

Amidst all the happy hustle and bustle associated with the approach of Tet (Lunar New Year), this topic is being revisited this year on social media with surprising fervour.

If memory serves me right, the topic was first raised more than 10 years ago by a famous professor who controversially suggested that the Lunar New Year celebration be done away with, and Viet Nam as a nation shifts to celebrating the solar New Year, based on the Gregorian calendar.

The professors argument went thus: The long time that Vietnamese people took to celebrate Tet meant the loss of opportunities to do business with foreign partners; farmers would spend less time tending to the Winter-Spring rice harvest, the biggest of the year, causing losses; it wasted time that students should spend studying; the celebration promoted social evils like gambling and drinking; there were more traffic accidents; and working days were wasted.

Many people applauded this suggestion, including economists and other experts. They argued that having two different holidays for the solar and lunar new years affected businesses and production.

This year, the argument has gained some added traction, with people saying greater international integration, an avowed national target, was a reason to celebrate just one New Year.

Japan is pointed to as an example, with some even going to the extent of saying celebrating the New Year like Westerners was one of the factors in the East Asian giants many economic achievements, including becoming the third largest economy in the world.

Other reasons have weighed in against the festival, too. Some people said it stressed them out. They were tired of shopping before the holiday, and then cooking and visiting relatives during the holiday.

"Actually, I am afraid of Tet now. The traditional part of it has been gradually vanishing", said Nguyen Hai Huyen, from Ha Noi. It was no longer a big family affair with people getting together to make things, she said.

"Every year, I am exhausted preparing for Tet (on my own), and the enjoyment is missing, really," she said.

Utter nonsense

Predictably, the other side is outraged.

Ive seen this nonsensical debate going on these days over whether we should abolish the traditional Tet festival, said To Quyen, a Vietnamese woman living in the United Kingdom.

I say nonsensical because this should not be an issue at all. If you are Vietnamese, you celebrate Tet. This cannot change.

She has a point, I would say.

There can be no argument that Tet is the biggest and perhaps the oldest festival in Viet Nam, bringing people together to celebrate a sacred, meaningful annual event. It is an occasion when members of a family, no matter where they are and what they do to earn a living, get together and pray in front of the ancestral altar. Returning home to celebrate Tet is de rigueur for just about every Vietnamese citizen, whether they are away from home within the country or abroad. In fact, the festival draws thousands of foreign visitors looking to get an authentic feel for the country.

Duong Trung Quoc, a historian, says that like other countries in Asia, Vietnamese people are original rice farmers, and their lives are connected closely with lunar calendar. All the important events of a Vietnamese persons life, the one-month old celebration, weddings, funerals, and death commemorations are based on lunar calendar, he said.

This has been happening for thousands of years. Why should we change now?

Are we to dismiss and undermine our own culture and identity for the sake of economic efficiency?

I would say that this economic efficiency is even more of an abstract idea than a cultural festival that is linked to actual, daily life events like harvests, change of seasons, traditional festival food the list goes on and on.

So let us take the learned professors contention that the long celebration of Tet is one of the reasons Viet Nam is less developed and lags behind other countries.

What about Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. We all know people from other countries flock to Thailand for the kingdoms own New Year celebrations. And what of India? Its citizens probably celebrate a dozen different New Years, which are local holidays. All that cultural diversity should be destroyed to honour commercial gods?

I am reminded of the story where a development worker approaches a poor man sitting and relaxing under a tree at the beach. The expert advises the man to work hard and make progress. For what? So that he can sit and relax at the beach.

If we work harder (as if we dont do that now) and do not celebrate Tet, what will we do with the added prosperity? Celebrate Tet.

And there is evidence aplenty that honouring the commercial god will rob the soul of a nation and its people.

Lets get this clear, once and for all: Tet marks our culture and our identity, and it represents our nations soul. -- VNS
SYDNEY  Australia on Wednesday appointed its first indigenous minister, a former labourer who has credited education for his rise from humble beginnings in a country where Aborigines remain among the most disadvantaged.

Ken Wyatt became Minister for Aged Care and for Indigenous Health when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reshuffled his executive following the resignation of the health minister in an expenses scandal.

Wyatt was the first Aboriginal person elected to Australias lower house in 2010 and had previously been assistant health minister.

"Just as Ken was the first indigenous person to be elected to the House of Representatives and the first to be appointed to the executive of the

Commonwealth Government, he is now the first indigenous person appointed to the Commonwealth ministry," Turnbull told reporters in Sydney.

"His extensive knowledge and experience as a senior public servant in indigenous health, coupled with his work as an assistant minister in this portfolio, makes him an ideal minister for this area."

Aborigines - who make up about three of the national population of 24 million - suffer disproportionate levels of disease, imprisonment and social problems as well as significantly lower education, employment and life expectancy.

Western Australian Wyatt, a former teacher who worked in indigenous health and education, made a moving maiden speech upon entering parliament.

Wearing a traditional kangaroo cloak, he spoke of humble beginnings  from trapping rabbits as a child to his life as a labourer - saying education was a driver for his success.

A member of Australias conservative Liberal Party, Wyatt said indigenous people should be empowered to determine their own solutions, calling for greater representation for Aboriginals in parliament.

In the shake-up, Turnbull moved Industry Minister Greg Hunt to the health and sport portfolios, taking over from Sussan Ley who resigned last week.

Turnbull is setting up an independent agency to monitor and administer all expenses claims by parliamentarians.  AFP
BANJUL, Gambia  Gambias Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency on Tuesday just two days before he was due to step down, as British and Dutch travel agencies scrambled to evacuate thousands of tourists.

Jammeh, who has ruled The Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years, initially acknowledged opponent Adama Barrow as the victor in December elections, but later rejected the ballot count as flawed and lodged a complaint with the countrys Supreme Court.

He declared a state of emergency due to the "unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference in the December 1 presidential elections and also in the internal affairs of The Gambia," Jammeh announced on state TV.

Citizens were henceforth "banned from any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement to violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace," Jammeh said, asking security forces to maintain law and order.

Under the Gambian constitution a state of emergency lasts up to 90 days if the national assembly confirms it -- which the legislature did late on Tuesday, said a parliamentary source.

In Washington, the US State Department urged Jammeh to "peacefully hand over power" to Barrow -- who is in Senegal, where he plans to remain until his planned inauguration on Thursday.

"Doing so would allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect the Gambian people from potential chaos," spokesman John Kirby said.

"Failure to do so will put his legacy, and more importantly The Gambia, in peril."

The 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has also repeatedly urged Jammeh to respect the outcome of the vote and step aside, a call backed by the UN Security Council, African Union and others.

Jammeh has rebuffed two high-level delegations by west African leaders pleading with him to go.

"The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high," the British foreign ministry said on its website, a warning echoed on social media by its Dutch counterpart, who both urged citizens to avoid all but essential travel.

The Dutch travel firm TUI Nederland said it would repatriate "about 800" clients.

British travel agency Thomas Cook said it had "implemented our contingency plans to bring all our UK customers home," and was trying to arrange evacuation of up to 3,500 tourists from Banjul airport as soon as possible, with extra flights laid on Wednesday.

String of resignations

Four more cabinet ministers in Jammehs government defected, a source close to the regime said on Tuesday.

Foreign minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, finance minister Abdou Kolley, trade minister Abdou Jobe and tourism minister Benjamin Roberts all resigned, the source said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

They follow the high-profile defection last week of information minister Sheriff Bojang, who is now in neighbouring Senegal.

Citizens continued to pack their bags and stream out of Gambia - a small, narrow enclave of Senegal except for its coast - by road and ferry heading for Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, taking as many possessions as they could carry.

Military intervention in The Gambia seems closer than ever, following declarations by the UN and African Union that boots on the ground could get the green light without a rapid resolution to the crisis.

In Nigeria - the regional power of west Africa - a source at the countrys military HQ said, "We are deploying to Dakar, Senegal, very soon."

"We are deploying platforms, a few personnel, pilots, technicians and the maintenance crew," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"You already know that this deployment is in connection with the unfolding development in The Gambia."  AFP
Putin: Obama tries

to undermine Trump

MOSCOW (AP)  President Vladimir Putin took a parting shot at the Obama administration Tuesday, accusing it of trying to undermine Donald Trumps legitimacy with fake allegations and binding the president-elect hand and foot to prevent him from fulfilling his election promises.

In his first public remarks about an unsubstantiated dossier outlining unverified claims Trump engaged in sexual activities with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel, Putin dismissed the material as nonsense.

People who order such fakes against the U.S. president-elect, fabricate them and use them in political struggle are worse than prostitutes, Putin said.

Australia ends

hunt for MH370

SYDNEY (AP)  Australias Transport Minister Darren Chester said today experts will continue analyzing data and scrutinizing debris washing ashore from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in a bid to narrow down where it crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. But Chester declined to specify what kind of breakthrough would convince officials to resume the search for the missing airliner that was suspended this week after almost three years.

The sonar seabed search ended Tuesday, possibly forever  not because investigators have run out of leads, but because the countries involved in the expensive and vast deep-sea hunt have shown no appetite for opening another big phase.

Caroline Kennedy will leave Japan

TOKYO (AP)  Caroline Kennedy is stepping down today after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa.

During her tenure, though, the conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and liberal U.S. President Barack Obama built a relationship of trust despite coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Her legacy includes facilitating Obamas historic visit to Hiroshima last May. Kennedy was in Pearl Harbor at the end of last year when Abe reciprocated with a visit to the site of Japans 1941 surprise attack that drew America into World War II.

Rabid bobcat terrorizes resort

PHOENIX (AP)  Tranquility turned to terror after a rabid bobcat attacked residents and pets in the Arizona desert resort town of Sedona.

Authorities killed the rabid animal after it injured four people, a dog and a house cat in three separate attacks last week.

Only one man was bitten. Three men suffered minor scratches to their arms.

The dog, which was vaccinated, was placed in quarantine. The house cats vaccinations were expired so Roger was placed on a longer, 45-day home quarantine.

4 dead in latest Mexico resort attack

CANCUN, Mexico (AP)  Gunmen attacked the state prosecutors office in this Caribbean resort city Tuesday, and authorities said four people were killed, ratcheting up tensions just a day after a shooting at a music festival in a nearby town left three foreigners and two Mexicans dead.

It was too early to say if the attacks were linked, but they were a marked intrusion of bloodshed into Mexicos main tourism zone, a region that had previously been spared much of the violence plaguing other parts of the country.
WATERLOO  Trade policy  particularly as it relates to China  is on the minds of Iowa agricultural leaders as a new president is about to be inaugurated.

Were all nervous about the trade piece, said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. We ship a lot of soybeans to China.

They need our beans, he added, to feed Chinese pigs. We need them to continue to want to buy our soybeans.

Northey was speaking to about 75 farmers and students Tuesday during a roundtable discussion at a Hawkeye Community College ag summit. The day-long summit was organized by Dike farmer Darwin Cannegieter.

The agriculture secretary was joined by Craig Hill, president of the Iowa Farm Bureau, and Pro Farmer editor Brian Grete. Pro Farmer is a weekly newsletter produced by Cedar Falls-based Professional Farmers of America.

The discussion touched on a number of topics  commodity markets, the renewable fuel standard, water quality issues and nominees to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture. But trade policy was the dominant topic.

President-elect Donald Trump has spoken out against Chinas trade policies and his administration is expected to take a hard line on the issue. He also has voiced opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was pushed by the Obama administration and remains unapproved by Congress. While China is not part of that 12-nation trade deal, it involves other Pacific Rim countries in the same region.

As a country of 1.4 billion people with a growing middle class, Hill was concerned about how the new administration may handle China. This economy will have a huge impact on ours, he said.

Hill noted the U.S. has 15 claims against China at the World Trade Organization for trade violations. Among those are corn subsidies for Chinese farmers that exceed its WTO agreement by $100 billion. By contrast, he said, U.S. subsidies of all its farm commodities total $25 billion.

Weve got to have some caution about this, said Hill. Farmers will feel the effect if we get into a trade war with China.

Grete and Northey talked about the growing tariffs China is slapping on U.S. corn and dried distillers grains, a high protein feed stock left over after ethanol production. Grete said the tariffs were lower in the past because of Chinas need for ethanol to fuel its vehicles. Now theyre trying to encourage more domestic production, he said.

If Congress doesnt pass and the president doesnt sign the TPP agreement, Hill said we may need to resort to bilateral agreements, particularly with Japan. He suggested the trade deal is too complex to change so it better suits Trump. You either start over or you say, Oh, I guess its better because its our administration.

In the meantime, said Hill, the Chinese government has accelerated their negotiations with the countries that are part of the agreement. That could give China trade advantages the U.S. would miss out on without approving the TPP.

Northey said the United States currently faces 39 percent tariffs on its beef imports to Japan. Australia, which already has a bilateral deal with Japan, has a 29 percent tariff. Were already at a 10 percent disadvantage, he noted, asserting the U.S. would do very well against Australia under TPP.
WATERLOO  A federal grand jury has indicted a Waterloo teen who allegedly grabbed a handgun from a downtown store in October.

Waterloo police had arrested 18-year-old Sahjit Mcyle Phillips on state charges of misdemeanor theft and carrying weapons charges after catching him as he fled from Levi Brothers Jewelry and Loan on East Fourth Street.

On Nov. 11, a grand jury returned federal charges of theft of a firearm from a licensee and possession of a stolen firearm. On Friday, Phillips entered not guilty pleas to the new charges during a court appearance in Cedar Rapids.

Phillips was detained pending a detention hearing.

Both charges carry up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

Authorities said Phillips and others entered Levi Brothers around 2 p.m. Oct. 10 and asked to see a .45-caliber Kahr handgun. Phillips then took the weapon and ran from the store, court records state.

Patrol officers in the area chased Phillips and eventually found him hiding in a closet at 311 Lafayette St. and recovered the pistol.

Waterloo man faces revocation

WATERLOO  Authorities are seeking to revoke parole for a Waterloo man who was convicted of fatally punching a woman in 2008.

The move comes after Shean Henry Holmes, 28, was allegedly found in his grandmothers home wearing her clothing and jewelry in December. Holmes was arrested for third-degree burglary in the matter.

Earlier this month, corrections officials filed a parole complaint alleging, in addition to the burglary, Holmes had a string of violations beginning in November including losing his job, testing positive for alcohol, missing appointments and testing positive for marijuana following an incident where he told police people were trying to kill him.

The root of Holmess legal problems began in December 2008 when he and others confronted a man in a convenience store parking lot. During the incident, Holmes allegedly reached into an idling car the man had entered and punched Jasmine Mills, who was behind the wheel.

Mills, 18, later died of head injuries, and Holmes pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and first-degree burglary charges in connection with the attack and was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.

He was initially released from prison in May 2014.

On Dec. 30, 2016, Waterloo police were called to Holmess grandmothers home after she found her side screen door broken and the door forced open. Officers found Holmes inside wearing her clothing as well as three gold bracelets and a watch of hers, according to court records.

Police found jewelry cases in the house had been opened, and her underwear drawer had been gone through, court records indicated. Records state Holmes had called his grandmother earlier in the day asking to obtain vehicle keys and was told she would get the keys for him, but he shouldnt enter the house.

Burglary suspect arrested

WATERLOO  On Tuesday about 6:15 a.m., the Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office received a report of a vehicle in the ditch in the 8700 block of Kimball Avenue, with the occupants of the vehicle gone.

Around 8 a.m., deputies received an alarm call in the 8800 block of Kimball Avenue where entry had been gained through a storage building. A search was initiated of the area and the Waterloo Police K-9 office found one person hiding in the weeds and another person is still being sought.

Deputies did not release any names, saying the case remains under investigation with charges pending.

Man withdraws bus crash pleas

MANCHESTER (AP)  A man accused of driving his vehicle into a loaded school bus in eastern Iowa wants to withdraw some guilty pleas.

The attorney for 42-year-old Monte Klink filed a motion Friday. Klink pleaded guilty in November to second-offense driving while intoxicated and to two counts of causing serious injury by vehicle. His sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Authorities say Klinks sport utility vehicle collided with the bus near Manchester on Oct. 1, 2015. All 32 students were treated for mostly minor injuries.

Klinks attorney said his client was unaware he couldnt be given a suspended sentence if convicted of serious injury by vehicle. Klink wants to retract those two guilty pleas.

Prosecutors said Klinks 45-day limit to file the motion expired Dec. 24.
Genealogical

group to meet

CEDAR FALLS  The Northeast Iowa Genealogical Society will welcome Merelyn Harberts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Cedar Falls Public Library meeting room upstairs.

Harberts, a charter member of NEIGS, will speak of the organizational efforts that shaped the group.

People are invited to visit a meeting and then asked to join.

Members volunteer with the Waterloo Public Library, have a quarterly email newsletter and have scheduled work times at the WPL for group research.

Rough Risers

to meet Jan. 25

CEDAR FALLS  The Cedar Falls Kiwanis Rough Risers will meet at 6:30 a.m. Jan. 25 at the Clarion Inn, 5826 University Ave.

Chris Shackleford and Tom Brickman of Waterloos Grout Museum will discuss the Vietnam War Memorial. They have developed an exhibit focusing on the 866 Iowans who died in Vietnam during the war.

Go to kiwanisroughrisers.org for more information.

Sons of Norway

to meet Jan. 28

CEDAR FALLS  The Sons of Norway will have a lodge meeting at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 28 at the Cedar Falls Womans Club.

Reservations can be made by calling 277-2204 by Jan. 26.

Andy Meyer will speak on his experiences as a Fulbright scholar in Norway this past year. He is the son of Don and Kris Meyer, Solglimt members.
HUDSON  A man who allegedly fled into the cold after shedding his soaking clothes has been detained.

Neil Lawrence Heminover, 54, and another man allegedly fled from Black Hawk County sheriffs deputies who responded to an alarm at a rural Kimball Avenue residence around 8 a.m. Tuesday.

During the foot pursuit, Heminover is believed to have jumped or fallen into a creek and removed his clothing, said Capt. Rick Abben with the sheriffs office. He said authorities recovered the wet clothing Tuesday and searched the area for about three hours out of concern for his safety.

A Waterloo police K-9 officer found the other man, who hasnt been identified, hiding in weeds nearby on Tuesday. He was released after questioning.

Deputies believe the alarm was related to an unoccupied car that was discovered in a ditch near the home around 6:15 a.m. that day.

On Wednesday, deputies and Hudson police were again called to the home after an alarm sounded around 6 a.m., and authorities found Heminover inside an outbuilding without his clothing, Abben said.

He was naked, completely naked, Abben said.

Court records indicate Heminover was found nude inside a cardboard box complaining of frostbite.

Hudson medics took Heminover to Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo where he was treated for hypothermia. Heminover, of 1904 Sycamore St., Waterloo, was later released and arrested for trespassing and third-degree criminal mischief for damage done to a security system keypad panel, Abben said.
HUDSON  The Hudson Community Schools Board of Education passed a resolution Monday in support of The Promise of Iowa campaign.

Focusing attention on the future of Iowa public school students and rallying support for their education is one goal of the statewide campaign. Organizers hope to build understanding about the work of public schools today. They join other school boards that have approved the resolution recently, including Cedar Falls and Area Education Agency 267.

The states children constitute The Promise of Iowa through their potential as our future leaders, citizens, innovators and caretakers, the resolution reads in part. It goes on to say that Iowa public schools develop students potential, strengthen communities and contribute to a strong economy. Another goal is to encourage Iowans to show their support for the investments needed to keep public schools strong.

Board president Karyn Finn said in a news release their support is an important step in raising awareness statewide about the value of public education in shaping the next generation of Iowa leaders, workers and citizens. The district will share information on public schools and encourage local residents to take part, as well.

A campaign website, www.promiseiowa.org, provides more information about how to become involved. It is being coordinated by the Iowa Association of School Boards, a nonprofit organization representing more than 1,900 citizens serving on locally elected school boards.
DES MOINES  A woman who suffers mental or physical distress after an abortion could sue the physician who terminated her pregnancy under a bill introduced in the Legislature.

Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, said the bill is designed to protect women. Critics say Senate File 26 will have a chilling effect on doctors and likely would not withstand a legal challenge.

The legislation cleared initial subcommittee discussion Tuesday. It allows a woman to sue for emotional distress independent of a physical injury. The bill would not apply to medical emergencies.

Damages could be sought at any time during the womans lifetime. Signing a consent form would not block a lawsuit but could reduce damages.

Its a question of whether or not somebody who in good, healthy mind is sold a bill of goods that turns out to be something that its not, Chelgren said. When someone is under a lot of stress and theyre making decisions, we need medical professionals who are looking after their best interests and not looking after how much money they can make off of them.

However, Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, called the bill a legislative overreach.

Its very rare, if not a completely novel thing, to introduce a cause of action, to bring a lawsuit against someone who you cannot say did anything wrong, said Boulton. He said the measure would introduce a legal premise that would be wholly foreign to medical malpractice in our state and in our country.

In this legislation I did not see any statute of limitation period in terms of medical liability so this would really be a major change to the landscape in Iowa, Boulton added. This concept is really kind of an outside-the-box thinking of an approach to the issue and I just dont think as you look at the legal merits of it that it can stand on all fours.

If the bill were to become law, he said, it likely would become very difficult for a doctor who provides safe and legal abortion services to find any kind of medical liability insurance and would have a chilling effect on physicians and clinics that would affect access. He said the effect of the law would be to run providers out of our state.

I just dont see this as being an appropriate piece of legislation for us to consider, said Boulton. Its tough to predict what the future of this bill will look like at the governors desk. I think without some major reform I dont think this is going to get very far.

Gov. Terry Branstad, who is ill this week and did not attend his weekly news conference, in the past has been resistant to legislative changes that appeared to be headed for legal entanglements that resulted from protracted challenges in other states.

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who ultimately could decide the fate of Senate File 26 if it clears the legislative process and she becomes governor once Branstad is confirmed as new U.S. ambassador to China, said she is taking a wait-and-see approach. She concurred it doesnt really serve the purpose to head down a path where it just gets tied up in the courts and nothing ever happens.

Reynolds said she will let the legislative process run its course and give both sides an opportunity to weigh in on the issue.

Were going to wait and let the process take its course, she said. I want to see what the bill looks like in its final form.

Before moving the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 2-1 vote, committee members indicated they would like to see the measure amended to establish some time limitation for bringing a claim similar to other medical procedures.
CEDAR RAPIDS  A week after opening its 2017 session the Iowa House finally has some bills to work on.

No bills were introduced during the first week of the session, but Tuesday 22 bills and a pair of resolutions were read in and now eligible for consideration. Senators, on the other hands, have filed 97 bills since Jan. 9.

Other years weve read them in sooner, House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said, chalked up the change to the pomp and circumstances of the opening week and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Monday.

Upmeyer also said shes been trying to focus lawmakers attention on the Legislatures first order of business: Cutting the current year budget by about $118 million.

I think now were ready to start looking at other things, she said Tuesday afternoon.

Among the bills read in Tuesday were several proposals majority Republicans say are part of their smaller and smarter government agenda. They include proposals for school vouchers, eliminating a variety of business- and occupational-related regulations, removing a requirement that taxpayers indicate on their tax returns whether they have health care coverage for their dependent children, exempting Iowans from required vaccinations based upon personal conviction, and calling for the future repeal of the individual income tax checkoff and the Iowa election campaign fund.

Also introduced was a resolution designating the regal fritillary as the state butterfly as the perfect symbol to represent the prairie heritage of Iowa.

The budget adjustments are necessary due to reductions in projected tax collection growth brought on my sluggish farm prices and other economic factors.

Branstad proposed adjustments of $25 million at regent institutions, $20 million for the Department of Human Services, $15 million for prisons and community corrections, $8.7 million for community colleges, $7.7 million for the courts, $5.5 million for the Department of Education and $3.8 million for public safety.

Republicans in the House and Senate have said they are looking at alternatives to the cuts GOP Gov. Terry Branstad proposed in his Condition of the State address Jan. 10. They have an agreement in principle, Upmeyer said.

You know there are always details we want to make sure we can work out, but at some point we also need to move forward, Upmeyer said. We have much work to do this session and we cant be waiting on this bill forever. We need to get moving.

However, the legislative process moves slowly.

The way the paper moves, we certainly cant have it to the floor this week, but we can start moving it through the process this week, she said.
CEDAR FALLS  The city plans regular updates with businesses and property owners on construction staging for the next phase of the University Avenue reconstruction project, city staff told council members and the public Monday night.

City officials have said the city also is seeing positive impacts from that first phase of work.

Council members approved plans and specifications for the reconstruction of University between McClain and Midway drives, from about Black Hawk Village to the Waterloo city limits. Work would begin this spring, pending a resolution of private utility work.

Construction bids will be let Jan. 31. Once we get a contractor on board we will have a number of meetings to inform all the business owners and residents along that corridor again, giving them information on staging and how it will affect their property, City Administrator Ron Gaines said. Its similar to the process followed on the projects first phase.

Work on that first phase, in front of College Square and Black Hawk Village, is anticipated to be completed this year. That includes completion of a roundabout at Waterloo Road. Street lighting improvements on that phase also are ongoing and are anticipated to be in operation later this week. There also are roundabouts at Holiday Road and Boulder Drive.

There are still some people getting used to how the roundabouts function, Community Development Director Stephanie Houk Sheetz acknowledged. Its hoped the lighting improvements will help.

But she added, We did want to point out weve had a number of compliments about the increase in access on University Avenue in the Phase I area, Sheetz said. As we enter into construction, weve started to see some businesses make improvements on their property. We see other new businesses opening. So were just excited to see the private investment happening.

Council member Tom Blanford suggested the city needs to be attentive to an urge more maintenance for the private internal backage roads between College Square and the free-standing stores along out lots on University, because a lot of traffic is now using those roads.

University, deteriorating for years, is being narrowed from six lanes to four and six of its eight signalized intersections replaced with roundabouts. Resident Larry Wyckoff continued his criticism of the project as the height of monolithic hypocrisy. He said roundabouts were prohibitively expensive, unsafe and unreliable and cited some $6 million in terrible and obscene added costs, which city officials said would be covered with local option sales tax, reducing the amount of that money available for street repair.

However, Gaines also noted the city is pursuing the possibility, through the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments, about a joint grant application for the University project with the city of Waterloo, which also will be reconstructing its portion of the roadway. The reconstruction in both cities will be coordinated, Cedar Falls City Engineer Randy Lorenzen said.

Responding to a question from the public, Lorenzen also noted the traffic signals at Rownd Street will remain signalized, with the signals replaced and upgraded.

Countering Wyckoff was retired banker Dave Deaver. Ive driven the roundabouts and driven through that during reconstruction. I want to commend everyone for the activity thats been done, the efforts to try to keep the roads open and the access to those business that are part of that area, Deaver said.

I think youve done a great job. It may have cost us a few more dollars than what was anticipated but I think those are dollars well spent for those businesses who work hard to remain in business and provide goods and services for us citizens, Deaver said.

I love looking down (University) and not seeing Christmas red and green (traffic) lights all over down that stretch and being able to proceed smoothly on University Avenue, Deaver said.

Council members approved second-phase plans and specifications on a 6-1 vote. Council member Susan deBuhr voted no. She has said alternatives to the roundabouts were not adequately considered.
WATERLOO  The controversial Sunnyside South project is on ice.

Waterloo City Attorney Dave Zellhoefer said the proposed sale of the property along San Marnan Drive and Sunnyside Country Club will not move ahead until the Iowa Supreme Court rules on its legality.

The high court has received legal briefs on the matter but has not signaled when a ruling will be forthcoming.

We have no intention of doing anything until theyre done, Zellhoefer said.

The comments came Tuesday as the City Council held another hearing on the development, which has been tied up in litigation since 2011 and caused the city to spend well over $100,000 on outside legal counsel.

The city sold the former San Marnan right-of-way for $1 to investors who spent up to $2 million moving the road and developing upscale housing lots. But the Iowa Supreme Court later ruled the city failed to follow Iowa laws governing the sale.

Attorney Dave Nagle, who represents the taxpayers who contested the original sale, later filed a contempt of court action claiming another city attempt to sell the land also failed to comply with the law. That is the measure pending before the Supreme Court now.

The city attempted to sell the land again, having it appraised at $1.825 million and offering it for sale to past and adjoining land owners. No offers were received at last weeks big opening.

City Council members voted 5-2 Tuesday to proceed with the sale process, which Zellhoefer said was simply a way for him to continue preparing for the future disposition of the land once the court ruling is received.

We can start doing some work and getting our ducks in a row, he said. When we get it well have all of our facts and be ready to go.

But Councilmen Tom Lind and Steve Schmitt voted against the measure, wanting to bring any discussion to a halt pending the Supreme Court results.

Can you tell me how much the city has wasted on the legal process on this? Schmitt said. We could turn back the clock and just stop until the Supreme Court rules. It seems like that would be the prudent thing to do.

Zellhoefer disagreed.

We might as well be ready to do it right off the bat rather than start all over again, he said, noting he would only be doing research and not filing anything or muddying the waters.

This isnt something with a lot of precedent behind it so were going where no man has gone before, he added.
WATERLOO  A plan floated to save the financially strapped Country View care center would involve moving many residents into apartments and group homes.

County Social Services director Bob Lincoln pitched a plan Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors to dramatically reorganize the county-owned care facility which is on track to run out of money in nine months.

The supervisors are faced with raising local property taxes to maintain the status quo or attempting to sell Country View, which would generate political blowback and uproot lives of the centers more than 160 residents and 175 employees.

Lincoln, who oversees a 22-county coalition providing mental health and disability services, offered a reorganization option for the supervisors to consider.

The plan would shutter Country Views Aspen Unit, a 34-bed intermediate care facility for intellectually disabled residents; reduce the number of residents at the 134-bed nursing unit; and focus on providing care to a smaller number of persons with complex mental health care needs.

If I were to propose a reorganization it really would be about downsizing the facility to support that (hard-to-serve) population and intensify our level of support, he said.

Lincoln believes the move would make Country View financially viable and provide a regional safety net, filling a void in the wake of state mental health institute closures.

The idea to close Aspen Unit was recommended in 2013 by consultant Thomas Pomeranz, who said the intellectually disabled residents would be served better in a less-isolated setting where they could integrate with the community.

Lincoln noted the County Social Services region has closed four residential facilities in the past five years, successfully moving those residents into the community.

Residents in Country Views nursing facility, who dont face complex needs, could move to traditional nursing homes or be housed through managed care practices in the community.

Any move to relocate Country View residents to new settings didnt sit well with Supervisor Craig White, who likened it to them being thrown to the wolves.

Thats probably putting it a little steep, White said. But thats what would be happening to some of those people.

Shirley Mae Patchin, a resident advocate and member of the Country View advisory board, also voiced concerns about major changes.

This is the only home some of these residents have ever seen since they became an adult, Patchin said. There are several people who have been out there 40 years.

I dont know what would happen to these people if they get in an environment where they didnt know anybody or it would really be hard on them, she added.

Supervisor Chris Schwartz said he was concerned about a fallback plan should a new placement for an Aspen Unit client fail to work out. He was also worried about the Country View work force.

Were talking about 175 livable-wage jobs, he said. I cant think of any other investment of the size were talking about in this community that created as many livable-wage jobs.

Board chairman Frank Magsamen said decisions about Country Views future need to be made during the county budget process over the next two months.

Past attempts to deal with Country Views budget woes through traditional operating efficiency have failed to close the shortfall, and Lincoln suggested that would not resolve the long-term problem.

Given the complexity of Country View I think its being managed very well, he said. In fact, I think its a real credit to the staff and leadership there that theyre able to serve such a complex population and such a large number of folks so effectively.
DES MOINES  Never say never, Sen. Liz Mathis says about running for governor, but not in 2018.

The Cedar Rapids Democrat has ruled out seeking her partys nomination next year, saying the timing isnt right for her and her family.

Mathis, first elected in 2011, said Wednesday she has thought about running. Some consider her the front-runner among Democrats who might challenge Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is set to become governor when Gov. Terry Branstads nomination to be ambassador to China is approved. Over the past several months, Mathis said, she was approached by several groups asking if she was interested in the job. However, she was focused on winning re-election.

After the November election, she continued the discussion with more than two dozen people and groups about everything from what the financials would look like to my possibility of running to the dedication it would take to run a campaign over 18 months.

I came to the conclusion that it probably wasnt the right time for me to do that for a number of reasons, she said.

A gubernatorial bid would be quite a big leap for her family, Mathis said.

Mathis, a former television news reporter and anchor in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo who now works for a child welfare agency, said she was concerned about the $10 million to $15 million estimated cost of a campaign.

Thats a very steep climb, Mathis said.

Shes also committed to rebuilding the Democratic majority in the Senate. Iowans voted out six Democratic senators in November, including Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, giving the GOP a 29-20-1 majority.

Mathis suggested Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, as a possible candidate, but said she doesnt plan to endorse anyone until after the June 2018 Democratic primary.

Among those who are expected to run are current Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire, Polk County Conservation Director Rich Leopold, Rep. Todd Prichard, D-Charles City, and former Sen. Steve Sodders of State Center.

Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, who was elected by his Democratic colleagues to serve as minority leader, reiterated his position Wednesday he has no plans to run for governor in 2018.

In ruling out a bid for governor, Mathis did not close the door on challenging second-term Rep. Rod Blum in 2018.

Who knows what happens? she said.
MS support

group to meet

WATERLOO  The Waterloo/Cedar Falls chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will have a support group meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Covenant Medical Center, wing G, fourth floor, room 10.

Dr. Gael Yonnet, MS specialist with Genesis Health System, Davenport, will present a program on Emerging Concepts in Multiple Sclerosis, with a question-and-answer session afterwards.

All patients, families and anyone interested in learning more about MS or about this topic are encouraged to attend.

Womens tea

set for February

CEDAR FALLS  Riverview Womens Ministry will host a Let Me Count the Ways Valentine tea for single women (bachelorette, divorced or widowed) from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at Cedar Falls Church of Christ, 2727 W. Fourth St.

Clara Eaves will share her story emphasizing ways God is present in everyday life.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased through Feb. 9. Tickets are available at Riverview Conference Center, 439 N. Division St., by calling the office at 268-0787, or by emailing riverviewcc@gmail.com. Go to riverviewministries.com for more information.
BREMER

New date set for Wartburg visit

WAVERLY  Bob Vander Plaats, CEO of The Family Leader, and Donna Red Wing, former One Iowa executive director, have rescheduled their planned visit to Wartburg College for Jan. 31.

The event originally was scheduled for Tuesday. Hosted by the Wartburg College Republicans, the program will begin at 11:30 a.m. in Whitehouse Business Center Room 217.

Vander Plaats and Red Wing will talk about having civil discussions when disagreements are deep and reaching out to those you may consider an enemy. The Family Leader is a socially conservative organization, loosely affiliated with the national organization Focus on the Family. One Iowa works toward full equality for LGBT individuals through grassroots efforts and education.

BUTLER

Gospel group to perform Jan. 31

NEW HARTFORD  The gospel singing group Restored will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 at the New Hartford Community Center, 303 Broadway St.

The family group includes Ray and Nancy Hemmer and their daughter, Naomi Probert.

They have been singing together for about 10 years. Also singing that evening will be Ray and Nancys daycare children.

Mark Andera of Cedar Falls will share his testimony.

The free concert will be followed by refreshments. Call Ray at 277-4848 for any questions or if there is a weather cancellation.
Seventeen current or former employees of the state agency charged with protecting some of Iowas most vulnerable citizens are now accused of facilitating the abuse and neglect of those individuals.

Six employees of Iowa Department of Human Services have been fired, six have resigned and five others have been disciplined due to allegations of mistreatment at the Glenwood Resource Center, a DHS-run home for 230 people with intellectual disabilities. An 18th employee is facing possible discipline.

In a news release, DHS officials said seven residents of the home were physically abused and 13 residents were subjected to verbal abuse or neglect.

We hope the shameful and unacceptable behavior of a few staff will not detract from the dedicated work of the vast majority of staff members that provide high-quality services to Glenwoods clients, Superintendent Gary Anders said in the news release. We remain committed to serving and treating our clients with the dignity and respect they deserve.

To begin with, 17 employees is considerably more than a few. Secondly, the fact Anders says the home remains committed to treating residents with respect not only implies it always has done so, a claim clearly contradicted by the agencys own findings, but also little, if anything, at the home is changing.

DHS says it has increased the supervision of staff members and retrained workers on how to recognize and report evidence of mistreatment. But that raises the question of whether the workers  who, by law, are mandatory reporters of abuse  were inadequately trained before this incident or chose to ignore their training.

If it was a matter of poor training, the homes administration must be held accountable, and yet none of the 17 disciplined workers were a supervisor. If that many workers simply ignored their training, additional training wont help, and there needs to be a broader examination of the culture at Glenwood.

What makes this situation even more troubling is the lack of disclosure as to what exactly transpired at the home. DHS officials say the city police visited the facility four months ago in response to the agencys notification of a possible crime. The Glenwood Police Department said its report of the visit is not yet completed and no other information on the matter is available.

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, which inspects and oversees Glenwood, launched its own investigation several months ago but it, too, has not completed a report of its findings.

DHS isnt even disclosing the names of the workers who have voluntarily resigned, although a department spokesperson said the agency will make that information public once the workers disciplinary appeals have been exhausted.

As Jane Hudson, executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, has said, this leaves many questions unanswered. How is it so many state employees tasked with protecting and caring for disabled adults were complicit in the abuse and neglect of those same residents?

Was it a group of employees acting in concert, or were these individual isolated incidents? Hudson asks. Or was it a culture in which employees did not report abuse and neglect, as required by mandatory reporting laws? DHS has totally omitted from the press release what the 12 employees did wrong. Why were six terminated? Why did six resign?

Fortunately, Disability Rights Iowa is authorized by federal law to investigate such matters. It now intends to look into the situation and determine whether DHS has taken sufficient steps to correct any problems.

State inspection records indicate last summer a Glenwood worker reported a colleague called residents imbeciles, douche bags, low grades and retards. The records also show as of June 2016  months before the recent spate of firings and resignations  the accused worker was terminated. At that time, two other Glenwood workers were disciplined for failing to report that employees conduct.

The timing of that incident and several others suggests Glenwoods problems are more widespread than DHS is willing to acknowledge. If the investigation of Disability Rights Iowa points to that sort of ongoing, systemic problem, it may be time for the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene and send its own team of inspectors to Glenwood, just as it did in 1999 and 2001.

Its not enough for the state to simply assert, as Gov. Terry Branstad did, there is no place anywhere, including our state institutions, for mistreatment and abuse of our most vulnerable population.

By the states own admission, there actually is such a place  and its name is the Glenwood Resource Center.
Wind farm

RENATA SACK WATERLOO  It is wonderful to learn through The Courier that the firm RPMA is interested in building a 70-megawatt wind farm in Black Hawk County. Since 2009, the cost of wind has dropped 66 percent and solar energy 85 percent. Today wind and solar are the cheapest sources for producing our needed electricity.

Transitioning the electricity sector away from fossil fuels is no longer just an environmental imperative, it is an economic one. The time is now to radically adjust for a paradigm where wind and solar form the backbone of our electricity grid. One wind turbine pays between $25,000 to $40,000 in county and school property taxes per year, depending on its size and the local tax rate, and landowners are handsomely paid for the use of their land.

Farmers can plant crops right to the base of the turbine. Now we grow corn on the ground, generate power in the air, all on the same piece of property, Delbert Watson, a farmer near Clear Lake, was quoted in the Christian Science Monitor.

Kmart memories

STEPHANIE KRUCKEBERG

CEDAR FALLS  When I was 3, I had a pink parka I liked. When my fathers boss remarked upon my new coat, I proudly announced, I got this at Kmart! We were living in the Chicago area at the time, and my dads supervisor, in good humor, suggested my parents teach me to say, I got this at Marshall Fields!

No matter where Ive lived, no matter what my income, Ive shopped at Kmart. I remember the fabric department, the revolving wig display, the occasional appearance of a portrait photographer. But gradually, what made Kmart unique disappeared: the bluelight specials, the cooler of unexpectedly appealing submarine sandwiches. Kmart stores didnt let down corporate headquarters; Kmart corporate headquarters let down stores by stripping them of their personality.

Kmart isnt trendy like Target or massive like Wal-Mart, but the brand could have an engaging character all of its own if those in control invested the care and creativity Kmart stores and their customers deserve. University Avenue is an ideal location for a discount store, and an updated Kmart probably would have survived. Thanks, anyway, Kmart, for being a memorable part of my life. Ill miss you!

Affordable care

ROGER WHITE

CEDAR FALLS  Republican senators, representatives and state legislators are gleeful as they repeal the Affordable Care Act. Why are they so gleeful?

The rate of Iowans who will be denied health care jumps 87 percent (from 5 percent back up to 9.3 percent of all Iowans).

The combined number of Iowans who will lose health care is 282,000.

Iowans with pre-existing conditions who will now be subject to denial of coverage and care is 1,290,303.

Senior Iowans with Medicare who will pay considerably more for prescription drugs due to return of donut hole is 55,670.

Total out-of-pocket savings that will be lost by Iowa seniors on Medicare due to return of donut hole is $53,282,900.

Iowa seniors who will lose free preventive care under Medicare is 370,648.

You have to admit for a political party that is hell-bent on hurting people, this is a sizeable amount of harm and suffering. It will destroy many families due to economic ruin or bankruptcy or the tragedy of debilitating disease or premature death without health care. And the Republicans bringing this destruction and hurt are celebrating.
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Jan 18, 2017 | By Julia

Fashion-forward design brand Maison 203 will be unveiling a stunning new 3D printed clutch at the Paris trade show next week. Inspired by the Swiss capital Bern, the unique structural piece marks the latest effort in Maison 203s growing line of 3D printed accessories, and another step in the ongoing cultivation of 3D printing in the fashion world.

3D printed sintered nylon makes up the intricate, winding layers of the Bern clutch, mimicking the complex urban layout of the famous Swiss city. The breathtaking accessory will be available in black, copper, and gold, and is already making a name for itself as part of Maison 203s acclaimed Bern collection.

Founded by designers Orlando Fernandez Flores and Lucia De Conti, Maison 203 is a notable brand for its focus on the design, production, and distribution of 3D printed jewellery and accessories. Pieces are created using nylon, PLA, steel, and brass.

A self-described young company exemplifying the digital maker era, Maison 203 says 3D printing becomes its own raw material in the brands design sensibility. Accessories are later hand finished and distributed to a niche market.

Yet as 3D printing becomes a mainstay in fashion and design  and with serious buzz already being generated around the Bern clutch  we can expect Maison 203 to soon make the jump from niche to mainstream. The Italian brand has begun to expand its retail market considerably in recent years, and currently boasts over 50 points of sale including top art museums such as the MoMA in New York.

And with industrial designer Odo Fioravanti at the helm of the Maison 203s newest Bern clutch, we can expect the distinctive brand to continue making a name for itself. The acclaimed Milanese designer, armed with the mantra form does matter, has received dozens of awards since beginning his industrial design career in 2001. Most notably, Fioravanti won the XXII Compasso dOro Prize ADI in 2011 for his work with Pedrali. How exactly his new Maison 203 piece will continue to boost Fioravantis career remains to be seen, but we can be sure this designer does not take his commissions lightly.

At its official release at the Maison et Objet trade show in Paris, the Bern clutch will join the rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and cufflinks already available as part of Maison 203s Bern collection. Catch the collection in person next week, from January 20-24 in Paris.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Jan 18, 2017 | By Tess

MakerBot, one of the leading manufacturers of desktop 3D printers, has just announced the resignation of CEO Jonathan Jaglom. Jaglom, who had been acting CEO since March 2015, will be succeeded by Nadav Goshen, MakerBots current president. According to the 3D printer company, Jaglom will be returning to his home in Israel to spend time with his family.

Founded in 2009, New York-based MakerBot has undergone some significant shifts over recent years. The company, which was originally founded by Bre Pettis, Adam Mayer, and Zach Smith, started off as a consumer desktop 3D printer manufacturer, and quickly became one of the most recognized and highly regarded 3D printer companies. In 2013, MakerBot was bought out by 3D printing giant Stratasys, after which CEO Bre Pettis resigned, to be replaced by Jenny Lawton. In 2015, Lawton was replaced by Jonathan Jaglom.

Jaglom, who has been something of a controversial leader for MakerBot, was responsible for the companys shift away from consumer 3D printing products towards more education and professional-based services. As part of this general shift, Jaglom downsized the company significantly, closing all MakerBot retail locations, and laying off nearly 200 MakerBot employees. Of those employees, which made up more than a fifth of the companys overall staff, many were the ones who actually built the 3D printers. In April 2016, MakerBot announced it would be outsourcing its hardware manufacturing to China, through a contract with Jabil Circuit.

In his resignation announcement, Jaglom states: I joined MakerBot two years ago to lead the turnaround of the company and Im proud of what weve been able to achieve in such a short time. We have defined a new strategic direction, completely revamped the companys quality control processes, and successfully launched a new lineup of products. Having put the company on a new track and put in place a new organizational structure, I believe that now is the right time for me to step back and spend more time with my young family.

Goshen, who will step in as MakerBots new CEO, has worked closely with Jaglom over the past two years, and has over 15 years of experience working with tech turnarounds. His expertise is in defining new products and business models, as well as growing digital ecosystems.

Im excited to continue working towards our vision of putting a desktop 3D printer in every classroom and on the desk of every designer and engineer, said Goshen. I look forward to leading the company and continuing to build out our 3D printing solutions for professionals and educators.

Considering MakerBots many successes and setbacks in recent years, it will be interesting to see where the 3D printing company goes under new leadership.

Posted in 3D Printer Company

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Makerbye wrote at 1/26/2017 5:43:50 AM:"defining new products and business models" Since when is malware a new product or business model? That's what his background is actually in. Check out Sweetpacks.Burned by makerbot wrote at 1/18/2017 4:34:45 PM:Good ridance




Jan 18, 2017 | By Julia

A new study published in the scientific journal Nature Communications shows how a 3D printed phone case could detect cancer-related genetic mutations. Through a relatively simple microscope attached to a mobile phone, researchers were able to detect cancerous tumors with the same accuracy as traditional cancer screening. The cost-effective tech could help bring the genotyping of cancer patient biopsies beyond the lab, to wherever its needed most.

The study, titled Targeted DNA sequencing and in situ mutation analysis using mobile phone microscopy, is among a new generation of innovations using 3D printing and smartphones for science and laboratory practices. Following that trend, study coauthor Mats Nilsson, a professor at Stockholm Universitys, explains that one can use a very simple imaging device such as the mobile phone to record DNA sequencing reactions.

By adding molecular diagnostics to the range of applications currently available on your phone, the invention could allow for never-before-seen field work in this discipline, involving the detection of mutations and viruses or bacteria in remote locations.

The device is surprisingly simple. Two battery-powered lasers and a white LED light go into the microscope, allowing for detection of different fluorophores and bright-field imaging. The basic camera lens of the mobile phone is coupled with an external lens: together they provide about 2.6x magnification. Finally, a 3D printed microscopy platform can view sample slides in multiple directions.

Through imaging six colon cancer tumour samples, the tech was found to match the results of traditional genome sequencing 100 percent of the time  essentially a perfect score.

The groundbreaking device was created specifically with low-resource medical environments in mind. As coauthor Aydogan Ozcan of the University of California, Los Angeles notes, mutation analysis and DNA sequencing are fantastic devices that have been brought to clinical sciences, but [they are] restricted to the laboratory scale and obviously not dispersed to resource-poor or resource-limited environments.

With this device, however, researchers have a shot at changing that. If it takes off, advanced diagnostic tools could be available in the not-too-distant future in settings other than affluent hospitals and labs. According to Ozcan, the team will continue to work towards making the technology cost-effective and easier to use.

Future applications could also include testing for tuberculosis [TB] bacteria. Nilsson is confident the research team could check for mutations in antibiotic resistance genes and then make a simple test to predict which antibiotic treatment would be efficient in a TB patient.

In fact, the possible extensions and uses of the device are theoretically limitless. The platform could even be used during a viral outbreak in a remote location, Nilsson adds. You could present the analyzed data remotely to the experts, and then that can feed back to the user more or less immediately.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Jan 18, 2017 | By Benedict

Angelo DAngelo, an engineer from Italy, has been traveling the world and making miniature 3D printed replicas of the famous landmarks he visits. After starting with Milan Cathedral, DAngelo has gone on to make models of buildings in Cologne, Pisa, Athens, Bucharest, and elsewhere.

3D printed model of the Parthenon, Athens, Greece

When your two biggest passions are 3D printing and traveling, its probably very satisfying when you think of a way to combine the two. For Angelo DAngelo, an electrical engineer from Italy, that satisfaction was duly delivered when he realized he could make tiny 3D printed versions of all the amazing sights he was encountering on his travels. With 3DPrinTravel, his dedicated blog for the project, DAngelo has been documenting his adventures, celebrating each individual print with a humorous yet visually arresting Instagram photo of the 3D printed model held up in front of the original landmark.

DAngelo, who has hundreds of Instagram followers eagerly awaiting his next print, seems to be appealing to a niche group of 3D printing fans, partially because of the fun nature of the project, and partially because he allows others to get involvedby uploading his 3D printed monuments for others to print themselves. In his own words: Basically what I do is create (or download) models of monuments of places where Im going, 3D print them using different materials depending on the model, and take a picture of the model in front of the real monument. Then I share the shots on my Instagram profile using the hashtag #3DPrinTravel and post the models on my Thingiverse profile.

Since starting the unique travel blog over a year ago, DAngelo has collected about 20 landmark-next-to-landmark photos from 17 different countries. His collection includes Milan Cathedral, the Aspire Tower and Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, and the Parthenon in Athens, with each miniature monument printed in a particular 3D printing material best suited to its appearance. The Bucharest landmarks, for example, were printed in wood PLA, while the stunning Cologne Cathedral was printed in gold and silver PLA to best depict its opulence.

3D printed models of the Blue Church, Bratislava, Slovakia (above), and the Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania

The machine constructing most of these historically significant landmarksin miniatureis DAngelos own FABtotum 3D printer, an Italian-made FFF machine capable of handling a few different material types. Before getting his hands on that 3D printer, however, the busy backpacker used a handful of other 3D printers, including a Lumipocket DLP printer for the model of Milan Cathedral. Depending on circumstance and his current location, the maker is also open to using other printers for certain prints.

The talented DAngelo was able to find pre-made models of some of the famous landmarks online, but for others he had to get his hands dirty and make his own. TinkerCAD and Fusion 360 both helped the traveler sculpt his own impressive models, which he then brought to the original landmarks to take his unique snapshot.

With many more places left to see (and recreate in PLA), DAngelo has no plans to stop #3DPrinTraveling just yet.

3D printed models of (t-b) the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy; Cologe Cathedral, Germany; Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Posted in Fun with 3D Printing

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Nick Ripatrazone at Literary Hub:

In 1988, former altar boy Martin Scorsese said Im a believer, but Im struggling. His film The Last Temptation of Christ had just released to much criticism in Christian circles. One defender was the Reverend Paul Moore, the Episcopal Bishop of New York. In a letter to The New York Times, Moore praised Scorseses provocative representation of Christ, writing that much like the Spanish painters of the 16th and 17th centuries, Scorsese depicted Christ as an agonized, suffering body on the cross. Moore said he was moved by Scorseses film.

Moved enough to gift Scorsese with a book: Silence, a 1966 novel by Shusaku Endo. The director would soon buy the film rights to the book, but got sidetracked doing other films. Yet Scorsese was always going back to the book because it gave him a kind of sustenance that I have found in only a very few works of art. Now, finally, the film has reached theaterslike a long withheld confession.

I cant help but compare Scorseses gestation of the film with Gustave Flauberts The Temptation of Saint Anthony, finished in 1872 but started nearly 30 years earlier.

more here.
Delicious things you should know about this week.









Souvla Opens on Valencia

Souvla is slowly expanding its popular Greek-sandwich empire with the opening of a new branch in the Mission this past Sunday. Located on Valencia Street, this the third location from founder Charles Bililies, who has brought to this new spot the same sandwiches, fries, Greek yogurt, and Greek wines served at his other NoPa and Hayes Valley eateries. // Open daily, 1am-10pm, 758 Valencia St. (Mission), souvlasf.com





Churn Your Own Ice Cream at Smitten

San Francisco-based ice cream company, Smitten, is hosting churn-your-own liquid-nitrogen ice cream workshops for $70. At the workshop, the trained staff of "brrristas," as they're called, will teach participants how to use the safely liquid nitrogen machines. Participants will be able to customize their own flavor and go home with a pint of their own creation. There are classes scheduled throughout January and February. // Thursday, January 19, 11am-12:30pm, 2268 Chestnut St. (Marina), eventbrite.com





A Tribute to Janis Joplin at Slice House Haight Ashbury

Famed pizza chef Tony Gemignani is celebratingJanis Joplin's birthday (January 19) with a special pie and menu promotion at the new Haight Ashbury Slice House. The "Cry Baby," named after the Joplin song, is topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, red & white onions, garlic, serrano peppers, calabrese peppers and finished with shallots and ndjua, a spicy soft salami. All day on January 19th, diners who buy a Cry Baby slice will receive a free psychedelic lemonade or fountain drink of their choice. // Thursday, January 19, 1535 Haight St (Haigh-Ashbury), slicehousehaight.com









Kinjo Brings Omakase to Polk



A new omakase spot is opening up on Polk Street next Tuesday. The concept is called Kinjo, and chef Takatoshi Toshi, formerly of Sausalito's Sushi Ran where he earned a Michelin star, is at the helm. Most of the fish will come from Japan, and there will be sake, wine, and beer. The 46-seat dining room is designed by Michael Brennan (Jardiniere, Ijji) and will include a 16-food hinoki-topped sushi bar. There is also a private dining room. // Open Tuesday-Sunday, 5:30pm-10pm, 2206 Polk St. (Russian Hill), facebook.com/Kinjosf





Overproof Opens in ABV

Overproof, a reservations-only bar-within-a-bar located in ABV's top floor, is opening next Monday. The concept and theme will change quarterly. First up is rum: There will be a menu of five cocktails that will pair with food from a six-course menu crafted by chef Colin Hilton and sous chef Nick Salazar. The food will pay culinary homage to regions around the world famed for rum production. Think Trini chow mein (the national dish of Trinidad), a Jamaican-style smoked lamb curry with puffed rice and coconut milk. // Open Monday-Thursday; two seatings at 6:30pm and 8:30pm, 3174 16th St. (Mission), overproofsf.com









1760 Collaboration Dinners

Polk Street's 1760 Restaurant has started a collaboration dinner series with legendary chef Suzette Gresham of Acquerello cooking alongside 1760's Carl Foronda. The dinners will be in the style of a late-night spaghettata (an Italian tradition of impromptu, after-hours spaghetti feasts with friends) and will merge each chef's cooking style. For example: mini lumpia with shrimp and bucatini "palabok" with a bottarga spaghetti. The next dinner will be January 22, and tickets are sure to go fast. // $65, January 22, 5:30pm-9:30pm, 1760 Polk St (Russian Hill), Get tickets here.





Wine Dinner at Locanda

Roman-style restaurant Locanda is hosting a winemaker dinner in celebration of the release of the 2015 Delfina Aglianic. You can reserve a spot for the extended aperitivo hour, which will take place in the front room of the restaurant and include wine tastings by the glass, flight, or bottle. Or you can opt for the sit-down dinner in the back room, featuring a Campania-inspired set menu. // Wednesday, January 25, 557 Valencia St. (Mission), locandasf.com





SF Restaurant Week Starts Today

SF Restaurant Week starts today. Presented by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, you can check out special pre-fixe lunches and dinners at some of San Francisco's most delicious restaurants, including Bellota, Burma Love, DUM, Maybeck's, the Perennial, and more. // January 1829, sfrestaurantweek.com
These proposals do little to actually lower the cost of health care, Jenkins wrote. They simply shift costs from Medicare onto individuals  many of whom cannot afford to pay more for their health care.

To confront continued huge price spikes for prescription drugs, AARP backs proposals to give the secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to negotiate lower prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. In addition, we agree with you that we should reduce barriers to better pricing competition worldwide by allowing for the safe importation of lower priced drugs, Jenkins said.

She noted that provisions of the Affordable Care Act have helped millions of 50-and-older Americans. These include a ban on excluding consumers because of preexisting health conditions, a ban on lifetime and annual coverage limits, and restrictions on charging older Americans more for insurance than younger people.

Jenkins also urged Trump to protect millions  including low-income elderly people  by fending off efforts to cap Medicaid funding. She asked the president to ensure that home and community-based services be available to individuals in the same way they can access nursing home funding.
How to watch, what to know about South Dakota State at Northern Iowa
A Story of the Rhodesian Bush War

January 17, 2017  Robert Leslie has released his debut novel, Butcher Bird, which is available in ebook and paperback editions worldwide. The novel follows an elite unit of counter-terrorist trackers whose mission is to find and kill a murderous madman who is bent on seizing control of the Rhodesia from his enemies, both black and white.

Butcher Bird is a historical fiction novel inspired by the authors experiences in Southern Rhodesia in the 1970s. Robert Leslie is a native of South Africa who, in 1972,worked in what was known as Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Dramatic changes came to the area during the Rhodesian Bush War. Based on this experience, he was inspired to write Butcher Bird. Today Leslie lives in Australia, but the memories and impressions of the war continue to influence his work.

About the Novel:

In 1973, African freedom fighters (called terrorists by the Rhodesians) from neighboring nations were flowing across the borders of Southern Rhodesia, and the Rhodesian Security Forces, mostly white Europeans, were unable to stop them. In response, the Rhodesians created the Selous Scouts, whose mission was to take on the guise of the enemy to walk among them and gather intelligence from the locals who were afraid to be seen helping the Security Forces.

Butcher Bird focuses on two key characters. The titular Butcher Bird is a terrorist with political aspirations who seeks to become the president of Zimbabwe by eliminating all whites from the country, as well as any Africans who stand in his way. Sion Michael, a South African soldier who commands a subunit of the Selous Scouts, is tasked with stopping the Butcher Bird at all costs.

Sion came to Rhodesia to fight someone elses war. He never expected it to become this personal.

Butcher Bird will appeal to readers who enjoy war stories, African history, and anyone who likesaction and adventure.

About the Author:

Robert Leslie was born in Southern Africa. He spent several years working as a rigger for a South African shaft sinking company on the copper belt of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). He returned to the Republic when Zambia gained independence. A year later he joined a construction company in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). While working in the bush he had a fleeting encounter with the Selous Scouts, which inspired him to write this and other stories. Butcher Bird is his debut novel, the first in a trilogy involving Sion Michael.Robert now lives in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with his wife and their two dogs.

Media Contact

Company Name: Steven Booth

Contact Person: Genius Book Publishing

Email: steven@geniusbookcompany.com

Phone: :+1 (818) 585-9945

Country: United States

Website: www.GeniusBookPublishing.com
Mike Kimel | January 18, 2017 6:30 am



I was looking for information on how cultures affect growth and stumbled on this 12.5 year old article in The Economist:

Diversity and development might seem to sit oddly together. But they are intimately linked, and the report seeks to show that they are not related in the way many people assume. The UNDPs press release says unambiguously that there is no evidence that cultural diversity slows development, and dismisses the idea that there has to be a trade-off between respecting diversity and sustaining peace. Some of the worlds richest and most peaceful countries are historically multi-ethnic, such as Switzerland, Canada and Belgium. And most of the worlds richest countries are now the destination of immigrants from around the world, making America, Britain and other wealthy nations hugely diverse.

I imagine if you make a movie whose cast is perfectly representative of the population of diverse Switzerland or Belgium of a decade ago when this article was written, and the movie was a masterpiece, it would run afoul of #oscarssowhite.

But there is some evidence that diversity has costs. In a recent book, The Size of Nations (see article), two economists show that managing ethnic diversity is expensive, as governments must deal with the demands of groups competing for scarce resources. In the United States, a study has shown that people are willing to pay more for services like education if they can live with people more like them in ethnicity and class. In other words, people place a value on being with others like them. Multi-ethnic nations have been breaking apart recently (the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia); few countries have merged during the same period, and those that have were ethnic mates (East and West Germany, North and South Yemen). A quick look at the Human Development Index (HDI), released each year in the report, seems to support the idea that diversity has its costs. In the bottom 35 countries ranked as having low human development, all but three are in vastly diverse Africa, where borders drawn by colonialists showed no respect for tribal, linguistic or religious identities. Meanwhile, while single-ethnicity states are rare (just 30 countries in the world do not have a religious or ethnic minority that constitutes at least 10% of the population), they are strongly represented at the top of the HDI: places like Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Japan, Ireland and Austria.

The article continues:

The report recommends several political strategies for coupling diversity and development. One is asymmetrical federalismthe type of constitutional arrangement seen in Spain and Canada, where regions dominated by a cohesive minority (like Quebec or the Basque country) get special local-government powers that others do not. This both recognises the regions distinct identity and binds it to the central state. After all, the authors point out, most people in Spains minority regions see themselves as both Spanish and Basque (or Catalan or Galician)not just one or the other. Giving those overlapping identities constitutional form can be one way to stabilise a diverse country. However, it can also give rise to resentment among the majoritybe they anglophone Canadians or Castilian Spaniardsover the privileges of minorities.

My guess is this works only as long as the Quebecois mostly continue to live in a geographic distinct area. In other words  where diversity however it is measured exists at a macro but is minimized at a micro level. I imagine living and working together in a way that forms elite teams requires an approach that does more to smooth out whatever differences are perceived to exist and treat everyone as the same. (Warning  Youtube & profanity.)

The authors of the report argue for several other policies to protect and promote what they call cultural liberty, with certain caveats. For example, they support affirmative action, which, they say, has led to an increase in the number of black professionals in America, and has helped ethnic Malays in Malaysia and various minorities in India as well. But they lightly question the wisdom of letting such policies become entrenched, asking for example whether the children of affirmative actions beneficiaries should themselves be eligible for a helping hand.

I suspect that such programs are very, very hard to dismantle. Differing cultural traits (which necessarily exist as long as people are assisted in keeping apart) will result in different outcomes, and different outcomes are a justification for keeping these programs intact.

The authors also propose treating cultural goods differently from other kinds when discussing trade. They give some of the oft-cited statistics about the cultural dominance of a few countriesfor example, that America accounts for 85% of films screened worldwide. Their assumption is that, left to raw market forces, products from smaller cultures would be drowned out of the market. But rather than proposing restrictions on, say, importing American films, the authors propose allowing governments to take positive action to boost the production of their local fare. (Some trade agreements treat such support as an illegal subsidy.)

This must work because movies hav a discernible effect on the culture in different countries. Typical goods like the Honda Civic, Sony Walkmen, SAP ERP, AK-47, Googles search engine and Coca-Cola must be very unlike movies and have no discernible effect on any countrys culture.

While the report is full of feel-good language and social-science jargon, like participation exclusion and living mode exclusion, it is an interesting first stab at marrying diversity and development, two subjects not often found side-by-side. The report is, by its own admission, short on data about just how bad the problem of cultural exclusion is around the world. But it estimates, probably not too wildly, that one in seven people in the world is a member of some kind of disadvantaged minority. When engineering a new constitution, founding fathers in Iraq, Afghanistan and other nations under construction, as well as those who would advise them, would do well to take the suggestions of this report to heart.

And I predict that as long as society encourages people to think of themselves as distinct from their neighbors, and their neighbors as distinct from themselves, we will only increase the number of people who are members of what the Economist calls some kind of disadvantaged minority.



Updated to include comments on Swiss and Belgian diversity. Also, second blockquote was not originally shown as quote. Also minor changes in one sentence for clarity.
Airman becomes first resource officer to Eglin Elementary

Students at Eglin Elementary School will have another friendly face to greet them each morning as they enter the school. Staff Sgt. Justin Hogg from the 96th Security Forces Squadron was recently hired as the elementary's school resource officer.



The move comes on the heels of a new and innovative way the 96th SFS are implementing community policing and securing the installation.



Maj. Jason Williams, the 96th SFS commander, said he is eager to help students build trust with law enforcement through this program.



"The goal of the program is to provide a safe learning environment for Eglins youth, by fostering a positive relationship and developing strategies to resolve problems affecting them and their families, Williams said.



Security forces first approached the school in mid-November to assess the needs of the school and quickly started the selection process for the elementarys first SRO whose duties will primarily revolve around the schools overall safety.



Hogg was chosen through a rigorous selection process that included a move to a completely different flight within the squadron where he competed against a number of highly qualified individuals for the SRO position.



The Airman will not only provide a higher level of security for the students and faculty, he will also be implementing several programs other campuses in Okaloosa receive such as anti-bullying training, and Drug Abuse Resistance Education.



I am looking forward to getting to know the students and building the kind of relationships where they feel comfortable enough to talk to me about anything, said the 29-year-old, South Carolina native. It is important the students see police officers as the good guys and we are approachable.



According to the Air Force Security Forces Center, Hogg is the first SRO and paves the way for other installations with campuses within the base perimeter. Eglin Elementary School is a part of the Okaloosa County School District and its presence on the base provides certain benefits and challenges.



One of the challenges is they do not have a direct line of communication with the base regarding activities, exercises that would affect the students, and even up-to-date base weather conditions.



Dennis Samac, the Eglin Elementary School principal, said he is pleased to now have that link with the base through Hogg.



We are thrilled to have him (Hogg) on our campus, not only working with the student body, but also as a direct line of communication when it comes to issues on base that might impact our students, Samac said.



Eglin Elementary School is currently the only school in the district without an Okaloosa deputy sheriff walking the campus, so the addition of Hogg would mean 100 percent of the countys schools have an added level of security.



Hogg must complete several SRO courses before taking post at a school and he will be job-shadowing several of the Okaloosa campuses within the next few months.



The seven-year veteran will also be a staple within the base community throughout the summer, visiting the child development centers and the youth center to further teach students about safety and the functions of police officers with K-9 demonstrations and stranger awareness briefings.



The school is ready to draw on Hoggs expertise and is happy to include him as the face of safety on campus while adding another layer of support to its students.


Airmen deliver aid to refugees in northern Iraq

Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing delivered humanitarian aid here Jan. 13 while also conducting a multifaceted training mission; the aid is bound for refugee camps in northern Iraq.



From a big picture stand point, even though the Reserve crews are training to stay proficient, we were able to help Kurdish refugees who were fleeing (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), said Master Sgt. Chris Fabel, a 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief stationed at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.



The humanitarian aid was flown using the Denton Amendment, a State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development program that allows humanitarian supplies to be flown aboard Air Force aircraft on a space available basis.



According to the Denton cargo application, Global Samaritan Resources, a nonprofit corporation located in Abilene, Texas, donated 35 pallets, containing more than 275,000 dehydrated rice soy casserole meals intended for the refugees.



Our mission is simple, yet significant; we help people help people, said Danny Sims, the executive director of Global Samaritan Resources. It makes me proud as a U.S. citizen to know we are sending food, and proud to know that the U.S. Air Force is delivering it.



The donated meals, worth approximately $85,000, will feed an estimated 285,000 Kurdish men, women, and children who have fled ISIL-controlled areas and are currently living in refugee camps in northern Iraq.



The mission was difficult, yet rewarding, according to Tech. Sgt. Brian Farmintino, one of the loadmasters from the 300th Airlift Squadron who was on the mission.



Personally, I love flying these types of missions, Farmintino said. They really show the flexibility of our wing. We combined a training mission with evaluations and an instructional ride with a real-world humanitarian mission and added an aeromedical evacuation trainer on top of that.



The dehydrated food was delivered to Germany by the 315th AW and will be flown later to Iraq, and trucked to Barzani for distribution throughout the refugee camps in that area.



When asked about the importance of helping those in need, Sims said it was the most important and most gratifying part of his life.



I believe pretty much everyone wants to help someone else, its written in our DNA, he said. "But regardless, we all understand the beauty of helping people. That is something that transcends our differences and brings us together. It is a beautiful thing.
Travis environmental restoration program is certified, sustainable

Saving money, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing green and sustainable remediation (GSR) to clean up contaminated groundwater sites recently earned Travis Air Force Base the honor of becoming the first Defense Department installation to receive greener cleanup certification by ASTM International standards.



Additionally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Region IX is using the Travis AFB environmental restoration programs (ERP) success to show other facilities how to use similar GSR approaches to effectively clean up contamination.



ASTM International is the largest organization in the world that develops and publishes voluntary technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems and services. Although the standards are voluntary, public law requires government agencies to use them whenever possible to save tax dollars and avoid duplicated efforts.



This certification demonstrates that we were on the right track when we designed and tested innovative cleanup technologies that do not consume large amounts of energy or generate a lot of waste, said Glenn Anderson, a geologist with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Installation Support Team.



The ERP team is saving the Air Force about $37,000 in electricity costs annually while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.8 million pounds per year, said Lonnie Duke, the AFCEC restoration program manager.



By replacing some traditional and costly groundwater remediation technologies, such as pumping and treating billions of gallons of contaminated groundwater and returning it to the reservoir, the team also is saving the thousands of dollars it would have cost to construct, operate and maintain such systems in the future, Duke said.



Since 2008, the ERP team has worked with the environmental contractor, CH2M Hill and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers not only to use green and sustainable cleanup technologies but also to test ways to improve their performance at several sites across the base.



Every time we try something new and it works, we can apply it at the next site, Duke said.



For example, the team installed a subgrade biogeochemical reactor, an underground biology-based groundwater treatment system, to treat a Stoddard solvent spill site near Hangar 811. Stoddard solvent is a colorless, flammable liquid used as a general cleaner and degreaser.



Travis AFB has been the leader in implementing green remediation technologies, said Mike Wray, the CH2M Hill project manager.



He said one of the first subgrade biogeochemical reactors was installed at Travis AFB in 2008 as part of an Air Force research project.



Since then, SBGRs have been installed at multiple sites across the United States and Puerto Rico. However, no other installation contains as many SBGRs as Travis AFB, which currently has six, Wray said.



The unit was constructed by excavating a series of trenches near the hangar and backfilling them with a mix of gravel, calcium peroxide and infiltration pipe. The difference between it and other bioreactors on base is its washboard effect, created by the way the extraction wells operate.



Each well operates on a different schedule to allow the water table to tilt and fluctuate across the site, increasing the amount of oxygen in the groundwater. Naturally occurring bacteria in the groundwater uses the oxygen to break down the solvents into harmless compounds, Wray said.



Phytoremediation was one of the first bioremediation technologies implemented at Travis AFB. In 1998, the ERP team and a team from Utah State University planted 100 red ironbark eucalyptus trees to treat an extremely large plume of contamination, mainly trichloroethylene or TCE, at the site of a former battery and electric shop. The team planted an additional 340 trees over the 2.24 acre plot in 2000.



The theory, which later became fact, was that the trees would draw the contaminated water through the roots system and treat the contamination through the trunk and leaves, without harming the trees. Tests later showed that phytoremediation removed about 50 percent of TCE in a 10-year period.



The ERP team later installed a bioreactor and an emulsified vegetable oil biobarrier near the same site, which further reduced contamination below cleanup standards, according to Wray.



The biobarrier consists of a row of 34 injection wells aligned perpendicular to groundwater flow. Water and the vegetable oil are injected under pressure through the wells into the groundwater. Microorganisms eat the oil as the water flows through the biobarrier, according to Doug Berwick, a CH2M Hill chemical engineer.



We're using the natural bacteria in the ground to do the work for us, Berwick said. Our job is to feed the bacteria so that they thrive, then collect measurements to check their progress. We want to ensure that we are cleaning up the site as efficiently as possible.



The DOD established the environmental restoration program in 1975 to guide and fund the investigation and cleanup of hazardous soil and groundwater sites caused by past industrial waste disposal activities at military installations.



Travis AFB was added to the EPAs National Priorities List, or Superfund, in 1989 because of contaminated landfills, disposal and spill sites, firefighting training and storage tank areas and 23 contaminated groundwater sites.



Since that time, the ERP staff has worked with the EPA, state regulatory agencies, the contractor, and an environmental restoration advisory board to cleanup or put in place remedies for all soil and groundwater sites.



The fundamental goal of the Travis AFB restoration program is to protect human health and the environment by eliminating or reducing to prescribed, safe levels any potential risks caused by the Air Force's past operations, Anderson said. He added that the ERP team hopes to use more GSR cleanup technologies that save money, reduce life cycle costs and lower the bases overall carbon footprint in the future.
Air mobility squadron keeps C-17s ready for fight

Winning the fight against an adversary requires much more than just dropping bombs on targets and taking out key leaders. It requires coordinating the precise movement of necessary supplies to arrive at the right location at the right time; which is why logistics plays such an important role in the war-fighting effort.



Luckily, within the Air Force alone, Air Mobility Command has many aircraft at its disposal to perform logistical missions, but one aircraft in particular proves to be valuable not only for its capacity but also for the speed at which it gets supplies downrange: the C-17 Globemaster III.



C-17s are used frequently in the U.S. Air Force Central Command area of responsibility to get everything from clothing to bombs to a variety of locations around the region.



As a 386th Air Expeditionary Wing tenant unit, the 5th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron flies its Globemasters an average of 2,500 sorties a year from the wings flightline. These sorties are responsible for moving 180,000 personnel and 80,000 tons of cargo, said Capt. John Goodwin, 5th EAMS Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge.



The 5th EAMS is a geographically separated unit that falls under the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. They perform their mission not only from the flightline here, but also from a second location.



The squadron consists of more than 60 maintenance personnel who are responsible for ensuring their C-17s remain safe and operational to continue flying these important sorties throughout the AOR. They also fly the same amount of sorties as other expeditionary air mobility squadrons, but with nearly half the typical crew size, Goodwin said.



Since it is such a small crew, the few crew chiefs in the squadron rely on the help of specialists such as electricians and communication-navigation experts to help out with inspections, explained Staff Sgt. Derek Barrett, a 5th EAMS aircraft electrical and environment systems technician.



If a jet comes down with a specific career field problem like electrical work, well go out there and manage those problems, Barrett said.



And there are a lot of these inspections. The process of degrading adversaries in Iraq and Afghanistan requires a steady movement of goods to various locations, which means these C-17s and others perform several sorties on a regular basis.



We could have upwards of eight to 10 sorties or airlift operations for that day that can be coming in or leaving, Goodwin said. We could also be doing transient (aircraft), which dont belong to us but they may be coming into this location for supplies. If anything goes wrong, we provide maintenance for those units that may need it.



Many of these sorties require landing in austere environments which can cause wear and tear on the aircraft, especially the tires, which usually return with gashes, gouges and other forms of damage, Goodwin said.



Maintaining aircraft that are used at such a high operational tempo can itself be challenging, but coordinating between two different locations can bring another facet of difficulty to managing the spread-out squadron.



The biggest challenge for me is to make sure that were in touch with both locations, Goodwin said. We do service C-5 (Galaxies) at one base and C-17s at another, so the diversity in what aircraft were servicing can also play a part.



To combat this challenge, Goodwin said the squadron focuses on maintaining good communication to ensure everyone is on the same page and performing their maintenance safely, which is important as it means the aircraft can fly its mission effectively to get the necessary supplies downrange. This also serves as a point of pride for the 5th EAMS maintainers whose job it is to ensure the aircraft keeps flying these important missions.



As we see the cargo go out and the passengers, I know that the work that we do will make a direct impact to missions in Iraq and all over the world, Barrett said.
The White House(WASHINGTON)  President Obama will hold his final press conference as president Wednesday afternoon.



The press conference comes as Obama prepares to hand the reins of power to President-elect Donald Trump on Friday and a day after Obama granted a commutation to Chelsea Manning, a transgender soldier who was convicted of Espionage Act violations and other charges for leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks.



The outgoing president is set to welcome Trump and his family to the White House on Friday ahead of the inauguration. Following the ceremony, the president and first lady will fly to Palm Springs, California, for vacation. The couple will then return to Washington, where they are renting a house until their youngest daughter, Sasha, completes high school.



Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.


NOTE: Congratulations to Tony Lyons and the entire team at Skyhorse Publishing. Many years ago, my agent called me and said, "We've sold your book, Kim. The publisher is called Skyhorse." I responded, "Skywho?" Today, Skyhorse is thriving under Lyons' ownership. When most publishers turn down autism non-fiction like mere carousel ponies gliding safely in circles, Skyhorse is an American bucking bronco taking on every aspect of autism with no fear at all. Tony is an autism Dad - and haven't we all learned that most people in positions of power and influence ignore the epidemic until it hits them personally?



Here's an excerpt from Huffington Post's terrific article about Tony and Skyhorse. Please click over to their site and leave a comment.



By Randy Mia Berman, on Huffington Post

Theres sky blue; skyline: skyscraper: skyrocket; skylark; Skylab; Luke Skywalker.

And then theres Skyhorse. Or, as I call it, the little colt that could.

Skyhorse: a young, hot-to-trot company (www.skyhorsepublishing.com) thats just turned 10  overturning expectations, turning editorial heads, and turning $0 into $43 million!

The maverick Mustang thats been kicking down corporate stalls, publishing a range of topics as wide as the Montana skies, from Putin to Pokemon Go; from fantasy and fashion (Corsets and Codpieces) to Fix-it and Forget-It series; from conspiracies to cookbookstitles from Malcolm Nances The Plot to Hack America to Kristy Carlsons Eat Like a Gilmore: The Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Gilmore Girls.

Photo Source (above): www.localriding.com

Skyhorse: named after PEN/Hemingway award-winning Hispanic Native American Mexican author Brando Skyhorse. Seriously, now, could you ask for a more romantic derivation ?

Photo Source: S bend corset (right), in Corsets & Codpieces - A History of Outrageous Fashion from Roman Times to the Modern Era by Karen Bowman - Skyhorse Publishing

The BEA Goes On

True, Id heard some rumblings, but Id never fully grasped the whole scope and soul of Skyhorse until I attended the annual BEA (Book Expo America) convention in NYCs sprawling Javits Center. Tying up my reins at the Skyhorse booth, I felt the renegade buzz.

The Lyons Zen

Meet Tony Lyons, a gentle rebel with a maverick spirit. I couldnt resist asking what he would have become if not a publisher. His no-blink response? Something risky like a mountain climber or explorer.

A bearded blend of Paul Bunyan and Paul Newman, sprinkled with a tinge of Aristotle, Lyons is an urban Ponce de Leon. Wise and whimsical, hes the antithesis of the corporate CEO  more mindful than managerial, more Buddha than baron.

You Cant Lead a SkyHorse to Water

Skyhorse: a company, according to Tony Lyons, dedicated to making peoples lives better. And what better time to feel uplifted than now? Weve all been feeling like the worlds been crumbling, defying all earthly laws of physics and reality. Nope, were not in Chicken Little. And the sky is not falling. Lets face it. Were exhausted from electoral and inaugural overkill; in-your-face news pundits; cable tv clamorings; political-kids-in-a-sandbox behavior; and overall kindergarten tantrum antics. Time out.

We all need a refuge from the global turmoil, an oasis from Cabinet-speak, a haven from the havoc. And not just for crying, on or off campus. What better solution is there than simply laughing, learning...and reading?

Chicken Little Credit: www.ravepad.com

Read the full article at Huffington Post.








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Date: 3 December, 2016.

Place: State of Texas, United States.

On 03 December, a very strange event occurred in the southern state of Texas, United States.

According to an anonymous report published on UFO specialised website MUFON.com, an unknown witness affirmed to have observed a group of triangle lights and orbs hovering near his house.

The triangles at night are what made me start paying attention. There are always triangle lights, day and night. Orbs too, the unnamed witness stated.

He says he has been feeling sick since this objects started to appear. I have lots of other pictures taken at night but I couldn't see them during the day. I get sick when I observe them at night, and I recently noticed that during the day I was getting the same kind of sickness, he affirmed.

In his opinion, his sickness could be caused by some sort of mechanism that the objects activate in order to defend themselves from threats. I have figured out that the orbs are poison that makes me sick, he said. I don't know if their intention is to make me sick (but I think it is), but it could be that they feel threaten by the flash of my camera, he expressed.

He also added that the unknown entities could have been sent to study the Earth. They seemed to be busy harvesting something or studying, he stated.

The Texan citizen affirmed that he has never seen them with the naked eye, but he has been able to photograph them several times. I never see the objects with my naked eye. I feel their presence and pull out my camera and start shooting, he mentioned.

Finally, he says he is afraid of having suffered some sort of radiation poisoning, since he feels sick every time he sees these objects. I am not scared but I do feel like I have radiation poisoning every time I go outside (they are always outside), he asserted.

I mainly just want this ringing in my ears to stop. I can hear some kind of frequency. Its them!, the Texas resident exclaimed.

Draw your own conclusions

For further information: https://mufoncms.com/cgi-bin/report_handler.pl?req=view_long_desc&id=80803&rnd=

Long Description of Sighting Report

I was at home. I have lots of other pictures taken at night but I couldn't see them during the day. I get sick when I observe them at night and I noticed recently that during the day I was getting the same kind of sickness. I decided to try shooting them during the day too. They are very small. The triangles at night is what made me start paying attention. There are always triangle lights, day and night. Orbs too. I have figured out that the orbs are poison that makes me sick. I don't know if their intention is to make me sick (but I think it is) but it could be that they feel threaten by the flash of my camera. They seem to be busy harvesting something or studying. I am not scared but I do feel like I have radiation poisoning every time I go outside (they are always outside). I have thousands of pictures. Mostly at night. I never see the objects with my naked eye, I feel their presence and pull out my camera and start shooting. This is not one of my best pictures I have of them but you will get the idea. I will show you the good ones when you come here and see for yourself. I mainly just want this ringing in my ears to stop. I can hear some kind of frequency, it's them! Thank you for your time.








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Date: 27 November, 2016.

Place: Thermal, State of California, United States.

On 27 November, a very strange event occurred in Thermal, a small community located in the State of California, United States.

According to an anonymous report published just two days later, on 29 November, on UFO specialised website MUFON.com, a local resident affirmed to have had an encounter with a big, tall, white alien while he was walking back home.

What happened on November 27 at 1:05 a.m. approximately was very frightening for me, the anonymous witness stated. I never thought of seeing a big, tall, white alien, he added.

The Californian citizen explained: there was a party I went to, and I didn't have a ride to go home too, so I decided to go home walking approximately 5 miles.

I started walking home, but when I was like half a mile away, I started hearing some dogs like if they were fighting or killing another dog; but in my head I didn't think anything else, I just thought they were fighting, the unnamed man related.

Then, things started to get weird. I walked like another 120 feet; the dogs stopped barking for like 20 seconds, so I kept on walking and the dogs started bark super loud again like if they were going to die or something, he said.

That's when I turn around to my left and I got really scared, he continued relating. I saw a big, white, tall man; more than 6ft tall, and it was running to my left really fast with long legs, the frightened witness expressed.

The California resident affirmed that he first thought it was a ghost, but ghosts arent that big and arent that white, he claimed.

The big tall man seemed to be running away but I dont know from what; maybe the dogs because they were barking. I didn't want to find out what it was, he said.

The man said he just ran home, constantly looking back to see if the strange being was chasing him. A few moments later, when he was already in his house, he said he looked at the stars and saw something extraordinary. I was outside looking at the stars and I saw a white object. It couldn't have been a plane because it only had one light, and also it moved straight and then to the sides, he affirmed.

Draw your own conclusions

For further information: https://mufoncms.com/cgi-bin/report_handler.pl?req=view_long_desc&id=80659&rnd=

Long Description of Sighting Report

What happened on November 27 at 1:05 am approximately was very frightening for me I never thought of seeing a big tall white alien looking man, well the night before that on November 26 there was a party I went to and I didn't have a ride to go home to so I decided to go home walking approximately 5 miles I started walking home but when I was like half a mile away I started hear some dogs like if they were fighting or killing another dog but in my head I didn't think nothing else I just thought they were fighting a fat or something but when I walked like another 120 feet the dog stopped barking for like 20 seconds so I kept on walking and the dogs started bark super loud again like if they were gonna die or something that's when I turn around to my left and I got really scared what I saw , I saw a big white tall man more than 6ft tall and it was running threw my left really fast with long legs it didn't seem to see me but when I first saw it I thought it was a ghost or something but ghosts are that big and ghosts aren't that white so I knew it was made of skin cuz I could see it well the big tall man seemed to be running away but idk from what maybe the dogs cuz they were barking after that I didn't want to find out what it was my phone was dead I couldn't take pictures and I was sooo scared I just ran away as far as I could and I was turning back and forward making sure it wasn't following me all I could hear was the dog barks getting more and more agresive as if the being wanted to like touch them or something after that I went home and I couldn't sleep after what I saw then i was outside looking at the stars and i saw an white obejct it couldn't have been a plane because it only had one light and also it moved straight and then to the sides so ik from that kovement i just witnessed a real life ufo & the next day I investigated what could it have being and all I found was the tall whites and now here I am telling u what I saw hopefully someone goes out here and investigate in the nights .
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Julie Gichuru Bio  Age, Husband & Children In Africa, women have a long history of bringing under control obstacles to keep their heads above the water. So, it comes as no surprise whenever African women are recognized and decorated across the continent and globe for performing brilliantly well in their various fields of endeavor. In Kenya for instance, a list of national ...

Jeff Koinange Biography  All About His Age, Wife  Shaila Koinange & Family Jeff Koinange is a well-known Kenyan journalist. He currently hosts Jeff Koinange Live on KTN. Koinange has served as a journalist in the United States and has also worked for a few U.S. broadcasters. He was born in Kenya but attended college in the United States, which may explain his accent. There are several interesting ...

Caroline Mutoko Biography  Age, Daughter & House Caroline Mutoko is a Kenyan radio presenter, famously known for hosting a morning breakfast show on Kiss 100 FM. The station is based in Nairobi and ranks among the highly-rated radio stations in Kenya with online streaming services as well. Learn more about the Kenyan-born journalist. Caroline Mutokos Age and Bio Born on January 4, 1973, Caroline is ...

The Most Stunning News Presenter In Kenya Discloses Her Real Age  You Would Not Believe It In modern African societies, it is often regarded as impolite or outright lack of disrespect to ask a woman of her age. We also have seen celebrities lie about how old they are when asked their age. People, mostly women have refused to let people know their real age, despite being public figures. The few ...

Demystifying Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies Biography, Husband & Education Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist, non-fiction writer, short story writer and actress. As a seasoned Nigerian writer, she has been called the most prominent of a procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors that is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature. She has been making Nigeria proud in the global scene ...

Wole Soyinka  Biography, Wife, Children, Family, Quick Facts Professor Wole Soyinka, a great and brilliant Nigerian writer and political activist, who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. The name, Wole Soyinka, is a household name both in Africa and beyond especially in the field of literature. With over 50 pieces of work, his writing includes poems, novels, memoirs ...

5 Most Vulgar Kenyan Radio Presenters It appears being vulgar is the real deal nowadays especially for the fact that the world is becoming more exposed and civilized. Sadly, but true, young people are constantly being exposed to images, discussions, and content that most people would deem detrimental to the African culture and moral statutes. This is because most of us ...

6 Sexiest News Anchors In Kenya Some news anchors have been stealing eyes every time they appear on-screen. Most of us hardly concentrate on the programme they present as our entire focus is usually on their striking physique and beautiful faces. It is common knowledge that Kenyan women are amazingly beautiful. From the celebrities to the everyday woman, they are all in ...

Interesting Oprah Winfrey Quotes To Keep You Motivated Oprah Winfrey is one of the worlds most powerful women in the media and business sectors. Her life is the typical success story that motivates and lifts ones morale. One amazing thing about this media mogul is her sincerity about past hurts, mistakes, healing, and success. The renowned talk show host and media personality is the first ...

Chinua Albert Achebe Biography- Family, Net Worth & Death Chinua Albert Achebe, of blessed memory, was a Nigerian prolific author best known for his inventive style of writing and simplicity of expressions. Famed as one of the finest writers Nigeria has ever produced, Achebe lived and died an international hero and a literary giant, who left behind unforgettable legacies and footprints in the sands of ...

Steve Harvey  His Wife, Kids & Height Steve Harvey is an American comedian, actor, radio and TV show host, producer and an author of different relationship advice books. Steve Harveys Early Life Born in Welch, West Virginia, on January 17, 1957, as Broderick Stephen Harvey, Steve was the last of five children. His family relocated to Cleveland when he was young and there, he attended Glenville High School from ...

Intriguing Things You Should Know About Danny Kokers Rise to Fame and Who His Wife Is Danny Koker is popular as the star of the History Channel reality TV series, Counting Cars. Prior to him appearing on the show, the TV personality was a musician who had embarked on a number of national tours with his rock group, Counts 77. He and his group have released quite a number of songs ...

Fun Facts You Didnt Know About Andy Cohens Rise to Prominence and His Partner Andy Cohen is one of Americas top media personalities who gained prominence after helping to bring the Bravo network back to life. He also hosted a couple of shows on the network, including the popular nightly series Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. After rising to the position of head of production and development at ...

Tracing Isha Sesays Career Until CNN, Her Worth And Why She Divorce Her Husband As far as journalists of African origin go, Isha Sesay is one of the most famous on the continent  and by extension, the world. The Sierra Leonean and British journalist has had a successful career since she joined the industry in 1998. In that time, she has worked for a host of major media ...

Open Secrets of How Joanna Gaines Balances Her Career With Being a Wife and Mother Joanna Gaines is the co-founder of Magnolia Homes, a business she runs with one goal: converting houses to homes. She doubles as the lead designer of the company which she co-owns with her husband, Chip Gaines. Lady Gaines gained massive popularity when she became a co-star with her husband on the HGTVs show, Fixer Upper. ...

Juicy Details of Ayesha Currys Love Story With Stephen, Her Family Members and Recent Pursuits When your husband is one of the greatest basketballers that the NBA has ever seen, then it bestows on you the status of a celebrity wife  and may not even demand that you do anything extra to maintain that status. However, Ayesha Curry, the wife of multiple NBA champion, Steph Curry, is not one ...

What Is Tarek el Moussas Ethnicity, Why Did He Divorce His Wife and Who Is He Dating? Tarek El Moussa has made himself one of the most recognizable men on reality television, especially to fans of HGTV. Thanks to his expertise in the world of real estate, Tarek has become a national star. But even to his hardcore followers, there are questions about Tarek El Moussa that remain unanswered, such as his ...

Fun Facts About Natalie Beckers Lonely Childhood and Eventual Career Success Natalie Becker is an actress of South African descent who became famous for her appearance in films like The World Unseen and The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. A multitalented individual, Natalie is also a television/radio presenter. She is also a co-founder of the Thought Leader Global Media which she runs together with ...

Top 3 Female CNN News Anchors You Didnt Know Were Africans CNN is one of the leading news agencies in the world. The satellite and cable news network was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and has been one of the best sources of news for a number of years. It also boasts of the best journalists and presenters all around in media broadcasting. The company is a ...

Channels That Aided Katie Pavlichs Growth as a Journalist and All About Her Marriage To Friedson If you have ever come across any Fast and Furious featuring Barack Obama, it is the handiwork of Katie Pavlich. The book which claims to have exposed Obamas bloodiest scandal and the shameless cover-up thereof, has been earning Pavlich much praise and fame ever since it was published in 2012. Nonetheless, Pavlich is more famed ...

Is Oprah Winfrey Married? Husband, Children, Biography, House, Facts Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire philanthropist, talk show icon, producer, actress, and writer. The media icon famously dubbed The Queen Of All Media owns and hosts the highest-rated television program in the media circle. Read more about the powerful television star below. Oprah Winfrey Biography Oprah was born as Orpah Gail Winfrey on January 29, 1954, to a ...

Who Is Arsenio Hall, What Happened To His Talk Show and Why Do Fans Think He Is Gay? He is one of the funniest beings to have graced the comedy constituent of the American entertainment industry. Arsenio Hall has a reputation for the rib-cracking disposition always portrayed in his comedy roles. He is not just a comedian; he is also an actor and a former talk show host for his popular show, The ...

What Is Woah Vicky Famous For and Who Are Her Family Members? Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Woah Vicky is one of those stars that have utilized the internet as a powerful tool to propel themselves to instant fame. The social media space, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc., offers lots of people the right opportunities and potentials to become superstars overnight. Not everyone achieves ...

Where Is Michael Strahan Since His Retirement From The NFL and Who Is His Partner? Michael Strahan is a retired American football player turned media personality. He played the defensive lineman position and holds the record for most sacks in a single NFL season. He also only played for the New York Giants throughout the entire 15-year professional career that saw him win a Super Bowl ring. In February 2014, ...

How Wendy Williams Went From Being a College DJ to Having Her Own Talk Show and More About Her Divorce Wendy Williams is a former radio personality, now talk show host, who is known for her outspokenness and brash no-nonsense attitude. She gained fame and notoriety for her on-air clashes with celebrities before moving on to host her own talk show. Since 2008, Williams has hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. ...

Who is Sunny Hostin? Her Husband, Family & Net Worth Sunny Hostin is no ordinary Latina  American lawyer but also a successful columnist, multi-platform journalist, and social commentator. A happily married woman and mother of two, Hostin is the Senior Legal Correspondent and Analyst for ABC News and co-host of ABCs popular morning talk show, The View. She is a legal expert popularly known as a former ...

Who Is Robert Costa and Is He Married, Who Is His Wife? Robert Costa is a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC who is regarded as being part of Americas next generation of journalists. The University of Notre Dame graduate, who is of Italian/Portuguese descent, has been lauded for his fresh political perspectives in an industry full of old heads. In addition to his work listed above, Costa ...

Team Valor Pokemon Go  7 Key Facts You Need To Know Team Valor Pokemon Go  The craze of the new game Pokemon Go is one that took the gaming world by storm sending teenagers and adults alike into a frenzy and one of its teams Team Valor, has proven to be instrumental in making it so. Before the game was created, Pokemon was a cartoon ...

Sheryl Underwood  Husband, Family & Net Worth She is known for her trademark smile which can be described as the brightest and broadest smile ever seen on planet earth. She is none other than Sheryl Underwood the comedian, actress, and TV host whose funny wits has left America in great awe. Although Sheryl has risen to become an important personality in the industry, ...

Team Mystic Pokemon Go: 7 Facts You Need To Know And Signs You Are One Team Mystic of the break out game Pokemon Go is a team that is full of sass and chivalry. With an enchanting monicker, Team Mystic stands out from the rest of its counterparts and deserves to take the crown as champion in the Pokemon gaming-verse. To be a member of this exceptional team of Pokemon battle ...

Exploring Guy Beahms Dr Disrespect Persona, Wife and Why He was Banned Permanently From Twitch Guy Beahm who is popularly known by his online alias  Dr DisRespect, is an award-winning Twitch.tv streamer. He has leveraged on the Twitch platform to become an internet personality that is quite widely known. His online success is just more proof that anyone who is good at what they do can attain celebrity status ...

Critical Facts About Lee Ann McAdoo  The Infowars Anchor Lee Ann Mcadoo is a conservative journalist and television host whose interests in conspiracies and astrology has established her as a famous American reporter. Often referred to as Wonder Woman, McAdoo is a reporter who works for InfoWars.com, a controversial right-wing website run by radio show host, Alex Jones. Who Is Lee Ann McAdoo? Lee Ann McAdoo was born on 7 ...

Millie Weaver  Age, Husband & Infowars Career Millie Weaver is an American model, journalist, political activist, and social commentator. The young and beautiful journalist rose to fame working as a reporter for a controversial right-wing website InfoWars.com. Also known as Millennial Millie, Weaver is a social media influencer with over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 35,000 followers on Twitter. Who Is Millie Weaver and What Is ...

Is Jessica Tarlov Married? What Are Her Height & Weight? Jessica Tarlov is an American political consultant, strategist, and analyst whose influential and regular TV presence has made a popular figure. A good example of beauty with brains, Tarlov has appeared on various TV networks, mostly the FOX News Network where she is known for her liberal views on political analysis and insights. She is also the senior director ...

Who Is Kelly Rebecca Nichols  Alex Jones Ex-Wife? Kelly Rebecca Nichols is the ex-wife of controversial American radio show host, Alex Jones. She got nationwide attention following her divorce and subsequent custody battle with her estranged husband. Nichols, who worked with PETAs public relations department, was herself no stranger to controversies as she was involved in several publicity stunts of the non-profit animal rights ...

Who Is Bree Morgan  Cole Sprouse Ex-Girlfriend And What Is She Up To Now? Although Bree Morgan became famous through the Instagram, she also sapped some dose of popularity from Disneys sweetheart, Cole Sprouse of the Sprouse brothers. She is not only an Instagram star but also a YouTube vlogger whose popularity has long exceeded the ordinary level. Bree is conspicuously prominent on the internet and has her digital savviness ...

Does Vanna White Have Husband or Children, What Is Her Net Worth / Salary? For over three decades, Vanna White has been a household name, famous as the co-host and letter turner of the iconic NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. The talented and beautiful television personality is also an actress with several TV series and films to her credit. Since making her Wheel of Fortune debut in 1982, she has become one ...

Liz Wheeler  Biography, Husband & Net Worth Liz Wheeler is the kind of girl who sets the room on fire whenever she comes around. In this situation, however, she sets our screens on fire each time she appears as the host of One America News Tipping Point. She is, therefore, a presenter, publisher, consultant and a member of the Board of Zoning ...

Betty White  Net Worth, Children & Husband The entertainment industry will remain indebted to personalities like Betty White who brought something extra to the table and kept the world entertained for donkey years. The comedienne, actress, and writer graced the big screens in the early 50s as a show host and has been a delight since then. She is the queen of ...

Is Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Dead or Alive, What Are His Net Worth & Education? Everyone will always remember Bill Nye as the Science Guy. Besides his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, he is well-known for his Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World which started airing in 2017 as well as his appearances in many famous media projects as a science educator. The star studied mechanical engineering ...

Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ...

Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ...

Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. Apart from his impressive stint at Fox News Channel which includes but not limited to his classic news delivery, upfront stance on virtually every issue and much more; he loves his job as much as he loves his personality. Smith ...

Is Milo Yiannopoulos Gay? His Husband and Net Worth Milo Yiannopoulos is a popular writer, journalist, polemicist, public speaker, and political commentator who is also known as the founder of The Kernel, an online blog. He has been said to be among the list of 100 weird and influential people in the United Kingdom. He appeared on this list as a result of personal beliefs and ...

Does Ryan Seacrest Have A Wife Or Girlfriend, What Is His Net Worth? From radio to television, Ryan Seacrest is a household name and a force to be reckoned with in showbiz. The radio personality, television host, and producer is best recognized as the host of the popular TV talent search contest American Idol. Heres how the media personality who always knew what his lifes ambition was and diligently pursued ...

Is Anderson Cooper Gay, Who is The Boyfriend or Husband? For many, the thought of becoming a millionaire by writing and talking about other people appears unachievable but this is the reality of the prominent American journalist Anderson Cooper who gathered millions of dollars for conducting accurate political analysis and other vital reports on TV. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show Anderson ...

Is David Muir Gay or Does He Have A Wife, What Is His Salary? David Muir is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for the ABC broadcast-television network and anchors the ABC World News Tonight with David Muir program while also co-anchoring the magazine program 20/20. The Ithaca College graduate, whose show has become the most-watched newscast in America, has covered stories from all across America and the world; reporting ...

Joel Osteen  Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ...

Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ...

Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ...

Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ...

Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ...

Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ...

Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ...

Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ...

Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ...

Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ...

Demystifying Pokimane  Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ...

A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ...

Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ...

Alex Aiono Biography  Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ...

Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ...

Princess Love Bio  Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ...

Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ...

Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ...

Safiya Nygaard  Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ...

The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ...

Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ...

Inside Fred Armisens Life  Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ...

Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...

Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ...

Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ...

Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ...

xChocobars  Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ...

Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ...

Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ...

Matpat (Matthew Patrick)  Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...

Facts About Ricegum  His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...

Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti  Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...

What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...

David Letterman  Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...

Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ...

Lester Holt  Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ...

What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...

The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...

Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...

The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...

Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...

The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...

Jeff Dunham  Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...

Ellen DeGeneres  Net Worth, Wife  Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...

Revisiting Joan Rivers Death  The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...

The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...

Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...

Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...

How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...

Madison Gesiotto Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...

Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...

What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...

Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...

Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother  Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...

Carli Bybel Bio  Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...

Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...

Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch  a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...

Norm MacDonald  Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...

Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...

Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...

Samantha Bee  Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...

What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap  and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...

Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...

A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...

Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...

Desi Perkins  Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...

The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...

Connor Franta  Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...

Rhett and Link  Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...

A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...

What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...

David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month  Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...

Merrell Twins Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...

Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...

Ninja  Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...

What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...

Emma Chamberlain Biography  Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...

Anna Akana  Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...

Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...

Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...

Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...

Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...

Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...

The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...

Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography  Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...

PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...

Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman  What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...

Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...

LaurDIY  Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...

Lachlan Ross Power  Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...

Alfie Deyes  Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...

Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...

Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...

Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...

Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...

How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman)  The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...

Grace Helbig  Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...

Mark Wiens Bio  Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...

Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...

CaptainSparklez Bio  Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...

Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...

Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...

Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...

Jacksepticeye  Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...

Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...

Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...

Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...

Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...

Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...

Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...

Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...

Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...

Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...

Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...

Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...

Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...

Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel  h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...

Lilypichu Bio  Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...

KSI  What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother  Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ...

The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...

The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...

What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ...

What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...

Matt Carriker Biography  Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...

Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...

Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents  George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ...

Gloria Govan Bio  Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA  after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ...

Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ...

Who Is October Gonzalez  Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ...

Who Is Tony Berlin  Harris Faulkners Husband: His Children and Family Facts Tony Berlin is a popular American media guru. He has variously worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for some of the biggest TV networks in America. They include CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC (where he hosted the popular Good Morning America). Berlin has now diversified into public relations and owns his own PR firm. ...

The Progression of Gianna Tobonis Journalism Career and Details About Her Marriage to Kyle Buckley Gianna Toboni may not be your ideal newscaster but her unusual reporting is what made her a household name. The American journalist is renowned for her hard-hitting and authentic reportage. A motivator and activist for total press freedom, Gianna loves to explore pervasive cultural issues. Not only does this unique and ambitious journalist call for all ...

Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ...

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Date: 8 December, 2016.

Place: Hampton, State of Virginia, United States.

In the last months, UFO sightings and alien encounters have notoriously increased in the United States. For example, in August, two men from Ohio supposedly had an encounter with a creature of unknown origin while walking in a park. Then, in November, a Californian citizen claimed that an alleged alien being entered his house and tried to hurt him, but he was able to neutralise the attack.

The following case occurred a month later, in December, and it might be related to some sort of extraterrestrial technology.

According to an anonymous report published on 08 December on UFO specialised website MUFON.com, a man affirmed to have seen a flashing UFO hovering above the city of Hampton, Virginia.

The unnamed man expressed that he had seen the same object before, and added that this first sighting had already been reported. I'm the person that reported the UFO landing at Langley a month ago, he related.

The Virginia resident affirmed that he was walking with his dog when he saw again the possible alien craft flying low over the city. I was taking my dog out and I saw the same UFO but at a closer height to me. Its altitude was close like the top of a street light, he said.

For this reason, he got a better look of the object. He said it flashed a light and started moving in a strange way. I got a good look at the UFO. It was flying slowly; it stopped a little and flashed one bright light. After it flashed, it started flying again, he expressed. Then, the UFO started to make a slanted-sideway U turn, he continued.

The rare event frightened the witness, so he decided to run to his house. I was standing there like Uhhhh, I should run now. And that's when I ran into my house, he expressed.

Finally, he mentioned that the unidentified object flew towards Langley Air Force Base. It was going to the same location at Langley Air Force Base, he stated. He said it was going into the direction of landing of the military installation.

Draw your own conclusions

For further information: https://mufoncms.com/cgi-bin/report_handler.pl?req=view_long_desc&id=80877&rnd=

Long Description of Sighting Report

Okay so I'm the person that reported the UFO landing at Langley a month ago so a minute ago I was taking my dog out and I saw the same UFO but at a closer height to me. Its altitude was close like the top of a street light. I got a good look at the UFO. It was flying slow and it had stopped a little and flashed one bright light. After it flashed it started flying again then the UFO started to make a slanted-sideway-u-turn. But I was standing there like uhhhh I should run now. And that's when I ran into my house. It was going to the same location at Langley Air Force base. But this time it was going into the direction of landing at Langley afb. But instead it was making a uturn and I live near Langley afb. - by jaekwon Coleman. For any questions contact my YouTube channel -redkeymon- or -jaekwon Coleman-
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2017  The U.S. Dairy Export Council made it official today  announcing that former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will take over leadership of the group on Feb. 1. Agri-Pulse reported on Vilsacks plans on Jan. 3.

In an interview today, Vilsack, who stepped down from the USDA post last week, said hes optimistic he can help boost dairy exports, which are widely expected to rebound this year after a slump in 2016.





If we can work hard to make sure we have a supply chain thats close enough to the customer to be able to be flexible enough to respond to changes, I think well continue to see what weve seen over the past 10 to 15 years  an expansion of export opportunities, Vilsack said.

Vilsack acknowledged there are obstacles to expansion. Russia still bans U.S. dairy products, the European Union continues to try to protect its products with geographic indications, and Canada is threatening new policies to minimize its imports from the U.S.

Vilsack said that much of his job will also be protecting healthy trading relationships, including with the country on the U.S. southern border. Mexico is an incredibly important partner for us in terms of export opportunities, he said. Its our number-one customer.

The U.S. exported $1.3 billion worth of dairy products to Mexico in 2015, down from $1.6 billion in 2014, according to Foreign Agriculture Service data.

Not an Agri-Pulse subscriber? Get our Daily Harvest email and Daybreak audio Monday through Friday mornings, a 16-page newsletter on Wednesdays, and access to premium content on our ag and rural policy website. Sign up for your four-week free trial Agri-Pulse subscription.





Other areas Vilsack said he will be focusing on are China and Southeast Asia, which are already growing as customers for U.S. dairy products. U.S. exports of dry whey to China increased by 25,500 tons in the five months through November and shipments of U.S. whey protein concentrate were up by 15,000 tons, according to an Export Council analysis.

Vilsack will succeed Tom Suber, who served as president of USDEC since its founding in 1995, and retired at the end of 2016. Under Suber's leadership, global U.S. dairy exports showed significant growth, rising from the equivalent of roughly 5 percent of U.S. milk production to a high of 15.5 percent, the Export Council said.

#30

For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2016, file photo, Interior Secretary-designate Rep. Ryan Zinke, right, R-Mont., arrives in Trump Tower, in New York, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Zinke says he would never sell, give away or transfer public lands, a crucial stance in his home state of Montana and the West, where access to hunting and fishing is considered sacrosanct.
Suspended South Carolina Rep. Chris Corley is expected to appear in court next week and be i
STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 18, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: This was an emphasis by the Russian Foreign Minister in order the Azerbaijani leadership not to think that the conflict is only its internal affair and it can go on the way of violating the existing agreements. What Lavrov said is the reality and a reminder to Azerbaijan, the MP said.

He said Lavrov with this statement aimed to make it clear to Azerbaijan not to violate the agreements. The talk in this case is about the Vienna and St. Petersburg agreements, as well as the agreement on maintaining ceasefire regime, the lawmaker said.

During an annual press conference, the Azerbaijani reporter asked the Russian FM if Azerbaijan decides to launch military operations in Nagorno Karabakh, whether Russia will intervene in it or not. In response the Russian FM said the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not only Azerbaijans internal affair.
An authorized representative of the US Department of State reminded Azerbaijan about press freedom.

January 18, 2017, 11:49 US State Department reminds Azerbaijan about press freedom

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: When askedduring Tuesdays press briefingabout the case involving well-known blogger Alexander Lapshinwhom Azerbaijan wants to extradite to the country, US Department of State Spokesperson John Kirby responded, in particular, as follows: First, Id say this is really something for the relevant countries to speak to (). Obviously, press freedom is important to us, reported News.am, referring to RIA Novosti news agency of Russia.

To note, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had stated that Moscow will try to resolve this matter concerning Israeli and Russian citizen Lapshin, who was detained in Belarus, and for visiting Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

In Lavrovs words, Moscow is against criminalizing journalists or individuals visiting a territory, and against a Russian citizen, who was detained in another country, being extradited to a third country.

On December 15, 2016, Alexander Lapshin was detained in the Belarus capital city of Minsk, and based on Azerbaijans international search and extradition request, due to his visiting Artsakh.

The media report that the Belarusian authorities plan to extradite the well-known blogger to Azerbaijan.
On January 17, a delegation from the Armed Forces of Armenia, and led by chief Movses Hakobyan of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, participated in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military Committee meeting that was convened at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium.

January 18, 2017, 14:15 Movses Hakobyan attends NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: After the meeting, Hakobyan met with Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff the US Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia informed.

They discussed the priorities as well as the prospects for development of Armenian-American cooperation in defense sector, especially within the framework of participation in international peacekeeping efforts.
Key contracts awarded during the third quarter of CAE's fiscal year 2017 include Babcock France to support pilot training for the French Air Force; Airbus Defence & Space ordering a new C295 full-flight simulator for its training centre in Seville, Spain, and continuing simulator upgrades as well as training support services on the MH-60 Seahawk for both the United States Navy and Royal Australian Navy.



"The contract with Babcock France is a strategic win in Europe that will provide the French Air Force with a modernised training solution for future fighter pilots," said Gene Colabatistto, CAE's Group President, Defence & Security.



Following a competitive bid process, the Frances Direction Generale de lArmement (DGA) has awarded Babcock France with the FOMEDEC contract to provide and maintain a training platform and related services for the French Air Force (Armee de l'Air).





This 11-year contract will provide new training aircraft (Pilatus PC 21), related simulators (CAE) and modernised training facilities for the training of fighter jet crews to be performed by the Air Force itself at the Cognac Air Base. The first aircraft will be delivered in March 2018.



"We have been Airbus' long-time training partner on the C295 program and are pleased we will continue to support the training required on this platform, which now will also include the Royal Canadian Air Force following Canada's selection of the C295 for its Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue program. Global militaries and original equipment manufacturers continue to recognize CAE's expertise and experience as a training systems integrator on enduring platforms, and this continues to provide us a healthy pipeline of opportunities around the world."
January 15, 2017

This is the third in a series of stories from Al-Monitor correspondent Fehim Tastekin, who has been traveling in Syria.

ALEPPO, Syria  As I was walking around the fortress of Aleppo last week, some officials were hoisting the Syrian flag. They insisted that I photograph it. One soldier saluted while others raised the flag. Next to a nearby staircase, a giant poster of President Bashar al-Assad was firmly planted. It was like a conquest celebration.

There are some people who compare the battle of Aleppo to that of Stalingrad, which helped change the course of World War II. Of course it is not on the same scale as Stalingrad, but in Syria, the retaking of Aleppo marked the turning point in the war, ending the bloody revolution backed by the Gulf-Western alliance. In a way, the high cost of Aleppo's liberation brings to mind the costly victory of King Pyrrhus of Epirus over Macedonia and Rome.

The human and material costs of the Syrian war, which destroyed the historic parts of Aleppo and its eastern suburbs, are extremely high. Whether the battle will be recorded in history as a Pyrrhic victory will depend on whether the Damascus regime and people of Aleppo will be able to reconstruct their beloved city.

One factory owner said that if security is assured, he will have his plant running again in one month. Almost everyone Al-Monitor spoke to said, Yes, we have been destroyed, but we will rise and rebuild. Is that wishful thinking? Not really. Those familiar with Aleppo know its people as industrious, productive and determined. Aleppans have valued the historical artifacts around them as the basis of their wealth and prestige for centuries.

But to reconstruct some of those treasures will be very difficult if not impossible. Reconstruction of residential areas simultaneously with historic treasures requires a phenomenally comprehensive and expensive effort.

Syrian officials are preparing for reconstruction but havent yet shared their plans with the public. There will be separate plans for historical areas and residential districts. According to Mamun Abdulkerim, Syria's director of antiquities and museums, officials are in touch with UNESCO and the Aga Khan Foundation for assistance. I was surprised to hear they have already started training programs in Beirut for those who will be working to restore historic monuments.

Abdulkerim was candid in estimating how much of the damaged antiquities they can restore: I cant offer a rosy assessment that all is well. No, it is a disaster. More than 1,500 historic structures were damaged. He said 70% of the historic bazaar is damaged and 30-40% of it is beyond repair. Some can be repaired even if only a small part of them remains standing.

"Aleppo is on the World Heritage list. You cannot act arbitrarily or do what you want. We need billions of dollars for Aleppo because the damage is beyond your imagination," he said.

There is talk of building a new city in East Aleppo for those who lost their dwellings. There are even rumors of China undertaking such a venture.

Asked who will be doing the lions share of the reconstruction, an official said, Naturally, it will be done by our friends who did not abandon us during the war. I dont think there will be a role for Turkey. People will mutiny against such a decision.

Given the extensive and countrywide destruction, reconstruction will take considerable time. It is not known yet how much of the work Syria itself can pay for. But no doubt successful reconstruction will help preserve the country's legacy.

There are a few advantages for Syria. Contrary to persistent popular analysis from abroad, the country is not divided. Despite sectarian campaigns and clashes by jihadis financed with money they received from the Gulf, Syrians did not split along sectarian lines. There was no sectarian divide between the Syrian army and the people, as some said. When you carefully observe the internal dynamics, you can see it was not a war between Alawites and Sunnis or Christians and Muslims.

Only in Homs, when the clashes began, did systematic attacks by Sunnis against Alawites, Shiites and Christians trigger a sectarian divide, but that was short-lived.

Aleppo is the best example that this was not a sectarian war. At least six Sunni religious notables were killed in Aleppo because they rejected an armed uprising. Sunni religious figures were constantly under threat for not joining the war. The most annoying question you can ask soldiers on the Aleppo front is whether they are Sunni or Alawite. Nothing angers Syrians as much as this question.

As far as I could see, Assad is more popular today than before. Of course, this popularity doesnt cover his entire regime.

According to bureaucrats, politicians and citizens Al-Monitor spoke with in Aleppo and Damascus, the system is mired in bribery and corruption and cannot survive for long. People will want to see some of the ruling officials punished. The country has paid an extraordinary price for the war and will not tolerate those profiting from cronyism, nepotism, corruption and abuse.

An Aleppo University professor who requested anonymity spoke of the war's influence on politics.

I oppose the regime, but I have to admit Assad managed the crisis well. At the moment, we have no alternative to him. If there were an election today, he would get more than 70% of the vote. Of course, my criticism of the regime hasn't changed. People put their criticisms on the back burner temporarily because they realized the country was about to disintegrate. It wasnt the right time to settle scores with the regime. But when the war is finally finished, people will want drastic changes. The government is aware of this mood and is trying to change some things. Be assured, nothing will be the same as before," he said.

An academic who joined our discussion said, Many heads will roll. [There is] no other way.

As the regime has been given some period of grace by its opponents, there is no serious debate on Assads presidency and his legitimacy. What we have is the foreign-supported opposition holding Assad responsible for the bloodshed, and then those identified as legitimate internal opposition seeing Assad as the guarantor of the country's integrity.

Where do Iran and Hezbollah stand?

Syria will definitely insist that its allies in the war play major roles in its reconstruction. Nobody challenges the role Russia will play. But it is not the same for Iran, the other major ally. It's not hard to detect resentment among the people and even government officials of Iran's interventionist attitude. Many Syrians even prefer an alliance with Russia because they believe Moscow is not interfering in their domestic affairs. Moreover, Al-Monitor was told that Iranians' overbearing, superior attitude especially annoys the Syrian army.

A veteran Syrian journalist told me Iran's assistance won't result in Iranian influence on Syrian politics. "You have to understand the political structure in Syria. Syrias alliances don't allow [for] influence on the country. Assad is balancing Iran with Russians and vice versa. If Iran presses too hard, he cites Russian reservations. If Russia presses too hard, Assad then refers to Iranian objections."

Curiously, Syrians' unease with Iranians doesn't apply to Iran-supported, Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which hails from the same cultural basin as Syrians. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is no less prestigious in Syria than Assad. In Damascus, Homs and elsewhere  even in Aleppo, with its prominent Sunni identity  you will see Nasrallah posters all over, and there is widespread affection for him among Christians.

In the government offices I visited, all I saw were joint photos of Nasrallah and Assad. Some shops even have Nasrallahs portrait painted on the shutters. Street vendors sell lapel pins, cigarette lighters and wallets with photos of Assad and Nasrallah. I didnt see a single photograph of Iranian leaders. You see Iranians on the front lines but not in city centers. In short, people distinguish between Hezbollah and Iran.
I have two favourite places in the South Pacific. The first is the Cook Islands, which are sprinkled north of the Tropic of Capricorn and the main island of Rarotonga.

I am, in short, a sucker for swaying palm trees, white sandy beaches, warm tropical breezes and languid lifestyles.

And I have been fortunate enough to indulge my passion for the delightful backwaters of those myriad islands scattered diagonally across the unending ocean east of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

VERY many years ago I came under the spell of James A Michener, Louis Becke, Frederick OBrien, James Norman Hall, Robert Dean Frisbie, Beatrice Grimshaw and other wonderful sojourners in the South Pacific.

There are magical places among those isolated atolls untouched by the modern world and, unlike their near neighbour, Tahiti, unpolluted by crass tourism and commercialism.

The second is the Western and Admiralty Islands, lying just south of the Equator and north of New Guinea, making up the Papua New Guinean province of Manus.

Whereas the Cook Islands are wholly Polynesian, the Western Islands are Polynesian and the Admiralty Islands are Melanesian.

However, unlike the Cook Islands, the Admiralty and Western Islands are far from unspoilt.

I was sitting on Manus on a shady patch of grass hard up against a tiny, sheltered beach drinking a cool beer served up from a small, thatched bar by an 11 year old girl, her nine year old brother and his black and white spotted dog, when a huge sailfish launched itself out of the water and flew past at what appeared to be touching distance.

I cant think of anywhere else where that might happen.

And then along came Australia, in collusion with a greedy Papua New Guinean prime minister, and set about destroying the place.

They flew in hundreds of desperate asylum seekers and great numbers of thuggish jailers, police and clueless bureaucrats and changed that beautiful island forever.

Manus has gone from beautiful Pacific island to gulag status in less than four years. Its delightful, easy-going people have been irrevocably changed and may never recover.

Their traditional values, social cohesion and innate friendliness and openness have been effectively trashed.

My little bartender lost his spotted dog in the first year. It was hit by a speeding carload of drunken policemen and tossed nonchalantly onto the grass verge beside the thatched bar for the boy to find in the morning on his way to school.

That incident pretty much sums up Australias attitude to Manus. It is considered expendable and far enough away to avoid close scrutiny.

It was the same attitude the Americans had when they removed the people from Bikini Atoll so they could test their atom bombs there.

I do not comprehend how those politicians who planned the destruction of Manus, and now perpetuate the atrocity, sleep at night.

What James A Michener, Frederick OBrien and all those other suntanned lingerers on tropic shores would say if they were still alive is probably unprintable.
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January 17, 2017

CAIRO  Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb's kind words about Buddhism during a conference designed to promote peace sparked controversy among Muslims.

Tayeb headed the conference, "Toward a Civilized Humanitarian Dialogue for Myanmar Citizens, which was held Jan. 3-4 in Cairo by the Muslim Council of Elders. The council seeks to quell violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and the Rohingya Muslim minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar (formerly Burma).

During the peace conference, Tayeb directed his address to the estimated 500 million people in the world who espouse Buddhism. With his speech, he called for halting bloodshed and working to soften the hearts of people in the areas with the most religious intolerance.

Buddhism is a humanitarian and ethical religion in the first place," Tayeb said at the conference. "The wise, silent Buddha is a great figure in human history. His attributes include calm and rationality. The worlds great historians described his message as [one] of everlasting mercy and characterized him as peaceful and humble. His teachings focus on loving and being charitable toward others.

Tayeb's statements were not well-received by some Muslims. Some believe that Buddhism is not a monotheistic religion and that Buddha himself was an atheist whose followers glorify him as a godlike figure, which is contrary to Islamic teachings. Others Muslim observers, however, noted that the speech was a call for peaceful coexistence in a sectarian region.

"The grand imam of Al-Azhar's doctrine and philosophy are those of a religions professor," Saif Rajab Qazamil, dean of the Sharia law faculty at Al-Azhar University in Tanta, told Al-Monitor. He studied many religions before teaching them. When he spoke of Buddhism, he talked about its teachings, saying that they bear a great deal of humanitarianism. He did not say it is a monotheistic religion.

He added, Tayeb's address came at a peace conference calling for tolerance and compassion, which all religions that are against stealing, lying, killing and adultery call for. Tayeb stressed that the youth in Burma need to plant seeds of peace, disseminate a culture of citizenship and abolish the concept of minorities.

He explained, Many Egyptians have a negative image about Buddhism, due to the killings and torture of Muslims in Burma, although many Buddhists around the world do not embrace violence."

Qazamil stressed, Islam is a religion of acceptance of others. A Muslim man is allowed to marry a Coptic or Jewish woman, which makes the other parent of his children a non-Muslim. Also, Islam guarantees the freedom of belief, and there is no compulsion in religion. Thus, some Muslims intolerance and rejection of others is a wrong that should be righted.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Sheikh Sherif al-Hawari, a member of the Salafist Calls board of directors, said, Had Tayeb's address been heeded, it would have become clear that he used terms to sway Buddhists into halting massacres against Muslims there. He was respectful in addressing them and said Buddhism is a humanitarian religion, as historians say about Buddha. He did not say that it is a monotheistic religion. This falls under the grand imams eloquence and [insight] that he is praised for.

He added, Tayeb's speech as a whole was balanced and has a noble goal that is in line with Islamic Sharia law."

Commenting on Tayeb's discourse, Sheikh Mustafa al-Adawi, a member of the Salafist Scholars Shura Council, said Tayeb abides by the Quran depending on his political conveniences. In this case, it was convenient to speak well of Buddhism.

People now praise Buddha, the preacher of atheism, who is followed by millions who do not acknowledge the existence of God," he added.
January 17, 2017

Qatar's Gaza Reconstruction Committee briefly announced its intention to build an embassy in Gaza. According to its Jan. 9 Facebook post, a building was to be erected south of the port of Gaza, on a five-acre lot that would also include the ambassadors residence. But only hours later, the committee replaced the post with another statement reading that Qatar is getting ready to establish a building for the reconstruction committee and not an embassy. There was no explanation for the correction and the original news was deleted.

The news, announced on Jan. 9, quickly spread among Palestinians, prompting the Qatari ambassador to the Palestinian territories to issue a statement on Jan. 10. Mohammed al-Emadi, who is also chairman of the Gaza Reconstruction Committee, said, News about the building of a Qatari Embassy in Gaza are inaccurate. The building to be established will be the headquarters of the Qatari committee overseeing Qatars projects in Gaza. All Qatari projects in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are in coordination with the Palestinian government of national consensus.

Qatar seems to be one of the most heavily invested countries in Gaza. Its Gaza Reconstruction Committee has played a prominent role in the revitalization of the Palestinian economy and the construction activity in Gaza. Qatar has played a major role in the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation, and it announced on Jan. 11 that it is ready to mediate a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.

Most recently, Qatar intervened to help end the electricity crisis in Gaza that started the first week of January, and it announced on Jan. 15 that it has donated $12 million for the purchase of fuel needed to run Gazas sole power plant.

A Palestinian government official in Gaza who has close ties with Qatar told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Hamas wants Qatar to have an embassy in Gaza because the country recognizes the movement in the Strip, but Qatar is yet to give a final answer since it seeks to maintain balanced relations with both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Emadi and his staff are currently staying at the Movenpick Hotel in Gaza, and Qatar may be wanting to transfer the management of its projects from the hotel to a permanent location that would be less than a diplomatic embassy and more of a projects office.

In June 2007, after Hamas took over Gaza, 10 Arab and foreign embassies moved their headquarters to Ramallah. Only representative offices for Russia, France and Germany remained to manage the interests of their countries and process travel visas for Gazans. Other European countries leave those tasks to the European Union office in Gaza.

Amin Maqboul, a member of Fatahs Revolutionary Council, told Al-Monitor, Any representative office or embassy to Palestine should be established in Jerusalem, the soon-to-be capital, in coordination with the Palestinian leadership and the government of national consensus. Otherwise, it would be a violation of diplomatic norms.

Ramallah in the West Bank is currently the Palestinian Authoritys (PAs) actual capital where all Arab and foreign ambassadors and consuls reside.

Qatars announcement to establish an embassy in Gaza was highly discussed on social networks. Some see it as a prelude to the recognition of an independent state in Gaza, others see the office as a natural need.

Abdel Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science at An-Najah University in Nablus, told Al-Monitor, Israel should first agree on Qatars opening of an embassy in Gaza because it still considers the Strip under its political and security controls despite withdrawing from it in 2005. Also, I do not see why it would object, since Qatar could play a major role in domesticating Hamas and minimizing its resistance activities. Qatar has major influence on Hamas in light of the huge amounts of money it spends in Gaza.

He added, I do not think the PA would object to a Qatari Embassy in Gaza since the PA also benefits from Qatars support and it is not in its interest to anger it. However, Qatars move could encourage other countries, such as Turkey, to do the same, which would entail a diplomatic recognition of Hamas rule in Gaza.

Qatar does not have an embassy in Ramallah, and Emadi only visits to manage procedures and communicate with Palestinian ministries. He does not have an official residence there.

Before talks about a Qatari Embassy in Gaza emerged, Mousa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas political bureau, spoke on Dec. 30 about the possibility of establishing a confederation between Gaza and the West Bank, in light of the failure to end the division between the two parties. His comments, however, sparked angry reactions among Palestinians. On Jan. 2, Abu Marzouk clarified that the issue of a confederation had not been officially discussed within Hamas.

Ahmed Yousef, the former political adviser to the deputy head of Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, told Al-Monitor, Establishing headquarters to manage Qatars interests in Gaza is natural, whether it be an embassy or a projects office. Qatar is active on several Palestinian issues and it helps organize Gazas ties with Israel  while Egypt remains absent from the Palestinian arena. This is why Qatar needs to establish an office or an embassy, to which Israel will not object. Qatar is able to dispel the PAs fears of an embassy by informing it that this does not mean the recognition of an independent state in Gaza, and the only purpose is to manage its interests and projects. This is why there was no negative feedback from Ramallah on the Qatari move.

If Qatar becomes the first country to open its own embassy inside Gaza, it would violate diplomatic norms. Minister of Public Works Mufeed al-Hassanieh said Jan. 10 that no one had contacted him about a Qatari Embassy in Gaza, stressing that such a move would deepen the Palestinian division and promote the notion of an independent state in Gaza.

Alaa Abu Amer, a former diplomat for the PA Foreign Ministry, told Al-Monitor, It is understandable for Qatar to establish a consulate in Gaza. However, building a large embassy [in Gaza] raises questions, since an ambassador is the representative of a countrys president before the president of another country and President Mahmoud Abbas headquarters are in Ramallah, Palestines temporary capital. This also raises questions about Qatars support to Palestinian factions.

Israel did not officially respond to the Qatari step, but Yoni Ben-Menachem, a former officer in the Israeli intelligence services, wrote in a Jan. 10 article for the Jerusalem Institute of State Affairs that the establishment of a Qatari Embassy in Gaza would mean Qatar is convinced that the Palestinian state will finally be established in Gaza only.

Al-Monitor contacted several PA ministers and members of Fatahs Central Committee for comment, but none would do so publicly.

One PA minister, however, told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Communication channels between Ramallah and Doha are still open, but the Palestinian government is unaware of a Qatari Embassy that is allegedly going to be set up in Gaza. Regardless, we trust that our Qatari brothers would not do anything that would deepen the Palestinian division between Gaza and the West Bank.

Regardless of its official title, the headquarters Qatar wishes to establish in Gaza would strengthen Qatari-Hamas relations, which could give the movement a stronger sense of alliance with a rich and influential regional country. Complicating the mixed reactions over the Qatari move, the PA seems to want to avoid angering Qatar, one of its strongest supporters.
January 17, 2017

President Hassan Rouhani held a press conference Jan. 17 to mark the first anniversary of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Responding to a question about Irans response to US President-elect Donald Trumps threats to either scrap the nuclear deal or renegotiate it, Rouhani said, [Holding] new negotiations is meaningless, adding, There will be no [new] negotiations on the JCPOA.

Rouhani continued, Mr. Trump has not expressed satisfaction with the Iran nuclear deal so far and has said the deal is not a good deal.  These claims are nothing but a slogan. Stressing that the accord is multilateral and involves six world powers and Iran, Rouhani said, The JCPOA is not something that someone in another country, following his election as president, decides whether he likes or dislikes it. The JCPOA has created a new global environment and it should be taken care of with prudence. It is a win-win deal.

Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nuri is turning into the new target of Iranian hard-liners following the death of moderate Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was the leader of the moderation camp.

Nategh-Nuri is a moderate politician and a figure respected by both Reformists and conservatives. In the 2005 presidential election, he had the responsibility of mobilizing the conservatives and forging a coalition ahead of the voting. However, despite his efforts, none of the conservative candidates  including Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, then mayor of Tehran, and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the current mayor  heeded the coalition's final decision asking all nominees to withdraw in favor of Ali Larijani, the current speaker of parliament. Afterward, Nategh-Nuri gradually left the leadership of the conservative camp.

Nategh-Nuris decision to abandon the conservative camp became clear when Ahmadinejad accused him and his sons of corruption during the televised presidential debates in 2009, with none of his conservative friends condemning Ahmadinejad over his remarks. In the 2013 presidential election, along with Rafsanjani, Seyyed Hassan Khomeini (the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini) and former Reformist President Mohammad Khatami, he played a significant role in Rouhani's victory.

Nategh-Nuris close relationship with Rafsanjani, who died Jan. 8, is no secret in Iranian politics, as their friendship went back over five decades.

At a Jan. 15 memorial for Rafsanjani held at the mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini, Nategh-Nuri was the keynote speaker. Hashemi [Rafsanjani] wasnt opposed [to the Islamic Republic], he was the pillar of the [1979 Islamic] Revolution.  It is really bad that when figures are alive, we insult them, and when they are gone, we mourn for them, said Nategh-Nuri, referring to the harsh attacks of hard-liners against Rafsanjani and their change of stance toward him following his death.

Describing Rafsanjani as oppressed because of the hard-liners position against him, Nategh-Nuri, who currently heads the supreme leaders Inspection Office, added, Now God only knows who is next [in line to become the target of hard-liner attacks].

In reaction to Nategh-Nuris speech, Kayhan newspaper, known as the mouthpiece of hard-liners, wrote Jan. 15 that the Reformists are attempting to deceive him.

Mr. Nategh talked about the great cruelty against Hashemi, but he didnt mention the greater cruelty against the nation and the Islamic Republic during the 2009 sedition and proxy unrests and the unfair lie about ballot rigging, wrote Kayhan. Of note, the 2009 presidential elections, which led to the re-election of Ahmadinejad, triggered widespread protests in Iran that are described as sedition by conservatives.

On Jan. 16, the hard-line Raja News, which is close to the Endurance Front led by Ayatollah Mohammad-Taghi Mesbah Yazdi Rafsanjanis old rival  also adopted a harsh stance, writing, The loser to Khatami believes that the Reformists want to choose him as their sheikh and leader (Khatami defeated Nategh-Nuri in the 1997 presidential election).

Reformist analyst Hassan Rasouli believes the cause of the uptick in attacks against Nategh-Nuri isnt because of his speech at Rafsanjanis memorial. Rather, Rasouli said Jan. 17 that the attacks are rooted in the approach adopted by Nategh during recent years.

On Jan. 17, Mohsen Gharavian, a cleric based in the holy city of Qom, said, Inside the country, we have figures such as Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, Nategh-Nuri and Hassan Rouhani who are the disciples of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjanis school of thought, and in my view, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjanis way, notions and ideas must be followed.
January 18, 2017

On Jan. 17, Irans moderate President Hassan Rouhani held a press conference on the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Rouhani addressed a range of issues, including the implementation of the nuclear deal, the countrys economic situation and the termination of sanctions. He also responded to questions about rumors that the Guardian Council intends to disqualify his expected bid for re-election in May, the house arrests of the Green Movement leaders and US President-elect Donald Trumps disparaging remarks about the JCPOA.

In its Jan. 18 edition, the ultra-conservative Javan newspaper focused on Rouhanis reaction to a question about Trump: Things went out of Rouhanis hands and caused him to recite the Quranic verse But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you [2:216] for Trump, who has said that he doesnt like the JCPOA instead of bringing up legal reasons [for his opposition]. He [Rouhani] then said this historic sentence: The JCPOA is good for America, but he [Trump] doesnt get it.

Under the headline Wear [your] glasses, the hard-line Vatan-e-Emrooz on Jan. 18 noted the part of the press conference in which Rouhani sarcastically addressed domestic critics of the nuclear deal in saying, Some say we cant see the effects of the JCPOA: So wear glasses or cure yourself [of poor vision].

The hard-line daily then slammed Rouhani for his repetitive talk and the claim of the JCPOA affecting the economy and [peoples] livelihoods [positively].

Do not push us to fight the Guardian Council. Our relationship with the Guardian Council has always been good.  Do not pay attention to these rumors. Rouhani said laughingly in response to a question about his possible disqualification as a candidate in the upcoming May 2017 presidential elections. This answer led the conservative Sobh-e-No daily, which is close to Tehran Mayor and potential presidential candidate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, to choose the headline Rouhanis Doubt. Of note, the conservative-dominated Guardian Council is tasked with vetting candidates.

It can be understood from the presidents answers that he himself has doubts about his candidacy in the [presidential] elections.  Many of the Reformist figures have recently said that Rouhani is their final candidate, but they also have emphasized on the matter that due to their fear of unexpected events, they are willing to have one or few candidates beside Rouhani, Sobh-e-No reported on Jan. 18.

Reformist newspaper Etemaad in its Jan. 18 edition focused on Rouhanis response to a question about the issue of the house arrests of the leaders of the Green Movement, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. We need the Islamic Republics consensus.  We are hopeful; we would like some issues to happen tonight and not tomorrow, Rouhani said at the press conference.

Moreover, Sadegh Zibakalam, an outspoken Tehran University professor, wrote in Etemaad on Jan. 18, Mr. President doesnt formally announce his decision to run in the coming presidential election because he knows that the attacks against the government and himself will increase. He also knows that [if he announces his bid for re-election] the hard-liners activities to prepare the ground for disqualification [in the May 2017 vote]  will increase. What is very important for Mr. Rouhani in the 2017 elections is to attract the gray votes. Of note, gray votes refer to the section of the Iranian electorate that usually does not intend to vote, but whenever it does turn out, it manages to shift election results, such as in the 2013 presidential elections that brought Rouhani to power.

Meanwhile, the Reformist Aftab-e Yazd newspaper praised Rouhanis approach in the press conference. Yesterdays press conference was successful and fruitful. The reason for this can be summed up in one point: President Hassan Rouhani is the man of dialogue and not monologue.  The head of the administration can explain his achievements once the situation becomes challenging, Aftab-e Yazd wrote Jan. 18.
January 18, 2017

The fear barrier surrounding the Hamas regime has broken. For the first time, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets Jan. 12 over the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip. The protesters were not afraid of Hamas security forces and were willing to confront them. Ever since Hamas took control over the Gaza Strip in a military coup almost a decade ago, many residents in the Strip have suffered from extreme poverty. As far as many of them are concerned, they no longer have anything to lose.

The movements leadership, those of the political and military wings alike who had quickly suppressed early signs of popular protest against the regime in the past, were shocked by the intensity of the electricity protest. And this time, they cannot get away with casting the blame elsewhere.

In the past, Hamas would blame Israel and its blockade for the serious economic situation in the Strip. It also blamed the Palestinian Authority leadership, mainly President Mahmoud Abbas, for abandoning his people and not reconciling with Hamas due to his self-serving agenda. This time, it didnt work. It seems that the Strip's residents no longer view Hamas as the victim of Israeli policy.

Now, for the first time, Gaza's residents have turned an accusing finger to the tunnels, where Hamas military wing invests millions of dollars, instead of investing to improve the lives of the residents who endure disgraceful poverty and hardship.

A resident of the Jabalia refugee camp who participated in the stormy demonstrations told Al-Monitor that after some of the demonstrators shouted tunnels, tunnels, Hamas began an aggressive and violent dispersal of the protest.

People were shouting tunnels and it was clear that they were saying: How is it that you have money for tunnels, but not to finance the diesel oil needed to produce electricity for the residents? I think that they did not even imagine that thousands would go out to demonstrate against them and would not fear them. Everyone is sick and tired of living this way, year after year, without a future and without hope.

Israel keenly followed the protest, and before any Hamas leaders could try to turn the residents against it, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories accused Hamas of causing the crisis. In an interview with Palestine's Maan News Agency, Maj. Gen. Yoav (Poli) Mordechai explained that Israel continues to transfer diesel fuel to the Gaza power station that supplies 122 megawatts to the Strip. In fact, Israel had quickly fixed a glitch in one of the electrical lines only a few days before the protests broke out. In addition, Mordechai noted that Hamas tunnels are lit 24 hours a day by diesel generators  with fuel destined for the Gaza residents and stolen from them. Mordechai also said that Hamas leaders enjoy electricity around the clock, in contrast to residents who only receive three hours of electricity a day.

The Israeli security apparatus seems satisfied that this message has registered and that Hamas attempts to deny its own responsibility have failed. Only after they understood that this time their excuses wont work did they start operating, an Israeli security source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Ismail Haniyeh, deputy chairman of Hamas' political bureau and the person expected to be soon designated Khaled Meshaals official successor to head the political bureau, turned to Qatar and Turkey to help Hamas resolve the crisis. Qatar and Turkey are currently Hamas sole benefactors. Turkey announced that it would send large quantities of fuel to power stations in Gaza. Qatar also announced that it would donate $12 million, enough for Gaza's residents to get through the winter with not a full electrical supply but enough to lessen the pressure on Hamas. Thus, at least at this stage, electricity-related threats to Hamas regime have been averted.

Members of Israels security system understand that now more protests against Hamas are likely to break out and spread. The more that the movements leaders sense that their grip on the territory is loosening and that there is danger of civil protest against their regime, the more likely they are to raise jihad against Israel to the top of their priority list, an Israeli security source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.

According to the source, the Israel Defense Forces are very experienced in deciphering Hamas modus operandi in deflecting public pressure on the movement. Prior to the eruption of the Protective Edge campaign, said the security source, for about half a year, Hamas was not able to pay the salaries of the employees of the civil and military apparatuses, and it felt that its Gaza regime was in danger. The only answer it could offer its residents was to intensify security tension against Israel. Back then, heating up the sector though a confrontation with Israel not only deflected pressure from Hamas but also gave the movements leaders an excuse to ask for urgent assistance from those countries that usually come to their aid  for example, Qatar and Turkey. And that is exactly what Haniyeh did in the current electricity crisis.

The security source said that Hamas leaders learned their lesson from the Protective Edge conflict, which snowballed out of control. According to the source, Hamas wouldnt want matters to reach another all-out war with Israel. Such a conflict would constitute in itself a threat to their regime. However, if Hamas feels that its regime is in danger, it will not hesitate to open a front against Israel, hoping to control the height of the flames. Therefore, it is still important to Hamas to continue its tunnel project as deployment, while simultaneously keeping close tabs on the possible organization of civil disobedience.

The Hamas regime faces no immediate danger. However, should protests start to spread in Gaza over electricity or other civil issues, Hamas military wing will not hesitate to oppress them with violence and widespread arrests.

But the larger question is: How long can Hamas continue to rule the Gaza Strip without offering normal lives for its people?
January 17, 2017

On Jan. 11, Judge of Urgent Matters Hasan Hamdan ordered the temporary closure of the Costa Brava landfill located only 167 meters (0.1 mile) from Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut. The landfill could lead to possible aviation accidents because of the seagulls attracted to the waste.

The Costa Brava landfill has been temporarily closed as the operator of the landfill, Jihad Arab, was formally notified to abide by the judge's orders. On Jan. 11, new Minister of Public Works Youssef Finianos told reporters that he recognized the danger the birds pose to the civil aviation movement, and said that the problem of Ghadir River's high pollution near the dump site will be dealt with.

On Jan. 10, an accident happened when a plane encountered a large flock of birds during landing, leading to the closure of the western runway of the airport until the issue of birds is resolved. Prime Minister Saad Hariri asked for an immediate addition of ultrasonic bird repellers at the airport, although the ones already there proved not to be efficient as the birds got used to them.

Lebanese blogger Elie Fares, in order to express the risks at stake, referred on his blog post titled A separate state of mind to the recent film Sully, which tells the story of Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot forced to land his plane on the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009, after striking a flock of Canada geese that disabled the engines.

In August 2016, the Lebanese Pilots' Union had already warned of the danger concerning birds near the Costa Brava landfill, which could fly into the planes' engines.

Four years to find a long-term solution to the waste management crisis in Lebanon is the goal the government by default set more than eight months after the closure on Aug. 17, 2015, of the Naameh landfill that received garbage from Beirut and Mount Lebanon for 20 years. In April 2016, two landfills were opened in Bourj Hammoud (northeast Beirut) and Choueifat's coastal Costa Brava area (south Beirut), in order to receive waste in the meantime. Around 1,200 tons have been received daily by the Bourj Hammoud landfill since its opening in an area very close to residential locations and the sea, and at the exact spot of the former uncontrolled dump site used during the civil war as a legal landfill, which closed by a government decision for exceeding its capacities in 1997.

Jad Chabaan, an associate professor of economics at the American University of Beirut, criticized the situation, telling Al-Monitor, We don't know for sure the environmental and health impacts these two landfills will have; the [previous] Minister of Agriculture [Akram Chehayeb] just assumed that these zones are already polluted anyway.

He added, Costa Brava's landfill is only 167 meters from the airport, which can cause serious risks for planes. We just created a new problem to solve an old one; this is in addition to municipalities burning waste in the streets, waste finding its way to the sea and toxic waste abandoned in nature.

The environmental impact assessments conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme for Bourj Hammoud and Choueifat's landfills in 2004 have not been renewed since then. The decision to open landfills there was based on the theory that these areas [Bourj Hammoud and Choueifat] are already polluted, Sawsan Bou Fakhreddine, a consultant of the former minister of agriculture, told Al-Monitor.

In Bourj Hammoud, Karnig Asfahani, an Armenian activist, told Al-Monitor, This area has been affected by pollution and waste for more than 30 years; yet now things are getting worse. People who live close to the landfill face health problems. We see children with skin problems and people do not have enough money to move to another area. This landfill also affects Dora, Jdeideh, Zalka and a lot of other areas in the Metn district. The garbage is being burnt in every area in Metn and Keserwan, close to schools and buildings.

To compensate for the acceptance of the waste, and until a proper solution is found, the government is giving $8 million a year to the municipalities affected by the presence of a landfill: Bourj Hammoud, Bauchrieh-Jdeideh, Choueifat and Khalde.

Despite the decision to close the Costa Brava landfill, the Council for Development and Reconstruction issued Jan. 12 a statement denying that birds are attracted to the site and pose a danger for aviation. On Jan. 13, a source at the airport in Beirut told The Daily Star that two additional ultrasonic devices have been installed, bringing their number to six, and that eight more would be set up in the next 10 days.

Another solution was found in hiring experts to kill birds around the airport, several Lebanese bloggers and environmental associations reported Jan. 14. These are all temporary and cruel solutions for a major problem that has to be addressed urgently by the new government, as it could affect the only way of going to and leaving the country.
January 17, 2017

BAGHDAD  Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) is stirring up more controversy, this time over an order to integrate the primarily Shiite force with fighters from the Ninevah Guard, a mainly Sunni group.

The Ninevah Guard, previously known as the National Mobilization Forces, had been banned from participating in the battle of Mosul, and a former leader, Atheel al-Nujaifi, is a wanted man. Yet Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi gave the order to merge the groups on Dec. 31.

Abdul Rahman Alloizi, a member of the Sunni Iraqi Forces Alliance and the parliament member for Ninevah province, said Jan. 16 that integrating the Ninevah Guard into the PMU is part of Iraq's efforts to appease Turkey. A week after the decision was announced, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim visited Baghdad and met with Abadi, President Fuad Massum and parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri.

The Ninevah Guard consists of volunteers who served previously as officers or soldiers in the Iraqi army and who were trained by Turkish troops in a camp on the outskirts of Mosul that was established after the Islamic State (IS) took over the city in June 2014.

The pertinent questions about Abadis decision to merge the groups mostly revolve around the future of Nujaifi. About three months ago, the Central Investigating Court issued a warrant to arrest Nujaifi on charges of communicating with a foreign country, accusing him of helping uninvited Turkish troops enter Iraq. However, Nujaifi is currently in Iraqi Kurdistan, and Baghdad has yet to demand he be handed over.

According to Nujaifi, who welcomed Abadis move to include the Ninevah Guard in the PMU, the decision is not politically motivated and has nothing to do with the arrest warrant against him, as there have been no compromises made in this regard.

But how would it be possible to legalize a force whose leader is wanted by the security establishment?

Ammar Tohme, the deputy chairman of parliament's Security and Defense Committee, told Al-Monitor the committee would convene soon to discuss integrating the groups, which is the prime minister's prerogative. However, we would like to know what the fate of the political leadership of the Ninevah Guard [Nujaifi] would be and if it would be part of the security establishment. Will this affect the factional quota and the composition of the PMU?

Regarding the push for Mosul, Tohme noted the importance of including "all the fighters who fought against IS, especially the sons of the liberated areas, who are bound to preserve the integrity of their territories.

At the official level, the PMU is now welcoming the decision to include the Ninevah Guard in their troops. PMU spokesman Karim al-Nouri expressed optimism about the decision, saying, We are delighted to have the Ninevah Guard as part of our ranks because they have as a priority to liberate their own city [Mosul]. Mosul is the capital of Ninevah province.

Nouri echoed Tohme, telling Al-Monitor, This is a step in the right direction, as the Ninevah Guard troops are the sons of the city and it is their responsibility to liberate it. They know better than anyone else the citys neighborhoods, streets and people.

But in September, PMU leader Faleh al-Fayyad had said in a statement on the organization's official website, The PMU will not recognize the Ninevah Guard."

The PMU itself is no stranger to rejection. Formed in 2014, the PMU is regarded by many as a group of undisciplined militias that have abused Sunni civilians in the areas it liberates. In November, parliament made the PMU an official government force, which the parliamentary Sunni blocs objected to.

Legitimizing the group is still a thorny issue, and for that reason the PMU controversy cannot be separated from the ruling Shiite Iraqi National Alliance's efforts to achieve a national settlement for the post-IS period  especially after the meeting between PMU leader Ammar al-Hakim and Nujaifi in Iraqi Kurdistan. This raised the ire of some Shiite parties within the alliance, which deems it imperative to exclude Nujaifi or any person wanted by the judiciary from any political project in the future.

Perhaps the position of Muwaffaq al-Rubaie, a parliament member for the Shiite alliance and former national security adviser, reflects some of the complexities expected in the country's political and security situations once the liberation operations are complete.

In a press statement, Rubaie said, The inclusion of the Ninevah Guard fighters in the PMU is eccentric in terms of equating the Ninevah Guard troops with the sacrifices and martyrs the PMU offered to regain the Iraqi lands and to liberate [Iraq] from the clutches of IS.

He added, Does [the prime minister's] decision invalidate the arrest warrant against [the guard's] leader, who is still accused of collaborating with a foreign country, after the emergence of evidence against him and presented to the judiciary?

According to Alloizi, the arrest warrant against Nujaifi cannot be revoked.

[Though] it is necessary to include the Ninevah Guard fighters within the Iraqi security institution so they are subjected to the orders of the general commander of the armed forces, this does not mean that chapter will be closed on Nujaifis judicial issue, he told Al-Monitor. There is a lot of evidence and documents that condemn Nujaifi. Any political settlement that might affect the judiciary would backfire and be counterproductive for the countrys general situation.

Still, it seems likely that the Nujaifi issue will be settled in court and he will again become a PMU leader.

It appears there have been some political agendas, backed by foreign stakeholders' lobbying, to keep Nujaifi and his brother, Osama, in their positions in return for relinquishing the Sunni push for their own governorate.

In October, Osama al-Nujaifi pulled off some political and judicial maneuvers to be reappointed to his position as one of the country's vice presidents, before the Mosul battle began. Atheel al-Nujaifi is managing to impose the Ninevah Guard on the security establishment, and is currently forming a team of lawyers to defend him in the case of aiding Turkey.
January 17, 2017

RAMALLAH, West Bank  Talk about the intention of the government in Ramallah to hold local council elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has resurfaced in the Palestinian street, after a draft decree law to establish an elections court to examine all challenges and legal issues relating to the local council elections was approved Jan. 3. Indeed, the draft decree law was referred to President Mahmoud Abbas to be duly promulgated and published in the official gazette.

The government's move is an attempt to overcome the dispute that led to the postponement of the local council elections that were scheduled to take place on Oct. 8, 2016. Several lawyers had submitted appeals before the High Court of Justice in Ramallah challenging the legitimacy of the Gaza courts and judiciary tasked with evaluating local elections, following a decision issued by the Court of First Instance in the Gaza Strip disqualifying a number of Fatah electoral lists. The High Court decided to hold the elections in the West Bank and cancel them in Gaza, but the government, which sought to hold elections both in Gaza and the West Bank, refused to do so on Oct. 4 and postponed the local council elections for four months.

The local council elections law No. 10 of 2005 stipulates that the Court of First Instance in each region shall be competent to examine challenges against the electoral lists. The decree law approved Jan. 3 will amend this paragraph to allow the elections court established in accordance with the general election law No. 1 of 2007 (governing presidential and legislative elections) to examine electoral cases and challenges, provided these courts are formed before holding general elections and dissolved after their completion.

Jihad Mashaqi, the head of the Appointments and Election General Directorate at the Ministry of Local Government, told Al-Monitor, The amendment of the local elections law aims to make the court of presidential and legislative elections the sole judicial authority competent to examine and settle matters related to the local council elections. Therefore, the Courts of First Instance would have no jurisdiction in this regard.

The government is expected to decide to hold the local council elections in May 2017, based on the decision in October to postpone the elections for four months with an additional 90-day period, the legal time that the Central Election Commission (CEC) needs to prepare for elections.

Mashaqi said, The government is keen on having elected local councils and wants to set an early date for the elections, as it believes it is the peoples right to elect their representative. However, it has yet to decide on a specific date.

He added, Most of the Palestinian factions and the civil society organizations demanded during their meetings with the Ministry of Local Government the establishment of a local council elections court to avoid any disputes that might hinder the holding of elections as happened before."

The governments approval of the amendments to law No. 10 of 2005 and the establishment of an elections court as a first step toward holding local council elections was categorically rejected by Hamas, which saw this step as a favor to Fatah.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasim told Al-Monitor, The governments amendment of the law is unacceptable since it is not the competent authority to do so. This rather falls within the prerogative of the Palestinian Legislative Council. This is not to mention that the factions have not agreed to such an amendment, which is seen as an attempt by the Palestinian Authority to set forth laws that would guarantee Fatahs victory in any upcoming elections.

He said, Tampering with laws and trying to customize them to serve Fatahs interests means that any elections would lose their democratic and national meaning and purpose and would not meet the consensus condition among the different factions. Holding elections and amending laws must be subject to consensus."

Commenting on Hamas' position should the elections be held in the West Bank only despite the movements rejection of the amended law, Qasim said, Elections should be held in all of the Palestinian governorates at the same time. The amendment of the law is in direct conflict with the national consensus. There will be no elections without consensus. We will not allow it.

Perhaps Hamas' intransigent refusal of the amendment of the law could mean that it will seek to prevent holding any elections in the Gaza Strip. Kayed al-Ghul, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's political bureau, told Al-Monitor, There is a possibility that Hamas would prevent holding elections in the Gaza Strip as it is sticking to electoral law No. 10 of 2005 whereby Courts of First Instance in the governorates are competent to settle any dispute or challenge. Legally speaking, there is nothing wrong with this, yet this was the main reason behind the postponement of the previous elections.

Ghul believes that the way out of this crisis is a national dialogue to discuss an amendment to law No. 10 of 2005 to reflect the national needs and prevent any future disruption of elections. We are striving to hold the elections simultaneously in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, he said.

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC), which is the competent authority responsible for the elections, is getting ready to hold them anytime now. Meanwhile, Hisham Kahil, the executive director of the CEC, told Al-Monitor, Back in 2012, the CEC recommended the government to establish a court competent to settle local council elections challenges in order to avoid a multiplicity of court rulings and jurisdictions with regard to the various challenges.

Commenting on whether or not the CEC discussed the new amendment to the law, Kahil said, We have not made any contacts or discussed these amendments with the political parties, since we have not received the governments notice to embark on the preparations for the elections. When we receive such notice, setting a specific day for holding the elections, we will start our work as usual.

The local elections issue seems to be turning in a vicious circle, in light of Hamas insistence on the local council elections law No. 10 of 2005 that entitles the Courts of First Instance to examine challenges and its fierce opposition of the amendments to this law approved by the government without consulting it or coordinating with it.

This could result in Hamas refusing to participate in the elections in case the government is willing to hold them and preventing them from being held in the Gaza Strip. In such instance, the government would be facing an ultimatum: postponing the elections for an indefinite period, or holding them only in the West Bank.
January 17, 2017

TUNIS, Tunisia  Tunisias top diplomat urged President-elect Donald Trump not to give up on Tunisias fledgling democracy and Palestinian aspirations during a wide-ranging interview in his office.

Casting Tunisia as exactly the anti-model of what the terrorists want, Khemaies Jhinaoui told Al-Monitor Jan. 12 that he was confident the United States would remain a strong partner under the new administration, despite Trumps narrow focus on counterterrorism during and since the presidential campaign.

Of course, weve had some contacts with Mr. Trumps team, said Jhinaoui, who took office in January 2016. How things will evolve, all that will depend on the policy he will adopt regarding the region as a whole. But at the bilateral level, I am confident the relationship will only grow stronger.

He went on to applaud last months UN Security Council resolution criticizing Israeli settlements and last weeks Middle East peace conference in Paris. Trump has angrily denounced both developments and has nominated as his ambassador to Israel David Friedman, a hard-line opponent of a two-state solution.

Of course were going to continue to support this cause, because it is a just cause, Jhinaoui said of the two-state solution. The United States, which helped Tunisia gain its independence and is a champion of freedom, cannot forget the rights of a people still subject to colonization.

The diplomat represents a country where all factions, from right-wing Islamists to left-wing secularists, are largely united in support of the Palestinian cause, especially after a 1985 Israeli air raid on the PLO headquarters here that killed numerous civilians.

Speaking just days after protesters marched down Habib Bourguiba Avenue in downtown Tunis to protest the return of foreign fighters, Jhinaoui categorically denied any foreign pressure to take them back.

They havent asked, and even if they did, we wouldnt necessarily comply, he said. Were a sovereign nation; we decide how to handle our problems, of course with the help of our friends, our partners.

Jhinaoui was equally blunt in laying the blame squarely on Europe  and the United States  for the chaos in neighboring Libya, which has hit Tunisia hard.

Today, Libya is a country without a state. Its a country with three governments. Its a country in chaos, he told Al-Monitor. And its not the Libyans fault  its the fault of a foreign intervention; lets not forget that, frankly.

What does he see as the international communitys role now? Butt out, and, as in Syria, let the parties on the ground work out their differences under the auspices of the United Nations.

Syrians must, beyond their differences, reach an agreement, he said. And foreign actors must get out of the way to let them do it.

Below is the full transcript of the interview, edited for clarity and length.

Al-Monitor: Tunisian newspapers these days are full of reports that European countries  especially Germany  have asked Tunisia to take back thousands of Tunisians accused of fighting alongside jihadis in Iraq and Syria. Is there any truth to this?

Jhinaoui: Everything youve been reading in the press is wrong. No ones asked us anything; not the Americans, not the Europeans  not to build prisons or take back foreign fighters. They havent asked, and even if they did, we wouldnt necessarily comply. Were a sovereign nation; we decide how to handle our problems, of course with the help of our friends, our partners.

These people left the country not to engage in tourism. They left because they were recruited by terrorist factions  and Tunisia fights terrorism. Its the gravest threat to our stability today. So if foreign fighters return to Tunisia, they will be treated as terrorists and dealt with according to a national law voted by parliament that establishes conditions for how to deal with them. If they return, of course, we have competent agencies that will handle them.

Al-Monitor: Nevertheless, the press reported after the Christmas market massacre in Berlin that Germany threatened to cancel bilateral aid if Tunisia doesnt take back some of its citizens.

Jhinaoui: There is a lot of confusion on this issue. We have bilateral agreements with certain European countries concerning the readmission of people who dont have the right papers. These arent terrorists; theyre Tunisian citizens who left the country in an irregular manner and today find themselves in Europe, where our friends discover that they dont have the right to be there. If were sure that theyre in fact Tunisians who dont have the right to reside abroad, of course its normal that we should take them back.

Al-Monitor: Even if theyre suspected of having fought alongside the Islamic State [Daesh]?

Jhinaoui: This has nothing to do with Daesh. If theyre with Daesh, they get dealt with differently. We prefer that they [the Europeans] judge them themselves, of course. If our friends discover that these are terrorists, it makes more sense for them to judge them themselves, according to their own laws. Weve never had cases like that where European countries send us back alleged Daesh fighters. If theyve committed acts of terrorism [abroad], logically they should be judged in those countries.

Al-Monitor: What can you tell us about Tunisias role in the Libyan peace talks?

Jhinaoui: Libya, for us, is a national security issue. The Libyan dossier is at the top of our priorities, for obvious reasons. We are the only country [among Libyas six neighbors] to have kept our borders open. Libya was a major economic partner  we were doing $2.5 billion worth of trade in 2010, and today all that has evaporated. Today, Libya is a country without a state. Its a country with three governments. Its a country in chaos. And its not the Libyans fault  its the fault of a foreign intervention; lets not forget that, frankly.

We want Libya to regain its stability and retain its territorial integrity, that it not be divided. Libya must not plunge into civil war. And Tunisia, let me say it plainly, is the country the Libyans respect the most, because we kept our borders open. They come from all walks of life, all political tendencies come here to Tunis. We open our doors; they talk, and we dont interfere in their discussions. What we ask is to encourage a Libyan dialogue and, for starters, to stop foreign interference. Encourage the Libyans, beyond their political differences, to sit around a table and find a political resolution to the conflict.

Last March, we organized a meeting of all the neighboring countries, here in Tunis. Thats when we first introduced the government of [Libyan Prime Minister Fayez] al-Sarraj. I later accompanied the prime minister to visit him in Tripoli and encouraged him to expand his power over the entire country. Unfortunately, for various complicated reasons, he couldnt do it. Of course, we still back this government that has been endorsed by the UN Security Council. But at the same time we tell Mr. Sarraj, like we tell other factions, to move beyond their differences and compromise. All these foreign actors should instead help Libyans themselves find a solution. Were here to help them, not replace them.

Al-Monitor: Recent reports indicate that a lawmaker whos part of the Islamist Ennahda Party, Ahmed Laamari, recently signed a cross-border deal with certain Libyan militias. Does that kind of independent diplomacy help or hinder your efforts?

Jhinaoui: We dont recognize that kind of initiative. Its very simple. Only the state is authorized to negotiate with foreign parties and find a solution. Everything else, for us, doesnt exist. Its a fiction. It doesnt help. We act through official channels. If civil society can help the government find a solution, great. But civil society cannot replace the government.

Al-Monitor: What is Tunisias position regarding the demands of Khalifa Hifter, who commands an army in the east?

Jhinaoui: We have nothing against Hifter. He has to be part of the solution rather than being against or outside the solution. We mustnt exclude him, because he represents a real force on the ground. Likewise, last week we hosted Aguila [Saleh Issa], the president of the House of Representatives in Tobruk, and were going to host other Libyan representatives to encourage them to work toward a political settlement.

Al-Monitor: Following the defeat of the Syrian rebels in Aleppo, some are calling for Tunisia to reinstate its ambassador in Damascus. What do you think of that?

Jhinaoui: It was during the Troika period [in 2011-2013] that we decided to recall the ambassador. In fact, there was no ambassador in place at the time  we recalled a fictitious ambassador. It was a symbolic decision. But Tunisia never ruptured diplomatic relations with Syria; we still have a working mission at the consular level. And its a decision that was taken by the Arab League; it wasnt a Tunisian decision. Tunisia aligned itself with the Arab League position.

Now Tunisia is re-evaluating its interests, but of course its quite normal that we would observe what other Arab states are doing. If sending back an ambassador to Damascus today would help with peace talks and help the parties reach a political settlement, we would do it tomorrow. But were not there yet.

There is no military solution. Syrians must, beyond their differences, reach an agreement. And foreign actors must get out of the way to let them do it. Foreigners must only act, in our view, under the umbrella of the United Nations  as in Libya, by the way. The only guarantor of an eventual settlement is the Security Council.

Al-Monitor: Donald Trumps election in the United States has worried some observers who fear he will adopt a Middle East policy focused only on counterterrorism at the expense of democratization. Do you share those concerns?

Jhinaoui: Its the Americans choice. We respect it. Beyond the change of administrations, Tunisia has always had excellent relations with the United States. Under [Barack] Obama, we had excellent relations. Frankly, our evaluation is that this wont change, simply because its a relationship based on friendship and shared interests. And I dont see why Mr. Trump would go change this.

Of course, weve had some contacts with Mr. Trumps team. How things will evolve, all that will depend on the policy he will adopt regarding the region as a whole. But at the bilateral level, I am confident the relationship will only grow stronger. What we are building today in Tunisia is exactly the anti-model of what the terrorists want: a 21st-century democracy. On this point, we are on the same wavelength.

Al-Monitor: One of Trumps first actions as president-elect was to nominate a longtime foe of the two-state solution to serve as his ambassador to Israel. What does Tunisia think of this?

Jhinaoui: Regarding Mr. Trumps Israel policy, you know our position. Were not going to change it today. Its a position that supports the national right of the Palestinian people to have an independent, sovereign state. This process began with the [1993] Oslo Peace Accord  the mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestinians  and I think the Paris peace conference on Jan. 15 and the UN Security Council resolution in December 2016 are further steps toward recognizing the Palestinian people.

Of course were going to continue to support this cause, because it is a just cause. There are obviously a large majority of Tunisians in favor of Palestinian rights, regardless of political affiliation. The United States, which helped Tunisia gain its independence and is a champion of freedom, cannot forget the rights of a people still subject to colonization.

Al-Monitor: Some media have suggested that the border with Algeria isnt as secure as were meant to believe, that jihadis have been able to cross it freely to set up camp in the Mount Chaambi area in the west of the country, in particular. Do you have any criticism regarding your western neighbor?

Jhinaoui: We have excellent relations with Algeria, including close cooperation on border controls. Its a matter of national security not only for Tunisia, but for Algeria as well. We count on Algeria, just as Algeria counts on Tunisia. And I think weve never had any suspicion of any lapses on the Algerian side.

Al-Monitor: The Maghreb remains one of the least interconnected regions of the world because of the conflict over the Western Sahara between Morocco and Algeria. Whats the status of negotiations regarding further economic and commercial integration?

Jhinaoui: Youre right, this Maghreb project doesnt work. It doesnt work as well as Tunisia would like, and it doesnt work, I suspect, as well as our other partners would like. Tunisia has very normal relations with the other four countries: Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Mauritania. We dont have any problems on the bilateral level. But unfortunately the lack of Maghreb-wide integration causes us to lose 2 or 3% of growth rate per year. Its enormous. Given the economic hardships were going through, we could use more integration. Because US businesses, for example, dont want to invest in such a tiny market; they want to invest in a large market, which is the Maghreb market.

The Western Sahara is an issue whose solution lies with the United Nations. Were at equal distance between all the parties. Through good words, through diplomacy, were trying to get out of the impasse were currently in. The secretary-general [of the Arab Maghreb Union, Taieb Baccouche] has ideas, which is why Im meeting with him, to try to rekindle relationships. Maybe we can resume prime minister-level meetings to get out of the current deadlock. Were not there yet, unfortunately.
They write as mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, friends and neighbours as well as professionals in their respective fields.

The 45 writers of these 81 stories, essays and poems originate from many different parts of PNG and its islands.

MY Walk to Equality is a remarkable achievement. Not only as Papua New Guineas first anthology of women writers but also for its inclusiveness, breadth of vision and balance.

My Walk to Equality , edited by Rashmii Amoah Bell, Pukpuk Publications, 278 pages. Paperback $US10.53 or Kindle $US1.00. ISBN-10: 1542429242. ISBN-13: 978-1542429245. Available here from Amazon

Equally diverse are the topics addressed: from village childhoods to competitive urban employment, taking leadership initiatives and engaging in inter-nation events.

The reader is cleverly guided through this rich feast by the anthologys structure of four main themes: relationships, self-awareness, challenging gender roles and legacies.

The writing sparkles with originality and imagination.

But perhaps most remarkably, My Walk to Equality projects something few books of womens writing manage to do so well: a clear understanding that gender equality is not simply a womens issue  it is a complex societal problem that requires attention to male as well as female needs in rapidly changing times.

Among the prose and poetry are moving protests against the physical and psychological abuse so many women in villages and cities contend with. But the contributions also speak of important roles women play in family, community and nation.

These women writers are not victims but aware, self-empowered, strong, active women, and each within her sphere has achieved much.

One indication of their strength is their recognition of the positive roles men can play in gender equality: stories that honour farsighted fathers and uncles, celebrate transformed brothers and husbands, and acknowledge dedicated schoolmasters.

In this sense it is not simply an anthology about and for women; it is a book for our present world of growing inequalities of all kinds, within and outside Papua New Guinea. Only through gender-balanced leadership can any of us tackle our current challenges both local and global.

While a few of the anthologys contributors are established writers, others are only now discovering and gaining confidence in their talent.

But it would be misleading to look upon any of them as new voices  the cultural roots of their self-expression go back through millennia  rather they are newly heard voices or, as one contributor puts it, freely heard.

The freshness and authenticity of indigenous literature  which no other can convincingly appropriate  is here melded with insights embracing the future.

Through their wisdom, optimism and hope, these womens voices create a significant presence on Papua New Guineas literary stage and a worthy addition to the worlds narratives.

Stories wield power. Our freedom, indeed our survival, depends on having our stories heard and listening to those of others.

My Walk to Equality is the first anthology of Papua New Guineas women writers  it must not be the last.

Trish Nicholson's most recent book, Inside the Crocodile, was published in 2015. You can read Phil Fitzpatrick's review here. Her next work, A Biography of Story, A Brief History of Humanity, is forthcoming
January 17, 2017

The return of Tunisian fighters from conflict zones in Syria, Iraq and Libya has Tunisia torn. The Tunisian authorities are torn between public pressure to revoke the citizenship of the returning terrorists and the states international commitments that necessitate a minimum of cooperation with other countries to hand over Tunisians suspected of links with jihadi groups.

In his latest speech on New Years Eve, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi firmly stated that Tunisia will implement the law against Tunisians returning home from battlefields in Syria, Libya and Iraq and will not welcome them with open arms. Essebsi had previously said in an interview with Euronews on Dec. 2, Jihadis are no longer a threat, and many of them want to return home.  We will not put them all in jail.

On Dec. 30, Prime Minister Youssef Chahed declared that his government will treat those returning home with strictness and will prosecute them upon their return. Despite his reassurance, controversy spread among Tunisians divided on how to handle the fighters returning home from conflict zones abroad.

On Jan. 7, many Tunisians took to the streets of the capital, Tunis. In response to the call of civil society activists and intellectuals, they condemned the return of terrorists from conflict zones.

Umeira al-Saghir, a historian and history teacher at the Higher Institute of the National Movement History who participated in the protest, told Al-Monitor, As a citizen, I realize that Tunisia is undergoing the worst phase of its modern history with the return of thousands of terrorists. It is getting ready to welcome at least 3,000 people who espouse jihadi thought and are trained in fighting, looting and raping. Those jihadis are returning home defeated and full of desire for retaliation. Many Tunisians have seen videos of the terrorists threatening to slaughter Tunisians.

Saghir added, I think that the right thing to do is strip these terrorists of their Tunisian citizenship. The 1963 citizenship law, which was amended in 2010, allows stripping any Tunisian of his citizenship if he or she commits a crime, joins a foreign army or participates in the destruction of a neighboring state and pledges allegiance to another. Returning terrorists wont be able to escape the 2015 Counterterrorism Law, but [nevertheless] many condemn the judiciarys lax behavior toward terror suspects.

Tunisian journalist and political analyst Abdel Sattar Aydy told Al-Monitor, Tunisian fighters in conflict zones abroad will not return collectively or in an organized manner. Their return is rather forced by their situation in the regions where they are fighting.

He added, The defeat of jihadi groups, especially the Islamic State in Libya, Syria and Iraq, has pushed some fighters to seek refuge in other areas. They know that they are on Tunisias terror blacklists. They wouldnt get into the country without facing likely arrest. For that reason, they would rather search for other battlefields than return home.

Aidi noted, Tunisia cannot refuse to accept the return of terrorists who were arrested abroad, due to its diplomatic relations with the international community. It has to bear its legal and political responsibilities by receiving its citizens who are accused of terrorism and prosecuting them under the law. Otherwise, Tunisia would face political and legal risks with dire consequences. The Tunisian authorities certainly do not want those terrorists and will not seek to repatriate them. But they have to cooperate with the international community.

Amid the heated debate, the Tunisian authorities have started to receive militants accused of affiliation with jihadi groups abroad. On Dec. 23, Counterterrorism Judicial Department spokesman Safyan al-Saliti said Tunisia was handed IS leader Moaz al-Fazani by Sudanese authorities. Fazani is accused of plotting for the Bardo National Museum attack in March 2015 and attempting to bomb Habib Bourguiba Kindergarten in October 2013. He is in jail awaiting trial.

On Dec. 30, Tunisia received from Italy the terror suspect Nasreddin Bin Diab, who has been implicated in several cases. Diab is alleged to have been part of a cell active in the suburbs of Milan and planning to conduct operations in Tunisia and abroad. Diab is also imprisoned awaiting trial.

On Jan. 1, the Tunisian Interior Ministry announced in a statement, An intelligence coordination operation has managed to bring back the dangerous Tunisian terrorist Wanas al-Faqih, who had escaped abroad. The Tunisian authorities revealed no details of the operation, but the statement noted, Faqih was connected to terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and he is accused of joining a terrorist organization and manipulating sleeper cells and networks to implement terrorist acts.

Essebsi had announced in his New Year speech, The number of Tunisian terrorists affiliated with terrorist groups in Syria, Libya and Iraq is estimated at 2,926. The authorities know all the details about the number of Tunisians fighting in conflict zones and their deployment in different countries.

A UN report on the use of mercenaries published in July 2015 revealed the presence of more than 5,000 Tunisians in different conflict zones, including 4,000 in Syria, 1,000-1,500 in Libya, 200 in Iraq, 60 in Mali and 50 in Yemen.

Another UN report published in May 2016 warned that IS, following its field defeats, had started encouraging its foreign fighters to return to their hometowns and implement terrorist attacks there. The Ministry of Interior announced in early 2016 the return of 600 young men who had been fighting in different Arab conflict zones. The ministry also said in November 2015 that 92 Tunisian jihadis had been placed under house arrest upon their return.

Minister of Justice Ghazi Jribi revealed during a Jan. 2 parliamentary session, There are 160 Tunisians returning home from conflict zones. Sentences have been issued for some of them, while others remain in Tunisian jails. In total, there are 1,648 arrested suspects accused of terrorist acts.

The Tunisian government announced Dec. 30 that it is examining the possibility of building a jail to accommodate those returning from conflict zones. Overcrowded Tunisian jails have always been considered a rich environment for jihadis to recruit more members.
January 18, 2017

Just two years ago, Al-Monitor reported on a rise in the number of female soldiers in the Turkish Armed Forces. Then the Ministry of Defense picked a fight by deciding women were no longer needed in the navy and air force.

Every year, the academies accepted a small number of female students who have finished high school. These students had to meet a long list of physical, medical and academic standards, along with securing high scores on standardized college entrance exams. On this year's applications, however, the option allowing women to apply for the navy and air force disappeared. This came as a shock to potential applicants, their families and womens organizations, especially given Turkey's history.

Female pilots have had a special place in Turkey's air force. Sabiha Gokcen, the worlds first female combat pilot, is one of the adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. After entering the Military Aviation Academy in 1936, she flew 32 combat missions and logged 8,000 flight hours. Gokcen became a role model for Turkish women, who had already gained suffrage rights in 1934. The first female NATO pilots are also from Turkey. From 1955 to 1959, 20 female students were accepted into the Turkish Air Force Academy. In 1992, all military academy branches started accepting women.

So after having the door slammed in their faces in 2017, potential female applicants and their families started organizing on social media, particularly those who wanted to apply to the air force. College student Tugba Cerav initiated an online petition on behalf of her sister and other students who dream of joining the air force. On Twitter, several students pleaded their cases with the Ministry of Defense.

These young womens pleas were heard first and foremost by a courageous lawmaker, Aylin Nazliaka. In her third term in parliament, Nazliaka has a solid reputation for defending the rights of diverse groups who lack a voice in Turkish politics. It was Nazliaka who carried this issue to the Turkish parliament.

On Jan. 16, she told Al-Monitor, Today we have some good news. The Ministry of Defense has reversed the decision, so female students can apply to all academies."

Nazliaka explained that this is not the first time she has seen the government reverse a decision. In 2013, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced that women would not be accepted as forestry wardens. It said that this job was not suitable for women because the physical demands were too harsh. So I made calls to female AKP [Justice and Development Party] lawmakers and womens associations and initiated a social media campaign to raise awareness about the issue. Finally, the decision was reversed, she said.

On Jan. 16, Defense Minister Fikri Isik addressed the change. Public opinion has become sensitive to this issue.  If there are applicants, females will be accepted to these schools, Isik told the press. He went on to elaborate  in rather vague terms  that the decision to exclude women had been based on the idea that there was no need for female officers. So I told my colleagues, If there is supply and demand, we should accept them. Since there is supply, they should be allowed.

Is this a happy ending to a bad policy? It's too soon to tell. As oversight in Turkish politics decreases, the number of bad and arbitrary choices the AKP government makes increases. These decisions are only reversed when there is a public outcry and the decisions' sponsors are not adamant.

Given that only two years ago the armed forces were determined to increase the number of women in their ranks, what was the real justification for barring women from applying? Can we be sure that tomorrow the army won't announce it is closing its doors to female cadets?

Nazliaka, like several other womens rights advocates, thinks this decision to exclude women is in line with the AKPs mentality to keep women out of sight and out of mind. Repeatedly, the AKP has developed policies designed to confine women to the private domain. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and several senior AKP members have repeatedly demonstrated that they differ from previous administrations regarding ideas of "appropriate behavior" for women.

Nazliaka succinctly summed up the situation: During the AKP era, we have stopped trying to make progress with regard to womens rights and liberties. Rather, we view it as success if we can preserve what we have now.

That is precisely the worrisome point. In the first decades of its establishment, the Turkish Republic made significant inroads to womens rights and achievements. But now, even as many Western armies are considering women for combat missions, female Turkish students yearning to be military officers have to struggle to regain the right to apply to military academies.

A retired admiral told Al-Monitor: From the days when I was a captain until now, I see that women in uniform are marginalized, stuck at clerical positions. The society is pushing women back to their homes, and the armed forces reflect this change. Women in uniform do not receive the respect they deserve anymore. In the navy and air force, we had more women engaged in combat planning roles and international missions. So I would suspect in the coming years the situations will only be worse for women."

He added, "Two decades ago, I would have encouraged my daughter to join the Turkish Armed Forces. Today, I am not so confident it is a wise decision for a woman.

Yet acknowledging all the hardships Turkey is going through, Nazliaka has not lost hope. There are modern, progressive, well-educated and hard-working people in Turkey," she said. "And our numbers are not small. We are here, and working. But who can guarantee that the AKP will not change its mind again and deny female students entry to military academies next year?
January 18, 2017

The United States has resumed airstrikes in support of Turkeys ongoing campaign against the Islamic State in Syria, a spokesman for the US-led coalition based in Baghdad told reporters Jan. 17. The move could help diffuse growing tensions between the NATO allies.

Air Force Col. John Dorrian said four airstrikes carried out on Tuesday near the IS-held town of al-Bab hit IS construction equipment and tactical vehicles, including an armored personnel carrier. US forces are likely to remain active in and around al-Bab in the coming days, Dorrian said. He called Tuesdays operation in our mutual interest.

The move follows repeated appeals from Turkey for the United States to help Turkish troops and their rebel proxies to capture al-Bab. The operation, which is in its third month, has encountered fierce resistance from the jihadis, with dozens of Turkish soldiers and many more rebels killed in the fight.

Washingtons reluctance to carry out strikes prompted angry statements from Turkeys leaders, who accused the United States of siding with terrorists and hinted that it could even block coalition access to the Incirlik Air Base, which is critical to the anti-IS effort.

The row over al-Bab reflects the extent of the mutual distrust gripping the two NATO allies, a conflict Russia has been zealously exploiting. The semi-official Anatolian news agency reported today that Russian and Turkish forces had carried out their first joint operation against IS in Syria, hitting 36 jihadi targets near al-Bab. The move follows a Jan. 12 agreement signed between Turkey and Russia allowing their respective air forces to coordinate operations in Syria.

Washington had earlier cited Turkeys refusal to allow US drone reconnaissance missions as the reason for its foot-dragging over al-Bab even as a Pentagon spokesman confirmed that no such permission was required. Turkish officials claimed the real reason for Americas obduracy was that it did not want to hurt relations with its Syrian Kurdish allies who also covet al-Bab.

The more likely explanation is that Turkey wanted to call in US airstrikes without providing detailed operational information about its ground offensive for fear that the United States would share it with the Syrian Kurds.

The New York Times revealed in a Jan. 17 report that Turkey has begun delaying approval for American air missions that are flown from Incirlik. The Times speculated that such actions are intended to dissuade the outgoing Barack Obama administration from authorizing direct weapons transfers to the Syrian Kurdish fighters who are the coalitions top allies in the fight against IS. The People's Protection Units (YPG) are branded terrorists by Turkey because of their links to another Kurdish group, the Kurdistan Workers Party, which is waging a bloody insurgency inside Turkey. Turkish officials told Al-Monitor that Turkey has offered its own combat forces for Raqqa, the jihadis capital, instead of the YPG.

It remains unclear whether the alleged delays in US air missions influenced Washingtons decision to give Turkey support in al-Bab.

But the Pentagon insists that the YPG and its Arab allies remain the coalitions most effective partners on the ground and signs suggest that President-elect Donald Trump may very well ignore Turkeys objections and sign off on arming them.

Sources close to the transition team speaking on the condition their names be withheld told Al-Monitor that Trump wants a quick victory against IS in the first 90 days of his administration and that this means he will likely stick with the Kurds. Trump is said to be even weighing putting American boots on the ground to help conquer Raqqa, reported CNN.

It remains unclear, though, whether the Trump team has given any thought to whether it will keep some 500 US special forces soldiers currently deployed in the Kurdish-controlled zone once IS is defeated.

The Syrian Kurds see the American presence as a guarantee against attack from Turkey and the Syrian regime and say they want to elevate their partnership with Washington to a political one. Top Syrian Kurdish official Ilham Ehmed is currently in Washington to push their case.

Turkish lobbyists and other self-appointed advocates for Turkey are in turn trying to convince key members of the Trump team to ditch the Kurds. One of them, Mehmet Ali Yalcindag, is Trumps business partner in Turkey. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is in Washington for the inauguration and he just tweeted that he had breakfast with Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Coalition officials acknowledge that keeping the YPG and Turkish forces away from each other remains one of the biggest challenges in the fight against IS. Those efforts appear to be failing.

Turkish forces have escalated attacks against the YPG, albeit in areas where there is no US military presence. But Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to carry the fight to Manbij, an Arab-majority town that the YPG captured last fall with US air support. The biggest worry all around is that US forces will accidentally get hit.
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Established in 1818, city-owned Maple Hill Cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places. (Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com)

Shelia Champion, founder of The Good Earth Burial Ground in Hazel Green. (Courtesy photo)

There was a time when Hazel Green resident Shelia Champion couldn't go to funerals or talk about death because she was afraid.

Today, she owns a green burial ground on a small plot of land near the Alabama-Tennessee state line. She is also an advocate for end-of-life options, a topic most people feel uncomfortable discussing.

Champion, a former contracts manager in Huntsville, wants to change that.

She will host a unique event next month for the Rocket City: a death cafe to increase "awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives." The Feb. 1 pop up event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. at West End Grill on 6610 Old Madison Pike N.W.

"I am constantly amazed about how little people know about death," Champion told AL.com. "What are the laws? What is the purpose of embalming and don't I have to have it? What happens to my body after death? ... Part of my passion is to teach people what I know and to make death a part of life."

Click here to read about the death cafe, which Champion said will be only the second gathering of its kind in Huntsville. In the meantime, we caught up with Champion to talk about why residents should attend the event.

You've recently started building a new career to bring more awareness to the death and burial process, which many Americans have lost touch with as funeral homes have assumed care for the dead. Why is this work so important to you?

Having reached the age of 50 with a phobia and fascination about death, I'm so amazed at the transformation in my life that death has brought. I've gone from phobia to passion and hope maybe by sharing my story I can help some others learn what I have. The one thing we all have in common is death. Talking about it will not make it happen any faster nor will it prolong your life, but it might make things easier to deal with.

Since becoming an advocate for home funerals and green burials, what stigmas about death have you encountered?

Many people believe or would have you believe that funerals need to be handled by "professionals," which is absurd unless you want embalming and is promulgated by the funeral industry. I do believe that in some instances - traumatic injuries, etc. - it is better to use a funeral home. I hope to bring to people the belief and knowledge that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a touching, heartfelt, loving, respectful funeral, evidenced by my first burial which is documented on my website.

Similar death cafes in the U.S. have "opened the closet" so to speak and resulted in deeper conversations about death. What subjects are on and off the table for discussion?

There is no subject off the table. This is not, however, a venue for those working in the death, hospice, grief industry, etc. to come to discuss their businesses. It is not a presentation nor an infomercial for The Good Earth, LLC. We will discuss whatever the attendees want to. Should the gathering get too large, we might even break out into groups by subject matter. I don't expect this first death cafe to get that large and would appreciate everyone wanting to attend to contact me.

What do you hope people take away from this event?

Knowledge. I want everyone to learn their rights and how to preserve them and to know that talking about a taboo subject can make it more acceptable.
Bill Moss and Bill France.jpg

Bill Moss (left) of Moss-Thornton Company - the engineering company instrumental in the creation of Talladega Superspeedway in 1969 - stands alongside NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. (right) as partners in completing construction of the largest, steepest and fastest superspeedway in the world.

(Courtesy/Talladega Superspeedway)

Bill Moss, an engineer who helped build Talladega Superspeedway in 1969, has died.

He was 81.

William W. Moss, whose engineering and construction company, Moss-Thornton Company, assisted William H.G. France in the creation of Talladega Superspeedway, died on Jan. 15.

A memorial service will be held Jan. 28 at 2 p.m., at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Birmingham.

While racing cars as an amateur in the late 1950s, Moss, who received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Alabama, met France, the founder of NASCAR. A few years later in 1963, Moss joined the family engineering business known for building interstate highways as well as industrial, railway and navigation projects.

Moss served more than three years as a Corps of Engineers post engineer in Germany as well as 1st lieutenant in the United States Army, 1959-1962. Moss-Thornton completed the first phase of the Red Mountain Expressway, and built roads and lots for Disney World.

France had a vision to create the largest, steepest and fastest superspeedway in the world, 40 miles east of Birmingham and 90 miles west of Atlanta along Interstate 20. He enlisted the help of Moss to help design and build a smooth, 2.66-mile, 33-degree banked venue that would see 200-plus mph speeds. Using cranes to aid in keeping the equipment such as graders, pavers and bulldozers on the mammoth steeped banks, Alabama International Motor Speedway was created in just over a year. The groundbreaking was May 23, 1968.

The track that became known as Talladega Superspeedway held its first NASCAR race on Sept. 14, 1969, with Richard Brickhouse taking the checkered flag. Talladega Superspeedway is now a household name and serves as one of NASCAR's most exciting tracks, known for three- and four-car-wide racing action.

As a symbol of his contribution to Talladega Superspeedway, the Moss-Thornton Grandstand and Moss-Thornton Tower overlook Talladega's famous start-finish line which sits near the entrance of turn one.

"Bill Moss has been an integral part of Talladega Superspeedway and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame since the inception of both facilities." said Grant Lynch, Chairman of Talladega Superspeedway. "We all lost a man who poured a lot of heart and soul into both entities. All of us here at Talladega are indebted to his vision and efforts he put in here at the speedway."

Moss was also a key player in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame - another vision of France - which sits adjacent to Talladega Superspeedway. He was a commission member when ground was broken for the venue in 1981. He was vice chairman of the Hall for more than a quarter century, heading its construction committee and serving as treasurer. The Hall, which opened in 1983, is dedicated to the preservation of the history of motorsports.

Moss became president of the Moss-Thornton Company - now known as Moss Enterprises, Inc., in 1973. He also contributed to the design and construction of other NASCAR venues, as well as other race tracks around the world.
An Altoona man is facing sexual misconduct charges, according, according to Sheriff Todd Entrekin.

William Ralph McGill, 41, of Altoona, has been charged with one count of incest and one count of sexual misconduct, a misdemeanor.

Entrekin said McGill "engaged in sexual intercourse with a person he knows to be either legitimately or illegitimately his descendant by blood."

He is also accused of sexual misconduct without the consent of the female victim.

McGill, who was arrested Jan. 11, is currently being detained in the Etowah County Detention Center on $12,000 bond. As a condition of the bond, McGill must have no contact with the victim, her family or any child under 18 years old.

The Etowah County Department of Human Resources is also involved in the case.
Georgia killing_edited.jpg

Candace Hankins and David Walker

(Facebook/Walker County, GA sheriff)

A series of "tragic" events preceded the death of an Alabama native who authorities believe was fatally beaten by her boyfriend this past weekend at their Georgia home, authorities said.

A native of Athens, Candace Ann Hankins, 29, had been living in Walker County, Georgia since her mother died in 2002, said Sheriff Steve Wilson.

"She and her father moved back here to his native county after the mother's death," Wilson told AL.com in a phone interview. "Then, her father died last February. Just two weeks ago, her maternal grandmother died."

Hankins, a graduate of Elkmont High School in Limestone County, Alabama, was living with her boyfriend, David Ryan Walker, 29, of Lafayette, Georgia when she was killed.

Walker has been charged with murder in Hankins' death; however, he could face additional charges -- particularly if an autopsy confirms reports that the woman was pregnant.

Several people close to Hankins, including her paternal grandmother, told authorities the woman was about three-four months pregnant, the sheriff said.

"We expect another host of charges once it goes to grand jury," Wilson said. "If it turns out she was pregnant, he most likely will be indicted on a feticide charge, which is used when a pregnant woman is murdered. I also think there will be domestic violence charges added to increase the penalties he faces."

The autopsy is expected to be performed today.

Hankins body was found in a wooded area near the couple's home, which is just over a mile out of the Lafayette city limits. Authorities believe Hankins was killed in the home before her body was wrapped in a blanket and dragged about 75 feet into the woods.

"It's just tragic," Wilson said. "There was no sign of gunshot or stab wounds. Based on what I saw at the scene, it looked like some type of blunt force trauma. It's not a medical opinion, but based on my experience with crime scenes she may have had respiratory distress or head trauma."

Little is known about the suspect, Walker, who had a few previous encounters with sheriff's deputies.

In February 2016, he was arrested on three drug charges, including misdemeanor marijuana possession, the sheriff said. Two years earlier, he was nabbed on a misdemeanor criminal trespassing charge.

Walker is jailed without bail on the murder charge.
Alabama lawmaker Bradley Byrne said President Obama's commutation of Chelsea Manning - the Army analyst who leaked classified information that was later posted online - is a "new low."

Byrne, R-Fairhope, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said he was disappointed to learn Manning's sentence had been dramatically reduced, freeing him on May 17 rather than in 2045.

"I have strongly disagreed with many of President Obama's decisions over the last eight years, but this one may be a new low," Byrne said. "It is disturbing and appalling that President Obama would reward someone whose actions put American lives at risk by exposing classified information.

"This decision sends entirely the wrong message to our military men and women who put their lives on the line every day to serve our country," he added.

Manning, an Army intelligence analyst, was convicted in 2013 of violating the Espionage Act by providing sensitive information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. Among the items leaked were diplomatic cables from U.S. officials and information on civilian deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq, all of which was later posted online.

Manning's supporters said the sentence was too harsh, and that the 29-year-old's gender dysphoria contributed to the situation. Shortly after being convicted, Manning legally changed her name to Chelsea Elizabeth Manning, and sought gender transition treatment. Manning has gone on a hunger strike and reportedly twice attempted to commit suicide since her imprisonment at the military detention center in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Byrne isn't the only elected official to blast Obama's decision to shorten Manning's sentence, a move that was reportedly opposed by the Pentagon.

"This is just outrageous. Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets. President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security won't be held accountable for their crimes," House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement.
Neither Don Siegelman nor Larry Langford are among the 273 people granted commutations or pardons today by President Barack Obama.

Supporters of both men have lobbied the president to address sentencing for both former high-profile Alabama lawmakers.

The list announced today included WikiLeaks informant Chelsea Manning and retired Army Gen. James Cartwright. Studio 54 co-founder Ian Schrager, convicted in 1980 of tax fraud, was also among those on the pardon list.

Not on the list were several high-profile inmates - including former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl - both of whom had reportedly sought sentence reductions from the president.

Former Gov. Don Siegelman was convicted in 2006 of charges related to selling a seat on a state health regulatory board to Richard Scrushy in exchange for a donation from the former HealthSouth CEO to the governor's statewide lottery campaign. Siegelman, 69, was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison and, barring a last-minute move from Obama, will remain behind bars until August of this year.

Siegelman's supporters have launched a widespread campaign to free the former Democratic governor, claiming his conviction was the result of a Republican conspiracy.

Langford, 70, is a former Jefferson County Commissioner and Birmingham Mayor. He is currently serving a 15-year sentence at a federal prison in Tennessee for his 2010 conviction on bribery and public corruption charges. He is scheduled to be released in May 2023, but supporters have cited his ill health in their calls for early release.

Birmingham Mayor William Bell recently delivered a package to the White House with support for Langford's early release.

Alabamians included on commutations, pardon list

Four Alabamians were on the list of 209 commutations and 64 pardons announced by the White House today. They include:

Paul Anthony Cass -- Talladega

Conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (11 counts); sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007. Commuted to 30 years in prison.

Bobby Eugene Mitchell - Adamsville

Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; sentenced to life plus five years in prison and 10 years supervised release in 2008. Commuted to 21 years in prison.

Nathaniel Salery -- Montgomery

Continuing criminal enterprise; distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and aiding and abetting; sentenced to life in prison in 1995. Commuted to 30 years in prison.

Duffy Lynn Striker -- Hanceville

Two counts possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; two counts possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; three counts felon in possession of a firearm; sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2003. Commuted to have sentence end Jan. 17, 2019 conditioned upon enrollment in a drug treatment program.

Another Alabamian was included on the list of pardons:

Taquilla Monyetta Love -- Prattville

Love was sentenced to four years probation in 1995 on charges of importing cocaine.
Smoking is bad for you. It's also really expensive.

Wallethub recently looked at the economic and societal impacts of smoking, including the cost of a pack of cigarettes per day; healthcare costs; the amount of return a smoker would have received if they'd invested in the stock market instead of buying tobacco; and income loss due to smoking-related issues. You can see the complete methodology here.

The costs were staggering.

Over the course of a lifetime, tobacco use costs an Alabama smoker about $1.2 million.

That works out to an average annual cost of $23,466 per Alabama smoker, the sixth highest total in the country.

Here's how that breaks down:

$1,843 per year for out-of-pocket costs (price of a pack of cigarettes per day for one year);

$15,527 in financial opportunity costs determined by the amount of money that could have been invested elsewhere;

$2,370 in direct medical cost per person;

$3,490 in lost income from smoking-related issues;

$236 in other costs, including higher insurance premiums for smokers.

Nationwide, about 36.5 million people use tobacco, including about 1.1 million in Alabama.

Welcome to Wednesday's Wake Up Call. Let's see what's going on:

Nevada woman dies from superbug

A Nevada woman has died from a rare superbug that she apparently acquired in India.

The woman, in her 70s, passed away last August but her death was only just announced. Tests showed she had been infected with an antibiotic-resistant bacterial group called carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).

If it enters the bloodstream, CRE kills about half its victims.

Marine killed in live fire exercise

A U.S. Marine was killed and another injured last Friday during a live-fire training exercise in California.

The Marines were participating in small arms fire training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms when the incident occurred, officials said. The Marine killed in the accident was later identified as Lance Cpl. Austin Ruiz of Naples, Florida.

The incident remains under investigation.

Prince William reportedly leaving pilot job

Prince William is reportedly leaving his job as a helicopter pilot to spend more time focusing on his royal duties.

William, 34, will leave his job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance this summer and move with his family to Kensington Palace in London. His royal duties will then increase, as his father, heir apparent Prince Charles, takes on more appearances for his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Search for MH370 over for now

Officials are suspending the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared almost three years ago over the Indian Ocean.

Australia, China and Malaysia said the suspension will be lifted if new credible information comes in pointing to the plane's whereabouts. The plane disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board.

Searchers have spent millions of dollars and combed tens of thousands of square miles but have little information about what happened to the plane.

Until tomorrow.
Orlando police have arrested the man who is accused of fatally shooting a Florida police officer earlier this month.

Markeith Lloyd, 41, was arrested Tuesday, police announced on Twitter. Authorities said Lloyd shot and killed Master Sgt. Debra Clayton while Clayton was trying to arrest Lloyd on Jan. 9.

We've got him! Markeith Loyd in OPD ICustody. Details to come. Media: stand by for details on press conference. pic.twitter.com/SVjFUEvNak  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 18, 2017

The Associated Press reported that police wanted to question Lloyd about the December killing of his pregnant ex-girlfriend.

Clayton was shot multiple times by Llyod during the shooting, police said. Clayton returned fire, but was unable to hit the suspect. Police said Lloyd then fled from the scene in a vehicle. Authorities, including the Orange County Sheriff's office, chased the suspect until he stopped at a nearby apartment complex where Lloyd fired shots as the deputies. No one was hit, but a deputy's SUV was struck twice, the AP reported.

Lloyd then left carjacked another vehicle and fled from the apartment complex, abandoning the first vehicle and initiating a manhunt.

Details about Lloyd's arrest have not been released by police yet. This post will be updated when more information is released.
Walmart plans to create 10,000 new jobs and open 59 new stores in the coming year, officials announced Tuesday.

The nation's largest private employer is planning some $6.8 billion in capital investments in 2017, including construction of new and remodeled stores and expansion of its popular Online Grocery Pickup service.

The new jobs will be additions to store personnel, as well as staffing for e-commerce services.

"With a presence in thousands of communities and a vast supplier network, we know we play an important role in supporting and creating American jobs," said Dan Bartlett, Walmart executive vice president for corporate affairs. "Our 2017 plans to grow our business -- and our support for innovation in the textile industry -- will have a meaningful impact across the country," he said.

Walmart estimates another 24,000 construction jobs will be supported through the opening of the new stores and remodeling of existing properties.

The announcement comes as several major retailers - including Sears and JC Penney - announced they would close more stores in the coming year and as others, such as Lowe's, said they were reducing staff.

Walmart, which currently has about 1.5 million employees in the U.S., has not announced locations for the new stores.
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Baldwin County School Superintendent Eddie Tyler speaks during the Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, Baldwin County School Board meeting at Silverhill Elementary School. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Baldwin County school board members spoke in glowing terms Tuesday about a sales tax deal brokered last month that system administrators view as the key to thwarting massive layoffs and school closures that could have occurred later this spring.

They also praised the Baldwin County Commission, which agreed unanimously on Jan. 3 to permanently extend a 1 percent sales tax that supports schools without submitting the question to voters. The penny tax was first introduced in 2010, and reauthorized by voters in 2012, and was set to sunset in May 2018.

Eliminating the sales tax would have left Alabama's third-largest school system with a $38 million budget hole, according to chief financial officer John Wilson, and would have forced it to look at laying off about 15 percent of the workforce.

"Stable funding is the key to getting the Baldwin County school system back on the track of excellence," said board President Shannon Cauley. "That is what everyone wants. They want excellent schools. This will help everyone get there."

As part of the commission's deal to make the tax permanent, the school board will be asked to redistribute proceeds of a separate sales tax, enacted in 1984, in order to give more revenue for road construction.

At present, the school board gets 55 percent of that separate one-cent sales tax, while the county collects 40 percent, and Faulkner State Community College gets 5 percent. The board will vote Thursday to swap the school and county shares, sending about $5 million extra to the county.

The tax deal began coming together last year. On Monday, the board credited retired Superintendent Larry Newton as being the key player. Newton came up with the idea, discussed it with Mobile-based political strategist Jonathan Gray, and then the two of them spoke with county commissioners about the possibilities.

"It was nothing short of miraculous," said board member Angie Swiger.

Said board member David Tarwater: "When I heard that this had come out, I said a prayer of 'thanks.'"

But unlike county commissioners - who voted 4-0 to permanently extend the sales tax increase and encourage approval of the 1984 tax allocation swap - there could be some "No" votes on Thursday.

Opposition exists

Board member David Cox said the allocation swap, in his view, will "basically almost completely defund" the ongoing capital program that the school board endorsed last year.

That program, called "pay as you go," allocates a portion of the school system's reserves into a fund that helps pay for school improvements. The school board, last year, voted in a $15.5 million capital program that includes new classrooms and cafeterias at about a half dozen schools.

"I completely agree that we need a stable funding source, there is no argument here," said Cox. "As much as I appreciate what the county commission has done, I'm not willing to give up $5 million and throw the 'pay as you go' program out the door."

Wilson said with the 1 percent sales tax stabilized, there will be more flexibility within the budget to continue with the capital program. He said the school system keeps a two month reserve, or about $45 million annually, with a portion -- $17 million last fiscal year - going toward capital projects.

"We might revisit our fund balance (the reserve) because we keep a healthy two-plus month fund balance," said Superintendent Eddie Tyler. "We can possibly decrease that fund balance now that we know that we have stability in the penny tax. We can move more of that to our 'pay as you go.'"

Cox, while the only board member to voice opposition, wasn't the plan's only critic.

Lou Campomenosi, who heads the Baldwin County chapter of the Common Sense Campaign, said that his tea party group continues to be concerned about past misspending by the school system and board. He has advocated for a forensic audit of school finances, though others have questioned its rationale and claim it would be more expensive than its worth.

"A forensic audit is pure baloney," said David Vosloh, who chaired the finance committee of a task force assembled in 2015 to look at ways to improve the school system.

Vosloh said his committee, during its review, found that Baldwin County schools spent below the state averages on child nutrition, transportation and administration. On the flip side, he said the school system spent above the state averages on repair and maintenance and on bonding.

"The system we have is lean and mean," said Vosloh. "When we address some of these issues that keep coming at us, they really are issues with school board members and with a previous superintendent, not the system. The system and staff you have is outstanding and the credibility is strong."

Campomenosi's group energetically campaigned against the school system's efforts two years ago to increase the property tax to undertake a 10-year, $350 million construction campaign. Voters overwhelmingly shot down the referendum for that project.

On Wednesday, Campomenosi suggested he would support a 10-year extension of the sales tax "to provide reasonable stability" to the school system while giving voters a chance to eventually decide on the tax's future. The County Commission, not the School Board, has the authority over the tax.

Campomenosi has long criticized the School Board for authorizing the Digital Renaissance program, which aimed at putting computers in the hands of almost all Baldwin students. The program has shifted in the past year under Tyler's leadership: From 2014-15, the school system spent $9.8 million on implementing a system with Apple laptops and IPads. The forecasts for the 2016-17 year have the annual costs at $2.4 million for a program that utilizes Chromebooks.

"There are still complaints and issues that need to be addressed," Campomenosi said. "I'm not an ideological person as far as this goes. The point is that ideology doesn't concern me about things like this, but what concerns me is the question of public credibility and the degree with which public education needs the public."

Kevin Spriggs, a business owner from Spanish Fort, said there could be a better way to fund road projects without the sales tax reallocation, such as an increased gasoline tax similar to Mobile County.

Legislative approval

Ultimately, it will be up to the Legislature to decide if the 1984 sales tax should be reallocated, assuming that the school board signs off on the swap.

For now, reaction is a mixed bag.

State Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, said he would have preferred for voters to decide whether to make permanent the 1 percent sales tax.

With regard to the reallocation of the 1984 tax, Pittman said: "I was unaware of the plan to deal with the 55-40 percent swap. We'll look at it. I'll be open minded and consider it, but there is no decision on what to do."

State Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Gulf Shores, said he thinks it's a good deal. "You have two problems in this county - transportation infrastructure and education," he said. "This begins to address those issues. I think it's a win-win for everyone, including the taxpayers, because we are not having to generate any new revenue to get it done."
Members of the Mobile City Council took pains Tuesday afternoon to let concerned citizens know they'd heard their views about regulating cut-through traffic afflicting residential neighborhoods. And that they will eventually arrive at a solution. And that it probably won't be any time soon.

The council's Public Safety Committee held a public comment session to deal with the issue, and comment was not in short supply. But consensus was. The gathering, attended by several dozen people, showed that "there is a tremendous difference of opinion," said committee member John Williams. "Not just on our council, but in our communities ... Some will say there absolutely is no problem, some will say that there is a tremendous problem."

Taken very broadly, the challenge facing the council has to do with an assortment of specific cases, each of which is marked by unique circumstances and many of which feature an undercurrent of inter-neighborhood animosities. Most but not all are rooted the development of west Mobile, where Grelot Road, Old Shell Road and other thoroughfares have fattened from two lanes to five over the course of the last 15 years.

Once-quiet neighborhoods have found themselves surrounded by newer developments and traffic jams. And as the traffic has increased, so has the temptation to use neighborhood streets as cut-through routes, which in turn has led residents to call for gateways to shut off the flow. But these have proven problematic, with one neighborhood's blessing seen as the adjacent neighborhood's curse.

"I think you have a larger issue," said John Adams, who resides on a street off East Drive. "What you don't want, I'm confident, is people in Mobile feeling like there's unequal access to city officials." Street closures should be decided by clear standards, fairly applied, he said, and "it shouldn't be about who gets the council member's phone number first and makes their request."

East Drive was cited by several speakers on Tuesday. The street branches off Old Shell Road opposite the USA Mitchell Center. As USA and its traffic have grown, more and more drivers have used it to cut southward toward Airport Boulevard, avoiding Hillcrest Road and University Boulevard. Some residents in the neighborhoods to the south say this cut-through traffic poses a danger to their children and their quality of life, and that blocking East Drive might be the solution. But residents of East Drive argue that this would leave them unable to leave their homes, or to reach them, when Old Shell is gridlocked by events at the Mitchell Center.

Another hot spot involves the Wildwood and Regency Oaks subdivisions off Grelot Road and University Boulevard, where a temporary roadblock put up at the request of Regency Oaks residents infuriated some Wildwood residents. It's also generated criticism of District 4 Councilman Williams, and fueled a District 4 challenge from Robert Martin, who was among the speakers calling for street-closing criteria to be codified.

Lingering animosity between residents was clear at Tuesday's meeting, when Williams came to his feet to tell representatives of Wildwood and Regency Oaks that they were welcome to air their views to the committee, but not to bicker among themselves in the audience.

At the end of the session, committee chair Bess Rich thanked the 20 or so people who spoke and the others who'd come to show support. "This was an opportunity and I'm really glad we took it," she said, adding that the city needs to do more to help support family friendly neighborhoods.

That said, she added, it was "way too premature" for the committee to make concrete recommendations to the full council.

Williams, likewise, predicted that there would be many more meetings on the issue before the council could approve specific criteria for closing neighborhood streets. And when resolution comes it may be in the form of a compromise that leaves no one completely satisfied, he said.

"We are a long ways from closing any streets," he said. "We're a long way from being a council that has resolved enough to pass an ordinance. But we will ... We will handle this issue."

District 1 Councilman Fred Richardson seconded the view that "this is a cumbersome issue," but suggested west Mobile residents remember the silver lining: "One of the reasons you're having these problems out west is because that's where they money has been spent," he said.

"We're going to be in prayer about this whole situation," said District 3 Councilman C.J. Small, drawing laughter as the meeting ended.
ABC News(NEW YORK)  Donald Trump hopes that the dozens of congressional Democrats who are planning to boycott Fridays inauguration will change their minds, his senior adviser Kellyanne Conway said Wednesday.



"He recognizes that to move forward we need to come together," Conway said of the president-elect on ABC News Good Morning America.



"We hope that the Democrats who said they're not coming to the inauguration can reconsider," she added. "They certainly are invited, because thats the way that you show America that were coming together to solve some really significant problems."



So far, 55 Democratic members of Congress have announced they will skip Trump's inauguration in protest of the ceremony. While some made their decision in previous weeks, many more have come forward in recent days, citing the president-elect's perceived insult of Rep. John Lewis as the last straw.



Trump lashed out at the civil rights icon on Twitter Saturday morning after Lewis said in an interview Friday that he didn't view Trump as "a legitimate president." Lewis, a Georgia Democrat who protested against racial injustice alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., also said he would not attend Trump's inauguration.



Trump senior adviser Conway encouraged the politicians to attend Friday's official oath of office in Washington, D.C., saying the president-elect will stay true to his election promises and his inaugural address will be a "powerful message."



"If you look at this inaugural address, and Ive seen it, you do see a president whos making good on his promise from election night," Conway said, "to be the president of all Americans and that includes the millions who did not vote for him. That theme will be carried over into his inaugural address. Its a beautiful, elegant, very strong, powerful message. And, yes, it is America first and, yes, he's a man of action."

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Cayuga County will receive more than $7.4 million to repair four bridges in Auburn and three towns, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.

The city of Auburn will get $4.75 million to repair a bridge on State Street that passes over the Owasco Outlet. It's the largest bridge repair project to receive funding in central New York.

The second-largest project is also in Cayuga County. The town of Mentz received $1.473 million for a bridge on New York Central Road over the Owasco Outlet.

Throop will get $903,000 for repairs to the Nugent Road bridge over Crane Brook and $285,000 has been awarded to the town of Sterling for the Schoolcraft Road bridge over the Sterling Valley Creek.

Overall, central New York received $16.76 million to fund 16 bridge and culvert projects.

The funding was made available through the first round of the state's $1 billion BRIDGE NY initiative. The program is part of a $21.1 billion capital plan to improve bridges and roads.

"Infrastructure is the key to our prosperity and through this program, we are providing funding to local governments in every corner of this state to help ensure their bridges remain reliable, resilient and able to meet the demands of current and future generations," Cuomo said in a statement.
Supporters say Marlin mine creates jobs, but critics see it as exploitative and environmentally unsound.

San Miguel Ixtahuacan, Guatemala  Viewed from a thousand feet up, the Marlin mine resembles a scar cut deep across the Guatemalan countryside. On both sides of a sinuous road that winds down a mountainside, the patchwork of forest and field has been scraped and blasted away to expose the yellow-white rock that gives the land here incredible value.

But the tiny flecks of gold that have turned this into one of the regions most profitable mines have also made it a source of conflict and controversy.

Fifty-eight year old Diadora Hernandezs story illustrates the dangerous divisions that have emerged since the mine started operations in 2005.

My neighbors dont want to see me, said the diminutive grandmother one afternoon, sitting on a tree stump outside the small, dirt-floored house a few hundred meters from the mine. They hate me because I wont sell my land to the mine. But my grandmother left me this land  its mine and I dont want to sell it.

Hernandez said this stubbornness nearly cost her her life. One evening in 2010, two local men came to her doorstep and asked to buy a cup of coffee. When Hernandez returned with the coffee, one of the men pulled out a gun and shot her in the face point blank. She spent three months in hospital as a result.

I lost this eye, she said, pointing to her glass eye. And I cant hear out of this ear.

Hernandez explained that she is certain her refusal to sell her land angered some local mine workers, who were worried their jobs might be at risk if the mine wasnt able to expand. She gestured to the tree-dotted pastureland around her and added: All of the people in my community are compromised by the mine  they all work there.

The two men later detained for the assault had worked for a company contracted by the mine.

Gold in the hills

The only thing sustainable [the mine] is providing to the local indigenous communities, besides a small number of very low paying jobs, is a long list of serious health and environmental harms.  Grahame Russell, human rights lawyer



Located 300 kilometres west of Guatemala City, the Canadian-owned mine employs more than 2,000 people, the majority of whom are Guatemalan. Last year it produced 382,400 ounces of gold, earning the company $607m  nearly five times what it earned in 2009. Reserves will support production until 2017, with further exploration expected to extend the life of its operations.

The region around Marlin is home to the Mam and Sipakapense people, two of Guatemalas 21 indigenous Maya groups. The communities here, like most Maya communities, have traditionally been neglected by the Guatemalan government and have high rates of poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition.

Goldcorp, the company that owns Marlin, and their supporters say the mine has brought much needed economic development to the region, building roads, health clinics and schools.

Boys and girls that used to walk up to eight kilometres to receive an education can now (go) to school in their own communities due to the companys contribution to infrastructure, said Eduardo Villacorta, Central and South American Vice President of Operations. He added that the company is also committed to capacity building.

The objective is to train people so that when the company leaves they will have the opportunity to maintain a good quality of life, and more and better opportunities, Villacorta said.

But Grahame Russell, a human rights lawyer with the NGO Rights Action, told Al Jazeera the appearance of skin infections in the local population, cracking homes and threats against local activists tell a different story.

While the mine is certainly providing sustainable and substantial profits for investors, the only thing sustainable it is providing to the local indigenous communities, besides a small number of very low paying jobs, is a long list of serious health and environmental harms, and other human rights violations, he said.

Lack of consultations

In 2005, as the mine was preparing to open, local communities organised a referendum on whether to allow mining in their communities. The answer was a resounding no. Yet their voices were ignored, despite Guatemalas ratification of an international convention requiring the consent of indigenous people over decisions affecting them.

On May 20, 2010, allegations over dried-up wells, the contamination of water sources and negative health effects led the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to grant precautionary measures to the local Maya communities. The commission called on the Guatemalan government to suspend operations at the Marlin mine.

We thought we finally had a victory, said community activist Aniseto Lopez. But the mine will never take the blame.

Although the call for suspension made headlines across the country, the mine continued to operate as usual.

Then a year and a half later, the IACHR revised the precautionary measure, requesting instead that the government implement effective measures to prevent environmental pollution and ensure local people have access to potable water.

Goldcorp celebrated the revision with this statement: The Government of Guatemalas latest response to the IACHR demonstrates there is no evidence of negative impacts to public health or the environment as a result of operations at Marlin Mine.

Where else could I goThis land is part of me. Its where I was born. And its where Ill die.  Diadora Hernandez, local



But Lyuba Zarsky, a professor at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, disagrees, and said the revision came down to bullying.

The IACHR is coming under increasing pressure by Latin American countries to back off from intervening in large development projects, said Professor Zarsky, who co-authored a report about the Marlin mine. But Goldcorp and other large mining companies will continue to face scrutiny and pressure.

In August Goldcorp made headlines again, this time in Canada, after it flew four Canadian MPs and a Senator to Guatemala in their company jet. The purpose of the all-expenses paid trip was to visit the Marlin mine and meet local government officials.

While there was nothing illegal about the trip, it was widely criticised for calling into question the integrity and independence of Canadian elected officials and those appointed to represent the public.

Back to reality

Diadora Hernandez takes a break from herding her cows and sheep. Though shes been running at high speeds under the midday sun shes hardly broken a sweat.

Sitting under a tall, shady avocado tree she looks out at the sweeping pastureland laid out in front of her.

Where else could I go, she said. This land is part of me. Its where I was born. And its where Ill die.
There has been a surge in Latin American families trying to cross the US-Mexico border before Trumps inauguration.

El Paso, Texas  Sayed came into the world in a border detention cell.

His mother, who had travelled from El Salvador with her husband, daughter and 100 others in a truck swilling with urine, had alerted the US customs guard to the pain in her belly. He said, Drink that water, sit down and think about if you want to go to the hospital, she recalled.

Within half an hour, Veronicas son had been born. The paramedics arrived just in time, but her ordeal was far from over.

After one night in hospital she and her newborn were sent to Tornillo, a holding centre that had recently been opened 40 miles from El Paso to deal with the surge in Central American families and unaccompanied children migrating to the United States .

The white marquees in the cold Texan desert offer temporary shelter for up to 500 people awaiting detention or release. Veronica had been there two days earlier, but had been told that they didnt take pregnant women and sent her back to the border cell.

When Veronica awoke after a freezing night huddled in an aluminium wrap, she noticed that Sayed, who was wrapped in blankets, looked sick. His little mouth was purple and he was vomiting, she remembered.

They were transferred to the local childrens hospital, where Sayed spent 28 days. Veronica said that the hospital staff told her he probably got a bacterial infection from the conditions he was born in.

Her family was one of the thousands of Central American family units that arrived at the US-Mexico border last year, many fleeing crippling poverty and violence.

Family unit apprehensions reached a five-year high of 77,674 in the last fiscal year, according to US government figures, almost double the previous years total of 39,838. Arrivals of unaccompanied children rose by nearly 50 percent . The vast majority came from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, the so-called Northern Triangle, where murder rates are among the highest in the world.

READ MORE: Living on the edges  Life in the colonias of Texas

The previously quiet crossing of El Paso, which is in far western Texas and at the centre of the 2,000-mile US-Mexico frontier, has seen one of the most dramatic increases. Refugees have typically favoured eastern border crossings such as McAllen and Brownsville, which are closer to Central America; but in the past federal year family apprehensions in the El Paso sector soared by 364 percent .

Ruben Garcia, the founder of Annunciation House, which runs a network of migrant shelters in El Paso, believes that the opening of family detention centres Karnes and Dilley in southern Texas  Obamas response to the Central American migrant crisis in 2014  has led families to choose this longer route. If they want to detain a family they have to fly them there, which is an expense, he said.

Although Tornillo is seen as an improvement on holding families in ill-equipped border cells, Garcia believes that the border authorities are struggling to deal humanely with the challenge that family migration presents.

The staff on the border and in the crossings bridges are not prepared for what essentially is social work. This isnt detaining people. This is everything that comes with a human person. Its a problem that for us is very serious, he explained.

US Border Patrol released a statement on December 20 praising their quick and compassionate handling of Sayeds birth. But his mother disagrees. Perhaps if they had called the ambulance the first time I said Id felt bad, my baby would have been born in hospital. He probably wouldnt be ill. The statement said that the baby had already been discharged, but the hospital confirmed that he was treated there until January 3.

S tories of humiliation and family separation

For many along the border, the election of Donald Trump brings added anxiety. The two months surrounding the US election saw a marked increase in arrivals  28,691 family units were detained in October and November, a 130 percent increase from the same period in 2015. Total apprehensions rose by 42 percent.

Although its a catalyst rather than a cause, some believe that Trumps promises  a gigantic border wall and aggressive deportations  could be prompting people to cross before its too late.

People know that the US is tightening and tightening, said Garcia, who has been helping migrants along the border for nearly 40 years.They saw what happened in 2014. After declaring a humanitarian crisis, the Obama administration kept some women and children detained for more than a year . The policy was intended to deter others.

For Veronica, it was a combination of losing her job and worsening gang violence at home that pushed her to make the journey. We were already on the way when we found that Trump had won. He makes you afraid, but going home would be even worse.

WATCH: The Deported  Americas Immigration Battle (25 minutes)

Many fear the incoming presidents stance will be even harsher than Obamas, who deported more than any other president in US history. We wonder if hes going to ask Congress to appropriate money to open up more family detention, said Garcia. So instead of 3,000 beds, we have 10,000 for mothers, fathers and children.

Family detention in the US continues despite ongoing controversies . In July 2015, a federal judge in California found that the detention of children, both with and without their parents, violated a landmark 1997 ruling on childcare standards. Yet Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) still detains families and children until they take the credible fear interview  the prerequisite for successful asylum.

If you come and in and say to me the magic words I am afraid, youre automatically in a credible fear track, explained Garcia. If you say to me, My children are not eating and I have to find work to feed them, there is no provision in law. Its very sad how this whole thing works.

The difference between detention and release is often arbitrary, said Garcia, depending on numbers and space. He recently received a phone call from ICE asking him to take in 164 women and children who were on a plane at El Paso airport. It was bound for the family detention centres, but a child had contracted chickenpox and the facilities refused to accept anyone for fear of an outbreak. Eventually, one centre relented and took half  the other half was released.

To them I said, From now on, when you make the sign of the Cross you say, In the name of the Father, the Son, chickenpox, Amen.

Annunciation House runs three temporary shelters for the fortunate ones, who have been released by customs with a court date, often in a year or two. One hundred and seventeen women and children have just been dropped off in three bus loads from Tornillo. Here they can wash, eat and sleep before continuing their onward journey. Within a night or two theyre on their way and a whole new set arrives, many exhausted or desperate, their first taste of the US a long way from the American dream.

US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has recognised unaccompanied children and families as a new challenge in the immigration system, writing in October of his departments determination to treat migrants humanely. But speaking to those in the busy shelters on the border, stories of humiliation and family separation are common.

Casa de Migrantes

On the other side of the frontier in Juarez, Mexico, Casa de Migrantes attends to men, women and children en route to the US, or those who have already been sent back. Many are single male Mexicans being deported to their home states.

In a quiet, private bedroom, three-year-old Alejandra* tugs frantically at her mothers sweater, pulling up the fabric to try to wipe away her tears. Shes just a toddler but shes hot-wired to her mums feelings.

The pair fled their hometown in El Salvador after witnessing gang members shoot dead a policeman. He was her husbands cousin and it was the third police killing in the country that week. The day after the officer had been buried, a man came to her door and handed her a mobile phone.

He said, You have 24 hours to disappear. If not, you and your daughter will no longer exist, Cristina* recalled, crying. She fled to her sisters house and called her brother in California, who got the money together for her journey.

READ MORE: Deadly human trafficking business on Mexico-US border

But when she finally arrived at the border to ask for asylum, her pleas were ignored. It was a Saturday.

She [Alejandra] was saying, Mister, please let Mummy and me pass. They didnt pay attention and turned their head the other way, said the 26-year-old.

They just said, Go back. Its closed. Dont you understand? Have you never been to a shop? Come back Monday.

We said that we didnt have anywhere to stay, that I was asking for asylum. Then the other man said, Not now, not Monday or ever are you getting into the United States.

US Customs and Border Protection spokesman Roger Maier told Al Jazeera that the border ports are not closed to people seeking asylum at any time. Individuals were advised to return the following day if capacity had been reached to allow for a safe and expeditious process, but since the opening of Tornillo this is no longer in effect, he said. Cristinas case occurred three weeks after the opening of Tornillo.

Bystanders on the bridge told Cristina about the shelter, where she has received meals, a change of clothes and a bed. She planned to head back to the border early the next day, this time via another bridge.

Were afraid they wont give us asylum. I cant go back to El Salvador, she said.

The International Womens Media Foundation supported Sophie Eastaughs reporting from the US-Mexico border as part of the Adelante Latin America Reporting Initiative.
Occupied East Jerusalem  For Palestinians living under occupation, achievements that benefit the community are often celebrated as a form of resistance.

A new one-classroom school, aptly named Persistence, for chronically ill Palestinian children being treated at a hospital in occupied East Jerusalem, is seen as just that: a triumph.

The school, the first of its kind in Palestine, has wedged a sliver of hope in an otherwise bleak atmosphere.

Here, children suffering from cancer and kidney disease, and who are usually forced to miss out on years of schoolwork, are able to continue their education for free while undergoing treatment.

Inside the small classroom, the walls are dotted with childrens posters that read our future is ahead of us and thank you to the best school in Augusta Victoria. Alongside hang hand-drawn renditions of the Palestinian flag, colourful houses and birds.

In one corner of the room, Shahd, a little girl with short, ash blonde hair and big brown eyes sits quietly at her desk, colouring in a worksheet of the Arabic letter she just learned. The five-year-old from Bethlehem has been diagnosed with leukaemia. Underneath her pink jumper, her small arm is connected to an intravenous drip.

In another corner, Amjad, from Gaza, rushes to the board with enthusiasm to solve a maths problem before his teacher is finished writing it out. The doctors have not yet determined which type of cancer the nine-year-old boy has.

For the close to five million Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, the importance of the Augusta Victoria Hospital cannot be overstated.

It is the only hospital in the occupied Palestinian territories that Israel has permitted to provide radiation therapy for cancer patients. It is also the only hospital offering specialised paediatric kidney dialysis treatment.

This means that children from the West Bank and Gaza must spend a considerable amount of time away from their home towns, receiving treatment in Jerusalem.

Overall, 35 percent of the hospitals patients hail from the Gaza Strip, while the remaining 65 percent come from the West Bank. For kidney dialysis patients, mainly from the West Bank, treatment can mean a visit to Jerusalem, which involves crossing arduous Israeli checkpoints, at least three times a week. For cancer patients, primarily from Gaza, treatment can mean spending months at a time at the hospital.

Children undergoing kidney dialysis miss two to three days of school a week. Our cancer patients stay here from one month to 40 days, at least, and therefore miss a lot of material, Mohamed Qabaja, head nurse of the paediatrics department, said.

The school is compensating for that. Were benefiting greatly because were taking the school to the patients bed. The child has started feeling that their time at the hospital isnt just about getting treatment, injections and pain, but it has also become about learning, Qabaja told Al Jazeera. They feel as though they are at home.

Israel has long banned the presence of any radioactive material, used in radiotherapy, in the occupied territories. It considers the material to be a dual-use product that can be utilised to make nuclear weapons, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) in Israel confirmed to Al Jazeera. X-ray machines are also banned.

Palestinians under Israeli occupation have no immediate access to radiation therapy for cancer treatment. They must apply for hard-to-obtain permits from Israel to be transferred to East Jerusalem, which can take weeks, if not months, and can be fatal for the patient.

Israel also regularly denies and delays permit requests. PHR, which helps patients in Gaza obtain exit permits to receive medical treatment, says that there has been an increase in the number of permits delayed or denied over the years.

In 2015, 31 permit requests were denied while 17 were delayed. Last year, the number of permit requests denied rose to 42, while 26 others faced delays, according to PHR.

Israel also stipulates that any Palestinians from Gaza below the age of 17 must be accompanied by a first-degree relative such as a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, but parents under 55 are not eligible for a permit, meaning the child must spend months without their mother or father.

Like many children making the journey from Gaza, 12-year-old Malak who suffers from leukaemia, has been at the hospital for two months with her grandmother Widad el-Assal.

She wants her mother to be with her very badly. The only thing that is keeping her patient is the knowledge that theres no way for her mother to be here. But what can we do? Thats the life of a Palestinian, said el-Assal, with tearful eyes.

Its been two months and we dont know how much longer we have to be here, she continued, adding that she is exhausted and unfit to take care of a child.

Walid Nammour, the chief executive officer of the Augusta Victoria Hospital, says Israel has made things unnecessarily difficult for the children. When a child is suffering from cancer  thats when they need the mother the most. But Israel only permits sending the grandmother or other relatives. It is so inhumane.

With the opening of the school, the hospital vows to remedy the difficulties and nurture the overall wellbeing of the children. Samar Abu Sara, a teacher at the school, says the project has been life-changing for the patients.

To the children, explains Abu Sara, the classroom has become a safe space and a change of scenery, away from the pain of treatment. The school has given them hope. Sometimes the children see us in the corridors and early ask us, When is it my turn to study?'

Sometimes, they dont like going back to their rooms because they know that that will mean check-ups or drawing blood. They feel safe here.

For patients with kidney disease, the teacher must mentor the child as they undergo kidney dialysis for three hours.

Nawal Abu Nima says her daughter Lamas overall temperament has improved since being enrolled at the school. She finds herself at the same level as her classmates, or even ahead of them, which makes her very happy, Abu Nima told Al Jazeera.

But the hospital, which is owned and operated by the Lutheran World Federation, may face closure due to unpaid debts from the Palestinian Authority, the semi-governmental body that administers the occupied West Bank.

The PA is unable to pay the fees, worth more than 120 million shekels ($31m), for the patients it referred to the Augusta Victoria Hospital, creating a cash flow crisis for the hospital.

If the hospital closes, everything will go down with it  including the school, said Nammour. Even though weve managed to get a lot of financial support for the school, the hospitals situation is bad.

We do not need more donations  we need the PA to pay what it owes.

Still, despite the risks, Nammour says that the opening of the school represents a milestone for the hospital and an act of nonviolent resistance to occupation.

My aim behind the school is to promote an understanding of human dignity for the Palestinian, Nammour told Al Jazeera. It is not about merely giving treatment to a child, who would then end up illiterate. It is a comprehensive approach that reflects our commitment to nurturing the Palestinian individual, he continued.

The school is a unique experience and were very proud  that we live under an occupation choking us day and night  but weve shown that we want to live in dignity and that we can do it.
Who represents the Palestinian people?

The political parties and groups advocating for the cause of Palestinian self-determination.
Whenever Africa is in the headline of mainstream US and European media sources, especially those that are highly regarded, I wince. I know the storyline is going to suffused by disappointment and resignation about Africa failing, once again.

While the rest of the world and its modern inhabitants are technologising and digitising, happily going about wearing jeans and T-shirts, there goes Africa, backwards into some apocalyptic, scarred past, wearing embarrassing tribal garb.

Sometimes, these media outlets allow Africa to come to the present, but of course, in dubious ways: embedded in the flow of Islamic terror-narratives: Nigeria and Boko Haram, Libya and its violent insurgents, Somalia and its troublesome Islamic fundamentalists raiding Kenyan universities.





Its as though the editorial board is shaking its collective head with an exasperated sigh, and showing us, with a lavish, full-colour photograph, exactly why they are frustrated with the entire continent.

Sometimes, though, Im just confused. For instance, the influential New York Times recently published an article titled Who Is Telling Africas Stories, covering efforts to develop photojournalism in various African countries.

The writer, Whitney Richardson, a photo editor for the paper, provided some contradicting points: Happy news about the growing number of talented photographers coming out of photography training institutes and collectives based in countries with divergent histories and presents  Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa  but also that these photographers do not produce work that is professional enough for agencies to hire them.

Uncomfortable conversations

Richardson offered some insight into continuing problems that locally based photographers face getting international news agencies attention. What emerges as a solution is the need for young photographers to get international exposure, where, according to acclaimed photographer Akintunde Akinleye, they may also learn the ethical standards of the industry. The takeaway: unless international news agencies based in North America and Europe such as the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse pick your work, you are a nobody.

Yet, it is these very agencies that contribute to problematic views that simplify Africa into a repetitive trope. Africa remains a monolithic space of violence and poverty uncomplicated by global politics and military action, because the images and narratives chosen by powerful news agencies and newspapers continue to speak to foundational myths that Europe (and white ex-colonists and plantation owners in America) manufactured about Africa, in order to better ease their conquest and exploitation of a regionally, politically and socially complex, dynamic continental shelf.

If the construction of the African as child-like, or not quite human, who has little agency or intellect, aided the colonial project, today, the narrative continues to aid the construction of the European self as civilised, maintaining the African and Africa as the location of savagery, helplessness, and devastation. It also creates Europe as a desirable location that those who have no agency and have done little to better themselves attempt to infiltrate  much to Europes chagrin.

Aida Muluneh, Ethiopian-born artist, documentary photographer, and the founder of Desta for Africa (DFA)  a creative consultancy that curates exhibitions and pursues cultural projects with local and international institutions  emphasises: Photography continues to play a key role in how we are seen, not just as Africans, but as black people from every corner of the world. Stereotypes and prejudice are incited by images, and if its used, yet again, to undermine those of us who are truly doing the difficult work, then we need to have some uncomfortable conversations.





And when it comes to payment, there are further uncomfortable discrepancies that international agencies never reveal: When we do get assignments, they want to pay us less because we are from the country; but for a foreign photographer, they will not blink to pay an arm and a leg, adds Muluneh.

In Richardsons piece, the prevailing view is that even though top photo agencies are looking for local photographers to offset costs, the Africans do not compare to western photographers.

Alice Gabriner, Time magazines international photo editor, expressed disappointment with African photographers (note, again, an entire continents photographers are lumped together), because they lack completed bodies of work.

But photography training institutions  producing photographers with complete bodies of work that have received international acclaim and awards  have mushroomed in the past 10 years. Mulunehs own focus is on developing internal networks: to be independent and to create our own platforms  and institutions  to be self-sustainable and to be able to compete in the international market.

Besides Mulunehs DFA, which also runs AddisFoto Festival, there is Market Photo Workshop in South Africa, The Nlele Institute in Nigeria, The Nest Collective in Kenya, among others.

Despite the existence of photographers and journalists from African localities, they are not the go-to people that agencies based in the geopolitical West seek out. The New York Times reporters-in-Africa, Nicholas Kristoff and Jeffrey Gettleman, or R W Johnson, the London Review of Books go-to fave on South Africa, spin a good Africa story, seemingly with little self-critique, and with little thought to consequences.

The ideologies behind the image narratives and stories in English language news sources are presented matter-of-factly, with little resistance from alternative media in the US and Europe; although they often contain deeply problematic perspectives of significant issues, they are trotted out on a regular basis, whenever there is a crisis involving Africa.

Conscious and unconscious tropes

If we ask a photojournalist or a photo editor how old narratives constructed in order to aid slavery, exploitation, and colonisation, as well as current efforts to extract resources, continue to inflect themselves into how we conceive of Africa and Africans today, in current photo spreads, wed draw blank stares, or be the recipient of hostile, defensive responses.

That lack of critique is partly owing to the fact that photo narratives reference prevailing problematic, and often racist, views; even those with expensive educations that taught them to be critical, those who hold influential photo-editing positions at the worlds most powerful news companies, still subscribe to these views, consciously or unconsciously.





For instance, only months before publishing Who is Telling Africas Stories, The New York Times published a photo essay with the troubling headline Stepping Over the Dead on a Migrant Boat by Rick Gladstone and Aris Messinis. The story focused on African migrants who had crossed the Mediterranean in an attempt to reach Europe, but ended up dying in a capsizing boat.

The photo essay appears, at first, to highlight the migrants plight. However, the way in which they are portrayed, along with the provocative headline, made their desperate attempts to reach safety appear callous and inhuman (because what civilised person would step over the dead?).

The survivors who scrambled to get to safety are depicted as broken humans, at best, or those with unformed psyches that permit acts of barbarity that the Western we would never consider.

Photo-narratives such as Stepping Over the Dead bring up many familiar, and troubling, tropes common to the prevailing narratives about Africa. They teach a new generation of readers to view the African as an other to be pitied or feared.

These arresting images  constructed mostly by flown-in photojournalists, with the help of their photo editors  grab our attention; the best draw the fundamentals of their aesthetic from European masters, referencing visual cliches that Western-educated audiences can identify and latch on to. They continue and reinforce colonial mythologies, fashioning the us of the geopolitical West as civilised, defining and distinguishing the enlightened European self from the dark, savage Africa.

OPINION: Africa doesnt want any more Western band aids

When the same newspaper prints a story about the struggle that African photographers face getting their work published, with little critique of their own involvement in presenting an insistently racist vision of Africa and Africans that simply masquerades as compassion, its easy to end up with a little schizophrenia.

How can African photographers hope to get work or recognition without reproducing expected stereotypes? Can they do so without the accompaniment of writing that exposes European or US governments interference and military presence  as in the case of Somalia, Mali, CAR, Djibouti, and Chad  or destabilisation efforts and military campaigns  as in the case of Libya?

Instead of leading the story with the dearth of Africa-based agencies, and offering the need to get recognition in North America and Europe  itself a problematic solution, available mostly to those who are already from middle and upper-class families who are well-connected enough to navigate visa and immigration regimes, not to mention galleries and art world sharks  why not offer better solutions?

Photographs have traditionally been regarded as evidence, or even as providers of indisputable truth. And there is little doubt that the present generation reads the world almost exclusively through images. In this age, where images play a significant role in how we read the world, photographs that accompany news stories have even more influence.

But the practice of reading, in which we currently engage, is undergirded by consumer practices; it is carried out with little critical ability, and with little historical understanding about how and why readers image repertories, and their thought processes are influenced by material cultures  including photography  that aided violent, imperial histories.

But because photography is seen as a truth-telling medium that reveals without bias, audiences and photographers themselves are unaware of how the narratives they help create continue to be inflected with the same stories that enabled Europes construction of the African as a savage or helpless, the other needing the disciplinary forces of Western civilisation to tame and aid their unruly bodies and psyches into modernity.

When Muluneh was recently interviewed by a local radio station, she was asked how she was able to photograph the good things about Ethiopia, as well as the bad. Muluneh explained to her interviewer that the bad is the easiest thing to document. Perhaps thats something The New York Times photographers need to hear in a critical skills workshop.

M Neelika Jayawardane is an Associate Professor of English at the State University of New York-Oswego, and an Honorary Research Associate at the Centre for Indian Studies in Africa (CISA), University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa). She was a senior editor and contributor to the online magazine, Africa is a Country, from 2010 to 2106. Her writing is featured in Transitions, Contemporary And, Art South Africa, Contemporary Practices: Visual Art from the Middle East, and Research in African Literatures. She writes about and collaborates with visual artists.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Agreement reached after three days of talks in Moscow paving the way for the formation of a new National Council.

The Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority has agreed to form a unity government with rival organisation Hamas, Al Jazeera has learned.

The agreement was reached late on Tuesday after a three-day negotiation in the Russian capital, Moscow.

The two organisations will form a new National Council, which will include Palestinians in exile and hold elections.

Today the conditions for [such an initiative] are better than ever, Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior Fatah official, said.

The deal also includes the Islamic Jihad group, which had not been involved in negotiations for a long time.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Fatah party and Hamas have been at loggerheads since the latter seized Gaza in a near civil war in 2007, after it won the 2006 legislative elections.

Last year the Palestinian government postponed the first municipal polls in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip in 10 years after the high court ruled they should be held only in the Fatah-run West Bank.

The last time the Palestinians staged elections in which both Hamas and Fatah took part was in 2006.

The Palestinian representatives also met on Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and asked him to dissuade incoming US President Donald Trump from carrying out a campaign pledge to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Russian approach

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Khaled Elgindy, a senior Brookings Institute fellow and former adviser on peace negotiations, said it is still not clear how different the latest agreement is to previous deals.

Elgindy said the most important factor prompting the unity agreement is the leadership change in Washington DC.

President Abbas may be looking to shore up his domestic position, and to insulate himself from what he sees maybe as a very hostile administration coming into Washington, he said.

Al Jazeeras Natasha Ghoneim, reporting from Moscow, said the agreement in Russia signals the Palestinians looking away from the United States, which has been involved in the peace process for decades.

Historically, peace discussions have been dominated by the US. They are looking for a different approach, and Russia certainly offered a different approach, she said.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian leader who is close to Hamas leadership told Al Jazeera that things are far from clear or final yet.

In principle, all of the Palestinian factions have agreed to form a national unity government, including Hamas, and to establish a new Palestinian National Council. But Abbas has yet to make a decision that will take concrete steps in that direction.

Abbas will also have to consider the position of the regional Arab powers who might cast a veto on the whole thing because of their animosity toward Hamas.

With reporting from Al Jazeeras Ali Younes. Follow him on Twitter @Ali_reports
Civilians and tourists leave and regional forces deploy as President Jammeh refuses to cede power despite election loss.

Large numbers of Gambians have fled their homes and soldiers from neighbouring Senegal have begun moving towards the borders amid a deepening political crisis.

Yahya Jammeh, who lost a December 1 presidential vote to opposition leader Adama Barrow, is refusing to step down, despite international condemnation and a threat of a military intervention by West African countries to enforce his election defeat.

The presidents mandate expires on Thursday, and Barrow  who is currently in Senegal  has pledged to go ahead with his inauguration on Thursday.





Halifa Sallah, a spokesman for the president-elect, said if Jammeh

refused to step down by midnight, the inauguration would take place at the Gambian embassy in Dakar.

Late on Wednesday, witnesses reported seeing Senegalese soldiers in both the Kaolack region of Senegal to the north of The Gambia, and in the southern Senegalese region of Casamance.

The Gambia is completely surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic.

Colonel Abdou Ndiaye, a spokesman for the Senegal army, told Reuters news agency that Senegalese troops arrived at the Gambian border late on Wednesday.

We are ready and are awaiting the deadline at midnight. If no political solution is found, we will step in, Ndiaye said.

After the midnight deadline, there was no word from Jammeh.

Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris, reporting from Nigerias capital, Abuja, said that according to multiple security sources, a deployment comprising of air component, the navy as well as ground troops was under way to go to Gambia.

A ship of the Nigerian navy is off the coast of Ghana on the way to Gambia, and there are reports that Ghana may also be contributing to the troops deployment to Gambia, in addition to Senegal.

READ MORE: Exiled Gambians ponder return to troubled homeland

In a Facebook post, Mai Ahmad Fatty, Barrows special adviser, advised Gambians to stay indoors.

Those who resist peaceful change effective 12 midnight tonight shall face definite consequences, to their peril, he wrote.

Anyone with firearms tonight shall be deemed a rebel, and will certainly become a legitimate target.

As the crisis has deepened, hundreds of tourists have departed from The Gambia, a popular winter destination in West Africa for visitors, especially from Britain, the former colonial power.

The streets of the capital, Banjul, were largely empty by late afternoon on Wednesday.

The town today has been calm, especially downtown has been almost deserted, Katarina Hoije, a Banjul-based journalist, told Al Jazeera.

Shopkeepers have kept their stores closed while police and military have been patrolling the neighbourhoods in the city centre.

In other neighbourhoods of the town, further away from the government buildings, life goes on as usual but of course there is an anticipation of what is going to happen on Thursday.

INSIDE STORY: Whats causing the unrest in The Gambia?

At least 26,000 people have fled The Gambia for Senegal since the start of the crisis fearing unrest, the UNs refugee agency UNHCR said on Wednesday, citing Senegalese government figures.

At the Bundung Garage bus station in Banjul, women carrying infants strapped to their backs queued up to get the belongings they had salvaged onto buses bound for the southern border with Senegal.

Men and children sat patiently amid piles of suitcases, rolled up foam mattresses, bags of rice and bottles of cooking oil.

Others fled on pirogues across the river that splits the country down the middle.

Term extended

A former coup leader who has ruled the small West African country since 1994, Jammeh initially conceded defeat but a week later contested the polls results stating irregularities.

In a sign he is digging in, Gambias National Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday to allow Jammeh to stay in office for three more months from Wednesday.

The decision came a day after Jammeh declared a 90-day state of emergency, alleging unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference in the countrys internal affairs.

But Jammehs allies have deserted in their droves  at least eight ministers have so far resigned of whom four quit in the past 48 hours  and it is unclear how many of his own armed forces will be willing to defend him once his mandate expires.

The Gambia is one of Africas smallest countries and has had only two rulers since independence in 1965.
Resolution passed by national assembly allows president to stay in power for 90 more days despite losing December vote.

Gambias national assembly has adopted a resolution to allow President Yahya Jammeh to stay in power for three more months, starting from Wednesday, just hours before the end of his official term.

Jammeh, who has ruled the small West African country for 22 years, initially acknowledged opponent Adama Barrow as the winner of elections in December, but later rejected the ballot count as flawed and lodged a complaint with the countrys Supreme Court.

Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, is scheduled to take office on Thursday.





He insists his inauguration will proceed as planned.

The move by the Gambian parliament comes a day after Jammeh declared a 90-day state of emergency , alleging unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference in the countrys internal affairs.

The decision to declare a state of emergency was taken by the national parliament, but the only people who are sitting in parliament are the members of Jammehs political party, Al Jazeeras Nicolas Haque, reporting from neighbouring Senegals capital, Dakar, said.

Jammeh is refusing to step down despite international pressure and a threat by l eaders of the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, of a military intervention to make him hand over to Barrow.

According to ECOWAS officials, the national assemblys decision is inconsequential, Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris, reporting from Nigerian capital, Abuja, said.

They say it doesnt matter whether its been extended by three months, one year or 10 years. What they are saying is Jammeh must step down after midnight on Wednesday, otherwise ECOWAS and the African Union will intervene to ensure that the mandate given to Barrow by the people of Gambia stands the next day.

INSIDE STORY: Can a showdown be averted in The Gambia?

Jammehs decision not to step down has created political turmoil in the country. At least five ministers have resigned from his government, hundreds of people have fled to neighbouring Senegal and others in the country say they fear violence.

Gambia is one of Africas smallest countries and has had just two rulers since independence in 1965.

Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and his government has gained a reputation among ordinary Gambians and human rights activists for torturing and killing opponents.

Corruption claims

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Dakar, Sidi Sanneh, Gambias former foreign minister, accused Jammeh of corruption and pillaging state cofffers.

I dont think the Gambian people are prepared to let him off with any more loot from the treasury, Sanneh said.

When asked what it would take for Jammeh to step down voluntarily, Sanneh said: First and foremost, Jammeh would like to be ensured that he could take along with him all his prized possessions, along with his tremendous financial resources that has been able to gather in [the capital] Banjul.

Jammeh loves money and that is the only language he understands.
At least six ICRC staff members among 76 people killed in accidental bombing of camp for displaced people in Rann.

The number of dead has risen to at least 76 people in the accidental Nigerian air force strike on a camp for displaced people, according to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC).

ICRC said on Wednesday that six Nigeria Red Cross members were among the dead and 13 more were wounded in Tuesdays incident in Rann, in the far north of Borno state.

In addition to aid staff, it is estimated that 70 people have been killed and more than a 100 wounded, ICRC said in a statement.

Aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has said 52 were killed and 120 were wounded in the incident.

The air force has said an unknown number of civilians were killed and wounded in the mistaken attack, which was aimed at the Boko Haram group.

Lai Mohammed, Nigerias information minister, said the accidental bombing is not a true reflection of the level of professionalism he had witnessed in the air force.

Lucky Irabor, who is the theatre commander for anti-Boko Haram operations in northeast Nigeria, said the air force would not deliberately target civilians, but there will be an investigation.

Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris, reporting from Nigerias capital, Abuja, said: Senior military officials say an investigation will be launched to find out exactly what happened, if there was any mistake on the part of the pilot or those conducting the operation.

WATCH: Has Boko Haram been defeated?

The air strike followed a military offensive against Boko Haram in the last few weeks.

Borno state has been the centre of Boko Harams seven-year-long attempt to create a caliphate in the northeast.

At least 20,000 people have been killed in the Boko Haram conflict since it began in 2009 and more than 2.6 million others made homeless.

Nigeria maintains the armed rebellion is in its final stages.

Last month, the government said it had flushed out Boko Haram fighters from their stronghold in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno state, of which Maiduguri is the capital.

Yet there has been no let-up in attacks both on troops and civilians.
Auburn and other central New York cities that missed out on a $10 million grant to revitalize downtown areas could get another shot at the funding this year.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed a second round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. He will ask the state Legislature for $100 million to fund the program, which awards grants to 10 municipalities  one from each of the state's regional economic development councils.

In his State of the State booklet, Cuomo outlined what the state will be looking for if the competition's second round is approved by lawmakers.

"DRI applicants are encouraged to include in their plans public spaces for cultural events which serve as destinations for tourists and residents alike, and draw businesses seeking to attract employees and customers who want a thriving environment," the book reads.

Unlike the first year of the competition, the winners in round two will receive $10 million over a five-year period.

Auburn was one of four cities in central New York to compete for the region's DRI prize. Oswego won the competition and the $10 million grant to revitalize its downtown area.

While the second round hasn't been officially approved, Auburn and other central New York municipalities are gearing up in the event that the contest continues.

Auburn City Clerk Chuck Mason said Mayor Michael Quill and the city council hasn't made a decision about whether to apply for the funding, but added that the city "would be eager to apply again."

Last year, the city's plan included a riverside market, a downtown welcome center, a mixed-use facility and public space on State Street, a public safety building, the Auburn Schine Theater rehabilitation project and a downtown housing development initiative.

Even though the city didn't win the contest, elements of the plan  namely the market, welcome center and public safety building  did receive state funding through other programs.

One challenge posed by last year's competition was the quick turnaround required. The state budget was approved April 1 and the central New York municipalities were required to submit applications for the contest by the end of May.

"With last year's experience under our belt, I think the city would probably work with the downtown stakeholders as soon as we know that this is going to become a program," Mason said.

Between the funding last year and this year's proposal, Mason said Cuomo is committed to helping cities like Auburn.

"It shows he's serious about downtown revitalization efforts," he said.
A Jordanian military court has charged eight activists with insulting the King and incitement to spread chaos to undermine the political regime of Jordan using social media, lawyers said.

The General Intelligence Directorate (GID), the Mukhabarat in Arabic, last week arrested civilian opposition activists, including retired army and intelligence generals, a former MP, a former high-ranking government official and several teachers

Lawyers for the arrested men told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that they were unable to meet their clients despite being given an appointment by the prosecutor of the State Security Court two days earlier.

The lawyers said they were told their clients had been charged and ordered to be held for a further 14 days. They said they were informed that the detainees had been transferred to al-Hashemiya prison, 100km north of the capital, Amman.

Faisal al-Kuzae al-Frehat, who represents former GID General Mohamad al-Otoom and other military retirees, called the charges nonsense and said they were unconstitutional.

The government made these trumped-up charges in order to try the activists in the State Security Court, which is an illegal military tribunal used by the State to settle scores against activists who dared criticise the government and demand reform, he said.

Government and intelligence officers contacted by Al Jazeera refused to comment.

Hani Mulki, the prime minister, was quoted by the state news agency, Petra, on Sunday as saying: The security agencies detained individuals based on arrest warrants issued by the prosecutor of the State Security Court for committing incitement that would arouse the public opinion.

The wife of al-Otoom, Um Moath, told al Jazeera that she has been unable to speak to her husband since his arrest.

I am confused as to why my husband is being treated this way after he spent all of his adult life defending this country and serving the King, she said

READ MORE: Pro-reform group criticises arrests in Amman

Another lawyer, Musa al Abdallat, who represents ex-government official Hussam al-Abdallat, demanded the immediate release of the group.

All of the activists were exercising their right to free speech and nothing more, he said.

Hussam al-Abdallats brother, Wesam, rejected the charges and said his brother was not an opponent of the King or the government, and was solely interested in fighting corruption.

Release demanded

The activists want to see a corruption investigation re-opened, and are also demanding an official investigation into what they say are security and intelligence failures that led to a spate of attacks last year. They are also calling for the head of the GID, Faisal al-Shoubaki, and other security chiefs to be fired for what they say was a failure to prevent terrorist incidents.

Among the detained men are: General Mohamad al-Otoom (retired); Hussam al-Abdallat, former chief of staff at the prime ministers office; Falah al-Khalayleh ; Omar al-Osoofi, brigadier general (rtrd); Lieutenant Colonel Wasfi Rawashdeh (rtrd); Colonel Khaled al-Fuqara (rtrd); Qaisar al Muahisan; and Muslim Brotherhood member Abdel Rahman al-Doueri.

It is unclear how many people were arrested in total but, according to local reports, the number ranges from 18 and 20.

The teachers syndicate issued a statement on Monday saying 10 teachers were among those arrested and that they had been held for criticising the government on social media.

Ahmad al-Hajaya, a spokesman for the syndicate, told Al Jazeera from Amman that the 10 were detained by various security agencies, with the arrests beginning in December. He said security agencies initially refused to acknowledge the arrests.

READ MORE: Hundreds mourn Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar

Al-Hajaya said the teachers were arrested for expressing their opinions on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, criticising government handling of an attack in the town of Karak in which 13 people were killed, and criticising corruption in government institutions.

Referring to recently enacted vague anti-terrorism law provisions that enable the government to arrest and try individuals if they criticise the government or intelligence agencies, al-Hajaya said: The government uses the law as an instrument of repression, to stifle free speech as guaranteed by Jordans constitution.

We demand the immediate release of the teachers, he added.

Saleh al-Armouti, an MP from the National Reform bloc, told Al Jazeera the arrests were illegal and unconstitutional.

Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @ali_reports
Dozens dead in car-bomb attack at camp housing government soldiers and rival armed groups in northern city of Gao.

Dozens of people have been killed in a car bombing at a military camp in the northern city of Gao in Mali.

The area houses government soldiers and armed groups who conduct mixed patrols under a UN-brokered peace deal aimed at curbing violence in the region.

Wednesday mornings explosion hit the Joint Operational Mechanism base in Gao, which was seized by armed groups in 2012 before French forces drove them out a year later.

Specifically, former rebels from the Tuareg-led CMA movement were preparing to go on a joint patrol with pro-government militia members, under the terms of the 2015 agreement, when the attacker struck.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared a three-day mourning period following the attack, the worst in years.

READ MORE: On the road with Nigers peacekeepers in Mali

Sadou Maiga, a doctor at Gaos hospital, told Associated Press news agency that all other hospital activities had ceased with dozens of wounded victims arriving.

Some have died from their wounds, and others are in a very grave state, he said.

At this point, its not the toll of dead and injured that interests me, its saving who I can.

The provisional toll is 47 dead and several injured, according to state TV broadcaster ORTM.

Earlier, a hospital source in Gao said at least 40 people had died and 60 were hurt.

Abdoulaye Idrissa Maiga, Malis defence minister, was to fly to the city later on Wednesday.

AQIM claims blast

Witnesses said the car bearing explosives breached the camp at around 9am, just as hundreds of fighters were gathering for a meeting.

Diarran Kone, a Mali army spokesperson, said the attackers vehicle bore the logo of the unit coordinating the joint patrols.

The suicide bomber succeeded in tricking soldiers vigilance and penetrated the camp, said Kone.

Later on Wednesday, al-Qaedas affiliate in North Africa, AQIM, claimed responsibility for the bombing, according to the SITE Intel monitoring group, saying it killed nearly 80 Malian soldiers.

AQIM described the attack on the Joint Operational Mechanism base as punishment for cooperation with France.

The incident occurred just days after Francois Hollande, the French president, visited the camp.

France sent troops to Mali at the request of the government there in early 2013 to prevent an advance by armed groups on the capital Bamako.

Gao is considered the best-secured town in northern Mali, with multiple UN, French and Malian army checkpoints along main roads.

However, the offices of the UN peacekeeping mission located next to the airport terminal were razed by a truck-bomb explosion last month.

The UN has deployed 13,000 troops in Mali to serve in the MINUSMA force, considered one of the deadliest missions in peacekeeping.

Security Council meeting

The UN Security Council on Wednesday agreed to consider setting up a sanctions regime for Mali to punish those who are hindering the 2015 peace agreement, according to the councils president this month.

Olof Skoog, Swedens ambassador to the UN, said council members condemned the Gao attack, noting that persistent delays threaten the viability of the agreement.

Despite last years peace deal between Malis government and secular armed groups, fighters pledging allegiance to both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group have launched dozens of attacks on Western targets in recent months.





In December, a female French aid worker was kidnapped in Gao.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Washington DC, Corinne Dufka, Human Rights Watchs associate director, said Wednesdays attack was very bad news for Mali and for the international community who have put a tremendous effort in trying to put Mali back together after the spectacular collapse in 2012.

She cited the main points outlined in the HRWs latest report on human-rights abuses in Mali.

There has been a continuing growing presence of armed groups in northern Mali and central Mali, where I documented 27 executions by armed groups of those accused of being informants for the government, she said.

We also talk about the ongoing concerns of abuses of the Mali security forces. They have improved over the past years, but nevertheless these abuses create support for the Islamist groups that use it as a rationale to recruit.

There have also been abuses by peacekeepers whose mandate is to ensure civilian protection.
US army whistle-blower is one of 209 inmates whose sentences outgoing President Barack Obama has commuted.

President Barack Obama has shortened the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former US military intelligence analyst who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, the biggest such breach in US history.

A White House official said there was no connection between Mannings commutation and renewed US government concern about WikiLeaks actions during last years presidential election, or a promise by founder Julian Assange to accept extradition if Manning was freed.

Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks  a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Obama, in one of his final acts before leaving office, reduced her sentence to seven years, angering some Republicans.

READ MORE: Republicans  Reducing Mannings sentence outrageous

This is just outrageous, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. Ryan, a Republican, said the decision was a dangerous precedent for those who leak materials about national security.

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets, Ryan said.

Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a US Apache helicopter firing at suspected rebels in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news agency staff.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton said the leak endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies.

We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr, Cotton said.

Took responsibility

Manning, formerly known as US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman.

The White House said her sentence would end on May 17 this year.

Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, mens military prison, accepted responsibility for leaking the material  a factor that fed into Obamas decision, a White House official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

READ MORE: Chelsea Manning attempted suicide

The official said Obamas decision was rooted in Mannings sentence being longer than sentences given to others who had committed comparable crimes.

Obama, who leaves office on Friday and is scheduled to give his final news conference on Wednesday, is expected to discuss his decision then.

WikiLeaks also published emails in the weeks leading up to the November 8 presidential election that US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies provided after hacking the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of leading Democrats, part of a campaign by Moscow to influence the election.

But Obamas decision had nothing to do with the latest WikiLeaks controversy, the White House official said.

The presidents decision to grant clemency and offer commutation to Chelsea Manning was not influenced in any way by public comments from Assange or the WikiLeaks organisation, a White House official said on a conference call with reporters.

READ MORE: WikiLeaks Assange questioned at the Ecuadorian embassy

Assange has been holed up at Ecuadors London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for the investigation of allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape there in 2010.

He has said he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks sent a tweet quoting Assanges lawyer, Melinda Taylor, saying he would abide by his promise to accept extradition if Manning was freed. Everything that he has said hes standing by, Taylor said, according to the tweet.

Civil rights groups praised the move, calling it overdue.

Chelsea Manning exposed serious abuses, and as a result her own human rights have been violated by the US government for years, said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.

Stuxnet

Obama also pardoned retired US Marine Corps General James Cartwright who pleaded guilty in October to making false statements to the FBI during an investigation into leaks of classified information.

The aggressive prosecution of Cartwright, who last served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent shockwaves through the Pentagon.

He lied during questioning by the FBI over a book written by a New York Times reporter that exposed a malicious computer software program known as Stuxnet designed to disrupt Irans nuclear programme. Cartwright denied being the source of the leak.

READ MORE: Cyber attack targeted Iran

Obama weighed Cartwrights service along with his motive when making the decision, the White House official said, noting Cartwright had not divulged material that the journalist was not already aware of, and that his conversations were focused on preventing the publication of material that could hurt national security.

Its clear in this case  that General Cartwrights motive was different than most people who are facing charges of leaking classified information to a journalist, the official said.

Puerto Rican rebel

Also on the pardon list: Oscar Lopez Rivera, who was sentenced in 1981 to 55 years in prison for his involvement with Puerto Rican armed group FALN, which claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings in the 1970s and 1980s.

Lopez Rivera, who turned down a similar offer from President Bill Clinton in 1999, was the last remaining member of FALN still in prison.

Mr Lopez Rivera is now in his 70s. He has served 35 years, nearly half of his life in prison, a White House official said. The president determined that was sufficient amount of time to serve, although the president certainly believes that the crimes that were committed were serious.

US Senator Bernie Sanders campaigned for the release of Lopez Rivera during his unsuccessful campaign against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Manning and Lopez Rivera were among 209 commutations granted by Obama on Tuesday and Cartwright was among 64 pardons.

In total, Obama has commuted sentences for 1,385 federal prisoners  a total greater than that of the 12 previous presidents combined  and he is expected to announce more on Thursday, the White House official said.

Most of the commutations were a part of Obamas effort to reduce the number of people serving long sentences for non-violent drug offences.
Barack Obamas last news conference as US leader focuses on Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Russia and Chelsea Manning.

The prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are waning because of growing Israeli settlement of the West Bank, Barack Obama has said in his final press conference as US president.

Obama said on Wednesday that his administration did not block a United Nations resolution on Israeli settlement activity last month because it felt a two-state solution was the only option for peace.

The goal of the resolution was to simply say that the  growth of the settlements is creating a reality on the ground that increasingly will make a two-state solution impossible, he said.

It was important for us to send a signal, a wake-up call that this moment may be passing.





Obama defended his administrations rapprochement with Cuba and his move to end the wet foot, dry foot policy that lets any Cuban who makes it to US soil stay and become a legal resident.

Ending the visa-free path was the latest development in a warming of relations that has included the easing of the US economic embargo and the restoration of commercial flights between the two countries.

That was a carry-over of an old way of thinking that didnt make sense in this day and age, particularly as were opening up travel between the two countries, Obama said of the wet foot, dry foot policy.

Obama also defended his decision to cut nearly three decades off convicted leaker Chelsea Mannings prison term on Wednesday, arguing that the former army intelligence analyst had served a tough prison sentence already.

He said he granted clemency to Manning because she had gone to trial, taken responsibility for her crime and received a sentence that was harsher than other leakers had received.

He emphasised that he had merely commuted her sentence, not granted a pardon, which would have symbolically forgiven her for the crime.

READ MORE: Reducing Mannings sentence outrageous, say Republicans

I feel very comfortable that justice has been served, Obama said.

Manning was convicted in 2013 of violating the Espionage Act and other crimes for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks, the whistle-blower website, while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad.

Formerly known as Bradley Manning, she declared as transgender after being sentenced to 35 years in prison.

She had served more than six years before Obama commuted her sentence on Tuesday, with a release date set for May.

Russia policy

In Wednesdays speech, Obama also called on President-elect Donald Trump to continue trying to persuade Russia to reduce its nuclear stockpiles.

He said that he tried to negotiate further reducing nuclear arsenals with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he said Russias leader was reluctant.

Obama also called on the next administration to lead by example and work to prevent big countries from bullying smaller nations.

He said that implementing sanctions on Russia following its incursion of Ukraine was a good example of the vital role America must play in advocating for and enforcing basic rights around the world.

On a personal note, Obama said that after leaving office on Friday he wanted to take time to process the amazing experience his family has gone through.

He said he wanted to write and to spend time with his daughters, Malia and Sasha.

Obama and his family will head for vacation in Palm Springs, California, after Trump is sworn in as president on Friday.

The White House has not said how long they will stay in California before they return to a rented home in Washington DC.
Noor Salman accused of misleading police and aiding Omar Mateen in run-up to last years massacre at Pulse nightclub.

The widow of the man who killed 49 people last year in a gay nightclub in the US city of Orlando has been formally charged with a terror-related offence and obstruction of justice.

Noor Salman was charged on Tuesday with aiding and abetting Omar Mateen in the months before the June 12 massacre at the Pulse  the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

Salman, 30, stood before a federal judge in Oakland, California, under tight security. She did not enter a plea before she was led back to jail.

She knew he was going to conduct the attack, Roger Handberg, federal prosecutor, told the judge.

Handberg did not disclose any more details and would not comment after the 15-minute hearing.

The charges

In the indictment unsealed on Monday, Salman was accused of aiding and abetting Mateen in providing material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group between April and June of last year.

She was also charged with obstruction, and accused of misleading and lying to police and the FBI during their investigation. The charges carry up to life in prison.

The indictment, which was returned in Florida on January 12, gave no additional details on Salmans actions.

During the attack at the Pulse nightclub, Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIL, also known as ISIS, in a 911 call.

He was killed in a shoot-out with SWAT officers. In addition to the 49 victims killed, 53 people were injured.





The couple lived in Fort Pierce, Florida, at the time of the rampage.

The indictment asks that Salmans assets, including $30,500, be forfeited.

She was taken into custody early on Monday at a house she shared with her mother in Rodeo, a community about 40km northeast of San Francisco.

It was unclear if her son was with her.

It was unclear what she was doing in California and her case is expected to be transferred to Florida.

A judge scheduled another hearing on Wednesday to discuss her possible release before her trial, her transfer to Florida to face the charges, and the appointment of a lawyer.

Unaware of everything

Outside the Oakland court on Tuesday, Salmans uncle Al Salman said his niece was innocent and did nothing to help Mateen plan the assault.

Shes a very soft and sweet girl, Salman said. She would not hurt a fly.

He said Salman was physically and mentally abused by Mateen and that she stayed with him for fear of losing custody of their son.

For her part, Salman told The New York Times in an interview published in November last year that she knew her husband had watched ISIL videos but that she was unaware of everything regarding his intent to shoot up the club.

Salman also said he had physically abused her.

Charles Swift, director of the Texas-based Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, planned to represent Salman at that hearing, according to public defender John Paul Reichmuth, who served as her lawyer during Tuesdays proceedings.

Linda Moreno, a Florida lawyer who also represents Salman, said after the arrest that Salman had no foreknowledge, nor could she predict what Omar Mateen intended to do that tragic night.
Two Palestinians and one Israeli police officer killed during home-demolition operation in southern Bedouin village.

Israeli police officers shot dead a Palestinian who they allege tried to ram them with his car during a protest against home demolitions in southern Israel.

A policeman who was struck by the vehicle later died of his injuries, according to the Israeli media.

However, residents of the Bedouin village of Um Al Hiran, in the Negev Desert, said that the driver was simply heading to the scene to talk with authorities in an attempt to halt the demolitions.

Al Jazeeras Imran Khan, reporting from Um Al Hiran, said one other Palestinian was killed during clashes that broke out after the incident.

Ayman Odeh, a Palestinian member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament), was injured in the head by police during the confrontation, a parliamentary aide who was with him said.

Conflicting narratives

Israeli police said several officers were injured during the early-morning incident, without providing further details.

A vehicle driven by a terrorist from the Islamic Movement intended to strike a number of officers and carry out an attack, Micky Rosenfeld, police spokesperson, said in a statement.

A later Israeli statement confirmed that the alleged attacker was dead.

However, Raed Abu al-Qiyan, an Um Al Hiran activist, denied that the driver of the car was seeking to harm police.

Identifying the man as a member of his Bedouin clan by the name of Yacoub Abu al-Qiyan, told AFP news agency: The Israeli narrative is a lie. He was a revered school teacher.

He was in his car and they shot at him from everywhere.

The injured Palestinian politician Odeh heads the Joint List, a coalition of mainly Arab parties and the third-largest bloc in the Knesset.

They attacked the MP and other people  demonstrators  with stun grenades, tear gas directly in peoples faces, Odehs aide, Anan Maalouf, told Israeli army radio.

There was no car-ramming attack here. There were no clashes here between the demonstrators and police.

INTERACTIVE: Broken homes  Jerusalem home demolitions at record high in 2016

Israeli authorities regularly carry out demolitions of Bedouin homes they deem to have been built illegally.

However, building permits are nearly impossible to obtain, according to residents and activists, who say Jewish Israelis are given preferential treatment.

Israel plans to demolish the whole of Um Al Hiran and replace it with a Jewish village by the name of Hiran.

Um Al Hiran is just one of about 40 unrecognised Bedouin villages in Negev scheduled for demolition despite being home to tens of thousands of residents.

Because of their unrecognised status, many of them are denied access to electricity, water and other municipal services.

Earlier in January, Palestinian citizens of Israel announced a nationwide strike after Israeli authorities demolished 11 Palestinian homes in the city of Qalansawe in central Israel.

These homes were also demolished on the pretext that they were built without a permit.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Yousef Jabareen, a Knesset member and professor of architecture, said half a million Palestinians face displacement in Israel and East Jerusalem.

During the past two decades about 5,000 Palestinian homes in Israel have been demolished, Jabareen estimates.

There is an obvious plan to halt any prospect of Palestinian cities naturally developing and expanding as our population grows. There is systematic ghettoisation of our towns and a strategy to confine us within our existing spaces.

Palestinians have jurisdiction over only 2.3 percent of the entire states land, causing severe overcrowding in towns and villages and the building of houses without the required permits.

Since the creation of the Israeli state in 1948, no new Palestinian towns or cities were built, in contrast to the 600 Jewish municipalities that have been developed, according to Adalah, the legal centre for Arab minority rights in Israel.
Republicans say Obamas decision to shorten Chelsea Mannings sentence is a mistake that sets a dangerous precedent.

Senior Republican officials have condemned President Barack Obamas decision to shorten the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, a former military intelligence analyst responsible for a major information leak in 2010.





Manning was convicted in July 2013 for leaking classified materials to whistleblower website WikiLeaks, the biggest such security breach in US history.

Obama, in one of his final acts before leaving office, reduced her sentence to seven years. The White House said her sentence would end on May 17 this year.

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move outrageous in remarks quoted by national media.

READ MORE: Obama cuts short Chelsea Mannings prison sentence

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets. President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes, the Republican House member said.

Senator John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was quoted as saying that Obama was making a grave mistake that might encourage further acts of espionage and undermine military discipline.

It also devalues the courage of real whistleblowers who have used proper channels to hold our government accountable, he added.

Another Republican Senator, Tom Cotton, said the leak endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies.

We ought not to treat a traitor like a martyr, Cotton said.

Thanks, Obama

Earlier on Tuesday, a White House official said there was no connection between Mannings commutation and renewed US government concern about WikiLeaks actions during last years presidential election, or a promise by founder Julian Assange to accept extradition to the US if Manning was freed.

The official said Obamas decision was rooted in Mannings sentence being longer than sentences given to others who had committed comparable crimes.

Obama, who leaves office on Friday and is scheduled to give his final news conference on Wednesday, is expected to discuss his decision then.

Obama granted 209 commutations and 64 pardons to convicted prisoners on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Chelsea Manning attempted suicide

Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks  a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

The whistleblower, formerly known as US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman.

Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, mens military prison, accepted responsibility for leaking the material  a factor that fed into Obamas decision, a White House official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

WikiLeaks celebrated Obamas decision by releasing a series of tweets, one of which stated: VICTORY: Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence from 35 years to 7. Release date now May 17.

On Twitter last week, WikiLeaks posted: If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case.

Obamas move will test the promise.

In a statement, Assange called Manning a hero, whose bravery should be applauded.

Assange went on to demand that the US government should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers, such as WikiLeaks and myself, but he made no mention of the Twitter pledge.

His lawyer said he has been pressing the Justice Department for updates on an investigation concerning WikiLeaks.

Assange has been holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he remains wanted on an allegation of rape, fearing he would be extradited to the US to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

In a reaction to the shortening of Mannings sentence, Human Rights Watch director in Australia, Elaine Pearson, on Twitter called for the US to drop the case against the WikiLeaks founder.

After Mannings pardon, US case against Assange should also be dropped. Espionage Act shouldnt be used to punish those who publish leaks.

Whistleblower Edward Snowden, who leaked classified information about US spying methods to the press, also took to Twitter, celebrating the shortening of Mannings sentence.

In five more months, you will be free. Thank you for what you did for everyone, Chelsea. Stay strong a while longer! https://t.co/PaLvJDvDbl

In five more months, you will be free. Thank you for what you did for everyone, Chelsea. Stay strong a while longer! https://t.co/PaLvJDvDbl  Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 17, 2017

In a later tweet Snowden wrote; Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama.
Government says move is needed to reduce overcrowded prisons, but opposition allege it will set back anti-graft drive.

Thousands of Romanians have protested against government plans to grant prison pardons and decriminalise some offences through emergency decrees that could weaken an anti-corruption drive.

In the capital, Bucharest, about 3,000 people, carrying signs that say We see you and chanting In a democracy, thieves stay in prison, marched towards the government building on Wednesday.

The government, which took office after a December parliamentary election, has cited a need to get the criminal code in line with recent constitutional court rulings.





It has also said granting pardons would help ease the burden of Romanias overcrowded prisons.

Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu wants to implement the measure through an emergency ordinance which would bypass parliament and would not require the presidents signature

Critics have raised concerns about legislating via decree rather than going through parliament, where the government has a solid majority but would face a challenging debate. Decrees come into effect immediately.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Klaus Iohannis urged ministers not to amend the criminal code via decree and sought to ease concerns about backsliding on commitments to tackle corruption.

There are two elephants in the room and no one is talking about them: the emergency pardoning decree and the decree that changes criminal codes, Iohannis, a centre-right leader, said at the start of the cabinet meeting.

I stress that  the prime minister is committed not to introduce such issues overnight at any government meeting.

The drafts of the decrees showed an intent to pardon convictions of less than five years for several crimes. The government also aims to decriminalise abuse of power that has caused budget damage of less than $47,522.

The proposal could affect 2,500 prisoners.

Prisoners over 60, pregnant women and inmates with young children would see their sentences halved, regardless of their conviction.

READ MORE: Romanias War on Corruption

Judges, the prosecutor general and chief anti-corruption prosecutor have all criticised plans to amend criminal legislation without consulting the judiciary.

Abuse of power accounts for a third of anti-corruption investigations. Ruling Social Democrat Party leader and parliament lower house speaker Liviu Dragnea is currently on trial in an abuse of power case. He is also serving a two-year suspended jail sentence in a vote-rigging case.

The European Commission keeps Romanias legal system under special monitoring.

It has praised magistrates efforts to fight widespread corruption, but noted that Romanian politicians have a history of trying to pass legislation to weaken investigative powers.

Grindeanu, the prime minister, told reporters the two decrees were not on the agenda this week, but that they could be once the judiciary had been consulted.

It is just as constitutional as the president attending a government meeting for us to issue emergency decrees in all areas that the law allows us to, he said.

Raluca Turcan, leader of the opposition Liberal Party, accused the government of trying to sneak the measure in. She called it an abuse of trust, an act that favours the criminal, an act against the general public.

Media mogul Dan Voiculescu, a government supporter, is another possible beneficiary of the proposal. The 70-year-old is currently is serving a 10-year sentence for money laundering.
Russias defence ministry says its fighter jets teamed up with Turkish warplanes to hit ISIL in northern Syrias Al Bab.

Russian and Turkish jets have carried out joint air raids against ISIL fighters in the town of Al Bab in northern Syria, according to Russias military.

Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi, a senior defence ministry official, said on Wednesday that nine Russian and eight Turkish fighter jets had together struck targets in the town, located northeast of Aleppo.

Today the Russian and Turkish air forces are conducting their first joint air operation to strike [ISIL] in the suburbs of Al Bab, Rudskoi said.





The assessment of the initial results  showed the strikes were highly effective.

The joint operation, the closest cooperation between the two countries in Syria to date, marks a dramatic warming of ties between Turkey and Russia, once strained by the shooting down of a Russian jet by a Turkish warplane in 2015.

Turkey and Russia signed a memorandum of de-confliction in Moscow at the end of last week, Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkish side of the Syria-Turkey border, said.

They agreed to communicate when it comes to the aviation airspace, because the airspace above Syria is very busy with many different countries flying.

The two countries have backed opposing sides in the nearly six-year Syrian conflict, but are now the main organisers of a new round of peace talks due to take place in Kazakhstan on January 23.

They have set aside their differences over the political fate of President Bashar al-Assad to try to forge a wider Syria deal.

US involvement

Separately, US-led coalition jets also struck ISIL positions in Al Bab on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to coalition spokesman Colonel John Dorrian.

These strikes were the result of continued cooperation with Turkey, and we saw a window of opportunity where it was in our mutual interests to get those targets destroyed, Dorrian said.

Turkey has previously criticised the United States for not helping it in its attempts to capture the area from ISIL, which stands for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Earlier this month, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkeys foreign minister, had hinted about cutting off US access to the Incirlik air base, in southeastern Turkey, if it did not support its fight against ISIL, also known as ISIS.

Turkey launched an anti-ISIL push in northern Syria in August after the group carried out multiple attacks targeting civilians security forces across the country.

Dubbed Operation Euphrates Shield, the offensive is composed of Turkish-trained Free Syrian Army (FSA) units backed by Turkish special forces, armoured divisions and fighter jets.

Despite early success in capturing territory from ISIL, such as in the towns of Jarablus and Azaz, the offensive has met stiff resistance in the town of al-Bab.

Turkey lost 16 soldiers in a suicide bombing in the town in December and has lost 49 troops since the launch of the operation.

Battling ISIL

A number of forces, often rivals themselves, are fighting ISIL in Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

In Iraq, Kurdish and Iraqi forces  backed by the US-led coalition  have succeeded in pushing the fighters out of most of the major cities it once held, but are facing determined resistance in Mosul, the groups last urban stronghold in the country.

In Syria, the group managed to wrest the historic city of Palmyra from Syrian government control in December and this week made gains in the eastern city of Deir Az Zor.

ISIL captured most of the territory it now holds in Syria and Iraq after a series of rapid offensives starting in early 2014.
In a country that prides itself on its supposed inclusiveness, a new political party exposes racism in Dutch society.

As the Netherlands gears up for general elections, now two months away, a new political party aims to fight back against the rising tide of Geert Wilders right-wing populism.

Despite receiving a barrage of hate mail and threats, TV-presenter-turned-politician Sylvana Simons will enter the poll on March 15 as leader of Artikel 1.

In a country that prides itself on its supposed inclusiveness, Simons has raised the ire of many on the right by focusing her programme on eradicating institutional racism.

Utilising her TV fame, Simons has become one of the most prominent faces of a counter-movement to blunt a xenophobic surge in the Netherlands.

You can't be black, female, politically involved and try to shape the society you live in without angering some people. by Sylvana Simons

But her new career as a politician came at a price, as she was put under police protection after threatening messages and memes started appearing online.

In one attack, her face was superimposed on an image of a lynched slave and widely circulated on the internet. In another, she was the butt of popular racist song that called on her to pack her bags and leave the Netherlands.

The Dutch government has addressed some grievances seen as discriminatory by Dutch citizens of foreign origin. Last year, it banned the word allochtoon, used to describe immigrants.

Additionally, elements of a childrens Christmas festival featuring a character known as Black Pete have been altered to prevent causing offence to the black Dutch community. But Artikel 1 says this does not go far enough.

READ MORE: Far-right MP Geert Wilders found guilty of hate speech

A total of 25 parties will be competing in the Dutch parliamentary elections. Wilders Freedom Party is leading in the polls by a large margin but none of the parties are expected to secure an outright majority.

Al Jazeera spoke to Simons as she campaigned for a seat to raise the concerns of the most marginalised groups in Dutch society.

What made you decide to enter politics after a television career?

There was a moment in a popular Dutch show when a guest made a racist remark and I called him out over it. Viewers started sending in comments such as go back to your country. It made me realise racism is accepted in the Netherlands; its OK to be racist.

I realised that people havent been taught about their colonial history and how certain groups of people have come to live in the Netherlands.

But I was encouraged that many people also wrote me, saying I had made it easier for them to speak out against racism. So the next logical step was to enter politics since I have a platform to address change.

What does Artikel 1 represent and who is it appealing to?

Our partys name is based on the first article of the Dutch constitution which aims to protect civilians from the government. Its a moral compass to our society to ensure we dont exclude anybody. But in practice, its clear it isnt working. Some communities are under pressure and there isnt justice and equality for everyone.

How is Artikel 1 different from other Dutch political parties?

Artikel 1 is not founded by politicians. I am an ordinary Dutch woman.

We are the only party standing up to Geert Wilders. All of the other parties are part of the establishment. Theyve existed for years and have given in to xenophobic sentiment. They have cuddled up to the right out of fear of losing voters and stood by as things got worse.

Youve met heavy resistance, including racist and sexist threats and insults. Do you think this is indicative of the Netherlands?

When you've gained wealth through slavery and colonialism, you will build courts, police and judiciary based on that system. by Sylvana Simons

Racism, sexism and Islamophobia are widespread, not just in the Netherlands but in most parts of Western Europe. I was tolerated when I was an entertainer. But you cant be black, female, politically involved and try to shape the society you live in without angering some people.

When I started speaking out one of the first comments was that I didnt know my place. Ive known my place my whole life! If you are not white, heterosexual and male, this country suggests you have to be treated differently.

Is the Netherlands institutionally racist?

Western European countries are institutionally racist. Its natural.

When youve gained wealth through slavery and colonialism, you will build courts, police and judiciary based on that system. The problem is when you say such things out loud it sounds as if everyone is being racist on purpose all the time. Thats not true, but the way the society is shaped is racist and divisive.

For example, women are paid less than men for doing the same job, Muslims and non-Muslims are treated differently in courts. Children from ethnic backgrounds and lower social economic backgrounds are being underscored and excluded from making progress in elite fields.

Artikel 1 wants to make people aware of these inequalities and hold government to serving them.

What can you contribute to building a more diverse Netherlands?

We want to represent all of Dutch society and our list of candidates alone shows we are truly reflecting the Netherlands. We have equal numbers of men and women. We have gay, lesbian, and transgender candidates. We are normalising what is already normal in society.

We are a new and unconventional voice in society. We are emancipating people and politics.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo made his pitch for a $2 billion investment in clean water infrastructure projects and highlighted Cayuga County and Owasco Lake as an area that could benefit from the funding.

During a budget briefing Tuesday in Albany, Cuomo touted the potential benefits of the $2 billion clean water infrastructure fund for local municipalities.

"Owasco Lake, for example, has had a problem with certain algae blooms in the lake," Cuomo said. "They also get their drinking water from the lake. They need an enhanced filtration system at several million dollars. They would really have no way to fund this, frankly, especially some of the smaller communities  what we went through in Hoosick Falls. So this would be a fund that would do just that."

Cuomo's mention of Owasco Lake followed an announcement Monday that the state will provide more than $2 million to the city of Auburn and town of Owasco. A portion of the funds  up to $150,000  will be used to support ongoing studies of ways to treat blue-green algae toxins that wind up in drinking water supplies for the city and town.

Once the studies are complete, the state has committed $2 million for implementing strategies to properly treat the water.

Cuomo's proposed Clean Water Infrastructure Act would provide more than $2 billion over a five-year period. According to an executive budget briefing book, the funding will be used for improving municipal drinking water systems, filtration systems and wastewater treatment.

Water quality has been a concern in recent years. Blue-green algae toxins were detected in Auburn and Owasco drinking water supplies last fall. While the levels were below the health advisory levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency, local officials still had concerns about the presence of the toxins.

In Hoosick Falls, a village in eastern New York, there was more of a public health concern when PFOA, a chemical that's considered a carcinogen, was found in the municipality's drinking water supply.

Outside of New York, lead contaminated the water in Flint, Michigan. The environmental crisis there drew national attention and became an issue during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Cuomo's $2 billion water infrastructure fund isn't a done deal. His executive budget proposal will be reviewed by the state Legislature. It's likely that some sort of clean water investments will be included in the final budget, but an agreement likely won't be reached for at least two months.
Rod Nordland was sent back to London from Istanbuls Ataturk Airport as he was entering Turkey, the newspaper said.

Turkey has deported a correspondent with The New York Times as he tried to enter the country through Istanbuls Ataturk Airport, according to the newspaper.

Rod Nordland was sent back to London, from where he had flown out, on a flight from the same airport on Tuesday, the report said.

There was no immediate statement from the Turkish authorities. Turkish officials contacted by Al Jazeera on Wednesday declined to comment or said that they did not have any information.





Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times, denounced the deportation as unjustified and an affront to press freedom, according to the newspaper.

It appeared to be the first time a New York Times correspondent had been denied entry to Turkey, David McCraw, the news organisations vice president and deputy general counsel, said.

Various Turkish media reports said that Nordland was denied entry into Turkey for writing pro-Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) articles in the past.

Turkeys more than 30-year-old conflict with the PKK reignited in the summer of 2015 after a ceasefire declared a year and a half earlier faltered and peace talks between the two sides collapsed.

Many people, including leaders of Turkeys pro-Kurdish party, have been arrested in recent months for alleged links to the PKK, which is seen as a terrorist organisation by Turkeys Western allies.

Various foreign journalists have been detained in Turkey, mostly briefly, while covering stories on the Kurdish issue.
Military strikes what it calls launching pads for cross-border attacks, condemning Eritrea for harboring separatists.

Ethiopian armed forced have attacked rebel bases inside Eritrea, accusing its neighbour of training fighters who have carried out border raids, including a January attack that killed five tourists.

Thursdays attack was the first offensive by Ethiopian troops inside Eritrea since the end of a 1998-2000 war that killed 70,000 people and still festers. The frontier dispute that ignited the conflict remains unresolved.

Ethiopia routinely accuses Eritrea of supporting Ethiopian separatist groups.

Ethiopia has blamed an Eritrea-based rebel group for the kidnapping of Westerners in its northern Afar region in 2007, and again for attack in the same area in January.

Our national defence force has today taken measures against military posts inside Eritrea in which subversive and anti-peace elements were trained, Shimeles Kemal, a government spokesman, told the media.



Gunmen killed two Germans, two Hungarians and an Austrian in an attack on a group of tourists in the remote Afar region on January 17, and seized two Germans and two Ethiopians.

The rebel group in the Afar region said last week it had freed the two German tourists, although there has been no official confirmation of the release.

These groups are operating in the Afar area. We know for certain that the Eritrean government harbours, supports, trains and deploys subversive groups that occasionally launch attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets inside Ethiopia, Kemal said.

He added that Ethiopian soldiers attacked three places, Ramid, Gelahbe and Gimbi, an estimated 16km inside southeastern Eritrea.

We will continue our measures as long as they remain a launching pad for similar attacks, he said.
Somali armed group says it was behind Saturdays twin attack on popular restaurant which left three people dead.

Somali rebel group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for a restaurant attack in the tiny East African country of Djibouti which left at least three people dead, including two security officers.

Saturdays double explosion that targeted a restaurant popular with tourists and Western security officials was the first of its kind in the former French colony.

The attack was carried out against the French crusaders for their complicity in the massacres of our Muslim brothers in the Central African Republic and for their active role in training and equipping the apostate Djiboutian troops in Somalia and their growing intervention in the affairs of our Muslim lands,  the group, which wants to impose strict Sharia law in Somalia, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The blasts at La Chaumiere restaurant wounded 11 other people.

The French foreign ministry confirmed that several of its nationals were slightly wounded in the attack, and the Netherlands De Telegraaf newspaper reported that six Dutch soldiers who had been taking part in an anti-piracy mission were also lightly wounded.

Djibouti hosts the United States only military base in Africa where drones are operated from. Earlier this month the US signed a $63m a year 10-year lease for the base known as Camp Lemonnier.

The tiny East African country has also contributed troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Government cancels five permits issued to Chinese oil company CNPC in row over $1.2bn fine for environmental violations.

Chad has decided to withdraw five exploration permits issued to a Chinese company and press charges in a row over a $1.2bn fine for environmental violations, the oil ministry has said.

Djerassem Le Bemadjiel, Chads oil minister, told a news conference on Saturday that the move was to avoid further environmental degradation, not to make place for other companies.

The China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) was forced to suspend operations in Chad in May after refusing to pay a fine of $1.2bn for unacceptable practices that had led to noxious spills around drilling sites.

The government of the large central African nation also said it planned to press charges against the CNPC both in Ndjamena and in France, whose commercial court has a chamber specialising in international disputes.

Amicable negotiations are no longer possible. All efforts have been in vain, government secretary general Abdoulaye Sabre told the news conference.

Next week a government delegation will go to Paris to file a complaint with the commercial court for refusal to pay a fine.

A second complaint has been made in the capital Ndjamena for environmental degradation and endangering the lives of others, he added.

Chad, which began exploiting its oil deposits in 2003, has a history of difficult relations with Chinese companies operating on its soil.

In March, Chadians working for one of the Chinese companies went on strike to denounce their working conditions and demand salary increases.

Oil revenues have allowed the country to modernise its army and improve its road networks and public infrastructure.

However, parts of civil society are urging the government to use more of the new oil wealth to improve the living conditions of the population.
Russian president vows to increase trade with his countrys eastern neighbour as sanctions war with west begins to bite.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia  With the crisis in Ukraine hanging over his head, Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in Mongolia on a trip that could prove key to Russian-Mongolian trade ties.

It was a flying visit  a mere six hours from start to finish  but with the fluctuating situation in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions war threatening to erode the domestic popularity Putin won with his clinical amputation of Crimea, the question for many is why he bothered at all.

But it is thought to be precisely this pressure that has prompted Putin to look to his seemingly insignificant neighbour.

Because of the emerging situation [in Ukraine] Russia is paying more attention to its immediate neighbour, Altai Dulbaa, professor in Russian studies from the International Studies Institute of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences told Al Jazeera.

What was agreed? Trade between Mongolia and Russia to reach $10bn by 2020

Negotiations to begin on Mongolian exports to Russia without tax or customs for the next 20 years

Mongolians and Russians can now travel between the nations without visas

Mongolia needs to begin developing border ports to international standards

An agreement was signed to develop Ulaanbaatar Railways

Schools and training centres will be developed to expand cultural, sports, arts, media cooperation

Russia will provide a military-technical grant to Mongolia

Sanctions from the west mean it falls under Russian interests to look to the east. Now Russia is no longer importing meat from Australia, Mongolia wants to fill that gap  we have 60 million animals in Mongolia, she said.

Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj has said that Mongolia will not take part in any trade sanctions against its neighbour to the north.

We just want to have a mutually beneficial relationship with Russia, he told Russian media.

Speaking to journalists in Mongolias capital Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday, Putin said that there was the potential for Russia to import Mongolian meat, providing the country could meet international export standards.

At a press conference with Elbegdorj, Putin also emphasised the strong military and cultural ties between the two nations and agreed to increasing trade from its current level of $1.6bn per year to $10bn by 2020.

Brothers-in-arms

Mongolias historical and cultural ties to Russia run deep. A recent government survey showed 60 percent of Mongolias three million citizens want closer ties with Russia.

The pretense for Putins visit, his third since 2000, was the 75th anniversary of the two nations expelling Japan from eastern Mongolia, but the relationship is built on more than shared wartime victories.

There is a saying that if you scratch the skin of a Russian person you will find the Mongolian underneath, Dulbaa said. There are many ethnic Mongolians living in Russia and Russia has always acted as a guarantor of Mongolias independence.

Our partnership in military, culture and education have always been implemented in the past, but trade and economic relations have always been lagging behind.

Up until 1990, the Soviets had a strong presence in Mongolia, but the collapse of the Soviet Union meant the two countries became more distant.

Putin has long sought to close that gap, and in 2003 eradicated 98 percent of Mongolias debt to Russia  much of it a legacy from the Soviet era.

This burgeoning trade relationship, though, has wider implications for Mongolias foreign relations.

The so-called third neighbour policy is designed to increase Mongolias ties with countries such as the US and UK in a bid to secure its economic, and therefore its political freedom from its two domineering neighbours  Russia and China.

The policys results, however, has not given Mongolia enough incentive to stop relying on the two superpowers that share its borders. China, for example, still takes 90 percent of Mongolias exports.

Russia and China both want to work closely with Mongolia since they are working together. Any cooperation needs to touch Mongolia in some way by Altai Dulbaa, professor, Mongolian Academy of Sciences.

Distant neighbours

Mongolian Member of Parliament and former Prime Minister Amarjargal Rinchinnyam said Mongolia had been disappointed by the visibility of its third neighbours over the past decades.

It would have been nice to see more of our third neighbours  but we cannot have everything, he said at a conference on Tuesday.

Mongolias open desire not only to continue, but increase economic links with Russia is further evidence of its lack of satisfaction with these third neighbours.

Mongolian-Russian trade ties are very small, and there is a very unbalanced trade between the two countries. First we need to try to balance it to a certain level. Were always interested in trade with Russia, Rinchinnyam said.

Mongolias lack of capability when it comes to mass production means that any increased trade ties must be matched with investment in the countrys infrastructure and along with the pledge of increased trade, came the promise of a new railway.

[We] also signed an agreement on the reform and development of a strategic partnership for Ulaanbaatar Railways and agreed on key principles of cooperation on railway sector reform, President Elbegdorj said in a statement.

It is no coincidence that Putins visit and trade promises come just weeks after a state visit to Ulaanbaatar from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Russia and China both want to work closely with Mongolia since they are working together. Any cooperation needs to touch Mongolia in some way, Dulbaa said.

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Habib Brahmia, 28, inspired by Soufiane Djilali, the founder and chairman of the new Algerian opposition party Jil Jadid (New Generation in Arabic), was drawn into politics six months ago.

Unlike the ageing politicians who have been ruling the country since [Algerian] independence, [Djilali] encourages youth empowerment, Habib, who now works as 55-year-old Djilalis chief of staff, told Al Jazeera. According to Jil Jadids official website, the party has no formal platform, but rather aims to create one through collaboration with all its members; the party currently holds no seats in the national assembly. We dont need any youth section since the young volunteers are considered as full-fledged members of the party, the website states.

With 70 percent of Algerias 37 million people under 30 years of age, the young generation may be a game-changer in the April 17 presidential election. And Algerian parties are taking notice.

Algerias current governing coalition is targeting young people: the National Rally for Democracy (RND) reserves a third of national executive committee seats for young party members, said Adel Bouchenine, 27, a leader of the RND youth section in Algiers. Bouchenine is campaigning for President Abdelaziz Bouteflikas re-election.

They by - dont feel that they can fit in the archaic organisations, inherited from the independence period and dominated by the entrenched old guard since then.]

The 18-to-30-year-olds have always been the least enthusiastic voting group in Algeria, Nacer Djabi, a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Algiers, told Al Jazeera. Less than two percent of Algerias total population belongs to a political party, which means that a very small minority of Algerian youth are involved in politics, Djabi said.

RELATED: A fourth term for Bouteflika?

According to the Ministry of Interior, less than 43 percent of more than 20 million registered voters cast a ballot in the last general election, held in May 2012. They dont feel that they can fit in the archaic organisations, inherited from the independence period and dominated by the entrenched old guard since then, Djabi explained. Besides, young members have usually no other choice than playing secondary roles.

Young people in Algeria grew up during a period of extreme political lethargy, marked by three consecutive five-year terms with Bouteflika in power.

Bouteflikas main challenger for the presidency, Ali Benflis, the former leader of the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN), has targeted voters under 25 on and off university campuses, and has hired unionists, student leaders and activists to help him. We must be patient and repeat the same message over and over. When they tell me that there is no point in voting, I tell them use your vote, otherwise others will use it, said Walid, a young Benflis supporter and campaign staff member, who did not give Al Jazeera his last name.

The 21-year-old student, who holds a double degree in economics and accounting, is convinced that only voting can bring about change in Algeria. Both the opposition parties call for the poll boycott, and the grassroots, anti-system demonstrations will lead to a perilous crisis. I dont want my country to become a new Syria or Ukraine, Walid said.

Ahmed Shelby, the 25-year-old co-founder of the 17 avril 2014 Facebook page, which has called for a massive electoral turnout, agreed. Only a strong turnout can bring real political change in Algeria. The more people vote, the more chances we will have to end [the] Abdelaziz Bouteflika regime, Shelby, who supports Benflis, told Al Jazeera.

VIDEO: Algeria  The revolution that never was

To get youth votes, some of the six presidential candidates have introduced social media strategies. This is a first in Algerian history, Samir Bellik, an Algerian digital marketing expert, told Al Jazeera. Considering the recent boom of the social networks in Algeria, especially Facebook, and the 3G networks introduction last December, the candidates have had to build a digital strategy.

President Bouteflikas campaign believes word-of-mouth is still the best way to gain voters support [Reuters]

Benflis  who has the most active online presence of all the candidates  has shaped his cyber-strategy based on US President Barack Obamas 2008 campaign, Nazim Zaioueche, a senior Benflis adviser and former CEO of the government-owned oil company Sonatrach, told Al Jazeera.

But not all of Algerias presidential candidates fully embrace online technology. The candidates use social media as they have been utilising the mainstream media. They only seek to quickly and widely spread information, but not to interact with the users, [or] to target specific voters groups, Bellik said.

Nor is everyone convinced that social media is necessary for a successful campaign. Bouchenine, campaigning for Bouteflikas re-election, said word-of-mouth is still the best method to gain support. These are quite elitist tools given Algerias weak Internet penetration rate, Bouchenine said.

Moussa Touati, chairman of the conservative Algerian National Front (FNA) and one of the presidential candidates, agreed. Door-knocking is still the best method since only 14 percent of Algerias total population has access to Internet, Touati told Al Jazeera.

According to Louisa Dris Ait Hamadouche, a political science professor at the University of Algiers, despite appeals to young voters, there will likely be a significant decrease in voting among young people in April. For years, Algerias corrupt governments have been trying to buy social peace using oil revenues. As result, most Algerian citizens became apathetic, she told Al Jazeera.

Now, the young cohort doesnt dream of ruling the country, Hamadouche said. Indeed, in poor rural regions of the country, a lack of of employment has prompted some Algerians  particularly young people  to look beyond the countrys borders for opportunities, according to the International Organization for Migration. [Young people] have only one preoccupation: leaving.
We explore the island state off the coast of Malaysia through its unique food, history and people.

Penang, the island-state off the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, is a melting pot of cultures, ethnicities, traditions and religions.

As a historical trading port, life there has been determined by migration for hundreds of years. Many people came as workers more than 200 years ago, and simply stayed  bringing along with them much more than their food.

Ethnic Malays, Indians and Chinese live together side by side  leading to a unique mix of cultures and food.

Each of them respect each others religion, each others customs and their habits. In Malaysia, we have this word called tolerance. You have to tolerate each other in order to live in harmony, says Teresa Pereira Capol, a Heritage Trust guide.

At his street corner store, Cheah Ming Kin has been making the same dish for decades, which has provided him with a livelihood and helped him raise his family. In his 80s, its been a long road from when he first arrived on the island as a boy.

I didnt go to school . there was hardly any work available. I would help other people washing dishes  I didnt have an education, he says. More than 60 years later, Ming Kin is now famous in Penang for his Lo Mein, a rich, gravy-like soup with noodles.

His son runs an upmarket restaurant  serving the same food he watched his father cook on the street for decades.

For many of Penangs residents, food has evolved to become an art form, a social spectacle, a live display of ones ethnic roots. But for most of the street vendors, life is harsh and working hours are long. They continue their trade just as their ancestors did, often in the same street their relatives once occupied. Yet they remain proud of this heritage.

We dont want changes . We want to keep the everyday life  the cultures, the way of life, the traditions that come with it, [we want to] keep it all intact, says Capol.

But changes are occurring and many of the homes are disappearing. Development has been inevitable, yet the architecture of the past also needs to be preserved.

Heritage is not just the buildings and the roads, heritage is actually the people, the peoples lifestyle, way of life, the ambience of a city  and that should be preserved, says Dato Kee Phaik Cheen, a resident of Penang whose great-grandfather came across from China.

Al Jazeera wanders the streets of Penang to explore the island through its unique food, history and people.

Editors note: This film was first broadcast on Al Jazeera English in 2008.
As part of this years Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations, a UF professor spoke about solutions to racism Tuesday.

About 100 people gathered in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom to hear UF African-American history professor Ibram Kendi talk about the legacies of King and Malcolm X. Kendi also spoke about his latest book, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which discusses U.S. racial tensions and won the nonfiction National Book award in 2016.

As a high-school senior 16 years ago, Kendi said he participated in an MLK oratory contest. Ever since, King and Malcolm X have shaped his work.

It changed my life, Kendi said. It was really that contest that put me on this role.

He said he admires how their role in the civil rights movement changed throughout their lives. King, in particular, who realized about four years after his I Have a Dream speech his optimism wouldnt see results.

He then replaced his views with what he called solid realism, Kendi told the audience, something most people dont know about.

Kendi said he hoped to shed light on a different side of King this year.

Im excited about MLK Day this year, because Americans in some ways are forced to learn more about the MLK they actually dont know about.

After Kendi spoke, one student asked how racism can be eliminated. Kendi said the root of racism lies with people in power who set hateful policies out of self-interest.

We thought the basis of the problem was ignorance and hate, Kendi told the student. Weve actually found its the inverse.

Another asked how people can protest what he viewed as President-elect Donald Trumps racist and sexist views. Kendi advised people should seek power by getting involved in local government.

Hell whine and tweet at you, but there isnt much the president-elect can do, Kendi said. People should focus on their immediate surroundings.

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Rashid Alrashid, a UF materials engineering senior, said that while he identifies as Syrian, he enjoyed hearing people from other ethnicities talk about their views on racism.

It was helpful and educational, the 22-year-old said. I learned that if you want to change racist ideas and people, you need to make sure youre not racist first.

jtavel@alligator.org

@taveljimena

Ibram Kendi, a UF African-American history professor, spoke on Tuesday about racial tensions in the U.S. The event was part of the MLK Day celebration.
UF alumnus Jordan Alva, with his long, scraggly beard, searched for a decade to find something worthy of his facial hair.

But he gave up and made his own.

Combining a brush and natural products, the 33-year-old created his latest invention: a beeswax-based beard brush.

For the lifelong inventor, the creation came naturally.

I guess its sort of second nature, Alva said. Its sort of the way I process my surroundings.

After graduating from UF with a bachelors degree in Spanish and a masters degree in science and entrepreneurship, Alva began finding his way around the world of entrepreneurship. One of his previous inventions involved making a foldable skateboard, he said.

Alva said hes raising money to advertise his beard-balm brushes on Indiegogo, a website for entrepreneurs where people can donate money to fund products and possibly receive samples of the products. Hes also speaking to retail companies to sell his invention.

The yellow brushes comb through hair and have a handle made of beeswax blends that include plant-based butters, like shea and coconut, and oils like castor and argan, Alva said. Each balm serves a different purpose.

Tree Beard consists of peppermint and rosemary, which stimulates hair growth. Paul Bunyan, made with lavender and pine, is designed to soothe irritated skin. And his third blend, Ann, has no concentrated oils so people with allergies and sensitive skin can use it.

Adam Carbonell, of Ormond Beach, Florida, said he received the Tree Beard brush as a gift last Christmas. Hes used it every day since.

The list of ingredients isnt three pages long, the 30-year-old bartender said. Thats a huge plus. You know what youre putting on your face.

It can be applied to wet, dry or damp hair, Alva said. Women have used it to soften their hair, and bald people can use it to hydrate their scalps.

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Ted Astleford, director of UFs Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centers Experiential Learning Programs, said he remembers when Alva volunteered for a yearlong UF program in which students created and developed a business.

Just the fact that he volunteered tells me he was an exceptional student, Astleford said.

He said Alva recently gifted him one of his brushes. Although he doesnt have a beard himself, Astleford thinks the brush is innovative.

Its an old product but done in a better way, he said. Its eye-catching. I wish I had a beard so I could use it.

@taveljimena

jtavel@alligator.org

Jordan Alva's beard balm brushes are neither slippery nor greasy. The brushes have a top layer of balm pines that serve as comb for the hair, and a lower layer made completely out of beeswax that serves as a handle.
Since she was 3 years old, Alexandra Rodriguez has been holding her arms straight and kicking.

Shes a 19-year veteran of Irish dancing, an artform characterized by quick, jagged choreography. Tuesday night, backstage at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, she met with her idols as the acclaimed show Riverdance came to Gainesville, the first stop on its 20th anniversary tour.

Theyre the best of the best, the UF biology senior said. Youre always blown away by the raw talent and also the discipline and dedication.

The show was performed at the Phillips Center on Tuesday night, and will be performed tonight and Thursday night at 7:30 p.m., Nicholas van der Meer, the marketing director for UF Performing Arts, said. About 1,200 people, including Irish dance enthusiasts like Rodriguez, are expected to attend each nights showing.

Tickets range from $45 to $75 for the public and are $20 for UF students. They are available online.

When she realized there was no way for her to continue dancing at UF, Rodriguez co-founded the student organization Ailigeadar Irish Dance Company in 2014.

The club, composed of 10 members, planned to meet the Riverdance performers after their first show. Rodriguez spent over three months planning the meeting with the UF Alumni Association and the Phillips Center, she said.

Members of Allison Hogans dance school, Hogan School of Irish Dance, also planned to attend the opening performance. Hogan, who graduated from UF with a masters degree in 2008, opened the school in 2004 when she realized Gainesville had nowhere for residents to learn and practice Irish dance.

The school remains the only accredited Irish dance program in North Central Florida, Hogan said. It has 40 students spanning from 4-year-olds to 70-year-olds.

She said people can be intimidated by the styles complex steps, but they tend to learn quickly.

Irish dance is just like any other skill that you learn, Hogan said. You just go at it slowly, practice, and people are surprised at how quickly they can get to a point where theyre actually doing these hard, fast, difficult movements.

The dance style has become an international phenomenon, encouraging people who arent Irish to learn it, she said.

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Shows like Riverdance are examples of Irish dancing on steroids, she said.

Van der Meer said Riverdances Gainesville performances are significant, because the show is usually held in large cities like New York City and Los Angeles.

Theyre going to get a heck of a show, van der Meer said. I cant think of a better word than saying its really going to be ... a spectacle to see.

@romyellenbogen

rellenbogen@alligator.org

Allison Hogan, the head instructor at Hogan School of Irish Dance, discusses choreography with a team of four dancers on Tuesday afternoon. Hogan shares her love of Irish culture with students of all ages in the Gainesville area and offers private lessons upon request.
A group representing private passenger transportation companies slammed Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to allow ridesharing in upstate New York.

John Tomassi, president of the Upstate Transportation Association, criticized the proposal because it wouldn't require drivers for Uber and other ridesharing companies to be subjected to fingerprint background checks.

He also opposes Cuomo's ridesharing plan because the state, not local governments, would regulate the industry and there would be a 5.5 percent tax on rides in upstate New York.

"Anyone who reads Gov. Cuomo's ridesharing proposal would find it hard to believe that he thinks upstate matters," Tomassi said.

According to the executive budget briefing book released late Tuesday, Uber, Lyft and other so-called "transportation network companies" would be allowed to operate in upstate. Uniform licensing requirements would be established and municipalities would be given the option to license ridesharing companies.

For rides that begin outside of New York City, the 5.5 percent tax would apply. The tax in New York City is 8.875 percent.

Cuomo, in making the case for allowing ridesharing in cities like Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, has said that "upstate matters."

"It's unfair and unjust that you have ridesharing in New York City, but you don't pass it in upstate New York," he said Tuesday.

Uber praised Cuomo for his ridesharing proposal, which would allow the company to expand its reach in New York.

"Once again, Governor Cuomo has shown his leadership when it comes to standing up for upstate cities," said Josh Mohrer, Uber New York's general manager.

The ridesharing proposal will be one of the top priorities for the governor and state legislative leaders during budget negotiations. The state Legislature came close to passing a ridesharing insurance bill last year, but couldn't reach an agreement.
Santa Fe College ended its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration by burying a time capsule and smashing a bottle of champagne Tuesday.

About 100 people, including college administrators, students and faculty members, attended the event at Santa Fes recently built clocktower, at 3000 NW 83rd St. The ceremony started with a short speech from Jackson Sasser, the colleges president, and ended when a bottle of champagne christened the clock tower, which was built in the Fall.

The height of this clock tower is symbolic of high standards, Sasser said. We never, ever can reach high enough with the standards of this college.

The schools first-time capsule, which was buried 25 years after Santa Fe opened its doors in 1966, was unearthed this year, said John Carmean, Santa Fes director of communications and creative services.

It contained Santa Fe memorabilia and VHS tapes that were damaged by water, he said. The college had the tapes restored by a forensics digital recovery service.

For this years burial, videos are stored on USB flash drives in weather-proof containers. The capsule also included letters from current students and an iPhone.

People from all over campus suggested what should go in the capsule, so we took those suggestions, Carmean said. Weve included digital things like videos of important moments in the history of the last 25 years of the college.

This years capsule, a stainless steel box to be opened in 2041, was buried earlier this week in a secret location, Carmean said.

The capsule was made by Santa Fes welding program and engraved by students in the building construction technology program.

Kadesiah Bellot, a Santa Fe musical theater student, said although she didnt place any personal belongings in the capsule, she was happy to be a part of her schools story.

I wanted to come out today because I wanted to be a part of history, and kind of actually see what a time capsule looked like, the 22-year-old said.

Bellots friend, Joshua White, said the new clock tower has become a defining piece of architecture at the college.

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Its pretty central to the campus, the 21-year-old Santa Fe dance sophomore said. When youre driving up, its kind of the first thing you see.

@molly_vossler

mvossler@alligator.org

Pictured is the Santa Fe College clock tower.
Students will vote on a constitutional amendment during Spring Student Government elections that could change how Summer replacement senators are chosen.

Tuesday, Student Senate unanimously passed a bill placing an amendment to the Student Body constitution on the Spring ballot. The amendment would prevent senators from nominating their own replacements during Summer.

If the amendment passes, the Replacement and Agenda Committee will recommend applicants for open positions before Senate approves the nomination. Currently, senators pick their replacements, who are approved by the committee and then the Senate.

The bills author, Senator Meaghan Hanley (Impact, Journalism-02) wrote in an email that the amendment would place qualified students in Senate during a time when a significant portion of Senates budget is distributed.

We have seen situations where senators simply appoint a friend for the summer term and they have no understanding of Student Government or a commitment to the office, she said.

Senate President Smith Meyers said the amendment could allow majority party applicants to replace a minority or independent party senators seat, although they can object to applicants.

Senate also appointed Ian Green (Impact, Business Administration) as budget and appropriations committee chairman, replacing Charlie Brown Jr., who resigned from Senate Jan. 10, according to Alligator archives.

Meyers said Green was the only senator to apply.

I feel like Im more than prepared, Green said, adding that hes been the committees vice chair since October.

@paigexfry

pfry@alligator.org

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The Copyright Industry, especially the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), and MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) have suppressed every form of innovation, and technology to protect their questionable rights. In the 80s, they sued to stop video recorders, but were thankfully held back by the Supreme Court in the famous Betamax case. The Media Industry forced manufacturers of blank cassettes, tapes, and CDs to pay a royalty to reimburse the industry because the blank recording media might be used to infringe copyright. That is right; your preacher's sermon tapes actually were forced to subsidize Hollywood.

In 1998, the RIAA sued to stop the first portable Mp3 player, Diamond Rio, from being sold.

In 1999, they took down Napster, the breakthrough file sharing program upstart. Then they cut a swath of destruction going after a plethora of file sharing services, with such vicious tactics as suing children who downloaded songs for unconscionable amounts of money.

Upping the outrage, they tried to gut the First Amendment with the SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act), which imperiled the whole Internet by making search engines and hosting companies liable for piracy that the technology companies had nothing to do with. Only when technology giants apprised Congress that technology produced more jobs than the media, did Congress back off. Temporarily!

In 2014, the RIAA considered suing Google for even listing sites that people could use to rip media.

The RIAA previously found that for 98% of the music related searches they performed, pirate sites were listed on the first page of the search results. According to the music group, this is an indication that more proactive measures are required, in the interests of both Google and the labels. So the enforcement system we operate under requires us to send a staggering number of piracy notices  100 million and counting to Google aloneand an equally staggering number of takedowns Google must process. And yet pirated copies continue to proliferate and users are bombarded with search results to illegal sources over legal sources for the music they love, Sherman notes. - Torrent Freak

Why is it in Google's interest to doctor their search engine results for make the copyright industry happy? And is the word, "bombarded" appropriate for providing the public with search results that the public wants? This is industry propaganda. Now, the RIAA is going full speed after You Tube ripping.



So what is YouTube ripping?

A few years ago, soon after file sharing sites were sued into oblivion, technology surfaced which made it possible to rip the music directly off of YouTube videos. No longer did one have to download buggy software to download files - and which ironically opened one's computer to viruses. One could merely go to YouTube, copy the URL and then go to a ripping site to split the mp3 music off of the video, and then download it. This 2010 video - made at just about the same time that LimeWire file sharing service was finally taken down - gives some instruction. (Click Here). More recent instruction videos are easily searched out. Newer sites are incredibly ease to use.

News of the YouTube ripping technique spread slowly at first, except among technophiles; but soon enough, the Media Industry's victory over file sharing software/services would prove pyrrhic. YouTube ripping had the advantage of being incredibly easy and all but untraceable. No need to worry about RIAA lawsuits.

So, now, the RIAA is back again, crying foul, going nuts, suing YouTube ripping sites.

This week a huge coalition of recording labels headed by the RIAA, IFPI, and BPI, sued YouTube ripping service YouTube-MP3. Today we take a closer look at the lawsuit which was filed against a German company, owned and operated by a German citizen, which could seek damages running into the hundreds of millions of dollars. - Torrent Freak

This time, the RIAA has lost all reason. They are once again playing Whack-a-Mole - which is what they have been doing all along. If history teaches anything, innovators, by their very nature, will always outpace Luddites. YouTube ripping sites have proliferated across the web - with this link at this time, showing 95 million results for a search for YouTube rippers.

Nothing will stop the RIAA, the MPAA, and the Media Industry, though.

Hollywood media moguls are intent on preserving a dying business model. Worse yet, they expect technology companies to provide the technical expertise to protect their quasi-monopoly. It is much cheaper to have Google, Microsoft, and Facebook pay programmers to fight piracy than the RIAA actually hiring programmers to come up with the technology themselves.

Then again, their incompetence in this area has been humiliating.

In an attempt to curb music piracy, major labels such as Sony started selling music CDs that have built-in copy-proof technology. The technology was meant to stop people from copying music from these discs onto recordable CDs or hard drives. There's a fatal flaw in this technology, however, which allows you to bypass the copy protection with a simple marker pen, and a recent upsurge in Internet newsgroup talk about this flaw has brought it to light again. -- Geek (2002)

Open up a cafe or a bar with some live music and you could be forced to pay three royalty collection agencies: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.

Antonowisch explained that once ASCAP got wind that they had live music (even though they were only holding about 12 concerts a year), ASCAP began their crusade. They called us everyday. They sent two letters a day. They threatened us with a lawsuit because they said we had violated copyright, Antonowisch lamented. As not to get sued, the coffee shop owners conceded. They agreed to pay ASCAP the $600 yearly license for the right to have live music. But then they found out that there was another PRO that required the same license. BMI. (snip) Then, as luck would have it, SESAC got in touch. And they demanded just over $700.)snip) Bauhaus [the cafe] actually explained to ASCAP that all of their musicians play original music and ASCAP shot back how do you know? Do you know every song ever written? So the PROs wont believe a venue if they claim that they only host original music. And all it takes is one musician to play one cover song for a PRO to sue for serious damages. - Digital Music News

Consider them three mafias. A protection racket. Once you pay one, the others want their cut. Add in the MPAA, the RIAA, and it is legalized corruption. Congress indulges them because the media can make or break a politician's career; and so Congress passes more and more noxious copyright laws, to protect their monopoly.

As part of draining the swamp, this new administration has nothing to lose offending the media. Trump should reform our copyright laws. Copyrights should be limited to no more time than patents: 20 years. Getting a technical patent can require decades of investments and education. Why should a song written over a short period of time get protected for 70 years plus the life of the author?

These media moguls are mafiosi in legal garb. It is high time they were told that it is not the duty of Google, YouTube, Microsoft, or Apple to protect their recordings. If the media companies cannot protect their own product, then so be it.

Let the industry die off. It is a dinosaur in an age of mammals. It is a relic that has lots its usefulness like royalty, and aristocracy. We won't have to suffer industry stars telling us how enlightened they are, and how retro-stupid the public is.

For decades they have monopolized American and Western culture - often destroying our core values - and charged us for the privilege of their artistic rampage. We were stupid to put up with it. Now they are suing us. Let them die out. Let music and artistic creation return to the individual, as it was when the republic was born. Let the copyright attorneys find something useful to do.

Mike Konrad is the pen name of an American who wishes he had availed himself more fully of the opportunity to learn Spanish in high school, lo those many decades ago.
The 1964 Voting Rights Act and revisions addressed the right of the individual citizen in the U.S. to vote without obstruction or discrimination. The concept of one person one vote has been repeatedly upheld. While Illinois became infamous for having the dead vote and allowing multiple votes by one person, its legislature has adopted rules that seriously infringe upon the rights of all voters.

This more subtle, abstract, and far more dangerous practice implements a new method of vote theft: administratively denying voters any input into legislation; thereby violating the concept that government can only legislate with the consent of the governed.

In order to understand the nature of these tactics its necessary to go back and understand the role of the individual voter in government. The Declaration of Independence clearly states that government is of, by and for the people. It also clearly affirms that governed is based upon, and requires, the consent of the governed. The U.S. is not a nation of men but of laws.

The Voting Rights Act was enacted to protect access to the ballot box. But the ballot box, the choices made by voters, is supposed to end up as the sole basis of legislation affecting the voters. The interesting, -- and currently threatened -- connection between the ballot box and legislation is what needs to be carefully examined.

The details of how this connection was broken in Illinois has been researched and exposed by the Illinois Policy Institute.

The Illinois House has a rule, Rule 4, which clearly specifies that only the Speaker of the House has the authority to control what bills are, and are not, voted upon by the State House representatives. Representatives of the Illinois House are elected by the people and these representatives are supposed to craft bills in committees, come to agreement, and present the bills to the entire House. After being passed by the House they then go to the State Senate for approval. If a bill passes both houses of the IL General Assembly, then the governor has the authority to sign the bill, return it for amendments, or veto it.

The will of the people, the consent of the governed, is then expressed and manifested through bills crafted by their elected representatives. But if the Speaker of the House can control what bills come to a vote, the speaker has then denied the states representatives their constitutionally mandated mission to express the will of their voters. Taking one step back, the voters then, by having the voices of their duly elected representatives silenced, are denied their input into the state legislature. An input that is totally controlled, and therefore can be totally denied, by the speaker of the Illinois House through House Rule 4. Additionally, in Illinois the speaker alone, not a committee vote, chooses the committee chairmen. In Illinois, each committee chairman also receives an annual $10,000 stipend. This is also decided by the speaker.

And if the House doesnt pass a bill, the state Senate cannot vote on it, and the bill dies. Similarly, if the State Senate passes a bill the speaker can refuse to have a vote on it. So in Illinois the will of the people, the consent of the governed, is totally controlled by one person, the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. In effect, the speaker, by denying voters any access to the legislative process, administratively steals the votes of all IL citizens; while giving them the illusion that they have a vote in state government.

This Rule 4 has stolen the authority of the state governor to veto bills since the bills are vetoed by the speaker. The governor can only sign or pass bills passed, not by the two chambers of the state legislature, but only those that the Speaker of the House allows to appear for a vote.

This strategy, of denying the people a voice in legislation, is a violation of the one person one vote concept that has been repeatedly affirmed by SCOTUS. The votes of not just one person but all people in Illinois are stolen by one person, the House Speaker. The autocratic rule practiced by Obama then can be understood because he comes from Illinois.

This has led to a one-man government in Illinois. All financial issues handled by the legislature are then controlled by one person and his political party. And that one person, House Speaker Michael Madigan, has served as speaker longer than anyone in U.S. history: since 1983.

The speaker and his allies have shrewdly allowed every vote to count, but just in the ballot count. The right to vote is preserved but the right to control government is taken away. And its all done by IL House Rules.

Another aspect of these rules is that there are no provisions for minority party input. Unlike the U.S. Senate, there is no filibuster, no opportunity for the minority party to add any amendments. Amendments are a meaningless exercise since the speaker has total control of the committee chairmen and the ability to present a bill to the house floor for a vote. The Senate and House are both controlled by Democrats. Illinois is the only state that has stolen the rights of voters in this way.

For two years, IL has not passed a state budget, another strategy the speaker uses to obstruct legislative compromise learned by Obama.

The core issue here is whether a state can use legislative rule making to, in effect, deny voters any input in legislation, or whether the concept of the consent of the governed needs to be reaffirmed by a federal court and guaranteed through legislative rule changes.

While the Supreme Court and Congress have worked for decades to guarantee the right to vote, no effort has been devoted to guarantee that voters choices have an impact on legislation. Its as if, once the election, is over the legislature is entitled to write its own rules as to how effectively the will of the people is exercised through the legislative process and find its way into law.

The biggest difference, then, between the theft of ballots and the theft of the right to influence legislation is that its impossible to steal all the ballots of an election but very easy for a legislature to pass rules that deny all voters the right to influence the legislative process. Ballot box corruption has been replaced by legislative constitutional corruption.

The question the Supreme Court must answer is whether the concept of consent of the governed is as valid, and important, to the rule by the will of the people as the one person one vote right. While the concept of the consent of the governed seems abstract and obtuse, its value to government is beyond dispute. Whether these legislative state rules will survive constitutional scrutiny is the most interesting question. But in the meantime, voters in Illinois have had their right to influence government stolen through these administrative rules. Just as Obama nullified the will of the people through his executive orders.
Donald Trump has gone on record as wishing to unite the nation. In fact, he has declared it one of his urgent priorities in numerous post-election comments. I hope this is mere presidential rhetoric, for America has long passed the point when unity would be possible. The nation is now hopelessly divided and will remain so. Unless Trump recognizes this unpalatable reality, much of his decision-making and hard work will go for nought.

The left, which includes the majority of national institutions -- the legacy media, the academy, television, Hollywood, the social media providers, the judiciary, online and print groups, government departments, the Democratic Party and much of the Republican Party, the political class as a whole and the army of liberal voters -- will never be pacified. The left will never cease in its efforts to scheme against a Trump -- or any conservative-leaning -- administration.

Trump must take seriously Newt Gingrichs warning against the temptation to give in to the left when opposition starts to mount from every quarter -- the Greens, government employees, the teachers unions, indeed the entire progressivist Category 5 hurricane of demands and vilification. Not only should Trump resist that temptation, he must not waste his time and energy seeking to heal what cannot be repaired, but needs to engage in a kind of domestic cold war, using every legislative means in his purview to contain a dangerous and implacable internal enemy. This is realpolitik applied locally.

Robert Oscar Lopez pillories the academic left and the education industry at all levels, he writes: Try to build bridges to them, and they punish you for it[they take] kind gestures from conservatives as a sign that conservatives are weak. The arts of conciliation tend to be perceived as an invitation to shame you publicly, using anything you say against you. He continues: Higher education is not a swamp to be drained. It is a diabolical machine, and it is time to pull the plug. What he says of the education consortium is true of the left across the entire cultural, social and political spectrum.

It is naive to assume that the political fissure between left and right, collectivism and individuality, Socialism and classical liberalism, fantasy and reality, can ever be bridged. In essence, this is a perennial conflict, one which the great satirist Jonathan Swift in The Battle of the Books, drawing from the classics, described as the enmity between the predatory spider, who purls illusions out of his own entrails, and the foraging bee who produces sweetness and light and convulses the spiders self-spun citadel. It is a conflict between opposed epistemological frames of reference -- in Swiftian terms, that of the fanatic parvenu and that of the companionable humanist. Today it is a war between progressivists and conservatives, between utopian experimentalism and traditional values. The rupture cannot be parged. One should not invest in a fruitless and destructive effort to create unity where none is possible.

Where the effort to achieve unity has real meaning is in the attempt to mend the surmountable divisions of opinion within the conservative family in order to form a strong front against the forces that would subvert the political coherence and even the survival of the nation. Unity only makes sense if it is accomplished within the often disparate group of genuine patriots who may disagree on many points, yet who are basically at one in struggling to establish the rule of law and a functioning democratic -- or rather, republican -- polity. But to work for the unification of oil and water is not only an egregious error but a recipe for social and political disunity.

E.M. Cadwaladr argues America now comprises two separate peopleswhere any notion of compromiseis painfully naive and utterly futile. Conservatism is about the freedom from government interference, the freedom for citizens to do with their property as they see fit [and to] prosper or fail in accordance with [their own] choices and abilities. Conservatives believe that charity is an individual virtue, [the purpose of which] is to raise the unfortunate to a state of self-sufficiency. Freedom includes the right to make ones own judgments about other people (so much for political correctness). And equality means equality before the law.

Progressivists believe in identity politics, in big government rather than scaled-down efficient government, in the collective over the individual, in compensating the aggrieved often at the expense of the deserving, in cultural and ethnic equivalency, and in building a new global utopia. For progressivists, freedom means freedom from want (entitlements), sexual freedom (and the right to an abortion), anda self-defined and flexible identity (including being addressed by whatever pronoun suits you.) Equality before the law is an antiquated concept. Equality means equality of outcome, regardless of input.

In sum, Nationalist conservatives cannot tolerate the destruction of their national identity. Globalist progressives cannot tolerate the very idea of nation statesThey are not different merely in having differing views about the size and scope of government, Cadwaladr concludes, they are different in kind. It is a divide that has never been healed throughout the course of recorded history and that cannot be healed under any conceivable American administration. Obama widened and exacerbated the divide; Trump cannot repair it, but if he is wise, he may be able to prevent a relentless internal enemy from using the divide to create a Marxist dystopia.

Cadwaladr uses the term conservative in a broad preferential sense, which is perfectly legitimate as such, but as we will see, a critical distinction has to be made. In the current political climate, what Ive called the internal enemy is twofold. Apart from the rhapsodic left that haunts the nation with its malignant dream, a true reformer must confront the schismatic dissension of his nominal allies, in this case the Republican aristocracy that works to undermine the restorative project. This too is a swamp that must be drained (or a diabolical machine whose plug must be pulled). False conservatives are no less and perhaps even more insidious than an avowed and definable antagonist. Major figures in the Republican Party -- John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Marco Rubio, Lindsay Graham, Mitt Romney et al. -- and in the mainstream conservative movement -- George Will, Bill Kristol, Kevin Williamson, Glenn Beck, David Frum et al. -- have effectively acted in concert with the acknowledged foe, espousing many of its programs and laboring to discredit their own presidential candidate.

Such people have come to be known by the New Right as cuckservatives, an epithet circulating on the Internet and given prominence in John Red Eagle and Vox Days Cuckservative: How Conservatives Betrayed America. Cuckservatives, according to the two Native American authors, are like cuckolded husbands who raise the children of another man instead of ones own sons and daughters, those who welcome the cuckoo bird to populate their nests. In the words of Mike Cernovich, who provided the Foreword to the book, cuckservatives are false conservatives who are thrilled to see real Americans get screwed over by immigration! And not only by immigration, but in almost every other respect as well: wretched education, rampant entitlements, false scandals (the patriarchy, college rape culture), anti-Constitutionalism, gender fluidity, feminism, economic strangulation, in short, an outright attack on what was once known as the American way of life.

In his own recent book MAGA MINDSET, Cernovich claims, with considerable evidence, that a cuckservitive is one who will never have the back of his nominal friends and allies, who wants to be part of the establishment, and who cares more about attacking Donald Trump than putting any effort into understanding why Trump has grown a huge audience. He uses the term, he goes on to say, to describe prominent writers and talking heads on the political Right who are more concerned with being liked by SJWs than standing up for their actual allies. There can be little common understanding between a conservative and a cuckservative. Conservative unity means marginalizing such collaborators who secretly fly the enemys flag. The conservative media and punditry are, for the most part, more interested in virtue-signaling to the left, in showing how reasonable and pro-social justice they are, than in defending conservative principles or supporting genuine conservatives who have come under attack.

The presumably noble endeavor to achieve unity with perpetual dissidents and adversaries -- that is, between two contending frames of reference, whether in the nation or in the Party -- is demonstrably counter-productive. Beware of unity with those who are wedded to sowing discord and for whom the invitation to make common cause is a weapon to create disunity in the body politic. We should not attempt to cultivate unity where unity cannot exist. We need, rather, to be unsparingly realistic.

Striving to unite eternal incompatibles is a disaster in the making, and the president-elect must take this fact into consideration. Politics may be the art of compromise, but it also the art of determined action and resolute principle. For the incoming administration, this is the time for the head to predominate, the time for determination and scruple. You cannot make peace with those who hate the country, whose values are diametrically opposed to yours, or whose agenda pivots toward cultural and political disintegration.

Trump should put the party subversives in their place and, using every constitutional measure at his disposal, render the left in all its manifestations irrelevant and seek to neutralize its poison. And he must do so decisively if his presidency is to succeed. For counterfeit unity goeth before a fall.
On Monday, the increasingly annoying Marc Lamont Hill, a frequent CNN commentator, charged that the blacks agreeing to work with the incoming Trump administration are a bunch of mediocre negroes being dragged in front of TV as a photo op.

Now, as an associate professor of English at Columbia, Professor Lamont should know that words have multiple meanings. In the case of this loaded descriptive, mediocre, there are many, many meanings  and most of them become rather racially charged and inflammatory when placed between bunch of and Negroes. Here are a few quickly picked from Thesaurus.com:

... a bunch of adequate Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of second-rate Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of commonplace Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of useless Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of trifling Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of inferior Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of good-for-nothing Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of junky Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of slovenly Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of tawdry Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of run-of-the-mill Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

... a bunch of no account Negroes being dragged in front of TV ...

If I'm not mistaken, many of those synonyms for mediocre would be considered racist trigger words by a huge number of blacks in this country if used by any white conservative to describe any black in any context. The immediate reaction would be high dudgeon, with no apologies accepted. What the hell, professor  why didn't you just go ahead and call 'em Uncle Toms or house n------?

It never fails to amaze that when leftist blacks coarsen the political discourse, as this supposedly learned black man has done, their white liberal overseers just pat them on the head with that patronizing smirk that says, "Well, you know, children are just going to be little potty-mouths from time to time."

When will blacks ever wake up and leave that Democrat plantation?
The Congressional Budget Office released a report claiming that 18 million people would lose their Obamacare insurance if the law is repealed and that premiums will rise 20-25%.

Oh...did I mention that those scare numbers would be realized if the GOP Congress failed to enact a replacement?

The Hill:

The report, which was requested by Democrats,could complicate Republican efforts to repeal the health law and is likely to reignite a long fight between GOP lawmakers and the CBO over ObamaCare. The CBO examined a 2015 repeal bill authored by Republicans that would have eliminated ObamaCare's penalties and subsidies while leaving the insurance market reforms in place. President Obama vetoed that legislation when it reached his desk. President-elect Donald Trump and the GOP have made repealing ObamaCare their first priority for 2017, but have not said what parts of the law they will leave in place or what a replacement plan will look like. It's also unclear what parts of the 2015 bill they will use. However, if they were to pass the 2015 legislation again, 18 million people would become uninsured in the first new plan year following the enactment of the bill, the CBO estimates. Most of the reductions in coverage would stem from repealing the penalty for not having health insurance, the CBO estimates, because people would just drop their insurance plans. Other people would become uninsured because of insurance companies leaving the ObamaCare market in anticipation of enrollment reductions and higher costs. After the elimination of ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion and insurance subsidies, 27 million people would lose insurance, and then 32 million in 2026, the CBO found. Democrats seized on the report to argue that the GOP ObamaCare repeal effort would be devastating to people who rely on it for health insurance. Nonpartisan statistics dont lie: its crystal clear that the Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act will increase health care costs for millions of Americans and kick millions more off of their health insurance," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. "The numbers are even worse than experts could have imagined: tens of millions will lose their health insurance, and individuals will see their premiums double. This is exactly why Republican members of Congress are getting an earful back home from constituents who want them to turn back from their dangerous plan to make America sick again. But Republicans pushed back on the findings. Speaker Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) office called the analysis "meaningless" because it does not take into account any replacement legislation.

The CBO has a history of releasing misinformation about Obamacare. In 2014, it stopped its year-to-year scoring of the effects of the legislation because it said the task was "impossible." Well, the CBO certainly found it possible to release an incredibly misleading report based on legislation that no longer exists and assumptions that are not realistic.

Of course the GOP will offer a replacement for Obamacare. Trump wants it. The congressional leadership is entirely on board for it. The study is a waste of the CBO's time because there is absolutely no way that Republicans will commit political suicide and throw 18 million people off their insurance next year.

But Democrats, looking to scare the hell out of the public, embraced the bogus study as it it were based on reality. It's not. And all the headlines and somber-faced liberal commentators on TV who are talking up these figures as if they were gospel are taking part in a fraud perpetrated by the supposedly "non-partisan" CBO.
Trump's aggressive tweeting has the twits in the MSM in a bit of a snit.

"Undignified," say the MSM newsies, and "another attack on the media," and "no way to challenge factual inaccuracies." How, they fret, can Trump convey nuance or context in a 140-character tweet or other abbreviated social media statement? We will be reduced to government by soundbite. Indeed, a CNN anchor suggests that the news industry cabal not cover Trump's tweets.

The anxiety attack is compounded by a recent trial balloon that the Trump team might move press briefings out of the small White House briefing room, which can hold only about 50 reporters, into a large space in the next-door Executive Office Building. The move would increase the number and variety of participants, letting in bloggers, talk radio hosts, and other deplorables (such as American Thinker's own Clarice Feldman).

The tweeting and the relocation of the briefings are two facets of the same issue: the role of the elite MSM as gatekeepers of the president's communications with the public.

The objection is not to government by sound bite. That, we already have. The objection is to soundbites not chosen by the MSM, because that would hobble their power to accentuate the negative and obscure the positive. Stories, especially on TV, about presidential speeches are masterpieces of sensationalism, superficiality, and evasion, and they rarely provide any nuance or context. The MSM rarely provide hyperlinks; one must work to find the real story.

Tweets are themselves the relevant sound bite, and they can easily contain links to additional material for those who want to follow up. Small wonder that reporters are opposed.

The location of the pressers is related more to status than substance. Few get to ask a question at a news conference, so access via TV is a reasonable facsimile. While there is some undeniable advantage to physical presence, the more important benefit seems to be a sense of being among the elite group allowed in, and thus superior to the hoi polloi watching on TV.

The White House Correspondents Association opposes moving the pressers, but it gives no reason, asserting only the obvious untruth, given that the room holds only 50, that all reporters who want to attend a briefing can.

The WHCA then jumps to objecting to any effort to eject the correspondents from their offices in the West Wing, where they have easy access to senior officials. No such proposal has been made, but the WHCA may well be right to see it as a logical next step; why should a few antique media companies be given preferential access? Who knows what might be next  perhaps a presidential boycott of the WHCA's annual glitterati dinner?

Smart leaders have often harnessed new technologies to bypass existing hierarchies and communicate directly with the people. Martin Luther used the printing press to flood German with a vernacular edition of the Bible in 1534. In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt was the first presidential candidate to accept the nomination in person, in a radio broadcast address, and between 1933 and 1944, he delivered 30 radio fireside chats, eluding any media gatekeeping. Charles de Gaulle, in 1958, issued newly invented transistor radios to French soldiers so that he could tell them directly to ignore the orders of their rebel generals, and in 1961, John F. Kennedy began televised press conferences.
On the evening of January 9, something unusual happened in Iran. The Iranian people turned the music on until midnight, some others distributed candy in the streets of Tehran, and some turned on their automobiles' flashers. The news that sparked this was that former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the founding fathers of Irans regime, died from a heart attack in a hospital.

The next day, tens of thousands of Iranians filled the streets of Tehran for his funeral procession to voice their dissatisfaction with the regime, chanting slogans "dictator, dictator"; "free political prisoners"; "we demand justice"; "hands off Syria."

State television muted the sound from the funeral. Fearful of the recurrence of 2009 uprisings, the regime blocked the internet and mobile networks to prevent news of the protests from spreading.

During 37 years of tyrannical rule of mullahs in Iran, Rafsanjani had a pivotal role in constituting the regimes strategy, especially for state-sponsored terrorism.

Before the 1984 terrorist attack against American Marines barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, Rafsanjani told a group of clergymen, "If in Lebanon one American soldier is killed and goes to hell it's much more valuable to us than the death of 200 members of Hezb'allah."

And in the meeting with commanders of the army, he said, "One bullet from Lebanese people that kill French soldiers is much more valuable for us than an atomic hydrogen bomb."

The myth and illusion about the moderation of Rafsanjani was disproven during the past three decades.

"The notion that betting that this regime is going to temper its behavior in the region because of this nuclear deal, I think, is mistaken," Robert Gates, former U.S. defense secretary, said in an interview published in January 2016.

Iran has a "long history under the revolutionary government," Gates said, noting he was involved in the first U.S. meeting with members of the Islamic Republic of Iran's government just days before American hostages were taken at the American embassy in 1979. "As I like to tell people, that began my now more than three-decades-long quest for the elusive Iranian moderate," Gates said.

The view that Iran will eventually evolve into a non-theological nation state and abandon its aspirations for nuclear weapons is "unrealistic," he said.

"The death of Rafsanjani, one of the pillars of the religious fascism ruling Iran and its balance factor collapsed, and the regime in its entirety is closer now to its overthrow," said Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi, president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.

On December 21, 2016, Kenneth Katzman from the Congressional Research Service wrote on Irans foreign and defense policies, saying,

U.S. officials and U.S. reports assert that there has been no observable alteration of Irans pursuit of its core regional activities. To date, Iran has used the JCPOA to ease its international diplomatic isolation and to try to develop itself as a regional energy and trade hub and explore new weapons buys. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and key hardline institutions, such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), oppose any compromises of Irans core goals, but support Irans re-integration into regional and international diplomacy.

Business Insider noted that since the accord was reached last summer, Iran has violated U.N. Security Council resolutions by testing two ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, fired live missiles within 1,500 yards of an American aircraft carrier, and continued its support for Syrian president Bashar Assad and Shiite militias in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

On Wednesday, December 16, 2015, Reuters reported that Iran violated a U.N. Security Council resolution in October by test-firing a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, leading to calls in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday for more sanctions on Tehran.

The lesson of Rafsanjani for the West is this: appeasement policy will promote the terrorists and unleash them instead of restraining them.

Hassan Mahmoudi is a human rights advocate and social media journalist seeking democracy for Iran and peace for the region. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento.
A pair of Republican congressmen are asking President-elect Donald Trump's transition team to review and reverse the International Joint Commission's decision to adopt Plan 2014, which sets a new strategy for managing Lake Ontario water levels.

U.S. Reps. Chris Collins and John Katko sent a letter to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who's leading Trump's transition team, requesting another look at Plan 2014.

"As part of President Obama's legacy building effort, his administration swiftly and suspiciously passed a plan to regulate Lake Ontario's water levels after it had been stagnant for years," the congressmen wrote. "This plan, known as Plan 2014, will cause millions of dollars in damage to properties, businesses and communities along Lake Ontario's southern shoreline."

Collins, R-Clarence, and Katko, R-Camillus, represent counties along the Lake Ontario shoreline and have been critics of Plan 2014, which was adopted in December.

The International Joint Commission, which consists of members from the U.S. and Canada, signed Plan 2014 last month. The decision followed a 16-year review of the water level regulations.

Proponents say it will benefit the environment and boost tourism in communities along Lake Ontario. But critics, mainly those who live on the lake's southern shore, think it will do more harm than good.

At the time of the plan's signing, Canadian Section Chair Gordon Walker said there was no way for opponents to appeal the IJC's decision.

"The moment it is signed it is in effect," Walker said in December. "At that point in time it is done and over with."

But Collins and Katko hope that's not the case.

In the letter sent to Pence, the congressmen blasted the Obama administration's approval of Plan 2014 as a "midnight action" focused more on the outgoing president's legacy than on the impacts it would have for those who live along Lake Ontario's southern shore.

"This plan should not move forward until a careful, detailed analysis has been conducted on the economic impact it would have, and any negative effects mitigated," they wrote.
Although I have plenty of reservations about the White House Correspondents Association and their exclusive claim on the 49-seat press room, they really came through for honesty and forthrightness when Josh Earnest held his final briefing. Cameron Cawthorne of the Free Beacon captured the moment, but please, dear readers, watch the video embedded below before reading the account of the most fitting farewell for a propagandist in my memory:

Cawthornes description:

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest received awkward applause from one person on Tuesday after the president of the White House Correspondents Association, Reuters reporter Jeff Mason, lauded him for his service.

During Earnests final White House press briefing, he called on Mason to ask a question. Mason then commended Earnest for committing his time towards meeting with the press.

Josh, first of all, on behalf of the White House Correspondents Association, we want to thank you for your commitment to regular briefings with us, Mason said. We havent always agreed on everything, and there has always been some tension, which is normal between a White House and a press corps that covers it.

We are grateful to you and your team for working with the Correspondents Association and for your commitment to dealing with us on a daily basis, so thank you, Mason added.

Earnest thanked Mason for his words, which prompted one person offscreen to start clapping emphatically. There was a mixed reaction in response to the clapping, as several reporters turned their heads towards the clapper with cheerful and annoyed expressions on their faces.
Think ghost town and youll probably imagine ruins roofless houses, dirty broken windows, rotting floors, but at Kitsault, on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada, youll find rows upon rows of immaculately kept houses, shopping centers, restaurants, banks, pubs and theaters, all abandoned and sitting empty but untouched and spotless. The towns lights are always on, the streets are lined with neatly trimmed trees and there are freshly mowed lawns, yet no one has called Kitsault home since 1982.

The town of Kitsault, near the Alaskan border, situated about 115 kilometers down the gravel road from Terrace, had a very brief existence. It began in 1979 as a community of workers of the molybdenum mines. Molybdenum forms hard, stable carbides in alloys, and is often used to provide hardness and corrosion resistance properties to steel. But just as life was getting started in this pristine mountain utopia, the market for molybdenum crashed and the entire town of some 1,200 residents abandoned it.

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

This area of British Columbia, at the end of the Observatory Inlet, had been mined for precious and semi-precious metals such as silver, lead, zinc, and copper for nearly a century, leading to the establishment of many boom towns such as Alice Arm and Anyox. Molybdenum was first mined here from the late sixties until the early seventies, but was stopped when profits started to dip. But by the end of the decade prices were back up again as many of the known molybdenum deposits in Alaska, British Columbia and the western United States began to deplete. The American mining company Phelps Dodge jumped in at the opportunity.

A large swath of land several hundred acres in size was prepared for the town of Kitsault, and a massive construction project, on a scale that had never been seen in Northern British Columbia, began. Ships arrived with building supplies into Kitsaults deep water fiord. A gravel road from Terrace was hastily built through the mountains. Engineers and construction workers poured in from all over North America, drawn by high-paying construction jobs.

More than a hundred single-family homes and duplexes were built, and seven apartment buildings with over two hundred suites. There was a modern hospital and a shopping center, restaurants, banks, a post office, a pub, a pool, a library, and two recreation centers with Jacuzzis, saunas and a theater. Cable television and phone lines were laid underground. There was a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant and the cleanest running water in the province.

Barely 18 months after the first families had settled in, the molybdenum market crashed caused by a badly timed recession and the arrival of molybdenum by-products. The mines closed and people started moving out and Kitsault was forgotten.

In 2005, India-born American entrepreneur, Krishnan Suthanthiran, bought the town for $7 million and began charting its revival. Since then, the millionaire has poured an estimated $25 million on upgrades and upkeep. More than a dozen caretakers make rounds of the houses and other structures, checking on their conditions and making repairs. They mow the lawns, trim the trees and sweep the streets.

Suthanthiran plans to recoup his investments by turning Kitsault into a hub of British Columbias Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry. The future of the town depends on the success of this LNG project.

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Photo credit: Chad Graham/Flickr

Photo credit: Chad Graham/Flickr

Photo credit: Chad Graham/Flickr

Photo credit: Bob Steventon/Flickr

Source: www.kitsault.com / The Globe And Mail / National Post
A South Korean court has ruled that third generation Samsung Group head, Jay Y. Lee, can go home after being kept overnight and questioned by police. This questioning followed over twenty hours of police questions last week associated with the 2016 South Korean political scandal, which has seen the president, Park Guen-hye, impeached. This decision needs to be ratified by the South Korean Constitutional Court, but if it is upheld it will be the first time a democratically elected leader is removed from office. For the time being, Park remains in office but her powers have been removed pending the court decision. On Monday, the Korean special prosecutor explained it was seeking an arrest warrant for Lee on suspicion of bribery, embezzlement, and perjury. However, in a statement following Jay Y. Lees release, the judge explained that the court deemed it difficult to acknowledge the necessity of arresting Lee and let him go. Although no company wishes to see its Chief questioned by the police or even arrested, and this news is likely to be very welcome, Samsung have not yet commented.

As background to the near-arrest of Lee, the South Korean president was impeached in December because of the scandal around her closeness with Choi Soon-sil, described as the daughter of a shaman-esque cult leader. Several heads of the South Korean conglomerates  locally known as chaebols  have become embroiled in the scandal as they made contributions to two foundations that appeared poised to bring down President Park Geun-hye, including Jay Y. Lee. Lee has been accused of paying bribes amounting to almost $37 million to various companies linked with Choi Soon-sil.

The claim is that these bribes were to ensure the merger of two businesses in 2015 and by doing so, ensure Lees ongoing control of the family business. South Korean companies typically have a very convoluted ownership structure consisting of many cross share holdings between different businesses. At this time, it is unclear if Jay Y. Lee will be questioned again as the South Korean authorities continue their investigation. Instead, we can expect Lee to return to his task of steering and handling Samsung, where he is the heir apparent following his fathers heart attack in 2014.
The ancient lost city of Petra, an archaeological wonder lost to the ages, is now yours to explore firsthand, complete with a tour guide and interactive bits, if you happen to own a Google Cardboard-compliant VR headset. Although, the tour is also available on phones and desktops thanks to Google Maps and Street View. The tour of Petra does not require particularly powerful hardware, and should work via Cardboard on just about any modern phone, paired with just about any off the shelf headset. The VR tour takes place on a set path, and allows you to explore landmarks throughout the city at your leisure.

The VR version of the tour begins in a natural gorge, known as The Siq (shown above). This is the entrance-way to the vast Nebatean city in Jordan. From there, viewers are whisked off on a journey through the main landmarks of the city, all the way to the other end of the city. The experience is powered by Street View and is mostly the same as the desktop version, but is far smoother and more intuitive thanks to VR optimization and the ability to control the tour just by looking at waypoints. Narrated bits of historical and archaeological information await the viewer at each individual landmark, and at each stop on the tour the user can look around and properly take in the sights.

This is the latest in a long series of cultural and historical applications for VR that Google has put out for their Cardboard platform. Somewhat basic experiences like this, essentially amounting to VR translations of experiences that would work on other platforms, are common Cardboard fare. As Daydream becomes more mainstream, it seems that Google plans to continue to pursue cultural enrichment as a use case for VR, and will be upping their game with more immersive and detailed experiences on that track. Cardboard, meanwhile, will likely continue to receive support for new experiences such as Googles Spotlight Stories and educational content for the foreseeable future. Those interested in checking out Petra can do so by heading through the link below, with a Cardboard-enabled headset or not.
Both the Galaxy C5 Pro and the Galaxy C9 Pro have paid a visit to the FCC. The Galaxy C5 Pro is expected to arrive soon, though its still not known when exactly, while the Galaxy C9 Pro had been announced back in October in China. Samsung had actually confirmed that the Galaxy C9 Pro will land on January 27th in India, it will become available for a pre-order. Well, it seems like both of these devices might get international variants, read on.

The Galaxy C9 Pro which paid a visit to the FCC bears the SM-C900F model number, and the FCC is, as you probably already know, a US-based official certification authority. So, all in all, it seems like this could be an international variant of the phone which will land in the US, and quite possibly some other regions. The Galaxy C9 Pro is quite a powerful smartphone, and the first Samsung-branded device with 6GB of RAM, so it makes sense Samsung wants to launch it outside of China, even though its technically a mid-range smartphone, mainly due to its SoC, but well talk more about its specs in a minute. The Galaxy C5 Pro, on the other hand, has been leaking for a while now, and the FCC listing confirms that the phone will ship with a 3,000mAh battery. Now, the Galaxy C5 Pro will probably launch in China first, as it is made primarily for the Chinese market, not to mention it was already certified by TENAA (Chinas equivalent to the FCC). This handset, could, however, land in the US as well, which is why it stopped by the FCC as well.

The Galaxy C9 Pro features a 6-inch fullHD (1920 x 1080) Super AMOLED display, while it comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. The device is fueled by the Snapdragon 653 64-bit octa-core SoC, while it comes with the Adreno 510 GPU. The 16-megapixel shooter is placed on the back of this phone, while youll find a 16-megapixel snapper on the phones front side as well, and a 4,000mAh battery is also included in the package. The Galaxy C5 Pro will, according to TENAA, sport a 5.2-inch display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The phone will be fueled by the Snapdragon 626 64-bit octa-core processor, and it will come with a 16-megapixel shooter on both its front and back sides.
Googles most advanced personal AI yet, Google Assistant, is getting a few new features courtesy of Google opening up Actions to third party developers, and the new actions are fairly unique and targeted. Through integration with new partners like CareGeneral, FaithLife, and various cities around the globe, Assistant can now do a number of new things like get help for a family member who has fallen and cant get up, connect you with people praying for you, and tell you what day your garbage should be out at the road. The full list of new partners and actions is fairly extensive, and will be rolling out in batches to users according to partners schedules.

A number of the new actions rolling out are linked to municipalities like cities, towns, and villages all over the world. Users whose hometowns have partnered up and created some actions can check up on things like bus schedules and municipal services through Assistant. Partnership with CareGeneral means that Google Assistant can now alert family and friends when youre incapacitated in some way, like from a bad fall. FaithLife, meanwhile, can help Christian users to keep up on their personal walk with God, directing them to Bible verses and lists of canned prayers normally used for spiritual mindfulness. Pray Together rounds out the list, targeting users of all religions that pray to a higher power and intercede for one another, by linking users to others who need prayer or are praying for them.

A different version of Google Assistant resides in applicable phones, Googles Allo chat app, and Google Home, so the rollout and list of actions for each may differ somewhat. The same can be said of Assistants future and other homes, such as select Hyundai vehicles, select Chromecast models, and Android TV. It is to be assumed that most, if not all of these actions will make it to Google Home, the most full-featured Assistant platform, at the very least, though a rollout to all forms of Assistant is fairly likely. Because they are working on partners schedules, Google has not yet put out a definite timeline for when users can expect to begin seeing some of these actions reach their devices.
The rumored Sony G3221 smartphone has been spotted on popular benchmarking website, AnTuTu. The listing reveals quite a few key hardware specs of the upcoming mid-ranger from Sony. According to the listing, the device will feature a 1080p display panel, but the exact size of the screen remains a bit of a mystery for now. Some unconfirmed reports, however, suggest that the handset may sport a 5.5-inch screen, although those reports are yet to be verified independently. The AnTuTu listing also indicates that the Sony G3221 will be powered by the MediaTek Helio P20 (MT6737) SoC, and will ship with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage out of the box. On the imaging front, the device will apparently sport a 23-megapixel camera on the back and a 16-megapixel camera on the front, while Android 7.0 Nougat will be pre-installed.

While not much else is known about the upcoming smartphone from Sony as of now, some leaked user profiles earlier this week seemingly suggested that Sony may be working on not one, but two mid-range smartphones currently. While the G3221 is seemingly the more premium of the two, another device, with model number G3112, is also believed to be in the works for the Japanese consumer electronics major to launch in the coming months. That particular device will also apparently be powered by the Helio P20, but will only sport a 720p display. While theres no official word from Sony on either of these rumored handsets at this point in time, reports suggest that both devices may be unveiled at the MWC 2017 trade show next month in Barcelona, Spain.

With Sonys smartphone business struggling to make money over the past several quarters, the company last year decided to cut back on the number of launches, concentrating instead on its premium Xperia X-series devices. However, if the new rumors of MediaTek-powered handsets are anything to go by, the Tokyo-based company may be reconsidering its decision to move away from the mid-range segment, seeing as much of the growth in the global smartphone market is coming from the prepaid segment, and that trend is likely to continue in the near future as well.
Samsung has just applied for a Galaxy S8 trademark, the company has filed a trademark application with the USPTO. Do keep in mind that only the Galaxy S8 trademark application has been filed for now, the Galaxy S8 Edge and Galaxy S8 Plus trademarks are nowhere to be found. Now, weve seen this happen every time before Samsung is about to introduce their new flagship smartphone, the same had happened for the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, etc. This trademark application more or less confirms that the companys upcoming flagship will carry the Galaxy S8 name, though we basically knew that already.

As its usually the case, however, the USPTO listing does not reveal any details about the upcoming smartphone, this is just a trademark application with the name of the upcoming product, thats it. Now, as most of you know, Samsung is rumored to release two different Galaxy S8 handsets this year, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. The company did not confirm any of this info, of course, but a number of rumors and leaks are pointing in that direction. A recent cases leak seemingly revealed that both the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus will ship with the companys S Pen stylus. The Galaxy S8 is rumored to sport a 5.7-inch display, while the Galaxy S8 Plus will allegedly ship with a 6.2-inch panel. Samsung is actually expected to release a considerably smaller Galaxy S8 unit as well, which makes all the sense in the world considering that the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge sported 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch displays, respectively.

Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus handsets in either March or April, at least if the latest rumors are to be believed. The company will also, allegedly, show off the device during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, but only to a small group of people, which means that the details will not be available to the general public. There you have it, tons of Galaxy S8 rumors surfaced in the last couple of weeks, and you can expect to see more of those before the Galaxy S8 actually gets announced.
Qualcomm has been charged with anti-competitive tactics by the FTC today after a brief report that the FTC was investigating the U.S.-based semiconductor company over the issue. According to the FTCs filed complaint, Qualcomm has allegedly used its dominance in the industry to weaken the competition of other semiconductor companies. The FTC also alleges that Qualcomm has used their position as a dominating supplier of specific processors to force device manufacturers to agree to unfair licensing terms, as well as paying royalties which include things like a tax imposed on manufacturers if they use a baseband processor that is produced by a competitor of Qualcomm.

While the Federal Trade Commission is now suing Qualcomm over these particular measures, this doesnt necessarily mean that Qualcomm has actually lost the suit. The FTCs complaint has just been filed which means there is a long road ahead of Qualcomm and the FTC over the issue. Its also not the first time Qualcomm has been locked in court over this matter as they spent months battling the Korea Federal Trade Commission over anti-competitive business practices, to which they were fined a total of $854 Million back in December of 2016. Qualcomm is also reportedly now fighting against that fine and seeks to have it dismissed and the decision overturned.

Considering this, it may not bode well for Qualcomm in their case against the FTC as they have already been fined once for what is more or less the same issue. If they are found guilty of the claims that the FTC is suing them for here in the U.S., and a fine is imposed, it would be the third fine altogether that Qualcomm has received as they were also given a fine from China that amounted to $954 Million. As part of the unfair licensing terms the FTC claims that Qualcomm has allegedly pushed Apple into exclusively using its baseband processors in exchange for decreasing their licensing costs. The complaint also alleges that Qualcomm will not license their standard-essential patents to any of their competitors in the semi-conductor industry. Since the complaint has just been filed there is no detail on when a case might move forward.
Google plans to bring its Android One program to the US in 2017. This information is based on a new report out of The Information which in turn, credits different people briefed on the plan. At the moment, the details on this are quite light, however, the report does look to confirm that the first of the US Android One smartphones to become available will hit the market in the middle of 2017 (at the latest) and will likely be priced between $200 and $300 at launch.

At present, there are no firm details on who the likely partner will be for the debut smartphone, although LG is being suggested as a likely candidate. Likewise, it is understood that following the launch of the first Android One smartphone, other partners will release more devices under the Android One umbrella. The benefit of doing so is that those devices will be guaranteed a more stock Android-like experience with timely and regular updates, as well as a guarantee of updates for the next two years. Something which will likely appeal to consumers in the US who are looking for an affordable and regularly updated smartphone.

Interestingly, the report does note that the launch of the first US Android One smartphone will come with a Google-funded ad campaign. Which would suggest that this will be launched as a fairly big deal when it does arrive. Google has already spent the last few months heavily promoting its other newer hardware devices and it seems this will be a trend that Google looks to continue with the launch of Android One in the US. However, it is also worth noting that by Android One standards, the suggested $200 to $300 price will be considered to be expensive. So it remains to be seen how varying the price spectrum is with the US side of Android One. For instance, whether the suggested price represents an Android One flagship device and the follow-on devices will come through at a much more affordable price, or whether the $200 to $300 price becomes the norm for Android One smartphones in the US. What is clear though, is that if Android One does launch in the US anytime soon, it will provide consumers who find the likes of the Pixel and the Pixel XL too expensive, a much more affordable alternative that comes with a similar ethos to the Pixel and Nexus lines.
A coalition of attorneys general from five states and the District of Columbia  all Democrats  are urging the U.S. Senate to reject Jeff Sessions, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. attorney general.

The group, which includes New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, sent a letter to U.S. Sens. Charles Grassley and Dianne Feinstein, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticizing Sessions' record on criminal justice and race issues.

Sessions is a Republican U.S. senator from Alabama. He was previously Alabama's state attorney general.

"Senator Sessions has stood for policies antithetical to this core mission of the Justice Department," the attorneys general wrote. "For these reasons, we believe him to be unqualified for the role of United States attorney general. We join the thousands of individuals and organizations that have voiced their opposition to Senator Sessions' appointment and respectfully urge you to reject his nomination."

The letter was signed by Schneiderman, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.

The four-page letter accuses Sessions of not protecting racial minorities and criticizes him for how he managed the state attorney general's office in Alabama. The attorneys general also accuse him of making racially insensitive comments.

The letter was sent a week before the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Sessions' nomination. The committee's vote is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Sessions was one of Trump's biggest supporters during the presidential campaign. He was considered a top candidate for various posts in Trump's Cabinet.

On Nov. 18, Trump announced Sessions was his pick for attorney general.

"Jeff has been a highly respected member of the U.S. Senate for 20 years," Trump said. "He is a world-class legal mind and considered a truly great attorney general and U.S. attorney in the state of Alabama. Jeff is greatly admired by legal scholars and virtually everyone who knows him."
Indonesian tax authorities are still patient with Google despite believing that the companys division in Jakarta owes approximately $400 million in arrears, local media reported on Tuesday. Tax officials have recently started an investigation into Googles taxes and have now once again asked the company to submit its financials that theyre looking to review. The Jakarta-based subsidiary of Google has yet to respond to the request but has previously claimed it only owes $30 million in taxes.

The $400 million estimate given by the Indonesian tax office includes both unpaid taxes and penalties. This isnt the first time that the Indonesian Directorate General of Taxation asked Google to present its financials, but the company still seemingly isnt cooperative. Jakarta believes Google evaded numerous taxes in the last half a decade and has apparently adopted a patient approach to resolving the situation. According to Hestu Yoga Saksama, a spokesman for the Indonesian tax office, authorities are still waiting for Google to submit the requested documents. We want Google to be cooperative, Hestu said on Tuesday.

He also reiterated how Jakarta has substantial evidence that some of Googles previous transactions in Indonesia should have been taxed, as the tax office already claimed last September. Those controversial transactions are mostly related to the companys advertising division which allegedly didnt pay taxes on some client fees. Despite being unwilling to submit its financials, Google Indonesia already met with the Jakarta Tax Office several times, Hestu confirmed. A report from November claimed that Google is close to reaching a settlement with Indonesian tax authorities, but no deal has been agreed so far. While the Jakarta Tax Offices patient approach to the situation is somewhat unconventional seeing how its accusing Google of owing hundreds of millions in arrears, tax officials are likely looking to set a precedent with this case and facilitate their future dealings with Internet companies in Indonesia. It remains to be seen how Google Indonesia will handle these allegations but for now, the firm is seemingly content with biding its time and trying to come up with a defense strategy. Given the current state of affairs, this case is likely to continue for some time.
CES just ended not too long ago, but many companies are already looking forward to Mobile World Congress which takes place at the end of February, and is the trade show where most major smartphones are released. Samsung, LG and HTC usually headline MWC, but this year with Samsung rumored to be announcing the Galaxy S8 a bit later on, and HTC already having announced the U Play and U Ultra, that leaves room for other players. Perhaps Nokia. The once popular smartphone maker has already debuted the Nokia 6 this year, which has been very popular over in China, gaining over a million registrations before the device even goes on sale. Now, it appears that the Nokia P1 is going to be coming to Barcelona next month, with a Snapdragon 835 inside.

Specs on the Nokia P1 are pretty impressive. The rumor mill is pointing towards a 5.3-inch display, although the resolution is not mentioned. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and itll have 6GB of RAM. Theres also 128GB of internal storage  as well as a 256GB model. Itll also have a Carl Zeiss-certified camera on the back, which is a 22.6-megapixel shooter. And with a name like Carl Zeiss being included, it should be a pretty impressive camera. Theres also a 3500mAh battery inside, with Android 7.0 Nougat included. The Nokia P1 is rumored to be heavily based off of a Sharp smartphone, which shouldnt be a huge surprise given the fact that the company manufacturing Nokias devices is Foxconn, who just bought Sharp last year.

Keep in mind that virtually none of this can be verified right now and needs to be taken with a heavy grain of salt, as any rumor should. The Nokia P1 does look to be a pretty impressive device, but itll also cost a pretty penny too. With the 128GB model coming in at $800 and the 256GB model coming in at $950. Thats definitely a huge step above most other smartphones these days, but still right in the same price range as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (if you compare it to the same storage sizes).
Samsung confirmed a major update to S Health on Tuesday as the company reportedly enlisted the help of WebMD and Amwell to help develop the next generation of its healthcare Android app. Business Korea reports that the Seoul-based tech giant is working on a previously rumored feature that would allow users to set up and conduct video appointments with doctors via S Health. Customers will be able to contact affiliated doctors and search for their symptoms through the app that will support both credit card and insurance payments. South Korean nationals already have access to some of these features as of the 5.0 update for S Health, but Samsung is now looking to expand this service to more territories. The company is planning to first bring these new S Health additions to the United States, but its also interested in introducing the service to other territories, as well.

Additionally, the new version of Samsungs healthcare app is expected to allow users to browse medical history and call 911. Consumers will also be able to use S Health to quickly access a list of local pharmacies. Rumors from South Korea suggest that Samsung may be looking to include support for voice commands into the next iteration of S Health, but the company has yet to confirm or deny that. Samsung didnt reveal when the new version of S Health will be available in the US, but recent reports suggest that it may launch simultaneously with the Galaxy S8. The companys next flagship is currently rumored to be released in mid-April. The improved version of S Health wont be a Galaxy S8 exclusive and will also be available on many other Samsung-made devices including the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge.

The South Korean firm isnt the only tech giant looking to diversify its revenue stream by investing into healthcare apps as Google and Apple have been doing the same for some time now. It remains to be seen how exactly Samsung is going to monetize its mobile healthcare solution in the future, but some sort of an affiliate business model seems like a given considering everything the company revealed so far. More information will hopefully follow soon.
South Korean conglomerate, Samsung has stated that it is to start providing German automaker, Volkswagen Audi, with Samsung Exynos chipsets for in-car infotainment systems. Samsung explained that it is to provide Audi with the chipsets, destined to be at the heart of up to four of its next generation in-car units. However, at this time neither Volkswagen nor Samsung will elaborate on the deal: we do not know what cars will use the Samsung-powered units, nor when the models or in-car units will be available. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, we saw a number of companies announce dedicated in-car technologies including new infotainment units built around an Android platform but not Android Auto. We have also seen other manufacturers designing and marketing chipsets for the auto industry sector, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820A System-on-Chip.

Infotainment units designed for in-car use are used for a number of features, including navigation, media playback, either stored locally or streamed, plus communications by connecting with one or more smartphones also be present in the car. The more sophisticated installations include multiple display screens in various parts of the vehicle, with some designed for the driver and others designed for passengers. The industry trend is for premium and luxury models to receive new, upgraded technologies first, which gradually filter down into the rest of a range: it may be that Audis 2018 models will be benefiting from a number of new infotainment systems, and similar products might appear in the parent companys other marques from 2019. Samsung has been designing and using Exynos-branded chipsets for a number of years now although most have been destined for its own branded smartphone and tablet. Samsung also manufacturers display panels, both AMOLED and LCD, and is the worlds largest supplier of certain kinds of memory chips  indeed, the company already supplies Audi with memory chips. In recent months we have seen Samsung increasingly looking to sell more into the auto industry as it seeks to use its considerable electronic component business and diversify away from building smartphones and tablets, where worldwide growth is slowing.

Unfortunately, with no word of what vehicles or in-car systems are set to receive the Samsung Exynos chipsets, and no information regarding the software that these units might be running, we will need to wait until either Samsung or Volkswagen Audi reveal more details.
Samsungs vice chairman and current leader of Samsung Group, Jay Lee, is set to have his day in court over a part that prosecutors allege he played in a bribery scandal that shook South Korea to its core as well as landed South Korean president Park Geun-hye in hot water that resulted in her impeachment last month, and could also lead to her being the first democratically elected public office holder to be pushed out office before her term is over if the vote is upheld. The court hearing that could lead to Lees arrest and formal trial is scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM, or 1:30 AM GMT. The hearing is scheduled to take place at the Seoul Central District Court, after Lee has spent a few hours at a special prosecutors office in Seoul.

The special prosecutor is said to be seeking an arrest warrant for Lee on charges of perjury, embezzlement, and bribery. Lee stands accused of paying out about 46 billion won to organizations linked to a key player in the scandal and a close associate of the President, Choi Soon-sil. The goal of these bribes, allegedly, was to boost Samsungs and his own influence in the country, and to get a merger pushed through that would strengthen the Lee familys hold on the company. The charges of embezzlement come from an assertion that Lee appropriated company funds for this purpose, rather than laying his own cash on the line. The charges of perjury come from the fact that Lee denied that all of this had anything to do with bribery when he was questioned for 22 hours about a week ago.

The National Pension Fund allegedly has a hand in the proceedings as well; chairman Moon Hyung-pyo was arrested in connection with the scandal, and even confessed to having his organization support the controversial merger. Samsung, for their part, is asking the court not to arrest Lee, and is asserting that his hand was essentially forced through negotiations with state agents. They also asserted that the merger of Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T that led to Lee having de facto control over large parts of the company is unrelated to any money that may have changed hands.
Verizon is offering up a new promotional postpaid option that grants users 5GB of data and all the usual trimmings, like unlimited talk and text, for just $55, though there are a few caveats. The plan boasts carryover of unused data from month to month, Verizons Safety Mode slow data option, and unlimited calling to Canada and Mexico. In order to get the promotional price, users have to sign up for autopay; the price consists of a $40 plan access fee, then a $20 line access fee, with a $5 autopay discount on top. This means that those unwilling to let Verizon take their money on a set date each month will have to pay $60. The plan is labeled as promotional, but Verizon has not stated how long it will be available, or if it may become a permanent staple of their offerings.

Another caveat, though a bit less vital than the autopay stipulation, is that the plan is currently not available online. Until January 24, users wanting to take advantage of the offer will have to either head to a Verizon store or pick up the phone and give Big Red a jingle. Additionally, the plan is only available to individuals. Those looking to build a family plan will have to use Verizons more traditional offerings. This new promotional plan is just a hair cheaper than Verizons 5GB for $60 prepaid option, but imparts all of the benefits of postpaid. Compared to Verizons standard plans, this is a better option for individuals, as long as their data needs are on par with what Verizon alleges is 4/5 of the wireless user base. As with all of Verizons other plans, high-speed data top-ups will run you $15 per GB.

A penultimate caveat, as with most wireless plans that dont openly advertise an all-in approach, is that users can expect just a little bit extra to be tacked on for taxes and fees. Finally, since the plan is postpaid, all the trappings of postpaid are there; an activation fee is involved, and if you dont buy your device outright or bring your own, youll be paying for a new phone as well. Still, a fairly cheap plan with a good amount of data that offers subsidized access to great devices like the Lenovo Moto Z and Google Pixel is a pretty sweet deal. Those who are interested can check it out by heading on through the source link.
Verizon, along with many other carriers, have already issued out the final update for the Galaxy Note 7 that was supposed to effectively kill the device. But there are still thousands of Galaxy Note 7s on Verizons network, according to the worlds largest carrier, who spoke with Fortune today. Earlier this month, Verizon issued an update that would keep the Galaxy Note 7 from charging, effectively killing the device, but there was a caveat to that. Which is the fact that users dont have to accept the update. Meaning that tech savvy users could opt to skip the update and continue using their device. And thats exactly what has happened here with the Galaxy Note 7.

The Galaxy Note 7 has given Samsung all kinds of nightmares since about the end of August, a few short weeks after the device launched in a few key markets. The Galaxy Note 7 has gone through two separate recalls, and Samsung has gotten around 96% of their units back, but there are still a few hold outs, and it appears that Verizon has a few thousand of them, themselves. Now that isnt to say that Verizon is the only carrier that has thousands of Galaxy Note 7s still in use, they are just the ones talking about it. Likely in a last ditch effort to get users to turn them in. As it has been widely reported, the Galaxy Note 7 is a fire hazard and has caught on fire numerous times  resulting in two recalls  so the fact that Verizon and Samsung wants users to stop using the Galaxy Note 7 isnt because they want to screw over customers, but because they want to make sure their customers are safe.

If you do still have a Galaxy Note 7 in your possession, go ahead and turn it in. Youll be able to get another device like the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, the Moto Z or even the Moto Z Force, all of which are great smartphones. Surely they dont have an S Pen, but they also dont catch on fire as easily. You can head to your local Verizon store (or whichever carrier you are with) and turn yours in.
Xiaomi has allegedly decided not to announce how many smartphones theyve sold in 2016. This news surfaced in a blog post on TechCrunch China, according to Digitimes. Now, this comes as a bit of a surprise, as quite a few people were eager to see how many smartphones did Xiaomi sell last year, in order to compare their shipments with those of Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, etc. The alleged reason behind this decision is well, the company is under a transition period, so it seems like they want to keep such stats a secret, in a way.

Now, Xiaomi did not ship as many devices as Huawei (and some other China-based companies) last year, and that could be a part of the reason why Xiaomi is not planning to release their smartphone shipments for 2016. In any case, the company had managed to ship 70 million smartphones in 2015, which was an improvement compared to 61 million units they were able to move in 2014. Now, for comparisons sake, the company sold only 18.7 million handsets in 2013, so you can see how much Xiaomi grew in just a couple of years. According to reports, the company had managed to sell 14.8 million devices in Q1 2016, and around 23 million smartphones in the first half of the year. If this info is to be believed, Xiaomi certainly did not sell more devices than last year, and that could be yet another reason why theyve decided not to share their sales numbers.

Xiaomi had recently revealed their revenues in the Indian market for 2016, the company had managed to generate $1 billion in revenues, and the companys online service income doubled to $1 billion last year. The company plans to open up 1,000 exclusive shops in China in the next three years, and the three exclusive shops that are already active have managed to do well for Xiaomi, as they generated 100 million Yuan ($14.58 million) in revenues last year. All in all, this will be an exciting year for Xiaomi, and it will certainly be interesting to see if they can get back to the right path as far as smartphone sales are concerned, as theyve managed to fall behind the competition in terms of sheer smartphone sales numbers last year.

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Do not tell them how to do it. Show them how to do it and do not say a word. If you tell them, they will watch your lips move. If you show them, they will want to do it themselves.  Maria Montessori

To fully understand the beauty of a Montessori classroom, you must only step into one. Each classroom is specifically designed for the child, just the way Maria Montessori would have wanted it. Montessori classrooms at all levels must nurture each childs individual strengths and interests.

Inside each classroom there are so many beautiful materials. I am often asked what my most favorite Montessori material is. This is when the room starts to spin and I begin to sweat! My favorite implies one solitary work. How can I possibly choose just one when there are so many I absolutely love? So, I settled on my five most favorite; it was hard to choose, but it was fun trying to narrow it down.

5. The golden beads/bead stair: The bead stair consists of nine segments of wire strung with one to nine beads. Every number of beads is done in a different color: 1: red; 2: green; 3: peach; 4: yellow; 5: light blue; 6: lavender; 7: white; 8: brown; and 9: dark blue. This activity helps the child learn to associate the quantities one through nine with their numerals. The golden bead material gives the child a concrete understanding of units, tens, hundreds and thousands. It helps children to learn the formation of complex numbers and the process of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The unit bead, ten bar, hundred square and thousand cube clearly show the geometric progression of the decimal system; each category is 10 times the previous one. That initial presentation is so important for understanding those differences. Math has never been so hands-on or so satisfying. Plus, the beads can be used for truly endless types of math activities.

4. The wooden continent puzzle maps: A set of six wooden maps, one for each continent except Antarctica. Each continent is divided into puzzle pieces according to the countries within each continent. The wooden knob in each piece is approximately in the position of the capital city of each country. How awesome is that? This is a fantastic way to teach geography, and like so many other Montessori materials, theyre beautiful as well.

3. The checkerboard: The Montessori checkerboard is used for short and long multiplication with the hierarchies in the decimal system, from one to 100,000,000. The checkerboard is divided into colored squares of green, blue and red, representing the place value colors. It also has items that are already familiar to the child, such as the bead stairs/bars. This work is fun, challenging and clever. It works perfectly.

2. The pink tower: This material teaches the child visual discrimination of dimension. It also prepares the child for algebra. The tower consists of 10 pink cubes ranging in size from one cubic centimeter to one cubic decimeter, and differing equally in all dimensions by increments of one centimeter. Its just so perfectly formed, each block proportionately smaller and smaller. Everything from the color to the shape of it just screams Montessori.

1. The trinomial cube: A box with three wooden cubes, red, blue and yellow, 18 square-based prisms painted various combinations of red, blue, yellow and black, and six solid black rectangular based prisms whose three dimensions correspond to the edge of the red, blue and yellow cubes. All the pieces, once assembled, form a cube of a trinomial (A+B+C). While the primary aim may seem rather obvious  to build a little puzzle in a box  the secondary aim, an introduction to algebra and preparation for the proof of the formula (A+B+C), still blows me away. Ill never forget when I first worked with the trinomial cube during my Montessori training  a light bulb went on! I got it!

For students of every age, the Montessori environment offers the materials to discover the answers to their own questions. The learning materials are their tools for discovery, growth and development. Because older students have built a solid foundation from their earlier concrete learning, they move gracefully into abstract thinking, which transforms their learning.

At Creative Minds Montessori, children are exposed to many complex concepts at an early age through the use of the specially designed Montessori materials. These hands-on learning materials enable the child to literally see and explore abstract concepts. Thank you, Maria Montessori!
A history lesson: Half of the 20th century was spent trying to reform the American public education system. The Soviet Unions successful launch of Sputnik highlighted the need to attend to our schools and return to rich content. We chose, however, to lean in the direction of social reformation, rather than academic. In 1983, the National Commission on Excellence in Education published a study titled "A Nation at Risk," warning us of the threat we were facing due to our weak education system: A rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people. A turning point came with the end of the Cold War, providing opportunities for more countries to now participate in the global marketplace. Asian countries moved forward and America continued to fall behind. The answer was declared nationally unified and high academic standards. President George H.W. Bush hosted an education summit for the nations governors. Clinton set academic goals with Goals 2000. Would the creation of state standards based on a national template bring standards representing the basic knowledge and skills students needed to know for particular subjects? No. Instead, money was used to push unproven and sometimes radical ideas within the academic fields, leaving a flawed and unfair system in play and prompting most states to create their own standards. President George W. Bush brought No Child Left Behind, and the newly coined phrase teaching to the test came with it. Obama contributed with Race to the Top, plugging in money intended to improve standards and assessments. In 2011, the decision was made to adopt Common Core, dramatically and substantially affecting American education.

Common Core: Having a common set of academically rigorous standards for a mobile country would allow policymakers to have a unified and coherent plan for improving our system. The problem?

 Cost: Common Core has been expensive to implement and maintain. States looked ahead short-term and took the money, failing to see they were signing on to something far more expensive in the end.

 Quality: High standards have become the mediocre middle, with more exceptional or advantaged students having to afford college courses in high school in order to be challenged.

 Privacy: Our children are being tracked on a database beginning in preschool and continuing into their entry to the workforce, linking student assessment results to private personal information available to the federal government.

 Constitutionality: The federal governments role in education continues to increase. The 10th Amendment states the power to oversee education belongs to the states. Common Core is not a federal template with the goal of unified standards. It is an overreach and violation of federal education law and the U.S. Constitution.

Forty-six states and the District of Columbia signed on, not because the Common Core standards were better than their own, but because they wanted the federal cash. State support has weakened. The delaying and defunding of Common Core has begun.

Classical education: At the time of Americas founding, classical education thrived. Now it is the surest road to reform. Its proven methods provide the right things, at the right developmental times, in the right order so that knowledge builds on knowledge. Children have the capacity to know, think, feel and act. Education has the capacity to breed cultural literacy and discerning, responsible adults.

 It values knowledge for its own sake: Cultural literacy allows us to use our reservoir of common facts, ideas and references in any given situation. We want to know what things are and how they operate. We want to know who we are, where we come from and what is expected of us. We seek truth. Armed with memory, reason, imagination, a sense of beauty and an aptitude for language, and provided with explicit instruction, children will flourish.

 It upholds truth and logic: We live by communicating. High standards of grammar, precision in word choice and a love of the beauty of language set the stage to seek the truth. Logic stems from strong mathematics and sciences. A classical education provides the very best of the tried and proven.

 It demands moral virtue: Education demands the teaching of moral virtue. Citizens are the principle and permanent rulers of our society. Their moral self-government is necessary for a true democracy.

 It prepares human beings to assume their places as responsible citizens in the political order: We need to understand, defend, and preserve the constitutional republic we inherited and its founding principles. Americas founders knew that our democracy depended on the wisdom and virtue of the people.
Cayuga County Administrator Suzanne Sinclair is departing her job, county Legislature Chairman Keith Batman said Wednesday.

Batman said he could not comment on specifics like whether she initiated the decision to leave, or when that will happen, because she and the county are still in negotiations. He did say, however, that Sinclair is still serving as county administrator for now, and she will be leaving on positive terms.

"Neither of us are departing under a cloud," Batman said. "The process is amicable."

Sinclair declined to comment on Wednesday. She was scheduled to make a $95,000 salary in 2017, according to the county budget.

Batman said discussions about Sinclair's departure began around the end of December, and he hopes to have terms figured out soon.

"We need to wrap up the details and get on with business in the county as quickly as we can," he said.

Sinclair has served in her administrator position for about 3 1/2 years. She was appointed by the Cayuga County Legislature in June 2013, and was the county's first female administrator. She followed former County Administrator Tom Squires. Prior to her work with the county, Sinclair was the director of finance for Finger Lakes Health, and prior to that was the county manager in Seneca County. Before moving to New York, Sinclair lived in Washington state and served for 10 years as Island County's auditor.

In her Cayuga County role, Sinclair has tackled some difficult budgets. In 2014, legislators did not take her advice to cut down on the county's workforce, instead opting to increase the tax levy over the state tax cap, and pull $1 million from the fund balance. In the 2015 budget, legislators used $1.7 million from the fund balance to pay the bills.

But 2016 was a different story, and Sinclair helped balance a budget that was under the state tax cap and used less than $500,000 from the county's savings account. She ushered in, too, a software program called OpenGov, available to legislators and the public. As part of a financial transparency initiative, the program allows people to see where the county's funds are going.

Sinclair has worked on many other initiatives, and during the March 2016 State of the County address last year, she was excited about the many projects to come ranging from work on Emerson Park to more efficient tax collection methods.

"There are a lot of good things happening across Cayuga County," Sinclair had said then, "and we can be proud of the place we call home."
AUBURN  The Cayuga County Highway Department's take-home vehicles will not be cut, at least for now.

At this month's Public Works Committee meeting, legislators had voted to cut the take-home vehicles from five to three. The idea was to leave one take-home vehicle at the northern end of the county, one at the southern end and one in Auburn. Currently the county has three highway take-home vehicles in Auburn, two of which Highway Superintendent George Wethey had said were primarily used for commuting.

Legislator Terry Baxter, who also chairs the Public Works Committee, said he was concerned that taking away the vehicles could lead to an issue with the county's labor union by interfering with past practice. Baxter also said he thinks there should be four take-home vehicles and not three. One of the vehicles legislators considered taking away earlier this month was Wethey's vehicle, and Baxter said he feels the highway superintendent should keep his take-home vehicle in order to commute to the northern and southern barns.

Keith Batman, chairman of the Legislature, said he did not think there would be an issue if the vehicles were removed from non-union workers, such as the county highway superintendent.

Legislators at the Ways and Means Committee meeting Tuesday night agreed to table the measure until next month while they gathered more information on which employees the cuts may impact. Legislators at the Public Works Committee meeting will then vote on the measure again and final approval will be needed from the Ways and Means Committee.
Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Education Secretary, raised eyebrows during her confirmation by refusing to say guns shouldn't be in schools and quipping that in one case in Wyoming, they would help protect against grizzly bears.



When asked by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) during the hours-long hearing Tuesday night whether she thinks guns have any place in or around schools, DeVos said the issue is best left to locales and states to decide.



Murphy, who represents Newtown, the site of the 2012 deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, pressed on: You cant say definitively today that guns shouldnt be in schools?



In her answer, DeVos mentioned something Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) had said earlier about a school in Wyoming that has fences surrounding it to protect against grizzly bears. The remark garnered some laughs and raised eyebrows in the room.



I will refer back to Sen. Enzi and the school he was talking about in Wyoming. I think probably there, I would imagine that there is probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies," DeVos said.



Murphy later took to Twitter to express outrage at DeVos's answers regarding guns in schools, saying he was "shaken to the core" and "so should every American parent."



When asked about Trump's pledge to ban gun-free school zones, DeVos told lawmakers she would support the president-elect should he move forward with the plan.



If the question is around gun violence and the results of that, please know that my heart bleeds and is broken for those families that have lost any individual due to gun violence," she added.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
SENECA FALLS  Not-for-profit groups and municipalities have been invited to attend a free information session on preservation grants in Seneca Falls.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the Preservation League will discuss the requirements and application process of signature grant programs, including Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grants (TAG).

The meeting  which is co-sponsored by the Women's Rights National Historical Park, Landmark Society of Western New York, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and New York State Council on the Arts  will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Wesleyan Chapel at 136 Fall St. While there is no cost to attend, reservations are required.

According to the Preservation League, a total of $306,678 is available through the signature grant programs in 2017. That amount will be disbursed over two grant rounds: Preserve New York and TAG in the spring followed by another round of TAG funding in the fall.

Arts and cultural groups or facilities are encouraged to apply for the TAG program and Preserve New York, which suggests submitting projects for historic structures, libraries and landscapes. Applicants may apply for short-term, standalone projects  not exceeding $3,500  that advance the preservation of historic sites, museums, theaters and other arts facilities.

The application deadline for the spring grant is Monday, March 27.

To register for the free information session, contact the Preservation League at (518) 462-5658 ext. 10 or visit preservenys.org/grants.
Pictured is Kyle Hewitt, who was arrested by State Police for allegedly pouring bleach into the gas tank of what he thought was the vehicle driven by someone he was engaged in a dispute with. The vehicle actually belonged to someone who was not involved in the episode.
(ANSA) - Tehran, January 18 - The Italian Paolo Olmi will be conducting the first concert by a symphony orchestra from a Western nation in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in the country.

The concert, on Thursday in Tehran's Vahdat Hall, has been publicized by posters in the streets featuring Olmi and his Iranian counterpart, Shardad Rohani. The Italian musicians of the orchestra say that they have been stopped in cafes, in the streets and markets by youth seeking tickets for the concert. "The musicians," Olmi told ANSA, "are recognized by their instruments and they get invited for tea or coffee, and then asked for invitations to the rehearsals or the concert.

Beethoven's music affected Iranians deeply. Our interpreters were all crying today at the end of the rehearsal." Italy will have to honor to be the first Western orchestra in Iran since 1979, with 32 musicians from the Orchestra del Festival Puccini and ten from the Young Musician European Orchestra as well as 45 from Tehran's Symphony Orchestra will be taking part in the final event of the 32nd Fajr Music Festival, the most prestigious of its sort in Iran. There will be Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, "one of the most famous pieces in the world", Olmi said. It was 2014 praise for Beethoven by the Supreme Guide of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, that made Western music more accepted in recent times. "Since then," Olmi said, "national interest in classical music has increased significantly, making this project possible, intending as it does to create the grounds for dialogue, and which will culminate with tomorrow's concert." The event has been sponsored by the Italian embassy in Tehran and the Iranian embassy in Rome, as well as the Italian Institute of Culture in Tehran and the Iranian Culture Center.


Only stop at truth on Regeni says Alfano Cooperation has produced fruitful results

(ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 18 - Italy will only stop when it gets to the truth about Giulio Regeni, the Italian researcher tortured and killed in Cairo a year ago, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano told the House Wednesday. "We'll continue to follow the path of firmness and cooperation, the effort will continue with the same determination there has been up till now," he said, stressing that "so far the collaboration between Italian prosecutors and the Cairo prosecutor's office has produced fruitful results".



The researcher, 28, went missing in Cairo on January 25, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the uprising that ousted former strongman Hosni Mubarak, and his severely tortured, mutilated body was found on February 3 in a ditch on the city's outskirts.



Egypt has denied speculation its security forces, who are frequently accused of brutally repressing opposition, were involved in the death of the Cambridge doctoral student.



Egyptian and Italian prosecutors have been working on the case together and there has been some recent progress in getting cellphone and other records.



But Italy has yet to send its new ambassador to take up his post in Cairo. (ANSAmed).




Malta PM warns of impending repeat of migrant crisis 'Don't leave Italy alone' in relations with Libya

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, JANUARY 18 - Maltese prime minister, Joseph Muscat, warned Wednesday that another migrant crisis would be seen in the coming months along the central Mediterranean route.



He was speaking in a press conference with European Commission president and European Parliament president Antonio Tajani. In discussing reform of the asylum package and the Dublin Regulation, Muscat said that is was a difficult issue and that the solutions proposed were controversial, but that doing nothing in the present context would be ''even more controversial''. He added that ''much was done at the Valletta conference and 'Compacts' are the key for the medium-long term, but given the crisis in the short term, the only way to alleviate the situation is with the involvement of countries on the southern coast of the Mediterranean, including with humanitarian corridors''. On the possibility that the EU might replicate its agreement with Turkey with Libya, he said that this would be ''extremely complicated''.



However, he continued, ''we cannot leave Italy alone with the responsibility to negotiate a solution that is for the entire European Union. We must be by its side.'' (ANSAmed).




ROME - Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano will visit Tunis on Thursday for a series of institutional meetings with the country's main authorities, focusing on migration and tourism.

Upon his arrival, Alfano will be greeted by Italian Ambassador to Tunisia Raimondo De Cardona, who will accompany him with the rest of the Italian delegation to meet with President Beji Caid Essebsi, followed by a press conference.

Alfano will then travel to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet with his Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui. Following a working lunch, Alfano will meet with Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and then visit the Bardo Museum for a ceremony to commemorate victims of the March 18, 2015 terrorist attack there.

During his meetings, Alfano will discuss bilateral and international issues with particular attention on the fight against terrorism, the situation in Libya, and managing migration. His visit will also be a chance to affirm Italy and Tunisia's common views and the Italian government's support for the Tunisian institutions and its people, the only example of success of the Arab Spring.

Alfano will visit the residence of Ambassador De Cardona and meet there with members of the Italian community in Tunis. He is also due go to Hammameth and visit the grave of late Italian premier Bettino Craxi.
ROME - Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan said on Wednesday that Etihad and the government of Abu Dhabi are working to "help Alitalia reverse course and return to profit".

"We recently injected 100 million in capital in the Italian airline, as well as having converted bonds into semi-equity instruments," Hogan said.

"This shows the Etihad Airways commitment to Alitalia, and the fact that Alitalia is a long-term partner of Abu Dhabi". Hogan said Alitalia needs a change, but through "an Italian solution", speaking Wednesday at the 19th Annual Global Airfinance Conference in Dublin.

He said Etihad isn't planning to buy a share in Lufthansa, but rather is discussing a code sharing agreement with the German carrier.
TEL AVIV - An Israeli police officer was killed in an attack on the Bedouin village of Um el-Hiran in the Negev desert after being hit by a car driven by a Bedouin of the village whom police said was "a terrorist affiliated with the Islamic movement", a police spokesman said.



The attack took place after police arrived in the village to protect the demolition of 14 houses built illegally.



The vehicle's driver was shot and killed by police on the scene.



Various others were wounded in the clash, including Ayman Oudeh, leader of the United Arab List, the third-largest party in the Knesset, Israel's parliament.



The tension stems from the decision by Israeli authorities to tear down the village of Um el-Hiran, defined as illegal, in order to build a Jewish village on the same land.



Interior Security Minister Ghilad Erdan said broad development plans were provided for the Bedouins in other areas of the Negev.



The demolition of the first homes in Um el-Hiran was sanctioned by various court orders.



On Tuesday night Israeli police took up positions in the village in order to protect the bulldozers.



Oudeh accused police of having acted with "unjustified brutality" in their response to the attack.



Last week the Arab community in Israel held a national protest strike following the demolition of 11 illegal buildings in Kalanswa, northeast of Tel Aviv.
Avramopoulos visits Lesbos, says lodgings needed immediately Says alleviating situation on islands is humanitarian imperative

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, JANUARY 18 - European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos visited the Greek island of Lesbos on Wednesday and appealed to international partners to "double their efforts" to help migrants suffering in the cold.



He called on EU member states to speed up relocations from Greece, and also aimed at winning over resistance to new reception structures by local residents who fear they might become permanent.



"We can't allow refugees to be left outside in the cold, to face the worst winter without a roof over their heads. Solutions must be found today, not tomorrow, not next week, but now," he said.



"We all have a humanitarian imperative to alleviate the situation in the islands, both for the migrants as well as for the residents. I trust that space will be found to set up the winter UNHCR tents, financed by the EU, as a temporary humanitarian action".(ANSAmed).




TEL AVIV - Leaders of Hamas, al-Fatah, and the Islamic Jihad reached an agreement in principle in Moscow on Tuesday to form a unity government, according to Azzam al-Ahmad of al-Fatah, who said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will begin consultations within two days.



On Wednesday Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah will preside over a reconciliation government made up of technocrats and supported externally by al-Fatah and Hamas.



The accord comes despite the fact that Hamas and al-Fatah recently exchanged accusations over serious electrical shortages in the Gaza Strip.
STRASBOURG - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday appealed to member states to finish reforms on the Dublin Regulation by the end of the Maltese European Council presidency on June 30.

"I would like an asylum agency to become operative in a hurry; the credibility of Europe goes with it," he said speaking during the European Parliament plenary session.

"I deplore that certain countries haven't adopted important decisions in the field of asylum. Closing borders is not the solution. There's still much to do to create a permanent European mechanism to manage migration long-term - a fair and predictable system to help countries on the front lines, which should become a real European agency for asylum".

Avramopoulos visits Lesbos, says lodgings needed immediately

In the meantime, European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos visited the Greek island of Lesbos on Wednesday and appealed to international partners to "double their efforts" to help migrants suffering in the cold. He called on EU member states to speed up relocations from Greece, and also aimed at winning over resistance to new reception structures by local residents who fear they might become permanent.

"We can't allow refugees to be left outside in the cold, to face the worst winter without a roof over their heads. Solutions must be found today, not tomorrow, not next week, but now," he said.

"We all have a humanitarian imperative to alleviate the situation in the islands, both for the migrants as well as for the residents. I trust that space will be found to set up the winter UNHCR tents, financed by the EU, as a temporary humanitarian action".
Mattarella says Tajani EP election 'result for Italy' Italian EPP candidate parliament's new president

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, JANUARY 18 - President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday welcomed Italian Antonio Tajani's election as the new president of the European Parliament. "It's very important for Italy, a success," Mattarella said during a visit to Athens.



"It is a great result and it is also a way for our country to contribute in a more incisive way to the process of European integration". The president said he had spoke to Tajani, the candidate of the European People's Party (EPP), on the telephone.



The European People's Party (EPP) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) groups in the European Parliament on Tuesday reached a cooperation agreement and ALDE's liberal candidate Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian premier, withdrew his bid to be EP president as successor to the German Socialist Martin Schulz. Tajani's support steadily built in successive rounds of voting Tuesday.



Tajani got 291 votes in the third round of voting and went into a run-off with fellow Italian Gianni Pittella, head of the Socialist and Democrats (S&D) caucus. The conservative ECR caucus then said it was backing Tajani's bid, effectively making him a shoo-in to replace Schulz.



After meeting with the ECR caucus earlier, Tajani said the solutions to the crises of the euro, refugees and security "are not to be found in ever more Europe, but neither in sinking the European project. "It's not up to the European Parliament president," Tajani added, "to promote a political agenda, but it's up to you, MEPs". Tajani, who spent recent days diligently calling individual MEPs to secure their backing, stressed his extensive experience, including his recent stint as parliament vice president.



"I believe in Europe, but we need to change," Tajani said in a speech ahead of the ballot. "We need a president, not a prime minister, a president who has experience, and I would like to put my 23 years of experience at your disposal." Noting the challenges of Brexit, he said: "We will have to defend the rights of Europe." (ANSAmed).




No to two-rigidities Europe on migrants, Gentiloni Four countries can't bear all the burden

(ANSAmed) - BERLIN, JANUARY 18 - There is now a "two-rigidities" Europe, "very rigid on some things, much less on others," Premier Paolo Gentiloni told a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday, referring to migrants. "I hope a common bet of all Europe can be made on the migrant question," he said, adding that Italy and Germany were among the countries bearing the burden and saying "it can't be just four countries carrying the weight of the migratory problem". (ANSAmed).




Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk.

Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen.

If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned.

I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country.

It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously.

Vote

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However, The Middle East received 54 million international tourist arrivals in 2016. Arrivals decreased an estimated 4% with mixed results among the regions destinations.

2016 was the seventh consecutive year of sustained growth following the 2009 global economic and financial crisis. A comparable sequence of uninterrupted solid growth has not been recorded since the 1960s. As a result, 300 million more international tourists travelled the world in 2016 as compared to the pre-crisis record in 2008. International tourism receipts grew at a similar pace in this period (complete 2016 receipts results will be reported in May).

Tourism has shown extraordinary strength and resilience in recent years, despite many challenges, particularly those related to safety and security. Yet, international travel continues to grow strongly and contribute to job creation and the wellbeing of communities around the world, said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

By region, Asia and the Pacific (+8%) led growth in international tourist arrivals in 2016, fuelled by strong demand from both intra- and interregional source markets. Africa (+8%) enjoyed a strong rebound after two weaker years. In the Americas (+4%) the positive momentum continued. Europe (+2%) showed rather mixed results, with double-digit growth in some destinations offset by decreases in others. Demand in the Middle East (-4%) was also uneven, with positive results in some destinations, but declines in others.

Recalling that 2017 has been designated by the United Nations the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, Rifai said we need to work closer together to harness the contribution of tourism to economic growth, social inclusion, cultural and environmental preservation and mutual understanding, particularly when we live in times with such a deficit of respect and tolerance.

Experts remain optimistic about 2017

The latest survey of UNWTOs Panel of Experts shows continued confidence in 2017, with the large majority (63%) of the some 300 respondents expecting better or much better results than in 2016. The Panel score for 2017 virtually equals that of 2016, so growth is expected to be maintained at a similar level.

Based on current trends, the outlook of the UNWTO Panel of Experts and economic prospects, UNWTO projects international tourist arrivals worldwide to grow at a rate of 3% to 4% in 2017. Europe is expected to grow at 2% to 3%, Asia and the Pacific and Africa both at 5% to 6%, the Americas at 4% to 5% and the Middle East at 2% to 5%, given the higher volatility in the region.

2016 Regional Results

Results in Europe were rather mixed with a number of destinations affected by safety and security challenges. International arrivals reached 620 million in 2016, or 12 million (+2%) more than in 2015. Northern Europe (+6%) and Central Europe (+4%) both recorded sound results, while in Southern Mediterranean Europe arrivals grew by 1% and in Western Europe results were flat.

Asia and the Pacific (+8%) led growth across regions in both relative and absolute terms, recording 24 million more international tourist arrivals in 2016 to total 303 million. Growth was strong in all four subregions, with Oceania receiving 10% more arrivals, South Asia 9% more and North-East Asia and South-East Asia both 8% more.

International tourist arrivals in the Americas(+4%) increased by 8 million to reach 201 million, consolidating the solid results recorded in the last two years. Growth was somewhat stronger in South America and Central America (both +6%), while the Caribbean and North America recorded around 4% more arrivals.

Available data for Africa points to an 8% rebound in international arrivals in 2016 after two troubled years, adding 4 million arrivals to reach 58 million. Sub-Saharan Africa (+11%) led growth, while a gradual recovery started in North Africa (+3%).






This new partnership allows aspiring pilots in Dubai and the GCC states the chance to study for a PPL in their region and, upon completion and being awarded a contract, move onto a MPL at one of Airways Aviations EASA or CASA training academies.



Emirates Aviation Services will deliver the Airways Aviation core MPL training programme in Dubai, enabling the company to supply exceptional airline pilots for an industry where pilots are in high demand.



Ian Cooper, CEO, Airways Aviation, says: The UAE is an important region for Airways Aviation. Middle Eastern airlines are highly desired by prospective pilots, so it makes complete sense for us to partner with Emirates Aviation Services, an established training provider in the UAE. We are now working together to provide high-quality airline pilot training for local students and a direct pathway onto the flight line.



Abdullah Al Ansari, director, Emirates Aviation Services, said: This partnership with Airways Aviation will enable us to achieve our vision of being a leading training provider of airline pilots. Utilising the companys exceptional quality of training programmes and senior teaching staff, were confident that we will produce some of the best pilots in the UAE.



The partnership with Emirates Aviation Services also provides Airways Aviation with the opportunity to develop new airline training programmes and as well as developing new relationships with airlines in the region.
The MRO sector continues to perform strongly and Farsound said it is consolidating its position as a supply chain provider across an expanding range of engine platforms, including the GE Aviation GE90 and GneX, Pratt & Whitneys V2500, the CFM 56, and XWB and Trent from Rolls-Royce.



To further raise its profile, the company will be attending a number of key exhibitions and events this year, including MRO Middle East which is being held in Dubai on 8th and 9th February.

Lee Kelsey, Farsound Aviations sales director, said: This is an excellent time for Farsound Aviation  in the last year, weve seen a 25% increase in our turnover and are forecasting similar levels of growth in 2017 were particularly excited about the growth of our business globally. In addition to the success were enjoying in the Middle East, as well as Asia, were also planning to expand further by recruiting a new team in the USA.
PHOENIX -- When Rep. Bob Thorpe ran for reelection in November, the precincts in and around the Northern Arizona University campus produced some of his lowest vote tallies.

Thorpe won his race anyway, with strong showings in the largely Republican Gila and Navajo counties portion of his legislative district.

Now the Flagstaff lawmaker wants to keep students from voting locally at all unless they happen to have been living there with their families before they went to school.

HB 2260 would make it illegal to use a dormitory address "or other temporary college or university address'' like an apartment to register to vote. Instead, Arizona law would presume these to be "a temporary address with intent to return to some other permanent address.''

What Thorpe proposes would have statewide effect on candidate, bond and initiative elections in communities with public and private colleges with students in residence on or near the campus in several parts of the state.

And he proposes in HB 2255 to make it illegal for individuals and businesses who do not reside in Arizona to contribute money in support or opposition to ballot measures.

Thorpe refused to speak about any of his proposals.

But Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, the assistant minority leader, said the measure on student voting is bad public policy.

"The problem we're having with young voters now is they're not voting often enough,'' said Farley, whose district includes areas in and around the University of Arizona. "If they're committed to their college community, committed enough to want to reregister to vote there, then we ought to encourage that.''

What Thorpe wants to do is also illegal, according to Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen.

"You can't single out a group of people,'' she said.

Hansen cited a 1979 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that upheld a lower court ruling voiding practices by Waller County, Texas, which involved special treatment of college students when they sought to register to vote.

Secretary of State Michele Reagan has her own problems with what Thorpe wants to do.

"I'm not in favor of that just as somebody who spent the last year on all of the college campuses personally registering people to vote,'' she said. "That would fly in the face of everything we've tried to do in the past year.''

In fact, Reagan said she is working with Arizona State University on a pilot program to let students register to vote when they register for class.

And Reagan said HB 2260 makes the assumption that students are somehow linked to where their parents live.

"They're not using their home address any more,'' Reagan said. "They're using their student address.''

BILLS ARE NONSTARTERS

One Northern Arizona University political science professor said the bills arent likely to pass legal muster.

I'm surprised that Rep. Thorpe is putting these forward, said Fred Solop. I think theyre nonstarters. I dont see them going anywhere.

He said he could see them inciting immediate court cases.

The bill harkens back to efforts throughout history to limit election participation by minorities, lower income people, recent immigrants and others, Solop said.

This seems to raise those same kinds of issues, taking a group of potential voters and trying to wholeheartedly say we want to limit your participation, saying you can participate here, not there, Solop said. Its a disenfranchising message to send to students.

Added Solop: It doesn't make sense to say to a student, We want you to participate but not in the community where you are living, working, drawing services.

Former city council candidate and local activist Adam Shimoni, who focused much of his campaign on student engagement in local politics, said he thought the proposal to prohibit students from registering to vote from dormitories is absolutely backwards.

We need to make voting easier, not more difficult, especially for students, Shimoni said. Its already a challenge to get college students engaged in politics, especially locally.

Shimoni said this bill and similar efforts, along with the outcomes of state and national elections, should be taken as a call to action for students and millennials.

In the upcoming years, it is so important that we speak up, especially students and millennials he said. This is not a time to sit back and relax. Its up to us to fight for us and for our future.

ONLY LOCAL CONTRIBUTORS

Thorpe also wants to limit who can contribute to ballot measures.

Existing law allows any individual or corporation to give money to try to get an initiative approved or rejected. The only requirement is that the campaign committees that get the cash detail from whom it comes.

HB 2255 would make it illegal for anyone from outside of Arizona or a political jurisdiction to contribute funds for or against ballot measures.

That means a voter outside of Flagstaff, for example, wouldnt have been able to contribute to committees organized either for or against the minimum wage measure.

But the Supreme Court has repeatedly defined campaign contributions as free speech and rejected limits put on those contributions as unconstitutional, Solop said.

The bill is also tinged with hypocrisy because Thorpe himself has repeatedly accepted money from entities outside of his district, Solop said.

Campaign finance records for 2016 show dozens of contributions Thorpe received were from individuals and political action committees from the Phoenix area, far outside of LD6.

The measure may also have a large loophole: It specifically covers committees organized "for the purpose of influencing a ballot measure.'' And Thorpe's legislation would continue to leave the door open for out-of-state residents to continue to give to political candidates and their campaign committees.

Rep. Ken Clark, D-Tucson, said it would be one thing if Thorpe were seeking better disclosure of the source of donations. "But I don't think you can legally restrict out-of-state money from being spent in Arizona,'' he said.
When I buckled into the Arizona Department of Public Safety SUV Monday afternoon, I thought Id be spending a few hours learning what parking and traffic enforcement looks like on a heavy traffic day along Highway 180.

Instead, I saw firsthand why cars blocking the highway can lead to a life or death situation.

The first few hours of the ridealong were relatively uneventful. I got to watch Leo Karl, the trooper I was riding with, warn people who were parked illegally and help tow someone whose vehicle was stuck in snow.

At about 4:30 in the afternoon, we were driving near Crowley Pit when the radio called in a car crash with injuries near Snowbowl Road on Highway 180. Karl radioed back that he would respond to the scene, then immediately sprang into action.

Soon, it felt like we were flying down the highway, siren blaring and lights flashing. Luckily, the holiday had not brought very much traffic to the highway, which would have made it even more difficult for us, an emergency vehicle, to navigate down the road.

As we headed south, Karl steered and accelerated with laser-like focus. The vehicles in our way, even on a day of lighter traffic, forced him to maneuver into the opposite lane. I could only imagine how difficult it would be to respond to an emergency if the road was clogged with more vehicles.

As we drove, the dispatch radio delivered bad news. One person was dead after a vehicle had collided with a tree. Soon after, we heard a second person had died.

Before we arrived at the scene, Karl asked me to remove some gloves for him from a box near my seat so he would be prepared when we arrived at the crash.

At the scene, a mangled red pickup truck was visible from the highway past Snowbowl Road. The truck had apparently slid in the snow on the side of the road into the tree. Deep skid marks in the snow showed the direction the truck came from, and how far the truck slid before hitting the tree. The tree had split near the middle and the top had fallen toward the road, leaving branches and debris surrounding the truck.

Later we found out the truck had been involved in a hit-and-run crash on Snowbowl Road after the truck, which was descending the mountain, crossed the center line and collided with a vehicle traveling uphill, according to Coconino County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Erika Wiltenmuth. No one was injured in the crash, but the truck driver fled the scene and was involved in the later crash.

After exiting Snowbowl Road onto Highway 180, the truck was seen traveling southbound in the northbound lane, where it sideswiped an SUV and a bicyclist, DPS spokesman James Carne said Tuesday. The driver of the SUV was not hurt and the bicyclist was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The truck then veered from the roadway and slid into the tree, killing the driver, identified as 23-year-old Mathew Thomas Reyes, and one passenger, identified as 24-year-old Toriano Carbajal, both from Flagstaff. One other passenger was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

It is impossible to know if first responders would have been able to reach the third person in time if the roadway had been clogged with cars and if ambulances had to navigate heavy traffic, but thankfully the road was mostly clear and the person was able to be transported quickly.

Carne said the crash is still being investigated, but said officials have not ruled out speed and impairment as possible causes.
Flagstaff City Council took no action after more than two and a half hours of divisive comments from the public on the effects of Prop. 414, the local $15-an-hour minimum wage law.

"I think we understand the level of fear that's coming from all sides of the issue," said Mayor Coral Evans.

Councilmember Jim McCarthy said he believed that the city did need an increase in the local minimum wage and putting the issue back on the ballot was a good idea.

However, he didn't think it was appropriate to put Elevate Flagstaff's initiative to gut the $15 wage on the May ballot. Voters need more than one option on the ballot.

He also didn't think that waiting until November 2018 was inappropriate. Council and the public needed more time to work the problem and possible solutions out, he said.

Councilmember Charlie Odegaard disagreed, saying it wouldn't be fair to those who signed the Elevate ballot petition to wait two years.

"It's unfortunate that we couldn't have had this discussion six months ago," he said.

"We have a lot to ponder," said Vice Mayor Jamie Whelan. "It's going to take some time. We've just got to figure out how to do it."

Councilmember Scott Overton said he would defer comment on the topic until the Council took action on the initiative proposed by Elevate Flagstaff. The group, which is looking to peg any Flagstaff minimum wage to the state minimum, has turned in their petition and is awaiting signature checks by the county recorder. That process takes two or three weeks.

Maria Becerra was one of the many residents at Tuesday's meeting. She spoke through a Spanish translator and said she has worked cleaning and serving in restaurants and hotels in Flagstaff for 14 years while raising a family.

I started working 10 years ago for $4.50 plus tips, she said. In the last five years my wages have risen 55 cents.

We cant even dream of taking a vacation. I dont even dream of a raise, which is what theyre trying to take away from us, she said. Were not asking for a favor. Would you have what you do without us?

Kim Yule, a small business owner, said she was appalled at the attempt to repeal Prop. 414. Elevate Flagstaff hired petition signature gatherers to collect enough signatures to repeal what the voters requested. It shows, she said, that if you have the money you can buy an election.

There are ways for businesses to adjust to the increase in wages, she said. Yule said she worked with one business that has successfully been able to adjust by tripling its online sales and selling out of holiday merchandise two weeks early.

A couple of Northern Arizona University students also pleaded with Council to speak with University President Rita Cheng and encourage her to increase student workers wages. State employees are exempt from the wage increase and students will still be making around $8.05 as local wages increase and the prices of food and rent increase.

Several people urged Council to amend or repeal Prop. 414 in order to protect jobs, businesses and nonprofit organizations that provide services to the disabled.

Carl Jefferies said he is in favor of the state wage. He came to Flagstaff years ago and owned a fast food restaurant that employed mostly students. During the recession, he got a part-time job in order to make ends meet. Now, employees who will be hired under the new minimum wage will be making as much as he is making after nine years and thats not fair.

Armando Bernasconi, the CEO of Quality Connections, said his company cannot pursue its mission without the business community. Quality Connections provides job training and jobs for residents with disabilities. Businesses have helped lift 38 people out of poverty by hiring them from Quality Connections and purchasing products from the company.

The Flagstaff business community is not the 1 percent, he said.

Bernasconi said he believed if Council removed the $2 an hour extra required by the local initiative, a wage increase would be doable.

Former Councilmember Al White agreed with Bernasconi and said that he believed that Council could amend the law to remove the $2 increase. The $2 increase over the state wage was intended to be $2 over an $8.05 wage, not over a $10 wage, he said.

I dont believe the intent was to close any businesses. I think the intent of the voters was to help pull people out of poverty, White said. Lengthening the timeline for the increase in the wage to $15 would also help.

Voters can propose and approve any initiative that repeals or amends the new law. Elevate Flagstaff, a group of local business owners, residents and nonprofits, has taken that route, collecting and turning in 8,845 signatures with the help of the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce last Thursday to put the issue back on the ballot. The group needed to collect 4,411 signatures. Those signatures have yet to be verified.

Elevates ballot initiative would align the local minimum wage with the new state wage and gradually increase the local wage to $12 an hour by 2020 for regular workers and $9 an hour for tipped workers. The local wage would then increase by 50 cents per hour, the tipped wage could be at a maximum of $3 below the non-tipped wage.

Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Director Stuart McDaniel pointed out that gathering that many signatures in three weeks showed an emerging consensus that a change in the law was needed.

"We're too small to be using this type of divisive language against one another," he said. He asked the public to consider and honor the opinion of those who signed the petition.

He also stated that the Chamber has withdrawn from the lawsuit against the new state minimum wage.

Council could also try to amend the law, as requested by Bridging Flagstaff, but it would be very tricky. The Arizona Constitution requires any amendments to a voter initiative by the Arizona Legislature or local government to further the purposes of the initiative. It also requires a supermajority, or two-thirds, vote of Council or the Legislature to amend a voter initiative.

Ed. Note: this story has been changed from its original.
It feels like the nation is the most divided it's been since the Civil War. At best, slightly more than half the country at this moment gives Obama's job performance a favorable review.

Many who give Obama an unfavorable rating think he did a really bad job handling such issues as the economy, health care, foreign affairs and terrorism.

It's notable that many supporters believe these same topics represent some of Obama's greatest successes. The two sides can't even agree on whether his handling of the economy was a success or failure.

It reminds me of the parable of the blind men and the elephant. You probably know the story. Several blind men touch different parts of an elephant and disagree about what it is. Each is partly right, but all of them are wrong.

That's because they only touch part of the animal. They'd have to put all their experiences together to form a true sense of reality. If they stubbornly argue instead of work together, they all remain ignorant.

Obama touched on some successes of his eight years in office during his farewell address Tuesday night in Chicago. He mentioned reversing the Great Recession, creating jobs, shutting down Iran's nuclear weapons program, taking out Osama bin Laden, winning marriage equality and securing the right to health insurance for an additional 20 million Americans.

"If I had told you all that (eight years ago), you might have said our sights were set a little too high. But that's what we did. That's what you did."

His critics disagree. The economic recovery should have been more robust, they say, with higher GDP growth rates. Unemployment data is misrepresented, they say, because people who are no longer in the workforce aren't counted. Plus, there's the belief that we're losing jobs to foreign competitors because of weak trade policies.

The Iran deal is a disaster, critics say. Health insurance costs are way too high. Obama created ISIS by pulling troops out of Iraq too soon, giving terrorists a place to gain support, critics say.

These are all valid criticisms. Like I said, it's impossible to say which narrative of Obama people will believe a hundred years from now. Newspaper columnists like me can speculate, but we're all wrong because invariably we only touch on part of the story.

If I lean too far toward one view, I'm likely to lose half the audience. If I say Obama was great, half the readers will call me a liberal and other nasty names. If I say Obama was terrible, the other half of the audience will tune out because they disagree with my view.

I think Obama's a man of good character and integrity. There was never a hint of a sex scandal with him, unlike that awful business with Bill Clinton. Despite his roots in Illinois politics, he seemed to resist the temptation to use the power of the office for personal gain.

During the course of the next four years, there's a strong likelihood that many Americans will miss having those character traits in their president.

Obama also disappointed me. He seemed to go out of his way to appease his critics when he could have done more to advance his policies. As good as he is at communicating, he and his supporters lost the messaging war in the 2016 election.

More people were deported during Obama's tenure than during any other presidency, yet Americans chose for their next president someone perceived as stronger on immigration policy.

Violent crime rates are historically lower nationwide than they were eight, or 20 years ago, data show. But due to high-profile mass shootings and persistent gun violence in Chicago and elsewhere, many voters chose the "law and order" candidate.

Obama said he reduced the federal deficit by two-thirds since he took office. But critics point out the national debt has continued to increase. I wonder if deficit/debt critics will be as passionate about the issue with the next administration.

Income inequality worsened under Obama. Racial tensions, conflicts and divisiveness seem to have escalated, and so on. Many of his supporters are disappointed in the results. Opponents find much in the record to criticize.

Overall, I think Obama did his best despite facing unprecedented opposition. For proof, look no further than the opposition's refusal to consider his final Supreme Court nominee.

Obama used the occasion of his farewell address to talk about what he sees as threats to the American democracy.

"Our democracy won't work without a sense that everyone has economic opportunity," he said. Racial discrimination is another threat, he said. A third threat is disregard for facts and the rule of law. Which led to his fourth and final point:

"Our democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted," he said.

Citizens must be active participants in their government, he said. They can do so as voters, but also by freely voicing their opinions and taking part in public protests. Obama encouraged people who didn't like the job performance of their elected officials to "grab a clipboard" and run for office themselves.

There are indications the presidency of Donald Trump will test American freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment:

"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."

American founders understood it is the nature of humans to succumb to strong forces such as greed and the quest for power. The Constitution built in checks and balances designed to keep any one individual or group from wielding absolute power.

Dissent, after all, is the hallmark of democracy. Those in the minority are free to exercise their rights.

But when parties are unable to reach agreement on basic facts for issues like climate change, reasonable debate gives way to personal attacks.

Maybe a good chunk of Obama's legacy will be determined by Trump's presidency. If the Obama era was the height of partisanship, maybe Democratic and Republican members of Congress will unite to check Trump's power in the years to come.

But that's unlikely to happen if members of Congress take a partisan approach to issues as serious as investigating Russian interference in American elections.

Measuring Obama's legacy at this point is like being a kid in the backseat of a family car on a long road trip where Dad has been dutifully driving the speed limit.

Dad's taking the slow and steady route, but the kids in the backseat are watching traffic pass them by and complaining.

"Go faster, Dad!"

Obama avoided risks. Now it's Trump's turn in the driver's seat.

Buckle up. We could be in for a wild ride.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. During an annual press conference Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in response to a provocative question of an Azerbaijani reporter, said the implementation of military operations in Nagorno Karabakh is not Azerbaijans internal affair, reports Armenpress.

The Azerbaijani reporter asked the FM whether Russia will intervene in Azerbaijans internal affairs if the Azerbaijani side launches military operations in Nagorno Karabakh. This statement is a cold shower for the Azerbaijani society. The response to a question over blogger Lapshin was also very clear.

The Russian FM made a statement sobering Azerbaijan where he recalled that the conflict settlement has several options which were adopted by the UN at the hottest time of the conflict. Lavrov said the decisions define that the conflict must be settled without the use of force and with clarification of the final status of Nagorno Karabakh.

This is enshrined in the documents prepared by the OSCE Minsk Group through the Co-Chairs, it is enshrined in numerous statements adopted by the Presidents of the co-chairing countries, Russia, France and US, as well as in the statements and documents adopted by the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The peaceful settlement of the disputes is enshrined there with no ambiguous meaning, the Russian FM said.

He considered alarming the bloody events that took place in April, 2016. Russia played a decisive role in stopping the bloodshed. We have agreed with President Sargsyan and President Aliyev at the meeting in Vienna, then Russian President Putin reached an agreement with them in June in Petersburg that taking into account the mutual accusations it is necessary to install a mechanism for investigating the incidents, to increase the number of OSCE observers in the line of contact. The necessity of investigation of incidents was also emphasized in 2011 during the meeting of the Presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in Astrakhan. Unfortunately, such simple thing, the investigation of incidents and increase of number of observers, cannot be implemented since there is no consensus yet, Lavrov said.

During the press conference Lavrov also talked about the situation of Russian-Israeli blogger Aleksandr Lapshin who is arrested in Belarus. In the past years Lapshin visited the Nagorno Karabakh Republic for several times for which he was appeared in Azerbaijans list of unwanted people. Official Baku demands from the Belarussian leadership Lapshins extradition.

We oppose the criminalization of any individuals or reporters visit to any location of any region. We also oppose the extradition of arrested Russian citizens in any country to third countries. We have contacted Mr. Lapshin through the consul. We know that he is also an Israeli citizen and Israeli diplomats have also contacted him. We will take every measures to settle this situation by fully respecting the rights of the Russian citizen, Lavrov said, adding they maintain contact with Lapshin.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Levon Mkrtchyan, minister of education and science of Armenia briefed President Sargsyan on January 18 on the current situation in the public education and higher education fields, process of reforms in the educational system, existing problems, innovations and works on making quality education equally accessible to all. The President had raised these issues during his last year visit to the Quantum college, the Presidents Office told ARMENPRESS.

The Minister also touched upon the achievements in the educational field, pointing out that due to years of consistent work it was possible to maintain Armenias Education Clock intact. According to the minister, it allows Armenia to present itself worldwide as an educational area, which ranges from kindergarten to public education, higher education and science.

The minister said serious innovative education programs such as the Ararat Baccalaureate and the Dilijan education cluster have been added to the public education field, along the Physics and Mathematics schools network etc, which created a rather competitive situation.

Agreeing to the ministers view regarding the apparent and often exciting achievements in the public education field, the President stressed that it doesnt mean that there are no problems in the field to solve.

The goal of the school, I think Im telling a very obvious truth, but its worth repeating, isnt only preparing an excellent scientist, doctor, teacher, astronaut or businessman, but also the supreme goal  to prepare a citizen of the Republic of Armenia with the family: patriotic, diligent and law abiding. Ive said this numerous times, and I dont find it unnecessary to repeat now, I think the root of all evil of mankind is lies in ignorance. In fact, I think ignorant isnt the man who hasnt received higher education, but he who lacks simple moral standards, who lacks simple knowledge, and this is indeed evil, the President said, adding the country must move forward by maintaining the best and increasing the existing capacity.

Today we must comprehensively discuss the problems of the public education field. The Ararat Baccalaureate is brilliant, the centers of excellence are brilliant, but the geography of those centers must also increase, along with its moving force, the President said.

After the ministers reports, the President assigned the formation of a professional group, which will include persons who designed the public education reforms project, which will present the fundamentals of the higher education system reforms in 6 months.
On an otherwise quiet Sunday at the [L.A.] museum in early June, an Australian man is chuckling with two middle school-aged kids over a pair of fake breasts from Serbia that the donor says her ex-boyfriend required her to wear during sex.  Around the corner, in a corridor in which objects recall loved ones who died, fell ill, or were abusive, a couple is ranking objects by their level of misery.
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Liberal lawmakers and others who find the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency untenable are busy making plans to be anywhere but Washington come Friday, when Chief Justice John Roberts asks one of the biggest purveyors of falsehoods in modern memory to swear on a Bible to uphold the Constitution. The latest count has about 45 House Democrats pledging to boycott the new presidents inauguration.

I share their dismay, but I wont be joining them.

Trump is going to be our president, everyones president, including Rep. John Lewis and everyone on Twitter who keeps using the hashtag #notmypresident. Sure, he might eventually be impeached; he might resign, or he might win a second term and be our president until early 2025.

No matter what happens, the worst thing his opponents can do is pretend his presidency is unreal.

For Democrats and the fast-dwindling number of Never-Trump Republicans and others, the best way to stand against the Trump administration is to fight against it. That means hanging tough as a principled minority in Congress, and trying to block, delay or improve the worst of the bills set to come rushing out of the GOP-dominated chambers. For some, it might also mean protesting in the streets  thats part of our system, too.

But failing to acknowledge the Trump presidencys legitimacy right from the start is a faulty first step.

I come to this view honestly, and for that I can thank Rick Perry.

In 2009, after many months of negotiating, his staff agreed to permit an hour-long sit-down with the then-governor of Texas. I was the transportation writer for The Dallas Morning News, and Perry had been the chief architect of a consequential policy to build billions of dollars of infrastructure without raising anyones taxes. It had remade the states infrastructure landscape and was chiefly responsible for some billions of dollars in new roads in North Texas.

It also, of course, had imposed hefty tolls on commuters, some of whom were soon paying hundreds of dollars a month, and added enormous debt to public toll agencies like the North Texas Tollway Authority. It was a conversation worth having.

But when the final OK for the interview came, Perrys people scheduled it for 11 a.m., Jan. 20, 2009. That was noon, of course, on the East Coast, and coincided with the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the 44th president.

It seemed no coincidence that the governor would agree to what was the only policy-oriented, sit-down interview he granted that year at a time when the rest of the country was watching the inauguration.

I was eager for the interview, but was frankly appalled at the timing. I remember walking into the governors suite of offices in the Capitol feeling like I might be in the office of the only elected official in the country who had turned his back on the ceremonies in Washington. It felt deeply unpatriotic. America had finally elected its first black president, a moment it felt important for all of us to acknowledge  a feeling made more pronounced as I walked past the imposing monument to the Confederate dead on the Capitol grounds.

Sure, Obama was a Democrat. But for that matter Perry had been one, too, years ago. I was especially surprised that Perry would avoid the inauguration, because he was a former Air Force officer, not to mention governor of the one of Americas most important states.

For me, the effort to undermine the legitimacy of Obama as president didnt begin with Rep. Joe Wilsons outrageous and shameful shout from the House floor. Nor with Donald Trumps pathetic embrace of the birther nonsense.

It began, for me, in Austin in the Texas governors anteroom.

So when I see the names of Democratic congressmen who wont attend the Trump inaugural, I grimace. Fit or not, he will be president beginning Friday and will be until he resigns or Congress decides to remove him  still, a highly unlikely event. Thats our law.

Democrats can shout about that all day long, and there is plenty of room in our system and in our laws alike for vigorous protest on Friday or any other day.

But they shouldnt do what Rick Perry did and pretend its not happening and turn their backs on the transfer of power from one political team to another. Whether one respects Trump or not, its time to acknowledge that his ascension to the highest office in the land is a reality.

Wishful thinking wont undo that fact. It was tacky in 2009 and its tacky in 2017.
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ONE of my favorite writers in any genre is the USC humanities professor Leo Braudy, justly celebrated for his Frenzy of Renown, a history of fame going back to Alexander the Great. Braudy writes widely on literature, film, ancient civilizations. the question of America, the overlap of culture and politics, and all kinds of subjects that interest me. Hes insightful, sometimes inspired, and always accessible to the educated non-specialists. (I wish there were more scholarly writers like him.)

Braudys latest book is Haunted: On Ghosts, Witches, Vampires, Zombies, and Other Monsters of the Natural and Supernatural Worlds. (The book is on Yale University Press, the publisher of Culture Crash, but I was on record as a fan of Braudys before he had the good sense to move to Yale.) In any case, the book is a blast.

What follows is my correspondence with Braudy. Hope readers enjoy it as much as I did.

Q: Youve tracked the way fear has exerted itself in Western culture from early-modern to contemporary times. But to what extend are fear and terror  and their associated gallery of imagery and narrative  simply a part of human nature? That is, would any culture or any historical (or even pre-historical) time period work the same way, but perhaps with the details changed?

A: Human nature to me is a very ambiguous and frequently changing concept. Yes, we have desires, hopes, and fears that seem innate and timeless, but their expression is shaped by the specific personal and public contexts in which they appear, and so they mutate or at least change in relation to our own biographies and whats happening around us. By the same token, the expressions of the fears and anxieties of large groups of people are conditioned by the historical times in which they emerge. Human nature may be the bricks and mortar, but many different buildings can be created from them. Such a perspective would work in any time period, but the change in the details is exactly the crucial distinction between one era and another. Early on in my literary work I became fascinated by the way emotion tended to be written out of literary and cultural analysis in favor of seemingly more tangible factors like politics and economics and, in the discussion of literature especially, the dictionary meaning of the words in the text. To a certain extent this is the result of the influence of the Marxist distinction between base and superstructure: art in this view is soft superstructure, while the hard facts of economics are the base and therefore the reality of what is happening or has happened. So the critic uses political and economic facts to explain artistic production. I would reverse that formulation, or at least readjust the balance: art embodies a history of emotion that helps determine how historys otherwise external facts develop and how people respond to them.

The years around the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution  both late 18th century but bleeding into the long 19th  produced a large and acute batch of fearful imagery. Why was that, and what kind of literary/ cultural/ psychic terror did it produce?

The great battle cry of the American and French revolutions was the future: throw off the inherited structures of past tyranny like monarchy and religion and move triumphantly forward to liberty. The Industrial Revolution similarly promised a new sense of individual and collective will; human intelligence would master the repressions of environment and nature: turning rivers into power, replacing individual craftsmen and their unique products with a production line of interchangeable parts that could afford similar quality at much lower cost, etc. So far, so good. But in the process, as in all revolutions, whether technological, economic, or political, the broad brush of change swept aside things of value as well. The rise during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries of gothic literature, painting, and even music that drew upon the supernatural expressed something of the fears of what change had brought, the dark recesses from which monsters emerged.

It sorta makes sense now that Poe invented not only the horror story as well as the detective tale, eh? How are they related?

Some reviewers of Haunted have been puzzled by my inclusion of a chapter on the detective in what is otherwise a book about horror, but to me the monster and the detective are opposite sides of the same coin: the monster the figure of disorder and fear, the detective the seeker for order and reason. That Poe wrote masterpieces in both forms shows their basic dependence on one another, their Jekyll and Hyde-like interaction. Poe didnt invent the horror story, but his poems, short stories, and longer works arrive in the 1830s and 1840s at a crucial moment. The literature of fear had become a widespread and recognizable genre in England, Europe, and America. To that literature he contributed an intensified version of the first-person narrator (in, say, Fall of the House of Usher and William Wilson) as well as a self-conscious sense of the supernatural mystery that cannot finally be solved that had a lasting influence on both American and (through Baudelaire) French literature. At the same time the growth of police forces and the arrival of an embryonic crime-solving force in places like the French Surete and Scotland Yard offered the possibility that in fact crimes could be solved. Poes detective C. Auguste Dupin is, however, not a member of any official police force. As an outsider he has the detachment to mingle reason with a powerful instinct in what Poe called ratiocination, along with a compatibility with the criminal mind, in order to solve his cases. In Poes work this combat between the empirical idea that facts will be decisive and the supernatural idea that there are things in the universe we can never know fully is a primary engine of his creativity.

In your books opening pages you describe your ambition to write the history of an emotion. Is that difficult to do, intellectually? And is that unconventional way of looking at culture a difficult fit in contemporary academia, including academic presses? Would it be possible without Freud?

I dont count Freud as a particularly good guide to the understanding of how emotion might have a history, since his theory of the relation of the self to society depends so much on the repression of emotion and inner conflict. In many ways I prefer the point of view of Carl Jung, who explored the way in which the repression of emotion created the monstrous inner self, which without that repression could become vital and creative. This isnt quite the 60s do your own thing or let it all hang out, but a recognition that consciousness and rationality have to come to terms with the powers of the unconscious and the emotions. (Ill leave aside for now Jungs idea of the collective unconscious, which is a whole other issue.) Theres a great scene in Rouben Mamoulians version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in which Hyde is pleading with Lanyon to give him the chemicals he needs to turn back into Jekyll. Between them on the wall is a large portrait of Queen Victoria. In other words, if Jekyll hadnt lived in that era or if he hadnt taken its repressions so to heart, would Hyde have existed?

How have some images from literature and art  originating perhaps as far back as the Reformation  transmuted themselves into recent popular culture?

Even before the Reformation, religious imagery struggled to present images of both the divine and the diabolical. The earliest images of Jesus, say, were of a young man with curly hair and a lamb over his shouldersthe Good Shepherd of the Gospels as well as a figure out of Greek and Roman pastoral. Satan as well changed his image from being a member of Gods court (in the Book of Job) to the competitor with Jesus for Gods favor to the embodiment of the principle of evil. In religiously oriented horror films that literary and visual history helps create the figures we see, with of course some allowance for the nuances of contemporary creativity on the part of the production designer and the makeup person. The point to remember is that visual representation has its own demands, which may be different from those of literary description. Dracula on film looks little like Dracula in the novel. Sherlock Holmes in the stories and novels never wore a deerstalker hat or smoked a Meerschaum pipe.

Your writing  like Morris Dicksteins and a few others  reminds me a bit of the generation of Leslie Fiedler and Irving Howe. Do you feel an affinity with that crew?

Morris was a year ahead of me in graduate school at Yale. Yale at that time was not yet the home of Paul De Mans deconstruction or Harold Blooms Romanticism. It was still under the aegis of the New Critics like Cleanth Brooks and William Wimsatt, but I was more intrigued by teachers like Martin Price who were trying to see the main currents of an entire period. Fielder, who was then at SUNY-Buffalo, would be in the same category, especially with his willingness to see popular culture as significant as high culture (such outmoded terms) in understanding an era. At the time too I was more interested in distinguishing what I was doing from what others were doing, but in the long view there are definitively affinities, especially in the willingness to write for magazines and newspapers, otherwise condemned as belletristic by the more academically oriented. In high school my critical heroes had been writers like George Orwell and Edmund Wilson, along with the early film critics like Andrew Sarris, Pauline Kael, and Dwight Macdonald. I went to the movies all the time, so any exclusive focus on literature alone was out of the question. Later I took a job at Columbia, where Morris was also on the faculty. Lionel Trillings office was across the hall from mine, Edward Saids down the hall, and the whole Columbia English faculty, as well as the context of New York City, strengthened my sense of the social role of art, the need to take not only the world in which it appeared but also its audience into consideration. Morris and I later co-edited a collection of essays on great film directors for Oxford. His first book, though, was on Keats, while mine was on the relation of history-writing to novels in the eighteenth century. Make of that what you will.

Thank you for being part of the CultureCrash
If youre down in the dumps about Trump, or just coping with some post-holiday blues, Im making an effort this month to perk you up with something atypical of the hypercritical CultureGrrlgood news. Ill start by my eating some of my critical words while extolling plans for the Getty Villas long-overdue sweeping reinstallation of its antiquities collection at the Getty Villa, Malibu.

This month, that work has finally started. Heres a designers rendering of what, for now, appears to be a rather stark-looking gallery:

According to the Gettys announcement, the arrangement of the museums superlative (sometimes controversial) collection of ancient Greek and Roman art will be transformed from its current thematic organization to a largely chronological, art historical presentation. While that work proceeds, at least half the galleries will stay on view at any given time. Augmented by almost 3,000 square feet of additional gallery space, the re-do is expected to be complete in Spring 2018.

Eight years ago, I had roundly criticized the Villas installation as simplistic, mindless and inexcusable. As I then wrote on CultureGrrl, objects from different times and cultures were jumbled together under superficial themes, such as Men in Antiquity, Animals in Antiquity and that old favorite, Gods and Goddesses. I judged the this mishmash to be demeaning [to] the Gettys serious holdings.

Timothy Potts, the museums director, seemed to agree, as he explained the rationale behind his plans for the Villas reinstallation during my 2014 Q&A with him :

We still will have pockets that are thematicabout the iconography, or vase painting, or a medium. But youll also be able to see the progression of culture and why styles evolve the way they do. You cant jump from the Archaic to the Hellenistic without going through the Classical. It doesnt make sense.

Also starting to make more sense to me is James Cuno, president the J. Paul Getty Trust (of which the museum is one component). He had been strongly criticized by me and others for his position advocating encyclopedic museums acquisition and retention of antiquities of ambiguous provenance, including some claimed by countries of origin. But his views are starting to seem more defensible in light of the ghastly depredations of terrorists who have decimated museums and irreplaceable archaeological sites sites in the Middle East.

It may well be that institutions like the Metropolitan Museum, with its comprehensive collections and far-reaching temporary exhibitionsnotably Assyria to Iberiaprovide some needed assurance that we can continue to preserve, appreciate and study the cultural objects similar to those now endangered in unstable regions. By eerie coincidence, the Mets superlative show, curated by Joan Aruz, included a digital reconstruction of the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud (near Mosul in northern Iraq)a site that was blown up by ISIS in 2015, just a couple of months after Assyria to Iberia closed. (Unanswered at this writing are my repeated queries to the Mets press office as to whether Aruz, whose work is now more essential than ever, is still on staff there or has departed in the recent wave of buyouts and layoffs.)

The reconceived Getty Villa may include some antiquities from the ancient Near East: According to a post this month by Amelia Wong in The Iris, the Gettys blog, a new classical-world-in-context gallery will be created, to display long-term loans of important objects from non-European cultures that will help give better context to the Gettys collection of mostly European antiquities. In a 2012 interview with me, Potts, an archaeologist and specialist in the ancient Near East, had expressed a desire to enrich the Villa with works from the late antique period: Byzantine art, Islamic art and others.

Will he get to have his non-European antiquities and keep the Getty Bronze too?
WASHINGTON  Barack Obama promised hope and change when he became the nations 44th president eight years ago. He delivered on the change, but leaves a nation still struggling for hope.

He departs office after leading the United States out of its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and as the country enjoys its most robust economy in years.

His policies helped revive the auto industry, clamp down on financial industry abuses and provide health insurance coverage to millions. And his very ascension to the White House sent a strong signal about America as the land of opportunity, said former South Carolina Gov. James Hodges, a Democrat.

Yet Obama leaves not with a country united and eager for what comes next, but one divided between rural and urban, left and right, lower-skilled workers and the more educated. Huge numbers of people are not confident about their financial futures. Theyre deeply concerned about whether the government can keep them safe. Overwhelming numbers of Republicans continue to dismiss Obama as too liberal and out of touch.

The Republican-led Congress and President-elect Donald Trump see Obamacare as emblematic of much thats gone wrong, a costly big-government disaster spawning higher premiums and less quality care.

While historys judgment of any president inevitably changes over time, Obama at the moment gets generally high marks from scholars.

We know, and have known for a long time, that he will be regarded as a consequential president, said Richard Norton Smith, a presidential scholar.

He is someone who shifted the conversation, remade the political weather, as it were, (and) broke with tradition, Smith said.

He saw himself as a transformational president. In some ways that was defined simply by who he is, added Michael Siegel, author of The President as Leader.

Same-sex marriage became legal. Diplomatic relations with Cuba were restored for the first time since 1961. Nearly everyone was required to get health care coverage, and the government is making a strong effort to help pay the cost. Millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally who came to this country as children have been allowed to stay.

The most notable change during Obamas years involved the economy. In January 2009, the nation was hemorrhaging jobs. In the previous year alone, the number of unemployed people had increased by 4.1 million.

Within a month, Obama had pushed a $787 billion economic stimulus plan through the Democratic-controlled Congress, with virtually no Republican support. Imagine what would have happened if it didnt happen, said former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, now a Democratic congressman.

Yet the debt soared. And significant blocs of workers and regions still have not felt the recovery. Thats why, said John Pitney, professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College in California, President Obama will not be remembered as a great job creator.

The jobless rates often differ widely between urban and smaller areas. In North Carolina, the Charlotte-area rate in November was 4.5 percent, while smaller Rocky Mount logged a 6.8 percent rate. In California, Fresnos rate was 9.3 percent, a sharp contrast to the San Luis Obispo areas 3.8 percent.

Economic opportunity is still driven by educational opportunity and where you live, said Hodges.

That same slice of America has also spent years protesting the Affordable Care Act. Among Obamacares features was the creation of an insurance marketplace where consumers could easily shop for coverage.

In less-populated areas, those choices have diminished dramatically.

Saying everyone can have health care is a hollow promise, said House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La. Theres a difference between getting an insurance card and actually having access to care, he said.

Obamacare also became a symbol and rallying point for the presidents detractors. It helped fuel the tea party movement, which was instrumental in winning a Republican majority in the House of Representatives in 2010, eight months after the law was enacted.

Republicans were able to brand Obamacare as a stellar example of a federal government reaching more deeply into their lives, and taking away their ability to choose the coverage they wanted.

Its pretty clear now if you look back over the last eight years, the president wanted to move America significantly to the left. What I would call the Europeanization of America, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Yet the raw fact remains: Twenty million more people today have health care coverage than did when Obama took office. So, combined with an economy full of momentum, why is Obama not ending his presidency on the same upswing as Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, who also left during prosperous times?

Pews survey suggests part of the reason is national security. Americans also became less confident in the ability of their government to handle threats, said Michael Dimock, president of the Pew Research Center.

Any sense of security triggered by the 2011 killing of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden proved fleeting, though. Pew found that after the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., the publics positive ratings of the governments handling of terrorism sank to their lowest point since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

To many, Obama is seen as the other in so many ways. Hes African-American, went to an elitist institution and is seen as a liberal," said Scott Huffmon, poll director.

That pattern is repeated in state after state, even as people keep working and America keeps changing. But like it or not, Obama made a difference.

He defied those who, in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 and 2014 elections, were quick to write him off as a lame duck, said Smith. It turns out that even a lame duck can chart the nations course, notwithstanding congressional intransigence and the limitations imposed by the calendar.
Indonesia: New rules for transfer pricing

The Indonesian government approved a new Minister of Finance regulation, MoF 213/2016, on new rules for transfer pricing documentation, effective January 2017. The new decree stipulates that firms doing cross-border transactions with affiliates must prepare transfer pricing documents detailing their global structure and payments. The move aims to match global standards and curb tax avoidance. Multinationals with annual turnover of at least US$822.74 million (IDR 11 trillion) must prepare a country-by-country (CbC) report with information about their affiliates, revenue, profits, income tax paid in different jurisdictions, retained earnings, and assets. The companies are also required to prepare a master file and a local file, which should include its Indonesian company details, structure, assets, and transactions.

Companies with annual gross revenue of more than US$377,000 (IDR 50 billion) or accumulated transactions of more than US$150,800 (IDR 20 billion) for tangible assets and US$37,700 (IDR 5 billion) for intangible assets need to prepare only the master and local files. Transactions with tax residents in countries with a lower statuary rate than that of Indonesias 25 percent are also required to prepare the master and local files. The government is also offering companies to settle previous tax disputes by paying a penalty under an amnesty program until March 2017.

RELATED: Tax Compliance Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

Singapore, Laos to enhance cooperation

During the recent visit of the President of the Republic of Singapore, Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam, to Laos on January 12, both countries agreed to enhance cooperation both bilaterally and with other ASEAN countries to broaden their relationship further. Cooperation between both countries has grown since the signing of Singapores Silk Air agreement with Lao Airlines to commence flights between Vientiane and Luang Prabang in 2016. Singapore has also assisted Laos in human resource development by providing scholarships for students to undertake courses in both countries.

Since 2008, the Singapore government has sent volunteers to Laos to promote English, IT, and environmental studies along with doctors to support local hospitals. Singapore is currently the 11th largest investor in Laos with 70 investment projects in the handicrafts, services, consulting, and commerce industries. The total value of Singaporean investment in Laos is estimated at US$175 million. Around 33 projects worth US$97 million are 100 percent foreign-owned, along with 37 joint venture projects.

Thailand: State enterprises to move towards Thailand 4.0

Thailands State Enterprise Policy Commission, also known as Superboard, has recommended strategies for state-owned enterprises to move towards Thailand 4.0, a new economic model seeking to pull Thailand out of the middle income trap. As per the strategies, state enterprises need to separate themselves as regulators and service providers and promote investments and resource sharing to improve their financials. Increasing the use of ICT to minimize costs and strengthen public services have also been proposed. The government also asked seven state-owned enterprises to improve their financial performances, namely: the TOT (Telephone Organization of Thailand), CAT Telecom, the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Bank, the Islamic Bank of Thailand, Thai Airways International, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, and the State Railway of Thailand.

The commission plans to merge the Internet data-center businesses and international Internet gateway businesses of TOT and CAT Telecom into Neutral Gateway & Data Centre Co and their broadband Internet businesses into National Broadband Network Co. under the guidance of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. The Transport Ministry was asked to consider the State Railway of Thailands proposal to operate the Red Line mass transit serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region on its own. SME Development Bank was recognized for improving its financial performance and has been ordered to provide more loan packages worth up to US$423,480 (THB 15 million) and keeping its non-performing loans at no more than US$464.8 million (THB 16.6 billion).



About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email asean@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight. 

Annual Audit and Compliance in ASEAN

For the first issue of our ASEAN Briefing Magazine, we look at the different audit and compliance regulations of five of the main economies in ASEAN. We firstly focus on the accounting standards, filing processes, and requirements for Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. We then provide similar information on Singapore, and offer a closer examination of the city-states generous audit exemptions for small-and-medium sized enterprises.

Human Resources in ASEAN

In this issue of ASEAN Briefing, we discuss the prevailing structure of ASEANs labor markets and outline key considerations regarding wages and compliance at all levels of the value chain. We highlight comparative sentiment on labor markets within the region, showcase differences in cost and compliance between markets, and provide insight on the state of statutory social insurance obligations throughout the bloc.

The Guide to Manufacturing in Indonesia

Choosing if, where, and how to establish foreign manufacturing operations in Indonesia can be a significant challenge. While the archipelagos vast diversity may initially seem daunting, a number of options are available which will allow entry and operations to be conducted in a seamless manner. In this issue of ASEAN Briefing, we discuss Indonesia as a hub for manufacturing within Southeast Asia, and provide guidance on how to select and establish operations within the country.
Currently, FDI up to 49 per cent is permitted under the automatic route but beyond that limit, government's nod is required.

Foreign investment is allowed subject to certain conditions, which require products to be of a 'single brand' only and to be sold under the same brand globally. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: The government is considering allowing 100 per cent FDI through automatic route in single brand retail to attract a larger number of global players in the sector.

According to sources, there is a proposal to allow 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment in single brand retail sector "through automatic route" with certain conditions.

Currently, FDI up to 49 per cent is permitted under the automatic route but beyond that limit, government's nod is required. Foreign investment is allowed subject to certain conditions, which require products to be of a 'single brand' only and to be sold under the same brand globally.

Furthermore, in respect of proposals involving Foreign Direct Investment beyond 51 per cent, it is mandatory to source 30 per cent of the value of goods purchased from India, preferably MSMEs.

The issue to ease the Foreign Direct Investment policy in the sector is under discussion between the ministries of finance and commerce and industry.
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The Cineyug head honcho, who also produced 'Chennai Express,' had also been involved in the 2G spectrum scam.

The police havent revealed details of the charges against him as yet.

Mumbai: A rape case has been registered against Bollywood film producer Karim Morani for allegedly raping a Delhi-based woman on promise of marriage, police said today.

The woman, aged around 25, lodged a complaint with Hayathnagar Police under Rachakonda police commissionerate last week alleging that Morani had "raped" her in Mumbai and at a film studio here in 2015, DCP (LB Nagar Zone) Tafseer Iqubal told PTI.

"She accused Morani of raping her on different occasions in Mumbai and here by promising to marry her. The alleged incident took place during 2015," the senior police officer said, adding "We have taken up the investigation."

Following the complaint a case under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation), 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and other relevant sections of IPC has been filed, the DCP said.

Further probe is on, said the officer. Morani could not be reached for comments.
Karan is in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum, which has previously hosted Big B and AR Rahman.

The director has been in the news courtesy the sensational revelations in 'An Unsuitable Boy'.

Mumbai: Karan Johar has been in the news for the sensational revelations made in his biography, 'An Unsuitable Boy,' and social media has been unable to get enough of him.

The ace director, who last helmed the successful 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil,' has also been much into his usual business in the latest season of his much appreciated celebrity chat show, Koffee with Karan.

KJo had also got invited invited to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, after such legends as Amitabh Bachchan and AR Rahman.

After Shah Rukh Khan launched his biography, Karan flew to the Swiss land right away to attend the event.

And believe it or not, he was hanging out with none other than George Clooney.

George and wife Amal, a human rights lawyer, are in Davos. The couple, who were also attendees at the Forum, met Syrian refuges and heard their tales.

Karan, who's yet to commence work on his next directorial, is going international and how!
The verdict came against him for alleged use and possession of fire arms with expired license.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan arrives at Jodhpur civil Airport during the case in the 1998 Arms Act in Jodhpur on Tuesday. (Photo: AP)

Jaipur: Bollywood star Salman Khan arrived more than an hour late at the court to hear the judgment in the 19-year-old arms act case against him, but walked out a free man within seven minutes.

Chief Judicial Magistrate (GJM) Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit who had ordered Salman Khan to be present in the court during pronouncement of the judgement, waited for him to come and took only two minutes to deliver the verdict once the actor arrived.

The CJM asked Khan his name and then acquitted him of both the charges against him under section 2/25 and section 27 of the arms act. Salman was accused of carrying possessing using arms -- a -0.22 rifle and a 0.32 revolver with an expired license -- to kill two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur on October 1-2, 1998.

Giving Salman Khan the benefit of the doubt, the judge declared him not guilty as the prosecution had failed to produce adequate evidence and witnesses to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

In the 102 pages order, the judge also observed that the two post mortem reports on the deer listed different causes of death, dog-bite and gunshot wound.

Khan's lawyer had argued that the actor only had air guns and there was no evidence that he had used firearms neither during the alleged hunting nor while he was staying in Jodhpur.

"The court admitted our arguments that Khan was framed in this case as there was no concrete evidence against him," Salmans lawyer Hastimal Saraswat said. Luckily for the actor, an eyewitness for the prosecution also did not show up.

However, prosecution lawyer B S Bhati said that the decision would be challenged in the session court after studying the judgment. The Bishnoi community too had hinted filing appeal against the decision.

Salman Khan and a few other Bollywood actors were accused of poaching blackbucks on the night of October 1, 1998 during the shooting of Hindi movie Hum Saath Saath Hain. There were three cases of poaching and one case of arms act against him in which he was acquitted on Wednesday.

The actor was already acquitted in two poaching cases in Bhawad and Ghoda Farm by the High Court against which the state government has filed SLP in the Supreme Court. The third case in Kankani village would come up for hearing on January 25 when the court will read charges to him and co accused Saif Ali Khan, Tabbu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam.

Earlier, dressed in a crisp white shirt, the 51-year-old star came to the Jodhpur court with his sister Alvira. The actor appeared tense but smiled later when the judge acquitted him. He greeted, shook hands with fans and also signed autographs before leaving the court - all in just about seven minutes.

Timeline

September 27, 1998: Salman Khan was accused of hunting two Chinkaras at Bhawad in Mathania near Jodhpur.

September 28, 1998: Salman was also accused of hunting another Chinkara at Ghoda farms two days later.

October 2, 1998: Bishnoi community lodged a police complaint against Salman and four others involved in the killing of blackbucks. Other accused Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam who were with him for the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain.

October 12, 1998: Salman Khan was arrested and released on bail in the next five days.

October 15, 1998: Case for killing blackbucks in Kankani village using arms with expired license date.

February 17, 2006: The trial court convicted and sentenced him for a year in jail in Bhawad hunting case.

April 10, 2006: Salman was sentenced to five years in jail and was levied a Rs 5000 fine in Ghoda Farm hunting case.

August 24, 2007: The Session Court upheld the conviction and dismissed the appeal of the actor.

August 31, 2007: The Rajasthan High Court suspended the sentence.

24 July, 2012: Rajasthan High Court finalised charges against him in the case.

December 2012: The Rajasthan High Court revised the charges. In the fresh charges, Salman was charged with Section 9/51 of the Wildlife Protection Act.

August 2013: Salman Khan was denied a visa for the UK owing to the conviction charges.

November 13, 2013: Rajasthan High Court stayed the sentence of the actor.

16 November, 2015: Hearing in both the cases began in High Court.

March 10, 2016: Salman recorded statement in Kankani poaching case pleaded innocence and accused forest department of framing him.

13 May, 2016: Justice Nirmaljit Kaur completes hearing in Bhawad and Ghoda Farm poaching cases but reserved her judgment.

July 25, 2016: Salman acquitted by the High Court in Bhawad and Ghoda Farm poaching cases.

October 18, 2016: Rajasthan Government files SLP in Supreme Court against High Court decision.

January 09, 2017: Arguments by both the sides in arms act case completed on January 9.

January 18, 2017: Salman gets benefit of doubt, acquitted by the court.

January 25, 2017: Charges to be read to Salman and co accused in Kankani poaching case by the trial court.
Dangal actress Zaira Wasim is the latest victim of aggressive online trolling.

When Dangal actress Zaira Wasim issued a public apology on her Facebook account, after her meeting with Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti, it raised a furore. A shaken up Zaira, who is only 16 was forced to apologise.

Kashmiri supermodel Absar Zahoor expresses his angst and concern saying, Zaira Wasim, we are with you! And no, you havent done anything wrong. At such a tender age, no one could have done what you have done. Youre only 16. I request all my family and friends in Kashmir and even outside to support the innocent Zaira Wasim. If today you keep quiet, then tomorrow it could happen with you. Shes the daughter of Kashmir. And thats why I will support my lil sister with all my heart, regardless of what people think. And no one has any right to judge her at this age. Stop being judgemental!

Zaira Wasim who played the young Geeta Phogat in the film, met Mufti after she received appreciation from her on her performance, but soon the youngster was trolled on social media.

Soon after Aamir Khan tweeted his support saying, I can understand and imagine what led her to make that statement. I want you to know that were all with you. The beauty is that bright, young, talented, hardworking, respectful, caring and courageous kids like you are a role model for kids not only in India, but across the world. I appeal to everyone to now leave her alone and respect the fact that she is just a 16 yr old girl trying her best to deal with life.

Sufi artiste from Kashmir, Aabha Hanjura opines, We really dont know what went through the mind of a young little girl before she posted this, I am proud that Zaira is a Kashmiri artiste and I loved her performance in Dangal. What has happened is unfortunate but this is not representative of Kashmiris at large. Many people have condemned the trollers and so do I. I think we must all Live and Let Live.
'Modi appears to be not in a mood to listen to anybody. Deaf and dumb parrots have been installed in the council of ministers,' it said.

Mumbai: With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election in Maharashtra just a month away, Shiv Sena has hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by comparing demonetisation to a nuclear bomb that the Centre dropped on the Indian economy, akin to Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

Shiv Sena bashed the BJP government  its ally at the Centre  over the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana.

It compared the Indian economy with Hiroshima and Nagasaki  the two cities of Japan that were destroyed when the United States dropped atomic bombs on them during the World War II.

"Modi appears to be not in a mood to listen to anybody today... Deaf and dumb parrots have been installed in the council of ministers and a similar RBI Governor has been appointed, who have let the nation's economy shake in its roots," the editorial said.

"Even ASSOCHAM has concluded that 40 lakh jobs have been lost post demonetisation and that the number will rise in future. This means that by dropping the nuclear bomb of note ban, Modi has turned the Indian economy into Hiroshima, Nagasaki. We are very worried about the nation's future," it said.

Recalling Modi's statement during a recent visit to Maharashtra that he used to seek Sharad Pawar's advice on matters of governance, Sena said that had the PM consulted the NCP chief on demonetisation, he would have advised him not to insult the co-operative movement, which is the backbone of rural economy.

"The backbone of farmers has been broken and nobody is there to ask about their condition. By barring district co-operative (DCC) banks from exchanging old notes, all such banks have been labelled corrupt," the editorial said.

Farmers use DCC banks for their daily transactions and if the government thinks these farmers are black-marketers, it has no right to say 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' slogan, the party said.

The Sena noted that beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who allegedly owe banks crores of rupees, had never had his loans from DCC banks.

"We are pained to see that the paces of lives of people have been derailed," it added.

Shiv Senas comments against the BJP government came about a month ahead of the BMC election, for which the two parties are holding discussions on their prospective alliance for the upcoming BMC polls.

The BJP has been emphasising repeatedly that it would forge an alliance with the Sena only on the condition of clean functioning. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also raised the issue of transparency and criticised corruption in the BMC.

The Sena, however, said the norms should be extended at the central and state government levels as well.
He had earlier dictated dress code for women, saying Hindu or Muslim, Indian women must veil themselves, ascribing to 'Hindustani culture'.

Kolkata: In what can spark a fresh controversy, Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid in Kolkata, Syed Mohammad Nurur R Barkati has said that girls should avoid wearing short clothes if they want to protect themselves from getting raped or murdered.

Asserting that boys get excited on seeing girls in short dresses, he added that girls should dress up decently to save themselves from the lust of men.

"Girls these days wear too short dresses and very revealing shirts. We are not stopping them from wearing dresses but, they should avoid wearing short clothes to save themselves from the lust of men," Barkati told ANI.

He also said that short dresses result into rape and murder.

Earlier on January 13, he had dictated dress code for women, saying Hindu or Muslim, Indian women should veil themselves, ascribing to 'Hindustani culture'.

Barkati's remark comes days after Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi drew huge flak for his obnoxious statement on girls' dressing style.

Azmi had said that nudity has become a new fashion in India, adding that women need to be cautious and should take care of their own security.
Bihar police arrested 3 men, who 'confessed' to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be linked to ISI to target the railways.

Ajmer-Sealdah express train derailed near Rura railway station in Kanpur Dehat district on November, 20, last year. (Photo: PTI)

Motihari: The role of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the recent train disaster in Kanpur was being suspected after Bihar police on Tuesday arrested three persons who they claimed were working for the Pakistani intelligence agency to target Indian railways.

The ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police said.

During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said.

He said ATS and central agencies have been apprised of it for comprehensive investigation.

Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav were arrested from Adapur police station area and they allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to ISI to target the railways, Rana told reporters.

The three are "professional criminals" involved in more than a dozen criminal cases.

The three were paid Rs three lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly has connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai who has links with ISI, the SP said.

The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran district, bordering Nepal, in October 1 last year, Rana said.

"Fortunately, the bomb was detected with the help of villagers at Ghorasan and defused which prevented the sinister designs of the terror elements," Rana said.

The arrest of the trio came in course of investigation in the murder of two persons of East Champaran district in Nepal on December 28 last year for failing to successfully blast bomb on track in Ghorasan, he said.

Efforts are on to arrest, in this connection, two others identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav, who are "hiding" in East Champaran, he said.

While three persons were arrested from East Champaran district, three others have been captured earlier at Tailaya in Nepal for targeting railways on behalf of suspected terror elements in India, the SP said.

East Champaran is a district bordering Nepal. Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in the district in August 2013.
The former Prime Minister said that central bank and the Governor's position as an institution should be respected.

New Delhi: Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel on Wednesday escaped possible grilling by a parliamentary committee over the demonetisation issue, thanks to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs intervention.

Patel, who along with other RBI and finance ministry officials appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, was put to some tough questions by members, sources in the committee said.

He could not reply to questions such as when normalcy would be back in the banking system and how much of demonetised currency was deposited during the 50-day window.

Before further grilling could start, Singh, who earlier had made a forceful speech against demonetisation in Rajya Sabha calling it a "monumental failure and organised loot", intervened to say that the central bank and the Governor's position as an institution should be respected.

Singh, who himself was RBI Governor once, is believed to have told the Committee that he should not be put to odd questions.

Singh is understood to have told Patel that he need not answer a question put by one of the members relating to non-removal of cash withdrawal restrictions.
A senior state police officer said properties at a police outpost were destroyed during Tuesdays crossfire.

Kolkata: Uneasy calm prevailed at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district on Wednesday, a day after one person was killed in crossfire between groups of outsiders and villagers. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reviewed the situation at a meeting with top police officers.

Villagers put up barricades felling trees and piles of bricks on roads amidst unconfirmed reports of a second person dying in yesterday's crossfire.

A senior state police officer said properties at a police outpost were destroyed and a motorcycle was put on fire by agitating villagers this morning.

"Forces were withdrawn from the area but we are keeping an eye on the situation there," he said.

Banerjee held a meeting with top police officers during the day to take a stock of the situation in which DGP Surajit Purakayasta was present among others. State Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay when contacted, said the state government would "surely" hold a meeting with agitated villagers and farmers after the situation "normalises".

"The situation is under control in Bhangar. Till now, there is no news of any second person dying there. And there is no news of any protests anywhere there also," he said.

On compensation to the family of the deceased, Chattopadhyay said Banerjee was looking into the matter and would decide on it.
He confessed to have assaulted girls aged between 7-11 years because they were more gullible.

New Delhi: The 38-year-old man who was arrested in New Delhi yesterday for allegedly sexually assaulting hundreds of minor girls told police he used to "derive fun" out of the act and had his "first prey" in 2001.

Sunil Rastogi also told the police he is superstitious and would travel to Delhi from Rudrapur in Uttarkhand only by Sampark Kranti Express and wore a red jacket every time he came here thinking it was "lucky" for him.

His parents stay in Gharoli area near New Ashok Nagar and he used to come once a week to visit them when he targeted the minor girls, they said. He was sent to 14 days' judicial custody by a court.

During interrogation, after he was arrested on January 14, Rastogi said he used to "derive fun" out of sexually assaulting girls aged between 7-11 years, police said.

He used to target minor girls as he thought they could be cajoled and convinced easily and never targeted elder girls since they would fight him off or raise an alarm, they added.

The accused had allegedly "first preyed" on a minor girl in 2001 and thereafter he targeted many girls in Uttarakhand's Rudrapur (where he currently stays), New Ashok Nagar (New Delhi) and Ghaziabad, police said.

They said the accused has lost count of the number of girls he has assaulted.

Rastogi said he would tell the young girls that their father had sent some clothes or articles for them and if they didn't get convinced, he would pretend to make a phone call to their father, police said.

Sometimes, he also told girls their father had sent him to get them "gold earrings", they added.

An investigating officer said Rastogi used to prey on girls in New Ashok Nagar since he had stayed there and was aware of the "dark and dingy spots", and even the escape routes, where he could assault them, police said.

He wasn't caught till now because he used to come in the morning and leave by the evening.

Many people didn't lodge a complaint for fear of social stigma but after he was caught, several of them came to the police station accusing him of trying to assault their daughters, police said.

Last year, he was arrested in Rudrapur on similar charges and he was out on bail, police said. They said in 2006 also he was sent to Tihar jail in connection with an eve-teasing case.
The statues included winged bulls with human faces, known as lamassu, and a bronze head of King Sargon of Akkad.

Iraqi forces pushing through eastern Mosul took control over the weekend of Mosul University

Mosul: As Iraqi forces fight to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State, an artist in nearby Erbil is chiseling at clay in a tiny, unheated studio to recreate historic Assyrian monuments destroyed by the group.

Ninos Thabet, an 18-year-old Christian who studied art at Mosul University, is creating miniature replicas of statues the jihadists destroyed when they overran the 3,000-year-old Assyrian city of Nimrud, south of Mosul, 2-1/2 years ago.

Once the capital of an empire stretching across the ancient Middle East, Nimrud is one of several historic sites that Islamic State looted and ransacked when they seized large swathes of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in 2014.

The statues included winged bulls with human faces, known as lamassu, and a bronze head of King Sargon of Akkad. "Seeing the antiquities of your country, a civilization that is thousands of years old, destroyed within minutes is very painful," he told Reuters during a visit to his studio. "It was difficult seeing such a setback to our culture and history."

Islamic State, whose ultra-hardline doctrine deems pre-Islamic religious heritage idolatrous, released video footage last year showing its fighters bulldozing, drilling and blowing up murals and statues at Nimrud.

"I wanted to send a message to the world saying, 'We ... want to rebuild our civilization and to continue to grow artistically'", said Thabet.

Iraqi forces pushing through eastern Mosul took control over the weekend of Mosul University, once a premier institution in the Middle East that became a strategic site for the militants, as part of a three-month, U.S.-led offensive to recapture the entire city, Islamic State's last major stronghold in the country. Western Mosul remains under Islamic State control.

Thabet fled with his family from the Christian town of Qaraqosh, east of Mosul, to the Kurdish capital Erbil when Islamic State took over. He says art brought him comfort while he was away from his home and friends.

Since leaving his home, he has created more than 50 statues and figures. Some of them have been displayed in exhibits and museums, and others he sold to collectors.

Iraqi troops pushed Islamic State from Nimrud in November, giving officials a clearer idea of the scale of the damage.

During a visit days later, Reuters found shattered remains of intricate carvings lying broken in the dust. A ziggurat, or terraced pyramid, had been reduce to a pile of dirt, apparently flattened by bulldozers.

Nimrud was excavated in the 19th century by British archaeologist Austen Layard. Fellow archaeologist Max Mallowan and his wife, crime writer Agatha Christie, worked at Nimrud in the 1950s. Christie's experiences in Iraq formed the background to several of her novels.

Click below to watch
Biologists hope the popularity of the name will help preserve the habitat of the moth

Scientists have named the new moth as 'Neopalpa donaldtrumpi' as it has a striking resemblance to the President.(Photo: Pixabay - Picture for representation purpose only)

Washington: To encourage the conservation in the fragile areas, scientists have named a new moth as 'Neopalpa donaldtrumpi' in the honour of U.S President-elect Donald Trump.

Biologist Dr. Vazrick Nazari from University of California named the moth officially as ' Neopalpa donaldtrumpi' because it stands out with yellowish-white scales present on the head in adults and in these scales he found an amusing reference to Trump's hairstyle and turned it into an additional justification for its name.The study, published in the open access journal ZooKeys, hopes that the fame around the new moth will successfully point to the critical need for further conservation efforts in the fragile areas such as the habitat of the new species.

"The discovery of this distinct micro-moth in the densely populated and otherwise zoologically well-studied southern California underscores the importance of conservation of the fragile habitats that still contains undescribed and threatened species and highlights the paucity of interest in species-level taxonomy of smaller faunal elements in North America," said Nazari.

Following thorough analysis of these moths as well as material from other institutions, they confirmed he had discovered the second species of a genus of twirler moths.Being a substantially urbanised and populated area, the habitat of N. donaldtrumpi is also under serious threat.

"By naming these species after the 45th President of the United States, I hope to bring some public attention and interest in the importance of alpha-taxonomy in better understanding the neglected micro-fauna component of the North American biodiversity," Nazari added.Donald Trump's flying namesake is announced only a month following the recently described species of basslet named after predecessor president Barack Obama, also published in ZooKeys.

The fish is only known from coral reefs in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Northwestern Hawaii, a nature reserve which the 44th President of the United States of America expanded to become the largest protected marine area in the world.
A chat with the talented interior designer Payal Khanna whose love for the high life includes architecture, food and travel.

She emanates a Zen like calmness that makes her instantly likeable. Payal Khanna has always had a penchant for shifting things around at home, and it was inevitable that she would design spaces someday. And like most stories, the beginnings are often small. In 1997 I began by designing a friends room, then moved over to homes and eventually commercial spaces  a genre that I enjoy the most, says the polished lady who has a distinctive sense of fashion. I enjoy putting stuff together although Im not into brands. I like to make my wardrobe fun and interesting, she avers.

Her first big break came with designing the state of art Yash Raj studios. I started doing cafes and thats how I got into the commercial space. There was a very big hospitality operator those days, Sunil Kapur and I did an Italian restaurant for him. Soon I got hooked by the hospitality space, she reveals.

Payal is unruffled by the Bollywood wives brigade, who have entered her professional zone with a vengeance. They have made space fabulously for themselves. But I am in the completely opposite space. In fact, in 2006, when I got into commercial designing, there were no star wives around, she points.

Payal is picky about designing homes unless she gets positive vibes from potential clients. I recently did a home in Bandra and if my energies match with the family I go ahead. I get totally involved in all aspects of designing, so its important that my sensibilities match with that of the family. People only hang out at a restaurant for two hours but they spend all their time at home, adds the designer who branched out into interiors in 1997 after doing a course in the subject. Simultaneously, I also graduated in commerce from Mithibai college in Mumbai.

But there is more to Payal than her love for design. The charming lady has, who has several restaurants in Mumbai and Bengaluru to her credit, enjoys cooking to de-stress. I dont show my stress at work, if I need to vent, I talk to my mum or sisters. But what I enjoy most is whipping up Khouseuey, achari ghosht or ulta paratha for my friends. Or you will find me lounging around at my besties terrace for Sheesha and dinners. I even enjoy sundowners at my favourite bar in Mumbai. I enjoy chilling out with friends as opposed to partying, she adds.

And like most creative people, she loves to check out both the architecture and cuisine at popular jaunts both in India and abroad. I love Box Park in Dubai and the Miss Ko in Paris for their concepts. I love hanging out at Duck and Rice, Chotte Matte and Dishoom in London and ABC Kitchen restaurant in New York.

Ask her if she is into designing spaces for Bollywood after her Yash Raj stint and she is instantly guarded. Payal was closely associated with the high profile filmi Chopra family those days. While a google search may throw up several unverified revelations, Payal firmly refuses to get into that personal space. I dont want to discuss that aspect of my life. I prefer to focus on my work, she responds with quiet dignity.
Police said they are trying to scan CCTV footage of the nearby areas to identify the assailants.

A 30-year-old man has been stabbed to death by some unidentified assailants in southeast Delhi's Ambedkar Nagar area. (Representational image)

New Delhi: A 30-year-old man has been stabbed to death by some unidentified assailants in southeast Delhi's Ambedkar Nagar area, police said on Tuesday.

Suresh, who belonged of Dakshinpur and worked at a private firm, was found in a pool of blood on a roadside by some passersby who alerted police.

He was shifted to AIIMS trauma centre around 2 am on Tuesday where doctors declared him brought dead.

"A case under section 302 (Punishment for murder) of the IPC has been registered and investigation was underway," said Romil Baaniya, DCP (southeast).

Police said they are trying to scan CCTV footage of the nearby areas to identify the assailants and questioning suspects for any clue regarding the murder.
One of the accused, Amarjeet has been arrested while two other staffers, Chandan and Mangal, were at large, police said.

A six-year-old orphan boy was allegedly sodomised by three staffers of an ashram in central Delhi. (Representational image)

New Delhi: A six-year-old orphan boy was allegedly sodomised by three staffers of an ashram in central Delhi's IP Estate area.

The incident came to light after the boy, who was being victimised by the accused for a long while, reported the matter to the ashram chairman's secretary on January 14, according to a senior police officer.

Four counsellors visited the ashram to speak to the victim but one of them was allegedly thrashed by one of the accused, the officer said.

Two separate FIRs, one for the sodomy and another for beating the counsellor, have been lodged under relevant provisions of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) at the IP Estate police station, he said.

One of the accused, Amarjeet has been arrested while two other staffers - Chandan and Mangal - were at large, he said.

The incident was reported on January 14 when one of the counsellors was informed by an ashram representative about the boy's suffering of the boy who was brought to the ashram by one of the members six months ago.

When the counsellors questioned one of the accused about the abuse, Chandan thrashed her. The counsellor was rescued after police arrived at the spot.
Deputy CM, Kejriwal criticise Modi over action.

New Delhi: The CBI on Wednesday initiated a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and others in the case of alleged irregularities in Talk to AK campaign, a maiden interactive session of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal held on July 17. The issue is all set to trigger a fresh round of confrontation between the Centre and the Aam Admi Party-led Delhi government.

The PE has been registered against the Dy CM of Delhi and he will soon be called for clarifications. The PE has been registered based on a complaint filed by the vigilance department of the Delhi government, sources said.

The complaint alleged that a consultant of a well-known public relations company was hired by the Delhi government to promote Talk to AK (Talk to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal) campaign and a proposal of Rs 1.5 crore was prepared for this purpose, they added. It alleged that despite objections from the principal secretary, the government went ahead with the proposal and the consultant spent the money thereby creating a liability for the government. Reacting to it, an infuriated Mr Sisodia tweeted, Welcome Modiji. Take the challenge. I will wait for your CBI at my home and office tomorrow morning. Mr Kejriwal also took to twitter to criticise the Prime Minister. This is why I call you a coward. When you are losing Goa and Punjab, you have started the CBI game. It seems Modiji has lost it. Prime Minister of the country has only this to do. He is after us, he tweeted.

The BJP and the Congress had called the campaign a marketing gimmick at the cost of the exchequer. The questions and answers, the two parties had alleged, were scripted.

Launched almost an year after Prime Minister Narendra Modis monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Mr Kejriwals interaction was live streamed on the website www.talktoak.com.

During the talk session, the chief minister had covered a wide array of hard issues linked to the strained relations between the Centre and the Delhi government. One of these, he said, was the arrest of his principal secretary by the CBI.

BJP legislator Vijender Gupta  one of the three in the 80-member Delhi Assembly  had attacked Kejriwal, accusing him of politicising the CBI. The programme was conducted on July 17. Although Kejriwal had indicated that the initiative would be continued, the second session has so far not been organised. Kejriwal had also accused PM Modi of using CBI against AAP. Modi ji, this is the reason why I call you a coward. Eyeing your defeat in Punjab and Goa, you have put CBI to work, he had said.
Agitating villager killed by TMC men, allege kin.

Kolkata: The simmering discontent over the setting up of a power grid at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas exploded on Tuesday in which one villager was killed.

Mofizul Ali Khan, who sustained bullet injury in his abdomen, succumbed to his injury after being brought to the SSKM Hospital. He was a resident of Khamarait. His brother Imtajul Khan alleged that Mofizul was shot at by supporters of former TMC strongman Arabul Islam. Another person, Akbar Alli Mollah who sustained bullet injury in his right arm, was admitted to the R.G. Kar Hospital.

The villagers alleged that while leaving, the police opened fire at them. The police has denied the charge. A number of police personnel were also injured in brick-batting by the villagers, who also allegedly torched three police buses and pushed four police vehicles into waterbodies. The state government rejected the villagers claim that the police had opened fire. The police had been strictly told by the chief minister that it should not open fire at any cost, a Nabanna source said.

Initially, a statement attributed to chief minister Mamata Banerjee was issued which reiterated her stand that land woul not be acquired against peoples will. Proposed power grid will be relocated if required, Ms Banerjee said. However, later it was withdrawn possibly because she felt it might send a wrong message to investers who will assemble at Bengal Global Business Summit three days later.

In a virtual rerun of Nandigram, thousands of villagers armed with lathis and bricks fought pitched battles with the police. In Nandigram-style resistance, huge logs and tree trunks blocked polices entery into Bhangar. Following a day-long protest on January 10, the state announced suspension of work at the power grid substation. Why this sudden violent protest today when the administration has already stopped work at the power project? asked power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.

The protest erupted Tuesday morning after alleged police raids on Monday evening. As soon as reports of massive protests by villagers reached Nabanna, the CM sent party vice president and MP Mukul Roy and state minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah to the violence-scarred region. The people were so angry that they did not let them enter. We want the chief minister to come and personally assure us that the power substation will be disbanded, the villagers demanded.
The Sena's stand comes a day after the CM spoke to Uddhav Thackeray asking for negotiations to continue regarding alliance with BJP.

Mumbai: Jan 18 (PTI) As the deadlock over the pre-poll ties continues, the BJP has sought 114 seats in the Mumbai civic body polls in alliance with the Shiv Sena, said party MP Anil Desai after the second round of talks between the two parties on Wednesday.

"The BJP has put forward a demand of 114 seats for the BMC polls. We then asked for the exact details of seats that they want to contest. It was then decided that the BJP will share the list by tonight," Desai told reporters.

"Once we receive the list, we will hold internal talks which might take a day. Once that is done, we will once again sit with the BJP," he said.

The Sena's softened stand on the BJP comes a day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to the party chief Uddhav Thackeray and sought for negotiations regarding alliance to continue.

Sena sources, citing internal polls, had earlier said that it was in the best interest of both parties to contest the BMC elections separately and being natural allies, there was likelihood of a post-poll alliance.

Despite being in dialogue with the BJP for the civic poll tie-up, the Sena has been unrelenting in its attack against the Centre's monetisation move through party mouthpiece Saamana.
Evidently, they wish to impose their post-Burhan Wani politics on a youngster.

It is shocking that Kashmirs religious right, which draws sustenance from Islamist terrorist outfits in Pakistan and their controllers, that countrys military establishment, has chosen to troll a 16-year-old Srinagar girl, Zaira Wasim, who is still making waves for her stellar performance in the superhit Hindi film Dangal, in which she played Aamir Khans daughter. To begin with, Zaira was praised by ordinary Kashmiris and her role in the film positively received, before the social media trolls took over. In their eyes, the child had committed a cardinal sin in having a courtesy meeting with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, whom they dont like any more.

Evidently, they wish to impose their post-Burhan Wani politics on a youngster. The young girl, who has emerged as an iconic figure, was put under such enormous pressure that she apologised on social media to her tormentors. She withdrew the apology after finding support from stalwarts across the nation, including Aamir Khan, who called her his role model, and others.

It would have been better if the so-called wise men of Kashmir, who are otherwise quick to pronounce themselves on the smallest of matters and arrogate to themselves the role of the societys guide, watched the wilful insulting of a young girl in a non-committal fashion. They should have spoken up, but instead remained silent. This speaks volumes about their leadership quality.

The same lot didnt troll a young boy who emerged as a singing sensation in a television contest. This makes their action misogynistic as well.
The former first lady also 'brings all that star power that de Blasio does not have,' a political science professor said.

New York: The prospect of a Hillary Clinton comeback after her shock loss to Donald Trump could hardly be less certain, but in New York where she is revered, plenty of people dream of her running for mayor.

Her public appearances since the election have been largely confined to walks in the woods close to her Chappaqua home, where she is photographed in minimal make-up by neighbors mourning her defeat and repelled by the president-elect.

The 69-year-old former secretary of state otherwise emerged to present pop star Katy Perry with an award at a UNICEF ball and has been photographed at smart restaurants such as the Polo Bar, dining with fashion designer Ralph Lauren who custom-made the pantsuit in which she conceded defeat to Trump.

Then there was also a December meeting with donors at which the New York Times said that she blamed her loss on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the late-hour FBI intervention over her email scandal.

In a city where nearly 80 percent of the electorate voted for her, Clinton can forget that she polarized the electorate and the millions of Americans who consider her the incarnation of an abhorrent political class.

On January 8, she got a standing ovation on Broadway when she attended the last night of The Color Purple -- in stark contrast to Vice President-elect Mike Pence who was booed and lectured when he went to Hamilton in November.

On Friday she will attend Trump's inauguration -- her first major appearance in months -- when cameras will be watching for the slightest reaction from the woman who hoped to shatter the ultimate glass ceiling and become the first female commander-in-chief of the world's most powerful democracy.

While the Democrat lost the crucial Electoral College by 232 to 306, she won the popular vote by more than 2.7 million ballots -- more than any white man as her supporters delight in pointing out.

Confidante Neera Tanden told CNN that Clinton would never run for office again, but several media outlets have reported on rumors and speculation that she's been asked to consider a run for New York mayor this November.

The job would put her in charge of Trump's hometown, but the fact that the current incumbent -- Bill de Blasio -- once managed her New York senate campaign and is running again, makes the prospect reportedly more unlikely.

Trump's hometown foe

But as the rumors have spread, Clinton has done nothing to give them credence or to shoot them down.

Even tabloid the New York Post, which was hostile to Clinton the presidential candidate, urged her to run against the left-leaning mayor it opposes.

"Secretary Clinton, we'd love to see you run for mayor. New York City needs you," it wrote on January 6.

It listed her attributes and work ethic, and implied it would not be difficult for Clinton to become a city resident and build ties to city neighborhoods.

"While it's not the glass ceiling she hoped to break, New York has never had a woman mayor. Isn't it past time for that to change?" finished the editorial.

Sam Abrams, professor of political science at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, said that something "inconceivable" months ago was "not ridiculous at all" given the scale of New York's antipathy to Trump.

"We live in a city that opposes him ideologically more than any other city on this planet," said Abrams.

"She has been doing this for years... she has the money, the infrastructure, the experience," he said. "If she wants to keep fighting -- it is a great way to keep fighting," he added.

The former first lady, New York senator and secretary of state also "brings all that star power that de Blasio does not have," he advised.

"It's a great opportunity to be an oppositional mayor to the president."
by Nirmala Carvalho

For the first time in Mumbai, Catholics and Pentecostals jointly organise the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The archbishop will lead at an ecumenical prayer on 20 January. For Christian leader, existing divisions between Christian denominations are used by radical Hindus to undermine the Christian icons of charity, education, and care for the sick."

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  Card Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), issued an appeal on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins today, saying "Let us pray together to accomplish Jesuss prayer that 'all may be one',"

In the official statement, the cardinal notes that the celebration takes place every year, from 18 to 25 January, but "this year it takes on an even greater significance because of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation [. . .] an event that triggered a profound division in the Christian world between the Catholic Church and the Reformed Churches."

At the same time, the cardinal underlines the efforts made in favour of dialogue last year by Pope Francis, who in October signed a Joint Declaration with Bishop Munib Yunan, President of the World Lutheran Federation.

Thus, "by embracing and signing the declaration, they put an end to 500 years of separation and hostility".

As for the Church in Mumbai, Catholics and the Pentecostal Churches jointly organised the octave of prayer for the first time this year.

The main event is set for 20 January, when Card Gracias will lead the prayer in Our Lady of Salvation Church in Dadar. Ecumenical prayers will also be held in ten parishes across the diocese.

According to Sajan K George, a Syriac Orthodox and president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), "the primary task of the Church is to promote peace, harmony and unity."

He notes that at present in many parts of India "there are episodes of intolerance and religious extremism against the Christian faith. Dalit Christians also suffer harsh forms of injustice and violence."

This is why "it is urgent that all Christian churches unite in our society, which is pluralistic from the religious point of view but with great economic disparities".

For the Christian leader, "ecumenism is essential to fight the growing division between the few rich and the majority of the people, who are marginalised and excluded from society."

What is more, existing divisions between Christian denominations are used by radical Hindus to undermine the Christian icons of charity, education, and care for the sick."

Hence, a "significant ecumenical spirituality may manifest itself in the struggle for the emancipation of Dalits and Tribals, to give voice to those who have none and to serve those who are dehumanised."

"Ecumenism, he says, must necessarily promote mutual understanding and enrichment through joint prayer, sharing experiences, and reflections.

This is the way with which we can, not only deepen our common realisation of the truth, but also develop our common commitment to ensure a religious dimension to people who are looking for a fuller life of peace, fraternal freedom, and justice."
Egypts High Administrative Court ruled that Tiran and Sanafir islands are Egyptian. The decision unleashed celebrations in the courtroom, with lawyers and patriots hugging each other. Once allies, Cairo and Riyadh are further apart with Egypt moving closer to Russian, Syrian and Iranian positions in the Middle East.

Cairo (AsiaNews)  Egypts High Administrative Court ruled on the issue of the two islands in the Red Sea, Tiran and Sanafir, that President al-Sisi had promised to give to Saudi Arabia during the official visit by the Saudi king to Egypt, last year.

The decision, which was pronounced on 16 January, had more poetic and nationalist verses than legal terminology. This unleashed a veritable celebration in the courtroom with lawyers hugging each other and many patriotic spectators in the courtroom chanting " Biladi, Biladi "(my homeland).

Tears of joy and scenes of jubilation as during celebrations of national pride seem excessive for two strips of uninhabited desert land, lost in the sea.

However, one of the lawyers who defended Egyptian "sovereignty" over Tiran and Sanafir islands even spoke of "Egypt's victory" before he walked out of the courtroom into a huge crowd waiting to hear the outcome.

Along with those present, he shouted "Egypt is Egyptian" and "Allah Akbar", echoed by others in what became a spontaneous grassroots demonstration.

Before the ruling, Egyptian president Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi  strongly condemned when he decided to give the two islands in question to Saudi Arabia  justified his backtracking saying that his mother had asked him "not to give away what was not his property."

As soon as the sentence was announced, it was widely cheered, a sign that people are opposed to giving up any piece of land, even to traditionally friendly (and Arab) countries like the Saudi kingdom, a nation that for decades has supported economically and politically Sunni Egypt.

The presidents rivals skillfully used grassroots feelings in the past few months. His adversaries exploited the public's dissatisfaction with the islands issue to launch accusations of "treason" and "collaboration", not directly to the president, but at the establishment.

At a sensitive time in which many surprises are expected in Saudi Arabia in the near future, the Egyptian press has focused on catastrophic scenarios that even suggest an earthquake within the royal family and the countrys structures.

Recently, videos have also appeared on television about Israeli plans to occupy the islands of Tiran and Sanafir as soon as they were given to Riyadh.

Thanks to the ruling, President al-Sisi can pull the carpet from under his rivals by depriving them of an excuse for any subtle attack. However, it has also created dissatisfaction in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, as relations with the kingdom deteriorate, Cairo is moving closer to Russian, Syrian and Iranian positions in the Middle East. (PB)
Some 5,000 delegates from around the world are attending the five-day congress that opened on Monday. Its main themes are mercy, compassion, and value of human life against the background of a country in a war mode.

Manila (AsiaNews)  The five-day World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (Wacom) opened on Monday at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica in Intramuros, centred on the themes of mercy, compassion, and the importance of human life.

The summit is taking place against the backdrop of the Filipino governments bloody war on illegal drugs that has claimed so far more than 6,000 lives.

Speaking on the sidelines, Mgr Broderick Pabillo, auxiliary bishop of Manila, today said that "Nowadays people are lonely and overwhelmed by technological gadgets, there is no one to rely on. Divine Mercy tells us that whatever we do, wherever we are, God loves us . . . We are loved.

With respect to the governments war on drugs, Fr Prospero Tenorio, Wacom Asia secretary general, said that Basically there are killings, something like the absence of peace, but what we are saying is that this is a very important situation wherein through our faith, we should not allow fear to reign but rather our love and devotion to God.

At the same time, This is an opportune time to show our love to the least of our brothers, to the poor who are in need, and to those who took the wrong path, that they be given the opportunity to show the beauty of life, Tenorio added.

Some 5,000 delegates came from 40 countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, France, Austria, United States, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

Pope Francis, who could not be present, is represented by his special envoy, Mgr Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon.

The first Wacom was held in Rome (Italy) in 2008, followed by Krakow (Poland) in 2011, and Bogota (Columbia), in 2014. Some 3,000 delegates attended the first two editions, and about 2,000 the third.
Delhi (AsiaNews) - In order to keep the attention focused on the plight of Fr. Tom, the Indian Salesian priest kidnapped in Yemen in March, the Bishops' Conference has organized a day of prayer January the 21 and 22 next, depending on the activities of the individual dioceses.

In an official note Card. Baselios Cleemis, CBCI president, recalls "the anguish prayer with which people await news of the "release" of the missionary who has been in the hands of his kidnappers for more than 10 months.



"The Indian bishops' conference - writes the cardinal - is in constant contact with the Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and the ministry, asking to speed up the process for the liberation of our beloved p. Tom ". He confirms the rumors filtered in recent days, that would come "assurances" under which the Indian Salesian "is alive and safe."



Card. Cleemis confirms the 'concerns' of the Indian Church and publishes an appeal to authorities to "do everything possible" to secure the release of a "generous and unselfish" man.



After months of silence, at the end of December a video was posted online showing Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, the Salesian Indian kidnapped by an extremist commando attributable to the Islamic State (IS) in early March in southern Yemen. In the video posted online, the clergyman states his name and says, "I may need hospitalisation soon". Reading from a prepared text, he warns that his captors have tried several times to contact the Indian government, the president and the prime minister but "in vain" and that "nothing was done" for his release.

For the past ten months, Fr Tom Uzhunnalil has been in the hands of the Jihadi group, likely linked to IS, that stormed a home for the sick and elderly run by the Missionaries of Charity in Aden, in southern Yemen. In the attack, four sisters of Mother Teresa and 12 other people were killed.

Speaking to AsiaNews Fr. Francesco Cereda, Vicar and Rector Major of the Salesians, says the tday of prayer launched by the Indian Bishops' Conference is an "important initiative". It shows, the priest adds, "the interest of the Catholic Church in India and around the world" for "Fr. Toms fate" and although it will not have" immediate effect "it will serve to" keep people aware of those who are persecuted because of their faith. "



The prayer continues Fr. Cereda, "asks God to make His will be done. We pray that our brother be released, but we are willing to accept all of the Lords plans. In this sense, prayer has to be at peace with future events. "



On 13 January, the Salesian family also started a novena prayer for the release of Fr.Tom. On January 24 there will be a solemn invocation to Mary Help of Christians "too aid and participate in the release of the Indian priest". The kidnappers recent released of the video confirming that Fr. Tom is still alive is positive. "There are signals - said Fr. Cereda - indicating that there is an ongoing attempt at dialogue; if there are open doors it is better that we do not interfere or disturb. We continue to pray, inviting those who can to continue with the channels of contact. "



"Fr. Tom is not forgotten - said the vicar of the Rector Major of the Salesians - starting from the Salesian family who have mobilized with meditation and prayer. We keep hope alive, in the words of Pope Benedict XVI when he says that prayer is essential in times of difficulty to keep hope alive".
Suhail Ahmad studied law at the University Law College and was a distinguished debator. A group of radicals dragged him from his room on campus to a secret location. He was tortured and held hostage for three hours. An investigation opened.

Lahore (AsiaNews / Agencies)  A top University Law College student was assaulted, tortured and held hostage for several hours by other radical students for publishing comments in favor of the five secular activists and bloggers who have been missing for two weeks. The young man is now hospitalized with injuries, while the university administration has filed a complaint at the local police station.

Suhail Ahmad, a brilliant student of Law and distinguished debator, had tweeted some comments in favor of the release of the activists, probably seized by the security forces. On his account he had also published a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, one of the most distinguished Pakistani intellectuals, expressing solidarity with the disappeared.

His was an open condemnation of the climate of intolerance against "inconvenient thinkers", who criticized religious extremism and radical fringes present in the government and military. For this he was punished by a group of students belonging to the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT), the student wing of Jammat-e-Islami. About 15 people dragged him from his room in the university hostel, tortured him, covered his face with a blanket and dragged him into the courtyard of the campus.

His screams attracted the attention of numerous students and officers, but no one intervened. Suhail said that he was transferred to a secret location and tortured there for another three hours. He was released near the Mustafa Town district only after the intervention of some of the political movement leaders.



The university spokesman tried to play down the seriousness of the incident, talking about personal disagreements among students rather than intolerance. IA Rehman, a prominent activist, told The Express Tribune that the government must ensure the safety of all citizens. "This is not a civilized way of governing," he denounced.

The student was punished for daring to draw attention to the fate of well-known intellectuals, who have disappeared without trace. The first to go missing on January 4 in Lahore were cousins  Waqas Goraya and Aasim Saeed, both bloggers. Two days later Salman Haider, well-known poet who teaches at Fatima Jinnah Women's University in Rawalpindi disappeared in Islamabad. January 7, it was the turn of the blogger Ahmed Raza Naseer, who suffers from polio, kidnapped while he was in his Skeikhupura shop, near Lahore. Finally Samar Abbas, president of the Civil Progressive Alliance Pakistan, has also disappeared without trace.
Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Liaoning authorities yesterday confirmed that the provincial economic data, including tax revenues, were falsified for the years 2011-2014.



The Liaoning "style" is widespread and raises questions regarding national economic statistics, based on these manipulated data.



Governor of Liaoning (northeast China), Chen Qiufa, said that "the fake fiscal figures influenced the central governments economic judgment and accordingly led to a lowering of the size of transfer payments to the province ", and increasing the tax burden for residents.



Under Mao, Liaoning was the hub for state heavy industry, which is now in economic crisis because of the lack of reform of the state sector. Now private and foreign companies do not invest in the region and there is a strong emigration. The "mammoth" of the old disused companies have earned at Liaoning the title of "rusty belt".



As in the days of Mao, in order to earn a promotion, local party members must show great results in economic performance. Hence the attempt to manipulate economic figures of the provincial GDP, up to over (falsely) 23% (according to the data of the People's Daily).



The cadres race to make a career casts a shadow on all national data, based on the false provincial numbers. Now many foreign companies want independent data to assess the nation's economic performance.



Last December, the National Bureau of Statistics chief warned the governors of the provinces not to publish false economic data on the People's Daily, the official organ of the Chinese Communist Party. In two days, China will publish the data on the growth of GDP in 2016.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis has invited everyone to pray "that all Christians will return to be one family" in his greetings addressed in almost every language to the groups present at the general audience. Francis wanted to remember today's start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which, he said in Italian, "this year makes us reflect on the love of Christ that urges reconciliation."



The motto of the week, he commented to the Poles, "is a challenge for us: The love of Christ impels us toward reconciliation. We pray to the Lord - he added - that in every Christian Community, aware of their history, theology and law be ever more open to reconciliation. May a spirit of goodwill and understanding pervade, as well as the desire to work together. "



Among the German groups present was an European ecumenical delegation. In greeting them, Francis said that their stop in Rome is an important ecumenical sign, expressing communion reached through the path of dialogue over the past decades. The Gospel of Christ is at the center of our lives and unites people who speak different languages, live in different countries and live the faith in different communities. I am moved to remember - he continued - the ecumenical prayer in Lund, Sweden, on 31 October. In the spirit of the joint commemoration of the Reformation, we must look more at what unites us than that which divides us, and we must continue our journey together to deepen our communion and give it an increasingly visible form. In Europe, this common faith in Christ is like a green thread of hope: we belong to each other. Communion, reconciliation and unity are possible. As Christians, we have a responsibility to give this message and we have to bear witness to it with our lives. God bless this desire for union and guard all the people walking on the path to unity ".



The call to pray for unity was repeated by the Pope even in greetings in other languages. In Portuguese, in particular he stated that "the ecumenical movement is bearing fruit, by the grace of God. May the heavenly Father continue to shower His blessings on the footsteps of all His children. Dear brothers and sisters, serve the cause of unity and peace. "



Earlier, in his address to seven thousand people present in the Paul VI, Pope Francis, continuing in the catechesis dedicated to hope, highlighted the relationship between prayer and hope. Prayer "carries hope and when things are dark, more prayer , so there will be even more hope. "

To illustrate this relationship, Francis proposed a biblical figure he described as "a bit abnormal, a prophet who tries to escape the call of the Lord by refusing to accept the divine plan of salvation. This is the prophet Jonah, whose story is told in a little book of only four chapters, a kind of parable that contains a great lesson, that of the mercy of God who forgives. Jonah is an outgoing prophet, and also a prophet in flight! He is an outgoing prophet that God sends to the periphery, to Nineveh, to convert the inhabitants of that great city. However, for an Israelite like Jonah, Nineveh represented a threatening reality, the enemy that put Jerusalem itself in danger, and therefore to be destroyed, certainly not to be saved. Hence, when God sends Jonah to preach in that city, the prophet, who knows the Lords goodness and His desire to forgive, attempts to withdraw from his task and flees. During his flight, the prophet comes into contact with pagans, mariners of the ship on which he embarked to flee from God and from his mission. And he flees far away, because Nineveh was in the region of Iraq and he flees to Spain, he flees in earnest. And it is, in fact, the behavior of these men, as it will be later of the inhabitants of Nineveh, which enables us to reflect somewhat today on hope, which in face of danger and death, is expressed in prayer. In fact, during the crossing of the sea, a mighty tempest breaks out and Jonah goes down to the ships hold and abandons himself to sleep. The mariners, instead, seeing themselves lost, each cried to his god: they were pagans (Jonah 1:5). The captain of the ship awoke Jonah and said to him, What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call upon your god. Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we do not perish (Jonah 1:6).

The reaction of these pagans was the right reaction in face of death, in face of danger, because it is then that man has a complete experience of his frailty and his need of salvation. The instinctive horror of dying awakens the necessity to hope in the God of life. Perhaps the god will give thought to us, that we do not perish: are the words of hope that becomes prayer, that supplication full of anguish that comes to the lips of man in face of the imminent danger of death. We disdain too easily from turning to God in our need as if it were only a self-interested prayer and, hence, imperfect. However, God knows our weakness, He knows that we remember Him to ask for help, and with the indulgent smile of a father, He responds benevolently. When Jonah, acknowledging his responsibilities, had himself thrown into the sea to save his travel companions, the tempest was placated. Imminent death led those pagan men to prayer and, despite everything, made the prophet live his vocation at the service of others, accepting to sacrifice himself for them, and now leads the survivors to acknowledgement of the true Lord and to praise. The mariners who, prey to fear, turned to their gods and prayed, now, with sincere fear of the Lord, acknowledge the true God and offer sacrifices and make vows. Hope, which had induced them to pray so that they would not die, is now revealed more powerful and operates a reality that goes beyond what they hoped for: not only do they not perish in the tempest, but they open themselves to the acknowledgement of the true and only Lord of Heaven and earth.

Subsequently, the inhabitants of Nineveh, in face of the prospect of being destroyed, also prayed, spurred by hope in Gods forgiveness. They would do penance, invoke the Lord and be converted to Him, beginning with the king, who, like the captain of the ship, gave voice to hope saying: Who knows, God may yet repent and turn from His fierce anger, so that we perish not? (Jonah 3:9). For them too, as well as for the crew in the tempest, to have faced death and come out saved led them to the truth. Thus, under divine mercy, and even more so in the light of the Paschal Mystery, death can become, as it was for Saint Francis of Assisi, our sister death and represent for every man and for each one of us, the astonishing occasion to know hope and to encounter the Lord. May the Lord make us understand this connection between prayer and hope. Prayer leads one forward in hope and when things become dark, there must be more prayer! And there will be more hope.
The military are stationed in 54 provinces of the country. The measure part of the tens of thousands of arrests following the attempted coup of July. The suspects allegedly used an encrypted messaging system also used by Islamic preacher Gulen. Uzbek arrested for New Year massacre in Istanbul confesses.

Istanbul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Turkish judiciary has issued an arrest warrant against 243 members of the army, stationed in 54 provinces of the country. According to reports from the local press agency Anatolie, it is part of the investigation into the failed July coup, which has already led to the detention of tens of thousands of people.



From the sketchy information provided by investigators, the suspects allegedly used the encrypted Bylock messaging system; it is the same application used in the past by Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, Turkish security forces most wanted man and suspected "mastermind" behind the attempted coup.



Analysts and experts point out that the arrest warrants are the latest sign of an increasingly suffocating attempt by the Turkish government to exercise total control over the country. In the aftermath of the coup last July, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish government have launched a campaign of repression against the (alleged) perpetrators.



Gulen, an iron time ally of Erdogan, and now in exile in the United States, is the prime suspect. So far, the Turkish authorities have arrested more than 37 thousand people, including teachers, soldiers, intellectuals, opposition politicians, businessmen, journalists, activists and ordinary citizens.



About 100 thousand public sector officials have been suspended or laid. In total, 103,850 persons are undergoing criminal proceedings.



The government repression has struck the most important pro-Kurdish opposition party (the Democratic Party of peoples, HDP), with particular ferocity, arresting its leaders. Recently President Erdogan - who initiated the parliamentary procedure for the introduction of the presidential system, with a further strengthening of his powers - has extended the state of emergency, following the New Year nightclub massacre in Istanbul.

On January 16, the Turkish security forces arrested the main suspect in the attack, Abdulkadir Masharipov an Uzbek immigrant affiliated to the jihadi militias of the Islamic State (IS). Following the arrest, the authorities led him into the Vatan Street Security Division and, as is normal, subjected him to medical checks.

According to Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin, during Masharipov interrogation he confessed to the Reina attack, which killed 39 people and injured another 65. The attack was claimed by the IS and linked to Turkeys military involvement in Syria. The man was trained in Afghanistan and is described as educated and able to speak four languages.
by Melani Manel Perera

Water shortages affect 23 out of 25 districts. Rain has not fallen in some parts of the country since March. Government emergency toll-free number is available. Officials have been mobilised in the most affected areas. Tamils make offerings to the gods to get rain.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  A report by the World Food Program (WFP), the UN agency that deals with world hunger, reports that more than 900,000 people are suffering from the consequences of severe drought, the worst since 2006.

The report was presented on Monday to President Maithripala Sirisena, who had already set up a task force to monitor the situation and called on all people to avoid wasting water and electricity.

The survey indicates that 23 of the countrys 25 districts have been badly affected by drought conditions. In some areas there has been no rain since last March, in others since June.

Temperatures are also subject to huge swings between day and night, causing further hardships for people.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, water is in short supply for domestic, personal and agricultural use.

To deal with the situation, the authorities set up a toll-free number - 117  to inform the public. The Centres media spokesman said that officials are on 24-hr stand-by to respond to any situation.

The government has also deployed members of its Task Force in nine most affected districts.

In Trincomalee, about 440 families (1,381 people) are without water. In Kandy district, 679 families (2,510 people) are short of water resources. Even in the districts of Mannar and Jaffna, residents are affected by the lack of rain (more than 34,000 and 85,000 respectively).

"Water levels are so low that people cannot irrigate their paddies, Romesh Madusanka told AsiaNews.

To avert further suffering and win natures favour, farmers in affected Tamil areas have begun to celebrate the Hindu ritual of puja (offering to the gods) to get rain.

(Photos courtesy of Prasad Purnimal and Romesh Madhusanka)
A special report

By Mata Press Service

Everything about Selva Kumar Subbiah was fake.

His plain brown eyes were gilded with emerald green contact lenses to shine like the two diamond rings on his fingers.

Going by the names Richard Wild and Ryan Hunter, among other European sounding aliases, he had a phony British accent.

And he claimed to be a Hollywood talent scout, with a client list that included Michael Jackson and Bette Midler. Other times he posed as a professional dancer, a lawyer and a diplomat.

This carefully constructed facade by Subbiah, who came to Canada from Malaysia in 1980, was the web that lured hundreds of women and teenaged girls to him.

By the time police caught up with the green-eyed monster in Toronto on Aug. 7, 1991, he had drugged, sexually assaulted and photographed an estimated 1,000 victims earning him the dubious distinction of being Canadas most prolific serial rapist.

He had about 400 of their names in a black book that documented a vile reign on the streets of Toronto with his victims being rated on a scale of 0 to 10.

This month, after spending 24 years, 9 months and one day in prison, Subbiah, 56, will be released from Warkworth Institution, a medium security facility located in Campbellford, Ontario, to be put on a plane and returned to where he came from.

The pending release on January 29, 2017 has sparked consternation among his victims in Canada, prompted dire warnings about his risk to reoffend and triggered a flurry of checks by Malaysian authorities who are trying to determine what to do with Subbiah after he lands at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

At one of his parole hearings, Subbiah provided a structured release plan upon his return to Malaysia.

In the plan, he claimed to have strong support in Malaysia, that his supporters are familiar with his criminal history and that they can assist him in a financially stable well supervised plan to reintegrate into society.

Subbiah insisted he represents zero risk to his homeland.

Susan Chapelle was elected as a city councilor in Squamish, on Canadas picturesque west coast in 2011.

An educator, researcher, people advocate and mother of two girls, the city councillor recently went public with her own story of sexual assault at the hands of Subbiah to get better resources for abuse victims in her community.

Chapelle was 26 and Subbiah, 32, when they met in 1991.

She had gone to his house to buy a potbelly pig. It was early in the afternoon and he offered her a glass of wine.

Nine hours later Chapelle awoke confused. Her clothes were on backwards and she felt sore. Subbiah told Chapelle shed passed out, before he drove her back to her little bungalow in the Beaches area of Toronto, The Squamish Chief reported.

In an interview with The Squamish Chief, Chapelle explained her thought process that awful night.

I knew something really bad had happened, she said.

When I got home I felt really crappy about having gone to his house in the first place, that I had a glass of wine with him.

A week later the potbelly pig and a flower arrived on Chapelles doorstep.

But even that wasnt enough to prompt Chapelle to go to the police. She chalked it all up as a bad experience and a result of her own stupidity.

After police found her name in the black book, Chapelles testimony in 1992 helped put Subbiah behind bars for 25 years, The Squamish Chief reported.

According to the paper, her boyfriend split up with her through the trying time and she lost her job as a stage technician when police came to her work to investigate.

Chappele said the images of the 91 pictures police showed her of naked women passed out and draped on beds and couches will stick with her forever and that she still wonders what the outcome would have been if she had reported the crime.

Chapelles testimony in 1992 helped put Subbiah behind bars.

But the world only came to know of her story last October 30 when she tweeted about her horrific experience.

Until then she hadnt told anyone and is now sometimes haunted about how many women could have been spared, if she had reported the crime.

Testimony at his court hearings showed that for Subbiah, using women had become a way of life since he came to Canada to study at George Brown College.

He used a Portuguese girlfriend, who testified to recruiting about 20 women for him. She said she was mostly confined at his house and told to work the streets to help him pay for their lodgings.

Other girlfriends, included a drugstore employee, who was forced to steal date rape chemicals.

The drugs would be used to lace Subbiahs favourite cocktails - a Blue Lagoon or Blue Hawaiian, or a B-52.

Another victim, whose identity is protected by court order, described in her testimony Subbiahs typical modus operandi.

She was approached near Torontos High Park by a woman claiming to be working for Subbiahs Talent Productions. The woman said she was looking for extras for a Bette Midler movie to be filmed at High Park.

The victim, who had studied tap dancing and ballet, gave the woman her name and number and one week later got a call from a man calling himself Richard Wild.

She and her friend were eventually lured to Subbiahs house where they were drugged and sexually assaulted.

The green-eyed monster also displayed uncontrollable rage.

In one case the court heard how Subbiah tied the hands of a woman behind her back and to the car seats before sexually assaulting her in his Jeep.

Another time he pinned a would-be model by sitting on her legs and forced her to fake an orgasm, take her top off, and cover her breasts with her arms.

Court testimony heard that his wife was thrown down stairs and that he discharged a starter pistol into her back, causing burns and psychological trauma. He also threatened to use wild animals on her.

But none reported the attacks until police started hearing about the cases third-hand.

Others, like his wife, who was used on recruiting missions, continued to be attracted by his maniacal magnetism and exploits.

She was last seen waving and blowing kisses at him through the window of the courthouse holding cell, when Subbiah was led off in handcuffs to begin his prison term.

On Dec 21, 1992, Ontario Court Judge Joe Bovard sentenced Subbiah to 25 years in prison.

He was originally charged with 60 counts of sexual assault and drug charges, including several of administering (a) stupefying and overpowering drug.

After firing his lawyer during a preliminary hearing, Subbiah changed his not-guilty plea and admitted to nine counts of sexual assault, six counts of administering a noxious substance, two of administering a substance affecting the central nervous system, one count of procuring a person to become a prostitute, and one of failing to comply with his bail conditions.

Of the 25 victims, the prosecution had lined up to testify, 17 had taken the stand when Subbiah decided to change his plea. Police at that time believed there were several hundred more victims in the Toronto area.

Women need to be protected from Mr. Subbiah, said Judge Bovard.

Crown Attorney Caroline Kerr submitted to the court that Subbiah regards women no better than caged animals to be kept at his house.

Lead investigator, Detective Terry Wark described Subbiah as one of the most cunning criminals he's ever encountered.

For most of the last quarter of a century, Subbiah has been an inmate at the maximum security Kingston Penitentiary, home to some of Canadas most dangerous criminals including serial killers Clifford Olsen and Paul Bernardo, before it was shut down and turned into a museum.

During the course of his time in Kingston Penitentiary, Subbiah worked as a dome cleaner.

The dome, or rotunda, is the central part of Kingston Penitentiary, and the various ranges extend like spokes of a wheel from the central dome.

Subbiah worked afternoons and evenings in the dome, clearing garbage, washing the floors and stripping and cleaning the floors from time to time.

When not working, Subbiah continued to prey on women, from behind those foreboding walls.

Jail guards reported that Subbiah was consistently trying to establish relationships with women via phone calls and through classified ads by continuing to pose as a modelling agent and talent scout.

One prison report said he used voice mail, phony mailing addresses and a girlfriend on the outside to set up three-way calls so the women didn't know he was in prison.

Police said Subbiah scouted newspapers and TV programs for pretty women, found their numbers in the phone book and called them using aliases such as Richard Wilder, King R., Su Wild and Richard Suw.

They said they knew of at least 25 women - from Ontario, British Columbia and even California - who Subbiah had lured into long-term correspondence by using a false identity.

One of them was a 48-year-old Toronto telemarketing agent who had placed a personal ad in March 1996.

In an interview with the Toronto Star she said; I hadn't dated for many years since my divorce and thought it would be a way to meet a nice man.

I said I was looking for someone upbeat, down-to-earth, compassionate and a good conversationalist.

By the time Subbiah called, she had received more than 100 replies but one stood out.

It was an amazing, interesting message with a wonderful British accent to die for, the woman was quoted as saying. He had verve in his voice. He sounded so alive.

A parole report into his activities in prison said Subbiah had continued to harass and manipulate women from prison with the goal of obtaining nude pictures, or to have telephone sex.

When not prowling for victims while in prison, Subbiah was running another enterprise from his cell  a jailhouse black market.

During a search, he was found in possession of sharpened cutlery, knives, pills, excessive unauthorized canteen items, vitamins and a debt list.

On May 14, 2009, Subbiah was attacked by two inmates who managed to block open a door so that it could not be locked.

These inmates, a Mr. McPhail and a Mr. Martin, stabbed Subbiah six times.

Correctional officers responded to the assault within one minute.

Subbiah sustained six superficial stab wounds during the attack, along with cuts, scrapes and bruises to his head, neck and body. He was initially treated at Kingston Penitentiary, then transferred to Kingston General Hospital, but was released back to the penitentiary the same day.

A few weeks later he sued the Correction Service of Canada arguing that prison staff was negligent and failed to take reasonable care to protect his safety.

The case was dismissed in November 2013.

As Subbiahs pending release nears, his victims, those in the court system and law enforcement agencies, who have been involved in his file, have unequivocal condemnation for the man.

At his last parole hearing in June 2016, where he sat mostly in silence, Subbiah was told that therapy behind bars for him was mostly futile.

The CMT (case management team) believes that you are likely to commit an offence causing death or serious harm to another person prior to the expiration of your (parole) and therefore, is recommending that your detention order be confirmed, the parole report said.

File information indicates that you continue to struggle in the areas of victim empathy, remorse and your inability to take full responsibility for your personal choices which results in your lack of mitigation in risk.

While Canada Border Services declined to directly say when, if or how Subbiah will be deported, they pointed to the law that allows for the removal of serious criminals from Canada without an appeal.

He is now Malaysias problem, unless something happens between now and the end of the month, said a veteran Toronto cop, who has been following the saga of the green-eyed monster for the last three decades.

A Vancouver-based author, who has dealt with sexual assault victims, said there is a very high likelihood that Subbiah has committed crimes against women in Malaysia before coming to Canada.

They should look into his past to prevent him from striking again in the future, she said.  with files from Infomart.
Australian researchers develop crop spray game-changer





Researchers from the University of Queensland have lead the development of a new crop protection spray described as revolutionary.

Bio Clay spray was developed in conjunction with the University of Surrey in England and offers an environmentally-friendly alternative to genetically-modified crops and chemical pesticides.

When sprayed with BioClay, the plant thinks it is being attacked by a disease or pest insect and responds by protecting itself.

The spray gives plants virus protection for at least 20 days following a single application.

Those behind the spray say BioClay has a number of advantages over existing chemical-based pesticides, including that it is non-toxic, degradable and can be used in a highly targeted way to protect crops against specific pathogens.

Professor G.Q. Max Lu, co-author of the researcher paper, said the spray is one of the best examples of nanoparticles being effective for biological molecular delivery with a controlled release rate for combating diseases in plants or animals.

The same nanoparticle technology invented and patented in my laboratory at the University of Queensland was used for effective targeted drug delivery. It was licensed to an Oxford-based pharmaceutical company and is now being commercialised for drug development, Professor Lu said.

The research was led by Professor Neena Mitter and Professor Gordon Xu at the University of Queensland, in collaboration with Professor Lu of the University of Surrey.

A research paper, Clay nanosheets for stable delivery of RNA interference as a topical application to protect plants against viruses was published in Nature Plants on 10 January 2017.

Related articles
Coles wax its competitor in de-wax war





Coles says it is the first Australian supermarket to offer no added wax on its apples.

Last week Australian Food News reported that its competitor Woolworths would no-longer sell apples with added wax, but Woolworths will not start doing so until February 2017.

Coles says it will start selling no added-wax apples from Wednesday 18 January 2017 after having conducted customer trials in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Coles supermarket group said it decided to remove the added wax after its research indicated more than 70 per cent of Australians like the idea of buying no added wax apples.

Coles General Manager of Fresh Produce, Brad Gorman, said Coles is always looking for new and innovative ways to improve its fresh produce.

We know our customers want to eat more natural, fresh foods, so we are proud to work with apple growers all over Australia to remove the waxing process and offer a more natural version of this Australian favourite, Gorman said.

One of Coles apple suppliers, Battunga Orchards, said not having to add wax to its apples will allow it to reinvest time and cost savings into its business.

Theres no question that not adding wax will mean significant savings for us  it will mean savings on labour, maintenance of machinery and the cost of wax, Battunga Orchards grower Rob Thompson said.

Ive seen apples with no added wax in Europe and thought it would be fantastic for growers in Australia, he said.

Food grade wax based on carnauba wax or shellac is traditionally added to apples to help increase shine.

Carnauba wax comes from a palm tree found in Brazil called Copernicia prunifera. Shellac comes from a secretion of the lac bug found in Thailand India.

Related articles
Bird & Bird has appointed James Durnall as special counsel to boost its Asia Pacific corporate law and energy and utilities law practices.Durnall moved from his in-house role as director of legal and business affairs of UK-based Ingenious Infrastructure, a division of The Ingenious Group, and Golden Square Energy Limited, to the Sydney office of Bird & Bird.He specialises in clean energy with experience advising clients on all aspects of solar, onshore wind, anaerobic digestion, waste-to-energy and innovative energy efficiency transactions.The lawyer is also expected to boost Bird & Bird's capital markets expertise, having both Australian and international experience advising on IPOs, right issues, capital reductions, share buy-backs and advising in relation to private equity and venture capital fundraisings.Durnall is also focused on advising on all aspects of investment funds in the UK, Australia and offshore jurisdictions in sectors as diverse as energy and infrastructure, private equity and hedge funds. He also has substantial banking and finance experience.Prior to working at Ingenious, a financial services group, he worked as a senior associate in the corporate, projects and investment funds team of leading law firms in London and Sydney.James joins our already busy energy and utilities sector practice as we begin a further expansion phase in the Asia Pacific market, said Shane Barber, managing partner of Bird & Bird in Australia.Durnall said he was delighted to be joining the Bird & Bird team.The clean energy and renewable asset class represents a compelling and attractive investment proposition with the Asia Pacific market increasingly becoming a driving force in clean energy development and investment worldwide. It is fantastic to be a part of this vibrant and growing sector, he said.
King & Wood Mallesons has established a new presence in Europe, UK and Middle East; separate from the legacy SJ Berwin partnership which has entered administration.Global KWM chair Wang Junfeng called the new European business a very good outcome for international clients and for the continued development of our firm.The new KWM regional business has offices in London, Frankfurt, Dubai and Riyadh and affiliated offices in Madrid, Milan and Brussels. The focus will be corporate M&A, finance, competition and dispute resolution.I am proud and excited by the determination of our partners who have worked so hard with us to realise this practice in deeply challenging circumstances, Junfeng said.The business will include more than 30 partners plus associates and support staff.An open letter sent to US president-elect Donald Trump by the International Bar Associations Human Rights Institute, has been republished ahead of this Fridays inauguration.The letter calls on the president to prioritize human rights in the US stating It is sad to say that the United States is no longer the leading model for the rule of law and democracy, as it once was.The issues raised in the letter include Americas continued use of the death penalty, torture and rendition, not being party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and unlawful discrimination.The leader of Olswangs Paris office has joined Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.Guillaume Kesslers move comes as Olswang prepares to merge with CMS Cameron McKenna and Nabarro which is not expected to include the Paris office.A lawsuit filed against Facebook-owned Oculus Rift has been called wasteful litigation to attempt to take credit for technology by a spokesperson for the virtual reality firm speaking to The Guardian.Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg testified in court this week to dismiss claims that the firm had stolen trade secrets from Id Software saying Im here because I believe theyre false.Id Software owners Zenimax Media alleges that Oculus co-founders Palmer Luckey and John Carmack collaborated on the software while Carmack was still under contract with Id.
A top compensation lawyer has dodged being struck off the roll of solicitors after being caught using an Australian Defense Force free travel pass for years.The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal last week fined Thomas Cahill $5,000 for professional misconduct, according to a report from The Daily Telegraph. The NSW Law Society initially sought to have him struck off but withdrew the charge.Cahill admitted to having used the free travel pass for six years when he was arrested after being caught using the pass on a bus in May 2014.He had pleaded guilty at Downing Centre Local Court and was found guilty in January 2015, but Magistrate Erin Kennedy did not record a conviction. The lawyer was instead ordered to a 12-month behaviour bond and fined $171 to Sydney Trains and $894.40 to Sydney Buses.In May of 2015, Cahill disclosed his case to the Law Society, which prompted the organisation to initiate the action with the tribunal.According to the tribunal, Cahill said he was given the card by friend Clayton Smith and that he genuinely held remorse and shame that he used it. He told the tribunal that he used the pass for convenience and not monetary gain.The effect of these orders will have a significant deterrent effect on (Cahill) and convey a message to the profession at large that conduct of this kind is inappropriate, the Law Society said.The tribunal said the lawyer's use of the free travel pass was disgraceful and dishonourable. However, his claim of using it for convenience was found to have some force.
A top intellectual property lawyer has denied sexually assaulting a jogger in Sydney late last year.Carl Harrap, a patent and trademark lawyer working at renowned firm FPA  formerly known as Freehills Patent Attorneys  has entered a not guilty plea at the Manly Local Court, according to a report from Perth Now.I have instructions to enter a plea of not guilty in relation to the charge, Joseph Nashed, Harraps lawyer, told the court.Last 28 December, the 40-year-old is alleged to have assaulted a 20-year-old female jogger at the Clontark Track, near Manly in Sydney. Harrap allegedly jumped out of the bushes and grabbed at the joggers crotch. The lawyer was tackled to the ground and held by witnesses until authorities arrived, Perth Now reported.After being taken into custody, Harrap was charged with assault with act of indecency, an earlier report by The Daily Telegraph said.Harrap, who is married with children, is principal at FPA. He joined the firm in 2013 after leaving Herbert Smith Freehills , where he spent seven years.Apart from qualifications in Australia, he is also a registered patent attorney in New Zealand.According to Perth Now, the lawyer, who is out on bail, is a member of the Professional Standards Board, which oversees patents and trademarks lawyers in the country.
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Hi I'm a new member seeking information on sponsoring an employee who is working for us. Hopefully I can gain information to help us with the process and in turn help others looking to do the same thing.
Hello,

I'am in Australia and applied for the partner visa early last month. I have since moved house with husband to a rental house.



Do i need to change this address on my application and if so how do i do this? As i also want to now include this new lease as part of our 'evidence.'
ECU

The situation has come to public attention after several engine compartment fires on the same vehicle have occurred across South Africa. The National Consumer Commission has investigated the case, and Ford has decided to start a voluntary safety recall in the country to fix the potential problems.According to The LA Times , 39 fires have been reported to Ford in South Africa, and one of the incidents has led to the death of a man. In the latter case, a forensic investigator hired by Ford has explained that the fire that resulted in the death of Jimmy Reshall was not linked to the problem that is targeted by the recall campaign. The situation is being treated as a separate incident.Meanwhile, the affected Ford Kuga units sold in South Africa are the ones that are equipped with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine. The 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter models are not affected by this potential problem. Representatives of the Blue Oval have explained that the campaign targets only the units built between December 2012 and February 2014.Apparently, the fire risk came from a crack in the cylinder head, which led to an oil leak. The fissure was not a manufacturing defect, but a problem that was caused by driving with insufficient coolant. This implies driving with low coolant levels for enough time to make the cylinder head develop a crack, and then oil leaking through the puncture.From there, if oil leaked on a hot component within the engine compartment, a fire risk becomes imminent. Ford customers in South Africa will have to have their Kuga 1.6-liter EcoBoost models checked, and the affected components of the cooling system will be replaced.The recalled models will also receive a software update, and their cylinder heads will be checked for oil leaks. Finally, the recall will involve adding additional warning systems to the, which will prevent this situation.
SUV

The news comes from a statement of the CEO of the Hyundai Motor Company, and the sum that is mentioned is 50% higher than what the two companies have spent during the previous five years.According to industry analysts, the massive investment plan is linked to the statements of Donald Trump , the President-elect of the USA , who threatened automakers with import fees if they try to sell cars built in Mexico on American soil.Hyundai and Kias massive investment could mean the construction of a new factory, which could produce the Genesis range, along with anthat would be specific to the American market. As Automotive News notes, the President of Hyundai Motor Company, Chung Jin-Haeng, told reporters about the plan and the potential outcome of the investment.If you followed the news on this topic, you might have observed that Hyundai and Kias investment plans for the USA involve a higher sum than what General Motors is planning to invest in the same country.It is important to remark that Hyundai and Kias investment will also include a part that will go to the research and development of new technologies. The only mentioned aspects by company officials are green cars and autonomous driving systems.The two automakers are already investing in the two fields, which can be blended to make new products, but we are now referring to a long-term plan that even has figures attached to it.Just like any other major automaker, Hyundai and Kia want to invest in these categories of automobiles, which will be the norm in the future. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of the $3.1 billion investment are expected to go to the two areas of development mentioned above.Last year, Kia opened a $3 billion production line in Mexico, and the company had announced plans to expand capacity by 100% before the end of 2018. Approximately 80% of the vehicles made there are supposed to be exported, and the U.S. is one of the markets it targeted, along with Latin America.
He was upset Americans buy German cars, whereas Germans don't return the favor by spending their euros on American-build models. He singled out the U.S. citizens' appetite for luxury models made by Mercedes-Benz , and then proceeded to ask rhetorically How many Chevrolets do you see in Germany? Not many, maybe none, you dont see anything at all over there. Its a one-way street.This new Trump rant appeared in an interview for The Times and it was followed by a suggestion that the U.S. would impose a 35% tax on all imported cars . Unfortunately, logic appears to fail Trump if he thinks this measure has any rational backing.The only wat it would be fair is if already Germany had a similar tax in place and that was the single reason you couldn't see Chevrolets driving around in Munich or Berlin. In fact, the only reason American manufacturers don't even bother to enter European markets is because they know all too well their vehicles would not cut it there.The reply from the Teutons came through the voice of Sigmar Gabriel, the Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy in Germany and Vice Chancellor. He told Bild he thinks the American auto industry is getting worse, weaker and more expensive, and that if they want to find more buyers abroad, they should "build better cars."At the end of the day, the question is this: do you want a free market where the only differentiator is the quality of the products, or do you want to protect the national economy and workforce at all costs, even though that means preventing some of your citizens from spending their money the way they would like?With Trump , the answer is clear. He has made it plainly obvious he believes the U.S. automotive industry needs a jolt, and he identified the only way of doing that is to release a series of protective decisions that keep production within the country's borders and convince (force) buyers to opt mostly for local brands.They say competition is how the economy is driven forward, and the kind of measures proposed by President-Elect Trump don't encourage it. Instead, they seem to lock the American car industry inside a bubble where everything is warm and fuzzy. Not sure if that's the right call.
Photo via Wikimedia.

The national average price of gasoline returned to New Year's levels, falling eight of the past nine days to reach $2.34 per gallon, according to AAA.

Retail unleaded fell 3 cents on the week, and remains 10 cents above its month-ago level and 43 cents higher than a year ago. AAA attributed the slight price decline to less demand and adequate supply, and warned that this downward dip may only be temporary. OPEC is scheduled to release its December monthly output report later this week.

Federal data mirrored AAA's findings. The U.S. Energy Information Administration also reported a 3-cent weekly decline to $2.358 per gallon. Gasoline is 44.4 cents lower than a year ago, according to that data.

The states that have seen the largest price decreases week-over-week include Indiana (13 cents), Ohio (12 cents), Michigan (11 cents), Kentucky (7 cents), and Illinois (6 cents). The nations top five most expensive markets include Hawaii ($3.06), California ($2.81), Alaska ($2.77), Washington ($2.74) and Pennsylvania ($2.64).

Meanwhile, the average price of diesel fell 1.2 cents to $2.585. Diesel is now 47.3 cents higher than a year ago.
Ford Motors announced that it will recall over 4,500 Kuga SUV that is being sold in South Africa after several reports of the vehicles catching fire spontaneously. Ford SA CEO, Jeff Nemeth, said in a press briefing that while the company is still investigating the numerous engine fires, the data that they have led the company to believe that the fire started as a result of engine overheating and oil leaks.

The company confirmed that they are already 39 incidents of the cars catching fire. Nemeth said, "We are not aware of any injuries that have resulted from our engine compartment fires." He added that one of the contributing factors of the incident is due to the hot weather in South Africa.

According to Ford, it can start with a lack of engine coolant circulation causing the engine to overheat, which afterward can lead to a crack in the cylinder head, and oil leaks will go onto to the hot engine components and starts a fire. Original reports indicated that 6300 vehicles were already affected.

The voluntary recall of the 4,500 cars will only affect Kuga models that were built between December 2012 and February 2014. Ford didn't disclose the cost of the recall to Ford, but it will replace all affected components on the cooling system, conduct tests on cylinder heads and software updates.

Furthermore, 46 1.6-liter turbocharged Ford Kuga's were reported to have caught fire in South Africa, and two of those incidents happened in the past week alone. In October, there were 400,000 units of the Ford Escape - the U.S version of the Kuga, that were recalled due to engine problems.

Ford already asked all Kuga owners in December to take their vehicles to any nearest Ford dealer for a safety inspection. The company also mentioned that if any Kuga 1.6 owners see any signs that the engine may be overheating, the driver must immediately pull over, switch the engine and make sure that all passengers are safely out of the vehicle. They may call Ford's Roadside Assistance on 0861-150-250 that is available 24/7.
Pilots who fly in Southern Californias busy airspace will soon be expected to follow new procedures, so the FAA has planned a series of public meetings and webinars to bring everyone up to speed. The live webinars will include time for Q&A with FAA representatives. The sessions, set for this month and next, will focus on changes that will be enacted in March and April. The airports involved include many popular GA fields, including Santa Monica (SMO) and Van Nuys (VNY), as well as Los Angeles International (LAX) and other airports in Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, San Diego and more.

Four webinars are scheduled for this week, Wednesday Jan. 18 and Thursday Jan. 19. Ten public workshops will be held between Jan. 23 and Feb. 8. The workshops will be an open-house format with no formal presentation, where the public can attend anytime during the posted times to learn about the project. FAA representatives will provide information and will be available to answer questions. The public is welcome to attend anytime during the posted times. Free public parking is available at the briefing locations, and Spanish interpreters will be available.
Armenias human rights ombudsman, Arman Tatoyan, on Wednesday refused to comment on a Yerevan courts controversial decision to sentence an opposition activist to two years in prison.

The activist, Gevorg Safarian, was arrested one year ago while he and other members of a radical opposition group scuffled with riot police in Yerevans Liberty Square.

Safarian was found guilty of assaulting one of the police officers at the end of his trial on Monday. He denies the charge as politically motivated.

The verdict has not yet come into force. I cannot evaluate it in any way, Tatoyan told reporters when asked to comment on the ruling condemned by Armenian human rights activists and opposition leaders.

The law forbids the human rights defender from intervening [in court cases]  I would break the law if I made an evaluation, he said.

Safarians pre-trial detention was criticized by Human Rights Watch last year. The New York-based watchdog said he is prosecuted for his political views.

Safarian is affiliated with the Founding Parliament opposition movement. He went on trial in May two months before three dozen other men affiliated with the radical group seized a police station in Yerevan to demand President Serzh Sarkisians resignation and the release of Founding Parliaments jailed leader, Zhirayr Sefilian. The gunmen surrendered to Armenian security forces after a two-week standoff that left three police officers dead.

Tatoyan said that his office will release within a month a detailed report on the standoff, which triggered demonstrations in Yerevan in support of the gunmen. Two of those rallies were forcibly dispersed by riot police.
18 January 2017 17:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Jim O'Neill

I was recently in beautiful Chile for a Futures Congress, and I had a chance to travel south to the very tip of Latin America. I also recently made a BBC radio documentary called Fixing Globalization, in which I crisscrossed the United Kingdom in search of ideas for improving certain aspects of it and discussed topical issues with well-known experts. In both cases, I saw things that convinced me that it is past time for someone to come to globalizations defense.

Chile today is Latin Americas richest country, with per capita GDP of around $23,000  similar to that of Central European countries. This is quite an achievement for a country that depends so heavily on copper production, and it sets Chile apart from many of its neighbors. Like many other countries, Chile is facing economic challenges, and its growth rate leaves something to be desired; but it also has many promising opportunities beyond its borders.

For example, when I led a review on antimicrobial resistance, I learned that copper has powerful antibacterial properties and is an ideal material for use in health-care facilities where bacteria often spread. This means that copper producers such as Chile, Australia, and Canada can improve global health  and boost exports  by introducing affordable copper infrastructure into hospitals and other clinical settings around the world.

Chile is also a storehouse of knowledge for managing earthquakes and tsunamis. While I was there, I visited La Serena, which in 2015 experienced the sixth-strongest earthquake ever recorded. But the ensuing tsunami killed only 11 people, though it surely would have killed far more in many other places. Chilean officials advanced preparation and rapid response seems to have made the difference. With so much institutional experience, Chile can be a valuable resource for other countries threatened by seismic events.

La Serena is also near one of the worlds best stargazing sites, which attracts leading astronomers from around the globe. In fact, Chile hosts much remarkable collaboration among the worlds scientists, in part because it is just north of the Antarctic  long a site for scientific and environmental cooperation.

Beyond Chile, it is interesting that Chinese President Xi Jinping is attending the World Economic Forums Annual Meeting in Davos this year. Now that Donald Trump has been elected President of the United States, and the United Kingdom is withdrawing from the European Union, I had assumed that such an elitist events glory days were behind it. Xis presence suggests that China is exploring where it can position itself on the world stage, and which elements of globalization it can harness to its advantage, now that Western powers are turning inward.

Indeed, as the Chinese ambassador to the UK pointed out on my radio program, China is already the largest importer  yes, importer  for at least 70 countries, and accounts for about 10-11% of all imports globally. Despite its supposed economic challenges, China will likely be a bigger importer than the EU before this decade is over, and it will probably surpass the US soon thereafter.

Moreover, economic inequality among countries has declined sharply in the past 20 years, owing partly to Chinas rise, as well as to economic development across Asia, Latin America, and elsewhere. In fact, by 2010, the United Nations had already achieved its Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015, and recent projections suggest that, by 2050, poverty will be eradicated everywhere except Africa.

This will not happen without globalization. African countries, in particular, will need to trade more with one another, and there is talk of creating an African free-trade area. But this could prove difficult now that anti-trade sentiment is on the rise. Are globalizations critics  those who wrongly consider it a zero-sum game  against eradicating global poverty?

Policymakers can take action to alleviate anxieties about globalization. For starters, the seemingly endless growth of profits as a share of global GDP must stop. Anyone who thinks this sounds radical needs to brush up on economics. Higher profits should attract new market entrants, which would then erode incumbents profits through competition. The fact that this isnt happening suggests that some markets have been rigged, or have simply failed. Policymakers need to address this with stronger regulation in some areas. For example, as I have previously argued, the current climate is far too permissive of share-repurchase programs.

At the same time, policymakers need to pursue measures to increases wages for the lowest earners, which could actually help boost productivity as capital becomes less expensive relative to labor. And, as World Bank President Jim Yong Kim recently pointed out to me, we need to strengthen enforcement of laws governing trade deals, and do more to help challenged domestic sectors that lose out as a result of those deals.

This reminds me of a sad story I heard from some laid-off Goodyear Tire workers in Wolverhampton, in Englands West Midlands. They told me that job listings for their lost positions were posted on a notice board, and they could re-apply for them if they wanted to move to Mexico. The workers surmised that it was easier for the company to close its factory in the UK than to close even less productive factories in France or Germany. Surely changes like this can be handled better.

Lastly, policymakers need to prioritize development projects such as the UKs northern powerhouse and Midlands engine. And more such initiatives should be launched elsewhere.

Despite the many challenges it has created, globalization has made the world a better place than it otherwise would have been. And we still need it to eradicate poverty and generate higher living standards for all.

--

Copyright: Project Syndicate: In Defense of Globalization

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
18 January 2017 12:09 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) has so far paid compensations worth over 722.13 million manats ($400.18 million) to depositors of the recently closed Dekabank, Kredobank, Zaminbank, Parabank, Caucasus Development Bank, AtraBank, Bank of Azerbaijan, Ganjabank, Texnikabank and Bank Standard.

Banks Volume of paid compensations (million manats/ million USD) Volume of the insured deposits (million manats/ million USD) Bank Standard 434.092 ($240.56) 460 ($254.9) Zaminbank 52.469 ($29.076) 60 ($33.25) Dekabank 3.086 ($1.711) 5.59 ($3.098) Kredobank 27.77 ($15.38) 30.21 ($ 16.74) Caucasus Development Bank 1.974 ($1.094) 2 ($1.109) Atrabank 14.271 ($ 7.909) 14.55 ($8.063) Bank of Azerbaijan 24.148 ($13.382) 24.2 ($13.41) Gandjabank 0.976 ($ 0.541) 1 ($0.553) Texnikabank 120.364 ($66.702) 122.6 ($67.94) Parabank 42.981 ($23.818) 43.79 ($24.26)

Acceptance of applications from insured depositors of DekaBank, KredoBank, Zaminbank and Parabank began on August 1, 2016 and the payment of compensations has been carried out since that day.

Compensations to the depositors of Caucasus Development Bank and AtraBank are being paid starting from August 23. Payments are being carried out at the branches the banks.

Depositors of Caucasus Development Bank receive compensations at the banks main office. Payment of compensations to insured depositors of Bank of Azerbaijan has been carried out since January 29, 2016 at branches of Muganbank and Rabitabank, and since September 8 at ADIFs office.

Clients of Ganjabank receive compensations since February 4 at the branches of Rabitabank, Unibank and Kapital Bank.

ADIF launched payment of compensations to depositors of Texnikabank on February 12.

Payment of compensations to the insured depositors of Bank Standard started October 11, 2016 at the banks main office and its branches in the regions of Azerbaijan and will continue for one year.

The licenses of all the banks were revoked in 2016, as their assets were not classified in line with the law, and they didnt create adequate reserves and their aggregate capital did not meet the minimum requirements.

Some 32 banks are currently implementing their activities in the country.

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18 January 2017 17:41 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The first meeting of the Azerbaijan-Vietnam Intergovernmental Commission on economic, trade, scientific and technical cooperation was held in Hanoi on January 16.

The meeting discussed the current state of relations and prospects for cooperation between the two countries in a variety of fields.

Energy Minister Natig Aliyev was a co-chair of the Intergovernmental Commission on

behalf of Azerbaijan, while Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh was a co-chair on behalf of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese minister called the meeting very important in terms of further developing the relations between the two countries and expressed hope on the effectiveness of the meeting.

In turn, Aliyev called the first meeting of the Commission as a historic event.

Tuan Anh spoke about the rapid development of his countrys economy and invited Azerbaijan, including private business, to actively participate in the process, assuring that Vietnam has created favorable conditions for such cooperation.

Speaking about the importance of developing the bilateral cooperation, Aliyev pointed to the intensification of political dialogue. He mentioned that the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Vietnam and the visit of the former President of Vietnam, Truong Tan Sang, to Azerbaijan gave impetus to efficient cooperation and opened new prospects for development of the relations.

The sides noted that the volume of bilateral trade between Vietnam and Azerbaijan showed positive signs of recovery in 2016, reaching $104.44 million including exports of Vietnamese goods to Azerbaijan - $5.14 million and import - $99.30 million.

They also pointed out the importance of implementing the agreements reached at this meeting, identified specific areas of cooperation and agreed to increase the number of mutual visits at all levels.

The ministers further stressed the importance of establishing direct contacts between the business circles of the two countries.

Following the meeting, the sides signed a protocol of the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission.

The cooperation between Baku and Hanoi is developing steadily in all spheres.

Memorandum of understanding, signed by Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group Petrovietnam, contributes to the development of energy cooperation between the sides.

The countries also have a potential for cooperation on alternative and renewable energy sources. Moreover, Vietnamese market is attractive for the export of Azerbaijans non-oil products.

But the Vietnamese government is considering opening an embassy in Baku with a view to give additional impetus to the development of the bilateral cooperation.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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18 January 2017 17:48 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Raiffeisen Bank and some commercial banks of the Czech Republic consider possibility of financing deals on supplies of Czech technologies and equipment to Azerbaijan.

Milos Vecera, Head of Raiffeisen Banks Division on Trade Finance, Cash Management and Factoring told Trend that the Bank is looking for export finance transaction deals on Czech technologies and equipment, for example in construction works, waste-management that could be supplied to Azerbaijan with an export credit from one of the commercial banks.

He mentioned that the credit could be preferably ensured by EGAP (Czech Export Credit Agency), which have already ensured transactions of Czech commercial and Czech export bank worth hundreds of millions of euros.

Vecera went on saying that the most attractive spheres of Azerbaijani economy are oil and gas industry, processing of crude products, transportation and other sectors that are deemed to be strategically important for the country.

The commodity structure of the Czech export to Azerbaijan comprises cars and trucks and their spare parts, construction material, machinery and industrial equipment, detergents, a range of pharmaceutical products and cosmetics, as well as the Bohemian glass and crystal products like chandeliers.

Baku earlier hosted Azerbaijan-Czech business forum, which brought together Azerbaijani officials and a large Czech delegation including about 170 businessmen, engaged in agriculture, food industry, finance, insurance, energy, logistics, construction, law, petrochemical industry, mechanical engineering, glass production and other sectors of the economy.

So far, Czech companies have invested some $1.3 billion in Azerbaijan's main capital.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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18 January 2017 12:51 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

An exhibition themed Discover Azerbaijan in photos" has been unveiled in Yenikap Metro Station, Istanbul, Trend Life reported.

The exhibition displays 40 unique photos showing Azerbaijans architecture, nature and modern life.

Stunning and vibrant artworks can also be found in the subway stations of Baku.

Baku Metro launched an exhibition of amateurs and professional artists as part of "Metro Gallery" project in 2016.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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18 January 2017 11:33 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The Austrian OSCE Chairmanship supports the efforts undertaken by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in line with their statement on the return of the body of Azerbaijani soldier, Austrias Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs told Trend on January 17.

The Austrian OSCE Chairmanship thinks that humanitarian questions should be dealt as such, the ministry added.

A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on December 29, 2016. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders and suffered heavy losses. During the fighting, Azerbaijani serviceman Chingiz Gurbanov went missing. Later, it was clarified that he was killed by the Armenian Armed Forces and his body remained on the territory controlled by the Armenian armed forces.

To receive back the dead body of the Azerbaijani soldier from Armenia, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry officially appealed to the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), OSCE Minsk Group, as well as to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Despite numerous insistent appeals of international structures regarding the return of Chingiz Gurbanovs body, the Armenian government still keeps the dead body.

Armenian Armed Forces are still holding the body of an Azerbaijani serviceman killed in the fighting, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group  Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France and Richard Hoagland of the US  said in a statement from January 9.

Violations of the ceasefire are unacceptable and are contrary to the acknowledged commitments of the parties, who bear full responsibility, not to use force. The co-chairs also urge the return, without delay, of human remains, in accord with the agreements of the Astrakhan Summit of 2010, bearing in mind the exclusively humanitarian nature of this issue.

In the comments to Trend, the Austrian side reported that the OSCE Chairmanship actively supports the work of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group through the personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, as well as the special representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Gunther Bachler.

Following its long-standing tradition as a neutral country, Austria stands ready to facilitate or host a meeting of the sides, the ministry 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. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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18 January 2017 12:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) condemned the ceasefire violations by Armenian armed forces in various areas of the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, and the escalation of tension on border with Azerbaijan.

ISESCO stated that what was done by the Armenian forces represents a flagrant violation of international law and an attack on a member state.

The Organization called on Armenia to return the occupied territory of Azerbaijan.

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.

Moreover, the Armenian army constantly violates truce and targets Azerbaijani soldiers, and even civilians ever since the ceasefire agreement was reached between the parties.

Despite Azerbaijan has urged the Armenian side to sit at the negotiations table, Yerevan has constantly refused to act in a sensible way.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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18 January 2017 13:53 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Armenias refusal to return the body of the killed Azerbaijani soldier, despite quite clear mechanism and procedures on handover of the bodies, is a flagrant violation of the norms of international humanitarian law, human rights and the Geneva Conventions, which Armenia joined as well.

Lieutenant General Madat Guliyev, the chairman of the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People and head of the State Security Service (SSS), announced about this as he met with Elena Ajmone Sessera, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Azerbaijan.

Guliyev noted that President Ilham Aliyev is closely following the issue of the return of the body of soldier Chingiz Gurbanov, who was killed in an armed clash at the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, and has given necessary instructions in this regard.

Guliyev said the State Commission appreciates the efforts of the ICRC and OSCE Minsk Group on the return of the body.

Given the fact that Armenia has also previously practiced such inhuman actions as keeping bodies for a long time, the State Commission urges the relevant international organizations to prevent such cases and demands Armenia to comply with the requirements of the Geneva Conventions, the SSS head said.

Stressing the constructive cooperation between the State Commission and the ICRC, Guliyev expressed hope for further development of this cooperation.

Sessera, for her part, said that the ICRC delegations in Azerbaijan and Armenia continue joint efforts for the soonest return of Gurbanovs body.

Highlighting the work done jointly by the ICRC Delegation in Azerbaijan and the State Commissions Working Group in 2016, Sessera gave detailed information about the projects planned for 2017.

Moreover, the parties exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest at the meeting, which was held in the atmosphere of mutual understanding.

A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces attempted to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on December 29, 2016. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders and suffered heavy losses. During the fighting, Azerbaijani serviceman Chingiz Gurbanov went missing. Later, it was clarified that he was killed by the Armenian Armed Forces and his body remained on the territory controlled by the Armenian armed forces.

To receive back the dead body of the Azerbaijani soldier from Armenia, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry officially appealed to the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), OSCE Minsk Group, as well as to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Despite numerous insistent appeals of international structures regarding the return of Chingiz Gurbanovs body, the Armenian side still keeps the dead body.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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18 January 2017 15:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Austrias Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, whose country assumed this year's rotating chairmanship of the OSCE, said the organization needed Russia to support its endeavors, Sputnik reported.

"Russia can play a decisive role in fostering constructive dialogue to peacefully resolve the current crises, he said.

"Russia can help ensure the OSCEs ability to deal with the challenges facing the participating states by supporting measures to give it sufficient resources to fulfill its wide-ranging mandate.

The Austrian minister will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on January 18.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the situation in Syria, Ukraine and Transnistria are among topics of the meeting.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.

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19 January 2017 10:21 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held several meetings in Davos, where he will attend the World Economic Forum scheduled for January 17-20.

President Aliyev met with President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard in Davos, Switzerland on January 17.

Leuthard extended congratulations on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of establishment of Azerbaijan`s state independence. The President said relations between the two countries developed in various fields. President Doris Leuthard said cooperation between Azerbaijan and Switzerland have covered new fields, adding successful relations were established in the financial sector. The President said both countries fruitfully cooperated in the field of energy.

The President recalled with pleasure the visit of President Doris Leuthard to the country. The head of state said successful partnership existed between Azerbaijan and Switzerland.

He spoke about the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan in various fields, as well as the works done in the country in eliminating the impacts of sharp decline of oil prices in the world and the development of economy and diversification of economy and export.

The head of state said the country has great transit opportunities. President Ilham Aliyev noted Azerbaijan turned to an important transport transit centre.

During the meeting, existence of good cooperation between the two countries in the field of railway was emphasized.

They exchanged views on prospects of cooperation in the TAP and TANAP projects, as well as in the fields of investment, finance, credit, agriculture, pharmaceutics.

President Aliyev also met with Chief Executive Officer ofBP Robert Dudley.

The recent visit of Chief Executive Officer of BP Robert Dudley to Azerbaijan was recalled with pleasure. Successful development of cooperation between BP and SOCAR, as well as BP`s being the biggest investor in Azerbaijan was emphasized. Ongoing works in Azeri-Chrag-Gunashli fields were discussed.

During the conversation, they exchanged views on the successful implementation and prospects of Southern Gas Corridor, TAP, TANAP projects.

Later President Aliyev met with founder and managing director ofVPS Healthcare of the United Arab Emirates Shamsheer Vayalil.

During the meeting, high level of cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates was emphasized. Good prospects of relations between Azerbaijan and VPS Healthcare in the field of health were stressed.

They discussed issues of cooperation in this field.

The head of state then met with Chief Executive Officer of LafargeHolcim Eric Olsen, who informed the head of state about the works done and opportunities of the Group in the field of protection of the environment, as well as waste incineration.

Eric Olsen described Azerbaijan as an attractive country in terms of cooperation. The CEO said they were ready to establish relations with Azerbaijan.

During the conversation, they exchanged views on the prospects of cooperation.

As part of the visit, President Aliyev met with Prime Minister, Minister of State of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel.

Prime Minister, Minister of State of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel said his country was interested in boosting relations with Azerbaijan in various fields, as well as in the areas of finance and investment.

Bettel said there is successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in the field of air cargo, adding the areas of ICT, space, industry, banking, and finance developed in his country. The Prime Minister said his country was ready to the cooperation with Azerbaijan in these fields.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan was interested in cooperation with Luxembourg in various fields. The head of state said the special attention was paid to the development of ICT in the country. Ilham Aliyev said government allocated great investment to this field.

The head of state said space industry developed in Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev noted the country was interested in cooperation with Luxembourg in these fields.

During the conversation, they exchanged views on the prospects of cooperation in fields of mutual investment, high-technologies.

On January 18, President Aliyev met with Executive Chairman of CISCO John Chambers.

President Aliyev also had a meeting with Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Palantir Technologies Alex Karp.



Then the head of state met with Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Falih.

President Aliyev met with European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic on January 18.

During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the existing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union in the field of energy.

The current plans related to the Southern Gas Corridor, TANAP and TAP projects, as well as Ionian Adriatic Pipeline were discussed. It was noted that another Ministerial Meeting within the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council will be held in Baku in next month.

They exchanged views on the issues related to the financing the TAP, TANAP and Shahdeniz projects.

Then President Aliyev met with President of Russias LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov.



The president expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between Azerbaijan and LUKOIL company. The head of state said the company`s activity in Azerbaijan has a good history. President Ilham Aliyev highly appreciated participation of LUKOIL company in the projects carried out in Azerbaijan.

Alekperov said the relations of the company he led with SOCAR has a strategic importance. The president of Russian LUKOIL company expressed satisfaction with the cooperation in various directions.

During the conversation, issues related to the measures carried out regarding the Shahdeniz project, transportation of the oil being produced by LUKOIL in the Russian sector of Caspian Sea through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, as well as prospects of the oil price in the world were discussed.

President Aliyev also met with Chief Executive Officer of Statoil Eldar Saetre.



Saetre recalled with pleasure his participation in the opening ceremony of the first European Games in Baku, adding this influential event was successfully held. Eldar Saetre said Azerbaijan by hosting European Games defined the standards of these races.

President Aliyev said cooperation between Azerbaijan and Statoil has a great history. The head of state said the relations has a successful and sustainable character. President Ilham Aliyev said the company`s activity served to development of bilateral cooperation.

During the conversation, issues related to the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli, Karabakh, Ashrafi, Dan Ulduzu, Aypara fields, as well as cooperation between SOCAR and Statoil were discussed.

Later the head of state met with Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab.

President Aliyev thanked Klaus Schwab for inviting him again to the World Economic Forum. The head of state said fruitful cooperation was created between Azerbaijan and the World Economic Forum.

He said this cooperation was fully compatible with the objective of improving the situation in the world countries.

The head of state said significant measures were carried out in Azerbaijan for ensuring the security and restoring the stability.

President Aliyev stressed the importance of geographical place of Azerbaijan. The head of state said this factor created opportunity for successful realization of large transnational projects, as well as North-South, East-West corridors and other projects.

The president spoke about the ongoing development processes in the country over the last years. The head of state said Azerbaijan entered a new development stage. President Ilham Aliyev noted that impressive measures were carried out in the country for diversification of economy and export.

The head of state said meetings held within the Davos Forum resulted in realization of several important projects. President Ilham Aliyev said the influential international events were held in Azerbaijan over the last years.

The head of state noted that Baku successfully hosted the first European Games.

Ilham Aliyev described the visit of Pope Francis to Azerbaijan as an example of attention paid to the high tolerance environment in the country.

Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab said there is fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Economic Forum, adding that President Ilham Aliyevs participation in the Forum contributed to bilateral cooperation.

Klaus Schwab said he eye-witnessed the strong development during his visit to Azerbaijan and spoke about the beauty of Baku.

Schwab said security and stability in Azerbaijan played a significant role in the countrys development.

He said great work was done in Azerbaijan over the last years, adding that Baku hosted influential international events. The executive chairman of the World Economic Forum highly appreciated the tolerance environment in Azerbaijan.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the issues of mutual interest.

The next meeting of President Aliyev met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between the two countries in political, economic and other fields. The importance of the visit of the Ukrainian President to Azerbaijan in terms of boosting relations were emphasized. Active cooperation of both countries in international organizations, as well as always support of each other`s sovereignty and territorial integrity was stressed.

They exchanged views over the boosting cooperation in the fields of investment, energy, agriculture, infrastructure.

During the conversation, issues related to the bilateral and mutual interest were discussed.

President Aliyev also met with corporate vice president of Worldwide Public Sector at Microsoft Toni Townes-Whitley in Davos.

During the meeting, economic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan`s new stage of development were spoken. It was noted that development of the information-communication technologies was one of the priority fields. The importance of use of information communication technologies in modernizing of the national economy was emphasized.

During the conversation, they exchanged views over the boosting cooperation between Azerbaijan and Microsoft.

President Aliyev also met with head of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government Masoud Barzani in Davos.

Azerbaijani President noted historical and cultural relations existed between the nations. The head of state recalled that Masoud Barzani`s father once lived in Azerbaijan.

Masoud Barzani thanked the head of state for commemorating his father, adding that he recalled with pleasure his memories about Baku.

During the meeting, the possibility of exploring the opportunities for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government in the energy, trade, export-import and other directions was stressed.

Masoud Barzani said Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government was interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan`s companies over the various projects, adding there were good opportunities for boosting relations.

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18 January 2017 14:09 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

A transport route through Azerbaijan is the most reliable and safe route for Iran, said Ali Rabiei.

The Iranian Minister for Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare made the remark as he met with Azerbaijans Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, Ali Hasanov in Baku on January 17.

The minister said that today a lot of work carried out in the field of improvement of road transport infrastructure and joint projects are underway in this area.

"The work is underway on the construction of the railway Rasht-Astara (Iran) - Astara (Azerbaijan). This project will contribute to the creation of new jobs in our countries, and entrepreneurs will be able to use this route for business purposes. At the same time, Iran and Azerbaijan have real opportunities for cooperation in the area of maritime passenger and freight traffic," Rabiei underlined.

Azerbaijan and Iran have great potential for the development of ties in the humanitarian sphere, he said, noting that the Islamic Republic is ready to expand cooperation in areas such as rehabilitation of the disabled, production of prostheses, health and wellness sphere, etc.

Rabiei further mentioned that the Iranian delegation headed by him consists of influential persons in the Iranian Parliament, members of the friendship groups, chiefs of committees and members of the Presidium.

This testifies to Irans intention to further develop relations with Azerbaijan. We sincerely rejoice when we see development of Azerbaijan day by day, landscaping and renovation works, construction of new buildings and raising of the living standards in the country, he added.

Hasanov, in turn, noted that a joint pharmaceutical plant is one of important projects implemented in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan.

"This project is a bright example of successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran, he said.

On January 16 a foundation stone for the long-awaited Azerbaijan-Iran pharma plant (Caspian Pharmed) was laid in the Pirallahi Industrial Park. The construction of the plant is expected to be completed in the third quarter 2018.



Hasanov further said that relations between Azerbaijan and Iran are developing day by day.



Iranian state and nation is our friend and brother. We share common religion and there are a lot of similarities in languages, customs and traditions, as well as history and culture, said Hasanov.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Iranian companies participate in a number of projects in Azerbaijan.

Today Azerbaijan speedily develops. As of 2003, the poverty rate in the country made 49 percent against 5 percent today. Economys dependency on the oil has substantially reduced. Some 70 percent of GDP is produced by non-oil sector of the country. One of the main purposes of Azerbaijan is to be among developed countries, he emphasized.

Hasanov highlighted that the only problem of Azerbaijan is the unresolved the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh problem. As a result of the Armenian occupation,

Azerbaijan has more than a million of refugees and IDPs, he reminded.

He noted that despite international organizations had adopted numerous decisions and resolutions on the settlement of the conflict Armenia ignores and does not fulfill them.

Iran has always positively approached to Azerbaijans objective position during discussions of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the international events and, especially, the UN meetings, and demonstrated adherence to Azerbaijan during voting, he added.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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18 January 2017 15:31 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Baku Telephone Communications Production Union of the Communications and High Technologies Ministry has launched a "Secure Internet" project.



The ministry says that the project stipulates provision of filtering service for users to secure from undesirable Internet content.

The content filtering service allows to protect children from the effects of unwanted websites by restricting access to certain digital content (web pages containing adult content, gambling, profanity, information, promote violence, etc.).

Users will be given access only to trusted web sites, which have already been filtered and have extremely useful information.



The service is not limited to ensuring the safety of children and the younger generation from the negative impact of the global network, but also provides security against viruses, phishing, and etc.

In Azerbaijan, with over 9.6 million people, about 77 percent of the population has an internet connection.

Earlier, the Teaching and Innovation Center of the Institute of Information Technologies of ANAS reported it will create a center of child safety on the Internet. The Center will be engaged in an intellectual analysis of the obtained information, thus playing an important role in solving this problem.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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18 January 2017 18:18 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The Czech Republic is interested in expanding cooperation with Azerbaijan, said Jan Mladek.

The Czech minister of industry and trade highlighted the friendly relations between the two countries during his meeting with Valeh Alasgarov, the head of the Azerbaijani-Czech working group on interparliamentary relations in Baku.



He underlined that these relations are being developed day by day, and noted the importance of meetings of the heads of states and the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed between Azerbaijan and Czech Republic.



The Czech minister mentioned that today, Azerbaijan meets one third of energy needs of the Czech Republic.

Mladek also praised the interparliamentary relations between the two countries.

He also expressed his readiness to support Azerbaijan`s strategic partnership talks with the European Union.

In turn, Alasgarov expressed his confidence that the meetings held as part of the Baku visit of the Czech delegation will contribute to further deepening of bilateral relations, as well as further development of ties in political and economic fields.



Alasgarov hailed the Azerbaijan-Czech relations in all areas as excellent, highlighting the energy projects implemented with the participation of Azerbaijan.

On January 17, Azerbaijan-Czech Business Forum was held in Baku with participation of about 170 Czech businessmen, engaged in agriculture, food industry, finance, insurance, energy, logistics, construction, law, petrochemistry, mechanical engineering, glass production and other sectors of the economy.

The Czech Republic ranks the 12th in the list of main importers of Azerbaijani goods. The share of the Czech Republic in the total export from Azerbaijan totaled 2.58 percent in January-November 2016.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic amounted to $316 million in January-November 2016, and $214.4 million of which accounted for the export of Azerbaijani goods to the Czech Republic, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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18 January 2017 12:47 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijans state energy giant SOCAR has revealed the volume of its oil and gas production for 2016.

Energy-rich Azerbaijan produced 416.5 million tons of oil and 128.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of associated gas from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block of oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea in November 1997 as of January 1, 2017.

Khoshbakht Yusifzade, First Vice President of SOCAR said that some 2.5 million tons of oil and more than one billion cubic meters of gas are monthly produced at the ACG block of oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea, mentioning that 231.8 million tons of the total volume of the oil produced at the field accounted for profitable oil.

The share of Azerbaijans profitable oil is increasing year by year. In 2016, Azerbaijan exported 32.7 million tons of oil to global markets. Out of this volume 19.3 million tons of oil (59 percent) accounted for Azerbaijans profitable oil, he said in his article published on January 18.

Nearly 321.7 million tons of oil out of the exported 435.4 million tons was transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

In 2016, the country produced more than 41 million tons of oil and 29.4 bcm of gas.

Yusifzade mentioned that 7.5 million tons of oil and 6.3 bcm of gas were produced by means of SOCARs own resources. As for Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) and Shah Deniz Consortium, the companies produced 33.5 million tons of oil and 23.1 bcm of gas.

The largest Shah Deniz field has provided some 78.4 bcm of gas and 19.6 million tons of condensate since the start of operation in 2006.

The daily average production in eight active wells stands at 29.5 mcm of gas and 6,500 tons of condensate.

So far, the country exported 5.9 bcm of gas to Georgia and 43.8 bcm to Turkey by means of South Caucasus Pipeline. The volume of daily supply within the first stage of development of Shah Deniz field stands at 4 and 18.5 mcm of gas to Georgian and Turkey respectively.

The forecast for oil production in 2017 stands at 39.797 million, which is 3.7 percent lower than the index fixed in 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. Gas production in the country is expected to stand at 28.39 billion cubic meters (bcm) by the end of 2017, the volume is down by 2.9 percent than the figure of 2016.

The price of a barrel of Azeri Light oil stood at $56.29 on January 18.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
18 January 2017 16:10 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The East-West pipeline, the largest natural gas pipeline in Turkmenistan is planned to provide raw materials for all industrial objects that will be put into operation in the country.

The Turkmen Oil and Gas Complex reported that Turkmenneftegazstroy Gas Concern has already completed pressure testing on the 150 kilometer length Shatlikedjen Kaakha main gas pipeline. Fuel will be soon delivered to Ahal and Balkan regions of the country.

Testing in the western section of the pipeline also revealed high level of reliability. Six remaining sections of the 773 kilometer length pipeline are also prepared for durability and leak proofness.

The $2.5 billion pipeline, which reportedly has the capacity to transfer 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year is designed to deliver gas from largest deposits in Turkmenistan's eastern parts to other gas pipelines in the country, thus increasing volumes and safety of gas exports, and also serving for domestic gas supplies.

A number of gas-compressor stations, as well as other enterprises are planned to be constructed along the path of the pipeline. Galkynysh, the largest gas field of Turkmenistan is expected to serve as the main source for the pipeline. The pipeline also creates conditions for exporting Turkmen fuel to world markets in any direction.

The country ranks fourth in the world in terms of the volume of natural gas reserves, according to the BP report. For the time being, the country is able to export natural gas to China and Iran with the possibility of increasing the supply volume. This is while Russia has suspended the purchase of Turkmen gas.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
18 January 2017 18:03 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijans state energy company SOCAR has selected the French Axens, a provider of advanced technologies, catalysts, adsorbents and services, as a supplier of technology for its Gas Processing and Petrochemical Complex (GPC) project.

The companys AlphaButol technology unit of 32,000 tons per annum capacity will be installed at the GPC for the production of high purity 1-Butene through ethylene dimerization.

Axens Senior Executive Vice-President, Process Licensing Christian Dupraz said that the technology will contribute to the success of the large-scale project.

We are very pleased to be part of SOCAR GPC project with the AlphaButol technology. This is a reliable and cost effective process that has a long and successful track record. After several recent clean fuels refining projects that we have conducted with SOCAR, it is now a great opportunity to contribute to the success of the GPC project with a technology for the production of high quality 1-Butene, he said.

The GPC project is a totally integrated grassroots project, from natural gas processing to the production of high value polymers through the inclusion of an entire petrochemical complex. The plant, when operational, will produce some 600,000 tons of polyethylene and 120,000 tons of propylene per year.

SOCAR launched the GPC project to maximize added value of the upstream-midstream-downstream oil and gas chain and create a cutting-edge standard processing industry in Azerbaijan.

The primary purpose of the project is to provide the end users in the country with purified natural gas and ensure production of high value added polymers. Under the project, gas processing, and petrochemical plants will be built in Garadagh, 15 km south of Baku.

The project is deemed to mark the beginning of a new era in development of Azerbaijans petrochemical industry and turn the country into a major player in the industry.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
18 January 2017 10:33 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

In one of his final acts before leaving office, President Barack Obama on Tuesday commuted the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. military intelligence analyst behind the biggest breach of classified materials in U.S. history, the White House said, Reuters reported.

Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks - a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Manning, formerly known as U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman.

Manning, who is held at the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, military prison, accepted responsibility for leaking the material, and has said she was confronting gender dysphoria at the time of the leaks while deployed in Iraq. Her sentence will now expire on May 17, the White House said.

Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a U.S. Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news staff.

Her attorney had argued her sentence exceeded international legal norms, and she has twice attempted suicide.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
18 January 2017 16:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The registration of candidates ahead of the upcoming presidential elections in Turkmenistan which will take place on February 12, 2017 is complete, the country's Central Election Commission reported on Wednesday.

Nine candidates were officially registered.

The election campaign begins from the date of registration of the presidential candidate and ends one day prior to Election Day.

The registered candidates for the highest office, in accordance with the national electoral legislation and international law, are provided with equal rights and opportunities for the organization of meetings with voters, appearances on TV, radio and also in print media.

According to the electoral legislation, the presidential candidates have the right to be provided with free airtime on state television and radio channels. The total amount of daily allocated free airtime should not be less than one hour. This free airtime is distributed between the candidates on equal terms.

For the first time in the history three political parties will participate in the presidential election campaign, which have already decided on the candidates. The Democratic Party nominated the current head of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, State Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs - the chairman of the Commercial Bank "Rysgal" Begmyrat Atalyeva, the Agrarian Party - Chairman of the Mary velayat (region) Committee Durdygylycha Orazov.

Six citizens' initiatives were formed during the election campaign. They nominated the candidacies of Maksat Annanepesov, vice-president of the State Association of Food Industry, Jumanazar Annan's deputy governor of the Mary velayat (region), Durdiyev Ramadan, director of the Seydi oil refinery, Meretdurdy Gurbanov, deputy governor of Dashoguz province, Serdar Dzhelilov, Head of the Department of Economy and Development of Akhal province, Suleymannepes Nurnepesov, General Director of Garabogazsulfat.

According to the Electoral code, a candidate for the President of Turkmenistan for the period of the election campaign on the basis of the decision of the Central Election Commission can suspend industrial or servicing duties with the average wage.

In accordance with the national electoral legislation, to be nominated for the presidency the candidate should be a citizen, born in Turkmenistan, aged above 40 years, speak the state language, and live and work permanently in the country over the last 15 years.

The current president of Turkmenistan, 59-year-old Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov headed the country since 2007. In 2012 he was re-elected for a new term.

---

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18 January 2017 16:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his people have never considered the US policies as positive, but coming to President-elect Donald Trumps administration, he prefers to wait and see.

I believe we need for the administration to take office before we start passing judgments. Of course we have very fundamental differences with the US. We tried to resolve one issue [nuclear deal] and that was not just with the US but with five other countries and the EU. That has been working at least from our side [Iran] pretty well..., he said.

Zarif was responding to a question on his judgment on the incoming Trump administration at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 18, which was aired live by the WEF website.

So, we will have to wait and see what President-elect Trump, once inaugurated, will try to pursue as his policies. So, I reserve my judgment as under positive and negative sides, Zarif added.

From the perspective of the Iranian people the policies of the US have never been positive, he concluded.

Earlier during the day, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met in Davos to discuss regional and international issues.

Zarif has conferred with Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter on the sidelines of WEF as well.

Iranian and Swiss foreign ministers discussed mutual issues, regional and international developments, IRNA reported.

---

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18 January 2017 16:54 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Iran, which is determined to modernize its aviation industry, has signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding with German companies on the projects on development of its airports.

Iran's Airports Company (IAC) signed a MoU with the airports in Munich, Frankfurt and Dornier Consulting International GmbH, which is a consulting and project management company that operates in the field of aviation, among other sectors.

The memorandum covers airport operations management, airport development, navigation infrastructures and consultation regarding commercialization of the airports.

This MoU gives us the opportunity to use German companies experience to modernize Iranian airports, equipment and facilities; train human resources and finance airport infrastructure development projects, said CEO of the Iranian company, Rahmatollah Mahabadi.

Mahabadi added that Germany will finance construction of the Tabriz Airport terminal, as well as assist in the implementation of funding mechanisms for new airports in Chabahar and Ahvaz.

Iran also plans to overhaul equipment of airports to improve safety, he added.

Since sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic were lifted last year, Iran began to take steps to upgrade its air industry, revamp an aging airline fleet, equipment and airports.

The country also holds negotiating with the French and Italian companies in this regard.



Earlier in April 2016, Iran inked a MoU with Italys SEA Group for the construction of a new passenger terminal in Tehrans Mehrabad International Airport, estimated to require 250 million in investment.

Meanwhile, Irans first brand-new A321 Airbus aircraft landed in Tehran after 38 years of international embargo this month. This is the first brand-new airliner Iran has received since the 1979 revolution, thanks to the landmark nuclear deal signed in 2015.



The contract was signed last year when President Hassan Rouhani visited France, only a few days after the nuclear deal officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was put into force, ending decades long economic sanctions on Iran. Iran has put orders for 100 aircraft with Airbus.

Iran made a similar deal with the American Boeing, but the prospect of it is overshadowed by the election of Donald Trump as the next US president, as he has strongly opposed the nuclear deal and Irans economic freedom.



Under sanctions, Irans aviation industry has become aged and remains

underdeveloped. The country plans to buy about 500 new aircraft in the near future.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Over the past decade, African private equity (PE) has emerged as an attractive asset class, underpinned by favourable fundamental trends. However, stronger competition for deals, recent macroeconomic headwinds and operational challenges in Africa are requiring PE funds to put greater emphasis on value creation to continue delivering attractive returns. We review some of the archetypal approaches to value creation used globally and examine how they are being deployed in the African context.

Africa has long been seen as the last frontier for investing, and since the turn of the millennium, the continent has become increasingly attractive for PE investors.

The emergence of African private equity as a popular asset class has had much to do with Africas compelling economic fundamentals. Sub-Saharan Africas real GDP has grown by an average annual rate of about 5% since 2000, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. This rapid economic growth has been supported by a growing population, greater market liberalisation and increased macroeconomic stability.

As a result, Africa has seen rapid growth in the number of PE funds operating on the continentfrom 12 funds in 1997 to more than 200 funds today, based on data from the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA). Predominantly local PE funds that have operated in Africa for decades (such as Ethos in South Africa or African Capital Alliance in Nigeria) have grown their fund sizes while regional funds (such as Actis, Helios and the Abraaj Group) have also expanded their African presence; Abraaj alone has made 14 investments in sub-Saharan Africa since 2012. Major global players have entered the market as well: In 2014, The Carlyle Group raised a nearly $700 million dedicated fund and KKR made a $200 million investment in Ethiopian flower company Afriflora.

Challenges for African investors

PE investors in Africa, however, are facing some very real challenges, including greater competition for a limited number of attractive assets, renewed macroeconomic headwinds and distinct local operational challenges.

According to AVCAs Annual African Private Equity Data Tracker, PE fund-raising in Africa grew at an annual rate of 15% from 2010 to 2015, while the number of companies with more than $100 million in revenues (typical PE target companies) grew annually by just 2% during that period (see Figure 1). This has led to a large increase in competition, raising valuations and multiples being paid for assets. A recent report by investment advisory firm RisCura shows that between 2009 and 2013, more than half of African PE deals were priced below six times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), but by 2015 this share had declined to less than one-third.

Recent years have also brought renewed macroeconomic challenges. The brisk decline in key commodity prices since 2014 has negatively affected the many African countries that still rely heavily on the export of natural resources. That has been compounded by recent political uncertainty across Africa, including in three of the largest African markets: South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. This economic and political uncertainty has resulted in the rapid depreciation of many African currencies. Over the past three years, the South African rand and the Nigerian naira have depreciated about 40% against the US dollar, while the Ghanaian cedi depreciated about 50%.

Lastly, PE funds are also facing some very real operational challenges in Africa:

Working with owners and founders. In Africa, many companies are still run by their original founders or their families, with many afraid to relinquish control to new investors.

A limited talent pool. There is often limited depth to the management skills and capabilities in African companies; this is particularly true below the top management level.

Opaque business practices. In many African countries, some businesses are still reliant on informal practices such as providing gifts to obtain an import licence.

Indigenisation trends. Many African governments encourage local economic empowerment by limiting the extent of foreign ownership. South Africas proposed bill for 51% local ownership of private security companies is one example.

Faced with these challenges, African PE funds are increasingly looking to promote value creation in their portfolio companies to be able to deliver compelling returns for investors.

A global private equity shift towards value addition

Since the global financial crisis, PE funds around the world have benefited from market betaunderlying economic growth, rising equity values and readily available low-cost debtto help deliver attractive returns. With these passive forces now waning, PE firms are having to further develop the strategic and operational skills needed to create alpha in their place through active value creation.

Based on Bain & Companys extensive global experience, we have outlined four archetypal approaches to creating value at portfolio companies (see Figure 2):

The adviser-led model. PE firms that adopt an adviser-led approach typically take a less interventionist approach to their portfolio companies. They will selectively lean in on particular investments to help shape the management teams goals and supply resources to help deliver on those goals. Adviser-led value creators typically eschew dedicated portfolio teams and instead assemble a network of external experts who can address specific needs.

The functional playbook model. Some activists take a more hands-on prescriptive approach to creating value in portfolio companies. PE funds that adopt the functional approach typically employ full-time experts who implement a dedicated playbook with initiatives that improve business processes, reduce costs or deliver other operational improvements.

The maestro model. This model places considerable emphasis on early, high-level and continuous engagement with portfolio management, but is well suited for PE funds that lack the resources or the desire to staff expensive in-house operating teams. PE funds that adopt the maestro approach typically designate a seasoned leader within the firm to coordinate a flexible team comprising deal team members and external resources to develop and implement value-creation plans.

The general-activist model. Some larger PE funds build portfolio activism into their DNA. Their multidisciplinary operating teams bring a high level of engagement to each investment. These dedicated multidisciplinary portfolio groups work closely with the newly acquired companies to provide deep strategic analysis, support the development of value-creation blueprints and help management teams put them into operation.

Examples of African PE value addition

Increasingly, leading African PE firms are recognising that it is only by generating alpha through active portfolio management that they can deliver sustainable, attractive returns. In the African context, funds may use different value-creation models for different investments, with the chosen model depending on the extent of control funds have over the portfolio company. Where funds have minority stakes, direct value addition is considerably harder, and softer skills such as influence become key.

Despite Africas distinctive investment climate, Bain has observed the archetypal global approaches being applied by funds across the continent.

CDC Group, the UKs Development Finance Institution, has largely embraced the maestro model. The fund specialises its deal teams by industryfinancial institutions, consumer businesses, industrial businesses and so onand selectively leverages expertise in these teams, as well as a growing sector-specific network of senior advisers, to create value in its portfolio companies. Furthermore, across investments, CDC also utilises the functional playbook model in deploying its in-house expertise to enhance a companys environmental, social and governance standards.

Meanwhile Ethos, the South African-based PE fund, also often utilises the maestro model, whereby a senior leader coordinates members of the deal team to add value in its portfolio companies. In other situations, where the fund sees more scope for value addition, it will deploy a broader general-activist model using its dedicated in-house value-add team, supplemented with external qualified advisers where relevant. This core team consists of five professionals, who actively engage with the portfolio companies and bring institutionalised excellence.

Practical considerations

In summary, we believe that Africa is an attractive investment destination for PE funds, but it is becoming increasingly clear that these funds cannot rely on market beta alone. Rather, they require a greater emphasis on portfolio value creation to generate alpha and attractive returns.

Bain believes that any properly structured approach to value creation should flow organically from a PE funds unique size, strategy and values, and depends on the funds philosophy (its objectives for value creation), its engagement model (how and when it will intervene) and its organisation (what internal and external talent it needs). In general, a balance should be struck between developing dedicated expertise in-houseeither through specialising deal teams or developing dedicated value-addition resourcesand flexibly leveraging trusted external resources with a track record of delivering results.

Finally, given the challenges inherent in investing in Africa, it is critical that PE funds continually adapt and innovate their value-creation models to react to local market conditions, by examining where and how they can achieve the highest returns on their costly investment in portfolio management resources.

Andrei Vorobyov is a partner in Bain & Companys Johannesburg office. He leads the firms Private Equity and Mergers & Acquisitions practices in sub-Saharan Africa. Stephen York is a principal in the Johannesburg office of Bain & Company. He has experience in many areas, including corporate strategy, private equity and performance improvement.
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St. Petersburg water resources experts are trying to figure out whats causing dozens of pelicans in Coffee Pot Bayou and a lake in the Riviera Bay neighborhood to get sick and die.

70 ill pelicans collected since last Wednesday; half have died

Pelicans found in the area of Coffee Pot Bayou, Riviera Bay neighborhood lake

Water experts suspect fish kills could be to blame

Neighbors worry summer's sewage dump may have contributed

Were hiring a consulting firm to look at the water quality, said Water Resources Interim Director John Palenchar. It is a mystery in some sense. We know that there was a fish kill over in Riviera Lake.

Last week, Bay News 9 reported on that thermal inversion fish kill that for the first time also included pelicans. Over the weekend, dozens more sick pelicans were also spotted at bird island in Coffee Pot Bayou.

Palenchar said avian botulism is often associated with fish kills and could be the source of the problem.

This avian botulism can be present and cause some of the symptoms that we are seeing in the pelicans, he said. Were not sure whether thats whats causing the birds illnesses.

We contacted the city, the Owls Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife and the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary to try and get a total count of sick pelicans.

So far, about 70 pelicans have been collected since last Wednesday and half of those have died.

Hopefully, its close to over, said environmentalist Lorraine Margeson. But we still have sick birds.

Palenchar said its hopefully a one-off incident thats correcting itself.

The fish kill got cleaned up. Were not seeing any more dead fish, he said. So, with the removal of that source or vector perhaps of the disease, the pelicans are now getting healthy again.

Resident Mary Miller wonders if the more than 200 million gallons of sewage the city of St. Pete dumped into the Bay last summer could be contributing to the problem.

We need to approach the sewage situation, she said. We need real data here. We cant just sit by and wait for the tide to wash this out.

Palenchar said its something else thats causing the pelicans to get sick and not the sewage discharge.

When you have a flushing system like this, anything that couldve been here has been gone for so many months, he said. That any correlation would be wild speculation not based on any science that Ive ever seen.

Margeson said shes skeptical of that claim and wants a certified testing lab doing year round water tests.

I do not believe it. I will tell you that if you talk to the county, they fully expect most of our sea grass beds to die by next year, she said. This is going to be long-term ramifications from that much garbage going into the Bay.

The water resources department said initial test results from water samples have shown no abnormalities. The consulting firm will conduct further testing. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said their lab in Gainesville is doing necropsies on the pelicans and they hope to have those results in a few weeks.

Meanwhile, the city has posted signs along the affected areas warning residents not the play, swim or fish in the water.
Inauguration Day is Friday and dozens of young kids from Florida are getting a chance to see history in the making.

Florida students to witness President-elect Trump's inauguration

Students to learn about political process

Trump will be sworn in on Friday, Jan. 20 as the 45th US president

Students from the Florida 4-H Youth Development Program arrived in Washington D.C. Tuesday to watch the swearing in of President-elect Donald Trump on Friday.

The kids are hoping to walk away with a complete understanding of our political process, and they know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Fifty students from 20 counties signed up for the trip last February, long before they knew who the president-elect would be.

The trip is part of the Citizenship Washington focus, a national program held in Washington D.C. each year, and this year's was extra special because of the inauguration.

The students spent their first day in workshops, learning all about what they'll be seeing on Friday and the process behind it.

One student from Hernando County said she is excited to see first hand what it takes to bring a president into office.

"I thought it was really cool and awesome experience to get to have because not everyone gets to have this chance. It's a once in a lifetime type of thing, I believe, because it's not as easy to get into as many people would want to hope. So, it's something that's truly amazing and I'm so grateful I could come at all," said student, Cari Lovett.

Over the next few days, the students will participate not only in the workshops, but also speaking sessions where they will learn about the history of the presidency, the election process, the press in the United States, and the main event, Friday's inauguration ceremony.
This story was last updated on: 11:27 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017

Markeith Loyd is in custody, police announced Tuesday night, ending a massive nine-day manhunt for the man accused in the slaying of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton.



Orlando Police: Markeith Loyd taken into custody

Loyd was added to US Marshals' 15 most wanted

Marshals Service added $25,000 to reward

LIVE UPDATES: Up-to-the-minute tweets from our reporters in the field



Loyd was captured at about 7 p.m. on the 1100 block of Lescot Lane in the Carver Shores neighborhood  an abandoned home right around the corner from Clayton's mother's house, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said, surrounded by Central Florida leaders and law enforcement officers during a news conference Tuesday night.

We've got him! Markeith Loyd in OPD ICustody. Details to come. Media: stand by for details on press conference. pic.twitter.com/SVjFUEvNak  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 18, 2017

Loyd was wearing body armor and carried two handguns  one with a 100-round magazine  when he was taken into custody, Mina said.

Loyd resisted arrest, which resulted in facial injuries, the police chief said. Loyd was handcuffed using Clayton's handcuffs, per law enforcement tradition, and taken to Orlando Police headquarters, where was assessed for a beaten, bloody face.

"The injuries look minor to me," Mina said.

Mina declined to say how Loyd was found but said it was not through one of the 1,400 tips that came into Crimeline in the nine days Loyd was being sought.

Instead, he commended the "great police work" of the hundreds of officers involved in the manhunt, which included not only Orlando Police but officers from the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Loyd was "captured by great police work. These men and women were working nonstop for nine days. ... They did everything they could for the Dixon family and the Clayton family."

Loyd was also sought in connection with the December slaying of his ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon. Clayton was attempting to make contact with Loyd at an Orlando Wal-Mart on Jan. 9 when she was fatally shot.

"He is responsible for the death of his former girlfriend and her unborn child," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said.

"I believe our entire community is going to breathe a sigh of relief and will sleep better tonight knowing this maniac is off the streets," he said.

The Sheriff's Office will serve an arrest warrant tonight, Demings said. He'll be charged with several offenses stemming from Dixon's Dec. 13 fatal shooting, including two counts of first-degree homicide, one count of attempted first-degree homicide and two counts of aggravated assault, Demings said. Dixon's brother, Ronald Stewart, was also shot that night and critically injured.

"It's a relief. It's a burden off our family," said Dixon's parents, Stephanie Dixon-Daniels and Ron Daniels. "We don't have to worry if this guy is going to show back up."

The family says it will return to the home along Long Peak Drive now that Loyd is caught. They also say Sade's surviving children are doing well.

Added District 5 Commissioner Regina Hill: "I'm forever grateful that this cold-blooded killer is going to be brought to justice."

&amp;amp;amp;nbsp;

US Marshals' 15 most wanted

Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Service had put Loyd on its 15 most wanted list and added $25,000 to the reward for information leading to his arrest.

Police said Loyd may have changed his appearance and released a fuller physical description of the man wanted in connection with the slaying of Lt. Debra Clayton: Loyd is between 6 foot and 6-foot-3 inches and between 180 and 200 pounds. He has a raised scar on his left hand and may have shaved his head.

Police and Crimeline were offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Loyd, the largest reward in Crimeline history. The Marshals Service brought that up to $125,000.

"We are never going to give up on the search for Markeith Loyd," Police Chief John Mina said on the ninth day of the manhunt.

About 1,400 tips came into Crimeline.

"We just need that right piece of information to bring it all together, to bring him into custody," Mina said.

Man denies helping Loyd

Zarghee Mayan, the first of three people accused of helping Loyd, was arrested and charged for giving "inconsistent statements" about seeing Loyd and giving him money.

Lyle Mazin, Mayan's attorney, said Mayan was never trying to help Loyd elude or escape capture. Mazin said his client is entitled to a reasonable bond of less than $10,000 and will ask for that at a Wednesday hearing.

"We're talking about locking up a man because an armed person in a tactical vest and a gun asked him to give him money that he owed and then he didn't charge him for chicken," Mazin said. "And that's why he's charged with this case."

When asked whether the situation was that simple, Mazin replied: "That's the sad part, it's that simple."

Mayan's bond hearing will take place Wednesday at the Orange County Courthouse.
Education First Federal Credit Union announced it made charitable donations of more $225,000 for 2016, benefitting Southeast Texas, according to a release from the credit union.

Several donations focused on the credit union's support of education, which has been rooted in the heart of our existence since opening our doors in 1952.

One program, We're Paying It Forward, allows members to designate a portion of the interest they pay on a loan to a school of their choice.

In 2016, the program provided $25,000 in undesignated funds to schools in our area. EFFCU also awarded $40,000 in college scholarships for high school seniors and continued its longtime support of Lamar University.

Education First is proud to support social causes in the community as well. Girls Haven, Boys Haven, Relay for Life, Southeast Texas Food Bank, YMBL, CASA of Southeast Texas, Cruisin' Silsbee and Some Other Place were a few of the local organizations that benefitted from Education First's commitment to the community.

Community Relations Director, Christy Hardt, expressed her excitement about last year's charitable giving. "We are always eager to reach out and touch someone's life. These opportunities offer our employees the chance to personally make a difference in the communities where they work and live."

Education First also continued its Blue Jean Fridays campaign, a voluntary program that allows its employees to wear blue jeans to work each Friday in exchange for a small donation to a fund, which at the end of the calendar year is donated to , a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization in the community is selected to receive the donation.

The 2016 recipient of a check for $4,700 was the Southeast Texas Food Bank. The check was presented on Giving Tuesday, a day of charitable giving observed internationally.

Education First employees are also given the opportunity to volunteer together in the community through its Volunteer Investment Program or VIP.

Employees participating in this program are given the opportunity to donate their personal time outside of work to help various organizations across Southeast Texas achieve their mission. In 2016, VIP donated over 750 hours of service to worthy organizations and projects across Southeast Texas.

EFFCU's CEO, Keith Brenek, is "proud of the difference we are making in the communities we serve. Our employees' good deeds set an example for our membership, which in turn, improves the lives of those in our community even further."

Education First is a community credit union with 34,000 members in its field of membership that includes Hardin, Jefferson, Jasper, Newton, Orange and Tyler counties, in addition to East Chambers ISD and High Island ISD, with assets exceeding $350 million.
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H-E-B Chairman and CEO Charles Butt will invest more than $100 million to create a nonprofit leadership institute for Texas public school administrators.

The institute will be named the Holdsworth Center, after Butt's mother, Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt, who was a teacher in the Hill Country before her marriage. Although potential sites are being scouted, the Holdsworth Center will be in Austin and serve school districts from every part of Texas.

"With our size comes a tremendous responsibility to provide the highest-quality education to all students," Charles Butt, 78, said in a prepared statement. "The Holdsworth Center will help to ensure we have inspired and enlightened leaders at every level within the education system making daily decisions that positively impact the future of our students and the state."

The legacy gift will come from Butt's personal fortune.

The center will open this year with a cohort of six school districts out of at least 15 invited to apply by Feb. 1, said Kate Rogers, H-E-B spokeswoman and the Holdsworth Center's acting executive vice president. Districts that are selected will be notified by the end of March.

To participate, a school district should have between 8,000 and 85,000 students and demonstrate strong relationships between top administrators, including the superintendent and the board of trustees, Rogers said. The chosen districts won't fit a single demographic or academic profile.

The program will begin with leadership training sessions for superintendents and their administrators, lasting about three days a month for two years. In the second year of a district's involvement, principals will begin their own two-year trainings, Rogers said.

The program will involve international travel to places such as Singapore that have installed effective talent management systems, center board members said. In addition to traveling, administrators will meet strong leaders in the private and military sectors, attend lectures and discussions with renowned faculty, and assess their own leadership. Topics will include change management, team building and school board relations. Between learning sessions, staff from the center will work to support administrators in their districts.

AMalik@Express-News.netSan Antonio Express-News staff Writer Joshua Fechter contributed to this report.
For the second time in two years, a prospective buyer for the Hotel Beaumont says he wants to revive the historic property, a commercial real estate broker said Tuesday at Beaumont Main Street's annual meeting.

Main Street members heard this pitch before in December 2014, when they gathered in the Hotel Beaumont lobby for that year's annual meeting of the historical and downtown development association.

Since then, the 140-room hotel has remained vacant and untouched.

"It's under contract again," Lee Wheeler told Main Street members. "These people have deep pockets."

Hotel Beaumont was built in 1922 and operated as a hotel and gathering place for large events like proms. It later served as an assisted living residence for seniors from 1977 until 2011, when it closed.

(Story continues below.)

Wheeler, who has acted as broker for city of Beaumont-owned buildings in the past, called the in-progress acquisition a "total game changer" for downtown Beaumont that could attract national recognition.

Wheeler declined to identify the prospective buyer or a timeline in which a renovation might begin.

"They don't just put properties under contract, but they actually do it (renovate and revive)."

The city acquired the hotel property, used it as collateral for federal loans to build other projects and later sold it to California-based buyer Seth McCormick in October 2014 for $1,122,000.

Wheeler said McCormick is concentrating on a project in Las Vegas and decided to let go of the Hotel Beaumont.

Kim Brent

Southeast Texans have heard promises before about major improvements on the way but have yet to see the promise turned into reality, such as a convention-style hotel at Ford Park or a water amusement park on the same county-owned property.

While development has pushed west between Dowlen Road and along Major Drive, Wheeler asserts that downtown is resurgent as the new "hottest market" in Southeast Texas. He said more than 500,000 square feet of commercial space has leased in the past 36 months. He said about half of it has been in Edison Plaza, 350 Pine St.

Other buildings that are about to see big changes, according to Wheeler, include the Goodhue building, 398 Pearl St., which is awaiting state and federal tax credit grants ahead of a renovation into perhaps as many as 54 loft apartments and first floor retail.

The AT&T building, or Southwestern Bell building, 555 Main St., is owned by a real estate investment trust and will be listed within the next couple of weeks, Wheeler said.

As with most AT&T buildings, Wheeler said they are configured so more floors can be added, and its interior walls are moveable so converting the interior is simple.

The building occupies a high point on the bluff above the Neches River, and its location along Riverfront Park makes it attractive, he said.

City Manager Kyle Hayes said City Council in the next few weeks will appropriate $3 million intended for Riverfront Park improvements. The money available is the last from the city's $42 million borrowed in 2013 for a variety of improvements, including street repair.

DWallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/dwallach
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Less than two weeks after receiving mostly poor marks under the state's new controversial grading system, area superintendents are asking the Texas Education Agency to "tweak" its methods for evaluating school districts.

TEA's regional Executive Director Danny Lovett said most of the superintendents he met with last week are unhappy with two categories the state uses in its grading formula. The first measures how economically disadvantaged children perform on the STAAR test, and the other looks at how well schools prepare students for college and careers.

The first category "tries to compare your percentage of low socioeconomic kids versus other schools' percentages and how you did compared to them," Lovett said.

Area educators worry that formula doesn't take into account other groups of students who might struggle on standardized tests, such as English language learners. The formula, superintendents say, doesn't tell the whole story about how schools are working to close achievement gaps.

The problem with the second category - college and career prep - is that it shouldn't be used as a factor in grading elementary and middle school campuses, according to area district leaders.

Elementary and middle schools are measured based on chronic absenteeism rates - the percentage of students who attend less than 90 percent of school days - and the dropout rates of seventh and eighth graders, which isn't enough data, superintendents said.

"One of the things they talked about is should elementary schools be counted at all" for postsecondary readiness, Lovett said.

"In high school, there's a lot of things that count," Lovett said, including graduation rates, SAT and advanced placement scores, career and technology (CTE) course completion and military enlistment.

Currently, not all career and technology courses are factored into the grading calculation.

Lovett said several superintendents asked how they could get the state to count more of these courses when grading high school campuses the next go-round.

Texas public school districts received preliminary letter ratings on Jan. 4 and will face no consequences for failing marks. The new A-F grading system was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2015, with the first round of official grades to be released in 2018.

More than 250 Texas school districts, including 12 locally, have passed resolutions opposing the system.

"It's a system under development, this was a trial run,"Lovett said. "The commissioner himself has said it will be tweaked, and the rules are not finalized."

Port Neches-Groves Superintendent Rodney Cavness, who declared his opposition to the system in a joint statement with four other district leaders earlier this month, said the reaction to the letter system is unprecedented.

"I haven't heard superintendents complain like this in all of my career," said Cavness, who has been an educator for more than 25 years.

"You can't tell me, based on the system, that we've got C schools. You can't make me believe it," he said on Jan. 9, when PN-G's board of trustees adopted a resolution against the ratings. "It's a simple way to bash public schools."

Deweyville ISD was one of three Region 5 districts to receive all Fs, even though the state rated the district "met standard" in August.

Superintendent Kevin Clark said he was confused by the F ratings, especially since some students didn't take all the state's standardized tests because of last spring's historic flooding.

"It was horrible," he said of the district's results. "I felt like we were going to be a C district. That's not good enough, don't get me wrong, but that's where I felt like we were," he said.

"So obviously, I need some more feedback."

Clark said he has been in contact with the Texas Education Agency about the district's grades.

Lovett said he will relay some of the superintendents' concerns and proposed tweaks to the state agency. Meanwhile, he said he expects officials will likely use other channels such as letters, legislative suggestions and communication with State Board of Education representatives to request changes.

It's unclear if the superintendents' input will change much.

In a speech at a Texas Public Policy Foundation conference in Austin last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said "we're not repealing A-F," and defended the system, saying that only schools that earned low preliminary grades are complaining.

LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz
After U.S. District Court Judge Louise Flanagan banned South Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper's (D) Medicaid expansion request, several state and federal officials filed court motions to lift the ban on Sept. 16, 2017, the Charlotte Observer reports.

Here's what you should know.

1. State and federal officials argued that North Carolina legislators "overstated potential problems that could come from such an expansion," the Charlotte Observer reports.

2. Gov. Cooper is attempting to expand North Carolina's Medicaid program under the ACA's provisions.

3. The state has provisions against such an expansion without legislature approval, but Gov. Cooper argued the expansion is exempt to the law.
Here are six updates on GI companies to note:

Austin, Texas-based Apollo Endosurgery found its next chief medical officer in gastroenterologist Christopher Gostout, MD. Dr. Gostout has more than 30 years experience in the gastroenterology and hepatology fields at the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission fined Parsippany-Troy Hills, N.J.-based Allergan $15 million for failing to disclose its 2014 merger talks with Actavis, also based in Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Allergan's CEO Brent Saunders aligned itself with President-elect Donald Trump. Mr. Saunders told Reuters that the company aligned with the "priorities of the incoming Trump administration."

Connecticut-based medical device developer Lumendi added James Soares as its vice president of sales and Yukio Nakajima as its new senior director of business development. Mr. Nakajima has more than 30 years of experience in the gastroenterology-facing medical device field.

New York's Faruqi & Faruqi, a national securities law firm, launched a legal investigation into the board of directors of Cambridge, Mass.-based Ariad Pharmaceuticals ahead of its potential sale to Japan's Takeda for $5.2 billion. Takeda is primarily acquiring Ariad's leukemia drug, Iclusig. Takeda expects the drug to generate between $170 million to $180 million in sales.

Irving, Texas-based Vizient awarded El Segundo, Calif.-based Karl Stroz Endoscopy America an innovative technology designation. Vizient awarded the designation because of the company's D-Light C Photodynamic Diagnostic system. The system detects and manages non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.
Connecticut-based medical device developer Lumendi added James Soares as its vice president of sales and Yukio Nakajima as its new senior director of business development.

Here's what you should know.

1. Mr. Soares has more than 35 years of sales, marketing and commercializing medical device experience.

He was a senior executive with Center Valley, Pa.-based Olympus for the last 27 years.

2. Mr. Nakajima has more than 30 years of experience in the gastroenterology-facing medical device field. He most recently was the managing director of a full service medical device consulting company.

3. Lumendi's CEO Peter Johann, MD, said the hires will help the company launch its DiLumen Endolumenal Interventional Platform.
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether companies can require employees to sign arbitration agreements preventing workers from pursuing group claims in court, according to The New York Times.

The Supreme Court took three cases on the issue, one of which involves Verona, Wis.-based Epic Systems, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

The Epic case involves an overtime pay dispute by an employee. In Chicago, a federal appeals court ruled the employee could file a class-action lawsuit against Epic, making the agreement he signed unenforceable.

The other two cases, in which employees of gas station owner Murphy Oil USA and business consulting company Ernst & Young sought legal action against their employers. In the Murphy Oil case, a New Orleans appeals court ruled that arbitration agreements were enforceable. In the Ernst & Young case, a San Francisco appeals court ruled the agreements were not enforceable.

All three cases will likely be heard in April.
Detroit Medical Center tapped Anthony J. Tedeschi, MD, to lead as CEO, effective immediately. Most recently, he served as CEO of Dallas-based Tenet's four-hospital Chicago Market as well as CEO at Chicago-based Weiss Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Tedeschi has more than 20 years of operational and clinical leadership experience. Prior to joining Tenet, he was COO of Cook County Health & Hospitals System in Chicago. He earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, his MBA from Chicago-based Northwestern University as well as a master's degree in public health from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

Dr. Tedeschi succeeds Joe Mullany, who is leaving DMC to pursue other opportunities.

"I look forward to being a part of DMC, a world-class health system dedicated to innovating clinical care, training the next generation of healthcare professionals and helping patients recover faster and stay healthier longer," said Dr. Tedeschi in a statement.
Culture. Productivity. Strategy. Execution. These ideas will never go out of style for hospital and health system leaders.

The following leadership articles were published by Becker's Hospital Review in the last week.

1. A practical roadmap to physician engagement

We hear a lot about engagement these days. Physician engagement, employee engagement and team engagement all have been correctly identified as essential to affecting change and achieving transformational objectives. In hospital settings, physician engagement is particularly important to success. And it is never more important, nor harder to achieve and sustain, than during times of uncertainty.

2. The #1 thing you need to know from the 2017 JP Morgan Healthcare Conference: Follow the money

If you want to understand the future of the $3 trillion U.S. healthcare industry, the lesson of the past is to 'follow the money.' And no one would argue that the place to do that is the infamous J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference that took place Jan. 9-12 in San Francisco.

3. Execution is about people, not strategy: 5 steps for aligning actions and behavior

As challenging as it may be to create a smart strategy, executing that strategy is exponentially harder. And a badly executed strategy, no matter how solid it may look on paper, is worthless, according to Peter Bregman, CEO of leadership consultancy Bregman Partners.

4. AHA's 5 strategic priorities for 2017-2020

The American Hospital Association released its strategic plan for 2017 to 2020, which the organization says will position it to be a national advocate for and provide guidance to members who are seeking to "redefine the 'H'"  be it hospital, health system or health organization.

5. Top 10 themes from the 2017 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Last week, record rains did not prevent over 30,000 people from descending on San Francisco for the 35th annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. The 35th rendition brought together diverse backgrounds from healthcare providers, life sciences, manufacturing, biotech, start-ups and health tech businesses. J.P. Morgan leads an increasingly popular nonprofit healthcare track, which attracted a standing room audience.

6. 12 health system CEOs on what drew them to healthcare

People who become CEOs have demonstrably strong leadership skills, tenacity and drive. But what is it that drives people to lead hospitals and health systems? Here, Becker's compiled responses from CEO participants in the Corner Office series, in which hospital and health system CEO's explained what first piqued their interest in healthcare.

7. 4 actions of revolutionary leaders: Get real, get clear, get smart and get wound up

Organizations across all industries are in need of a leadership revolution. Various workforce surveys consistently substantiate this assertion. For instance, the 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer found nearly one-third of employees don't trust their employer. This should concern leaders, for without a culture of trust, "every part of your organization can fall, literally, into disrepair," as Stephen M. R. Covey, co-founder and global practice leader of FranklinCovey's Global Speed of Trust Practice, and Douglas R. Conant, founder and CEO of ConstantLeadership, wrote in the Harvard Business Review.
Questions remain regarding the death of John Sheridan, former president and CEO of Cooper University Health System in Camden, N.J., more than two years after he was found unresponsive in his home.

On Sept. 28, 2014, Mr. Sheridan and his wife Joyce were found unresponsive in the master suite of their home in Skillman, N.J. The room had been set on fire. Mr. Sheridan, 72, died at the scene, and his wife was pronounced dead at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro (N.J.).

In March 2015, the deaths were ruled murder-suicide. Geoffrey Soriano, the Somerset County prosecutor at the time, concluded that Mr. Sheridan fatally stabbed his wife, set fire to their home and stabbed himself five times.

The Sheridan family hired a forensic pathologist who performed a second autopsy on Mr. Sheridan. Based partly on the fact that authorities never found the weapon that caused his wounds, the pathologist concluded it was more likely Mr. Sheridan was killed in an attack.

John and Joyce Sheridan's four sons, who firmly believe their father did not murder their mother, filed a petition in late 2015, requesting the New Jersey medical examiner's office to change the cause of death on their father's death certificate. On Jan. 13, the New Jersey Attorney General's office announced the state medical examiner had changed Mr. Sheridan's cause of death from suicide to undetermined, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Sheridan family is hoping officials will launch a new criminal investigation into the deaths. New Jersey Medical Examiner Andrew Falzon said in the report released last week that Mr. Sheridan's manner of death could be amended again if new information regarding the case is found, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

More articles on leadership and management:

Week in review: 12 biggest healthcare stories this week

Summa Health board releases statement backing ER staff switch

Medical Center of McKinney rebrands as Medical City McKinney: 3 things to know
The opioid epidemic that is sweeping the nation claimed a record 27,000 lives in 2014, according to the CDC. Since then, physicians and regulators have imposed significant restrictions on access to prescription opioids such as Oxycontin and Vicodin.

Although the move is intended to save lives and prevent addiction, patients suffering from severe chronic pain who rely on the drugs to function normally fear they might lose access to their medications, according to STAT.

One patient told STAT she lives in "constant fear," while another said his terror is "beyond description."

How to best address the opioid crisis has been a source of conflict in the medical community, as some physicians believe prescriptions should be scaled back, while others say the cost of chronic pain is too high.

"There's a civil war in the pain community," Daniel B. Carr, MD, president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, told STAT. "One group believes the primary goal of pain treatment is curtailing opioid prescribing. The other group looks at the disability, the human suffering, the expense of chronic pain."

The battle in the medical community over painkillers intensified in late 2015 when the New England Journal of Medicine published commentary in which two physicians argued that chronic pain patients should focus on addressing their emotional reactions to pain instead of reducing the intensity of it, according to the report. The authors, Jane C. Ballantyne, MD, the president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, and Mark D. Sullivan, MD, argued patients should seek "coping and acceptance strategies that primarily reduce the suffering associated with pain and only secondarily reduce pain intensity," reports STAT. Some readers accused the authors of lacking compassion for those in pain, while others applauded them for putting forth a novel approach to addiction prevention.

The heated responses to the piece illuminated a fundamental problem in the debate over opioid prescriptions, according to STAT: both sides lack evidence on the benefits or consequences of long-term use of painkillers aside from addiction because few exist.

Read the full report here.
The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions and general partnerships took place or were announced in the past week.

1. Surgical Care Affiliates, OptumCare to merge

Deerfield, Ill.-based Surgical Care Affiliates merged with health services company Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group.

2. 3 New Hampshire hospitals complete affiliation to form GraniteOne Health

Three New Hampshire hospitals  Manchester-based Catholic Medical Center, Wolfeboro-based Huggins Hospital and Peterborough-based Monadnock Community Hospital  completed their affiliation agreement to form GraniteOne Health.

3. Tenet to sell multiple hospitals, home health business

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare plans to refine its hospital operations portfolio by selling hospitals in noncore markets.

4. Nationwide Children's Hospital, Sarepta Therapeutics enter into research agreement

Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Children's Hospital and Cambridge, Mass.-based RNA-targeted therapeutics provider Sarepta Therapeutics entered into a research and option agreement on the hospital's microdystrophin gene therapy program.

5. UMass Memorial Medical Center to join Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative

Worcester, Mass.-based UMass Memorial Medical Center will be the first academic medical center to join the Boston-based Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative.

6. Penn State College of Medicine, Summit Health forge academic partnership

Hershey, Pa.-based Penn State College of Medicine and Chambersburg, Pa.-based Summit Health expanded an existing partnership to provide training opportunities to Penn State medical students pursuing careers in the medical field.

7. Little Company of Mary Hospital explores affiliation opportunities

Chicago-based Little Company of Mary Hospital said it is evaluating partners for a strategic partnership.

8. Ochsner adds 16 clinics with new acquisition

New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System acquired Millennium Healthcare Management, which owns 16 urgent care and occupational health clinics throughout southeast Louisiana.

9. LabCorp to acquire, provide services at Mount Sinai Health System laboratories

Burlington, N.C.-based Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings and New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System entered into a definitive agreement to allow LabCorp to acquire and provide services at the health system's clinical outreach laboratories.

10. Pekin Hospital, UnityPoint - Peoria finalize affiliation agreement

UnityPoint Health - Peoria (Ill.) completed its affiliation with Pekin (Ill.) Hospital. The agreement was effective Jan. 1.

11. HealthSouth, Memorial Hospital enter joint venture to operate rehabilitation hospital

Birmingham, Ala.-based HealthSouth and Memorial Hospital at Gulfport in Mississippi confirmed a joint venture to own and operate a 33-bed physical rehabilitation center on Memorial Hospital's campus.

12. MultiCare, Navos affiliate to expand behavioral health services

Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health and Seattle-based Navos, a mental health services provider, will affiliate to create a stronger system of behavioral health services for patients in the Puget Sound area.

13. UnityPoint Health-Waterloo to buy bankrupt Iowa hospital

Marshalltown-based Central Iowa Healthcare, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December, completed a preliminary step to join UnityPoint Health-Waterloo (Iowa), an affiliate of West Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health.

14. Sacred Heart Health System to take over operations of 4 Fla. Walgreens clinics

Officials from Pensacola, Fla.-based Sacred Heart Health System and Walgreens unveiled a collaboration Jan. 11 in which Sacred Heart will operate and provide clinical services at four of Walgreens' retail health clinics.

15. Norwalk Medical Group to join Westmed Medical Group

Purchase, N.Y.-based Westmed Medical Group continued its expansion into Connecticut, adding Norwalk (Conn.) Medical Group to its network.

16. TriHealth, Xavier University partner to expand collegiate health services

TriHealth and Xavier University, both in Cincinnati, partnered to boost collegiate health and wellness on Xavier's campus.

17. Dodge City Medical Center partners with Centura Health Physician Group

Englewood, Colo.-based Centura Health Physician Group acquired Dodge City (Kan.) Medical Center to recruit more specialty physicians to the area

18. CHS responds to Florida hospital's divestiture request

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems will not terminate its lease of Lower Keys Medical Center in Key West, Fla., early.

19. Lovelace Health System to partner with UNM medical group

Albuquerque, N.M.-based Lovelace Health System and the University of New Mexico Medical Group, the faculty practice of the Albuquerque-based University of New Mexico School of Medicine, partnered to deliver rehabilitation services to patients in the area.

20. Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Sectra partner to improve breast healthcare

The Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center at Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial Hospital and medical imaging IT company Sectra entered into a multiyear agreement to improve the quality of breast care and cancer detection at the hospital.

21. MD Anderson, Deerfield Management form joint venture to develop targeted cancer treatment

Houston-based The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Deerfield Management formed a joint venture company dedicated to performing drug discovery and research focused on advancing autophagy-targeted therapeutics for cancer treatment.

22. OhioHealth affiliates with 2 Ohio healthcare organizations

Columbus-based OhioHealth finalized an affiliation agreement with Cambridge-based Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center and Guernsey Health Systems, also in Cambridge.

23. Florida Hospital to operate 15 Walgreens clinics in Tampa area

Orlando-based Florida Hospital signed an agreement to operate and provide clinical services at 15 Walgreens retail health clinics in the Tampa Bay area.
CMS issued a final rule Tuesday preventing states from increasing or adding pass-through payments for hospitals, physicians or nursing homes contracted with Medicaid managed care organizations.

Here are five things to know about the final rule on Medicaid managed care organization pass-through payments.

1. Pass-through payments act as "add-ons" states pay to contracted Medicaid managed care plans. The pass-through payments supplement the base capitation rate managed Medicaid programs pay to contracted providers. One reason the payments are issued is to ensure safety-net hospitals and providers avoid disruption of payment during transition from fee-for-service managed care to value-based care, according to CMS.

2. In a final rule issued last year, CMS said managed care regulations prohibit states from making payments to providers for services available under a contract between the state and a managed care organization. As a matter of policy, CMS said it interpreted those regulations to also prohibit states from making supplemental payments to providers through a managed care plan. At that time, CMS said it would allow 10 years for hospitals to make the transition.

2. The final rule issued Tuesday limits increased or additional pass-through payment programs to those in place when final Medicaid managed care regulations took effect July 5, 2016. Under the final rule, only states with managed care contracts submitted to CMS by July 5 would be allowed to continue pass-through payments during the specified transition period.

3. In a previous final rule issued May 6, 2016, CMS estimated 16 states dispensed approximately $3.3 billion in pass-through payments annually. In addition, CMS estimated each year at least eight provided roughly $105 million in pass-through payments for physicians and at least three states issued about $50 million in pass-through payments for nursing facilities. The states were unidentified.

4. The AHA, which had requested CMS withdraw the proposed regulation, was disappointed with CMS' decision. Tom Nickels, AHA executive vice president, said in a statement, "We are disappointed that CMS chose to finalize a rule that further limits pass-through payments, and could adversely affect both those hospitals dependent on supplemental payments and the patients they serve. Hospitals and state Medicaid programs should have been allowed the full 10-year transition."

5. The final rule is effective in 60 days.
The Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality editorial team chose the following 10 patient safety issues for providers to prioritize in 2017, presented below in no particular order, based on news, study findings and trends reported in the past year.

Health equity. In 2001, the Institute of Medicine established six aims for improvement in healthcare: to make it safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable. While great strides have been made toward the first five, progress on health equity has lagged, according to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. IHI called health equity the "forgotten aim" in a 2016 whitepaper.

Health equity, per the IHI, is defined as "when everyone has the opportunity to attain their full health potential." When access to health isn't equitable, it can lead to poor health outcomes for patients. For instance, black people have much lower life expectancies compared to white people in the U.S., and people in households with lower incomes have higher relative risk of mortality than those with higher incomes.

While social determinants play a large role in health outcomes, healthcare organizations have a big part to play in improving health equity in their communities. The IHI, the CDC and other organizations have made resources available to show hospitals and physicians how to make health equity a strategic priority, decrease institutional racism and develop partnerships with other organizations in their community.

Growth of antibiotic resistance. Bacteria and fungi continue to grow more resistant to antimicrobials, even last-resort antibiotics like carbapenem and colistin. CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, told The Washington Post in May that "the end of the road isn't very far away for antibiotics  that we may be in a situation where we have patients in our intensive care units, or patients getting urinary tract infections for which we do not have antibiotics."

Hospitals can do their part to stymie the growth of antibiotic resistance by implementing antibiotic stewardship programs. The CDC and the National Quality Forum released "Antibiotic Stewardship in Acute Care: A Practical Playbook," in May to help hospitals set up such programs, which are so vital to stopping the growth of antibiotic resistance that the Joint Commission added an antimicrobial stewardship standard to its accreditation process for 2017.

Patient care transitions. Patient handoffs are always a risky moment in a patient's care journey, whether the move is from care team to care team or from acute care to post-acute care or to home. A study published in JAMA in December further solidified that truth, finding the end-of-rotation transition between resident care teams was associated with a significantly higher risk of in-hospital patient mortality.

Fortunately, several patient handoffs tools and checklists exist to strengthen this process, and an analysis of such protocols published in November 2016 in Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, showed those protocols do help. It found "good evidence for the general benefit of using handoff protocols, regardless of setting or protocol type."

Sterilization and reprocessing issues. Problems in the sterile processing department can put patients at risk of contracting various infections via surgical tools and medical devices. Hospitals and clinics continued to encounter problems cleaning, reprocessing or sterilizing reusable medical instruments in 2016.

Some of the challenge stems from instrument design. A study published in October 2016 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology found removing all contamination from robotic surgical instruments is close to impossible, for instance. Experts have also called duodenoscopes  which have been linked to outbreaks of multidrug-resistant organisms  "almost impossible to clean correctly."

Other issues arose due to lack of training for SPD staff. For example, a state investigation into Detroit Medical Center in fall 2016 found a lack of a "robust, consistent, repeatable, comprehensively documented and well-maintained training system" for central sterile processing employees was one of numerous issues that exposed DMC surgery patients to infection risk.

Hospitals can stymie this problem by ensuring staff are trained properly on the latest sterilization procedures and making it as easy as possible for staff to follow manufacturers' cleaning instructions.

Quality data transparency. In 2016, CMS moved forward with its controversial Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating program, which assigns hospitals a performance rating ranging from one to five stars. CMS touted the ratings as a way to "help millions of patients and their families learn about the quality of hospitals, compare facilities in their area side by side, and ask important questions about care quality when visiting a hospital or other healthcare provider."

However, the star ratings did not come without criticism. Several stakeholders spoke out about the shortfalls in CMS' program, including inadequate risk adjustment for data that makes larger hospitals that treat more complex patients less likely to receive a high star rating.

Other critics can paint CMS' star ratings as one more voice in an already conflicting crowd of rankings and ratings. A JAMA viewpoint published n November noted "virtually no agreement among the rating systems identifying 'better' or 'worse' hospitals. Hospital ratings systems offer conflicting information, as they rarely agree on which hospitals are top performers and which are poor performers."

Some systems have taken quality data transparency into their own hands. For instance, Meridian Health in New Jersey started displaying performance reports for its hospitals online, so patients can see more current data and make comparisons to other facilities in the area.

"We own it, and put it into a format we believe would be easier for folks in our community to understand, and it's more current," Marty Scott, MD, co-chief quality officer of Hackensack Meridian Health, told Becker's in an interview.

Contaminated water. In 2016, hospitals faced a myriad of patient safety challenges related to contaminated water. The spread of Legionella bacteria, which incites a type of pneumonia, was especially prominent. For instance, in September, five patients at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle contracted Legionnaires' disease. Two of the patients died. The infections may have contributed to the deaths. A subsequent investigation detected Legionella bacteria in an ice machine and two sinks in UW Medical Center's cardiac unit.

In October, STAT examined the unintended consequences of having more sinks in hospitals. While installed to encourage better hand hygiene, sinks' splashing have the potential to aerosolize contaminated water droplets and therefore infect patients nearby. The article cited a number of cases in which hospital sinks were linked to patient infections around the world. In one such instance in the Netherlands, sinks were removed from all patient rooms to inhibit the spread of bacteria.

To avoid this, Michael Gardam, MD, director of infection control at Toronto-based University Health Networks, suggested, "Don't have the gooseneck [faucet] drain directly into the drain; have it drain off to the side of the bowl. Don't allow it to splash. Make sure it's deep enough that it can't splash on you and splash on your clothing. Make sure that the stuff around [the sinks] is waterproof."

Vaccine coverage. Low adherence to immunization schedules resulted in outbreaks of preventable illnesses in 2016. Multiple mumps outbreaks brought cases of the resurgent virus to a 10-year high, according to the CDC. As of Dec. 3, 46 states and Washington, D.C., had reported 4,258 mumps cases combined.

Influenza is also largely preventable with a vaccine, but few Americans are vaccinated. Flu shots prevented an estimated 5 million illnesses and more than 70,000 hospitalizations in 2015, but the percentage of people inoculated against the potentially deadly virus remained low in 2016. Approximately two in five Americans received a flu shot this past year, which is comparable to the rate in 2015.

"We have a tool that is proven to prevent flu illness and hospitalization but millions of people are not taking advantage of it. Too many people are unprotected," said Nancy Messonnier, MD, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Though misinformation surrounding vaccines remains abundant, the healthcare community must remain vigilant in educating patients and families about the protective power of vaccination in 2017.

To see the CDC's immunization strategies for healthcare practices and providers, click here.

Behavioral health management protocols. When patients suffering from mental illness or substance abuse end up in emergency rooms, the experience can be trying for both the patient and providers, and these encounters can sometimes culminate in violence.

In 2016, The New York Times reported an instance of a patient shot at St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston. The incident involved Alan Pean, an unarmed, bipolar patient experiencing mental distress who was shot in his hospital room by security. After being hospitalized, Mr. Pean began repeatedly walking into the hallway naked and employees would then guide him back into the room. The patient was reportedly not aggressive or threatening, but after nurses got him into a gown, he refused to fasten it. The nurses, following protocol, alerted the off-duty Houston police officers providing security that morning. After the officers arrived at Mr. Pean's room, they entered and closed the door behind them, and a struggle with the officers ensued. Mr. Pean was Tased, shot and handcuffed.

The case helped fuel the debate over the necessity and safety of staffing armed security guards in hospitals. The Times article also cited a study by Gabor Kelen, MD, director of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins Medical School. The study found 23 percent of all emergency department shootings involved guns stolen from hospital security.

Hospital administrators can protect their organizations and patients from such situations by ensuring that hospital security is adequately trained to handle crises involving confused or aggressive patients.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections. A report on the CDC's Winnable Battles initiative released Dec. 5 showed strong progress in the reduction of hospital-associated infections, with one exception: catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Although previous studies suggest as many as 69 percent of CAUTIs are preventable, the infection continues to prove problematic for hospitals.

CDC began Winnable Battles in 2010 and set ambitious goals to be reached by 2015. The results show targets of 60 percent reductions in both central line-associated bloodstream infections and invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections are on track to be achieved. Additionally, achieving the target of a 30 percent reduction in surgical site infections looks to be feasible. However, the target of reducing CAUTIs in acute care hospitals by 30 percent was not reached. While CDC data did show a 24 percent decrease of CAUTIs in hospital wards, hospital intensive care units saw a 16 percent increase in CAUTI occurrence.

However, a recently published study examining the efficacy of a CAUTI reduction collaborative effort supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research shows promise. The initiative provided Quality Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program toolkits for CAUTI reduction to physicians and nurses across 603 hospitals. Program adherence was associated with a reduction of approximately one-third for CAUTIs in general wards.

To learn more about the CUSP toolkit, click here.

Emerging diseases/new outbreaks. The Zika virus captured the attention of both the public and infectious disease experts alike in 2016. As of Nov. 30, the CDC had tallied 1,172 Zika infections among pregnant women in the United States. The infections have resulted in the delivery of 32 infants with birth defects. An additional five fetuses with birth defects were lost in pregnancy due to Zika.

In October, Dr. Frieden, director of the CDC, described the spread of pathogens like Zika as the "new normal" in an age of global travel and trade, dense metropolises and climate change.

Emerging diseases like Zika in 2016 and Ebola in 2014 will continue to present problems for hospitals as they encounter communities where immunities have yet to be developed. Infectious disease experts should do their best to keep themselves apprised of emerging viruses like Mayaro, Rift Valley fever or Usutu that could cause outbreaks in the future.

An emerging pathogen to watch in 2017 is a deadly yeast infection that made its way to the U.S. for the first time in 2016, infecting 19 people thus far. The CDC expects more cases in the future. Some strains of the yeast infection, called C. auris, have developed resistances to all three major classes of antifungal drugs. The deadly yeast has caused outbreaks in healthcare settings in multiple countries across several continents.

To read the CDC's interim guidance for C. auris, click here.
Premier Foods branded cakes sales fell in the last quarter of 2016 as mince pies volumes shifted from Mr Kipling to own-label products.

The company reported a 3.4% year- on-year decline in sales of branded products in its Sweet Treats division in the 13 weeks to 31 December 2016. Non-branded sales increased 10.3%, however, contributing to total division sales rising 1% in the quarter.

Although the total number of mince pies sold by Premier rose 17% year on year, some volume manufactured by the business switched from Mr Kipling to non-branded sales.

This resulted in softer branded sales, offset by a very strong performance across the non-branded range, reported the company.

Premier also revealed it was in discussions with Mondelez International about extending its long-standing licence for the Cadbury brand, adding these talks were making good progress.

News of the discussions comes six months after Mondelez acquired the global licence for Cadbury-branded biscuits from Burtons Biscuit Company, which had produced Cadbury biscuits under licence.

Cadbury cake continued its strong momentum from the first half of the year, with sales and market share both growing, reported Premier in a trading statement today (18 January). The group continues to enjoy an excellent working relationship with Mondelez.

Premier will be extending its Cadbury line-up this year with a Cadbury cake Choc Tarts range in Caramel, Crunchie and Flake flavour variants.

Cadbury and Mr Kipling both enjoyed a strong performance in the Australian market during the period, said Premier, contributing to the ninth consecutive quarter of growth for its international business.

Premier last week announced it was seeking higher prices from retailers following ingredients cost increases and weakness in sterling. In todays trading update, the company said it was experiencing cost hikes in commodities including sugar, chocolate, dairy, wheat and palm oil.

We take a blended approach to managing these cost increases, managing our own efficiencies, adjusting promotional mechanics and formats where appropriate and, finally, looking at limited price increases where these cannot be avoided, it stated. We are working collaboratively with customers to agree these changes and are confident appropriate settlements will be reached, although this is taking longer than originally foreseen.

Premier total group sales  including household brands such as Bisto and Loyd Grossman  were down 1% year on year to 251.4m. Branded sales were down 3.8%, while non-branded sales rose 11.6%. Bisto, Oxo, Loyd Grossman, Ambrosia and Batchelors all delivered volume and value market share gains in the quarter, it reported.
A woman in Reno, Nev., died of a bacterial infection resistant to all antibiotics available in the US in early September 2016. The case was publicly reported for the first time on Thursday in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The unidentified woman was in her seventies and had previously traveled to India  where multidrug-resistant bacteria are more common  for an extended period of time. In India, the woman was hospitalized multiple times over two years for a right femur fracture and subsequent bone infection of the right femur and hip. After being admitted to an acute care hospital in Reno on Aug. 18, clinicians detected an infection with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae  specifically Klebsiella pneumoniae  resistant to all 26 different antibiotics available in the U.S.

The patient was cared for in isolation and tests on patients in the same unit did not find additional CRE, according to the CDC report.

The report's authors concluded that U.S. healthcare facilities should obtain a patient's history regarding exposures to healthcare environments outside of the region during patient screening and consider testing for CRE when a patient reports healthcare exposure in an area with higher rates of CRE activity.

"I think this is the harbinger of future badness to come," James Johnson, MD, a professor of infectious diseases medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told STAT when asked about the case.

Dr. Johnson said it's likely others in the U.S. are harboring these bacteria in their guts and could become sick at some point in time in the future.

On the dangers of the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, Dr. Johnson told STAT:

"People have asked me many times 'How scared should we be?' ... 'How close are we to the edge of the cliff?' And I tell them: We're already falling off the cliff. It's happening. It's just happening  so far  on a relatively small scale and mostly far away from us ... so it doesn't have the same emotional impact."

More articles on infection control:

Chlorhexidine proves effective at knocking out multidrug-resistant yeast, study finds

King County, Wash., mumps outbreak up to 130 cases

New subtype of cervical cancer linked to HPV identified
A superbug resistant to last-resort antibiotics may be spreading surreptitiously through hospitals, according to new research recently published in PNAS.

For the study, researchers examined the genetic sequences of 263 Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae extracted from patients across four hospitals to assess the pathogen's infection patterns, according to STAT. In the genetic sequences of the bacteria, researcher discovered strains of CRE that displayed resistance to antibiotics, but was not equipped with the signature genes known to incite drug resistance. In addition to this genetic diversity, researchers found little evidence of patient-to-patient transmission of CRE across the hospitals, suggesting the superbug is spreading in unknown ways.

"While the typical focus has been on treating sick patients with CRE-related infections, our new findings suggest that CRE is spreading beyond the obvious cases of disease," said the study's senior author Bill Hanage, an infectious diseases epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, according to STAT. "We need to look harder for this unobserved transmission within our communities and healthcare facilities if we want to stamp it out."

CRE  previously referred to as "nightmare bacteria" by CDC Director Tom Frieden  cause approximately 9,300 infections a year in the U.S. and 600 deaths. While the bacteria's ability to resist antibiotic treatment varies, the death of a woman in Nevada last week involved a CRE strain resistant to all 26 different antibiotics available in U.S.

More articles on infection control:

How combining traditional hand hygiene initiatives with high-tech solutions can improve compliance

Top 10 infection control stories, Jan. 9-13

Researchers create dengue-resistant mosquitoes
As part of a national plan to fight drug abuse, Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens has made naloxone, a lifesaving opioid antidote, available without a prescription in more than 240 of its Arizona pharmacies in accordance with state pharmacy regulations.

Naloxone can be used in the event of an overdose to reverse the effects of heroin and other opioid drugs, and is administered by injection of nasal spray.

The national pharmacy chain in February announced plans to make naloxone available without a prescription in states and Washington, D.C., where regulations allow. Since then, Walgreens has made naloxone available without a prescription in more than 34 states and Washington, D.C.
Entrepreneur Adrian Aoun recently opened Forward, a primary care startup in San Francisco, as reported by Forbes.

Mr. Aoun described the startup's vibe as a "doctor's office that feels more like an Apple Store," during an interview.

Upon entering, patient members receive a full-body scan. This scanner integrates artificial intelligence algorithms, which aid physicians in pinpointing symptoms.

New patients undergo a baseline workup, so physicians can gather a full-fledged understanding of their health. Once in the exam room, the physician already possesses access to all of the data gathered upon the patient entering.

Forward members receive wearable devices when leaving, which offers insights to the healthcare providers in real time.

Forward doesn't accept insurance, with membership costing $149 a month.

With Forward, Mr. Aoun hopes to transform primary care delivery into a continuous relationship between patients and providers.
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A senior economist has said he believes next year's date for introducing a cut in Northern Ireland's corporation tax rate is likely to be missed.

Dr Esmond Birnie of the Northern Ireland economic policy centre said recent political events triggered by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal and revelations that it could cost 490m have made the April 2018 deadline harder to meet.

Terms for Northern Ireland to set its own rate of corporation tax in order to be able to compete more effectively with the Republic for inward investment were enshrined in last year's Fresh Start Agreement.

But Dr Birnie said: "Given that turning on the devolved power is dependent on two conditions - demonstration that the Executive has set its fiscal affairs on a sustainable footing, and having an Executive in place - it is unfortunately looking as though next year's target date will be missed."

Lowering the corporation tax rate has long been a central plank in Northern Ireland economic policy.

However, Dr Birnie said the low tax plans of incoming US President Donald Trump could also lessen the impact of a lower tax rate for Northern Ireland.

In addition, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has stated he will look at cutting UK corporation tax post-Brexit.

And in her key speech on the withdrawal from Europe yesterday, Prime Minister Theresa May said the Government would look at implementing "competitive tax rates".

Dr Birnie said such "external conditions have conspired to mean the beneficial impact of the planned reduction in 2018 would be much smaller than would have been the case when the idea was mooted back in 2010 or even before that".

However GROW NI, a lobby group of local business that led the campaign for corporation tax devolution, remains confident. "While the UK main rate may go down over time, there are no specifics yet, and, if changes do come about, they would take some time," it said.
Greggs reported stellar fourth-quarter trading as it prepared to add hipster favourites vanilla latte, green tea and peppermint tea to its menu.

The food chain, which is opening up to 50 stores across Northern Ireland, said like-for-like sales over the period rose 6.4% as it continued to benefit from offering a wider range of healthy eating options, such as salads and yoghurts.

During last year, like-for-like sales were up 4.2%, and the group said Christmas trading was boosted by festive bakes, mince pies and burritos.

Total sales increased by 7%, and the business now anticipates full-year results to come in slightly ahead of previous expectations.

Chief executive Roger Whiteside hailed the performance, but warned of "industry headwinds" in 2017, such as rising costs.

During a visit last month, he said there had been a "fantastic response" here.

Greggs has 11 branches across the province, including several in Belfast, and further locations in Bangor and Banbridge.
Unite has claimed that more than 400 people are to lose their jobs with Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank closures

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank is to close 79 branches with the loss of more than 400 jobs, according to Unite.

The union said the decision to close a third of the bank's branch network will be "deeply devastating" to the employees.

It is the largest-ever closure plan by the company and will radically change the face of the bank, according to Unite.

National officer Rob MacGregor said: "Staff across the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank will be devastated to learn that 79 branches will close and consequently over 400 colleagues will lose their jobs.

"Unite is clear that the closure of a third of the bank's branches will not only be concerning for staff but the local communities which will see their bank branch close.

"This cost-cutting plan leaves customers with less choice for local banking.

"The union has called on the bank to give a commitment to mitigate compulsory redundancies where possible and that they will reconsider closing any bank branches that are the last bank in a town.

"Unite workplace representatives will be able to assist members over the coming day and weeks to support staff impacted by this announcement."

Clydesdale said, since 2011, the number of customers using their bank for day-to-day transactions across the banking industry in the UK has fallen by a third.

A statement said: "This ongoing decline in branch usage, married to a sharp and sustained increase in digital and mobile engagement, has driven a shift to providing greater access to day-to-day banking services remotely, on the move and outside of normal business hours.

"The Bank continues to reshape its service offering in response to these changing needs.

"To support this transformation the Bank is committing 350 million over the next two years, embracing digital innovation while continuing to invest in a more sustainable branch network to deliver a superior customer experience.

"The Bank's first priority is to our customers and we will be working extensively with impacted customers, local communities and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the transition to their new branch is as smooth and as sensitive as possible, particularly where vulnerable customers are concerned.

"It is also the Bank's intention to try to find roles for frontline branch staff either within other branches or elsewhere in the Bank, wherever possible.

"However, there will inevitably be employee number reductions as a result of these changes.

"We anticipate that around 200 Clydesdale Bank staff will be at risk of redundancy and subject to our redeployment process.

"All employees affected by these changes will be fully supported through the process."

Gavin Opperman, customer banking director, Clydesdale Bank, said: "While the decision to close any branch is never an easy one, it is important that we, in line with other banks operating in the UK market, continue to respond to changes in the way customers want to bank with us.

"The changes announced today continue our journey towards a model that combines an enhanced digital platform with a right sized branch network; allowing customers to interact with us through a wide range of channels - mobile, online, telephone, in-branch - whenever and however they want."

The company said about 200 Clydesdale Bank staff will be at risk of redundancy and subject to its redeployment process.

Separately, about 200 Yorkshire Bank staff will be at risk of redundancy. End Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Scottish Conservative shadow economy secretary Dean Lockhart said: "Coming on the back of today's rise in unemployment in Scotland, this represents further troubling news for our labour market.

"We trust that Clydesdale will do all it can to limit redundancies and ensure staff are given the clarity they deserve about the future."
Premium

Margaret Canning Opinion Conservatives have gone back to traditional territory with a mini-budget that just might cost the party the next election

Many of the measures in Kwasi Kwartengs first big statement as Chancellor had been trailed in advance  changes to stamp duty, the cancellation of both the rise in National Insurance and the rise in corporation tax, and bringing forward a cut in the basic rate of income tax to 19 pence.
Glasgow Film Festival co-director Allan Hunter at the launch of this year's programme (Glasgow Film Festival/PA Wire)

Audiences can choose from more than 300 events and screenings at this year's Glasgow Film Festival, including some "absolutely brilliant experiences", organisers have said.

The festival programme features 310 events and screenings, and will showcase more than 180 films from 38 countries.

David Tennant and Star Wars actor Michael Smiley are among the stars set to attend the 13th annual festival, which runs from February 15-26.

It will feature nine w orld and international premieres, three European premieres, 65 UK premieres and 67 Scottish premieres.

The festival will open with a screening of Handsome Devil, starring Sherlock actor Andrew Scott, while Tennant will close the event with the world premiere of his latest movie Mad To Be Normal, about a pioneering Scottish psychiatrist.

Also starring Michael Gambon, Elisabeth Moss and Gabriel Byrne, the movie depicts the life of RD Laing, who was seen as a radical when he set up a medication-free community for psychiatric patients in London in the 1960s.

Tennant will attend the closing gala at the Glasgow Film Theatre on February 26 with director Robert Mullan and other cast members.

On February 22, the festival will stage the world premiere of Benny, the story of Benny Lynch - widely considered the greatest boxer Scotland has ever produced.

Terrence Malick's "visually astonishing" Voyage Of Time: Life's Journey, narrated by Cate Blanchett, is among the films receiving their UK premieres at the festival.

The festival will also cater for music fans, with the sold-out screening of Lost In France at Sauchiehall Street's O2 ABC featuring a live performance from Scottish stars including Alex Kapranos and Stuart Braithwaite.

Festival co-director Allan Hunter said: "I am thrilled that the 2017 festival is bringing so many UK premieres to Glasgow audiences."

As well as enjoying screenings at the GFT, the CCA, Cineworld and the Grosvenor, audiences can also savour films in more unusual locations at pop-up cinemas everywhere from the slope at the Snow Factor to the Barras Art and Design centre.

Allison Gardner, festival co-director, said: " There are some absolutely brilliant experiences this year and I can't wait to feel the blood chill and the audience shiver as we head to Snow Factor for The Thing or revel in Cajun culture when The Big Easy screens at the Barras Art and Design."

Tickets go on sale to Glasgow Film Festival members at noon on Thursday and then go on general sale at 10am on Monday.
Game Of Thrones star Maisie Williams has signed up for a prehistoric-era adventure about inept cavemen by the makers of Wallace And Gromit.

The 19-year-old British actress is best known as Arya Stark in the hit HBO fantasy series, which is filmed in Northern Ireland.

She will voice Goona, the "gallant and indomitable rebel", in big-screen comedy adventure Early Man by Nick Park, who also brought the story of Shaun The Sheep to the big screen. Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne has previously been announced as the voice of the film's hero Dug, with Tom Hiddleston as Lord Nooth.

Williams said working with Park was a "dream come true".
An Irish government source said that Taoiseach Enda Kenny emphasised the importance of no return of a hard border to Ms May

Theresa May's pledge to maintain a Common Travel Area with with the Republic of Ireland once the UK leaves the EU has been thrown in doubt by senior Irish government ministers and key figures in Brussels.

In her long-awaited Brexit speech, Mrs May said she would seek to retain free movement between the Republic and the UK once negotiations begin in March.

Mrs May said she did not want to see the return of a hard border in Ireland, and said this would be a key demand during talks.

Mrs May also insisted she intended to take the UK entirely out of the EU single market - and warned the UK would not seek a "partial" or "associate" membership of the union.

The Irish government welcomed Mrs May's commitment to the Common Travel Area with Ireland, but said it was "under no illusions" of the challenges it was facing and conceded a 'hard Brexit' was inevitable.

Privately, Irish Cabinet ministers raised concerns over how Mrs May would convince her EU counterparts to allow Britain to maintain a Common Travel Area with Ireland, but not with other member states.

On Tuesday night, a senior Fine Gael minister said Brussels would demand a hard border between the Northern Ireland and the Republic even if the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland remains.

"By listening to the Taoiseach and prime minister, I believe the rest of Europe will insist on a hard border and the Border will have to be manned," the minister said.

An Irish government source said that Taoiseach Enda Kenny emphasised the importance of no return of a hard border and maintaining the integrity of the common travel area with Mrs May before her speech.

The source said the Irish government was happy Mr Kenny's comments were taken on board by the prime minster when she noted a "special relationship" between the two countries. But it said details of how a hard border could be avoided "have yet to be worked out".

Expand Close Prime Minister Theresa May arriving to deliver her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House on Tuesday Getty Images / Facebook

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Meanwhile, in Brussels one senior diplomat said the speech by Mrs May was "not very realistic" and signalled very hard and long upcoming negotiations.

"The decision that Britain is totally leaving not just the single market but also the customs union has huge ramifications for trade and the threat of tariffs. This is not necessarily good news for Ireland," the diplomat said.

A second official source warned that the coming two years would be "a rollercoaster ride" with talks likely to wax and wane. Much would depend on whether the UK economy could hold up over the negotiating period.

"These will be very difficult negotiations with all the other 27 EU member states throwing in their contributions based on their national interests," the source said.

The EU Parliament's Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, said yesterday it was an "illusion" to think that Britain could enjoy the advantages of the European Union's single market without accepting the obligations that come with it.

"Threatening to turn the UK into a deregulated tax heaven will not only hurt British people - it is a counterproductive negotiating tactic," he said.

"Britain has chosen a hard Brexit. Mrs May's clarity is welcome - but the days of UK cherry-picking and Europe a la cart are over."

EU Council president Donald Tusk said the union was in the middle of a "sad process" and "surrealistic teams", but added that Mrs May's speech was "at least more realistic" than previously.

In a post on Twitter, he said the 27 member states remained united and ready to negotiate once Mrs May formally declared Britain was leaving by triggering Article 50 of the EU treaty.

Mr Tusk spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. EU leaders are keeping their negotiating powder dry until Mrs May formally launches talks in the coming months. But officials who are preparing for the process noted that Mrs May had not spelled out many downsides for Britain's economy.

"Where is the give for all the take?" asked the Czech Republic's secretary of state for EU affairs, Tomas Prouza.

Mrs May is due to visit Ireland before the end of the month to hold formal discussion with Mr Kenny about Britain's plans to leave the EU.

The Government said it was "very aware of the potential economic opportunities that may arise for Ireland" from Mrs May's planned 'hard Brexit'.

This included shifting investment, business and job creation as well as luring EU agencies currently located in London - including the European Medicines Board and the European Banking Authority.

An Irish government spokesman said its priorities remained its economic and trading arrangements, the peace process and Border issues.

"In her speech, Mrs May highlighted the specific and historic relationship between Britain and Ireland," a spokesman said.

"In this context, she made clear that her priorities include maintaining the Common Travel Area and avoiding a return to a hard border, both of which are welcome. The alignment between our concerns regarding the economy and trade and the objective of the UK to have a close, and friction-free, economic and trading relationship with the EU, including with Ireland is also very important."
Fears of a future 'hard border' with the Irish Republic have grown after Theresa May made clear Brexit will mean a comprehensive departure from the European Union.

In her first strategic overview of at least two years of negotiations ahead, the Prime Minister said the 'common travel area' between Northern Ireland and the Republic would remain a priority.

As the Brexit battle returned to the political centre-stage, there was also criticism of Stormont's Executive for failing to prepare a better plan to tackle the implications.

It came as new Revenue and Customs data revealed that more than half of Northern Ireland's exports went to the EU last year - trade that was worth 3 billion.

The DUP welcomed the reassurance that Britain will leave the single market, and pledged to provide support from its nine MPs for the Government to press ahead with Brexit. DUP MP Sammy Wilson, who sits on Westminster's Brexit committee, said the PM's statement would give the business community more certainty, and welcomed the plan for a Free Trade Agreement with the EU.

"Here in Northern Ireland we will also maintain the Common Travel Area with the Republic. Sinn Fein and others complain that her statement will mean a hard border; however, they now have no input as a result of bringing the Assembly down," he said.

The East Antrim MP added: "The DUP is committed to helping the Government in their Brexit plans and negotiations. We are well placed to do so."

But in a barrage of attacks from Dublin, Belfast and Strasbourg, Sinn Fein insisted Mrs May's soft words still amounted to a 'hard' Brexit. In Dublin, party president Gerry Adams said: "The British Prime Minister provided no new information about Britain's approach to the North in respect of Brexit; no willingness to look at a special designated status for the North within the EU (and) no real role for the devolved governments.

"Her commitment to remove Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights will have profound implications for the Good Friday Agreement. The role of the European Court and Convention are fundamental to the human rights elements of the Agreement."

Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd said that "soft words from Theresa May mean nothing" and, ahead of another meeting of Joint Ministerial Council on Brexit on Thursday - to which an Executive Minister is expected to be invited - Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson warned in Strasbourg: "A very hard Brexit will be a disaster for the north of Ireland.

"The freedom of movement of people and goods across Ireland is an absolute necessity."

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said: "In negotiating our departure from the single market, the Prime Minister needs to ensure that we will not fall victim to punitive tariffs.

"Similarly, a bespoke customs agreement needs to be reached to allow goods to move freely across the border. We do not want to go back to the days of lorries queuing up on either side of the border due to customs checks."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood argued: "No free trade and customs across the island means a hard Brexit in Ireland. It means a hard border. If the British Government can negotiate special arrangements on the common travel area, they can negotiate special arrangements for trade and customs."

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said it could be catastrophic for Northern Ireland because any departure from the customs union and the single market will necessitate a formal border, either across the island of Ireland or down the Irish Sea.
Prime Minister Theresa May arriving to deliver her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House on Tuesday

Leaving the single market will hinder barrier-free business between Northern Ireland and the Republic, experts have claimed.

Theresa May yesterday revealed the UK would leave the single market, explaining that she would negotiate a new customs union deal following the Brexit process.

The Prime Minister also said she wanted the UK and Ireland to retain the common travel area and signalled she would work to agree some form of free-trade deal.

But business groups maintained that uncertainty remained around the impact this would have upon cross-border trade and cautioned that the negotiations process could take years.

Ann McGregor, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said it was crucially important that a renegotiated customs union comes "without costly customs checks and administrative costs for businesses, which would pose a threat to Irish cross-border trade".

"A negotiated UK-EU free-trade agreement will not go far enough in meeting the concerns of our members," Mrs McGregor added.

Aine Brolly, chief executive of recruitment firm Cpl Solutions International, warned that issues around the customs union and the single market had "the potential to significantly impact the labour market... notably how we recruit and attract the talent we need to continue on the upward economic curve we have seen over the last number of years".

Angela McGowan, regional director of the CBI in Northern Ireland, said that "ruling out membership of the single market has reduced options for maintaining barrier-free and tariff-free trading relationship between the UK and the EU".

"Given the importance of the EU to NI exports, the significance of leaving the single market is an important issue for the local economy," she added. "While local businesses want to make a success of Brexit, there are undoubtedly concerns about falling back on damaging World Trade Organisation rules."

Mrs May said she hoped to retain "freedom for financial services across borders" - something that could be significant for back and middle office jobs in Belfast at international firms including Citi.

"Businesses in Ireland are no further advanced in understanding the issues that will need to be dealt with at the conclusion of this process", according to Ian Talbot, chief executive of Chambers Ireland.

Following Mrs May's announcement, the pound was yesterday heading for its best performance in several years, but the FTSE faltered.

There also remain significant concerns over leaving and negotiating a replacement for the customs union, said Lisa Wilson, from the Nevin Economic Research Institute.

"For the Northern Ireland economy, leaving the customs union will bring with it a more immediate and visible barrier to trade on the island of Ireland as this will inevitably lead to the re-establishment of customs checks on the land border with the Republic" she added.

The decision for a hard Brexit by Theresa May is "clearly not good news for Northern Ireland, nor the border with the Republic, despite vague assurances around no return to the borders of the past", said Glyn Roberts, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association.

Aodhan Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, however, welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement that workers from the EU already in the UK would be allowed to stay.

Countries within the customs union that are not part of the EU or single market include Turkey.
Religious leaders in Northern Ireland have urged politicians here to mind their language in the election campaign in order to help build a better future together.

The President of the Methodist Church, Rev Bill Mullally, said that "in an increasingly uncertain political world, it is unfortunate that the Northern Ireland Assembly has come to the point of being prorogued, thus plunging the people of Northern Ireland into another election so quickly".

He added: "Realising that the political temperature has been raised and that words such as 'brutal' are being used to describe the type of election people can expect, I ask that such language be absent from the vocabulary of any of our political parties."

Rev Mullally put forward five principles that "should be borne in mind by all those standing for election - the restoration of trust; acting generously; accepting responsibility; being accountable, and seeking the common good".

Meanwhile, Church of Ireland Primate and Archbishop of Armagh Richard Clarke has issued a statement revealing that he has written personally to the leaders of the main parties assuring them of "my prayers at this politically difficult time".

He said that he did not intend to discuss the contents of what were "personal and private" letters. The Archbishop also asked all members of the Church of Ireland "to pray for God's guidance, and to seek to say and do only that which is for the common good of all the people of Northern Ireland".

Peter Lynas, director of the Evangelical Alliance, said: "The people of Northern Ireland, influenced by Churches and others, must take the lead in ensuring gracious, truthful and hope-filled conversations during the election period.

"As the election rhetoric begins, we pray that our political leaders will use their words wisely.

"We pray for an election based on issues rather than identity, we pray for grace-filled conversations working towards a more hopeful future.

"We also pray not for a sticking plaster, but for supernatural solutions leading to a society filled with healing, wholeness and life-transforming love."

Padraig O Tuama, leader of the inter-denominational Corrymeela Community, said: "Reconciliation is difficult, but the alternative is worse.

"All the people in this part of Ireland deserve leadership that is creative and envisioned in its hope for a future that is to the betterment of all citizens.

"We call on all politicians to demonstrate gestures of inclusion, and to follow these gestures with action.

"We call on them to speak of the achievements of peace and reconciliation, and ask them to honour those from within and without their party lines, national identities and community affiliations."

Earlier this week the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr Frank Sellar, said "there must be integrity, a commitment to openness, generosity of spirit and co-operation for the common good" as the Assembly poll loomed.

He added: "With an election on the horizon and what are likely to be very difficult negotiations that follow, I call on all involved to show a willingness to listen carefully to each other, to honour and value one another, and to work constructively in partnership."

Dr Sellar added: "The drawing of too many 'lines in the sand' will only thwart progress on resolving the pressing issues that we face as a society."
Former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Lord Peter Hain has described Arlene Foster's handling of the Renewable Heating Incentive scandal as a "textbook example of how not to handle a crisis".

Lord Hain, who served as secretary of state for Northern Ireland under Tony Blair, also stressed the need for top-level ministerial involvement in Northern Ireland affairs in an interview with Stephen Nolan.

He urged the UK government to get into the "driving seat" and take personal responsibility and put it at the top of the agenda, along with Brexit.

"Because I don't see evidence of that and that's what worries me the most," he said.

He said there was "blame on all sides" over the latest political crisis which saw the institutions collapse when Sinn Fein did not nominate a deputy First Minister.

"But frankly the way she handled the renewable energy scandal was a textbook example of how not to handle a crisis when you are ultimately the minister responsible," he said.

"I believe strongly in the principle of ministerial responsibility. I don't think you dump on civil servants."

Lord Hain said he did not believe Mrs Foster should have resigned over the scandal.

"Had she handled it better we might not have got to this situation," he added.

Lord Hain also responded to Edwin Poots claim the DUP did not agree to an Irish language act which clause in the 2006 St Andrews deal.

The former health minister said the commitment was inserted as part of a "side deal" between Gerry Adams and Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He said the party had honoured "everything they agreed to do" at the negotiations, describing the insertion of the clause as a "dishonourable act" by Mr Blair.

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Lord Hain described the deal as a way to open the door on future agreements

He said: "St Andrews was an historic agreement that in principle paved the way to the power-sharing devolved government that has been more of less stable in past 10 years.

"It contained a great deal of detail and in a sense both are right. St Andrews was both agreed by everybody but nobody disagreed with the detail.

"And that was the way it was signed off and that was the way we got the progress that was hard to achieve.

"The most important thing - that brings us to current situation - there has got to be give and take between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

"There has got to some attempt to actually meet half way between each other and by and large that was what happened at St Andrews."

He continued: "Sometimes you have a document containing thousands of words and although there may not be 100% agreement on one line in it, there is broad agreement and that enables you to move forward.

"Everybody knows that's how politics in Northern Ireland works.

"The most important thing about St Andrews is that it moved the whole process forward.

"In the months that followed that was the toughest part of all of this and St Andrews was the key to opening the door to that including the Irish language and Sinn Fein's signed up in a way nobody thought they would ever do to support the principle of devolving justice and the rule of law in policing and they would support that for the first time in their history.

"When you negotiate all the complexities of an agreement including the DUP's justified issues that they wanted particularly and you bring them all together, it may not be that everybody agrees 100% on everything but broadly speaking they agree on the whole package."

Mr Hain said there was no dispute about an Irish language clause in the agreement.

"That was part of an overall package the parties agreed to or rather they didn't disagree to in all its detail.

"And that moved the process forward because that is the historic fact and it is very important we brought stability that we eventually achieved in the old enemies sharing power together in a way nobody believed was possible

"That is what we achieved and we are proud of that."

Mr Hain implored today's politicians to stand back and work together in order to restore power sharing.

He said: "On language issues, on equality issues, on issues of the DUP, let's talk about them, let's not obstruct and block and refuse to move forward and have gratuitous measures like suddenly withdrawing funding for an Irish language project before Christmas on the grounds of austerity and then reinstalling it after when austerity remains.

"All those kind of things do not encourage the kind of political relationships and building of confidence that is necessary.

"I would implore everybody concerned now instead of contesting each other at the polls as they are doing and will continue to do but to actually look beyond that.

"Because if we have a situation after the election we are back to the situation we are in now because no one is speaking properly to anyone and no one is seeking common ground but rather standing in deep trenches far apart rather than speaking to each other.

"if we have another election.... I don't know if it will ever be possible to get the institutions up and running after that.

"Yes there are legitimate differences on Irish language and whole other issues but politics is about resolving those issues rather than digging in and refusing to confront them."
Outgoing First Minister Arlene Foster has issued a warning to Sinn Fein saying that the DUP will not "rewrite the past" following the next election.

Mrs. Foster who was ousted from the First Minister position by the resignation of Martin McGuinness last week amid the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal said her party would not roll over for Sinn Fein after the snap election.

It comes as Sinn Fein MLA Michelle O'Neill on Tuesday night said the British government had undermined the political institutions by failing to honour its agreements.

She said: "It is a bit rich for British Secretary of State James Brokenshire to say that his government will continue to stand by commitments made in agreements.

"The British governments refusal to honour its commitments on equality provisions and legacy, its imposition of austerity and its attempt to drag the north out of the EU have undermined the political institutions.

"In doing they have given cover to the DUP's arrogance and their disregard and disrespect for the institutions and the people."

During a visit to Enniskillen on Tuesday Mrs. Foster was asked if she thought she would return to Stormont as First Minister following the March 2 vote.

She told the Impartial Reporter: Undoubtedly before that there is some work to do, particularly in and around the negotiations which will happen after the election.

If Sinn Fein think we are simply roll over after an election when we didnt allow them to, for example rewrite the past before the election, we are certainly not going to do it after the election. I think there will be very tough negotiations after the election."

Mrs Foster's comments came as the BBC Stephen Nolan Show revealed that the biggest cluster of recipients for RHI, the incentive that sparked the current political crisis, is around Dungannon, County Tyrone - Mrs. Fosters constituency.

Expand Close Arlene Foster and the DUP Party in the Great Hall of Stormont on 16th January 2017 (Photo - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook

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It has 342 boilers - one in six of the total across Northern Ireland.

Asked if she specifically encouraged people in her own constituency to avail of the scheme, Mrs. Foster replied: I was Minister at the time of the scheme and I was hoping people would take up the scheme and indeed during my time in office there was an underspend.

As regards the geographical spread of the scheme not one person, not one person came into my office nor did I advise one person in relation to the scheme in the Fermanagh-south Tyrone area.

"I can categorically stand over the fact that I didnt advise one single person or one single business to take up the RHI scheme.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and John Hume welcome former US president Bill Clinton to Londonderry

John Hume and wife Pat with former US President Bill Clinton in Londonderry

Back in time: John Hume with Bono and David Trimble campaigning for the Good Friday Agreement

Dick Spring, Irish Labour Party leader, Charles Haughey TD, Fianna Fail leader, Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald and John Hume, leader of the SDLP, at the first meeting of the Northern Ireland Forum in Dublin in 1984

29/9/2010. Former President of the United States Bill Clinton departs Magee College to cheers from students eager to catch a glimpse of the world statesman as he posed with First Minister and Deputy First Minister Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness alongside John Hume. Picture: Charles McQuillan/Pacemaker.

Bill Clinton has led the celebrations to John Hume, considered the architect of the Northern Ireland peace process, on his 80th birthday.

The former SDLP leader and Nobel laureate marked his milestone birthday on Wednesday.

Mr Hume, a founding member of the SDLP, was a recipient of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize alongside former UUP leader David Trimble.

As well as serving in the Assembly, he was an MP for Foyle and an MEP.

US President Bill Clinton described Mr Hume as an "inspiration," The Irish News reported.

Not many in your position would have stayed the course for peace in the face of such long odds but your belief that progress was possible gave hope to all parties  and ensured that peace stayed within reach, even during the most challenging moments," he said.

Your tireless efforts to secure a better future for Northern Ireland will always be an inspiration for me  as it is for so many people who can now raise families and go about their daily lives in peace because you cared to fight for it."

#OTD 1937: John Hume was born. The Nobel Laureate, civil rights leader and architect of the Northern Ireland peace process is 80 today pic.twitter.com/YiQm1JoSjb  BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) January 18, 2017

Irish president Michael D Higgins said the Londonderry native made an "immense contribution to the advancement of peace and reconciliation on this island".

"John was the moral architect of an inclusive peace process that delivered the Good Friday Agreement of 1998," he said.

Former deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness passed on his best wishes.

Today we salute John Hume as he celebrates his 80th Birthday. We acknowledge & appreciate your life's work for peace. Thank you John. pic.twitter.com/xVzndwUH6E  Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) January 18, 2017

Warmest best wishes to John Hume, Pat & family today on his 80th Birthday. #Enjoy  Martin McGuinness (@M_McGuinness_SF) January 18, 2017

He took to Twitter to say: "Warmest best wishes to John Hume, Pat and family today on his 80th birthday."

Current SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MLA said Mr Hume's life was "dedicated to peace and progress".

"He gave himself to those causes selflessly and they have come at no little cost. We all remain so thankful for what John gave and for what he achieved", he said.

In a week dominated by the collapse of our institutions and the prospect of Brexit, we would all do well to return to John's values and vision of co-operation and mutual respect in Ireland and in Europe.

Like everyone in Derry, I would like to wish John the happiest of birthdays and wish himself and Pat rest and happiness in the time ahead.

Foyle MP Mark Durkan said he was "delighted" to pay tribute to Mr Hume on his birthday.

"John has the appreciation and affection of people the length and breadth of Ireland for what he stood for, what he stood against and what he withstood," he said.

When the violence and intransigence of others was wounding hope and ruining lives, John stood up to keep the hope of peace and democratic sharing alive.

He championed solidarity, social justice, human rights, economic priority and international cohesion.

People can write memoirs that put them at the centre of the peace process, at the centre of agreement and breakthrough, but it was John Hume who drew the map, wrote the plan and led the way.

He provided the sat-nav that brought everyone from their different and hopeless positions to the place of peace, shared institutions and stability.

His huge contribution provided us with the platform to build a better future.

Through dark and turbulent times, John served as an engine for change, an anchor for stability and a compass for hope  not only in Ireland but internationally.

In the uncertainty and recrimination of this week, questionable political standards and the wider anxieties and prejudices surrounding Brexit moves and Trumpism, it is timely to celebrate a man who Seamus Heaney said Always stood in the indicative.
Lord Hain stressed the need for top-level ministerial involvement, given that the parties at Stormont 'are not going to sort this out on their own'

The Government has been accused of being "hands off rather than hands on" during the current crisis in Northern Ireland by a Labour former cabinet minister.

Lord Hain, who served as secretary of state for Northern Ireland under Tony Blair, stressed the need for top-level ministerial involvement, given that the parties at Stormont "are not going to sort this out on their own".

His criticism was rejected by Northern Ireland minister Lord Dunlop, who insisted the UK Government had been "actively engaged".

He also pledged to "leave no stone unturned" to ensure the resumption of powersharing following the upcoming elections.

There are fears a divisive campaign will make reaching agreement even less likely and raises the spectre of a return to direct rule if a new administration cannot be formed within the required three weeks on the other side of the March 2 poll.

The current crisis was triggered by Northern Ireland's botched eco-energy scheme.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) threatens to cost the taxpayer up to 490 million over the next 20 years.

Sinn Fein deputy first minister Martin McGuinness quit last week citing irreconcilable differences with the DUP.

The deadline for Sinn Fein to renominate to the vacant post before an election had to be called passed on Monday evening.

Northern Ireland will now go to the polls just ten months after the last assembly vote.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Hain said: "Why is it that the Government gives the distinct impression of being hands off rather than hands on during this escalating crisis?

"Clearly, the parties, since their relations have deteriorated so terribly, are not going to sort this out on their own, even after an election.

"It's vital that the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister convenes meetings, whether summits or other gatherings, to bring the parties together and that they do so with the Taoiseach as well.

"The Irish Government, regardless of joint sovereignty arguments which are irrelevant in this, the Irish Government is very influential and must be brought in."

Lord Dunlop said: "Both the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland have been very actively engaged in talking to the Taoiseach and talking to the parties in Northern Ireland.

"We will continue to leave no stone unturned to ensure that we are in the best possible position after the election to re-establish a fully functioning executive."

Tory former defence minister Lord Robathan questioned what "the hiatus" would mean for former police officers and soldiers facing legal action over historical killings during the Troubles.

He said: "They went out and served in Northern Ireland to serve both sides of the community.

"They are being prosecuted disproportionately compared to the terrorists they were protecting the community from."

Lord Dunlop agreed the current situation was "unsatisfactory".

He added: "It absolutely remains a priority for the Government to build a consensus on this issue and find a way forward."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said there could be no return to direct rule with London-based ministers in charge of the region

British-Irish joint rule is not an option for Northern Ireland, the Government has insisted.

Northern Ireland minister Lord Dunlop ruled out any possibility of joint London-Dublin governance if attempts to establish devolution fail after the Stormont assembly elections.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Dunlop said the Government is "fully committed to the Belfast Agreement, including the principle of consent governing Northern Ireland's constitutional position".

He added: "It is on that basis that Northern Ireland is and remains a full part of the UK, and clearly any form of joint authority would be incompatible with the consent principle.

"The Government priority remains to work intensively to ensure that after the assembly elections strong, stable devolved government is re-established in Northern Ireland."

Lord Dunlop was responding to a question from Lord Lexden, who asked for confirmation there would be "no moves whatsoever towards joint authority".

Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire was forced to announce an election on Monday after Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister in a feud with coalition partners the Democratic Unionists over a massively overspent eco-boiler scheme.

The collapse of power-sharing has led nationalist opposition party the SDLP to call for joint London and Dublin rule if an administration in Belfast cannot be formed after the March 2 elections.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said if the parties in the assembly fail to piece together a devolved administration, there could be no return to direct rule with London-based ministers in charge of the region.

Former Secretary of State Peter Hain accused the Government of being "hands off rather than hands on during this escalating crisis."

He told Lord Dunlop in the House of Lords: "Clearly, the parties, since their relations deteriorated so terribly, are not going to sort this out on their own, even after an election.

"It is vital that the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister convenes meetings to bring the parties together and that they do so with the Taoiseach as well.

"The Irish government is very influential and must be brought in."

Lord Dunlop said: "Both the Prime Minister and Secretary of State have been very actively engaged in talking to the Taoiseach and parties in Northern Ireland, and we will continue to leave no stone unturned to ensure we are in the best possible position after the election to re-establish a fully-functioning executive."

The region will go to the polls in March to elect a reduced 90 Stormont Assembly members just 10 months after the last vote.

The move was triggered by the fracturing of the power-sharing deal between Sinn Fein and the DUP.

Mr McGuinness quit last week, citing irreconcilable differences with the DUP.

The deadline for Sinn Fein to renominate to the vacant post before an election had to be called passed on Monday evening.

Mr McGuinness's resignation was precipitated by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal - a botched green energy scheme overseen by DUP ministers set to cost Stormont 490 million.

The row has also reignited a range of other vexed disputes dividing the coalition.
A leading consultant has told a jury that three-month-old baby girl Caragh Walsh who was rushed to hospital by paramedics, was "effectively dead'' when she arrived.

Dr Julie Ann Maney was giving evidence on Wednesday on the second day of the trial at Craigavon Crown Court, sitting in Armagh, of a west Belfast man accused of murdering his daughter almost three years ago.

Christopher O'Neill (26), from Whiterock Road, denies murdering his infant daughter who died on February 7, 2014. Two days after being rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children from her Glasveigh Park home in Twinbrook.

It was suggested to the jury on the opening day of the trial by prosecution counsel Toby Hedworth QC that a reason for the baby's death was that "perhaps he, (O'Neill) had snapped because she was crying and he could not get her to settle, only he knows that''.

But Mr Hedworth said it was not suggested that O'Neill intended to kill his baby daughter, but that being unable to quieten her, he "must have lost self-control and that he caused those catalogue of injuries identified by the pathologists".

Dr Maney told the trial on Wednesday that on February 5, 2014, the hospital had been alerted by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service when it received a call to the red "emergency telephone'' on the paediatric ward advising that a paramedic crew was on its way with a three-month-old baby girl who was in cardiac arrest.

When the ambulance arrived at the hospital doors, it was met by Dr Maney and her team who rushed baby Caragh in for emergency treatment

She told the jury of ten men and two women: "At this point we took over her airways. She had agonising breathing. Her breathing was not sufficient to sustain her life.

"She needed assisted breathing. She had no heart rate. She was effectively dead.''

The consultant paediatrician said that as a result "time was of the essence'' and her team of experts set about trying to save baby Caragh's life.

The doctor told trial judge Madam Justice McBride that a needle was inserted into the infant's bloodstream through the bone marrow in her shin bone with "life saving medication to restart her heart''.

She added: "That's the central circulation of the body to reach the heart and other parts of the body very, very quickly.

"We also gave her a strong course of anti-biotics to prevent any infections along with intravenous fluids to support her circulation, her outcome and her survival.

"At 12.43 pm her heart was resuscitated. We started to feel pulses in her groin. We listened to her heart. She had heart sounds and the chest compressions were discontinued. Her cardio vascular system was responding.

Asked by prosecution counsel Toby Hedworth QC if baby Caraagh was stabilised at that stage, Dr Maney replied: "I would say her rate had come back.

"We had taken over her breathing but she was still gravely ill. We needed to support her breathing and give her constant care and support on a life support machine. An anaesthetist inserted a tube from her mouth to her lungs.''

Earlier, emergency medical technician Paul McParland told the jury how on February 5, 2014 he received an emergency call to go Glasveigh Park as an infant had taken ill.

He said that after parking up his ambulance, he was about to climb the steps to the second floor flat when he was met by a colleague, Mr Heaney, who was carrying baby Caragh out in his arms.

Mr McParland said that as he made his way back to the ambulance he was "met by a considerably highly emotional woman who tried to run towards Mr Heaney and I blocked her path''. He added that he didn't know at the time that it was the baby's mother.

The paramedic said that once the baby was in the ambulance he "Used a pair of scissors to cut off the baby grow'' and attach the defibrillator to her body.

The court heard from the witness that the baby's father Christopher O'Neill then got into the ambulance and the seriously ill baby was rushed to the RVH, arriving within 5-7 minutes.

Under cross examination by defence counsel Paddy Little QC, Mr McParland confirmed to the jury that he did not notice any marks or swelling on the baby when he attached the defibrillator to her body.

At hearing.
The renewable heating industry was prematurely aware of planned cuts to a lucrative green energy scheme in Northern Ireland, a senior civil servant has said.

A spike in applications led to massive over-spending on the lucrative wood boiler incentive which was supposed to be funded solely by the Treasury.

Civil servants at the time did not realise how serious it was but the senior official in Stormont's Economy Department said there was evidence the industry was asking others in the "political class" to delay cost-saving measures.

Dr Andrew McCormick said influence was exerted from others in the DUP - he named a former adviser to the first minister but said he had no direct evidence of his identity - who wanted to keep the scheme open at the higher rate of payment.

Dr McCormick said: "The consequence is very serious because this shows that there was premature awareness of the potential for the tariff to be reduced and the message went within the sector - 'get in quick'."

Nationalist SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: "His suggestion that insider information played a part in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) catastrophe is a signal of a corruption in this scheme and a corruption of government that must be rooted out."

The "ash for cash" scandal led Stormont deputy first minister Martin McGuinness to resign from powersharing with the DUP in protest and forced the collapse of powersharing and fresh elections.

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Recipients of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) were receiving about 1.60 for every 1 spent on wood fuel.

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The scheme has landed the public service in Northern Ireland with a potential 490 million bill over the next 20 years.

Civil servants wanted to cut the rate in July 2015 but objections were raised by a special adviser to then economy minister Jonathan Bell.

Dr McCormick said, with caveats, he believed through hearsay that influence was being exerted on Mr Bell's party adviser by Dr Andrew Crawford, who then worked for Arlene Foster.

He said he was making no suggestion Mrs Foster became involved in keeping the scheme open.

Mrs Foster set up the RHI while she was enterprise minister in 2012 but had moved on by summer 2015.

The tariff rate for payments was eventually reduced that November, but not before a massive surge in the number of applications.

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Dr McCormick said because the RHI was originally supposed to be entirely funded separately by the Treasury, there was a misconception that this would not have a cost to public spending in Northern Ireland.

He told Stormont's Public Accounts Committee (PAC): "Around the period of July there is evidence of some premature information being made available to the industry."

It was possible some of the pressure coming through others in the DUP via former economy minister Mr Bell's special adviser was because "the industry was saying to others in the political class that we hear something is about to happen, can you do something about it and can you give us longer?

"That is purely inference, I have no evidence for that, it just seems a not unreasonable inference that that might have happened."

He said the decision to delay a reduction in the tariff and the influence of Mr Bell's adviser Timothy Cairns created the conditions for the overspend, the "perfect storm".

Dr McCormick said the opportunity was there and it was understood to at least a degree by the industry why it was worthwhile getting involved.

He admitted officials were "blind" to the consequences.

He said documents had appeared with him anonymously after Christmas which required further investigation. And he said a meeting involving former minister Mr Bell was recorded without his knowledge.

In a statement issued by the DUP Wednesday evening Dr Andrew Crawford said: "As some one who worked in DETI for many years I spoke to the then DETI Special Advisor at that time about the RHI scheme.

"Any discussions with the DETI SPAD during the summer of 2015 would have been on the basis of my experience of the department. In discussing the matter with the DETI SPAD I would have been offering informal advice and assistance as a colleague to my successor in the department and not on behalf of the Finance Minister or the party.

"However, as I pointed out to the BBC in December I did not attempt to keep the RHI scheme open at the original tariff against the wishes of the Minister. Indeed, I specifically stated on 31 July 2015 that the department, will need to make changes from 1st October".
A man and woman accused of attempting to get an abortion in Belfast have accepted formal cautions, a court heard today.

Prosecutors revealed charges were withdrawn against the pair after warnings were administered to them last week.

The development came as a judge imposed a ban on identifying the woman due to the heightened risk of suicide from any publicity.

Her co-accused is not being named either for legal reasons.

The woman, aged 21, was charged with using a poison to procure her own abortion.

The alleged offence involved administering noxious substances, namely the drugs Mifepristone and Misoprostol.

Her 22-year-old co-defendant faced a count of supplying a poison with the intent to procure a miscarriage.

The charges, under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, relate to incidents in Belfast in 2015.

Terminations are currently only allowed in Northern Ireland if the woman's life or long-term health is at serious risk.

Lawyers for the woman sought reporting restrictions to protect her anonymity based on the risk to her life.

They argued that a medical expert has concluded publicity would increase the threat of self-harm.

Counsel for the woman described her as vulnerable and immature, and also referred to three previous episodes of self-harm.

A consultant forensic psychiatrist who assessed her concluded that prosecution and surrounding media coverage would exacerbate the risk.

Ruling on the anonymity application today, District Judge Fiona Bagnall imposed a ban on identifying the woman to ensure her right to life is protected.

A prosecution lawyer also disclosed that the test for continuing with the case had been re-assessed following the expert medical evidence.

She said: "In light of all information now available a decision has been taken that the public interest can be met by diversionary disposal.

"Cautions were administered to both defendants on January 13. The matters before the court can now be withdrawn."
The RHI scheme allowed businesses to profit just by running their heating systems.

One of Northern Ireland's most senior civil servants believed a DUP special adviser "exerted influence" in keeping the uncapped Renewable Heating Incentive scheme open.

However, Dr Andrew McCormick says has no evidence to substantiate the claim.

Dr McCormick is the permanent secretary for the Economy Department and was the civil service head of the Department of Enterprise.

The adviser concerned has not been named, however, all of the DUP special advisers who could have been involved have stressed that they have not been involved in wrong-doing over the matter.

In a statement to the BBC's Stephen Nolan show, the DUP said: "Prior to December 15 when the BBC broadcast allegations of the involvement of DUP special advisers in preventing the introduction of cost controls for the non-domestic RHI scheme, Dr McCormick had not informed us of the name of any DUP special adviser that he believed to be seeking to offer advice or exert influence over the matter.

"Since the allegation aired on December 15, Dr McCormick has subsequently informed us that it was his understanding that a DUP special adviser who was not the then DETI special adviser was involved in the summer of 2015 but that he had no evidence to substantiate this."

The Renewable Heating Incentive was supposed to help businesses mitigate the costs of running eco-friendly boilers. Unlike a similar scheme in Britain, no cap was initially put on the payments.

The Northern Ireland scheme ended up paying out more than the cost of the fuel - so the more people burned, the more public money they earned. Some applicants were found to heat buildings on an industrial scale just to make money.

It has been revealed that after civil servants urged for the closure of the scheme in June 2015 until a tiered system was introduced in November, there was a spike in applications.

Over a two-and-a-half-year period since its opening up to March 2015 there had been 564 applications.

Between April and September 2015 there were then 359 applications and then in October 2015 there were 429 applications.

The Department of Economy has said the overspend should not exceed 490m.
FW de Klerk said he would have voted to stay in the European Union (EU) if he was British

Former South African president FW de Klerk has backed Theresa May's Brexit blueprint.

The last white ruler of South Africa said he would have voted to stay in the European Union (EU) if living in the UK, but added the Prime Minister was right to push ahead.

"I think if I was a Briton, I would have voted Remain," he said.

"But I think she (Mrs May) is right to say the people have spoken, Brexit is Brexit and I think her 12-point plan lays a reasonable basis for meaningful negotiations."

Mr de Klerk, who shared a Nobel peace prize with Nelson Mandela, also urged parties in Northern Ireland to resolve their differences after the collapse of the power-sharing executive at Stormont.

"It is my hope that the election will bring a result which will make co-operation possible," he said.

"The way forward is co-operation, building bridges - not burning bridges, not moving apart again and not becoming confrontational again."

Mr de Klerk said he hoped the parties in Northern Ireland could "find a way to work together to form a government that represents the clear majority of all the people."

The former president was speaking in Dublin, where was being awarded Trinity College Law Society's Praeses Elit award in recognition of his key role in ending apartheid.

Mr de Klerk predicted South Africa was facing years of political uncertainty as he forecast the break-up of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.

He suggested this would be a positive development as a more moderate ANC - shed of its far-left faction - would power-share with other moderate parties in the former colonies.
The judge said Polish family court judges should make decisions about the children's future care

The future of two children whose Polish parents have lived in Northern Ireland and England must be decided in courts in Poland, an English family court judge has decided.

Judge Clifford Bellamy was told that the couple, both in their 20s, had lived in Northern Ireland for around two years after leaving Poland then moved to Derbyshire.

But he said the children, a two-year-old girl and a 12-month-old boy, were Polish nationals - and he said Polish family court judges should make decisions about their future care.

The judge was asked to considered issues after social workers at Derbyshire County Council raised concerns about their welfare.

He had analysed the case at a private family court hearing in Derby and has announced his conclusions on jurisdiction in a written ruling.
Dr Andrew McCormick gives evidence to the Public Accounts Committee in the assembly senate

The renewable heating industry was prematurely aware of planned cuts to a lucrative green energy scheme in Northern Ireland, a senior civil servant has said.

A spike in applications led to massive over-spending on the lucrative wood boiler incentive which was supposed to be funded solely by the Treasury.

Civil servants at the time did not realise how serious it was but the senior official in Stormont's Economy Department said there was evidence the industry was asking others in the "political class" to delay cost-saving measures.

Dr Andrew McCormick said influence was exerted from others in the DUP - he named a former adviser to the first minister but said he had no direct evidence of his identity - who wanted to keep the scheme open at the higher rate of payment.

Dr McCormick said: "The consequence is very serious because this shows that there was premature awareness of the potential for the tariff to be reduced and the message went within the sector - 'get in quick'."

Nationalist SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: "His suggestion that insider information played a part in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) catastrophe is a signal of a corruption in this scheme and a corruption of government that must be rooted out."

The "ash for cash" scandal led Stormont deputy first minister Martin McGuinness to resign from powersharing with the DUP in protest and forced the collapse of powersharing and fresh elections.

Recipients of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) were receiving about 1.60 for every 1 spent on wood fuel.

The scheme has landed the public service in Northern Ireland with a potential 490 million bill over the next 20 years.

Civil servants wanted to cut the rate in July 2015 but objections were raised by a special adviser to then economy minister Jonathan Bell.

Dr McCormick said, with caveats, he believed through hearsay that influence was being exerted on Mr Bell's party adviser by Dr Andrew Crawford, who then worked for Arlene Foster.

He said he was making no suggestion Mrs Foster became involved in keeping the scheme open.

Mrs Foster set up the RHI while she was enterprise minister in 2012 but had moved on by summer 2015.

The tariff rate for payments was eventually reduced that November, but not before a massive surge in the number of applications.

Dr McCormick said because the RHI was originally supposed to be entirely funded separately by the Treasury, t here was a misconception that this would not have a cost to public spending in Northern Ireland.

He told Stormont's Public Accounts Committee (PAC): "Around the period of July there is evidence of some premature information being made available to the industry."

It was possible some of the pressure coming through others in the DUP via former economy minister Mr Bell's special adviser was because "the industry was saying to others in the political class that we hear something is about to happen, can you do something about it a nd can you give us longer?

"That is purely inference, I have no evidence for that, it just seems a not unreasonable inference that that might have happened."

He said the decision to delay a reduction in the tariff and the influence of Mr Bell's adviser Timothy Cairns created the conditions for the overspend, the "perfect storm".

Dr McCormick said the opportunity was there and it was understood to at least a degree by the industry why it was worthwhile getting involved.

He admitted officials were "blind" to the consequences.

He said documents had appeared with him anonymously after Christmas which required further investigation. And he said a meeting involving former minister Mr Bell was recorded without his knowledge.

Dr Crawford said: "As someone who worked in DETI for many years I spoke to the then Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment special adviser at that time about the RHI scheme.

"Any discussions with the DETI SPAD during the summer of 2015 would have been on the basis of my experience of the department.

"In discussing the matter with the DETI SPAD I would have been offering informal advice and assistance as a colleague to my successor in the department and not on behalf of the Finance Minister or the party.

"However, as I pointed out to the BBC in December I did not attempt to keep the RHI scheme open at the original tariff against the wishes of the minister.

"Indeed, I specifically stated on 31 July 2015 that the department, 'will need to make changes from 1st October'."
Sinn Fein deputy first minister Martin McGuinness quit last week citing irreconcilable differences with the DUP

The total RHI spend in Northern Ireland is estimated at over 1 billion over the next 20 years. The Treasury is set to cover 660 million of that, with Stormont landed with the remaining 490 million.

Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken has referred Northern Ireland's botched eco-energy scheme, which precipitated the current Stormont crisis, to the police.

The total Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) spend in Northern Ireland is estimated at over 1 billion over the next 20 years.

The Treasury is set to cover 660 million of that, with Stormont landed with the remaining 490 million.

Former deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned after DUP leader Arlene Foster refused to step aside while the RHI scheme - which she established in 2012 as enterprise minister - is investigated.

Some boilers are producing profits of more than 80% for users, the Stormont assembly has been told.

On Monday DUP Economy Minister Simon Hamilton told his scrutiny committee there had been a degree of "fraud" involved in the RHI scheme.

MLA Steve Aiken said on Tuesday: "I have written to the Chief Constable of the PSNI (George Hamilton) on foot of assertions made by the Minister for the Economy at yesterday's emergency economy committee meeting."

Meanwhile a DUP adviser accused by a party rebel Jonathan Bell of blocking cost controls on the RHI has said his father-in-law runs two green energy boilers under the scheme.

John Robinson, special adviser to current DUP Economy minister Simon Hamilton, insisted the poultry farmer signed up to the scheme before he married his daughter and stressed he had never advised anyone to join the botched state-subsidy initiative.

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Mr Robinson, a former director of communications with the DUP, told the Press Association neither he or his wife had any direct involvement with the business or RHI.

He said his father-in-law joined the scheme before he started to work directly with Mr Hamilton.

On Monday, suspended DUP MLA Jonathan Bell used Assembly privilege to claim he was thwarted in his efforts to clamp down on the multi-million pound RHI overspend because two DUP special advisers "have such extensive interests in the poultry industry".

Mr Bell, himself a former DUP economy minister, named Mr Robinson and fellow DUP special adviser Timothy Johnston.

In response, the DUP branded Mr Bell's allegations as "outrageous, untrue and unfounded mud-slinging".

A party statement on Monday said: "Timothy Johnston has no interests whatsoever in the poultry industry and does not benefit or have any family members who applied to or benefit from RHI.

"John Robinson has no personal interest in the poultry industry. His family home farm have chicken houses but are not part of the RHI scheme and never have been recipients or applicants."

In response to specific queries from the Press Association on Tuesday, Mr Robinson said his father-in-law was part of the RHI scheme.

"I have never had any personal financial interest in the RHI scheme," he said.

"At no point have I ever advised anyone to join the scheme or sought to benefit in any way from it.

"I have two brothers who are poultry farmers. They are not part of the scheme nor did they apply to the scheme.

"My father-in-law purchased two 36KW boilers for his poultry business in May 2015, they were installed in July 2015 and he applied to the scheme on August 3 2015.

"This was before I was married in October 2015. At no time did we discuss any aspect of the scheme nor was I aware of his application to the scheme.

"Neither my wife nor I have ever had any role in the business nor have we received any benefit, financial or otherwise, from the business.

"I was appointed as an adviser in the Department for the Economy in June 2016. I was not involved in any aspect of the RHI scheme prior to taking up the post."

Mr Bell and senior DUP figures, including leader Arlene Foster, are at odds about the chain of events that led to cost controls being introduced into the widely over-budget scheme and its ultimate closure.

He was suspended from the party after making serious allegations against Mrs Foster and a number of party advisers in a TV interview before Christmas. His accusations were denied by all those he named.

The Strangford MLA's subsequent claims in an Assembly debate on Monday came at a time when Mr Hamilton is facing growing pressure to publish the names of all the beneficiaries of the RHI scheme.

Claire Hanna from the SDLP said there had been an "alphabet soup" of scandal.

"We need to start getting answers and we need people to understand that this assembly is more than a racket and a farce."

Democratic Unionist assembly member Emma Little Pengelly has hit back at her party's critics.

"I am not corrupt and I am not arrogant. I honestly know that my colleagues are not arrogant and corrupt either," she said.

"I got into politics to serve the people, to be an advocate and to deliver for the people of South Belfast and Northern Ireland."

MLA Stephen Farry said the civil service was being politicised.

He said an inquiry should examine the design of the RHI, how whistleblowers were treated and delays in taking remedial action.

"RHI has struck a chord with people because it relates to the struggles they face and can recognise incompetence at least."

Nichola Mallon, of the SDLP, said the RHI had cost the taxpayer 32 million since a whistleblower contacted the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in January last year.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland statement confirmed it had received Mr Aiken's letter and was considering the contents.
Anthonie Van Wilderoden: From posing as a rich Spanish duke to pretending to be state witness against murdering Hells Angels: Incredible life and crimes of man jailed here revealed

A businessman jailed last week for shoplifting to order had previously posed as a Spanish Duke and pretended to be state witness against the Dutch Hells Angels in a series of crimes, it can be revealed.

Anthonie Van Wilderoden (44) was jailed in Dublin for a professional shoplifting scheme where he stole high value household goods to order.

The Circuit Criminal Court heard that he used an improvised buggy to steal the high-end items which he then sold on the Donedeal website to unsuspecting customers.

But now it can be revealed that Van Wilderoden has a long and chequered history as a fraudster in central Europe.

It has emerged that Van Wideroden:

Previously acted as a state witness against members of a Dutch motorbike gang but the case collapsed when it emerged that he had fabricated his entire testimony;



Was admitted into the Dutch witness protection programme where he changed his surname and began calling himself the Duke of Aragon



Arranged to marry a French-trained chef in a lavish ceremony but was arrested on the morning before his wedding after it emerged that he hadn't paid the contractors;



Moved to Co Wicklow with his wife but following a split he carried out a spate of robberies across the country;



Now looks set to be the subject of a major European movie.

This week Van Wilderoden is getting settled into his new surroundings at Mountjoy prison. Jail will seem quite familiar for the Dutch conman who has 19 previous convictions across the continent.

But if you were to meet him you could be mistaken for thinking he was a high-flying businessman.

Dutch journalist Jos Verkuijlen, who has followed the case for Omroep Brabant, explained: "I saw Anthonie as a well dressed man. He was very polite and very believable. I can understand he fooled a noble family and the justice department in his past."

Born Anthonie de Bruin, the Dutchman claimed he was sexually abused as a child and became a male prostitute in his teens.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last week evidence was heard that he saved the money from this to set up his first business but that he was a person who is totally incapable of handling money.

De Bruin had a taste for the expensive lifestyle and the first reports of his alleged frauds started to emerge around 2005. According to Mr Verkuijlen, De Bruin pretended to be a millionaire and ordered expensive things.

"He fooled the most luxurious restaurants and helicopter rental companies," the journalist explained.

It wasnt long before the law-enforcement agencies caught up with him and he was jailed.

Around the same time three members of The Nomads, a Dutch version of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, were murdered.

Authorities suspected that members of the same gang were responsible for the killings but they had no clear way of proving this. Enter Anthonie De Bruin.

He claimed to have had long conversations in prison with the prime suspect in the case and he wrote detailed descriptions of these in his diary.

The authorities thought that the case was sown up but they hit a pretty serious snag when it emerged that De Bruin had fabricated the entire thing.

The case collapsed and now the justice department were left with the headache of what to do with the fantasist jailhouse snitch.

Although he had lied to him they felt compelled to put him into witness protection and he was given the new name of Anthonie Van Wilderoden (sometimes spelled Van Wilderode).

Sometime between then and 2010 he used forged documents to change his name again, this time choosing Anthonie van Wilderoden dAragon. He claimed to be of old Spanish nobility and in the papers he claimed to be an earl. But in public he referred to himself as a duke.

He resurfaced in November 2009 when he asked Tara Elliott - a French trained chef born in Belfast and raised in Dublin - to marry him. His taste for the expensive lifestyle hadnt receded and, according to reports, he proposed to Ms Elliott with a platinum ring encrusted with 108 diamonds.

The pair had a civil ceremony on April 15, 2010 in Bruges, Belgium and two months later they were planning to have the official wedding. No expense would be spared.

According to reports it was due to be one of the largest weddings in the history of the state - as big as the marriage of Dutch King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima.

The ceremony was going to be in the basilica of Oudenbosch - a replica of Saint Peters Basilica in Rome - and some 250 guests were invited. Dozens of bouquets of flowers were ordered with Dutch and Belgian musicians arranged for the event.

Afterwards guests were to be invited to a large dinner and party in the former royal Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn. The dinner was going to be made by one of the most famous cooks in The Netherlands.

If it all seemed too good to be true, then thats because it was. Van Wilderoden had not paid a number of the suppliers who had become concerned and contacted police.

The groom-to-be was arrested on the day before the wedding, just as the couple were putting the finishing touches to the ceremony.

It was discovered that there was an outstanding warrant against him for time not served and the wedding was cancelled, leaving the brides father to pay the massive bills.

Van Wilderoden was tried for the wedding fraud a year later. Prosecutors asked for a 2-year sentence. Most of the case took place behind closed doors to protect his safety - he was still in the witness protection programme. Instead, he got just a year for forgery.

Afterwards the Dutch authorities lost track of him until he popped up again in Co Wicklow.

His wife had travelled to Ireland to set up an edible insect company called Eddiebug with the help of a government loan. The company sold insects as a speciality foodstuff. Van Wilderoden followed her here.

Although it was claimed in court that Van Wilderoden was involved with the firm his wife completely denies it.

She told Independent.ie: "Anthonie Van Wilderoden (sometimes spelt Wilderode, Antonie de Bruin, Marc-Anthonie van Wilderoden d'Aragon, or any other names he may have operated under) is not, and never has been, involved in any aspect of Eddiebug, which is at an embryonic stage of development.

"Tara Elliott (Eddiebug founder and owner) is the estranged wife of Mark Anthonie Van Wilderoden."

Van Wilderoden is listed as the director of a chocolate making company in Wicklow.

In court evidence was heard that he began his shoplifting enterprise because had built up heavy debt and his by now estranged wife had gone to America with his children leaving him with no way to support himself.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard he would put up advertisements on the Donedeal website selling household products. He would then steal these products from shops depending on the interest in the ad. None of the buyers knew the goods were stolen.

A source, familiar with the case, said Van Wilderoden used a modified Bugaboo baby's pram to steal the high-value items from stores like Arnotts, Curries and Harvey Norman.

He was spotted on CCTV cameras in stores across the country before he was eventually caught by an eagle-eyed security guard in Arnotts, Dublin in 2015. The security worker became suspicious when he spotted the Dutch man wheeling a pram with no baby inside.

In court evidence was heard that the guard stopped the Van Wilderoden and found crockery sets and a coffee maker inside. The pram had been modified with bungee cords to hold down the goods.

Van Wilderoden was arrested and admitted taking the goods but said they were presents for his wife's birthday. He allowed gardai search his car where they found goods stolen from other stores such as a high-end food mixer and a broadband modem.

Gardai also found two pages with goods listed on it. Van Wilderoden admitted this was a shopping list which he used to keep track of what to steal. He admitted to putting advertisements online and stealing the goods to order.

He was released on bail and two months later was caught stealing the handbag from Brown Thomas. On this occasion gardai searched his house and found three stolen mirrors.

Van Wilderoden was again released on bail and later entered an early guilty plea. However, he then fled to Belgium before his sentence date. He was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant and returned to Ireland in November 2016.

Sources said that the Belgian authorities were more than happy to help gardai out with the case.

Last week Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a sentence of two years - suspending the last six months.

A source, who was once close to the conman, said he will be lonely behind bars: "I'm sure he is very lonely without a friend in the world, apart from his two sons in the Netherlands no one will be visiting him in prison."

His life and crimes now look set to be documented in a movie called Basilica.

A source said: "This movie will be a hit but, in order to do this fellow justice, it would need to be a trilogy."

Mr Verkuijlen likened it to the Leonardo di Caprio and Tom Hanks classic. "It will be like Catch me if you Can... only this guy keeps getting caught."
It was another record-breaking year for the Earth, weather wise

Last year was the hottest year on record globally, beating 2015's exceptionally high temperatures, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said.

The global average temperature in 2016 was 1.1C higher than pre-industrial levels and about 0.07C higher than the previous record set in 2015, the organisation said.

Along with record temperatures, other long term indicators humans are changing the climate reached new heights in 2016, including levels of greenhouse gases and melting ice, the WMO said.

The analysis is based on data from the UK's Met Office Hadley Centre, the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

WMO secretary general Petteri Taalas said: "2016 was an extreme year for the global climate and stands out as the hottest year on record. But temperatures only tell part of the story.

"Long-term indicators of human-caused climate change reached new heights in 2016.

"Carbon dioxide and methane concentrations surged to new records. Both contribute to climate change.

"We have also broken sea ice minimum records in the Arctic and Antarctic.

"Greenland glacier melt - one of the contributors to sea level rise - started early and fast.

"Arctic sea ice was the lowest on record both at the start of the melt season in March and at the height of the normal refreezing period in October and November."

A powerful "El Nino", a weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean which pushes up global temperatures, fuelled high temperatures in the early months of 2016.

The Met Office Hadley Centre's acting director Peter Stott said: "A particularly strong El Nino event contributed about 0.2C to the annual average for 2016, which was about 1.1C above the long-term average from 1850 to 1900.

"However, the main contributor to warming over the last 150 years is human influence on climate from increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."

The record prompted renewed calls for a rapid shift away from fossil fuels to curb greenhouse gas emissions and rising temperatures.

WWF-UK chief executive Tanya Steele said: "This is yet again a warning sign for governments, businesses and citizens to speed up the shift to a low-carbon economy.

"From our coral reefs being bleached at an alarming rate, to glaciers melting, and the world facing the first mass extinction of wildlife since the dinosaurs, there are more and more danger signs that we are breaching the environmental limits of our planet."

She said the UK was making progress, but there was a need to drastically improve energy efficiency, switch to renewables and change consumption patterns.

The two US datasets and the one from the UK vary slightly, mostly because of different ways that the polar regions, with little data, are assessed.

The Met Office and UEA figures found that 2016 only exceeded 2015 by a small margin, making the past two years the warmest in records dating back to 1850.

All three sets of data reveal that the planet's average surface temperature has risen by 1.1C (2F) since the late 19th century.

Nasa and Noaa's data both show that 2016 marked three years in a row of record warmth for the globe.

Nasa Goddard Institute for Space Studies (Giss) director Gavin Schmidt said: "2016 is remarkably the third record year in a row in this series.

"We don't expect record years every year, but the ongoing long-term warming trend is clear."

The news comes two days before Donald Trump becomes US president.

Mr Trump has previously labelled climate change a hoax by the Chinese to undermine US manufacturing and pledged to pull out of the world's first comprehensive climate treaty, the Paris Agreement.

UK experts have raised concerns over statements by the president-elect that he does not fully accept the scientific evidence of climate change, while nominees for key posts in his administration have rejected the evidence for global-warming risks.

Friends of the Earth chief executive Craig Bennett said: "This is a clear warning that world leaders, including the incoming US president, mustn't ignore.

"Climate change isn't a hoax - and unless we move rapidly to slash emissions we risk a global catastrophe.

"It's time to ditch our reliance on gas, coal and oil and fully embrace the clean energy revolution that is already upon us."
Antonio Tajani delivers his speech before the vote for the presidency of the European Parliament (AP/Jean-Francois Badias)

Antonio Tajani, of the EPP Christian Democrat group, has been elected president of the European Parliament.

Mr Tajani defeated his socialist opponent in a day-long series of polls.

Before the first round of voting, the EPP, the largest group in the legislature, and the ALDE liberals, the fourth-largest, announced a coalition that gave Mr Tajani a big early lead over S&D socialist Gianni Pittella.

He maintained the lead through four rounds of voting.

The battle among the two Italians was won by Mr Tajani on a vote of 351-282.

Mr Tajani's victory gives the Christian Democrats all the biggest jobs in the EU, with Donald Tusk as Council president and Jean-Claude Juncker as Commission chief.

Mr Tajani, an ally of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, devoted his victory to the victims of August's earthquake in Italy and to all victims of terror.

"We must devote our attention to all those who are in tough living conditions," he said during a short acceptance speech.

To make the coalition with the EPP work, ALDE leader Guy Verhofstadt withdrew from the election among the European Parliament's 751 legislators.

"Today, the political landscape in the European Parliament is dramatically changed with the birth of a new conservative block. We will constructively oppose this block," Mr Pittella said.

Mr Tajani will head the parliament for the next two and a half years.

The election followed the decision by S&D leader Martin Schulz not to seek a new term. Mr Schulz is heading into national politics in Germany ahead of September elections.

The parliament president chairs the plenary sessions of the legislature and is the face of the parliament in the EU and on the international stage. Under the charismatic Mr Schulz, the post's standing increased.

With more legislative clout, the parliament has an ever bigger impact on EU decision-making. For example, any Brexit deal will have to be approved by parliament on top of getting the blessing of the member states.

AP
Cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, a pot belly pig and construction of a new facility: the Beatrice Humane Society had a busy 2016.

Staff saw increased numbers of animals taken into the shelter and adopted out in 2016 than in the two years prior. They also reaped successful fundraising efforts for the new shelter that will open this spring.

2016 was an extremely busy year, said President of the Board of Directors John Rypma. A lot of the people involved in the shelter were involved with the whole campaign in raising money. We were busy designing the building. It was just an extremely demanding year for people on the board and who work in the shelter. It was an extremely consuming year but extremely worth it.

Conversation for a new Humane Society shelter in Beatrice started within the board three or four years ago. Animals and staff will move into the new space, which is across the highway from the Southeast Community College, between April 15 and May 1, Rypma said.

Were really looking forward to getting into the new building, Rypma said. Itll be so much more animal-friendly and a new environment. Small dogs can be kept separate from big dogs. Any animal with health issues will be kept separate from the rest.

Isolation areas will be used in case of contagious conditions and the heating and air system will not circulate infected air, Rypma said. The site will also have large spaces for dogs to get exercise.

Weve had tremendous support from the community, Rypma said. 100 percent of the money to build the building and purchase all of the equipment inside  100 percent was donated money.

The land was also donated. The Beatrice Humane Society is still looking for sponsors for some cat cages and dog kennels. To do so, Rypma can be reached at 402-239-0420.

Our long-term supporters have been there to help us, Rypma said. A lot of this money is from new donors. Were fortunate to have three donors into the six-figures.

On top of the fundraising campaign and constructing the new facility, the shelter (300 Ella Street) kept busy last year with its usual operations.

Shelter Manager Bryce Caulk said the Humane Society accepted 598 cats and 360 dogs into its doors last year. Eighteen cats were returned to their owners and 170 dogs were returned to their owners.

You see more people not reclaiming their cats, Caulk said. 90 percent of those cats last year were strays.

A lot of animals found homes: 453 cats and 197 dogs were adopted from the shelter, in addition to seven other animals, which included one pot belly pig.

Caulk, who started in Jan. 2015, said the most cats the shelter has housed at one time was 60. It has 22 dog kennels.

The new shelter is not necessarily built to hold more animals, but its to make the space for the animals a little more humane, to give more room for the animals to live in, Caulk said.

Caulk said he hopes the new facility will drum up continued support and excitement from the community.

We hope to get the community involved a little bit more, Caulk said. We hope the new shelter will bring some excitement and something new for people to come check out and come down to to volunteer. The building were in now is not really fit for the animals, let alone people wanting to come down and volunteer.

Caulk said volunteers can do an array of work from sitting and socializing with animals to taking dogs on walks, mailing thank you notes and helping staff with dishes, laundry and cleaning.

More information can be found by visiting the shelter, calling it at 402-228-9100 or by visiting its website or Facebook page.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says rebels belonging to the National Liberation Army (ELN) have agreed to free a captive politician.

The deal clears the way for formal peace talks with the country's second-largest rebel group to begin next month.

Mr Santos made the announcement from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He said details of the agreement would be announced by representatives of the government and rebels at a press conference later on Wednesday in Quito, Ecuador.

The government and the ELN have been holding exploratory peace talks for more than three years.

Almost a year ago, the government announced formal negotiations would begin, but the start of talks has been held up by the rebels' refusal to meet Mr Santos' demand that they renounce the kidnapping and free the politician.
Afghan and Pakistani migrants try to keep warm on the eastern Greek island of Lesbos (AP/Nikolia Apostolou)

A call has been made to help thousands of refugees and other migrants in camps on Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos, who face harsh winter conditions.

Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Union's commissioner for migration, said solutions must be found immediately.

"We all... have a humanitarian imperative to alleviate the situation here on the islands," Mr Avramopoulos said during a visit to Lesbos, accompanied by Greece's migration minister.

"It simply cannot be that refugees are left out in the cold, to brave the worst of winter without a roof over their heads."

More than 5,000 people live in overcrowded camps on Lesbos, and hundreds had to be evacuated from tents covered by snow during a cold spell this month. Many were transferred to a Greek naval vessel.

Resentment is rising among many Lesbos residents, who have faced the brunt of Europe's immigration crisis for the past two years and fear their tourism-reliant island will remain an open prison for migrants indefinitely.

More than 62,000 refugees and other migrants have been stuck in Greece since a series of Balkan border closures and an EU-Turkey deal on stemming migration.

These include about 15,000 who reached the eastern islands after the March 2016 agreement, and are not allowed to travel to the mainland unless they successfully apply for asylum. If they cannot prove that they merit asylum in Greece, rather than neighbouring Turkey from which they travelled, they face being returned to Turkey.

Mr Avramopoulos promised to reduce congestion in island camps by moving vulnerable people to the mainland and stepping up returns to Turkey.

Also on Wednesday, the Human Rights Watch organisation claimed that Greek authorities, as well as the United Nations refugee agency and international charities receiving significant funding to operate Greece's camps, are failing disabled migrants.

"Asylum-seekers and other migrants with disabilities have particular difficulties getting basic services such as shelter, sanitation, and medical care, and... have limited access to mental health care," the group said.

"For example, one older woman who uses a wheelchair had not been able to take a shower for a month."

Meanwhile, a Serbian government official said about 1,100 migrants remain out in the open in severe weather after only 250 people agreed to move away from the streets into a camp outside Belgrade, the capital.

Svetlana Velimirovic, from the government's refugee agency, said that Serbia's asylum centres have enough room for all migrants but that most have refused to go.

Migrants trapped in Serbia have been reluctant to seek official help, fearing they could be deported or unable to move towards Western Europe.

Hundreds of men have occupied a sprawling abandoned warehouse by the Belgrade bus station, enduring freezing temperatures, snow and cold wind, without any facilities.

Aid groups have criticised the Serbian government for letting the migrants stay out during the winter. About 7,000 people remain stranded in the Balkan country.

AP
George HW Bush has been admitted to an intensive care unit to address a respiratory problem from pneumonia, according to a spokesman for the former US president.

Jim McGrath said Mr Bush's wife, Barbara Bush, has also been admitted to hospital as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing.

Mr McGrath said the 92-year-old former president was placed under sedation for a procedure to protect and clear his airway.

He is stable and resting comfortably. He has been at Houston's Methodist Hospital since Saturday.

Barbara Bush is 91. The couple marked their 72nd wedding anniversary on January 6.

Mr Bush was taken to the hospital over the weekend after suffering from shortness of breath. Mr McGrath had earlier said on Wednesday that he was responding well to treatments.

"Doctors and everyone are very pleased, and we hope to have him out soon," Mr McGrath said.

Mr Bush's chief of staff, Jean Becker, told the Houston Chronicle that the 41st US president was expected to go home in a couple of days.

Mr Bush, who served as US president from 1989 to 1993, has a form of Parkinson's disease and uses a motorised scooter or a wheelchair for mobility.

He was admitted to hospital in Maine in 2015 after falling at his summer home and breaking a bone in his neck. He was taken into hospital in Houston the previous December for around a week because of shortness of breath. Mr Bush spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues.

Despite the loss of mobility, Mr Bush celebrated his 90th birthday by taking part in a tandem parachute jump in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Last summer, Mr Bush led a group of 40 injured veterans on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration.

Mr Bush's office announced earlier this month that he and his wife of more than 70 years would not attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration this week due to the former president's age and health.

George Herbert Walker Bush, born on June 12 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts, also served as a congressman, CIA director and Ronald Reagan's vice president.

His son, George W Bush, was elected president in 2000 and served two terms. Another son, Jeb - a former Florida governor - made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination in 2016.

Only one other US president, John Adams, had a son who also became president.

AP
This time it is serious. When I was writing my column for the Belfast Telegraph, over 35 troubled years, I was often known as the man who blew out the light at the end of the tunnel.

I was very sceptical that after 30 years of violence, most of it initiated by the Provisional IRA, that any plan which meant unionists and nationalists had to govern together could work. They didn't agree on the long term future of Northern Ireland, or on the scope of relations with Dublin, so they would have to set their orange and green politics to one side, to form an effective government.

The Good Friday Agreement, which is nearly 19 years old, provided the optimistic template, heavily brokered by British, Irish and American governments which would never have contemplated the enforced coalition executive that emerged.

But as long as the moderate unionists and nationalists were in charge, represented by the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP, I admitted and hoped that it had a chance.

How things have changed, since those days when northern and southern referendums gave 71% and 91% backing to the power-sharing scheme. The moderates, who let Sinn Fein prevaricate for too long on the surrender of IRA hardware and support for the police, have been replaced by the DUP and Sinn Fein, whose support for the Good Friday principles has been highly conditional.

Here are two parties which have always relied on tribal loyalties attempting to prove that they can run a government largely consisting of tribalist politicians. They may meet in the Executive, which until 2016 was diluted by the presence of UUP, SDLP and Alliance representatives, but clearly they regarded each other as enemies rather than partners.

Ministries have been run as separate fiefdoms, with disappointingly little co-operation between ministers, and when the inevitable crises have occurred, it has taken the First and Deputy First Ministers to provide solutions.

Under Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, whose diplomatic ability has astonished everyone, these were achieved with little apparent difficulty. Under Peter Robinson and McGuinness, the atmosphere was chilly but stable, but under Arlene Foster and McGuinness it was frozen in time and momentum. The chemistry between the frontierswoman First Minister and her former republican adversary was never right, as recent events have proved. While the Sinn Feiner seemed to accept the give and take nature of their political partnership - looking askance when offence was given to his core support - Arlene Foster has tended to regard herself as a champion of fundamental unionism, even in the new dispensation.

The cracks were showing, long before the 'cash for ash' scandal split the two-party government asunder. The Red Sky affair, the NAMA allegations of multi-million pound corruption and the inexplicable defence of UDA involvement in community funds all damaged public confidence in the Stormont institutions, but RHI destroyed it.

And the revelations came not from Assembly sources, as preferably they should have, but from painstaking media investigation.

Perhaps even the RHI scandal could have been overcome, if the DUP had been quicker to admit its mistakes and produce an earlier plan to deal with them. But it was deadly slow to react.

Jonathan Bell dropped his bombshell, and, with the Speaker fumbling his job, the party's lack of respect for the opposition's anger captured the public's attention.

The withdrawal of 50,000 from an Irish language scheme soured the already toxic atmosphere, and undoubtedly led to Sinn Fein ceasing to bite its lip over the DUP's unthinking arrogance.

Now, instead of the two big parties trying to make up, to keep Stormont going, they have been pitched into an unwanted election which will decide whether the Good Friday Agreement institutions can be resurrected.

If they are truly dead, after a polarised election, then the devolution settlement dies with them, and we are back in the early 1990s, hopefully without the violence.

Maybe, like Jim Allister says, the Stormont system is so flawed that it must be discarded and rebuilt.

The election will demonstrate, by the voting percentages as well as the percentage of non-voters, the near-impossibility of the task in the years ahead.

But surely all unionists must realise that if there is no change in attitudes, and no reform, the devolution experiment will have run its course and direct rule from London is the only alternative, unsatisfactory as it was for 25 years. Presumably the DUP and Sinn Fein will be returned as the largest parties, with the main responsibility for devising a more accountable governmental system, but if they approach it without the art of compromise and generosity, continuing the election "war" by other means, they needn't start.

One of my reasons for pessimism back in the 1990s was the knowledge that as the unionist majority declines - and in my lifetime I have seen it drop from 66% to 50-plus - it becomes even more defensive of its Britishness, making it even less accommodating to the Irishness of a growing minority.

If it goes down this road, as it was doing under Arlene Foster, it is heading for a disastrous showdown not only with nationalists but with an increasingly disillusioned British government.

Brexit can only exacerbate the tensions in a divided community, forcing unionists to cling to mother England and nationalists to see closer links with Dublin, and Europe, as their way forward, regardless of majority opinion.

Already it should be obvious that if Stormont is to survive, in any form, these two political blocs have to reach a better accommodation, knowing the dire consequences of failure.

The attitudes - and compromises - that brought David Trimble and John Hume together must be restored, more durably than ever. Belligerent confrontation on the airwaves, or in the Assembly, must be avoided by careful party discipline, down to the choosing of less pugnacious representatives on TV and radio.

The long negotiations which will be necessary to replace the present failed institutions could not survive another round of recrimination and accusation.

The prize must always be a Northern Ireland more at peace with itself, if that is possible, meaning power-sharing of some sort, entered into by trusted and necessarily moderate politicians.

If there is a ray of hope, it is the warming relationship between the UUP and SDLP.

The alternative to all-round pragmatism is continuing bad blood at the top and a certain slide towards political and maybe practical anarchy.

Some may already have that as their goal, knowing how easily the two communities can be divided on their basic, but unattainable, objectives. Please don't let them have their way.

Barry White is a former journalist and commentator with the Belfast Telegraph
May 5, 2016 was a very good day for the DUP and Arlene Foster. The 202,567 votes they polled in the Assembly election was their best tally since 2007: 115,265 more votes than the UUP; a very comfortable overall majority of all unionist votes cast and 31,601 more votes than the UUP and SDLP combined. And with Sinn Fein having dropped 11,000 votes and one MLA and the UUP and SDLP shuffled into Opposition, Foster seemed to be mistress of all she surveyed.

It had been a dreadful day for the UUP. Mike Nesbitt's "two election cycles" strategy had crashed to the ground at the end of the first cycle, with the UUP recording their worst-ever election result. Meanwhile, the "youthful and energetic" Colum Eastwood also delivered the SDLP's worst Assembly result, dropping 11,000 votes and two MLAs.

Yet, just eight months later, Foster is in trouble. The Executive has crashed, forcing an early election. Her own ministerial competence, along with the competence of other DUP figures and special advisers, has been under intense, relentless scrutiny since BBC NI's Spotlight programme on December 6.

The much-trumpeted "good working relationship" and "non-aggression pact" between the DUP and Sinn Fein has been shredded; with the boastful claims contained in a recent joint statement by Foster and McGuinness now looking like a deliberate ploy to pull the wool over the eyes of the media and general public. Senior figures in both parties freely admit that they would be very hard-pushed - assuming, of course, that they are returned as the lead parties - to put all of the pieces back together again and reboot a new Executive.

Does that mean that there is an opportunity for Mike Nesbitt and Colum Eastwood to reverse the fortunes of last May and convince the electorate that they can succeed where the DUP and Sinn Fein have failed?

The strongest card they have in their favour is that the failure of the DUP and Sinn Fein has been so spectacular and so public.

Let's face it: neither Foster nor McGuinness could even put up the pretence of being able to work together after an election. Foster has admitted that this is going to be a "brutal" showdown. Sinn Fein says there will be "no return to the status quo".

So, Nesbitt and Eastwood are right to argue that "returning those two parties to power" will probably result in continuing stalemate and instability.

While it is true that mandatory coalition forces unlikely partners into government together, it is also true that personal respect and general civility would be a useful underpinning for such a coalition.

All of the body language and anecdotal evidence suggests that Nesbitt and Eastwood like each other and UUP/SDLP MLAs clearly have a very good relationship. Yes, they obviously disagree on "big ticket" issues, like legacy and the constitutional position, yet the fact that there is civility and respect at the heart of their relationship may mean that they can reach broad-based agreement on a range of other issues.

To be blunt: could they be any worse than the other two?

Many DUP MLAs make no secret of the fact that they detest Sinn Fein; while Sinn Fein MLAs have told me, "there's no love lost between us".

There are two primary sources for the UUP/SDLP to attract votes. The first, obviously, is from people who voted DUP and Sinn Fein last May. That's a difficult task, because many of those voters are voting DUP to stop Sinn Fein, and vice versa. That's why the DUP has played the "Vote DUP to stop a Sinn Fein First Minister" card since 2007: and, so far, it has worked. It is still their most powerful card and it will still secure a huge chunk of their vote on March 2.

Sinn Fein, meanwhile, will talk about unionist splits, DUP "arrogance and lack of respect" and argue that, with increased votes and the DUP in trouble, this will be their best chance to get the First Minister's role. That hope will fuel a huge chunk of their vote.

The other source for the UUP/SDLP is non-voters - people who, for years in some cases, have argued that a vote is a waste of time. Many of those people may be angry with the RHI saga; and similarly angry that, yet again, Northern Ireland looks downright stupid to the rest of the world.

But if a big enough chunk of those non-voters (who make up around 45% of the potential electorate) is to be motivated and mobilised to vote this time, then they need three guarantees: their vote will result in change; the institutions will survive and be effective; and, most important of all, that Nesbitt and Eastwood are genuine in their commitment to work together.

And that's going to mean that Nesbitt and Eastwood approach this election challenge jointly, from the same standpoint and with a clear agreement on a common outcome.

If their main pitch is that they, together, would do a better job than the DUP and Sinn Fein, then they need to provide hard evidence of that during the election campaign.

Political opponents may have mocked the cheesiness of "Vote Mike and you get Colum", ignoring the reality that the last outcome gave us Arlene and Martin followed, eight months later, by tears, tantrums, crash and uncertainty.

The DUP/Sinn Fein campaign will be nasty, negative and relentlessly playing to their separate bases: so it makes sense for the UUP/SDLP campaign to be positive, pleasant and geared to the needs of each other for transfer purposes.

They also need to focus on the fact that their campaign is about good government, proper accountability and a coherent, collective approach at the heart of the Executive.

Be willing to admit that they won't always agree, while confirming that Mike and Colum will be able to sit, chat and work out a compromise which both will stand over.

They also need to address the concerns that Sinn Fein and the DUP still have about the outworkings - and ongoing failure to implement key aspects - of the Good Friday Agreement and St Andrew's Agreement. Those concerns aren't going to go away - even if the UUP/SDLP eclipse their rivals.

Neither Nesbitt nor Eastwood expected this second pick of the cherry so soon, or in these sorts of circumstances.

There is a political/electoral opportunity now, which they never anticipated. If they don't seize it, capitalise on it and successfully rebuild on it, then they could, conceivably, end up in a worse electoral state than they did last May.

If they are serious about change, they need to convince tens of thousands of sceptical voters that they have a credible strategy for delivering it.
"This is the way the Assembly ends - not with a bang but with a sort of whimpering diminuendo of interest," said Eamonn McCann of People Before Profit.

It was the day after the institutions had collapsed, yet Stormont was somehow still rolling on, carried forward by the sluggish momentum of old, familiar habit, if nothing else.

At first glance, it was like any other humdrum work day at Parliament Buildings. Politicians - with the exception of Sinn Fein MLAs, who had apparently vanished en bloc - were going through the motions in the Assembly chamber, and committees continued their sittings.

Small groups of tourists drifted through the Great Hall, or contemplated buying a Northern Ireland Assembly mouse-mat (which could probably become a collector's item, the way things are currently looking) in the gift shop. The flower arrangements were as stiff, forbidding and ornate as ever.

"The Northern Ireland Assembly welcomes Termoncanice Primary School, Limavady," brightly announced the electronic information screen in the reception area.

With exquisitely ironic timing, a group called DRS Mediation was also expected to host a session called 'Moving Forward: A Planned Approach'.

What a difference from Monday, when Stormont's grand avenue was packed with the cars, vans and trucks of the assembled media, gathered as of old to mark, once more, the passing of the institutions.

On Tuesday, the bristling cameras and microphones were gone, the massive police and security presence had been stood down, and - remarkably enough, in the circumstances - all seemed to be back to normal.

But not quite.

Attendance in the chamber was decidedly sketchy, even with the absence of the Sinn Fein cohort, and those who were present were clearly in electioneering mode.

The UUP and the SDLP put forward a joint motion calling for a public inquiry into the botched heating initiative, and Jonathan Bell got up and said he would repeat his explosive allegations about RHI before a judge-led inquiry.

After lunch, there were more bitter recriminations about the Executive's failures, a brief discussion about the low numbers of traffic wardens in Coalisland and some general hand-wringing about Brexit.

Then it was back to RHI again. Justice Minister Claire Sugden got miffed when Richie McPhillips of the SDLP asked why she wouldn't instigate an urgent public inquiry into the scandal. It wasn't going to happen, she said, "as I have reiterated time and time again - but the message seems to have got lost with some people."

The Assembly will pointlessly trundle on like this, an MoT-failed vehicle for various petty gripes, groans and moans, until January 26, when the wheels will at last drop off, and MLAs will be in full-time election mode.

Politicians may have been going through the motions, but omens of Stormont's imminent demise could be seen all around.

The door of the Deputy First Minister's room stood slightly ajar, but there was no sound from inside. Racks of chairs bound in plastic were stacked along the Great Hall, marked 'do not use'.

In one of the long echoing corridors which run through the bowels of the building sat a trio of dead microwave ovens and a row of broken coffee machines. 'Out of order,' said the label. 'Sorry for any inconvenience caused.'

Wandering into the canteen, I noticed that the atmosphere was a little brighter, no doubt assisted by the impressively low prices of the lunch menu, and there were a few people taking advantage of the subsidised nosh while they could.

But even here, there were poignant signs of what might have been, if it were not for Arlene Foster's intransigence, and Sinn Fein's determination to teach her a harsh lesson. "New Year, New You - commit to being your best in 2017," urged a chirpy sign, which was ostensibly there to encourage our corpulent public representatives to ease off on the cheap calories.

And the special message for today?

"Set goals and make your plan."

Sadly, it's a bit late for that now.

Stormont is like a ghost ship, captain-less, steaming on towards its inevitable demise, doomed to crash into the iceberg over and over again, with never any change of course.
Never mind the heat from the RHI scandal, the hot air from the DUP and Sinn Fein is raising the local political temperature to record highs, and we're still six weeks away from polling day.

Flags, the Irish language, the health service and even traffic wardens - there is no issue too big or too small for the two parties to employ in battle.

Let's just pause before we consider yesterday's argy-bargy at Stormont. Here are the words of Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness in their first joint platform piece published just eight weeks ago.

"Day by day, slowly but surely, politics here is changing. And it's for the better. The focus is increasingly now on policies and delivery - on finding the best ways to make people's lives better," they proclaimed.

"We are in this for the long haul. There is much more to do, but we are proud of the achievements to date. This is what delivery looks like. No gimmicks. No grandstanding. Just ministers getting on with the work."

We can now see this for the nonsense it was. These two parties couldn't stand each other, but they were happy to join forces to try to wipe the public's eye in pretending everything was going like a dream.

And it wasn't just the old-timers smiling for the cameras and talking tripe. The young ones were at it too.

Junior Ministers Alastair Ross and Megan Fearon attended a Together Building a United Community event in Dungannon.

Alastair waxed lyrical about the importance of promoting good relations to "build a peaceful, multicultural and tolerant society".

Megan philosophised about breaking down barriers and constructing positive relationships.

Today, their parties stand in different corners of the ring trading insults and abuse.

Sinn Fein says that the DUP are a bunch of bigots with whom it's impossible to do business. Their former partners in government retort that the Shinners mightn't wear masks any more, but they're still intent on destroying democracy.

Addressing the Assembly yesterday, DUP MLA Keith Buchanan said that Coalisland was the only town in his Mid-Ulster constituency with a lack of traffic wardens.

"Is there a fear of redcoats for whatever reason?" he asked Sinn Fein Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard.

Don't be surprised if the absence of TV licence investigators in south Armagh is next on the DUP's list. That's how petty it's become.

But Sinn Fein shouldn't get away with spouting the line that life with the Duppers was a living hell.

If second-class citizenship was all that was on offer, why were they happy to cosy up to their coalition partners for 10 years?

After all, the nationalist community was told that this was the party which would negotiate the unionists and the British under the table and would "put manners" on all and sundry at Stormont.

DUP MLA Philip Logan yesterday said that Sinn Fein was "attempting a re-run" of last May's election.

"We on these benches do not dance to the tune of Sinn Fein," he pledged.

That may well be so, but the DUP needs to dramatically improve its act because its performances thus far have been disastrous.

Successive party spokesmen on BBC's Nolan Show and Talkback programme have missed more steps that Ed Balls on Strictly Come Dancing. The audience at home will deliver their verdict on March 2.
So the DUP 'never agreed' to an Irish Language Act at St Andrews. But they did agree to the St Andrews Agreement that proposed an Irish Language Act.

Do you follow? Yes, it's another example of constructive ambiguity more commonly known as the political 'fudge' that has been needed to get our political deals over the line. But the thrust of what was agreed remains as clear as crystal.

The St Andrews Agreement was a foundation stone of the Assembly of 2007 to 2017. It included a ground-breaking commitment that Sinn Fein sign up to policing in word and act - a move that challenged their republican base and resulted in some activists leaving the party altogether. The deal that was made was not a pick and mix, even if the DUP wish to present it as such now.

A quick glance at what an Irish language Act would contain should leave many people wondering what all the fuss is about.

An Act would allow areas to designate as a 'Gaeltacht' in the same way as parts of Donegal. Prime candidates for this new status would include parts of West Belfast and South Derry.

Those who speak Irish would be able to use it within the Assembly. We can already witness Welsh AMs (Assembly Members) speaking at length in their native tongue. Welsh Unionist AMs, I hasten to add.

A proposed Bill would also provide a guarantee for the provision of Irish medium education. This protection is needed. In the Assembly, Unionist MLAs opposed firstly the introduction, and subsequently the growth, of Colaiste Dhoire in Dungiven - the north's second post-primary Irish-speaking school.

It was long overdue. There were numerous bunscoils scattered across Derry and Tyrone, growing in number, year on year. Basic economics would tell you that because the demand was increasing, therefore supply needed to match.

If it had been dismissed as unionist politicians desired, the only option for those aspiring to attend a post-primary Irish medium school would have been to spend long hours commuting from Dungiven to Belfast every weekday.

That wouldn't have been viable. Unionist politicians knew that. That was the point.

The school enrolment has now more than trebled.

In England, Scotland and Wales, a 1737 penal law that requires court proceedings to be in English was repealed in 1863. Not here. If a few people choose to use Irish in the courts every year, why would it bother anybody?

The interesting aspect of the argument over the Irish Language Act is this, all the Gaelic speaking community are calling for are rights that are upheld throughout the rest of the union. If unionist politicians were more progressive they could actually use the granting of minority language rights as a way of highlighting the benefits of being in the union.

There is nothing to fear from it. Now is the time to deal with the Irish language commitment once and for all.

Sinn Fein should make it a key requirement in the post-election talks with both the DUP and the British Government, and a new Irish language campaign, An Dream Dearg, will keep the pressure up on the politicians to deliver.

One lesson to be learned from the recent political difficulties is this. Accords that have been signed up to must be honoured. Without the foundation agreements of the Assembly being upheld, the institutions will falter again and again. A house built on sand cannot stand.

Daithi McKay was Sinn Fein MLA for North Antrim from 2007 until August of last year
Second Chance Pups is a "cause for the paws" that is making a difference inside and out! Kim Osterman has volunteered with the Nebraska's Premier Prison Pup training and adoption program for over 12 years, and shared her passion for the program, with Torchbearer Zeta members, hosted by Trudy Roche at the Jan. 17 meeting.

Pups and dogs travel from as near as the Beatrice Humane Society, and far as Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, to the Nebraska State Penitentiary where they will reside, to be a part of each 9 week program. Kim trains inmates, and inmates train dogs who are then placed through adoption, giving dogs a second chance with a loving family.

Second Chance Pups has partnered with Heads Up Hounds for diabetic detection and Search and Rescue. The program is all volunteer, and those who volunteer receive rich rewards as patience, training, and love for dogs allows their handlers to give back to society, and brings heartwarming success stories, one of them being Harry, a schnauzer mix who stayed after training, and now resides as a therapy dog in one of the housing units.

Maggie Werner gave the Torch Review, about Beta Sigma Phi's "Disaster a Relief Fund". The fund, later named "Betty Center Memorial Relief Fund", has been helping members since 1972. In 1992, after Hurricane Andrew, donations from members quickly totaled $180,000.00 for assistance to others, at a time when it is most needed. It is completely funded through donations with no operational costs.

Bev Weishahn will host the next meeting, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.
Christopher Halloran/Shutterstock.com

Love him or dislike him, it is irrelevant. The people have spoken and Donald Trump will assume the role of chief executive of the United States on Jan. 20, 2017 and will be sworn in as the 45th President of our nation. In addition to the wreath-laying ceremony, the welcome concerts and the parades, there will be people gathered on the sidelines for sure, but not all will be shouting praises or waving American flags. After a polarizing 2016 presidential campaign and a landslide victory on Nov. 8, many detractors are taking their consternation to the streets of Washington, D.C. in protest.

People can peacefully protest all they desire, it is their right as Americans. Yet, there will be those who will feed into the contention. This sadly is the case with the protest groups DisruptJ20, which flagrantly said they will not peacefully support the transition of the new president. Calling him a "fascist," the site explained their purposes: "Were planning a series of massive direct actions that will shut down the inauguration ceremonies and any related celebrationsthe inaugural parade, the inaugural balls, you name it. Were also planning to paralyze the city itself, using blockades and marches to stop traffic and even public transit."

There will be other protest groups like the Womens March where they are anticipating 200,000 people to attend and walk the day after the inauguration on Jan. 21. The demonstration is summoning people to come together in solidarity to send a message to the new administration of the importance of women's rights. Nothing wrong here. The Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coalition will attend the inaugural event to protest Trump. The Democratic Socialists of America are also expected to attend and both have that right. Students for a Democratic Society will hold a national student walkout, according to their Facebook page on the 20th. They formed an alliance with other student groups and "they will disrupt operations on campuses everywhere." SDS mission statement demands that all students in America receive free tuition and that there is equal access to education for all undocumented students. They also want to prevent mass deportations of illegal immigrants, something Trump advocated throughout his campaign. Don't particularly agree with them? Well, you don't need to, again it is the United States Constitution, which protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression. Although, when freedom of expression becomes violent, then the bikers come to protect the public. Not necessarily always true, but the police will receive added assistance.

Chris Cox is the founder of Bikers For Trump and he spoke with "Fox & Friends" that his organization will guard people if things become violent. In the event that we are needed, we will certainly form a wall of meat," said Cox. "Well be shoulder-to-shoulder with our brothers. And well be toe-to-toe with anyone whos going to break through police barricades." Cox is anticipating that there will be a smooth transition of power and so does the incumbent president. The presidency, the vice presidency is bigger than any of us, Barack Obama said after Trump's win in November. Were actually all on one team. Were not Democrats first. Were not Republicans first. Were patriots first. We all want whats best for this country. He admitted that the country needs to heal and was encouraged by Trump's unity speech.

Trump echoed that its time for America to bind the wounds of division. "To all Republicans, Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. That speech was made over 2 months ago and using the inauguration to whine that the election was lost is pedantic. Exercise free speech, but that is where it ends. Surely, Obama wants to give the reigns with a peaceful resolute, people can do the same. Look, Trump is not a choir boy. We don't need to agree with him or like him. In fact, hold him accountable like anyone else. Yet, there needs to be some semblance of unity for the highest office held in the land. If the motivating factor is hate, then as a nation we will never be healed. Evidently, neither the speech by Obama or by Trump diminished the outrage felt by some Democrats. Some are still not participating in the inaugural events.

For example, there are 16 key Democrats who will not be attending the inauguration out of protest. Yet, there will be those attending the inauguration out of respect and out of duty for public office. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend. President George W. Bush (didn't endorse Trump) and former First Lady Laura Bush will be in attendance. Bush said in a speech that he knows people are disconcerted. "I understand the anger, and some people may have been angry when I was president. What needs to drive policy is what's best for the people who are angry."

What is best the policy for our country? It is not hatred. However, a righteous anger is justified and can influence the system. The great Martin Luther King Jr. propelled the civil rights movement by using nonviolence based on Christian convictions. He wanted solidarity among all people. He believed that darkness can't drive out darkness--only light can do that. Making an aim to disrupt and disrespect the inauguration is moot. Non-violence is the solution. King still motivates us today and instructs us to transform anger into action. People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other," he said. "They don't know each other because they have not communicated with each other.

Is there a whisper of resentment in your heart? Don't allow it develop into something that can't be employed for good. The Presidential Inauguration of 2017 should not be used as a pulpit for violence or bullying. This event should be used to create unity. One thing is certain, the inauguration will go down as a quiet transition or unfold like a circus act. This will depend solely on those attending the events. Can protesters remain dignified as the world looks to America to be an illuminating example, or will they laugh at our disrespect that we have towards the highest office of our the land?

Corine Gatti-Santillo is a freelance digital journalist, editor, and content producer. She is also the The Christian Post Voices Editor. She is also a former editor at Beliefnet.com.
Relatives of people killed during recent unrest in Indian Kashmir on Wednesday rejected the governments compensatory offer of cash and jobs, and demanded stern action against security personnel involved in the deaths of loved ones.

At least 100 civilians were killed and more than 10,000 injured in clashes between security forces and anti-India protesters in the disputed Himalayan region following the killing of a separatist leader in July.

Last week, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) state government announced compensation packages of 500,000 rupees (U.S. $7,344) and jobs for immediate family members of each person who died during the clashes.

If Indian forces had killed my son in self defense, as they claim, the government would not have announced any such compensation. The announcement of cash and jobs for us has vindicated our stand that our wards were killed in cold blood, Ghulam Mohammad Malik, a Kupwara district resident, told BenarNews.

Maliks 32-year-old son, Showkat Ahmad Malik, was killed by police on July 16.

My son was the only earning member of the family. He used to run a small construction unit. He never participated in any street protest. He was going about his business as usual when police personnel deployed in our village fired at him, killing him on the spot, Malik said, adding that despite identifying the officer who shot his son, no action was taken.

Does the government believe that they can compensate our loss with cash? No amount of cash can fill the void. The only compensation we want is stern punishment for each and every erring policeman, Malik said.

Three separatists killed

Muslim-majority Kashmir, which is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan, has been in the midst of a separatist insurgency that has killed more than 70,000 people since the late 1980s.

The latest cycle of violence that lasted nearly five months erupted after Indian security forces gunned down Burhan Wani, 21, the poster boy of the regions biggest separatist faction Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), on July 8. HM has been fighting for freedom from Indian rule for over two decades.

On Monday, security forces gunned down three suspected HM members during a 14-hour gun fight in south Kashmirs Anantnag district, raising fears of fresh protests in the valley.

The slain men were identified as Adil Ahmad Reshi, 25, Abid Ahmad Sheikh, 22, and Masood Ahmad Shah, 30, police said.

Government orders probe

J&K Chief Minister Mebooba Mufti, while announcing cash and jobs for victims, said her government would form a special panel to determine if security personnel used excessive force to deal with protesters.

[A] Special investigating team would be set up in each district to probe the killings and injuries and to ascertain if excessive force was used to deal with protesters, Mufti said. She rejected a demand for a judicial probe into the killings.

But relatives of Shabir Ahmad Mangoo, 30, a teacher from south Kashmirs Pulwama district who was killed in August, said they had no faith in a government investigation.

This very government gave a free hand to security forces to target unarmed civilians. And now its saying it will investigate excessive force that itself ordered security forces to use. You can imagine what a sham this probe is going to be, Mangoos brother, Aijaz Ahmad told BenarNews.

Such probes are ordered only to buy time and shield the guilty. How can we expect action against the culprits unless the probe is conducted by an independent panel? he said, while rejecting the governments cash offer.

The government assured that it would not spare any security personnel found guilty of using excessive force.

We will conduct a thorough probe, and anyone found guilty of using brute and unwarranted force would be dealt with sternly under the law. Our government is committed to safeguarding human rights at all costs, Abdul Haq Khan, J&Ks Law and Justice Minister, told BenarNews.

Yet this assurance means little to Abdul Rashid Dentoo, a north Kashmir resident who lost his 17-year-old son, Bilal Ahmad, in unprovoked police firing in September.

He was walking to a shop to buy some household items, when he was shot dead  barely 100 meters from our house. The police told us that he was hurling petrol bombs. He did no such thing. And now this sadistic government wants me to accept a few hundred thousand rupees in exchange for my sons life.

I dont want any of this stinking money. I dont want a job from the government. I want the men who killed my son punished. But I know that will never happen, Dentoo told BenarNews.
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, wife of Anwar Ibrahim, walks with their lawyer at the Court of Appeal, Putrajaya, Jan. 18, 2017.

Jailed de facto Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim can proceed with courtroom efforts to challenge a rejection of his bid two years ago where he sought a royal pardon for his sodomy conviction, Malaysias Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday.

A three-judge panel ruled unanimously that the founder of the Peoples Justice Party (PJR) and political foe of Prime Minister Najib Razak could try to pursue a legal challenge to a decision by the Pardons Board in March 2015. It rejected his petition for a pardon that could have freed him from prison, where he is serving a five-year sentence, according to reports.

Wednesdays ruling means that Anwar can take his case to Malaysias Federal Court, which can then decide whether he has the constitutional right to challenge the boards decision, Reuters reported.

Im here for the big fight, Anwar, 69, told reporters in court before being whisked away by prison officers following the ruling, according to the news service.

The move offers Anwar and his family some hope that he may be able to regain his freedom earlier than expected, according to his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the president of PKR. Previously, she had said that the decision by the Pardons Boards could not be disputed.

However, Anwar has raised legal questions based on a case in the United Kingdom and the amendment of Article 40 (1A) [of the] Federal Constitution in 1994, in which Anwars lawyers argued that the two issues above have major implications that if the Federal Court agreed with them, the results of the Pardon Board are questionable, she told BenarNews on Wednesday.

We will be in court on Feb. 2, for this matter, she added.

Anwars legal battles

Anwar is serving a five-year term at Sungai Buloh Prison for sodomizing a former aide in 2008.

In June 2012, Anwar was acquitted of a sodomy charge by Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Mohamad Zabidin. The judge was not convinced that a DNA sample taken from the former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukari, had not been tainted.

But on March 7, 2014, the Court of Appeal reversed the decision and sentenced Anwar to five years in prison. On Feb. 10, 2015, a Federal Court panel chaired by Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria rejected Anwars appeal and maintained the conviction.

In March 2015, the Pardons Board rejected his petition for a royal pardon, but in June of that year, Anwar, Wan Azizah and their two daughters, Nurul Izzah and Nurul Nuha, filed a petition to have the boards ruling cancelled.

Anwar sought permission to challenge and revoke the boards decision and urged it to advise Malaysias king to grant amnesty and release him. His wife and daughters sought an order to compel the board to reconvene and to consider all materials relating to the familys petition for a royal pardon.

Wednesdays decision occurred just over a month after it appeared that Ibrahim had lost his final courtroom battle to be freed from prison before the end of his sentence. On Dec. 14, 2016, the High Court rejected his petition to review the 2014 conviction, ruling unanimously that his application had no merit.

This is not a fit and proper case for the court to use its inherent jurisdiction, High Court Chief Judge Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin said in handing down last months decision.

A prosecutor at the time said Anwar had exhausted all legal avenues to have his conviction and sentence overturned. Any appeal before the Pardons Board appeared futile because of its previous rejection.

Unless Anwar is pardoned, he cannot challenge Najib in a general election scheduled for mid-2018. Malaysian law disqualifies a person who has been convicted from running for political office, according to Reuters.
Salma Baso, right, one of Sapae-ing Basos seven sons, chats with guests at his home in Pattani province, Jan. 17, 2017.

Updated at 11:45 a.m. ET on 2017-01-18

A man described by Thai authorities as a key ideological figure in the Deep South insurgency has died in exile in Malaysia.

Sapae-ing Baso was the de facto leader of the secretive Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the largest and most heavily armed of insurgents groups that have waged a separatist conflict for decades in Thailands predominantly Muslim southern border region, according to Thai military sources.

In November, he was named chairman of BRNs governing council, the Dewan Pimpinan Parti, a Thai security source told BenarNews at the time, leaking a list of DPP members that included Sapae-ings name.

The former head master of an Islamic school in the Deep South province of Yala, Sapae-ing died of complications from diabetes in Malaysia on Jan. 10, one of his seven sons told BenarNews on Tuesday. The 86-year-old, who was also known to Thai officials as Safie Basoe, died in the Malaysian state of Terengganu, according to a report in the Bangkok Post.

In a surprise move, Thai Prime Minister and junta leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha on Sunday expressed condolences and offered to help his family, whose members live in the Deep South, repatriate his remains, the Post reported.

A day later, hundreds of mourners turned out for a prayer service in Sapae-ings memory at his old school, Thammawittaya Foundation School, in Yala, said his son, Salma Baso.

I heard that my father died of diabetes on the morning of Jan. 10, in Malaysia, so I told teachers at the Thammawittaya Foundation School.  Alumni agreed to perform posthumous praying. The military also called us for confirmation of his death, Salma told BenarNews at his home in neighboring Pattani province.

Influential

Sapae-ing was considered a spiritual leader among the southern rebels, according to active and retired Thai military sources. He fled to neighboring Malaysia in 2004 when Thai authorities issued an arrest warrant for alleged insurgent-related activities.

The key ideological figure is Sapae-ing Baso. Despite his age, his ideology has a strong influence on his disciples who are active in the south, retired army Lt. Gen. Nanthadej Meksawat, former chief of special operation in southern Thailand, told BenarNews in March 2015 before Thailand opened informal talks with the rebels, which have been facilitated by Malaysia.

BRN is one of several southern rebel groups and factions represented by MARA Patani, a panel representing insurgents in exploratory peace talks with the Thai government. But not all of them  especially hardcore BRN members  are on board with efforts to negotiate an end to a war that has killed more than 6,700 people in the Deep South since 2004.

On Tuesday, Malaysia-based MARA spokesman Abu Hafiz Al-Hakim issued a statement conveying condolences to the family of Sapae-ing, who was known in Malaysia as ShafiI bin Abdul Rahman.

We mourn the loss of a fighter ace and education leader who has contributed and sacrificed to religion, race and nation, Abu Hafiz said. We pray that his soul be blessed by Allah Almighty and placed in the higher tomb with the prophets, martyrs and righteous people. Ameen.

There are BRN members who want peace

Reacting to the news, Gen. Aksara Kerdpol, Thailands chief negotiator in the informal talks, said Sapae-ings death could draw more dovish members of the BRN to support these negotiations.

It may encourage more BRN members to join the peace talks because there are BRN members who want peace, Aksara told reporters Sunday, according to local media.

Another security official said Sapae-ings death could spur more violence by hardcore BRN fighters.

The short-term happenings will be more attacks and violence by the military wing of BRN because they need a morale boost and to showcase their unimpaired potential by the loss of a leader, the official told BenarNews on condition of anonymity.

In the longer term, I think there will be a power wrangle among the leading figures. There are rifts within the BRN, especially after the opening of peace talks in 2013. Some wanted to fully engage in talks, but some others wanted to fight because they thought they got the upper hand, he added, referring to an earlier round of formal peace talks which stalled in December 2013.

A rebel who also spoke to BenarNews on condition of anonymity said Sapae-ing had been BRNs spiritual leader all along.

There will be a successor. Wait and you will see new daring moves and new policies of BRN, the insurgent said.

A sons denial

Sapae-ings son, however, denied that his father was a rebel leader.

First and foremost, the media should not label my father as the BRN leader because he is not that, as he was alleged. Our family and villagers can vouch [for that], Salma told BenarNews.

The attempts to solve the Deep South troubles will not be successful if the government keeps thinking that Sapae-ing Baso is the leader, because that is gravely wrong. But I admit that we havent clarified the fact or talked to the media , he said, adding that his father left behind a wife and nine children who live peacefully in Yarang, a district of Pattani.

An earlier version gave wrong information about Sapae-ing Baso's age.
A bid from Pulte Homes to rezone and add 465 residences and possibly a school near Sandy Run Creek on Jedburg Road wasn't met with open arms at a Oct. 26 community meeting on the part of local homeowners seeking to preserve the area's rural characteristics. Read moreJedburg Road residents tell Pulte Homes: 'Keep it rural'
SIOUX CITY  An Iowa trial again has been delayed for a Nebraska man charged with killing his wife.

Court records say a Woodbury County judge approved a defense request to delay Rogelio Morales' trial. It had been scheduled to begin Jan. 24. Court records don't show that a new date has been set.

The case was delayed last fall after Morales' previous attorney withdrew from the case.

The 29-year-old Morales lives in Hubbard, Nebraska. He's pleaded not guilty to killing 21-year-old Margarita Morales, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, on April 19, 2015, in his car near a Sioux City residence.

Court documents say Morales told investigators a fight broke out when his wife told him she no longer wanted to be in a relationship and that she was seeing another man.
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More than most Americans, Nebraskans know the worth of water. Water sustains our lives and livelihoods: our families rely on clean water; our ag producers depend on it to raise the crops and livestock that feed a hungry world.

Clean water doesnt just sustain our physical health; it also sustains our economic health. Agriculture is our states number-one economic engine. That engine runs on water.

But for too long, faraway bureaucrats in Washington have believed, and behaved, as if they know better than Nebraskans when it comes to keeping water clean. In May 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers issued a final rule revising the definition of "waters of the United States" or WOTUS for all Clean Water Act programs.

Washingtons harmful rule greatly expands the scope of federally protected waters, far beyond the original intent of Congress. This heavy-handed regulation would affect all Nebraskans, our families, communities, and small businesses. One of the more cumbersome provisions redefines navigable waterways to include run-off streams and ditches that are dry most of the year.

Nebraskans know this definition would be laughable if it didnt also pose serious economic harm to so many Nebraskan families. If your property has a low spot that fills up after a heavy rain, you could be subject to severe restrictions on the use of your own land as well as expensive fines.

We all want clean air and clean water, but the WOTUS rule is gross federal overreach. It is completely unprecedented.

I am confident that its days are numbered.

In October 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a stay blocking the implementation of WOTUS nationwide. And with a new administration about to take office, Congress has an opportunity to roll back this harmful rule.

With Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, I introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate to make this intention crystal clear. Our resolution expresses strong disapproval with the Obama administrations WOTUS rule and states that the rule must be withdrawn and vacated. By it, we put Washington regulators on notice.

As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I have backed measures to require the EPA to respect citizens constitutional rights. For years, I have worked to force the agency to operate within, not outside, the law. I am eager to work with new leadership at the EPA to bring the agency back to its core mission.

Americans want an EPA that serves as a faithful custodian of our environment, not a regulatory bully that tells us how to use our own land or the water on it.

For Nebraskans, true environmental stewardship means a close relationship with the land. We understand it nurtures not only our bodies, but also our souls. This comes from our daily encounter with those vast pastures and open skies. It comes from the wonder of a thunderstorm on the prairie and the silence after a snowfall. The bureaucrat in the Washington office building doesnt have this relationship. We do.

Moving forward in 2017, I look forward to a new era at the EPA, one in which Nebraskans are trusted to look out for the land they love, and their economic livelihood isnt threatened from afar.

Thank you for taking part in our democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
By Mao Weihua in Urumqi and Cui Jia in Beijing | China Daily | Updated: 2017-01-18 07:39

The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will inject record funding into building new roads this year so it can better serve as China's trade hub linking countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt.

New infrastructure projects are also expected to bring more job opportunities for locals, the region's top economic planning official said.

This year, the northwestern region will invest 170 billion yuan ($24.8 billion) into new roads, up nearly six fold from 2016.

The region has never seen such investment in road construction, Zhang Chunlin, director of the Xinjiang Development and Reform Commission, said in an exclusive interview in the regional capital of Urumqi.

The region will also invest 8.1 billion yuan in constructing railways and 4.8 billion yuan in civil aviation projects, both up by 50 percent from last year. The investment in building roads, railways and airports this year will top the total funding for transportation infrastructure from 2011 to 2015.

Building a highway network in a region that takes up one-sixth of China's territory is a priority, Zhang said. Currently, about 40 percent of the cities and counties in Xinjiang are not connected by highways.

"Without the highways, oil, coal and agricultural products of Xinjiang cannot be shipped out of the region smoothly, and logistics costs will remain high," Zhang said.

After the planned highway network is completed, logistics costs in the region can be reduced by 30 percent, he added. The region plans to start construction this year on 6,096 kilometers of highways.

Although poor infrastructure has been holding back development of the region, Xinjiang now sees opportunity for economic growth, he said.

Massive transportation projects can use significant amounts of steel and concrete, which can help to stimulate economic growth. What's more, locals can fill the jobs created by those projects, he added.

Currently, there is one highway linking Xinjiang and other parts of China to the east. The roads now connecting the region and China's neighbors to the west cannot meet the demands of future trade.

Zhang believes that without the support of transportation, becoming the trade hub on the Silk Road Economic Belt is not feasible, so Xinjiang must face the challenge head-on.

The central government sees Xinjiang, which borders countries including Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Mongolia, as the key trade center on the economic belt.

The economic belt, part of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to revive the ancient trade route.

Xinjiang also plans to begin research on a high-speed railway connecting Urumqi and Horgos, a land port on the China-Kazakhstan border. Additionally, Urumqi International Airport will be expanded to cope with surging domestic and international traffic.
The Bible has been under attack in the western world for over 200 years but never more intensely than today. These attacks have taken different forms and have come from many different corners of the academic world, from philosophers, to scientists, to textual critics. In the specialized world of archaeology the attacks have increased dramatically in the past 50 years. Once a specialization filled with Bible believing individuals, the field of archaeology is now overrun with atheists and skeptics, agnostics and those committed to the destruction of the Bible as a source of true historical information.

These attacks on the Bible are a part of a sweeping movement in western culture. Spearheaded by academic elitists in the university and the public educational system, the news and popular media, and the entertainment industry, these revisionists cloak themselves with supposed objectivity, purity of motives, and the superiority of science over the "uninformed", "unscientific", religious community.

They regularly mock those who question their world-view and their conclusions by name-calling and the worst forms of anti-Bible and anti-Christian propaganda. They have powerfully infected the church by turning Bible believing Christians against the very Scripture which is the foundation of truth and life in this world. Instead of contending for the Bible, Christian academics, pastors, and lay-persons are making egregious accommodations to these destroyers of faith and truth.

In these days of intense spiritual battle, God has called ABR to step into the gap to contend for the truth and to assist the church in this critical hour. ABR is a non-profit ministry dedicated to demonstrating the historical reliability of the Bible and to give answers to questions being asked by believers and non-believers alike. We do this by using original archaeological fieldwork and research along with studies in other apologetic disciplines. We take on the bold claims of skeptics and critics. We challenge the bizarre anti-biblical propaganda that is purveyed upon the public as gospel through television and print media. We uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is God's message for the salvation of all mankind!
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RALEIGH - Gov. Roy Cooper made two more appointments Friday and said he's talking with legislative leaders in an effort to ease the confirmation process.Cabinet appointments are subject to Senate confirmation, says a provision in the state constitution. Cooper has filed a lawsuit challenging that part of a law enacted in December by the General Assembly.On Friday he tapped Dr. Mandy Cohen for secretary of health and human services and state Rep. Larry Hall for secretary of veterans and military affairs Cooper said.Cooper said he also expected his appointees to visit legislators, especially legislative leaders, and answer their questions.Cooper said.Cooper said Cohen is a good manager and someone who understands health-care policy.Cooper said.Cohen is currently the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) chief operating officer and chief of staff. She has held other posts at CMS and was executive director at Doctors for America . She has been deputy director at the Department of Veteran Affairs, and an internist at the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center Cooper said.he said, adding that she gets positive reviews from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.Cohen said she was excited to be on the team to help implement Cooper's health-care vision, including Medicaid expansion.Cohen said. She said she wants to help the state's most vulnerable residents, including children, older adults, and those with mental health and substance abuse disorders.Hall, a Democratic state representative from Durham County, previously served as the chambers minority leader. He is also an attorney.Cooper said of Hall.Hall said.Friday's announcement leaves Cooper with three Cabinet posts to fill - natural and cultural resources, revenue, and information technology. His office said he would probably fill those posts next week.
Contact: For Immediate Release, January 18, 2017 Contact: Bill Snape, (202) 536-9351, bsnape@biologicaldiversity.org Earth2Trump Resistance Roadshow, Rallying 5,250 in 15 Cities, Arrives in D.C. Grand Finale to Cross-country Tour Tonight, Displaying Thousands of Personal Pleas, Pledges of Resistance Collected During 7,500-mile Journeys WASHINGTON The Earth2Trump Roadshow of Resistance has arrived in Washington, D.C., for the presidential inauguration as the country's biggest, broadest grassroots organizing campaign focused on resisting Trump's attacks on the environment and civil rights. More than 5,250 people have attended Earth2Trump events in 15 cities across the country since its Jan. 2 West Coast launch  including more than 500 in Tucson and 1,200 in St. Augustine, Fla. over the weekend  and more than 150,000 have signed the pledge of resistance. The cross-country tour is sponsored by the Center for Biological Diversity in coordination with local organizations and activists. The turnout and energy at these Earth2Trump events have been incredible. We're arriving in D.C. with the momentum of a major national movement that will oppose every item on Trump's radical agenda, said Kieran Suckling, the Center's executive director. With thousands of newly empowered people on our side, we'll fiercely resist policies and appointees that hurt wildlife, poison our air and water, destroy our climate, promote racism, misogyny or homophobia, or marginalize entire segments of our society. The Earth2Trump roadshow, which included two separate tours across the United States, features live music, national and local speakers, a pledge of resistance, and a chance for participants to write personalized #Earth2Trump messages to be displayed during tonight's event at Capitale, 1301 K St NW, Washington, D.C., and taken to the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20. Earth2Trump's central tour has traveled more than 3,500 miles by train from Seattle, with its last event Monday in Chicago drawing more than 300 people. The southern tour by van, carrying a five-foot painted globe being filled with Trump-related messages, has traveled more than 4,000 miles since launching in Oakland, Calif. It was in Norfolk, Va., Tuesday night, drawing almost 200 people and boosting the tour's total turnout to more than 5,250. See a map of the tour, images and more details at www.Earth2Trump.org. Read posts and messages from the tour on social media with #Earth2Trump and on the Center's Medium page. Images, video and interviews with touring activists and musicians and local partners are available upon request. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
For Immediate Release, January 17, 2017 Contact: Lori Ann Burd, Center for Biological Diversity, (971) 717-6405, laburd@biologicaldiversity.org

Jerry Erstrom, Malheur County Weed Board, (541) 212-9378

George Kimbrell, Center for Food Safety, (971) 271-7372, gkimbrell@centerforfoodsafety.org USDA Grants Final Approval for Invasive GE Grass Rushed Approval of Genetically Engineered Bentgrass Granted Despite Ongoing Threat to Agriculture, Environment PORTLAND, Ore. The U.S. Department of Agriculture today issued a final deregulation decision approving Monsanto and Scotts' genetically engineered (GE) bentgrass, even as the highly invasive creeping grass continues to spread unchecked beyond its Oregon and Idaho test plots. Decades-old outdoor experiments have proven the bentgrass impossible to control since it escaped from controlled plots and invaded irrigation ditches, riverbanks and the Crooked River National Grassland, crowding out native plants and the wildlife that depends on them. Despite more than a decade of efforts and millions of dollars spent, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Scotts and Monsanto have failed to curb the spread of the invasive grass. Yet now the USDA has capitulated to Monsanto's and Scotts' request that federal regulators relinquish any authority over the GE grass, leaving local landowners and state of Oregon to wrestle with the problem. The USDA's decision ignores a groundswell of united opposition from state departments of agriculture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, university professors, scientists, farmers and conservationists, said Lori Ann Burd, director of the environmental health program at the Center for Biological Diversity. Because this blatant bow to industry will continue to harm farmers, endangered species and the precious landscape, the USDA has left us with no choice but to explore our legal options to return the burden of controlling this weedy grass back to the shoulders of the corporate profiteers who brought it into the world. The GE bentgrass has already illegally contaminated at least three Oregon counties, and the ultralight grass seeds and pollen have proven impossible to eradicate. Farmers and noxious weed experts in eastern Oregon have been outspoken critics of the proposal to approve the grass. In response to widespread contamination, GE creeping bentgrass was declared a noxious weed in Malheur County in 2016. With this approval the responsibility for controlling contamination now shifts from the USDA, Scotts and Monsanto to individual farmers and landowners, left alone to grapple with the problem. This decision is a slap in the face to family farmers, said Jerry Erstrom, chairman of the Malheur County Weed Board. It's extremely disappointing that the USDA has ignored the concerns of those of us affected by the existing contamination, as well as the Oregon and Idaho departments of agriculture, and concerned folks from across the region. I just can't believe that they will turn this loose and let Scotts and Monsanto walk away from what they did here. USDA's approval of this genetically engineered grass is as dangerous as it is unlawful, said George Kimbrell, senior attorney for the Center for Food Safety (CFS). The agency is giving Monsanto and Scotts a free pass for the harm their product has already caused farmers and the environment, and is irresponsibly gambling future harm on nothing more than their empty promises. CFS won a 2007 legal victory declaring the GE creeping bentgrass field trials unlawful. Kimbrell authored this December 2016 article on the GE bentgrass saga to date. Unlike the USDA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized the danger of the novel GE grass and its likelihood of spreading out of control. The federal wildlife agency concluded that if approved, the grass is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the endangered Willamette daisy and Bradshaw's lomatuim and harm the critical habitat of the endangered Fender's blue butterfly and Willamette daisy.
For Immediate Release, January 18, 2017 Contact: Patrick Sullivan, (415) 517-9364, psullivan@biologicaldiversity.org Senate Considers Nomination of Science Denier Scott Pruitt to Head EPA WASHINGTON The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works today begins a nomination hearing on President-elect Trump's selection of Oklahoma attorney general and climate change denier Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. When scientific facts inconvenience corporate polluters, Pruitt gleefully throws science under the bus, said Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity. From carbon dioxide to chicken manure, Priutt never met a pollutant he didn't like. Senators must recognize that this corporate shill's disturbing history of science denial on climate change and other environmental threats make him utterly unfit to lead a science-driven agency charged with protecting Americans from pollution. As Oklahoma attorney general, Pruitt put the brakes on a crucial legal effort to clean up tons of chicken manure contaminating state waterways. Pruitt also worked closely with major oil companies to fight federal efforts to reduce pollution from drilling and fracking, even parroting oil industry talking points nearly word for word. Pruitt has sued the agency he aims to lead 14 times over federal regulations meant to protect Americans from climate pollution, contaminated water and other threats. He even joined a lawsuit against the EPA's lifesaving mercury standards, which experts estimate will prevent about 11,000 premature births every year. Pruitt has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from oil companies and other fossil fuel interests. Shrugging off the scientific consensus on climate change, he has falsely claimed that many scientists continue to disagree on the issue. Pruitt even questioned whether greenhouse gases really drive global warming  a fact established more than a century ago. That debate is far from settled, Pruitt wrote. For Pruitt, pollution pays, Suckling said. He's taken vast amounts of money from some of the nation's dirtiest industries, from oil companies to poultry corporations. In return, he's enthusiastically supported dangerous practices that disrupt our climate and foul the very air we breathe. Pruitt would be the worst, most dangerous leader the EPA has ever had. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
It can be tough to be a vegetarian. You have to work harder than everyone else to make sure youre getting all the nutrients your body needs. So, when its time to take a
On December 19, the U.S. Department of Education announced that as of the end of the year, it would no longer allow students to use federal aid money at the Charlotte School of Law (CSL). The reason for this unprecedented move was the decision by the American Bar Association in November to place CSL on probation because of the low passage rate among its students on the most recent administration of the North Carolina bar exam.Whether CSL will survive is not yet known, although it has announced that it will continue its scheduled spring semester. Whether it should survive is debatable. The question I want to explore is whether the Department's decision to pull the plug on federal aid is a sensible one.I have long argued that higher education is a "bubble," which is to say that enrollments will eventually decline when people realize that the costs often exceed the benefits. The best example of that is law school.For most of the last half century, law school was a growth industry. Legal jobs were plentiful and paid pretty well; sometimes spectacularly. More schools were founded and enrollments grew steadily. And then, around ten years ago, things began to change rapidly. Technology reduced the demand for time-absorbing legal research and consumers found that it was possible to do some work themselves that had formerly been done for them (at considerable expense) by lawyers.Therefore, the market for legal education started to deflate. Law school enrollments peaked at just short of 38,000 in 2010 and since then have fallen by more than 30 percent. University of Colorado law professor Paul Campos put his finger on the problem when he said in this New York Times story That watershed is having a tremendous impact on many law schools.The high prestige law schools like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford hardly notice it, but as you go down the prestige list, schools are increasingly desperate to maintain their revenues. With fewer and fewer sharp students (as indicated by their scores on the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT) applying, lower-tier schools have largely chosen to accept students who would have been rejected in the past because of their low LSAT scores.That has been the case at CSL. It was founded in 2006, received provisional American Bar Association accreditation in 2008 and full accreditation in 2011. Enrollment peaked at over 1,400 students in 2012, but is now down to 712. The school has been accepting more students with LSAT scores that put them at high risk of failing out or if they do graduate, not passing the bar. These data show that in 2010, the average LSAT score for its lowest quartile of students was 148; by 2016, that had fallen to 141. (A perfect score is 180 and the average is around 150.)Reflecting the changes in its student body, the school's bar passage rate , over 80 percent in 2010, has steadily fallen to just over 46 percent in 2016. Recent graduates have also found it difficult to land full-time jobs in the legal profession, with less than a quarter doing so; more than half are underemployed given their credentials.CSL has a lot of company in the sinking low-tier law school boat.As law school deans Craig Boise of Syracuse and Andrew Morriss of Texas A&M write But only CSL has been hit with the Education Department's ultimate sanction, the loss of federal student aid.In his statement on that, Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell said,That's a wild exaggeration. The ABA declared CSL not to be in compliance with its standards on legal education and student admissions in November, but the difference between being in or out of compliance is marginal. And if it were really true that the school does not prepare students for the legal profession, how could any of them have passed the bar exam and found legal jobs?In the past, other law schools have been put on probation for the same apparent weaknesses in admitting and teaching their students. In 2005, Golden Gate Law School and Whittier Law School were put on ABA probation over low bar passage rates, but were given time to improve and got off probation. CSL wants the chance to do the same.So why was the Department of Education so eager to administer a severe penalty that will disrupt many students and potentially prove fatal to the school?The answer, I believe, is that the Obama Education Department, which has been on a crusade against for-profit education across the board, saw this as a final opportunity to take down what they consider an unwanted institution. Fresh off their annihilation of ITT Tech and the accrediting agency ACICS , the Department was not about to let CSL get away unscathed. With only one month left in power, the administration saw its chance and acted.As was the case with ITT, the Department focused only on the bad aspects of CSL and ignored the good. Where the Department sees the side of the coin with low admission standards and weak results, others might view the opposite side and see an institution that gives students who probably couldn't otherwise get into law school a chance to prove themselves. All of the students enrolled knowing that law school is hard and the bar exam the biggest intellectual challenge they've ever faced.Some succeeded while others didn't. That's normal. But the Education Department takes the position that it's the school's obligation to ensure that the outcomes are good enough to satisfy it. If not, the administrative truncheons are used.The complication is that most CSL students rely on federal aid. If they pile up huge student loan debts but can't find jobs that pay well enough, they're apt to default and leave the taxpayers with the expense. In justifying its action against CSL, the Department gave the need to "safeguard taxpayer dollars" as one of the reasons.But if CSL goes under, many of the students who would have enrolled there will just find another law school willing to accept them. Eliminating one law school does nothing to solve the basic problem, which is that the output of law graduates is far in excess of the number of jobs in the legal profession.Instead of an administrative decree that one (or even a dozen) of the schools with low bar passage rates will be denied federal student aid money, the right move would be to stop subsidizing law students entirely. If there was ever a case for using federal aid to encourage people to go to law school (I think not), that case evaporated years ago. It makes no more sense for the government to help a student with a 175 LSAT pay for Harvard than to help a student with a 145 LSAT pay for CSL.Congress should change the law so that federal student aid money may not be used for law school. The schools will then compete as best they can for those students who can arrange to pay for their degrees with money from willing funders. No doubt there will be attrition among the law schools, but it will come from market competition, not bureaucratic diktats.
DAKAR, Senegal - International experts, ambassadors, high officials and entrepreneurs gathered in Dakar in December for the launch of 16 infrastructure projects for African integration'. This document is an investors' guidebook produced by the Economic Commission for Africa and the NEPAD Agency.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Image by 123RF

It was produced at the request of President Macky Sall, chairman of the NEPAD Heads of States and Government Orientation Committee, and it examines the 16 projects selected at the Dakar Summit on Infrastructure (DFS), organised in June 2014 and covers the crucial issue of their financing.

Finding investments will be key: according to projections, Africa will need about 360 billion dollars by 2040 to apply the infrastructure development programme in Africa

Senegal representative Babakar Ba from the Ministry of African Integration, NEPAD and Good Governance, warmly thanked ECA and NEPAD for having produced this important global advocacy tool in support to infrastructure development in Africa.

Finding investments will be key: according to projections, Africa will need about 360 billion dollars by 2040 to apply the infrastructure development programme in Africa, said ECA deputy executive secretary for knowledge delivery, Giovannie Biha, who stressed ECAs support to the 16-16-16 initiative (16 infrastructure projects to be carried out in at least 16 countries starting from 2016), to help implement Agendas 2063 and 2030.

The 16-16-16 initiative: 16 infrastructure projects to be carried out in at least 16 countries starting from 2016

These 16 projects have been selected by the Dakar Financing Summit. They are low hanging fruits covering strategic areas such as transport, energy, ICTs or water. Most of them are transboundary projects and are basic building blocks in the implementation of Agenda 2063, said Mosad El Missiry, senior energy advisor at NEPAD Agency.

Africas continental free trade area is scheduled to be born in a few weeks: infrastructure development will be a key pre-requisite for its success, said IDEP director Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane.

The 16 infrastructure projects for African integration guidebook aims to guide investors decisions by answering their questions about the projects regarding aspects such as: their economic viability, strategic impact, technical specifications, coordination, international support, risks and mitigation, expected benefits or progress reports.

The book also presents African governments with recommendations to help them access the funds needed for their application.
Adclick Africa, one of the leading data-driven digital media and marketing companies in South Africa, is a fully-fledged Level 1 BEE company that is set to scale greater heights in 2017. Founded in 2013 by Velly Bosega, the company has been on an upward trajectory for the past four years.

Velly is an illustrious entrepreneur who is driven by a vision of a South Africa in which digital marketing services are available to all those who require them. He has vast experience in the industry having worked with some leading brands, publishers, and agencies in the country. Velly is a pioneer at heart, and this saw him to launching Africas first mobile DSP in 2013. Under Vellys leadership, AdClicks revenue base has continued to grow and its service offerings have also expanded.

Adclicks mission is to help our clients connect, convert and keep their customers using smart marketing technologies, said Bosega.

The recent addition of a groundbreaking business unit that focuses solely on digital marketing services for the travel, tourism and hospitality industries is further testimony of the inventive spirit that underpins business operations at the company.

Based at its prestigious offices in the Oaks Office Park in Ferndale, Randburg, Adclick comprises four business units namely Media Planning & Buying, SMB Marketing, Publishing, and Consulting. The company offers some innovative services that include, but are not limited, to the following:

Strategy consulting

Media Planning & Buying

Programmatic advertising

Premium Advertising

SMME marketing services (travel, tourism and hospitality industries)

Publishing

Events & Training



Our mission is to enable brands and SMMEs in South Africa and beyond achieve their business goals by taking advantage of the best of breed digital advertising and publishing technologies, said Velly.

To achieve this, Adclick Africa has attracted the best talent in business development, media buying, and campaign management as well as partnering with some of the major technology providers from all over the world. This combination of expertise and technology has enabled the company to be a market leader in South Africa and beyond.

Adclick Africa also hosts digital marketing boot camps and the annual Growth Champions Conference. This is in line with our core belief that an empowered market is a profitable one.

For more information kindly contact Adclick offices on 011 704 2641 or email moc.acirfakcilcda@ofni.




This week, we find out what's really going on behind the selfie with Daniel Munslow, MD of MCC Consulting.

Where to now? Life isnt only about work. You arent what you do; but you do what you are.

1. Where do you live, work and play?

Munslow: I live in Johannesburg but work and play all over the world  what a privilege.

2. Whats your claim to fame?

Munslow: Id have to ask others what they think it is. Fame is about how others see you.

3. Describe your career so far.

Munslow: Its been exciting to move from journalism and media, which gave me an amazing foundation in radio and television; through corporate communication; and on to consulting, first nationally and then internationally. Each phase has really empowered and equipped me for the next phase. You need to earn your stripes in the sectors you work in  respect is earned.

4. Tell us a few of your favourite things.

Munslow: Family. Theres nothing like being at home and inviting friends over for a braai, sipping good whiskey and laughing all evening. Friends are important. I love good coffee, so thats important at the start of every day. Then of course there is exploring  I had the privilege of climbing and summiting Kilimanjaro in 2012. A lot of sights from around the world have been romanticised in movies over the years, but nothing replaces the feeling of standing there, taking in a deep breath and experiencing it for yourself.

5. What do you love about your industry?

Munslow: The constant change and dynamic needs. Its amazing to see how agile we, as an industry, have become over the past few years in order to meet the demands of business. No two days are ever the same, and it makes for interesting work. And the people are just amazing.

6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.

Munslow: A what? I could be on a plane; a workshop in Sandton; training heads of comms in Bangkok; or working on crisis comms in Iraq. No matter what you do, always stay in the present  thats key to living life and enjoying the moment you are in. We were walking down a market in Erbil, Iraq, in December. It wasnt about getting through the market to the restaurant on the other side, but rather about taking it all in. If I breathe in deeply now, I can still take myself back to that road and can almost smell the spices the vendors were selling.

7. What are the tools of your trade?

Munslow: My laptop and cell phone. And vitamins.

8. Who is getting it right in your industry?

Munslow: There are many who are doing things right, or on a journey to do things differently, and the progress is amazing to see. Those who do get it right in corporate comms are those who are agile, dynamic, measure their work, and have the support of their chief execs. Simply put, the most successful communicators are not only genuine strategic advisors but also trusted advisors.

9. List a few pain points the industry can improve on.

Munslow: We really need to get better at measurement, leadership and executive communication, and start thinking more strategically about our work. Many communicators get caught up in business as usual and take months to get business to make decisions for communication. Today, if you table something for approval, you may turn the approval down if it takes three months or longer. Its just old news. We have to be smarter, faster, and more willing to take quick decisions. Also, we have to work in a less linear fashion.

10. What are you working on right now?

Munslow: Some really ground-breaking work around strategic, leadership, and crisis communication, as well as measurement.

11. Tell us some of the buzzwords floating around in your industry at the moment, and some of the catchphrases you utter yourself.

Munslow: In the crisis space, resilience is a big word. Crisis communication might get you through the crisis, but you need a minimum three-month plan post-crisis to rebuild equity. Everyone has started talking about aspiring to be a strategic advisor  very exciting space!

12. Where and when do you have your best ideas?

Munslow: Actually right about now; at 3am (its 7am somewhere) flying at 35,000ft and writing this. You have time to think and jot down ideas, then you look at your screen later and say, wow.

13. Whats your secret talent/party trick?

Munslow: Its a secret!

14. Are you a technophobe or a technophile?

Munslow: Hey, I just use the stuff. If it works I like it.

15. What would we find if we scrolled through your phone?

Munslow: Theres a lot not sure I could find it, so doubt you could! Seriously though, you would find pictures from so many adventures, work and otherwise.

16. What advice would you give to newbies hoping to crack it as entrepreneurs?

Munslow: Hang in there and make it work. Be willing to take risks and be willing to make the best decisions you can on imperfect information. It will be better than making no decisions at all. Be agile  dont think that because youve cracked it youve made it; because tomorrow, what you thought was cutting edge today, will actually be old news and you need to continuously reinvent yourself. Above all else, you have to be brave to go the extra mile. Doing business as usual is easy, but pushing the boundaries requires courage of conviction.

Simple as that. Click here for Munslows trends predictions for the coming months and contact him on LinkedIn or Twitter for more.

*Interviewed by Leigh Andrews.
Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell will sign a deal to sell its Gabon oil assets to US fund Carlyle this month, a source close to the talks said Monday, 16 January, as unions threatened further strike action.

 keng po leung  123RF.com

The expected sale, worth an estimated $700m, is part of a drive by Shell to spin off a total of $30bn worth of assets to cut debt. Shell Gabon's 400 staff started striking last week and threatened Monday to toughen their stance.

The ONEP union said that Shell's withdrawal from Gabon was detrimental to staff and they should be paid damages.

The 400 staff are expected to be retained by the company's new owners. The ongoing strike has already led to production cuts of 30-50%, the union said.

"The Shell Gabon company has already lost more than 90,000 barrels, which translates into a financial loss of $4.5m," ONEP said.

Source: AFP
The aim of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is to transform lives around the world over the next 13 years. The 2030 agenda includes commitments to 17 goals and 169 targets in tackling sustainable development challenges. These challenges are mainly in the developing world, particularly in Africa.

The agenda sends a strong signal that efforts are underway to help tackle the biggest challenges in the world. These include climate change, poverty, diseases, energy crisis, food insecurity and water scarcity.

The SDGs were agreed once the time-frame for the Millennium Development Goals had come to an end.

African countries failed to meet a number of the Millennium Development Goals. For example, it was the only continent that failed to halve extreme poverty by 2015. The continent is home to the largest number of poor people on earth. But the poverty rate in Eastern Asian countries declined from 61% in 1990 to 4% in 2015.

This leaves a fundamental question: why were some of the MDGs, such as the targets around poverty, not achieved and what does it mean for the implementation of the SDGs?

Failures and successes

Several factors contributed to the inability of many African countries to achieve MDGs. These included low income earnings, weak institutions, lack of infrastructure and poor governance.

Another key problem was that the MDGs were shaped by western models. African countries were expected to adopt western values as well as technologies and financial structures. Many had to lean on their development assistance to achieve growth.

Scholars have argued that meeting the targets was impossible without key areas being strengthened. These include democracy, infrastructure, industry, science, technology and the transformation of agriculture.

Thats not to say that the MDGs were wholly unsuccessful. The vast majority of African leaders welcomed the impact that they had. For example, Rwanda has emphasised the significance of the MDGs in lifting one million people out of poverty in the country.

But some were unconvinced about the processes that led to the targets being set up. One of the key criticisms is that most African countries were bound to fail due to a lack of proper support for the implementation of the MDGs.

For example, African countries that received financial support from donors were those with relatively good institutions and democratic structures. Many, however, could not fulfil conditions required to attract finance.

If the SDGs continue to be built on the same platform, its safe to say that they wont be successful. Change is needed, particularly to the prevalent top-down approach which is seen as biased and unfair.

Flickr/UNICEF Ethiopia

Lessons from the previous round

The first significant change that needs to happen is recognition that there are substantial differences  in relation to capacity, infrastructure and finance  between countries.

A good place to start would be to identify success stories and to work out how these can be replicated and what could be done differently.

For example, weak health systems and poor delivery of health services continue to aid the spread of major diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. This made it difficult to achieve MDG goals to reduce child mortality, improve maternal death and combat HIV, malaria and other diseases.

But some countries did make significant progress. These included Ethiopia, Rwanda, Malawi, South Africa, Mauritius and Ghana. Ethiopia achieved the target of reducing HIV/AIDs prevalence between 15 and 49-year olds.

For its part South Africa also achieved goals on universal primary education, antenatal care coverage and complete control of malaria.

Ethiopia and South Africa could provide lessons for other African countries on how they can achieve the new round of goals, particularly relating to health.

North Africa was the only region in Africa that met the target on access to clean water. Other African countries could take cues from this region on how to increase access to improved drinking water and sanitation.

But there is a deeper problem that African countries need to address  the lack of reliable data to assess whether goals have been attained. In fact, 61% of African countries do not have adequate data to monitor the progress on poverty reduction and other related MDG targets. This makes it difficult to monitor progress.

There is also a need to put more effort into understanding that most of the SDGs are interlinked. So encouraging new innovation in sectors like agriculture and energy can play a significant role in tackling the impact of climate change and improving quality of life. Harnessing agribusiness innovation can also tackle poverty and hunger and create job opportunities.

How the UN can help?

The UN should facilitate coordination between countries as they set about planning for the SDGs. Good policies need to be designed with the involvement of regional, state and local government as well as the private sector.

To secure better success this time round the following four points must be taken on board:

Top-down approach must be abandoned,



Countries must not be painted with the same brush,



Lessons must be learnt from successes under the MDGs, and



National statistical data collection must be improved.

The success of SDGs in Africa will be a key measure of the success of the global effort to achieve sustainability. But appropriate measures and structures need to be put in place to facilitate and implement the goals. The new secretary general, Antonio Guterres and his African counterpart, Amina Mohammed, have a huge task ahead of them and must join hands with African leaders, NGOs, and regional organisations to make this effort a reality.


The threat of global resource management is growing. While the milestones of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, which South Africa has adopted along with support for the Common African Position (CAP), help raise awareness of the challenges ahead, there is a growing need for businesses to play a leading role.

Becoming a sustainability leader means first accepting that climate change, reductions in fossil fuels, depletion of rare earth metals and other environmental issues are urgent challenges to which corporations need to respond.

Set sustainability in the centre

Just as the circular economy must be embraced and woven into the wider economy, a companys sustainability plans must be incorporated into its long-term business plans.

And these changes not only positively affect the environment but the companys revenue too. By using less energy and water, and reducing packaging and waste bills, a well-balanced sustainability plan can generate profits instead of costs.

But, like any business model, a brands sustainability strategy should be flexible. Companies are constantly evolving, and when making new acquisitions, brands should reflect how any additional resources impact their sustainability goals. For example, every six months, company leaders need to reconsider where waste can be minimised.

Staying on track

Sustainability is an increasingly important issue for the C-suite and boardroom. However many companies understandably lose focus on sustainability when times are tough. It takes real commitment to continue to drive corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects when under pressure from shareholders.

However, sustainability and business success should not be seen as conflicting goals. In fact, 80% of CEOs say that demonstrating a commitment to sustainability is a differentiator in their industry. By achieving financial stability, companies put themselves in a stronger position to make sustainable choices about how they do business  as well as inspiring other organisations to do the same.

Join an international organisation

Brands should ensure they are part of recognised networks that give them the scale and structure to make a difference. Whether this means signing up to the United Nations Global Compact or becoming a member of the Circular Economy 100, as Lexmark has done, companies should engage with other stakeholders impacted by the same issues to create collaborations that enable businesses to find ways that collectively influence policy in positive ways.

Set targets

Brands should start out by setting clear and achievable goals. Once a realistic goal has been decided, draw up a schedule of milestones leading to the finish line. This provides measurable steps towards the final target. Keep track of any learnings and things that could be improved next time. Then, as soon as the goal has been achieved, take some time to celebrate, reset the benchmarks and start again with the benefit of experience.

Track success transparently

Another way to ensure CSR commitments are achieved is to make the process as transparent as possible. One example of how to do this is Lexmarks own Data Dashboard which regularly updates customers on the status of the companys CSR projects. This is a smart strategy in an age where companies reputations are literally at consumers fingertips, and can live or die on social media.

Thats why forward-thinking brands are building trust using digital technologies to increase the transparency of their efforts. Such efforts are often rewarded: Lexmark, for example, was listed in the top ten of CR Magazines Top 100 Corporate Citizens list for its innovative solutions to global challenges.

To become an industry leader, environmental commitments should be an integral part of any business. Companies need to realise the need for immediate action and prioritise sustainability as an important factor in the future success of their business.

From a start-ups pro-bono efforts to Lexmarks circular economy programme, brands of any size can generate enthusiasm and support for environmental and social responsibility. Although there is still a long way to go, industry leaders in CSR are already having a positive impact on the environment and revolutionising the way we do business.
The National Credit Regulator (NCR) is seeking a high court order to stop banks from unilaterally taking money from customers' savings accounts to settle outstanding balances on their credit agreements - a practice which the regulator says is widespread.

Rowan Jackson via 123RF

The application has been brought against Standard Bank, but the regulator has welcomed complaints from consumers pertaining to other banks.

Standard Bank would oppose the application, a spokesperson said.

"The position of the NCR is that a bank must obtain a consumer's authorisation to transfer funds from the consumer's savings account to settle the debt owed to the bank under a credit agreement," said Nthupang Magolego, senior legal adviser at the NCR.

Failing to obtain consent could place the consumer in financial difficulty with little money to pay other creditors, Magolego said.

The regulator is seeking an order declaring that provisions of the National Credit Act supersede common law "set-off", whereby a consumer's debt is satisfied by setting it off against credit held by that consumer with the bank, such as in a savings account.

Anton Viljoen, executive director at the National Payment Distribution Agency, welcomed the NCR's application. "Consumers consent to setting off when they enter into credit agreements with a bank, which can later be to their disadvantage, even though it serves to reduce the bank's risk," he said.

"The need for authorisation is there to alleviate any 'self-help' methods of debt collection by credit providers, which may ultimately affect consumers' rights afforded by the NCA [National Credit Act], such as the right to go under debt review," said Jacqueline Peters, manager of investigations and enforcement at the NCR.

By using a savings account to settle an outstanding debt without the explicit consent of a customer, banks avoid having to possibly restructure the debt or go to court to recover the money. In court, the customer would at least be offered some protection in terms of debt recovery laws.

For instance, in order to secure a salary attachment order to recover on a personal loan, a magistrate must be satisfied that the consumer will still be able to live after the order has been granted. Where a customer is under debt review, the bank, by exercising the principles of set-off, might leave the customer with no money to pay their other creditors, which could lead to the termination of the debt review agreement.

Apart from prejudicing consumers, this practice also creates an unequal playing field, since non-bank credit providers do not enjoy access to borrowers' bank accounts.

"Our interpretation is that the common law rule of set-off can be applied because section 124 of the National Credit Act does not replace or amend this rule.

"FNB applies the principles of common law set-off in accordance with legal advice obtained," said Hannalie Crous, head of retail credit at FNB.

The bank would "in due course consider the extent of the potential impact" of the NCR's application, Crous said.

Nedbank and Absa had not commented on this issue at the time of going to print.

Source: Business Day
Tax experts believe significant sums of undeclared assets have been hoarded offshore by South African taxpayers but they might be reluctant to declare them under the special voluntary disclosure programme because of the way it deals with trusts.

The Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws (Administration) Bill was signed into law by President Jacob Zuma last week.

It takes effect retrospectively from 1 October 2016 and applications can be made until end-June. However, the act has not yet been published in the government gazette, the last step for it to enter the statute books and for there to be absolute legal certainty about it.

Tax professionals say the delay in getting the bill promulgated has dampened initial enthusiasm, and they cannot really begin to promote it until it is fully enacted.

"This delay is causing problems for taxpayers," Hogan Lovells head of tax Ernie Lai King said. "The people with significant sums appear to be still mulling over whether they will apply for the special voluntary disclosure programme as they have sufficient assets to emigrate and to join their assets rather than apply under the special voluntary disclosure programme or the voluntary disclosure programme.

"There are major reservations, especially where assets are held through foreign discretionary trusts. The South African Revenue Service [SARS] has a simplistic view that all foreign offshore trusts are sham trusts and the trustees will follow the instructions of the settlor/donor or a discretionary beneficiary.

"So SARS, under the programme, requires the settlor/donor or beneficiary of an offshore discretionary to deem all the foreign trust/assets to be owned by the South African settlor or South African beneficiary," said Lai King.

"It is not that simple, as the offshore trustees have a fiduciary duty to all the beneficiaries [both South African and nonSouth African residents] of the trust and legally the South African settlor and the South African beneficiary of the discretionary trust have no legal right to demand from the trustees that all the trust assets be deemed to be theirs.

"The South African resident will have to pay the taxes on the deemed assets in terms of the special voluntary disclosure programme and cannot demand from the trustees to distribute sufficient cash out of the trust to meet these taxes," he said.

"The approach of SARS is regrettable as there are wellestablished anti-avoidance attribution rules that apply to discretionary offshore trusts that pull the trust's income and capital gains back into the settlor's/ donor's hands. SARS should have just applied these well established laws."

Paul Gering, tax partner of accounting firm PKF, agrees that the failure of the special voluntary disclosure programme to provide adequate relief for trusts will deter taxpayers from declaring their assets.

The imposition of estate duty on declared trust capital in addition to the penalty would also weigh heavily. However, he expected the income from the penalties imposed on the newly declared assets to be as high as R10bn to R15bn.

"Certainly there is interest, but it is an expensive regularisation process. The country needs the revenue that will accrue from this and it is of concern that there has been such a long delay, that SARS has taken such a high-handed approach and that the programme was not more inclusive," Gering said.

South African Institute of Chartered Accountants senior executive for tax Peter Farber said it was difficult to gauge the level of interest as everyone was waiting to see what the final requirements would be.

"It was very difficult to promote until we knew what these final positions would be. I think it will start now and we will see a lot more interest trickling in."

PricewaterhouseCoopers tax partner Kyle Mandy said the final version of the programme was much better than the first draft and he expected a significant uptake.
A United Airlines direct flight from Billings to Chicago, set to launch this summer, has been extended three weeks, airport officials announced Tuesday.

The daily flight from Billings Logan International Airport to Chicago OHare International Airport will begin July 2 and continue through Sept. 5, according to the Billings airport.

The extension came after local representatives from the airport, the Billings Chamber of Commerce, Big Sky Economic Development and Visit Billings met with United officials at their Chicago headquarters, airport officials said.

Its the second flight expansion at the Billings airport this month. On Jan. 9, airport officials announced American Airlines had agreed to add a daily direct service flight to Dallas/Fort Worth.
South Africa is finally embarking on a long-overdue initiative: mapping the incredible biodiversity in Africa's soils . It will document the microbial life hidden in the ground in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the data it derives could help solve the continent's crisis of hunger and food insecurity, and give birth to a new industry.

meganelford0 via pixabay

In agriculture, soil microbes interact with plants to help crops fight off pests and disease and to adapt to climate stressors such as extreme heat and water scarcity. Already, in developed countries, microbial-based products for agriculture are a $2.3 billion market and growing.

Developing research capacity in soil science

But similar efforts in Africa are in their infancy. Thats why the success of this new initiative, based at the University of Pretorias Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, and financed by USAID, is crucial. In addition to South Africa, it will involve Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Ethiopia, Cote dIvoire, Nigeria, and Kenya. In highlighting the importance of Africas soil biodiversity, it sets the stage for African countries to develop their own research capacity in soil science.

The initiative will start simply. Soil samples packed into 1,000 zip lock bags, collected from ten African countries and a wide range of ecosystems will be delivered to the university center. There, scientists and technicians will scrutinise the DNA of bacteria, looking for new microbial species and their unique abilities to influence soil and crop health, plant growth, and resilience in a changing climate. With billions of bacteria teaming in each zip lock bag, the search

should be fruitful - and not a moment too soon.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, 65 percent of agricultural soils are degraded, driving hunger and food insecurity.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, 65 percent of agricultural soils are degraded, driving hunger and food insecurity. Soils are often too depleted to respond to conventional fertilisers, and many smallholder farmers are unable to benefit from the yield gains offered by new high-yielding seeds. Africa needs to adopt a holistic and integrated soil and land management strategy that restores the natural vitality of soil and enables it to support nutritious, high yielding crops. Soil microbes are an essential part of the solution.

Investing in research and development in agriculture needed

The Pan-African soil microbe initiative must serve as a starting point. African countries need to devote a larger percentage of their national budgets to research and development in agriculture, with a significant portion dedicated to understanding the untapped wealth of our soils.

The African Union recommends that governments spend 1 percent of their agricultural GDP on agricultural research for development. But across Sub-Saharan Africa, the percentage invested has declined from 0.59 percent in 2006 to 0.51 percent in 2011. Ethiopia, for example, spent a paltry 0.19 percent of its agricultural GDP on research.

Substantial funds are needed to build the research capacity of African institutions. Every African region needs its own robust research capacity, with equipment and personnel for screening enormous numbers of bacterial samples and identifying and analysing the results. Experience in more developed countries shows that as this capacity grows, so will the results.

Investments by Monsanto and Novozymes under their BioAg Alliance, for example, have resulted in several products including a microbial coating for corn and wheat seeds that enables the plants to make better use of nitrogen and other natural nutrients in the soil, boosting yield. Bayer Crop Sciences has developed a bacterial seed treatment for soybeans that improves root growth, protects plants from pests, and increases yields by 15 percent. University laboratories are also making valuable discoveries.

At Auburn University, for example, I am part of a research team that has used soil microbes to improve the growth of corn and cotton plants while helping the plants to withstand insect damage and water stress. But such results typically take huge investments. Fully equipping a microbiology laboratory can cost anything from $300,000 to $1,000,000 - or more. Monsanto and Novozymes have invested $300 million for their joint venture into soil microbial research.

Collaborative research

Given the high cost, Africa needs highly committed partners and strong collaboration between public universities, companies and development organisations to strengthen its agricultural research capacity. Foundations also play a role. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for example, recently awarded AgBiome a grant to discover microbes capable of controlling sweet potato weevils that currently cause 60-to-100 percent crop losses in Sub-Saharan Africa. **

Collaborative research conducted in African laboratories will no doubt result in many novel discoveries, patents, and licenses. This, in turn, can spur the formation of startup businesses - and a whole industry - that can develop to support agriculture in Africa and globally moving forward.

The future of food, especially in Africa, depends on how we deal with the soil crisis today, our work to understand the life in soil all across Africa, and how we harness that knowledge to support African agriculture.

Esther Ngumbi is a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University in Alabama. She serves as a 2015 Clinton Global University (CGI U) Mentor for Agriculture and is a 2015 New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute.
According to a 2014 travel industry study written by Oxford Economics, "the global travel industry is poised for a period of sustained growth over the next decade. This growth is predicted to be driven mainly by emerging markets such as Asia and the Middle East, but Europe and the Americas are forecasted to trend positively over the same period.

While an industry-wide positive trend is always good news, it leaves the players in the market with an important question to answer - which area or areas of the travel industry will be the major contributor(s) to the growth? The tour operators and travel agents that are the fastest to arrive at the answer, and execute well on the need it presents, are likely to most successfully capitalise on this industry growth.

Congo Volcano Trekking

From adventure travel to transformational travel

Lee Kelsall, CEO of African travel company, Ker & Downey Africa, has placed his bet on adventure travel as the travel niche that he believes is most likely to be a major contributor to this growth, and with good reason: The 2013 Adventure Tourism Market Study estimates the value of the global outbound adventure travel sector to be $263 billion, excluding airfare, up from $89 billion [2009] first reported in the benchmark consumer study. - Adventure Travel News.

At the helm of an adventure travel company doubling in size year on year, Lee notes that the trend toward adventure travel is clear to see in the statistics yes, but more than that the need for something deeper from travel became clear to us when speaking to our clients at the outset. When you take the time to understand why it is that people seek out the corners of the earth, you find that travel isnt just about comfortable pillows and fine silverware. People travel to find themselves, to push their boundaries and to create memories that last. We believe so strongly in this that weve invested heavily into the development of our Luxventure Experience category - our once in a lifetime adventure focused trips that push our clients boundaries in incredibly unique, experiential ways. Experiences that arent just nice getaways, but rather trips that change peoples lives.

Ker & Downey Africa works with partners around the globe that are noticing the same trend in tourists looking for once-in-a-lifetime adventure experiences as opposed to the run-of-the-mill been there, got the t-shirt trips. A partner in East Africa Sarah Tjeenk of Inspired Journeys, comments that As a macro development in the industry we will likely see a continuation of the trend towards experiential (or the latest word used is transformational) travel, where travellers are looking for their trips not only to make a positive impact on their environment but also on their personal enlightenment and understanding of this world.

Similarly, Marc Telio of Entree Destinations operating out of Alaska notes that were definitely seeing more and more guests that look to be in remote wilderness, disconnected and being at one with nature and wildlife. Our wildlife viewing programmes sell out, and we continue to see big interest in destinations that are off the grid, vast and remote.

Alaska adventures

Rushing to meet the needs of adventurous travellers

With consensus from operators across multiple continents, and with the markets statistical trends backing the probability of a good return on the adventure travel bet, its clear why so many operators are rushing to meet the increasingly adventurous needs of global travellers.

With travellers focus shifting from comfortable hotel rooms and fine dining to remote locations and thrilling adventures, the pressure on travel companies to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences for their clients is greater than ever. When asked how Ker & Downey Africa continues to push the boundaries of adventure travel in order to meet the increasing demand of the market, Lee responds:

I believe it all starts with a change in focus. The travel industry has traditionally been entirely destination focused: we know you want to visit Kenya, so well find a five-star lodge for you there and, as a bonus, that lodge offers game drives.

Self-Drive Safari in Kenya

Today, that doesnt cut it anymore. We realised this early on in the evolution of Ker & Downey Africa, and so we dont create our trips with a focus on the destination, we start with a focus on the customer, and in particular what adventure our customers want to experience. Then we build our Luxventure Experiences around that moment theyre chasing, rather than around a routing or a hotel room. Thats made all the difference to those that travel with us.

For the global tourist, the enthusiastic response of companies like Ker & Downey Africa to the evolving needs of the market is encouraging to see as it promises increasingly exciting and unique travel experiences for the traveller of tomorrow.
At least 50 companies are scrambling to provide seaworthy tug boats on charter time basis for the maritime operational requirements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt.

The public bid opening for the contract, which held at the NNPC headquarters Abuja, had in attendance representatives of the bidding companies with officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR; Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI; Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB; and some members of the civil society as observers.

NNPC said in a statement on Sunday that successful companies would be engaged on a two-year term contract in the first instance with an option of renewal for a further one year.

"Winners are expected to provide services, which include: aiding the berth and un-berth of all ships operating at the NNPC jetties/buoy, logistics support for safe ship-to-ship operations which covers movement of fenders, horses, documents, rigging and un-rigging of fenders, among others," the statement read in part.

"The bid covered services like stand-by and positioning vessels at the Single Point Moring (SPM) buoy among other marine services," it added. NNPC Group General Manager, supply chain management, Shehu Liman, was quoted as saying the Maikanti Baru-led management is determined to instill and sustain the values of transparency, accountability, and integrity in the procurement process.

He noted that apart from providing a level playing space for all stakeholders, the public bid exercise is in conformity with existing Federal Government legislation on procurement which is also in tune with the NNPC standing regulations on procurement to ensure transparency and fairness.

Declaring the event open, Group General Manager, Marine Logistics Division, NNPC, Dalhatu Makama, noted that the essence of the bid process was to ensure that companies with the requisite experience in maritime operations are given the opportunity to compete for the available service in a fair and transparent manner.
Tyre maker Bridgestone has come out in support of legal action by the Brits Industrialists Association (BIA) against the Madibeng Municipality, and revealed that its Brits tyre plant was one of the factories to which electricity was unlawfully disconnected by the municipality last week.

Gavin Young, Bridgestone South Africa CEO

The massive tyre production facility employs more than 800 people and was shut down from midday on Friday, 13 January until early evening on January 16 after the municipality defied a court interdict preventing it from cutting the factory's power.

Bridgestone is the world's largest tyre maker, with over 180 manufacturing and research facilities in 25 countries. Its South African arm includes two tyre manufacturing plants, numerous satellite offices and a network of over 300 commercial and retail outlets.

"Bridgestone South Africa was one of the applicants in the BIA case in which an interim interdict was successfully obtained in 2014 challenging Madibeng's electricity tariff increases pending a court review," said Bridgestone CEO, Gavin Young. "Until the review is heard, Bridgestone's electricity tariff is the figure determined by the court in the interdict."

Young said that by cutting off electricity supply to the members of the BIA, the Madibeng Municipality directly violated the conditions of the 2014 court order.

On January 16 2017, an urgent application for contempt of court was brought by the members of the BIA in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, he explained. The judge in the matter found in favour of the BIA and issued an order directing the municipality to restore electricity by 18h00 that evening.

Young added that Bridgestone had paid all amounts due for its electricity consumption at the tariff set by the court. "This cutoff unlawfully prevented us from conducting our business," he explained.

Livelihood at stake

The Bridgestone SA CEO said that Madibeng Municipality should have been more sensitive to the impact of its actions on the broader community, with Bridgestone employees being the breadwinners for thousands of residents in the Madibeng area.

"Madibeng's unlawful power cutoffs placed livelihoods in jeopardy and had the potential to harm our standing with Bridgestone's Japanese parent company," Young commented. "It is essential for investor confidence that arms of government operate within the law."

He said that Bridgestone was not ruling out further legal action against Madibeng Municipality to recover the costs of the shutdown and lost productivity. "Now that the plant has been re-started, we will begin to quantify our commercial losses, and our executive team will be taking legal advice on the relief available to us," he concluded.
Guill Marais, a senior business consultant at Sewells-MSXI, is having a busy time as the ongoing economic downturn takes its toll on many retail motor companies. Marais's speciality at Sewells-MSXI, a global consulting and outsourcing firm specialising in the retail motor industry, is turning around businesses that are either in trouble or headed that way.

Guill Marais, senior business consultant at Sewells-MSXI.

Cyclical downturn

He says that the health of the South African motor industry tends to go in cycles of approximately eight years. Marais said that 2016 was, hopefully, the end of the cycle that began with the global economic meltdown in 2008/9. The previous low point had been 1999/2000. However, he warns that the upturn will be slow and it will need dedication from management and the full cooperation of staff members to ensure profitability in ongoing tough trading conditions.

The Sewells-MSXI consultant says he has found that one of the major reasons for these cyclical downturns is that management tends to forget that they are in the people game, not just the motor game".

When times and the economy improve then the focus tends to move away from people  be they staff or customers  and shifts to pure business, explained Marais. Only when the dealers hit hard times again do they realise they have tended to neglect the people aspects of their business and have to quickly put programmes in place for team-building at the dealership and relationship building with customers as countermeasures to the downturn.

Multi-franchising

Marais is a strong supporter of multi-franchising for small volume dealers and believes this trend will continue to grow in South Africa, where he says many OEMs make demands that push up operating costs of a dealership substantially and impact on sustainability.

He says that multi-franchising need not just be limited to other automotive brands, but could also include joint ventures with common interest stores such as those selling outdoor equipment, top end bicycles, and the like.

Finding the X-factor

Marais sees his role as looking after a struggling dealership through what he calls the operation and intensive care phases before handing it over to colleagues at Sewells-MSXI who monitor the dealerships health on an ongoing basis and give advice where and when necessary. When he is called in to assist he arrives in his Mercedes-Benz Vito, which is his mobile office. He then spends two to three days analysing not only the business, but also the environment in which it operates and its potential.

He says he finds that a lack of proper leadership is usually the cause of motor dealerships getting into financial deep water.

Marais had a spell at Barloworld before joining the Super Group as franchise director and dealer principal for the Honda and Volvo brands. During his time at the Super Group, Marais developed a formula to evaluate a motor business in terms of its economic potential.

What is critical is to find the dealerships magical X which is its sales potential, staffing requirement and the financial support systems required. We develop a virtual dealership right down to income statement and balance sheet. Once we have found that X we can start with remedial treatment such as restructuring and target-setting."
Five semi-finalists have been chosen to progress to the next phase of Mozilla's $250,000 Equal Rating Innovation Challenge  a global competition to help catalyze new thinking around ways to connect the unconnected  and South African teams Afri-Fi: Free Public WiFi and Zenzeleni Networks are among them.

Katharina Borchert, chief innovation officer at Mozilla.

Katharina Borchert, Mozillas chief innovation officer, and Marlon Parker, RLabs founder and part of the Challenge judging panel, announced the chosen innovators at an event held at RLabs in Cape Town yesterday evening.

Elaborating on the importance of internet access, Parker said: Not giving people access to information creates a socio-economic divide, not just a digital divide. Every person on the planet needs to have hope, which is what the internet is for. It gives you information, it gives you a choice, it gives you an option. This is why I wanted to be a part of this Challenge and become a judge.

Borchert stated that the issues of access to the open internet is complex and creating universally-applicable and scalable connectivity solutions requires collaboration with people on the ground.

It was important to collaborate with people that dont sit in an office in San Francisco all day but that have local development experience, understand who the local audience is and what their challenges are. We thought an innovation challenge would be a good way to do that.

Submission process

Entrepreneurs, designers, researchers and innovators were invited to propose creative ideas on ways to cultivate digital literacy and provide unfettered access to the open internet for anyone across the globe.

Mozilla received a total of 98 submissions, 60% of which came from five countries: Nigeria, USA, India, Brazil and Kenya. The diverse judging panel reviewed submissions against the criteria of compliance with Equal Rating, affordability and accessibility, empathy, technical feasibility, as well as scalability, user experience, differentiation, potential for quick deployment and team potential.

The five semi-finalists are:

Gram Marg Solution for Rural Broadband - India

 Team leader: Prof. Abhay Karandikar

 Open source low-cost hardware prototype utilizing television white spectrum to provide affordable access to rural communities.

Freemium Mobile Internet (FMI) - Canada

 Team leader: Steve Song

 A new business model for telecommunication companies to provide free 2G to enable all the benefits of the open web to all.

Afri-Fi: Free Public WiFi - South Africa

 Team leader: Tim Human

 Model to make Project Isizwe financially sustainable by connecting brands to an untapped, national audience, specifically low-income communities who otherwise cannot afford connectivity.

Free Networks P2P Cooperative - Brazil

 Team leader: Bruno Vianna

 Cooperative that enables communities to set-up networks to get access to the Internet and then supports itself through the cooperative fees, and while co-creating the knowledge and respecting the local cultures.

Zenzeleni Do it for yourselves Networks (ZN)  South Africa

 Team leader: Dr Carlos Rey-Moreno

 Bottom-up telecommunications co-operatives that allows the most disadvantaged rural areas of South Africa to self-provide affordable communications at a fraction of the cost offered by other operators.

Submission trends

While Mozilla will disclose further information about all of these teams and their projects in the coming weeks, some themes occurred in the overall submission process:

 Cooperatives were a popular mechanism to grow buy-in and share responsibility and benefit across communities. This is in contrast to a more typical and transactional producer-consumer relationship.

 Digital literacy was naturally integrated into solutions, but was rarely the lead idea. Instead it was the de facto addition. This signals that digital literacy in and of itself is not perceived as a full solution or service, but rather an essential part of enabling access to the Internet.

 Many teams took into account the unbanked and undocumented in their solutions. There seemed to be a feeling that solutions for the people would come from the people, not governments or corporations.

 There was a strong trend for service solutions to disintermediate traditional commercial relationships and directly connect buyers and sellers.

 In media-centric solutions, the voice of the people was as important as authoritative sources. User generated content in the areas of local news was popular, as was enabling a distribution of voices to be heard.

Whats next?

The semi-finalists will now be mentored by Mozilla, receiving advice and skills training in order to strengthen their concepts and expand their impact. On 9 March 2017 a Demo Day will be hosted in New York where the semi-finalists will present their concepts. This will be followed by a week of open voting on EqualRating.com, and the winners will be announced at RightsCon in Brussels on 29 March 2017.
Latest-generation enterprise technologies have the potential to improve financial and operational management within public sector entities, and enhance service delivery to citizens.

Leo Lintang via 123RF

Lets look at five of the most important applications of technology in Government:

1. Transforming, simplifying and building responsive systems

The first step on the journey to true e-Government services is to replace all of the legacy infrastructure thats unable to keep pace with new technology and new demands. By simplifying and standardising on certain technology sets, government is able to create operational efficiencies and more easily fulfill its various mandates.

Were seeing the first positive signs that the long-awaited Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) will soon become a reality  as Treasury has recently concluded an agreement with Oracle, to centralise financial management systems across national, provincial and local structures.

Cloud computing is heralded as a key enabler of e-Government transformation. Contrary to popular misconceptions, the cloud is very relevant to state organisations looking to rapidly scale services and deliver them to millions. Government's cloud concerns lie in the area of data sovereignty  meaning that its essential for cloud services to be hosted locally.

2. Digitalising processes

Our government is under huge strain in a number of areas. And while technology cannot solve every problem, it can assist in speeding up processes for many government services. Take the example of title deeds in South African townships for example. Many residents and homeowners have to wait months or years to apply for official title deeds. In this time, theyre unable to raise financing against this asset.

In a country where access to finance is a clear barrier to economic advancement, finding ways to process millions of title deed requests is a primary concern for government. By using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and fully-digitalising the process, technology is able to shoulder much of the administrative burden, and speed up processing cycle.

In fact, there are numerous examples where geolocation technology like GIS, combined with intelligent digital processes, can assist with local administration  most notably in areas such as improving the collection of municipal rates and enforcing municipal by-laws, for instance.

3. Developing skills

Much has been written about the dearth of key skills in the public sector. But with the right technology we can go a long way in addressing the labour shortage, improving efficiencies and stimulating economic growth.

By moving towards cloud-based architectures, government is able to reduce the need for certain specialist skills (for those scarce skills where competing in the open market with more attractive private sector employers is an impossible task).

Secondly, new online and mobile learning tools give government employees access to a far greater breadth of learning materials. And thirdly, technology-enabled partnerships with schools, technikons and universities can further improve public servants access to skills development.

4. Advanced analytics

One of our countrys biggest challenges is the relatively small pool of taxpayers in comparison to the vast range of infrastructure and services that government must provide, maintain, and enhance.

To create much-needed efficiencies, and get the most from every tax-dollar, we can turn to advanced analytics. For example, sensor-enabled predictive maintenance helps to pre-empt faults on electricity lines or water pipes, speeding up the time to resolution and decreasing the costs of maintenance.

As we remain firmly in the grip of one of the most devastating droughts in recent history, the issue of more efficiently managing our scarce resources is brought to the fore. Advanced analytics would enable us to make better use of these resources, and improve Governments ability to embark on new infrastructure developments.

5. Enterprise development

By selecting technology partners who have a strong focus on enterprise development, Governments ICT investments can be leveraged to have a far broader impact on economic growth.

Large IT specialists should be developing innovation hubs, skills development programmes, and involving them in private-sector contracts. When all of these pieces fall into place, the country receives maximum value from Governments technology partnerships.

Taking this one step further, we believe that the role of ICT service providers goes far beyond simply licensing and integrating technology. True partnerships involve walking hand-in-hand with Government, alleviating the burden and stress of managing complex systems, and focusing on the deployment of citizen-centric solutions. Ultimately this allows municipalities and government bodies to focus on their core mandates of service delivery and economic development.
Insurer Hollard's R2.3bn bid for Imperial's Regent group of companies advanced in December after the African leg of the deal (excluding SA) obtained the required regulatory approvals, Imperial said on Tuesday, 17 January 2017.

The logistics group said it sold the non-South African operations of the Regent Group - based in Botswana, Zambia and Lesotho - to Hollard International for R697m. The deal became unconditional after the Botswana competition regulator approved that country's leg of the deal; and the Central Bank of Lesotho endorsed it.

The lion's share of the deal, the disposal of the rest of general insurer Regent Insurance and life insurer Regent Life, is subject to Competition Tribunal approval after the Competition Commission declined to approve it in October, saying it would decrease competition.

Hollard is expected to contest the commission's findings at the tribunal during the weeks of 23 January and 3 April.

Warwick Bloom, the acquiring insurer's spokesman, did not respond to questions.

Hollard offers short-term and long-term insurance products, similar to the Regent Group. The commission says the bid would lessen competition and allow the merged entity to corner the short-term motor insurance credit life cover.

The second phase of the acquisition deal includes the motor warranty provider SA Warranties and the body-repair insurer Paintech Maintenance.

The commission red-flagged Hollard's involvement in MotoVantage, a motor warranty joint venture with FirstRand. MotoVantage is poised to buy SA Warranties and Paintech.

There was also the spectre of large job losses and possible exchange of sensitive information. The regulator found the merging parties' remedies for the anticompetitive deficiencies unworkable, it said.

JP Morgan Cazenove analyst Necessity Ngorima said in October that the transaction had been drawn out longer than the market expected.

"Imperial announced the decision to sell its 100% interest in Regent, its highly cash generative insurance business, in May 2015," she said. "Management examined its business clusters and decided that Regent's short-term and life insurance did not fit in with Imperial's core business."

Ngorima said the deal would allow income from vehicle- insurance and value-added products to continue flowing to Imperial. The Regent Group contributed R3bn to Imperial's revenue during its 2016 financial year. "The proceeds of the sale were [planned] to reduce debt and fund the expansion of Imperial's core business."
In the months ahead, the Kariba Dam hydroelectric scheme must deal with the twin challenges of not holding enough water on the one hand and too much of it on the other.

The capricious moods of the weather in the Zambezi River catchment leave everyone guessing. The flood plain is a huge swathe of mainly bush land carved by tributaries that deposit water into Africa's fourth-biggest river for its journey to the monstrous Lake Kariba, some 181-billion tonnes of water in extent. So far, the rainy season has been reasonable, but worryingly patchy. There's an upside, however.

Kariba was built on a gorge on the Zambezi River. The dam wall forced the rising waters to spill out of the gorge and back up over the land upstream creating a 250km long lake.

"Most of the storage is in the lake's upper levels and, even when most of the storage is depleted, the water levels are still quite a lot higher than the turbines," notes New Zealander Bryan Leyland, a global expert on hydroelectric schemes.

"I checked to see if they're running it down to levels that put the turbines at risk of cavitation or vibration," says Leyland. "The rule of thumb is that the Francis turbines can operate down to 65% of the design head. At Kariba, the design head would probably be about 3m below the maximum level. As it is now, about 18m below full, the low level is not putting the turbines at risk. The problem might well be that, if the level goes any lower, air will be sucked into the turbine intakes."

Questions were put to the Zambezi Water Authority and Zambia's Institute of Engineering, but elicited no response.

The situation at both Kariba's north and south bank power stations is that despite exceptionally low water levels, Kariba Dam continues to generate electricity, thanks to a geological stroke of luck and engineers with the skills to take advantage of it. The 56-year-old, 1,600MW scheme hit the headlines two years ago, when reports circulated, eventually confirmed by the World Bank, that urgent intervention was needed to arrest erosion of the dam wall foundation and to replace faulty floodgates. Kariba's capacity will increase to 1,926MW when turbine upgrades are completed at the Zimbabwe south bank power station in 2019.

Kariba's geological configuration on the Zambezi on the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe, while not unique in the world of hydroelectricity, is propitious in coping with limited water volumes to produce more energy than such low levels could normally allow, even though the maximum power output is reduced.

In generating hydro power, flow and head are the vital components. The flow is the volume of water that can be captured and redirected to turn the turbines and the head is the distance the water will fall on its way to the turbines. The larger the flow and the higher the head, the more energy is available for conversion to electricity.

Double the flow and double the power, double the head and double the power again. Where Kariba scores is that it can produce a decent amount of energy from dam levels as low as 12%. The power generator can get away with not having a large flow of water, because gravity will provide the energy boost.

"At Kariba, electricity output is a rare multiple of both flow and head - the height of the lake above the downstream river tailwater level," explains a British dam engineer familiar with the scheme. "It's a bit like the accelerator on your car. If you don't press the accelerator pedal to the floor, you don't go as fast because the engine is getting a limited amount of fuel. Similarly if you let out less water because river flows are low and/or the lake level is low, you get less power. This does not prevent the operation of the power stations because the turbines are designed for this condition.

"The work needed at Kariba is a bit more than an annual service, but like your car, it won't stop working three days after the next service is due."

He also weighed in over reports that Kariba might fail in three years. "That's a load of rubbish. No one could predict with accuracy that this would occur and I'm sure any dam engineer would tell you that."

A World Bank spokesman confirmed in an email interview that the rehabilitation programme has commenced. This includes the reshaping of the plunge pool and refurbishment of the spillways.

Procurement of the contractor for the plunge pool works has been concluded and is pending final approvals. The contractor is expected to be on site in the first half of 2017.

"Procurement of a contractor for the spillway works was launched in December 2016 with the pre-qualification, followed by the tender documents in the first half of 2017," he says.

"Work on the gates is expected to begin in 2017."

Kariba Dam has been central to regional energy security and economic development since it was commissioned in 1960.

"A catastrophic failure of the dam would result in devastating regional flooding and significant loss of life," said the World Bank spokesman. "An estimated 3-million people live in the area that could potentially be affected by such a devastating event."

The $295m rescue operation is being funded by the European Development Bank ($100m), African Development Bank ($75m), World Bank ($75m) and Swedish government ($47m).

The rehabilitation programme is guided by the so-called independent Panel of Experts (PoE), the role of which is to provide an independent review and advice to the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), Kariba's Zambia-Zimbabwe collective watchdog.

"The PoE has met on several occasions, most recently with a joint meeting of the ZRA, the financing partners and the various engineers," reports the World Bank spokesman.

"They continue to provide advice to ZRA and the financing partners and have endorsed the proposed approach to the rehabilitation works."

The region's peak rainfall months occur from March to May. However, unseasonably heavy falls, causing flooding in some parts of the Zambezi River catchment, have already been reported.

"The Zambezi River upstream from the Victoria Falls experiences a rainy season from late November to early April, and a dry season the rest of the year," notes the World Bank.

"However, the river's flood season is February to May with a peak in April."

He discounts fears that the current floods upstream could fill the dam up suddenly and that this could be a danger.

"The hydrology of the Zambezi River and specifically the upper catchment and midreaches flowing into the Kariba reservoir are heavily influenced by the Barotse system upstream. This large floodplain attenuates the flow and results in a lag time of about three months between peak rainfall and peak runoff. This, coupled with the large size of the reservoir, means that Kariba has the ability to absorb large flood events and prevent a sudden rise in water levels."

The very low level of the water in the dam is a boon for rehabilitation teams replacing seized floodgates' gates and apertures. It is also favourable for the reshaping of the plunge pool on the Zambezi River bed. The rehabilitation works themselves have no effect on power generation, although the current low water levels have reduced the available head and cut back on electricity generation.

"The risk of spilling from the dam is reduced due to the current water levels in the reservoir and for this reason, we do not anticipate work will be interrupted in the early stages of the project," says the World Bank.

"We expect work to be able to begin as soon as the contract has been awarded and the contractor mobilised."

Coincidental to Kariba Dam's rehabilitation is an ongoing programme to beef up electricity generation from both the Zimbabwe south bank power station and its companion installation on the Zambia north bank. Zimbabwe has six turbines producing a total of 666MW.

China's SinoHydro is installing a further 300MW capacity at a cost of $533m funded by China Bank.

SinoHydro also added a further four turbines to the Zambia power station to boost output by 360MW for a total capacity of 960MW. The upgraded facility was commissioned in December 2013.

On completion of the south bank upgrade in 2019, Kariba's total capacity will be 1,926MW.

Source: Business Day
Investec Australia Property Fund (IAPF) has bought two office properties to expand its exposure to New South Wales, Australia's largest and strongest-performing economy.

The fund, the only property company on the JSE that invests solely in Australia, has been a good performer since listing in 2013, providing a total return of 67.59% to shareholders.

IAPF acquired 2 Richardson Road, North Ryde and 20 and 24 Rodborough Road, Frenchs -Forest in a deal worth A$160m ($119.54m).

The assets held long-term benefits for IAPF, according to CEO Graeme Katz.

"These properties secure medium-term income for the fund with a weighted average lease expiry of at least 4.1 years. Furthermore, the buildings have extremely low vacancy rates, are occupied by quality tenants, and are ideally located to benefit from rezoning initiatives and surrounding infrastructure developments," said Katz.

IAPF would spend A$85m, excluding transaction costs for the North Ryde property, which equated to an initial yield of 7%.

It would spend A$75m, excluding transaction costs, for the Frenchs Forest property, equating to an initial yield of 7.5%.

The North Ryde property is a four-level, A-grade office building 10km northwest of the central business district of commercial capital Sydney in the North Ryde commercial precinct.

The property was built in 2004 and comprises 15,055m of office space, 150m of ground floor retail space and 492 undercover and on-grade car parks.

The Frenchs Forest Property comprises two separate buildings, 20 Rodborough Road and 24 Rodborough Road.

The 20 Rodborough Road building is a campus-style office building that provides 12,366m of office space, 325m f ground floor retail space and 453 undercover and on-grade car parks.

The building has recently undergone an extensive A$1.3m refurbishment programme that included upgrades to the lifts, refurbishment of some of the office levels, upgrades to the bathrooms and new disabled amenities.

The 24 Rodborough Road building is a modern office and warehouse facility with two levels of office space totalling 3,219m, one level of high-clearance warehouse space totalling 3,979m and a total of 130 undercover car parks.

Source: BDpro
Billings novelist Craig Lancaster will present a public lecture at 4:30 p.m., Jan. 26 at Montana State University Billings in Liberal Arts Building Room 205.

Lancaster has been the MSUB writer-in-residence, hosted by the Honors Program, and will discuss My Miseducation, during the event. His lecture is an extension of his fall seminar, "Finding Your Way into Fiction," which combined students and community auditors.

"My tenure as visiting writer at MSUB concludes with this public lecture on Jan. 26, and I would be honored indeed if you'd join me there, Lancaster said. I wouldn't say it's going to be a lecture. More like a reflection.

The author of several books, including 600 Hours of Edward, and The Summer of Son, Lancaster enjoyed the time spent working with students at the university and his final lecture, free and open to the public, will include time spent looking back on it.

"I love teachers. I came out of this thing with more respect for them than I'd ever had before, if that's even possible, he said. My experience this fall bridged the distance between the incomplete student I once was and the good citizen I've always tried to be.

After a long career in journalism, Lancaster moved to Montana in 2006 and published his first novel in 2009. He is a Montana Honor Book and High Plains Book Award winner, as well as a Utah Book Awards fiction finalist.

Additionally, Lancaster is the design director for The Montana Quarterly. The magazine has been voted the best in the Pacific Northwest by the Society of Professional Journalists three times. Recently, Lancaster contributed to MSUBs Peaks to Plains magazine, reflecting upon legendary teacher and writer Sue Hart.

University Honors Program Director David Craig said, The Honors Guest Writer in Residence Program is a wonderful opportunity to connect students and community members with accomplished writers. It has been a tremendous success.

Since 2012, the Honors Program has hosted a guest writer. That year, students studied Ernest Hemingway with his last assistant, Valerie Hemingway. Additional guest writers have included contemporary travel author Tim Cahill, a founding editor of Outside magazine, and nature, ecology, and environmental writer Gary Ferguson.
While businesses have typically engaged in some form of media training in order to familiarise their key stakeholders with having to deal with journalists and tell the brand story, changes in the media industry means that training has had to evolve too. Now, there is a critical need for training to take on a more consultative role, to inform decision-makers about these changes, what it means for their business, and how they can best respond.
Chocolate? Good. Wine? Even better. But together? Not for me.

Before you head to the comment section or Twitter to tell me Im a hack, hear me out.

While chocolate companies, large-scale wine brands and pop culture rom-coms try to sell you on the romantic idea of wine and chocolate pairings  whether for Valentines Day or general gift giving  beverage experts tend to agree: Still wine typically fails as a dance partner for chocolate.

Im not sure why everyone is always trying to pair chocolate with red wine, other than the fact that everyone loves red wine and chocolate, says Los Angeles-based sommelier Whitney Adams. Its rare that I enjoy wine with my chocolate. Adams says to step away from dry red wines  zins, cabs, pinots  and instead reach for other categories, namely dessert or fortified wines like port or Madeira.

Madeira is like a slightly sweet, salty and nutty hug in a glass, says Adams. Id reach for some Rare Wine Co. Madeira for a special treat.

Chocolate, by nature, is bitter. Like wine, it also contains tannins, the astringent compound found in red wines that cause your gums and cheeks to dry out. Pairing a wine  also typically higher in acid  with bitter chocolate just throws your palate out of whack.

Theres nothing wrong with eating chocolate and wine, but if youre going for a specific pairing and a great experience, dry reds are just jarring and clashing, says Michael Matonte, manager of Vin Chicago and an advanced sommelier. You want a little sweetness. A little bit of Lambrusco can be quite nice with chocolate. Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine style from Italy, tends to have a fine bubble and fruitier profile, lending a soft cleansing of the palate between bites of richer chocolate.

For Katrina Markoff, chocolate expert and founder of Vosges Haut Chocolat, the wine and chocolate pairing should be much more nuanced. In fact, her company trains employees in perfect chocolate and beverage pairings with a 100-page tasting guide just for this purpose.

Wine and chocolate are often diametrically opposed in flavors, so the trick is to look at the whole experience, says Markoff. Known for incorporating ingredients like fennel pollen, paprika, star anise and horseradish into her chocolates, Markoff suggests pulling out flavors from the chocolate that can be mirrored in the wine. If the chocolate is already very sweet, a dessert wine can be too much  an eau de vie, or fruit brandy, is the way to go. The higher acid in the brandy provides balance and lift. If you insist on red wine with a dark chocolate, at least avoid tannic styles. Go for something juicier, she says. Try California merlot or Australian shiraz.

Personally, I take a different tack: Brown spirits like whiskey and rum. Sure, the buzz doesnt hurt, but the alcohol also has more body, coating the tongue from the chocolates tannins. Additionally, a brown spirits spicy and caramel flavors lend themselves well to the darker, earthy flavors of chocolate.

If youve read this far and still disagree  fine. Far be it for me to prevent your enjoyment of two of Gods great culinary gifts. I just want you to know: Theres a better way.
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Saturday

American Lutheran Church, 5 Lewis Ave.: The Cabin Fever Sale features everything you need to keep yourself entertained on cold winter days, including books, puzzles, board games, DVDs and CDs, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and continuing on Sunday.

First Presbyterian Church, 2420 13th St. W.: The Senior Singles group meets at Western Emporium Restaurant, located at 3141 King Ave. W., at 10 a.m. The group meets monthly for various outings and activities. All senior adults from the community who are single are invited to join this group. For more information, call Tom Erskine at 656-0496.

The Men of Mayflower meeting at Aspen Meadows, 3155 Avenue C: The Men of Mayflower meet at 7:15 a.m. to cook and serve breakfast for the male residents. Members, sons, grandsons and friends are encouraged to attend.

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 180 S. 24th St. W.: A Taize prayer service takes place at 6 p.m., beginning with an instrumental prelude before periods of song, Scripture and silence. The music is meditative with words and melodies from original Taize materials. The service lasts 30-40 minutes, and all community members are invited.

Peace Lutheran Church, 1301 Avenue D: Robin Goodheart is the guest musician at the 5 p.m. worship service.

Sunday

American Lutheran Church, 5 Lewis Ave.: The Cabin Fever Sale continues from 8 a.m. to noon.

St. Johns Lutheran Ministries, 3940 Rimrock Road: Steve Loy, pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, leads worship in the Ocee Johnson Chapel at 7 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church, 2420 13th St. W.: Dr. Alan Muskett, reconstructive and plastic surgeon, shares Dear God, Quit Picking on Me, at Church and Society Class, at 10 a.m. Muskett is a popular speaker and regular contributor to The Billings Gazette.

Billings Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2032 Central Ave.: At 10:30 a.m., the Rev. Kim Woeste leads Spirituality and Social Change. Protests have become a common method of seeking social change. New social-movement theories have gained attention, and many of the theories are not necessarily religious, but include spiritual elements. Woeste, a chaplain at Rocky Mountain College, explores how spirituality is understood to contribute to social revolution.

Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, 2940 Poly Drive: The Adult Ed course Living the Questions: Part 3, and viewing of various TED Talks take place at 9:10 a.m.

Unity of Billings, 9 14th St. W.: At 10 a.m., The Rev. S. Culliver Brookman shares the message "The Focus of Faith," exploring how focusing on faith can help in everyday life.

Pilgrim Congregational Church, 409 36th St. S.: After the 9 a.m. coffee fellowship, Pastor Steve Heppner discusses The Kingdom of Heaven: Like Clean Air to Breathe, based on Matthew 4:12-17, at the 10 a.m. worship service.

Peace Lutheran Church, 1301 Avenue D: Education for all ages starts at 11:15 a.m., after the 10 a.m. worship service. The adult class explores the birth of the Christian Bible with Pastor Will Sappington.

Billings First Church, 310 27th St. N.: At 10 a.m., Walt Gulick leads the Adult Forum in a final discussion of Children of Men. Laura Keating, intern, gives the message at the 11 a.m. worship service. At 3 p.m., the older youth present a 12th Night Feast, filled with feasting, merriment, revelry and a mummers play. Tickets for the feast are $20 each.

First English Lutheran Church, 1243 N. 31st St.: The Gospel of Matthew is discussed at the 10 a.m. worship service with an exploration of the Beatitudes as a new kind of faith statement and the children offering music. The first of the Epiphany recitals starts at 4 p.m. with Q Staton, baritone, and Arle Lohof, pianist and organist. A reception takes place after the music. Everyone is welcome.

Billings Association of Humanists meeting at First Congregational Church, 310 N. 27th St.: Danny Choriki leads When Nasty Became the Norm: A Look at the 2016 Election Cycle and the Role of Media at 1 p.m. Choriki has studied the relationships between culture, politics and the environment for more than 30 years. He discusses the mechanics of how social media posts become viral and offers a proposal of how movements on the left need to step up their messages.

Monday

Financial Peace University at Trinity Lutheran Church, 537 Grand Ave.: Monday, Jan. 23, is the final day to register for Dave Ramseys Financial Peace University, which will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Mondays beginning Feb. 6. Cost is $99.

Wednesday

Trinity Lutheran School, 2802 Belvedere Drive: The 9:30 a.m. chapel class is led by missionary Greg Holtz, who shares information about Crossing Cambodia, a mission that works with street kids to provide their basic needs. More information is available at crossingcambodia.org.

Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, 2940 Poly Drive: The Women of Mayflower meet at noon for lunch with speaker Carol Scovill, physical therapist at St. Johns Lutheran Ministries, who shares information on Balance and Falls. Everyone is welcome. Youth groups from Mayflower and First Congregational United Church of Christ meet at Mayflower. First- through sixth-graders meet at 4:30 p.m. Dinner for all is served at 6. Seventh- through 12th-graders meet from 6:30 to 8:30.

Peace Lutheran Church, 1301 Avenue D: A Holden Evening Prayer Service takes place at 7 p.m.

First English Lutheran Church, 1243 N. 31st St.: Gods Kids meet at 5 p.m. for games, stories and activities. They explore the parable of the mustard seed and plant mustard seeds. A meal is served at 6 p.m. The older youth gather at the Friendship Cafe at Friendship House. All are welcome.

Billings Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2032 Central Ave.: "Wishful Drinking," a Broadway play written by and starring Carrie Fisher, is viewed at the Community Lecture Series at 7 p.m. While we may remember her as Princess Leia, Fishers life story was not a Hollywood fantasy. In the solo act, she shares her struggles with mental illness.

Friday

Big Sky Worldview Forum at Red Lion Hotel and Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Lane: "Intelligent Design, Evolution and the Future of Free and Open Science" begins at 7 p.m. Dr. Paul Nelson, senior fellow at Discovery Institute, offers his perspective on whether Darwinian evolution or intelligent design provides the most reasonable explanation for the origin of life. He also discusses his belief that freedom to follow the evidence is the heart of true science, and this is not always true of science today. The forum continues Saturday, Jan. 28. Tickets are $10 in advance (available online at bigskyworldview.org), or $12 at the door. For more information, call Dick Pence at 534-2019.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Big Sky Worldview Forum at Red Lion Hotel and Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Lane: At 9 a.m., Dr. Paul Nelson discuss the origins of life and examines evidence pointing to the role of supreme intelligence in the creation of life. Tickets are $10 in advance (available online at bigskyworldview.org), or $12 at the door. For more information, call Dick Pence at 534-2019.

To submit items

The deadline for submitting information for the Faith Guide is noon Tuesday for consideration for publication in the upcoming Saturday edition. The items should be special events open to the public and of interest to readers outside your congregation.

You may mail information to: Faith Guide; Billings Gazette newsroom; P.O. Box 36300; Billings, MT 59107. Items also may be faxed to 657-1208 or emailed to citynews@billingsgazette.com. Be sure to address faxes or emails to the Faith Guide. Or you may drop off your item at The Gazette, 401 N. Broadway; please mark it to the attention of Rachelle Lacy.

Items are used as space is available.
Alaska's state government sued the U.S. government Friday over the authority to set hunting rules on federal lands in Alaska.

The federal lawsuit seeks to overturn a series of recent executive branch rules that banned several Alaska-legal predator hunt techniques on U.S. wildlife refuges and national preserves in the state. The techniques included hunting brown bears at bait stations, hunting wolf and coyote pups during the denning season and using artificial light to hunt black bears.

Alaska Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth described the suit as a larger struggle over state sovereignty in a written statement announcing the lawsuit.

"Alaskans depend on wildlife for food. These federal regulations are not about predator control or protecting the states wildlife numbers, Lindemuth said. These regulations are about the federal government trying to control Alaskans way of life and how Alaskans conduct their business. This is contrary to state and federal law.

The lawsuit names as defendants Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and other top Interior leaders. As a political appointee of President Barack Obama, Jewell has only a few days left at her job.

State officials believe it was important to sue over the issue even as a new presidential administration takes office, because reversing the hunting rules through administrative process would be slow.

"Basically in order to repeal regulations you have to go through the same process as creating regulations," Alaska Department of Law spokeswoman Cori Mills said Friday. "We all hope that we can work with the new administration with using any sort of administrative paths possible, but we also felt that it was important to get this issue out there and challenge it in the courts since we know it'll take a while for the new administration to get up to speed and make decisions about all sorts of regulation projects."

The incoming administration's stance on this particular wildlife issue has not yet been established. President-elect Donald Trump has named U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana as his nominee for Interior secretary.

The Interior Department contains the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administer the national wildlife refuges and preserves.

Usually, state hunting rules apply on federal lands within a state for federal lands like preserves and refuges that allow hunting. However, both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service disagreed with Alaska rules that target predators for the sake of boosting moose and caribou populations. The agencies stated that Alaska's hunting rules violated their mission to manage wildlife for biodiversity.

New federal rules were then enacted over the last three years and cover a larger-than Montana section of federal lands in Alaska.

In its lawsuit, the state argues that the two federal agencies violated the laws that give them land management powers, including the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act and the law that created the wildlife refuge system.

"State wildlife officials use their professional expertise, research and scientific data to manage wildlife populations across land ownership boundaries, including land owned by the federal government. Considering all information available, the Alaska Board of Game found that the population numbers were at a sufficient level to authorize hunters to practice the hunting methods (the National Park Service) and (the Fish and Wildlife Service) are attempting to prohibit," Lindemuth said in the written statement.

"When considering their prohibitions, the federal agencies did not dispute state officials assessment of the current wildlife populations. The agencies simply did not like how or when the hunters were going to take the wildlife."
HELENA  A proposal to create a long-term funding source for infrastructure projects introduced Tuesday is, by and large, not a new proposal, nor are the potential snags unknown.

Senate Bill 88 would divert some interest earned from the Coal Severance Tax Trust fund into a new Build Montana sub-trust, a proposal pitched by Gov. Steve Bullock in his recent re-election campaign. It would take an estimated five years for the fund to accrue a $50 million principal, the trigger to allow interest to pay for infrastructure projects. The strategy was first used in 1996 to establish the Treasure State Endowment Program, which pays for some local water, sewer and bridge projects. The fund diversion to build that program ended last year. In essence, the bill introduced this session would redirect the same money that had been used to build that program to establish a new one for other types of infrastructure projects.

This is the first of several steps forward to create an infrastructure program for the long term, the bills sponsor, Sen. Jon Sesso, D-Butte, told the Senate Finance and Claims Committee. As we all know, the current needs are not going to be met, with or without bonding. We need to establish as a Legislature another fund for us to use to fulfill those needs throughout the state, be they water, sewer, roads, school projects or the like. There are many projects and simply not enough money.

In recent years, several bills to fund infrastructure projects failed to pass the Legislature or were vetoed by Bullock, including a Republican bill similar to Sessos proposal. State leaders disagreed on which types of projects should be priorities, what source of funding should be used and whether the state should go into debt to pay for them.

Those same debates remain this session as legislators consider a slew of proposals to fund projects immediately as well as identify ongoing funding to reduce the states backlog of unmet need in future years. The introduction of SB 88 marked the start of those discussions.

Chairman Sen. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, said the Finance and Claims Committee would wait to vote on SB 88 until other infrastructure proposals have been heard. That way, he said, legislators can better discuss how to put the pieces together without overlooking any particular type of project.

Dan Villa, the governors budget director, said he supported SB 88, but warned against busting the trust by capping the permanent fund as some Republicans had previously proposed.

You will find significant opposition from this administration, he said.

Villa also cautioned that diverting coal trust revenues as described in SB 88 will have ripple effects in the state budget, such as slowing the growth of or shrinking the permanent trust. Other bills have proposed the same kind of diversion for other uses that will contribute to the big picture he urged legislators to consider.

The Montana Infrastructure Coalition also supports the bill. The group of cities, counties, contractors, economic developers and others formed after the 2015 failure to pass any infrastructure funding billings.

Our sole concern would be the immediate availability of funds, Executive Director Darryl James said, acknowledging other bills might support projects more quickly.

No one spoke in opposition to the bill.
Billings police released photos and a description Tuesday of the man suspected of assaulting an employee at a Heights restaurant and casino with a pair of bolt cutters before stealing money from a safe.

The man is described as white, standing approximately 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, according to a press release form the Billings Police Department. He was wearing blue jeans, a black jacket, brown boots, black gloves and a black "HJC" motorcycle helmet with a clear visor.

The suspect was also carrying a black backpack, according to the release.

The suspect broke into the Play Inn at 1422 Main St. at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday and attacked a male employee with a pair of bolt cutters, according to the release. The bolt cutters were then used to cut a lock on a safe, and the suspect left with "an undisclosed amount of cash from the safe."

Speaking Saturday, BPD Sgt. Shane Shelden said the suspect entered the building after smashing the glass out of the back door. The employee had been cleaning the building and was taken to a Billings hospital with minor injuries, Shelden said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the BPD Detective Division at 406-657-8473 or Crime Stoppers at 406-246-6660.
The two companies who will run the projects are the Zwekabin Myay Development Company that was founded and managed by followers of the Zwekabin Temple monk, U Kawi Daza and Chit Lin Myaing Toyota Company, chaired by the governments militia leader, Colonel Saw Chit Thu, the senior advisor and general secretary of the Karen State Border Guard Forces central command.

Colonel Saw Chit Thu said he approached the Zwekabin Myay Development Company about investing in the project as a partner and an agreement was reached.

Speaking to Karen news, Colonel Saw Chit Thu said.

I wanted to take part in this project and now we are part of it. Since 2016, we have contacted engineers and technicians for the cable project and have done all the survey and measurement. The total cost was estimated at USD $12 million. After we have signed this agreement, we are going to sign a contract with Japanese and Australian engineers and technicians in February. The ground work will start after that.

Colonel Saw Chit Thu said that although the agreement was signed in his Chit Lin Myaing Companys name, he is signing this on behalf of the Karen Armed Groups Unity Committee, a committee founded to work for unity among Karen armed groups with representatives from Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), KNU/KNLA Peace Council and the Karen Border Guard Force. Colonel Saw Chit Thu said that profit from the project will be distributed to all Karen armed groups.

According to the agreement, the Chit Lin Myaing Company is entitled to 75% of the profit while the Zwekabin Myay Development Company gets the other 25%. The agreement states that Chit Lin Myaing Company will invest in all the installation project cost while the other party needs to deal with the provision of land for the project. The construction period is planned to be 18 months.

U Aung Maunn, secretary of the Zwekabin Cable Car project organizing committee spoke to Karen News about the agreement.

At first, U Pyinyar Wontha, who is based in Penang Malaysia, initiated the project and planned to build it with donations. When Penang Sayadaw couldnt make it back to Burma, the situation changed. However, as we are implementing the project, we were approached by Colonel Chit Thu who said that the Karen armed groups would work together on the project, so we agreed to continue the project with them.

A Pagoda that sits at the top of Zwekabin Mountain, near Hpa-an Town, is visited each day by hundreds of Buddhists pilgrims and tourists who make the arduous three to four hours trek each day. There is now a basic cable lines installed to transport goods and materials to the top of the mountain.

Zwekabin Mountain is located seven miles south of Hpa-an Town and is 2,734 feet above sea level. The mountain range runs 20 miles from north to south.
The HRW and Fortify Rights statement said the two men, Langjaw Gam Seng, 35, and Dumdaw Nawng Lat, 65, were apparently forcibly disappeared in Northern Shan State.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch said the nature of the two mens disappearance means the military has some serious questions to answer. This is a crucial case for Aung San Suu Kyi and other government leaders to demand cooperation from the army, which has continued to resist civilian authority.

The two church leaders had taken journalists to see a Catholic church allegedly destroyed by government airstrikes  Langjaw Gam Seng and Dumdaw Nawng Lat were last seen on December 24, 2016 traveling to a military base.

The HRW and Fortify Rights said the disappearances raise grave concerns for the safety of the two men and witnesses to the incident, the two organizations said. The Burmese government and military should immediately address these issues and allow the visiting United Nations human rights expert to visit the area.

Matthew Smith, the chief executive officer of Fortify Rights said the apparent enforced disappearance of these two Christian leaders has created a climate of fear and terror in Northern Shan State.

The HRW and Fortify Rights said that following a phone call, reportedly from the Burma Army, on December 24 at about 5:30 p.m., to go to the Byuha Gon military base in Northern Shan States Mong Ko town, in Muse Township near the Myanmar-China border, to assist with the release of civilians detained there.

The HRW and Fortify Rights aid that local residents last saw the two men that evening traveling by motorbike towards Byuha Gon base, where Burmese Army Battalions Nos. 99 and 55 are located.

Fortify Rights, chief executive officer, Matthew Smith said the government should urgently investigate and report on this case and ensure protection for those with information.

Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch, Deputy Asia Director said that perpetrators of grievous abuses in Kachin and Shan States need to be brought to justice. Atrocities wont stop so long as the military can commit them against civilians with impunity.
Large-scale gold mining is the opposite of the goals of the Salween Peace Park. It will cause destruction and land conflicts, said Tee Nya Kyi, a community activist in Mutraw District, an area administered by the Karen National Union (KNU). The KNU has been a key partner in the Peace Park initiative.

Citing heavy environmental impacts from existing gold mines in Karen State, as well as the goals of the Peace Parks environmentally conscious development agenda, KNU District leaders withdrew approval for a proposed gold mine just last December. Large-scale river dredging for gold is a highly polluting activity in Myanmar that many Karen leaders, villagers and activists have long opposed. Resistance against destructive development, and desire for peace after decades of civil war, forms the impetus to establish this innovative sanctuary to protect the people, land, culture and wildlife of Karen State.

The Salween Peace Park initiative is an ongoing, collective effort that involves many partners. Over 300 community representatives from 23 village tracts in the 3 townships of Mutraw District, the Mutraw Districts Forestry Department, and one of Myanmars leading environmental organizations, the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN), have worked together over the past year and a half to realize this dream.

The first public consultation and deliberation for the Peace Park initiative was held in May 2016. A second public referendum was held in Day Bu Noh village in Mutraw (Hpapun) District from December 26 to 28, 2016. In a large, open-air meeting hall, a draft Charter for the Salween Peace Park that enshrined the inalienable right to self-determination and local governance of indigenous Karen over their ancestral lands, was completed and received wide community support. As the Peace Park is a dynamic and adaptive initiative that was created to respond to the needs of local communities, consultations will continue throughout 2017.

The Peace Park initiative is committed to being inclusive and transparent, and whenever there are any development projects or investments of any kind, the indigenous and local people can look to the democratically determined spirit and vision for the Salween Peace Park first, said Paul Sein Twa, Executive Director of KESAN. Will these developments be aligned with peoples aspirations? In the Salween Peace Park, the people will be the ones to evaluate whether proposed development projects are good or bad for their communities. For the people of Karen State, who have historically been denied the right to determine their own futures, the Salween Peace Park is a radical opportunity.

For more than a half century, the remote and mountainous area comprising the Salween Peace Park has been illegally occupied and tyrannized by the Myanmar Army. To this day, the Myanmar Army maintains more than 300 military camps in Karen state  including 82 camps in Mutraw District.

At present, a tenuous ceasefire signed in 2012 between the KNU and the Myanmar Government still holds. The KNU is also a signatory to Myanmars Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and is a participant in national peace talks led by Myanmars civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. But the Karen people have been fighting for their freedom since 1947, and they warily watch as state-sponsored violence continuously unfolds in three of Myanmars ethnic states. Only last September, fighting broke out in Karen State between the Myanmar military and a Karen splinter group, almost drawing the KNLA into the fray and threatening the ceasefire. Karen leaders and villagers believe the fighting was part of a Myanmar Army strategy to secure the area for the planned Hatgyi hydropower dam on the Salween River. The Karen in Mutraw say they are not waiting for peace to be granted by Myanmars government or army. They are actively pursuing peace with the Salween Peace Park.

General Baw Kyaw Heh, second-in-command of the Karen National Liberation Army, explained their rationale, I realized that in Thailand, they have established national parks to protect their wildlife and prevent illegal logging, and I was convinced that we should do the same thing in Kawthoolei [Karen State]. When the KNU signed the bilateral ceasefire agreement in 2012, we decided this might be our chance to begin to implement our dream. The Salween Peace Park initiative is rooted in the recognition of the indigenous people of Myanmar as guardians of sacred lands, challenging the top-down development model, and promoting a locally-defined sustainable development agenda.

In Mutraw, democracy is at work. The very process of establishing the Salween Peace Park fundamentally requires extensive community involvement, in order to ensure that the governance of the area will be equitable and sustainable. This is evident in the Peace Park consultations, which exhibit levels of public participation and deliberation unheard of in the rest of Myanmar. The demarcation of the Salween Peace Park boundaries is a complex affair, with community members and KNU leaders drawing out a tapestry of customary land areas known as Kaw, as well as wildlife sanctuaries and community forests. It encompasses parts of three townships and has required careful negotiation and consensus. Most recently at the December 2016 consultations, the map was subject to further revisions. After rounds of spirited public deliberation, village representatives, KNU forestry officers and KESAN staff ultimately agreed to adjust the boundaries to include more land and a KNU-established forest reserve straddling two townships.

The maps drawn up by central government ministries follow a very different process. The Myanmar Ministry of Mines (now a Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation since reforms in 2016) had earlier created its own map of Mutraw District in secrecy, which slates large swathes of the area for massive mines and other extractive industries. Almost no member of the public in Mutraw has seen this map or even knows of its existence. In contrast, copies of the draft Peace Park map have been circulated amongst communities since the idea was first introduced in 2016.

The long-term aim for the Salween Peace Park is to demonstrate what truly good governance could be for the Salween River Basin, and provide a people-centered alternative to the top-down, militarized development that has been pushed in the region by previous regimes, said Sein Twa.

At one point during the December referendum, a village representative stood up and said to Sein Twa, We dont want a draft Charter [the governing document for the Peace Park]. Just give us the finished copy. Were ready to begin now.

Sein Twa patiently explained that it wasnt his role to impose rules on society. This is your Peace Park. You have to be a part of creating it and understanding what it means. And I dont want you to stand up in a year and say you didnt know what you were agreeing to. For Sein Twa, was important to get the process of democratic deliberation right, despite the need to move quickly.

One factor underlying the urgency of the Salween Peace Park initiative is the threat posed by a Thai and Chinese company-funded plan to dam the Salween River for export of electricity and water to Thailand. The 1,365 megawatt Hatgyi dam, not yet under construction, would be built in southeast Mutraw, and would divert water from the Salween across the mountains into Thailands central valley. If plans are allowed to move forwards, the dam would destroy downstream fisheries and riverside farming in Karen State, all the way to the rivers mouth at the Indian Ocean. It would also compromise the integrity of the KNUs newly established Mae Nyaw Kee wildlife sanctuary, home to tigers, black bears, gaur, and dozens of other endangered or threatened mammals. The dam proposal is a lightning rod for Karen resistance, and the Salween Peace Park represents a united front against the dam and other destructive projects pushed by the Myanmar government and multinational companies.

The Hatgyi dam is an audacious move by Thailands military government to essentially steal water from an international river, said Jeff Rutherford, an environmental consultant who has studied the Salween River for more than a decade. Exporting all the electricity and leaving the indigenous people with ecological and cultural collapse is bad enough. But the worst part is that the only way to build the dam is for the Myanmar Army to seize control of the river. That will reignite the civil war. Hopefully, when the Burmese people become aware about the water diversion plans, theyll also oppose this plan for war and destruction.

The Hatgyi dam may be a major threat for the future, but it is the Myanmar Army that is the clear and present danger. Decades of aggression have pushed hundreds of thousands of Karen and other indigenous people from their homes into refugee camps in Thailand, and have scattered the Karen throughout their territory and even abroad. (Upward of 50,000 Karen have settled in the United States alone in recent years.) Though the 2012 ceasefire has opened up more space for people to travel without fear of being attacked, and some are tentatively beginning to try to farm their occupied lands, not a single one of the more than 300 Myanmar Army camps in Karen State have been relocated. Nevertheless, people try to farm in the shadows of the men who killed their relatives and burned down their homes, less than a decade ago.

The presence of more than 60 government army camps in the proposed Peace Park area does prevent the displaced from returning to their original villages and farming their fertile land. Even after the KNU signed the national ceasefire, there has been no progress in terms of civilian protection in military designated areas, said Sein Twa, whose family was forced out of their home by Myanmar Army soldiers more than three decades ago. He adds that people are always asking the KNU to tell the government troops to relocate away from their villages and farming areas, but so far to no avail.

For the Karen people of Mutraw, the Salween Peace Park is a culmination of years of work to demarcate communal lands, establish wildlife sanctuaries and document the continued existence of dozens of threatened animal species. It aims also to revive livelihoods shattered by civil war and champion best practices in sustainable development. The Salween Peace Park intends to create processes where local people can take part in peace building, not just the warring parties, the business sector and the peace donors, said Sein Twa. If the local communities come together and stand up for their vision of peace, we believe that their voice will be heard.

The Peace Parks spirit of peaceful self-determination, participatory democracy, environmental integrity and cultural survival is epitomized by the preamble to its recently-concluded draft Charter:

We, the Indigenous Karen people of Mutraw, recognizing our roots that transcend national boundaries, celebrating the natural world, which has sustained our people for generations, honoring the memory of those who have struggled against all forms of injustice against the people and the Earth, with a commitment to the present and to the future, in order to create and sustain a lasting peace in our lands, protect and maintain the environmental integrity of the Salween River basin, preserve our unique cultural heritage, and further the self-determination of our people, do enact and establish: the Charter of the Salween Peace Park.

The Salween Peace Park process will continue through 2017, gathering community feedback and support. The Salween Peace Park development process continues to work towards international recognition  cooperating with Thailands adjacent Salween National Park and Salween National Wildlife Sanctuary, and international conservation organizations. Once formally established, the initiative will engage the Myanmar national government in discussions as to how to best protect the reserve and maximize its public benefit. The Karen of Mutraw will seek recognition from the democratically elected Suu Kyi government and demand that it rein in the Myanmar Army, which remains the main obstacle to true peace and sustainable development in Myanmar.
The two pastors, who had been helping journalists report on alleged military abuses in northern Shan State, have been missing since 24 December 2016. According to the press release, they were last seen near a Myanmar Army post in Mongkoe town, their fate and whereabouts remain unknown.

Dumdaw Nawng Lat, a pastor and community elder from Mongkoe town in Muse Township, northern Shan State, was summoned to a nearby army post, to apparently discuss the arrest of a local man, on 24 December 2016. Accompanied by his nephew Langjaw Gam Seng, also a pastor in Mongkoe, the two men were last seen near the army post, locally known as Byu Har Kone, at around 5pm that evening.

A missing persons report was filed by relatives with the Muse Township police station on 4 January 2017, however, no information about the fate or whereabouts of the two men has been obtained.
Photo by SHRF- Nang Khin Than Nu was injured by Burmese army air strike.

According to SHRF, the air strike took place in Pang Mark Mur village on December 26 last year. It said that Burmas Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 506 used jets to attack the village.

A bomb landed directly on the house of [villager] Lung Jeak Da, killing three men instantly, including Lung Jeak Da, and injuring two women, a 5-year-old boy, and another man. A cow was also killed, read the statement. Three bombs landed around the village monastery, injuring four monks sheltering under the temple building. Apart from the monastery, altogether 16 houses in the village were damaged by the bombing.

Mondays report said that Burmese soldiers buried the bodies of the deceased immediately upon entering the village.

The troops did not let the villagers hold a proper funeral ceremony, said the statement. The bodies were simply wrapped in mats and buried.

Sai Hor Hseng, the spokesperson for SHRF, emphasised that human rights abuses, including killings and the destruction of private property, continue to occur across Shan State, particularly in the northern region.

The government should take responsibility for these peoples losses, he said. Since this incident, there has been no report about support from the government. Only local charity groups are helping the victims, he said.

Villagers are intimidated and afraid as the Burmese army is still stationed in their village.

Sai Hor Hseng noted that Yanghee Lee, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights, is currently on an official visit to Burma, but that Shan State is not included on her itinerary.

He said that the Korean diplomats report on the human rights situation in the country will not accurately portray the abuses in Shan State.

Shan Herald has reported throughout the past month that hostilities between government armed forces and ethnic armed groups have compelled hundreds, if not thousands, of families to flee their homes.
Biggest Fashion Disasters In Bollywood That You Must See! Bollywood Wardrobe Lekhaka

We become blind when it comes to following the footsteps of our favourite Bollywood celebrities. But let's not forget the fact that even our beloved and admirable celebrities have dared to step out in the worst possible ways. They have pushed the boundaries to step out with a weird hairdo, mismatched dresses, heavy jewellery and overdone dresses.

You won't mind questioning these celebrities how and why they dared to step out like this. Even with excellent resources available, these celebrities were not able to wear a decent outfit for an event, which is actually a let down situation.

Well, check out the worst fashion disasters we saw in the history of Bollywood.

1. Sonakshi Sinha She turned up to look like a horror story while appearing for the 19th Annual Color Screen awards. With a strangely designed gown with a high thigh slit, Sonakshi ended up showing off her not so toned legs.

Image Courtesy 2. Sonam Kapoor Sonam Kapoor is the goddess of fashion, but believe me, even this fashion icon failed to impress us several times. The actress literally went wrong with this strange looking attire and overdone makeup. This frothy lime green feather dress was really not good, Sonam.

Image Courtesy 3. Rani Mukherjee We still want to adore and love her like we did in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Well, not every time she is good with her choices and this photo is enough to prove, Rani has turned into a fashion disaster. With this unflattering silver shimmery gown, Rani looked literally awkward.

Image Courtesy 4. Vidya Balan Vidya Balan is the queen of traditional dresses and we really don't expect her to go wrong with such traditional avatars. The first ever appearance of Vidya at Cannes met with lots of criticism and poor reviews. However, in spite of donning a Sabyasachi dress, Vidya failed to gracefully flaunt this attire.

Image Courtesy 5.Ekta Kapoor When we are talking about Ekta Kapoor, fashion disasters are something common. Wearing an unflattering weird gown to donning a pair of mismatched sandals, Ekta has always been there in the list. The lady needs to realize the effect of her hideous clothes in public. Well, look at this disgusting gown here.

Image Courtesy 6. Parineeti Chopra Parineeti Chopra is the next uncrowned queen in the list of fashion disasters. The lady failed to carry a matching outfit according to her body type. However, her fashion and beauty standards have risen after she lost tons of body weight. This off shoulder dress with a golden blouse as the top was a complete failure.

Image Courtesy 7. Mallika Sherawat This weird cut out black dress of Mallika was subjected to poor reviews and a lot of criticism. This weird and hideous outfit did not allow Mallika to stand high on the standards of fashion. Well, it was too revealing and appeared like a bikini stuck in between the sheer gown.

Image Courtesy 8. Kangana Ranaut Kangana Ranaut is loved for her natural beauty and curly hair. Wearing a really weird golden gown, the actress did not look any good.

Image Courtesy 9. Aishwarya Rai Even this world renowned actress could not stop showcasing her fashion disaster in front of all. Shining in a shimmery gown and a blazer, Aishwarya looked completely ungraceful. Now the point is, why did she pair her gown with a black blazer? Was it too cold Aishwarya?

Image Courtesy 10. Neha Dhupia She has been the worst of all. Neha Dhupia wore a unique outfit to a ceremony and failed hilariously. Well, this is not the first time when we saw Neha creating major fashion mistakes.

Image Courtesy
Most Heartbreaking Photos Of 2016 Life oi-Syeda Farah

They say pictures talk a million words as they are captured forever! There are many sweet pictures that people love to have, while there are those that can haunt you for a lifetime.

Here, we are about to share the list of some of the most heartbreaking photos of 2016! The year has seen many incidents that have been good as well as bad!

We bet, these images will kill you a bit inside on all the bad that has been happening around in the world.

Check out these images that have shocked the world after they were out in the social media sites and went viral! One can only say, these pictures have a great meaning and message hidden in them. Read on.

Omran Daqneesh This innocent 5-year-old boy named Omran Daqneesh was injured after being pulled out of a building hit by an airstrike in Aleppo, Syria. This heartbreaking picture was taken while the boy was in the ambulance. Kenyan Riot This picture of a police officer who was stomping a protester went viral. Apparently, the protesters were demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption in Nairobi. Polar Bear The photographer who clicked this picture believed that the polar bear had died due to starvation due to climatic changes. But the opinion of the photographer is not definitive. Udai Faisal This is a picture of an infant named 'Udai Faisal' who was hospitalised for acute malnutrition at the Al-Sabeen Hospital in Sanaa, Yemen. The kid died 2 days after the picture was clicked. Woman With A Headshave This woman got her head shaved in a temple. The offering of her hair was done in the hope of her daughter getting cured of a disease! Reshma Qureshi She is an acid attack survivor who turned into a model and walked for a fashion show at the New York Fashion Week for an Indian designer named Archana Kochhar for her show on Spring/Summer 2017 collections.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 14:16 [IST]
Unexpected Things That People Discovered In Their Backyards! Life oi-Syeda Farah

When you accidentally find some treasure, the first thing you would do is to find the history of its existence.

While exploring the backyard can be very exciting and a curious activity, what if you find something that is totally unexpected? Here are different things that people have found in their backyards, which can totally shock you once you read about them.

From finding a whole Ferrari to discovering coins that were worth 10 million, people have also found some of the most important and precious things that one could not even imagine of finding.

Check out the list of things that people have found in their backyard accidentally.

A Buried Ferrari! Two kids were playing in the backyard and they decided to dig the backyard. When they started, they did not realize that something big was in store for them! They found a Dino 246 GTS Ferrari! On investigation, it was discovered that the car was a stolen one that was buried in the yard by the thieves. Image Source $10 Million In Coins! A couple found $10 million in coins in their backyard. On a fine day, while walking their dog, the couple saw the top of a rusty canister poking out of the ground. On closer inspection, they dug up the area only to find 8 cans that contained 1427 coins, the value of which was estimated to be around $27,980! The couple decided to remain anonymous, fearing treasure hunters would rip up their land! Image Source A Bomb Shelter Found Stocked And Intact A couple in Woodland Hills, California, were not aware of a special feature in their backyard. They believed it was just a hole in the ground, but the hole turned out to be a bomb shelter! The shelter was perfectly preserved. It had aluminium foil, tissues, sleeping pills, different cans of "multi-purpose" food and eroding cans of coffee. Image Source The "Cursed Money" That Killed This Man! A man named 'Wayne Sabaj' was unemployed and while picking up broccoli from his backyard, he found $150,000 stashed in a nylon bag! He handed the bag to the police thinking it to be a case of robbery. After a few days, his 80-year-old neighbour claimed that it was her money and she wanted to get rid of it, as it was said to be "cursed" and hence had thrown it in his backyard. Since she did not want it back, the money would go to Wayne; however, it was found that he died (under shocking circumstances) 10 days before the money was awarded to him. Image Source A 1000-Year-Old Native American Remains! A homeowner was trying to dig a pond in his backyard for a landscaping project when the remains of human bones was found by him. On investigation, it was revealed that the bones were not of a recent murder, but of a 1000-year-old native American! This Treasure Trove Had Over 200 Rings & 650-Year-Old Jewels A guy from the Austrian city of Wiener Neustadt found a treasure trove in his backyard that consisted of more than 200 rings, brooches, and ornate belt buckles, which were known to be 650 years old. It also had gold-plated silver plates and other pieces or fragments of jewels encrusted with pearls, fossilized coral and other ornaments as well. He handed over the jewels to the Austrian Federal Monument Agency. Image Source World War II Bombs Found Homes in a particular area of Orlando have reported of discovering live bombs from the World War II in their backyards, as this area was once a World War II bombing region. So, people living in this area need to do a thorough check before they dig up into a live bomb!

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 23:20 [IST]
PR Newswire

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jan. 18, 2017

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- With an annual growth ranging from 6% to 10%, South East Asia's pharma industry is poised for success. CPhI SEA (Jakarta International Expo, March 22-24, 2017) serves the industry by fostering the regional discourse - Sign up today!

Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/457649/Cphl_SEA_openingceremony.jpg

What's new at CPhI SEA 2017?

Investment Forum

By invitation only, the forum matches key international players interested in investing in Indonesia with the top tier pharma companies in the country looking for reliable partners.

ASEAN -- India strategic sourcing Forum

Business networking platform for ASEAN companies -- manufacturers and distributors alike - focusing on bilateral trade with Indian counterparts.

Distributors' network

CPhI SEA has invested significantly in expanding its database of distributors in the region with the aim of magnifying the reach and make the event truly regional. All distributors have been invited to visit the event and network with peer and the exhibitors.

Conference

A sharply focused, enriched program, will cover 3 main areas:

View the full agenda here

Business Matchmaking

Following the success of last year's matchmaking program, which saw 353 pre-booked meetings taking place during the event, this year the program has been enhanced and expanded.

Roadshows

To further promote CPhI SEA as a pharma bridge in South East Asia, roadshows have been organized in several countries in partnerships with local associations and stakeholders (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam).

These features have contributed to the success of CPhI SEA, the only trade exhibition dedicated to the pharma industry in the region. Held at Jakarta International Expo during March 22-24, 2017, CPhI SEA offers unparalleled content in a highly focused conference and additional features ranging from the South East Asian distributors' forum, the packaging forum, the innovation gallery and the investment forum. View the full conference program here.

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of the change, register here and join the event and its business matchmaking program!

The CPhI series of events drives growth and innovation in the global pharmaceutical industry, with leading exhibitions and online communities covering every step of the supply chain from drug discovery to finished dosage.

More than 100,000 visitors meet over 6,000 exhibitors at events in Europe, China, India, Japan, South East Asia, Russia, Brazil, Istanbul and Korea every year to exchange ideas, form alliances and conduct business on an international scale. CPhI also provides an online buyer & supplier directory at CPhI-Online.com.

Government supporters : Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry, Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board, National Agency for Drug and Food Control

Trade and Professional Organization Supporters : Indonesian Pharmaceutical Association --GP Farmasi Indonesia, Pharma Materials Management Club -- PMMC, International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group -- IPMG, International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering -- ISPE, Indonesian Pharmacists Association --IAI

Regional Supporters: Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore (PSS), Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PReMA) --Thailand, Malaysian Association of Pharmaceutical Suppliers (more to come)

For more information contact:

Contact Person: Ivan FerrariPhone Number: +62 21 2930 5959Email: [email protected]

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SULAIMANIYA - Three days per week, a group of women gather at a sport center in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya for aerobic classes.

The aim of the sessions is not to lose weight and build stamina, but to reduce the harmful effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and to ease cancer-related fatigue.

The exercises are part of a rehabilitation program for female cancer patients at Hiwa Cancer Hospital, the only specialized cancer facility in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region.

All the women involved have undergone painful cancer treatments and some have had breasts removed. Most have suffered from tiredness and psychological distress due to the disease.

"I had both of my breasts removed," said 66-year-old cancer patient Nisreen Abdullah, who has attended the three hour-long classes each week for the last three months. She says the workouts have helped her feel much better.

"I wish that all the patients would come here to improve their health," Abdullah said.

The aerobic sessions began four years ago after an agreement between the hospital and a local gym owner, Farah Mawared. The aim was to provide physical training for cancer patients who completed chemotherapy treatment.

Since then, about 120 women have taken part in the classes, according to Mawared and Shwan Ali Tawfeeq, who works as a hematologist-oncologist at the hospital.

"Sport is very important in improving the psychological condition of the patients as many of them experience anxiety, fear and depression," Tawfeeq said.

One patient, who gave her name as Kulthum, said her right breast was removed after she was diagnosed with cancer about five years ago. She was subjected to several chemotherapy doses, she said, and underwent laser photo-radiation.

"A friend told me about this center," said Kulthum. "She advised me to go and so I did ... I really benefited a lot from these exercises."
Listening to Montanas U.S. senators talk about the Affordable Care Act, one might wonder if they really represent the same state.

Republican Steve Daines blasts the failures of the ACA for hurting his constituents and has called for repealing the law since before he ran for the Senate in 2014.

Democrat Jon Tester voted for the ACA in 2010 and wants to improve, but not repeal it, noting that it has covered Montanans who previously couldnt afford health insurance.

Not surprisingly, they split last week when voting on an odd piece of legislation  a shell budget bill designed to repeal the ACA by preventing a Senate filibuster. The 53-page bill approved by most Republicans in both Senate and House doesnt say that it will repeal the ACA, it doesnt even mention the law that was largely drafted by former Sen. Max Baucus when he chaired the Senate Finance Committee. It doesnt say what parts of the ACA would be repealed or when any repeal would take effect.

All those blanks are concerning for the 30 million Americans, including about 100,000 Montanans, who have health coverage today because of the ACA. Folks receiving subsidies to pay for their private health insurance and those who enrolled in Medicaid because the ACA pays for the states to expand coverage to all very low-income citizens should be especially concerned because Congress has yet to pass a budget that goes beyond this spring.

The ACA has helped many Americans, but certainly not all. Before the law was enacted, the individual health insurance market was a terribly expensive place to get insurance and costs were going up by double-digit percentages. The ACA made policies more easily comparable and affordable for people with income up to 400 percent of poverty. The law also made insurance affordable for people with pre-existing conditions. But many middle-class Americans havent benefitted: Premiums continue to rise and those who dont qualify for a subsidy have seen their out-of-pocket costs soar.

Why dont Congress and President-elect Donald Trump propose a way to help those for whom health coverage remains unaffordable or outrageously expensive  instead of ripping coverage away from other Americans with a hasty repeal?

Trump promised insurance for everybody with much lower deductibles in an interview Saturday with the Washington Post. Its very much formulated down to the final strokes, Trump told the Post. We havent put it in yet, but were going to be doing it soon.

So show Americans the plan. Replace the ACA, dont just repeal the law that over the past three years has invested in preventive care, trained more primary care doctors (including doctors in Montana), motivated hospitals to focus on care quality and reduced out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare enrollees.

Speaking Monday to the Montana House in Helena, Tester noted that health care is a $4 billion industry that accounts for more than 52,000 jobs in Montana. Loss of the ACA would leave Montanans uncovered, eliminate thousands of jobs and create a big hole in the state budget for indigent care.

Rural areas would feel it the most, hospitals in towns like Culbertson, Hamilton, and my home town of Big Sandy would potentially have to board up their doors, Tester said.

Nearly a decade ago, Baucus and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, then the top two members of the Senates tax-writing committee, spent more than a year holding hearings on health care reform. They disagreed on remedies but agreed on the problem in a series of detailed health-care reform papers. Baucus and Grassley noted the United States in 2008 spent 17 percent of gross domestic product on health care, which translated to higher per capita spending than any other nation. Up to a third of that spending ($800 billion a year) was waste, fraud, abuse, overcharges and spending on ineffective, incorrect or duplicative services.

If the ACA is repealed without a good replacement, America will go back to that future.
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PR Newswire

CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2017

CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Central City Productions announced today the nominees in 26 categories for the 2017 Stellar Awards. Hailed as an "epic night in gospel music," this year's Stellar Awards will return to the Las Vegas Orleans Arena on Saturday, March 25, 2017. The telecast will premiere on TV One Sunday, April 9 at 7 p.m. ET with encores at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET. In addition, the Stellar Awards will air in national broadcast syndication on 170 stations in over 150 markets around the country from April 14 - May 7, 2017.

Praise and worship breakthrough artist Travis Greene, and chart-topping soloist, Tamela Mann lead the nominations with nine each. Greene is having an amazing year, in the running for both Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year, for his work on The Hill (RCA Inspiration). This inspirational psalmist is also nominated for CD of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year, and Praise and Worship CD of the Year.

Gospel superstar Tamela Mann joins Greene on the Stellar Awards nominee leader board, nominated this year for Artist of the Year, Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year, and she is also competing for CD of the Year, Producer of the Year, Song of the Year, and Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year.

With seven and six nominations respectively, veterans Hezekiah Walker and Kirk Franklin demonstrate their staying power in gospel music, recognized for Male Vocalist of the Year, Choir of the Year, Contemporary Choir of the Year and Contemporary Male of the Year for their projects Azusa The Next Generation 2: Better (Walker/EOne Music) and Losing My Religion (Franklin/RCA Records). Franklin also receives a nod for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, CD of the Year, Producer of the Year and Contemporary CD of the Year.

Jekalyn Carr, nominated for Artist of the Year, and Todd Dulaney are in contention for Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year and Contemporary CD of the Year. Other artists earning multiple nominations include newcomers, Bri (Brianna Babineaux), Livre', Enon Tabernacle and living legend Shirley Caesar. For more information visit www.thestellarawards.com and to view the complete list of nominees click here.

Multiple Stellar Awards and Grammy Award-winning solo artist, nationally-syndicated radio host and television personality Erica Campbell joins multiple Stellar Award winner, songwriter and arranger Anthony Brown to co-host the 32nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

Don Jackson, Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, Inc. commented, "Our 2017 nominees represent the strongest group of Gospel artists and songs in our 32-year history of the Stellar Awards. This year's large number of artists who are first-time nominees is a positive testament to the new and upcoming artists in Gospel Music, as well as, a reflection of the tremendous growth of the Gospel Music Genre."

Mr. Jackson further stated, "The announcement of the 2017 nominees corresponds with the launch of www.stellartv.com, the first phase of the Stellar TV Cable Television Network, which will be officially introduced during the taping at the 32nd Annual Stellar Awards on March 25, 2017."

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show is scheduled for Friday, March 24 to showcase non-televised award winners. Also, the Stellar Gospel Radio Awards & Showcase will be held on Saturday, March 25, honoring top radio stations and announcers serving urban gospel music audiences. The Stellar Awards show taping is open to the public, with ticket prices ranging from $50 - $200 and tickets for each event can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.

About Central City Productions (CCP)The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson, with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Executive in Charge of Production. Michael Johnson will direct this year's award show. Erma Gray Davis is the President and Chief Operations Officer of Central City Productions. Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. is a distributor of original targeted programming to television and cable networks. CCP's award- winning television programs include the Black Music Honors, Stellar Tribute to the Holidays and Tribute to Mother's Day, The Black College Quiz Show Series, Hispanic College Quiz, among many others. For more information, please visit www.ccptv.com.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/StellarAwards Twitter: www.twitter.com/thestellars Instagram: www.instagram.com/thestellars

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Many Americans benefit from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau daily, yet its importance is not widely known. Since the election, the CFPB has taken on a company that cheated victims of lead-paint poisoning out of their settlements and four pawnbrokers who deceived consumers about the actual cost of their loans. They also stopped a payday lender from illegally taking money out of customers bank accounts without permission, and forced companies to stop advertising  falsely  that consumers could not lose their homes as a result of taking out reverse mortgages.

This is pretty typical for the CFPB, which was created by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. There is real danger that it could be among the last of its kind. Congress has announced its intention to step up attacks on the bureau, to keep it from doing its job. Thats a disturbing thought, given recent history. While enforcement of individual cases of fraud and deceit are important, they are only part of the overarching mission of the agency, which is to both make financial markets safer for individual consumers and to keep dicey financial products like subprime mortgages from infecting and endangering the economy. The Wall Street Reform Act was designed to un-rig the financial system, and the CFPB plays a significant role in that effort.

However, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, of Texas, chair of a congressional committee that oversees the bureau, wants it dismantled. He seeks to undermine the bureaus effectiveness and to gut much of the law put in place to help prevent the next financial crisis. If Wall Street interests and their politician friends get their way, this agency will be powerless to stop financial firms and predatory lenders from stealing our money. It will also be harder to stop their tricks, traps and schemes, from predatory payday lending to the creation of fake bank accounts.

The CFPB under its Director Richard Cordray has been successful in bypassing corporate special interests and directly serving the American people. Its obvious that they are doing something right, even the defenders of payday lenders and Wall Street scams are afraid to say they want to scrap the agency entirely. Instead, they want to change its leadership, structure or funding so it can no longer be effective.

As currently designed, the CFPB is protected from politics because it isnt congressionally funded, bankers and their friends want to change that. Their new bill S.105, introduced into the Senate, proposes that the agency be headed by a five-person commission, rather than a single director. As anyone who has ever seen governance by commission  read committee  knows, this is an attempt to keep the agency from actually accomplishing anything.

Efforts to gut the CFPB have been happening practically since its inception, and with a new president, some of Washingtons most notorious inside players think they have a shot at finishing the job. If theyre right, we will see a terrible example of what some voters thought they were voting against: bankers back in the drivers seat, with the rest of us left to dig out from under the rubble they are allowed to create.

To ensure its survival as an effective watchdog, we must create wider public awareness of the bureaus mission and the work it has done. Last October, more than 500 Montanans submitted public comments to the CFPB calling on the bureau to strengthen its proposed rule on payday and other high cost lenders, which have been regulated in the state since 2010. Thirty-one churches, synagogues, unions, consumer advocates, community organizations, and others submitted comments. Twenty Montana legislators submitted a letter in support of a stronger CFPB ruling in defense of the protections won by Montana voters. Strong rulings by the CFPB regulate the financial industry and help us hold financial predators accountable.
Last summer, the Authorize Community Transformation Coalition was formed to support legislation that authorizes communities to vote on whether they want to enact a local option tax, a funding tool for local economic development.

Our ACT Coalition set about organizing round-table discussions around the state to gather input and feedback on the local option concept. The conversations helped us to formulate a strategy and engage in an educational discussion that brought awareness of local option to many Montanans. It was not uncommon to leave a round-table discussion, having heard people discussing ways to improve their community, and often asking, Why arent we using this tool already?

Legislators have a difficult task in attempting to balance state needs with increasing demands for fixing the states crumbling infrastructure. The ACT Coalition is committed to working with the Legislature to pass the approval authority to local communities where it belongs. We are working in collaboration with the Montana Infrastructure Coalition to unite behind one bill. While there are minor changes from our original provisions, our mission of authorizing community transformation remains.

Debate on the local option should focus on what it is: the delegation of decision-making from Helena to communities ready to transform themselves. The legislation we are supporting does not require any communities to use the local option. Rather, it simply provides every Montana city and county with a fiscally conservative funding mechanism to raise revenues for community infrastructure needs. Specifically, it provides limits such as:

Maximum 4 percent tax rate.

Minimum 10 percent property tax relief.

Requires a sunset date for the tax to end.

The ultimate decision of enacting the tax, or not, is left with local voters, empowering each of our communities to decide for themselves.

The legislation ACT supports is not a broad, statewide sales tax. The wiser, more equitable solution to the problem of inadequate funding for economic development is a local option infrastructure tax, which ensures tax revenue raised in the locality stays in the locality. Beyond that, there are three additional reasons why I believe every voter and legislator should support local option. First, local voters know their needs best.

Second, local option is limited in scope and incentivizes government efficiency, trust, and transparency. Because local voters must vote to enact the local option for a limited duration, local governments must prove they can properly administer and use tax revenues within the bounds of the voters approval. If not, the voters will not enact another local option in the future to fund other projects.

Third, property owners will get tax relief. Not only does the proposal for a local option include a provision dedicating revenue to property owners, the existence of a funding mechanism besides property taxes means there is inherent property tax relief simply by utilizing the local option. Tourists and visitors would shoulder part of the burden of funding local community infrastructure projects.

We are two steps away from utilizing local option. The first step is passing authorizing legislation in the 2017 session that allows communities to take the second step and decide for themselves whether they want to enact local option. Legislators would not be enacting a tax, they would simply give voters the option to vote yes or no on funding for well-defined critical infrastructure.

We have been traveling the state, presenting the facts on local option and educating communities on the potential benefits of enactment. Our educational campaign also has reached a large online audience, with the ACTmt.org website averaging approximately 1,000 page views per month.

Once the local option concept is passed by the Legislature, we must continue to inform and demonstrate the outpouring of support (as demonstrated by 69 percent of Montanans in favor of a local option tax, according to a 2015 Montana Chamber of Commerce survey) for local option across the state, to gain the governor's support.

We welcome and encourage a healthy debate about the specific provisions of local option. I believe after the debate the legislature and governor will trust local voters to decide what is best for our communities.
CODY, Wyo.  A Cody business is on track to become Wyoming's first federally licensed and inspected slaughterhouse.

The Cody Enterprise reported Monday that Wyoming Legacy Meats is working to attain licensing through the United States Department of Agriculture, a move that will allow the brand to sell Wyoming beef to markets beyond state borders.

Cody orthopedic surgeon Dr. Frank Schmidt purchased the former Cody Meat slaughterhouse in September and rebranded it as Wyoming Legacy Meats. Wyoming Legacy Meats spokeswoman Virginia Schmidt, Frank Schmidt's daughter, said the company plans to partner with ranches across the state.

The company hopes to operate a USDA facility by April, though the process could take longer.
CHEYENNE, Wyo.  New rules against burning off excess natural gas from oil and gas wells on public land are taking effect after a federal judge refused to block them pending the outcome of a lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl in Casper ruled Monday he can't immediately conclude the Interior Department overstepped its authority with the rules requiring gas to be captured rather than flared.

The rules seek to reduce air pollution and gas waste. They took effect Tuesday but Skavdahl points out certain provisions aren't effective for another year.

Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and two petroleum-industry groups wanted the rules blocked immediately, saying in a lawsuit they exceed Interior's proper authority.

Environmentalists praised the decision while the Western Energy Alliance said it's confident the states and industry will prevail in court.
CHEYENNE - Ten lawmakers are sponsoring a bill that offers early retirement to state and University of Wyoming employees as state leaders look to save money in the face of a large budget shortfall.

Nearly 2,000 employees would qualify for early retirement under Senate File 95. Workers would qualify based on a formula that considers their age and years of service, said Sen. Curt Meier, R-LaGrange, the legislations primary sponsor.

There are just under 8,000 employees who work for the state of Wyoming. At the University of Wyoming, there are 3,000 employees.

Lawmakers are grappling with an estimated $400 million shortfall in the current two-year, $3 billion budget cycle. Gov. Matt Mead made $250 million in cuts last summer, leaving the Wyoming Legislature with about $150 million to either cut or use savings to fill.

I dont want to give people pink slips, Meier said. If we need to make some reductions, we should give the executive (branch) some options.

SF95 would go into effect immediately if it becomes law. Employees could notify their superiors and the Wyoming Retirement System they want to leave as soon as April 1. People can retire through June 30, 2019.

The measure will cost the state up front, but over the long term, money would be saved, Meier said.

The state would have to pay out unused vacation and sick time. Employees age 61 and older would be given a bonus of three months of their salaries. And the state would make monthly payments of 20 percent of an employees salary until age 62 for some state and UW employees. The state would make monthly health insurance payments until a retiree is 65.

In the fiscal year that begins June 1, the state would have to pay out an estimated $41 million to retirees. Over the following two years, Wyoming would have to pay $34.4 million.

But since there will be fewer salaries to pay, the nonpartisan legislative staff has estimated $56 million in savings for the year beginning June 1. Nearly $108 million will be saved over the following two years.

SF95 was filed and made public Monday. The Wyoming Public Employees Association, a group that represents state employees, hasnt yet taken a position on the new legislation, said Betty Jo Beardsley, the groups executive director.

UW Vice President Chris Boswell noted the school is currently putting together an early retirement program for faculty, likely to be rolled out this spring, as an effort to save money.

Well be interested to see how this might dovetail with existing UW early separation incentives underway right now, he said.

The bill allows agencies to rehire new people to make up for a loss of retired employees. The number of employees an agency can hire is based on its size.

The idea, Meier said, is to obtain new labor for lower wages. Although if employees take early retirement, they are eligible to be rehired, but not in the same position that they held before they left. For instance, a professor at the UW could be hired back in another position, such as an administrator, he said.

The cost to hire new people has been factored in the Legislation.

Meier said SF95 is based on a similar law enacted in the 1990s, when the state experienced a steep decline in energy revenue. But the 1990s law did not take into consideration new hires.

If you look at (SF95) you do actually save money, he said. That was one of the problems with the bill in the '90s, it didnt have a provision to not hire some of the people back. At the end of the day, in about three years, most people were hired back and it cost the state money.

Meier said a lot of institutional knowledge will be lost if longtime employees leave state employment.

The negative thing is were going to have a brain drain, Meier said.

In addition to Meier, sponsors include Sens. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower; Stephan Pappas, R-Cheyenne; Drew Perkins, R-Casper; and Reps. Bill Haley, R-Centennial; Hans Hunt, R-Newcastle; Mark Jennings, R-Sheridan; David Miller, R-Riverton; Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle; and Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne.
Bismarck Public Schools held its first of three community meetings Tuesday at Wachter Middle School on the district's proposed $57.5 million bond to expand and renovate middle and high school space.

About 50 people  including Bismarck School Board members, school administrators and local architects  attended the public forum to answer questions related to the bond and student growth.

By 2021-22, Bismarck Public Schools is expected to gain 1,900 students, with 740 at the middle schools alone.

Wachter, built for 900 students, is projected to be at 1,100 in the next few years. The bond would support additional music space, handicapped accessibility in the school's office area, more physical education space and two classroom wings in a two-story addition.

Michelle and Ron Henke, who live about three miles east of the school, have a seventh grade son at Wachter Middle School, and next year their twins will attend the school.

Our oldest is 13; I always thought he was going to be just a number. But he loves it here ... I do think if it got to be 1,200 kids with no expansion  it would be a lot of kids. Really congested," Michelle Henke said.

The district's proposal includes a $12.3 million, two-level addition to Simle Middle School, $10.7 million would go toward repairs and academic space at Wachter Middle School, and $7.4 million for music and physical education space at Horizon Middle School.

Likewise, the district is seeking money for two high schools $14.1 million for a new auditorium and gym floor at Bismarck High School and $13 million for more classrooms at Century High School to get rid of its six portable classrooms.

The district would receive about $20 million from the North Dakota School Construction Loan program from the Bank of North Dakota.

The bond has been placed on the March 7 special election ballot. Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all Bismarck schools, which will serve as polling places.

Business and Operations Manager Darin Scherr said early voting will start Friday at Hughes Education Center.

The next informational meeting will be held at Horizon Middle School from 7 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 19. The Jan. 24 meeting will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. at Simle Middle School.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Donald Trumps hostility to trade has understandably worried many of Manitobas agriculture producers, in an industry where cross-border co-operation is paramount.

Leaders in this provinces government arent shrugging aside those concerns entirely, but they argue the next president of the United States wont turn his back on a mutually beneficial relationship.

I would encourage him to understand that we arent so much, in Canada, competitors of the United States as we are people here who build things with Americans, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister told The Brandon Sun after his opening address at Manitoba Ag Days yesterday. We are partners. And because were partners, it would be very wrong to take an isolationist position going forward.

Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Jace Kurmann-Loewen plays on a 1948 tractor in the shadow of modern versions at the Manitoba Ag Days exposition at the Keystone Centre on Tuesday afternoon.

After Trump is sworn as the United States 45th president Friday, Pallister said his office intends to have open lines of communication with Trumps staff, if possible.

Pallisters pitch is clear: Partnerships work better than isolationism, he said.

Manitobas agriculture minister, Ralph Eichler, is hopeful the president-elect will be swayed by smart, influential voices.

We have a feeling that theres some strong people out there that are well-connected with the president-elect, and hopefully hell listen to them and give them his ear, Eichler told the media.

The agriculture minister, who attended a meeting of industry minds earlier this month in Louisiana, said Trumps presidency isnt making him sweat  at least, not yet.

Im not overly concerned at this point; well be able to tell more in a couple weeks (once we find out) who the secretary of agriculture will be, he said.

When asked if the fiercely protectionist base that helped get Trump elected will persuade the new president to make the same argument, Eichler suggests theyll be overruled.

I think that Trump is a very educated man in his own way and hes one that may need to listen a little more than he talks, Eichler said. Lets make sure that we listen, and lets hope Mr. Trump listens, too.

Both Pallister and Eichler spoke at Ag Days yesterday afternoon, which has transformed the entire Keystone Centre  all 540,000 square feet of it  into the largest indoor agriculture show in the country.

Pallister told the gathered crowd, many of whom work in agriculture, that hes up to the challenge of representing every farmer in the province.

He called agriculture a foundational industry he will defend while cutting back on the expenses racked up by the former NDP government.

In a news release, the province announced Manitobas soon-to-be-revealed green plan would include an overall water management strategy.

Afterwards, when asked about the massive assessment hikes that shocked farmers last year, Pallister said the province must first get government spending under control.

Relief at this point would be, addressing, first and foremost the $3 million every day that we spend more than we bring in.

Id say thats step one. I dont want to be the kind of politician that starts making promises to people about their lower taxes when, in fact, we havent addressed that unfairness.

Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Premier Brian Pallister playfully chokes Finance Minister Cameron Friesen during a group picture while touring Manitoba Ag Days after a caucus meeting at the Keystone Centre on Tuesday. From left: Rossmere Progressive Conservative MLA Andrew Micklefield, Friesen, Pallister, Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest and Crown Services Minister Ron Schuler.

He also brought up the matter of over-taxation in referring to a possible carbon tax. The Progressive Conservatives have vowed to develop their own carbon pricing system, but any specifics have not been offered.

He did say that Manitobans already feel taxed to the max.

Pallister said there might be some interesting announcements in the not to distant future in respect to the hog industry.

Existing processing plants are not running at capacity due to restraints imposed years ago on building new hog barns and expanding existing ones. Those regulations were loosened by the NDP in 2015, but fierce public opposition is still in place, which recently stopped a hog barn from being built in the RM of Oakview.

For future hog barn applications, Pallister said his government intends to make regulations fairer.

Pallister also mentioned fairness in discussing night hunting, which his government pledged to eliminate in the last election campaign.

Eliminating the practice would be at odds with some indigenous groups.

There are many people in the indigenous community Ive spoken with who are profoundly opposed to night hunting, others who feel it is a right and should be respected as a right  but no right is absolute, Pallister said.

Yesterday, Pallister told the crowd he would make an announcement today about a value-added industry. A provincial media notice, after his speech, said the province will make a significant investment in (the) provinces agricultural future at the Manitoba legislature in Winnipeg. Executives from Roquette, a global company specializing in food ingredients and pharmaceutical excipients, will be present.

 ifroese@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ianfroese
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/01/2017 (2117 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The increased enforcement of night hunting last year resulted in more criminal charges and property seizures, the province announced yesterday.

In 2016, Manitoba conservation officers laid 49 night hunting and dangerous hunting charges that will be prosecuted in the legal system, and they seized 14 vehicles and 44 long-barrel rifles.

These totals are a large increase from 2015, when 25 night hunting and zero night hunting charges were pursued through the courts. Only five vehicles were confiscated that year.

Reports of incidences of night hunting and dangerous hunting have increased, along with public complaints of hunting on private land without permission and hunting from the road, Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox said. Our enforcement efforts, including blitzes, air surveillance and decoy operations, have also increased as we aim to protect the safety of the public, increase vulnerable wildlife populations and educate Manitobans of the dangers of unsafe hunting.

The minister reiterated the practice of spotlighting  pointing artificial light in the eyes of big game at night to stop them in their tracks  is illegal from a numbered provincial road and any vehicle. Night hunting is permitted for indigenous hunters on Crown lands or private lands where they received permission.

She pointed out the governments commitment to combat dangerous hunting included an October enforcement blitz in eastern Manitoba. Eight hunters and four vehicles, as well as various weapons and hunting equipment, were taken in an effort to stop illegal moose hunting.

Manitoba conservation officers received 245 reports of night hunting or dangerous hunting in 2016, a further 164 reports of hunting on private land without permission and nine reports of hunting in a conservation closure area.

In 2016, the public complaint phone line, Turn in Poachers, received 142 calls.

Tips from the public and the work of conservation officers are essential to a continued crackdown of prohibited hunting practices, Cox said.

She announced a public awareness campaign and formal consultations with interested parties, discussing what can be done to ensure public safety, will be launched in early 2017. Heightened enforcement efforts will continue.

In the fall, a 24-year-old man from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation was fatally shot when he was wounded by a gunshot fired from a member of his hunting party.

 The Brandon Sun
A snow emergency disaster declaration signed Jan. 11 by the Burleigh County Commission's chairman is expected to be ratified at 5 p.m. today at the City/County Building in Bismarck.

"At this point, we spent $1.2 million on contractors. It has dramatically hit our reserves," Marcus Hall, county engineer, said of snow removal efforts. "It wiped us out. Any additional work will require general funds or state emergency funds."

Hall reported the county had hired nine contractors, utilizing 10 to 15 bulldozers, to help with snow removal with work expected to be ongoing through next week. Those increased costs, including overtime for county workers since early December, "have wiped out our cash reserves," he said.

"We are looking for assistance from the state in emergency funding. The only way we can apply for state funds is by declaring a state of emergency," said Jerry Woodcox, Burleigh County Commission's chairman.

"The ditches are so full of snow. Every time the wind picks up, it blows it back into the roads and it starts drifting. In the spring, we could see overland flooding, if the culverts are plugged and the water backs up. That's another problem," he said.

Morton County and Mandan also have declared snow emergencies.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With thousands of farmers, politicians and agricultural business people in Brandon this week for the 40th annual Manitoba Ag Days event at the Keystone Centre, we have to commend the citys administration for some smart self-promotion.

On Monday, the city announced a pledge of $25,000 to help a recently formed organization called the Westman Opportunities Leadership Group attract a multimillion-dollar soybean processing plant to the region.

WOLG, a volunteer group made up of regional farm, business and civic leaders, formed in late 2016, is studying the feasibility of building a soybean-crushing plant in western Manitoba that could crush 5,000 tonnes per day. The group partnered with the Brandon Economic Development Corporation, with preliminary work on a detailed work plan to be completed by the end of the month.

Its a good plan for this region  soybeans are Manitobas third-largest crop and growing. As we reported yesterday, while the growth of Canadian soybean production from 2004 to 2014 has doubled, Manitoba has experienced a six-fold increase, from 1.1 per cent of the countrys soybean crop in 2005, to a 15 per cent share 10 years later.

And while the Red River Valley region remains a force in soybean crop production, western Manitoba and Saskatchewan have witnessed remarkable production growth. Consistently strong prices over the years, coupled with favourable growing conditions here on the Prairies, have helped spur that growth among producers.

The groups endeavours also follow a 2015 report by the Manitoba government that determined Manitoba has sufficient soybean acreage, production and market demand to support a soybean crush in the province.

If a facility was constructed in Manitoba it would give our producers another marketing option for their beans and encourage more value-added processing within the province, said the provinces crop production adviser in a government press release.

If built, it would also support creation of local jobs.

That earlier study concluded that a switch crush plant in Manitoba would bring many benefits for agriculture, including local market access for growers who could avoid unreliable rail freight and providing a local protein feed source for livestock farmers.

The provincial economy as a whole would also benefit in the form of increased tax income for government, and overall economic spinoff generated by facility construction and job creation, it read.

Preliminary figures estimate pre-tax benefits at approximately $190 million annually.

Its no wonder, of course, that Brandon is looking to capitalize, and help bring such a large economic opportunity to their doorstep.

The nearby Maple Leaf hog plant and the accompanying hog barns in the region that feed the facility certainly add to the argument that western Manitoba is a good fit  soybean meal is also used for livestock feed.

In a Sun editorial a few years ago, back when the NDP was still in power, we suggested that other provinces and communities are in a fierce battle to attract the same businesses and manufacturing plants as the Wheat City. And in far too many cases, western Manitoba and Brandon alike were losing those fights.

After a flaxseed plant in the Westman town of Angusville that was owned by Glanbia Nutritionals Ingredient Technologies burned down, the company later announced it would build a new facility in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The provincial government dropped the ball on that file, and could have done more to persuade the company to rebuild the facility in Manitoba.

So too with the $100-million canola crushing plant that James Richardson International was looking to build back in 2007. Brandon and Portage la Prairie were two of five communities that had been shortlisted as possible sites for the canola plan, but ultimately the company decided to locate the plant in Yorkton, Sask.

And so we have another opportunity to improve our local agricultural production. Hopefully Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, who was in Brandon yesterday for Ag Days and to hold a caucus meeting, took note of these local efforts and will help throw his support behind them.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As Canadians, weve actually seen this troubling picture before. It was back in the summer of 1971, when the Republican administration of Richard Nixon imposed a 10 per cent special surcharge on all (non-resource) imports entering the United States. It became known in Canada as the Nixon shocks.

Not surprisingly, this development sent enormous shock waves throughout official Ottawa. Many in the Pierre Elliott Trudeau government assumed it must have been an oversight or a mistake by an ill-informed Nixon White House.

There was talk of massive job losses in Canada, the need for government programs to assist the unemployed, and it stood as a stark reminder Ottawas special relationship with Washington had run its course.

Canadian officials were subsequently dispatched to Washington to set their U.S. counterparts straight. There was a general consensus among the delegation that once the Americans were briefed on the importance and integrative nature of the two economies, the Nixon administration would come to its senses and swiftly exempt Canada (as it had done in the past) from this punitive measure.

What they discovered, to their horror, was Canada was targeted specifically by official Washington. U.S. officials were apparently angry about a one-sided Canada-U.S. autopact, unwelcome noises about placing restrictions on U.S. investment in Canada and a growing bilateral trade deficit.

The big brains in the Trudeau government were at a loss as to how to get the Americans to cancel the surcharge.

Any thoughts of retaliation against the U.S. were seen as dangerously counterproductive and promptly dispensed with. Diplomacy (at both the bilateral and multilateral levels) would be the order of the day  and especially working closely with our European friends to plead our collective case.

As it turned out, former president Nixon relented, largely because of Japanese currency alignment, European pressure and an improving U.S. balance of payments situation, and scrapped the measure in December 1971.

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces the ominous prospect of another Republican president, Donald Trump, embracing Buy America provisions, dismantling NAFTA and imposing a 20 per cent border adjustment tax on Canadian imports.

The fulfilment of any one of these moves would be very bad news indeed for Canada.

Of course, Canadians are well aware of the stakes here: we export roughly 75 per cent of everything we produce to the U.S. marketplace. It is the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world. Indeed, the U.S. market comprises something like 16 per cent of Canadas overall GDP and Canada-U.S. trade amounts to $2.5 billion a day.

Moreover, millions of Canadian jobs depend on commercial access to the United States. As the automotive sector amply demonstrates, the two economies are highly integrated. (It is often said car parts move across the border seven times before the vehicle is finally assembled.)

Because of this economic dependence, though, a Trump border tax would inflict serious harm on the Canadian economy. We should not kid ourselves this time around that an exemption or quick fix for Canada is in the cards. It wont be.

So if president-elect Trump does move to implement a border tax, the Liberal government will need to say firmly to our U.S. friends restricting Canadian imports hurts U.S. subsidiaries operating in Canada, makes it more difficult for struggling Canadian companies to purchase U.S. products, and that we have only a small trade surplus with the U.S.

We should also not be shy about reminding U.S. officials Canada is the top trading partner for some 37 U.S. states  a number of which voted for Trump in November.

Diplomatically speaking, Canada will have to work in concert with other like-minded countries within multilateral forums to push back against the border measure. More important, Ottawa will have to use our embassy in Washington to strenuously lobby senior officials in the Trump White House, members of Congress (particularly key committee chairs), state governors and friendly U.S. business interests (such as those in the auto parts sector).

Simply put, we will have to inform the Trump team the scope of convergence between the two economies means punishing Canada with a border tax is tantamount to cutting off your nose to spite your face.

We all need to realize were now in a much different political universe than the one in the early 1970s. And, I have to admit, its hard to know what strategy, if any, would work with such a blinkered and unpredictable Trump presidency.

 Peter McKenna is professor and chair of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. His article was also recently published by the Winnipeg Free Press.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/01/2017 (2116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Conservatives busy cleaning up NDP mess

As a regular reader of Sound Off, it has become laughable how the NDP faithful keep complaining about our premiers vacation plans. I have no doubt that Mr. Pallister can make better decisions while away on vacation than the NDP under Selinger could while still in the legislature. The NDP had many, many years in power and all they accomplished was to run up a huge debt that our children will have to pay for for the rest of their lives in the form of higher taxes. Maybe some tough intelligent decision-making instead of just handing out money to anyone who asks would have made more sense. It must have been very easy to simply say yes to everything asked of them with no thought of what the consequences would be. Now the Conservatives are faced with having to cut back spending so that our children at least have a chance of getting ahead. Some very tough and unpopular decisions are going to have to be to made to accomplish this. I suggest they start with unions and civil servants.

Pallister is paying for his own vacation

At least Mr. Pallister is paying for his vacation out of his own pocket, as it should be. Guess who is paying for Mr. Trudeau to travel across Canada and around the world on his seemingly endless vacations since taking office? The Liberals have once again shown their arrogance and sense of entitlement by helping themselves and making sure Quebec comes first and Ontario comes second and everyone else comes last. Are we really this stupid? And have we all forgotten about the corruption of the Chretien Liberals that the Conservatives were asked by voters to clean up? Why would anyone think Justin Trudeau would be any different? Shame on us for voting them in to power.

Get your manure spreaders ready

I just watched Mr. Trump in his first news press conference and I think any manufacturers of manure spreaders should have a big smile on their face.

Like father, like son?

Canadian farmers may be in for a rough four years. Pierre Trudeau was no great champion or friend of Canadian agriculture and Justin may be just like him. I well remember the 60s when farmers had bins full of grain but couldnt even pay their hydro bills. If this guy is anything like his father God help the farmers because Justin sure as heck wont.
One of the latest pieces of legislation introduced in response to the months of Dakota Access Pipeline protests would fine individuals for not leaving an area after a law enforcement order to vacate is given.

Areas that officers would be able to order people to leave would be private or public property as well as areas deemed dangerous due to being environmentally sensitive, according to Sen. Dick Dever, R-Bismarck, prime bill sponsor for Senate Bill 2246. An area thats deemed environmentally sensitive might be prone to flooding, a blizzard or other severe weather hazard.

What caused me to think about it was several years ago we made it a $250 fine to drive around a barricade in a blizzard, Dever said of highway barricades that are put in place when highways or interstates are closed.

Dever said people who drive through barricades not only put themselves at risk but anyone, such as law enforcement, who must come to their aid.

The fine in Devers bill is listed as $5,000 per violation per person. In speaking with other lawmakers, he said that number would likely in committee be drawn down considerably since its higher than any current level of fine for a misdemeanor in state statute.

Dever said how SB2246 would be enforced would likely be hashed out in a committee hearing.

He said the immediate target of SB2246 is the potential flood danger in southern Morton County where Dakota Access Pipeline protesters are camping in several locations near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes reservation border. However, he said it would be applicable statewide.

Former Gov. Jack Dalrymple in late November issued a mandatory evacuation order directed at Dakota Access Pipeline protesters camping on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land. The proclamation outlined the area isnt safe for winter dwelling. He said the corps land is also in an area where the river has a history of backing up by ice jams in the winter and flooding in the spring.

The corps, prior to the governors proclamation, had ordered protesters to vacate federal land by Dec. 5; hundreds still remain at the protest camps in opposition to the four-state, $3.8 billion project.

SB2246, if passed, would become effective March 1, coinciding with a deadline Gov. Doug Burgum called for to have protesters clean up the camps and vacate the area for safety reasons.

Due to more than 55 inches of snow having fallen in the Bismarck-Mandan area this winter, the possibility of flooding is expected to be heightened in the floodplain area, which includes corps land and private land, where protesters are camping.

That floods going to be a serious situation if anyones caught in it, Dever said.

Recent Tribune reports have detailed a split between those who still remain at the camps. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Dave Archambault II has asked people to go home or move to a location on Cannon Ball for a winter camp. While some have begun cleanup efforts at the camp in recent days to ensure they dont leave a mess behind, others have vowed to stay.

Mike Nowatzki, spokesman for Gov. Doug Burgum, said the governor hasnt yet seen SB2246 and had no comment on that piece of legislation.

He said the governor applauds the recent calls by Archambault to have people leave the area.

Hes continuing to work with the corps and other federal officials to work toward getting the camp vacated before spring flooding, Nowatzki said.
Farmers who had a poor harvest last year are calling on the Government to make subsidies available to make up for lost income.

The Irish Farmers' Association is marching on Leinster House this afternoon, calling for a crisis fund to be set up for affected tillage farmers.
The Communications Minister Denis Naughten has asked the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to carry out a review of a proposed media merger being led by Denis O'Brien.

The businessman's company Independent News and Media is attempting to acquire the Celtic Media Group.
Theresa May has accused Jeremy Corbyn of "not having a clue" over Brexit as she faced pressure to reveal if Britain will pay for single market access.

The British Prime Minister refused to be drawn on whether payments would be required after the UK withdraws from the bloc despite Labour leader Mr Corbyn repeatedly raising the issue.

Mrs May was forced to defend her 12-point Brexit plan as the pair clashed at Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Corbyn criticised Mrs May for delivering her key Brexit speech away from the Commons, telling MPs: "Restoring parliamentary democracy while sidelining Parliament?

"It's not so much the Iron Lady as the Irony Lady."

He urged Mrs May to "stop her threat of a bargain basement Brexit, a low-paid tax haven on the shores of Europe".

Mr Corbyn said: "It won't necessarily damage the EU but it would certainly damage this country."

He claimed Mrs May "demeans herself and her office and our country's standing" by making these "threats".

The PM replied: "What I set out yesterday was a plan for a global Britain bringing prosperity to this country and jobs to people and spreading economic growth across this country."

Mrs May said people had learnt more about Mr Corbyn's thinking: "What he said was the following: 'She has said leave the single market, then at the same time says she wants to have access to the single market. I'm not quite sure how that's going to go down in Europe. I think we have to have a deal that ensures we have access to the market'.

"I've got a plan, he does not have a clue."

Mr Corbyn later sought to press Mrs May over the potential cost of accessing the European single market post-Brexit.

He said: "The Prime Minister said something about frictionless access to the single market and a bespoke customs union deal.

"Could the Prime Minister give us a little bit of certainty and clarity about this. Has she ruled out paying any kind of access fee to achieve access to what she describes as a frictionless market?"

Mrs May replied: "Access to the single market is exactly what I was talking about yesterday in my speech.

"One of the key principles, key objectives, is that we negotiate a free trade agreement with the European Union that gives us the widest possible access for trading with and operating within the European Union.

"He talks about frictionless access - this was actually a separate point, which is about frictionless borders in relation to the customs issue."

Mrs May said this is important for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, reiterating the desire to ensure the "best possible arrangement that does not lead to a borders of the past for Northern Ireland".

Mr Corbyn, highlighting the unanswered question, noted: "The question was would we have to pay for access to the market or not?

"The Prime Minister has not given an answer on that."

Mrs May repeated her desire for Britain to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU which offers the "best possible access" for both UK and European businesses.

She also told Mr Corbyn: "It's about sitting down and negotiating the best possible deal for the United Kingdom."

The Labour leader pressed again on the issue, telling Mrs May: "The question was how much we're going to have to pay to have access to the market - still no answer."

The Prime Minister also defended British Parliament's role in scrutinising the Brexit plan, under pressure from Tory Europhile Ken Clarke.

Mrs May told MPs: "Yesterday the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union came and, I think, spent two hours answering questions from Members in this House.

"There is a further debate, a general debate, on exiting the European Union matters taking place today.

"There have been a number of these debates already, looking at the issues that are part of the objectives that we have set.

"We will have to consider the result of the decision of the Supreme Court, which may, if it goes against the Government, require legislation to be brought before this House.

"There will be an opportunity in the Great Repeal Bill to look at a number of issues around exiting the EU.

"But as to voting on the actual deal that we have, we can't vote on that until we know what the deal is.

"That's why I said yesterday Parliament will have a vote, when we know what that deal is."

The British Government has resisted calls to put its Brexit strategy into a White Paper, a stance that Mrs May also took in the Commons.

In her speech on Tuesday Mrs May did confirm that Parliament would get to vote on the final EU withdrawal deal.

Former chancellor Mr Clarke had asked Mrs May: "The Prime Minister did yesterday confirm her commitment to parliamentary democracy, therefore I assume accepts the longstanding convention that the executive, the Government, is continuously accountable to this House for the policies that it is pursuing.

"Could she therefore clarify whether or not she intends to make any further statements of policy intentions to this House, and whether she anticipates this House having an opportunity to vote its approval for those policies earlier than two years away, when the whole negotiation has been completed?"
An inter-governmental economic organisation could help tackle tax evasion across the Irish border following Brexit, the UK's Treasury has suggested.

The UK's only land border with an EU state is in Northern Ireland. Without the European institutions, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) could help facilitate dialogue with the Republic of Ireland.

The DUP claims international criminal gangs could take advantage of Brexit.

East Derry MP Gregory Campbell added: "My concern is that when we get to the point in two or two-and-a-half years' time when one state, Northern Ireland, is outside and the Republic of Ireland will still be in it, will there be other further or greater scope for tax evasion?

"Will a multi-million pound industry which has grown up through the Troubles be exacerbated by international criminal gangs using the border?

"HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs) needs to be aware of the real possibility that that could happen and outline what their steps are that they intend to take to be ready for it if it does happen."

A British Treasury official told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of MPs that within the EU there were some very different practices for exchange of information.

He said both the UK and Ireland would be concerned to prevent tax avoidance and that dialogue between the countries would continue.

"We also have conversations with other countries through the OECD, all of those things will continue," he added.

The exact costs associated with border criminality were difficult to estimate.

A watchdog pointed to the success of a joint exercise by the Ireland's Revenue Commissioners and the UK's Revenue and Customs service to introduce a new fuel marker on both sides of the border in April last year to make it harder to launder diesel.

The OECD collects policy data.

Its website said: "Discussions at OECD committee-level sometimes evolve into negotiations where OECD countries agree on rules of the game for international co-operation.

"They can culminate in formal agreements by countries, for example on combating bribery, on arrangements for export credits, or on the treatment of capital movements.

"They may produce standards and models, for example in the application of bilateral treaties on taxation."
Ethiopian Airlines set for seven new routes in the next five months

Ethiopias national carrier Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it will start flying to seven destinations in the next five months as it seeks to solidify its presence in Africa and globally.

In its new record expansion plan, the Ethiopian flag carrier says that starting February to June this year, it will fly to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Conakry-Guinea, Antananarivo, Madagascar, Oslo, Norway, Jakarta, Indonesia, Chengdu, China and Singapore.

The firm's chief executive said the airline wants to tap into the global aviation market which Africa's share is only about three per cent.

"As the largest airline group in the continent, we are highly concerned about the low base of air connectivity in the continent and we are setting record expansion to enable Africans to enjoy safe, reliable and economical air connectivity both within the continent and between the continent and the rest of the world," Tewolde Gebremariam, the Ethiopian Airlines' Group CEO said.

Looking beyond the current economic slowdown especially in the oil export-dependent economies of Africa, we firmly believe that the continent will become the magnet for foreign direct investment, trade and tourism.

"These are the engines of air travel growth and in turn, efficient air connectivity also drives socioeconomic development and we are happy to contribute our share in the 21st century African transformation," he said.

Last year, the airline launched three international routes - Moroni (Comoros), Windhoek (Namibia) and Newark (United States) - as well as three domestic flights to Hawassa, Kebridahar and Dembidolo cities.

The airline targets to reach 120 destinations worldwide by the year 2025. Currently, Ethiopian Airlines flies to 98 destinations.

www.ethiopianairlines.com
Whether educators or staff should be allowed to carry concealed firearms at schools has returned for debate this session, and the bills prime sponsor says the majority party may now have the numbers to pass such policy.

Rep. Dwight Kiefert, R-Valley City, said House Bill 1310 would provide an increased layer of security for schools  with no funds for school resource officers  that are looking at lengthy response times in the event of a major incident, such as a shooting.

Last session, similar legislation passed the House 53-38 but failed by 17-28 in the Senate.

However, Kiefert said, after last years election, the GOP has its largest majorities in both chambers in decades and may have enough members in the Senate to pass the bill this time.

The head of the North Dakota School Boards Association said the bill, a similar version which the group vehemently opposed in 2015, was a simplistic and incorrect solution to a complex issue.

HB1310 would allow a member of a schools staff with a Class 1 concealed carry firearms license to carry on school grounds with the permission of the schools board.

An individual would have to undergo a 40-hour law enforcement training course to learn basic tactics and topics, such as firearms proficiency and how to respond to an event. Those authorized to carry a firearm would also have to agree to coordinate with law enforcement in the event of an incident. A 10-hour annual refresher course also would be required.

Its about local control, Kiefert said. Were just fortunate that in our state that we havent had a major incident. We dont want to wait until an incident. We ought to be proactive.

He said its a permissive bill that gives individual school boards the choice to allow a qualified, willing person to carry. HB1310 also allows the board to permit someone to conceal carry in executive session and keep the identity of the person confidential.

Kiefert said HB1310 relates more to rural schools in the state, such as Bismarck which already have school resource officers and have far quicker response times from law enforcement.

He said to imagine if a shooter opened fire in a rural school and it took law enforcement 30 minutes to an hour to respond. By then, he said the damage will have been done.

We can do better than that, Kiefert said.

Jon Martinson, executive director of the North Dakota School Boards Association, agreed the state can do better for its rural schools in providing protection to students and staff. However, he disagreed with Kieferts solution.

I very much appreciate his interest in school safety. His heart is in the right place, Martinson said. (But) its not what theyre trained to do. Its not what theyre hired to do.

Martinson said Law enforcement groups have previously been opposed due to liability concerns, according to Martinson, who said the scenario of the good guy with a gun taking out a bad guy with a gun isnt realistic.

What happens if some of the good guys get shot? Martinson said.

A more practical solution would be to provide funding for more school resource officers, according to Martinson.

Sen. Diane Larson, R-Bismarck, is a co-sponsor of HB1310. Many of the states smaller communities cant afford a resource officer, according to Larson, who said this bill would provide more options for schools.

Im sitting there imagining a teacher protecting their students and they have no protection other than their bare hands, Larson said.
A US-based technology company has announced its plans to create up to 120 jobs in Ireland.

InsideSales.com has signed a new partnership with the Insight Centre for Data Analytics, a joint initiative between researchers at DCU, NUI Galway, UCC and UCD.
Love just isn't love, without a cow romantically spray-painted with a marriage proposal.

Well, for one couple, it really must be love.

Tyrone farmer Ashley Farrell took this rather unique and 100% Irish approach to asking his girlfriend Anna Martin to marry him.

The magic kicked off on Christmas Eve when Anna was led out to the cow shed to get her Christmas present: a lovely calf.

But lucky Anna got more than she bargained for when she got to the shed, as she walked towards the calf in the pen with it's mother, the cow turned around and she saw a message spray-painted on it's torso: 'Marry me'

Short, sweet and to the point.

No messin'

The surprise didn't stop there, when Anna turned around she saw Ashley down on one knee with ring in hand.

Swoon.

According to an interview with Mashable Anna said that Ashley was a typical farmer and it was a very pleasant surprise to see him be so creative.

Awh!

Congratulations to the happy couple!
A new system for allocating special needs education resources to schools has been announced.

Resources will be allocated without the need for the assessment of children to guarantee extra staff.
The Government is set to look at new ways to allow older people and those with a disability to stay at home for as long as possible.

Minister with responsibility for the area Helen McEntee said a public consultation process was being worked out. She has not given a timeframe for a home care scheme.
A warning has been issued in Cork over a potentially deadly drug that could be circulating in the area.

The public health warning came after tests on a powder recovered by gardai investigating the suspected drug-related death of a teenager confirmed the drug U-47700, which is known on the streets as pinky, pink, or U4.

It may be in circulation in the city in white powder form and resembles cocaine.

The super-strong synthetic drug has been linked to up to 90 deaths in the US in the last nine months, including two 13-year-olds in Utah, as well as deaths in Europe.

The HSE has issued a warning about the substance, which looks like cocaine and is nearly eight times stronger than heroin.

It was added to the list of schedule 1 drugs in the US last November, but can still be bought easily online from underground or street labs, many of which are in China.

It comes as toxicology tests continue to determine whether drugs played a role in the death of a 16-year-old boy in Cork this week.

An autopsy was conducted yesterday on the body of Michael Cornacchia, 16, following his death on the southside of Cork on Monday but gardai said it will be some time before the results of toxicology tests can confirm cause of death.

The confidential HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline can be contacted at freephone 1800 459 459 or online at drugs.ie.
Update 2.50pm: A man was murdered by a gang of people on a street in Lucan after a gun attack on a house and a car chase.

Neil Reilly, in his 30s, was found near his home on a road on the edge of the Glebe estate in the Esker area of Lucan, west Dublin in the early hours of Wednesday.

One line of inquiry is he was chased from the scene of a gun attack a few miles away on Liscairne Gardens in Ronanstown at about 4am where several shots were fired at a house.

Gardai said a number of people in the house at the time escaped injury.

It is believed a car chase took place following the shooting and the car Mr Reilly was in was rammed by a number of other cars and he was set upon by a gang.

He was beaten and stabbed, suffering a number of slash wounds, and there were also reports he was hit by one of the cars involved in the chase.

Mr Reilly lived in the St Finian's area of Lucan.

Danny O'Brien, local Sinn Fein councillor, said: "It's not something that people expect. I can only imagine what it'd be like to witness that.

"It's not something you'd want your children to experience or expect your children to experience in this area. Even in the north inner city you shouldn't be experiencing that but people here are shocked."

Update 12.15pm: A 36-year-old man has been murdered following an altercation in West Dublin in the early hours of this morning.

The man has been named locally as Neil Reilly from Lucan, a father of one.

He was killed when a fight broke out following a crash in The Glebe in Lucan, which came a short time after shots were fired at a house in nearby Ronanstown.

Nobody was injured in that incident at Liscarne Gardens in Ronanstown.

Superintendent Dermot Mann says after the incident in Ronanstown, there was a fight in the Glebe in Lucan.

Superintendent Mann said: "What had happened there was a number of cars had crashed into the car here. We are not sure how many cars and we are not sure how many people were involved.

"But after the crash, there was a serious altercation on the street involving five to six people, or maybe more.

"Following on from that, one of the people was injured, he was taken by ambulance to James Connolly Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead around 5.30 this morning. Obviously we have started a murder investigation."

Members of the Gardai and Forensic experts search Glebe housing estate in the Esker area of Lucan, Co Dublin, this morning. Pic: Collins

A Mazda car, which had damage to the front bumper and the passenger side wing, was found at the scene at The Glebe.

The crime scene is a short distance from Gaelscoil Esker Riada and concerned parents spoke to local representatives as they did the school run.

William Lavelle, a Fine Gael councillor for the area, said: "They are all very upset and shocked.

"This incident happened several hundred metres from where we had that awful murder a month or so ago.

"This is the second incident in as many months. Obviously people are shocked that someone has lost their life and they are angry that the good name of Lucan is dragged down."

Mark Desmond was shot dead in Griffeen Valley Park in Lucan in early December.

Gardai are appealing for information from any witnesses to the incident this morning.

They have said that a number of shots were fired at a house at Liscairne Gardens, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, at around 4am when a number of people were in the house at the time.

Nobody was injured, and a number of vehicles were seen fleeing the scene.

They are also are appealing for witnesses to the collision at The Glebe, Esker, Lucan, a short time later after 4am.

Gardai have said it is possible a number of people may have left the scene on foot.

A number of vehicles have been seized for technical examination.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lucan Garda Station on 01 - 6667300, or Garda Confidential Line 1800-666-111.

Update 11am: A murder investigation is underway following the death of a man in Dublin in the early hours of this morning.

It is understood an altercation took place in Ronanstown before the man was killed in Lucan.

Gardai have sealed off an area of the Glebe in Lucan, where it is understood the man, in his 30s, was struck by a car.

Officers are technically examining a number of scenes, while reports of shots being fired are also being looked into.

The man was taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Earlier:

A murder investigation is underway following the death of a man in Dublin in the early hours of this morning.

It happened at The Glebe in the Esker area of Lucan at around 4am, and the man was taken by ambulance to James Connolly Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

It is understood an altercation happened before the man died which is being investigated by Gardai.

Officers are technically examining a number of scenes, while reports of shots being fired are also being looked into.

Detectives are due to update the media on the investigation shortly.
Bus Eireann is losing 6m a year despite receiving a State subsidy of 40m, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dail, writes Daniel McConnell of the Irish Examiner.

During Leaders Questions, Taoiseach Enda Kenny came under fire from Fianna Fails Transport spokesman Robert Troy who asked how did Minister Shane Ross brief the Cabinet on a report he had not seen.

Mr Troy said that it had emerged that Mr Ross had not seen a Grant Thornton report, which suggested some route closures, but yet it was claimed he briefed the Cabinet on the crisis at the bus company.

In response, Mr Kenny told Mr Troy that he was being very hard on Mr Ross at the start of a new term but Mr Ross had briefed Cabinet on what he had read in the media.

Mr Troy told the Dail that he found this incredible given he had left a copy of the report in Mr Ross pigeon hole for him to read.

Mr Kenny said that the bus companys subsidy last year of 40m was a significant increase on the previous year.

Also at Leaders Questions, the Dail heard that British Prime Minister Theresa May has ignored and is ignoring the concerns of the people of Ireland, North and South, in seeking a hard Brexit.

Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald severely criticised the Taoiseachs lack of a plan for Ireland in the wake of the British vote and called for Northern Ireland to be granted special status within the European Union.

Galway TDs Noel Grealish and Catherine Connolly raised issues and concerns about capacity issues in the citys transport network and hospital.

Ms Connolly demanded firm actions from the Taoiseach to address what she called the chronic overcrowding at Galway Hospital.

She said the lack of investment was a result of an ideology which says private is good and public is bad.

She called for the building of a new hospital to deal with the needs of almost a million people which the hospital is required to treat.

Mr Kenny said a lot is being done and dismissed her call for a new hospital as a blithe suggestion.

Mr Grealish bemoaned the congestion on the citys roads which he said is choking job creation and called for a major investment in new roads.

Meanwhile, TDs in the border counties last night voiced their deep concern at Mrs May's decision to pursue a hard Brexit involving withdrawal from the customs union, which they could be devastating to jobs.

Former minister and Louth TD Fergus ODowd said he was very worried for the future of the region as exiting the customs union effectively establishes a new economic trading border on the island of Ireland.

This is very significant for cross border trade and I am very worried as to what will happen. This is hugely damaging and this is bad for Ireland and bad for the UK. We are now facing into some very difficult choices, he told the Irish Examiner.

We should have a one island economy but this profound decision means we have new economic partition here, which could not have come at a worse time, given the instability in the North, he added.
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Gareth Hutch.

Mr Hutch, a nephew of Gerry The Monk Hutch, was shot dead while getting into his car outside his home in Dublins north inner city last May.

Thomas Fox of Rutland Court, Dublin 1, was charged with his murder this morning and brought to court a short time ago.

Judge Victor Blake was told he said not guilty when the charge was put to him.

The 29-year-old was previously charged with possession of a handgun at the scene the day before the alleged murder, but that was struck out today.

A bail application for a person accused of murder can only be heard before the High Court so he was remanded in custody for a week.

Gareth Hutch died after being shot a number of times on May 24 last year while getting into his car outside his home at Avondale House on North Cumberland Street.

It is believed he was the seventh victim of a feud described at a previous court hearing by Judge Anthony Halpin as "cold-blooded".
The Ombudsman for Children has today called on the Government to invest further funding in mental health services to save more young people from taking their own lives, writes David Raleigh.

Dr Niall Muldoon, a clinical psychologist and former national clinical director of the CARI childrens charity, addressed 3,000 secondary school students today at the sixth Cycle Against Suicide Student Leaders Congress, held at the University of Limerick.

The two-day event, which heard that around 800 people die by suicide in Ireland annually, continues today when 3,000 more students will attend UL from schools all over the country.

"It's crucial we resource children's mental health services appropriately. We've seen continuous disregard for budgeting, so that even when money is put aside for mental health, it's been raided, and it's something that we need to stop doing," Dr Muldoon said.

"We're already behind the curve on the amount of money that is spent on mental health services; we need to start catching up with it as quickly as possible, so that when our brave children do decide to come forward - and it's happening more and more where they're acknowledging their pain - we need to have a service in place for them as quickly as possible."

Dr Muldoon, an expert in child protection, explained that "early intervention makes a huge difference" to a person's mental health.

He added that young people were falling through cracks within the mental health services because of a lack of investment over decades.

"The child who comes forward (with an issue) and doesn't get a service for 12 or 18 months, they often go back into their shell and often don't seek help after that," he added.

Minister for Mental Health, Helen McAntee, who also spoke at the suicide awareness congress, acknowledged services were lacking in the past but that services were a priority for government.

"We have started from a very low base, where the model was that you locked people away if there was an issue, whereas now we are much more focused on a recovery orientated model, within the community ," the Minister said.

She added the Government has this year provided for an 850m investment in infrastructure and staff: "We have the largest budget for mental health than we have ever had...and my priority is to see that increase year on year."

Meanwhile, a Clare priest has said parents need to remind their children "they are loved" as a means of helping to end the scourge of suicide.

Fr Jerry Carey, PP, Doora Barefield, who also spoke at the Cycle Against Suicide congress, said he believed one of the main triggers for suicide in young people was that "they do not feel loved".

Having engaged at length with his young parishioners, he said he has found many of them "don't feel appreciated".

"My message to parents is to tell your children that they are loved. We all need to hear that we are loved; Tell your kids that, don't presume they know," he said.
A former contestant on the US version of The Apprentice who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault has filed a lawsuit against him.

Summer Zervos is suing the president-elect, who takes office on Friday, for defamation after he dismissed her allegations as false.

In the final weeks in the race for the White House, Ms Zervos was one of a number of women to make claims about the Republican billionaire's behaviour.

The ex-reality television star said she would drop the legal action if President-elect Trump admitted she told the truth.

Former 'Apprentice' contestant Summer Zervos files defamation lawsuit against Trump, three days before Inauguration https://t.co/9aMYg4ZZFB pic.twitter.com/GvSAZvzVeN  FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) January 17, 2017

Ms Zervos told reporters: "Today I filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for defamation. On November 11, 2016, I called on Mr Trump to retract his statements about me calling me a liar.

"I also called upon him to state that what I said about his behaviour towards me was true.

"More than two months have gone by and he has not issued that retraction.

"I wanted to give Mr Trump the opportunity to retract his false statements about me and the other women who came forward.

"Since Mr Trump has not issued a retraction as I requested, he has therefore left me with no alternative other than to sue him in order to vindicate my reputation.

"I want Mr Trump to know that I will still be willing to dismiss my case against him immediately for no monetary compensation if he would simply retract his false and defamatory statements about me, and acknowledge that I told the truth about him."

Ms Zervos, who was a contestant in the show led by the property tycoon in 2006, had accused the president-elect of making unwanted advances on her the following year.

After inquiring about a job, they met at a Beverly Hills hotel where she claims he became sexually aggressive and touched her breast.

It followed claims by other women that they had been groped by the businessman.

But Mr Trump dismissed all of the allegations against him as ''100% made up'' and insisted his accusers were "sick" people looking for ''fast fame''.
A man who sold pickled lizards, monkey heads and big cats online has been jailed, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Daniel Stocks, aged 42, who also ran a website selling fake shrunken heads, used eBay to sell illegal taxidermy on a shop called Killer Curios UK.

He was sentenced to six months in prison at Exeter Crown Court after pleading guilty to four charges relating to trade in specimens.

The monkey parts, hornbill skull, chameleon and leopard cat specimens in his possession were confiscated.

The NCA described Stocks, from Kingkerswell, near Newton Abbot in Devon, as a "prolific" trader in illegal animal specimens.

Border Force officials alerted the NCA to Stocks after finding a veiled chameleon specimen in a package sent to his address from Philadelphia.

He did not have a licence to import the creature and was arrested.

An animal head found in the investigation by the NCA into Daniel Stocks.

During a search of his house and a rented industrial unit, various items were found, including a stuffed African white-backed vulture, macaque heads and skulls, and monkey tails.

Monkey paws framed and mounted above the phrase Make A Wish were also discovered.

An investigation found he had also been trading in horn bills, leopard cats and monkeys, in breach of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species laws.

Undated handout photo issued by the National Crime Agency (NCA) of a monkey paw found in the investigation by the NCA into Daniel Stocks.

Dawn Cartwright, of the NCA's border policing command, said: "Daniel Stocks was a prolific illegal specimen trader who thought the rules on protected species were there for others to worry about.

"But those rules exist for good reason and the NCA takes the criminal trade in protected species seriously.

"In partnership with Border Force, we will make sure traders operating illegally are found and dealt with."
Russian authorities have extended a residence permit for US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked thousands of secret documents from the National Security Agency.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a post on Facebook that Mr Snowdens residence permit had been extended for "a couple of years".
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BUDAPEST: The US embassy in Hungary said on Thursday that comments in the Hungarian right-wing press that two local...
Its somewhat like a poker game between the Three Affiliated Tribes and the state. Whats at stake is tax revenue from oil production on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

The dispute involves not only revenue, but whether both sides have lost their trust in the other.

Near the end of the 2015 legislative session, legislators passed a bill that abolishes some price-based incentives in exchange for lowering the overall tax rate from 11.5 percent to 10 percent. Now, House Bill 1166 would remove the final oil tax trigger in state law. The trigger being proposed for removal would kick in if the price of oil averaged above $90 per barrel for three consecutive months, at which point the extraction tax would increase to 6 percent. It would return to 5 percent if prices dropped below $90 for three months.

One of the bills sponsors, Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, said he didnt like replacing the old tax trigger with a new one in 2015. Carlson argues its not good policy to tax a person or industry higher in stronger economic times.

Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Mark Fox warned a House Finance and Taxation Committee hearing that the tribes didnt like the 2015 change and are opposed to HB1166. He said the tribes werent consulted about the change and it violates an accord the tribes signed with the state.

Committee chairman Rep. Craig Headland, R-Montpelier, said the committee wouldnt act on the bill until they gather more information on the revenue sharing agreement. Headland said he didnt expect the tribes to leave the agreement despite Foxs comment that they werent bluffing. He was wrong about the tribes as Fox announced Friday that the tribes voted last Wednesday to charge the higher tax. Non-tribal officials think the decision violates the revenue sharing agreement, which means both sides believe the other is in violation of the accord.

Its another case where tribes feel they werent consulted by the state. Its an argument that came up during the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes battle with the Dakota Access Pipeline. Headlands correct to have the committee delay action until he fully understands the ramifications of the accord.

Fox said the tribes want the extra tax money to pay for road repairs and other impacts related to oil development. If some companies decide they dont want to drill on the reservation, he thinks they will be replaced by other companies. North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness, however, said a higher tax rate on the reservation "creates a disadvantage for attracting investment up there."

This is a good time for Gov. Doug Burgum to get involved. His spokesman indicated he intends to meet with legislators and the tribes. If the legislative action violates the intent of the accord, then an agreement needs to be reached with the tribes. The accord was created to be mutually beneficial to the tribes and the state. Neither side is happy with the present situation and it needs to be resolved.

It appears the state needs to do a better job of working with its tribal partners and this seems to be a good opportunity to do so. Theres no reason for either side to lose all their chips.
MINOT -- Gov. Doug Burgum is allowing removal proceedings to go forward against Ward County Sheriff Steve Kukowski.

Former Gov. Jack Dalrymple initiated the proceedings last June, but the process has been delayed while waiting for misdemeanor charges against the sheriff to work through the court system.

The Ward County Commission voted Jan. 3 to request the governor drop removal proceedings, or if lacking authority to do so, to lift the suspension that has kept Kukowski from performing his duties.

Burgum stated in a letter of response that he has no authority in state law to take either action.

"I find no authority provided in Chapter 44-11 that would allow me to dismiss a complaint on a removal petition under these circumstances, after proceedings have commenced," he wrote. "I find no authority under Chapter 44-11 that would allow me to rescind the suspension order against Steve Kukowski under these circumstances."

Commissioners sought to re-instate Kukowski to get the sheriff's department up to full staff. Although the commission has been paying Kukowski, the suspension has kept him away from the office, and Chief Deputy Bob Barnard has taken on the duties as acting sheriff for increased pay. The chief deputy position hasn't been filled.

There also was a belief by most on the commission that the misdemeanor charges don't warrant a removal proceeding.

Meanwhile, the case involving charges against Kukowski have reached the North Dakota Supreme Court. The court is being asked to decide whether or not the state should be allowed to amend an incorrect date on a document.

On Feb. 17, 2016, Kukowski was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment and one count of public servant refusing to perform duty. The charges stem from the death of inmate Dustin Irwin and alleged over-crowding at the Ward County Jail. Kukowski maintains he is innocent of the charges.

Irwin was arrested Oct. 3, 2014, and died Oct. 6, 2014, about eight hours after being transported in a prisoner exchange with Burleigh County. A complaint filed with the District Court stated the offense occurred in 2015 rather than 2014.

Last month, Judge Lolita Romanick, Grand Forks, denied a motion to amend the complaint.

Ward County Special Prosecutor Seymour Jordan maintains the error was "clerical" and is asking the Supreme Court to exercise supervision over Romanick and reverse the judge's decision. An incorrect date on the complaint could jeopardize the state's case against Kukowski even though other documents, such as the Affidavit of Probable Cause, contain correct dates.

How soon the Supreme Court will rule on the state's request is unknown. The court has no set schedule to take up the Kukowski matter but a ruling will likely come this month.

Jordan, the Divide County state's attorney, was named special prosecutor in the case to avoid any contention of impropriety due to Kukowski's working relationship with the office of the Ward County state's attorney. Romanick was appointed to hear the case because she is from outside the North Central Judicial District, which includes Ward County.

In his petition prepared for the Supreme Court, Jordan writes that the "District Court's decision is a misapplication of law and therefore the District Court's decision should be reversed" and that not allowing a clerical error to be corrected "would be a grave injustice to the legal process." Furthermore, states Jordan, "the spirit of the law understands that people make mistakes and that is just one reason why the law allows amendments to be made to documents."

Kukowski was scheduled to go to trial earlier this month but those proceedings were delayed pending the Supreme Court ruling on the petition for supervisory writ filed by Jordan. No new trial date has been set.
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Between Christmas and New Year I took a week off work to head on vacation in Northern Norway. One cab, three flights and a bus journey later and I had made it from New York to Alta, Norway. If you were following along with my Instagram Story then youll know that when I landed at 2pm in the afternoon it was pitch black. This was because I was visiting the region in the middle of their Polar Night. Norways Polar Night is a period of time between November 25th and January 19th where the sun doesnt rise above the horizon. I was excited to experience this phenomenon, and Im pleased I did (and also very pleased I only had to experience it for three days; its intense!). Each day at around 11am the sky would start to gently glow  as long as it wasnt snowing  and there would be around an hour of this faint glow before the sky would start to glow pink from below the horizon line, which is a bit like that moment just after the sun disappears from view in a normal sunset. One one of the days the whole sky lit up in bright shades of pink (seen above) creating the most incredible contrast with the white snow-laden landscape below. By 1pm it would be pitch black dark again. Crazy, right?! Needless to say, photography was almost entirely off the cards during the three day trip due to the non-existant daylight. That said, I did manage to get my drone up into the sky for a few aerial pictures on the clearest and brightest hour of soft light, along with some iPhone snaps. Check them all out and see more of Norways Polar Night, after the jump!

This is one of my drone captures that shows the landscape surrounding the Tipi I stayed in one the edge of a forest about ten miles or so outside of Alta. If you look closely you can see me down there stood next to my tipi! Can you see me? Heres a look at the pink glow that comes from below the horizon line for around an hour each day during Norways Polar Night. This was the Tipi I stayed in at Holmen Huskey Lodge, which was 1/3rd glass so you could lie in bed and watch the stars and Northern Lights. The left picture was taken around 11:30am at the lightest part of the day; the right photograph was taken around 30 minutes later, showing how quickly the soft glow of light fades during Norways Polar Night. Heres the tipi at 3pm in the afternoon! Inside felt very cozy as there was a wood burning stove. It really was a magical experience and Im so pleased I took the trip all the way up there. Id never done anything like this before! This was one of the huts close to the tipis, which had a central fire for people to sit around and drink hot blackcurrant as a way to stay warm. I spent one of my mornings in Alta trekking and sledding though a snow-capped forest with a Sami family and their reindeer. The Sami are the indigenous people of Norway, and there are 60,000 of them in the country  the largest population of all the Sami countries; Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. It was such an honor to be welcomed into their life to learn more about their culture and day-to-day living. The family I spent time with are herding Sami, which means they look after herds of reindeer, migrating with them through the mountains. Each Sami has their own herd which they migrate with and care for. Sami people speak their own dialect; each village has an individual style of clothing; and they have their own government that sits below the Norwegian government. The reindeers in their herds dont have names but instead are marked by their ears. (P.S. The flare you see below isnt the sun, it was a big lamp lighting a snow field!) Have you ever been to Alta or experienced Norways Polar Night? //iPhone photography by Will Taylor
Not long before Christmas last year, Kambah man John Hall fell ill with a high fever and headaches, leading to a trip to Canberra Hospital after he thought he had slipped a disc in his spine.

John was diagnosed with a treatable, but painful bone infection, after he suffered an infection that had made it into his bloodstream and ultimately, his spine.

Registered Nurse, Lorraine Dwyer, caring for Hospital in the Home patient John Hall at his Kambah home. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

But after an initial five days in hospital on an antibiotic drip fighting the infection, medical treatment has since been delivered to him at home, apart from a weekly check-up with a hospital physician.

John was able to take advantage of the ACT Health's Hospital in the Home program, with a daily visit from an experienced registered nurse, who could administer his daily antibiotic dose, allowing him to recover in the comfort of his own home.
NSW police are seeking witnesses to a suspicious fire in Wamboin on Tuesday.

Emergency services responded to a grass fire alight on Norton Road on Tuesday afternoon, as the mercury climbed to 38.5 degrees.

Firefighters also battled a fire burning at Mount Fairy Road, Tarago on Tuesday afternoon. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

While the blaze has since been brought under control, police are urging anyone with information about the fire to come forward.

They had originally called for a man spotted riding a yellow bike on Ellendon Road to come forward but investigators ruled him out on Tuesday night after he approached police.
Put simply, it forbids fires out in the open. Mr Lane explained that you can't light, maintain or use a fire in the open, or undertake any "high risk" activity, which is one that is likely to cause a fire. Obviously people need to take care with these activities on all days, but firefighters declare a total fire ban when they've decided on that particular day it is not possible for them to immediately control and extinguish a fire.

Horse watches on as Tarago fire spreads. The fire and conditions surrounding Canberra have prompted a total fire ban in the ACT on Wednesday. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

The ACT Emergency Services Commissioner has the power to declare a total fire ban in the territory. But what does that actually mean and how will it affect people? We asked the commissioner, Dominic Lane, to give us the run down.

Lots of activities that would usually be fine, such as welding, grinding, cutting metal or gas use. Any other construction activities that involve heat are banned. If you're planning on cooking a barbecue, electrical barbecues are preferable. The ACT government has a number of electrical barbecues in public places.

Mr Lane explained that gas barbecues are okay to use, as long as there is a hose nearby to extinguish a fire if one sparks. You must not leave the barbecue unattended. The ground within three metres of the barbecue must also be cleared of all inflammable materials. A barbecue or wood fire pizza oven that uses solid fuel, such as wood, charcoal or heat beads, cannot be used.

Still don't think the ban affects you? Think again. Mr Lane said it is everyone's responsibility to avoid activities such as driving through long grass, stopping a car on the side of the road near long grass, throwing cigarette butts onto the ground, fencing properties and mowing. All current fire permits are suspended.

Which places can't I go?

Any remote wilderness or forested areas. The Rural Fire Service has authorised the closure of nature reserves or parks. A number of NSW national parks are also impacted. See the ACT Rural Fire Service website for closures in the ACT and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for areas affected in NSW.
Gov. Doug Burgum said Tuesday he supports efforts to streamline the state's oil spill reporting to make information more accessible to the public.

The comments came as Burgum led his first meeting as chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission during discussion on a bill related to reporting on oilfield spills.

In addition to the legislative discussion, the various state agencies that investigate oilfield spills are working to develop a single reporting system rather than manage separate databases.

In a world where data helps us solve problems, protect the environment, weve got to have clean data, and its got to be uniform and its got to be accessible and its got to be transparent, Burgum said.

Burgum serves on the Industrial Commission with his former campaign opponent, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. Though the two sparred last year during the primary race for governor, the mood was collegial during Tuesdays meeting.

Commissioners gave Director of Mineral Resources Lynn Helms the OK to suggest amendments on House Bill 1151, which would eliminate the requirement for oil companies to report spills that are contained to an oilfield location and less than 10 barrels.

The bill has industry support but was widely opposed by landowners at a committee hearing last week.

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, the third member of the Industrial Commission, said he supports the 10-barrel threshold for crude oil and produced water but would want to require all quantities of other chemicals to be reported.

In addition to an amendment on the type of spill, Helms said he also plans to propose that the reporting threshold only be raised for well sites that are constructed with berms, an impermeable layer and other protections.

Also Tuesday, the commission agreed to continue providing waivers for idle oil wells while oil prices remain low and severe winter weather hinders production.

The state had 1,519 inactive wells at the end of November that are uneconomic to produce under the current prices. The state also has an estimated 839 new wells that have been drilled but are uncompleted as operators delaying hydraulic fracturing until oil prices improve.

The commission extended a previous action to provide waivers for those idle wells, allowing them to remain on inactive or noncompleted status for up to one year.

The commission extended the waivers through June 30 and will revisit the issue at that time.
Shares in Bega Cheese surged on Thursday after it announced it would snap up Vegemite and other Kraft brands in a $460 million deal that takes it far from its roots as a cheese producer.

In a surprise move, the company said it would buy the Kraft-branded food products businesses in Australia, which gives it control of a suite of household names spanning Vegemite to peanut butter, mayonnaise and Kraft processed cheese.

Bega said the acquisition will give it a strong presence in the domestic spreads business.

Investors cheered the news, marking Bega shares up a hefty 15 per cent to $5.16, recouping part of the losses recorded last October when concerns over slow sales of its infant milk formula joint venture with Blackmores saw the shares dumped.
Troubled Australian music streaming service Guvera has escaped an attempt to have its business sent to the liquidators.

An investor had been seeking an order to wind up the Gold Coast company, claiming a debt of almost $1.8 million.

Guvera was shaping as Australia's biggest challenger to streaming giants Spotify and Apple.

Kwong Properties took the business, which was blocked from listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in June, to the Supreme Court of Queensland in December to recover the money.

The application was heard in Brisbane on Wednesday morning, where it was dismissed with the consent of both sides.
NBN Co believes its network build will be halfway complete by the end of this financial year, as its roll out moves into metropolitan areas.

As of January 5, 2017, NBN's footprint included 3.8 million premises. However, only 1.6 million premises have activated their connection. By the end of June, it expects up to 5.4 million homes will be passed.

NBN's footprint currently includes roughly 3.8 million premises. However, only 1.6 million premises have activated their connection.

"This will be a significant turning point as we aim to finish the build by 2020 and become the first fully-connected continent in the world," NBN's chief executive Bill Morrow said.

"As the NBN network rolls out into cities we will be met with new problems to solve," he added.
Dairy company Parmalat has locked about 60 workers out of a processing plant in northern Victoria indefinitely amid a heated dispute over pay and conditions.

Negotiations for a new enterprise agreement at the Echuca plant have been underway since August 2016, and in November, Parmalat applied to have the existing agreement torn up.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says that would slash workers' wages by close to half and cut redundancy and other entitlements.

AMWU and Electrical Trades Union workers voted to go on a protected four-hour strike starting 3am Wednesday, but arrived at the factory to find themselves locked out.
Just before President Xi Jinping spoke in Davos, China's State Council announced it would be relaxing foreign investment restrictions. Credit:AP Those concerns are mirrored in other Western countries. German Ambassador Michael Clauss issued a strongly worded statement on Monday complaining of rising concerns among European companies that Chinese ministries are "trying to tilt the playing field towards purely domestic companies." "The political leadership in China never ceases to assure us that further opening towards foreign investment, a level playing field between German and Chinese companies as well as protection of intellectual property is a priority," Clauss said, adding that many companies say their problems have actually increased. US Vice President Joe Biden at the opening plenary session of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Credit:Bloomberg "It often appears that somewhere down the line, political assurances of equal treatment give way to protectionist tendencies," he said.

AmCham China said economic changes had stalled in China, even as growth slows. Most companies surveyed said revenue was still rising, but more said the investment environment was deteriorating rather than improving. Their top concern was "inconsistent regulatory enforcement and unclear laws" - often, rules adopted and interpreted to favour local companies over foreign ones. The second-biggest concern was rising labor costs. The third was "increasing Chinese protectionism," a factor that did not make the top five last year. "Despite a long track record of employing and training locals and investing in the local community, when the economy gets tough, the foreign firm is always seen as somehow not friendly to China," the report quoted a senior country manager in the real estate and development industry as writing. China is trying to transform its economy to a more consumer- and services-led structure, away from a dependence on heavy industry and exports.

But the "handbrake of regulation is still firmly on" in sectors that should be driving growth, from finance and insurance to logistics and health care, AmCham's Zarit complained. In other words, foreign companies are being denied some of the best opportunities on offer in China today. "Globalisation doesn't just mean exporting and buying up foreign assets but also making sure that Chinese workers, private companies, farmers and consumers benefit from dynamic, open markets for goods and services," Zarit said. Trump puts things much more bluntly. China, he says, is "ripping us off" - or even "raping" the United States. Many US business leaders are worried the next president will start a trade war with China that will seriously damage their interests in America. Trump's threat to raise taxes on American companies that manufacture abroad - repeated in a Washington Post interview this past weekend - would represent an even more direct risk to the interests of many firms.

Instead, what US business leaders want is pressure on China to open its economy further to American investment. Arthur Kroeber, managing director of Gavekal Dragonomics, an economic research firm, said frictions had risen because the "material fruits" of the United States' engagement with China had been very unevenly distributed. But in a client note, he said the problem could not be solved by "browbeating China to change its trade policies or bullying US companies to move factories back onshore" - partly because job losses have had as much to do with cheap automation as with competition from a global labor force. "A sensible re-set" of US-China economic relations, he argued, should not look backward at trade in goods and manufacturing but instead focus on fostering a better environment for investment, "where the US has more leverage and China has more to give." Mei Xinyu, a researcher with the Commerce Ministry, said Trump's rhetoric would not work on a major economy such as China and warned that if the United States played "low," China could play "lower."

"So many members of Trump's administration have business, big business, in China, they will know the price should there be a trade war," he said. Of 462 companies responding to the AmCham China survey, 81 per cent said they felt less welcome than before, up from 77 per cent the previous year. When it comes to recruiting staff and retaining talent to work in China, 58 per cent cited poor air quality as a challenge, followed by 55 per cent who mentioned the high cost of living. Asked about the investment environment, 24 per cent said it was improving and 31 per cent said it was deteriorating. A quarter of members have moved capacity out of China in the past three years or plan to do so. This week, Chinese media reported that Oracle, a US computer technology company, plans to lay off about 200 research and development staffers in Beijing as part of a strategic restructuring, while hard-disk manufacturer Seagate was reported to have shut down its factory in Suzhou and axed 2,000 jobs amid subdued demand.
Though Donald Trump and his family project an image of boundless wealth, a Washington-based hairstylist says the president-elect's second wife tried to get out of paying her to style her tresses and those of her 23-year-old daughter, Tiffany Trump, for Inauguration Day.

Freelance stylist Tricia Kelly says she was contacted by a longtime client with ties to the Trumps about a job coiffing Marla Maples and the younger Trump daughter for the big event. Kelly expressed her interest and she explained her rates - a $US150 ($198) fee to travel in addition to the cost of her services - but Maples, through her assistant, balked. "I was told they had a $US300 ($397) budget for both of them for hair and makeup," Kelly says.

Marla Maples and Tiffany Trump pose at the Just Drew fashion presentation of designer Andrew Warren at Metropolitan Pavilion on September 8, 2016 in New York City. Credit:Getty

After some back and forth, Kelly agreed to be paid $US200 ($265) total and a makeup artist $US150 to get the women camera-ready. That's when Maples' assistant came up with another proposal: Would Kelly and the makeup artist be willing to provide their services for free? In exchange, they would get "exposure", and Maples would mention them on her social media feeds, the assistant told her.

Kelly declined. "I was stunned," she said. "I told them... I work for a fee, not for free."
"I just wanted Ryan to know that I loved him, no matter whether he won or lost," Garfield said last week on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

The predictable headlines followed: "Andrew Garfield dishes about that kiss with Ryan Reynolds." "Here's Why Andrew Garfield Kissed Ryan Reynolds At the Golden Globes."

How could this have happened at the same awards show where Moonlight, a film that explored the black gay male experience, won best picture? A story from the more marginalised gay community was up for recognition, and the story of straight white men kissing was soaking up some of the spotlight.

It might seem like a step forward for the LGBT community, that two men kissing is now seen as so normal even straight men are doing it in public. But that knot in my stomach said otherwise. I worried that this was actually detrimental, because it was seen as a spectacle.

I kiss men because it's natural for me - it's hardly a joke. Even if this were just an "innocent" moment and not a performative stunt, both actors must have known the media and public would latch on and discuss it. When Garfield kissed Colbert on his show, too, the ensuing laughter confirmed what I was worried about: This was being treated as a joke.

I was expecting to see angry reactions to the initial kiss on Twitter. But everyone seemed to be okay with it. Was I being oversensitive? Was I missing something?

When I spoke with Jane Ward, a professor of gender and sexuality studies at the University of California at Riverside and author of Not Gay: Sex Between Straight White Men, about kisses like these, she saw them as a recognition of sexual fluidity, which she views as a step forward.

"There's a good amount of policing that has become common in the gay community in the last 15 years or so, I think related to the rising popularity of the belief that sexual orientation is innate or biological," Ward said.
An American Black Hawk helicopter will stay in Goulburn for longer than planned to assist local fire teams across the region.

Stationed at Goulburn airport on Wednesday morning, this is the first time a helicopter of its kind has arrived in Australia with the role of responding to a fire.

Brandon Hahaj, Fergus Frater, Brian Jorgenson and Brady Schaures stand in front of the UH60A Black Hawk at Goulburn airport, on standby to assist the fire in Tarago. Credit:Mariam Koslay

The helicopter's arrival was due to a joint venture between Timberlin Helicopters from Idaho and Australia air charter Pay's. The UH60A Black Hawk can pick up 3400 litres of water and travel up to 260 km/hour.

Pay's helicopter specialist Fergus Frater said the Black Hawk was the future of fire fighting.
Optometry at Deakin University in Geelong was the hardest course non-scholars program to get into, with a clearly-in score of 98.75, a cut-off which has steadily risen over the past few years. The three most popular courses were Melbourne University degrees in Arts (which needed an ATAR of 89.3), Science (85.00) and Commerce (95.00). at the University Melbourne. These courses are consistently the most sought and typically attract about 2000 first preference applications each year.

Another sought-after course was medicine at Monash University's Clayton campus, which 1701 students put as their first preference but for which 123 people received a first round offer. But fewer year 12 leavers want to pursue a career in journalism. The number of students who put the once incredibly popular journalism course at RMIT as their first preference has dropped for the past three consecutive years. And this year the cut-off ATAR was 81.2, down from 90.25 in 2014. Much to the delight of the Andrews government, which is trying to boost entry standards for teachers, the average ATAR of students applying for education courses increased from 57.35 to 62.74. The state government is introducing tough new entry standards for teaching courses, which will require students to achieve a minimum ATAR of 65 in 2018 and 70 the following year. While first round offers for graduate entry teaching courses plummeted by 47 per cent, there was a 5 per cent increase in undergraduate main round offers. Education Minister James Merlino said the rise in average ATARs for education courses was "very welcome news".

"Our reforms to teacher education, which will come into effect from 2018, will attract the best and brightest into the profession." Average ATARs required for courses increased in most fields of studies, except for agriculture and environment, which fell by 1 per cent. Many popular nursing courses were harder to get into this year. Students wanting a place at nursing courses at Deakin or Australian Catholic University needed an ATAR more than 10 points higher than the cut-off three years ago to be guaranteed a spot.

VTAC director Catherine Wills said that the decline in main round offers could be due to the rise of people applying directly to universities. And for TAFEs, main round offers fell by 18.6 per cent to 5762 students. Zein Alhamdani was one of the lucky students on Wednesday. Not only did he get his first preference, he was among 7 per cent of people who applied to study medicine at Monash University who were given a first-round offer. "I found out this morning and woke up my family and screamed  they thought there was some sort of intruder," he said.

Zein, who achieved an impressive 99.4 ATAR at Suzanne Cory High, said he got through the year by being a "firm believer in balance". He took regular breaks from study, and reached out to other students studying the VCE on the internet, including on the popular website ATAR Notes. "I enjoyed getting reassurance that other students were feeling the way that I was feeling," he said."People would often advise on what you should and shouldn't do, and this allowed me to not make mistakes myself." Loading In a bid to boost transparency, VTAC has scrapped changes that it introduced last year and which meant clearly-in ATARs were no longer published for courses where 60 per cent or more of offers went to students below the clearly-in ATARs. It now requires all university courses  which make more than 10 offers to school leavers and which use ATARs the main criteria for enrolment to publish their selection data.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- President elect Donald Trumps inauguration ceremony is facing a boycott from a growing number of members of Congress -- but North Dakotas Kevin Cramer is emphatically not among them.

I find it very troubling for the future of our country, Cramer said of the boycott, which has been joined by more than 50 House Democrats. This is the new liberalism -- you have to agree with them 100 percent.

Shortly before noon on Tuesday, 52 House Democrats had announced they would skip the inauguration ceremony, citing concerns over Trumps rhetoric and worries about Russian meddling in the presidential election.

I will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and a front-runner to lead the national Democratic Party, said on social media earlier this week. I wont be attending Donald Trumps inauguration.

Many of those boycotts have come since an exchange between Trump and Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who said last week that he does not believe Trump, aided at the polls by a Russian conspiracy, is a legitimate president.

Trump fired back in tweets over the weekend, calling Lewis -- a civil rights icon whose skull was fractured during a protest in 1965 -- all talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!

Cramer said members of the party defeated in a presidential election dont always attend, and said he was absent from President Barack Obamas second inauguration in 2013 -- preferring instead time at home -- but said he didnt make a big deal about his absence.

Asked about the exchange between Lewis and Trump, Cramer said theres no evidence that Russian meddling had an effect on the election.

I think that Donald Trumps tweets about John Lewis actions in recent history -- not in 1960s history -- that has some accuracy to it, Cramer said.

A report released earlier this month by American intelligence leaders said that Russia waged a campaign to sway the election, but stated that authors did not make an assessment of the impact.

Minnesota Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, both Democrats, are expected to attend the inauguration, their offices said, as did the office of Rep. Collin Peterson, another Minnesota Democrat. However, Klobuchars office did not respond to a question seeking comment on the boycotts, and Frankens and Petersons offices said the lawmakers were not immediately available to respond to the question.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said she plans to attend the inauguration.

Members of Congress have the right to make their own decisions. Ill attend the inauguration as its a sign of the peaceful transfer of power and shows our support of the democracy that we live in and cherish, Heitkamp said in an emailed statement. After a long election, our duty now is to come together.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., is attending, too, and said other members of Congress should attend as well to observe and be part of the peaceful transition of power. Asked for his thoughts on the exchange between Lewis and Trump, he demurred.

Im not going to get into that other than to say that we need to find ways to work together and create more bipartisanship, he said. I think we all have to work with that. Ultimately, its about getting the work of the people done.
So you didn't get your university first preference. And let's face it: VCE was a hard slog. Surely, the merry-go-round of assignments, SACs and exams would deliver you to the country's most respected higher education institutions, and ultimately, to the career of your choosing. But today you're feeling like things didn't quite go to plan.

So let's think about your next steps, because as nearly every career advisor will tell you, there is always an alternative route to getting the job you want.

You missed out on your first preference, now what? Credit:Rich H. Legg

Re-think your preferences

If you missed out on getting into your course by a small margin, you may choose to sit tight and wait to see if an offer is made in the subsequent rounds. (Keep in mind that not all courses participate in first round offers.) But if you've missed out on your first preference and you think changing your preferences is the best option, you can do this from Thursday 10am until January 31 at 4pm, by adding or removing courses from your list on the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre website.
The cause of the crash which brought the Bold Street railway bridge down on to the third and fourth carriages of the crowded train is not known. Rescue workers at the Granville train disaster Credit:SMH The engine pulling the eight carriages jumped the tracks just before the bridge and the stanchion supporting the concrete roadway was knocked out. A black box recorder which measures the train's speed and braking has been taken for investigation. The Premier, Mr Wran, announced a full judicial inquiry. Details will be given today.

Cash payments For obvious reasons we are going ahead delicately. Inspector Ray Williams, officer-in-charge of the emergency operation A six-man departmental inquiry has already started its investigations. The State Government has established a hardship committee to make immediate cash payments to the families of the dead and injured. Damage is so extensive to the line that travel will be disrupted for days and more than 100 buses are being used to replace services on the western line.

In the glare of floodlights early today, weary workmen were still chipping away at the concrete slabs. Inspector Ray Williams, officer-in-charge of the emergency operation, said: "For obvious reasons we are going ahead delicately." Huge cranes stood on either side of the fallen bridge and dozens of fire engines, rescue trucks and police vehicles lined the street. As cranes lifted slabs off the concrete roadway, bodies, some lying on top of others inside the crumpled carriage, were exposed.

At 1.30 am 19 bodies were recovered from a section of the fourth carriage when a four-metre square slab of concrete was lifted off by a mobile crane. There were nine men, nine women and one young girl. At 10 pm 17 bodies had been recovered. There were nine men and eight women. Ambulance men and police rescue workers were constantly moving backwards and forwards, carrying bodies from the railway tracks to a temporary morgue set up in a green tent nearby. Inside the tent, teams of police experts were beginning the task of trying to identify the bodies.

Hundreds of spectators crowded to the scene and Parramatta Road was lined with parked cars. Throughout the day hundreds of rescuers had battled to free the injured, some shockingly hurt from the shattered wooden carriages. Medical teams performed emergency surgery on the spot in the wreckage under the concrete slab. Amputations were performed to free some of the victims. Rescuers used their hands to tear at the wreckage.

Priests crawled through the tumbled debris, administering the last rites and repeated these rites as bodies were brought out. Late in the afternoon the efforts switched to one man, Bryan Gordon, of Emu Plains, pinned by his legs under the slab. 600 passengers At 6.15 pm a crane winched the slab a few centimetres up and he was pulled free. Then workers using a giant, crane-operated hammer collapsed part of the bridge still standing which throughout the day had threatened to fall.

The 6.09 from Mt Victoria left on time yesterday morning and picked up passengers at 20 stations down the Blue Mountains and on to the plain. The last stop was Parramatta at 8.08 - only one minute behind schedule. The train was full, carrying an estimated 600 passengers. Four minutes later and less than two kilometres down the line the crash came. Three cars were on the bridge as it fell on to the carriages. None of the car occupants was believed seriously injured. Three hours later the Blood Bank had more than 3,000 people queuing outside their Clarence Street headquarters after they broadcast an appeal for help.
A Labor MP has hit out at her own government, labelling cuts to inner-city services a "timetable fail" as Queensland Rail prepares to roll out service changes.

Trains to four relatively busy northern stations were reduced when a major train line began bypassing them with the introduction of the Redcliffe Peninsula line on October 4.

A driver shortage was blamed for mass last-minute, network-wide service cancellations in the wake of the timetable change, triggering an interim timetable that will return to service on January 23.

An inner-city service was brought in to ease some of the shortfall to Nundah, Toombul, Wooloowin and Albion but at least some of those services were scrapped in the interim timetable.
The royal commission into child sex abuse has broken its own non-publication order, revealing the identity of the victim of a notorious paedophile.

The former Brisbane Grammar School student was among many victims who gave statements or fronted the commission under a pseudonym to protect them.

Brisbane Grammar School, where the abuse took place. Credit:Glenn Hunt

But the royal commission failed to redact his name in a statement given to its investigation into the horrific abuse carried out by serial paedophiles Kevin Lynch and Gregory Robert Knight in two Brisbane private schools.

That statement, which was properly redacted after Fairfax Media brought it to the commission's attention on Wednesday, had been published on its website, likely during hearings held across two weeks in November 2015.
The Katter's Australian Party is set to weather the storm of One Nation, with the crossbench to be as "effective as always", member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter says.

With non-stop attention focused on One Nation and the rise of the anti-establishment vote seen in Brexit and Trump, speculation has been rife on the impact on regional seats for the Katters and the LNP.

Member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter says his party has weathered storms in the past.

But Mr Katter said he and fellow KAP MP Shane Knuth were used to adversity.

"We've weathered all sorts of storms, like Palmer, Newman government, and we're still here and we're still kicking some pretty good goals, I'd say, so it's situation normal for us," he said.
A teenager has been charged with the rape and indecent treatment of children on the Gold Coast.

It's alleged the 19-year-old committed the offences against a number of children, aged between 11 and 13, at a home in Reedy Creek between November 2015 and December last year.

Police believe the 19-year-old committed the offences against a number of children.

Police are still establishing how many children were allegedly abused but say they knew the accused.

He was arrested when police, acting on information received in December, executed a search warrant at a Reedy Creek home on Wednesday morning.
EXCLUSIVE

A Melbourne organised crime syndicate is suspected of masterminding a scheme to import $60 million of cocaine using a former Japanese whaling vessel, which was boarded by authorities last month, despite never entering Australian waters.

The syndicate, based in Melbourne's north-western suburbs, was monitored for about a year before the boat was intercepted about 1300 kilometres off the coast of Tasmania on December 12.

Authorities then spent another five weeks investigating the syndicate before arresting six Victorian men, four in Melbourne and two in Queensland early on Wednesday over the haul of 186 kilograms of cocaine.
A DNA sample taken from a man in South Australia in 2013 for drink driving has proved the catalyst for his conviction over a terrifying sex assault on two women in Perth nearly 23 years ago.

Andrew David Green, 46, was jailed in the WA District Court on Wednesday for 12 years over the cold case sex attack.

A mugshot of Andrew David Green.

For the first time, details of how Green came to be arrested and jailed for the attack at Scarborough Beach more than two decades ago can be revealed.

The two women were sexually assaulted at Scarborough Beach on June 12,1994, shortly after leaving a nearby nightclub.
Washington: President Barack Obama held his final news conference at the White House on Wednesday, defending the importance of the free press and some of the final decisions he has made before leaving office.

Administration aides have begun to pack up in preparation for the handoff, with most of the West Wing staff scheduled to move out late Thursday. Officials said a small number of Obama aides will remain on the job through noon Friday, when President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office.

The president addressed his decision Tuesday to commute the 35-year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, an Army private convicted of taking troves of secret diplomatic and military documents and disclosing them to WikiLeaks, after deciding that Manning had served enough time.

"Let us be clear: Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence," Obama said, adding, "It made sense to commute - and not pardon her sentence. ... I feel very comfortable that justice has been served, and a message has still been sent."
The North Dakota Supreme Court has opened the door for more out-of-state lawyers to represent pipeline protesters in criminal cases.

Citing the potential for delay, the large number of arrests and the "finite judicial resources" to handle the 600-plus cases, the court issued an order Wednesday to lessen the requirements for lawyers from other states who want to represent Dakota Access Pipeline protesters.

"It's a big victory," said Tim Purdon, an attorney with Robins Kaplan and a former U.S. attorney. "They've never done anything like this."

Purdon is one of 10 North Dakota and Minnesota lawyers and organizations, including the state's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and local attorneys Chad Nodland and Derrick Braaten, who petitioned the court last month to allow out-of-state lawyers to practice more easily. In filings, they said the number of arrests was straining the public defense and private bar resources in the state and putting the protesters' constitutional rights to counsel at risk. They also argued the current process that allows lawyers from other states to practice in North Dakota was cumbersome and problematic.

The temporary court order relaxes the rule allowing attorneys from other states to work in North Dakota on pipeline cases. These lawyers still must associate with a local attorney and be in good standing in their home states. But a requirement that the associating attorney appear alongside at every court hearing has been waived as have some filing fees. Any allegations of misconduct will be referred to that lawyer's home state for potential discipline. These lawyers must also work pro bono, meaning they cannot collect money for their services.

The judges, who declined to call this a judicial emergency, did not change the requirements for a temporary state bar license as the petitioners requested. They also dismissed the idea that cases were not being handled in a timely manner because lawyers were not available, citing comments from the defense commission saying they were able to find lawyers for those eligible for free legal defense.

"We have been provided no evidence that a specific defendant has been denied counsel due to the unavailability of criminal defense or pro hac vice associate lawyers licensed in North Dakota," the judges wrote.

Purdon called the court's order a "creative solution."

"The burden on that lawyer is much, much less, and it's much more likely that local lawyers will be willing to (associate with out-of-state lawyers)," he said.

Purdon said 20 to 30 lawyers may be willing to work on these cases for free.

A retired judge also has been added to the South Central Judicial District to relieve some of the strain, according to the order.

The petition received more than 16,000 comments from Dec. 15-30, the order states. The State Bar Association of North Dakota and the N.D. Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents remained neutral in regards to it. It was supported by civil liberties and legal defense groups, including Amnesty International and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. It was opposed by Gail Hagerty, the presiding judge of the South Central Judicial District.

A total of 603 arrests have been made in connection with the pipeline protests, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Department.

A copy of the order is available at www.ndcourts.gov/court/opinions/20160436.htm.
A civil lawsuit has been filed against Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his government over the country's multibillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund scandal, claiming he wrongly exercised his lawful authority.

The misfeasance in public office claim intensifies pressure on Mr Najib amid speculation he intends to call an early election, capitalising on disarray among opposition parties after a crackdown to silence his government's critics under draconian laws, including arresting dozens.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (in pink) delivers Malaysia's 2017 budget to parliament in Kuala Lumpur in October. Credit:AP

International investigators believe associates of Mr Najib siphoned billions of dollars from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund that the then deputy prime minister set up in 2009 and oversaw through his chairmanship of an advisory board.

The 110-page claim filed in a Kuala Lumpur court by opposition MP Tony Pua details how $US731 million ($977 million) was transferred into Mr Najib's personal bank accounts that allegedly originated from 1MDB.
The Worlds worst-kept secret is that Sydney is going through a once-in-a-lifetime property boom, but how long can this trend keep going for? There are some aspects of this property boom that just dont add up.Throughout the calendar year, the number of properties going to auction have been consistently low. On average, month after month we have seen stock levels down approximately 25%.However, according to the monthly stock on market report by SQM Research, the number of listings as at 30 September had risen quite sharply. The Sydney metro had 27,103 properties on the market compared to 23,533 at the same time last year  an increase of 13.2%.And yet according to the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales, the NSW government is facing a budget shortfall as land-related transactions and total stamp duty collected are below current budget forecasts for the 2016/17 financial year. In the first three months of FY17, the NSW government collected $138m less in land transfer duty compared with the $2.157bn in transfer duty it collected in the first three months of FY16.The total budget for FY17 for all transfer duty is $8.777bn, and at the current rate NSW is facing a budget shortfall.So, what are we missing? Lets be honest here and admit the fact that the data surveys, polls and predictions have been more unreliable than theyve ever been. We can start with Brexit.Every poll and bookie was forecasting a very clear win for the UK to remain in the EU after the referendum  in fact, the odds the bookies were giving were not worth betting on.Then we had the Australian federal election. The LNP at one point were $1.11 to win and the ALP were over $4, but as we know, it took over a week to find out the outcome of the election as it was so close.And of course there was the victory of Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton just last month. Trump had always been seen as a long shot in the medias polls, and yet he won with an overwhelming majority. The point is that something is very wrong with the information we are receiving, and it might suggest that people are becoming reluctant to hand over information or even their opinion for the sake of predicting poll outcomes. Does this mean that the outcomes suggested by data and statistics overall are becoming questionable?The RBA , for example, finally expressed concern recently over the level of household debt, but data from the ABS shows that loan approvals are actually on the decline  so why the concern now, and not before?I believe that we are not seeing a true indication of how the Sydney property market is performing, and that there is too much focus on auction clearance rates in the media.Lets be generous and suggest that there are 3,500 properties to go under the hammer next weekend. If we take the 3,500 properties from the total number of properties listed for the month (27,103), this only represents 15% of all property transactions.The pockets of Sydney that typically have properties that sell via auction campaigns are generally affluent areas. So I ask, is this really a true snapshot of the overall market?It is not uncommon in the industry to hear about off market sales. In fact, over the past 24 months there have been plenty of off-market transactions, which do not get registered via the Office of State Revenue until settlement day.When we look at all the data, we have a 13.2% increase in stock levels across the metropolis but a 25% decline in auctioned stock levels, with household debt increasing rapidly and housing loan approvals on the decline!Something tells me we need the methodology of all this data to be revisited. Should the property market no longer be self-regulated, and should we make the reporting of sales, withdrawn properties and unsold properties compulsory? Should an industry as big as the property industry  the countrys biggest industry, making up over 11% of GDP  be self regulated? If it is not compulsory to report the outcome of a marketing campaign for a property, then how could we possibly have an accurate snapshot?Property is not deemed to be an investment class, which is why the industry is not governed by ASIC. However, if I were to purchase the same property through my SMSF , it would come under the derestriction of ASIC.The Reserve Bank takes into account all of the property data that is provided to them, but theyve recently questioned the methodology of a certain research house. Surely the data provided to the RBA should be as accurate as possible given that they make monetary policy decisions based on this information? Shouldnt the consumer be able to access the same information given the fact that purchasing a home is typically the biggest investment a family will ever make?One things for certain: the figures are not adding up, and its hard for people to make confident, informed decisions about property without accurate information at their disposal.is the CEO of Di Jones Real Estate
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62nd Precinct

BensonhurstBath Beach

Beer guzzler

A goon busted into a Avenue T bodega on Jan. 9 and made off with cases of beer, said police.

A deli worker told police that the no-goodnik cut the lock on the basement gate leading to the stores stock area between W. Fifth and W. Sixth streets at 10 pm. The thief fled with as much booze as he could carry, officials said.

But this isnt the first time this happened. Staff said this is the third time the beer fiend has struck, and were finally fed-up with his shenanigans and decided to report the crook, said authorities.

Copper crooks

Police arrested three men who they say ran off with copper pipes from a pipe supply company on 18th Avenue on Jan. 10, authorities said.

A witness saw the trio run out of the store between Bath and Cropsey avenues just after midnight with an armful of copper pipes and other building materials.

Police nabbed the men after identifying them on surveillance footage, officials said.

Sneak thief

A thief crept into a womans 21st Avenue apartment while she was in the shower and swiped her purse on Jan. 14, according to a police report.

The woman told police she was taking a shower in her apartment between Bath and Cropsey avenues around midnight when she heard the doorbell ring. She ignored it but when she came out of the shower she discovered her purse was missing from the hallway where she left it packed with her wallet, officials said. The womans niece may have left the front door open when she left the house, the woman told police.

The purse snatcher fled in an unknown direction, authorities said.

Casual escape

A galoot broke into a womans 18th Avenue apartment on Jan. 16 through her fire escape, but when the woman caught him, he casually walked out through the front door, said police.

The woman told police that while in the living room of her apartment between 77th and 78th streets she heard the man climbing the fire escape just before 9 pm. He proceeded to pry open the rear bedroom window, but when he came face-to-face with the woman, he wordlessly walked out of the apartment through the front door, exited the building, and fled in a dark-colored sedan that was waiting for him in front of the building, officials said.

 Caroline Spivack
WASHINGTON  Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Vice President-elect Mike Pence met for a one-on-one discussion Tuesday of key issues for North Dakota.

Heitkamp and President-elect Donald Trumps vice president swapped cellphone numbers as they talked about issues affecting North Dakota, including passing a Farm Bill and seeing federal assistance regarding the protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

He is making the rounds, and I think that is incredibly smart, she said. I think it is incredibly important that we have a relationship so that if there is something that I think doesnt work, I can call him. If there is something he thinks doesnt work, he can call me.

Heitkamp has previously spoken with Pence, but Tuesdays meeting was the first the two shared in person. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., met with Pence last month to discuss Dakota Access and the need to build up the countrys energy infrastructure, Hoevens office said.

Heitkamp said its important to keep communication lines open, even if she doesnt agree with the other partys politics. She added Pence understands the importance of a strong Farm Bill.

When we talk farm politics, its not partisan politics, she said. Its regional politics.

With Congress getting ready to move on a Farm Bill, Heitkamp said it is important for Trump to appoint an agriculture secretary. Tom Vilsack resigned from the post last week, and his successor is the only Cabinet position that has not seen a nomination from Trump.

Heitkamps name has been mentioned for the job, though she said its likely she would be staying in the Senate.

She said she hasnt heard who will be appointed agriculture secretary, but she did reveal Pence said the appointment is forthcoming.
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Bay Ridgites clashed at a march intended to unite the community on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Hundreds walked along Fourth Avenue in a protest against hate condemning Donald Trumps election, citing the president-elects vitriol against immigrants, Muslims, and women. But a half-dozen conservative locals formed a counter-protest and challenged organizers, who they say overlooked the hate levied against law enforcement and average white people.

They were leaving out hate against the police, hate against the white working-class, said Liam McCabe, a Republican and community activist who felt he was joining the march rather than protesting it. I thought their description of hate was very black and white. And I think the reality is, its much more nuanced, and so we wanted to challenge their narrative, but march in solidarity. Especially on a day like Martin Luther King day, we wanted to say that there is another side to hate and not everyone accepts their vision of what hate is.

Ironically, some peace demonstrators hurled insults at McCabe and crew, but the contradictory conservatives were asking for it by bringing what appeared to be an intentionally divisive message to the party, another demonstrator said.

It misses the point, because the whole idea of the march was to support solidarity  to come together as a community, said Bay Ridgite Cem Kurosman, who came out with his wife and daughter. Theres not a lack of support for the police, theres a lack of support for solidarity. It certainly goes nowhere hurling insults back and forth.

Reach reporter Caroline Spivack at cspiv ack@c ngloc al.com or by calling (718) 2602523. Follow her on Twitter @carolinespivack.
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Following his exoneration this week, we take a look back at the epic story of Sunset Park attorney and politico John OHaras fall from grace and his long-overdue absolution after 20 years.

19901996: A perennial thorn in the side of the Brooklyn Democratic machine, OHara makes five unsuccessful runs for office  twice for Council and three times for the Assembly  including a run against former Assemblyman James Brennan (DKensington) that he believes earned him an enemy for life.

1992: OHara claims to be living in the basement apartment of a Sunset Park building, and registers to vote at that address. He later casts a ballot at PS 92.

1996: Then-District Attorney Charles Hynes hits OHara with a seven-count felony voter-fraud indictment  charges that threaten 28 years in prison. Prosecutors claim OHara couldnt have lived in the basement back in 1992 as it wasnt habitable. OHara refuses several plea deals.

1997: OHara is found guilty on all counts. He is disbarred and banned from voting, and the judge sentences him to five years probation, $20,000 in fines, and 1,500 hours of community service. Following the conviction, Brennan tells the New York Times, John OHara is a pathological liar and fraud and a danger to the public because of his fraud.

1998: OHara strikes back  an appeals court reverses the conviction.

1999: Hynes requests a second trial, which ends in mistrial as the jury fails to reach a unanimous decision.

2000: An unprecedented third trial results in yet another guilty verdict. OHara becomes the first person in Brooklyn to be tried three times on the same crime.

2001: The State Court of Appeals upholds the conviction in a 52 decision. Meanwhile, civil court Judge John Phillips announces he is running for district attorney. Hynes had the so-called Kung Fu Judge declared incompetent, the Bedford-Stuyvesant resident is locked away in a nursing home, and his $10-million estate is handed over to a series of court-appointed guardians.

2002: OHara appeals to a federal court, but the judge throws the case out, arguing it has already been argued exhaustively in state courts.

Now in color: OHara is back on the cover in 2009.

2003: OHara tries to bring his plight to the U.S. Supreme Court, but it refuses to hear his case.

2005: Harpers publishes a 7,500-word feature on the saga, revealing the results of an investigation that said Hynes prosecuted OHara as a favor to Brennan. Hynes threatens to sue the magazine, but never follows through.

2007: OHara gets his name back on the voter rolls. The author of the Harpers story, Christopher Ketcham, pens a screenplay titled OHara, described as Prince of the City meets Serpico meets City Hall.  Chris Noth is rumored to be playing Hynes. (Sadly, the film is yet to be made.)

2008: An appeals court reinstates OHara to the bar. Judge Phillips dies at the age of 83 in the notorious Prospect Park Residence old folks home (subsequently the subject of its own epic court battle). OHara alleges that Phillips froze to death after heat to his room was turned off for two weeks  amid other accusations of mistreatment  and later sues the unlicensed nursing home for wrongful death on behalf of his family. The case is settled for $750,000 in 2015.

2009: A state judicial committee investigates OHaras case and determines that he was indeed a victim of political retribution. Mr. OHara, accurately it appears, claims that the [Hyness political] machine went gunning for him and pounced on his change of residency calling it election fraud, read the report from the Committee on Character and Fitness.

2013: Ken Thompson challenges and beats Hynes in the district attorney race  making him the first New York district attorney to be unseated in more than 100 years. Thompson subsequently creates his Conviction Review Unit to fulfill campaign promises of scrutinizing his predecessors suspicious convictions.

2015: OHara files a motion to vacate his conviction, alleging that Hynes had also committed the same fraud he was found guilty of by registering his Downtown office as his residence in 1996.

2015: The special unit begins investigating OHaras case.

2016: Investigators working for Thompson track down and confront a prosecution witness from OHaras original trial who admits his old apartment was habitable after all.

2017: Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez moves to dismiss OHaras conviction, and he is  at long last  exonerated. He celebrates by eating a chicken quesadilla.

Way back when: John OHara as a fresh-faced political candidate. File photo
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...
PrimeTime Property expresses confidence in latest Zambian acquisition

Botswana Listed property development firm PrimeTime Property Holdings has expressed confidence in the Zambian market and reiterated it was excited about its latest acquisition in the country.

PrimeTimes latest acquisition is a prime retail centre of 7,500 square metres in the upmarket central Lusaka neighbourhood of Kabulonga.

The retail centre is anchored by Pick n Pay and Woolworths and has a strong presence from international and local retailers, banks, and food and beverage outlets.

Tenants include Pizza Hut, KFC, Nandos, Mugg & Bean, LG, FNB, Standard Chartered, Mr Price, MTN and many more.

The company says the property will provide it with a sizable dollar income, in addition to the rentals generated at the PwC Office Park, also in Lusaka, which was acquired in March 2016.

We are delighted to have received such strong support from our investors, which I believe reflects the confidence held in our management team and the long-term strategy that we have laid down for the continued growth of the company.

The Kabulonga Mall is an excellent addition to the PrimeTime portfolio, being an end product that we understand well, with a well-balanced and high-quality tenant base including a number of occupiers we have established relationships with in Botswana, PrimeTimes asset manager, Joe Simpson said.

The Kabulonga Mall was developed by Pylos Zambia, part of the Belgium-based Pylos Group who have successfully developed commercial property in Europe, South America and Africa.

As the developers of the mall Pylos have provided PrimeTime with a rental guarantee, which reflects a 9.25 per cent return in the first year of operation.

The property was recently valued by independent valuers Knight Frank at just over $17.3 million.

PrimeTime also acquired a plot in Chirundu on the Zambia/Zimbabwe border for which it received unitholder approval to develop a shopping centre with Time Projects Zambia at the end of October last year.

The development of some 5,000 square metres will be anchored by Shoprite, Hungry Lion and PEP and is expected to commence development early in 2017.

The new acquisitions are being financed through a further issuance of PrimeTimes bond programme and 12-month Commercial Paper.

PrimeTimes managing director, Sandy Kelly commented: We had an extraordinary response to the two rounds of fundraising that we undertook in 2016, with demand exceeding our requirement on both occasions. It is a testament to the success that PrimeTime has had in unlocking investment opportunities beyond Botswanas borders that demand for the companys notes has been so strong.

www.primetime.co.bw
Life sentences without an opportunity for parole may soon be banned for North Dakota juveniles who commit heinous crimes.

A bill heard Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee would cap the maximum sentence for anyone under 18 at life in prison with the chance to go before a parole board. The proposal drew debate between those who said it would give kids a second chance and others who argued it was unnecessary.

Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck, introduced the bill in light of research showing people's brains are not fully developed before the age of 18. Children don't consider the long-term impact of their actions as adults do, and they are more susceptible to peer pressure, he said. A second chance through parole would give them something to work toward.

"It doesn't guarantee the release of anyone," Klemin said. "Rather, it ensures that a child who commits a serious crime and is charged as an adult has the opportunity for parole someday."

Similar laws were recently passed in South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, he said.

The proposed legislation takes one step beyond a recent trend of U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have limited life without parole sentencing for juvenile offenders. The court decided last year to ban mandatory life without parole sentences for kids, because they violate protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

Under current North Dakota law, defendants ages 14 to 17 can be sentenced to life without parole if their case is serious enough to be transferred to adult court and they are found guilty. The sentencing decision is made by a judge.

There is only one crime in North Dakota that carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole, Klemin said: rape resulting in death. He said that statute needs to be changed, because it is now unconstitutional when applied to minors.

It's rare in North Dakota that anyone under 18 is sentenced to life in prison.

Currently, there is one person serving a life without parole sentence for a crime committed as a juvenile, according to Leann Bertsch, director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In 1995, at age 16, Barry Garcia shot Cherryl Tendeland through the window of a car in a gang-related murder in Fargo.

Two other people are serving life sentences with the possibility of parole for crimes committed at an early age, Bertsch said. They are Michael Neugebauer, who killed his family in Menoken in 1992, and Sergei Carlson, who killed his sister in 2007.

Bertsch testified in favor of the bill, arguing parole gives inmates an incentive to act well and that it can be a useful tool if someone grows very ill or old in prison. She did not believe the bill would apply retroactively.

Jackson Lofgren, president of the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the parole board, also spoke for the measure.

"It may not affect a lot of people, but it's something that I think ... what were we like when at 18? Are we different now? The answer is universally yes," Lofgren said.

But the Cass County prosecutor overseeing the Garcia case opposed the bill, saying there is no reason for a ban against something used only in extreme scenarios.

"For the most part, prosecutors agree: Juveniles should not receive life sentences," said Aaron Birst, who also serves as executive director of the North Dakota State's Attorneys' Association. "However, this is a blanket prohibition on any type of factual situation you can imagine."

Birst noted that parole board members, unlike judges, are not elected and may be less accountable to voters. He added that parole hearings can "revictimize" families upon hearing again about the crime.

Cass County State's Attorney Birch Burdick, testifying about the Garcia case, said a judge carefully weighed that decision, reviewing records from the state hospital, the young man's ability to be rehabilitated and the brutality of the crime.

"We are not so special here that we are immune to the gruesomeness of crime," Burdick said.
Abby Lee Miller and her ALDC are closer than ever to Nationals. Of course, the road to this pivotal moment of Dance Moms season 7 is full of drama for the team.

Perhaps the most dramatic part of this journey is the battle to be next leader of the ALDC. This role was always Maddies, but now that she is off of the team, the Junior Elites are buzzing as to which of them it will be. Will Abby finally make up her mind about this as Nationals are just six weeks away? Lets find out in this episode, titled ALDC Aint Dead Yet.

Recap: Abbys Controversial New Routine Sends the ALDC into a Panic >>>

The Pyramid

The ALDC is coming off a major win. Despite always losing in Fresno, the girls won first place for both their group routine and Brynn and Camryns duet during the recent competition. Since Nia led the group number, Holly is hopeful that Abby will finally start to see her daughter as the true leader of the team.

Abby reveals that the pyramid, from bottom to top, is Lilliana, Maesi, Elliana, Kendall, Kalani, Brynn, Nia and Camryn. After hearing these placements, Holly immediately lashes out at Abby for not putting Nia at the top of the pyramid for leading the winning group piece. Both she and Nia say that whenever Maddie led a group piece, Abby put her at the top of the pyramid. Holly refuses to put up with this and storms out, but Abby couldnt care less.

For the upcoming competition, the team will be traveling to Phoenix, Arizona. There will be two solos. One is going to Lilliana, titled Dainty But Also Dangerous, and Elliana is taking on Charlie, which is inspired by Charlie Chaplin. Since he was a silent film star, Abby is hoping Yolanda will use this as inspiration to keep her mouth shut.

The group routine will be another deep, dark piece, called Six Feet Underneath. This will feature the girls portraying gravediggers. Only Brynn, Camryn, Kalani, Kendall and Nia will perform. Abby is not letting Maesi, specifically, be a part of the routine because she just doesnt think she is mature enough to take this one on. This obviously upsets Jaime, but Abby just laughs it off.

After seeing the negative reactions from Holly, Jaime and almost all of the other moms during the pyramid, Abby warns them that with Nationals just six weeks away, they need to start doing whatever she says. If they wanna be up on that stage at Nationals, its my way or the highway, Abby explains.



Follow the Leader?

To prepare for the group number, Abby takes the girls on a field trip to a cemetery. She wants them to learn that being a gravedigger means that they help the deceased pass on to the other side. They also figure out that working in this occupation is grueling, hard work, so they need to make this apparent on stage.

When the rehearsals pick back up, the moms are all buzzing about who will be and who should be the leader of the team. Some of them think Abby should consider other dancers, like Nia or Kendall, rather than the typical Brynn or Kalani.

Yolanda also has a bone to pick with Abby. She doesnt think it is fair that Abby isnt working on Ellianas solo enough, so she interrupts the rehearsal to get Abby to focus on her. When Elliana finally gets her chance, she forgets her number, prompting Abby to cut her rehearsal time short. The rest of the moms have no clue how Elliana can ever dance to her fullest potential since both Abby and her own mom berate her constantly.

The leader drama then becomes even worse. Abby gives Brynn special choreography for the routine, which makes the moms see that Brynn is, yet again, the star of the group. The moms still think Brynn is being forced into this role and doesnt have what it takes to lead. However, if Brynn helps the group win again, her time as the leader will become even more frequent.



Quiz: Which Reality Show Should You Compete On? >>>

The Competition

As the team arrives to the competition, Yolanda makes a bizarre scene. Since Ellianas solo is Charlie Chaplin-themed, Yolanda shows up dressed like the actor himself. Some could see this as Yolanda just trying to support Elliana, but Abby and the other moms think she is taking the spotlight away from her daughter.

The first performance is Lillianas Dainty But Dangerous. This piece is creepy, eerie and full of stunning acrobatic moves. Lilliana may have just proven to Abby that she is not one who should be sitting out of the competitions any longer.

Elliana goes on next. Her number, titled Charlie, starts off slow, and it seems as though it could hit its stride later on. However, Elliana messes up by dancing too far down stage, which infuriates Abby. She also misses part of her routine, and Abby had hoped this specific moment wouldve been the standout moment of the dance. Abby, of course, doesnt want to hear any of the excuses Elliana has and becomes quite rude with the Mini dancer, which the other moms cannot believe that Yolanda allows to go on.

The final piece is the group routine. This is yet another incredible number from the ALDC in season 7. The girls are completely in sync with one another, and their moves are as sharp as ever. Each one of the girls stands out during this performance, which is sure to please both Abby and the judges.



The Awards

The first prizes to be given out are for the solos. It is a battle between Elliana and Lillianas solos, but only one of them can come out on top. Things dont start off too well because Ellianas Charlie only wins fifth. Lilliana, luckily, does much better by taking home first.

Will the group routine place as high as Lillianas solo? They definitely do by also taking home the top prize. This is their third win in a row, so the team is on a high.

Backstage, Abby praises Lilliana for her win. This upsets Elliana, and she even feels the need to apologize for winning fifth. The rest of the moms are floored by this because they think Elliana is petrified to make a mistake. Yolanda says they are acting like she is abusing her daughter, causing her to break down and storm out. The moms tell her to get it together because Elliana may not be able to last on the team much longer if this keeps going on.

What did you think of the episode? Is Abby being too hard on Elliana? Should Yolanda pull her from the team? Who deserves to be the next leader of the team? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section and in the poll below.



Dance Moms season 7 airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Lifetime. For more news, like our Dance Moms Facebook page.



(Image courtesy of Lifetime)
In a recent NCIS episode, we saw Bishop deal with the tragic death of her boyfriend, Qasim, who was shot while assisting with an operation involving Kai Chen. I am sad because Bishop was finally getting some romance, and now she is alone again.

The team is now dealing with a different kind of loss in this episode of NCIS, titled Off the Grid. It seems that Gibbs has gone missing without a word, and Vance expects the team to find their leader.

6 Times Stars Spoke Out About Real-Life Issues on Social Media >>>

Disappearing Acts

The episode begins with Gibbs enjoying breakfast at his favorite dining stop. He sees something suspicious outside and abandons his breakfast. Gibbs spots Bodie Whitman, and when the other man tells Gibbs that he thought he was dead, Gibbs replies that it is wishful thinking.

At the bullpen, Quinn has a lovely floral arrangement for Bishop because she has had a horrible week with both Qasims funeral services and her work clearing out Qasims apartment. Torres decides to kick in half if Quinn will add his name on the card. She will not add his name, as the flowers are from her.

Reeves receives word that he is being called to the British Embassy to meet with the MI6 Special Operations Director. Reeves meets up with Bishop at the elevator. She tells him that she is okay, but all she really wants to know is what Reeves has found about Kai Chens whereabouts. Reeves reminds her that Gibbs told her not to get involved. Bishop entrusted the final flash drive of Chens to Reeves, as Qasim was shot before he could decode it. Reeves tells Bishop that he hasnt done anything with the flash drive because he is trying to find a translator that he can trust. So does anyone think for a moment that Bishop is letting this go? Nope, me neither.

Vance arrives and alerts the team that they have a more pressing concern. Gibbs never arrived to teach a field training class, and he is also not answering his cell or home phone. Torres and Quinn think that maybe Gibbs is doing something that is really none of their business. McGee and Bishop know that something is wrong. Vance wants Gibbs found, so McGee tells Quinn and Bishop to go to Gibbs house. Bishop is not happy about going into Gibbs house with no one there, but McGee is calling the shots.

Quinn and Bishop find Gibbs truck missing and his door unlocked. Bishop does find one interesting clue: a book called The Sensitive Mans Survival Handbook sitting on his bedside table. Things go from bad to worse when Quinn accidentally hits a plate against the faucet and breaks it. She is understandably upset because it was made by his daughter, Kelly.

Clues and Surprises





Torres and McGee go to Gibbs favorite breakfast haunt and find his truck with a parking ticket. The waitress tells the agents that Gibbs disappeared and left $20 on the table. McGee calls Abby and asks her to ping his phone. She does, and his phone is across the street from the diner. McGee calls the cell phone, and they hear it ringing from a mailbox.

Gibbs left his phone, badge and identification in the mailbox. Torres wonders if Gibbs might have dumped everything that had his actual name on it, which is the first rule of undercover work.

Meanwhile, Bishop is perusing Kai Chens file when Quinn stops her and tells her to leave locating Chen to the other agents. Bishop states that she is fine and that she is not hell-bent on revenge. Bishop goes to see Abby in the lab. Abby is more than freaked-out by Gibbs disappearing act.

The team finally gets some answers when they receive camera footage from near the diner. Gibbs looks directly into the camera and shows his badge and phone before dropping them in the mailbox. Another camera shows him walking to a vehicle with a strange man. McGee doesnt recognize the man, but he sends Abby a copy of the license plate to enhance.

Quinn is concerned when she finds Abby using pyramid power to bring Gibbs home. Im not sure why Abby would put Gibbs belongings under a pyramid structure and how that will help. Is it me or does Abby seem a bit flakier than usual in this situation? All Quinn knows is that she needs Abby to fix Kellys plate so that Gibbs will never know that it was damaged.

A Blast from the Past





The truck belongs to Bodie Whitman, who lives in Baltimore. Vance knows the name because Bodie was involved in one of Gibbs last undercover cases. In 2001, Bodie was a soldier in an anti-government militia group led by Bodies brother. Ramsay Whitman planned the hijacking of a Navy truck that was carrying used nuclear fuel rods. Two Marines died during the hijacking. The Whitman brothers planned to build a dirty bomb.

Gibbs used his backstopped alias of Leland Robert Spears to join the group. Gibbs alias is that of an ex-con and angry former Marine who is against the government. Gibbs was undercover for months as Spears, trying to find out where the rods were.

Only Ramsay Whitman knew the location of the rods, and they were never found. The intended target for the dirty bomb was the DC metro subway. For some reason, Ramsay became suspicious and the rest of the group scattered. The only person who was arrested was Bodie. Three of the militia members were killed in a standoff with the FBI a year later. Vance wants the team to review every paper connected with the case and talk to every agent who worked on the case.

Bodie and Gibbs stop at a gas station. When Bodie goes in to pay for some gas, Gibbs asks a woman if he can borrow her phone to call his wife. Gibbs dials McGees phone, but he must hang up when Bodie opens the door. McGee sees the strange number and calls it back. The owner of the phone answers and gives a dead-on description of Gibbs. McGee gets the womans address and tells her to leave the area. Gibbs and Brodie are in Savage Park, Maryland.

Vance has retired NCIS Special Agent Pettis brought in to chat about the Ramsay Whitman case, along with Deputy Director Roden of the US Department of Energy by video conference. Vance believes that Gibbs is trying to put away Ramsay, who has occupied a place on the most wanted wall for 15 years. These two worked on the original operation.

Quiz: Which Special Agent TV Hunk Would You Date? >>>

Do We Have a Deal?





Gibbs and Ramsay arrive back at Ramsays apartment. Gibbs pressures Bodie to call Ramsay since Gibbs has a buyer for the rods. Bodie is cautious and wants to confirm information about Gibbs buyer. An enraged Gibbs persuades Bodie to try and contact his brother. Bodie posts a picture of an antique watch on the site, which will send Ramsay an e-mail. Ramsay will call back from an untraceable line.

Gibbs and Bodie are on the move to grab some food when Torres bumps into Gibbs and manages to pass him Spears wallet, which contains Spears identification and a bug. While Gibbs and Bodie are eating at the dingy apartment, they get a call from Ramsay. Ramsay is going to think about the deal.

When Ramsay calls back, he talks to Bodie. Apparently, Ramsay knows that Spears is a federal agent, and Bodie pulls a gun on Gibbs. Gibbs tries to talk him down and even tells Bodie that he has other agents with him. Gibbs shoots Bodie when the man turns his back.

Reeves returns to the office, and Bishop pounces on him to find out if MI6 has any new information on Chen. They believe that Chen is on a yacht off the coast of Greece. Abby also has some god news for Quinn; she could fix the plate and there isnt even a crack!

When Gibbs returns to the office, he is treated to a hug from Bishop and some information from Ducky. Bodie had Huntingtons disease. If Ramsay and Bodie are full brothers, there is a chance that Ramsay also has the same disease. Quinn learns that the last tower pinged by Ramsays burner cell is in Tazewells County. There is one citizen of the county that could be Ramsay. Ramsay is living under the alias John Manning. Abby runs facial recognition and Ramsay is Manning.

Gibbs knows that Ramsay will run. Ramsay sends his wife and children off to the grandmothers house. Once they have left for safely, Ramsay loads up a gun and waits by the fireplace. Gibbs knocks on the door, and Ramsay states that he is unarmed and opens the door. He recognizes his old friend, Spears, as he is taken into custody.

Telling the Truth





Quinn is able to find out that Ramsay called Roden, who tipped him off that Spears is a federal agent. Gibbs sits down with Ramsay, who doesnt want his family brought into this mess. He readily tells Gibbs that the nuclear rods are buried about 500 feet from where the hijacking took place.

Quinn goes to see Gibbs at his house to tell him that Roden was picked up. She confesses that she broke the dish. Gibbs tells her that it is fixed, so there was no reason to tell him. Quinn isnt able to let it go, and Gibbs is surprised that Abby was able to remove the crack.

I liked this episode of NCIS, but I found parts of it confusing.

Do you think that Bishop will let go of the Chen case? Was Gibbs wrong to go undercover without telling anyone? Do you think that Quinn should tell Gibbs about Bishop and the Chen case? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

NCIS season 14 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS. Want more news? Like our Facebook page.

(Image courtesy of CBS)
Corinne's Place in Camden is now in the food truck business

The James Beard Foundation award-winning restaurant has been cooking up soul food in Camden for 30 years.
JAMESTOWN  A Senate bill introduced in the North Dakota Legislature proposes raising the speed limit on interstate highways, but speeding fines in the state remain lower than in Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota.

Sen. Lonnie Laffen, R-Grand Forks, introduced Senate Bill 2057 to increase the speed limit from 75 mph to 80 mph on access-controlled, paved and divided, multi-lane interstate highways. The bill, which would affect Interstates 29 and 94, was debated in the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday. No further action has been taken on Laffens bill as of Tuesday.

Sen. John Grabinger, D-Jamestown, previously said he has heard concerns about speeding fines, and that people are saying fines need to increase so drivers will respect the speed limit.

A driver is fined $5 for each mile per hour over the speed limit on a highway with a speed limit above 65 mph, according to North Dakota law. For going 5 mph over the speed limit, the fine is $25, for 10 mph over the fine is $50, and the fine increases by $25 for each 5 mph increment over the speed limit.

Lt. Tom Iverson with the North Dakota Highway Patrol said the patrol hasnt seen issues with drivers speeding in North Dakota when entering from neighboring states with higher speed limits.

South Dakota and Montana raised the speed limit on interstate highways to 80 mph in 2015.

The South Dakota law affects Interstate 29 running north and south and Interstate 90 running east and west.

The fines for speeding in South Dakota range from $85 to $220, said Tony Mangan, public information officer for the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

Montana raised the speed limit to 80 mph on interstate highways in October 2015. The speed limit is 65 mph on stretches of interstate that pass through urban areas, according to the Montana Code, and some areas are set to 75 mph by the Montana Transportation Commission.

Speeding fines in Montana increased when the change in speed limit took effect. Fines for speeding in the state now range from $40 to $200, according to the Montana Senate bill.

Minnesotas interstate speed limits may be lower than North Dakotas, 65 mph on urban interstate highways and 70 mph on rural interstate highways, but the fines are still higher.

The fines for speeding in Minnesota range from $115 to $375, according to the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.
100 drivers from across the UK are gearing up to take part in the 2017 Brean Rally, which is set to return to the village this month.

The 2017 rally, which will be held over the weekend of 28th and 29th January, is set to see an all-time record number of drivers, say organisers.

This will be the 21st consecutive year for the rally at Brean and it promises to be as exciting and as big as ever with many the top rally crews from around the UK taking part.

The rally, promoted by Club Rallysport West, has recently been awarded the title of the South Wests Best Sealed Surface Rally, an accolade thats all the more special as it is an award voted on by the competitors. This is a back-to-back award for the Brean Rally, which it won in 2015 and 2011.

Held entirely within the confines of the Brean Leisure Park, the crews will tackle the 12 special stages over two days around the roads of the Leisure Park.

Such is the popularity of this West Country event that enquiries for entries have been received from all parts of the UK, organiser Rod McKenna told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

The rally is once again expected to attract a wide range of rally cars, from World Rally Cars to the ever popular Ford Escorts, Vauxhalls and Peugeots.

Seeded at 1 is last years winner, husband and wife team, Steve and Yvonne Furzeland in their formidable Subaru Impreza S12 World Rally Car. Steve and Yvonne from Plymouth have now won this event three times and are eager to make it number four.

However, there are some young guns who will be close on their heels and just as eager to take a win at Brean. Seeded at 2 is Lancashire-based and former Manx Rally Champion Aaron Newby, partnered by experienced co-driver Ian Davis, in their TAG-prepared Subaru Impreza.

Aaron led the rally in 2015 on the first day, only to retire with a blown turbo on the first stage of day 2. Watch out for some close action on the opening stages.

At 3 is Bristol based Josh Payton with regular co-driver Marcus Mizen in their Mark2 Ford Escort. Josh finished in the top 10 last year and is quite capable of taking on some of the more powerful cars.

At 9 is another young driver, 18 year old Josh Cornwell from Surrey. Josh is partnered with local co-driver Rick Bliss, who is taking a break from driving. Cornwell who will be driving a Ford Fiesta R2 has been doing very well in both home and overseas rallies.

Five times previous winners at Brean, Karl Broad/Roger Grant, have submitted a late entry in their Subaru Impreza S9 World Rally Car. Seeded at 14 they are expected to make their way through the field in the opening stages.

The rally actually gets under way for the competitors on Friday 27 January when the pre rally scrutineering comes to Weston-super-Mare. The rally cars will arrive at the Weston Colleges Automotive and Motorsport Technology Centre on the Locking Road from 1pm on Friday afternoon until approximately 7pm for a pre rally inspection by the events scrutineers.

This facility will be open to the public who will get the opportunity to view the rally cars and meet the drivers.

Local drivers include Stuart Bliss driving a Honda Civic, Andrew Hicks/Trevor Hawkins in a Ford Fiesta R2, Ian Archer driving a Ford Escort, Pete Donnachie/Mark Carrow, Ford Focus, David Thorpe/Ian Drewitt in a Citroen C2, Grant Andrews, Ford Fiesta, Father and son, Tom Bretherton driving a Honda Civic and Simon driving a Citroen Saxo.

Six special stages will be completed throughout Saturday with a further six stages on Sunday.

The organisers add that spectators at the 2017 Brean Rally will be well looked after. There will be three spectator areas, giving excellent viewing of the rally stages, together with a covered, seated grandstand and catering facilities.

Spectators will be admitted to the park over both days for an admission charge of 5 (accompanied children under 12 will be admitted free) and car parking will be 5.

Also see:

Whats on in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge


The head of North Dakotas largest public employee union said Tuesday that Gov. Doug Burgums proposal to have state employees help cover the cost of health insurance premiums may make it harder to recruit and retain workers.

Burgums budget recommendations for the 2017-19 cycle, released Monday night in the form of a news release, included a proposal to have state employees pay 5 percent of their health insurance premiums, saving the state $11 million. Historically, the state has covered all of the employees premiums.

The proposal also eliminates a 1 percent salary increase for state and campus employees that former Gov. Jack Dalrymple proposed for the second year of the biennium.

Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, said health insurance helps attract and retain people to public sector jobs.

The state of North Dakota, the people who live here, have come to expect great public service, Archuleta said. Im afraid that if all were going to do is cut, cut, cut, were not going to be able to maintain that level that the people of North Dakota have come to expect.

Pam Sharp, the director of the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget, said its common in the private sector for employees pay a portion of the premium. Burgum also pointed to his private sector experience and that of other governments in a Tuesday afternoon phone conference with reporters.

Given the challenge were having on health care costs  we have to have every single employee engaged in understanding the full impact of health care costs and not have it be a free good, he said.

House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, supports the idea.

I think when you have more participation in terms of paying, theres less utilization, he said.

But Senate Minority Leader Joan Heckaman, D-New Rockford, said the increased insurance costs may cause families more stress. She said theyre trying to pin down how much it would cost individual workers, but guessed it would be between $40 and $60 a month.

Were looking out for families, Heckaman said.

Higher ed will make it work

Overall, Burgum proposed a $13.3 billion budget with $4.62 billion in general fund spending, down $168 million and $159 million, respectively, from what Dalrymple proposed in December before leaving office. Burgum cited revenues lagging more than $15 million behind Novembers revised forecast in arguing for additional cuts.

Burgum proposed an additional $31 million cut to higher education, as well as an extra $19 million reduction to state agencies. That would mean eliminating about 633 full-time positions, 50 more than what Dalrymples budget cut.

Archuleta suggested more creative ways around cutting all of those positions, such as instituting furloughs so people could work four days a week and keep their health insurance.

Im just not so certain that every single aspect of making this work has been examined, he said. Were hopeful that that moment hasnt passed.

Kathleen Neset, chairwoman of the State Board of Higher Education, said they will support the Burgum budget, adding that higher education leaders are looking for ways to be more efficient rather than rely solely on cuts.

We will make it work, Neset said. Its now getting to the point where these are difficult cuts. These are getting deeper, more prolonged and more difficult.

Asked how the proposed budget may affect tuition, Neset pointed out the Legislature capped tuition increases in the 2015 legislative session.

To me, everything needs to be out on the table, Neset said. We obviously want to keep rates as low as we can for our North Dakota students, but we have a big task ahead of us.

Burgums budget also supports a long-term care provider assessment, a funding source that nursing homes are seeking as a last resort in the event that money from budget cuts isnt restored. House Bill 1130 would impose a 5 percent fee on nursing home care, which could net almost $20 million over 18 months. The Dalrymple budget also included that assessment, which Burgums office said is already used by more than 40 states.

Burgum spokesman Mike Nowatzki said in a statement that the governor said the idea deserved consideration in keeping with his philosophy that everything is on the table when it comes to balancing the budget.

Hiring freeze bill

Meanwhile, two members of Burgums Cabinet and several others testified against a bill that would prohibit state agencies and institutions from filling vacant full-time equivalent employee positions until April 30.

Carlson, the primary sponsor of House Bill 1303, said state agencies should hold off on hiring employees until lawmakers craft budgets.

Its very difficult for us in a tight budget situation to have a bunch of positions filled and then we have to be reducing a significant amount of positions as we go through our budget deliberations, he said. Im saying that if it was empty now, it can wait those three months until we have the ability to build this entire picture of a budget.

Sharp told the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday afternoon the bill was well-intentioned, but said state agency heads know they will be losing full-time employees.

The last thing they want to do is put someone in a position of being just hired only to be let go a few months later, she said. There a lot of positions in state government that simply cannot go unfilled for long periods of time.

Leann Bertsch, director of the Department of Corrections of Rehabilitation, said a hiring freeze will result in increased overtime spending. The department submitted a proposed amendment to exempt it from the freeze.

Burgum told reporters that he doesnt support the bill because state agencies need flexibility to fill important positions.
Bogged down by an unprecedented surge in imports in last three years especially from China and to remain globally competitive, Indian Stainless Development Association (ISSDA) has recommended government to increase basic import duty on stainless (SS) flat products from 7.5 percent to 12.5 percent and to abolish the import duty on key raw materials like ferro nickel, pure nickel, ferro moly and SS scrap to nil.
There has been much comment over the $1.55 billion demand made by the petroleum ministry on Reliance Industries (RIL) and its partners, BP and Niko Resources, for alleged unfair enrichment through gas migration from an adjoining Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) block in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin.
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The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Wednesday dismissed a contempt petition filed by two Cyrus Mistry family companies against Tata Sons and its directors, alleging violation of NCLT directives in taking steps to remove him from the board of Tata Sons.
Tata Starbucks, the joint venture between Tata Global Beverages and Seattle-based Coffee Company, launched a chain of tea bars, Teavana, on Wednesday  a year after Starbucks Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz had spoken about it.
Ramp up of the second smelters at Jharsuguda and the Balco unit at Korba (Chhattisgarh) helped post 23 per cent growth year-on-year (y-o-y) in aluminium production in the April-December period.

Vedanta's aluminium production in the period under review was a record 0.86 million tonne (mt) as the company took up a disciplined ramp up of the additional pots at these two smelters.
Amidst rumours of Ahmedabad-based drug major Zydus Cadila Group looking to acquire California-based Sentynl Therapeutics, the company said it was open to buyouts in the US and has been looking for suitable targets in the generics as well as speciality space for some time now.

Cadila Healthcare, however, denied speculations over buying Sentynl.

Media reports on Wednesday suggested the company was all set to buy speciality pharma company Sentynl Therapeutics for $171 million. The firm holds the rights for a popular pain-management drug for cancer patients, Abstral. The market size for this opioid-based drug is estimated to be around $24 billion. At present, sale of Abstral is estimated to be around $10 million.

On Wednesday, Zydus Cadila also received final approval from the US-FDA to market Methotrexate tablets, a chemotherapy drug used for leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, head, neck and other cancers.

In an earlier interview with Business Standard, Pankaj Patel, chairman and managing director, Cadila Healthcare had said the company was open to acquisitions (smaller ones in India) to fill the gaps in therapeutic segments and also in the US market.

We are actively looking at opportunities in the US market. We are looking at both companies with a presence in the US generics market as well as companies with presence in the US speciality market. Theres nothing in pipeline at the moment. For India, we would look at smaller acquisitions, maybe some brand acquisitions. For the US, we would look at larger acquisitions, Patel had said.

Last year, the company acquired nine brands from MSD and its subsidiaries for an undisclosed sum. The brands are Deca-durabolin, Durabolin, Sustanon, Multiload, Sicastat and Axeten, which are used to treat cardiovascular and wound management therapy segments.

The acquisition was made through its wholly owned subsidiary Zydus Healthcare Limited.


Three days later West Bengal will try to attract investors at its Global Business Summit, but the protests Bhangar might play spoilsport.
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for Chinese restraint in the Asia Pacific region and asked Bejing to show sensitivity and respect for New Delhis core concerns and interests, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Wednesday said the growth in Chinas power and its implications for Asia was a challenge and something that is difficult to predict. He criticised India's largest neighbour for not honouring concerns over territorial integrity while building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC passes through the Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan region, on which India has territorial claims.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that the Centre is ready to provide security to Dangal child actor if the Jammu and Kashmir State government recommends it.

"We don't decide to provide security on our own. If the state government recommends or if it is so desired, we will support," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told media in New Delhi.

Zaira, who portrayed the young Geeta Phogat in the recently released movie Dangal, issued an apology for 'offending' and 'unintentionally hurting' the people after she met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, and was subsequently trolled on Twitter. She later deleted her post.

Since then, many celebrities, including Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, who essayed the role of Zaira's father in the movie, and political leaders, like Omar Abdullah, have come out in her support.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-Peoples Democratic Party (BJP-PDP) government in Kashmir has also come out in support of the actor, warning extremists not to threaten or blackmail any Kashmiri.
CANNON BALL  With the deepest winter snow piled up in years, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is doubling down on its message that its high time for the anti-Dakota Access Pipeline campers to go home or move off the Cannonball River floodplain.

A tribal and camp meeting Tuesday at the Fort Yates administration building ended with a cleanup and evacuation plan that aims to take advantage of a break in the weather and get "water protectors" and protesters either out or on their way by Sunday.

The plan is to clear drifts of heavy snow from dedicated tribal acreage near the Cannon Ball town site, on the reservation, for people and structures. The site is about 3 miles from the main Oceti Sakowin and smaller Rosebud camps, both in the floodplain. They've been occupied since August by as many as 10,000 people opposed to the crude oil pipeline being built near the reservation.

Cody Two Bears, a tribal councilman, is leading the effort and said about 500 people remain in the camps, based on the latest count he had Tuesday. The Sacred Stone spirit is not included in the plan.

Two Bears said the tribe will help as much as it can and there may be a way for volunteers to get involved. He said the cleanup and evacuation plan is a cooperative one with camp leaders, who get the message that anyone who moves needs to be self-sufficient.

Anything left after the move will be considered abandoned property and subject to being cleaned up and removed, according to Two Bears, who added people who dont move will not be the tribes responsibility.

We want people to leave the floodplain, either go home or come to the new camp, said Two Bears, explaining that tribal law and codes will apply  one advantage of moving the camp onto the reservation. There will be the force of law."

Doug Crow Ghost, director of the tribes water resources, said the people are not being asked to leave the pipeline fight or to stop praying.

Theyre being asked to leave an area thats going to get wet, said Crow Ghost, adding he would contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, owner of the camp lands, so the agency is aware of the tribes effort to clear the camps and prevent contamination of the flood water, if it comes.

He said the corps has been supportive of the tribes position: But we need to put our feet to the ground. People are coming with their hearts and prayers and, at the same time, the fight is not over, the camp has to go."

At Cannon Ball, Robert Fool Bear, the district chairman, said tempers are running high after the town and the community building were overrun with people from the camps, especially nearby Sacred Stone. He said the district has moved to evict camp media from occupying its gym and kitchen with a deadline set for Saturday.

We want to see people go home. Its not a peaceful, prayerful camp anymore. We know that, Fool Bear said. I think the services the tribe can provide for a winter camp are a lot more than we can.

Cyrille Autin, from France, has been living at Oceti Sakowin since September and helping with camp media work at the Cannon Ball building at night. He said hell vacate the Cannon Ball building as asked. The Oceti Sakowin camp will be harder to leave, though.

We love the Oceti Sakowin camp. There are different threats and the flood is just one. Dakota Access is still there and its armed to the teeth with technology, Autin said.

Meanwhile, Tom Goldtooth, of the Indigenous Environmental Network, was over at the new winter camp area after the meeting, working out some details for getting snow cleared in the next few days. He said the idea is to set up a staging area so people can move their equipment and structures, while a more orderly camp with centralized kitchen, dining, water and sanitation services is organized.

Were accepting the challenge to move people to higher ground, said Goldtooth, adding that people should be clear by Sunday whether theyre leaving, or moving.

Its not a statement of giving up. It strengthens the resilience of the water protectors and theyll be safe and warm, he said, looking out at the level area, where a few structures and trailers are already located. Its a good site for a camp.
The role of ISI in the recent train disaster in Kanpur was being suspected after Bihar police arrested three people who they claimed were working for the Pakistani intelligence agency to target Indian railways.

The ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police said.

During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said.

He said ATS and central agencies have been apprised of it for comprehensive investigation.

Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav were arrested from Adapur police station area and they allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to ISI to target the railways, Rana told reporters.

The three are "professional criminals" involved in more than a dozen criminal cases.

The three were paid Rs three lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly has connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai who has links with ISI, the SP said.

The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran district, bordering Nepal, in October 1 last year, Rana said.

"Fortunately, the bomb was detected with the help of villagers at Ghorasan and defused which prevented the sinister designs of the terror elements," Rana said.

The arrest of the trio came in course of investigation in the murder of two persons of East Champaran district in Nepal on December 28 last year for failing to successfully blast bomb on track in Ghorasan, he said.

Efforts are on to arrest, in this connection, two others identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav, who are "hiding" in East Champaran, he said.

While three persons were arrested from East Champaran district, three others have been captured earlier at Tailaya in Nepal for targeting railways on behalf of suspected terror elements in India, the SP said.

East Champaran is a district bordering Nepal. Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in the district in August 2013.
The world needs India's sustained rise as much as India needs the world, Prime Minister said on Tuesday but warned "parochial and protectionist attitudes" are threatening globalisation goals and "non-state actors" are stoking instability, violence and extremism.

He also pitched for a new "open and inclusive" security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region and asked Pakistan to abandon terrorism if it wanted dialogue with India.

Modi also said that the relations between India and US are witnessing expansion across the spectrum.

"India's transformation is not separated from its external context. Our economic growth, employment opportunities for our youth, our access to capital, technology, markets and resources and security of our nation are all deeply impacted by developments in the world. But, the reverse is also true. The world needs India's sustained rise as much as India needs the world," Modi said while inaugurating the Second Raisina Dialogue, India's flagship geo-political conference.

Noting that self interest alone is "neither in our culture nor in our behaviour", he said that India's economic and political rise represents a "regional and global opportunity of great significance".

"Our actions and aspirations, capacities and human capital, democracy and demography, and strength and success will continue to be an anchor for all round regional and global progress," Modi said.

Attacking Pakistan over its support to extremism, Modi said that India alone cannot walk the path of peace and that Pakistan must reciprocate the sentiment in letter and spirit.

"A thriving well-connected and integrated neighbourhood is my dream... My vision for our neighbourhood puts premium on peaceful and harmonious ties with entire South Asia. That vision had led me to invite leaders of all SAARC nations, including Pakistan, for my swearing in. For this vision, I had also travelled to Lahore.

"But, India alone cannot walk the path of peace. It also has to be Pakistan's journey to make. Pakistan must walk away from terror if it wants to walk towards dialogue with India," he added.

The Prime Minister pointed out that India has redefined, despite uncertainty and conflict, partnerships with Gulf and West Asia, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Iran.

Vis-a-vis China, MOdi said it was "not unnatural" for two large neighbouring powers to have "some differences".

"In our engagement with China, as President Xi and I agreed, we have sought to tap the vast area of commercial and business opportunities in the relationship. I see the development of India and China as an unprecedented opportunity, for our two countries and for the whole world," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that over the past two and a half years, his government has given a strong momentum to India's engagement with the US, Russia, Japan and other major global powers.

"These partnerships are a good fit with India's economic priorities of capital and capacities, commerce and technology, industry and infrastructure, skills and development, and defence and security," he said.

On the US, he said he and President-elect Donald Trump have "agreed to keep building on these gains in our strategic partnership".

Modi noted that the world's multi-polarity, and an increasingly multi-polar Asia, is "a dominant fact today", and India welcomes it but with "vibrant pools of progress", rising ambition and festering rivalries are generating "visible stress points" and sought a "transparent, balanced and inclusive" security architecture.

"The steady increase in military power, resources and wealth in the Asia-Pacific has raised the stakes for its security. Therefore, the security architecture in the region must be open, transparent, balanced and inclusive. And, promote dialogue and predictable behaviour rooted in international norms and respect for sovereignty," he said.

He said that in its march of progress, the world will find India "a beacon of peace and progress, stability and success, and access and accommodation".

Organised by think-tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with India's External Affairs Ministry, the Raisina Dialogue seeks to examine "the prospects and opportunities for Asian integration as well as Asia's integration with the larger world".

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were also present among the audience.
Yoga guru Ramdev displayed his wrestling skills as he went head-to-head with 2008 Olympic silver medalist Andriy Stadnik in a promotional bout of the Patanjali Powervita (PWL) here on Wednesday.

Sporting his typical saffron langot, Ramdev came out on top 12-0 over Stadnik, who is well remembered by Indian wrestling enthusiasts as he had defeated Indian star wrestler Sushil Kumar in the Beijing Olympics. As the Ukrainian reached the final, it gave Sushil an opportunity to play in repechage and win a bronze medal.

Ramdev walked onto the mat and, before the bout began, exhibited his firebrand yoga moves before proceeding to his friendly battle with Stadnik, 34, a former European champion.

Ramdev showed wrestling acumen as he pulled out the best of technical moves such as take-down, one-leg hold and pinning down.

Since it was a promotional bout, Stadnik responded by allowing Ramdev to have his way, as did the referees. After nearly two minutes, Standnik surrendered.

The bout took place during the second semi-final between Punjab Royals and Mumbai Maharathi. PWL is sponsored by Patanjali Ayurved Limited, owned by Ramdev.

Ramdev noted that people should do wrestling as it can help in stamina building.

He also felt that wrestling has the credentials to become world's most popular sport.

This was not the first time that Baba Ramdev has shown interest in friendly wrestling bouts. Last year, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their Ashram in Haridwar, Baba had challenged India's only individual two-time Olympic wrestling medallist and former world champion Sushil.
Amid the row over her educational qualification, Union Minister had asked the Delhi University not to disclose it to an RTI applicant, the School of Open Learning has told the Central Information Commission.

The Commission has now directed the School of Open Learning (SoL) to produce before it all the records related to educational details of Irani, Union Textile Minister.

A fresh show cause notice has been issued to the Central Public Information Officer of DU for failing to produce the records before the Commission as directed.

Irani's degrees have been caught in a row after a petitioner alleged she had given contradictory information in her affidavits filed before contesting elections in 2004, 2011 and 2014.

In her affidavit for April, 2004 Lok Sabha polls, Irani had said she completed her BA in 1996 from DU (School of Correspondence as SoL was then called), whereas in another affidavit of July 11, 2011 to contest Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat, she said her highest educational qualification was B.Com Part I, a petitioner had alleged in a city court.

The matter was dismissed by the court on the ground that considerable time had lapsed in filing the complaint.

The issue is, however, still alive before the Central Information Commission where an applicant had filed an appeal, saying he was not given information about Irani's educational qualification by the SoL.

During a hearing, SoL's Central Public Information Officer O P Tanwar said considering that it was a third party information he had consulted Irani about the disclosure.

"In her response (she) raised objection against (sic) disclosure and requested the public authority not to reveal her educational qualification. The CPIO pleaded that information sought was given by the former HRD Minister in fiduciary capacity and hence could not be divulged as per Section 8(1)(e)," Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said in his order.

Although Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur has divested Acharyulu of the Human Resource Development Ministry portfolio, two days after he ordered disclosure of records of the degree course of BA, 1978, the year in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have passed from Delhi University, he will continue to adjudicate matters in which he has already issued notices and is finalising orders.

The petitioner had sought to know from the School of Open Learning whether the Minister had obtained BA degree in 1996 and passed B Com Part I in 1994 from Delhi University.

He had also asked for photocopies of her hall ticket and mark sheets, besides admission form with enrollment number, in case she enrolled herself for the course but did not obtain the degree.

The petitioner sought to know if the Union Minister was enrolled with the University in 2013 why did she not take any examination.

The SoL cited two exemption clauses  personal information and fiduciary information  under the RTI Act to deny the information.

The petitioner filed a complaint and asked the CIC to institute an inquiry into "unjustifiable and illegal" denial of information sought by him.

"The question before the Commission is whether the appellant is asking (for) information which is given by the student (Ms Smriti Irani) to the School of Open Learning or whether School of Open Learning has given the degree to its student," Acharyulu said.

He said to find answers it was necessary to verify the records.

"The Commission summons the concerned records and directs O P Tanwar to produce registers and records containing details of educational qualifications accorded to the student which were sought by the applicant," the Information Commissioner had said in his order.

He also asked SoL as to in how many cases it has refused to give degree related information under the RTI Act in the year 2016.

The transparency panel had on Wednesday directed the Central Board of Secondary Examination to allow inspection of class 10th and 12th school certificates of Irani, rejecting CBSE's contention that it constituted "personal information".
Altico Capital, floated by private equity funds Clearwater Capital Partners, Abu Dhabi Investment Council and Varde Partners, is looking to hike its allocation to commercial properties to 15-20 per cent, from sub-10 per cent currently. It is also looking to lend to infrastructure, manufacturing and so on.
Taking Indo-African bilateral relations to the next level, Indian healthcare major Apollo Hospitals and the Tanzanian health ministry today signed the African nations first memorandum of understanding (MoU) for public private partnership (PPP) in the health sector.

According to the agreement, Apollo Hospitals would provide expertise and machinery for a 350-bed super speciality hospital in the Milimani city of Dar es Salaam, while the Tanzanian government would provide the land and bear the construction costs, Blandina S J Nyoni, Tanzania's health secretary, told Business Standard.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete today, at the end of the first Indo-Tanzania bilateral summit on Tanzanian soil.

Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Prathap C Reddy, who flew down to the port city to sign the agreement, told Business Standard, The Tanzanian government is giving a lot of importance to the health sector. This is a key area, not just in Africa, but also in other parts of the world. We would be happy to expand our presence in Africa. The total expenditure for the Apollo Hospitals project is estimated at $60 million.

China is currently building a heart institute in the National Hospital in Tanzania, with a grant of $63 million, while South Korea is helping in setting up a medical college in the country. We chose to do it ( Milimani's super-speciality hospital) with India, since we have a long-term relation with India, said Blandina S J Nyoni.

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete said the project would help Tanzania in capacity building and reduce its expenditure on sending patients for treatment abroad.

Currently, we spend $8 million every year to send our citizens abroad for treatment. Now, we are trying to build local capacities, he said. However, he also mentioned Chinas generous help in building the 200-bed heart wing in National Hospital.

Bangalore based Vigyan Education Foundation had set up the first private medical and technological university in Tanzania. The university was also the first private university in Tanzania.

For Apollo Hospitals, this would be its first hospital in Africa. We have helped in some other ways in the healthcare sector, but this is the first time we would be running a hospital, Reddy told Business Standard. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, in his speech, said he expected five more such hospitals to be set up by Apollo in various parts of the country, including Zanzibar.

Private companies are not allowed to own land in Tanzania. The land where the hospital would be built belongs to the University of Tanzania.

The hospital would be run by Apollo Hospitals, which would also train local doctors and medical staff. We had sent 29 doctors in India for training. They have come back and now, open-heart surgeries are happening in our country, said President Kikwete.

Health Secretary Nyoni said, The hospital can be expanded to 600 beds. A total of 60 per cent of our patients go to India. This institute would considerably reduce that traffic. We have upgraded 20 hospitals with the help of foreign players. But this is a very different kind of a joint venture.

Apollo Hospitals Group accounts for over 8,500 beds, across 54 hospitals, both within and outside India.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to soon issue provisional data on how much of old notes were returned to banks from November 10 to December 30, in the wake of .
There is a possibility that the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR, on taxes) and the tax treaties signed by the government with those of Mauritius, Singapore and Cyprus, and even other nations such as Netherlands, could be overtaken by another event.
One of the most interesting questions in Indian macroeconomics today is: how are we faring since late 2016? In this article, I seek to analyse data on tax revenues and obtain some clues about the performance of the economy.
One million foreign tourists landed in the country last month, a record number for any single month. The arrival shows a year-on-year growth of 13.7 per cent. December happens to be a strong month for foreign tourist arrivals but growth in December 2015 was only 3.2 per cent. Some industry watchers, therefore, relate the sharp rise last month to demonetisation, which may have prompted thousands of persons of Indian origin (PIOs) to visit the country.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel (pictured) will face questions on and its aftermath when he appears before the Parliaments standing committee on finance on Wednesday.
After the big-bang launch of the governments (Bharat Interface for Money), Prime Minister is likely to launch Aadhaar Pay by the end of this month or early next month.

The much-awaited Aadhaar-enabled payment system (AEPS) is a biometric way of making payments and would use only fingerprint linked to Aadhaar, which would be connected to a bank account, negating the requirement for a mobile phone.

The launch would be part of the governments digital India campaign and less cash initiative.

Sources in the information technology ministry said at this stage, the government was in talks with various banks and the security checks of Aadhaar Pay are being conducted.

Officials said four major banks have come on board to implement the scheme. Talks are on with others and soon they would also join.

We are at this point conducting mandatory security checks. All these checks would be done over next week. However, by the end of the month, it would all be ready. We would also have a host of banks onboard as well by then. Though nothing has been finalised till now, the Prime Minister would likely launch the payment system, said a senior IT minister official.

AEPS along with the and are all part of the various modes of digital payment the government is exploring and has worked on for the last one year.

BHIM the rebranded version of (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) was launched last year in December by the PM. The app has managed to gain major traction and has been downloaded more than 12 million times.

The government is working overnight to get the Aadhaar Pay online. Law and IT Minister said at an event recently almost 3 million Indians do not have mobile phones and this would help them make payments and keep everything transparent. "We are just going to finalise the whole process very soon of an Aadhaar-enabled payment where, at a flick of your thumb, you can make digital payments, he said.
In a vitriolic attack, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday compared the fallout of on Indian economy with the disaster wreaked by atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"By dropping the 'atom bomb of demonetisation' Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reduced the Indian economy to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 'All are dead'," the Sena said in an edit in the party mouthpieces Saamana and Dopahar Ka Saamana.

Accusing Modi of "not heeding anybody" the Sena said the prime minister did not listen to the advice of even the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before spiking Rs 500 and 1,000 notes on November 8 last year.

"Just like the deaf-and-dumb parrots sitting in his Cabinet, (Urjit Patel) was appointed the RBI Governor and the country's economy has been reduced to shambles," the Sena noted.

The party led by Uddhav Thackeray is an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Centre and Maharashtra.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPI) can now breathe easy with the Income Tax (I-T) Department on Tuesday putting in abeyance its controversial circular on taxing India-dedicated funds.

Experts said clarity was necessary on the issue at the earliest so that FPIs were certain. They expect the to amend the law in the Budget to put an end to the controversy.

The circular, in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs), had spooked the markets when it was issued last month.

It also gave rise to fears of retrospective taxation as the principal amendment to the Income Tax Act on indirect transfers was such in nature.

These provisions were first introduced in 2012, with retrospective effect, after the government failed in levying a tax on the British telecom giant Vodafone Group Plcs purchase of Hutchison Whampoas India telecommunications business.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the capital markets division of the have received a number of representations from various FPIs, venture capital funds and other stakeholders, expressing concern that the circular does not address the issue of possible multiple taxation of the same income.

Representations made by the stakeholders are currently under consideration and examination. Pending a decision in the matter, the operation of the above-mentioned circular is kept in abeyance for the time being, CBDT said in a notification.

The circular gave rise to fears that there would be triple taxation on the activities of the India-focussed funds overseas. The circular implied that India-dedicated funds would be taxed if they sell shares overseas.

Besides, overseas individual investor of the fund would also be taxed in India and would not get any tax credit in his home country. The direct taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) also does not come to the rescue of investors.

The tax arises when Indian assets of the funds constitute 50 per cent of the total asset value of funds globally or Rs 10 crore. However, those having less than five per cent of fund shares would be exempted from the tax.

The circular would have put at risk particularly the 181 publicly traded funds whose India exposure is more than half of total assets. They have almost $39 billion under management, Andy Mukherjee wrote in Bloomberg.

Amit Maheshwari, managing partner, Ashok Maheshwary and Associates, said the circular had caused a lot of anxiety among FPIs and the investors. A quick closure to this controversy is required, keeping in mind the practical difficulties and business realities of fund structures, he said.

According to sources, the government might confine the applicability of the circular to private equity and the mergers and acquisitions space, thereby exempting the activity in the listed space and offshore derivative instruments.

After a representation by FPIs, the capital markets division under the department of economic affairs had raised the matter with the revenue department, seeking a quick clarification on the matter.

At least one of the big four accounting and consulting firms and four large Indian offshore fund players were part of the representation. According to sources, this move by the government to put the circular under abeyance was intended to soothe the nerves of FPIs for the time being.

This will bring a lot of cheer to FPIs. They were concerned about the fallout of the circular in terms of tax provisioning as well as past liability. All those concerns have at least temporarily been put to rest. Specific amendment to the tax law, exempting foreign investors investing directly or indirectly in FPIs will put this issue to rest forever, said Suresh Swamy, partner, PwC.

The move shows that the Centre was concerned about foreign investors, said U R Bhat, managing director, Dalton Capital Advisors. It couldnt have come at a better time as emerging markets are no longer attractive destinations for overseas funds. The change was bound to happen as you cannot expect a tax regime that would triple tax FPIs.

Nirmal Jain, founder and chairman, IIFL, said, The circular was not practical, more so if the government intends to attract FPI flows. This would be a positive move for markets in the near- to medium-term but FPIs will look for the Budget to provide more clarity.
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal for Indias taking full membership of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) Governing Council. The move involves payment of annual contribution of US $ 5,00,000 to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Seoul, South Korea. .

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Background.

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International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Seoul, South Korea, established in 1997 on the initiatives of the UNDP, is an international organization devoted to developing and introducing new and improved vaccines to protect the people, especially children, against deadly infectious diseases. In the year 2007, with the approval of Cabinet, India joined IVI. India is a long-term collaborator and stake-holder of IVI. In December, 2012 the Board of Trustees (BOT) of IVI approved the formation of its new governance structure. As per the new governance structure of IVI, a member State has to contribute to the IVI by paying a portion of its core budget. Since India is classified in Group-I, it has to pay an annual contribution of US $ 50,000. .

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Cabinet approves MoU between India and Vietnam In the field of cyber security

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam in the field of Cyber Security.

It was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), India and the Cyber Security Department, Ministry of Public Security, Vietnam on 3rd September 2016 at Hanoi.

The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of cyber security-related incidents between India and Vietnam.

Implementation of the MoU will result in significant mutual benefits in the cyber security sector, through institutional and capacity-building in the field of cyber security in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the 12th Plan Proposal of the DARE/ICAR Plan Scheme of the 'Establishment of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (lARI)-Jharkhand'. It will have an estimated outlay of Rs. 200.78 crores (100% ICAR share) on 1,000 acre land provided by the Government of Jharkhand at the Gauria Karma Village in Barhi Block of Hazaribag. .

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lARI-Jharkhand would be a unique Institution, which would possess all the hallmark identities as that of IARI at New Delhi including all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticultural crops, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk and lac rearing, honey production etc..

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IARI-Jharkhand would work on the agrarian challenges and complexities of eastern India with all existing Central and State Government R&D institutions and Private sector enterprises. It will undertake research, education, extension programmes in its mission towards developing quality human resource, generation of farmer friendly technologies to enhance productivity, quality and profitability. It will also promote agro-based industries and generate employment opportunities for holistic and sustainable development of the agriculture sector in the eastern region. It will be an off-campus of IARI, New Delhi and integrated multi-disciplinary research would be undertaken in School mode, i.e. Schools of Crop Sciences, Natural Resource Management, and Animal Sciences..

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On request of the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur Shri Okram Ibobi Singh met him here today. .

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The Home Minister expressed his grave concern over the continued blockade of National Highway-2 causing severe difficulties to the people of Manipur specially with regard to availability of essential commodities. Shri Rajnath Singh further stated that continued blockade is likely to adversely affect democratic process in the forthcoming elections by hampering movement of people, including election officials..

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The Ministry of Home Affairs has been making repeated efforts to find a way to have the NH-2 opened. On 15th November, 2016, tripartite talks with Government of Manipur and United Naga Council (UNC) were called at New Delhi to discuss the economic blockade, which were not attended by Government of Manipur. On 22nd Dec., 2016, the Union Home Minister wrote to the Chief Minister of Manipur to discharge his Constitutional obligations of keeping National Highways open and ensure supplies of essential commodities. 40 additional Coys. of Central Para-Military Forces have been made available to Manipur as asked for by them in the month of December, 2016, in addition to 135 Coys. of CAPFs already stationed there. Despite these repeated efforts of the Ministry, nothing substantive seems to have been done to remove the economic blockade. .

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Shri Rajnath Singh stated that it is the Constitutional obligation of Government of Manipur to maintain public order in the State including maintenance of essential supplies and conducive atmosphere for holding elections. He called upon the Chief Minister to discharge this obligation responsibly, in the interest of people of Manipur. If more forces are required for this, that would be made available by Government of India. But it is critical that Government of Manipur should not be lacking in its will to restore normalcy. .

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The Union Home Minister made it clear that if Government of Manipur fails in its Constitutional duties, Government of India may have to explore other measures under the provisions of Constitution of India to ensure that difficulties of people of Manipur are alleviated. On request of Home Minister, the Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri T. R. Zeliang also met the Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh today. The Home Minister sought his cooperation in keeping the NH-2 open between Dimapur and Mao Gate and not to allow disturbance on this vital route..

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Mr. Jacques Audibert, Diplomatic Adviser to the French President, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. .

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The Prime Minister recalled his visit to France in 2015, and the visit of President Hollande as Chief Guest at the Republic Day on 2016, and said that the exchange of visits had laid the foundation for strengthening bilateral ties for years to come. .

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The Prime Minister said that bilateral relations between India and France have expanded from the triad of Defence, Space and Civil Nuclear cooperation to encompass a broad range of sectors, especially counter-terrorism, maritime security, and renewable energy. .

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The Prime Minister recalled the establishment of International Solar Alliance as a landmark achievement in global efforts against Climate Change, and conveyed his appreciation for French support to this initiative. .

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The Prime Minister called for greater bilateral cooperation in Smart Cities, Urban Transport, and Infrastructure Development. .

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Ministry of AYUSH is organising two day International Symposium on drafting a National Policy on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of India on 19th January 2017 at Pusa Campus, New Delhi. Minister of State for AYUSH Shri Sripad Yesso Naik, MoS for DONER Shri Jitender Singh and MOS Agriculture Shri Shri Purshottam Rupala will attend the inaugural session of the symposium. The main purpose of the international symposium is to identify major policy, institutional and regulatory issues covering production, consumption and marketing system (PCMS) with focus on environmental, legal, social, R&D, economic, trade, industry, infrastructure, cultivation and marketing aspects. More than 300 prominent members of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Community are expected to attend the conference. .

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Deliberations are proposed to be held during the International Symposium with the objective to suggest a draft National Policy covering the following fields with reference to Medicinal Plant sector: i) Forest & Conservation, ii) Regulations, iii) Information, Education & Communication, iv) Training & Capacity Building, v) Research & Development, vi) Cultivation, Sustainable Harvesting & Post-Harvest Management, vii) Export Promotion, viii) Commerce, Industry & Marketing, ix) Networking, Knowledge Management & IT Intervention, x) Programs & Schemes. .

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The main output will be the Draft Policy outline and framework that can be shared with larger stakeholders focusing on four regions: Northeast, South, West and North India. A final draft policy will be compiled by the Task Force to be set up by the Ministry of AYUSH and a final international symposium will be organized to finalise the draft for submission to the Govt. of India for approval. .

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The Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of UK, called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today. .

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The Prime Minister recalled their earlier meeting during his visit to UK in November 2015, when Mr. Johnson was the Mayor of London, and congratulated him on his appointment as the Foreign Secretary. .

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The Prime Minister said that the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November 2016 has put in place the framework necessary to guide India-UK relations in the days to come. .

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The Prime Minister appreciated the progress achieved in strengthening the bilateral partnership in various sectors, especially Science & Technology, Finance, and Defence & Security. .

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The Prime Minister noted that the Indian diaspora in UK acts as a living bridge between the two countries, and is a key driver of close people-to-people relations, and hoped that both sides would continue to work together to enhance these ties. .

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The Union Textiles Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani said that with

312 participants from 14 states coming together, India International Garment Fair is one of the largest platforms in Asia showcasing apparel & accessories. She said that with the presence of 246 registered buying houses, IIGF will facilitate international buyers to source products and form collaborations. Stating that

festivity in terms of trade had begun under the aegis of AEPC, Smt. Irani congratulated the participants who she said came with a lot of hope, to present their talent to the rest of the world. She said that more than 1000 buyers are participating in the fair, so that they can leverage the talent that India has to offer. She expressed the hope that AEPC goes from strength to strength through these endeavours. She added that platforms like IIGF are very cost-effective for newly exporting small and medium enterprises which use these platforms very effectively. The Textiles Minister said this today, after inaugurating the 58th edition of

India International Garment Fair (IIGF), at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Ajay Tamta, and Secretary (Textiles), Smt. Rashmi Verma were also present at the inauguration of the three day international fair, which caters to Autumn- Winter 2017/ 18.
The New York Times has deftly adapted to the demands of digital journalism, but it needs to change even more quickly, according to an internal report that recommends the company expand training for reporters and editors, hire journalists with more varied skills and deepen engagement with readers as a way to build loyalty and attract the subscriptions necessary to survive.
A Nigerian state official says an Air Force fighter jet on a mission against Boko Haram extremists has mistakenly bombed a refugee camp, killing more than 100 refugees and wounding aid workers.

The Borno state government official is helping to coordinate the evacuation of wounded.

The official spoke on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to reporters.

Military commander Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor confirms the accidental bombardment in northeast Rann, near the border with Cameroon. The general says among the wounded are Nigerians working for Doctors Without Borders and the Committee of the Red Cross.

This is believed to be the first time Nigeria's military has admitted to making such a mistake.
Russian President said on Tuesday that those who spread "fake news" about US President-elect Donald Trump are "worse than prostitutes".

The Russian leader fielded questions about the incoming US President during a news conference with his Moldovan counterpart at the Kremlin, CBS News reported.

He dismissed as a hoax a privately-prepared intelligence dossier that claimed Russian intelligence agencies had compromising material on Trump, including candid video shot at a Moscow hotel when he was there in 2013 for the filming of the Miss Universe pageant.

Putin accused the outgoing Obama administration of trying to "undermine the legitimacy" of Trump's "convincing" election victory, suggesting it was the White House that made the dossier public.

US officials have not confirmed the details of the dossier, but they have told CBS News they believe Russia may well have collected what is known as "kompromat" on Trump. It is a widely-known and well-documented practice of Putin's intelligence services to collect such material for blackmail.

Multiple government and intelligence officials told CBS News a week ago that an addendum to the classified intelligence report on Russia's efforts to interfere in the US election contained unverified details of potentially compromising information that Russia has gathered on Trump.

The officials said the information originally came from a former British intelligence officer and was eventually turned over to US intelligence, as well as other government officials last year.

The Kremlin has dismissed the claims of compromising material on Trump as "a fabrication and utter nonsense."

Russia has been blamed by President Barack Obama and myriad Democratic and Republican lawmakers -- citing conclusions drawn by the US intelligence community -- for hacking Democratic institutions and interfering in the American presidential election process in favor of Trump.

Putin's government has flatly rejected the allegations of hacking, also.

Trump, who takes over as President on January 20, himself finally accepted, in his first news conference since winning the election, that Russia was likely behind the hacking of the Democrat's servers, but has dismissed as "fake news" the claims of Russian compromising material on him.

The Russian leader said on Tuesday he hoped Trump's presidency would allow for the normalization of US-Russian relations.
There can be no doubt that the swearing in of on January 20 will usher in a new era for the United States. But the president-elects open support for torture and waterboarding could mean his inauguration also marks a return to what President Barack Obama has called a dark and painful chapter in US history.
has dipped 5% to Rs 129 on the BSE in intra-day trade after the company reported 69% decline in its consolidated net profit at Rs 10 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2016 (Q3FY17) on sequential basis. The company had posted profit of Rs 32 crore in September 2016 quarter and Rs 7 crore in December 2015 quarter.
has zoomed 18% to Rs 149, also its 52-week high on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in noon deal after the pharmaceutical company announced that it has receive the US regulators approval for making a migraine drug.
A sharp decline in export to China and slowing purchases from local fabric makers might prompt yarn manufacturers to slowdown investment in new capacity addition in the next five years.
Taking a potshot at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for filing complaint against its vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the Congress on Wednesday said that a hand (Congress) can pull a lotus (BJP) out of mud.

"It is natural for a losing BJP to get mad and hyper. Start working on the issues put forward by people. A hand can pull a lotus out of mud," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told ANI.

Rubbishing the claims made by the BJP, Surjewala talked about his party's symbol and highlighted its importance, adding that the saffron party should rather concentrate on the upcoming elections.

"Hand creates harmony, strengthens mankind, gives inspiration to move forward, and it is Congress' election symbol as well. So, stop nit-picking and fight elections," he added.

The BJP earlier on January 13 filed a complaint with the poll panel against Gandhi for hurting religious sentiments, by co-relating the symbol of Congress with religious gods such as Shiv, Guru Nanak, Buddha, Islam and Mahavir.

In a complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer, the BJP had alleged that Gandhi, during a Jan Vedna Sammelan convention, held in Delhi, had violated the provisions of Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, Model Code of Conduct and guidelines issued by the Supreme Court.

During the convention, Gandhi had said that he saw the Congress symbol - an open palm - in the photos of gods belonging to various religions.

"I was told that the Congress party was around 100 years old. But one day, when I was going through some photos, I saw the Congress symbol in a photo of Shivji," Gandhi said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam in the field of cyber security.

It was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), India, and the Cyber Security Department, Ministry of Public Security, Vietnam on September 3, 2016 at Hanoi.

The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of cyber security-related incidents between India and Vietnam.

Implementation of the MoU will result in significant mutual benefits in the cyber security sector, through institutional and capacity-building in the field of cyber security in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on Wednesday, registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in connection to the alleged irregularities in the 'Talk To AK' social media campaign.

According to CBI sources, the Deputy Minister has been charged on the basis of an alleged violation of extent rule and regulation in the social media campaign 'Talk to AK,' that was being live-streamed on Google, Facebook and YouTube.

'Talk to AK', launched a year ago, was a live interactive session, whereby people used to ask questions on social media platform and Arvind Kejriwal would respond to them.

The programme named 'Talk to AK' is similar to that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat.'

It was an hour-long session, where people, who had questions, were asked to log on to 'talktoak.com' or call on 011-2339299.

During the talk session, the Chief Minister used to cover a wide array of issues, especially to the the strenuous relations shared between the Centre and the Delhi Government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and his fellow commissioners will be in Dehradun today to review the poll preparedness in Uttarakhand.

The team will meet the administrative and security officials during the two-day visit.

It will also meet the representatives of various political parties.

The state will have single phase polling on February 15.

The notification will be issued on January 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday.

Rajnath expressed grave concern over the continued blockade of Highway-2 causing severe difficulties to the people of Manipur especially with regard to availability of essential commodities.

The Home Minister said that continued blockade is likely to adversely affect democratic process in the forthcoming elections by hampering movement of people, including election officials.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been making repeated efforts to find a way to have the NH-2 opened.

Tripartite talks with Government of Manipur and United Naga Council (UNC) were called on November 15, last year, at New Delhi to discuss the economic blockade, which was not attended by Government of Manipur.

On December 22, last year, Rajnath wrote to the Manipur Chief Minister to discharge his constitutional obligations of keeping Highways open and ensure supplies of essential commodities.

40 additional Coys. of Central Para-Military Forces have been made available to Manipur as asked for by them in the month of December, last year, in addition to 135 Coys. of CAPFs already stationed there. Despite these repeated efforts of the Ministry, nothing substantive seems to have been done to remove the economic blockade.

The Home Minister said that it is the constitutional obligation of Manipur Government to maintain public order in the state, including maintenance of essential supplies and conducive atmosphere for holding elections.

He called upon the Chief Minister to discharge this obligation responsibly, in the interest of people of Manipur.

"If more forces are required for this, and that would be made available by Government of India. But it is critical that Government of Manipur should not be lacking in its will to restore normalcy," he said.

Rajnath made it clear that if the Manipur Government fails in its constitutional duties, Centre may have to explore other measures under the provisions of constitution to ensure that difficulties of people of Manipur are alleviated.

On request of the Home Minister, Chief Minister of Nagaland T. R. Zeliang also met the former on Wednesday.

The Home Minister sought his cooperation in keeping the NH-2 open between Dimapur and Mao Gate and not to allow disturbance on this vital route.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel came under scanner in a Parliamentary committee meeting, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday said that the committee grilled the former to know the truth about pre and post demonetisation era.

"The committee certainly wanted to grill RBI to know the truth about pre and post demonetisation era when how things operated and what was the role of RBI. Unfortunately the country believes that RBI was also kept in dark with regard to issuance of various ordinance, orders and notification and this was nothing but some kind of onslaught on the autonomy and independence of RBI. So definitely the members must be up their sleeves with the very uncomfortable questions for the RBI governor and he must be in a soup," NCP leader Majid Memon told ANI.

He further said that he was glad to know that former prime minister Manmohan Singh came to the rescue of Patel in replying to parliamentary committee.

"He came to the rescue of RBI Governor to respond to certain queries which probably he may have been finding difficult to do. So, this is just a human helping hand but I don't think Manmohan Singh would approve what mistakes have been committed by either the Government of India or RBI in the matter of demonetisation," Memon added.

Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance yesterday criticized the RBI Governor for his inability to answer queries related to demonetisation.

Patel was unable to tell us how much money has come back to the banks," said Saugata Roy, TMC MP.

"The governor was unable to tell us that how much old currency has come into the banks," added Saugata Roy.

Sources also quoted the RBI governor, as telling the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, that Rs.9.2 lakh crore in new currency has been introduced into the system.

Patel briefed the parliamentary panel about demonetisation and its impact on the economy and the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch.

Manmohan Singh, who was a former RBI governor, had also come to the rescue of Patel and advised him not to reply to questions which could create problems for the central bank, whose autonomy, according to critics, has been depleted by its role in the demonetisation drive.

Besides, representatives of the finance ministry, including from the Department of Economic Affairs, Financial Services and Revenue, briefed the Standing Committee on Finance headed by former Union Minister and senior Congress leader M. Veerappa Moily.

Representatives of Indian Banks Association (IBA), State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab Bank (PNB) and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) were also present in the meeting.

It may be recalled that the RBI had earlier given a seven-page reply to the questions raised by the committee. It had then said that it had received advisory instructions from the government to consider the demonetisation of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes.

According to the RBI, the government wanted it to consider demonetisation of high value currencies "to mitigate the triple problems of counterfeiting, terrorist financing and black money" on November 7. The central board took a decision on this and the government announced the demonetisation on November 8.

The RBI had cleared the introduction of new Rs. 2,000 notes in May 2016 and that the central board had not discussed the ban of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes in its meetings in May, July or August.

The RBI Governor is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.

Finance ministry officials informed the committee about the pros and cons of demonetisation, starting early 2016.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday hit out at the Congress Party for demanding the resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel and for their planned protest outside RBI offices, saying that the latter is bereft of any concrete issues to face the ruling BJP government in the centre.

"Demonetisation is a thing of past; normalcy is fast returning; now the withdrawal limit has been increased to 10,000 in ATM per day. People are happy and have reconciled to present situation," BJP leader S. Prakash told ANI.

He said the Congress is unable to find an issue to hit the street, so they are hitting their dead horse repeatedly with no result.

The Congress Party will today protest outside the RBI offices in Mumbai, Nagpur, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad over the issue of demonetisation.

The party had yesterday demanded the resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel over the bank's "loss of autonomy".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Asserting that Indo-US relations will strengthen irrespective of the recent change of guard, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has established an early contact with President-elect Donald Trump's transition team.

Addressing the second day of the Raisina Dialogue here, Jaishankar said that a strong conversation has been held between India and the Trump cadre.

"We established an early contact with the Trump transition team and see a strong conversion of interests and concerns," he said.

Meanwhile, throwing light on the Indo-Russia relations, Jaishankar stated the bond between both sides have heavily strengthened in the view of blooming camaraderie between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Modi.

"With Russia, India's relationship has grown very strong in the last two years as with the bonding of the two leaders," he said.

Talking about New Delhi's ties with Japan, Jaishankar said, "With Japan, there is really a transformation underway in the relationship that would make it a key player in India's modernization."

The Foreign Secretary's assertion came a day after Prime Minister Modi stated that New Delhi has given a strong momentum to engagement with the United States, Russia, Japan and other major global powers over the past two and a half years.

"With them, we not only share a desire to cooperate. We also hold converging views on opportunities and challenges that face us. These partnerships are a good fit with India's economic priorities and defence and security. With the United States, our actions have brought speed, substance and strength to the entire spectrum of our engagement. In my conversation with President-elect Donald Trump, we agreed to keep building on these gains in our strategic partnership," Prime Minister Modi said in his inaugural address at the second Raisina Dialogue.

"Russia is an abiding friend. President Putin and I have held long conversations on the challenges that confront the world today. Our trusted and strategic partnership, especially in the field of defence has deepened," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As part of its expanding outreach programme, the Embassy of India in Berlin, Germany, today launched a foreign policy discussion scheme "Videsh Niti" series.

The objective is to have a greater appreciation of India's foreign policy positions in Germany and introduce a meaningful dialogue on such issues in a contemporary format with the participation of policy makers, think tanks and other related individuals and institutions.

The inaugural Videsh Niti Session was a discussion on "Globalization of Terror: Recent Perspectives and Regional Dynamics" which was held at the Embassy premises in the afternoon of January 17, 2017.

This would be followed by other themes in the near future. Speaking at the launch of the series Ambassador Gurjit Singh said that India and Germany were important partners and member of the G 20. While we do a lot together in economic engagement, cultural interaction and an expanding academic and students interaction, political and foreign policy themes often took a lower role in our public engagement.

In order to enhance this and the perception of India in Germany, this special Videsh Niti series was being launched. We aim to do this by partnering with important think tanks for each of the series including the Koerber Foundation, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Global Policy Planning Initiative (GPPI) etc.

The panelists for the Session were Dr. Andreas Nick, MP and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the German Parliament (Bundestag); Dr. Joachim Bertele, Deputy Director General for Foreign Security and Development Policy in the Federal Chancellery; Dr. Angela Stanzel Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR); and Mr. Abghishek Singh, Deputy Chief of the Mission. The select group of participants belong to the German Government, Bundestag, Think-Tanks and Foundations, Diplomatic Missions and others interested in foreign policy matters.

Terrorism is a global threat which poses an unprecedented challenge to all nations. It casts a long shadow on our development and economic prosperity. Today, no corner of the is immune to this menace. There is a changing character of terrorism with global links, franchise relations, home-grown terrorism and use of cyber space for recruitment and propaganda.

It is imperative that the acts in a united way against terrorism. There can be no disagreement on putting in place an effective counter-terrorism strategy with efficient mechanisms and response systems at different levels which require greater international cooperation. We need to restructure the international legal framework to deal with the unique challenges of terrorism. This requires a meaningful dialogue among all stakeholders on regular basis. India remains committed to global efforts of tackling the menace of terrorism.

The Embassy of India highly appreciates a meaningful and interesting discussion on this very important topic of terrorism in the inaugural session of the Videsh Niti Series.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Make Plans Now for the 2017 American Birding Expo

The American Birding Association has been proud to support the American Birding Expo, a showcase for products for birders and nature enthusiasts featuring vendors from around the world. You can read about the experience from the perspective of one of our own with Greg Neises photo gallery last year.

For the past two years the Expo has been held in Columbus, Ohio, at the lovely Grange Insurance Audubon Center, but this year theyre moving east for a bigger event for more people. The 2017 American Birding Expo will be held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from September 29  October 1, 2017.

This move puts the Expo right in the middle of one of the highest concentrations of birders in North America, not more than a stones throw from the headquarters of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Society, the Cape May Bird Observatory, and the ABAs Delaware City headquarters. So to say were excited about having this even in our backyard would be an understatement.

So if you are in the area, please check out the American Birding Expo website for more information and updates as the event takes shape. And be sure to watch this video retrospective of last years event.
CFA Society India hosted the 7th India Investment Conference on 13 January, 2017 at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The theme for this year's conference was 'Searching for Alpha in a Divergent World'. Nearly 500 investment management professionals attended the conference, which focused on the challenges faced by the Indian investment management industry.

"India's GDP growth to remain strong. Expect strong GDP numbers for India in the next 15-20 years," said Sunil Singhania, CFA, CIO - Equity Investments, Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd., who was part of an insightful panel discussion on asset allocation.

Jayesh Gandhi, CFA, President, CFA Society India (volunteer) and Senior Portfolio Manager, Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company, aptly summed up the 7th India Investment Conference: "Against the backdrop of global uncertainties, conference delegates heard prominent geopolitics and policy experts, economists and fund managers who presented alternative perspectives to investment themes, asset allocation strategies, opportunities and challenges. We are excited to see the continuous growth of this conference and look forward to closer collaboration with industry professionals who left with many new themes and ideas."

What industry says:

"We are relatively positive on India because we think that the underlying reform agenda will remain in place. There has been a setback with this demonetisation decision but it will ultimately pay off," said Peter Berezin, Chief Strategist, BCA Research.

"The overall investment scenario for India looks good. Companies with high equity returns will be benefitted most." - Heather Brilliant, CFA, Chief Executive Officer, Morningstar Australasia

"Financial advice should be focused around three major areas - accessibility, intelligence and alignment." - Jonathan B. Stein, CFA, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Betterment

"India has great potential and should mobilize its resources to build infrastructure along with focusing on tangible targets." - Andy Xie, Independent Economist.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the Bihar Police claiming that Pakistan's ISI may be behind the Kanpur train mishap, the Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday called for better coordination between the central and state intelligence agencies.

JD (U) leader Rajeev Ranjan told ANI that the Centre must in the wake of such cases allot a larger chunk for railway security in the Union Budget.

"The ISIS involvement in the case shows there is a need to increase the security provisions. Safety of railways is important and more emphasis should be laid in surveillance," said Ranjan.

"In the coming budget, the Narendra Modi government should look into the fact and cater to the same," he added while emphasizing on better coordination of intelligence agencies of the states and at the Centre.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) sleuths have reached Patna to carry forward the probe into the untoward incident.

The Bihar Police's assertion came with arrest of three persons in East Champaran district of the state.

During interrogation, the arrested persons have confessed to having been paid Rs. three lakh by a Nepalese citizen identified as Brajesh Giri allegedly connected with the ISI for planting a bomb on railway tracks at Ghorasahan in East Champaran district on October 1 last year to cause an accident.

The Bihar Police has sought help of the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing for further investigation in this regard.

Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said that the arrested persons have confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact supposedly linked to the ISI to target the Indian Railways.

The Indore-Patna train accident claimed lives of about 150 passengers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Manipuri terrorist group commander, who was arrested in Delhi by the special cell, will be produced before the Patiala House Court today.

As per the reports, the Delhi police anti-terror wing special cell, had on January 12, arrested commander in chief of Kangliepak Communist Party (KCP) along with a woman.

According to the police, accused has been identified as Khoirom Ranjit alias Rocky alias Great Macha.

The accused was reportedly held from a house situated in east Delhi Mayur Vihar area.

KCP is involved in various crimes including terror attacks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A delegation of Naga women, hailing from Manipur and representing the organization "Women for Just-Peace", met Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday and appealed for peace in the region.

In a memorandum submitted to the Minister, the delegation noted that following the announcement by the Government of Manipur on December 8 last year to create seven new districts, there has been constant unrest and blockade resulting in considerable hardship to common people.

The delegation said the Naga Community and its women-folk seek a solution to end this impasse which is adversely affecting peace and communal harmony in the state.

The memorandum observed that irrespective of the respective positions taken by the Government of Manipur or the United Naga Council (UNC), the immense difficulties and hardships faced by the ordinary citizens and those travelling to the state must come to an end as soon as possible.

They expressed concern that the atmosphere of violence and agitation currently gripping Manipur is an outcome of confrontation between different groups which needs to be resolved for restoration of peace.

In another memorandum, the delegation expressed the confidence that it is only Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose leadership can ensure an atmosphere of peace, honour and respect for the people of Manipur. It also said that the "Women for Just-Peace" looks forward to march along with India towards peaceful coexistence, progress and development.

Singh held a detailed interaction with the members of delegation and conveyed to them the government's keenness for restoration of peace and prosperity in Manipur.

The delegation included Linda Newmai, Dr Gina Sangkham, Dr Achan Mungleng, T. Ningreichon, L. M. Tabitha, Thingreiphi and Wang Hring.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Green Tribunal (NGT) will on Thursday hear the issues regarding garbage menace in the capital.

The NGT, earlier on January 13, sought account details of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), Delhi government and Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

The decision comes a day after Delhi government told the NGT that Rs 1,800 crore was given by EDMC to DDA, which was denied by both EDMC and DDA today.

The green panel had also issued notices to the Delhi Government, the EDMC and Sanitation Workers Union, asking them to appear before it in connection with the issue of garbage disposal in the capital.

The NGT has also formed a committee to tackle the menace of solid waste in Delhi.

The committee, including representatives of the NPCB, DPCC, DDA, MCD, DG Health and four independent members, will visit the site and give report about the capacity and sewage management plant. .

It will also look after the solid waste management of five star hotels, hospital, big colonies and colleges, which have more than 500 students.

The national capital has been reeling under garbage menace as the sanitation workers have called for an indefinite strike on January 5, demanding payment of pending salaries of three months.

Since 2015, EDMC sanitation workers have gone on strike five times over non-payment of salaries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday criticized Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel for his inability to answer queries related to demonetisation.

Patel was unable to tell us how much money has come back to the banks," said Saugata Roy, TMC MP.

"The governor was unable to tell us that how much old currency has come into the banks," added Saugata Roy.

Sources also quoted the RBI governor, as telling the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance that Rs.9.2 lakh crore in new currency has been introduced into the system.

Patel briefed the parliamentary panel about demonetisation and its impact on the economy and the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch.

Besides, representatives of the Finance Ministry, including from the Department of Economic Affairs, Financial Services and Revenue, briefed the Standing Committee on Finance headed by former Union Minister and senior Congress leader M. Veerappa Moily.

Representatives of Indian Banks Association (IBA), State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) were also present in the meeting.

It maybe recalled that the RBI had earlier given a seven-page reply to the questions raised by the committee. It had then said that it had received advisory instructions from the government to consider the demonetisation of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes.

According to the RBI, the government wanted it to consider demonetisation of high value currencies "to mitigate the triple problems of counterfeiting, terrorist financing and black money" on 7 November. The central board took a decision on this and the government announced the demonetisation on 8 November.

The RBI had cleared the introduction of new Rs. 2,000 notes in May 2016 and that the central board had not discussed the ban of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes in its meetings in May, July or August.

The entire exercise of demonetisation has been mired in secrecy as neither the RBI and the government has given any details on when the decision was taken and who were involved in the process. The briefing by Patel and other bureaucrats before the Parliamentary panel assumes significance in this context.

The RBI Governor is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the demonetisation of old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes on November 8 last year.

Following the decision, the RBI had put restrictions on withdrawal of cash from ATMs as well as from banks to deal with shortage of new high denomination currency notes. This led to long queues at ATMs and bank branches.

The cash situation has improved gradually with supply of new Rs.500 and Rs.2,000 notes. On Monday, the RBI increased the daily withdrawal limit from ATMs to Rs.10,000, though it kept the weekly ceiling at Rs.24,000.

All over the country, banks had to deal with huge rush of people who thronged their branches to deposit the junked notes. The deadline for depositing old notes with banks ended on December 30.

Finance ministry officials informed the committee about the pros and cons of demonetisation, starting early 2016.

The meeting discussed issues about demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 and the impact thereafter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Red Hat, a provider of open source solutions, hosted a half-day event in Colombo at Hotel Cinnamon Lakeside on Wednesday. Under the theme of 'Power of Participation', the event discussed how enterprises can transform and innovate by learning, networking, and collaborating via open source .

The keynote address was delivered by Amarjeet Manchanda, Director, Presales, Red Hat India, who spoke about the potential of open source to influence change and enable innovation. He emphasised that open source is now at the forefront of every major breakthrough. According to him, Sri Lanka is an exciting market that's primed for disruption and Red Hat is geared to play an important part in this transformation journey.

Through this event Red Hat hopes to connect and educate potential customers, clients, influencers and policy makers of its services and unique offerings in open source. The event gathered some of the brightest minds in the country to discuss the power of open source and best practices that can help accelerate innovation in Sri Lanka's digital economy.

Red Hat's primary focus will be to help businesses accelerate digital transformation in the areas of BFSI, telecommunications and government In Sri Lanka. With the government's big push in critical infrastructure to enable digital technologies, Red Hat's innovative offerings are well positioned to help its expansion plans in Sri Lanka.

Red Hat will also focus on developing an ecosystem of partners to empower a framework for open source technologies in Sri Lanka. Industry interactions will also be held in academic institutions to help students understand careers in IT and open source.

Discussing about the event, Amarjeet further shared, "Red Hat is optimistic about the opportunities in Sri Lanka and has received a very positive interest from existing customers and new ones to extend Red Hat's services in this region."

He further highlighted that during their initial conversations with policymakers, partners and customers there has been a strong willingness to embrace open source .

During his session, Neeraj Bhatia, Director, Partner, Alliances and Commercial Sales, Red Hat India, said, "Red Hat is one of the most engaged and collaborative partners in the ecosystem that is driving innovation and enabling businesses to benefit from the digital technologies. Partners lead and deliver a high share of Red Hat's business in the region and the company is keen to invest in strengthen its existing partner relations while also forging new ones in a nascent market like Sri Lanka.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Judging from Ryan Reynolds' most recent social media post, it is highly likely that James Bond is soon sharing screen space with Wolverine and Deadpool.

In an Instagram picture, the 40-year-old star is seen posing for the lens along with Pierce Brosnan, who plays the British agent, and 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' co-star Hugh Jackman, leading fans to speculate that Brosnan might be involved in the Deadpool sequel, which is set for release in 2018.

The trio struck a 'hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil' pose probably implying that they will not be sharing updates in the near future.

"Wolvie. Bond. Wade," read the caption.

Jackman also shared a similar shot on his Instagram handle, captioning, "#wolverinebonddeadpool."

Reynolds' 'Deadpool' recently yielded two Golden Globe nominations, and is also up for 'Best Theatrical Motion Picture' at the Producers Guild of America Awards and 'Best Adapted Screenplay' at the Writers Guild of America Awards.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior advocate Abha Singh on Wednesday expressed her disappointment after Bollywood actor Salman Khan was acquitted in the Arms Act case and dubbed it to be the defeat of the country's judicial system.

Singh told that the actor has been acquitted one after the other in all cases including the 2002 hit-and-run case, the Chinkara case and now the Arms Act case on the ground of lack of evidence.

"That is what the courts have said or the evidences were not put properly before the court. Who should be held responsible for this? Why is justice being defeated? Just because the police and the prosecution have not put up a water-tight case. It is not Salman Khan's victory but defeat of police and prosecution. It is the defeat of the judicial system," Singh said.

The senior advocate asserted that it needs to be investigated whether the actor's act was intentional or purposeful and demanded that the Supreme Court must now look into the matter.

"The benefit has gone to Salman Khan because he is a celebrity. Time has come for the Supreme Court to look into this matter seriously that whether there was some hidden hand or process which was trying to defeat justice as it appears," she said.

Meanwhile, another advocate Ujjwal Nikam said it is now for the concerned state government to decide whether they should approach the higher court in connection with this case.

"The off-shoot was that he was having the weapon, but without licence. Basically he was holding the licence, but it was expired. I think he has been acquitted technically," said Nikam.

"It is for the concerned government to decide to appeal to the preferred or not, what evidence is to be marshalled in the court and what was the defence? Those facts have to be taken into consideration by the court and the government," he added.

Earlier on January 9, the Jodhpur District session court had fixed January 18 for announcing its decision on the same.

The date for pronouncing the judgment was fixed after the court heard the final arguments from both sides which were completed on January 9.

Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit directed the actor to be present in the court during pronouncement of the order.

A case against Khan was registered under the Arms Act earlier in October 1998 for alleged use and possession of arms with expired license during alleged poaching of two black bucks in Kankani village of Rajasthan.

The case was filed by the state's forest department.

Earlier in 2007, the actor spent a week in jail in Jodhpur before being granted bail.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday decided to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urge him to promulgate an ordinance to lift the ban on bull taming sport, Jallikattu.

Pannerselvam will fly down to New Delhi tomorrow and discuss the prospects of brining such an ordinance.

He also requested the youth and protesters to give up their agitation over the issue.

"Tamil Nadu Government will continue to take necessary steps to ensure holding of Jallikattu- CM O.Panneerselvam (sic)," the AIADMK Tweeted.

Meanwhile, more than 4,000 protesters, mostly students, converged Marina beach demanding for the removal of ban on Jallikattu. They are also seeking a ban on the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has antagonised the people for having anti-jallikaatu stand.

The call for a ban on PETA also resonated within the AIADMK, with general secretary Sasikala Natarajan leading the chorus for it.

"Centre should promulgate an ordinance for revoking the ban on Jallikattu. We will adopt all legal measures to ban PETA," said Natarajan.

Anguished by the continuing ban on Jallikattu for the third year in a row, people in some villages in Madurai district also observed a "Black Pongal."

They hoisted black flags and held processions condemning PETA and demanded that the Centre to take steps to conduct Jallikattu.

Last week, the Supreme Court rejected a plea seeking to allow Jallikattu played during the Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu.

An apex court bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R. Banumathi told a group of lawyers, who requested for the verdict, that it is unfair to ask the bench to pass an order.

The court had earlier in 2014 banned Jallikattu on grounds of animal cruelty.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's northeastern state of Manipur is all set to go for assembly polls in March 2017. With a total of 60 Assembly seats, Manipur is considered a political bastion of the Congress, as it will be completing a third consecutive term under Mr. Ibobi Singh, and will hope for a fourth consecutive term in office.

Anti-incumbency factor

And this time the state might see an electoral battle fuelled by anti-incumbency, where voters will surely analyse Mr. Singh's performance and take an informed decision to choose a government in this elections.

The only alternative to the Congress are the regional parties in the state, most with a similar mindset of professing accountable liberty, labour, and equal opportunity. But this time, the BJP is trying hard to put up an impressive performance in this state assembly election.

Less than one lakh voters in all 60 Assembly Constituencies

Less than one lakh voters in each of the 60 assembly constituencies of Manipur will decide the fate of candidates in this year's polls. About 732780 voters in the age group of 25-40 years will exercise their right to vote.

Age and Sex-wise Composition of Electorate

Age (18-25 years)

Male (155247)

Female (158756)

Others (0)

Total (314003)

Age (25-40)

Male (354548)

Female (378232)

Others (0)

Total (732780)

Age (40-60)

Male (295630)

Female (303333)

Others (0)

Total (598963)

Age: Greater than 60

Male (119984)

Female (128013)

Others (0)

Total (247997)

Women voters outnumber males in all age groups

Manipur became a Union Territory in 1956 and later, in 1972, a full-fledged state. It has two Lok Sabha constituencies and one seat in the Rajya Sabha. It has just two divisions and nine districts. The Inner Manipur consists of 32 assembly seats and one parliamentary constituency. Outer Manipur has 28 assembly seats and one Lok Sabha Constituency. Interestingly, women voters outnumber males in all age groups in the state, which has around 18 lakh voters.

The total population of the state is 27,21,756 lakhs as per 2011 census.

Manipur: a mosaic of rich culture and traditions

A beautiful northeastern state of India, Manipur, boasts of a mosaic of rich culture and traditions. In the company of vibrant dances and music, the Manipuris find ample of reasons in their fairs & festivals for celebration. In the field of art and culture, the State is best represented by its classical and folk dance forms and also the theatre.

2017 poll dates in Manipur

The 2017 Manipur assembly polls will be conducted in two phases. First phase involving 38 constituencies on March-4, and second phase to take place involving 22 constituencies on March-8.

Before delving into the main contenders for the upcoming polls, we shall have a cursory glance as to what are the main problems of the state, as these issues are likely to remain the top agenda of every political party contesting for polls.

Major Issues

1. Economic blockade

Manipur primarily has three ethnicities - Meiteis, Nagas and Kukis.

The Meiteis who are dominantly Hindus, live in the Valley, while the other two mostly occupy the hills. There is often a triangular tension among these 3 main groups.

The Valley, consists of five district .- Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel, Ukhrul, and Churachandpur. And in the plains, there are four districts- Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Bishnupur.

The Nagas have been demanding to merge the lands inhabited by them with the state of Nagaland to form a Greater Nagalim and the Meities, the original habitants of Manipur are vehemently opposing it. Currently, a economic blockade is causing severe hardship to local residents. The prices of essential commodities have shot up. A litre of petrol is selling for more than Rs. 300 and an LPG cylinder costs as much as Rs. 3,000. There have been reports of sporadic violence taking place in the run-up to the polls.

On December 14, when the chief minister was to inaugurate the new Tengnoupal district, three commandos were killed and 11 injured in two ambushes. This was followed by an attack on a police post in Tamenglong district on December 17.

2. AFSPA

One of the major electoral issues in Manipur has been the demand of repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act was signed into law in September 1958, and was later renamed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). It authorises the central government and heads of states and Union Territories to declare the regions they govern to be "disturbed areas." The act gives armed forces extarordinary powers, including immunity from legal action, and the licence to shoot to kill and arrest people without obtaining warrants.

The insurgent groups operating in the area are opposed to elections and would invariably give a call to boycott it as well.

Irom Chanu Sharmila, a civil rights activist-turned politician of Manipur and known as the "Iron Lady" or "Mengoubi" had been fighting for repealing the AFSPA. She began a hunger strike on this issue on November 2, 2000 which ended on August 9, 2016, after 16 years of fasting.

3. Naga Accord

The NDA government signed a framework agreement on August 3, 2015, with the NSCN (IM) group. Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the agreement as "historic" and expressed his optimism that it would pave the way to permanent peace and prosperity in the state.

Details of the agreement were not made public, but an impression was given that the NSCN (IM) had given up its demand for Greater Nagaland and that the government had agreed to give greater autonomy to Nagaland.

Union Minister for Home Affairs (MOS) Kiren Rijiju said that the exact terms of agreement would be finalised in about three months. Nearly 18 months have passed, the final agreement is nowhere in sight.

What is disturbing is that NSCN (IM) continues to violate the terms of the suspension of operations agreement with impunity. They even made an abortive attempt on the life of Ibobi Singh on October 24, 2016, when his helicopter landed at Ukhrul district headquarters. What is worse, Th. Muivah, NSCN (IM) general secretary, keeps harping on 'Naga sovereignty'.

Main Contenders for the polls

The main contenders for the polls are the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Irom Sharmila-led People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) and the Trinamool Congress. There are also two recognized state parties viz., Naga People's Front (NPF) and the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) in Manipur, according to Chief Electoral Officer.

Congress

The Congress has been in power for the last 15 years with Okram Ibobi Singh in chief ministerial role since 2002.

However, this year, the Congress might find difficult to retain its power due to anti- incumbency sentiments in the state coupled with the tough challenge it would be facing from the BJP, which in 2015 By-polls, secured two seats from Thangmeiband and Thongju area, both considered strongholds of the Congress.

Apart from that, the recent decision of the Manipur Government to carve out seven more districts in the hill areas might become a major issue in the assembly poll as it saw intense backlash from the Naga tribes which led to the economic blockade of the highway called by the United Naga Council.

The fact is, the creation of the seven districts by the Congress led government led by Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh while pleased the Meiteis of the Manipur, it upset the Nagas residing in the state, who claimed this as an attempt to suppress their rights. In protest they caused an economic blockade. The Nagas fear that the bifurcation would result in encroachment of their ancestral lands.

BJP

The BJP, on the other hand, will be making the economic blockade and the failure of the government to control the situation as the main electoral plank for the elections.

BJP is accusing the Congress Govt. in Manipur saying that even after three terms, it has miserably failed to execute plans which are in larger public interest.

The BJP is also raising issue of rampant corruption in Govt. recruitments, irregular salaries, non-functional Govt. machinery, farmland-grabbing in the name of development, drinking water issues and outsourcing of law and order to Village Defence Force (VDF).

However the sudden resignation of Khumukcham Joykishan from the BJP who had earlier defected from Congress, joining the Congress thereafter, has endangered saffron party's prospects in poll-bound Manipur,

He was considered as one of the BJP's prominent young faces, and a probable chief ministerial candidate for the coming assembly polls. He was one of the three members of the BJP's election management committee that was established to formulate the party's strategy for the upcoming polls in the state. He also helped the party open its account in the state assembly in November 2015 along with Th. Biswajit. Joy kishan joined the BJP in May 2015 after Bishwajit, another fellow MLA from All India Trinamool Congress, O Lukhoi and him were disqualified by the speaker under the tenth schedule.

All three were elected for the first time to the assembly during the 2012 polls. Joy kishan and Biswajit won their respective seats in the mid-term polls as BJP candidates.

Irom Sharmila and the PRJA

Activist Irom Sharmila, who ended her 16-year-long fast demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act on August 9, formed People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance ( PRJA). Sharmila would contest from two constituencies - Thoubal and Khurai. While Khurai is her home constituency, Thoubal is constituency of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.She has blamed Ibobi's government for creating seven new districts without consulting all groups, and for extending AFSPA by another year.

Sharmila's party has selected six candidates out of the 60 assembly seats.

Other contenders: BJP, Trinamool Congress, Naga People's Front, Manipur State Congress Party, People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance ( PRJA).

Brief history of Manipur Assembly elections

Since 1963, 11 people have been elected as chief minister, including Singh, out of which five represented the Congress Party.

Before Singh, Manipur was under President's Rule from June 2, 2002 till 6 March, 2002.

And before the President's rule, Radha Binod Koijam from the Samata Party was the chief minister from February 15, 2001 till June 1, 2001.

Manipur Poll Date: 4 & 8 March (Two phases)

Population in 2011: 0.26 Crore

Assembly seats: 60

Party in power: Congress

Chief Minister: Okram Idobi Singh

Total Number of Voters - 18 Lakh

Less than 1 Lakh voters in all 60 Assembly Constituencies

Total population of the state - 27,21,756 lakhs (2011 census)

Party-wise seats in assembly poll 2012

Party Seats Won Vote %

Indian Congress 42 42.42%

All India Trinamool Congress 7 17.00%

Lok Jan Shakti Party 1 0.55%

Manipur State Congress Party 5 8.39%

Naga Peoples Front 4 7.50%

Nationalist Congress Party 1 7.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi signed MoUs with NBCC (India), HSCC (India) and with HITES HLL Life Care to expand infrastructure and other facilities. The signing ceremony was presided over by Shri J P Nadda, Hon'ble Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Hon'ble Union Minister for Urban Development, Urban Poverty Alleviation, and Information & Broadcasting. AIIMS signed an MOU worth ? 4441 crores with NBCC (India), ? 2500 crores with HSCC (India) and ? 729 crores with HITES HLL Life Care, a cumulative net worth of ? 7670.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri J P Nadda said that this is one of the most historic days for AIIMS as this is the largest ever health sector investment commitments made by Government in a public health project at one event. The past two years have witnessed a historic growth in the form of infrastructure & other facilities, Shri Nadda said. The Health Minister assured that the Government is committed to ensuring that the new AIIMS will meet the same standards of service as AIIMS, New Delhi. No effort will be spared to make them the very best, he added. Shri Nadda stated that AIIMS has created a benchmark in the field of healthcare not only at the national level but internationally also. It has a great testimony and we must try to replicate it in the new AIIMS, he added. He noted that the new Institutes will be AIIMS and not AIIMS-like.

Innovation for cost effective and affordable healthcare is the need of the day. To take up all these challenge AIIMS needs strengthening and expansion of its facilities. Which we are committed to provide, Shri Nadda said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shri Venkaiah Naidu said that that in line with the vision of the Prime Minister, we should reform, perform and transform and this initiative reflects that. Shri Naidu further stated that this initiative is going to change the face of AIIMS. The profession of doctors is a very noble task and AIIMS has contributed significantly in providing quality healthcare. The expansion plans of the Government would not only improve medical education but will also provide greater access to world class facilities to the citizens, Shri Naidu added. He further said that we should have such premier institute in every state of the country and India is well on its way to becoming a medical hub in the world.

The agreement with NBCC for redevelopment envisages construction of 3060 residential apartments at Ayur Vigyan Nagar campus and 868 apartments at West Ansari Nagar Campus by construction of 3060. The total augmentation of 3928 units would take the total available residential units of AIIMS to 4505. The detailed proposal identifying the housing requirements/type design/project rollout schedule has been firmed up after wide consultations and deliberations by a broad based committee of faculty and consensus was arrived at in a meeting Chaired by the Director, AIIMS in presence of Heads of Departments, Faculty Association, the Officers Union, the Nursing Union and the Karmachari Union .

The agreement with HLL Infra Tech Services (HITES) is for procurement of all types of Medical Equipment and Services including Medical Gas distribution system, CSSD, Modular Operation Theatres for National Cancer Institute, AIIMS, Jhajjar, Haryana. Similarly, HSCC has been selected as a project management consultant for the design, tendering, supervision of engineering components and for equipment procurement and allied infrastructure works for the proposed National Cardiovascular Institute, (NCVI) at the AIIMS second campus at Jhajjar.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal for India's taking full membership of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) Governing Council. The move involves payment of annual contribution of US $ 5,00,000 to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Seoul, South Korea.

Background

International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Seoul, South Korea, established in 1997 on the initiatives of the UNDP, is an international organization devoted to developing and introducing new and improved vaccines to protect the people, especially children, against deadly infectious diseases. In the year 2007, with the approval of Cabinet, India joined IVI.

India is a long-term collaborator and stake-holder of IVI. In December, 2012 the Board of Trustees (BOT) of IVI approved the formation of its new governance structure. As per the new governance structure of IVI, a member State has to contribute to the IVI by paying a portion of its core budget. Since India is classified in Group-I, it has to pay an annual contribution of US $ 50,000.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam in the field of Cyber Security.

It was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), India and the Cyber Security Department, Ministry of Public Security, Vietnam on 3rd September 2016 at Hanoi.

The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of cyber security-related incidents between India and Vietnam.

Implementation of the MoU will result in significant mutual benefits in the cyber security sector, through institutional and capacity-building in the field of cyber security in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the 12th Plan Proposal of the DARE/ICAR Plan Scheme of the 'Establishment of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (lARI)-Jharkhand'. It will have an estimated outlay of Rs. 200.78 crores (100% ICAR share) on 1,000 acre land provided by the Government of Jharkhand at the Gauria Karma Village in Barhi Block of Hazaribag.

lARI-Jharkhand would be a unique Institution, which would possess all the hallmark identities as that of IARI at New Delhi including all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticultural crops, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk and lac rearing, honey production etc.

IARI-Jharkhand would work on the agrarian challenges and complexities of eastern India with all existing Central and State Government R&D institutions and Private sector enterprises. It will undertake research, education, extension programmes in its mission towards developing quality human resource, generation of farmer friendly technologies to enhance productivity, quality and profitability.

It will also promote agro-based industries and generate employment opportunities for holistic and sustainable development of the agriculture sector in the eastern region. It will be an off-campus of IARI, New Delhi and integrated multi-disciplinary research would be undertaken in School mode, i.e. Schools of Crop Sciences, Natural Resource Management, and Animal Sciences.

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for amendment in the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) to further incentivize investments in Electronic Sector and moving towards the goal of ' Net Zero imports' in electronics by 2020.

Besides expediting investments into the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in India, the amendments in M-SIPS are expected to create employment opportunities and reduce dependence on imports. The projects already received under the scheme have the potential to generate employment to the extent of upto one million persons (direct and indirect).

The Policy covers all States and Districts and provides them an opportunity to attract investments in electronics manufacturing. So far, 243 applications have been received under the scheme, out of which 75 applications have been approved involving investment proposals of Rs. 17,997 crore.

The salient features of the amendment are:

a) The applications will be received under the scheme upto 31st December 2018 or till such time that an incentive commitment of Rs 10,000 crore is reached, whichever is earlier. In case the incentive commitment of Rs 10,000 crore is reached, a review will be held to decide further financial commitments.

b) For new approvals, the incentive under the scheme will be available from the date of approval of a project and not from the date of receipt of application.

c) The incentives will be available for investments made within 5 years from the date of approval of the project.

d) Approvals will normally be accorded to eligible applications within 120 days of submission of the complete application.

e) A unit receiving incentives under the scheme, will provide an undertaking to remain in commercial production for a period of at least 3 years.

f) The Appraisal Committee recommending approval of project will be chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT.

g) A separate Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary and comprising of CEO, NITI Aayog, Secretary Expenditure and Secretary, MeitY will be set up in respect of mega projects, envisaging more than Rs. 6850 crore (approx.

USD 1 Billion) investments.

Background

The Cabinet had, in July, 2012 approved the M-SIPS to provide a special incentive package to promote large scale manufacturing in the Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector. The scheme provides subsidy for capital expenditure - 20% for investments in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 25% in non-SEZs. The Scheme was amended in August, 2015 for scope enhancement and simplification of procedure. The Scheme has attracted investments in the ESDM sector to the tune of Rs. 1,26,838 crore, of which investments of around Rs. 17,997 crore have been approved by the MeitY. The M-SIPS has been able to create positive impact on investment in electronics sector.

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Receives Rs 701 crore as refund of auction price from Delhi Development Authority

Indiabulls Real Estate announced that pursuant to the judgment passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, a refund of approximately Rs. 701 crore, net of TDS, (being the auction price along with interest) has been received from the Delhi Development Authority ("DDA") by Kenneth Builders & Developers, a 100% subsidiary of Indiabulls Infrastructure [a JV Co set up by Indiabulls Real Estate (the Company) with FIM (managed by Farallon Capital Management LLC and its affiliates, a leading U.S. private equity fund), in which FIM was holding approx 74% equity and IBREL was holding approx 26% equity] (IIPL) in relation to the land situated at Village Tehkhand, Maa Anand Mai Marg, New Delhi ("Tehkhand Land") which was earlier allotted by DDA for development of residential project.

Further, in compliance with the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, possession of the Tehkhand Land has been handed over to DDA. The Company has further informed the Company has acquired FIM's entire stake of approx. 74% in IIPL, for a total consideration of approx. Rs. 382 crore and with this IIPL has become 100% owned by the Company.

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Quess Corp rose 1.16% to Rs 677.10 at 10:24 IST on BSE after the company said its shareholders approved issue of non-convertible debentures worth Rs 150 crore.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 17 January 2017.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 179.15 points, or 0.66%, to 27,414.81.

On the BSE, so far 378 shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volumes of 31,565 shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 679 and a low of Rs 671.50 so far during the day.

The stock hit a record high of Rs 702.20 on 29 November 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 452.40 on 14 July 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past 30 days till 17 January 2017, rising 0.09% compared with the 3.26% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 12.14% as against Sensex's 2.68% decline.

The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 126.79 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Quess Corp said that its shareholders approved the proposal to issue non-convertible debentures (NCDs) worth Rs 150 crore. The proposal was granted through a postal ballot process on 17 January 2017. The company's board had approved the NCD issue in its meeting held on 28 November 2016.

Meanwhile, the company said that a special committee will meet on 20 January 2017 to approve the terms of issuance of the NCDs. The committee will fix the dates for opening the offer to issue NCDs. The committee will fix issue price of the NCDs. The committee will appoint the debenture trustee for the issuance.The committee will also approve the other terms of the issuance.

On a consolidated basis, net profit of Quess Corp rose 65.86% to Rs 30.12 crore on 26.92% rise in net sales to Rs 1017.70 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

Quess, India is leading integrated business services provider. It serves over 1300+ customers across four segments namely, global technology solutions, people & services, integrated facility management and industrial asset management.

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State Bank of India rose 0.57% to Rs 257.60 at 9:32 IST on BSE after the bank said it raised $500 million by selling five-year bonds to investors.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 17 January 2017.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 124.78 points, or 0.46%, to 27,360.44.

On the BSE, so far 80,000 shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volumes of 19.02 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 258.10 and a low of Rs 256.50 so far during the day.

The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 288.50 on 11 November 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 148.30 on 12 February 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past 30 days till 17 January 2017, falling 2.01% compared with the 3.26% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had, however, outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 0.53% as against Sensex's 2.68% decline.

The large-cap state-run bank has equity capital of Rs 776.28 crore. Face value per share is Re 1.

State Bank of India (SBI) said it concluded the issue of $500 million fixed rate senior unsecured notes having a maturity of 5 years at a coupon of 3.25% payable semi-annually under Regulation-S. The bonds will be issued through the bank's London branch as of 24 January 2017 and shall be listed on Singapore Stock Exchange.

The bond was reportedly priced at 145 basis points above the 5-year US Treasury, which is around 3.29%.

SBI's net profit fell 34.6% to Rs 2538.32 crore on 8.3% growth in operating income to Rs 50742.99 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

SBI is India's biggest bank in terms of branch network. The Government of India currently holds 60.18% stake in SBI (as per the shareholding pattern as on 31 December 2016).

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At least 67 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack on a military barracks in the north of Mali on Wednesday, medical sources told EFE.

Many others were injured in the deadly attack.

According to preliminary information, the assailant detonated the car bomb in the northern city of Gao while entering the barracks where hundreds of Malian soldiers and affiliated fighters had gathered.

Witnesses told EFE news agency that the blast was so massive that it covered the city in a dust cloud, forcing many shops and schools to close.

A military force in Gao contacted by EFE said military sources did not rule out the possibility of more attacks as the assailants took advantage of the pandemonium.

No group has yet claimed the attack, one of the most bloody registered in the country where violence is constant.

--IANS

soni/mr

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Note: This is the first in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the Presidents Cabinet.

When Obamacare was signed into law in 2010, the Catholic nuns didnt expect it would affect their religious liberty. Nor did they suspect that in a few years the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would restrict their freedom of conscience. Yet it was that Cabinet-level government agency that issued a mandate requiring the women to disregard their deeply held convictions by providing health care coverage for contraceptives and abortifacients. Even though it would have caused no harm to give the nuns an exemption to the mandate, the federal agency refused to back down until forced to do so by the Supreme Court.

The attempted coercion of the Little Sisters of the Poor was a wake-up call for many Christians. The expansive power of government agencies was being used in an unprecedented manner to control and restrict liberties many Americans had taken for granted. And the case raised even greater concerns: If HHS could threaten religious freedom, what could even more powerful federal agencies do?

Unfortunately, many Americans have only a basic understanding of what the Presidents Cabinet even is, much less how it can affect our lives. To increase awareness, this weekly series will explain the functions of Cabinet-level departments, consider how they can expand or restrict liberties, and look at the men and women President-elect Trump has nominated to lead these agencies.

But first, here are answers to some basic questions you might have about the Cabinet.



Why is it called a Cabinet?

In 17th century usage, a cabinet referred to a private room where advisors meet. That led to the modern definition of a body of persons appointed by a head of state or a prime minister to head the executive departments of the government and to act as official advisers.

What departments constitute the Cabinet?

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments: the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.

There are also several Cabinet-level officials who are not part of the Cabinet: the White House Chief of Staff, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the Office of Management & Budget, the United States Trade Representative (who is given the title of ambassador), the Ambassador for the United States Mission to the United Nations, the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

Why are the members of the Cabinet called Secretaries?

With some exceptions (e.g., Attorney General), the Cabinet-level departments are referred to as Secretaries. This usage dates back to the 1590s when the original meaning of a person entrusted with secrets was applied to ministers presiding over executive departments of state.

What law authorizes or requires there to be a Cabinet?

The U.S. Constitution doesnt require the president to have a formal Cabinet, though the Opinion Clause (Article II, Section 2) does outline the role of such a group: [The President] may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices.

Although the Cabinet is not required by law, the general structure has been in place since the presidency of George Washington.

Does Congress have to approve the presidents Cabinet appointments?

The Senate does, through their advise and consent role. The Inferior Officers Clause (Article II, Section 2) states that the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

While The Supreme Court has never clearly defined what constitutes Heads of Departments, the judicial branch has regularly deemed it applicable to Cabinet-level officials.

How much do Cabinet heads get paid?

The pay of Cabinet heads is set by law (5 U.S.C.  5312) as being Level I of the Executive Schedule, which is currently $203,700 a year. (More than Senators and Congressional Representatives ($174,000) but less than the Vice President ($235,000), House and Senate majority/minority leaders ($193,400), or Speaker of the House ($223,500).)

Why are Cabinet officials in line for the presidency?

If neither the President or the Vice President can discharge the powers and duties of the office because of death or incapacitation, then Congress is tasked by the Twentieth Amendment to determine who shall act as President.

In 1947, Congress updated the Presidential Succession Act (3 U.S.C.  19) which clarifies that:

If, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, inability, or failure to qualify, there is no President pro tempore to act as President under subsection (b) of this section, then the officer of the United States who is highest on the following list, and who is not under disability to discharge the powers and duties of the office of President shall act as President: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Homeland Security.

During the Cold War, it became a common practice for the President to choose a designated survivor (or designated successor) during certain events when the President, Vice President, and Cabinet are gathered at a single location, such as during State of the Union addresses and presidential inaugurations. The designated survivor is protected by the Secret Service at an undisclosed and protected location for the entirety of the event.

Previous and forthcoming posts in this series: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Homeland Security
A top NATO general has echoed US President-elect Donald Trump's remark on the group and said that aspects of the alliance were "obsolete".

Reiterating Trump's language, General Denis Mercier, the senior NATO commander based in the US, said on Tuesday that the Western military alliance needs to adapt for a changing world, the Washington Post reported.

The admission was a first sign of how NATO may try to pitch itself to the most sceptical US President in the history of the bloc, which was formed as a defensive bulwark against the Soviet Union in the aftermath of World War II.

Mercier and Trump believe the same aspects of NATO are "obsolete".

Trump in an interview on Sunday said that he wanted the 28-nation defence alliance to focus more on counter-terrorism, a shift that NATO leaders say was already underway before Trump's insurgent candidacy transformed into an election victory.

"When I look at the threats we are facing now, we see that we may have focused too much, until the Ukraine crisis, we may have focused too much on expeditionary operations, especially in Afghanistan, and doing that, NATO has a bit failed to look at the change in the strategic background," said Mercier.

His job, previously held by retired US Marine General James Mattis, Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defence, is focused on the technical side of developing NATO's future military stance and strategies, a command post that stands to benefit from major demands for change.

"We have some structures that are obsolete," Mercier told the media here, saying that aspects of NATO bureaucracy are duplicative and could be streamlined.

One example he offered was a standardised blueprint for the way NATO partners with non-member countries on security initiatives.

But in a sign that his vision of NATO's future may diverge from Trump's, he said the July 2016 summit in which NATO nations committed thousands of troops to eastern Europe was an example of successful adaptation.

"If there was not obsolescence in many areas of the alliance, we would not have decided this adaptation, in fact," Mercier said.

Mercier also said NATO was working on counter-terrorism efforts by committing military trainers to Iraq and offering NATO radar planes to the coalition combating the Islamic State militant group.

The general carefully broke from Trump's desire to team up with Russia, saying NATO needed to talk to the Kremlin but Russia should not violate the territorial integrity of other nations.

"We always talk better with Russia when we are strong," he said, praising the current NATO troop deployments across Eastern Europe.

"If the US forces would stop deploying, it would be some kind of strategic shock in Europe," he said of the deployments to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Over the weekend, Trump also said other nations were not paying enough for their own defence.

--IANS

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Two persons, including a terrorist who fled from a high security prison in Nabha city of Punjab in November, have been arrested here in Madhya Pradesh, police said on Wednesday.

Kulpreet Singh alias Neeta Deol and Sunil Kalra, a murder convict from Punjab, were arrested from an apartment in Khajrana area here on Tuesday. Singh, a resident of Moga, carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh for his capture.

Singh is a sharp-shooter associated with the Shera Khubban gang and accused in the Sukha Kahlwan murder.

He was among six terrorists, including pro-Khalistan militant Harminder Singh Mintoo, who escaped from the maximum security Nabha prison on November 27 last year. Mintoo was held within 24 hours.

According to police, they raided the Khajrana area apartment following a tip-off about criminals residing there. The two had in their possession eight mobile phones, a laptop and Rs 92,000 in cash.

"The two were staying here after renting the flat using forged documents," Additional Superintendent of Police Amrendra Singh told IANS.

The police have informed Punjab Police about the arrest.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Beijing launched a new specialist police force on Wednesday.

Lan Yang, deputy chief of the force under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, said the force will have over 150 officers divided into four groups: environmental protection, food and drugs, tourism and a group with a flexible focus, Xinhua news agency reported.

--IANS

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Tension was palpable and protests continued on Wednesday in several villages of West Bengal's Bhangar II block, which saw large-scale violence since Monday over "forcible" land acquisition for a Power Grid Corporation of India project.

In the metropolis, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a high level meeting at the state police headquarters Bhawani Bhavan with senior officers to assess the situation and prevent any recurrence of violence. Senior Criminal Investigation Department officers were also present.

The police confirmed that the death toll stood at two, but refused to say whether the deaths were due to bullets fired by the security forces.

"Yes, two persons have died. But we can't give you any more details," said a police officer. The police had on Tuesday confirmed only one death.

Villagers in the South 24 Parganas district block had dug roads and felled tree trunks to obstruct the security forces, and fought pitched battle with police when they tried to enter the core conflict zones, including Padmapukur and Machi Bhanga. The police were forced to beat a retreat and a number of uniformed personnel sustained injuries.

On Wednesday, the entry points of Padmapukur village was still barricaded with piled up bricks and tree trunks.

According to villagers, at least six men are missing since Tuesday's clash and several others have sustained serious injuries.

"Who will take responsibility of the two men who were shot dead yesterday. Also six people from our village are missing since Tuesday evening. We want an answer from the government," an angry resident of Padmapukur village said.

A large number of anti-land acquisition activists gathered on the adjoining Haora road demanding the Chief Minister's intervention in the issue.

"We want our Chief Minister 'Didi' (elder sister, as Banerjee is affectionately called) to come to Bhangar and assure us that no power grid would be built here. Our agitation would continue till then," a group of protesters said.

Bhangar, known for its history of political violence, is on the boil since last week over 'forced' acquisition of 16 acres of farmland -- spread over the villages of Khamarait, Machhi Bhanga, Tona and Padmapukur -- by the state government for the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL).

On Wednesday, stones were pelted at the police convoy from all directions. A police van was torched while at least three police vehicles were pushed into a pond by the mob, police said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came up with statements on Tuesday night declaring that the power grid would not be built in the region.

"No land will be acquired if people don't want to give away land. The proposed power grid will be relocated if required," Banerjee tweeted after the incident.

Meanwhile, state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury went to the house of the two villagers who lost their lives.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Angry protesters damaged cars and continued road blockades on Wednesday in several villages of West Bengal's Bhangar II block, the scene of large-scale violence since Monday over "forcible" land acquisition for a Power Grid Corporation of India project.

In the metropolis, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a high-level meeting at the state police headquarters Bhabani Bhavan to assess the situation. Senior Criminal Investigation Department officers were also present.

The opposition held the police and the state administration responsible for the deaths, but the ruling Trinamool blamed outsiders, claiming the police did not fire a single shot.

The police confirmed the death toll was two, but refused to say whether the fatalities were due to bullets fired by the security forces.

"Yes, two persons have died," South 24 Parganas Police Superintendent Sunil Chowdhury confirmed. The police had on Tuesday confirmed only one death.

Villagers in the South 24 Parganas district block had dug roads and felled tree trunks to obstruct the security forces, and fought pitched battle with police when they tried to enter the core conflict zones, including Padmapukur and Machi Bhanga.

The police were forced to retreat and a number of uniformed personnel sustained injuries.

On Wednesday, the entry points of Padmapukur village was still barricaded with piled up bricks and tree trunks to stop the police from re-entering the villages. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported.

"The agitators are still blocking the road at various places. Some cars were smashed inside the village. Police are unable to enter but we are keeping an eye on the situation," an Bhangor police station officer said.

According to villagers, at least six men are missing since Tuesday's clash and several others have sustained serious injuries.

"Who will take responsibility of the two men who were shot dead yesterday. Also six people from our village are missing since Tuesday evening. We want an answer from the government," an inhabitant of Padmapukur village said.

A large number of anti-land acquisition activists gathered on the adjoining Haora road demanding the Chief Minister's intervention in the issue.

"We want our Chief Minister 'Didi' (elder sister, as Banerjee is affectionately called) to come to Bhangar and assure us that no power grid would be built here. Our agitation would continue till then," a group of protesters said.

Bhangar, known for its history of political violence, is on the boil since last week over 'forced' acquisition of 16 acres of farmland -- spread over the villages of Khamarait, Machhi Bhanga, Tona and Padmapukur -- by the state government for the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL).

On Wednesday, stones were pelted at the police convoy from all directions. A police van was torched while at least three police vehicles were pushed into a pond by the mob, police said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared on Tuesday night that the power grid would not be built in the region.

"No land will be acquired if people don't want to give away land. The proposed power grid will be relocated if required," Banerjee tweeted.

Meanwhile, the state opposition seized on the opportunity to embarrass the state government.

State Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury visited the houses of the two dead villagers and demanded a judicial enquiry and CBI probe into the "killings".

Left Front heavyweights, including CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, condemned the "police firing on farmers" and urged the state government to "stop using force against protesters".

Left Front leaders Sujan Chakraborty and Mohammad Selim also went to the violence-hit area and strongly criticised the role of the police.

Chakraborty termed the Bhangar developments as "state terrorism" and "war against villagers" and said the peasants were fighting against "land sharks".

However, Trinamool Vice President Mukul Roy rubbished the allegations against the police.

"Police hasn't fired a single bullet. Outsiders who came to the spot to instigate violence shot the people. The way police was attacked yesterday, there would have been major issues if the (previous) Left government was at the helm," said Roy.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Visiting British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Wednesday.

Modi recalled their earlier meeting during his visit to Britain in November 2015, when Johnson was the Mayor of London, and congratulated him on his appointment as Foreign Secretary.

According to an official release here, the Prime Minister said that the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November 2016 has put in place the framework necessary to guide India-British relations in the days to come.

He also appreciated the progress achieved in strengthening the bilateral partnership in various sectors, especially science & technology, finance, and defence and security.

Modi noted that the Indian diaspora in Britain acts as a living bridge between the two countries, and is a key driver of close people-to-people relations, and hoped that both sides would continue to work together to enhance these ties.

Johnson, who arrived here earlier in the day, addressed the Second Raisina Dialogue, the flagship geo-political conference organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, prior to meeting Modi.

He is also scheduled to meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar.
Ahead of the visit of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who will be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod for signing of five MoU with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The MoUs covers bilateral cooperations in the areas of road transport, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), agriculture, institutional cooperation in maritime transport and training.

On the proposed MoU to be signed between the India's Road Transport and Highways Ministry and UAE's Federal Transport Authority - Land and Maritime, a cabinet communique said that it "envisages increased cooperation, exchange and collaboration between India and the UAE, and will contribute to increased investment in infrastructure development and enhance logistics efficiency".

"This will help in promoting safe, economical, efficient and environmentally sound road transport in the country and will further help both the countries in creating an institutional mechanism for cooperation in the field," it added.

The MoU is also expected to improve cooperation in the area of transportation technologies and transport policies and sharing of knowledge on Electronic Toll Collection System.

It will also cover setting up of Logistics Parks, freight logistics and transportation warehousing.

The MoU on Institutional Cooperation in Maritime Transport is intended to "pave way for facilitation and promotion of maritime transport, simplification of customs and other formalities, wherever possible, observed in Ports and facilitation of the use of existing installations for the disposal of waste".

"The MoU will enable Shipping Companies in both countries to enter into bilateral and multi-lateral arrangements for sustainable trading activities," the communique said.

The Cabinet has also decided to go ahead with cooperation on the Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Competency in the maritime training domain.

"The proposed MoU will pave way for recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency, endorsements, training documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates for seafarers issued by the Government of the other country," it said.

The MoU on the agriculture and allied sectors "will promote understanding of best agricultural practices in the two countries and will help in better productivity at farmer fields as well as improved global market access leading to equity and inclusiveness".

"Cooperation in agricultural technology will lead to innovative techniques for increasing production and productivity leading to strengthening of food security," it added.

On the MoU for cooperation in the field of Small and Medium Enterprises and Innovation, the statement said: "The MoU would benefit Indian SMEs and lead to equitables and inclusive development" and provide the SMEs of both countries an opportunity to have a mutually beneficial relation and to explore their markets.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved setting up of an off-campus of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) in Jharkhand.

"The Cabinet has given its approval for establishment of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Jharkhand," an official statement said.

"It will have an estimated outlay of Rs 200.78 crore on 1,000-acre land provided by the government of Jharkhand at the Gauria Karma Village in Barhi Block of Hazaribagh," it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet meeting.

Jharkhand is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

lARI-Jharkhand would be a unique institution, which would possess all the hallmark identities of the IARI at New Delhi, including all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticultural crops, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk and lac rearing, honey production etc., the statement said.

The IARI-Jharkhand would work on the agrarian challenges and complexities of eastern India with all the existing central and state government research and development institutions and private sector enterprises.

It will undertake research, education, extension programmes in its mission towards developing quality human resource, generation of farmer-friendly technologies to enhance productivity, quality and profitability.

It will also promote agro-based industries and generate employment opportunities for holistic and sustainable development of the agriculture sector in the eastern region.

--IANS

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The CBI on Wednesday registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and some unnamed state government officials to probe alleged irregularities in the "Talk to AK" campaign.

"We have filed a PE against Sisodia and other unknown government officials, as there are allegations of improprieties and violation of extent rules and regulations in award of work pertaining to media campaign 'Talk to AK'," a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official said.

The campaign was an interactive session of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, under which people could reach out to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader through social media.

Reacting to the CBI probe, Sisodia said he would be expecting a CBI raid in his office and his home on Thursday morning.

"Welcome Modiji to the battlefield. I will be waiting for your CBI at my home and my office tomorrow (Thursday) morning," he tweeted.

The CBI had last month raided Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's OSD (Officer on Special Duty) Nikunj Aggarwal's office in the Delhi Secretariat over alleged irregularities in his appointment.

Kejriwal also took to Twitter and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has nothing else to do except going after the AAP.

"It seems like Modiji has gone mad. There is only one thing left for the Prime Minister of the nation to do -- to go after us," he said.

Calling Modi a coward, Kejriwal asked if he unleashed the CBI because the Bharatiya Janata Party is losing in Punjab and Goa.

Punjab and Goa go to polls on February 4.
It is the evacuation of depth, stability, and substance of culture where we witness the death of character. James Davison Hunter

Christians and conservatives have long despaired over the loss of American values, decrying the erosion of public virtue and the disintegration of morals. As researchers like Charles Murray and Robert Putnam have duly confirmed, the fabric of community life and civil society is continuing to fray across America.

In Yuval Levins latest book, The Fractured Republic, he finds the solution in cultivating cohesive and attractive subcultures, rather than struggling for dominance of the increasingly weakened institutions of the mainstream culture. By pursuing such a path, he argues, restraining power at the top and unleashing it at the bottom, we can begin to rebuild that missing middle. These institutionsfrom families to churches to civic and fraternal associations and labor and business groupscan help balance dynamism with cohesion and let citizens live out their freedom in practice, Levin writes.

Yet the content and substance of that pursuit also matters, and here, we ought to think carefully how we leverage that freedom, both where it exists and when new opportunities come. In his book, The Death of Character: Moral Education in an Age of Good and Evil, sociologist James Davison Hunter addresses this as it relates to education, noting that our character crisis is rooted in our cultural shift from a focus on virtues grounded in eternal truths to a modernistic abyss of slippery and subjective values clarification.

Given our current approach to moral education, we have plenty of struggles even within those existing mediating institutions. First and foremost, there lacks a deeper commitment to the sacred. Even in Christian communities, weve opted for an ambivalent embrace of values, which, as Hunter notes, are merely truths that have been deprived of their commanding character. As well intended as our values-speak has been, the effect has not been a restoration of character, but rather a reduction of truth to utility, taboo to fashion, conviction to mere preference.

Which leads to Hunters grim diagnosis. A restoration of character as a common feature within American society and a common trait of its people will not likely occur any time soon, he laments. The social and cultural conditions that make character possible are no longer present and no amount of political rhetoric, legal maneuvering, educational policy-making, or money can change that reality. Its time has passed.

Those social and cultural conditions, Hunter believes, have been replaced with the familiar Enlightenment-heavy, inclusivist fantasies, wherein our role is not to foster a distinct moral imagination and framework but to encourage individuals to clarify what is right and wrong for themselves. Despite the claims of diversity, this serves to enable surface-level disparity while prohibiting any sort of meaningful particularity.

Particularity is inherently exclusive, Hunter reminds us. It is socially awkward, potentially volatile, offensive to our cosmopolitan sensibilities. By its very nature it cuts against the grain of our dominant code of inclusivity and civility. Thus, when we proceed with our cultural project of inclusivity and tolerance, any distinct lines or commitments or obligations soon become blurry. When the particular cultures of conviction are undermined and the structures they inhabit are weakened, the possibility of character itself becomes dubious, Hunter writes.

So if the inclusivist approach leads to vacuous conformity, and if, as Levin reminds us, the struggle for a different sort of dominance undermines the ways in which character and civil society are actually formed, how do we proceed?

Hunter answers:

Morality is always situatedhistorically situated in the narrative flow of collective memory and aspiration, socially situated within distinct communities, and culturally situated within particular structures of moral reasoning and practice. Character is similarly situated. It develops in relation to moral convictions defined by specific moral, philosophical, or religious truths. Far from being free-floating abstractions, these traditions of moral reasoning are fixed in social habit and routine within social groups and communities. Grounded in this way, ethical ideals carry moral authority. Thus, it is the concrete circumstances situating moral understanding that finally animate character and make it resilient.

As for how we form and foster those moral communities, it begins with a basic commitment to freedom and diversity from top to bottom. From there, we proceed with faithfulness in those localized spheres. As Christians, we have the courage and confidence to step forward, boldly and confidently, elevating what we believe to be eternal truths about the good, the true, and the beautiful.

If we truly believe what we say we believe, we should have the confidence to put it to the testto elevate truth alongside competing visions and philosophies of life. But even though this is likely to result in vibrant diversity, we should remember that those competing moral philosophies, while diverse in plenty of important ways, may actually help us reach a range of common virtues.

By stretching back to the sacred, we may, in fact, create a common, meaningful moral vocabulary that actually satisfies:

It is in this light we need to consider again the Enlightenment commitment to create a universal and inclusive moral vocabulary capable of satisfying everyone. Its consequences, as we have seen, are not salutary for moral education and they are dubious for democracy. Thus, if one is to create greater space in our public culture for differences in moral communities to exist, it is essential to abandon the high priority we give to this commitment. To do so does not mean the sacrifice of a common public life defined by commonly held moral ideals. But instead of forcing commonality in our moral discourse at the expense of particularity, one discovers commonality through particularly. Certainly the humanist, the Jew, and the Christian who join in condemnation of racism will differ over whether humanist, Jewish and Christian conviction provide the most trustworthy reasons for their agreement, yet each provides thick moral arguments that preserve the most important commitments of the other. We will most certainly discover other moral agreements about integrity, fairness, altruism, responsibility, respect, valoragreements too numerous to mention. But these agreements will be found within moral diversity not in spite of it. Where disagreements remain, they can be addressed through a substantive engagement that enhances rather than undermines democracy. [emphasis added]

Without this kind of fearless, substantive engagement, we will continue down our present path, regardless of the policies from on high.

As James Madison well understood, the causes of faction cannot be removed. Whether at a political or cultural level, wed do well to control and balance the effects rather than vexing and oppressing competing belief systems through presumptuous, controlling monopolies on moral development.

Its time to step boldly forth into what Hunter calls a difficult pluralistic quagmire, which may, if were lucky, pave a path to genuine civic commonality.
Sri Lanka and China have started to construct the Aranayake China-Sri Lanka Friendship village in the central part of the island nation to provide shelter for landslide victims, the Chinese embassy said on Wednesday.

China's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang, Sri Lankan Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Sri Lankan Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ranith Siyambalapitiya attended the ceremony to jointly launch the friendship village, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the embassy statement.

Speaking at the ceremony, Yapa said the Friendship Village was the largest international aid received by Sri Lanka since the deadly floods and landslides which hit the island country in May last year.

Minister Siyambalapitiya said China was a true friend of Sri Lanka who had continued to help the country's economic and social development.

He also said China was one of the countries that helped Sri Lanka immediately after the floods and landslides last year.

"Today, the Friendship Village will provide houses to a large number of people affected by the deadly landslides. They are deeply grateful to China," Siyambalapitiya said.

On the same occasion, Yi said that prior to the Friendship Village, China had also constructed the Fehein Village in south-central Sri Lanka and the Friendship Village in the tsunami-affected area in the south.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Members of film organisations CINTAA, IFTDA and IMPPA will come together on Thursday to celebrate the life and work of late veteran actor Om Puri here.

The event will take place at the ISKCON Auditorium in Juhu, says Amit Behl, Joint Secretary of CINTAA (Cine and Television Artistes' Association), of which Om Puri was the President.

Behl told IANS: "There has been too much grief around Om Puri's death, and a lot of people have paid tributes to him. But Om Puri is a magnum opus who should be celebrated."

Talking about the event, Behl said: "As President of CINTAA, he never let us feel he is 'The Om Puri'. He is an eternal inspiration to us. At CINTAA, when we discussed this internally, everyone including Manoj Joshi, Deepak Qazir and Suneel Sinha, who are part of our core committee, unanimously felt that we should celebrate his life."

"Ashoke Pandit ji and Ashwini Choudhary of IMPPA and IFTDA were more than happy in joining us. Zama Habib and others from the Writers' Association will also be speaking on Om Puri ji during the evening," Behl added.

The veteran actor passed away on January 6.

Two of his films "The Ghazi Attack" and "Viceroy's House" are releasing in February and March respectively. He was also shooting for Salman Khan's upcoming film "Tubelight".

Behl, who would like to remember Om Puri for his smiling face, lovely bear hug, his down-to-earth nature and his realistic performances in films, said: "Om ji had been our President and was trained by the same Guru who trained Sushant Singh and myself. He is a role model for 90 per cent serious actors in this country. And he left this industry on a high with over four films awaiting release."

"He was truly a global performer."

On the Indian turf, the two-time National Film Award winner gave memorable performances in films like "Ardh Satya", "Mirch Masala", "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro", "Chachi 420", "Hera Pheri", "Malamaal Weekly" and more.

Om Puri's international career took off as early as 1982 when he featured in a small role in Oscar-winning film "Gandhi".

It also set the stage for him to explore more on foreign shores -- his British films were "My Son the Fanatic", "East Is East" and "The Parole Officer", and his Hollywood movies included "City of Joy", "Wolf", "The Ghost and the Darkness" and "The Hundred-Foot Journey".

--IANS

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Staging a vociferous countrywide protests against demonetisation on Wednesday, the Congress demanded the resignation of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel even as police baton-charged them in Nagpur.

Leading a protest march to the RBI headquarters in Mumbai, state and city Congress Presidents Ashok Chavan and Sanjay Nirupam, respectively, accused Patel of being "a puppet, dancing to the tunes of the Bharatiya Janata Party government" by changing policies 69 times since November 8 when Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes were spiked.

They said the entire country had been held "at ransom", the 125 crore population was suffering, the economy was in a crisis and the independence of RBI itself was in peril, so Patel must immediately quit his post.

In Nagpur, the protesters led by former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, former state party chief Manikrao Thakre and others raised anti-government slogans against demonetisation and laid siege to the RBI office.

When some protesting activists tried to barge into the RBI building by knocking down barricades, police tried to stop them but failed and undertook a baton-charge.

A few Congress activists sustained minor injuries.

The angry demonstrators then vent their ire on police.

Several Congress leaders, including Chavan, Vikhe-Patil and Vilas Muttemwar, demanded the suspension of policemen who caned the protesters and refused to end their agitation till action was taken.

Chavan said the RBI had been reduced to "a branch of the RSS" and demonetisation had badly affected the Indian economy, resulted in job losses, pushed down production as well as hit the rural masses and farmers badly.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Shiv Sena - BJP's ally in the centre and Maharashtra, in its most virulent attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, called demonetisation "an atom bomb which had made Hiroshima and Nagasaki of the Indian economy".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress activists protesting against demonetisation outside the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) here on Wednesday were attacked with canes by police.

The protesters led by former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and party leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil raised anti-government slogans against the spiking of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and laid siege to the RBI office.

When some protesters tried to barge into the RBI building by knocking down barricades, police tried to stop them but failed.

In the ensuing lathicharge, a few Congress activists sustained minor injuries. The angry demonstrators then vent their ire on police.

Several Congress leaders, including Chavan, Vikhe-Patil and Vilas Muttemwar, demanded the suspension of policemen who caned the protesters and refused to end their agitation till action was taken.

The Congress leaders said demonetisation had badly affected the Indian economy, resulted in job losses, pushed down production as well as hit the rural masses and farmers badly.

Similar anti-demonetisation protests by the Congress were held in the country including outside the RBI offices in Mumbai and Gujarat.

--IANS

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Condemning the "police firing" on villagers protesting "forced" land acquisition in West Bengal's South 24-Parganas, the CPI-M on Wednesday asked the Mamata Banerjee government to resolve the issue through talks.

The ongoing protests in South 24-Parganas' Bhangar took a violent turn on Tuesday when a man was shot dead and another sustained injuries in clashes between villagers and police personnel.

Bhangar, known for its history of political violence, is on the boil since last week over what villagers call "forced" acquisition of 16 acres of farmland -- spread over the villages of Khamarait, Machhi Bhanga, Tona and Padmapukur -- by the state government for the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL).

"The Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) condemns the police firing at Bhangar in South 24-Parganas district of West Bengal which has resulted in the deaths of two persons," the party said in a statement.

While the CPI-M claimed two persons were killed, the state administration has confirmed only one death.

"The Trinamool Congress government should stop using force against the protesters. It should open talks with the people to settle the issue. There can be no forcible acquisition of land," the party added.

The area flared up when angry protesters fought a pitched battle with the police when they tried to enter Padmapukur.

The confrontation escalated on Tuesday afternoon when a huge police force, accompanied by a battalion of the Rapid Action Force, tried to enter the village.

--IANS

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Condemning police action against students seeking justice for Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, the Delhi assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding "immediate action" against officers responsible for the "inhuman attack" on protesters.

The House also "strongly condemned" alleged manhandling of girl students by male police personnel.

"The Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi... strongly condemns the brutal assault by Delhi Police personnel and para-military personnel on the students and youth who took out peaceful protest march in New Delhi on January 17, 2017 seeking justice for Rohith Vemula," the resolution moved by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti read.

"(The assembly) Demands that the Union Home Minister initiate immediate action against the officers responsible for such inhuman attack on innocent protesters from Jawaharlal Nehru University and other institutions," it added.

Hundreds of students were detained on Tuesday while protesting to mark the first death anniversary of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula.

Referring to certain pictures published in the media, AAP MLAs alleged brutality against students, including female students, by the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces.

Supporting the resolution, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the Delhi government won't tolerate an assault on students in the national capital.

"If students come to the capital of the nation and want to express their voice, do they deserve such treatment? This is an attempt to suppress the voice of the students and it won't be tolerated," he said.

Targeting Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government, Sisodia said it was "hell bent on destroying the lives of the students who are the future of the nation, and the universities that shape that future".

"But we won't sit silent. We will speak up here (in the assembly) and will even take to the streets if needed," he added.

Earlier, major drama was witnessed during the discussion on the issue with AAP MLAs storming into the well and raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta.

Gupta, while speaking on the issue of Dalit oppression, called AAP MLAs concerns as pretence and said the Delhi government had done nothing for Dalits since coming to power.

Calling the BJP and the Prime Minister anti-Dalit, the protesting MLAs demanded an apology from Vijender Gupta for his remarks.

--IANS

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Indian origin British actor Dev Patel, who is earning applauds for his critically-acclaimed film "Lion", is in India shooting for his next "Hotel Mumbai" -- based on 26/11 terror attacks on the west coast metropolis.

According to a source in the know of developments, the actor is shooting for the film -- based on the 2008 terrorist attack on the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel in Mumbai -- here. The film is helmed by Australian director Anthony Maras.

"He is busy shooting at the moment. But he will be heading back to Los Angeles on January 23 for Oscar nominations," added the source.

Talking about "Hotel Mumbai" in an earlier IANS interview, Dev had said: "When I decided to do the story on Taj, we looked past the colour and skin of the characters...(and focused on) how some of the staff went over and above to protect their guests in times of terror."

It is not clear whether he will take part in the India promotions for his forthcoming film "Lion", which is slated to release in India on February 24.

"Lion" was also nominated under three categories at the Golden Globes -- Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, and Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

"Lion", based on Saroo Brierley's best-selling autobiography "A Long Way Home", is a true story about an Indian boy who falls asleep on a train only to wake up and realise he is miles away from home in a strange land where he does not speak the language. He experiences many challenges before getting adopted by a couple in Australia. Years later, he sets out to find his lost family.

The drama also stars Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, besides Indian actors Deepti Naval, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Priyanka Bose and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. It also features Indian child actor Sunny Pawar. It is directed by Garth Davis.

Saroo will come to India on January 31 for special premiere in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata hosted by the Australian High Commission in India.

He will also be doing book reading sessions, and will be going to the orphanage where he was adopted from.

--IANS

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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday posted for January 19 the hearing on a petition to declare the two-day Assembly Winter Session of the city government as "illegal and invalid".

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Ashutosh Kumar listed the plea for Thursday after Advocate R.P. Luthra mentioned the petition before it.

The advocate said that as per Section 19(1) of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Rules, at the commencement of the first session of each year, the Lieutenant Governor shall address the assembly.

But the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government did not invite newly-appointed Lt. Governor Anil Baijal and thus dishonoured its office, the advocate said in the petition.

The Delhi Assembly on Tuesday witnessed vociferous protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the two-day session not commencing with the LG's address.

The Delhi government, however, maintained that it was a session in continuation of the fourth session of the Delhi Assembly, which had not been prorogued.

--IANS

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Ahead of the Republic Day Parade fly-past, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday appealed to citizens of Delhi not to throw eatables, garbage, or animal carcasses in the open which may attract birds and endanger aircraft.

"In view of the fly-past at heights varying from 60 to 500 metres and the associated flight safety concerns posed by birds, the IAF appeals to all citizens of Delhi and its neighbourhood to keep their areas clean and avoid throwing eatables, garbage, dead animals or carcasses in the open on all the days leading up to 26 January," an official statement said.

"Birds pose a serious threat to aircraft flying at low level. Eatables thrown out in the open attract birds," the statement pointed out.

The IAF also requested citizens to alert the nearest Air Force unit or police station and report instances of carcasses found in the open.

"The vulnerable areas that come in the route include Palam, Najafgarh drains, Tihar Jail, War Cemetery and areas adjoining Rashtrapati Bhavan," the statement said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India on Wednesday said that China, which is "very sensitive" about its territorial sovereignty, had failed to show similar respect for New Delhi's concerns.

New Delhi also sought to allay Beijing's apprehension about India's rise.

"China is very sensitive on matters concerning its sovereignty. We expect they respect other peoples sovereignty," Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said at the Raisina Dialogue here.

"The CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) passes through a territory that we see as our territory. Surely, people will understand what the Indian reaction is. There needs to be some reflection, and I am sorry to say we have not seen signs of that," said the Foreign Secretary to a query at the event.

India has strongly objected to the $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, claimed by India.

Jaishankar's reference to India's concerns on sovereignty come a day after Pime Minister Narendra Modi had said in his inaugural speech: "Respect for sovereignty is important for regional connectivity to improve."The CPEC is being pushed forward by China and Pakistan, ignoring India's concerns.

The issue is one of the irritants between Sino-India ties. India has raised the issue at the highest diplomatic level with China.

"Our rise is not harmful to China's rise just like China's rise is not harmful to us," Jaishankar said.

The CPEC is one of the key projects of China's One Belt One Road connectivity programme.

The CPEC seeks to link China's Kashgar in restive Xinjian province to Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan, giving Beijing land access to the Arabian Sea.

Bilateral ties with China have been clouded with Beijing repeatedly blocking New Delhi's move to gain membership to the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), and even the move for a UN ban on Jaish-e-Mohamed chief Masood Azhar, who India accuses of being behind the terror attack on the Pathankot air base in January last year.

On the South China Sea dispute, Jaishankar said India's position was "consistent" and "in tune with what international position".

China claims almost the entire South China Sea. Last year, an international tribunal rejected Beijing's claims in a case brought by the Philippines.

India had asked the parties concerned to show respect to the ruling, denounced as "illegal" by Beijing.

--IANS

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 If Hamas Assaults a Journalist, Does it Even Make the News? | Main | Wheres the Coverage of Irans Military Buildup? 

January 18, 2017

UKMW Prompts Correction to SKY News Claim on US View of Settlements

On January 15, 2017, Sky News ran a segment titled Two-state solution under Trump, focusing on concerns that Israeli settlement construction and the president-elects pledge to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem could spell the end of the two-state solution?.

At roughly the two-minute mark of the roughly five-minute segment, the presenter, Sky News Middle East correspondent Alex Rossi, asserts  in an effort to contextualise construction across the green line  that the US views the settlements as illegal?.

This claim is not accurate.

The US position since the early 80s has been that settlements are illegitimate?, not illegal?. Most notably, in September, Associated Press (AP) issued a correction (following communication with CAMERAs Jerusalem office).

UKMW alerted Sky to the error in the following tweets  which we followed up with an email to the network.

Earlier today, UKMW heard back from Sky producers that they upheld the complaint and thanked UKMW for bringing the information to their attention  particularly the AP correction. Sky deleted the video in question, and re-published it without the false information on the US view of settlements. Sky also revised the accompanying online article, and deleted the Tweets and Facebook posts linking to the original video.

The full report on the correction can be read at:

https://ukmediawatch.org/2017/01/16/ukmw-prompts-correction-to-sky-news-claim-on-us-view-of-settlements/

Posted by SS at January 18, 2017 02:56 PM

Guidelines for posting

This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material.

Post a comment
India-US ties are on a solid upper trajectory and the incoming Donald Trump administration will find the relationship on a very solid footing, departing US Ambassador to India Richard Verma has said.

Verma, who presented his credentials in Rashtrapati Bhavan in January 2015, told Karan Thapar in an interview telecast on India Today TV that his tenure saw two of the best years in India-US ties and the credit for this went to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and outgoing US President Barack Obama.

"We are on a now solid upper trajectory," he said.

He pointed out that Modi and Obama met nine times, had three summit-level meetings, and the two sides had over 100 government-to-government meetings.

According to the Ambassador, defence cooperation between the two countries have gone beyond buyer-seller relationship and there is now a special cell in the Pentagon that solely looks at defence technology with India.

He also mentioned the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (Lemoa) signed by the two countries last year and said that "our two militaries are great together".

Verma reiterated the US's support for India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), something that was stalled by China in the 48-nation group's plenary in Seoul in June last year.

He stated that clean energy and climate change were the "two signature global agreements" signed by the two sides.

According to Verma, US firm Westinghouse has already made a commercial offer last year to make nuclear power plants in India.

He also said that counter-terrorism operations formed a key part of India-US ties.

Regarding Pakistan's state sponsorship of terrorism, the Ambassador said "we have taken a very strong line".

As for India-Pakistan ties, he said the US wanted the two South Asian neighbours to solve their problems.

Regarding the fate of India-US ties with the Trump administration taking over, he said "we are putting our relationship on very strong footing for the new administration".

Asked about Trump's statements regarding cutting down on H1-B visas that might likely affect Indian IT companies, he said it was not a new issue and he himself had been working on this.

"We have to sit across the table and sort this out," he said.

Asked how it felt to be the first ever Indian-origin US Ambassador to India, he said "it was an immense sense of pride" for him.

Verma said that during the course of his two-year tenure, he visited 25 Indian states.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan's former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif said 2016 witnessed a significant decrease in and that "intelligence sharing is a very important component of strategy to combat terrorism".

Addressing a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) titled ' in the digital age', Sharif said: " is a global issue and the global community will have to get united if it wants to defeat terrorism."

Referring to the achievements of the Pakistan Army in fighting terrorism, the former army chief said the military cleared 8,000 sq km area after recapturing it from militant control. He told the gathering that tens of thousands of affected people were rehabilitated in the area, Dawn online reported on Wednesday.

Raheel Sharif said that terrorism has become a "gangrene for the world" and added that terrorists' attack in a well planned manner and therefore intelligence sharing is a very important component of strategy to combat terrorism.

Pakistan has faced tragedies such as the Army Public School (APS) massacre in 2014 in Peshawar because of terrorism, he said and added, "However, we can not take such negative measures against terrorists like they do."

--IANS

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Filmmaker Karan Johar is excited after meeting Hollywood star George Clooney and says that he is "totally Clooed".

Karan, who is taking part in the four-day World Economic Forum meet as a cultural leader, took to social media to share his excitement.

He posted an image of himself with Clooney on Twitter, with a caption which read: "Totally Clooed into Davos"

Clooney was in Davos with his wife Amal who was honoured for her human rights work. Karan left for Switzerland after releasing his autobiography "An Unsuitable Boy" in Mumbai.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
She caters to a range of fashionistas with her multiple labels, each of which exude Indian elements. Popular designer Anita Dongre says sustaining craft in the country, which has a rich cultural heritage, must hold utmost importance in the fashion world today.

"We have always worked with handloom textiles. Sustaining craft is the need of the hour. We provide design intervention to traditional crafts which are inherently beautiful and unique. Each region of India has a textile heritage of its own and we work to make the craft as desirable to today's generation as it was in the past," Dongre told IANS in an e-mail interview from Mumbai when asked why the focus on Indian handlooms is important and how designers can help.

Dongre, who has completed an over two-decade journey in the fashion industry, will bring the curtains down on the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer-Resort 2017 edition, which gets underway here next month. She will bring alive a "Liquid Gold" theme through her designs for the show.

"The 'Liquid Gold' theme is with reference to argan oil that is infused in the brand's new collection of lipsticks. It is lovely when organic products also offer beauty benefits," said Dongre, who is an active spokesperson for organic and sustainable fashion.

"Organic and sustainable clothing is the need of the hour. As a designer who strongly believes in this, I'm happy to see people taking steps towards it," she said.

Dongre, whose creation was donned by the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton on her India visit last year, says the fashion industry has come a long way in the country.

"I remember a time when designer-wear was largely bridal wear, and only a few could afford it. I launched AND in 1995 for simply addressing the need of countless women who were looking for formal and evening wear that was comfortable yet chic. Today, most designers are getting into luxury pret and ready-to-wear collections," Dongre said.

Dongre, who featured in Google's official list of top searches of the year 2016, said "bridal couture has also progressed".

But haven't designers slowed down in terms of experimenting on the runway?

"There is a fair mix of both -- traditional clothing as well as some experimental ensembles. As an artist, a designer showcases his craft through his work. Sometimes, it's an abstract garment meant to create drama on the runway," said the designer.

The 53-year-old designer believes in creating garments that are wearable.

"That is the point of fashion -- to choose something that makes you feel beautiful and confident," she said.

The designer, who has also styled the likes of Bollywood's Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Aditi Rao Hydari, has labels like AND (western wear for women), Global Desi (boho chic brand for women), Grassroot (a label dedicated to Indian crafts, handloom and textiles), Anita Dongre Couture (a luxury brand) and Anita Dongre menswear, to her credit.

(Durga Chakravarty can be durga.c@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Southern film actress Nayanthara on Wednesday came out in support of Jallikattu and the youngsters who are protesting against the ban on the ancient and popular bull-taming sport, celebrated during Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu.

"The power of youth is proven again. What Tamil Nadu has been witnessing for the past few days in support of Jallikattu is an unprecedented history. It indeed makes me proud to be part of this state," Nayanthara, who is one of the leading Tamil film stars, said in a statement.

In 2014, the Supreme Court banned the conduct of Jallikattu.

A Malayali by descent, she said: "By the force of emotion and pride, I'm a Tamilian. This state has been giving me the stature and pride and at this time of emotional juncture, I stand one among them to raise my voice against the foreign bodies, and also against the law enforcing agencies which were misinformed about the whole concept of Jallikattu."

She said the emotional enthusiasm displayed by the supporters will go a long way in showing the rich culture of Tamil Nadu.

Thousands of youngsters are protesting here and in Madurai against the ban on Jallikattu.

"As a common citizen, my heart goes with these youngsters who braved the natural and unnatural circumstances to achieve their feat. I wish these efforts bring back Jallikattu, the cultural identity of Tamil Nadu without any further hindrance," she said.

Earlier, actors such as Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Suriya and Simbu had extended their support in favour of the bull-taming sport.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Himalaya Airlines, a China-Nepal joint venture airline, has announced it will fly to Kuala Lumpur and Yangon.

Currently, the airline has scheduled flights to Doha and Colombo from Kathmandu with its one aircraft, Xinhua news agency said.

The company said on Tuesday it will get a new aircraft, Airbus 320-214, by the end of January to extend its air service in other routes.

--IANS

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An NIA team reached Bihar's Motihari district on Wednesday to investigate the alleged role of Pakistan's ISI behind the Indore-Patna Express train derailment near Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur that claimed over 100 lives.

On Tuesday, Bihar Police arrested three people -- identified as Moti Paswan, Umashankar Prasad and Mukesh Yadav -- for their alleged role in the November 2016 train derailment and claimed to have found evidence linking them to ISI.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) -rank officer will interrogate the three criminals.

Paswan confessed that he was paid to plant explosives in the train and that the ISI had executed the whole derailment plan.

He has told the Bihar Police that the money he received came from a known ISI sympathiser, Dubai-based Shamshul Hodi.

Bihar Police said Paswan was involved in the train derailment along with some others, including Zubair and Ziaul, who have been arrested in Delhi.

Besides interrogating the three criminals, the NIA team would also look into the Bihar Police claim that the ISI has been using Nepal as a base to implement its terror activities in the state using hired criminals.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Barack Obama announced on Tuesday that he is commuting the sentence of Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of sharing classified materials with WikiLeaks.

The one-time US Army intelligence analyst formerly known as Bradley Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison, but is now set to be released in May after a total of seven years behind bars, Efe news reported.

Manning, a transgender woman, has twice attempted suicide during confinement at Fort Leavenworth, a male military prison in Kansas, US.

Manning, now 29, was arrested in May 2010 while still serving in Iraq and endured more than three years of pre-trial detention under conditions that a formal UN investigation deemed "cruel, inhuman and degrading".

In a 2013 court-martial, the private pleaded guilty to having provided WikiLeaks with 700,000 battlefield reports and diplomatic cables as well as video of a 2007 US helicopter attack in Iraq.

None of the documents Manning gave WikiLeaks was classified Top Secret and much of the material was marked only 'Confidential'.

Military prosecutors requested a sentence of 60 years, but the judge settled on 35 years, by far the longest prison term ever imposed in the United States for leaking classified documents.

Administration officials disclosed in recent days that Manning was on the short list of those being considered for pardons and commutations in the final days of the Obama presidency.

Last week, White House spokesman Josh Earnest pointed to Manning's remorse as he contrasted her case with that of former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who obtained political asylum in Moscow in 2013 after leaking documents that revealed the US government's mass surveillance of private communications.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Wednesday demanded a judicial inquiry and CBI probe into the clash between protesting villagers and police in Bhangar that left two persons dead, while the Left parties condemned the "police firing on farmers".

The ruling Trinamool Congress claims "outsiders" had fired at the villagers.

West Bengal pradesh Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who visited the homes of the two persons killed, said: "We demand judicial inquiry and CBI probe into the killing of innocent villagers. I strongly condemn and criticise the incident."

He also appealed to state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to come to the South 24 Parganas district's Bhangar area immediately.

"I appeal to the Chief Minister to come to Bhangar and inspect the situation herself. She frequently visited Singur and Nandigram during the land movement (against the erstwhile Left Front's efforts to acquire farmland in 2006-08).

"Why is she not coming here?" he questioned.

Left Front heavyweights, including CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury, condemned the "police firing on farmers" and urged the state government to "stop using force against protesters".

"Police firing on farmers in Bhangar in Bengal resulting in deaths is unacceptable," Yechury said during a party meeting in Kolkata's satellite township Salt Lake.

Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member Mohammed Selim and LF legislature party leader Sujan Chakraborty also visited violence hit Bhangar on Wednesday and held the state police responsible for the deaths of two people.

Chakraborty termed the Bhangar developments as "state terrorism" and "war against villagers" and said the peasants were fighting against "land sharks".

At the Salt Lake meeting, CPI-M state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra warned the Chief Minister that his party would put up road blockades before every administrative building in the state if she did "not mend her ways".

"The people of Bhangar have shown the way to resist the police.. Wait for our march to Nabanna (state secretariat," he said.

However, the ruling party Trinamool Congress rubbished the allegations against police and said "outsiders" had shot the villagers.

"Outsiders have flocked to Bhangar from different places and they are trying to confuse the people here. However this is not going to happen. People have liked the good governance of Mamata Banerjee and no one would be able to use separatist power in the state," Trinamool Congress Vice President Mukul Roy said.

"Police haven't fired a single bullet. Outsiders who came to the spot to instigate violence shot the people. The way police was attacked yesterday, there would have been major issues if the Left government was at the helm," 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.)
President Pranab Mukherjee has returned a bill to upgrade Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT) into a university back to the Delhi Assembly for reconsideration, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said here on Wednesday.

"The President has sent the Delhi Netaji Subhas University of Technology Bill, 2015 back to the assembly for reconsideration," Goel told the House on Wednesday.

The Bill was passed by the assembly in June 2015 with an aim to upgrade NSIT, currently affiliated to Delhi University, into a separate university.

At present there are over 3,000 seats in NSIT but after upgrading it to a university, the number of seats were to be increased to 12,000 in three to four years.

Government sources said that the Bill has been sent back on technical grounds and it will now be sent to the Law Department to solve the discrepancies.

It will then again be passed by the cabinet and sent to the Lt Governor for his approval before it could be reintroduced in the assembly.

Last week Lt Governor Anil Baijal returned, for reconsideration, the Aam Aadmi Party government's ambitious proposal of reducing the fares of DTC and cluster buses by 75 per cent.

--IANS

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(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.)
Seventy six years after it ferried Indian revolutionary Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose during his 'Great Escape' from India, the iconic German Sedan Wanderer car was unveiled after restoration by President Pranab Mukherjee here on Wednesday.

Mukherjee unfurled the flag on the car's bonnet during a function at the Netaji Bhawan, housing the Netaji Research Bureau, in the same Elgin Road building in south Kolkata (then Calcutta) from which Netaji had escaped on the night of January 16, 1941, while under house arrest by the British police.

The 1937-make sedan Wanderer W24, witness to the first leg of the legendary leader's Great Escape from British India to Germany, was restored to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the great feat as well as the 60th anniversary of the NRB.

The sedan, all through these years kept in a glass enclosure on the ground floor of the Netaji Bhawan, managed by the NRB -- has received a fresh lease of life, courtesy, a collaboration between the Bureau and German auto maker Audi.

West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathy and Netaji's grand nephew Sugata Bose, also a Trinamool MP, were present on the occasion.

The President also sat for some time on the car's front seat beside the driver, while Bose took his position at the wheel.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said, Netaji's name is perhaps the most emotive issue in the Indian political arena, particularly to Bengalis, even so many years after the great man's disappearance.

Netaji continues to be the centre of many controversies till date, he said.

The restoration was carried out in consultation with vintage car expert Pallab Ray and is scheduled for completion by December.

Netaji's nephew Sisir Bose had driven the revolutionary in the sedan (bearing the registration number BLA 7169) through the streets of Kolkata to Gomoh (now in Jharkhand) hoodwinking British intelligence. He reached Germany via the Khyber Pass, Kabul and Moscow.

In a note of admiration for Sisir Bose, also the NRB founder, the President referred to his role in the historic incident which triggered a series of consequential events and also led to his imprisonment for three to four years at various places from Lahore to Kolkata.

--IANS

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(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.)
Home Minister Rajnath Singh will meet Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Wednesday to discuss the protracted economic blockade along the two national highways in the state.

The meeting in New Delhi is being held in the wake of Manipur High Court observation on Monday that efforts to bring essential commodities through the NH 2 and 37 are "not satisfactory".

While a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party on Tuesday told Ibobi to put all his cards on the table.

Besides, a 17-member team of the Joint Forum of Peace formed by 64 civil society organisations, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Home Minister and others to demand lifting of the blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) on November 1.

Rajnath Singh has expressed surprise that the UNC has not lifted the blockade as some scribes from Manipur met the minister recently.

Minister of States for Home Kiren Rijiju recently said the blockade in any form was "totally unacceptable" and "additional central paramilitary forces will be rushed to Manipur to cope with the situation".

Hundreds of loaded trucks and oil tankers bring various items from Assam through NH 37.

However, the NH 2 that snakes through Nagaland is impassable as activists have blocked the highway. Even military convoys are stopped and checked.

The Naga Students' Federation, a Nagaland based group, had banned all vehicles from Manipur on NH2. The group is reluctant to ply along the highway as it feels there is not enough security cover.

The UNC demands that council President Gaidon Kamei and Publicity Secretary Stephen Lamkang, who are in police custody, be released and talks be held in Senapati district of the state, where its office is located.

However, Ibobi has said: "First, the UNC should lift the blockade and ensure to never repeat it again. Talks can be held either here or Delhi."

"The UNC cannot choose the venue since other clubs and organisations shall emulate it in future and the government will be reduced to a farce."

Meanwhile, over 1,500 loaded trucks and oil tankers wait for security cover at Jiribam, a town in Manipur which is adjacent to Assam.

--IANS

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In a revelation about how the crucial decision on demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes was taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) at a day's notice, RBI Governor Urjit Patel on Wednesday told a Parliamentary Committee that the apex bank had been "advised" by the government on November 7 to hold a board meeting on the issue.

Sources told IANS that Patel was asked several questions by opposition MPs on demonetisation. Answering one such query, Patel said the government had advised that the central board of the Reserve Bank may consider withdrawing legal tender status of high denomination notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500.

The demonetisation decision was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 following a meeting of the RBI board and also of the union cabinet.

Patel is learnt to have told the committee that the bank was in talks with the government on demonetisation since early last year.

Patel was also asked about the value of demonetised currency which has come back to the banks, and is learnt to have said that the committee will be apprised of the figure in due course.

He was also asked about withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 per week. The committee is likely to get written answers to some of the questions raised on Wednesday and Patel may again appear before the committee next month.

Opposition parties have severely criticised the government over the manner in which the decision has been implemented.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, a member of the committee, told IANS that at the Wednesday meeting, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh defended the RBI Governor by suggesting to him not to answer Congress leader Digvijay Singh's query on whether there could be chaos if the existing restrictions on cash withdrawals are removed.

"Yes, he (Manmohan Singh) did help the RBI governor (on the issue) but the remarks were removed from the minutes," Dubey said.

Earlier, Patel also told the Standing Committee on Finance that Rs 9.2 lakh crore of new currency notes have been put in circulation since the high-value currency notes were demonetised on November 8.

The RBI has still not declared how much of the Rs 15.44 lakh crore in banned notes has been returned to the banks.

--IANS

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The road to make America great again - as the US President-elect Donald Trump promised during his election campaign - passes through Beijing, an American expert on US-China dynamics said here on Wednesday.

Michael Pillsbury, a consultant with the US Defense Department and formerly Senior Research Advisor at US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said that there are multiple areas where the Trump administration can seek cooperation and avoid confrontation with Beijing.

"Chinese visitors say Trump should seek to make both China and America great again. Perhaps President Xi (Jinping) can meet President Trump's requests for fair trade without violating his publicly stated opposition to protectionism. Without such progress, both sides will suffer, there will be no stable global order," Pillsbury said at the second Raisina Dialogue here.

He said that as world's second largest economic superpower, China "holds the key to boosting American growth".

"Indeed, China can help us create jobs, stimulate investment and drive growth. But it requires ending China's unfair trade prcatices and making trade compromises," Pillsbury said.

He argued that Trump can stand up to China without sparking war.

"Trump has admired China's negotiating skills, and has said that his best bet would be to appear 'unpredictable' to the Chinese. In this, he has richly succeeded so far. His tweets have created a flutter in the Chinese state media," Pillsbury said, contending that because of the "unpredictability" of the incoming administration, there is a possibility that China may make "once unthinkable" concessions by eliminating its unfair trade practices and reducing America's trade deficit.

"President Xi has already claimed he opposes protectionism by any nation. And so does Donald Trump," he said.

Stressing that the risks of a global conflagration between "two of the world's biggest and most well-armed nations are too great to consider any other alternative", Pillsbury cited six areas in which China is excessively sensitive and the Trump administration must tread tactfully.

These include the 'One China' policy and America's position towards Taiwan; Dalai Lama's visit to White House; arms sales to India and border disputes; missile defence for South Korea,; the South China Sea; and China's trade objectives.

"Beyond the larger question of 'One China', the sales of arms is another source of Chinese anxiety involving Taiwan. Taiwan now wishes to purchase our new F-35 jet fighters. By not granting Taiwan's request, Trump would be doing China a great favour," he said.

On arms sales to India and the border dispute, Pillsbury said that so far the US has not taken a position vis-a-vis India and China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, despite "subtle advances" from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Whether President Trump supports India's claim to Arunachal Pradesh and continues arms sales to India already requested by Modi, is another Chinese worry about the coming year," he said.

Organised by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in collaboration with India's External Affairs Ministry, the Raisina Dialogue examines "the prospects and opportunities for Asian integration as well as Asia's integration with the larger world".

--IANS

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Russia and Turkey conducted their first joint airstrikes against positions held by the Islamic State terror group in Syria, military sources said.

The joint aerial exercises on Wednesday were carried out over the IS-held city of al-Bab in Syria's northern Aleppo province, Efe news reported.

"The operation, conducted with the consent of Syria, involved nine warplanes from the Russian Air Force and eight from the Turkish Air Force," the Head of the Russian General Staff Sergey Rudskoy told media.

Calling the operations against the IS in that area highly effective Rudskoy said that nearly 36 target objectives were singled out during 48 hours of drone and satellite surveillance carried out prior to the operations.

Al-Bab, located some 30 km from Aleppo, is one of the last urban strongholds of the IS in the region.

The Syrian government's recent recapture of urban Aleppo from the predominantly Islamist rebels occupying the city's east boosted its power in a region where President Bashar al-Assad's duress was once waning.

Rudskoy also said the Syrian regime had launched a new offensive to recapture ancient Palmyra, a southern city whose military occupants have alternated between the IS and government troops during years of offensives and counter-offensives.

The joint Turkey-Russia operations came during the nationwide ceasefire adopted on December 30, 2016.

According to the Russian military, the relative success of the cessation in hostilities has paved the way for the conflict resolution meeting between between Assad and opposition representatives due to be held on January 23 in Astana, Kazakhstan, which would be mediated by Russia and Turkey.

--IANS

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Oil major Saudi Aramco will send a team to Andhra Pradesh in 15 days to explore the possibility of developing a refinery.

After the team's visit, Andhra Pradesh will also send a team to Saudi Arabia for further discussions.

This was decided during a meeting Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held on Wednesday with Aramco President and Chief Executive Officer Amin H. Nasser in Davos, Switzerland.

According to a state government release here, Nasser and his team said that they are interested in starting a refinery in India and prefer collaboration with the government.

Naidu said the possibility could be explored and informed them that land and water will be provided without any hitches.

The Chief Minister also invited them to get involved in setting up a Petroleum University in the state.

He explained Andhra Pradesh's interest in petrochemicals, the potential in Krishna Godavari basin, the idea of Petroleum University, the technology and the skilled man force available in the state.

On the third day of his visit to Davos, Naidu also met Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Paytm.

Sharma said that he is keen on bringing every latest initiative of the Paytm to Andhra Pradesh.

The Paytm CEO mentioned that, starting a bank, 500 million accounts by 2020 and digital Paytm bank in every village are some of the targets the company has set.

He also added that support will be extended to self-employed groups by giving small loans.

The Chief Minister suggested that a digital university should be started in a private-public partnership mode and that Andhra Pradesh will be a best partner to associate with.

Naidu also met Shailendra Singh, Managing Director, Sequoia Capital, and discussed ways of collaboration.

Sequoia Capital is an American venture capital firm which mainly focuses on the technology industry. It started investing in India 11 years ago. The Chief Minister invited Sequoia Capital to invest in Andhra Pradesh too.

In a meeting with Fujitsu's Corporate Executive officer Nobuhiko Sasaki, Naidu explained the various technologies being used for development and welfare programmes in the state.

He showed the core dashboard to Nobuhiko and explained how everything is monitored real time.

The Chief Minister enquired if they would provide sensors to collect data on soil moisture, and comprehensive devices for water level, pollution, wind speed and soil quality for increasing agricultural productivity.

The representatives from Fujitsu said that they would send a team to Amaravati, the state's new capital city, to study Andhra Pradesh's requirements.

--IANS

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Saudi Arabia will cooperate with the opposition in Syria to prevent the entry of militants as pilgrims during upcoming Haj, a daily reported on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia allocated a quota of 15,000 pilgrims for the upcoming season and it will be ensured that all of them are civilians who will come for the religious rituals, reports Xinhua news agency.

Abdul Ilah Fahad, General Secretary of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, told Okaz newspaper during a visit to Jeddah that the names of Syrian pilgrims were checked carefully and their fingerprints were taken before sending the pre-final list to Saudi Arabia for approval.

Throughout the Haj season, Saudi Arabia implements tight security to ensure the safety of pilgrims.

The last Haj season attracted more than 1.8 million pilgrims while the number is expected to double this year because Saudi Arabia brought back the old quotas for countries after the end of expansion of the grand mosque in Mecca.

--IANS

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The Supreme Court will on February 3 hear a plea by liquor retailers in Assam for modification of an apex court order last year that banned the sale of liquor within 500 metres on either side of the national and state highways across the country.

A bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud agreed to hear the plea by the petitioner -- All Assam IMFL Retailers Association -- which said that the definition of state highway was so wide that the enforcement of the December 15 Supreme Court order would adversely affect liquor trade in the state.

In its December 15 order, the Supreme Court had also said that no liquor vend should be visible from the highways, while directing the state governments not to grant fresh licences for the sale of liquor along national and state highways in their respective jurisdictions.

The petitioner's counsel Subodh Pathak told the bench that the definition of state highway was all-encompassing, thereby affecting a large number of existing liquor shops.

Section 2 of the Assam Highways Act, 1989, says that highway means "any public thoroughfare, whether a road, street, lane, bridle path, or a foot-trade, whether surfaced or unsurfaced, whether on land owned by the state government or a local authority or on land belonging to a private person over which the public have or have acquired a right of way by usage, and includes --

(a) Slopes, barn, burrow-pits, footpaths, pavements, and side drains of any such thoroughfare;

(b) All bridges culverts, causeways, carriageways, or other road structures, built on or across such thoroughfares;

(c) Trees, fences, posts, and other highways, accessories and materials and material stacks on the thoroughfare or on land attached to the thoroughfare, but does not include the National Highways as defined under the National Highways Act, 1956.

--IANS

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The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday began a hearing to decide whether to order the arrest of Samsung group President Lee Jae-yong for alleged bribery, a media report said.

The judges are expected to rule on the arrest of the Samsung heir by the end of the day following testimonies of the prosecution and the defence, EFE news reported.

The South Korean Prosecutor's office on Monday filed an arrest warrant against Lee over evidence of Samsung's multimillion-dollar donations to foundations and companies allegedly controlled by Choi Soon-il, nicknamed the "female Rasputin" and a close friend of President Park Geun-hye, in return for business favours.

Samsung allegedly paid some 43 billion won ($35.8 million) to a Germany-based company owned by Choi and to two other non-profit foundations linked to her so that Park's government would support a controversial merger between two Samsung affiliates in 2015.

During his interrogation last week, the Samsung chief admitted to the prosecution that he made donations, but denied that they were in exchange for business favours from the authorities.

In addition to bribery, the prosecution also accuses Lee of perjury for having offered a different version during a Parliamentary testimony last month.

Prosecutors are also investigating the possible involvement in the case of three other senior executives of the Samsung group, including the Vice President of the conglomerate, Choi Gee-sung.

On Tuesday, Choi's niece Chang Si-ho admitted to the same court that she blackmailed Samsung in collaboration with her aunt, whom she described as the brain behind the corruption plot that has rocked South Korea and led to Park's impeachment.

Choi, 60, who has been imprisoned since last November, denies all charges against her, including abuse of power, blackmail and attempted fraud.

--IANS

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Salman Khan, who was acquitted in an Arms Act case on Wednesday by chief judicial court in Jodhpur, is facing three other cases relating to alleged poaching of chinkaras and blackbucks during the shooting of Hindi film "Hum Saath Saath Hain" in 1998 in Jodhpur.

In Bhawad, on the outskirts of Jodhpur, Salman is alleged to have killed a chinkara, Indian gazelle, on September 27, 1998. The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) on February 17, 2006, found him guilty and gave him an year's imprisonment. However, the High Court acquitted him last year in this case. The state government has gone to the Supreme Court in this case.

In the second case, Salman is alleged to have killed two chinkaras in Ghoda Farm near Jodhpur on September 29, 1998. The Chief Judicial Magistrate on April 10, 2006 sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. Rajasthan High Court last year acquitted him of the charges. The state government then filed a special leave petition in the case in the Supreme Court last year.

Salman had to spend a few nights in jail in this case, two times in April 2006 and then in August 2007.

Likewise, Salman and a few other Bollywood stars are accused of poaching blackbucks on the midnight of October 1-2, 1998 on the outskirts of Kankani village near Jodhpur. In this case, the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate has asked Salman, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre to be personally present in the court to record their statement.

Salman was accused of carrying and using illegal arms also as he was alleged to have been carrying arms with expired licence. A case under different sections of the Arms Act was registered against him thereafter.

However, the CJM court found him not guilty and acquitted him on Wednesday January 18, 2017.

--IANS

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Acclaimed Indian novelist Anita Nair, who has brought to the fore tales from Quran for children, says it is necessary for children to know that Islam is not a "terrifying religion" as it is made out to be.

Talking about her recently-launched "Muezza and Baby Jaan: Stories From the Quran", Nair said one needs to start combating negative perceptions about Islam with children.

"We need to start with children and it's easier to teach children that Islam is another like Hinduism or Buddhism, the scripture is like every other scripture. There is nothing that makes Islam a terrifying that people make it out to be," Nair told IANS here on the sidelines of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Fest.

"I know a lot of Muslim writers wanted to do it but were hesitant because it would have been considered a propaganda. I am a Hindu so its not a question of propaganda, it's only about opening up the to the public," the best-selling author noted.

Nair, author of "The Better Man" and "Ladies Coupe", also pointed to the absence of writings on Quran.

"There isn't anything written about the Quran. If you look at Bible stories, if you look at Hindu mythology, if you look at Jataka tales, everything is available out there, but there is nothing on Quran. Increasingly, in this time and age, terrorists are using the Quran as a scapegoat to explain what they are doing and that is very sad indeed," Nair said.

The Kerala Sahitya Akademi awardee says her research on the Quran (for an earlier book titled "Idris: Keeper of The Lights) shows it is a treasure trove of beautiful stories.

"Based on my reading of the Quran, (it actually means reading), you realise it's a treasure trove of beautiful stories that explain how to live your life and how to do the right thing. Nowhere does it say that you have to be violent. What has happened is that the interpretations that have come thereafter have corroded the actual essence of Quran," she said.

"I have based this book on a 13th century book by Ibn Kathir, which is basically stories from the Quran, and then I have added on things and embellished it," Nair said.

Hoping adults read the book as well, Nair also vouched for balanced view of things when it comes to school textbooks.

Asked about the recent controversy over the West Bengal government's apparent attempts at "secularising" school textbooks, Nair said: "I am not so sure about that because these children have to grow up in the real world which is not essentially secular, so the approach has to be balanced. And you can't protect the child from not being exposed to the realities of life."

--IANS

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The US government will pay $24 million to settle a long-running discrimination case brought by a group of African-American Secret Service agents who alleged that they were systematically denied promotion to the agency's highest ranks, the media reported on Wednesday.

The settlement, announced on Tuesday, ends a 16-year-old legal battle which exposed early rifts in an agency that was recently plagued with security breaches and agent misconduct, the USA Today reported.

"I am pleased that we are able to finally put this chapter of Secret Service history behind us," Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said.

Johnson said the agency had "turned the corner" under the leadership of current Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy, who was appointed nearly two years ago by outgoing President Barack Obama.

"This settlement is also, simply, the right thing to do."

According to the Secret Service, the policy, which alleged that promotion process was biased against black agents, has been "modified substantially and continues to be further modified and enhanced".

"While the Secret Service takes all allegations in this case seriously, the organisation has, and continues to be, committed to a fair and transparent promotion process. It is time to move forward rather than look back to remnants of the past," it added.

--IANS

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Karthick Naren, whose Tamil directorial debut "Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru" has impressed audiences and critics alike, says he won't be directing the Telugu remake of the film.

"Talks have been initiated with a star for Telugu remake. Unfortunately, I won't be directing the remake because as a creator it is not healthy to work on the same script and screenplay as the magic may gets lost," Karthick, 22, told IANS.

A whodunit thriller revolving around 16 characters, "Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru" was raved for its engaging screenplay and stunning making style.

Another reason why Karthick won't direct the remake is because he has "already started working on my project. I'm busy with the casting process and we plan to go on the floors from July".

Karthick also confirmed that talks are going on for the Hindi remake.

"Two leading production houses have shown interest, but I really can't comment on it yet," he said.

Made on a shoestring budget, the film is currently running in its fifth week in cinemas and has already been adjudged a hit.

--IANS

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Dozens of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, or so they claimed, protested at the party headquarters at 11, Ashoka Road, against the insult meted out to faithful workers by the party leadership in allotting tickets to outsiders. The BJP has selected several turncoats to contest on its symbol in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Goa. The protest coincided with Congress leader N D Tiwari and his son joining the party. Now, with the exception of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, all former state chief ministers  B C Khanduri, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Ramesh Pokhriyal, Vijay Bahuguna and now, N D Tiwari  are in the BJP. The first chief minister of the state was Nityanand Swami, of the BJP, who passed away in 2012. However, by evening and after being ridiculed on social media, BJP sources claimed that only Tiwaris son, Rohit Shekhar, had joined the party. Tiwari senior, they said, would support the party from outside in the elections ahead.
Milan Dhanale, 33, a Thane-based lawyer, is on to his fifth broker now. When I started investing eight years ago, brokerage rates were very high. So, each time a broker offered me a better rate, I shifted, he says. Dhanale now has a trading account with Delhi-based SAS Online, which charges him Rs 9 per trade, irrespective of lot size. It is investors like Dhanale, keen to pare their trading costs, who are driving the shift from traditional full-service brokers towards discount brokers. Owing to this shift, discount brokers like Bengaluru-based Zerodha have seen their client base double over the past year to 119,000 (as per December data from National Stock Exchange).
Five persons died and 17 got injured when a truck they were travelling in flipped near Kotra tehsil of Udaipur district today, police said.

The truck loaded with cotton bales coming from Gujarat to Kotra flipped apparently due to overweight and passengers sitting on it got buried after falling from it, said ASI Mohan Lal posted at Udaipur police control room.

He said the injured persons have been taken to nearest hospitals for treatment.

He said police teams have rushed to the site, which falls near the Gujarat border and the deceased are yet to be identified.

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Attorneys generals from six states, including New York's Eric Schneiderman, have sent a letter urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general.

In the letter dated January 17, the prosecutors said they had "grave concern" that Session would "diligently and fairly enforce all laws protective of civil rights, public safety, health and welfare."



The letter said Sessions made bigoted statements in the past, rejected sensible, criminal justice policy reforms, and badly managed his office during his tenure as Alabama Attorney General.

Attorneys General Ellen Rosenblum of Oregon, Brian Frosh of Maryland, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Doug Chin of Hawaii and Karl Racine of the District of Columbia also signed the letter.

Sessions is expected to win confirmation in the GOP-led Senate.

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At least nine workers have been killed and another rescued in a coal mine collapse in north China's Shanxi Province, rescuers said today.

The collapse occurred at 10:45 AM yesterday at the Danshuigou colliery in Shuozhou City, when workers were doing shaft maintenance work. In total there were ten people present at the time of the accident.

The cause of the accident is under investigation, state- run Xinhua agency reported.

Earlier this month, 12 people were killed after a falling roof triggered a gas explosion at a coal mine in central China's Henan Province. The explosion took place at Xingyu Colliery in Xuzhuang Township in the city of Dengfeng.

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal. Its mining industry has long been one of the world's deadliest.

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On the instructions of the Election Commission, the Punjab government has withdrawn 900 men providing security to chairmen and vice-chairmen of various state-owned boards and corporations and their decision making power.

"After a security review, we have withdrawn 900 gunmen who were providing security to chairmen of boards and corporations," Punjab Additional Director General of Police V K Bhawra said here today.

Bhawra, who is a nodal officer for the state Assembly elections, said a security review of about 400 people was undertaken and a decision was taken to withdraw 900 security guards attached with them.

He said those given Z plus, Z, X and Y security cover were not part of the review.

A total of 1,300 men were guarding them before the decision. Earlier, 300 gunmen were withdrawn by the police, the ADGP said, adding some candidates, including those of AAP, have refused to take security cover.

"Some candidates were not taking security cover. They have voluntarily refused to take security cover. Among them are some AAP candidates," Bhawra said.

Police provides three security personnel to candidate of a recognised political party and two to those of other parties.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer V K Singh said on the directions of the Election Commission, the state government has withdrawn the executive functioning power from political persons who were appointed as chairman and vice chairmen of boards and corporations.

"The government has ordered that those political appointees who were given the charge of chairmen and vice-chairmen should stop performing executive functions. The job is now being done by administrative secretaries of respective departments. The decision was taken on the directions of the Election Commission," Singh said.

Notably, just before the code of conduct came into force, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal appointed "party loyals" to various positions in boards and corporations.

The Election Commission has also directed replacement



of SHOs from other cadres such as PAP.

Nine such officers of Armed Battalions and Intelligence, who were working as SHO, Additional SHO or chowki in-charges have been replaced. Apart from these, seven other SHOs have been replaced based on complaint or recommendation of senior officers, said Bhawra.

They were posted Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Fazilka, he said.

Bhawra said 200 companies of para military forces have arrived in Punjab and they are taking out flag marches in districts as part of confidence building measure.

The drive for depositing licensed arms has been intensified after Model Code of Conduct (MCC) coming into force, he said.

Total 2.96 Lakh weapons (79 per cent) have been deposited so far and the target is to reach 90-95 per cent of licensed weapons, the ADGP said.

He said 502 unlicensed weapons were seized in last three months. Out of these, 348 have been recovered after MCC came into force.

Bhawra said the composite teams of 451 Flying Squads and 504 Static Surveillance Teams are functional throughout the state. These teams along with police recovered worth Rs 23.58 crore of liquor, opium and poppy husk.

With regard to seizure of 160 kg of gold in Mohali, Bhawra said it was the "biggest catch" during polls by the Punjab police.

The central agencies including Income Tax department, Central Excise and Customs have been informed about this incident.

Punjab police yesterday seized 160 kg of raw gold, valued at Rs 21 crore from a vehicle here at Bakharpur Chowk under Sohana police station in Mohali district.
Miners' body Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) has sought for abolition of export duty on the low-grade iron ore in the upcoming budget.

"Due to the slowdown in steel industry, domestic demand of iron ore is very subdued. At present, the iron ore from Odisha and Jharkhand can be exported only from Haldia, Paradip, Vizag and Dhamra ports," FIMI Secretary General R K Sharma told PTI.

"Therefore, we suggested the government that export duty on iron ore exported from these ports may be removed for ore up to 62 per cent Fe content as against up to 58 per cent Fe at present," Sharma said.

Iron is a chemical element with symbol Fe and atomic number 26.

At present, there is an export duty of 30 per cent on low-grade iron ore. Iron ore is a key ingredient in steel making.

Further, Sharma was of the view that as against the production of 155.90 million tonnes (MT) of iron ore in 2015-16, domestic demand is only 115 MT.

He added that "4.50 MT iron ore was exported mainly from Goa (3.255), Vizag (1.106) and a small quantity from Redi port (0.146) which seems to be of Goan origin."



"Moreover, 7.09 MT of iron ore was imported by steel companies, mainly by JSW in Karnataka. The net demand of iron ore was therefore 112.41 MT, " he explained.

In addition, there is a stockpile of 128.66 MT of iron ore at mine-heads as on 31 March, 2015, he said.

The areas where there is surplus production and lack of adequate outlet are Odisha and Jharkhand. The mines in these states are in interior. Because of non-lifting of entire production, Odisha had a stockpile of 76.92 MT and Jharkhand 24.72 MT at mine-heads as on March 31, 2015.

"Out of the total stockpile of 144.52 MT (at mine-heads as on July 31, 2016), 122.83 MT or 85 per cent are in Odisha and Jharkhand," he said.

Odisha also accounts for 58 per cent of the total stockpile in the country. It will be further observed that of the total stockpile, 70 per cent are below 62 per cent Fe (both lumps and fines). Fines constitute 93 per cent of the all-India stockpile of below 62 per cent Fe in these two states, he added.

The Government will present the Union Budget for FY 2017-18 on February 1.

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Indian advertising guru and author Suhel Seth has become one of the largest individual donors and supporters of India's first Partition Museum, being set at Amritsar Town Hall in Punjab.

Seth donated Rs 50 lakhs towards a gallery within the Museum to be dedicated to his parents, Shub and Jogendra Seth.

"Partition has affected Punjab, Bengal and the world in so many ways - and this is the only museum in the world that is dedicated to the events of 1947. The ramifications of the Partition continue till today," he said.

The Partition Museum, a project entirely funded by public donations raised by UK-based Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust, claims to be attracting up to 1,000 visitors daily ever since the inauguration of a curtain raiser exhibition on October last year.

The visitors include partition survivors and their families, VIPs, and tourists, both foreign and Indian, the museum said in a statement.

"The Museum has been receiving material from Partition affected families as well, such as phulkaris, utensils, books, letters etc - all dating back to the time of Partition," said museum CEO Mallika Ahluwalia, who accompanied Seth on a recent visit to the Town Hall in Amritsar.

One wing of the Town Hall is now undergoing restoration and transformation so that the entire Museum can be completed by later this year. Seth, whose parents hail from Amritsar, said his donation marks a long-standing desire to honour his parents in the city of their roots.

The museum has been planned as a collection of documents, oral histories and memorabilia commemorating the largest migration in history as well as an invaluable archive for scholars and academics.

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Nepal has asked India to resolve "real issues" of concern to it to build trust in the ties that were "tested" during arduous patch last year and cautioned it against raising matters internal to the Himalayan nation including those pertaining to its Constitution.

"We don't want to look back, we want to look forward.... We have to focus on building trust. Whatever real issues are there from Nepal's side, India should address," Nepal's Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat told PTI in an interview after his talks with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs V K Singh.

Mahat, who left today after attending India's geo- political flagship initiative "Raisina Dialogue-II" yesterday, also asked India to be "sensitive" towards Nepal's needs and requirements. "I have conveyed the same to my Indian counterpart," he added.

"Even before that episode, there were lot of things which were not delivered...But there was a special episode which put to test both sides.

"So, we don't want to see that happen again. Now we are on normal track but there are so many things you would like to see move forward...And if it does move then there is a greater trust," he said while pressing for expeditious completion of various India-assisted projects in his country including Mahakali Bridge and various irrigation projects.

On another contentious issue of adoption of new Nepal Constitution which India had maintained was not inclusive as it does not include Nepal's "diverse social fabric", Mahat said his government was bound to protect interests of all sections of the society as it was even detrimental to Nepal's interest to have a "feeling of alienation" among its people.

Asserting that his party, Nepali Congress, was committed to addressing issues of Madhesis and was already working on the second amendment to the Constitution dealing with it, he said these were "internal" to Nepal.

"Madhesis are in Nepal and are Nepali. My party has major base in Madhes...We will do everything possible to address real concerns (of Madhesis)...We want to protect their interest.

"When you (India) raise these issues, they don't remain the issue of Madhesis but become India's issue...Why don't you let us take ownership of the issue?" the Foreign Minister said, adding, "Over-raising of the issue kills the very purpose you trying to advocate.

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Lt Governor Anil Baijal has returned Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology Bill to the Delhi Assembly asking for reconsideration of the Bill, days after his office sent back the file on slashing DTC bus fares to the AAP government.

In June 2015, the Delhi Assembly had passed NSIT bill (amendment) tabled by AAP government, according university status to Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology.

After passing the Bill, the House had sent it to Ministry of Home Affairs for approval.

"Lt Governor returned Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology Bill, asking for its reconsideration," Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel told the House today during the ongoing Winter Session.

At present, Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology is affiliated to Delhi University.

Recently, Baijal had returned the file on Delhi government's ambitious proposal to slash fares of DTC and Cluster buses by 75 per cent, asking the city administration to reconsider it.

While tabling the NSIT Bill in June on floor of the House, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds education portfolio, had said, "Making NSIT a university will cater to thousands of students. At present, there are 3,400 seats in NSIT, but once it becomes a university, there will be 12,000 seats in 4-5 years.

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Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today ordered Secretary of Women and Child Development to look into complaints of MLAs that the department officers "do not provide" financial assistance of Rs 30,000 to widows for their daughter marriage on time.

Sisodia, who also heads the Women and Child Development Department, has directed the Secretary to also take steps to remove discrepancy, if any, in the government scheme.

As per scheme, the Delhi government gives Rs 30,000 as financial assistance for marriage of daughters of widows.

The matter came to light during Question Hours when some of legislators complained that officers allegedly don't release financial assistance to beneficiaries on time.

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Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today urged the Election Commission to direct RBI to relax the limit on withdrawal of funds from banks to enable candidates and political parties to contest the Assembly polls in a democratic environment.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, Amarinder said given the time constraint, the matter needed the urgent attention of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the RBI to facilitate fair play of democratic processes.

With the existing RBI norms allowing only Rs 24,000 withdrawal a week from savings account and Rs one lakh from current account, it was not possible for the candidates to defray their expenditure given the two weeks they would have for campaigning, from January 21 (when final list will be announced by EC after scrutiny of nominations) to February 2(the last date for electioneering), he wrote in the letter.

Amarinder pointed out that the nominated candidates in each constituency were expected to incur expenditure on their respective campaign as per the limits prescribed by the Election Commission, which necessitates that the expenditure be legitimate and properly accounted.

However, as a result of the RBI limits, the candidates are unable to meet the expenditure even within the prescribed limits from their respective accounts, he said.

He urged the Election Commission to direct the RBI to relax the restrictions for "validly nominated candidates" to enable them to withdraw the required money from their account within the prescribed limits of expenditure as per ECI guidelines.

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President-elect was hit with a defamation lawsuit by a former contestant on his reality television show "The Apprentice" who had previously accused him of sexual misconduct.

Summer Zervos's yesterday's lawsuit claims that Trump - set to become the 45th US president on Friday - lied when responding to allegations that he tried to kiss and grope her without her consent.

Trump has "debased and denigrated Zervos with false statements about her," the lawsuit says.

Trump, who faced a series of sexual misconduct accusations during the campaign, has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to sue the women behind the claims.

"All of these liars will be sued after the election is over," Trump said at a rally in Pennsylvania in October. He has yet to file suit.

Zervos's attorney Gloria Allred said her client, who had previously said she would not take any legal action against the president-elect if he didn't sue, had a change of heart as Trump has shown no remorse for his alleged behavior and had "lied" further to cover it up.

"It was who was lying when he falsely denied his predatory misconduct with Summer Zervos, and derided her for perpetrating a 'hoax' and making up a 'phony' story to get attention," according to the suit filed in New York.

"In doing so, he used his national and international bully pulpit to make false factual statements to denigrate and verbally attack Ms Zervos and the other women who publicly reported his sexual assaults in October 2016."



Zervos is asking that Trump retract or apologize for the statements he made against her. She is also asking for compensatory and punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial.

In a statement read to reporters in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Zervos said she would be willing to drop her suit if Trump "will simply retract his false and defamatory statements about me and acknowledge that I told the truth about him."



Zervos last year revealed that Trump had made unwanted sexual advances toward her when she met him at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles in 2007 to discuss career opportunities.

Trump moved toward her aggressively during the encounter and touched her on the breast but she rebuffed him, she alleged.

Zervos and several other women who made similar allegations came forward after a 2005 videotape of Trump bragging about groping women surfaced during in early October.

The president-elect claimed his comments on the tape were "locker-room banter," and denounced the sex assault allegations as lies and fabricated stories.
The three suspected ISI agents, arrested by Bihar Police, were today questioned by sleuths of RAW, NIA and Railway Police in connection with the November 20 Indore-Patna Express mishap in Kanpur that claimed 150 lives and other train accidents.

The trio had provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur on November 20 last year during questioning yesterday after their arrest from Adapur police station area yesterday.

After the central agencies were alerted about these leads, teams of NIA, RAW, Railway Police and UP and Bihar ATS came here to extract more details from Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav to ascertain ISI role in triggering train mishaps in India.

Meanwhile, a court of Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM), Raxual, S K Mishra sent the trio to six days in police remand.

Superintendent of Police of East Champaran district Jitendra Rana told reporters that they sought remand of the three in connection with murder of two residents of the district -- Arun Ram and Deepak Ram -- in Nepal on December 28 last year for failing to trigger blast on the track in Ghorasahan in East Champaran district on October 1, 2016.

The district police would intensively question the trio for details regarding Ghorasahan incident and killing of the duo in connection with which a case was registered with Adapur police station of the district.

Rana said NIA, RAW, ATS and Railway Police quizzed the three in connection with Indore-Patna Express mishap.

Paswan, Shankar and Yadav had allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to ISI to target the railways.

They had revealed that they were paid Rs three lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly had connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai who had links with the ISI.

The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on the railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran district, bordering Nepal, on October 1 last year, Rana said.

Efforts are on to arrest, in this connection, two others identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav, who are "hiding" in East Champaran, the SP had said.

While three persons were arrested from East Champaran district, three others were captured earlier at Tailaya in Nepal for targeting railways on behalf of suspected terror elements in India, the SP said.

East Champaran is a district bordering Nepal. Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in the district in August 2013.

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: After holding a significant position in the heavy and medium commercial vehicle segments, Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland pegs to ramp up its presence in the light and intermediate commercial vehicle segments with the launch of two new models.

Following the successful launch of light commercial vehicle 'Dost,' the city-based auto-major unveiled 'GURU' and the first air-conditioned LCV goods vehicle 'PARTNER' here today.

Unveiling GURU and PARTNER in the intermediate and light commercial vehicles, respectively, Ashok Leyland CEO and Managing Director Vinod K Dasari said the company aims to increase the market share in the segments.

With these launches, Ashok Leyland has further strengthened its position in the market and was closer to the vision of emerging as one of the top 10 truck makers globally, he said.

"If you have to be a big player, then you must have multiple products. So, we will be launching a new product every quarter," Ashok Leyland, President, LCV and Defence, Nitin Seth told reporters here.

The domestic light commercial vehicle segment holds a market size of 35,000 units.

"We plan to introduce a new product every quarter (in LCV segment)," Seth said.

Stating that the LCV market grew in the last six months, he said, "the 6 to 7.50 tonnage category was growing at 4-5 per cent (year-on-year)... We want to capture about 20 per cent market share.. That is the intention."



After the company's tie up with Japanese auto-maker Nissan Motor, he said, "For the PARTNER we have new ZD30 Common Rail diesel engine BSIV variant which is now made in Ashok Leyland (unlike the earlier engine manufactured at Nissan plant near Chennai)".

"This engine has been modified in terms of fuel efficiency and to make it more suitable to Indian conditions" he said.

About the ICV segment, Ashok Leyland, President,



Global Trucks, Anuj Kathuria said, "under the 14 tonne category we have ECOMET and then in the premium segment, in which a single trip covers almost 1,000 kms, we have the BOSS which comes under the 10-14 tonne (categories)".

"There is another segment in which a customer looks for driver comfort, turn around time. There, we have GURU which is available in two tonnage, the 12 tonne and 14 tonne" he said.

Stating that the company holds 20 per cent market share in the ICV segment, Kathuria said, "BOSS is generally in the 9,12 and 13 tonne categories while ECOMET comes under the 10,12 and 14 tonne categories".

On the outlook for the company with today's launch of two new models, he said the plan is to achieve "leadership" position in the next couple of years.

"Leadership position means it will be more than one-third (of market share what we have now)," he said.

The 'GURU,' launched today is priced between Rs 14.35 lakh and 16.72 lakh (ex-showroom Chennai) while 'PARTNER' has been priced at Rs 10.59 lakh for the six tyre variant and Rs 10.29 lakh for the four tyre variant (all ex-showroom Chennai).
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has welcomed the decision by US President Barack Obama to commute the sentence of Chelsea Manning, jailed for leaking classified US documents, while calling for an end to a "war on whistleblowers".

"I welcome President Obama's decision to commute the sentence of Ms. Chelsea Manning from 35 years to time served," Assange said in a statement yesterday sent to AFP by one of his lawyers.

He said Manning should never have been convicted and described her as "a hero, whose bravery should have been applauded not condemned".

"In order for democracy and the rule of law to thrive, the government should immediately end this war on whistleblowers, and publishers such as WikiLeaks and myself," Assange added.

Manning was convicted in August 2013 of espionage and other offenses after admitting to leaking 700,000 sensitive military and diplomatic classified documents to WikiLeaks.

A transgender soldier, she was sentenced by military court martial as Bradley Manning and has since been held in an all-male prison, where the 29-year-old has attempted suicide twice.

Earlier this month WikiLeaks said on Twitter that Assange would agree to US extradition if Obama were to grant Manning clemency.

He has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where he faces sexual assault allegations, claiming he fears he would be extradited from there to the US over his role in the leaks.

Following the White House announcement that Manning will now be released in May, Assange's legal team did not immediately comment on whether Assange's promise still stood.

"Julian's US lawyers have repeatedly asked the Department of Justice to clarify Julian Assange's status and would like them to do so now by announcing it is closing the investigation and pursuing no charges," lawyer Melinda Taylor, representing Assange, told AFP.

Washington has maintained the threat of prosecuting Assange over the 2010 leak, though no charges have been filed.

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Congress today said the Assembly elections in five states is a virtual referendum on the demonetisation decision which has led to "pain and anger" among a vast number of ordinary people who had to suffer for long.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters he was confident the "pain and anger" among people would reflect in the voting patterns in the five states, including Uttar Pradesh.

Azad, who is also Congress General Secretary, was asked whether the Congress was seeing the polls as a referendum on the issue of demonetisation.

The Congress leader was briefing media on the gherao of RBI offices carried out by party workers in various parts of the country in which it demanded that the RBI Governor must resign taking responsibility for the 'demonetisation mess' as also permitting the Modi government to encroach upon the jurisdiction of the central bank and rendering it as "a mouthpiece " of the government.

"RBI's autonomy and statutory powers have been subjugated and compromised. Responsibility lies at the doorsteps of RBI Governor for this erosion of credibility," he said at the outset.

He also demanded the RBI and the Modi government issue a 'white paper' and answer all questions and demands raised by the Congress. He also wanted grant of 'right of withdrawal of own money' by lifting all restrictions.

"An autocratic Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bloating over the arrogance of numbers and a captive RBI, has plunged the country into a state of 'economic anarchy', wiping out people's earnings and creating a colossal sense of fear and insecurity", the party said in a memorandum submitted to the RBI offices.

"Have RBI and Modi Government calculated the cost of replacing old notes with new notes? Is it Rs 25,000-30,000 crore, as has been stated by many economists? Who is going to bear this cost?," he asked.

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Police today rescued 80 people, including 33 children, from a village in Kulgam district in the wake of apprehensions of avalanches after the area was cut-off due to snowfall.

The Jammu and Kashmir police launched a rescue operation in Waltengoo Nad area of Kulgam and rescued 80 people including 33 children, a police spokesman said here.

In view of the heavy snowfall and apprehensions of avalanche in the area, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kulgam has constituted rescue teams which rushed to the spot, he said.

After clearing the snow on about 15 kilometres of road from Qazigund to Waltengoo, the teams reached Waltengoo Nad, the spokesman said.

The people were evacuated to a building of Government Middle School Naubugh and arrangements like meals, bedding and heating were made by the district administration, he said.

Moreover, two children suffering from hepatitis were shifted to a hospital for treatment, the spokesman added.

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A "medium danger" avalanche warning was today issued for some districts of Jammu and Kashmir and people were advised not to venture into vulnerable areas.

Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment in an advisory said a medium danger warning exists for avalanche- prone slopes above an altitude of 2800 metres in Anantnag, Kupwara and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir for the next 24 hours starting 5 PM today.

It advised people not to venture into such areas during the period.

SASE said Bahihal Top gauged 42 cm, Gulmarg 7 cm and Drass 3 cm of snow in Jammu and Kashmir, while Dhundi and Pastio in Himachal Pradesh got 10 cm and 6 cm of precipitation respectively.

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The West Bengal Foreign Liquor Manufacturers Wholesalers and Bonders Association (WBFLMWB) has appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to either reverse the decision of entry into liquor wholesale or retain wholesalers for distribution to retailers.

"Currently, there is uncertainty over the distribution model of the proposed state government corporation that proposes to introduce wholesale liquor in the state. With this, direct and indirect job for 70,000 people are at stake," WBFLMWB Vice-President Viekram Soni said today.

The state has formed a corporation called West Bengal State Beverages Corporation Ltd which will take up the wholesale trade of India Made Foreign Liquor and country spirits from April, 2017.

Currently, there are 102 licensed wholesalers of liquor in the state and they procure from manufacturers and distribute it to retailers.

The association was apprehensive that the government may not renew their licenses after March this year forcing their abrupt exit from the trade.

Soni said the Chief Minister is unaware of the fact of the business and there could be some groups with vested interests.

"We are trying to meet her and explain the facts, but still we have not got any appointment," he said.

The association claimed that they operate with a wafer thin margin of two per cent and all the distribution cost is factored in that margin, which is not possible for an state corporation.

Citing example of Odisha, Soni said even after three years distribution of takeover by a state corporation, half of their shops remain dry of supplies.

In 2015-16, excise collection was Rs 4,418 crore.

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World number one Angelique Kerber got the birthday gift she wanted Wednesday by making the Australian Open third round, but she had to work hard against fellow German Carina Witthoeft.

The defending champion, who turned 29, battled through 6-2 6-7 (3/7) 6-2 and will next face either Czech Kristyna Pliskova, sister of fifth seed Karolina Pliskova, or Romanian 27th seed Irina-Camelia Begu.

The prospects looked bleak for the unseeded Witthoeft, who has twice lost to Kerber at Wimbledon including an embarrassing 6-0, 6-0 'double bagel' in 2015.

Witthoeft has never beaten a top 10 opponent but she showed far more fight than at the All England Club, with Kerber taken to three sets for the second match in a row.

Kerber stunned Serena Williams in the final last year and also went on to win the US Open, dethroning the American as the world's top ranked player.

She is not only defending a major title for the first time but also playing her maiden Grand Slam as top seed, admitting she is still getting used to dealing with the extra pressure.

"To have this pressure is a privilege. It's completely new for me, but I'm doing well. I'm just trying to enjoy it," she said, before the Rod Laver Arena crowd sang "Happy Birthday".

"I am getting older... I think I will have a great day today," Kerber added.

The top seed came out of the gates at full pelt, breaking the 21-year-old in the first game when her opponent netted a backhand.

Ranked 89, Witthoeft was pushed around the baseline by the left-hander but some unusually wild shots from Kerber handed her break opportunities, one of which she grabbed to level the match.

It was an aberration with the birthday girl immediately breaking back, before turning up the heat as they traded blows to score another break when Witthoeft whipped a forehand long to go 2-5 down, with Kerber easily holding to take the set.

Bidding to be the first woman to defend her Australian title since Victoria Azarenka in 2013, Kerber had an indifferent lead-up to Melbourne with early exits in Brisbane and Sydney this month.

She has slowly been improving as he works her way deeper into the Australian Open and towards a potential quarter-final against Garbine Muguruza, with Williams seeded to meet her in the final.

She came out firing in the second set, ambushing Witthoeft for an early 2-0 lead. But she lost focus and her countrywoman made the most of it, breaking back with some pinpoint shots from the baseline.

The set turned into a slug-fest and Kerber succumbed to the pressure in the tiebreak, firing blanks on her serve which allowed Witthoeft to win six points in row and take the set.

Kerber was rattled and lost her opening service game to love, but she quickly regrouped as the crowd got behind her to break back. A tired Witthoeft had no response and her previously stern resistance crumbled into surrender.

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Protesting party's decision to give tickets to "outsiders" and turncoats, some BJP workers today burnt effigy of Union minister and local MP Mahesh Sharma at DND flyway here disrupting traffic, before they left for Delhi.

They shouted slogans against Sharma and carried placards which read "bahari logon ke ticket vapas lo (take the tickets back from the outsiders)"



Police reached the site and traffic movement on flyway was restored.

The BJP has decided to field Tejpal Nagar, 58, from Dadri who had quit BSP during 2014 Lok Sabha elections and joined BJP.

Dhirendra Singh, who quit Congress and joined the BJP on January 8, has been named as party candidate from Jewar.

Sharma said, "I have not selected the two candidates. The central election committee decided to field them. I have nothing to do with it. They should protest in Delhi.

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The city unit of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) today submitted to BJP a list of 92 people, aspiring to fight the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

The list of aspirants was handed over to BJP's city unit president Ashish Shelar.

Mohit Kamboj, the Mumbai chief of BJYM, the youth wing of BJP, said the aspirants represent different the sections of the society.

"I handed over the list to Shelarji and requested him to give tickets to as many as possible. These aspirants include professionals such as doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants and social workers. They represent different categories- SC, ST, OBC and general," he said.

They are active members of the party and have an urge to do something for the betterment of the society, he said.

The BJYM's city unit has already launched a campaign on the social media titled as 'Youth for MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai).

"Since I represent the party's youth, it my duty to do the needful to ensure their greater participation in the upcoming elections," Kamboj said.

Elections to ten municipal corporations, including the BMC, will be held on February 21.

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The pre-poll alliance talks between BJP and Shiv Sena, after veering towards a broad consensus over the issue, have now shifted to haggling between local leaders of both parties, over which seats they can win.

Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai, while speaking to reporters today after the second round of meeting with BJP, said BJP has demanded 114 seats for Mumbai civic polls.

"The BJP has put forward a demand of 114 seats for the BMC polls. We then asked them to give us the exact details of seats that it wants to contest. It was then decided between both parties that BJP will share the list...," Desai said.

"Once we receive the list, we will hold internal negotiations which might take a day. Once that is done, we will once again sit with the BJP on our opinion," he said.

The talks and broad consensus bears an imprint of the broad pro-alliance agreement between Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Thackeray has set a deadline of January 21 for wrapping up the talks as he would announce his decision on the eve of late Sena chief Bal Thackeray's birth anniversary that falls on January 23.

In what appears to be a first indication of a toned down stance, senior Sena MLC Anil Parab while pointing to the fate that has befallen on senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse whom Sena treats as the architect of breaking the alliance before the 2014 Assembly polls, said that no one should commit the same "sin" of breaking the alliance this time around.

"The Sena too had then felt bad as they had to contest against those with whom they had worked closely for so many years. If at all the Sena will have any alliance it will be with the BJP or else it will contest solo," Parab said.

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Bodies of the Mahant of an Ashram and a dismissed constable were found at the ashram in Vrindavan Kotwali area, police said today.

The body of Mahant Rajendranandpuri was last night found hanging from the ceiling while Prabhash Gautam's body was found lying in a pool of blood in two rooms of Sri Mohan Sanyas Ashram in Godhuli Puram, they said.

An iron rod and a cane were also recovered from the spot.

The incident came to light when Prabhash and a student of the ashram, Peeyush, were reported missing prompting police to reach the ashram which was found locked from inside, SP (city) Ashok Kumar said.

The Ashram door was unbolted from the latch and bodies of Prabhash and Mahant Rajendranandpuri were found, he said.

Forensic team has taken samples and four teams have been formed to investigate the case, he said.

Police are yet to ascertain the whereabouts of Peeyush, the officer said.

Meanwhile, noted saints and Mahants of Vrindavan have threatened to protest if police failed to nab the accused.

"We shall be forced to adopt agitational approach if the case is not solved within a week," Mahant Fuldol Maharaj and Mahesha Nand Saraswati jointly said in the presence of over a dozen saints and Mahants.

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Brazil's government has ordered the armed forces to help secure the country's overcrowded jails as police fought to separate rival gangs of inmates in one prison following a massacre.

Inmates climbed on the roof and set up barriers of furniture in a northeastern jail inhabited by warring rival drug gangs vowing to behead each other.

Police fired rubber bullets to try to keep apart two rival factions, sending the inmates fleeing in panic and drawing screams from their relatives gathered outside the prison walls.

A total of 26 prisoners were killed in a bloodbath at the weekend in the facility, the Alcacuz jail near the northeastern city of Natal.

Two days later, crowds of prisoners were still loose in the open air between the prison blocks and the outer walls of the complex.

Television images showed inmates sharpening machetes.

The governor of the surrounding Rio Grande do Norte state, Robinson Faria, said authorities were working to stop the prisoners escaping from Alcacuz.

After a series of violent prison riots, President Michel Temer "made the armed forces available to the states" to secure their jails, a presidential spokesman said yesterday.

The defense ministry has scheduled a meeting today to present an action plan.

Experts say the violence is part of a war between drug gangs battling for control of the cocaine trade in Brazil, a key trafficking route to Europe.

The Natal riot was thought to have been a clash between Brazil's biggest drug gang, the First Capital Command (PCC), and a rival called Crime Syndicate.

"The PCC is defying not only the state but also the regional crime cartels in its efforts to control the drug trade," Faria said.

Gathered outside the jail, prisoners' relatives said members of Crime Syndicate were trying to break into a prison block to attack PCC members.

One female relative showed AFP a video sent to her by her partner, an inmate in the jail.

"We have just one desire and that is to rip the heads off the PCC, and that's what we're going to do," he shouted.

"We're not going to let those bastards lay down the law on our turf.

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British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and Diplomatic Advisor to French President Jacques Audibert today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi who pitched for enhancing of ties with these countries.

During the call on by Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of UK, Modi appreciated the progress achieved in strengthening the bilateral partnership in various sectors, especially Science and Technology, Finance, and Defence and Security, a PMO statement said.

He hoped that both sides would continue to work together to enhance these ties, the statement said.

The Prime Minister noted that the Indian diaspora in UK acts as a living bridge between the two countries, and is a key driver of close people-to-people relations.

He recalled his earlier meeting with Johnson during his visit to Britain in November 2015 when the latter was the Mayor of London.

Modi said the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November 2016 had put in place the framework necessary to guide India-UK relations in the days to come, the statement said.

During the call on by Audibert, the Prime Minister said relations between India and France have expanded from the triad of Defence, Space and Civil Nuclear cooperation to encompass a broad range of sectors, especially counter- terrorism, maritime security and renewable energy.

He called for greater bilateral cooperation in Smart Cities, Urban Transport, and Infrastructure Development, the PMO said.

The Prime Minister recalled his visit to France in 2015, and the visit of President Hollande as Chief Guest at the Republic Day on 2016, and said that the exchange of visits had laid the foundation for strengthening bilateral ties for years to come.

Modi also recalled the establishment of International Solar Alliance as a landmark achievement in global efforts against Climate Change, and conveyed his appreciation for French support to this initiative.

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The Union Cabinet was today apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November last year between India and Japan for cooperation in the field of outer space.

The MoU was signed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tokyo.

The purpose of this MoU is to pursue future cooperative activities in exploration and use of outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes.

The agreement provides scope for pursuing cooperation in various areas of space science technology and applications including earth observation, satellite communication and navigation; exploration and space sciences; research and development in space systems and space technology and space industry promotion.

India and Japan pursue space cooperation for more than five decades.

With the formation of JAXA in 2003, an "arrangement concerning the considerations of potential future cooperation in the field of outer space" was signed in October 2005 between ISRO/Department of Space (DOS) and JAXA.

Subsequently both agencies have signed cooperative documents addressing lunar exploration, satellite navigation, X-ray astronomy and Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF).

During the ISRO-JAXA bilateral meeting held at New Delhi in April 2016, both sides stressed the need for updating he contents of '2005 Arrangement' with enhanced scope of cooperation.

Accordingly, both sides have arrived at the draft of new 'Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)' between ISRO and JAXA concerning cooperation in the field of outer space' and got it signed on November 11, 2016 at Tokyo.

The Cabinet also approved exchange programmes in the field of Youth Affairs between India and Russia for promoting exchange of ideas, values and culture amongst Youth through establishment of people-to-people contacts and in consolidating friendly relations between the two countries.

"The selections for participation in exchange programmes shall be done in an objective and transparent manner and the outcomes of the programmes under the MoU shall be open for public scrutiny.

"Exchange programmes will also help in developing international perspective among the Youth and expanding their knowledge and expertise in the areas of Youth Affairs," a statement said.

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Laws which amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the ones dealing with salaries and pensions of the President and the Vice-President are set to be repealed in the coming days.

The Union Cabinet today gave its nod to a Law Ministry proposal to bring the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 to scrap 105 redundant laws which have been clogging the statute books.

Out of the 105 laws which would be repealed once the bill is passed Parliament include 2008 amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, The President's Emoluments and Pension Act and the Vice-President's Pension Act.

"The amendments passed by Parliament have since been incorporated in the principal Act. The amendment laws are now like skeletons which are clogging the statute books and are being scrapped," explained a government functionary.

After the meeting of the Cabinet, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters that the two-member committee constituted by the PMO, the Law Commission and the Legislative Department had identified 1824 redundant and obsolete Central Acts for repeal.

Four Acts have so far been enacted to repeal 1175 Central Acts between May, 2014 and August, 2016 by Parliament.

He said out of the 1824 Acts, 227 (including Appropriation Acts enacted by Parliament for the states under President's Rule have been identified for repeal by the respective state governments.

The various ministries have also "disagreed" to repeal about 139 Acts due to various reasons, a statement issued by the government said.

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The government today approved an expenditure of Rs 200.78 crore for the setting up of an off-campus of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Jharkand.

IARI is the country's premier national institute for agricultural research, education and extension and its campus is located in the national capital.

"The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the 12th Plan proposal of the DARE/ICAR Plan Scheme of the 'Establishment of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)-Jharkhand'," an official statement said.

"It will have an estimated outlay of Rs 200.78 crore (100 per cent ICAR share) on 1,000 acre land provided by the Government of Jharkhand at the Gauria Karma Village in Barhi Block of Hazaribag," it added.

The expenditure of Rs 200.78 crore will be incurred from 2016-17 fiscal to 2019-20, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters here after the Cabinet meeting.

IARI-Jharkhand would have all the hallmark identities as that of IARI at New Delhi including all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticultural crops, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk and lac rearing, honey production.

"It will be an off-campus of IARI, New Delhi and integrated multi-disciplinary research would be undertaken in School mode, i.E. Schools of Crop Sciences, Natural Resource Management, and Animal Sciences," the statement said.

The new institute would work on the agrarian challenges and complexities of eastern India with all existing central and state government R&D institutions and private sector enterprises.

It would undertake research, education, extension programmes in its mission towards developing quality human resource, generation of farmer friendly technologies to enhance productivity, quality and profitability.

IARI-Jharkhand would also promote agro-based industries and generate employment opportunities for holistic and sustainable development of the farm sector in the eastern region.

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The Calcutta High Court today said the CBI will be a more independent agency to probe the Narada sting operation than an agency under the state government.

Hearing a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the Narada sting operation wherein ruling Trinamool Congress leaders are purportedly seen receiving money, a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice T Chakraborty asked whether an investigating agency of the state can be independent of state authorities while probing matters of some persons allegedly related to the incident.

The bench observed that the CBI being a central agency, will be more independent than the police of the state where the alleged incident has happened.

Appearing for state Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari, counsel Partha Sarathi Sengupta submitted that there cannot be an assumption of improper exercise of power by the state police.

One has to assume that the authority will be impartial and in case there is a deviation, the courts may always step in to correct the course of investigation, he submitted.

He stated that the alleged video tapes were made public on March 14, 2016 and the PIL seeking a CBI probe into the matter was filed on the very next day, and claimed there is a political motive into the filing of the PIL.

Sengupta claimed that the statutory process laid down by law would require that the state police will initiate an investigation on a complaint and directing the CBI to conduct the initial inquiry will be an infringement of that.

Appearing for S M H Mirza, an IPS officer allegedly seen in the tapes, counsel Kishore Dutta submitted that a police station has to register an FIR if a cognisable offence is disclosed and there are remedies in court if an FIR is not properly investigated.

But, one cannot go to the highest court of the state at the outset and seek remedy, he claimed.

Justice Mhatre asked that when there is an allegation against a police officer and if the police station does not register a case, then what happens, where does the common man go?



Dutta submitted that the person can go to the Superintendent of Police and even if he finds no remedy there, he may approach the magistrate's court, but not the high court directly.

The matter will be taken up for hearing again tomorrow.

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The Centre today allowed the Tripura government to start procurement of 10,000 tonnes of rice in the state for ration shops and it will bear the cost.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today met Union Food and Consumer Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and demanded that the state government should be allowed to start rice procurement in the state and the central government should reimburse the procurement cost.

The state government requires 3 lakh tonnes of foodgrains under the national Food Security Act and the entire quantity is being supplied by the state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) from the central pool, sources said.

Paswan immediately agreed to the Tripura government proposal to start rice procurement in the state and directed his ministry officials to facilitate the state government in this regard.

He asked Tripura CM to increase rice milling capacity in the state.

The food minister also assured Tripura CM that wheat will also be supplied to the state from April onwards.

Sarkar also demanded that the foodgrains provided under the food law should be increased to 10 kg per person per month and prices of rice should be lowered to Rs 2 per kg from the current Rs 3 per kg.

At present, there are 16 states under the scheme of decentralised procurement of foodgrains.

The scheme was introduced in 1997-98 to enhance efficiency of procurement and PDS and encouraging local procurement to the maximum extent thereby extending the benefits of MSP to local farmers as well as to save on transit costs.

This also enables procurement of foodgrains more suited to the local taste.

Under this scheme, the State Government itself undertakes direct purchase of paddy and wheat and procurement of levy rice on behalf of the Central Government, and also stores and distributes these foodgrains under PDS and other welfare schemes.

The Central Government undertakes to meet the entire expenditure incurred by the State Governments on the procurement operations as per the approved costing.

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The Centre today approved construction of over 78,500 more houses for urban poor in three states - Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal - with an investment of about Rs 2,955 crore.

With this, the total number of houses approved for construction for the benefit of urban poor under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), launched in June last year, has crossed 15 lakh mark to reach 15,48,846.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) also asked the states to gear up and submit proposals regarding construction of affordable houses for achieving the target of "Housing for All" in urban areas by 2022.

HUPA Secretary Nandita Chatterjee conveyed this message during a meeting of the Central Screening and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) here.

"During the meeting, the HUPA Ministry approved construction of 78,703 affordable houses for the benefit of Economically Weaker Sections in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal with an investment of Rs 2,956.32 crore," an official release said.

The central assistance of Rs 1,180.54 crore has been approved for construction of these houses.

The Ministry today approved construction of 52,336 houses in Tamil Nadu, 21,285 in West Bengal got and 5,082 in Kerala.

The total investment for construction of 15,48,846 houses, approved so far, is Rs 82,708 crore with central assistance of Rs 21,125.36 crore.

The latest approval of 52,336 houses in Tamil Nadu entails an investment of Rs 1,942.24 crore with central assistance of Rs 785.04 crore.

With this, the total number of houses approved for Tamil Nadu under PMAY (Urban) has gone up to 2,26,572 with an investment of Rs 8,144 crore and central assistance of Rs 3,461 crore.

West Bengal, which got 21,285 more houses in the latest approval, will get an investment of Rs 861.62 crore with central share of Rs 319.27 crore.

With this, total number of affordable houses approved for the state has increased to 1,44,016 with an investment of Rs 5,835 crore and central assistance of Rs 2,168 crore.

For Kerala, the Ministry today approved construction of 5,082 houses for the benefit of urban poor with an investment of Rs 152.46 crore and central assistance of Rs 76.23 crore.

Total number of houses approved for the state so far has gone up to 22,467 with an investment of Rs 755 crore and central assistance of Rs 363 crore.

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Nepal has handed over the printing of its 1,000-rupee denomination currency notes to China and the first batch of the new notes has been "safely delivered" to the country, according to state media reports here today.

The first batch of 28.4 billion rupees in Nepal's highest denomination, printed by China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM), was delivered on January 16, CCTV reported.

The new banknotes were safely transported to Nepal from Nanchang in southeast China's Jiangxi province within five months of it giving a contract to the Chinese corporation.

CBPM, a state-owned company under the direct leadership of the People's Bank of China, earned the contract to print 200 million 1,000-rupee notes in August 2016.

Li Zheng, general manager of Nanchang Banknote Printing Company, a branch of CBPM, said the whole printing process was localised, including materials and technology.

The notes were printed in the same workshop as Chinese RMB are produced, state-run People's Daily reported.

"The printing of the notes requires precise anti-counterfeiting and design technology, while their successful delivery indicated China's high standards for banknote printing and minting," the report said.

China itself faces serious problems of counterfeit notes with regular complaints about fake money, especially drawn money from ATMs.

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Warning India against increasing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region, a top American military commander today stressed on the need to sign two key agreements between India and the US for joint tracking.

Admiral Harry B Harris, who heads the US Pacific Command (PACOM), termed Chinese submarine forays into the Indian Ocean an "issue" and said signing of the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) will help in joint tracking.

"India should be concerned about increasing Chinese influence," he told a select group of journalists.

Harris also flayed China's relationship with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

"I am not a CENTCOM guy but I think the relationship between China and Pakistan is of concern and I believe that Indian counterparts are also concerned. I believe that China's relationship with Bangladesh is also of some concern," he said.

The top American commander said both India and the US have come a long way in the last few years.

"Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) is a clear indicator of progress. There are other foundational agreements like COMCASA and Basic Exchange and the Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Information and Services Cooperation (BECA).

"These are important foundational agreements. If we get these agreements signed, I think we will be at great place. But I do not want to punish India in the COMCASA or BECA areas i.E. Before India is ready to go," he said.

Asked about the Indo-US cooperation in the Indian Ocean, Harris said, "In tangible terms, with the P8i aircraft, we will be able to do more interoperable activities".

He said the aircraft provided the best capable anti-submarine platform.

"While India has the P8i, we have the P8A, they are not completely interoperable because of different communication system. In order to really maximise the potential here in the Indian Ocean against those submarines (Chinese), we need to move this agreement forward," the US commander said.

Noting that LEMOA was signed after talks of over a decade, he hoped that the two agreements will not take the same time period.

Talking about the US's help to India in tracking of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean, Harris said, "We work closely with India. Malabar exercise helps us horn our ability of highly technical tracking of submarines. I think we are getting better together on our ability to track what china is doing in the Indian ocean."



"Chinese submarines are clearly an issue and we know that they are operating through the region," he added.

The senior US commander commented that a strong and



prosperous China was not a bad thing.

"It is when that strength and prosperity tuns into aggression and coercion, it becomes a problem. It could become a problem for all of us," he said.

Earlier, addressing the Raisina dialogue here, Harris said he can proudly report on the upward trajectory of cooperation between India and the US.

"With its commitment to improving its defence capabilities and modernising its forces, India has demonstrated it has skin in the game," he said.

Talking about the South China Sea, he said no one, including him, wants conflict.

"I have been loud and clear that I prefer cooperation so that we can collectively address global security challenges. But I have also been clear that we will not allow the shared domains to be closed down unilaterally - no matter how many bases are built on artificial features in the South China Sea.

"I say this often but it is worth repeating - we will cooperate where we can and be ready to confront where we must," he said.

Harris said there were many who questioned the motive behind the increasingly cooperative relationship between the US and India.

"They say that it is to balance against and contain China. That is simply not true. Our relationship stands on its own merits," he said.

He said a hindrance to free flow of navigation in Indian Ocean can disrupt economies.

"The threat to freedom of navigation is the biggest threat," he said.

Speaking about the terror group ISIS, Harris said as the group was being eliminated elsewhere, some of the surviving foreign fighters will likely return to the countries from whence they came.

"What is worse is that they will be radicalised and weaponised. We have seen the beginning of this trend in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. It is not a theory. It is real. In the past year alone, ISIL has made its murderous intentions clear in places like Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and the United States.

"It is clear that ISIL wants to conduct its bloody attacks right here in this country. But so far, ISIL's plans for operations in India have been thwarted by the diligent work of India's law enforcement, intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies," he said.
China's top judge has drawn criticism from legal professionals after he dismissed the concept of judicial independence as an "erroneous Western ideal," a statement seemingly aimed at emphasising the ruling Communist Party's ultimate control over all areas of public life.

Zhou Qiang, the head of the Supreme People's Court, has at times been seen as a reformer keen on limiting the influence of government officials on the courts.

However, Chinese state media quoted him over the weekend as instructing leading judges to "draw your sword" against words and actions running counter to the ruling Communist Party's dictates.

Since seizing power in 1949, the party has maintained strict control over the government, judiciary and China's highly influential military despite the rapid social change accompanying breakneck economic growth.

Leaders in recent years have firmly rejected calls for political reform, crushing the 1989 pro-democracy movement and harassing and imprisoning advocates of change, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.

Responding to Zhou's comments, Chinese legal scholars including Peking University professor He Weifang said the public would lose confidence in a legal system seen to be in thrall to the party.

"If there is no judicial independence, the ultimate result can only be injustice everywhere, sparking unrest. Calling judicial independence a Western concept and taking joy in its elimination is the sort of talk and action that leads to disaster for the nation and its people," he wrote.

Scores of lawyers also signed an open online letter calling for Zhou's resignation. The concept of judicial independence is not a Western concept, but one recognized around the world, the letter said, and Zhou's remarks attacking the concept had "caused an inevitable, harmful effect on Chinese society."



Despite his reform reputation, it was not the first time Zhou has criticised what he deemed to be ideas unsuitable for China's political system.

In 2015, he told a party committee that the high court will "resolutely resist the influence of mistaken Western concepts and ways of thinking."



China rejects the notion of an American-style separation of powers and its constitution emphasizes the unassailable primacy of the Communist Party.

But the same constitution also calls for courts to exercise judicial power independently and be free from "interference by administrative organs, public organizations or individuals."



In his remarks, first reported Saturday by the state-controlled China Service, Zhou also urged China's judges to avoid the "trap" of judicial independence, follow the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics and "protect government leaders, the image of heroes, and the glorious history of the party and the People's Army" according to the law.

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China has decided to suspend local meteorological centres from issuing smog alerts amid rising public anger over deteriorating air pollution and criticism that the government was trying to suppress information on the issue.

The local departments can issue alerts for "fog" when visibility is less than 10 km, Chinese website The Paper reported citing an official notice.

The notice was issued because local "meteorological bureaus and the environmental protection administration often disagree when they issue smog-related information," it said.

"A joint alerting mechanism will be formulated to consult how to and who should issue alerts for smog," a representative said in the notice.

One single department will now be responsible for issuing smog alerts, the report said.

Meanwhile, a special force for environment protection was launched in Chinese capital Beijing. The city's acting Mayor Cai Qi announced early January the forming of an environmental police force to tackle air pollution, after a spell of smog in the city lasted for more than a week.

Lan Yang, deputy chief of the force under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, said the new force will have more than 150 police officers divided into four groups: environmental protection, food and drugs, tourism and a group with a flexible focus.

Lan said the corresponding sub-forces were also being organised and trained in lower bureaus, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

In the past weeks public anger grew in Beijing and other cities as the highest "red alert" was not issued despite high-density smog and factories continued with production.

Beijing has a four-tier alert system for air pollution, red being the highest, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

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At a time when senior leaders of political parties are busy with seat-sharing talks to stitch an alliance ahead of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election next month, city activists are of the view that parties should fight it solo since "alliance is the tool to shirk responsibility when they (parties) fail to deliver."



Noted social worker, film actor and writer Gerson da Cunha said alliance is the tool to pass the buck and shirk responsibility and therefore all should go solo.

"Forging an alliance allows parties to pass the buck when they fail to deliver. They must be held accountable and therefore, I am of the view that parties need to go solo," da Cunha said, adding, having alliance and showing dissent can not go together.

Former Central Information Commissioner and RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi opined that BJP should not align with Shiv Sena.

"This is the time for BJP to show it's character as a party with a difference. It should fight the polls on its own strength. Having alliance may or may not help these parties, but surely can help in good governance if they fight solo." said Gandhi.

Anandini Thakoor, another activist, who runs trust to address social issues, said, "It would be unfortunate if BJP ties with Sena. I am not supporting BJP but would want this party to take reins as it (BJP) is governing fairly in state."



Former bureaucrat turned lawyer Abha Singh echoed da Cunha's view saying, alliance "mushrooms corruption."



"I would like all parties to fight civic election on their own, because under the garb of an alliance, these parties and their leaders get the chance to indulge in corrupt practices," said Singh pointing out at how blacklisted contractors have been getting the work repeatedly in the Mumbai civic body.

"Mumbaikars should vote for one party, otherwise this vicious cycle is never going to stop," Singh said.

Nitai Mehta, founder and managing trustee of Praja Foundation, a watchdog on civic body's affairs, suggested amending the Municipal Act, to bring in the change in the functioning of civic body.

"Nothing will change whether parties fight election solo or by forging alliance. The need is to bring in a systematic change in the working at the civic body. When Municipal Act is amended and elected representatives are held responsible, then only can we have good governance," Mehta said.

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Senior Congress leaders today staged 'RBI gherao' protests outside its offices in several states as part of the party's anti-demonetisation stir during which ex-Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was detained in Ahmedabad and police resorted to lathi charge in Nagpur.

The leaders, who were joined by scores of Congress workers, also demanded the resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel for the "failure to maintain RBI's autonomy" and for the problems being faced by people following the note ban announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8.

In the national capital, the protesters led by Congress MP Ahmed Patel, party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, DPCC chief Ajay Maken and P C Chacko tried to march from Jantar Mantar to RBI's regional headquarters in Parliament Street but were stopped by police.

They alleged that the central bank has "failed miserably" in handling the situation post-demonetisation.

"The government cannot stop people from withdrawing their own hard-earned money. We are lodging a protest to tell the government and the RBI that the ceiling on withdrawal limit be lifted," Chacko told reporters.

"Congress workers staged similar protests in other cities in the country today," he said.

Shinde and Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki along with nearly 130 party workers were detained by police for trying to lock down the RBI's regional headquarters in Ahmedabad.

The Congressmen were detained by police when they tried to gherao the RBI and lock it down, alleging that the bank has failed on all fronts to address the woes of common man after the Centre announced demonetisation of high value notes in November last year.

While Shinde, Solanki, and 90 others were detained by Madhavpura police on the eastern end of Gandhi Bridge in Ahmedabad, around 40 Congress workers were detained by Vadaj police from outside the main gate of RBI on the western end.

"We gave them permission for their gathering only, not for holding rally till RBI on the other side of the bridge. Madhavpura police have detained Shinde, Solanki and 90 others while trying to take out the rally. They will be released later," Assistant Commissioner of Police Arpita Patel said.

In Mumbai, state Congress president Ashok Chavan accused the Modi government of converting the RBI into a 'RSS shakha' and demanded resignation of Urjit Patel for throwing the lives of 125 crore Indians into a disarray with demonetisation.

"We held a gherao protest at RBI in Mumbai, on behalf of MPCC and MRCC," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters. He accused the Modi government of trying to make RBI a "branch of BJP and RSS".

In Nagpur, Congress workers were lathicharged by police during their demonstration in front of the RBI office even as a morcha led by former Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan demanded the resignation of the RBI Governor.

While a delegation led by Prithviraj Chavan went inside the RBI to submit a memorandum, some Congress workers outside the office raised slogans and the situation became tense. Some party workers alleged that the police lathi-charged them.

A few Congress workers were also detained and to protest the police lathi-charge, some party leaders later staged a sit-in dharna in front of the RBI office.

The Haryana and Chandigarh units of Congress held a protest near the RBI's regional office in Chandigarh against the central bank's "failure to carry out its constitutional duty at the time of demonetisation", but were stopped by police when they tried to gherao the building.

Led by former Lok Sabha Speaker and former union minister Shivraj Patil, slogan shouting Congress workers took out a rally from the Odisha state party headquarters in Bhubaneswar to the RBI office, dubbing demonetisation as a "surgical strike" on the poor people, farmers, labourers, small traders and middle class.

Leaders of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee demonstrated in front of RBI office in Guwahati.

Led by APCC president Ripun Bora, AICC general secretary C P Joshi and other party leaders, Congress members attempted to break the security barricade to cross the RBI gate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Members of opposition Congress today held a protest near RBI's regional office here over the issue of demonetisation and tried to gherao the building, although the bid was foiled by the police.

A delegation of Congress later submitted a memorandum to the regional RBI office demanding resignation of RBI Governor on the issue.

Large number of Congress workers, led by the AICC general secretary and in-charge of Chhattisgarh B K Hariprasad, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bhupesh Baghel and Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo attempted to gherao the RBI's regional office in Sundar Nagar area, but the security personnel deployed about 200 meters ahead of the office foiled their attempt.

Congress state spokesperson Gyanesh Sharma said a delegation of party leaders submitted a memorandum to the regional director of RBI's regional office. In the memorandum, the party alleged that the common people was suffering due to the note ban.

"In the memorandum, the RBI Governor has been equally held responsible alongwith the Centre for the trouble and mismanagement being suffered by people following the decision of demonetisation, which was taken under pressure of Narendra Modi government without any prior preparation," Sharma said.

"The Modi government and RBI Governor should reply while issuing a white paper over the queries raised by Congress on bebhalf of 125 crore people of India," he said quoting the memorandum.

Taking the moral responsibility of the mismanagement prevailed after demonetisation, RBI governor should tender his resignation, Sharma sought.

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Kerala Congress today questioned the central government's decision to provide 'Y' category security to four BJP state leaders and said it was against the principles of federal structure.

Opposition Leader in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said providing 'Y' category security to BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan and three general secretaries--M T Ramesh, K Surendran and P K Krishnadas--without consulting the state government, was not right and against the principles of federal structure.

"In case the four leaders were facing any threat, the state government should have been informed. It was the state's responsibility to ensure security to them," he said in a statement.

Only if the state government shows any laxity can the Home Ministry intervene, he said.

Here the state government has been completely kept in the dark and the Home Ministry has directly provided them 'Y' category security which is against the federal principles, he said.

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Congress veteran N D Tiwari on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with son Rohit and wife Ujjwala, dealing a major blow to a party he served for over five decades ahead of February 15 Assembly elections in Uttarakhand.

91-year-old Tiwari was thrice chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and was the third chief minister of Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2007. He also served as a minister at the Centre several times having held charge of key portfolios like finance and external affairs.

Tiwari was also the governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2007 to 2009, a post he quit after being embroiled in a sex tape controversy.

Tiwari's induction into the BJP is a major shot in the arm for the party ahead of the Assembly elections as he is arguably the tallest leader from the state and most seasoned politician alive.

This desertion by him is yet another blow to the Congress which is already smarting from the setback dealt by 11 sitting MLAs, including Vijay Bahuguna, Harak Singh Rawat and Yashpal Arya who joined BJP just a couple of days back.

Tiwari's entry into BJP will strengthen the party in a big way as he is one of the most influential leaders from the state who wields considerable clout in both Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand BJP spokesman Munna Singh Chauhan said.
The Haryana and Chandigarh units of Congress today held a protest near the RBI's regional office here against the central bank's "failure to carry out its constitutional duty at the time of demonetisation", but were stopped by police when they tried to gherao the building.

Led by Congress' senior leader Rajiv Shukla, the party's Haryana unit chief Ashok Tanwar, former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, party leaders Viplove Thakur and Pradeep Chhabra took part in the protest.

They accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "derailing" the country's growth by his demonetisation move and alleged that the Reserve Bank of India falied to "carry out its constitutional duty".

Addressing Congress workers who had assembled close to the RBI building complex at Sector 17 here, Shukla said, "Industry, trade and agriculture have been hit due to the government's decision."



"A large number of people have been rendered unemployed due to demonetisation. RBI also failed to do its constitutional duty," he alleged.

Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Viplove Thakur equated demonetisation to imposing "financial emergency" in the country.

"The RBI has failed to do its constitutional duty at the time of demonetisation, due to which people had to suffer a lot. The misery of the people has not ended. They are still suffering," Tanwar alleged.

Pawan Kumar Bansal said, "We decided to gherao the RBI because it has failed to do its constitutional duty and has happily surrendered its autonomy."



Notably, while Viplove Thakur, who had recently said all Congress MLAs in Haryana have been asked to join today's protest, only four MLAs of the 17 turned up, with former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda also being absent.

Police had set up barricades near the RBI building complex to stop Congress leaders and party workers from marching towards the office. When some Congress workers tried to jump it, they were stopped by police who used water canons on them. Later, the Congress workers dispersed from the spot.

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Protesting against the Centre's demonetisation, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee today demonstrated in front of the Reserve Bank of India office here as part of its nationwide RBI Gherao programme.

Led by APCC president Ripun Bora, AICC general secretary C P Joshi and other party leaders, slogan shouting Congress members and supporters attempted to break the security barricade to enter inside the RBI gate.

Ripun Bora told journalists at the protest venue that "Modi by his demonetisation step has attacked democracy and is causing undue long suffering to the common and poor people. Demonetisation has hit the economy".

"BJP government must realise that we will not stop protesting against Modi's anti-people policy. They have deployed CRPF, SSB personnel to unleash violence on Congress and women," said the APCC chief who was arrested and released later.

The protestors shouted slogans such as "Modi hatao, desh bachao", "Modi Sarkar hai hai", "Modi go back go back" and "Rahul Gandhi jindabad".

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The Congress will contest on 36 of the 40 assembly seats in Goa, leaving four for others including a newly-floated political party under a seat-sharing agreement, the party said today.

The opposition party said it has not stitched a formal alliance, but has only entered into a seat-sharing pact with Goa Forward, launched a year ago, and others for the February 4 elections.

"This is not an alliance. This is purely a seat-sharing agreement that we are having based on winnability of candidates," All India Congress Committee General Secretary Digvijay Singh told PTI.

Under the arrangement, Congress has left two seats - Fatorda and Siolim - for Goa Forward. Vijai Sardesai, the fledgling outfit's mentor, is contesting from Fatorda.

Congress has agreed to let its expelled legislator Atanasio Monserratte, who has floated his own outfit United Goan Party, fight from from the Panaji seat.

Independent legislator Rohan Khaunte will be supported by Congress in the Porvorim constituency.

"We want to defeat the BJP which ran a Government of U turns," Singh said, adding that his party is supporting these non-Congress candidates to defeat BJP.

Congress had earlier ruled out aligning with NCP, a former partner which asked for two seats - Benaulim and Vasco.

However, Congress and Goa Forward candidates will face each other in Saligao and Velim segments, where the two parties have no understanding.

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Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of "repeatedly" violating the poll code and demanded that the Election Commission "withdraw" the ruling party's election symbol.

In a letter to the poll panel, Congress claimed that Modi invoked Hindu gods, used words such as "Ayodhya" and "Ram rajya", and compared the policies of his government with that of Lord Ram while addressing Ramayana Darshan exhibition in Kanyakumari on January 12 through video conferencing.

It alleged that by doing so, he has violated the provisions of the model code which came into force on January 4 following the announcement of assembly polls in UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

Congress claimed that the Prime Minister wanted to "invoke religion to further the election prospects of BJP" in the poll-bound states, especially Uttar Pradesh.

It said "repeated" violations of the model code makes it a fit case for the poll watchdog to withdraw the election symbol of BJP.

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In a blow to Congress, its veteran leader and former chief minister of Uttarakhand Narayan Dutt Tiwari today extended his support to BJP in the poll-bound state during a meeting with its president Amit Shah.

Tiwari, also a former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, was joined by his son Rohit Shekhar Tiwari, who has been looking to establish himself politically, and wife Ujjwala Tiwari.

Though the 91-year-old leader is no longer politically much active, his support to the saffron party is being seen as a boost to it ahead of the Uttarakhand Assembly polls on February 15 due to his vast experience and stature.

"In our meeting with the BJP president we offered our support to him. It is now up to him to how to utilise us. My father blessed him," Rohit Shekhar told PTI.

Asked why his father decided to leave Congress, he said the party had completely ignored him. "Have you ever seen his photo in any Congress poster?"



Congress has been deserted by a number of senior leaders in the hill state and BJP has awarded many of them with party tickets to contest the Assembly polls. It is yet to announce its nominees for a few seats and it remains to be seen if it accommodates any kin of Tiwari.

With Tiwari crossing over, all former chief ministers of the state are in BJP's camp while the incumbent Harish Rawat is leading the Congress' charge.

Tiwari is among the tallest leaders to have come out of Uttarakhand and was the undivided Uttar Pradesh's chief minister a few times before moving on to become the new state's chief minister.

He remained a Congressman all his life except for a brief period when he, along with several leaders proclaiming allegiance to Sonia Gandhi, broke away to form Congress (Tiwari) when the party was headed by P V Narasimha Rao and Gandhi had not joined active politics yet.

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Telangana police are planning to approach the Interpol and the US Embassy for information on the antecedents of a US citizen who was arrested from here for allegedly circulating child porn content online, and they will also probe if any Indians connived with him in the offence.

"We will write to the Interpol and also to the US Embassy asking them to share information with us on his background. That has to be further verified," Telangana CID Inspector General of Police Soumya Mishra told PTI today.

James Kirk Jones, 42, working with a multinational law firm here, was arrested by the Cyber Crime Wing of CID on January 16 from his residence at Madhapur, for allegedly downloading and uploading child porn videos and images.

Based on Interpol input of an IP address from which child porn contents were being shared from Hyderabad, the CID sleuths zeroed in on him and seized a laptop containing 29,288 items, including child porn videos and images.

They also found that there were 497 GigaTribe (a file-sharing site) profiles and 24 Twitter handlers/profiles, with whom he was connected, sharing child pornography.

"We have recovered huge material from his residence... Over 29,000 video clips, images of child porn stored in his laptop. An external hard disk and cell phone containing adult porn content was also seized," Mishra said, adding that with all this evidence they are confident of having a strong case.

Jones, who is unmarried, allegedly confessed that from an early age he developed the habit of watching child pornography and has been downloading, watching and sharing such material ever since, she said.

"He has confessed that he has been doing this from a long time. He was living in Hyderabad for the past five years and he must have been doing it. What all he has done...We will further probe all the electronic evidence that we have got and find out how many people from India cooperated with him or have been conniving with him to see the entire range of the crime that has been committed," Mishra said.

Further investigation into his activities in India is in



progress. The Twitter handles and GigaTribe profiles are further being probed to find out if any of the profiles belong to India, CID officials said.

"We want to know how many from India are also doing such things and if they are from Telangana, we will nab them. If any of them are from other parts of the country we will share information with police of the other states," they said.

"From our inquiries, he seems to be the lone operator from Hyderabad. He was doing it from his residence itself and not from the office. But online he was sharing with many people," they said.

"We will try to find who they were and if they are residents of India, necessary legal action will be initiated," they added.

"We are inquiring into that and finding out who they are...Also may be other nationals...We have to find out their actual addresses and trace them," the CID officials said.

A case under relevant sections of Information Technology Act has been slapped against the accused who has been sent in judicial remand and is lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison here.
: Senior CPI(M) leader, M A Baby has turned down the invite to the Jaipur Literary Fest, scheduled to be held from January 19 to 23, citing the presence of two Sangh Parivar representatives.

"Rubbing shoulders with those who spread religious and ideological hatred and violence in theory and practice is unethical and improper," Baby, a Polit bureau member said in a letter to the organisers of the lit fest.

Baby had been invited as a panelist in a session at the fest and the sangh representatives were in another session at the literary gathering.

Though admitting that in a democratic polity, everyone deserves to be heard and one should be willing to interact with idealogical streams of different kinds, he said, however, "here it is not just another ideology but the ideology of a theocratic state of Hindu Rashtra."



"It is almost similar to 'Islamic State' and already showing manifestations of annihilating democracy," Baby said in the letter adding "Historically too, this ideology has shown their affinity to fascist forces."



Recalling the murder of Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Dr M M Kalburgi for the democratic, progressive, secular and scientific views they held and propagated, he claimed that similar threats are being launched against many others.

The latest in this dangerous and sinister approach is the "verbal violence" unleashed by some BJP leaders against Kerala's well known writer and Jnanpeeth winner M T Vasudevan Nair, for his objection to demonetisation.

"It goes without saying that in a democratic polity, every citizen has a right to criticise matters affecting their life.

This is what BJP and Sangh Parivar are unwilling to accept," he said.

"Dark clouds of extreme forms of authoritarianism and physical and verbal violence are looming large in the horizon of our society.

This in turn is threatening the idea of India and a world of peace, friendship and justice," he added.

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Senior BJP leader and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today hit out at ruling CPI(M) in Kerala, accusing them of practising "murderous politics" in the state and warned them that they "will get it back politically".

He also condemned the killing of BJP workers in political violence in the state and urged CPI(M) to fight BJP politically and ideologically, if it has "guts".

Alleging that more than 80 people had been killed in the seven to eight months of CPI(M) rule, he said BJP does not believe in violence".

"We don't believe in violence but you will get it back politically," he said.

"Murderous politics will not be tolerated. If you have guts, fight us politically. If you have guts, fight us ideologically. Killing helpless people, killing children, killing a woman in Palakkad...What a great shame on the Marxist party of India," the Urban Development Minister alleged.

He was speaking while inaugurating the party's state council meeting here.

Condemning the "killing" of the woman party worker in Palakkad recently, he said "red and blood" will never succeed.

"They are talking about tolerance...Intolerance. They are attacking my party people, my supporters. It is condemnable. The entire country is watching what CPI(M) is doing in Kerala," he claimed.

Naidu said the lotus (party symbol) will bloom in Kerala, where BJP had performed impressively in the 2016 Assembly polls, winning a seat for the first time in its history, despite "oppression" of its cadres by CPI(M).

"I want CPI(M) to know that things are changing. The entire country is changing. Lotus is blooming everywhere. It will bloom in Kerala also," Naidu said.

BJP will grow in Kerala despite "oppression" of party cadres by CPI(M), he said, adding that he salutes party workers and youngsters of Kerala who are fighting the "misrule and hooliganism" of the Marxist party.

Naidu alleged that Congress and Communists are both sides of the same coin."They quarrel in the morning...Become friends in the evening. People of Kerala are waiting for an opportunity."



He claimed that 70 to 72 per cent of people of India have supported the demonetisation exercise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom he described as "a reformer, performer and a transformer".

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Activists of Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) vandalized houses of three candidates of Phek Town Council in Phek district of Nagaland, official sources said today.

The houses and other properties, including vehicle of the three candidates, were damaged yesterday by volunteers as they defied the direction of the CPO to withdraw their nominations for the urban local body elections, the sources said.

However, the situation calmed down after police resorted to blank firing to disperse the mob.

Following the incident, Phek District Administration promulgated Section 144 CrPC in Phek town, prohibiting assembly of three or more persons.

Altogether 21 candidates had filed nominations for the 11 wards of Phek Town Council.

But, in compliance to the directive of the CPO, 13 candidates - 3 from NPF, 2 from Congress and 8 Independents - took back their nominations till the last date of withdrawal, which ended yesterday evening.

The CPO also ex-communicated the 8 NPF candidates from Phek, preventing them from Chakhesang region in Phek district for a period of 7 years as per customary law.

With the boycott call and cautioning of candidates contesting the polls by different tribal organisations in the State, 140 out of 535 candidates withdrew the nominations.

Presently, there are 395 candidates from NPF, BJP, Congress and Independents in fray.

Elections to the 26 Municipal and Town Councils in the state will be held on February 1.

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The death toll from a botched air strike on Boko Haram fighters in northeast Nigeria rose to 70 today, as aid agencies indicated more could die without urgent treatment.

Nigeria called yesterday's incident at a camp for displaced people in Rann a mistake and blamed the "fog of war", sparking strong condemnation from aid agencies working in the crisis-hit region.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which lost six members of its Nigerian affiliate, said: "It is estimated that 70 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded."



ICRC surgeon Laurent Singa, part of a team dispatched to Rann shortly after the bombing, described the conditions for post-operative care as "not adequate".

"All the patients must be evacuated to (the Borno state capital) Maiduguri as soon as possible," he added in a statement.

Nine patients were said to be in a critical condition and were evacuated to Maiduguri on Tuesday. Forty-six of the 90 that remain were said to be "severely injured".

They needed to be transferred "as a matter of urgency", the ICRC said, adding: "Patients are attended to in an open-air space in a precarious environment."



Public hospitals and doctors in the city have been put on standby to receive the wounded but there were already reports that some casualty departments were overwhelmed.

Aid agencies assisting the hundreds of thousands of people in northeast Nigeria in dire need of food, shelter, clean water and healthcare expressed shock and dismay at the bombing.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, called it "a truly catastrophic event", calling for a full investigation to take place to prevent any repeat.

Jean-Clement Cabrol, the director of operations for the medical charity MSF, which earlier gave a death toll of 52 and 120 injured, called the attack "shocking and unacceptable".

The secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, said: "Displacement camps are supposed to be safe havens for people fleeing war and conflict.

"It cannot become the new normal that 'accidental' attacks on camps sheltering the innocent are allowed to happen again and again in conflict zones."



Human Rights Watch's senior Nigeria researcher Mausi Segun said the government in Abuja should provide "prompt, adequate and effective compensation" to victims and their families.

"Even if there is no evidence of a wilful attack on the camp, which would be a war crime, the camp was bombed indiscriminately, violating international humanitarian law," she added.

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Two of the four death row convicts in the December 16 gangrape and murder case have been shifted to a separate cell in Tihar Jail after they alleged threat from a co-prisoner, prison authorities told a Delhi court today.

The response came on a plea by two convicts Pawan Gupta and Akshay Kumar Singh saying that on December 24, 2016, they were shifted to a common cell with another prisoner, who has been allegedly harassing them physically and mentally.

Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal was told by deputy superintendent of police Sanjay Gupta that both inmates were shifted to a separate cell on January 11.

"In these circumstances, as the grievance of both the inmates has already been addressed and to the satisfaction of their counsel, the application is disposed of," the court said.

During the hearing, the jail officer said the inmates were shifted to another cell where cameras were installed following the anniversary of December 16, 2012 incident and keeping in mind the suicide of accused Ram Singh.

Advocate A P Singh, who has filed the plea on behalf of the two inmates, said the duo's feared for their lives as there was an apprehension that they could be harmed by the co -prisoner. As the jail authorities have now shifted them to a separate cell, he has no grievance.

Pawan, Akshay, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh were convicted and sentenced to death by a trial court on September 10, 2013 in the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder case and the punishment was upheld by the Delhi High Court on March 13, 2014. Their appeals are pending before the Supreme Court.

Six persons, including a juvenile, had beaten up and robbed carpenter Ram Adhar before raping and brutally assaulting a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in south Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012. Thirteen days after the assault, she was transferred to a hospital in Singapore for emergency treatment where she succumbed to her injuries.

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The Delhi Assembly today adopted a resolution against "police brutalities" on JNU students, who had tried to take out a protest march on the first death anniversary of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula.

It demanded that the Ministry of Home Affairs initiate action against the officers responsible for such "inhuman attack".

The resolution, moved by AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, was adopted by voice votes on the last day of Winter Session of the Assembly.

The House strongly condemned the brutal assault by personnel of Delhi Police and para-military on the students and youth, who took out peaceful protest march from Mandi House to HRD Ministry yesterday seeking justice for Hyderabad University student Rohith Vemula. Rohith had committed suicide over alleged caste based discrimination on January 17 last year.

"The House strongly condemned manhandling of girl students by male police personnel...It demands that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India initiate immediate action against the officers responsible for such inhuman attack on innocent protesters from JNU and other institutions," the resolution stated.

The resolution was adopted after a short discussion on the issue during which AAP legislators accused BJP and the Narendra Modi government of being "anti-Dalit".

Condemning the police action against the students, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the concerns raised by the legislators was a serious matter and the AAP government will speak against it.

"Everybody has a right to hold non-violent protest. If students, especially Dalits are assaulted for holding protests, it will not be tolerated," he said.

The House also witnessed a din over remarks made by leader of opposition Vijender Gupta, which led to treasury benches members stepping into the well and demanded an apology from the BJP leader.

Gupta alleged that the Delhi government was not serious about welfare of Dalits and accused it of politicising the issue.

"It (AAP government) has misused Rs 900 crore of labour welfare funds by illegally diverting it. Most of it was to be spent on welfare of downtrodden. It has led to denial of admission in schools to thousands of poor and deprived children.

"The government has also failed to recover funds meant for Dalit welfare diverted by the previous government," he alleged.

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Highlighting lack of development in villages and unauthorised colonies and with an eye on municipal elections later this year, Delhi BJP's executive committee today passed resolutions slamming the AAP government for its "failures" in providing basic facilities and security to women in the city.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari asked party workers to dedicate three months for their victory in MCD elections and begin the "process of the end of the Kejriwal government".

The resolution also envisages to work for getting amended relevant sections in ther Land Acquisition Act to solve the problems of villagers, agitating on problems of water and toilets in unauthorised colonies and to pressurise the Kejriwal government for regularisation of such colonies.

It also took note of "total failure" of the Kejriwal government on "all fronts" including education, health, public transport, women safety, "lack" of any new development project and "poor maintenance" of roads.

The resolution also condemned the city government for its alleged "lack of coordination" with central government and civic bodies causing "hardships" to the people.

"AAP government in Delhi has completed two years but the conditions have become worse," Tiwari said.

The executive meet also "strongly condemned" Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his "constant absence" from Delhi despite "enjoying all facilities" at the "cost of" Delhi's exchequer.

The second part of the resolution congratulated the Modi government for "successful implementation" of demonetisation and extended support to its efforts to develop a cashless economy.

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Delhi government will inspect the science laboratories in schools across the national capital to ensure the design of those are according to norms and all safety procedures are followed.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has sent a communication to schools informing them about constitution of an inspection team by its science and TV branch and asked them to ensure that the safety guidelines are followed.

"It is not uncommon to observe that in many cases, the essential safety measures are either not given much attention to or are ignored altogether. Gas fittings in chemistry laboratory often do not fulfil the mandatory standards and requirement. Chemical are, in many cases, not stored in a safe manner and under safe custody," the letter said.

The recommendations made by the DoE include designing of all science laboratories according to necessary norms and standards, keeping two wide doors for unobstructed exits, adequate number of fire extinguishers near laboratories.

It also include periodical checking of vulnerable points in relation to possibility of any mishappening, display of do's and don'ts in the laboratory, safe and secure storage, proper labelling and upkeep of chemicals and availability of first aid and basic medical facilities in schools.

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The Department of Consumer Affairs today asked people to immediately file complaints with the National Consumer Helpline if they recieve fraudulent emails demanding money on its behalf.

The department or any of its officers never ask for any payment from any consumer and any such demand on an e-mail should be treated as a fraudulent demand, an official statement said.

"It has come to the notice of Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, that consumers are receiving e-mails from fraudulent people asking for payment as security amount etc on behalf of this Department.

"Consumers are advised that the Department of Consumer Affairs or any of its officers never ask for any payment from any consumer and any such demand on an e-mail is to be treated as a fraudulent demand," the statement said.

The e-mail addresses of the officers of the department are mainly as per their respective designation or as per his/her name.

"Any other e-mail addresses is to be treated as impersonation and complaints in this regard should be immediately filed with the National Consumer Helpline (NCH)," it said.

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People diagnosed with may lose up to nine years of their life on average, mainly due to inadequate treatment, particularly in rural areas, a new study in China has warned.

The prevalence of in China has quadrupled in recent decades with 100 million adults now affected, researchers said.

Since the increase in is recent, the full eventual effect on mortality is unknown.

Researchers from University of Oxford in the UK and Peking University in China examined the association of diabetes with mortality in 500,000 adults aged 30-79.

Between 2004 and 2008 study participants were recruited in five rural and five urban areas of China and followed up for cause-specific mortality until 2014.

The study found that people with diabetes had twice the risk of dying during the follow-up period compared to other study participants.

Diabetes was associated with increased mortality from a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, infection, and cancers of the liver, pancreas and breast.

"In recent decades, Chinese adult mortality rates have been falling but this decrease will be slowed or even halted by diabetes, unless there is a substantial improvement in treatment," said Zhengming Chen, from Oxford.

Diabetes was more common in urban than rural areas of China (8 per cent vs 4 per cent respectively), but the associated risks were higher in rural than in urban areas.

The risk of dying from inadequately treated acute complications of diabetes (diabetic ketoacidosis or coma) was four times as great in rural as in urban areas, and even in urban areas it was much higher than in Western populations.

Although three-quarters of those known to have diabetes were being treated, their mean blood glucose levels remained much too high and few were being given

cardiovascular-protective medication, such as statins and blood-pressure-lowering treatments.

"Of the many people in China with diabetes, few are adequately managed. This is causing a lot of premature deaths, particularly in rural areas," said Fiona Bragg, first author of the report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Most previous studies have been in high-income countries where people with diabetes have reasonably good control of blood glucose and statins and blood-pressure-lowering drugs are widely used.
A differently-abled official, who had alleged discrimination by DDA after the urban body relieved him from the post of director in public relation department, today "declined" the offer to rejoin.

Rishi Raj Bhati on January 12 had alleged that DDA "relieved" him of his duties within a day of his appointment on the grounds of his "disability", drawing ire of rights groups.

Bhati was sent back to his parent department -- Delhi Transco -- and has claimed he was "selected" for the post as he fulfilled all the eligibility criteria.

Facing flak, the DDA on January 13 had offered the official to rejoin within 15 days if he was "confident to discharge the duties of the post".

In a letter to Bhati, dated January 16 and signed by its Commissioner (Personnel), the urban body said, "DDA again very sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused to you in this matter and request you to join DDA to the post of Director (PR)."



Bhati, in response to the offer today declined to take the job, saying, the wordings in the first rejoining letter had "caused hurt".

"Further, I feel that your decision to offer me to rejoin as Director (PR) has been influenced by the media reports and the protests staged by human rights group," he says in his letter.

Disabled Rights Group had on Monday staged a dharna in front of Vikas Sadan, headquarters of the DDA, demanding Bhati be reinstated with "full dignity".

The DDA in his second rejoining letter to Bhati, also said, a delegation of Disabled Rights Group led by Javed Abidi (its convener) had met Vice Chairman of DDA in his office on January 16.

DDA, however, has rejected the charge of discrimination, with its official, saying, "This is a wrong allegation. We do not discriminate with anyone on the basis of anything, including physical conditions.

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In a stern warning to stopping on outside state vehicles on the name of checking, Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police today issued stickers to vehicles at the state's entry point.

The vehicles shall not be stopped for checking thereafter except for exceptional conditions, the traffic police said.

An Internal Vigilance Group, headed by Staff Officer to IGP Traffic J&K has been constituted to ensure compliance of these guidelines and eliminate chances of undue harassment, malpractices or wrongdoings, he said.

"Vehicles so checked at Traffic Check Post (TCP) Lakhanpur (in Kathua district) and having been issued a sticker shall not be stopped for checking thereafter anywhere in the state except under exceptions," the guidelines issued by Traffic Headquarters said.

As per the guidelines all the inter-state vehicles (passenger and load carriers) including tourist vehicles, coming from outside the state will be checked, one time, at TCP Lakhanpur by a team of traffic police officers, to be headed by an officer not less than an Inspector (DTI), who will thereafter issue a special sticker to the vehicle checked which will be pasted on the windscreen of the vehicle.

It further reads that other vehicles within the state can be checked anywhere by a team and group of traffic police officers to be headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector of Traffic Police (DTI) and above.

All challan and enforcement work must be done in a group in full public view at appropriate place, it said, adding that invariably the challaning officers will ensure videography or photography of the enforcement work to ensure transparency.

Authorised traffic officer can stop and challan any vehicle if a vehicle is being driven dangerously or in a negligent manner or if in such a manner which can cause imminent danger to the passengers or passers-by, it said.

Besides, visible overloading, roof topping, hanging of passengers, protruding; in case of drunken driving, use of mobile phone while driving, not wearing seat belt, obstructing free flow of traffic, triple riding on two-wheelers; not wearing crash helmet, plying vehicle without registration number, red light jumping, use of tinted glasses, black films, wrong parking, using pressure, shrill horn, without uniform, or any other visible offence, it said.

The Superintendents of Police and Deputy Superintendents of Police Traffic, will personally ensure strict compliance of these instructions, it said.

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A dozen mobile phones and three extra SIM cards were today seized from district jail premises in Bhojpur here.

Acting on a tip-off about the use of mobile phones by inmates, Sub-Divisional Officer Navdeep Shukla and Sub- Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sanjay Kumar raided the district jail premises and recovered 12 mobile phones, as many chargers and three extra SIM cards from cells of inmates, the Superintendent of Police (SP) Chhatraneel Singh said.

The district administration had requisitioned bomb squad and dog squad to assist the officials during search, he said, but declined to give further details.

Singh said a probe was on to find out complicity of the jail administration among various other aspects related to use of mobile phones by inmates which was banned as per jail manual.

The report would be submitted in due course to senior officials for necessary action in this regard, the officer added.

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The Debt Recovery Tribunal here will on Thursday pronounce its order on the pleas of SBI-led consortium of banks for recovery of over Rs 9,000 crore from beleaguered liquor baron in the Kingfisher Airlines case.

DRT Presiding Officer K Sreenivasan said this while hearing an Interlocutory Application pertaining to the case. "I will be pronouncing the verdict on the pleas of banks for recovering money in this case tomorrow," he said.

The presiding officer in a recent directive had reserved orders on the Original Application filed by the consortium and also 30-odd Interlocutory Applications, including several by Mallya and his companies, without specifying any date.

The order tomorrow will bring the curtains down on the nearly three-year legal battle in the tribunal by the consortium, comprising 17 banks, to recover the money owed by the defunct airlines.

The verdict will be pronounced at the new rented space which will be inaugurated tomorrow. DRT had been conducting hearings from the current building since December 1994, and is the oldest tribunal in South India.

Initially, DRT Bengaluru handled cases of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puduchery, but gradually its burden lessened after respective states had its own DRTs.

The tribunal spent over Rs two crore for renovation of the rented space, according to a top DRT official.

The lenders had moved the DRT in 2013 to recover dues from the defunct airline. SBI had filed three other applications also, including one seeking Mallya's arrest and impounding his passport, for "defaulting" on loans.

Mallya, who left the country on March 2 last year and is now in the UK, has been declared Proclaimed Offender by a special PMLA court in Mumbai on a plea of Enforcement Directorate in connection with its money laundering probe against him in the alleged bank loan default case.

During the prolonged hearing, the DRT had disposed some of the IAs filed by either side. The DRT had on March 7 last year, restrained Mallya from withdrawing $75 million exit payment from British liquor giant Diageo as part of a severance package for quitting Diageo-owned United Spirits (USL) as its Chairman under a "sweetheart deal".

However, on July 13, the tribunal ruled that the order had become "infructuous" as USD 40 million had already been transferred prior to the March 7 directive. Later, passing orders on another IA, the tribunal had directed Diageo Plc to deposit with it the remaining USD 35 million of the "sweetheart deal".

The DRT had on July 16 allowed another IA of the bankers for lifting of corporate veil to pierce the protection against personal liability enjoyed by individuals controlling Kingfisher Finvest, a holding company of Mallya.

It had also dismissed the IA filed by Dutch beer major Heineken seeking impleadment in the Mallya case to enjoy Right of First Refusal over UBL shares. Heineken has some presumptive rights on UBL shares held and owned by Mallya.
: Italian superbike brand DSK Benelli as part of its product portfolio expansion in the country, would bring in four new models in 2017 and has set a target of selling 6,500 units in 2017-18, a top company official said today.

The company, which assembles at its factory in Pune would be completing the 2016-17 financial year by selling 4,500 units, DSK Motowheels, Chairman, Shirish Kulkarni said.

"In 2017-18, we hope to sell about 6,000 to 6,500 units. Of course, there was impact due to demonetisation in November (2016). But it (sales and enquiries) picked up from December end..," he said.

The company currently has about 20 retail outlets and it would be increased to 40 in 2017, he added.

Kulkarni was talking to reporters after unveiling the company's second sales outlet, here.

Noting that TNT25 and TNT300 models constitute 50-55 per cent of sales, he said, in 2017 four new products including Classic 380 series would be introduced.

"The total market size of the premium segment above 250cc is about 16,000 units. We expect to reach 20,000 units this year," he said.

On the company's plant at Pune, Kulkarni said the total capacity of the factory was about 100,000 units.

"What we are doing is just about 7,500 units a year operating in single shift. We can expand the capacity as and when required," he said.

To a query on introduction of scooterettes, he replied in the affirmative saying the company was "evaluating" it.

"Why we are evaluating?? We need to offer a product that is India specific.

It should satisfy the average customer here. May be two years down the line, it may happen," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Pranab Mukherjee today said educational institutions set up by local people in a small place like Jhalda, a Naxal-affected area, have potential to grow like the renowned Presidency College and the Hindu School.

He said that educational institutions should not only churn out bright students but also good human beings who can contribute to the society.

Speaking at the centenary celebrations of Jhalda Satyabhama Vidhyapith here, Mukherjee said that he had earlier visited the place as a political worker and the reason for coming this time was different.

"Many educational institutions, which were set up by Britishers then for administrative purpose, have completed centenary and bicentenary. But completion of centenary of an institute like Jhalda Satyabhama Vidhyapith established by local people is a big success," he said.

"I think small institutes like this have potential to grow like Presidency College and the Hindu School," he noted.

To make students good human beings, teachers should give stress on both man-making and character building education, the President said, adding Swami Vivekananda had harped on these two basic tenets of education for making good human beings from the young generation.

He advocated a healthy environment to enable students, who were commited to society, pursue their goals.

The President also complimented teachers of the institute in Jhalda, 50 km from Purulia town, for the good performance of the institution in all these years and exhorted them to follow the tradition.

Mukherjee also advised students that they should not forget their alma mater after passing out. "Like they look after parents, they should also contribute to the schools and institutes they studied," he added.

It was way back in 1908, Jhalda Satyabhama Vidhyapith was started as middle school to provide high quality education in Jhalda. First headmaster was Shashnka Sekhar Ghosh and he served the school for 34 years till 1972.

Recalling past martyrs of Jhalda, Mukhurjee talked about 'Chaur revolt'.

He said that the firing of British police on January 15, 1931 in Jhalda had resulted in the death of five young freedom fighters and that eventually triggered in massive mass movement.

After inaugurating the 'Martyrs Museum of Satya Mela Ground' here, Mukherjee said the museum is named after Satya Kinkar Dutta, a brave young freedom fighter who fought against the oppression and tyranny of British rule.

"The supreme sacrifice of Dutta ignited the flame of patriotism in the minds of youth of Jhalda and the neighbouring areas. I am confident that the Martyrs' Museum shall keep the fine memories of those who laid down their lives and shall motivate the younger generation towards service of the nation," he said.

The President also unveiled symbol of the school.

West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi, state's West Region Development Affairs Minister-in-charge Shantiram Mahato, local MP Mriganko Tripathy and MLA Nepal Mahato were present.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Centro Cultural India, Embassy of India in Peru, and Quality Council of India (QCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for promotion of in Peru, Bolivia and its adjoining regions.

Sandeep Chakravorty, Ambassador of India to Peru and Bolivia and QCI Secretary General Dr Ravi P Singh signed the MoU yesterday in the presence of A K Ganeriwala, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH in Delhi.

"I was surprised to see the level of interest in and ayurveda in Peru and Bolivia. is certainly turning out to be a new tool of Indian diplomacy," Chakravorty said after signing the MoU.

Ganeriwala congratulated QCI for the commendable work in pursuing the objective of promotion of yoga in the national and arena.

Singh saidvarious steps are taken up by QCI in designing the yoga scheme based on best practices involving renowned yoga personalities.

"Till date approximate 18,500 aspirants have registered, 6,000 examined and about 900 yoga professionals have been certified. In addition to this, QCI has also designed a voluntary certification scheme for yoga training in schools/institutions/organisations by employing best practices and adopting/adapting global standards and certification system to ensure internationally acceptable certification," he said.

This would ensure homogeneous training to anyone interested in yoga as also training of yoga teachers, he said.

In order to promote the yoga scheme globally, QCI has been interacting with various organisations across the world.

The QCI had in the past signed MoU with Japan, and is also in talks with other countries such as Malaysia, Poland, Belgium, Russia, Australia and for such tie-ups, a release issued here said.
An engineer was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a Sector-77 apartment here, police said today.

Inspector Vijendra Bhadana said the deceased has been identified as Parth Raja (31). He was from Jaya Nagar in Bengaluru and had come to Noida a week ago.

He said Raja was staying with friend on 13th floor of an apartment at sector77.

He was found unconscious this morning and when his friends took him to a hospital, the doctors declared him brought dead, he said.

Police sent the body for post-mortem and viscera sample has been preserved. No case has been lodged against any body yet, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A former henchman of gangster Ravi Pujari, believed to be based abroad, was among three persons arrested today for their alleged role in a bid on the life of an independent councillor of Borsad municipality in Anand district, police said.

"In a joint operation, Anand police and the Gujarat Anti Terrorism Squad apprehended Suresh Pillai (ex aide of Pujari), Ghanshyam Giri and Sajid Momin," said Anand SP Saurabh Singh who addressed a joint press conference here with ATS SP Himanshu Shukla.

The arrests were made from different parts of the state.

The incident happened on January 13 when three rounds were fired at councillor Pragnesh Patel from a point blank range in Borsad, allegedly by Pillai.

Pragnesh is currently undergoing treatment at a Vadodara-based hospital.

As per preliminary information, Pillai was offered Rs 25 lakh by one Chandresh Patel for the contract to kill his business rival, Pragnesh.

"Both Chandresh and Pragnesh were at loggerheads since long due to some personal as well as business reasons. Chandresh was also angry because his mother lost elections against Pragnesh in recent municipality polls in Borsad," said Singh.

Shukla said Pillai had a chequered past and came out of jail a few months back.

"He once used to work for Ravi Pujari. After meeting Chandresh, Pillai agreed to kill Pragnesh for Rs 25 lakh. Pillai took help of Momin and Giri to carry out the task," said Shukla.

According to Shukla, though Pujari called up Pragnesh's brother claiming the responsibility for the attack, the underworld don was not directly involved in carrying out the hit.

"When Pujari learnt about the firing by his former henchman, he called up Pillai and told him that he want to take up the responsibility on his head. It was Pujari's strategy to instill fear among people by establishing that he can do such things. Otherwise, Pujari was not directly involved in the act," said Shukla.

He said efforts are on to nab Chandresh who is believed to have fled outside India after the incident.

Incidentally, a few days after Pragnesh was attacked, Congress MLA from Borsad Amit Chavda filed a complaint claiming that Pujari had threatened him over phone.

"It is very likely that it was Pujari who called Chavda. It must be Pujari's strategy to take credit of what Pillai did so people start fearing him. In recent past, at least four persons from Gujarat had received such threat calls from Pujari," said Shukla.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former US President George H.W. Bush has been admitted to a hospital here, where the 92-year- old leader is responding to treatment, his top aide said today.

Bush was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital falling ill recently.

"He's there. He's fine and he's doing really well," Bush's chief of staff, Jean Becker was quoted as saying by Houston Chronicle newspaper.

She said the doctors have a couple of theories about Bush's condition, but he is responding to treatment.

Becker did not specify the reason why Bush was hospitalised.

Bush, who lives in Houston, Texas, is expected to be discharged in the next couple of days, the report said.

Bush served as America's 41st president from 1989 to 1993.

As is the case with most people his age, Bush has had his share of health issues in recent years.

In July 2015, he was taken to a hospital in Portland, Maine, after he fractured a bone in his neck in a fall at the family's summer home in Kennebunkport. He was "up and talking and out of bed" within a day after the fall.

The fall happened about six months after he was taken by ambulance to Houston Methodist for what his spokesman called "shortness of breath." He was released from the hospital about a week later.

In late 2012, Bush was admitted to the hospital for a bronchitis-related cough. He was later released but returned the day after Thanksgiving because of a persistent cough. Bush was later admitted to intensive care and spent nearly two months at the hospital until his release in mid-January 2013.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has said that the fight against religious intolerance should not be seen as "hopeless" and even in the direst of situations people can do something at their level.

The leading Indian economist introduced the Amartya Sen Lecture Series at London School of Economics yesterday on the topic of 'Religious intolerance and its impact on democracy' presented by Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jahangir.

"As an Indian, I can say that we have a much easier situation as human rights have a legal position but it is not so in Pakistan, which makes Jahangir's fight against all kinds of intolerance even more extraordinary," said Sen, winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1998.

"The important lesson is that it is wrong to take any situation to be hopeless. In the direst of situations of intolerance, we all can do something," he said, referring to works done by Jahangir in the field of human rights.

Jahangir, co-founder of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, quoted heavily from Sen's works on welfare economics to highlight that religious intolerance breeds economic disparity.

"I have often said Prof Amartya Sen is not just an Indian but a global intellectual. He has written about how suppression of freedom can lead to poverty. We have always had intolerance, be it in India, Pakistan or any other country. It is a question of tolerating intolerance. Intolerance is infectious," she said delivering the lecture.

"Intolerance is a phenomenon that goes beyond borders... Religion is being manipulated as a tool of persecution and fear and spaces for free expression have shrunk. There is a need for greater partnership across the globe to protect the universality of democratic values. Public opinion has to be built to not tolerate intolerance," she added.

In reference to India-Pakistan relations, the activist expressed confidence that the two nations will eventually find a way to "tolerate" each other.

"I truly believe that India and Pakistan will eventually have to tolerate each other. Pakistan will have to see that it cannot economically grow unless we have a proper relation with our neighbours," she said.

Asked for her views on the perceived rise of Hindutva in India, Jahangir said, "welcome to the club of South Asia".

"In India, civil society will have to challenge forces of religious intolerance harder. We need a counter narrative in the world; a face of liberal politics is missing which has given way to opportunists," she said.

Jahangir, the first woman who has served as the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, asked students at LSE to "not ever despair" and rethink the way our democracies work to make them a springboard for people with ideas and aspirations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An FIR was today registered against controversial BJP leader Sangeet Som and two others for violating the poll code by screening a documentary containing parts of his speech related to the Dadri lynching case and his arrest during the Muzaffarnagar riots.

"Som, Virendra Kumar and Chandrshekhar Singh have been booked for violating the poll code under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of IPC and Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act.

"Kumar and Singh while campaigning screened a documentary on Muzaffarnagar riots, Kawal killings, mahapanchayat in Khera village and Som's arrest during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots," SSP J Ravindra Kumar said.

The vehicle used for canvassing and the CD of the documentary has been seized by police.

District Magistrate B Chandrakala said she has sought a detailed report on the matter from SDM Meerut.

However, Som, who is contesting from Sardhana seat, said there was "nothing controversial in the CD and that parts of the video had already been aired on TV channels".

The BJP MLA was booked under the stringent National Security Act in connection with the Muzaffarnagar riots. His visit to Bisada village of Dadri, where a mob lynched a Muslim man on suspicion of consuming beef in September 2015, had also triggered a row.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An advanced military fortification with a well-defined gatehouse complex and donkey stables dating back to the time of King Solomon have been discovered in Israel, a finding that points to the ancient community's highly organised defence system and long-distance trade.

The fortification dates to the reigns of Kings David and Solomon in the 10th century BCE.

The fabled mines of King Solomon were believed to be located among copper smelting camps in Israel's Timna Valley.

The arid conditions at Timna have seen the astonishing preservation of 3,000-year-old organic materials, which have provided archaeologists at Tel Aviv University with a unique window into the culture and practices of a sophisticated ancient society.

"While there is no explicit description of 'King Solomon's mines' in the Old Testament, there are references to military conflicts between Israel and Edomites in the Arava Valley," said Erez Ben-Yosef of TAU's Institute of Archaeology.

"According to the Bible, David travelled hundreds of miles outside of Jerusalem and engaged in military conflict in the desert - striking down '18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt'," said Ben-Yosef.

"Having found evidence of defensive measures - a sophisticated fortification - we understand what must have been at stake for him in this remote region: copper," he said.

"Copper was a rare product and very challenging to produce," Ben-Yosef said.

"Because copper - like oil today, perhaps - was the most coveted commodity, it landed at the very heart of military conflicts," he said.

"The discovery of the fortification indicates a period of serious instability and military threats at that time in the region," he said.

In the remarkably intact two-room fortification, located in one of the largest smelting camps in the Timna Valley, the researchers also found evidence of a complex long-distance trade system that probably included the northern Edomite plateau, the Mediterranean coastal plain and Judea.

The complex featured pens for draught animals and other livestock.

According to precise pollen, seed and fauna analyses, they were fed with hay and grape pomace - high-quality sustenance that must have been delivered from the Mediterranean region hundreds of miles away.

"The gatehouse fortification was apparently a prominent landmark. It had a cultic or symbolic function in addition to its defensive and administrative roles. It was built of sturdy stone to defend against invasion," said Ben-Yosef.

"We found animal bones and dung piles so intact, we could analyse the food the animals were fed with precision. The food suggests special treatment and care, in accordance with the key role of the donkeys in the copper production and in trade in a logistically challenging region," he said.

The research was published in The Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gambia's Yahya Jammeh has declared a state of emergency just two days before he was due to step down, as British and Dutch travel agencies scrambled to evacuate thousands of tourists.

Jammeh, who has ruled The Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years, initially acknowledged opponent Adama Barrow as the victor in December elections, but later rejected the ballot count as flawed and lodged a complaint with the country's Supreme Court.

He declared a state of emergency yesterday due to the "unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference in the December 1 presidential elections and also in the internal affairs of The Gambia," Jammeh announced on state TV.

Citizens were henceforth "banned from any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement to violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace," Jammeh said, asking security forces to maintain law and order.

Under the Gambian constitution a state of emergency lasts up to 90 days if the national assembly confirms it -- which the legislature did late Tuesday, a parliamentary source told AFP.

In Washington, the US State Department urged Jammeh to "peacefully hand over power" to Barrow -- who is in Senegal, where he plans to remain until his planned inauguration Thursday.

"Doing so would allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect the Gambian people from potential chaos," spokesman John Kirby said. "Failure to do so will put his legacy, and more importantly The Gambia, in peril."



The 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has also repeatedly urged Jammeh to respect the outcome of the vote and step aside, a call backed by the UN Security Council, African Union and others.

Jammeh has rebuffed two high-level delegations by west African leaders pleading with him to go.

"The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high," the British foreign ministry said on its website, a warning echoed on social media by its Dutch counterpart, who both urged citizens to avoid all but essential travel.

The Dutch travel firm TUI Nederland told AFP it would repatriate "about 800" clients.

British travel agency Thomas Cook said it had "implemented our contingency plans to bring all our UK customers home," and was trying to arrange evacuation of up to 3,500 tourists from Banjul airport as soon as possible, with extra flights laid today.
Observing that globalisation has not been an "unalloyed good", US Vice President Joseph Biden today said it has deepened the rift between those racing ahead at the top and those falling to the bottom but "impulses to hunker down" will be the wrong answer.

Biden, whose term as Vice President ends in two days, emphasised that "we cannot undo the changes that technology has wrought in our world, nor should we try".

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting here, he said economic stresses that are leading to the hollowing out of the middle class and the social disruptions caused by technological change have to be addressed.

Noting that unskilled workers are losing their jobs and higher-paid skilled workers are getting paid more, Biden said, "Globalisation has not been an unalloyed good".

"It has deepened the rift between those racing ahead at the top and those hanging on in the middle or falling to the bottom... We cannot undo the changes that technology has wrought in our world, nor should we try," he said.

With just days to go before Donald Trump takes over as US President, Biden rejected the politics of fear, saying "impulses to hunker down, to build walls, are precisely the wrong answer".

"There will be a new president in the US, but the challenges and choices we make as an international community do not hinge exclusively on Washington's leadership. Whether we reinforce the ties that bind us or they unravel, these choices will be made by every single nation," he noted.

According to him, action must be taken to mitigate the economic trends that are stoking unrest in so many advanced economies and undermining people's basic sense of dignity.

The US Vice President also said the US and Europe should continue to work together to defend the liberal international order that has brought stability and peace in Europe since the end of World War II.

"History has proven that the defence of free nations in Europe has always been America's fight," he added.

Emphasising that transatlantic alliance is of utmost importance, Biden said the American commitment to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) is thoroughly bipartisan in the support it has in Washington. NATO is the "single greatest bulwark of our transatlantic partnership", he noted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The first flight is likely to take off in March under the government's ambitious regional connectivity scheme, which has received as many as 45 initial proposals from 11 bidders.

The scheme (Ude Desh Ke Aam Naagrik), which seeks to boost regional air connectivity, provides for various incentives to airlines with fares for one-hour flights capped at Rs 2,500.

An official release on Wednesday said Airports Authority of India (AAI) has received 45 initial proposals from 11 bidders covering more than 200 regional connectivity scheme (RCS) routes.

"These initial proposals cover as many as 65 airports, of which there are 52 unserved and 13 underserved airports as per the provisions of the scheme," the release said.

AAI is the implementing agency for the scheme.

Sources said that the first flight under the scheme is likely to begin in March and the award of routes in this regard is expected by mid-February.

While the deadline for submitting initial proposals ended on January 16, the counter bids for them can be submitted till February 1. After that, the routes would be awarded to bidders who quote the lowest Viability Gap Funding (VGF) requirement against the routes.

Under UDAN, the participating airlines would be extended VGF  that would be jointly funded by the Centre and the State government concerned.

Towards VGF, the government has started charging Rs 8,500 levy per departure of flights on major routes.

Sources said the Civil Aviation Ministry is expected to garner about Rs 35 crore every month from collecting the levy.

To ensure that operations on ground start with minimum time-gap after the bidding is completed, the release said, "parallel action" has been initiated by the Ministry with AAI, state governments, aviation regulator DGCA and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

The scheme is likely to give a major boost to tourism activities and employment generation in hinterland and Tier-II and Tier-III cities, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju was quoted as saying in the release.

UDAN, which would be in place for 10 years, was launched in October 2016 and seeks to provide connectivity to unserved and underserved regions through revival of existing air strips and airports.
Ahead of key polls in India, a new book by an Indian-American scholar has called for major electoral reforms like granting the Election Commission powers to punish candidates who file misleading financial disclosures and getting party accounts independently audited.

The book 'When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics' written by Milan Vaishnav and published by the Yale University is the first of its kind that looks into the nexus between crime and politics.

"Grant the Election Commission new powers to punish candidates who file false or misleading financial disclosures. Require disclosure of all political contributions and insist on independently-audited party accounts. Link political party registration and tax benefits to basic democratic and transparency standards and create a new legal mechanism to adjudicate cases where MLAs, MPs stand accused of serious crimes," Vaishnav told PTI.

"Voters are voting for criminal candidates ... Despite their criminal involvments. Voters are aware of the background of the people they are voting for. They are not ignorant. But they are making a calculation that these are the people who can best represent our interest," the book says.

In the book, which hit the stands this week, Vaishnav, who is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC, looks at how elections are financed, how individuals who have criminal records, often of serious nature are recruited into politics by political parties, how they connect with the voters, how they are able to not only to survive in politics but actually thrive in politics.

Voting to elect new assemblies in five Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur will kick off on February 4 with polling planned in seven phases.

"We are at a place now where 34 per cent of Lok Sabha MPs face criminal cases, 21 per cent of Lok Sabha MPs face serious cases. These are cases that if there were a conviction would merit real jail time. This is not just a national phenomenon. Approximately 31 per cent of MLAs face cases and 15 per cent of MLAs face serious cases," he said.

As elections, have got increasingly expensive, parties are looking for candidates who can pay their own way, he observed.

"That means they can pay cost for campaigning. They can pay parties for tickets. They can subsidies other candidates, who are contesting, who may not have resources. There are limited number of people in India, who have ability to pay and willingness to pay. And those who are attached to some kind of criminal activities are one important category," he said.

Vaishnav said those who are the richest 20 per cent of the candidates are 23 times more likely to win than the poorest 20 per cent of the candidates.

(REOPENS FGN 11)



"So there is a huge wealth advantage. If you look at those candidates with criminal cases they are all clustered towards the rich end. What's interesting is that even if parties select candidates who may have questionable background, at the end of the day, voter is going to the polling booth and pushing the button for them," he said.

It also seeks to invest in reforming the rule of law "supply chain," from outmoded laws and understaffed police services to backlogged courts, and experiment with new incentives that rewards positive bureaucratic performance.

"Because in a situation where the rule of law is weak, where the government can't effectively carry out its basic responsibilities and you have deep social tensions, by caste, religion and communal groups these figures are able to use their criminality as the sign of their credibility to get things done for their group, and not necessarily for the public at large. So they are able to portray themselves as their saviors, as Robinhood," Vaishnav said.

If one wants to address the problem, the top Indian- American scholar said one has to go beyond simply informing voters that a particular candidate has cases against him.

"Constraint is not the lack of information. Constraint is the lack of governance. Until people believe that State can impartially deliver core services, dispense justice, provide basis law and order, they are going to seek some strong men who would be able to deliver those things and give them some kind of insurance," he said.

"There is a vibrant marketplace for criminal politicians in India. This market has very clear supply and demand factors. Increasingly expensive elections compel parties to embrace wealthy candidates. Hence, money is a prime motivator for seeking out 'muscle'," the book concludes.

"The only solution to the problem is to improve the quality of governance," he said, but acknowledged that this is something that can't happen overnight.

"Greater transparency is not sufficient to curb support for criminal politicians. Unless state capacity grows, criminal politicians will continue to exploit a governance vacuum. Criminal politicians can actually thrive in the context of democratic accountability. Voters do not blindly support them," the book concludes.

Vaishnav in the book argues that to address the marketplace for criminal politicians, reformers have to operate at two speeds.

"Right-size" the state: Reduce procedure, but increase personnel, the book recommends.

Observing that there is misconception in India that money



buys election, he said: "Money does not buys election. Money does not guarantee victory. Money does guarantees you a seat at the table, makes you competitive. So basically we are at the point now where 82 per cent of Lok Sabha MPs are crorepatis."



"It is hard to be successful in politics either at the State level or national level unless you are personally wealthy or can raise significant funds That does not mean you win, but you have a chance of winning."



Those who do not have resources are hardly being considered, he said.

Responding to a question on demonetisation, Vaishnav said unless the government is willing to take complementary steps on cleaning up and reforming political finance, it will not have a long-term impact.

"Because what you have done essentially is to create a short-term cash crunch. So it is likely that in the upcoming Assembly elections, yes everybody has taken a hit. Unless you are going to take long term measures, demonetization is not going to tackle this issue," he said.
The Goods and Services Tax, scheduled to be rolled out from July in the country, would benefit Kerala to a great extent with at least 20 per cent increase in tax revenue, state Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac said here today.

"GST, which is a destination based tax, will increase the tax revenue of a consumer state like Kerala and also will make business more transparent. The new tax system would also end corruption to a great extent," he told reporters here.

However, the actual benefit to consumers could be known only after finalisation of tax bracket for goods, he said.

Check posts would become irrelevant with GST coming into force, he said, adding that in due course these would be closed.

The minister said that Kerala plans to introduce the GST bill along with the Finance Bill in the coming budget session starting next month.

Issac flayed the recent order of Niti Ayog to District Collectors to convene Grama sabhas and submit plan proposals to it for consideration, saying it went against the principles and spirit of decentralisation and was against the federal structure of the country.

"Grama sabhas are part of local self governments," he said and demanded that the order be withdrawn.

On demonetisation, Issac said development work was not taking place due to currency crunch.

"I also agree with the statement of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the worst is yet to come", Issac added.

He also rejected BJP's charge that there is black money in the cooperative sector in Kerala and said its functions have been badly affected due to the note ban.

"The withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 per week for primary cooperative societies is still continuing", he pointed out.

On LDF government's plans, he said capital expenditure would go up in Kerala in the coming years and projects worth Rs 20,000crore was planned in the next five years through Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board.

"Already work to a tune of Rs 5,000 crore has been given administrative sanction", he said.

Referring to the health and education sector, he said there would be a marked change in these sectors in the coming years. "We are moving in the right direction," he said.

To a question on the recent move by a section of IAS officers to take mass casual leave in protest against the functioning of VACB Director Jacob Thomas, the Finance Minister said "the issues should be sorted out. The action of the IAS officers was improper".

(REOPEN MDS4)



On Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau officials recent examination of some documents at KIIFB office here, Issac said there was nothing wrong in it.

"Each office has its powers and there is nothing wrong in exercising these powers," he said.

However he declined to comment when asked if he felt that VACB was overreaching its powers.

Asked if there would be any change in government's liquor policy, the minister said it was for the Excise department to take a call on it.

He said the tourism sector too had been affected due to the policy and there has to be a change in it.

As per the liquor policy of the previous Congress led UDF, which is in force now, onlyfive star category hotels are allowed to serve foreign liquorin bars.
Haryana Forest Department today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Patanjali Anusandhan Sansthan Divya Yog Mandir Trust, Haridwar for developing World Herbal Forest in Morni in district Panchkula.

While Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Forests, R R Jowel signed the MoU on behalf of the Forests Department, Acharya Balkrisha signed on behalf of the Trust in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, State's Health and Ayush Minister Anil Vij, Forests Minister Rao Narbir Singh and Finance Minister Abhimanyu.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that World herbal Forest would be developed over an area of about 53,000 acres with the technical and knowledge support of Patanjali Anusandhan Sansthan, an official release said here.

"This will not only help in promotion of herbal and medicinal plants, but will also assist to promote forest tourism in the State. This herbal forest will bring Haryana on the world map where botanists and researchers from around the globe will visit," Khattar added.

Khattar also said that the land in Morni would remain either with local people or with the Forests department.

"The people will also obtain new technique of cultivation. Apart from the conservation of existing plants, a variety of about 25,000 medicinal plants and herbs found in the country will be planted in this area," he said.

The forest would be divided into clusters for plantation.

He said that Patanjali Anusandhan Sansthan would provide its expertise free of cost for developing the herbal forest. The Sansthan would identify plants, select suitable area for plantation, and provide scientific assistance.

Acharya Balkrisha said that it was not a commercial tie up between Patanjali and the Haryana Forests department.

He, however, said that the Sansthan would provide its scientific and technical support to develop Morni forest as herbal forest.

He said that out of the 4.5 lakh varieties of plants, Patanjali's scientists and experts have identified about 60,000 medicinal and herbal varieties which are being documented.

"Patanjali has not taken any land from the government for this ambitious project and our objective is only to develop the Morni forest as an attractive forest," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington Avenue tree 010.jpg

This massive oak tree near the corner of Washington Avenue and Government Street in downtown Ocean Springs is showing signs of decay and has two large hollow areas, but can be saved, according to a report from an arborist hired by the city.

(Warren Kulo/The Mississippi Press)

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- An arborist hired by the City of Ocean Springs has found that a massive oak tree in the downtown area has multiple issues of decay and other defects, but can be saved by taking mitigating steps.

In late December, a city electrician installing new lights within the tree branches noticed two large cavities in the crown of the tree -- located by the southwest corner of Lovelace Drug store near the intersection of Washington Avenue and Government Street.

Melanie Allen, chairman of the city's Tree Committee, was notified Dec. 29 and she, in turn, notified Mayor Connie Moran and others in an email of the concerns regarding the tree's condition, which she said "currently presents a safety concern."

Moran instructed Building Official Hilliard Fountain to immediately hire an arborist to perform a study of the tree and Ben Kahlmus of Fulgham's Tree Preservation Specialists & Consultants was brought in to conduct the examination.

Kahlmus found the two large cavities had been in the tree for "many years," and also noted decay is "progressing slowly throughout the tree. The decay has spread to branches, all the way down to the root plate. The wood that was examined is in various stages of cell-breakdown. These openings within the main stem and branches are allowing outside elements inside the holes of the tree."

Of greatest concern, Kahlmus found, was a main branch growing vertical to the tree that is weakly attached due to decay.

"The load on this defect is severe," he wrote in his report. "The amount of live sound wood holding these branches up are minimal. In my opinion, this tree part has the highest likelihood of failure of any other tree part."

Kahlmus rated the overall likelihood of tree failure as "probable" -- with the main concern being that large tree branch. He wrote the failures would likely occur within two years given normal weather conditions -- but added that timeframe is not a guarantee "because weather and activities in and around the tree can have a significant impact on the overall tree's condition and the likelihood of failure."

He also noted the consequences of that branch or other branches falling from the tree would be "severe" -- involving large tree parts and "impacting nearby targets that could result in serious personal injury."

However, should the city follow his recommendations to mitigate the issues with the tree, the risk would be reduced to "low," Kahlmus wrote.

Kahlmus recommended six steps to save the tree and reduce risk of injury or property damage:

Remove the benches which sit under the tree

Remove one or both vertical branches to relieve some of all the weight stress on the defected tree part

Cable and brace the defected tree part to a solid anchor, if possible (a building, neighboring tree, etc)

Limiting or rerouting access of the sidewalk under the defected tree part

Deep root feeding using Fulgham's patented treatement

Treat tree with termiticide

Jim Heinzel of Compton Engineering also examined the tree and wrote in an email to city officials that "it is my opinion that there is no imminent danger of failure in the tree. He also wrote that "the hazard of a tree with heart rot is commonly overrated. A tree can stand for decades, even though hollow or showing rot..."

Aldermen discussed the issue during Tuesday night's board meeting and ordered that the benches be removed and the mitigation process started. Building Official Hilliard Fountain will obtain quotes for the mitigation steps which have a cost associated and bring those quotes to the board at its Feb. 2 meeting.

"We want to save every tree we can in the city because they are so important to the ambience of the city," John Gill said. "We're going to do what we can to treat the tree and try to make it healthy and structurally sound."

Greg Denyer agreed.

"We're going to do everything possible to save that tree," he said.

Gill also said he was fully in favor of Kahlmus' recommendation to remove the benches under the tree.

"We definitely have to do that," he said. "Based on what the arborist found, it's a danger and a liability to the city."

Denyer also noted the city intends to conduct examinations of other notable trees in the city "to make sure we don't have any similar situations."
Delhi High Court today asked the Drug Controller to expeditiously decide the application on behalf of a 18-year-old girl, suffering from a drug resistant form of TB, to import a new drug which is one of the two optional medications to treat her disease.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva issued the direction to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) after the lawyer for the patient's father said an application has been moved through the doctor to import the drug -- Delamanid -- under a compassionate access programme.

Delamanid, made by Japanese drugmaker Otsuka Pharma, is neither available in Indian markets, nor approved by DCGI.

The court also asked the Centre whether the TB medical centre in Mumbai can administer Bedaquiline, another new TB drug made by pharma major Johnson and Johnson, to the patient, without any new tests, as she has been moved there.

The court also asked the Health Ministry if Bedaquiline can be provided to the doctor treating the girl to be administered to her, if she is not admitted at the KEM Hospital which is the designated TB centre for Mumbai.

The court asked the lawyer for the government to take instructions on these two issues and inform it on January 20.

The direction came after senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for the patient's father, contended that she was moved to Mumbai yesterday as the Delhi based TB centre, Lala Ram Swarup (LRS) hospital, had wanted to do more tests before administering Bedaquiline.

However, LRS hospital told the court that it was ready to administer the medicine to the patient under its supervision without carrying out any more drug sensitivity tests.

Grover said since they were not informed about the hospital's decision, they had decided to shift the patient and it would be very difficult to bring her back in view of her serious medical condition.

The patient's father, Kaushal Tripathi, has claimed that his daughter meets the requirements under the WHO guidelines and Revised National TB Control programme for being treated by Bedaquiline.

LRS hospital had earlier defended its stand for more tests saying if Bedaquiline is given to a patient suffering from a drug-resistant variant of the disease without carrying out proper tests, it could lead to development of a strain which is resistant to this medication also.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi High Court today expressed dismay over the absence of basic facilities, like ambulance and stretchers, to deal with emergent medical situations.

The issue had cropped up after a lawyer had suffered cardiac arrest in the high court last week and died after reaching the hospital.

A bench of Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Ashutosh Kumar asked a petitioner journalist, Pankaj Yadav, to move an application highlighting all facts with regard to basic infrastructure needed to avoid such incidents in future.

Yadav had sought directions to remove posters and hoardings from the high court complex, allegedly put up by lawyers. In his plea, he had also sought directions to improve civic amenities in trial court complexes, including Tis Hazari, as well as making them disabled-friendly.

The petitioner informed the bench that one of the lawyers who suffered cardiac arrest could not reach hospital on time as the ambulance reached the spot after half an hour.

The bench gave the directions after it was also told that even the doctors in the high court premises were not available on time so that the lawyer's life could be saved.

The bench also directed the high court's Registrar General to immediately remove all posters and hoardings in an around the court complex.

"The Registrar General shall ensure that the hoardings and posters in an around high court complex be removed forthwith," it said.

Meanwhile, the bench which had disapproved "defacement" of Tis Hazari court complex building walls by posters put up by advocates and vendors prior to the Bar elections, said it was not satisfied over the report filed by the authorities concerned.

It said though most of the posters have been pulled down, the remaining should also be removed "forthwith", and Delhi government's public works department shall whitewash the walls of the Tis Hazari court complex.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court today refused to entertain a PIL seeking a direction to the Railway Ministry to provide fare concession to cancer patients in Rajdhani Express.

"What is the public interest in this (PIL).You (petitioner) are just doing it for publicity," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal told the counsel appearing for the petitioner.

The bench said the petitioner can make a representation before the authorities concerned in this regard.

The plea stated that if such relief is granted to such patients it will reduce their financial burden and travel time during such a tough period.

The court, however, was not convinced with the issues raised in the PIL and said that it would have heard if any aggrieved party have come to the court.

"Please tell us about any such incident which has caused inconvenience to such patient.Let any aggrieved person come, then we will hear it," the bench said, adding that "you withdraw this petition and make your representation before the authorities".

The plea by an NGO Fariyaad Foundation said that major hospitals specialised in treatment of cancer are situated in metropolitan cities and it would be beneficial for patients if they were provided fare concession in Rajdhani Express starts as it covers most of the big cities in lesser time.

"Oncologists in the country are irregularly distributed and are heavily concentrated in urban areas of the country. As Rajdhani Express is one of the preferred means within the reach of the masses for long, safe, speedy and comfortable travel, it is indispensable that cancer patients and their assistants are provided concessions for the same," the pleahas said.

It mentioned the data of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as per which estimated number of people living with cancer in India is around 2.5 million, and every year, about seven lakh new cancer cases are registered while about 5,56,400 people die suffering from the same.

"Official data show there are only about 1,000 trained oncologists in the country and the ratio of oncologists to cancer patients is about 1:2,000.

The patient load is more in smaller towns, there is a dearth of oncologists and infrastructure in these regions.

India has 27 dedicated cancer hospitals and an additional 300 general or multi-speciality ones providing care to cancer patients," the PIL has stated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Madhya Pradesh High Court today issued a notice to the state government on a PIL demanding Union minister Uma Bharti, Congress leader Digvijay Singh and BJP's Kailash Joshi vacate their official residences in Bhopal that were allotted during their tenure as chief minister.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice H P Singh issued show-cause notice to the state government over the PIL moved by a law student Rounaq Yadav.

The PIL challenges the state government order of April 24, 2016, which said that these former state chief ministers have been cleared to stay put lifelong in the official residences allotted to them.

In his plea, Yadav stated that according to the MP Wages and Perks Act, 1972, the former chief ministers as well as ministers have to vacate their official residences within a month after quitting the cabinet.

Vipin Yadav, the petitioner's counsel, cited a Supreme Court order regarding former ministers in New Delhi and ex-CMs in Uttar Pradesh to vacate the official residences.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi High Court today refused to give hearing on a plea seeking to restrain AAP government from going ahead with its two-day Winter Session of Assembly which has already commenced.

"It is the prerogative of the Speaker to call a session. How can the court interfere in it," a bench of Justices B D Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar said.

The plea for urgent hearing today was mentioned before the bench through advocate R P Luthra who urged the court to declare the two-day Assembly Session as "illegal and invalid".

The bench, however, did not list the matter for today, saying "you (petitioner) file the petition. It will come up tomorrow."



The petition claimed that by not inviting the Lieutenant Governor to address the Delhi Legislative Assembly, the AAP government was "dishonouring" its office.

It further said rules stipulated that at the commencement of the first session of each year, the LG shall address the House. "This rule is being honoured since the formation of the Delhi Assembly. But the present government has chosen to circumvent the rules," the plea said.

Yesterday when the sixth segment of the ongoing fourth session of the Assembly commenced, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta objected to it saying by not inviting new Lt Governor Anil Baijal to address the "first session of the year", the government has "violated and misused" rules.

He quoted section 19(1) of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Rules that stipulates that at the commencement of the first Session of each year, the L-G shall address the House and claimed "the present government has chosen to circumvent the rules."



However, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel rejected Gupta's charge, saying this sitting was "not a new session in a new calender year but continuation of an ongoing one. I want to warn you against dragging the name of LG based on a misleading claims.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hong Kong's unpopular pro-Beijing leader Leung Chun-ying faced protests today as he spoke out against the city's independence movement in his final policy address.

Leung will step down in July after a four-year term marked by anti-Beijing rallies as fears grow that Chinese authorities are squeezing Hong Kong's freedoms.

Frustration at lack of political reform has sparked movements seeking self-determination or even independence for the semi-autonomous city, angering Chinese authorities.

As he struggled to start his speech due to heckling, some pro-democracy lawmakers held up signs depicting Leung as a monkey and calling him a "liar".

"As we benefit from the opportunities brought by the development of our country and the national policies in our favour, we must clearly recognise that Hong Kong is an inalienable part of our country," Leung said in the annual address.

"This is both a legal fact and an internationally recognised political reality, leaving no room whatsoever for Hong Kong to become independent or separate from the motherland in any manner," he added.

Residents must "safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity", said Leung, who did not mention any plans for kickstarting democratic reform, after a controversial Beijing-backed package was shelved following massive protests in 2014.

Amnesty International Hong Kong last week said human rights were at their worst since the city was handed back to China by Britain in 1997, in the wake of the disappearance of five city booksellers known for publishing salacious titles about Chinese leaders, and interference by Beijing in a range of areas, from media to education.

The government has also been accused of a witch hunt after two pro-independence lawmakers were forced to give up their seats last year. Four more pro-democracy legislators face a judicial review into whether they should be disqualified.

However, Leung said the city still enjoyed a high degree of autonomy and pledged his government would "uphold Hong Kong's core values, including human rights, liberty, democracy, the rule of law and integrity".

In an address which lasted more than two hours and mainly focused on the economy and domestic issues, Leung framed the city's economic strategy within Beijing's latest five-year plan and its One Belt, One Road initiative, which calls for constructing vast rail and infrastructure links connecting Chinese exporters to markets across Eurasia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President-elect Donald Trump, whose sensational announcements and criticism on Twitter has the world hooked on, has said he does not like tweeting but has to use the social media platform as a defence against "dishonest" media.

"Look, I don't like tweeting, I have other things I can be doing. But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press. And it's my only way that I can counteract. When people make misstatements about me, I'm able to say it and call it out," Trump told Fox .

"Now if the press were honest, which it's not, I would absolutely not use Twitter," the President-elect said.

Trump evoked his recent Twitter tirade against Georgia Representative John Lewis as an example of why he is forced to express himself over the social media platform.

"When John Lewis said he's never done it before where he's skipped an inauguration -- well, he has, it turned out to be a lie so I'm able to say that. He shouldn't have said a thing like that it was terrible, I'm able to say it," Trump said, referring to the 76-year-old civil rights icon recently announcing he will not attend the President-elect's Friday inauguration.

Trump, during the interview, excerpts of which were released ahead of its telecast, however, boasted about his social media following.

"I'm going to be close to 50 million people, including Facebook and Instagram and different things," the President-elect said.

Trump had said earlier that he has no plans to quit Twitter even after becoming US President this week.

Trump, who will become the 45th US President on Friday told The Times that he does not intend to lay off Twitter once he is in the Oval Office of the White House and will keep his @realDonaldTrump account.

Trump has repeatedly used Twitter for savaging opponents ranging from lawmakers to foreign leaders and even celebrities.

Critics have voiced concern, however, that the social media platform's 140-character limit is too simplistic for complex policy issues.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and Commander of Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) Matar Ali Matar Al-Obaidani today reviewed the progress of the fourth joint exercise between the two countries.

The Indo-Oman air exercise is being held at Air Force Station at Jamnagar, around 300km from here.

The exercise, called "Eastern Brigade IV", started on Monday, and is the fourth in a series of air drills that started in 2009 between the two countries.

"Chief of Air Staff BS Dhanoa and Commander of RAFO Matar Ali Matar Al-Obaidani reviewed the progress of the exercise at Air Force Station, Jamnagar. During their review they interacted with the participating crew and held bilateral discussions," a defence press release said.

While the RAFO is participating with five F-16s belonging to its No. 18 Squadron, the IAF has deployed Su-30 MKIs, MiG-29s, Jaguars and MiG-27 aircraft for the exercise, it said.

"The RAFO is participating with five F-16 Block 50 Air Defence Fighters belonging to No. 18 Squadron. IAF is participating in the exercise with Su-30 MKI Air Dominance Fighters, MiG-29 Air Superiority Fighters, Jaguar Maritime Strike aircraft and MiG-27 aircraft."



This is the first time RAFO's F-16s are participating in an air exercise outside the Gulf region, it added.

The first joint exercise in the series was held in October 2009 wherein six IAF Jaguars had operated at RAFO Thumrait, Oman.

The exercises are meant not only to enrich the IAF and RAFO professionally but also culturally as Omani and Indians share similar culture. The drill provides an opportunity for rich interaction between the personnel of both countries, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ICICI Prudential Life today said it has joined hands with World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) to aid protection to front line protection staff, including forest guards, foresters and range officers through ex-gratia funding in the event of their death or permanent disability while on official duty.

"Forest guards and other protection staff do a commendable job in protecting forests and wildlife. They face challenges and risk their lives while carrying out their everyday duties. Protection is a must for every individual with responsibilities," ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Managing Director and CEO Sandeep Bakhshi told reporters here.

"Through our partnership with WWF, we aim to provide financial protection, in the form of ex-gratia payment to the frontline forest guards and their families," Bakhshi said.

He said this partnership is for three years covering 15,000 staff in 15 states entailing over Rs 1.8 crore.

The programme will be extended to the frontline staff of 15 forests under WWF-India's 10 priority landscapes (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala) and provide support to the forest guards.

"We are looking to extend this initiative to more than 15 states. We are also in talks with other corporates for facilitating medical and hospitalisation for frontline forest staff," WWF-India Secretary General and CEO Ravi Singh said.

He said, working in extreme conditions, frontline forest staff are in constant danger while safeguarding our country's endangered species and wilderness areas.

"With this initiative, we aim to motivate and aid such foot soldiers, whose work is beneficial to our country now and will create consequential and positive impact for future generations," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Concerned over slowing pace of closing the gender gap, IMF chief Christine Lagarde today said technology can probably help and there are some 'anecdotal' cases from India where mobiles have helped women convey the harassment by their mothers-in-law.

Speaking at an WEF session alongside Lagarde, award winning documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said mobiles have helped a lot women in Pakistan whether for starting their own business or for reporting violence against them.

Lagarde said we have been talking about closing gender gap for so many years but things have not been moving forward fast enough.

Since 2008, we have seen a slowdown in the process for the gap to be closed, as per the research we are doing on this issue, she said. What has been done so far is not good enough to achieve the inclusive growth, the IMF managing director said.

Obaid-Chinoy said women are generally excluded from the decision making.

"Men sit around a table and take decisions regarding the women," she said, while giving one example from Pakistan where some women decided to take up decision making and when that happened violence in their village began to see a drop.

PwC Global Chairman Robert Moritz said it is an issue for everybody and only way to do is at policy destruction level as it is not going to happen naturally.

They were speaking at an WEF session on disrupting the status quo of gender roles.

Costa Rican activist Cynthia Castro, Vice President at Reinventing Business for All, said that we have grown in a culture that is biased against women may be unconsciously.

Noting that she was not an expert on technology and it's possible role in checking gender gap, Lagarde gave example of India where technology has helped women convey their concerns including in cases when they were being harassed by their mothers-in-law.

She added this was just an anecdotal episode that she was referring to and therefore would not lean on it and also gave examples of some women checking on their husbands through mobiles on whether they picking kids from school.

Obaid-Chinoy said she has stopped answering questions like how it feels like being a female film maker or how do you juggle between your career and family life.

"I'm a film maker. What is a female film maker? Similarly have your ever heard a male CEO being asked how do you manage between your work and your family life?" she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Education Funding

Lawmakers, lobbyists and education and community activists provided a standing room only crowd in the Supreme Courtroom of the new Capitol in Jackson, Miss., as they listen as Rebecca Sibilia, CEO of EdBuild, a New Jersey non-profit education consulting firm, outlines their suggestions for directing more tax dollars into the classroom of public school during a joint meeting of the House and Senate Education and Appropriations committees, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017.

(Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mississippi's per-pupil education spending would remain at least the same or could even increase, but more of the cost could be shifted to local taxpayers rather than the state budget under proposals for a new school funding formula that consultants presented to lawmakers Monday.

The per-pupil cost would depend on several variables, including how much would be spent on technology, classroom supplies and professional development for teachers.

Wealthier school districts could be in line to receive less money from the state. But schools could receive more for educating low-income students and those who don't speak English as their first language.

The proposals are in a report by EdBuild, a New Jersey-based consulting group that Mississippi's Republican legislative leaders hired in October.

"We believe that a student-centered funding formula should take into consideration that every type of special learning need actually produces a cost for school districts that should be adequately funded in order to make sure that all students are treated fairly," EdBuild CEO Rebecca Sibilia said after her presentation.

The current formula, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, was put into law in 1997 by what was then a Democratic-controlled Legislature over the veto of a Republican governor. The formula is designed to give schools enough money to meet midlevel academic standards. It was phased in over several years and has been fully funded only two years, making lawmakers a constant target from critics who say they are not fully committed to schools.

Under MAEP, the state is supposed to spend $4,677 per student, according to the EdBuild report. Under the EdBuild recommendations, the base student cost would range between $4,694 and $5,250.

As with MAEP, full funding would be a year-by-year decision by legislative budget writers.

"Unless there's a metamorphosis on the kind of thinking that we as legislators do toward public education, nothing will change," Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, told Sibilia after Monday's meeting.

EdBuild recommends that Mississippi phase in a new school funding formula over five to eight years.

Mississippi currently guarantees at least 73 percent of school funding will come from the state budget, with the balance coming from local districts. Sibilia told lawmakers that the national average is 55 percent from the state, and Mississippi should consider reducing its portion. Doing that would shift more of the school funding burden to local districts, and that could translate into higher property taxes.

House Education Committee Chairman John Moore, R-Brandon, praised the EdBuild report.

"At the end of the day, we're going to have a whole lot of districts very happy," Moore said. He added, however, that some districts would receive less money from the state.

"I believe my county would be one on the list to get less money," said Moore, who lives in Rankin County, a relatively affluent area in the Jackson suburbs.

Critics say they want to see how the overall proposal would affect each part of the state.

"The Legislature shouldn't seriously consider anything until we've got the real impact on local districts," said Nancy Loome, leader of the Parents' Campaign, an education advocacy group.

Democratic Sen. Hob Bryan of Amory, who helped push MAEP into law, said he believes the EdBuild proposal could lead to public money being sent to private schools through vouchers.

"Secondly, I'm concerned that they're going to replace existing law with a formula -- assuming anyone can ever understand the formula -- a formula which produces less money than existing law provides," Bryan said. "And if that's not the case, why don't they run the numbers and give us the printout?"
RBI Governor Urjit Patel has told colleagues that any effort to belittle the reputation of the central bank deserves "zero tolerance" and asked them to guard the integrity of the institution.

In his first address to the staff after taking over as the 24th Governor on September 4, 2016, Patel, in an email, said the RBI has achieved the excellence only because of the collective efforts of its employees.

Specifically talking about the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the Centre on November 8, he said, "Let me emphasise that one thing we should all zealously guard is the integrity and reputation of our organisation and any act belittling the same should deserve zero tolerance from all of us."



It may be noted that during the drive, a few senior RBI employees were held for alleged money laundering and illegal exchange of banned notes. Following this, the CBI had in December arrested a few RBI officials.

Post-note ban announcement, the RBI in general and Patel in particular, were also criticised by Opposition politicians as well as analysts over "abdication" of responsibility by the monetary authority.

Some of Patel's predecessors including D Subbarao, Y V Reddy, Bimal Jalan, and Manmohan Singh, criticised the apex bank for not doing enough to reassure the public in the wake of currency invalidation exercise.

During the 50-day period, the RBI faced flak for numerous flip-flops over currency exchange norms.

"I am confident that all of us working together will rise to the occasion and face these challenges in a manner befitting the reputation of this esteemed organisation," Patel said in his email to the employees on the eve of the New Year.

Patel said that during the year gone-by, RBI continued its efforts at restoring macroeconomic stability to the economy.

"While the policy actions have already shown positive effects, nevertheless they are work in progress and need to be fine-tuned constantly to keep pace with the changing environment," he said.

RBI employees union, feeling "deeply humiliated" by the events since demonetisation, on January 13 wrote a letter to Patel protesting against operational mismanagement in the exercise and the government bid to impinge on its autonomy by appointing an official for currency coordination.

In the letter, they claimed this has "dented beyond repair" RBI's autonomy. They said appointment of a senior Ministry official for currency coordination was a "blatant encroachment" on RBI's exclusive turf of currency management.

"An image of efficiency and independence, that RBI assiduously built up over the decades by the strenuous efforts of its staff and judicious policy making, has gone into smithereens in no time. We feel extremely pained," the United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and Employees had said in the letter.
US-based author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni likes to set her books in places where she actually lived and her latest work "Before We Visit the Goddess", a three-generational immigrant story about mothers and daughters, spans from Bengal and Assam to California and Texas.

She also uses this particular form for the first time - a novel in stories, where each chapter is a complete story but is related to the other in a particular way.

The particular language, the prose each one uses has to be different and relate to the character, she says.

"Before We Visit the Goddess", published by Simon & Schuster, is about three generations of mothers and daughters who discover their greatest source of strength in one another.

The daughter of a poor baker in rural Bengal, Sabitri yearns to get an education, but due to her family's situation college is an impossible dream. Then an influential woman from Kolkata takes Sabitri under her wing but her generosity soon proves dangerous after the girl makes a single, unforgiveable misstep.

Years later, Sabitri's daughter, Bela, haunted by her mother's choices, flees abroad with her political refugee lover - but the America she finds is vastly different from the country she'd imagined.

As the marriage crumbles and Bela is forced to forge her own path, she unwittingly imprints her own child, Tara, with indelible lessons about freedom, heartbreak, and loyalty that will take a lifetime to unravel.

"Writing about women has been very important for me for a long time. Many of my books have women protagonists," says Divakaruni, a McDavid professor of Creative Writing at the University of Houston.

She started thinking about this novel after her mother passed away.

"So I was really thinking about our relationship and the heritage she's passed on to me, what is the heritage I am trying to pass onto my children. Out of that came this three-generational story which is not autobiographical but just follows my concerns.

"One part of my concern is what it means to be a successful woman. Does that meaning change from one generation to the next? Does it change when we move from one culture to another? This book explores these ideas which I think is a timely theme for India and America and probably other cultures also. It's something women need to think about," Divakaruni told PTI in an interview.

The characters in "Before We Visit the Goddess" are fictional.

"What are most autobiographical in my books are the



locales because I always like to set my books in places where I have actually lived. The landscape should be authentic. I believe setting is very important as places affect the characters. The places where the women in the book have lived are the ones where I also lived. Otherwise the book is all fictional, all imaginary," she says.

However, she says, one of the challenges was to make important things happen at these places - West Bengal, Assam, California and Texas. Divakaruni was born in Kolkata and her father worked in one of the oil companies in Assam. She's now based in Texas.

Language, according to her, is very important, so is the particular kind of prose chosen and the images.

"Each of these women when they were young was told certain sayings and proverbs. These proverbs stuck in their minds and have had an effect on the view of what a woman should be and what are the choices available to them.

"So that's one of the things I do in this book. And it also has an immigrant theme as it is moving from India to America and is showing the different challenges women have, depending on the different landscape in which they live," she says.

When asked which of the characters she felt was the strongest, Divakaruni says, "Each of the character is strong in her own way but probably the grandmother Sabitri is the strongest because she's the one who has to deal with the biggest challenges earliest in life.

"Bela and Tara also have their challenges but most of these are self-created problems where Sabitri has to deal with larger social issues.

Divakaruni has penned 16 books, including "Oleander Girl", "The Mistress of Spices", "Sister of My Heart", "Palace of Illusions" and "One Amazing Thing". "The Mistress of Spices" and "Sister of My Heart" have been adapted into movies,



Asked if "Before We Visit the Goddess" can be a movie plot, she says, "It would be a very dramatic story as locations are very interesting - from old Kolkata to wild landscape of Assam to California and Texas and also the women characters are very strong.
India has given a grant of around 10 million rupees to the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation in South Africa to kick-start plans for a huge endowment fund to fight racism across the globe.

Indian High Commissioner Ruchi Ghanashyam presented the grant yesterday to the veteran freedom fighter who was a close confidante of the late President Nelson Mandela and spent just one year less than him in imprisonment as a political prisoner, most of them on Robben Island.

"During his recent state visit to South Africa, the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Nelson Mandela Foundation and interacted with prominent struggle heroes, including Kathrada," Ghanashyam said at the handing-over ceremony at the Indian Consulate in Johannesburg.

"Prime Minister acknowledged Kathrada's significant contributions to the freedom struggle in South Africa, where despite his advanced age, he leads a busy public life championing the cause of non-racialism and an equitable society in South Africa and around the world.

"Recognising the role of the Foundation and the work being done by them for the welfare of the people of South Africa and the Indian diaspora, the PM decided to extend the grant of ten million rupees (two-million-rands) to the Foundation," she said.

Although Kathrada was present to accept the cheque, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Shan Balton, spoke on his behalf.

"We cannot express sufficiently our gratitude to the government and people of India for this donation which will now start our '50 by 90' campaign," Balton said, adding, that the project aimed to raise an endowment of 50 million rands before Kathrada turns 90 in three years' time.

"The proceeds from the endowment will then ensure that long after all of us are gone, and even 50 years from now, the Foundation and our successors will be able to continue the important work of fighting racism," Balton said.

Former Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad said although South Africa during the apartheid-era decades of white minority government had been the fountainhead of racism that supremacists from across the globe looked to as succour, racism was now rearing its head in places like Eastern Europe and the US.

"This support from the Indian government for the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation to fight such racism is just a continuation of what India and its people have been doing for South Africa since the country started the global anti-apartheid struggle in 1947," Pahad said.

Isu Laloo Chiba, another veteran of the struggle who served jail time with Mandela and Kathrada, said it was somewhat ironic that the sanctions India had imposed on apartheid-era South Africa for nearly four decades had also led to the important relationship between the two countries not being properly recorded.

Chiba called on the Foundation to use part of the donation from India to initiate a project to identify these unrecorded gaps in the very significant relationship between the two countries.The donation to the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation was the second in as many months.

In December, Ghanashyam also handed to the Nelson Mandela Foundation a two-million-rand donation that was earlier pledged by Modi during his visit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Both India and Iran have responded to the challenges of globalisation, and in the world of tomorrow, they would need to use the tools of modernity "creatively," Vice-President Hamid Ansari here today said.

"To the sociologist, it (globalisation) is associated with modernity, to international relations theorist with global governance, and to the scientist with a range of technologies and mediums that have qualitatively transformed human communication and connectivity.

"The latter also results in a complex series of interaction between peoples and cultures that rupture boundaries and lead to cultural 'hybridity', not purity," he said.

He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day-long seminar on 'The cultural similarities between Iran and the Indian sub-continent: Indigenous Cultural Fragmentation in the Era of Globalisation'.

He said both Iran and India are inheritors of civilisations whose origins date back deep into the past, both have responded, in their own way, to the challenges of modernity.

"What shape would their linguistic and cultural connections take in our globalising world? At a first glance, the Indian approach has been one of seamless accommodation while the Iranian is premised on categorised acceptance. Both face today the onslaught of information and ideas in all their diversity and technological prowess.

"In the world of tomorrow, they would need to use the tools of modernity - economic, technological and political - creatively. They have a largely converging interest in an area of stability and prosperity," Ansari said.

The Vice President also emphasised that the current tide of globalisation would "not submerge" the Indian cultural identity but would "add an Indian dimension" to a globalising culture.

Iranian Ambassador to India Gholam Reza Ansari said, "We are witnessing extremism, violence, radicalism in East and West Asia and North Africa...Some policymakers and hidden hands in some governments intend to introduce an extremist face of Islam in the region.

"East has been the cradle of great civilisation and religions of the world...It is possible to increase the region and religion's recognition and interaction and convergence. And, thus roots of violence of extremism and violence and hidden hands of some governments and extremist groups spreading chaos can be exposed," he said.

The seminar has been organised by Iran Cultural House, New Delhi in collaboration with India International Centre, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and UNESCO Parzor Foundation.

Ansari also made reference to the growing influence of



social media and and e-commerce firms in the age of globalisation.

"Some evidence of the collective effectiveness of these (global culture) is to be seen in the case of big IT companies like Facebook, Twitter, Amazon are now fast moving towards a stage where they have developed capacities to provide market on their platforms and also control tools of production.

"They are shaping popular cultures and are not limited by geographical boundaries. They control communication and have the potential and technology to promote specific views, information and analysis. These companies have reach across borders. They have proliferated everywhere, yet are usually not governed by local laws," he said.

Emphasising the connect between the two countries, he further said, the Persian language itself has been a part of the vast Indian linguistic landscape for millennia.

"The earlier linguistic affinities persisted in later times and were furthered by the intensity of contacts. Words of Sanskrit origin have been located in Shahnamah...The first newspaper in Persian language anywhere in the world was published in Calcutta in 1823 by Raja Ram Mohun Roy of Brahmo Samaj," he said.

Abouzar Ebrahimi, President of Islamic and Cultural Relation (ICRO), proposed that a permanent cultural secretariat could be set up to further the cultural connection between the two countries, besides highlighting the shared legacy.

ICCR president Lokesh Chandra said, "Role of Iran is crucial to the evolution of a convergence in culture and the diversity.
India and South American nation Peru would soon start formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA).

Approval for the talks was given by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The cabinet "has approved holding negotiations for trade agreement with Peru on trade in goods, services and investment," an official statement said.

It said a Joint Study Group between India and Peru was constituted in order to explore the possibility for entering into a trade agreement on January 15, 2015.

Both sides concluded the study on October 20 and "agreed to carry forward the discussions on trade in goods, trade in services and investment," it added.

In an FTA, two countries significantly reduce or eliminate duties on most of the goods traded between them besides relaxing norms and rules to promote trade in services and increase bilateral investments.

Peru ranked third amongst export destinations for India in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region during 2015-16. The bilateral trade between the nations increased to USD 1.52 billion in 2015-16 from USD 107.32 million in 2005-06.

"Peru has been cooperating with India at the International fora and the trade agreement will enhance the trade and economic relations between the two countries," it said.

The trade agreement would be an important landmark in India-Peru relations and consolidate the traditional fraternal relation that have existed between India and LAC countries, the statement added.

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With the message of being a "very friendly" investment destination, India today sought to woo foreign investors at the WEF annual meet where leaders pored over the benefits of globalisation amid concerns over the impact of automation on jobs worldwide.

The issue of slow pace of bridging the gender gap also figured prominently in discussions, with IMF chief Christine Lagarde referring to an example from India about how women are using mobiles to report harassment by their mothers-in-law.

India, one of the fastest growing major economies, was represented here by a delegation of over 100 individuals, including ministers, government officials and business leaders. The country is striving to showcase itself as a bright spot in an uncertain global economic situation.

While Union Minister Nitin Gadkari made a strong case to woo foreign investors, his ministerial colleague Nirmala Sitharaman said the country has great opportunities in the services sector which contributes over 50 per cent to the GDP.

As leaders discussed whether jobs are evaporating due to globalisation ushering in too many technological innovations, a WEF report said digital transformation across industries can help save trillions of dollars in cost.

Against the backdrop of rising uncertainties in the global economy and fears of more job losses, Gadkari said India is working on ways to improve purchasing power of the common man as that would present further opportunities.

"We are very friendly for investments and it is appropriate time to invest in India," Gadkari said.

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised that the world needs to do a "reality check" even as she said India remains on track to grow its trade and economy faster.

Acknowledging that there is discontent, especially in countries where capitalism and democracy co-exist, she said probably this is the time to pause and recalibrate.

IT major Wipro's CEO Abidali Neemuchwala said a more globalised future would need the workers to be re-skilled.

Industry leaders from India said the country continues to see high growth and appears on track to move to higher income category in the coming years.

According to them, growth in India is consumption-led and the projections for coming years remain that the consumption would continue to drive this expansion.

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While debate raged here on widening wealth gap and the resultant rise in populism, leaders stressed the need for working on ways to tackle inequality and ensure responsible growth.

Urging policymakers worldwide to act now to check inequalities, Lagarde said there is no "silver bullet" to contain this problem.

Gadkari, who is the Minister for Road Transport and Shipping, said India is working on record road construction projects while there are no problems relating to land acquisition and environmental clearances.

While stating that port sector too is growing fast and six new ports are being developed, Gadkari said the country is also focusing big on cruise tourism.

Flagship programmes of the government, including Make In India and Digital India, are being showcased by the ministers and officials as the country seeks to attract more investments.

Apart from the ministers, senior government officials including DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant are attending the annual meet. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is also present.

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Tata Sons Chairman designate N Chandrasekaran and SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya are also in attendance.

On Tuesday, Mukesh Ambani said he favoured free market economy and that wealth creation should not be constrained as it is a precursor to the distribution of wealth.

Industry body CII's Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said India and other emerging economies are getting a lot of focus here in Davos and all have seen India championing the cause of globalisation.

India continues to see high growth and appears on track to move to higher income country category in coming years, according to CII President and senior industry leader Naushad Forbes.

According to him, everyone assumes that India will grow at least at 7 per cent and the aspiration is for 8 per cent or 9 per cent or even higher.

Meanwhile, World Economic Forum Digital Transformation Initiative (DTI) said that digital transformation can save trillions of dollars in cost and consumers stand to benefit more from it provided there are policy incentives to improve societal outcomes.

"More than half of the value that digitalisation offers is in the form of societal benefits. These include net job creation and reduced income inequality, improved health outcomes and fewer accidents, reduced carbon emissions and time and cost savings for consumers," it said.

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Nirmala Sitharaman held a host of bilateral meetings, including with ministers from Canada, Switzerland, Indonesia, Argentina and Qatar.

She participated in a roundtable on 'Start Up India' at the WEF and also met a a number of business leaders from India and abroad.

Besides, Nitin Gadkari held a host of meetings on the sidelines of the WEF.
Indiabulls Real Estate today said that its subsidiary firm has received Rs 701 crore refund from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) following a judgement from the Supreme Court of India.

The company has returned the land, located in South Delhi, to DDA, which was alloted to it for development of housing project. The land parcel was located at Village Tehkhand, Maa Anand Mai Marg in the national capital.

The project could not take off in absence of environmental clearance.

"...Pursuant to the judgement passed by the Supreme Court of India a refund of about Rs 701 crore, net of TDS, (being the auction price along with interest) has been received from the DDA by Kenneth Builders & Developers, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Indiabulls Infrastructure Pvt Ltd," Indiabulls Real Estate said in a regulatory filing.

Indiabulls Infrastructure is a joint venture company of Indiabulls Real Estate and FIM Ltd, a company managed by leading US private equity fund Farallon Capital Management LLC and its affiliates.

In the JV, FIM was holding about 74 per cent equity and IBREL was holding about 26 per cent equity.

"Further, in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court of India possession of the Tehkhan Land has been handed over to DDA," the company said.

Indiabulls Real Estate also informed that the company has "acquired FIM's entire stake of about 74 per cent in IIPL, for a total consideration of about Rs 382 crore and with this IIPL has become 100 per cent owned by the company."



In 2006, Kenneth Builders and Developers had bagged 35.8 acre land through auction to develop a residential project. The company had paid nearly Rs 450 crore for the land.

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Paralympians, including shotputter Deepa Malik and jevelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia, will be bestowed with cash awards for their medal-winning performance at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

An Indian businessman, Mukkattu Sebastian has announced a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs for Jhajharia and high jumper T Mariyappan, who won gold medals at the Rio paralympics.

Sebastian, who is based in UAE for four decades, also announced Rs. 3 lakh for Deepa, who won the silver medal and 2 lakhs for high jumper Varun Singh Bhati for winning the bronze medal at the Rio paralympics.

"The awards will be presented by the Hon Chief Minister of Kerela, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, on january 20th, 2017 at 2:30 pm; the ceremony will be hosted at St. Joseph Higher Secondary school, Trivandrum," Sebastian said in a release.

Jhajharia became India's second gold medal winner at the Rio Paralympics after he broke his own world record with a throw of 63.7m in the men's F46 Javelin Throw, while Mariyappan won the gold in the men's high jump T-42 event, with a leap of 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in).

Deepa won the silver medal in the women's shotput F53 event with a personal best throw of 4.61m, while Varun Bhati, clinched the bronze medal in the men's high jump T-42 event with a personal best jump of 1.86 metres.

Earlier, Sebastian had announced a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh for India's silver-medalist ace shuttler P V Sindhu and Rs 25 lakh for wrestler Sakshi Malik for winning the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics 2016.

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Expressing concern over steep rise in airfares especially on Jammu and Kashmir sector, the state government today wrote to the Civil Aviation Ministry to check the "arbitrary" hike in airfares.

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has written a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and sought his intervention to check the arbitrary hike in airfares.

Ali has again approached the Union Minister and expressed grave concern over the steep hike in air fares on Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Delhi, Srinagar-Mumbai, Jammu-Delhi and vice versa sectors.

The Minister requested the Centre to pass on directions to concerned airlines to keep the airfare reasonable on these sectors.

He brought into the notice of the Union minister that the airfares for these destinations are irrationally exorbitant particularly during the winter season when the road connectivity to the Valley gets restricted due to inclement weather and the only option left with the passengers is to travel by air.

He said the students living out of Kashmir Valley and the patients, who are being referred by doctors outside the state, for treatment are especially hit by the steep rise in airfares.

The "monopolistic trade practices" adopted by various airlines and travel agencies operating in the state is aggravating the situation which subjects the travellers to immense hardships, Ali said in the state.

The President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed his concern over the authoritarian attitude of the airlines operating on the Srinagar route for affecting steep rise of airfares especially during Winter season and have approached the state government for help.

Ali said the issue of steep rise in airfares was also discussed in a meeting of the J&K State Consumer Protection Council wherein all the members of the Council unanimously expressed their serious concern over the issue by comparing it to clear instance of jeopardising state consumer rights.

These members approached the state government to take up the matter again with the concerned Union Ministry.

The Minister urged the Union Minister to intervene in the matter and advise the concerned officers in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and airlines operating from Srinagar and Jammu to have the airfares regulated at reasonable level.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jammu and Kashmir will get 4,388 new fair price shops, the state government informed the Legislative Council today.

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Chaudhary Zulfkar Ali said the government has sanctioned 4,388 new Fair Price Shops (FPS) which will be opened on commission basis in the state.

Replying to a question by Dr Shehnaz Ganaie in the Upper House, he said at present 5,970 sale depots and FPSs are existing across the state and no Sale Depot-FPS has been opened during the current financial year so far.

Ali, however, said 4,388 FPSs have been sanctioned by the government to be opened on commission basis.

He said the criterion set by the government would be strictly followed while setting up these new FPSs.

Giving details about procurement and sale of rice, wheat and atta from Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Minister said under National Food Security Act (NFSA), government is procuring rice at Rs three per kg and wheat at Rs two per kg for priority category including Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household(PHH).

The same is provided to the consumers at the same price, while for PHH category rice and wheat is sold at Rs 15 and Rs 12 per kg respectively, while Atta is sold at Rs 13 per kg.

He said the government is procuring rice at Rs 8.30 per kg and wheat at Rs 6.10 per kg from FCI.

The Minister further stated that 2.56 lakh families have been covered under AAY, 10.93 under PHH and 8.23 under NPHH taking the total numberof people provided ration under these categories toover 1.19 crore.

Ali said under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) rice is procured from FCI at the rate of Rs 24 per kg and sold to the consumers at Rs 15 per kg, while wheat is procured at Rs 16 to Rs 24 per kg and sold at Rs 12 per kg.

He said similarly Atta is also being procured at Rs 16 to Rs 24 and sold at the rate of Rs 13 per kg.

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PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Pascagoula police announced the arrest of a part-time employee within the city for attempting to sell narcotics to a citizen, according to Pascagoula Police Lt. Doug Adams.

Adams said Wesley Hall, 30, was arrested around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday evening after being caught selling a form of methamphetamine while on company time in his city assigned vehicle.

According to Adams, Hall was assigned to the police department to perform maintenance around the police station.

Police were tipped off by a concerned citizen who reported an encounter with a city worker who approached them about buying narcotics. The tip led police to Hall.

Investigators set up an operation where they began to observe Hall's activities and later captured him on video attempting to complete a sale of the controlled substance.

Hall has been charged with two counts of transfer of a controlled substance and one count on possession of a controlled substance.

Hall is currently being held at the Jackson County Adult Detention Center without bond pending a court hearing.

The South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team assisted in the investigation and arrest of Hall.
World Sufi Music Festival, Jahan-e-Khusrau, founded by filmaker and cultural aficionado Muzaffar Ali will return after a two-year hiatus to the Capital.

The festival, scheduled to begin on March 24 is dedicated to the patron saint of Punjab, Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar and Hazarat Nizamuddin Auliya, and will see performances by sufi stalwarts like Daler Mehndi, Satinder Sartaj, Sukhwinder Singh and Sonam Kalra among others.

The three-day event which was initiated by Ali under the aegis of Rumi Foundation seeks to revive the Sufiyana kalams.

"The idea of this festival came into being when I was in Kashmir and I realised how amidst all the tension and animosity, people there were losing touch with this soulful form of music. It was going through the Kashmiri Sufiyana community that I realised the beauty of these kalams," Ali said.

The music festival which will be held in the ruins of Arab Ki Sarai adjacent to the Humayun's Tomb here, will be hosting a battery of Sufi musicians from across the country and the world in a seamless cinematic fashion.

Ali said that sufi music is essential, especially in the current times of turmoil, as it helps in the creation of a world without any boundaries.

"It is a liberating form of music. India has a huge tradition of classical music and it is contained in different Gharanas. The music opens itself up to the people. Jahan-e-Khusrau attempts to offer people an an ecstatic experience through music," he said.

The festival that commemorates the death anniversary of the saint Hazrat Amir Khusrau, will be organised in patronage of D S Puri foundation.

"The spirit behind the festival is to spread the message of oneness. Sufi saints knew the true value of an egalitarian, an inclusive world lead by seamless love for the Lord. It is a message most relevant in today's world of angst and strife," he said.

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Flagging "rising crime" in the national capital, Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain today urged Lt Governor Anil Baijal to revive the thana-level committees.

Alluding to the arrest of a number of AAP MLAs on separate charges, he alleged that the police was being "utilised" for "political purposes" and not to check murders and rapes.

"Crime has substantially increased in the city...I urge the LG to revive the thana-level committees and focus on making robust policing in the city," Jain said on the last day of the Winter session of the Delhi Assembly.

He made the remarks after Ambedkar Nagar AAP MLA Ajay Dutt claimed that there was a "spurt" in crime in his constituency, where even he was "feeling insecure".

The minister demanded that the Police Commissioner be asked to give a written report on the situation.

AAP MLAs alleged that even the district level committees, headed by MPs, have not met in several months.

The thana-level committees, constituted by order of the LG, are headed by the area MLA, who represents major parts of the jurisdiction of the police station and members of MCD/NDMC/Cantonment Board among others.

The committees also include representatives from Residential Welfare Associations (RWA), trade associations, educational institutions, women organisations and student representatives.

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Janata Dal (U), a key partner in the Congress-led UDF Opposition in Kerala, today asked the state government to take immediate steps to tackle the drought situation in the state.

A meeting of party state leaders chaired by party president MP Veerendra Kumar, held here, also sought initiatives to preserve and protect water resources in the state.

The meeting asked the Centre to expedite its efforts to secure the release of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, a Keralite priest abducted nearly nine months ago by a terror group in war-torn Yemen.

JD(U) workers would observe fast at Kottayam on Tom Uzhunnalil issue in the last week of January, a party release said here today.

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A journalist was shot dead in northern Honduras, hospital officials said, becoming the 69th member of the media killed in the violence-plagued Central American country since 2003.

Igor Padilla, a reporter for the Canal Hable Como Habla (HCH) network, arrived at the hospital "already dead" with "several bullet wounds" according to doctor Arturo Bendana of a private clinic in San Pedro Sula, Honduras's second-biggest city and one of the world's most violent.

An unidentified cameraman who was with the reporter said that Padilla had stepped out to answer a phone call and was shot by men in police uniforms.

Eduardo Maldonado, director of the HCH channel, said that the reporter -- who covered police in the city -- was hit with some 20 bullets and demanded authorities investigate.

Security Minister Julian Pacheco told HCH that a team had been mobilized to probe the shooting death.

Since 2003, 69 media workers have been killed in Honduras, according to the National Human Rights Commission.

Only about four of those cases have been investigated by authorities.

The Violence Observatory of the National Autonomous University of Honduras estimates that the country's homicide rate is 60 per 100,000 inhabitants, six times the UN-established global average of 8.9.

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A Congress protest at the Jantar Mantar turned out to be a harrowing experience for a couple of journalists today as their cellphones were allegedly pick pocketed while they were covering the event.

The incident took place between 1.30-2.30 PM when the demonstration was in full swing.

"I was taking byte of a senior Congress leader around 2 PM when I felt that someone fished into my pocket and before I could realise my phone was stolen," a media person claimed.

At least two other journalists also complained that their phones had been stolen while they were covering the event.

Among the other two victims, one works with a leading national television network, while the other is a cameraman in a channel.

However, police said only two FIRs have been lodged so far.

Senior Congress leaders along with scores of party workers today hit the street in the capital as part of a nation-wide protest against demonetisation.

The protesters led by Congress MP Ahmed Patel, party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, DPCC chief Ajay Maken and P C Chacko tried to march from Jantar Mantar to RBI's regional headquarters in Parliament Street, but were stopped by police.

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Days ahead of his inauguration as US President, the American Press Corps today made it clear to Donald Trump that he cannot "dictate" to them and that "we, not you, decide how best to serve our readers, listeners, and viewers."



"In these final days before your inauguration, we thought it might be helpful to clarify how we see the relationship between your administration and the American Press Corps," Kyle Pope, editor-in-chief and publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review, said in an open letter to Trump.

In the op-ed 'An open letter to Trump from the US press corps' published today in CJR, Pope says that the relationship between the media and the President-elect are strained.

"Reports over the last few days that your press secretary is considering pulling media offices out of the White House are the latest in a pattern of behaviour that has persisted throughout the campaign: You've banned organisations from covering you," he said.

Pope insists that while Trump is within his rights to decide his ground rules for engaging with the press, the media too has some.

"It is, after all, our airtime and column inches that you are seeking to influence. We, not you, decide how best to serve our readers, listeners, and viewers. So think of what follows as a backgrounder on what to expect from us over the next four years," he wrote on behalf of American journalists.

In an eight point charter, Pope told Trump he might decide that giving reporters access to his administration has no upside.

"We think that would be a mistake on your part, but again, it's your choice. We are very good at finding alternative ways to get information; indeed, some of the best reporting during the campaigncame from organisations that were banned from your rallies," he said.

"We may agree to speak to some of your officials off the record, or we may not. We may attend background briefings or off-the-record social events, or we may skip them. That's our choice. If you think reporters who don't agree to the rules, and are shut out, won't get the story, see above," he said.

He said that it is the media which will decide how much airtime to give to his spokespeople and surrogates.

The American media believes that there is an objective truth, and it will hold him to that, he cautioned Trump.

"We'll obsess over the details of government. You and your staff sit in the White House, but the American government is a sprawling thing. We will fan reporters out across the government, embed them in your agencies, source up those bureaucrats. The result will be that while you may seek to control what comes out of the West Wing, we'll have the upper hand in covering how your policies are carried out," he wrote.

Pope, however, credited Trump with highlighting serious



and widespread distrust in the media across the political spectrum.

"Your campaign tapped into that, and it was a bracing wake-up call for us. We have to regain that trust. And we'll do it through accurate, fearless reporting, by acknowledging our errors and abiding by the most stringent ethical standards we set for ourselves," he said.

Accusing Trump of dividing the media, Pope said the American media will work together and in the best-case scenario, Trump can be inside the White House for eight years.

"We've been around since the founding of the republic, and our role in this great democracy has been ratified and reinforced again and again and again. You have forced us to rethink the most fundamental questions about who we are and what we are here for. For that we are most grateful," Pope said.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today called for effective implementation of all centrally sponsored schemes and state sponsored programmes besides tightening up the internal security apparatus in Tawang district.

In a video conferencing with Tawang DC Sang Phuntso, k=Khandu reviewed critical ongoing projects and schemes in the district and also the law and order situation, an official release informed.

He enquired about the social sector programmes and directed the DC and district officers to ensure smooth and effective implementation.

The chief minister also shared Prime Minister's vision of Digital India and informed that the state government was rigorously initiating for going cashless to erase black money, curb corruption, neutralise terror funding and counter fake currencies.

He asked the DC and head of offices in the district to sensitise the masses on digital transaction and its benefits.

Khandu sought the status of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana being implemented in the rural areas and urged to ensure the benefits of Aadhar-linked accounts to reach the rural masses.

Since the onset of winter, Tawang has been facing acute shortages of electricity, Khandu enquired the status of power supply in the district and held discussion to improve the power scenario.

He also asked for all Prime Minister's flagship programmes such as PMJDY, Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan, Skill India to be implemented in letter and spirit.

The chief minister said that he would be conducting such kind of video conferencing with DCs of all the districts at regular intervals.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Citing "ignorant attitude" of BJP and Shiv Sena towards them amid the seat-sharing talks for upcoming civic polls, at least three constituents of NDA have decided to form a separate political front to contest against the ruling parties.

"Despite having an alliance, we have been ignored by the BJP while they talk of alliance for upcoming BMC and other municipal corporations and Zilla Parishad polls," Shiv Sangram president Vinayak Mete said today.

The allies are: Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana, Rashtriya Samaj Party and Shiv Sangram.

Mete said they have some pockets of influence in Mumbai as well nine other corporations and 25 Zilla Parishads.

The elections are slated for next month.

Mete said he met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and urged him to consider views of the 'Mahayuti' constituents on forging alliance with Sena.

"I am yet to hear from CM...Enough is enough. I, Raju Shetti of SSS and Mahadev Jankar of RSP have decided to form a new front and we will announce our candidates against BJP and Sena in the corporation and ZP election across the state," the Maratha leader said.

The name of the proposed front and the seats to be contested is yet to be decided by these leaders.

Jankar, who heads Animal Husbandry department, belongs to Dhangar (shepherd) community which has a considerable presence in more than 145 Assembly constituencies.

Shetti, a farmers' leader and an MP, has a strong base in Kolhapur and Sangli while Shiv Sangram has some pockets of influence in Mumbai and other parts of the state.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sangram has registered itself as a political party with the Election Commission.

Mete will make an official announcement in Pune on Friday.

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At least three people, including a government official and a media employee were sacked or asked to retire in the past two weeks after their online criticism of Chairman Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China, triggered protests from his loyalists.

On Monday, Zuo Chunhe, a deputy director of the Shijiazhuang Bureau of Culture, Radio, Film, TV, Press and Publication in North China's Hebei Province, was fired afterhe called Mao a "devil" in his social media blog and dubbed the annual commemoration of Mao's birthday as "the world's largest cult activity", state-run Global Times daily reported.

Pictures circulating online show Mao supporters protesting in front of the building of Zuo's bureau.

Protesters were holding Mao portraits and banners that read, "Down with the anti-Mao traitor Zuo Chunhe."



Zuo was given a major administrative warning and was ordered to deeply reflect on his mistakes. His Weibo account has been deleted.

Mao's legacy remains a divisive issue in China after the ruling Communist Party founded by him has changed its ideological course moving away from his hardline Marxist police to reform and opening up three decades ago.

Mao's supporters often see China as becoming more capitalist and unequal with the reform and opening-up.

Those who oppose him criticise Mao for the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) in which million killed and welcome a more market-oriented economy.

Zuo's removal comes less than a week after Liu Yong, an employee of Luohe Television Station in Central China's Henan Province, was fired on January 11 for similar charges of "posting wrong remarks on Sina Weibo" and "serious violations of political discipline and moral standards."



Liu's Weibo account has also been deleted, but screenshots circulating online showed his calling Mao "more of a disaster than Yuan Shih-kai," a warlord in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) who tried to restore the monarchy in 1915, presenting himself as the Chinese emperor.

One protester even posted the phone numbers to Luohe TV online and asked his followers to call the station in protest.

Many online netizens have vowed to continue to find people whom they believe are living off the benefits of the system but defile the republic's very founder.

On Monday, the Weibo account of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily posted an article criticising TV host Liang Hongda for defaming Lei Feng.

Lei was a PLA soldier singled out posthumously by Mao in 1963 in a campaign that promoted him as an icon representing selflessness and loyalty to the Party.

Mao ruled China with an iron grip for nearly three decades. He died on September 9, 1976 at the age of 82.

He served as Chairman of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to 1959, and led the Chinese Communist Party from 1935 until his death.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government today set September 24 as the date for a general election, as she seeks a fourth term facing populist headwinds over a record migrant influx.

The decision, adopted by Merkel's right-left coalition cabinet, must still be formally approved by President Joachim Gauck.

But the announcement fires the starting gun for an election campaign that Merkel has said will be her toughest yet due to opposition to her liberal asylum policy.

Merkel, 62, is nevertheless the clear frontrunner in the race and enjoys solid popularity in Europe's top economy.

A poll released Wednesday showed her conservative Christian Union bloc (CDU/CSU) as the strongest political force in the country with 38 percent.

It was followed in distant second by the Social Democrats (SPD), the current junior partners in Merkel's "grand coalition" government, which polled at 21 percent.

The right-wing anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has railed against Merkel's decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015, lost one percentage point compared to last week to reach 11 percent.

The head of the Forsa opinion research institute which conducted the poll, Manfred Guellner, said a jihadist attack on a Berlin Christmas market last month that killed 12 people and was committed by a rejected asylum seeker had failed to boost support for the AfD.

"Although the security debate after the Berlin terror attack is running high, the AfD is unable to capitalise on it," Guellner said in a statement.

"It is actually losing support while the CDU/CSU and the SPD are stabilising."



The AfD, born as a eurosceptic party in 2013, has attempted to harness public unease with migration and asylum and, due to its relative strength, threatens to scramble the potentially complicated arithmetic of coalition building after the election.

It hopes to become the first populist party to gain seats in the Bundestag lower house of parliament in post-war Germany.

The AfD, seeking to gain momentum from a surge of European radical parties, will host a meeting of far-right leaders in the western city of Koblenz on Saturday.

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Lena Melton (right) is presented with a Key to the City by Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran to honor Melton for her 30 years service on the Ocean Springs school board. The presentation was made during a reception in Melton's honor Tuesday night.

(OSSD photo)

Outgoing school board member Lena Melton (left) speaks with Steve Robinson during a reception in Melton's honor Tuesday night. As a former school board member and former city alderman, Robinson had the unique perspective of both serving with and reappointing Melton. At right is former Ocean Springs superintendent Dewey Herring.

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Ocean Springs school officials, past and present, along with their city counterparts and members of the community, gathered Tuesday night to pay tribute to Lena Melton, who is stepping down after 30 years of service on the Ocean Springs school board.

Among those speaking during Tuesday's reception was alderman Greg Denyer, who himself spent 31 years as a teacher -- nearly all of them with Melton as one of his school board members.

Denyer recalled being able to tell which of his students had also been taught by Melton, who was a science teacher in Ocean Springs and at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

"I gave a little pretest when the kids got to my class," Denyer explained. "When the kids got done, I'd grade the tests, and I'd say, 'I'm going to show you how clairvoyant I am.'"

At this point, Denyer would point out some students and tell the class that those students were taught by Melton, only being wrong on occasion. How did he know?

"You guys know the cell," he would say to the Melton disciples.

"I just remember how thorough she was," Denyer continued. "The education these children got was absolutely excellent."

Denyer also noted the impact Melton had outside her own classroom.

"You also made a difference to (educators)," he said. You made a difference in the way we thought. You made a difference in race relations in Ocean Springs in the early 1970s."

Among the honors bestowed on Melton Tuesday night was a proclamation from Gov. Phil Bryant which praised Melton "for her many years of loyal and dedicated service to the Ocean Springs School District as a member of the board of trustees and a teacher."

In addition, Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran, who called Melton "one of the most dedicated public servants and servant to our children in the history of the Ocean Springs School District," presented Melton with a key to the city.

Ocean Springs superintendent Bonita Coleman said Melton's love of the district could be noted in every decision she made.

"I want to thank Dr. Melton for her legacy of student-first leadership on the board of trustees," said Coleman. "She never stopped being a teacher at heart, and her love of the Ocean Springs School District was always prevalent in every decision she made."

For her part, Melton said that when working in the district, she found that though the district did not have the financial base of other districts, OSSD has had the support of parents.

"We have parents who have said we will give you the money you want, but we expect you to deliver with our children," said Melton. "I believe we have delivered."

Melton cited the district's Advanced Placement program as an example of the steps Ocean Springs has taken to provide students with an education comparable to any in the country.

"Dr. Coleman has done a wonderful job with the AP program. We excel over what anyone in the nation is doing."

True to her kids-first nature, Melton also praised the children of the district -- past and present.

"These are good kids here in Ocean Springs," she said, "and it is wonderful for them to grow up in Ocean Springs whether they know it or not."
As many as 85,000 paramilitary personnel have been made available to the Election Commission for deployment in the upcoming assembly elections in five states, including in politically-crucial Uttar Pradesh, beginning February 11.

At a high-level meeting recently, the Union Home Ministry has committed to provide 850 companies for the polls, official sources said.

A company of paramilitary force comprises around 100 personnel.

In addition to the central forces, a few lakh personnel belonging to state police forces and home guards of the respective state will also be deployed for election duties.

The Home Ministry is accumulating 150 companies, most of them from State Armed Police forces and India Reserve Battalions, from different states for election duties. Rest of the forces will be from central paramilitary forces, the sources said.

While majority of the forces will be deployed in Uttar Pradesh, where polling will be held in seven phases, a sizeable number will also be deployed in Manipur which continues to be on edge due to a blockade on a major national highway, the sources said.

Assembly elections in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa will be held in single phase and Manipur in two phases from February 11.

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The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has directed authorities of Indore's Kamla Nehru Zoo to shift a pair of tigers to Van Vihar National Park here after it found that these felines were kept in a hyena enclosure.

CZA issued these directives in the wake of two incidents in which a tigress - Jamuna - had escaped from its enclosure in Kamla Nehru Zoo (Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalaya) twice on November 27 and December 12 respectively last year.

"It was found that authorities of the Kamla Nehru Zoo, Indore failed to house tigers in accordance with standards and dimensions prescribed by the CZA for an enclosure of the tiger," a CZA letter, dated January 10 said.

"Thus, (Kamla Nehru Zoo) has committed violation of provisions of Scheduled 4 (3) and 4 (5) of Rule 10 under Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009. Also it was found that the Zoo is housing tigers beyond the available housing facility and the tigress was kept in a hyena enclosure," the letter, a copy of which is available with PTI, added.

It said that in view of serious violations made by Kamla Nehru Zoo authorities endangering human as well as animal lives and gross negligence, the CZA has decided to immediately transfer a pair of tigers (one male, one female) from Kamla Nehru Zoo to Van Vihar National Park- Zoo, Bhopal.

CZA also told authorities to submit the compliance report after the shifting.

A copy of this letter was also sent to Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) (which runs Kamla Nehru Zoo) Van Vihar National Park's authorities and State Forest Department.

Tiger conservationists are however are demanding action against the Kamla Nehru Zoo's authorities.

"Strict action should be taken against the IMC commissioner and Zoo in-charge for the negligence of wildlife norms. Madhya Pradesh has become a dangerous place for free range as well as captive tigers," a Bhopal based tiger conservationist Ajay Dubey told PTI.

We are relieved that the tigress - Jamuna - did not harm visitors even after her escape otherwise carelessness of Zoo authorities would have led to a big incident, he said.

Dubey said that Jamuna was kept in a hyena enclosure.

"A hyena weighs at 40 kilograms while a tigress' weight is over 200 kilograms. How can authorities keep a tigress in cage made for a hyena, despite specific requirements," he asked.

On the other hand, in-charge of Kamla Nehru Zoo, Dr



Uttam Yadav said they are preparing to shift the tigers as per CZA order.

"CZA has told us to shift the pair of a tiger and a tigress. We have now urged the CZA to allow us shifting two tigresses in place of a pair," Yadav told
A 14-year-old girl has been rescued by West Bengal Police from a brothel here which was raided last year by Delhi Police's Crime Branch.

A team of 24 Parganas district police raided the brothel number 56 on GB Road yesterday and found the girl there, raising questions on the crime branch's claim that the prostitution racket run by a couple had been busted.

The brothel was last year raided by Delhi Police, the couple, Afaq Hussain and Saira Begum, operating it arrested and lodged in Tihar jail.

"The girl who was missing from her home in 24 Parganas was rescued by West Bengal Police from the brothel on the basis of specific inputs.

"The girl's presence in the brothel owned by the kingpin couple lodged in Tihar jail points to still flourishing network of human traffickers," said a member of NGO Shakti Vahini that assisted police in the raid.

The girl had contacted her family four-five days ago. Her family then approached police who swung into action.

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Members of minority communities constitute a minuscule percentage, not more than 5 per cent, in Delhi Police, DDA and even in departments like tourism and transport, a government report has said, flagging concern on the situation.

The Delhi Minorities Commission has shared the findings in its annual report (2015-16), which was today submitted to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who promised action based on the recommendations.

Under the head 'Representation of Minorities in Government Services', the report said only 2,993 personnel of the 77,397 member-strong Delhi Police belong to the minority communities, which comes to around 3.8 per cent.

Out of the 6,031 employees of Delhi Development Authority (DDA), 295 are minorities while only 32 employees out of 741 working with the Delhi Tourism and Transportation belong to the minority communities.

The corresponding percentages come to around 4.8 and 4.3 per cent.

However, there was confusion around figures related to Delhi Metro in this regard. DMRC termed as "incorrect" the report's claim that out of its "80,683 employees, 282 belong to minority communities".

"The figure is not correct. We have around 8,500 regular employees and even if we add the contractual staff the number would not be that large," a DMRC official said.

An official of the Commission said it will take into account metro's version and bring about the necessary corrections if required.

"There should be a sense of security among minorities. But the report paints a dismal picture. We need to found out whether it is deliberate or on grounds of merit. Either ways, we need to take action and it has to be fixed. The recommendations will be studied and steps taken," Sisodia told reporters.

Delhi Minority Commission was set up as a statutory body by an enactment called Delhi Minority Commission Act 1999 and its chairman is Qamar Ahmad, who handed over the report to Sisodia.

Functions of the Commission are related to the six notified communities based on religion and these are Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Buddhist and Jain.

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Amid the Centre's push for making the country clean under 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', Khargone town in Madhya Pradesh has created a record in waste disposal through mass public participation.

As many as 2,576 people, a large number of them children, today took part in a mass waste disposal exercise, helping the municipal body of the neighbouring town earn a place in the 'Golden Book of World Records', an official said.

As part of the exercise, these Khargone residents stood on roadside with dustbins filled with household waste material and emptied them in garbage collection vehicles.

"We have issued a world record certificate to Khargone City Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) for the mass participation in the waste disposal exercise," Golden Book of World Records South East Asia head Manish Vishnoi said.

He said 2,576 people stood up on both sides of roads and emptied their dustbins containing solid and liquid waste onto the garbage collection vehicles.

This was largest such gathering of people for a waste disposal exercise, Vishnoi said.

Under 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' launched in October 2014, the Centre is encouraging citizens to become active participants in cleanliness activities.

Golden Book of World Record (GBWR), according to its website, aims to give a platform to people who have some hidden or unhidden talent. GWBR is actively functioning to recognise and publish unique achievements of individuals/ organisations all over the world.

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MSD Telematics today said it has acquired Heuristics Info Systems in an all cash deal.

The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

"This investment will fuel our ability to deliver greater value to customers by enabling us to offer complete bouquet of services. Heuristics gives us the ability to now service international clientele with innovative and robust software solutions," MSD Telematics Founder Ashmeet Singh said.

Founded in 2008 by Amit Dubey and Pradeep Rai, Heuristics offers vehicle tracking system and mobile application software. Following the acquisition, Dubey will join MSD Telematics as a board advisor.

* * * * * *



Udacity launches Deep Learning Nanodegree Foundation Prog * Online education company Udacity has launched a Deep Learning Nanodegree Foundation Program.

The online education startup has partnered with YouTube star Siraj Raval for the new deep learning nanodegree foundation program that will be co-taught with Udacity's Mat Leonard.

"Deep learning is one of the building blocks of AI. Our new Deep Learning Nanodegree Foundation program with Siraj Raval gives students the ability to quickly learn a topic to be able to move into our more advanced Nanodegree programs like Artificial Intelligence, Self Driving Car and Machine Learning," Udacity Chief Marketing Officer Shernaz Daver said.

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"My story is an American story", Indian-American Nikki Haley said as she shared her experience of growing up in the US and challenges faced by her family over the years during her confirmation hearing today for the position of US Ambassador to the UN.

If confirmed by the US Senate, Haley, 44, would be the first Indian-American to serve in a Cabinet-level position in any presidential administration.

"My story is an American story," the South Carolina Governor said in her opening remarks as she testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"I was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, the daughter of immigrants from Punjab, India. My parents had comfortable lives in India, but they chose to give up those comforts and move to America with just eight dollars because of the freedoms and opportunities this country offers," she said.

"Our family's experience is unique, but it is also familiar, because it is one that has been repeated many times, by many people, in American history," she said.

Her parents, husband and son were present at the hearing at the US Capitol.

A long queue was seen outside the room where her confirmation hearing was held.

Growing up in a small rural community in the South, Haley, Haley, the highest ranking Indian-American to have been nominated in any presidential administration, said her family was different.

"We were not white enough to be white, not black enough to be black. My father wore a turban, my mother a sari. Our new neighbors didn't quite know what to make of us, and so we faced challenges. But those challenges paled next to the abundance of opportunities in front of us," she said.

"My Dad was a professor at a small, historically black college. My Mom was a social studies teacher and started a clothing store from scratch. I started doing the books for the family business when I was thirteen," she said.

"It wasn't until I got to college that I realised that wasn't normal, but it was normal to me - in my family, we worked. I was also privileged to take advantage of the educational opportunities America affords. I am painfully aware that the chance for thirteen-year old girls to read and learn and grow is something that does not exist in far too many places around the world today," Haley said.

Thereafter she went on to serve in the South Carolina General Assembly and to be elected and reelected governor of South Carolina.

While South Carolina will always be her home, Haley said she is eager to begin this new chapter.

"International diplomacy is a new area for me. There is much I am learning about the intricacies of the UN and its associated agencies. I don't claim that I know everything, or that leadership at the UN is the same as leading South Carolina," she acknowledged.

But diplomacy, she asserted itself is not new to her.

"In fact, I would suggest there is nothing more important to a governor's success than her ability to unite those with different backgrounds, viewpoints, and objectives behind a common purpose. For six years that has been my work, day after day, in times of celebration and in times of great tragedy," she said.

Seeking her confirmation, Haley said most government agencies, the United Nations could benefit from a fresh set of eyes.

"I will take an outsider's look at the institution. As I have in every challenge in my life, I will come to the UN to work - and to work smart," Haley said.

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A court here today handed over Kulpreet Singh alias Neeta Deol, a gangster who escaped from Nabha jail in Patiala, to Punjab Police on a transit remand till January 20.

Neeta along with his associate Sunil Kalra alias Shella were arrested here yesterday from a flat in Khajrana area of the city.

The jail break accused and his associate were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate Dharmendra Tada, who ordered handing over these criminals on transit remand to Punjab Police till January 20.

Meanwhile, police said the culprits took a flat on rent about 10 days back through an online classified advertisement on a website.

"Jail break accused and his associate were caught yesterday while a search operation was being conducted to collect information of tenants with dubious activities. This operation was a part of enhanced security in view of coming Republic Day," Indore Police DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra told reporters today.

Mishra informed that Neeta had taken this flat on rent about 10-days back.

"Neeta and Kalra had contacted the flat owner after seeing the advertisement on a website. They provided fake documents to the owner, posing as truck drivers," he added.

DIG said the neighbours suspected their activities as they used to spend most of their time inside the flat.

"Neeta and his associate had reached Indore after staying in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. We have recovered eight mobile phones, a laptop and Rs 92,000 in cash from them," he said.

Mishra said Punjab Police team officers led by a DSP had arrived here to take the transit remand of both the accused. They would be produced in the district court in Patiala.

Six inmates - Khalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder Singh Mintoo, Kashmeer Singh, Gurpreet Singh Shekhon, Vicky Gonder, Kulpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh- had escaped from Punjab's Nabha jail in November last year.

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In a bid to boost Assam's agriculture, food processing and tourism sectors, NASSCOM Japan Council has expressed its keen interest in a tie-up with the state government in the 'Start-up, Stand-up' initiative.

NASSCOM Chief Yukio Takeyari, leading a three-member Japanese delegation, called on Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal yesterday and expressed his country's intent to invest in 'Start-up and Stand-up' ventures and give a boost to Assam's agriculture, food processing and tourism sectors.

Sonowal, while welcoming NASSCOM Japan Council's endeavour, assured to extend all support from his government that addresses various aspects to stimulate the growth of business ties, a statement said here today.

Assam government is in favour of better collaborative relations with NASSCOM Japan Council to extend and clinch a coordinated approach to bolster the well being of India and Japan, Sonowal said.

"With this beginning, we will also aim to undertake activities which will make Assam a favoured destination of Japanese investments and make inroads for seamless communication between the two geographical entities," he said.

Emphasising the need for student exchange and extensive people-to-people contact programme between Assam and Japan, Sonowal said the cultural and racial affinities between the two sides would further strengthen ties.

Yukio Takeyari, who was accompanied by Matsubaya Store Company Limited CEO Takafumi Nishi and Future Venture Capital Company Limited Researcher Shiho Sakaguchi, also assured to carry forward the ties in various application areas.

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Ahead of his swearing-in as the 45th President of US, a new endangered species of moth has been named in honour of Donald Trump by scientists because the insect shares his hairstyle.

The new moth, officially described as Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, stands out with yellowish-white scales present on the head in adults.

It was in these scales that evolutionary biologist Vazrick Nazari from Ottawa, Canada found an amusing reference to Trump's hairstyle and turned it into an additional justification for its name.

The fame around the new moth will successfully point to the critical need for further conservation efforts for fragile areas such as the habitat of the new species, said Nazari.

While going through material borrowed from the Bohart Museum of Entomology at University of California, Davis in the US, Nazari stumbled across a few specimens that did not match any previously known species.

Following thorough analysis of these moths, as well as material from other institutions, the scientist confirmed he had discovered the second species of a genus of twirler moths.

While both species in the genus share a habitat, stretching across the states of California in US, and Baja California in Mexico, one can easily tell them apart.

Trump, 70, will be sworn-in as the 45th US President on January 20.

Trump's flying namesake has been announced only a month following the recently described species of basslet named after Barack Obama.

The fish is only known from coral reefs in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Northwestern Hawaii, a nature reserve which the 44th President of the US expanded to become the largest protected marine area in the world.

Being a substantially urbanised and populated area, the habitat of N donaldtrumpi is also under serious threat.

"The discovery of this distinct micro-moth in the densely populated and otherwise zoologically well-studied southern California underscores the importance of conservation of the fragile habitats that still contain undescribed and threatened species, and highlights the paucity of interest in species-level taxonomy of smaller faunal elements in North America," said Nazari.

"By naming this species after the 45th President of the US, I hope to bring some public attention to, and interest in, the importance of alpha-taxonomy in better understanding the neglected micro-fauna component of the North American biodiversity," Nazari added.

The research was published in the journal ZooKeys.

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2017.01_Duncan Eagle Court of Honor_1.jpg

Eagle Scout Cameron Duncan pins the Eagle Mother Pin on his mom. He was overheard saying: "Thanks, Mom, for all the nagging."

(Special to Lehighvalleylive.com)

Cameron Duncan, of Washington Township, Warren County, recently was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony.

Cameron is a member of Boy Scout Troop 175, Mansfield Township. His ceremony was attended by members of his troop, family, former teachers and friends.

Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in Boy Scouting

Troop 175 meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Rockport Presbyterian Church on Rockport Road in Port Murray. For more information on Scouting or about Troop #175, contact Linda Hughes, Scoutmaster at 908-637-6304.

Do you have Scout news to share? To see it posted here and possibly in The Express-Times and Warren Reporter, send me an email.
A two-member team of NIA has been dispatched to Bihar by the Home Ministry for investigation into the claims of three arrested persons that the derailment of Indore-Patna Express was carried out at the behest of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.

The Home Ministry has also sought reports from the Bihar government and central security agencies regarding the arrest of Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar and Mukesh Yadav and their disclosures to Bihar Police.

Official sources said the role of ISI will be probed by the NIA and find out whether there was a larger conspiracy involving ISI agents based in Nepal and Dubai.

Central intelligence agencies are now questioning the three accused.

If the claim of the three accused turns out to be true, it would be the first such case of train derailment in India carried out at the behest of the Pakistani agency, the sources said.

A report is also being sought from RAW about ISI activities in Nepal and India.

The three persons arrested yesterday in East Champaran district in Bihar had told police that they were paid Rs 3 lakh to plant explosives at Ghorasahan in the district on October 1, 2016.

A report is said to have come from Nepal confirming the Bihar Police's claim that Pakistan's ISI had paid Rs 30 lakh to its agent Brajesh Giri for triggering blasts on rail tracks targeting popular trains in Bihar, the sources said.

Central security agencies were now looking for two more persons identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav in East Champaran area for their suspected links with the accused.

The role of ISI in the recent train disaster in Kanpur was being suspected after Bihar Police had yesterday arrested three persons who they claimed were working for the Pakistani spy agency to target Indian railways.

The ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police had said.

During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana had said.

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A Nigerian student has been arrested here on charges of theft of generator battery, police said today.

Kasna Police Station incharge Sudhir Tyagi said, "The Nigerian student has been arrested on complaint of Maulvi of mosque. He was living at a mosque near Honda crossing. On the Tuesday night, he had stolen the generator battery."



He said the accused is a B.Tech student of a reputed university along Yamuna Expressway.

The Nigerian embassy has been informed about the arrest, he said.

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The Congress today alleged that no CBI team has conducted inquiries against chit fund companies in Tripura due to a "clandestine nexus" between Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Why no person was arrested in Tripura by the CBI though the Rose valley group cheated people of the state and collected money by giving false assurances to people? This is all due to a clandestine nexus between Manik Sarkar and Narendra Modi," Congress leader Deepa Das Munshi said.

The opposition Congress in Tripura has demanded an inquiry by an independent agency because CBI did not take any action despite Rose Valley group making big scams in the state, she said at a rally here.

Deepa alleged that CPI(M) was showing two faces, one inside the Parliament and the other outside of it.

"CPI(M) members in Parliament opposed demonetisation, but the party did not organise any effective movement in the state. Only a few programmes were organised in the state to show the people that they oppose demonetisation. Actually these are nothing but eye wash," she alleged.

The Congress leader said the newly-formed Trinamool Congress unit in Tripura has no future and Congress would oust CPI(M) from power by organising people's movements.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Policymakers across the world must act now to check inequalities even as there is no "silver bullet" to contain this problem, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said today amid a raging debate here at WEF on widening wealth gap and the resultant rise in populism.

She also said that turning back on globalisation will be a wrong approach.

"Yes and now, the economists would say," the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on whether middle class is in crisis.

"There is this crisis in the advanced economies," she added.

According to her, the middle class is both growing and shrinking -- growing on a global basis, but shrinking in countries like the US.

If there is excessive inequalities, it becomes difficult to achieve sustainable growth, she added.

Further, Lagarde said there was a large backlash from several economists including from her own institution when she first talked about inequality in 2013 here at Davos in a plenary session.

"If the policymakers do not listen now, I don't understand what can be done... There is no silver bullet response to excessive inequality," she said, adding that turning back on globalisation will be a wrong approach.

She also emphasised that policymakers must listen to the voters.

On concerns whether globalisation will take a hit due to the policies of incoming US President Donald Trump, she said, "We have very little by way of detailed information as to what the plan is if there is such thing as a plan."



She was speaking at a session at WEF Annual Meeting here on how to fix middle class crisis.

At the same session, eminent economist and Harvard Professor Larry Summers said wealthy feel they need to look after themselves while poor feel that they are not being heard.

He said globalisation itself has changed considerably today, while adding that one needs to be very cautious with adhoc policy making.

The panel also discussed whether poor employment prospects and low-income growth in many developed economies have laid the groundwork for the rise of populism. It also focused on whether policymakers ignored these trends or did too little to address them.

Besides, the panelists talked about what can be done to restore growth in the middle class and confidence in the future.

Speaking on the issue of middle class crisis, Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates, said populism is the number one issue in politics today.

Lagarde said there is also a need to address the middle



class anxiety on new technology disruptions as well as other new things and policy makers would need to think about that.

Panelists also said one needs to understand that all people voting for populist measures are not necessarily bad guys and probably they are concerned about their children's future.

At the same panel, Brazil's Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said globalisation is getting a lot of people out of poverty, so net effect is very positive.

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"Globalisation is allowing massive numbers of people to get out of poverty. If you look around the globe, the net effect is extremely positive," Brazil's Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said.

The current trends of middle-class anger are specific to certain developed countries, while many emerging countries such as Brazil have seen strong growth in the middle class over the last 20 years, he added.

"I don't think we are exiting globalisation," Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance Pier Carlo Padoan said.

Noting that the world is entering a new stage, Padoan urged his fellow European policy-makers to listen to middle- class concerns for their own future and those of their children.

Harvard University Professor Lawrence Summers said inequality is only one of the causes of rising populism and underlined the need for aggressive action against the tax and regulatory arbitrage that permits many large companies and wealthy individuals to play by different rules.
In a vitriolic attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, the Shiv Sena today said he had dropped a "nuclear bomb" on the country through the decision and turned the economy into "Hiroshima- Nagasaki", the Japanese cities devastated by the US during the World War II.

"Modi appears to be not in a mood to listen to anybody today... Deaf and dumb parrots have been installed in the council of ministers and a similar RBI Governor has been appointed, who have let the nation's economy shake in its roots," an editorial in Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

The junior partner of the BJP compared the fallout of demonetisation on the country's economy to the US nuclear attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.

"Even ASSOCHAM has concluded that 40 lakh jobs have been lost post-demonetisation and that the number will rise in future. This means that by dropping the nuclear bomb of note ban, Modi has turned the Indian economy into Hiroshima, Nagasaki. We are very worried about the nation's future," it said.

Recalling Modi's statement during a recent visit to Maharashtra that he used to seek Sharad Pawar's advice on matters of governance, Sena said that had the PM consulted the NCP chief on demonetisation, he would have advised him not to insult the co-operative movement, which is the backbone of rural economy.

"The backbone of farmers has been broken and nobody is there to ask about their condition. By barring district co-operative (DCC) banks from exchanging old notes, all such banks have been labelled corrupt," the editorial said.

Farmers use DCC banks for their daily transactions and if the government thinks these farmers are black-marketers, it has no right to say 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' slogan, the party said.

The Sena noted that beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who allegedly owe banks crores of rupees, had never had his loans from DCC banks.

"We are pained to see that the paces of lives of people has been derailed," it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress in Maharashtra today protested outside the Reserve Bank offices in Mumbai and Nagpur as part of its anti-demonetisation agitation, with its leader Ashok Chavan accusing the Narendra Modi government of converting the central bank into an "RSS shakha".

Demanding resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel for throwing the lives of 125 crore Indians into a disarray with demonetisation, state Congress president Ashok Chavan in Mumbai accused the Narendra Modi government of converting the Reserve Bank into an "RSS shakha" (branch).

In Nagpur, Congress workers were lathi-charged by police during their demonstration in front of the Reserve Bank office even as a march led by former chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, state Legislative Council's Deputy Chairman Manikrao Thakre, AICC member Bhakta Charan Das and other party workers sought resignation of RBI Governor.

While a delegation led by Prithviraj Chavhan went in the RBI to submit a memorandum, some Congress workers outside the office raised slogans and the situation became tense. Some party workers alleged that the police lathi-charged them.

A few Congress workers were also detained and to protest the police lathi-charge, some party leaders later staged a sit-in in front of the RBI office.

The leaders demanded an inquiry and suspension of the concerned police official who ordered the lathi-charge and release of the detained workers. The situation eased when the detained Congress workers were released.

Meanwhile, addressing a protest meet in Mumbai, Ashok Chavan said people of the country were held to ransom with the sudden decision to ban high-value currency notes.

"The RBI autonomy has been eroded and the apex bank has been converted into an RSS shakha by the Modi government," he alleged, adding that the sudden decision had an adverse impact on the economy.

The Congress, while in power, never compromised with the autonomy of RBI.

"Congress will continue to raise the issue of hardships faced by the people in the state Legislatures and Parliament," Ashok Chavan said.

AICC spokesman Randeep Surjewala, who participated in the



protest in Mumbai, described the Modi government as a "golmaal sarkar".

The government refuses to answer questions that under which law, restrictions were imposed on citizens from withdrawing their own money, he said.

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam blamed the RBI Governor for hardships faced by citizens and demanded his resignation.

"Demonetisation is the world's biggest scam where people were prevented from withdrawing their own hard earned money," he said.

The Congress protest march was not allowed to proceed from the bus depot outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in Mumbai. The road leading to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) office was barricaded so that the protesters could not go beyond the General Post Office (GPO).

Congress legislators Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan, Varsha Gaikwad, Bhai Jagtap, Amit Jhanak, senior leaders Narayan Rane, Harshwardhan Patil, Suresh Shetty and Priya Dutt were prominent among those present on the occasion.

Surjewala claimed that Governor Urjit Patel had left Mumbai since the Congress decided to gherao RBI today.

Later, delegations of Congress leaders in Mumbai and Nagpur went to the respective RBI offices to hand over their memorandum.

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"Gross mismanagement and absolute abdication of responsibility has marked functioning of RBI under Patel. It now looks like a subsidiary of BJP," Surjewala told reporters.

"Modi Ji does not answer questions on why is he trying to make RBI a 'branch' (shakha) of BJP and RSS. RBI is an independent policymaking body and its impartiality and autonomy has been compromised," he said.

Demonetisation has stopped the wheel of India's development and progress and led to economic anarchy, he said.

"Over 120 people have died in bank queues over 70 days after the note ban. What was their fault. Will Modi and Patel apologise to their kin," Surjewala said, adding that RBI went on a spree of issuing notifications and as a result people have started calling it 'Reverse Bank of India'.

There is no new security feature in the new notes. RBI is not saying how will they combat counterfeit notes, he said.

"The IMF report two days ago said there has been a loss of around three lakh crore. Why is RBI Governor not quantifying the loss, why is he keeping mum," Surjewala said, adding that RBI has now become a captive puppet of Modi govt under Patel.

Referring to seizure of lakhs of rupees in old currency notes affiliated to banks linked to two Maharashtra ministers, he said, "Ex Gujarat CM Suresh Mehta of BJP has alleged that there is a Modi connection with claims made by Mahesh Shah. Has it been verified. A white paper should be published on issues pertaining to demonetisation".

Shah, an Ahmedabad-based Realtor, had declared nearly Rs 14,000 crore under the Income Declaration Scheme.

Asked if Congress will bring in a motion in Parliament against Patel, Surjewala said, "we will raise the issue in Parliament besides protesting on the streets in Rahul Gandhi's leadership".

"We are happy that BJP allies like Akali Dal and Shiv Sena have seen the mirror of truth," he said, when asked about 'Saamana' edits and Chandrababu Naidu's remarks on note ban.

"You go to any industrial hub. Almost 60 per cent industries are closed," Surjewala said.

"Why does not Modi Ji probe allegations that he got Rs 25 crore from Birla group," he said in reply to a query.

Without naming Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, Surjewala said said the law must be equal for all, be it artistes or the common man.

"Sometimes, the car crushes people on its own, while at other times, a deer dies and nobody knows who pulled the trigger," he said.
Taking a step closer towards fixing ceiling prices of coronary stents, national drug pricing regulator NPPA has asked manufacturers and marketers of the medical device to disclose detailed pricing data and information by the end of this month.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has also called for a meeting with the stakeholders to discuss the issue on January 24.

"As coronary stents have been notified by the Department of Pharmaceuticals as scheduled formulations, it is mandatory for all manufacturers/importers/marketers of coronary stents to file Form V as prescribed in DPCO, 2013 through the Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System (IPDMS)," NPPA said in a notification.

All the concerned manufacturers and marketers have been asked to send the information latest by January 31, 2017, failing which, action will be initiated as per provisions of DPCO 2013, against the company, it added.

The NPPA also asked the companies to send their their representatives for the meeting to be next week.

In a notification issued earlier, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has put "bare metal stents and drug eluting stents (DES), which include metallic DES and bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS)/biodegradable stents" in the Schedule I of DPCO 2013.

It had also asked NPPA to take further action in this regard urgently.

As per DPCO 2013, "ceiling price(s) for the medicine(s) added in the first schedule shall be fixed as per the provisions of this order within a period of 60 days from the date of the notification".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US tech-giant Oracle has axed 200 employees in China as part of its efforts to restructure business operations but refuted reports that the move was linked to US President-elect Donald Trump's pledges to create jobs at home.

"As the global market for Oracle's Solaris [operating system] shrinks, the company is now refocusing on cloud services to better adapt to changes," Li Yingyan, the public relations manager at Oracle's Beijing office, told state-run Global Times.

On Friday night, Oracle sent an e-mail to roughly 200 employees of its storage and operating system unit in Beijing, asking them to leave before March 31, according to sources close to the matter.

The e-mail did not provide details on compensation.

"Oracle is refocusing more R&D efforts on cloud computing. Some product teams in some markets will be eliminated," according to the e-mail, which was signed by Bill Nesheim, vice-president of Solaris Platform Engineering.

However, most of the laid-off employees didn't buy the explanation.

An employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the move as "a cut-off to retain job opportunities for the people in the US."



"The Solaris unit may have posted a lower-than-expected performance last year, but the storage group is making lucrative revenues. Oracle does need IT staff to continue offering its storage service, so most of our jobs will be transferred to US engineers," the employees told the paper.

However, Li said the layoffs are part of the company's global plan to trim its workforce.

"We are cutting employees globally, including in the US," she said.

"Meanwhile, we have still hired more than 5,000 people in China, and the employees being eliminated this time are actually fewer than 200, most of whom do not have expertise in cloud computing."



Li also noted that to further develop its cloud business, Oracle is now recruiting in China.

"We will scale up our investment and marketing efforts in China," he said.

In December, Silicon Valley executives had met with Trump in New York.

The co-CEO of Oracle, Safra Catz, later joined Trumps' transition team.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The widow of the Orlando nightclub gunman has pleaded not guilty to charges of aiding and abetting her husband's support of the Islamic State group and hindering the investigation of the attack that killed 49 people and injured 53 others.

Noor Salman, 30, entered her plea in an Oakland, California, courtroom on yesterday, two days after she was taken into custody at the home she shared with her mother in suburban San Francisco.

Her arrest came after she was interviewed numerous times by FBI agents investigating the June 12 attack in Florida.

Federal prosecutor Roger Handberg said in court Tuesday that Salman knew about the plan by her husband Omar Mateen to attack the gay nightclub and then lied to investigators after it was over. Mateen was killed at the scene by authorities.

Handberg declined further comment on the indictment outside court, and no further details of the charges have been disclosed.

Salman will return to court on February 1 to argue for her release pending trial on the counts that could result in a life sentence if she is convicted.

Salman's uncle Al Salman has defended his niece, saying she is an innocent person who was physically and mentally abused by Mateen.

He said she remained in the marriage because she feared losing custody of the couple's 4-year-old boy.

Noor Salman was living with Mateen in Fort Pierce, Florida when he proclaimed his allegiance to Islamic State and attacked the nightclub.

The indictment charges her with aiding and abetting Mateen in providing material support and resources to Islamic State between April and June of last year. She was also charged with obstruction, accused of misleading and lying to police and the FBI during their investigation.

Charles Swift, her lead attorney, declined comment yesterday outside court. He is director of the Texas-based Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America,



Salman told The New York Times in an interview published in November that she knew her husband had watched jihadist videos but that she was "unaware of everything" regarding his intent to shoot up the club. Salman also said he had physically abused her.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa today said that his forces are fully prepared and capable to respond to any threat from across the border.

Gen Bajwa made the remarks during his meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan in Rawalpindi, according to a statement issued by the army.

"Army is fully prepared and capable to respond to any threat from across the border," General Bajwa said.

The statement said the security situation on the Line of Control and other matters of mutual interest figured during their meeting.

Earlier this month, Bajwa had said his forces are fully geared to respond to "any aggression" by India and rejected the "self defeating claims" of Indian Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat about 'so called surgical strikes'.

India maintains that its forces in September last year conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targetting terrorists and destroying their training camps.

Separately, Gen Bajwa also met UAE Ambassador Essa Abdullah Albasha Alnoaimi in Rawalpindi and discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest.

The Army Chief appreciated UAE's role in development projects in tribal areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Pakistani-origin man in the US has pleaded guilty for defrauding American courier company FedEx by opening various shipping accounts causing losses of nearly USD 300,000 to the enterprise.

Babar Butt, 32, resided in multiple locations in Houston and Spring and operated an electronics export business, routinely shipping items to Dubai in the UAE.

Butt has pleaded guilty to six counts of mail fraud, announced US Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Beginning in February 2015, he devised a scheme whereby he defrauded FedEx by opening various shipping accounts.

Butt would ship one or more packages of cell phones and electronics to Dubai and elsewhere until the charges were declined and he could no longer ship on that account.

He would then open new accounts to continue his scheme and would again not pay his shipping invoices, causing significant losses to FedEx.

US District Judge Keith P Ellison accepted the plea yesterday and set sentencing for April 4, 2017. At that time, Butt faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible USD 250,000 maximum fine.

Butt could also be ordered to pay restitution in the amount of USD 287,679. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Drug firm Panacea Biotec today said it has inked a pact with UNICEF for supply of Pentavalent Vaccine (Easyfive-TT) in the current year.

The company has also received a notification from Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) for purchase of Easyfive-TT vaccine in the event the agency should have any requirements through December, 31, 2019.

"Total value of this expected business from UN Agencies is worth USD 20.475 million equivalent to around Rs 140 crore based on current exchange rate," Panacea Biotec said in a statement.

Besides, the company has received approval from the US health regulator to market a generic version of Merck & Co's Maxalt-MLT tablets, used in treating migraine, in the American market.

Commenting on the developments, Panacea Biotec Joint Managing Director Rajesh Jain said that another product approval by USFDA and UN Agencies business would help the company to grow in a sustainable manner in mid to long term.

The Capital-based firm has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market its generic product to treat migraine in strenghts of 5 and 10 mg, Panacea Biotec said in a statement.

Panacea's product is equivalent to Merck & Co's Maxalt-MLT tablets. The drug has annual sales for around USD 60 million in the US market.

"The company plans to launch the product within first quarter of 2017 through its distribution partner in the US," Panacea said.

The company recently got approval of its anti-cancer formulation facility from USFDA in November 2016, it added.

Panacea shares were trading at Rs 145 apiece on the BSE, up 14.85 per cent from the previous close.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed noisy scenes for the second consecutive day today on the issue of disruption of power supply in the Kashmir Valley following heavy snowfall.

As soon as the House met today, the National Conference (NC) members led by Ali Mohammad Sagar alleged that the government has failed to restore electric supply in the Kashmir Valley that was hampered due to the heavy snowfall there.

The NC members disrupted the proceedings of the House and demanded the government to issue a statement in the House.

The Speaker of the House, Kavinder Gupta assured the opposition members that the Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who also holds the power portfolio, will issue a statement in the House.

While speaking in the House, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said that the heavy snowfall in the Kashmir Valley disrupted the power supply but due to the efforts of the concerned officials, the supply was restored.

"The peak power demand in the Kashmir Valley is 1700 MW and the maximum which we can supply is 1180 MW, the remaining around 550 MW cannot be supplied due to infrastructural issues and the government is working to improve the infrastructure," he said.

He said that while the government was supplying over 1100 MW electricity in the Valley the total agreemented load was 700 MW.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that before the snowfall at January 6, the load was 1094 MW but after the heavy snowfall, the load crash to 190 MW, however, by noon 600 MW was restored.

He said by January 7 at 7 PM, 70 per cent of electricity supply was restored and 90 per cent was restored the following day.

The Deputy Chief Minister also said that 561 transformers suffered damages due to the unprecedented snowfall and they were repaired or replaced.

He said that due to the continuous snowfall which was going on today, some snags have developed in the distribution of power supply and the department was working to restore them.

Soon after the Deputy Chief Minister finished his statement, the opposition members were not satisfied and blamed the government for speaking lies in the House.

However, the Deputy Speaker Nazir Gurezi refused to listen to the opposition members stating that there was no scope of discussion after government gives its statement.

Amidst the din and the continuous pandemonium, the Speaker ordered the marshals to remove Congress member Asgar Ali Karbalai from the House.

As the member was being marshaled out, the opposition members of Congress and NC also staged a walkout from the House.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On the eve of 'holocaust day', displaced Kashmiri Pandits today held a rally here to highlight their plight and appeal to the "nationalistic masses" of the country to "rise and seek justice" for them.

Under the banner of "Ek Bharat Abhiyaan Kashmir Ki Aur (one Indian campaign towards Kashmir)", the rally was attended by scores of delegates from various rightwing organizations from across the country to establish a connect with the plight of Kashmiri Hindus living in exile for the last 27 years.

The rally was held at Jagati camp, the largest temporary habitation of displaced Pandits who were forced out of Kashmir after eruption of militancy in 1989.

Addressing the gathering, Sri Ram Sena leader Pramod Muthalik, who had hogged media headlines after he and activists of his group targeted a pub in Mangalore a few years back, expressed deep sympathy and regret that the whole nation has been dumb to the plight of Kashmiri Hindus all these years.

He said, "the voice of the persecuted and hounded Kashmiri Hindus will be heard by this nation for the issue which led to the exodus of Hindus in Kashmir is prevalent in various parts of this country and like a cancer it is eating into the vitals of this country."



Ramesh Shinde, founder of Hindu Jan Jagriti, said the "nationalists of the country are equally concerned about the plight of Kashmiri Hindus".

He said his organization works towards carrying the message of Panun Kashmir to the masses of this country.

Tapan Bose, an activist from West Bengal, asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "stop incentivizing separatism", saying such a policy has ruined this country already.

The inhabitants of the camp narrated tales of persecution and duress under which Kashmiri Hindus were forced to flee their motherland and subsequent inhuman and pathetic conditions under which the exiled community members were made to live.

Panun Kashmir leader Agnishekhar said Kashmiri Hindus have the first stake on the valley and the movement which his organisation started 27 years back will reach its logical conclusion with the creation of separate homeland.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A crucial meeting of Parliament's standing committee on finance over the issue began here this morning with Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel expected to brief it on the matter.

Senior bureaucrats, including Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikant Das, Banking Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal and Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, and top bank honchos like Chanda Kochhar of ICICI Bank and Usha Ananthasubramanian of Punjab National Bank are also to appear before the committee headed by Congress leader Veerappa Moily.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is one of its members.

Patel will brief the parliamentary panel about and its impact on the economy and the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch post withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

The meeting will discuss the " of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and the impact thereof".

The RBI Governor is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.
Patna High Court today directed Bihar government to reply by tomorrow on school children being roped in for the proposed human chain programme in support of prohibition and under what provision it has decided to stop traffic on national and state highways for it.

The direction was given by a division bench of acting Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by a non governmental body Forum for Public Interest Litigation.

Arguing for the PIL, advocate Shashi Bhusan Kumar sought to know under what provision school children are being involved in the January 21 human chain programme and also blocking of NHs and state highways on that day.

Principal Additional Advocate General Lalit Kishore appeared for the state.

The Nitish Kumar government has planned a gigantic human chain across the state on January 21 to reaffirm its commitment to the liquor ban.

The proposed human chain would spread across more than 11,292 km involving around two crore people, which would be largest in the world so far.

The chain would be formed for 45 minutes from 12:15 PM to 1 PM on January 21 and Kumar himself would take part in it at the Gandhi Maidan here.

The entire event, for which Rs 10 crore was sanctioned, would be captured by five satellites and videography would be carried out in all the districts with the help of drones and videographers on helicopters, officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Accusing the BJP-led government of "trying to flare up communal passions" in the country, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury today said imminent defeat of BJP in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections will act as "people's triple talaq" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"They are fighting against triple talaq and in favour of uniform civil code. Modi and BJP too will face triple talaq in the coming elections in Uttar Pradesh. The people of the country will give them triple talaq.

"First it was Delhi assembly elections where they faced a humiliating defeat. This was the first talaq. Then it was Bihar where they were defeated and it was second Talaq. The third talaq of the masses will be the defeat of BJP and Hindutva forces in UP elections," Yechury said while addressing a rally here.

"Since this BJP government came to power, the communal forces have increased their activities by leaps and bounds and they are trying to flare up communal passions across the country," he said.

Yechury said that Modi had pushed the country towards "financial anarchy" by the decision of demonetisation. He has failed to bring back black money stashed abroad.

"The country's economy has gone for a toss. The country has been pushed towards financial anarchy by this decision of demonetisation. The entire economy has been badly hit, first it was only small scale industries, now the big and medium scale industries are also getting affected," Yechury said.

"Even after two-and-half years in the government, Modi is yet to keep his promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad. They have failed to keep their promise and now they have come with this demonetisation to help the rich in transforming their black money into white," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The performance of government schools is better than that of private schools, according to Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) which was released today.

Maharashtra fares better at national level when it comes to performance of children as far as reading is concerned, however, the result stands poor in arithmetics, mentions the report.

Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde released the state report here.

Farida Lambay, co-founder of Pratham NGO and Usha Rane, director content and training at the organisation were present. ASER report is facilitated by Pratham.

The ASER 2016 survey was conducted across Maharashtra in 33 rural districts, 973 villages and 19,430 households.

It was conducted by 11 NGOs, 23 colleges and various universities in the state.

As many as 26,393 school children participated in the survey. In 2016, the percentage of children enrolled in grade III in government schools in the state who can read Grade II level text is 41.2 per cent and the percentage of children enrolled in Grade III in private schools who can read Grade II level text is 38.8 per cent.

The performance of Grade-III children in government schools who can read Grade-II level text is better than performance of Grade III children in private schools, the report stated.

It shows that reading levels in higher grades have also increased. In 2014, the percentage of children enrolled in Grade V who can read a Grade II level text was 53.5 per cent, it has increased to 62.5 per cent in 2016, the report said.

Rane said, "Many times we are criticised for selecting low number of sample survey. But our number of samples are actually more than the sample size of National Sample Survey. Hence, we are trying to get the picture closer to reality."



"Some of the reports are a cause of concern as 25 per cent students from Grade VIII who could not read Grade II level text. We still have to work more," she said.

"In 2014, the percentage of children enrolled in Grade V in government schools in Maharashtra who can read Grade II level text was 51.7 per cent. In 2016, the percentage has increased by 11 per cent to 62.7 per cent," the report said.

As far as national figures are concerned, in 2014 the percentage of all children enrolled in Grade V in government schools who can read Grade II level text was 42.2 per cent. In 2016, the percentage has decreased by 0.6 per cent at 41.6 per cent, stated the report.

In 2016, the percentage of all children in Grade I who can read letters or more is 60.7 per cent, however nationally the percentage stands at is 53.9 per cent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police today released photographs of two suspects, hailing from Mumbai, allegedly involved in several chain snatching incidents here on January 17.

Two motorcycle borne youths had snatched gold chains, each weighing three sovereigns, from three women in and around Peelamedu in the city within a three hour span that day.

Police identified the duo through CCTV footage and released the photographs of Aslam Abbas and Sarthaj Jaffer, bothfrom Mumbai.

As there was a possibility of them fleeing to Mumbai either by flight or train, police requested the public to alert them by dialling 100 or 0422-2300970, 2510804 and 2750200 if they were spotted.

The identity of the informants would be kept a secret, a release from police department said.

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The Gujarat High Court today admitted a PIL seeking conduct of a periodic review to identify castes for OBC quota and for declaring as unconstitutional the 1993 notification of the state government which had included 39 castes under OBC list.

Admitting the PIL, a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi asked the central and state governments, and the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to file their reply in next hearing, date for which is not fixed yet.

The PIL, filed by one Prashant Patel, contended that Union and state governments have not conducted the decadal periodic revision of OBC list required as per the Supreme Court's order in Indra Sawhney case in 1992, and do not have quantifiable data to determine castes to be included in the list.

In its judgement in Sawhney case, the Supreme Court had upheld the Mandal Commission's 27 per cent quota for backward classes, as well as the principle that the combined SC, ST and backward-class beneficiaries should not exceed 50 per cent of country's population.

Patel's PIL comes at a time when the Patidar community is agitating for its inclusion in the OBC list for reservation in government jobs and eduction.

"Successive governments have included various castes in the schedule without making any empirical study and that too for political consideration, and no periodic revision has been done as per section 11 of NCBC Act, 1993," it said.

"On the contrary, not a single caste has been excluded from the OBC list...Till date no steps have been taken for exclusion of affluent castes from the OBC schedule. However, governments, political parties have been encouraging inclusion of more and more castes/tribes in the schedule list instead of excluding the advanced castes/tribes," the PIL stated.

It also challenged the constitutional validity of the state government notification dated July 25, 1993 through which 39 castes were included in the OBC list based on a data collected through a survey conducted in old Saurashtra state in 1953.

The PIL said the inclusion of 39 castes was made without referring to the Other Backward Class Commission, formed in the state in 1992 on the directions of the apex court for making recommendations on inclusion and exclusion of castes, and hence the list is unconstitutional as per the Supreme Court's 1992 order in the Indra Sawhney case.

The PIL also sought direction from HC for collection of the quantifiable data to determine the exclusion and inclusion of castes in the OBC list, and asking respondents to follow the proper procedure for inclusion of castes in OBC list.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aiden Weingarten, 6.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Young Aiden Weingarten is his mom's "hero."

The Great Kills native is a 6-year-old triplet, aka "Baby A," who was born 13 weeks premature, and only weighing in at 1-pound-14-ounces.

"With everything he has lost, been cheated out of in life, he still has that smile, that laugh, and those big brown eyes that tell me 'Mommy everything will be OK!,' says Christina Weingarten of her son. "Aiden is the light at the end of the darkest tunnel and a soul that humbles my heart."

His home for the first two-and-a-half months of his life was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.

Three days before he came home to join his triplet siblings, an MRI confirmed he suffered a Grade 4 Brain Bleed and he was diagnosed with Spastic Quad Cerebral Palsy.

"Aiden suffered through so much, so early on in his tiny life that I feel guilty complaining of a headache," Christina says.

He was in so much discomfort -- muscle spasms, chronic stomach issues -- that he basically cried himself to sleep all day long.

At 1-year-old, Aiden's became crossed, causing severe dizziness and headaches. He underwent Biltaleral Strabismus surgery to correct his vision and now looks so handsome in his eye glasses.

"When you first meet Aiden, his sweet smile, contagious laugh, and big brown eyes will win your heart in an instant," says his proud mom.

Before his second birthday, on Christmas Eve in fact, Aiden suffered a seizure that lasted 45 minutes before doctors were unable to stop its progress.

"This set Aiden's life back," his mom says.

Now diagnosed with epilepsy, he can't sit up, stand, rollover, talk or walk. He can't feed himself, dress, or even scratch an itch he may be feeling, Christina says.

Aiden receives Botox/Phenol injections every six months at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Along with extensive physical, speech and occupational therapy every day, Aiden wears leg braces and hand splints everyday to keep his extremities in correct alignment six-to-eight hours a day.

He's a tall little boy growing faster than his family can keep up with.

The Weingarten family has a dream for Aiden -- but they they are in dire need of our help to make that dream come true.

Aiden Weingarten, left, with his siblings: Older sister, Sarah, and his fellow triplets: Jonathan and Hannah. His baby sister, Ava Grace, is his "best friend," mom Christina Weingarten says. "She will play on the floor with him and share toy with him. It's the sweetest thing to watch."

Aiden requires the use of a wheelchair, but when family members are out they have to leave his it at home because it doesn't fit in their car.

As a result, they're compelled to purchase random strollers in baby department stores which may be harmful considering there's no head, neck, or back support, and the seat is too short, without sufficient foot rest support.

Over the course of these past few years, having only the resources to go that route, Aiden also has developed scoliosis of the spine.

"Our wish for our son is a Wheelchair Accessible Minivan," Christina says. "We know that with this new van, Aiden will have the quality of life and the freedom to go where his heart desires safely in his wheelchair."

The Weingartens are a family of seven, with two special needs children and one an A-student-teenager on her way to college. It's become virtually impossible for them to reserve funds for a wheelchair-accessible minivan.

Still, Aiden's family is making every effort to raise funds and they tell us every penny, nickel and dime helps.

They are appealing to Staten Island locals on behalf of "Team Aiden" and ask for GoFundMe.com donations of any size to help improve Aiden's quality of life.

For more information, email Aiden's dad, Seth, at sethweingarten4@gmail.com.

CELEBRATIONS: JAN. 19

Wednesday is birthday time for former Public Administrator Gary Gotlin, Anthony Ferreri, executive vice president at the corporate level of Northwell Health and Chief Affiliation Officer, Melissa Alcock, Chuck Schmidt, Joe Knorr, Frank Buczkowski, Jim Ruger and John Cassidy, turns turns 30 and in what turned out to be a great reunion, John got to meet the little boy to whom he donated bone marrow.
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today declined to reply to a query on the address to be made by Lt Governor Kiran Bedi during the upcoming monsoon session of the assembly.

Media persons waiting outside the conference hall of a hotel, asked Narayanasamy whether the session, slated to begin on January 24, would commence with an address by Bedi.

To this, he remained tight-lipped and walked away without responding.

The Chief Minister was here to inaugurate an awareness campaign organised by Petroleum Conservation and research Association.

Official sources told PTI that it is not mandatory that the first session of the House in a New Year should begin with an address by the Lt Governor.

"It has been only a convention and not a constitutional mandate," they said.

The first session of the House usually begins with an address by the Lt Governor.

But, till now there is no information on whether Bedi would deliver her address to the Assembly.

The ruling Congress government and the Lt Governor have been at loggerheads on the issue of administrative and constitutional powers between them.

The latest friction in the ties between Bedi and the territorial government came after the former cancelled the Chief Minister's January 2 order banning use of WhatsApp for official communication even as she (Bedi) was pushing with her plan to promote WhatsApp communication by officials.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Extending support to Jallikattu, students of various educational institutions including professional colleges in Puducherry abstained from classes today protesting the ban on the bull taming sport.

Sporting placards and banners in support of jallikattu, students formed a human chain and raised slogans condemning the ban. They also insisted that the ban should be lifted without any delay.

"Jallikattu is an ancient and time honoured tradition of Tamils and should never be banned," the students said.

Police were deployed in strength to ensure that there was no disruption of traffic at the venue of agitation.

They later went in aprocession from Natesan Nagar to the AFT mill ground on Puducherry-Cuddalore road to stage a dharna criticising the ban on the sport.

"The ban is utterly uncalled for and is an encroachment on the rights of Tamils," they said.

Meanwhile, volunteers of various youth outfits staged a demonstration at various points in and around Puducherry extending support to Jallikattu.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after Bihar police claimed to have unearthed a suspected ISI-link to target Indian railways, Union minister Suresh Prabhu has directed all security establishments of Railways to be "extra vigilant".

A press statement issued by the Railways Ministry said, "Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has directed all security establishments in Railways to be extra vigilant and careful in view of the activities of the anti-national elements."



"He has asked them to further ensure effective coordination with law & order enforcement agencies of the respective states," it said.

A two-member NIA team has been dispatched to Bihar by the Home Ministry for investigation.

Prabhu has also appealed to the citizens to come forward and give any information of suspicious activities to the nearest law-enforcing agencies.

The Bihar police had yesterday arrested three persons for allegedly planting a bomb on railway tracks at Ghorasahan in East Champaran district in October 1 last year.

The police claimed the trio had confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to Pakistan's ISI to target the railways.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Pranab Mukherjee today unveiled the restored German car in which Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had made his great escape from his ancestral home here in 1941 during his house arrest by the then British government.

Netaji had used 'Audi Wanderer W24' to escape from his Elgin Road residence to Gomoh railway station in Jharkhand to catch a train to Delhi.

The car was unveiled to commemorate the 76th anniversary of Netaji's Great Escape as well as 60th anniversary of the Netaji Research Bureau (NRB) here.

The President unfurled the flag on car's bonnet. West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathy as well as Sugata Bose, Netaji's grand-nephew and also a Trinamool MP, were present at the event.

"I must congratulate Krishna Bose and other members for undertaking the task of refurbishing the car which was used by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose for his great escape," Mukherjee said.

The great escape is known as "Mahanishkraman" which depicts the story of leaving the house, its preparedness and the consequences, he said.

Stating that Netaji's life is a most emotive issue in political arena, the President said: "After long gap of his disappearance from India, he is still a centre of so many issues and sometimes many controversies."



Mukherjee talked about undaunted spirit of Sugata's father, Sisir Kumar Bose, who was also at the wheels during Netaji's escape from Kolkata.

"Netaji had asked him (Sisir) 'Amaar ekta kar korte parbe?' (can you do some work for me?) in 1940. Sisir Bose never stopped doing Netaji's work until he passed away in 2000," he said.

"Many a times I have come here as a Bengali and as resident of Kolkata. Still I accepted the invitation because I thought I must associate at his momentous occasion of 60th anniversary of NRB and also 76th year of the great event performed by the great personality," he added.

The German Wanderer sedan of 1937 make has been restored to its 1941 look by automobile giant Audi.

The sedan was driven regularly until 1957 by Sugata's father and later it was given to Netaji Research Bureau and kept for visitors there. The car was again driven briefly for the Japanese TV project in 1978.

A team of mechanics from Audi Kolkata started working in May 2016 to restore the iconic 4-door Audi's (then Auto Union) Wanderer W24 to its former glory.

It is the most prized possession of the Netaji Research Bureau museum. Netaji was said to be the first Indian to own an Audi vehicle in the country.

(Reopens DEL70)



The President also sat in the car and went around it to have a feel and later on spoke about the era when Netaji was driven from Kolkata to Gomoh by his nephew Dr Sisir Kumar Bose in the month of January, 1941 - an important milestone in the history of India's freedom struggle.

"He made a wonderful statement and spoke extempore deviating from the prepared text," said Sugata Bose.

After the President left, the dignitaries present boarded the car and travelled a little distance within the premises, Bose said.

The car had been previously driven by Dr Sisir Bose for a shooting of a Japanese channel in 1978 after it was gifted to Netaji Research Bureau by Bose family in 1958 and kept for visitors there, Krishna Bose said, adding though the car was in good condition, the family and Netaji Research Bureau both had wanted to restore it to the 1941 looks.
President Pranab Mukherjee has returned Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology Bill, which seeks university status to the institute, to Delhi Assembly asking the House to reconsider and amend the Bill.

In June 2015, the Delhi Assembly had passed NSIT Bill (amendment) tabled by AAP government, according university status to Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology.

After passing the Bill, the Delhi Assembly had sent it to the President for his approval through Ministry of Home Affairs.

"President directed the Lt Governor to return the Bill to the Assembly to reconsider and amend the Bill as per provisions under Section 25 of GNCTD Act 1991," an official said.

The development comes to light when Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel today told the House that he, last week, received a communication from the LG office which has returned the NSIT Bill asking for its reconsideration.

"Lt Governor Anil Baijal returned Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology Bill, asking for its reconsideration," Goel told the House during the two-day Winter Session which concluded today.

At present, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology is affiliated to Delhi University and located in South West Delhi's Dwarka area.

While tabling the NSIT Bill in June last on floor of the House, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds education portfolio, had said, "Making NSIT a university will cater to thousands of students. At present, there are 3,400 seats in NSIT, but once it becomes a university, there will be 12,000 seats in 4-5 years."



Recently, Baijal had returned the file on Delhi government's ambitious proposal to slash fares of DTC and Cluster buses by 75 per cent, asking the city administration to reconsider it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The proposal to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in Nashik was cleared by the high power committee of Maharashtra government, senior officials said here.

"A high power committee of the state government in a meeting held at Mumbai yesterday, approved installation of CCTV cameras in Nashik and has asked city police to consult the Information Technology department by submitting a Detailed Project Report (DPR)," an official from city police said.

The CCTV installation will aid police to keep an eye on crimes and criminals and also to regulate traffic.

The project in Nashik worth Rs 95 crores has plans for installation of 1002 cameras across 318 locations in the city, said the official.

The meeting in Mumbai was attended by senior authorities from Nashik Municipal Corporation and Nashik City police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A rape case has been registered against Bollywood film producer Karim Morani for allegedly raping a Delhi-based woman on promise of marriage, police said today.

The woman, aged around 25, lodged a complaint with Hayathnagar Police under Rachakonda police commissionerate last week alleging that Morani had "raped" her in Mumbai and at a film studio here in 2015, DCP (LB Nagar Zone) Tafseer Iqubal told PTI.

"She accused Morani of raping her on different occasions in Mumbai and here by promising to marry her. The alleged incident took place during 2015," the senior police officer said, adding "We have taken up the investigation."



Following the complaint a case under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation), 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and other relevant sections of IPC has been filed, the DCP said.

Further probe is on, said the officer.

Morani could not be reached for comments.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Regional political parties received nearly Rs 108 crore in 2015-16 in donations in excess of Rs 20,000, the limit above which funding sources have to be disclosed, says a report.

Shiv Sena tops the list with a total Rs 86.84 crore collected in donation during 2015-16, while AAP received Rs 6.605 crore during the same period, Delhi-based think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said in a report released today.

"The total amount of donations declared by Shiv Sena is about 81 per cent of the total donations received by all the regional parties together which have been considered for the report during the same period," it said.

With regard to the total number of donations, AAP leads with 1,187 donations from individuals and corporates, while Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) declared a total 571 contributions followed by Shiv Sena with 143 and TDP 75.

Section 29C of the Representation of People Act, 1951 mandates that political parties submit their contribution details in excess of Rs 20,000 received from any person or company to the Election Commission of India (ECI) annually, in order to enjoy 100 per cent tax exemption.

"The total amount of donations above Rs 20,000 declared by the Regional Parties was Rs 107.62 crore, from 2,249 donations which amounts to an average of Rs 4.79 lakh per donation," it said.

The report, jointly prepared by ADR and National Election Watch (NEW), said that no donations have been declared by AIADMK, BJD, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Naga People's Front (NPF) and RLD during 2015-16.

A total of 26 regional parties have defaulted in the submission of their donations report to the ECI during 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Out of the 26 parties, 21 parties have not filed their reports for both the financial years while 5 parties had filed for 2014-15 but failed to submit for 2015-16.

A comparison of donations received by regional parties between 2014-15 and 2015-16 shows that the overall donations of the 21 regional parties decreased by Rs 27.24 crore or 20.20 per cent.

"AIUDF, DMDK, JDS, PMK and Shiv Sena are the five regional parties which have declared increase in the amount of donations received between 2014-15 and 2015-16," it said.

PMK, AAP, Shivsena, IUML, DMDK and AIUDF were the only regional parties which declared collecting donations in cash.

"Rs 3.326 crore in cash donations formed 3.08 per cent of the total contributions declared by the regional parties from 784 donations," the report said.

"Out of 16 regional parties which had declared receiving donations above Rs 20,000, 9 parties; Shiv Sena, AAP, PMK, YSR-Congress, AIUDF, IUML, MNS, SAD and DMDK have not declared PAN details of 1,567 donations through which the parties collected a total of Rs 6.79 crore," it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The National Company Law Tribunal today dismissed a contempt petition filed by two Cyrus Mistry family companies against Tata Sons and its directors, alleging violation of NCLT directives in taking steps to remove him from the board of Tata Sons.

The bench, however, gave liberty to the Mistry family companies to file an affidavit within three days on the issue of Tata Sons holding EGM on February 6.

Pronouncing the operative part of the order, a division bench of NCLT said, "the contempt petition is dismissed."



The bench was of the view that the action of Tata Sons did not amount to contempt of court.

In their petition, Cyrus Investments Ltd and Sterling Investment had also sought injunction against the Tata Sons barring them from "convening or holding of the EGM scheduled for February 6, 2017 or any other date or from transacting any business thereat."



Though the contempt plea was dismissed, the bench gave liberty to Mistry family companies to file an affidavit within three days on the issue of Tata Sons holding EGM on February 6.

Tata Sons was also asked to file a rejoinder, if any, three days thereafter.

NCLT kept this matter for hearing on January 31 and February 1 when the main petition filed earlier by the two Mistry companies against Tata Sons would be heard.

The earlier petition had challenged Mistry's removal as the chairman of Tata Sons alleging bad practices, oppression and mismanagement in the holding company.

NCLT, on December 22 last year had refused interim relief and posted the main petition for hearing on January 31 and February 1. Today, the tribunal clubbed the issue of holding EGM of February 6 along with the hearing of the main petition.

Meanwhile, the Mistry companies filed a contempt plea with NCLT against Tata Sons alleging that the respondents "committed a breach" of an NCLT order of December 22 by giving a special notice on January 3, 2017, for removal of Mistry as a director of the board of Tata Sons, "in the clear violation of the order".

It sought punishment for Ratan Tata, other directors of Tata Sons and trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabjee Trust -- N A Soonawala, R K Krishnakumar and R Venkatramana -- under the Contempt of Court Act which provides for simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine of Rs 2,000 or both.

Last October, Tata Sons removed Mistry as its Chairman, nearly four years after he took over the reins of the over USD 100 billion salt-to-software conglomerate.

A Sundaram, counsel for Mistry's family companies, had



argued that removal of Mistry as a director of Tata Sons could have waited.

He contended that by calling an EGM to remove Mistry as a director of the company, Tata Sons and others had committed direct violation of the December 22 Tribunal order and its action amounted to "wilful disobedience" of NCLT's order in an earlier petition filed by Mistry's family owned companies against Tata Sons.

Sundaram further argued that the move to remove Mistry was against the spirit of the NCLT order which had earlier stated that the respondents will not "initiate any action or proceedings over this subject matter pending disposal of the company petition.

The contempt petition contended that the move of Tata Sons to call an extraordinary general meeting on February 6 to remove Mistry as a director violates the undertaking given by its lawyers to NCLT which heard an earlier petition filed by the investment firms on December 22.

The lawyers had assured the Tribunal that no further action would be taken in this matter until the petition was finally heard and disposed of, said the contempt petition.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, counsel for Tata Sons, said the respondents -- Tata Sons and its Directors -- had not committed any contempt of NCLT by calling an EGM to remove Mistry.

Singhvi had argued that Tata Sons had not given any specific undertaking to the Tribunal earlier that Mistry would not be removed as director from the company. Hence, there was no contempt committed by Tata Sons and others.

The Tata Sons' lawyer further argued that there was nothing implicit in the order of NCLT of December 22 that Mistry would not be removed.

He had said that Tata Sons had no option but to remove Mistry from the board because he violated his fiduciary duty to the share-holders by leaking confidential information which was damaging to Tata companies.

He argued that Tata Sons was seeking Mistry's removal as a director as he was acting in a manner detrimental to the company.

However, the NCLT dismissed the contempt petition of Mistry's family owned companies, saying it does not amount to contempt of court.
Amidst protests across Tamil Nadu for permission to conduct jallikattu, ruling AIADMK today said a resolution would be adopted in the coming session of the state assembly seeking lifting of the ban on the bull taming sport.

It also vowed to initiate legal steps against "foreign" animal rights NGO PETA to prevent it from engaging in activities "inimical" to Tamil culture.

AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala also lashed out at Congress, her party's arch rival DMK, and the BJP over failure to conduct the sport, while lauding the students and youngsters for carrying out peaceful protests across the state.

The AIADMK government, she said, was making "determined" efforts for allowing the sport and had approached the Centre for removing the ban imposed by the Supreme Court in 2014 and upheld last year by it.

"Above all, while recognising the sentiments of students, youth and the people of Tamil Nadu, I firmly state that we will move and unanimously adopt a resolution seeking completely removing the ban on jallikattu in the ensuing Assembly session," Sasikala said in a statement.

In the 234-member house, DMK is the main opposition party with 89 MLAs, besides its allies Congress and IUML.

The Assembly is scheduled to meet next week with the customary Governor's address on January 23.

Sasikala also trained her guns on People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has come under severe criticism from jallikattu supporters for its opposition to the bull taming sport.

"We will make legal efforts to prevent PETA, a foreign organisation, from involving in activities inimical to the cultural pride of Tamil Nadu," she added.

Targeting the opposition, Sasikala said it was under the UPA government, in which DMK was a key constituent, that jallikattu had been banned.

"It is a known fact that it was the UPA, in which DMK was a constituent, which was instrumental in the Supreme Court banning jallikattu," she said.

The ministers in the subsequent BJP government and the party's state unit also gave repeated assurances since coming to power in 2014 that jallikattu would be conducted in Tamil Nadu, but "three Pongals (in three years) have passed, but the ban has not been removed," she said.

This had led to the present state-wide agitations, she said.

Sasikala said that despite being in power at the Centre



and in the state then, DMK had not made any effort to prevent the ban by not objecting to bulls being included in the performing animals category by the UPA government which eventually led to the sport being proscribed.

She said only the AIADMK has been consistent in its stand seeking lifting of the ban, she added.

"The Tamil community also knows that it was the Congress-DMK rule which gave legal recognition to PETA," she said.

She recalled Jayalalithaa's statement that "rules were meant for people and not vice-versa" and said it was the late leader's long-time desire that the two houses of Parliament debated it and brought an amendment for lifting the ban on jallikattu.

Jayalalithaa had taken up the matter many times with the Centre and the present BJP government should pay heed to the pleas of the "great people's leader," she said.
Washington

By Alyson Klein and Andrew Ujifusa

Betsy DeVos, Donald Trumps pick to lead the U.S. Department of Education, sought to use her confirmation hearing to beat back the notion that she would undermine public education as head of the department, as Democrats pressed her on everything from her views on the civil rights of gay and lesbian students, to states responsibilities for students in special education, and guns in schools.

If confirmed, I will be a strong advocate for great public schools, DeVos said. But, if a school is troubled, or unsafe, or not a good fit for a childperhaps they have a special need that is going unmetwe should support a parents right to enroll their child in a high-quality alternative. She also noted that her mother, Elsa Prince, was a public school teacher.

But those assurances didnt seem to quell the anxieties of Democrats on the committee, including Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the ranking member. I have major concerns with how you have spent your career and fortune fighting to privatize public education and gut investments in public schools, she said.

In the early stages of a tense hearing that lasted three and a half hours, Murray asked DeVos if she would be willing to commit not to cut a penny from public education or use her perch at the department to privatize public schools. DeVos said she would seek to give parents and children the best educational options possible, which Murray essentially took as a no.

DeVos didnt delve into the specifics on many of the big questions on the table, like whether she would rein in the departments office of civil rights, or how she would handle key details of the federal student lending program. And at times she seemed unclear on key policy details, including during a pair of exchanges with Democratic senators on whether federal special education laws should apply to all schools. (More here .)

She did make it clear that she would not force states to adopt voucher programseither through federal regulations or legislation. Instead, she said, states should get to decide whether they want to embrace private school choice.

DeVos on Federalism

DeVos put a lot of emphasis on state and local decisionmaking power. She told Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that it should be up to states and districts to decide how schools that get taxpayer money meet the needs of students with disabilities and report instances of bullying. Kaine pressed her on the federal requirement, noting that the Individuals with Disabilities Act is a federal law, and DeVos amended her answer to say the enforcement question was worth consideration. (Later, under questioning from Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., DeVos said that schools must follow laws like the IDEA.) More on this exchange from Christina Samuels .

Earlier, she told Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., that she thinks it should be up to states and districts to decide whether guns belong in schools, citing the example of a rural school that might have to defend itself from grizzly bears.

DeVos is an unusual pick to lead the Education Department. Unlike past education secretaries, she hasnt been a governor, school superintendent, or college president. Shes perhaps best known for chairing, until her nomination, the American Federation for Children, which supports private school vouchers, education savings accounts, and other forms of educational choice around the country.

A megadonor mostly to Republican Party candidates and causes, she would also be the first billionaire secretary of education. Her father-in-law is Dick DeVos Sr., the founder of Amway; Forbes recently estimated the DeVos familys net worth at $5.1 billion.

The DeVoses have helped finance campaigns of more than half a dozen GOP lawmakers on the Senate education committee, and contributed to a range of conservative causes.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the education committee said that her status as a major donor and her support for choice are not reasons enough to oppose her nomination, saying, I believe she is the mainstream of public opinion and her critics are not.

He stressed, for example, that there are plenty of Democrats who, like DeVos, support charter schools, including President Barack Obama and both of his education secretaries.

And he said that arguing against public school vouchers is akin to arguing against college loans or grants, which can be used at religious institutions. Many of us believe competition produces the best colleges. It might produce the best [K-12] schools, he said.

The committee is scheduled to vote on DeVos nomination next Tuesday, if her ethics paperwork is cleared in time.

DeVos on ESSA

If shes confirmed, DeVos and her team would play a major role in implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act, the bipartisan law that replaced the No Child Left Behind Act in 2015. States are slated to begin submitting their ESSA plans in April, and it will be up to DeVos and company to sign off on them.

In her opening statement, DeVos said she would work with lawmakers to implement ESSA the way that Congress intendedwith local communities freed from burdensome regulations from Washington. Republicans in Congress have already put the Obama administrations accountability regulations for the new law on the chopping block.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., noted the ESSA accountability regulations have the support of the Council of Chief State School Officers and that states want certainty as they go ahead with ESSA implementation. DeVos said shed take a look at the regulations but would not commit to keeping the regulations on the books.

Financial Conflicts

Murray asked DeVos whether she thinks Trumps decision to turn his businesses over to his children effectively deals with conflict interest questions. DeVos indicated the president-elect could have gone further. Murray then asked about some of DeVos potential business conflicts, including her familys investments in K-12 Inc., an online learning company, and a student loan company.

Where conflicts are identified, they will be resolved. Period, DeVos said.

Murray also wanted to know if DeVos planned to continue contributing to Republican campaigns once shes in office. In the 2016 cycle alone, DeVos and her husband gave Republicans more than $2.7 million in campaign donations.

DeVos promised to step away from funding GOP candidates while shes education secretary. If Im confirmed I will not be involved or engaged in political contributions, and my husband wont be either, she told Murray. She also said she would draw only a $1 salary as head of the department.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., was much more pointed. He tried to pin DeVos down on just how much her family has donated to Republicans, which he guessed was in the neighborhood of $200 million.

Do you think if your family hadnt made millions of dollars in contributions to the Republican Party that you would be here today?

DeVos told him its possible she might have been chosen as education secretary even if she wasnt a megadonor, given her long-standing commitment to children.

Michigan Record and Choice

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., a charter school supporter and former superintendent in Denver, asked DeVos what she had learned from lagging student achievement and persistent achievement gaps at charter schools in Detroit, whose charter sector she helped to create. Some parents in the Motor City have complained that while parents have plenty of options, most of those arent high quality.

Theres no practical difference between being forced to go to a terrible school and [choosing] between five terrible schools, Bennet said.

DeVos told him that, in her view, a lot is going right for charters in Detroit. Struggling charter schools in the state are sometimes closed, she said, whereas foundering public schools are not. Still, the Great Lakes Education Project, a Michigan-based organization started and funded by DeVos, has been criticized for helping to defeat a legislative push to create a commission that would have beefed up oversight of both charter and public schools in the city.

DeVos on Civil Rights

Trumps incendiary campaign trail rhetoric attacking immigrants, Muslims, and others has civil rights advocates worried about whether DeVos would look out for those students at the Education Department. Members of DeVos family helped finance an anti-gay-marriage amendment to Michigans constitution in 2004, although some in Michigan say her feelings on gay rights have shifted in recent years .

DeVos sought to assuage these concerns in her opening statement. Every child in America deserves to be in a safe environment that is free from discrimination, she said.

But some Democrats wanted more specifics. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., asked DeVos, if she believes in gay conversion therapy, given that members of her extended family have given money to organizations, like Focus on the Family, that support the practice. DeVos said that she doesnt believe in conversion theory.

Rural Education

Sen. Michael B. Enzi, R-Wyo, a former chairman of the committee, noted that rural and frontier schools like those in his state sometimes have their own unique challenges. He wanted to know how DeVos would seek to help them.

DeVos agreed that rural schools and settings require different approaches and different options. Distance learning, she said, could help rural schools offer a broader range of choices.

Heated Disagreement

In the run up to the hearing, DeVos nomination drew intense debate , an unusual backdrop for an education secretarys confirmation hearing, which have typically been relatively free of drama in the past.

On the pro-DeVos side: DeVos attracted significant support from Republican heavy-hitters like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Bush and Rice worked with DeVos at the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which Bush started in 2008 and which Rice led when Bush ran for president in 2016. Both Romney and Bush have received campaign donations from the DeVos family. Groups supporting DeVos include the Center for Education Reform, which supports choice, and the Home School Legal Defense Association.

On the anti-DeVos side: Both American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia spoke out in days prior to the hearing against her. A new congressional caucus of 11 Democrats, the House Public Education Caucus, tried to rally support against her nomination. (House members do not confirm cabinet nominees.) And the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of various civil rights groups, urged the Senate to reject her nomination.

The original committee hearing for DeVos had been scheduled for Jan. 11. Alexander said last week the postponement was due to scheduling reasons, although at the time the hearing was moved, DeVos ethics paperwork had yet to be fully reviewed and cleared by the Office for Government Ethics. That contributed to the delayed hearing, sources said.

Photos (from top):

Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos arrives with former Sen. Joe Lieberman, right, before testifying Tuesday at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster);

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the ranking member of the education committee, looks to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., left, as he questions DeVos. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster).

The nominee greets Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the education committee. before testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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In the midst of growing unease in their ties, India today asked China to respect its territorial sovereignty and said its ascent should not be seen as a threat to China's rise.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar also criticised Pakistan for "blocking" SAARC, saying the regional grouping has become "ineffective" due to insecurity of one member nation.

Calling terrorism the most "pervasive and serious" threat to international security, he rued lack of coherence in dealing with the menace globally, adding pressures to reform the UN so that it can deal with major challenges effectively will only grow with each passing day.

Talking about the China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC) which passes through Pakistan occupied-Kashmir, Jaishankar, addressing the Raisina Dialogue, envisioned as the country's flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, said China should repect India's territorial sovereignty as Beijing was "very sensitive" to matters relating to its own sovereignty.

"China is a country which is very sensitive on matters concerning its sovereignty. So we would expect that they would have some understanding of other people's sensitivity on their sovereignty," he said, noting there was no sign of any reflection on India's concerns over CPEC project.

The Foreign Secretary's comments came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a clear message to China, said both sides should show sensitivity and respect for each other's core concerns and interests.

Modi had yesterday said only by respecting the sovereignty of countries involved, can regional connectivity corridors fulfil their promise and avoid "differences and discord".

"What we are trying to do is to convince China that our rise is not harmful to China's rise just as China's rise need not be to India's rise," Jaishankar told the gathering.

Referring to Donald Trump's election, the Foreign Secretary said relations between the US and Russia could undergo a major transformation not seen since 1945 and that its impact was hard to predict.

In this context, he said India's relations with both the US and Russia were on an upswing and an improvement in US-Russia ties was not against Indian interests.

On overall ties with China, Jaishankar said there has been broadening of cooperation, especially in areas of business and people-to-people contacts, but these have been "overshadowed" by differences on certain political issues. He said China's power and its expression remain a dynamic factor in Asia.

Some chill have set in Sino-India ties following China's opposition to India's bid for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership as also after Beijing blocked India's move at the UN to designate Masood Azhar a global terrorist.

On terrorism, Jaishankar said ways to deal with the threat was major focus of India's diplomacy, adding "terror is a snake that bites the hand that feeds it."



Talking about SAARC, Jaishankar said, "We hoped to partially remedy this (Pakistan's obstuction) through the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) sub-regional grouping.

"It is also our expectation that the current level of enthusiasm among members of BIMSTEC can be channelled towards more far-reaching initiatives.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical



and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping comprises India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Jaishankar said Asia is facing a host of challenges including emerging multipolarity, heightened nationalism and disputed boundaries, among others.

Referring to the Indian establishment's possible equation with the Trump administration, Jaishankar said, "We established early contact with the Trump transition team and see a strong convergence of interests and concerns."



During the interactive session, Jaishankar touched upon a vast array of subjects concerning international relations, but his major focus was China and how the role of "plurilaterals" in India's foreign policy has grown steadily in the last few years. He said India is now "well positioned" to take a lead in combating terrorism.

Jaishankar said both China and India have opened up significantly since 1945, adding "if China had not opened up the international order the way it did, I think it would be much harder today for India also to exploit those phases."



On South China Sea dispute, the Foreign Secretary said India's position was consistent with the international law and its overall stand on it in sync with the international community.

Stressing on reforming the UN, he called an "absurdity" the global body's failure to reform itself.

"The absurdity of the main multilateral decision making body being more than 70 years old - and due for retirement anywhere in the world - is obvious to all except those with a vested interest.

"There can be no getting away from the myriad of global challenges that will eventually require a credible multilateral response. The pressures to reform the UN will only grow with each passing day," he said.

Talking about geopolitical issues, he said the world in 2017 is marked by "unevenness, possibilities and uncertainties" and that the US seemed ready to change the terms of its engagement with the world.

On issues facing the western world, he said voices of interdependence and globalisation have become more muted and optimism that trade and investment would overcome political divides has also faded.

"More dangers than convenience are perceived from connectivity. And there is a lack of purpose in confronting global challenges like terrorism, though some important exceptions should be acknowledged.

"The world has not just got flatter. Suddenly, one part of it is also more inward looking; in some ways, more tired," he said.

On Afghanistan, the Foreign Secretary said India stands by the Afghan government and will do its "utmost" to strengthen President Ashraf Ghani's dispensation.
Rich tributes were paid to TDP founder and former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh N T Rama Rao on his 21st death anniversary today.

Rama Rao's sons Harikrishna, Balakrishna, a TDP MLA in AP, daughter Bhuvaneswari, who is wife of Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, several other family members and party leaders visited the NTR Ghat (the late CM's memorial) here on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake, and paid floral tributes to the departed leader.

Naidu is in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum meetings.

Popular Telugu actors Junior NT Rama Rao and Kalyan Ram, both grandsons of Rama Rao, also offered homage to the late superstar and leader.

Balakrishna said his party would make efforts and put pressure on the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna on N T Rama Rao.

Though Rama Rao is no more, he is remembered by the Telugu people in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana even today, Junior NTR said.

Bhuvaneswari and their daughter-in-law Brahmani inaugurated a blood donation camp in memory of the late leader. TDP leaders garlanded the statues of NTR at different places and organised charitable programmes like blood donation camps and distribution of fruits to patients in hospitals.

Legendary Telugu actor NT Rama Rao, popularly known as NTR, launched the Telugu Desam Party in 1982 on the plank of self-respect of Telugu people and created history by storming to power in just nine months of TDP's foundation.

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Showcasing India growth story before global business leaders here for WEF annual meeting, senior Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said it is the appropriate time to invest in the country.

Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Shipping, said India is working on record road construction projects and there are no problems relating to land acquisition and environmental clearances.

The port sector is also growing fast and six new ports are being developed while the country is focusing big on cruise tourism.

Inland riverway is another key focus and work has started with the Ganga, he said.

"We have some new plans, including for logistics parks on highways," Gadkari said, adding that agriculture has become a key priority.

"We are very friendly for investments and it is appropriate time to invest in India," he said while adding that the country is also working on ways to improve purchasing power of common men as that will present further opportunities.

He was speaking at a breakfast session organised by CII and BCG on the sidelines of World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017.

Gadkari asserted that the demonetisation move will help strengthen the economy and encourage more investments.

"There were some problems initially, but things have improved significantly now and within a month, every thing would be completely normal," he said.

Digital payments have helped a lot, including on toll collections that have gone up, he added.

At the same session, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India has great opportunities in the services sector which contributes more than 50 per cent to our GDP and there is a great potential this year.

According to Sitharaman, the services sector will remain the focus area for India in all its trade negotiations at regional, bilateral and global levels.

She said India is setting standards that would help check inferior goods coming from any country, let alone China.

She also criticised non-tariff barriers being put up by some countries and is of the view that questions need to be asked at global summits like WEF.

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Diversified group Essar today said realty player RMZ Corp has taken over 1.25 million sq ft of space in its Equinox Business Park in suburban Bandra.

The park, which was till now operated by Equinox Realty, the real estate arm of Essar, will now be renamed as RMZ Equinox Business Park, the company said in a statement here.

"This transaction has given us an opportunity to strengthen our ties with a like-minded partner such as RMZ that has been a pioneer in commercial real estate development," Essar Executive Director (M&A) Sudip Rungta said.

RMZ has 20 million sq ft of core assets, which is valued at USD 4 billion, under management.

"We are pleased to enhance the RMZ portfolio in Mumbai with the acquisition of this accretive asset that consolidates our position as a leading operator of office parks in India," RMZ Corporate Chairman Manoj Menda said.

"The location and specification of these properties will further strengthen RMZ's market position in Mumbai and enhance its operational efficiency," he said.

The company's objective is to add value to the assets through development and refurbishment, and to invest in economically strong locations that offer an opportunity for value appreciation, said Menda.

RMZ has set a 5-year growth plan of 80 million sq ft which will be anchored by Qatar Investment Authority.

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The European Court of Human Rights ruled today that Russia's policy of refusing to allow Americans to adopt Russian children was discriminatory, a decision Moscow said it would appeal.

The court ordered Russia to pay damages to the 45 Americans who filed the case, who had hoped to adopt 27 children between 2010 and 2012.

Many of the children had serious medical problems, including Down's Syndrome or developmental disorders, requiring specialised treatment.

Russia halted the procedures with legislation in January 2013 that prohibited Americans from adopting Russian children, solely based on their nationality.

The law was in response to US sanctions on officials deemed responsible for the death in prison of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009. Magnitsky had been arrested after pointing out a fraud scam by high-placed officials.

Moscow had said it was protecting the children's welfare, after Russian media outlets claimed cases of mistreatment of adopted Russians in the United States, in a bid to encourage adoptions at home.

But in a unanimous decision, the judges at the Strasbourg-based rights court said Russia had violated statutes of the European Convention on Human Rights against discrimination and protecting the respect of family life.

It ordered Moscow to pay 3,000 euros (USD 3,200) in damages to the American couples and individuals in the case.

Russia's justice ministry said it would appeal the ruling, saying its restrictions on adoptions by Americans were in accordance with international rules and its constitution.

"The Russian authorities have proceeded and are proceeding on the basis of the need to ensure effective protection of the interests of children and also of the legal rights and the interests of potential adopters who are citizens of Russia," a ministry statement said.

In its ruling, the court said the ban was disproportionate to the government's stated aims, "given that it had been retroactive, indiscriminate, and was applied irrespective of the status of proceedings or the individual circumstances".

The court noted a 2012 accord between the two countries that provides guarantees against mistreatment and that allows international adoptions only when placing a child with a Russian family is not possible.

But the judges rejected the plaintiffs' claim that the law resulted in the mistreatment of the children, saying they had received adequate medical treatment in Russia.

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Jaswinder Singh Aheer, the SAD (Amritsar) candidate from Phagwara, today could not file his nomination as he allegedly reached late in the office of SDM-cum-RO.

But he, alongwith Rajinder Singh Fauji, state executive member of SAD (Amritsar) and party activist Resham Singh Pappi, alleged foul play and claimed that they had reached in time but the RO discriminated against them by declining to entertain the nomination.

But SDM-cum-RO Balbir Raj Singh strongly denied the allegation.

He said that nomination papers of the candidate were incomplete and he was asked to complete them.

Since the closing time for submitting nomination was 3 PM, three calls were made for any one left out and after none came in, the doors were closed at the stipulated time, the RO said.

The SAD (Amritsar) claimed that they had met Observer Alka Tandon who had "kept" their file.

The party leaders said they had brought it to the notice of party president Simranjit Singh Mann.

If required, we will meet the Chief Electoral Officer and write to the Election Commission about it, they said.

We may also move court for getting justice, they said.

Another candidate, Hans Raj also alleged that he was denied entry into RO's office for filing nomination as an Independent.

But the returning officer said his nomination papers were also incomplete.

Shiv Sena candidate Kamal also reached late and could not file nomination.

Accompanied by Sena's state vice-president Inderjit Karwal and others, he came running to RO's office but drew blank as it was closed at 3 PM.

But Sena candidate and other activists returned peacefully without complaining against anyone.

Today was the last day for filing of nomination papers for the February 4 Assembly polls in Punjab.

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Samsung, the leading player in mobile phones in the country, will lay emphasis on large screen displays to accelerate adoption rate for such devices among consumers.

"Samsung will now focus on large screen devices with display sizes of 5.5 inches and upwards. Samsung today has two devices with screen sizes of six inches," Samsung India, VP (Mobile Business) Manu Sharma told reporters today.

Launching the Galaxy C9 Pro smartphone here, he said worldwide the trend was shifting towards large screen devices and India is no exception.

"Samsung will drive the adoption of large screen devices in India," he said.

For Samsung, the Indian market had been driven by specific innovations which had been made at its R&D centre in the country.

The company had garnered a market share of 46.9 per cent last year, Sharma said adding, the prospects for the current year seemed to be better despite demonetisation which had hit consumer spending across the country.

In November 2016, there had been an initial slowdown but sales picked up in December, he said adding retailers were showing strong adoption for other modes of payments including e-wallets.

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Supreme Court today stayed the order of Uttarakhand High Court ordering eviction of encroachmemt from 23 acres of land near the Haldwani railway station.

The apex court asked the petitioners (encroachers) to approach the High Court as they were not heard before passing of the eviction orders and directed the court to expeditiously decide their pleas in three months.

"We require the petitioners to move the High Court on or before February 13. All such applications that have been filed shall be taken up for hearing, affording an opportunity to petitioners of being heard. We request the High Court to dispose of the petitions in three months from February 13. Directions contained in the impugned order dated January 10, 2017 shall remain stayed for three months," a bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said.

The bench noted that individual notices were not served upon the petitioners and the notice served was addressed as "all encroachers in railway land".

It said that Provisions of Public Premises Eviction Act cannot be invoked arbitrarily to oust the petitioners without following the procedure laid down in law.

The apex court said the petitioners should approach the High Court seeking recall of the order. On January 10, the High Court had directed removal of encroachment from the railway land within four weeks.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the petitioners, said the High Court has erred in passing eviction order as the land is not demarcated and there was an ownership dispute between state and railways.

She said the land in question had schools, college, houses and mosque and over 50,000 people, some of them living since Independence who cannot be evicted without following proper procedure laid down under law.

Senior advocate Salman Khurshid appearing for Uttarakhand government said due to soil erosion, the demarcation of land has blurred, while also referring to India-China border dispute where there is lack of clarity.

"This is for External Affairs Minister to worry, not us. Court does not need to worry about all these issue," the bench in lighter vein told Khurshid, who had held the portfolio of External Affairs minister during UPA-II rule.

The high court had also dismissed a review application filed by the state to stay the removal of encroachment from the premises of Railway Authorities Gafur Basti at Haldwani and directed the Senior Superintendent of Police Nainital, to provide the necessary police force.

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Senegal has asked the UN Security Council to authorise the West African ECOWAS bloc to take "all necessary measures" to ensure a transfer of power in The Gambia.

The Economic Community Of West African States has repeatedly called on leader Yahya Jammeh to respect the result of the December 1 election and step down after 22 years in power.

Senegal presented a draft resolution yesterday that would provide Security Council approval to any ECOWAS military action in The Gambia to force Jammeh to cede power to President-elect Adama Barrow.

The text, seen by AFP, calls on the council to give its "full support to the ECOWAS in its commitment to take all necessary measures to ensure the respect of the will of the people of The Gambia."



The council met behind closed doors to discuss the crisis over Jammeh's refusal to step down and renewed its demand that the leader hand over power on Thursday.

"As we speak, there are developments and last-ditch efforts to try to resolve this situation in a peaceful way," said Sweden's Ambassador Olof Skoog, who holds the council presidency.

The ambassador said a vote on the draft resolution "could happen quite soon" if those efforts fail.

Jammeh has declared a state of emergency as Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, maintained his inauguration will go ahead as planned on Thursday on Gambian soil.

UN envoy for West Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas last week told the council that ECOWAS was prepared to ask the council to approve military action to force Jammeh to cede power.

The draft resolution states that "instability in The Gambia could pose a threat to international peace and security in the region".

The text requests that Jammeh "carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process, and to transfer power to President-elect Barrow by January 19."



The council threatens to "consider measures against him should he fail to do so", according to the draft.

Nigeria said it had moved 200 troops, fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters to Senegal as part of a regional force ready to move into Gambia.

Senegal put its troops on alert near the border with The Gambia, with an army spokesman saying that Jammeh faced a midnight deadline to hand over power.

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Gambia headed toward a showdown between longtime President Yahya Jammeh and the opposition president-elect who insists he will take office, as troops from neighboring Senegal were seen moving toward the borders today to step up pressure for the incumbent to leave.

As the crisis deepened, hundreds of beach-going tourists were evacuated from Gambia, a popular winter destination in West Africa for visitors especially from Britain, the former colonial power. The streets of the capital, Banjul, were largely empty by late afternoon today. There was very little military presence seen, said residents.

The tiny West African nation facing a potential regional military intervention is completely surrounded by Senegal and the ocean. Late today, witnesses reported seeing Senegalese soldiers in both the Kaolack region of Senegal to the north of Gambia, and in the southern Senegalese region of Casamance.

Witnesses spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals as the political crisis deepens.

Jammeh lost the December 1 election after more than 22 years in power following a coup. He initially conceded defeat but later said voting irregularities invalidated the ballot. His mandate expires tomorrow day, and the president-elect is vowing to go ahead with his inauguration on Gambian soil though he has not offered any details.

"Those who resist peaceful change effective 12 midnight tonight shall face definite consequences, to their peril," said Mai Ahmad Fatty, Barrow's special adviser, in a Facebook post in which he advised Gambians to stay indoors. "Anyone with firearms tonight shall be deemed a rebel, and will certainly become a legitimate target."



The West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has threatened to use force if necessary to remove Jammeh. In addition to the Senegalese soldiers, private radio station RFM also has reported the arrival of Nigerian military equipment in the capital of Dakar. In addition to Nigeria and Senegal, Ghana also has pledged to contribute.

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Betsy DeVos gave education policy and politics watchers lots to talk about after her confirmation hearing for education secretary on Tuesday. She provided detailed arguments about Michigan charter schools and school accountability in that state, and for how shed be a crusader for parents and students rather than the education establishment. DeVos also made waves for her comments on special education law and states responsibilities in that area.



But there were also areas of K-12 policy where DeVos gave general or somewhat limited answers to senators question. Perhaps its not surprising that in several respects, DeVos didnt want to spell out detailed views on every issue raised, in part because she might have worried that she would come across as prejudging certain situations. And sometimes, senators left notable issues out of their lines of questioning.

Still, DeVos comments at the hearing leave some interesting questions about her positions. Here are some areas where questions about DeVos might be lingering:

ESSA Accountability Rules

DeVos told senators that she would faithfully implement the Every Student Succeeds Act as Congress intended. However, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., asked her specifically about whether she would implement final accountability rules for ESSA issued by President Barack Obamas administration&Murphy noted that these rules had incorporated input from and were suported by state chiefs, administrators and others.

I think accountability is highly important. I support accountability for all schools, DeVos responded.

Murphy asked the question again, and DeVos said she would review it. I think thats going to raise a lot of questions for school administrators trying to implement the law, Murphy said, before moving on. The Trump administration may not stick by those rules, and Senate Republicans have expressed interest in tossing out the regulation anyway, so her thoughts on the rules may become a moot point.

At the same time, DeVos didnt use Murphys questions to weigh in on the pros and cons of the Obama proposal, or share more detailed views of accountability.

She also told Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., in response to his question about whether schools getting taxpayer money should be held equally accountable, especially in special ductaion, reiterated several times that, I support accountability. But she didnt really flesh out that statement despite pressure from Kaine to give a yes-or-no answer. (In the past DeVos has supported school accountability based on A-F school grades, but shes also recently expressed support for states to opt out of federal accountability mandates.)

Early Education

Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., discussed Georgias approach to offering publicly funded prekindergarten through a variety approaches involving public and private institutions. He spoke positively about the idea of involving the private sector in early education. If you get the private sector making an investment in public education ... you can greatly expand the opportunity of education, he said.

DeVos responded that Georgias approach was interesting and possibly similar to what Florida has done, although she didnt elaborate on Floridas strategy. And in general, she said shed be interested in working with others to re-examine federal programs like Head Start to assess their influence on early education. (Head Start is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, not the Education Department.)

But she didnt definitively agree or disagree with the approach Isakson laid out, and she didnt weigh in on broader policy debates surrounding early education, such as the extent to which it should be publicly funded.

And in response to a question from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., about efforts to make child care more affordable, she said she wanted to work to ensure children had an opportunity for a great education in the future.

Proficiency vs. Growth

As part of a criticism of the usefulness of annual, federally required tests in reading and math, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., asked DeVos about the merits of emphasizing students proficiency on tests (such as those required by ESSA) versus emphasizing students growth.

DeVos responded by saying, If Im understanding your question correctly around proficiency, I would also correlate it to competency and mastery, so that each student is measured according to the advancement that theyre making in each subject area.

At that point Franken cut her off and said DeVos was mistaken because she was describing growth, not proficiency. After DeVos said she was seeking to clarify the two concepts as he meant them, Franken expressed surprise that she didnt have thoughts on the merits of proficiency versus growth, and he dropped the subject.

DeVos did not seem to correctly distinguish between proficiency and growth. But we still didnt learn whether she preferred one or the other with respect to judging students test scores. (To be fair, Franken raised the issue in the context of computer-adaptive tests, which adjust to students based on their ability levels and arent necessarily directly related to measuring student growth specifically.)

Civil Rights

In part because she was pressed on the issue by several Democrats, DeVos did make several direct statements about civil rights issues. When asked about her stance on rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students in education, for example, DeVos said, I embrace equality. She also said, I just cant imagine having a child who would be discriminated against for any reason, and that children deserved to go to a safe and discrimination-free place to become educated.

And she told Franken that she had never supported so-called gay conversion therapy, which claims to cure people of their homosexuality.

But she also disavowed a purported quote from her that she would rein in the office for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education. Ultimately, DeVos left unsaid how she would consider or change that offices approach to several key civil rights issues, such as the departments recent controversial guidance to schools emphasizing the rights of transgender students. (Equality Michigan, an LGBTQ rights group in DeVos home state, praised her remarks after the hearing.)

She also told Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., that she would examine the federal governments role in dealing with sexual assault on college campuses, saying, Assault in any form is never okay. But she didnt committ to keeping current Education Department guidance on the issue. The issue of how she would handle undocumented immigrant students in schools didnt really come up.

College Access

When asked by Sanders about making public colleges and universities tuition-free, DeVos called it an interesting idea. But then she said, Theres nothing in life thats really free. Somebodys going to pay for it.

DeVos then started to discuss making higher education more affordable, but Sanders said that wasnt the focus of his question. After he asked his question again, DeVos then said, We can work hard on making sure that college or higher education in some form is affordable for all young people that want to pursue it.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, asked DeVos about what information students should have access to about the success of students repaying their student loans across various institutions of higher education.

The issue of student debt and the amount of student debt, over $1.3 trillion right now ... its a very serious issue, and one which we all have to pay very close attention to, DeVos said. She said she wanted to get after the issue if confirmed.

In her opening remarks, DeVos said she wanted to address student-loan debt. But she didnt flesh out any views on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, a top priority for Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the committe chairman.

Career and Technical Education

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who spoke on behalf of DeVos to open the hearing, asked for DeVos thoughts on the importance of career and technical education programs, and what she thought about more flexibility for them. Citing the importance of CTE programs to high-tech manufacturing, Scott said, The importance of our technical schools cant be overestimated.

DeVos responded that students needed a full menu of options to figure out their best course to a successful career. Theres really a wide variety of alternative pathways to a really great future if students can find them, she said. But she didnt expand on any flexibility she thought might be needed for CTE programs, or her record with such issues.

Congress flirted with reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act last year, with the House passing a bill that would have given states more flexibility in some areas of CTE.

Photos: Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster); DeVos arrives with former Sen. Joe Lieberman, right, before testifying at her confirmation hearing (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster).

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Senior Congress leaders along with scores of party workers today hit the street in the capital as part of a nation-wide protest against demonetisation.

The protesters led by Congress MP Ahmed Patel, party's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, DPCC chief Ajay Maken and P C Chacko tried to march from Jantar Mantar to RBI's regional headquarters in Parliament Street but were stopped by police.

They alleged that the central bank has "failed miserably" in handling the situation post demonetisation and demanded the limit on bank and ATM withdrawal be lifted.

"The government cannot stop people from withdrawing their own hard-earned money. We are lodging a protest to tell the government and the RBI that the ceiling on withdrawal limit be lifted," Chacko told reporters.

"Congress workers staged similar protests in other cities in the country today," he said.

"We have been saying this for long that people are not being allowed to withdraw their hard-earned money. We are sending out a message which is loud and clear that the government must immediately lift the restriction," Maken said.

The Reserve Bank of India has raised the withdrawal limit from ATMs to Rs 10,000 per day per card from Rs 4,500. It has also increased the limit for withdrawal from current accounts to Rs 100,000 from Rs 50,000.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP President Amit Shah held long meetings with top party leaders from Uttar Pradesh to finalise party candidates for more seats even as disaffected leaders and their supporters held protests against the choice of candidates in several constituencies.

Groups of party leaders and workers raised slogans at the BJP headquarters against party nominees while some others protested outside Shah's residence.

BJP has so far named 149 candidates for the 403-seat assembly polls and more names will be announced following the next Central Election Meeting likely to be held tomorrow.

Carrying placards and shouting slogans, a group of party workers from Gautam Buddha Nagar expressed anger over allotment of tickets to defectors from other parties and ignoring claims of loyalists.

Senior party leaders, however, played it down, saying such protests are common and understandable during ticket distribution process.

"It in a way also shows that BJP is being seen as a winner and that is why there are so many contenders for its ticket," a leader said.

Like yesterday, Shah held talks with Home Minister Rajnath Singh, a senior leader from UP, party's state chief Keshav Prasad Maurya and in-charge O P Mathur among others.

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Meanwhile, Naidu said the new chief minister of the state will be elected by the legislators in a meeting later in the day and all reports in this regard are mere media speculation.

He was speaking to newspersons on his arrival at Lucknow airport this morning.

"The reports about CM contenders and probables is media speculation. The final decision would be taken in the meeting," he said.

Meanwhile, party leaders said that invitation for Sunday's swearing-in ceremony has been sent to all the CMs of BJP-ruled states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah will also attend the ceremony.

According to the Raj Bhavan, the timing of swearing-in ceremony has been advanced, and it is now likely to be held at 2.15 PM tomorrow.
Outgoing US National Security Advisor Susan Rice feels that constant skirmishes in Kashmir between India and Pakistan, some of the Russian actions, Syria along with North Korea are some of the less probable but catastrophic scenarios globally.

Nuclear powered India and Pakistan are constantly skirmishing in Kashmir, the outgoing US National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, said identifying some of the Russian actions, Syria along with North Korea and South Asia or a pandemic flu as some of the less probable but catastrophic scenarios globally.

"I worry about Russia. And then there are the less probable but catastrophic scenarios. A pandemic flu, frankly, is a major concern. North Korea continuing to advance and perfect its nuclear missile program, or even an unforeseen conflict between India and Pakistan, both nuclear armed nations that are constantly skirmishing in Kashmir," Rice told PBS in an interview.

Rice was responding to a question on some of her biggest nightmares.

"I've a number of worries. I wish I had one. But in all honesty, this is a world where the nature of the threats is very diverse and the challenges are multiple. So let me list a few," she said.

"I think anybody in my position would worry about a catastrophic attack on the homeland or on American personnel abroad. So that's nightmare number one. And particularly if it were, God-forbid, to be combined with some form of weapon of mass destruction with a biological... Especially WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and terrorism," she said.

"Secondly, I think we need to be very concerned about the potential, deliberate or inadvertent, for Russia to miscalculate and provoke a conflict in the European theater," she said.

"I say that because Russia's actions have been increasingly aggressive, whether its surveilling our diplomatic personnel and harassing them, making very unsafe approaches on the seas and in the air, and I think it's unclear what Putin's intentions are, particularly after the annexation of Crimea and the illegal occupation of Ukraine and, in fact, also, the atrocities he's been a party to in Syria," Rice said.

Rice asserted that the longest American war in Afghanistan has ended in terms of combat.

"The Taliban is continuing to fight. And our world now for two years has been limited to training and advising and assisting the Afghan government forces to deal with the Taliban and to go after the terrorist threat as it remains," she said.

"And there is a residual terrorist threat, an Al-Qaeda residual which is quite small, an ISIL presence, that we will continue to work with the afghans to defeat. I can't say with certainty how long that will be, but I think the Taliban is proving, as you know well, an enduring adversary for the Afghan government," Rice said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A sniffer dog of CRPF's Cobra battalion which was killed in an IED blast by Maoists was today buried with state honours here.

The carcass of three-year-old male dog, Belgian shepherd 'Aminika', was brought here by chopper before it was wrapped in the tricolour and the last rite was performed at 211 CRPF battalion premises following a post-mortem.

The blast occurred when the Belgian shepherd 'Aminika' was searching for explosives planted in the naxal-affected jungle in Burha Pahar in Latehar district. Its handler P K Samal also sustained injury in the explosion.

Senior officials paid floral tributes to 'Aminika' which was trained in infantry patrolling and explosive sniffing.

Superintendent of Police Dhananjay Singh said the dog sacrificed its life and saved the lives of many jawans during the search operation in Burha Pahar.

It was a irreparable loss to the security forces, he said.

'Aminika' was inducted into 207 Cobra battalion as explosive sniffer expert and detected many explosives planted in Burha Pahar during the search operation, Singh said.

Meanwhile, the police yesterday announced a reward of Rs one crore for providing information about wanted Maoist Arvind Singh alias Deo Kumar Singh.

The Maoist ultra had been spotted in villages in and around Burha Pahar.

Police said the details of the informer would be kept confidential.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Social media appeared to have played a key role in bringing together thousands of pro-Jallikattu protesters to the sprawling Marina Beach here and other parts of Tamil Nadu, with updates on the ongoing students' spontaneous stir and messages flooding the platform.

Sites including Facebook were awash with "Let us be united", "We want Jallikattu," and "I support Jallikattu" pages, which together account for lakhs of followers, who kept commenting on the evolving situation and pressing their cause.

Facebook pages like "Jallikattu veeravilayattu," specially designed to spread messages on the bull-taming sport and protest across the state were active with live updates.

Special folk songs were uploaded and real time pictures, videos of protests were posted regularly which helped the information reach more and more people, prompting several of them to join hands.

For instance, a social media user Manikandan uploaded pictures of protest between Madurai and Theni in 'Jallikattu veeravilayattu' Facebook page.

A college student here, R Sukumar, said he joined the protests on the Marina Beach responding to a campaign in Facebook by several other students.

Balakumar Somu, in his Facebook post said, "I see protests in so many places, from the metros to small towns & villages. So happy to be a part of the enlightened Tamil youth @Tirupur (Collector's office)."



Also, posts like "No Jallikattu, no vote" and "save native cattle" dominated social media sites.

Each Jallikattu protest and information related to it got thousands of "likes" on Facebook.

A blogger said, "Jallikattu is not bullfight...PeTA should stop equating the sport with bull fighting."



In Twitter, hashtags like "justice for jallikattu," "save our culture jallikattu" continued to trend through the day with countless messages.

Also, messages like "I can arrange dinner, lunch for protestors," "I can provide drinking water please contact..." were also abound, indicating how the students were organising and managing the protests.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With its strong economic growth and rising purchasing power, South Asia is going to be key to revival of global demand and the world cannot ignore this region, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Speaking at a session here at WEF, leaders from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh said trade and common physical and social infrastructure are important to harness growth in South Asia.

They, along with business leaders from the region, also concurred that countries must focus on eradicating poverty, the common enemy.

With its vast workforce, strong growth and expanding purchasing power, South Asia will be the key to reviving global demand, Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, said.

"The world cannot afford to ignore the region that will be key to reviving demand," she said.

Despite the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) annual summit being cancelled in 2016 because of a terrorist incident in India, Sitharaman said it is important to remember that the South Asian Free Trade Agreement is still going strong and has achieved major gains in intra-regional trade in the past few decades.

She cited border haats, or markets, on the India- Bangladesh border and the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway as other examples of increasing regional integration.

Sitharaman said industrial revolution can "give us answers" and help start-ups in India provide quick solutions.

"We have to be careful how we play it (industrial revolution) up in our countries," she added.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal motor vehicles agreement signed two years ago is another sign of closer ties within South Asia.

She emphasised that better connectivity of this kind will be an indispensable part of any strategy aimed at bringing nations and people together.

With 1.8 billion people, 7 per cent GDP growth rate and 25 per cent of the world's middle class, South Asia offers trade and commerce that can improve people's quality of life while also keeping peace in a volatile region, the panelists agreed.

Manvinder S Banga, Operating Partner, Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, UK, said as the world begins to de-globalise, there will be more opportunity for intra-regional trade within South Asia.

Banga noted that countries must set aside political



irritants and improve connectivity -- a huge advantage for trade -- as well as build common physical and social infrastructure. This can be a source of catalytic growth and enable countries to meet the common challenge of fighting hunger and poverty, he added.

Business can help catalyse social infrastructure, particularly through digital technology, Banga said.

He cited the example of education where information technology offers the opportunity to transform educational reach while reducing the need for brick-and-mortar schools and teachers.

Through digital technology, an entrepreneur needs much lower investment and even education to set up a business, Banga said, adding that "there is an opportunity for digitally supported businesses at an unprecedented scale".

Mosharraf Zaidi, founder and Campaign Director of Alif Ailaan - Time to End Pakistan's Education Emergency, Pakistan, highlighted the need for better education for the under-25 population that gives South Asia its unparalleled demographic advantage over other regions.

However, he warned that countries' over-sized emphasis on defence spending is leaving little to invest in building the region's social capital.

Also underlying the discussion was the subtle acknowledgment that political issues such as state-supported terrorism and the legacy of mistrust between nations cannot be wished away.
Sri Lanka today said it will not decriminalise homosexuality, saying it did not want to cause "social problems" in the country, amid opposition from the "Buddhist clergy".

The Minister of Health Rajith Senaratne said, "We stand oppose to the request for decriminalising it. Even in some of the European Union nations the Catholic Church has opposed the move. Likewise we have the Buddhist clergy here."



Senaratne, however, said that no one will be prosecuted for being homosexual.

"The government is against homosexuality, but we will not prosecute anyone for practising it," he said.

The minister further said that the government did not want to create "social problems" by inviting a challenge to the law that makes homosexuality illegal and is punishable by up to 12 years of imprisonment.

The law criminalising homosexuality is based on the country's 1883 penal code, a legacy of British colonialism in Sri Lanka.

The EU has earlier asked Sri Lanka to comply with 27 conventions on civil and political rights, human rights and labour regulations, including decriminalisation of homosexuality, for the GSP+ preferred duty concessions for its exports.

Decriminalising homosexuality was also prescribed by the National Human Rights Action Plan to remove "discrimination based on sexual orientation".

The opposition has earlier charged that the government was trying to legalise homosexuality in order to win duty free concessions of GSP+ from the European Union.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Global coffeehouse chain Starbucks today introduced tea as a core offering in 88 stores in the country under the brand Teavana.

"We had nine teas on offer and are doubling that with the launch of Teavana speciality teas. We are looking at attracting newer customers with our focus on tea, and are looking to double tea sales at our Starbucks stores," Sumitro Ghosh, CEO of Tata Starbucks, told PTI.

Last year, Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz described India as a "major business opportunity" during his visit here and announced the introduction of speciality teas in the country in 2017.

In June last, Starbucks announced several joint initiatives in the country along with its joint venture partner Tata Sons, including expanding the market of Himalayan Mineral Water, and providing job skills training and Starbucks expertise in retail operations to over 3,000 youth, besides launching Teavana.

Tata Starbucks is planning to launch a mobile application targeting its loyalty programme customers this year.

In India, Starbucks operates under a 50:50 joint venture with Tata Global Beverages.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Decrees passed in the Sutlej- Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute between Punjab and Haryana cannot be flouted, the Supreme Court warned today, directing both the states to strictly implement its orders.

"We will not allow the decree passed by this court to be flouted and it has to be implemented. How the decree is being implemented is the headache of the concerned parties," a bench of justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy said.

The bench, which asked the Centre and Punjab to file their replies to Haryana's plea seeking compliance of court's order, said the interim order of status quo will continue.

The apex court said the reports of Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary of Punjab and Director General of Police of Punjab, who were appointed as court receivers of the land and other properties of the canal, have indicated that status quo has been maintained.

However, senior advocate Jagdeep Dhankar, appearing for Haryana, objected to a finding of the Union Home Secretary and said the report says that on site visit by the committee "no deliberate damage" has been done. "I have a problem with the word 'deliberate' used in the report," he said.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar appearing for Ministry of Home Affairs said their reply was ready and can be filed in the course of a week.

He said that Haryana has not challenged the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004 and therefore it has not been set aside till now.

"The regulations are still there. The effect of apex court's decree cannot be there unless the Act passed by legislature is nullified," Kumar said, adding that the answers to Presidential reference fell under the advisory jurisidiction and hence the court has not set aside the Act.

To this, the bench said it will look into the issue when it hears the matter in detail.

Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for Punjab, said the Centre should intervene among the states involved in the dispute and sort out the issue.

"We would file the reply once the Centre has filed its reply on Haryana's plea. Centre should behave like elder arbitrator and settle the issue once and for all," Jethmalani said.

The apex court directed the Centre to file its reply



during the course of week and Punjab in three weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on February 15.

It had on November 30 last year directed status quo on SYL canal and appointed as union home secretary, chief secretary, Punjab and the director general of police, Punjab as Court Receivers of the lands, works, property and portions of the canal. It had asked them to file a report with regard to the ground situation of the property.

The three officers were also appointed receivers on March 17 on the plea of Haryana, given powers to take possession of the project land and asked to maintain status quo on the site.

On November 10, the apex court had thwarted Punjab's attempt to wriggle out of the SYL water sharing pact, saying it cannot "unilaterally" terminate it or legislate to "nullify" the verdict of the highest court.

The court had issued notice to Punjab on Haryana's plea seeking enforcement of apex the court verdicts and appointment of the receivers to ensure that the project land in Punjab remains intact.

Earlier, the apex court had agreed to hear the plea of Haryana alleging that Punjab was violating its earlier interim order that the status quo on land meant for Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal be maintained.

The controversial 1981 water-sharing agreement came into being after Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966.

For effective allocation of water, SYL canal link was conceptualised and both the states were required to construct its portions in their territory.

Haryana constructed the portion of SYL canal in its territory. However, Punjab after initial work, stopped the work leading to spate of litigations.

In 2004, the Congress government of the state came out with the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act with an intention to terminate the 1981 agreement and all other pacts relating to sharing of waters of rivers Ravi and Beas.

The apex court had first decreed the suit of Haryana in 2002 asking Punjab to honour its commitments with regard to water sharing in the case.

Punjab challenged the verdict by filing an original suit which was rejected in 2004 by the Supreme Court which asked the Centre to take over the remaining infrastructural work of the SYL canal project.
The Telangana government would bring a bill for providing 12 per cent reservation to backward sections among Muslims in the Budget session of Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said today.

"We will put up the Muslim Reservation Bill in the coming Budget session itself," he said in the Assembly during a debate on welfare of minorities.

The budget session is expected to begin next month.

The 12 per cent reservation to Muslims was a key election promise of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The state government had appointed a Commission for conducting a study of social and economic status of Muslims and the panel has submitted its report, Rao said in a statement on the issue.

The state government has forwarded the report to the Backward Classes Commission for its opinion.

The BC Commission is gathering views of different groups in the matter for expressing its opinion, Rao said.

"In order to provide 12 per cent reservation to Muslims, a relaxation should be given to the stipulation that the reservations should not exceed 50 per cent.

"The Government of Tamil Nadu introduced Act 45/94 and with the consent of Indian Parliament got incorporated the issue of enhancement of reservation in the 9th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. We will follow the same policy in our state also," Rao said in his statement.

Expressing confidence that the Centre would act favourably on the state's move to provide 12 per cent quota, he, however, said the state government would also take a legal recourse on the issue if the Centre does not respond positively.

BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy said the high court had already held that reservations on the basis of religion is against the Constitution.

The issue is also sub-judice as the matter of four per cent quota (being given to backward sections among Muslims that began in undivided AP) is in the Supreme Court, he said.

Rao, however, clarified that the proposed quota is not for Muslim religion.

"I did not say reservation is for Muslim religion. I said clearly in my clarification. We said we will work for the welfare of poor in the group by that name and bring reservation.

"You (Kishan Reddy) said it is sub-judice. There is nothing that Legislative Assemby cannot discuss and pass a bill just because it is sub-judice. We are free to discuss," he said.

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The government is making efforts to see that benefits of welfare schemes reached the economically backward sections among OCs as well, Rao said.

He also said the Rajinder Sachar Committee, that studied the conditions of Muslims, was appointed during the UPA-I as he had forcefully raised the issue then.

Rao was a minister in the Congress-led UPA government.

"If Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee was appointed, it was because I raised it, because TRS raised it in UPA. MP (of MIM) Asaduddin Owaisi was witness to that. Muslim leaders and other leaders congratulated me," he said.

Sachar gave an excellent report about the backwardness of Muslims, but it was not implemented unfortunately, he said.

Rao, on the occasion, announced several steps for the welfare of minorities, including setting up 200 schools for minorities and giving judicial status to Waqf board.

Responding to a suggestion of MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, the Chief Minister said an Islamic Centre, including a convention centre within its premises, would be built in the city.

After the debate ended on welfare of minorities, the House was adjourned sine die. The winter session of Legislative Assembly was held for 18 days.

The party-wise strength in the Assembly as announced by Speaker S Madhusudanachary was as follows: TRS- 82, Congress- 19, MIM- seven, BJP- five, TDP- three, CPI- one, CPI(M)- one, Independent- one and Nominated- one.
Floridas high court has thrown out a lawsuit challenging one of the countrys largest private school choice programs, according to the Associated Press.

The Florida Supreme Court did not say why it declined to hear the lawsuit backed by the Florida Education Association, a statewide teachers union, but the justices rejected the suit, McCall v. Scott, 4-1.

Who is allowed to challenge the constitutionality of the tax credit vouchers? FEAs president and one of the plaintiffs, Joanne McCall, said in a statement. This ruling, and the decisions by the lower court, dont answer that question. We still believe that the tax credit vouchers are unconstitutional, but we havent had the opportunity to argue our case in court.

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program is a voucher-like program that helps nearly 98,000 low-income students in Florida pay for tuition at private schools. Unlike a traditional voucher program, the money doesnt come directly from the state; rather, the state uses tax credits to incentivize donations to a scholarship program from private businesses.

This setup has allowed policymakers in several states to skirt language in their state constitutions barring states from using public money to help fund private, religious schools.

But the FEA argued in its lawsuit that the program was still directing public dollars to religious schoolsas well as setting up a parallel education systemand was therefore unconstitutional.

The Florida Supreme Courts decision on the case is also a powerful reminder to entrenched special interests that when policymakers work hand-in-hand with Floridas families, students win, said former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in a statement. Bush, who was in office when the program was originally created, is currently the president and chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education.

Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trumps education secretary pick, congratulated the programs participants on Twitter.

Congrats to the Florida families who have a clear path toward more opportunity due to #SchoolChoice w/ todays FL Supreme Court decision!  Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) January 18, 2017

Related stories:
Seeking to assuage India's unease over the Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka today said it would ensure that New Delhi's concerns were "not jeopardised" and that talks were on the development of the Trincomalee port.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2017, Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lankan Minister for Regional Development, said Trincomalee is the deepest harbour in South Asia and "things are being finalised" with India to develop the port.

He said that after China constructed the Hambantotoa port, it was not making any profit and became a burden to repay the money back. Total estimated construction cost of the Phase 1 of the project is USD 361 million and is largely funded by the EXIM Bank of the People's Republic of China.

He said since it was becoming a "huge burden" on the economy to repay the Chinese, Sri Lanka started looking after investors that can take the harbour on lease and give a helping hand to cut down payments of debts.

"So finally with the Chinese company (China Merchants Ports Holding Company)...They were the best bidders, we decided to give it on lease. But this was mainly for commercial purpose.

"There won't be any security threat (to India) and it even won't upset the Indian sentiments. At the same time, India should not get worried over it because there are preparations being done for India to develop the Trincomalee harbour. We are trying to convert it harbour as a naval base and a commercial base," Fonseka said.

Reacting to protests against the Hambantotoa port, he said some "disgruntled political elements" are behind it.

He said that the presence of Chinese submarines and naval ships in Sri Lankan waters is a matter of concern for India.

"They have the right to be concerned being a regional power. So, sometimes for training purpose we have had our defence forces communicating with other militaries in the world. So this presence of submarines and warships is for training purpose and not for any defence activity.

"We will ensure that their presence will only be for training purpose and that Indian security concerns are not jeopardised," Fonseka said.

Fonseka said there was "no way" Sri Lanka wanted to upset Indian sentiments. He, however, maintained that its intention was to stay neutral and not get involved in power struggle between India and China.

"India is our neighbour and there is no way we will upset the Indian sentiments. We want to maintain highest relationship with India. At the same time, we also have a historical relationship with China. Our intention is to remain neutral without getting into clashes of the big powers," he said.

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A former military chief who led the Sri Lankan army in a decisive battle against terrorist outfit LTTE, Fonseka is the only five star general the island country has seen.

He was thrown into jail after he unsuccessfully tried to challenge a re-election bid by the then president Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010.

Responding to a question on Sri Lankan military officers being trained at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in Tamil Nadu and subsequent protests over it by the Dravidian parties, Fonseka said, "There have been difference of opinion and certain politicians have been trying to take advantage of the difficult situation."



"It does not make a big difference because in other parts of India, we are sending huge number of army officers. That arrangement is going on," he said.
A joint meeting of various Tamil outfits today called for a dawn to dusk bandh in support of jallikattu here on January 20.

A spokesman of the pro-jallikattu outfits comprising of representatives of various Tamil organisationsincluding Tamilar Desiya Iyakkam and Naam Tamizhar katchi told newsmen that the bandh is also to demanding to ban the PETA.

The outfits have formed an Action committee which includes various students organisations and non political units extending support to jallikattu to spearhead various agitations in Union Territory.

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Meanwhile, the ruling Congress has announced its support to the dawn to dusk bandh called by various Tamil and students outfits here on January 20.

Puducherry PCC leader and PWD Minister A Namassivayam said in a release here the NDA government at the Centre was turning a deaf ear to all the agitations now under way in Tamilnadu seeking lifting of the ban.

"An abnormal situation is prevailing in Tamilnadu and the Centre has not taken this into consideration and has failed to bring in an ordinance to lift the ban on the traditional sport of Tamil" he said and announced the support of the bandh called by the Tamil and student outfits here.

Secretary of the Puducherry state committee of the CPI repeat CPI R Viswanathan also announced his party's support to the call for bandh.

He said that the Centre should ban the PETA.
An IndiGo plane, carrying 186 passengers and crew including two infants onboard, from here to Dibrugarh was diverted to Kolkata due to a technical snag, where it made an emergency landing.

The no-frill carrier, however, claimed that the commander of its flight 6E-3645 decided to divert the aircraft as a "precautionary" measure and did not seek any emergency landing from Kolkata air traffic control (ATC).

IndiGo has reported the matter to the civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), besides setting up an internal probe to ascertain facts, the airline said in a statement.

"IndiGo's Captain-in-command operating Delhi-Dibrugarh flight 6E-3645, decided to divert aircraft to Kolkata due a technical snag as a precautionary measure.

"Despite that cockpit crew did not declare any emergency, ATC (Kolkata) declared full emergency on its own. The aircraft landed safely," IndiGo said in the statement.

There were 178 passengers and two infants onboard besides six crew onboard its Delhi-Dibrugarh flight, an IndiGo spokesperson said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the world debates technological innovations like artificial intelligence killing jobs, top global leaders, including IMF chief Christine Lagarde, today said a good narrative is that even technology companies indirectly and directly create non-tech jobs.

Facebook's Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said it is a misconception that technology companies have created only tech jobs. Facebook itself has helped a large number of small and medium businesses reach their audience and create a huge number of jobs, she added.

On hate messages and hoaxes being spread through Facebook such as posts about an Indian being shown as a Pakistani, she said the company takes these instances very seriously.

Lagarde said one great positive narrative is that even technology companies like Facebook and Ebay are creating a large number of non-tech jobs.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman said pace of change in technologies is only going to accelerate going ahead.

Concurring with Sandberg's view, Whitman said platforms like Ebay and Amazon marketplace have created a huge number of jobs in the small and medium enterprises segment of the economies across the world.

"Part of the narrative about technology is that you have to have a PhD to get a job in it, but it's just not true," she said.

She also said art and films are going to play a very important role in creating a positive narrative.

On technology favouring the highly skilled more, Whitman said technology actually can accommodate different kinds of jobs including those that do not require high skills.

Speaking at a session on 'A Positive Narrative for Global Community' at the WEF annual meeting here, award winning documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said she sees more hope today among the youth.

"I see less anxiety and more hope among the young people I work with," she said.

Noting that keeping quite on seeing atrocities is also doing an injustice, she said her films have led to the government in Pakistan introducing stricter laws against atrocities against women.

According to her, young people today can see through things and it is not easy to hide anything.

"If I don't do what I'm doing, I'm sure some one else will do," she said, while adding that she does not think about who the audiences are when she makes a film.

Among millennials, 70 per cent look optimistically to the



future and more than half believe they can actively contribute to decision-making in their countries, according to the Global Shapers Annual Survey.

The panelists also discussed how leaders can draw on this spirit to envision positive narratives for the future.

Afghanistan National Institute of Music founder Ahmad Sarmast said he felt music, culture and arts can help get sustainable peace in his country.

He said his music school is not only for girls and women but also for men of Afghanistan which helps in reconciling the two genders, a point on which Lagarde complimented him.

On political discourse of the day in many countries being ultra nationalist and against people from outside, Lagarde said there is a need to have common goals even if each and every country may have their own specific issues.

"We form a global community with a common purpose and goal, but every economy is going to have its specificities," she observed.

Sandberg said narratives are very important part when we talk about resilience.

Sandberg added she started her career with World Bank with a project on malaria in India where she saw real poverty.
Lawmakers in the US state of Texas are seeking to become the next state, after California and Hawaii, to raise the minimum smoking age to 21.

Several state officials have been trying to convince lawmakers to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products and finding ways to keep Texans, especially kids, from picking up the habit.

"We can move this bill forward," said Rep. John Zerwas, a Richmond Republican and physician who will champion the effort in the House. He will be joined by Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Sens. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, who will each file a bill.

Zerwas told local media that he believes the bill can get through the Legislature, especially with more Republicans backing the proposal.

State Senator Uresti has been trying to convince lawmakers to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products for the last 10 years.

"We have as good a chance as we've ever had. I'm just glad. I welcome all the support we can get," Uresti was quoted as saying by the Dallas .

Texans who use tobacco products has decreased over the last decade, with more than 15 per cent of residents admitting they smoke or chew tobacco.

A 2015 report from the National Academy of Medicine says that number could decrease to 12 per cent should the minimum age to purchase products is increased.

The issue concerns not just health, but money. A reduction in tobacco purchases would also mean a reduction in tax revenue.

However, supporters of the initiative cite a Department of State Health Services analysis which claims that raising the smoking age could save Texas USD 406 million in health care costs over five years.

The Department of State Health Services released a report that calculated the cost savings of reducing birth complications caused by smoking, such as low birth weights.

Hawaii in June 2015 and California in May 2016 raised the legal smoking age from 18 to 21.

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One third of people with asthma may not actually have the condition either because it has got better, or they were wrongly diagnosed in the first place, a new study suggests.

The study found that 33 per cent of adults recently diagnosed with asthma by their physicians did not have active asthma.

Over 90 per cent of these patients were able to stop their asthma medications and remain safely off medication for one year, researchers said.

"It's impossible to say how many of these patients were originally misdiagnosed with asthma, and how many have asthma that is no longer active," said lead author of the study, Shawn Aaron, professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada.

"What we do know is that they were all able to stop taking medication that they did not need - medication that is expensive and can have side effects," Aaron said.

Eighty per cent of the participants who did not have asthma had been taking asthma medication, and 35 per cent took it daily.

The study also found that doctors often did not order the tests needed to confirm an asthma diagnosis. Instead they based their diagnosis solely on the patient's symptoms and their own observations.

"Doctors would not diagnose diabetes without checking blood sugar levels, or a broken bone without ordering an X-ray," said Aaron.

"But for some reason many doctors are not ordering the spirometry tests that can definitely diagnose asthma," he said.

The study looked at 613 randomly selected patients from 10 Canadian cities diagnosed with asthma in the last five years.

After a series of detailed breathing tests followed by consultation with a lung specialist, asthma was ruled out in a third of these patients.

The team was able to access the medical records of 530 of the patients to see how they were originally diagnosed. They found that in 49 per cent of these cases, physicians had not ordered the airflow tests required by medical guidelines.

When the patients that were found not to have asthma were re-diagnosed, most had minor conditions like allergies or heartburn, and 28 per cent had nothing wrong with them at all.

Two per cent had serious conditions like pulmonary hypertension or heart disease that had been misdiagnosed as asthma, and went on to receive proper treatment.

"It was not a surprise to most patients when we told them they did not have asthma," said Aaron.

"Some knew all along that their puffer was not working, while others were concerned that they might have something more serious. Thankfully, the majority of the conditions were mild and easily treated," he said.

The study confirms and expands on Aaron's 2008 study which suggested that 30 per cent of asthma patients had been misdiagnosed.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Three persons were apprehended in Geeta Colony area of Shahdara today with Rs 3 lakh in old currency notes, police said.

While patrolling, two constables saw three people in a car with old currency notes.

Nupur Prasad, DCP(Shahdara) tweeted, "#AlertOnDuty Ct Satender & Vineet of Geeta Colony PS apprehended 3 ppl wid Rs 3L old currency notes. IT officials informed. @DelhiPolice.

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Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him various issues concerning the state.

During the 20-minute meeting, the Chief Minister briefed the Home Minister on security situation in Tripura, particularly along the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Singh assured Sarkar of all possible help to his government in maintaining law and order, tackling insurgency and modernisation of police force, official sources said.

India shares a 4096-km long border with Bangladesh, 856 of which falls in Tripura.

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Turkish police rounded up 27 people linked to the suspected gunman in Istanbul's New Year's Eve nightclub attack and the justice minister said today that the capture of the suspect will lead to a better understanding of the Islamic State group's operations in Turkey.

The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Abdulkadir Masharipov, was caught late Monday in a police operation in Istanbul. Authorities identified him as an Uzbek national who trained in Afghanistan and staged the attack for the IS. IS claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 39 people. Turkish authorities say the suspect has confessed.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag told the state-run Anadolu Agency that the arrest would reveal "important information" on IS' modes of operation and increase the government's ability to thwart attacks. He said there was no doubt the attack was the work of IS.

Anadolu said Turkish anti-terrorism squads had raided seven addresses in simultaneous operations in the northwestern city of Bursa, arresting 27 suspects from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan as well as from China's minority Muslim Uighur community. Fifteen of them were women.

Police also took 29 children into protective custody and seized 40 passports and 15 mobile phones set up with fake identity cards found at an empty house.

Anadolu said that address was connected to a Tajik national identified by the initials of M.S. The report described him as an Islamic State group facilitator for foreign nationals.

Other Turkish media reports fleshed out details about the alleged killer and his IS-sanctioned mission on the night of December 31.

The Hurriyet Daily News, citing security sources, said the Istanbul shooter had received orders directly from Raqqa, the IS's main bastion in Syria.

The report, citing Turkish authorities and police investigations, said the original target of the attack was Istanbul's famous Taksim Square. But the plan was modified in response to boosted security there, according to the report, which cited an account of events allegedly given by the suspect.

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In the wake of the protests by a group of students at the main entrance gate of the University of Hyderabad yesterday to mark the first death anniversary of Rohit Vemula, the varsity today said a case will be filed soon on charge of breaking locks of the gate.

"Two locks put on the main gate were broken with the help of stones and evidences are available for the same. Police case will be lodged soon," UoH stated in a release.

The protesters from outside the varsity, comprising members of different students' organisations had gathered in front of the main gate as part of "Shahadat Din" of Vemula, the dalit research scholar who had committed suicide in a hostel room on the campus on January 17 last year.

On a call given by a section of students under the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice - UOH to gather at the 'Rohit Stupa' on the campus, the protesters had marched towards the main entrance and tried to forcibly enter by removing the barricades placed there even as members of JAC from inside the campus too gathered at the spot.

As protesters from outside tried to "gatecrash" into the campus, with some of them climbing the gate, the police took them into preventive custody and released them later.

According to varsity officials, UoH Security Officer T V Rao had offered to escort Rohit's mother Radhika Vemula to shopping complex (to enable her to visit 'Rohit Stupa') provided she came alone, but a set of women faculty members and students declined this proposal on behalf of Radhika.

She later addressed the JAC members at the main gate.

"Finally she could not accept the security officer's offer," the UoH said. Later, Radhika along with her second son Raja Vemula and others, were also taken away by the police.

With regard to the gathering and programmes, UoH reiterated that no permission was sought by anyone to organise any activity, or by anyone, including the press, to enter the campus, to cover any event.

"A notice was posted on the university website in this regard for everyone's information that any one gaining unauthorised entry into the campus would be treated as a trespasser," the release added.

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Betsy DeVos, the Trump administrations nominee for education secretary, had a lot of work to do in her confirmation hearing Tuesday, including convincing critics that she is not an enemy of public education .

But unlike past education secretaries, she hasnt been a governor, school superintendent, or college president. And sharp exchanges about special education with Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, both Democrats, underscored DeVos inexperience with that particular portion of education policy.

Hassan Asks DeVos About Voucher Protections

Hassan, whose son Ben has cerebral palsy, opened her comments by saying he received a quality public education. She then said she was concerned that students with disabilities who receive vouchers often dont receive adequate resources.

Do you think that families should have a recourse in the courts? Hassan asked.

The relevance for this question for DeVos is that she is best known for heading, until her nomination, the American Federation for Children. That organization supports private school vouchers, education savings accounts, and other forms of educational choice.

Students with disabilities who accept vouchers to attend private school are generally required under state law to waive the specific protections they would have under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act they would have if they were enrolled in public school. In some cases, the parents also must not have any outstanding disputes with a school district in order to receive a voucher.

DeVos answered that she would advocate for all families to have the right to choose the right school for their child. Hassan cut this off and repeated her question. DeVos then offered comments about voucher programs that are already operating and are popular with the families who accept them, such as in Florida and Ohio.

Hassan said there is at least one voucher program that makes students sign away their rights before they can get that voucher. I think that is fundamentally wrong. I want to know whether you will make sure that children with disabilities do not have to sign away their legal rights in order to get a voucher.

DeVos started to praise voucher programs again, but Hassan again cut her off. With all due respect, you didnt answer my question.

Kaine Presses the IDEA Question

That line of questioning set up Kaine. Saying he was adhering to the five-minute limit for questions imposed by committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., he addressed his questions to DeVos in rapid fire.

Kaine: Should all schools that receive taxpayer funding be required to meet the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act?

DeVos answered, I think that is a matter thats best left to the states.

Kaines response: So, some states might be good to kids with disabilities, and other states might not be so good? And then people can, what, just move around the country if they dont like how their kids are being treated?

DeVos repeated her answer about states needing to make the final decision.

What about the federal requirement? Kaine asked. Its a federal law. DeVos then said that the issue was worth discussion.

Hassan Following Up

Hassan picked up the theme again. Referring to the IDEA, she said, thats a federal civil rights law. So, do you stand by your statement a few minutes ago that it should be up to the states whether to follow it?

DeVos responded that federal law must be followed when federal dollars are in play.

Hassan then said, so, were you unaware when I just asked you about the IDEA that it was a federal law?

DeVos: I may have confused it.

Hassan then went on to talk about her concern with vouchers, and said, I do have to say that Im concerned that you seem so unfamiliar with [IDEA.]

DeVos said that if she is confirmed, I will be very sensitive to the needs of special needs students and the policies surrounding that.

Hassan responded: Its not about sensitivity, although that helps. Its about being willing to enforce the law so that my child, and every child, has the same access to high-quality public education.

What Does IDEA Say About Vouchers?

Ive excerpted these exchanges at length because they touch on a complex portion of an already complex law.

Some special education advocates seized on these questions as examples of DeVos unwillingness to support federal law or children with disabilities. But IDEA already states that students who are enrolled in private schools by their parents are not fully covered under its provisions. It doesnt matter, under current law, if the tuition is partially paid for through voucher money.

(Theres also the rare circumstance where a student is placed in a private school by the public school district. Those students do have full IDEA protections, but thats a very small group of students.)

The special education law does include some protections for private school studentsI explained private schools and IDEA in this 2005 article written soon after the laws last reauthorizationbut those provisions are not as robust as they are for public schools.

To the extent that Hassan and Kaine were asking DeVos to guarantee full special education protections to voucher recipients who attend private schools, they were making a request that goes beyond what IDEA currently requires.

As for traditional public schools and charter schools, students who attend those schools are fully covered under the IDEAs provisions. If states accept federal special education money, enforcement of federal special education law is not a matter than can be left up to their discretion.

IDEA Portability

One line of questioning that seemed to get less attention was between DeVos and Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine. Collins asked DeVos whether she could do anything to see if the Education Department could move toward sending more special education dollars to the states. That is an action that would help every single school district in this country, Collins said.

(The amount of money that is allotted for special education is primarily the role of Congress, which funds agency budgets.)

DeVos said that she would commit to looking into the issue if confirmed. She continued, I actually think this is an area that could be considered for an approach that would be somewhat different, in that maybe the money should follow individual students instead of going directly to the states. I think thats something we could discuss, and I would look forward to discussing with members of this committee.

Such a change would be a dramatic departure from the way federal money currently flows to states for special education, and the response offers insight into DeVos priorities.
The United States has urged the outgoing Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to "peacefully hand over power" to his elected successor Adama Barrow, to prevent "potential chaos" in the small West African country.

Despite being increasingly isolated and facing escalating international pressure, Jammeh declared a state of emergency just two days before he was due to step down tomorrow, denouncing what he called dangerous foreign meddling in the small West African country's post-electoral crisis.

"President Jammeh is losing opportunities to respect the word of the Gambian people and to peacefully hand over power to the president-elect," said US State Department spokesman John Kirby.

"Doing so would allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect the Gambian people from potential chaos," the US spokesman said.

"Failure to do so will put his legacy, and more importantly the Gambia, in peril."



The country has been in political turmoil since Jammeh, just a week after conceding defeat, declared that he no longer accepted the results of the election. That announcement upended hopes for a peaceful political transition after his 22 years in power.

"We want to see the president-elect properly installed and to have in place a government which is responsible for and responsive to the needs of the Gambian people," Kirby said.

The White House initially welcomed the outgoing president's acknowledgement of his successor's victory, and then sharply criticised the longtime Gambian leader's reversal.

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Star striker C K Vineeth's hat-trick helped defending champions Bengaluru FC trounce Mumbai FC 3-0 in a third round match of the I-League at Sree Kanteerava stadium here today.

With this win, Bengaluru are now perched at the top of the points table with nine points from three matches.

Vineeth struck in the 45th, 57th and 65th minutes in a match dominated by the home side for most part. The Kerala striker smashed home his first goal as he found himself unmarked after Cameron Watson crossed the ball straight to him.

For his second goal, Vineeth calmly slotted the ball home from point blank range after Harmanjot Singh Khabra played a beautiful cross. It was actually Udanta Singh who created the chance by first giving a pass to Khabra.

Before Sandesh Jhingan came in for Khabra, the full right back once again came into the act. Vineeth, for the third time, got a beautiful through ball from Khabra and he took a lovely first touch to calmly place the ball to the left of the keeper, leaving him no chance.

Vineeth missed his fourth goal of the match after his shot came off a Mumbai defender after Nishu Kumar played a good cross in 79th minute.

As usual, Bengaluru began their match giving stress on ball possession and made several forays into the rival citadel, but to no avail as Mumbai were equally good at dealing with the regular onslaughts.

Bengaluru had a golden opportunity to go one up in the 27th minute as Vineeth took a shy with his left first time but it flew over after Sunil Chhetri delicately slided one in for him.

Half an hour into the match, Mumbai looked much better with plenty of time on the ball. In contrast, Bengaluru went into a shell and needed to shift gears and attack more. The ball seems to be moving around only in the Bengaluru half.

In 36th minute, Hanghal volleyed one at the side of the Bengaluru net and in 38th, Shallum Pires played a dangerous low cross but a home side defender cleared the ball.

In the 43rd minute, Rodrigues sent a long ball out onto the right flank, where Khabra headed the ball down to Udanta who tried to cross from a good position, but the ball came off the defender giving a corner to the home team.

Mumbai must be disappointed to have conceded right at the dying moments of the first half, though they played pretty well.

The Bengaluru defence looked absolutely solid in the past two games and did the same today.

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Leading telecom services provider Vodafone today launched its 4G services in this North Maharashtra city.

The services, which will provide customers faster access to Internet among other facilities, was launched in presence of Maharashtra Minister of State for Rural Development Dada Bhuse.

The company's 4G services will be available in 2,400 towns across the country by March, Ashish Chandra, Vodafone Business Head (Maharashtra & Goa Circle) told reporters here.

Built on 2100 MHz band, the state-of-the-art network will enable Vodafone customers faster Internet access across a range of smart devices.

"Maharashtra is a key market for us as. We are expanding our services in the State in a phased manner," Chandra said.

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Taking the Badal family head-on in their stronghold Lambi, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today said within 24 hours of his party forming government in the state, several OSDs and aides of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal will be thrown in jail.

Addressing his first public rally in Lambi after filing his nomination papers from the assembly constituency, Amarinder said the entire Badal clan, along with Bikram Singh Majithia, would also "find themselves behind bars" if found guilty of sacrilege and drugs trade.

"The day we come to power, within 24 hours, I will have Sukhbir's OSDs Dyal Singh Kolianwal (also an SGPC member) and Satinderjeet Singh Mantta as well as the Badals' close aide Tejinder Singh Middhukhera behind bars for atrocities to which they have subjected the people at the instigation of their political bosses," he said.

Informing that he had decided to contest from Lambi only to "teach the Badals a lesson", Amarinder said the day he wins the seat, Parkash Singh Badal "will run away and never show his face again."



Accusing Badal of "ruining" the state, and the entire "Badal clan", along with Bikram Singh Majithia of destroying Punjab's youth with drugs, the state Congress chief said that he "would not spare any of them".

He expressed serious concern over the problem of drugs in the state and vowed to rid the people of the menace.

Slamming Badal for trying to "polarize" the state on communal lines through incidents of sacrilege, Amarinder said he would get all such instances thoroughly probed and punish those found guilty.

He accused the Badals of "taking over" all key businesses in Punjab to "promote their family interests" and claimed the youth are suffering due to unemployment and farmers are committing suicide.

Informing that this is his last election, Amarinder urged the youth to come forward and "save" the state from the clutches of "such people who were out to loot and ruin them".

The Congress leader also came down heavily on AAP candidate Jarnail Singh, dubbing him an "outsider" and "chosen" to help Parkash Singh Badal win from Lambi.

"AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and his party have ruined Delhi, with no development or governance worth mentioning. Nineteen of his MLAs are embroiled in cases," Amarinder alleged, adding, "They now wanted to ruin Punjab where they are bringing in thousands of outsiders to wreak havoc."



"This shows that AAP has absolutely no place for Punjabis. This is the land of Punjabis and they will not tolerate such an assault on their psyche," he said.

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Two sisters today sought help from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in bringing back their mother who is stuck in Oman after being allegedly ill-treated by recruitment agents.

The women from Haryana sought her help through twitter.

Swaraj responding to their complaint asked Indian Embassy in Muscat to "file a case against the persons who indulged in human trafficking and ill-treated our national."



"@ProtectorGenGOI Pl take stringent action against this agent. We must take this to the logical conclusion./3 @Indemb_Muscat," Swaraj tweeted.

"The lady is in our shelter home. If possible please repatriate her," she asked Indian Ambassador in Oman.

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Mizoram Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (MPYCC) workers today took out a protest rally in front of the Sub Office of the Reserved Bank of India (RBI) here as part of the country-wide protests by the Congress against the demonetisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

The MPYCC, in a press statement, flayed the RBI for not doing enough to mitigate the sufferings of the common people due to demonetisation and also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inform the nation about the amount of 'black money' recovered after demonetisation.

"Modi should inform the people about the number of deaths caused due to demonetisation and proposal for giving ex-gratia to the kin of those who died," the statement demanded.

The Congress Youth workers also demanded lifting of withdrawal limits from the bank accounts by the RBI and that the banks should not take commission from digital transactions.

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By Yawen Chen and Elias Glenn

BEIJING (Reuters) - Prices of new homes in China grew last year at the fastest rate since 2011, but moderated enough in December to calm fears of a speculative bubble bursting with disastrous economic consequences.

The price moderation will come as a relief to China's leaders as they wrestle with economic targets for 2017.

Sources have told that Beijing is prepared to accept a more modest growth target of 6.5 percent this year as leaders tackle a mountain of debt built up over years of heavy official borrowing to fund stimulus campaigns.

China depended heavily on the surging real estate market and government stimulus to drive economic expansion in 2016. Now it is widely expected to report on Friday that it met its annual GDP growth target of 6.5 to 7 percent. [nL4N1F61EF]

Analysts say two forward-looking figures -- household loans and house sales -- have been indicative of the cooling trend in the property market.

"There's usually a two to three months' lag between housing transactions and prices. And housing sales really began to fall quite precipitously in November," said Jonas Short, head of investment bank NSBO's Beijing office.

Average new home prices in 70 major cities rose 12.4 percent in December from a year earlier, compared to November's record 12.6 percent rise, data from the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) showed.

National monthly growth cooled to 0.3 percent versus 0.6 percent in November, the NBS said.

Twelve 12 of 15 markets that had been singled out by authorities as overheating had price falls, a significant increase from November.

"Slow growth or slight price declines are exactly what the government wants," said Short.

ROBUST PRICES

China's leaders have pledged to strictly limit credit flowing into speculative buying in the housing market in 2017, which would allow it to focus on defusing explosive growth in corporate debt.

Those sentiments have been echoed by some local government heads, although local authorities are not always seen as eager to follow Beijing's property clampdowns due to the hefty revenues they garner from land sales. [nL4N1EB3KF][nL4N1EO2K0]

China's average home prices are forecast to rise 4.1 percent in 2017, while growth in property investment would rise 5.4 percent, a state-owned newspaper reported earlier this month, citing the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.[nL4N1EV3IO]

But authorities will be walking a fine line between curbing excessive price gains and clamping down too hard on a sector which accounts for about 15 percent of the economy.

After 2016's record surge, further sharp gains may also require more aggressive policy curbs, adding to risks of a price crash and a sharp knock for the economy.

While supply in popular big markets remained low, China's commercial housing inventory totalled 691 million square metres in November 2016, a mere 0.01 percent drop from the same time a year earlier, adding to headaches of policymakers who set destocking in smaller cities as a priority last year.

STILL UNAFFORDABLE

Wednesday's data showed eye-popping price rises in 2016, despite a slowdown in growth late in the year.

Prices in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing prices rose 23.5 percent, 26.5 percent and 25.9 percent from 2015.

"To buy a house in Shanghai, I definitely can't do it alone, I'd need my parents to help," said 28 year-old Barret Xu, a designer in Shanghai.

Even in some of China's second-tier cities, investors are becoming wary of the potential risks from very high prices.

In Hefei, a long-time top price-rise performer, average new home prices rose 46.3 percent in 2016, Wednesday's data showed, despite posting a 0.2 price decline on a monthly basis in December.

A Hefei homeowner who only gave his last name as Zhou, who already has three properties in the city, said prices have skyrocketed and he is not willing to bet further on that market.

"The average prices are about 20,000 yuan per square metre and prices are still rising at about 1,000 yuan per month. It's way to high, Hefei is just barely a second-tier city," Zhou said.

"The rich people from Zhejiang province and Shanghai can afford to buy tens and hundreds of houses here, but the locals can't afford that," he said.

On Wednesday, a state-owned newspaper quoted a researcher for the cabinet as saying China should put a cap on the prices at which new homes are sold. [nL4N1F83KV]

"The government should strengthen price controls on commercial housing to prohibit exorbitant profits by executing a price cap on new houses, which should be calculated by adding reasonable profits, say at maximum 20 percent, to costs," said Tang Yuan, department chief at the Policy Research Office of the State Council.

(Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk, Yawen Chen and Elias Glenn; Additional Reporting by Ziye Lin; Editing by Eric Meijer)

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The Union Budget this year seems particularly important in the aftermath of the Indias biggest decision of 2016  demonetisation and preceding elections in UP. A recent report by Ambit capital suggests that Union Budget is likely to be focussed primarily on reinforcing the black money crackdown theme with a secondary focus on delivering token payments to the poor as well as income tax cuts.
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Teachers in California may soon have a new curriculum to teachone to help students recognize fake news.

Two bills introduced last week by Democratic lawmakers call for the state to develop curriculum standards that teach students how to evaluate online news , reports the Los Angeles Times.

One bill, brought to the table by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, would require curriculum standards that include civic online reasoning so students can learn to tell the difference between news that informs and news that misleads. A separate bill by state Sen. Bill Dodd asks the state education board to come up with a media literacy curriculum framework.

The rise of fake and misleading news is deeply concerning. Even more concerning is the lack of education provided to ensure people can distinguish what is fact and whats not, Dodd said in a statement.

A recent study from Stanford University revealed that many teenagers struggle to determine the credibility of what they read online ; other research shows students will often take a story that turns up at the top of search results as truth before looking at its source.

But what exactly is fake news? Misinformation online isnt a new phenomenon, but the term gained more attention during the presidential election. Several recent reports of fake news and research like the Stanford study showcase the need for students to develop sleuthing skills. Simply stated, the term refers to online viral stories that are factually inaccurate. But there is disagreement about what constitutes fake news, according to the LA Times. President-elect Donald Trump used the term earlier this month to describe news coverage by BuzzFeed and CNN of a report that contained unverified allegations about Trumps potential ties to Russia.

My colleague Ben Herold recently took a closer look at the rising need for media literacy . Whether its identifying internet hoaxes or partisan advocacy masked as unbiased news, the responsibility is often on teachers to help students sort truth from fiction. In fact, several nonprofit media groups began a campaign last fall urging states to pass legislation that would improve digital citizenship .

So how would curricula and other resources help students learn to recognize fake news?

One resource is Newsela, an education startup providing online news articles to boost literacy. The organization partnered with the American Press Institute to help students think more critically about the articles theyre reading . When students access the site on an electronic device, they are required to ask questions about facts and bias while reading.

PBS NewsHour offers lessons plans for media literacy , citing The News Literacy Project (and its checklist of questions for detecting fake news ), National Association for Media Literacy Education , Media Education Lab , and the Center for Media Literacy as helpful resources.

And Education Week opinion blogger Patrick Larkin also provides resources for spotting fake news in a recent post for Reinventing K-12 Learning. He suggests toolkits from Common Sense Media and the School Library Journal, as well as asking students to search if other news outlets are reporting the same story, research the author, and check the links and sources.

Teachers, what do you use to help students develop detective skills for navigating the world of online information?

Source: Image by Flickr user Frederico Cintra licensed under Creative Commons
Slamming the government's decision on demonetisation, Arun Shourie said that it was the 'greatest economic blunder in 70 years'.

Speaking at the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru on Tueday, the former minister in Vajpayee's government said, "Demonetisation is the symptom of a pattern of government where there is no consultation. It may happen again and again. The fact that somebody keeps winning elections is no reason to change our mind. Those who vote will vote on other considerations, and they do not know how economy should be run."

Targeting PM Modi, he said, "Somebody gets a brainwave, and because nobody can oppose them, there is demonetisation".

"You can see this from the fact that every day they are inventing something new - wherever the arrow falls that is the target. It is governance by illumination and revelation", he further added.





Meanwhile, RBI Governor Urjit Patel will brief a parliamentary panel today on issues concerning demonetisation and its implications on the economy.

The Standing Committee on Finance, under the chairmanship of Congress leader M Veerappa Moily, was briefed about demonetisation by various experts.

Independent experts who offered their view before the panel were noted economists Rajiv Kumar and Mahesh Vyas, former chief statistician Pronab Sen and NIPFPs Kavita Rao. The experts, according to the sources, were divided on the governments decision of cash recall.

The panel also sought to know from the experts their opinion on the existing cash to GDP and tax to GDP ratios.


Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel is learnt to have told the parliamentary panel on demonetisation that discussions between the central bank and the government on the process began early last year.

Congress members of the committee asked questions like whose decision was it to withdraw high currency notes and also about autonomy of RBI, sources said.

BJP members of the panel, headed by Congress leader Veerappa Moily, however, chose not to raise much questions during the meeting, they added.

The questions put up by the panel ranged from the total amount of money that came back during the demonetisation period to the total amount of new bills of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 that were printed and sent to the banks.

ALSO READ: Three reasons Indian IT is wary of Donald Trump administration



It is also learnt that Manmohan Singh, one of the members who had described demonetisation as monumental management failure, too raised questions on the issue.

Sources said Patel told the Parliament standing committee on finance over the demonetisation issue that discussions between the central bank and the government were taking place since early last year.

The Finance Ministry has sought time from the panel to provide answers to the queries raised during the meeting in which the Finance Secretary made a presentation before the committee, the sources said, adding that the members seemed not too satisfied with the replies.

The crucial meeting was held to discuss the "demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and the impact thereof".

Patel is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.
Delhiites will get a slice of the extravagant New Year celebrations held in China at a cultural show organised by Embassy of the People's Republic of China here.

The event scheduled to be held today at Kamani auditorium here, will celebrate the Chinese New Year 2017 with performances by award-winning theatre group 'Xinjiang Art Theater Song and Dance Troupe' from China, while aiming to strengthen bilateral cultural cooperation between the two nations.

The Chinese New Year 2017 - the year of the Fire Rooster, which begins on January 28, comes with its own set of traditions to ensure a healthy as well as prosperous year ahead.

"Chinese New Year is one of the most important traditional festivals in China and now is getting popular in many parts of the world. I believe the celebrations will make Indian people know more about the diversified and rich culture of China, thus further deepening cultural cooperation and exchange between our two great countries," Zhang Zhihong, Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of China in India said.





The evening will witness an array of performances by Troupe including Group dance 'Celebration' (group dance), 'Play Diabolo' (acrobatics), 'Stomping' (group dance), 'Hand Techniques' (acrobatics), 'Melody of Love' (Double Dance), 'Shaking Hula Hoops' (acrobatics), 'Flower Pattern Waistband' (group dance), 'Ode to Motherhood' (solo song), 'Good Days' (solo song), 'Bowl Dance', 'Kumuzi' (group dance), 'Jula' (group dance), 'Kicking Bowls' (acrobatics) among others.

"I congratulate all my Chinese friends on the occasion of Chinese New Year and wish to bring more cultural troupes and artistic treasures from China to India to celebrate such occasions.

"I am very happy to bring Xinjiang Art Theater Song and Dance Troupe to India to perform among Indian audiences," Mohammed Saqib, Secretary General,India China Economic and Cultural Council, said.
Yoga is now set for promotion in Peru, Bolivia and adjoining parts of Latin America, with an MoU being signed here in this regard.

The Embassy of India in Peru's capital Lima has taken up the responsibility for the promotion of Voluntary Scheme for Evaluation and Certification of Yoga Professionals, developed by the Quality Council of India (QCI) at the bidding of the Ministry of AYUSH.

To formalise it, Indian Ambassador to Peru and Bolivia Sandeep Chakravorty and QCI Secretary General Ravi P Singh signed the MoU here in the presence of Joint Secretary in the Ministry of AYUSH A K Ganeriwala.

The initiative is in pursuance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on spreading the traditional knowledge of India worldwide with credible systems, thus providing India leadership in assuring quality of Yoga practices, according to a press release issued by the QCI here.

Ganeriwala explained the genesis of the development of the Yoga Scheme for Yoga Professional and Yoga School. He congratulated QCI for commendable work in pursuing the objective of Promotion of Yoga in the national and international arena, the release said.

On the occasion, Chakravorty promised all support to take forward the objectives of the MoU for the promotion of the scheme in Peru, Bolivia and other Latin American countries.

Singh, in his opening remarks, briefed about the various steps taken up by QCI in designing the scheme based on international best practices involving renowned Yoga personalities from various streams of Yoga.




Axis Bank's innovation lab, Thought Factory, in Bangalore is working closely with the bank's business teams and the start-up community to drive cutting edge innovation through collaboration. Set up in June last year, close to a dozen young engineers have been asked to work on blockchain, artificial intelligence, mobility and cloud technologies, to make banking easier for the customer. "Digital experiences and technology are changing very fast. You have the option of building (expertise) on your own or use the route of collaboration," says Rajiv Anand, Group Executive and Head of Retail, Banking, Axis Bank.

These new technologies are all set to disrupt many of the banking functions - credit, deposits, wealth management, customer service, mobile payments and cyber security. Going by the trend, globally, the third largest private bank in India has created an institutional framework for innovation to achieve the next level of growth. Axis Mobile, a digital wallet, for instance, has doubled its user base to 2.4 million in 2015/16, and witnessed transaction volumes of 8 million amounting to Rs 7,500 crore. The bank has also launched several digital and mobile services, including the option to open savings accounts on the go. Last fiscal year, it also launched INSTA Personal Loan facility, where eligible customers could get pre-approved loans credited to their accounts instantly through ATMs, Axis Mobile App and Internet banking platforms.

A busy 2015/16 in terms of innovations has earned Axis Bank the 'Best Digital Bank' award in the country. In fact, the bank is among the top three large banks in terms of financial performance. It has scored very high on parameters such as cost-to-income ratio, capital adequacy, return on assets and return on capital employed. The bank is at the top in terms of its fee income contribution to total income (13.76 per cent), followed by HDFC Bank (12.18 per cent) and ICICI Bank (11.30 per cent).

"We are working on a chatbot solution, which uses artificial intelligence. This is an area which is expected to expand very rapidly because anything that is repetitive in nature will come under robotics software," says Anand, adding that the services will soon be ready to roll.

Globally, Royal Bank of Scotland is trying out a virtual chatbot, Luvo. Back home, ICICI Bank has already come out with software robotics and claims there are over 200 robots performing over 10 lakh transactions per day. By the end of the fiscal year, ICICI plans to deploy 500 such robots to help automate 20 per cent of its total transactions. HDFC Bank, too, is in an advanced stage to roll out its robotic offering.

Axis Bank has about 3,000 branches and 12,743 ATMs. "The rate of growth of people will be faster in the front end than the back end. Even if transactions double, the people at the back end will not double. Therefore, you have to use technology and keep killing costs," says Anand. The bank currently has one of the lowest cost-to-income ratio at 0.39. "The bank's retail advances is at 41 per cent of its total advances. As the retail advances grow, the cost-to-income ratio will also move northwards," says a public sector banker.

Anand is also upbeat with the introduction of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), with Axis Bank witnessing 1.6 million downloads so far. "As a banking system, there are one million transactions a day on UPI. It will only grow big in the days to come," he says. Similarly, Bharat Bill Payment System will also provide a level-playing field to all banks, including those who were lagging in technology. "Customer experience, speed and convenience are going to make a difference and will determine which bank's app the customer is going to use in an interoperable environment," he adds.

Demonetisation has also come as a shot in the arm for many digitally-advanced banks. The average daily debit card transaction volumes of Axis have more than doubled post demonetisation. "We are seeing a fundamental shift in debit card usage from pure ATM withdrawal to shopping," says Anand. While the POS network is still limited in India, Axis Bank is very active in acquiring merchants. "Our transactions at POS machines have also more than doubled post the currency ban," he adds.

Meanwhile, Anand feels the most important thing in digital banking is cyber security. "You have to have the capabilities to detect and respond very quickly," he says. Axis Bank will surely bank on Thought Factory to play an active role in guiding it to stay ahead of hackers. ~

@anandadhikari
Delhi High Court is hearing a plea from Japanese drug major Daiichi Sankyo, to prevent the erstwhile promoters of Ranbaxy pharmaceuticals - brothers Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh - from diluting their stake in Fortis Healthcare.

Daiichi's request is part of the ongoing legal proceedings it had initiated against the Singh brothers, after it won a case against the latter in the International Arbitration Centre, Singapore early last year.

The tribunal award had permitted Daiichi to seek $385 million as compensation from Singh brothers, after two of the three members of the tribunal found merit in Daiichi's allegation that the brothers had concealed certain facts from the Japanese company, when they sold their 34.82 per cent stake in Ranbaxy to the latter in 2008. The third member of the panel, India's former chief justice A M Ahmadi, had given a dissenting opinion on all the claims made by Daiichi.

The Delhi High Court petition, lodged soon after by Daiichi, was to enforce the tribunal award and recover the money. Daiichi's plea to seek an assurance from Singh brothers, in spite of an earlier verbal assurance provided by the brothers in the court to not alienate their assets in the interim, was to ensure that the brothers retain their existing assets until the completion of the recovery process, in case of a favourable court verdict.

The fact that Fortis Healthcare Ltd. had received Board and Shareholders' approval in August and September 2016 respectively, to raise funds up to Rs 5,000 crore was also a reason why Daiichi decided to make an extra care to ensure that the promoters do not dilute their stake, to infuse funds into the hospital chain.



With the final hearing of the petition set to begin in March, there may not be any major stake sale by the promoters before the outcome of the arbitration case.

The reason to track Daiichi - Singh brothers' case, though, is something else. It is a pointer to the manner international arbitrations proceeds works or do not work.

The law governing this particular dispute is Indian law. And the main argument of the Singh brothers is that the Singapore tribunal's arbitration award to Daiichi can't be enforced under Indian law. Daiichi is seeking compensation for the expenses it had to incur because of Ranbaxy's problems with US drug regulator FDA. Singh brothers say that the quantum of compensation was something that was decided long after they sold their company to Daiichi. They argue that the tribunal was not entitled to award consequential damages as there are substantive objections that exist under India's arbitration law to make the order unenforceable.

It may not be exactly comparable, but TATA group's explanation to not being able to pay its former telecom joint venture partner Docomo (which incidentally is also a Japanese company) the damages it was contractually obliged was also to do with apex banker Reserve Bank of India's forex regulations. Docomo had won an arbitration against Tata in the London Court of International Arbitration and had faced this argument when it moved Indian courts to enforce the arbitration award. The Tata's defence was that India's rules didn't permit them to make that payment.

Daiichi-Singh brother case, thus is another reminder of the messy and uncertain nature of arbitration.
On January 10th, in a 100 word press release, Japanese pharma major Daiichi Sankyo announced that the company had decided to "to close its research subsidiary, Daiichi Sankyo India Pharma Private Limited."

The research subsidiary is located at Gurgaon, near Delhi and the move was meant "to increase R&D productivity." This left many in the pharma industry, particularly those among the pharma scientific community baffled, as they are still trying to read how the company could enhance its R&D productivity by moving out of a geography, which was meant to have strategic importance.

In fact, just little over six months ago, Yoshio Uchida, the Vice President & Head, Operations & Management for Daiichi Sankyo India Pharma Private Limited, as the entity was called in India, had told Business Today, that the research Centre in India is the global centre for Infectious disease area. The centre in India was mainly focused on infectious diseases (research in antibiotics) and on inflammation. These areas are not new to Daiichi.

In fact, it has had blockbusters in the antibiotics several years ago. Uchida had also said: "With change in circumstance and necessity to focus on limited therapeutic area, Daiichi Sankyo decided to downsize research activity for infectious disease in Japan and to shift these activity to the research centre in India." This research centre at Gurgaon was the last remnant, in terms of a direct physical presence, of the Japanese pharma major in India.

Its misadventure in India had began in June 2008 with the acquisition of Ranbaxy in an over $4-billion deal (around Rs 20,000 crore then) with the promise of utilising Ranbaxy's resources to become a 'global pharma innovator'. What, however, followed were a series of run-ins with the US drug regulatory, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), over drug quality. Daiichi finally divested Ranbaxy to Sun Pharmaceuticals in April 2014 but it retained the R&D part.

Apparently, while officials at Daiichi would not say much, Business Today learned that while the Indian market per se was not of much significance to Daiichi, the research centre made sense, since it seemed to have provided talent capability plus the benefit of a region that was beginning to cope with the serious problem of antibiotic resistance. So, the bacterial population required for the company's study is higher here and perhaps there are some cost advantages, too.

Daiichi Sankyo has had a long history of innovation in infectious disease and would have known better. But now, the company says, it is reviewing its global R&D system with the aim of decreasing R&D operations costs and redistributing resources to the further development of its R&D pipeline. The Indian entity, it says, employed approximately 170 people, mainly engaged in conducting drug discovery research targeting infectious diseases and inflammation. It further added that following its closure, the R&D pipeline here will be transferred to Daiichi Sankyo's R&D Division.

"It is sad because there is hardly any MNC research happening in antibiotics out of India and this was a good case of R&D being done by an MNC in India," says Bugworks CEO Anand Anandkumar. Bugworks is a Bangalore based 18-member company that is working on drug-resistant and hospital-acquired infections since January 2014.

He also feels the argument on R&D productivity is hard to fathom because the two have nothing to do with each other and this move cannot be seen as one that would in any way raise the productivity. He says, as far as R&D productivity is concerned, it has been low overall globally and big pharma has been struggling with this. "The only silver lining," he says, from a Bugworks' perspective, "is that if bigger boys vacate the space, it only means innovation will need to happen out of smaller companies."

Others also speculate that the move has perhaps something to do with the fact that the it has been quite a while since the company has had a new blockbuster in anti-infective space and the field is getting challenging constantly with more bug resistance building. Therefore getting the right antidote has become a moving target. Others in the industry also see the move as a possible reflection of the company trying to cope with cost pressures with its major blood pressure medication getting off patent in the US.
Juveniles in NJ Won't Face Life Sentences for Non-Homicide Crimes

The Supreme Court for the state of New Jersey, in an opinion released last week, just changed the way judges in the state will sentence most juvenile offenders. The opinion, which actually decided two criminal conviction sentencing appeals, centered on whether a juvenile should be sentenced to life without parole for a non-homicide related crime.

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that not only should juveniles not get life without parole, they ruled that sentences that are in essence, life without parole, (i.e. 75 year sentences) are functionally the same thing as a life sentence.

Agreeing With the US Supreme Court

Following the rational of a 2012 US Supreme Court decision basically prohibiting (as unconstitutional) life sentences for juveniles that hadn't killed anyone, the high court in NJ ruled in favor of two violent criminals, who were both sentenced to "functional" life terms at the age of 17.

Now, the lower courts in each case must revisit the sentences of those two convicts and issue a new sentence. In one of the two cases, a significantly shortened sentence could result in the release of one of the convicts, since the original conviction happened 36 years ago, in 1981, and each will surely be given credit for time served.

Juvenile Crime and Serious Time

While neither of the two convicts committed a murder themselves, there is no dispute as to the seriousness of their offenses. One was convicted of two gang rapes, while the other was convicted on multiple armed robbery charges (wherein an accomplice shot and killed a person during one robbery). Both were sentenced at the age of 17, and the soonest either would be eligible for parole wouldn't be until after they reached 70 years old.

While some might find these sentences appropriate, factually, they are inconsistent with the norms of punishment. For instance, in some states, a murder charge would result in lesser punishment than either of the 17 year old convicts received for their lesser crimes. Even in New Jersey, a person convicted of first degree murder could face a sentence of only 30 years.

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Pinching Butts Is Illegal and Gets Connecticut Politician Arrested

News broke last week that a Connecticut Republican politician, 71-year-old Christopher von Keyserling, was arrested and charged as a result of a sexual assault he allegedly committed a month prior. The incident, captured on a security camera, involved the politician pinching a woman's backside, who then admonished him. The politician, through his attorney, asserts that the action was a playful gesture and trivial.

Nevertheless, the politician was arrested last Wednesday for the assault which occurred on December 9, 2016. The victim stated that Keyserling allegedly said to her during an exchange prior to the incident that in "this new world," he "no longer [had] to be politically correct." Also, Keyserling allegedly threatened, after the incident, that if she complained, it would be his word against hers, implying his word carried more weight. Now, it really is, but unfortunately for Keyserling, police believe the video evidence backs up the victim's story.

Grabbing Is Illegal

Grabbing another person without consent can be illegal. Context is very important, but if the person doing the grabbing is wrong, they can be civilly and criminally liable. Generally, state laws provide that intentional unwanted touching of any kind does not have to be tolerated. There is no fundamental, constitutional right to touch another person, and even gentle touches can lead to legal liability.

However, grabbing, pinching, and slapping, even playfully, are not gentle touches, especially, if they are done to a person's sensitive or private areas. Additionally, even if there is no physical injury, an unwanted touching can result in emotional harm. The gist of most states' laws is that any harmful touching is afforded protection according to the level of harm. Unwanted sexual touching tends to be afforded the most protection.

In Keyserling's case, while the politician may believe a simple pinch on the butt is a sign of affection and a playful way to tease a potential love interest, he is mistaken to believe this sort of conduct is within the law or becoming of a lawmaker. While it is expected that he will plead not guilty, it will be an interesting case to follow.

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Court Approves Limits on Protests for Trump's Inauguration

Freedom Plaza rises grandly above the parade that courses through Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day, a tradition that marks the election of a new president ever since George Washington took office in 1789.

Thousands of spectators line up along Pennsylvania Avenue from the U.S. Capitol to the White House to see the next President of the United States. They crowd together on the sidewalks, parks, and plazas. On Freedom Plaza, parade organizers, media representatives, and other ticket holders take their seats on bleachers set up by the parade committee for the historic event.

But a protest group sued over the exclusive seating, saying the bleachers restricted their freedom of speech. They contended that the prime spot unconstitutionally favored the government's message to its own.

Constitutional Bleachers

Three days before the next inauguration, a federal appeals court denied their petition. The U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia said that the placement of the bleachers is content-neutral and that the restriction on the plaza's use is narrowly tailored to fit the government's interest in conducting a parade.

"This case presents a controversy that is likely to arise every four years," the appeals panel said, noting that the protest group first complained in 2005 and has demonstrated at both Republican and Democrat inaugurations since then. While the judges turned back their challenge to displace the parade committee's seating, they also acknowledged their right to protest.

"One of the great accomplishments of our Constitution is its guarantee of the people's right to take to the streets to say what they think," Judge Nina Pillard wrote for the unanimous court.

More Spots Available

In applying for a permit in 2013, the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition sought space for a multimedia demonstration, with "signs, placards, banners, stage, sound, bleachers, art installation, props, canopies, and other facilitative materials." The National Park Service, which regulates use of the area, informed ANSWER that it would be permitted to use a 160-foot long by 35-foot wide portion of Freedom Plaza for its Inauguration Day demonstration.

The park service allocated 70 percent of the public space for the public, 17 percent for the media and 13 percent for committee -- including the bleachers. In considering the demonstrators' challenge to the allocation, the court said it was content-neutral because any ticket holder -- including an ANSWER sympathizer -- could take a seat on the committee bleachers.

"The regulation itself is agnostic as to whether the persons to be seated will even be supporters of, or chosen by, the incoming president, let alone whether they will express themselves in any particular way," the court said. "Consistent with the rule, President Obama's 2009 Inaugural Committee, for example, offered some of its bleacher seats at a nominal price to any member of the public."

Relate Resources:
| BY Ricki Green |

Ancestry has announced the launched of its new locally-produced content series Its a Small World via Sydney branded content agency hellofuture.tv, which will be available through digital and social platforms from today.

Its a Small World is a four-part online series that takes 17 residents of a non-descript apartment block in Bondi Beach, Sydney, on a DNA journey of discovery, revealing both what connects us and makes each of us unique.

In a serendipitous turn of events, the randomly-chosen residents  tested via AncestryDNA analysis  collectively represent all 26 ethnic regions available from the AncestryDNA test, turning the small, unremarkable block of flats in Bondi into a microcosm of human diversity.

The notion of Australias increasing diversity and our nations progress towards becoming a truly multicultural society, is supported by the fact that one participants DNA results alone reveals an incredible 18 ethnic regions. In a nod to our historic heritage, the average number of ethnicities each resident had was nine, while the most common ethnicities present in the group were Great Britain, Ireland, Iberian Peninsula, Italy & Greece, and Western European.

Bondi resident Simon Edds discovered that his DNA is comprised of an array of backgrounds, including Scandinavia and Finland / Northwest Russia, a surprise for someone who previously identified themselves as simply Australian.

Says Edds: Im really blown away by this. Im connected to Europe I feel closer to everyone now. If this is just localised in one apartment building, imagine if more people around the world took this test and shared that connection.

Says Nigel Seeto, senior marketing manager at Ancestry: Storytelling is at the heart of the Ancestry experience, and with Its a Small World we recognised the unique position we were in to create immersive content that really brought these stories to life for our audience. Its been amazing to go on a journey with these Bondi residents and share the personal discoveries from their DNA in this way. The series gives us a snapshot of just some of the individual histories stretching back thousands of years that make up modern, diverse Australia.

Says Pablo Jeffress, director and founder at hellofuture.tv: Ancestry presents such an amazing opportunity for branded content and their DNA product was a perfect vehicle for storytelling. We established the proposition Ancestry DNA changes the way you see the world, and then, using broadcast researchers, searched far and wide across Sydney to find our apartment block, unveiling these amazing personalities and stories. Now this group of previous strangers have a shared experience and discovered their shared ethnicities. It really does prove that we have more in common than we realise, and that theres only one race  the human race. Though now Ive discovered Ive got Irish in me its also a good excuse to drink more Guinness.

Creative/Production Agency: hellofuture.tv

Creative Director: Pablo Jeffress

Executive Producer: Emily Bull

Producer: Emily Bull, Charlie Billeh, Jo Yates

Director: Pablo Jeffress

DOP: Max Lebigre
| BY Ricki Green |

Bega Cheese Limited has today announced it has reached agreement to buy Mondelez Internationals Australia and New Zealand grocery and cheese business (MDLZ Grocery Business) and with it some of Australias most iconic brands.

The sale includes brands such as Vegemite, ZoOsh and Bonox  and other products using the Kraft brand under license for items such as peanut butter, nut spreads, processed cheese slices, ambient cheese spread, mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, Kraft Easy Mac and Kraft Mac & Cheese. It also includes the Port Melbourne site. Bega will also receive a license to the Dairylea brand for use in Australia and New Zealand. Philadelphia is not included in the deal.

The company will pay AU$460 million for the business and the acquisition is said to be the next step in the Bega evolution towards becoming a great branded Australian food company.

The executive chairman of Bega Cheese, Barry Irvin said he was incredibly proud that an Australian company, that has transformed itself from a dairy farmer co-operative into a major ASX listed billion-dollar business, is today acquiring the iconic and culturally significant brand Vegemite.

Says Irvin: The wonderful heritage and values that Vegemite represents and its importance to Australian culture makes its combination with Bega Cheese truly exciting. Bega is a company with humble origins and to be in a position to be able to take on a business of this scale and with brands including Vegemite is a testament to how far we have come.

Says Amanda Banfield, vice president Australia, New Zealand and Japan for Mondelez International: Its been an absolute honour and privilege to have nurtured brands such as Vegemite for the past 90 years. But as we further our focus on core snacking categories and global Power Brands, the time is right for these brands to take the next step in their journey. We are pleased to have found a home for these talented people and grocery brands in a company that shares our passion for their future.
| BY Ricki Green |

Coca-Cola South Pacific has today announced details of its Fuze Tea summer campaign via Ogilvy, Sydney, which will accelerate consumer trial and build on the already strong results achieved since launching last year. To achieve this, Fuze Tea will take surprising fusions to the next level by closely aligning the product with food moments.

Targeting 30-49 year old females, the brand is tapping into Australian consumers obsession with food, with insights revealing that the Fuze Tea audience enjoys not only eating out, but also takes pride in entertaining and making meals at home for friends.

Research results have shown that 80 per cent of people have been to a restaurant with friends in the last month, confirming that social occasions are ingrained in Aussie culture.

The launch of a multimillion dollar integrated marketing campaign in 2017 will push the idea that Fuze Teas surprising, deliciously good fusions can enhance social moments with food. The campaign will deliver mass awareness through new, large format out of home advertising placed in iconic locations, including the iconic Kings Cross Coke sign, as well as high foot traffic food courts. Experiential activations, distributing 300,000 samples over summer and activating food outlets will drive trial and continue the strong food association through the line.

Fuze Tea will also seek to dominate screens with mass reaching TV and targeted food specific sponsorships with Channel 7, Channel 9, Channel Ten, SBS Food and Lifestyle FOOD.

The brands audience will be encouraged to create their own fusions at home using customised video recipes promoted on two of the largest online food properties, Tasty and taste.com.au, reaching around two and a half million consumers.

Says Emma Harper, brand manager, Fuze Tea: Since launching Fuze Tea in Australia last year, the brand has gone from strength to strength and we know consumers love the taste of our surprising fusions. This summer campaign is all about further building brand awareness.

Aussies have fallen in love with the exotic and unexpected flavour combinations of Fuze Tea and we hope many continue to enjoy the various fusions while celebrating social occasions with friends and family this summer.
| BY Ricki Green |

Award winning creative Joe Hawkins has departed 303MullenLowe, Perth to begin a creative group head role at Marketforce in Perth.

Hawkins returned to Perth just over two years ago, having spent eight years working at some of the regions best creative agencies, including DDB New Zealand, R/GA Singapore, and Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney.

Hes been awarded at every major local and international award show, most recently picking up three Silvers at the London International Awards for his IKEA radio work. Hes also had the rare honour of winning New Zealands FairGo Best Ad Award  a publicly voted televised award  two years in a row for his work with MasterCard and the All Blacks.

Joining Marketforce is a homecoming of sorts, as its the agency Hawkins interned at 15yrs ago, and where Pat Lennox and Ben Green were both working at the time.

Says Hawkins: Its funny how these things work out. Ive admired Pat and Bens work for bloody ages, and weve kept in touch over the years. Needless to say when the casual chats started turning a little more casual job interview, I was pretty excited.
| BY Ricki Green |

The prestigious global FWA Of The Year Award and FWA Peoples Choice Award has been won by R/GA Sydneys interactive film for Through the Dark  the song written by Dan Smith (MC Pressure) as his son underwent treatment for leukaemia.

FWAs mission is to showcase cutting-edge creativity from individuals, agencies and brands worldwide, with past winners including 24 Hours of Happy, Museum of Me and Googles The Wilderness Downtown. A panel of 200 international judges selected Through the Dark as the 2016 FWA Of The Year, while the Peoples Choice Award was decided by the community of FWA users who cast nearly 8,000 votes.

The award-winning work used cutting-edge mobile and digital technology to convey a moving personal story, capturing a sense of a world turned upside down. Rotating and tilting phones enabled users to navigate a path through a father and sons journey in two 3D animated environments  the dark representing fear and the light representing hope. A link at the end of the film also allowed users to listen to the Hilltop Hoods album, Drinking From The Sun, Walking Under Stars Restrung via Google Play Music, generating a $1 donation each time to youth cancer organization CanTeen.

Says Rob Ford, founder, FWA: Its been years since I saw a project that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. When I first saw Through the Dark, I immediately thought it could go on to win FWA of the Year, and I havent had that feeling for many years. The fact that it also scooped FWA Peoples Choice Award as well, only the third time in our 17-year history, further demonstrates what an incredible project it is.

Says Hamish Stewart, ECD, R/GA Sydney: Were very humbled to have received these awards. The stars were aligned for this work: an amazing client in Google, an incredible artist in Hilltop Hoods, a powerful track, fantastic partners and a passionate, world-class team at R/GA Sydney driving the project. Its been a great privilege to help tell this story, so were delighted to see it receive this level of recognition on the global stage.

Says Sophie Hirst from Google Australia: We set out to bring art and technology together, creating something that immersed fans in the world the song describes and allowed them to feel the emotion of the story. Its been magic to see the reaction of people experiencing Through the Dark for the first time, and an honour to be recognised by the FWA with these coveted awards.
| BY Lynchy |

AdFest will be joined by one of Dentsu Inc.s top creative visionaries, Yasuharu Sasaki, in Pattaya Thailand where he will lead the Interactive Lotus & Mobile Lotus categories as Jury President. AdFest runs from 22nd to 25th March.

Sasaki (pictured) joined Dentsu Inc. as a Copywriter over 20 years ago in 1995. Since then, hes established a reputation for experimenting with technologies and inventing next-generation concepts that extend beyond traditional advertising as the agencys Head of Digital Creative and Executive Creative Director, based in Tokyo.

Its a really great honor to be a Jury President of Interactive Lotus and Mobile Lotus at AdFest 2017. Overseeing these two categories will give me the opportunity to bring to light the local cultures and the way of thinking of the people who belong to these cultures. I also look forward to discovering the agencies and thinkers who are shaping our industrys future, and hopefully Ill get to meet them at the festival in March, says Sasaki, or Yasu to those who know him.

With a background in computer science, Sasaki loves inventing ideas and products that live outside the traditional realm of advertising. As an innovator, its no surprise that hes won countless awards at the Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Spikes, AdFest and Clios.

At Dentsu, Yasu leads innovation teams who are inventing and developing the kinds of services, products and platforms that are revolutionizing our industry. As a digital innovator, hes the ideal person to lead our Interactive and Mobile categories at AdFestT this year, says Jimmy Lam, AdFest President.
"You'll get the chair for this!"

"They'll give me the same voltage for killing four as they would for killing three!"

When you have an actor whose career is known for playing a certain sort of character, it's great to see that person in their prime before they were known for a certain sort of schtick. Believe it or not, Vincent Price wasn't always "that guy in the horror" movies. Before he would be known for tying himself to adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe and schlocky Roger Corman pictures, Price was a dynamic actor of the stage and screen. It was only when his career hit a crossroads that he became known as a star of horror pictures. With Andre De Toth's chilling 1953 film 'The House of Wax 3D,' the foundation was dug and John Brahm's 1954 film 'The Mad Magician 3D' - both produced by Brian Foy - would cement Vincent Price as the leading man of horror.

Don Gallico (Vincent Price) was destined for the stage. As a master craftsman of dangerous death-defying illusions and makeup effects, Gallico can imitate anyone perfectly - including rival magicians. But he shouldn't be known merely as Don Gallico, no, he should be The Great Gallico! He should have his face on theater posters, his name in giant letters on the marquee, and his place should be center stage when the curtain comes up. Unfortunately, Gallico is stuck in a lifetime contract with the unscrupulous Ross Ormond (Donald Randolph) which forces him to create illusions for other magicians without ever getting credit. When his latest creation, the Buzzsaw is taken away by Ross and the hack magician Rinaldi (John Emery), Gallico's thread of sanity is stretched to its frayed end. As his murders stack up, Gallico inches closer to owning the center stage, but the inquisitive nature of his assistant Karen (Mary Murphy), her boyfriend Police Lt. Bruce (Patrick O'Neal) and an imaginative novelist Alice Prentiss (Lenita Lane) could put an end to Gallico's dream of stardom.

If you watch enough movies you're well aware of Hollywood's grand practice of imitating and ripping itself off. When a particular story is a hit, you can bet that another studio has got two more just like it in the pipeline waiting for a release date. It wasn't uncommon for the same studio to reuse the same script, simply retitle it, change the names and location and audiences would get to see a "different and new" movie - even though they just saw it a couple months earlier. As one sits down to enjoy 'The Mad Magician' it shouldn't take too long to start to feel like you've already seen this film previously when it was called 'House of Wax.' In a nutshell, they're very much the same movie with similar plot mechanics. The only major difference here is Vincent Price is an illusionist rather than a sculptor. While there may be similarities between these two films, they're very different animals allowing 'The Mad Magician' to stand beside its sibling 'House of Wax' rather than in that film's shadow.

For starters, most of the plot beats and their mechanics are indeed similar, but this film embraces a devilishly dark sense of humor. While Price and the rest of the cast play their parts straight as an arrow, there is this sinister desire by the audience to see Gallico exact his brand of vengeance. In 'House of Wax,' Price played a genuine madman in Prof. Jarrod whose penchant for murder went beyond revenge. Here in 'The Mad Magician,' Vincent's Gallico is far more sympathetic. He's an honest man pushed into madness by a controlling boss, a thieving colleague, and a cheating wife played by a delightfully gold-digging Eva Gabor. You actually want to see these people dispatched in the worst ways! While there may not be any blood or gore, your imagination is allowed to run wild between a gigantic whirling buzzsaw or a fiery crematorium. Coupled with the means of dispatching his enemies, we're treated to Vincent Price in some impressive makeup imitating his victims (with a little post-production dubbing) in front of various people so as to create an alibi for himself working to build a sense of mystery and dread throughout the picture.

Added to the sense of dark humor is the wonderful presence of Lenita Lane as the mystery novelist Alice Prentiss. As we're introduced to her, we're treated with how her mind works as she can take a newspaper headline and spin a wild and crazy murder plot out of it for her next novel. So when Gallico's murder's start to happen, it's not too surprising that the writer and not the detective will become his principal nemesis. Toss in some inventive means for Gallico to dispose of the bodies he's got piled up around him and you have the makings for a solid and entertaining little thriller - in 3D! Rather than frequently use the distracting and sometimes eye-straining effects most gimmicky 3D films relied upon, 'The Mad Magician' instead focused on building an incredible sense of depth and proportion. Each scene is incredibly layered with objects and characters in the foreground, middle, and deep background. Gallico's workshop is a delight in this respect as there are untold numbers of things and objects as Vincent Price squares off with one of his agitators.

At a breezy 72 minutes, 'The Mad Magician' hits all the right marks without overstaying its welcome or shortchanging the thrills. Like so many of his films, Vincent Price is clearly in his element has the madman with an exaggerated plot for murder. While it's great to see Price do what he does best, one must understand that even after 'House of Wax,' the great actor wasn't yet typecast into horror pictures. He was still known as a terrific character actor from films like 'Leave Her To Heaven' and 'The Three Musketeers' and you can see he's still very much in that mode with this Victorian period piece thriller. I've long been a Vincent Price fan. Ever since I was a little boy he was my favorite to watch because my dad would rent so many of his movies on the weekends. I have vague memories of watching 'The Mad Magician' when I was little, so I can't quite remember whether or not I loved it then, but I definitely had a terrific time reconnecting with this one as an adult. It's a classic piece of cinematic showmanship featuring a sly and creepy plot, some great performances, along with inventively restrained uses of 3D. Fans of classic horror should have a great time while vintage 3D enthusiasts will love watching how well this film works in 3D.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

'The Mad Magician' arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Twilight Time as a limited edition release of 3,000 copies and is pressed onto a Region Free BD-50 disc. Housed in a clear standard Blu-ray case, the disc comes packaged with a booklet containing stills from the film as well as a terrific essay by Film Historian Julie Kirgo. The disc loads directly to a static image main menu with traditional navigation options. When playing the film or the two 3 Stooges shorts, you're given the option of selecting to watch them in 2D (why would you?) or 3D (yes do!) without your player/television set automatically choosing for you.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 11:42PM

Searching for anything and everything on Google is a great, convenient thinguntil you lose internet connection. Google remedies this issue by adding offline search to its Search app on Android. Its starting to roll out to users and it might already be on your device. What offline search offers is itll start queuing things you search for when your connection gets spotty. When you get back online, Google will run the search in the background and notify you about search results when theyre ready. To know if you already have this feature, you should see a Manage searches option in the slide-out menu. There you will be able to see any pending searches you may have.

Source: Android Police
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 10:47PM

Looks like Samsung is sticking to the January 17 rollout of the Android 7.0 update for its usersat least for those in China and the UK. Owners of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge in said countries have started to see 1.2GB updates heading to their handsets. And this rollout isnt limited to beta testers. January 17 was the estimated date for the European release of the update so were expecting Android Nougat to make its way to Galaxy S7 devices from other regions soon.

There is a report from China, though, claiming a beta version of the app is still being released in the country (despite beta being closed) and it seems to be causing some issues. Whether this is affecting the rollout in the UK or the global release of the update isnt clear at the moment.

Source: SamMobile
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 9:07AM

Mastercard, along with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, announced the launch of 2KUZE, a digital platform that connects smallholder farmers, agents, buyers and banks in East Africa. 2KUZE enables farmers to buy, sell and receive payments for agricultural goods via their feature phones, bringing the benefits and security of mobile commerce to farmers in the region.

2KUZE is currently being piloted in Nandi Hills, Kenya, in partnership with Cafedirect Producers Foundation, a nonprofit organization working with 300,000 small holder farmers globally.

The Mastercard Lab in Nairobi will use this mobile technology, funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to improve financial access, deliver operational efficiency and facilitate faster payments in agriculture. 2KUZE makes transacting much safer and simpler for the farmer, the buyer and the agent. The platform enables farmers to capture a greater percentage of the wholesale value of their goods by providing price transparency, more direct access to buyers and empowerment of farmer-friendly agents.
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Fortify Rights in a statement on Friday 13 January said Kachin civilians running from the fighting in Burma were caught in a hard place.

China should provide asylum seekers with sanctuary, not send them into the line of fire, said Matthew Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Fortify Rights. The Myanmar military is effectively forcing civilians out of the country while China pushes them back in.

Fortify Rights reports that on January 10, an estimated 4,000 civiliansthe majority of whom are women, children, and the elderlyfled Myanmar military air strikes and heavy artillery attacks in the Nagyang area, which is close to Zai Awng/Mungga Zup and Hkau Shau IDP camps in Kachin State.

Nine local organizations, operating under the banner, the Joint Strategy Team (JST) and based in Northern Burma have documented the intensity of the Burma Armys offensives against the armed groups in the region.

The Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) continues its military offensives and violations of Human Rights. Continuous fighting, use of airstrikes and heavy artillery have increased civilian casualties and intensified fear and anxiety for IDPs [displaced people].

The JST claimed that the Burma government and its armed forces are using aid as a weapon against the displaced people by stopping food transportation to KIO [the Kachin Independent Organization] control area as well as in Northern Shan state in their own control area. Government issued a letter that agencies need to get prior permission from state government for any food distribution in IDPs camps.

Fortify Rights said that it had received reports that Chinese state security forces initially allowed some families seeking asylum to cross into Chinese territory. Shortly after dawn on January 11, Chinese state security forces began turning back refugees at the border and forcibly returned all who had crossed earlier.

Fortify Rights accused the Burmas government and its authorities of continuing to effectively restrict humanitarian aid groups from operating freely in Kachin State and northern Shan State, resulting in avoidable deprivations of food, healthcare, and other humanitarian provisions for displaced communities.

Fortify Rights chief-executive-officer, Matthew Smith accused the Burmas government of putting the squeeze on civilian populations, bombarding them with attacks while cutting off humanitarian aid, said Matthew Smith. Chinese authorities should do the right thing and provide protection.

Fortify Rights estimate that fighting between the Burma military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has displaced as many as 23,000 people during the past several weeks.

Fortify Rights cite in their statement that the JST report that an estimated 2,560 IDPs fled Zai Awng IDP camp, north of Laiza, on December 27 after several mortar shells landed nearby. Similar attacks forced several hundred other displaced civilians to move from Mung Lai Hket IDP camp to Woi Chyai IDP camp in Laiza, the administrative capital of the KIA. In early December, the Myanmar military reportedly bombed churches, schools, and other non-military targets in northern Shan State during counter attacks against the Brotherhood of the Northern Alliance (BNA)a coalition of four non-state ethnic armed groups, including the KIA. These attacks displaced 15,000 Kachin and Shan civilians, who likewise fled into China.

Fortify Rights urged the Burma government to immediately grant the United Nations and international humanitarian aid groups free and unfettered access to all conflict-affected areas in Myanmar. Fortify Rights also calls upon the United Nations, international aid groups, and donor governments to redouble their support for Kachin-led relief efforts.
Employment Opportunities

At the American Cancer Society, our employees are the soul of our lifesaving mission to save lives. Our employment opportunities are as diverse as our people and include every discipline found in other business enterprises. As an organization, we adhere to a set of core values that help inform all our decisions. But what really sets us apart is that the work we do has global impact  and every passionate, dedicated American Cancer Society staff member contributes to each groundbreaking achievement we make.


Cancer Information in Other Languages

The American Cancer Society offers information about cancer including prevention, early detection, treatment, and managing side effects in multiple languages.


Employee Engagement Groups



At the American Cancer Society, Employee Engagement Groups (EEGs) serve as a resource for their members and the Society by fostering learning, generating dialogue and supporting multicultural engagement. We have six very active groups in place including: the African American and Black EEG; MiACS  our Hispanic Latino EEG; the Military Families and Veterans EEG; the LGBT and Allies EEG; genACS  our millennials EEG, and our AAPI EEG.

Every EEG welcomes all members of the Society, including full-time, part-time, and temporary employees, regardless of identity, background, or heritage. Staff from every region and department are involved in these voluntary, employee-led groups, and many staff participate in several EEGs.



A few examples of projects the EEGs have undertaken include creation of community engagement toolkits; representing the Society at large-scale community events such as PRIDE festivals; and hosting external speakers for continued staff education. In addition to their direct impact on our business goals, participation in our EEGs provides staff the opportunity to expand their peer networks, and develop team leadership skills.


Top Story Study Finds Possible Link Between Hair Straightening Chemicals and Uterine Cancer Women who use chemical hair straighteners and relaxers may have a higher risk of uterine cancer, according to a new study from researchers at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). Share

Read More Breast Cancer Death Rates Are Highest for Black WomenAgain ACS researchers report and explain statistics about breast cancer in a new article in CA: Cancer Journal for Clinicians and in Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2022-2024. Share

Read More Cancer Survivors Need More Access to Equitable Care The 2022-2024 edition of "Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures" is now available to help the public health community better met the unique needs of an expanding and diverse population of cancer survivors. The bottom line? The number of people living after a cancer diagnosis keeps rising, naturally due to population growth and aging, plus better treatment and early detection. And racial/ethnic disparities in cancer care persist. Share

Read More For Your Best Life After CancerEat Well & Be Physically Active Updated ACS guidelines for diet and physical activity aim to help cancer survivors reduce their risk for the cancer's return and for dying from cancer. Share

Read More More Black Women Die from Breast Cancer Than Any Other Cancer New Cancer Facts & Figures for African American/Black People finds breast cancer now surpasses lung as the leading cause of cancer death in Black women. Share

Read More Slideshow: COVID-19 Pandemic Affects the Cancer Continuum ACS 2021 studies show how COVID-19 is affecting prevention efforts, expected cancer screening rates, treatment, quality-of-life, and research. Share

Read More Risk of Dying from Cancer Continues to Drop at an Accelerated Pace New 2022 cancer facts and figures show overall improvement, with new milestones for early detection of lung cancer, but with slowing progress for prostate and breast cancer. Share
The two companies carried out the trial at M1s main operations centre in Jurong as a demonstration of what 5G can do at high frequency bands: the trial used millimeter-wave radio at 73GHz.

Singapores mobile networks are widely acknowledged as amongst the most advanced worldwide, and M1 is committed to staying at the forefront of 5G technology to ensure our consumers enjoy the best experience and latest smart applications, said Denis Seek, M1s chief technology officer.

The companies pointed out that the technology, when adopted, would allow customers to download a 1080p high-resolution movie in a few seconds.

Its only a year since M1 and Huawei together achieved a combined download and upload speed of more than 1Gbps  only 3% of the latest demonstrated speed. The new trial was conducted using existing commercial hardware infrastructure supplied by Huawei and a prototype terminal, the companies said.

An international standards body, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is overseeing efforts by a variety of operators and vendors to explore technologies that will go to make up 5G. Operators want to deploy commercial 5G in only three years, though it is expected some early implementations will start next year.
GoTo Networks, which is focusing on the development of new cable systems to greenfield or underserved markets, says the Djibouti Telecom will also take capacity on its new Australia West Express (AWE) cable, which will land in Djibouti Telecom facilities and enter service at the end of 2018.

John Mariano, CEO of GoTo Networks, said: Djibouti Telecom has provided important support to the AWE project throughout its planning phase. Now that we are nearing the beginning of the project, we are pleased in their investment in AWE, and their agreement to procure capacity between Djibouti and Perth.

The companies did not provide figures for how much Djibouti Telecom is investing in AWE, which is being built by Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks. The 10,100km cable will have two fibre pairs and will operate at an initial capacity of 10Tbps per fibre.

Djibouti, on the north-east African coast where the Red Sea enters the Indian Ocean, has become an important landing station for subsea cables. AWE will be able to interconnect there with at least six other cables, including EASSy, AAE-1 and SEA-ME-WE 5.

The new AWE system will provide valuable capability for transporting the rapidly growing traffic between Australia and points in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, said Mohamed Ahmed, director of government-owned Djibouti Telecom. We are excited to be participating in this most important project.

Meanwhile GoTo Networks has appointed Greg Varisco to the board of AWE. In 2010, he co-founded Emerald Networks, which later became Aqua Comms, of which he was CEO until October 2016.
Historian and Researcher Dr. Nang Hlaing stated the above at the Research Paper Reading Ceremony on Ramannadesa, which was held on Sunday at Rehmonnya Hotel, in Mon States capital Mawlamyine, formerly known as Moulmein.

Many laterite [works] are found in Mon State, lower Burma. Some places do not have laterite. If they do, they are not well-kept. However, [here], we found ones that are sculptured beautifully, said Dr. Nang Hlaing.

January 15s research symposium attracted over 300 participants including Buddhist monks, Dr. Toe Hla, the vice-chairman of the Myanmar Historical Commission, and Dr. Min Kyi Win, Mon States Minister of Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation.

Dr. Nang Hlaing also said that as part of her research work, she travelled to the Irrawaddy Delta, Sittaung River, Yangon Region, Mon State and Karen State, and gathered facts. She stated that she also discovered that ancient materials found in Lower Burma could be damaged easily due to the regions high rainfall.

We cannot deny that our Mon people have resided in this region over 4,000 years. We conduct this research paper reading ceremony because we do not want our tradition affected by others. We want to display it, said Dr. Min Nwe Soe, Joint-secretary (1) of the organizing committee for the research paper reading ceremony on Ramannadesa.

The ancient Mon laterite-made artefacts are only found in Thailand and Lower Burma. From those regions, 45 places held priceless traditional laterite-made stupas, Buddha images and city walls. Dr. Nang Hlaing used the facts found from those 45 sites and described how they were made.

Mon State Government has recognized the laterite-made Chedi [stupa] and Buddha images, ancient city walls and walls made out of laterite as ancient traditional buildings. Those places included in Kyaikhto Town, Mudon Townships Kaw-paran Village, ancient Win-ka City, and Sin-tap, Myin-tap, ancient Ka-tar City and Ah-yet-tama Village in Belin Township, ancient Thaton city, and Waewinkara Village in Thanbyuzayat Township.
Convicted election fraudster and public education opponent Betsy Devos made her billions through hard work  really, you can't overstate the effort required to emerge from the loins of someone who married a rich guy, nor the work of later marrying someone else who emerged from the loins someone who married a rich guy.

She's calls herself "the biggest contributor of soft money to the Republican National Committee" and explains that the $200M her family gave to the GOP was given because they "expect a return on our investmenta conservative governing philosophy consisting of limited government and respect for traditional American virtues." She's in line to be Trump's education secretary, a position she says she earned not through cash donations, but through her decades of work to dismantle public schools and give parents the power to divert tax dollars to evangelical Christian schools.

At her confirmation hearing yesterday, Bernie Sanders asked her what she thought of his campaign pledge to make public colleges tuition free. Devos told him that it wouldn't work because "nothing in life is truly free."

Devos's husband  the real money in the family, a billionaire inheritor to her millionaire inheritance  got his money from his father, who founded a Ponzi scheme called Amway.
My friend Clayton Cubitt has taken a phenomenal series of portraits for the Women's March on Washington.

"I was honored to be able to make some portraits of organizers and activists involved in the upcoming Women's March on Washingtonand the many sister marches happening around the country and internationally,"

Clayton says.

"Their courage and fortitude and determination to fight for a better future for everyone has filled me with hope for the future ahead."

See the entire series here, on a dedicated microsite.

MORE:

 Clayton's blog post

 A very touching personal account from one of the marchers/organizers about why she marches.

 The official project website.

 The microsite housing Clayton's portraits and the quotes from the activists he shot.

Linda Sarsour, one of the March co-chairs:

"I have no choice but to organize to protect my family and the communities that I love. We must stand up and fight back, people's lives depend on it."

CANDICE FORTIN



"There is so much at stake in this upcoming administration. Women are the majority in this country. Our voices should hold weight."

WINNIE WONG

"I march because our democracy is a dumpster fire. I march because structural patriarchy must be dismantled. I march because we fight sexism with solidarity."

(all photographs courtesy Clayton Cubitt)
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.
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. With tech being the conduit for how our world ebbs and flows, you mustn't allow your skills on the web to get rusty. If you fall behind on gadget smarts, you might as well READ THE REST
The admit card for the Lower Divisional Clerk Grade II Exam has been released by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC).

For two days, the examination will be conducted in stages. The dates are on January 28 and 29, 2017. The admit card will be available for download for the candidates in RPSC official website rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in. It is a must for candidates to carry the admit card during the time of entering the examination hall. They should also carry an identity proof along with it.

The exam will be held in various places of the state. The seven headquarters of the centres in the state are Ajmer, Jaipur, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Kota, Jodhpur and Udaipur. Earlier, an advertisement was released by the Commission had released an advertisement declaring open vacancies for 725 posts and inviting candidates to fill it.

The vacancies were for the state and subordinate services in Rajasthan. RPSC closed the application deadline on June 25, 2016.

How to download the Rajasthan RPSC LDC Grade II Exam Admit Card:

Go to the official website of the Commission, rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in

Click on the relevant download link on the right hand side of the page

A login page will appear. Enter your details such as application ID, date of birth and exam name

The DOB can be selected from the calendar which will be displayed from the calendar icon on the admit card download page

Click Submit

The admit card will be displayed on a new page

According to the notification on the website, the candidates are required to carry a photocopy of their admit cards as well as an original photo ID proof for entry. If the candidates are not carrying these, they will not be allowed entry in to the exam hall or venue.

RPSC RAS RTS Comb Exam Admit Cards : Check How to Download
In the 1960s and 1970s, the US Navy researched whether they could use synthesized whale sounds for submarines to have encoded conversations across long distances underwater. Called Project COMBO, it was a fascinating attempt at biomimicry. The project's culminating experiment even attracted a pod of whales. Alas, Project COMBO ultimately failed, but it makes for a great story. From Cara Giaimo's article in Atlas Obscura:

Positioning themselves off of Catalina Island, 150 feet underwater, they blasted their squeaky, warbly codes through a transmitter. The receiver, placed at varying distances away, plucked the messages out of the noise flawlessly. Another test, in the fall, went deeper down and extended the range. In June of 1974, they sent out a real submarine, the USS Dolphin, which successfully transmitted sounds to a receiving shipand, in a true vote of confidence, attracted a pod of pilot whales.

After these testing successes, researchers were left with a lot of work to do. Although they had the pilot whale on lock, they wanted to expand their repertoire by inventing "techniques and equipment to synthesize large whale sounds and small whale screams." They still had to create scalable versions of their tools, including the call generator and the spectrograph-recognizer. Looking ahead, more problems loomed: the researchers figured this was a good enough idea that the Soviets would steal it, at which point American submariners would need to add another skill to their arsenal. "Fleet sonarmen must become more familiar with bioacoustic signals," they wroteinspiring thoughts of submarine soldiers, facing long days underwater, taking up sonic seal- and whale-watching.

On the receiving side, submarines were already equipped with spectrographs, which transform incoming sound waves into visual charts. Since the coded pilot whale sounds were synthesized, and therefore identical, receiving and decoding them was merely a matter of recognizing a particular pattern as it came through the machine. A real whale's call, with its unique combinations of pitch and timbre, would produce a slightly different readout, and could be weeded out as noise with the help of recognition software.

"It was never successful," writes Dr. Christopher Willes Clark, founder of the Cornell Bioacoustics Research Program, in an email. "The process of projecting coded 'whale' sounds out to functional distances is not viable." Despite the promise of those initial tests, the technological barriers proved too large to overcome, and subsequent attempts in future years also failed.
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The Volkswagen Group is being forced by a German court to reimburse a Skoda Yeti owner for the full price of his car, at 26,500 ($28,250).



Claiming that the vehicles value has significantly dropped due to the cheating emissions scandal, the 68-year old owner filed a lawsuit against the automaker, at a court located about an hours drive from Volkswagens headquarters, in Wolfsburg, Bloomberg writes.

The decision came earlier this week and saw three judges using harsh language, accusing the company of intentionally committing fraud. Moreover, they also compared Dieselgate with the discovery of illegal horse meant in frozen products such as lasagna in 2013, and with the use of antifreeze to sweeten wine, more than three decades ago.

Based on the rejections coming from other German cities, such as Cologne and Ellwangen, Volkswagens spokesperson, Nicolai Laude, said that he believes the ruling will be overturned on appeal.

In the meantime, the Volkswagen Group reached an agreement with the US authorities last week, admitting of using false statements to import cars and obstructing investigations. Besides pleading guilty, the automotive giant is also forced to pay $4.3 billion, as part of the settlement.

PHOTO GALLERY
Honda has released pricing for the 10th generation Civic hatch for the UK where it will go on sale from late March.



The new compact model carries an 18,235 ($22,230) starting price for the S grade, which is the entry point of the range, while the range-topping Prestige asks for at least 27,480 ($33,500).

With the launch of the new generation Civic, the automaker has also introduced two new turbocharged petrol engines: a 1.0-liter three-cylinder, rated at 129 PS (127 HP), and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder, which produces 182 PS (179HP).

Honda has yet to detail each Civic flavor and shed light on the standard and optional equipment available. Besides announcing the pricing though, the company has released residual values, which are predicted to be among the best in its class. The company believes that the vehicle will hold up to 37 percent of its value after 36 months and 60,000 miles (96,560 km), which is a significant increase over its predecessors 9 percent.

As a brand, we are making big strides in improving residual values across our range. This will make our cars even more affordable, and lower the total cost of ownership for private and business buyers, said the Head of Cars at Honda UK, Phil Webb.

PHOTO GALLERY
A Honda Fit driver sustained minor injuries after the front passenger airbag inflated with excessive force, spreading shrapnel into the cabin.



The incident, which took place in Japan late last month, as Reuters reports, caused light burns to the drivers leg, and was confirmed by Honda. The automaker also notified Takata, and the parts supplier said that it was collaborating with the Japanese company in this event.

Takatas dangerous airbag inflators, which use ammonium nitrate and dont have a moisture-absorbing desiccant, can explode with excessive force in case of a crash and are responsible for 16 deaths worldwide, most of which in the United States, and for more than 150 injuries. The defective parts, which equip more than 100 million cars globally, have led to the industrys largest ever safety recall.

For attempting to conceal the deadly defect in millions of airbags, Takata pleaded guilty in the United States last week, and agreed to pay $1 billion in fines. The settlement sees the company paying a $25 million criminal fine, $125 million for victims, and $850 million to car manufacturers that suffered losses from the massive recalls.

PHOTO GALLERY
Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Maserati, Aston Martin theyre all just now getting into the luxury SUV market now. But the Range Rover has been there a lot longer. 48 years, to be exact, since Land Rover started developing the first model, and 30 years since it first reached North America.



In the span of those few decades, LR has gone through four generations of Range Rover  from the two-door model launched in 1970 to the four-door in 81, the second-gen in 94, the debut of the third in 2001, and the fourth in 2012.

The sum total is a Range Rover that owes much to  but is an entirely different beast from  its predecessors. The latest model is made almost entirely of aluminum (where the original wore aluminum panels over a steel frame), and its also bigger. Much bigger: where the original stretched just 175 inches on a 100-inch wheelbase, the latest long-wheelbase model extends nearly 205 inches on a 123-inch wheelbase.

A larger vehicle needs more power, but the extent to which Land Rover has ratcheted up the output is staggering: compared to the 135 horsepower in the original, the latest Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic boasts four times that at 550  and is now reaching dealers, incidentally, across the United States.

Video
Photo: Contributed

Technology and the travel industry have a love-hate relationship.

Our degree of connectivity with our preferred suppliers and quick and easy answers to specific needs and requirements is great, however it can backlash when clients use the Internet as a tool to then take our suggestions and go to non-service websites to save a few dollars.

Travel consultants earn their keep through commissions, which suppliers pay them in exchange for our professional referrals and bookings.

An experienced travel adviser sifts through a mountain of information and narrows it down to products that suit the needs of each individual client.

They tailor-make a vacation based on expectations, budget, preferences and activities.

I often hear people say, I always find better deals online."

Lets dissect that statement just a bit. Did you not first ask friends or family if theyd been there or what they liked about the destination?

Or lets be honest. Didnt you talk to a travel consultant who suggested such and such a hotel or resort would be perfect for you?

Technically you didnt find a better deal online, you knew what resort to look at because a professional took the time to research on your behalf.

The travel consulting business has long been misunderstood and unacknowledged. Travel proposals and itinerary planning take lots of time and research.

An experienced, well travelled consultant can offer invaluable insights, value added benefits and a guiding light through the multitude of options available. It has become a common practice for professional travel advisors to now charge initial consulting fees.

They are reimbursed up front for the time and effort they put into creating tailor-made itineraries and/or negotiating group proposals. The fee is applied toward your final balance if you book with the consultant. Fair remuneration for a professional service.

Technology has also exposed the avid traveller to a global community of travel suppliers.

The in destination suppliers that Canadian Travel Consultants deal with have all been sourced and vetted as legitimate tourist organizations.

To do business in Canada they have purchased the necessary insurances and posted the required bonds. They have long-standing partnerships and are governed by standards of conduct.

We can broker their services with confidence and have recourse should arrangements go awry.

Its for these reasons that travel advisers dont get involved with Airbnb or VRBO style of accommodations.

We have no recourse should your money go missing or the accommodation not be as advertised. The Internet has allowed tour operators from all countries to advertise direct to the client.

Their pricing seems so much lower but remember the monies youre sending overseas are not insured and if services are not delivered who do you go to?

The laws and conduct of business can be very different in other countries.

Your time, your money, your dream vacation is all priceless. Put yourself in the hands of a professional and the peace of mind alone is worth every dollar.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Contributed

Dogwood is boasting its best year-end fundraising numbers ever.

The B.C. non-profit environmental group netted $219,027 in its year-end fundraising campaign, as British Columbians backed campaigns that included protesting oil tanker expansions.

More and more British Columbians are investing in Dogwood as a vehicle for the political change we so desperately need, said Don Gordon, with Dogwood.

Many Dogwood teams have been organized across the province and have raised $898,000 in 2016.

In 2015, our supporters helped throw out a federal government that had grown dangerously out of touch with B.C, said Gordon. That led to the long-awaited death of Enbridge Northern Gateway in 2016.
Photo: Brenda Gooder

The dramatic change from cold to warmer and wet in British Columbia has prompted wind, rain, snowfall and avalanche warnings in the province.

Environment Canada has posted rainfall warnings for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and the Howe Sound as the second in a series of Pacific storms moves in, bringing up to 50 millimetres of rain.

Wind warnings have been posted for much of Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast with peak winds predicted for northern Vancouver Island reaching up to 90 kilometres per hour.

Snowfall warnings, with accumulations of 10 to 30 centimetres by Wednesday, have been listed for West Columbia, Yellowhead, Shuswap, and East Columbia.

Avalanche Canada warns the incoming "Mango Express" moves the danger rating up on the South Coast and Sea to Sky area, and heavy snow throughout the province along with the rising freezing levels also increases the danger level.

The River Forecast Centre has issued high stream-flow advisories for rivers in on south and central Vancouver Island, the Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver's North Shore and Fraser Valley, warning that heavy rain and melting snow could cause flooding.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Three First Nations are taking the federal government to court over its decision to approve the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline that they say poses a serious threat to the environment and their way of life.

Representatives from the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations, and the Coldwater Indian Band say the Crown failed to consult them before approving the project, which would run from Alberta to British Columbia's south coast.

Coldwater Chief Lee Spahan says the pipeline's proposed route poses an enormous risk to his community because of its proximity to their only source of drinking water.

Squamish Chief Ian Campbell says the federal government's talk of entering an era of reconciliation is mere lip service when it comes to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approved the $6.8-billion project last November with 157 conditions, saying he expected the decision to be "bitterly disputed'' but ultimately in Canada's best interest.

The proposal, which received backing from the B.C. government last week, would triple capacity along an existing pipeline corridor, and result in a seven-fold spike in tanker traffic from its terminus in Burnaby.
Photo: Contributed

His life may have ended tragically, but in his passing Simone Harty's son, Elliot, saved three lives.

Elliot was an organ donor after an accident took his life in 2007.

My son was able to give the gift of life to three people and changed the lives of the recipients and their families. For me, its helped me grieve, knowing that although my son lost his life, he was able to give life to others  thats a great legacy, says Simone. If something good can come out of a tragedy like this, then it's a gift I'm happy I was able to give, and I know my son would feel the same."

Hundreds of lives were saved in B.C. last year, thanks to organ donors.

In 2016, 423 people received a life-saving transplant in British Columbia, the most transplants performed in a year in this province.

For the second year in a row, the number of overall deceased donors is also up thanks to a concentrated effort from health care staff across B.C., and increasing public awareness and support for organ donation.

This is good news coming out of the holidays, with British Columbians demonstrating their generosity in the most important area  life, said Health Minister Terry Lake.

Families can be proud of their decision to register as organ donors, and I hope this trend will encourage even more people to register their decision, making the New Year a fresh start for many in need of a transplant.

In the Interior Health region, there were 17 deceased donors, down from 20 in 2015. Meanwhile, there were 67 transplants in the region in 2016.

While donation and transplant rates are up overall, more than 600 British Columbians still wait for the gift of a donor organ. British Columbians are encouraged to make a new years resolution that could be the gift of life  join 1,051,797 other British Columbians and register as an organ donor.

Living kidney donations were down to 95 in 2016, from 113 in 2015. BC Transplant is focusing on increasing this number in the coming years, as 80 per cent of people on the transplant wait list are waiting for a kidney.

Several other transplant-related records were also set in 2016:
Photo: The Canadian Press

The BC Coroners Service will release the latest numbers on overdose deaths in the province Wednesday, an increasingly depressing monthly ritual.

Last month, Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe released statistics for overdose deaths in November  a record high 128 deaths for the month.

The previous record high for a single month was January 2016, when 82 people died.

The Coroners Service says fentanyl is to blame in 60 per cent of the province's overdose deaths.

In April, B.C. became the first province in Canada to declare a public health emergency over the dramatic increase in deaths from fentanyl after more than 200 people died from overdoses in the first three months of 2016.

It appears overdose deaths in B.C. have continued at an increasing rate. On Dec. 15 alone, 11 people died from overdoses in the province.

Lapointe will be joined by Health Minister Terry Lake in Victoria Wednesday to provide the most recent statistics and announce new substance use treatments in the province.
Photo: Contributed

Evidence-based medicine: Whose responsibility is it?

There is a broad consensus among physicians and educated people everywhere that evidence-based medicine is the goal, the gold standard, the ultimate.

Evidence-based medicine is based on scientific methodology that allows us to know what works and what doesnt.

Although it may seem straightforward, truly determining a treatments effectiveness can be frustratingly difficult  and can take many years.

You only have to look at how often findings are reported in the news based on some new study and then retracted a few years later as new evidence is produced.

Dietary recommendations are a good example.

Medical practice is under revision on a daily basis as evidence becomes available at an ever-increasing pace.

But where does this evidence come from and who is responsible for generating it?

Evidence comes through scientific studies conducted by a relatively small number of people in centres around the world.

Drug development is one example of evidence-based medicine that I am very familiar with and it is surprising how easily we take it for granted.

Of course, when most of us get ill, we want a solution and usually depend on medication of some sort for treatment. Even when faced with a surgical problem, there will be anaesthetics, analgesics and possibly other medications involved in recovery.

(Of course, surgical procedures themselves are also subject to clinical trial evidence to find the most effective procedure).

Pharmaceutical companies  large and small  do most drug development today.

They hire physician investigators to design and conduct clinical trials and these investigators rely on volunteers to participate in the studies with the goal of learning whether the treatments work, are better than sham treatments or placebos, and whether they have acceptable side effects.

Thousands of clinical trials are underway around the world. These require hundreds of thousands of volunteers.

Most volunteers in clinical trials find out about the trials either from their physician, if that physician is involved in conducting the trial, or from advertising.

Few physicians are involved in clinical trials and studies conducted around the world show those who are not, seldom talk to their patients about clinical trials or refer them to available studies.

Finding volunteers for these trials is one of the bottlenecks in new drug development and one of the biggest expenses involved in launching a new treatment.

It contributes to the high cost of drugs.

People who do volunteer, usually find it a worthwhile experience and often do it for altruistic reasons. The vast majority say they would do it again and would recommend it to family and friends.

Those who dont volunteer usually say it is because no one told them about the trial. It is not a topic of conversation for most people unless they are faced with a difficult medical problem.

I have been surprised to learn that even health advocacy groups often dont make their members aware of clinical trials. This could be out of a misplaced, paternalistic attitude or fear of seeming to advocate for a specific treatment or study.

This is frustrating to those of us trying to get the word out about ongoing studies requiring volunteers.

Although I have found groups here often dont participate in raising awareness of clinical research, it is clearly not a universal policy because in some countries advocacy groups are very active in this area.

People can be informed without being coerced or without those providing the information being advocates for any particular study.

Sometimes groups say they dont want to pass on information about trials because the study is being sponsored by a for-profit company.

Although that is often the case, there is, unfortunately, no one else taking on the role of testing and developing new treatments.

It would be great if our government funded more clinical research, but, realistically, we would pay for it through higher taxes. Government is always trying to find ways to partner with private enterprise to reduce cost and investment risk.

Evidence-based medicine is everyones responsibility. It simply cant be done without the widespread participation of health care professionals, the public, private industry and those who represent the public in various ways.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Facebook

A possible sentencing hearing has been set for a man who broke into an evacuated home during the Smith Creek wildfire in July 2015.

Justice Peter Rogers convicted Niso Kamhakoataew of unlawfully being in a dwelling on Dec. 16, after his fingerprints were found inside an evacuated home on Cobblestone Road.

The owner of the home returned home to find her house broken into and several bottles of wine missing.

Along with Kamhakoataew's prints, another set of unidentified prints were found. Rogers did not find Kamhakoataew guilty of theft, as the second set of prints cast doubt on who actually stole the bottles.

A pre-sentence report is being prepared to assist Rogers in sentencing. The report will include interviews with Kamhakoataew's family, his history and his risk to reoffend

Kamhakoataew, who has no previous criminal record, will appear in Supreme Court on Feb. 20, when Rogers will review the report. He may decide to sentence Kamhakoataew at the same time.
A young family of five has lost everything they own, after a fire ripped through their house Monday afternoon.

William Mathison and Tanya Mercier did not have tenant's insurance and are faced with starting all over. You never think its going to happen to you, Mercier said.

The couple have an eight-year-old and twin three-year-olds, leaving them panicked about finding a place to live.

Its very scary, we have three days at a motel and after that we might have a place lined up in Naramata, but thats not a guarantee. Its the middle of the month, nobody has a place to rent in the middle of the month, Mercier said.

However, the pair have been touched by support from the community which started while the fire was still burning. Mathison said bystanders rushed off the street to make sure the family was safely out of the home, and firefighters did their best to save photos such as one of their daughters' baby books.

I love this town for that, it supports people  I love Penticton and want to live here for the rest of my life, Mathison said.

Mercier's sister, who was also the family's neighbour, launched a GoFundMe page in an effort to support them while they get back on their feet.

Bills are already piling up, including a Shaw bill that will likely cost close to $1,000 after the cancellation fee is paid and rented cable boxes are replaced. Donations of clothing are also being accepted.

If anyone knows of any rentals that are not super expensive for a family of five, let us know, Mercier said adding they have a dog and a cat too, although the cat has not been seen since the fire.

The cause of the blaze remains undetermined, but it is not considered suspicious.
Photo: ourbc.com

UPDATE: 9:20 p.m.

Interior Health is advising people who draw their water from the North Thompson River between the communities of Avola and Vavenby to watch for signs of diesel fuel after a truck crashed into the waterway.

The authority says it is estimated that 800 litres of diesel fuel ran into the water after the semi-trailer's fuel tank was punctured in the crash on Monday night.

Cleanup efforts began after the accident, and Interior Health is advising residents to monitor their water as a precaution along a 40-kilometre stretch downstream from the spill site.

The truck crashed into the river one kilometre south of Avola, northeast of Kamloops.

The health authority says residents should not use their water for drinking, showering, bathing or brushing their teeth if it smells or tastes like fuel.

The Thomson Nicola Regional District, which has the nearest affected water system downstream from the spill, was notified immediately and its water intake was closed.

Courtney Hesketh, manager of environmental health, said it could take two or three days for the river flow to dilute the diesel.

The health authority says the water system's operators are manually filling the reservoir and monitoring the situation.

It says the Avola community draws its water from Avola Creek, which is not affected by the accident.

ORIGINAL: 7:20 p.m.

A diesel spill south of Avola has caused contamination of the North Thompson River.

Residents who use river water are advised to be cautious and check their water supply for any signs of fuel sheen or odour.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has stopped pumping water from the river for the Vavenby water system.

All TNRD residents south of the Avola and Vavenby areas who use water systems that draw from the river are advised to check their supply.

For Vavenby water system users, the regional district is making arrangements to have bottled water brought in.

Do not use river water if it smells or tastes like fuel.

Diesel fuel can pose a health risk from ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption. The TNRD requests customers minimize water use, and only use water for flushing toilets.

The district is attempting to make direct contact by phone with all users of the Vavenby water system.
Photo: The Canadian Press

UPDATE: 12:05 p.m.

Convicted killer Kelly Ellard won't get the escorted releases from prison she says needs after the recent birth of her child.

Ellard was asking for the parole board's permission to leave prison for medical appointments and parenting programs, but the two board members were split on their decision Wednesday.

Ellard told the panel the birth of her baby has calmed her, and the infant was the best therapy she could have hoped for.

She was convicted of second-degree murder after being tried as an adult in the 1997 beating and drowning death of 14-year-old Reena Virk near Victoria. Virk was swarmed and beaten by a group of teenagers.

The Parole Board says another hearing will be held for Ellard at a later date.

A media report said last October that Ellard was eight-months pregnant following a conjugal visit from her boyfriend. The gender of her child was not mentioned at Wednesday's hearing.

At Ellard's first parole hearing last May, she took responsibility for the death of Virk after repeatedly denying that she was involved, but said she was a child herself at just 15 years old.

Board members rejected her request for parole then, saying she came across as "very entitled" in presenting her case for release.

Ellard was tried three times in Virk's death, and testimony from those trials heard that she and Warren Glowatski followed Virk after the girl limped away from the beating and then drowned the girl in the Gorge waterway near Victoria.

But Ellard's story to the parole board in May differed from that account.

UPDATE: 11:45 a.m.

A parole board panel has been unable to reach a decision to allow convicted killer Kelly Ellard escorted temporary absences.

Ellard was asking for the absences for medical appointments and parenting programs following the recent birth of her child.

ORIGINAL: 6 a.m.

Convicted killer Kelly Ellard is expected to ask for parole again today, less than a year after a parole board said she was too entitled to be released.

At Ellard's first parole hearing last May, she took responsibility for the death of 14-year-old Reena Virk after repeatedly denying that she was involved since the 1997 killing.

While board members said Ellard had made progress serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, they said she also came across as "very entitled" in presenting her case for release.

She admitted during the last hearing that she was responsible for Virk's death, but said she was a child herself at just 15 years old.

Ellard, whose hearing is being held at the Fraser Valley Institution in Abbotsford, was convicted after three trials and has spent about 15 years in prison.

Her case came up again last October after a media report said she was eight-months pregnant following a conjugal visit from her boyfriend.
Photo: CTV

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has instructed a jury to be "very cautious" about relying on eyewitness evidence to find guilt in the case of four men accused of smuggling hundreds of Tamil migrants to Canada.

Justice William Ehrcke noted that the jury had heard evidence from witnesses that on more than one occasion, they were shown photographs by the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency and asked if they could identify anyone pictured.

The judge said problems with the photo lineup raised by defence lawyers are a "serious concern."

"You should consider these matters very carefully in deciding how much weight you choose to put on the identification evidence," he told the jury Tuesday.

The MV Sun Sea left Thailand on July 5, 2010. The dilapidated cargo ship was intercepted off the coast of B.C. on Aug. 12, 2010, carrying 492 Sri Lankan Tamils who intended to claim refugee status in Canada.

Two Sri Lankan men and two Canadians have pleaded not guilty to organizing the voyage contrary to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Ehrcke began his final instructions to the jury on Tuesday and is expected to finish Wednesday.

The two Canadian men, Nadarajah Mahendran and Thampeernayagam Rajaratnam, were not aboard the ship. They are accused of being agents who travelled to Bangkok to arrange migrants' journeys.

Their lawyers have argued that eyewitness identification of the men can not be trusted because Canadian authorities conducted a flawed investigation.

Ehrcke told the jury that Mahendran's lawyer had pointed out "numerous problems" with the eyewitness evidence, including that the photo lineup procedures did not conform to RCMP protocol and Canada border services did not provide details of every circumstance where a photograph was used.

The judge said some witnesses testified under cross-examination that the photos they were shown by Mounties and border agents had influenced their identification of the accused men. On one occasion, a witness identified a different man in a photo before he later identified an accused.

Lesly Emmanuel, one of the Sri Lankan men, is accused of being the ship's captain. His lawyer, Sandy Ross, has argued that he did not intend to pilot the ship but was "thrown into the role of captain," and the act doesn't apply because his actions were humanitarian in nature.

The MV Sun Sea was a "terribly overcrowded vessel" that had been in service for 30 years, rather than the standard 15 years for cargo ships, he said. It had a single lifeboat with room for about 20 people, not enough life-jackets for adults and none for children, Crown counsel Charles Hough said.

"Everyone could have died on that ship on the way to Canada. Fortunately that didn't happen, but it could have happened," he told the jury.

He said migrants have testified that they were charged about US$20,000 or US$30,000 for the voyage, most often paying about US$5,000 up front with the expectation they would pay the remainder upon arrival to Canada.
Photo: DriveBC

UPDATE: 2:20 p.m.

Highway 23 is now open to single-lane alternating traffic at Mica Dam. It's expected to be fully open by 3 p.m.

UPDATE: 2 p.m.

The travel advisory on Highway 1 from Craigellachie to Field has been lifted.

UPDATE: 1:35 p.m.

Highway 99 has been opened in both directions from Kane Creek Bridge to Lillooet.

It had been closed due to avalanche risk.

UPDATED: 8:05 a.m.

It's not a nice day to be driving on B.C. highways.

There are closures for avalanche control, as well as warnings for ice, slush and snowfall throughout the province.

Highway 1 will be closed in both directions today west of Revelstoke for avalanche control between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. There is no detour.

It will also be closed in both directions today from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. east of Golden for avalanche control.

A travel advisory is in effect along the highway from Field to Craigallachie due to a snowfall warning.

"Highway closures for avalanche control are anticipated," says DriveBC. "Travellers should adjust their plans accordingly and allow additional time to reach their destinations."

There are a smattering of warnings for slush, ice and compact snow along routes including Highway 97, Highway 33, Highway 3 and Highway 6.

Meanwhile, avalanche control on Highway 3 closed the highway west of Creston from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. A detour was in place.

Highway 99 is closed in both directions from Pemberton to Kane Creek Bridge and closed in both directions from Kane Creek Bridge to Lillooet because of the high avalanche hazard. There is no estimated time of reopening.

Highway 23 is closed in both directions at Mica Dam because of the high avalanche hazard.

If you're travelling today, check DriveBC.
If you ever find yourself stranded in the snowy Arctic, you're gonna need to know how to build an igloo. But how can building a house made of ice keep you warm?
Photo: Contributed

UPDATE: 1:50 p.m.

B.C. says it will defend against a trade law challenge by the U.S. government over the sale of B.C. wine in grocery stores.

We support the growth of the industry, and we will defend it against this challenge," said Shirley Bond, the provincial minister of jobs, tourism and skills training.

"The B.C. government is confident that we are complying with B.C.s and Canadas international trade obligations. We will continue to work closely with Global Affairs Canada to ensure that B.C.s liquor policies fall within these trade obligations, and we will continue to work with GAC through the upcoming consultation process."

She said the number of liquor stores in B.C. selling imported alcohol has increased significantly since 1987 from 344 to about 1,100 today.

Trade agreements, such as NAFTA, allow for a number of private wine outlets that sell only B.C. wine, and we are confident in the approach we have taken," she said.

ORIGINAL: 10:05 a.m.

The sale of B.C. wines in some of the province's grocery stores is being challenged by the United States government as a breach of Canada's commitments to the World Trade Organization.

The American government says the decision to allow only B.C. wines to be sold in grocery stores is damaging to U.S. wine makers.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman says the province's regulations provide a substantial competitive advantage for B.C. wines.

The U.S. has sent a letter to the Canadian government asking for consultations as a first step in trying to resolve the dispute.

If that fails, the U.S. says it may request that the WTO establish a dispute settlement panel.

B.C. amended legislation in April 2015 to allow wine sales in grocery stores and held an auction about a year later for licences to sell wines.

 The Canadian Press
Photo: BC Gov Flickr Transportation Minister Todd Stone and Environment Minister Mary Polak

The province unveiled a new set of licence plates Wednesday in an effort to create a new revenue stream for B.C. Parks.

The three different designs are available starting Jan. 29 and feature the Purcell Mountains, Porteau Cove and a kermode bear.

Minister of Environment Mary Polak said the plates will try to build both awareness of B.C. parks and revenue for park enhancements.

All the revenue that is generated from these plates will go directly into funding those kinds of enhancements in our parks.

The plates will cost $50 initially and $40 annually to renew.

Polak said conservatively, they expect to raise close to $1.5 million in the next five years through the program.
Photo: File photo

UPDATE: 2:50 p.m.

Following the release of statistics showing a record-breaking number of overdose deaths in December, health minister Terry Lake urged the federal government to declare a nationwide emergency.

We haven't seen the response that I think this type of epidemic requires on a national scale, Lake said. We know that what we're seeing here will be seen elsewhere, it's already starting in Alberta, we hear terrible stories in Manitoba, we know it's starting to happen in Ontario ... we need a national response.

The recent stats show 914 people died from illicit drug overdoses in 2016, up almost 80 per cent from the 510 deaths in 2015.

The higher than usual number of deaths per month have held steady throughout the year  but then spiked in November, when 128 people died.

Lake said the spike in recent months could be attributed to the introduction of carfentanil, an even stronger opioid than fentanyl.

We suspect the arrival of carfentanil in larger proportion may be responsible for this, Lake said. When we saw those numbers in November, that seemed to be the explanation. And to see these numbers in December, it reinforces that.

While the BC Coroner's Service can't identify carfentanil at this time, chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said the equipment that could pinpoint it has been purchased and will be operational by March.

The province also announced $16 million in additional funding for additional residential treatment beds and intensive outpatient services. This brings the total spent on the drug crisis by the province to $65 million.

"Because this involves people either living or dying, this becomes our priority," Lake said.

While the recent numbers seem to show few results from the investment, Lapointe said the death toll would be much higher if it wasn't for the efforts of emergency health responders, social agencies and public servants.

Lapointe urged those who are addicted to drugs and don't have the option to abstain, to use in the presence of medical personnel.

Interior Health recently announced it would be applying to the federal government for approval of a mobile supervised consumption site that would allow drug users the option of using their drugs near medical personnel.

ORIGINAL: 1:10 P.M.

British Columbia reached a new peak of 914 illicit drug overdose deaths last year with the arrival of the deadly opioid fentanyl.

The figure is almost 80 per cent higher than the 510 overdose deaths due to illicit drugs in 2015.

In the Okanagan, 76 people lost their lives; 48 in Kelowna and 13 in Vernon. Totals for other Okanagan communities are not available due to privacy concerns.

The BC Coroners Service says December was the worst month at 142 deaths province-wide, the highest ever recorded in a month.

The B.C. government declared a public-health emergency last April in response to the crisis, setting off a series of preventative measures to try to slow the death toll.

The B.C. Centre For Disease Control launched a take-home naloxone program for residents to reverse the effects of opioids.

The government also announced late last year that overdose prevention sites would be established in communities across the province where people could take illicit drugs while being monitored by trained professionals equipped with naloxone.

- With files from The Canadian Press
AICCE 21 - Equipping the Middle East

Published 18 January 2017

The 21st Arab International Cement Conference and Exhibition (AICCE 21) took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 16-18 November 2016. This annual gathering, which incorporates the largest equipment supplier fair in the region, attracted 615 delegates from 136 companies.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) faced a challenging year in 2016, with the Gulf region adjusting to the realities of lower oil prices, Iraq and Syria suffering from ongoing conflicts, and continued security issues suppressing economic activity in Libya and Tunisia.

Nevertheless, discussions throughout the meeting with equipment suppliers and cement producers reveal that a significant level of new investment in the region is still being generated. The range of projects in the pipeline include new plants planned for Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

To continue reading this story and get access to all News, Articles and Video sections of the CemNet.com website, please Register for a subscription to International Cement Review or Login
From Billy the Kid to Breaking Bad, movies and television have portrayed and marketed our state into the present day. Over the past decade, film production in New Mexico has enjoyed a renaissance thanks to state incentives. However, film has long been a part of New Mexico's landscape, and the state's landscape and people have often been featured in film.

Curated by Dr. Paul A. Hutton, professor of history at the University of New Mexico, Hollywood Southwest: New Mexico in Film and Television features three elements of New Mexico's film history: the state as a location, the state as a subject and the state's people as subjects.

"It's essentially Hollywood Southwest," says Hutton, a self-described addicted collector of film memorabilia. "We're highlighting New Mexico as a center for filmmaking from [silent film star] D.W. Griffith onward, and the locations that are so prevalent. We'll show why New Mexico is so great for filmmaking, from the landscape to the light to the weather. We're also highlighting films about New Mexicans, such as Billy the Kid. I love the idea of two really bad hombres and what they say about New Mexico. And yes, I'm talking about Breaking Bad, too."

Hutton has been involved in film, and the history of film, for most of his career.

Also working closely on this project is Dr. Jason Strykowski, who has worked on many films and TV series, and has been instrumental in acquiring some of the artifacts for the exhibition. Costumes from The Avengers and The Lone Ranger came from Strykowski's connection to both films.

The exhibit design takes visitors behind the scenes on a film set. Plans include creating a green-screen experience for kids to explore what it feels like to be on a set. The original 1920s projection unit from the KiMo Theatre will also be on display.

Other artifacts will include movie posters, movie clips, plus other pop-culture tie-ins, such as toys and promotional items. Hutton notes that some of the historical items they hoped to include from early films such as artifacts from such classics as Lonely are the Brave, based on Edward Abbey's classic second novel The Brave Cowboy, don't exist. "One of the challenges we've had is finding the material and convincing people to lend it to us," Hutton says. "The film industry has been a throw-away industry."

An educational element of the exhibition focuses on film production as an industry in New Mexico. Hutton and Strykowski have worked with state and city film offices to highlight some of the jobs, such as grip, gaffer and craft services - and New Mexicans that do those jobs - to illustrate how the industry is a local economic driver. "We're trying to explain why New Mexico is and always has been an attractive place for filmmakers," Hutton says. "We want to have fun with this, get people excited, wow them, and appeal to young and old alike. After all, everyone loves the movies."

RELATED EVENTS:

This schedule subject to change. Visit cabq.gov/museum for current information.

Saturday, Feb. 25, 1-3pm.

Public Opening: Hollywood Southwest

At 1 p.m. guest curator Paul Hutton discusses the history of film in New Mexico. Create art inspired by the exhibition in the Museum School from 1-3pm.

Thursday, March 16, 5-8:30pm.

Women in Film: 3rd Thursday at Albuquerque Museum

Screenings and panel discussions exploring the role of women in film.

Thursday, April 20, 5-8:30pm.

Wild West: 3rd Thursday at Albuquerque Museum

Explore the myth and enduring legacy of the western in the New Mexico.

Saturday, April 29, 3-5pm.

Tour: Trollywood

Climb aboard a completely-custom, uniquely- Albuquerque, open-air Trolley as we embark on a two-hour tour of locations from movies made in Albuquerque. You will also gain an understanding of the New Mexico film industry and why we make movies here, tax incentives, behind-the-scenes stories and more. Featuring locations from such productions as Breaking Bad, The Avengers, No Country for Old Men, Transformers, Crazy Heart, Preacher, Beerfest, Wild Hogs, Observe and Report, Terminator Salvation and more. The tour is provided by ABQ Trolley Co. Tickets are $50 at holdmyticket. com/ event/ 273495.

Thursday, May 18, 5-8:30pm.

Indie Film Night: 3rd Thursday at Albuquerque Museum

This evening features short films and discussions from independent filmmakers.

Thursday, June 15, 5-8:30pm.

Family Night: 3rd Thursday at Albuquerque Museum

Enjoy family friendly activities exploring film in New Mexico.

Saturday, July 8, 10am-2pm.

Made in Native America

This day features screenings and discussions with Native American filmmakers from New Mexico.

Thursday, July 20, 5-8:30pm.

Page to Screen: 3rd Thursday at Albuquerque Museum

Explore the transformation of novel to screen with a panel of local screenwriters.

Thursdays, Aug. 3, 10, 17 and 24, 6pm.

Chatter Summer Concert Series: Music in Film

Chatter, a chamber music ensemble, curates a dynamic musical series exploring film in New Mexico.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2017, Albuquerque Museum is the cornerstone of Albuquerque's cultural community and in its short history has had unprecedented growth in the quantity and quality of its collections.

Albuquerque Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Mondays. General admission - New Mexico residents: adults and teens $3, seniors $2 and children $1. General Museum admission is free every Sunday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., the first Wednesday of every month from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and the third Thursday of every month from 5-8:30 p.m.
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Project Inspire, a teacher residency program serving Hamilton County public schools, announces an expansion that includes training aspiring elementary teachers and a new partnership with Lee University. The expansion will double the number of pre-service teachers in the 2017 cohort, with plans to double again in 2018. This intensive program allows college graduates to earn a teaching degree and credential while learning alongside an experienced teacher in the classroom.

As the higher-education partner for Project Inspire, Lee University will offer a 14-month degree program specifically tailored for the needs of residents, culminating in a Masters of Arts in Teaching. Residents will benefit from mentoring both by Hamilton County Department of Education faculty members and Lee University supervisors. In the past five years, Lee University has recommended over 750 candidates to Tennessee for licensure in over 31 areas of teaching.

Dean Bill Estes, Ph.D. said, Lee University and the Helen DeVos College of Education have worked with the Hamilton County Department of Education for many years. We have also seen the development and impact of PEF programming throughout Chattanooga. We are so pleased to have a more formalized agreement such as this and to partner in this residency program.

Project Inspire was developed in close partnership with Hamilton County Department of Education to meet the specific needs of local students, and in alignment with the districts strategic plan goals. Expanding Project Inspire to include elementary literacy will help address the need to build strong foundations to ensure that more students are reading on grade level by the third grade, said officials. Additionally, teacher mentors and their residents will explore innovative learning opportunities to engage all students through proven instructional strategies. Project Inspire is part of a comprehensive approach to attract and retain great teachers and leaders into Hamilton County priority schools in order to close the achievement gap between low-income students and their peers, said officials.

Hamilton County Department of Education Interim Superintendent Dr. Kirk Kelly said he is thrilled to announce the partnership with Lee University. Project Inspire has supplied HCDE with some of our districts strongest teachers, Dr. Kelly said, and we are thrilled this expansion of the program means soon even more of our students will benefit from an outstanding teacher in the classroom.

Teacher residencies are receiving national attention for their ability to train individuals specifically to meet school district needs, as well as their ability to increase teacher retention. Project Inspires most recent 4-year retention rate for graduates is 80 percent and ongoing effectiveness studies show that graduates are outperforming traditionally trained teachers in similar, high-need settings.

Dan Challener, PEF president, said, At PEF we have always recognized that an effective teacher is the most important lever that can impact a students long-term success. Project Inspire honors the importance of this role by asking our schools and their strongest teachers to invest a full school year in training and developing the next generation of leaders for the profession. We are excited to offer this opportunity to more schools and aspiring educators as we work with our partners to strengthen teacher preparation.

Mark Neal, director of Project Inspire, said, At its heart, the expansion of Project Inspire is about opportunity and access. By doubling our goals for recruitment and training for the upcoming year, we will increase our communitys access to a diverse stream of potential teachers, our schools access to playing a key role in teacher preparation, and our students access to committed, well-prepared educators.

Individuals who are interested in earning a teaching license in elementary education or secondary math or science and are committed to making a difference in high-need Hamilton County schools are encouraged to apply by Feb. 27. More information can be found at projectinspiretn.org.

Project Inspire is a collaborative effort supported by generous funding from AmeriCorps/Volunteer Tennessee, National Science Foundation, Tucker Foundation, and Hamilton County Department of Education.
18/01/17 BUIN ACTIVITIES

By Wesley Bunpalau



BUIN town and South Bougainville will become the centre of attention when it plays host to a number of important events in the coming days.

Starting on Friday January 20th, a dedication service will be held for public servants in Buin, Siwai, Bana and Torokina during which public servants will be rededicated to their oath of service and refocus attention on their duty as servants of the people.

Then on January 31st, history will be made when New Dawn FM opens a studio in Buin, made possible with funding assistance from the Member for South Bougainville, Hon. Timothy Masiu.

The broadcasting studio will enable South Bougainville to be on the airwaves for the first time in many years. Test relay broadcast has created excitement among in the Southern Region.

On February 03rd, the laid back town will be graced by the presence of judges, lawyers and others in the law and justice sector for the legal year opening ceremony.

The district events committee has been working overtime to plan for all the events.

ENDS/WB




Researchers here have made a discovery in materials science that sounds like something from the old Saturday morning cartoon Super Friends: They've found a way to deactivate "nano twins" to improve the high-temperature properties of superalloys that are used in jet engines.

The advance could speed the development of powerful and environmentally friendly turbine engines of all sorts, including those used for transportation and power generation.

The "nano twins" in question are microscopic defects that grow inside alloys and weaken them, allowing them to deform under heat and pressure. Engineers at The Ohio State University describe how tailoring an alloy's composition and then exposing it to high heat and pressure can not only prevent nano twins from forming, it can actually make the alloy stronger.

In tests, the technique, which they've dubbed "phase transformation strengthening," eliminated the formation of nano twins and decreased alloy deformation by half.

Strong, heat-resistant alloys enable turbine engines to run cleanly and efficiently, explained Michael Mills, professor of materials science and engineering and leader of the project at Ohio State. When an engine can run at very high temperatures, it consumes its fuel more thoroughly and produces lower emissions.

"We found that increasing the concentrations of certain elements in super-alloys inhibits the formation of high-temperature deformation twins, thereby significantly improving the alloys' high temperature capabilities," Mills said.

These days, the most advanced alloys are designed on computer--practically atom by atom--and Mills' team set out to address what he called a deficit in the "quantitative, comprehensive understanding" of how these exotic metal-based materials deform under high stress.

The researchers made the discovery when they were studying nano twin formation in two different commercial superalloys. They compressed samples of the alloys with thousands of pounds of pressure at around 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit--a temperature comparable to a running jet engine--and afterward examined the alloys' crystal structures with electron microscopes and modeled the quantum mechanical behavior of the atoms on a computer.

In both alloys, the temperature and pressure caused nano twin faults to develop within the superalloy crystals. And, in both alloys, the material composition in and around the faults changed, but in different ways.

Through a sequence of atomic-scale jumps, some elments--such as atoms of nickel and aluminum--diffused away from the faults, while others diffused into the faults. The researchers were able to detect these fine-scale movements using the advanced electron microscopes at the Ohio State's Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis (CEMAS), which offers one of the largest concentrations of electron and ion beam analytical microscopy instruments in any North American institution.

"In the first alloy, which was not as strong at high temperature, atoms of cobalt and chromium filled the fault," said Timothy Smith, former student at Ohio State and lead author of the study. "That weakened the area around the fault and allowed it to thicken and become a nano twin."

But in the second alloy--the one that didn't form nano twins--the elements titanium, tantalum and niobium tended to diffuse into the faults instead. As a result, a new and very stable phase of material formed right at the faults. The new phase was so stable that it resisted the formation of nano twins.

The tendency for particular atoms to diffuse into the nano twin faults depends on the overall composition of the alloy, the researchers found. "We discovered that when the amount of titanium, tantalum, and niobium in the alloy was increased, while decreasing cobalt and chromium, we could actually strengthen the region around the faults and prevent the fault from widening into a nano twin," Smith said.

The researchers' innovative combination of atomic-level imaging and high-end computing is a unique feature of research done at CEMAS, said David McComb, study co-author and director of CEMAS.

"Research such as this perfectly illustrates the power of CEMAS to help drive discovery in new materials and processes," he added.

The team is continuing to study phase transformation strengthening, to see if tailoring the alloy compositions in different ways might enhance the effect.
*M*ake what you will of this. In the modern era of partisan polarization, which can be dated back to the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, only the presid...
Some Uber riders can now use pre-tax dollars to pay for carpool rides in Chicago.

The ride-hailing company said Wednesday it has expanded a program that allows riders to use commuter benefits debit cards for UberPool rides, which arranges rides with other passengers going in the same direction for a discounted price.

The program, which launched in New York in August with national employee benefits platform WageWorks, became available Wednesday in more than a dozen markets including Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Riders whose employers offer commuter benefits with Ameriflex, Benefit Resource, Navia, Edenred and WageWorks can now contribute up to $255 in pre-tax income each month to their commuter benefits debit card for UberPool rides.

But not all Uber vehicles are compliant with IRS rules for commuter benefits. Since commuter vehicles must have seats for six or more adults, not including the driver, riders can only use larger Uber vehicles to comply. San Francisco-based Uber product manager Ronak Trivedi said the app will do this automatically.

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When someone requests using a commuter benefits debit card, our system  knows exactly who this person is, and what type of payment option that theyre using, he said.

If a rider is using the commuter benefits option, We're able to say, Where are all the eligible vehicles in the city and whats the best one we can serve to this rider right now?

Trivedi said riders faced wait times that were, on average, two minutes longer than normal Pool rides in New York and other test cities.

Of course, the natural thing is going to be, during times of constrained supply or not enough drivers around you, you will have slightly higher wait times, he said.

A Lyft spokesman said the company hopes to accept commuter benefits for rides soon. He said the company is working with policymakers to ensure services like Lyft Line, its carpool service, are qualified to receive benefits afforded to other transit options.

Via, a New York-based rideshare company that operates in Chicago, also lets riders use commuter benefit debit cards.

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mgraham@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @megancgraham
It turns out a law degree is just as helpful in launching a medical marijuana business as it is dealing with mortgages.

Charlie Bachtell was general counsel at Chicago-based mortgage company Guaranteed Rate when the lawyer in him became captivated by Illinois' medical marijuana law. He left mortgage banking and today the 38-year-old is the CEO and co-founder of medical marijuana company Cresco Labs.

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As he stood among the drying plants in Cresco's Joliet growing facility, Bachtell talked with the Tribune about why he switched careers and what it's like combating the stigma surrounding the industry. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: How did you go from working at Guaranteed Rate to running this huge operation in the medical marijuana industry?

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A: Jokingly I tell people I was an attorney in the most scrutinized and regulated industry in America from 2007 to 2015 and now I'm an operator in the most scrutinized and regulated industry in America from 2015 going forward. It's just a different subject matter. Arguably I'm a bit more passionate about this. While I liked mortgages, you're not helping people deal with nausea from cancer, and you're not part of a cultural shift. You're not impacting the criminal justice system in the way this program allows you to.

Q: So you were instantly hooked?

A: It took (the co-founders and me) about 24 hours to get totally hooked on what was going on in this country when it came to medical cannabis. When we took a look at the law when we were still at Guaranteed Rate, this read like they're looking for professionals with legal, medical, finance backgrounds to help develop a true medical program in Illinois. The idea of helping develop that was really cool to us.

Q: Did you ever think when you were in law school that you'd be doing anything like this?

A: No. Going to law school was the best mistake I ever made. It is funny. I think if you'd met people that knew me in college and law school they would say, "Of course Charlie's the one who would do this." If you knew anybody from my career, they're shocked that I'm in this space. Different eras of your life.

Q: Had you been following the law before it passed?

A: No. The day it passed and it was in the news, (Cresco co-founder and senior vice president of mortgage lending at Guaranteed Rate) Joe (Caltabiano) comes into my office and goes, "I've got an idea. Why don't we sell pot?" And I was like, "Ha ha, very funny." He (said), "No really, the governor signed the law today."

I grew up in Arizona, so Arizona had passed the law a couple years beforehand. Until you live in a state that has a law and you see what the program is like in that state, you don't know anything about what is going on. Especially in those states out west, it's a lot of Bob Marley posters and Reggae music. While I'm fine with all of that, that's not what this program is going to be and future programs that are opening up east of the Mississippi. They're different.

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Q: Other states that are coming online with their own medical marijuana programs have been turning to Cresco for advice. Why?

A: Everybody has these ideas of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This is a normal business just like every other business. You have to watch your costs, you need to make sure that you're efficient. Patient populations take time to build.

You want to make sure you pick the right groups to do this because everybody's preconceived notions are the same. You have to have groups that are willing and able to go through that process and change minds. There's still that general perception that this is a sham. And it's not.

Q: What was it like dealing with that stigma professionally?

A: One of the reasons I was OK moving forward was because Illinois law had a (Freedom of Information Act) exemption in it. My understanding of why they put that FOIA exemption in there was to say, "We understand why a doctor who works at University of Chicago or a partner at Polsinelli law firm or a general counsel at Guaranteed Rate might not feel comfortable outing themselves. (The public will) know who the winners are, but if you're unsuccessful they won't know." That allowed a lot of us to get into this space.

Q: What did your family say when they found out?

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A: My mom's first reaction was, "That's not why you went to law school." Stigma. She made me watch this documentary (about Montana's failed medical program). She said, "If you're OK after you watch the documentary going forward then it's on you." Then she was all about it.

Q: How long did it take to secure funding to launch the business?

A: We did a seed round with our own money and some from friends and family that was done pre-application. That money was gone if we didn't win a license. Post-license we went out and raised more. That money allowed us to prove concept and also develop these opportunities in other markets. We'll be doing our next round here shortly to be able to execute growth opportunities. We had 90 percent of the funds raised within six months.

Q: Did the stigma make it harder to raise capital?

A: We had to look at it as two different investment opportunities, one was real estate and the other was the operating company. If people were concerned about investing in an operating company in cannabis, the real estate is an opportunity for them to be involved.

Q: Will your line of edibles with chef Mindy Segal expand?

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A: Mindy's will be in California and Nevada by end of February. (Marijuana) can't cross state lines. (We'll) give them the recipes, but also maybe employ one of their staff members. They'll come here and train for a couple of months, they'll go back over there and be a true Mindy employee.

Q: Is Cresco profitable yet?

A: We're looking at hopefully (becoming profitable in) February from a cash flow perspective.

Q: What's next?

A: We're still woefully short of the people who should be part of this program. We should be roughly 1 percent of the population, so that's 130,000 people in a 13-million-people state. (We're) at one-tenth of what we should see here. We need to get Illinois where it should be.

amarotti@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @AllyMarotti
Navient Corp. was sued by a U.S. regulator over allegations that the student loan giant "systematically" cheated borrowers.

The company, formerly part of Sallie Mae, failed to properly service private and federal loans, provided incorrect information to borrowers, improperly processed payments and didn't respond to complaints, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said in a statement Wednesday announcing the lawsuit.

"For years, Navient failed consumers who counted on the company to help give them a fair chance to pay back their student loans," CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in the statement.

Navient said in a statement that the allegations are "unfounded" and that it rejected an ultimatum from the consumer agency to settle before the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump. Navient said the suit's timing "reflects their political motivations."

As Trump prepares to step into the White House, Cordray could be a target for replacement. He's among several regulators put in place by President Barack Obama who are planning to stay on the job, but a recent federal court ruling left an opening for the incoming president to try to dismiss him.

If the Navient lawsuit had been held beyond Friday's inauguration, the agency's ability to file it may have been less certain.

Navient, based in Wilmington, Delaware, disclosed in a November filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it had received notice of the probe from the CFPB almost three years ago. The company -- the largest servicer of U.S. student loans -- said in its disclosure that the regulator was considering fining the company, demanding customer restitution and calling for changes in business practices.

"We believe that Navient repeatedly creates obstacles to repayment by misallocating or misapplying payments," Cordray told reporters Wednesday. "The company all too often fails to correct its errors unless a consumer stays vigilant, discovers the problem, and contacts the company to insist that it be fixed."

The lawsuit calls for Navient, which services more than 12 million borrowers, to stop any "illegal conduct" and pay back harmed customers. But Navient contends that the CFPB is trying to retroactively impose new servicing standards on the company's previous actions.

"Navient has a responsibility to its customers, shareholders, and employees to defend itself -- publicly and in court -- against this unsubstantiated, unjustified and politically driven action," the company said.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who led a multistate investigation into Navient, said Wednesday that her office has also sued Navient and its subsidiaries for "widespread abuses across all aspects of its business," including putting customers in subprime loans the company knew were going to fail. The suit calls for restitution, the return of unlawful profits, civil penalties and canceling or revising agreements with Illinois consumers.

Navient handles a portfolio of about $300 billion in student loans and acts as a servicer for the Department of Education. In 2014, the company created a $60 million fund to compensate borrowers after the Department of Justice accused it of violating the rights of military members by failing to give them an interest-rate cap they were due.
China's President Xi Jinping delivers a speech in the Congress Hall on day one of the 47th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 17, 2017. (Gian Ehrenzeller / EPA)

DAVOS, Switzerland  Amid growing doubts about the future of free trade and international economic cooperation, proponents of globalization found reasons for optimism as the World Economic Forum opened Tuesday.

The specters of President-elect Donald Trump's protectionist rhetoric and the British exit from the European Union loomed over the annual event that attracts world leaders and dignitaries to this mountain resort town to discuss the state of the global economy.

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But despite a populist push against globalism in the West, Secretary of State John Kerry told attendees that the "70-year-journey" of expanding economic integration that began after World War II was not over.

"I know some people who are looking at the world and saying, 'Oh my God, you know, the world is coming apart,' and this and that," Kerry said. "No, it isn't, folks, and it won't."

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Chinese President Xi Jinping also offered encouragement, delivering a forceful critique of the protectionism endorsed by Trump and other Western populists.

"It is true that economic globalization has created new problems, but this is no justification to write off economic globalization altogether," Xi said, speaking through a translator. "We must remain committed to developing free trade and investment."

China was one of Trump's chief antagonists on the stump, and many at the World Economic Forum expressed fear that his administration will begin a new era of global barriers to commercial exchange. Trump, who will be inaugurated on Friday, has threatened tariffs of as much as 45 percent on goods imported from China, arguing that the nation's interests must come first in U.S. foreign policy.

Without mentioning Trump by name, Xi offered an opposing viewpoint. Countries, he said, "should view their own interests in their broader context and refrain from pursuing their own interests at the expense of others."

"No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war," Xi said to applause.

For observers in Washington, Xi's appearance in Davos suggested a claim to the kind of international economic stewardship that Trump has rejected.

"If we look back five years from now, 10 years from now, you could say this was a turning point, at which China did move up in the direction of asserting the kind of global leadership role that the U.S. has had for about a century and might willfully be abdicating," said Fred Bergsten, the former director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, in an interview before Xi's speech.

Speaking to international audiences, Xi typically eschews bold rhetoric, maintaining a low profile. Analysts say he and other Chinese officials are aware that explicit pretensions to worldwide leadership could inflame anxieties in the United States and elsewhere.

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"The Chinese have been very careful not to describe themselves as a global leader," said Bonnie Glaser, an expert on China at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, before Xi's speech.

Xi's address Tuesday was characteristically measured and subdued. All the same, his themes of international cooperation and global stability offered an implicit contrast with the rhetoric from Western populist leaders.

"The subtext is that the United States and the West are no longer the stabilizing factors in the world order," Glaser said.

Asked about Xi's speech, Trump adviser Anthony Scaramucci, a New York financier, reassured attendees that the new administration would support free trade. He argued, however, that existing agreements put the United States at an unfair disadvantage.

Revising those agreements would put globalization on a sounder basis, said Scaramucci, one of the few skeptics of free trade at the forum.

"We allowed goods and services to flow freely into the United States, but we allowed our goods and services to be embargoed in other countries," Scaramucci said. "All we're asking for now is to create more symmetry in these free-trade agreements."

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For instance, some American investors say they feel that Beijing treats foreign companies operating in China unfairly. The American Chamber of Commerce, or AmCham China, released its annual survey of business conditions on Tuesday, finding that 4 out of 5 companies feel less welcome in the country than before.

They argue that Xi's government is turning more toward protectionism as its economic growth slows. The businesses' top concern was "inconsistent regulatory enforcement and unclear laws" - often, rules adopted and interpreted to favor local companies over foreign ones.

"AmCham China still steadfastly supports China's active and constructive participation in the global economic system," the group's chairman, William Zarit, said in a statement. "However, it is becoming apparent that the benefits of globalization are being taken for granted or even forgotten, as the challenges of managing a complex, modern economy increase."

Nouriel Roubini, an economist at New York University attending the forum, noted that Beijing has prevented many Western firms from investing in China for both political and economic reasons. He cited Facebook and Twitter as examples.

Roubini was heartened by an announcement coinciding with Xi's speech that Beijing would ease restrictions on foreign banks, brokerages and other industries seeking to do business in China. Roubini said that while the details were vague, the statement showed China is taking criticism seriously.

"It's clear that China is open and wants to be more open to trade in goods and services," he said. "It's going to be a process."

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The Washington Post's Simon Denyer contributed to this report.
4 Star Restaurant Group (from left: Doug Dunlay, Josh Rutherford,Derek Rettell and Michael Dunlay) will open an Italian restaurant in Wrigleyville. (4 Star Restaurant Group)

The people behind Crosby's Kitchen, Smoke Daddy and the Windsor are looking to Italy for their next inspiration.

Aiming for an early March opening, Ella Elli (1349 W. Cornelia St.) will be a 75-seat, Cal-Ital concept by 4 Star Restaurant Group.

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The name incorporates two feminine Italian suffixes, said 4 Star partner Doug Dunlay.

"It's something very different for Lakeview, that's for sure," he said. "Elevated cuisine in a really beautiful room. It'll be a great place for gathering, some lounge seating and cozy booths, a lot of plates for sharing."

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The chef will be Nolan Narut, who has been with 4 Star for about a year, after heading the kitchen at the now-shuttered Quay, and serving as sous-chef at David Burke's Primehouse.

The restaurant will occupy the same building as Crosby's Kitchen.

"We're looking at March 7," said Dunlay of Ella Elli's opening. "We're right on schedule, which is a rarity in Chicago construction."

Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.

pvettel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @philvettel






Three decades ago, I was inducted into the Commanderie des Nobles Vins du Jura et du Comte, a bacchanalian confraternity in the Franche-Comte region of France celebrating the local wines and cheeses.

A few of us food writers from the United States took the charter's oath to extol, whenever possible, the noble wines and cheese of the Jura. We received an embossed medal and a parchment with the seal and signatures of the three officers. The hand-lettered parchment hangs in my kitchen to this day.

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During our visit to this eastern region of France, we toured wineries and cheesemaking establishments. The dedication to tradition, to quality, to the land, runs through everything. I've been happily cooking with creamy, tangy Comte cheese and sipping the crisp white wines ever since.

A recent trip to Paris rekindled my appreciation for Comte cheese. Like a creamier version of Swiss cheese (without the holes), Comte tastes of rich milk, with a hint of nuts, and is aged to a perfectly tangy flavor. I bought a hunk at Androuet, one of my favorite cheese shops, to eat along with quince paste and a baguette. I enjoyed a 24-month-aged wedge as part of a cheese course.

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The piece de resistance came at lunch at chef Alain Ducasse's brasserie, Restaurant Champeaux in the newly renovated Les Halles shopping center.

"Coquillettes/jambon/Comte/truffe noire."

Easy to translate that the dish would have ham, cheese and black truffle. However, I hadn't a clue as to a coquillette. I ordered the dish anyway.

Turns out, coquillettes are simply miniature elbow-shaped pasta. Ah, this was a fancy mac 'n' cheese! Comfort food at its Frenchiest. And mighty delicious at that. Photos and notes taken, I brought home 3 pounds of coquillettes purchased at a market near my Airbnb. Perfect January fare.

Take no fear, the recipe that follows can be made with nearly any pasta, but using small shapes, along with the tiny dice of ham and cheese, adds to the eating pleasure. For ease, coquillettes can be ordered from Amazon. Ditto for Comte cheese. You can always skip the drizzle of truffle oil and opt for a little fruity olive oil in its place.

The second recipe, with its rich sauce of wine and butter, also takes the sting of out January. Plus, delicate, mildly onion-flavored leeks, add variety to our winter vegetable table. The leeks braise to tenderness in broth and wine, then the pan juices transform into the sauce. A fluffy pile of hard-cooked egg, known in French cuisine as mimosa, tops off this simple dish with a flourish. Serve the leeks as a vegetarian main course or as a side dish to roast chicken.

Pasta with smoked ham and Comte cheese

Prep: 20 minutes

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Cook: 15 minutes

Makes: about 5 1/2 cups, serving 2 to 4

Dice the ham and cheese into pieces just a tad larger than the pasta shapes.

8 ounces trimmed smoked ham steak

4 ounces Comte cheese (or Gruyere or Swiss cheese), cut into small dice (about 1 cup)

2 tablespoons each: butter, flour

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1 clove garlic, minced

2 cups 2 percent or whole milk

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Salt, freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces coquillettes, or tiny shell-shaped pasta or orzo

1 large egg

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Shredded Parmesan, optional

Minced fresh chives, optional

Truffle oil or olive oil, optional

1 Cut the ham into a small dice. You will have about 1 1/4 cups. Trim the rind from the cheese and cut the cheese into the same size dice as the ham; you will have about 1 cup.

2 Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and garlic; cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, about 5 minutes. Stir in nutmeg. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. (Sauce can be made an hour or so in advance.)

3 Heat a large saucepan of well-salted water to a boil. Add pasta; cook until al dente (slightly toothsome in the middle), about 8 minutes (or according to package directions). Scoop out and reserve  cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain pasta in a colander, and place in a large serving bowl.

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4 Reheat the milk mixture if it has cooled. Beat the egg in a small bowl and then slowly stir in a few tablespoons of the hot milk mixture to warm the egg. Then, working over low heat, whisk the egg mixture into the remaining milk mixture. Whisk until smooth and heated through, but do not boil. Remove from heat.

5 To serve, pour the hot sauce over the warm pasta. Add diced ham and toss gently until well coated. (Add a little of the reserved pasta cooking water if mixture seems too thick.) Add the cheese cubes; toss again, and then spoon onto serving plates. If desired, sprinkle with Parmesan and chives, and drizzle with tiny dots of the truffle or olive oil.

Nutrition information per serving (for 4 servings): 569 calories, 24 g fat, 13 g saturated fat, 133 mg cholesterol, 54 g carbohydrates, 7 g sugar, 32 g protein, 1,049 mg sodium, 3 g fiber

Mimosa is the name of the hard-cooked egg topping for this dish of braised leeks. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)

Braised leeks mimosa

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

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Makes: 2 to 4 servings

Be sure to have the hard-cooked egg cooled before using.

4 small-medium leeks, each about 1 inch in diameter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

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1/4 cup dry white wine

1 cup homemade or low-sodium vegetable broth

1 hard-cooked egg, peeled

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks

1 or 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives

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1 Trim off the root ends from the leeks. Trim off the dark green tops. (Save them for making soup.) Trimmed leeks will be about 8 inches in length. Cut each leek lengthwise in half. Gently rinse (keeping the leek intact) under cool water to be sure there is no grit inside. Let drain on a towel.

2 Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, then arrange the leeks cut side down in the pan. Cook until cut side is lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn gently and season with salt and pepper. Pour wine into pan and heat to a simmer.

3 Pour broth over leeks. Heat to a boil; cover pan and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer gently, until leeks are fork-tender, about 15 minutes.

4 Meanwhile, press the hard-cooked egg through a medium-mesh wire strainer into a small bowl to turn it into a fine chop.

5 Use a slotted spatula to gently transfer leeks to a large platter; cover with foil to keep warm. Heat pan juices to a boil. Remove from heat, and whisk in lemon juice. While whisking, add small chunks of butter, whisking until all butter is added and melted. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over leeks.

6 Sprinkle sieved egg over leeks. Sprinkle with chives. Serve immediately.

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Nutrition information per serving (for 4 servings): 190 calories, 14 g fat, 5 g saturated fat, 62 mg cholesterol, 14 g carbohydrates, 4 g sugar, 3 g protein, 360 mg sodium, 2 g fiber






DineAmic partners David Rekhson, left, and Lucas Stoioff plan to open a Mexican-themed restaurant named Barrio in the former Blackfinn American Grille space on Kinzie Street near Clark Street. (Alex Goyk)

Having put its footprint on Italian (Siena Tavern, Bar Siena) and steakhouse (Prime & Provisions) restaurants, the DineAmic restaurant group is taking aim at Mexican cuisine.

Barrio (65 W. Kinzie St.), a 200-seat restaurant, is aiming for a late-spring debut in River North.

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"We've always wanted a Mexican/Latin-inspired brand," said DineAmic partner Lucas Stoioff. "We understand that Frontera Grill and Mercadito are already here, but we hope we can still bring something (to the genre)."

Among other things, that "something" will be a broad menu that includes many of the expected Mexican dishes, and American dishes with Mexican influences. There will be a focus on proteins, particularly charcoal-grilled proteins from a "Mexican robata bar" section of the menu. Think guajillo-glazed pork belly.

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"The key to a lot of our successes," said partner David Rekhson, "is creating concepts that are interesting but broad enough that you can enjoy them many times a week. A lot of things on the menu will be Mexican, of course, but we'll also incorporate a lot of other items, so you don't have to be 'in the mood for Mexican' in order to come here."

The restaurant will occupy the former Blackfinn American Grille space, located in the same building (but around the corner) as Siena Tavern.

Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.






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Ever wanted to go out for pizza, yet couldn't decide between a thin-crusted Neapolitan-style pie, complete with a blistered crust and sparse toppings, or a bulging slice of Chicago-style deep dish, blanketed with cheese and a good pound of sausage?

Soon, at least for a day, you'll be able to experience Eataly's traditional Neapolitan pizza on the same plate as a hulking slice from Pizzeria Uno. The event takes place 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at Eataly's La Pizza & La Pasta restaurant. It'll cost $16 to experience both side by side, though we're not sure if the space-time continuum will be breached if the sauce from one crosses with the other.

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At first glance, about the only thing the two pizzas share in common is that you can find them served at the intersection of Ohio Street and Wabash Avenue. So we decided to talk to Nicola Farinetti, CEO of Eataly in the United States, to better understand this pizza odd couple.

In a phone call, Farinetti says the purpose of the event is to start a conversation about what goes into great pizza. "Making a very good pizza is very difficult," says Farinetti. "Details like how you make the dough, how long it rests, what kind of oven you use, how long you cook: These are very important. Pizza is a serious thing, not a commodity."

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Eataly Chicago decided to team with Pizzeria Uno because of the history of the pizzeria, which was the first to serve deep dish. "As much as we see pizza as an Italian thing, it's an international thing," says Farinetti. "Places all over the world have formed their own tradition, even though it's different from the one we do."

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 36 It's a beautiful sight, the fruit of the sea pizza at Nonnina, its surface crowded with rings and tentacles of squid, mussels and clams in the shell and little shrimp. The seafood is uniformly tender to the bite, its brininess marrying well with mellow tomatoes. The wealth of sea creatures makes for a crust that's soft in the middle, the point flopping down when you lift a slice. (Other pizzas, such as the prosciutto and mushroom, were more done in the center.) But that's OK, because the crust is still so good, the fat edges offering crunch, then chewiness. $16, one size only. 340 N. Clark St., 312-822-0077, www.nonninachicago.com.  Joe Gray (Marissa Conrad / Chicago Tribune)

Farinetti believes that the fact that the two pizzas are so different is actually part of the appeal. "We don't just want to include people who already love our pizza; we want to include everyone in the conversation. It's not a competition."

What does Farinetti think about deep dish? He admits that he's never actually tried Pizzeria Uno, though he's looking forward to it. "We've been trying to do an event for a while now."

It turns out the pizza-themed event will be just one of many. Though he wouldn't confirm any specific restaurants, Farinetti says Eataly Chicago will host a "bunch of different chefs and pizzerias" in the future.

In fact, Eataly also is having a Pizza Party this Sunday (buy tickets at www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/chicago/pizza-party/), where you'll be able to chat with employees as they make dough and fresh mozzarella cheese, and cook up four different kinds of pizza. Along with the pizza-making tutorials, the $35 tickets include unlimited pizza and an alcoholic drink.

For Farinetti, these events are all about educating people in a fun and inviting atmosphere. "We need to make culture sexy," says Farinetti.

nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @nickdk






Chicago welcomed a Kurdish restaurant to its ranks when The Gundis opened at the beginning of the month in Lakeview.

The Clark Street restaurant comes from a pair of Kurdish immigrants via Mardin, Turkey, who share the same first and middle names: Mehmet Besir Duzgun and Mehmet Besir Yavuz. After meeting five years ago, the Mehmets discovered they shared the dream of opening a Kurdish restaurant and have been planning one ever since.

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"We're really good friends, like brothers, who have similar stories and have had similar struggles," Duzgun wrote in an email. "We want to serve Chicago our food, the food of our people."

That food, Duzgun wrote, comes from recipes made in Kurdish homes throughout Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. The basics of Kurdish food are similar to those of many other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines  lamb, chicken, eggplant and yogurt are all staples  but dishes do distinguish themselves from other regional fare.

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"Our food is spicier, it's more citrusy, greasy in all the best ways, and involves a lot of bread," Duzgun wrote. "Who doesn't like bread?"

Dining at The Gundis is a communal experience. Diners all dig in to platters using bread pieces as utensils. Dishes like the Mardin special ($20), which usually features lamb or chicken wrapped in fried eggplant alongside bell peppers and a yogurt sauce, or the Mardin stew ($19), a hearty lamb stew that comes atop a bed of creamy, roasted eggplant puree, are ideal for sharing.

Kurdish breakfast for two includes your choice of eggs and sides of feta, kashar cheese, fig, apricot and cherry jam, honey, butter, Kurdish sesame butter, black and green olives, fries, cucumbers, tomatoes, fried cheese rolls, yade's bread (mom's bread) and bottomless tea. (Michelle Kanaar / Chicago Tribune)

The restaurant's weekend brunch is highlighted by Kurdish baklawa crepes ($11)  a baklava cousin made using pastry dough instead of phyllo dough, filled with goat cheese and topped with black figs in addition to the usual pistachios, walnuts and honey  and a "Kurdish breakfast for two" spread ($31-$35) that includes a soft egg-and-veggie scramble with sides of raw veggies with oil, fries and cheese slices.

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The wine list, currently the only alcohol on the menu, includes selections from a widespread area. Duzgun hopes the restaurant can eventually serve Ava Zer, a Kurdish lager that has not yet been imported to the U.S.

The Mehmets have also had trouble acquiring Kurdish coffee and black tea, two favorites among Kurds. Unfortunately, the fraught political atmosphere in parts of the Middle East  including the presence of ISIS militant groups  can make importing popular food items extremely difficult, they say. Instead, The Gundis currently sources its tea and coffee from local Turkish and Arabic importers.

"Yes, we would have liked to serve authentic Kurdish tea and coffee, but it's a luxury to serve that tea and coffee right now," Denisse Gonzalez, creative director of the restaurant, said.

The Gundis is an inviting addition to its stretch of Clark Street: light, bright and spacious. Duzgun and Yavuz said they're thrilled to join Chicago's dining scene.

"Chicago is our home and it's known for some of the best food in the country," Yavuz wrote. "It just needs Kurdish food to be complete."

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The Gundis, 2909 N. Clark St., 773-904-8120, www.thegundis.com

adlukach@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lucheezy






"Saturday Night Live" cast member Aidy Bryant said last year's "SNL" sketch about drunk girls on Halloween was inspired by a party she attended as a student at Columbia College.

"It's fully based on, like, a Halloween that I experienced in college where I was, like, dressed as a leopard and I thought I was very (expletive) cute," Bryant told Seth Meyers Tuesday on "Late Night."

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"I was just, like, feeling myself so hard and I went to, like, a theater department party, as you do, and I like went there, drank a little bit, which I couldn't handle at all, and then I kissed, like, one boy in the theater department, and then immediately went back to my dorm, called my high school boyfriend, and was like, 'I'm sorry.' Like, couldn't handle it. Whiskers, like, pouring down my face."

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Bryant, 29, graduated from Columbia College in 2009 and joined "SNL" in 2012.

The "A Girl's Halloween" sketch, which aired Oct. 22, shows Bryant, Illinois native Cecily Strong and Chicago improv veteran Vanessa Bayer preparing for a tame Halloween. Flash forwards show the night ending in meltdowns.

"Late Night" airs 11:35 p.m. weeknights on NBC.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 12 An interior image of Aidy Bryant's new 850-square-feet, one-bedroom and one-bathroom apartment in New York. (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP)
Chicago rapper Taylor Bennett, shown backstage before a 2014 anti-violence event at Whitney Young High School, sold out his first show when he was just 17. (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago rapper Taylor Bennett revealed Wednesday he is bisexual.

"My birthday is tomorrow and moving into next year I'd like to be more open about myself to help others that struggle with the same issues," Bennett wrote on Twitter. "Growing up I've always felt indifferent about my sexuality and being attracted to one sex and today I would like to openly come out to my fans. I do recognize myself as a bisexual male and I do and have always openly supported the gay community and will keep doing so in 2017."

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I do recognize myself as a bisexual male & do & have always openly supported the gay community & will keep doing so in 2017. #ThankYou   NEW SINGLE OUT NOW! (@_TaylorBennett) January 18, 2017

Bennett teamed up with Leghorn Chicken in October to create a chicken and waffle sandwich to benefit Chicago-based LGBTQIA advocacy and youth homeless support group Pride Action Tank. He received positive feedback on Wednesday's announcement, with some social media users praising his courage.

The South Side native, who performed at Metro last month, is the brother of Chance the Rapper and the son of Choose Chicago senior adviser Ken Bennett, who used to work for President Obama. His mother, Lisa, previously worked for the Illinois attorney general.

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Bennett is set to celebrate his 21st birthday Thursday at Studio Paris in River North and debut a short film tied to his "Broad Shoulders" album Jan. 25.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
It took 17 years and seven studio albums, but Nashville's Kings of Leon finally landed their first No 1 album when their latest release, "Walls," dropped in October.

"We were more shocked than anything," says co-founder and drummer Nathan Followill. "We were just glad Lady Gaga waited a week to put her record out."

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The group (brothers Nathan, Caleb and Jared Followill and cousin Matthew Followill) came up in the early '00s, part of a wave of post-Strokes rock bands. They sold millions of albums and had a string of hits ("Sex on Fire," "Use Somebody") before frontman Caleb Followill's onstage meltdown in 2011 led to a forced hiatus. Their post-break releases (including 2013's mostly unloved "Mechanical Bull") have been among their most successful.

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In a phone interview in advance of the band's Monday night United Center show, Nathan Followill talked about life in one of the only arena rock bands left standing.

The following is an edited transcript of that conversation:

Q: Do you guys see each other during your off time?

A: We all live less than 2 1/2 miles apart from each other, so we see each other quite a bit when we're off the road. Me and Caleb and Matthew, all three of our kids are in the same class at Montessori school, so if it's not a family get together, we usually see each other at school outings and stuff like that. We all take our time away from each other when we need to, but that usually doesn't last too terribly long.

Q: Going into the studio, you're coming off an album that maybe wasn't your favorite.

A: I would say we had rushed into making "Come Around Sundown" and "Mechanical Bull" pretty quickly after our most successful record. Record number seven, it was the opposite. Most people think you would put a lot of pressure on yourself coming off a record you weren't as excited about as the others. Actually, "Mechanical Bull" did amazing, it was our second most selling record, I think? But going into "Walls," we kind of did the opposite. It was like, don't put pressure on ourselves to re-create the magic that was on previous records that got us accolades and awards. It was our last record on our record deal at that time, so we just went into it like we had nothing to lose.

Q: You went in with a producer who seemed like he was hard on you, in a way you weren't used to.

A: Yeah, Markus (Dravs), he took a little bit of getting used to, because we had done all our previous records with Angelo (Petraglia), who was our mentor and our buddy, he kind of was the fifth member, and would get us all together if we were all over the place. At first, it seemed tough. (Dravs), he's German and lived in Liverpool, which is about as opposite of Tennessee as you can get. The language barrier was such a huge thing for us. ... He definitely pushed us harder than we've ever been pushed making a record.

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Q: When you're in a famous band, people probably don't speak to you sharply.

A: Oh, totally. Going into this record, we were like, "We've been surrounded by yes men for our whole entire career." It was like musical boot camp for us, but graduation day was oh so sweet.

Q: When the album does well, it must be even sweeter, because rock in general isn't doing well.

A: Oh my God, yeah. You never want that in the back of your mind going into making a record, (that) we have to compete with Beyonce or Rihanna, these huge pop acts. You have to sit down and realize that it's a totally different world from rock. Rock is not what it used to be. You're not having rock bands sell millions of records like they did 10, 15 years ago. It's almost a blessing in disguise, because it takes that pressure off you.

Q: A recent article suggested you could be the last rock band to get famous, just as a basic four-piece.

A: You really realize it when you go play festivals, and you look at who's playing with you, and who was with you at the festival before that. As the years go by, it just amazes us, because there were so many great bands when we came out. It was such a bright, hopeful time for rock 'n' roll. We were like, "This is our time. Rock 'n' roll is about to take over." But it just slowly faded away.

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Q: It seems like a terrible pressure to put on yourselves, to be in a band with your family members. Your family, your livelihood, your dreams, everything's tied together, and one big fight could end everything.

A: For some family bands, for sure. For us, I don't ever really see that happening. It's part of the way we were raised. Our dad was a traveling minister, so our whole lives we've been stuck together in the back seat of a car, in hotel rooms. We've always been together. It's not one of those things where we all went to high school, and I had my group of friends I hung out with, and my little brother had his group of his friends. We never got the chance to have our own lives, to create our own individual identities as kids. The beauty of being a family band is you know what buttons to push, obviously, but you get over a fight just as quick as you start one. You're like, "OK, are we going to break up the band over a fight? Seriously?" I know how much our families rely on this. I think as we've gotten older and have families now, we take it a lot more seriously. No one wants to be the one person that's responsible for the band breaking up.

Q: Looking back on it, are you glad that your bad period was public? Did it force you to confront stuff you wouldn't have had to confront?

A: Yeah, that was something that was going to happen no matter what. We had literally pushed ourselves so hard, and coming off the hills of our most successful record and trying to re-create that, not only the pressure we'd put on ourselves but (from) everyone around us, when all that went down, it was actually a relief. We were like, OK, finally, this forces us to take a step back and evaluate where we are in our lives. Most people read articles (saying) the band was broken up, and we'd all be texting each other on a group texts, like, "Did you read that? That's hilarious." We really just thought it was funny, because we knew we weren't breaking up. We knew we were going to make more music.

Q: It sounds like you wouldn't go back.

A: We've gotten older and more mature. We don't fight any more, we're respectful of the process. We're so grateful that seven records in, we're still able to do this. We're just so happy that we get to do what we love. It's a good time to be a king.

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Allison Stewart is a freelancer.

onthetown@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @chitribent

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday

Where: United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.

Tickets: $29.50-$65.50; 800-653-8000 or www.Ticketmaster.com

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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)
Research has shown that motherhood is associated with a 4 percent decrease in earnings per child. (Thomas_EyeDesign / Vetta)

The owner of a Chicago-based consulting and research firm, Arin Reeves has a law degree, a doctorate in sociology and a client list that includes Fortune 500 companies.

But that wasn't what an interviewer decided to focus on when considering her firm for a big project.

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"Are you nervous about your brain?" the man asked Reeves, who was six months pregnant at the time. "Every time my wife has a child, I swear she's gotten 10 percent dumber."

The bias against moms in the workplace doesn't get as much attention as sexual harassment or the glass ceiling, but it's a widespread problem, according to experts and recent studies, which point to obstacles and penalties that fathers and people without children don't experience.

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In a 2007 study at Cornell University, students evaluating equivalent resumes rated mothers as less competent than women who weren't mothers, recommended them for the job less frequently, and recommended starting salaries that were $11,000 lower.

Other research has shown that motherhood is associated with a 4 percent decrease in earnings per child, and a 2016 report by the Society of Women Engineers and the Center for WorkLife Law found that while almost 80 percent of male engineers surveyed said having children did not change their colleagues' perceptions of their work commitment or competence, only 55 percent of female engineers said the same.

Arin Reeves is president of the Chicago-based research and consulting firm Nextions, which focuses on leadership and inclusion issues. (Arin Reeves)

"We know how strong this bias is," said Joan C. Williams, a distinguished professor at the University of California Hastings College of the Law and director of the Center for WorkLife Law. "It's an order of magnitude stronger than glass-ceiling bias" or bias against women in the workplace. "It's extraordinarily strong."

In interviews with the Tribune, local women, most of whom said they didn't want to be identified by name because they feared career fallout, described employers who seemed to assume that motherhood and a drop in career commitment go hand in hand. A Chicago real estate agent said that while she was on maternity leave at a former sales job, her commissions were cut drastically, even though she'd already landed the accounts and her assistant was handling the follow-up. At the time, she said, she was the No. 1 salesperson in the office, but her supervisors somehow convinced themselves that she wasn't going to come back to work.

"I gave them no reason to believe that  except that I had a baby," she said.

Another woman said she was in the running for a big promotion at work two months after she got married. That was when a vice president at her company told her that the candidates had been narrowed down to two people, her and a male employee, but he had a question that would influence the decision: Was she planning on having children anytime soon?

"I was shocked," the woman said. She quit her job soon after. In her current job, she said, moms are appreciated and accommodated with policies such as flexible work hours.

Joan C. Williams, a distinguished professor at the University of Chicago Hastings College of the Law, says bias against mothers in the workplace is "extraordinarily strong." (Joan C. Williams)

It's not illegal to ask a female employee if she plans to have children, according to Cynthia Calvert, a senior adviser at the Center for WorkLife Law, but it would likely violate sex discrimination laws if an employer asked only female employees about their plans to have children, or made personnel decisions based on the answer. In addition, some cities, including Chicago, prohibit making employment decisions based on parental status.

On average, women do reduce work hours, at least temporarily, after having kids, according to a 2014 report by UMass Amherst sociology professor Michelle Budig. But by Budig's calculations, the reduction in work hours only account for about one-third of the reduction in wages that women experience when they have kids. Similarly, men do, on average, increase their work hours after becoming dads, but that only accounts for at most 16 percent of the earnings increase associated with becoming a dad.

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Even when factors such as reduced hours and seniority are taken into account, fatherhood is associated with an increase in earnings of over 6 percent, while motherhood is tied to a 4 percent decrease in earnings per child, according to Budig's research.

Reeves, who advises companies on how to achieve inclusion and maximize the potential of women and minorities, says the "baby brain" comment was the most blatant example of mom bias that she's personally experienced.

In that case, she responded directly to the question.

"I'm not worried about my brain, but I am worried about yours," she said. "Because the fact that you think you're qualified to measure exact increases and decreases in IQ in any correlation with childbirth concerns me greatly. So let's talk about that. What was the evidence (you used) to reach that conclusion?"

"I was just being sarcastic," the man said.

Reeves didn't expect to get the job after that exchange, she didn't and she was OK with that: "I'd rather stand up to him and miss an assignment than wonder if anyone's ever going to stand up to him."

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Experts say that mom bias is tough to address for a range of reasons, among them that it's built into the deeply held assumption that the ideal employee  male or female  has no family responsibilities and is always available for work. Mothers fare particularly poorly when judged against that standard, but anyone caring for an ill relative will take a hit.

"The entire workplace is designed as an affirmative action program for people without daily caregiving responsibilities," Williams says.

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director of the advocacy group MomsRising, is excited about growing support for measures such as paycheck transparency laws, which seek to ensure the salary is determined by the job, not the employee's gender or parental status. The Paycheck Fairness Act has passed both the House and the Senate, she said, although not yet in the same session.

"Passing policies like paid family leave, access to affordable child care, access to health care, those are critically important too, and those polices are on fire," Rowe-Finkbeiner said. "We just did exit polling in this presidential election, and we saw massive support by Democrats and Republicans alike for these policies."

Reeves said she does see progress, but it's coming slowly.

"Unfortunately, like a lot of things with gender equity, it takes women figuring out how to do it in spite of the barriers for the barriers to slowly come down," she said. "There are a lot of women who have scorch marks all over their bodies from blazing trails, and now we can say there are paths available."

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nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @nschoenberg

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Families starting to plan this year's vacation might want to check out Intrepid Travel; the tour company has doubled its number of family-friendly trips this year to 48. They include popular destinations around the world, from Thailand and India to the western U.S. and Cuba. Many of the trips have an itinerary tailored to an active lifestyle, and most have a minimum age of either 5 or 11. Among the destinations is an eight-day/seven-night Galapagos Family Holiday, exploring the islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Floreana. The big draw of the Galapagos, of course, is its wildlife, ranging from your common sea lion to exotic marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and the islands' famous giant tortoises. The trip is priced from $2,625 per person, double occupancy, with a 10 percent discount for kids 11 or younger at the time of the trip. International air to the starting point in Quito, Ecuador, is extra. The family-trips website has a good FAQ section that addresses a plethora of concerns, such as whether vegetarian options are available and what toilet facilities will be like. Info: 800-970-7299, http://tinyurl.com/gs2623e

Going it alone

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Tokyo apparently is a popular destination for solo travelers, according to a list from Homestay, which connects travelers to hosts in more than 150 countries who rent rooms in their homes. Although Homestay's services aren't strictly for those traveling alone, 80 percent of nights have been booked by solo travelers since the company's launch in 2013. Tokyo saw the largest rate of growth in the 2015-2016 period. Other cities filling out the top 10 were Havana; Dublin; London; Paris; Madrid; Rome; Seoul, South Korea; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. If you're looking to live like a local, check out www.homestay.com.

Count the ways

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The Camino de Santiago is a popular hiking route for religious pilgrims en route to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. It's also a hit with hikers in general. Myriad routes lead to Santiago, ranging from the lengthy traditional trek to ones better suited to time-pressed pedestrians. As its name implies, Camino Ways is a company that knows its way around the Camino landscape. Among its offerings for 2017 is The Full Way, a 36-day/35-night trek from St. Jean Pied de Port in the French Pyrenees to the cathedral where St. James is believed to be buried. It's priced from about $3,900 per person, double occupancy for half-board. The length of the trip can be extended to reduce hiking distances on some days. Another option traces the coast of Portugal over one or two weeks, and others cover just a portion of the route for a week. Prices for shorter treks can be as low as about $590. Info: http://tinyurl.com/je27zjo

Phil Marty is a freelance writer.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York onJan. 13, 2017. (Evan Vucci / AP)

Before Donald Trump establishes himself in the White House, here's hoping he does something huge for American journalism.

He's already been a huge boon to journalists, serving as a pinata for thwacks and clicks and fear and clicks and panic and clicks and outrage, shame, clicks and more clicks.

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But sometimes, clicks just aren't enough.

So how about gigantic, five-gallon jugs chock-full of Prozac, or other such antidepressants, placed in every newsroom?

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Because it should be clear by now that something is needed, since much of journalism leans to the political left, and that many of the left are beyond fear and hysterics over Trump.

Now that I think of it, I'm no doctor, so I can't very well prescribe handfuls of drugs. But like you, I am a consumer of news, watching and reading all the tears and fears and paranoia in political news these days.

It's as if some evil zookeeper has released a boa constrictor into the friendly meerkat exhibit when the cute little mammals were sleeping.

And all we hear are pitiful, high-pitched meerkat shrieks and then, those tiny paws frantically scratching upon the glass.

Sad. It's all so very sad.

Like the tears of NBC's Matt Lauer of "Today," and his colleague Andrea Mitchell. They were overcome by emotion the other day when outgoing Vice President Joe Biden received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from outgoing President Barack Obama.

"I'm glad there were no cameras in my apartment yesterday because I was just sitting there, weeping," Lauer said on "Today." "I just burst out crying when I saw that moment. It was incredible."

Mitchell, who agreed it was incredible, was also "in tears."

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There's a lot to unpack there, but it's already been established that I'm not a psychiatrist. I'm not even an expert on the emotions of small exotic mammals.

So I'll just join Lauer in being grateful there were no cameras in his apartment when he wept over Biden and Obama.

Yet cameras or no, the idea of such weeping, or those meerkat paws on the glass, it all makes a rather hideous sound, doesn't it?

Lately it's been so loud that Americans who don't give two figs for politics can't hear another noise of even greater political urgency: The feet of Democratic senators scrambling as they run for re-election in states where Republican Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton just a few months ago.

There are 10 of them, including Sen. Claire McCaskill, the Missouri Democrat, seeking re-election in a state Trump won by 19 points. And Sen. Joe Donnelly, the Indiana Democrat, who also is vulnerable in his pro-Trump state.

And so, here's the Democratic game: Delegitimize Trump even before his term begins, use outrage and media anger toward Trump to shovel it out to America, and shame anyone who dares say otherwise, to save those 10 senators running in the pro-Trump states.

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In the primaries, Trump wasn't elected by Republicans to build Washington. They elected him to break Washington, to take his hammer to the GOP establishment that took them for granted, lied to them, shipped their jobs overseas and used patriotism in much the same way Democrats use that old race card.

So they want Trump to crack that Washington egg wide open. He threatens not only the GOP establishment  if you doubt me check out those sly, malevolent looks from GOP establishment little finger Sen. Lindsay Graham  but also the Democratic establishment.

The Democrats don't want war in their own party. It's coming though. The Democrats are now the keepers of the status quo.

So what do you do if your voters are getting itchy? You bind them with fear and anger.

It's a sound partisan strategy to delegitimize an incoming president. It's not good for the nation and it is immoral, but it's good politics, if you're given media cover. And the Democrats clearly have that.

Here's a recent example of that cover. Democratic U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia said recently that he'd skip the Trump inauguration because, in his words, Trump was not a legitimate president.

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This was reported as an unprecedented slap against Trump by an African American who gained national prominence decades ago as a civil rights leader. Trump tweeted back and they got to scrapping.

What wasn't reported was that Lewis did the same thing years ago, boycotting President George W. Bush's 2001 inauguration for the same reason: He perceived another Republican as illegitimate.

So it was an old tactic, presented as something new and heroic.

"I don't think the Democrats are going to roll over," Tom Bevan, publisher and co-founder of Real Clear Politics, said in an interview on my podcast, "The Chicago Way."

"The media certainly isn't going to reform itself and begin giving him a fair shake. And I don't necessarily expect Trump to unilaterally disarm and stop tweeting and start acting the way people think he should act as president. It's the great unknown," Bevan said.

So what should people do when the media is on one side, most of the states are on the other and there's no giant jug of Prozac around?

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One alternative cuts through all the noise, from the panicked scratching of meerkats to the loud bellowing of the politicians.

It's not some pill. It comes in booklet form and you can keep one in your pocket. If you haven't read it, lately, now's a good time: The Constitution of the United States of America.

Listen to "The Chicago Way" podcast here: www.wgnradio.com/category/wgn-plus/thechicagoway.

jskass@chicagotribune.com

Twitter@John_Kass
Immigrants who live in mixed-status households are uncertain of what to expect from the incoming Trump administration. Jan. 18, 2017. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) (Nuccio Dinuzzo / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Each day when Consuelo Martinez drops her two children off at school, she is confronted with a contradiction: Her children are living a better life than she and her husband ever imagined when they came illegally to the U.S. 20 years ago. Yet she fears that all the advantages of their American life  a house with a mortgage, two steady jobs, special needs services for her 13-year-old daughter with autism  may be taken away under the incoming administration.

"It's a feeling of anguish knowing that Jan. 20 is coming and not knowing what will happen," Martinez, 46, of Chicago, said through tears. "I don't know what will happen with my family. What will happen with my little house?"

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Martinez's fears are echoed by others like her: immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who are part of mixed-status families, with other family members  often children  who are U.S. citizens or are residing in the country legally.

In Illinois, 87 percent of an estimated 511,000 immigrants in the U.S. illegally live in households with mixed-immigration status, according to a study from Rob Paral, a Chicago demographer.

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Their futures are uncertain given the potential changes supported by President-elect Donald Trump  including deporting millions of people living in the U.S. illegally who are felons, building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which offers some children who entered the U.S. illegally the opportunity to stay in the country, work and attend college.

Trump has contended that the reforms are needed to protect jobs for U.S. citizens and make the country safer.

He is joined by many Americans who favor stricter enforcement of immigration laws, including Hans von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a longtime conservative think tank based in Washington.

"The average American knows that we've been a country of immigration for a long time  it's made us a great country," Spakovsky said. "But they resent the idea that we should get rid of the line between legal and illegal immigration."

Spakovsky argues that the cost of benefits used by immigrants living in the U.S. illegally  from health care to education and law enforcement  is greater than the amount they pay in taxes.

He added that he and other proponents of stricter enforcement might be willing to support a program approved by Congress that allows people living in the U.S. illegally to stay in the country as long as they are needed to raise their children who are U.S. citizens.

But people who have entered the country illegally should not use their children indefinitely to benefit from their illegal behavior, he said.

"You are hurting legal immigrants who come to this country, who go by the rules, who abide by the laws that we have set," he said.

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As Trump prepares to move into the Oval Office, advocates from local immigrant-rights groups said they have been flooded with anxious calls from people like Martinez, fearful of what may happen to their mixed-status families. Here are three mothers' stories.

Consuelo Martinez, an immigrant and Chicago resident who is living in the U.S. illegally, worries what would happen if she were to bedeported. Her daughter, Chelsea, 13, playing violin, is a U.S. citizen who has an autism-spectrum disorder. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Fear for a special-needs child

Consuelo Martinez said she and her husband came to the U.S. from Mexico with dreams of working for a year and saving money to open a business back home. But the couple soon realized that with low-wage jobs and the high cost of living in the U.S., it would take longer than they expected.

Her husband, a waiter, worked morning until night to earn money. She took a job working the third shift sorting mail. The couple had two children, both U.S. citizens because they were born here. When the youngest, Chelsea, was diagnosed with an autism-spectrum disorder, Martinez was grateful to be in a country with treatments and therapies that allowed her daughter to thrive.

And that's when Martinez realized that her dream of returning to Mexico had changed.

"Now, it's no more my dream; it's their dream," she said, referring to her two children. "I need my kids to grow so they are successful."

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In time, the Martinezes were able to save enough money to make a down payment on a $210,000, two-bedroom house in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood. Both pay taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, which immigrants living in the U.S. illegally can request as a way to contribute to the tax base without Social Security numbers.

Martinez said her biggest fear is that she and her husband will be deported and Chelsea will have no one to take her to doctor's appointments and speech-therapy sessions. She has begun thinking about which relatives she would trust to care for her children in her absence.

"This is not fair. Why do we have to think about dividing the family when we are working so hard to be here?" she asked.

A broken promise, a new life

Alma Silva, 47, still cries when she thinks about the day she handed her two daughters over to a stranger to sneak across the U.S. border.

It was 21 years ago, and Silva had paid a smuggler to help them reach America, where her husband waited in hopes of a new life for all of them. It was raining on the day of their scheduled departure, and the smuggler said they would have better chances if he took the children in a car with a woman posing as their mother. Without time for a second thought, Silva handed her daughters over to him, betraying the one promise she had made when kissing her own mother in Mexico goodbye.

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"I just heard (my mother's) voice saying, 'Don't let the children out of your sight,' " Silva said. "Those were the worst hours of my life."

An excruciating 10 hours later, Silva snuck across the border using her own falsified documents.

Silva, her daughters  and eventually her husband  were reunited in Chicago. The couple had two more children  born in Chicago and therefore U.S. citizens  and settled into a comfortable life in an apartment on the South Side. The children grew up to do well in school and make many friends. Silva and her husband found jobs and pay taxes, she said.

While Silva and her husband lived in constant fear of being pulled over while driving, or being arrested during a workplace raid, the worry dissipated when they started attending community events at the Resurrection Project, a Chicago nonprofit that works to build communities. Like many other immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, Silva gained confidence when she realized she was not the only one in her situation.

After years of worrying that her two eldest daughters would be denied opportunities that her two youngest children had as U.S. citizens, Silva was relieved when the older girls were admitted to the federal program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, in 2012. The measure allows children who came to the U.S. when younger than 16, among other requirements, to pursue American college educations and careers.

With a Social Security number provided by the DACA program, Silva's eldest daughter graduated with honors from high school, then earned grants and scholarships that paid her way toward a degree in business management and social service from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Today, she manages a Mariano's store, Silva said.

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Her second-oldest daughter earned a scholarship that pays for three years of schooling at Harold Washington University, where she is enrolled.

"They are just starting with their lives," Silva said. "This is my big concern."

Silva said that while she tries to understand politicians' interests in keeping America safe, sweeping reforms like the ones proposed by Trump do not consider how cruel it would be to take away provisions offered legally by the U.S. government  such as DACA and Employment Authorization Documents, which allow hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who meet certain criteria to work and pay income tax.

"These people don't know the many histories of us," Silva said. "It's not an easy life we have to live. It's hard."

Maria Ochoa arrived as an unauthorized immigrant to Chicago in 1993. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

'Nobody's going without a fight'

Maria Ochoa, 46, came to the U.S. with her husband and daughter from Mexico 24 years ago with plans to return home eventually.

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But her mother in Mexico died while Ochoa was away. And when she talked to her siblings back home, they encouraged her to stay and enjoy the many opportunities her children could have in the U.S., she said.

Ochoa and her husband went on to have four more children, all U.S. citizens because they were born in Chicago. Today, Ochoa fears that if she and her husband are deported, her children will be betrayed by the only country they consider home.

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The eldest daughter, a DACA recipient, works full time as packer for Amazon. Another is a Marine in San Diego. The youngest three attend public schools in Chicago, where they have well-established circles of friends, Ochoa said.

But Ochoa said she is not too concerned about the proposed plans of the Trump administration. Through meetings at the Resurrection Project, she has learned strategies for how to react in a raid situation. Employers don't have to allow immigration officers in unless they have a warrant. She should not sign anything unless she fully understands what it says.

Of the incoming president, Ochoa said: "He seems like somebody who just like to talk."

Still, if the talk leads to policies, Ochoa said, she will band together with other immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and advocates to stand up for themselves and the lives they have built here.

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"I've learned that we just fight," she said. "Nobody's going without a fight."

vortiz@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @vikkiortiz
Camel and Newport cigarettes are on display at a Smoker Friendly shop in Pittsburgh on July 17, 2015. (Gene J. Puskar / AP)

Although Joe Konrath begged his mother to stop smoking, he said she never considered kicking the habit.

When cigarette smoking ultimately led to her death, Konrath wrote an unusually frank death notice to serve as a cautionary tale to others.

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Laura Jean Konrath, 71, who lived in Bensenville, died on Jan. 11, her family said.

Instead of listing typical details about education, work history and services, her death notice  which appeared online and in Sunday's Chicago Tribune  detailed how 50 years of smoking contributed to her declining health.

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"Her family is angry that she suffered so much and died so young. They're especially angry that she chose cigarettes over living a longer, healthier life, even though lung cancer killed her father," said the death notice written by Konrath, an author who has published novels and short stories.

She suffered four strokes, two heart attacks, blockage in three coronary arteries, occlusions that cut off circulation in both legs, pneumonia, kidney disease, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, paralysis and 10 weeks in the hospital enduring constant pain, according to the death notice.

Additionally, a stroke left her hospitalized and at times lucid but at other times delusional, angry, depressed and crying hysterically, Konrath said Wednesday.

"My mother was a wonderful person and her death was horrible and preventable. No one should have to go through what she went through or have their loved ones witness that," he said.

Cigarette smoking causes about 1 in 5 deaths in the U.S., accounting for more than 480,000 deaths every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide, an estimated 36.5 million adults smoke cigarettes, the CDC said.

"My mother never listened to me when I pleaded with her to stop smoking. Maybe this will reach some people because I could not reach her," Konrath said. "I did not want to write this. What I want is my mom still alive."

People have offered their condolences on social media, and friends and strangers have signed the online guest book.

"The words written were heartfelt and so powerful. I shared with my 26 year old over a pack a day smoker son. I hope this will have a positive effect but cigarettes has its grip on him right now," a woman from Lake Bluff wrote in the online guest book Tuesday.

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Others found the death notice to be inspiring and hopeful.

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"Hi so sorry for your loss your mother's obituary was a time in my life to quit smoking and this was the inspiration for me," Dawn Baran, of Chicago, wrote in the online guest book Monday.

"I am so sorry for you & your family's loss. Your mom's obit was very heartbreaking, but if it saves just one life." wrote Chris Simigliano, of Brookfield, on Tuesday.

Konrath said he understands addiction is difficult but pointed out that there are ways to quit smoking. The last sentence of the death notice encouraged readers to show it to a smoker they care about.

"When she was dying, I asked, 'Was it worth it?'  50 years of smoking  and she said no, she wished she never started," her son said Wednesday.

Laura Jean Konrath also is survived by her son Mike, her daughters-in-law Maria and Erin, and her grandchildren, Chris, John, Talon and Fiona.

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lvivanco@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lvivanco
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Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson (cq) says goodbye to Youth for Black Lives representatives Yahaira Tarr (cq) (center) and Eva Lewis (cq) after a meeting on Chicago's South side on Tuesday, January 17, 2017. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

The first meeting between Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and student activist group Youth for Black Lives on Tuesday featured a panel discussion on topics that ranged from the training of officers assigned to school campuses to the recent Department of Justice report that was sharply critical of police on a number of fronts.

The meeting, at a building near the University of Chicago, was the product of negotiations between Johnson and Youth for Black Lives following contentious incidents in Mount Greenwood in November, when the fatal shooting of a black man by an off-duty officer was followed by racially charged street protests and racist text messages sent by Marist High School students that circulated on Twitter.

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Eva Lewis, 18, a student organizer, said in an opening statement that she held Johnson accountable for the transparency of his department.

"Youth for Black Lives is an organization founded upon the idea that in order to abolish systemic oppression, you have to recreate the system itself," Lewis said. "The perpetuation of any institution rooted in slavery and designed to justify white supremacy is unacceptable. We aim to validate and amplify the voices of young black people within the movement."

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The students focused their questions on police misconduct and officer training. They asked about the process set into motion by an officer-involved shooting and the types of sanctions officers face.

While many questions focused on mistakes or intentional misconduct committed by cops, Johnson sought to humanize police officers in his remarks to a crowd that in addition to students included younger children and members of the media.

"Being a police officer is not easy," Johnson said. "You have people out there trying to do the job they swore an oath to do, and that's not always easy, so the job for me is to make sure they get the best training available across the country."

The discussion lasted about an hour as four female moderators and Johnson shared a wooden table. The student moderators, not always satisfied with Johnson's answers, pushed him to explain why he does not more often question findings by the Independent Police Review Authority.

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"In terms of police-involved shootings, its not my purview to investigate that," he said. "The Police Board has the ultimate authority. ... Trust me, if you want me to have that authority then petition the city and I'm 100 percent with you."

Another answer that drew frustration from the students was Johnson's admission that he may not be able to meet monthly in the future. Johnson said he meets with many community groups and has a lot to deal with in the city.

Lewis, in an interview before the panel discussion began, said the department had been apprehensive about making the meetings open to the public, but she said the initial agreement stipulated open meetings to guarantee transparency. Chicago Police did not respond to questions on that issue.

Yahaira Tarr, 17, another student organizer, said she didn't understand some of Johnson's answers about his role and hopes to get clarity at future meetings.

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"I'm really grateful that we got to accomplish transparency between the superintendent and Youth for Black Lives and just the public in general," she said. "I appreciate him holding himself accountable to attend the meeting because that was one of the doubts that we had."

echerney@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ElyssaCherney
An Italian art distributor was ordered held without bail Tuesday nearly a decade after he was charged in Chicago with allegedly selling fake "limited edition" prints of legendary painters such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso as part of an international fraud ring.

Dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, Elio Bonfiglioli, 61, listened through an Italian interpreter as his court-appointed lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. When U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Mason asked the lanky, gray-haired defendant if he understood the proceedings, he replied, "I understand, sir," in thickly accented English.

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Bonfiglioli had been a fugitive since 2009 after failing to turn himself in to authorities in Spain, where he was living at the time, for extradition to the U.S. to face 10 counts of mail and wire fraud, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Two years earlier, he had been charged as part of a scheme that made headlines after federal authorities raided the well-known Kass/Meridian Gallery on Chicago's Magnificent Mile and confiscated sales records and prints.

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Mason ordered Bonfiglioli held without bond after prosecutors argued he was a risk to flee because of his international ties. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

According to the charges, Bonfiglioli and several other European art distributors conspired to create bogus prints of sought-after 20th century artists, including Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol and Joan Miro, in addition to Dali and Picasso.

In many cases, the prints "bore false numerical or other markings" to make them appear to be part of a limited-edition release, according to the indictment. The artists' signatures were also forged, and the prints often included fictitious certificates of authenticity, the indictment said.

Bonfiglioli then sold the fake prints to art dealers, including Michael Zabrin of Northbrook, who "knowingly sold the counterfeit work to various wholesale and retail customers," the indictment alleged.

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In September 2005, for example, Bonfiglioli shipped a tube labeled "posters" to Zabrin that contained counterfeit limited editions of Roy Lichtenstein's masterpiece "Huh," the charges alleged. Two days later, Zabrin sold one of the fake prints to a buyer in London. The amount of the alleged transaction was not included in the indictment.

Zabrin, who had already been convicted of a similar scheme in the early 1990s, began cooperating with the investigation after authorities approached him in 2006, records show.

The probe eventually ensnared a dozen defendants, including Alan Kass, whose tony gallery in the 300 block of West Huron Street was raided by federal agents in 2008. Kass pleaded guilty in 2013 to selling phony artwork to hundreds of unsuspecting buyers and was sentenced to six months in prison.

Zabrin, meanwhile, pleaded guilty in 2011 to scamming at least 250 people out of more than $1 million in counterfeit prints and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

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Two other alleged co-conspirators named in the indictment with Bonfiglioli  art dealers Patrizia Soliani, of Milan, and Oswaldo Aulestia-Bach, of Barcelona, Spain  remain fugitives, court records show.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jmetr22b
Angelica Nieves-Figureroa, center, the sister of Jose Nieves, is comforted by family, during a press conference regarding the death of her brother at Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home on Jan. 9, 2017, in Chicago. Jose Nieves' father, Angel Nieves, is third from right and his mother, Burlinda Torres, is second from left. (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune)

A veteran Chicago police officer has been arrested on charges of first-degree murder in the off-duty shooting of a 38-year-old man on the Northwest Side earlier this month.

Cook County prosecutors on Wednesday filed charges against Lowell Houser in the Jan. 2 shooting death of Jose Nieves, said Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the state's attorney's office. Authorities have given little detail on the shooting, but police have said that Nieves was not armed and that he and the officer had argued in the past.

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Fifty-seven-year-old Houser, a 28-year department veteran, is in custody and expected to appear in bond court Thursday, Simonton said.

Charges against local police officers in shootings, on- or off-duty, are rare, but Houser marks the second Chicago police officer to face a serious criminal charge within days. Another officer was arrested Saturday on a charge of felony criminal sexual assault against an underage girl.

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The charges come just after the release of a U.S. Department of Justice report that blistered the Chicago Police Department for employing badly trained and supervised officers who have little fear of discipline from the city's flawed disciplinary authorities.

As the murder charges go forward, the Independent Police Review Authority has put its investigation into the shooting on hold, said Mia Sissac, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Lowell Houser, a veteran Chicago police officer, was charged Jan. 18, 2017, with first-degree murder in the off-duty shooting of Jose Nieves, 38, on the Northwest Side on Jan. 2. (Cook County state's attorneys office)

Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson stripped Houser of his police powers just after the shooting, and in light of the charges, the department on Wednesday had taken steps to suspend him without pay, said spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

Days after the death, Nieves' sister sued the department, alleging that Houser "illegally detained and threatened to arrest and physically harm" Nieves before shooting him without justification in the 2500 block of North Lowell Avenue.

After the charges were filed Wednesday, an attorney for Nieves' family, Andrew Stroth, said the family is "devastated" by his loss.

"The state's attorney's action today will not bring back Jose but is an important and swift step in the criminal justice process," Stroth said in a written statement.

Police said shortly after the incident that Houser shot Nieves to death after a verbal altercation. The officer and Nieves had argued in the past, police officials said, and Johnson came to the scene and told reporters, "I have a lot more questions than I have answers at this time."

Guglielmi said previously that police had determined that the officer may have acted in a police capacity during the shooting even though he was off duty and had a previous dispute with the victim.

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The decision on charges fell to new Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, who unseated incumbent Anita Alvarez after heavily criticizing her handling of the shooting of Laquan McDonald. Alvarez charged Officer Jason Van Dyke with first-degree murder late in 2015, but she filed the charges 13 months after McDonald was killed and hours before the city's court-ordered release of video of Van Dyke shooting him 16 times. The video prompted prolonged protests, calls for Alvarez's resignation and the recently completed Justice Department investigation.

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Van Dyke was on duty when he shot McDonald, but multiple recent efforts to try off-duty officers in shootings have ended disastrously for Cook County prosecutors. In the highest-profile case, former Detective Dante Servin was cleared in April 2015 by Judge Dennis Porter of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Rekia Boyd on the West Side. The judge's ruling all but said that prosecutors should have charged him with murder, not the lesser charge.

Just last month, Judge James Linn acquitted Officer John Gorman of all charges stemming from an incident in which he was accused of firing shots at a vehicle during a traffic altercation after he'd been drinking.

Houser has been a focus of at least 20 disciplinary investigations since the early 1990s, department records show. The records provide scant detail on the allegations. Most of the complaints resulted in no discipline or a reprimand, but he was suspended several times, the records show. In 1994, for example, he received a five-day suspension in an incident described as a domestic altercation or disturbance that happened when he was off duty, according to the records.

A search of a Tribune database of shootings by Chicago police from 2010 to 2015 showed no shootings involving Houser. Public records also showed he had not been sued in federal court before Nieves' shooting.

Nieves had been arrested repeatedly, including on felony charges, but he was never convicted of any serious offenses in Cook County, according to court records.

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dhinkel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @dhinkel
Authorities say Endia Martin, 14, left, was fatally shot in 2014 by another teen and that Vandetta Redwood, right, handed the girl the gun. Redwood was indicted on a federal weapons charge. (Family photo, Chicago Police Department)

It started as the typical squabble over a boy.

But instead of a fistfight, the dispute between two high school girls on the South Side ended with 14-year-old Endia Martin being fatally shot in the back  a slaying that came to symbolize the tragic consequences of the city's pervasive culture of gun violence.

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On Wednesday, a second criminal trial stemming from the high-profile killing got underway in federal court. Vandetta Redwood is accused of handing the weapon to her teenage cousin seconds before the girl opened fire, striking Endia and wounding another girl in the arm in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

"A fight after school between high school girls, that's how all this started," Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Krickbaum told a federal jury in his opening statement.

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Redwood, 35, was charged with giving a handgun to a juvenile knowing it would be used to commit a crime of violence as well as possession of a firearm in a school zone. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

It's the second criminal case Redwood has faced stemming from the shooting. In 2014, Redwood had been charged in Cook County court with obstruction of justice and mob action, but Judge Donald Panarese Jr. threw out the case after viewing a shaky cellphone video of the incident and concluding prosecutors had failed to meet their "minimal burden" to justify the charges.

Last year, a Cook County jury convicted Redwood's cousin, Donnell Flora, of first-degree murder and attempted murder for supplying the .38-caliber revolver to the 14-year-old relative. He was sentenced in March to 100 years in prison.

Meanwhile, the girl who allegedly opened fire, now 17, is awaiting trial on murder charges. The Tribune is not naming her because she was charged as a juvenile.

The approximately two-minute cellphone video, shot by a teen who witnessed the fight, was at the center of testimony Wednesday. Jurors watched both a regular speed and a slowed-down version of the footage showing the chaotic events leading up to the shooting outside the home of Endia's friend, Lanekia "Niki" Reynolds, in the 900 block of West Garfield Boulevard. But the video does not depict the killing itself.

Prosecutors said Redwood, one of the only adults at the scene that day, could be seen nodding as her young cousin tried to pistol-whip another girl with the gun.

Redwood's cousin actually handed the gun back to Redwood briefly, Krickbaum said. But moments later, after Reynolds came out of the house swinging a padlock on the end of a shoestring, Redwood gave the gun back to the girl and said, "Shoot that bitch!" he said.

Briana Whitmore, who was 16 at the time, testified Wednesday that she witnessed the exchange of the gun and heard Redwood tell her cousin to shoot. At one point during her testimony, Whitmore, now 19, got down off the witness stand and used a stapler as a prop for the gun to demonstrate how Redwood had reached into her clothing and handed over the weapon to the cousin.

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The video, which prosecutors displayed frame by frame for the jury, appeared to show the girl raise the gun with both arms extended and point it at Endia's friend. One of the final images in the video showed Endia running up the stairs toward the front door a split second before shots were fired.

Prosecutors said the girl fired three times, striking the friend in the arm and Endia in the back as they tried to flee back into the house.

"(Endia) died on the floor inside that house, face down in a pool of blood," Krickbaum said as Redwood, dressed in a pink sweater, sat at the defense table wiping tears from her eyes.

When questioned by Chicago police hours after the slaying, Redwood vehemently denied even being at the scene, let alone supplying the weapon to her cousin.

"I wasn't there until after the fight," Redwood told detectives, according to court records. "I don't know nothin' about no gunshot. I wasn't even (expletive) there. Why the (expletive) would I give her the (expletive) gun to shoot somebody, she's 14?"

Redwood's attorney, J. Clifford Greene Jr., told the jury in his opening remarks that it was Flora who supplied the gun, not Redwood. He said the chaotic video showed a "carnival-like atmosphere" but at no point was Redwood ever seen handling the weapon. Seconds before the shooting, he said, she could be seen actually trying to interrupt the violence.

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"She was trying to pull this child away from doing something stupid," Greene said.

He also said several key witnesses were pressured by police to change their stories about what happened.

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"I love this country, but sometimes our government gets it wrong," said Greene, smacking the prosecution table for emphasis. "That's just a fact."

Several teens involved in the fight are expected to testify that Redwood was encouraging the violence, prosecutors have alleged.

Redwood was called as a defense witness at Flora's trial a year ago but invoked her Fifth Amendment rights and refused to answer questions. Two weeks later, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested her on the weapons charges.

Records show Redwood remained equally defiant at her bond hearing a few days later.

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"They (expletive) lied on me!" she yelled in court, according to a transcript of the hearing. "I swear to God. I didn't do this."

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jmetr22b
Jose E. Lopez shares his thoughts after hearing that President Barack Obama commuted the prison sentence of his brother Oscar Lopez Rivera. Lopez Rivera was serving 70 years for his role in FALN, an organization that plotted bombings, prison escapes and armed robberies in an effort to secure independence for Puerto Rico. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Holding Puerto Rican flags and "Free Oscar Lopez Rivera" signs, dozens of community members and former revolutionaries on Tuesday filled a small Humboldt Park community theater.

The impromptu celebration on Chicago's West Side came just hours after President Barack Obama commuted Lopez's prison sentence for his role in an organization that in the 1970s and early '80s plotted bombings, prison escapes and armed robberies in an effort to secure independence for Puerto Rico, a territory of the U.S.

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"Obama finally listened and let Oscar out of prison," sang the crowd, which alternated between the joyous chant and "Que bonita bandera," Spanish for "what a beautiful flag."

In addition to community members and political organizers, two of Lopez's siblings turned out to celebrate, as did former FALN members who had spent time in prison. Lopez's brother, Jose E. Lopez, said the commutation has "historical significance."

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With Obama's commutation, Lopez, 74, will leave prison by May 17. In recent years, his cause had been taken up by pop culture figures, religious leaders and political luminaries. Former President Jimmy Carter, Pope Francis and U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois' 4th district supported his release, as did South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Reaction to Tuesday's action by Obama, one of more than 200 commutations granted by the president on Tuesday, went well beyond Chicago. "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda in a tweet from London said he was "sobbing with gratitude" after learning that Obama had commuted Lopez's sentence. Miranda said he would reprise his role as Alexander Hamilton at a Chicago performance for Lopez.

"I wish I was with every Puerto Rican in Chicago right now," Miranda tweeted Tuesday.

Lopez was a leader of FALN, the Spanish acronym for the Armed Forces of National Liberation. He was found guilty in U.S. District Court in Chicago in 1981 of weapons, explosives and seditious conspiracy charges, and sentenced to 55 years in prison. He received an additional 15 years in 1988 after he was convicted of plotting to escape from federal prison.

FALN's goal was a free and socialist Puerto Rico. The group was primarily active in New York and Chicago and claimed responsibility for more than 140 bombings since 1974. Authorities connected five deaths to the bomb blasts. Another 100 people were maimed by the bombings, authorities said.

The group's most notorious bombing occurred at New York's landmark Fraunces Tavern in 1975. Four people were killed and more than 60 injured. Lopez was not convicted of any role in that attack, but some still hold him responsible because of his ties to the ultranationalist group.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 12 Oscar Lopez Rivera, circa Nov. 22, 1971. (John Bartley / Chicago Tribune)

"I'm willing to forgive, but he never once said he was sorry, showed no remorse at all," said Mary Connor Tully, whose husband, Frank Connor, was killed in the bombing. "He's an old man and he'll get to live his life free, and hopefully he can live with the sins he committed, and that he'll answer one day to a higher power than us for what he did."

FALN members and their supporters said those put behind bars by the U.S. government were prisoners of war and questioned the country's jurisdiction to prosecute them.

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Lopez had been a federal fugitive for five years when he was caught by police in north suburban Glenview on a traffic violation. Federal authorities had charged him in 1977 in 16 Chicago-area bombings.

At Lopez's sentencing in 1981, a federal judge called him an "unrehabilitated revolutionary." Lopez declined to be present at his sentencing or many previous court sessions.

Lopez was the last remaining FALN member still in prison. Lopez in 1999 rejected President Bill Clinton's conditional offer for a reduced sentence.

Edwin Cortes, 61, who spent more than a decade in prison before Clinton commuted his sentence in 1999, was at Tuesday's celebration in Humboldt Park and called Lopez's release a "great victory for our movement."

Lopez's lawyer, Jan Susler, said Tuesday she was "elated" by the president's decision.

"I think all of Oscar's co-defendants have been involved in his campaign for release, and they all felt less than whole without him," Susler said. "This now completes the cycle and it's really marvelous."

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Activists also have spent years advocating for Lopez's release, launching a national campaign to free Lopez. In 2011, activists and relatives marked Lopez's 30th year in prison with a Chicago gathering attended by his family, including his daughter and granddaughter.

"There's one thing that's forgotten in this struggle  and it's that Oscar is human," Zenaida Lopez, the prisoner's sister, said in 2011. "He's a brother. He's a father. He's a grandfather. He's a son. He's loved deeply by his family.

"We have to struggle to see that he is released so that he becomes part of the family once again," she said. "It is our dream. It is our hope. It is something that we talk about every single day."

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Jessie Fuentes, a coordinator with National Boricua Human Rights Network, said on Tuesday that the campaign took sacrifice and patience.

"The world believed in him because we believed in creating a more just world," Fuentes said.

At the Humboldt Park rally, Janeida Rivera said the commutation shows that a united community can "overcome any obstacles."

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Michael Rodriguez-Muniz, a Northwestern University sociology professor and activist, summed up the mood, in Humboldt Park and on the island.

"There's a lot of tears of joy being shed throughout Puerto Rico," he said.

Chicago Tribune reporter Tracy Swartz and the Associated Press contributed.

gpratt@chicagotribune.com
A 25-year-old man who was shot in the head Tuesday night in Hyde Park has died of his injuries, police said Wednesday.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday, Robert Jones was standing in the 5100 block of South Blackstone Avenue, which is the same block where he lived, having a conversation with a male and two females.

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At some point, the male pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the head and shoulders, police said.

Jones was taken in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

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No one was in custody, and police were investigating.
CHICAGO  Among the people having their sentences reduced by President Barack Obama is Eric "Fat Eric" Wilson, a former "governor" in the Gangster Disciples street gang.



Obama on Tuesday reduced the 44-year-old Wilson's life sentence for engaging in drug dealing with six others to 35 years in prison.



At the time of Wilson's March 1998 sentencing, the Gangster Disciples was under the sway of Larry Hoover, who is serving a life sentence in federal prison in Colorado. Hoover allegedly ran the gang's drug activities from an Illinois prison during the early 1990s.



Prosecutors say Wilson and other gang "governors" had hundreds of gang members reporting to him.



The Chicago Sun-Times reports Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush sent a letter to Obama saying Wilson deserved a break in his sentence because of his "extraordinary rehabilitative efforts."

Associated Press
A man who pled guilty to firing shots while robbing an Orland Park bank of $20,000 in 2014 has been sentenced to 29 years in prison, according to authorities.

Carl P. Wilson, 28, of Joliet, on Tuesday filed notice that he would appeal the sentence handed down Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Durkin, according to court records.

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Wilson pled guilty last year in the Oct. 13, 2014, robbery of the First Midwest Bank, 11200 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago. Wilson was arrested nine days later after he was identified as the suspect in the heist.

Wilson walked into the bank wearing a plaid hoodie with a white, cream-colored hood hanging down on his back, but with a black hood on his head and a black cloth draped across part of his face, according to the charges agaisnt. He was also carrying a black semiautomatic pistol.



According to the complaint, a teller was behind the counter when she saw the robber jump over the counter and yell, "Give me the (expletive) money."



As the teller was walking to a cash dispenser to get money for the robber, the robber pointed his gun at her and fired. A bullet missed the teller and hit the desk where she had just been seated, according to the complaint.



The robber began demanding cash and warned them, "Don't push any buttons."



The man was given $10,000 in $100 bills, but demanded another $10,000.



As the robber waited for the additional cash, a customer started walking into the bank, ignoring hand signals and a verbal warning from an employee to stay out. The robber spotted the customer and fired his gun, missing the customer, but the bullet hit the wall near where the customer had been standing.



The customer stumbled, fell and ran out of the bank, according to the complaint. The customer was able to run to his vehicle, police said.

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After the robber got the cash he told an employee, "Have a great [expletive] day," as he waved his gun in the air and hopped over the counter.



Wilson had opened an account with First Midwest Bank on April 29, 2014, but there was no evidence he had ever been to the Orland Park branch before the robbery.

Wilson also admitted he robbed another First Midwest branch, this one in Bolingbrook, on Aug. 11, 2014, shooting a teller in the arm within about five seconds of his entering the bank, according to prosecutors.
A 52-year-old Elgin woman who authorities said drove a 15-year-old boy to secluded places, included cemeteries, to have sex with him was sentenced in Cook County Circuit Court Tuesday to four years in prison.

Randal Perlman pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and must register as a sex offender for life, prosecutors said.

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She was arrested last year after the teen reported the criminal behavior, Assistant State's Attorney Denise Loiterstein said.

Beginning in August 2015, Perlman would pick the boy up near his home and drive him to parks and cemeteries in the Elgin area to have sex, Loiterstein said. Perlman sent the boy nude photos of herself on Instagram, and he sent back nude photos of himself, the prosecutor said.

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During Tuesday's hearing in Rolling Meadows branch court, Perlman told Judge Marc Martin that she felt she had been treated unfairly.

"I don't believe I deserve such harsh punishment," Perlman said.

Martin told her she had a previous conviction for conduct with the same victim, which was an aggravating factor. He noted that he could have sentenced Perlman to seven years rather than four.

At the time of her arrest, Perlman was on probation in Kane County for providing marijuana to the same boy, prosecutors said.

Perlman will have to serve at least 50 percent of the sentence.

George Houde is a freelance reporter.
Students on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Nov. 6, 2013. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

University of Illinois is rolling out an ambitious effort to boost enrollment by 15 percent over the next five years, growing the three campuses to more than 93,600 students.

School leaders are aiming to add around 12,150 students by 2021, pinpointing increases in undergraduate programs at the Chicago campus, and graduate and online programs in Urbana-Champaign.

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The move comes as the university system tries to attract more Illinoisans and underrepresented minorities. As part of the battle to remain an attractive option for those students, university leaders also are poised to approve a tuition freeze for incoming Illinois students for the third straight year.

U. of I. President Timothy Killeen is scheduled to detail the enrollment plan at Thursday's board of trustees meeting in Chicago. Trustees also are to vote on the tuition rates.

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"We have found that a lot of the reasons that qualified students leave the state is on the basis of cost," Killeen said. "We need to be competitive on cost. We need to do that to preserve our talent."

All three campuses were directed to create enrollment strategies last summer, school officials said.

Urbana-Champaign would aim to create new online master's-level degree programs in subjects like computer science, accounting and business administration. A new medical degree also would be launched in step with the opening of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.

Urbana-Champaign spokeswoman Robin Kaler said online programs have been extremely popular, making the category a prime opportunity to broaden course selections for those who cannot always come to campus for classes.

"That's a really good model for us for expanding programs and adding some additional ones as we see opportunities," Kaler said. "It's a way to reach people who just can't do (in-class programs) and allow them to still have that really rigorous Illinois experience, and come away with a really meaningful and useful degree."

Under the plan, enrollment at Urbana-Champaign would go from around 47,000 in fall 2016 to more than 53,000  a jump of 6,300 students.

UIC plans to attract nearly 4,800 more students by adding and expanding programs.

Five new academic programs would be added: integrated health studies, nutrition and wellness, integrated health sciences, disability and human development, and data science. UIC also would bolster 18 existing programs and fill other undergraduate, graduate and professional programs to capacity.

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School projections show student populations growing from 29,120 in fall 2016 to 33,905.

Springfield would add more than 1,000 students by introducing new programs, improving marketing for its online courses and broadening its recruitment territory.

Five new undergraduate programs, two new concentrations, two new graduate certificate courses and one new master's-level program would be added in Springfield. Officials also would more aggressively target downstate Illinois and the East St. Louis area for prospective students.

University spokesman Thomas Hardy said that broadening the territory for recruitment should help improve minority representation on the campuses. Black and Latino students make up about one-fourth of on-campus undergraduates.

East St. Louis, according to census data, is about 98 percent black.

Should the initiatives prove successful, officials project the three schools would grant 10,000 more degrees between now and 2021. That also would be an aggressive goal. The schools awarded 21,517 degrees in 2016, about 2,100 more than in 2011.

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"Big numbers aside, this enrollment initiative is really all about opportunity  giving more students the opportunity for a world-class education that will transform their lives and seizing on our opportunity to serve the needs of the state by expanding the pipeline of talent that is so critical to its future," Killeen said in a statement.

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Should trustees agree not to raise tuition for in-state freshmen, it would be the longest streak of unchanged admissions rates in four decades.

Administrators are proposing the same base tuition for first-year Illinoisans that the university first established in the 2014-15 school year. Incoming students would continue to pay $12,036 at Urbana-Champaign, $10,584 at UIC and $9,405 in Springfield.

Killeen has touted the stable tuition as a key reason more students are coming to the university.

More than 81,000 students are taking classes across the three schools this year, the most in institution history. That includes off-campus and online students. Chicago and Springfield also set new highs in total enrollment this year, while the freshman class at Urbana-Champaign broke an 11-year-old record with about 7,600 students.

International students, long a critical revenue source for the university, can expect to pay a bit more this year. International and out-of-state student rates in Urbana-Champaign both could increase by 1.8 percent, and international students in Chicago could pay 2 percent more in tuition. Springfield prices for those groups would remain the same.

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drhodes@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @rhodes_dawn
WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston will join dozens of House Democrats in their boycott of Republican President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, she announced Wednesday.

Schakowsky also said she would attend the Women's March on Washington on Saturday. Similar protests are occurring in Chicago and other cities.

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"I have decided to join the growing group of my colleagues who will not attend the inauguration in protest of a president who used bigotry, fear and lies to win an election that was tainted by foreign interference and voter suppression  and who intends to betray the interests of the ordinary working people who put him in office," Schakowsky said in a statement.

Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Mike Quigley of Chicago and Rep. Dan Lipinski of Western Springs also have said they won't attend. Rep. Bobby Rush will not attend, but he cited his wife's hospitalization as the reason.

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Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has said he's not going because he's focused on the longtime budget battle in Springfield, and Democratic Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is skipping it too.

Other Democratic Illinois members of Congress do plan to attend, among them Rep. Bill Foster of Naperville, who was previously undecided but said through a spokesman Wednesday that he will be there. Fellow Democratic House members Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg, Brad Schneider of Deerfield and Cheri Bustos of East Moline also plan to be on hand. All seven Illinois House Republicans are expected to attend.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said boycotts by Democrats would not overshadow the inauguration. In a daily call with reporters Wednesday, Spicer said the excitement level is "through the roof" and hotels are "sold out for miles." He also said there was a high demand for seats that came open, and plenty of other people wanted them.

Schakowsky said that on Saturday she will join the "many busloads of constituents who will be there to fight for the progressive agenda."

"My constituents and I are fired up in opposition to the Trump agenda and are determined to not allow the Republicans to destroy the hard-fought progress we've made," she said.

kskiba@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @KatherineSkiba
Anna Valencia will be the next Chicago city clerk. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Valencia, a 31-year-old director in his administration, on Dec. 14, 2016, after former Clerk Susana Mendoza was sworn in as Illinois comptroller this month. (City of Chicago )

Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield.

Topspin

Emanuel-Valencia 2019?

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Anna Valencia's committee hearing on her elevation to Chicago city clerk was marked by the gushing from aldermen typical of most City Council votes on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's selections to key posts. Two aldermen went so far as to suggest the 31-year-old, who has never held elected office, might one day become president of the United States.

But amid the rhetorical bouquets from council members who know Valencia well from her time as Emanuel's director of legislative counsel and government affairs, Northwest Side Ald. Nick Sposato hit on what might be her real value to the mayor.

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"There is one bit of bad news for you: Next year at this time, election starts, so you have to start getting ready to roll for an election again," said Sposato, 38th.

Valencia, who has worked on campaigns and knows about building coalitions in the city after cajoling aldermen to back Emanuel's agenda, has a huge leg up on anyone who wants to challenge her for clerk in 2019. It remains to be seen whether she even gets a serious opponent.

Regardless, she will be expected to campaign energetically on behalf of the mayor as a fresh-faced Latina member of Emanuel's ticket if he seeks re-election. The mayor has been raising money as if he plans to run for a third term. He would be hoping to improve his showing among Hispanic voters to offset potential weakening of his African-American support amid continued street violence in many South and West Side neighborhoods.

After the Rules Committee unanimously voted Tuesday to forward her nomination to the full council later this month, Valencia said she doesn't know if Emanuel will run. She pointed to the mayor's tough-guy stance against President-elect Donald Trump -- one Emanuel has been highlighting since Trump's win -- as a reason he should seek a third term.

"That is still very far away to me. I feel like we just had an election," she said. "I have no insight to (Emanuel's plans). I don't know if anyone has any insight to that. But I hope he does. I think he has done a lot of great things for our city, and now more than ever we need strong leaders because of who's coming in to be our president. And I know he'll continue to fight this administration on protecting the most vulnerable." (John Byrne)

What's on tap

*Mayor Emanuel will hold an afternoon event at UI Labs about a cybersecurity training program. Department of Defense officials will join him.



*Gov. Bruce Rauner will visit a school in Champaign and attend a community college-related event in Springfield.

*The Cook County Board meets. Agenda here.

*Chicago City Council committees on Human Relations, License and Consumer Protection, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, Public Safety, and Transportation and Public Way are set to meet.

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*Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is scheduled to meet with Rex Tillerson, Trump's nominee for secretary of state.

What we're writing

*Some Illinois pols skipping Trump inauguration.

*Rauner says sweeping Senate budget plan not fully baked.



*Rauner names Chicago State University advisory board.

*Two weeks into new year, Chicago once again off to deadly start.

*Community policing panel starts work to help Chicago, police.

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*Local women planning to march on Washington.

What we're reading

*Joliet priest says diocese failed to follow protocol to protect children.

*Prestigious Urban Prep not immune to violence as 8th student killed since 2014.

*"Pinball bandit" drives increase in Chicago bank robberies in 2016.

From the notebook

*Rauner tries to discourage strike: Gov. Rauner on Tuesday said he was encouraging members of the state's largest employee union to "stay at work," saying a strike "wouldn't be good for anybody."

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Rauner's comments came after the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 announced last week that members would be asked to vote on whether to strike in votes beginning Jan. 30 and ending in mid-February.

"I sincerely hope that there's not a strike, it wouldn't be good for anybody. I think it would be a big mistake," Rauner said. "If it were to happen, we would be ready, but we are hoping and encouraging them, let's just implement the contract, and stay at work and do productive things for the people of Illinois."

The Illinois Labor Relations Board sided with Rauner last year by declaring that the two sides had reached impasse, which means the administration could try to impose its own contract terms on workers. While Rauner's team moved to start implementing some of those terms, AFSCME filed a suit that resulted in a temporary halt.

Even if a majority of union members vote "yes," it does not mean a strike will occur. The vote allows AFSCME's bargaining committee the authority to call a strike in the future, and that power could put the union on stronger footing as it tries to pressure Rauner back to the bargaining table. (Monique Garcia)

Follow the money

*Liberty Principles PAC, the political committee run by radio host and former candidate for governor Dan Proft, reported a $500,000 contribution from Richard Uihlein, CEO of the packaging supply company Uline. The group works to elect Republican candidates to seats in the Illinois Capitol.

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*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

Beyond Chicago

*Polls show Trump with historically low approval ratings as he prepares to take office.

*Putin says Obama administration trying to undermine Trump.

*Congressional Budget Office: 18 million could lose health care with Affordable Care Act repeal.

*Obama commutes sentence of Chelsea Manning, who leaked Army documents.


WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London onFeb. 5, 2016. (Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP)

President Barack Obama's decision Tuesday to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence brought fresh attention to another figure involved in the Army leaker's case: Julian Assange.

On Twitter last week, Assange's anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks posted, "If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case."

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Obama's move will test the promise. The president commuted Manning's 35-year sentence, freeing her in May, nearly three decades early. Manning has acknowledged leaking a trove of diplomatic cables and national security documents to WikiLeaks in 2010.

In a statement, Assange called Manning "a hero, whose bravery should be applauded."

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Assange went on to demand that the U.S. government "should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers, such as WikiLeaks and myself," but he made no mention of the Twitter pledge. His lawyer said he has been pressing the Justice Department for updates on an investigation concerning WikiLeaks.

Assange has been holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he remains wanted on an allegation of rape, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

The Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange, and it's not clear that any charges have been brought under seal.

"That investigation concerns potential violations of federal criminal laws, in the form of serious threats to the national security, and the investigation continues today," Justice Department lawyers wrote in a court filing last year. "From the terms of her request, it is clear that Manning seeks to obtain documents concerning that investigation.

In refusing to turn over investigative documents sought by Manning under the Freedom of Information Act, the department has acknowledged in court records that the FBI is continuing to investigate the publication of national security information on WikiLeaks arising from Manning's disclosures.

Separately, the FBI is also investigating Russian meddling through hacking in the U.S. presidential election. Hacked emails from top Democratic officials and Hillary Clinton campaign officials were posted on WikiLeaks in the final weeks of the presidential race.

With the commutation coming just four days before Obama leaves office , any decision on whether to charge or seek to extradite Assange will now fall to Trump administration.

In a statement Tuesday, a lawyer for Assange did not address whether Assange intended to come to the U.S.

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"For many months, I have asked the DOJ to clarify Mr. Assange's status. I hope it will soon," Assange's lawyer, Barry Pollack, said in the statement. "The Department of Justice should not pursue any charges against Mr. Assange based on his publication of truthful information and should close its criminal investigation of him immediately."

Another Assange lawyer Melinda Taylor suggested that he wouldn't go back on his word. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," she said in a brief telephone conversation with The Associated Press.

Associated Press
WASHINGTON  The Secret Service agreed Tuesday to pay $24 million to settle a two-decade-old case in which more than 100 black agents alleged that the agency fostered a racist culture and routinely promoted white agents over more qualified African-Americans, according to documents filed in court and interviews with representatives of both sides.

As part of the deal, which is the result of a push in the waning days of President Barack Obama's administration, the agency admits to no wrongdoing or institutional bias.

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But the payments to the agents - including lump sums as high as $300,000 each to the original eight plaintiffs - are intended to remedy the sting of the discrimination the agents say they suffered and the job opportunities they lost, according to interviews with representatives from both sides.

Jennifer Klar, the lead attorney for the black agents, described her clients as thrilled with a result they hope will prevent future discrimination in the agency.

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"At long last . . . black Secret Service agents will not be constrained by the glass ceiling that held back so many for so long," Klar said.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, whose department includes the agency, said in a statement that the resolution was "simply the right thing to do."

"I am pleased that we are able to finally put this chapter of Secret Service history behind us," said Johnson, who directed his staff last year to take a fresh look at resolving the case. "Had the matter gone to trial, it would have required that we re-live things long past, just at a time when the Secret Service is on the mend."

Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy described the pending settlement in a conference call with former directors Tuesday afternoon and then sent an agency-wide message to the staff late Tuesday night.

"While the Secret Service takes all allegations in this case seriously, the organization has, and continues to be, committed to a fair and transparent promotion process," said spokeswoman Catherine Milhoan. "It is time to move forward rather than look back to remnants of the past."

The settlement talks, driven largely by Johnson, carry symbolic power coming at the end of an eight-year period in which the Secret Service's primary job was protecting the country's first black president. It also follows a turbulent period for the agency, which suffered a series of embarrassing miscues in recent years and endured an overhaul of its senior management.

The race bias case centered on black agents who repeatedly bid for promotions from 1995 to 2005 and were turned down in favor of whites. Often the white agents chosen had less experience and lower performance ratings, according to the plaintiffs. Ray Moore, the lead plaintiff, had been a member of President Bill Clinton's detail and had bid 200 times for promotion over the years without success. Moore had trained several of the white agents who leapfrogged him.

The suit was first filed when Clinton was president. But two presidents and four directors had passed the job of resolving the messy legal fight on to their successors.

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Some of the evidence discovered in the course of the case portrayed the Secret Service of the 1990s and 2000s as a workplace that tolerated racist jokes and slurs. White supervisors engaged in racist banter - and black agents were warned not to complain about it or they could hurt their careers, according to the plaintiffs.

Black agents said they heard bosses use the n-word word to describe black people, including foreign leaders the Secret Service was supposed to be protecting.

As part of the deal, the Secret Service has agreed to change its long-standing promotion process by considering multiple candidates for each position and keeping records of factors for making promotions.

The agency also agreed to create a hotline for agents to report bias, and to keep track of racial-bias complaints made against supervisors when considering them for promotion.

The elite law enforcement agency responsible for the president's safety had long rejected the lawsuit's central claim that it created a "glass ceiling" that kept black agents relegated to lower rungs.

Two federal judges overseeing the case repeatedly sanctioned the Secret Service for failing to provide relevant documents to the black agents, who sought information about the promotion process.

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U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson wrote a scalding 51-page opinion in 2008 that cast the Secret Service as a defiant agency and said the case was marked primarily by the service's recalcitrance. She found the Secret Service had repeatedly stalled, and even destroyed potential evidence that could have helped the black agents' claim.
Accused airport shooter Esteban Santiago told FBI agents he had been communicating in "Jihadi chat rooms," with Islamic State terrorists or sympathizers, authorities said in court Tuesday. (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Accused airport shooter Esteban Santiago told investigators after his arrest that he communicated with Islamic State terrorists or sympathizers in "jihadi chat rooms" before he killed five people in Fort Lauderdale, authorities said in court Tuesday.

Whether that's true is not clear. Prosecutors and agents are still combing through electronic devices Santiago may have used, looking for evidence to show whether he was radicalized and whether he actually visited those terrorist chat rooms and websites, law enforcement sources said.

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Santiago's statements to investigators were revealed during a court hearing Tuesday in federal court in Fort Lauderdale.

Also during the hearing:

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 Federal prosecutors said Santiago, 26, practiced firing his weapon at a gun range in Alaska in the months before the Jan. 6 attack at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

 Agents testified that the semi-automatic handgun Santiago used in the attack was the same weapon the Anchorage police department returned to him in December, after his stay in a psychiatric hospital.

 Santiago was not prescribed psychiatric drugs when leaving the hospital, despite his earlier complaints that the government was controlling his mind and he was hearing voices.

Santiago, who has not yet been formally charged, faces allegations that he fatally shot five people and injured six others on Jan. 6 at the Terminal 2 baggage claim area of the airport. If convicted of the most serious allegations, he could face the death penalty or life in federal prison.

Complete coverage of the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting

U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana Snow ruled that Santiago will remain jailed while the case is pending, after deciding that he might flee from justice and is a danger to the community.

"Much of the danger to the community [he presents] is on camera," the judge said. "He's facing either the death penalty or life if prison so he has no incentive to appear" in court if released.

Santiago is due back in court Jan. 30. He is on suicide watch, in solitary confinement, at the Broward County main jail.

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Santiago barely spoke publicly in court Tuesday, just answering "yes" and "no" when the judge asked him a series of questions about whether he agreed with a request from the prosecution and defense to delay his next court appearance.

He wore a red maximum-security inmate jumpsuit and was handcuffed, shackled and surrounded by deputy U.S. marshals and courtroom security officers. He spoke in a low, inaudible voice to his lawyers, Robert Berube and Eric Cohen, who work for the Federal Public Defender's Office.

"Mr Santiago is prepared to remain in custody," Berube told the judge.

After emptying two magazines of ammunition and "methodically" shooting people by aiming at their heads, Santiago dropped his gun, lay on the ground and made no attempt to escape before Broward sheriff's deputies arrested him, prosecutor Ricardo Del Toro said in court.

"During the interview, the defendant admitted that he planned the attack," Del Toro said. "He has admitted to all of the facts with respect to the terrible and tragic events of Jan. 6."

"At various points ... he said he carried out the attack because of government mind control," Del Toro told the judge. "But he later said he did so because of ISIL ... after participating in jihadi chat rooms."

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Santiago was first interviewed by FBI agents and sheriff's detectives in a law enforcement office in the airport in the hours after the rampage, prosecutors said. Later that night, he was brought to FBI headquarters in Miramar and questioned more.

Investigators said he spoke with them for a total of about six hours. The first few hours were audio recorded, and all but about 10 minutes of his interview at the FBI office was recorded on video, FBI Agent Michael Ferlazzo testified.

Santiago was born in New Jersey, grew up in Puerto Rico and served in the Iraq War before moving to Alaska. He also traveled to the United Kingdom in 2012, prosecutors said in court.

This past November, Santiago went to the FBI office in Anchorage and told agents the government was controlling his mind and he was being pushed to watch terrorist propaganda, prosecutors said.

Authorities said he asked for help on Nov. 6 and said he did not want to harm himself or anyone else.

Anchorage police confiscated Santiaigo's gun, and he voluntarily agreed to go to a psychiatric hospital for treatment, though agents said there may have been some court order or proceeding before he agreed to treatment.

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The agents testified that they believe Santiago spent about one day in Providence Alaska Medical Center and was transferred to Alaska Psychiatric Institute, where he spent about five days and was released Nov. 14 after he was "deemed to be stable."

He was not prescribed psychiatric drugs while hospitalized or upon his release, just anti-anxiety medication and melatonin, an herbal supplement people use to help them sleep, agents said.

FBI agents met with Santiago again and interviewed him Nov. 30, when he went back to the Anchorage police department to try to pick up his gun, Ferlazzo testified under questioning by defense lawyer Berube.

No information has been released about that meeting, other than the FBI and Anchorage police saying Santiago left that day without his gun. Anchorage police eventually returned the gun to him Dec. 8, they said.

Agents testified that Santiago's gun was legally purchased and was legally licensed, as far as they know, in Alaska.

Prosecutor Del Toro told the judge that the five people killed were between ages 57 and 84, and the six people who suffered gunshot wounds were between ages 40 and 70.

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Investigators said they have video footage from about 20 cameras that recorded Santiago or aspects of the mass shooting at the airport. Santiago does not appear on footage from all of those cameras, but agents said they captured most of his movements in the airport.

There is no video of him on the sidewalk outside the baggage claim area, they testified, though agents wrote in court records that he briefly walked outside during the shootings.

If prosecutors formally decide to seek the death penalty for Santiago, that would slow down the case, experts said. U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer and his advisers would have to make an initial decision, which would reviewed by a U.S. Department of Justice panel, before a final decision by the U.S. attorney general.

If Santiago wants to plead guilty, and is found legally competent to do so, that could take the death penalty off the table, legal experts said, though prosecutors could still insist on going to trial. The defense has not asked for Santiago to undergo a psychiatric evaluation or legal competency testing, according to court records, but that it is likely to be ordered.

pmcmahon@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4533 or Twitter @SentinelPaula
There was a time when American voters had to wonder whether Barack Obama was personally corrupt. In 2008, that was the claim of Hillary Clinton in the primaries and John McCain in the general election campaign. They charged that he had gotten help buying a house from a crooked, wealthy developer. They depicted him as just another sleazy Chicago machine pol.

You may have forgotten all this because it was convincingly refuted and left no permanent stain on Obama. Whatever his failures in the White House, he has not been implicated in old-fashioned graft. He may make huge sums of money after he leaves office, but he didn't do it while he was there.

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Contrast this picture with the spectacle of Donald Trump, whose administration promises to be a nonstop festival of ethical breaches. Previous presidents have felt compelled by law and political appearances to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Not Trump. Having amassed riches before being elected president, he sees no reason to stop now.

He has refused to disclose his tax returns or a full list of his assets, which are extensive. "At least 111 Trump companies have done business in 18 countries and territories across South America, Asia and the Middle East," The Washington Post reported in November. His financial stake in these places gives foreign governments ways to ingratiate themselves or to put pressure on him.

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Instead of looking only at what makes sense for American security and prosperity, Trump will have monetary incentives to consider what's good for him and his family. Putting his assets in a trust controlled by his two eldest sons, as he said Jan. 11 he is doing, is wholly inadequate. He'll still be aware of what the trust owns; he'll eventually stand to profit from the deals it makes; and he intends to resume control after he leaves office. In the interim, he will have opportunities for self-dealing beyond his wildest dreams.

Trump, as The New York Times noted this week, has pursued deals in Russia for 30 years without much success. If President Vladimir Putin can accommodate the tycoon on that front, Trump might indulge Putin on Ukraine, NATO, Syria or something else. Unless he transfers his assets to an independent executor with instructions to sell them off and put the proceeds in a blind trust, everything he does will be under a cloud.

Next to all this, Obama's alleged impropriety looks comically quaint. When he and his wife bought a house in Chicago in 2005, developer Tony Rezko, a friend who had raised money for Obama, bought a lot next door from the same seller. The suspicion was that Rezko overpaid the owner so the Obamas could underpay. Later, Rezko sold them a strip of land between the houses to expand their yard  which may have been another financial favor. Rezko later served time on federal extortion charges related to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who also went to prison.

After weeks of trying to ignore the issue during the 2008 campaign, Obama finally addressed it head-on. He came to the Chicago Tribune in March and spent 90 minutes giving a detailed account of what had happened and answering every question put to him. He never evaded, never responded defensively and never showed the slightest impatience. He gave the impression of someone who wanted the whole story known, confident it would vindicate his integrity.

It did. That fall, McCain tried to use the charge against his opponent, but the air had gone out of it. After the March session, the Tribune, which had criticized Obama's handling of the matter, editorialized that he had reaffirmed its confidence in his "professional judgment and personal decency" and set "a standard for candor by which other presidential candidates facing serious inquiries now can be judged."

Trump, on the other hand, has set a standard lower than that of any president in modern times. His business ties will serve as a constant temptation to him and those who want something from him or the U.S. government. And that's fine with him.

On his way to the White House, Obama understood his obligation not only to behave ethically but to be open with the voters. Trump has insisted on doing whatever he pleases while refusing to provide useful information about his activities.

Obama's view was that he should be careful to avoid scandal. Trump's view is that for him, there is no such thing.

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Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman.

schapman@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @SteveChapman13

Related stories:

Why Obama is the Jon Snow of American foreign policy

Why is a federal agency killing wildlife?

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Would an impulsive Trump hit the nuclear button?
The picture of Chicago in much of the country  and even in much of the Chicago area  is a city awash in blood amid a surge in murder and other violent crime. "Is this a war-torn country?" asked candidate Donald Trump during a debate in September. Though the president-elect is famously prone to hyperbole, the perception has a real basis  a spike in homicides to a level not seen since the 1990s. The question is: Why has it happened?

In an attempt to find answers, researchers at the University of Chicago Crime Lab have compiled a report, released Tuesday, with a wealth of data. One striking fact is that in December 2015, homicides were actually down from a year earlier. But the arrival of the new year flipped an invisible switch: Homicides in January 2016 soared by 67 percent over the previous January, and "each month that followed in 2016 saw more homicides compared to the same month in 2015." By the time the year was over, Chicago had recorded 58 percent more killings than it had in 2015.

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The report says the increase is not unprecedented, and it left the homicide rate below what it was in the first half of the 1990s. Nor did it make Chicago the most dangerous city in America: Though the number killed here topped the charts, the homicide rate is lower than in smaller places such as St. Louis, Detroit and New Orleans. The sudden climb is comparable to what occurred in 2015 in Baltimore, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. What makes Chicago stand out is that it has far more murders than the two largest cities, New York and Los Angeles, combined.

What's going on? The mayhem has left much of Chicago untouched. Of the 77 community areas, the crime lab report says, 31 saw either a decrease in homicides or no increase. Five neighborhoods  Austin, Englewood, New City, West Englewood and West Garfield Park  accounted for nearly half of the increase. It's often assumed that teenage gang members are behind it all. But the researchers found that the average age of those arrested for a homicide or shooting was 26, and the percentage with a gang affiliation fell to 67 percent from 73 percent.

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It's not hard to come up with theories to explain the epidemic. But the U. of C. experts debunk many of those commonly heard. They note that the weather wasn't appreciably warmer, poverty and racial segregation didn't deepen and illegal guns didn't suddenly become more available.

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The jump in homicides did follow close behind several notable events: the release of the video showing the police fatally shooting Laquan McDonald, the launch of a Justice Department investigation of the Chicago Police Department, a new policy on street stops resulting from a city agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union and a decline in the number of stops.

Any or all of these may have had an effect, by emboldening criminals and causing cops to go "fetal," as Mayor Rahm Emanuel has said. But a healthy skepticism is in order. The McDonald video was shocking. But in 2014, New York had the video of a cop putting a chokehold on Eric Garner, who died as a result, and New York's homicide rate continued its long decline. Chicago police stops dropped by 80 percent from November 2015 to January 2016 and remained at that level throughout 2016. But New York police, under a federal court order, cut the number of stops by 97 percent from 2011 and 2015 with no ill effects. And Chicago cops were aggressive enough last year to confiscate more guns than they had in 2015.

So the study leaves the most important question  how to reverse the trend  unresolved. Its authors say they stand ready to help policymakers, nonprofits and others apply the data to drive solutions. What can be said with some confidence is that better relations between police and residents of the most crime-ridden communities would foster more cooperation and less conflict, which in turn could help stem the violence. Whatever other changes are needed, that one should be a high priority.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
Fog obscures high-rises near Chicago's Lincoln Park on Jan. 17, 2017. In January, Chicagoans can usually count on snow, but not this year. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

I try to steer this column away from controversial topics, but there is one hot-button issue I can no longer ignore: the weather.

Specifically, Chicago's weather. More specifically, the atmospheric garbage fire that's presently trying to palm itself off as winter.

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It's roughly the middle of January, and Chicago feels like it's a few absurdly pretentious coffee shops and a hurled salmon away from being Seattle.

It is raining  raining, I tell you!  with perverse regularity, and temperatures later this week are expected to rise into the 50s.

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I grew up in Florida and long ago reached my lifetime limit of nice weather. I didn't move to Chicago to spend winters feeling cool and moderately soggy. I moved here to endure icy, eyeball-freezing blasts of cold, to have enough snow pile up in the backyard that cleaning up after my dog had to wait until spring.

This winter started off strong, with deep freezes and snowfall in December. But since rain fell on Christmas and turned the snowpack to liquid yuck, this city known for hard winters has seen nothing but meteorological meh.

I wouldn't even call it winter. It's more of a "won'ter."

On Monday night, in the midst of this won'ter of my discontent, the dog wouldn't go outside because it was raining. Later that night, she was about to go outside but then bravely ran to the basement after lightning flashed and a thunder clap shook the house.

Lightning and thunder? In January? What kind of witchcraft is this?

For the sake of my dog's bladder, I decided it was time to investigate.

Like most rational Americans, my first instinct when something goes wrong is to blame Canada. (Surely all that politeness and syrup and universal health care is a cover for something sinister.)

And when it comes to cold weather crimes, our neighbors to the north are likely culprits. If I've learned anything from the weather maps used by my hero Tom Skilling  WGN TV's "Thunder God"  it's that cold air always "dips down" or "swoops down" from Canada into the Chicago area. You've seen it  the cold air system on the map just drops down like an udder, squirting Chicago with frozen Canadian milk flakes, or as meteorologists call it, "snow."

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Why is there no udder this year? Why is Canada hogging the cold air and denying hardworking Chicagoans their frozen udder-milk flakes?

I sent an emergency email to Skilling only to find that he is on vacation. He claimed to be in the British Virgin Islands, but I know the truth. That lionhearted weather warrior is somewhere in the wilds of Canada looking for our winter.

I decided to do a little northerly reconnaissance of my own, so I put a call in to Jay Scotland, a meteorologist at CBC Toronto. To curry favor, I dubbed him "Canadian Tom Skilling."

"What have you people done with our winter?" I asked, investigatively.

"Looking at temperatures across Canada, we're running hot too," Scotland said in his native Canadian tongue. "Edmonton is warmer than Toronto right now. Winnipeg should be much colder than this."

None of those weird names meant anything to me, but I suspected he was hiding something.

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I reached out to WGN weather producer Bill Snyder to get his take on the winter weather scandal.

"When you're talking thunderstorms in January, you know something seems off," he said. "All of this has to do with our jet stream. The jet stream drives our weather. We were on the cold side of it in December and we were snowy too. We started off with a bang. There was a chunk of air out of Siberia, but the main cold was going as it usually does out of Canada, and we were on its lower flank. Now we've had a complete realignment of the jet stream."

He said it has been a month since the Chicago area had an inch of snow, a rarity in January.

"This resembles a pattern more like what we see in March," Snyder said, "The calendar has kind of flipped around on us."

Damn Canadians.

Snyder noted that the great Chicago Blizzard of 1967 followed five consecutive January days when temperatures were 50 degrees or warmer.

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"It just goes to show you that just because you think you're coasting along and everything's just fine and dandy, it can change," Snyder said. "We still have a long way to go. For the snow lovers who are disappointed, we've been around too long, so we know things can change on a dime."

I appreciate Snyder's optimism, but I still think Canada is holding out on us.

I put the screws to the Canadian meteorologist whose last name is, confusingly, Scotland: "WHERE'S OUR WINTER, YOU POLITE AND PROFESSIONAL SCOUNDREL??"

"You know, we get blamed all the time down there for 'cold air from Canada' or 'the polar vortex dipping down from Canada,' " he said. "We take the blame all the time. Now that it's warm, we're not getting credit."

Nice try, Canadian Tom Skilling. I know you've stashed our winter somewhere up there.

And I promise you this: Real Tom Skilling is coming for you. And you will soon feel the wrath of Chicago's Thunder God.

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rhuppke@chicagotribune.com
The husband of a Mount Prospect mother of five who was struck and killed by an SUV while riding her bicycle in a crosswalk last summer has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver involved in the fatal accident.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Friday, Jan. 13, by Mount Prospect resident Eric Jakubowski, seeks more than $100,000 from Hanna Burzynska, 56, of Elk Grove Village.

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Burzynska was the driver of the SUV involved in the accident on June 9, 2016, that led to the death of Jakubowski's wife, Joni Beaudry, 55. Authorities at the time said Beaudry had activated the crossing signal and was riding her bike at the crosswalk at Central Road and Weller Lane.

"This is a situation where no amount of money can ever change the circumstances here," said John Cichon, the Chicago attorney who is representing the Jakubowski family in the lawsuit.

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Neither Burzynska nor her attorney could be reached for comment.

But the complaint filed by Cichon alleges that Burzynska "carelessly and negligently drove and operated [the SUV] and failed to keep a reasonable careful lookout ahead for other traffic or pedestrians attempting to cross" the roadway.

In addition to alleging that Beaudry's death caused the Jakubowski family to experience, "grief, sorrow and mental suffering," the lawsuit seeks compensation for the family's resulting medical, funeral and burial expenses.

In October of 2016, a Cook County judge issued a $150 fine with supervision to Burzynska in connection with the crash.

Attorney Lynn Palac, who represented Burzynska in traffic court in October, said at the time that her client was remorseful and suffering, "not nearly to the degree of this family, but psychologically.  She's not been able to work."

The judge's decision to grant Burzynska supervision and issue a fine for the misdemeanor traffic citations, which included failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, was made following an emotional statement read aloud in the Rolling Meadows courtroom by Jakubowski, who was accompanied by two of his five children.

Jakubowski's eldest three children are college students who had returned home during the holiday season, but who have now headed back to their respective universities for the start of the new semester, Cichon said. His youngest two children have special needs.

"The holidays were very difficult for the family, but Eric is an amazing father," Cichon said. "He's very attuned to the kids and getting their life back to normal, whatever that may be."

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kcullotta@tribpub.com

Twitter: @kcullotta
Sheila Ray, left, and her daughter, Savannah, cook in their home kitchen in Aurora, making allergen-free treats. (Ray family / Handout)

When Savannah Ray goes out to dinner, it's an even bigger treat than it is for many people.

That's because the 9-year-old 9th Ward resident has an allergy to eggs, milk and nuts, which makes it hard to find any restaurant where she can eat the food.

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"It's always very limited," said her mother, Sheila Ray.

That's why Sheila started Savannah baking her own allergen-free treats at 3 years old. Now, Savannah does much of the baking on her own in the kitchen in her house, and wants to pass along her allergen-free food to others in a similar situation.

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The city of Aurora is a vote away from helping her do that legally, even to the point of allowing Savannah's new company, Joy-Filled Cupcakes, to accept money for doing it.

"We're watching her dream unfold," Sheila told aldermen at this week's Committee of the Whole meeting. "It's something she would like to do for other people."

Aldermen placed the new Home Kitchen and Cottage Food Operations ordinance on the consent agenda for next week's full council meeting, all but assuring it will pass.

The ordinance, known in Illinois as the "Cupcake Law," is already contained in state statutes, which basically allow cities to adopt the law themselves, using the state's language. It has been state law since 2014.

It allows people to sell food made in their own kitchens by registering with the city, as long as the home kitchen is in the proper residential zoning. A home kitchen would be limited to a cap of $1,000 in gross sales a month, and cottage food, usually made to sell at farmers markets and similar type of events, would be limited to $36,000 a year.

Unlike regular bakeries, the bakers can use their home kitchens, rather than an outside kitchen.

Sheila and Savannah Ray have been making allergen-free baked goods for years in their kitchen, often making them for school and church groups and taking requests from other parents. They even made their baked goods for the fire department, whose emergency medical technicians have often had to take Savannah to the hospital when she has an allergic reaction.

But when people have offered money, Sheila has turned it down, because it was not legal. Now it could soon be in Aurora.

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Over the years, Sheila, who runs Sheila Ray Creative out of her home, has become a spokesperson and crusader for allergen-free foods. She writes a blog called Cupcake Love, in which she focuses on allergy-related information.

Aldermen noted that allergy awareness has increased, with schools providing separate lunch tables for allergic children. They also praised the efforts of people like the Rays for making more information about allergies known.

"We are very appreciative of your achievement," said Mayor Robert O'Connor.

slord@tribpub.com
Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora will once again help a graduating senior pay for college.

The Simon Youth Foundation, a national nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for at-risk high school students, is now looking for qualified applicants who live near Chicago Premium Outlets and the surrounding community.

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Each year, Simon Youth Community Scholarships are awarded in every community across the country that is home to Simon, Mills, or Premium Outlets malls. The application period has begun and ends March 1.

Students can apply online by going to syf.org/scholarships.

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The foundation will award 25 scholarships to students graduating in the class of 2017 who live in communities surrounding any Premium Outlets mall nationwide. No more than one scholarship will be awarded for each property. Recipients will receive up to $1,500 to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school.

In addition, an "Award of Excellence" will be given to the top candidate from among the scholarship applicants that represent the nationwide Premium Outlets locations. That student will receive a $10,000 award - $2,500 for up to four years.

In 2016, the Simon Youth Foundation awarded $1.2 million to 300 students nationwide.

"The cost of college continues to rise, and (the foundation) is proud to partner with Chicago Premium Outlets to award scholarships that will remove some of the financial obstacles that could otherwise prevent a student from achieving the dream of a college education," said J. Michael Durnil, foundation president and CEO.

The 2017 Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship recipients will be selected by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc., a third-party administrator.

Students are selected based on a variety of criteria, including financial need, academic performance, leadership skills and participation in school and community activities.

Those students who are the first in their family to pursue a post secondary education will also be given close consideration.

Recipients would be notified in May.
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly said Tuesday night she was still undecided as to whether she will attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Following an event in Matteson, the Democrat said her long standing friendship with departing President Barack Obama has created conflicting feelings for her about Friday's event.

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Dozens of her U.S. House Democrat colleagues have said they will not be in attendance for Trump's inauguration, including, locally, U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski.

"There is a piece of me that wants to be there," Kelly said, noting her desire stems more from supporting Obama as he leaves Washington after two terms rather then welcoming the new president.

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First elected in a special election in April 2013 to fill the 2nd Congressional seat vacated by Jesse Jackson Jr., Kelly, of Matteson, easily won re-election last year. Although formally sworn in earlier this month as part of the new Congress, Kelly held a community swearing-in ceremony Tuesday at the Matteson Holiday Inn.

Her left hand on a Bible held by her husband, Kelly again took the oath of office, administered by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Linzey Jones, telling a roomful of area mayors, legislators and district residents it was an opportunity for her to "reaffirm my commitment to you."

Kelly told the audience that "these are serious times," but that they also represent an opportunity to "break down towering barriers."

With the Republican-controlled Congress eyeing an undoing of Obama's Affordable Care Act, Kelly said that by doing so, "we will grow sicker as a people rather than stronger as a nation."

Speaking to a reporter after her public remarks, Kelly said she is "not too pleased" with Trump's cabinet selections.

"I don't understand those picks," such as Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions as Attorney General and Rick Perry, former governor of Texas, to head the Energy Department, the congresswoman said.

mnolan@tribpub.com
Daily Southtown columnist Ted Slowik poses with Barbara Pasquinelli, co-president of the League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area, during a dialog with the group on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at the Palos Heights Public Library (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown)

I enjoyed a friendly visit Saturday to the Palos Heights Public Library to meet with members of the League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area.

The nonpartisan group is dedicated to advancing civics through participation in democracy. The chapter was founded in 1959 and includes members from Bridgeview, Crestwood, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Hickory Hills, Homer Glen, Hometown, Lemont, Mokena, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Park and Tinley Park.

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They invited me to their monthly meeting to talk about regional issues affecting government. They were particularly interested in recent columns about local electoral boards. Municipal and township officials often face conflicts of interest as they decide challenges to opposing candidates' nominating petitions.

Past speakers included U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. They've welcomed paramedics demonstrating CPR skills, held a workshop on running for local school boards, hosted candidate forums and helped register voters. I'm honored to be in such good company.

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I entertain invitations for speaking engagements, but there are a few conditions. I won't speak to strictly partisan groups. (Sorry, Rich Township Democrats and Homer Township Republicans.) I refuse compensation or honorariums for my services, as ethics prohibit me from becoming beholden to anyone.

My self-interested motivation for accepting invitations, I told the group, is to meet people who live and work in the Southland. All I ask in return for my time is consideration that people contact me with their suggestions for topics to cover or subjects of potentially compelling human-interest stories.

I've been in this role as columnist for almost a year now, doing my best to fill the big shoes of my predecessor, Phil Kadner. Getting to know people throughout the region, interacting with them and listening to their concerns and ideas is a key part of the job, I believe.

The League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area is right in my wheelhouse because they serve the south and southwest suburban region with a noble mission:

"The league is a multifaceted organization dedicated to keeping our democracy strong by giving every citizen a voice in government," the local chapter says in its membership brochure.

"The league works through the political process to bring about constructive change. The league promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and acts on selected government issues after in-depth study and consensus."

Despite its name, membership is actually open to everyone 16 years or older, male or female. The league's state and national organizations take positions on topics ranging from the Illinois budget impasse and redistricting reform to gun violence prevention and climate change.

Barbara Pasquinelli, co-president of the Palos-Orland chapter, introduced me to member Chris Slowik, no relation. After talking about local electoral boards and other issues, I took questions from the audience.

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I shared my personal views on a variety of topics, many concerning the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. I'm like a jack of all trades, master of none. I have enough general knowledge of just about any issue in the news to offer an opinion, and we had a pleasant and engaging dialogue.

There was one question that stuck in my mind a few days after the talk, though. I felt my response was adequate at the time. But now that I think more about it, I'd like to elaborate.

The question was what could be done about apathy.

I understood the context to mean voter apathy. The percentage of voters participating in elections generally peaks at about 70 percent every four years during presidential contests. But for local elections, like the upcoming April 4 contests for school and municipal offices, voter participation typically plummets to around 25 percent.

That's a shame, I said, because voting in local races potentially has a much greater impact than casting one of millions of ballots in national elections. Razor-thin margins often decide local contests. Each vote matters.

Yet, great numbers of citizens decline to exercise their right to vote in local elections. Maybe they feel they don't know enough about the candidates to make an informed choice, or they don't understand how much local decisions affect their daily lives.

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Look at property tax bills, an audience member pointed out. Local schools gobble up the biggest share of the real estate taxes paid by homeowners. It's a huge source of frustration for Illinois residents.

Yet, when it's time to take part in the democratic process, most people skip the opportunity to vote in local elections.

Another reason for historically low voter turnout is the number of uncontested local elections. What's the point in voting if there's no choice?

That's a fair point. My response is to encourage residents to attend a meeting of their local school, park, library or municipal boards. Let their elected officials know someone is paying attention. You don't have to ask questions. Just show up every so often to observe how well your representatives are accounting for how your tax dollars are spent.

I think apathy signals people think everything is OK. People turn out to protest controversial decisions  school closings, tax increases and the like. The absence of demonstrators could be interpreted as a sign that constituents generally approve of the job their elected leaders are doing.

In contrast to the relative lack of controversy at the local level, we're generally seeing a lot more protests directed at state and national leaders. In Illinois, groups have demonstrated in Chicago, Springfield and elsewhere to demand funding for social services and an end to the budget impasse.

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Numerous Black Lives Matter protests have targeted the treatment of African-Americans by law enforcement authorities. Military veterans, native Americans and others have joined the Standing Rock tribe's ongoing protest of the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Hundreds of thousands are expected to take part in the Women's March on Washington on Saturday, with potentially millions more participating in demonstrations simultaneously in cities across the country.

As Republicans prepare to assume control of the legislative and executive branches of federal government, large crowds are showing up at town hall meetings held by some members of Congress to urge them to preserve access to health care for millions of Americans.

I believe the Trump presidency will trigger increased protests and demonstrations on such issues as civil rights, education funding, environmental policies, income inequality, abortion rights and a host of other concerns.

I think people will be compelled to take part in demonstrations and exercise their rights to peaceably assemble when they feel strongly enough about an issue to take action.

I think concerns about apathy will resolve themselves in the near future.

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tslowik@tribpub.com

Twitter @tedslowik
The Elgin Police Department is reporting fewer serious crimes, a trend that Chief Jeff Swoboda thanked the community for its part in.

Part 1 crimes  as reported to the state of Illinois  are down 3 percent from 2015, "continuing a 44-year low," according to an Elgin police report.

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Part 1 crimes are those "serious crimes that are committed against people and property," and includes burglary to motor vehicles, residential burglary, theft, robbery, criminal sexual assault and homicide. Those crimes are a "standardized federal measurement of serious crimes," according to police.

"We are proud of it, but the entire community should be proud of it. We will continue to work with the residents and communicate with them," to continue that downward trend, Swoboda said.

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The "high water mark" for Elgin's reported Part 1 crimes was in 1989, with 4,905 reported to police.

The 2016 numbers show 1,807 of those crimes reported in Elgin.

In comparison to 1972, when Elgin's population was half its current size, the crime rate has dropped 32 percent, according to police.

Elgin saw two murders in 2016, down from four the previous year. The number of forcible rapes/criminal sexual assaults dropped by 8 percent, robbery is down by 3 percent, and assault is down by 6 percent, according to the report.

Burglaries are down by 14 percent, but police did see a spike in burglaries to motor vehicles. Those were up by 15 percent.

The amount of thefts reported dropped by 4 percent, and arson was down by 29 percent.

Police did see a slight uptick in reported batteries  which includes domestic battery.

Other data that Elgin tracks, but isn't reported as part of the Unified Crime Reports system in Illinois, includes the number of shootings.

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Elgin's shootings where a person was hit was down 48 percent in 2016. There were 21 shooting victims in 2015 and 11 in 2016.

However, police did note that reported shootings where no one was hit was up, increasing 10 percent with 64 in the past year.

Police are doing more aggressive investigation when there are reports of shots fired, Swoboda said.

"We are doing more these days than in the past," to investigate those reports, particularly when no victim or property damage is found, he said.

"Officers are doing more out there  canvassing and knocking on doors, looking for evidence," Swoboda said.

"We are making sure in our response that we are definitive to make sure it is shots fired," and not an unfounded call or fireworks, added Cmdr. Ana Lalley.

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Swoboda also noted that of the verified shots fired reports, about 25 percent of those can be connected through ballistics  shell casings or bullets  to previous shots fired reports. If an arrest is later made with that gun as identified by ballistics, police can and have previously cleared those reports, Swoboda said

The Elgin Police Department's social media presence  particularly on Facebook  has helped to report and respond to resident questions, Swoboda noted.

"Social media has  proven to be a strong venue for two-way communication with the community," the department said in a news release. The department's Facebook page has over 25,000 "likes," they noted.

Another area that has seen an increase  burglary to a motor vehicle  should also be compared in context with 2015 numbers, he said. "That is still the second-lowest amount we have ever had," Swoboda said. There were 271 reported burglaries to vehicles in 2015  the lowest number reported since 1996. The 317 reported in 2016 is still at the lowest level in 20 years  there were more than 1,000 of those reported in 1996, police said.

While the 2016 numbers are reported annually to the state, Elgin officers are looking at those numbers much more regularly to look for trends and prevent crime before it happens, Swoboda said.

The three percent reduction in the most serious crimes "shows progress but not success. We are on the right path," by focusing on known offenders and nuisance properties, he said. "Our officers have the technology and the tools they need to investigate and the community is involved. They will call in the loud party before it becomes a call for shots fired. They lock up their car doors and we talk about self-defense. It is the preventative side that causes the numbers to go down  not just arrests," Swoboda said.

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It is unknown if better reporting by the public has any effect on the overall totals. In 2016, 182 reports were filed with Elgin police using its online reporting system.

"The convenience of not having to come down," to the police department, or wait for an officer to arrive, does make it easier for residents to report crime, said Bill Wolf, assistant chief of police.

But people are more likely to report things like change missing from their cars or other smaller issues, Wolf noted.

Wolf also addressed a recent FBI report that indicated Elgin's violent crime was up in the first half of the year.

While there was a small increase in the first half of the year, "those are, throughout the year, cleaned up, they are investigated through records review," Wolf said. "We are confident in these stats."

Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
A U.S. District Court ruled Tuesday that an Evanston lawsuit against utility providers Nicor and ComEd can continue.

According to the memorandum from Judge John Z. Lee in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division court, Evanston's claims of city code violations, trespassing, private nuisance, public nuisance, breach of contract and violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act will be considered by the courts.

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Evanston is asking for "a combination of injunctive, declaratory and compensatory relief, as well as civil penalties," according to the memorandum.

"We're happy that the court agrees that the matters we brought before it have merit," said Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz.

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Among those, Bobkiewicz said, city officials look forward to learning more from the utility companies about what contaminants might be in the ground.

Nicor and ComEd  or, more formally Northern Illinois Gas Company and Commonwealth Edison Company, respectively  previously moved to dismiss all of the city's complaints, according to the memorandum.

Evanston first sued ComEd and Nicor in October 2014 for allegedly failing to mitigate hazardous substances in and around the city's water line, soil and ground water, according to Evanston Review reports. The city's suit alleges that waste oil from the former Skokie Manufactured Gas Plant site leaked into the surrounding environment and contaminated it.

As a result, the lawsuit claims, the waste oil subsequently led to high concentrations of methane gas around James Park, Dawes Elementary School and the Levy Senior Center in south Evanston, according to Evanston Review reports.

That suit was dismissed last February.

This current suit was refiled in June.

gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GenevieveBook
Rabbi Steven Lowenstein addresses the crowd at the Am Shalom sanctuary on Jan. 13, 2017, in front of members of the Soul Children of Chicago choir during a service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Daniel I. Dorfman / Pioneer Press)

It was a night filled with interfaith spirit and song, mixed with some trepidation for the future when Glencoe's Am Shalom synagogue honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Jan. 13, a standing room-only crowd packed the Am Shalom sanctuary to listen to the annual appearance of the Soul Children of Chicago, a 40-person youth gospel choir directed by Walt Whitman. The Grammy Award winning choir repeatedly brought the estimated crowd of 350 to their feet during an evening that synagogue officials labeled #blessed.

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"I fell in love (with the choir) and became a groupie, and I wanted to make sure we can always help them out, and made a commitment every year on Martin Luther King weekend that they always have a place to sing on the Friday night," Am Shalom's Rabbi Steven Lowenstein said.

With the boisterous choir featuring children ranging in age from 7 to 17 performing during the Sabbath service and the dinner that followed, leaders were aiming for a feeling of unity.

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"As Christians and as Jewish people, there is no real divide," Whitman said. "There's a lot we have in common as opposed to what we don't have in common. What you see here is love. That is what we all live for."

There were also many remembrances of King, the slain civil rights leader. Lowenstein opened the service with a reference to the violence that occurred in March 1965 at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. He used that as a backdrop for concerns about the future.

"It is about Dr. King, it is about all those people who walked across that bridge, and it is about the bridges we still have to cross," Lowenstein said. "Sometimes the road might be a little rocky; sometimes we might not be sure of our footing. But the most important thing is we continue step by step and that we walk together."

The hour-long service had other references to the current political climate. During one song, Whitman asked everyone to hold up his or her cell phone to make a point.

"Our world is really dark right now, but with you holding up your light you can make the world a whole lot better," he said.

A few minutes later, everyone was holding hands and Whitman referred to Donald Trump's campaign slogan in the 2016 election.

"This is what America looks like when you talk about making America great again," Whitman said. "This is America."

Also speaking at Am Shalom was Pastor Phil Jackson of the House Covenant Church in Lawndale.

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"We're in a ditch, ethically, morally, socially, racially. We're in a ditch," Jackson told the audience. "The beauty is as we come together, we as a community of people can pull this world out of the ditch."

But like Whitman, Jackson was thrilled with the feeling of unity that he sensed at Am Shalom, where he has spoken before.

"It is an affirmation of why we do need to do the work and building relationships together. Nothing ever changes without building relationships," Jackson said. "One day we are going to be pushing each other around in a wheelchair, and it is because of that relationship we started way back, that love will still be there to support it."

Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
Nataliya Omelchenko lives in Glencoe with her daughter and for the last seven years has worked as a nurse practitioner. She travels to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights for her job.

Q: What do you enjoy about your work?

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A: I work in neurosurgery at the hospital, and so I see a lot of patients in the worst time of their lives as they have an unexpected diagnosis or have tumors. I feel privileged to be with them at such a life-changing situation. I am there for them, to help them navigate the system and help them with emotional and educational support. Sometimes I continue to guide them after they go home and follow up with them as an outpatient.

One of the large benefits of this profession is being part of someone's life who is going through a bad time.

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Q: Do you enjoy your work and why?

A: Because it allows me to apply what I learned in school and work, and I like to be with people.

Q: What do you not like about the job?

A: In the current political situation, there is uncertainty about changes that are coming to health care, which is probably the biggest concern.

Q: What do you like about Glencoe?

A: It is one of best places to live, especially if you have kids. The schools are great, the community is very tight and I always felt my kid has a community that cares and will keep an eye on her when I am not there. The teachers in the school care, and they want your kid to succeed.

Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.

Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
There's nothing like a comforting pot roast on a chilly winter day. Just the smells and heat from an oven with food roasting inside can evoke memories of cozy Sunday suppers.

But modern chefs are going beyond the classic Sunday roast menu to introduce newer, fancier ways to showcase roasted foods. From scrumptious, colorful medleys of diced, roasted squash and gently carmelized brussels sprouts, to jumbo shrimp stuffed with roasted red bell peppers, the art of roasting is being applied to more and more exciting recipes.

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"Roasting is a great way to cook a wide variety of foods from fruits and vegetables to meat and fish," said Glenview House Executive Chef Jeff Modica. "You get a wonderful golden caramel texture on the outside and a moist juicy inside."

That carmelization and light crunch is created because water is absorbed in the roasting process, encouraging sugars to concentrate.

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Modica said any herbs or spices used in a rub will cook and release their natural oils and add flavor and a wonderful aroma to the kitchen.

Pan-roasted chicken and roasted duck breast are on Modica's menu at Glenview House. "Both the duck breast and pan chicken begin with a hot seal in the pan with some oil and they are seasoned with some salt, skin side down. They are then placed in the oven and allowed to roast. Halfway through the cooking process they are turned over on the other side and roasted till they are done," he said.

Modica said carry-over cooking is important with roasting. This is the time immediately after food is removed from the heat, when it will continue to cook in residual heat for a while.

The resting portion of the process is essential to allow the food to retain its juices and moisture. To prevent food from over cooking, pull the meat out of the oven sooner than when you think it is completely done to account for the carry-over cooking.

For seasoning, Modica suggests Italian herbs and some olive oil on roast beef, while something with a more unique flavor profile, like a duck breast, may only need salt and pepper.

Kim Buchanan, culinary manager with Lyfe Kitchen in Evanston, said her key to roasting success is in not over-crowding the pan. "Too much food will cause steam and things can't caramelize and roast properly," she said.

Buchanan also said it's very important for the oven to be properly pre-heated. "Patience is a virtue. You can't hurry it along by raising the temperature. The heat needs to be consistent. No peeking in the oven; it cools the temperature down."

She said roasting is ideal for foods that contain a lot of water, like mushrooms, but roasted brussels sprouts are her favorite. "Roasting them gives them a sweet and crispy flavor and texture and removes the cabbage-y bitterness."

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At Steak + Vine in La Grange, Chef and Owner Michael Wilson roasts red bell peppers over an open flame and uses them to make a filling for jumbo stuffed shrimp. Wilson roasts the pepers at 400 degrees and turns them constantly while roasting them. "This method is a little bit tedious," he said, "but it brings out the deep flavor of the pepper more than if it were just roasted in the oven."

Wilson slow-roasts short ribs and lamb shanks at 225 degrees for six to eight hours, depending on the size of the meat. "When meat is exposed to high heat, it will shrink faster, causing it to be tough and chewy. Low temperatures and longer cooking time will make the meat tender and juicier," he said.

This winter, Chef Michael Lachowicz has Roast Breast of New York State Squab and Long Island Duckling on his winter menu at George Trois in Winnetka.

"When roasting any meat, I always follow one exact method," Lachowicz said. He starts with a high temperature (425 to 450 degrees). He stays at this temperature for 20 to 25 minutes for larger cuts and 6 to 8 minutes for smaller cuts. Then he reduces the temperature to 350 to 375 for the duration of the cooking time in the recipe.

"By following this roasting technique, it allows for a more intense sear which will caramelize the surface of the meat and allow for a gentle cooking of the entire cut after the temperature is reduced," he said. He lets the meat rest for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing or serving. "It's a must for juices to redistribute to the entire cut of the meat," he said.

Jumbo Shrimp Stuffed with Roasted Red Bell Peppers

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2 ounces roasted red bell pepper, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick strips

6 jumbo shrimp, cleaned and deveined

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 ounces cream cheese

2 tablespoons water chestnuts, sliced

3 tablespoons flour

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1 egg

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

Lightly oil the red bell pepper and roast it over medium flame until charred well on all sides. (Can also be oven-roasted). Place roasted peppers into plastic bag and let sit 10 minutes to sweat. This will allow the charred skin of pepper to be easily removed.

Peel and devein shrimp, and then slice from top almost through the bottom and open shrimp.

Put shrimp on plastic wrap on a hard surface. Cover the shrimp with wrap and gently pound out to make shrimp flat (as thin as possible without breaking up meat).

Remove top plastic then season shrimp with salt and pepper.

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Roll cream cheese into cylinder about four inches long, and place on top of flattened shrimp.

Put water chestnuts evenly along cream cheese, and do the same with roasted red bell pepper.

Roll the shrimp using the bottom of the plastic wrap to guide. Lightly flour shrimp. Coat completely with egg. Coat entire shrimp with panko breading. Saute breaded shrimp over medium-high heat until golden brown then bake in 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Serve whole or sliced over roasted red bell pepper aioli.

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Aioli

1/4 cup mayonaise

1 teaspoon lemon juice

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4 ounces roasted red bell pepper

Puree all ingredients in blender until smooth.

Adapted from Michael Wilson, Steak + Vine, La Grange
Ancient villages in Anhui Province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

When Pu Xiaoyi studied architecture in Canada and the United States, she often encountered a question: What are the most typical examples of Chinese architecture?

This pushed Pu to undertake a yearlong project to investigate in depth the myriad types of Chinese vernacular building styles throughout the country.

Her findings are presented in the book "Chinese Vernacular Buildings."

The book was published in November by Foreign Languages Press. An English version is expected later this year.

Pu's mission started in 2015. She visited such structures as yaodong, or cave houses, in northwest China's Shaanxi Province; the Hakka people's tulou, which are typically circular, fortified earthen buildings, in east China's Fujian Province; and diaojiaolou, the suspended wooden houses in villages belonging to the Miao ethnic group in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

"Vernacular buildings are prototypes of human architecture," Pu said at a book talk at the Yale Center Beijing on Jan 8.

"They cater to residents' material, social and spiritual needs. They are wondrous creations by ordinary people."

The book describes Pu's theory of the "triple-coupling nature of mankind" that examines vernacular buildings through the lenses of physical, sociological and spiritual natures. She explains how these dimensions influence the way people in particular places construct and occupy buildings.

Cave dwellings, for instance, evolved largely because of northern Shaanxi's mountainous topography. The peaks in the areas they occupy shield against sandstorms. The caves insulate people against the elements, as they're cool in summer and warm in winter, compared with the weather outdoors.

The Hakka tulou serve not only functions of defense but also of interaction among kin, since the large structures often house extended families.

Pu is concerned about the future of such multifunctional vernacular residences. She has discovered most inhabitants are elderly, since many youth migrate from villages to cities to work and live.

She was mistaken as a potential buyer when she visited Anhui Province's traditional courtyard homes. The researcher was taken to a "scrapyard" where such houses had been dismantled and pieces are sold as decorations for modern urban homes.

"Even if those houses were transported to cities and reassembled as resorts or clubs for the rich, their links to the land would be severed," Pu says.

That is, their vernacular nature and the connection to local cultures they evolved to serve would be undermined.

Pu was born in Beijing in 1989, and shares a special connection with -- and concern for -- the capital's traditional siheyuan, or quadrangular-courtyard homes, and hutong -- the small alleys and lanes -- that serve as cultural symbols of the city.

"When I went to high school in an old hutong area, I saw the sign chai (slated for demolition) on the walls of many courtyards," Pu says.

"It made me very upset."

Pu enrolled in McGill University in Montreal, Canada, in 2008.

She admires the conservation of the city's historic district, where some buildings date to the 17th century.

Pu once worked as an intern in the office of renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and recalls that Kuma told her that architects should seek roots from their own traditions to guide design.

After graduating from McGill, Pu was admitted to the Yale School of Architecture in 2013.

Her proposal for the project to study Chinese vernacular architecture was supported by her adviser, professor James von Klemperer, who's also the president and design principal of one of the world's largest architecture firms, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.

"Such scholarship is especially meaningful at this time in the development of Chinese urban centers," Klemperer writes in a recommendation of Pu's book.

"We are reminded for the value of the past both as encouragement to preserve its heritage but also (as) a guide to inform the patterns of future growth."
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The southern Chinese island province of Hainan has banned the processing and sale of coral and giant clam in a bid to protect the marine ecosystem.

A regulation on the species' protection came into effect this month in Hainan.

Hainan Provincial Department for Industry and Commerce said Tuesday that 160 processors and 829 sellers in the province have withdrawn from the business.

Local industry and commerce authorities have begun to inspect various markets across the province.

"We have requested e-commerce sites like Taobao to remove giant clam sellers," said Feng Xuri, an official with Qionghai municipal department for industry and commerce.

Feng said he hoped that online marketplaces could help stop the sale of giant clam, shell turtle, red coral and conch.

Li Shibing, an official with Tanmen industrial zone in Qionghai, said all processors in the zone have been shut down.

The provincial department for industry and commerce said it would continue to launch regular market inspections to make sure the business is fully stopped.
A quality control worker examines raw material used in the manufacture of ballpen tips at Taiyuan Iron & Steel Co Ltd in Shanxi province. [Photo/China Daily]

Shanxi-based Taiyuan Iron & Steel Co Ltd, or Tisco, one of China's major stainless steel producers, has independently developed the special steel needed to make the feedstock for ballpoint pens tips. It is hoped this will replace the annual import of 1,000 metric tons of special steel for making the pen tips.

"The feedstock, as small as it is (only 2.3 millimeters thick), requires an exact proportion of microelements," said Wang Huimian, senior engineer of Taiyuan Iron and Steel.

With 26 years' experience of working in technological development teams, Wang said that the ballpoint penfeedstock is a tough nut to crack.

"The steel requires the exactly right proportion of a number of special microelements to maximize the pen's performance. Even a small difference in the proportions of the elements would affect the final quality. If the right proportions could not be found, China would always have to rely on imports," said Wang.

The tip of a ballpoint pen is made up of two parts: the tungsten carbide ball for writing and the feedstock for holding the ball. China produces and exports the tungsten carbide ball. But the feedstock relies on imports from countries such as Switzerland and Japan.

China's overall iron and steel output is in excess. Yet most of the overcapacity is in ordinary and low quality products. The country still has to import a lot of technology-intensive special steel.

The country makes 38 billion ballpoint pens every year, the biggest in the world. But it has to import more than 1,000 tons of steel for pen tips for 120,000 yuan ($17,386) per ton.

Taiyuan Iron &Steel's project for developing homegrown feedstock started five years ago in collaboration with Beifa Group, one of China's largest makers of ballpoint pens based in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.

Li Jianmin, technological director of Taiyuan Iron & Steel, said that additives in the steel affect the ability of the final product to resist corrosion. The quality of the feedstock is controlled by strictly managing the additives at every stage, including rolling, wire-drawing and heat treatment.

"The proportion of microelements that overseas companies use is usually a top secret. Taiyuan Iron & Steel has deciphered the proportion independently through thousands of experiments," said Li.

The developers drew inspiration from making dough.

"If you want dough to be of just the right softness, you need additives. It's the same with steel. The ordinary additives are in the shape of lumps. If they can be made fine and smooth, the liquid steel and the additives will be more evenly blended," said Wang.

The technological breakthrough has pushed up the stock price of the Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co Ltd, the group's subsidiary listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. From Jan 9 to 11, its stock price rose by 27.4percent to 5.12 yuan.
People in China diagnosed with diabetes in middle age lost an average nine years of life, according to a new study published Tuesday.

File photo taken on Nov 14, 2012 shows a nurse checks the blood glucose of a senior citizen during a free clinic service for diabetes in Zhengzhou, Henan province.[Photo/Xinhua]

The study, which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), said that inadequate treatment, particularly in rural areas, was mainly to blame for that loss.

The prevalence of diabetes in China has quadrupled in the past decades, with an estimated 100 million adults now affected -- more than any other country worldwide, but the full eventual effect on mortality is unknown.

In the new study, researchers from the University of Oxford and Peking University examined the association of diabetes with mortality in 500,000 adults from 10 areas scattered throughout China, including five from rural areas and five from urban.

Participants were recruited between 2004 and 2008 and followed up until 2014 for cause-specific mortality.

At the start of the study, six percent had diabetes, including four percent from rural areas and eight percent from urban.

Three percent of these patients were previously diagnosed while another three percent were detected by screening.

The researchers found that people with diabetes had twice the risk of dying during the follow-up period in comparison with other study participants, and that these risks were higher in rural than in urban areas.

The study showed that diabetes raised the risk of dying from a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, infection, and cancers of the liver, pancreas and breast.

And the risk of dying from inadequately treated acute complications of diabetes such as diabetic coma was four times as great in rural as in urban areas. Even in urban areas, it was much higher than in Western populations.

The researchers also estimated that for people at the age of 50, they have a 69-perent probability of dying over the next 25 years if they are diagnosed with diabetes, in comparison with the 38-percent among otherwise similar individuals without the disease, corresponding to a loss of about nine years of life -- 10 years in rural areas and eight years in urban areas.

"As the prevalence of diabetes in young adults increases and the adult population grows, the annual number of deaths related to diabetes is likely to continue to increase, unless there is substantial improvement in prevention and management," the researchers wrote.

Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), described in an accompanying editorial this study as "the first reliable evidence of the specific diseases and complications that account for mortality among Chinese individuals with diabetes."

The pattern of excess mortality revealed in this study points to "significant weaknesses in the clinical management of diabetes, especially in rural areas, and in the effectiveness of population-wide interventions aimed at prevention," the WHO chief said.

But Chan also noted that China has undertaken major reforms of its health system in the last 10 years, improving primary health care and training large numbers of family physicians.

"The quality of precise measurement reported by the study provides confidence that Chinese authorities will continue to move the country's health reforms in the right direction, with results that also improve the prevention and control of diabetes," she said.
An elderly woman suffered a heart attack at Beijing South Railway Station after realizing her ID card was missing. She was quickly transferred to a clinic in the station where she was treated by doctors.

Meanwhile, staff members in the station prepared a temporary ID card for her, and the woman soon safely boarded a train and headed for home.

Similar cases involving groups such as the elderly and the disabled are reported almost every day during China's annual holiday travel frenzy.

The hectic 40-day travel period surrounding the Chinese lunar new year, or Spring Festival, is known as chunyun. This year's lunar new year falls on January 28, and the chunyun travel rush stretches from January 13 to February 21.

Chunyun is a major test for railway authorities. Every year, China's railway system transports hundreds of millions of passengers, most of whom are traveling home to meet family and friends. Up to 356 million trips are expected to be made via rail over the 40-day period.

Among the most pressing challenges for the nation's railway system is accommodating special groups including the elderly, children, the sick, the disabled and pregnant women.

Before this year's chunyun began, the station in Beijing updated its medical service, which offers free basic examinations and provides first-aid treatment as well as regular medicine, to make trips more convenient for passengers with physical challenges. These passengers can make a phone reservation to be picked up by a team upon arrival at the station, according to Zhang Runqiu, who leads the station's service desk for passengers with special needs.

Zhang said when a passenger's train is about to depart, the station communicates with the train crew to ensure the passenger receives special care during the trip.

Zhang has witnessed the station's transformation into one of the largest railway stations in Asia and the starting point of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway since she started working at Beijing South Railway Station in 1999.

"My position here has given me the opportunity to serve many, many people and to experience China's cultural presence and the warmth of our Spring Festival," Zhang said.

The upgraded services in the station have been welcomed by passengers. "The service provided by China's railway system has become more and more personalized," a pregnant woman surnamed Wang told reporter on Friday as she prepared to travel to eastern China's Shandong Province.

Facilities and services to help passengers in need are now commonplace in stations across the nation.

Jiang Liping, a mother of two, was another beneficiary. Soon after she entered Qingdao station in Shandong with her children on Saturday, the trio were treated by staff to a VIP room reserved for passengers with special needs.

"It did not occur to me that I would be helped upon entering the station and could wait for the train in such a good environment," Jiang said.

Help from station employees is especially important for passengers with disabilities. Tian Hua, a worker in Taiyuan Railway Station in north China's Shanxi Province, said she and her colleagues helped 35 visually impaired students to board trains on Thursday.

Support for people in need continues once on the train. Hou Jin, a railway worker in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said people who are physically challenged will be identified and special attention will be given to them during the trip.

In addition to railway workers, there are volunteers nationwide who spend their vacations helping people during the travel rush. Ma Yumeng, a first-year student at Beijing City University and a volunteer at the Beijing South Railway Station, is one of the them.

Ma said she felt rewarded for her work when she received a heartfelt thank you from an elderly man in a wheelchair after she assisted him onto a train.

Ma stands at the service desk from 8am to 5:30pm every day she is on duty, offering help whenever there is a call.

"It was challenging at first, but now I do not feel tired anymore," she said.
News / International

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwean community who lobbied the Kenyan Airways against participation in the deportation of a 55-year-old diabetic asylum seeker breathed a sigh of relief when their call was heeded by the airline.They had demonstrated at the Kenyan High Commission, in Central London on Monday 09/01/17 and then went on to join the high profile march in Brixton on Saturday 14/01/17, organised by the Movement For Justice (MFJ) against mass deportations.MaZimbabweans Yes We Can (MZYWCAN) and the MFJ had expressed their shock when news filtered at the march that one of their members, NM aged 55 years and diabetic, had been manhandled by 5 heavily built security agents from a private firm. NM was handcuffed and bundled into an awaiting secure van around 10:00 am.She was taken to Heathrow, Terminal 4 for a 17:30 hours Kenyan flight KQ101, bound for Harare, Zimbabwe via Nairobi, Kenya but Kenyan Airways eventually refused to fly her.One of the activists, David Kadzutu, said: "When I spoke to her when she was still at Heathrow airport in the secure van with her security details, NM was emotionally tearful and very thankful to God, to all those who phoned and are participating in protests against deportations.""It is against this background of heavy-handedness by these private companies which the Zimbabwean Diaspora Movements like MZYWCAN, Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisations (ZHRO), Restoration Of Human Rights (ROHR) are contemplating legal action against this unlawful treatment of their Zimbabwean counterparts and rampant violations of human rights."The woman's treatment was paralleled with that of Angolan Jimmy Mubenga who lost consciousness on a flight after being heavily restrained by guards from G4S, a private security company.
 Flash

Britain will leave the European single market, restrict access to the country by EU citizens and end the jurisdiction in Britain of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Prime Minister Theresa May said Tuesday in her toughest ever speech.

Laying out a 12-point plan that amounts to a hard Brexit, May made it clear she wants a future relationship that is beneficial for both Britain and the EU's 27 member states.

May said she wants Britain to remain as a "best friend and neighbor" to Europe, but also reach out to the rest of the world as a global trading nation, to countries such as China, Brazil and the Gulf States.

On the critical question of the European single market, May said as a priority, Britain will pursue a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.

"What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the Single Market," May said.

European leaders have said membership means accepting the "four freedoms" of goods, capital, services and people.

And being out of the EU but a member of the single market would mean complying with the EU's rules and regulations that implement those freedoms, without having a vote on what those rules and regulations are.

May added it was why both sides in the referendum campaign made it clear that a vote to leave the EU would be a vote to leave the single market.

"So we do not seek membership of the single market. Instead we seek the greatest possible access to it through a new, comprehensive, bold and ambitious free trade agreement," she said.

"I also want tariff-free trade with Europe and cross-border trade there to be as frictionless as possible."

"Not partial membership of the EU, associate membership, or anything that leaves us half-in, half-out," she said.

"And my job is to get the right deal for Britain as we do," she said.

May also confirmed that both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will vote on the final Brexit deal with Europe.

Saying Britain was leaving the European Union, but not leaving Europe, May said she was seeking a new and equal partnership between an independent, self-governing Britain and friends and allies in the EU.

"We want to get out into the wider world, to trade and do business all around the globe. Countries including China, Brazil, and the Gulf States have already expressed their interest in striking trade deals with us," she said.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has said Britain is at the front of the queue line for a trade deal with the United States, the world's biggest economy, she said.

May also said Brexit also meant Britain taking control of its own affairs.

"We will take back control of our laws and bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain," she said.

In a message to the rest of Europe, May said many fear Britain's departure might herald the beginning of a greater unraveling of the EU.

"Let me be clear: I do not want that to happen. It would not be in the best interests of Britain. It remains overwhelmingly and compellingly in Britain's national interest that the EU should succeed," May said.

"While I know Britain might at times have been seen as an awkward member state, the European Union has struggled to deal with the diversity of its member countries and their interests. It bends towards uniformity, not flexibility," she added.
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At least 52 people lost their lives and 120 others injured in a bombing by the Nigerian Air Force on a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the northeast city of Rann in Borno State.

In a statement made available to Xinhua, Medicine San Frontiers,(MSF), one of the humanitarian aid group said this large-scale attack on vulnerable people who have already fled extreme violence is shocking and unacceptable.

The statement quoted Jean-Clement Cabrol, MSF Director of Operations as saying that the safety of civilians must be respected.

"We are urgently calling on all parties to ensure the facilitation of medical evacuations by air or road for survivors who are in need of emergency care," he added.

The statement said the organization's medical teams are currently providing first aid to wounded patients in its facility in Rann, adding that other MSF medical and surgical teams in the region are also preparing to treat evacuated patients.

In the same vein, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has described as unfortunate and highly regrettable the accidental bombing of an IDPs camp in Rann, Borno state on Tuesday.

Spokesperson for the Airforce Ayodele Famuyiwa said the NAF is saddened by the accidental air strike by its fighter jet at Rann in Kala Balge area of Borno State in which some innocent lives were lost.

Meanwhile, the Borno government has ordered all hospitals and health agency to standby to provide emergency medical response to victims of Rann attack by Nigeria's Air Force jet.

The army's fighter jet had misfired during an operation in Kala Balge, killing civilians and humanitarian aid workers.
 Flash

A top aide to U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday reiterated the stance of the current administration that the One-China policy is "not negotiable," slamming any effort to reopen the issue as "dangerous."

File photo taken on Jan. 13, 2016 shows White House Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes speaks during a press briefing at the Foreign Press Center in Washington D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

"It's not negotiable in the sense that our entire relationship with China is founded upon the One-China policy. That was a basis for the Shanghai Communique and the reestablishment of diplomatic relations," Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security advisor, said at a briefing in Washington.

Rhodes called the One-China policy "an agreement we reached with the biggest country in the world" and "the framework under which we do everything."

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Friday, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said that the One-China policy is up for negotiation and that he is not fully committed to it.

In response to Trump's remarks, China's foreign ministry said on Saturday that the One-China policy is the political foundation of bilateral ties and "is non-negotiable."

At Tuesday's briefing, Rhodes warned the upcoming U.S. administration against seeking a new approach to the issue, calling such potential move "dangerous" and "destabilizing".

"It's dangerous. The risk of escalation in the Taiwan Strait is just a flashpoint the world does not need right now. The United States certainly doesn't," Rhodes said.

The senior foreign policy aide to Obama added that he does not see any benefit to the U.S. in changing the long-standing policy.

"China is not going to negotiate anything, so I am not sure what is accomplished by pursuing an approach where you seek to reopen it," he said. "Getting into the space of something like Taiwan just risks destabilizing that relationship without any potential benefit that I can foresee."
 Flash

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday his country is opposed to the participation of the United States in the imminent peace talks about Syria, Tasnim news agency reported.

"We have not invited the United States ... and we are opposed to the U.S. presence" in Kazakhstan next week, the minister was quoted as saying.

The remarks came after Zarif and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov exchanged views on the Syrian peace talks in a phone call on Monday, the report said.

Following the intense diplomatic effort by Russia, Turkey and Iran, Syrian government and the opposition groups reached an agreement on a ceasefire earlier this month.

Later, it was announced that a new round of peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition groups will be resumed in Astana of Kazakhstan on January 23.

Russia and Turkey have invited the United States to join the talks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Belgian King Philippe on Tuesday, expressing support to the European integration process and opposition to trade protectionism.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Belgian King Philippe in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

"China always firmly supports the process of European integration and stands ready to accelerate the building of China-Europe partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization," Xi said in the meeting with King Philippe on the sidelines of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Xi proposed that China and Europe jointly oppose trade protectionism and safeguard a fair and free global trade and investment system.

China expects Belgium to play a more active role in enhancing China-Europe ties, he said.

Hailing Belgium as one of the EU countries with the closest ties with China, Xi said he and King Philippe have made reciprocal visits in 2014 and 2015, with all consensus they reached being implemented in an all-round way.

Xi spoke highly of Belgian government's adherence to the one-China policy, its respect for China's core interests and major concerns and its concrete actions to safeguard the political foundation of the bilateral friendship.

China is willing to work together with Belgium to enhance political mutual trust and ensure the bilateral ties to advance in the right direction, said Xi.

The Chinese president urged the two countries to deepen practical cooperation in areas such as high-end manufacturing, biomedicine, modern services and sustainable development, adding that the two sides should also consolidate people-to-people exchanges.

For his part, King Philippe hailed China as a great country, thanked China for attaching great importance to Belgium's status as the "heart of Europe" and described the bilateral cooperation as an example for China-Europe cooperation.

Noting that Belgium and China hold similar views on many major international issues, King Philippe said Belgium will work together with China to further advance the European integration process and safeguard world peace and development.

The Chinese president arrived in Switzerland on Sunday. Xi is the first Chinese head of state to attend the Davos meeting.
 Flash

The United Nations has received an invitation for the upcoming Astana peace talks on Syria and has designated a team to attend the meeting, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said Tuesday.

Haq said the office of the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has received an invitation to Astana. "The Special Envoy has designated a team led by his Deputy, Ramzy E. Ramzy, and his political director, Robert Dann, to represent the UN at the meeting," he added.

A ceasefire agreement was reached between the Syrian government and oppositions at the end of last year after intense diplomatic efforts by Russia, Turkey and other countries. The new round of peace talks in Astana of Kazakhstan was scheduled on January 23.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on December 31 to welcome efforts by Russia and Turkey to end violence in Syria and start a political process.

The council viewed the peace talks in Astana "as an important part of the Syrian-led political process and an important step ahead of the resumption of negotiations," the resolution said.
News / Local

by Thobekile Zhou

The South African Home Affairs department has again encouraged Zimbabweans in that country to regularise their stay.Holders of the Zimbabwe Special Permit (ZSP) who would fail to comply with the law by end of December face deportation.According to a tweet by the Home Affairs department today under the handler @HomeAffairsSA, that country's Cabinet it still to finalise the permits issue.It posted " #DHA and Cabinet are still in talks regarding #ZSP however holders are encouraged to regularise their stay whilst in #RSA Reports indicate that permit holders are nervous about their future in South Africa.An estimated three million Zimbabweans are said to be in South Africa, most of them illegally.In 2012, Pretoria issued ZSPs to allow thousands of Zimbabweans illegally working in Africa's most industrialised economy to regularise their stay there.The permits first expired on December 31, 2014 and were renewed the following year for three years.Out of the 200 000 applications received back then, slightly over 185 000 were approved while the rest were rejected.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, pictured, who has twice lost a $50 million lawsuit in the High Court against Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) - the publishers of the Daily News, the Daily News on Sunday and the Weekend Post - has now filed an appeal in the same matter at the Supreme Court.Mphoko is challenging High Court judge Lavender Makoni's recent ruling against him, in which the VP was also slapped with costs after the court ruled that he used the wrong procedure in seeking to rescind a previous ruling which had also gone against him.This happened after Mphoko failed to attend a pre-trial conference in his ginormous claim, arguing unsuccessfully then that he was attending to national duty.Mphoko's lawsuit followed a June 5, 2015 article that the VP took exception to, which was based on an interview with firebrand former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda.In the story, Sibanda claimed that Mphoko had sold out during the liberation struggle when he allegedly diverted weapons meant for the late Joshua Nkomo's Zapu to Zanu - a move that Sibanda further claimed could have led to the needless deaths of thousands of people.In his latest notice of appeal, Mphoko is arguing that the High Court erred in dismissing his record claim."The honourable court a quo erred at law in determining that the appellant (Mphoko) was in default at the pretrial conference and therefore dismissing the claim when he was duly represented by his legal practitioner and another representative who was well versed with the case."The honourable court a quo had been informed that the appellant had gone to attend to national duties."The appellant will pray that this appeal will be allowed with costs and the judgment of the court a quo set aside, and replaced with an order to the following effect: that the matter be referred to trial," he argued.However, ANZ lawyers Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni have since written to Mphoko, advising him that this notice of appeal is also fatally defective as it still does not comply with the rules of the court."We also write to you regarding the respondent's costs."This matter has taken a lot of twists and turns. Considerable time has been spent by the parties dealing with this matter."We submit that the costs incurred in this matter are now substantial. To this end, we request that your client deposits with our or your trust account the sum of $10 000 as security for costs of respondents' costs," ANZ's lawyers said.
AFP | Jan. 18, 2017

Kyrgyzstan was observing a national day of mourning on Tuesday as rescuers searched for more bodies in the wreckage of a cargo plane that crashed into a village outside the capital.

Authorities in the ex-Soviet Central Asian country have blamed pilot error for Monday's crash of a plane operated by ACT Airlines, a Turkish cargo carrier, as it was attempting to land in fog at Manas airport in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

The death toll climbed to 38 on Tuesday after the discovery of the body of the plane's fourth pilot at the crash site in the village of Dacha Suu, Deputy Prime Minister Mukhammetkaly Abulgaziev said on state television.

But Abulgaziev warned that the toll could go higher.

"It is not clear how many people still remain under the debris," said Abulgaziev who visited the crash site. "So the search for more possible victims continues."

The health ministry said in a statement that 13 people remained hospitalised with injuries sustained in the crash, which happened as the Boeing 747-400 was travelling from Hong Kong to Istanbul via Bishkek.

Kyrgyz authorities also said on Tuesday that the plane's second black box has been recovered. The first box was found on Monday.

An analysis of the boxes will be carried out by international aviation experts who arrived in Bishkek on Tuesday, the government said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Kyrgyz authorities said visibility at Manas airport on Monday was sufficient for landing despite the fog.

And the country's interior ministry said that "no trace of explosives" has been discovered at the crash site.

Related News:

Turkish Cargo Plane Crashes on Kyrgyzstan Village, Killing 37

Kyrgyzstan Plane Crash: "Crew Error" and Weather Examined
China Aviation Daily | Jan. 18, 2017

China and Luxembourg has reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for expanding air traffic rights between the two countries.

Representatives from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Directorate of Civil Aviation of Luxembourg inked the agreement in Beijing on January 17.

Under the new agreement, they agree to "facilitate the air business of airlines from the both countries and will promote the development of the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone.

Related News:

HNCA and Cargolux Underline Strong Cooperation
President Xi Jinping, who was welcomed by overseas Chinese in Davos, Switzerland, delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum on Tuesday. During his address to the annual meeting of political and business leaders, Xi said openness is the primary solution to the global economic slowdown. He added that China's development presents many opportunities for the world, and invited other countries to share them, but he stressed that a trade war would be detrimental to all parties involved.

President Xi Jinping takes the podium on the first day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 172017. [Photo/Agencies]
Guests share experiences and insights on Israel at a conference held by Great Wall Club in Beijing on January 17, 2017. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

A Beijing-based online game company, 7k7k.com, hopes to learn more about the Israeli market to prepare for possible business opportunities there.

The company attended a conference called Why Israel, held by Great Wall Club on Tuesday, where experts and industry insiders shared their insights on Israel and experiences in working with the Israeli people.

"We don't have business there (in Israel) right now. But we are very interested in it," said Deng Lu, business development director of the company.

7k7k.com is one among many Chinese companies that have shown zest for the Middle Eastern country.

Shengjing FOF, a Chinese fund that invests globally, has teamed up with Chinese tech giants in investing Israeli's venture capital fund Jerusalem Venture Partners and private equity fund Viola.

Managing partner of Shengjing FOF Wang Xiangyun believed that the innovative and entrepreneurial climate in Israel is second only to the Silicon Valley in the United States.

The premier investment environment featuring openness to foreign capital, sound legal system, and excellent exit channels makes Israel a good place to invest, she said at the meet.

According to Chinese news outlet the Economic Observer citing data by Israel Venture Capital, the total amount of Chinese investment in Israeli startup companies is expected to reach $500 million and Chinese investment in Israeli VC funds is expected to rise 18 percent to $1 billion in 2016.

Israel gives top priority to education, scientific research and innovation, said Han Jun, deputy chief appraiser of the National Center for Science and Technology Evaluation and former technology counselor of the Chinese embassy in Israel.

Israel's R&D input accounts for 4.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), its education input takes up eight percent of the GDP, and it ranks first worldwide in the number of per capita patent applications, according to Han.

"Innovation is embedded in the DNA of the Jewish people," Han reckoned. Over many years of work in Israel, he found that the Jewish people are diligent, frugal, efficient, and down-to-earth. Chinese companies should take into account these traits while communicating with them, he added.

Israelis seek business opportunities via financial advisors, business events, hangout places for entrepreneurs, start-up communities, referral from other entrepreneurs, among others, said Li Xiaoyuan, deputy general manager of the Israel Chamber of Commerce in China, which has around 120 members, of which 70 percent are Israeli companies.

The Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC), to be held on Tel Aviv on March 22, will be a good opportunity for communication between Chinese and Israeli tech companies, Great Wall Club chief executive Hao Yi said.

Tel Aviv will be GMIC's first leg around the globe this year, followed by eight other cities including Beijing, Sao Paulo and Bangalore. More than 1,000 companies attended the GMIC in Tel Aviv last year.

To add its appeal, the GMIC-X, a gala that brings music and technology together and received 430 million online clicks when debuted in Beijing last year, will stage in Tel Aviv for the first time, Hao said, welcoming companies to take the chance to interact with Israeli locals.

Since its founding in 2008, Great Wall Club has been committed to building a platform for global innovators. It has held the GMIC in the past eight years, turning it into the world's largest and most influential mobile internet event.
A quality control worker examines raw material used in the manufacture of ballpen tips at Taiyuan Iron & Steel Co Ltd in Shanxi province. [Photo by Sun Ruisheng/China Daily]

Shanxi-based Taiyuan Iron & SteelCo Ltd, or Tisco, one of China's major stainless steel producers, has independently developed the special steel needed to make the feedstock for ballpoint pens tips. It is hoped this will replace the annual import of 1,000 metric tons of special steel for making the pen tips.

"The feedstock, as small as it is (only 2.3 millimeters thick), requires an exact proportion of microelements," said Wang Huimian, senior engineer of Taiyuan Iron and Steel.

With 26 years' experience of working in technological development teams, Wang said that the ballpoint penfeedstock is a tough nut to crack.

"The steel requires the exactly right proportion of a number of special microelements to maximize the pen's performance. Even a small difference in the proportions of the elements would affect the final quality. If the right proportions could not be found, China would always have to rely on imports," said Wang.

The tip of a ballpoint pen is made up of two parts: the tungsten carbide ball for writing and the feedstock for holding the ball. China produces and exports the tungsten carbide ball. But the feedstock relies on imports from countries such as Switzerland and Japan.

China's overall iron and steel output is in excess. Yet most of the overcapacity is in ordinary and low quality products. The country still has to import a lot of technology-intensive special steel.

The country makes 38 billion ballpoint pens every year, the biggest in the world. But it has to import more than 1,000 tons of steel for pen tips for 120,000 yuan ($17,386) per ton.

Snapshot of ballpoint pens. The tip/ball of the ballpen calls for advanced manufacturing technology, which Tisco has mastered after five years of research. [Photo by Lyu Jianshe/For China Daily]

Taiyuan Iron &Steel's project for developing homegrown feedstock started five years ago in collaboration with Beifa Group, one of China's largest makers of ballpoint pens based in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.

Li Jianmin, technological director of Taiyuan Iron & Steel, said that additives in the steel affect the ability of the final product to resist corrosion. The quality of the feedstock is controlled by strictly managing the additives at every stage, including rolling, wire-drawing and heat treatment.

"The proportion of microelements that overseas companies use is usually a top secret. Taiyuan Iron & Steel has deciphered the proportion independently through thousands of experiments," said Li.

The developers drew inspiration from making dough.

"If you want dough to be of just the right softness, you need additives. It's the same with steel. The ordinary additives are in the shape of lumps. If they can be made fine and smooth, the liquid steel and the additives will be more evenly blended," said Wang.

The technological breakthrough has pushed up the stock price of the Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co Ltd, the group's subsidiary listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. From Jan 9 to 11, its stock price rose by 27.4percent to 5.12 yuan.

Contact the writers at yangziman@chinadaily.com.cn and sunruisheng@chinadaily.com.cn
JD.com Inc, China's second-largest e-commerce player, signed a 20-billion-yuan ($2.9 billion) strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese home appliance maker Midea Group, a move aiming to promote the upgrading and transformation of the appliance industry.

The two sides will deepen cooperation in the fields of intelligent home appliances, smart homes, channel expansion, tailor-made products and big data analysis.

They said the strategic cooperation is a positive means to "vigorously promote the development of real economy and aid the transformation and upgrading of industry"a key goal of the 2016 Chinese Government Work Report.

Liu Qiangdong, chairman and CEO of JD.com, said the company uses artificial intelligence and automation technologies to optimize the structure of its retail chain. He said this could help a large number of traditional brands enhance efficiency, reduce costs and realize transformation.

"JD.com can provide internet technology, big data analysis and intelligent cloud platforms for manufacturing enterprises. It is an ideal strategic partner for Midea, which is actively seeking transformation," said Fang Hongbo, chairman of Midea.

Fang added that Midea's strong offline sales channels, especially in the county or township market, could help JD.com expand its businesses.

Founded in 1968 in Guangdong province, Midea is a leading global player in consumer appliances, encompassing air-conditioners, refrigerators, laundry appliances, kitchen appliances and various small home appliances. It already sells products through JD.com's Jingdong Mall site.
BEIJING - China on Tuesday announced more measures to attract foreign investment, promising easier access and better environment.

Foreign firms will face fewer restrictions when entering service, manufacturing and mining sectors, said a State Council document.

The government will relax entry controls for banks, securities brokerages, and futures and insurance companies, and lift restrictions in rail transport equipment manufacturing, motorcycle production, fuel ethanol, and oil and fat processing.

Thresholds in oil shale, oil sand and shale gas sectors will be lowered for overseas companies.

The document also cited sectors including accounting, architecture design, telecom, internet, culture, education and transport.

Foreign-funded companies will be encouraged to invest in high-end, smart and green manufacturing, participate in infrastructure work in energy, water conservation and environmental protection, and build plants in less-developed central, western and northeastern areas.

China will support foreign companies setting up research and development centers and strengthening cooperation with domestic peers, and will allow them to join national science and technology programs.

To create a sound business environment, the government will beef up protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and encourage the establishment of IPR arbitration centers in China.

China will allow foreign firms to go public and issue bonds in the Chinese market to expand financing channels.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Chinese mainland maintained steady growth last year on the back of strong investment in the service industry.

FDI rose 4.1 percent year-on-year to 813 billion yuan (around $118 billion) in 2016.
ABU DHABI - China's Belt and Road initiative may boost green energy development along the New Silk Road, said comments from ongoing 10th edition of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) here on Tuesday.

The CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber and the chairman of the green energy company Masdar told Xinhua the WFES congress and exhibition China's Belt and Road policy "is one of the main pillars in the development for future energies.

They said the initiative closes gaps by building bridges between regions, which is essential to spur international cooperation to increase the use of renewable energy like wind, solar or hydro energy."

Dr Al-Jaber also said that the Belt and Road initiative puts the WFES host country United Arab Emirates (UAE) into the "center of gravity in relation to the rise of renewable energy along the New Silk Road."

UAE Minister of Energy Al-Mazrouei said Monday at the WFES that UAE aims to increase the share of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50 percent by 2050 from a mere one percent nowadays.

Ninety-nine percent of the UAE's domestic energy needs is as of today based on natural gas.

At the China Day held at the WFES on Monday, Dr Adnan Z Amin, director general of the Abu Dhabi-based supranational International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), said that the iniative is focused on financing new infrastructure projects along the New Silk Road and the global shift towards clean energy offers tremendous transnational opportunities for both large or medium and small firms.

As an example for intra-regional cooperation, Wang Zhongying, the director of China National Renewable Energy Center in Beijing, presented the ongoing construction of solar and water power projects between China and Pakistan in line with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

China's energy conglomerate Zonergy is currently completing the construction of the world's largest solar park, the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Bahwalpur, Punjab.

Vincent Lau, Overseas Sales Director at Aikosolar from Foshan city, Guangdong Province, which exhibits for the first time at the WFES, said "we see the initiative indeed as a catalyst because most countries along the Belt and Road enjoy long sunny periods compared to other countries."

He added that taking the WFES host country UAE for example, the Gulf state enjoys six to eight hours intense sunshine per day on average which provides an immense opportunity for marketing or solar cells here and beyond.

Dubai's Emirates Airlines said Tuesday in an e-mailed statement it has introduced new sustainable blankets made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and is now available in economy class on all long-haul Emirates flights.
BELGRADE - China and Serbia on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in agriculture.

The MoU was signed in the Serbian capital Belgrade by visiting Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu and his Serbian counterpart Branislav Nedimovic.

China and Serbia will enhance cooperation in agricultural investment and technological development, especially in the areas of meat processing and vegetable and fruit processing, Han told reporters after the signing.

"Regarding trade of agricultural products, we welcome the imports of safe and quality products from Serbia, which not only gives Chinese customers more choices, but also benefits Serbian farmers," he said.

The MoU serves as the starting point of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, Han said, while urging the two sides to enhance cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative and the "16+1" cooperation mechanism.

The "16+1" refers to China and the 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

Nedimovic said the MoU was set to bring Chinese investment into Serbia and such cooperation was vital to the country's food processing industry.
A Chinese office-sharing venture has raised 400-million-yuan ($58 million) for the next stage of its expansion.

UR Work, one of China's biggest office-sharing businesses, announced on Wednesday that it has completed its series B round of financing.

A few well-known Chinese investors contributed funds including Tianhong Asset Management, Junfa Real EstateShanghai Chuanghehui Fund, Tianming Shuangchuang Technology and Dahong Group.

After the latest round of financing, the Beijing-based company is expected to be valued at nearly 7 billion yuan, making it the first office-sharing "unicorn company" in China.

The "unicorn" label is given to private companies worth at least $1 billion.

Established in 2015, the company has completed six rounds of funding so far, raising billions of yuan. The company provides a range of services and resources, such as co-working spaces, targeting startups and small firms.

Mao Daqing, founder of UR Work and former vice-president of real estate giant China Vanke, said in an earlier interview with China Daily that the company planned to increase the number of sites to 60 in 2017, from 40 across 10 cities by the end of 2016.

Contact the writer at ouyangshijia@chinadaily.com.cn
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

A political commentator Petros Joseph Dube has said the bad portrayal of Ndebeles has continued since Independence amid concerns that the move was stereotyping the tribe and causing its marginalisation."As negative Potrayal of Ndebele History continues in Zimbabwe, whenever some injustices committed to the people of Matebeleland after independence are mentioned there are some people who are very quick to mention early Ndebele raids during Mzilikazi and Lobengula s era," Dube said."Honestly speaking if you study precolonial history you will understand that by then RAIDING was the order of the day. All tribes including ancestors of Shonas raided minor or weaker Kingdoms in order to enlarge their Kingdoms."He said Matebele raids are exaggerated simply because there is an agenda to portray Ndebeles or Matebele as evil people."What perplexes me is the notion that these apologists are blaming everyone who speaks Ndebele for those raids when it is apparent that the majority of people who are now called Ndebeles are descendants of Rozvi and Bukalanga Kingdoms," he said."Little knowledge is very dangerous sometimes."
An undated photo shows a clerk counts yuan bills at a bank in Huaibei, East China's Anhui province. [Photo/IC]

Short-term capital controls may help fend off financial risks, but they will not last long at a time when the country is stepping up efforts to promote the yuan's use in international trade and enhance market openness, say economists.

The latest data from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication show the yuan accounted for 2.28 percent of global payments in November, up from 1.92 percent in the previous month, retaining its position in the top-five currency list.

As of October, among the 101 countries using the yuan for payments, the weight of their payments by value reached 12.9 percent, giving the currency a nearly 2 percent increase compared with the same period in 2014, according to SWIFT.

The trend of increased usage of the yuan to settle international trade deals reflects the boost in confidence in the currency, after it was included in the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights basket of currencies on Oct 1, which marked a vital point in the yuan's internationalization process.

But market speculations over a sustained depreciation of the yuan have aroused concerns that the currency's internationalization process might be faltering. Data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange show that foreign exchange reserves fell to 3.01 trillion in December, almost hitting the psycological line that the central bank seems to tolerate.

Facing the pressure of capital outflows, the central bank introduced a slew of measures, including tightened supervision on individual foreign exchange purchases and enterprises' outbound investment, in order to stabilize exchange rate.

Zhao Qingming, an economist with China Financial Futures Exchange, said short-term controls may help fend off financial risks in the domestic market at a time when the country is yet to have a mature market. "But the market should not read too much into short-term policies," he said. "There would be no turnaround when the central government puts the internationalization of the yuan high in its agenda."

China's top leadership has vowed to continue to push forward the yuan's internationalization process this year, according to the statement released after the Central Economic Work Conference in December.

Zhao Xueqing, an economist with the International Research Institute of the Bank of China, said the general trend is to move toward liberalization. She said that with the rising opportunities brought about by the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in neighboring countries that use the yuan for settling trade deals, China needs to make more efforts in infrastructure construction.

It should also make efforts in areas such as building regulatory frameworks and improving cross-border liquidity management, she added.
Editor's note: The World Economic Forum, which began on Jan 17 in Davos, Switzerland, will go on until Jan 20. It is focusing attention on the prospects for the Chinese economy and how it will intertwine with global finances against the backdrop of increasing uncertainties. China Daily has interviewed 18 chief executives of leading multinational companies to know their outlook for China as well as their corporate strategies for 2017.

1. What's your expectation for China's economic growth in 2017? In this regard, what are the major opportunities and challenges for China?

2. How would you align your business strategy with the main themes of China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) like innovation, upgrade of manufacturing capability, green growth and urbanization?

3. What are your expectations with regards to 2017 revenue and profit of your business in China?

4. What kind of impact will a stronger US dollar and a more flexible renminbi exchange have on your business in 2017?

5. Do you plan to increase your investment in China?

Mark Costa, chairman and chief executive officer of Eastman Chemical Company.

A1 Although the country is shifting from a high-growth economy to a moderate-growth economy, China is and will continue to be one of the world's most important growth engines. We believe the country will continue to head in a healthy direction in 2017.Some of the positive signs include strong income growth for consumers and consumption and a drive for a greener China such as water and air quality improvements. However, sometimes it is challenging for China to keep its growth in an appropriate range while solving many development problems as part of its structural reform efforts.

A2 The main themes of innovation, manufacturing upgrades and "green" growth for China's 13th Five-Year Plan period match what we at Eastman are striving for and are also our key growth drivers. As the global specialty chemical company, we are focusing our growth efforts on key global market trends including Health & Wellness, natural resource efficiency, the emerging middle class and feeding a growing population and we have a strong product portfolio that addresses these issues. We will continue to drive local innovations to meet the local business needs, expand our investments in China and help the country to achieve sustainable development through our innovative products and solutions and corporate responsibility efforts.

A3 For Eastman globally, we are accelerating our journey toward a specialty chemical company. We enter 2017 well positioned to benefit from our strong portfolio of specialty businesses which leverage world-class technology platforms to deliver solid growth in attractive end markets and accelerated earnings growth from high value and innovative specialty products. China is in an important phase of its development with an improved legal and social system to benefit people's living standards. With growing needs for high-quality products and solutions especially in new materials, we believe we will achieve good business development in China in 2017 with local application businesses.

A4 The impact of a stronger US dollar and a more flexible renminbi exchange rate on Eastman is limited if the exchange rate change is not very significant. While a weaker renminbi provides some benefits to local players, customers choose us for our consistent records of delivering innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability.

A5 China is and will continue to be a key market for Eastman. Chinese labor cost may be rising fast, but so is Chinese productivity. China is still the world's largest exporting nation and its talent pool is large and flexible. The country's supply chain is sophisticated and flexible. China is a large market with a middle class larger than both the US and EU, and China's consumer market is very attractive for companies like Eastman. With China's focus on green GDP and sustainability, we are seeing it as an attractive place to do business and we are committed to expanding our investment here.
Innovation and sustainability will be high on the agenda at the summer meeting of the World Economic Forum in Dalian, according to the city's government.

The city has started preparing for the June 27-29 meeting, also known as the Annual Meeting of the New Champions.

Lu Lin, Dalian's deputy mayor, said the meeting would "highlight the idea of innovation and sustainability with strong Chinese characteristics and international appeal".

The World Economic Forum, the Swiss nonprofit foundation behind the annual meeting in Davos, has held its summer meeting in China annually since 2007, alternating between Dalian and Tianjin.

The summer events, one of WEF's series of regional meetings, attract more than 1,500 participants, many from emerging countries such as India, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil as well as major developed countries.

One highlight is the participation of the Chinese premier, who has delivered the keynote speech at each annual meeting.

The summer meeting will continue to serve as "a true global experience that addresses today's intertwined global challengeseconomic, political, societal and environmental", according to the WEF website.

Innovation, a key topic at previous WEF summer meetings in China, is also likely to dominate the agenda at the Dalian meeting in June.

"The country's innovation drive has led to a fourfold increase in the number of private-sector companies in the past 10 years. These firms are increasingly moving from imitation to innovation. They are also expanding the domestic market into the global marketplace," said David Aikman, chief representative officer for China at the World Economic Forum.

The Dalian meeting also will draw on the theme of the Davos meeting, with its focus on leadership.

"Responsive and responsible leadership entails a deeper commitment to inclusive development and equitable growth, both nationally and globally. It also involves working rapidly to close generational divides by exercising shared stewardship of those systems that are critical to our prosperity," the WEF said in a news release.
The summer meeting of the World Economic Forum, which returns to Dalian this year, has helped to transform the city's business landscape and put it on the map for international leaders.

The June 27-29 event, with its focus on scientific innovation and sustainable development, will be the sixth hosted by the city. The annual event, called the Annual Meeting of the New Champions or Summer Davos, has been held in China since 2007. It began in Dalian, which alternates as host with Tianjin.

"Summer Davos was the first high-end foreign conference project China had held at the time," said Liu Haiying, vice-chairman of the China Convention and Exhibition Society. The city charmed participants with its scenic coast, fresh seafood and hospitable locals, Liu said.

That led to an influx of investment. More than 20 companies signed contracts with the city at the 2015 event. The value of the contracts amounted to $8.14 billion, covering areas including finance, advanced manufacturing, e-commerce, pensions and real estate, local authorities said. Investors came from the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Poland and other nations.

Summer Davos has transformed the city's appearance. The new Dalian International Conference Center, adynamic structure covered in aluminum panels, was first used for the event in 2013. A citywide campaign cleaned up roads and ensured food safety.

"In addition, Dalian has accumulated many years of experience in the exhibition and convention industry, and is the most dynamic city in northeastern China," Liu said.

Gao Jifan, chairman and CEO of Trina Solar, a major industry player, has been a regular participant in Davos events since 2010.

"The events have been very well arranged by the Dalian government, which has enabled global participants to view Dalian as a civilized, safe and beautiful city," he said.

Contact the writers at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn and zhangxiaomin@chinadaily.com.cn
Political, business and academic leaders braved bone-chilling cold in Davos, Switzerland, to gather at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday morning and listen to Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the opening session.

Xi said that although economic globalization has come to be seen as a "Pandora's box" by many, it is not the real source of problems.

Unlike senior Chinese officials participating in the meeting 10 or 20 years ago, whose speeches were often confined to outlining the domestic economic situation, Xi called for the world's political and business leaders to join hands to achieve inclusive development, a stance that reflects the changing role of China from a participant to a leader in the global economic system.

That transformation is clearly reflected in the country's increasing involvement in the Davos forum over the past three decades.

As a journalist covering the event, what has impressed me most is that there has been a large number of Chineseofficials, scholars, businessmen and journalistsentering the Congress Center. China has sent its largest delegation in history to the meeting this year, a sign of its commitment to further opening up and integrating into the global economy and of the world's hope that China play a larger role in building a new global economic order. That includes leading a coordinated effort to steer the world economy through troubled waters.

The Davos forum, established in 1971, first asked China to participate in the event in the late 1970s, when it was just opening its economy to the outside world. On the invitation of Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the forum, China sent a small delegation led by an economist to Davos in 1979, marking an important step in China's resumption of economic exchanges with the outside world.

Since then, the Chinese delegation to Davos has grown ever larger and the level of officials participating in the forum has been on the rise, reflecting China's rising clout and its willingness to engage in "responsive" economic exchanges with other countries.

Contact the writer at XinZhiming@chinadaily.com.cn
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DAVOS, Switzerland - Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that China has not only benefited from economic globalization, but also contributed to it.

China's development is an opportunity for the world, Xi said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 47th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Rapid growth in China has been a sustained, powerful engine for global economic stability and expansion, while the inter-connected development of China and a large number of other countries has made the world economy more balanced, said the Chinese president.

The world's second largest economy's remarkable achievement in poverty reduction has contributed to more inclusive global growth, and the country's continuous progress in reform and opening-up has lent much momentum to an open world economy, he said.
Anthony Scaramucci, assistant to US President-elect Donald Trump and Director of Public Liaison attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland Jan 17, 2017.[Photo/IC]

DAVOS - A top aide to US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday highlighted the shared interests between China and the United States during a public event at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

"The Chinese and the Americans have a common cause," Anthony Scaramucci, Trump's assistant and director of public liaison, told WEF moderator Philipp Rosler. "I think we need to have a very strong bilateral relationship."

Interviewed on the same day when President Xi Jinping gave a historic speech on the future of globalization, Scaramucci said: "I respect China, I certainly respect the president of China, and we want to have a phenomenal relationship with the Chinese."

Xi on Tuesday called for joint efforts to chart the course of economic globalization and forge new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development.

Trump comes to power at a time when Washington and other world capitals are struggling with an ever rising tide of nationalism, populism, trade protectionism and the urge to backtrack on globalization.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on January 17, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]

China made its point. In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Xi Jinping made a straightforward defense of globalization.

His speech represented China's courage in the face of the looming protectionism threatening to dismantle the global environment that has benefited different nations' cooperation and development, and which has helped millions of people lift themselves out of poverty in the past few decades.

It has become the latest dernier cri for populist movements in many places to blame globalism for domestic malaises, rather than the mismanagement of it. The politicians trying to manipulate such mass sentiments will only make things worse by spreading the illusion that history can be rolled back and a nation can develop by closing its doors to others.

The threat of a trade war is being used so casually, it only betrays the lack of ability of those who utter it to improve their economy at a time when adroit management is required.

Such an irrational approach was likened by the Chinese president to evading danger by "locking oneself in a dark room", only to deprive oneself of "light and air".

A trade war produces no winners, since all will be losers. It is the opposite of flourishing trade, which if managed well, will produce no losers, only winners.

Xi's message in Davos this year was that China will continue to benefit the world economy and it is seeking a greater role in global governance to sustain the globalization process when there is growing doubt about the commitment of the United States to issues such as trade and climate change under the incoming administration.

That undertaking reflects the economic power China has accumulated. It has grown, in Xi's words, from a society that not so long ago felt uneasy about foreign competition, when it was pressed to accept the terms from the World Trade Organization, into a global trader with much stronger ability and confidence.

Every economy has its problems. China is in the middle of a transition featuring many new challenges. But as Xi told his audience, in the next five years China's development will generate many opportunities and countries should not shut the door on them. It would be even more counter-productive to shut one's own economy away from the changing global dynamics.

Instead, as Xi stressed, countries should work together to pursue new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development that deliver benefits to all of the world.
President Xi Jinping's call to boost economic openness was described as courageous during a World Economic Forum debate on Wednesday to discuss China's role in global prosperity.

"The message that we can't turn back from globalization is absolutely correct," Inga Beale, CEO of Lloyd's of London insurance market, told a panel of Chinese and Western business experts.

"It's a fantastic message that he has come out with. It's brave and it takes courage," she said. "There's so much uncertainty around, you need someone to take a leadership role on the world stage."

Others on the panel also welcomed China's growing leadership role and Xi's remarks on protecting the benefits of globalization from protectionist tendencies.

Fang Xinghai, vice-chairman of China's Securities Regulatory Commission, said he had spoken to two American colleagues after Xi's Davos speech on Tuesday who welcomed his comments and had agreed that a US retreat into isolation was impossible.

Fang noted that China was making an increasing contribution to Western industrial output even as it took on a larger global leadership role.

Last year, Ford Motor Company had increased its sales in China by 14 percent as against one percent in the US, he said. "Definitely, the China market was a major contributor to their performance last year."

He said China was just beginning to embark on a more global role, one that many were looking to it to play amid uncertainty in the US. "It's a responsibility we can't ignore," he said.

Thomas Farley, President of the New York Stock Exchange, said that during his lifetime poverty around the world had fallen by 80 percent, a trend that had improved the lives hundreds of millions in China alone.

"This is because of increasing free enterprise and respect for entrepreneurs," Farley said. "It's allowing people to buy groceries for their children."

Xiao Yaqing, chairman of China's State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, said the world was seeing increasing disparity between rich and poor. On a per capita basis, he noted, China was still well behind the developed world.

China had cut back its coal production, yet some areas were still without adequate heating. That was a challenge that would now have to be met through non-fossil fuels.

"China is the number 2 economy but we are way behind the number 1 per capita and there's plenty of room for growth," he said.

Beale noted that there was growth in her area of specialization  insurance. She said Lloyd's had been doing business with China for 200 years but was now taking advantage of a vibrant Chinese domestic market for insurance products.

She said that as markets evolved, she would urge China to focus on transparency. "If China wants to be a global leader, it must match transparency in other parts of the world," she said.

To contact the reporter: harvey.morris@gmail.com
News / National

by Staff reporter

KARIBA pastor and activist, Patrick Mugadza, who was arrested on Monday and charged with undermining President Robert Mugabe's authority for "predicting" that the 92-year-old Zanu-PF leader would die this year, is set to appear in court today.Mugadza, the founder and leader of Remnant Church, was picked up by police, as he walked out of the Harare Magistrates' Court, where he was facing a separate charge of abusing the national flag, over which his trial has been set for February 22 and had been expected to appear in court yesterday.His lawyer, Gift Mtisi, said the cleric remained in police custody and was to appear in court today."They decided to keep him in custody and he will only be brought to court tomorrow [today]," he said.The cleric told journalists in Harare last week that on December 26 last year, God had revealed to him in a "prophecy" that Mugabe, who turns 93 next month, would "die on October 17" this year.His prophecy caused fissures and anxiety within the government, leading to his arrest.Announcing his prophecy last week, Mugadza said: "It's not to say that I am glad to announce this, but I am just saying it because that is what the Lord has revealed to me. It was on December 26, when I was in prayer and God said to me this coming year, in 2017, the President is dying. He told me that he is dying on October 17."On Sunday, Zanu-PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere admonished clerics prophesying Mugabe's death, warning of unspecified action.This is not the first time prophecies have been made of Mugabe's "looming death", but the veteran politician has laughed off the predictions, jokingly saying he had surpassed Jesus Christ's record, dying and resurrecting several times.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

China and the World Health Organization agreed on Wednesday to jointly implement a Belt and Road Initiative that focuses on health.

Witnessed by President Xi Jinping and Margaret Chan, the World Health Organization (WHO) director-general, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on the initiative. The WHO has become the first global organization under the United Nations to have signed such an agreement with China.

China welcomes the WHO to jointly establish the "health Silk Road", Xi said, adding that China would like to enhance cooperation with the WHO in implementing the 2030 sustainable development agenda and assistance to developing countries.

Chan spoke highly of China's contributions to the work of the WHO and the country's leading role in global health governance.

The WHO would like to enhance cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative to improve the health of the people along the route, she added.

After the talks, Xi attended a ceremony to donate a bronze statue featuring China's traditional acupuncture to the WHO.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) meets with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan (2nd R) in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

China will host the first Belt and Road Initiative international forum in Beijing in May, which is part of China's efforts to make globalization more inclusive and beneficial to all, Xi said at the Davos Economic Forum on Tuesday.

The Belt and Road initiative, put forward by Xi in 2013, aims to revive the ancient Silk Road with a focus on infrastructure and economic development. Over 100 countries and international organizations have given support to the initiative, and more than 40 have signed cooperation agreements with China, Xi said.

Chinese investment along the routes has surpassed $50 billion in the past three years with a number of major projects being launched in the countries along the routes, spurring the economic development of these countries and creating many local jobs, noted Xi.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
An employee works on the interior of an Audi A3 automobile, produced by Volkswagen AG's Audi brand, in Ingolstadt, Germany. [Photo/Getty Images]

German automaker Audi AG will suspend its plans to produce and sell cars with SAIC Motor Corp Ltd until at least next year, a move intended to reassure its current partner FAW Group Corp and appease dealers concerned about their profitability.

Jochem Heizmann, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said on Tuesday that nothing will happen with regard to the potential cooperation in 2017.

"No sales, no production. Nothing this year," he said.

He said top priorities at present are ensuring long-term cooperation with FAW, which is localizing Audi models, and ensuring that existing dealers are profitable.

These steps are the prerequisites to further cooperation with SAIC. "That is the sequence of the things," he said.

Audi China had planned to resume the sales talks by the end of March, which were suspended in November as a result of dealers' complaints.

Audi and SAIC signed a memorandum of understanding in November, which soon led to complaints from existing dealers, who were worried that a separate sales network would further affect their profitability.

Audi currently has a sales network of 457 authorized dealers in more than 190 cities, which is already the largest of its kind in China for a premium automaker, and dozens more are planned.

Jochem Heizmann, CEO of Volkswagen Group China.

"Dealers' concern is profitability. They are not against a second joint venture," said Heizmann.

Heizmann's remarks came a day after a 10-year framework contract was signed between Audi and FAW, which involves cooperation in several fields including new energy cars and mobility services.

Auto analyst Zhang Zhiyong said the move was intended to convey a message from Audi that it would not alienate itself from FAW when it joins hands with SAIC.

But John Zeng, managing director of LMC Automotive Consulting Shanghai, worried that one network selling models from two automakers may bring about management problems as they may find it difficult to evaluate dealers' performance.

Audi sold 589,000 cars in China last year, retaining its leading position in the world's largest automobile market.
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By An Baijie in Davos and Mo Jingxi in Beijing | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-01-17 19:36

President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday at the Davos World Economic Forum for boosting open economies as a solution to global sluggishness.

Xi's commitment to an open economy and firm opposition to trade protectionism will bring more confidence to the global economy, analysts said.

"Practicing trade protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. It seems to have screened wind and rain, but it also isolates one from sunshine and air," Xi said at the forum in Switzerland, which was attended by political and business leaders.

"Staging a trade war will only hurt both sides," he added.

Mentioning that economic globalization has been criticized by some as the cause of global sluggishness, Xi said it is not globalization that should be blamed, but regional conflicts. He said these have resulted in many problems, including the refugee crisis in the Middle East and North Africa.

"Of course, we also admit that economic globalization is a double-edged sword," Xi said, adding that it is not easy to "make the cake of global economy" bigger at a time when the traditional economic engine is losing power.

China has not only benefited from economic globalization but also contributed to the process, Xi said, adding that China's economy has contributed to more than 30 percent of global growth.

"China will not envy others, nor will it complain if others benefit from China's development," he said.

China's development is an opportunity for the world and the nation welcomes other countries to share its opportunities, Xi said.
File photo taken on Nov 14, 2012 shows a nurse checks the blood glucose of a senior citizen during a free clinic service for diabetes in Zhengzhou, Henan province.[Photo/Xinhua]

WASHINGTON - People in China diagnosed with diabetes in middle age lost an average nine years of life, according to a new study published Tuesday.

The study, which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), said that inadequate treatment, particularly in rural areas, was mainly to blame for that loss.

The prevalence of diabetes in China has quadrupled in the past decades, with an estimated 100 million adults now affected -- more than any other country worldwide, but the full eventual effect on mortality is unknown.

In the new study, researchers from the University of Oxford and Peking University examined the association of diabetes with mortality in 500,000 adults from 10 areas scattered throughout China, including five from rural areas and five from urban.

Participants were recruited between 2004 and 2008 and followed up until 2014 for cause-specific mortality.

At the start of the study, six percent had diabetes, including four percent from rural areas and eight percent from urban.

Three percent of these patients was previously diagnosed while another three percent was detected by screening.

The researchers found that people with diabetes had twice the risk of dying during the follow-up period in comparison with other study participants, and that these risks were higher in rural than in urban areas.

The study showed that diabetes raised the risk of dying from a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, infection, and cancers of the liver, pancreas and breast.

And the risk of dying from inadequately treated acute complications of diabetes such as diabetic coma was four times as great in rural as in urban areas. Even in urban areas, it was much higher than in Western populations.

The researchers also estimated that the 25-year probability of death would be 69 percent among those diagnosed with diabetes at age 50 compared with 38 percent among otherwise similar individuals without diabetes, corresponding to a loss of about nine years of life -- 10 years in rural areas and eight years in urban areas.

"As the prevalence of diabetes in young adults increases and the adult population grows, the annual number of deaths related to diabetes is likely to continue to increase, unless there is substantial improvement in prevention and management," the researchers wrote.

Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), described in an accompanying editorial this study as "the first reliable evidence of the specific diseases and complications that account for mortality among Chinese individuals with diabetes."

The pattern of excess mortality revealed in this study points to "significant weaknesses in the clinical management of diabetes, especially in rural areas, and in the effectiveness of population-wide interventions aimed at prevention," the WHO chief said.

But Chan also noted that China has undertaken major reforms of its health system in the last 10 years, improving primary health care and training large numbers of family physicians.

"The quality of precise measurement reported by the study provides confidence that Chinese authorities will continue to move the country's health reforms in the right direction, with results that also improve the prevention and control of diabetes," she said.
Beijing launches specialist police force

Xinhua | Updated: 2017-01-18 13:51

BEIJING - Beijing launched a new specialist police force Wednesday.



Lan Yang, deputy chief of the force under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, said that the force will have over 150 police officers divided into four groups: environmental protection, food and drugs, tourism and a group with a flexible focus.



Lan said that corresponding sub-forces were also being organized and trained in lower bureaus.



Beijing's acting Mayor Cai Qi announced early January the forming of an environmental police force to tackle air pollution, after a spell of smog in the city lasting for more than a week.
HONG KONG -- Hong Kong enjoys endless opportunities with its participation in the national strategies, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Leung Chun-ying said during his last annual policy address on Wednesday.

"China is playing an increasingly prominent and leading role in the global economy," Leung said, adding that "Hong Kong's dual advantages of 'one country, two systems' and its role as the 'super-connector' are becoming more apparent."

He said leveraging the National 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong enjoys endless opportunities as it excels in "what the country needs, and what Hong Kong is good at."

Leung said the Hong Kong SAR government is exploring further with the Chinese mainland the expansion and enhancement of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in the areas of investment, economic and technical cooperation.

"We expect to achieve some concrete results by the middle of this year," he added.

"The National 13th Five-Year Plan has confirmed Hong Kong's status as a global offshore RMB business hub," Leung said, adding that "the demand arising from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Mainland-Hong Kong Mutual Recognition of Funds Arrangement will enable Hong Kong to further expand its RMB business."

In regard to the Belt and Road Initiative, Leung reiterated that the SAR government will continue to fully support it and will strive to give full play to Hong Kong's role as a "super-connector," as well as creating opportunities for young people and boosting the social and economic development in the coming decades.

For example, he said, in support of the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong can provide training programs for the Belt and Road countries.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Academy has embarked on initial discussions with the rail operators of several countries.

The Hong Kong International Aviation Academy established by the Airport Authority signed an agreement last month with National School of Civil Aviation of France to jointly nurture aviation professionals for Hong Kong and the region.

The SAR government is also prepared to organize talks or short-term training on the operation of the SAR government for visiting officials from Belt and Road countries.

The government will continue to promote cooperation and exchanges in education to help Hong Kong students gain a better understanding of the countries along the Belt and Road, thereby strengthening people-to-people bonds, he said.

New initiatives include updating or fine-tuning primary and secondary school curricula and producing appropriate teaching resources, providing students with more opportunities to study foreign languages, increasing the quotas to 5,600 for students' mainland exchange programs along the Silk Road this year, and encouraging, through the Quality Education Fund, students to engage in exchange activities in the Mainland and countries along the Belt and Road, he said.

To foster cooperation and exchanges between Hong Kong and countries along the Belt and Road, Leung said the government will consider relaxing visa requirements for nationals of those countries for employment, study and visit. "We have reached a consensus with Belarus on mutual visa exemption and are planning to relax visa requirements for Cambodian nationals."

He also mentioned the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and said Hong Kong can support the AIIB in such areas as project financing, bond issuance, investment, financial management and foreign exchange management.

"Hong Kong has been officially invited to join the AIIB. We expect the relevant procedures to be completed by the middle of this year," he added.
By Tian Xuefei in Harbin and Liang Shuang in Beijing | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-01-18 17:30

A Chinese couple with a penchant for adventure are planning a 80,000-kilometer round-the-world flight that will visit five continents, including Antarctica.

Zhang Xinyu and his wife Liang Hong plan to begin their journey by flying in a Chinese-made plane from Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, to North America.

Their itinerary will take them over the Amazon rain forests of Brazil and Chiles Atacama Desert on to the South Pole.

After Antarctica they plan to fly to Africa, visiting Ethiopia and Kenya, before eventually returning to China via Southeast Asia.

To prepare for the undertaking, the couple completed a six-month-long training session that taught them skills such as flying at night or in complex weather conditions, as well as plane maintenance.

According to the couple, only about 200 people are thought to have completed such an expedition and it is the first time that a Chinese-made plane will be used.

The plane, called the Y-12, is a twin-engine utility aircraft built by Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, with a range at about 1,300 kilometers.

Zhang and Liang are no strangers to adventure. They have driven through war-torn Somalia and the radiation-racked Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in the past, as well as sailing the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. There are even three seasons of a reality television show called "On the Way" documenting their adventures.

"We simply want to realize the dreams of common people, to challenge ourselves more," said Liang. "We hope our stories will inspire people, and let them see the warmth and light of life."
Opinion / Columnist

Those are the words of Journalist Maynard Manyowa' yesterday's article about Linda on the 16th January on Bulawayo 24. This description Maynard of a physically mutilated woman, gender violence is nasty and tasteless.I will find it difficult to forgive Maynard for this use of wording "healthy dose of beating" There is an undercurrent of shaming her, because of Linda's younger lover: she is a decade older than the lover! Mugabe is four decades older than Grace Marufu! So!We women of Zimbabwe should condemn it. It confirms the worst of our misogynistic society: in our society women are nothing: no respect whatsoever. Physical violence against women is a crime itself regardless of the case in question.I am not privy of what transpired in the argument that led to this masculine brutality towards a woman and a mother. I am seriously concerned about the level of physical violence surrounding the case. She did not deserve this absolute brutality for whatever reason.The image of Linda in that article, a woman beaten to pulp by some young lover, that beating is not justifiable: at best a coward and barbaric but last to use masculine muscles to reduce a woman to that level, physically and emotionally.Such men who perceive their physical phallic power as superior to women should go for a second circumcision, without which they are just boys, not grown up humans.What is functioning in their bodies is just the spinal code and zero brain in the head. Such men are like snakes: its either they strike and bite or its running away. Mako right now is nowhere to be seen! Linda is supposed to account for his missing! She landed in the hospital because of the beating.My article today is not about men chauvinism in our society but the role of a mother in a home. Mothers are cornerstones, the rock of the family, the home ticks if the mother is present.Ms. Jean Gasho exemplified to us how mothers should just be like a "mother hens" and how the mother-hen looks after its chickens.I could never have said it better than her full description of the importance of a female persona in a home where there are still growing children as old as two and sixteen years of age.Did we not shout at her when she eloquently highlighted what all of us should know about the warmth of the mother in the home and how it protects all of us, and its absence can have serious repercussion on the growth and general wellbeing of the children, never can be corrected for life?According to this article from Journalist Manyowa, Linda has five children with their fathers at large. This is not new at all to Zimbabwe, there are so many such single-headed families nowadays.I am too a single parent and a million more out there. I need to ask myself questions regarding her beating by this young man called Makomborero, the young lover.Where were the children when Linda was beaten by this Mako? Did they witness the humiliating episode, seeing their mother brutally beaten like that by seemingly a casual bed-friend to the mother?How do you as a child take in such physical vulgar meted on your mother: a woman you love so dearly?If this article is to go by: how does mother-Linda who has a teenage daughter of sixteen bring in men-friend, visibly younger than her and expose her children to such a questionable character, unpredictable, violent and barbaric persona like Mako? What does this teenage girl think about her mother right now?Notwithstanding that I have been seeing Linda on media hanging around with young men in a ZRP car, seemingly carefree and enjoying the hippy life: dreadlocks and dark glasses posing on selfie for yet another photo-shoot to send to the face-book. (Mama what did you see in that creepy-scumbag, are you sure he is good for you and us?)Linda Masarira, a mother of five, having stayed in Chikurubi Central Prison for eighty days should do better than what we all are reading in the news-media about her.She needed to come close to her children and make up for the time she was absent. Mothers with feeling for their children do that in most cases. We need men and women out there to fight the crude regime of Zanu PF yes.You do not however sacrifice your bowels for the revolution to take place. We should always know our priorities if you are a mother, a young mother like Linda.Linda's priorities are wholly misplaced. We are 14 million people in Zimbabwe, she did not need to emotionally abandon her children and live a life of a scumbag to prove she is a revolutionary!Linda is by no account, not present in her children's lives because she is dreaming about a revolution outside her home.Dear Linda, single parenthood goes with a lot of responsibility. Single mothers need to know and spell the word sacrifice. As long as those children are growing up they need you 24/7.You cannot pass on responsibility of looking after children to a maid. If you do that you will regret later in life because you will lose those emotional and very intricate threads to your own children.Your political activities already put you on spotlight: your movements are traced: You are secretly followed by the CIO, you are the bread-winner, you must bread win for your kids, and there are no jobs in Zimbabwe.You put your kids in a serious situation full of uncertainties and insecurities: is it worth it? Are you sure you still can say political activism is a better option than bringing up your own children: children who look up at you as the sole provider; emotionally and otherwise, you have a toddler who is two years?What is more worrying about you is: how many times have you casually talked about death in your videos: "I don't mind if I die!" you said! Do you know what that will mean to your children if you died, some of whom have father who is deceased: we know you as a widow!I can advise you once more; the advice Ms. Jean Gasho gave you for free of charge months back.Leave this revolution, it is not for you, you have serious responsibilities regarding your children at your home. Learn to make sacrifices by looking after your children first. Make those children better citizens of Zimbabwe first, you are young: 34 years you can always bounce back, come back to politics.Try and get to know the political lives of Mrs. Thenjiwe Virginia Lesabe and Mrs. Ruth Chinamano.Those two women sacrificed for the revolution absolutely. Their children suffered too and to this date if you talk to their children and they will tell you how much they missed their mothers in their teen ages because the revolution took them away from them.Some of the children never made it at all in life because the mother element was absent.Personally I suffered too when my mother was sent to the famous Chikurubi Prison in 1977 where you were not long ago. I wish my mother was present in my life, she was always absent. I am talking about my experience as an abandoned child.We are fighting Zanu PF at another level of the struggle, and not the racist Smith Regime of yesteryear.As a mother of five you should never be told this but you should know this instinctively. Linda stay home and be a mother to your children. Learn to protect your children from men-friends coming into your home. They can be very dangerous to them.Depending on donor aid is not sustainable Linda: find another occupation than to pose as a political activist you are evidently not one.As a mother myself, I am genuinely concerned about the welfare of you growing children and your apparent negligence and emotional abandonment towards them!
MA XUEJING/CHINA DAILY

A new pollution problem has hit big cities like a brick in the back of the head. Not only is the air a sea of poisonous particles but also city sewerage workers have a new problem in their vocabularywetballs. Tens of thousands of masks unthinkingly discarded end up in sewers and stick together as balls of plastic and mucus, soot and snoot.

The phenomenon of why they glue together is not understood but when a worker pincers a hunk of gunk from the passing mire in the treatment plant it emerges from the sucking surface as a sphere, with dangling ear slings identifying it as rolled layers of masks.

The demand for masks is a big boost for suppliers. It is the remarkable highlight of 3M's CEO, Inge Thulin's report to his shareholders. When a $30 billion a year corporation operating in nearly every country in the world headlines its good news with sales of air pollution masks to China, it shows how sick growth fixation can be. The boon for manufacturers of masks came as a surprise and they are scrambling to establish differentials in price, quality, technology and now even in fashion kudos.

Common sense introspection will tell you that the types of surgical masks on sale for a few yuan will not filter PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less). They seem cheap and become messy but they are discarded after a few days. The proper procedures for disposal of surgical masks used for the original intentions (in surgery) require wearing gloves and insertion into a bag to be sealed and dealt with in hospital facilities. In practice people in smog-affected cities throw them in the garbage, toilet or just on the ground.

Surveys of mask use by passersby in a variety of Chinese city thoroughfares reveal a range of non-usable, cheap and upmarket masks. The most effective are contoured material allowing effective sealing around the edges and with replaceable filter satchels. It is estimated that in hazardous smog the daily disposal of masks amounts to 600 kilogram per 1 million commuters. That is only a few tons a day for Beijing, where daily solid waste runs at 20,000 tons. But each mask is supposed to collect nasty pollution on the outside and traps human health problems on the inside. Waste pickers won't touch them.

The rush to meet the hyperbolic demand means no thought to what happens to masks after they are discarded. Biodegradable is not a quality sought out. The layers of mask must be liquid resistant and are plastics-based, guaranteeing a long afterlife. The dilemma has sent environmental planners scrambling, adding another comparatively small issue to the mounting pile of tasks to address.

The caretakers of environmental policy were proud there for a while when Beijing air was getting some share of blue skies. The move to cleaner car fuels in 2017 has been something to anticipate with hope. So the new problem is more symbolic than serious, and a reminder of what happens when humans think they can plan giant cities.

The symbolism was crystalized creatively by artist Wang Renzhen, dragging an industrial vacuum cleaner though the city for four hours a day for 100 days, sucking in at head height enough particles to mold a brick. Artistic license shattered the ideals of a clean megapolis.

A new reason to double public awareness and pressure polluters to reduce emissions. And a new task to add to proper planning of waste disposal. "It is a surprise, and a step in the wrong direction," admits a colleague in environmental planning, adding sullenly, "like a brick in the back of the head".

The author is a fellow at the Environment Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Australia.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gestures during a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 21, 2016. [Agencies]

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's just-concluded four-nation tour in the Asia-Pacific region is full of political calculation: He is trying to show Japan remains loyal to the US global alliance system and working hard to strengthen it despite its obvious decline in recent years.

The first leg of his trip took him to the Philippines last week where he pledged an aid package of $8.66 billion, including government aid and private investments, over the next five years. Abe said in a joint news conference with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that the purpose is to "leverage Japanese technology and knowhow to the fullest extent to positively cooperate for the improvement of infrastructure in Metro Manila and the whole of the Philippines".

Yet for those familiar with Manila's abrupt change of attitude towards the United States since Duterte took office in July, the aid package is a sweetener aimed at serving Tokyo's political purposes. Abemade no bones about this: urging the Philippines to remain committed to the US alliance in a bid to counter so-called growing assertiveness of China in the region.

In fact, Duterte's policy of estrangement from the United States, a major event last year, which is poised to shake up geopolitics in the Asia-Pacific region, has aroused a lot of concern among the US' allies, Japan included. As the US' closest ally in the region, Japan apparently refuses to accept that Duterte's change of approach to that of his predecessor is a setback for the US alliance system, and still hoping to draw the Philippines back into the fold with money diplomacy.

Yet, Abe's calculation is doomed to fail as both the trend of the times and the political uncertainty in the US after Donald Trump's election as the new US president show the US-led alliance network will continue to decline instead of strengthen.

As a legacy of the World War II, the US alliance system no longer conforms to the trend of the times which favors win-win cooperation and peaceful settlement of disputes while opposing power politics and a zero-sum mentality.

The multifaceted security woes the world is facing today, the rising non-traditional security risks, such as terrorism, in particular, indicate traditional security concepts which view nation-to-nation relations as a zero-sum game are not only banal but counterproductive in practice. The fact is the world is becoming increasingly unsafe under the influence of this traditional security perception and there is growing disillusionment with global leadership and the US alliance system.

To acerbate this gloomy picture, remarks by Trump on the US' global alliance system, have also raised alarm among its allies. Trump has stubbornly insisted US allies must pay their "fair share" of the world's national security expenses, and questioned the relevance of NATO.

As such, Abe's ambition to enhance US alliance in the Asia-Pacific region will prove to be an uphill struggle.

The reason that Duterte distanced his country from the US alliance is because he is fully aware of the negative impact the US' strategic pivot to Asia has had on regional peace and stability.

In recent years, Japan, under the leadership of Abe and with the support of the US, has resorted to a provocative policy in its dispute with China in the East China Sea and also tried to interfere in the South China Sea disputes.

Under such circumstances, it is hoped countries in the region, the Philippines included, will have little difficulty in seeing through Abe's plan to use themas pawns to stir up trouble.

The author is deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific. jasmine@chinadailyhk.com
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

China made its point. In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Xi Jinping made a straightforward defense of globalization.

His speech represented China's courage in the face of the looming protectionism threatening to dismantle the global environment that has benefited different nations' cooperation and development, and which has helped millions of people lift themselves out of poverty in the past few decades.

It has become the latest dernier cri for populist movements in many places to blame globalism for domestic malaises, rather than the mismanagement of it. The politicians trying to manipulate such mass sentiments will only make things worse by spreading the illusion that history can be rolled back and a nation can develop by closing its doors to others.

The threat of a trade war is being used so casually, it only betrays the lack of ability of those who utter it to improve their economy at a time when adroit management is required.

Such an irrational approach was likened by the Chinese president to evading danger by "locking oneself in a dark room", only to deprive oneself of "light and air".

A trade war produces no winners, since all will be losers. It is the opposite of flourishing trade, which if managed well, will produce no losers, only winners.

Xi's message in Davos this year was that China will continue to benefit the world economy and it is seeking a greater role in global governance to sustain the globalization process when there is growing doubt about the commitment of the United States to issues such as trade and climate change under the incoming administration.

That undertaking reflects the economic power China has accumulated. It has grown, in Xi's words, from a society that not so long ago felt uneasy about foreign competition, when it was pressed to accept the terms from the World Trade Organization, into a global trader with much stronger ability and confidence.

Every economy has its problems. China is in the middle of a transition featuring many new challenges. But as Xi told his audience, in the next five years China's development will generate many opportunities and countries should not shut the door on them. It would be even more counter-productive to shut one's own economy away from the changing global dynamics.

Instead, as Xi stressed, countries should work together to pursue new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development that deliver benefits to all of the world.
Police officers burn down confiscated fake wine in Southwest China's Chongqing in January 2014. More than 500 bottles of fake Moutai baijiu were found, worth more than 1 million yuan. [Photo/VCG]

The media recently exposed two bases for the selling of counterfeit goods on the same day. One was a shopping mall in Putian in East China's Fujian province, which was found to be selling counterfeit shoes, cellphones and invoices among other things, the other was in the town of Duliu, in North China's Tianjin, where manufactures were producing counterfeit condiments.

Duliu, which is known as a "vinegar town", has been home to dozens of workshops producing counterfeit condiments for a decade and it reportedly has a production volume of about 100 million yuan ($14.50 million). After the media reports, Tianjin's Party leader Li Hongzhong vowed to crack down on Duliu's bogus condiments for the sake of a healthy and benign market order, people's food safety, and protection of intellectual property rights.

People cannot help but wonder why such counterfeiting chains that have been in operation for decades have not been smashed before. Some cite market demand as a defense. However, people's sensitivity toward the higher price of genuine branded goods does not excuse fake ones. Given that the market economy is essentially a rule-of-law economy, the production and selling of counterfeit goods obviously violates market rules.

Putian and Duliu should have taken advantage of their industrial foundation and traditional craftsmanship to push for industrial transformation and upgrading and consolidate their brand influence. Regrettably, the two have chosen a diametrically opposite path by developing themselves into two bases for manufacturing counterfeit goods. The existence of enterprises that profit from making lower-cost fake branded goods also highlights the lack of effective supervision over market players.

Better law enforcement could have forged a healthier market order. Putian and Duliu demonstrate that delayed efforts to promote the establishment of a rule-of-law market environment are hindering the country's efforts at industrial transformation and upgrading.

--Beijing News
Crowds of passengers wait to have their tickets checked at the Changchun Train Station on Jan 13. [Photo/Xinhua]

WITH THE APPROACH of the Chinese Lunar New Year the business of renting a girlfriend or boyfriend has emerged again. In either written or oral contracts, the price of such a deal can be up to 1,000 yuan ($160) per day. Changsha Evening News commented on Tuesday:

It is undeniable that during the Chinese Lunar New Year, single women and men face the pressure of marriage expectations from their family.

As a result, the business of hiring a partner has been thriving for some years despite there being many problems, such as parents who give the hired girlfriends money as Spring Festival gifts, that the women usually refuse to part with; and young men who force their hired partners to be more intimate than they want, despite contracts stipulating there is to be no kissing or touching, except for holding hands.

And sometimes, the young women who are hired as girlfriends are not real college students as described online, but instead professional escorts who charge 3,000 yuan a night to be a companion.

When it comes to hire contracts, only things, not people, are protected by the law. So any violation of the rights of either party cannot be settled by the courts.

Instead of trying to deceive their families in such a way, the young men and women should be more open and talk with their families.
Fireworks recorded good sale during Spring Festival last year at Suntiepu township, Guangshan county, Xinyang city, Henan province. [Photo/IC]

ON SATURDAY, Central China's Henan province issued a notice extending its fireworks ban to cover all urban and rural regions. Yet two days later, it withdrew the decision and suspended the total ban because of opposition from residents and fireworks sellers. The total ban is a good idea to fight air pollution, but it requires a well thought out and practical plan for its implementation, says people.com.cn:

Fireworks are considered part of the traditional celebrations for the Lunar New Year, but they are also a main source of air pollution during that period. Tests show that the density of PM2.5, the minute particles that are extremely harmful to human health, can reach 400 to 500 micrograms per cubic meter after fireworks are set off. Tradition is no excuse for harming people's health.

That's why a total ban on fireworks during the Spring Festival period is necessary. It might be hard for some people to accept it, but the fact is that setting off fireworks as part of people's Spring Festival celebrations belongs to the past and should be gradually abandoned.

However, the Henan provincial government issued the total ban in the wrong way. It takes time to change tradition, yet the Henan provincial government did not inform local residents until two weeks before Spring Festival, which meant the local residents were psychologically unprepared for the ban.

Besides, a total ban hurts the interests of fireworks manufacturers and sellers. After the total ban was made public, a petition signed by local fireworks manufacturers was issued online, which said they would suffer heavily because they pre-signed many contracts long before the ban was announced.

Reports say that after reconsideration the Henan provincial government decided to suspend the implementation of the total ban. The incident should remind local officials to plan well and inform residents well in advance before implementing decisions. Had the Henan provincial government issued the total ban earlier, the firework businesses might not have signed long-term contracts, and local residents might have been more willing to accept it.

A good ban has to be suspended for lack of practicalitythat should be a lesson for all officials.
Chen Yao stands on the platform to check passengers' tickets, Guiyang, Guizhou, Jan 4, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

THE 15-YUAN ($2.3) MEAL BOXES, which were required to be available throughout the journey on all high-speed trains, are now provided on a first-come first-served basis, according to reports. Guangzhou Daily commented on Monday:

Asked why it stopped providing the 15-yuan meal boxes on all high-speed trains, the China Railway Corporation said the decision was about "catering to the diverse demands of passengers", not cutting the most affordable options, of which, it said, many cost even less than 10 yuan.

In most cases, passengers have to pay more than 40 yuan to enjoy a proper meal on a high-speed train, and it is understandable that some find the cost a bit steep and prefer taking their own food on board or choose not to eat at all.

On the other hand, there are good reasons to set the price higher than ordinary restaurants, as selling the 15-yuan meal boxes, popular as they are with many passengers, does not meet the rail company's expectations for its profits from the service.

That said, providing "affordable" meals at all times while keeping the on-board catering business profitable may come at the cost of quality. That explains why many have said the 15-yuan meals are far from tasty.

This dilemma can be broken if the prices of the meal boxes are set at a reasonable level in a transparent manner. Pressuring the rail authorities to lower the cost of the meals they provide or discouraging passengers from complaining will not improve the situation.

Unlike most markets where profits are essentially decided by the demand, the catering service provided on trains is unique and free of competition. Hence the price authorities are supposed to intervene on the basis of thorough investigation and set limits on how much the rail company can profit from its catering service.

Such a move is necessary to root out monopoly-related profits and protect passengers' legal interests. In other words, whether 15 yuan is an appropriate price for the meal box should be decided by transparent investigation into the market. This approach applies to other monopoly services too.
A man walks at the main entrance of the congress center where the World Economic Forum takes place in Davos, Switzerland, in this file photo taken on Jan 18, 2016. [Photo/IC]

By curious coincidence the World Economic Forum, which upholds the international benefits of globalization, is taking place at the same time as the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who promotes the domestic benefits of anti-globalization. While the former takes place in Davos and the latter in Washington, its as if these unequal cities are linked by an ethereal economic axis that is lopsided and quivering and around which the whole world must now revolve.

Decent leaders do for their countries what they believe to be in the best interests and well-being of their citizens. Beliefs differ, of course, and they change as circumstances and leaders change. There are basic principles, but no perfect applications.

Today, the mantle of globalization leadership is being worn by Chinas president, Xi Jinping. Addressing the United Nations in 2015, Xi called for sustained international unity in addressing and solving global economic problems. He reaffirmed Chinas commitment to be a reliable partner in bringing about a more peaceful and progressive world through globalization in all forms, stressing common development through economic openness and shared prosperity.

Economic globalization at the advent of an information age has vastly unleashed and boosted social productive forces, Xi said. They have both created unprecedented economic development and given rise to new threats and challenges which we must face squarely.

This week, in an appearance of historic significance, President Xi will be Chinas first head of state to attend the World Economic Forum. Jiang Jianguo, director of Chinas State Council Information Office, stated that Xis mission in Davos is to promote development, cooperation and economic globalization in order to construct "a human community with shared destiny".

"With the rise of populism, protectionism, and nativism, the world has come to a historic crossroad where one road leads to war, poverty, confrontation and domination while the other road leads to peace, development, cooperation and win-win solutions," Jiang said.

Leadership roles, remarkably, have reversed. For decades, the US was the great promoter of globalism while China was still closed to the outside world. China began changing  opening up  in the late 1970s, and in recent years, especially after the financial crisis of 2008-09, the US and parts of Europe have experienced such increasingly skewed wealth concentrations that many middle class working families began feeling left behind, even neglected, slighted, and eventually they became angry.
Britain will not seek a partial membership in the European Union that leaves it "half in, half out", Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday, signaling she will push for a clean break from the 28-member bloc.

May's statement on her vision for "a Global Britain" was the clearest expression yet, since a majority of Britons voted to leave the union on June 23, of the government's intentions in Brexit negotiations with its EU partners.

"We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries," she said in a speech to foreign diplomats in London. "We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave."

Anticipation of a speech that would signal the government's intention to pursue a "hard" Brexit sent the pound plummeting on Monday.

The currency recovered ahead of the speech on Tuesday and continued to rise in a volatile market as she spoke.

A central element of May's plan is that Britain will leave the single market. The "Remain" camp had hoped to retain membership in the market even after Brexit. "Instead, we seek the greatest possible access to it," she said.

The single market allows unrestricted trade in goods and services within the EU and free movement of citizens within the 28-member bloc.

Although the one-line referendum question in June did not specify what kind of Brexit was being offered, the vote to leave was interpreted as a widespread rejection of such unrestricted immigration.

The prime minister said she sought a "stronger, fairer, more united kingdom" and "a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe".

May also confirmed that the UK would withdraw from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, the highest court in matters of European Union law.

The prime minister is due to trigger the EUs Article 50 in March to formally launch a two-year negotiating period.

However, the Supreme Court is widely expected to back a legal challenge that would oblige the government to subject that process to a parliamentary debate during which its Brexit strategy might be challenged.
People hold signs calling for the release of imprisoned wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning while marching in a gay pride parade in San Francisco, California June 28, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Tuesday shortened the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former US military intelligence who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, the biggest such breach in US history.

A White House official said there was no connection between Manning's commutation and renewed US government concern about WikiLeaks actions during last year's presidential election, or a promise by its founder Julian Assange to accept extradition if Manning was freed.

Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks - a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Obama, in one of his final acts before leaving office, reduced her sentence to seven years, angering some Republicans.

"This is just outrageous," House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. Ryan said the decision was a "dangerous precedent" for those who leak materials about national security.

"Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets," Ryan said.

Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a US Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news staff.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton said the leak endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies.

"We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr," Cotton said.
ROME - Up to 180 people were feared dead in a latest shipwreck of a migrant boat off the Libyan coasts, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday.

The United Nations (UN) migration agency released the figure after gathering testimonies from four survivors, three men and one woman, who were rescued and brought to the port town of Trapani in Sicily on Monday evening.

"They said there were an estimated 180 people on board of a barge," Flavio Di Giacomo, IOM spokesperson and coordination officer for the Mediterranean, told Xinhua.

"The engine broke down some five hours after setting sail from an unspecific location in Libya, and the boat started slowly to take on water and to sink, some 30 nautical miles off Libya."

The four survivors -- two Ethiopian and two Eritreans -- reported that several hours passed before rescuers came to save them.

"One of the men told us he was travelling with his wife, who did not survive. He also tried desperately to save another woman, yet she also drowned after some hours in the waters," Di Giacomo said.

All of the people on board were believed to be migrants and refugees from Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, according to the officer.

The survivors were finally saved by a French vessel operating as part of the rescue mission of the European Union (EU) border agency Frontex. On Sunday, they were transferred to a Norwegian ship of the same mission, the Siem Pilot, which brought them to southern Italy.

Besides the four survivors, rescuers also recovered four bodies in the area. The Siem Pilot reached the port of Trapani in the evening of Monday, also bringing to land another 34 migrants rescued in a previous operation.

Some 2,876 arrivals by sea were registered up to January 15, including 2,185 in Italy and 691 in Greece, according to IOM data published on Tuesday.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR put the figure at 2,353 in Italy alone in the same period. Arrivals had been 5,273 throughout the same month last year, according to UHNCR.

The inflow of migrants and refugees to Europe by sea has been relentless so far, despite the winter season and rough sea conditions.

While overall figures showed a downward trend, Italy remained on the frontline of the crisis with a record high of 180,375 arrivals in 2016.

In a statement on Tuesday, the IOM stressed many survivors kept attempting the dangerous sea crossing also to flee violence and abuses in Libya.

"They claimed to have no option but to put themselves in the hands of unscrupulous smugglers, who often forced them onto boats, despite the rough sea conditions," the UN agency reported.

"Many people told us that, when they get to the beach, those who change their mind and do not want to go are forced to get on board, sometimes with violence," Federico Soda, director of IOM's Coordination Office for the Mediterranean in Rome, said in the statement.
With a unique selection of Chinese traditional and Western classic favorites, the China Broadcasting Film Symphony Orchestra played to an appreciative audience at the Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.

Especially designed for the North American audiences, Saturdays concert titled Salute to Masters: New Year Film Music Gala 2017 featured music by the film music legends, including Oscar-winning composers John Williams, Ennio Morricone, James Horner and Hans Zimmer.

Always evolving to include the Chinese genre, the program also featured such top Chinese classics as Wang Lipings Shao Ling Temple, Lei Zhang Bang's Visitors on the Icy Mountain and Liu Zhis My Motherland.

Beautiful music, great symphony, fabulous movie that I never heard before, Bruce Pitkin, executive director at Theatre Ontario, who followed the concert at Royal Thomson Hall every year, told China Daily. The music of Hollywood movies is good, but I am more interested in the Chinese movies, especially the different orchestration in different period film in China.

Harnessed together, film and live music become a theatrical event. You cannot escape that you are experiencing musicians performing the musical score while you are engaged in the storytelling of the film, Pitkin said.

A super large LED screen was shipped and constructed on the stage to emphasize the visual effect.

If I am not mistaken, we have seen only four shows ever using such large LED screens, he said.

Pitkin said a technician at the venue said: Well listen to the movie and watch the music. Thats something certainly I look forward to seeing.

Founded in 1949, as the earliest China national symphony orchestra, the China Broadcasting Film Symphony Orchestra has performed and recorded the music of nearly 2,000 films, TV dramas and documentaries.

Since its first tour abroad in 1992, the orchestra has performed in more than 40 countries on five continents, worked closely with renowned conductors, composers, dancers and performers. In recent years, the orchestra created innovatively a number of audience-favorite, big screen audio-visual film concerts, light shows and other forms of concerts.

Around 1,000 spectators witnessed the live music grandeur.

renali@chinadailyusa.com
OAKLAND  The widow of the Orlando nightclub gunman knew about the attack ahead of time and then hindered the criminal investigation when she lied to FBI agents after the shooting, prosecutors said Tuesday during a brief court appearance a day after her arrest in California.

Visibly nervous and bewildered, Noor Salman quietly acknowledged she understood the two felony charges alleging she assisted her husband and obstructed justice. She could face life in prison if convicted of both counts.

She didn't enter a plea and was ordered back to court Wednesday for the formal appointment of a lawyer and discussions on how to transfer her and the case to federal court in Orlando, where a grand jury indicted her.

She was arrested Monday at her mother's home in Rodeo, a middle-class suburb about 25 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Salman, 30, was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and lived in Fort Pierce, Florida, with her husband Omar Mateen when he attacked the Pulse nightclub on June 12.

"She knew he was going to conduct the attack," federal prosecutor Roger Handberg told the judge Tuesday. Handberg did not disclose any more details and would not comment after the 15-minute hearing held in a courtroom packed with security officers.

Outside court, Salman's uncle Al Salman said his niece was innocent and did nothing to help Mateen plan the attack on the gay nightclub.

"She's a very soft and sweet girl," Salman said. "She would not hurt a fly."The indictment charges her with aiding and abetting Mateen in providing material support and resources to the Islamic State group between April and June of last year. She was also charged with obstruction, accused of misleading and lying to police and the FBI during their investigation.

The indictment gave no additional details on Salman's actions.

During the standoff, Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a 911 call. He was killed in a shootout with SWAT officers. In addition to the 49 victims killed, 53 people were injured.

In California, next-door neighbor Glauber Franchi said he was unaware that Noor Salman was living with her mother until she was arrested Monday.

"It's a very private family, very quiet family," Franchi said. "You don't see them. You barely see them on the street. They're good people from my knowledge. Never had a problem."Al Salman said that Noor Salman was physically and mentally abused by Mateen and that she stayed with him for fear of losing custody of their son.

Charles Swift, director of the Richardson, Texas-based Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, planned to represent Noor Salman at the Wednesday hearing, said public defender John Paul Reichmuth, who served as her attorney Tuesday.

Linda Moreno, a Florida attorney who also represents Salman, said after her arrest that the widow "had no foreknowledge nor could she predict what Omar Mateen intended to do that tragic night."Salman told The New York Times in an interview published in November that she knew her husband had watched jihadist videos but that she was "unaware of everything" regarding his intent to shoot up the club. Salman also said he had physically abused her.
Samsung Group chief, Jay Y. Lee, is surrounded by media as he arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, January 18, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL - The heir apparent of Samsung Group, South Korea's largest family-run conglomerate, appeared in court on Wednesday for determination on his arrest warrant which prosecutors sought two days earlier.

The hearing on whether to detain Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong will be held at about 10:30 am local time (0130 GMT). The result is forecast to come out around midnight.

If the court accepts the detention request, Lee will be taken into custody immediately. If it is rejected, he will be allowed to return home.

The grim-faced heir apparent did not answer any questions from a crowd of journalists surrounding him, local TV footage showed.

An independent counsel team, which is investigating a scandal involving President Park Geun-hye, requested the arrest of the Samsung heir for charges of bribery, perjury and embezzlement.

Samsung is suspected of bribing President Park's longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil and Choi's daughter in return for getting support from the national pension fund in the 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates.

The merger was extremely crucial to Vice Chairman Lee to inherit Samsung's overall management control from his ailing father Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

The impeached leader and the Samsung heir met face-to-face around the time of the merger. The independent counsel claimed President Park and her decades-long friend had shared private interests, indicating bribing Choi equivalent to bribing the president.
CANBERRA - The Australian government has not ruled out a future underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 so long as "credible new evidence" arises, Australia's Transport Minister Darren Chester said on Wednesday.

Following Tuesday night's joint statement from China, Australia and Malaysia that the "largest search in aviation history" had been suspended following the completion of the official 120,000 square-kilometer search, Chester said Australia had not ruled out recommencing the hunt if new evidence can point to the location of the missing Boeing 777 aircraft.

"I don't rule out a future underwater search by any means, but it's a question of if we have credible new information," Chester said in a press conference on Wednesday.

"It would be a matter for the Malaysian government certainly, but given the close relationship we have, I suspect some further conversation would occur between Australia, Malaysia and China at that time.

"I don't rule it out, but what I'm saying today is the search in the 120,000 square-kilometer search area has been completed."

Chester said any "credible new information" would need to be "information or data that leads to a specific location" of the aircraft.

"The experts will know it when they see it," he told the press on Wednesday.

The minister added that information published last month which pointed to a new search zone was only "in the order of another potential search area" and was no certainty to be the resting place of the plane.

Instead, Chester described it as "the next best" patch of ocean.

"No one is coming to me as minister and saying 'we know where MH370 is,' the new information is saying that 'if we were to going to extend the search, this is where we would target next'," Chester said.

"The (original) zone was defined on the limited data available but has been reference checked with the drift analysis with debris which has been found."

The minister was also forced to defend the decision to suspend the search, but denied the ongoing cost of the investigation, almost 150 million U.S dollars, was the main reason.

"The cost hasn't been the deciding factor in the tripartite decision to suspend the search," Chester told the press.

"There's no question it's been a very costly exercise. It's costly but wasn't the deciding factor in the decision to suspend the search."

Meanwhile the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's (ATSB) Chief Commissioner, Greg Hood told the press it was disappointing not to come away with some "closure" for the families and loved ones of the 239 missing passengers and crew.

However despite the completion of the underwater search, Hood said, the ATSB would continue to undertake land-based "residual" research into the location of the missing jetliner.

"Although the underwater search is suspended, some residual search-related activity is continuing, including debris, drift analysis and further detailed analysis of satellite imagery. This activity is anticipated by the end of February 2017," Hood told the press.

"The ATSB will continue to support any further requests by Malaysia, including the examination of any further debris that may come ashore in months to come."

Also in the wake of Tuesday night's announcement, family members of the missing have also voiced their disappointment.

Perth woman Danica Weeks told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) that she was most angry at the Malaysian government for calling off the search.

Weeks' husband, Paul, was on the flight, but she said the families would continue to seek closure even if governing bodies were "giving up."

"It is (Malaysia's) plane, their responsibility; they're the ones that promised they would bring them home and now they are just giving up," Weeks told the AAP.

"We will keep fighting. I'm not going to leave him out there or wherever he is, we're not going to leave our loved ones out there."

MH370 was a scheduled passenger flight from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. It disappeared on March 8, 2014, with 239 passengers and crew on board.
People hold signs calling for the release of imprisoned wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning while marching in a gay pride parade in San Francisco, California June 28, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON  President Barack Obama granted clemency to Chelsea Manning on Tuesday, allowing the transgender Army intelligence officer convicted of leaking more than 700,000 US documents to go free nearly three decades early.



Embracing his clemency powers days before leaving office, Obama also pardoned 64 individuals including retired Gen. James Cartwright, charged with making false statements during another leak probe. Manning was one of 209 inmates with sentences commuted by Obama, who has now granted more commutations than any other president in history.



Neil Eggleston, Obama's White House counsel, said the individuals would learn "that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward."Manning, Cartwright and Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera were the more prominent names on a list otherwise made up mostly of nonviolent drug offenders. The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.



With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama last November to commute her sentence to time served.



Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a men's prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests. The former cheered Obama's move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.



Yet Obama did not grant a pardon to another prominent leaker, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, whom the U.S. has been unable to extradite from Russia. Snowden hasn't formally applied for clemency, though his supporters have called for it. Yet the White House drew a distinction between the unapologetic Snowden and Manning, whom officials noted has expressed remorse and served several years already for her crime.



Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced. She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.



"We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obama's action could "quite literally save Chelsea's life."But House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move "just outrageous," and added, "Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets."Manning and many of the others receiving commutations will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry.



With just days left as president, Obama also pardoned hotelier Ian Schrager, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion. The White House said Obama would announce more clemency actions Thursday  his last full day in office  but said those would focus on drug offenders and would not likely include any other famous names.



Commutations reduce sentences being served, but don't erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.



Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who received a pardon, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.



The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the U.S. government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.



Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the US island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.



The 74-year-old's term will expire in May. The White House noted that absent a commutation, Lopez likely would have died in prison.



Obama's commutation for Manning also raised fresh questions about the future of another figure involved in the Army leaker's case: Julian Assange.



WikiLeaks had earlier pledged, via tweet, that its founder would agree to US extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning. Holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he's wanted on a rape allegation, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.



But the Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange. WikiLeaks lawyer Melinda Taylor said US and British authorities refuse to say whether the US has requested extradition. Though she praised the commutation for Manning, Taylor made no mention of Assange's earlier promise to agree to extradition.



White House officials said neither Assange's fate nor separate concerns about WikiLeaks' role in Russian hacking of the election factored into the decision to commute Manning's sentence. The officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.
GAO, Mali  At least 33 people were killed and several dozen injured after an explosives-laden vehicle targeted a camp housing armed groups in northern Mali, a local official said Wednesday.

The morning blast hit the Joint Operational Mechanism base in the city of Gao. The base houses hundreds of fighters including members of armed groups that signed Mali's 2015 peace agreement. The camp also houses Malian soldiers.

The local official called the death toll provisional. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.

"I am with the injured now," Dr. Sadou Maiga at Gao's hospital told The Associated Press. "We have stopped all hospital activities to handle the many injured who are arriving. Some have died from their wounds, and others are in a very grave state. At this point, it's not the toll of dead and injured that interests me, it's saving who I can."Witnesses said the car bearing explosives breached the camp at around 9 a.m., just as hundreds of fighters were gathering for a meeting.

Dismembered bodies could still be seen two hours after the blast.

Officials were trying to mobilize Gao residents to donate blood.

The suicide bomber "succeeded in tricking soldiers' vigilance" and penetrated the camp, said an army spokesman, Ly-col Diarran Kone.

Northern Mali remains insecure despite a French-led military intervention launched in 2013 to drive out Islamic extremists that had taken over the area.

On Wednesday, a new Human Rights Watch report said Mali's government is failing to protect civilians in its northern and central regions from Islamic extremists who killed dozens of people last year while pressuring families to give up their children to jihad.

The report describes how militants have occupied villages, attacked U.N. peacekeepers and tried to impose a strict interpretation of Sharia law. The report also denounces rising levels of banditry, a phenomenon victims say is fueled by the slow implementation of the 2015 peace accord.

Security Minister Salif Traore declined to respond to the report's specifics but said he is well aware of security challenges throughout the region.

The UN Security Council was expected to be briefed on Mali on Wednesday.
Keigo Sugano (L), Product & Marketing Unit, MOBILE Business Promotion Division Head and MD Division Head of SoftBank and Manabu Miyasaka, president and chief executive officer of Yahoo Japan Corp, pose for cameras during a news conference to announce the Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank's 2017 spring promotions on January 16 2017, Tokyo, Japan.[Photo/IC]

TOKYO/SAN FRANCISCO - Yahoo Japan, the country's biggest online auction site, is rebuffing calls to end online ivory trading despite Yahoo Inc CEO Marissa Mayer's misgivings over facilitating a business blamed for the illegal slaughter of African elephants.

Yahoo Japan doesn't accept that ivory sold on its platform - supposedly imported into Japan before a 1989 ban on international shipments - is a factor behind the sharp rise in poaching on the African savannah in recent years.

Dismissing animal rights campaigners' concerns, even though the ivory business contributes a fraction of its sales, Yahoo Japan also argues that so long as no laws are broken people should be able to trade whatever they like on the internet.

"We want to provide an internet auction site where people can trade freely, and at this moment we have no intention of banning legal trading without any reason," a spokesman for Yahoo Japan said.

"We don't believe the ivory sales contribute to a fall in elephant numbers," he added.

A count of African elephants - the main source of poached ivory - showed the population had fallen to less than 380,000 in 2014.

With their numbers dropping around 30 percent between 2007 and 2014 , African elephants are on the World Wildlife Fund's vulnerable list.

Meantime, sales of ivory via Yahoo Japan have risen exponentially.

In 2015, 28,000 ivory pieces were traded on Yahoo Japan, more than seven times as much as a decade earlier, including 438 whole tusks, according to a recent report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).

Ivory is traditionally used in Japan for carved 'hanko' name seals. But because much of Japan's ivory is unregistered, wildlife groups say Japan provides an opportunity for unscrupulous traders to register poached ivory for sale to Chinese traders.

China said two weeks ago it will ban the domestic trade by the end of 2017, shutting the door to the world's biggest market for poached ivory.
MOSCOW - Russia has extended asylum for US whistleblower Edward Snowden for two years, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

The decision was made in defiance of a recent statement by former CIA deputy director Michael Morell that Russian President Vladimir Putin had a great opportunity to extradite Snowden as a "perfect inauguration gift" to President-elect Donald Trump.

"The essence of what the former CIA man is offering is the ideology of betrayal," Zakharova said on Facebook.

"What you have leaked, Mr. Morell, makes now clear to everybody that for your office it is normal to present gifts in the form of people and extradite those seeking protection," she added.

Snowden, a computer professional who had done contractual work for the US National Security Agency, fled to Russia in 2013 after revealing thousands of classified documents to the press. He was wanted by Washington on charges of espionage.

Russian authorities initially granted him asylum for one year before a three-year extension.
video video video

A train traveling all the way from Yiwu on China's east coast arrived in London's Barking station on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the first direct freight train to link the UK and China, crossing the deserts, fields and mountains of Eurasia and ducking under the English channel on its epic 18-day, 12,451 km journey.

Diplomats, transport executives and members of the international media assembled to watch the China-Europe Block Train travel the last few hundred meters of the new Yiwu-London line and pull into Barking's cargo terminal on schedule at 1 pm.

"This is the latest practical outcome of China-UK cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative," said Zhu Qin, a minister from the Chinese embassy in the UK. "Since its first journey in 2011, China Railway Express has reached many destinations in Europe and Asia. It has become a tangible link between China and Europe, a symbol of China-Europe cooperation. It has contributed greatly to connectivity in the Eurasian continent, and the economic development of the wider region."

The new service is operated by China's Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co, which has been running freight trains twice a week between China, Germany and Spain for more than a year.

The train's engine tugged 68 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) cargo containers bearing 4-million-pounds-worth of goods from Yiwu markets - household wares, clothing, fabric, bags and other small commodities. The train crossed the Chinese border at Alataw Pass, and meandered across Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France, and under the English Channel to reach the UK.

Because of differing gauges on its route, the containers were offloaded several times.

Oscar Lin, manager of the service's UK agent, London-based Onetwothree Logistics, told China Daily the service is currently accepting bookings for the return journey.

Transporting goods by train is not only half as cheap as air transport, it also takes half the time sea shipping does. The train departed in Yiwu on Jan. 1, taking just 18 days to travel 12,451 km - which is roughly the entire coastline of the United Kingdom.

Yiwu is the largest small commodities trading center in the world, and each year produces more than half the world's Christmas decorations. Exports from Yiwu to the UK had a value of 621 million dollars (502 million pounds) in 2015, and 569 million dollars (461 million pounds) from January-November 2016, representing a 10 percent increase for the same period the year before.

Rajesh Agrawal, London's deputy mayor for business, said: "The arrival of the first freight train from China shows that London is a leading destination for Chinese businesses, offering firms access to markets, expertise and capital, as well as an entry point to the West."

The new service falls in line with China's Belt and Road international development strategy is an initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013 that focuses on connectivity and cooperation among countries geographically close to China. United Kingdom has expressed its desire to be an active partner on the initiative.

Last year Lord Sassoon, a Conservative peer with extensive Chinese business links, presented Xi with the China-Britain Business Council's report on the Belt and Road Initiative, outlining several areas in which UK companies were collaborating on infrastructure and energy projects along the trade route.
President Barack Obama firmly defended his decision to cut nearly three decades off convicted leaker Chelsea Manning's prison term Wednesday, arguing in his final White House news conference that the former Army intelligence analyst had served a "tough prison sentence" already.

Taking questions on many topics two days before his presidency ends, Obama also warned that the "moment may be passing" for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, pushing back on criticism over his recent move to put pressure on the Jewish state over settlement-building. Turning his attention to President-elect Donald Trump, Obama said he reserves the right to speak out as ex-president if Trump violates America's "core values."Obama said he granted clemency to Manning because she had gone to trial, taken responsibility for her crime and received a sentence that was harsher than other leakers had received. He emphasized that he had merely commuted her sentence, not granted a pardon, which would have symbolically forgiven her for the crime.

"I feel very comfortable that justice has been served," Obama said.

Manning was convicted in 2013 of violating the Espionage Act and other crimes for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad. Formerly known as Bradley Manning, she declared as transgender after being sentenced to 35 years in prison. She had served more than six years before Obama commuted her sentence on Tuesday, with a release date set for May.

"The notion that the average person who was thinking about disclosing vital, classified information would think that it goes unpunished, I don't think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served," Obama said.

Obama's defense of controversial decisions came as he prepares to exit the presidency after eight years marked by major victories on health care, the economy and climate change, along with disappointments over his inability to achieve his goals on immigration, gun control and closing the Guantanamo Bay prison. He also wound down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but wrestled with other security threats posed by the Islamic State group and the Syria civil war he was unable to resolve.

Even many of Obama's proudest achievements, like the "Obamacare" health care overhaul, stand to be rolled back or undermined by President-elect Donald Trump, a shadow that hangs over Obama's legacy as he leaves office. The formal end comes Friday when Obama and Trump will motorcade together to the Capitol for Trump's swearing-in before Obama, then an ex-president, flies with his family to California for a vacation.

Reflecting on his legacy as the first black president, Obama disputed the notion that race relations had worsened. And he dismissed as "fake news" the idea that there is widespread voter fraud in the U.S., a notion that Democrats say is used to justify restrictions that make it harder for African-Americans to vote.

Appearing one last time in front of the White House seal, Obama said he was "significantly worried" that the growth of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories would "increasingly make a two-state solution impossible." He stood behind his decision to allow a U.N. Security Council resolution to pass criticizing Israel over the settlements, though he conceded Trump might pursue a different approach.

"If you do not have two states, then in some form or fashion you are extending an occupation," Obama said.

He defended his administration's rapprochement with Cuba and his eleventh-hour move to end the "wet foot, dry foot" policy that lets any Cuban who makes it to U.S. soil stay and become a legal resident. Ending the visa-free path was the latest development in a warming of relations that has included the easing of the U.S. economic embargo and the restoration of commercial flights between the U.S. and the small island nation.

"That was a carry-over of an old way of thinking that didn't make sense in this day and age, particularly as we're opening up travel between the two countries," Obama said of the "wet foot, dry foot" policy.

After leaving office, Obama plans to write a book, raise money to develop his presidential library, and work on a Democratic initiative to prepare for the 2020 round of congressional redistricting. Yet he said he plans to assume a low profile in the months after he leaves office, and to avoid commenting on politics on a daily basis.

"I want to be quiet a little bit, and not hear myself talk so darn much," Obama said.

Yet he carved out room for potential exceptions. Obama was insistent that he wouldn't stay silent of Trump tried to deport children brought to the U.S. illegally, a group Obama has sought to protect though executive action.

"That would merit me speaking out," Obama said.

Although Obama had long intended to take one last round of questions before leaving office, White House officials said that in recent days, Obama became intent on using the occasion to draw a symbolic contrast with Trump on issues of accountability and press freedoms. Trump's team has said it's considering changes to the traditional daily press briefing and to the location of news conferences, stoking concerns among journalists that their ability to cover the presidency may be scaled back.

Obama alluded to those concerns in his opening remarks, noting the role the press plays in American democracy.

"It doesn't work if we don't have a well-informed citizenry, and you are the conduit," Obama said.

Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Wilbur Ross (M) in the hearing [Photo by Chen Weihua/China Daily]

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for commerce secretary said Wednesday that he favors "sensible trade," is pro-union and believes his vast business dealings have given experience fighting other countries' unfair trade practices.

Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross cited his relationship with the United Steelworkers Union, which has endorsed him for the Cabinet post, as proof that he will work to protect American jobs.

"I'm pro-trade. But I'm pro-sensible trade, not trade that is detrimental to the American worker and to the domestic manufacturing base," Ross told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

"I think I've probably had more direct experience than any prior cabinet nominee has had with unfair trade in the steel business, in the textile business, in the auto parts business and other sectors," Ross said.

Worth an estimated $2.9 billion, Ross has extensive business ties around the globe. Supporters say that makes him ideal to represent American business interests abroad.

"I believe his extensive management experience in the private sector, and his understanding of the challenges faced by workers and businesses alike, will equip him well for the job of leading the Department of Commerce," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the committee chairman.

During Ross' hearing, Thune revealed that Ross had a household employee from 2009 to 2016 who could not provide documentation that he or she was in the U.S. legally.

Ross said the employee provided a driver's license and a Social Security number when hired. Ross said he rechecked the documentation for all of his household employees after he was nominated, and the employee could not provide it. Ross said the employee was fired.

"We did the best that we thought we could do in order to verify the legality of the employment and it turned out that was incorrect," Ross said. "But we did pay all the withholdings, so did that employee."Such transgressions have derailed cabinet nominees in the past. But Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, the top Democrat on the committee, questioned Ross only briefly about it.
Chinas Relations With the West: Straight Line Decline

There are those who believe China's ongoing Party Congress will bode well for companies that do business in or with China. I am firmly convinced that the opposite is true and that it will used as yet another opportunity by China to show that it will not be cowered by the declining relations and sanctions/counter-sanctions between the United States / EU / Australia / Japan on the one hand, and China on the other. I see China using this Congress to let the world (domestic and external) know that it fully intends to fight back and fight back hard. In other words, this Party Congress will lead to China's decoupling from much of the world accelerating, not slowing down.
Kentucky Is Now Down To One Abortion Clinic; Women Say, Start Stockpiling Wire Hangers

Abortion access is taking another quiet step backward. By the end of the month, Kentucky will be down to only one abortion provider in the entire state, thanks to the closing of the EMW Womens Clinic in Lexington.

The news was announced last Friday in a post on the Kentucky National Organization For Womens Facebook page after the clinic's six-month legal battle to obtain a state license. The EMW Womens Clinic called the closing a permanent casualty of pro-life governor Matt Bevin. In a Facebook post, the executive director wrote:

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It is with extreme sadness and deep regret that I write to tell you (before you read it in the paper), that EMW WOMENS CLINIC, Lexington will close January 27th.



As you know, for the past 6 1/2 months we have diligently pursued obtaining a license to operate an abortion facility. Although we and our attorney believed we had fulfilled all the requirements to obtain the license, the Inspector General of KY disagreed and denied us the license. Unfortunately, our landlord has also declined to renew our lease on the space we have occupied at 161 Burt Rd., since 1989.



I have worked in clinics providing abortion services in KY for 43 years. I cannot begin to thank you enough for your support of me, EMW WOMENS CLINIC, our patients and reproductive freedom. It is with a heavy heart that I resign myself to the fate of the Lexington clinic.



There is, indeed, a chill wind blowing for the women of KY.



Last year, the Center for Reproductive Rights named Kentucky as one of the states where it's particularly difficult to get an abortion. According to The Cut, last week, the ACLU sued the state over two recently passed abortion bills: a 20-week abortion ban with no exceptions for rape and incest, and a bill that would require women to get an ultrasound before receiving an abortion.



According to Raw Story, by February, the only remaining abortion clinic in Kentucky will be in Louisville. Women who live in Lexington and need an abortion will now have to drive an hour and a half to Louisville, or leave the state and travel to Cincinnati; women who live in southern Kentucky will have to leave the state and travel to Nashville to get an abortion.



Kentucky women left comments on the announcement, including I really hope I never get pregnant while living in this awful state. I dont know if I could get to Louisville. I might have to resort to extreme measures and So, why dont we just start stockpiling metal coat hangers again?



In a separate Facebook post, the Kentucky National Organization For Women wrote:



This is unacceptable. It will have a huge impact on low-income women across the state who are unable to afford transportation to Louisville and back. We must have ACCESS to safe, legal, affordable abortions without interference by the government.

Top photo via Wikimedia Commons

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Erika W. Smith is BUST's digital editorial director. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @erikawynn and email her at erikawsmith@bust.com.
(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) Essilor and Luxottica is set to become a market leader if merge plans push through.

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Essilor of France announced on Monday a $49 billion merging deal with Luxottica Group of Italy that is poised to become a "clear leader in the optical industry."



Luxottica, owner of Ray-Ban and Oakley that makes prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses under a variety of labels, holds a 14 percent global market share, while lens maker Essilor accounts 13 percent share, according to the market research firm Euromonitor International.



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The partnership, to be known as EssilorLuxottica, is set to become a market leader. According to UBS, initial calculations revealed that the new tandem would have generated 15 billion euros ($16 billion) in sales and 3.5 billion euros ($3.74) reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization in 2015, CNBC noted.



Furthermore, the new group would have both online and in-stores presence, with brands including Foster Grant, Oliver Peoples, Persol, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, and Sunglass Hut. Based on 2015 data, EssilorLuxottica would have more than 140,000 employees in more than 150 countries.



"By joining forces today, these two international players can now accelerate their global expansion," Hubert Sagnieres, the Essilor chairman and chief executive, said in a news release.



Essilor and Luxottica have a strong brand portfolio, manufacturing lenses for prescription glasses and sunglasses, as well as frames and global distribution capabilities.



The transaction is expected to close by the second half of 2017, but it still requires regulatory and shareholder approval.



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(Photo : Getty Images) Jars of Nutella are displayed on a shelf at a market on Aug. 18, 2014 in San Francisco, California.

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Malaysiasian Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said on Tuesday that reports saying that the palm oil ingredient of Nutella is cancerous is just a distortion of facts.



Buzz Nigeria reported that a number of supermarkets abroad have removed products containing cancerous ingredients like processed palm oil as precautionary measures. The ban is likely to continue until new research confirms that it is safe to consume such foods. The recent move affected Nutella.



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In connection to this, Mah told reporters at the "Palm Oil Economic Review and Outlook" seminar that the government has already allocated RM50 million ($11.25 million) to research about the alleged cancerous palm oil ingredient.



Mah said that GE (glycidyl fatty acid esters) and 3-MCPD (3-monochloropropanediol) are both present in vegetable oils just like olive oil. He pointed out that such chemicals are not cancerous; hence, it will not affect the popular and favorite Nutella choco spread.



Mah also expressed his dissatisfaction about the news especially the western media for merely focusing on the palm oil present in Nutella. He was disappointed because Nutella is Europes iconic brand and Italys biggest export.



On behalf of oil palm planters, I would like to express my appreciation to Ferrero Group, the world's third largest confectioner and maker of Nutella, for keeping to its recipe of using palm oil, he said.



New Straits Times reported that the Ferrero Group asserted that Nutella products are safe to consume because the ingredients contained in each jar are measured to limit the contaminants to the minimum level.



Our quality control teams constantly monitor such factors and guarantee the food safety of our products to the consumer," a Ferrero Group spokesperson noted.



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(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) A team of researchers from Stanford University is working on a project to incorporate TPP, a type of chemical-fire retardant, on smartphone batteries to prevent smartphones from catching fire when the battery explodes.



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The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 exploding battery fiasco has stirred major concerns whether smartphone batteries are really safe. In an effort to prevent these disasters from happening, a group of Stanford scientists have developed a lithium-ion battery pack, which includes a capsule filled with triphenyl phosphate (TPP). Once the battery's internal temperature reaches a certain point, the capsule will melt releasing the TPP and extinguishing the fire.



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The team working on the project found out that TPP is a type of chemical-fire retardant. The chemical is capable of extinguishing an exploding battery in just 0.4 seconds, according to 9to5Google. The team also set the temperature threshold at 302 degrees Fahrenheit, at that point, the capsule will melt releasing the TPP chemical.



Tech analysts said that this is a much needed fail-safe option in securing lithium-ion batteries, especially in the wake of the Note 7 disaster. Experts said that lithium-ion batteries have a higher tendency of catching fire when they are too hot. Most of these explosions happen when a lithium-ion battery pack charges too quickly or when some manufacturing errors trigger the battery to short circuit.



Commenting on the issue about exploding batteries, IHS senior analyst Ian Fogg told BBC, "There is enormous pressure to improve battery tech. it's one of the areas that's holding back mobile devices and range of other products."



Regarding the issue of the exploding Galaxy Note 7, prior investigations revealed that chemical reactions on the batteries triggered the explosions. Samsung is yet to release the official results of the company's own investigation.



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Tagsbattery, exploding battery, Samsung, Galaxy Note 7, battery pack, smartphone battery
(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) Chinese President compared the saying "yes to protectionism" to locking oneself in a dark room and keeping out light and air.



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Chinese President Xi Jinping formally opened on Tuesday the proceedings of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as he staunchly positioned himself as a defender of globalization and free trade.



Xi set the tone for the week-long conference with a powerful speech sprinkled with Chinese metaphors and proverbs and historical reference.



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Globalization and Free Trade

Xi argued that the economic integration has powered human advancement and improved the lives of many and it is not the root of the world's crises but rather a solution. He further explained that while it is true that economic globalization has created new problems, this is no justification to write off economic globalization altogether.



In a report by CBS Money Watch, Xi underscored the importance of saying "no to protectionism" and to remain committed to developing free trade and investment, and promoting liberalization and facilitation through opening up.



The Chinese leader compared the saying "yes to protectionism" to locking oneself in a dark room and keeping out light and air. "No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war," Xi stressed.



Xi's Speech is a Step to Global Leadership Role

One expert told The Washington Post that this could be seen as a turning point for China to move toward filling a "global leadership role" that the US has played for a century and now might be abandoning.



Other observers such as Ambrose Evans-Pritchard of the Telegraph said Xi was "throwing down the gauntlet" as US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration approaches.



Trump, being days away from his inauguration, was not in attendance at Davos, and Xi never uttered his name. However, many of the Chinese president's statements were clearly responding to the rhetoric from Trump who have rejected globalization and many existing trade deals.



World Economic Forum 2017

The World Economic Forum is an international body that is committed to improving the state of the world. Its forum is best known for its annual meeting at the end of January in Davos, Switzerland, and Xi was the first Chinese leader to attend this annual event.



The forum brings together thousands of top business leaders, international politics, and journalists. It runs for about four days and will cover pressing issues that the world is facing.



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TagsChinese President Xi jinping, Davos World Economic Forum, Defender of Globalization, Global leader role, free trade
(Photo : Getty Images) Nine construction workers died after a coal mine collapsed in Shanxi Province, China

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At least 9 construction workers were confirmed dead on Tuesday after a mine collapsed during maintenance procedures at the Danshuigou colliery in China's Shanxi province.







Ten people have reportedly been trapped in the mine when it collapsed on Tuesday morning at 10:45 a.m. (local time). Rescue workers were able to save one person but the rest lost their lives due to the incident.



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The only survivor was reported to be coping well and was not in a critical condition.



ECNS reported that the cause of the coal mine accident is still under investigation. Officials at the Shuozhou City were also not available for comment in regard to the incident.



China is recognized globally as a lead coal distributor. However, its mining sector has constantly been placed under thorough scrutiny for poor regulations.



Thus far, China has constantly made news for building and mine collapses, killing mostly construction workers who are on site, and occasionally, even rescue operators are not spared.



On Friday last week, a total of 12 people were confirmed dead following a Wednesday gas explosion in Henan province in China.



The Wednesday morning incident occurred at the Dengfeng City colliery during an expansion process. Of the 12 recorded to have died, three were rescuers.



The accident was reportedly caused by human error; the death of seven victims was, however, recorded to be due to lack of oxygen.



Yahoo News reported that a total of 931 fatalities were recorded back in 2014, according to statistics presented by China's Work Safety Administration.



The Chinese government has vowed to shut down over 1,000 mines that were outdated and underperforming in a bid to reduce on fatalities due to mining-related incidents.



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(Photo : Getty Images) A request by the Dalai Lama to visit President-elect Donald Trump has been rejected, according to chief adviser Michael Pillsbury.

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China could see a more likely better relationship with the US after Donald Trump reportedly declined an early request to host the Dalai Lama, Michael Pillsbury, the president-elect's chief advisor, said while speaking at the Pangoal Think Tank Forum in China.



Pillsbury said that the conflict of interest over Arunachal Pradesh between China and India is putting the US at a critical position. This, he explained is because of the ongoing arms sales between USA and India.



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"China claims Arunachal Pradesh, India has engaged in a military build-up to protect the region," he said.



He went on to say that despite the continuous request from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the US to intervene, there has been no response on the matter.



"Whether President Trump supports India's claim on the matter and continues arms sales to India is another Chinese worry about the coming year," he added.



India and China have been in a constant war path not only because of Arunachal Pradesh province but on matters to do with the Dalai Lama.



Last October, the spokesperson for India's foreign affairs, Vikas Swarup, explained that the Dalai Lama is a welcomed guest at Arunachal Pradesh this coming March, despite the India-China territorial dispute, according to a report by the Times of India.



"He has a sizeable Buddhists follower in the province who values his blessing," said Swarup. "He has in the past visited the region and its okay if he visits again."



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TagsIndia, USA, china, Dalai Lama, Arunachal Pradesh Dispute
(Photo : Getty Images) Speaking at a regional summit in a national capital, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again urged China to respect New Delhi's core concerns and interests'.

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India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called on China to respect his country's core "concerns" and "interests" at a geo-political summit held in the national capital New Delhi. The call comes at a time when both countries bilateral relationship has been strained by unresolved diplomatic issues.



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Speaking at the annual Raisina Dialogue summit, Modi claimed that it is but natural for large countries like India and China to have major differences, but this should not force both countries to show insensitivity towards each other's concerns.



"In the management of our relationship and for peace and progress in the region, both the countries need to show sensitivity and respect for each other's core concerns and interests," he said.



Modi's statement was apparently aimed against China's hindering role in 'NSG' and Masood Azhar issues last year, with Beijing refusing to budge on both issues despite New Delhi's continuous diplomatic efforts.



The Indian prime minister also spoke on the Asia Pacific region, where China has locked horns with several neighbors over the South China Sea dispute.



He said that security in the Asia Pacific "must be open, transparent, balanced and inclusive. And it must promote dialogue and predictable behavior rooted in international norms and respect for sovereignty."



Modi also took a veiled swipe at the Beijing-funded China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which New Delhi claimed to be a major security issue for its region.



The Indian leader said that only if the corridor respects other nation's sovereignty can it really fulfill its economic promises.



China so far has not given any official response to Modi's statements during the summit. The Raisina Dialogue summit is the Indian government's flagship geopolitical event that is modelled on Singapore's Shangri La dialogue. This year, the summit is being attended by representatives of 65 nations.



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TagsNarendra Modi, China and India, Modi China, china, India
(Photo : Getty Images) China injected government funds into the infrastructure sector to aid its fledgling economy. The initiative is likely to continue this year as well, albeit at a slower pace.

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China is expected to emphasize economic stability over growth rate in 2017, with the government expecting to clock a 6.5 percent rate, insiders familiar with the matter told Reuters. The authorities are also looking to contain the risk of real estate bubble and debt overload.



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Reuters reported that the growth rate target was agreed by top leaders at the Central Economic Work Conference in mid-December. An anonymous policy advisor said, "The target will be around 6.5 percent, which indicates that slightly slower growth is acceptable."



China is believed to have a clocked 6.7 percent growth in 2016, which amounts to the middle of the range targeted by the government. However, going forward, the country faces the precarious task of balancing its growth rate with the stability of the economy.



The domestic economy in China is facing several issues. Its real estate sector is overheated, leading to speculations regarding the creation of bubble. The country is also grappling with declining foreign trade as its exports and imports both fell during the previous year.



China injected government funds into the infrastructure sector to aid its fledgling economy. The initiative is likely to continue this year as well, albeit at a slower pace. The Central Bank of China also announced that it plans to follow "prudent and neutral" policy.



The main emphasis of the policy this year will be on controlling risk as China is expected to follow tighter monetary policy. Its trade relationship with the US is also likely to go through a challenging phase as the new President Donald Trump takes charge in Washington, DC.



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Tagseconomic growth, Real Estate Bubble, donald trump
(Photo : Getty Images) Baidu will reportedly focus on driving its revenue through the use of AR marketing.

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Baidu aims to pursue its augmented reality ambitions in 2017 as the company announced that it will open its brand new Augmented Reality lab in Beijing. With this step, the Chinese technology giant is looking to boost its bottom line with the help of state-of-the-art technology.



It has been reported that the lab will focus on driving revenue through the use of AR marketing. Later, the scope of the lab will be increased to embrace other areas such as education and healthcare. The lab currently employs 55 people.



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Andrew Ng, the chief scientist overseeing Baidu's artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality, and deep learning projects, said "AR marketing is taking off. There are few content formats where the content is evergreen - AR will be like that."



Baidu is reported to have invested $200 million for pushing AI and AR, a move to reportedly boost its dwindling profitability. Baidu also revealed that it is collaborating with various prominent companies such as BMW, KFC, and Lancome. It has also created a new $3 billion investment fund for mid- to late-stage startups.



The company is scheduled to report its full year earnings in February. It is expected that it will report a nearly 4.6 percent drop in its revenue as the result of government ban on medical advertising. The curb is said to have decreased its ad customers by 16 percent in the quarter ended in September.



Baidu will also need to tackle the domestic regulations in China regarding AI and AR. Chinese authorities recently refused to allow Pokemon Go in the country, due to its mapping requirements.



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TagsBaidu, Andrew Ng, BMW
(Photo : Getty Images) China halted the construction of over 100 coal projects tio promote use of renewable energy sources as part of its Five-Year Plan.

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China is continuing its war on coal in order to push the use of renewable resources. The National Energy Administration (NEA) announced on Saturday that construction of upcoming coal projects would be halted in accordance with the country's Five-Year Plan.



It is reported that over 100 projects were undertaken and these projects will no longer be worked upon. The NEA report said that Beijing committed to a coal capacity cap of 1,100GW. However, the construction of new projects would have taken the amount to 1,250GW, surpassing government limits.



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The latest ruling asked 11 provinces to stop working on these under-construction projects. These coal power plants had the aggregate capacity of more than 100GW. These projects were worth nearly $62 billion and were spread across several provinces and autonomous regions such as Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Gansu.



The government action has been largely lauded by the international community and environmental watchdogs. Greenpeace said, "Stopping under-construction projects seems wasteful and costly, but spending money and resources to finish these completely unneeded plants would be even more wasteful."



China is also working towards making more use of renewable sources such as wind and solar. It plans to install 130GW of new solar and wind power plants by 2020.



China is one of the biggest energy markets in the world. However, the country is also struggling with various environmental issues including pollution. Chinese authorities are now pushing the use of greener technologies for the purpose of generating energy.









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Tagschina, Greenpeace, coal power plant
(Photo : Getty Images) President Xi told a gathering of world leaders at Davos to fight isolationism and embark on economic globalization

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Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the annual Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) on Tuesday, selling the benefits of economic globalization to global political leaders, CEOs, and bankers who attended the gathering.



In an hour-long keynote speech he delivered at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the WEF, Xi stressed the importance of adapting to economic globalization with the aim of reaping its benefits by all.



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In his speech, Xi explained that economic globalization should not be blamed for the world's problems saying it runs counter to reality and that it was not helpful in resolving economic challenges.



Isolationism



The Chinese leader stressed that for economic globalization to work, leaders need to be pro-active and must effectively manage their economies properly so as to reach its full impact.



Xi rallied the world's industry leaders to fight all kinds of protectionist trade and isolationism and embark on the path of globalization at the right pace and at the right time.



He told the audience that for different countries and their people to share the benefits of economic globalization, they need to "strike a balance between efficiency and equity."



Human History



"President Xi's remarks objectively elaborated the role of globalization in the entire process of human history and suggested that its role should be viewed dialectically," said Zhang Yuyan, an economic and political expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.



"Protectionist trade, populism, and nationalism can quell public dissatisfaction for the time being, but in the long run, they will harm the overall interests of all," Zhang said.



Xi is the first Chinese head of state to attend the Davos meeting. Amid growing concerns for protectionism and anti-globalization sentiment by several countries, the Chinese leader did not succumb to pressure and eagerly touted the advantages of globalization.



Xi said that China's doors are open to business communities from other countries and that Beijing will continue to offer opportunities for global trade to the international community.



He said China is experiencing a bustling economy and in the next five years, Beijing is expected to invest $US 750 bn overseas, import $8 trillion worth of goods, and attract $600 bn in foreign investment. Chinese tourists will likewise make 700 million overseas visits in the same period.



Xi is on a four-day official state visit to Switzerland which started last January 15.



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TagsDavos World Economic Forum, Switzerland, global industry leaders, CEOs, protectionist trade, economic globalization, Isolationism, bustling economy, china, President Xi Jinping
(Photo : Getty Images) TChina's meteorological department said that only one department will be tasked to post smog alerts to maintain uniformity.

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China's Meteorological Administration on Tuesday has barred regional forecasters from issuing smog alerts to prevent mismatches, a move that has raised suspicions and received great criticisms from the online community.



The note reportedly came as an internal memo and was sent to prevent "incidents of the meteorological administration and the environmental protection ministry [from] frequently releasing different information about the smog," the Hindustan Time reported, citing an unnamed official of the National Meteorological Administration.



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The notice by the meteorological department said that only one department will be tasked to post smog alerts to maintain uniformity. Local departments are however allowed to continue releasing fog alerts when visibility is less than 10 kilometers.



Meanwhile, the notice draw a massive criticism from online users, with many saying that it was a new scheme to create a common lie and prevent harming China's economic performance.



The Nanjing Meteorological Institute took to its Weibo account to comment on the recent amendment.



"The meteorological administration fought the environmental protection ministry and lost," the post read. "Thus, early warnings about smog, a kind of meteorological calamity cannot be issued by the administration."



China has been constantly battling against the deadly smog, which has been affecting the country over the past three years. In a bid to curb air pollution, the Chinese government has implemented new rules and regulations and imposed fines for violators.



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Tagschina, Meteorological Administration, smog, smog alert
(Photo : Getty Images) Chinese president Xi Jingping met his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, where he pledged that Beijing will play a constructive role in resolving the Ukrainian crisis.

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China said that it is willing to play a constructive role in resolving the Ukraine crisis, which imploded after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. The assurance was given by Chinese President Xi Jingping to his Ukrainian counterpart during a meeting held at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Switzerland.



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"We genuinely hope that Ukraine maintains social stability and economic development, and are willing to play a constructive role in promoting a political resolution to the crisis," an official statement quoted Xi as saying.



This is the first time that China has shown any positive interest in the Ukraine crisis. The Asian country so far has walked tightly over the issue as it clearly did not want to alienate its communist ally Russia.



Although China and Russia do not exactly share a very cordial relationship, both communist nations have entered a deal to a form formidable alliance for countering western hegemony in the region.



Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Xi also held discussions on economic cooperation during the meeting.



Poroshenko told his Chinese counterpart that Ukraine was completely supportive of Chinese investment and there is a great potential for enhanced cooperation in areas such as logistics, ports, steel, and agriculture, as per the statement issued by Chinese foreign ministry.



China's unexpected interest in the Ukraine crisis comes exactly a day after US Vice President Joe Biden paid a final visit to Ukraine, with Biden urging the incoming Trump administration to continue with the Russian sanctions.



Russia's decision to militarily intervene in the Ukraine crisis in March 2014 caused a huge international uproar, with most western countries unilaterally opposing Moscow's move.



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TagsChina and Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine crisis, Petro Poroshenko and Xi Jingping, china
Russia has dominated much of the news lately, but according to RelevantMagazine.com, there are even more pressing reasons to be concerned about Russia than what most news sources are reporting.

Persecution of Christians is increasing in Russia at an alarming rate. Last summer, Russia passed controversial laws that prohibited Christians from evangelizing freely and restricted religious discussions. Shortly following these laws, which are part of the Yarovaya package, Christians began to be prosecuted for engaging in their normal religious activities.

Some Christians were even labelled as cultists or foreign agents.

These laws have some fearing that Russia is going back to the Soviet era when Christians faced severe persecution.

Emily Taylor of Relevant offers three specific things Christians can do in light of what believers are facing in Russia.

1. Pray for Russian Christians. Pray that they would remain strong in faith and that they would never lose hope.

2. Forgive those who want to punish Christians for their faith. Pray for Russia and its leaders, even though this may be difficult.

3. Learn more about what Russian Christians are facing so that you can pray for specific needs. Learn more about Russian culture as a whole so you can better understand these people.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: January 18, 2017
An airstrike carried out by Nigerias military killed at least 52 refugees and aid workers when it was meant to target Boko Haram militants.

According to ChristianToday.com, the airstrike occurred in Rann in Borno state. The fifty-two civilians who were killed and the other 120 who were injured were living in a refugee camp or were aid workers working with the refugees.

"At least 52 people were killed and 120 wounded," said Tim Shenk, a spokesman for Medecins Sans Frontieres, a medical charity. "The organization's medical and surgical teams in the region are preparing to treat evacuated patients," he added.

Six of those killed were reportedly Red Cross workers.

The airstrike was carried out as part of the Nigerian militarys ongoing campaign to eradicate the Boko Haram terrorist group which has killed more than 15,000 people since 2010 and forced an estimated two million others to flee their homes.

The government of NIgeria has said that the Boko Haram militants are losing territory. The attack which ended up targeting civilians was supposed to be part of the final phase of mopping up insurgents in the northeast, according to government officials.

The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said the tragic accident underlines the importance of protecting civilians in complex humanitarian emergencies.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: January 18, 2017
The abortion rate in the United States declined to an all-time low, while the number of lethal procedures dropped below a million for the first time since 1975, according to a new report.

The Guttmacher Institute reported Tuesday (Jan. 17) the rate fell to 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women 15 to 44 years old in 2014, which is a decline of 14 percent since its most recent survey in 2011.

In its census of all known abortion providers in the country, Guttmacher found abortions totaled 958,700 in 2013 and 926,190 in 2014.

The abortion rate reached its zenith at 29.3 in 1980 and 1981, and the total number of abortions peaked at more than 1.6 million in 1990, according to Guttmacher.

Pro-life advocates welcomed the report, and pointed to the work of pro-life citizens and legislators as a reason for the dramatic decline in abortions and their rate.

"The falling abortion number is due to the ceaseless advocacy and ministry of the pro-life community in neighborhoods all around this country," ...

1
Ahead of the Womens March on Washington scheduled the day after Donald Trumps inauguration, Emma Green at The Atlantic asked, Is there room in the movement for people who morally object to abortion? Her article portrayed some of the hundreds of pro-life women planning to attend either in solidarity with fellow feminists or in protest.

Meanwhile, the event organizers came up with their own response: No.

Hours after Greens article published on Monday, the Womens Marchpromising to be one of the most intersectional marches in US history with more than 200,000 attendees expectedstated that New Wave Feminists, the pro-life group featured, would be removed from its 450-plus sponsor organizations. (A pro-life pregnancy crisis center in Idaho, Stanton Healthcare, remains listed as a partner. [Update: The group was also removed from the list on Wednesday.])

We look forward to marching on behalf of women who share the view that women deserve the right to make their own reproductive decisions, the group said. Access to abortion and birth control were included among 1 of 16 values and principles guiding the grassroots rally.

Though the pro-life New Wave Feminists still plan to attend, many women of faith were disappointed in the decision to remove their official designation. Christians spanning from Life Action founder Lila Rose to LGBT advocate Julie Rodgers spoke out on Twitter on behalf of pro-life feminists.

Progressives have a chance to build a broader coalition here, and they are blowing it, tweeted author Rachel Held Evans.

Painful irony of pro-choice stance of Women's March is that abortion was likely THE issue to tip scales ...

1
Zondervan Signs 'Chewbacca Mom' Candace Payne for Multi-Book Deal Viral star opens up about journey through poverty, shame and depression; shares her secrets to maintaining joy and embracing freedom in the midst of life's challenges



Contact: Shanon Stowe, 931-307-1988, shanon@iconmediagroup.com; Paige Collins, 615-934-4162, paige@iconmediagroup.com; both with Icon Media Group; Robin Barnett, Zondervan, 616-698-3251, robin.barnett@harpercollins.com



GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 18, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- Zondervan announced today the signing of a multi-book deal with Candace Payne, who is frequently referred to as "Chewbacca Mom." The first book will release November 7, 2017 with a national media and multi-city book signing tour. Payne shared the news with her fans first in an emotional Facebook Live video from HarperCollins Christian Publishing's Grand Rapids office.



"I couldn't be more excited to partner with the Zondervan team," said Payne. "My hope is that these books will feel like a heartfelt conversation between friends over a good cup of coffee. There's more to every story than meets the eye. I know what it's like to feel like a victim of my own life script; to wake up doomed to the day's challenges and universal dread. The good news is that we can flip this impulse. I can't wait to share how I've learned to embrace freedom, and experience defiant joy regardless of the circumstances surrounding me."



A stay-at-home mom and church worship leader from Dallas, Payne became a household name when a Facebook Live video of her trying on a Chewbacca mask in her car went viral (165+ million views) and became the most-viewed Facebook Live video in history. Fans were drawn to Payne's infectious joy and ability to laugh at herself during a silly moment; media and fans alike noted Payne was a bright spot during an otherwise dreary year for news.



After the video went viral, Payne made multiple appearances on a coast-to-coast major media tour. Some of the highlights included participating in a sketch with J.J. Abrams for "The Late Late Show with James Corden," a personal tour of Lucasfilm headquarters, a visit to Facebook headquarters (photos of which were shared by Mark Zuckerberg on his personal Facebook page) and a trip to Hasbro, where she was presented with a "Chewbacca Mom" action figure.



Payne has more than 800,000 dedicated Facebook followers and recently launched a video series with TLCme, the digital platform for women's lifestyle cable network TLC.



"Candace Payne captured the world's attention with her infectious laughter, and we are excited to go behind the mask to share her message of defiant joy," said David Morris, Vice President & Publisher of Zondervan. "Watching Candace, you would never know her joy has been hard-earned. She is ready to go deeper, to share her heart and soul, the secrets behind her joy and how everyday women can find the same spark in their own lives."



Zondervan will also release a gift book in Fall 2018, illustrated by Payne, which will take readers on a whimsical journey through the many types of joy, and offer practical tips for improving joy in their own lives.



Stephanie Smith, Acquisitions Editor at Zondervan, acquired the books. Candace Payne is represented by Icon Management Group and Jana Burson of The Christopher Ferebee Agency.



About the Author

Candace Payne is a viral sensation whose Facebook Live video of trying on a Chewbacca Mask became the most-viewed Facebook Live video to date (165+ million views). She has been featured in more than 3,000 media outlets and has interviewed with major media such as "Good Morning America," "The Late Late Show with James Corden," The New York Times, PEOPLE and Cosmopolitan. Candace recently launched a video series with TLCme and her first book will release in the fall of 2017. Candace lives in Texas with her husband, two children, and ornery pug. Connect with Candace online at CandacePayne.me.



Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company's products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

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home World Berlin pastor blasts immigration bureau for rejecting Christian asylum seekers

Many Afghan and Iranian converts to Christianity have seen their application for asylum rejected by Germany's Ministry for Immigration and Refugees (BAMF) following "kangaroo court"-style hearings, according to a Berlin pastor.

In a letter to supporters of his ministry, Rev. Gottfried Martens noted that the translators in the hearings were "almost exclusively" Muslims. He accused them of falsely translating the responses of the Christian converts in order to jeopardize their asylum applications.

Martens, the pastor of Lutheran Dreieinigkeits Gemeinde (Trinity Community), also criticized the methods used by officials in their investigations to ascertain whether a conversion was genuine.

"Questions are put such as the names of the two sons in the parable of the Prodigal Son, or what Martin Luther died of, or the occasion of Queen Margarethe of Denmark's recent visit to Wittenberg," said Martens.

"Many hearings are more like kangaroo courts in which our congregational members and candidates for baptism have absolutely no chance of presenting what is important to them," the pastor added, noting that some of the asylum seekers were repeatedly mocked in some of the hearings when they talk about the importance of Christ's death on the cross.

Martens contended that many German Ministry officials "are manifestly clueless about the situation of Christians in Iran and Afghanistan, and, worse yet, they are utterly clueless concerning questions relating to the Christian faith."

He also criticized the Catholic Church and the Protestant EKD Church for opposing efforts to house Christians and Muslims separately because doing so might suggest that different faiths cannot coexist peacefully.

Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Chairman of the Council of Protestant Churches, said that he would meet with politicians in order to voice out his concerns regarding the treatment of Afghan and Iranian converts, according to World Watch Monitor.

A lawyer from the city of Nuremberg has vowed to hold workshops in different German cities for volunteers who help converts seeking asylum, to enable them to respond properly to the questioning by the authorities.

Similar criticisms have been directed at the U.K. Home Office for the questioning faced by Christian asylum seekers. It was reported in June that officials are testing the converts on their ability to recite the Ten Commandments. World Watch Monitor noted that the Home Office has since changed the evaluation method from asking general knowledge questions to inquiring about the asylum seeker's conversion experience.
home US Drug cartel and jihadists plan attack on border during Trump's inauguration, report reveals

Mexican drug cartels and Islamic terrorists have formed an alliance in order to launch attacks against the U.S. during the period surrounding the inauguration, according to a report from a Washington watchdog group.

The report from Judicial Watch suggested that the shootout that occurred last week at the construction site of the new American Consulate in the Mexican border town of Nuevo Laredo was connected to the operation planned by the cartels and the jihadists. At least three soldiers were killed or critically wounded in the attack.

A local newspaper in Tamaulipas reported that 13 people were killed in the shootout, referring to the deceased as heavily armed "delinquents."

"Cartels usually don't work with jihadists for fear of having the border shut down," an anonymous veteran federal law enforcement official told Judicial Watch. "But Trump is causing so much disruption in Mexico that they are partnering to send a message as to who is in control. This is as outrageous as a small group of guys crashing planes into U.S. buildings," the veteran added.

The intelligence gathered by law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Mexico indicated that the drug traffickers and terrorists are planning to launch attacks in other towns, including Matamoros, Reynosa and Ciudad Juarez.

A report published by Judicial Watch earlier this month revealed that the jihadis and the cartels in Nuevo Leon are collaborating to carry out attacks in American cities and ports of entry along the southern border. U.S. and Mexican law enforcement have said that Islamic militants have arrived recently at the Monterrey International Airport in Apodaca, about 130 miles south of the Texas border.

Cartel informants have told law enforcement contacts that the terrorists are "only waiting for the order and the times to carry out a simultaneous attack in the different ports of entry or cities of the United States of America."

A high-ranking police administrator stated that the cartels have a working "agreement" with the terrorists, and men from the Middle East arrive regularly in Mexico to "train" the jihadists.

The U.S. Consulate compound where the shootout took place is scheduled to be completed in September. The compound will house multiple buildings, including an office structure, U.S. Marine Security Guard residence and facilities for the consulate community.
home US Iowa lawmaker introduces federal bill that bans abortions when heartbeat is detected

Iowa Rep. Steve King introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday that would institute a nationwide ban on abortions when the unborn baby's heartbeat is detected.

The Heartbeat Protection Act of 2017 would require abortionists to check for the fetal heartbeat before performing an abortion, Life Site News reported. The heartbeat of the unborn is detectable as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

The legislation carries an exception in cases when the mother's life is in danger. It specifically stated that this does not include "psychological or emotional conditions."

The abortionist who is found in violation of the law would face a fine or be imprisoned up to five years, but the mother may not be prosecuted under the legislation.

"Human life, beginning at the moment of conception, is sacred in all of its forms and today, I introduced a bill that will protect the lives of voiceless innocents," King said in a statement.

"All human persons have a right to life. How then could we confer that those rights allow the killing of a baby? I believe our most important responsibility that God has bestowed upon us is to protect innocent human life, and I will continue to dedicate my life to that responsibility," he added.

According to Rewire, King worked on the bill with the help of Faith2Action leader Jane Porter. King's office stated that this would be the first introduction of a heartbeat bill at the national level in Congress.

Last month, Ohio Gov. John Kasich vetoed a similar measure over concerns that it would face a costly legal challenge if passed.

In 2013, North Dakota lawmakers passed a bill that would have banned abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected. It was later signed by Gov. Jack Dalrymple, but it was struck down by U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland, who declared the law to be "invalid and unconstitutional."

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling while the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal. The Eight Circuit also struck down a similar legislation from the state of Arkansas in 2014.
home World Iraqi Muslim builds crucifix for church that was destroyed by ISIS

As Iraqi forces continue to liberate lands from the Islamic State, many Christians who have returned to their villages have found their churches destroyed by the terrorist group. Some Muslims are reaching out to the persecuted Christians as they try to rebuild their communities.

In a church in the city of Mosul, a Muslim named Marwan decided to build a cross to replace the one destroyed by ISIS.

Jeremy Courtney, co-founder and executive director of Preemptive Love Coalition (PLC), found out about Marwan's efforts to help his Christian neighbors.

In a video posted on the charity's Facebook page, Courtney explained that Marwan could not accept that people who claimed to be Muslims desecrated the church and destroyed the signs and icons revered by Christians.

"Marwan is a Muslim. But when Marwan came into this church he couldn't accept the fact that these other guys who claimed to be Muslims were rampaging through this place, destroying the signs and the icons of his Christian friends, his Christian compatriots, his Christian neighbours," Courtney narrated, as reported by Christian Today.

"And so our Muslim friend Marwan helps fashion this cross together just to say... [to] his Christian neighbours and [on behalf of] his Muslim neighbours, his Muslim faith: 'We're in this with you. This cross stands for something. This cross belongs here in our country. This cross belongs here among our friends,'" he continued.

Courtney and his wife, Jessica, founded PLC when they moved to Iraq in 2006 at the height of the war so that they can provide aid to people in desperate need. The organization started out by providing life-saving surgery to Iraqi children who were suffering from heart conditions, but it expanded its role after the rise of ISIS In 2014.

Although PLC is not religiously affiliated, it describes itself as a "faith-oriented community." Muslims, Christians and even those who do not profess any faith work alongside each other.

In an effort to show God's love to ISIS militants, the charity went to a detainment center on the outskirts of Fallujah last year to bring some food and water to captured jihadis. Courtney believes that both Muslims and Christians are commanded to love their enemies.
home World Over 900,000 Christians killed in the last decade, report claims

A report from a Christian research firm affiliated with the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts has indicated that over 900,000 Christians have been killed in the last 10 years.

The annual report on persecuted Christians published by Gordon-Conwell's Center for the Study of Global Christianity revealed that as many as 90,000 believers died for their faith last year, The Christian Post reported.

The report gained media attention even before its release after prominent Italian sociologist Massimo Introvigne discussed details of the study in an interview with Vatican Radio in December.

"The Center for the Study of Global Christianity has done extensive research on Christian martyrdom, both historical and contemporary. We estimate that between 2005 and 2015 there were 900,000 Christian martyrs worldwide a an average of 90,000 per year," the organization stated in an email to its supporters.

The study noted that only 30 percent of the 90,000 Christians were killed because of terrorism. The remaining 70 percent died in tribal conflicts in Africa, which puts into question whether the 70 percent were killed because of their faith or if they were just victims of violent conflicts.

Intorvigne explained in the interview that the study included Christians who were killed in tribal conflicts because many are not able to take up arms. He also noted that there are about 500,000 Christians across the globe who are unable to practice their faith freely.

Meanwhile, the persecution watchdog group Open Doors has estimated that over 1,200 Christians were killed for their faith globally between Nov. 1, 2015 and Oct. 31, 2016. Those statistics, however, do not include those who were killed in North Korea and some areas of Iraq and Syria. Open Doors Director of Communications Emily Fuentes also noted that the figures only included those with confirmed details such as name, location and other relevant information.

"Death rate is just one factor of persecution. Many Christians have been displaced, attacked, abused or face hardship in their everyday lives because of their faith," Fuentes stated.

"Sadly, this trend has been continuing upward for the past several years, so it is likely going to continue rising, especially with the spread of ISIS and other extremist groups throughout Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia," she added.
home World Salford Diocese announces closure of 22 churches in Manchester

The Salford Diocese has announced that 22 Catholic churches across Manchester are set to close as part of its reorganization plan.

Three of the 22 churches that are slated to be closed are currently not in use, according to Manchester Evening News.

Some of the churches listed for closure include Saint Matthew in Eccles, Saint Antony of Padua in Trafford Park, Saint Mary in Oldham, Our Lady and St Paul in Heywood, Saint Veronica in Helmshore and Saint Philip the Apostle in Padiham.

Under the proposal, 100 parishes are set to be amalgamated and dozens of others have been informed that they may be considered for amalgamation in the future. Over 2,000 people responded to the consultation, with overwhelmingly positive feedback, according to the church leaders.

The Bishop of Salford, Rt. Rev. John Arnold, denied that the closures were due to the lack of priests. The diocese stated that the planned changes are aimed at giving priests more time to perform their pastoral duties, including the celebration of Mass, ministering to the sick and elderly, and working with young people in schools and colleges.

"This plan is a real chance to make changes that will help build, sustain and grow parishes fit for future generations. Not just for members of our church but also for the wider community we live in," said Arnold.

"The plan allows the Diocese of Salford to look forward, creating outward facing parishes, responding to the call from Pope Francis to develop 'missionary parishes'. The Catholic Church plays an essential role in delivering key services across the world and we have some excellent examples of local projects and groups here in Salford," he continued.

According to the FAQ published on Independent Catholic News, the amalgamation and closures will not happen all at once but over the coming months and years.

The Diocese noted that it has no intention to dispose of the church buildings that are set for closure unless it becomes necessary to do so. It also mentioned that the buildings that are in poor condition may be considered for demolition only as a final resort.

The areas covered by the Diocese of Salford include much of Greater Manchester north of the Mersey and Lancashire round Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley and Longridge, and the parish of Dunsop Bridge.
home US Women's March removes Pro-life feminist group from list of partners

A feminist group has been removed from the list of partners that will participate in the Women's March in Washington on Jan. 21 because of its pro-life stance.

The group called New Wave Feminists were granted partnership status with the Women's March last Friday, but it was removed on Monday afternoon, according to Life Site News.

"The Women's March platform is pro-choice and that has been our stance from day one. We want to assure all of our partners, as well as participants, that we are pro-choice as clearly stated in our Unity Principles," the statement from the organizers read, as reported by the Washington Times.

"We look forward to marching on behalf of individuals who share the view that women deserve the right to make their own reproductive decisions. The anti-choice organization in question is not a partner of the Women's March on Washington. We apologize for this error," it continued.

Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa, president of New Wave Feminists, speculated that the group was removed because of the negative backlash after an article in The Atlantic mentioned that it will be participating in the march.

The article noted that several pro-life groups, including the New Wave Feminists, intend to participate in the rally.

Before the removal of the partnership status of New Wave Feminists, Bob Bland, co-chair of the Women's March, told The Atlantic that women of all beliefs and backgrounds were welcome, particularly those who have been marginalized or silenced.

Sponsors of the march include several pro-choice groups such as Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, Catholics for Choice, National Abortion Federation, the Center for Reproductive Rights and National Institute for Reproductive Health.

Bland said that including Planned Parenthood as a partner was "a no-brainer" because of their support for the Affordable Care Act.

Herndon-De La Rosa said that the group will still take part in the march despite the removal of its partnership status. Other pro-life groups intend to go to the rally to show images of women and pre-born children killed via abortion to the participants.
Archbishops Of Canterbury And York: Give Thanks For The 'Great Blessings' Of The Reformation

Christians will want to give thanks for the "great blessings" of the Protestant Reformation, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York say in a statement marking the 500th anniversary of the split with Rome.

They also call for repentance for the "persecution and death" and the legacy of mistrust left by the events of five centuries ago.

The annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on Wednesday. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have marked the occasion with a joint statement as part of the Reformation anniversary celebrations this year.

The Protestant breakaway from the Catholic church began, according to tradition, when Martin Luther, a German monk, nailed his 95 theses to the cathedral door in Wittenburg. The act prompted a gradual split with numerous Protestant factions tearing away from the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

The two most senior Church of England figures, who derive their positions from that separation, describe "the lasting damage done five centuries ago to the unity of the Church, in defiance of the clear command of Jesus Christ to unity in love."

Justin Welby and John Sentamu say: "Those turbulent years saw Christian people pitted against each other, such that many suffered persecution and even death at the hands of others claiming to know the same Lord. A legacy of mistrust and competition would then accompany the astonishing global spread of Christianity in the centuries that followed."

They also note the "great blessings" to which the Reformation directly contributed. These include "clear proclamation of the gospel of grace, the availability of the Bible to all in their own language and the recognition of the calling of lay people to serve God in the world and in the church."

The two Anglican leaders call for repentance and a strengthening of relations between Catholic and Protestants.

"Remembering the Reformation should also lead us to repent of our part in perpetuating divisions. Such repentance needs to be linked to action aimed at reaching out to other churches and strengthening relationships with them."

They add: "We therefore call on all Christians to seek to be renewed and united in the truth of the gospel of Christ through our participation in the Reformation Anniversary, to repent of divisions, and, held together in Him, to be a blessing to the world in obedience to Jesus Christ."
Baptists React With Concern to Washington D.C. Church's Decision to Hire Lesbian Couple As Joint Pastors

Baptists all over America are reacting with concern following a decision taken by the Baptist church in Washington D.C. to hire two "married" lesbian women to lead their congregation, Christian News reported.

The Calvary Baptist Church presented Maria Swearingen and Sally Sarratt as "co-pastors" on Sunday, according to a press release from the Ministerial Selection Committee. The church is one of the most historic congregations in America. It split with the Southern Baptist Convention in 2012.

The women are expected to start performing their duties next month.

Some members of the Christian denomination are shaking their heads over the decision. They include Albert Mohler of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

In his "The Briefing" podcast on Tuesday, Mohler expressed concern over the "trajectory of American Protestant liberalism," which he noted "began as an impulse to try to modify Christianity so that it would fit better into a modern age."

Mohler said the problems inherent in the appointment of the two co-pastors go deeper than lesbianism, noting that one of the women works as a minister for a universalist assembly.

As stated in the Unitarian Universalist Association's website, few of their members "believe in divine judgment after death." This came after the group "broke with mainstream Christianity by rejecting the idea of eternal damnation."

Mohler called for the expulsion of the Calvary Baptist Church from the District of Columbia Baptist Convention, saying that if this action is not taken "then they by very definition simply become a convention that will acceptthat indeed does accepta church that has legally married lesbian co-pastors in terms of their own membership."

However, Convention director Robert Cochran said the organisation has no intention of expelling Calvary Baptist. "To the best of my knowledge, the D.C. Baptist Convention, due to its respect for local congregational autonomy, has never withdrawn fellowship from any congregation," he told the Baptist Press.

According to the American Baptist Churches USA, one of the traditions and practices of the denomination is that "Baptists always have maintained the need for autonomous congregations, responsible for articulating their own doctrine, style of worship and mission."

It says "American Baptist Churches USA today is the most racially inclusive Protestant body" where "diverse worship styles, cultural mores and approaches to Scriptural interpretation" are represented in its churches.

"The resulting challenges and opportunities have made us stronger through fellowship, respect, mutual support and dialog, all based on a belief that unity in Christ involves growth and understanding," says the body representing 1.3-million Baptists and more than 5,000 congregations in America.
Billy Graham Offers Two Tips on How Christians Can Fight Temptation

Being a Christian does not exempt people from temptations. In fact, world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham said Christians actually face even tougher temptations because the devil will do everything he can just to fill them with self-loathing and doubt to force them to commit sin.

"Nowhere does the Bible say that we won't be tempted to sin if we belong to Christ, not at all," he wrote for The Kansas City Star. "Remember: No one ever faced stronger temptations than Jesus. The Bible says that before he began preaching, the devil tempted Jesus for 40 days and nights, trying unsuccessfully to get Jesus to turn away from God's plan for his life and follow Satan instead."

Graham said Jesus faced temptation, and yet He did not sin. Whenever people are faced with temptations, Graham said Christians should look up to God as inspiration.

But when the temptation feels too much to bear, the evangelist suggested Christians do two things. "First, react with truth  the truth of God's Word, the Bible. Be clear in your heart and mind what God's will is, and ask God to help you turn away from Satan's lies," he said.

A friend of Graham's once told him, "When temptation knocks, I just send Jesus to the door!" The 98-year-old believes that's good advice, and he's been using it ever since.

Second, Graham said Christians should react with God's help. As children of God, Christians are no longer the same persons as they once were. God now lives within them through the Holy Spirit, so they should always turn to Him when they need help in fighting temptation.

He then shared the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 10:13. It reads, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful. ... He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
Could Donald Trump's Son-In-Law Be Saviour Of The Middle East?

When a senior aide to the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said this week that he was optimistic about the role that Donald Trump's son-in-law will play as a Middle East point man for the US administration, observers could be forgiven for raising their eyebrows.

After all, Jared Kushner is an inexperienced 36-year-old Orthodox Jew with a real estate background who converted upon his marriage to Ivanka Trump in 2009. His family has donated to Israeli settlement projects in the West Bank deemed illegal under international law and, having been in charge of foreign policy throughout last year's presidential campaign, Kushner is seen as the man behind the controversial proposal to move the US's Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to the divided city of Jerusalem, a step that some say would make a two-state solution practically impossible.

The primary drafter of Trump's speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in March, which went down well with its audience, Kushner appears to be growing in popularity among Israel supporters in the US and in the country itself.

Last month, the right-wing Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: "What we know: he's a really tough, smart guy, and we hope he will bring new energy to our region."

It is unusual for Palestinian officials to agree with the likes of Lieberman, but Husam Zomlot, Abbas's adviser for strategic affairs, echoed those comments.

"We hope that Mr. Kushner...will be able to do what all of his predecessors have tried to do, and will finally achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians," he said. "This is a position that requires a firm commitment to the US's longheld policies,"

"It's a good sign that President- elect Trump early on appointed one of his closest people, his son-in-law, to take this task," he added. "We don't just see the glass half-empty, but also half-full. We see the commitment by President-elect Trump to intervene as early as possible and spend political capital to resolve this issue."

Of course, both sides are  like most countries in the West  keen to appear open-minded and to gain influence with the incoming administration.

But Kushner is genuinely seen by those who have met him as highly intelligent, if a somewhat ignorant about the history of the region.

Needless to say, Trump himself was full of praise for Kushner in an interview with the British MP Michael Gove for The Times, and Germany's Bild newspaper at the weekend. "You know what, Jared is such a good kid, and he'll make a deal with Israel that no one else can," said the President-elect. "He's a natural, he's a great deal, he's a natural  you know what I was talking about, natural  he's a natural deal-maker. Everyone likes him."

But Trump is not the only one who believes that Kushner's total lack of diplomatic experience could be an advantage, as he may come with a fresh approach.

The veteran Middle East diplomat Dennis Ross, who served under the George H. W. Bush, Clinton and Obama administrations and who himself perhaps personifies the opposite problem of having too much experience in the region, has said of Kushner: "He clearly is someone who has a sense of Jewish identity, and he is someone who has a genuine attachment to Israel and understanding of the importance of the US-Israel relationship. People I know who know him describe him as smart, as someone who will clearly learn what he needs to learn, and will approach things thoughtfully, carefully, even analytically. So those would all be descriptors that I would hope would be accurate and emblematic of how he'll approach his responsibilities helping the new president."

Kushner has retained a law firm to navigate him through potential legal obstacles in the way of him working for his father-in-law, including a federal anti-nepotism law which states that "a public official may not appoint, employ, promote, advance or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion or advancement, in or to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control any individual who is a relative of the public official."

His legal counsel, WilmerHale, concluded last month that precedent had been set by Hillary Clinton, who won a court case in the 1990s in her fight to chair a national task force on health care reform for her husband, the then president Bill Clinton. That case found that the law bans appointments to agencies and departments, but not within the White House itself.

With Kushner apparently now having the all clear, the task before him could not be more important.

Fifty years exactly after the Six Day War and the beginning of the Occupation, the so-called "peace process" remains dormant.

For his father-in-law to defy cynical expectations, there could be no greater triumph for his administration than to gain that "deal" between Israel and the Palestinians. If that were to happen, then the "kid" will have done well indeed.
From Homelessness To Hope: Catholic Priest Who Met God On The Streets

A Catholic priest has spoken about his transformative journey from desperate homelessness to life in church ministry, serving the poor.

Claude Paradis was once homeless, alone and crushed by addiction to drugs and alcohol. He lived on the streets of Montreal, and his situation became so hopeless that he considered suicide. Now he is Father Paradis, 57, a priest in the Catholic Church who is himself devoted to serving the poor and needy.

"The street brought me to the Church and the Church in the end brought me back to the street," the priest said to the Journal Metro, as Catholic News Agency reports.

Paradis first came to Montreal 25 years ago, but was unable to find a job. Living on the streets, he turned to crack and cocaine drugs. "Isolation and despair took hold of me," he said.

Paradis went on to fight his addictions and now ministers to many people who face the same challenges he struggled with years ago.

Paradis reflects on how he met God amid this crisis. "I had the privilege of meeting God just at the moment I was doubting Him. On a little back street in Montreal, abandoned by people, there was nobody there. Passing by the old church, impelled by I don't know what instinct, I turned back in there."

Paradis had a profound encounter with God, after which he was inspired to become "a man of the Church". Paradis battled his addictions and became a minister to those who face struggles like he did, serving prostitutes, convicts, and the poverty-stricken.

In December last year, Paradis slept alongside the homeless of Montreal, to serve them and live in solidarity alongside them. He has also begun an initiative called Notre-Dame-de-la-rue (Our Lady of the Street), which gives food, shelter, and church ministry to those on the streets.

Paradis is committed to serving the poor for the rest of his life. He said: "On the street is where I want to be, until I die."
Hope Amid Crisis: Testimonies Of Christian Transformation In War-Torn Syria

Powerful testimonies of Christian transformation and salvation are emerging from the war-stricken Middle East in what is reckoned to be the largest refugee crisis in history.

Nearly five million people have had to flee their homes in Syria, but charity Leading The Way has been one of many at work to help those in need. The charity now report several stories of those who have found hope not only though the practical help provided, but through giving their lives to Jesus.

One such story is that of Rima (name changed), a Syrian mother whose name means "hope". Rima's home was destoryed and her husband went missing, leaving her and her sons who fled to seek refuge in Lebanon. She walked through freezing cold temperatures for seven hours to the Lebanon border, where she found limited shelter in a sparse, basic apartment. Leading the Way cites "incredible circumstances" that led one of their teams to visit Rima in her home and provide help.

Leading The Way's Help The Persecuted ministry coordinator Mary described her shock at Rima's living conditions: "What we saw was very heart-breaking. There were no windows, no doors, no heat, no electricity, nothing."

The team that visited her were able to provide essential support, including warm clothes, medical supplies, and a stove as Rima's ten-year old son had become ill with a fever.

They also provided spiritual support, giving Rima one of their Navigator Audio Bibles, but the greatest gift they could give, says Mary, was Christ.

"I asked her if she knew Jesus, that God sent us to her.

She said: "I know that because you are all here," and she could tell that we were going to help her. From there she was just so open. She said, 'Yes I believe in Jesus' and I asked her if she wanted to pray and she said 'yes'."

Rima's story and prayer of conversion can be seen in this video, which includes emotional reactions from Leading The Way's executive vice president Joshua Youssef.

Youssef says that Rima's story of salvation is one among many: "We drew so much hope from the volume of people coming to the Lord. We went to one church where there are 400 Syrian Muslims who've come to Christ, the next church there's 250, meeting five times on a Sunday. That's just two churches.

"You think maybe the Lord is turning this crisis in a way that would benefit the future of Syria in that they're coming to know the Lord and could go back into their countries and re-populate Syria with newly converted Christians. That to me is the most exciting thing about this issue."

Leading The Way's senior director of international operations Allan Guinan said: "These are the stories we don't see in the mainstream news. We see this happening a lot, with people calling our follow up teams and wanting to know about the Lord Jesus. This is an unprecedented opportunity as we're seeing more Muslims coming to Christ than at any other time in our ministry."

The news comes after the Bible Society last week announced "good news from Syria". They reported testimonies about closed streets reopening, the return of the displaced, and she sharing of Bibles bringing joy to many in a time of crisis.

Gaith, a Bible Society source in Syria, said: "We have had very peaceful weeks in Aleppo, where suddenly all the barriers and walls separating us from one another were dismantled. We could suddenly walk through areas  less than five hundred metres from our Bible House  which had been cut off from us for years. There we were walking those streets that had been part of our childhood and tears were streaming down our cheeks."

Syria has not only been desolated by civil war, but remains a site of intense persecution for Christians. Stories like those of Rima, Gaith and many others offer light in an increasingly desperate time.

Gaith adds "So many questions were asked and even though so many are still without answers, we are looking ahead with a lot of hope."
McDonald's Vatican Branch Offers Free Meals to the Homeless

The McDonald's branch next to the Vatican has received a lot of flak ever since it opened last month, but it still did a good turn recently by donating 1,000 free meals to the homeless.

Since Rome welcomed the cold weather last week, one of the biggest concerns of the Italian charity Medicina Solidale is how to provide food and shelter for the homeless. They already turned one church into a temporary shelter, and with the help of McDonald's, they were able to provide free meals as well.

Medicina Solidale is an association of doctors who volunteer to help the homeless in Rome. Gianluca Scarnicci, a press officer of the organisation, told the Catholic News Agency that it was actually quite easy getting McDonald's on board their charity project.

They asked McDonald's "beyond the controversy" if they would like to donate "some food to give to the homeless of St. Peter's."

"And the McDonald's management told us yes immediately," said Scarnicci.

The fast food chain provided 1,000 sets of double cheeseburgers, an apple and water. They distributed 50 meals on Monday, and will continue to do so until June.

"The offer of meals let us make a step forward, giving to the women and men living on the street in the neighbourhood the chance of a balanced meal, with an adequate supply of proteins and vitamins," added the charity's director Lucia Ercoli.

However, a community group called Safeguard the Borgo is not pleased with McDonald's actions and has accused the fast food chain of exploiting the homeless, according to The Guardian.

The group said McDonald's donation was nothing but a "commercial transaction which cynically uses the homeless and offends many years and daily work [done by others] to help alleviate extreme poverty."

It added: "Why doesn't McDonald's distribute its food waste to the homeless every day?"
Mysterious Catholic Lay Organisation Opus Dei Begins Process Of Electing New Leader

Opus Dei, the predominantly lay Catholic organisation which is surrounded by myth and intrigue, will begin the process of electing a new leader on Saturday following the death of its previous prelate last month.

A three-step process begins with a consultation involving 38 female members of the Central Advisory who will submit a list of the priests they believe are best suited to be prelate.

Of Opus Dei's 92,600 members worldwide, 57 per cent of them are women and 43 per cent are men, according to the organisation's press office. The majority, 70 per cent, are married.

There are 2,083 priests who are 'incardinated' into Opus Dei, representing around 2.25 per cent of the membership.

In accordance with Opus Dei rules, the prelate must be a priest for at least five years and be at least 40 years old. Currently 94 priests from 45 countries meet the requirements, according to the press office.

The election itself takes place within the electoral congress, which is made up only of men. The electoral congress is due to begin on January 23.

After the electoral congress has voted the final name will be put forward to the Pope to approce. Opus Dei says the whole process should be complete by 26 October.

The auxiliary vicar of the prelature, Monsignor Fernando Ocariz, said: "We are living this period in an attitude of prayer, going especially to the Holy Spirit."

He added: "We live these days very close to the Holy Father Francis and the whole Church, of which Opus Dei is a small part. Of course, we feel a strong sense of gratitude for the pastoral work and the good example given by Bishop Javier Echevarria."

Bishop Echevarria, who was elected in 1994, died in Rome on December 12 last year.

Opus Dei - which means 'work of God' in Latin - is viewed with suspicion by some critics following the depiction of certain characters who are members of the group by the US author Dan Brown in his populist novel The Da Vinci Code.

But defenders of the organisation point out that it is made up largely of ordinary lay Catholics doing jobs "in the world".

The group, which is known formally as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, was founded in 1928 by Josemaria Escriva.
Nigeria Air Force Kills 52 And Injures 120 Refugees, Aid Workers And Other Civilians In Air Attack Intended For Boko Haram

Nigeria's air force killed at least 52 people and injured 120 in an air strike on a refugee camp in the country's northeast on Tuesday, a spokesman from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said after the military earlier disclosed the strike was meant to target Boko Haram militants.

MSF said the strike occurred in Rann in Borno state, the epicentre of the jihadist group's seven-year-long bid to create an Islamic caliphate. Nigerian General Lucky Irabor, a regional military commander, located the incident at Kala Balge, a district that includes Rann.

Irabor, who said it was too early to determine the cause of the incident, told journalists an unknown number of civilians had been killed, adding that humanitarian workers from MSF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were among the injured.

"At least 52 people were killed and 120 wounded," said Tim Shenk, a spokesman for the MSF medical charity. "The organization's medical and surgical teams in the region are preparing to treat evacuated patients," he added.

An ICRC spokeswoman said six Nigeria Red Cross members were killed and 13 wounded.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said the deaths "underline the importance of protecting civilians in complex humanitarian emergencies."

The Boko Haram insurgency has killed more than 15,000 people since 2010 and forced some two million to flee their homes, many of whom have moved to camps for internally displaced people.

"The president pledges federal help for the state government in attending to this regrettable operational mistake," said Femi Adesina, a spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari, in an emailed statement.

The air strike came amid an offensive against Boko Haram by Nigeria's military over the last few weeks. Buhari said last month a key camp in the jihadist group's Sambisa forest base in Borno state had fallen.

The presidency also said the air strike occurred during the "final phase of mopping up insurgents in the northeast."

Boko Haram has stepped up attacks in recent weeks as the end of the rainy season has enabled its fighters to move more easily in the bush.

A video featuring an audio recording purporting to be Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, which was posted on social media late on Monday, said the group was behind twin suicide bombings at a university earlier that day which killed two and injured 17 others.

A few days ago, police in the capital Abuja disrupted a rally by the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, which was protesting in Nigeria's capital Abuja to mark 1,000 days since over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped from their secondary school by the Islamist terror group.
The Prophetic And The Patriotic: Why We Must Criticise Our Country

As an English boy, born and bred, it was a privilege to spend Martin Luther King Day in the company of some American clergy. A group of Lutheran and Episcopal clergy were visiting London on a study tour and alongside sharing some stories of church life with them, the conversations inevitably turned to politics, language and culture in our two nations.

It was a fascinating time to be having these conversations. In an extraordinary act of chutzpah, the FBI tweeted MLK day salutations. The Bureau's official feed said, "Today, the FBI honors the Rev. Martin L. King Jr. and his incredible career fighting for civil rights."

Many Twitter users were quick to remind the FBI that it hadn't always honoured Dr King. Far from it, in fact. As the New York Times reported, King "informed friends that someone wanted him to kill himself... King was certain the letter had come from the F.B.I."

"A little more than a decade later," it goes on, "the Senate's Church Committee on intelligence overreach confirmed King's suspicion."

A country so blinded by racial hatred that an official government agency could blackmail a leading Christian minister to kill himself should chill us to the bone.

It wasn't just the FBI, though. King felt let down by many white Church leaders. While some were overtly hostile, others said they were supportive of his civil rights campaigns, but said his methods were too extreme. King addressed these leaders in his famous Letter From Birmingham Jail. One of the defining documents of the 20th Century, the Letter brims with righteous anger at the injustice being visited on African American Christians by their white sisters and brothers. It is essential, uncomfortable reading for all privileged Christians.

King responded quoting St Augustine, Paul Tillich, Abraham Lincoln and Jesus himself. He excoriated the white church for its cowardice. "In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love," he wrote. "I see the church as the body of Christ. But, oh! How we have blemished and scarred that body through social neglect and through fear of being nonconformists."

There were eerie echoes of the opposition to King this week. Donald Trump, elected with the votes of 81 per cent of white evangelicals, took to Twitter to denounce one of Dr King's closest allies. Rep John Lewis (D, Georgia) was the subject of a Twitter rant from Trump. After saying he didn't think Trump was 'legitimate' the President-elect tweeted Lewis should, "spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to......mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk  no action or results. Sad!"

Trump's crass dismissal of a civil rights hero on the weekend the country was remembering Dr King was, even by his standards, astonishing. Yet it pointed to an important principle  sometimes doing the right thing will be deeply unpopular.

In both the case of King and Lewis, prophetic voices were shouted down by those in positions of privilege and power. But those powerful people missed the point  they were criticising true American heroes.

Martin Luther King followed Jesus' teaching. He gave his life for others, so that the scourge of Jim Crow and the catastrophic inheritance of slavery moved a step closer to being overcome. Sadly, there is still much work to be done on that front, but the legacy of King and Lewis' work remains an inspiration.

What they show us is that Christians' ultimate allegiance is never to their country  it is to God and their fellow human beings. Sometimes, that will mean that we must speak out and act for justice regardless of the criticism from those in power. In fact, that will make us better patriots  those who strive for justice and mercy for all in their country.

Dr King showed how prophetic justice-seeking is the act of a person who cares about their country. Someone who cares so much that they will give up their life to see the Kingdom of God progress even against unimaginable opposition. In the words of the prophet Amos, famously quoted by King in the Letter From Birmingham Jail, "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream."

Follow Andy Walton on Twitter @waltonandy
The Wisdom Of Trump? Christians Must Pray The New President Can Learn From Solomon

With Donald Trump's inauguration imminent, there's been plenty of talk about who had been chosen to offer prayers at the event. Trump's team has selected six leaders to pray  ranging from a Pentecostal pastor to a Rabbi.

The most interesting insight that we have so far is the text that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, will use as the basis of his prayer.

He has chosen to read from the Book of Wisdom. It's one of the deuterocanonical books of the Bible  considered to be apocryphal by Protestants, but part of the Bible by Catholics. Also known as the Wisdom of Solomon, there is disagreement over its authorship, but the message of this prayer seems perfect for this particular inauguration.

Attributed to Solomon, part of the prayer says, "the reasoning of mortals is inadequate, our attitudes of mind unstable; for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the mind with its many cares."

It also contains this heartfelt request for wisdom: "With you is Wisdom, she who knows your works, she who was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what agrees with your commandments. Dispatch her from the holy heavens, send her forth from your throne of glory to help me and to toil with me and teach me what is pleasing to you."

It's hard to imagine a more apposite prayer for our times - and for Donald Trump.

Part of Trump's appeal to the American electorate lay in his reputation as an outsider, a man who wasn't part of the political machine. In an economy like the US, where wealth inequality is stark, we can see why someone seen as being an "outsider" to a broken system won.

There's a problem, though. Quite apart from Trump's many obvious character and moral failings, the lack of experience he has in a perilously complicated world has to be a worry. The simplistic solutions he has proposed can't be carried out. The Mexicans won't pay to build a wall. Replacing the Affordable Care Act with, "health care that is far less expensive and far better," as Trump has promised, will be fiendishly difficult and there is no discernable plan from Trump or the GOP.

Defeating ISIS, resisting the rise of Vladimir Putin's autocratic Russia (if Trump even wants to), and creating jobs as automation and outsourcing continue apace. These are all viciously vexed problems. A master operator in politics and economics would struggle. A man without a single day of governing experience is going to find it an almighty undertaking.

This is where we come back to wisdom  and the astute choice made by Cardinal Dolan. What Solomon teaches us is that wisdom is the greatest virtue of a leader. Trump may brag about his business skills, but it's meaningless if he has no wisdom.

Solomon, whose finery would have made the Trump Tower look impoverished, was beloved of his people, not because of his riches. Instead, "they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice."

A wise man wouldn't boast about grabbing women without their consent. A wise man wouldn't show disregard for religious freedom. A wise man should use social media to build people up, not humiliate them.

Cardinal Dolan's message to Trump, and the American people, is that the measure of a leader isn't in his inflated claims, in military might, or even his ability to create prosperity. A true Judeo-Christian vision of leadership will value justice above all. In the famous words of the Prophet Micah, "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Wisdom doesn't seem to be in fashion at the moment. Simple solutions to complex problems are offered by politicians across the world. How different the world might look if they sought Godly wisdom instead.

When the Queen Of Sheba visited King Solomon, she remarked, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom... Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom!"

May we pray that in our own time we may be able to say the same of all our leaders.
Vatican Demands Obedience In Condoms Row With Ancient Knights Of Malta

The Vatican is demanding the ancient Knights of Malta order obey instructions and cooperate with its enquiry into the worldwide Catholic charity.

The extraordinary row centres on the use of condoms in a medical project for the poor.

The statement on Tuesday comes after the Knights' all male hierarchy defied the Papal-ordered investigation. It represents a new challenge to the reforms of Pope Francis from his conservative critics.

The battle started after one of the Order's top knights, Grand Chancellor Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager, was sacked on December 6 in the order's equivalent of a boardroom showdown - essentially because he allowed the use of condoms in a medical project for the poor.

The Vatican weighed in and ordered an investigation with Pope Francis effectively came to von Boeselager's defence. He urged dialogue to resolve the internal dispute and appointed a five-member committee to investigate the circumstances of his ousting.

The Knights of Malta branded the Vatican's investigation illegitimate and told members not to comply with it.

"Considering the legal irrelevance of this group and of its findings relating to the legal structure of the Order of Malta, the Order has decided that it should not cooperate with it," it said in a statement on its website.

It also instructed members not to "directly or indirectly" contradict the official position if they talk to Vatican investigators.

The Vatican responded with its own salvo on Tuesday saying: "The Holy See counts on the complete cooperation of all in this sensitive stage," adding that it "rejects ... any attempt to discredit (commission) members."

The order, formed in the 11th century to provide protection and medical care for pilgrims to the Holy Land, has the status of a sovereign entity. It maintains diplomatic relations with over 100 states and the European Union and permanent observer status at the United Nations. It has about 120,000 members.

Members of the global Catholic chivalric and charity group are not ordained but take vows of poverty and chastity.

The Order's chaplain is Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, an American whom the Pope demoted from a senior Vatican position in 2014 and who has been a leading conservative critic of the pontiff. Burke backed the sacking of von Boeselager.

Von Boeselager said in a statement he shut down two projects in the developing world when he discovered condoms were being distributed but kept a third running for a while because closing it would have abruptly ended all basic medical services to poor people.

The Church bans condoms as a means of birth control and says abstinence and monogamy in heterosexual marriage is the best way to stop the spread of AIDS.

Francis has said he wants the 1.2 billion-member Church to avoid so-called "culture wars" over moral teachings and show mercy to those who cannot live by all its rules, especially the poor.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
Zimbabwe Priest Arrested For Predicting Death Of Robert Mugabe In 'Message From God'

A priest in Zimbabwe has been arrested for claiming that President Robert Mugabe will die this year.

Pastor Patrick Mugadza was arrested on Monday in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, AFP reports. Magadza held a press conference last week in which he predicted that Mugabe suggested that President Mugabe, 93 next month, would die on October 17 this year.

Zimbabwean law forbids "undermining the authority of or insulting the president," including discussing his age.

Mugadza's lawyer Gift Mtisi said that Mugadza had been in court for another alleged crime, when he was detained for his remarks about the President's age.

Mtisi said: "He was appearing at the court on a different matter when police arrested him during a break and charged him over the prophecy."

He was first charged with "undermining the authority of the president" and the charge was changed later to "insulting people of a certain race or religion."

Mugadza is in "good spirits" despite his detention, according to the BBC, and has "no regrets" over what he said.

Mtisi said: "He's admitting to the facts. He says he didn't lie  that's a message from God. Police will have to prove God didn't say it."

Mugadza, pastor of the Remnant Church, is no stranger to controversy. In 2005 he was detained for a month after holding a placard which protested the suffering of Zimbabwe's people under Mugabe's rule.

In 2005, he was arrested and detained for nearly a month after holding a placard telling Mugabe his people were suffering under his rule. Last year, he gave a sermon whilst tied to a lampost in Harare, protesting the lack of freedom in the country.

Speculation has increased about the health of Mugabe, who will turn 93 next month. He has ruled Zimbabwe, first as Prime Minister, then as President, since it's formation in 1980.

President Mugabe has mocked such suggestions, previously saying he has been resurrected more times than Jesus Christ.
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Click through the slideshow above to see what you have to look forward to health-wise after you turn 30 years old

A recent brush with some health issues lead this writer to reevaluate the way hes treated his 33-year-old body.

It was the first time that a doctor had to finally lay down the law and remind him that his 20s had passed him by and his job from now on was to maintain an aging body.

"You live on barbed wire and bug juice until you're 28, and there's no price to pay. After a certain point, you pay for everything," actor Jack Nicholson is quoted as saying at one point in an interview.

For many people, turning 30 years old is a grim milestone, but it doesnt have to be. True, your metabolism begins to take a nose dive and you cant drink to excess the way you could just a few years before.

FIX THE TICKER: Local physicians offer heart healthy tips

But if you instead take the milestone as a challenge to get fit and improve yourself for the next several decades to come, its no big deal.

Dr. Parag Sevak, a cancer specialist resident with the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, said that for many people, 30 years old is a demarcation line.

When youre in your 20s many people are in college and staying active, mentally stimulated, and venturing out and meeting new people, but the 30s presents new challenges, Sevak said. You have people that are trying to advance their career working longer hours and neglecting self-care. Your flexibility declines and cholesterol begins to rise.

HIP-STER PROBLEMS: Millennials ock to high-intensity workouts - and hip pain follows

Couple this with modern technology offering up everything from the comfort of a couch after work, Sevak added, the potential for underlying health issues that may have been present in your 20s are starting to manifest.

And thats if you havent yet brought a new life into the world.

Some people have kids and with that comes the stresses of parenting, Sevak said. Young couples family planning and fighting the dreaded biological clock only adds to the fun of being over 30.

Some 30-somethings also report being bested by the things that we used to be able to bounce back from.

You get drunk quicker because you dont drink as much as they did in college, and you cant eat a whole basket of cheese fries and Chinese food, Sevak said.

FOOD COMA: 17 tips for debloating after overeating

10 p.m. now seems like a good bedtime since the amount of sleep that you require after 30 years old changes.

I think the best way to make your 30s better is to acknowledge that youre no longer in your 20s, Sevak said. And be glad that youre not 40.

Setting goals and making a reasonable plan to achieve them is a great way to stay on top of your health. That means finding a primary care physician to help you tackle the issues that come along.

With most health problems, the earlier you can prevent or address the issues the better the outcome. Dont expect changes overnight and remember that a lasting lifestyle change can set you up for less problems down the road," Sevak said.
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Blink and you missed her.

KHOU-11 meteorologist and mom-to-be Chita Craft made a swift albeit stylish cameo B&B Butchers & Restaurant as the emcee of the T.J. Martell Foundation's second annual "Let's Talk Houston!" dinner. A commendable feat for any expectant mother nearing the nine-month mark  she and husband Lane Craft's first child, a son, is due early March  though all the more impressive in Valentino "Rockstud" stilettos and a body-con, off-the-shoulder dress.

The head-turning raspberry frock wasn't even maternity, she confirmed.

Shortly after, the Crafts departed. Given Wednesday's heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding, Chita needed to be camera-ready at the station by 2:30 a.m. the following morning.

Some remaining 130 party-goers were in for a gastronomical treat, however. The foodie-friendly menu featured Mr. G's classic Caesar, entree choice of filet mignon, chicken gremolata, or salmon, and assorted mini desserts. Family-style sides  mac & cheese, grilled veggies, and garlic whipped potatoes  stole the show at most tables; several diners begged servers for second helpings, yours truly included.

Bold-face local names Hunter Bell, Kevin Naderi, Kathy Bracewell, Alecia Lawyer, Lou Savarese, Jack Lyons, Ray Benson, Lea Weingarten, Bill Simmons, Alba Huerta, and Kam Franklin each hosted 10 guests for the conversational soiree benefiting the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Attendees seated at Drs. Hannah and Mahyar Badrei's tables, for example, discussed the health benefits of the MIZU Integrative Medicine Clinic + Float Center.

Unlike the evening's mistress of ceremonies, patrons lingered long after the event ended in hopes of coaxing late-night miniature crab cakes and beef Wellington from the popular eatery's kitchen.
Eric Gay/STF

AUSTIN -- Attorney General Ken Paxton took one last swipe at the Obama administration Tuesday, joining a throng of states suing the federal government for alleged overreach into the coal industry.

Texas joined 12 states in a lawsuit seeking a review and injunction of the "Stream Protection Rule" which the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation and Enforcement describes as a method to protect streams and wildlife.
AUSTIN  Texas House and Senate budget writers unveiled preliminary spending plans that are $8 billion apart, setting the stage for political fights over education, health, even the Legislature itself.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Jane Nelson filed a budget proposal totaling $213.4 billion over the next two years. The House plan outlined by Speaker Joe Straus calls for spending $221.3 billion.

That difference, an unusually wide spread in a tight budget year for what will be a starting point in negotiations, highlights the differences in priorities between the two chambers.

The proposed House budget offers about $2.2 billion more in state funds for education than the Senate, much of that to fund projected enrollment growth and improved equity in Texas' school finance system.

The House also is proposing about $2 billion more on health and human services than the Senate, although both preliminary budgets call for additional funds to fix the state's beleaguered Child Protective Service and foster care programs.

About $5 billion of the $8 billion difference between the Senate and House plans comes from the state general revenue fund, which Comptroller Glenn Hegar has estimated will have about $104.9 billion in available revenue for the budget, not including federal funds.

The Senate's plan would only spend $103.6 billion of Hegar's estimated available revenue.

"My big message is, this is the starting point," Nelson told reporters Tuesday, hours before the dueling budget plans were filed. "There will be some tough decisions, but we are going to meet our needs. We will prioritize."

Straus's budget plan would require about $108.9 billion in general revenues, about $4 billion more than Hegar's estimate. While there was no immediate word on where the additional funds would come from, some House leaders have suggested privately in recent days that they may be open to tapping the state's so-called Rainy Day Fund, a reserve account made up of oil and gas tax revenues.

In a statement Tuesday, the speaker said the House budget puts additional resources into public education, child protection and mental health programs "while increasing state spending by less than 1 percent."

"We keep overall spending low while making investments in children and our future," Straus, R-San Antonio, said. "This is the first step toward producing a balanced budget that reflects the priorities of the Texas House and does not raise taxes."

In the two plans, proposed cuts would come from a variety of agencies. Some of the proposed cuts are in line with a 4-percent reduction agency budgets ordered by state leaders last summer in anticipation that there would significantly less money to spend this year.

In public safety and criminal justice, the Senate proposes a $172.1 million cut; the House proposes a $262.4 million reduction. The Senate plan recommends approximately the same funding for border security, while the House suggests about $130 million less, mostly from savings of initial set-up costs.

The Senate plan includes $1.8 billion less for the category of "general government," agencies that range from the attorney general and Commission on the Arts to the Ethics Commission and State Preservation Board that runs the Capitol. The House proposes a $1.1 billion cut for general government.

The Senate would reduce Health and Human Services programs by about $1.2 billion, mostly by limiting Medicaid growth. The House plan envisions a $1.1 billion cut. Both provide more funding for the beleaguered Child Protective Services programs.

For public education, the Senate proposes $680.7 million in additional funding while the House seeks an additional $2.1 billion. The House plan provides funding for enrollment growth and improvements in equity of the state's school finance system.

Higher education would see a $517.4 million cut under the Senate plan, and $268 million more under the House plan.

The state's Judiciary would face spending cuts of $13.2 million in the Senate plan and $6.8 million in the House plan.

Under the Senate plan, natural resources would see $256 million in cuts. The House plan would cut those agencies $71 million.

Regulatory agencies that oversee a variety of professions, from doctors and psychologists to barbers and plumbers, would see $331 million in cuts under the Senate plan, $326.4 million under the House plan.

Even the Legislature would not be spared. Under the Senate plan, the Legislature would lose $13 million, while the House calls for a $16.8 million cut.
Four Oklahoma State University students are in hot water after they posted a photo of themselves "celebrating" Martin Luther King Jr. Day with mud masks on their faces.

Rather than a historical photo of the Civil Rights leader himself - as most typically do when honoring the historic figure - these four girls posed with black faces - though there is a debate to whether they are wearing dark mud masks - which is a common beauty facial product) or if they intentionally painted their faces black.
All of China - some 1.357 billion people - is about to go on a vacation on January 28.

The lunar calendar starts over on Saturday, January 28 and there will be seven days of festivities and celebrations going on in Asian cultures for the Chinese new Year.
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Who says the world is falling apart?

From Romero Britto's perspective, the sun always seems to be shining, sending out wildly colorful rays of hearts, stripes, polka dots and squiggly doodles.

You have probably seen his artwork: It appears on monumental public sculptures all over the world and on an astounding array of branded products - among them baby clothes, toys and games, smartphone cases, tableware, luggage and handbags - plus licensed Disney figurines, liquor and water bottles, Hublot watches and Mini Coopers.

Britto visits Off the Wall Gallery in the Galleria this weekend to share posters, limited-edition prints and sculptures that exude his signature brand of eye-popping happiness.

More Information Romero Britto Receptions When: 6-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday Where: Off the Wall Gallery, 5015 Westheimer, Suite 2208 Info: Free; 713-871-0940, offthewallgallery.com See More Collapse

"Why not be optimistic if you're doing well?" Britto said recently from his Miami studio, the headquarters for a business empire that employs about 100 people.

There was a sense of, "if I can do it, anyone can" in his cheerful voice.

Britto grew up poor in Recife, Brazil, surrounded by the chaos of eight siblings. He preferred books, school and quiet, and he loved to paint. Unable to buy canvases, he used newspapers and cardboard as supports for cartoonish, hopeful compositions with big fields of color outlined thickly in black.

His best friend, the child of a British diplomat, introduced him to an utterly different lifestyle of elegant parties and world travelers.

"I was like, 'Oh, my god, I want to be like that,' " he said.

Taking what he thought was a logical route, Britto set out to become a career diplomat. From the first semester of law school, though, he was miserable.

Luckily, Britto's connections enabled other opportunities. He spent a year in Paris, where he learned about Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Then he moved to Miami, inspired to work as an artist.

He started by selling paintings on the street, since no gallery would sign him. Eventually, a retailer in Coconut Grove's Mayfair Mall gave Britto space to sell his work. The mall wasn't doing well, and that space eventually became Britto's studio.

Then, one day in 1989, Michael Roux happened in. Roux, the CEO of Crillon Importers, was looking for artists who could help turn the labels of Absolut Vodka bottles into cultural icons. And bingo - just like the pop of the hearts in the artist's paintings - Britto's cheerful work was sharing a splash with Andy Warhol, the first Absolut artist, and Keith Haring.

Today, Britto's company produces branded goods priced from $7 (a pill box) to $2,500 (a limited-edition "Guarani Ball" sculpture). His business - managed since 2004 by Alina Shriver, the wife of Anthony Kennedy-Shriver - has sold more than $50 million worth of licensed merchandise. And the empire still appears to be expanding: Britto said he recently signed a 15-year deal with a Mexican investor to produce a line of clothing.

He knows that our divided society has some people in dark places right now, but Britto prefers to focus on the positives. As he knows quite well, happiness sells.

"Why not be optimistic if you're alive?" he said.
Trumpeter and composer Arturo Sandoval plies his trade like a man acutely aware of time. He has composed hundreds of pieces of music, released dozens of albums, toured regularly and that doesn't even get into all of the work he does for film and television.

Sandoval's frenetic pace has something to do with his second life as an entertainer. In 1990 he made a white-knuckle decision to defect from his native Cuba. An internationally renowned performer, Sandoval was on tour in Europe with his hero, mentor and friend Dizzy Gillespie when he decided he and his wife and son weren't going back to the Caribbean.

Sandoval sunk roots in southern California and began ripping through projects like notes in a trumpet solo. His body of work before 1990 was sizable. Since then it has grown without signs of slowing. And he's reaped the rewards, too: Sandoval is frontline representative of bebop and Latin jazz, and his work has earned him 10 Grammys, an Emmy and, in 2013, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Da Camera of Houston brings this legendary figure to town this week. And then he'll be off to his next project and the one after that. At 67, he bristles at the idea of slowing down.

More Information Arturo Sandoval When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Tickets: $37.50-$67.50; 713-524-5050, dacamera.com See More Collapse

"No, no, no," he says, "I leave no room for tiredness."

Q: You're best known as a trumpeter. But you're also quite accomplished as a pianist and composer. Do you have a process for breaking up your days between the three?

A: I'm always working on something. I wish I had enough time to learn more. There's always something to learn. I think the most important of the three things you mention is composition. Your legacy will be there way after you're gone. But composition is important because it's the way you share with people your feelings about music, even more than playing. For me it's the most important. So the first thing I do every morning is sit at the piano and come up with something. Maybe three minutes, maybe 5, or maybe 30 seconds. It can be any style. That's good for me, just challenging myself to create.

Q: Speaking of compositions, I was listening to "A Mis Abuelos" the other day. It opens with this beautiful quiet sense of longing before exploding into a radiant piece. I wondered if it was meant to represent two sides of life in Cuba?

A: You definitely heard the changes correctly. I have family from Spain, and yes, you're hearing that flavor in the piece. Later in the second part, that's what happens when my grandparents get to Cuba. There they found a new life, new perspective. Different home and culture.

Q: You've been away for decades, and some things have changed. How do you feel about Cuba now? Is it anger? Sadness?

A: I never feel anything like anger or hate against Cuba. Now, the government is something else. It's a weird contradiction of feelings. I've not been back in 28 years. I miss my country, the people, my relatives. So that is sad, but I'm extremely glad I live in the United States. I love this country with all my heart. What you can achieve here as a person and an artist ... I just had coffee with my son and he talked to me about his dreams and what he was doing. And I'm happy he can fill his heart with those things here. Otherwise, in Cuba, forget it. Here the sky is the limit. That's something I feel as an artist, it's difficult to describe. But people take for granted the privilege to live in a country where you can develop your life, your business ideas and your dreams. It's almost not fair, to go see other places and realize they don't have those possibilities.

Q: Is it true there was no precedent for playing music in your family?

A: Nobody in my family was interested in music, but also they were not interested in art in general. I was the very first one. They thought I had mental problems. "What's wrong with this kid?" So it was very different for them, my passion for music. It wasn't always easy for me, but somewhere in your life you have to struggle to achieve your dreams.

Q: With no family influence, was it difficult to come by music when you were young?

A: There are many ways to find the information you want. There's never just one way. Some say you need the best instrument or the best instructor or the best school. But it's something beside that. You need a drive inside yourself. You need to have that to push to find that information. It has to be so powerful that you never stop. That's what you need, especially in music. It's not about the amount of time you spend practicing. It's that hunger for information. You must be an eternal student, never happy with what you know.

Q: Can you talk about your time in prison?

A: Yes, I was jailed for listening to jazz, that's true. They called jazz "the music of imperialists," which is the most stupid thing I've heard in my life. But instead of making me give up, it gave me more desire to learn about jazz. I listened to Voice of America, they had a jazz hour, and I listened to that every day of my life. That got me started. I knew I wanted to take that information and scratch all over the surface of the Earth to find out more.

Q: I know Dizzy Gillespie went from hero to mentor to friend. Do you recall your reaction the very first time you heard his music?

A: I'll never forget that moment. I grew up in a small village in a rural part of the country. So I heard a lot of traditional Cuban music. Then I got a scholarship and received some classical training. I joined some different bands in Havana, but none of them played jazz. Then I met this journalist who was enthusiastic about jazz. He asked if I'd ever heard of it? And he played me a compilation of Charlie Parker from 1947-1948. Man, I can tell you I remember the way I felt then. My eyes were wide open and I thought, "What is this?!?" I knew that's what I wanted to learn, and I'm still on that mission. There are so many possibilities open to you if you can play bebop. You can say what you want without limitation. You need impeccable technique, but it opened all these other doors for me. A good bebop player can do anything. Nothing can stop you.
A new Lions club comes to the Katy area on Feb. 18 when 24 charter members celebrate the charter night of the Katy-Cinco Ranch Club at Rudy's BBQ, 21799 Katy Freeway, Katy, starting at 7 p.m.

During the ceremonies, Lions District Governor Mark Roth, along with other district dignitaries, will present the new club members with their official charter. Members of the Royal Oaks Lions Club, who sponsored the new Katy-Cinco Ranch Club will participate.
Chloe Bartine, a senior at Seven Lakes High School, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting.

To earn the award, Bartine designed and built two Little Free Libraries for Neighborhood Kidz Club in the communities of Western Pines and Trinity Hunters Place located in Katy, Texas. Bartine's goal was to address the learning gaps that occur over the summer or holiday breaks when children do not have access to books.

The award recognizes girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable community service projects that require a minimum of 80 hours to complete. Less than five percent of Girl Scouts earn the award.

"The Little Free Library is open all the time and the books are free," said Bartine. "It is a way to promote literacy and nurture the love of reading through sharing."

To stock the libraries with books, Bartine also hosted a book drive and led more than 15 volunteers to complete this project.

Bartine has served as a volunteer for Neighborhood Kidz Club's summer reading program the past few summers and said that the kids love having access to books to read during that time.

"I have always loved to read and feel that books can take you places you have never been, help you find the answers to questions you may have and give you opportunities to dream and explore," said Bartine. "I wanted to give the kids an opportunity to be able to read any time."

Through earning the Gold Award, Bartine learned the importance of leadership and how it directly affects the success of the project, patience and how to be more organized and attentive to the needs of the project.

After graduation, Bartine will attend the University of Alabama to pursue a bachelor of arts in dance.

To learn more about the Gold Award and Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscouts.org.
Sugar Land gives State of the City

Join Mayor Joe Zimmerman and City Manager Allen Bogard for the annual State of the City: Sugar Land at the new state-of-the-art Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, 18111 Lexington Blvd., on Jan. 19, from 7-9 a.m. They will give an in-depth review of the city's accomplishments in 2016 and insight toward plans for 2017. Behind the scenes tours of the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land will be available upstairs immediately following the program. Visit www.fortbendchamber.com to register and pay online.

Richmond presents

Coffee with a Cop

The Richmond Police Department will hold its first Coffee with a Cop event on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Whataburger, 5400 FM 1640 from 8-10 a.m. Coffee with a Cop provides an opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the department's work in Richmond neighborhoods.The majority of contacts law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies, or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community. Some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down those barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction. No agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know your officers.

Culinary Club to discuss salads

The Culinary Book Club at Fort Bend County Libraries' University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd., in Sugar Land, will meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18. The theme of the month is "Salad Wars."

The club meets on the third Wednesday of every month, and different cooking genres are explored each month. Cooking enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels - from beginners to advanced - are invited to join the free program. Those attending are welcome to bring their own cookbooks and recipes, or they may browse the library's collection of cookbooks. Share tips, get ideas, and enjoy the camaraderie of other individuals who have an interest in cooking and good cuisine. Call the University Branch Library at 281-633-5100.

JOIN GOP Women for inauguration

Join Spirit of Freedom Republican Women in its first meeting of 2017 as Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America. The ceremony will be live-streamed beginning before the regular meeting time of 11 a.m. until 11:35 a.m.

Speaker Jonathan Saenz of Texas Values will discuss legislative priorities of the 85th Texas Legislature and how people can help get the bills passed into law. The Jan. 20 meeting will start at 11 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. at Sugar Creek Baptist LYF Center, 13444 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land. A catered Lunch is available for a $10 donation to SFRW PAC (check or cash only).RSVP to President Phyllis Worsham by calling or texting 281-755-2063 or email at info@spiritoffreedomwomen.com. Specify if you will be attending only or would like to have lunch.

For up-coming meetings and/or more information about the Club, check the SFRW website: www.spiritoffreedomwomen.com or email Phyllis Worsham at info@spiritoffreedomwomen.com.

'Into the Woods' staged at Austin

The Austin High School Department of Fine Arts will present "Into the Woods" at 7 p.m. Jan. 19-21 and Jan. 23 in the school's auditorium, 3434 Pheasant Creek Drive, Sugar Land. Tickets may be purchased at www.theaustinplayhouse.com for pre-sale rates, or at the door. For more information, including group rates, email cory.kelley@fortbendisd.com.

Winter book sale planned in Sienna

Sienna Branch Library's Friends Group will sponsor a Winter Book Sale January 19-21, at the Library, 8411 Sienna Springs, Missouri City. Thousands of gently used books for children and adults as well as CDs and DVDs will be priced 50 cents to $1. The sale will be open Thursday, Jan. 19, 6-8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20, noon-4 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Proceeds fund Library programs for children and adults. Contact: friendsofsiennalibrary@yahoo.com for information.

Free Legal Clinic set for Veterans Jan. 21

Veterans who need legal advice or assistance can visit a free legal clinic on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 9 a.m. until noon, at the Richmond VA Outpatient Clinic, 22001 Southwest Freeway, Suite 200, Richmond. The clinic is a public service of Fort Bend Lawyers Care, the Fort Bend County Bar Association and the Houston Bar Foundation's Veterans Legal Initiative, a coalition of local bar associations that provide pro bono legal services to U.S. veterans in 18 counties in Texas.

No appointment is necessary. Any veteran, or spouse of a deceased veteran, can receive one-on-one advice and counsel from a volunteer attorney in any area of law, including family, wills and probate, consumer, real estate, and tax law, as well as disability and veterans benefits. Veterans who need ongoing legal representation and who qualify for legal aid may be assigned a pro bono attorney.

Contact the Veterans Legal Initiative at 713-759-1133 or visit www.hba.org for more information.

Food, Nutrition workshop Jan. 21

The final Food & Nutrition Workshop in the Explore 4-H Series, will be 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road in Rosnberg. This workshop will focus on food safety, cross-contamination and nutrition while cooking proteins such as meat, eggs and tofu. Hands-on cooking will accompany instruction. This free workshop is open to all Fort Bend County families. Visit http://agrilife.org/ftbend4h/ to make a reservation.

Program focuses on human trafficking

The Fort Bend Alumnae Panhellenic Association will present a free community awareness event in conjunction with The Creative Dreams Center of Stafford, featuring Kerri Taylor, executive director of UnBound Houston about human trafficking and the impact it has on the community. The Jan. 23 presentation is open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. at 1622 Staffordshire Road, Stafford. RSVP to fbpanhellenic@gmail.com.

guardianship session at library

Brazos Bend Guardianship Services is hosting a Guardianship and Alternatives to Guardianship information session from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd., Sugar Land, in Meeting Room 2. The session is designed for families who need information on obtaining legal guardianship of an incapacitated loved one. Alternatives to guardianship will also be discussed. An attorney will answer any legal questions related to guardianship and alternatives to guardianship.

RSVP to: Kirk Monroe at 281-232-7701 or by email: kmonroe@brazosbendguardianship.org or at www.brazosbendguardianship.org.

Food handlers class organized

A food handlers course accredited by the Texas Department of State Health Services is being offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Fort Bend County. "Food Safety: It's In Your Hands" is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 27, starting at 9 a.m. at the Extension office, 1402 Band Road, Rosenberg.

This 2-hour course will now be required for all food service employees to help promote the service of safe food. To register, call 281-342-3034. Registration can also be done in-person the day of the course. The cost is $20 per person (check or money order only) and must be paid in full before the course begins.

Fairgrounds hosts vintage festival

Twice each year since 2013, Junk Hippy has transformed the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds into a vintage festival. More than 125 vendors from all over Texas and several surrounding states fill three buildings with vintage, handmade and antique goods.

Junk Hippy will take over the fairgrounds from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. Admission is only $5 at the gate, kids 13 and under are free. Food trucks, a mimosa trailer and live music complete the festival. Purchase wristbands at junkhippy.com/shop.
Two Sugar Land residents have new positions on the board of directors of the Special Olympics Texas for 2017.

City of Sugar Land's 1st Assistant City Manager Steve Griffith moves into the vice chair position after spending 2016 as treasurer.
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Hours after candidates began filing paperwork to run for city office, a federal judge Wednesday denied a request by Pasadena officials to delay her order that the city election be run under an 2011 election scheme to protect the rights of Latino voters.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal in Houston said Pasadena should conduct its upcoming May elections based on eight single-member districts, throwing out the six single-member and two at-large districts that the judge ruled had diluted the clout of Hispanics.
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Andrea Green was still working to get her home in the Rosenberg area back to a livable condition when the waters began to rise again there Wednesday.

She arrived to the property that morning, as she usually does, to check on her horses and so her daughter could catch the bus to school in Lamar CISD, which was operating as usual. Green and her children had been living with family in a nearby city, but the mother hadn't wanted to make her daughter, who recently made the cheer squad, switch schools.

After Green found her horses in knee-deep water, she moved them to higher ground. Her home, which she had lifted up after last year's flood, was safe, but the event served as another frustrating reminder of the challenges she and her neighbors face.

The here-we-go-again sentiment was on the minds of thousands of Houstonians this morning as yet another significant rainstorm led to street flooding, school delays, high-water rescues and stranded cars.

WEATHER REPORT: Heavy rains bring high water, flooding throughout Houston

The floodwaters crept up North Braeswood beside Brays Bayou Wednesday morning, pushing into front lawns and swamping a few cars.

"It's happened before, a lot worse than this," said Don Westheimer, 70, as he surveyed the damage in rain boots.

After his home on Tartan Lane flooded during Tropical Storm Allison, Westheimer and his wife rebuilt 5 feet higher. The house hasn't flooded since; water stays in the streets. A few neighbors lost cars, though, and most folks were stuck in their homes with the floods obstructing their driveways.

Westheimer pointed out to the construction sites on Brays Bayou, where the county is widening the waterway to combat floods.

"I hope they can fix this," he said.

Green and her neighbors have struggled to get help in the still-unincorporated part of the county. Located in an unincorporated part of the county, she wishes local officials would help dig out the ditches along the street. She also found that the flooding worsened after they had to switch from their private well and public water lines were installed.

For Green, 33, who grew up in the home, moving away is out of the question. Instead, she's spent weekends there working to fix it back up, ripping out the walls she used to get in trouble for coloring on and beginning anew. The mother said they have spent money from FEMA and have been relying on donations and living "paycheck to paycheck" to cover the repairs that remain.

Still, it's been a long journey, she said mid-day Wednesday, surrounded by a still-inundated front yard.

"Everybody's ready to come home," she said.

Abel and Luci Gonzalez said they'd been stranded on Texas 288 northbound near MacGregor since 5:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, missing his 9 am flight from Bush Intercontinental Airport to see family in Guadalajara, Mexico.

It was dark when they were driving north from Pearland, so they didn't see the water ahead, and when other motorists tried to turn back, the highway had flooded behind them.

WHAT NOW: What to do when your car has flooded

Though they could still laugh at their predicament after three hours, Abel Gonzalez said he is tired of seeing flooding so frequently during his 25 years in the area.

"We can't understand why the city hasn't fixed this problem that happens every time it rains," he said in Spanish.

They gave up on making it to the airport, planning to head back home and rest. They finally made it off their freeway island about 10 a.m. after almost 4 hours stranded.

At 6:30 a.m., a small crowd had formed along Wild Indigo, near Interstate 610 and Highway 59, surveying the damage in distress. One couple discussed whether to push their car to safety, noting that it's their second car in a year that's fallen victim to rising floodwaters. First-floor patios are under water and neighbors are worried about when ground-level apartments would start flooding. The oily water is already thigh-deep on the Westpark side of the parking lot.

DON'T GO HERE: Houston's worst spots for high water

By 9 a.m., technicians at Mister Express Lube on Kirby Drive already had two "flood cars" from customers. They would need to take out the seats, drain the water and put the vehicles back together.

"We'll have a whole lot more by tomorrow, 20 or 30," said Willie Hordge, 59, a lube technician standing with co-workers below a red awning as rain drizzled outside.

About an hour later, Tommy Nix, 57, stood by his lime green 2006 Toyota Scion, shaking water from a Tinkerbell floor mat with a tattooed hand. A water vacuum spurted dirty water out of the vehicle.

Nix was calf-deep in water outside his Montrose home early Wednesday morning when he saw that several inches of rain had slipped into the passenger side of his car. The dark carpets were already soaked.

When he sees flood warnings, Nix generally parks at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, high enough to avoid flooding.

He didn't see warnings last night -- and now his car is paying for it.

"I've kept it up for 10 years. I love this car," he said, adding that he'd been saving up for a detailing.

Another despondent car owner was vacuuming the interior of his sedan in the driveway of his parents' Bellaire-area home.

Dylan Nevarez said water on the street rose to nearly a foot by the time he awoke about 7 a.m., high enough to reach the tailpipe of his car -- which he bought just last year, after the Memorial Day floods ruined the engine of his last car.

"This happens every times it rains," he said ruefully of the street flooding.

Angel Harrison said her normal eight-minute work commute from her downtown area home to the Heights took about 35 minutes. The 49-year-old manager at EQ's Heights Coffee Shop said she usually arrives at work by 6 a.m., but wasn't able to get to work till about 9 a.m. this morning because of all the flooding.

Harrison said she knew flooding conditions were likely bad when she saw the Metro rail line near her home had been closed.

"That means that there are a lot of roadways flooded out because they usually don't shut down that train till the last minute," she said.

One thing that Harrison noticed on her drive was the lack of emergency response barricades by overpasses and roadways that were flooded out.

"I think it might have caught them (authorities) off guard," she said. "I don't think they were expecting it to be such a deluge."

Bianca Walker said the street in her Heights home always floods during heavy storms. This morning was no different.

She said waters rose to about 5 or 6 inches and even filling up over people's yards on the block.

"Nobody parks on the street when it's raining anymore," said the 64-year-old retired therapist. She said last year, at least two cars on her block were lost to flood waters.

She said the city has done a lot of work recently to help with drainage on the block, but nothing seems to help.

"We're all very concerned," she said.

Khanh Nguyen, 25, said she opted out of making the commute to work this morning. While the streets near her Woodland Heights home did not appear to be flooded, she said access onto freeways seemed impossible.

"Areas to I-45 and I-10 were just out of the question," she said.

A software developer at Exxon Mobil, Nguyen said she also did not want to get stuck at the company's Spring office when the rain started again later this afternoon.

"It's a big commute, so I'm not going to risk it," she said. "A lot can go wrong from here to there."

In the Gulfton area, resident Leticia Ayala said her home had escaped the floodwaters even though her neighborhood's streets filled with water and crept toward her neighbors' homes.

Ayala's block was flooded on one end, and the other exit route also was blocked by water. She said she couldn't have gotten to her job at a private school if she tried, so she was relieved when the school first delayed and then canceled classes for the day.

"It's gotten worse and worse over the years," she said of drainage in her area.

Keri Blakinger and Andrew Kragie contributed to this report.
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Stephanie Williamson wanted to find a way to encourage reading while showing people - especially tweens, who are roughly ages 8-14 - that libraries aren't the somber institutions of yesteryear.

"Libraries aren't places where you have to cower down, sneak around stacks of books and get shushed. It's not like that anymore," said Williamson, who serves as the children's program coordinator for the Brazoria County Library System. "We wanted to show kids in our area that the library is a fun, welcoming place for everyone."

After attending a statewide library conference, talking with peers and attending a few comic conventions for research, Williamson decided that the best way to demolish the stigma of the library as an austere place was to host BrazCon, a Comic-Con-like event for kids, tweens and teens. The free Jan. 28 event, planned for Rodeo Palms Junior High School, 101 Palm Desert Drive in Manvel, will be the first of its kind in Brazoria County. The convention will occur from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"What I found out about comic cons is that they are so inclusive," Williamson said. "Everyone feels welcome.

"They let people be silly. They let you get outside yourself," Williamson said of comic cons. "And we thought, 'What better way to get like-minded kids engaged in reading and in the library?' "

BrazCon won't be a typical con, Williamson said. Rather than emphasizing vendor booths, the event will focus on activities. In addition to bringing in NASA astronaut Dr. Stephen Love as the keynote speaker and a drawing workshop from "Commander" Mark Kistler of PBS's "The Secret City Adventures," Williamson has recruited an award-winning cosplayer (someone who dresses in costume as a specific character) to teach fundamentals of costume design.

Also coming is an instructor to teach lightsaber fighting techniques.

BrazCon participants will be able to watch dry-ice science experiments, decorate their own wands, learn about the Quidditch game from the "Harry Potter" books and make lightsabers.

Lightsabers and wand making were an especially important part of what is drawing Cohan Perkins, 11, to BrazCon.

"I was really into Star Wars, and I'm really excited to get to make my own lightsaber," said Perkins, who attends Rodeo Palms Junior High. "I'm also excited about the wands because I like Harry Potter."

Perkins said that his brother introduced him to the popular franchise by way of the first "Star Wars" movie.

"The movie was so good that I was interested in reading the books; so I went to the library," he said.

For Nathan Gamino, 13, BrazCon represents a showcase to enjoy his favorite genre: manga, which is a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels.

Gamino explained that, as in so many cases, his brother introduced him to the genre.

"The storylines drew me in," he said. "No matter what you like, there's a storyline in a manga that would interest you."

"Featuring manga and anime was important to us because we know that there are so many kids who love those genres," Williamson said. "We want them to have an outlet to talk about why they have a love for it."

Gamino said he'll be at the event.

"I think it will show people that libraries are fun," he said, "that they're not someplace you're forced to go to."

This is music to Williamson's ears, who has enlisted the help of the organization Communities in Schools, volunteers and librarians from around the county to help plan the event, which was part of the library system's budget for the year.

"My hope for the event was for it to be a welcome place for people in all fandoms," she said.

To help make that happen, Williamson decided to go right to the source and ask for the input of local students. After a handful of workshops with kids from throughout the county, she said that BrazCon really started to take shape.

"Kids have much different ideas than adults. Because of the kids who showed up to our workshops, we'll have activities that I would have never thought of," Williamson said.

Dungeon and Dragon stations, Minecraft, a zombie workshop, Tim the Dalek and his life-size Daleks, a video gaming station, a cartoon screening room and a possible visit from the 501st legion of Storm Troopers are all things that came from these meetings, but Williamson said one of the biggest contributions was the idea of bringing Love onboard.

"One of the senior students said that (Love) had spoken to their class when they were in elementary school and that he was really cool. We thought, 'Well he must have made a huge impression;' so we wanted to get him involved immediately," Williamson said.

Geovanni Abrego, 11, thinks BrazCon will provide a good opportunity for people to see that the library is a place to enjoy.

"I like getting the adventure of a story. When you read it in the books, you can see it in your mind and that makes it exciting," said the Rodeo Palms Junior High student. "I think (BrazCon) will encourage more people to read because they can see that the library is fun."

Above all, Williamson hopes that BrazCon will help show kids the value of being true to themselves.

"We want them to be themselves. If they're geeky, that's perfect. Be yourself. Embrace the geek," she said.

Food and drinks will be for sale at the event and vendors will offer items modestly priced to fit young people's budgets.
Lindsey Elementary will open in August 2017 in the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District in the Firethorne subdivision at 2431 Joan Collier Trace Road.

An Attendance Boundary Committee - consisting of community members from the areas under consideration for rezoning - will recommend the attendance zone for Lindsey to the school board trustees.
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The Aggie Expressway has divided two Texas A&M alums who serve on Montgomery County Commissioners Court.

The project includes a 3.6-mile stretch in Montgomery County that is being overseen by the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority, which is the same individuals who serve on Commissioners Court. The Aggie Expressway, also known as the Texas 249 tollway, among other names, goes from Houston to College Station.

While Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack supports the project, he says it should be the Texas Department of Transportation's responsibility, not Montgomery County. County Judge Craig Doyal disagrees, saying the project comes with little risk and will not cost taxpayers money in the long run. The two earned their college rings from Texas A&M University in College Station.

For Noack, the project is too much of a risk for the county, especially since TxDOT will fund the project. However,Doyal says the traffic data shows the need for the road, especially in West Montgomery County, where the road will run through with exits at FM 1774 and FM 149.

According to TxDOT's website, planning for the tollway to College Station began in 2000 as part of its Major Investment Study.

Montgomery County will construct the main lanes of the toll road from Spring Creek to FM 1774. The cost of the project is about $85 million, with $10 million of that already spent on design work through Halff Associates. Funding for the project, according to Doyal, will come from revenue bonds that will be repaid through the tolls collected. Noack believes voters should have a say; and if approved, paid for through general obligation bonds.

Doyal said those bonds could be sold within the next few months.

For the toll road

Doyal said Montgomery County retains the right to build the tollway from TxDOT since the feeder roads for the highway are built. The need for the road, he said, is based on the current traffic patterns and future growth.

The congestion is horrible (between Magnolia and Tomball).  You've got a traffic signal every two miles and it just takes forever," said Doyal, adding that traffic increases tremendously during the Renaissance Festival in October and November.

The project, he said, makes sense.

"We felt like that would be a fairly easy project for us for our first real toll facility," said Doyal, noting the county would only be constructing the main lanes. "A free route already exists for people to use if they choose not to use the toll facility."

As for who benefits from the road, Doyal said "everyone."

"Everyone along there," he said. The increase mobility will create a benefit for that portion in Montgomery County and the county will benefit from revenue that toll road will create."

Doyal said if TxDOT builds the the toll road, it would dictate the tolls, the rate and control whether those tolls would ever go away. Also, in the case, Montgomery County may not beneift form the toll revenue because TxDoT would receive it and could use it anywhere across the state.

"Why would we not want to put ourselves in a position to recoup some of those costs from people cutting through Montgomery County," he said. "It's going to be a toll road no matter what."

Against the toll road

While Doyal and the rest of Commissioners Court support the project, Noack says it is not a necessity because TxDOT will build it.

"It's simple," said Noack, noting he has not seen any studies showing the actual need for the road.

However, Noack's biggest concern is that the project puts county taxpayers at risk.

"If revenue shortfalls exists, how will the bonds be (repaid)?" he said. "It would be the taxpayers because Montgomery County cannot afford to let those bonds default."

With revenue bonds, the MCTRA would be loaned money from the county. The bonds would be repaid through the toll revenue. However, if that revenue falls short, it excess debt would fall on the county, and therefore taxpayers, who did not have a say in building the road because there was no vote.

Noack pointed out that the SH 130 toll road near Austin was not successful.

According to an Aug. 12, 2016, San Antonio Express-News article, the road's private operator SH 130 Concession Co. filed a bankruptcy reorganization plan in August that proposed transferring company ownership to its largest lenders, which include the Federal Highway Administration and a group of European banks. The company owes more than $1.6 billion. It is owned by Spanish road developer Cintra, the majority stakeholder, and San Antonio-based Zachry American Infrastructure.

The company built the 41-mile southern section of Texas 130, stretching between Seguin and Mustang Ridge, south of Austin, and operates it as part of a 50-year lease agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2016, claiming the recession severely reduced the amount of traffic it expected the road to attract.

The company paid TxDOT $125 million upfront for the rights to operate the road, which was built to bypass Interstate 35 traffic between San Antonio and Austin and then became state property. It also agreed to share some of its toll revenue with the state as part of the lease agreement.

Noack said the success of the Texas 249 toll road is a gamble.

"My issue is there is not tangible benefit to Montgomery County," Noack said.

Funding options

Noack has suggested if the county is going to build the 3.6-mile toll road, it should use funds available through the state as part of the pass-through toll program the county has been a part of since 2005.

In May of last year, Jennie Taraborelli, with Pate Engineers, who originally prepared the pass-through toll agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for Montgomery County, told commissioners the county has $66.6 million available for projects. She urged commissioners to consider possible projects to utilize the funding before it is swept into other projects outside of the county.

"The one thing that is going to have to happen is the county is going to have to put forward a list of projects," she said. "I know the county has a lot of needs."

Under the agreement and through the 2005 pass-through referendum, Montgomery County has funded projects on FM 1484, FM 1485, FM 1488, FM 1314 and the direct connector from Texas 242 to Interstate 45, which opened last year. The county has received state and federal reimbursement of more than $150 million through the pass-through toll program, which was part of the 2005 road bond referendum. The reimbursement rate is 7 cents per vehicle mile.

The minimum reimbursement for the construction projects is $10.5 million per year, while the maximum reimbursement is $17.4 million a year. The entire amount will be paid over 10-17 years, Taraborelli said.

But Doyal said that funding is needed for other county projects and it doesn't make sense to use those funds for a project that is viable for tolling.

"Why would we use those dollars on a project that lends itself to tolls," Doyal asked.

Noack disagrees and said the Texas 249 toll project is the right project for the funds.

Texas 249 and FM 2978 connection

While Doyal said a connection between Texas 249 and FM 2978 is not a factor, Noack believes it is by driving traffic to the toll facility.

In fact, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley is moving forward with plans to connect FM 2978 to Dobbing-Huffsmith; and with developer roads ultimately will connect to Texas 249. While the connection originally was aligned with Woodlands Parkway, Riley has since moved the project south a quarter-mile to connect at Mansions Way Drive.

Riley denies the connector is an amended Woodlands Parkway extension. And, according to a county employee, the County Engineer's Office sent a letter to The Woodlands Township saying the Woodlands Parkway extension at FM 2978 was not viable due to the radio towers and other environmental concerns in the area.

Township Chairman Gordy Bunch said the item was an executive session item and he could not "confirm or deny" the letter from the county engineer existed. He said the township board would be discussing the issue Jan. 25.

County commissioners approved two contracts related to Riley's project Tuesday. The court awarded land surveying services to Tomball-based Arborleaf Engineering and Surveying Inc. for $264,855 and engineering services for the project to Houston-based R. G. Miller Engineers Inc. in the amount of $264,477, totaling almost $530,000.

Doyal said Riley is using his budget for the engineering of the project and added that the rights of way purchased several years ago would be used for the project. No timeline on the project was available.

However, funding for the construction of the connector could come from the $66 million pass-through toll program. In previous Courier articles, Doyal said developers have committed to constructing the connector from Dobin-Huffsmith to Texas 249.

The issue arose in early 2015 when residents learned Riley was planning to extend Woodlands Parkway from FM 2978 to Texas 249. The project was part of a $350 million road bond referendum that voters rejected in May 2015.

Concerned about the increase in traffic in the community, residents of The Woodlands urged the court to remove the project from the May bond. But the court, specifically Riley, refused to take the project off his list. And so it was overwhelmingly rejected, led by Woodlands voters.

In August 2015, the court agreed to move forward with another road bond for the Nov. 3 ballot in the amount of $280 million. That referendum excluded several projects, including the Woodlands Parkway extension. Voters passed the $280 million referendum easily, with 63.36 percent of the more than 45,500 votes for it.

The extension of Woodlands Parkway has been part of the thoroughfare plan since the original draft in the late 1980s.

Riley maintains his community wants and needs the road and that it would be unlikely motorists would use the route through The Woodlands as a way east to Interstate 45. Community leaders in The Woodlands, including Noack, pushed for Riley to go farther south with a connector, possibly widening Hardin Store Road to allow more through traffic between FM 2978 and Texas 249.

But Riley, along with Doyal, say Hardin Store is not a viable option because of the difficulty in obtaining rights of way to widen two-lane road. Doyal said one of the main reasons he purchased the majority of rights of way for the future extension of Woodlands Parkway while he served as Precinct 2 commissioner was because it was more difficult to purchase those rights of way along Hardin Store Road. He said the railroad tracks that cross Hardin Store Road would be a challenge.

Bunch said he will put the item on the next township meeting to have the board reaffirm a resolution against the project.
A Bible verse is affixed to the window of the Rock Christian Center along Martin Luther King Boulevard and Reed Road in southeast Houston.

The verse is from Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God."

But that message of non-violence went unheeded Monday night when at least three people were wounded in a hail of gunfire during an impromptu neighborhood Martin Luther King Day block party.

Houston police said gunfire broke out about 6:30 p.m. When HPD officers arrived, they found that three teenagers had been wounded - a male, 17, and two females 13 and 17. They were taken to area hospitals and are expected to survive, Houston police said Tuesday.

At a cafe next to the Rock Christian Center, Mandy Jones, whose husband is the church's pastor, was saddened that people were wounded on a day set aside to honor the civil rights icon and champion of peaceful resistance.

"They don't even see the purpose of it," Jones said. "Martin Luther King stood for peace. He stood for non-violence."

SHOOTING AT BLOCK PARTY: One of the shooting victims ran to house for help

Houston police have not identified the motive for the shooting or located any suspects. On Monday, officers said a fourth person had been shot but ran away before paramedics arrived. HPD investigators said they were still trying to confirm if there were any victims other than the three who remained at the scene.

Ralphiel Collier was behind the counter at the HealthCo Pharmacy across the street when the shooting broke out.

He had noticed the crowds growing throughout the day but thought nothing of it.

"It was peaceful and it was awesome," Collier said. "Everyone was having a great time."

But he looked up and saw people scattering in every direction.

"One of my other coworkers said, 'They're shooting! They're shooting!' " Collier recalled. "It was horrible."

On the same day three people were wounded in Houston, a shooting during a Martin Luther King Day celebration in Miami left eight people shot. According to the Miami Herald, police there said the gunfire was a violent exchange between rival street gangs although the wounded victims were innocent bystanders.

Collier said he couldn't imagine what might have caused someone to shoot up an MLK Day celebration.

"It was probably something so stupid," he said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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A symposium on flooding and storm surge protection for the Houston Ship Channel scheduled for Wednesday evening has been canceled by todays heavy storms and local flooding.

It is sort of funny, I guess, chuckled Houston District E Councilman David Martin, a co-organizer of the event.

At-large councilman David Robinson, also a co-organizer, dove deep into his dictionary to determine canceling the event wasnt ironic, as many have joked online, but paradoxical. He said he was keeping a good nature about the cancellation, while recognizing just how important dealing with deluges has become in the region.

This is the hazard of life in southern Texas and life on the bayou, Robinson said.

The gathering of engineering and hydrology experts was set for this evening at the George R. Brown Convention Center. With a flurry of flooded roads Wednesday and the specter of more storms, officials pulled the plug on the event after consulting with other sponsors and attendees, including Houstons flood czar, former councilman Stephen Costello and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.

Robinson and Martin said the event will be rescheduled.

The symposium was meant to address many of the recent concerns related to flooding, storm management and even the threat of a hurricane or tropical storm pulling millions of gallons out of Galveston Bay and shooting across a populated coastal part of the region like an enormous pressure washer.

Wednesdays rains were a less-violent reminder of how much a storm can strike at Houstons infrastructure, including roads. Though early assessments do not indicate todays storm was as strong as those that walloped the area Memorial Day weekend of 2015 and mid-April of 2016, the same issue of filled bayous and channels led to standing water on streets, complicating trips.

In some of the worst flooded spots on Wednesday, freeway travelers were stranded waiting for low areas to clear. Danny Perez, spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, said often the water takes time to drain because pumps installed to get rid of the water are trying to force the water into full bayous, meaning the water cant go anywhere.

Costellos task is to correct some of those pervasive problems. City officials recently approved $10 million to begin work on minor fixes which could remedy some of the issues related to drainage and culverts. Robinson on Wednesday called it a step in the right direction, but many larger and more complex challenges lie ahead.

I dont think there is any lack of political will or resource that is putting projects off, he said. The but here is we have to realize there are limited resources and we cant do all the things that political leaders have had in mind for half a century There is a process and it is tricky and involves choices.

Swamped: Explore Houston's floodplains Type in an address to see if it's located in a floodplain.

Martin agreed prioritization is needed, but so is a realistic understanding of how the entire Houston area handles stormwater or doesn't. He noted Kingwood, where Martin resides and the northernmost area of his large district that stretches to Clear Lake, has newer pipes and culverts than older neighborhoods, and typically does not flood.

When it has, Martin said, the rising water has come from north and west of Kingwood. He said the rapid development of southern Montgomery County has  he believes  contributed to Kingwoods drainage demand.

Before you had trees and land and now you have concrete and steel, Martin said of the neighboring areas.

Regionally, he said more cooperation is needed so counties and municipalities are not just pushing their problems downstream, symbolically as well as actually further down drainage channels.

We have to work together as a multi-county area, he said.

If theres a silver lining to the clouds that opened over Houston, flooding roads and canceling the symposium, its that it happened sooner rather than later.

We talked about that at lunch today, Martin said. Thank God this isnt coming Feb. 5.

He said Houston changing its plans for the upcoming Super Bowl because of flooding would have been disastrous.

Officials have contingency plans for emergencies on Super Bowl Sunday, including detour routes for transit, said Jerome Gray, spokesman for Metropolitan Transit Authority. In the event some roads are flooded, officials have backup routes and would adjust to them as needed. Detours for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo held each March operate in a similar manner, Gray said.

I am confident that based on what happened today whatever Super Bowl plans we have are getting a second look to see what we can do, Gray said. If theres something better we can do.

Even with plans, however, weather can waylay the festivities. Martin noted Dallas endured problems and some ridicule after ice storms stymied some of its Super Bowl XLV activities in 2011.

I am glad it came today and Im praying for sunshine on Feb. 2, 3 ,4 and 5, Martin said. The last thing we can have is an event like this. That would be embarrassing and the opposite of the message we want to send when we have the eyes of the world on us.
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Members of Denton-based Texas country act the Eli Young Band were counting their blessings on Wednesday in the aftermath of a major fire that claimed a tour bus and a trailer full of stage gear.

The group was traveling just outside Topeka, Kansas when the fire started, according to a message on their Instagram page. The fire was reported just around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

GLITTER AND TWANG: Texas Tech researchers study 'bro country' music

We've lost more than a bus here. There are memories and possessions that we can't replace! It's really sad to see her go. We're just happy that our driver, Randy, is safe! the band wrote under a fiery photo of the bus and attached trailer.

So far the reason for the fire isnt known, but there were no injuries reported.

The band was apparently en route to a show at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, Minnesota. They have concert dates listed through July.

The Eli Young Band was formed in 2000 and is made up of Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones, and Chris Thompson. Members of the band were students at the University of North Texas at Denton.

REMEMBER WHEN: Garth Brooks and the biggest stars of country music's '90s heyday

They built up a devoted following on the Texas country circuit with constant touring and hooky songs perfect for drinking and dancing. They've headlined at RodeoHouston three times, appearing in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Houston Texans fans might be familiar with the band's version Deep in the Heart of Texas which is played before every home game.

The band's last studio album "10,000 Towns" was released in 2014.

Our bus caught fire tonight right outside of Topeka, KS. We've lost more than a bus here. There are memories and possessions that we can't replace! It's really sad to see her go. We're just happy that our driver, Randy, is safe! Posted by Eli Young Band on Tuesday, 17 January 2017

See Facebook video of the fire above.
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A former Army soldier once based at Fort Hood and facing a death sentence got a new shot at life from President Barack Obama.

Among the 209 commutations the president handed down on Jan. 17, 2017, one went to Dwight Loving, a private first-class in 1988 when he killed two cab drivers in Killeen, Texas.

Loving's sentence was taken down from death to life in prison without parole. Obama also specified that Loving will be unable to appeal his conviction or be eligible in any way for release in the future.

SLAYING SAGA ENDS: 3 decades after teens death, last defendant dies in prison

A military judge sentenced Loving, now 47, in 1996 for two counts of premeditated murder and one count of attempted murder.

Army Pvt. Christopher Fay, 20, a 13th Corps Support Command soldier and part-time Killeen cab driver, and retired Master Sgt. Bobby Sharbino, 44, were were found dead in their taxis on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, 1988, both from gunshot wounds.

Howard Harrison, 28, another cab driver, was injured when he struggled with Loving in his cab. Harrison managed to escape after knocking the gun from Loving's hand.

EXONERATION SOUGHT: Texas man wants to be declared innocent in wife's death

A military court also found Loving guilty of robbing two 7-Eleven convenience stores on Dec. 11, 1988. Loving was one of six service members on military death row at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

The military hasn't carried out an execution since 1961.

>>>Click through the above gallery to see details of some of the more controversial executions in Texas.
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A police officer in Haltom City, near Fort Worth, is being investigated after spanking two children who attempted to run into the street.

Last week authorities were told about the incident, which allegedly happened in November, the Star-Telegram reports.

Two patrol officers, a neighbor and the neighbor's 10-year-old daughter say they witnessed the cop use a belt to spank a 5-year-old boy and his 6-year-old sister. The grandmother, who also witnessed the incident, allegedly gave her permission. The spanking is described as a light "tap."

The grandmother, who has adopted the children, said she called police when they ran and she couldn't catch them.

IN THE SCHOOLS: Hundreds of Houston-area students hit by school staff each year, data show

"My grandson broke a backyard gate and ran down the street. His sister just followed him because they thought it was just fun and games," the grandmother told the Star-Telegram Tuesday in a telephone interview. "Years ago, he would drive by my family's home and check on my mother, who was ill. He would check on her all the time. She died four years ago."

After the officer arrived and lectured the children on the dangers of busy streets, she says that her grandchildren weren't receptive and "smirked" at the officer.

"He asked if I could get a belt and if he could spank them. I said yes. I went in, got the small belt and came back outside," she explains, adding that the "light taps" were administered using a 2-foot-long belt to spank each child once on their bottoms. "I have no complaints against that officer. We just wanted to put the fear of God in my grandchildren."

FROM HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: What science says about spanking

Police Chief Cody Phillips told the Fort Worth news outlet that an internal source reported the occurrence.

"Once the investigation, including interviews with all parties, is concluded, any action(s) taken by the department will be determined based on the findings of the investigation," Phillips said.

Since this is an ongoing investigation, Haltom City police are not yet releasing the identity of the accused officer. They say that the cop remains on active duty.
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.
Ridge View to keep on sharing The Galva-Holstein and Schaller-Crestland School Districts have reached a tentative agreement that will likely reflect Schaller-Crestlands consolidation to a single...

Pipeline company sought to limit required safeguards for soil Navigator CO2 Ventures wanted to reduce its obligations to sample and restore topsoil for the construction of its proposed carbon...
Ahmed Hussen Appointed Canadas New Immigration Minister CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Ahmed Hussen, a Somali-born Member of Parliament who came to Canada as a refugee at the age of 16, has been appointed as the countrys new Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. He takes over from John McCallum, who had served in the role since the Liberal Party took office in November, 2015.

The 40 year-old father of three takes on a role that in recent years has become seen as an important cabinet position. Immigration policy touches Canadians and non-Canadians alike, and the minister leading the department is often seen as a reflection of the governments mood and objectives. If that is the case, then this appointment may be viewed in a positive light.

Not only is Hussen an immigrant himself, but he is also a qualified attorney who practiced in the field before successfully running as a Liberal candidate in the Ontario riding of York SouthWeston in the 2015 election. These credentials are not lost on the Minister, who stated in a recent television interview that, It is quite an honour and a privilege to be put in charge of the very department that I was a client of many, many years ago. Hussen now self-identifies as Canadian first.

Hussens pathway from refugee to MP is an improbable one, but then again in Canada many top public servants have improbable pathways to their current role. After all, this is a land where opportunity abounds.

Hamilton, Ontario is a long way from Mogadishu, Somalia, not just geographically but culturally and economically too. It was in Hamilton that Hussen completed high school before getting a job pumping gas in Mississauga, just outside Toronto. Walking around the streets one day, he saw a flyer for a public barbecue hosted by a provincial politician, George Smitherman, who was so impressed by his guest that he recommended Hussen for a job with the then-opposition Ontario Liberal Party.

Hussen got the job, and the rest, as they say, is history.

He worked in this capacity until November, 2003, when he was promoted to Special Assistant following the Ontario Liberal Partys election victory. He held this new post for two years. Later, Hussen worked with the Royal Canadian Mounted Polices Youth Engaged in National Security Issues committee, founded the Regent Park Community Council, and served as National President of the Canadian Somali Congress (CSC). Under his leadership, the CSC partnered with the Canadian International Peace Project and Canadian Jewish Congress to establish the Canadian Somali-Jewish Mentorship Project. It was the first national mentoring and development project between a sizable Muslim community and the Jewish community. He was also a sitting member on the federal governments Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security.

Hussens public career has dovetailed with his academic background. He earned a BA in History at York University in 2002 before later pursuing a law degree at the University of Ottawa, successfully completing his bar exam in 2012.

Ahmed Hussen embodies the very best of Canada. He has a global outlook, an altruistic nature, and a clear can-do attitude that has allowed him to succeed in academia and public service. He has also proven to be a bridge builder between the various communities that make up the country, says Attorney David Cohen.

John McCallum laid some groundwork over the past year, but there is much for the new minister to get done. We are still waiting on changes to the Citizenship Act, overturning some of the Conservatives legislation. In addition, reductions in processing times remain largely aspirational rather than a reality, and further improvements could be made to the Express Entry system for skilled workers. There are myriad other things to look at, and so it is crucial for Mr Hussen and his team to hit the ground running. I wish him the best as he takes on this exciting new opportunity.

To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada through one of the many immigration programs, please fill out a free assessment form.

 2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved
CRS Requirement Continues to Fall After Recent Changes to Express Entry CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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January 11 draw has lowest Comprehensive Ranking System cut-off point in nearly a year

A positive end to 2016 for Express Entry candidates for immigration to Canada has carried into 2017, with larger draws and a consistent decline in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) requirement providing much cause for optimism.

To many observers  including individuals who have created an Express Entry profile  the pivotal moment in the history of this system was the introduction of improvements just two months ago, on November 19, 2016. Since those changes came into force, each draw has been progressively larger. Now, combined with the effects of the changes that came into force, more individuals and families are seeing Express Entry as their route to Canada.

The latest installment in this timeline was a draw that took place on January 11, in which 3,334 candidates with at least 459 CRS points received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). It is the first time in almost a year that the CRS requirement has dipped below the 460 mark  and it is possible that the requirement will continue to go down over the coming months.

Broadly speaking, there are two main contributing factors to the recent decrease in the CRS requirement. First, the number of ITAs issued has gone up considerably. Indeed, more ITAs were issued in the first two weeks of January than in the whole of any month since Express Entry was first introduced two years ago.

Second, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) predicted that the improvements made to the system last November would allow more candidates to be invited to apply based on their human capital, skills, and experience. For instance, there are now far fewer points available for a qualifying job offer; in most cases, candidates with a job offer receive 50 points (though 200 points are available for certain senior managerial positions)  down from 600 points before the changes were introduced.

It appears that these changes have given more candidates a stronger chance of receiving an ITA.

More candidates coming out of the pool

A few months ago, IRCC provided a snapshot of the Express Entry pool as it looked on October 3, 2016. At that time, there were 60,689 candidates active in the pool, and a total of 20,588 ITAs had been issued to 19,088 individual candidates over the first 20 draws of 2016. Consequently, around one in every four candidates who was actively engaged in the Express Entry system over the first nine months of 2016 received an ITA.

Much has happened since that snapshot. Draw sizes have increased significantly, which has the effect of increasing the flow of candidates leaving the pool. Unless the flow of candidates entering the pool has also increased at a similar rate, it is possible that more individuals are exiting the pool (as applicants for Canadian permanent residence) than entering it as candidates. If this trend is indeed taking place and continues, it would continue to place downward pressure on the CRS requirement in future Express Entry draws.

How are people getting Invitations to Apply?

(The following scenarios are hypothetical and do not represent real people who have received an ITA.)

Irena, 32 years old, has a Masters Degree and three years of skilled work experience, both obtained outside Canada. She also has advanced English ability. Her spouse has a Bachelor Degree and adequate-intermediate language ability. Without a qualifying job offer or a provincial nomination, Irena and her spouse are now in a position to submit an application for permanent residence, as her CRS score was 459.

39 year-old Adewale has worked full-time for the past four years as a biological technician. Upon entering the pool, he noticed that his occupation was on the list of skilled eligible occupations for the International Skilled Worker  Express Entry sub-category stream of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). As such, he made an application under this SINP sub-category. Having entered the pool earlier this year with a bachelors degree and high-intermediate English ability, he was awarded 305 CRS points. The nomination certificate from Saskatchewan boosted his score to 905, resulting in him receiving an ITA.

Deepak, 25 years old, is a former international student in Canada. He graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor degree in Computer Science and found a job in Canada as a Web Developer, where he has completed one year of work. He achieved a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 9 in his CELPIP test, before entering the Express Entry pool in October, 2016, with a CRS score of 432 points. He was expecting to have to wait until he obtained more Canadian work experience. However, with the introduction of additional points for Canadian educational credentials, he obtained an additional 30 points for his degree obtained in Canada. With a score of 462, he obtained an ITA in the most recent draw.

2017 will be a big year

With all the recent excitement about the draws and the changes introduced, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that the government is targeting more newcomers through Express Entry in 2017 than last years target. The government has gone on record stating that more people will land in Canada as permanent residents through this system than ever before. It will be the main driver of economic immigration to Canada, says Attorney David Cohen.

No matter where an individual is in the process  whether he or she is in the pool, or hasnt yet created a profile, or has received an ITA  it is crucial to make the most of the opportunity provided by this system. It is important to get it right, to not make errors or misrepresent, and to make the process as straightforward as possible. Peace of mind is an invaluable thing.

A New CRS Calculator is Available

Candidates in the Express Entry pool, as well as individuals thinking of creating an Express Entry profile, can use the CRS Calculator to find out what their score would be under the new points system.

To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, fill out a free online assessment form.

 2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved
Number of Canadian Immigrants Issued Removal Orders More Than Doubled Between 2008 and 2014 CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Around 1,400 Canadian permanent residents per year are issued a removal order for failing to satisfy their obligations as permanent residents. Moreover, the success rate of appeals made to a tribunal is less than 10 percent. A removal order may be issued when it is established that someone is in breach of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) in Canada.

The statistics, which were obtained by access to information request, highlight the importance for immigrants to Canada to be aware of their obligations and to remain in compliance.

At a Port of Entry, a border officer may become aware of evidence of inadmissibility, such as non-compliance with residency obligations. In such cases, the border officer may refer the individual to an immigration officer to ask additional questions to determine if the permanent resident is in compliance.

Canadas immigration laws give permanent residents the right to enter Canada once it is established that a person is a permanent resident, regardless of non-compliance with the residency obligation. However, the permanent resident in question may be issued a report, which can lead to a removal order. Permanent residents who are under enforcement proceedings (such as a removal order) keep their permanent resident status and retain the right to enter Canada until a final determination of their loss of status has been made.

The latest data reveals the extent of residency noncompliance among immigrants attempting to re-enter Canada, particularly in cases where they have spent long periods outside the country. The figures do not include immigrants who had their permanent resident status revoked due to criminality or misrepresentation, or those who were refused travel documents to travel to Canada, or those who applied to renounce their status voluntarily.

By the numbers

1,423: Average number of permanent residents per year (from 2010 to 2014) who were stopped at the border for failing the requirement.

605: Number of removal orders issued for residency non-compliance in 2008.

1,413: Number of removal orders issued for residency non-compliance in 2014.

3,575: Removal orders issued for residency non-compliance at Pierre Elliot Trudeau airport in Montreal between 2008 and 2014.

972: Removal orders issued for residency non-compliance at Vancouver international airport between 2008 and 2014.

439: Removal orders issued for residency non-compliance at Pearson airport in Toronto between 2008 and 2014.

17%: Rate of success among individuals who applied to restore their permanent resident status in 2008.

7.7%: Rate of success among individuals who applied to restore their permanent resident status in 2014.

It is unclear from the data how many of those issued a removal order were merely unaware of their obligations, and how many may have been aware but attempted to re-enter Canada and retain their status anyway.

Over recent years, the government of Canada has cracked down on cases of immigration fraud. For example, in January, 2016, a man in Halifax, Nova Scotia was found to have created bogus residency packages that made it appear that certain individuals were physically present in Canada. This included a phone number, an address in Canada, tax returns and employment records for jobs never held, payment of utility bills never used, and, in some cases, letters from local religious organizations attesting to the persons involvement at a local level.

Canadian permanent residence requirements

Canadas immigration laws require permanent residents to accumulate 730 residency days in every five-year period in order for the individual to remain in compliance with his or her obligations as a permanent resident of Canada.

The simplest and most common way for immigrants to remain in compliance with these laws is by physical presence in Canada. However, given Canadas international economic and social outlook, the government provides other means for immigrants to be physically outside Canada, but at the same time accumulating residency days.

If an immigrant:

is outside Canada accompanying a Canadian citizen who is their spouse or common-law partner or is a child accompanying a parent; or

is outside Canada employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the public service of Canada or of a province; or

is an accompanying spouse, common-law partner or child of a permanent resident who is outside Canada and is employed on a full-time basis by a Canadian business or in the public service of Canada or of a province,

he or she may continue to accumulate residency days.

Immigrants who lose their status can appeal to the immigration appeal division based on errors in law, or humanitarian and compassionate grounds such as hardship from family separation. However, this last resort has a low success rate.

The reaction

Once an individual is issued a removal order, it is difficult for that decision to be overturned. The low success rate of appeals bears this out, says Attorney David Cohen.

Canada, with good reason, wishes its immigrants to retain ties to the country, particularly if they aspire to become citizens eventually. As such, it is crucial for newcomers, as well as those who obtained permanent resident status a few years ago or more, to be aware of their obligations and fulfil them if they truly wish to build their lives in Canada. A removal order is serious business, and carries with it consequences not only for the affected individual, but also for his or her family and career.

Learn more about authorized legal services for immigration to Canada.

To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, fill out a free online assessment form.

 2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved
Now that French president Francois Hollande has decided not to run for a second term, he can devote himself to doing good works, without consideration of the electoral consequences. The first was a pardon for a 70-year-old woman named Jacqueline Sauvage. News of Hollandes act of mercy was greeted with much noisy applauseexcept from the judiciary, which regarded his decision as illicit political interference with justice.

In 2012, Sauvage shot her husband in the back with a hunting rifle, killing him outright. By all accounts Sauvages husband was a monster. He had been violent and abusive to her during their 47-year marriage, and he had sexually assaulted all three of their daughters. He wasnt much of a loss to the world, therefore, but the court found that Sauvage had no legal excuse for what she did and sentenced her to ten years imprisonment, a sentence upheld by the appeal court. During the whole of their marriage, Sauvage had drawn no ones attention to the abuse she suffered, nor to that suffered by her children. Her first effort to put an end to it was to shoot him.

A campaign began almost at once in her favor. It included politicians of all parties and a petition with 430,000 signatures. Needless to say, feminist organizations took part. Hollande first tried a partial pardon, asking the courts to grant Sauvage early parole; but, to everyones surprise, they refused. She had never really recognized or felt her guilt, they said.

This kind of poor reasoning is, alas, common in all jurisdictions nowadays, and is completely antithetical to the rule of law. People are to be punished for what they have done, not what they might do according to some psychological speculations about their mental state. It was obvious from the outset that Sauvage was vanishingly unlikely to do something similar again: and it wasnt because she posed a future danger to society that she was punished.

When Hollande finally decided to pardon Sauvage fully, her lawyers characterized the presidential pardon as an extremely strong message sent to women who suffer domestic violence. It has become symbolic. It doesnt mean that you must kill to survive but that you must do all that is possible not to reach that stage.

This is nonsense, of course. The message, if anything, is precisely the opposite: you will not be treated too severely if you kill your violent husband, even if you have made no other efforts to avoid his violence. If you put up with it for long enough, in fact, you can kill him.

This is a peculiar kind of feminist populism, according to which women, apparently weak and feeble creatures, cant be held to the same level of legal obligation as men. They are by nature victims and nothing but victims, indeed not fully responsible human beings.

But none of us is fully consistent. I admit that when I saw pictures of Jacqueline Sauvage, I was glad that Hollande had pardoned her.
Give President Obama credit: he didnt wait until he was in the limousine on his way to Donald Trumps inauguration to commute Oscar Lopez Riveras prison sentence. Had he waited until mid-morning Friday, January 20, to do it, his symbolic sanction of domestic terrorism might have escaped the average Americans notice. Those who did notice might have called him a coward, but their objections would have been drowned out amid the days oaths and protests.

As it is, Obama chose to do it on Tuesday afternoon, January 17, at the same time he commuted the sentence of the American traitor Chelsea Manning. In its way, the out-in-the-open quality of these commutations is a statement of principle. Americans of every political stripe now have a chance to consider what the president has done. It was a bold move. It said: This is the real me. This is my idea of justice.

Lopez Rivera is a sworn enemy of the United States who admitted to his role as a leader of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN), the clandestine Puerto Rican nationalists who planted more than 130 bombs during the 1970s, mostly in Chicago and New York. The bill of indictments against the FALN and Lopez Rivera need not be rehearsed here. He never denied anything. You can look it up.

In the 35 years that he has been behind bars, Lopez Rivera has never indicated that he is sorry for the death and destruction he sowed during his days of rage. His steadfast commitment to violence has naturally attracted legions of left-wing admirers. They are, in the main, hashtag guerrillas who lionize the FALNs twisted ideology and apologize for its murderous deeds from the comfort of their keyboards. Some, like New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and Hamilton: The Musical creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, call Lopez Rivera a freedom fighter. They say that theres no physical evidence that he killed anyone. The CIA did horrible things in Puerto Rico, they offer in justification for the FALNs bombing campaigns. The U.S. colonized and brutalized a defenseless island.

The appeal to old grievances is the last resort of the radical poseur. Take it from an Irish-American. I know plenty about what they did to us during colonial days. I know how badly those imperialist bastards treated our ancestors. At least in Ireland, the freedom fighters mostly confined themselves to attacking British soldiers (and each other). The world turned against the Irish Republicans when they began targeting British civilians.

The FALN was always less discriminating. On January 24, 1975, these self-styled freedom fighters planted a ten-pound dynamite bomb in a dining room at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan because, they said, reactionary corporate executives would be dining there. Harold Sherbourne, Frank Connor, Alejandre Berger, and James Gezork were killed that day. Civilians all, they lost their lives to the revolutionary vanity of Lopez Rivera and his bandit friends. Then, as now, a tiny fraction of Puerto Ricans support the FALNs nationalist ambitions.

During his years as the FALN mastermind, Lopez Rivera made women into widows and children into orphans. President Obama is a father, and by all accounts a superb one. I know he can imagine how it would feel for Sasha and Malia to be left fatherless. Hes a smart guy, too, full of empathy, so he must know that the trauma of such a thing would never healnot even after 42 years. The children of those whom the FALN killed still dont have fathers. They never will.

Yet, despite his vaunted intelligence and celebrated empathy, Obama went ahead and made this appalling decision. All that mattered, it seems, was that the cool crowd wanted Lopez Rivera to go free. Clearly, Obama wasnt thinking about Frank Connors family or other American families whose lives were blown apart by FALN bombs. Instead, he gave aid and comfort to Americas enemies.

Lopez Rivera will answer to a higher authority than Obama, Franks son Joe Connor told me last night after the news broke. And he better be ready. Well see. As for Obama, if the president did anything more shameful during his eight years in office, I must have missed it.

Photo by New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images
BNM anunta concurs pentru postul vacant de expert coordonator (durata determinata) responsabil de control pe teren si din oficiu a sistemelor de plati
Russian President Vladimir Putin had dreamed of becoming an intelligence agent ever since high school. What amazed me most was how one mans effort could achieve what whole armies could not, the former KGB agent later recalled. One spy could decide the fate of thousands of people.

Putins prophetic words werent uttered during the Cold War, when the US and Soviet Union were waging battles of opinion, using the weapons of propaganda to widen their spheres of influence. Putins remarks are from his autobiography, First Person, which was published in 2000. They are perhaps more relevant now than ever, as the world is recognizingjust a tad too latethat Russia is still playing by the rules of the Cold War.

Russias campaign to influence the 2016 US presidential election could go down in history as Putins masterpiece. Yet it is a mission he accomplished with an elegant simplicity that much of the media coverage has overlooked. This was not a complicated, high-tech, impossible-to-understand orchestration, but a simple plan drawn up by a leader who has masterminded geopolitical misinformation.

Instead of leaflets, TV commercials, and posters, Putin accomplished his feat using much simpler, cheaper, and more effective means: bots that spread misinformation on social media sites including Facebook and Twitter, anonymously-operated third party sites that churn out fake news, and official state-run news networks like RT and Sputnik.

Mainstream journalists have seen their worlds turned upside down by the realization that 75 percent of news consumers cant tell a fake news story from a real one. Putin, meanwhile, seems to have understood the gullibility of news consumers all along. US media and intelligence agencies are only now beginning to grapple with the consequences of Russias misinformation campaign. And as they do, the same Russian trolls, bots, and state-run websites that promoted anti-Hillary, pro-Trump propaganda have set their sites on upcoming European elections.

A good chunk of the Trump-supporting accounts and networks from last year are now focusing on Germany, says Clint Watts, a former FBI special agent and Executive Officer of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, in an interview with CJR. Watts is now a senior fellow at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University, where he analyzes social bots, trolls, and websites that intelligence agencies say are the foot soldiers of Russias information war. Theyll move between assignments, he tells me, but thats their new assignmentto focus on the German election.

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Observing these bots in action can be a comical experience. The day after the deadly terrorist attack in Berlin last monthwhich right-wing politicians in Germany quickly blamed on Chancellor Angela Merkels liberal immigration policiesone of these trolls attacked Merkel on Twitter. Only it mistook Merkels parody account for her actual account.

@Queen_Europe Shame on U for opening the borders! U R responsible for the demise of Germany. U should B thrown out!!!

@Queen_Europes response: Good morning Igor! You must have been on the night shift.

The same bot a few weeks earlier had targeted Hillary Clinton.

The pivot of Russian bots from anti-Hillary to anti-Merkel might be a development of the past month, but Russias focus on neighboring Europe is nothing new. In fact, analysts who pointed out Russias efforts to influence the US election before the American government seemed to care have been observing Russias digital efforts to destabilize the European Union since at least 2015.

Since the beginning of Europes refugee crisis, a surge in false news reports and postings on social media have accused asylum seekers of committing crimes they didnt actually commit, says Patrick Sensburg, a senior member of parliament from Chancellor Merkels Christian Democratic Union. Readers who believed the stories to be true, and then didnt see journalists reporting them independently, felt that the media was withholding the truth, he says.

While the use of state propaganda as an international weapon is nothing new, the breadth, scope, and impact that a disinformation campaign can have today puts the information wars of the Cold War to shame. Just like in Vietnam, you had flyers being sent down, says Sensburg, referring to the anti-Communist leaflets dropped by American warplanes during the Vietnam War. Now we have virtual flyers being flown around the entire world through the internet. Its cheaper, easier and much more widespread.

Its also highly effective. Russias information war helped elect a US president whos sympathetic to Russia, and now Trumps ascendancy has turned his supporters into Putin supporters, says Watts, of George Washington Universitys Center for Cyber and Homeland Security. Putins favorability ratings among Republicans has improved by 56 points since 2014, according to the Washington Post. In 2014, an Economist/YouGov poll found that 66 percent of Republicans had a negative view of the Russian leader, seeing him as rolling over US interests in Europe. The same poll, conducted in December 2016, found that just 10 percent of Republicans viewed Putin negatively.

The result of the US election was a wake up call to European governments that had until now underestimated the power of Russias propaganda efforts.





Two weeks after the election of Donald Trump, the European parliament adopted a resolution to counteract anti-EU propaganda by third parties, singling out Russia for disinformation and propaganda warfare aimed at disrupting the EU integration process and backing far-right political parties and populist forces. Among its many proposals, the resolution calls on EU member states to encourage media education within their countries and to strengthen freedom of the press and independent journalism.

German members of parliament, including Patrick Sensburg of the CDU, have called for the criminalization of fake-news campaigns. Both NATO and the EU have established special units to combat this propaganda war, which Rastislav Kacer, a veteran diplomat who served at NATO headquarters, told The New York Times in May, is equally as dangerous as more conventional hostile action.

The media is getting played, too

The American press has focused a disproportionate amount of attention on Russian hacking and cyberattacks, and the reporting itself has only muddied the truth for most in the audience, says Watts. The hacking generates information, which promotes Russias influence campaign, but the end objective is to convince people to choose a candidate based on Russias preference. This is getting confused, because people hear hack and they think their votes are being changed.

According to Watts, more coverage should have been paid to Russias information war, and its effort to influence voter opinion, than on the cyber attacks that were conducted as a means to attain some of the information that swayed voters. After all, it wasnt just information gleaned from those hacks that influenced voters, but widespread false stories that circulated across Facebook and Twitter throughout the campaign.

A simple look at the headlines that preceded and followed the election illustrates the emphasis on hacking: U.S. Says Russia Directed Hacks to Influence Elections, says The New York Times headline on October 7, and follows on November 25, with: U.S. Officials Defend Integrity of Vote, Despite Hacking Fears.

Its no wonder, given the headlines, that 50 percent of Clinton voters in a recent poll believe Russia tampered with vote tallies to help Trump. Of course misinformation is bipartisan: 62 percent of Trump voters in the same poll incorrectly believe millions of votes were cast by undocumented immigrants.

Trump, either confused himself or capitalizing on the confusion, took to Twitter on January 7 to assure his 19 million followers: Intelligence stated very strongly there was absolutely no evidence that hacking affected the election results. Voting machines not touched!

The goal (of Russia) is not to change votes, explains Watts. The goal is to erode countries from the inside out using their own democratic systems. Its to break down democratic systems and put in candidates that are preferable to Russias interests, which is namely dissolving the EU and breaking up NATO. Trump, for his part, has made clear that he does not think highly of the EU or NATO.

Its a classic page from the Cold War playbook, says Watts, adding that Putin has brought new meaning to the Soviet-Era doctrine of using the force of politics rather than the politics of force.





I think theyre probably amazed at how well it worked because a lot of this stuff is extremely crude and dumb, Watts adds, referring to the bogus fake news stories that got so much traction on social media during the US election campaign. For example: the falsehood that Trump received the endorsement of the Pope; the idea that President Obama and Hillary Clinton created ISIS; that Obama signed an executive order banning the pledge of allegiance in schools; that ISIS endorsed Clinton; and that Clinton was deathly illa fabrication perpetuated by Rudy Giuliani in an interview on Fox News, when he instructed viewers to Go online and put down Hillary Clinton illness, take a look at the videos for yourself.

Russias ultimate goal is to sow distrust in the democratic process and in democracy itself, says Stefan Meister of the German Council on Foreign Relations, in an interview. A free and trustworthy press, of course, is a big part of that.

American media coverage has not only focused disproportionately on hacking, but it has also made Russias information war seem more complex than it is. Much of the Kremlins efforts to veer the election in its preferred direction were overt, not covert. In a report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on January 6, the role played by RTthe state run news agency formerly known as Russia Todayis covered in greater detail than any other part of Russias campaign to influence the American electorate. According to the US intelligence report, RTs programming during the presidential race was aimed at undermining viewers trust of US democratic procedures, and its social media and internet arms were used to spread strategic messaging for the Russian government.

Russias propaganda efforts arent partisan per se, though in the US election their preferred candidate was Trump. The Russians dont care who theyre helping, whether its the left or right wing. There are no barriers, as long as it weakens the system, says Meister. What Russia wants is to further its own interests, and at the moment, right-wing parties tend to speak to those interests more than the left, says Meister, who co-authored a report published by the Atlantic Council in November titled The Kremlins Trojan Horses.

In Germany, for instance, Russia has cozied up not only to the far-right AfD party, but also to the extreme left wing party, Die Linke (literally, The Left). When you look at conspiracy websites of the left and the right, he says, you can always see links to RT, Sputnik and other Russian state media. Russias parallel goal is to bring down governments that go against Russian interests. This explains why Russia preferred Trump over Clinton, and why Russias information war is now focused on Angela Merkel, who pushed for EU sanctions against Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, and may extend those sanctions over its role in the Syrian War.

More damaging to the press?

It is impossible to prove whether Russias campaign to influence the US election actually led to Trumps victory. Meister, for one, believes Trump would have won the election either way. But if one of the goals of Russias campaign was to crumble to pieces any faith Americans had left in the media, it may have succeeded. Part of Russias strategy has been to undermine the credibility of Western media, says Meister. People dont know who to trust anymore, what to read anymore.

Few journalists are putting all the pieces together save, for example, Neil MacFarquhar of The New York Times, or Adrian Chen at the New Yorker. Yet most reporters are too focused on the idea that the information war was about Trump vs. Hillary.





The main success of this campaign is not that it took place, but the panic we are in now, Meister adds. Weve lost our self-confidence in our system, in our democracy, in our elections and in our media. Thats the biggest success of the Russian campaign.

While European governments are scrambling to figure out what to do to prevent Russiaor any third partyfrom meddling in their elections, in reality, little can be done to stop the cycle thats already begun. Fake news is a difficult hurdle to remove when the people who believe it to be true are not going to trust the media or political organizations who tell them it isnt, says Stephan Russ-Mohl, director of the European Journalism Observatory.

European governments, including Germany, have suggested creating governmental agencies to combat fake news. That, said Russ-Mohl, would be rather counterproductive. I think a Ministry of Truth is something we definitely dont need, he says, referring to a ministry from George Orwells dystopian novel 1984. He believes that news organizations and NGOsnot governmentsshould be the watchdogs.

The world, Meister says, seems to be waking up to the fact Russia is a country run by old school intelligence agents.

When you have a former KGB agent as the president, you have to understand  he knows exactly how to manipulate you, he adds. Here there was this kind of naivety of Oh Russia will now be a democracy, it will take time but it will change. I think only now we understand that the reality of this regime is a very different one. It has absolutely no interest in becoming more like us. Its interest is in exporting its rules and norms to us, not vice-versa.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Yardena Schwartz is a freelance journalist and Emmy-nominated producer based in Tel Aviv. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, Foreign Policy, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, CBS News, NBC News, and MSNBC. Previously, Yardena was a producer at NBC News in New York.
Companies increasingly worry about the unpredictable business environment where markets are volatile and political perils, such as protectionism or terrorism, are on the rise. Other growing concerns are digital dilemmas arising from new technologies and cyber risks, as well as natural catastrophes. However, what continues to trouble them most, are losses from business interruption. These are the key findings of the sixth annual Allianz Risk Barometer analyzing corporate risks globally, as well as by region, country, industry and size of business.

Business interruption (BI) continues to lead the ranking for the fifth year in a row (37 percent of responses), primarily because it can lead to significant income losses, but also because multiple new triggers are emerging, especially non-physical damage or intangible perils, such as cyber incidents as well as disruption caused by political violence, strikes and terror attacks. This trend is driven, in part, by the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the ever-greater interconnectivity of machines, companies and their supply chains, which can easily multiply losses in case of an incident. Companies are also facing potential financial losses with the changing political landscape (Brexit, Trump, upcoming EU elections etc.) leading to fears of increasing protectionism and anti-globalization.

Companies worldwide are bracing for a year of uncertainty, says Chris Fischer Hirs, CEO of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE. Unpredictable changes in the legal, geopolitical and market environment around the world are constant items on the agenda of risk managers and the C-suite. A range of new risks are emerging beyond the perennial perils of fire and natural catastrophes which require re-thinking of current monitoring and risk management tools.

Market developments and volatility (31 percent of responses) is the second most important business peril in 2017 and the top concern in the aviation/defense, financial services, marine and shipping and transportation sectors, as well as across the Africa & Middle East region in general. In order to anticipate any sudden changes of rules that could impact markets, companies will need to invest more resources into better monitoring politics and policy-making around the world in 2017. According to trade credit insurer, Euler Hermes, a subsidiary of Allianz SE, since 2014, there have been 600 to 700 new trade barriers introduced globally every year.

At the same time, increasing reliance on technology and automation is transforming, and disrupting, companies across all industry sectors. While digitalization is bringing companies new opportunities, it is also shifting the nature of corporate assets from mostly physical to increasingly intangible, bearing new hazards, above all cyber risks (30 percent of responses). Companies ranked cyber threats a close third globally, climbing to second across the Americas and Europe and the top risk in Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa and the UK. At the same time, it is the top concern globally for businesses in the information and telecommunications technology and the retail/wholesale sectors.

The threat now goes far beyond hacking and privacy and data breaches, although new data protection regulations will exacerbate the fallout from these for businesses. Increasing interconnectivity and sophistication of cyber-attacks pose not only a huge direct risk for companies but also indirectly via exposed critical infrastructures such as IT, water or power supply. Then there is the threat posed by technical failure or human error, which can lead to long-lasting and widespread BI exposures. In the digitalized production or Industry 4.0 environment, a failure to submit or interpret data correctly could stop production. Businesses need to think about data as an asset and what prevents it from being used. Results also show that smaller companies may be underestimating cyber risk: in this category (revenues <250 million), cyber ranks only number six. However, the impact of a serious incident could be much more damaging for such firms.

Natural catastrophes and climate change/ increasing volatility of weather (respectively 24 and 6 percent of responses) also rank high on the agenda of businesses this year, particularly in Asia where the costliest disaster globally of 2016 occurred  the Kumamoto earthquake (Japan). Natural catastrophes rank as the top concern in Japan and Hong Kong, as well as globally among engineering/construction and power and utilities companies.

Across the Americas, fear of BI, cyber incidents and natural catastrophes are the three major concerns for businesses. Each of these issues at times may be an unknown or hidden risk exposure, but an exposure that could create potentially both short and long-term consequences to a companys bottom line, says Thomas Varney, regional manager, Americas, Allianz Risk Consulting. Understanding of a supply chain exposure requires a partnership between client and carrier. Fears over macroeconomic developments and the new risk impact of increasing interconnectivity are also rising.

The sixth annual Allianz Risk Barometer published by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS) is based on a survey conducted among 1,237 risk experts from 55 countries.

Source: Allianz
The Michigan Supreme Court has heard arguments in a case that could have sweeping consequences for big-box stores in the state.

The case was filed by the family of Virginia Rawluszki, who eventually died of her injuries after being struck by a pickup truck in the marked crosswalk of a Menards home improvement store in Bay City in 2011. Her family said Menards should have installed stop signs to slow down traffic at the crosswalk.

But Menards said the risk of being hit in a parking lot is open and obvious  a key legal standard that typically protects property owners from liability under Michigan law. During arguments last week, Justice Robert Young Jr. noted that conditions would need to be unreasonably dangerous to get over that threshold.

This is an issue which affects nearly every commercial property owner in this state, Menards attorney Alan Sullivan said in a court filing, summing up the significance of the case.

Rawluszki was leaving a Menards store when she was hit. She suffered a brain injury that eventually led to her death in 2013 at age 72. The driver said he was blinded by sun and didnt see the woman when he cut through an empty parking spot and entered the crosswalk.

A Bay County judge refused Menards request to dismiss the lawsuit, and the state appeals court upheld the decision in 2015.

Sullivan told the Supreme Court that the marked crosswalk acts as a warning for shoppers and drivers but shouldnt be considered a total zone of safety.

Its a lot like a step or a curb, he said.Yes, something could happen. You could trip and you could fall. Most of the time youre going to traverse it without any difficulty at all.

Philip Ellison, an attorney for Rawluszkis family, urged the justices to let the lower court rulings stand and let a jury determine liability, if any.

They put in a crosswalk that doesnt meet the standard in the industry, Ellison said.
Bob Hoch

Akron Ward 6 City Councilman Bob Hoch pleaded guilty to conflict of interest charges on Tuesday. The charges stem from a public dispute between Hoch and former Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic over a lawsuit involving the Akron Fire Department.

(City of Akron)

AKRON, Ohio - Ward 6 Akron City Councilman Bob Hoch on Tuesday pleaded guilty to misdemeanor conflict of interest charges, based on complaints lodged by former Mayor Don Plusquellic.

The charges carry a $1,000 fine and are punishable by up to six months in jail. Hoch was granted a $5,000 signature bond and will be sentenced Feb. 21.

In December, Hoch was indicted by a Summit County grand jury on three identical charges that he used his power as a public official "to secure something of value for a family member" on June 25 and November 26 in 2014, and between March 27, 2014 and Nov. 24, 2015.

Hoch in 2015 quarreled with Plusquellic over a lawsuit involving promotions in the fire department. He was critical of the then-mayor's refusal to settle the suit, which claimed discrimination over promotions within the department. Hoch's sons are Akron firefighters who sat on the negotiating committee for the firefighters' union.

The suit, which dragged on for a decade, was settled in late 2015.

The Ohio Ethics Commission launched an investigation after Plusquellic accused Hoch of voting improperly and "expressing his opinions and trying to influence other firefighters, the judge, the law department, City Council, and me, with respect to the firefighter case."

Hoch voted with the rest of council in November 2012 to approve legislation that gave pay raises to the city's union and nonunion employees, including Akron firefighters.

In March 2015, Plusquellic uninvited Hoch from his State of the City speech, claiming the councilman had made threatening statements about the mayor. Plusquellic said he was fearful of getting shot.

Hoch was elected Ward 6 councilman in 2011 and reelected in 2015.

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Jeffrey Conrad laughed and sneered as a judge sentenced him to life in prison Wednesday for the 2014 killing of Cuyahoga Falls mother Amanda Russell.

AKRON, Ohio - The Akron man who took the unusual step of not attending his own murder trial laughed and sneered as a judge sentenced him to life in prison for killing a Cuyahoga Falls mother.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Paul Gallagher did not respond to Jeffrey Conrad's profanity-laced courtroom antics as he sentenced him Wednesday to life plus an additional 11 years in prison, without the possibility of parole.

Conrad, 46, waived his right to have an attorney help him or provide any defense in the trial that ended in him being convicted of killing Amanda Russell. Conrad stabbed the 40-year-old mother more than 50 times on Aug. 28, 2014, prosecutors said.

Conrad was also sentenced for stabbing a fellow Summit County Jail inmate in the head with a shank he fashioned out of a toilet plunger. The inmate suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the attack.

Russell's relatives and friends did not acknowledge Conrad's taunts in the courtroom. But her parents reacted strongly after Wednesday's sentencing hearing.

"He deserves to rot in hell," Russell's mother Debbie Bowman said. "I'll never say his name again."

Her husband Belford Bowman, who is Russell's stepfather, concurred.

"It's pathetic. That's all it is. It's just a front," he said. "He knows what he's done. And he knows the severity of it, and he knows what it's done to us. But some people just don't care."

Conrad interjected each time Gallagher and Assistant Prosecutor Angela Walls-Alexander spoke during the hearing.

"Hilarious," he said as Gallagher sentenced him to a lifetime behind bars.

When given the opportunity to speak, Conrad spewed an expletive-laced tirade at the judge, the prosecutor and Russell's family and friends.

"You're all going to be dead before I die in jail," Conrad sneered. "None of you are going to get satisfaction watching me die in jail."

Conrad also laughed as Walls-Alexander argued that he should receive a maximum sentence.

"I think that the defendant has expressed zero remorse for anything that he has done," Walls-Alexander said. "He seems to think that taking the life of a woman who was loved by her family is funny."

Conrad's decision to not attend his own murder trial was rare, but experts said that the law allowed it to move forward because he voluntarily waived his rights. He previously was found competent to stand trial and was allowed to represent himself throughout the pretrial proceedings with an appointed stand-by attorney.

Prosecutors said during the three-day trial that Russell and Conrad had a volatile relationship. The two dated and lived together in Akron. He attacked her several times, including once in in front of Russell's teenage daughter.

Russell and her daughter moved into a new home in Cuyahoga Falls. But Conrad discovered where they lived and killed Russell, prosecutors said.

Russell's daughter, who was 14 at the time of her mother's death, testified about finding her mother dead in the backyard after walking home from Cuyahoga Falls High School. The girl is now 17 years old and living with her grandparents, Debbie Bowman said Wednesday.

Cleveland Metroparks rangers arrested Conrad after a short chase that ended with Conrad swimming into Lake Erie. Conrad was found in possession of the hunting knife used to kill Russell, prosecutors said.

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On Tuesday night, six Brecksville residents expressed concern about a proposed rezoning of land on Ohio 82 near Interstate 77.

(Bob Sandrick, special to cleveland.com)

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - Voters here will decide in May whether to allow offices, and possibly laboratories, on 13 acres now containing homes at Ohio 82 and Interstate 77.

On Tuesday night, City Council voted 6-0 to place a rezoning of the 13 acres on the May ballot. The land - on the south side of 82 just west of 77 - consists of seven parcels, four of which contain houses, according to the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office website.

The proposed rezoning would need 55 percent voter approval for passage, under Brecksville law, Mayor Jerry Hruby said.

The rezoning would change the 13 acres from a residential district to an office district. Also, the city would allow laboratories there as conditional uses, meaning the Planning Commission and/or City Council would consider each lab proposal on a case-by-case basis.

Originally, the city wanted to permit manufacturing plants, as well as labs, as conditional uses. City officials changed their minds after hearing input from the public and discussing the matter further.

"We believed (manufacturing) was not necessary as a conditional use to attract the development being sought for that area," Hruby said in a Tuesday email to cleveland.com. "And (we were) concerned that it might be construed as a desire to have a manufacturing company development there, rather than manufacturing associated with office-lab."

At Tuesday's council meeting, six residents from Oakes Road -- which runs parallel to, and south of, 82 -- expressed concerns about the rezoning and the prospect of having noisy businesses abutting their backyards.

Kenneth McComsey, of Oakes, said he and his neighbors were pleased that the city removed manufacturing plants from the proposed rezoning. However, he said Brecksville's definition of office-lab zoning does not explicitly exclude manufacturing.

McComsey also noted that office-lab zoning allows sit-down restaurants and lounges. He asked if such uses must be confined to the office building or lab.

In addition, McComsey said the office-lab definition doesn't take into account privacy concerns of neighbors. He asked if incoming businesses would be required to screen their buildings with hills or trees.

Hruby said the city requires any business that builds near a residential district to include a buffer zone in their plan. Also, he confirmed that any restaurant or lounge in an office-lab district is confined to interior of the office or lab. The purpose of the restaurant or lounge is to serve employees in the building, not the general public.

As for the office-lab definition not explicitly excluding manufacturing, Hruby said any manufacturing in an office or lab would be "small and ancillary" and require prior city permission. He said no one would even realize that manufacturing is taking place in the building.

"This will probably end up being medical office buildings or something from the medical field," Hruby said. Both University Hospitals and The MetroHealth System recently opened emergency rooms at 82-77.

Owners of the 13 acres want to sell their land to a business developer. Their properties are squeezed by retail, including new McDonald's, Bob Evans and Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants directly to the east and a Giant Eagle across the street.

Developers in the past have proposed several different types of businesses - including stores, restaurants, apartments, condominiums, nursing homes and assisted-living communities - for the property. The city's planning commission, fearing additional traffic congestion, rejected each plan.

Owners of the 13 acres grew frustrated with each planning commission rejection. They asked the city for help, and city officials with the property owners came up with the office-lab proposal.

"To create jobs and income for the city, an office-lab use would be better there, and we think the people can sell their land for those uses," Hruby told council last month. He said the property owners support the proposed rezoning.
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An Akron man is charged with lying on U.S. immigration forms to cover up his involvement in the Bosnian conflict in the 1990s.

(File photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An Akron man was charged Wednesday with lying on immigration documents to cover up his service in a military unit that committed war crimes during the conflict in Bosnia in the 1990s.

Ilija Josipovic, 59, is charged with two counts of possession of immigration documents procured by fraud. The charges were filed via a criminal information, which usually means a plea agreement is forthcoming.

Prosecutors say Josipovic failed to disclose his service in the Zvornik Infantry Brigade of the army of Republika Srpska in 2002 when he was applying for refugee status in the United States. He served from 1992 until 1996.

He is also accused of lying on forms in 2004 to obtain permanent residency in the U.S.

Daniel Misiewicz, Josipovic's attorney, did not immediately return a phone call.

Federal authorities suspect that hundreds of people in the U.S. hid their involvement in carrying out war crimes when they came as part of a wave of refugees fleeing the former Yugoslavia.

The Republika Srpska's leadership was targeting Muslims in the early and mid-1990s in attempting to create an ethnically pure Serbian race. More than 100,000 people died in the conflict from 1992 to 1995, most of them victims of Bosnian Serb attacks.

Josipovic is the third person in the Akron area that federal prosecutors have recently charged with lying about their involvement in the Bosnian war to enter the U.S.

Slobodan Mutic, a foundry worker, was sentenced in January 2016 to two years in federal prison for lying on forms to obtain U.S. refugee status. He did not disclose that he served as a soldier for the former Republic of Serbian Krajina and participated in the killing of a pair of dentists because he believed they were aligned with an opposing political party.

Mutic agreed to be deported to Croatia to face murder charges.

And Oliver Dragic, another Barberton man, was arrested in August and charged with lying about serving with a volunteer army company that participated in ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

Dragic has pleaded not guilty.

Josipovic's case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson in Youngstown.

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MetroHealth to undergo transformation of their west side campus

Lili Reitz, the former executive director of the Ohio State Dental Board pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge in Franklin County.

(File photo)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Ohio State Dental Board executive director Lili Reitz pleaded guilty Wednesday to leaking confidential information, which was discovered as part of a wide-ranging federal probe into a former MetroHealth System executive and hospital dentists.

Reitz, 51, of Dublin pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge, which was amended from an ethics violation charge. Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Mark Hummer fined her $100. Court records say she paid the fine after her hearing.

Charging documents filed in November say Reitz gave former dental board member and MetroHealth executive Edward Hills the identity, home address and email address of a person who made an anonymous complaint about him to the dental board. State law requires that the identity of complainants remain confidential.

Reitz served as the board's executive director from 1996 until her resignation in 2015.

Vince Nardone, Reitz's attorney, did not immediately return a phone call.

Reitz's charge was borne out of a two-year investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS and other agencies into Hills and his colleagues. The former MetroHealth executive, who served on the dental board from 1999 to 2009, was arrested in October, along with former hospital dental residents Sari Alqsous, Yazan Al-Madani and Tariq Sayegh.

Federal prosecutors accuse the quartet of giving and taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, as well as airplane tickets, an LED TV and a Louis Vuitton briefcase. Their schemes touched upon the hospital system's residency program, as well as remedial training required for dentists by the dental board, according to court filings.

Reitz is also mentioned in the federal indictment, though not by name. It says that she and Hills added a company Hills co-owned to a list of remedial training providers for dentists and worked to ensure that Hills' company received clients.

Hills used his connections in Ohio, Kentucky and Texas to find clients for his company, Oral Health Enrichment, and operated it using MetroHealth resources, the indictment says. He offered to pay "referral fees" for dental board employees who sent clients to his company, according to an indictment.

Hills and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty.

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EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio -- East Cleveland's school board settled a dispute with member Patricia Blochowiak by agreeing to a list of changes to better comply with open government laws and reimbursing Blochowiak $100,000 for legal fees.

Blochowiak sued the board in 2014, accusing it of holding illegal closed-door meetings and keeping improper minutes, among other complaints, according to a press release from the Chandra Law Firm.

The allegations relate to Ohio's Open Meetings Act, which requires that a public body, such as a school board, discuss business in open meetings except in limited circumstances, where an "executive session" can be held.

The complaint Blochowiak filed includes claims the board improperly handled the evaluation of the superintendent and treasurer and held numerous executive sessions without stating a proper purpose. The complaint also claims a singular board member made spending decisions for a 2013 board retreat, instead of it being discussed and approved in open meeting.

Read the full amended complaint in the document viewer at the end of this post.

The settlement includes correcting past minutes, rescinding certain policies regarding superintendent and treasurer evaluations, attending regular open-government training, along with other requirements for the board.

Read the full settlement in the document viewer at the end of this post.

The settlement comes two weeks before the case would have come to trial, according to the press release.

"This agreement holds the board accountable for betraying the promise of open government, and is a victory for democracy," Subodh Chandra, lead counsel for Blochowiak, said in the release. "Schoolchildren and their families deserve to know and understand their public officials' decisions--good and bad--and how they made those decisions."

Una Keenon, president of the board, said the lawsuit was unnecessary and harmful. The concerns could have been fixed without legal action, she added.

The money to pay for the lawsuit will come out of the general fund, Keenon said.

This story has been edited to include comment from the East Cleveland school board president.
Jerry Seinfeld

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2015, file photo Jerry Seinfeld performs at the David Lynch Foundation Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.

(Photo by Robert Altman /Invision/AP)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jerry Seinfeld is coming to Netflix after all.

The streaming service, which passed on the rights to the comedian's iconic TV series a couple of years ago, has signed a deal for two comedy specials from Seinfeld as well as a new season of "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."

The show currently airs on Crackle and is pretty much the only reason to go on Crackle-- save for a late-night hankering for occasional episodes of "Seinfeld" or a random, middling hit such as "The Legend of Bagger Vance."

"When I first started thinking about 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,' the entire Netflix business model consisted of mailing out DVDs in envelopes," Seinfeld said in a statement released by Netflix. "I love that we are now joining together, both at very different points.

"I am really quite charged up to be moving there."

As part of the deal, Seinfeld will also help develop comedy programming for Netflix.

"Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," is exactly what its title indicates. Seinfeld picks up a comedian, or perhaps even the President of the United States, in one of his vintage cars and they go for coffee and talk. The show has been nominated three times for Emmys.

Look for the entire series -- 24 new episodes and 59 existing ones -- as well as the first standup special to begin airing on Netflix later this year.
PARMA, Ohio -- The Cleveland police officer accused of pistol-whipping and raping his girlfriend on Friday was arrested in 2009 after he restrained a different woman and tried to force her to kiss him after a night of drinking.

Patrolman Tommie Griffin, 51, is charged with rape, felonious assault and kidnapping in connection with the attack on his 40-year-old girlfriend. He is being held in the Parma City Jail on $250,000 bond.

Griffin was arrested by Parma police in 2009 after a then-27-year-old woman reported that Griffin forced himself on her.

Griffin eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal mischief and was sentenced to pay a $400 fine. The Cleveland Police Internal Affairs also investigated, but it is unknown if Griffin was punished. Cleveland.com has requested a copy of Griffin's personnel file.

Parma police provided a copy of the investigative file on Tuesday.

The incident happened on Oct. 9, 2009. The woman ran into Griffin at a Parma bar. She knew him from a previous job and also through Griffin's ex-wife. She told investigators she knew him as "Uncle Tommie."

The two talked and eventually Griffin drove her to another bar, where they continued drinking. He was supposed to drive her back to the first bar, but drove to his home in order to show her his dogs.

The woman told police that she wanted to drive because Griffin was "wasted" but when she told Griffin this, he replied: "I'm a f------ cop, I won't get into trouble," the report says.

Griffin forced himself on the woman at his home, despite the woman telling Griffin "no" several times. The woman told Griffin she was married but Griffin persisted.

At one point, Griffin grabbed her and the woman covered her mouth so he couldn't kiss her. He grabbed her hand and pulled it away from her mouth, scratching her cheek in the process.

He tried to kiss her again and the woman said she was able to clench her mouth. She broke free from his grasp, walked outside and called and texted a family member to pick her up, the report says.

Griffin came outside with his dogs "as if nothing had happened," the investigative report says. He gave the woman dog treats to give the dogs, but the dogs ran down the street.

Griffin ordered the woman into his truck so they could catch the dogs. The woman refused, but Griffin told her to "get in the f------- truck," the report says. The woman got into his truck and the the two found one of the dogs.

Griffin then told the woman to drive his truck, while he searched on foot. The woman drove away and called a family member who picked her up after she drove back to Griffin's house.

The woman had injuries to her lip and hand. She told investigators later she was frightened because Griffin is a police officer and that she had heard that he was abusive to women in the past.

Parma detectives gave the woman a device that recorded phone calls. She later called Griffin, who didn't deny any of the allegations made while recounting them to Griffin during the phone call.

Griffin asked the woman for forgiveness and said he was extremely drunk. He also offered to let the woman punch him "square in the face," the report says.

Police obtained DNA swabs from saliva left on the woman's ear, cheeks, left ear and left hand. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation tested the swabs. Investigators stopped Griffin's car about four months later and got a DNA swab from his cheek.

The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation tested the swabs, and they matched, the report says.

The woman continuously told police that she wanted to pursue prosecuting the case.

"I want him to feel the pain, anger and anxiety I have felt since this happened," according to a statement the woman gave to Parma police at the time. "This incident made me realize you cannot trust [anyone], not even the people who you think you might know, or who are there to protect you. I am disgusted with the whole situation. May he get what he deserves."

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page.
HUNTINGTON TWP., Ohio -- A man riding in an Amish buggy was killed in a crash Wednesday morning.

The passenger, Jon Swartzentruber, 25, of Homerville was pronounced dead at the scene. The horse also died, a news release from the State Highway Patrol says.

The operator of the buggy, 54-year-old Levi Shetler, of Wellington, was taken to Allen-Mercy in Oberlin then transferred to MetroHealth in Cleveland. Shetler is in stable condition, the news release says.

The crash occurred at 6:15 a.m. in Huntington Township, south of Wellington in Lorain County, the news release says.

A 2007 Ford F-550 and the buggy were both northbound on Ohio 58 just south of Jones Road.

The driver of the Ford, Mark Jones, 61, of Jeromesville, hit the left rear of the buggy, ejecting Swartzentruber and Shetler, the news release says.

Jone was not injured in the crash.

The crash is under investigation.
China's President Xi Jinping stands next to a panda ice sculpture while launching the Swiss-Sino year of tourism on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Laurent Gillieron | AFP | Getty Images

China "is ripping us off, folks!" said Donald Trump in April 2016. With that in mind, it's surely inconceivable that the incoming U.S. President won't play to his electoral base and implement measures to address what he sees as a grossly unfair Sino-U.S. trade relationship. But that need not necessarily mean huge problems for China. Beijing might not want a worsening of Sino-U.S. trade relations, but the global spread of China's exports now renders the Chinese economy less vulnerable to pressure from any one market, even the United States. Such pressure might even prove to be a blessing in disguise if it were to lead to Beijing embracing economic reforms at home. Trump said last week that America's trade deals are "a disaster". "We have hundreds of billions of dollars of losses on a yearly basis  hundreds of billions with China on trade and trade imbalance, with Japan, with Mexico, with just about everybody. We don't make good deals anymore," he said.

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Trump intends to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico and, as he also said last week "Mexico in some form, and there are many different forms, will reimburse us and they will reimburse us for the cost of the wall." The way the currency market has pulverized the Mexican peso is evidences of the belief that Mexico will be susceptible to pressure from a Trump White House. But as Stephen Li Jen of London-based Eurizon SLJ Macro noted on Jan 10, while 82 per cent of Mexico's total exports go to the United States, only 19 per cent of China's exports do so. "China may not be that vulnerable to trade barriers in the U.S.," Jen wrote. More from the South China Morning Post :

China will be the clear winner in any US trade war

Why cinemas in large areas of China are virtually empty

Xipushes pro-trade message ahead of landmark Davos address While there may still be lingering uncertainties in the outlook for private-sector investments and trade from the effects of a Trump presidency, Standard Chartered Bank's Asia Chief Economist David Mann said he's less concerned than might have been a decade ago, given that Asia's economic linkages to the U.S. are now much weaker. "China, for example, has accounted for a larger share of ASEAN's trade than the U.S. or EU since 2009 and this trend is likely to persist," Mann said, writing in the World Gold Council's 2017 Outlook.

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"With British American and Reynolds combining forces, they will finally have the scale to really challenge Philip Morris," the " Mad Money " host said.

This was just one of the latest moves in a long wave of consolidation that has hit the tobacco industry, as Reynolds American acquired Lorillard for $25 billion over a year ago. The news of British American gave Cramer an epiphany.

British American Tobacco announced it would acquire the last 58 percent of Reynolds American that it doesn't already own for more than $49 billion, or $59.64 a share.

With news of more consolidation in the tobacco space, Jim Cramer thinks it is time for a shake-up at some of the biggest tobacco companies.

Even with a greatly expanded debt load, I think this merger would be worth it.

This is why Cramer thinks Philip Morris needs to try to get back together with Altria to make it untouchable.

Back in 2008, Altria  formerly known as Philip Morris  broke itself into two companies. Altria kept the domestic tobacco business and then spun off its overseas business into Philip Morris International. While the breakup did unlock tremendous value for shareholders, Cramer says the need for Philip Morris to merge with Altria has never been more urgent.

Anti-smoking laws make it difficult for tobacco companies to advertise and gain market share. Thus, what matters most in this industry is scale, to allow more pricing power with suppliers and customers.

Donald Trump's platform of deregulation has also prompted tobacco to become more attractive as well, Cramer said. And if the deal happens, it's going to be expensive, as Philip Morris's $140 billion market capitalization is not much larger than Altria's $131 billion. Since Philip Morris only has $5 billion in cash on its balance sheet, it would need to borrow money or sell Altria on an all-stock transaction.

"Even with a greatly-expanded debt load, I think this merger would be worth it  the way to play this story is by picking up some Altria," Cramer said.

British American expects at least $400 million in annualized synergies by the third year after the Reynolds deal closes. A Philip Morris-Altria combination could save even more.

So, with the tobacco industry getting smaller every year, Cramer fears Philip Morris' dominance will be challenged. The break-up of Philip Morris and Altria did wonders for shareholders, but a reunion could be even more lucrative.
Financial stocks took a nosedive on Tuesday, but that didn't scare off Jim Cramer from the group.

"I am committed to this group and after some profit-taking, I think it runs anew," the "Mad Money" host said.

On Friday, three of the largest banks in the U.S.  Bank of America , JPMorgan and Wells Fargo  issued statements that were incredibly positive.

Many investors believe that the recent rally in financials is based on a mere post-election high, but Cramer disagreed. Banks have been waiting for this moment, Cramer said, and they have been prepared to strike at the right time.
Job seekers, right, speak with recruiters at the San Jose Career Fair in California. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Executives from LinkedIn , Alphabet 's Google, Facebook and other big tech companies are partnering with a private university to help train people in the skills needed to land new high-paid jobs in the digital economy, and plug a shortfall in qualified workers felt well beyond Silicon Valley. ISDI Digital University counts Gary Briggs, Facebook's chief marketing officer, Greg Petroff, Google's managing director for online and cloud, and Steve Cadigan, LinkedIn's former VP of talent, among its faculty and board members. Graduates of the program  which covers things like developing a user interface, social media, search engines and cyber law  receive a Master's Degree of Internet Business. This comes at a time when U.S. technology firms  which have and hastening automation  face increasing pressure to . "Our position is going to be to open the eyes of what career possibilities there are going to be in the digital world," cofounder Cadigan told CNBC.

Each module is taught by an expert in the field who will in turn pull in other experts from their companies to help teach the curriculum, says CEO Amir Mashkoori. For example, Facebook's Briggs will teach a social media module and Google's Petroff will teach courses on design and user interface. "When someone learns how to do a website, they are learning it from someone who builds websites all day long, when someone learns how to do a Google AdWords campaign, they are learning from someone at Google," Mashkoori told CNBC. "You're learning what's happening out in the world today." While working at LinkedIn, which has since been acquired by Microsoft , Cadigan found that business leaders shared the same problem in trying to find workers qualified to drive digital growth in areas like e-commerce and digital marketing, he said. He was also repeatedly approached for career advice by people feeling left behind by the digital economy, he said.

"We couldn't find anything in the U.S. that was addressing this very, very acute problem," he said. "People are freaking out, it's the right thing to do, this is going to make a difference."
Jay Y. Lee (C), co-vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., center, leaves the special prosecutors' office in Seoul, South Korea, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty Images

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The country's largest chaebols have faced legal battles and convictions in recent years, but these episodes often end with the industrialists receiving pardons.

Mr. Lee might not be arrested at all. That will be decided this week. Prosecutors say Samsung made payments in exchange for a decision by the government-controlled National Pension Service to support a contentious 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates. Analysts say the merger helped Mr. Lee inherit control of Samsung from his father. In a statement on Monday, Samsung denied any bribery or making "improper requests related to the merger of Samsung affiliates or the leadership transition." But the move by prosecutors casts Mr. Lee in a different light, as a leader similar to his father, who was convicted of white-collar crimes but pardoned twice. It also could raise questions about Mr. Lee's pledge to make Samsung more transparent and more responsive to shareholders. South Korea's president, Ms. Park, has denied wrongdoing. Mr. Lee, who goes by Jay Y. Lee in the West, is part of the third generation of the Lee family to lead the conglomerate. While his father was widely seen as old-fashioned, Mr. Lee has been painted by Samsung as equally comfortable in Silicon Valley and in the boardroom, as a leader who could open up the clannish business and reinvigorate Samsung's flagging reputation for innovation in consumer technology. Samsung is the world's biggest maker of cellphones. "Beyond the arrest itself, this is going to be a big blow to the narrative they've been building," said Geoffrey Cain, the author of a coming book on Samsung. "It's hard to convince shareholders and partners they are a hip Silicon Valley-style company when these charges show them to be a company run like a feudal dynasty." Samsung is in effect a collection of widely disparate companies, each with an autonomous, professional management team. Samsung Electronics, the most important of those companies, is broken into high-functioning business units. Because of that, some observers say that the company could continue to run smoothly without Mr. Lee.

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Samsung shares steadied in afternoon trade on Wednesday, ahead of a decision from Seoul's central district court on whether to approve an arrest warrant for the scion of one of South Korea's largest family run conglomerates, known locally as chaebols.

Lee Jae Yong of Samsung group vice chairman arrives during the President political scandal parliament hearing at national assembly in Seoul, South Korea.

Jay Y. Lee, the chief of Samsung Group, was questioned behind closed doors by a judge on Wednesday to decide whether he should be arrested over his alleged role in a corruption scandal and a decision may not come until after midnight local time, according to Reuters.



Samsung Group steadied in Wednesday afternoon trade, ahead of the court decision. was up 0.2 percent at 1,851,000 won, Samsung SDI fell 0.4 percent, Samsung C&T down 1.6 percent and Samsung Engineering advanced 1.4 percent.

The Korean won weakened relatively against the dollar, with the dollar/won pair hitting an intraday high of 1,167.20, up from its last close at 1,159.83. At 1:08 p.m. HK/SIN, the pair traded at 1,166.20.

South Korean investigators have accused Lee of paying bribes amounting to as much as 43 billion won ($36.42 million) to Choi Soon-sil, a friend of president Park Geun-hye, who has been at the center of a corruption and influence-peddling scandal.



If the arrest warrant is issued, Lee will likely be detained, pending an investigation that could lead to his indictment and imprisonment if convicted on bribery, embezzlement and perjury charges, according to analysts at Eurasia Group in a note.



Reuters reported that Lee was accused of embezzlement and perjury in the prosecution's application for an arrest warrant and that investigators were looking into whether Samsung provided donations to a business and foundations backed by Choi in exchange for the South Korean national pension fund's support for a 2015 merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil industries.



Samsung has denied accusations of lobbying to push through the merger, according to Reuters, but acknowledged providing funds to three institutions.
The "Fast Money" traders debated Tuesday which media stocks are best positioned looking ahead to the rest of the year.

Netflix , which is scheduled to report earnings after the market close on Wednesday, has long argued that media players with the best content have pricing power. Trader Brian Kelly said he wasn't totally sold on that thesis and that he prefers Discovery Communications .

Trader David Seaburg disagreed and said there is a bull case for Netflix. He likes how Netflix talks about its content. Seaburg said he also likes Lions Gate and Disney .

Trader Steve Grasso said he still thinks the $100 level is a point of resistance for Disney shares. Grasso said, however, that if investors start to hear that ESPN subscriber numbers keep declining, Disney shares will come back down. The stock closed at $107.97 on Tuesday.

While Lions Gate shares shed 18 percent in 2016, trader Guy Adami said it has "seemingly gotten some footing back underneath it." Adami said 2017 is poised to be a better year for the company.
The U.S. is suffering from a shortage of high-skilled technical workers, the chief executive of Indian outsourcing firm Tech Mahindra has told CNBC, who predicts no drop-off in demand for staff despite reports of proposed visa changes by the incoming Trump administration.

"Ultimately it's the American consumer who is paying for it. So it is not Tech Mahindra paying for it," CP Gurnani said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.



He added that his firm had around 60 percent of its business out of the United States and explained that his company "invests" in these local economies. The Indian multinational is based in Mumbai and provides information technology and networking technology solutions.
Blackstone Chairman and CEO Steve Schwarzman shared his views on the markets and Donald Trump's agenda in an exclusive interview Wednesday on CNBC's " Squawk Box ." "We're going to have higher growth rates in the United States. We're liable to have a stronger dollar," he said. "We have to watch to see what happens [with] some of the tax proposals because they are highly complex, ... initially difficult to understand for most people. We have to be mindful of that." Schwarzman is a chairman of Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum. Blackstone is an investment management firm with $361 billion of assets under management. In the interview at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, he also discussed: Trump's transition Trump's priorities China To watch the broadcast interview in its entirety, you must be a CNBC PRO subscriber .

Blackstone Chairman and CEO Steve Schwarzman shared his views on the markets and Donald Trump's agenda in an exclusive interview Wednesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "We're going to have higher growth rates in the United States. We're liable to have a stronger dollar," he said. "We have to watch to see what happens [with] some of the tax proposals because they are highly complex, ... initially difficult to understand for most people. We have to be mindful of that." Schwarzman is a chairman of Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum. Blackstone is an investment management firm with $361 billion of assets under management. In the interview at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, he also discussed: Trump's transition

Trump's priorities

China To watch the broadcast interview in its entirety, you must be a CNBC PRO subscriber.
If Britain's transition out of the European Union manages to steer investment and industry away from the U.K., consumers could take the fall, Liberty Global CEO Mike Fries told CNBC on Wednesday.

"My concern is that consumers start to bear the brunt of this a little bit. If people stop investing, if industry slows down, then there's a trickle-down effect on consumers," Fries said in a "Squawk Box" interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Fries, whose cable and telecommunications company is headquartered in London, said Liberty will continue to develop its fiber-based networks throughout the U.K. but was concerned others may not do the same.

"We're investing 3 billion right now, as we speak," the CEO said. "We're not going to stop, but if other companies that were investing billions of pounds say, 'Well, maybe I'll invest 2 billion instead of 3 billion,' there's a trickle-down effect of that."

Fries spoke a day after British Prime Minister detailed how the U.K. will proceed in its split from the EU. He said her speech showed promise.

"The comments yesterday I thought were well received," he said. "Clarity and confidence are her focus, and that's good. Let's see if it happens."
President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose a border tax on cars produced outside the United States  something that could affect the auto industry given how important the U.S. market is for them.

Carmakers might be concerned with several threats from the incoming president on where they build new plants, but the chief executive officer of Renault-Nissan believes the sector will adapt to Trump's policies.

"The U.S is the second largest car market in the world  and we have to adapt to the evolution of the administration in the United States, not the other way around," Carlos Ghosn told CNBC on Wednesday.

Ghosn said that the protectionist policy had been set out and the industry is now waiting for the details.

"We will increase capacity in the years to come, and we will be waiting for the policies now  before making a decision," he said.


Alibaba founder Jack Ma fired a shot at the United States in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Ma was asked by CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin about the U.S. economy in relation to China, since President-elect Donald Trump has been talking about imposing new tariffs on Chinese imports.

Ma says blaming China for any economic issues in the U.S. is misguided. If America is looking to blame anyone, Ma said, it should blame itself.

"It's not that other countries steal jobs from you guys," Ma said. "It's your strategy. Distribute the money and things in a proper way."



He said the U.S. has wasted over $14 trillion in fighting wars over the past 30 years rather than investing in infrastructure at home.

To be sure, Ma is not the only critic of the costly U.S. policies of waging war against terrorism and other enemies outside the homeland. Still, Ma said this was the reason America's economic growth had weakened, not China's supposed theft of jobs.

In fact, Ma called outsourcing a "wonderful" and "perfect" strategy.

"The American multinational companies made millions and millions of dollars from globalization," Ma said. "The past 30 years, IBM , Cisco , Microsoft , they've made tens of millions  the profits they've made are much more than the four Chinese banks put together. ... But where did the money go?"

He said the U.S. is not distributing, or investing, its money properly, and that's why many people in the country feel wracked with economic anxiety. He said too much money flows to Wall Street and Silicon Valley. Instead, the country should be helping the Midwest, and Americans "not good in schooling," too.

"You're supposed to spend money on your own people," Ma said. "Not everybody can pass Harvard, like me." In a previous interview, Ma said he had been rejected by Harvard 10 times.



Along those lines, Ma stressed that globalization is a good thing, but it, too, "should be inclusive," with the spoils not just going to the wealthy few.

"The world needs new leadership, but the new leadership is about working together," Ma said. "As a business person, I want the world to share the prosperity together."

 CNBC's Anita Balakrishnan contributed to this report.
Scott Pruitt, Donald Trump's pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, on Wednesday said he did not agree with the president-elect's past suggestion that climate change is a hoax.



The Oklahoma attorney general was grilled over his views on climate change by Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committeeduring his confirmation hearing.

Pruitt has faced stiff opposition from Democrats and environmentalists because he has raised doubts about humans' role in climate change and has been party to more than a dozen legal challenges to President Barack Obama's climate change efforts.



In 2012, Trump suggested on Twitter that climate change was a hoax created by the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing less competitive. He later said the tweet was a joke, and during a debate with Hillary Clinton, denied ever having said it.

See the tweet.

Asked by Sens. Edward Markey and Bernie Sanders about the tweet, Pruitt said he did not agree with the view Trump expressed at the time.

In his opening statement, Pruitt said, "Science tells us that the climate is changing and that human activity in some manner impacts that change."

"The ability to measure with precision the degree and extent of that impact and what to do about it are subject to continuing debate and dialogue, and well it should be," he added.

The overwhelming majority of the scientific community believes in global warming and that humans play a significant role.



Democratic Sen. Thomas Carper also asked Pruitt about Trump's assertion during the campaign that his administration would "get rid" of the EPA "in almost every form," and that only "tidbits" of the agency would survive.

Pruitt said he believes there is a very important role for the EPA, particularly in handling air and water quality issues across state lines.

"The EPA has served a very valuable role historically," he said.

Pruitt is seen as an ideal candidate to carry out Trump's anti-regulation agenda. He describes himself as "a leading advocate against the EPA's activist agenda" and established a "federalism unit" in Oklahoma to "combat unwarranted regulation and overreach by the federal government."

On Wednesday, Pruitt laid out the principles that would guide him as EPA administrator. He stressed following the rule of law so companies know how they will be regulated and partnering with state regulators to set policy.

Pruitt said he believes it's necessary to restore confidence and certainty in those that are regulated by the EPA. He said it had become difficult for companies to predict what is expected of them under environmental laws.

In recent years, Pruitt took a leading role in coordinated efforts by Republican state attorneys general and energy companies to challenge Obama's initiatives to mitigate climate change and pollution through executive action.

If Pruitt is confirmed, he will be in the position of defending the agency against legal challenges that he himself helped bring.

On Wednesday, he declined to say he would recuse himself from handling these cases to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Instead, he said he would consult the EPA's ethics counsel and distance himself from the cases if and when the agency's lawyers advise him to do so.

The Republican Attorneys General Association and energy companies contend the EPA, under Obama, is guilty of executive overreach and has hurt business.

Environmentalists counter that the Republican attorneys general are serving the energy industry's interests at the expense of public health and the environment. They point to the millions of dollars fossil fuel companies have contributed to the GOP attorneys general group, its nonprofit arm and individual members.

Energy companies that litigated against the EPA alongside Pruitt contributed nearly $240,000 to his campaign or political action committees that supported him between 2010 and 2016, according to the Environmental Working Group, a research and advocacy nonprofit.

Grilled by Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island about such contributions, Pruitt acknowledged that his re-election committee had received contributions from energy interests such as Devon Energy , Koch Industries and Exxon Mobil .

However, he said he was unsure whether they gave the maximum contribution and was uncertain about energy company donations to his political action committees.

Correction: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse questioned Pruitt about energy company contributions. An earlier version misidentified the senator.
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Deutsche Bank Chief Executive John Cryan has declined to rule out the possibility of a capital hike in the coming years, with a range of regulatory uncertainties still weighing on the German bank.

In an exclusive interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and his first ever since becoming chief executive of Deutsche Bank, Cryan told CNBC that the bank has always said its preference was not to raise fresh capital when there were other options available, but detailed a range of issues still to be resolved.

"I have been in a CFO role before, so I know never to say 'never.' It remains to be seen what those [regulatory] uncertainties hold for us," he said Wednesday when asked about the possibility of a capital increase in the next one to three years.

"Once we have assessed  particularly our capital position from a regulatory perspective  once we have assessed that, we will always consider how we best manage the company's resources," he added.



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Cryan spoke of the bank reducing risk and disposing of "a lot of businesses in the last 12 to 18 months." He said the bank had yet to have clarity on new prudential regulation rules, adding that there was still "critical uncertainty" on the Basel regulations for the banking industry. He posited that there was still "some uncertainty" on the bank's legacy positions too.

Shares of Deutsche Bank experienced a wild ride in the middle of 2016 after the proposed $14 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice that related to the selling of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS).

This raised concerns on its capital position, but the German banking giant insisted that it had a "comfortable" cushion at the time. This didn't stop a whole bunch of price fluctuations in the company's bonds and the cost of insuring its debt. There were reports of a potential state bailout at the time, but Cryan told CNBC Wednesday that he, or any member of the board, never discussed the idea with the German government.



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Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

Goldman Sachs  Goldman reported quarterly profit of $5.08 per share, beating estimates of $4.82, while revenue also exceeded forecasts. The firm said after a challenging first half, the operating environment improved during the remainder of 2016.

Target  The retailer is reporting softer than expected holiday season sales, and as a result, has cut its full-year 2016 outlook. Target now expects full-year profit of $5 to $5.10, compared to consensus estimates of $5.20.

United Continental  The airline reported adjusted quarterly profit of $1.78 per share. That beat estimates by 5 cents, with the company's revenue slightly above forecasts as well. United did say that its key passenger unit revenue declined by 1.6 percent, but that was smaller than the year earlier decline of 6 percent.

CSX  CSX missed estimates by 1 cent with quarterly profit of 49 cents per share, although the railroad operator's revenue did beat Street forecasts. CSX said business conditions were improving, after its results were hit by a strengthening U.S. dollar and low commodity prices.

Netflix  Netflix signed a deal with comedian Jerry Seinfeld for two stand up comedy specials as well as exclusive rights to his series "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee."

Adobe Systems  Adobe announced that its board has approved a new $2.5 billion share buyback program that will run through the end of fiscal 2019. The software company is near the end of a $2 billion buyback program that was scheduled to run through the end of fiscal 2017.

Berkshire Hathaway  The Bill & Melinda Gates foundation said it would sell more than half of its nearly one million shares of Berkshire's Class B shares. Over the next three years, 550,000 shares will be sold in order to comply with federal tax rules.

Qualcomm  Qualcomm said it would "vigorously contest" an FTC complaint which said that the chipmaker was in violation of U.S. competition laws.

 HSBC said it would move staff to Paris from Britain after Brexit becomes effective, according to CEO Stuart Gullivar. HSBC is Europe's biggest bank.

Pearson  Pearson cut its profit outlook for the next two years and also cut its 2017 dividend. It's the latest in a series of profit warnings from the British publishing company.

Western Digital  The hard disk drive maker may buy a 20 percent stake in Toshiba's semiconductor business, according to Japan's Nikkei business daily newspaper. Toshiba and Western Digital are partners in a flash memory plant in the Japanese city of Yokkaichi.

Alphabet  The company's Google unit is expanding its low cost smartphone program known as "Android One" to the U.S. market within a few months, according to a report in The Information.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise  HPE will buy data storage startup SimpliVity for $650 million in cash. SimpliVity had recent been valued at $1 billion.

Lowe's  The home improvement retailer is laying off about 2,400 full-time workers, most of those at the store level.

J.C. Penney  Credit Suisse downgraded J.C. Penney and to "underperform" from "neutral," while upgrading to "outperform" from "neutral." The report focuses on the key factors in retail which will drive success or failure, including value, brands, real estate, and e-commerce.

Cameco  The Canadian uranium producer said 2016 adjusted profit would come in significantly below analyst forecasts, and that it was cutting 120 jobs. Cameco said its results reflect a weak uranium market.
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May has given more clarity on what she wants from a post-Brexit relationship with the EU, but expects talks "to get messy", the former Prime Minister of Finland told CNBC. "There should no illusions about the complexity of the negotiations even if Prime Minister May is looking for a clean exit. These things have a tendency to get messy," Alexander Stubb, former prime minister of Finland told CNBC on Tuesday.

Stubb was also finance minister during the troubled negotiations between Greece and the European Union.





British Prime Minister Theresa May arrives to deliver a speech on the government's plans for Brexit at Lancaster House in London on January 17, 2017. Kirsty Wigglesworth | AFP | Getty Images

"We move from three possible options - soft, hard and cliff edge - to two. Soft Brexit is now off the table," Stubb said. May's speech outlines how the U.K. wants to exit the EU's single market, which allows for free movement of goods, services and people. By doing so, the U.K. hopes to better control the number of EU migrants entering its borders.

In case the EU and the U.K. cannot strike a trade deal, May said the UK would leave the union completely. "No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain," she told an audience in London.

However, there are many issues on the table that need answers. The U.K. and the EU have now to decide how to trade with one another, how to ensure equal rights for EU citizens who already leave in the U.K. and British expats who live in other UE countries. They also have to decide about a land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Kathrin Muehlbronner, senior vice president and lead UK sovereign analyst at Moody's, said in an email: "It remains to be seen how far-reaching and comprehensive such a new agreement will turn out to be."

"In our current baseline scenario we have indeed assumed that the UK should be able to secure an agreement that preserves many advantages of the UK's current Single Market access. We will see how likely such an agreement will be, once negotiations get under way with the EU in April," she added.





Prime Minister's May attitude of a hard Brexit of cliff edge solution supports the view that the talks may become tense in the months ahead. "Messy negotiations (are) highly likely," Kallum Pickering, senior UK economist at Berenberg said in an email.

"Emboldened by the stronger performance of the UK economy since the June 23 referendum, May announced that 'no deal is better than a bad deal' and that the UK would respond in kind with competitive tax cuts to support UK the economy if the EU looked to offer the UK a bad deal for future trade," he noted.

Furthermore, France, Germany and the Netherlands  founding members of the EU  will also be busy with national politics, facing key elections amid rising support for anti-European rhetoric, which could make them less willing to accommodate the U.K.'s demands.
European leaders remained unmoved to the U.K.'s Brexit proposals  at least until Article 50 is triggered and formal divorce negotiations begin, the European Commission Vice-President told CNBC.

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May outlined the country's plans to make a clean break from the European Union (EU) on Tuesday. In a wide-ranging speech, May confirmed the U.K. is destined to leave the single market and that a potential Brexit deal with the EU would require a parliamentary vote.



"(The European Commission's) thinking in general on Brexit-related issues is we are not going into negotiations or pre-negotiations or taking positions before the U.K. formally notifies its intention to leave," European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told CNBC on Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland.
"Payments are happening on time," Al-Jadaan told CNBC at the World Economic Forum , adding "we actually announced, in writing, a commitment from the government that will pay every single use of the private sector within 60 days and that is happening without a single default on that position."

Al-Jadaan hopes that the new commitment will reassure private sector investors that Saudi Arabia will make good on its liabilities after facing criticism in the past over delayed payments.

Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan has pledged that all private sector payments will be made within a 60-day time frame, as the country seeks greater investment as part of its "Vision 2030" strategy.

"There have been some delays in the past because I think that governments in 2015 wanted to make sure that they look at their liabilities generally. That took a bit longer than what is expected. We are now on track," he said.

Vision 2030 is a "strategic roadmap" setting out how the country intends to diversify its economy over the next 13 years.

By 2030 it hopes to no longer be so heavily dependent on oil exports to fuel its economy, particularly given its susceptibility to price fluctuations. Instead, it is hoping for the private sector to contribute 65 percent to the country's overall GDP.

In particular, Saudi Arabia aims to transform its public investment fund into a sovereign wealth fund that would be "the first and the largest in the world, or at least one of the three largest in the world," said Al-Jadaan.

He aimed to reassure international investors that the 2017 budget, announced in December 2016, sets out a gradual transition for the country.

"We know that you want certainty. We know that you want predictability. We are a predictable government. We are going to provide you with transparent plans on where we are going in the next four, five years."

This year's World Economic Forum has seen the largest Saudi delegation in history, with several government ministers in attendance.
Donald Trump has consistently sought credit for the several high-profile jobs announcements made by big companies in the weeks following his election.

"Because of what's happening and the spirit and the hope, I was just called by the head people at Sprint and they're going to be bringing 5,000 jobs back to the United States and taking them from other countries," Trump told reporters back in December. On Twitter , he's boasted about his role in creating and keeping jobs in America.

Tweet 1

But is the president-elect, still days away from his swearing-in ceremony, actually behind what might appear to be a hiring bonanza? Economic evidence suggests otherwise, indicating instead that he did not cause most of the new hiring.

GM announced it was creating 450 new American jobs on Tuesday, for example, and moving 6,000 existing technology jobs back to the United States. The company's official announcement does not mention Trump or the federal government. Instead, it casts the steps as part of a four-year efficiency plan. GM's financial materials and previous corporate statements support that assertion.

Mary Barra, GM's CEO, is on President-elect Trump's economic policy team. Yet she has specifically rebuffed his argument, made in tweets and speeches, that American companies should move more car manufacturing into the U.S.

Speaking at a car show this month, Barra said GM will continue to "build where we sell," citing the company's supply chain of production and sales in China and the U.S.

Prior to this week's announcement, Barra has emphasized that long-term global business fundamentals drive the company's personnel strategy.

GM employs 215,000 people across 6 continents, including 97,000 in the U.S. and 15,000 in Mexico. As Barra told bankers on a conference call this month, profitability and efficiency considerations mean some GM "products are in Mexico," while the company "will continue" to also hire in America. On the same call, Barra cited GM's ongoing effort to insource certain positions, touting "11,000 IT jobs" that returned to the U.S. "over several years."

In GM's Monday announcement, most of the jobs cited are actually from the long-term program for insourcing its existing IT jobs. The 450 new U.S. jobs comprise 0.46 percent of the company's domestic workforce.

Trump has repeatedly tweeted about companies that have announced new jobs since his election  and tweeted negatively about companies like Toyota , reported to be building a new plant in Mexico.

NBC News reported on Tuesday that some companies, eager to avoid becoming a target, have preemptively  or retroactively  announced plans to create U.S. jobs. On Wednesday, after a Today Show fact check reported that GM's hiring was not a direct response to his tweets, Trump took to Twitter to respond.

Tweet 2

Michael Hicks, an economics professor who studies the government's impact on the economy, says public companies do not typically make employment decisions on a Twitter timeline.

"Business expansion plans are probably the result of many months, if not years, of restructuring and business planning," says Hicks. He adds that many politicians exaggerate their influence over the economy.

While corporate employment and manufacturing plans take a long time to develop, there have certainly been a series of jobs announcements since the election.

Industry experts say that wave of P.R. looks like a response to Trump, even if the underlying hiring is not.

"Many of these moves we anticipated," says Michelle Krebs, an industry analyst for Autotrader.com.

More from NBC News:

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Plant workers still losing jobs tell Trump: Don't forget about us

George H. W. Bush and wife Barbara hospitalized as 'precaution' for separate health issues

Car companies have simply began "timing" announcements, she says, to appease the president-elect.

"They are packaging their news that they otherwise might kind of dribble out," Krebs tells MSNBC, "and doing some storytelling around it in an effort to get out of the crosshairs of Trump."

Maryann Keller, another industry analyst, told Bloomberg News that car companies are clearly "announcing investments that they would have made anyway."

Alan Tonelson, an economic analyst sympathetic to Trump's trade critique, argues that while the president-elect does not deserve credit for some of the announcements, he could ultimately impact corporate conduct.

"It can't possibly be coincidental that all of these announcements have been made since early November," says Tonelson, author of a book about "America's Failed Trade Policies" with China.

"He is going to use that presidential bully pulpit" to target offshoring, Tonelson tells MSNBC, adding, "history has shown that presidents have considerable power to change corporate norms."

Mark Muro, a manufacturing expert at Brookings, says there's no doubt the auto industry uses a "long term" timeline for "major capital investments," so recent moves were not caused by Trump's words. But he also argued Trump could promote American jobs by prodding CEOs.

Trump is "standing up for American-based production," Muro told MSNBC, "and conveying a norm that says that advanced manufacturing, and advanced industries, are particularly important."

Public companies certainly respond to multiple stakeholders, from traditional investors and consumers, to broader pressure from politicians, activists, or "bad P.R." in general.

Even rhetorical pressure, however, has its limits.

"It's always convenient for politicians to take credit for job creation announcements, but no CEO of a Fortune 500 company is going to respond to sort of off-the-cuff policy considerations," says Hicks, the economist. "they have a board and stockholders to answer to."

Those board members and stockholders pursue global profits, and the law is also on their side.

GM, like most Fortune 100 companies, is incorporated in Delaware. That means its executives are bound by the state's business laws, which require executives only make corporate moves to increase the company's stock value.

Even if an executive believes a certain action would be a good thing  say, hiring more Americans or donating to charity  they can only take the action to the extent it economically benefits the company.

CEOs "must make stockholder welfare their sole end," as the top judge on Delaware's Supreme Court explained the rule, in a 2015 treatise on corporation law.

Laws can, of course, change.

In the Trump era, the big question for American corporations is not ultimately what the president says. Trump's words on Twitter can largely be managed by more words, as corporations learn to couch their announcements accordingly  a process that business experts say is relatively insignificant for the economy.

The billion dollar question is what the president does. Will he actually alter corporate law, or federal policy, or international trade? Then executives would have a reason to change more than their press releases.
Since we conducted our first CEO survey 20 years ago, the world has reshaped itself faster than we can reshape ourselves; from a massive increase in trade and financial flows and global online traffic to improved living standards.

Inequality among countries has decreased, and one billion people have emerged from extreme poverty. Artificial intelligence, Blockchain, 3-D printing, the Internet of Things, and drones are just some of the emerging technologies that are already transforming our world. A higher level of interconnectivity has raised engagement with stakeholders and forced society to think about how information is accessed and consumed. Increased transparency demands a new way of communicating, a higher level of accountability, an elevated approach to leadership, and indeed, a deeper focus on trust, purpose, and the inherent human connection that has brought us closer together. In this uncharted territorypredicted by few and now reality for allhow can chief executives transform today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities? Our just-released 20th annual CEO Survey delves into global business leaders' strategies for success in uncertain and shifting circumstances:



Being ready to flex in a world of flux

Martti Salmela | E+ | Getty Images

Brexit and the U.S. presidential election are two recent examples of how difficult it's become to predict the future. Unsurprisingly, CEOs ranked uncertain economic growth and geopolitical uncertainty among their top concerns. With globalization shifting to a multi-dimensional tug-of-war among power centers, economic growth, and geopolitical threats, most CEOs are now dealing with multiple value systems, frameworks, and trading blocs. Forces like rising income inequality and accelerating digital connectivity are causing rifts and new alliances. After decades when global trade growth greatly outpaced the growth of global GDP (Gross Domestic Product), 58 percent of CEOs told us it's becoming more difficult to balance global competition and protectionist tendencies. So how do CEOs create sustainable businesses when it's only getting tougher to see what is coming around the bend? CEOs are focusing on strengthening their corporate purpose and collaborating with government to tackle systemic change. CEOs are also looking at a different mix of markets for expansion opportunities around the world.



Building (not busting) trust

As we become more interconnected and interdependent, concern about a business trust gap has grown: 58 percent of CEOs worry that lack of trust in business could harm their company's growth, up significantly from 37 percent in 2013. This breakdown in public confidence creates risks for individual companies, but also political, economic, and social systems around the globe. As with just about everything, technology plays a role here too. A significant number of the CEOs we surveyed are convinced that gaining and retaining trust is harder in the digital era. Notably, they also emphasize the growing importance of establishing a strong corporate purpose and reflecting that purpose in their organizational values, culture, and behavior--recognizing that the definition of trust has changedspecifically, expanded. Today, for example, to counter the risks stemming from the inevitable data breaches and cybersecurity issues, a company based on integrity and transparency will be strongly positioned to speak directly to its customers and stakeholders--both present and future--outlining all that was done and will be done to preserve data privacy. The days where the CEO of a company was rarely accessible to the end customer or was able to get sanitized feedback are gone, as are the days where the consumer had little sight into how a product was produced and a supply chain crafted. Today, executive teams need to fully grasp the ethical and moral implications of their decisions, and communicate their actions with integrity. Trust has become an equalizing force, moving power from top-down to peer-to-peer. This means that while trust is an increasingly challenging issue, organizations that succeed in earning and retaining trust have much to gain. When businesses effectively articulate their purpose, act transparently, and stand by their values, trust and success can go hand in hand. Sustained execution is key. One fact is indisputable; the role of business in society has never been more important. Hand-wringing over uncertainty will not lead to success. But leaders who step up to collaborate across sectors, borders, and markets and the public at large will forge ahead.



Tackling the talent challenge

The competition for talent is as fierce as ever, as the global population ages, the nature of work changes, and companies look for the skills they need to nurture  now and in the future. About three-quarters (77 percent) of the CEOs we surveyed voiced concern that skills shortages could hinder their organization's growth, and 52 percent plan to hire more employees over the next year. Despite greater automation in the workforce, CEOs realize they can't rely on digital skills alone. To innovate, they need good problem-solvers and people with creative skills and high emotional intelligence. These are also the hardest skills to find. As LRN's chief executive Dov Seidman explains it, companies and leaders that recognize and put the human connection at the center of their strategy will be the enduring winners. Indeed, "machines can be programmed to do the next thing right. But only humans can do the next right thing." In a recent New York Times article, Thomas Friedman also writes, "The technological revolution of the 21st century is as consequential as the scientific revolution, argued Seidman, and it is"forcing us to answer a most profound question  one we've never had to ask before: 'What does it mean to be human in the age of intelligent machines?'" To find these employees, CEOs are increasingly tapping into a more diverse hiring pooland looking across borders. They are also focused on the structure and future of work, including the "gig economy," with 28 percent of CEOs relying more heavily on temporary workers. A laser focus on delivering results, a drive to find the right skills, and ability to execute are what distinguish the CEOs that have higher confidence in their companies that we see in this survey.



Reimagining the leadership model

All of the above require CEOs to rethink the role of business in society, and engage with multiple players including those in government to create viable solutions. For example, many CEOs told us they struggle to define the extent of their company's social obligations and to prioritize long- over short-term performance due to greater emphasis on shareholder value. And the events of the past year have shown us that companies that ignore people power risk stymying their growth. Giving and receiving feedback, collaborating widely, and leveraging more decentralized decision-making will all be core attributes for successful leaders as C-suites expand and boardrooms diversify. Executives who embrace this changing paradigm may well blaze a trail that reintroduces the human factor and a sense of inclusiveness, fueling growth along the way, creating opportunity, and developing a meaningful relationship with the public. Interestingly, CEOs are relatively optimistic amid the upheaval. Compared to last year, a higher percentage of CEOs said they are very confident about their organization's 12-month revenue outlook (38 percent up from 35 percent last year). This positivity indicates that many CEOs have grown accustomed to navigating stormy, uncertain seas and are increasingly focused on opportunities created by unpredictable circumstances. Leaders that live their values and scale them will create organizations with the resilience to navigate this complex, rapid-fire, disruptive world. Bob Moritz is chairman of PwC.


The Fourth Industrial Revolution is expected to result in an increase of jobs globally although it is likely to be a painful transition, according to chief executives at a jobs panel hosted by CNBC in Davos, Switzerland.

Manpower, one of the world's largest jobs companies, released a Skills Revolution report in conjunction with the Davos forum which surveyed 18,000 employers in 43 different countries across the world. It's findings showed that 82 percent of employers expect to maintain or increase staff levels as a result of automation.

"With automation... certainly there are going to be jobs that will be displaced, but most jobs will be impacted by technology in terms of specific tasks within the job that will change," Jonas Prising, Manpower chief executive, told CNBC on Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland.
"It's simply driven by the fact that the carriers have taken a lot of capacity out of the market," he said.

Speaking to CNBC Wednesday the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sren Skou, the chief executive officer of Maersk Group , told CNBC on Wednesday the global freight index for container shipping had more than doubled in the last nine months months.

The CEO of the world's largest shipping firm by capacity has given his unique insight into the rebound seen in global shipping prices in the last few months.

"They are losing significant sums of money every day, and continuing to do that and continuing to do that is simply not sustainable. Today, about 5 percent of the global container fleet is actually idle ... That has helped to support prices."

"We and others were surprised by the fact global trade not growing nearly as much as one would have expected five years ago."



The Baltic Dry Index - traditionally used as a barometer of global shipping - is up around 150 percent in the last year. Some have speculated that proposed infrastructure spend with the incoming Donald Trump presidency could have buoyed the sector while others suggest traders have weighed into a marker that had seen extreme weakness in recent years.



Skou said that he wasn't focused on any potential dampening of global trade under a Trump presidency - who has touted protectionist policies on the campaign trail - but highlighted that plans for lower taxes in the U.S. could aid his industry.
Mary Barra, chairman and CEO of General Motors, holds a media briefing at the 2016 GM Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 7, 2016 in Detroit. Getty Images

General Motors confirmed Tuesday it would invest another $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations, which will lead to the creation or retention of 1,500 jobs. The company will also add another 5,000 jobs "over the next few years" in finance and advanced technology. In addition, around 450 jobs will be returned to the U.S. as GM transfers back production of axles from a plant in Mexico. "As the U.S. manufacturing base increases its competitiveness, we are able to further increase our investment, resulting in more jobs for America and better results for our owners," said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. "The U.S. is our home market and we are committed to growth that is good for our employees, dealers, and suppliers and supports our continued effort to drive shareholder value."



Decision likely dates back to 2014

But several GM officials stressed that the latest moves were in the works for months and, in some cases several years, and were not a reaction to criticism by president-elect Donald Trump who, earlier this month, had threatened to impose "a big border tax" on GM for importing the hatchback version of its compact Chevrolet Cruze model from Mexico. More from NBC News:

GM to invest $1 billion and create thousands of jobs

Game changer? Chevy Bolt named car of the year

Trump now threatening automakers in Canada and Germany

During an appearance at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last week, GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said the automaker would not alter its global manufacturing strategy to comply with political pressure, and GM General Counsel Craig Glidden this week echoed the position in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Investment decisions of this magnitude and involving changes to manufacturing operations are typically the result of several years of study and require months of consideration by a company's board of directors, noted David Cole, director-emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in a discussion this week. That would suggest that the latest GM investment project began as far back as 2014. The automaker, in a prepared statement, noted that it has aggressively expanded its job and manufacturing base since emerging from Chapter 11 in 2010. Prior to the latest announcement, it had already invested $21 billion in the U.S., creating about 25,000 in the process, 6,000 of those in manufacturing. The automaker is not disclosing specifics about the new manufacturing program, beyond the basics. It says it will outline individual details later this year, but the $1 billion investment is expected to involve several different U.S. plants.

Bringing jobs back

As for the 450 jobs returning from Mexico, that involves axles that will be upgraded for use on GM's next-generation pickup trucks. A key supplier, GM said, was also moving pickup operations back from Mexico, creating another 100 U.S. jobs. "We will continue our commitment to driving a more efficient business," said Barra, noting how GM has already consolidated a number of operations from around the world. Over the last several years, for example, it returned about 6,000 IT jobs to the U.S., and consolidated seven engineering centers into three, with a significant focus on the General Motors Technical Center in the Detroit suburb of Warren. New projects in finance and advanced technologies, the CEO stated, "are expected to result in more than 5,000 new jobs in the U.S. over the next few years." The issue of auto industry investments in the U.S. became politicized with Donald Trump's entry into the 2016 political campaign. He quickly took aim at Ford for importing vehicles from Mexico, amping up his criticism last April when the nation's second-largest automaker revealed plans to move all of its small car production to a new factory south of the border. Early this month, Ford CEO Mark Fields announced the automaker was scrubbing the $1.6 billion plant, triggering self-congratulatory tweeting by Trump, even though Ford officials publicly noted they were still planning to move small car production to Mexico. They just decided to save cash by merging it into an existing, underutilized Mexican plant. The president-elect also offered praise for Fiat Chrysler when it announced new U.S. investments in several Midwest factories  despite the fact that it had previously revealed the outline for that move which shifts production at two plants from slow-selling passenger cars to high-demand light trucks.

GM's CEO is one of Trump's advisers
Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., tears a page from the national health-care bill during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 21, 2012, in Washington, DC.

Having served as the chair of the House Budget committee, Rep. Tom Price knows a thing or two about congressional hearings. But this time President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of Health and Human Services will be in the hot seat, when he goes before the Senate in the first of two confirmation hearings on Wednesday.

The six-term Republican from Georgia has been one of the leading opponents to Obamacare in Congress, and an advocate for the restructuring of the Medicaid and Medicare health entitlement programs. Democrats have vowed to fight the nomination of Price, an orthopedic surgeon.

Price's confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will be a warmup for his appearance before the Senate Finance Committee, which will actually vote on his nomination.



Here are three hot-button issues to watch:
President-elect Donald Trump's hard-line stance on trade is not much more than posturing, Christopher Nassetta, CEO of Hilton Worldwide, told CNBC on Wednesday.

"I think it's a bit of an opening salvo," the hotel chain chief told "Squawk on the Street." "My own belief is that as things settle down it's not going to be as bad as people think."

Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Nassetta said that his own conversations with Trump and his team have not led him to believe that the new administration is against free trade, as some critics have insinuated.

"I think they're saying that they want more balance to trade," he said.

Nassetta also said that he was in the "optimistic bunch" of U.S. corporate leaders looking forward, citing the beginning stages of a turnaround in a key portion of his business  corporate travel.

"What we saw last year in our business, real time, was corporate America was very nervous for a whole bunch of reasons. What was going on in the election, what was going on with terrorism around the world and they stopped traveling," Nassetta said.

Now, the CEO said he is seeing a slight uptick in the area of business-related travel, as sentiment about the new administration begins to creep up among American business leaders as well.

"Broadly, in American CEOs there's a more optimistic view," Nassetta said. "We do see the early telltale signs that corporate America is becoming more optimistic and they're starting to make decisions to spend more money as a consequence of that optimism."

"You're going to see optimism build a bit, you're going to see capital spending go up, you're going to see employment go up with that, and when you see those things happening, demand in hotel rooms go up," he said.
Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is still incredulous as to why no one listened to her warnings about income equality and the effects that it could lead to.



Speaking at a Bloomberg hosted panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, she was reminded of a plenary speech that she gave at the event in 2013.



"It did not get much traction," she said. "Well, I hope people will listen now," she quipped.



"I got strong backlash from economists in particular who said that it wasn't really of their business to think about these things, including in my own institutions, which has now been very much converted to the importance of inequality and studying it and providing policies in response to that," she later added.
Apple really wants to make iPhones in India, but before it does that, it would really like the Indian government to give it some major incentives, including a 15-year exemption on customs duty and the freedom to keep the back of the iPhone free of regulatory labelling.



So far, India has been reluctant to make exceptions for a single company, but it seems like the country might just give in to Apple.

India Minister for Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on Wednesday that the country will consider Apple's request "with an open mind."



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"We will very much like Apple to come and have a base in India," he said.

BuzzFeed News has reached out to Apple for comment.

Making iPhones in India would help Apple lower iPhone pricing in the country, where the company is struggling to gain marketshare against Android, which currently powers 97% of India's 300 million smartphones.

And having Apple make its flagship product in the country would help the government's "Make in India" initiative, which aims to boost India's manufacturing industry and create jobs.

The Times of India recently reported that a team from Apple's Cupertino headquarters would arrive in India next week to present Apple's case for seeking tax benefits and other perks to make iPhones in India.
Following are excerpts from a CNBC interview with Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis, from the World Economic Forum 2017 with Carolin Roth.



CR: Well, it's certainly a big worry, one healthcare official told me yesterday, 'Yes, drug prices need to come down. At the same time, though, we do need to ensure that pharma companies do keep the incentive to innovate.' And I've got the boss of one of the biggest healthcare companies in the world sitting right next to me, that's Joe Jimenez the CEO of Novartis. Joe, always a pleasure speaking with you.

JJ: Thank you.

CR: Thank you so much for coming on the show. Let's talk about Donald Trump's comments. We thought Hillary Clinton was going to be tough on drug prices, she talked extensively about gouging in the market. We're hearing similar comments from Donald Trump. How much of a worry is that for you?

JJ: Well, look, I think the first thing you have to remember is that pharmaceutical prices are only about 10, to maximum 15% of total healthcare expense. So when you're talking about healthcare, remember that pharmaceuticals are a small piece of that total pie. At the same time, there is going to be downward pressure on prices, and I think one of the things that Novartis did early on is we started thinking about new pricing models. For example, we believe strongly that we have to shift from what has been a transactional approach, where we're selling pills, to an outcomes based approach where the system is paying us for the outcome that we deliver on some of our pills.

CR: Do you worry, though, that through the lowering of the prices, the incentives to innovate for the pharma companies like you are going to be taken away?

JJ: Well, I think that's something to watch, but I also hear from the President Elect, and the new administration, that they value innovation. You know, when you think about the healthcare sector, and specifically pharma, we spend $70 billion in research and development in the US, and we account for about 4.5 million jobs, as an industry. So this President Elect is all about creating jobs in the US, and I think this is a place where we can build and grow. You know, some of the policies that could reignite the economy in the US would be good for this industry, and it would be good for American jobs.

CR: What about the repeal of the ACA, the Affordable Care Act? How does that matter to you?

JJ: Well, what's important to us is that all Americans have access to important medicines. You know, the discoveries that are happening right now are amazing, so we want to make sure that if the ACA is repealed, that it's replaced with something that will ensure that these Americans still have access to the innovative medicines that we're able to launch.

CR: But Joe, right now there's a lot of uncertainty about what happens to drug prices, about what happens to innovation, and the repeal and the replace of ACA. What do you do in the meantime? How do you deal with that uncertainty when it comes to making investments into your business and talking to your clients?

JJ: Look, in terms of times of uncertainty, what's important is that the companies that are going to win stay focused on their strategy, and they execute against that strategy, while building scenarios for a variety of different actions that are going to be taken. So you can imagine that at Novartis, we have a clear strategy around innovation, R&D is the core of the company, we're going to continue to invest. We're going to watch how developments occur in the US with the new administration, and then we're going to act accordingly, based on those actions. So we're looking forward to a more robust US economy.

CR: And Joe, you talked about the creation of new jobs under Donald Trump before. Are you under pressure, too, to create new jobs in the US, which is your biggest market in the world, because otherwise you're going to be called out on Twitter?

JJ: Well, it's a big and important market for us, and we will continue to invest. You know, one of the things that's very positive around what the administration is saying is, we're a global company, so we look around the world at where we want to invest. Previously, with the US the highest corporate tax rates among any country in the world, the US doesn't rank high in terms of where companies have historically wanted to invest new, for example, new manufacturing sites. But if the President Elect is able to take corporate taxes down, I think you're going to see a new wave in the US.

CR: What about share buy backs? What about dividends? Because some people tell me all the money that's going to come through, that's going to be freed up through tax cuts and tax repatriation is really just going to end up in SBBs and in dividends. Is that a fair point?

JJ: I'm not sure about that. You know, I think that there will be investment. Everybody's looking at where to invest, and I think with a lower corporate tax rate, you're going to be able to see more investment the US.

CR: Finally, I want to talk to you about the future of healthcare, and that is technology. It's about big data, it's about precision medicine. That's a field that you're very active in, you're currently working on 20 trials when it comes to sensors. Tell me more about this opportunity.

JJ: Well, technology is really revolutionizing pharmaceutical drug development. So we have a global drug development organization that is looking at new ways to execute clinical trials. One of those ways is data capture around sensors with patients, so we're testing new and innovative ways to lower the total cost of drug development while we're increasing the quality.

CR: Is that where M&A is going to happen in the future?

JJ: Well, there could be some M&A. We're looking at internal development, but when you think about our-, the whole pharmaceutical industry, digital is definitely a place that everybody is looking, and it could be a place of action.

CR: For you as well?

JJ: Well, I'm not saying whether-, or M&A strategy is very focused on building our pipeline, so anything that will enhance the pipelines of our pharmaceutical, or our other divisions, is where we're going to spend our money.

CR: Joe, thank you so much for the time, really appreciate it. Joe Jimenez, the CEO of Novartis.
Following are excerpts from a CNBC interview with Matt Damon, Actor &Co-founder of Water.org, Gary White, Co-founder & CEO, Water.org and Ricardo Tadeu, Africa Zone President, Anheuser-Busch InBev, from the World Economic Forum 2017 with Tania Bryer

TB: Well, good morning ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our CNBC sanctuary. There are a lot of you here, and ladies, I heard a rumor around Davos last night that you all changed your schedules to be here. Now, I'm not sure why, but I have a sneaking suspicion, because one of my panelists is the award winning Hollywood superstar, Matt Damon. Please welcome Matt Damon, Gary White and Ricardo Tadeu. Matt, if you could sit next to me, Gary and Ricardo. Matt, I'm not joking, I promise you, last night in the streets of Davos, every single woman was changing their schedules.

MD: I heard George Clooney was here.



TB: George, are you here? Gentlemen, welcome, thank you very much for joining me this morning on CNBC. You're here in Davos to talk about Water.org. Gary and Matt, we met here in 2014. Why is WEF such an important platform for you?



MD: Well, it's a great place to raise awareness for the work that we're doing. Also, you know, the people that we're working in service of with Water.org are really the most disenfranchised on the planet, and they don't really have a voice here. So I think we, along with some of the other NGOs that are here, do try to give them a voice, you know, as all these kinds of big, high level discussions are going on.



TB: Gary, Davos, and WEF, is criticized by a lot of the media to say it's elitist. You know, there's so much inequality in the world. 2016, there's been huge geopolitical shocks. What is everybody doing here? Is it important for you to be here?



GW: It is important, because, you know, everybody needs to have a voice, and have a stake in the future of the world. The poor, those that are disenfranchised, and the folks who are in power that can do something about it, and what we see is a complementariness to this, you just have to look at, kind of, the threats that have been identified by the WEF community over the past five years, water has been one of the top five threats every year. So there's already a preponderance to shine the light on these issues that do affect people living in poverty, but there is this huge gulf to bridge, we can't make any bones about that. And to me, this year in particular, with income disparity taking center stage as it rightly should, there is no greater manifestation of that than people who can't even afford to get safe water, and that is really a shame, and it's unconscionable, and we need to change it. And this is one of the many ways that we're doing that, through WEF, but also with our partnership with Stella. Stella is helping us bring that voice to many more people in terms of getting water and sanitation to those who need it.



TB: Ricardo, tell us why your company is involved? How did you partner up with Water.org, and why?



RT: I think that for Stella Artois, first and foremost it is very important to have really a cause that we believe that we can be a driving force behind it, and of course water is our main ingredient, and we try to find out who are the best people that know-, that could help us understand more about the problem, get more knowledge, and see how we can solve it. So we met, a couple of years ago, Water.org, we started a partnership, and it's doing very well. We have already helped 800,000 people to get five-year access to clean water, and this year we are announcing exactly the expansion of this partnership, because it worked so well for Stella Artois, and in the sense that it resonated so well with our consumers, and I mean, the execution was so good in the field that at the end of the day, we wanted to do much more. We want to go now for 3.5 million people by 2020, with helping Water.org.



TB: And you have 'Buy A Lady A Drink'. Explain that to us, please.



RT: Yes, that's-, I think that's one of the important things in terms of when a brand stands for something like this, is finding the right mechanics in the sense that really can add value for the brand, for the consumers, and really drive the resources behind the cause. So our 'Buy A Lady A Drink,' it's very simple. We are selling three different types of chalices. Those chalices, they are made from artists that come from the countries that we are helping to get access to water, so we have from Uganda, Cambodia, Brazil, and consumers all around the world can buy those chalices, and for every chalice they buy, they will be helping, granting five years of clean access of water to people. So that's a very important thing, that's a way that our brand can leverage on our scale, on our global presence, to bring awareness to the problem, and at the same time to give people an opportunity to make a difference, to do something. So this is one part of the mechanic, and the second part, which I think Matt likes a lot, it's something that goes not only chalices, but in the supermarkets, in bars, we are testing in the UK and in the United States, that people, when, if they buy a six-pack, or a 12-pack, they can give-, of Stella Artois, in a supermarket, they can get-, and provide six months, or 12 months, of access to clean water to people in the countries we are operating, so-,



MD: And we should say, it's called 'Buy A Lady A Drink,' because this is predominantly an issue about women and girls. Across all these cultures and countries where people are affected by this, it's the women in the families who are in charge of collecting water, and what that means is, oftentimes, young girls aren't in school, because they're literally spending their entire lives scavenging for water for their family, and so you know, through our programming, you know, with water credit which we can talk about later, you know, 93% of our borrowers are women. So it's an issue that really predominantly-, disproportionately affects women and girls.



TB: Matt, I remember talking to you here, as I said in 2014, and asking you why you wanted to become involved with this cause, and going back to your own childhood in Cambridge, in Massachusetts, and it felt like your mother, Nancy, who is an early education teacher, that she took you and your brother, didn't she, to Mexico, to Guatemala, to make you aware. Do you think it started from there?

MD: Definitely. I think when I look back at my life, from where I sit now, it's clear that that travel played a huge part. I mean, just travelling in, you know, throughout Guatemala and, you know, in rural Guatemala and rural Mexico, and seeing the way other people lived, without being, kind of, finger wagged, or anything like that, by my mum, just being able to observe it. So I've definitely modeled that with my own parenting, I mean, I take my kids everywhere, and I feel like it's a real privilege to be able to travel like that, and it's a real tool for empathy, to be able to, especially at a young age, go around the world and just look at how other people are living.



TB: You have four daughters, Matt. How do they react to what they see on the ground when you take them to these different places?



MD: Well, I mean, I haven't taken-, you know, depending on their ages-, you know, it's-, but no, but they-, you know, a lot of times, it's funny, I talked to Don Cheadle about this years ago, my friend, who's the actor, Don Cheadle, and he had, when he did the film Hotel Rwanda, and he shot in South Africa, and went to the townships with his kids, and I said, 'Well what did you say to them?' you know, because I was just interested as a parent, I've always admired the way he parented, and he said, 'Nothing,' he said, 'I just let them look,' he said, 'And they were dead silent, just taking it in,' you know, and a lot of it is just allowing, and I think that's what my mother did with me, she just let me take it in, and if I had questions I asked them and she answered them. But it really is something to be exposed to a completely different way of living, at a young age.



TB: And because, of course, you have the platform of being a very famous actor, and being known around the world, Matt, why did you choose water? Why did that become your cause?



MD: Well, in looking at issues of extreme poverty, I was just staggered by how water and sanitation really underpinned everything, and the magnitude of the problem just shocked me, and the fact that I was so unaware of it, and that nobody seemed to be really talking about it, it's one of those things that in the west it's very hard to relate to, right? I mean, you see people raise money for cancer, or you know, curing cancer, or AIDS, you know, and that's all relatable, we all have family members, or friends, or people who've dealt with this stuff, and you know, clean water-, access to clean water and adequate sanitation is just not something we think about. We solved this problem in the west 100 years ago, and so to clear that first hurdle of just explaining that there's an issue has been a challenge for us. But the reality is that every 90 seconds, a child is dying because of lack of access to clean water and sanitation, and that's just totally unconscionable, and unnecessary. I mean, we-, you know, this is a problem that has solutions, right, and that's the other exciting part about it, and that's the part that energizes us, is we really can fix this. We can actually be the generation that eradicates this crisis completely. It's just going to take a comprehensive effort.



GW: And I think it's that messaging that you and I talk about a lot, like, how can we break through and communicate this, the severity of this? Because not everybody can go to these countries and see it, and I think that's really what, you know, this is unprecedented for us, what we have with Stella, both in terms of helping us reach those 3.5 million people, but by being this platform, it's kind of a way to invite people into the issue, if it's as easy as buying a beer, or buying a chalice, and then we can go from there, and so the powerful message that we can bring to people is that that action is going to bring safe water to someone today. You know, this is real, it's going to happen. But then also them investing in us in a way that allows us to do what we do best at Water.org, and that is to innovate. And so we can then drive the innovation engine to say, 'Okay, it's great to get water to people today, but this is a crisis of such magnitude, we have to have game changing solutions, we have to look over the horizon,' and that support allows us to then generate those new ideas so that we can match the scale of our solutions to the scale of the problem. And that twofold approach, water for people today, and solving the crisis in our generation, tomorrow. That's what we're about.



RT: And one interesting thing also is internally in the company, when we first addressed the issue, many people internally were not aware about the situation, and then, well, there's 660 million people without access to clean water, they said, 'Wow,' and then the first time was a matter of telling people what the issue was, and then after seeing results, then people get really engaged an excited about it, which is internally also very inspiring.



TB: But it is, it's incredible, isn't it, because I'm sure everybody here can't quite understand that people don't get access to clean water and sanitation, and to make it relatable, and to make it part of people's psyche around the world, it's a difficult message to put across. What is your vision for Water.org? What would you like to see, going forward, Gary?



GW: Well, I think, we talked about this a lot, even with Stella Artois and Ricardo, and I think we're honing in on the message, and you know, some of the research we've done shows that the global water crisis is ascending in terms of people's level of awareness, and that's a very positive thing, and not least of which because of platforms like this, and being with you a few years ago, and really, really getting the message out, but it is an all hands on deck thing, and this isn't something that Stella just wants to build a wall around. With them, I mean, inviting in other partners, and that's been so key to us, is we can reach out to other partners, corporate partners, foundation partners, that invest in water today and that innovation engine of Water.org. I mean, we've been very fortunate with the IKEA foundation, with Niagara Bottling, with the PepsiCo foundation, and several others that have invested in us so that we can go and create those game changing ideas like water credit.



TB: And of course, governments are key in partnering, or supporting NGOs. Matt, I was interested in a speech you gave to MIT last year, because obviously you've had a political change in America, you have President Trump now, and in the speech-,



MD: Friday.



TB: Oh, you mean we've still got a couple of days. Anything could happen, is that what you're telling me? But in your-, you came out publicly to support Hillary Clinton, and in the speech at MIT you said you were nervous. Do you still feel nervous now about President Trump?



MD: Sure. Look, first of all, you know, I wish him well, and we all must. A successful American President is good for all of us, and we really have to, you know, be rooting for him right now. Obviously, it's no secret that I didn't vote for him, but-, and yes, I think there is a sense of-, we're heading into new territory here, you know. He's obviously not a career politician, he's not-, you know, he's been occupied with his own business interests, which are relatively narrow, given the scope of what a president actually has to deal with, so I imagine he's really working hard right now to master, you know, a whole-, you know, there are so many sectors, he's got-, he's just got a lot of work cut out for him. So in terms of our work in foreign aid, like, we don't-, we have yet to see what his angle is on that. He hasn't spoken publically about it, so we can just hope for the best at this point.



TB: Matt, he has attacked 'liberal Hollywood'. He's attacking your community. How do you feel about that? I mean, do you think Meryl Streep was right to use the platform that she did?



MD: Well, he's right, she's totally overrated as an actress.



TB: There goes that movie you're going to do with her, Matt!



MD: Well, Ben Affleck said it on the Jimmy Kimmel show later that day, he said, 'You could say anything about her, but the one thing you cannot say about her is that she's overrated.' Look, you know, I thought what she said about bullying was very important, and I think in-, and you know, about people in power, you know, bullying people with less power is unhealthy, and it's behavior that children will model, and-, and so-, but look, let's see. He's about to become the most consequential person on the planet, with more power than, you know-, it's a massive burden, you know, for these-, you look at these people who've assumed the Presidency, they instantly go completely grey, you know.



TB: Yes, well, President Obama has, yes.



MD: It's such an enormous amount of responsibility, so I suspect that he will change the way-, I think once-, you know, a sentence from a President can move a market on the other side of the world, and I think these guys get-, become aware of that very quickly, and you see them become very circumspect with how they speak, and very measured, and I think we have to assume that will happen with him, as well.



TB: Just quickly, what are your hopes from him, they? What would you like to see him do?



MD: I would like to see him be successful. I really would, that would be-, you know, that would be-, that really would be great for all of us, and I mean it when-, you know, I think of that, you know, that note George W Bush left for Clinton, that made its way around the internet, that beautiful handwritten note, and he said, 'I'm rooting hard for you,' and it was just the most graceful and, you know, wonderful, and heartfelt sentiment, and I think that's what-, in this moment, that's what we all have to me feeling, that we need to be rooting for him.



TB: And just finally, when can we have a world, what year can we have a world with access for the whole world to clean water and clean sanitation?



RT: That's a good question, we talk a lot about this, I mean, sometimes we discuss if it's our generation or the next generation, but we will make sure it's our generation, but at the end of the day it depends a lot on engagement of people everywhere. Engagement of other companies, other brands, all are invited to participate. The good thing is that the solutions are scalable, I mean, we really are inviting more people to come. We are providing a chance for people around the world to participate, so in our calculations, if ourselves, Stella Artois, we can in five, ten years, double our efforts, and we bring to the table 50 more brands or companies around the world, that could be a solution.



TB: Gary, what year?



GW: Well, we have the marker laid down also with the SDGs, right? SDG number 6, 2030, we've got to get it done, and it makes sense that we're going to have to scale faster, it's going to have to be investment from the top down, and investment from the bottom up, which we're trying to catalyze among people through microfinance, and if we can do that and, you know, turn this generation loose in terms of innovation, I talk a lot about the energy and the brainpower, and the youth that invest their time in generating the next version of the iPhone, right? I mean think of the billions of dollars that go into innovation to do something like that. If we could put the same emphasis and power, and the social entrepreneurial spirit behind something like this, we could solve it. You know, Matt said it, we did it 100 years ago, right, for most of the world, or for a good portion of the world, and if we can invest in that, then the shape of the curve that's kind of going like this, now, that would take us, you know, another 100 years maybe to get this done, we can bend that curve, I think, tremendously, by just doubling down on this.



TB: Matt, will you give me a year, do you think?



MD: We always say in our lifetime, but we can be the generation to do this, we really can, and you know, the generation behind us, you know, these millennials, I'm just really impressed with. They're just really-, they have a level of awareness, perhaps because they're so much more connected than we were, or perhaps because there's been some kind of change, but they're really dialed in, and that gives me a lot of hope too.



TB: Thank you so much, Matt Damon, Gary White and Ricardo Tadeu. Thank you so much for joining me today.
Following are excerpts from a CNBC interview with Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Saudi Arabia Finance Minister from the World Economic Forum 2017, with Hadley Gamble





HG: Your Excellency thank you so much for joining CNBC. I want to kick off by asking you about your outlook for the next year. There's been a lot of speculation about what the Saudi vision really means for the kingdom. How confident are you that you'll be able to get this budget deficit under control and that Saudi Arabia is really on the right path?





AJ: Thank you very much for having me. It's good to be in Davos and it's good to be with you. I believe Saudi Arabia is on the right track. Vision 2030 provides a very clear strategic map of where we want to be on 2030. It provides for us very specific targets and objectives and that is basically providing a very nice platform for all government agencies and the private sector to see one objective, one target and head to that target. It is basically a combined effort of various government agencies with the new entities that have been established to support the achievement of the targets that are set under 2030. So we have various regimes that are set to ensure that the government has the necessary support, the necessary capacity to achieve these targets so I'm very comfortable. Vision 2030 for those who are not familiar with it, is basically a strategic roadmap that sets where we want to be as a diversified economy. Today we are heavily dependent on oil revenue. We wanted to move out of that dependence gradually with 2030 being the year where we are very comfortably out of that dependence, at least subject to the volatility of the oil price than the single commodity cycles.





HG: Where's the right price to make sure that 2030 is achievable?





AJ: I think we have actually no right price for 2030. By 2030 we wanted to achieve a level where it doesn't matter what the oil prices is, we will be fine. The economy will be fine. We are aiming for the private sector to contribute 65 percent of the GDP by 2030. We're aiming for none oil revenue for the government to cover the budget by. So it doesn't matter what the oil price is, we will be fine.





HG: Talk to me a little bit about the kingdom the place in the region. You are the largest economy. What happenes in Saudi Arabia has a knock on effect to all of the other Gulf States, to Egypt. Tell me a little bit about your confidence over the next year in terms of spending in terms of reinvigorating the private sector because there has been a bit of a slowdown, not just because of oil prices, because but also because of the uncertainty surrounding the kingdom's plans. What's your message to the private sector?





AJ: To those I think that budget that we announced in 2017 possibly sets the scene of where we are going and how confident we are. It is the largest budget. Despite all that is being said 2017 is the largest budget ever and that is sending the right message. We are spending, we are investing more. The capex part of the budget is higher than last year. We are focusing on the private sector. We announced the four-years programme of stimulus package for the private sector to ensure that they are providing that support to weather all the reforms that we have announced. A 200 billion riyals program for the next four years have been announced. So we are looking at ways to make sure that we support the private sector. We are looking at ways to make sure that we support the purchasing power of the people of Saudi Arabia so that if you are so low income, middle income are going to receive cash allowances for the increased cost of the energy price reform that we are starting to implement in 2017 and beyond. I think generally our relationship with the private sector is a partnership. We wanted to make sure that the people of Saudi Arabia receive the right service and even improved. Wanting to make sure that we are more efficient and our spending so that the rate of return on our investment is higher. We managed as we have announced last year through efficiency programs, to save about 80 billion riyals just from efficiencies and that should continue. Our relationship with the region will continue and these are not subject to a year or two economic developments, it's a strategic relationships. We will continue our support of our friends and allies in the region. One of the key pillars of 2030 is for Saudi Arabia to utilize its position as the center of the Arab and Islamic world. To develop that to make sure that we provide the benefit to our people and to the people of the Arab and Islamic world and to utilize that locally for example to flourish more of the tourism industry, particularly the religion tourism. There is a lot of opportunities for the private sector locally and internationally to come and utilize these opportunities





HG: Is this an age of austerity for the kingdom?





AJ: It is an age of efficiency. It is an age of looking at our strength and making sure that we utilize that. It is an age of looking at our behaviors as government and as people and revisiting how we spend, revisiting on what we spend, revisiting the rate of return and what we spend. And that is actually being started today. We looked at various initiatives that have happened in the last few years. I think the policy over the last 10 years for example have paid significantly today. We are utilizing the wise benefits that was established the last 10 years today, and the downturn of the oil price. So the debt to GDP is one of the lowest in the world. It was 100 percent only 10 years ago. Now it is in the single digits. We have one of the largest reserves. So generally, what we are trying to achieve is a more sustainable economy rather than, you know talking about austerity or otherwise. I think we are just looking to rationalize how we spend make sure that we have a sustainable economy and introduce slowly, and that's what we have announced, and the balanced budget program, introduced over the next 4 years, various reforms that will ensure that our economy is sustainable, is diversified.





HG: How do you keep from moving too fast for everyone. Because there is the question of whether or not these reforms could cause social unrest could cause unhappiness uncertainty, and certainly for the private sector, uncertainty is not generally thought to be a good thing. In your view are we taking a risk by implementing these reforms in such quick succession. Or is Saudi Arabia ready for this?





AJ: I believe Saudi Arabia is ready. I believe the change has been gradual. When we started more than a year ago we said we wanted to reform for example the energy prices over the next five years. So it was not really a sudden change. We told the world, we told our people, we told the private sector that we are going embarking on a gradual change. And when we announced the budget for 2017 we also told the private sector that now you can plan. We hear your concern. We know that you want certainty. We know that you want predictability. We are a predictable government. We are going to provide you with transparent plans on where we are going in the next four, five years. So we published the balanced budget program document that tells the private sector where are we going. And we set the changes that are going to happen in '17 changes that are going to happen in '18, for example the VAT, changes that are going to happen in and '19 - which is some of the gas and other energy prices reform - and changes that are going to happen in '20. So that is a gradual reform and we recognize that we need to make sure that we avoid shocks to the economy and we are very aware of that and wanted to make sure that even on the gradual change we provide the support we have a program that provides for private sector with necessary support for example to be more efficient in their utilization. So we are funding consultancy and specific technology programs for the private sector through soft loans and otherwise to make sure that they utilize energy efficiently and they have the time two years from now to fix for example their plans their manufacturing facilities.





HG: What's exciting to you in terms of the sector specific areas where private investors are really going to have a shot at getting involved in the Saudi economy? Privatizations? what's really exciting?





AJ: Let me tell you, I think the second pillar on the Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia being an investment power house. And that means transforming the public investment fund into a very powerful sovereign wealth fund that would be the first and the largest in the world, or at least one of the three largest in the world. That would invest locally and internationally and that would be a very important partner. So you would have as an investor, loads of opportunities, really, to come an partner with BIF. In addition Vision 2030 provides a lot of opportunities. Privatization is one amongst others. We have the tourism industry, we have the mining industry that would provide significant opportunities. Some of this had already been announced as part of the Vision 2030. Some of them are being announced. We have heard two days ago only from the energy minister, his Excellency Mr. al-Falih, that the Saudi government is embarking on a 30 to 50 billion US dollars for any renewable energy. That provides significant private sector opportunity. The government is determined and committed to supporting the private sector





HG: But that also means making sure that people get paid. And there have some been some bumps in the road haven't there?





AJ: There has been some delays in the past because I think that governments in 2015 wanted to make sure that they look at their liabilities generally, assess what is going on in terms of the liability. That took a bit longer than what is expected. We are now on track. I've said that in December and I'm telling you now that we are totally on track. Payments are happening on time. We actually announced, in writing, a commitment from the government that will pay every single use of the private sector within 60 days and that is happening without a single default on that position. So we are very comfortable, the private sector is regaining that confidence very quickly. We see it and we speak to them regularly. IMF confirmed that yesterday and their announcement that they see significant confidence gaining momentum from that and from either confidence votes that we have seen from the international investors investing on the sovereign bond that was issued last year. So a lot of positive signals that are coming our way to show that actually the economy is strong. Opportunities are there and private sector now have the visibility and what the plans are to come and invest.





HG: Consumer spending down quite a bit over the last two years or so. Are these subsidy cuts and then the padding that the Saudi government has promised middle to lower income Saudis, is that going to be enough to boost those consumers in terms of the spending once again? How quickly are we going to see those numbers go back up.





AJ:I am reasonably confident that purchasing power in Saudi is still very strong. Yes we have seen that it had a bit of dip, but it is stabilizing and I think by the end of 2017 it would pick up. The most impacted category of the society - 40 percent of the society or even more 40 percent of society lower income and middle income - are going to receive 100 percent allowance to cover the energy reform impact.





HG: For how long?





AJ: At least until 2020. So that is that is set clearly until 2020. And it will be revisited that time to see if we need to continue, or otherwise. There are two other categories, which is another the other 40 percent, so the lower 40 percent are going to receive hundred percent allowance to cover all the cost of the reform. The other 40 percent are going to see anything between 50 and 75 percent. So impact on the purchasing board is going to be very limited. There are obviously various opportunities for SME's that are being provided. Capital Market Authority have announced the establishment of the second market. It's called Numuww, which is growth, that is going to cater for the small and medium enterprises. This will provide a lot of opportunities for nationals to come and do small businesses and generate more income and generate more purchasing power. So, there are a lot of initiatives that the government has enabling and encouraging the private sector and supporting the private sector to generate more opportunities for locals to be employed or to do that on business.





HG: This year at the World Economic Forum, you have the largest Saudi delegation in history. You have several ministers here. The message is really that Saudi Arabia is open for business and that Saudi Arabia understands the challenges going forward. What is your message to the average Saudi about how he or she is going to have to live their life going forward? Are they going to need to save more? Are they going to need to plan ahead much more in terms of their daily spending? What's the message?





AJ: The message is the message that I would give to my sister and brother and my kids is that today they have a brighter future than a few years back. Today there is a plan of where we are going. There is a clear road map or diversified economy. There is a more sustainable economy that would support their kids education their kids health care. And there is a lot of programs that would support new businesses to come in and utilize the various opportunities that are coming their way through with a vision 2030, through the BIF, various and huge investments that are coming in the next few years. 2017 is going to see significant announcements. And there is a very busy calendar for the government throughout 2017 that is going to send very clear concrete messages to our people and to investors in Saudi Arabia to investors outside of where we are going, where are the opportunities. That are significant investment opportunities for even the small investors. So we are telling the people, spend wisely, invest. We are providing various new opportunities to invest. We are opening the capital markets and the debt capital markets for even investments instead of just investing in the equity side, providing more strong debt capital market that would enable the average household to invest. We are allowing the average household to spend more to open a new business, a small business. We are streamlining the business opening processes bureaucracy around it. We are allowing very, very transparent clear process and more smooth process for the ease of doing business. So there is a lot of things that would support the average citizen. There is a lot of things and initiatives that would support small businesses, large businesses and obviously general welfare of the people.

HG: And finally. Okay. And finally Your Excellency what could put a spoke in the wheel. What's the challenge that keeps you up at night?





AJ: I am a lot of nights working. It's an exciting time and so did you when I joined the Ministry of Finance, I was really impressed by the energy that existed across the government. There is a lot of people working 12 hours and even more than that in the government and this is nothing not one governed government lifestyle that you would hear about before. So there is a lot of energy. I am excited about what's happening. I'm working hard. So is a lot of people around the ministry and the various ministries to make sure that we deliver on our promises, to make sure that we plan properly, to make sure that we execute the plans, to make sure that we have the capacity within the ministry. We wanted to make sure that we have a balanced budget. We are more efficient in our spending. We provide the necessary support to the private sector. We support all the services and utilities that provide services to the citizen. So there is a lot happening a lot of excitement there. And I am having enough sleep but I'm working so hard.





HG: And what do you say to those who doubt Saudi Arabia's vision?





AJ: I think that is the deliverables that we have made in the last 18 months. We said that we will establish a debt management office we did establish it and it showed the most successful emerging market ever in the world. We said we will work on our efficiency on spending and increase the rate of return on our investment. We did, and we saved only in 2016, 80 Billion riyals of more efficient spending. We said we are going to be efficient, accountable. We established the performance management unit that is tracking our performance. And within this quarter will publish to the world how we are doing. We are delivering and supporting the private sector we established a 200 billion riyals program that will support and stimulate the private sector. So we are delivering. And I think the confidence is very high the people confidence is very high as I mentioned earlier 80 percent of those surveyed were surveyed in the survey that I mentioned earlier have a very strong positive confidence that we're out on the right track.








Following are excerpts from a CNBC interview with Sren Skou, CEO of Maersk Group, from the World Economic Forum 2017 with Steve Sedgwick and Geoff Cutmore.



CNBC: Sren Skou is with us, the CEO of Maersk Group, good morning to you, Sren, and nice to see you.



SS: Good morning, and thanks for having me.



CNBC: Thanks very much for joining us. Look, let's just deal with the current operational changes taking place in the business, this division of the oil operation and the shipping unit. How is that going? Can you just give us an update and tell us what you expect for this year?



SS: Well, it was about three and a half months ago that we announced that we were going to find solutions for how we could separate out our oil and energy related businesses, it's about a third of the total group today. We also, in December, announced that we were going to acquire Hamburg Sud, the German container shipping line. So there is a lot going on. I don't have anything new to tell you, on energy we are still working hard on finding those solutions, and as soon as we have the first one, I'm sure we will come to the market.



CNBC: I mean, operationally, it is going to make a big difference in the way the market thinks about the two business units. There was a lot of speculation about a Dong Energy deal, with the energy business. Can you update us as to any current thinking at board level on that deal?



SS: Not really. We have a longstanding policy of not commenting on market rumors and I'm going to stick to that today.



CNBC: So just if we were saying, theoretically, there were two energy businesses that were thinking about coming together, do you think this is the right business environment, with the oil price back above $50 a barrel, for significant mergers in the space?



SS: Well, we have said that we still see opportunities for growth in our oil business, the one of the four energy related businesses, there's still, you know, lots of value to be had in the oil sector. We plan to focus our oil company more on the North Sea, with less diversity or graphic footprint than we have today. We see opportunities in the North Sea sector.



CNBC: Sren, I can't see why the Baltic Dry Index is up 150% in the past year. Perhaps you could help me on this one. I've got a feeling it's speculators leading the way on this one, as well. We spoke to the Panamanian Minister, yesterday, we were speaking to the Finance Minister, and quite frankly, they're not seeing more traffic. In fact, they're still very worried about the traffic situation, as well. Why do you think that these indexes have shown such a growth level, and such a high spurt, when actually the underlying trade is still so tough for you guys?



SS: So, in the container sector, which we know best, we've seen exactly the same, that the freight index is up a lot, it more than doubled in the last-, pretty much the last nine months.



CNBC: More than doubled.



SS: It's simply driven by the fact that the carriers have taken a lot of capacity out of the market, they are losing significant sums of money every day, and continuing to do that is just simply not sustainable. So today, about 5% of the global container ship fleet is actually idle and laid up, but that has helped support prices.



CNBC: Did your company, and other companies, just get this very badly wrong in investing in the most extraordinarily large, ultra-large container ships, the very large container ships, and just got it wrong, at the wrong time in the cycle, invested in too big a ships, when actually the previous fleets would have been just about fine.



SS: So clearly, we, and others, were surprised by the fact that global trade has not grown nearly as much as one would have expected five years ago. Before the financial crisis, global trade, in volume terms, was growing 8%, 9%, 10% per year. Now we're down to something very close to global GDP around 2% probably in 2016. We expect 2.5, maybe 3% this year. So of course it's a lot lower level of growth, that means that we have overcapacity, have invested in too much capacity as an industry, we are working our way through that as we speak, and we have seen virtually no new capacity being ordered in the last year.



CNBC: Interesting. Yes, I mean, one of the problems, I think, has just been the way that the Chinese, the Koreans, and others, ramped up production very aggressively, thinking that pre-2007 trade growth would continue post the financial crisis, but clearly there has been a setback, and now we have Donald Trump talking about rolling back globalization. Does that chill your heart a little, as you think about your containers running the route from Asia to North America and Europe? Are you worried?



SS: Well, first of all, I think we have a number of different messages coming out of the US. There's a lot of talk about lower taxes and more investments in infrastructure, clearly that would be good for trade and for imports to the US. We clearly, of course, also have to say that we believe in global trade as a wealth driving mechanism. Global GDP, 60% today is made up by global trade, that's up from 35% 25 years ago. It's been a massive driver of prosperity, so of course we believe that we, as nations, should continue to trade.



CNBC: Sren, it's been a pleasure, thanks so much for coming and joining us here.



SS: Alright, thank you.
Following are excerpts from a CNBC interview with Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO of ABB, from the World Economic Forum 2017 with Steve Sedgwick and Geoff Cutmore.



SS: Let's move on. Let's talk ABB, because the company orders took a hit from Brexit and the US elections last year. The Swiss Group's CEO has said he doesn't see global markets recovering fully this year. Well, let's speak to that man, Ulrich Spiesshofer. Very good to see you, sir, how are you?

US: Good morning.



SS: So look, let's just talk about it, first of all you do not see markets recovering in 2017 to get back to previous growth levels.



US: Yes, look, global markets continue to be characterized by high levels of uncertainty. We don't know yet exactly how Brexit comes out. We're looking forward to get the overall programme of the US government, so there's a lot of uncertainty and that will have a subdued effect on the markets. We are basically flying onside and prepare for a market return later on in the year 2017.



SS: I want to just take a step back, if I can, because you saw a market drop in UK business on the back of Brexit. Because it's very interesting, because a lot of the economists, including Andy Haldane, said, 'We got it wrong, actually UK activity's pretty strong, certainly around the consumer, as well.' So why was it that customers just pulled back from spending big money on capex projects with ABB products?



US: People are just uncertain about the conditions that the ruling will be all about. The Brexit, how it will be executed, and that means a lot of our customers said, 'The project is not off, but we are delaying the project, we wait a little bit until we see.' Given what we do in infrastructure, we are very heavily exposed to capex, and that was the major hit.



SS: Sure.



GC: Interesting, I listened to Bob Dudley on our set talking about capex intentions over at BP. This has been an issue, the reduction in capex spending in the mining and in the energy sector. Do you see it coming back in 2018, if not in 2017? What's your feel? Because obviously it's critical for your industry.



US: If you look at the moment the dynamics, short-term there is definitely still a subdued market sentiment. The first discussions are coming on future projects, the first discussions are coming on adding growth, in terms of capacity. I think this will be more a 2018 thing that we are preparing for. I've met a lot of my customers here. 2017 will be probably a transition year, and '18 we're looking forward to get a little bit more momentum in the market.



SS: How far away are you from where you want to be with your transition programme? I think you started, Ulrich, in 2014, as well, you faced down Cevian, last year, as well, which I think is very interesting. You've done something that not a lot of CEOs have done at the moment, and that is not break up your company. How far are you away from the ABB you want to go forward with?



US: Look, the transformation of ABB is in full swing. The first couple of years we had to do homework, we had to cut the fat that we had put in, we had to put in a clearer performance culture. Now we have four businesses, but which are all number one or two in their respective markets, the way we have shaped the portfolio. We are firing on all cylinders on the digital agenda, the training, you see it even here in Davos, the training is coming very strongly, so we are ready now to reengage on the front end, on the growth side, and that's what you will see at ABB.



SS: I think we've got to leave it there.



GC: I'm afraid we have, yes, yes, we can't-, the next level strategy, I love that, it's a great title for are working of the business, and I think the move to digital is so smart, because you can move up the value chain.



US: Yes, absolutely, and we can add much more value to our customers by providing interesting services. Uptime speed and yield is still very, very important in industry. Digital allows us to get to the next level of productivity improvement that will create wealth. That will create competitiveness, and that also will create jobs.



GC: Ulrich, pleasure to see you, thanks very much for coming by.
Following are excerpts from an interview with CNBC's Tania Bryer and will.i.am at the World Economic Forum 2017.





TB: Will, thank you so much for joining me here on CNBC. This is your third Davos?



W: Yes, it is.

TB: Yes. How are you finding it, and why do you feel it's an important platform for you to come here?

W: It's an important platform because of the work that I do in the inner city, and for me to find more programmes for the kids that I bring new skillsets to, the forgotten. So I come from a very bad neighborhood in East Los Angeles, and our school system is horrible. So about six years ago, I started an afterschool programme, teaching kids robotics and computer science. So every year, I like to travel and find more things for our kids to get in and around. Mentors for them, to push them and encourage them towards, you know, dedicating themselves in the STEM curriculum, so coming to, you know, events like this when you're immersed in a little mountain where you have a whole bunch of different folks from, you know, the private sector, corporations, governments, NGOs, you get to network, and I need it-, my kids need me to do this.

TB: Will, you, of course, were a recipient of the Crystal Award for your work with your foundation, and you have just been saying that of course the platform here is very good for that. But there's been a lot of criticism about Davos, about WEF being too elitist, and of course one of the big topics is inequality. Do you feel that that criticism is unfair?

W: It's fair, but it's not fair, it's both. The reason why it's a fair criticism, it just so happens that the people on the mountain are the 1%. But then there's a lot of folks on the mountain that do their part. Bill Gates does his part. So that's the reason why it's not fair. And there's a lot of companies, corporations that, they do their part. Salesforce does their part. So although there's folks that come to the mountain that don't do their part, and that's the reason why I feel, you know, to have everyone on the mountain sharing the things they do, folks that come with an open mind on wanting to play more of a role in solving problems as well as making money-, so like I said, it's both.

TB: And of course, the topic of inequality is huge, Will. What is your take on it? Your foundation works to bridge that gap..?

W: My foundation works to encourage and empower the forgotten. So to bridge the gap, that's something that, if I was trying to do that, I think that looks like an impossible mission, because you have the other side that wants the gap to get bigger. But if my efforts are to, you know, equip, you know, kids in the inner cities with skillsets that put them in the position to create jobs, not just fill jobs, and be a part of the conversation tomorrow, the conversation around solving problems, then I'm playing my part, and it's something that I'm-, you know, I know I can accomplish that. If my mission is to find two or three kids out of, you know, gathering 60, then I'm doing my part. I started with 60 kids, every single one of those kids graduated last year with a 3.5 average, grade point average. They're all going-, 70% of those kids are going to school for computer science, robotics and engineering, and that was six years ago when I started with 60 kids. Now I have 500+ kids, and I want to scale the work to other areas that resemble the conditions of my neighborhood.

TB: Talking about your neighborhood, Will, and I know from our previous interviews and conversations together, you know, you've come from Boyle Heights, you've talked a lot about how influential your mother was in getting the education for you. Do you think that's really what motivated you? Was it your childhood experiences, do you think?

It really was going to Brentwood Science Magnet, going to a science magnet school at 7 years old, being bussed to and from my old ghetto, two hours a day. So that's like, living in London, sending your 7-year-old kid on a train to Paris to go to school. Like living in Brixton, sending your kid to Paris. 7 years old. I asked my mum, 'Like, what were you thinking sending a 7-year-old to school two hours away from home, and you didn't even have a car to pick me up if something would have happened.' And her response was, 'With the drugs and the gangs in the neighborhood, you're safer going there.' And going to school, learning oceanography, physics, science, computers, at 7 years old, until I was 18, changed my life, and I thank my mum for making that sacrifice, and it's the reason why I can stomach being away from home. It's January the 18th-, is it the 18th today?

W: It is, yes it is.

And I've already been in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Japan, LA, London, San Francisco, Davos, in those 18 days starting 2017.

Oh you're kidding, just in 2017?

Yes.

Will, but just tell me about the 7-year-old boy that was on the bus for that amount of time. What were you feeling back then? You know, what were your hopes and aspirations? I know that, you know, there you are, you were saying that, you know, your mother made that decision for you, but you know, as a young boy, what did that feel like?

It felt like going to sleep on the bus. To say-, I mean, if I was to go back and say, 'You know what it felt like,' I'd be B.S.ing you, I don't know, I was 7 years old, sleeping on a bus, going to school. But I remember the first day I realized we were poor. There was a canned food drive-, and philanthropy changed my life, and it's the reason why I do so much philanthropy now, now that I'm successful with my career. There was a canned food drive, the school said, 'come to school with canned food so we can give it to the poor,' so I went back home and I said, 'Mom, we have to collect canned foods to give to the poor people,' so my mom laughed at me, 'Boy, you ain't going to school with no food.' And then that Thanksgiving, all the kids, couple of kids from my neighborhood came with a box of food. We were the poor kids. They gave that food, the whole school, we won that, that prize, and I remember what it felt like. Like, because when you're poor you don't know you're poor, everyone's poor in your neighborhood. But to see the outreach of the kids from the rich neighborhood bringing my family boxes of food made me realize, 'Wow, we're poor.' You know? And it's a wakeup call, when you have to go to school and the rest of your kids know that you're the poor kid, and it's not a good feeling, but it shaped me to the person that I am today, and it's the reason why I try to do as much as I can to the forgotten, these that are left behind.

TB: And when you got your global success with Black Eyed Peas, Will, what did that feel like to you?

W: I didn't' realize what it felt until some-, the person that I started the Black Eyed Pea with, his name is Allan Pineda, aka apl.de.ap, from the Philippines, and he always used to, like, you know, he said, 'Your neighborhood's great,' I'm like, 'My neighborhood's not good bro, I'm poor.' He was like, 'Well this is nothing compared to where I come from in the Philippines.' I was like, 'Well what do you mean? What's it like in the Philippines?' He was like, 'I pump water out of the ground. I wash my clothes in the river, by the rock. I farm rice on a bison.' So I'm thinking he's lying, until we go back to the Philippines and the President is there, this is 2004, 2005, Where is the Love? We step off the plane, the President and the folks greeted him, and we go to his village and it was everything he said, and I realized how lucky we are and how blessed we are to have music as a career, and the two of us really dedicated to changing our neighborhoods. So we made a lot of money with the Black Eyed Peas, and this is when I realized, 'Woah, I have a special soul mate named apl,' and we dreamt an amazing dream together. Because when we go back to the Philippines with I Got a Feeling and it's the biggest thing in the world, and I'm thinking, he was like, 'Yo, I got a new house,' I was like, 'Ah, shucks, I can't wait to see that house in the Philippines,' and I'm thinking he lived in a big old house in Manila, so then we're driving, I'm like, 'Yo bro, it's like the same route that we went to your old province,' he was like, 'Yeah, what are you talking about,' so I was like, 'There was nothing but huts there, what are you talking about?' I said, 'I thought you were going to move to a better neighborhood. He was like, 'Why would I do that? I want to make my neighborhood better.' So I go to his house, I'm in the province, and there's a huge house next to all the other houses, and there's a school there, and he was like, 'Yo, I want to educate the folks in my province, why am I going to leave? This is where I was born and raised.' And I was like, 'I'm so happy that I'm in a group with you. I'm so happy that you're my partner in this thing called the Black Eyed Peas. Because you could get lost in the celebrity, and lost in this B.S, and you know, anything I could do to help you with your neighborhood, with the stuff that I'm doing to my neighborhood-,' two poor folks different extremes of poor, that our dreams were music. And he's here today at Davos, he came to check out-, I was like, 'Look, you need to be a part of this community, bro. Like, the work that you're doing in the Philippines, with education in the province, you need as many partners as you can, and I know there's a lot of people on the mountain that would want to help you out.'

TB: Will, along with your music success, of course you're known for your wearables and your tech company that you have, and producing, I believe, buttons. Can you tell us all about that?

W: So the company that I started is called i.am+, we've created a pretty awesome voice operating system, an AI, a conversational engine and audio products are the best way to experience our platform. So our headphones now are sold in every single Apple store and we're about to release our platform shortly. Kendall Jenner is a part of the company, as well as Naomi Campbell, and I tried to find folks that could play a role in i.am+ plus the way that I played a role in Beats. A lot of people didn't know that I was an equity holder in Beats, one of the early members, since the beginning, and when we sold to HTC first, I started i.am+ and then when we sold it to Apple, the team got bigger, we raised more money and brought more people on, like Naomi and Kendall, and you know, it's looking pretty great for us.

TB: What about-, you spoke about AI there. Where are we going with all this technology? I think another panel you'll be talking about here, Will, at WEF, also is security of our internet. How can we police it? We're seeing so much going on now, hacking, there was of course, the Apple vs the FBI. What can we do about that?

W: Well, we make it seem like this version of connectivity has been forever. So it's still in its infancy, and things will get smarter, and until then, we-, the creators are to innovate and bring to market awesome things for us to save time. That's what I'm focused on. I try not to get distracted and/or discouraged on the things that we want to bring to market.

TB: And what about cyber security? What are your thoughts on that? Because it's so important, of course we're making great advances in technology, but the security is key, as we're seeing, as well.

W: Well, there's a lot of mis-discussions on-, some people think cyber security is an oxymoron, that you can't truly have that, especially on the version of the internet that we have today, and then some people feel that-, I met a company yesterday that have some pretty cool solutions towards that, and things that my company is looking at. Anyone with solutions is great, but like I said, we are in-, it's still in its infancy, this has not been life forever. I think this version of connectivity with phones, out there in the world, is ten years old, as far as the iPhone goes. Of course there's been other PDAs in the past, but nothing like what we have today, where people are running their businesses off their phones, documenting with selfie sticks-, only because a guy had a selfie stick in the audience. New behaviors. Sorry about that.

TB: But where is it going to take us? You know, where is the future of tech? I mean, you're involved in it, you have companies within it. Where do you think it's going to take us? Is it going to-, you know, what's next? What's the big next tech?

W: I heard a sentence two days ago, and I always knew it, and that was 'data is currency' and if you're a big company, that just sucks up and aggregates everyone's data on an app that's free then yes, data is currency. But the only people that are left out of being empowered by data are the people that are actually making it, like we make data every day, and it ain't like it's benefiting me, or other people like me, or people like you and communities that you live in. Data's only benefitting companies. And so I think the big change is going to come when people own and keep their own data, and other data doppelgangers that are like them create new types of clusters, and those clusters and communities are better off keeping and doing with their data what benefits the community and the individual. We haven't seen that yet. We just see big companies get mega huge, really fast, and worth ultra-billions of dollars for the sake of a free app. I think that will change soon, and that's what's exciting for me, and it's the things that we're working on as far as giving people a personal AI. Right now, the intelligence on your phone doesn't really know you, right? So those are the things that we want to work on, that we're working on, and I can't wait to show the world it.

TB: And what would you like that to be? What's the personal AI? What is your goal, Will, what would you ideally want? How would that work?

W: Well, without getting into it now, I would have to just show you how it works, I wouldn't talk about how it works. So when we're about to launch, you know you're my favorite person-,

TB: Oh, thank you.

W: I will definitely be showing you it.

TB: Okay, so we look forward to that, and I personally look forward to that launch, Will, as well. Now, of course last year here the theme was the Fourth Industrial Revolution, talking about technology, and this year it's about responsible and responsive leadership. What makes a responsible leader for you, in your eyes?

W: A responsible leader is someone who is open minded, respectful, flexible, but firm, inspiring, encouraging, strict but still has love. Someone who has tolerance, but at the same time, protects tradition. Someone who is family orientated, someone who has the ability to turn strangers into friends, and friends into family. Someone who-, that tries to protect the home, and builds bridges. Someone who is looking out for the collective and not themselves. That's a responsible leader.

TB: That's a responsible leader. And building bridges, Will, now, I hope I'll still remain your favorite person, but talking of bridges and walls I had to ask-,

W: Woah, woah, woah, you did that one.

TB: What's your feeling, you did publicly vote for Hillary, so I just want to ask you in general what your feelings are now.

W: Me no speak English.

TB: Ah, you see, okay, in Spanish then, tell me, we can translate it. Just your, just your general feeling.

W: So I have-, like I said, I have 500 plus kids who a lot of their parents-, I come from an all Mexican neighborhood, we were the only black family-, one of the only black families in the neighborhood. So a lot of the kids at my school are afraid that their parents will be sent back to Mexico, and they've done so much to keep themselves out of the streets, and so for those privileged folks, they don't know what that means. Because they'll respond and say, 'Well, they're not supposed to be in the streets.' Well, what would they be doing? It's not like we're making sure they have good education, and a shot at a future. So for them to not do that default, that puts them in harm's way, and other people in harm's way, to survive, and take a leap of faith and learn robotics and computer science, and do the uncool thing, and risk being bullied, because no one in their age group are doing robotics and computer science, and then also have to worry and fear their parents getting sent back to Mexico. That's a lot for a 13-year-old, 14-year-old, 15-year-old, to worry about, especially while they're in their neighborhood ducking bullets. So if there's any time where it's more important for me to focus on my community, it's now. If there's any time that I come to Davos with urgency to create alliances and build bridges to protect those for the next four years, eight years, 20 years, it's now. If there's any time that we should bond together and use our smartphones to get the right news and just take them-, be a little bit more patient and not just think the first thing you see is the truth, it's right now. If there's any time here we're supposed to, you know, have an open heart, it's right now. Especially right now. We're supposed to bond, we're supposed to-, I know that sounds real kumbaya and cliche, to say love is what we need right now, but it truly is. If this time was like any time, it would feel like the 50s, because the 60s hasn't happened yet. The songs on the radio aren't about what's going on, the things-, we're all in these little bubbles, and the bubbles that we're in is responsible for the fake news. We need to pop those bubbles that we created ourselves, and create little clusters and networks of likeminded-, things that we want to see our society move towards. Because if we just leave it to the bubble, and the algorithm, it's going to look like what we have right now, and that, we should all be concerned with that. So with that, I say we focus on the left behinds, the privileged, using their privilege to, you know, bring upon a better life for those that are struggling. There's a lot of struggling out there. In the ghettos, in the provinces, in the slums. Even in the nice neighborhoods, it ain't like people are there, you know, living comfy when now we have supercomputers that's threatening everything. We need creators to create and dream up new jobs. Unfortunately the old jobs, some of them might not come back, but I know we switched from the Fourth Industrial Revolution to responsible leadership, but those two are hand in hand. Because it takes the leaders to encourage the dreamers to create new jobs that's really going to bring about an amazing Fourth Industrial Revolution, because it could be a bad one, so-,

TB: Would you ever consider going into politics yourself, Will?

W: No. No. I don't want to go into politics. I'd rather just do what I'm doing.

TB: And what you're doing, and just finally, of course you have a collaboration, an exciting project with Black Eyed Peas, I believe, coming up this year. You have the Voice in the UK, you have all your tech innovations coming up, as well, and your foundation. Anything else you'd like to do, to add to that list? Do you have time for anything else?

W: Oh, also, when I said it's been 18 days and I've already been in that many countries, somebody was like, 'Well what were you doing in all those countries?' Well I really have, like, four jobs, four full time jobs, and that, every day I wake up it's a blessed opportunity, because I remember the day-, I was 19 years old, and my mom says, 'William, I think I'm going to finally get a job now.' I'm like, 'What? Why?' because the whole time growing up, my mom was on welfare. I would go to the County building and get her check, and sit in the line and get free cheese and milk. So that was normal. So when my mom said that, I was like, 'Well where are you going to work at, ma?' She was like, 'I'm going to work up by the park, to keep the kids off the street,' and so when I wake up, every day, and I see my reality, I think of the sacrifices my mom made, by-, it seemed as if she was putting me in harm's way, but really it was a blessing, and now I have these blessings, so I'm blessed to be able to have a philanthropic charity where we teach kids robotics, and have a company with 150 people, we have offices in Israel, Bangalore India, and Singapore, and all the engineers that have chosen to work at i.am+, even though, like, there's been a couple of misses, which is oaky, because I'm not afraid to fail in public, I just look at it as I'm learning, and we still retain awesome talent. We have awesome investors. And music, changed my life, that's another job. And being on TV, that's another job, too. So that's four full time jobs, because-,

TB: Not bad.

TV, being in the UK, I mean, that's the biggest show-, one of the biggest shows-, actually, the biggest show in the UK. I'm sorry, it's a pretty nice humble show. I just got slapped by my mom for saying that, 'You've got no business bragging like that.' So the show is pretty nice, it does pretty well. So in theory, I should live in the UK, I do TV there, but every time I finish TV I go back home, to i.am+ and figure out between my entrepreneurial activities, and making music, and I've chosen to do music less, to build this business with my partners, and it's great. My mom, she sent me an awesome little text message yesterday, just to remind me how blessed we are.

TB: Well Will, thank you so much for sharing that today, and we so appreciate, because we know how busy you are, and we can see from all the jobs that you do that you are so busy, and we really appreciate the time that you've spent with us today here at CNBC.

W: Oh no, for me, thank you for allowing me to have this seat and be on TV talking about my story. So many other people on the mountain that are more than qualified than I am, so that's, once again a blessed opportunity to be here telling my story. So the folks that we serve in the community, you know, hopefully folks that want to help out on the mission, you can go to iamangelfoudnation.org to learn about the programmes that we give our kids, and the dream, and if you want to be a part of that dream, and making that dream a reality to change these kids' lives, we need all the help we can get. Everything else we'll do on our own. The entrepreneurial stuff, that's a fight, but we need help on that side.

TB: And you want more Bill.i.ams and not will.i.Ams, as in Bill Gates

W: I said I want kids in the inner city to be like Bill Gates. To not just be Stevie Wonders, but be Steve Jobs. Not to be like Michael Jordans, but to aim to be Michael Dell. Because we have enough Will.i.Ams, Stevie Wonders, LeBron James and Michael Jordans, and no one in the inner city is dreaming down this path. They don't wake up every day, default, 'man, I can't wait to get my Steve Jobs on,' that's not-, you know what I mean? That's not-, they're 5'1 like, 'I'm about to be Michael Jordan.' Er, not really, shorty. You know what I mean? Which is great, it's great, it's just there's more opportunities.

Well Will, once again, thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Ladies and gentlemen, Will.i.Am.
Despite major political upheavals and ongoing concerns about its banking sector, Italy is now on the right track, the head of the country's largest insurer told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday.



Philippe Donnet, chief executive (CEO) of Generali, said the government's direction has remained broadly consistent since the referendum last December where voters rejected the reforms espoused by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, prompting his resignation.



"Actually the policy of the government hasn't changed and the government continues implementing the reforms that have to be implemented in Italy. So I'm quite positive," he said.



Turning to the beleaguered banking sector, currently languishing under a crippling stack of non-performing loans, Donnet also sounded an optimistic note.



"As you know some solutions have been found for Italian banks," he highlighted, adding "the things that we could not avoid have been done which is the most important."
Vice President Joe Biden delivered an epic final speech Wednesday to the elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The gist of his speech was simple: At a time of "uncertainty" we must double down on the values that made Western democracies great, and not allow the "liberal world order" to be torn apart by destructive forces.

Biden went after Russian President Vladimir Putin by name, saying he is using "every tool" in his power to whittle away the European project, and undermine Western democracies. Biden accused Putin of wanting to "roll back decades of progress."



Biden said Russia used "cyber aggression" to meddle in the U.S. election, an assertion supported by 17 U.S. intelligence agencies. He also warned that we will see further interference from Russia in the future and said the "purpose is clear"  that Putin wants to see a "collapse of the international order."



"Simply put, Putin has a different vision of the future," the vice president warned.



At the outset of his speech, Biden implored the media to not hear his speech as a shot at President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Friday. And, while what Biden said applies broadly to leaders in Europe, as well as the United States, there is no mistaking that his comments were a rebuttal to Trump's friendly statements about the Russian president.



At a time when Trump and his advisors are talking about shaking up NATO, Biden said, we must "support our NATO allies. An attack on one is an attack on all. That can never be placed in question."



Biden also warned that unlike Trump's call for building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, it's not the time to build walls and live in fear.

Biden implored world leaders to work together to protect democracy from encroachments by Russia, Iran and others. Yet, Trump's world view is "America First," which runs counter to Biden's view.



Biden didn't merely urge the world leaders at Davos to maintain the status quo. He warned that the reason for the pressure on the democratic order is the rise in income inequality and the hollowing out of the middle class, as the rich get richer and people in developing nations see their lives gradually improve.

He said the top 1 percent is not paying their fair share, and as a result we are seeing social instability increase.

"We need to tap into the big heartedness," Biden said. "This is a moment to lead boldly."



See also: Biden to Davos: The 1% needs to pay up or else...


Damon has partnered with the Belgian beer brand Stella Artois in its "Buy a lady a drink" campaign, inviting people to purchase a branded chalice. Stella Artois donates $6.25 to Water.org for every glass bought.

At a CNBC panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Damon told host Tania Bryer: "Access to clean water and sanitation is just not something we think about, we solved this problem in the West 100 years ago. So to clear that first hurdle of just explaining that there is an issue has been a challenge for us."

The actor Matt Damon has spoken of his partnership with Stella Artois and non-governmental organization Water.org in tackling the lack of clean water and sanitation around the world.

"It's called 'Buy a lady a drink' because this is predominantly an issue about women and girlsit's the women in these families who are in charge of collecting water, and what that means oftentimes is that young girls aren't in school," Damon told Bryer.

Ricardo Tadeu, zone president Africa at AB InBev, parent company of Stella Artois, said that it is important for brands to have a cause they care about.

"It's really important to have a cause that we believe, that we can be a driving force behind it and of course water is our main ingredientone of the important things (is) that when a brand stands for something like this is finding the right mechanics that can really add value for the brand, for the consumers and really drive the resources behind the cause."

Water.org and Stella Artois have worked together to bring 800,000 people clean water for five years, Tadeu said, and the partnership is aiming to reach 3.5 million people by 2020. Tadeu encouraged other companies to work with Water.org.

"We talk about whether it is our generation or the next generation (that will have clean water), but we will make sure it's our generation, but it depends on the engagement of people everywhere, the engagement of public companies, other brands, all are invited to participate

"In our calculations, if ourselves Stella Artois in five, ten years can double our efforts and we can bring to the table 50 more brands or companies around the world, that could be a solution," he said.
President-elect Donald Trump has "a lot of work cut out for him" but Americans need to be "rooting for him", Oscar-winning actor Matt Damon said on Wednesday, even though he supported Democrat rival Hillary Clinton during the election.

Speaking at a CNBC-hosted panel during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Damon spoke about his charity Water.org and also what he hopes to see from the Trump administration.

"First of all, I wish him well and we all must. A successful American president is good for all of us and we really have to be rooting for him right now," Damon said.

"Obviously, it's no secret that I didn't vote for him. And yeah, I think there is a sense of we are heading into new territory here. He is obviously not a career politician, he has been very occupied with his own business interest, which are relatively narrow given the scope of what a president actually has to deal with, so I imagine he is really working hard right now to master so many sectors. He's just got a lot of work cut out for him."
"My kids need me to do this," Will.I.Am told CNBC about his third consecutive trip to Davos.

He told CNBC on Wednesday that meeting with government officials, corporates and other individuals is an "important platform" for his philanthropic work.

The American musician and tech entrepreneur Will.I.Am has become a frequent visitor to the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos.

The member of the Black Eyed Peas, who was raised in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, started a foundation six years ago where children have the chance to study about robotics and computer software. He started with 60 pupils and has now more than 500.

Interacting with others in Davos allows him to bring more ideas back home to continue supporting his foundation, he said.

The World Economic Forum is attended by the world's political and business elite and has often been criticized for ignoring the real problems in the world.

According to Will.I.Am, such criticism is both fair and unfair. "The reason why it's a fair criticism is it just so happens that the people who are in the mountain are the 1 percent."

"But then there's a lot folks that are in the mountain that do their part. Bill Gates does his part," the musician said.
NATO's future is assured in spite of President-elect Donald Trump's criticism, according to Germany's defense minister.

Donald Trump had reportedly described NATO as "obsolete," which prompted Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to concede that this had prompted concern among the alliance. Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated as president of the U.S. on Friday.

"We should recall that the one and only time that Article Five, the article that says whenever one is being attacked, all the other [NATO members] stand up for the victim, it was in 9/11. [This was] when we stood up for the U.S. to defend our common freedom and our common peace in Afghanistan, and we're still there," Ursula von der Leyen, German defense minister, told CNBC in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

"Of course, NATO has to be modernized. We, over the last three years, have been modernizing a lot [and] it has to go on," von der Leyen added.
In terms of sheer star power, it's going to be hard to top Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's appearance at the trial of virtual reality leader Oculus, but in terms of the outcome of the case, a lot could rest on the testimony of Oculus founder Palmer Luckey.



Luckey is expected to take the stand Wednesday in Zenimax Media's complaint against the VR company. Zenimax alleges that Oculus and its products were created using stolen technology  and that Facebook was aware of this before its 2014 purchase of the company.



Wearing a suit, white shirt and tie, Zuckerberg shrugged off the allegations in his testimony Tuesday, saying "I am here because I believe [these accusations] are false and I think it's important to testify to that." While occasionally confrontational, the Facebook co-founder remained calm under cross-examination, even joking occasionally.

Luckey, though, is seen as more of a wildcard. The founder, whose typical dress style tends to include Hawaiian shirts and flip flops, has been secluded from the public for roughly four months.



He was, however, the public face of Oculus at one time  and liked to shoot from the hip.



In 2015, he famously predicted the Oculus Rift was expected to cost between $300 and $400  forcing the company to be on the defensive when its $599 price was announced a year later. And when preorders for the unit failed to ship on time due to a technical issue, he went largely silent after tweeting to buyers "stay tuned for future updates."



He did take to Reddit at the time to vent some of his frustrations.



"On the rare occasions when things still change, even when they change for reasons out of my control, I get crucified anyway," he wrote.



Then, last September, The Daily Beast revealed Palmer was a financial backer of a pro-Trump meme posting political advocacy group called Nimble America. As backlash over his actions grew, he posted an apology, then withdrew completely, no longer tweeting, posting on Reddit or granting interviews. He also bypassed the company's Oculus Connect conference, an annual event meant to energize developers working on software for Oculus products.



The now-reclusive Palmer was in the courtroom Tuesday for Zuckerberg's testimony, and appeared to be nervous.



Tweet

Ultimately, his testimony could be the most critical of the trial, since so much of the debate focuses on his interactions with Zenimax and the early days of his company.



The trial, being argued in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, is the apex of a long legal fight between Oculus  and Luckey  and Zenimax, the owner of video game developer Bethesda Softworks.



Zenimax maintains Oculus and Luckey "commercially exploited" Zenimax computer code and trade secrets for their own gain. That software, says the company, led to a $3 billion purchase of Oculus by Facebook in March 2014. It is seeking $2 billion in damages.
Ray Dalio, founder of hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates, told CNBC on Wednesday it's unknown whether President-elect Donald Trump's pro-business agenda will be executed properly, but "there's an optimistic possibility."



Appearing on "Squawk Box" from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Dalio said only time will tell whether Trump's approach to policy will be "aggressive and wise and thoughtful and calculating or ... aggressive and reckless."

"With the calculations done well, it can be extremely powerful," said the chairman and co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater, which has $160 billion in assets under management.

"If it didn't take place, then the malaise and the impatience would produce even worse results," he said. "We needed a revolution; I mean, in a sense we need a reinvigoration and that kind of revolution."

Investors will learn a lot over the next few months, said Dalio, adding that he's optimistic about Trump's Cabinet selections.

"But there's also a time to know not to take a big bet. You don't always have to have a big bet," he advised. "The way I've done best is, 'Know what I don't know.' It's not because what I know," he reflected.
Issues of immigration and refugee resettlement will take center stage at the third annual symposium hosted by the Leadership and Multifaith Program, a collaborative endeavor between Candler School of Theology and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Asylum, Refuge, and Relocation: Multifaith and Community Responses to Global Migration will take place on Monday, February 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Georgia Techs Historic Academy of Medicine. Derreck Kayongo, CEO of the Center for Civil and Human Rights, will present the keynote address, How the Legal Power of Protecting Rights Expands the Marketplace. The keynote respondent will be Silas Allard 11T, associate director of Emorys Center for the Study of Law and Religion and Howard J. Berman Senior Fellow in Law and Religion. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required by January 23. Register here.

Deanna F. Womack, assistant professor of history of religions and multifaith relations at Candler, notes that this years symposium examines a central issue of concern for Atlantas religious congregations and community leaders. How can we best respond to the needs of immigrants and refugees in our own society, and assist displaced people around the world? Our team of speakers will address this question from a variety of local and global perspectives, she says.

The symposium will begin with a film screening and discussion with Ellen Martinez and Stephanie Ching, the directors of After Spring, a documentary on the Syrian refugee crisis executively produced by Jon Stewart. Listen to Stewart's comments on After Spring at the Tribeca Film Festival. Two afternoon sessions will each offer four workshop options on a variety of issues surrounding migrants and refugees. Topics range from educating immigrant and refugee students to working with detained asylum seekers. The latter will be led by Candlers Scholar-in-Residence Marie Marquardt, while a workshop on spiritual care with migrants and refugees will be co-led by Emmanuel Y. Lartey, L. Bevel Jones III Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care, and Counseling at Candler.

Womack says the symposium will not only raise public awareness of the issues refugees face, but outline how concerned people can help address these issues. This event will provide participants with tools to face contemporary challenges with hope as they take action on behalf of the immigrants and refugees who call America home.

Georgia Techs Historic Academy of Medicine is located at 875 West Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. Parking is available in the Academy of Medicine lot, and the building is wheelchair accessible.

Learn more and register for the symposium.
America and Russia will likely see a thawing of relations in the coming months, according to the chief executive of Sberbank, amid high expectations that President-elect Donald Trump can re-establish close ties with his Russian counterpart.



Herman Gref, the CEO of Russia's largest bank and a former lawmaker in the country, said it was too early to comment the details of that relationship but predicted that it could be "new beginning" for the two countries.



"It's a new page, a new chapter between Russia and the U.S.," he said, hoping that it would be a return to the ties that former President George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin enjoyed in the last decade.

There had been low expectations in Russia for Bush before he was elected, after the close bonds that Bill Clinton had enjoyed with the country, Gref explained.
Spain will act reasonably in the U.K.'s Brexit negotiations with the European Unioin, Economy Minister Luis de Guindos told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday.

"The position of the Spanish government is very clear. For us the U.K. is a very important country. It is perhaps our closest economic ally if you look at trade, tourism and investments of the Spanish government," he clarified.

"The approach of the Spanish government is going to be reasonable. We want to have a reasonable discussion and I hope that common sense and savvy will prevail," he continued.
Sumner Redstone and girlfriend Sydney Holland arrive at the Friendly House Los Angeles awards luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Oct. 26, 2013.

Sydney Holland wants a judge to appoint "independent medical experts to evaluate Redstone's physical and mental capacity," according to documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

One of Sumner Redstone 's ex-girlfriends on Wednesday asked that the media baron's mental competency be evaluated as they wage a legal war in California over $150 million in gifts he gave her and another paramour over the years.

If he is deemed competent, Holland, 45, wants the randy billionaire Redstone to be ordered to sit for a deposition in their legal cases.

But "if Redstone is deemed mentally incompetent," Holland wants the judge to appoint someone, a guardian ad litem, to verify "under oath" the responses Redstone's legal team gives her as they produce documents and other evidence in those cases, a legal motion filed by Holland's lawyers at the firm Kirkland & Ellis said on Wednesday.

In the meantime, Holland also has asked a judge to stay discovery in the case until the question is resolved. Discovery is the process in which opposing sides in a lawsuit seek documents, testimony and other evidence from one another.

Holland's motion suggests that Redstone's health may have "precipitously declined over the last few months," since he was deemed capable to sit for a legal deposition eight months ago, but in recent months has been said by his personal doctor to be unable to do so.

The motion said Redstone "has not been seen in public" in recent months, and last month "he was removed as a voting member of the Viacom board."

"His ability to participate in this action has been seriously called into doubt," Holland's motion said.

The 93-year-old Redstone, whose holding company National Amusements controls the voting shares of Viacom and CBS, sued Holland and another ex-girlfriend, Manuela Herzer, last year.



Redstone accused the duo of conspiring to emotionally manipulate and abuse him so that he would give them many millions of dollars worth of gifts.

In response, Holland countersued Redstone last month, claiming in court papers that he also had given a slew of other women tens of millions of dollars worth of gifts, at the same time he was engaged to marry Holland.



Holland said those women "did nothing more than provide sexual favors" to Redstone, and allegedly included "one mistress  an aspiring reality show producer," who got $21 million, and the sister of a CBS corporate jet flight attendant who allegedly received $6 million.

Holland's legal action seeks to hold Redstone to his purported promises to support her and her young daughter.

Redstone's lawyer, Robert Klieger, in response to Holland's motion filed Wednesday, said: "Ms.Holland and her counsel would have you believe that only an incompetent person would prefer to leave $150 million to charity than to the Holland/Herzer tag team at whose hands he suffered so much."

"Mr. Redstone is well aware of everything these women have done, and are doing," Klieger said. "He firmly believes that what Ms. Holland and Ms. Herzer deserve is measured in years, not dollars."
Just weeks after flipping the lights on at its massive Gigafactory, Tesla is laying new plans to expand the factory's use beyond batteries.



The electric carmaker plans to use the Gigafactory to make the motor and gearbox for its upcoming Model 3 sedan, the company's first bid at making an affordable Tesla for the average buyer.

Until now, Tesla has primarily referred to the Gigafactory as its lithium ion battery manufacturing facility, while its cars are made in Fremont, California.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval announced the new plans Tuesday in his State of the State address.

Tesla will invest $350 million for the project, and hire an additional 550 people, according to the governor's comments. That will be over and above the company's existing commitment to hiring 6,500 people at the Gigafactory, according to comments made by Steve Hill, the director of the governor's Office of Economic Development, to Nevada newspaper the Nevada Appeal.

Sandoval tweet

Tesla confirmed the details Sandoval disclosed.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made manufacturing efficiency a high priority for the company, but Tesla will require a lot of factory floor to meet its goal of to pumping out 500,000 cars by the end of 2018, and then making one million cars by 2020.

Meanwhile, the city of Fremont recently approved Tesla's application for an additional 4.6 million square feet of space there.
The great threat to the European Union is populism, according to Ray Dalio, billionaire founder and co-chief investment officer at Bridgewater Associates.



"If you look at Europe as a whole and you're going to say what is the greatest threat to the European Union? It's not the debt crisis. It's not central bank policy. It is the movement of populism," Dalio said Wednesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

During the past year, populism has fueled the U.K.'s Brexit vote to pull out of the European Union, Donald Trump's surprise win in the United States and a defeat of Italy's referendum for constitutional changes championed by then-Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

It's a phenomenon that Dalio thinks people will be hearing more of. For the first time, Dalio thinks politics are more important than central banking in influence.



Dalio, whose hedge fund manages manages about $160 billion in assets, recalled the similarities of today to the populism that existed in the 1930s. He noted that in the later years of that decade, the common man wanted to regain control after the recovery that followed the Great Depression. On the left, populism manifested itself as communism and socialism while on the right it led to fascism.



"That phenomenon partially is due to a wealth gap, but it's also partially due to the sense of inefficiency and (desire to) make the place work on time for the common man," he said in the interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Joseph Jimenez played down some of the negative comments that President-elect has made towards large pharma firms. Trump accused the drug industry earlier this month of "getting away with murder".

Donald Trump's policies could be good for the economy but Obamacare should be replaced if it's repealed, the CEO of drug giant Novartis told CNBC on Tuesday.

"When you think about the healthcare sector and specifically pharma, we spend $70 billion in research and development in the U.S., and we account for about 4.5 million jobs as an industry. So this President-elect is all about creating jobs in the U.S. and I think this is a place where we can build and grow," Jimenez told CNBC in a TV interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"Some of the policies that could reignite the economy in the U.S. would be good for this industry and it would be good for jobs."

Donald Trump has pledged to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. But repealing the law would leave 18 million Americans without insurance if no replacement is in place, the Congressional Budget Office warned on Tuesday. Jimenez urged the Trump administration to consider a replacement for Obamacare.

"What's important to us is that all Americans get access to important medicines. The discoveries that are happening right now are amazing. We want to make sure that if the ACA is repealed that it is replaced with something that will ensure that these Americans still have access to the innovative medicines that we are able to launch," Jimenez said.
"Look, I don't like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing."

President-elect Donald Trump claimed to Fox & Friends on Tuesday that he disliked tweeting and only used the social media platform to counteract bad press coverage.

Trump's presence on the platform has been near-ubiquitous, and his tweets wield great power, driving news coverage and calling out countries like China and North Korea. They have even caused concern among officials and constituents, who worry that Trump will continue to tweet constantly as president and potentially harm sensitive diplomatic relations.

"But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press and it's my only way that I can counteract," Trump told Fox.

He cited Rep. John Lewis' statement that he would boycott an inauguration for the first time in protest. The Georgia congressman didn't attend President George W. Bush's inauguration in 2001.

"Like, for instance, when John Lewis said, you know, he's never done it before where he skipped an inauguration. Well, he has. It turned out to be a lie. So I'm able to say that," said Trump.

The president-elect also boasted that he was close to 50 million followers across his social media accounts.



Trump also hinted that he might slow down on tweeting if he got more fair coverage.

"So when people misrepresent me, because the press is very dishonest, unbelievably dishonest, and when people misrepresent me, ... I have at least a way of saying it's a false statement. Now if the press were honest  which it's not  I would absolutely not use Twitter . I wouldn't have to."


Mia Saini spent five years on camera as a reporter. Consequently, she had access to many different types of skincare products.

"I would bring these products home and I found that my husband, who's very much your 'guy's guy,' was constantly putting his fingers into my eye cream or using up all of my moisturizers," Saini tells CNBC.



"That caused a couple of issues. First, I had to replenish my products faster, and women's products are up to five times as expensive as men's. Second, he would end up smelling like a girl. Third, I realized he wasn't doing himself any favors because men and women have very different types of skin and men need to be using products that are geared towards their type of skin."

After mentioning this dilemma to her girlfriends, Saini started hearing similar stories: Other women's husbands were relying on their wives' expensive creams and cleansers or using chemical-packed products that weren't suitable for their active lifestyles.



One of these friends happened to be Laura Lisowski Cox, who, at the time, was working in marketing at Facebook.
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda believes that the yen is currently at an appropriate level for the county's trading partners, but stopped short of saying that it was at the "right" level to reflect Japan's economic fundamentals.



When asked why President-elect Donald Trump had refrained from singling out Japan in recent months and its exchange rate movements, he said that Japan now had a much smaller trade surplus and highlighted that the yen had depreciated "somewhat" in the last couple of months.



Japan and Kuroda have embarked on a massive monetary stimulus program in recent years, and a falling yen has added to concerns over global "currency wars"  where countries try to purposely devalue their currencies.
People could be traveling from country to country by rockets connected by "spaceports" in the future, the chief executive of Virgin Galactic told CNBC on Wednesday.

Virgin Galactic is the space travel company founded by Richard Branson with the aim of taking satellites into space, as well allowing passengers to take suborbital flights above the Earth for $250,000.

But the company also is developing plans for spacecraft to transport people across the Earth.

"We have, actually, very exciting plans on the horizon in terms of high-speed point to point travel," George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic, revealed in an interview with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"You basically jump in a spaceship and go around the planet."
Speed, flexibility, agility and responsiveness are some of the attributes justifiably associated with start-ups, the fledgling companies that lack a fully mature business model but boast the undeniable advantage of being innovative. And nowadays, innovation is a major focus of big industrial operators. Cesar Miguel, project manager for Total's Plant 4.0 incubator, agrees. "Our big challenge is open innovation. We can't do everything internally. So we're looking to the outside world, because it's chock-full of really great ideas, mostly among start-ups. Clearly, they move faster than we ever will. So the question is: how can we implement their ideas at Total quickly?"

They're particularly interesting ideas as they relate to Plant 4.0, or the shift to digital production.

"In terms of automation, we haven't been forced to rethink our processes across the board, like the automotive industry for example," says Miguel. "But we realize we still have room to improve on efficiency and safety. Not to mention the fact that there are new players who could position themselves in our value chain and chip away at our margins. Those are definitely the stakes."

Total responded in the fall of 2015 by launching a project to research and deploy production pilots on site, signing an agreement with Impulse Labs, a consultancy specializing in speeding up innovation. Thibault Lecerf, a strategy consultant for the firm, recalls that "the specifications were to 'create the plant of the future,' based on the notions of operator augmentation and boosting asset value. Our job was to identify start-ups that focused on those ideas and introduce them to Total."

Impulse Labs quickly sourced 250 start-ups, mainly European and North American, and selected 150 of them. Twenty-four had an opportunity to pitch their ideas between March and June 2016, at three selection committee meetings comprised of Total employees. In the end, six front-line projects were picked to move on to the incubation phase.

 For more on the subject: Total at the forefront of transition
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. >> Musician Roger Tincknell brought his energetic storytelling, teaching experience and musical skills to the local library Monday for an interactive family concert that celebrated the Civil Rights Movement and the countrys cultural diversity.

The Jan. 16 concert was one part of a three part program at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library which focused on a day of service for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Tincknell is a former music teacher who is as accomplished with educating as he is with singing and playing a variety of musical instruments. The performance was billed as a family concert for children two years old and up and drew 120 kids and their parents.

Seeing the youthful energy, Tincknell understood immediately he would have to sneak in the education part in between the musical fun.

The hour-long concert was upbeat and filled with energy and Tincknell made many connections between the stories and songs he was performing, some in English, some not, and their African roots. He also touched on the issue of slavery in the U.S.

Its sad that we have to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and recall that at one time black people were brought to this country as slaves, he said. And its sort of silly today to think that at one time some people were told that they had to sit in a certain spot when others didnt. It sounds silly, but it wasnt silly at all.

As he moved from an African song played on the Achika drum to discussing how the slaves put hidden meanings into the songs they sang, Tincknell drew the kids in with the a snappy tune that made fun of the slave owner.

You take the bread and give me the crust, and you take the corn and give me the husk, you take the meat and give me the skin, and thats how all my mothers troubles begin, Tincknell sang.

To make the a cappella tune fun for the little ones, he demonstrated some intricate hand slapping, hand jive, that went along with the beat.

Why do you think the slave owners took all the drums and other musical instruments away from the slaves, Tincknell asked rhetorically. They did it because the slaves were talking to each across the fields about how to escape through the rhythms they were playing on them.

In addition to his a cappella songs and the opening number on the Achika drum, Tincknell accompanied himself on banjo, guitar, harmonica, and balalaika making sure to discuss where each instrument came from and where its commonly found today.

Holding up his banjo, he showed everyone that it is a combination of a drum and a stringed instrument.

The banjo really became popular about the same time as the railroads so lets sing a railroad song, the most popular one ever written and another song based on an African rhythm, Tincknell said. Im sure all the adults know this from singing it as a kid if you grew up in the U.S.A. and if you didnt, you can learn it right now.

With that he got everyone in the room, children and adults, singing Ive Been Working on the Railroad.

To end the program Tincknell discussed swing music, where partners swing one another, another musical form of fun with African roots. Pulling out his guitar he led the audience in a rousing version of the old gospel song, This Little Light of Mine.

The family concert was one part of our day of service for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, said Melinda Taormina, head of the librarys youth services. Were collecting infant and adult coats today. Its noon and weve already emptied the collection box once. Theyll go to CAPTAIN. There is also a six-panel exhibit on the Underground Railroad thats on loan from New York State Parks.

The exhibit will remain up until the end of February.

One of the families that attended Mondays concert was the Tallman family, Jared and Allison and their two children, Claire, 3, and Nolan, eight months.

We came over because we wanted to celebrate the day and introduce Claire to the Civil Rights Movement, Allison Tallman said. Its a holiday and you always know there is something going on at the library.

Tincknell offers musical programs that range from multicultural folk music journeys and celebrations of Americas songs to interactive childrens songs. This one was a mix of the two.

I have that experience in teaching so when I saw we had a group of very young kids I decided to mix a couple of my programs, keep it fun and do some teaching as I went along, he said. With this age group you have to keep it fun.
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A new state record yellow perch is being verified by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). The fish measured 15 and a half inches in length and weighed 2 pounds, 3 ounces. Trent McCoy caught the fish in Lake Dartmore just north of Crossville on Monday. The previous record, a 2- pound, 2-ounce yellow perch was set by Jackie Kersey at Parksville Lake, Polk County in March of 2010.

Mr. McCoy, a lifelong resident of Cumberland County has been angling since the age of 11, when his father and uncle took him fishing for bass and crappie. He scheduled this trip with a friend, Robert Malito, to a lake hed caught a large yellow perch last year. Mr. McCoys 2016 fish wasnt a record, but was still large enough that he had it mounted.



The friends were fishing in about 35 feet of water when Mr. McCoy thought for an instant that his line had snagged some submerged brush. Then, he felt the hard tug and knew it was a fish. It had latched on to his Charlie Brewer Slider and he slowly reeled in, knowing he only had a 4-pound test line. McCoy didnt know what was on the line as he reeled, but the first fish of the day was a doozy.



Despite the perchs size, Mr. McCoy and Mr. Malito kept fishing. Mr. McCoys wife encouraged him to bring the fish to the TWRA office the following day, where the weight was taken on a certified scale, paperwork was filled out and biologists confirmed the species. When asked why he liked to fish, Mr. McCoy replied, People pay big bucks to find ways to calm themselves. When youre out looking at Gods creation, you feel blessed and it relaxes you.



Travis Scott, TWRA Region III Rivers and Streams manager, took the measurements of the fish and congratulated Mr. McCoy. Although pending until final paperwork verification, it looks like we have a new record. Its fantastic to see anglers enjoying our natural resources. To find out more about angling in Tennessee visit tnwildlife.org.


Types of obituaries

The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries  family obituaries and life stories.

A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries

A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories.
MoDOT prefers flyover ramps at 70 and 63

Following public and stakeholder meetings, MoDOT is moving ahead with its preferred idea of a flyover at the 70/63 connector.
Tickets are still available for the Father Daughter Dance at the Chattanooga Convention Center, Ballrooms E-J, next Friday, Feb. 10. The dance will be from 7-10 p.m., with photos at 6:30 p.m., and is for ages three to 18.



Tickets are $30 per person. Light hors doeuvres and a dessert buffet are included.



There are two ways to purchase tickets:

- call 842-6748 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday to purchase tickets using a credit card or check, (Visa/MC/Amex or Discover with a 2.39% processing fee) and receive your tickets via email.

- come to Chester Frost Park, 2277 N. Gold Point Circle in Hixson, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday to pay cash, credit, or check, but call before coming.

Tickets sales are limited to 500. For more information, contact Maureen Davis at 842-6748 or maureend@hamiltontn.gov.


See Who Made Columbus Monthlys 10 Best Restaurants List

Well post Columbus Monthly's full 10 Best Restaurants feature online later this month. For now, see who made the list.
The public is invited to attend the 40th Anniversary of the Cherokee Valley Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Commons of First United Methodist Church, 3425 Ocoee Street North in Cleveland.This is the annual Beans and Cornbread Supper. Attendees are asked to bring a dish, and their memories of the Cherokee Valley Region."We hope charter members from 1977 can join us, and any former members or visitors," officials said.
Senate Bill 2223 allows early voting up to 21 days before Election Day. The bill was introduced by Senator David Blount. The bill also would allow authorized persons eligible to vote in the State to submit their voter registration applications through secure internet website established by the Secretary of State. This bill provides more access to voting for citizens and it is an important issue to Commons Cause. The bill has been double referred to the Senate Elections Committee and Senate Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency Committee.

You can read the bill by going to the following link: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2017/pdf/SB/2200-2299/SB2223IN.pdf

Please call Lt. Gov. Reeves (601-359-3200), Elections Chairman Sally Doty (601-359-2395), Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency Chairman John Polk (601-359-2395) and your local state senator (601-359-3267) and ask for their support for early voting and SB 2223. You can also call you local senator by calling the Capitol Switchboard (601-359-3770).

House Bill 228 would allow early voting up to 14 days before the Election Day. The bill was introduced by Representative Bill Denny and it has been referred to the House Apportionment and Elections Committee. Early voting would allow more access to voting for citizens and this is an issue that is important to Common Cause. It was referred to the House Apportionment and Elections Committee.

You can read the bill by going to the following link: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2017/pdf/HB/0200-0299/HB0228IN.pdf

House Bill 249 is another early voting bill that was introduced by Representative Alice Clarke. This bill would allow early voting up to 21 days before Election Day. This bill was also referred to the House Apportionment and Elections Committee.

You can read the bill by going to the following link: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2017/pdf/HB/0200-0299/HB0249IN.pdf

Please call House Elections Chair Bill Denny (601-359-3369) and Speaker Philip Gunn (601-359-3300) and ask them to support the early voting bills HB 228 and HB 249. You can also call your local representative by calling the Capitol Switchboard (601-359-3770).

Looming Deadline for Action: HB 228, HB 249 and SB 2223 must be passed by their respective committees by Tuesday, January 31, 2017.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING KEEP STATE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE IT SERVES.
President Barack Obama has commuted the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. soldier who disclosed classified data to WikiLeaks relating to the Iraq War.

Manning was originally serving a 35-year sentence, but on Tuesday Obama reduced it. Shell now be freed on May 17.

Manning was convicted of leaking U.S. military and diplomatic information to WikiLeaks back in 2010 that included videos of airstrikes in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with classified documents sent to the U.S. State Department. She was arrested and began serving jail time the same year.

The data supplied by Manning helped put WikiLeaks on the map as source for secret government information but drew swift condemnation from U.S. officials.

Obama commuted Manning's sentence because he believed she had accepted responsibility and expressed remorse for her crimes, according to White House officials. She had also been behind bars for over six years, comparable to what similar offenders had served, they said.

News of the commutation came days after WikiLeaks tweeted that its founder, Julian Assange, would agree to be extradited to the U.S. if Obama granted Manning clemency. Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London under asylum following an attempt to extradite him to Sweden over alleged sexual offenses.

White House officials said Mannings commutation had nothing to do with Assange, even as U.S. intelligence officials have blamed WikiLeaks for helping Russia to influence last years presidential election.

Its not clear whether WikiLeaks' founder will honor his pledge. On Tuesday, Assange simply thanked supporters of Manning. Your courage and determination made the impossible possible, he said in a tweet through WikiLeaks. Noted leaker Edward Snowden also welcomed the news on Twitter.

Manning's supporters say she's a whistleblower and have campaigned for her release. But others oppose her release. On Tuesday, Republican House leader Paul Ryan called her commutation "outrageous."

"Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets," he said in a statement.
It looks like Edward Snowden will not be served up as an inauguration gift to Donald Trump as a former acting director of the CIA had suggested; instead, Russia is allowing Snowden to stay in the country for a few more years.

Maria Zakharova, director of press at Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said via Facebook that Russia has extended a residence permit to NSA whistleblower Snowden for a couple more years, which is actually until 2020. His attorney pointed out that Snowden has been in Russia since the summer of 2013; after five years of living in Russia without breaking any laws, which would be next year, Snowden could apply for Russian citizenship if he chose to do so.

Zakharovas Facebook remarks were sparked by a post on The Cipher Brief, written by Michael Morell, former acting director of the CIA; in it, Morell suggested, Noon on January 20th provides an excellent opportunity for Russian President Vladimir Putin to give President-Elect Donald Trump the perfect inauguration gift  Edward Snowden.

Morell listed out reasons why the gifting of Snowden would make sense to Putin.

Why would Snowden be such a gift to President-Elect Trump? Multiple reasons. Most important among them, it would allow the soon-to-be President to publicly demonstrate, with reason, that his relationship with Putin and his new approach to Russia are paying dividends. It would similarly allow the President-Elect to show that he, in very short order, could accomplish something that President Obama and the traditional national security establishment could not. Finally, seeing Snowden arrive in the U.S. and placed in handcuffs would go far in healing the wounds that exist between President-Elect Trump and his Intelligence Community. The IC, more than anyone else, wants Snowden brought to justice.

But Putin serving up Snowden on a platter to Trump is not going to happen, according to Zakharova. She responded, The essence of what this CIA man is suggesting is the ideology of betrayal. Youve let it slip, Mr. Morell, that for your agency its quite normal to offer up people as gifts, and to give up those who are seeking protection.

She added a personal dig by saying, she couldnt believe the former deputy head of the CIA doesn't know that Snowden has had the deadline for a residence permit in Russia extended for a couple more years.

Morell called Snowden a traitor, but was willing to allow our judicial system to decide whether Snowden is a hero for bringing to the publics attention a program that indeed posed risks to civil liberties  but actually never violated any  or whether he is a traitor for broadly exposing national security secrets. Lets let the legal system, defined by our Constitution, provide that answer.

Snowdens lawyer called Morells suggestions utter stupidity.

President commutes Chelsea Mannings sentence and pardons James Cartwright

In his last few days in office, President Obama has been busy such as by pardoning the former general who helped bring Stuxnet into the worlds knowledge-base and Chelsea Manning for leaking classified material to WikiLeaks; now, if only the president would pardon Snowden.

1,101,252 people signed a petition for the Pardon Snowden campaign. Yet White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said, Mr. Snowden has not filed paperwork to seek clemency from this administration. As for Snowden, he didnt ask for clemency for himself, but for Chelsea Manning. He tweeted, Mr. President, if you grant only one act of clemency as you exit the White House, please: free Chelsea Manning. You alone can save her life.

Obama did commute the sentence of Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of leaking state secrets to WikiLeaks. Manning will have served seven years of a 35-year military prison sentence before walking out of Fort Leavenworth on May 17.

Wikileaks had said if Manning was granted clemency, then Julian Assange would agree to US extradition since Obamas DoJ had prevented any chance at a fair trial. The White House claimed, The presidents decision to offer commutation was not influenced by public comments by Mr. Assange or the WikiLeaks organization.

President Obama also pardoned James Cartwright, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Cartwright, once dubbed as Obamas favorite general, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about talking to reporters regarding Irans nuclear program and efforts to sabotage it. That led to the publics discovery of Operation Olympic Games and Stuxnet.
Once upon a time, Denver leaders envisioned elevated personal rapid transit and a below-grade subway. While funding never materialized, what can be learned today?

What if, instead of light rail cars clanging alongside downtown traffic, Denver's trains burrowed underground? Or if, instead of trains, Denver had a network of tracks elevated on stilts throughout the city that flung personal pods from neighborhood to neighborhood like a kid's slot car racetrack?

At one point in Denver's history, these were serious alternatives to the transit system we know today. The Regional Transportation Distric t (RTD) and city officials flirted with this Jetsons-esque technology -- a

"You'd just press the button for where you want to go, and you'd have a nonstop trip," says Bill Van Meter, RTD assistant general manager of planning. In the 1990s, Van Meter authored a history of RTD's fits and starts, including PRT, which the agency considered in 1972.

Unlike buses and trains, these pods could carry no more than 20 people at a time. They would have shuttled you directly to one of 40 or so stations, without stopping, along a 98-mile network high above Colorado Boulevard, Colfax Avenue, Sheridan Boulevard, Santa Fe Drive, Hampden Avenue, I-25, U.S. 36 and other corridors. Automated and driverless, many thought the system would have been an alluring technological coup for Denver at the time.

Personal rapid transit promised the freedom of a car with mass transit, but it didn't pan out. Would have. It turns out building a futuristic transit system resembling a really boring roller coaster was expensive. RTD officials estimated the cost at about $1.6 billion in 1972 dollars, a budget that would have also covered a complementary bus system. That's about $9.2 billion today. The city needed help from the feds, and the Urban Mass Transit Administration was willing. After all, Denver was about to host the 1976 Olympics. PRT would've been the perfect way to shuttle

But that didn't happen. Colorado voters

"The demise really was the fact that the region voted down the Olympics," Van Meter said. "UMTA then said, 'Well, no Olympics, no reason for us to fund you guys.'"

That's probably not the worst thing to ever happen. The technology never developed well enough to get beyond fad status. There's a reason public PRT systems barely exist today: It could have easily been a money pit for Denver, says Van Meter. Besides, transit works because it moves a lot of people using a little bit of space. It's as if RTD thought PRT would give Denverites an experience more akin to the automobile -- a chance to somehow meld western independence with mass transit. RTD chose pods over trains because they offered "highly personalized service," a 1973 RTD transportation plan stated.

To this day, Morgantown, West Virginia, is the only American city with a public PRT system, and it's small. "Ours was going to be pretty massive and complex," Van Meter said.

Flirting with a subway

In 1976, city leaders and RTD knew Denver needed a "rapid transit system" -- a transit service on a fixed guideway that was as convenient as driving, if not more, and carried a substantial amount of people. They considered adding a subway as part of a broader, above-ground light rail service, but again would need help from the feds.

A map of Denver's would-be subway system. Planners envisioned a light rail subway throughout the central business district, with the main lines along 16th and California Streets, according to technical drawings from the late 1970s. Trains would have burrowed under West Colfax for a stint and jogged south before coming up for air on the southwestern edge of downtown. A train would have ran under Broadway as well, though it would have gone aerial, along an elevated platform, at around 22nd Street. Portions of either East Colfax or 16th Avenue would have housed a subway station to connect people with the Colorado State Capitol.

Obviously, it didn't happen. Denver was too car-oriented and sprawling to win federal funding over other cities, UMTA decided. "Rail transit was thought to be 'premature' for a region with such high automobile use, low population density, and low transit ridership," Van Meter wrote in his history of RTD.



The feds awarded $650 million to Detroit instead, in "a move many people felt was calculated to bolster the reelection effort of former President Gerald Ford," a 1980

What if?

But imagine if the MallRide shuttled people underground between Union Station and Civic Center Station, or if the light rail didn't have to mingle with cars on California Street downtown. How would Denver be different?

Kathleen Osher, executive director of

"I think that it would have been possible and easy to conceive that that type of infrastructure investment would've said, you know what? No. Denver is a modern city, we're gonna get rid of all this old stuff, and we're thinking only new stuff from now on," Osher says. "I don't know that LoDo would've ever become that walkable place at that point in time."

Transit done well doesn't just move people; it creates walkable communities where people dominate the streets, not cars. Stations usually anchor those places, with compact housing and commercial space creating tight-knit neighborhoods.

The 16th Street MallRide is frequent, but not particularly fast, stopping every block between Civic Center Station and Union Station. A subway would carry more people through downtown, and would be faster, unimpeded by cars and traffic signals. While that may have been good for commuters trying to flood the city in the morning and flee it in the afternoon, it might not have been great for street life on the Mall, says Van Meter.

The MallRide has less capacity than a subway would have and makes the 16th Street Mall less walkable. "In my mind, the 16th Street Mall, just because of the accessibility and visibility it provides, is more supportive of commercial and higher density land use than a subway would've been," Van Meter says. "The vertical circulation of going up and down [to get to the subway], doesn't engender me thinking at lunch time that I want to go to Walgreens and buy something or I want to go part way down the mall for lunch."

But off of the Mall, a subway could have supported more people living and working downtown earlier on, long before the more recent downtown renaissance. The light rail on California Street, for example, is constrained by traffic and can't carry more than four cars worth of people downtown. "Presuming it was actually providing access to and from both city and suburban origins and destinations, I can imagine much higher density land uses being supported because the capacity would've been higher," says Van Meter.

If RTD had built a subway instead of at-grade rail region-wide, there might be a lot more room for walkable, people-first places, says Wesley Marshall, an urban planning and civil engineer professor at University of Colorado Denver . Instead, park-and-rides create craters around most of Denver's rail stations outside of the central business district.

Marshall illustrated his point with Alexandria and Arlington, two Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Back in the '70s, Arlington opted to pay the extra money to put its Metro lines underground, but Alexandria didn't.

"With their bullseye zoning approach, Arlington became the poster child for good transit-oriented development in this country," says Marshall. "On the other hand, Alexandria created a bunch of park-and-rides. Because they weren't dedicating as much land to transportation and parking, Arlington now gets like 70 percent of their tax revenue from 30 percent of their land around those underground stations. I'm guessing that isn't the case in Alexandria because there just isn't room for such development. Moreover, Alexandria has found it to be pretty difficult to change the character of these stations to something resembling a real TOD."

The next chapter

This stuff isn't just fun to imagine. It's relevant today, as Denver looks to once again overhaul its transit system, this time through the

"I don't think it serves us well as a community to have a discussion about specific technologies," she says. "There's a lot of merit for us to talk about the functionality, and really grow out of this mentality that transit . . . is all about commuting. I think it really becomes about that mobility and movement in your life."

While automated vehicles and driverless cars dominate the conversation about the future of transportation, any city planner will tell you that the geometry of cities doesn't allow for each and every person to own her personal vehicle these days. That's especially true in rapidly growing cities like Denver -- a place where many people used to move solely to be close to mountains.

"I always say that the reason I love transit is because we have to get out and experience each other's lives," says Osher. "You have to get out and be part of this city, instead of living in your metal bubble that takes you in and out of the city just for work."



People want "to be part of an urban fabric, and I hear an understanding that this brand that we've built around quality of life feels more tangible here than in other parts of the country," she adds. "And I don't think that we need any specific technology to do that."
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Driver Services division is offering Tennesseans more ways to reinstate their driver license. Citizens have the ability to reinstate online, in-person, or via mail.



Once fees have been paid, court clearance documents, and receipts have been received by the Department of Safety Financial Responsibility division and posted to your driving record, you may go online at www.tn.gov/safety to get your license reissued.



If you are not eligible to be reissued online, you may visit any of the Driver Services Centers across the state. Compliance documents can be faxed to the Tennessee Department of Safety at 615-242-3480, or submitted in person at the reinstatement centers.



Online: The quickest way for reinstatement is offered online. The driver must know his/her Tennessee driver license number, the last four digits of his/her social security number,

and the last name as it appears on the driver license. Also, online reinstatement requires a valid credit/debit card for payment. To check eligibility and pay fees online, go to: https://dl.safety.tn.gov/.



In Person: Tennesseans also have the opportunity to reinstate their license in person by visiting one of the Driver License Reinstatement Centers. Be aware that days and hours of operation of reinstatements vary by location. Before going to a reinstatement center, be sure to check the closure advisories for the latest information. It may be necessary to cease taking applications prior to the closing time listed in order to complete processing by the end of the business day.

To view reinstatement requirements, go online to https://dl.safety.tn.gov/ or contact the Reinstatement Call Center toll-free at 866-903-7357.



Mail: To reinstate by mail, include the drivers full name, date of birth, social security number (if one has been issued), mailing address, and phone number. Additionally, include the Tennessee driver license number and reason for cancellation, suspension, or revocation, if known. Mail to:



Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security

Financial Responsibility

PO Box 945

Nashville, TN 37202



For additional information or to view a complete listing of reinstatement locations, visi http://tn.gov/safety/section/dlmain.
Chris Grayling is MP for Epsom and Ewell, and Secretary of State for Transport.

Theres an old adage that time seems to pass faster as you get older. Its certainly true that election season seems to come round quicker and quicker as the years go by.

This year its County Council, Mayoral and Scottish local government elections. And it would be easy to think they dont matter much when you look at the pitiful state of the opposition. Labour are in a constant state of chaos, making policy on the hoof and u-turning on everything  apart from their refusal to listen to the publics concerns about immigration. The Liberal Democrats have lost their last semblance of being democratic by openly talking about ignoring the referendum result. And UKIP are publically disintegrating.

Meanwhile, this Government is listening to the public and getting on with the job of delivering Brexit. Its an approach that is winning support and respect across the political spectrum.

Local elections matter because councils make decisions on your local roads and housing, on street lights, footpaths and car parking. These things connect people to those in local government who make decisions that affect where your taxes are spent. So life under anything but a Conservative-led council is likely to be a bad thing for working people.

It may be easy not to think so, but this is the moment for us to step up a gear. Its absolutely not a time for complacency. We absolutely cannot move forward on an assumption that we will cruise into another term in Government in 2020, and we cannot possibly take the risk of allowing the Labour Party anywhere near power.

This month, we have seen Labour in its true colours. Asked to condemn strikes on the tube and on the railways, Jeremy Corbyn instead volunteered to join a picket line. In the Commons, not one Labour MP was willing to even question the action of the unions in disrupting the lives of working people.

All they can do is attack the private sector, question the benefits of inward investment and demand a return to the bad old days of failing nationalised industries. Combined with their idea of a return to the days of punitive wealth taxes on people who build successful businesses, their dogma would do immeasurable damage to job creation and to the prospects of people and communities up and down the country.

But Corbyn doesnt need to sweep the board to get into Downing Street. He has a new army of far left supporters of Momentum who will take to the streets in the coming weeks. Their party subscriptions have given him a fresh fighting fund. The eminent political commentator John Curtice wrote recently about how Corbyn could limp to power backed by the LibDems and the SNP. So Tim Farron and Nicola Sturgeon could help JCorbyn to become Prime Minister even if his party doesnt think he can win a majority himself.

Our job is to make sure that cant happen. That means fighting to win every possible seat we can in May. It means working to make sure the Liberal Democrats cant rebuild their grassroots and their local government base. It means taking the battle to the Labour Party in mayoral elections in places like Birmingham, where Andy Street is by far the best candidate for the new role. And it means doing all we can to help Ruth Davidson continue her excellent progress in Scotland and keep the SNP on the back foot.

So when Conservatives hit the pavements in May we do so knowing we have a clear direction and plan to be proud of. We are building a country that works for everyone, with a growing economy, rising education standards and a programme of investment that will equip us for the future.

We have an opposition that is more interested in cosying up to militant union leaders than backing hard working people. But if we assume that Jeremy Corbyn has no route to power we would be making a big mistake. Its one that we cannot, must not and will not make.
Jeremy Corbyn began well. He accused Theresa May of restoring parliamentary democracy while sidelining Parliament, and went on: Its not so much the iron lady as the irony lady.

The phrase is clumsy, but let us give credit where credit is due. He is trying, as the Leader of the Opposition should, to say in a few words where he thinks the Prime Minister is vulnerable.

He provoked a strong response. Last week we compared May to Miss Prism, but this week she was in Lady Bracknell mode. Leaning on the Dispatch Box, and turning her head on one side like an angry buffalo, she set out to gore her opponent: Ive got a plan  he doesnt have a clue.

Corbyn ploughed on gamely, and raised another good point: would she rule out paying any kind of fee for access to the single market?

But he wrapped his question up in a lot of other stuff, and although he remarked that she did not answer it, he let her off the hook by moving on to the NHS.

Lady Bracknell told him how she is going about things, and released another of her put-downs: Its called leadership. He should try it some time.

So Corbyn had not made much progress, but at least he is starting to understand how PMQs works.

The Tory benches were generally supportive of the Prime Ministers speech on Europe: she was praised by Chris Green (Bolton West) and, more strikingly, by Nadine Dorries (Mid Bedfordshire).

But Anna Soubry (Broxtowe) asked if the Prime Minister would consider issuing a White Paper on Europe, and Ken Clarke (Rushcliffe) wondered whether there would be an opportunity for the House to vote on the Governments policies earlier than two years away when the whole negotiation has been completed.

He was heard with a respect which Corbyn is unlikely ever to command. May replied by pointing out that the decision of the Supreme Court, if it goes against the Government, will require legislation, but added with a touch of steel that the whole deal cannot be voted on until it has been negotiated.

She commands the House, and has grown in stature over the last few months, by demonstrating in her deliberate way that she has a grip on the Brexit negotiations.

But in the midst of political life we are in death, and one day  if the Thatcher precedent is anything to go by  her own party will do her in.
From the first moment that Theresa May popped her head over the Conservative leadership parapet  thats to say, in her wide-ranging speech to a ConservativeHome conference four years ago  her appeal has been pitched to what she sometimes calls ordinary, working class people. These are the Just About Managings: those getting by on incomes of perhaps 20,000 a year, who want lower energy bills, homes that they can afford to buy, better schools for their children  and less immigration. Such voters are to be found in large numbers in the Midlands, Yorkshire and Northern marginals that she must hold and win if she is to gain a workable majority in 2020. Last year, they plumped decisively for leave.

The Prime Minister offered enough in her speech yesterday to mollify most Conservative Remain supporters in the Parliamentary Party  for the time being, anyway. Under the terms it envisaged, taxpayers money will still flow to the EU not only for the Brexit divorce bill, but for access to programmes we want to take part in. It isnt hard to see how this could shape-shift into payment for access to the Single Market. Furthermore, she wants implementation of any deal that is reached to be phased in. That reassured the markets as well as those backbenchers and Ministers  although, as Andrew Tyrie suggested in the Commons yesterday, it isnt clear whether discussions on implementation will take place during or after talks on the deal itself.

The question that he asked about that specific has wider implications. There can be no doubt that May wants a deal. She is absolutely right to do so. We explained last week why WTO or MFN status, though possessing some advantages, is inferior to a good deal  and would carry with it a mass of problems which, though not insurmountable, have the potential to cause the Government, voters and business alike serious difficulty. But the stark fact is that she aims to agree such a deal within the two years timetabled for the Article 50 talks  which, in practice, is more likely to be 18 months, since it is hard to see how talks can really get going until after Germanys elections this autumn.

On paper, it would be easy simply to replicate the free trade arrangement which we currently have as Single Market members. In practice, it will be harder to get a good deal  for all the benefits that one would offer, as the Prime Ministers said yesterday, to all concerned. The key obstacle is the affront that her core idea of free trade plus immigration offers to the theology of free movement to which the Commission and others cling. But even were it absent, Britain will not be seeking a deal as, say, a country like America might be. It is looking for one as the first member state to leave the EU since the latters constitution was drawn up. A host of issues arise about how Single Market access and customs arrangements can be maintained. And then, as Tyrie said, there is implementation.

The obstacles to striking any deal at all within this timetable, let alone a good one for Britain, are formidable. There is a good chance that May will end up without one. It would therefore be disastrous for her, as we argued last week, for the outcome if this happens  Britain on MFN  to be framed in advance by her opponents as a calamity for the country. The iron logic that follows is that, as we put it, a good deal would be better than MFN, but MFN would be better than a bad one. No deal is better than a bad deal. The Prime Minister used that very phrase in her speech yesterday. The proposed contents of David Camerons Europe speeches tended to leak in advance, and his approach was essentially tactical. Mays did not  it was briefed, not leaked  and hers is more strategic.

One of the reasons why we supported her in last summers leadership contest was that we believed that her heart wasnt undividedly for Remain, and that she would commit it completely to Brexit given the referendum result. The evidence to date suggests that we were correct. At every turn, she has confounded the expectations of the Remain diehards. First, they said that she would not seek to move Article 50. Then, last October, she said that she would. Then they said that she would not abandon Single Market membership. Yesterday, she confirmed that she will. Then they sought to draw a line in the sand over the Customs Union. Yesterday, she crossed it. Now they are pinning their hopes on Parliament stopping her  or on her backing down during the talks to come.

The evidence before yesterday suggested that this would be a very risky bet indeed, and her speech makes the odds even longer. She did not have to suggest that, if no deal is struck, she will respond by seeking to slash taxes and regulation  and turning Britain into a kind of Singapore-in-the-Atlantic. Nor did she have to make it clear yesterday that she will walk away from any bad deal: one that seeks to present her, if she persists in insisting that Britain must control its EU immigration, with a punitive bill, high tariffs and services obstruction for access to the Single Market and the customs union. She could have sought merely to set out why her negotiating case is a reasonable one. Instead, she pitched her appeal as much to her domestic audience as to those abroad.

Words put to Philip Hammond by a journalist during his recent interview with Welt am Sonntag captured a mood in parts of other EU countries and its institutions. At least in Germany, many people still hope that the Brits might come to their senses and in the end decide not to leave the EU, he said. It could still be that the Prime Minister is presented with a bad deal and takes it. But it is more likely that Germany and Britain are misunderstanding each other, as has sometimes been the case in the past. May has squared her Chancellor. This is not going to happen, he told his interviewer bluntly. She has cowed pro-Remain Tories, at least for the moment. A big slice of business and the City may not like the possibility of MFN, but can now at least get on and prepare for it.

Labour is trapped beneath the rubble of its own contradictions. The most serious obstacle to the Prime Minister walking away from a bad deal would be popular unrest. But any adverse effects of MFN would be felt after she did so, if that happens  not before. If our interlocuters threaten chaos for Britain in the event of her refusing to sign up to a proposal, and her response is to say that she will neither do so  because its bad for the country  nor abandon taking back control of our borders, who are those Just-About-Managings more likely to back? Would Conservative MPs really line up behind leaders abroad rather than their own here? Would Labour  looking nervously over its shoulder at UKIP? And would not such a decision by May leave Nigel Farage and Paul Nuttall with nowhere to go?

The Prime Ministers strategic grasp can be over-egged. She did not want to be where she is now. She is not in command of events: for example, she will not have anticipated the wild card of Donald Trump. She has neither Margaret Thatchers mesmeric presence nor her intellectual consistency. But there is unmissable evidence of similar steel and balls  that she is ready for her own Fontainebleau moment. Politicians are sometimes represented as captains of ships, steering a course through hazardous water. May is more like a surfer riding the waves. She has a force behind her that Thatcher did not: the great wave of the referendum result that, though closely fought, has given her the biggest mandate in history for her negotiation. Nervously but resolutely, she is riding it.
In March of 1933, a twenty-three-year-old Eudora Welty who was a couple of weeks out of college and six weeks in New York at the time wrote a charming letter to the offices of The New Yorker to apply for a job. She starts:

March 15, 1933 Gentlemen, I suppose you'd be more interested in even a sleight-o'-hand trick than you'd be in an application for a position with your magazine, but as usual you can't have the thing you want most.

Then talks a bit about herself:

I am 23 years old, six weeks on the loose in N.Y. However, I was a New Yorker for a whole year in 1930-31 while attending advertising classes in Columbia's School of Business. Actually I am a southerner, from Mississippi, the nation's most backward state. Ramifications include Walter H. Page, who, unluckily for me, is no longer connected with Doubleday-Page, which is no longer Doubleday-Page, even. I have a B.A. ('29) from the University of Wisconsin, where I majored in English without a care in the world. For the last eighteen months I was languishing in my own office in a radio station in Jackson, Miss., writing continuities, dramas, mule feed advertisements, santa claus talks, and life insurance playlets; now I have given that up.

And about what she could do for The New Yorker with enthusiasm:

As to what I might do for you  I have seen an untoward amount of picture galleries and 15 movies lately, and could review them with my old prosperous detachment, I think; in fact, I recently coined a general word for Matisse's pictures after seeing his latest at the Marie Harriman: concubineapple. That shows you how my mind works  quick, and away from the point. I read simply voraciously, and can drum up an opinion afterwards.

Since I have bought an India print, and a large number of phonograph records from a Mr. Nussbaum who picks them up, and a Cezanne Bathers one inch long (that shows you I read e. e. cummings I hope), I am anxious to have an apartment, not to mention a small portable phonograph. How I would like to work for you! A little paragraph each morning  a little paragraph each night, if you can't hire me from daylight to dark, although I would work like a slave. I can also draw like Mr. Thurber, in case he goes off the deep end. I have studied flower painting.

And concludes:

There is no telling where I may apply, if you turn me down; I realize this will not phase you, but consider my other alternative: the U of N.C. offers for $12.00 to let me dance in Vachel Lindsay's Congo. I congo on. I rest my case, repeating that I am a hard worker.



Truly yours,



Eudora Welty

It was a clever letter, but it failed to make an impression. They turned her down.

Welty went on to become a short story writer and novelist and to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1973 for her novel The Optimist's Daughter. She also wrote numerous pieces for The New Yorker, and seven years after receiving the Pulitzer, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedomthe highest civilian award in the United Statesfor her contribution to cultural endeavors.

Her letter is part of What There is to Say We Have Said, which collects the correspondence between Welty and William Maxwell, who was the fiction editor of The New Yorker from 1936-1975. Their correspondence lasted fifty years.

In her book On Writing, Welty says, All serious daring starts from within. She also adds something that many great writers say, Indeed, learning to write may be part of learning to read. For all I know, writing comes out of a superior devotion to reading.

[Eudora Welty autographing books. Photo by Terry James, 1984]
Led by Superior Court Judge Jim Wilbanks, the Conasauga Judicial Circuit celebrated its Parental Accountability Court Kick Off Ceremony in December.

The Conasauga Parental Accountability Court program - which is a joint effort of the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Child Support Services and Judge Wilbanks - was created to strengthen families in our community.

"The program offers an alternative to incarceration and helps chronic non-payers of child support make regular payments by utilizing community resources to address barriers that keep parents from meeting their support obligations, Judge Wilbanks said.

Using this approach, the PAC works to increase child support collections, reduce reliance on public assistance, and avoid incarceration costs.

Many services are offered to PAC participants, including volunteer community service, work opportunities, literacy training, job assistance, mental health services, clinical assessments, substance abuse treatment, and mentoring.

Participants must meet their child support obligations for a minimum of six consecutive months to graduate from the program.

The Whitfield County PAC is funded through a combination of state and federal grants.

According to the Georgia Department of Human Services, statewide PAC programs have helped 2,711 noncustodial parents provide much needed support to 4,780 of Georgias children since 2012.

Further, program participants paid an estimated $2.8 million in child support, which, in return, has saved the State more than $10 million in incarceration costs.

The Georgia Parental Accountability Court program has propelled Georgia from 47th to 26th in Current Support Paid national rankings in only six years and won Most Outstanding Child Support Program in the Nation in 2012.

Attorneys, caseworkers, and citizens should be aware of this innovative court program that has launched in Whitfield County.

For more information, contact Jordana Swanson, PAC coordinator, jordana.swanson@dhs.ga.gov or 706.272-2072.
CORNWALL, Ontario  Francis Carver, 28, Mitchell Johnston, 20, Scott Julien, 28 and Joel Sarault, 18 all of Cornwall were arrested on January 17th, 2017.

It is alleged the four men attempted to gain entry into a Belmont Street address with a bar while three of the males concealed their identity. The males were scared off by a witness and police were contacted to investigate. The males were located a short distance away, taken into custody, charged accordingly and held for a bail hearing.

They are charged with the following:

Joel Sarault

Disguise with intent

Possession of break in instruments

Break and enter with intent

Mitchell Johnston

Disguise with intent

Possession of break in instruments

Break and enter with intent

Scott Julien

Breach of OIC Undertaking for failing to keep the peace

Break and enter with intent

Francis Carver

Breach of Probation for failing to keep the peace

Disguise with intent

Possession of break in instruments

Break and enter with intent
CORNWALL, Ontario  The first Breakfast Connections of 2017 took place at the Ramada Inn on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Breakfast Connections is a monthly lecture series that runs from January to June and from September to December at the Ramada Inn. Local politicians are typically the first in the series every year.

This year saw the Mayors of Cornwall, South Stormont, South and North Glengarry address the audience along with local MPP Jim McDonell and the Grand Cheif of Akwesasne Abraham Benedict.

Mayor of South Dundas Evonne Delegarde was invited to attend but was not able to make it.

Each leader was given five minutes to address the crowd and the presentations were followed by 15 minutes of questions from the audience.

One question made to the panel came from Kelly Bergeron the founder of Code Heroes.

"What kinds of efforts are being made to attract tech companies to the area," she asked.

Mayor Leslie OShaughnessy was the one who fielded that question.

"One way is to make sure that we are welcoming to business," he said. "Weve heard from Jim McDonell this morning that we are losing jobs all the time and that the province is facing high electricity costs. We in Cornwall have one of the lost electrical costs in the province which was attractive to our distribution centres. In cities like Ottawa and Toronto the buzzword is innovation. We are in talks with Carleton University to offer some courses at the NAV Centre here in Cornwall. Its a chicken and the egg problem. These institutions are looking for existing infrastructure. I can say that there is good new and its coming. Its not my thunder so its not for me to say, but its been two-to-three years in the making."
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Two victims were hospitalized after a flesh eating bacteria stripped off their skin. The two patients, male and female, were unrelated and got their condition in Polynesia.

The 57-year-old male patient's skin was stripped from lower back down to his feet by the flesh eating bacteria according to Sky News. The female patient, 46-years-old, is affected from the knees down. Both are residents of Mt Druitt.

Tony Bartone, vice president of the Australian Medical Association, said that flesh eating bacteria or vibrio vulnificus found in necrotizing fasciitis is uncommon in the country. There are only 400 cases reported each year, and victims are "usually people who have pre-disposing immune system problems, or diabetes, or some other condition that puts them at exposure or at risk of developing the condition."

According to the spokeswoman of Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD), the two victims are already in a stable condition. However, if their situation worsens, they will be transferred to Westmead Hospital in Parramatta. She added that there is no risk to public health.

In October last year, a man from Arizona died due to flesh eating bacteria. Michael Funk got sick after cleaning crab pots. A surgeon removed the infected skin from his leg but was later amputated. After four days, Funk died.

Flesh eating bacteria are commonly found in warm, brackish waters with low salinity. It can also be acquired by eating raw or undercooked seafood. A break in the skin, like a cut, scrape, burn, bite or puncture wound, can also be a portal of entry for vibrio vulnificus.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but serious infection, with one out of four people dying from it. The bacteria can be passed to another human through close contact, such as directly touching the wound of a person infected by flesh eating bacteria.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
Kathie Nolan is the daughter-in-law of Paul and Anne Nolan, the founders of Nolan Elementary. She has been the art teacher at Nolan Elementary since it opened in 1999.

Mrs. Nolan has spent countless hours during the summers painting numerous medieval murals throughout the school. She has also created works of art for MEF, an eagle painting on behalf of Nolan Elementary memorializing the Twin Towers' tragedy, as well as art for teachers' instructional needs.

However, Mrs. Nolan's dream has been to have a medieval labyrinth area for Nolan students, to provide an inspirational, reflective, and educational setting for students, educators, and Nolan families.

Two years ago a Junior League grant was approved, providing funding for the medieval labyrinth. Local community friends removed the Bermuda grass this summer, and have completed the first phase of the construction. Mrs. Nolan continues working on the labyrinth, with plans for it to be completed by this spring.

Mrs. Nolan is dedicating her medieval labyrinth in honor of her mother-in-law, Anne Nolan, who passed away recently. There will be a dogwood tree in the labyrinth in honor of Mrs. Anne Nolan.



A life memorial service will be held for Mrs. Anne Nolan at the Signal Mountain Baptist Church on Monday at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions towards Mrs. Anne Nolan's medieval labyrinth can be made to Nolan Elementary, with "Medieval Labyrinth" in the memo line.
Cloud News

Oracle Calls Federal Employment Lawsuit 'Politically Motivated'

Joseph Tsidulko

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Oracle, accused by the U.S. government in the federal court of discriminatory hiring practices, said Wednesday those charges were baseless and motivated by politics.

"The complaint is politically motivated, based on false allegations, and wholly without merit," said Deborah Hellinger, Oracle's vice president of corporate communications, in a prepared statement.

The Labor Department's administrative lawsuit alleges the Redwood City, Calif.-based technology giant, a large supplier of technology to federal agencies, pays white men more than their counterparts and favors hiring Asian applicants for technical positions at the company.

[Related: Oracle Illuminates Plan To Compete In Public Cloud With New Data Centers, Bare Metal Servers]

The lawsuit threatens federal contracts for Oracle and its partners. The company launched its business decades ago by supplying database software to national security agencies and its continued role as a federal contractor makes it subject to government oversight of its hiring practices.

The Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs began looking at Oracle's employment practices in 2014, a time when Silicon Valley's lack of diversity began to receive more outside scrutiny.

Oracle's representative didn't elaborate on their claim that politics motivated the legal action.

"Oracle values diversity and inclusion and is a responsible, equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Our hiring and pay decisions are non-discriminatory and made based on legitimate business factors including experience and merit," Hellinger said.

The lawsuit alleges that Oracle paid white men more than women, African-American and Asian employees. At the same time, Asian job applicants were more likely to receive positions in product development and engineering positions.

Oracle didn't cooperate with the inquiry that spurred the Labor Department's lawsuit, withholding pay and hiring data requested by the investigatory body.
The Forecast Is In

The telecommunications market was jam-packed in 2016 with a flurry of mergers and acquisitions, data center sales, and a bevy of new service offerings. Carriers busied themselves by adding new, strategic services to their legacy connectivity portfolios in an effort to stay fresh, while other providers scooped up fellow carriers to better compete in the crowded market.

Telecom carriers are working hard to shake off their 'plain old telephone company' reputations, and this year is already shaping up to match the intensity of 2016. Here are our 10 telco predictions for 2017.
For years local Chattanooga law enforcement departments have benefited from specialized Crisis Intervention Team training. This training provides guidance and direction to police officials in methods, strategies and techniques in interacting with marginalized populations, including: people with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The program has been successful and has resulted in improved outcomes for both the police officers and individuals with disabilities, said officials.

The need for a similar training curriculum for first responders has been both recognized and instituted. Thanks to Captain Skyler Phillips of the Chattanooga Fire Department this training program is now a reality. Captain Phillips is both a firefighter and a paramedic; in addition, he is the father of a son with autism. It is because of this unique perspective that Captain Phillips created a curriculum that addresses some of the needed insights, knowledge, and best practices first responders should be equipped with in encountering citizens with special needs.

The Special Needs Awareness Program incorporates insights about cognitive, sensory, behavioral, physical, medical, and communication challenges that often exist in emergent situations involving individuals with special needs.

Orange Grove Center's Director of the Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center Dr. Rick Rader has been tapped to be SNAP's special consultant in helping to contribute to the content of the course. Part of the program includes familiarization visits to group homes. This will allow first responders to get a better understanding of the layout of group homes and to better prepare them for the eventuality of being called to assist with a variety of emergencies.

The first installment of the SNAP training was conducted in Chattanooga on Jan. 9 and the reception from the attending of fire fighters was incredibly reaffirming, said officials.
Celebrity Cruises has appointed a new dedicated head of sales and marketing for the Asia region.

Apple Woo, a hospitality industry professional, joins the Singapore-based Asia team of Celebrity Cruises with immediate effect, according to a prepared statement.

Woo will report to Jo Rzymowska, Celebrity's recently appointed vice president and managing director, Asia.

Rzymowska added responsibility for Asia to her UK and Ireland remit for the global business at the end of 2016, and has overseen the cruise lines second largest market for over ten years.

Rzymowska is responsible for Celebrity Cruises operations in China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. She leads the Singapore-based five-strong team including the new head of sales and marketing.

Celebrity Cruises is a modern luxury brand that offers exceptional experiences for those prepared to pay more for the finer things in life. We have seen success in marketing to affluent travellers throughout Asia, and the appointment of Apple Woo underlines our commitment to further increase our investment and activities. Sailing to all seven continents alongside our diverse guests from around the world is an appealing holiday choice for our target guests. I look forward to working with Ms Woo during this exciting time of growth for Celebrity Cruises," said Rzymowska.
MSC Cruises broke ground earlier this week on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the line's new private island destination.

Located south of Bimini in The Bahamas, the island is set to become a "natural paradise exclusive" to MSC Cruises guests as of November 2018.

The Right Honourable Perry Gladstone Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas joined Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman, at the official Groundbreaking Ceremony along with other Bahamian ministers and government officials.

The development of the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is part of MSC Cruises 9 billion investment plan, according to a statement, which includes the building of up to 11 next-generation smart ships coming into service between 2017 and 2026.

Speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony, Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, commented: Working in partnership with the Government of The Bahamas, our aim is to turn an industrial wasteland into a thriving environment for man and nature alike, bringing the island and its surrounding waters back to their original state. In so doing, we will substantially grow our Groups already strong investment in the Bahamian economy, offering long-term employment opportunities to the local population.

Bearing testament to our ability to innovate, a purpose-built berth and pier will allow our cruise ships to dock directly at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Thus the island will de facto become an extension of the ship.

Gianluca Suprani, Head of Global Port Development and Shore Side Activities at MSC Cruises, added: Located merely 65 miles east of Miami, Florida, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve has 11,400 feet of beautiful coastline and crystal blue waters teaming with unique marine life. The island has some of the finest aragonite sands in the world and once the work is completed, its surrounding waters will be home again to beautiful corals and rich aquatic life. It will become a truly exclusive destination for MSC Cruises guests to experience the best the Caribbean has to offer.

A comprehensive landscaping plan will see more than 80 indigenous Caribbean trees, grasses, flowers and shrubs, planted on the island, returning to their lush natural habitat.
The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and The Maclellan Foundation joined forces to launch a portal to connect people in Chattanooga who have specific needs with other people in the community who can help meet the needs. This centralized portal, Purposity Chattanooga, will give anyone and everyone an opportunity to learn about and respond to a neighbor in need. These needs could range from winter coats and backpacks to toiletry items and space heaters. Local needs will be published and disseminated weekly by text message through the Purposity Chattanooga portal.As a city, this is what we do best: create a network of support and care and generosity, said Maeghan Jones, president of the Community Foundation.But sometimes we dont know the challenges that people face, even though they live just down the street. So we are creating a safe, secure, and reliable way for anyone to respond to the specific needs of our neighbors. Its about Chattanoogans helping Chattanoogans, in moments of need, large and small.With more than 20,000 Hamilton County public school students living below the poverty line, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and The Maclellan Foundation will begin with needs vetted by Hamilton County Department of Education school guidance counselors and will expand later this year to help meet the needs of Chattanoogas homeless and economically disadvantaged neighbors.I am excited about the possibility of helping more Hamilton County students, said Marsha Drake, director of Student Services at the Hamilton County Department of Education. The fact that anyone can be a philanthropist through Purposity Chattanooga is amazing. A lot of times people in the community want to help our schools and schoolchildren, but they dont know how. Pairing Hamilton County residents with the needs of Hamilton County Department of Educations students in such a simple and straightforward way is a huge win for our students and their families.Chattanoogans who are interested in receiving weekly text messages through Purposity Chattanooga can sign up for free in less than two minutes. To date, more than 150 residents have signed up and officials hope to have 500 residents sign up by Feb. 15.We are so very fortunate to live in such a caring and generous community, said Chris Maclellan, chairman of The Maclellan Foundation. We believe that this new philanthropic portal, Purposity Chattanooga, will inspire and encourage us to collectively serve our neighbors in need. Our gifts will find purpose through generosity and have the ability to transform families and communities.Purposity was first launched in Atlanta in Spring 2016 and since has helped to meet the needs of more than 600 students. Chattanooga is now the second city to host this portal, which will be powered by the Community Foundation and The Maclellan Foundation. After signing up, users will get one text a week, presenting the needs of neighbors residing in the Scenic City. To learn more or to sign up, visit www.purposity.com
The Port of Saint John will open its 29th cruise season on April 27 with Holland America Lines Veendam, with what the port said was an early start in a prepared statement.

The port is expecting 66 ships total, and about 144,000 passengers, it said.

Our 2017 cruise season is similar to 2016 in terms of ships and visitors says Jim Quinn, president and CEO of Port Saint John. This shows a stabilization of our cruise traffic and is great news for Southern New Brunswick and its many tourism-related businesses. We are also looking forward to an even better 2018

Highlights include 12 double-call days, four triple-call days and a single maiden call from the Vision of the Seas.
When thinking about topics to cover for those who are new to security, opportunities abound. New threats emerge every day, along with new technologies to help combat those threats. Everyone is itching to know what they need to do to defend the crown jewels, which in itself is a new concept in cybersecurity.

Even though there is nothing 'new' about encryption--it remains a vital tool in terms of securing communication, there will be new developments as the threat landscape continues to evolve.

In the exchange of information, whether via email, websites, or smart phones, encryption is used all the time, well, almost all the time.

What will change with encryption is a rise in the awareness of its use. Everyone, from the lay person to the security practitioner, will likely come to understand the critical need for encryption in 2017 and the years to come.

Jacob Ginsberg, senior director at Echoworx, said, "The use of encryption is going to go up. People are becoming more aware of the steps they have to take, and use is going to rise not just because of awareness and threat landscape but because of tech's focus on usability."

Targeted ransomware attacks have a vast majority of businesses on alert as they realize that being a victim of cybercrime is a much stronger reality. "I think last year, the past two post-Snowden years were more about encryption awareness. Now awareness and conversation will turn into action. The huge attacks are no longer isolated events but part of the tapestry now," Ginsberg said.

Likening surfing the web to crossing the street at a traffic light, Ginsberg said that there will be action across the board. "Now there is either liability or responsibility to use encryption, but you can't count on tech providers to do it for you. Even if you have a walk signal, you still look both ways before crossing the street."

Encryption covers a lot from shopping behavior to identity recognition. "Everyone needs to remember that everything you email in the clear is basically a post card. Most anyone can read it if they wanted to. Companies are still conducting business sending emails in the clear, and people are revealing private information," said Ginsberg.

It ought to be unacceptable that someone can book a flight somewhere and then receive an email in the clear telling the whole world where that person is going and when. Ginsberg said, "As a stance, for a company, that should be unacceptable. Companies, individuals, journalists, charities, they have to take advantage of these tools and protect themselves."

However, protection is not solely about purchasing tools. "As with anything, it's about implementation and education and not just purchasing or having a tool set," Ginsberg said.

In that way, the use of encryption will grow as more companies become good stewards and let users know--in a not so direct way--that an email is not sent securely. "Enterprises have to make use of these tools," said Ginsberg. "It's such a complicated tapestry that really transcends home life and work/life boundaries. Where do things begin and end?"

An example of that not so direct way of letting users know that an email is sent in the clear is a little red, open lock. Unlike the green lock that many look for with https, which confirms that the site is secure, the open red lock let's you know that the exchange of information is not encrypted.

Ironically, the first time I had seen the open red lock was just before my call with Ginsberg. It was an exchange I was having with the legal department of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Rather alarming.

"Gone are the days of the old 'it's not my problem' mentality. When it comes to internet security, everyone needs to take more responsibility for someone else's cyber education," Ginsberg said.
Theres good news for security pros worried that their organizations may be liable if their employees personal information gets hacked: a panel of judges in Pennsylvania says workers cant collect damages from their employer if things like Social Security numbers, bank account information, birth dates, addresses and salaries are compromised in a data breach.

Even though the stolen data was used to file phony tax returns in order to get the refunds, the workers at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) had no reasonable expectation that the data would be safe, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania ruled recently.

The case, known as in Dittman v. UPMC, pertains solely to employee records, not customer records, and not patient records, which are protected by HIPAA.

Thats in Pennsylvania where laws dont specifically deal with the obligations businesses have to protect employee data. And thats just for now, because lawmakers are still struggling to write laws that apply to electronic data. The law may catch up, but for now courts are applying existing legal standards that in many cases predate the existence of digital records, and thats not unique to Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, the courts and parties that feel they have been wronged are left to draw on laws and previous cases that are totally unrelated to cybercrime.

For example, the workers in the Pennsylvania case turned over their personal information as a condition of employment, not for safekeeping, according to the court decision. Using reasoning employed in a case brought by account holders against their bank, the judges decided the safety of the information wasnt guaranteed.

Referencing another old case, the court said UPMC isnt obliged to pay up if the stolen data resulted in purely economic losses but not damages to health, safety or property. That ruling drew on a decision where workers at a tire store sued for lost wages when the business shut down for a week when the property was flooded.

The most stringent test the court used came from another, far-afield case that involved whether parents who were sexually abusing their own daughter had the right to sue the girls psychologist, who turned them in. Applying reasoning used to reach a decision in that case, the court came up with some sweeping conclusions about responsibility in data-breach cases.

The court said that the law shouldnt require employers to take on the cost of boosting the security of employee data because they cant possibly thwart all hacking attempts. We find it unnecessary to require employers to incur potentially significant costs to increase security measures when there is no true way to prevent data breaches altogether, the decisions says.

The ruling further says that the benefits of storing this type of data electronically outweighs the downside that the data might be compromised. While a data breach (and its ensuing harm) is generally foreseeable, we do not believe that this possibility outweighs the social utility of electronically storing employee information, the ruling says. Although breaches of electronically stored data are a potential risk, this generalized risk does not outweigh the social utility of maintaining electronically stored information.

The two judges who wrote the main decision in the case also filed a supplemental, concurring opinion to further explain the situation. They write that the medical center knew of no specific threats that they ignored, so they dont owe the employees anything. Had UPMC been on notice of actual or potential security breaches of its systems, or reasonably should have anticipated that the negligent handling of confidential information would have left it vulnerable to criminal activity, a different conclusion may have been reached

Until laws more directly address who is liable for what in data breach cases, courts should rule conservatively and wait for legislatures to lead the way. [I]n this constantly developing area of law and technology we must proceed to establish precedent slowly and with caution, the judges wrote.

This story, "Think employers must protect workers personal info? Think again" was originally published by Network World .
WikiLeaks said that its founder Julian Assange is confident of winning 'any fair trial' in the U.S. and indicated that the founder of the whistleblowing website would stand by all the promises he had made in return for clemency to Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. soldier who disclosed classified data relating to the Iraq War to the site.

On Tuesday, Mannings prison sentence was commuted by U.S. President Barack Obama raising questions whether Assange would keep his part of a deal he proposed online, and agree to extradition to the U.S.

WikiLeaks has recently also been a thorn in the side of the Democrats in the U.S. by releasing embarrassing emails leaked from the Democratic National Committee that showed that the organization had favored candidate Hillary Clinton over her rival Senator Bernie Sanders for the party nomination for the presidential elections. It also published mails from the account of John Podesta, chairman of Clinton's campaign.

U.S. government officials including from the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have pointed a finger to Russia for orchestrating the leaks, though WikiLeaks has said it does not collaborate with states in the publication of documents.

Last week, WikiLeaks had tweeted that if Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case. On Tuesday, WikiLeaks tweeted that Assange was confident of winning any fair trial in the US. Obama's DoJ prevented public interest defense & fair jury, it added. The new administration of President-elect Donald Trump takes charge on Friday.

WikiLeaks also quoted Assanges counsel Melinda Taylor as saying that Assange is standing by everything that he has said on the Assange-Manning extradition 'deal'.

Assange is holed in the embassy in London of the government of Ecuador as U.K. police say they will arrest him if he comes out, to meet an extradition request from Sweden where he is wanted for questioning in a sexual assault investigation. His supporters have expressed concern that if he he is sent to Sweden he could be extradited from there to the U.S. to face espionage charges.

A wrinkle is that WikiLeaks claims it does not know of an extradition request sent by the U.S. In a tweet on Tuesday, Taylor wrote that US authories consistently affirmed is ongoing national security prosecution against him, but refused 2 affirm/deny sent extradition request. She added that the U.K. also refuses "to affirm or deny that they have received an extradition request -not the same thing as there being no extradition request." Government officials in both countries could not be immediately reached for comment after business hours.

In a letter to Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. Attorney General, Assange's lawyer in the U.S., Barry J. Pollack, wrote in August that although the Department of Justice had publicly confirmed through court documents and statements to the press that it was conducting an on-going criminal investigation of Assange, the department did not provide him substantive information on the status of the investigation. The letter was published online by WikiLeaks.

The pending investigation into Assange, mentions of which are said to have been made in court documents in the Manning case, is plainly based on his news gathering and reporting activities, Pollack wrote. Its intention was not to aid U.S. enemies or obstruct justice but to inform people about matters of great public interest, he added.

In a statement on Obama's decision to commute Manning's sentence, Assange said that "in order for democracy and the rule of law to thrive, the Government should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers" such as WikiLeaks and himself. The statement did not refer to his promise to face extradition to the U.S.

"Mr. Assange should not be the target of any criminal investigation. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss with the DOJ the status of its investigation, any request it wants to make for extradition, and its basis for such a request," Pollack wrote in an email late Tuesday.
According to a new publication from CTA, adopting an innovation systems approach to agricultural and rural development can support inclusive development. Smallholder famers will benefit if the right policies and institutional mechanisms are in place.

In this approach, learning takes centre stage. Farmers and other agri-entrepreneurs are actively involved in the generation of knowledge and technologies. They are also part of the decision-making processes for overcoming challenges as well as creating and taking advantage of knowledge, technologies and opportunities.

A new CTA publication Innovation Systems: Towards effective strategies in support of smallholder farmers jointly produced with Wageningen University and Research / Convergence of Sciences: Strengthening Innovation Systems (WUR/CoS-SIS) details the latest knowledge on and lessons learned in applying the innovation systems (IS) approach to agricultural and rural development (ARD) in developing countries.

So what does this mean?

Innovation systems approaches move thinking about smallholder development away from yields per hectare and technology adoption, to a level where farmers, other entrepreneurs and organisations (including universities, research institutes and government agencies) interact to create and improve institutional frameworks for innovation. [1]

The publication charts the way forward for improving policy and practice in support of agricultural-led economic growth fuelled by smallholder farmers in developing countries. The concept has found great relevance for defining policies and programmes for strengthening agricultural innovation systems and facilitating adoption at the farm and agri-food firm level in OECD countries. However, applying it to ARD is more challenging, especially in the context of smallholder farming systems.

Divided into 18 chapters, the book is a rich collection of theoretical underpinnings, expert opinions, case studies, reflections and lessons learned on applying the IS concept in real life situations. It builds on a 2013 CTA-WUR/CoS-SIS expert consultation that brought together international experts, many of whom are contributing authors.

Programmes such as those featured in this volume need to be institutionalised in the farmer population and transferred from generation to generation. Professor Merle Jacob of Lund University, Sweden and UNESCO Chair in Research Management and Innovation Systems

This collection of papers engages with a variety of issues arising from organising and improving innovation in agriculture, notes Professor Merle Jacob of Lund University, Sweden and UNESCO Chair in Research Management and Innovation Systems, one of the reviewers. Whilst supporting the need to embed the approach in development policies and programmes, Professor Osuma-Mugabe, also a proponent of the IS approach and the other reviewer, recommends vigilance to avoid it being invoked or used to justify projects that exclude and disfranchise poor farmers to the advantage of powerful agencies and individuals.

Inclusive development

A key focus of the book is on inclusive development. Professor Lynn Mytelka, who has collaborated with CTA since 2003, when the Centre embarked on its capacity building programme on analysing and strengthening the agricultural science, technology and innovation (ASTI) system, is a strong advocate of inclusive development. Mytelka recommends adopting a long-term, multi-goal perspective for meeting todays challenges. A different management and ownership model and a long-term view of development should guide policy-making. If not carefully managed, as science and technologies advance in response to emerging problems and to market opportunities, the new and improved knowledge and technologies may be priced out of the reach of smallholder farmers.

Successful adoption of the IS approach

The IS approach will benefit millions of smallholder farmers, thereby increasing their contribution to agricultural innovation and socio-economic development, but only if we believe, listen to farmers, adopt a system-wide approach and continuously monitor progress. Judith A. Francis, CTA Senior programme coordinator for science and technology policy

The book showcases several experiences drawn from Africa, Asia and Latin America where the approach has been adopted in research, education and development programmes. The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD), the WUR/CoS-SIS and CTA's ASTI have very effectively implemented the approach. This has resulted in policy and institutional change and the development of new/improved capacities, technologies and market linkages, with the active involvement of key stakeholders. Innovation platforms have played a major role as farmers have become more confident in directing and implementing programmes that benefit them.

As Fulvia Farinelli, economic officer at UNCTAD points out in her chapter, the Chilean and Argentinian wine industries have become increasingly competitive with industry world leaders as the national IS have grown stronger. Developing countries will continue to face difficulties to penetrate international markets if governments do not implement learning and innovation policies, promote public-private partnerships and develop local capability. According to Biggs and Justice, Bangladesh and Nepal have made quantum leaps in agricultural productions due to wide-spread small-scale mechanisation. If the goal of sustainable intensification is to be achieved there is need to apply the IS concept to understand the rural and policy context and minimise any bias for large-scale equipment. The Research Into Use (RIU) programme sponsored by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) also managed to shift the focus of attention away from research and the generation of new knowledge to the ways in which an existing stock of knowledge could be put to productive use.

"We hope that this publication will lead to transformative change in agricultural policies, research, extension and development programmes," said CTA's Judith Francis, the coordinating lead editor.

Francis and Van Huis also acknowledge that applying the approach as a policy instrument requires the development of IS capacity and complementary supportive research; and evaluation of options (e.g. innovation triggers such as incentives). In 2016, the Tropical Agricultural Platform of the G20 released the Common Framework for Capacity Development on Agricultural Innovation Systems.

Follow @CTAflash on Twitter for regular updatesFollow CTA on Facebook
Donald Trump isnt the only one girding for protests this week in Washington.

So are thousands of Connecticut activists bound for Saturdays womens march in the nations capital, which organizers are warning on social media could be disrupted by pro-life and alt-right operatives.

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., she he hopes her constituents will be able to exercise their First Amendment rights without interference, but wouldnt put it past counter-protesters trying to undermine the march.

We are living in such strange times, said Esty, who plans to join the march. Certainly, I hope this is in the best tradition of the march on Washington with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King.

A number of pro-life groups have vowed to infiltrate the anti-Trump gathering, which organizers say is aimed at raising awareness for reproductive rights, immigration reform, equal pay, universal health care and gun control.

I dont even know what there is to infiltrate, said Karen Giannuzzi, a local organizer from Greenwich. To spy on what? All were doing is marching. Its more of a unity rally.

Joe Visconti, a former gubernatorial candidate and grassroots Trump volunteer, said he was not aware of any attempts to subvert the march. He said he wishes he could say the same about Trumps inaugural, which he plans to attend Friday outside the U.S. Capitol.

So theres a lot of that fear right now, especially from women from Connecticut that support Trump, said Visconti, a West Hartford resident. Theyre just afraid that theyre could be trouble. Theres a lot of anxiety.

Connecticut is sending 80 buses to D.C. for the march, which could draw up to 1 million people. On Twitter and Facebook, organizers warned this week that conservative media groups such as James OKeefes Project Veritas could be looking to conduct interviews with unsuspecting marchers for undercover videos.

The groups previous targets have included Planned Parenthood, which is a partner in the march, and ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). A request for comment was left Tuesday for Project Veritas.

I think we are living in a particular moment in time in which there is a flood of media and information, not all of it correct, not all of it even well-intentioned, some of it intentioned to deceive, if not mislead, said Esty, who represents the north and west part of the state.

Esty is scheduled to host a constituent reception after the march with the other four House members from Connecticut, who are all Democrats. Nothing similar is planned for inaugural visitors, according to Esty, who said access to the Capitol and congressional office buildings would be on a virtual lockdown for Trumps swearing-in.

Nina Sherwood, who organized a Trump protest Sunday in Stamford and was a Bernie Sanders delegate to last summers Democratic National Convention, said dissent is healthy. When Trumps backers showed up to her protest, she said, she engaged them in a friendly discussion on the direction of the country and their affinity for outsiders.

I guess you know you know you made it when you throw a protest and theres a counter-protest, said Sherwood, who is also marching. I welcome them and I think all Democrats should welcome them.

Audrey Blondin, a Democratic State Central Committee member, is taking one of two buses from New Haven organized by the National Organization for Women.

I am concerned, definitely, said Blondin, of Litchfield, who is being accompanied by her husband. My best protection is my husband. No ones going to mess with him.

By going with a national organization like NOW, she said, there is more vetting of who is on the bus and what to expect. But if things do get dicey, she said, she has an exit plan.

Worst case scenario, were going to hop on the train and get out of there, Blondin said. Im just hoping people will be sensible.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
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BRIDGEPORT  Mayor Joe Ganim may think attending Donald Trumps presidential inauguration Friday in Washington will score points with his former business partner turned leader of the free world.

Trump tried to build a casino in town in the early 1990s, during Ganims first administration.

Back home, however, in a diverse city whose voters embraced white Democrat Ganim, but soundly rejected white Republican Trump, the mayors trip and resulting publicity is causing division.

I think he has turned his ear and back on the people that elected him, state Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, said to the City Council at that groups regular meeting Tuesday night. I am 100 percent against this.

When he goes, I will not forget it, said Moore, who is black. And I will not let our community forget it.

Moore had hoped Ganim would, as usual, preside over the council meeting so she could address him face-to-face. But he was already in the nations capital to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Moore also criticized the media interviews the mayor has given about his decision to witness Trumps ascendance, particularly comments televised Monday on Fox 61 news.

Its almost to the point where hes flaunting that hes going, Moore said.

Asked last week by Hearst Connecticut Media how he would respond to the inevitable criticism of his trip, Ganim said: Get over it and lets get on with governing. Theres a lot that needs to get done over the next four years and youre not going to change the results. I think theres a lot that can be done working with this president.

And a Ganim spokesman noted the mayor would be participating in conference events calling on Trump to abandon some of his more controversial immigration proposals and his repeal of outgoing Democratic President Barack Obamas health care law.

Ganim heavily courted African-American and Hispanic voters during his 2015 comeback campaign. He appealed in particular to those who have had run-ins with the law or know someone who has.

Trumps presidential campaign, in contrast, targeted white voters. He has made inflammatory comments about minorities and women, and questioned Obamas citizenship. Trumps presidential bid was also supported by white nationalists.

Ultimately, Trump lost Bridgeport to Democrat Hillary Clinton, the first woman nominated for president by a major party, 6,596 votes to Clintons 32,035 votes.

Regardless, Ganim said he, along with Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa, some staff and family, would be in the audience for Trumps swearing-in. Tickets were available through the congressional delegation.

Ganim said he hoped to work with the new president on funding infrastructure projects in Bridgeport and on turning around the citys troubled public housing developments. He said he saw no point in protesting a decided election.

The mayor noted he would already be in Washington for the winter meeting of the Conference of Mayors.

But other big city Connecticut mayors, Democrats and at least one Republican  Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton  planned to head home when that event wraps up Thursday.

Look, I certainly have more of an understanding and residual of somewhat of a relationship with President-elect Trump, Ganim said last week. Im not as distant as they (other Connecticut mayors) are and Im hoping some of that residual relationship will benefit the city. ... Am I going to agree with every issue? Absolutely not. Should some of the extremism be tapered back on both sides? Absolutely.

Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy will also be in the audience Friday. But Malloy has presented his presence as more an act of open defiance against Trump, while Ganim has sought to downplay fears about the president-elect.

In an earlier interview with Hearst shortly after Trumps victory, Ganim insisted Trump never displayed an element of racism during their business dealings and socializing.

City Councilwoman Rev. Mary McBride Lee, an African-American community leader, said in November that Ganim was a little off in the head for his positive comments about Trump. But McBride Lee declined to join with Moore in criticizing the mayors Washington trip.

I just feel everybodys entitled to their own opinion, McBride Lee said.

McBride Lee said she will be in Washington Saturday attending the womens march protesting Trump.
BRIDGEPORT  Sacred Heart University officials have turned over the school records of a former student who claims she was raped last year after attending college night at a local bar, but the university plans to appeal the judges demand for those documents.

Although Superior Court Judge Robin Pavia earlier stated she would consider sanctions against university officials, she instead gave them time to file an appeal with the state Supreme Court.

The universitys lawyer, John Pitblado, has maintained it would be a violation of federal privacy laws for the school to turn over the records.

Our concern was for student privacy and our obligation to comply with federal law, said university spokeswoman Deborah Noack. We disagree with the judge in this case over the interpretation of the law, and have appealed the legal issues to the appellate court.

Alfonso Reid, 39, is facing a six-member Superior Court jury, and is charged with first-degree sexual assault and first-degree unlawful restraint. He is accused of raping the 19-year-old Sacred Heart University student last year on March 30, after culling her from a crowd of students at the Golden Star Cafe on Main Street in Bridgeport.

More News Student testifies about alleged rape

Last week, at the request of Reids lawyer, Assistant Public Defender James Pastore, Pavia ordered university officials to turn over the young womans school records. The judge has not decided whether the defense lawyer will be able to use them in his clients defense.

The young woman is no longer a student at Sacred Heart, and she and her parents said they authorized the university to turn over the records. But Pitblado refused. The state Appellate Court subsequently turned down an emergency appeal of Pavias order.

In the meantime, the womans family turned over the records they had received from the university, allowing the trial to continue.

On Tuesday morning, Pitblado erroneously claimed the appeals court stayed Pavias order to turn over the records. He then claimed the womans family had been pressured by Pastore to turn over the documents.

Thats what I was told by a Sacred Heart representative, Pitblado told the judge.

But the young womans father told the judge he had no contact with the defense until after they had turned over the documents.

I put pressure on Sacred Heart to release the documents because we wanted to make sure the trial got off, the father said.

Later Tuesday, facing possible sanctions, Pitblado returned to the court with the documents in a sealed envelope and university administrator Jeff Barrett by his side.

Barrett told the judge he spoke to someone at the state Department of Education and was told there was no rush to turn over the documents if there is no imminent danger to the university.

You mean you are putting more importance on the universitys interests than a students? the judge asked. I have very grave concerns with the way Sacred Heart is interpreting the law.

Pitblado then turned over the documents, with the caveat that the school intends to appeal the

judges order.
Makers Of Ferris Fest Are Now Creating A Massive John Hughes Fest

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 18, 2017 3:00PM



'Pretty In Pink' is just one of the movies to be celebrated at The Shermer Club: A John Hughes Fest this summer

Ferris Fest, last year's tribute to the 30th anniversary of the release of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, was both novel and popular. And now the people that brought you Ferris Fest are at it again, this time with The Shermer Club: A John Hughes Fest, taking place June 22 to 25 in Lake Forest.

The three day celebration of all things Hughes will feature screenings of six of his films: Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, Some Kind Of Wonderful, Weird Science and, of course, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The fest also includes a number of guest appearances by actors with connections to the Illinois filmmaker are also scheduled to appear in a number of Q and As, as well as opportunities to interact with props from the movies, and a "live recreation" of the wedding sequence from Sixteen Candles.

We asked David Blanchard, the event's organizer, what sparked the idea in the first place.

"A few years back I asked myself, what with all the movies, TV, music, and pop culture happenings being celebrated with events around the globe, why has there never been a major event focusing on and celebrating John Hughes' beloved 1980's teen films?" Blanchard told us. "So coming away from the huge viral success of Ferris Fest, I decided that we should follow that up with a full-on tribute to the Chicago writer/director."

The Hughes fest appears to be a labor of love more than anything else. Blanchard told us, "Pulling an event like this together is done with a lot of passion and determination. I've been a big John Hughes fan since the 1980s when his first movies were released. And with the help of a great number of people who are volunteering their time to make this happen, as well as the support of excited fans attending, The Shermer Club: A John Hughes Fest will become the fruition of that pure love for Hughes' film work."

A list of "special guests" scheduled to appear with Hughes connections thus far includes Andrew McCarthy (Pretty In Pink), Lea Thompson (Some Kind Of Wonderful), Ilan Mitchell-Smith (Weird Science), and Howard Deutch (director of Pretty in Pink and Some Kind Of Wonderful). Blanchard told us that these guests "all expressed great interest in how we'll be focusing on these John Hughes films, which people around the globe hold near and dear in their hearts. They very much appreciate that unique connection that no other event like this has exclusively celebrated and honored."

Looking to the future, we asked Blanchard what to expect from organizers, and it appears they are going to remain true to their original inspiration for the fest, while broadening their horizons a bit.

"We are planning to make this John Hughes celebration an annual happening in the Chicago area. And as far as future events are concerned, we'll also be holding a completely different one later this year in honor of the 25th anniversary of A League Of Their Own, which will include cast members from the movie in attendance on location where the film was partly shot at a ballpark in Indiana."

Tickets to The Shermer Club: A John Hughes Fest are on sale now.
It was 27 minutes into the governors 30-minute long State of the State address when he delivered these few lines: Our state has a long legacy of acceptance, compassion, and fairness.

Regardless of whether your family settled in Connecticut 300 years ago or three days ago, you are welcome here. As the people of Connecticut navigate a changing national landscape, we will continue to ensure that every state resident is treated with dignity and respect. That will not change. Not now. Not ever.

Those words reminded me of something I would hear in Americas Declaration of Independence, in our Bill of Rights, or see inscribed on the base of our Statue of Liberty.

Fairness, equality, civility, respect  all hallmarks of American democracy and Connecticuts rich history.

You see, it was only an hour earlier that day when I saw two of my Senate Republican colleagues rise to welcome their families, both of whom fled communist countries  one even escaping martial law  in order to ensure that their children and grandchildren would be safe and able to grow up in a free country. Theres a lot to celebrate in a state where we have these kind of stories.

But there is much to be cautious of and to fight against, too.

Republican members of the Connecticut legislature are fond of saying that they are Connecticut Republicans and not Washington Republicans.

Thats supposed to be code for being politically moderate and rejecting the extremism that we see in the halls of Congress.

Some days I can buy that.

Ill even put aside for a moment legislation proposed by Republicans to require the president to provide an original copy of his birth certificate in order to be placed on the ballot, to eliminate Ronald Reagans Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor, and to zero-out funding for Planned Parenthood.

However, like in school, there is always one big test to determine a passing or failing grade, something that will show the public whether your actions match your rhetoric.

Opening day of the legislature  during the governors address and at that moment when he said those words  was the exact time.

Hearst columnist Ken Dixon was right to ask the rhetorical question of why Connecticut Republicans would sit in silence.

Is there really a bright line between Hartford and Washington Republicans?

Does their silence mean some sort of tacit approval of the harmful rhetoric spewed nationally over the last few months?

They should have stood up, embraced the inclusive remarks, and united our entire state behind our leaders.

If I were a teacher, I would have to give my friends on the other side of the aisle a failing grade.

Connecticut has 3.5 million residents. Two thirds white, one-third non-white, and one out of seven are foreign born.

We are all due acceptance, compassion and fairness, dignity and respect from each other.

I believe most sincerely that these are American virtues worth standing up and applauding for.

State Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, is the Senate majority leader.
Q&A on new US-Cuba migration agreement

The Joint Statement, signed in Havana by the Cuban and US governments last January 12 changes, for the first time in five decades the political and antagonist nature of the bilateral migration relationship.

This document is a step towards the normalization of relations on this issue but to truly achieve it, the US Congress must repeal the Cuban Adjustment Act. However, this agreement has a great impact in the quest for a regular, safe and orderly migration.

Among the most publicized aspects of the agreement was the elimination of the Wet foot, dry foot policy and the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program

This signing took place on the day that marked the fourth anniversary of the new Cuban migration law that has allowed over 670 thousand Cubans to make 1.75 million trips abroad.

Now, Cuban News Agency will answer some questions that have arisen after the announcement:



Which are the main issues of this new migration agreement?



The United States repealed the Wet foot, dry foot policy and the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program, this last one meant for Cuban health professionals working in third countries.

The US made a commitment to issue a minimum of 20 thousand visas a year for Cubans to migrate to the United States, not including this amount those issued for tourism, or cultural, scientific and other exchanges.

From the coming into force of this agreement all Cubans caught trying to enter the US or staying there illegally will be removed from US soil and deported back to Cuba.

In the 1984 migration agreement, Cuba agreed to gradually receive the 2,746 Cuban citizens that left the country during the 1980s Mariel boatlift that were deemed unfit to reside in the United States.

Most of them have already traveled to Cuba since that very decade, and only some 700 are in the US.

Through the Joint Statement, Cuba agreed to replace the names of those declared non eligible to stay in the United States in the 1980s and that had died, are missing or have health issues, for others that do not qualify to stay in US soil and from the same group of the so-called marielitos till the completion of the 2,746 figure.

At the same time, Cuban authorities will evaluate on a case by case basis the return of other Cuban citizens residing in the US that were considered deportable before the coming into force of this agreement







What happens now that the Wet foot, dry foot policy is gone?



If a Cuban arrives in the US without a valid visa, he/she will not be admitted automatically in the US as it was happening, but he/she will be detained and removed to Cuba.



And what does the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program imply?



The Cuban health professionals will receive the same migratory treatment that those from the rest of the world, as the law establish and will not be received automatically. The United States publicly acknowledges the worth of the Cuban universal care and stop the brain drain of health professionals, at least this way.



What benefits will the document signed bring?



It contributes to the safety of both countries and to the Cuban citizens.

It removes an incentive for irregular and unsafe migration. It is a blow to human trafficking.

Many smugglers have benefited from the irregular traveling, especially through the Central American corridor, and on many occasions have subjected our citizens to atrocities: extortion, mistreatment, abuse of women and even murder.



Does this agreement override those from the past?



Absolutely no. The prior agreements remain valid, those of December 14, 1984; September 9, 1994; and May 2, 1995, after the Mariel boatlift and the Crisis of the rafters, respectively.

In every case, as in this one, they ratify that both parts commit to work on a legal, safe and orderly migration.



Does this agreement repel the Cuban Adjustment Act?



President Obama cannot repeal the Cuban Adjustment Act, which is a federal legislation issued on November 2, 1966. Only the US Congress has the ability to repeal it. It states that only the US General Attorney has the discretionary power to adjust the migratory status of Cubans that might be in an irregular situation.

It doesnt say that is mandatory, but that the Department of Justice discretionary decides whether accepts a Cuban in its territory or removes it.

The new agreement reduces considerably the number of Cubans that have recourse to this law after one year and one day in US soil.



If a Cuban travels to the US under a tourist, or any other kind of, visa, and decides to stay there illegally, to apply to the Cuban Adjustment Act, what will happen?





After his permit to stay expires, any Cuban citizen will be declared illegal and can be removed from the US. Even if that person goes into hiding will not have the recourse to this law because one of the requirements is to have a parole that they wont have anymore because it was guaranteed by the Wet foot, dry foot policy, that will not apply anymore. But, the US can still grant asylum, after a complex judicial process

8.- What will happen to Cubans deported from the US?

They will be received by Cuban authorities in ports or airports; will have to go through a brief medical quarantine at a medical institution, provided with clothes, shoes and food, as it has happened since 1995, and then taken to their homes for them to get back with their lives normally.

Only those that have pending issues with the law, hijacked a plane or boat or killed somebody on their way to migrate will have to stand trial.

(ACN)
Free Entry To Exclusive Chicago MBA Information Fair

By Sponsor in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 18, 2017 6:00AM

Meet Top MBA Programs & Apply for exclusive MBA scholarships in Chicago, Feb 1st.





The QS World MBA Tour is the largest global series of MBA information fairs, and it returns to Chicago next Wednesday!

Business schools put a lot of resources into reviewing MBA applicants against stringent and demanding criteria, because of course they're looking for the most suitable candidates for their programs. Are you being just as rigorous in your MBA program research and selection? Do you have your sights set on the best-fit business school for your course of study?

At the QS World MBA Tour, which comes to Chicago on February 1 2017, top business schools such as Washington University in St Louis Olin B-School, University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Purdue Krannert, and Boston University Questrom are brought together under one roof, making it a convenient way to meet school representatives from a number of institutions in person without having to visit the campus(es) yourself.

Join other MBA hopefuls on February 1 and pick the brains of top business school representatives and admissions directors to find out which school and program can bring out the best in you, grab some networking time with alumni from Wharton and Harvard, and attend a free GMAT seminar hosted by GMACthe creators of the exam!

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17 Ocak 2017 Sal, 22:28

Even when the 1982 constitution was being debated in the Consultative Assembly, in the aftermath of a coup or not, we had the opportunity to learn of the objections to each article through the written press and to follow the debate on state television, which in those days had one channel. The post-coup atmosphere meant that it was forbidden to campaign against it, but Prof. Dr. Orhan Aldkact and his colleagues, who drafted the constitution, nevertheless felt themselves obliged to expound on every objection in the interests of public support. Those who object to the new constitution whose introduction is sought in an environment in which we warded off a coup a mere six months ago find their voices silenced and their appearance on screens unwelcome; civil society organisations face blanket bans on taking to the streets and, apart from just one or two newspapers that remain true to professional ethics, nobody lends an ear to those who announce: I object. One of those to object is former Minister of Justice and chair of the Association for the Support of Contemporary Living, Prof. Dr. Aysel Celikel. She listed her objections in response to my questions.

- If the bill is adopted and passes through a referendum, what kind of Turkey awaits us?

I dont call this a presidential system, because the presidential system is a system that in technical terms also includes democracy and freedom. This is a regime that will deliver to Turkey an autocratic government and dictatorship in the full sense. This is a regime change that places the three state powers of the legislature, executive and judiciary entirely at the presidents command and ties all the states vital activities to a single person. The mooted regime is a regime that will enslave the people and turn them into silent masses. With a need for public debate over this and for the public to be informed about the contents, it is being carried out through prohibitions and censorship and in an environment in which even the debate in parliament is being cloaked. Are some things being concealed from the public eye? Citizens dont understand whats going on, either, and blame the MPs who start fights. Even at the risk of being dubbed FETO or PKK supporters, this fight must be waged. The system being introduced is a system in which the AKP will always be in power and Erdogan will be president for life.

- How can MPs be so keen to transfer their powers?

The rules of law are objective and cannot be tailor-made for one person. A law is not made to address any one persons problem. They are not personal because they are rules that are to be applied throughout society. So, just as we do not make tailor-made laws for one person, tailor-made constitutions for one person cannot be made, either. Here we are making a tailor-made constitution for one person and encouraging that person to become a dictator. What is dramatic about this affair, rather than the presidents demand, is those who obey him.

This is a trap constitution

- What will this turning inside out deprive us of?

We are losing everything. For one thing, I must say that the constitution is a trap constitution. There are the first four articles setting out the republics characteristics over which everyone is very sensitive. They are unalterable and their alteration may not even be proposed. What are these? A welfare, secular republic based on democracy and human rights. They claim not to have touched this. This is a trap. They have touched it, because the system they have brought in totally eliminates the separation of powers and has turned them into a unity of powers. The system it introduces takes legislating out of the hands of parliament and gives it to the president. The executive is already in the presidents hand. The judiciary is under his control. Under these circumstances, democracy has ceased to exist.

- We might as well dispense with the courts and make things function better!

They just remain for show; to say, I am not making the decisions; the courts are making them. The president appoints six members to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors. The Minister of Justice and the undersecretary are on the board, anyhow. The minister and undersecretary are in any case the two people who manage all business. The remaining seven people will undergo election by the simple majority of a parliament whose composition will be a given. Just as the judiciary ceases to exist, secularism is also in danger. Just as all executive-related decisions are passed by the president, the president has usurped the legislative organs powers through decrees with the force of law. Parliaments legislative powers have been restricted to fundamental rights and personal rights, and the president has been granted authority over all business relating to the executive. And the latter will rule the country on his own by issuing decrees with the force of law. If he wishes, he can create ministries or eliminate them or change the administrative structure. In fact, he is in a position that also enables him to change the unitary system. The prime-ministry is being eliminated in any case. The president will also appoint ministers outside parliament and this will lead to the introduction of subservient ministers whom he can dismiss at will. He will single-handedly set national security policy. He will be the commander in chief of the Turkish armed forces and will proclaim a state of emergency any time he wishes without asking parliament. He will determine education policy single-handedly.

The DP was more democratic than the AKP

- Where do you stand on a party-affiliated president?

It is said that he will be party affiliated but will be able to serve impartially all the same. This is impossible. The Minister of Justice Bozdag says, After the founding of the Republic, the president was party affiliated until the transition to multi-party life. The example of the 1930s and 1940s is cited. There was a single-party period and that president was also chair of the party. Those were in any case years in which the revolutions had just been accomplished, the republic had just been founded and fascistic governments were in power all over the world. Citing that as an example is downright nonsense. The passage was made to a multiparty regime in 1950. It was established that he or she could certainly not be partial under a multiparty regime. This was a principle that was also adopted at the DPs congress to which they were firmly wedded. This means that the DP of seventy years ago was at a higher level than the AKP in terms of embracing democracy.

- There is also the affair of parliamentary elections and presidential elections being held together.

Its very dangerous. The desire for the same party to always govern the country is laid bare in this article. While the president is campaigning on his behalf, his MPs and party will be engaged in the same campaign. A single-party campaign will be waged in unison in the country. A single-party campaign will draw on the benefits and powers that come from being in government, and, as a result, will be a mechanism that operates to the detriment of opposition parties. So, whichever party the president is from, that party will also have the majority in parliament. Is it possible to speak of national sovereignty in such an environment? If we do so today, it derives from all parties in parliament being under that roof. The national will does not only encompass the majority.

Electoral security will be a thing of the past

- How will electoral security be attained in a system in which the executive and legislative are vested in a single person?

There remains no such thing as electoral security and reliability, because whichever party the president is from, the vast majority of parliament will automatically be connected to him. This is also a trap article. The impression is given that it exists, but it actually doesnt. As a consequence, societys security of life and property will also have ended. It is the judiciary, executive and legislature that are to protect the security of life and property. Parliaments legislative powers are eliminated to a large extent and the country will be governed through the presidents decrees. Since the army, police, security forces and the state mechanism, what we call the executive, are to be institutions that are placed at the presidents sole volition, citizens will not trust them, either. So, will they trust the courts and the law? Since they will also be under the presidents control and power will rest with him, since the most senior court, the Constitutional Court will also be under his control, they will be unable to trust the law. In that case, who is societys security of life and property to be entrusted to? According to the new constitution, to the president. One single person is responsible for the security of life and property of eighty million people. In view of all of this, nobody has the right to do this disservice to the Turkish people. They cannot justify this. A more arbitrary manner of rule than even in the Sultanate period is being introduced.

The president will be able to rule the country until he dies

- What will happen if a no emerges from the referendum?

I want to make two things clear. The president also has the power to dissolve parliament. He may dissolve parliament without citing any reason. If his own party is not in the majority and does not comply with his orders, then he can dissolve parliament. A president who dissolves parliament may hold elections any time he wishes, because he is authorised to hold office twice according to the law. But, he may dissolve parliament a short time before the second period ends and hold fresh elections, and since he will also stand for re-election at the same time, he will end up elected for a third period. In this manner, by dissolving parliament close to the end of each period and being elected along with parliament, he will be able to remain president until he dies. How can people, seeing that the citizen will retain no security, support this constitution?
Obama Commutes Sentence Of Oscar Lopez Rivera, Puerto Rican Nationalist Tied To Terror Attacks

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Jan 18, 2017 3:50PM

President Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of Oscar Lopez Rivera, a Puerto Rican nationalist who has served 35 years in prison over his connections to the FALN, a Puerto Rican paramilitary group responsible for scores of bombings and violent attacks in the U.S. in the '70s and '80s.

Lopez Rivera was serving a 70-year sentence on charges of plotting to overthrow the U.S. government, among other charges, due to his ties to the FALN, after being sentenced in 1981. He is now due to be released from prison this May.

The FALN was responsible for over a hundred high-profile bombings and attacks around the country, particularly the bombing at New York City's Fraunces Tavern in 1975 that killed four, a bombing at the location of the now PrivateBank Theatre in Chicago, and separate bombings on several New York City government buildings in 1982. Lopez Rivera was not found in court to be responsible for the Frances Tavern bombing but was held responsible for other crimes, including interstate transportation of firearms and explosives.

Throughout the FALN's seven-year bombing spree, the deadliest of any group's in the radical underground of the 1970s, public opinion polls showed that a majority of Puerto Ricans opposed independence from the U.S.

President Bill Clinton originally offered clemency to Lopez Rivera and other jailed FALN members in 1999, on the condition that he renounces the group's actions. Lopez Rivera did not accept the clemency offer, though a dozen other FALN members did, because the offer was not extended to all FALN members. But now Lopez Rivera, 74, is the only FALN member still in prison.

The People's Law Office celebrated the news in a statement Tuesday:

"Heeding the will of the Puerto Rican people, who spoke from the Island and the diaspora in one, united voice; Pope Francis; Jimmy Carter; Nobel Peace Prize Laureates such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu; the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU; the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda; Rene Perez, Lin Manuel Miranda; much of Latin America; and millions of other voices, the president has granted an unconditional commutation which will result in Mr. Lopez Riveras release no later than 120 days from now, or May 17," the statement says. "Oscar is grateful for all the love and solidarity - in Puerto Rico, in the United States, and throughout the world - that made this happen."

Family of the victims of the Fraunces Tavern bombing denounced Clinton's clemency offer and opposed the idea of Obama commuting Lopez Rivera's sentence in 2016.

"Lopez Rivera has never admitted to or accepted responsibility for his terrorist activities nor expressed any remorse for the harm they caused," they wrote in a joint letter to Obama in November. "Many of the claims of those pressing for Lopez Riveras release are blatantly false. Oscar Lopez Rivera is not a political prisoner or a freedom fighter, he is not innocent of the commission of violent acts, and he is not guilty merely by association."

Chicago's Puerto Rican community celebrated the news Tuesday evening in Humboldt Park and elsewhere.

At an unplanned celebration in a neighborhood community theater, a crowd of Chicagoans chanted "Obama finally listened and let Oscar out of prison," and "Que bonita bandera," which means "what a beautiful flag" in Spanish, the Tribune reports. Former FALN members and two of Lopez Rivera's siblings were in attendance.

On Twitter, Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda celebrated the news and said he would perform in a show in Chicago for Lopez Rivera.
An art installation is displayed at Yun Space of Beijing's historical Qianmen area on Jan 14, 2017. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A week-long exhibition on China's national-level intangible cultural heritage (ICH) kicked off on Jan. 14 at Yun Space of Beijing's historical Qianmen area.

Initiated by cultural group Yongxin Huayun, the exhibition, along with two forums on its opening day, is intended to show some of the country's national-level intangible cultural heritage (ICH) to the public and help small ICH businesses to grow.

Qianmen area, which is known as a historical tourist attraction, is becoming an incubator of innovatively preserving intangible heritage.

Among historical buildings, restaurants, museums and cafes, you can now see many small ICH art shops with products from all over China.

The project started in 2015 when the Beijing government announced the construction of the "National Intangible Cultural Heritage Exposition District". Yongxin Huayun was the project's central developer.

"ICH is a reflection of our nation's artistic creation and plays an important role in cultural inheritance, said Li Yongjun, board chairman of Yongxin Huayun, at the exhibition's opening. "To develop ICH as a cultural industry and help small businesses to grow is what we are experimenting with. Publicizing folk art isn't enough; we need to give them lives through the public's involvement."

The exhibition will last until Jan 20.
County-specific poll may foretell whether Pa. is going blue or red
Dates for hire are in high demand as many Chinese singles prepare to return home and see their families for the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls at the end of January this year.

Screenshot shows women for hire on a website that runs partner-hire business [Photo: zunvyou.cn]

By hiring a date, young Chinese singles of what is commonly considered an marriageable age in China, somewhere between the mid-20s to mid-30s, say they do not mean to enter a relationship but hope to please their families and prevent them from nagging and urging them to date someone and get married.

A matchmaking agency in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province reportedly charges bachelors 2,000 to 3,000 yuan, or about 290 to 430 US dollars, for a "girlfriend" for two days and one night, when the men can show the hired girls to their families.

During an undercover interview, a person at the agency says any further services, including drinking with family members, are not included in the package. The person also says the clients are required not to physically touch their dates.

In addition to offline matrimonial agencies, some websites and apps in China have also been found to provide similar "services."

However, the practice is not protected by law in China. Clients may sign a contract with their fake partners, but some lawyers said the document is often invalid because China's contract law defines subject matters as goods or objects and people cannot be recognized as rental objects.

Meanwhile, the practice brings tremendous risks, as it is unclear who will claim responsibility if accidents happen to the hired dates while visiting families.

Additionally, many details of the clients' personal information could be revealed to the hired dates, who are in practice complete strangers.

The practice to hire dates has thrived in China mainly due to a heavy emphasis put on marriage in the traditional Chinese culture, which in many cases is considered an unavoidable and inescapable mission rather than a personal choice.

Public commentaries often label single Chinese aged 27 or above as "leftover men" or "leftover women," a subtly derogative term that suggests the unmarried are too picky or unpopular on the marriage market.

However, unlike older generations, many young people in China today no longer want to get married young or get married at all.

But social opinions have hardly changed over the years, so many parents take it as their responsibility to push their single children to marry, or at least enter a relationship, before the age of 30. This has caused huge social pressure on many young people, some of whom in response have chosen to hire dates to appease their demanding families.
While there is a slight population difference between the two states, Tennessee's number of drug overdoses has increased much more than Colorado's. Many experts think a way to combat this climb in overdose deaths is to legalize medical marijuana.

The number of people dying in Tennessee from drug overdoses has risen dramatically in the past 15 years, and some experts say one reason could be Tennessees strict laws on marijuana.

More than 1,400 people died from drug overdoses in the state in 2015, almost four times more than the amount in 2000, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. The numbers include both legal and illegal drugs because the department does not separate the two types.

Tyler Marshall, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws  Memphis Chapter, said the best way to combat this alarming death rate in the state is to reform the states marijuana policy.

The overdose situation is getting worse faster than policy can curtail it, Marshall said. Were not moving quickly enough. Naloxone (an opioid reversal rescue drug) is not being expanded fast enough, regulations on opioid prescriptions are not being implemented quick enough, and alternative pain medicines like marijuana and non-pharmacological therapies are not being utilized.

With neighboring Arkansas legalizing medical marijuana this past election, Tennessee now has a test group to see how legalization would play out in the Bible Belt state. However, Marshall said Tennessee still has a long road to legalization.

Marijuana policy has long been associated with Democrats, Marshall said. The Tennessee legislature just became loaded with Republicans so I think (legalization) is going to be a tough fight, but not out of the realm of possibility. Libertarians typically support legalization, and it seems that the issue is slowly becoming more bipartisan. Im hopeful, but it will not be easy.

Opioids, the current go-to painkilling drug, are medications that relieve pain by way of the chemical opium, made from the white liquid of the poppy plant, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The opium substance directly composes codeine, morphine and heroin and combines with other substances to compose the painkiller drugs oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Opioid substances are far more dangerous than marijuana for one major reason, said Marshall, who is a neuroscience graduate from Rhodes College and currently pursuing a doctorates degree in public health at the University of Memphis. The active ingredient in marijuana that produces the high users feel, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, does not bind to the area of the brain that controls breathing and cardiovascular functions like other drugs.

Drugs like alcohol, opioids and anxiolytics bind to this area and can shut it off in high doses or when mixed with each other, Marshall said. THC in extremely high doses can trigger adverse psychiatric reactions or anxiety, but it cannot kill someone.

Kathryn Kaplan, a spokesperson from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an organization that studies the science behind drug use and addiction and presents its research to the public, backed up Marshalls claim and said opioid addiction comes more from developing an unhealthy tolerance.

People can develop tolerance to opioid medications, meaning they need to take more to get the same effect, Kaplan said. This is not the same as dependence, which is where a person feels withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug, and addiction, where the person compulsively seeks out the drug regardless of negative consequences.

Marshall also said opponents to marijuana legalization are largely just ignoring the scientific facts, and scientists like himself are trying to stop criminalizing addicts and instead offer treatment based on evidence and data.

Legalization is not something to fear and does not mean that drug addiction or drug use is OK or encouraged, Marshall said. Legalization encourages attacking this problem in a more ethical and scientifically informed way.

Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, an organization working to reform drug policies in the U.S., met in a U.S. Senate committee meeting to explain the main reason marijuana should be medically legal. He explained that states with easy access to medical marijuana have much lower rates of drug prescriptions and thus, a lower level of overdoses.

(This data) is suggesting that when you are treating pain, opioids are not the only thing, marijuana can also play a positive role, Nadelmann said to the committee led by Delaware Senator Tom Carper. And for certain types of pain, marijuana may be a more effective way of dealing with pain than are opiates and a far less dangerous way.

Data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment echoes what Nadelmann said. Colorados count of drug overdoses has increased slightly since 2000, keeping pace with the rest of the country, but the rate of overdose deaths in Colorado is significantly lower than in Tennessee.

The two states do differ in populations, with Tennessee having about 6.6 million residents, and Colorado having about 5.4 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. However, since the introduction of recreationally legal marijuana in 2012, the number of drug overdose deaths in Colorado has remained almost constant, while Tennessee has been exponentially increasing.

Much of the countrys addiction to drugs can be halted, according to Kathleen M. Carroll, professor of psychiatry at Yale Universitys School of Medicine, but it will need some extreme effort.

We need to stop throwing billions and billions of dollars into useless treatments that dont work and concentrate on providing less expensive, evidence-based therapies to more people, Carroll, who is studying drug addiction and treatment, said.

Nadelmann said the states where medical marijuana is not legalized are just spending more money than they should be. And just like with the abolition of alcohol prohibition, that money could be invested into other state departments that will move the society forward, like education.

I dont see any evidence that marijuana laws are preventing young people from getting it, or any evidence that theyre preventing older people from getting it, Nadelmann said. All I see is evidence that its putting a lot of people in jail and costing the government a lot of money.

While there is a slight population difference between the two states, Tennessee's number of drug overdoses has increased much more than Colorado's. Many experts think a way to combat this climb in overdose deaths is to legalize medical marijuana.
Across the nation, gender-neutral restrooms are popping up on college campuses, promoting an environment that encourages equality and safe spaces for students who do not identify with their biological gender.

The University of Memphis is no exception after the establishment in 2015 placed gender-neutral restrooms in 11 different locations across the campus. The move is getting high praise from the transgender community on campus.

aHaving gender neutral restrooms definitely has affected my college experience in a positive manner,a said Lane Emory, 21, a junior communications major at the U of M who identifies as a non-binary gender, which means he has both masculine and feminine gender identity. He finds comfort in having gender neutral restrooms on campus.

aI experience gender dysphoria when I have to use a male bathroom, and I think using a female restroom would cause an issue for some people if they saw me,a Emory said. aFor most people, using the restroom is not a daily worry, but for me, it is.a

Emory is biologically a male and is built like one, but he enjoys to dress femininely, and it is a great relief having locations across campus that allow him to use the restroom with no hesitation.

aThey are incredibly helpful,a Emory said. aHowever, they are quite scarce if one doesnat have a list of the locations. Having them on campus though helps make me feel less stressed and afraid to use the restroom since my gender expression does not match my biological sex.a

Currently, the U of M campus has gender-neutral restrooms in Jones Hall, Johnson Hall, McCord Hall, Manning Hall, Campus School, J.M. Smith Hall, Music Building, Meeman Journalism Building, Fogelman Executive Center, Panhellenic Building and Community Health Building.

Joshua Taylor, president of Stonewall Tigers Gay-Straight Alliance, is enthused to have gender-neutral restrooms at the U of M.

aFor me, having gender neutral restrooms as an option makes me feel more included,a Taylor said. A aAlthough I don't use them on a regular basis, I know students who do, and it feels awesome to be able to tell someone we have bathrooms where they can express their gender without fear of harassment.a

Taylor said that having these restrooms on campus provides a positive environment from whatever a student could be dealing with at home or any other outside stress. These restrooms provide a security to students who experience these issues.

aGender/sexual minority students have many issues outside of the classroom to deal with, be that homophobic roommates, parents or students. This gives them hope that this campus is a safe place,a Taylor said.

Stonewall Tigers Gay-Straight Alliance has done its own research with concerns over the gender neutral restrooms.

aRegarding gender neutral bathrooms, we actually looked into it,a Taylor said. aWe have students in our organization who identify outside of the gender binary or as transgender who would prefer to at least use single stalled gender-neutral restrooms. After searching through campus, a student found most, if not all, the single stalled gender-neutral restrooms on campus.a

From there, the Stonewall Tigers Gay-Straight Alliance created a map of where each restroom is located.

aIn a student advisory council meeting, I showed it to President Rudd,a Emory said. aPresident Rudd said that it was very doable to add an icon to the official U of M map to allow students who identify as gender/sexual minorities to find restrooms that they can be themselves without fear of harassment.a

Katelyn Chambers, 20, a sorority woman at the U of M, who came out a year ago as a lesbian to her friends and family understands that gender-neutral restrooms cause concern for some who are afraid that people will take advantage of them. But she knows that the LBGTQ community is primarily concerned with their safety when it comes to this particular issue.

aI donat think itas a safety issue,a Chambers said. aI understand where people are coming from, but itas as much of a safety concern for the LGBTQ community mentally and emotionally. If theyare forced to go into a restroom that they donat identify with, itas just one more thing for them to deal with and adds to suicide rates and mental health problems.a

Chambersa ex-girlfriend goes to the University of Wales-Trinity St. David, a university in Europe that just now began the process of implementing gender-neutral restrooms.

aGender-neutral restrooms give people who identify as gender fluid or transgender one less stress and helps make them feel less isolated during their daily routine,a Chambers said.

Chambers is pleased at how the U of M is starting to implement these gender-neutral restrooms and forming groups that are acknowledging the basic human rights of transgender and gender-fluid people.

aI think with Stonewall Tigers becoming an organization and the different policies coming on campus about LBGTQ+ inclusion is promising and comforting,a Chambers said. aWeare in the South and seeing a progressive movement and giving the community a sense of acceptance and safety is really nice to see, and I hope the university continues to foster that and realize that LBGTQ people are people and are fighting for their human rights.a

From a 2016 post on the Education Advisory Board A website, Ann Forman, senior consultant on the Facilities Forum with the board wrote an expert insight explaining why campuses should create gender-neutral restrooms and how many are located on campuses across the nation.

aTo this date, over 150 colleges and universities have created gender-inclusive restrooms on campus, and more are preparing for the move,a Forman wrote.

The U of M is only one of many colleges taking this initiative. However, some campuses are moving drastically in favor of gender-neutral restrooms. According to the aInside Higher Edaby Josh Logue, Cooper Union, a college in New York City is implementing every restroom to be gender-neutral by replacing the signs designating men or womenas restroom with aRestroom with Urinals and Stalls,a aRestrooms with Only Stallsa or aRestroom Single Occupancy.a

The president of Cooper Union said in a campus email that it is important for those in positions of power to take a stand for people who sometimes do not feel safe in campus buildings.

aI cannot change the outside world and how it treats transgender and gender-nonconforming people, but I can change the Cooper Union environment to help everyone feel safe when they are inside our buildings,a Mea wrote.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly said the Stonewall Tigers Gay-Straight Alliance was founded in 2015. We apologizeA for the error.A
Screen shot of Allie Dowdle's GoFundMe page.

This opinion was published Jan. 13 online and updated for print.A A

White Memphian Allie Dowdle asked the Internet to asay no to racisma and for $10,000 to pay for her college tuition.

In less than 16 hours of posting on Jan. 11, nearly 500 people contributed more than $10,000 to her cause. A week later, she had received more than $30,000 over her original goal. A

Amazing, right?

The 18-year-old raised the money by writing about her good grades, extra curricular activities and how her parents are refusing to pay her college tuition because she has a black boyfriend.

aHow could my love for another person be wrong because of his skin color? And why would that make me unworthy of a future I've worked so hard for?a she asked in theA GoFundMe post. aBecause my parents have listed me, their own daughter, as someone who is not worthy of their time and money, I have turned to the public for support.a

aThe publica didnat just support her financially either. A Scrolling through the photos of those who gave money, one will see those who donated were quick to lionize her as a person who stood up to racism.

aYou are a bright girl who truly is an inspiration and the future of America,a wrote one white woman who donated $10. aNo one should be that deserving of hate. Prayers are with you.a

aThank you for standing up to hate and racism,a wrote a white man who gave $10. aYou give me hope.a

If what Dowdle said about her parents is true, then they are wrong-headed bigots and the 18-year-old deserves credit for standing up to them. But those who are donating to Dowdle are not fighting racism.

Yes, Dowdle is facing an awful situation, but consider where your money is going. A

What she says about her academic life is impressive, but Dowdle isnat owed any of the things she complained about.

aMy parents have chosen to no longer support my future, stripping me of all my resources including my personal savings, my car, my phone and my education,a she wrote online.

There are a lot of black and Hispanic people in Memphis who donat have cars, cellphones or personal savings. Iam sure they would like to go to college. They arenat always going to get to go to expensive schools because real institutional racism has put them in segregated schools.

Nearly 75 percent of college students who receive the Pell Grant have no savings or cash on hand, the Education Department reported in 2015. Almost 85 percent of Pell Grant recipents will graduate with student debt, and Black and Hispanic students leave college with more debt than white students, according to a report by Demos, a left leaning think tank.

With grades as high as she is claiming, Dowdle could go to the University of Memphis and probably cover most of her school and housing with scholarships and student loans.

Five classes a semester at the U of M at the instate rate cost about $4,800.

Student loans mean she has to work in the future, but thatas the fate of most low-income people who go to college. Only those who come from wealthy or upper middle class families expect to go to expensive schools and escape university without student loans.

Dowdle could have stood up to her parents up by showing her values trumped her desire to go to an expensive school. She could have proven she could make it under any circumstance. She could have gone to a school that, while still majority white, has a larger black student population than any other in Tennessee. She could have known the real struggle of racism in higher education.

But instead, the Internet showed her that she does not have to make a sacrifice that big, like so many low-income students who could never dream of affording an expensive school.

I donat blame Dowdle. Sheas a teenager who vented to the Internet with a ridiculous First World problem. Thatas what teens do. I do blame white people who donat know or understand what racism is and donated to her.

Dowdle is dealing with bigots in her family, which is a hard thing to do. People who donated to Dowdle are not asaying no to racism.a They are saying that a white woman from a middle class family should not have to suffer the way many poor minorities do. Thatas what a woman who donated $25 said.

aAs someone who lived a similarly cushy life, I know how hard it would have been to have been raised that way and abruptly have my support stripped from me awould not have known what the hell to do,a said the female donor who went on to quote Dr. Martin Luther King. aKeep your head up! aJudged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.a-MLKJa

Nearly 50 years ago, it was a crime for white and black people to get married in Tennessee and almost all of the states that made up the Confederacy.

The landmark 1967 Supreme Court case, Loving v. Virginia, changed the law but not minds.

Mildred Loving, a black woman, and Richard Loving, a white man, were arrested and ordered to leave their home by a racist system. It took years for them to finally be able to move back to their home.

Dowdle and her boyfriend are not the Lovings. They are not making any sacrifices, and giving money to her is not fighting racism.A

In this first month of 2017, ask yourself, is this how you want to fight racism? By helping other white people go to college?A

Finally, Iave tried to contact Dowdle to get her side of the story, but I was told she is not speaking to reporters. It appears Dowdle is ignoring criticism. She has taken down all of posts on her GoFundMe page that questioned the ethics of her page.

But maybe she will read this. Dowdle, you can shut down most of your critics by donating the more than $20,000 raised in excess of your goal to the United Negro College Fund or other organizations that help the disadvantaged.

Itas a lot of money to give away. You may be tempted to use it toward a car, cellphone or other items you believe are owed to you, but fight that urge. Use it to help other people pay for tuition.
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The Chinese military has revealed a series of photos from the "Red Sword 2016" drills, which took place in November 2016 in northwest China.

J-10B fighter jets are preparing for the "Red Sword 2016" drills. [Photo: 81.cn]

The maneuver of the Chinese air force is believed to be one of the best simulated actual combat and largest air force drills in the world.
Standing in neo-classical splendour in Londons St Jamess, Lancaster House has seen more than its fair share of historic moments  from two G7 summits and the signing of Malayas independence treaty in 1956 to the tortured negotiations in the Seventies that saw Rhodesia become independent Zimbabwe.

Even so, I suspect not even this grand venue has seen anything to rival Theresa Mays unveiling of her plan for Brexit, which will surely rank among the few genuinely consequential speeches in our modern political history.

We always think of Prime Ministers as great speech-makers. We picture them on the political platform, their faces straining with passion, the words pouring forth in a torrent of conviction.

British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House on January 17, 2017 in London

Yet how many modern prime ministerial speeches can any of us remember?

David Cameron has been gone for less than a year, but who can recall anything he ever said? Who can quote so much as a line from Gordon Brown?

Tony Blairs best speeches all came before he was elected Prime Minister, when he was urging his own party to embrace modernisation. John Major, though personally more substantial than the grey stereotype, never said anything even remotely interesting.

In fact, you have to go back to Margaret Thatcher to find a Prime Minister whose speeches have lingered in the memory, whether promising her party conference that she was not for turning in 1980 or pledging to resist the growth of a European super-state in Bruges in 1988.

Perhaps that was what made Mrs Mays speech yesterday so refreshing. Indeed, whatever you think of her strategy  and I will come to that later  you surely cannot question her status as the undisputed heavyweight champion of British politics.

In its clarity, daring, pragmatism, optimism and palpable decency  not to mention more than a hint of steel at the end  Mrs Mays speech could hardly have been more impressive.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives to deliver the speech

The inevitable comparisons with the late Lady Thatcher are sometimes overblown, but I was reminded more than once of the Iron Lady in full flight.

Not for three decades, I think, have we heard a Prime Minister on such clear, confident, serious and decisive form.

The obvious caveat, of course, is that even the most impressive speeches can turn out to be mere hot air.

Ultimately, historians will not remember the Brexit negotiations for the speech that set out Britains opening bid; they will only remember what happened in the end.

Even so, Mrs May could hardly have delivered a more comprehensive rebuff to her critics  not least The Economist magazines damning cover story about Theresa Maybe, an indecisive premier supposedly skulking in her Downing Street bunker and refusing either to speak to the British people or to face the hard decisions that lie ahead.

At Lancaster House yesterday, Theresa Maybe was nowhere to be seen. Indeed, Mrs Mays position could hardly have been clearer. No one could possibly accuse her now of shirking the hard choices.

Out of the European single market, probably out of the customs union, recovering control of our borders, the end of European judicial sovereignty, new trade deals with the rest of the world and Parliament to vote on the terms of the deal. Or, as someone once put it: Brexit means Brexit.

To some extent, of course, Mrs May was simply stating the obvious. Almost as soon as the verdict of the British people became clear last June, it was patently obvious that we could not stay in the European single market.

For despite the anguished protests of some Remainers and I write as someone who, like Mrs May, voted Remain  the referendum was in large part a verdict on the EUs open-door immigration policy.

Under the terms of the single market, however, freedom of movement of people is simply non-negotiable. To stay in the single market, in other words, would always have meant ignoring the very clear wishes of the millions who voted to leave.

In that respect, the Brexit terms were effectively decided a long time ago  not by Mrs May, or even by the British people, but by the EU elite themselves.

The fact is that it was the leaders of other EU countries who would not admit any substantial flexibility in their arrangements, refused to give David Cameron a decent deal when he tried to renegotiate Britains membership, and therefore handed the referendum to the Leave campaign on a plate.

If these EU leaders had been ready to compromise, not least on immigration, then perhaps we wouldnt be in this position in the first place. But here we are, and Mrs Mays historic role is to make the best of it.

If she really had been the muddled Theresa Maybe of The Economists caricature, she would have fudged and ducked the issues. But she didnt.

Above all, she was right to emphasise our traditions of openness and tolerance, our history of global trade and our security commitments to our European partners.

In its clarity, daring, pragmatism, optimism and palpable decency  not to mention more than a hint of steel at the end  Mrs Mays speech could hardly have been more impressive

Most impressive, though, was her sheer audacity in choosing a clear direction and sticking to it. She recognised that the high-handed inflexibility of the EU made a clean break inevitable, and she went for it.

In that respect, the comparison with Mrs Thatcher is, indeed, well deserved.

For Mrs Thatcher, too, inherited a fiendishly difficult situation on taking office (in her case, Britains basket-case economy), chose a clear and decisive course, and stuck to her guns, come what may.

At times, I was half-tempted to wonder what Mrs Mays other predecessors would have said.

David Camerons speech would have been one of emollient half-measures; Gordon Browns would surely have been arid and technical; and Tony Blair would have given us plenty of stardust, but no substance.

By contrast, Mrs May could scarcely have been more straightforward.

In her rhetoric, as well as her political persona, she remains the Middle England vicars daughter  patriotic and plain-speaking, but not afraid to be tough when it matters, as proved when she warned some of our European friends not to try to punish Britain in the Article 50 talks.

She named no names, but I cant help but suspect that the French President Francois Hollandes ears were burning.

Will her speech linger in the memory, though?

Well, that depends. If it proves the springboard to a smooth and happy negotiation, setting the tone for Britains successful exit from the EU and our rebirth as a global trading nation, then Mrs Mays words certainly will be long remembered.

If Theresa Mays actions live up to her fine words, if her optimism proves well placed and if Britain does indeed prosper after 2019, then she will surely command a high place in our national story

But if things go badly, no one will recall that she ever said them. After all, if Britain had lost World War II, few would remember Winston Churchills stirring words today, just as no one would care what Margaret Thatcher had said if she had failed to bring economic recovery.

What matters are the results, not the airy promises before you start work.

Even so, Mrs May has surely done herself and her country the world of good, as evidenced by the reaction of the currency markets, which saw the biggest rise in sterling for a long time.

Indeed, in just 40 minutes, she confirmed her commanding place at the summit of British politics, stamped her authority on the Brexit process and cemented her growing reputation as probably the most widely respected Prime Minister for decades.

True, there are more than two years to go before Britain leaves the EU  two years that are bound to have their fair share of setbacks, crises and compromises  so it is too early to say whether this will be a speech that resounds in history.

Still, if Theresa Mays actions live up to her fine words, if her optimism proves well placed and if Britain does indeed prosper after 2019, then she will surely command a high place in our national story.
What an impressive figure Theresa May cut as she spelt out the terms on which she wants the UK to pull out of the European Union

This was a truly historic day  the first time in 45 years a British prime minister has been able to outline a vision for our country as a fully independent, global power without having to bend the truth.

And what an impressive figure Theresa May cut as she spelt out the terms on which she wants the UK to pull out of the European Union.

Calm, patently reasonable and eschewing high-flown rhetoric, she said much to reassure the many who still have doubts about Brexit.

Yet she was unwavering in her steel toe-capped determination to carry out the will of the people, while holding back nothing that could safely be revealed about her aims in the coming talks.

Indeed, not even her most Brussels-besotted critics (Nick Clegg and Lord Mandelson spring to mind) can now honestly complain that they dont know what she means when she says: Brexit means Brexit.

As she made emphatically clear, it means leaving the single market  or the single regulatory regime, as it should properly be called  thereby taking back control of our borders and cutting free from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

Furthermore, it means loosening or severing our ties with the customs union, leaving us able to strike our own trade deals in the wider world beyond Europe, where friendships forged in our imperial past give us huge advantages, waiting to be seized.

Best of all, Mrs May left our partners in no doubt that if they fail to offer the right terms, she is ready to walk away from the table and out of the EU with no agreement at all. As she put it: No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain.

Thus, she avoided repeating David Camerons fatal mistake of making clear from the start he would accept whatever concessions Brussels might deign to offer, however pathetic. No wonder that when he asked for almost nothing, they gave him even less.

By contrast, Mrs May yesterday clenched an iron fist in her velvet glove, warning the 27 that if they sought to punish Britain for pulling out, this would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe, doing far more damage to them than to us.

In a subtle yet undisguised threat, she reminded them gently that a trade war would jeopardise EU firms 500billion investments in Britain. It would also put at risk millions of European jobs that are dependent on exports to the UK worth 290billion a year.

Adding force to her fighting talk, she was able to point to Britains phenomenal economic performance since the Brexit vote, while Donald Trumps promise of a quick Anglo-US trade deal could not have come at a more fortunate moment for her.

But in this statesmanlike speech, the Prime Minister also offered comfort to those nervous about Brexit, saying she wanted the process to be as smooth as possible, with no sudden shocks for businesses and Britain remaining a good friend and neighbour to the EU.

On yesterdays formidable showing from Mrs May, the talks on how we should do it are in the best of hands

Pre-empting attacks from the Left, she also pledged to safeguard workers rights, and to fight for reciprocal guarantees to all expats and an early agreement to retain free travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

As for her promise of a parliamentary vote on any deal with the EU, Brexiteers should have nothing to fear. For MPs and Peers will be asked only if we should pull out on the terms she agrees, or quit without them.

The crucial matter of whether or not we withdraw has already been decided by the electorate.

On yesterdays formidable showing from Mrs May, the talks on how we should do it are in the best of hands.
Sotheby's might be best known for selling glittering jewels and rare masterpieces.

But the auction house is also used to handling more unusual treasures.

A wrought iron key, a dogeared address book and a ceramic bowl were among the seemingly unremarkable objects that fetched eye-watering sums when they went under the hammer last year.

They sold alongside a 2million musket and a Jaguar that went for a record-breaking 17.7million.

Here, experts at Sotheby's reveal ten of the most unusual and expensive lots sold in the last 12 months - and the stories that made them so valuable.

DAVID BOWIE'S RECORD PLAYER

Iconic: This record player once owned by David Bowie sold for 257,000 - more than 200 times the 1,200 estimate

Ten months after David Bowie's death, fans were given the opportunity to snap up limited edition items from the music icon's personal collection.

Among the most striking was this unconventional record player.

Created by brothers Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni for Brionvega, this playful stereo cabinet is considered a 'definitive piece of 1960s Italian design'.

It sold at auction for 257,000 - more than 200 times the 1,200 estimate.

KEY TO OSCAR WILDE'S JAIL CELL

Literary history: This key is believed to have opened Oscar Wilde's cell in Reading Gaol

In May 1895 Oscar Wilde was convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years of hard labour.

The playwright and author, known for works including The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Ernest, served the majority of his sentence at Reading Gaol.

He remains the prison's most high-profile inmate.

This key opened all the doors in C block, including cell 3.3, where Wilde was held from November 1985 onwards.

After Wilde's departure the prison underwent numerous changes until its final closure in 2013. Wilde's old cell block still stands.

The key sold for 15,000 at auction - more than double the 4,000 to 6,000 estimate.

RARE HARRY POTTER BOOK HANDWRITTEN BY J.K. ROWLING

Magical: A page from the hand-written copy of Beedle The Bard gifted by J.K. Rowling

Rare: Just seven of these hand-written and hand-illustrated books were made by the author

This rare book would be a prized possession of any Harry Potter fan.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of wizarding stories mentioned in the Harry Potter series. Just seven copies were originally produced, including this one.

Hand-written and hand-illustrated by J.K. Rowling each of the seven copies were presented as a personal gift to 'those most closely connected to the Harry Potter books'.

This manuscript was gifted to editor Barry Cunningham on the completion of the final novel in the series. It sold for 368,750 at auction in December last year.

While it is an eye-watering amount to pay for a book, it is just a fraction of the 1.95million paid by Amazon for another one of the manuscripts in 2007.

LEWIS CARROLL'S ADDRESS BOOK

Titan of literature: The plain exercise book used as an address book by author Lewis Carroll

Gifts: Carroll noted the friends and family members who were to be given his latest novel

This exercise book was owned by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson - better known as Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Jotted across the plain pages inside are the names and addresses of the 120 friends, colleagues and family members who were earmarked to receive a copy of The Nursery Alice.

Published in 1890, 25 years after the first 'Alice' book, The Nursery Alice was created for children aged 0 to five.

The exercise books list, which was unknown to scholars prior to auction, provides a tantalising insight into Dodgsons private world and social circle. It starts with family copies before an alphabetical sequence.

The exercise book sold for 27,500 in October last year.

A DUCHESS' ELVIS PRESLEY COLLECTION

The King lives on: This eclectic collection of Elvis memorabilia was owned by Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, the youngest and last surviving of the six Mitford sisters

Forty years after his death, Elvis Presley remains one of the most important pop culture figures of all time.

Fans of 'The King' are able to buy a dizzying array of memorabilia - from badges to novelty mugs.

One collector who built up an impressive collection of Elvis ephemera was Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, the youngest and last surviving of the six Mitford sisters.

In March last year hundreds gathered to witness the sale of her personal collection.

It included an Elvis telephone that was given to her by a friend in New York and was once installed in the Blue Drawing Room and Chatsworth House. The lot sold for 4,375, four times the 1,000 estimate.

LORD AND LADY ATTENBOROUGH'S PICASSO CERAMICS

Passion: Just some of the ceramics collected by Lord and Lady Attenborough over 50 years

Lord and Lady Attenborough's celebrated private collection of Picasso ceramics brought in a total of 3 million when they were auctioned in November last year.

The couple started their collection in 1954 when they picked up a souvenir ashtray for just 3 and spent the next 50 years acquiring examples.

The collection included both editioned and unique works depicting real and mythical creatures, classical motifs, bullfighting scenes, and portraits.

Each piece epitomises Picassos masterful and playful take on the age-old tradition of firing clay.

MODIGLIANI'S PORTRAIT OF HIS MUSE

Masterful: Amedeo Modigliani's 1919 portrait, Jeanne Hebuterne (au foulard)

Modern art pioneer Amedeo Modigliani met Jeanne Hebuterne in 1917 and the young art student became his muse and constant companion.

Over the course of their three-year relationship Modigliani painted a number of portraits of his lover, including this 1919 piece titled Jeanne Hebuterne (au foulard).

It is considered one of the artist's finest works and the best to come to market in a decade.

The lot sold for a staggering 38.5million in June last year.

Their love affair ended with Modigliani's death from tubercular meningitis in 1920.

Shortly after an inconsolable Miss Hebuterne took her own life by leaping from a window.

She was reportedly pregnant with the artist's child.

700-YEAR-OLD TEA BOWL

Perfect: This tea bowl is thought to have survived more than 700 years without a chink

This extremely rare tea bowl is definitely not for your afternoon cuppa.

The iridescent nogime tenmoku bowl dates from the Song Dynasty, an era of Chinese history between 960 and 1279.

This bowl survived nearly a thousand years because it was kept in a silk draw-string pouch, with a tailor-made silk cushion inside, and placed in a wood box.

The bowl is believed to have been brought to Japan by Japanese monks between 1185 and 1333 after they discovered the art of ritual tea drinking in Buddhist temples in southern China.

RECORD-BREAKING 1955 JAGUAR D-TYPE

Speed demon: This 1955 Jaguar D-Type, chassis no. XKD 501, won the Le Mans 24 Hours race

This stunning 1955 Jaguar D-Type, chassis no. XKD 501, became the most expensive British car ever sold at auction when it fetched 17.7million in a sale last year.

It is considered the most important Jaguar ever made.

The car was sold new to the Scottish motor racing team Ecurie Ecosse in May 1995, complete with its Scottish Flag Metallic Blue livery and St. Andrews cross emblazoned on the front fenders - a guise it continues to wear to this day.

Designed to excel in motorsport, the cars greatest performance was registered at the famed 1956 Le Mans 24 Hours. It went on to race at Goodwood, Aintree and the 1957 Mille Miglia, before it was retired from competition in June that year.

The Jaguar D-Type was the subject of a 15-minute bidding contest between four determined collectors when it went under the hammer.

A 2MILLION MUSKET

Exquisite: This musket was made for a Chinese emperor who ruled from 1711 to 1799

This impeccably preserved Chinese imperial musket was created for the Qianlong Emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, who ruled from 1711 to 1799.

The emperor is considered the greatest collector and patron of the arts in Chinese history.

The musket, produced in the imperial workshops, bears the imperial reign mark on the top of the barrel, which denotes the title of the Emperor at the time it was made.

It was the first Chinese firearm with such an imperial mark to be sold at auction.

The musket also features four Chinese characters which distinguishes the gun's exceptional ranking of 'Supreme Grade, Number One'.
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From converted garages to spaces so tiny the bed has to be mounted on the wall, the typical studio flat is becoming ever smaller.

Earlier this week New York-based actor Anthony Triolo hit the headlines with his 150 square foot studio in Manhattan, which he has transformed into an achingly stylish living space, despite the tiny size.

His living space seems positively cavernous, however, compared to some other studios, with reports of spaces as small as just 87 sq ft on the rental market in London.

But the house proud will always find a way no matter how small the space, and studio dwellers are showing off their small but stylish living spaces on Instagram.

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Knham1989's studio is full of rustic charm. By sectioning the bed off behind reclaimed wooden pallets she has managed to create the illusion of additional space

Birmingham blogger Raquel had discovered that sticking to a monochrome colour palette gives her studio flat a stylish edge

Monochrome styling is a popular look for many, as not only does it create the illusion of space but it certainly lends a sophisticated edge.

Birmingham blogger Raquel has made her home look worthy of a slot in an interiors magazine thanks to decorating in almost entirely black and white.

She's added just the slightest hints of yellow and lets her plants add an additional accent colour.

La-dweller Visualgrammar has also kept his decor clean and monochrome, even opting for a totally matt black bicycle so that when it hangs on the wall it looks as if it's all part of the decor, rather than a solution to minimal storage.

Audristorme has also opted for a neutral colour palette with shades of grey and white, and turned her hat storage problem into an opportunity for a feature wall

While xo.deidre's decor is neutral a teal velvet sofa with a furry white cushion on next to a grey textured rug takes her space from plain to enviable

La-dweller Visualgrammar has also kept his decor clean and monochrome, and even his matt black bicycle blends in with the colour scheme

Ohio resident Anthonydpaul built a bunk bed over his corner sofa to maximise space and hung fairylights from the base to create a cosy nook underneath

A slim and tall storage unit has become a design feature in Anthonydpaul' studio

A simple black and white colour scheme is an ingenious way of hiding things such as kitchen fixtures that you don't want the eye to be drawn to.

Jaerose93's studio is strictly black and white, with even the clothing hanging on her rail blending in aside from one rogue grey sweater.

The advantage is that even though the cooker can be seen at the end of her bed, it easily blends into the surroundings.

Keatone managed to turn their 500sq ft Chicago studio apartment into a space that resembles a boutique hotel with luxe accents such as a leather chair and quirky details like a ram's head lamp

Monnyjean, who has just moved into a studio in Clapton, East London, has discovered that just a few statement pieces such as a bold patterned rug, eye-catching cushions and a fun accessory such as a chunky knitted pouffe are all you need to lift a space

California blogger Audristorme has also opted for a neutral colour palette with shades of grey and white, and turned the tricky issue of where to keep her hat collection into an opportunity to create a feature wall.

Others, such as xo.deidre have realised that statement pieces of furniture luxurious textures can lift the whole look of the space.

While her decor is neutral a teal velvet sofa with a furry white cushion on next to a grey textured rug takes her space from plain to enviable.

How To Be Single actor Anthony Triolo transformed his 150sq ft studio in New York into an ultra stylish living space, despite the tiny size

Anthony hit the headlines with his small but enviable living space and he's not the only one making the most of micro living

Also keeping it simple is Keatone who managed to turn a 500sq ft Chicago studio apartment into a space that resembles a boutique hotel with luxe accents such as a leather chair and quirky details like a ram's head lamp.

Monnyjean, who has just moved into a studio in Clapton, East London, has also discovered that just a few statement pieces will turn a space from sparse to stylish.

By adding a bold patterned rug, eye-catching cushions and a chunky knitted pouffe, she's instantly made the micro-apartment homely without feeling cluttered.

Even though the cooker is visible at the end of Jaerose93's bed, she's ingeniously made it blend in by keeping to a strict black and white colour scheme

While some opt to elevate their beds, M.e.baker has managed to make their sleeping space double up as a couch by day

There's no need to scrimp on the finishing touches such as an elegantly curated tray and a sophisticated banquette, no matter how tiny the space you're working with

The number one rule of a small living space is that it doesn't have to be minimalist but it certainly needs to be tidy, as Dwell_and_dream perfectly proves

When floor space is at a premium, suddenly you start looking up as Anthonydpaul discovered.

The Ohio resident built a bunk bed over his corner sofa to maximise space and hung fairylights from the base to create a cosy nook underneath.

And there's no need to scrimp on the finishing touches such as an elegantly curated tray and a sophisticated banquette, no matter how tiny the space you're working with, as Suiterevival has discovered.
A 60-year-old man desperate for life-saving surgery is told he will have to wait, a new documentary lifting the lid on the NHS crisis will show tonight.

Revealing the true stresses hospital staff face on a day-to-day basis, the second installment of BBC2's Hospital depicts the true horror of bed shortages.

Peter Lai is forced to wait in a corridor at St Mary's Hospital, London, for hours before doctors are able to find him a space on the overnight ward.

But the patient, who is checked in to treat his aortic aneurysm that could rupture at any moment and kill him, is cruelly told at the last minute that the surgery will have to be postponed.

Scheduled for two months, 14 hospital staff are prepped and ready to go - but no bed space in the post-surgery unit means the entire process has to start over, leaving his life in danger.

Peter Lai, 60, is taken down to the operating theatre to prep for surgery but at the last minute is told there isn't an intensive care unit bed available post-op

Peter had been waiting all day at the hospital to see if there would be a bed available so his surgery could go ahead

His original surgery had been cancelled and he had to wait another month for it to be rescheduled. (Pictured) Recovering in ICU after his surgery

The retired software engineer has had nine operations over the past 18 years for the bulge in the body's main artery.

Both he and his wife were desperate for the surgery, hoping it would allow his issue to be resolved and his life to return to normal.

As the morning of Peter's surgery approaches he is taken down into the theatre to be prepped, remaining resolutely optimistic throughout - before the news is broken.

Consultant vascular surgeon Colin Bicknell, who is on the team that would perform the surgery, explains that it had taken two months to coordinate the expert team.

'We need four vascular surgeons, one cardiac surgeon, two expert perfusionists, three anaesthetists, one general surgeon, and our expert nursing team and thats purely in that theatre,' he says.

Colin is then recorded running around the hospital trying to locate a space for another patient, freeing up a bed for Peter.

'Finding a bed for a patient is something we go through, it is because it is an acute hospital and we have a major trauma centre and we cant predict all of that,' he adds.

Peter's wife of 36 years, Diana, waited patiently with her husband to see if he would get a bed for his surgery

Consultant vascular surgeon Colin Bicknell, is gutted to learn that his patient Peter Lai has to be sent home after a bed is unavailable

But his hard work is unsuccessful.

However, when the surgeon reveals Peter will need to wait longer, he amazingly remains calm: 'Its alright, you did your best.'

He adds: 'I felt ready for it It just deflates. It is a bit unreal isn't it, the last minute, yes then no.'

NHS BED SHORTAGE CRISIS According to reports the NHS is currently struggling in the face of its worst crisis in 15 years. The Red Cross said it had been called in to help hospitals and ambulance services, describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis. NHS figures earlier this month showed the full extent of the pressures on the health service. For the single week leading up to January 1, they revealed: A&E units had to temporarily close their doors to ambulances 42 times;

Nearly a quarter of patients waited at least four hours to be seen, while 372,000 in total turned up to casualty;

One thousand beds were closed every day of the week to contain the spread of winter vomiting bug norovirus;

More than 457,000 patients called the NHS 111 helpline. Dr Taj Hassan, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said recently: 'What we are seeing is the safety net of the NHS being stretched to the absolute limit, and in some places its breaking. Advertisement

A frustrated Colin, who has been treating Peter for 18 years, says: 'I'm gutted. Of course were gutted, its disappointing because you build yourself up for it and get ready.

'Its disappointing for the patient, he will be going home now, can you imagine how he feels?

'It means organising the whole thing again, equipment-wise, personnel-wise, it means all the people in the clinics that were coming in a few weeks time need to be cancelled. The whole thing is like a moving jigsaw, they all get pushed along.

'There is a risk of his large aneurysm rupturing so we need to get him moving along as soon as possible.'

His wife of 36 years, says of her husband: 'I love him as much now as I ever did.

'I've just found it very difficult the whole journey because he is a very special person It has been difficult I wish I was just stronger. Luckily Peter is really positive and I try my best to me but he understands I'm not like him.'

Peter finally has his operation a month later under the care of eight surgeons, three anaesthetists, a prefusionist and three scrubs.

Lead vascular surgeon Richard Gibbs says: 'The financial cost is enormous and I think it is a really optimistic thing that we push on and try and get people like this sorted out, no matter how big the team or how expensive it is.'

After his operation Peter endured six weeks in intensive care battling with pneumonia, but unfortunately, despite the best efforts of hospital staff, he passed away.

BBC cameras spent a week at the hospital in London, recording the everyday catastrophes that are consuming the health service.

After two months of coordinating a team of experts an operation has to be cancelled because the intensive care unit is at full capacity

St Mary's Hospital team star in the BBC Two documentary. (L-R) the staff Katie Pritchard, Richard Gibbs, Ali Sanders, Angus Lewis, Andrew Chukwuemeka, Helgi Johannsson, Ruchi Sinha, Colin Bicknell, Sadie Syed, Leanne Moran

It was deemed at 'Code Red' - meaning there are no beds available anywhere, either in the hospital itself or anywhere else within the health trust.

Bosses are filmed discussing the 'full capacity protocol', a series of extreme measures for busy situations, such as placing adults in children's wards.

For site director Lesley Powls, it is her job to find beds and allocate them to patients but it isn't an easy task especially when there are none.

'This is really bad, Im sure it has been worse but this is particularly bad,' she says.

The first episode depicted the story of doctors deciding between a cancer patient and an elderly woman with a ruptured blood vessel as to who received a bed.

But the heartbreaking footage showed that Simon, who had already have surgery to remove his tumour postponed once, had to endure another wait.

Tragically, he died just weeks later.

The Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.

A&E departments are known to be dealing with their busiest winter in 15 years as some doctors claim they have never seen it so bad.

Jeremy Hunt earlier this month begged people to stay away from crisis-hit hospitals

Earlier this month, the Red Cross warned hospitals were facing a 'humanitarian crisis' after an elderly woman died after spending 35 hours waiting on a trolley.

She passed away at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, while another - also on a trolley - suffered a fatal aneurysm in the same department.

Red Cross chief executive Mike Adamson said: 'The British Red Cross is on the front line, responding to the humanitarian crisis in our hospital and ambulance services across the country.

'We have been called in to support the NHS and help get people home from hospital and free up much-needed beds.'

While Jeremy Hunt has since begged people to stay away from crisis-hit hospitals.

The Health Secretary claimed 30 per cent of people using casualty units did not need to be there, pointing to cases of broken fingernails, drunkenness and back ache.

Hospital airs on BBC Two tonight, at 9pm
A Las Vegas woman says she was left devastated after staff at a retail Lululemon store mocked her for her weight - despite her recently slimmed down figure.

Heather Albert was travelling to Park City in Utah for a work trip when her fiancee told her to get herself something from the city's retail store.

The workout gear was a new luxury for the 35-year-old, who had recently dropped 80 pounds (36 kilos) through weight loss surgery and hard work.

Despite her initial excitement at checking out the store, she claims two staff members in the store made no effort to hide their rude remarks.

Disheartened: Despite recently dropping 80 pounds (36 kilos) Heather Albert claims she was insulted by staff at a Lululemon store who giggled her new size 10 frame

She took to the store's Facebook page afterwards to share her experience, one she referred to as 'demeaning, disheartening, and discouraging', speaking to Daily Mail.

'There were two EDs in the store, and I was the only customer,' she explained in the post.

'Shortly after I walked in, I heard one whisper (loudly) to the other, "DO we even have anything in her size?" and both proceeded to giggle.

'I was the only customer in the store. I knew it was directed at me. I was mortified.'

Retail shopping: The 35-year-old said she had only shopped at the outlet store previously, and it was her first experience in a proper store

Hours later, after she had attended a work event, the experience was still upsetting her. She revealed she had returned to her hotel room and proceeded to cry in the shower.

Since her post, Heather told Daily Mail she had been contacted by both the assistant manager and manager of the store in question, who she says assured her this is not the way they do business.

She said the manager had asked for a description of the salespeople, which she provided.

Her post to the store's Facebook page was not a cry for publicity, she says - she just wanted an apology.

Feeling fit! Heather's recent weight loss surgery and hard work had brought her to a size 10, which is stocked by the company

'If it ends up fixing the people that were rude to me, so that everyone feels welcome to shop in the store and nobody feels ashamed, then I suppose I've gotten through,' she said.

'I just hope that no one else has to go through that.'

A spokesperson for Lululemon told Daily Mail that customer satisfaction was one of their highest priorities.

'We welcome everyone in our community into our stores and love to celebrate the creation and completion of health and fitness goals  regardless of shape or size,' the spokesperson said.

'Heather Albert reached out to us yesterday afternoon around 11am with her concerns about her experience at the Park City UT store.

'Lululemon engaged with her immediately and the resolution is in process to ensure she felt heard and valued as a guest.'
Until mid-last year, Olivia Bartold was an active young woman from Sydney, working full time, studying online, and going to the gym daily.

But after she was bitten by a tick during a trip to Canada, her world was turned upside down.

Olivia's body started to betray her. She was unable to walk, had a fever, and said she couldn't even turn her body to get her phone and call for help.

Olivia Bartold (pictured) was a healthy and active 20-year-old until she was bitten by a tick in Canada

The 20-year-old had a fever, couldn't walk, and had high toxicity levels in her liver

WHAT IS LYME DISEASE? - Lyme disease is a bacterial infection. - It's most commonly caused by bites from ticks. - Symptoms include everything from headaches, fever and muscle soreness to hair loss and painful convulsions. - Doctors continue to deny the presence of Lyme disease in Australia. Source: Lyme disease Association Advertisement

In addition she was extremely fatigued and her liver had an extremely high toxicity levels.

The 20-year-old was admitted to hospital, diagnosed with Parvo virus, and told that she would eventually get better.

But after months and months, she still wasn't improving. If she missed a dose of steroids her body would lock up and be unable to move.

It's had a significant impact on Olivia's life, taking away almost all of her independence.

'I can only work two days a week and that covers my rent, food and petrol,' the 20-year-old told Daily Mail Australia.

'I cant do anything, I cant swim in an ocean because I'm so vulnerable. I was such an active person, I went to the gym every day.

'From neck to toe every muscle in my body is in pain constantly. I've had to move back home, and I dont even have my own room.'

She said the pain was unbearable and in 'every muscle' of her body

It was only after a friend casually mentioned Lyme disease that Olivia realised that a tick bite she got in Canada the year before might be the cause of her illness.

Desperate, she called up the only two specialists in New South Wales that deal with the disease.

Olivia was finally able to see the doctor, who confirmed that she did in fact have Lyme disease.

While it was partly good news, since there was finally a diagnosis, it was also bad news for her financially.

However because Lyme Disease isn't recognised in Australia Olivia is forced to pay a lot of money for her medication

Lyme disease isn't officially recognised in Australia, so Olivia's medications are not covered by Medicare.

'I'm on 17 different medications daily, as well as weekly injections,' she explained. 'The doctor I see is $650 a visit, and testing costs $2,000.

'Nothing is covered by Medicare.'

To try and help with the costs, Olivia set up a Go Fund Me account to raise money. Doctors estimate that the course of treatment she is on now will cost $10,000 before it is completed.

'The pain it brings on is nothing like I've ever experienced,' she wrote on the page.

Olivia was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in January 2017, and is currently undergoing treatment

'From the moment of wake its a physical and mental pain that is so repetitive, day to day.

'Any movement from walking, going to sit down, reaching for something, turning over in bed is excruciating and doesn't subside.'

'If this doesn't work the only other option is treatment overseas in Germany,' the 20-year-old told Daily Mail Australia. 'But I'm hoping this will work.'
A company is seeking female cleaners to clean houses in the nude - for 45 an hour.

London-based Naturist Cleaners has raised eyebrows after adverts appeared on Facebook this week asking for women to offer their services for members of the nudist community.

The firm claims cleaners in the buff are becoming increasingly popular and that their employees help make a typically boring chore 'one of the most fun'.

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Naturist Cleaners has raised eyebrows after adverts appeared on Facebook this week asking for women to offer their services for members of the nudist community

The ad reads: 'We are looking for female naturist cleaners who can clean private houses nude.

'The job will require doing all general cleaning like dusting, tidying up, vacuuming, watering plants, making beds, using the washing machine, ironing clothes and cleaning windows.'

The posting was accompanied by images of women performing their cleaning duties in the buff.

MailOnline has contacted Naturist Cleaners for more information.

The company appears to be seeking to expand after starting out in the capital two and a half years ago, with local ads springing up in places like Peterborough, Surrey and Southport

Men need not apply! The posting was accompanied by images of women performing their cleaning duties in the buff, with prices starting at 65 an hour for their male clients

The company, which has almost 900 Facebook followers, appears to be seeking to expand after starting out in the capital two and a half years ago, with local ads springing up in places like Peterborough, Surrey and Southport.

After the adverts emerged, one horrified Facebook user wrote: 'I don't believe it!'

Owner Laura Smith told Get Surrey the company operates 'like an agency' and said they were only seeking women because the majority of their clients are men.

The company, which has almost 900 Facebook followers, appears to be seeking to expand after starting out in the capital two and a half years ago

It calls itself 'one of UKs leading naturist and nude cleaning service providers' and claims customers can 'choose our nude cleaners that suit your preferences'.

According to its website, prices start at 65 an hour plus 55 per additional hour after that. It is believed the company takes a 20 cut.

It also offers fully-clothed cleaners in 'a proper work uniform' - but charges less than half the price for this service.

A blog posted on Naturist Cleaners' website reads: 'There is nothing out there that even comes close to the unique, fun and exciting experience of hiring a maid for a nude cleaning service'

The firm also offers fully-clothed cleaners in 'a proper work uniform' - but charges less than half the price for this service, according to its website

Naturist Cleaners describes its 'maids' as 'beautiful, fun, intelligent girls who are great to be around'.

In a blog post on the site, it says: 'There is nothing out there that even comes close to the unique, fun and exciting experience of hiring a maid for a nude cleaning service.

'Its the kind of experience you never forget, and its the kind of experience that can keep a huge smile on your face for the rest of the week.'
A man who wanted to surprise his girlfriend with a proposal when she least expected it decided to enlist the help of his local police department to inject some real drama into proceedings.

Jason DePalma, 38, from Florida, asked the officers at the St. Johns County Police Department in Florida to pull him over for a fake traffic offence so he could get down on one knee to girlfriend Sarah Moody.

DePalma filmed the whole proposal, from his car flying through a red stop sign to being blue-lighted by the cops and, finally, the heartwarming moment a shocked Moody said yes.

Crime of passion! Romantic Jason DePalma persuaded his local police department to help him propose to girlfriend Sarah Moody by creating a fake traffic stop

She said yes! With the St. Johns County Police officer in the background DePalma and Moody embrace

The couple share their moment with the police officers and DePalma admits he was shaking throughout

The video begins with a smiling DePalma setting up a dash camera in his car and asking his girlfriend to wave at it.

She says: 'You're not going to put this on YouTube, are you?'

Little did she know that DePalma was about to speed through a red stop sign in a well rehearsed scenario and be followed by two patrol cars into a car park.

He's then told to get out of the car and raise his hands above his head. Playing the role brilliantly, DePalma looks terrified, as does his wife-to-be.

When the police officers command him to get down on bended knee, he breaks into a broad grin and makes his proposal.

He tells her: 'Babe, you have been the most amazing thing that has come in my life. Will you spend the rest of it with me?'

The video begins with DePalma setting up a dashcam and asking his unsuspecting girlfriend to wave at the camera

In his panic, DePalma did actually speed through the red stop sign, which he hadn't planned to

She responds: 'Oh my god, you scared the s*** out of me' before answering in the affirmative.

DePalma explained to ABC News: 'The officers were sitting on the side of the road waiting for us.'

'As we were walking down to the car I was in contact with them the whole time. They saw me and pulled up behind us and she was scared. You can see the response of how shocked she was.'

Two - and then three - patrol cars arrived and asked DePalma to get out of his vehicle and put his hands above his head

Playing along, DePalma raises his hands above his head...before getting down on one knee and saying: 'Babe, you have been the most amazing thing that has come in my life. Will you spend the rest of it with me?'

While still filming: DePalma produces a ring and tells Moody she has been the greatest thing in her life

Heading for the aisle: The couple embrace and the police officers cheer

The jittery groom to be was actually supposed to respect the rules of the road but he was so nervous that he sped through the stop sign - and earned himself a genuine ticking off.

Commader Chuck Mulligan said they had to give the excitable driver a warning because: 'we have to consider public safety before anything else. That was the one misstep.
A business executive has been dubbed 'Britain's most understanding boss' after he gave two employees permission to spend a year working remotely from cities around the world.

Ian Mattioli, chief executive and co-founder of wealth management firm Mattioli Wood, has given the green light to Chris Smith and Suzanne Walker because he believes businesses need to adapt to meet the needs of younger employees.

He said: 'We have these millennials who come to work for different reasons than we do and some of the things they say may actually be right.'

Mr Smith, 36, and Miss Walker, 33, who are in a relationship, will visit 12 cities over the next 12 months, using the internet to keep up with work while they are away.

Jetting off: Ian Mattioli, left, chief executive and co-founder of wealth management firm Mattioli Wood, has given Chris Smith and Suzanne Walker, right, permission to work remotely because he believes businesses need to adapt to meet the needs of younger employees

World travelers: Chris Smith and Suzanne Walker will travel more than 35,000 miles as they visit 12 cities around the world over the next 12 months, as seen on the map above

The couple, who wanted to travel without sacrificing their careers, will work from serviced offices in destinations including Bogota, Prague and Phnom Penh - and will not have to set foot in the firm's Leicester headquarters until 2018.

The first stop on the 35,000 mile trip is Mexico City, Mexico, followed by the Colombian cities of Medellin and Bogota.

The couple then continue on to Lima, Peru, and two stops in Argentina before leaving South America for Europe. A tour of South East Asia then follows before the couple return to their base near Leicester at the end of the year.

Mr Mattioli, 54, said the couple were 'a bit fearful' when they first approached him with the idea, explaining: 'I think they thought the answer would be "no".

Instead the businessman wanted to 'work out a solution'.

He said: 'Suzanne has been here since her 21st birthday and Chris has been here 10 years. We want to keep them.

'If we offer some flexibility there two will come back with great stories, they will be better for it and they will work for us. I'm proud of them. I wish I could do it.'

Plotting their journey: The couple will have stops in South America, Europe and Asia

He added he was forward to seeing how 'effective and productive remote working can actually be'.

The couple will travel the world with a group of mainly American professionals known known as 'digital nomads', who want to travel the world and keep their jobs.

The package, arranged by travel company Remote Year, includes flights, accommodation and the use of offices in each country.

TRAVEL LOG: THE 12 STOPS ON THEIR TRIP January: Mexico City, Mexico February: Bogota, Colombia March: Medellin, Colombia April: Lima, Peru May: Cordoba, Argentina June: Buenos Aires, Argentina July: Prague, Czech Republic August: Belgrade, Serbia September: Valencia, Spain October: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia November: Chiang Mai, Thailand December: Phnom Penh, Cambodia Advertisement

Mr Smith and Ms Walker will travel through South America, Asia and Europe, spending a month in each location.

And while they will work from offices during the day, evenings, weekends and holidays will be reserved for exploring the local sights.

Ms Walker, a technical specialist said: 'We both really like to travel and wanted the opportunity to spend time exploring various parts of the world.

'But we realised that to do that properly, we would probably have to take 12 months out from work.

'We thought that would probably mean us having to give up our jobs, which neither of us wanted to do because we really like working for the company.

'We've both been there quite a while and neither of us wanted to leave. It's incredibly exciting to be the first people in the company to trial this arrangement.

'Everyone at work has been really supportive and positive about it. Most tourists have to cram in so many things in a very short space of time.

'We won't have that pressure, as we'll have a month at each destination to fit in everything we want to do.'

Inspiration: The couple will swap their Leicestershire office, pictured, for 12 different cities around the world as they set off on their once-in-a-lifetime journey

Mr Smith added: 'Technology means people no longer have to be tied to the office to get their work done each day.

'We might not always be working at the exact same time as our colleagues back in the UK because of different time zones.

'But we will always be contactable and, thanks to the digital age, we will have the means to fulfil our work duties just as though we were at our desks.'

Mr Mattioli added: 'I am delighted that, as a business, we have been able to support Suzanne and Chris on the Remote Year programme, which enables them to combine work with their dream of travelling.'
She's the make-up artist every A-lister has on speed-dial, counts Kate Moss as her best pal and was enlisted by Amal Clooney to beautify her for her wedding day, so it's safe to say Charlotte Tilbury knows a thing or two about makeup.

The beauty guru, who also works with Jennifer Aniston, the Delevingnes and Sienna Miller, was enlisted by This Morning to reveal how to knock years off your face with just a few clever makeup tricks.

Mother-of-two Charlotte, who jets all over the world beautifying famous faces, treated 62-year-old Sue Savory, from London, to a youth-boosting makeover - and viewers were left astounded by the transformation.

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Sue Savory, 62, was treated to a youth-boosting makeover by A-list beauty guru Charlotte Tilbury - and the before and after shots are incredible

Speaking on the show, Sue says: 'Charlotte, please can you show me how to do my makeup as how it should be now, rather than using the same makeup I've been using for 30 years.'

Charlotte, who used her own product range, explains that this is the same look that she's done before on Jennifer Aniston, describing it as 'not too heavy or intense but really pretty.'

She begins by using a moisturiser packed with hyaluronic acid and retinol to get rid of wrinkle lines and plump up the skin.

Then she brushes on foundation to even out of the skin tone and reduce redness, which, she says, is ageing.

'Evening out your skintone immediately takes years off you. And don't forget to extend it down to the neck,' she adds.

Sue, pictured with Charlotte, is delighted with the final look, exclaiming: 'Crikey. I would never, ever of guessed that someone could do that to me. Thank you'

Speaking on the show, Sue, pictured before, says: 'Charlotte, please can you show me how to do my makeup as how it should be now, rather than using the same makeup I've been using for 30 years'

Presenters Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield are equally impressed, noting that it looks like she's been to see a surgeon, even hailing Charlotte a 'wizard'

She then applies concealer around the eyes to get rid of dark circles, followed by powder down the T-zone.

Next, she addresses her brows, which Charlotte says are 'incredibly important' because they are the pillars of the face.

'Use little strokes in the way the brows grow, which can really lift your entire face,' she explains.

'It is incredibly important to use a brow mascara when you're older as it literally grows the hairs where you thought you'd plucked them out.'

She also uses eyelash curlers to open the eyes and a bronzy eye pencil along lash line.

Using a bronzer, she asks Sue to suck in her cheeks before sweeping the bronze hue along her jawline. 'This gives more definition around the jawline and lifts it,' she explains. 'It's a great old Hollywood trick'

Charlotte explains: 'It is incredibly important to use a brow mascara when you're older as it literally grows the hairs where you thought you'd plucked them out'

Using a bronzer, she asks Sue to suck in her cheeks before sweeping the bronze hue along her jawline. 'This gives more definition around the jawline and lifts it,' she explains. 'It's a great old Hollywood trick.'

Finally, she resizes her lips with a nude lip liner. She adds: 'As one gets older, lips thin and go inwards so this giver you a voluptuous pout. It is important and flattering to use rose bud colours that lift the face.'

Sue is delighted with the final look, exclaiming: 'Crikey. I would never, ever of guessed that someone could do that to me. Thank you.'

Presenters Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield are equally impressed, noting that it looks like she's been to see a surgeon, even hailing Charlotte a 'wizard'.

Viewers took to Twitter in their droves to comment on the amazing results.
A woman who received a devastating dementia diagnosis has revealed her battle to initially get doctors to take her seriously.

Laura Borrell, 39, from Hertfordshire, was studying for a Law degree when she began to get easily confused and struggled with slurred speech.

Speaking on This Morning today, Borrell said doctors were baffled by her condition, assuming she was too young to have dementia, and told her she was being 'hysterical'.

'Cruel': Laura Borrell, 39, was diagnosed with frontotemporal degenerative dementia in 2015. She explained on This Morning how doctors had initially called her a 'hysterical white female' when she raised concerns about her health including slurred speech and confusion

Borrell, pictured alongside her husband Phil, 41, told show hosts Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield about the 'real battle' they had to get a correct diagnosis for her illness

Support: Viewers took to Twitter to say they found the couple's plight heartbreaking

Appearing alongside her husband Phil, Borrell said it was a 'real battle' to be taken seriously about her health fears.

She said: 'I thought I was absolutely going crazy. They [neurologists] were vile, they were so rude to me, they even referred to me as a hysterical white female.'

Laura explained how she had to give up her studies and became afraid to leave the house when she found herself easily confused, forgetful and struggling with her speech.

In June 2015, tests revealed she had frontotemporal degenerative dementia - a condition very rarely seen in anyone under the age 65.

The family are now fundraising so Borrell can have one last road trip with her husband before her memories are 'taken away'.

Phi Borrell, 41, explained: 'When it first started, she would have episodes which lasted two or three minutes.

'She would have problems with language and wouldnt be able to say coherent words.'

Phil Borrell explained that his wife is getting worse, with 'episodes' of confusion occurring daily

He explained the 'episodes' have become more frequent: 'It is every day now. She was getting a bit stressed before she came [to the studio] and she went into a brief episode.'

Those watching the 39-year-old's appearance on This Morning said they were heartbroken for her.

@chorleycakedave wrote: 'Just pay for anything this couple wishes for. Unreal the bravery and dignity this girl has. #dementia'

@Amyyh18 'Must be absolutely devastating! Imagine having dementia at 39yrs old'

@staceylacey7 added: 'Brave lady on @thismorning - dementia at 39 doesn't bear thinking about.Amazing that she has the courage to make others aware.'

@challiszillwood agreed, saying: 'This woman on #ThisMorning with Dementia at 39. What a brave amazing lady. Only ten years older than me. So sad.'

@Lovelylisa09 added: 'Poor lady on @thismorning 39 and diagnosed with dementia. Scary though and such a cruel disease!'

Dcotors do not know how quickly her cognitive functions will decline, but Borrell, has been warned she will lose her short-term memory, forget familiar people and eventually become reliant on her husband.

She told Holly and Phil how the confusion makes her feel: 'The best way I can describe it is if you're listening to lots and lots of bits of music and somebody said to you: "pick a song out" and you can't quite get there. You can hear it, but you can't quite get there.'

The couple are heading to Boston in the US to begin a road trip that they hope will create new memories

Laura Borrell (pictured) had to give up a law degree and became afraid to leave the house when she found herself easily confused, forgetful and struggled with her speech

In June 2015 tests revealed she had frontotemporal degenerative dementia, which usually comes on in people aged 65 and older. Her family are fundraising so she can create memories with her husband, Philip, (pictured together) before hers are 'taken away'

Mrs Borrell said: 'I haven't even had my 40th birthday but already I feel like life as I knew it is over.

'Not knowing how long I have left before I need further care is torture.

'I might wake up in five years' time and not recognise my husband, or it could happen in six months, we don't know.

Medics do not know how quickly her cognitive functions will decline, but Mrs Borrell, has been warned she will lose her short-term memory

'All I can do is try and make as many memories as possible while I still have them.'

The couple have created a Go Fund Me page in the hope of raising funds so they can go on a road trip around America before Mrs Borrell's memory declines.

They have raised 3,000 so far and say they are in a 'race against time' to create special memories together.

When Mrs Borrell was 32-years-old she was diagnosed with Ehlers-danlos syndrome, lupus and blood clotting condition Hughes Syndrome at St Thomas's Hospital in London.

She was then advised she would spend the rest of her life on medication and to never have children as pregnancy would put her health at risk.

Four years later, in 2015 Mrs Borrell began slurring speech and she got 'muddled' with words.

She recalled: 'I was two years into a law degree at the time and suddenly I was struggling with my language in a way I never had before.

'I'd confuse certain words for others and sometimes would forget words entirely.

The have raised 1,600 so far and say they are in a 'race against time' to create special memories together

'It meant I got muddled and couldn't keep up with what lecturers were saying.

'There were changes in my personal life, too. My mum would call for a chat and I'd be unable to recognise her voice, despite the fact we talk all the time and are extremely close.

'Though I knew things weren't right I didn't want to acknowledge what was going on because I was scared of what my symptoms might mean.'

Mrs Borrell's symptoms became progressively worse and she dropped out of her law degree at the University of London, despite having another two years of the course still to complete.

NHS medics did brain scans and blood tests but Mrs Borrell then spent 2,000 on private consultations to hurry tests as her symptoms worsened.

When Mrs Borrell was 32-years-old she diagnosed with Ehlers-danlos syndrome, lupus and blood clotting condition Hughes Syndrome

On Monday she will return to hospital to be given the blood thinner Warfarin, in an 'experimental' attempt to stunt the symptoms

Mrs Borrell said: 'I heard the word 'dementia' and felt sick. Like most people, I associated the condition with elderly people - whereas I'm not even 40 yet.

'I was told my cognitive functions would become increasingly impaired and I was likely to forget familiar people, places and things and become more dependent on loved-ones.

'I cried at the thought of losing my independence and not recognising my own husband. It felt like a shadow had just been cast over the rest of my life.'

It is thought that Mrs Borrell has an autoimmune form of the condition that could be linked to the fact she has blood clotting condition Hughes Syndrome.

She has been told not much research has been done on this particular form of dementia, and that it could be influenced by levels of glucose to the frontal lobe of the brain, which controls cognitive functions.
Ivanka Trump and her family are preparing to move to Washington, D.C., and just a few days before her father Donald's inauguration, the mother-of-three took her eldest children on one of their last school runs as New Yorkers.

The 35-year-old looked utterly glamorous in a thigh-grazing dress, an A-line wool coat, and $145 black suede heels from her eponymous line as she stepped out the door of her Park Avenue apartment on Wednesday with her daughter Arabella, five, and her son Joseph, three.

Although Ivanka usually flashes a smile at the photographers waiting outside her door, she remained focused on her children as she escorted them to the SUV waiting outside their building for them.

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Out and about: Ivanka Trump took her eldest children, Arabella and Joseph, on a school run on Wednesday morning

Doting mom: The 35-year-old held three-year-old Joseph's hand while five-year-old Arabella walked closely behind them

The businesswoman wore her long blond hair straight, and flowing down her back, and she accessorized her look with a pair of cat-eye sunglasses.

Ivanka held Joseph's hand, and Arabella stayed close to her mother and brother as they walked out of their building.

Arabella, who started kindergarten in September, was wearing her school uniform, a puffy winter coat, and a navy backpack over her shoulders.

Busy mom: Ivanka remained focused on her children as she escorted them to the SUV waiting outside their building for them

Meanwhile, Joseph sported a similar puffy coat, cargo pants, blue Velcro sneakers, and his orange backpack, which features a pair of googly eyes.

Ivanka was presumably heading to her office after the drop off, and her brothers Donald Jr. and Eric were photographed entering Trump Tower during her school run.

On Friday, Ivanka will officially become First Daughter when her father is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, and she took to her Instagram account yesterday to celebrate the upcoming inauguration.

Looking glam: Ivanka donned a thigh-grazing dress, an A-line wool coat, and $145 black suede heels from her eponymous line as she stepped out the door of her Park Avenue

Big moment: Ivanka will officially become First Daughter on Friday when her father Donald is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States

Ivanka proudly shared a photo of herself posed next to a cake featuring a model of her father standing in front of the White House.

'Now this is a cake! The whole office is incredibly excited about the upcoming inauguration and 45th Presidency but will miss @realdonaldtrump come Friday!' she wrote.

Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, 36, are moving into the luxurious neighborhood of Kalorama to raise her children, and to help with the move, she enlisted her five-year-old daughter to pack with her later that night.

Busy as can be: Ivanka's younger brother Eric, 33, was photographed walking into Trump Tower on Wednesday morning

Family affair: Ivanka's older brother Donald Jr., 39, was also seen entering their office building

Doting daughter: Ivanka took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo of herself posed next to a cake honoring her father's upcoming inauguration

During their preparations, the mom shared a photo of Arabella posing on their coffee table in her pajamas, with a towel on her wet hair.

'My little packing buddy!' she captioned the image, which sees her usually immaculate apartment covered in boxes.

The family's elegant new home has six bedrooms and is only two blocks apart from where the Obamas will reside after Donald takes over the Oval Office.

'Packing buddy': The mom also posted a photo of Arabella surrounded by boxes in their apartment. The family is moving to Washington, D.C. for Donald's presidency

First Family: Ivanka is pictured with her dad and her brothers at the President-elect's press conference earlier this month

Happy family: Ivanka's husband Jared has been named the President-elect's senior adviser. They are pictured with their children in Hawaii over the holidays

It is expected that Donald's eldest daughter will take over some of the ceremonial roles traditionally associated with the First Lady while her stepmother Melania Trump remains in New York to raise her 10-year-old son, Baron.

While Ivanka is taking a leave of absence from the Trump Organization and her eponymous fashion lines, Jared will be working as Donald's senior adviser.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that she was pushing back the release of her new book because of the 'momentous changes' in her life.

Ivanka and her publisher, Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, changed the release of her book 'Women Who Work' from early March to May 2, and the publication will now include a preface she wrote after the election.
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Surrounded by rose petals and candles and stood in front of Brooklyn Bridge, this is the moment that a man asked his girlfriend one of the most important questions of his life.

After the woman agreed to marry her boyfriend, who had flown into New York to surprise her, cheers and congratulations followed and the couple celebrated their engagement with their assembled family and friends.

Unbeknown to the newly engaged couple, only known as 'J' and 'S', they were also being watched by an amateur photographer who happened to be passing and captured the intimate moment.

In love: Amateur photographer anonymously captures romantic picture of couple getting engaged in Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York

James Tran, 25, spotted the couple when he was walking through Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York last Saturday shortly before the engagement.

He shared his photo of the couple on Reddit in a bid to track down the couple.

The food distribution worker from Pompton Plains, New Jersey, was walking around Brooklyn with his camera in search of interesting pictures.

'It was of course pretty cold considering it was snowing, so I didn't expect to see a lot of people out.

'But then I noticed a group of people on each side of what I noticed was an aisle comprised of electronic candles and rose petals.

'Knowing that I came across a soon to be proposal, I decided to stick around,' he told Daily Mail Online.

Captured: Amateur photographer James Tran, 25, spotted the couple when he was walking through the New York park

After a few minutes he saw the woman being led to the spot by a friend.

He added: 'As she walked down the aisle, people on both sides gave her a single rose, which I thought was so sweet.

'As he spoke to her, I was able to snap the photo. After she gleefully said yes, cheers and congratulatory praise ensued.

'It was then I realized I was very out of place, being a stranger and all.'

In the excitement of the moment, he was unable to get contact details for the couple so instead he shared the photograph on Reddit.

The picture was viewed tens of thousands of times in just a few hours and James was soon contacted by the couple.

He said: 'I'm not exactly sure where they're based. She had told me via email that she had flew in for the weekend, and he surprised her.'
Last week, fashion bible British Vogue issued an intriguing style diktat. Deputy editor Emily Sheffield, the sister of Samantha Cameron no less, declared that the kitten heel is the perfect shoe.

The reason? Not just because its more comfortable, but because it gives just the right amount of lift to the derriere without hampering swift movement.

But can the height of your heel really transform the look of your posterior?

To find out, we tested eight pairs of shoes on one model, and asked consultant podiatrist Emma Supple to explain how each affects everything from bottom lift to bunions...

TRAINERS

Wearing trainers makes the bottom look larger, but this reflects a strong posture

Wearing trainers makes the bottom look larger, but this reflects a strong posture. The feet are well-supported  particularly at the heel, where the larger bones of the foot are located  and weight is evenly distributed between heel and toe.

Trainers allow the foot to move freely through its whole range of motion, which means that the bottom is flattened as you walk.

But engaging the gluteal muscles through exercise results in a firmer bottom in the long term by counteracting the effects of sitting down for long stretches.

An Israeli study has shown that prolonged sitting makes it more likely youll store fat in this part of the body.

Basically, the more you sit, the bigger your bottom will become.

FLATS

A flat shoe may be comfortable, but it can have the effect of making any saddlebags more evident

A flat shoe may be comfortable, but it can have the effect of making any saddlebags more evident.

The bottom consists of the three gluteal muscles: the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus.

But unless you automatically clench when standing, the gluteal muscles are relaxed, so the bottom effectively droops unattractively off the base of your spine.

Many women will find a 2 in or 3 in heel is better. Because of the structure of the foot, I call this the perfect heel height.

The other problem with a flat shoe is that any architectural issues with your feet will be highlighted.

The effects of a flat foot, a high arch or one leg longer than the other will be exacerbated.

This will also impact the look of the bottom, which may appear asymmetrical  with one side tilted higher than the other.

In addition, many flat shoes have pointed toes, which may cause pain and, ultimately, corns and bunions.

BLOCK HEELS

Theres far more stability in a thicker block heel, so your body weight is better distributed

Theres far more stability in a thicker block heel, so your body weight is better distributed.

Its obvious that our model is standing more comfortably, and her entire posture is better than in the kitten heels.

But, because of this, her bottom isnt pushed out and looks flatter, which is less attractive. A pert bottom clearly doesnt necessarily go hand-in-hand with physical comfort!

This is a great shoe style if you naturally stand with your weight on the outside of your feet because it gives support to the ankle as well as the foot.

The round toe is also better for the feet, and the legs are aligned in a near-perfect position.

If you suffer back or knee pain from a block heel, experiment with the height (this pair pictured are 2.5 in, but block heels vary from 1 in upwards). It could be that youre wearing the wrong one.

KITTEN HEELS

This is the most comfortable heel height for many women and  in the short term at least  it results in higher, firmer-looking buttocks

This is the most comfortable heel height for many women and  in the short term at least  it results in higher, firmer-looking buttocks.

You can see that the posture instantly changes. Unless the core muscles are totally engaged  which is unlikely in most of us, unless you are very fit  the body compensates by pushing the bottom out, with the pelvis tipping forwards to balance.

After a while, thats probably going to give some pain in the lower back, but it definitely makes for a perkier rear.

The leg muscles are in optimal position, which is why the vast majority of us are most comfortable with a small heel  although a pointed toe, which compresses the foot, may cause pain.

You can also wear a kitten heel for longer than a higher one.

Although not many of us could run in high heels, you might just about manage in their little sisters.

STILETTOS

These shoes create the perfect peach  the models legs look longer and her bottom is high and looks taut

These shoes create the perfect peach  the models legs look longer and her bottom is high and looks taut.

But before you throw out all your flatties, according to a study last year, prolonged wear of stilettos over a period of years may eventually lead to weaker muscles and poorer balance.

Adjusting to the uneven weight distribution puts pressure on the knees and lower back because the pelvis is swung into an unnatural position. The domino effect is that the whole body is out of kilter, with the spine in an unnatural curve.

The weight of the body is pushing on the toes, which will eventually cause discomfort and may even lead to conditions such as hammer toe because of the effort of staying balanced. So wear stilettos with caution  and not every day.

WEDGES

The leg-lengthening effect of a wedge cant counteract the fact that the hips may be skewed and the buttocks uneven

The leg-lengthening effect of a wedge cant counteract the fact that the hips may be skewed and the buttocks uneven. This is because the mobility of the feet is severely restricted by the shoe, making the body tense and rigid.

Many women assume wedges will be more comfortable than a thinner heel, but the foot is effectively immobilised, as the shoes dont bend. As you walk, the foot cant go through its full range of motion, so you stomp slightly, slamming the foot down, rather than gliding.

Having to change balance from one side to the other means the hips and bum cheeks are out of line and the waist looks less defined.

However, if you have arthritis in your big toe and genuinely want to block some movement, this style might be appropriate.

HIGH HEELS

A high stiletto such as the pair our model is wearing means you are effectively standing on your tiptoes

A high stiletto such as the pair our model is wearing means you are effectively standing on your tiptoes. The bottom looks smaller because its been raised by the heel height.

But standing and walking on the balls of your feet will shift the centre of gravity, forcing the spine to arch and leading to back pain.

The models entire body is working very hard to maintain this totally unnatural stance. While her legs look long and her bottom tiny, every step will be agony.

These are limo shoes, not walking shoes  the lion heel to the kitten.

The tissues of the foot would probably start to hurt within half-an-hour or so of simply standing, leaving the feet feeling as though theyre burning. Long term, shoes this high will lead to bunions, corns and calluses, as well as backache.

PLATFORMS

This style pushes the bottom outwards, as well as lengthening the legs and lifting the cheeks

This style pushes the bottom outwards, as well as lengthening the legs and lifting the cheeks.

But, again, foot flexibility is compromised. Although the slope of the heel is offset by the platform at the front, the shoe doesnt bend.

The model looks surprisingly comfortable, which shows in the confident stance and sexy curve to her hip, as well as the wiggle when she walks.

However, her entire body is tilted forwards and shes putting far too much strain on her knees. The wider impact of this can be pain in the back and even the shoulders.

There is probably less pressure on the hips than youd get wearing a stiletto heel of a similar height.

But, although the models bottom looks good in these shoes, its not worth the leg and back pain that will ensue from wearing them because the body is so distorted.
Eric said his husband Les and their children have been completely supportive of him and his

A year after she surprised Corey with her first estrogen prescription, Erica is living as a man named Eric

Erica House, a mother-of-six from Detroit Michigan, proudly supported her daughter Corey after she revealed she was a transgender girl

The mother of a transgender teen girl has revealed that she is also transgender and transitioning into a man.

Erica House, a mother-of-six from Detroit, Michigan, proudly supported her daughter Corey after she revealed she was a transgender girl, and she even surprised her with her first estrogen prescription when she was 14 years old.

Just a year later, Erica is living as a man named Eric, and he told Mirror Online that his husband Les is completely supportive of him and his transition.

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Living his truth: Erica House (left), a mother of a transgender daughter, has revealed that she is living as a man named Eric (right)

Transition: Eric's daughter Corey started taking estrogen in 2015 when she was 14 years old

Finding the strength: Eric said his daughter inspired him to come out about being 'born in the wrong body'. He is pictured as Erica (left) and Eric (right)

Eric came out out to Les in 2015, shortly after their daughter's own transformation from boy to girl, and he eventually told his daughters Chelsea, 22, Kailee, 14, Corey, Ellen, eight, Willow, six, and Savanna, four.

The dad started staking testosterone last February, and he is hoping to have top surgery to have his breasts removed next month.

Although he said it was an 'awful secret' to keep, Eric noted that his 'loved ones were awesome', and it was 'almost like nothing really changed'.

Doting parent: Before he came out, Eric was a proud supporter of Corey and her transition

Living a lie: Eric said he realized he was transgender after watching a video of transgender YouTube star Jazz Jennings with Corey

Finally free: The father has been taking testosterone since February, and he hopes to have tops surgery to remove his breasts next month

As for his husband, Eric insisted that his coming out has positively affected their marriage.

Special issue: Eric and Cory recently appeared in National Geographic together

'Our relationship is actually stronger and better than it ever has been in the 10 years we've been together,' he said.

Eric's daughter Corey was 11 years old when she came across a video of transgender YouTube star Jazz Jennings and realized that she was transgender,

However, Corey was unaware at the time that her mother was also coming to the realization that she was transgender.

It was in that moment that realized she too was 'born in the wrong body'.

'I finally feel complete for the first time in my life,' Eric said of coming out.

According to Mirror Online, Corey and Eric are believed to be the world's first parent and child to publicly state that they are both transitioning.

In 2015, Corey reached online fame when her now-father Eric filmed her heart-wrenching reaction to finding her estrogen prescription hidden behind a couch cushion after two-and-half years of waiting to begin hormone therapy.

Transformation: The father and daughter held up iPads featuring photos of their former selves during the photoshoot

Waiting game: Corey, who is pictured with transgender actress Laverne Cox, is looking forward to turning 18 so she can have surgery

Family photo: Erica and Les are pictured with four of their six daughters before the mom came out as a transgender man

Proud mom: Before she came out, Erica said Corey realized she was transgender when she was 11-years-old after she saw a video of transgender YouTube star Jazz Jennings

When Corey first started dressing like a girl, Eric researched therapists who work with transgender children and was sent five hours away from their home to the gender clinic at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.

Corey was given a $21,000 puberty-suppressing implant that was fully covered by their insurance.

Their therapist and the hospital's medical team agreed that she could star hormone therapy when she turned 14.

Amazing moment: In 2015, Corey reached online fame when her now-father Eric filmed her heart-wrenching reaction to finding her estrogen prescription hidden behind a couch cushion

Stay confident: Corey's mom boosted her self-esteem when she started her transition by telling her to pose for photos when strangers would try to take her picture

The teen has her own Facebook page, and she and her father Eric recently posed for National Geographic Magazine's special issue on gender.

Now Corey is awaiting her 18th birthday, so she can finally have the surgery she has been waiting for.
Bargain of the week

Zalze Old Vine Chenin Blanc (6, normally 7.50, Tesco)

When the weathers cold, this adds instant sunshine.

A bright and breezy South African white from the Western Cape, its packed with lovely lemon peel and peach aromas and tropical fruit flavours, with the older vines adding oomph.

A bright and breezy South African white from the Western Cape, Zalze Old Vine Chenin Blanc is packed with lemon peel and peach aromas and tropical fruit flavours

White

Dom Maxwell The Bloom 2016 (14.99, Naked Wines)

Dom Maxwell has put together Gewurztraminer and Riesling from New Zealands Waipara region, two grapes you dont often see together.

As the name suggests, its floral. All fresh honeysuckle and lychees: just gorgeous.

Food pairing: Vietnamese chicken salad.

Red

Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico 2013 (9.99, Waitrose)

One of the best Chianti Classico wines to hit my glass in recent months, this is an absolute joy  rich and smooth with winter-friendly aromas and flavours: think spiced baked plums.

Its beautifully packaged, too  this looks and feels twice the price. For a single estate Chianti, its a bargain.

Not over bubbles yet? Me neither

Food pairing: Beef stew.

Sparkling

Cava Brut NV (9.50, Tanners)

Not over bubbles yet? Me neither. Made from a blend of Spanish grapes, this is both fresh and toasty, thanks to a second fermentation in the bottle, like champagne.

Now all you need is a reason to open a bottle (clue: its nearly the weekend!).

Food pairing: Breadsticks and hummus.
While happy couples vow to stay together 'til death do us part' on their wedding days, this is often not the case.

And if a new study is to be believed, women may be straying from their husbands after just three years of marriage.

The study, by extramarital affair dating site, Victoria Milan, saw figures assessed from multiple continents to find the average age of women who cheated and how long they had been married for.

If a new study is to be believed, women may be straying from their husbands after just three years of marriage

Where the women were from did play a part however, with women from Ireland found to stray the earliest after just 3.6 years of marriage.

Swedish women were more likely to cheat after 4.1 years while those surveyed in the UK cheated after 4.4 years of marriage.

On a global level, the average length of time between marriage and cheating was around seven to eight years.

Where the women were from did play a part however, with women from Ireland found to stray the earliest after just 3.6 years of marriage

The age of women cheating has also been measured, with women cheating on their partners in the UK found to be between just 25 and 29.

But although younger women were more likely to stray in the UK, in Spain the most common age bracket was 40 - 44 and in Hungary, women between 45 and 49 were more likely to cheat.

Sigurd Vedal, the founder of Victoria Milan, said the findings taught people that in general, women were actively seeking affairs between seven and eight years after getting married.

Where do women cheat the soonest? COUNTRY 1. Ireland 2. Sweden 3. UK 4. Norway 5. France 6. Denmark 7. Germany 8. Portugal 9. Greece 10. Italy AGE OF MARRIAGE (AV) 31.6 33.3 30 31.6 30.8 31.9 30.9 29.8 29.9 31.3 AGE TO CHEAT (AV) 35.2 37.4 34.4 37.1 36.5 37.7 36.7 35.9 36.3 37.8 Advertisement

'Married women start having affairs for various reasons. Perhaps their husband is not giving them the attention and respect they deserve. Perhaps they still love their partners, but the spark has vanished from their marriage,' he said.

'Alternatively, they may have an open relationship, and both have affairs to satisfy their physical needs whilst still sharing a tight emotional bond.'

Despite this, Mr Vedal believes affairs can actually help married women.

'Whatever the reason, having an affair can help married women rediscover their zest for live, their sensuality, and the physical passion they may miss,' he said.

Swedish women were more likely to cheat after 4.1 years while those surveyed in the UK cheated after 4.4 years of marriage

Why do people cheat? * Feelings of entitlement/one deserves to be happy * Sexual novelty * A need for intimacy * A need for variety * Decreasing the pressure of intimacy * Falling in love * The marriage/relationship has been bad for a long time * Their spouse is no longer attractive * To prove they are still young Source: Sexual Health Australia Advertisement

'These are universal needs, and craving sexual pleasure is something billions of us have in common  no matter how many other differences we may well have.'

Another survey by extra-marital dating website Gleeden, also recently showed that 68 per cent of women who cheat choose younger men (on average, 34) because they 'perform better.'

Other reasons included younger men making women feel more feminine and more confident.

Author Maia Mazaurette said the survey showed the desire of women to separate their love lives from their domestic lives.

'The question is not so much why women choose younger lovers - their survey responses are perfectly understandable and legitimate - but why they marry older men,' she said.

'What we can see here is a divide between domesticity and pleasure.

'In our day-to-day lives we want stability, we follow the rules and we want to feel comfortable.'
An estimated 400,000 Americans are currently living with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease where the body's immune cells attack a fatty substance called myelin in the nerves.

Common symptoms are gait and balance disorders, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, pain and muscle spasticity.

Colorado has the highest proportion of people living with MS in the United States. It is estimated that one in 550 people living in the state has MS, compared to one in 750 nationally.

The reason for this is unknown, but could be related to several factors, such as vitamin D deficiency or environment.

Currently available therapies do not sufficiently relieve MS symptoms. As a result many people with the condition are trying alternative therapies, like cannabis.

A woman with MS leaves a licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Illinois. Many people living with MS in Colorado have turned to alternative therapies like cannabis. Colorado has the highest proportion of people living with MS in the US

Based on several studies, the American Association of Neurology states that there is strong evidence that cannabis is effective for treatment of pain and spasticity.

Although there are many anecdotal reports indicating cannabis' beneficial effects for treatment of MS symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, anxiety and sleep deprivation, they have not been scientifically verified.

This is because clinical trials  where patients are given cannabis  are difficult to do because of how the substance is regulated at the federal level.

To learn more, my Integrative Neurophysiology Laboratory at Colorado State University is studying people with MS in the state who are already using medical cannabis as a treatment to investigate what MS symptoms the drug can effectively treat.

COLORADO MEDICS BACK WEED TO TREAT PATIENTS - DESPITE REPORT DECLARING BENEFITS 'UNPROVEN' Students at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have declared their support for the legal use of marijuana. The students viewed the legalization of marijuana favorably, for medicinal or other purposes. Nearly half (49 percent) felt that it had significant physical health benefits and 37 percent believed it had mental health benefits. Those who grew up in Colorado were more in favor of medical marijuana than those who did not grow up there. The same was true for the 127 students who reported having used marijuana before. Co-author Dr Dan Matlock said: 'Clearly, medical students have a need for excellent education on marijuana. There's a lot we don't know and, medically, there is so little data.' A recent report, however, dismissed most of the drug's other supposed 'medical benefits' as unproven. Crucially, the researchers concluded there is not enough research to say whether marijuana effectively treats epilepsy - one of the most widely-recognized reasons for cannabis prescriptions. The report also casts doubt on using cannabis to treat cancers, irritable bowel syndrome, or certain symptoms of Parkinson's disease, or helping people beat addictions. Advertisement

Medical marijuana isn't a prescription drug

Marijuana, or cannabis, contains over 100 compounds, but THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol) are believed to have the most medical relevance.

However, there is currently no information about the most effective ratio of THC and CBD, which form of ingestion (smoking or eating, for instance) is best, or how often people with MS should use cannabis products.

The main reason for the limited scientific evidence about how well cannabis can treat MS symptoms is because it is a Schedule 1 substance.

This means that it has 'no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.' This classification makes it very difficult to study cannabis in clinical trials.

Because cannabis is on Schedule 1, doctors can't prescribe it, even in the states with medical marijuana laws, like Colorado. In those states doctors can provide patients with a 'permission slip' for cannabis, which has to be approved by a state agency.

Because of the lack of scientific evidence, doctors can't recommend a specific strain and dosage of cannabis to patients. Patients are left to choose on their own.

Moreover, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that out of 75 cannabis products, only 17 percent were accurately labeled. And 23 percent contained significantly more THC than labeled, possibly placing patients at risk of experiencing adverse effects.

How we are studying cannabis and MS

My lab's long-term goal is to determine whether cannabis can safely and effectively treat MS symptoms. But because of current federal regulations our lab can conduct only observational studies at this time.

To conduct clinical trials with a Schedule 1 substance, investigators must have a special license, which my lab is in the process of applying for.

At the moment, this means we study only people who are or are about to use cannabis and we do not provide cannabis to anyone for our studies.

We recently completed an online survey of 139 MS patients currently using cannabis to learn what types of products they used, how often they used those products and for how long.

Our results, which have not yet been published, found that 91 of our respondents (66 percent) reported that they currently use cannabis, and 56 percent of the cannabis users reported using either smoked or edible products.

Seventy-eight percent of the cannabis users also indicated that they reduced or even stopped other medications as a result of their cannabis use.

The survey respondents who are using cannabis reported lower disability scores on the Guy's Neurological Disability Scale, a clinical scale used to evaluate neurological disability in people with MS, and they seem less likely to be obese.

However, these data are self-reported, which means objective longer clinical trials are required to confirm these results.

We are also conducting an ongoing observational study, set to be completed in mid-2017, on the effects of regular cannabis use on physical function and activity levels in people with MS.

An MRI scan of a fixed cerebral hemisphere from a person with MS. Thorsten Rudroff from Colorado State University wants to determine whether cannabis can safely and effectively treat MS symptoms

There are many studies on the influence of cannabis on cognitive function in healthy and diseased populations. However, no study to date has used objective measures of motor function in people with MS who are using cannabis, such as muscle strength and fatigue tasks, walking performance and postural stability tests.

Our preliminary results indicate that people with MS using cannabis have greater physical activity levels, leg strength and walking speed, while also having less spasticity, fatigue and a lower perceived risk of falling.

It is of note that these individuals are rarely using only cannabis to help control their symptoms. They are often using cannabis alongside traditional medications.

Importantly, cannabis users did not perform worse than nonusers on any of our measurements. These are very promising results, and we are expecting significant positive effects of cannabis at the end of this observational study.

Randomized control trials are needed

The outcomes of these observational studies will be the foundation for larger randomized clinical trials, where some patients are treated with cannabis and others aren't.

These types are studies are needed to truly show the benefits and risks of consequences of cannabis use in this population.

Applying for the special license that investigators must have to conduct clinical research with a Schedule 1 substance is a lengthy process.

Once granted, the DEA requires on-site inspections of the investigator's facilities. Furthermore, it is also very difficult for these types of experiments to be approved and performed.

David Sloan, an MS patient, exhales smoke from medical cannabis concentrate. Because of a lack of scientific evidence, doctors can't recommend a specific strain to patients

These policies make conducting research on the medical benefits and side effects of cannabis in the United States extremely hard. As a sad result, top researchers are looking to export their ideas outside the country.

We want to conduct clinical research to understand what cannabis products MS patients should use, in what dosage and in what form of ingestion. We also want to find out whether long-term cannabis use is safe, and if the effectiveness changes over time due to increased tolerance.

Fortunately, our first intervention study, which will investigate the effects of different marijuana strains on motor and cognitive function in people with MS, has been approved by the CSU Institutional Review Board.

This means that my lab can begin this research once our license is approved. The answers to these questions will provide guidelines for health care providers and people with MS on cannabis use.

If these studies can demonstrate that cannabis effectively relieves and treats MS symptoms, they could help establish the medicinal value of cannabis. That could make a case for rescheduling cannabis, making it easier for physicians and researchers to establish cannabis' true benefits and risks.

This article was originally published in The Conversation
Born entangled at the hip and spine in a rural Ugandan village in September 2014, Acen and Apio Akello left local doctors stunned.

With nothing more than rudimentary medicine for miles around, it looked like the girls - the first children of 19-year-old Ester - would face a life of disability and pain.

However, surgeons managed to reach the expert separation team at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

What followed was a year of fundraising to get the girls and Ester to the United States.

Their surgery was intensely complicated, involving an entire team of neurophysiological surgeons tasked with separating each nerve to ensure the girls would be able to be independent after.

Now, just 16 months later, they are walking - and their surgeon Dr Gail Besner believes all of their medical woes are behind them.

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Incredible: This is Acen and Apio, living separate lives in almost perfect condition a year after separation surgery at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio. Pictured with their mom Ester

Born entangled at the hip and spine (shared skin pictured) in rural Uganda in September 2014, Acen and Apio Akello left local doctors stunned. Ester (pictured) had never left her village

Lead surgeon Dr Gail Besner pictured with the girls before the surgery - her fourth separation

During surgery: The girls were labeled with colors so surgeons could identify who got which part of the anatomy. They had a team of nerve experts making sure both girls would be fully independent afterwards

The girls' astonishing progress left their mother and the medical team in tears, defying all the risks that could have followed surgery - including walking issues and colorectal incontinence.

'When I first saw them walking independently, I would say it was one of the happiest days of my life,' lead surgeon Dr Besner told Daily Mail Online on Tuesday.

The girls had been going through daily physical therapy, with routine consultations from the surgical team to check everything was going well.

Then, shortly after their second birthday in October, they arrived in Dr Besner's office - and both pushed themselves up onto their feet.

'I couldn't believe my eyes,' she said.

'I really think they will be fine from now on. I think they will do beautifully.'

Now the family are en route back to Uganda.

'It's always been a goal of Ester's to get home,' Dr Besner explained. 'So it's been really a precious gift to be able to give her that.'

'I really expect them to have a normal life.

'When they get off that plane in Africa, they are going to walk off it and not be carried.'

Reflecting on their two years together, Dr Besner said watching Ester grow has been just as powerful as monitoring Acen and Apio.

The girls had been going through daily physical therapy, with routine consultations from the surgical team to check everything was going well. They walked shortly after their birthday

'When I first saw them walking independently, I would say it was one of the happiest days of my life,' lead surgeon Dr Besner (pictured with the girls) told Daily Mail Online on Tuesday

Dr Besner believes all of their medical woes are behind them as they head home to Uganda

'Ester was only 19 when she had these babies.

'She had never been out of her village, let alone out of Africa. She didn't speak a word of English. In fact, she speaks a very specific dialect that only three people in the United States can speak.

'When she got off the plane, she entrusted me - a total stranger - with her babies. She had no idea what was going on.

'Luckily we found a translator - a science grad student who happened to be in Ohio and happened to have grown up 20 miles from Ester.

'But by the time Ester was going home, she was capable. She could understand everything you said, she can have a full conversation. And she looks after these girls all the time, single-handedly. She is completely self-sufficient, it's incredible.'

Proving her skill, Ester was captured on film thanking Dr Besner at the airport.

The surgical team included more than 30 people and was led by Dr Besner, the hospital's chief of pediatric surgery. Pictured: reconstruction after the separation

Acen and Apio pictured in their bed after being separated

Reflecting on their two years together, Dr Besner said watching Ester grow has been just as powerful as monitoring Acen and Apio. Ester and Dr Besner pictured on the day of surgery

Specialists had to carefully un-twine the spinal cords of the two girls as technicians monitored the nerve functions to see which nerves belonged to Acen and which ones belonged to Apio

'It's amazing,' Ester said, hugging Dr Besner as they prepared to board a flight to Uganda.

The surgical team included more than 30 people and was led by Dr Besner, the hospital's chief of pediatric surgery.

Conjoined twins occur once in about every 200,000 pregnancies, and Nationwide has now successfully separated four sets of these twins.

Specialists had to carefully un-twine the spinal cords of the two girls as technicians monitored the nerve functions to see which nerves belonged to Acen and which ones belonged to Apio.

After that their soft tissue was divided, followed by the reconstruction process.

Then, the two officially became separated.

'The surgery is going to be very helpful to the children because then they will be bale to feed on their own and they'll be able to grow up like normal children,' said Akello.

The two girls have obviously become very close over the course of the past year, and given the way they were joined would often hold hands.
Infertile couples could still have children through using the 'three-parent' IVF technique, scientists claim.

Scientists used the controversial method to help a 34-year-old woman who was unable to conceive, it has been announced.

The 34-year-old woman's eggs were fertilised using her partner's sperm, but then their combined genes were transferred into a donor egg.

This allowed for the child to have the same genetic identity as her parents, but has a small amount of different DNA from the second woman.

She gave birth to her daughter on January 5 after trying for more than a decade to start her family, The Times reports.

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Scientists used the controversial 'three-parent baby' method to help a 34-year-old Ukrainian woman who was unable to conceive (stock)

Previously, she had undergone four cycles of IVF, but all had been unsuccessful in helping her to start a family.

Initial tests have revealed that the baby is 'completely healthy', according to Dr Valery Zukin, who led the work at the Kiev clinic.

He said the treatment could be particularly helpful for women whose embryos stop growing.

Dr Zukin, who has another 29-year-old woman expecting to give birth in March, told the newspaper: 'It's like the opening of a new era.

'Before, we could only increase the selection of embryos. But for us this moment opens up the possibility of augmenting embryos.'

This was the first time pronuclear transfer had been used to give birth to a child, Dr Zukin said.

Doctors fertilised both the woman's and a donor's egg using her partner's sperm.

They waited for the nucleus' in both eggs to mature, before replacing the one in the donor egg with that from the mother's - allowing for the parents genes to be carried.

But a very small, unavoidable amount of secondary DNA from the donor was also used in the process.

However, a slightly different method was used to give birth to the world's first three-parent baby by US scientists in Mexico last year.

She gave birth on January 5 after trying for more than a decade to start her family (stock)

The Jordanian-born mother had already lost two children to Leigh's syndrome - a severe neurological disorder that attacks the nervous system.

It gradually inhibits a child's mental and physical abilities from the moment they are born. Sufferers typically die by the age of three due to lung failure.

In that instance, doctors incorporated a small amount of donor DNA into his cells to avoid passing on the damaged mitochondria.

HOW THE BABY WAS BORN 1. Doctors fertilised the 34-year-old woman's egg using her partner's sperm 2. They then also fertilised the donor egg with her partner's sperm 3. Both nucleus' of each egg were then allowed to mature 4. Doctors then replaced the nucleus in the donor's egg with that of the infertile woman's Advertisement

Unpublished test results of the boy in December indicated he is healthy and has no sign of the genetic disease carried by his parents.

The levels of mutant mitochondria were low, around 3 or 4 per cent, as experts claimed the defective cells will remain at acceptable levels.

The clinic where the boy was conceived, New York City's New Hope Fertility Center, is working with more couples hoping to avoid similar conditions.

However, previous reports have suggested this 'three-parent' approach may have already been used by researchers in China, with a child born using the technique.

The procedure is conducted by doctors taking eggs from a mother with damaged mitochondria, while eggs are donated from a woman who has healthy versions.

The nucleus, which contains the majority of her genetic material, is then removed and saved from the mother's egg.

However, the donor's nucleus is removed and discarded to prevent any genes being passed on.

Doctors then place the mother's nucleus into the donor's eggs with the healthy mitochondria. They then fertilise it using the father's sperm.

But critics say the technique is not fool-proof and small numbers of faulty mitochondria may still be 'carried over' into the child, and even replicate in the developing embryo.

They also argue that unforeseen problems might occur once the procedure is used to create human babies.

While concerns have also been raised about the method, as mitochondria contain a small amount of DNA, meaning the child inherits genes from the mother, father and donor.

Speaking of the new birth using the pronuclear transfer method, Professor Adam Balen, chairman of the British Fertility Society, said it was 'something that needs to be extremely carefully thought through and treated with caution'.
Superbugs could soon make cancer untreatable, the chief medical officer has warned.

Professor Dame Sally Davies previously described the threat of drug-resistant bugs as severe as terrorism.

But now she has warned that they are on par with climate change and could have 'catastrophic' effects.

In an interview with The Mirror, she warned their increasing prevalence could soon make routine operations and treatment, such as chemotherapy, risky.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Government's chief medical officer, warned the increasing prevalence of superbugs could soon make routine operations risky

Her claim comes just a week after a drug-resistant superbug killed a woman from Nevada.

Doctors tried to cure the 70-year-old patient with 26 antibiotics - but none helped to fight the aggressive bacteria.

She told the newspaper: 'This tragic death is not a one-off. If we don't speed up efforts to tackle drug-resistant bugs, there will be more.

'Imagine a future where cancer is untreatable because chemotherapy is ineffective.

'And simple ops like hip replacements and caesareans are very risky because of infection.'

For decades, antibiotics have been so overused by GPs and hospital staff that the bacteria have evolved to become resistant.

Her warning comes just a week after a drug-resistant superbug killed a woman from Nevada

Doctors claim medicines including penicillin no longer work on sore throats, skin infections and more seriously, pneumonia.

But Dame Sally urged caution, advising people to take the necessary steps to prevent bugs from spreading - such as hand washing.

HOW SUPERBUGS ARE SPREAD Killer hospital superbugs like MRSA are being spread around wards by nurses scrubs, a study found in October. The sleeves and pockets of nurses are hotbeds of germs which, if transmitted to patients, could kill the elderly and frail. Researchers at Duke University in the US found it is not just people who spread antibiotic-resistant bugs in hospital. They are harboured within staff uniforms and found on bedrails, even in wards which are cleaned every day. Advertisement

Without scientific breakthroughs, it is estimated that the rise of super-bugs will cause up to ten million deaths a year by 2050.

In addition, there have only been one or two new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years.

This comes after a study in October found that mother's milk from Tasmanian devils could help the global fight against superbugs.

Scientists at the University of Sydney found that peptides in the marsupial's milk killed resistant bacteria.

These included methicillin-resistant golden staph bacteria and enterococcus that is resistant to the powerful antibiotic vancomycin.

And British research in November found that three quarters of fresh chicken sold in supermarkets is contaminated with an E.coli superbug.

The scale was far higher than previous studies have shown and pointed to a serious public health threat.
Older people at risk of blindness have hopes of an end to the misery of monthly injections to save their sight.

More than 600,000 people in Britain have age-related macular degeneration, known as the 'Alzheimer's of the eye' because it robs elderly people of their vision.

The majority have the 'wet' form, which causes abnormal blood vessels to form near the retina. Without treatment, their sight could deteriorate within days.

But scientists at Johns Hopkins University have now found an alternative to the uncomfortable monthly injections which prevent the vessels forming. The new treatment, a synthetic protein found to work in mice, could only be needed six times a year.

An injection treat macular degeneration needed less frequently was found to be successful in a study on mice and rabbits

Dr Jordan Green, from the university's school of medicine, said about the current treatments: 'These frequent visits can become a burden for patients due to the discomfort and small risk of each injection and, for some patients, because their vision is not good enough to drive to appointments.'

The injections are necessary to block VEGF, or vascular endothelial growth factor, a chemical which produces the blood vessels which damage cells in the eye.

Older patients are given local anaesthetic eye drops so the procedure does not hurt and the medication is administered through a fine needle, but many find it unpleasant.

However they have no choice, with age-related macular degeneration, in its 'dry' and 'wet' forms the most common cause of blindness in people over the age of 60.

The US researchers found a longer lasting protection in AXT107, which stopped the blood vessel growth in two experiments with mice. It was found to last twice as long, still working after two months, and it could be effective for even longer.

The blood vessels which grow through the condition leak and bleed, scarring the centre of the eye which makes it hard for sufferers to see straight ahead in front of them.

But the newly discovered protein cut leakage by 86 per cent in a month, compared to 69 per cent for an existing drug, aflibercept.

After two months, leakage was reduced by 70 per cent, compared to no change for the existing drug.

Macular degeneration is the most common cause of vision loss in individuals over the age of 60 years - but current treatments are highly invasive

Co-author Dr Peter Campochiaro, professor of ophthalmology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins, said: 'The production of VEGF is chronic in these patients, so repeated injections every four to six weeks is needed in most patients, often indefinitely.

'Unlike the current standard, which only targets the VEGF protein, our peptide also binds to cellular receptors that recognize growth factors like VEGF. The cellular signals for vascular growth are blocked in many ways by the peptide, allowing it to have a stronger effect.'

The breakthrough follows a previous hopeful study for age-related macular degeneration, which used skin cells to restore the vision of mice. The animals were able to see light after the cells were

transformed into stem cells and transplanted back into the eye.

Treatments are so important because there is no cure for the condition, which usually strikes in both eyes and progresses slowly, causing people to go nearly completely blind.

There are expected to be 700,000 people with age-related macular degeneration in the UK by 2020.

It is hoped the new protein could last even longer than two months, after being found to gather as a gel within the eye, allowing it to fight disease for longer periods of time.

Dr Green added: 'The peptide can be made clinically and scaled up very easily. In addition to potentially improving treatment for patients, this could bring down the cost of treating these diseases.'
President Pranab Mukherjee will unveil the car that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose used to escape from his residence in Bihar to catch a train to Delhi in 1941.

The Audi Wanderer W24 will be unveiled at Netaji Bhavan in Kolkata.

On January 18, Sugata Bose, Netaji's grand-nephew and also a Trinamool MP, will accompany the President to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the great escape.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose 'great escape' car used 75 years ago has been restored

In 1941, the 1937 Audi Wanderer W24 transported Netaji from his Elgin Road residence in Kolkata (then in Bihar) to Gomoh railway station to catch the Kalka Mail to Delhi despite 24x7 surveillance by the British.

A group of 10 mechanics from Audi Kolkata have restored the iconic four-door Audi (then Auto Union) Wanderer W24 to its former glory.

In an interview with a newspaper, Sugata Bose said: 'Audi gave technical expertise and a vintage car restorer, Pallab Roy, and his team started working in May 2016 to restore it fully.

It was used by Netaji in 1941 to flee India and head to Europe in a bid to bring an end to British rule in his homeland

'It is the most prized possession of the Netaji Research Bureau museum. Now, once a week, people will see this car in motion in the driveway of the building.'

In the 1937 Wanderer W24 lies a 1767cc, four-cylinder engine that produces 42hp @3500rpm which can take it up to a top speed of 108kmph. The engine is mated to a four-speed manual transmission and has a fuel capacity of 40-litres.

The Wanderer W24 came with a wheelbase of 2600mm, with a length of 4280mm, width of 1645mm and height of 1600mm.

It has a ground clearance of 200mm - the same as of the present day Audi Q5.

Auto Union had manufactured only 22500 units of the Wanderer W24 and Netaji was said to be the first Indian to own an Audi vehicle in India.
Indrani has denied any part in the murder of her daughter Sheena in 2012

All three defendants in the murder case of Sheena Bora have pleaded not guilty.

Clearing the decks for the start of the trial, a special CBI court Tuesday framed the charges against Indrani Mukerjea, her husband Peter Mukerjea and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in the murder of her daughter.

All the accused were charged with IPC sections 120(b) (conspiracy), 302 (murder) and other offences, after which judge H S Mahajan fixed February 1 as the date for the trial to commence.

All the three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were explained to them individually, being called to the box one by one.

The prosecution case was that Sheena was murdered on April 24, 2012, and her body was burnt and disposed of at a forest in nearby Raigad district the next day.

Peter Mukerjeas son Rahul Mukerjea and Sheena were engaged to be married

All the three accused were charged under IPC sections 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 364 (kidnapping), 302 (murder), 203 (giving false information in respect of an offence) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence).

Peter Mukerjeas son Rahul Mukerjea and Indranis daughter Sheena Bora (extreme right) were engaged to be married

Additionally, Indrani and Sanjeev were charged under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 120(b) (conspiracy) for plotting to kill her son and Sheena's brother Mikhail Bora.

Mikhail had earlier alleged that Indrani had spiked his drink on the same day Sheena was killed.

Besides, Indrani, who was arrested in August 2015, was also charged under IPC section 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record).

Peter and Indrani Mukerjea: Indrani filed a case for divorce in the court

Subsequently, others - Peter, Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyamver Rai - were also taken into custody.

Rai later turned approver in the case and disclosed to CBI how the crime was committed by the accused.

All the three accused were present in the court Tuesday. They sat separately in the dock and were seen talking to their lawyers outside the court.

The CBI, on December 19 had started arguments on framing of charges in the case, saying it was her relationship with Rahul, Peter's son from an earlier marriage, that led to Sheena's murder.

'I WANT TO DIVORCE PETER' Indrani Mukerjea, facing charges of killing her daughter Sheena Bora, Tuesday informed a special CBI court that she wants to move a family court to divorce former media baron Peter Mukerjea, also a co-accused in the case, and change her will to donate her properties to charity. Charges were framed in the morning session against Indrani, her husband Peter and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in the sensational murder case by special CBI judge H S Mahajan who fixed the trial to begin on February 1. In the lunch recess, Indrani made an oral plea seeking permission from the special court to move the family court in suburban Bandra to initiate divorce proceedings against Peter. She also orally informed the judge that she would like to change her will as she desired to donate her share in the family property to charitable organisations. The judge told her that she need not take the special court's permission to file a divorce case or change her will and was free to take such decisions on her own. Peter had also come to the court as charges were framed against him but did not talk to Indrani or even greet her. Indrani's former husband Khanna was also present in the court. Advertisement

The case, initially investigated by Mumbai police under its then chief Rakesh Maria, was later transferred to the CBI by the Maharashtra government to ensure that the probe was carried out without any prejudice or interference.

The CBI, in its charge sheet filed in November 2015, had named Indrani, Khanna and Rai as accused in the case. The agency filed a charge sheet against Peter on February 16 last year for his alleged role in the murder plot.

In October last year, the CBI also filed its second supplementary charge sheet, stating that Indrani kept Peter updated on phone over the selection of the spot for disposal of the body.

The Bombay High Court recently rejected the bail plea of Peter, observing there was prima facie evidence pointing to his involvement in the case.

Indrani, Khanna and Rai were arrested in August 2015 after Rai spilled the beans while he was being interrogated in a case pertaining to illegal possession of arms.

Police exhumed skeletal remains of Sheena from a forest in Raigad district, and later claimed forensic tests confirmed that the DNA samples of the skeletal remains matched those of Indrani and Mikhail Bora.
Speaking at the flagship geopolitical conference - the second Raisina Dialogue - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that relationship between India and Pakistan can only improve if the neighbouring country stops funding and supporting terror activities against India.

Outlining his approach for an integrated approach, Modi said his vision for country's neighbourhood puts a premium on peaceful and harmonious ties with the entirety of South Asia.

'But, India alone cannot walk the path of peace. It also has to be Pakistan's journey to make. Pakistan must walk away from terror if it wants to walk towards dialogue with India,' he said while addressing the participants at the government's geo-political flagship initiative 'Raisina Dialogue-II'.

Modi outlined an 'integrated' approach to Pakistan and India's relationship, and said the development of ties with China presented 'unprecedented opportunity'

In an obvious reference to Pakistan, the Prime Minister also asserted that India's belief in de-linking terrorism from religion, and rejecting artificial distinctions between good and bad terrorism, are now a global talking point.

'And, those in our neighbourhood who support violence, perpetrate hatred, and export terror stand isolated and ignored,' he said.

Referring to India's ties with China, Modi, at the opening of the three-day Dialogue, said it was not 'unnatural' for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences but both sides should show sensitivity and respect for each other's core concerns and interests.

'I see the development of India and China as an unprecedented opportunity, for our two countries and for the whole world. At the same time, it is not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences.'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the former President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai at the Opening Session of the Second Raisina Dialogue, in New Delhi on Tuesday

'In the management of our relationship, and for peace and progress in the region, both our countries need to show sensitive core concerns and interests,' Modi said, adding he and Chinese President Xi Jinping have sought to tap the vast area of commercial and business opportunities in the relationship.

Asserting that the century belongs to Asia, he said the sharpest trajectory of change is happening in the continent and there are large and vibrant pools of progress and prosperity that dot the landscape of this region.

'But, rising ambition and festering rivalries are generating visible stress points. The steady increase in military power, resources and wealth in the Asia-Pacific has raised the stakes for its security,' he said.

PM Modi, pictured here with Chinese President Xi Jinping, reached out to China

In his 40-minute address, the Prime Minister gave a run down of India's foreign policy priorities, security interests in the Indian Ocean and bilateral engagement with neighbouring countries, Gulf nations and major powers including the US, China and Russia.

He also emphasised that 'Sab Ka Saath; Sab Ka Vikas' is not just a vision for India but a belief for the whole world. Nepalese Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister of Bangladesh, are among the nearly 250 foreign participants from 65 countries.

On Afghanistan, Modi said despite distance and difficulties in transit, India's partnership assists in reconstruction, by building institutions and capacities. 'Amidst shifting politics, our security engagement has deepened.

The completion of Afghanistan's Parliament building and the India-Afghanistan Friendship Dam are two shining examples of our dedication to forge developmental partnership,' he said, adding the compelling logic of regional connectivity for peace, progress and prosperity.

In this regard, he cited two examples -the tripartite agreement with Iran and Afghanistan on Chabahar; and India's commitment to bring on line the International North South Transport Corridor.

'However, equally, connectivity in itself cannot override or undermine the sovereignty of other nations. Only by respecting the sovereignty of countries involved, can regional connectivity corridors fulfil their promise and avoid differences and discord,' Modi added.
Thousands of protesters have stormed a beach in Tamil Nadu to call for a ban on the traditional sport of bull-taming - known as Jallikattu - to be lifted.

Demonstrators, mostly students, descended on the Marina Beach area in Chennai on Tuesday night - with crowds swelling further on Wednesday following calls for support sent out on social media.

The event - traditionally held during the winter harvest festival - involves releasing a bull into a crowd of people who attempt to grab it and ride it.

Protestors gather at Marina beach demanding a ban be lifted on the traditional sport of bull-taming, or Jallikattu, in Chennai, India

More protesters arrived on Wednesday after calls for support on social media boosted interest

It was popular in the state until it was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014 following a successful campaign by animal rights groups which argued that it was cruel and inhumane.

The rights group PETA has previously released footage it says shows bull farmers doping their animals ahead of the event.

A statement on the organisation's website said: 'Jallikattu exploits bulls natural nervousness as prey animals by deliberately placing them in a terrifying situation in which they are forced to run away from those they perceive as predators.

In this January 15, 2013 file photo, Bull tamers try to control a bull during an ancient heroic sporting event of the Tamils called Jallikattu, in Palamedu

'Participants purposely disorient the bulls by forcing them to consume alcohol; twist and bite their tails; stab and jab them with sickles, spears, knives and sticks; cause them intense pain by yanking their nose ropes; and punch them, jump on them and drag them to the ground.

'As PETA India has in Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) authorised inspections, the bulls become so frightened by the mob of men who participate that they slip, fall, run into barriers and traffic  and even jump off cliffs in their desperate attempts to escape  frequently leading to broken bones or death.

'Participants and spectators are also at risk. From 2010 to 2014, media outlets reported that there were some 1,100 human injuries and 17 deaths caused by Jallikattu-style events, including the death of a child. The actual number is probably higher since many injuries likely werent reported in the news.'

A bull charges through a crow of Indian participants and bystanders during Jallikattu, an annual bull fighting ritual, on the outskirts of Madurai on January 15, 2017

But organisers of the festival insist the animals suffer no harm and Jallilkatu is an established part of Tamil culture.

Tensions have been escalating for the last week after hundreds of people were detained by police for allegedly organising local Jallikatu contests in defiance of the court ban.

Police say the protests have remained peaceful so far but have spread to large parts of the state.

Protesters insist that the tradition of Jallikattu is 'part of their culture'

Tens of thousands are believed to have taken to Chennai's streets to call for the ban to be lifted

Several popular Tamil film stars have voiced their support for the demonstrators as has India's leading spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin.

Opposition and ruling parties in the state have also criticised the ban and want Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to have it overturned.

A government led by Modi's predecessor did order a ban in 2011 but it was effectively ignored until last year's Supreme Court ruling.

Actor Dhanush, who has millions of followers, was among those to tweet about the protests

Pro-Jallikattu protesters now want the federal and state governments to petition the court to review its decision.

They say they would support changes to make the sport safer.

'Jallikattu is our pride,' said actor-turned politician Khushboo, who uses one name.

Tamil Nadu state ministers Jayakumar and Ma Foi Pandiarajan met with the protesters Wednesday and extended their support.

The state's top elected official, O. Paneerselvam, said in a statement he would meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to find a way to meet the people's demand.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudeva, a spiritual leader, said 'this is a celebratory kind of festival dedicated to animals. You should not take away the cultural strength of people, especially in rural areas.'
A submission called for all street dogs across India to be culled

Stray dogs have a right to live - that was the reaction from the Supreme Court after a submission called for canines to be completely destroyed across the country.

A bench of justices - Dipak Misra and R Banumathi - said on Tuesday that although culling street dogs was permissible in some circumstances, there had to be a balance and a proper method. Additional solicitor general Pinky Anand agreed.

When one of the petitioners told the apex court that he wanted to totally destroy stray dogs across India, the bench said: 'Nobody can destroy stray dogs entirety. They also have a right to live.'

Photographs of stray dogs being killed and pilled on top of each other in the street emerged last year following claims a 90-year-old man was killed in a dog attack

The court has been hearing a batch of petitions on issues relating to orders passed by various civic bodies on the culling of stray dogs which campaigners claim have become a menace, especially in Kerala and Mumbai.

In November, the court had ordered vigilante groups in Kerala to stop the mass killings of stray dogs after a number of high profile cases, including the corpses of slain hounds being paraded through the streets.

And during this latest hearing, the bench said in Kerala, there were issues of human concern, but for this all stray dogs cannot be killed.

In one of the more shocking images, their bodies were tied to a poll and hung along the street

'A person can die due to dog bite. It is an accident and for that, we cannot say kill all the stray dogs,' it said.

The bench was also informed that a panel headed by former Kerala High Court judge, Sri Jagan, had received around 400 matters related to dog bites.

The panel was set up by the apex court to inquire into the incidents in which people and even children killed stray dogs, supported by several vigilante groups in Kerala.

Of the cases, 24 had been investigated and the Supreme Court has scheduled a further hearing on the matter for March 1.

Animal welfare charities have slammed recent dog killings in Kerala as 'barbaric' and insist the culls are futile in reducing the number of stray canines on the streets.

Anti stray-dog activist, Jose Maveli says growing numbers of the animals are putting people in danger and promoting the spread of disease, but welfare charities have condemned the culls

One organisation even claimed that figures on dog bites in the state and the number of the animals roaming its streets have been 'manufactured' by activists, with another suggesting culling dogs could also 'increase the risk of rabies'.

The issue recently escalated after claims a 90-year-old man was mauled to death in the village of Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, in the south of the state, last year.

Shocking photos emerged in September showing slayed dogs piled on top of each other in the street and their bodies then paraded in the village with their legs tied to a poll. The protest in the Kottayam district, thought to be linked to the youth wing of a local party, was put under the investigation of police.

The images divided Kerala and angered many, with animal welfare groups throughout India calling for intervention.

Street dogs are commonplace in Kerala - here, they can be seen sunbathing alongside tourists at Varkala beach

Neha Singh Banyal, of Animal Aid Unlimited, a charity working to save, sterilise and vaccinate street dogs in Udaipur, Rajasthan, strongly condemns the cruel and illegal killing of community dogs in Kerala.

She told Mail Online that neutering and vaccination programmes, alongside waste management, was the 'only scientifically proven method' in reducing the stray dog population and eradicating rabies.

'Killing dogs is not only barbaric and cruel, it is ineffective for controlling population unless dogs are killed continuously,' she said.

'Street dogs are what are called 'scavengers' which means they survive off of human leftovers. Dogs have been coexisting with humans in the form of 'community' or 'street dogs' for over 10,000 years.

The Supreme Court dismissed calls for all street dogs across the country to be killed

'Dogs populate the urban areas in proportion to the amount of food available. Although many street dogs in India are fed, if sporadically, by one or often several families, most survive by eating garbage. India's waste management is poor and garbage is generally abundant and easy for dogs to access.

'When dogs from a particular location are killed or otherwise removed a void is created which is quickly filled by dogs from nearby areas. The dogs from neighbouring areas come to the empty territory as soon as they become aware of the available food.

'Because there are no walls around neighborhoods or cities, killing street dogs is only a very temporary and horribly cruel 'solution,' and it may heighten the danger of rabies.

'Where dogs are killed, dogs in a stable population who have been inoculated against rabies by NGOs and government organisations are replaced by new dogs -dogs who have not been inoculated against rabies.

In a country which mandates compassion for all living beings in its constitution, there is zero place for dog killing. Neha Singh Banyal, Animal Aid Unlimited

'Neutering in combination with rabies vaccinations is effective. They don't give birth to litters but also, they guard the neighbourhood against new dogs coming in from nearby areas, in order to protect their food source and their territory.

'The new, possibly unvaccinated dogs are likely to fight with each other to gain control of the new territory and they are also not acquainted with the people living in that area, and hence dog-human conflict can increase.'

She added: 'The more the killing of any species is done without conscience, the greater the cultural habit of killing other animals becomes.

'Social scientists have correlated violence against animals with violence against people. In a country which mandates compassion for all living beings in its constitution, there is zero place for dog killing.'

Maveli reportedly pays for 10 dog catchers who killed 300 of the animals last year, and he has claimed that there are an estimated 2.70 lakh strays 'endangering' public safety and damaging the economy.

But a spokesman for the charity People for Animals, India, said the figures had been vastly exaggerated, on both the number of animals roaming the streets and the number of people who have been bitten.

'The situation in Kerala is manufactured. There is no evidence that the stray dogs are biting unless massively provoked. However the bite figures are not only exaggerated vastly, there is no count,' the spokesman said.

'Feral dogs, and all animals, avoid people. If challenged, their instinct is to run away. Only in grave provocation some, not all, dogs attack.

'The only solution is to sterilise and vaccinate the dogs. Over the last 16 years, when the rest of India started doing this, Kerala refused. They were repeatedly given money, their vets were trained, NGOs were set up. They continued to kill.

'Over 50,000 dogs are killed in Kerala annually and they do not seem to understand that they are killing only the friendly alpha dogs, creating a situation in which the remaining dogs breed faster and more but increasingly are shy of human beings.'
Superstar Salman Khan was acquitted by a Jodhpur court in the 1998 Arms Act case linked to killing of a blackbuck, 18 years ago in Rajasthan

Superstar Salman Khan was acquitted by a Jodhpur court in the 1998 Arms Act case linked to killing of a blackbuck, 18 years ago in Rajasthan.

Khan had pleaded 'not guilty' to charges of violating the law by keeping unlicensed weapons and using them.

Acquitting the actor, the court said that the prosecution failed to submit enough evidence against the actor.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit, after completing the hearing on January 9 in a case registered in 1999, had reserved the judgement for Wednesday.

'Justice has won. The prosecution completely failed to prove charges under sec 3/25, 3/27 of Arms Act,' Salman's lawyer HS Saraswat told India Today.

'We had argued in the court that there was no evidence that he was carrying fire arms either during his stay here or during alleged poaching. What he was found in possession with, were actually air guns,' he said.

Moments after the court's verdict, Salman took to Twitter to thank his fans.

'Thank you for all the support and good wishes,' he said. 'He has been given benefit of doubt. We'll decide on appealing against the verdict after analysing the judgement,' said the public prosecutor.

The case involves the alleged killing of a deer when the 51-year-actor and his co-stars - Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu - were shooting for Hum Saath Saath Hain in the forests near Jodhpur in 1998 (file pic)

'We'll decide on the further action, once we receive the copy of the order,' lawyer of Vishnoi Samaj said.

The case involves the alleged killing of a deer when the 51-year-actor and his co-stars - Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu - were shooting for Hum Saath Saath Hain in the forests near Jodhpur in 1998.

In 2007, Salman had spent a week in Jodhpur jail before the court granted him bail.

Besides the cases of poaching of endangered antelopes under Wildlife (Protection) Act, a case under sections 3/25 and 3/27 of the Arms Act was filed against Khan for allegedly keeping and using the fire arms with expired licence in the poaching of blackbucks in Kankani near Jodhpur on October 1-2, 1998.
Indian Railways' ambitious station redevelopment plan has failed to pick up place and not even one station is likely to be completed by the end of the Modi government's tenure.

While the Centre has approved the redevelopment of 407 railway stations as 'world class stations', just over 50 railway stations may undergo the tendering process by the end of 2019, top sources in the railway ministry said.

Having got the Cabinet's nod in mid-2015, the Railway Ministry has so far only managed to award contracts for two railway stations - Habibganj in Bhopal and Gandhinagar in Prime Minister's home state of Gujarat

Indian Railways' ambitious station redevelopment plan has failed to pick up place and not even one station is likely to be completed by the end of the Modi government's tenure

Railway plans to invite bids for three stations - Surat in Gujarat and Bijwasan and Anand Vihar in Delhi by April this year - though actual work would only begin towards the end of this year.

'We have identified 21 stations to be taken up on a priority basis. We are hopeful to award work contract for at least 50 stations by 2019,' said a senior official of the world class station directorate of Indian Railways.

World class stations has been a dream project of PM Narendra Modi as it has the potential of improving the Railway's financial health.

Redevelopment of stations will be a major source of revenue generation besides benefiting lakhs of passengers every day.

For commercial exploitation, railway plans to raise multi-storey buildings on unused land and lease them out to private firms.

Redevelopment of stations will be a major source of revenue generation besides benefiting lakhs of passengers every day

A Railway board official said investment was a major hurdle in swift execution of the project even as he claimed that bidders have shown keen interest in the first two stations that were put up for a bid.

Another hurdle has been the fact that stations have to be redeveloped without affecting passenger and train movements.

This, experts said, was a major stumbling block for redevelopment and decongestion of the New Delhi railway station.

Several plans in the past have failed to decongest the station which witnesses a daily footfall of over 5 lakh.

Though the government has identified 407 stations, a feasibility report suggested that only around 350 stations were actually commercially viable.

A Rail Ministry official said consultations are being held with foreign experts to develop these stations with world class amenities.

Countries like Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria have also shown interest in developing Indian railway stations.

Tokyo: Consultations are being held with foreign experts over international standards

However, the ministry is yet to receive any foreign funding. Sources said the government will spend nearly Rs 100 crore for development of each station.

An additional Rs 200-300 crore will be spent on developing commercial space.

To expedite the project, the railway ministry has also entered into an agreement with the urban development ministry to develop stations in cities part of smart city project.

It has also joined hands with defence ministry for stations that sees large movement of troops.
The sheer scale of bribery, corruption and deceit by unidentified senior executives, employees and middlemen at Rolls-Royce, Britain's emblematic aerospace group, is mind-boggling.

The case laid out by the Serious Fraud Office before senior judge Sir Brian Leveson is astonishing.

The company made available substantial sums to fund bribery and gained at least 250million of profits in the process.

Busted: Rolls-Royce made available substantial sums to fund bribery and gained at least 250m of profits in the process

Documents were falsified and the corruption spread far and wide, to Indonesia, China, India, Brazil and elsewhere.

Even worse, although Rolls-Royce has sought to clean itself up following the production of two reports by the lawyer Lord Gold, it did not think it necessary to share these documents with shareholders.

Instead, it chooses to hide behind the claim that the reports were procedural and for the board alone, even though they outlined the governance and accounting shortcomings.

A third and final report by Gold will be released because the Court and the Serious Fraud Office demanded it.

Rolls-Royce's secrecy is in contrast to that of BAE, which released the findings of its internal investigation into bribery conducted by former chief justice Lord Woolf, or the candid report into ethical lapses at Barclays produced by Sir Anthony Salz.

The engineering champion has been lucky. Because the court hearing took place on the same day as Theresa May's historic address on Brexit, the media opprobrium was less than might otherwise have been the case.

Was this then a case of 'Jo Moore' burying bad news on a busy day? It seems not. Timing of the disclosures was driven by the US Department of Justice seeking to clear the decks before the arrival of Donald Trump's attorney general, Jeff Sessions.

Rolls-Royce shares may have soared 4.4 per cent in latest trading, largely on a profits upgrade, but the company's troubles are not over.

Some 38 employees, middlemen and others are identified in the court documents as having been involved in the multiple scams.

Six of these were sacked by Rolls and another 11 left at their own volition.

None of these officials are protected from criminal prosecution by the deferred prosecution agreement and potentially  we simply don't know  such cases could go to the top of the company.

The best that can be said is that under Warren East, the company has cleaned itself up and ended disreputable practices. It didn't have much choice.

Post-tobacco

So much time has passed since British American Tobacco revealed its new love of smoking by wanting to take full control of family member, Reynolds American, that one could be forgiven for thinking that the 40billion deal would never be done.

Showing the requisite amount of resistance, Reynolds has extracted a little more dosh for investors.

BAT's return to America, after an absence of 12 years, is a recognition that it is missing out on a lucrative market where no one is in any doubt now that cigarettes are killers.

So the legal exposure is no longer the danger it once was. As an international fag powerhouse, it was slightly bonkers for BAT to voluntarily exclude itself from the US.

The deal is much more about revenues than cost savings, which amount to a measly 327million  hardly justifying a premium on the Reynolds share price of 8.2billion or so.

It also creates a global market leader in brands, which include Newport, Lucky Strike, and Pall Mall, as well as buying into more R&D and expertise in the vaping, post-tobacco age.

BAT has come full circle when it comes to tobacco. Once, the company saw its future in life insurance and department stores, and sought to cap past legal liabilities.

Now, it recognises that whatever the social harm and anti-tobacco groups, increased prosperity in emerging markets and high Latin American immigration into the US means that the lights have not gone out.

The only remaining question is what the US authorities make of all this. BAT could argue that even if the companies were run separately in the past, effective control was in London.

The arrival of a new president this week means the US Justice Department has much to think about on anti-trust. This transaction won't quite be over until the Twitter account sings.

Discerning tooth

Hotel Chocolat thrived over the holidays with a 14.6 per cent leap in sales.

Chocolate aficionados prefer to invest in the quality St Lucia-sourced stuff rather than the sugar-laden, cheaper versions found in supermarkets. Enjoy.
Thomson Travel arbitrarily cancelled our 2,000 cruise which we'd booked for May this year.

This was done via two voicemails on my partner's mobile phone which she says she never received and would not have known how to retrieve if she had.

We have been trying to get this resolved for many months without success.

R. P., Middlesex

Marooned: One reader's cruise holiday never left port after a mix-up with Thomson

I was aghast when I read your letter. How could any travel company randomly cancel someone's holiday? The answer, I'm afraid, is that they didn't  because you had not booked it in the first place.

While the answer is simple, this is a complex case which has taken much unravelling, but we have finally got to the bottom of it.

You and your partner booked a cruise with five other people, which was to be taken in October 2015. Due to one member of the party being taken seriously ill you were, sadly, forced to cancel your trip, losing the deposits of the five others in the process.

However, you and your partner asked about having your holiday delayed rather than cancelled. You visited Thomson Travel and inquired about using your deposit towards a cruise which you and your partner would take in May 2016. You were sent a quotation for the new holiday showing a cost of 2,298.

And this is where the confusion started. You seemed to think you had booked this holiday. However, at the top of the letter, which was sent to you on February 2, it clearly says 'inquiry quotation'. The first paragraph says: 'This is not confirmation of your booking.'

Thomson Travel heard no more from you, and the cruise operator was chasing the money so they tried to phone you. A lady answered your home phone and explained you were on holiday. They left a message with her and also got your partner's mobile number. When this was not answered, they took the only action they could and left a message.

They heard nothing more until you walked into the travel agent's to ask about your holiday and were met with blank stares. As far as they were concerned there was no holiday because you never booked.

A representative from your local Thomson Travel agent will contact you to see if there is anything they can do to ameliorate the situation.

YOU HAVE YOUR SAY Every week Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here are some of the best from our recent story about how tax officials are spying on your eBay and Airbnb accounts to find out how much you're earning . . . As per usual, the taxman is going after the little man trying to get by in an era of wage freezes and rising food prices. It seems the rich are allowed to get richer while the taxman chases the rest of us for pennies, A. L., Preston. People complain, but we've all called for a clampdown on tax cheats. If we constantly call for everyone to pay their fair share, we can't complain if it happens, K. L., Margate. The taxman is not interested in people who sell some second-hand clothes or a bit of jewellery here or there; they are after the people selling 100 bags, 200 coats, 50 jumpers and 30 mobile phones. If you're selling enough that it becomes a business, that is when HMRC will start being interested, H. J., London. I'm sure HMRC could get this information anyway if it wanted to. All HMRC is doing when it releases these stories is try to scare people into paying voluntarily. No doubt some high-profile cases hit the headlines, but the truth of the matter is the taxman doesn't have the resources to pursue this on a significant scale, J. R., Keighley, West Yorkshire. It's fair enough the taxman has the proper legal rights to chase people who don't pay their tax. But it doesn't seem to apply to multi-national companies that seek to artificially reduce corporation tax bills using overseas companies? We need to change the law so this stops happening, A. S., Hull. My main worry is that HMRC staff will have access to our personal details, bank accounts, passwords and more. How often do we read about briefcases full of customer records being left on trains and in taxis? I hope there are systems in place at HMRC to protect our identities when staff are handling all this information, F. U., Essex. I was an inspector for Customs and Excise when VAT was first introduced. I used to scan the small ads in the local paper for used car sellers. If the same phone number appeared regularly it led us to conclude this was a trade seller, so we would call round to see who he was and if he was registered for VAT. This new operation by HMRC would appear to be an up-to-date version of that, K. N., East Sussex.

When we completed the sale of our home in London on September 7, 2015, we headed off to our new house in Windsor with our removals firm.

We arrived at 2pm, the arranged time for completion, only to find the funds for the purchase could not be located by Saga Conveyancing. As a result we were unable to take possession of the new home and the removal firm had to keep our belongings overnight, which incurred additional costs of 2,000.

The following morning, September 8, the funds appeared.

We have written numerous times to Saga, and to the conveyancers on both sides, and no one will accept any responsibility for this error. As pensioners we cannot afford this extra expense.

S.M., Windsor.

Much as I sympathise with your plight, I don't agree with your method of tackling this problem.

You wrote to me laying the blame squarely with Saga when you knew full well it lay elsewhere.

Saga's legal partner, Cogent Law, had not received funds from your purchaser's solicitor by 1pm on the day you were due to move.

Cogent contacted the other solicitors to chivvy them along. The purchaser's solicitor finally said the money had been sent just before 5pm but it still had not arrived.

The seller of your new house told the estate agent not to hand over the keys without the payment being made. The money finally arrived at 6.50am on September 8.

Under the contract terms, you claimed and received 227 from the buyers of your house in compensation for the delay. In turn, you had to pay 135 to the owners of the house you purchased.

You are also claiming 1,772.98 to cover costs you incurred as a result of the delays. But the purchasers of your London home refuse to pay.

You have been advised that you could pursue them through the small claims court. But Saga has warned that, if contested, the legal cost of mounting the case is unlikely to be fully recoverable.

You may be able to pursue it if you have legal expenses cover on your home insurance. Saga has offered 100 as a goodwill gesture.

A Saga spokesman says: 'It is irksome when you are not paid on time, but when that money is for a house purchase, then the consequences can be both upsetting and more serious as, understandably, there are not many people who are comfortable handing over the keys to a house when they have not yet been paid.'

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT I ordered a pizza using the food delivery app Deliveroo on my smartphone late one night. It didn't arrive until 11am the next day. Deliveroo refuses to refund me. This seems outrageous. T. P., London. You ordered the pizza after the restaurant had closed, which is why it arrived the next day. Deliveroo says you would have been alerted to the fact it would not arrive that night three times during the ordering process. It says it allows customers to make orders when the restaurant is closed so they can pre-order food for the next day. However, as a gesture of goodwill, it has agreed to refund you in this instance. I read that when someone dies, banks will release some money without the next of kin needing to apply for probate. I know that each bank has its own limit, but is this per account or per bank? A. S., by email. The limit applies to the total amount of money held with the bank across all accounts. For example, Lloyds will allow you to withdraw 50,000 without needing to apply for probate. If a loved one had 30,000 in a current account and 30,000 in a savings account, you'd need to apply for probate because the total is over 50,000. But if you had 25,000 in each, you wouldn't. Blackrock switched my pension pot into a set of different investment funds against my wishes. This has caused my nest-egg to shrink by around 1,200. Could you please help? V. M., Belfast. Blackrock admits it transferred your money into different funds in error. Your money has now been put back into the original funds and says it has ensured you are no worse off than you would have been if the switch hadn't taken place. On top of that it has offered you 1,200 as a goodwill gesture, which you've accepted. My wife is 60 and due to receive her state pension in five years' time. She's retired and has a workplace pension. Does she need to continue making national insurance contributions? D. C., Birmingham. On top of her workplace pension, your wife should also receive the 155.65 flat-rate state pension when she reaches 65. But to get this in full she must have made 35 years of full NI contributions. To check if she is missing any years, visit gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record or call 0300 200 3500. If there is a gap in her record, she can buy a top-up known as a Class 3 contribution by calling 0345 600 4270. Each year costs around 700.

My daughter left her job several weeks ago and gave the correct notice period. However, her employer is now withholding her P45 and she is paying emergency tax in her new job.

Are companies allowed to do this?

H. J., Aberdaron, Wales.

Employers are legally obliged to return employees' P45 forms when they leave  it provides your new employer with your tax code so you pay the correct tax.

Your daughter should contact HMRC to chase her old employer. Call 0300 200 3300. If this doesn't work, her new employer should ask her to fill in a form called a Starters Checklist so it can work out what tax code to use.
EQUALITY ROW: Having faced criticism about the unequal representation of women at Davos over the years, the World Economic Forum is getting a bit better.

This year, three of the conference's five co-chairs are women.

However, of the 1,300 attendees, the percentage of female participants has only just passed 20 per cent.

INVITE ANGER Critics hit out at the decision to invite Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to a debate on global corruption.

The leader has been engulfed in a scandal in his home nation  which he denies  after his family members were named in the Panama papers.

CRUDE FEARS Oil bosses warned that a recent climb in the price of crude could be limited because of a resurgence in fracking in the US. Crude fell heavily on the back of a shale gas boom in the US but it has recovered recently to around $50 a barrel.

But BP boss Bob Dudley warned: 'US shale is coming back, but it isn't roaring back with prices currently at $50 to $55 a barrel.'

BRITAIN BACKED Bank of America boss Brian Moynihan backed Britain when asked about Brexit.

The 57-year-old said: 'It's still premature to say what anybody's going to do until you have one set of rules.

'London will be an important part of our company no matter what happens with the British economy.'

STAR STRUGGLES Matt Damon was the star turn of the day as he promoted his clean water charity but admitted it was hard to raise funding.

The star of the Bourne films said Water.org was campaigning for something most people in the West took for granted.

'If you grew up in Europe, if you grew up in America, you've never been thirsty in your entire life and you've never been five metres away from a clean drink of water,' Damon said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. [Xinhua/Lan Hongguang]

The annual World Economic Forum has started in Davos, Switzerland. It was inaugurated by President Xi Jinping. It is the first time in history that a Chinese president is taking part in the forum. The participation shows China's commitment to becoming part of the efforts to address the economic issues faced by the world.

The key highlight of the WEF this year is the keynote speech by President Xi, who talked about the economic challenges and offered his insights for addressing them. He defended globalization which has been threatened by the victory of Donald Trump, who is poised to take over the U.S. top office.

He said that globalization was like a big ocean and no one can escape it. So instead of avoiding the reality it would be better to be equipped and to swim across the mighty waves of the ocean. He also highlighted both positive and negative aspects of globalization, which offer big dividends if one is ready to climb up the steep hill.

Xi's words are a reassurance that globalization is here to stay and the frustration of the masses should not be with the system but with the factors which create hurdles in its smooth functioning.

The president also came down hard on protectionism which is increasingly popular after Brexit and the rise of Donald Trump. He said that protectionism is like shutting oneself in a dark room. It could be good solution to ward off rain and gusty winds but it will deprive the person inside the room from light and fresh air.

Xi's views are based on the experiences of China in steering the economic ship amidst difficulties. Recently, China has faced some problems like the slowing down of its growth rate and is trying to deal with it in its own way. The process of reform is already in progress and ultimately the growth will be adjusted accordingly.

He said that through hard work and sustained efforts, China had learnt to live and compete in the global economy. It was also a warning and lesson for others that in order to succeed, a lot of hard work isneeded.

Xi's spirited defense of globalization is support for the multi-stakeholders model also followed by the proponents of the WEF. Since China is the second biggest economy in the world, its support for the global economic regime is highly important for speeding up trade and reducing tariffs.

The president also talked about the issue of growth. He aptly pointed out that slow economic progress was due to a lack of robust drivers expediting the development. He highlighted the need of new models of global growth, which would play an important role along with multilateral and bilateral cooperation, as well as good economic governance and development to achieve the goal of a collective better tomorrow.

Xi also pointed out that uneven global development was an issue and urged for innovation driven progress which is based on win-win cooperation. He also called for an approach which should be inclusive, equitable and balanced.

Terming the WEF annual activity as Schwab Economic, Xi paid tribute to Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. His brainchild has been at the forefront of providing a unique platform to political and economic leaders, policymakers, experts and critics to put together their heads for the collective economic welfare of everyone.

Xi's speech has set the tone for further discussion. In fact, his address and presence will help to augment the importance of the WEF, which is facing a test of its philosophy of free trade and unhindered economic activity. The address will also be remembered for generating hope in the time of increasing frustration with the prevailing economic order.

As pointed out at the forum, global disparities between the haves and the have-nots have reached a dangerous level and play an important role in the widening disenchantment with globalization. Most of the deprived people, both in the East and West, consider that the current system is heavily tilted in the favor of rich countries, rich groups, rich individuals and rich commercial entities.

President Xi assured the critics of the prevailing system that hard work and focused efforts can perform miracles. "We must remain committed to free trade and investment. We must promote trade and investment liberalization," he said.

Thus, his speech and presence adds a lot of value to WEF and its efforts towards a prosperous future for everyone, which should be based on cooperation and not confrontation. Xi's words that "No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war" will be echoed in Davos as participants debate the global economic challenges and opportunities.

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
British American Tobacco has agreed to takeover Reynolds for 40billion, creating the world's largest listed tobacco firm.

The British cigarette giant, which owns brands including Dunhill, Kent and Lucky Strike, has bought the remaining 57.8 per cent stake in the US rival that it didn't already own.

As part of the deal BAT will own the Camel and Newport brands.

The two firms combined will overtake Philip Morris International Inc, the maker of Marlboro, as the world's largest publicly traded tobacco company.

China National Tobacco, run by China's State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, is the biggest overall.

BAT first made a bid for its rival back in October, though the deal was called off following rumours that Reynolds had deemed the 38billion offer too low.

The current agreement, a 2billion boost from the initial bid, values Reynolds at more than 69billion, a 26 per cent premium against its closing share price in October when news of BAT's interest first emerged.

It is likely to spark a bumper payday for investment bankers who brokered the deal. Prior to the merger BAT, which has more than 200 brands sold in some 200 markets and employs over 50,000 staff worldwide, only accounted for 5 per cent of the US market.

The deal will see its business return to the US more than a decade after it folded its subsidiary, Brown & Williamson, in exchange for a minority stake in Reynolds.

It's the biggest foreign takeover by a British company since the disastrous acquisition of ABN Amro by Royal Bank of Scotland for 63billion in 2007 and is the latest big deal in the 'sin' sector following the 79billion merger between brewers SAB Miller and AB InBev and a wave of consolidation in the gambling industry.

Nicandro Durante, chief executive of BAT, said the deal was key to maintaining the firm's business internationally.

Reynolds, which sold 83bn cigarettes in 2015 to BAT's 663billion, added the merger will allow it to develop its next generation products  a name given to 'alternative' smoking devices such as e-cigarettes and vapours.

Durante said: 'Our combination with Reynolds will benefit from utilising the best talent from both organisations.

'It will create a stronger, global tobacco and next generation products business with direct access for our products across the most attractive markets in the world.'

Analysts have also suggested the takeover could spark further deals as Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco jostle for market share in the West, amid the fall in the number of people smoking.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said key players would most likely be looking to strike a deal with Imperial Brands in order to boost their foothold.

He said: 'Imperial Brands is one of the last of the really big independent major players.

'While it wouldn't be the most straightforward deal  there will be competition concerns on both fronts  I think there's an expectation that Japan Tobacco would potentially be a logical candidate,' he said.

The exact composition of the merged firm remains unclear as the deal is still subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, and it's also not yet clear who will take the helm.

Experts believe Reynolds boss Debra Crew, 45, who replaced Susan Cameron as chief executive at the start of the year, is a better option to run the combined firm than BAT boss Durante, 60. Cameron is now Executive Chairman.

However, analysts have said it would be wrong to assume she'll land the top job. A spokesman for Reynolds said that while the details have yet to be finalised, it's likely to lead to an increase in jobs, rather than a fall.
SHARE BOOST Standard Chartered shares jumped after it revealed it had completed three shipping finance deals worth more than 1.3billion.

The deals include 562million for BW Gas JuJu, a Bermudan-Japanese joint venture; 287million for Saudi Arabia's national shipping firm; and 468million for the Reliance Group in India.

The stock rose 2.8 per cent, or 20.4p to 744.7p.

BOOKINGS SLUMP Elegant Hotels has suffered a fall in bookings due to 'challenging' conditions in the Barbados luxury holiday market.

Revenue fell 5.2 per cent to 47.7million in the year to September 30, partly due to a decline in sterling since the Brexit vote last June. The firm's holidays are priced in dollars.

However, profit rose from 5.9million to 15.8million. It proposed a dividend of 3.5p per share making a full year dividend of 7p per share.

PRICES SOAR House prices were 14,000 higher on average in November than a year earlier, according to official figures.

The average UK property value has increased by 6.7 per cent over the last year to reach 218,000, a report by the Office for National Statistics shows.

Prices were also 2,000 higher than a month earlier, the ONS said.

DELIVERING JOBS Takeaway delivery firm Deliveroo is creating more than 300 jobs as it bids to create one of the largest technology centres in the UK in Cannon Street, London.

Revenues at Deliveroo were on course to hit 130million for 2016, according to reports in June last year.

SALES UP Dotdigital Group has posted soaring revenues after it sent 5.6billion emails for its clients.

The email marketing firm said revenue was up 17 per cent to 15million in the six months to December 31. The total number of emails sent by its dotmailer platform rose 41 per cent.

SWEET TREAT A chocolate-shaped reindeer taking a selfie helped Hotel Chocolat post a 16.2 per cent jump in Christmas sales.

It sold so well the gourmet producer was forced to remake the chocolate slab three times in the 13 weeks to Christmas Day.

RAIL DEAL Dutch rail firm Abellio is selling 40 per cent of its Greater Anglia rail franchise to Japanese company Mitsui.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said this showed that Britain's rail network is 'constantly up for grabs'.

SOLID RESULTS Care and support services provider Mears Group said it will deliver solid trading figures for 2016 and confirmed an overhaul that was announced in August is almost complete.

TRAVEL TIE-UP Online travel agency eDreams has bought Barcelona-based hotel-booking site Budgetplaces.com for an undisclosed sum.
China's president yesterday warned that a global trade war would be a disaster for the world economy in a thinly veiled attack on Donald Trump.

In a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Xi Jinping cautioned against protectionism as he launched a staunch defence of globalisation.

The comments were widely seen as a rebuke to Trump who rode to power in the United States amid a popular backlash against free trade.

But one of Trump's closest advisors said the US would win a trade war with China  before insisting the billionaire businessman wanted 'free' but 'fair' trade with the communist state.

Addressing the global elite in Davos, President Xi said: 'Protectionism is like locking yourself in a dark room, which would seem to escape wind and rain, but also block out the sunshine'

Financier Anthony Scaramucci also echoed Trump's support for a trade deal with Brexit Britain.

Trump, who is due to be sworn in as leader of the world's most powerful economy on Friday, has accused China of 'raping' the US by artificially devaluing its currency. He has threatened to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to protect American manufacturers.

But addressing the global elite in Davos yesterday, President Xi said: 'Protectionism is like locking yourself in a dark room, which would seem to escape wind and rain, but also block out the sunshine.'

In the first speech by a Chinese head of state to the annual summit in the Swiss Alps, he added: 'No one is a winner in a trade war,' and invoked the words of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

'No country should view its development path on its own,' said President Xi. 'Development is of the people, by the people and for the people.'

Scaramucci, the only member of the president-elect's team in Davos, insisted the new administration would work with China.

'But if they really believe in globalisation and the words of Lincoln then we need to find a way to get more symmetry in trade deals,' he said.

Scaramucci insisted Trump backed 'free, fair trade' and said the president-elect is 'not talking about isolationism'.

Warning: In a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Xi Jinping cautioned against protectionism as he launched a staunch defence of globalisation

Trump has already indicated he backs a trade deal with the UK following the Brexit vote.

Scaramucci said Britain will be at the 'front of the line' for a trade deal with the US, reversing President Obama's warning that the UK would be 'back of the queue' following Brexit.

With the global elite who gather in Davos every year reeling from the Brexit vote and the election of Trump  and bracing for further upheaval through elections in Europe this year  China is looking to position itself as the guardian of globalisation and trade.

In a speech that might traditionally have been made by a US president, President Xi said: 'There is no point in blaming economic globalisation for the world's problems because that is simply not the case.'

In a sign of President Xi's ambitions, China Daily, which often prints the official views of the Communist regime in Beijing, said: 'Ready or not, China has become the de facto world leader seeking to maintain an open global economy and battle climate change.'

Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Markit, said: 'President Xi gave a very rigorous and articulate defence of globalisation. However, actions speak louder than words.'
Rolls-Royce bosses could face criminal charges after they lavished millions of pounds and gifts on middlemen around the world as it bribed its way into lucrative contracts.

In secret deals, middlemen working for the engineering giant paid senior foreign officials and senior company staff over a period of about 20 years.

Yesterday, details emerged of how the corruption helped the company to around 250million of business in China, Indonesia, Russia and elsewhere.

Pay off: A Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit was offered as a bribe to a middleman in Indonesia

Meanwhile, officials lined their pockets, with one getting a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit car, another being paid to run a private jet, and others setting up lavish trips abroad.

Rolls-Royce settled the bribery allegations from the UK's Serious Fraud Office, avoiding prosecution in return for a 497,252,645 payment to the SFO over five years.

It has also agreed settlements with the US and Brazilian authorities over similar bribery claims.

But despite the company settling the claims, individuals involved in the case could be charged. It is understood that around 38 Rolls-Royce workers, some senior employees, are identified in the corruption cases.

Six have been sacked and 11 have left. The company declined to say what level they were.

Judge Sir Brian Leveson at London's High Court approved the deferred prosecution agreement over an 11-count indictment detailing corruption and failure to prevent bribery offences dating back to 1989.

They included corrupt payments over the sale of Trent aero engines in Indonesia and Thailand and over gas supply equipment in Russia.

The group also failed to prevent bribery in its energy business in Nigeria and Indonesia between 2010 and 2013, and in its civil aerospace business in Indonesia, Malaysia and China between 2010 and 2013, the SFO said.

The SFO revealed that in the 1980s and 1990s, senior Rolls employees agreed to pay 1.8million and give a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit car  which is made by a different company to the engine engineer  to a middleman in Indonesia.

In return the middleman, believed to have been an agent for the Indonesian president, was expected to vouch for Rolls to supply Trent 700 engines to Indonesia's national airline.

Rolls paid out 15.7million between 1991 and 1992 to a middleman paying government and Thai Airways employees over engine supply contracts in Thailand.

Further payments of 8.4million and 5.8million followed between 1992 and 1997.

The company also used middlemen to help it win defence contracts in India in 2008, despite that practice being banned by the Indian government.

In Russia, Rolls-Royce paid a middle-man for help securing work to supply equipment for a natural gas project.

In Nigeria, Rolls failed to prevent a local middleman company paying bribes to Nigerian company officials for an advantage on two energy project tenders, the court heard.

In Malaysia between July 2011 and November 2013, the firm's employees provided an Air Asia Group executive with credits worth 1.1million to be used to maintain a private jet in return for him supporting Rolls in airline contracts.

Rolls yesterday apologised unreservedly for the conduct, stressing leadership had changed since then.

Rolls-Royce boss Warren East, who took over in July 2015, said: 'This was unworthy of everything which Rolls-Royce stands for, and that our people, customers, investors and partners expect from us.'
Legal & General is planning to become the first major UK company to disclose how much more its chief executive earns than rank-and-file employees.

The insurer intends to publish the ratio in March when it updates investors on boss Nigel Wilson's pay for last year in its annual report, according to Bloomberg.

In 2015, Wilson earned 5.5million.

The move follows calls by Prime Minister Theresa May for a crackdown on excessive executive pay, including proposals to give shareholders more say over compensation.

The Government is considering requiring companies to compare the highest-paid employee's remuneration with the average worker's.

Some firms oppose the publication of pay ratios, saying they could be misleading because of variations in employee skills and incomes in different industries.
Trusting pensioners have been plunged into crippling debt after the Government axed plans to let savers cash in their annuities.

In March 2015, former Chancellor George Osborne promised five million retirees who have already taken their pensions that they would be allowed to swap their paltry monthly payouts for a lump sum.

The news came as a lifeline for those struggling to get by on tiny incomes.

But, in October last year, the Treasury reneged on its promise. Retirees would not be able to access their pension after all.

Victims: Many pensioners have been plunged into crippling debt after the Government axed plans to let savers cash in their annuities

Since the U-turn, Money Mail has exposed the impact of this betrayal on pensioners through our Unlock Our Pensions campaign.

Today, we can reveal the serious financial difficulties retirees are facing as a result of the Government's broken promise.

We've received a stream of heart-breaking letters from savers who took out personal loans and spent on credit cards following Osborne's original announcement.

Some bought a much-needed new car or carried out urgent home repairs, while others used the money to help out children and grandchildren.

They planned to repay the debts as soon as the new rules giving them access to their pension came into force this April.

They would then continue to live off income from other pensions and investments as usual.

But the Government U-turn means they now have no way of repaying the debts they've built up. Instead, they will be stuck with useless deals that pay as little as a few pounds a month, while their income is swallowed up by hefty interest charges on what they owe.

Michael and Sue Greenwood, both 62, fear they will have to sell their cherished bungalow in Bradford, West Yorkshire, to pay off their debts.

The couple's troubles started when Michael was made redundant during the 2008 recession and struggled to find a new job. Shortly after, Sue was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and he became a full-time carer.

In order to get by, the Greenwoods reluctantly turned their 60,000 pension pot into two annuities totalling 190 a month. They also racked up around 21,000 on credit cards paying for everyday essentials.

The couple feared that the only long-term answer was to move to a smaller, cheaper home. They would then use the extra cash to pay off their debts and live off their other pensions.

So, when they heard they could cash in their annuity for a lump sum, they thought they had been thrown a lifeline.

Instead of moving, they took out a 47,000 equity release loan on their 150,000 property. They also took out a 10,000 personal loan to help tide them over.

The plan was to clear as much debt as possible by cashing in their annuity in April. They expected to get a significant amount in return.

Betrayal: Former Chancellor George Osborne promised five million retirees who have already taken their pensions that they would be allowed to swap their monthly payouts for a lump sum

But, following the Treasury's U-turn, the couple's modest income is being eaten up by debt repayments of 460 a month.

Michael says: 'We have tried to do our best without claiming a penny in benefits.

'The only thing we did wrong was believing that the Government would be true to its word.'

Michael complained about the shake-up to his local MP, Philip Davies, who then forwarded the complaint to Economic Secretary to the Treasury Simon Kirby  the man responsible for cancelling the plan.

But Mr Kirby responded to Mr Davies only with a bland letter directing the couple to debt charities.

He said: 'There is a range of services that might be able to provide them with further guidance.' He listed StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice.

When 66-year-old Mark Capon's car broke down last year, he used his credit card and overdraft to put down a 3,500 deposit for a new runaround.

He says he only did this because he believed he would be able to clear the debt by cashing in his 21,000 annuity with Prudential, which pays just 75 a month. The former engineer, from Plymouth, says: 'I put myself in an exposed position of spending before I had the funds because I had trust in the Government.

'Now, I am worried that the bank will call in the debt and can't sleep at night.'

Another couple in their 60s increased their mortgage by 40,000 to buy a new home upon hearing the news that they'd be able to cash in their annuities.

They believed the move would save money in the long run because the running costs of the new property would be lower. The couple, from near Belfast, planned to pay off the extra 40,000 they'd borrowed using the cash from their 87,000 pension pot.

But, since the U-turn, they have had to increase their repayments to 900 a month in order to clear the extra debt before the wife retires in three years.

Fears are growing over the rising level of debt among older households. Older homeowners pulled a record 2.15 billion out of their properties last year, according to the Equity Release Council  a 34 pc jump on 2015.

Equity release loans allow borrowers to tap into the wealth they have built up in their home  but they are very expensive, with a typical debt doubling every ten years. The debt is only repaid when the homeowner dies or goes into care.

Two of the most common reasons over-55s take out such a loan is to repay other debt and boost their standard of living. Experts say that if retirees could access their pension pots, many may be able to avoid resorting to this type of expensive debt.

Former pensions minister Ros Altmann says: 'It's just not good enough. The Government cannot wash its hands of these people.

'It passed laws and promised pensioners they would be able to cash in their annuities.

'Savers believed that the Government would keep its word, and they have been terribly let down.'

A Treasury spokesman says the Government has committed 45 million to the Money Advice Service, which offers free financial help.

He adds: 'The decision not to introduce a secondary annuity market involved extensive engagement with financial regulators, consumer groups and industry, during which it became clear that consumers would likely receive poor value for their annuities and be put at risk.'

r.lythe@dailymail.co.uk
African village where every building is a canvas, whether it is a house, palace or tomb for their dead

Unique Tiebele, Burkina Faso, is made up of earthen huts decorated with striking geometric patterns

The village is home to the Kassena people, one of the oldest ethnic groups in the West African nation

In a remote corner of West Africa lies a village unlike any other.

The clay walls of the low buildings that make up Tiebele, Burkina Faso, have been decorated with elaborate frescoes and geometric patterns, turning each of the circular structures into a striking work of art.

The isolated village is home to the royal court of the Kassena people, one of the oldest ethnic groups in Burkina Faso, who first settled the region in the 15th Century.

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Striking: The extraordinary village of Tiebele in Burkina Faso, Africa, is made up of intricately embellished earthen architecture

Tiebele's 'Cour Royale' is a complex of earthen huts covering roughly 1.2 hectares and lying within circular, walled confines at the base of a hill overlooking the surrounding West African savannah.

It serves as the official residence of the pe, or community leader, of the Kassena tribe.

The clay walls of the buildings are covered with patterns to differentiate them from the homes of the common people, with the chief's heavily decorated residence the Tiebele equivalent of a royal palace.

But not all of the striking structures are lived in. Some of the most elaborately patterned buildings are actually mausoleums for the dead, who are laid to rest in the same compound.



Rare glimpse: A tourist-free corner of Africa, the village keeps itself relatively isolated and closed to outsiders

Symbols: Artwork etched upon the walls of one of the low buildings

Unchanged: The traditional houses in Tiebele are painted with geometric designs, symbols and icons

Village life: Young children are seen among the traditional buildings decorated with intricate paintings

Despite its unique architecture Tiebele's Cour Royale is not among Africa's well-trodden tourist destinations, with the villagers preferring to keep it isolated to ensure the conservation and integrity of their structures.

But this looks set to change in the future, with plans afoot to develop the site as a cultural tourism destination as a means of generating cash to fund conservation.

Tiebele, which is also at risk from flooding and subsequent erosion, has been placed on a watch list by the World Monuments Fund, an organisation that works to preserve the world's most treasured places.

It works in partnership with local communities and governments to protect important architectural and cultural heritage sites around the globe.

VIDEO See how it's done - as one wall is built...

Unique: Tiebele is home to the chief, the royal court and the nobility of the Kassena people, who first settled the region in the 15th Century, making them one of the oldest ethnic groups in Burkina Faso

Delicate process: There is interest in developing the site as a cultural tourism destination to generate economic resources for conservation

Safety measures: The chief's house has the smallest door as a means of protection

Remote: A young buy lying inside one of the decorated buildings in the West African village

African scenes: Dried plants hang above the entrance to one of the huts in the village

Remote: Burkina Faso, in West Africa, is not a traditional tourist destination

Residents: Villagers sit in a sun drenched courtyard in Tiebele, Burkina Faso, West Africa

Elaborate: Drawings and frescoes decorate the walls of the circular mud huts

Works of art: Some of the frescoes on the walls of the buildings would not look out of place hanging in a gallery

Historic: The Kassena people are one of the oldest ethnic groups in Burkina Faso

Daily life: Pots and other implements lie behind curved walls decorated with monochrome patterns

Culture: Tiebele lies within circular, walled confines measuring roughly 1.2 hectares in sun-baked Burkina Faso

Challenges: Tiebele faces challenges to maintain the integrity of its traditional structures, from flooding and erosion to planning for tourism management




Horrific deaths of 87 migrants - including 48 children - who died of thirst in the Niger desert after their buses broke down on desperate journey to Algeria

Seven men, 32 women and 48 children found near the Algerian border

Bodies were badly decomposed and had been eaten, possibly by jackals



Found scattered across a 20km radius in small groups, often under trees



Children and teenagers may have been heading for low-paid jobs in Algeria

All died in early October after failed bid to escape Nigerien town of Arlit

Left stranded in Sahara after both vehicles carrying them broke down



The bodies of 87 migrants were found on Wednesday in Niger's desert north after they died of thirst just a few kilometres from the border of Algeria, their planned destination, sources said.

The corpses of the seven men, 32 women and 48 children were in addition to five bodies of women and girls found earlier, a security source said.

All died in early October after a failed attempt to reach Algeria that began in late September, the source added.

Death in the desert: A graphic showing where the bodies of 87 migrants were found in Niger after two vehicles taking them to Algeria broke down before reaching the border

Almoustapha Alhacen, from local aid organisation Aghir In'man, confirmed the death toll and gave a graphic account of discovering the bodies, some of which he said may have been eaten by jackals.



'The corpses were decomposed. it was horrible,' he said.



'We found them in different locations in a 20km (12-mile) radius and in small groups, often under trees, or under the sun.



'Sometimes a mother and children, but some lone children too.'

The bodies were buried according to Muslim rites, 'as and when they were found,' added Alhacen.

Mr Alhacen said that because so many of the dead were children or teenagers, it was possible they were heading for low paid jobs in Algeria.

Treacherous: The seven men, 32 women and 48 children died of thirst in early October after walking for days in the Sahara desert (above, file picture)

Nigerien officials said on Monday that dozens of migrants, most of them women and children, had died of thirst in the Sahara desert earlier this month.

Two vehicles were carrying the migrants when they broke down, one about 83 kilometres (51 miles) from the city of Arlit, northern Niger where they had set off from, and another at 158 kilometres (98 miles), a security source said.

'The first vehicle broke down. The second returned to Arlit to get a spare part after getting all the migrants it was carrying to alight, but it too broke down,' said the source.

'We think that the migrants were in the desert for seven days and on the fifth day, they began to leave the broken down vehicle in search of a well,' said the source.

However, 21 people had survived, the source said, including a man who walked to Arlit and a woman who was saved by a driver who came across her in the desert and took her to the same city.



'We found them in different locations in a 20km (12-mile) radius and in small groups, often under trees, or under the sun. Sometimes a mother and children, but some lone children too' - Aid worker

Nineteen others reached the Algerian city of Tamanrasset, but were sent back to Niger, the source added.

In the lucrative business of transporting Africans fleeing conditions at home for what they hope will be a better life elsewhere, traffickers quite frequently abandon their human cargo in the desert, leaving them to near certain death.

Azaoua Mamane, who works for the non-governmental organisation Synergie in Arlit, said the group left behind consisted of 'entire families, including many children and women, who departed for Algeria, where they hoped to beg for their keep'.



Niger is one of the world's poorest countries and has been hit by successive food crises.

Libya, rather than Algeria, is more frequently the favoured country of transit for west Africans making the journey across the continent, many of whom aim to travel on to Europe.

The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that at least 30,000 economic migrants passed through Agadez, northern Niger's largest city, between March and August of this year.

These migrants often look to Europe as their final destination, a security source told AFP, and use Libya as a jumping off point amid the relative chaos in the North African country since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Humanitarian agencies say nearly 20,000 migrants have perished while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe over the past 20 years.
Pictured: Slovakian model accused of killing British millionaire ex-boyfriend with a shotgun as she is taken into custody by police in her native country



British jeweller Andrew Bush, 48, found dead at Costa del Sol villa

Was shot in the head as he arrived at the house with most recent partner

Police have caught ex-girlfriend Mayka Kukucova, 24, a Slovakian model

Gave herself up in home town Nova Bosaca, 2,000 miles from crime scene



She is accused of murdering Mr Bush after lying in wait at the five-bed villa

New Russian girlfriend Maria Korotaeva, 20, says ex was 'madly jealous'



She claims Kukucova shot Mr Bush then fled the scene in his Hummer



Hiding her face behind a silk scarf, sunglasses and her long blonde hair, Mayka Kukucova is escorted from a Slovakian police station.

The 24-year-old model was finally in custody yesterday in her native country four days after the shooting of her millionaire British ex boyfriend on the Costa del Sol.

Kukucova had been on the run but stunned officers on Tuesday by handing herself in at a station close to her parents home in a small Slovakian town.



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Mayka Marica Kukucova, pictured after giving herself up to police in her home town of Nova Bosaca in Slovakia

Wearing a carefully chosen designer outfit including 300 Gucci sneakers, designer sunglasses, and covering her face with a silk shawl, she leaves a member of her police escort to carry her expensive designer handbag

She now faces extradition back to Spain accused of killing her former boyfriend Andrew Bush, who was shot twice in the head on Saturday at his 2,500 a month villa.

Gold dealer Mr Bush, 48, was found dead in a pool of blood at his five-bed rented home near Estepona just after 3am.

His new girlfriend, Russian student Maria Korotaeva, 20, told detectives his Slovakian ex was waiting for them in her pyjamas inside Mr Bushs mansion when they arrived for a long weekend from the UK.

Maria Korotaeva, 20 (left and right), the most recent girlfriend of murdered millionaire Andrew Bush, 48 (left), has told how the pair arrived at Mr Bush's Spanish villa to find ex-girlfriend Kukucova waiting



She took refuge in Mr Bushs Hummer while he argued inside with the alleged killer.

Miss Korotaeva said Kukucova was crazy with jealousy after Mr Bush ended their relationship.

She said gunshots rang out before the Slovakian fled the house and forced her out of the car to make her escape.

Kukucova, who had posted intimate videos online begging Mr Bush to take her back, was arrested on Tuesday in Nove Mesto nad Vahom in her home country - more than 2,000 miles from Spain.

Kukukova handed herself in and has since been transferred to cells in Trencin, Slovakia, where she was photographed early yesterday morning.

The Slovakian model had gone on the run after Bush was found shot to death in his rented holiday villa on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain

Kukucova has been accused of being a 'madly jealous' ex who killed Mr Bush to stop anyone else having him

Officers carried a Louis Vuitton handbag for the model, as she shielded her face behind a large scarf.

Despite her dramatic trip home and a night behind bars, she appeared to have made an effort with her appearance.

Wearing sheer black leggings, 300 Gucci trainers, and a top with elaborate detail, she kept her face hidden behind a scarf and large sunglasses, which she wore inside.

Her father Lubomir Kukuca, 50, said his daughter kept in touch with them while she was on the run.

Mr Kukuca is seriously ill with cancer, so it is thought the model wanted to see him before she was arrested.

Miss Kukucovas mother Danka, who supports the family as a manager for a local building society, said: I dont want to speak before my daughter does.

No one can imagine what we are going through at the moment.

Korotaeva described Kukucova (pictured) as a 'snake' and branded her an 'uneducated psycho'

We are really struggling. We are upset with what is being said about our daughter.

It is thought Kukucova drove across several unmanned borders to reach central Europe.

It is also possible, however, she may have flown to Slovakia on an ID card before an international arrest warrant was received by her home country.

Friends in Slovakia suggested she may have evaded police with the help of her new boyfriend Peter Kucharik, a bodybuilder in his 20s who works for an armed security firm.

Miss Korotaeva says Kukucova argued with Mr Bush before she heard shots (pictured, Mr Bush and Miss Korotaeva on a Valentine's break in Paris)

Miss Korotaeva (left), a business student at UWE in Bristol, claims she heard three gunshots before Mr Bush's ex came running out of the house with a 'crazy cold' look on her face

Miss Korotaeva has accused Miss Kukucova of Mr Bush's murder, saying 'She done it. God will be her judge'

Miss Korotaeva paid tribute to her 'amazing' boyfriend, saying he 'changed my life for the better'

Mr Kucharik has not been seen at work since Saturday, when friends said he was trying to get to the airport.

His phone has been switched off since and his boss told the Mail no one had been able to get hold of him.

It is not yet known when Kukucova might be extradited.

Extraditions usually take a week, but they can happen in as soon as 48hours, according to experts.

There are fears Slovakia could try to block Kukucovas return to Spain but under EU laws this would be very difficult and diplomatically disastrous.

Kukucova had given herself up in her home town 3,102km (1,928 miles) from the crime scene in Spain

Kukucova is expected to be taken straight to court in Estepona on arrival in Spain after being booked in at a local police station for routine checks.

A judge in charge of the probe will then decide whether to release her on bail or remand her in custody while a full-scale investigation into Mr Bushs violent death continues.

Mr Bushs Russian lover flew to the resort of Adeje in Tenerife yesterday to be comforted by family.

After Kukucovas arrest, she wrote on Facebook: Yesssss!!!! Justice!!!!

Earlier, she wrote: My angel, my teacher, my LOVE..the perfect Man.

I still think its not true, its a film, its a dream. Not real. I love you baby and I know you will be looking after us from there.

She said Kukucova was a poisonous snake who was madly jealous after breaking up with her older lover and felt it had to be her or no one.

Mr Bushs family have said they are absolutely over the moon that Kukucova is in custody.

Slovakian police declined to comment yesterday.

A spokesman for Spanish police said: A woman wanted for questioning in relation to an incident at Cancelada near Estepona at the weekend has been arrested in Slovakia on foot of an international arrest warrant.

She has taken to twitter and Instagram today to praise Mr Bush, calling him her 'teacher' who 'changed my world for better [sic.]'

According to Miss Korotaeva, Mr Bush couldn't stand to hear Kukucova's name and his family resented her

Samantha Mason, who has a 19-year-old daughter with Mr Bush, is thought to be comforting Miss Korotaeva


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Angry demonstrators went on the rampage in Burkina Faso today in protest at plans to allow the President to extend his 27-year rule, setting the parliament on fire and wreaking havoc across the capital.

Crowds of people broke through a heavy security cordon and stormed the National Assembly building in Ouagadougou, ransacking offices and setting fire to cars.

A state of emergency was declared after one man was killed in the chaos that erupted in the west African nation, shortly before lawmakers were due to vote on the controversial legislation.

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On the rampage: Demonstrators set fire to the Burkina Faso parliament in protest at plans to allow the President to extend his rule

Up in flames: Police had fired tear gas on protesters to try to prevent them from moving into National Assembly building in the capital

Inferno: A protester holds a white cloth as cars and documents burn outside the parliament building in the Ouagadougou

Revolt: The United States and former colonial power France voiced alarm over the unrest gripping the poor west African nation

Bravado: Two men pose with a police shield as demonstrators ransack offices and set fire to cars in protest against the President

The United States and former colonial power France voiced alarm over the unrest gripping the poor west African nation and appealed for calm.

Amid the surging violence, the government announced it was calling off the vote but it was not immediately clear if this was only a temporary move.

Black smoke billowed out of smashed windows at the parliament building, where several offices were ravaged by flames, including the speaker's office, although the main chamber so far appeared to be unscathed.

The ruling party headquarters in the second city of Bobo Dioulasso and the city hall was also torched by protesters, witnesses said.

One man was killed in the chaos in the west African nation shortly before lawmakers were due to vote on the controversial legislation

Carnage: Crowds of people break through a heavy security cordon and stormed the National Assembly building in Ouagadougou

The country has been tense for days in the run-up to today's vote on constitutional changes to extend President Blaise Compaore's rule

Smoke billows from broken windows of the parliament building as hundreds of protesters storm into the surrounding compound

'The president must deal with the consequences,' said Benewende Sankara, one of the leaders of the opposition which had called for the people to march on parliament.

Several hundred protesters also broke into the headquarters of the national television station RTB, pillaging equipment and smashing cars, correspondents from the AFP news agency said.

The country has been tense for days in the run-up to today's vote over the constitutional changes to extend President Blaise Compaore's rule, which the European Union has warned could jeopardise stability in the west African nation.

Police were out in force around the parliament after mass rallies called by the opposition earlier this week but failed to stop the onslaught despite using tear gas against the protesters.

Taken down: Riot police arrest an anti-government protester during riots in the capital

The ruling party headquarters in the second city of Bobo Dioulasso and the city hall was also torched by protesters, witnesses said

Thirsty work: A protester rinses his face outside the parliament in Ouagadougou as cars and documents burn outside

Up in arms: Several hundred protesters also broke into the headquarters of the national television station RTB, pillaging equipment

Fleeing: A Burkina Faso deputy leaves the parliament after around 1,500 protesters break into and ransacked parliament

The European Union has urged the government to scrap the legislation, warning that it could 'jeopardise... stability, equitable development and democratic progress', and had called for all sides to refrain from violence.

Several thousand protesters had marched through the capital yesterday, the day after street battles erupted during a mass rally by hundreds of thousands of people against what they see as a constitutional coup by supporters of Compaore.

The legislature is due to examine a proposed amendment that would allow Compaore, now in the 27th year of his presidency, to run for re-election in November next year for another five years.

Here come the cavalry: Troops ride into the captial as hundreds of angry demonstrators stormed parliament in Burkina Faso

A Government spokesman hailed the 'vitality' of Burkina Faso's democracy despite what he termed anti-government 'misbehaviour'

Damage limitation: A soldier fires rounds into the air to try to disperse protesters outside the parliament

'October 30 is Burkina Faso's Black Spring, like the Arab Spring,' said Emile Pargui Pare, an official from the Movement of People for Progress (MPP), a young and influential opposition party.

Government spokesman Alain Edouard Traore issued a statement Wednesday hailing the 'vitality' of Burkina Faso's democracy despite what he termed anti-government 'misbehaviour'.

Compaore's bid to cling to power has angered the opposition and much of the public, including many young people in a country where 60 percent of the population of almost 17 million is under 25.

Many have spent their entire lives under the leadership of one man and - with the poor former French colony stagnating at 183rd out of 186 countries on the UN human development index - many have had enough.

Smokescreen: Police were out in force around the parliament after mass rallies were called by the opposition earlier this week but failed to stop the onslaught despite using tear gas against the protesters

Fireball: The European Union has urged the government to scrap the legislation, warning that it could 'jeopardise... stability, equitable development and democratic progress'

The situation is being closely watched across Africa where at least four heads of state are preparing or considering similar changes to stay in power, from Burundi to Benin and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Compaore was only 36 when he seized power in a 1987 coup in which his former friend and one of Africa's most loved leaders, Thomas Sankara, was ousted and assassinated.

The 63-year-old has remained in power since then, re-elected president four times since 1991 - to two seven-year and two five-year terms.

In 2005, constitutional limits were introduced and Compaore is coming to the end of his second five-year term.

Fury: The situation is being closely watched across Africa where at least four heads of state are preparing or considering similar changes to stay in power

Outrage: Compaore's bid to cling to power has angered the opposition and much of the public, including many young people in a country where 60 percent of the population of almost 17 million is under 25

Many have spent their entire lives under the leadership of one man and - with the poor former French colony stagnating at 183rd out of 186 countries on the UN human development index - many have had enough

The opposition fears the new rules would enable Compaore to seek re-election not just once, but three more times, paving the way for up to 15 more years in power.

The third largest party in parliament said at the weekend it would back the amendment, setting the ruling party on course to obtain the two-thirds majority it needs to make the change without resorting to a referendum as first promised.

Protesters have erected barricades and burned tyres in the capital since the proposal was announced on October 21.
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The outgoing U.S. administration of Barack Obama has been attempting to "undermine the legitimacy" of Donald Trump's presidency and to ruin his policy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday just days before Obama leaves office.

Putin said there has been a "continued acute internal political struggle" in the United States, which is aimed at undermining the legitimacy of Trump's win in the election and preventing him from taking office.

The "slander campaign" launched by the Obama administration against Trump and Russia is also trying to box in the president-elect so that he would fail to fulfill his election promises, including restoring U.S.-Russia relations, Putin added.

Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin does not have any phone contacts scheduled with Obama before the end of the latter's term.
President Obama will be jetting out of Washington DC immediately after Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday and heading to a much warmer climate.

It has been revealed that for his first vacation after he leaves the White House, President Obama and his wife Michelle along with their two daughters Malia and Sasha will be heading to sunny Palm Springs, California.

And for that trip, the Obamas will be staying at the home of Michael Smith and James Costos.

Good friends: The Obamas will be travelling to Palm Springs, California for their first post-White House vacation this weekend at the home of Michael Smith and James Costos (above with President Obama in the Oval Office)

Design star: Smith has been the interior designer for the Obamas since they entered the White House in 2009 (Smith above with the First Lady and Adele in October)

Big names friends: Costos was the United States ambassador to Spain (Costos above with Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth)

Old work friend: Costos was formerly an HBO executive (above with Sarah Jessica Parker)

Frequent guests: The Obamas have stayed with the couple many times in the past (Costos above with Gwyneth Paltrow)

Smith has been the interior designer for the Obamas since they entered the White House, and Costos is a former HBO executive who in 2013 was named the United States ambassador to Spain.

The Obamas have stayed in the couple's Rancho Mirage home numerous times in the past when they traveled to Palm Springs.

The 11,000-square-foot home was featured in an issue of Architectural Digest back in 2015, which revealed that the residence was purchased as a weekend retreat for the couple.

Smith also spoke about hosting the Obamas at the home.

'When they were here, it occurred to me that more than 50 years ago JFK had stayed just down the road at Bing Crosbys home,' said Smith.

'The President and Mrs. Obama basically woke up in the morning to the same view of the valley. There was something lovely about that thought.

'It made me contemplate all the change that has taken place in those decades, contrasting with the timelessness of this beautiful desert landscape.'

Swank digs: The couple's 11,000-square-foot home was featured in an issue of Architectural Digest back in 2015 (pool above)

Getaway: The residence (above) was first purchased as a weekend retreat for the couple

Room for a family: A photo of the couple's guest house on their Palm Springs property (above)

History: 'When they were here, it occurred to me that more than 50 years ago JFK had stayed just down the road at Bing Crosbys home,' said Smith of the Obamas last stay (firepit above)

Location, location: 'Were situated perfectly in a notch in the mountain- rolling desert hills to the north, jagged peaks to the south- so its totally private,' said Costos of the home

Inspiration: Smith said that the design was inspired by Joan Didions essay In Hollywood, from The White Album (living room above)

Flower power: Bougainvillea flowers and vines cover the eight-car garage at the Palm Springs home (above)

Video courtesy of New Streams Studio

Smith also spoke about his design inspiration for the Palm Springs home in that interview.

'As I was conceiving the rooms, I kept thinking of Joan Didions essay In Hollywood, from The White Album, where she describes important homes of the period as being "filled with white phalaenopsis and cymbidium orchids and needlepoint rugs and the requisite scent of Rigaud candles,"' said Smith.

'That is the spirit were channeling.'

Costos meanwhile spoke about how much he loved the location.

'Were situated perfectly in a notch in the mountain- rolling desert hills to the north, jagged peaks to the south- so its totally private. Then you have the constant play of light across the Coachella Valley,' he said.

'Its just the right amount of change to keep you peacefully stimulated.'

Watch the throne: Costos with Games of Thrones creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff as well as star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Welcoming friends: Smith and Costos with Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart at the embassy in Madrid

Design pals: The couple hosted Martha Stewart at the embassy when she visited Spain in 2015 (above)

Hollywood legends" Costos snapped a selfie with Jane Fonda when she stopped by the embassy (above)

European stars: The men pose with opera great Renee Fleming at the embassy (above)

Viewing party: Smith and guests admiring the portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy in the White House (above)

Smith and Costos are also making their way home too this week, with Smith posting photos of their last night in Spain on Instagram over the weekend.

'Adios , Embassy ..loved every moment,' wrote Smith on Instagram, sharing an image of his place card at Costos' going away party, which also doubled as his birthday celebration .

In addition to his work for the Obamas, Smith was also tasked with changing the embassy in Madrid once his husband was appointed to the post back in 2013, a redesigns that was also featured in Architectural Digest.

'I might have found this frustrating if I hadnt done the White House,' said Smith at the time.

'It is a moment in history, and it is a moment that stays.'

Costos was certainly a big fan, saying: 'I am so proud of Michaels work at the residence. Hes created a modern platform that embodies the patriotic feeling of an American embassy but is still very much a welcoming home.'

Model sounds: Supermodel Karlie Kloss DJ'ing one of the couple's parties at the Spanish embassy (above)

Fashion forward: The men poise with Anna Wintour after welcoming her to the embassy last year (above)

Close: Costos welcomes the First Lady to Madrid after she traveled there with her daughters in June (above)

Back home: Smith and actress Sofia Vergara during a photo shoot at his home in Palm Springs (above)

Designer of the interior: Smith and President Obama speak with one another just outside the White House

Welcome wagon: Costos was on hand for President Obama's first visit to Spain in July 2016 (above)

Big names: King Felipe of Spain, President Obama and Ambassador Costos in the White House in 2015 (above)

Goor Morning Madrid: Smith and Costos celebrated New Year's in 2014 with a visit from friends George Stephanopoulos and his wife Ali Wentworth, as well as their children (above)

Smith also spoke with W about his work on the embassy, and why he was so committed to making it look as nice and beautiful as possible.

'The reality is, I only have one speed,' explained Smith.

'I dont know how to be like, "Okay, lets just put a folding table here, and it will be cool!" I cant have it be depressing or crappy, and I dont want to leave it like that for the next person.'

In addition to the Obamas, Smith's clients include Rupert Murdoch, Steven Spielberg and George Clooney.

He and Costos have been together for 14 years after first meeting on a plane, with Costos finding an excuse to speak with Smith after returning from the lavatory.

Longtime Spanish resident Dona Maria Aline Griffith Dexter, the Dowager Countess of Romanones, said of the couple: 'They have the manners and the elegance that are, I would say, superior to many ambassadors we have had. And they have made people realize that ones sexual orientation has absolutely no importance whatsoever- that it does not make people less effective, or more so.'

Sunset: The Palm Springs estate was built in 1970 by Howard Lapham and called Ichpa Mayapanm, which translates to 'exclusive estate'

Remodel: It is on the highest elevation in Rancho Mirage, but was dilapidated at the time that Smith first saw it years ago

Pool party: Costos purchased the property, and then spent two years transforming it into what it is now

Lots of land: The property is 8.6 acres in total, and features a helipad and mini-horse corral

Final visit: 'Let's go see the King,' wrote Smith on this photo of himself and Costos from over the weekend (above)

As for the Palm Springs estate, it was built in 1970 by Howard Lapham and called Ichpa Mayapanm which translates to 'exclusive estate.'

It is on the highest elevation in Rancho Mirage, but was dilapidated at the time that Smith first saw it years ago.

He told Architectural Digest that he was drawn to the 'lean lines, broad roofs, and green lawns - a great refinement and opulence in the middle of this harsh wilderness.'

And so he and Costos purchased the property, and then spent two years transforming it into what it is now.

The property is 8.6 acres in total, and features a helipad, a mini-horse corral and an eight-car garage.

The main house had three bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms along with an entrance garden and fountain.

There was also a tennis court with a clubhouse next to it when the couple bought the property.

The guest house meanwhile has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

At the time the home was being offered in a short sale for just $5million.
Television presenter Kelly Landry 'accidentally bumped her toddlers head into a door frame' after she had been drinking, her estranged husband celebrity accountant Anthony Bell has reportedly told friends.

Despite the alleged incident, which happened on November 18 and lead to Ms Landry later taking out an AVO against Mr Bell claiming he pushed her, the couple cuddled and posed for happy photos just a week later, while hosting friends on board their luxury boat.

The glamorous pair hosted a soiree on board their super yacht Ghost II on November 25, to watch the Crowded House concert, which was being held on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

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Anthony Bell and Kelly Landry pose up together for days after altercation that led to an AVO

As the concert played in the background, Ms Landry and Mr Bell posed for a photograph, exclusively obtained by Daily Mail Australia, giving no hint their marriage was in tatters, or that there had been an alleged heated exchange a week earlier.

Mr Bell has reportedly told friends that on November 18, the day of an incident that lead to an AVO being taken out against him, Ms Landry accidentally bumped the head of their youngest daughter Thea, 2, into a door frame, while trying to leave the house with the two children. He claims she had been drinking all afternoon.

Ms Landry, who is holidaying in Bali with the couple's two young daughters, has not responded to the claims.

When Daily Mail Australia broke the news of the AVO being taken out against Mr Bell, he issued a letter to his 7,000-strong client base denying allegations he pushed Ms Landry.

'There is an allegation I pushed her in November...I did not push her,' Mr Bell said in the letter.

Landry returned to their $20 million Watsons Bay home in east Sydney after she had been drinking with friends, Bell tells friends, a source claimed to Daily Telegraph.

Kelly Landry and Anthony Bell are pictured embracing after he won the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on December 28

Bell denies the allegations he pushed his wife on November 18 (pictured together)

The pair argued and Landry said she would take their two daughters and leave, the source claims is Bell's version of events.

Landry attempted to walk past Bell and out the front door, when she accidentally bumped two-year-old Thea's head on the frame, the source alleged.

Bell then took the toddler from her and Landry considered it an attack, according to Daily Telegraph.

In a letter to his clients last week, Bell again denied the allegations he pushed his wife.

Landry is pictured leaving Waverley Court last week for the AVO application against Bell

In a letter to his clients last week, Bell again denied the allegations he pushed his wife (they are pictured together)

'I abhor all violence and I am faithful to my family. It is unimaginable to me that I could ever touch a woman in anger,' he wrote in the letter.

'I lead a quiet family life and try to be the best parent and husband that circumstances permit.'

A friend of Landry had earlier told Daily Telegraph Bell does not spend enough time with his children and claimed she 'couldn't do it anymore'.

A friend of Landry had earlier said Bell does not spend enough time with his children and claimed she 'couldn't do it anymore'

Landry (pictured with their two children) is continuing to live at their Watsons Bay home, while Bell is believed to be staying at Russell Crowe's rural NSW home

It was also claimed Landry did not intend to be at the finish line for the Sydney to Hobart race, and only scrambled there after realising her husband was set to win.

Landry had reportedly hired divorce barrister Grahame Richardson SC before she travelled to Tasmania to meet her husband for a passionate kiss when he won the yacht race on December 28.

At Waverley Court last week, Bell's lawyer said the celebrity accountant planned to divorce Landry.

An interim AVO was put in place with consent but with no admissions.

Bell was not present in court. Landry had arrived in court without a wedding ring on.

The matter was adjourned until February 7.

Ms Landry is best known as the former host of Channel Nine's Getaway travel program

Anthony Bell's letter to clients I am writing to you with an extremely heavy heart about a very serious matter. By now you may have seen a most distressing piece of news about my family involving some allegations my wife has made about me. There is an allegation that I pushed her in November [deleted segment] I did not push her. There is an allegation I spoke loudly and embarrassed her in front of friends. It did not happen. I deny the allegations and will defend myself in court. I abhor all violence and I am faithful to my family. It is unimaginable to me that I could ever touch a woman in anger. I have never taken a drug, been in any way disrespectful to people. I lead a quiet family life and try to be the best parent and husband that circumstances permit. While this is a private matter that Kelly and I are committed to resolving, I feel that I should note my distress over what has happened publicly. However, the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of my wife and daughters are all I care about. Anthony Bell Advertisement
Outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry says the Trump administration could do 'irreparable damage' to America's reputation and economy - but suggested his time in office will only last 'a year or two'.

Kerry told the World Economic Forum in Davos that the president-elect's plans were 'dangerous' and will 'injure' the credibility of the United States

He also delivered a stark warning of the dangers of economic populism, but insisted globalization would make a comeback in the future.

The speech is one of the last Kerry will make before he his replaced by Trump's Secretary of State pick, former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson.

John Kerry was applauded at the World Economic Forum in Davos as he appeared to say the Trump administration would only last 'a year, two years'

Speaking at an event moderated by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, Kerry said of Trump's protectionist, anti-globalization program: 'We'll have injured our own credibility in... an irreparable way. Not irreparably. There's time, and that's just too dramatic.

'But we will have done great injury to ourselves. And it will hurt for the endurance of a year, two years, whatever, while the [Trump] administration is there.'

Kerry said: 'It's really dangerous to play to the lowest common denominator of American, of global political life.'

Trump won November's White House race having pledged to return 'American jobs' from production plants in China and Mexico, and the incoming leader has threatened to tear up trade deals.

This week Trump also declared the NATO strategic alliance 'obsolete' while praising Britain's decision to leave the European Union, predicting other members would follow suit.

Kerry admitted that 'certain people in political life' have tapped into legitimate anxieties about job insecurity in a globalized economy of free trade and capital flows.

Donald Trump won the White House by pledging to return 'American jobs' from production plants in China and Mexico, and threatening to tear up trade deals

But he insisted automation rather than a shift toward foreign labor was what has hit the US workforce and argued that trade would help power the growth needed to bring new jobs.

Kerry also defended NATO and the European Union as guarantors of stability in a continent once wracked by war.

'I don't know where the new administration is going,' he said, of the new White House team that will replace President Barack Obama's administration on Friday.

'But my message, friends in Europe... is that Europe has got to believe in itself,' Kerry said.

'Europe needs to recognize it that the reason people came together was not just economic, in fact it was not just principally economic. It was to stop Europeans from killing Europeans,' he said, a reference to the First and Second World Wars.

Kerry argued that far from inheriting the enfeebled US economy Trump described in his campaign rhetoric, the real estate tycoon turned politician would enter office 'with the wind at his back.'

This could be put at risk by a disengagement from the world economy in the name of protecting US jobs.

'Now obviously the new president is tapped into the anger,' Kerry admitted.

'But has he seen the way in which this can be solved that doesn't undo economic opportunities and doesn't create more barriers and more turmoil?'

Kerry's stance was echoed by China's President Xi Jinping - who addressed the Davos forum yesterday.
Wealthy Republican donor Betsy DeVos said she would take a salary of just $1 if she is confirmed as education secretary

Donald Trump's pick for education secretary has said that unwanted kissing and groping - like the behavior the president-elect has previously bragged about - should be classed as sexual assault it if happens in schools.

Betsy DeVos faced a tough grilling from Democrats at a committee hearing, in which she was asked whether she landed the position because she had been a major donor.

Sen Patty Murray challenged DeVos on whether unsolicited advances should be branded as sex assaults - and she responded: 'Yes'.

In a fraught hearing, which went on for more than four hours, DeVos was also asked about guns in schools - and immediately responded that staff may need weapons to repel grizzly bears.

During the hearing DeVos, who said she would take a salary of just $1 if she is appointed, was asked by Sen Chris Murphy: 'You can't say definitively today that guns shouldn't be in schools?'

She responded by citing a school in Wyoming that had to ward off bears, and said that there 'is probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies'.

But she continued: 'If the question is around gun violence and the results of that, please know that my heart bleeds and is broken for those families that have lost any individual due to gun violence.'

The comments were made in a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

DeVos was grilled by Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee

Sen Bernie Sanders of Vermont asked DeVos outright if she would have landed the job had it not been for her family's political contributions

DeVos said she would address 'the needs of all parents and students' but that a one-size-fits-all model doesn't work in education.

Bernie Sanders of Vermont asked DeVos outright if she would have landed the job had it not been for her family's political contributions.

'As a matter of fact I do think that there would be that possibility,' she responded. 'I have worked very hard on behalf of parents and children for the last almost 30 years.'

Mrs DeVos told the committee she would address 'the needs of all parents and students' but that a one-size-fits-all model doesn't work in education

Sen Patty Murray of Washington state, the top Democrat on the committee, said she was 'extremely disappointed' that DeVos had not finalized her financial and ethics disclosures ahead of the hearing.

She also raised concerns about conflicts of interest, with DeVos' family business enterprises including a student loan refinancing company.

'Where conflicts are identified, they will be resolved. I will not be conflicted. Period,' DeVos said.

Sen Elizabeth Warren (pictured, right) raised concerns about DeVos' business interests, which include a student loan refinancing company

Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, a former education secretary, expressed confidence that DeVos is an 'excellent' choice for the job.

'She is on the side of our children,' he said.

DeVos sidestepped a question about whether she would rein in the department's Office for Civil Rights' work to protect students from campus sexual assault. DeVos said she would 'be looking very closely at how this has been regulated and handled and with great sensitivity to those who are victims'.

Sen Bernie Sanders asked DeVos about tuition-free public colleges and universities

Committee members (left-to-right) Sen Maggie Hassan, Sen Tim Kaine, Sen Elizabeth Warren, Sen Chris Murphy and Sen Tammy Baldwin asked questions of Donald Trump's education secretary pick

Murray asked whether unwanted kissing and groping, like the behavior Donald Trump once bragged about, happened in a school, it would be classed as sexual assault? DeVos said yes.

Asked by Sanders about her views on tuition-free public colleges and universities, DeVos said: 'I think we also have to consider the fact that there is nothing in life that is truly free. Somebody is going to pay for it.'

DEVOS DISTANCES HERSELF FROM 'GAY CONVERSION THERAPY' LGBT groups have protested Trump's choice of DeVos, saying she has funded conservative religious groups that promote what they consider to be traditional family values, including one organization that supports conversion therapy  counseling of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people with the aim of changing their sexual orientation. DeVos told the hearing last night that she never supported the idea and that 'believes in the innate value of every single human being'. Amid concerns that DeVos' conservative religious views might make her a poor advocate for the rights of the LGBT community and other minorities, DeVos stressed that no students should face discrimination. Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander read into the record a letter of support from the Log Cabin Republicans, a Republican organization pushing for LGBT rights. Advertisement

She skirted Sanders' question on whether she would support making child care free or much more affordable for low-income families, as is the case in many countries around the world, saying only that she feels strongly about 'parents having an opportunity for child care for their children'.

'But it's not a question of opportunity,' Sanders fired back, raising his voice. 'It's a question of being able to afford it!'

Facing criticism from teachers unions that she is working against public education, DeVos told the committee that she will be 'a strong advocate for great public schools'.

'But,' she added, 'if a school is troubled, or unsafe, or not a good fit for a child  perhaps they have a special need that is going unmet  we should support a parent's right to enroll their child in a high-quality alternative.'

DeVos, 59, said she will seek to address rising higher education costs and massive student debt, but also advance trade and vocational schools as well as community colleges because 'craftsmanship is not a fallback  but a noble pursuit'.

DeVos, the wife of Dick DeVos, the heir to the Amway marketing fortune, has spent more than two decades advocating for charter schools in her home state of Michigan, as well as promoting conservative religious values.

In a letter addressed to the committee, 38 prominent education groups and teachers' organizations expressed concern that DeVos' track record bodes ill for public education.

Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos talks to Sen Tim Scott before testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington

Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the next Secretary of Education, testifies during her confirmation hearing

'Over the course of her career as a major campaign contributor, soft-money donor and lobbyist, DeVos has used her considerable wealth to influence legislation and the outcomes of elections to advance policies that have undermined public education and proved harmful to many of our most vulnerable students,' the letter said.

DeVos supporters, meanwhile, applauded her nomination. Eva Moskowitz, CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools, said that American public education 'is in deep crisis', with 35 countries outranking American schools in math and 20 in reading.

'I believe Betsy DeVos has the talent, commitment and leadership capacity to revitalize our public schools and deliver the promise of opportunity that excellent education provides, and I support her nomination as U.S. secretary of education,' Moskowitz said in a statement.
Video has emerged of a kebab shop owner swearing and abusing a 16-year-old girl who was a customer at his store.

The footage was recorded outside a Melton, Victoria kebab store on Thursday January 12 and shows the shocking incident taking place - and the teen claims it began when she asked for a refund on her food.

As he screams and swears, the shop owner gestures wildly at the girl, saying: 'F... you, get the f... out of here, you have no respect'.

At one point, he even threatens to kill the teen, according to the Herald Sun.

Images from the video show the man gesturing wildly at a woman outside the kebab shop

The video was posted to a community Facebook page and the teen told the Herald Sun a staff member made a rude remark about her as she left.

'So I went back, with the meal still being untouched, and I went straight up to the man and asked him for my money back.

'He refused to give it to me and kept saying that my reason was not a good enough reason.'

She said it was then that he began yelling at her and punching the wall.

The man was eventually pulled away by other people at the scene

The teen said she was still frightened almost a week after the incident occurred and could still picture him telling her he would kill her.

The store owner told the Herald Sun he'd reacted because the girl was 'not being nice' when she requested a refund.

He claimed she was yelling and 'carrying on', but admitted his conduct was out of line.

His father told Daily Mail Australia he believed his son had been 'set up'.

He claimed she had told him: 'four people were waiting for him outside. If you are a man you'll go outside'.

'When he [went] outside the camera goes up.'

The father said his son may not be an angel, but he was a good man, however, he was 'too sick' to speak to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

Police were aware of the incident but said no formal complaint had been made, the Herald Sun reported.
A landlord is demanding more than $6,000 in damages and unpaid rent from Teen Mom star Amber Portwood after her pets left a 'nasty' odor in a rental home.

According to legal documents obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, an Indiana debt collector, Zuluscape, is suing the reality star on behalf of the Teen Moms former landlord.

The company filed suit earlier this month.

Amber Portwood is being sued for more than $6,000 in damages and unpaid rent after her pets left a 'nasty' odor in a rental home

Portwood reportedly has a number of pets including two rescue dogs (left) and kittens

Zuluscape alleges that the landlord had to paint the walls of the entire home and put in new carpets because of the pet stench left behind.

Court documents also show that Portwood left the house in a general state of 'disarray', and without paying much of the rent due on her lease.

Portwood, 26, signed the lease on the Indianapolis property in July 2015 and it expired the following June.

She and her fiance, Matt Baier, 44, reportedly lived together in the home on Tiptop Drive, with her six-year-old daughter, Leah, Baier's two rescue dogs and two kittens - Bootsie and Apollo.

The reality TV star reportedly lived at the Indianapolis home with her pets, fiance Matt Baier (pictured) and her six-year-old daughter, Leah

And while she initially agreed to pay $1,200 a month in rent, $1,150 as a security deposit and a $200 pet fee, in July 2016, Zuluscape wrote to Portwood claiming the damage totaled more than $7,000 but that they would take into account her security deposit.

The costs of repairing the house included installing new 'deodorized' carpets, the removal of all the things she left behind, dry wall damage repair, new door knobs, cleaning fees and new coats of 'deodorized' paint to mask the smell of her pets.

The landlord also claims Portwood owed $1,648.24 in unpaid rent.

A hearing has been set for February in an Indiana court. She has yet to respond to the allegations.

The reality television star announced in December that she would not be returning to MTV's Teen Mom OG.

The news came after the show's reunion, during which Portwood and cast mate Farrah come to blows.

The suit claims the landlord had to paint the walls of the entire home and put in new carpets because of the pet stench left behind

Court documents also show that Portwood left the house in a general state of 'disarray', and without paying much of the rent due on her lease
Al Sharpton backed up his fellow civil rights leader, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who last week questioned the legitimacy of President-elect Donald Trump.

'I think there is no question that the process that elected him was not legitimate,' Sharpton said yesterday on MSNBC, the network where he also hosts a show.

Since Lewis said that he didn't view Trump as a 'legitimate president,' he's been whacked around by the president-elect, who continued to tweet about the civil rights leader and Democratic congressman today.

Al Sharpton defended his fellow civil rights leader, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and said he also thought President-elect Donald Trump had a legitimacy problem, citing the electoral process

MSNBC's Peter Alexander (left) questioned Al Sharpton (right) yesterday about Rep. John Lewis' decision to skip President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration

During the interview and citing intelligence reports that pointed to Russian interference, Sharpton said the electoral process was flawed, noting that 'public discourse' was likely impacted by the revelations stemming from the hacked emails.

He also said the electoral college tilted toward Trump because of the many people who were 'expunged from ... being able to vote.'

'Clearly the process has some serious questions about it,' Sharpton said.

Lewis had also pointed to the Russians when explaining why he would be skipping Trump's swearing-in.

'I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected, and they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton,' Lewis told Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, in the interview that started his Trump war.

The president-elect then began tweeting about the civil rights leader, suggesting that the lawmaker's Atlanta-based congressional district was in 'horrible shape and falling apart.'

Trump also said it was 'crime infested.'

Lewis' district includes the headquarters of major American corporations including Coca Cola, Delta Air Lines and CNN.

It also has many upper and middle class neighborhoods that are ethnically diverse.

Today the president-elect suggested the congressman was 'WRONG' or he lied when the Georgia Democrat said this was the first inauguration in his political career that he had skipped.

Lewis also boycotted the first inauguration of George W. Bush, who  like Trump  had won the Electoral College, but not the popular vote.

Sharpton pointed to these digs as he defended Lewis, saying the president-elect's fight with the civil rights leader was 'devastating.'

Lewis' claims should be taken seriously, Sharpton argued.

'And to come from John Lewis, a man who was beaten on the bridge in Selma, Alabama to get the Voting Act Rights that opened up the voting process to everyone,' the reverend recalled.

'He had blood in this, he has some injury in this, that opened the voting process up,' he continued. 'You shouldn't take lightly his view at all.'

Sharpton pointed to how Trump had promised a 'new deal' for black Americans over the course of the Republican's campaign.

Disparaging Lewis, a 'living icon,' Sharpton said, wasn't a great start.

'I think it shows a disconnect and a disrespect that I would hope the president-elect reconsiders,' Sharpton said. 'And becomes the big person that this country needs the president to be.'
President Barack Obama on Tuesday pardoned a retired U.S. Marine Corps general who pleaded guilty in October to making false statements to the FBI during an investigation into leaks of classified information.

James Cartwright, who last served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2012.

He was asked about a book written by New York Times reporter David Sanger, which exposed a malicious computer software program known as 'Stuxnet' designed to disrupt Iran's nuclear program.

James Cartwright pleaded guilty to making false statements during a federal probe after classified information was leaked to New York Times journalist David Sanger

Cartwright, who was appointed the second-highest military officer by George W. Bush and dubbed Barack Obama's favorite general by Robert Woodward, was investigated in 2013 after Sanger named him as a key player in the operation code-named Olympic Games

Sanger (pictured) wrote extensively about Stuxnet in a book and multiple reports in the Times

Cartwright, 67, had denied slipping out classified details to two New York Times reporters in a 2012 interview with the Bureau, only to be caught out later on.

He had been facing up to five years in prison and was due to be sentenced the same day as the pardon.

The website Engadget says it is not clear why Cartwright is receiving the pardon.

He was the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from his nomination in 2007 through to his retirement from Marine Corps service in 2011, but was never Obama's favorite.

One suggestion is that the outgoing White House administration wants to put a lid on discussion of Stuxnet.

It's possible that the guilty plea and pardon could spare the government from disclosing secrets that may have shown the U.S. and Israel were behind a cyber attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, just a deal with Iran was being finalized.

Sanger's reports confirmed suspicions that the US and Israel engineered the computer virus Stuxnet to set back Iran's nuclear program (pictured, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in 2008)

Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide or confirm classified information contained in a news article and, later, in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, according to charging documents unsealed by prosecutors.

Neither the book nor the classified subject is identified in court papers. But Sanger wrote in his 2012 book 'Confront and Conceal' about the classified operation to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

The charging documents also say Cartwright misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

In a written statement released to reporters after the hearing back in October, Cartwright stressed that he was not the initial source of the leak about Stuxnet but spoke to reporters about material they already knew.

George W Bush started the operation code-named Olympic Games, and Obama preserved and expanded the program, leading to Stuxnet's deployment before it escaped onto the internet

'It was wrong for me to mislead the FBI on November 2, 2012, and I accept full responsibility for this,' Cartwright said. He added that his only goal in talking to reporters was 'to protect American interests and lives.'

Cartwright's attorney, Gregory Craig, said in a statement that his client 'was engaged in a well-known and understood practice of attempting to save national secrets, not disclosing classified information.'

The plea agreement said that between January and June of 2012, Cartwright 'provided and confirmed classified information' to Sanger. Cartwright also confirmed classified information in February 2012 to Klaidman that was included in an article for Newsweek magazine, the agreement said.

Sanger's book and the classified subject were not identified in court papers.

But Sanger has written extensively about Stuxnet, with the New York Times naming Cartwright as the mastermind behind the virus.

The virus would cause the centrifuges to spin out of control in the plant (pictured) while providing false feedback so it would appear as if things were running normally

Cartwright, who was known for taking unconventional strategies, presented George W. Bush in 2006 with the idea of using a 'sophisticated cyberweapon' to reach the computer system controlling Iran's Natanz plant, according to the NYTimes.

According to the Times, Obama preserved the operation after Bush's departure and ordered the cyber attacks sped up.

In 2010, Stuxnet successfully disabled 1,000 centrifuges that the Iranians were using to enrich uranium.

The virus, initially delivered through a thumb drive inside the plant, would cause the centrifuges enriching nuclear fuel to spin out of control.

But what set Stuxnet apart from any other virus, was its ability to adapt.

The bug would remain undetected as it spied on the targeted system, and then provide false feedback when it attacked, so it would appear as if things were running normally.

Each attack was different, and the virus could also access the internet to download more recent versions of itself.

Former chief of the CIA Michael Hayden told the Times: 'Previous cyber attacks had effects limited to other computers. This is the first attack of a major nature in which a cyber attack was used to effect physical destruction [...] Somebody crossed the Rubicon.'

The Times said Cartwright was one of the crucial players who had to break the news to Obama and Vice President Joe Biden that Stuxnet at one point had escaped onto the Internet.

An element of the program accidentally became public in the summer of 2010 because of a programming error that allowed it to escape, the Times reported.

When that happened, top administration officials met to consider whether the program had been fatally compromised and Obama decided to proceed.
A man has been charged with raping children as young as five years old at his wife's family day care centre in Brisbane.

The Brisbane man aged in his 50s allegedly raped a five-year-old girl and sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl at his family home in Brisbane.

The man's wife runs a day care centre at the family home where the children were allegedly sexually assaulted, Yahoo!7 reported.

The man, in his 50s, reportedly told the children to keep the alleged sexual abuse a secret (stock)

One of the girls' mothers said she was horrified because the centre she entrusted with her child was subcontracted by a state-wide day care operator.

The mother also said the alleged rapist told the children they were to keep the alleged sexual abuse a secret.

'I feel sick in the stomach,' she told 7 News.

'Parents put their trust in these family day care schemes.

One of the girls' mothers said she was horrified because the centre she entrusted with her child was subcontracted by a state-wide day care operator (stock)

The home day care centre has since been shut down and the accused sexual predator is due to face court charged with indecent dealing with children (stock)

'To trust that their child will be safe and unharmed for the time that they are in care, and that didn't happen with my child.'

The accused predator held a Blue Card, which meant he was screened by the Queensland monitoring system and deemed safe to work with children.

The home day care centre has now been shut down and the man is due to face court later this week charged with indecent dealing with children.
They line up near the Oval Office, down the hallway toward the Cabinet Room, with their spouses and young kids in tow.

When it's their turn, the White House staffers enter for a few private moments with President Barack Obama, a photo and a farewell hug from the boss.

There's a mass exodus underway this week at the White House, as Obama and his staff pack up their offices and turn in their BlackBerrys.

For some who joined Obama's team right out of college, it's the end of the only professional experience they've ever known.

The finals days of any president's administration are always bittersweet and heavy on nostalgia, as officials face the transition back to being 'civilians' who will no longer have their hands on the nation's levers of power.

There is added sadness for Obama staffers who, by and large, are horrified by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

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President Barack Obama (right) stands with White House press secretary Josh Earnest during his last press briefing on Tuesday

Obama and Earnest embrace during the White House press secretary's final briefing on Tuesday

The day after Trump's election victory, Obama briefly addressed the nation from the Rose Garden.

The president sought to calm his shell-shocked supporters, saying that he was 'rooting for' Trump's success in uniting the country.

What was most telling, though, was the looks on the faces of Obama's staffers who gathered to listen to their boss as he tried to reassure the country.

Some aides were visibly tearful, while all of them wore a somber look on their faces.

'You're always aware that it's a special privilege to work there and not something to take for granted,' said Nate Lowentheil, who worked on Obama's National Economic Council for the last three years.

'It's particularly hard knowing the next wave of people coming are going to be working to reverse the things you were working to advance until your very last hour.'

As White House press secretary Josh Earnest emerged in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room on Tuesday to give his final press briefing  his 354th as press secretary, Earnest said  there were tears on the faces of some of his deputies.

In the back of the room, current and former Obama staffers gathered to witness his last round of jousting with reporters.

'I'm going to miss it,' Earnest said. 'It will take some getting used to seeing somebody else standing up here doing it.'

On November 9, the day after Donald Trump's election victory, Obama briefly addressed the nation from the Rose Garden. His staffers are seen above as they listened to their boss

Some aides were visibly tearful, while all of them wore a somber look on their faces

'Or not,' he added, in a nod to the prospect that Trump's team may make changes to the daily briefing.

In between closing out final projects and typing up reports on the work they've done, White House staffers are packing away their knickknacks, coffeemakers and photos.

The boxes stack up in offices already vacated by staffers who have departed over the past few weeks.

By Thursday night, all must be gone to make way for Trump's team.

Before they leave the building for the final time, they'll go through a checklist that completes their formal separation from the White House: cell phones handed in, computers locked and papers properly filed to be archived.

The last step, aides said, is the hardest: handing in the badge that provides access to the complex day or night.

Then they depart the building and make what for many is a jarring transition from 18-hour workdays and little personal time to unemployment.

Lowentheil said that since his last day less than two weeks ago, he'd read three novels, slept 10-12 hours a night and, for the first time in years, didn't set a morning alarm.

Emails announcing a staffer's last day stream in at a faster and faster pace as Jan. 20 approaches.

They share with colleagues a personal email address and cell phone number, a thank you and maybe a brief reflection on their time at the center of it all.

'It's been an honor to be a part of it. And yeah, I'm interested in what happens here. And I'll continue to follow it,' Earnest said.

'But I will be relieved to not have the burden to follow it as closely as this job has required over the last two-and-a-half years.'

A few White House staffers have found new jobs already, but most are taking some time off.

Some are going home to visit family they haven't spent much time with in years.

One said he was spending two months driving across the country, unsure of what he'd do next.

Others are taking long vacations to places like New Zealand and Iceland, unencumbered by the need to constantly check in with the office.

'This is the only world I've known,' said Clay Dumas, who took time off from college to work for Obama's 2008 campaign, then interned at the White House before being hired four years ago.
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Rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector on Tuesday claimed it repulsed an attack by Sudanese army in Blue Nile State.

"Forces of the SPLM/northern sector in Blue Nile repulsed an attack by the government forces against an external point at Al-Rum area in the state," Arno Taloudy, the spokesman of the SPLM/northern sector, said in a statement.

He explained that one of the movement's soldiers was injured during the attack, without giving any statistics about loss among the government forces.

"The attack came few hours after the government declared extension of cease-fire for six months," he said.

In March 2016, Sudan's Council of Ministers decided to extend the cease-fire for six more months at all conflict zones in Sudan.

The Sudanese army could not be immediately reached for comment on the rebels' claim.

The Sudanese government has been fighting the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector at South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since 2011.

It has also been battling a group of armed movements in the Darfur region since 2003.

So far, 10 rounds of peace talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/northern sector in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa have failed to end the conflict in the two areas.
A stunt woman who had to have her arm amputated after a horrific injury on the set of Resident Evil has now revealed her twisted back and deep scar after undergoing two spinal operations.

Olivia Jackson spent months in an induced coma after crashing in to a camera arm on a motorcycle while filming Resident Evil: The Final Chapter in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2015.

The 35-year-old from Buckinghamshire suffered serious facial injuries, a punctured lung and had to have her left arm amputated as a result of the accident.

On Monday she revealed the twisted back and neck she has also been left, taking to Instagram to share a topless photograph laid bare her injuries.

Stunt woman Olivia Jackson revealed her twisted spine and neck scar in a topless photograph on Monday after undergoing two spinal operations since crashing her motorcycle on the set of Resident Evil in 2015

'This is the twisted upper body I'm left with from my accident.

'Scew spine, off-centered neck (the most painful part), twisted shoulder blade, permanently dislocated shoulder, 1 arm, muscle atrophy on the left hand side of my core and plenty more other treats,' she wrote, captioning the image.

'I don't mean to moan, but sometimes I just want to crawl out of my own skin & all the pains in it,' she added.

Jackson was standing in for Milla Jovovich's character during the shoot in South Africa last June.

She was riding the motorcycle without a helmet when she crashed in to the metal camera arm which was meant to have moved out of her way as she approached it.

Jackson had to have her left arm amputated after it was crushed in the accident. She has shared photographs of her recovery with Instagram followers since

The British stunt woman was also left with facial scarring. She spent 17 days in an induced coma and now spends an hour a day in physiotherapy trying to get her 'back and chest working'. She shared a photograph from one session (above) with fans last year

Jackson spent 17 days in an induced coma and received flowers from Charlize Theron, for whom she'd previously stood in, and Jocovich while recovering in hospital.

Before: Jackson had been a stunt woman for 11 years before the crash

In one photograph shared on her Instagram account before the amputation, her left hand appeared enormously swollen while her arm had shriveled.

'Goodbye to my withered arm, hello to my stump.

'Not how I planned my life to go but just got to embrace what I have & move onwards & upwards.

'Luckily I have an awesome supportive team behind me,' she said.

She earlier complained about the facial scarring she had been left with and said she longed for her 'old face'.

Jackson's stuntman husband David Grant rushed to be by her side last year as she languished in hospital.

He told how he whispered to her everyday she lay unconscious in the hope she would get better.

Another crew member died after being crushed by a hummer while filming the movie.

Ricardo Cornelius, a South African native, was pinned to a wall by the US Army issue vehicle when it tipped over as it was being moved from a rotating platform.
Puerto Rican ultranationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera saw his 55-year prison sentence commuted by Barack Obama Tuesday.

Car horns rang out across Puerto Rico and people celebrated in the streets after the president announced that 74-year-old Rivera would walk free sooner than expected, in May.

Many Puerto Ricans have long demanded his release, and some wept with emotion upon hearing the news while others headed to all-night parties announced on social media.

Rivera was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the US island territory. His lawyer, Jan Susler, told him about his upcoming release.

Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera (pictured in 1981) saw his 55-year prison sentence commuted by President Barack Obama on Tuesday

People celebrated in San Juan, Puerto Rico after learning that Obama had commuted Rivera's sentence, meaning the 74-year-old will walk free in May

'He's very, very grateful,' she said in a phone interview. 'One of the things he said was: "Tomorrow's my daughter's birthday. What an amazing present for her." '

Rivera belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings during the 1970s and '80s in New York, Chicago, Washington and other US cities.

He was convicted on one count of seditious conspiracy, and he was later convicted of conspiring to escape from prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. He is currently being held at Terre Haute, Indiana.

The group's most notorious bombing occurred at New York's landmark Fraunces Tavern in 1975 that killed four people and injured more than 60. Rivera was not convicted of any role in that attack, but some still hold him responsible because of his ties to the ultranationalist group.

'I'm willing to forgive, but he never once said he was sorry, showed no remorse at all,' said Mary Connor Tully, whose husband, Frank Connor, was killed in the bombing.

'He's an old man and he'll get to live his life free, and hopefully he can live with the sins he committed, and that he'll answer one day to a higher power than us for what he did.'

Many Puerto Ricans have long demanded Rivera's release, and some wept with emotion upon hearing the news. Some are pictured celebrating in San Juan Tuesday

A woman waved a Puerto Rican flag outside the Federal Courthouse building after learning that Obama commuted the sentence for Rivera

Some began preparing for all-night parties announced on social media. People are pictured celebrating in San Juan after hearing about Rivera's upcoming release

Rivera, whose release also was opposed by several groups including a national police organization, is now scheduled to be freed May 17.

'He wants to live in Puerto Rico, and people there really want him to come home,' Susler said.

Rivera was offered clemency by President Bill Clinton in 1999, but he rejected the offer because it excluded two comrades who have since been released. Then in 2011, the US Parole Commission denied his request for an early release.

Among those who publicly supported Rivera's release was Pope Francis, 'Hamilton' creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, former President Jimmy Carter and several legislators, including US Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois.

'Sobbing with gratitude here in London,' Miranda tweeted Tuesday, adding that he will have a show for Rivera in Chicago. 'It'll be my honor to play Hamilton the night he goes.'

People gathered in San Juan to celebrate Rivera's long-awaited clemency. The 74-year-old nationalist is now scheduled to be freed May 17

Obama (pictured on Tuesday) also commuted the sentence of Wikileaks whistle-blower Chelsea Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years behind bars

Alejandro Molina, coordinator of the National Boricua Human Rights Network, joined about 100 other people in a spontaneous celebration Tuesday at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Chicago, which was founded by Rivera.

'It's wonderful news,' he said.

Upon his return to Puerto Rico, Rivera plans to spend time with his daughter and granddaughter and wants to establish a think tank that will work on such problems as climate change, the economy and the island's political status.

'He wants to be actively involved in solving the problems of Puerto Rican society,' said Molina, who accompanied Rivera's daughter on a Christmas prison visit

Susler said the US pardon attorney told her that sometimes inmates first transition to a halfway house after being released. But eventually, Rivera will return to Puerto Rico, she said.
Barack Obama has commuted the death sentence handed down to former soldier Dwight Loving (pictured), who is being held on the military's death row

Barack Obama has commuted the sentence handed down to a former soldier being held on the military's death row.

Dwight Loving's sentence was one of the 209 commutations handed down by the President on Tuesday, in one of his final acts before leaving the White House.

Loving, a former private first-class, had his punishment reduced from death to life in prison without parole.

The 47-year-old was convicted over the killings of two cab drivers in Texas in December 1988.

He was stationed at the Fort Hood Army base at the time.

One of the drivers, Christopher Fay, was a 20-year-old Army Private and part-time cabbie when he was gunned down. The other, 44-year-old Bobby Sharbino, was a retired Army sergeant.

A third cab driver, Howard Harrison, escaped Loving after he managed to knock a gun out of the convicted killer's hands.

Loving (pictured) was convicted over the killings of two cab drivers in Texas in December 1988

Loving was found guilty by a military judge of two counts of premeditated murder and one count of attempted murder.

He was also found guilty of robbing two 7-Eleven convenience stores just days before the killings.

'Death sentence commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, on the condition that Loving shall never have any rights, privileges, claims, or benefits arising under the parole and suspension or remission of sentence laws of the United States and the regulations promulgated thereunder governing federal prisoners confined in any penal institution,' a White House statement read.

If Loving would have been put to death, he would have been the first military member executed since 1961. A total of 135 men have been executed by the military since 1916.

Loving was stationed at the Fort Hood Army base (pictured) at the time of the killings. One of the drivers, Christopher Fay, was a 20-year-old Army Private and part-time cabbie when he was gunned down. The other, 44-year-old Bobby Sharbino, was a retired Army sergeant

Obama broke a White House record on Tuesday by commuting 209 sentences and pardoning 64 people

Just six men remain on militarys death row, including Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.

On Tuesday, Obama broke a White House record by commuting 209 sentences and pardoning 64 people.

The President has handed out a sum total of 1,385 commutations during his time in office - more than the last 12 presidents combined, the White House said Tuesday, and he plans to hand out more on Friday.
Thomas Markle Jr, 50, will appear in court next month over charges of threatening his girlfriend with a gun

Meghan Markle's brother Thomas Markle Jr is set to appear in court next month on charges which could see him jailed for up to five years.

He will appear in court in Grants Pass, Oregon, on February 13 after being arrested and spending a night the cells over a drunken altercation with his girlfriend at the home they share in the town.

The 50-year-old window fitter is facing two charges - one of which, unlawful use of a weapon, is a class C felony, carrying a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a fine of $125,000.

He is also charged with one count of menacing domestic violence, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison and a $6,250 fine.

The case will be prosecuted by Josephine County District Attorney Ryan Mulkins, who told DailyMail.com that a third charge - pointing a firearm at another - has been dropped.

'We are currently preparing the case,' he added. 'At the moment, I can't disclose any more information than that.'

Markle Jr - whose sister Meghan is understood to have been dating Prince Harry since last May - was arrested on Thursday night following a drunken altercation at his home.

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Prince Harry's girlfriend Meghan Markle, who is 15 years younger than Thomas Jr. Their father Thomas Markle Snr married twice

Rift: Thomas Markle Jr is charged with threatening Darlene Blount, his girlfriend of just over two months, with a gun at the home they share

Court date: Thomas Markle Jr will appear in court in Grants Pass, Oregon, on February 13 to answer charges which could result in up to a year in prison if he is found guilty

His girlfriend of two months, Darlene Blount, 36, is understood to have called the cops after an argument spiraled out of control.

According to the police report, Markle Jr grabbed his gun and pressed it to her head in an attempt to make her leave.

She then locked herself in the bathroom and called the authorities - who arrested Markle Jr and booked him into Josephine County Jail at approximately 11pm.

He was released the following day at 10am after paying a $1,500 bond, although the origin of the money is disputed.

Ex-wife Tracy Dooley claimed in the aftermath of the arrest that she had put up the money following a 3am phone call.

But speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com yesterday, Markle Jr said her claims were 'lies, all lies' and also disputed a version of events put out by his son Tyler, 24.

'I didn't get bailed out by Tracy or ask her for any money - that was lies, all lies,' he said.

On his son, who issued a statement purportedly in his name on Sunday and who had claimed Markle Jr texted him immediately after his arrest, he said: 'Tyler's statement is 100 per cent false. I haven't talked to Tyler for over two weeks.'

Markle Jr, who is thought to be staying with friends, has kept a low profile since the incident and did not appear for work today.

Court papers filed after his arrest show Markle Jr had a blood alcohol level of 0.17 - twice the Oregon drink drive limit of 0.08.

As a result, his bail conditions include a ban on drinking alcohol - and both of his guns, including the one used in the altercation, have been confiscated by police.

Markle Jr has also been told not to approach Blount.

Thomas Markle Jr was arrested on Thursday at the home (pictured) he shares with his girlfriend of two months, Darlene Blount, in Grants Pass, Oregon

The Josephine County Adult Jail where Prince Harry's girlfriend's half brother, Thomas Markle Jr, was taken after his arrest

Meghan with Thomas Jr as a baby. He said in a recent interview that he hopes Prince Harry 'takes care of and loves' his sister

The Prince and Markle have been spotted together in London but have not made a full public appearance

There is no public record suggesting that he has a previous criminal record.

However, he told DailyMail.com that he is 'OK' but admitted 'there's a lot going on right now'.

'I'm OK, I'm OK,' he said. 'There's a lot going on right now but it will be fine. There's so much going on that people don't know about . What happened [on Thursday] isn't what it seemed.'

Blount is yet to give her version of events and is thought to be staying with her parents Clyde, 66, and Claudia, 59, in their rural home approximately five miles from the house she shared with Markle Jr.

Markle Jr is the only son of Meghan's father Thomas Markle Sr, 72, and his first wife Roslyn, 71. The former couple, who split up in 1976, also have a daughter - Samantha Grant, 52, who now lives in Florida.

Meghan, who reportedly rang in the New Year in Norway with Prince Harry, is the product of his second marriage to yoga teacher Doria Ragland, 60.

The 35-year-old Suits actress is currently believed to be in London where she is said to have been introduced Prince William, 34, and Kate Middleton, 35, this week.

Harry, 32, has also been introduced to members of Meghan's family - with her father giving the relationship his blessing.

Speaking to DailyMail.com earlier this month, Markle Jr said his father is 'proud' of Meghan and added that he 'would one day like to shake his [Harry's] hand and meet him'.
Now 28 and living in Adelaide, she has suffered years of agonising physical pain

Khadija did not understand what happened to her until she moved to Australia

An old women cut off her clitoris with a rusty knife while her mother kept her still

Khadija Gbla was 13-years-old before she realised she was a victim of female genital mutilation.

Khadija, now 28, was mutilated in the African country of Gambia when she was nine-years-old, but did not understand what happened to her until years later.

She said she was standing in a women's centre in Adelaide reading a brochure on female genital mutilation (FGM) when she immediately identified with it.

'I was looking at a brochure and instantly I was drawn to Female Genital Mutilation Type II,' she told Mamamia.

'All the memories came back. Until then I had blocked it out.'

'After I saw the brochure, I went home and spoke to my mum - the person who was meant to protect me and love me, who also held me down as I screamed and bled everywhere.'

Khadija has started a support group for young girls like her, who are living with the consequences of femal circumcision

Khadija said amnesia state had stopped her from recalling the terrifying day her clitoris and labia majora were cut off in excruciating circumstances.

It wasn't until she saw a diagram of the three types of FGM performed on women and noticed the image of a whole clitoris and labia majora cut off, she remembered her own experience.

'I had amnesia but it all came back to me and from then on I realised I was mutilated in these people's eyes and that was how the world looks at me,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It was like I was back at that place,' she said.

Khadija Gbla was nine-years-old when her mother took her into the bush in The Gambia to have her circumcised

Three girls a day are at risk of having their genitals 'mutilated' in Australia.

Their clitorises are hacked off in unsterilised conditions, condemning them to a life of pain and in many cases infertility and the inability to ever feel sexual pleasure as adults.

Khadija Gbla was nine-years-old when her mother took her into the bush in Gambia and pinned her down while an old lady cut away at her with a rusty knife.

'She started hacking away. I remember the pain and trauma of it. The knife was so rusty it felt like it was going on forever,' Khadija told Daily Mail Australia.

Khadija Gbla, from Sierra Leone, is now a law student based in Adelaide, Australia

Khadija moved to Australia at the age of 10 after her family was granted refugee status

Today the 28-year-old, who lives in Adelaide, still recalls every painful moment of the day she was 'mutilated' and the years of mental and physical torture she has endured since.

'I was minding my business as a child and then my mother got home and said we were going for a 'holiday'. We got into a car and ended up in the bush in a remote area.

'An old lady came out and had a chat with my mum. She was very scary looking and had a rusty old looking knife in her hand my mother took my clothes off and pinned me down on the floor,' Khadija told Daily Mail Australia.

'I thought they were going to slaughter me. She lay on my body above what I now know as a clitoris and cut off that piece of flesh.

'My struggling didn't help at all. Then she just threw it across the room almost like it was the most disgusting thing she'd seen in her life.

'I was lying there in shock It was so confusing and the pain down there was unbearable. Once it was done she put us back in our car took to us to a friend's house.'

This photo was taken of Khadija (centre) shortly after the horrific procedure was carried out and she had arrived in Australia

Khadija was born in Sierra Leone but when war broke out in 1991 her family moved to The Gambia for safety and then on to Australia where they were granted refugee status in 2001.

She said she was kept in the dark about what happened to her for years.

'You don't ask question to parents or adults in our culture,' she explained.

Khadija's mother 'circumcised' her before she came to Australia at the age of 10 because of a lack of education; she thought it was the right thing to do.

Once Khadija came to Australia she was sick 'all of the time' with insomnia and depression.

Khadija started volunteering for a charity in South Australia called Women's Health Statewide when she first moved to Australia

She began volunteering for a charity in South Australia called Women's Health Statewide. She helped educate doctors, police officers and people in the community about Female Genital Mutilation, but all of the while not realising that it was what had happened to her.

From that fateful day when she realised, she said she would never forget again.

'I won't forget even when I'm 50, I'll always be able to tell you even when I'm 80 It's so traumatic, so shocking to the system.

'Not knowing what was about to happen to me on that day made it worse there was no pre warning or conversation or knowing what I was getting in to.

The 28-year-old is now an award-winning human right's campaigner who has set up her own charity called NO FGM Australia to save women and girls from the procedure

'That was a shock itself for the body let alone the pain from the cutting and the betrayal from my mother doing it to me even though she thought she was doing it out of love.

WHO IS 'AT RISK' OF FGM IN AUSTRALIA? A girl is 'at risk' if: Her mother or sibling has had FGM.

She comes from a community where FGM is practiced. For a list of all the countries click here.

If the above factors are present and the girl is being taken to the country of origin for a long 'holiday'.

A girl talks about preparing for a special ceremony or party where she will 'become a woman'. Advertisement

'I can't forget that. Even if I'm asleep and you wake me up. I will always remember,' Khadija said.

The 28-year-old describes her relationship with her mother as 'complicated' and the anger she felt towards her when she found out what she'd done to her is clear in every word Khadija speaks.

'Once I knew what she took away I was very angry at what she did as an African Australian I am damaged and I have been abused. There is nothing nice about that,' Khadija explained.

She confronted her mother and asked why she had circumcised her at the age of nine but her mother 'saw nothing wrong with what she did'.

'She thought it was a sign of love, self-control over sexuality and all that nonsense but really I don't see how I am empowered by having no clitoris.'

In Africa circumcising girls is seen as the norm in some communities. But Khadija has spent more than half of her life growing up in Australia, she identifies herself as African Australian and she feels very much part of the western country's 'clitorial-centric society'.

'Australia celebrates the clitoris as a symbol of women's sexuality and it's an amazing thing,' she said.

Khadija and her team were finalists at the Human Rights Awards in Sydney in 2014

'I didn't give her permission to take mine away. No way in hell was it a positive thing. It was so traumatic - even now I am angry.

'I will be angry for the rest of my life and her refusal to acknowledge the pain she caused me.

'She took away something that made me feel powerless and invaded me in the most scared way but she didn't get it, for her it was OK.'

At school Khadija felt 'different' to other children and questioned whether she could still define herself as a woman. She didn't like her body and she didn't 'feel pretty down there'.

It was so traumatic - even now I am angry

'My private place is a place of trauma. When I take a shower I can feel the scar. I can't forget it.'

She suffered period pains and such bad stomach cramps that she would crawl on the floor in pain and get strong painkillers from hospital to help her cope.

She was told she probably wouldn't be able to have children of her own.

Khadija is now a mother, to a son who is almost two-years-old.

She calls her child a 'miracle' but said her FGM impacted on what should have been a happy time.

She continues to fight to stop the violence 'against women and little girls' so that 'another human being doesn't go through this life sentence'

She had to deal with health professionals with 'a lack of knowledge and sensitivity' throughout her pregnancy and was told she would not be able to have a viginal birth due to her scarring.

Khadija has been working to abolish FGM in Australia, setting up her own charity called NO FGM Australia to provide healthcare and educational support for women and girls.

She also plays a vital role in preventing more children being mutilated in Australia and wants to change the perception that this is about culture.

Your vagina becomes a war zone or trauma zone

'It's not about culture it's about violence against women and little girls. They can't speak up for themselves.

'In Australia the law says this is illegal and this is child abuse and there is no cultural defence.

'Even back home laws are changing all across Africa this is a universal concept it's wrong and we are being cowards finding any excuse not to take action,' she said.

Khadija explained for her this is not a political fight, she's doing it because she has to live with it 'every single day and there is nobody else that will know what it is.'

'I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. I know it is a life sentence and it never ends. The consequences never end, from mental health to sexual health.
Theresa May yesterday rejected the case for keeping Britain tied to the EU single market  pledging instead to rediscover our role as a great, global, trading nation.

The Prime Minister said that membership of the single market would to all intents and purposes mean not leaving the EU at all, owing to its rules on free movement and accepting the supremacy of the European Court of Justice.

To the fury of Remainers, she said this would not be acceptable to a British public which voted to retake control of its own destiny.

Theresa May yesterday rejected the case for keeping Britain tied to the EU single market  pledging instead to rediscover our role as a great, global, trading nation

The PM also ruled out staying in the linked customs union on its current terms  saying this would prevent us striking trade deals with the rest of the world.

She will look for a deal which allows goods such as car parts to move freely in and out of Britain without bureaucracy and customs checks, but without the onerous rules of the current agreement.

The PM said her overall aim was tariff-free trade with Europe and cross-border trade that is as frictionless as possible.

She told ambassadors at Londons Lancaster House: We will pursue a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the European Union. This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EUs member states.

'It should give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets  and let European businesses do the same in Britain.

She went on: I want us to be a truly global Britain  the best friend and neighbour to our European partners, but a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe too. A country that goes out into the world to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike.

I want Britain to be what we have the potential, talent and ambition to be. A great, global trading nation that is respected around the world and strong, confident and united at home.

'The result of the referendum was not a decision to turn inward and retreat from the world. Because Britains history and culture is profoundly internationalist. June the 23rd was not the moment Britain chose to step back from the world. It was the moment we chose to build a truly global Britain.

The Prime Minister said membership of the single market would to all intents and purposes mean not leaving the EU at all

The decision not to remain inside the existing customs union was seen as a victory for Boris Johnson, who has been fighting a Cabinet battle with Chancellor Philip Hammond.

Allies of the Foreign Secretary also pointed to Mrs Mays declaration that Britain will no longer contribute huge sums to the EU budget.

Mrs May said: There may be some specific European programmes in which we might want to participate. If so, and this will be for us to decide, it is reasonable that we should make an appropriate contribution. But the principle is clear: the days of Britain making vast contributions to the European Union every year will end.

The issue is of huge importance to Mr Johnson and other Cabinet ministers who campaigned to leave on the basis of no longer sending 10billion net every year to Brussels. On immigration, the PM reiterated that retaking control of our borders will be a red-line in talks with Brussels but stopped short of spelling out the full details.

She is expected to opt for a visa system which reduces the number of low-skilled workers pouring in from the EU, while still giving ready access to the UK to students, tourists and skilled workers.

Mrs May said: We will always want immigration... but the message from the public before and during the referendum campaign was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. And that is what we will deliver.

To ease the nerves of business, Mrs May said she was willing to consider a period of transition when the two-year Brexit talks are complete  allowing new policies on the likes of immigration and trade to be phased in gradually. No time limit was put on how long this would last but officials insisted the process would not be allowed to drag on for years.

Mrs May said: I do not mean that we will seek some form of unlimited transitional status, in which we find ourselves stuck forever in some kind of permanent political purgatory. That would not be good for Britain, but nor do I believe it would be good for the EU.

On security, Mrs May stressed Britains unique intelligence capabilities in what was seen as an implied urge to the EU to remain close to the UK. However, she stopped short of saying defence and security co-operation would be on the negotiating table.

Her hour-long speech also included a warning to MPs to remain disciplined  not leaking stories to the media or demanding too many details on the negotiations when they begin.

She said: It is not my job to fill column inches with daily updates, but to get the right deal for Britain. And that is what I intend to do.

Point by point, her blueprint to free Britain from Brussels

Theresa May delighted Eurosceptics yesterday with an ambitious road map for Brexit.

The PM extended the hand of friendship to the EU but threatened to walk away if Brussels tried to impose a punitive deal.

JACK DOYLE sets out her 12 objectives and analyses her chances of success.

Theresa May delighted Eurosceptics yesterday with an ambitious road map for Brexit

1. CERTAINTY

What she said: We will provide certainty where we can. The same rules and laws will apply on the day after Brexit as they did before. And the Government will put the final deal to a vote in both Houses of Parliament.

Can she deliver? By keeping in place  at least initially  all EU laws, Mrs May will provide a degree of continuity and confidence for business. However, as she freely admits, she cannot control the outcome of the negotiations. Parliament is highly likely to approve any deal because the alternative will be a chaotic Brexit.

Deal or No Deal? 3/5

2. OUR OWN LAWS

What she said: We will take back control of our laws and bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain.

Because we will not have truly left the EU if we are not in control of our own laws.

Can she deliver? Adopting the take back control slogan of the Leave campaign, Mrs May repeated her promise to end rule by EU law and judges in Luxembourg, and restore power to Parliament and domestic courts. Without this there is no Brexit. A firm red line.

Deal or No Deal? 5/5

Mrs May is seeking to reassure voters in the nations of the UK which didnt vote for Brexit that she is listening to their concerns, and avoid Nicola Sturgeon calling for a second independence vote

3. A UNITED KINGDOM

What she said: A stronger Britain demands that we strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the UK.

Can she deliver? By consulting devolved administrations, Mrs May is seeking to reassure voters in the nations of the UK which didnt vote for Brexit that she is listening to their concerns, and avoid Nicola Sturgeon calling for a second independence vote.

Deal or No Deal? 3/5

4. THE IRISH BORDER

What she said: We will work to deliver a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the Common Travel Area with the Republic, while protecting the integrity of the United Kingdoms immigration system.

Can she deliver? Both countries want to maintain the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic without opening a back door into Britain. Likely to mean UK border checks at Irish ports and airports.

Deal or No Deal? 3/5

5. CONTROL OF IMMIGRATION

What she said: The message from the public before and during the referendum campaign was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. And that is what we will deliver.

Can she deliver? Ending free movement is a red line, but Mrs May left open when it will end, what system will replace it and details of any transition deal. The PM wants highly skilled EU migrants, and doctors and nurses, but will she compromise on unskilled migrants to get a better trade deal?

Deal or No Deal? 5/5

Last year Mrs May offered to settle on the rights of three million EU nationals in the UK, and 1.2million Brits on the continent in advance of formal talks - but Angela Merkel refused

6. EU NATIONALS AND BRITISH EXPATS

What she said: We want to guarantee the rights of EU citizens who are already living in Britain, and the rights of British nationals in other member states, as early as we can.

Can she deliver? Likely to be agreed early on, as long as the EU doesnt want to haggle. Last year Mrs May offered to settle on the rights of three million EU nationals in the UK, and 1.2million Brits on the continent in advance of formal talks - but Angela Merkel refused.

Deal or No Deal? 5/5

7. WORKERS RIGHTS

What she said: Not only will the Government protect the rights of workers set out in European legislation, we will build on them.

Can she deliver? Mrs May is determined to at least preserve protections for workers on low and middle incomes  many of whom voted for Brexit. Could come under threat if there is no deal, and Britain slashes taxes and regulation to attract business.

Deal or No Deal? 3/5

8. TRADE WITH EUROPE

What she said: As a priority, we will pursue a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the EU. This should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services. But I want to be clear. It cannot mean membership of the single market.

Can she deliver? The crux of the negotiation. Britain will leave the single market, and with it EU laws and free movement. Instead Mrs May wants tariff-free trade and a customs agreement to stop goods being held up at ports.

She ruled out vast contributions to the EU budget, and the only money going to Brussels will be for particular programmes or agencies like Europol. Her huge gamble is to threaten to walk away if the EU attempts to punish Britain.

Deal or No Deal? 3/5

Mrs May wants deals with non-EU countries including the US, which would be impossible from inside the customs union. Pictured is Trade Secretary Liam Fox

9. GLOBAL TRADE

What she said: A global Britain must be free to strike trade agreements with countries from outside the EU too. But I also want tariff-free trade with Europe and cross-border trade there to be as frictionless as possible.

Can she deliver? Mrs May wants deals with non-EU countries including the US. That would be impossible from inside the customs union, which imposes a uniform tariff on all non-EU countries. It would also make Trade Secretary Liam Foxs job redundant.

Deal or No Deal? 4/5

10. SCIENCE AND INNOVATION

What she said: We have a proud history of leading and supporting cutting-edge research and innovation. So we will also welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives.

Can she deliver? Unlikely to be an obstacle to any deal. Much collaboration between academics takes place outside formal EU structures, and so will continue unimpeded.

Deal or No Deal? 5/5

11. CRIME AND TERRORISM

What she said: All of us in Europe face the challenge of cross-border crime, a deadly terrorist threat, and the dangers presented by hostile states. All of us share interests and values in common, values we want to see projected around the world.

Can she deliver? Security and intelligence cooperation and defence cooperation cannot be a formal bargaining chip, but without making it one, Mrs May reminds EU allies of Britains importance as an ally in fighting terrorism and important status as a military power.

Deal or No Deal? 5/5

12. A SMOOTH EXIT

What she said: It is in no ones interests for there to be a cliff-edge for business or a threat to stability, as we change from our existing relationship to a new partnership with the European Union.

Can she deliver? Mrs May wants transitional arrangements to smooth the process of leaving the EU with specific deals on budget contributions, immigration, trade and customs lasting different periods of time. Securing this as well as securing a final deal within two years is a huge task.

Deal or No Deal? 3/5
An out-of-control bushfire has ripped through a self-sufficient organic farming commune, with up to six homes already destroyed.

Residents of the Wilderland community on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, were forced to flee their homes on Tuesday evening.

The ferocious blaze has spread across 100 hectares of bushland on the Coromandel Pennisula, with many more properties and orchards under threat.

Three helicopters were working frantically to contain the fire at the sustainable farming community as they attempted to protect surrounding homes.

An out-of-control fire has ripped through a self-sufficient farming commune in New Zealand

Residents of the Wilderland community (pictured before the blaze) on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, were forced to flee their homes on Tuesday evening

Fire service incident commander Paul Shaw said the damage was devastating as strong winds of up to 25km/h fuelled the fires.

'The odd building is still standing but there's not much of it left - it is very sad for the community that lives in here,' he told NZ Stuff.

'Many of the Wilderland community had self evacuated overnight but others had to be told to leave their homes. All the families were evacuated overnight and are staying with family and friends.

'People see their homes in danger and the last thing they want to do is walk away and leave their homes to burn but sadly we have to get everyone out.'

The ferocious blaze has spread across 100 hectares of bushland on the Coromandel Pennisula

Around 26 people were evacuated from their homes overnight after the fire broke out around 5pm on Tuesday as they took refuge at a nearby campground

Around 26 people were evacuated from their homes overnight after the fire broke out around 5pm on Tuesday as they took refuge at a nearby campground.

Mr Shaw said firefighters battled to contain the blaze until nightfall but were forced to watch helplessly as the community burned to the ground.

'Unfortunately when it got dark last night we had to stop fighting the fire with the very dry and volatile fuels in there,' he told NZ Herald.

Wilderland, founded in 1964, has been a well-known self-reliant community in New Zealand where they grow their own produce on the farming land, with fresh produce sold at a store

The Wilderland community is located on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand

Council spokeswoman Rebekah Duffin made a heartbreaking admission that the Wilderland farm has been completely destroyed.

'There's nothing left basically,' she said.

Meanwhile, the local community has set up a fundraising campaign to help those who have lost everything.

Wilderland - one of New Zealand's first self-reliant communities - was founded in 1964, and was made a charitable trust in 1992.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Wilderland for comment.
More than 100,000 grandparents are missing out on 1billion of state pension by taking time off work to care for grandchildren, research reveals.

Thousands who retire early or take a career gap to help with childcare lose out up to 1,000 a year in future pension income by failing to tell the taxman.

Many middle-aged people are unaware they can receive National Insurance credits towards their state payouts if they look after a grandchild under 12 while the childs parents are at work.

Many middle-aged people are unaware they can receive National Insurance credits towards their state payouts

The Government has been accused of failing to promote the scheme since its launch five years ago. It was designed to acknowledge the sacrifice made by grandparents who stop work to help with childcare.

But the policy also includes those who were never working in the first place, including housewives who now care for their grandchildren.

There is no minimum number of hours they must care for a grandchild to qualify, and it even includes people who look after them on an ad-hoc basis in the holidays or after school.

But the policy is so poorly-publicised only 1,298 grandparents and other family members applied for credits last year, insurer Royal London found.

That is fewer than two years earlier in 2014 when 1,725 benefited, although it is a marginal rise on the 2015 figure of 1,168.

Grandparents are missing out on as much as 920million worth of future state pension during retirement by failing to claim, the Royal London research found. Assuming those who have failed to claim have typically looked after grandchildren for two years, they will have lost 462 a year. This equates to 9,240 over a 20-year retirement. If this is applied to the 100,000 who have so far failed to claim, it comes to 924million over the next two decades.

The Government has been accused of failing to promote the scheme since its launch five years ago

Steve Webb, of Royal London, said: The fact that there is a scheme to make sure that grandparents do not lose out, by protecting their state pension rights, is a very good thing. But the scheme is not much use if hardly anyone takes it up.

Grandparents not yet receiving state pension should fill out a form for Specified Adult Childcare Credit to accrue credits.

Almost two million grandparents have either given up a job, cut their hours or taken time off to look after grandchildren, according to a poll.

Dr Lucy Peake, of Grandparents Plus, a charity which champions the role of grandparents, said: When they give up their jobs to help out, they shouldnt damage their future state pension in the process, and the system for making sure grandparents are protected in this needs to be much better publicised.

The scheme was introduced in 2011 and applies to most relatives caring for a child under 12, including grandparents, great-grandparents, aunties, uncles, brothers and sisters. Those eligible receive National Insurance credits for each week or part week they cared for the child.

From next year, grandparents can also share parental leave with their children and receive statutory pay for this.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions, said: These credits are available to people in a small number of specific circumstances.

As with all credits, details of the Specified Adult Childcare credits are well publicised on Gov.uk and are promoted through a number of consumer websites.
Julian Assange will not leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London to face extradition to the US following Barack Obama's decision to free Chelsea Manning, his attorney has confirmed.

After the outgoing president announced his decision to release former soldier Manning nearly 30 years early it was believed Assange would agree to face extradition.

However, Barry Pollack, Assange's US-based attorney, has now told The Hill: ' Mr Assange welcomes the announcement that Ms Manning's sentence will be reduced and she will be released in May, but this is well short of what he sought.

'Mr. Assange had called for Chelsea Manning to receive clemency and be released immediately.'

Julian Assange, who has been living at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, believes he faces extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks

On January 12 Wikileaks tweeted saying 'if Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition'

Transgender former intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, born Bradley Manning, , was jailed for handing over classified documents to the anti-secrecy organisation Wikileaks.

She said she had passed on government and military documents to raise awareness about the impact of war.

Mr Assange has been living at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since the summer of 2012 for fear of being extradited to the US.

His legal team believe he may be charged 'under seal' to prevent him from attempting to escape.

However, at the moment the only public extradition ruling against him comes from Sweden.

Mr Assange praised campaigners for their role in the decision to release Manning.

He said: 'Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible.'

President Barack Obama is commuting the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the army soldier who shared classified documents with Wikileaks, on his way out out of the White House

Manning's planned release on May 17 had appeared to pave the way for the Wikileaks founder's self-imposed exile to come to an end.

Manning had applied for leniency through the Department of Justice. A favourable outcome seemed probable, given her multiple suicide attempts and recent White House comments.

Manning's sentence is being commuted to time served 'to ensure that the sentence that she served is comparable to the sentences that were handed down to individuals who committed comparable crimes,' a White House official Tuesday.

Mr Assange was interviewed in the embassy in November in the presence of prosecutors from Sweden, where he faces a sex allegation.

Manning (pictured left and right), who went by the name Bradley at the time, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for her crimes. She'll get out in May

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had challenged Obama to grant Manning clemency in exchange for extradition to the United States. It's unclear what charges are being brought against him and in what case

He denies the claims, but believes he faces extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy.

On January 12 Wikileaks tweeted saying 'if Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition'.

However, rather than being granted clemency, Manning has had her sentence commuted.

Manning attended Tasker Milward comprehensive in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and still has family and friends in the area. Conservative former Cabinet minister Stephen Crabb praised Mr Obama for showing 'mercy' in a complicated case.
Chilling photos released for the first time reveal the devastation inside Pulse nightclub where 49 people lost their lives.

Photographs taken nine days after the massacre show large holes caused by bombs detonated by SWAT teams and shed new light on the efforts to rescue those held hostage in the nightclub by Omar Mateen, 29, who later died in a shootout with police.

Mateen, who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State, carried out the attack on the evening of June 12, 2016. It is recorded as the worst mass shooting in the history of the United States.

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New photos have been released showing the devastation at Pulse nightclub after the deadly shooting by Omar Mateen in June 2016

The haunting images show blood spatters remaining from the deadly attack last summer

Chilling photos showing the devastation at Pulse nightclub give an inside look to where 49 people spent their final moments

Large holes from bombs detonated by SWAT teams show the lengths police went to to rescue hostages inside the nightclub

Authorities blew holes through the exterior of the building to rescue revelers

The outer deck of the nightclub in disarray with overturned couches and smashed electronics

Shooter Omar Mateen, 29, later died in a shootout with police and pledged allegiance to ISIS

A missing air vent in a blue painted bathroom shows where authorities removed the vent so that hostages could crawl out to safety

Investigation of a back office in the club reveals blood spattered rug and boxes

The club, now closed permanently, was located at 1912 S Orange Ave, Orlando, Florida

Newly released images show the shocking aftermath of the deadly shooting

The massacre at Pulse, considered the worst mass shooting in modern US history, claimed 49 lives (pictured) and left dozens injured last June

Gunman Omar Mateen (pictured), who was killed in a shootout with SWAT team members after a three-hour standoff, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group

The photos, released by the city of Orlando on Tuesday, show where officers breached one of Pulse nightclub's walls to free people trapped inside around 5am. The photos, taken nine days after the attack, give the first comprehensive look at the devastating scene.

Large punctures to an exterior cinderblock wall of the nightclub can be seen, and a missing air vent in a blue painted bathroom shows where authorities removed the vent so that hostages could crawl out to safety.

On the other side of the building is a bathroom where patrons were trapped for more than three hours during the police standoff with Mateen. He was killed once SWAT teams breached the bathroom wall and freed those held hostage.

Another 53 people were injured in the shooting, some still regaining their strength more than seven months after the attack.

Orlando hospitals waived the medical fees of those treated after the shooting.



Another 53 people were injured in the shooting, some still regaining their strength more than seven months after the attack. Orlando hospitals waived the medical fees of those treated after the shooting

Glass shattered by bullet holes is seen at the entrance to a co-ed bathroom

The photos, released by the city of Orlando on Tuesday, show where officers breached one of Pulse nightclub's walls to free people trapped inside

SWAT team members blew through the exterior wall to rescue those trapped inside

Mateen killed 49 and injured another 53 in the worst mass shooting in US history

Dividing structures in the bathroom came crashing down during the explosions

On the other side of the building is a bathroom where patrons were trapped for more than three hours during the police standoff with Mateen

He was killed once SWAT teams breached the bathroom wall and freed those held hostage

Hostages were held for more than three hours in the bathroom during the shootout

Blood, dust and debris are all that remains from the horrific night

Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, appeared on Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, on charges of aiding and abetting her husband.

Orlando Police confirmed she was charged with helping her husband Omar Mateen 'in the commission' of the attack, but have not yet revealed specifically how they believe she helped him, what material support they believe she gave to the group or whether she knew what he was planning.

The pair exchanged text messages during Mateen's four-hour rampage on June 12.

Salman sent a message to her husband after 2am after being woken by a phone call from his mother asking where he was.

'Do you see what is happening?' he responded. She text back 'no' to which he replied 'I love you, babe.'

In her only interview since the atrocity, she told The New York Times: 'I was unaware of everything.

Salman,left, previously claimed she was 'unaware' of her husband's murderous plan

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said he was 'glad someone will be held accountable' for the attack.

'Federal authorities have been working tirelessly on this case for months and we are grateful that they have seen to it that some measure of justice will be served in this act of terror that has affected our community so deeply.

'Nothing can erase the pain we all feel about the senseless and brutal murders of 49 of our neighbors, friends, family members and loved ones.

'But today, there is some relief in knowing that someone will be held accountable for that horrific crime,' he said in a statement.

Broken glass can be seen throughout the nightclub in the aftermath

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said he was 'glad someone will be held accountable' for the attack after the arrest of Mateen's wife

Many were held hostage in a bathroom for up to three hours during the shootout

Pulse owners want to establish the nightclub as a place for reflection on the tragedy

Debris was left in the wake of the blows as SWAT teams assisted to help hostages

Several blasts were targeted to the building's exterior

A bullet struck the helmet of a SWAT team member, though no officers were killed that night

Since the shooting, the families of three men killed are suing Facebook, Twitter and YouTube owner Google, saying the organizations are responsible for the men's deaths.

Tevin Crosby, Javier Jorge-Reyes and Juan Ramon Guerrero were among the 49 people killed when Mateen went on his June 12 rampage.

Now their relatives are accusing the web companies of giving ISIS 'material support' when they provided it 'with accounts they use to spread extremist propaganda, raise funds, and attract new recruits'.

'Without Defendants Twitter, Facebook, and Google (YouTube), the explosive growth of ISIS over the last few years into the most feared terrorist group in the world would not have been possible,' they said, according to Fox News.
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A Chinese envoy to the United Nations Tuesday called on the Israelis and the Palestinians to implement recent Security Council resolution on Israeli settlement and resume peace talks as soon as possible.

"The question of Palestine has been the crux of the Middle East issue. It is a fundamental question for the region,"said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN at a Security Council meeting, adding that "defending the legitimate national interests and rights of the Palestinian people is the shared responsibility of the international community" .

Noting that the confrontation between the two sides has become more intense recently while peace talks has been stalled, Liu urged the international community to take concrete actions to rekindle hope for the two-states solution.

"Both sides should take the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2334 as an opportunity to resume the peace talks as early as possible," Liu said.

The council adopted the resolution on December 23, condemning Israel's settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Liu called on both sides to effectively implement the resolution, observe calm and restraint and gradually establish mutual trust so as to return to the path of peace negotiations.

"Israel should cease the construction of settlements and demolition of Palestinian homes in order to create conditions for the consumption of peace talks," he said, adding that legitimate security concerns of regional countries should also be respected.

China welcomes the convening of a Middle East peace conference in Paris on Sunday, said Liu."We hope this will be a new start of intensified diplomatic efforts," he added.

The peace talks between Israel and Palestine have been stalled since April 2014. The U.S.-sponsored talks that lasted for nine months achieved no tangible results.
An air ambulance doctor killed himself after mistakenly administering a drug to a patient that led to his death.

Dr Carl McQueen, 34, was devastated after being told an investigation was to be launched into the death of Lee Hanstock.

Dr McQueen administered a sedative to Mr Hanstock, 43, after he suffered a seizure, but the drug caused his blood pressure to drop rapidly and he went into cardiac arrest.

Dr Carl McQueen, 34, was devastated after being told an investigation was to be launched into the death of Lee Hanstock and took his own life (Pictured, Dr McQueen with wife Kirsty)

The air ambulance doctor took his own life at his grandfather's house in Solihull, West Midlands, after learning his drug blunder contributed to the death of the father-of-four.

An inquest into Mr Hanstock's death, in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, heard that he had never before been known to have ill-health and had not seen a GP for 15 years.

Mr Hanstock, from Barton-under-Needwood, also in Staffordshire, started feeling unwell just after Christmas 2015, suffering from severe migraines and nausea, and vomiting 15 times in a day.

After calling 111, he travelled with his wife, Amy Tipper, to the Cross Street Surgery in Burton-upon-Trent, on December 28, where he waited for two hours before being seen.

The doctor realised he was suffering from acute hypertension, a rare condition which involves blood pressure becoming so high that it can cause permanent organ and brain damage.

Immediately he was sent to the Accident and Emergency Department at Queen's Hospital in Burton.

When he arrived, he had 'remarkably high' blood pressure and was given a series of treatments to attempt to bring it under control.

However, Mr Hanstock was not given an ECG, which could have saved his life, the inquest heard.

Dr McQueen administered a sedative to Mr Hanstock (pictured) , 43, after he suffered a seizure, but the drug caused his blood pressure to drop rapidly and he went into cardiac arrest

He was then sent home despite his wife questioning the results of a CT scan, which she was told 'looked fine'.

Staff were aware that Mr Hanstock was suffering from hypertension, but he was discharged without medication to deal with the problem and simply told to contact his GP about a migraine.

Six hours after being admitted to hospital he was back at home. Less than 24 hours later he was dead.

Dr Tarunya Vedulta, one of the team of people responsible for discharging Mr Hanstock, was in tears as she told the inquest she thought that the symptoms could have been dealt with at home.

She said: 'We saw that he had long-standing hypertension, which I thought were being exacerbated by his migraine and a chest infection. He was responding to treatment, and I thought those symptoms would continue to get better when he left hospital.'

Asked if she saw ECG results, she said: 'I thought I saw an ECG. I honestly did. All the paperwork tends to be loose so it could have been someone else's. It's all loose.'

Twenty-four hours later, Mr Hanstock suffered a seizure at his home and his family dialled 999.

When ambulance crews arrived, Dr McQueen gave him an injection of 500mg thiopentone to sedate him so he could be safely moved downstairs to take him to hospital. A suitable dose would have been '250 or 300mg'.

The drug caused his blood pressure to drop rapidly, which was not picked up on quickly enough by the crew, and he went into cardiac arrest.

Dr McQueen committed suicide on February 12 last year after learning that the ambulance service were investigating the incident.

The inquest heard how Dr McQueen's wife, Kirsty, a former nurse, and their two children lived in Nottinghamshire, while he stayed at his grandfather's house.

He was juggling shifts at the Midlands Air Ambulance at Cosford with doing his Phd at Warwick University and also doing locum work as an emergency doctor in Derby.

Magnus Harrison, the Burton Hospital NHS Trust's executive medical director, led the serious case review into what happened to Mr Hanstock. He said rigid procedures had been put in place to ensure that lessons were learned.

Summarising, Mr Henstock's family's lawyer, Dr Peter Ellis, said: 'This is an unusual case in the sense that there were multiple opportunities to do things in Lee's case.

'There was a failure to perform an ECG, a failure to see the significance of the CT scan, the missed opportunity to seek senior review about the premature discharge when his blood pressure was still very high and he remained confused.

'In addition to that, there's the excessive dose of thiopentone and a failure to recognise the hypertension that resulted from that.'

Giving a narrative conclusion South Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh said 'This is a natural death but there have been a number of significant failings.'

He recorded a cause of death as 'natural causes, where the death could have been avoided through suitable treatment.'

'Lee was a wonderful caring father, son and partner, with a big personality who filled our lives with love, laughter and fun. Amy Tipper, Lee Hanstock's wife

But he said he was satisfied the hospital had learned from the robust action plan which now exists.

After the hearing Mr Hanstock's wife Amy Tipper said: 'Lee was a wonderful caring father, son and partner, with a big personality who filled our lives with love, laughter and fun.

'It is devastating to know that his death was avoidable, and that had appropriate treatment been provided our family would still be complete.'

Joe Tipper, Amy's brother, said: 'It has been difficult for Amy, Lee's parents and family to come to terms with what happened, especially given the time of year.

'The actions of Dr McQueen, for whose family we have nothing but the greatest sympathy for their equally tragic loss, were well-documented.

'However, what makes our loss even harder to bear is the knowledge that it could have been prevented at a much earlier stage.'

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'The Trust apologised to the family of Mr Hanstock following his death in 2015.

'The coroner concluded that Mr Hanstocks death was due to 'natural causes' but noted that there were several failures in his care by the NHS which contributed to his death.

'A serious untoward incident was raised by West Midlands Ambulance Service at the time and an extensive internal investigation was carried out. The Trust has since taken appropriate steps to ensure a similar incident is not repeated.

'Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Hanstock and we offer our sincere condolences to them.'

Burton's Queen's Hospital declined to comment.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or see Samaritans for details.
Jane Riordan, who writes new stories about the famous bear created by late author AA Milne, said parents are scared that their children will get bored

The author of Winnie-the-Pooh has criticised parents for over-organising their childrens activities, saying that boredom is necessary for youngsters development.

Jane Riordan, who writes new stories about the famous bear created by late author AA Milne, said parents are scared that their children will get bored.

Speaking of the message behind Milnes books, the mother-of-two explained that the strongest friendships are formed when youngsters are left to do nothing and use their imaginations.

The 41-year-old said: There is something about the simplicity of life in those stories, where Christopher Robin and his toys spend a whole day hunting for the North Pole, that we as adults can never experience.

We are always rushing from one thing to another, and theres a trend now for parents being scared that their children will get bored.

We spend too much time over-organising our children, protecting them and ushering them from one club to another, but actually its in those in-between moments that children really develop and explore their imaginations.

Milnes message is that children play best and form the strongest friendships when they are just left to be and do nothing much - when they get a bit bored is when their imaginations run wild.

Her comments come amid new research released today  Milnes 135th birthday  which reveal the importance of childhood relationships.

It found that a quarter of adults remain best friends with their childhood best friend.

The study by Disney also showed that two thirds of British adults met their closest friend by the age of eight.

These people considered the most important factors for continuing friendship to be honesty, making each other laugh and being proud of each others achievements.

Speaking of the message behind Milnes books, the mother-of-two explained that the strongest friendships are formed when youngsters are left to do nothing and use their imaginations

A large number of adults said they still remembered valuable advice from the childrens book, such as it isnt much good having anything exciting if you cant share it with somebody.

Riordan said: I think Winnie-the-Pooh is very much embedded in our national psyche.

Its a key part of the lasting appeal, the idea of this safe place where children have the freedom to play and form friendships, with no adults, which gives them an incredible feeling of empowerment.

Alongside her role as editor of Winne-the-Pooh, Riordan has written six original stories, including one in which Christopher Robin and Pooh visit London to celebrate the Queen  and Poohs  90th birthday last year.

She said: I added in some little touches that I think would have pleased Milne.

For instance, the hint of jealousy when Christopher sees the lions in Trafalgar Square he says: Oh, I wish I had a lion, but Pooh pulls him back and says: Bears are much better.
Dr Stephen Frost is continuing his fight for justice after being sacked while on holiday when he blew the whistle on a suspected drugs scam at an army base

A senior doctor sacked by text while on holiday after blowing the whistle on a suspected drugs scam at a British Army base is continuing his fight for justice.

Dr Stephen Frost, who led the campaign for an inquest into the death of weapons inspector Dr David Kelly, was sacked by the Ministry of Defence after calling for a police investigation.

His claim for unfair dismissal - which the MoD sought to strike out - will resume at an employment tribunal in Manchester.

Defence chiefs have been ordered to return by the tribunal judges after it emerged they had failed to disclose thousands of pages of documents to Dr Frost's lawyer when the case began in October.

Tomorrow, a senior military medic who admitted falsely accusing Dr Frost of wrongly prescribing super-strength tablets to a wounded soldier will be recalled to give evidence.

Major Carole Phillips told the tribunal that she had written a draft report to the locum GPs bosses stating he had dispensed drugs which were six times over the intended dose.

But the error occurred in July 2013, two weeks before Dr Frost even started at the medical centre at Weeton Barracks, Preston.

Less than a month after telling bosses he believed a crime had taken place over the ordering and dispensing of 2,400mg of the drug morphine sulphate for a patient, instead of 400mg, he was sacked by text and email while on holiday in North Wales.

If he wins the case, which has lasted more than three years, he could receive substantial damages that could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The Mail has long campaigned for the protection of public sector whistleblowers, revealing how NHS doctors have been gagged by their hospitals.

Dr Frost has long questioned the official explanation for the death of Dr David Kelly, who was found dead in woods near his Oxfordshire home in 2003 shortly after being exposed as the source of a BBC claim that Tony Blair's Labour government had 'sexed up' a dossier that helped make the case for war in Iraq.

Dr Frost was employed on a six-month contract at Weeton Barracks. He worked for the Ministry of Defence for nearly 20 years

The Hutton report into the episode concluded that Dr Kelly, a UN inspector sent to Iraq to search for weapons of mass destruction, had committed suicide. Dr Frost is among doctors who continue to doubt that conclusion.

Dr Frost, who had worked for the MoD for nearly 20 years, was employed on a six-month contract at Weeton Barracks.

In August 2013, two weeks after he started the job, he was told a pharmacy technician had mistakenly ordered 40 60mg tablets of morphine sulphate instead of 10mg pills a month earlier.

He checked with the patient, who insisted that the lower strength drugs had been dispensed - leading the doctor to conclude that the stronger tablets were missing.

He believed it was unlikely the pharmacy technician had made a mistake, and suspected she may have been forced into criminal activity.

Dr Frost expressed his concern to members of the practice team and an internal investigation, and said the matter was so serious that police should be informed.

Dr Frost led the campaign for an inquest into the death of weapons inspector Dr David Kelly

He was sacked in September 2013, without being given a reason, and told he was barred from working on another Army base.

Dr Frost has been diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since being dismissed.

During the week-long tribunal hearing last autumn, judges were told how military chiefs tried to smear the highly-experienced doctor as a Russian spy.

One senior officer told another in secret emails that he had an 'uneasy feeling' about Dr Stephen Frost's political views, implying that he was a Kremlin sympathiser and therefore a security risk.

Colonel Carson Black, who was at the time the British Army's Regional Healthcare Director, sent the 'maliciously libellous' message as Dr Frost fought a legal battle for unfair dismissal.

In a withering covert exchange, he accused the 69-year-old GP - who led the campaign for an inquest into the death of weapons inspector Dr David Kelly - was a 'conspiracy theorist' with an 'axe to grind'.

Last night Dr Frost said: 'The Ministry of Defence has tried every means at its disposal to stop this public interest whistleblowing case from being heard properly, including ignoring its normal disclosure obligations and defying a court order that the relevant pharmacy records be fully disclosed. I leave it to others to decide why that might be.'

The MoD said it would not be appropriate to comment on the details of an ongoing employment tribunal.

Helen Clifford, the MW Solicitors lawyer representing Dr Frost, said: 'The Tribunal heard evidence that the MoD deleted emails and email accounts despite legal proceedings being taken within three months of Dr Frosts contract being terminated. The duty in litigation for their preservation clearly applied.

'During the course of this case it has become apparent that the MoD has not provided full disclosure. Relevant documents have been withheld and the MoD has used public funds to attempt to prevent Dr Frosts case from being heard. All organisations should be held to account, even government departments, when there is wrongdoing. The MoD is not exempt from complying with the disclosure obligations imposed upon all parties to an employment tribunal claim.'
A New Zealand woman had her licence renewal rejected because her address did not exist on official records.

Trish Palmer, from the South Island, was told by staff at the Richmond AA Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agent office the place she had lived for 20 years was not a registered address, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Ms Palmer lives at Stanley Brook in the Motueka Valley near Nelson.

Initially everything was as straightforward as normal and she had no problem filling out the necessary forms.

Trish Palmer (pictured) of Stanley Brook, New Zealand, went to renew her driving licence, only to be told that her address is now classified as Wakefield

But a problem arose when it came to entering her physical address.

The issue was the agency's computer would not accept Stanley Brook, or even the nearby village of Tapawera, as an existing place.

New postal database changes Palmer was not aware of meant that her address was no longer officially listed and was told that she was now classified as living in Wakefield which is over 40km away.

Palmer eventually signed the paperwork to get her driver's licence, but felt the situation was 'fraudulent', given that the correct locality was now not listed.

Palmer lives in Stanley Brook in New Zealand's South Island, but is now classified as living in Wakefield which is over 40km away

Stanley Brook does appear on NZ Post website's address checker as a valid physical location, but not as a postal address under the updated data base system.

'I don't mind the [new] mailing address  that's perfectly fine,' Ms Palmer said.

'But I would hate for somebody to come looking for me particularly in an emergency situation and go to Wakefield and be still trying to figure out where I live when they could have been a lot closer.

'I really would like to stay living in Stanley Brook  we used to live in Wakefield and I loved it, but I actually don't live there anymore.'
Just over six months ago, the country was left in chaos after David Cameron resigned as prime minister. Nobody knew what would follow.

There were fears Britain would drift dangerously. We heard talk of economic Armageddon.

This was because the Government (consisting almost wholly of Remainers) did not expect the referendum result, and because Leavers concentrated on winning the vote and didnt spell out detailed plans in the case of a Brexit victory.

Yesterday's speech showed why the Tories were wise to turn to unflappable Mrs May, says Peter Oborne

Such was the context for the sudden, swift and largely unexpected emergence of Theresa May as a steadying prime minister, chosen over more obviously brilliant figures, such as Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.

Yesterdays speech showed why the Tories were wise to turn to unflappable Mrs May.

Sane and solid, her speech set out a clear-sighted vision for Brexit. It was the best conceivable answer to critics and gives her the springboard to call a general election on this titanic issue.

Indeed, I hope the arrogant and self-important Sir Ivan Roberts, who resigned earlier this month as UK ambassador to Brussels after rebuking the May government for muddled thinking, is now hanging his head in shame.

There was nothing muddled about Mrs May yesterday. She was clear as a bell.

Now, bitter Remainers such as Nick Clegg, who gloatingly described Sir Ivans departure as a body blow to Brexit plans, will have to find another line of attack.

Like all good prime ministers, Mrs May listened before she spoke. She has lent an ear to other European leaders, to the City of London, to big business and to the British people. Indeed, there was something in her speech for everyone.

But she was not only conciliatory. She did not shy away from hard decisions.

Just over six months ago, the country was left in chaos after David Cameron resigned as prime minister following the Brexit vote

Above all, there is now no doubt over what Mrs May famously declared when she became Prime Minister  to implement Brexit.

Britain will leave the single market and search for a free trade agreement with the EU. And if we cant get that on reasonable terms, its not the end of the world.

Most categorically, Mrs May made it plain that she is fully prepared to walk out of talks altogether, insisting: No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain.

If EU leaders wont agree a fair trade deal with us, shes ready to sign up to the low-tariff rules of the World Trade Organisation  with the UK paying levies on exports to the EU, but at low, so-called most favoured nation rates.

This tough-minded, unsentimental approach shows that Mrs May has learnt the lesson of the naive Mr Camerons failed negotiation attempts last year.

Weakly, he was not prepared to gamble  to throw his hand in and walk away. As a result, he gained no worthwhile concessions, and had nothing to offer voters come referendum day.

This was not, however, a faultless speech from Mrs May. I was disappointed that there was no mention of the need to rescue the embattled British fishing industry, which has lost so much to EU rivals ever since being betrayed by Prime Minister Edward Heaths decision to take Britain into the then Common Market in the early Seventies.

Theresa May emerged as a steadying prime minister, chosen over Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove

Also, she could have gained the moral high ground if shed done more to emphasise that European citizens already living in Britain will not be affected when we leave the EU.

It would have put huge pressure on the EU nations to respond in kind as far as British citizens living in their countries are concerned.

A nother criticism is that such an epoch-making speech should have been delivered in the House of Commons, rather than to a desultory gaggle of journalists and foreign diplomats.

As the British people voted for Brexit, the route-map for deliverance should have been spread out in the cockpit of democracy.

Mrs May has also left one vital matter unresolved: what happens if the Commons and Lords  who she conceded should be allowed to vote on the Brexit deal  reject it in two years time?

If Parliament blocked her proposals, she would almost certainly call a general election.

But why wait for that possible eventuality? Now is the perfect moment to seize the initiative.

With such a clear and responsible vision, Mrs May ought to use it to go to the country and ask for a mandate to implement that policy.

A victory for Mrs May in an April general election  which shed undoubtedly achieve with a thumping majority  would not only make her position stronger within Westminster, but also give more fire-power to her negotiations abroad.

Truly, a great fight lies ahead.

Mrs May faces fierce opposition in Europe. Her own civil servants are mutinous and many diplomats are in denial. A cross-party coalition of Clegg, George Osborne and Peter Mandelson is plotting. Teamed up with big business and a recalcitrant House of Lords, its clear the British Establishment is out on manoeuvres.

In March, the Prime Minister will trigger Article 50  firing the starting gun for Brexit negotiations.

Now that Theresa May has set out her vision for Brexit, she should put it to the British people for approval in a general election.

She may come to bitterly regret it if she does not.
BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Judith Miller has criticised the Swedish multinational, blaming it for the death of the antiques industry

From flatpack furniture to meatballs, there can hardly be a house in Britain not boasting a spot of Ikea.

But now BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Judith Miller has criticised the Swedish multinational, blaming it for the death of the antiques industry.

The 65-year-old broadcaster said it was very sad that people increasingly chose the cheap brand instead of sourcing proper collectables.

Mrs Miller, who co-wrote the famous Millers Antiques Price Guide with her first husband Martin Miller in 1979, spoke out against cheap furniture shops at the AFE London Art Antiques and Interiors Fair.

She said: My daughter, when she was 16 - shes now 36 - actually sat outside her bedroom until I removed the antiques and put Ikea in, because everybody had Ikea.

Ikea has very good style but I think we should be more responsible now and antiques are green. We have to get away from the disposable age.

You look at any of the solid wood and it will be around forever. Its not MDF and I think thats why mid-century modern has become so popular, because the young like it and it has style. Its very sad.

Asked if she owned any Ikea, she replied one bookshelf had survived - but added she would never buy it in future.

She went on to explain the trendy Scandinavian brand had  along with the internet - also crushed the antiques business, because buyers have become lazy.

She added: In some ways its laziness, in some ways its because were quite busy, but I think its also people feeling that they dont know what to buy.

You arent going to go terribly wrong with it.

Ikea has definitely affected the tastes of younger buyers, without a doubt.

Mrs Miller, who has featured on the popular BBC1 show for over ten years, is not the first to speak out about the plummeting antiques trade.

The 65-year-old broadcaster said it was very sad that people increasingly chose the cheap brand instead of sourcing proper collectables

While shops like Ikea continue to flourish  at present it operates 392 stores across 48 countries and last year sold 35 billion-worth of goods  prices for antiques are now are at their lowest since the 1930s.

Twelve months ago a report emerged claiming television shows including Antiques Roadshow and Cash in the Attic have resulted in a reaction against period furniture and, paradoxically, have fuelled the fashion for modernist pieces.

The programmes are said to have helped lead to a dramatic drop in the price of pieces, as viewers come to regard them as old-fashioned and just for pensioners.

In the 1970s and 80s everyone filled their homes with all manner of good, bad and indifferent things.

Similarly, the popularity of boxset series such as Mad Men saw a surge in young people wanting retro, 1960s and 70s-inspired pieces  but made by modern day companies.

Antiques which, years ago, could only be bought for several thousand pounds are now available for just a few hundred.

Many are sold on Ebay and other internet trading sites for a fraction of what they were once worth.
Professor Wendy Ayres-Bennett (pictured) said Britons should learn Polish and Urdu to be more welcoming to immigrants

Britons should learn Polish and Urdu to be more welcoming to immigrants, a Cambridge University professor has said.

Wendy Ayres-Bennett, professor of French philology and linguistics at the university, said it was 'very important to think of integration as a two-way street.'

She has backed calls for immigrants to learn English once they arrive, but wants Brits to make more of an effort to adapt.

She said: 'Considering the issue from the point of view of language learning, we rightly expect immigrants to learn English but, as a nation, we often don't see the need ourselves to learn another language, and consider it to be something difficult and only for the intellectual elite.

'I would like to see more opportunities for British people to learn some of the community languages of the UK, such as Polish, Punjabi and Urdu, particularly in areas where there are high numbers of those speakers, so that there is some mutual effort in understanding the others' language and culture.

'Even a basic knowledge would be beneficial, which might be acquired formally or through engaging in joint community projects.'

Prof Ayres-Bennett, who also leads the MEITS project promoting multilingualism, spoke out after two major reports into integration in British society, published by Dame Louise Casey and the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Social Integration.

We rightly expect immigrants to learn English but, as a nation, we often don't see the need ourselves to learn another language Professor Wendy Ayres-Bennett

The Casey review and the APPG's report highlighted the need for more English language classes to reach communities that predominantly speak other languages.

Prof Ayres-Bennett said the reports reinforced the importance of languages in social cohesion as she supported their recommendations for immigrants to learn English.

She said: 'Without English, immigrants are likely to develop exclusive social networks and alternative labour markets.

'For most people, language is at the very heart of their identity.

'We need to respect and celebrate this and to see English as adding to their multilingual and multicultural identities, rather than trying to force immigrants to suppress or even lose their home language and culture.'
Ralph Lauren is the latest frontrunner in the race to design Melania Trump's inauguration outfit, Women's Wear Daily reported Tuesday.

The American designer is believed to be creating a gown and an ensemble for the future first lady, according to the magazine. Melania previously wore a $4,000 white Ralph Lauren pantsuit on Election Night.

Lauren also became Hillary Clinton's favored designer during her own presidential campaign. He designed the famed white pantsuit she donned at the Democratic National Convention, as well as several of her other outfits on the trail.

Almost 37.8 million viewers watched Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. Isabel Toledo, the designer of Michelle Obama's yellow dress and coat, became known worldwide overnight after 25 years of non-mainstream work.

Ralph Lauren (left) is believed to be the frontrunner in the race to design the outfit Melania Trump (right) will wear on her husband's inauguration

The future first lady could wear the Ralph Lauren outfit during the day and change into the gown for the evening's celebrations, which include a 1,500-people candlelight dinner at Union Station Thursday.

Melania had purchased her Election Night jumpsuit at Ralph Lauren's Madison Avenue store.

Lauren's staff is also believed to be designing pieces for other members of the Trump family, according to Women's Wear Daily.

No further details were provided as to the president-elects inauguration outfit. A source at Brioni, his favored brand of Italian suits, told the magazine they hadn't made a custom outfit for the occasion.

Other designers are believed to have expressed interest in dressing the incoming first lady for her husband's inauguration.

Fashion industry insider Jean Shafiroff, who sits on the New Yorks Fashion Institute of Technology's Couture Council Of The Museum, told the New York Post earlier this month that Zac Posen, B Michael America, Victor de Souza and Zang Toi would all be willing to dress Melania.

Other designers, meanwhile, have publicly said they would refuse to provide her outfit. They include Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs and Sophie Theallet.



Melania wore a $4,000 white pantsuit by Ralph Lauren on Election Night (pictured). It is not known what her husband will wear for his own inauguration
A conservation group has called for the number of tourists visiting a popular Queensland beach to be capped after locals start avoiding the 'ravaged' area.

Noosa Parks Association president Dr Michael Gloster said residents in Noosa are being 'pushed to one side' during tourist peaks and the crowds are only getting worse.

'Increasingly the interests of Noosa's residents are being pushed to one side during day tripper peaks,' Dr Gloster told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

Some have suggested they would like to see similar restrictions in other parts of Australia, including in Sydney's east, where tourist destination Bondi Beach sees over 40,000 visitors on a summer day.

A conservation group has called for the number of tourists visiting Noosa Beach in Queensland to be capped after locals start avoiding the 'ravaged' area in summer due to huge crowds

Noosa Beach (pictured) in the winter is a ghost town compared to the summer months

Dr Gloster said the number of day trippers to Noosa Beach could double in the next decade.

'The superb areas that attracted local residents to choose Noosa in the first place are becoming no go areas to residents because of day tripper overcrowding,' he said.

Parking in the area has also been an issue, according to Dr Gloster, with the surrounding area struggling to accommodate the number of vehicles in the summer months.

Noosa Parks Association president Dr Michael Gloster said residents in Noosa are being 'pushed to one side' during tourist peaks

Mr Gloster said the crowds are continuing to get worse

He said the Parks Association were also concerned Peregian Beach, Sunshine Beach, Tewantin and Cooroy could end up with similar tourist numbers to Noosa unless the council acts.

Dr Gloster has urged the Tony Wellington-led Noosa Council to put a cap on the number of visitors to Noosa Beach during peak times.

If the cap is introduced to the Queensland beach, some have suggested it could extend to New South Wales and beaches in Sydney's east in particular.

He said the Parks Association were also concerned Peregian Beach, Sunshine Beach, Tewantin and Cooroy could end up with similar tourist numbers to Noosa (pictured is Bronte Beach)

The beaches are busy well into the evening as people flock there after work
Doctor have accused Theresa May of making GPs scapegoats to divert attention from the crisis in the Health Service.

In a strongly worded open letter, their union has attacked the Government for putting lives at risk by slashing funding.

The intervention by the British Medical Association follows a warning by the Prime Minister that GPs were partly to blame for the pressure on A&E by closing their surgeries early.

But leading GPs and a senior Tory MP hit back to insist that the problems were largely due to funding cuts.

Doctor have accused Theresa May of making GPs scapegoats to divert attention from the crisis in the Health Service

BMA chairman Dr Mark Porter has gone further with the letter and a request for an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister to work out a solution

Now the BMA chairman Dr Mark Porter has gone further with the letter and a request for an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister to work out a solution.

He wrote: I have been horrified to see the position which you have taken in responding to the current crisis in the NHS in England.

In playing down what is happening in hospitals up and down the country  with beds at full capacity, daily breaches in A&E and critical operations being cancelled  and in then seeking to lay the blame on general practice, your Government appears to be seeking deliberately to distract from what is really happening in the NHS.

Services are failing patients and their families, tying the hands of those who care for them, in the face of titanic pressures across the system.

The continual salami slicing, the presentation of cuts as improvements in the face of palpably deteriorating services and the scapegoating of those who work in the service have led to this situation, one in which patients lives and well-being are at risk.

'This should not be acceptable for any government.

Leading doctors say conditions in A&E are the worst they have ever known.

Horrifying pictures have emerged of sick children sleeping on blankets on the floor and last week half of all hospitals declared a major alert as their casualty units were so overwhelmed.

Leading doctors say conditions in A&E are the worst they have ever known, like this one at Royal Glamorgan Hospital near Llantrisant

Some trusts, including Leeds Teaching Hospitals, have resorted to cancelling urgent cancer operations as they have run out of beds.

The BMA already has a rocky relationship with the Government and the letter is set to worsen tensions.

The union was behind a wave of highly destructive strikes by junior doctors last year which only ended after they lost support.

Other leading figures have already waded into the debate.

They include Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, who warned that the Prime Minister had upset lots of people.

In an interview for ITVs Peston on Sunday, she added that it was clearly preposterous to keep surgeries open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week as Mrs May has ordered.

Dr Stokes-Lampard said it was old fashioned nonsense that GPs were overpaid and a distraction from the real problem.

Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, a former GP who heads the health select committee, also came to the defence of doctors.

She said: To be suggesting that all of this problem is due to GPs not seeing people is really stretching it, its just not the case, its wrong to be scapegoating them in my view.

Some trusts, including Leeds Teaching Hospitals, have resorted to cancelling urgent cancer operations as they have run out of beds

Dr Mark Holland, president of the Society for Acute Medicine representing hospital specialists, said A&E units were not full of patients who could have seen a GP.

The patients we are seeing this winter are sick, he said.

If emergency departments are full of sick people the problem is not due to inadequate primary care. The problem is that we do not have enough beds to accommodate patients.

A Government spokesman responded: We know the NHS is under increased pressure at the moment and staff and hospitals are working hard to cope with the extra demands winter brings.

GPs play a vital role in reducing pressure on A&Es which is why we want to see extended surgery opening times, backed by an extra 528million per year in funding by 2020/21.

Last week a report by the National Audit Office exposed how thousands of practices were routinely shutting for three-hour lunch breaks or taking one afternoon off a week.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for joint efforts by China and the United States in building a long-term, stable and cooperative relationship to meet the interests of both countries and the world.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi made the remarks when meeting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Davos, Switzerland.

Xi asked Biden to convey his good wishes to U.S. President Barack Obama.

He spoke positively of Biden's contributions to promoting China-U.S. relations as well as the mutual understanding and friendship between peoples of the two countries.

Bilateral ties have experienced ups and downs but generally kept moving forward since the two countries established diplomatic relations 38 years ago, said Xi.

China-U.S. relations have been developing in the right direction and have achieved positive outcomes with the joint efforts of the two sides, especially since he and Obama reached consensus on building a new type of major country relationship between the two countries over three years ago, Xi said.

The stock of bilateral trade and mutual investment as well as personnel exchanges have hit a record high, he said.

Biden congratulated Xi on his important and wonderful speech delivered at the opening session of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.

He conveyed Obama's cordial greetings to President Xi and thanked Xi for his positive efforts in advancing U.S.-China ties.

Marking U.S.-China relations as a very important bilateral relationship, Biden said the growth and prosperity of the United States and China are both of crucial importance to the world in the 21st century.

The United States hopes that the two nations could continue to deepen mutual trust and expand cooperation, said Biden.
The Notting Hill Carnival risks a Hillsborough-scale tragedy unless urgent action is taken to protect revellers, a report warned yesterday.

Officials said the huge event, which brings more than one million people on to the streets of West London, is at a tipping point.

Police fear the sheer weight of numbers could trigger a major disaster like those at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield in 1989 or Ibrox Park in Glasgow in 1971.

Officials said Notting Hill Carnival, which brings more than one million people on to the streets of West London, is at a tipping point

One senior officer said he almost witnessed a catastrophic failure of public safety last year as people were crushed and safety barriers collapsed.

The deeply worrying findings were laid bare in a report by politicians on London City Halls police and crime committee.

Mayor Sadiq Khan is under growing pressure to make the landmark event, second only in the world to Brazils Rio de Janeiro carnival, fit for the 21st century.

But he is understood to be reluctant to move it to nearby Hyde Park or introduce a ticketing system, as with the capitals fireworks display on New Years Eve.

The Notting Hill Carnival risks a Hillsborough-scale tragedy (pictured) unless urgent action is taken to protect revellers, the report warned

Last years carnival triggered a ferocious backlash from frontline police officers amid an explosion of violence and arrests.

More than 6,000 Met officers were on duty over the weekend, with a further 1,000 bolstering their ranks on the August Bank Holiday Monday. The annual bill is around 8million.

A total of 450 people were held last year, the highest number since 2008, for offences including carrying knives, violent disorder and drug dealing.

Four people were stabbed so seriously they almost died and more than 90 weapons were seized, including outlawed zombie knives and a stun gun.

There were 45 attacks on police, some of whom were spat at or had blood deliberately sprayed in their faces, leaving eight requiring emergency treatment.

A total of 450 people were held last year, the highest number since 2008, for offences including carrying knives, violent disorder and drug dealing

One officer said the carnival must change as someone will be murdered unless more is done to stop marauding criminal gangs hijacking it.

Giving evidence to the committee, Metropolitan Police Commander Dave Musker said overcrowding and rising crime must be tackled.

Each year, and last year was no exception, we came exceptionally close to a major catastrophic failure of public safety where the public would face serious injury, he said.

The senior officer said a helicopter hovering overhead caught footage of officers diving into surging crowds to rescue children and distressed people.

Last years carnival triggered a ferocious backlash from frontline police officers amid an explosion of violence and arrests

He compared the crush to the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 people died, and the loss of 66 lives at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow.

If we have a situation where the safety barriers give way and the crowd comes forward, there is always the possibility that the people at the front will get crushed, he said.

The report concluded it would be foolish to ignore the views of police and said if there was a major incident in the middle of the event it would be extremely challenging.

It said concerns about the level of crime were nothing new, but added: We are now seeing a rise in more serious and violent crimes: this year four stabbings almost became murders.

Mayor Sadiq Khan is under growing pressure to make the landmark event, second only in the world to Brazils Rio de Janeiro carnival, fit for the 21st century

Officials said 396 crimes were recorded at the 2016 carnival, with violent crimes recorded against 151 people. The vast majority were related to theft and drugs.

Tory politician Steve OConnell, who leads the committee, said action must be taken before someone is killed.

He said it cannot be right that the event is run by volunteers with little support and called on the mayor to put it on a more formal footing.

The report also said the mayor should consider re-routing the parade or moving elements of the carnival to improve crowd management and safety.

Officials said 396 crimes were recorded at the 2016 carnival, with violent crimes recorded against 151 people. The vast majority were related to theft and drug

Any large-scale event will experience disorder, but worryingly violent incidents, including a large number of knife attacks, appear to be on the rise, Mr OConnell said.

But my overriding concern, having listened to the organisations involved in running carnival, is the very real risk to public safety. We must not shut our ears to the concerns being raised.

Sophie Linden, Londons deputy mayor responsible for policing, said a study is under way to identify what more can be done to keep people safe.
A college student who celebrated the murder of MP Jo Cox made a pipe bomb in preparation for an all out race war, a court heard yesterday.

The 17-year-old dressed like a bank clerk and regularly dressed in a business suit, but in reality was a neo-Nazi extremist who described Jo Coxs murderer as a hero', it is alleged.

The bright and articulate student made a viable Improvised Explosive Device (IED) using fireworks after Googling how to create a pipe bomb, Leeds Crown Court heard.

A college student who celebrated the murder of MP Jo Cox made a pipe bomb in preparation for an all out race war, a court heard yesterday

But police alerted to his alarming Snapchat messages raided his bedroom, which was allegedly covered in Nazi memorabilia, and found the bomb in a drawer.

An expert who examined the device said it had the potential to explode and could cause shock, injury and damage to property.

The teenager, who cannot be named, denies a charge of preparing a terrorist act and an alternative count of making a pipe bomb.

Prosecutor Barnaby Jameson told the jury the teenager became involved with National Action, described as a small, secretive Neo-Nazi British youth nationalist organisation.

It was said to be a white supremacist group which was anti-Muslim, anti-black, anti-Semitic and anti-gay.

Evidence of his shocking views were revealed on his social media exchanges, the court was told.

One Snapchat image was of a mosque being blown up along with the words: Its time to enact retribution upon the Muslim filth.

Another was a picture of a pipe bomb with an image of the Bradford skyline and the message: Incendiary explosive and home-made black powder. More to come.

The 17-year-old described Jo Coxs murderer Thomas Mair as a hero', it is alleged

The defendant told fellow extremists on one message: I make miniature pipe bombsjust f*** around with them.

Mr Jameson said the pipe bomb was more to do with an ideological war he was waging.

Last June, on the day that Mrs Cox was murdered by Thomas Mair in her West Yorkshire constituency, the teenager posted a picture of the killer on Facebook.

The jury heard that his message read: Tommy Mair is a HERO. Theres one less race traitor in Britain thanks to this man.

On another social media site he wrote: Absolute f****** legend. Hes a hero, we need more people like him to butcher the race traitors.

Mr Jameson said: (The teenagers) political views were so extreme that he celebrated in the murder of a democratically elected MP - presumably because she had voted to remain in the EU. In (the defendants) view this was race treachery.

The court heard he attended a meeting with his mother last July at his college after being found to have put up racist posters on the site.

Dressed in combat jacket and trousers and steel-capped army boots, he revealed his true colours by making it clear he denied the Holocaust, believed women were inferior to men and should stay at home to raise children and that whites were more important than other races, the court heard.

When police entered his bedroom they found it covered in flags, including the Swastika and the symbol of the Waffen SS.

His laptop screensaver was an image of a Nazi eagle over a Swastika and a German phrase, which translates to One Nation, One Empire, One Leader.

The teenager told police he made the bomb from sparklers and cut off the fuse from a firework.

He said in a statement when interviewed: Ive simply been fooling around with fireworks and showing them off to my peers in my naivety I have never had the intention to cause any harm to any person.

But Mr Jameson told the jury: This was not, as the defence will suggest, a bad joke gone wrong. This was the opening stage of (the defendants) all-out race war and that is why the crown leads its case with an allegation under the terrorism legislation.

The case continues.
A Taliban bomb-maker trying to sue the Government over his detention in the Afghan war was dealt a major blow by Britains top judges yesterday.

The Supreme Court ruled that British troops had acted lawfully in holding dangerous insurgents for longer than specified under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Judges said the laws were designed for peacetime and were not easily adapted to armed conflicts.

A Taliban bomb-maker trying to sue the Government over his detention in the Afghan war was dealt a major blow by Britains top judges yesterday

The ruling was a victory for the Ministry of Defence, which has already spent more than 1million defending the claim by senior Taliban commander Serdar Mohammed that his detention for 106 days was in breach of his human rights.

But the case of Mohammed, who has been handed legal aid during three years of legal wrangling, may still go to trial as the MoD must prove that his detention beyond the legal maximum of 96 hours was for imperative reasons of security.

His is a test case to determine whether the UK military acted within the law during the 13-year campaign.

The Supreme Court ruling means a further 70 suspected insurgents represented by Leigh Day law firm will find it more difficult to sue the Government over their detention.

The Supreme Court unanimously allowed the Governments appeals against a previous ruling that the power of detention was limited in Afghanistan to 96 hours.

Handing down the judgment yesterday, Lady Hale, its deputy president, said: It would be absurd if the Government could not be held liable for killing people in battle but could be held liable for detaining them.

Lord Sumption added: The United Kingdom was entitled to operate its own detention policy. The power of detention was in principle exercisable for as long as the imperative reasons of security continued to apply.

He said Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights allowed for detention but was designed for peacetime condition  not easily adapted to armed conflicts.

The Supreme Court ruled that British troops had acted lawfully in holding dangerous insurgents for longer than specified under the European Convention on Human Rights

The capture and detention of hostile forces is a necessary feature of the conduct of lawful military operations, he said.

In the case of Mohammed, Lord Sumption added that the court decided the decision to interrogate him was not a legitimate reason for detaining him and he may be entitled to damages.

He said: There is an issue, which will have to be tried, about whether his detention in that period was also justified as being necessary for imperative reasons of security.

The MoD said Mohammed, also known as Mullah Gulmad, helped make explosives on an industrial scale during the Afghan war and was found covered in bomb dust when he was captured in 2010 following a firefight.

He was detained for 106 days without charge before being handed over to the Afghan authorities and later jailed for ten years after being convicted of terrorist offences.

However, he has already been freed and a new trial, which would likely last for weeks and cost tens of thousands of pounds, raises the prospect of him being flown into Britain to give evidence.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: It is vital that our troops have the ability to detain enemy forces when they are engaged in conflict, and todays judgment is a significant step in clearing up the legal fog that has surrounded this issue.

Leigh Day said it would review its remaining cases in light of the judgment.
How devastating it is to hear Katy Morgan-Davies detail the memories of her childhood. A child will naturally crave comfort and cuddles  but what sort of warped world must a little girl inhabit when she seeks that solace from a bathroom tap?

I used to tell the tap, You are on my side,  says Katy, with the half-smile of someone who now knows exactly how crazy her words sound.

Id kiss the tap. Id hug the toilet when the flush worked. Such is the disturbed legacy of the social experiment Katy was born to fulfil.

For Katy was raised  although imprisoned might be a better description  in a Maoist cult, and lived for an astonishing 30 years as a caged bird in a commune run by a violent rapist who declared himself God.

Katy Morgan-Davies was raised  although imprisoned might be a better description  in a Maoist cult, and lived for an astonishing 30 years as a caged bird in a commune run by a violent rapist who declared himself God

When she finally escaped in 2013, Katy had the social skills of a six year-old. She was unable to cross the road or use basic appliances.

She had never seen a doctor, or visited a dentist. She had been brainwashed to believe her own behaviour was to blame for natural disasters such as earthquakes.

It was even her fault, she had been led to think, that the Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded on its launch in 1986. Worse, she discovered only after her release that her father  the man responsible for the brainwashing  was actually the cult leader Aravindan Balakrishnan, a man now behind bars for his crimes.

Balakrishnan, who was jailed for 23 years earlier this year for rape and false imprisonment, ruled the (mainly female) collective with violence and psychological terror, including threatening members with what he told them was an electronic satellite warfare machine he called Jackie.

Although he would administer beatings and force his devotees to carry out sexual acts, he also convinced them that lightning would strike them dead if they stepped outside the house without his permission. The reason for Katys existence? Balakrishnan wanted someone to help him run the world.

Aravindan Balakrishnan was jailed for 23 years earlier this year for rape and false imprisonment

Now the full story of the cult is being told  for the first time  in a chilling documentary by the award-winning producer Vanessa Engle.

Its a devastating piece of television which at times seems more like a sci-fi drama than a documentary, so outlandish are the events depicted.

That this astonishing saga unfolded in the middle of London, in a seemingly ordinary home, only adds to the sense of utter disbelief.

One man, who lived in a house in Brixton, overlooking the flat where Katy was kept captive, breaks down in tears as he describes catching glimpses of Katy at the window.

Yes, he knew the family were odd, but no, he did not even consider that the child might have been in danger.

The most chilling aspect is hearing Katy herself, now 33, describe how she came to be. Her birth was described as Project Prem, and when she was only a child she learned that her destiny was to help Balakrishnan (or Comrade Bala, as she called him) rule the world, according to his communist doctrine.

At birth, she was christened Prem Maopinduzi, which means, she explains Love Revolution  more of an order than a babys name. I hated that, she admits. She changed her name to Katy as soon as she was able.

Her surname comes from her mother, a once brilliant student called Sian Davies who fell into the clutches of the cult in her early 20s, and never escaped. Once a student at Cheltenham Ladies College, Sian (described in the programme as a brilliant thinker) became one of Balakrishnans most loyal devotees  and ended up pregnant by him.

Yet she died in 1996, after falling from a window. Katy, who was just 14 at the time, believes she was trying to escape.

When she finally escaped in 2013, Katy had the social skills of a six year-old. She was unable to cross the road or use basic appliances

In the programme, Katy describes how she witnessed her mother being beaten by Bala, and held down by other cult members, the day before the fatal fall.

Sian was lying on the floor, tied up, she says. She was gagged. There was a piece of cloth in her mouth. [Other cult members] Om, Josie, Bala and Chanda were holding her down. She had tried to run out. She was crying to escape.

Incredibly, Katy did not know at this time that Sian was her mother. According to the thinking of Balakrishnans cult, there were no mothers or fathers. Children were raised by The Collective, and emotional bonds  to anyone  were discouraged.

He was the only one who was allowed to cuddle me, Katy says. If any of the women attempted such a thing they would be lesbians, Balakrishnan decreed. It was a brutal upbringing.

Another woman who escaped the cult at the same time as Katy, Aishah Wahab, now 72, is also interviewed in the programme. She describes being punished when she tried to comfort Katy when she had wet herself.

When Sian died, says Katy, she felt only relief because, as one of Balas most devoted followers, her mother had also been one of the more brutal members of The Collective.

Life got better for me, in a funny way, she says, of the period immediately after Sians death.

Katy describes how she witnessed her mother being beaten by Bala, and held down by other cult members, the day before the fatal fall

Because she was one of the worst servants of Bala. It was such a relief. His worst enforcer was gone.

How did Balakrishnan manage to create this cult, and keep its vile activities secret for so long?

Balakrishnan had been known as a Maoist activist in London as far back as the mid-Seventies. Heading the so-called Workers Institute of MarxismLeninismMao Zedong Thought, he was a regular at far-Left rallies, and even then had a smattering of loyal followers, perhaps 15 at most, among them his wife, Chanda.

Aishah, originally from Malaysia, tells how Bala offered her a home and a life that she didnt imagine could be bettered. I was really inspired by him. I thought he was great.

The group did come to the attention of the authorities, it seems. In the late Seventies they were investigated by the police, and the house they were living in South London was raided  but the suspicion at this time was that they were using illegal drugs, which was not the case.

None of us even smoked cigarettes, remembers Aishah. If they were high on anything, it was Balas teachings.

His mission was to create a new society, one which would challenge the Fascist State of Britain.

Quite why the women who joined his organisation as adults were so easily convinced by Bala is unclear, but somehow he convinced them that he was a god, who had to be obeyed.

He controlled how his followers lived, what they ate, what they wore. He tried to control what they thought  and largely succeeded.

His most effective weapon? Jackie, the mind-machine, which he somehow convinced them was omnipotent.

At his trial, it emerged that Balakrishnan had raped at least two of his followers.

In 1983, when Sian became pregnant (it is not known whether she was coerced into a sexual relationship), it heralded the most macabre chapter of the story.

Aishah insists that the other cult members were not told when Sian got pregnant. Indeed, when Aishah noticed her swelling belly, and asked outright if she was having a baby, it was denied, and put down to gas.

When baby Katy arrived into the commune, no mention was made of her parentage, and it was made clear to the women that this child could not be treated in the traditional way. Katy was to be dressed in gender-neutral clothes and raised without toys, without any contact with other children and without the usual human affection that babies crave. To hear Katy talk about this  her tense fluctuating between present and past  is heartbreaking. Asked if she had ever visited the doctor or dentist, she says: No, not a lot. Why?

I guess he didnt want anybody to know of my existence. He used to say NHS means Never Help Self. So if we get ill we have to focus on him, and then we will get better, as if by magic.

When the women were allowed to watch the television it seems to have been for the purposes of controlling them. His iron-grip on them was reinforced by this ludicrous notion that their obedience to him was somehow influencing world events.

Quite why the women who joined his organisation as adults were so easily convinced by Bala is unclear, but somehow he convinced them that he was a god, who had to be obeyed

Katy talks of being shown footage of the Space Shuttle Challenger blow up in the sky.

He said the Space Shuttle Challenger blew up because people were challenging him in the house, she says. The shape in the sky was like a Y when it blew up and he said it was because people were vying with him. She was told that if she did not behave in a way that was pleasing to Bala, everyday objects would rebel. She talks of being amazed when the light switches worked, or when the toilet flushed  because Bala had told her that they would not.

This is why she would embrace them, she says. Balakrishnan even found sinister explanations for the most banal of events.

One day a pizza delivery boy came to their door, by mistake. That day there was a huge earthquake in Japan. Balakrishnan told his followers the events were linked.

Bala said this was the fascist state trying to provoke him. The same day there was an earthquake in Kobe in Japan. He said Kobe means Gods Door. When there was a knock on Gods door, then there was this huge earthquake.

It was to punish the Fascist State for the fact that the pizza delivery boy had come to Gods, Balas, door.

Balakrishnan even found sinister explanations for the most banal of events

Shamefully for the authorities, it seems Katy did make an attempt to escape Balas clutches. In 2005, when she was 22, she says she fled the house via the open back door, and told a passer-by that she had run away.

She was directed to the local police station, where she spoke to officers. They persuaded me to let them call Bala, she says. He turned up, and reassured the police all was well.

It would be another eight years before she would escape her prison for good. The final flight came in 2013 when one of the other devotees, Josie Herival, became increasingly concerned about Katy, who was unwell.

Bala refused to let any of the women seek help. Eventually, and using a mobile phone she had smuggled in, Josie called a helpline she had seen advertised on TV.

It was charity workers Gerard Stocks and Yvonne Hall, who run an organisation helping victims of human trafficking, who helped rescue the three women. They eventually took them into their own home.

They talk in the programme of that surreal drive away from the house, and even now are amazed at the questions they were asked.

They wanted to know why the lights coming towards us were white, while the ones going away from us were red, says Gerard, still incredulous that the women did not seem to have ever been in a car after dark. The pair talk of the long process to help the women adjust to life after captivity.

Even now, I would suggest that two of the three are very scared of Jackie, that Jackie is going to take revenge at some point, says Gerard.

In fact, while Katy and Aishah have attempted to rebuild their lives, Josie is still blindly devoted to Bala.

She declined to be interviewed for this documentary but has, since her escape, continued to defend Comrade Bala and his teachings. Its something Katy finds distressing.

Im sad for Josie, but that is her choice. Im sad that she cant free her mind from the spell of the cult, she says.

Katy is at college now, and, after a time in sheltered accommodation, has moved into her own flat. Amazingly, she seems devoid of bitterness

What of Katy? Can she ever lead normal life? She seems determined to. She is at college now, and, after a time in sheltered accommodation, has moved into her own flat. Amazingly, she seems devoid of bitterness.

In this programme she is asked directly if she hates the man who stole 30 years of her life.

No. I did used to hate him. I just felt completely powerless. But life is also very short. There is no time to be spent on hatred and anger.

She quotes Nelson Mandela, saying that it is futile to hold on to your anger, hatred and bitterness.

Incredibly, she even says she would like to one day be reunited with her father  and her tormentor.

I would like to reconcile with him in the future she says, and adds, if he wants it.

The Cult Next Door is on BBC2 on January 26 at 9pm.
Brazilian police were forced to fire rubber bullets at inmates after a brutal prison riot claimed 26 lives.

Violence erupted at Alcacuz jail near the city of Natal, in Brazil, leading to fires breaking out and serious injuries to inmates.

The army has been called in to help contain the riot which started on Saturday and some inmates have been arrested.

Pictured: Prisoners set fire in new outbreak of violence after the riot at Brazil's Alcacuz jail

The army have been called in to quell the violence after a jail bloodbath claimed 26 lives

It is believed the jail was overcome after rival drugs gangs fought each other.

Cons climbed on the roof and set up barriers of furniture as the crews vowed to behead each other.

Police fired rubber bullets to try to keep rival factions apart, sending the inmates fleeing in panic and drawing screams from their relatives gathered outside the prison walls.

Two days later, crowds of inmates are still loose in the open air - between the prison blocks and the outer walls of the complex.

Television images have also showed inmates sharpening machetes.

The governor of the surrounding Rio Grande do Norte state, Robinson Faria, said authorities were working to stop the prisoners escaping from Alcacuz.

Experts say the violence is part of a war between gangs battling for control of the cocaine trade in Brazil, a key trafficking route to Europe.

The Alcacuz riot was thought to have been a clash between Brazil's biggest drug gang, the First Capital Command (PCC) and a rival called Crime Syndicate.

Faria said: 'The PCC is defying not only the state but also the regional crime cartels in its efforts to control the drug trade.'

The unrest raised fears that violence could spread to jails across the country - including the crime-plagued metropolis of Rio de Janeiro.

Prison guards there went on strike Tuesday in protest over unpaid wages, a symptom of Brazil's economic crisis.

Rio prison guards' union spokesman Gutembergue de Oliveira said there was just one guard for 200 inmates, although the government says there should be one to five.

He said: 'As well as a lack of prison guards, doctors, nurses and carers, we are faced with a huge jail population.'

The Alcacuz riot was thought to have been a clash between Brazil's biggest drug gang, the First Capital Command and a rival called Crime Syndicate (pictured, cons on the roof of the jail)

The Alcacuz prison was built for a maximum of 620 inmates but currently houses 1,083, according to the state justice department.

After two riots earlier this month, President Michel Temer announced the federal government would spend $250 million to build new prisons.

The weekend bloodbath was the third mass-killing in Brazil's overcrowded jails this month.

Faria said: 'It was the most barbaric thing I have seen in my life. They made a bonfire of human heads.'

In total, 134 people have been killed in prison violence this year, Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said, citing justice ministry figures.

About 60 inmates were killed in the northwestern city of Manaus on January 1. Many were beheaded and mutilated.

A further 33 died in a prison riot in Roraima state on January 6.
A young driver has slammed into three parked cars and flipped his own after falling asleep at the wheel on a suburban street in Sydney's west.

The 21-year-old man reportedly fell asleep on Shepherd Street at Colyton, Sydney's west, shortly before the crash happened about 6.20am on Wednesday.

People who lived on the suburban street discovered the driver trapped inside his overturned green Toyota Camry struggling to free himself after the crash.

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A young driver has slammed into three parked cars and flipped his own after reportedly falling asleep at the wheel

Naval Saini said he was at home at the time and rushed outside to help.

'I was sleeping and I just heard a thud so I ran outside and the guy was struggling to get out of the car so I helped him,' he told Today.

New South Wales ambulance paramedics arrived at the scene a short time later and treated the driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, for minor injuries.

He was not taken to hospital.

New South Wales ambulance paramedics arrived at the scene a short time later and treated the driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, for minor injuries

The 21-year-old man reportedly fell asleep on Shepherd Street at Colyton shortly before the crash happened about 6.20am

There was no oncoming traffic and no pedestrians on the street at the time of the crash

There was no oncoming traffic and no pedestrians on the street at the time of the crash.

No one other than the driver was injured, NSW police told Daily Mail Australia.

When police arrived at the scene, the driver admitted he had fallen asleep at the wheel, Today reports.

The driver also exchanged details with the owners of the three parked cars damaged in the collision.

The cars have since been towed from the scene.
Taxes will have to rise by 30 billion a decade to keep pace with the costs of an ageing population, an official report warned yesterday.

In a sobering analysis, the Office for Budget Responsibility said spending on health alone is set to double to 250 billion a year, blowing an unsustainable hole in Britains public finances.

The cost of social care will also double to almost 40 billion a year  placing further pressure on health budgets.

And, in a triple whammy for the public finances, pension costs are also set to soar by more than a third.

Taxes will have to rise by 30 billion a decade to keep pace with the costs of an ageing population, an official report warned yesterday, depicted in BBC2's Hospital which shows NHS in crisis as doctors forced to choose whether to save cancer patient or OAP bleeding to death

The OBR suggested tax rises of 30 billion a decade  equal to 1,000 per taxpayer  will be needed to get Britains public finances back to pre-crisis levels.

The watchdog said: Rising healthcare costs could make it harder for the Chancellor to balance the budget in the next Parliament and put the public finances on an unsustainable path over the longer term in the absence of further tax increases or cuts in other public spending.

The warning came in a detailed analysis of the pressures on Britains public finances over the next 50 years.

The OBR, which is responsible for producing independent forecasts on tax and spending for government, has previously said future health spending will be driven largely by changes in demographics as Britain gets older.

But the new study warns that future costs are likely to rise even faster because of advances in medicine and technology which will make treatment available for more people than ever.

Previously, the watchdog had suggested that health spending would surge from 6.9 per cent of GDP to eight per cent over the next 50 years because of demographic changes. But the latest forecast predicts health spending will now soar to 12.6 per cent over the same period

The OBR states that total age-related spending will be 83 billion a year higher than today by the middle of the 2060s.

But it suggests no government would contemplate trying to find the money in one go, and says ministers are likely to try to close the gap by either raising taxes or cutting spending in other areas over many years.

The Office for Budget Responsibility suggested tax rises of 30 billion a decade  equal to 1,000 per taxpayer  will be needed to get Britains public finances back to pre-crisis levels

Without action to raise taxes or cut spending, Britains national debt will almost treble from 82 per cent of GDP to a staggering 234 per cent.

Richard Murray, director of policy for the Kings Fund think tank, described the OBRs findings as a welcome dose of realism (which) highlights the current pressures on the NHS.

He added: Given that plans for the rest of this Parliament will see health spending fall as a proportion of GDP, it is another reminder that it is unrealistic to expect the NHS to continue to operate within spending plans at the same time as continuing to offer the same level of service.

The findings will pile pressure on ministers who have already had to reject claims by the Red Cross that the situation in parts of the NHS this winter amounts to a humanitarian crisis.

Former Lib Dem health minister Norman Lamb urged the Government to begin cross-party talks on dealing with the looming financial squeeze in the NHS.

Mr Lamb said: The government needs to confront this and level with the British people about the stark choices we face.

They need to work with others to sort this out, because there is a sense that we are sleepwalking to the precipice without any answer to this existential challenge that we face.

The OBR analysis suggests ministers could ease the long-term pressure by scrapping the so-called triple lock which protects the state pension. It suggests that this could save almost 20 billion a year by the mid-2060s.

Ministers have said the triple lock will stay until at least 2020, but Chancellor Philip Hammond has said the long-term cost will be reviewed  suggesting it could be axed after the next election.

Ministers have said the triple lock will stay until at least 2020, but Chancellor Philip Hammond has said the long-term cost will be reviewed  suggesting it could be axed after the next election

The new report also raises doubts about the Governments aim of balancing Britains books early in the next parliament.

It suggests that, on current trends, the budget deficit could widen from 0.7 per cent of GDP in 2021-22 to 1.8 per cent by the end of the next Parliament in 2025-26.

Treasury sources said the Chancellor recognised the long-term challenges to the public finances and was determined to tackle them.

A spokesman said: The government has already made significant progress in repairing the public finances  reducing the deficit from 10 per cent of GDP to four per cent over the last six years  and the Chancellor has set out new fiscal rules to bring the public finances back to balance as soon as possible in the next Parliament.

'We must continue to build on this progress by controlling public spending so that we deliver world-class public services at the lowest cost to the taxpayer.
An exclusion zone could be set up around Romes Colosseum after it was vandalised with spray paint, officials have said.

The 2,000-year-old amphitheatre was daubed with black paint on Monday night in the latest episode of vandalism at the historic site.

The name Balto and the word Morte (death) were sprayed onto the pillar overnight.

The name Balto and the word Morte (death) were sprayed onto the pillar overnight

Francesco Prosperetti, special superintendent for the Colosseum, said: We are considering the idea of creating a no access zone, a red zone.

The area would be separated not by physical barriers but rather by chains defining the zone where video surveillance would be installed.

The red zone would reproduce that of ancient Rome, with a radius of about 15 metres.

Two Brazilian men who attempted to climb over a gate into the Colosseum on Monday were apprehended by the authorities when they fell 13 feet (four metres), one fracturing his hip bone.

CCTV is being studied to see if they were responsible for the the grafitti.

Francesco Prosperetti, special superintendent for the Colosseum, said: We are considering the idea of creating a no access zone, a red zone'

Mr Prosperetti said: We worry that this could become a game and people could start competing over it.

The exclusion zone would operate while the monument was closed at night, he suggested, as the Colosseum currently has no night-time security due to staff shortages.

He suggested it could include motion sensors which, when triggeredm would alert police to intruders.
Princess Diana's famous trip to a minefield came just five months after her breakup with Prince Charles - a tumultuous event read about in lurid detail by people across the world

Princess Diana's famous trip to a minefield came just five months after her breakup with Prince Charles - an event read about in lurid detail by people across the world.

Everyone, that is, except for guide Paul Heslop, who made an excruciating joke about her former husband, not realising their marriage had broken down.

Handing over a decommissioned mine, the ex-soldier joked: 'For God's sake, when you get home don't put this in Charles' bed.'

'Of course, at this point I didn't even realise the marriage was as troubled as it was, let alone over. I hadn't been in Britain for a year,' he told The Mirror.

Thankfully, Diana was not offended by the well-meaning comment, and laughed.

Mr Heslop, 47, was working with British charity The Halo Trust, which cleared mines in wear-ravaged Angola.

His meeting with Diana, on January 15, 1997, came seven months before she died of injuries sustained during a car crash in Paris.

Images of Princess Diana walking through a minefield in Angola 20 years ago this weekend helped raise global awareness of landmines and the plight of their victims.

She was criticised by some politicians for lobby for anti-landmine charities, but her work helped secure an international agreement to ban the weapons.

That is, everyone except for guide Paul Heslop, who made an excruciating joke about her former husband, not realising their marriage had broken down

More than 160 countries have signed the Mine Ban Treaty and 27 countries have declared themselves free of landmines, including Mozambique, Rwanda and Nicaragua.

This was drafted just a weeks following her death and signed in December 1997.

However, the number of people reported killed or injured by landmines has risen sharply, with 75 percent more casualties in 2015 compared to the previous year.

This was largely due to more victims in Libya, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen.
The mother of a three-year-old boy pulled unconscious from a backyard pool on Wednesday had left the toddler alone to get an ice block from the fridge and found him trapped under a floatie when she returned.

The little boy was discovered just after 12pm at a home in Seven Hills, Sydney's west, and at least five paramedics treated him on the scene.

The boy's grandmother, Irene Ekis, told the Blacktown Sun the boy had been wearing an inflatable floatie in the pool when his mother had left him alone for 'two seconds'.

'She [the boy's mother] went inside to get him an ice block. When she came back the floatie was on top of him,' Ms Ekis said.

A three-year-old boy has been pulled unconscious from a backyard pool in Seven

At least five paramedics treated him on the scene after he was pulled from the water

'I can't believe it. He is such a happy boy who loves water.'

'It's terrible. I never want my grandkids to have a pool ever again.'

A Careflight helicopter was dispatched and the three-year-old was rushed to hospital in stable condition, according to police.

A NSW ambulance spokesperson said the boy been submerged for 'some time'.

Officers said neighbours began performing CPR on the boy after pulling him from the water.

Paramedics took over CPR efforts after they arrived as he lay next to a trampoline in the yard.

The above-ground pool appears to be located in the rear corner of the property.

Blacktown Local Area Command are investigating the incident.

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Yemeni counter-terrorism forces arrested on Tuesday a leader of the Yemen-based affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) group suspected of recruiting suicide assailants in the southern port city of Aden.

A statement released by the counter-terrorism unit in Aden said that "a mid-level commander" of IS was captured during a "surprise anti-terror operation conducted in Aden's neighborhood of Enma."

The captured suspect had been using social media accounts in recruiting young people from local mosques into IS group as suicide bombers, the statement said.

"The suspect confessed to recruiting more than 25 young people as suicide bombers, nearly five of them have since launched attacks against locations in Aden," the statement added.

A military official told Xinhua that the security forces and other military units tightened security measures around state facilities and deployed many patrols to track the remaining 20 would-be suicide attackers in Aden.

The counter-terrorism unit released the suspect's personal picture on Facebook without mentioning his full name.

The southern port city of Aden is the headquarters of Yemen's internationally-backed President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his government.

Aden witnessed several well-planned assassinations and armed attacks after Saudi-backed forces drove the Shiite Houthi rebels out from the strategic city in July 2015.

However, the newly-trained anti-terrorism troops supported by United Arab Emirates (UAE) armored vehicles made substantial achievements in recent weeks, disabling several explosive material factories used by terrorists to manufacture car bombs in Aden.

In addition, several commanders of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch were captured in the successful raids conducted by the UAE-backed Yemeni forces in Aden and neighboring provinces.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional al-Qaida insurgencies in the Middle East.

The Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), also known locally as "Ansar al-Sharia," emerged in January 2009, claiming responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks against Yemen's army and governmental institutions.

The AQAP and the IS-linked terrorists took advantage of the security vacuum and ongoing civil war to expand their influence and seize more territories in southern Yemen.

Security in Yemen has deteriorated since March 2015, when war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and government forces backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.

Over 10,000 people have been killed in ground battles and airstrikes since then, many of them civilians.
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A baby red panda has fallen in love with a fluffy toy during recovery at Taronga Zoo in Sydney after she injured her neck.

Zoo keeper, Tamara Gillies is providing round-the-clock care to the two-month-old cub named Maiya, after she suffered a neck injury while being carried in her mother's mouth.

'She's definitely a little survivor,' said Tamara. 'She's guzzling down her milk formula, she's gaining weight every day and the wound on her neck has almost completely healed.'

Zoo keeper, Tamara Gillies is providing round-the-clock care to the two-month-old cub named Maiya, after she suffered a neck injury while being carried in her mother's mouth

The cub has also found a fluffy new friend in the form of a soft toy Red Panda, which she clings to while feeding and sleeping

The cub has also found a fluffy new friend in the form of a soft toy red panda, which she clings to while feeding and sleeping.

'The soft toy gives her something with a familiar scent to snuggle and play with. It's the same colour as a real Red Panda and she clings to it using her claws and teeth as she would do with her mum,' said Tamara.

Maiya was born at Taronga on November 20 last year to first-time parents Amala and Pabu.

Tamara said it's not uncommon for Red Panda cubs to experience neck wounds as mothers often carry their young by the scruff of the neck.

Maiya will remain in Tamara's care for another month, but keepers are already taking steps to gradually reintroduce the cub to her parents.

Red Pandas are classed as an endangered species. They are under threat from habitat loss, illegal trade and poaching throughout Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal.

Less than 10,000 Red Pandas are thought to remain in the wild.
A top Sydney lawyer has pleaded not guilty to grabbing a woman's crotch while on a harbourside track.

Carl Harrap, a principal lawyer at Freehills Patent Attorneys known as FPA, was arrested on December 28 and charged with indecently assaulting a woman he did not know in Clontarf on the shores of Sydney's Middle Harbour.

Police allege Harrap, 40, 'grabbed [the woman's] vagina from behind using his four fingers and the palm of his hand', court documents say.

Carl Harrap, 40, (pictured with his wife) was arrested on December 28 and charged with indecently assaulting a woman

He did not know the victim and there are two independent witnesses to the offence, the documents say.

Harrap, who lives in Seaforth with his wife and children, is allowed to remain on bail until his next court date on March 8, the court heard on Wednesday.

Police allege Harrap (pictured with his wife) 'grabbed (the woman's) vagina from behind using his four fingers and the palm of his hand', court documents say

Harrap, who lives in Seaforth with his wife (left) and children, is allowed to remain on bail until his next court date on March 8

Carl Harrap, 40, is accused of grabbing a woman's crotch in Clontarf on the shores of Sydney's Middle Harbour

Harrap's lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf when he appeared at Manly Local Court on Wednesday

His bail conditions include not being allowed to enter Manly Scenic Walk within 200 metres of Castle Rock Beach.

It is not known whether Harrap is currently practising law but a link to his page on FPA's website appears to have been taken down.

But his LinkedIn page says he is a principal lawyer at FPA, a firm linked to the prestigious corporate law giant Herbert Smith Freehills.

Harrap is also listed online as a member of the Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys.

He was present at Manly Local Court on Wednesday as his lawyer entered his not guilty plea on his behalf and held his wife's hand tightly.

They did not respond to reporters' questions outside the court.
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Diplomats, politicians, donors and a cast of Broadway stars joined president-elect Donald Trump for a glamorous dinner in Washington DC, three days before he takes office.

Trump made the short flight to the nation's capital in his private jet to attend the Chairman's Global Dinner on Tuesday night, where he was joined by Kellyanne Conway and a host of big names.

The president-elect was seen stepping off his Trump jet at Reagan National Airport with Conway in tow at about 8pm. She was wearing a white gown and appeared to be carrying a fur coat.

Melania Trump did not appear to have made the trip with her husband.

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Donald Trump and Mike Pence are seen on stage together at the Chairman's Global Dinner in Washington DC - an extravagant pre-inauguration dinner for Trump's biggest donors and international diplomats

Members of the Broadway play Show Stoppers perform at the Chairman's Global Dinner on Tuesday night

Senior Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway (center) with Kelly Fertitta and Victoria Fertitta at the Tuesday night event in Washington DC

Woody Johnson (left) speaks with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (right) and wife Judith Nathan (center) at the Chairman's Global Dinner in Washington DC

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and wife Judith Nathan (left) and Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson and his wife Renda St. Clair pose for a photo at the Chairman's Global Dinner (right) at the event in Washington DC

Donald Trump has touched down for a quick stop in Washington DC just three days before he will be sworn in as president

The Donald was then on his way back to New York before 10:30pm, and would have lifted off earlier if not for a slight hitch on the tarmac. The Trump jet was delayed about 10 minutes because airport personnel unable to detach the stairs.

Eventually, airport staff and some Secret Service officers were seen by the press pool pushing the stairs away so Trump Force One could take off.

But despite the runway issue on his way home, Donald was in business in the capital, racing straight from the airport to the donor dinner when he arrived.

The black-tie, invitation-only affair was attended by about 500 people - with a mix of 150 diplomats and 300 or so of Trump's biggest donors and VIPs, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Some of the big names in attendance were: Daniel Snyder - owner of Washington's NFL team, actor Jon Voight, Jeff Sessions, casino magnate Steve Wynn, Michael Flynn, Rudy Giuliani, and Israel's ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer.

Trump addressed the crowd gathered at the opulent Andrew W. Mellon auditorium, and kicked off his remarks by thanking his running mate, Mike Pence.

Actor Jon Voight (left) and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (right) with wife Judith Nathan (center) pose with Marines at the event on Tuesday night

After landing, Trump rushed to an exclusive black-tie event with international diplomats and his biggest donors and VIPs

David Mohn (left) with Tom Barrack, chairman of the Presidential Inaugural Committee (center), and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff

New England Patriots' owner Robert Kraft (left), with Senior Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway (center) and Richard LeFrak (right) at the Chairman's Global Dinner

The cast of Show Stoppers perform at the gala event, three days before Trump becomes US president

Performers from Broadway's Show Stoppers took to the stage to entertain guests at the Chairman's Global Dinner in Washington DC

Jamie McCort (left) and Cio Soler (right) were among the guests at the Chairman's Global Dinner (pictured together, left), while, on the right, Kelly Fertitta (left) and Victoria Fertitta (right) also attended the event

Trump on Rex Tillerson tonight: You know, hes led this charmed life. He goes into a country, takes the oil, goes into another country... pic.twitter.com/GegS2YDtKQ  Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) January 18, 2017

President-elect Donald Trump, left, stands with Vice President-elect Mike Pence during the presidential inaugural Chairman's Global Dinner

Trump addressed the black-tie, invitation-only affair, which was attended by about 500 people - with a mix of 150 diplomats and 300 of Trump's biggest donors and VIPs

Mike Pence shared this picture of himself and his wife, Karen, taking a moment out during the gala to have a dance

WHO ARE THE BIG NAMES AT THE GALA? Washington NFL owner Daniel Snyder Actor Jon Voight Casino magnate Steve Wynn Michael Flynn Rudy Giuliani Israel's ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer

New England Patriots' owner Robert Kraft Advertisement

'I had a couple of beauties I could have picked. But they were good too but maybe wouldn't have worked out like Mike,' Trump said, according to press pool reports.

'So I want to thank Mike and Karen and I want to thank all of the people in the room. We have so many friends, 147 diplomats and investors, never been done before.'

He then went on to heaped praise on the diplomats and his cabinet picks, singling out Rex Tillerson - Trump's pick for Secretary of State.

'But I want to thank you all for being here. We have great respect for your countries, we have great respect for our world,' he said.

'We have a man that I wanted right from the beginning, Rex Tillerson. Now these lights are bright but he's around here some place. Where's our Rex? Wow. What a job.

'I think it's tougher than he thought. He's led this charmed life. He goes into a country, takes the oil, goes into another country.

'It's tough dealing with these politicians, right? He's going to be so incredible. And I'm very proud, I'm very proud of everybody, the cabinet members.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson and wife Candy Carson (left) attended the gala alongside Washington Redskins' owner Dan Synder and his wife Tanya Snyder (right)

President-elect Donald Trump speaks with Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson and his wife Renda St Clair

Donald Trump speaks to diplomats at the Presidential Inaugural Committee Chairman's Global Dinner in Washington

Trump on Pence tonight: Oh, I had a couple of beauties I could have picked [for VP] ... but maybe wouldnt have worked out like Mike. pic.twitter.com/EuI1jtzKYe  Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) January 18, 2017

Former ExxonMobil executive Rex Tillerson, US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for US Secretary of State, attends the Chairman's Global Dinner a black-tie, invitation-only dinner

Jeff Sessions attends the Chairman's Global Dinner, at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington DC on Tuesday night

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is seen talking to a guest at the extravagant dinner in Washington DC ahead of Trump's inauguration

Guests are seen listening keenly as Donald Trump speaks to the crowd gathered at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in DC on Tuesday night

Former Senator Roy Blunt (left), Woody Johnson, Wilbur Ross and Abigail Perlman Blunt (right)

Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer (L) and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani (R, obscured) are seen at the gala

Trump is pictured during his address to the donors and diplomats who turned out for the exclusive party in Washington DC

Former Senator Roy Blunt with wife Abigail Perlman Blunt (pictured together, left) and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, and Tom Barrack, chairman of the Presidential Inaugural Committee at the Chairman's Global Dinner in Washington DC (right)

Tom Barrack, chairman of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, speaks at the Chairman's Global Dinner in Washington DC

Members of the Broadway play Show Stoppers perform at the event in Washington DC on Tuesday night

Woody Johnson (left) speaks with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (right) and wife Judith Nathan (center)

Kellyanne Conway, advisor to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, arrives with him aboard his plane at Reagan National Airport

Conway was wearing a white gown as she stepped off the plane and followed the president-elect to the black-tie event

The president-elect was seen stepping off his Trump jet (pictured) at Reagan National Airport in Alexandria, Virginia

Mike Pence holds a note card as he delivers remarks at the Chairman's Global Dinner on Tuesday night in Washington DC

'It's tough dealing with these politicians, right? He's going to be so incredible. And I'm very proud, I'm very proud of everybody, the cabinet members.

'We have put together a team, I think the likes of which has never been assembled. So, we'll have further reports in the years to come, but I think you'll see that.'

Trump then joked about how safe the room was, referencing the gang of bikers traveling to Washington to provide a 'wall of meat' around the inauguration.

'I saw the Bikers for Trump  boy they had a scene today. I don't know if I would want to ride one of those but they do like me,' he said.

'That's like additional security with those guys, and they're rough. And they get on that Harley, usually Harley, made right here in America.

'And they had a scene today where they had helicopters flying over a highway some place in this country. And they had thousands of those guys coming into town.'

Trump's return to New York after the dinner was delayed when airport staff had an issue with the stairs. Workers are pictured with Secret Service officers pushing the stairs away manually

Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Chairman's Global Dinner, at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington

Retired Gen. Michael Flynn, President-elect Donald Trump's incoming National Security Advisor, listens to Trump during the gala

Trump joked during the gala about how safe the room was, referencing the gang of bikers traveling to Washington to provide a 'wall of meat' around the inauguration

An invitation to the 58th Presidential inauguration for Donald Trump is pictured in Washington DC

Pence also shared a photograph of himself with Trump at the event - which was held just three days before the Donald is sworn in

Trump had tipped his hat to the group earlier in the day by saying people were coming to D.C. in 'record numbers' to watch him take the oath of office.

'People are pouring into Washington in record numbers. Bikers for Trump are on their way. It will be a great Thursday, Friday and Saturday!' Trump wrote.

Chris Cox, 48, is organizing what he hopes will be a sizable rally for America's pro-Trump bikers, and said he plans to protect Trump from protesters.

'In the event that we are needed, we will form a wall of meat,' he told Fox and Friends last weekend, in reference to a large protest planned against the president-elect on Saturday.

Pence shared this picture on social media, showing the crowd gathered in the room for the pre-inauguration celebration in DC

Chris Cox (pictured meeting Trump in May) will host a rally, including speakers and music, during the inauguration. The bikers will also help if protesters break police lines he said

Chris Cox (not pictured) is the organizer of Bikers for Trump; he says over 5,000 members will descend on DC Friday for the inauguration - and to potentially protect crowds

MELANIA 'TO WEAR RALPH LAUREN' ON DONALD'S BIG DAY Melania wore a $4,000 white pantsuit by Ralph Lauren on Election Night (pictured). It is not known what her husband will wear for his own inauguration Ralph Lauren is the latest front-runner in the race to design Melania Trump's inauguration outfit, Women's Wear Daily reported Tuesday. The American designer is believed to be creating a gown and an ensemble for the future first lady, according to the magazine. Melania previously wore a $4,000 white Ralph Lauren pantsuit on Election Night. Lauren also became Hillary Clinton's favored designer during her own presidential campaign. He designed the famed white pantsuit she donned at the Democratic National Convention, as well as several of her other outfits on the trail. Almost 37.8 million viewers watched Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. Isabel Toledo, the designer of Michelle Obama's yellow dress and coat, became known worldwide overnight after 25 years of non-mainstream work. The future first lady could wear the Ralph Lauren outfit during the day and change into the gown for the evening's celebrations, which include a 1,500-people candlelight dinner at Union Station Thursday. Melania had purchased her Election Night jumpsuit at Ralph Lauren's Madison Avenue store. Lauren's staff is also believed to be designing pieces for other members of the Trump family, according to Women's Wear Daily. No further details were provided as to the president-elects inauguration outfit. A source at Brioni, his favored brand of Italian suits, told the magazine they hadn't made a custom outfit for the occasion. Advertisement

'We'll be shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and we'll be toe-to-toe with anyone who's going to break through police barriers.'

Earlier in the day, the menu for the ostentatious evening was revealed by TMZ.

Those in attendance had the choice of filet mignon or mustard glazed black cod, according to the website, with side dishes including carrot ribbon salad and champignon mushrooms.

There was also a choice between two red and two white wines, before wrapping up with baked Alaska cakes with fresh raspberries for dessert.

Donald Trump boards his plane at LaGuardia airport in New York before flying to Washington DC for a quick visit on Tuesday night
A protester set himself on fire outside Trump International Hotel in Washington DC on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old man, who has not yet been identified, said the act was in protest of the President-elect's looming inauguration.

Witnesses described how he yelled 'Trump' several times as 'flames ran up his back' before lying down in the street.

He suffered non-life-threatening burns and was taken to hospital shortly after the incident at around 9.30pm.

A Washington DC Police source told DailyMail.com he was not arrested.

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A man set himself on fire in protest outside Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C. on Tuesday night. His clothes remained ablaze in the middle of the road afterwards

The man said he was from California and that he was acting in protest against Trump

#BREAKING: Man lights fire near #TrumpInternationalHotel. Employees call police. Man told me he's from CA & protesting #TrumpInauguration pic.twitter.com/noUwttKRL5  Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) January 18, 2017

In a brief interview with NBC at the scene, he said: 'I tried to light myself on fire as an act of protest.

'(I'm protesting) the fact that we've elected somebody who is completely incapable of respecting the Constitution of the United States.'

The man, who said he was from California, suffered third-degree burns on 10 percent of his body, according to the Washington Post.

He had used a lighter and accelerant to start the fire.

Authorities said they were called to the hotel after receiving a report of a person 'in distress'.

A bypasser said it was not initially clear what the man was protesting when he set fire to items of clothing in the street outside the hotel.

'He set himself on fire and as flames ran up his back he yelled Trump several times then lay down in the street.

Fire crews and an ambulance was called to the hotel shortly after 9.30pm to deal with the incident

(He) then walked over to the police/security,' Michael Shoag, who arrived at the hotel after the man set himself on fire, said.

While the man appeared to have suffered burns to his back, he was able to walk.

Trump International Hotel is on the parade route that the president-elect will travel during the inauguration on Friday as he makes his way to the White House.

Anti-Trump protesters have been flocking to Washington DC this week ahead of the event.

At least 26 protest groups have been granted permits, which is more than four times the average for past inaugurations, according to USA Today.

Approximately 400,000 protesters are anticipated in DC over the weekend, with more than half expected to walk on Saturday in the Women's March on Washington.

They also inundated Ivanka Trump's Manhattan home on Tuesday, carrying moving boxes plastered with protest slogans to mock the businesswoman's move to Washington.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday he would also join demonstrators at a protest outside the family's Manhattan hotel on the eve of the inauguration.

'I'm rallying at Trump Intl Hotel at 6PM on January 19 because our next president needs to hear from all NYers before he takes office. Join us,' the mayor tweeted.
Almost 1,000 strangers have come together to raise more than $50,000 so a 108-year-old woman can remain in her assisted living home in Columbus, Ohio.

Carrie Lou Rausch had been happily living at the facility known as Sunrise on the Scioto, for the past three years.

But her long life also meant she virtually used up all of her cash reserves set aside for retirement.

Carrie faced the possibility of eviction this month, until her daughter set up an online campaign to try and generate some more funds.

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Thanks to the kindness of 1,000 strangers, 108-year-old Carrie Lou Rausch will not be evicted from her current senior living home after almost $60,000 was raised online

Carrie believes her long life is due in large part to a life-long dedication to good nutrition, beginning in the 1950s and always maintaining a good attitude

The grandmother of four and great grandmother of six lived independently in her own home (her husband died in 1995) until the age of 105 when she moved to the care home

'I was looking into Medicaid-funded facilities that she could move to, but most of what's out there were not really what she is used to now,' 67-year-old daughter, Susan Hatfield said.

'I visited a couple of nursing homes, and the rooms felt a lot more like a hospital than a home. It was a lot more impersonal than the setting she had right now,' she told ABC News.

'I knew at the time that they didn't accept Medicaid, but the facility was one she was familiar with. Another family member had been there, and she used to visit. It's close to all of the family. I decided to move her there, knowing that ultimately they didn't accept Medicaid. The honest thing to say is - I didn't know she'd live this long,' Susan told CNN.

In a last ditch effort to keep her mother in the home she knew and loved, Susan started a GoFundMe campaign in October.

Carrie Lou Rausch with her husband, Paul, on their wedding day

Carrie Lou Rausch with her husband, Paul, and their adopted daughter Susan in the 1950s

Carrie fell a couple of times and last fall she broke three ribs, so she needs to be in a care home

Now Carrie can happily celebrate her 109th birthday in the comfort of her chosen home

Carrie was quite the looker in her younger years, but she has kept a youthful outlook ever since

The crowdfunding campaign was featured on the local news at which point the donations flooded in with more than $56,000 in contributions over the last two weeks.

Those who gave on the GoFundMe page wrote heartfelt messages. 'I'm thrilled that people from all over came together to help your mom. It restores faith in the good of humanity,' one contributor wrote.

Another said: 'We have loved Carrie Lou for many years. She is spirit-filled. God continues to bless her and all who are privileged to know this great lady.'

The money now means that Carrie can afford to stay in her home for the next couple of years.

'My whole family and I are so incredibly grateful for the support and generosity of all those who have allowed us to reach and exceed our goal,' Susan wrote online.

Carrie Rausch and her husband, Paul, pictured in 1995

Carrie's daughter, Susan Hatfield, didn't expect her mother to live as long as she has

'What an amazing testament to the existence of basic human kindness in a time when it sometimes seems in short supply. Again, we thank you all so very much.'

The assisted home, Sunrise on the Scioto said in a statement today: 'We are so pleased that Ms. Rausch will remain at our community and are moved by the outpouring of support for her and the entire team who care for her.

'It is always our hope and intention that all of our residents remain here for as long as they wish, and we strive to support our families to help make this possible.'
An unqualified doctor allegedly surgically removing a 52-year-old man's testicle in a botched operation in a motel room.

Allan George Matthews was expected to be sentenced on Wednesday morning but he was arrested on separate charges at Port Macquarie Local Court, on the NSW north coast.

A NSW Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the 56-year-old man was taken into custody for unrelated charges - but could not comment further on his latest arrest.

An unqualified doctor allegedly surgically removed a 52-year-old man's testicle in a botched operation in a motel room (stock image)

The arrest comes after Matthews pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including removing tissue from the body of another without consent or authority.

Matthews had responded to an online advertisement listed in May last year by the man who was seeking help with a medical issue despite having no medical qualifications.

The victim claimed he was suffering severe pain for years after he was kicked by a horse, News Corp reported.

The man claimed he opted for the 'backyard operation' because he couldn't afford to undergo a proper medical surgery.

Allan George Matthews was expected to be sentenced on Wednesday morning but he was arrested at Port Macquarie Local Court on the NSW north coast for unrelated charges

The pair then met at a Port Macquarie motel where the younger man's left testicle was allegedly carried out in an unauthorised operation.

About a week after the alleged botched surgery, the man was rushed to hospital after his wound became infected - as medical staff at the hospital alerted police after he was treated.

Matthews was arrested and charged with a string of offences.

On Wednesday, he was arrested at court as he remains in custody for unrelated charges.
Detective Jerry Walker, 48, died after he was shot in the neck by a shooter who later barricaded himself in his Little Elm, Texas home

A Dallas police detective has died after he was shot in the neck by a gunman who later barricaded himself inside his home.

Jerry Walker, 48, was shot after he tried to reason with a suspect who was screaming at officers from behind a fence.

The man later opened fire from inside a home in Little Elm, Texas, striking Walker in the neck.

The father-of-four was taken by helicopter to Denton Regional Hospital where hours later he died from his wound on Tuesday evening.

The suspect was found dead in the home he barricaded in on Tuesday night, police said.

Walker, an 18-year force veteran, just had a child a few months ago and was described as a 'model officer'.

He was one of the several officers who responded to a report of a man armed with a long gun in the area.

The father-of-four was taken by helicopter to Denton Regional Hospital where he died from his wounds on Tuesday evening

The man was found shouting at officers from behind a backyard fence. When the suspect was told to drop his weapon, he darted into a home and then later began to fire shots.

A man claiming to have witnessed the encounter said he heard one initial gunshot, and then an flurry of three or four gunshots, and one of those bullets struck Walker, WFAA reported.

Officers rescued an elderly relative of the shooter, who was take from the home's first-floor window, according to the Dallas News.

Police said they believe the shooter is alone inside the residence.

Walker was an 18-year veteran of the force and recently had a child a few months ago

Upon the news of Walker's death, some paid tribute to the officer who was killed in the line of duty by leaving flowers for him

Little Elm Police Chief Rodney Harrison says Detective Walker was an excellent detective.

Harrison said in press conference: 'He was a model officer and someone who will be missed by the department and the town of Little Elm.'

Upon the news of Walker's death, residents paid tribute to the officer who was killed in the line of duty by leaving flowers.
Controversial Queensland MP Andrew Laming has again lashed out at teachers' work ethic, claiming Australian schools are going backwards.

In an online post uploaded on Wednesday, Mr Laming claimed Australian schools were trailing behind their international counterparts and teachers were partly to blame.

'So if teachers are performing inordinate and unpaid additional hours, why are we going backwards compared to most school systems worldwide? Is working hard always working smart?' he wrote for the Brisbane Times on Wednesday.

'Our schools are slipping not just against the best, but in some cases against our own results just a decade ago,' Mr Laming wrote on Wednesday

'Our schools are slipping not just against the best, but in some cases against our own results just a decade ago.

'Surely we can be honest, and admit that like every profession, some teachers work hard; some not so much.'

The Liberal National Party MP has dubbed the provocative post as 'a politician simply exploring the issue'.

Social media users were quick to slam him as 'misinformed'.

'Can someone please tell this guy to stop digging a hole?' wrote one commenter.

Misinformed criticism and slander is just insulting. Grow up!' wrote another.

The Liberal National Party MP has dubbed the provocative post as 'a politician simply exploring the issue'

It comes just one week after he made headlines for asking whether teachers did any work during school holidays.

'Are teachers back at work this week, or are they 'lesson planning' from home? Let me know exactly,' he wrote on his official Facebook page.

The post sparked backlash online, and prompted hundreds of angry teachers to defend themselves.

'I might have January off, but I see it as cashing in my overtime. Marking 170 year 12 essays today though,' one man said.

Mr Laming defended his comment on Wednesday claiming it encouraged healthy discussion.

Mr Laming defended his comment on Wednesday claiming it encouraged healthy discussion

Mr Laming called his controversial Facebook post a 'social media bomb' that simply prompted healthy discussion about generous school holidays for teachers

Federal member for Bowman, Andrew Laming

Mr Laming called it a 'social media bomb' that simply prompted healthy discussion about generous school holidays for teachers.

In his controversial post on Wednesday, Mr Laming also argued teachers should be given the opportunity to earn more if they work harder rather than having their salaries somewhat capped.

He said specialist doctors were paid more than High Court judges to cure complex patients, but specialist teachers were denied higher wages for working with high-need students.

Mr Laming argued open discussion about teachers' work ethic and pay scale would only benefit Australian teachers.

He said he was not pushing for a total overhaul of the system, but instead baby steps towards a better system.
Claims by a Texas lawmaker that 'illegal aliens attacked' a hunting party have been dismissed as fake by a local sheriff who says the hunters fired on one another.

Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller used the alleged attack on a hunting party by 'violent illegal immigrants' as justification for why a wall must be built to secure the Texas border, in a January Facebook post.

But the county sheriff dismissed Miller's account as false on Monday and in a withering remark told the lawmaker he needed to stick to his job - and his job only.

A claim by Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller that 'illegal aliens attacked' a hunting party in remote West Texas was criticized Monday by the local sheriff who says the hunters fired on one another

Danny Dominguez, the Presidio County Sheriff, said to the San Antonio Express-News: 'The agriculture commissioner needs to do his job and stick to that, and I'll do my job. You tell him I said that.'

Miller spread the news on Facebook that illegal immigrant gunmen ambushed the hunting party and shot a guide as he tried to protect the hunters.

Miller, a Republican, said in a Facebook post: 'Anyone who says that the people illegally crossing into our country are just those seeking a better future for their families simply do not understand what is happening on our borders.

'There are violent criminals and members of drug cartels coming in.'

Danny Dominguez, the Presidio County Sheriff, dismissed Miller's account as false on Monday and in a withering remark told the lawmaker he needed to stick to his job - and his job only

However, Sheriff's investigators said in a statement last week that the January 6 incident in which the guide and a second man were shot was the result of 'friendly fire among the hunting party with several contributing factors.'

Authorities say about 30 law enforcement officers searched the perimeter of the ranch where the hunters were staying and didn't find signs of people approaching the camp that night.

Investigators found no evidence of 'cross-border violence,' according to the statement.

An online blog cited an anonymous family member in posting an account of the shooting, which was then publicized by media outlets.

Miller (pictured) claimed that illegal immigrant gunmen ambushed the hunting party and shot a guide as he tried to protect the hunters. He used the alleged incident as another reason Texas needed a wall protecting its borders

The blog had asserted multiple gunmen attacked the group in an apparent effort to rob and kidnap the hunters.

Because Miller's post was to his personal Facebook page, his office Tuesday referred questions to his campaign spokesman, Todd Smith, whose phone was not accepting incoming messages.

But Smith told the Express-News that what surprised him is that 'people think we're a news organization. It's a personal Facebook page.'

He said the shooting is 'old news' and added if the sheriff has concerns about the commissioner's post then, 'I'm sure he'll contact us.'

Miller has received criticism in the past for other posts, including one shared in 2015 that appears to suggest using an atomic bomb on the Muslim population.

He apologized in November after his official Twitter account briefly posted - then deleted - a tweet that used an obscenity to refer to Hillary Clinton.




A tiny pacific island is set to become the next 'exclusive' holiday destination for the cashed-up elite with the local government prepares to enact a tough new laws which mean budget travelers won't be allowed in.

The nation of Palau is set to adopt a 'quality over quantity' approach to tourism  which means only visitors with a good bank balance will be able to set foot on the country's white beaches Radio New Zealand reports.

Palau relies on tourism for survival with 85 percent of the money coming into the country made off the back of the thriving industry.

The island nation of Palau is looking to make its tourism industry 'exclusive'

The president of Palau believes too many tourists will destroy the archpeligo's natural assets

Popular attractions include the coral reefs and clear blue water

Palau is located north of Indonesia and west of the Philippines and is popular for its pristine waters and coral reefs.

But politicians believe the country's natural assets could come under threat from vast numbers of messy tourists so they are set to make it harder for people to get in.

Palau president Tommy Remengesau has proposed a new law which will mean only luxury hotels  with a minimum of five stars  will be allowed to operate on the nation's islands.

The president hopes the owners of these hotels will bring infrastructure to the isolated cluster of islands.

'If there are any other infrastructures that they have to do, like opening a road, the investor would do that themselves.

'In return for that we will give them the necessary tax break and exemptions for them,' he said.

Palau president Tommy Remengesau has proposed a new law which will mean only luxury hotels  with a minimum of five stars  will be allowed to operate

The luxury accommodation will help make Palau an 'exclusive' and 'luxury' destination for the elite

The luxury accommodation will help make Palau an 'exclusive' and 'luxury' destination for the elite.

The president is hopeful rich people will spend more money when they visit the islands  which will generate more money for the nation without the threat of too many 'messy tourists'.

This is not the first time Palau has made extravagant changes to tourism.

In 2016 the country's leaders decided to halve the amount of planes from China.

Mr Remengesau said while tourism numbers went down the money generated by the industry increased  leading to their decision to make the isolated nation even more exclusive.

He said the aim is to attract 'high-end, high-value tourism'.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the office of the president of the Republic of Palau for comment.
Fifty years ago Wednesday, a factory worker who claimed he was the notorious Boston Strangler was sentenced to prison.

But questions still remain around Albert DeSalvo's confession. Many doubt his assertions that he stalked and killed nearly a dozen women in the Boston area in the early 1960s.

DeSalvo, who was married with children, later recanted the story and never was indicted in the murders.

He was serving a sentence on unrelated charges when he was stabbed to death in prison in 1973.

Fifty years ago Wednesday, Albert DeSalvo (above in 1967) a factory worker who claimed he was the notorious Boston Strangler, was sentenced to prison

DeSalvo (above), who was married with children, later recanted the story and never was indicted in the murders

DeSalvo, who was born in 1931 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, was the son of an alcoholic fisherman who abused his mother.

At a young age, DeSalvo began torturing animals and started committing crimes, ending up in reform school and juvenile detention.

At age 17 he joined the Army but was court-martialed and discharged for reportedly disobeying orders. For a second time later on, he re-enlisted but was discharged again.

While serving in Germany, he met a woman, Irmgard Beck and they got married in 1953 before they came to the US.

In 1961, DeSalvo was convicted for molesting women by saying he was measuring them for a beauty contest. A year later, he started committing home invasions which were eventually called the 'Green Man' attacks.

DeSalvo is said to have gained access to homes owned by women where he pretended to be a workman in a green uniform outfit. Once inside, he would sexually assault women at knife-point.

Anna Slesers, a 55-year-old woman was found strangled in her apartment in June 1962, as she was also sexually assaulted.

In 1961, DeSalvo (above) was convicted for molesting women by saying he was measuring them for a beauty contest

Boston Strangler victims: This picture shows eight of the women strangled to death in the spree. From top left to bottom right: Rachel Lazarus, Helen E. Blake, Ida Irga, Mrs. J. Delaney, Patricia Bissette, Daniela M. Saunders, Mary A. Sullivan, Mrs. Israel Goldberg

Two weeks later, Mary Mullen, 85, died of a heart attack while being strangled. Nina Nicholls, 68, and Helen Blake, 65, were both found strangled and sexually assaulted two days later.

Then, in August, Jane Sullivan, 67, and Ida Irga, 75, were found dead in the same manner just days apart.

At least 11 Boston-area women between the ages of 19 and 67 were sexually assaulted and killed between 1962 and 1964, crimes that terrorized the region and grabbed national headlines.

All 11 victims were strangled with articles of their own clothing; one also was stabbed repeatedly.

Mary Sullivan, believed to be the last of the strangler's victims, was 19 when she was killed in January 1964, a few days after moving from Cape Cod to Boston.

DeSalvo (above) confessed to being the strangler in 1965 while he was a patient at Bridgewater State Hospital, a state facility housing the criminally insane. But police lacked the evidence to bring him to trial for the killings

But in 2013, DNA tests performed on DeSalvo's exhumed (above in 2013) remains confirmed he killed Sullivan

Mary Sullivan is thought to have been the last victim of the Boston Strangler. DNA testing done in 2013 confirmed DeSalvo did sexually assault and kill her. Above her sister, Diane Dodd is pictured next to her poster photo

DeSalvo confessed to being the strangler in 1965 while he was a patient at Bridgewater State Hospital, a state facility housing the criminally insane.

But police lacked the evidence to bring him to trial for the killings.

He was tried instead on a series of unrelated assaults and was convicted and sentenced to life in prison on January 18, 1967.

DeSalvo recanted his story not long before he was fatally stabbed in his cell at maximum-security Walpole State Prison in 1973.

But in 2013, DNA tests performed on DeSalvo's exhumed remains confirmed he killed Sullivan.

'We now have an unprecedented level of certainty that Albert DeSalvo raped and murdered Mary Sullivan,' D istrict Attorney Daniel Conley said at the time.

'We now have to look very closely at the possibility that he also committed at least some of the other sexual homicides to which he confessed.'

Above the apartment at 4 University Road in Cambridge, Massachusetts is pictured where the body of Beverly Samans, 26, an apparent Boston Strangler victim, was found

The odds that a while male other than DeSalvo was the source of the evidence were 1 in 220 billion, the Orchid Cellmark laboratory in Dallas found.

Fluid recovered at the crime scene was matched 'with scientific certainty' to DeSalvo, according to Boston.com .

Investigators said he likely was responsible for the deaths of the other women  the first forensic evidence tying him to the case.

But skeptics, including Sullivan's nephew, insist there were at least two killers, maybe more.

They note that DeSalvo didn't match witness descriptions and was never on investigators' lists of more than 300 suspects.

A half-century later, the strangler saga continues to fascinate. 'Stranglehold,' a new movie, is in production.

Bestselling author Casey Sherman, a nephew of Sullivan, wrote 'A Rose for Mary,' a book about the case.
A female police officer has been arrested after allegedly posting 'revenge porn' of a fellow female officer on her social media accounts.

Audrey Francisquin, a 24-year-old Dekalb County Police officer in Atlanta, Georgia, was jailed for three days after reportedly hacking an 'acquainted' officer's phone and posting nude photos of her to Instagram and Snapchat.

Francisquin allegedly sent messages to her victim that said: 'You're going to learn,' according to the AJC.

Audrey Francisquin, a 24-year-old Dekalb County Police officer in Atlanta, Georgia, was jailed for three days after reportedly hacking an 'acquainted' officer's phone and posting nude photos of her to Instagram and Snapchat

The motive behind Francisquin's behavior is still unknown, and her victim has yet to be named.

The report said: '(The victim) is unaware of where this behavior came from and says she talked to this (woman) several days prior and everything was okay.'

The report calls the two women 'acquaintances.'

Francisquin has been placed on administrative leave and faces three separate charges

She faces charges of invasion of privacy by computer, computer trespassing and explicit transmissions, police said.

'As soon as the department was notified of the allegations the officer was immediately placed on administrative leave. The criminal investigation led to three charges. She remains on administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal investigation.'

A notable rise in 'revenge porn' cases have been well documented in recent years. In 2014, the state of Georgia passed an anti-revenge porn bill, which 'prohibits the transmission of photography or video depicting nudity or sexually explicit conduct'.
Residents have been pictured running for their lives with small children as homes are under threat and some have caught fire, as two blazes rip through areas of New South Wales.

Emergency warnings have been issued for fires burning east of Cessnock in the NSW Hunter Valley region.

There is also an out-of-control blaze burning at Sutton, about 20km north-east of Canberra.

Residents have been pictured running for their lives with small children, as homes are under threat and some have caught fire (pictured), as two blazes rip through areas of New South Wales

Homes are under threat and residents (pictured) have been told to take shelter as two blazes rip through areas of NSW, and another is burning north-east of Canberra

Water-bombing aircraft are helping battle the blazes at Hart Road at Weston and McLeod Road, Kurri Kurri, which have now been downgraded to watch and act

The ABC reported about 70 fire trucks and 300 firefighters are at Kurri Kurri and surrounding areas battling the blazes, which have burnt out about 650 hectares.

A mother and daughter also had to be airlifted to safety after one of the fires got out of control near their property.

'The fire was impacting upon the property and when the helicopter flew over they were waved down by a number of people,' RFS assistant commissioner Rebel Talbert said, after the fire was downgraded to watch.

'There were two other people who remained on the property to try and defend the house and shed from the fire.'

About 70 fire trucks and 300 firefighters are at Kurri Kurri and surrounding areas battling the blazes

According to a report from the ABC a mother and daughter had to be airlifted to safety after one of the fires got out of control near their property

Residents in the areas have been sent emergency phone messages by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), warning affected people to seek shelter as the fires arrive.

Water-bombing aircraft are also helping battle the blazes at Hart Road at Weston and McLeod Road, Kurri Kurri, 9 News reported.

Emergency warnings were initially issued for the two locations, but these have now been downgraded to watch and act.

Two girls are pictured watching plumes of black smoke from the fires raging near Cessnock, whihc is threatening homes in the area

Residents in the affected areas have been sent emergency phone messages by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), warning affected people to seek shelter as the fires (pictured) arrive

There are reports that properties in the Kurri Kurri area have been destroyed in the blaze, according to the RFS.

It is understood that fire crews are focusing on protecting lives and property in the region.

Residents are being advised to follow their Bush Fire Survival Plan or if they don't have one, decide what they will do if the situation changes.

Residents are being advised to follow their Bush Fire Survival Plan or if they don't have one, decide what they will do if the situation changes. Pictured is smoke from the fire at Kurri Kurri

Its understood fire crews are focusing on protecting lives and property in the affected region. Pictured is smoke from the fire at Kurri Kurri

The RFS has said leaving early is the safest option.

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson said they were protecting about 60 people who are sheltering at Kurri Kurri TAFE.

The Hunter Expressway is closed between John Renshaw Drive and Wine Country Drive.

Motorists are being urged to use the New England Highway instead.

The Hunter Expressway is closed between John Renshaw Drive and Wine Country Drive. Pictured are cars driving away from clouds of smoke from the Kurri Kurri fire
Roger Stone claims he was poisoned by political enemies. He appeared at Trump Tower in December with lesions on his face (above) he said were a symptom

Roger Stone has sensationally claimed he was poisoned by political enemies who wanted to kill him before he could 'debunk' their 'lie' that he knew Russians would hack the US election.

The longtime Trump supporter claimed to have been told by doctors that a mysterious and debilitating virus he was suddenly struck with in December was in fact polonium poisoning.

At the time, Stone had just been accused by the Obama administration of having prior knowledge Vladimir Putin was planning to meddle in the election.

He says the poisoning was an attempt to stop him from testifying at a Congressional Hearing where he claimed he could prove the accusation was a lie.

'I believe I was poisoned to stop me from exposing the Russian Hacking LIE b4 the Congressional Investigation,' Stone, 64, told his Twitter followers.

Appearing on fellow Trump loyalist Alex Jones's Info Wars earlier, he said he was targeted by the 'deep state' who wanted to stop him from revealing the truth.

'I became extremely ill. This manifested itself in over 14 days of high fever, delirium, night sweats, I had lesions on my chest and my face...

'The general consensus is I was poisoned. I was poisoned with polonium or a substance that has the characteristics of polonium and this made me exceedingly ill,' he said.

During a visit to Trump Tower on December 6, Stone had several small cuts to his face and neck.

While admitting he is an 'enemy' of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Stone said neither the couple nor the Russians were responsible for the apparent attempt on his life.

The 64-year-old shared his sensational claim on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon

Stone, a longtime Trump supporter who describes himself as one of the President-elect's advisers, has been accused of knowing Russia would hack the election

Failing to specify any specific culprit, he said: 'I come back to the deep state, I come back to our own people.

'This is about stopping the Trump agenda. I would blow the whistle on this whole bogus Russian narrative that they just won't let go of,' he said.

Polonium is a highly radioactive chemical which caused the 2006 murder of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko (above) after ingesting it

Polonium is a rare and highly radioactive chemical. It was used in the 2006 murder of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko who is believed to have been slipped the substance in a cup of tea.

His death sparked a lengthy inquiry but was later determined to have been likely ordered by Putin's regime because he was acting as a double agent.

Traces of polonium were also found on the clothes and personal effects of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat who died in 2004.

Stone claims he was targeted as a 'whistle blower' who could pull apart claims made by Democrats that he and other members of Trump's closest circle were working alongside the Kremlin to hack Hillary Clinton's team.

A focal point of his book, The Making of The President: How Donald Trump Orchestrated A Revolution, is his 'debunking' of the theory.

Intelligence chiefs have directly accused Putin of ordering the hack on members of Hillary Clinton's circle and say it was a deliberate attempt to sway the election in Trump's favor

Stone, appearing on friend Alex Jones's Info Wars on Tuesday, said he was targeted by the 'deep state' who did not want him to testify at a Congressional hearing into the hack

President-elect Trump has repeatedly denied working alongside Russia to sway the election. A 'dirty dossier' produced by a British spy which apparently laid bare their close relationship has been repeatedly slapped down by the President-elect and his advisers

Stone describes it as a 'direct refutation' of claims made by Clinton's campaign manager John Podesta, arguably the most violated victim of the hack who saw thousands of personal and work emails pillaged by hackers and then released by WikiLeaks in the weeks before the election.

President Obama accused Putin of ordering the hack late last year and ordered a Congressional Hearing into it but Trump has never squarely laid blame with the Russians.

He has tirelessly denied working with Putin or his regime and most recently furiously rejected claims he frolicked with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel - an allegation included in a 'dirty dossier' produced by a British spy.

'I think it is a disgrace that information was let out. It is all fake news. It is phony stuff. It didnt happen,' Trump said of the allegation.

The hearing took place on January 5 where intelligence chiefs shared their beliefs the hack could have been organized by senior Kremlin officials.

Senators called for tougher cyber-security protections to prevent future hacks.
The US Republican congressman who sent a 'surprise' invite to Pauline Hanson for Trump's inauguration has distanced himself from the One Nation leader and said the Australian Embassy requested the tickets.

Senator Hanson took to twitter on Monday to say she had been 'gifted' tickets to Donald Trump's presidential inauguration ceremony.

It was later reported the tickets came from Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, but when Buzzfeed asked Kinzinger about the invite he said the Australian Embassy in Washington DC had requested the tickets.

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The US Republican congressman who sent a 'surprise' invite to Pauline Hanson for Trump's inauguration has distanced himself from the One Nation leader

Senator Hanson has previously said she saw similarities between herself and Donald Trump

Senator Hanson took to twitter on Monday to say she had been 'gifted' tickets to Donald Trump's presidential inauguration ceremony

'Our office received a request from the Embassy of Australia and the Congressman accommodated that request,' a spokesperson for Kinzinger said in a statement.

'As such, we have given the tickets to the embassy to use as they wish. The Congressman does not endorse any political party in Australia.'

Senator Hanson and her federal One Nation colleagues toasted Mr Trump's November election victory with champagne outside Parliament House in Canberra.

DONALD TRUMP'S INAUGURATION When: Begins Saturday, January 21, at 3.30am (11.30am on Friday, January 20, in Washington D.C.). The ball will be held at 11am (AUS) Where: The White House in Washington D.C. Performers: Toby Keith, Lee Greenwood, America's Got Talent star 16-year-old Jackie Evancho and the Radio City Rockettes will perform at the ceremony Attendees: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush and his wife Laura, will attend with an expected 800,000 guests. Advertisement

'I'm so excited that Donald Trump looks like he's just over the line and I'm so happy about it because this is putting out a clear message to everyone around the world that people power is now happening,' she said in a congratulatory video recording.

She said she saw similarities between herself and the Republican.

'Why I'm celebrating is that I can see that people ... around the world are saying, we've had enough of the establishment,' she said at the time.

'I can see in Donald Trump a lot of me and what I stand for in Australia. I think it's great.'

Senator Hanson also made congratulatory posts on Facebook as the US vote count progressed.
Italy has been warned that the growing tide of English words such as selfie is putting the country's national language at risk of extinction.

Young people are abandoning verb tenses and are using Anglicisms instead of Italian alternatives, said the Accademia della Crusca, the world's oldest linguistic academy.

Its president, Professor Claudio Marazzini, warned that thousands of everyday Italian words could soon disappear from use altogether.

He said the use of the English word 'location' was signalling the death kneel of three equivalent words in Italian - sito, posto and luogo.

Young people are abandoning verb tenses and are using Anglicisms instead of Italian alternatives, said the Accademia della Crusca, the world's oldest linguistic academy

'Theres been a big increase in the number of foreign words and expressions and the trend will continue, above all with English words,' he told La Stampa newspaper.

'We are heading towards a more meagre Italian. If we go on like this, Italian will have vanished by the year 2300. In its place well speak only English.'

POPULAR ANGLICISMS Outing - to come out as homosexual Footing - to run or jog Water - meaning a toilet/lavatory Sexy shop - or sex shop Smoking - Meaning a tuxedo Mister - meaning a football coach Lifting - to get a face lift Advertisement

He also lamented the demise of the future tense. 'Young people tend to now say "Tomorrow I come to your house", rather than "Tomorrow I will come to your house".'

The increase in Anglicisms has also given rise to English-Italian hybrid words such as 'chattare' - meaning to chat - which has replaced the Italian word chiacchierare.

The academy pointed to the Italian government's decision to use the phrase 'hot spots' to describe centres housing tens of thousands of migrants from Libya.

It suggested the adoption of foreign words into the Italian language could relate to a reduced sense of national pride compared to that of Spain and France.

The French government has gone as far as to suggest banning the use of certain Anglicisms in a bid to stop them from invading the national language.

SOME ITALIAN WORDS FACING 'ESTINZIONE' Tremebondo - Trembling, tremulous Zufolare - meaning to whistle accolito - henchman, acolyte abbindolare - to trick or take in maliardo - bewitching Advertisement

The Government's powerful Academie francaise, the state body appointed to protect the French language, has a list of words it considers should be used in everyday parlance and documents.

In 2013, the French culture ministry put up a huge list of English words on its website which it said had slipped into common French usage and should be banned.

These included 'email', 'blog', 'supermodel', 'take-away', 'chewing gum', 'parking', 'weekend' and 'low-cost airline'.

Meanwhile, national radio stations in France must adhere to a strict quota which forces them to play 40 per cent of its songs in Francaise.

The law was introduced back in 1994 amid fears that the rise in English-language pop music was hindering the prospects of home-grown talent.
They insist they get on perfectly well despite their famous spat - but Amber Sherlock and Julie Snook have still not appeared on a show together.

Sherlock, who was filmed berating Snook for the colour of her jacket ahead of a Chatroom broadcast, was back presenting the show on Wednesday alongside psychologist Sandy Rea, who was also present for the spat.

But Snook was notably absent from the segment, instead replaced by Wendy Kingston, who typically works as a co-host alongside Bruce Paige.

Amber Sherlock (centre) was back presenting Chatroom on Channel Nine on Wednesday with psychologist Sandy Rea (left), but Julie Snook was replaced by Wendy Kingston (right)

Sherlock was seen on the programme for the first time alomngside Rae since her row with Snook (left) over the colour of her top was made public

Perhaps toying with fire, Kingston appeared in a pale cream top which tied at the neck, while Rea also wore a white top, though with a distinctive black pattern.

Meanwhile Sherlock opted for a sleeveless blue and black dress, avoiding any further confrontations.

Viewers had called for Snook to replace Sherlock in the host seat after their argument went viral, praising her patience during her colleague's diva moment.

The incident started shortly before the pair, alongside Rea, were due to go on air.

Sherlock noticed the three women were wearing white, before remonstrating Snook for not changing into a jacket, saying: 'I told you two-and-a-half hours ago.'

Sherlock has been seen elsewhere on Nine while presenting the weather - suffering minor technical difficulties during the broadcast

Snook has also made her return to the channel since the row went public, but the two women have not been seen together

Despite Snook's protests that she had been busy and forgotten about it, Sherlock remained insistent, demanding she put on a jacket of a different colour.

Looking less-than-impressed, Snook pulled on a black jacket just before the broadcast started, before breaking into a perfect smile as the cameras started rolling, telling Sherlock she was 'glad to be here'.

Since the row was made public, Sherlock has apologised for her behaviour, saying the high-pressure environment got to her.

Meanwhile Snook insisted she gets along well with Sherlock both inside and outside the newsroom, adding that 'these things happen'.

While both women have reappeared on Nine since the argument, they have yet to appear in the same programme together.

It is not clear why Snook was absent from the broadcast. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
Former US President George H.W. Bush has been admitted to hospital in Texas suffering from a 'shortness of breath'.

But the 92-year-old is said to be responding well to treatment at Houston Methodist Hospital, where he was admitted on Saturday.

Bush, a former CIA director, was Ronald Reagan's Vice President from 1980 until 1988 and was then President until he was defeated in the 1992 election by Bill Clinton.

It was reported earlier this week that President Obama was leaving office with approval rating of 58 percent, the highest of any departing President since George H W Bush in 1993.

Former US President George H.W. Bush (pictured) has been admitted to hospital

George H W Bush is pictured, left, with his wife Barbara in 2003. In 2013 he shaved his head in solidarity with Patrick (right), the two-year-old son of a Secret Service agent who was suffering from leukemia. The boy has since recovered

Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath said: 'Doctors and everyone are very pleased, and we hope to have him out soon.'

His office announced earlier this month that Bush and his wife, Barbara, would not attend Donald Trump's inauguration due to his age.

His son, George W Bush, became President in 2000 and was re-elected four years later but another son, Jeb, failed to reach the White House last year, crashing out of the race for the Republican nomination in the face of the phenomenal rise of Donald Trump.

Bush Sr has not been politically active in recent years although he did give his support to Jeb's doomed bid for the Presidency.

George H W Bush with his son George W at the Cape Arundel Golf Club in Maine in 2002

Bush was a solid and dependable Vice-President to Ronald Reagan (left) from 1981 to 1989

Bush (second from right in the front row, with his family in 2005), was taken to Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas after falling ill, according to his office chief of staff, Jean Becker

The former head of the CIA has had his share of health issues in recent years.

In July 2015 Bush, who has a form of Parkinson's disease, was taken to a hospital in Portland, Maine after fracturing a bone in his neck in a fall.

But he was out of bed within a day of the accident, which happened at a family home in Kennebunkport.

Six months earlier, he had been taken to Houston Methodist hospital after complaining of 'shortness of breath' but was released a week later.

President Bush hosted Queen Elizabeth II of Britain when she visited Washington DC in 1991

In late 2012 he was hospitalized with a 'bronchitis-related' cough and spent time in intensive care before returning home early in 2013.

Bush has used a wheelchair in recent years and his public appearances have been few and far between.

In October 2015, Bush, sitting in his wheelchair, wearing a brace on his neck and clad in a Houston Astros jersey, tossed out the first pitch at the team's playoff game against the Kansas City Royals.

He marked the 75th anniversary of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor last month by attending a ceremony at his presidential library at Texas A&M University, where Bob Dole, the former Republican Senator from Kansas, was presented an award for public service.

Last summer he led a group of 40 war veterans on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration.
Six men are charged with plotting to smuggle cocaine worth more than $60 million into Australia on an ex-Japanese whaling boat.

Four men were arrested in Victoria and two in Queensland after officers carried out 15 raids on Wednesday.

The powder was found wrapped in plastic bricks labelled with horse and camel stickers.

The powder was found wrapped in plastic bricks with horse and camel stickers

Officers from the Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce in Melbourne pick up plastic bricks containing the cocaine

The men were charged with importing about 186kg of cocaine that was seized from a 50-metre former commercial vessel in December last year.

Police also seized about $93,000 cash, drugs, stolen vessels and a pill press after searching houses, factories and boats in Melbourne and hotel rooms in Queensland.

The men were part of a 'well-funded, determined and significant' organised crime cell, assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The syndicate was under surveillance for about a year before the boat was intercepted in international waters, near Hobart, on December 12.

The cocaine with a street value of $60 million was seized on on an ex Japanese whaling boat

Victorian police officers handled a bag of cocaine which was among the 186kg of drugs seized

Police described the vessel as the 'mothership' where it is alleged the intended drug deals were to be carried out off the coast of Tasmania.

The boat was originally spotted circling in international waters off Australia's west coast and escorted to the southern capital by the Navy's HMAS Adelaide.

Ten men, nine Chinese and one Singaporean, found on board have been arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling.
Apprentice Anna Jordsjo, the partner of the jockey who hit headlines in the controversial final event in Adelaide last Saturday, has suffered a fall at trackwork.

Jordsjo was rushed to Adelaide's Flinders Hospital with pain to her head and shoulders after falling from a horse at during a routine trackwork session on Wednesday. She was later released.

She was stood down from her rides on Wednesday in a precautionary measure, with a decision on whether she can take her mounts on Friday pending a doctor's all-clear, reports Herald Sun.

Apprentice Anna Jordsjo, the partner of jockey Josh Cartwright, has suffered a fall at trackwork

'She was riding Benz for me and he's almost always one of the first ones out on the track,' trainer Gordon Richards said.

'There are plenty of foxes around at that time and he shied at one and threw her ... and clipped her on the way through.

It comes just days after Jordsjo claimed victory riding the $4 favourite Murti on Saturday when her boyfriend Josh Cartwright crashed into two horses, stopping them from overhauling the winning horse.

Cartwright pleaded guilty to the serious charge in the final race on Saturday when he shifted out in the straight and cannoned in to another horse which in turn made heavy contact with the horse to the outside.

Jason Holder, rider of the second affected horse, almost came off but managed to regather and stay on his mount.

Cartwright holds a dual licence and is scheduled to have his first runner as a trainer in the next few weeks.

It comes just days after Jordsjo (right, circled) controversially claimed victory riding the $4 favourite Murti on Saturday

She won after her boyfriend Josh Cartwright (left) crashed into two horses, stopping them from overhauling the winning horse.
A fantasist who lied about being in the SAS poisoned his wife with laxatives for three years to make her believe she was dying while siphoning off her cash.

David Thomas Smith, who falsely claimed to be a British hero of the Iranian embassy siege, laced his wife Elizabeth's food with drugs, leaving her on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Her daily bouts of sickness and diarrhoea left her emaciated and too unwell to stand and with doctors unable to find anything wrong she thought she was going to die.

Mrs Smith believes that the 'evil compulsive liar' poisoned her in the hope she would not notice he was withdrawing up to 350 a day from her bank account.

Seven months after they married she discovered Smith was stealing her cash while feeding her laxatives - but he then claimed to have cancer and sent her a selfie with a tube stuck up his nose after he was exposed.

Elizabeth still went to the police and also spoke to his ex-wife, the mother of his three children, who also revealed that his SAS career was entirely bogus.

Evil: David Thomas Smith, who falsely claimed to be a British hero of the Iranian embassy siege, laced his wife Elizabeth's food with laxatives, pictured, leaving her on the verge of a mental breakdown

Conman: Smith even pretended to have cancer when the game was up, sending this picture in the hope his wife would not go to police - but she did

Smith now faces jail after he admitted culpably and recklessly administering laxatives between March 2012 and July 2015.

He did it knowing they would damage his wife's health so she 'repeatedly suffered illness or injury and required medical treatment', the court heard.

Elizabeth, 62, has spoken out for the first time about her ordeal because she fears he might have a new girlfriend.

She told the Daily Record: 'I have heard that he has a new woman in tow in England and I don't want any other women to be preyed on by this Walter Mitty liar.'

The couple first met when Smith chatted her up while she was out shopping in her home town of Ayr, where she runs a beauty business.

But soon afterwards the lies started and he bragged about a career in the SAS and said he ran a factory making top secret items for the Ministry of Defence.

They would later marry in 2015.

Victim: Her daily bouts of sickness and diarrhoea left her emaciated and too unwell to stand (left) and with doctors unable to find anything wrong she thought she was going to die. She is fully recovered (right)

But it later emerged he began poisoning her shortly after their relationship began.

She said: 'My health was so bad people thought I was dying. At one point, I was showing signs of multiple sclerosis, my symptoms were that bad'.

Smith pretended to care for his then partner and the couple agreed to marry with Elizabeth fearing she may not have long left to live.

He would tell people his wife was going 'doolally' but his lies emerged when her bank got in contact about the amount of cash he was withdrawing.

A phone call to his ex-wife confirmed that rather than running a military factory he planned to sell for 2.5million, he was actually a tool maker.

She told the Record: 'I feel as if my heart has been ripped out and stamped on by a man who I once loved. He is evil and a compulsive liar.'

Smith is due to be sentenced at Ayr Sheriff Court next month.
A teenager battling cancer told his family 'I love you' on Christmas Day - before slipping into a coma and dying days later.

Jay Oxley, 17, spent the majority of 2016 fighting lymphoblastic lymphoma, having been diagnosed with the rare and aggressive form of cancer in January.

After undergoing chemotherapy and an operation to remove a gall stone, he was placed in an induced coma on December 11 in a bid to help him recover.

The teen, from Keyworth, Notts, was brought out of the coma on December 20 and spent time with his father Ben, mother Claire and brother and sister Harvey and Ella.

Jay Oxley, 17, spent the majority of 2016 fighting lymphoblastic lymphoma, having been diagnosed with the rare and aggressive form of cancer in January

However his health worsened and doctors at Sheffield Children's Hospital decided to put him in another induced coma in the early hours of Christmas Day.

The last thing he would say to his family as they gathered around his bedside was: 'Merry Christmas. I love you all so much.' He died 16 days later.

Speaking to the Nottingham Post, his parents Claire and Ben paid tribute to their son's fight and determination.

"From the day we first found out he had cancer he has battled harder than any person should ever have to in their lifetime,' they said.

'To say we are proud would be an understatement. He has the heart of a lion and never gave up.

The last thing Jay (far left) would say to his family as they gathered around his bedside was: 'Merry Christmas. I love you all so much.' He died 16 days later

'He was a dreamer and we loved that about him  what's life without a dream even if they don't come true? He will leave a hole in our hearts that no-one else can fill.'

An aspiring farmer, Jay would often wear his flat cap in hospital and had been studying agriculture when he was first diagnosed.

During his health struggles, Ben and Claire set up a fundraising page to help their son get a tractor licence and a farming quad bike.

But the family has decided to now donate the cash raised to The Teenage Cancer Trust, The Sick Children's Trust, Rainbow's Hospice and Anthony Nolan.
A marginal seat politician could be sidelined by voters after his campaign van was parked in a disabled spot.

Liberal Party MP Nathan Morton has blamed a volunteer for illegally parking the Mitsubishi Express van, in Perth's east, on Tuesday afternoon.

The government member's embarrassment comes just seven weeks before he faces voters in his Forrestfield electorate, with polls showing a big swing against his side.

Marginal seat MP Nathan Morton's Mitsubishi Express campaign van was parked in a disabled spot without a permit

Liberal MP Nathan Morton faces being sidelined by voters in his Perth seat, held by a very slim two per cent margin

'I have reprimanded the volunteer and insisted that they are more vigilant about the movements of the van in future,' he said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

'She didnt realise that she had and when she did she moved the van immediately.'

He was meeting with voters at the Forrestfield Forum shops, in suburban Forrestfield, when the van was parked for about 20 minutes shortly after 5pm, his office said.

In Western Australia, drivers must have an Australian Council for Rehabilitation of Disabled (ACROD) permit to park in a disabled spot.

Liberal MP Nathan Morton (pictured left) with the Premier of Western Australian Colin Barnett

The member for Forrestfield (pictured right) has campaigned on law and order issues so he was annoyed when a campaign volunteer parked his van in a disabled bay

Ally Lofts pointed out on Facebook how the van with no permit was parked outside the forum.

'Not the best advertising Mr Morton,' she said.

Mr Morton won his seat off Labor at the 2013 election and holds it by a very narrow 2.1 per cent going into the March 11 election.

The MP from Premier Colin Barnett's party said the incident highlighted the need for more disability parking bays.

Ally Loft's Facebook page showing Nathan Morton's van in a disabled parking spot

Mr Barnett's Liberal Party has run Western Australia since 2008 in a power-sharing arrangement with the Nationals.

A Reachtel poll published this week showed the Liberals trailing Labor 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

The nine per cent swing against the government would be more than enough to see Mr Morton lose his seat and become a one-term MP, unless he defies the odds.

Mr Morton said his grandmother has an ACROD pass 'so I understand the importance of these passes and these bays'.
Patients have been forced to stand or lay on the floor in the emergency department due to hospital overcrowding, a woman claims.

Maralyn Sweeney claims about half a dozen people were forced to stand because all the seats were taken when she arrived on New Years' Day at Ballina Hospital.

She claims a woman was sitting on a blanket on the floor vomiting into a bag at the emergency department on the New South Wales north coast, ABC reported.

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Maralyn Sweeney claims a woman was lying face down on the concrete outside. NSW Health said she had been discharged and was waiting for her lift home

Ms Sweeney (pictured) was suffering a painful eye infection when she went to the emergency department at Ballina Hospital on New Years' Day

'That is just disgusting,' Ms Sweeney told ABC.

Ms Sweeney, who was suffering a painful eye infection, complained of the overcrowding on the Ballina Hospital Facebook page.

As she left, she said a woman was lying face down on the concrete in a hospital gown and looked 'really sick'.

'She didn't have any water so I gave her my bottle of water and said make sure you drink, because it was about 35 degrees,' Ms Sweeney told ABC.

The woman lying on the ground had been discharged and was waiting for her lift home, Northern NSW Local Health District (LHD) said in a statement.

The state Labor opposition has called for an external investigation into the hospital's ED following overcrowding allegations

The emergency department at Ballina Hospital is pictured

The state Labor opposition has called for an external investigation into the hospital's ED following overcrowding allegations.

'The hospital on New Year's Day went into meltdown,' said Labor health spokesman Walt Secord.

'This is the latest example of a health hospital in crisis. Unfortunately, the health and hospital system lurches from crisis to crisis.

'This is totally unacceptable.'

Acting chief executive of the Northern NSW LHD, Lyn Weir, said there were three doctors on duty at the time.

In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Weir said additional resources had been put in place to cope with a surge of patients over the holiday period.

There was an almost 50 per cent increase in patients on New Years' Day compared to a typical day, she said.

She said patients were treated according to priority.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Sweeney for comment.
A hapless burglar was mauled by two fierce bull terriers after he tried to break into a home by climbing a 10ft wall.

The man, who has not been named, was caught on a surveillance camera approaching the wall in a stealth manner in South Africa.

But it seems he was unable to avoid detection because seconds later - just as he was about to land on the ground - two aggressive dogs came sprinting towards him.

They did not hesitate before launching an attack after they left the property by running down the steps towards the intruder.

The intruder tried to avoid detection by climbing the 10ft in a stealth manner in South Africa

But seconds later, the two dogs came charging towards him after he managed to climb the wall

The dogs - one black and one white - jumped up at the would-be burglar as he reluctantly went to place his feet on the ground.

At one point, the dogs were seen swinging in the air after they managed to get a strong grip on the man's leg by biting him.

They continued to jump up at him as the man desperately held onto a shed-like building in a bid to avoid getting on the ground.

He eventually fell and the tense battle continued - with the dogs managing to wrestle him down to the patio floor.

The man tried to fight back - punching and kicking the animals - as they ran around him.

But they did not back down and continued to bite and attack the man.

The dogs jumped up at the man and managed to get hold of his leg after biting him when he came over the wall

He tried to fight back by kicking and punching the dogs, but they continued to attack him

The video ends with the burglar frantically trying to escape from the relentless bull terriers and he is last seen running for his life with the dogs hot on his heels.

It is unclear what happened afterwards or whether police are investigating.

Viewers commented online after watching the dramatic video and one posted that the two dogs 'deserve a big bone each' after attacking the man.

Another person wrote: 'And that is why I love Bull Terriers. They are AMAZING dogs.'
Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Berlin, says Christian asylum-seeker's words are being mistranslated

Iranian and Afghani migrants converting to Christianity after arriving in Germany are having their words deliberately misquoted by Muslim translators in a bid to ruin their asylum applications, a pastor in Berlin has claimed.

Converting to Christianity greatly boosts a migrant's chances of winning asylum by allowing them to claim they would face persecution if sent home to a Muslim country.

But if the migrant's words are misquoted during their asylum hearing it can make their conversion look fabricated and therefore their claim seem falsified, meaning it is rejected and they are deported.

Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Berlin, who has baptised an unprecedented amount of migrants in the past decade, says he fears his congregations' chances of asylum are now being hijacked.

'The almost exclusively Muslim translators deliberately stick the knife in our congregational members by falsely translating what they say,' Martens wrote in a Christmas letter to his supporters on 22 December.

He explained how the final decision about asylum applications 'is made by a professional working in an office in another area of Germany'.

Martens said this decision maker 'has never in their life set eyes upon the asylum seeker in question' but takes their decision based on the 'statements about the Christian faith that have often been distorted beyond recognition' by the translators.

Martens also criticised how recent changes to the Federal Ministry for Immigration and Refugees has affected his congregation members, many of whom have been waiting three years to have their first asylum hearing.

Pastor Gottfried Martens blesses a girl named Meliza before her baptism in February, 2015 in the Evangelical-Lutheran Trinity Church in Berlin. Converting to Christianity greatly boosts a migrant's chances of winning asylum

Pastor Gottfried Martens lights a candle during a service to baptise people from Iran, in the Trinity Church in Berlin in August 2015

'At this time the Federal Ministry for Immigration and Refugees is rejecting almost all applications for asylum from our Iranian and in many cases also from our Afghan congregational members and candidates for baptism, and is sending them their deportation notices,' Martens wrote.

He said people with only 'a three-week course' who are 'manifestly clueless about the situation of Christians in Iran and Afghanistan' are being tasked with 'unmasking the supposedly deceitful Iranian asylum applications'.

He said many of the people making the assessments 'don't even know the difference between the Creed and the Our Father'.

'Many hearings are more like kangaroo courts in which our congregational members and candidates for baptism have absolutely no chance of presenting what is important to them.

'And then they must repeatedly undergo being mocked and laughed at when they relate how it is important to them that Jesus Christ died for their sins on the Cross,' Martens wrote.

Being Christian alone does not help an applicant, and Chancellor Angela Merkel in September 2015 went out of her way to reiterate that Islam 'belongs in Germany'.

The pastor said the asylum-seeker's hearings are 'more like kangaroo courts' and involve people who 'don't even know the difference between the Creed and the Our Father'

Pastor Gottfried Martens prays with people from Iran during a baptism service in the Trinity Church in Berlin in August 2015

However, in Afghanistan and Iran, for example, conversion to Christianity by a Muslim could be punished by death or imprisonment, and it is therefore unlikely that Germany would deport converted Iranian and Afghan refugees back home.

As other churches across Germany struggle with dwindling numbers of believers, pastor Martens told the Associated Press in 2015 he has seen his congregation swell from 150 just two years to more than 600 parishioners now  with a seemingly unending flow of new refugees finding the way to his congregation.

They come from cities as far away as Rostock on the Baltic Sea, having found out by word-of-mouth that Martens not only baptizes Muslims after a three-month 'crash course' in Christianity, but also helps them with asylum pleas.

Other Christian communities across Germany, among them Lutheran churches in Hannover and the Rhineland, have also reported growing numbers of Iranians converting to Christendom.

The Federal Office for Migration (file photo) has made recent changes to how asylum-seeker cases are heard

There are no exact numbers on how many Muslims have converted in Germany in recent years  and they are a tiny minority compared to the country's overall four million Muslims.

But at least for Berlin, Martens describes the number of conversions as nothing short of a 'miracle.' And he said at the time he had at least another 80 people  mostly refugees from Iran and a few Afghans  waiting to be baptized.

In the UK, last year, the Very Rev Dr Peter Wilcox, Dean of Liverpool, said his cathedral had baptised about 200 refugees in the past four years.

He likened the situation to one where parents baptise their children to boost their chance of getting a place at a church school.

He told the Sunday Times: 'Holding a baptism certificate significantly enhances the strength of their claim for asylum.

'Once you are a baptised Christian it is really not conceivable that you would be deported to a Muslim country.'




A five-year-old girl suspected to have ingested the deadly drug methadone while under the care of her relative is fighting for her life in hospital.

Police were called to the family home on Quakers Road, Riverstone, in Sydney's north-west, on Tuesday afternoon after reports of a suspected overdose.

It's believed the relative in charge of the girl found her lying unconscious and struggling to breathe, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

A five-year-old girl suspected to have ingested the drug methadone is in a critical conditoin

Police were called to the home in Quakers Hill, north-western Sydney, on Tuesday after a relative in charge of the girl found her unconscious and struggling to breathe

She was taken by helicopter to the Children's Hospital in Westmead on Tuesday - where she remained in a critical condition on Wednesday.

Police are investigating whether the child was ingested the drug methadone.

Methadone is a powerful drug commonly given to heroin addicts to suppress withdrawal symptoms.

The Child Abuse Squad is investigating.
Married couples will only have sex on special occasions, turning to robots to satisfy their day-to-day needs, experts have predicted.

Speaking at an international robotics conference, those working in the field predicted that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) devices in the bedroom will be the norm within 25 years.

Dr Trudy Barber, an expert in the relationship between technology and sexual intercourse, compared the rise of sex robots to that of the e-book and said the machine would would allow people to appreciate 'the real thing' more.

Douglas Hines, Engineer-inventor poses with his company's 'True Companion' sex robot, Roxxxy, which is one of the options that is already on the market

At the International Congress of Love and Sex with Robotics, Dr Barber yesterday said that society's readiness to embrace technology means it was only a matter of time before it also plays a significant role in people's sex lives.

She said: 'It could be that we are so busy with our lives, we are so embedded in our technological narrative that the idea of engaging in long-distance sex and robot sex is actually a natural process in our evolutionary cycle.

'I think what will happen is that they will make real-time relationships more valuable and exciting.'

Doug Hines, right, owner and designer for TrueCompanion, has help carrying Roxxxy, a prototype of what Hines said is the world's first female sex robot

WHO WOULD BENEFIT? 'The hypothetical applications of sex robots and related products, part of a field called technosexuality, seem endless,' Ian Kerner said. 'I could see couples using them to enact fantasies, such as a threesome, that they might not feel comfortable trying with real people. ' He also said it could allow couples to work through differences that might otherwise cause them to separate. 'If one partner has a higher libido, a robot could allow him or her to enjoy a fulfilling sex life without straying. 'And robots might help couples break out of sex ruts by adding spice to their relationship or maintaining long-distance romances.' Advertisement

Predicting that robots would become an 'extra human race' she added: 'The question is not 'when will it become acceptable' but 'when will we integrate

'We are able to have so many colours on our sexual pallet now; I think we'd be daft not explore them.'

There are currently several models on the market including Rocky or Roxxxy True Companion, which are on the market for about 7,000, but it is believed that advances in technology will make sex robots increasingly lifelike and affordable.

It is also predicted that advances in technology will mean the robots will be able to read human emotions.

Devices such as the Pepper robot, which was created two years ago, can already respond to certain emotions by analysing voice tones and expressions.

The humanoids are used in Asian countries, particularly in Japan to provide company for elderly people.

WILL SEXBOTS STOP CRIME? Many people can see a variety of benefits that sexbots have to offer. Behaviour therapist Nicolas Aujula sees them as a mechanism for helping fetishists explore extreme sexual fantasies, which could help fight sex crime. Mr Aujula said: 'Over the next few years, sex bots I believe could commonly provide a safe and discreet solution for exploring fantasies  offering the possibilities of simply having more creative sex, through to satisfying extreme fetish behaviour. Advertisement

Scientists also believe the robots are being used by parents to provide stimulation for children.

Kate Devlin, computing expert at Goldsmiths, University of London, predicted sex robots would be developed to respond to their human partner's sexual preferences and improve their performance accordingly.

However, AI experts have warned that increasing acceptance of humanoid devices will have a negative impact on young people's sex lives.

They fear adolescents risk 'losing their virginity' to robots, and will grow up with unrealistic ideas about sex.

Leading scientist Dr Noel Sharkey, a former advisor to the UN, last summer urged governments to prevent robotics being hijacked by the sex industry.

Experts predict that the use of sex robots in the bedroom will be the norm within 25 years

Yesterday he said: 'Sex robots will be used within the next decade but it is doubtful if they will become a societal norm although surveys show that around 10 per cent would be prepared to use them...

'Prostitution has been around for thousands of years and yet has never been socially normalised.

'The problem is the same for both.

'With sex robots and prostitution, you are having a one way relationship with an object or a person that does not return your love except by pretence.'
The first pictures have emerged of the victim of a hit-and-run yesterday when a black Range Rover mounted the curb and ploughed into a bus stop.

Horrified eye-witnesses say there were 'scenes of carnage' after the 4x4 drove into the bus stop, just 200 yards from the gates of a school in Hounslow, west London.

Himanshi Gupta, a promising IT analyst from India was killed and another woman suffered 'life-changing injuries', police confirmed today. Both are in their mid-20s.

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Himanshi Gupta, a promising IT analyst from India was killed and another woman was seriously injured when a Range Rover ploughed into a bus stop yesterday

Pictures of Miss Gupta reveal how the analyst from India, who had been working for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), had been enjoying London in her new role

Horrified eye-witnesses say there were 'scenes of carnage' after the 4x4 mounted the pavement just 200 yards from the gates and hit the two women in their twenties

It happened near Beavers Community Primary School at around 9.30am yesterday, as the area was packed full of parents after the school run.

Police say the Range Rover was stopped shortly afterwards and the driver, 39, was arrested on suspicion of causing injury by dangerous driving then taken to hospital.

He was taken into custody after being discharged and subsequently further arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Pictures of Miss Gupta reveal how the analyst from India, who had been working for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), had been enjoying London in her new role.

She is seen posing by Big Ben and from a rooftop with London's skyline in the background, buildings such as the Walkie-Talkie and the Gherkin.

Relatives revealed that Miss Gupta, from Jabalpur city, had a promising future with the global company, based in India, and was doing well in her new role.

Her cousin and representatives from the company were at the hospital she was taken to today and other friends and family are said to be devastated by her death.

In another photo she poses with Big Ben in the background

Colleagues from her firm laid flowers at the scene of the horrific accident this evening.

One male friend and colleague said: 'She was a lively, bubbly person and a joy to have in the office.

'She was always organising events and fun things for us all to do at work.'

Another colleague added: 'She was 22 or 23 and only transferred here from India five months ago.

'We were just so shocked when we heard the news yesterday.

'It's just such a terrible thing to have happened.'

Friend Anupriya Sharma paid tribute on Facebook, writing 'please wake up' in an emotional post.

She wrote: 'You taught me how to always smile, how to stay strong even if you feel no one is there by your side. We had so many plans to execute here, we have to go to Switzerland, Amsterdam, and the list is to big to tell, how you can leave us half-way?'

Dee Scott, headteacher of Beavers Community Primary School, confirmed that the women hit were not parent of pupils as she talked of her 'shock' over the tragedy so close to home.

She said: 'We count ourselves lucky that it's no-one from our community. The school sends out its sincere thoughts to the work colleagues and families of whoever it's happened to.'

Ms Scott said that Green Lane, where the accident took place, was not a safe road to wait for the bus or for school children to walk along.

She added: 'We often take the kids over the road to the gym club during the day. Obviously it's supervised and we go with them, but we still worry.

An air ambulance can be seen having landed on a field near the school to rush the two injured women to hospital

'It's a very busy road and there's just no traffic calming. It's also such a narrow pavement. It really makes us worried for our children.'

A mother who lives near the school, who wished not to be named, added: 'My flatmate often waits for the bus with a group of three or four Asian women at that time of day. We think it was two of them who got hit.'

It's a very busy road and there's just no traffic calming. It's also such a narrow pavement. It really makes us worried for our children Dee Scott, headteacher at Beavers

Speaking from the scene yesterday, local resident Geoffrey Smith, 63, said: 'I saw a black Range Rover with its front all smashed in, but couldn't see any other damaged cars nearby.

'The windows were tinted so I couldn't tell if the driver was still in there.

'The women were clearly waiting for the bus and the car came through the bus stop sign and a lamppost before hitting them.

'One woman had had her leg completely crushed by the impact. It was total carnage.

'Police let me through the cordon to get home, but told me not to look at their bodies. They were holding up a sheet as the paramedics worked on both of them.

Footage from the scene shows a host of emergency vehicles in west London yesterday

'I thought they were both dead as they weren't moving, it was horrible.

'Seconds later the air ambulance landed in the field opposite and loaded one of the poor women into it.'

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: 'It's an absolute tragedy. Everyone around here uses that bus stop everyday to take their children to school.

'People drive down here so fast. It could've been anyone of us waiting there.'

Local residents complained motorists constantly speed down Green Lanes.

Ish Heera, who lives opposite the bus stop, said: 'I was out and came back home at about 9.45am.

'I saw people standing around. I went over but the police would not let me get through.

'There was a lady on the ground - I couldn't see much but I think they were doing CPR on her.

'I saw four or five police cars and two normal ambulances, two paramedic cars and the helicopter ambulance.

'They moved the lady, they put a foil blanket on her and put her in the air ambulance.

'A man who saw it happen told me when the car crashed, it then reversed back from the bus stop before driving away.'

One woman had had her leg completely crushed by the impact. It was total carnage Geoffrey Smith, 63, local resident

One of the victims tragically died in hospital while the other, is expected to suffer 'life-changing' injuries, according to the Met Police.

Ish, 52, added: 'On this road people sometimes drive very fast. 'We get trucks and things driving past all day and all night - but there's a gym across the road so children are often crossing.

'It's not surprising that this has happened. I've been here for 20 years and it didn't used to be this bad. They should have humps in the road.'

One woman who works at the school and wished to remain anonymous said: 'That road has been dreadful for years - lorries are always hurtling down it.

'Something should have been done about this ages ago.'

Her colleague added: 'It's a 30mph limit on that road and you always get idiots who go faster.'

A Met Police spokesman said: 'Officers were called to reports of a collision in Green Lane, Hounslow, between a car and two pedestrians at around 9.35am on Tuesday.

It happened shortly after 9.30am yesterday, when the area was packed with parents on the school run to Beavers Community Primary School, Hounslow, west London

'Officers, paramedics and London's Air Ambulance attended the scene. The two pedestrians, women believed to be in their mid-20s, were taken to hospital.

'One has since died at hospital; next of kin have been informed.

'The other remains in hospital with injuries that are being treated as life-changing.

'The car, a black coloured Range Rover, did not stop at the scene, but was stopped shortly afterwards.

'The driver, aged 39, was initially arrested on suspicion of causing injury by dangerous driving and taken to hospital.

'He has since been discharged and taken into custody. He has been further arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

'The Serious Collision Investigation Unit is carrying out inquiries into the circumstances of the incident.'

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 020 8543 5157.
Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has been granted permission to remain in Russia for another couple of years.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry said: 'Snowden's residency in Russia has just been extended by another couple of years.'

The former intelligence contractor had not applied for a pardon from President Barack Obama, who earlier decided to commute the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, jailed for 35 years for leaking classified material to Wikileaks.

Edward Snowden, left, will remain in Russia for several more years after authorities extended his visitor's permit after he was overlooked for clemency unlike Chelsea Manning, right

Manning, pictured before her transition, was jailed for 35 years after being found guilty of several charges under the espionage act. She will be released from prison in May

Snowden did not apply for clemency himself, although his supporters believe he should be treated as a whistleblower and not a criminal.

However, the White House said there was a clear distinction between Snowden, who has not apologized for his crimes and Manning who has been to prison and expressed remorse.

The former NSA contractor released details of the extent of the US spying operation, including details of operations against friendly governments.

Snowden has been living in exile in Russia since 2013, where he ended up after spending weeks in the transit area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.

He was initially granted permission to stay in Russia for one year amid the rapid deterioration in Moscow's relations with Washington.

Next year, Snowden will be able to apply for a Russian passport.

His lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said his resident's permit s now valid until 2020.

Kucherena told local media: 'In effect, he now has all grounds to receive citizenship in the future, over the course of a certain period, since under the law we have a period of residence on Russia soil of not less than 5 years (to receive Russian citizenship).

'Now he has already been living on Russian territory for nearly four years, he does not violate the law, there are no complaints about him. That's one of the reasons his residency permit was extended.'

The revelations from the documents he leaked sparked a massive row over the data sweeps conducted by the United States domestically and in allied nations, including of their leaders.

Obama granted clemency to Chelsea Manning on Tuesday, allowing the transgender Army intelligence officer convicted of leaking more than 700,000 U.S. documents to go free nearly three decades early.

In addition to granting Manning early release, Obama pardoned 64 people, including General James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during a leak probe.

Snowden welcomed the action on Manning's sentence, writing on Twitter: 'Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama.'

He continued: 'To all how campaigned for clemency on Manning's behalf these last hard yeas, thank you. You made this happed: In five more months, you will be free. Thank you for what you did for everyone, Chelsea. Stay strong a while longer!'

Snowden praised President Obama's decision to commute Manning's sentence on Twitter

House speaker Paul Ryan took the opposite view describing Manning as a 'traitor'

Snowden praised the decision to commute Manning's sentence allowing her an early release

Manning is being held in Fort Leavenworth, pictured, and will be released from jail in May

In total, Obama commuted the sentences of 209 inmates. He has now commuted more jail terms than any other president in US history.

Neil Eggleston, Obama's White House counsel, said the individuals would learn 'that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward'.

Manning, Cartwright and Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera were the more prominent names on a list otherwise made up mostly of nonviolent drug offenders.

The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama last November to commute her sentence to time served.

Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a men's prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests.

The former cheered Obama's move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced.

She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

'We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many,' said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obama's action could 'quite literally save Chelsea's life.'

But House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move 'just outrageous,' and added, 'Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets.'

Manning and many of the others receiving commutations will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry.
The victim of Natalie Baker (pictured) condemned her suspended sentence and said: 'I knew she would get away with it'

A woman who smashed a woman's face with a pint glass has escaped jail after a judge described her as a 'decent and respectable member of a society.'

The victim of Natalie Baker, 29, condemned the suspended sentence handed to her and said: 'I knew she would get away with it.'

Baker - who had been mixing lager with her anti-depressant medication - hit 52-year old Sandra Ferns with the glass after a petty row broke out inside their local pub.

Mother-of-two Miss Ferns - who teaches art at a secondary school and was recovering from a heart attack - suffered a deep Y-shaped cut to her nose which needed 12 stitches.

She is now so self-conscious about how she got her injury that is has forced her into thinking twice about whether to join staff and pupils on future school trips.

At Manchester Crown Court, Baker, of Moston, admitted causing grievous bodily harm but escaped with a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

She was also spared from paying compensation after telling how she was in remission from cervical cancer.

Baker sobbed as Judge Martin Rudland told her: 'You aren't someone who has very high criminal tendencies.

'You have been through a rough three years on any view and the condition you have suffered from is always to a degree uncertain.

Baker (shown) - who had been mixing lager with her anti depressant medication - hit 52-year old Sandra Ferns with the glass after a petty row broke out inside their local pub

At Manchester Crown Court, Baker (pictured), from Moston, Manchester, admitted causing grievous bodily harm but escaped with a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years

'You were prescribed appropriate medication which, combined with alcohol, can lessen inhibitions and you responded in an over the top way.

'In that split second you threw a pint glass at Miss Ferns and it struck her in the face. She is conscious of the scar.

'Scars do of course fade and so does a response to an event like this but at the moment she is feeling pretty raw about it and that's understandable.

'But it's quite clear you are a decent and respectable member of society.

'You present a low risk of re-offending and I don't doubt you will be able to put this behind you and won't be offending again.

Mother-of-two Miss Ferns (shown) suffered a deep cut to her nose and needed 12 stitches

'There will be no compensation, it may be rubbing salt in the wounds if I was to impose a modest amount'.

But after the case Miss Ferns said: 'I knew she'd get away with it - although I'm very annoyed that she did.

'It was absolutely disgusting what she did to me. My parents saw the stitches in my face but I just said I had an accident.

'It was disgusting, my face was a mess. My eldest son said to me that she won['t go to jail. I'm just glad I wasn't there to see it - I'm just so mad - it's absolutely ludicrous she walked free.'

The incident occurred in July last year after Miss Ferns went to meet one of her sons at the Blue Bell Hotel in Moston.

She added: 'I had had a heart attack and had been recovering. Towards the end of the evening my son told me he was going home because he had work the next day - but this other guy seemed to say something to him which didn't sound right.

'My son left with his friend and I asked the other people what it was all about but this woman jumped up and said something abusive.

'I told her "that's my son you're talking about" and turned towards her and that's when the glass hit me in the face.'

Prosecutor Miss Simone Flynn, said: 'Miss Ferns heard some abuse from Natalie Baker who then grabbed hold of her arm and pushed her backwards.

'The defendant, holding a pint glass, standing approximately six feet away from the complainant then threw the glass in her face.

Baker (pictured) sobbed as Judge Martin Rudland told her: 'You aren't someone who has very high criminal tendencies'

Baker was also spared from paying compensation after telling how she was in remission from cervical cancer

'The glass didn't shatter but the injuries sustained are a deep laceration to the bridge of the nose.

'There was someone trying to tell her to calm down but she had the pint glass in her hand all the time. It didn't smash on impact, it was the force of the blow that cut her.'

Baker gave no comment in police interview.

Her lawyer Martin Callery said in mitigation: 'She has been an upstanding, caring, contributing, positive member of the community and is apprehensive about the outcome of these proceedings.

'In 2013 she was diagnosed with cervical cancer which is still under review. She is presently in remission but is under a 12 week review.

'The illness and the treatment caused her severe anxiety and depression, understandably in someone so young, and led to her being prescribed diazepam - the same year the incident happened.

The incident occurred in July last year after Miss Ferns (shown) went to meet one of her sons at the Blue Bell Hotel in Moston

'She doesn't have children, she is a single woman and up to the time of her illness was hard working. She is unable presently to work because she is receiving treatment for both her physical condition and her mental health.

'She foolishly took drink on top of the diazepam she was taking. There was a long standing relationship which broke down around about the time the cancer was diagnosed and treated.

'She has had quite responsible jobs, if and when the opportunity presents itself she would like to go back into the workplace. She cannot comprehend what she's done but what is plain is that she is ashamed of that which she has done.

'She very much regrets what she has done. It was a moment of madness, it was entirely and utterly out of character'.

Baker was also ordered to be electronically tagged and will have to abide by a four month curfew between 9pm and 7am. She will also pay 140 statutory victim surcharge.
Toni Anderson has been missing since the early hours of Sunday, when she was stopped by police but not arrested or detained

A frantic search is underway for a 20-year-old Kansas woman, who vanished after messaging a friend saying she had been stopped by police.

Toni Anderson was pulled over before 5am on Sunday after she left the strip club where she works, but has not been seen since.

Police initially said they had no record of stopping Toni, who was due to start studying at the University of Missouri in Kansas City on Tuesday. But they later said she had been stopped by a North Kansas City Police Officer, although she was not arrested or taken into custody.

Her mother, Liz Anderson, told KSHB: 'It's not like her. She's social. You pretty much always know where she's at.

'It's just been a horrible nightmare. And I know any parent going through this is just horrified.'

Toni left Chrome nightclub, where she works as a server, shortly after 4.10am, and half an hour later messaged her friend Roxanne Townsend saying: 'I just got pulled over again'.

Townsend said her friend 'got pulled over all the time'.

Toni's mother, Liz Anderson, described her disappearance as 'a horrible nightmare'

Last message: This is the text that Toni Anderson sent to Roxanne Townsend on Sunday saying 'OMG just just (sic) pulled over again'

'We've called every police station, every jail, every hospital, and no one seems to have her,' said Townsend to KSHB-TV.

Toni's friends and family are desperate for information that can help trace the missing 20-year-old

Her cell phone was connected to the T-Mobile network until around 9.30pm on Sunday, but after that it went dark, KMBC reports.

Toni's boyfriend, Pete Sanchez, told KTLA: 'She's a great person, really nice. We're all worried sick for her.'

And he continued: 'Every time I leave the house, I hope the next face I see in public is going to be her.'

She has worked as a concert promoter and reviewer.

The Nocturnal Times posted on its Twitter page: 'Our writer Toni Anderson has been reported missing in the Kansas City, MO area. Please contact authorities with any information you may have.'

The couple have lived together in Kansas City for two years, and it was the first time she had disappeared.

She was driving a 2014 Ford Focus with Kansas plates: 989 GAX.

Toni left Chrome nightclub, where she works as a server, shortly after 4.10am, and half an hour later messaged her friend Roxanne Townsend saying: 'I kust got pulled over again'
Unemployment has plunged to its lowest level for more than a decade - in the latest sign of Britain's economic strength.

The jobless total was 1.6 million in the quarter to November, down by 52,000 on the previous three months and its lowest since early 2006.

The UK now boasts one of the lowest jobless rates in Europe at 4.8 per cent, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics showed.

The employment rate of 74.5 per cent is the joint highest level on record

The employment rate of 74.5 per cent is the joint highest level on record.

Average earnings increased by 2.8 per cent in the year to November, up by 0.2 per cent on the previous month.

The glowing numbers will be a boost for Theresa May as she starts Britain on its path towards Brexit.

Employment Minister Damian Hinds said: 'We start the new year with another encouraging set of figures.

'Employment continues to run at a near-record high, unemployment remains at an 11-year low, and both figures are stronger than this time last year - highlighting the strength and resilience of our labour market as we step up to the challenges of 2017.

'We have made real progress creating a strong economy and helping more people into work, and will do what is needed to continue that trajectory as we build a country that works for everyone.'

David Freeman, senior statistician at the ONS, said: 'While employment is little changed on the quarter, the rate remains at an historic high.

'The rate at which pay is increasing continues to pick up in cash terms, though it remains moderate.'

The numbers in work fell marginally by 9,000 to 31.8 million, while the number of people classed as economically inactive has increased by 85,000 to almost 8.9 million - the biggest quarterly rise since 2014.

The figure includes students, people looking after family, on long-term sick leave, or who have given up looking for a job.

The economic inactivity rate increased by 0.2 per cent to 21.7 per cent, the highest since last spring.

There were 1.15 million people in part-time jobs who wanted full-time work in the latest quarter, an increase of 7,000 over the previous three months, but down by 99,000 on the year.

The latest jobs figures will be a boost to Theresa May as she takes the country towards Brexit

The claimant count fell by 10,100 last month to 797,800, the lowest since last September.

The number of job vacancies in the economy fell by 5,000 to 748,000.

The Government highlighted other figures showing that youth unemployment is down by more than 360,000 since 2010 and the lowest in 11 years, while long-term unemployment is the lowest since mid 2008.

Separate statistics showed that 900,000 claims for Universal Credit had been made to December, with an average of 13,000 new claims per week in the preceding four weeks.

Of those on Universal Credit, 43 per cent were in work.
A grieving father has forced the NHS to admit they played a part in his son's death and won a five-figure payout in a 'bitter-sweet' victory against the trust.

Taufiqul Karim Suhrid, 44, said his family was 'fobbed off at every turn' after Tahmeed, aged 20 months, died in December 2013 at the Royal London Hospital.

Doctors had failed to diagnose a bowel obstruction and paediatric consultants working with the family's lawyers identified a series of errors by staff.

Taufiqul Karim Suhrid (pictured) , 44, said his family was 'fobbed off at every turn' after Tahmeed (right), aged 20 months, died in December 2013 at the Royal London Hospital

They revealed that staff did not not realise that a feeding tube was incorrectly fitted, leading to ten months of pain, vomiting and diarrhoea before his eventual death.

The family from Ilford has now won a five-figure out of court settlement with Bart's Health NHS Trust, which denied that the death was due to substandard treatment.

Mr Suhrid said: 'There is no settlement in the world that can make up for losing a child.

'All we have ever wanted was the truth about what happened to Tahmeed, but we have been fobbed off at every turn.

'NHS Trusts need to be open, transparent and accountable. Without honesty and accountability lessons cannot be learned and other children could lose their lives as Tahmeed did.'

He added: 'Our victory is bittersweet. While we now know what happened and can hopefully now change the outcomes for other children, nothing can change what has happened to Tahmeed. Nothing can bring him back.

'I now just hope that the Trust can learn from this experience and implement the changes to ensure that no other family suffers as we have.'

Tahmeed was born prematurely in March 2012, weighing just 3.3lbs and suffering from respiratory distress syndrome and abdominal distension - caused when substances such as gas or fluid accumulate in the abdomen.

Staff did not not realise that a feeding tube was incorrectly fitted, leading to ten months of pain, vomiting and diarrhoea before Tahmeed's (pictured) eventual death

He was fitted with a feeding tube the following January that passed through the skin of the abdomen and into the stomach which allowed liquid food, fluids, and medication to be fed directly into the stomach.

But a flange - a part of the feeding tube designed to keep the internal section in place - caused an obstruction in Tahmeed's bowel.

For 10 months the toddler was frequently sick and suffered constant diarrhoea, at one point vomiting faecal matter.

The obstruction went unnoticed until just two days before his death when surgeons removed the feeding tube and repaired two holes to the small intestine.

Toddler Tahmeed Suhrid before his death in 2013 with his brother

But Tahmeed was in pain and distress following the surgery and struggled to breathe.

The following day doctors noted that his surgical wound was oozing green-brown fluid and a decision was made to give him an emergency laparotomy to get access to his abdominal cavity.

During the procedure surgeons realised Tahmeed's bowel was perforated and his abdominal cavity had become grossly contaminated with faecal matter and needed to be washed out.

Following the two-hour surgery, Tahmeed was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit but never recovered. He suffered a cardiac arrest and despite 45 minutes of resuscitation attempts, he died.

Mr Suhrid hired medical negligence firm Irwin Mitchell to look at the case after receiving a letter from the trust denying that the death was due to substandard treatment.

They set out the catalogue of errors in a letter to the trust and within weeks they admitted that the treatment of Tahmeed 'in this instance, fell below the standards to be expected which contributed materially to the death.'

Lauren Hurney, of Irwin Mitchell, said: 'Much of Tahmeed's short life was spent in hospital, needlessly in pain and distress.

Tahmeed Suhrid before his death in 2013 with his older brother and father Taufiqul, who said that the trust 'fobbed them off at every turn' until they offered the five-figure payout

'He was so small and vulnerable, but was let down by those whose job it was to help him.

'Tahmeed's family have had to endure three agonising years of denials from Bart's Health NHS Trust.

'It was only when the family instructed Irwin Mitchell that the Trust finally admitted the failings which led to Tahmeed's death, something which has only added to the family's already unbearable grief.'

She added: 'NHS Trusts have a duty to be open and transparent about their mistakes so that they and other Trusts can learn from them and prevent future loss of life.

'That the family had to launch a legal battle simply to know the truth shows that there is much to be learned from Tahmeed's death.'
Russia has successfully tested its new 'Sickle' intercontinental ballistic missile, sending it the entire length of the country to strike a target, it has emerged.

The Topol-M rocket blasted off from the Plesetsk's launch site in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, 500 miles north east of Moscow before reaching its target in the Kamchatka peninsula - some 3,750 miles to the east.

Footage has emerged showing how Russia launches its rockets. A door to a pit where the missile is kept gradually opens automatically, before the weapon blasts into the sky.

The launch of the intercontinental missile, also known as RT-2PM2 or SS-27 'Sickle B', comes amid heightened tensions between Russian president Vladimir Putin and the West.

Russia has successfully tested its new 'Sickle' intercontinental ballistic missile, sending it the entire length of the country to strike a target, it has emerged

Test run: Footage has emerged purportedly showing how Russia launches its rockets

A door to a pit where the missile is kept gradually opens automatically, before the weapon blasts into the sky

Neighbouring Poland has just received the largest US military reinforcement in Europe in decades under a planned NATO operation to strengthen its Eastern European allies in the face of what the pact sees as a growing Russian aggression.

Moscow, which unnerved Eastern Europe by annexing Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, sees the NATO reinforcement in the region as a security threat.

In retaliation, it has deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in its European exclave of Kaliningrad.

Referring to the latest missile test, a Russian Defense Ministry statement said: 'The goal of the launch was to confirm the stability of flight and technical performance of this kind of intercontinental ballistic missile.

Video shows how Russian rockets emerge from specially made bunkers in the ground

Video shows the blast from the rocket as it takes off. Russia has recently tested a Topol-M rocket

'A training war-head has hit a hypothetical target with high precision at a firing ground at the Kamchatka peninsula.'

According to RT, the Topol-M is one of the most recent missiles of its kind activated by the country and has a range of about 6,835 miles.

The 22.7metre-long missile is reportedly capable of carrying up to six warheads as well as decoys.

Yesterday, pictures emerged of Russia showing off a new tank-launched weapon which can be fired at incoming NATO missiles.

A video released by Russia's Defence Ministry showed soldiers in snow-camouflage firing the Tor system, which is designed to protect buildings from missile attack.

But the Tor could be used against anti-tank missiles in a war situation and it would even take out the Paveway laser-guided 'bunker buster' bomb which has been dropped by US planes during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The launch of the intercontinental missile, also known as RT-2PM2 or SS-27 'Sickle B', comes amid heightened tensions between Russian president Vladimir Putin and the West

The Russians say the missile, which is currently deployed in Belarus, not far from the Polish border, has a success rate of 80 percent.

The missile was built at the JSC Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant, which is owned by the state-owned Almaz-Antey company.

The Tor replaces a Soviet era missile system of the same name, which was developed in 1975 and was designed to shoot down NATO cruise missiles.

The Russians exported some of these old Tor missiles to Iran, Egypt, Venezuela and even Greece, which is a NATO member.

Putin has been investing billions in modernising his country's armed forces in recent years as an increasingly frosty 'new cold war' broke out with America under the Obama administration and its Nato allies, especially Poland and the Baltic states.

The world is waiting for Donald Trump to be inaugurated in Washington on Friday, amid signals from the President-elect that he will smooth over relations with Moscow and also downgrade NATO, which he referred to last weekend as 'obsolete'.

Many European countries, especially those who were once in the Moscow-dominated Warsaw Pact, are fearful of the increasingly aggressive Russian bear.

In 2014 Putin annexed the Crimea and was accused of supporting ethnic Russian rebels fighting the Ukrainian government.

It has since emerged that the Russians have installed a number of S-400 'Growler' missiles at its naval base in Sevastapol in the Crimea.

The S-400 is designed to destroy planes flying as fast as three miles a second.
Boris Johnson is facing a furious backlash tonight after comparing EU threats to 'punish' Britain over Brexit to Nazi-style treatment of escape attempts in World War II.

The Foreign Secretary incurred the wrath of European politicians just a day after Theresa May set out her Brexit plans for the first time in a speech welcomed by senior figures on the continent.

The remarks were condemned as 'abhorrent' by the EU parliament's chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, while Labour MPs said they showed Mr Johnson was not 'fit' to carry on in his job.

Even an ally of Mr Johnson from the Brexit campaign, Labour's Gisela Stuart, suggested he try 'not mentioning the war'.

Speaking on a trade trip to India, Mr Johnson said: 'If Mr Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape [the EU], in the manner of some world war two movie, I don't think that is the way forward, and it's not in the interests of our friends and partners.

Boris Johnson, pictured at the Delhi event where he made the remark today, said it was not in Europe's interest to give Britain 'punishment beatings'

Ahead of his trip to India today, Mr Johnson said countries were queueing up to do trade deals with post-Brexit Britain

'It seems absolutely incredible to me that in the 21st century member states of the EU should be seriously contemplating the reintroduction of tariffs or whatever to administer punishment to the UK.'

They risk reviving a row from during the referendum campaign when Mr Johnson compared the EU's ambitions to those of Adolf Hitler.

French President Francois Hollande has not responded to Mrs May's speech - which was welcomed in Germany and at the EU Commission.

But speaking last year he said: 'There must be a threat, there must be a risk, there must be a price, otherwise we will be in negotiations that will not end well and, inevitably, will have economic and human consequences.'

Mr Verhofstadt said: 'Yet more abhorrent and deeply unhelpful comments from Boris Johnson which PM May should condemn.'

Labour MP Wes Streeting, who backs the pro-Europe Open Britain campaign, said: 'It seems the Foreign Secretary has been leafing through his well-thumbed copy of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.

'Nobody who wants to see a good Brexit deal for Britain should welcome these crass comments.

'To get a deal that protects our economy and keeps Britain an open, tolerant country, we need to negotiate in good faith and with courtesy with our European partners.

French President Francois Hollande warned last year Britain must face a 'threat' and a 'price' for quitting the EU

'Treating diplomacy like an old war firm is no way for the Foreign Secretary to behave. Boris Johnson should instead focus on working constructively with the rest of Europe to achieve a good deal for Britain.'

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: 'This is an utterly crass and clueless remark from the man who is supposed to be our chief diplomat.'

At a speech to the Holocaust Educational Trust today, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: 'We have to push back when people lazily reach for glib comparisons that belittle what happened calling those we disagree with ''Nazis'' or claiming someone's actions are ''just like the Holocaust''.

'Ultimately, we have to be prepared to do that most un-British of things  we have to make a scene.'

Ms Stuart told the BBC she thought politicians should 'just don't mention the war'.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: 'The Foreign Secretary was not suggesting anything of the sort and never used the word Nazi.

'He was simply saying that trying to treat Britain harshly for trying to leave the EU makes no sense in a modern world and won't work.'

Michael Gove - who exploded Mr Johnson's bid to be Prime Minister year - also leapt to his defence, tweeting: 'People offended by the foreign secretary's comments are humourless, deliberately obtuse snowflakes - it's a witty metaphor.'

COUNTRIES READY TO EXPAND TRADE LINKS WITH UK - LIAM FOX Dozens of countries around the world are preparing to expand their trade links with the UK as it leaves the European Union and gets 'out into the world', Liam Fox has said. The International Trade Secretary said work was already being carried out with 'a number of countries' to see how barriers to commerce and investment could be removed. Dr Fox said the UK would champion free trade in a world where decades of progress to open up markets was under threat. Although the UK cannot strike bilateral deals while a member of the EU, the Daily Telegraph reported that informal negotiations had already begun with 12 countries. Writing in the newspaper, Dr Fox said: 'Trade ministers have visited 55 countries, promoting UK exports of goods and services and encouraging investment. 'Since the referendum, more than 16 billion has been invested in the UK from overseas; a clear vote of confidence. 'At the same time, we are exploiting new trade opportunities and discussing the possible shape of new agreements once we have left the EU.' Advertisement

Mr Johnson's new remarks, in a panel discussion at today's Raisina Dialogue, will revive a row from during the referendum campaign when Mr Johnson compared the EU's ambitions to those of Adolf Hitler

Sources close to the Foreign Secretary played down the remark and said the 'Nazi comparison' had never entered Mr Johnson's mind.

No 10 defended Mr Johnson, insisting he had not used the word 'Nazi' and was merely making a 'theatrical' point that 'was not in any way suggesting anyone was a Nazi.'

Mrs May's spokeswoman insisted there was no Government policy not to mention the war.

Asked if Mrs May would follow Mr Verhofstadt's demand to condemn Mr Johnson, she said there would be 'lots going to be said, lots of different perspectives' during the negotiation.

The European parliament's chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt and Labour's former leader Ed Miliband were among those laying into Mr Johnson on Twitter

A Labour spokesman said: 'The foreign secretary has a habit of making wild and inappropriate comments.

'Talking about World War Two in that context is another one of those and not something that's going to improve the climate for negotiations.'

Mr Johnson's intervention came after Brexit Secretary David Davis dismissed fears that Britain is not ready for a Brexit showdown with the EU today - pointing out that the country had managed to win the Second World War.

The Brexit Secretary ramped up tensions by condemning 'voices' in the bloc suggesting the UK could be punished for leaving, insisting: 'We're not going to take that.'

He also bluntly dismissed the idea that MPs could block us from leaving by voting down whatever package is negotiated - insisting that would just mean we quit without a deal.

And asked whether the government was prepared for the challenge of negotiating Brexit, Mr Davis said: 'Our civil service can cope with world war two, they can easily cope with this.'

Mr Johnson is in India to 'turbo charge' preparations for the new relationship a day after the Prime Minister set out her Brexit plans.

Mr Johnson said EU rules did not prevent Britain getting ideas 'pencilled in' even though striking independent trade deals was banned from inside the bloc

Mr Johnson said EU rules did not prevent Britain getting ideas 'pencilled in' even though striking independent trade deals was banned from inside the bloc.

Labour today said the Government must focus first on securing 'the agreement that really matters' on trade with the remaining EU.

Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Johnson said: 'We will no longer be part of the common commercial policy, or bound by the Common External Tariff, and we will no longer have our trade policy run by the EU commission.

'That means - crucially - that we will be able to do new free trade deals with countries around the world. They are already queuing up.

'Under EU rules, we are not formally allowed to negotiate these new treaties until we leave. But there is nothing to say that ideas cannot be pencilled in.'

The Foreign Secretary is in India in search of new trade deals for post-Brexit Britain

Mr Johnson said one of the eager countries was India.

Arriving at a speech in Delhi, Mr Johnson said: 'We need to turbo charge this relationship with a new free trade deal, such as we will shortly be able to do.

'We can't negotiate it now, but we can sketch it out in pencil on the back of an envelope.'

The Foreign Secretary added: 'I think the Prime Minister set out a very powerful, very positive vision yesterday for how we can do a deal that will not just benefit our friends in the rest of the EU but also drive growth in the rest of the world.

'One of the points I am going to be making here in India is we think we can do trade deals that will be for the benefit of both our countries, both Britain and India as well.'

Theresa May set out a 12-point plan for her Brexit negotiations in an historic speech at Lancaster House yesterday

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: 'I think it is really important we focus on the trade agreement that really matters at the moment and that is the trade agreement with the EU.

'We do most of our business with the EU and getting that trade agreement right is really important.

'Yesterday, the Prime Minister said it should be a comprehensive trade agreement. That means it must be the richest, fullest agreement we are able to negotiate.

'Things like tariff free access, access that doesn't have red tape, making sure the regulations are aligned, these things really matter.'
A landmark legal ruling at the Supreme Court has decreed that wheelchair users should be given priority over mothers with baby buggies on buses.

The result means that drivers must now do more to force non-wheelchair users to vacate the 'priority' space if required by a disabled person.

Previously, the area was viewed as being available on a 'first come, first served basis' between the disabled, parents with children and elderly people.

The case was triggered when wheelchair user Doug Paulley attempted to board a bus operated by FirstGroup which had a sign saying: 'Please give up this space if needed for a wheelchair user'.

Doug Paulley enjoys a drink following the outcome of the landmark legal hearing at London's Supreme Court

The case was triggered when Doug Paulley attempted to board a bus operated by FirstGroup which had a sign saying: 'Please give up this space if needed for a wheelchair user'

Mr Paulley, from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, was left at the stop because a woman with a sleeping baby refused to move her pushchair when asked by the bus driver.

FirstGroup has a policy of 'requesting but not requiring' non-disabled travellers, including those with babies and pushchairs, to vacate the space if it is needed.

As other wheelchair users and disabled people cheered him outside the court, Mr Paulley said: 'I am absolutely delighted. It has been a long fight.'

He added that the judgment marked 'a significant cultural change'.

The case was first heard at Leeds County Court, whcih ruled the policy breached FirstGroup's duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make 'reasonable adjustments'.

Recorder Paul Isaacs said the bus company policy should have 'required' the woman to move and the wheelchair user's right to priority should have been enforced.

But the recorder's judgment was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which ruled that such a policy would not strike a fair balance between the needs of wheelchair users and the needs of other passengers who might be vulnerable.

The policy would also be liable to give rise to confrontation and delayed journeys.

Mr Paulley, from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, was left at the stop because a woman with a sleeping baby refused to move her pushchair when asked by the bus driver

Mr Paulley then continued his fight before seven justices at the UK's highest court.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which supported Mr Paulley at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, described the latest decision in the case as 'a victory for disabled people's rights'.

It added that the ruling was 'a hugely important decision, which has helped clarify the current state of the law, and will give confidence to thousands of disabled people in Britain to use public transport'.

Chairman David Isaac said: 'Public transport is essential for disabled people to live independently, yet bus companies have not made it easy for this to happen.

'This is a victory for disabled people's rights. The success of this case means bus companies will have to end 'first come, first served' policies, increasing peace of mind for disabled people.

Doug Paulley took his fight from County Court all the way to the Supreme Court

'This has been about correcting a confusing policy which has caused untold problems for disabled people.

'For years, wheelchair users have been deterred from using vital public transport links because they could not be sure they will be able to get on. Today's judgment will make that easier.'

He said the court had suggested that the law should be reconsidered in order to provide much-needed clarity for bus companies and their customers, and that the commission 'will be pressing the Government to commit to these changes in the Bus Services Bill'.

Lord Neuberger, the Supreme Court's president, explained that Mr Paulley's appeal was being allowed, but only to the limited extent that FirstGroup's policy requiring a driver to simply request a non-wheelchair user to vacate the space without taking any further steps was unjustified.

Where a driver who has made such a request concludes that such a refusal is unreasonable, he or she should consider some further step to pressurise the non-wheelchair user to vacate the space, depending on the circumstances.

Managing Director of First Bus, Giles Fearnley told MailOnline: 'We welcome today's decision from the Supreme Court.

'It has ruled that bus drivers are not required to remove customers from vehicles, which was a key issue for us. This provides welcome clarity for bus operators, our drivers and our customers.

'This was clearly a difficult case for the Supreme Court with six different judgments, and we look forward to receiving further clarity around the decision when the Court publishes its Order. In response, we will implement any necessary changes.

'We recognise how important it is that bus services are accessible for all customers and we lead the industry in improving bus travel for customers with all disabilities. We are therefore also pleased that the Supreme Court found that we did not discriminate against Mr Paulley.'
Joe Biden has launched a scathing attack on Russia, warning that President Vladimir Putin will attempt to meddle in the democratic process across Europe in order to impose a vision of 'military might, corruption and criminality'.

In his last major speech as Vice President, he described Russia as the biggest threat to the international liberal order, and said it would try to influence upcoming European elections.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, in the Swiss Alps, he called on the US and Europe to stand up to Moscow and not 'build walls' - a veiled criticism of incoming President Donald Trump.

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Joe Biden called on the US and Europe to resist moves toward isolation and not 'build walls' - a veiled criticism of incoming President Donald Trump

Biden said: 'Under President Putin, Russia is working with every tool available to them to whittle away at the edges of the European project, test the fault lines of western nations and return to a politics defined by spheres of influence.

'With many countries in Europe slated to hold elections this year, we should expect further attempts by Russia to meddle in the democratic process.

'It will occur again, I promise you. And again the purpose is clear to collapse the liberal international order.

'Simply put, Mr Putin has a different vision for the future, one which Russia is pursuing across the board.

'It seeks to return to a world where the strong impose its will through military might, corruption and criminality while weaker nations have to fall in line.'

So far much of Trump's rhetoric on Putin has been conciliatory, and the President-elect has positioned himself as a strong Brexit supporter, saying more countries are likely to quit the European Union.

Biden said that under Vladimir Putin, Russia is using 'every too available' to 'test the fault lines of western nations'

But Biden warned of a 'dangerous willingness to revert to political small-mindedness' in politics, and said 'dangerous autocrats and demagogues' had tried to capitalise on people's fears throughout history.

He also called on Trump to honor US commitments to NATO, branding Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which states that an attack on one member of the transatlantic military alliance is considered an attack on all, a 'sacred obligation'.

Trump has called NATO 'obsolete' and raised doubts about whether he would respect Article 5, stirring deep unease in Europe.

Biden has met with George and Amal Clooney at the forum, which brings together executives and political leaders from around the world

Biden said: 'Defending the liberal international order requires that we resist the forces of European disintegration and maintain our longstanding insistence on a Europe, whole, free and peaceful.

'It means fighting for the European Union, one of the most vibrant and consequential institutions on earth.'

And referencing a US intelligence report which concluded Russia had worked to influence the US election in Trump's favor, Biden said: 'We even saw it in the cyber intrusions against political parties and individuals in the United States.'

The Vice President called on Trump's administration to stand up to Russia and honor US commitments to NATO

He told the audience of executives and opinion makers that he would not 'mince words', but acknowledged he would only hold the post for another 48 hours.

Biden quipped: ' Then I can start to say what I think.'

The outgoing Vice President briefly met with Chinese President Xi Jinping - who spoke out in a vigorous defense of free trade.

Trump's transition team has one top adviser, Anthony Scaramucci, at the forum ahead of Friday's presidential inauguration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has spoken out in favor of free trade at the World Economic Forum in Davos

Biden has previously spoken at the forum to encourage all charities to continue investing in cancer research.

He voiced his hopes that the incoming Trump administration would not reduce investment, stating: 'This is the one bipartisan thing that exists and I pray will continue to exist in the new administration.

The Vice President lost his son Beau Biden to brain cancer in 2015. The Obama administration soon after announced a cancer 'moonshot' program intended to speed up research into the disease.
The moment hundreds of tonnes of molten lava spewed from a collapsed volcano and into the sea was captured by a stunned tourist on a boat just yards away.

Kamokuna lava delta in Hawaii collapsed on December 31 but that has not stopped holidaymakers braving the choppy seas and deadly eruptions to catch a glimpse of the scenery.

One surprised tourist captured the moment a red hot stream of 1000c lava suddenly crashed through the side of the black rock - causing an incredible hose pipe effect as it fell.

Tourists were stunned when a red hot stream of 1000c lava suddenly crashed through the side of the black rock at the Kamokuna lava delta in Hawaii

The eruption caused an incredible hose pipe effect and thick clouds of steam were produces as the lava gushed into the sea

The 'once-in-a-lifetime' footage shows the lava solidifying and producing thick clouds of steam as it crashes into the water below.

Tour operator Captain Shane Turpin, who shot the footage with guests on his Lava Ocean Tours ship, said: 'This was a real rare sight as the guests watched in awe.

'First the boat went silent to the point one could hear the sloshing sizzling molten lava hose as it rushed from the earth in to the sea.

'But this was then followed by cheering and gasps at the once-in-a-lifetime experience we all just witnessed.

'The heat is real however not to a point that it was uncomfortable and actually it felt quite nice.'

The stunning footage was shot on January 10 - ten days after the initial collapse of the lava delta caused earth-shattering eruptions.

The lava delta - also known as the Kamokuna ocean entry - is a 26-acre rock formation within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

It is one of the world's most popular tourist spots for volcanoes and was formed by cooling lava.

The stunning footage was shot on January 10 - ten days after the initial collapse of the lava delta caused earth-shattering eruptions

A large section of the delta crashed into the sea on December 31 after strong volcanic activity. It also destroyed a viewing platform used by hundreds of tourists.

A spokesman for Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks Service said the lava delta was 'extremely hazardous'.

He said: 'Lava deltas are extremely hazardous volcanic features and are formed when lava enters the ocean and builds new land on loose and unstable substrate.

'In addition to the threat of collapse, lava entering the ocean produces a highly corrosive plume of hydrochloric acid and volcanic particles that irritate the lungs, skin and eyes.

'Visitors are strongly urged to stay out of closed areas and heed all posted warning signs.'
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A German photographer has released a series of images offering a unique glimpse inside the shadowy state of North Korea.

His pictures show a completely different side to the country to that that is normally shown to the western world, as he hangs out on glorious sunny beaches and at a waterpark.

Martin Von Den Driesch, from Berlin, was the only Western participant on an eight-day visit to North Korea back in August 2014.

The 48-year-old was visiting the country as part of Russian and Korean group of 30 people, including his wife Julia Kim, who travelled by cars all the way from Moscow to Vladivostok.

From there, they ventured into North Korea on a course to the capital Pyongyang, and finally, as a highlight, directly from Pyongyang into South Korea, which is divided by a border called a Demilitarised Zone (DMZ).

The group of people was allowed to tour the country only with the accompaniment of government minders.

His images show the country's beaches and mountains, as well as photos of security areas and ones that officials asked him to delete.

Martin has launched a Kickstarter campaign in a bid to raise enough money to stage an exhibition and produce a book of his images, which will be called Crossing Frontiers: North Korea's Great Unknown.

This image shows a guarded swimming session taking place at a beach in the Kumgangsan region, in Kangwon, North Korea

In this image North Koreans are enjoying watching a film at a 3D-cinema in the country's capital, Pyongyang

Here a waitress wearing a traditional is pictured sitting by the sea during her lunch break in the port city of Wonsan

Two KPA soldiers standing guard inside a Joint Security Area (JSA) conference room, in front of the door leading to the South Korean side of the JSA

This pictue shows a group of soldiers in uniform, marching through to North Korean countryside and playing music

This student, at Showcase school in North Korea's capital Pyongyang, is concentrating hard on her embroidery work

As Martin and the group of tourists arrived in the DPRK this woman in a small kiosk offered them snake vodka for sale

This image shows a secret village inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ). The picture was deleted when crossing the DMZ, but could be restored afterwards

One the tour group's cars broke down in North Korea and had to be fixed in the next repair shop. This picture shows the group giving the vehicle a push

This landscape picture shows one of lesser-known sides of North Korea - the country has beautiful mountains and beaches

This beach on North Korea's east coast has soft golden sands but is empty of swimmers, although the sun umbrellas show that sunbathers do visit from time-to-time

This image shows a soldier in uniform stand on North Korea's holy mountain Paektusan. The huge crater lake called Chon - or 'Lake of Heaven' lies at the summit, surrounded by bare rocky crags

A policeman is pictured here standing in the North Korean countryside in his almost-impossibly crisp and clean white uniform

German photographer Martin Von Den Driesch pictured with his wife Julia Kim on a beach in North Korea

In this picture, a saleswoman stands in a kiosk where North Korean products are offered for sale

During the guided trip the group visited an exhibition about North Korea's typical wildlife, where this picture of a pair of stuffed deer was taken

Students practice their keyboard skills during a lesson at Showcase school in North Korea's capital Pyongyang

This picture was taken during a barbecue with the group's government minders. As Martin was not allowed to photograph regular North Korean people, he started to take photos of his minders

This picture was taken inside North Korea's Parliament building in Pyongyang, where the Supreme People's Assembly meets. It consists of one deputy from each of 687 constituencies, elected to serve five-year terms

This image shows female soldiers in uniform on the holy mountain Paektusan. North Koreans consider the mountain to be the place of their ancestral origin

This picture shows an empty waterpark near Pyongyang. The state-run attraction was designed to improve the country's negative public image

This photograph offers a unique glimpse inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea
A police force is being investigated amid allegations officers discriminated against an innocent Asian driver who was stopped 17 times in one year.

Adeel Rehman, 35, has lodged official complaints with Staffordshire Police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) over the issue.

The latest incident happened just after Christmas when the father-of-two was stopped on the A500 by armed police as part of a firearms investigation.

A police force is being investigated amid allegations officers discriminated against Adeel Rehman, 35, who has been stopped in his Vauxhall Insignia 17 times in a year

Mr Rehman and his friend were released with no further action after nothing was found in the vehicle.

He was first pulled over in Church Street, Stoke-on-Trent, last January, after officers claimed he was involved in Class A drugs.

He says he has since been stopped across the city on 16 other occasions, including in Hanley.

He said: 'When I have been pulled over the police have told me that they have intelligence on me.

'They say it is about drugs or firearms but I have never had anything to do with things like that. Now when I am out I just think the police are going to pull me over.'

Mr Rehman says police have claimed he was involved in drugs and firearms but he has no connections to either

In the latest incident, Mr Rehman was stopped near Barthomley, Staffordshire, on December 29 when police closed the southbound carriageway of the A500.

Armed officers pulled over his Vauxhall Insignia and searched the vehicle but nothing was found in the vehicle and no arrests were made.

He said: 'When I got onto the M6 I thought I saw some unmarked police cars and I thought I'd be stopped so I turned around and came back.

'When I was on the A500 I was close to the Talke junction when the armed police pulled me over and told me not to make any sudden movements.

'The incident on the A500 was just a joke and not a nice experience.'

Latest figures show Staffordshire Police received 770 complaints between October, 2015 and September, 2016 - a 26 per cent reduction on the previous 12 months.

A police spokesman said: 'We have recorded the concerns under the formal complaints process.

'These matters are being taken most seriously and a thorough investigation is underway into the issues raised.'
European newspapers have responded to Theresa May's Brexit speech with a series of striking front pages.

Mrs May confirmed on Tuesday that Britain will quit the single market and implement a 'full Brexit', warning she will walk away from exit talks rather than accept a 'punitive' deal.

Germany's broadsheet Die Welt mocked the Prime Minister with an image of her superimposed in front of a Union Jack flag with the headline 'Little Britain'.

The headline font matches the one used in the eccentric BBC comedy of the same name starring comedians David Walliams and Matt Lucas.

The subheading read: 'Prime Minister Theresa May leads Great Britain into the isolation'.

Germany's broadsheet newspaper Die Welt mocked the Prime Minister with an image of her superimposed in front of a Union Jack flag with the headline 'Little Britain'

Theresa May delivered a key Brexit speech at Lancaster House, London, on Tuesday about her plans for Britain leaving the EU

She is pictured wearing a blue checked blazer and white shirt with matching red lipstick and nail varnish - a nod to her previous 'red, white and blue' Brexit reference.

Die Welts Twitter account shared the front page with a message that said so lonely.

Denmark's leading broadsheet Politiken also emphasised Mrs Mays tough words, with the headline: Brits slam the door hard on EU.

French daily Liberation tied their coverage of Mrs Mays speech in with the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump and Russia's President Putin being aggressive.

It said London who opts for a hard Brexit... The EU finds itself attacked on all fronts without having seen anything coming.

Denmark's leading broadsheet Politiken (left) emphasised Mrs Mays tough words, with the headline: 'Brits slam the door hard on EU'. And Norway's Klassekampen (right) used a picture of Mrs May pursing her lips and glancing sideways alongside the headline 'Goodbye EU'

French daily Liberation tied their coverage of Mrs Mays speech in with the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump and Putin being aggressive and said 'the EU finds itself attacked on all fronts'

Italy's La Repubblica led with the headline 'Brexit, London gets its wall, away from the EU and the common market'

Theresa May's Brexit speech at a glance Brtain wil pull out of the EU single market

End of freedom of movement to control immigration

No more rulings from the European Court of Justice

Membership of customs union dropped - and UK to seek deal for tariffs

Transitional period to avoid 'cliff edge' after 2019 exit

MPs and peers will get a vote on the final Brexit deal

UK could walk away and cut tax if EU fails to strike a deal Advertisement

French paper Le Figaro's headline said 'Theresa May ready to break completely with Europe' but the publication's main front page article was about terrorism in France.

Italian daily La Repubblica lead with the headline Brexit, London gets its wall, away from the EU and the common market'.

And Italys Corriere della Serra used a photo of Mrs May waving as she walked away from photographers with the headline 'Theresa May's clear cut', while La Stampa interpreted the speech as 'out of Europe right away'.

The Spanish newspaper El Pais did not top with Brexit, but there is a mention of Mrs May's speech in the top right of the title page.

It references the Prime Minister's announcement that Britain will leave the single market, adding that Mrs May is hoping for a hard Brexit subject to Parliament's vote.

It calls the announcement her 'most important speech' since coming to Downing Street.

French paper Le Figaro's headline said 'Theresa May ready to break completely with Europe'

The Spanish newspaper El Pais did not top with Brexit, but there is a mention of Mrs May's speech in the top right of the title page calling the announcement her 'most important speech' since coming to Downing Street

Spains El Mundo said: Theresa May renounces European Union to control immigration

Italy's La Stampa interpreted the speech as 'out of Europe right away'

Italy's Corriere della Serra used a photo of Mrs May waving as she walked away from photographers with the headline 'Theresa May's clear cut'

UK receives positive responses from Brussels on leaving plan Britain's Brexit minister David Davis said the government had received positive responses from Brussels after Prime Minister Theresa May set out her priorities for upcoming negotiations on leaving the European Union. 'Some of the other responses we got back from Brussels overnight reflected that, that this was a positive response, something that they were, I think they were hoping for, frankly,' Davis told BBC radio on Wednesday. May said in a speech on Tuesday that Britain would seek the greatest possible access to European markets but aim to establish its own free trade deals with countries beyond Europe, and impose limits on immigration from the continent. Asked how things would change for Britons the day after the country left the EU, Davis said he did not expect travel restrictions but customs checks were up for negotiation. 'You won't see any difference, let's say, in the right to travel. We have got 35 million people who come here from Europe each year,' he said. 'We will see (about customs checks). That is one of the things we will have to negotiate.' Advertisement

A close-up of Mrs May's face set against a Union flag dominates the front of Spanish newspaper ABC.

Its headline translates to: "May threatens the EU with a commercial war."

It warns that Britain will create a tax haven if the rest of Europe "punishes" it during negotiations.

And Spains El Mundo said: Theresa May renounces European Union to control immigration.

Norway's Klassekampen used a picture of Mrs May pursing her lips and glancing sideways alongside the headline 'Goodbye EU'.

Bullet points added: 'May promises full break for Britain. Promises tough demands for the EU'.

Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter headlined its front page: 'Rough times when the British go out of the EU.'

Austria's Kronen Zeitung did not include Mrs May on its front page but published a story online that said 'she has announced in her principle speech on Tuesday a "hard brexit", a clear separation from the European Union.

Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter headlined its front page: 'Rough times when the British go out of the EU'
Four young criminals with alleged links to the violent Apex gang are being deported from Australia.

Three of the men are from New Zealand, and the fourth is Sudanese, Herald Sun reports.

The first to be deported was Kiwi man Henry Robati, 19, who was returned to his home country last April.

The first to be deported was Kiwi man Henry Robati, 19, who was returned to his home country last April

Sudanese national Issac Gatkuoth, 19, is serving a 14 month sentence for an ice-fuelled carjacking in November 2015

Gatkuoth, 19, is pictured

The remaining three men are currently serving jail time for assaults, armed robberies, car theft and home invasions. They are appealing their visa cancellations.

Sudanese national Issac Gatkuoth, 19, is serving time in a youth detention centre for an armed ice-fuelled carjacking in November 2015.

Gatkuoth, then 18, was in a stolen BMW with four others when they followed another car and rammed it from behind in Frankston, the Victorian Country Court heard last year.

Gatkuoth, wearing a smiley mask, walked up to the driver and pointed a sawn-off shotgun at his head while ordering him to hand over his keys.

Gatkuoth is in a youth detention centre after pleading guilty to armed robbery and being a prohibited person carrying a firearm

The teen had pleaded guilty to armed robbery and being a prohibited person carrying a firearm.

He has denied being a member of the Apex gang and is appealing his visa cancellation.

Australian Border Force and Victoria Police are working together through a list of suspected Apex members, ABF Commissioner Roman Quaed-vlieg told Herald Sun.

He said visas could be cancelled on criminal or character grounds.

Apex gang has been blamed for a spate of violent crimes and robberies across Melbourne, including jewellery store heists.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Border Force.
A serial Lego thief is wanted for ram raiding toy shops.

The man remains on the run a week after crashing a Nissan Navara ute into the doors of shops in Melbourne's east, and making off with two trolley loads of Lego in one of his hits.

Police have released CCTV images of the alleged hit-and-miss thief who struck with his black getaway truck every morning from January 9 to 12.

This alleged serial Lego thief (pictured) remains on the run from police a week after he ram raided toy stores in Melbourne's east

This is the black Nissan Navara ute captured on CCTV at a Wantira South toy store, where the alleged thief stole two trolley loads of Lego

The unknown thief is alleged to have stolen a Lego set from a Bentleigh East store on January 9 at 10am.

He returned there three days later and reversed his ute into the front doors of the same Centre Road toy store, shortly before 5am, but was unable to get through the damaged front door.

On January 10, he ram raided the back door of a store at Cranbourne, shortly after 6am.

He then tried to force the locks of two shipping containers at the shop on the South Gippsland Highway but left empty-handed.

On January 11, shortly after 7am, he managed to pick a lock at a Wantirna South store before unloading two trolley loads of Lego into his black ute.

The unknown thief who managed to steal two trolley loads of Lego from one store
Fed up with severe smog, Chinese tourists are swarming abroad to countries with 'clean air' on their latest travel trend: 'lung cleansing' tours.

Some go as far as the Antarctic to breathe fresh air.

Many parts of China have been affected by toxic smog this winter. The central government this week ordered local meteorological bureaus to stop issuing smog alerts - a move considered by some as a way to ease public anger over pollution.

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Let's get out of here: Chinese residents fed up with smog are taking 'lung cleansing' trips

Around half a billion Chinese were left gasping for breath in December due to serious smog

Around half a billion Chinese were left gasping for breath in December in northern China due to serious smog.

Since last December, holiday packages billed as 'lung cleansing trips' or 'avoiding smog trips' have been popular among residents of the country.

The most popular 'lung cleansing' destination is Japan, followed by Thailand, Australia, Canada and Switzerland, according to a report released by Ctrip, China's largest online travel agency.

Other popular countries include New Zealand, United States, Maldives, Mauritius and United Arab Emirates.

Tropical islands, such as Phuket in Thailand and Bali in Indonesia, were also in-demand.

Japan (pictured) is the most popular 'lung cleansing' destination among Chinese tourists

Tropical islands, such as Bali (pictured), are also in-demand during China's smog season

Luxurious trips to Canada and New Zealand are especially popular among wealthy Chinese families because the two countries are well-known for their nature and clean environment, said the same report.

Two sought-after packages are a 10-day trip to the western Canadian coast and an 11-day trip to the South Island of New Zealand during which the tourists are transported by chartered helicopters.

These 'lung cleansing' trips don't come cheap. The two trips listed above charge around 30,000 yuan (2,377-3,571) per person, according to Ctrip.

Traditionally, most Chinese take their annual holidays in January or February around Chinese New Year. However, demands for overseas trips spiked last December.

A spokesman from Ctrip said: 'Many tourists have brought forward their holidays, or changed domestic trips to overseas trips in order to avoid the heavily polluted air.'

Trips to the Antarctic were sold out on Ctrip as many travellers wished to see the 'last piece of pure land on earth'.

A long way: Some wealthy Chinese go as far as the Antarctic (pictured) to breathe fresh air

Luxurious trips to Canada and New Zealand (pictured) are popular among Chinese families

As the anger over hazardous air quality grows among the public, the Chinese central government has suspended local meteorological bureaus from issuing smog alerts, media reported Wednesday.

This has raised suspicions that the government is attempting to suppress information about the country's air pollution.

China's Meteorological Administration notified local bureaus Tuesday to 'immediately stop issuing smog alerts', according to a photo of a notice posted on China's Twitter-like social media platform Weibo.

Instead, the local departments can issue alerts for 'fog' when visibility is less than 10 km (6.2 miles), according to the notice.

The notice, dated January 17, was issued because local 'meteorological bureaus and the environmental protection administration often disagree when they issue smog-related information,' a representative from the China Meteorological Administration told the Chinese website The Paper.

'A joint alerting mechanism will be formulated to consult how to and who should issue alerts for smog,' the representative said.

One single department will now be responsible for issuing smog alerts, The Paper reported.

The reports met with stinging criticism from online commentators who have long doubted the credibility of official data on air pollution.

'Before, they cheated us separately, and now, they are going to cheat us together,' one person said on Weibo.

'Even though they are working on a unified alert standard, they should not stop the existing alert system,' another replied.

Smoke was discharged from factories in Changchun in December. Industrial pollution is thought to be a main cause of air pollution in China

China called for better coordination to cut emissions after heavy smog engulfed much of the northern part of the country in December

The Chinese government has a colour-coded system of smog alerts, topping out at red when severe pollution is likely to last more than 72 hours.

The notice sets off a series of emergency measures, ranging from taking cars off the road to closing heavily polluting factories.

Local authorities have long hesitated to issue the notices over fears that they will harm economic performance, even when pollution levels are literally off the charts.

In late 2015, China issued its first ever red alert in response to public anger over the government's reluctance to take action after a wave of suffocating smog hit the country's northeast.

In the past, local and national authorities have issued contradictory, confusing alerts, one ordering factories and schools to be closed and one not.

Heavy smog shrouded Liaocheng, east China's Shandong Province, on January 12. The Chinese government has stopped local meteorological bureaus from issuing smog alerts

Some think the government is attempting to suppress information about air pollution. Residents of Liaocheng, east China's Shandong Province, walked in smog on January 12

Bad air is a source of enduring public anger in China, which has seen fast economic growth in recent decades but at the cost of widespread environmental problems.

In recent weeks, parents in particular have expressed outrage over the miasma that regularly affect hundreds of millions and has led to high levels of lung cancer, demanding that schools be equipped with air purifiers.

Earlier this month, many took to social media to express their anger about the thick smog that choked Beijing for over a week around the New Year but found their articles quickly deleted, a move that only increased their frustration.

'When people are gagged, the sky will be blue,' said one sarcasm-laced Weibo comment.

In China, a red alert is issued if a city's Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches 500.

On the six-tier Air Quality Index values, readings between 301 and 500 are the worst and are labelled 'hazardous' which means the air quality 'would trigger a health warnings of emergency conditions' and 'the entire population is more likely to be affected', according to Air Now.

A 'good' reading is between 0 to 50.
This is the toe-curling moment two fraudsters tried - and failed - to rip off one of Britain's top internet security experts.

Matt Horan turned the tables on the cold callers, who appear to work for one of several Asian call centres set up to pester millions of Britons every year.

Mr Horan, whose business works with GCHQ, recorded the excruciating conversation as the conmen tried to get control of his computer.

He pretended to be a computer novice and the excited callers then try to get access to his laptop.

But after 35 minutes of wasting their time he told a senior manager a dinosaur appeared on his screen - the cold-caller snapped, telling him: 'f**k you' and hanging up.

The scam helps fraudsters steal cash and harvest personal details from victims.

Fighting back: Matt Horan turned the tables on the cold caller whose job is to pester millions of Britons every year.

Act: He then posed as an ignorant computer user and told the conman that he had no internet connection and could only see an image of a dinosaur on his screen.

Pay off: In the end the fraudster realised he was being teased so swore at him and put down the phone

Mr Horan, an IT expert who works with GCHQ, asked a colleague to film as soon as the unnamed man called his landline at C3IA Solutions in Poole.

Satisfying moment expert turned the tables on the cold-callers Mr Horan, an IT expert who works with GCHQ, asked a colleague to film as soon as the unnamed man called his landline at C3IA Solutions in Poole [Phone rings] Female cold caller [FCC]: Can you see the green coloured box? Matt Horan [MH]: It's just doing something, the funny thing's spinning around. FCC: Wait, I'm transferring this call to my senior supervisor MH: Okay, thank you, I'm really worried. (Pause) Hello? Senior supervisor [SS]: I'm going to guide you, what can you see on the screen MH: I've got a problem with my machine apparently, which I'm a bit worried about MH: It says www.teamviewer SS: [tries to finish sentence] .com' MH: .com SS: Yes, a dot then com, [spells out] c-o-m' MH: Okay, I think I've got that now. Is it fixed now? SS: No, it's not fixed, you're getting a remote control now MH: Am I? Let me do that now then. SS: 'Now what do you see? MH: 'Oh there's no internet connection' SS: 'There's an internet connection?' MH: No SS: Okay MH: I've gota picture of a dinosaur as well SS: F**k you [phone clicks off] MH: Hello? Hello' Advertisement

He then posed as an ignorant computer user and told the conman that he had no internet connection and could only see an image of a dinosaur on his screen.

The first woman who called then handed him over to a supervisor who finally realised he was being teased and said 'f**k off' and put down the phone.

Mr Horan has released the film in the hope it will help people avoid falling for cyber-scammers in the future.

Mr Horan's Poole-based company is one of fewer than 20 certified by the government's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

As well as its work with government agencies including GCHQ, it has a commercial section that works with businesses, assisting them with their cyber-security.

Mr Horan said: 'One of the weakest parts of any business's cyber-security is the staff. They do nothing malicious, but can easily assist fraudsters.

'Along with 'phishing' emails, this type of phone scam is common and can cause huge amounts of damage.

'The caller purports to be from Microsoft or a similar outfit and informs the person who answered the call that there is a problem with their computer.

'They then instruct that person to look at the computer's 'systems and events logs', which is simply a log of every action taken. They tell them that this is evidence of on-going malicious attacks.

'After that they try and get them to log into TeamViewer or something similar which means they then can gain remote access and control of the target computer.

'They then have all the information on a computer or network and can infect the system, read emails, steal passwords, or encrypt the stored data - basically do anything they want.

'Obviously this can cause massive harm to a business and can lead to data loss, theft of funds, stealing of intelligence as well as causing acute embarrassment.

'We train staff at businesses to be cyber-savvy and always to hang up on calls like this. If staff are in doubt they should contact their IT support.

'Firms such as Microsoft don't make calls like the one I took, but they seem authentic.

'Often the scammers work in pairs so the initial caller can pass over the call to a 'senior supervisor' - as they tried with me. This gives an added authenticity.

'Caution should be the watchword taking calls like this.'
A vintage Mercedes once owned by John Lennon can be yours to own today - the only hitch is a price tag of around $3million.

The late Beatle's Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster is going under the hammer at Worldwide Auctioneers in Scottsdale, Arizona today and is estimated to go for anything between $500,000 and $3million.

The custom-made auto was bought by the Imagine star in 1965, the same year The Beatles released the hit song Drive My Car.

The car (pictured) has been in a museum in Florida for the last 17 years but is going up for auction today in Scottsdale, Arizona

Paul McCartney once said the phrase 'drive my car' was an old blues music euphemism for sex and auctioneer John Kruse said Lennon actually owned 'very few cars' because he 'disliked' driving.

Mr Kruse said: 'He actually ordered this car new and specifically to suit his tastes, a lot of folks don't realize this but John was not fond of driving so there aren't many cars that he owned.

'It's really hard to compare this car to anything else, there have been a couple of other cars he owned for a brief time but I don't believe they were ordered new.'

John Lennon is seen at the wheel of producer George Martin's Triumph Herald car in 1965, the same year The Beatles brought out their song Drive My Car

He said: 'When you're near or inside the car, you just think "John Lennon sat here and used this", which makes it more special.'

Lennon, who was gunned down in New York in 1980 by madman Mark Chapman, had the car custom-fitted with right-hand drive and automatic transmission, in an era when stickshift cars were far more common.

The star owned the car for four years, at the height of The Beatles' fame, before it was sold privately to a couple in Britain.

The car was custom-made with right-hand drive and automatic drive

Auctioneer John Kruse said: 'I've often wondered how many songs and particularly Beatles hits he would have sang in his head while driving around in it, the possibilities are endless, it's neat to imagine that'

It has been on display in a Florida museum since 2000.

Lot Number 17, as it is officially known, has a reserve price of $120,000 and the deadline for online or phone bids is 4pm Pacific Standard Time, at which time there will be a three-minute auction.

Mr Kruse said: 'I'm as excited as is everyone to see what the market believe it's worth.'

The Mercedes has been on display at a museum in Florida (pictured) since 2000

The car is in immaculate condition but auctioneer John Kruse said Lennon did not actually drive it much during the four years he owned it

Auctioneer John Kruse said: 'Given the travels of the Beatles in Hamburg, he specifically ordered a German car, which certainly lends to the thought it was specific and intentional'

The car comes with its own toolkit although there is no suggestion Lennon ever used them
A former Miss World was paid millions of pounds by Spanish secret services to keep quiet about her affair with King Juan Carlos I, it was sensationally claimed today.

Ex beauty queen Barbara Rey had the cash paid into an offshore account to make sure she kept quiet about her long-standing romance with Juan Carlos I of Spain, it is claimed.

He has been described in a devastating book as a professional seducer who had bedded more than 1,500 women and who once made a pass at Princess Diana.

Ex beauty queen Barbara Rey (left) had the cash paid into an offshore account to make sure she kept quiet about her long-standing romance with Juan Carlos I of Spain (right with Queen Sofia), it is claimed

King Juan Carlos I has been described in a devastating book as a professional seducer who had bedded more than 1,500 women and who once made a pass at Princess Diana

The claims were made by respected Spanish news website OKDIARIO and were immediately picked up by other Spanish media who focused on the shocking allegation that the money allegedly paid to Ms Rey, the country's Miss World candidate in 1971, came from public funds that should have been spent on fighting terrorism and organised crime.

The news website said a spy from intelligence organisation CESID - the equivalent of MI5 and MI6 in Britain - met the blonde in a cafe in Madrid and offered her three million euros (2.6 million) in monthly payments to buy her silence.

It also published papers claiming to show the intelligence agency opened an account on September 25 1996 at a Luxembourg bank in the name off an offshore company which 160,000 euros (139,000) was reportedly paid into three months later.

OKDIARIO said the cash Ms Rey, the ex-wife of a former circus entertainer, received was designed to make sure she did not leak videos and photos that would have confirmed the long-standing rumour she was Juan Carlos' on-off lover.

Barcelona-based author Pilar Eyre said the Spanish monarch (left) made a pass at Primcess Diana (right) during a holiday Diana and Charles spent with their son at the king's summer palace in Majorca in 1986

Barbara Rey, who made it to the last 15 of Miss World after getting a shot at the title when the winner of Miss Spain 1970 surrendered her crown, has denied receiving any money from Spain's old intelligence agency which has now changed its name to the CNI.

She has also insisted she has never had a bank account in Luxembourg in her name.

The Spanish Royal family and their spokespeople have declined to comment.

The astonishing claims about the use of taxpayers' money to prevent the alleged affair becoming public has revived the mystery surrounding a burglary at 66-year-old Rey's Madrid home in June 1997 in which she claimed documents, negatives and video tapes which could compromise 'important people' had been stolen.

Juan Carlos I reigned as King of Spain from 1975 to 2014 when he abdicated in favour of his son Felipe VI.

He has three children with his wife of 75 years Sofia. Their relationship since his abdication is said to have been virtually non-existent and it has been claimed they last shared a bed nearly 40 years ago.

Juan Carlos had to make a grovelling apology in April 2012 over a controversial elephant hunting trip to Botswana at the height of Spain's economic crisis

Barcelona-based author Pilar Eyre, an expert on the Spanish royal family, made the explosive claim about Juan Carlos and Diana in a book she published in 2012.

She said the Spanish monarch made a pass at her during a holiday Diana and Charles spent with their son at the king's summer palace in Majorca in 1986.

According to Eyre, the king made a 'tactile' advance to Diana, then just 25.

Diana herself denied anything untoward had happened but admitted that while the king was 'charming' he could be a 'little too attentive.'

Juan Carlos had to make a grovelling apology in April 2012 over a controversial elephant hunting trip to Botswana at the height of Spain's economic crisis.

The trip came to light after he broke his hip in a fall and had to be flown back to Madrid for surgery

Belgian housewife Ingrid Sartiau launched a paternity suit against Juan Carlos shortly after his abdication, claiming her mother told her: 'That man's your father' when he flashed up on television before revealing details to her of a one-night stand in Luxembourg in 1966.

Spain's Supreme Court announced in March 2015 it had refused to accept Ingrid's lawsuit.

A spokesman for Spain's Royal Family said today: 'We have no comment to make about the claims made by OKDIARIO about Barbara Rey, Juan Carlos I and the use of public money.'
Donald Tusk (file picture) has welcomed the Prime Minister's landmark Brexit speech yesterday

Theresa May was warned she cannot 'pick and choose' her Brexit deal by EU Council president Donald Tusk today - before he praised her 'Churchillian' rhetoric.

Mr Tusk has welcomed the Prime Minister's landmark Brexit speech yesterday but today warned her acceptance Britain would leave the single market was not the end of negotiations.

In a speech to the European Parliament, Mr Tusk painted Mrs May new position on the single market as a victory for the remaining EU states.

But he also praised her speech for offering new clarity - comparing her to Churchill and painting a stark contrast with US President-elect Donald Trump.

Mr Tusk told MEPs: 'Yesterday's speech by Prime Minister May proved that the unified position of the member states on the indivisibility of the single market was finally understood and accepted by London,' Mr Tusk told MEPs.

'It would be good if our partners also understood that there will be no place for pick-and-choose tactics in our future negotiations under Article 50 of the EU treaties.

'At the same time, I want to underline that we take note of the warm and balanced words of Prime Minister May on European integration, which were much closer to the narrative of Winston Churchill than that of the American President-elect Trump.'

Elsewhere today, European leaders voiced outrage at Theresa May's bold Brexit plan today - warning that they will make sure our new deal is 'inferior'.

The Prime Minister was accused by her Maltese counterpart of being 'detached from reality' for thinking that she will get better terms.

Meanwhile, EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker took a thinly-veiled swipe by attacking 'extremists' who make 'Europe responsible for all ills'.

Mr Tusk praised praised the PM's speech for offering new clarity - comparing her to Churchill and painting a stark contrast with US President-elect Donald Trump

Tensions have been mounting after Mrs May laid out her plans to break free from Brussels yesterday in an historic speech that will define the UK for generations.

She announced that Britain will not stay in the single market because controlling immigration was a red line.

Mrs May also made clear the UK would no longer tolerate being bossed around by European judges.

Brexit Secretary David Davis today condemning 'voices' in the EU suggesting the UK could be punished for leaving, insisting: 'We're not going to take that.'

He also bluntly dismissed the idea that MPs could block Brexit by voting down whatever package is negotiated - insisting that would just mean we quit without a deal.

Speaking in the European Parliament today, Malta president Joseph Muscat - who currently holds the rolling presidency of the bloc - said Brexit was 'not a happy event'

The combative comments came as Boris Johnson suggested the French were acting like Nazi prison camp guards by threatening 'punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape'.

Speaking in the European Parliament today, Malta president Joseph Muscat - who currently holds the rolling presidency of the bloc - said Brexit was 'not a happy event for us'.

'We want a fair deal for the United Kingdom. But that deal necessarily needs to be inferior to membership,' he said.

'This should not come as a surprise to anyone. Indeed, thinking it can be otherwise would indicate a detachment from reality.'

He said Mrs May appeared to be 'prioritising curbs to freedom of movement of people over membership of the single market and the customs union'.

Mr Juncker welcomed Mrs May's Lancaster House speech, but stressed Brexit talks could not begin until the Article 50 process for leaving had formally begun.

'I will do everything to make sure the negotiations will be according to the rules and will yield good results,' he told MEPs.

But he added: 'Most of our citizens and you and the Commission would have liked Europe to react more rapidly and with greater solidarity to the events of 2016.

Theresa May, seen at PMQs today, set out a bold plan for cutting ties with Brussels in her speech yesterday

'Quite often we end up going down the route of the extremists when we defend our own interests, because they make Europe responsible for all ills.

'I would like to say straight away that they are wrong and they fool these people who think that if you close in on yourself and close your doors to migrants that is the way to solve these problems.

'We need to show these people who think that this is the time to deconstruct Europe, to let it fall apart, we have to show them that they are wrong.

'On their own no country will be able to organise the economy, fight unemployment, welcome in migrants and fight terrorism.'
A motorist tried to recreate a scene from a James Bond film and decided to go off road - by driving down a set of steep steps in a capital city.

The driver behind the wheel of the 4x4 appeared to be taking inspiration from the film Spectre by bumping down the stairs in Valletta, Malta.

At the start of the clip, captured by a nearby pedestrian, the silver Suzuki Vitara can be seen at the top of two flights of stone stairs.

It then began to move down the first set of steps very slowly after the driver decided to take a shortcut.

The motorist slowly approached the stairs but did not hesitate to drive down them in Malta

As it approached the second set of stairs, two pedestrians appear at the bottom, ready to walk up.

But bemused by what they are seeing, they took a step back, and allowed the car to roll to the bottom.

The driver then turned straight on to the road at the bottom, and drove on, while the two onlookers watched in shock.

The footage was captured last month and posted by Bad Drivers Exposed, a Facebook page that documents bad driving on the island.

They posted it with the caption: 'Car takes shortcut and drives down the ancient stairs in Valletta Malta.'

It has since been viewed over 200,000 times, almost half the population of the island, and shared 2,000 times.

Social media users were shocked after seeing the clip.

Bernadette Coupland wrote: 'Perhaps they need to install a hand rail down the centre of the final set of steps.'

The driver in the 4x4 made it to the bottom of the steps (left) and continued with their journey

Stella Diamond said: 'It's a shame his car never overturned with him in it I would have laughed my head off.'

Ian Welch joked: 'That's what 4x4s are for.'

Whilst Pierre Delicata quipped: 'Testing its new suspension.'

Valletta is a historic city, containing buildings and infrastructure from as far back as the 16th century.

It was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.
Donald Trump said in an interview broadcast Wednesday morning that he's actually not fond of using Twitter, and would quit it completely if reporters covered him honestly.

But the president-elect insisted that tweeting is the best club in his bag of tricks when he wants to side-step 'dishonest' media coverage and speak directly to the American people.

Asked by Fox News Channel anchor Ainsley Earhardt if he'll continue to tweet after he's sworn in as the 45th president, Trump said he would  but with some regret.

'Yeah, he mused. 'Look, I don't like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing.'

'But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press. And it's my only way that I can counteract [it].'

President-elect Donald Trump told 'Fox & Friends' co-anchor Ainsley Earhardt that he would stop using Twitter entirely if reporters covered him more honestly

Trump said: 'I don't like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing'

Kellyanne Conway, a senior White House adviser to Trump and his former campaign manager, praised Twitter as a tool for democratizing information and sidestepping media's 'jaundice'

In the clip aired during Wednesday's 'Fox & Friends,' Trump cited the case of a Georgia Democratic congressman who incorrectly claimed his boycott of Friday's inauguration would be a first-time event for him.

'John Lewis said he's never done it before, where he skipped an inauguration. Well, he has. It turned out to be a lie. So I'm able to say that,' Trump recounted, referring to Lewis's similar boycott of President George W. Bush's 2001 inaugural.

'Now if the press were honest, which it's not, I would absolutely not use Twitter. I wouldn't have to,' Trump said.

Kellyanne Conway, Trump's senior communications adviser and former campaign manager, said in a separate Fox News interview that Trump's tweets  which reach more than 20 million people  aren't going away.

'It's precisely the way he ran his campaign, an won  directly communicating. The man is the most brilliant communicator and national natural connector I've ever seen, in politics or otherwise,' Conway said.

'And so he will continue that, because the American people want information immediately.'

The president-elect now has 20.2 million people following his @realDonaldTrump Twitter account

President-elect Donald Trump blasted Rep. John Lewis for skipping his inauguration

Trump noted that Lewis said in 2001 it would be 'hypocritical' of him to attend George W. Bush's inauguration

Conway described social media in the hands of politicians as 'the democratization of information.'

Ordinary Americans, she explained, can 'get the same information as the big fancy networks and cable stations, at the same time. You don't need somebody to filter it for you, to jaundice it for you.'

'It's Donald Trump and you directly, and it costs you absolutely nothing.'

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released Wednesday morning suggests many Americans would rather Trump put away his smartphone and tweet less.

Sixty-nine percent of people in that survey agreed that tweets 'can have unintended major implications without careful review.'

Just 26 per cent said Twitter 'allows a president to directly communicate to people immediately.'

Trump, however, isn't likely to slow down his 140-character bursts.

In an interview with London's Sunday Times, he said over the weekend that he 'can go bing bing bing and I just keep going.'

'And they put it on and as soon as I tweet it out  this morning on television, Fox  "Donald Trump, we have breaking news".'
The South Carolina woman accused of abducting her 'daughter' from a Florida hospital 18 years ago appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday.

The judge set no bond for Gloria Williams, 51, on the charge of kidnapping and set bail at $503,000 for the charge of interference with custody, ordering her to appear again on February 8.

Meanwhile, the girl she is accused of kidnapping and then raising as her own child broke her silence earlier in the day, saying she does not want to see Williams go to prison.

'I understand what she did was wrong, but just dont lock her up and throw away the key,' said Alexis Manigo, who appeared remarkably poised in a sit-down that aired on Good Morning America.

'She loved me for 18 years, she cared about me for 18 years. I just want people to realize that.'

Manigo then added: 'She made one mistake, but I was loved. From that one mistake I was given the best life.

'I had everything I ever needed, wanted, I had love especially. There is no price you can put on the love that was given to me.'

Later in the interview she said of Williams: 'I still think of her as mom, she will always be "Mom."'

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Before the court: Gloria Williams (above) was ordered held without bond after her first court appearance on Wednesday

Decision: The judge also set bail at $503,000 for the charge of interference with custody, ordering her to appear again on February 8.

Difficult times: Alexis Manigo (above) gave her first interview since it was revealed that she had been abducted from a Jacksonville, Florida hospital hours after she was born

Behind bars: The teenager said that she does not want to see Gloria Williams (above), the woman who raised her for the past 18 years, sent to prison

Manigo was born Kamiyah Mobley, and only eight hours old when she was taken from her young mother by a woman posing as a nurse at University Medical Center in Jacksonville.

Williams allegedly said that the newborn had a fever that needed to be look at before making off with the baby.

A massive search ensued, with helicopters circling the hospital and the city on high alert, but the child was never found.

Then, just a few months ago, Manigo 'had an inclination' that she may have been kidnapped, authorities said, though they did not reveal why she suspected this at the time.

Around that same time, a tip that had been received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led authorities to finding the teenager and arrested Williams, though it remains unclear who the tip came from.

Manigo said in the interview that she speaks to Williams every day, but has not been able to see the woman since their tearful meeting in South Carolina when she spoke to her though the metal grates of her holding cell, just before the woman she called 'mom' was extradited to Florida.

The teenager said she is now struggling with the fact that the woman she loves is facing kidnapping charges, and the fact that some are questioning how she can defend the woman.

'They want me to hate her, and it's not in me to,' said Manigo, who also noted how much it hurt to see Williams in cuffs.

'I will always love her.'

She also spoke about getting to meet her biological parents, Craig Aiken and Shanara Mobley, last week.

'I feel like I do owe them that, to give them a chance, get to know them,' said Manigo.

'When you find out you got another family out there, it's just more love.'

She went on to say: 'For some it's a victory, but at the same time you do take a loss when someone so dear to you is just snatched like that.'

First time: Manigo met with her birth parents, Craig Aiken and Shanara Mobley (above), for the first time last week

Happy times: 'She made one mistake, but I was loved. From that one mistake I was given the best life,' said Manigo (above with Williams)

There is also now the issue of how to refer to the teenager, and the young woman said that people are free to call her whatever name they feel comfortable with at this time.

'It's all a bit much for me, but if you know me by "Alexis" continue to call me "Alexis," if you know me as "Kamiyah," then you can call me that too. I'm not really specific right now. I haven't even thought about that, I'm just taking it one step at a time,' said Manigo.

'I don't want any malice with anybody.'

Manigo then added: 'Regardless of what you refer to me to, I know who I am, Ive never questioned myself.

'I know who I am as a person.'

In an interview with People, Manigo's friend and 'half-sister' Arika Williams said that she learned that she had been abducted two years ago when she went to apply for a job.

'She was upset about it. She even stayed home from school the next day,' said Arika.

Arika went on to explain that after Manigo got a job at local seafood restaurant, she ran into problems when she was unable to provide a birth certificate and social security card for her new employer.

Keppiung quiet: Manigo (left after her birth) will not reveal when she learned that she had been kidnapped for fear of incriminating Williams (right in mugshot)

Kidnapped: Arika Williams, a friend and 'half-sister' to Manigo, said in an interview on Wednesday that the teenager learned the truth two years ago (Manigo on right speaking with Williams in her holding cell above)

'Lexy didnt have that so she asked Miss Gloria for it and Miss Gloria kept brushing it off, said Arika.

'Lexy kept being hard on her mother, like "Momma, where is my stuff? I want to get this job." Then Miss Gloria just broke down and told her this is why right here, you cant do this. I kidnapped you.'

Arika claimed in the interview that Williams told her daughter then that she made the decision to kidnap her after suffering a miscarriage.

'Gloria was pregnant at the baby shower and had people there bringing homemade quilts saying Alexis name on it,' claimed Arika.

'Alexis Kelli Manigo was going to be spoiled regardless but I guess she said she lost Alexis Kelli Manigo. She was going to find Alexis Kelli Manigo and went and got Kamiyah.'

Arika said that after this, Manigo called her birth mother, and after getting through to the woman hung up when she heard her voice.

'Gloria is all she knows. That is Momma to her,' Arika said of Manigo.

'That is who raised her to who she is now. And no matter what that will always be momma to her.'
Ukip leader Paul Nuttall is to run for the Stoke Central seat that will be left vacant by the resignation of Tristram Hunt, it was claimed today

Ukip leader Paul Nuttall is to run for the Stoke Central seat that will be left vacant by the resignation of Tristram Hunt, it was claimed today.

Labour MP Tristram Hunt shocked Westminster last week by announcing he would quit the Commons to run the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Mr Nuttall has so far refused to rule out contesting the seat, in which Ukip finished second at the general election in 2015.

ITV reported today the party leader - elected in November to replace Nigel Farage - had decided to fight for the place in Parliament when the by-election is held.

Party sources did not deny the claim but insisted candidates had until 5pm to throw their hat into the ring ahead of the official selection on Saturday.

Challenged on BBC Radio 4 Today programme about the by-election yesterday, Mr Nuttall said: 'You'll have to invite me back in a couple of days.'

No date has yet been set for the Stoke by-election, which is expected to be a hotly contested battle over Brexit on a patch where nearly seven in ten voters backed Britain leaving the EU.

Mr Hunt remains the MP today because he has not yet completed the arcane process necessary to disqualify him from the Commons.

Labour sources have suggested the party will move for an early date for the by-election, suggesting the poll could come in early March.

Labour MP Tristram Hunt shocked Westminster last week by announcing he would quit the Commons to run the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The campaign is another headache for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who already faced a by-election battle in Copeland following the resignation of another of his MPs.

In his resignation letter Mr Hunt wrote that there were 'very few jobs' which would have convinced him to stand down. He added: 'The post of director of the V&A  the world's greatest museum of art, design and performance  is just that.'

Moving to the museum, in South Kensington, is likely to mean a significant pay rise from his current salary of 74,962.

His predecessor, Martin Roth, was paid a salary of around 150,000 as part of a total package worth up to 230,000.
A man barricaded himself inside a house with an eight-month-old baby during a siege with armed police.

Merseyside Police's gun and gang crime unit surrounded the house in Birkenhead after a raid in an investigation into the growing of cannabis.

But the man then holed himself up inside the property with the baby, leading to a lengthy stand-off in the residential street.

A machete and a crossbow were found in the property after the siege ended this afternoon, police said. The baby is now safe and well.

Armed police surrounded a house in Birkenhead, Merseyside after a raid this morning

Armed police pictured swarmed the Merseyside home where the siege took place

A team of armed officers descended on the street this morning following a raid on the home

As well as a number of police cars and vans, an ambulance was kept at the scene, where police cordoned off part of the road earlier today.

Specialist police negotiators were sent to persuade the man to come out.

The siege was later ended and a man was taken away in a police van.

A police spokesman said: 'Merseyside Police have arrested a man following an armed containment at a house in Birkenhead this morning, Wednesday 18 January.

'At around 8.10am, officers attended an address on Raffles Road to execute a warrant in relation to an ongoing investigation into cannabis cultivation.

'When officers arrived they were threatened by a male in the house who was in possession of a number of weapons. The man barricaded himself into a room with an eight month-old baby.

'Specialist negotiators attended at the scene to persuade the man to come out.

'Armed police were also in attendance and a containment was placed around the property to ensure the safety of those in the house and neighbours. Raffles Road was closed while the incident was ongoing.'

The stand-off took place in this street in Birkenhead on the Wirral peninsula, Merseyside

The spokesman added: 'At 2.20pm, a 25-year-old man from Prenton was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, affray and drug related offences and has been taken to a police station where he will be questioned by detectives.

'A number of weapons were recovered from the property including a crossbow and a machete. A search of the property is ongoing.

'The eight-month-old baby who was also in the property at the time of the incident was taken from the house safe and well.'

Locals described the scene as 'mayhem' this morning after scores of police officers descended on the street.

Neighbour Kevin Bufton, a writer and civil servant, lives several doors down from the property and witnessed the stand-off.

As well as the police team, an ambulance was on standby while the siege continued

The 38-year-old father-of-two said: 'We were first aware of it when we went to take our kids to school at about 8.30am, but apparently it was earlier when the police first turned up.

'We have seen officers going into the house and coming out with a woman and a pram which I assume had a baby in it, and lots of baby stuff.

'We saw them leave the house and go into a neighbour's house across the street.

'What I have heard from someone up the street was that a warrant was executed this morning and when police went in the man had the baby in his arms.

'So apparently he locked himself in the house and refused to come out.'

Raffles Road in Birkenhead, Merseyside, was cordoned off during the major police operation

One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'It was a bit of a surprise this morning and I couldn't get my car out for work but it is just one of those things.

'I have certainly never seen anything like that around here and it's quite frightening to see on you own doorstep.

'I'm not sure what happened exactly but I was shocked to hear about the baby being inside.'

Another resident was relieved nobody was hurt or killed in the stand-off, and added: 'It's quite shocking when you hear that someone has barricaded themselves in their house and I couldn't believe it when I looked out the window to see police cars all over the road.

'But like I say, it was good to hear that was resolved without anyone getting hurt.'

A third neighbour, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: 'I woke up and looked out the window and it was pandemonium with police outside.

'It sounds like the guy has gone in a room when the police have knocked the door in and that is what sparked off but I don't know anything more than that really.

'People on the street have been watching it all day and the ones I have spoken to are really surprised - it's not the best area but you never see anything like that here.'
President-elect Donald Trump blasted the intelligence community for giving a so-called dirty dossier credibility by talking about it, calling its content 'fake news.'

Trump told Fox & Friends that he has 'no idea' who leaked the document to journalists, moving on from earlier claims that it was the intelligence community, and maybe even CIA Director John Brennan.

Still, he said, 'The intelligence giving it credence, a little bit of credence, by just even talking about it  it was very inappropriate.'

'It's fake news. It's all fake news...And they shouldn't have been part of it,' Trump said.

President-elect Donald Trump blasted the intelligence community for giving a so-called dirty dossier credibility by talking about it, calling its content 'fake news'

Brennan said Sunday that Trump had 'no basis' for his claim that intel officers were responsible for the publication of the damaging information 'that was already available publicly.'

'If he doesn't have confidence in the intelligence community, what signal does that send to our partners and allies, as well as our adversaries?' Brennan told Fox News' Chris Wallace.

James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said last week that he didn't think the leaks came from the intelligence community, either.

The dossier alleged that Trump engaged in perverted sex acts with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room. The document claimed that the billionaire was taped receiving a golden shower by the Russians.

The president-elect immediately and aggressively denied the claims, which first appeared on Buzzfeed and were alluded to in a report on CNN.

In the interview with Fox & Friends, host Ainsley Earhardt asked Trump about the latest installment of his feud with the intelligence community, the spat with Brennan.

After the CIA director's appearance on Fox, Trump hit him in a tweet that said, 'Was this the leaker of Fake News?'

Earhardt asked him if he really thinks Brennan was the leaker, even though he says he was not.

'I accept it. But it came out of someplace,' Trump said. 'It's made up, never existed, never happened. And the reason I say that so strongly? Because nothing's ever going to show up.'

Trump told Fox & Friends that he has 'no idea' who leaked the document to journalists, moving on from earlier claims that it was the intelligence community, and maybe even CIA Director John Brennan

Earhardt asked him if he really thinks Brennan was the leaker, even though he says he was not

Trump said in the interview that he's certain the Russians don't have a sex tape of him because the alleged incidents never happened.

'I would be very embarrassed if a tape actually showed up saying something like that. It would be double embarrassed,' he said. 'I'm saying there is no tape. There is no event. I was never even in that room for that period of time.

'They made stuff up, and it started with the Republican Party when they tried to beat me in the nomination. And then it went on, the Democrats took over that work, supposedly.'

He said the intelligence community gave the claims 'credence' by discussing them with President Obama, Vice President Biden and others, but admitted, 'I don't know who the leaker was. I have no idea.

'But it's fake news.'
One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has been slammed online after it was revealed he was never personally invited to Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony.

The controversial politician took to Twitter last week to proudly announce: 'Pauline and I received an invitation but not the Prime Minister. OUCH.'

'Would you believe it? I have been gifted tickets to the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony of Donald Trump - What an honour!,' Ms Hanson added on her account.

But a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman confirmed Mr Roberts had to ask the Australian Embassy in Washington to help him source spare tickets.

One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts has been ridiculed online after gloating about 'gifted' tickets to Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony

Last week he revealed he had been given tickets to the event, while Malcolm Turnbull hadn't

Party leader Pauline Hanson also took to Twitter to gloat about the 'honour'

'Following multiple requests from Senator Roberts, the Embassy in Washington asked a number of Congressional offices if they had any spare tickets available,' the DFAT spokesman told the ABC.

'On 13 January, Congressman Kinzinger's office advised they had two tickets available. The tickets are not yet available for collection.'

Following revelations that the tickets were not exactly 'gifted' to Mr Roberts, the Queensland senator was quick to fire back to critics online.

'Never said we were invited, just that we had 'invitations' and 'were gifted tickets',' he told followers on Twitter. ''Received' an invite and 'invited' are very different things.'

Ms Hanson and Mr Roberts later announced they would not be attending the ceremony, citing work obligations and recovery from a medical condition as their respective reasons.

US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony is on January 20.

But on Wednesday afternoon it was revealed that Mr Roberts had in fact reached out to the Australian embassy in Washington 'multiple' times for the tickets

He was indignant on Twitter that his wording did not imply he had been invited to the event
The father of two sisters who were kidnapped by their own mother thirty years ago has said he doesn't want his ex-wife to be prosecuted.

Elaine Yates, now 69, had fled with her daughters Kimberly, then four years old, and 10-month-old Kelly from their Warwick, Rhode Island home on August 26, 1985.

Yates, who was living under the alias Liana Waldberg in Houston, while her daughters went by Sarah and Melissa Waldberg, claimed she'd abducted the girls to escape her abusive ex-husband Russell Yates.

Today she appeared in court in Warwick, Rhode Island, where she pleaded not guilty to one count of abduction. If convicted she faces up to two years in jail.

She was ordered to surrender her passport as she was granted bail at $50,000 personal recognizance, with her hearing set for February 1. Yates, who attended court wearing all black, accompanied by members of her family, will now be allowed to travel back to Houston.

Russell, 69, had admitted to hitting Yates after she confronted him about him cheating on her, but says it was after she attacked him first. His wife, who was taken to the emergency room for treatment, left with their kids three weeks later.

Russell says he spent the past three decades searching for his daughters, not knowing if they were safe or even still alive. Despite his heartbreak, he says he doesn't want his ex-wife to face jail for his daughters' abduction.

Russell Yates, the father of two sisters who were kidnapped by their own mother thirty years ago has said he doesn't want his ex-wife to be prosecuted

Elaine Yates, (pictured aboard a cruise, left and with ball dancing friends, right) now 69, had fled with her daughters Kimberly, then four years old, and 10-month-old Kelly from their Warwick, Rhode Island home on August 26, 1985

'I'm not looking to have my ex-wife prosecuted or anything like that, he told the Boston Herald. 'That ain't going to help her, me or anybody else at this point. All it would do is push my children further away from me.'

Yates is currently facing two counts of child snatching and could face up to 20 years in prison under state law.

'What happens with my ex-wife, I really feel bad about. But we gotta find out what's going on,' he added.

'I would just like my ex to tell me where the kids are and if they are well,' Yates said. 'And she can go about her business. I hear they have families of their own, I don't know.'

Russell said it was a 'big relief' to discover his daughters have been found safe and sound, and remained hopeful that they would reach out to reconnect with him.

'I've been searching for 30 years,' Yates said. 'I've always been trying to find my children,' Russell told WCVB.

Kimberly Yates (left) and sister Kelly (right) were found in Houston more than 30 years after they were kidnapped by their mother. Pictured are age-progressed images of the two women

'And now at least it's up to them to get in touch with me.

'The police won't give me their information, and I just hope they will call.'

Russell Yates also said he wanted his girls to know they have a 21-year-old half-sister, currently studying in Los Angeles.

'She's graduating this year,' Yates said. 'She would love to know her sisters.'

Russell said one of his biggest fears was his daughters never knew they had a father who cared, and was still searching for the.

'I don't even know if they knew I was alive,' he said. 'This might be a bigger shock to them than it is to me. My ex, before she left, she had threatened that she would leave with the kids and I would never know them or they would never know me.'

Kimberly and Kelly, now aged 35 and 32 respectively, are living in Houston and have families of their own, according to the Providence Journal.

A police spokesperson said the women were 'obviously surprised' by the news.

Philbin said it was an anonymous tip left two days before Christmas that finally cracked the cold case.

Russell (left in a recent Facebook photo, and right during an appeal in 1988) says he spent the past three decades searching for his daughters, not knowing if they were safe or even still alive. Despite his heartbreak, he says he doesn't want his ex-wife to face jail for his daughters' abduction

Russell Yates (pictured) was informed that his daughters had been found after Yates was arrested. Police said Kimberly and Kelly have been given their father's phone number

Social media posts and court records helped investigators deduce that Waldberg was really Yates, according to authorities.

Yates, a lover of ballroom dancing and a member of a local Texas group, was arrested on Monday at her Houston home by both Texas Rangers and Rhode Island State Police.

Her daughters were not present when she was taken into custody.

She has waived extradition back to Rhode Island and will face a judge on Wednesday.

Authorities said she was being 'very' cooperative during the investigation.

Rhode Island State Police said Kimberly and Kelly have been interviewed and were given their fathers' phone number.

Authorities would not disclose whether Kimberly and Kelly knew about their true identity or that they had been living 1,800 miles away from their first home.

Yates (left in her mug shot and right in an age-progressed photo) was living under the alias Liana Waldberg. She was charged with child snatching and could face 20 years in prison

Yates abducted her children after her husband hit her during a confrontation over his alleged cheating.

Russell admitted to hitting Yates as they argued after his infidelity was revealed, but claims she had hit and kicked him several times first.

He took Yates to the emergency room for treatment, and staff suggested she go to a battered women's shelter in Massachusetts.

Yates took her children while Russell, a bar owner, was at work three weeks later.

He returned at 2am to find the house empty, according to the Charley Project.

Russell was awarded full custody of Kimberly and Kelly nearly three months later when Yates did not show up to court to contest.

A felony warrant was issued for Yates' arrest on November 16, 1988. Russell formally divorced Yates in 1996.

Rhode Island State Police said Kimberly (left at four years old) and Kelly (right at 10 months old) have been interviewed and were given their fathers' phone number

Yates' late mother Mary Pigeon, aged 77 at the time, went to prison for eight days in 1990 when she refused to reveal her daughter and grandchildren's whereabouts.

Pigeon, who died in 2000, always maintained that she did not know where they were.

Russell and Yates were high school sweethearts who wed they were 18 years old.

'I've always been trying to find my children. And now at least it's up to them to get in touch with me.' Russell Yates, Kimberly and Kelly's father

It would take them 16 years before they decided to have children.

Russell, a Vietnam veteran, said in 1988 that he was 'foolish as a husband' and expected his wife to 'accept an awful lot'.

'When I came home I didn't want any restraints - I wanted some freedom,' he told Providence Journal in 1988 as he recalled his return to the US.

'I didn't want to be told what to do, and what I shouldn't do.'

Trouble in the marriage reached its boiling point in the summer of August 1985, when Russell stayed out all night on his 32-foot cruiser.

Yates found him there the next morning with another woman. Russell admitted it was not the first time he had cheated on his wife.

Russell returned to his family that afternoon at Pigeon's cottage in Point Judith, where a fight erupted when they began to discuss the night before.

Authorities would not disclose whether Kimberly and Kelly knew about their true identity or that they had been living 1,800 miles away from their first home in Warwick

He claimed at the time that Elaine 'tried to kick him in the face' and then 'slapped him two to three times' during the fight.

He then punched her in the forehead, the diamond ring leaving a cut.

Russell maintained that was the only night he got physical with his wife, but at the time at least one of her friend's said Yates was afraid of him.

'I don't know when or if, but I know she had to get away,' Christine Reiff said in a 1985 deposition.

'She was afraid of Russ. She thought he might really hurt her.'

Russell, who called himself a 'good dad but a terrible husband', believes his wife left her whole life behind as a way to 'get even' with him.

Now he is left wondering if his children will reach out.

'I hope they get in touch with me,' he said.

'I've been searching for them for 30 years.'

Elaine Yates is due in court later today.
Brian Carroll (pictured right with his wife) was fired from his position as president in Vatterott College for allowing a homeless student to sleep in the library

The president of a for-profit college in Missouri said he was fired after performing a good deed for a homeless student.

Brian Carroll was the president of Vatterott College in Kansas City, until last Monday when he allowed the homeless and schizophrenic student to sleep in the school's library after he found him camping out in a nearby wooded area, KMBC News reported.

He said he gave the student $10 and told him he could sleep in the library on Friday January 6th, if he promised to leave by 9am the next morning and take his medication.

Carroll was terminated from his position on Monday.

The former president, who held the position since 2014, told FOX4 News he did not want to 'take a chance' by allowing the student to sleep outside in subzero weather.

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Carroll said the student was homeless and schizophrenic and had been camping out in a nearby wooded area

He said he did not want to risk it and leave the student out in subzero temperatures (pictured: nearby wooded area on the Vatterott campus)

Temperatures in the area that night were reported to have reached four degrees below zero.

'I had a tough choice to make. He can't stay on campus. I can't put him in my car. I can't take him to my house,' he said.

Although the student did not steal or cause any damage to the college library, Carroll said Vatterott Corporate believes he put the school's 'assets at risk.'

The college's management team in St. Louis found out the student had slept on the property through surveillance cameras.

Vatterott's regional vice president Paul Ferrise said Carroll could have made better choices in helping the students, according to The Kansas City Star.

He told the paper: 'Mr Carroll had a range of options available to him to help the student. He made a bad decision.'

But the ex-president called it a life-threatening situation, and said if he would have offered the student a ride or allowed him to stay in his home, he would have still broken Vatterott policy.

In a press release written by his daughter, Erin Frances Carroll, the former college president said the for-profit college placed 'its potential liability above the potential loss of life of a student of theirs in need'

'I lived here. This was technically my home, so this hurts,' he told KMBC.

Carroll believed his actions would at most, get him a slap on the wrist and he was expecting to be let off with a warning.

He asked the administration if they could make a decision after the investigation, but Carroll said he was told it was over and he had to leave.

In a press release written by his daughter, Erin Frances Carroll, he says: ' It just shows you how far a for-profit school would go by placing its potential liability above the potential loss of life of a student of theirs in need.'

The Southern California native said he plans to head home and continue teaching.
He recently sold $350,000 of his wife's wardrobe to cover bequests in her will

McIver, 74, was supposed to repay it by 2014 but received a three year

The former company of Atlanta businesswoman Diane McIver, who was shot dead by her husband last year, is now claiming that her estate owes it nearly $1million in an unpaid loan.

The news comes less than a month after McIver's husband, prominent Georgia attorney Claud 'Tex' McIver, 74, was arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct in connection to her death.

On September 25, 2016, Tex McIver was riding in the backseat of an SUV when he says he 'accidentally' discharged a handgun at his 63-year-old wife, fatally wounding her.

Mr McIver has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he did not intend to shoot his spouse.

Financial feud: Claud 'Tex' McIver (left) received a letter on January 3 from his late wife Diane's former company, claiming that her estate, of which he is the executor, owes it just under $1million

McIver, 74 (pictured left in mugshot), was arrested in December and charged with nvoluntary manslaughter and reckless conduct in connection to Diane's (right) shooting death

On January 3, US Enterprises, the parent company of Corey Airport Services, where Diane McIver was president and CEO, sent a letter to her estate asking to pay back a loan in the amount of $975,000, reported Atlanta Journal Constitution.

According to the document, US Enterprises, which was founded by Diane's mentor, Billy Corey, had lent the money to another company, which Diane McIver co-owned with a colleague, DRS Investments.

The letter, which was addressed to Tex McIver, who is the executor of his wife's estate, went on to say that DRS owes more than $3million to US Enterprises, but so far, it wants the estate to pay just a third of that amount, according to CBS46.

If US Enterprises decides to file a legal claim with the probate court to collect the $975,000, it could tie up Diane McIver's estate for an extended period of time.

Jeff Dickerson, a spokesperson for Tex McIver, claimed that the company has failed to provide any supporting documentation proving that Diane McIver had received the loan from US Enterprises.

Fur sale: Over the weekend, Tex McIver held a second estate sale of his wife's high-end clothing collection, including more than three dozen fur coats, among them this red fox number on the left and the mahogany mink with fox trim on the right, which sold for $1,100

Dazzling baubles: Diane's extensive collection of jewelry, which was sold off the auction block, included an 18k yellow gold, rubelite tourmaline, and diamond ring (left) and 18k white & yellow gold & diamond domed stretch linked bracelet (right), which fetched $3,750

Diamonds are forever: Mrs McIver's 14k white gold & diamond stud earrings were sold off the auction block for a whopping $14,000

This week, Tex McIver, who has been out on $200,000 bond with an ankle monitor bracelet since late December, held a second estate sale of his late wife's personal possessions in hopes of raising $350,000 to cover bequests to co-workers and friends in her will.

The station WSB-TV reported that Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard had filed emergency motions asking to halt the auction on Friday, but Superior Court Judge Constance Russell refused to intervene, saying she does not have the authority to make a decision in this case

Over the weekend, as many as 700 people attended an auction organized by the company Ahlres & Ogltree, snapping up most of Diane McIver's high-end jeweler featuring diamonds and precious stones, as well as more than three dozen fur coats in an assortment of colors and designer accessories by the likes of Chanel, Versace and Louis Vuitton.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that at the time of Diane McIver's death, her husband owed her $350,000, which he borrowed from another one of her companies, Clay Management Co, in 2012.

McIver is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct for shooting his wife in September. He was released from Fulton County jail on December 23 after he posted $200,000 bond

The 74-year-old was supposed to repay the amount with interest back by December 2014 but received an extension until 2017, according to court documents.

He took the loan from his wife to build a $1.3million barn on the couple's sprawling farm in Putnam County, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The corporate lawyer said the loan was an idea from his wife, who said it would help with their taxes. He would write off the payments and she could claim it as income.

McIver, a member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Gun Violence, has maintained that the shooting on September 25 was a terrible accident.

Speaking of his innocence, he told the Atlanta Journal Constitution: 'I absolutely did not. She was my life partner. My life as I know it is ruined because of this accident.'

McIver has passed a polygraph test conducted by an examiner who was hired by his attorney, Stephen Maples, reported the station CBS46.

McIver and Diane own an apartment in a luxury complex in Buckhead, Atlanta. They were headed back to their apartment from their farm in Putnam County when McIver shot his wife

During the test, McIver was asked if he intentionally shot his wife, if he knowingly shot his wife, or if he was consciously doing anything with the gun that could have made it go off.

Richard Rackleff, who conducted the lie detector test, said that McIver replied, 'no,' to all three questions, and that the polygraph did not register that he was lying.

Rackleff said McIver appeared to be overcome with grief and cried several times while undergoing the test.

Maples told the AJC that he is baffled by the charges that have been filed against his client, insisting that the husband's actions were not reckless or negligent.

'Were very, very disappointed,' Maples said. 'We feel it was an accident. Hopefully the grand jury would dismiss it when they hear the evidence.'

Maples described McIver as 'very, very embarrassed and very, very humiliated' by the charges.

The polygraph expert also revealed that in his conversation with McIver prior to the test, the man told him that on the evening of September 25, he was dozing in the backseat of his Ford Explorer SUV when he woke up with a jolt, causing the gun in his lap to fire.

His wife was riding directly in front of him, and the bullet from the revolver struck her in the back, leaving her mortally wounded.

McIver, right, and his attorney, Cal Leipold, left, had asked the judge to set his bond at $100,000. McIver surrendered his passport and is prohibited to be in possession of any weapons

McIver's attorney told the AJC that the reason his client had the .38-caliber revolver in his lap in the first place was because earlier in the evening, as he and Diane were ridding home from their farm in Eatonton, they saw a group of people approach their vehicle.

Mr McIver then asked his wife to take the gun out of the center console and hand it to him for protection.

The husband placed the gun in a plastic grocery bag in his lap and fell sleep. As the SUV was passing by Piedmont Park, Claud McIver abruptly woke up.

Describing that fateful moment to the paper, Mr McIver said: 'I lurched and the gun fired. I must have forgotten it was in my lap. I saw a flash.'

The widower told the paper he is consumed by grief and guilt, and his only desire is to join his wife.

Im down to crying 25 times a day,' he added.

Mark Guilbeau, an investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that 63-year-old Diane McIver's cause of death has been listed as homicide  the death of a person at the hands of another.

Diane McIver was president of Corey Airport Services, an Atlanta-based marketing company where she had worked for more than 40 years

In early October, Bill Crane, a friend of the Atlanta couple acting as a family spokesman, told the paper that Claud McIver had retrieved his handgun, a .38-caliber snub-nose revolver, because they were concerned about unrest in Atlanta related to the Black Lives Matter movement and feared of getting carjacked.

But Mr McIver later denied ever mentioning Black Lives Matter, reported 11Alive.

Crane also told the paper that the revolver was in Mr McIver'a lap when their 2013 Ford Expedition hit a bump in the road and the weapon accidentally discharged, killing Diane.

It was a tragic accident, he said.

Atlanta Police Sgt Warren Pickard later called into question Crane's account of what went on inside the McIvers' car that night, saying that the friend 'wasn't in the car, so he is not a witness to what happened.'

In an earlier interview with WGCL, Mr Crane had said that the handgun fired as Claud McIver was taking it out of a plastic shopping bag.

Diane McIver was president of Corey Airport Services, a successful Atlanta-based marketing company where she had worked for more than 40 years.

Her husband recently retired as a partner in the Atlanta office of Fisher Phillips LLP specializing in labor and employment law. He is also a vice president of the Georgia State Election Board, and as of August, a member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Gun Violence.

The fatal incident took place at around 10.40pm on September 25 as Diane and Tex McIver were riding in the 2013 Ford Expedition from their sprawling farm in rural Putnam County to their apartment in the Buckhead section of Atlanta.

The SUV was riding along Piedmont Avenue, past Piedmont Park, when Claud McIver became concerned about carjackers after seeing some people make their way towards their SUV and asked for the gun.
Heart-breaking pictures have emerged showing a Chinese man deprived of clothing and chained to bed by his own mother.

The 31-year-old, suffering from a mental illness, has been shackled to his bed for six years after he started hitting people randomly, his family told local media.

The man lives in a small brick house in the middle of a wasteland in central China's Zhengzhou city and is being taken care of by his 60-year-old mother.

Heart-breaking: Wang Feng, 31, has been chained to his bed for six years by his mother

Harrowing: His mother said she decided to lock up Wang because he started hitting people

The man, named Wang Feng, was healthy when he was young, his mother told 163.com.

The woman claimed that when her son turned 18 years old, he developed an unknown mental illness and tended to hit people.

Wang also appeared to fear people. Recent pictures show the man wrapping himself in a duvet on the bed when his mother came to feed him food.

His mother didn't dare to stand close to Wang as she feared her son might hit her.

The report on 163.com said that when his mother fed him, Wang only took a few bites before turning away from her.

The mother recalled that Wang was a top student at school with excellent academic results.

However on December 31, 2004, when he was in his second year of high school, Wang stopped talking all of sudden.

Poor condition: His mother also claimed that Wang had been diagnosed with a mental illness

Bound to bed: Wang fell ill when he turned 18 years old. Before that, he had been health

Wang's parents went to seek doctor's help. He was diagnosed with 'a mental illness'.

They have visited local hospitals as well as those in other cities and towns in a bid to treat him.

However, Wang's health didn't improve and his behaviour became more aggressive, said his mother.

Six years ago, Wang started to hit people for no reasons.

Neighbours and family members, including both of his grandparents, have been injured by his random attacks.

Without a better solution, his parents decided to lock him up on the bed with a chain.

Middle of nowhere: His family built a brick house on a piece of wasteland to accommodate him

The report also explained why Wang had been living in a small brick house.

Two years ago, the village the Wang's family lived in was torn down and they were forced to move.

It was difficult for Wang's family to rent a house due to his condition, so they built a brick house on a piece of wasteland.

Unfortunately, Wang's father passed away the same year and left Wang under the care of his mother.

Although medication had not worked to improve Wang's health, his mother hoped for a miracle that her son could be cured one day.
A Texas police officer is under investigation for spanking two young siblings with their grandmother's consent, but is still on duty.

The Haltom City cop, who has not been publicly identified, gave the boy, five, and girl, six, 'light taps' with a belt after asking the grandmother's permission in November, she said.

The incident began when the young boy broke through a backyard gate and ran down the street in the suburban community north of Fort Worth.

'His sister just followed him because they thought it was just fun and games,' the grandma told the Star-Telegram in an interview on Tuesday, under condition of anonymity.

A Haltom City police officer is under investigation, but remains on duty, after spanking two children with a belt at their grandmother's request. The kids weren't hurt, she says (file photo)

The grandmother, who has custody of the children, called 911 when she wasn't able to catch the two tykes as they barreled toward a busy five-lane thoroughfare.

Police arrived moments later, stopping the children before they ran into oncoming traffic.

One of the responding cops was well known to the grandmother, who said he often used to come by to check on the woman's sick mother, before she died four years ago.

That officer walked the two children home and gave them a lecture on street safety, which the grandmother says was met with flippant smirks from the unrepentant youngsters.

'He asked if I could get a belt and if he could spank them,' the grandmother said. 'I said yes.'

The grandmother called cops after the kids, 5 and 6, ran from her yard and toward Carson Street (pictured), a five-lane thoroughfare in the Fort Worth suburb of Haltom City

The grandmother said she went into the house and got a small belt.

She said her husband was unable to assist her with the spanking because he was busy fixing the broken gate that the children had escaped through.

After the officer told the woman that it was not against the law to spank a child, she took the two-foot children's belt and hit each child on the buttocks.

The officer then gave each child 'little taps' once on the buttocks, she said. Neither child was hurt, she said.

Texas law, like that of most U.S. states, allows parents to spank children.

'Belts and hair brushes are accepted by many as legitimate disciplinary "tools,"' according to an information pamphlet from the Texas Attorney General. 'Their use is not likely to be considered abusive, as long as injury does not occur.'

Two other officers, a neighbor, and the neighbor's 10-year old daughter witnessed the spanking incident in November.

The Haltom City Police Department received a complaint about the spanking through an 'internal source,' and its Professional Standards Unit is investigating, Police Chief Cody Phillips told the Star-Telegram in an email.

The officer remains on duty during the investigation, which is just fine with the grandmother of the two children.

'This has all been blown out of proportion,' she said. 'I gave that officer permission to spank them. He didn't hurt them.'
He is the President Elect who famously accused a CNN reporter of creating 'fake news' after the 'dirty dossier' scandal broke last week.

But now, there is a fake Trump, posing as the statesman in London - and it's made entirely of wax.

Madame Tussauds, the world-famous waxworks, has today unveiled its incredibly lifelike model of the President, who will officially take office on Friday.

Madame Tussauds has unveiled its waxwork of President Elect Donald J Trump just in time for his inauguration

Stylists put the finishing touches to the wax figure of President Elect Donald J Trump

It will give people the chance to take selfies with the fake President without having to cross the Atlantic Ocean

It is going on show in time for the Inauguration Ceremony, set to be viewed by millions all over the world, when he moves from Trump Towers to the White House.

He takes over from Barrack Obama, who gave his final White House press conference in Washington today.

In London, the model of Trump will join other famous presidents, including Obama, as well Russian leader Putin and Britain's own Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

He joins other celebrities in the star-studded halls such as the Queen, David Beckham and Freddie Mercury.

The newest waxwork of Trump depicts him in the Oval Office, with pictures of his family sitting on the famous desk.

It will give people the chance to take selfies with the new President and glimpse the famous face without having to cross the Atlantic Ocean or wait for a state visit.

It has taken hundreds of hours to make the model, made of wax and painted by the institution's world famous artists.

Here, a visitor poses with the model of Trump in the famous Oval Office in the White House

Making the waxworks is a painstaking process and takes hundreds of hours of work

Visitors can pretend to get involved in presidential business, sitting beside the famed table recreated at the London attraction

Trump's election has sparked protest all over the world and Spanish Femen activists demonstrated topless outside a waxwork in Spain this week when another model was unveiled

Although, like in the US, he could prove a controversial appointment, with a similar waxwork in Madrid sparking a massive demonstration by women this week.

A topless Femen protester stormed the stage topless with the words 'grab back' written on her breasts when the model was unveiled in Spain this week.

And a women's march against Trump, who has had numerous unproven allegations about his sexual behaviour directed against him in recent months, is planned in London on Saturday.

And it will be hoped that the wax model gets better ratings in London that the statesman is getting ahead of entering the Oval Office on Friday.

In poll after poll, the numbers are more flattering for Democrat Obama, who leaves with record exit ratings as he prepares to hand over power.
Two identical twin sisters have finished their teenage dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail at the age of 80, 14 years after they took their first steps on it.

Elrose Couric and Sue Hollinger started hiking the 2,190-mile trail in 2002 and finished their last section of the trail on July 7.

Over the years, the sisters have endured broken bones and bruises, near-drowning incidents and even a brush with a murderer. But all in all, they say 'it was such a fun time'.

The trail is one of the longest footpaths in the world and most hikers hike it in sections, like Couric and Hollinger, rather than straight through. But if hiked all in one go, it usually takes six months.

Twin sisters Sue Hollinger, left, and Elrose Couric, right, finished hiking the Appalachian Trail together in July

The identical sisters (Sue pictured in pink, Elrose in blue) started hiking the trail in their 60s, when they moved to North Carolina. It took them 14 years to finish the trail

About three million hike the trail each year. Three thousand attempt thru-hikes, but only one in four complete that feat.

In an interview with the Asheville Citizen-Times, the sisters say they first got interested in hiking around 1995, when they moved to a mountainside house in Waynesville, North Carolina.

The sisters spend half of their year in North Carolina and the other half in Key Largo, Florida.

In their 60s, they first joined a local hiking club and began hiking every trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In just three years, they finished all 900 miles of trail and moved onto bigger targets - hiking all of the Western North Carolina peaks over 6,000 feet.

The Appalachian Trial extends from Georgia all the way to Maine. It hiked straight through, it takes about six months

They started hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2002, fulfilling a dream they had when they were teenagers.

'Girls didn't do that sort of thing then,' Couric says.

The sisters would hike the trail in sections, sometimes sleeping overnight on the trail or driving to a hotel or home to sleep. They would park one car at the start of the trail and rent another to park at the bottom of the trail.

With this strategy, they covered between seven to more than 18 miles a day, averaging about 200 miles a year.

They say their secret to endurance is a glass of red wine every night, or even better - red wine and cold pizza.

The sisters say that they faced the most treacherous terrain in Maine and New Hampshire. It was while hiking a section in Maine that Couric fractured a rib when she tripped and fell onto her hiking pole.

And on the hike from Maryland into Virginia, Couric fell again, broke her fingers and had to be in a cast for six weeks.

Couric nearly drowned on another part of the trail where they needed to fjord a river. There was a rope strung across the stream for help but Couric had a hard time holding on with her heavy gear.

'I couldn't step down because I couldn't reach the bottom,' Couric said. 'I tried to fling myself across, but tore my rotator cuff. I needed an operation when I got back. But I couldn't let go, I would have been swept away. That was scary.'

There were other hazards of the trail as well.

'One time we were hiking with someone in the early part of Virginia and they left,' Couric said. 'The next day, someone came and said beware of a man with a dog, who killed two women last night. Who did we see the next day, but a man with a dog. We decided, 'No more hiking this year.''

The twins say they also ran into a mama bear on the trail and had to scare it away with loud growls. On another occasion they had to use a epinephrine shot after they were swarmed and stung by yellow jackets.

But it was worth it in the end, for a little extra time together. The twins say they didn't spend much time with each other for the three decades they were married (the two both of their husbands within two years) since their husbands didn't like each other, so they relish the sister time they get together now.

'Our religion was being in the woods,' Hollinger said. 'We love maintaining the trails and just being in the woods. It doesn't matter how or when or why. Both of us were so lucky. We couldn't have done it without each other.'
A man bearing an uncanny resemblance to Winston Churchill off the new 5 notes has been pictured in a pub.

Roy Thomas, who lives in Wallasey, shared an image of a bald man who was the spitting image of Churchill.

In the post, a 5 note with Churchill's face on was held up in front of the lookalike, who was playing poker next to a woman.

Mr Thomas joked how 'it was not every day you meet the man off the fivers' in his post that went viral.

Roy Thomas posted this hilarious picture on Twitter showing the uncanny resemblance of a man playing poker with the former Prime Minister

The new five pound notes - featuring a portrait of the wartime Prime Minister - were released in September.

The polymer notes are cleaner, safer and stronger and are expected to last an average of five years, compared to the current note's two years.

New security features  such as a transparent window  supposedly make the note harder to counterfeit.

Since they were released, the new 5 notes have become a valuable collectors' item.

Notes with low serial numbers in the first printing run have become prized collectors' items.

Elsewhere, 5 notes with tiny portraits on - that were added by micro-engraver Graham Short - are valued at 50,000. The search is still on for the final two in circulation around the UK.

The old fiver, featuring prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, will continue to be valid until May 5, 2017.
The Supreme Court will rule on Tuesday whether Theresa May can trigger Brexit without a vote by MPs.

The eagerly awaited judgement could throw a major spanner in the works of the Prime Minister's timetable for triggering our departure from the EU by the end of March.

The case, spearheaded by businesswoman and former model Gina Miller, centres on whether Article 50 can be invoked using executive powers.

The eagerly awaited ruling could throw a major spanner in the works of the Prime Minister's timetable for triggering our departure from the EU by the end of March

Members of the Supreme Court, back row from left, Lord Carnwath, Lord Sumption, Lord Wilson, Lord Reed, Lord Hughes and Lord Hodge. Front row from left: Lord Kerr, Deputy President Lady Hale, President Lord Neuberger, Lord Mance and Lord Clarke

The High Court previously concluded that parliament must have a say because launching the mechanism implies repealing the legislation that underpins our EU membership.

Ministers have privately

The date of the ruling - which will come at 9.30 am and is only expected to take a few minutes to hand down - was was announced today after Mrs May laid out her plans to break free from Brussels.

In an historic speech that will define the UK for generations, Mrs May declared that Britain will not stay in the single market because controlling immigration is a red line.

Mrs May also made clear the UK will no longer tolerate being bossed around by European judges.

She conceded that there will be a vote in both Houses on the final package negotiated with the EU.

During the Supreme Court hearing last month, Mrs Miller's QC Lord Pannick told the judges it was 'so obvious, so basic' that the PM does not have the power to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without MPs having a vote first.

He said that arguing that 17.4million people voted to leave the EU so the Government could start the process without Parliament's authorisation was 'impossible to understand as a legal proposition'.

The QC also accused ministers of resisting attempts to make the June 23 vote legally binding and said they had only wanted it to be advisory.

He also said it would be 'quite extraordinary' if Brexit was started by a 'minister acting without Parliamentary authority' and compared it to 'ruling by decree'.

The case, spearheaded by businesswoman and former model Gina Miller (pictured), centres on whether Article 50 can be invoked using executive powers

In stinging criticism of the Government's case he said they were looking for a 'dog that doesn't bark' and argued the Prime Minister would be overreaching her powers.

But James Eadie QC, acting for the government, insisted Mrs May was entitled to use the same executive powers that are used to go to war.

However, he also made clear the PM was ready to force a new 'one-line' bill through Parliament to trigger Brexit if they lose the case.

Brexit Secretary David Davis today condemning 'voices' in the EU suggesting the UK could be punished for leaving, insisting: 'We're not going to take that.'

He also bluntly dismissed the idea that MPs could block Brexit by voting down whatever package is negotiated - insisting that would just mean we quit without a deal.

The combative comments came as Boris Johnson suggested the French were acting like Nazi prison camp guards by threatening 'punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape'.
Brexit Secretary David Davis revealed today that he won 1,000 from betting on the outcome of the EU referendum.

He placed the bet on the day of the vote  23 June  when polls suggested Remain was on course for victory.

Days after winning the bet Mr Davis, who campaigned in favour of Brexit, was given the job of implementing our EU divorce by the new Prime Minister Theresa May.

Brexit Secretary David Davis revealed today that he won 1,000 from betting on the outcome of the EU referendum

He didn't reveal the value of his stake or the odds of the bet. But he said the windfall is still helping him pay the bill for his office drinks.

Explaining why he made the bet, Mr Davis told LBC Radio: 'Polls are not that reliable.

'I was in this studio on referendum day with Iain Dale, referendum night, and the polls at that point were telling us there's going to be a 10-point advantage to Remain.

'So I put some money on, and it's still paying my office's drinks bills. I made a grand.'

It was a good summer for Mr Davis, whose earnings doubled when he landed the Cabinet job of Brexit Secretary, jumping from his basic MP salary of 75,000 to more than 145,000.

He faces one of the toughest jobs in the Cabinet to implement Brexit.

Today he dismissed fears that Britain is not ready for a Brexit showdown with the EU today - pointing out that the country had managed to win the Second World War.

The Brexit Secretary ramped up tensions by condemning 'voices' in the bloc suggesting the UK could be punished for leaving, insisting: 'We're not going to take that.'

David Davis, pictured on ITV's Good Morning Britain show this morning with presenteres Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan, said he placed the bet on Brexit on the day of the referendum  23 June  when polls suggested Remain was on course for victory

He also bluntly dismissed the idea that MPs could block us from leaving by voting down whatever package is negotiated - insisting that would just mean we quit without a deal.

And asked whether the government was prepared for the challenge of negotiating Brexit, Mr Davis said: 'Our civil service can cope with world war two, they can easily cope with this.

The combative comments came as Boris Johnson suggested the French were acting like Nazi prison camp guards by threatening 'punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape'.

The PM yesterday laid out her plans to break free from Brussels in an historic speech that will define the UK for generations.

She announced that Britain would not stay in the single market because controlling immigration was a red line.

Theresa May also said the UK would no longer tolerate being bossed around by European judges.

The opening gambit was followed up by a series of phone calls to EU leaders, including Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande.

But furious EU chiefs hit back at Mrs May's threat to walk away from Brexit talks if Brussels refused to offer Britain a good deal in divorce talks.
President-elect Donald Trump blasted Rep. John Lewis on Tuesday, saying in a pre-taped Fox News Channel interview that the Georgia congressman 'got caught' in a lie about his history of inauguration boycotts.

But he insisted that he's willing to meet with the Democrat despite being 'off to a bad start.'

Lewis claimed this week that skipping Trump's swearing-in will be a first for him, but it was later learned that he had also refused to show up for George W. Bush's inauguration.

As with Trump's, Lewis claimed at the time that Bush wasn't a legitimately elected president. He said later that he had forgotten about his 2001 boycott.

'Yeah, he doesn't remember. He conveniently doesn't remember,' Trump scoffed on 'Fox & Friends.'

President-elect Donald Trump said Rep. John Lewis 'got caught in a very bad lie' when he claimed boycotting the Trump inauguration would be a first-time event for him

Trump also said in a pre-taped Fox News Channel interview (left) that he wants boycotting Democrats to return their inauguration tickets to his transition team

'We're off to a bad start. There's no question about it,' Trump said of Lewis. 'What he did was a very, very bad thing.'

'Not for me  for me it doesn't matter  he did a bad thing for the country. Very, very divisive. We have a divided country. And it's not divided because of me. It's been divided. But we have a very divided country. And what he did was very, very divisive.'

In a separate interview with Axios, a new media outlet that launched Wednesday, Trump insisted that he's 'not really a divisive figure.'

'In the history of politics, there's nobody that has been treated worse by the press than I have,' he said, explaining how he's acquired that reputation.

But Trump spent some of his Fox News interview lambasting Lewis and mocking his claim that he had forgotten he boycotted the George W. Bush inaugural in 2001.

'How do you forget if you go to an inauguration?' the president-elect asked. 'I can tell you when I was at the inaugurations. And you don't forget something like that. So he got caught. And it's pretty bad, and it's making him look bad, frankly.'

'I think he just grandstanded, John Lewis, and then he got caught in a very bad lie,' Trump added.

Defending his decision to skip Trump's inauguration, Lewis had said: 'It will be the first one that I miss since Ive been in Congress. You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong, is not right.'

Nearly 60 Democratic members of Congress have said they'll be elsewhere on Friday when the 45th president takes his oath of office in Washington. Trump said that's fine  as long as his transition team gets their highly sought-after tickets back.

'As far as other people not going, that's okay because we need seats so badly!' he told interviewer Ainsley Earhart.

Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a civil rights icon, was lambasted over the weekend by President-elect Donald Trump after Lewis questioned the legitimacy of Trump's election

'I hope they'll give me their tickets. Are they going to give us their tickets? Or are they going to give them to other people?'

'No, what happens to their tickets?' he repeated, extending the laugh line.

'I hope they're going to give us their tickets.'

Trump had returned to attacking Lewis on Twitter earlier in the day, accusing him of telling a 'lie.'

'John Lewis said about my inauguration, 'It will be the first one that I've missed.' WRONG (or lie)!' he wrote in two tweets.

'He boycotted Bush 43 also because he ... thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bush's swearing-in' Trump continued.

Lewis 'doesn't believe Bush is the true elected president.' Sound familiar! WP,' Trump concluded, in a reference to The Washington Post.

The Post reported in 2001 that Lewis didn't plan to attend Bush's inauguration after the contested Florida recount because he 'thought it would be hypocritical to attend Bush's swearing-in because he doesn't believe Bush is the true elected president.' Instead, he spent the inauguration in his district.

In both cases, the Democrats, Al Gore in 2000 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, won the popular vote while the Republican won the election by carrying the Electoral College.

Lewis infuriated Trump by saying he wouldn't attend this year's festivities because he didn't think Trump was 'legitimate,' following the intelligence community's assessment on Russian hacking in the election.

President-elect Donald Trump blasted Rep. John Lewis for skipping his inauguration

Trump noted that Lewis said in 2001 it would be 'hypocritical' of him to attend George W. Bush's inauguration

Lewis told NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, 'I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected, and they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton,' in portions of an interview released earlier this week.

Trump greeted Lewis' comments with a series of tweets that went after him and his congressional district, suggesting the Georgia Democrat's district 'is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested).'

'Congressman John Lewis should finally focus on the burning and crime infested inner-cities of the U.S. I can use all the help I can get!' Trump said.

HAND OF PEACE: President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Martin Luther King III after their meeting at Trump Tower Monday, following his spat with Lewis

Lewis represents much of downtown Atlanta, an ethnically diverse area, which features the world's busiest airport and the headquarters of many major American businesses including Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola and CNN.

Trump on Monday, which was Martin Luther King Day, refrained from hitting Lewis, who himself didn't directly reference the spat during his own MLK remarks in Miami.

Trump's incoming White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, offered reverent remarks about Lewis, even as he pushed back on Lewis' position.

'Spicer called Lewis' comments 'disappointing,' but also referred to him as 'such an icon of voting rights and civil rights.'
The Wynn Las Vegas has removed all Tom Ford beauty products and eyewear from the resort after comments the designer made about Melania Trump.

Ford, 55, said during an appearance on The View in November that he would not be dressing Melania Trump while she was in the White House because his clothes are 'too expensive' for a first lady to wear, noting that in that position she would have to 'relate to everybody.'

Donald Trump responded this this by telling Ainsley Earhardt on Fox & Friends that Melania never asked Tom Ford to dress her.

'Never asked Tom Ford, doesn't like Tom Ford, doesn't like his designs,' said Trump.

He then went on to say: 'Tom Ford is an example. "I will not dress the First Lady." He was never asked to dress - and Steve Wynn just called me and he said he thought it was so terrible what Tom Ford said, that he threw his clothing out of his Las Vegas hotel.

That was later confirmed by a spokesperson for Wynn Las Vegas, who told DailyMail.com in statement: 'Wynn Las Vegas confirms it removed the Tom Ford line of cosmetics and sunglasses from the resort this past weekend.'

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On the attack: Donald Trump (left) lashed out at Tom Ford (right) in an interview on Wednesday, saying his wife Melania never asked the designer to dress her

Allegation: He also claimed that Steve Wynn (above in 2015 with third wife Andrea Hissom) 'threw out' Ford's clothing from his hotel when he heard the designer's comments about Melania

President-elect #DonaldTrump on #TomFord refusing to dress #MelaniaTrump: "He was never asked to dress [Melania] Im not a fan of Tom Ford" pic.twitter.com/1PmMPWs9zk  Fox News (@FoxNews) January 18, 2017

The Wynn property in Las Vegas does not carry Tom Ford clothing, though they did carry the designer's beauty collection.

In fact, Wynn has publicized the fact that his hotel carried Tom Ford Beauty many times in the past, noting they are one of the few places on The Strip to carry the collection.

The Wynn also posted an ad over the weekend looking to hire someone to work at the Tom Ford counter, noting that they are currently growing and building that business.

The only freestanding Tom Ford retail boutique in Las Vegas is at The Shops at Crystals, which is partially owned by the investment management company Invesco.

Invesco's chairman and chief strategist is none other than Wilbur Ross, Trump's nominee for secretary of Commerce.

That boutique remains open at this time, with no plans to close despite the close relationship between Trump and Ross.

Melania meanwhile will reportedly be wearing Ralph Lauren for the inauguration on Friday.

Wynn was appointed a member of the inaugural committee back in November, the group responsible for helping to raise the millions it takes to put on the events surrounding the swearing in ceremony every for years.

President Obama's team raised $53million for his 2009 swearing-in.

Uncertain claim: The Wynn confirmed this in a statement to DailyMail, saying they removed the Tom Ford line of cosmetics and sunglasses from the resort this past weekend (Tom Ford beauty stand at Wynn above)

Reasons: Ford said he would not dress a first lady because his clothes are too expensive, though he did create a grown for Michelle Obama in 2011 (left; Melania on right in 2016)

Still going: Wynn Hotels posted an ad just this past Saturday looking for someone to work the Tom Ford Beauty counter, saying the business was 'growing' (above)

Ford stopped by The View in November to discuss his new film Nocturnal Animals, but then talk turned to the future first lady.

'We've got a new first lady, Melania Trump, and she's quite beautiful, and she's thin, she's gonna look great in [your] clothes, no?' host Joy Behar asked Ford at the top of the interview, clearly hoping to learn if Ford would consider working with the former model or had a strict ban.

A hesitant looking Ford paused for a moment before responding to the question, saying: 'I don't know. I was asked to dress her quite a few years ago and I declined.'

He then explained his reason for passing on the offer by stating: 'Well, she's not necessarily my image.'

Ford then made the comment about his clothes being 'too expensive' for a first lady.

His designer wears were not 'too expensive' for the current first lady though, who Ford outfitted in a custom-made ivory evening gown back in 2011 for a dinner with the royal family at Buckingham Palace. Ford even threw in a pair of gloves to round out the look.

The price of the dress was never given since it was one-of-a-kind, but Ford's gowns tend to start around $5,000, with many of his evening looks being priced in the five-figure range.

'Michelle I dressed once when she was going to Buckingham Palace for dinner with the Queen,' said Ford when asked to comment on some of Michelle's more expensive looks.

'I thought that was appropriate and I was honored.'

When prodded a bit more about whether Melania should really stop wearing expensive clothes once her husband takes office, Ford simply said: 'Ill leave that to Melania.'

He also made a point of noting that he would not dress Hillary Clinton if she was in the White House.

Popular guy: Ford' designs are popular among A-list stars like his friend and muse Julianne Moore (left; Ford on right with husband Richard Buckley in 2010)

Thanks but no thanks: Ford previously said that he was asked to dress Melania in the past but turned down the request because 'she's not necessarily my image' (Ford with Miley Cyrus and Rihanna in 2014 above)

There have been few designers more successful than Ford, who shot to fame back in 1994 when he was named creative director of Gucci.

The house was almost bankrupt at the time he took the reins, and within five years was valued at $4billion.

His edgy looks were a hit with critics as well, and in 1999 he took on a second job as creative director of Yves St. Laurent.

That post proved a bit more challenging at times for Ford, as even though critics loves his lines and profits for the fashion house were up, his work was hated by Yves himself, who was not shy about voicing his distaste for the young designer's hyper-sexualized aesthetic.

Then, in 2004, he walked away from the top post at both houses when questions began to arise about the future of Gucci group and who would be in control.

He enjoyed a few years off before he launched his eponymous line in 2006, which included accessories and beauty products as well as his designs for men and women.

Ford's womenswear line fast became a hit with A-list celebrities and high-society ladies, who had no problem dropping $11,000 on one of the designer's sequined gowns or a comparatively reasonable $2,200 for a black sleeveless dress.

Ford also did his best to make sure his designs were not overexposed, which may explain why he refused to dress Melania back in the day.

The designer has made a point of never dressing more than one celebrity for major Hollywood events like the Oscars and Golden Globes.

Among those who have been lucky enough to walk the red carpet in a Tom Ford gown are Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts, Resse Witherspoon and Julianne Moore, who along with Tom Hanks' wife Rita Wilson has long been one of the designer's muses.

Ford is so strict about the one dress rule that Hayden Panettiere was forced to go out and drop $10,000 on one of the designer's gowns for the 2014 Golden Globes.

The actress, who was nominated that year for her work in Nashville, said that it had always been her dream to wear one of Ford's creations for a special night, but unfortunately for her the designer had styled Watts for the ceremony.

Ford did later send Panettiere flowers along with a note telling her how beautiful she looked that night.
A 55,000-pound tractor-trailer has been swallowed by a sinkhole in north Georgia.

The large truck fell into the sinkhole Tuesday morning in the parking lot of a Hall County car wash.

Crews worked throughout the day to remove the truck, which has its front two wheels sticking up in the air, but could not get it to budge.

Fire Services Capt. Zachary Brackett says the truck was carrying 1,600 gallons of water at the time.

Crews emptied the tanks, but they were still unable to lift the truck out of the 10-foot hole on Tuesday evening. It was still there on Wednesday morning.

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A 55,000-pound tractor-trailer has been swallowed by a sinkhole in north Georgia

The large truck fell into the sinkhole Tuesday morning in the parking lot of a Hall County car wash

Brackett told NBC News: 'It being a sinkhole, there is a possibility of the outer walls of the current hole being unstable. We don't want to cause a further collapse or anything by pulling the truck out.'

Oakwood Public Works department officials say the sinkhole appears to have been caused by an old storm drain that caved in.

There were no injuries. Brackett told NBC News that the driver got himself out of the vehicle.

Hall County firefighters say about five gallons of fuel leaked into the hole.

Fire personnel left the scene at about 4pm Tuesday, Brackett told DailyMail.com on Wednesday morning in an email.

Oakwood Public Works department officials say the sinkhole appears to have been caused by an old storm drain that caved in

Crews emptied the tanks, but they were still unable to lift the truck out of the 10-foot hole Tuesday evening

He said: 'At that time, the truck was still in the hole and the recovery company was working on a plan to shore up the walls or excavate additional sections of the hole to facilitate it's removal.

'The scene was left in the care of the recovery company and the property owners.'

Oakwood's Public Works Director Jason Spencer told DailyMail.com in a Wednesday email: 'As of this morning the truck is still in the hole.

'It doesn't look like there was any damages to city infrastructure, only private property.

'We won't be able to assess any further until the truck has been removed.'

Hall County firefighters say about five gallons of fuel leaked into the hole
Koo Stark, the former girlfriend of Prince Andrew, was back in court today for the latest hearing in her long-running row with her ex

Koo Stark - the former girlfriend of Prince Andrew - returned to court today for the latest round of her never-ending legal battle with her ex-partner.

The New-York born former actress sat across a courtroom from American Warren Walker, heir to the Forbes publishing and shipping fortune, during the hearing in London.

The pair have been embroiled in disputes resulting from their split for over a decade, with hearings in both the US and UK courts.

Their latest spat is over 200,000 which Miss Stark, who was previously made bankrupt, claims she is owed by Mr Walker - a claim which he is asking the court to reject.

The 60-year-old listened as Mr Justice Moor granted her request for the case to be adjourned.

Her barrister, James Stuart, argued that Mr Walker's bid to have her claim thrown out should not be heard at this stage, as she had not been presented with his case in the correct way.

Postponing the hearing until a later date, Mr Justice Moor said: 'As I have already indicated, I have been very concerned to keep this case on track - there has been far too much litigation between these parties.

'I was very clear that this matter should be dealt with justly as soon as possible.

'But I have come to the conclusion, with a very heavy heart, that I cannot be satisfied substantial injustice might not be caused to Miss Stark if the matter was dealt with without formal pleadings.'

Ms Stark (left in 1998) dated the Duke of York in the 1980s when she was in her 20s

The judge added: 'I have therefore come to the reluctant conclusion that there have to be pleadings so that both sides are entirely aware of the case they have to meet when the matter comes back for hearing.'

No date was set for the resumed hearing.

More than three years ago, Miss Stark was accused of stealing a 40,000 oil painting from Mr Walker.

She returned the work by Anthonie van Borssom, which depicts a moonlit coastal landscape, before any trial was staged.

A judge at Isleworth Crown Court had been told that prosecution and defence lawyers had reached an agreement under which Miss Stark would return the painting - and she was cleared of theft.

American-born Ms Stark dated the Duke of York in the 1980s when she was in her 20s.
A furious row erupted between the BBC and its own governing body yesterday over whether a report by its political editor was impartial.

The BBC Trust said Laura Kuenssberg had broken accuracy and impartiality rules in a controversial item about Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

But, in an extraordinary breach of protocol, the Corporation hit back, claiming the BBC Trust had got it wrong.

Row: The BBC breached accuracy and impartiality rules in a 2015 report (pictured) about Jeremy Corbyn's refusal to support police shooting dead marauding terrorists.

Ex-minister Ian Austin used Twitter to express his anger at his leader and the need for shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn to have to take to the airwaves to rescue Labour's reputation

Former Cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw expressed dismay at Mr Corbyn's refusal to support the police in bringing an atrocity to an end

The item, which aired on the News At Six in November 2015, discussed UK security measures following the terror attacks in Paris. Miss Kuenssberg asked the Labour leader whether or not he would be happy for British officers to pull the trigger in the event of a Paris-style attack.

Mr Corbyn was then shown saying he was not happy with a shoot-to-kill policy in general  suggesting the answer was no. However, the footage was actually an answer to a different question. The trust, set to be disbanded in April, said the report had not been duly accurate but cleared her of any bias.

A viewer complained about a News At Six report by Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg (left). James Harding, director of BBC News (right) said: 'While we respect the Trust and the people who work there, we disagree with this finding'

Jonathan Munro, the BBCs head of newsgathering, said yesterday: We just think the trust has got this wrong, in truth. We disagree with the finding. Interestingly the complaint went round the trust five times before a committee of the trust partially upheld it. We think the report was fair, accurate [and] impartial.

On Radio 4s The Media Show, he said: We dont [think her report was inaccurate] nothing in the trusts findings gives me any cause for concern about that.

BBC insiders said the complaint was made by a viewer rather than Mr Corbyns office. Sources said it was unprecedented for the broadcaster to reject decisions by the BBC Trust so openly.
South Korea wants to create an 'ultra-fast' train it hopes will be able to carry passengers at almost the speed of sound.

Officials in the capital Seoul hope the near-supersonic mode of transport will be able to travel more than 620mph - drastically reducing journey times in the country.

It would operate inside a 'low-pressure tube' and, if development proves successful, could travel along at twice the speed of magnetic levitation trains - currently the fastest in the world capable of reaching 268mph.

South Korea wants to create an 'ultra-fast' train it hopes will be able to carry passengers at almost the speed of sound (file picture)

According to the Korea Times, the train will almost reach the speed of sound just over - 767mph.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute said: 'We hope to create an ultra-fast train, which will travel inside a state-of-the-art low-pressure tube at lightning speeds, in the not-too-distant future.

'To that end, we will cooperate with associated institutes as well as Hanyang University to check the viability of various related technologies called the hyper-tube format over the next three years.'

'Many countries such as the United States, Canada, and China are competing to take the lead in this futuristic technology and we will also try to preempt our global rivals.

'The government has focused on interdisciplinary research and this will be the biggest effort we are working on to develop a representative future technology.'

It comes months after it emerged that Hyperloop, a futuristic transit system that allows travellers to reach their destinations at high speeds, is coming a step closer to reality.

ELON MUSK'S RADICAL VISION FOR A SUPER-FAST HYPERLOOP Hyperloop is a proposed method of travel that would transport people at 740mph (1,200km/h) between distant locations. It was unveiled by Elon Musk in 2013, who said it could take passengers the 380 miles (610km) from LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes - half the time it takes a plane. It is essentially a long tube that has had the air removed to create a vacuum. The cost of building a line from LA to San Francisco has previously been estimated at $16 billion (10 billion) - although critics say it would be nearer $100 billion (65 billion) The tube is suspended off the ground to protect against weather and earthquakes. Passengers would sit in either individual or group pods, which would then be accelerated with magnets. Capsules carrying six to eight people would depart every 30 seconds, with tickets costing around $20 (13) each way. The cost of building a line from LA to San Francisco has been estimated at $16 billion (10 billion) - although critics say it would be nearer $100 billion (65 billion). Advertisement

Los Angeles-based start-up Hyperloop One has started construction on a development that could potentially become the world's first Hyperloop transport system.

The first tube of 'DevLoop', which looks set to become the first full Hyperloop system, has been successfully installed in a desert in North Las Vegas.

Hyperloop is essentially a long tube that has had the air removed to create a vacuum. The tube is suspended off the ground to protect against weather and earthquakes.

Earlier this month Dubai officials announced a deal with Hyperloop One to study the potential for building a line linking it to the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi within the next five years.

Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Hyperloop One are working along with engineering and architecture firms AECOM and Arup to introduce the world's first Hyperloop in Dubai.
Texas police are hunting for the thief who stole a credit card from an elderly woman who had died in her parked car on the way to see her terminally ill husband.

The 70-year-old woman passed away from natural causes while sitting in the parking lot of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit station in Carrollton on New Year's Eve.

Authorities told Daily Mail Online that the woman had arrived at the station to catch a train and visit her husband at the Dallas VA Medical Center with friends.

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Texas police released surveillance footage of this suspected thief, who allegedly stole the pictured credit card from the purse of an elderly woman as she lay dead in her car

The thief was caught on camera buying bags worth of knickknacks at at $1.00 Mart in Dallas

Her credit card was taken from a purse that had been sitting on the dead woman's lap.

Carrollton police said the thief open the driver's side door, which had been left unlocked, and snatched the card.

Authorities 'highly suspect' the thief knew the woman was dead because she 'did not look she was sleeping', Police Media Specialist Jolene DeVito told Daily Mail Online.

The woman was supposed to meet her friends at the station, but did not show up on time.

They visited her husband without the elderly woman and then found her dead body when they returned to the station five hours later.

Carrollton police have since released surveillance footage of the suspect, who they said used the credit card the next day at $1.00 Mart in Dallas.

The footage shows a woman in a purple zip-up hoodie buying two bags worth of knickknacks at the store.

She repeatedly picks out more things for the cashier as he rings up her purchases before allegedly handing over the dead woman's card.

Police said the woman also used the credit card at a Food Land in Dallas, according to Dallas Morning News.

Carrollton police have released the footage and asked the public to contact them if they recognize the suspect.

Anyone with information can contact Carrollton Police at 972-466-3333 or send tips to CrimeTips@CityofCarrollton.com.
A far-left group made up of disenchanted Greens members is calling for Australia Day celebrations to be cancelled and national flags to be stolen and burnt.

The radical group, which calls itself Left Renewal, posted a call to arms to its growing following on Facebook ahead of the national public holiday on January 26.

Aboriginal and non-aboriginal supporters were encouraged to spray paint walls and government offices, make spears and steal and burn Australian flags on the day.

A far-left group made up of disenchanted Greens members is calling for Australia Day celebrations to be cancelled

The group, which calls itself Left Renewal, encouraged supporters to erect protest banners

The group, which is made up of disenchanted Greens members, linked to an event hosted by another group named Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance

The group also suggested erecting protest banners, with slogans like 'F*** Aussie Pride', 'No Pride in Genocide' and 'Burn The Aussie Flag' seen across the page.

Left Renewal linked to an event hosted by another group named Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance, which proposed 'seven days' of resistance in the lead-up to Australia Day.

NSW Premier Mike Baird condemned the group's plans, the Daily Telegraph reported.

'Australia Day is a day for all Australians. Anybody setting out to disrupt those celebrations, or promote disrespect for our flag, will be unsuccessful,' he said.

Federal Greens leader Richard Di Natale refused to comment on the matter when contacted by the Daily Telegraph.

Labor MP Anthony Albanese told the publication that Left Renewal was 'completely out of touch'.

NSW Premier Mike Baird condemned the group's planned 'seven days of resistance' in the lead-up to Australia Day
Cars were left stranded and even entirely submerged by floods as thunderstorms battered the Greater Houston area with six inches of rain Wednesday morning.

Flash flood warnings remain in effect in the Houston region, where fire officials have received more than 65 calls for high-water rescues.

Most of those calls came from motorists stranded on flooded roadways, they said - and it looks like more rain may follow on Thursday, in a last burst of thunderstorms in the region.

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Sunk: Drivers were left stranded when rains flooded Houston on Wednesday. Up to six inches of rain fell on the city in six hours

Submerged: Some vehicles were almost fully submerged in the water, which flooded swathes of the Greater Houston area

Sunk: Cars were left stranded (right) and a school bus was left trapped in a sinkhole (left) in the wake of the heavy early morning rains

According to Weather.com, between four and six inches of rain fell between 1:30am and 7:30am, snaring drivers struggling to make it in during the morning rush hour.

The downpour was caused by a 'stalled front draped along the southeast Texas coast interacting with Gulf of Mexico moisture,' Weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce said.

'More showers and thunderstorms are possible through Thursday morning before an area of low pressure pushes the front out of the region.'

Weather.com later forecast 'AM Thundershowers' for Thursday, with a 90 per cent chance of rain.

At one point early Wednesday morning, a good Samaritan waded through chest-high water to rescue a driver and two passengers who became stranded on a Metro bus.

The man, Carlos Castellanos, helped the three people on the bus - including the driver - navigate the water, which he estimated was around four and a half feet deep.

'Wow. The guy is really, really brave,' one passenger, identified as Victor, told ABC 13. 'I was scared. The water kept rising and rising and rising.'

There were no reports of injuries or deaths.

Stuck: A man is helped off a stranded bus by good Samaritan Carlos Castellanos after four-and-a-half-foot-deep water left the driver and two passengers trapped

Downpour: The rain was the result of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico hitting a stalled front on the southeastern Texas coast. More rain is expected Thursday before the weather moves on

Wading: A man is forced to wade through knee-deep water in Houston. At least 19 high water locations were reported as of midday Wednesday. There had been 37 reported at 9am

Shut down: The rain shut down most bus and train lines in the city - though airports and shipping ports remained open

At least 19 high water locations were still reported as of midday Wednesday - down from 37 at 9am.

Metro shut down all high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and rail lines, except for the Purple Line.

Emergency management officials in the city, which has 2.2 million residents, are asking people to avoid travel.

Officials also closed some schools and delayed the opening of many others.

However, air travel and ports in the area remained unaffected, although Port Houston advised its employees to be cautious if they decided to drive to work.

Heavy rain and lightning also hit in the region extending from San Antonio to Austin, while North Texas was experiencing scattered showers.

Stormy weather: Rain is expected to continue Wednesday night across Houston and the wider area, stretching up into northeast states

Thunderstorms: According to Weather.com, thunderstorms can be expected through to Thursday morning as yet more rain falls
High school graduates are rejoicing as main round offers for university placements are rolled out.

More than 44,000 offers were sent out across NSW about 6pm on Wednesday. In Victoria, more than 54,000 students received main round offers on Wednesday.

While some might have been disheartened by their offer, many students took to social media to celebrate their next adventure.

A student poses with his course offer at RMIT in Melbourne for Criminology and Psychology

He shared the news on Facebook with a picture of himself checking a teddy-bear with a toy stethoscope. 'Chilling with my first patient, Felipe,' he joked

Zein Alabadeen Alhamdani was offered a place in Medicine at Monash University, Melbourne

Zein Alabadeen Alhamdani was offered a place in Medicine at Monash University, Melbourne.

He shared the news on Facebook with a picture of himself checking a teddy-bear with a toy stethoscope.

'Chilling with my first patient, Felipe,' he joked.

A couple of Victorian students were celebrating their placement offers on the same day they passed a driving test.

A New Zealand man said he woke up to 'stoked parents' after he was accepted into Auckland University for a Bachelor of Law

'Nothing beats seeing big smiles on your parents' faces,' Charlie Schwalger wrote on Facebook

'So the kid received his first choice uni offer this morning, then went out and passed his driving test this arvo,' a parent wrote (a student who received a university offer on Wednesday is pictured after passing his driving test on the same day)

Another student was offered her first preference at RMIT on Wednesday morning before getting her P-plates on Wednesday afternoon

A New Zealand man said he woke up to 'stoked parents' after he was accepted into Auckland University for a Bachelor of Law.

'Nothing beats seeing big smiles on your parents' faces,' Charlie Schwalger wrote on Facebook.

Another student joked she 'couldn't wait to accumulate a huge HECS debt'.

Tonnes of teenagers posted screen grabs of their placement offers to social media on Wednesday.

Others added a 'life event' to their Facebook profiles on Wednesday with details of the study they'd be embarking on this year.

At the University of Sydney (USYD), the minimum accepted ATAR was 99.5 for a Bachelor of Combined Law, 98 for a Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) and 95 for a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications.

Another student said 'you have received an offer in this course' was 'the best f***ing words' she'd ever read

An envelope with an offer of study at the University of Western Australia is pictured)

At the University of New South Wales (UNSW), students would need an ATAR of 97.25 to study a Bachelor of Commerce (International) or 95.6 to score a placement in a Bachelor of Architectural Studies.

Alana Adamus of Mosman earned a 97.5 ATAR and has been offered a place in biomedical engineering at UNSW

The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) had three courses with a perfect ATAR of 99.95, including a Bachelor of Advanced Science and a Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation with Fashion and Textiles.

In Victoria, the most popular courses were at Melbourne University. A student needed a 95 ATAR for Commerce, 89.3 for Arts and 85 for Science.

The hardest degrees to get into were also at Melbourne University, with a perfect ATAR of 99.99 needed for a place in the Chancellor's Scholars Programs in Arts, Biomedicine, Commerce and Science.

Alana Adamus of Mosman earned a 97.5 ATAR and has been offered a place in biomedical engineering at UNSW.

The Redlands student told Sydney Morning Herald she'd taken the time to consider a career that won't become obsolete as the job market changes.

Another student joked she 'couldn't wait to accumulate a huge HECS debt'

Some students added a 'life event' to their Facebook profiles on Wednesday with details of the study they'd be embarking on this year

Tonnes of teenagers posted screen grabs of their placement offers to social media on Wednesday

'I think [the job market] definitely will change a lot in the next few decades, especially with technology advancing so greatly,' Ms Adamus told the paper.

'But in regard to my degree and hopeful career it's definitely in line with the change that will happen. In that respect I'm in the right place  if anything it will become more important.'

There was growth in demand for science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees. But demand for communications, media, and creative and performing arts has declined over recent years, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Average ATARs in the fields have reportedly fallen almost seven ATAR points since 2010.

A mother posted her daughter's school photo to Facebook to celebrate her acceptance to Flinders University

RMIT sent a text to a student confirm her place at the university

Comparatively, social sciences and combined degrees in medicine and medical science grew by more than four points since 2010.

In Victoria, criminology, physiotherapy, nursing and agriculture have become more popular. But demand for teaching, paramedicine and journalism has shrunk in the state, according to four years of data, The Age reports.

Demand for RMIT's famed journalism course dropped from a minimum ATAR of 90.25 in 2014 to 81.2 this year.

Both NSW and Victoria have introduced tougher entry standards for education to raise the bar for teachers, and average minimum entry scores in education grew in both states.

A student posted a screen grab of their university offer for RMIT in a Bachelor of Architectural Design

A young woman posted a photo of her offer into Bachelor of Science (Forensic Science) at the University of Western Sydney

A student celebrates his first round offer to Monash University in Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice

While some students might have missed out on their first choice this round, a spokesperson for the University Admissions Centre (UAC) reminded students who missed out this time not to fret.

'While lots of students will have received an early offer, which certainly takes the pressure off, for many the Main Round is all about the course they really want to get into,' said UAC General Manager of Marketing and Engagement, Kim Paino.

'Even with this large number of offers, unfortunately not everyone will be happy after the Main Round. But for anyone who has missed out on an offer, or missed out on their favourite course, don't be disheartened.

'There are several more offer rounds.'

Many universities have alternative pathways.

A teenager celebrated their course offer in Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice at Monash University

Students were posted pictures of the university placement offers on Wednesday night
Anthony Downes, from Buncrana in County Donegal, Ireland, launched a tirade of unprovoked insults against Patricia Barnett and her husband Patrick Murphy

A man who accused his neighbour of having an affair - and called the man's wife fat on Facebook - has been ordered to pay 28,000 in damages.

Anthony Downes, from Buncrana in County Donegal, Ireland, launched a tirade of unprovoked insults against Patricia Barnett and her husband Patrick Murphy.

Letterkenny Circuit Civil Court heard that Ms Barnett screenshot the Facebook posts, which had appeared on February 5th and 6th, 2015, and had then deleted them before contacting the police.

She said the posts had both hurt her personally and professionally and said she had later met clients who had not come back to her business because of the embarrassment the postings had caused.

Mrs Barnett told the court that she barely knew Downes and knew of no reason why he would have posted a number of attacks against her on her private and business Facebook pages.

Mr Murphy, who is his wife's officer manager and also an active member of the RNLI in Buncrana, said he was horrified by the Facebook postings.

'He (Downes) was indicating that I was having an affair. That was totally and utterly untrue,' said Mr Murphy.

He added that the post had been shared 9 times on Facebook and was also liked a number of times.

He said that himself and his wife had to speak to their twins aged 15 about the incident and explain to them that it was not true.

Downes, who did not appear in court, admitted the action and had agreed to apologise unreservedly to the couple.

Barrister for Ms Barnett and Mr Murphy, Patricia McCalum, instructed by solicitor David Henry, said they were seeking damages on behalf of their clients.

Barrister for Downes, Mr Peter Nolan said his client had agreed to give an apology to Ms Barnett and Mr Murphy.

The apology read 'I, Anthony Downes, Buncrana, Co Donegal am responsible and I accept responsibility for the posting on Facebook of comments and about Patricia Barnett, Patrick Murphy and Ann Harkin, which comments were irresponsible and false and without doubt took the good name and reputation of the persons mentioned, namely Patricia Barnett, Patrick Murphy and Anne Harkin.

'I full and sincerely apologise for the harm done, for my unjust attack on their reputation and for the nasty nature of the comments.

'The people named are the people of the highest calibre and character and on my part I accept that where they to be believed they would drag these people's names through the mud and bring them down in the eyes of the persons reading these remarks.

Patricia Barnett and Patrick Murphy leaving Letterkenny Circuit Court yesterday after the case

'I have no rational explanation for the posting of the comments. I borne some ill will of grudge to these people and that ill will was taken out by posting the remarks on Facebook. I am ashamed and embarrassed by the harm and distress caused to my neighbours.

'I promise faithfully that there will never be a repetition of the behaviour or publications and I would ask anybody that read the posts to ignore them and to continue to hold the targets of my remarks in the high esteem in which they were held prior to my unjust interference in their lives,' he said.

Judge James O'Donoghue described the Facebook posts written by Downes as 'scurrilous and reckless.'

'The court is satisfied that both were wronged and their names seriously sullied,' said the Judge.

The judge awarded Ms Barnett (left) 17,356 in damages and Mr Murphy (right) a further 10,847 in damages and ordered that one of them receive their costs in the case

He awarded Ms Barnett 17,356 in damages and Mr Murphy a further 10,847 in damages and ordered that one of them receive their costs in the case.

He also issued a general warning that the posting of Facebook comments was sometimes a 'highly dangerous activity.'

'People perhaps with alcohol late at night can post these remarks and injure people's character. It is a highly dangerous activity and can result in long term hurt to families and people's good names and this is an example of that,' he said.

Ms Anne Harkin, the third plaintiff in the case is due to have her case heard by videolink from Australia in the coming days.
Top Donald Trump aide Kellyanne Conway and a host of other Republicans lambasted President Obama's decision to commute the sentence of Chelsea Manning, an army intelligence analyst who shared classified documents with Wikileaks.

'I do find it partisan politics at its worst,' Conway said this morning of Fox & Friends. 'The way that we treat somebody, or the way that we look at leaking, really depends on who's ox is being gored.'

Conway called it 'ironic' that Obama would cut the prison sentence short of a leaker after everyone's head was 'on fire for how many months about Wikileaks documents that embarrassed the Democrats and, of course, Hillary Clinton,' the incoming White House counselor said.

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Kellyanne Conway (left) told the panel on Fox & Friends that she found it 'ironic' that President Obama would commute the sentence of someone who gave material to Wikileaks after everyone's head was 'on fire' over the Wikileaks' dumps that targeted Democrats

Manning, who went by the name Bradley at the time, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for her crimes. She'll get out in May

Republicans on the Hill reacted negatively to Chelsea Manning's early release, including Sen. Tom Cotton (left), Sen. John McCain (center ) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (right)

Donald Trump (left) is 'troubled' by the decades-early release of Private Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of espionage for leaking stolen documents, according to his incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer (right)

President-elect Donald Trump was not happy to learn of Manning's get-out-of-jail-free card, his spokesman told reporters Wednesday.

'I think the president-elect is troubled by this action,' incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer said. 'You have an individual who was convicted of espionage and [sentenced to] spend 35 years in jail.'

'And after the outrage that we've seen about other leaks, and issues that have come up, to see someone who has given away this country's secrets, and been convicted of it through a military court, it's disappointing and it sends a very troubling message when it comes to the handling of classified information, and to the consequences to those who leak information that threatens the safety of our nation.'

Spicer blasted Democrats for venting anger during the presidential campaign about other leaks  likely a reference to the release of hacked emails belonging to Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman  only to support Manning's release now.

'There is a bit of irony and double-standard that goes into this,' he said, 'when you realize the outrage that there has been regarding leaks of information and the use of it, particularly from the left and the Democrats.'

He said he was puzzled to 'see them get up and support the commutation of a sentence for someone who was duly convicted of a very, very serious crime.'

The three Republicans on Capitol Hill who came out most strongly against Obama's decision were House Speaker Paul Ryan, along with veteran Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Tom Cotton of Arkansas.

Ryan called the move 'outrageous.'

'Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets,' he said in a statement yesterday. 'President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes.'

McCain, who was held captive in Vietnam for five years, warned that the commutation of Manning's sentence was a 'grave mistake' that would 'encourage further acts of espionage and undermine military discipline.'

The Arizona Republican also suggested that Obama's move 'devalues the courage of real whistleblowers,' adding that it's a 'sad, yet perhaps fitting commentary on President Obama's failed national security policies.'

McCain, like Conway and Spicer, also detected the irony in Obama aiding someone who gave materials to Wikileaks, which the senator called a 'tool of Russia's recent interference in our elections.'

Of Manning, the senator said: 'Her prison sentence may end in a few months time, but her dishonor will last forever.'

Cotton, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suggested that Obama was treating 'a traitor like a martyr.'

'When I was leading soldiers in Afghanistan, Private Manning was undermining us by leaking hundreds of thousands classified documents to WikiLeaks,' Cotton said.

'I dont understand why the president would feel special compassion for someone who endangered the lives of our troops, diplomats, intelligence officers, and allies,' the senator added.

The White House announced President Obama's decision to commute Manning's sentence yesterday, as the outgoing president will likely address it today at his final press conference with reporters.

President Barack Obama is commuting the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the army soldier who shared classified documents with Wikileaks, on his way out out of the White House

Manning, who went by the name Bradley at the time of the crime, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in August of 2013.

Obama ordered her release day to be moved up on Tuesday to May 17, 2017, cutting her jail time down to more than six years.

Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who fled the country after he stole a tranche of classified documents and exposed government secrets, neither applied for a pardon, the White House said, nor did he proactively receive one.

His asylum in Russia has since been extended, reportedly to 2020. Trump's spokesman, Spicer, did not say today whether the president-elect might be inclined to make a deal with him or his host country to bring him to justice, citing his focus on other priorities as he comes into office, like jobs and immigration.

Snowden thanked Obama in a tweet on Tuesday afternoon for sparing Manning from a life in prison.

'In five more months, you will be free. Thank you for what you did for everyone, Chelsea. Stay strong a while longer!' he said in another tweet alongside a 2010 photo of Manning dressed as a woman.

Manning had applied for leniency through the Department of Justice. A favorable outcome seemed probable, given Manning's multiple suicide attempts and recent White House comments.

The president plans to give another round of criminals early release before his final day in office this Friday, the White House says.

They were cast as low-level drug offenders whose sentences would have been shorter if they were sent to jail now. He commuted 209 sentences yesterday.

Asked about Snowden at his last press briefing on Tuesday, before the commutation notice went out, Obama's spokesman said, 'I cant rule anything in or out.' He noted then that Snowden had not filed paperwork to seek clemency from the administration.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had challenged Obama to grant Manning clemency in exchange for extradition to the United States.

The anti-secrecy group called Manning's forthcoming release a 'victory' in a statement Tuesday afternoon that didn't mention Assange's promise.

'Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible,' Assange said via the organization's Twitter.

A previous Wikileaks tweet had said, 'If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case.'

A White House official could not say on a Tuesday evening call detailing the Obama commutations what case or charges Wikileaks was referring to in the tweet.

The senior official said the president's decision 'was not influenced in any way' by Assange, who lives in the Embassy of Ecuador in London, or Wikileaks.

Manning's sentence is being commuted to time served 'to ensure that the sentence that she served is comparable to the sentences that were handed down to individuals who committed comparable crimes,' the White House official said.

Spicer answered a question about Assange on Wednesday similarly to the one about Snowden - it's not at the top of Trump's list.

Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who fled the country after he stole a tranche of classified documents and exposed government secrets, did not apply for a pardon, the White House said, nor did he proactively receive one

He thanked Obama in a tweet on Tuesday afternoon for sparing Manning from a life in prison

The White House laid the groundwork for her to get a commutation last week, differentiating the case from that of Snowden, who had lobbied the White House to commute Manning's sentence, as well.

Unlike Snowden, Manning, arrested in 2010, 'acknowledged wrongdoing,' the White House said, and appeared in a military court. She was convicted in 2013 of illegally sharing 700,000 State Department and military documents.

Snowden has taken refuge in Vladimir Putin's Russia, 'a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine confidence in our democracy,' Obama's spokesman said, and refuses to return to the U.S. face prosecution in the United States.

The Manning and Snowden cases have similarities, Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said, but they are quite different in scale and scope. Snowden's theft was ten-fold, a reported 1.7 million secret documents.

'Obviously, as Chelsea Manning has acknowledged, and as we have said many times, that the release of the information that she provided to WikiLeaks was damaging to national security,' Earnest said. 'But the disclosures by Edward Snowden were far more serious and far more dangerous.'

Republican Senator and Afghanistan veteran Tom Cotton said he was baffled by Obama's decision in a quick reaction to Manning's planned release.

'When I was leading soldiers in Afghanistan, Private Manning was undermining us by leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks,' Cotton said.

'I dont understand why the president would feel special compassion for someone who endangered the lives of our troops, diplomats, intelligence officers, and allies. We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr.'

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had challenged Obama to grant Manning clemency in exchange for extradition to the United States. It's unclear what charges are being brought against him and in what case

The White House said on its call with reporters that 'the president continues to believe that her actions were criminal, and were not good for the country. They harmed our national security.'

But he believes that her six years in prison are' sufficient,' for several reasons, including the remorse she has shown for her actions.

Manning's military record states she was suffering from gender identity disorder when she stole and released classified documents, and a court ordered the army in September to pay for her gender reassignment surgery.

The transgender soldier's attorneys have said that she was placed in solitary confinement as punishment for a July suicide attempt and other abuses in prison contributed to her mental state and a second attempt on her life this fall.

Steve Scalise, House Republicans' top vote counter said in a statement after the White House call that the Manning commutation 'is an insult to the rule of law and is an added stain on his legacy of abused executive action.'

Obama also granted 64 pardons yesterday - including one to retired Marine Gen. James 'Hoss' Cartwright, the former head of his joint chiefs of staff.

He plead guilty in October to a felony charge for providing a false statement to the authorities.

The anti-secrecy group called Manning's forthcoming release a 'victory' in a statement Tuesday afternoon that didn't mention Assange's promise

The 67-year-old was accused of sharing classified information to New York Times reporter David Sanger and lying to the government about it.

The four-star general insisted he was not the source of the leak to Sanger about a secret cyber attack on Iran meant to undermine its uranium enrichment system. But he told FBI agents that he didn't confirm the information, either, and has admitted his statement to the feds was untrue.

Explaining the president's decision to pardon Cartwright, due to to be sentenced yesterday, a White House official said the retired general's service to the country weighed heavily in the decision, as did his motive.

Cartwright said he was trying to prevent the publication of the information. The White House also noted that Cartwright was not the source of the information, although he did confirm it.

Obama is giving a slew of convicts fresh starts on his way out, including Oscar Lopez-Rivera, a Puerto Rican nationalist who has served 35 years in prison already for 'seditious conspiracy' and would have died behind bars were it not for Obama's intervention.

Lopez-Rivera was offered a conditional commutation by Bill Clinton in 1999 but rejected it. The Obama White House claimed yesterday that he stayed in prison because a co-conspirator was not being released.

His fellow FALN member has since left prison, clearing the way for Lopez-Rivera's commutation, a White House official said.

A New York Times article previously stated that Lopez-Rivera turned Clinton down because he would not, as commanded, disavow the use of terrorism tactics to achieve his Marxist-Leninist group's aims.

The White House laid the groundwork for her to get a commutation last week, differentiating the case from that of Snowden, who had lobbied the White House to commute Manning's sentence, as well

In commuting 209 sentences, in addition to the 64 pardons, yesterday Obama broke a White House record, granting more second chances than any other president in history.

Obama has handed out a sum total of 1,385 commutations during his time in office - more than the last 12 presidents combined, the White House said Tuesday, and he plans to hand out more on Friday, leaving the door open for a Snowden pardon, though it remains highly unlikely.

The outgoing president told German publication Der Spiegel last month that he 'can't' pardon Snowden, who's wanted for three felony charges tied to his 2013 exposure of the NSA's bulk data program, because he hasn't presented his case in court.

'I think that Mr. Snowden raised some legitimate concerns,' Obama stated. 'How he did it was something that did not follow the procedures and practices of our intelligence community.

Obama, a Harvard-educated constitutional lawyer, said, 'If everybody took the approach that I make my own decisions about these issues, then it would be very hard to have an organized government or any kind of national security system.'
The US candidate in this year's Miss Universe pageant admitted she did not vote for Donald Trump but she hopes the president-elect can unify Americans at a 'nerve-wracking' point in US history.

Deshauna Barber, a 27-year-old Army officer from the District of Columbia, expressed confidence on Wednesday that America can hurdle its political difficulties after 'one of the most controversial elections I've ever seen in my life.'

Barber is among 86 candidates vying for the Miss Universe crown on January 30th in Manila, where journalists asked her about Trump's victory and upcoming inauguration on Friday.

Miss USA, Deshauna Barber,(pictured being introduced in Manila) 27, admitted on Wednesday that she did not vote for President-elect Donald Trump, but will still support him while he is in office

The pageant queen, pictured making meals for the needy, will compete on January 30th, for the Miss Universe title

Miss Universe contestants, from left to right: Catalina Paz Caceres of Chile, Li ZhenYing of China, Carolina Duran of Costa Rica and Barbara Filipovic of Croatia

'Although everyone may not agree, including myself, with the election, I still support the commander-in-chief and I plan to until the end of his reign in office,' Barber told The Associated Press in an interview.

'I just hope that we're able to give him a chance.

'It's quite nerve-wracking because it's just kind of the unknown at this point,' she said.

'But I have a lot of faith in the United States of America and I truly believe that our country is going to jump these hurdles and that we're gonna be better.'

Barber said she's hoping Trump will be able to focus on unifying Americans and 'my greatest fear is that won't happen.'

Barber, whose parents also served in the Army, is the first soldier named Miss USA.

Miss Universe contestants wave as Filipino singer Gerald Santos sings in Manila on Wednesday

Barber, pictured as Miss District of Columbia in 2016, is the first soldier to win the Miss USA title

In 2015, Donald Trump (pictured with Miss Universe 2013) sold the beauty pageant to a talent agency for an undisclosed sum after NBC announced it would cut ties with his business after he made comments about illegal immigrants

If she becomes Miss Universe, she said she'll work to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder of troops returning from war.

The attention on pageant candidates and winners allow them to espouse crucial issues, making the contest relevant, Barber said, citing how the current title holder, Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines, has campaigned for wider awareness about the spread of HIV.

'We're more than swimsuits, we're more than crowns, we're more than evening gowns,' Barber said.

'We are women that use these crowns as a way to have a platform to discuss our cause.'

The President-elect had owned shares of the beauty pageant for years until NBC announced it would cut business ties with Miss Universe and Trump after he made statements about illegal immigrants from Mexico in 2015.

Trump then bought NBC's shares that September before selling it to talent agency WME-IMG for an undisclosed sum, three days later.
DVDs of prison massacre snuff movies showing criminals decapitating opponents during recent riots and holding aloft human hearts have gone on sale in Brazil, it has emerged.

Shocking videos, being sold for the equivalent of 75p on the streets of Manaus, northern Brazil, show corpses and severed heads on the ground during a bloodbath at the city prison earlier this month.

Separate footage, believed to have been complied by prison gang members, shows more of their bloody exploits - with human hearts held up in front of a camera.

DVDs of prison massacre snuff movies showing criminals decapitating opponents during recent riots and holding aloft human hearts have gone on sale in Brazil, it has emerged

Shocking videos, being sold for the equivalent of 75p on the streets of Manaus, northern Brazil, show corpses and severed heads on the ground during a bloodbath at the city prison earlier this month

The gruesome film is being sold for two to three reais (75p) and shows the barbarism recorded by the prisoners themselves.

About 60 inmates were killed in Manaus on January 1. Many were beheaded and mutilated.

It sparked a deadly wave of violence in jails this year that has killed at least 134 inmates.

More than 30 died in a prison riot in Roraima state on January 6.

A further massacre took place over the weekend with 26 prisoners killed during savage clashes between rival gangs in Alcacuz jail near the northeastern city of Natal. Eyewitnesses said they saw prisoners making a 'bonfire of human heads'.

Inmates climbed on the roof and set up barriers of furniture with gangs vowing to behead each other.

Separate footage, believed to have been complied by prison gang members, shows more of their bloody exploits - with human hearts held up in front of a camera

Police fired rubber bullets to try to keep apart two rival factions, sending the inmates fleeing in panic and drawing screams from their relatives gathered outside the prison walls.

Two days later, crowds of prisoners were still loose in the open air between the prison blocks and the outer walls of the complex.

Television images showed inmates sharpening machetes.

The governor of the surrounding Rio Grande do Norte state, Robinson Faria, said authorities were working to stop the prisoners escaping from Alcacuz.

It comes as Brazil's government ordered the armed forces to help secure the country's overcrowded jails.

After a series of violent prison riots, President Michel Temer 'made the armed forces available to the states' to secure their jails, a presidential spokesman said.

Grim video footage has been put up for sale on the streets of Manaus showing violence inside the city jail

The defence ministry scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to present an action plan.

Experts say the violence is part of a war between drug gangs battling for control of the cocaine trade in Brazil, a key trafficking route to Europe.

The Natal riot was thought to have been a clash between Brazil's biggest drug gang, the First Capital Command (PCC), and a rival called Crime Syndicate.

'The PCC is defying not only the state but also the regional crime cartels in its efforts to control the drug trade,' Faria said.

Gathered outside the jail, prisoners' relatives said members of Crime Syndicate were trying to break into a prison block to attack PCC members.

One female relative showed AFP a video sent to her by her partner, an inmate in the jail.

Police officers from the National Force guard the entrance of the road that leads to Anisio Jobim Penitentiary Complex in Manaus, Amazonia state, Brazil two weeks after a massacre at the complex

About 60 inmates were killed in Manaus on January 1. Many were beheaded and mutilated

'We have just one desire and that is to rip the heads off the PCC, and that's what we're going to do,' he shouted.

'We're not going to let those b******s lay down the law on our turf.'

The unrest raised fears that violence could spread to jails across the country - including the crime-plagued metropolis of Rio de Janeiro.

Prison guards there went on strike on Tuesday in protest over unpaid wages, a symptom of Brazil's economic crisis.

Rio prison guards' union spokesman Gutembergue de Oliveira said there was just one guard for 200 inmates, although the government says there should be one to five.

'As well as a lack of prison guards, doctors, nurses and carers, we are faced with a huge jail population,' he said.

A further massacre took place over the weekend with 26 prisoners killed during savage clashes between rival gangs in Alcacuz jail near the northeastern city of Natal

Eyewitnesses to the riot said they saw prisoners making a 'bonfire of human heads'

The Alcacuz prison was built for a maximum of 620 inmates but currently houses 1,083, according to the state justice department

The Alcacuz prison was built for a maximum of 620 inmates but currently houses 1,083, according to the state justice department.

After two riots earlier this month, President Michel Temer announced the federal government would spend $250 million to build new prisons.

On Tuesday the focus was on containing the volatility, however.

The weekend bloodbath was the third mass-killing in Brazil's overcrowded jails this month.

'It was the most barbaric thing I have seen in my life. They made a bonfire of human heads,' Faria told reporters in Brasilia, where he met with the government.
A Brazilian mother stabbed her 17-year-old son to death because he was gay after two thugs she hired to kill him failed to do so, police said.

Tatiana Lozano Pereira, 32, admitted to killing her son Itaberli Lozano in Cravinhos, Sao Paulo.

According to local reports, Pereira had long rejected her son because he was gay.

The charred remains of Itaberli Lozano, 17, were found on January 7 in a sugar cane field after he was stabbed to death by his mother

Tatiana Lozano Pereira, 32, (bottom left) admitted to killing her son Itaberli Lozano, 17 (top)

The 17-year-old, pictured with his mother, who admitted stabbing him to death in Brazil

They had an explosive row at Christmas after which Itaberli moved in with his grandmother.

Pereira pretended to forgive him and, on December 29, urged him to return home.

However she had secretly hired hitmen Miller da Silva Barissa, 18, and Victor Roberto da Silva, 19, to kill her son.

She hid them inside her home under orders to attack him when he entered.

After returning home, Lozano was reportedly ambushed by the woman and two thugs she had hired to beat her son

However they failed to kill him and so she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her son to death, according to Helton Tosti Renz, the police officer in charge of the investigation.

According to local reports, Pereira and her husband, Alex Pereira, 30, the victim's stepfather, then took her son's body to an abandoned area and burned it.

The victim's paternal grandmother reported his disappearance to police.

Officers became suspicious because Tatiana had not reported him missing herself and seemed surprisingly indifferent about his disappearance.

His charred remains were eventually found on January 7, in a nearby field. Police also seized two knives from the house.

Authorities said the mother confessed to the killing during a police interrogation.

She also implicated the hired thugs for their part but maintained her husband was innocent. Police said he would only be charged over concealment of the body.

Dario Rosa, the victim's uncle, told police Itaberli had always been rejected by his mother because he was gay.

Police seized two knives from the house after Lozano's body was found on January 7

He said: 'He had a job, he was very polite, [and] he never quarreled with anyone. He only had problems with his mother, who did not accept that he was a homosexual.'

'A mother has to love her son, not kill [them]. [This] family is torn, [and] it will be difficult to recover.'

Tatiana was sent to a women's prison in Cajuru, while the three men were transferred to a jail in Santa Rosa de Viterbo.

They are being kept in prison while the investigation continues.
The shooter has been named as student Federico Guevara, who was reportedly being treated for depression

A chilling video shows the moment a 15-year-old boy opened fire at a private school in Mexico, seriously wounding a teacher and three other students before killing himself.

The teacher, named Cecilia Solis, and two other students at the bilingual American School of the Northeast, appeared to take bullets in the head from the .22 caliber pistol.

The shooter, named as Federico Guevara by Nuevo Leon state governor Jaime Rodriguez, then killed himself.

He had been treated for depression, and his motive is being investigated, said Rodriguez.

It is claimed that he revealed his plans to carry out the shooting to a Facebook group before taking the handgun into school.

Members of the closed group, named Legion Holk, are claimed to have posted messages of support of his actions.

The night before the attack, Unomasuno writes, a message was posted on the group's page, purportedly from Guevara, warning that he intended to carry out a massacre. It said: 'Tomorrow I will make a massacre in my school.'

Some members of the 200,000-strong group subsequently claimed responsibility for the shooting, it reports, and profiles honoring Guevara were created in the aftermath of the shooting.

A 15-year-old student at Mexico's American School of the Northeast (circled) opened fire in the classroom on Wednesday

It happened in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Wednesday.

The teacher and two pupils, named in Mexican media as Ana Cecilia Diaz Ramos, a 14-year-old girl, and Luis Fernando Ramirez, a 15-year-old boy, are all undergoing emergency surgery.

Another student suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm.

The video, apparently from the school's surveillance camera, shows Ms Solis, 24, collecting papers from students.

The youngsters are seated at their desks when the boy opens fire with a pistol from a sitting position, hitting a boy in front of him, who immediately slumps to the ground.

The teacher, 24, was simply collecting assignments from the classroom as the boy raised a .22 caliber pistol and fired on her

Utterly chilling security video shows the boy raise the pistol and shoot two defenseless classmates in the back of the head

Rising from his seat next to the door, the boy next shoots the teacher, who was looking in another direction, and she falls immediately to the ground.

Students can be seen diving for cover under desks and chairs.

The boy paces the classroom, firing shots at his classmates.

He can be seen firing two shots at point-blank range into the heads of classmates with their backs turned to him as they crouch in their seats.

The boy then stands in the center of the room and turns the gun on himself.

His first shot apparently misses his head or misfires.

The shooter runs to his backpack, apparently to reload, as his classmates cower at their desks.

He appears to say something to the surviving students, who begin to rush for the door, and then he shoots himself in the head and falls to the ground.

The student paced the classroom, apparently firing at least seven shots with the handgun

The boy, whom authorities said was 'depressed,' stood in the center of the classroom and raised the gun to his head repeatedly, though it did not fire

The crowded classroom was left with a jumble of overturned chairs, blood and fallen students.

Nuevo Leon state Gov Rodriguez said the shooter died at a hospital and that the other three victims with head wounds were 'fighting between life and death.' The boy wounded in the arm was out of danger.

State security spokesman Aldo Fasci said the student shot the 24-year-old teacher, a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy in the head, and a 15-year-old classmate in the arm.

He reportedly blamed the internet for the horrific shooting, stating that young people 'have access to everything in social networks', before adding the attack was 'undoubtedly the product of what they saw in social networks in other countries.'

El Norte newspaper in Mexico reports that Guevara's relatives have begun the process of having his organs donated.

Oscar Aboytes, spokesman for emergency services in Nuevo Leon, said all of the wounded were rushed to hospital.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto tweeted about his shock at the shooting, and posted a video lamenting what had happened in Monterrey

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto voiced his shock at the shooting.

He wrote on Twitter: 'As a parent and President, what happened this morning at a school in Monterrey hurts me.

'I join with the pain and dismay of families.'

The website of the American School of the Northeast says it offers bilingual education for students from preschool through ninth grade.

After running back to his desk, apparently to retrieve ammunition, the boy again raised the gun to his head, this time fatally shooting himself

Fasci told local television that the boy shooter 'had depression and was being treated.'

'The classes were going perfectly well, the student stands up from his desk and pulls out a gun,' Fasci said. 'We have no motive yet.'

He noted that photographs of the shooting had been posted to social media and said the person responsible would be punished.

He also appealed to the news media to avoid using the images, which show minors.

The spokesman attributed the shooting to 'the situation that is happening everywhere. The children have access to the internet. This has happened in other countries.'

Fasci said the boy brought the gun from home. It was unclear how he got the .22 caliber pistol into the school. Mexico had once had a program to checked book bags at school entrances, but in many places it has fallen into disuse.

American School of the Northeast (pictured), where the shooting took place, offers bilingual education for students from preschool through ninth grade

'There was a reason why book bags were checked. I think we are going to have to start doing it again,' Fasci said.

Mexico had been largely spared the phenomenon of school shootings that has hit the United States, where there were at least six fatal school shootings in 2016 alone.

In one of the few previous Mexican incidents, a 13-year-old student shot a 12-year-old classmate in the head at a Mexico City middle school in 2004, seriously wounding her.

In 2014, a 15-year-old was arrested for fatally shooting a 13-year-old classmate in their Atizapan school, according to La Policiaca.

At the height of Mexico's drug war between 2008 and 2011, schools in northern Mexico were more concerned about the possibility that stray bullets from drug gang gun battles outside schools might enter classrooms.

Some schools conducted 'duck and cover' drills to combat that possibility.
David Isaac, the new chairman of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, warned MPs about the possibility of a backlash when Article 50 is triggered (file picture)

The boss of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission claimed today the triggering of official Brexit talks could spark a surge in hate crime.

David Isaac, the quango's new chairman, warned MPs about the possibility of a backlash when Theresa May formally file Britain's exit from the EU to Brussels.

But the claim was dismissed today by Brexit supporters who branded it an 'unsubstantiated over-reaction'.

While Mr Isaac was giving his evidence, his staff were out on strike over a long-running dispute over redundancies.

The Prime Minister will finally learn how she can go about triggering Article 50 of the EU treaties to start talks when the Supreme Court rules on her powers next week.

The days after the EU referendum saw a marked increase in hate crime, including an attack on a Polish community centre in Shepherds Bush.

In evidence to the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, Mr Isaac said: 'We are hugely concerned about what might happen in relation to an increase in hate crime when Article 50 is triggered.

'And so, to give you examples of what we are seeking to do, we are meeting with groups, we are seeking to insure that there is as much police protection and understanding in relation to hate crimes as is possible.

'And, I think, given our role, I believe, we are uniquely placed to be doing all of this at a time when Britain needs guidance in relation to huge anxiety that resides, not just in relation to non-UK citizens and our visitors, but actually many of our own citizens.'

He added: 'One of the things that concerns us greatly is the position in relation to the spike in hate crimes since June 23.

ARTICLE 50: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Theresa May has vowed to trigger Article 50 of the EU treaties before the end of March, starting an official two year period for Brexit talks. She is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on whether she can do this alone or whether it can only happen with the permission of MPs. After weeks of waiting, this verdict is now due to be delivered at 9.30am on Tuesday. However it happens, the triggering of Article 50 will be a point of no return as legal opinion suggests it is irreversible. Two years after it is filed, Britain will cease to be a member of the EU - deal or no deal. Advertisement

'I've met with the Polish ambassador, my opposite number in Poland, because of the large number of attacks against the Polish community, but I am also in touch with various other groups.'

Brexit supporters said Mr Isaac was exaggerating the problem and warned him against stirring up problems that do no exist.

No 10 has insisted any hate crime is unacceptable and said Brexit would mean Britain continuing to be an open and tolerant country.

Suella Fernandes, vice-chair of the Tory European Research Group, told MailOnline: 'Whilst any form of hate crime is totally unacceptable, it is stretch to say it will increase because of the triggering of Article 50.

'This kind of unsubstantiated overreaction is unhelpful and only serves to instil unnecessary fear and division.'

Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg told MailOnline: 'Doom laden prophecies are the standard response of a small number of deluded remainers.

'So far they have all been wrong.'

Senior Tory Nigel Evans told MailOnline: 'It seems to be incredibly irresponsible to say that. Why would there be an increase in hate crime?

'There is absolutely zero reason for that whatsoever.'

Tory Andrew Bridgen said any hate crime was 'not nearly as big as the outpouring of hate against politicians if we don't trigger Article 50'.

Tory MP Suella Fernandes (file picture) said the warning from the Commission was an 'unsubstantiated overreaction'

The Supreme Court will rule on Tuesday whether Mrs May can trigger Brexit without a vote by MPs.

EQUALITIES STAFF ARE ON STRIKE TODAY Workers at the Government's equality watchdog were on strike today in a long-running dispute over spending cuts. As their boss gave evidence to MPs, members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) mounted picket lines outside offices of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The union is protesting against funding cuts of almost 70 per cent since 2008 and further cuts over the next four years. Compulsory redundancy notices are being prepared for 14 staff at the end of this month, said the PCS. General secretary Mark Serwotka said: 'Cutting budgets and staff in this way would leave the commission toothless at a time when more needs to be done to tackle hate crime and discrimination.' Advertisement

The eagerly awaited judgement could throw a major spanner in the works of the Prime Minister's timetable for triggering our departure from the EU by the end of March.

The case, spearheaded by businesswoman and former model Gina Miller, centres on whether Article 50 can be invoked using executive powers.

The High Court previously concluded that parliament must have a say because launching the mechanism implies repealing the legislation that underpins our EU membership.

The date of the ruling - which will come at 9.30 am and is only expected to take a few minutes to hand down - was was announced today after Mrs May laid out her plans to break free from Brussels.

Full written judgements will be published after the verdicts are announced.

In an historic speech that will define the UK for generations, Mrs May declared that Britain will not stay in the single market because controlling immigration is a red line.

Mrs May also made clear the UK will no longer tolerate being bossed around by European judges.

Prime Minister Theresa May (pictured in the Commons today) will finally learn how she can go about triggering Article 50 of the EU treaties to start talks when the Supreme Court rules on her powers next week

Asked whether Mrs May shared Mr Isaac's concern about a possible surge in hate crimes, the Prime Minister's official spokeswoman said: 'That is certainly not something we would want.

'The Prime Minister has taken a very strong and clear stance on our commitment to continuing to be an open and tolerant nation and to stamp out hate crime wherever it exists.

'What is important is the approach we have taken of consistently and repeatedly saying that hate crime is completely unacceptable, and that the outcome of the referendum was not a vote to become inward-looking and to stop being an open and tolerant nation.

'We will continue to champion those values and stand up for them.'
A bizarre tug of love case involving an unwanted baby who was put up for adoption then later kidnapped from a hospital is dividing opinion in Russia.

The boy's birth mother now wants him back but others - including his natural father - believe he should be able to stay with the woman who stole him and her husband.

Elena Spakhova, now 40, said she was devastated when she had to rush into hospital early after suffering pangs and was told that her longed-for baby was stillborn.

With her family waiting eagerly for word, she had prepared to go home and break the bad news to them when she spotted another baby, named Matvey, who had been marked up for adoption, lying in the maternity ward.

Elena Spakhova, now 40, right, snatched a baby from a hospital because she did not want to tell her husband, left, she had suffered a stillbirth

Elena Ivanova, the boy's grandmother, is pictured here with her child

Baby Matvey was born at the same time as Elena was being checked in at the hospital in the town of Dedovsk in western Russia's Moscow region in May 2014.

Noticing another baby who had been listed as being up for adoption, she simply picked him up and walked out of the hospital unchallenged, police said.

Matvey's mother, 20-year-old Lyuba Ivanova, already had one child and felt she could not cope with a second, so decided to offer him up for adoption.

She has since had another child with a new partner, in Autumn 2015, who she decided to keep.

Elena Ivanova, Matvey's grandmother and her daughter Lydmila Ivanova, Matvey's mother, now want the child back

Lyuba Ivanova gave the baby up for adoption - but has now changed her mind

As the stolen baby was unwanted, it is claimed police did little to track down his whereabouts.

An initial investigation pointed the finger at the baby's grandmother and her partner, Elena Ivanova, 45, and her boyfriend, Dmitry Kudravtsev, 31.

The couple were initially suspected of the kidnapping as both of them worked for the hospital as cleaners.

Mr Kudravstev was even arrested but quickly released due to the lack of evidence.

Lydmila's boyfriend Genadi Khush, right, has agreed to help raise the child, but that baby's father, her ex-partner Aleksey Chestneishin, right, wants him to stay with his adoptive parents

Elena Ivanova pictured left with the host of the tv show Andrey Malakhov was initially suspected of kidnapping her own grandchild

Spakhova had in the meantime arranged for the child, who she named Egor Spakhov, to get a fake birth certificate and was only caught when she tried to apply for financial support for the toddler two years later in her new home in the Russian capital Moscow.

The case has gripped - and divided - the nation, with many people saying the mother who lost her baby should be allowed to keep the child that she stole as it was unwanted anyway.

But his birth mother has said that she would like the baby back, claiming she only gave him up for adoption because a partner at the time was violent and used to beat her, and she feared for the baby's safety.

But Matvey's biological father Alexey Chestneyishin rejected the claims as rubbish, and said he thinks that the child should stay with the woman who adopted him.

Matvey's biological father Alexey Chestneyishin said he thinks that the child should stay with the woman who adopted him

Mr Chestneyishin said the Spakhov's neighbours, including Maria Machina, pictured, had told him they were excellent parents to the kidnapped boy

He said he does not want the baby boy to go to his ex and her new lover Gennadiy Kush, who is ready to help Ivanova raise the three children.

Mr Chestneyishin said he believes that Matvey is better off living with the family who have adopted him. He stressed that based on information from the Spakhov's neighbours they were excellent parents to the kidnapped boy.

The whole matter is now lining up for a massive legal battle over who will gain custody of the boy.

And there is the added risk that the adoptive mum could also face child kidnapping charges which could see her jailed, and which would therefore make her unfit to remain the boy's mother.

So far, Elena has not been arrested but she is expected to be charged.

What will happen to Matvey in the meantime remains unclear, although it is possible he will be moved to an orphanage.
A German inventor has created rape-proof knickers in the wake of a spate of sex attacks.

The underwear comes equipped with a combination lock and a loud alarm which goes off if they are tampered with.

German media has reported the pants are so popular some online shops have sold out.

The wearer puts a combination lock on and if they are tampered with the alarm is triggered

The manufacturers say they are simple to use and give the wearer a sense of security

Because of the lock, the pants cannot be pulled off and they are made with a material which is almost impossible to cut through or tear.

The 130-decibel alarm is automatically activated if the garment is cut off.

The advertisement for the pants reads: 'Scarcely a day passes without headlines of sexual assaults.

'Only recently, a father in Kleve could barely prevent an attempted rape of his daughter. Brand new on the market of deterrence: underpants with a number lock.'

But security comes with a price - one pair of the pants costs 100 euros (87).

The 'safe shorts' come in two different styles - the one on the left can be worn under shorts or a short skirt, while the one on the right is designed to go under trousers or a dress

There has been a mixed reaction to the 'safety shorts' on the Internet.

One social media user in Germany wrote: 'The idea is good. One never knows what is going on in these heads of the perpetrators. Yet honestly, it is actually bad that one had to invent such a doubtlessly well-intentioned thing.'

But another user claimed: 'What if the women are directly threatened with weapons and forced to open the lock if the perpetrators do not succeed?'

When anti-rape underwear was first mooted in America in 2013 feminist writer Louise Pennington described it as a 'modern chastity belt' and added: 'Let's focus on men preventing rape by not raping rather than curtailing women's freedom to exist.'

Similar safety devices, such as small alarm systems for handbags, have recently gone on the market in Germany to protect women from possible attacks.

On New Year's Eve 2015 celebrations in Cologne were marred by mass sex attacks on women and last year and in October, Maria Ladenburger, 19, was raped and murdered in the city of Freiburg.
It's alleged that Yasuna Murakami launched his MC2 Capital Partners Fund in 2007, taking in $3.5 million, mainly from friends and family

A small Boston-area hedge fund operation on Wednesday was accused of running a Ponzi scheme that included spending investor money on liquor, luxury hotels and specialty cars, according to a complaint by the top securities regulator in Massachusetts.

Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin said he has moved to bar three hedge funds and Yasuna Murakami, the man who operates them, from any securities business in the state.

Galvin alleges Murakami operated the funds as Ponzi schemes while taking in about $15.3 million from at least 47 investors.

He then started two more funds which lost significant sums of money. It's alleged Murakami has returned less than $6 million to investors, while misleading new clients to bring in more money and 'misappropriating millions of dollars for his own gain.'

'This case represents a classic example of a shell game of moving the money from one investor to another with some left over to fatten the coffers of the money manager,' Galvin said in a statement.

Galvin's complaint alleges that investors' money was used to cover expenses for luxury hotels, liquor stores, specialty cars, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and American Express, according to a statement from Galvin's office.

When summoned to testify before the enforcement section of the securities division, Murakami invoked his privilege against self-incrimination, the statement added.

Murakami was not immediately available for comment.

Money raised by the Ponzi scheme was allegedly used to fund lavish shopping trips

Massachusetts Secretary of State William F. Galvin, pictured, is alleging that three Cambridge-based hedge funds and the man who ran them have been operating a Ponzi scheme that took in $15.3 million from 47 investors

Galvin said Murakami started his hedge fund operations in 2007 with the MC2 Capital Partners Fund. The fund was marketed mostly to friends and family members, taking in more than $3.5 million, according to Galvin's statement.

By late 2008, however, the fund had a negative balance of about $2.4 million, triggering a margin call that wiped out investors' equity, according to Galvin. A second fund, MC2 Capital Value Partners Fund, suffered similar results.

'Murakami and the MC2 Entities actively worked to conceal these losses from investors by soliciting additional investments and providing false or misleading performance numbers,' Galvin said in a statement.

Murakami later struck a deal with Toronto-based Donville Kent Asset Management to start MC2 Capital Canadian Opportunities Fund in 2011, Galvin said. The association with Donville Kent was crucial in getting investors to put in money, including the Boston-area institutional investor.

But in May 2015, Donville Kent cut ties to the MC2 entities.

Galvin alleges Murakami misappropriated investor money from the Canadian fund and used it to pay promised returns or redemptions to investors in the other two MC2 funds.
A Baltimore Fire Department spokeswoman said that Katie Malone (above), who was critically injured in a house fire that killed six of her nine children, is now in good condition

A woman injured in a Baltimore fire that killed six of her nine children is thanking people for their support and asking them to honor her children.

Fire department spokeswoman Blair Adams said Wednesday that Katie Malone, 40, who was critically injured, is now in good condition.

Malone nearly died last Thursday after midnight, when her three-story home caught fire while she and her nine children were inside.

While her husband was at work, Malone's eight-year-old daughter managed to lead her mother and two of her siblings to safety, but the other six children tragically perished.

Malone, a longtime staff member for House Rep. Elijah Cummings, and her three surviving children were hospitalized.

The fire's cause is under investigation.

In a Facebook post, Malone suggests honoring 11-year-old Bridgette by making art, 10-year-old Amelia by speaking out against injustice and three-year-old twins Amanda and Zoe by solving a problem.

She says people can remember two-year-old Billy by being helpful and nearly 9-month-old Daniel by smiling and laughing.

Malone says don't forget her surviving eight-year-old daughter Erin, 'a spunky super brave little soul' who got her mother and siblings Jack and Jane, aged 4 and 5, out of the house.

The Facebook note was posted by the Institute of Notre Dame High School's Class of 1992.

The children are all seen in the photograph. Relatives identified Erin (right, in a pink top) as the hero who saved two of her siblings - Jack (the boy wearing glasses) and Jane (left, also in a pink shirt). The other six children died in the massive blaze

While her husband was at work, Malone's eight-year-old daughter managed to lead her mother and two of her siblings to safety, but the other six children tragically perished. The family's destroyed home is seen above hours after the fire

Malone graduated from the high school in 1994.

'The breathing tube is gone, but I am still coughing up blood,' she wrote of her condition.

'They say this is a good thing. Tomorrow I get ice chips.'

'Honestly I have no idea when I will be able to leave,' she wrote.

The Facebook note (above) was posted by the Institute of Notre Dame High School's Class of 1992. Malone graduated from the high school in 1994

The cover photo on Malone's personal Facebook account was changed on Tuesday. It showed an image that appears to be of her husband and seven of their children at the beach

Seven of the nine children who were in the home at the time of the fire are pictured. This photograph was shared on an online fundraising page. The three middle children, Erin, Jane, and Jack (left to right) are the only ones who survived the blaze

In a Facebook post, Malone suggests honoring 11-year-old Bridgette (far left) by making art and 10-year-old Amelia (second from left) by speaking out against injustice. Erin (second from right) and Jack (far right) survived the fire

'My purse, both my phones were incinerated in the fire.'

'If you need to get in touch with me, [Facebook] is best for now, but don't expect an immediate response, please. I don't have that ability.'

'I truly want to thank everyone for their support,' she wrote.

'From the top of my head to the tip of my toes, thank you.'

'Please honor my kids. For Bridgette, its as simple as making art. Sing a Hamilton tune. Or Rent.'

'For Amelia, speak out against injustice: women's rights, animal rights, bullying. And read. Copiously.'

'The breathing tube is gone, but I am still coughing up blood,' Katie Malone (seen above as she was evacuated from her home) wrote of her condition

'Do not forget my brave little Erin,' Malone wrote. 'She woke me and got me and Jack and Jane out of the house. She is a spunky super brave little soul.' Jack (left) and Erin (right) are being wheeled out on a gurney by firefighters on Thursday

'For my twins: sit down with your best friend, or worst enemy and figure something out. Solve a problem.'

'For Billy, be helpful. Be very, very helpful.'

'And for my Daniel: smile and laugh. Demand to be noticed if the world is passing you by.'

'Do not forget my brave little Erin. She woke me and got me and Jack and Jane out of the house. She is a spunky super brave little soul.'

'In time we will all be doing better,' she wrote.

'We are not the type to just swim down. Like Hercules Mulligan, Bill, Erin and I, when you knock us down, we just get the hell back up again.'

Malone (left), a longtime staff member for House Rep. Elijah Cummings (right), and her three surviving children were hospitalized

'Thank you all so much. And good night.'

The cover photo on Malone's personal Facebook account was changed on Tuesday. It showed an image that appears to be of her husband and seven of their children.

Baltimore's mayor, Catherine Pugh, met with the family recently, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Pugh said she did not know when investigators would announce the results of their probe into the blaze that destroyed Malone's three-story home.

Investigators were examining the possibility that a faulty electric heater caused last Thursday's catastrophic house fire.

While they have admitted it is too early to say, fire chiefs have said that the inferno could have been started by a simple space heater used to keep the chilling winter weather at bay.

Police and fire services have said the home did have a space heater in it, but also said it is not known if that contributed to the blaze.

Heartbroken relatives shared images of the children on social media, while also identifying the three survivors.

One of the many photographs posted showed all nine children together on a porch outside a home. It is not clear whether it was the same home in Baltimore that burned down on Thursday.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family cope with the tragedy. More than $300,000 has been raised so far.

Despite the generosity of the public, the money raised may still not be enough, according to the Baltimore mayor.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family cope with the tragedy. More than $300,000 has been raised so far. Malone is seen on the right with her husband, William

'They're in dire need right now,' Pugh said. 'They have nothing.'

The Malones need significant sums of money to cover the costs of six funerals.

Pugh says she has been engaged in discussions about setting up disaster relief funds for families who have been impacted by emergencies.

Since their release from the hospital, the three surviving children have been staying with their grandparents in nearby Gwynn Oak, Maryland.
Stephen Farrow, double killer, has lost his appeal against his whole-life prison sentence

A sadistic double killer will die in prison, it was ruled, after a European court rejected his claim that a life-sentence with no chance of release breached his human rights.

Stephen Farrow stabbed Reverend John Suddards at his vicarage watched him as he died in February 2012, just weeks after killing retired teacher Betty Yates, 77.

He was handed a double-life sentence, which meant life in prison with no chance of parole, one of just 63 people ever to receive such a term.

But Farrow appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, claiming it breached the article prohibiting 'inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment'.

However, on Tuesday the court rejected his appeal, finally putting an end to the saga surrounding 'life-means-life' sentences brought to the fore by some of Britain's most infamous killers.

Following the ruling Justice Secretary Liz Truss said: 'It is right that those who commit the most heinous crimes spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

'It is also wholly right that judges are able to hand down whole-life sentences to the very worst offenders in our society.'

Farrow, a homeless drifter, killed Rev Studdards in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, six weeks after he also killed 77-year-old retired teacher Betty Yates.

Farrow, a homeless drifter, killed Rev Studdards (pictured) and another woman. He was jailed for life with no chance of parole

He stabbed Reverend John Suddards at his vicarage (pictured) in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, and watched him him die in February 2012

Farrow (left) killed the vicar just six weeks after he after he also killed 77-year-old retired teacher Betty Yates (right)

The homeless drifter bludgeoned Mrs Yates with a walking stick before stabbing her four times at her home in Bewdley, Worcestershire (pictured)

He bludgeoned her with a walking stick before stabbing her four times at her home in Bewdley, Worcestershire.

When he was jailed, he joined the likes of Arthur Hutchinson, one-eyed police killer Dale Cregan and Moors murderer Ian Brady, also given 'life-means-life' sentences.

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and bouncer Levi Bellfield, jailed for murdering two young women and trying to murder a third, are also serving the same terms.

Hutchinson was jailed in 1984 for stabbing Basil and Avril Laitner before killing one of their sons after breaking into the couple's home in Sheffield, south Yorkshire.

The triple killer, now 75, also appealed, claiming the whole life sentence amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment as he had no hope of release.

But judges found there had been no violation of article three of the ECHR, setting a precedence for UK courts to continue handing out the sentence.

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights concluded whole-life sentences in the UK can be regarded as compatible with the article.

The court heard how Farrow had a psychological disorder and when he was aged just ten, he set fire to a church altar and stood and watched as it burned.

He was expelled on his first day of school, experienced bullying, fighting, using weapons, setting fires and robbery.

He went on to claim he had been abused as a child by the priests at his boarding school, but was found by psychiatrists to be a pathological liar, with a 'grandiose sense of self-worth'.
In CCTV footage James Hall, 47, (pictured) is surrounded by heavily armed cops before being gunned down at a Chevron Station in Fontana, California

Shocking video shows several police officers cornering a mentally ill man before shooting him dead in a convenience store.

In the CCTV footage, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, James Hall, 47, is surrounded by heavily armed cops before being gunned down at the Chevron Station in Fontana, California.

Hall, who was legally blind and suffered from schizoaffective disorder - a combination of schizophrenia symptoms and mood disorder - seemed agitated when he entered the store in the early hours of November 22, 2015.

According to a police statement, at the time officers were responding to a 911 call reporting a possible robbery in progress and say that when they arrived they found Hall in front of the store armed with a knife, and holding a large rock in his other hand.

The CCTV footage does appear to show Hall carrying items in his hands.

Moments later five police officers descend on the gas station, three armed with handguns, one brandishing a blunt impact projectile launcher and a fifth officer handling a trained police dog. The court papers said 20 officers were involved and one had an assault rifle.

Seen on video: The CCTV footage from the convenience store shows James Hall walking through it. Police say he had a knife and a rock in his hand

Five police officers descend on the gas station, three armed with handguns, one brandishing a blunt impact projectile launcher and a fifth officer handling a trained police dog

In a tense stand off shown in the video, the officers corner Hall - who reportedly had a knife and large rock in his hands outside the store - and shoot him dead

Hall's family maintain that an officer fired a shot at him and then Hall 'cowered' in the back of the store where he was shot. In the aftermath of his shooting police surrounded his body

In the terrifying footage, one of the officers is seen sending in the police dog before the whole team moves in and surrounds Hall, shooting him dead.

In the video Hall, who is the only person inside the store other than a clerk, does not appear to pose a threat to the officers or advance at them in any way.

Now DailyMail.com has learned Hall's family is suing Fontana Police Department for using 'excessive force'.

According to their lawsuit, Hall had been acting 'peacefully' when he encountered a group of Fontana PD officers outside the Chevron gas station at around 4.15am.

But the officers, the suit says, escalated the encounter and eventually 'deployed lethal force', killing Hall.

The suit states that one of the officers fired a shot at Hall as they entered the store and then deployed the police dog.

Hall became 'startled' and ran to the rear of the store where he 'cowered'.

The suit states: 'The Defendant officers cornered Decedent Hall in the rear of the convenience store, brandishing firearms, including an assault rifle.

Now Hall's family is suing Fontana Police Department for using 'excessive force'. According to their lawsuit, Hall had been acting 'peacefully' when he encountered the group of officers

'As the Defendant officers continued to surround Decedent Hall, one of them opened fire on him, and Decedent Hall fell to the ground.'

It added that a team of around ten officers 'swarmed' around Hall's body with their weapons drawn, by which point he was already dead.

Leading Los Angeles civil rights attorney Mark Geragos is suing Fontana Police Department and 20 officers involved in the case on behalf of Hall's family.

The suit asks for relief and brands the killing a 'wrongful act' by officers who acted in 'reckless and callous disregard' for Hall.

The suit goes on to accuse Fontana police of operating a culture whereby the use of excessive force is encouraged and accuses the force of failing to conduct an 'unbiased investigation' in to Hall's death.

The portrayal of Hall by the police to the media in the aftermath of his death seems at odds with how Hall was remembered. According to a statement by Fontana PD following the incident, officers responded to a 911 call reporting a possible robbery in progress at the Chevron station.

Officers arrived and found Hall in front of the store allegedly armed with a knife and holding a large rock in his other hand.

The 'suspect' saw the officers and retreated into the store where the clerk was, police said. Officers claimed they went into the store in an attempt to keep the clerk safe from Hall.

Police attempted to talk Hall into surrendering, but he allegedly advanced on them and an officer-involved shooting occurred, police said. However, the video footage does not appear to show Hall advancing towards officers.

Hall was pronounced dead at the scene.

In 2010 Hall was awarded a Citizen Citation from the Oakland County Sheriffs Office for assisting in the rescue of a four-year-old autistic child

Hall, who is survived by four siblings, was a 'peaceful person' who had been awarded for his community service, according to the documents filed at the Superior Court of California in San Bernardino.

In fact, in 2010 Hall was awarded a Citizen Citation from the Oakland County Sheriffs Office for assisting in the rescue of a four-year-old autistic child.

Hall is well known throughout his neighborhood for his 'peaceful nature' and residents were fully aware of his disabilities, according to the lawsuit.

Family members have also said Hall did not have violent tendencies, according to attorney Ben Meiselas, of Geragos & Geragos in LA.

'James was not observed by family, friends, or those who knew him as having violent tendencies because of his mental illness,' he said.

'The family is also puzzled and alarmed by characterizations of the incident as an "armed robbery" when the only facts released were that James was outside the Chevron station the entire time until police arrived and drew their guns. James lived down the block from the station.'

Mr Meiselas added that the Hall family wants answers from Fontana PD and an independent investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the officer involved shooting death.
Just days before he was hospitalized this weekend, former President George H.W. Bush joked that attending the inauguration would kill him.

The 41st President was hospitalized Saturday night, but had already planned on skipping Friday's inauguration.

In a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, former President Bush said his failing health was keeping him from being in attendance along with the other three living former presidents: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and his son George W. Bush.

'Barbara and I are so sorry we can't be there for your inauguration on January 20th. My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under. Same for Barbara. So I guess we're stuck in Texas.

'But we will be with you and the country in spirit. I want you to know that I wish you the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country. If I can ever be of help, please let me know,' Bush wrote.

Former President George H.W. Bush used a bit of humor to excuse himself from attending Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday

Bush and Trump are pictured above in 1988, when Bush was running for president

Former President Bush was admitted to Texas' Houston Methodist Hospital on Saturday for 'shortness of breath'.

But the 92-year-old is said to be responding well to treatment.

Bush (pictured) was admitted to a Houston, Texas hospital on Saturday for shortness of breath. He's pictured above with his wife Barbara, who is also not attending the inauguration, in May 2012

Bush, a former CIA director, was Ronald Reagan's Vice President from 1980 until 1988 and was then President until he was defeated in the 1992 election by Bill Clinton.

It was reported earlier this week that President Obama was leaving office with approval rating of 58 per cent, the highest of any departing President since Bush himself in 1993.

Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath said: 'Doctors and everyone are very pleased, and we hope to have him out soon.'

His office announced earlier this month that Bush and his wife, Barbara, would not attend Donald Trump's inauguration due to his age.

His son, George W Bush, became President in 2000 and was re-elected four years later but another son, Jeb, failed to reach the White House last year, crashing out of the race for the Republican nomination in the face of the phenomenal rise of Donald Trump.

Bush Sr has not been politically active in recent years although he did give his support to Jeb's doomed bid for the Presidency.

Bush's son, former President George W. Bush, will attend the inauguration on Friday, along with the two other living former presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. The father and son pictured above in 2002

The former head of the CIA has had his share of health issues in recent years.

In July 2015 Bush, who has a form of Parkinson's disease, was taken to a hospital in Portland, Maine after fracturing a bone in his neck in a fall.

But he was out of bed within a day of the accident, which happened at a family home in Kennebunkport.

Six months earlier, he had been taken to Houston Methodist hospital after complaining of 'shortness of breath' but was released a week later.

In late 2012 he was hospitalized with a 'bronchitis-related' cough and spent time in intensive care before returning home early in 2013.

Bush (second from right in the front row, with his family in 2005) is said to be responding well to treatment

Bush has used a wheelchair in recent years and his public appearances have been few and far between.

In October 2015, Bush, sitting in his wheelchair, wearing a brace on his neck and clad in a Houston Astros jersey, tossed out the first pitch at the team's playoff game against the Kansas City Royals.

He marked the 75th anniversary of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor last month by attending a ceremony at his presidential library at Texas A&M University, where Bob Dole, the former Republican Senator from Kansas, was presented an award for public service.

Last summer he led a group of 40 war veterans on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration.
Black Lives Matter protesters who caused chaos at Heathrow Airport claim they were following in the footsteps of US civil rights icon Rosa Parks.

The airport stunt caused delays at the height of the summer holidays on August 5 last year, with traffic gridlocked on the M4 spur road.

Joshua Virasami, 26, Ewa Jasiewicz, 38, Mark Weaver, 35, and Alison Playford, 37, are accused of unfurling a banner in the middle of the road which said 'this is a crisis'.

The other five defendants - Sita Balani, 29, Liam Barrington-Bush, 32, Aditi Jaganathan, 26, Naomi Mabita, 23, and Aadam Muuse, 24 - are said to have lay on the ground chained to each other.

A court has heard how a protest by the Black Lives Matter group caused chaos last summer

Alison Playford and Mark Weaver are also charged over the incident in August last year

Their trial at Willesden Magistrates' Court came to a close today, with District Judge Stephen Day due to give his decision later.

In his closing speech, defence lawyer Darrell Ennis-Gayle highlighted the case of US civil rights activist Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white person in 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

He said the Heathrow campaigners was they were exercising their right to protest.

Mr Ennis-Gayle, defending Jasiewicz, Muuse, and Barrington-Bush, said: 'This led to the arrest of Rosa Parks. Ultimately it changed the law.

'Of course, we don't question her action as being unreasonable, as her action defined the American civil rights movement.'

He said there could be 'little doubt' her actions could have caused inconvenience.

Mr Ennis-Gayle said: 'Who knows how many passengers missed flights from Montgomery Alabama Airport?

'I submit that the only difference here, sir, is these defendants were exercising their privilege, their freedom, to protest.'

Naomi Mabita (left) and Aditi Jaganathan (right) both deny the charge at the ongoing trial

Sita Balani is also on trial in proceedings expected to cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds

Ewa Jasiewicz (left) and Aadam Muuse (right) stood and lay on the M4 spur road, the jury heard

He told the court statistics showed black people were three times more likely to be arrested, and 44 times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act.

Mr Ennis-Gayle added: 'Protest is often by its nature an inconvenience. They made a decision to voice their opinions in a tried and tested way.

'Who knows what changes the group's actions could possibly bring about. This was a lawful obstruction with some minor inconvenience.'

Raj Chada, representing Balani, Mabita, and Virasami, said: 'A delay of 15 to 30 minutes is not unusual on the M4.

'It was to be of a short duration. It was designed to achieve media attention.'

He rubbished suggestions by the prosecution they could have used different ways to spread their message, such as handing out pamphlets.

Mr Chada said: 'I can see the headlines on CNN or the national media now - ten activists hand out leaflets at the Heathrow Express.

'These defendants sought to exercise their right to free speech in a practical way.'

Joshua Virasami and Liam Barrington-Bush are among a group of Black Lives Matter protesters on trial for obstructing the highway during a demonstration near Heathrow

Eight of the nine defendants outside court tonight. The trial was adjourned today

Freya Colvin, defending Weaver, Playford, and Jaganathan, said: 'The location for the protest, in their minds, was a reasonable one. But also a symbolic one due to the issues highlighted, given that Heathrow Airport is a main site for the deportation of black people. Their aim was about raising awareness.'

Nana Owusuh, prosecuting, said: 'It was calculated, staged, and effectively carried out in an artery road used by commuters to the airport.

'The time - rush hour time, in the summer months where the airports are to be busy, is fairly common knowledge. This was a deliberate and permanent obstruction.

'They could have chosen Hyde Park, anywhere else. It was because they wanted a degree of permanency.

'You may take the view that every minute matters catching a flight. Every minute matters, especially nowadays when checks are very stringent.'

Balani, Barrington-Bush, Jaganathan, Jasiewicz, Muuse, Playford,and Virasami, all from London, Weaver, of Beverley, east Yorkshire and Mabita, of Manchester, all deny wilful obstruction of a highway.

The trial was adjourned.
Police booking photos have emerged showing a Maryland woman and her boyfriend who were allegedly busted having sex in their car outside a Pennsylvania shopping mall with two children in the backseat.

Torrey Rudisil, 28, and Taylor Skursky, 26, have been charged with disorderly conduct stemming from the incident that took place in the parking lot of the Gettysburg Outlets at around 12.30pm Sunday.

State police say a passerby spotted the amorous pair engaging in what appeared to be sexual intercourse inside their black Honda Accord parked next to the movie theater in the strip mall.

Love on wheels: Torrey Rudisil, 28 (pictured left), and his girlfriend Taylor Skursky, 26 (right), have been charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly having sex outdoors

Caught with their pants down: State police say a passerby spotted the amorous couple inside their parked car at the Gettysburg Outlets (pictured) in broad daylight

Officers who were summoned to the scene to investigate found two children in the backseat of the couple's car, reported PennLive.com.

Case workers with Children and Youth Services were also called to the Gettysburg strip mall to evaluate the condition of the two children.

According to state police, Rudisil was out on a work release program when he was picked up by officers Sunday.

He was remanded to Adams County Prison after being charged with disorderly conduct.

Not his first time: Rudisil, (pictured left and right), has past convictions for resisting arrest, careless driving, criminal trespass, theft, disorderly conduct and harassment

Rudisil's past criminal record includes convictions for resisting arrest, careless driving, criminal trespass, theft, disorderly conduct and harassment, reported The Smoking Gun.

Taylor Skurksy, who currently resides in Sykesville, Maryland, was arrested last August in Hanover, Pennsylvania, on a shoplifting charge that resulted in a $542 fine.
President-elect Donald Trump gave another hint that his daughter Ivanka Trump would be filling out more of the first lady's shoes than his wife Melania.

Speaking to Ainsley Earhardt for an interview that aired this morning on Fox & Friends, Trump was talking about how he planned to thank President Obama and Michelle in the opening lines of his inauguration day speech for spending so much time talking to him and his family.

While Melania Trump's meeting with Michelle Obama was highly publicized, Trump revealed that Ivanka had spoken to the outgoing FLOTUS too.

'Ivanka, the other day, spoke to her,' said the president-elect. 'The conversation was going to be a quick conversation  it lasted an hour.'

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First lady Michelle Obama (left) spent an hour recently speaking to Ivanka Trump (right), according to the president-elect

Ivanka will be the first of the Trump women to land in Washington full-time, as Melania plans to stay in New York City through Barron's school year and then make the move later in 2017.

On the heels of her father's press conference last week, in which he announced both father and daughter would be leaving the company and putting Eric and Donald Jr. in charge, Ivanka Trump said in a statement she 'plan[ned] to take time to settle our young children into their new home and schools,' echoing the language her father's lawyer used to describe her plans.

Meanwhile her husband, Jared Kushner, would start his new gig at the White House, where he'll serve as 'Senior Advisor.'

Behind the scenes, though, Ivanka Trump is positioning herself to be anything but your typical stay-at-home mom.

The future first daughter has already been conversing with members of congress about her child care reform plan.

During a New Year's Day interview on CNN, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., confirmed to Jake Tapper that she'd been meeting with the president-elect's daughter on a problem that Ivanka expressed interest in fixing during last summer's Republican National Convention.

'Yes. Yes. I have,' Blackburn said when Tapper asked about it. 'And I am delighted to see that we're looking at options for tax credits, tax incentives, ways for moms and dads to be able to write-off this child care cost.'

Beyond child care, Politico reported that Ivanka Trump  often seen as the family member who can bring together people on the political left and the political right  was interested in working on combating climate change, not a normal issue area for the daughter of a Republican president to take on.

It was Ivanka Trump who orchestrated a meeting between her father and former Democratic Vice President Al Gore, a leading authority on the issue.

'It's no secret that Ivanka Trump is very committed to having a climate policy that makes sense for our country and our world,' Gore said on MSNBC after his Trump Tower meeting.
A coroner has upheld a Greek court's verdict that a holiday worker unlawfully killed his girlfriend by beating her - despite hearing expert evidence saying she could have died from a drunken fall 11 days previously.

Chelsea Hyndman, 20, died on the Greek island of Crete on May 17, 2010.

Her boyfriend, Luke Walker, was accused of assaulting her - causing abdominal injuries - and eventually found guilty by a Greek court of GBH with negligence.

An inquest heard Chelsea Hyndman, 20, right, who died in Crete in 2010, may have been fatally injured in a fall 11 days before her death. Her boyfriend Luke Walker, left, was convicted of GBH after assaulting her leaving her with injuries that 'led to her death'

Walker, right, claimed Miss Hyndman's, left, injuries were caused by a fall and an inquest heard evidence that it 'may have been fatal'

Walker, now 29, and from the West Midlands, was handed a three-year suspended sentence at Heraklion Mixed Criminal Court in 2015.

But at a British inquest into Chelsea's death this week, Prof Colin Johnson - a consultant surgeon and a specialist on the pancreas - said a fall while out drinking with friends 11 days before she died may have triggered her deteriorating health.

Witnesses claimed Chelsea, from Castleford, West Yorks., had a bottle in one hand while her left hand was in her belt as she adjusted her clothing, and so fell straight 'like a plank' without putting her hands out in front of her.

Prof Johnson claimed that her left fist caught in her belt could have been enough to cause the damage to her pancreas, which eventually caused multiple organ failure.

The couple lived together in Malia, Crete, pictured, where they both worked in bars

He told Wakefield Coroner's Court, West Yorks: 'In the case of someone who is drunk and the abdominal muscles relaxing, falling on the fist is sufficient to suppress the pancreas and cause the injury.

'Falling in the way described is sufficient.'

On this basis, Walker's barrister, Andrew Scott, requested the coroner consider questioning the Greek's court's proceedings when delivering his own verdict into her death.

But area coroner, Jonathan Leach, refused, saying: 'The proceedings were in Greece, a country within the EU, with a democracy and civilisation which goes well beyond our own, therefore the trial can not be criticised.

'I can't make a determination inconsistent with what was found in Greece, where Mr Walker was found guilty.

Walker's, right, GBH trial heard he assaulted Miss Hyndman, left, and left her injured, but the inquest heard the fall, witnessed by friends, could have severely damaged her pancreas due to her left fist being caught in her belt when it happened

'It means the only conclusion available to me is unlawful killing and a narrative verdict.

'As a result of blunt force trauma to the abdomen, my conclusion is that of a narrative conclusion.'

Mr Scott said after the inquest that Walker's family had intended to push for a judicial review into the verdict.

Chelsea, from Castleford, West Yorks., and Walker had met in Crete in 2008, returning to the island each year to work through the summer seasons.

Miss Hyndman, left, went to hospital complaining of stomach pains and later died due to organ failure, but the trial also heard she and Walker, right, had a 'good relationship'

The inquest in Wakefield heard it was 'not possible' to say for certain whether it was the fall or the assault that caused the fatal injuries

Despite reports from the trial in Greece that suggested the couple regularly argued in the apartment they shared, testimony from a number of their friends described them as a happy couple.

Walker assaulted Chelsea on May 12, 2010, five days before she died, but her friends reported that she had already begun to look jaundiced around that time.

She began feeling unwell in the days that followed, but Walker - who continues to deny that he assaulted her - told the inquest that she had refused to go to hospital and telling friends that she was feeling better.

She was eventually admitted on May 16 and underwent surgery but the damage to her pancreas caused major organ failure and she died on May 17, 2010.
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Spoon bender Uri Geller was tested by the CIA to assess his psychic abilities in a week-long experiment, newly published documents have revealed.

Geller was brought to Stanford Research Institute in August 1973 where experts tried to judge whether he had paranormal abilities over a period of eight days.

The experiments were part of the controversial Stargate programme.

It's all in the mind: What Uri Geller got right - and wrong - during CIA experiments

The CIA writes in the first experiment that they would randomly select a word from a large college dictionary and select the first word which could be reasonably drawn. The first such word was 'fuse' and the object drawn was a firecracker (CIA drawing above). Geller's almost immediate response was that he saw 'a cylinder with noise coming out of it'

Mind games: Geller's almost immediate response was that he saw 'a cylinder with noise coming out of it' His drawing to correspond to the target was a drum, along with a number of other cylindrical-looking objects - two attempts pictured above

Hunch: In another experiment, the word selected was 'bunch' and the target was a bunch of grapes (pictured left). Geller immediately thought of 'drops of water coming out of the picture', then talking about 'purple circles', before attempting his drawing. Both have exactly 24 grapes each in them

Soaring: In another experiment, Geller was secured in a shielded room about 150 feet down the hallway . A pictured drawn by the CIA (left) was a kite. Shortly after, they wrote that Geller was told the pictured had been drawn and his first drawing in this case was a square with diagonals drawn in

Over the hump: On one day, experiments closed the outer door of the laboratory in which a shielded room Geller was in was located. The target picture was a camel (left) which Geller was unsure about, but his first choice drawing was a horse (right)

According to the documents, Geller was placed in a sealed room during the experiment where random words were taken from a dictionary.

A scientist was then asked to draw a picture based on the word.

After the drawing had been completed it was taped on the wall outside of his room and he was asked to describe what had been sketched via intercom.

In one test, the word fuse was used and a scientist drew a firecracker.

The previously secret document said Geller: 'His almost immediate response was that he saw a 'cylinder with noise coming out of it'.

'His drawing to correspond with it was a drum, along with a number of cylindrical-looking objects.'

In the same experiment as the camel drawings, the experimenters drew a flying sea gull (left); Geller said he almost immediately saw a flying swan over a hill, drawing several birds, saying he was sure the drawing (right) was correct

A bridge too far: Following the camel experiment, they drew San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge

Geller, sitting inside the shielded room drew some curved lines with some squares underneath but said he didn't know what the picture was so passed

The devil's in the detail: Not all the experiments were a roaring success. Geller was locked in a room at one point when they drew a devil with a trident (pictured) but Geller spent almost half an hour working on thee drawing with several responses

Swing and a miss: Geller's drawings were (from left to right) 'Moses' Tablets' ie Ten Commandments, inside the world with a trident on the outside; an apple with a worm coming out of it and a snake in the picture; a composite picture with the Ten Commandments on top of the world, with God inside the world and the trident on the outside, along with a neatly drawn leaf

Out of this world: In this case an experiment was inside the shileded room with Geller outside the room with another experiment. The target drew a representation of the solar system (left); Geller's drawn response to the target omitted the conventional orbit lines and appears to have many similarities to the target drawing

A second word was 'bunch' to which the scientist sketched out a bunch of grapes.

According to the document: 'Geller's immediate response was that he saw 'drops of water coming out of the picture'.

Geller, pictured, managed to impress the CIA with the quality of his psychic ability

'He then talked about 'purple circles'.

'Finally, he said that he was quite sure that he had the picture. His drawing was indeed a bunch of grapes.'

Both Geller and the scientist's picture had exactly 24 grapes in the bunch.

On the second day of experimentation, the report stated Geller would sometimes only partially draw the correct picture, leading scientists to believe he did not 'copy lines from the target picture, but rather he does perform some mental processing on them before drawing them himself.'

Throughout the week, the experiments were moved to different rooms and a 'long-distance' telepathy study was also conducted.

An 'East Coast' scientist drew a picture, which Geller was able to partially replicate in California.

After the series of tests, the CIA concluded Geller 'demonstrated his paranormal perceptual ability in a convincing and unambiguous manner'.

The CIA has made the collection of 930,000 documents with 12 million pages available through its electronic reading room on the CIA's website.

Uri Geller, who has made a career for his psychic and mind-bending talents, was probed by the CIA at the Stanford Research Institute in August 1973 (pictured)

Since 1999, much of the information has been available on four computer terminals at National Archives Records Administration (NARA) in College Park, Maryland.

However, yesterday the agency announced the information has now been made available to the public.

According to Joseph Lambert, CIA Director of Information Management: 'Access to this historically significant collection is no longer limited by geography. The American public can access these documents from the comfort of their homes.'

He said: 'The CREST collection covers a myriad of topics, such as the early CIA history, the Cold War, Vietnam, the Berlin Tunnel project, the Korean War, and the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. The documents also extensively address developments on terrorism, as well as worldwide military and economic issues.'

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph following the release of the documents, Geller said his television entertainer role had been 'good cover' for his espionage work.

'Vindicated? I don't care about the sceptics,' he said. 'I did many things for the CIA. They wanted me to stand outside the Russian Embassy in Mexico, and erase floppy discs being flown out by Russian agents.

'I had to get near someone signing a nuclear deal and bombard him with 'sign, sign, sign'.

'I was asked to stop the heart of a pig. It was probably so they could stop the heart of Andropov who was head of the KGB,' he added, although he would not name which agency had asked him to do so.

'George Clooney basically played me in that film (The Men Who Stare at Goats). It wasn't goat, it was really a pig.'

When asked if he had ever been tested by MI6, Geller replied: 'No comment'.

The reports state he was involved in a series of experiments that lasted eight days where he was given picture drawing tasks to put his abilities to the test

CIA REVEALS 1949 IRISH INVASION PLOT IN THE EVENT OF WWIII The CIA discussed the need to invade Ireland in a top secret memorandum prepared in April 1949 in the event of an 'East-West war'. The Irish government remained neutral during the Second World War, and according to the document, continued neutrality in a future war 'would probably be tolerable. However, in the the summary of the 47-page document, 'denial of Ireland to an enemy is an inescapable principle of United States Security'. The document warned: 'It could become necessary to utilize Ireland for these purposes under conceivable circumstances of sustained aerial bombardment or hostile occupation of British ports.' A CIA Report discussed the need of securing Ireland in the event of an East-West war In the first few paragraphs of the 47-page document, the CIA warns of the danger of Ireland becoming a base for hostile forces in the event of an East-West war Advertisement
Thomas Markle Jr, 50, will appear in court next month over charges of threatening his girlfriend with a gun

Meghan Markle's brother was accused of pressing a gun to his girlfriend's head when drunk during a row at their home - while he had another firearm in his waistband.

Court documents give the police's first account of the alleged domestic violence committed by Prince Harry's girlfriend's older brother, and detail charges against him which could lead to a five-year prison sentence if he is found guilty.

The file, which includes a summary of the charges and a brief probable cause statement, reveals that Markle Jr had been in possession of two guns, one of which was tucked in his waistband, during an altercation with his girlfriend Darlene Blount, 36, at his Grants Pass, Oregon home on Thursday night.

In the document, which uses a triangle symbol to denote Markle Jr, he is described as having 'got into a drunken argument with his girlfriend'.

It continues: During the argument [Markle Jr] pulled a gun from his closet and pressed it to his girlfriend's head telling her to leave. Girlfriend then fled into the bathroom and called police.

'[Markle Jr] was contacted and taken into custody. [Markle Jr] also had a gun in his waistband.'

Case: How the police say the attack at Markle Jr's home unfolded

Prince Harry's girlfriend Meghan Markle, who is 15 years younger than Thomas Jr. Their father Thomas Markle Snr married twice

Court date: Thomas Markle Jr will appear in court in Grants Pass, Oregon, on February 13 to answer charges which could result in up to a year in prison if he is found guilty

The 50-year-old window fitter  whose sister Meghan has been dating Prince Harry since May  also had a blood alcohol level of 0.17, which is double the Oregon drink drive limit of 0.08.

Speaking to DailyMail.com at his office in Grants Pass yesterday, District Attorney Ryan Mulkins said a court date has been set for February 13.

Markle Jr faces two charges, one of which, unlawful use of a weapon, is a class C felony that could see him sentenced to up to five years in jail and handed a $125,000 fine.

The other is a misdemeanor charge of menacing constituting domestic violence, which carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison and a $6,525 fine.

According to the case file, his actions 'did unlawfully and intentionally attempt to place Darlene Marie Blount in fear of imminent serious physical injury, this conduct by defendant constituting domestic violence.'

Mulkins also told DailyMail.com that a third charge - pointing a firearm at another - has been dropped.

'We are currently preparing the case,' he added. 'At the moment, I can't disclose any more information than that.'

Markle Jr was arrested and booked into Josephine County Jail at approximately 11pm on Thursday night, where he was ordered to take a blood alcohol test and pose for a mugshot.

Thomas Markle Jr was arrested on Thursday at the home (pictured) he shares with his girlfriend of two months, Darlene Blount, in Grants Pass, Oregon

The Josephine County Adult Jail where Prince Harry's girlfriend's half brother, Thomas Markle Jr, was taken after his arrest

Meghan with Thomas Jr as a baby. He said in a recent interview that he hopes Prince Harry 'takes care of and loves' his sister

He was released the following day at 10am after paying a $1,500 bond, although the origin of the money is disputed.

Ex-wife Tracy Dooley claimed in the aftermath of the arrest that she had put up the money following a 3am phone call.

But speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com yesterday, Markle Jr said her claims were 'lies, all lies' and also disputed a version of events put out by his son Tyler, 24.

'I didn't get bailed out by Tracy or ask her for any money - that was lies, all lies,' he said. On his son, who issued a statement purportedly in his name on Sunday and who had claimed Markle Jr texted him immediately after his arrest, he said:

'Tyler's statement is 100 per cent false. I haven't talked to Tyler for over two weeks.'

Markle Jr, who is thought to be staying with friends, has kept a low profile since the incident and did not appear for work yesterday.

However, he told DailyMail.com that he is 'OK' but admitted 'there's a lot going on right now'.

'I'm OK, I'm OK,' he said. 'There's a lot going on right now but it will be fine. There's so much going on that people don't know about. What happened [on Thursday] isn't what it seemed.'

The Prince and Markle have been spotted together in London but have not made a full public appearance

Blount is yet to give her version of events and is thought to be staying with her parents Clyde, 66, and Claudia, 59, in their rural home approximately five miles from the house she shared with Markle Jr.

Markle Jr's bail conditions, as set out in the court documents, include a restraining order that forbids him from approaching her.

He is also banned from possessing firearms and drinking alcohol is prohibited.

Markle Jr is the only son of Meghan's father Thomas Markle Sr, 72, and his first wife Roslyn, 71. The former couple, who split up in 1976, also have a daughter - Samantha Grant, 52, who now lives in Florida.

Meghan, who reportedly rang in the New Year in Norway with Prince Harry, is the product of his second marriage to yoga teacher Doria Ragland, 60.

The 35-year-old Suits actress is currently believed to be in London where she is said to have been introduced Prince William, 34, and Kate Middleton, 35, this week.

Harry, 32, has also been introduced to members of Meghan's family - with her father giving the relationship his blessing.

Speaking to DailyMail.com earlier this month, Markle Jr said his father is 'proud' of Meghan and added that he 'would one day like to shake his [Harry's] hand and meet him'.
A group of five avowedly liberal celebrities photographed on the cover of Variety while holding a large American flag may technically have violated federal code because they allowed the Stars and Stripes to touch the floor.

The cover of the latest 'inauguration issue' of Variety shows Hamilton actor Brandon Victor Dixon, filmmaker Michael Moore, actor Lena Dunham, talk show host Chelsea Handler, and commentator Van Jones standing behind an American flag.

The flag is being held up along its edges by Moore, who is standing next to Dixon second from left, and Jones on the far right.

The cover story bears the headline 'Now What?'

'On the eve of Trump's inauguration, Hollywood and the media raise their voices,' the cover story's sub-headline reads.

The cover of the latest 'inaugural' edition of Variety shows from left: Hamilton actor Brandon Victor Dixon, filmmaker Michael Moore, actor Lena Dunham, talk show host Chelsea Handler, and commentator Van Jones standing behind an American flag

According to Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8 of the US Code, 'the flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.'

There are no civil or legal penalties for violating the US Code on respecting the flag.

Dixon (left) is the Broadway actor who famously read a statement to Vice President-elect Mike Pence on November 19 after a performance of Hamilton. Moore (right) is a filmmaker whose movies paint an unflattering image of America's gun culture, foreign policy, and capitalism

The Variety cover is nonetheless riling up conservatives who have a long history of loathing the individuals depicted in the photo.

Dixon says no regrets for reading statement to Pence

Dixon is the Broadway actor who famously read a statement written by Hamilton show creator Lin-Manuel Miranda to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who was in the theater to catch a show on November 18.

Pence and his family were jeered as they entered the Richard Rogers Theater in Manhattan to catch the performance.

Dixon told Variety he has no regrets about the incident.

Handler (left), the host of her own talk show on Netflix, said that she would leave the US if Donald Trump won the election. Jones (right) is a commentator for CNN who was also an adviser to President Barack Obama

I was certainly a little surprised at the magnitude of things, but then my intelligent self kicked in,' Dixon says.

'I understand the media-news-cycle world that we live in. And my reaction was, "I'm happy to step forward and to speak about this at any and every opportunity", because people globally feel a need to hear that they are not alone in their desire to have their voices heard.'

'Take Trump at his word', says Moore

Moore is reviled by conservatives for his films, which have painted unflattering portraits of America's gun culture, the George W. Bush administration, the health care system, capitalism, and foreign policy.

In an interview with Variety, Moore says he 'absolutely' expects Trump to institute a ban on Muslims.

'What youre going to see is, on day one, hes going to rescind a dozen or more of Obamas executive-branch regulations,' the filmmaker said.

'Before the liberals and the Democrats can get their heads screwed on straight, theyll have 20 laws passed. Building a wall. Creating a Muslim ban. Hes shown how hes going to do it.'

'Hes going to get away with it by making it a ban on Muslims who come from the following countries.'

'He needs just enough cover for his crowd to say, Oh, hes being reasonable there. Hes not banning all Muslims.'

Lena Dunham: 'Women of every political stripe rely on Planned Parenthood, often as their only health-care provider

Dunham has stirred controversy in the past as well.

Dunham (above) stirred controversy in the past for saying that she wished she had an abortion

Last month, she apologized for saying on her podcast that she wished she had aborted a fetus.

Two years ago, Dunham denounced a right-wing news website, which published an article accusing her of sexually abusing her little sister Grace when they were children.

The website, Truth Revolt, referenced an excerpt from the Girls star and creator's recently released book of non-fiction essays in which she talked about looking at her sister's vagina when Dunham was 7 and Grace was just a year old.

'I am one of millions of women terrified about the implications of the coming administration on women's access to reproductive health care,' Dunham writes in a guest column for Variety.

Dunham said that Republican vows to de-fund Planned Parenthood would deprive women of the only source of affordable reproductive health care.

'Women of every belief system and political stripe rely on Planned Parenthood, often as their only health-care provider,' she wrote.

'When women are not empowered with affordable health care that addresses our needs, we suffer within our families, our communities, and as a nation.'

Chelsea Handler: 'Blame the Kardashians'

Just days after Trump was elected, Handler tearfully declared on her Netflix talk show that she would move to Spain, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the latest issue of Variety, Handler slams Trump as a 'toddler.'

She accused the media of unfair treatment toward Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Trump, meanwhile, was covered by the press more as an entertainer rather than a real politician, Handler says.

'Stop covering [Trump] so much,' she says.

'They were treating him as an entertainer first. It was a reality show. Weve turned into a reality show.'

'I blame the Kardashians, personally; the beginning of the end was the Kardashians. The way these people have blown up and dont go away  its surreal.'

'Everyone is for sale.'

Van Jones: 'A pathological liar with a Twitter addiction'

Jones was a left-wing radical in his youth. In recent years, he has authored books on creating a green economy.

Before his regular appearances as a commentator on CNN, Jones was an advisor to President Barack Obama.

Jones slams Trump in the latest issue of Variety, calling the president-elect 'a bully' and 'a pathological liar with a Twitter addiction.'

He said that his life changed following Election Night, when he famously declared on television that Trump's victory was the result of a 'whitelash.'

'For a lot of people, especially liberals and progressives, election night was a traumatic shock, like when JFK was shot or the Twin Towers fell,' Jones told Variety.

'It was a huge media moment. And for a lot of them, I was their guy on CNN that night.'

'For several days, I didnt have to pay for anything. I would walk into a store or sit down at a restaurant or get in a cab, and the workers wouldnt charge me, to say thank you.'

Jones said that Trump's victory made him challenge long-held beliefs.

'Youre taught your whole life not to be a bully, and this time a bully won,' he said.

'It upsets your whole view when someone like that wins.'
Michelle Obama is making the most of her last two days as first lady, before the Trumps move in.

In a video posted to her Twitter account on Wednesday, the first lady took a stroll through the White House with the family dogs, taking in every last detail of the historic building where she raised her two daughters these past eight years.

The clip begins in the Cross Hall, with Mrs Obama calling Bo and Sunny over to her.

She then leads the dogs through the South Portico side of the first floor, slowly taking in the East Room, Green Room, Blue Room and Red Room - George Washington's portrait visible in the background.

As is tradition, the White House staff will move the Obamas out and the Trumps in over the course of inauguration day on Friday.

President Obama and Michelle won't be going too far though. They've snatched up a house in the ritzy Kalorama area of DC so that youngest daughter Sasha can finish high school.

Michelle Obama released a video on Wednesday, showing her taking one last look around the White House with the family dogs Bo and Sunny

In the above grab from the video, Mrs Obama is seen admiring the White House's Red Room

On Wednesday, workers were seen putting the final touches on the house, as movers hauled furniture out of the West Wing.

Mrs Obama hasn't confirmed what her plans are after her husband ends his presidency, but she has repeatedly shot down suggestions that she run for office.

While she may not fancy herself a politician, Mrs Obama says she will stay dedicated to her causes - such as the physical health of America's youth.

Workers were seen putting the final touches on the Obamas new house in Washington, DC on Wednesday

Meanwhile, workers hauled furniture out of the West Wing on Wednesday - just two days before the Trumps move in

Chair today: Furniture is moved out of the West Wing of the White House on January 18

Movers have started bringing some of the Obamas' possessions over to the new house, pictured above on Wednesday

The Obamas' new house is located mere blocks from the home Ivanka Trump and her family are moving into

In an appearance on the Tonight Show last week, Mrs Obama said: 'Yeah I'm not done, I'm too young!'

The Obama's new home is just blocks from the home future first daughter Ivanka Trump and her family are moving into.

Ivanka is set to take on a role similar to the First Lady, working in the East Wing of the White House in the newly-dubbed 'Office of the First Family'. Her husband Jared is also taking an unpaid position as a special adviser to President Trump.

Ivanka posted pictures on Instagram on Wednesday, showing daughter Arabella posing among the many moving boxes at their Manhattan apartment.

Modifications have had to be made to President Obama's new house, so that Secret Service can protect him
Three people are dead and two are wounded, including a two-year-old boy who was shot five times, after a gunman opened fire inside a Kansas City, Missouri apartment on Thursday.

Among the dead is Ali Renee Brown, 20, the mother of two-year old Karson Southerland, who managed to survive the ordeal.

Brown, a former cheerleader who graduated from high school just two years ago, had recently moved from the St. Louis suburbs to Kansas City, seeking a fresh start.

'She was very happy and very outgoing,' brother Trent Brown said in a Tuesday interview with the Kansas City Star. 'She would do anything for anyone.'

Mother Ali Brown (right) is dead after a triple-homicide shooting in Kansas City. Her two-year-old son Karson Southerland (left) survived despite being shot five times

Karson Southerland (pictured) is expected to recover from the shooting on Thursday that left his mother and two others dead

'I truly lost the love of my life,' Ryan Edwards (right) wrote on Facebook of his former girlfriend Ali Brown (left).

Also dead in the shooting are Darrell E. Thomas, 29, and Victoria Brown, 28, both of Kansas City and said to be acquaintances of Ali Brown. Another adult was injured.

Trent Brown said that doctors expected his nephew Karson to survive, despite the tot being shot five times.

He added that he had no idea why anyone would want to shoot his sister or the others in the apartment.

On Thursday night, neighbors reported hearing at least five gunshots in the apartment complex around 9:30.

Officers responded to the scene, at the Trails at the Ridge apartment complex, shortly before 10 p.m.

The quintuple shooting that left three people dead took place in the Trail at the Ridge apartment complex (pictured) in Kansas City on Thursday

There, they found Thomas and one of the women dead. Another woman was rushed to the hospital, where she died.

Police have made few details of the case public, saying only that they are seeking three male suspects who may have been driving a black or blue four-door vehicle.

Meanwhile, friends and family are mourning the death of young Ali Brown, whose son will grow up motherless.

Brown graduated from Francis Howell Central High School in St. Charles, Missouri, in 2014. There, she competed in All-American Cheer as a cheerleader, and was involved in volleyball, softball, and gymnastics.

'I truly lost the love of my life,' Brown's former boyfriend Ryan Edwards wrote on Facebook. 'Why wasn't I there to protect you?'

'Ali was an outgoing young lady who definitely lived out loud,' read an obituary for 20-year-old mother Ali Brown, pictured right with son Karson

Edwards is not young Karson's father, Brown's brother said.

'Ali was an outgoing young lady who definitely lived out loud,' an obituary from Baue Funeral & Memorial Center read. 'Ali is gone too soon, but her memory and her vibrant spirit will live on through all of those who loved her.'

Brown was from St. Peters, Missouri, outside St. Louis. Her father, Shawn Brown, is a former mayor of St. Peters, but was convicted and jailed for taking a $2,750 bribe from a traffic camera vendor, according to court records.

Kansas City is one of seven cities driving a national spike in homicides, the FBI said in a 2016 report.

There were 127 homicides in Kansas City last year, the highest number since 1998 and a stunning 60 percent increase from the city's historic low rate in 2014, according to city police data.
President-elect Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to wish former President George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara a speedy recovery after being taken to hospital in Houston with pneumonia.

The 92-year-old is currently in the ICU his 91-year-old wife Barbara was admitted to same Houston hospital.

'Looking forward to a speedy recovery for George and Barbara Bush, both hospitalized. Thank you for your wonderful letter!' Mr Trump wrote, referring to a letter he has received from the 41st President.

The President-elect tweeted to wish former president George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara a speedy recovery and to thank them for their letter

Mr Trump then tweeted a photo of himself penning his inaugural address

Former President George H.W. Bush used a bit of humor to excuse himself from attending Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday

In the letter to President-elect Donald Trump, former President Bush said his failing health was keeping him from being in attendance along with the other three living former presidents: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and his son George W. Bush.

'Barbara and I are so sorry we can't be there for your inauguration on January 20th. My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under. Same for Barbara. So I guess we're stuck in Texas.

'But we will be with you and the country in spirit. I want you to know that I wish you the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country. If I can ever be of help, please let me know,' Bush wrote.

The letter was written before he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia.

Meanwhile, the former President's wife, Barbara Bush, was also taken for treatment at Houston Methodist Hospital this morning 'as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing,' according to statement by the Bush office.

It added that doctors want to see how the former first lady responds to treatment before allowing her to return home.

Barbara Bush has been admitted to hospital just four days after husband and former President George H.W. Bush, 92, was taken to the same medical center

George H W Bush is pictured, left and right, with his wife Barbara in 2003, was also hospitalized on Saturday

Just four days earlier, her husband George H.W. Bush was admitted to the same Houston hospital suffering from a 'shortness of breath'.

A Bush spokesman said that the former president has since been moved to the intensive care unit to address an acute respiratory problem from pneumonia.

Spokesman Jim McGrath says the 92-year-old was placed under sedation for a procedure to protect and clear his airway. He is now stable and resting comfortably.

'I don't think there's a whole lot of money to be gained betting against George Bush,' McGrath said. 'We're just kind of in a wait-and-see mode.'

He also added that Barbara, who celebrated her 72nd wedding anniversary with George Bush Snr. on January 6, was hospitalized as a precaution after she began to exhibit symptoms such as coughing and fatigue.

Their grandson George P. Bush, Jeb Bush's son, has announced he no longer plans to attend Donald Trump's inauguration due to his grandparents' ill health. But he still plans 'to attend a private event with the new president next week in Washington,' A Bush spokesman said.

Bush, a former CIA director, was Ronald Reagan's Vice President from 1980 until 1988 and was then President until he was defeated in the 1992 election by Bill Clinton.

Just days before he was hospitalized George H.W. Bush had joked that attending the inauguration would kill him.

The 41st President had already planned on skipping Friday's inauguration before he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia.

Bill Clinton -the 42rd president - tweeted to wish George H.W. Bush - the 41st president - and his wife a speedy recovery

Senator John McCain also sent along his prayers to the Bushes for a 'speedy and full recovery'

On Wednesday, Bill Clinton - the 42rd President - also tweeted to wish George H.W. Bush and his wife well.

He wrote: '41 and Barbara - thinking about you both and sending wishes for a speedy recovery. Love 42.'

President Barack Obama also took a moment out of his final White House press conference to send his prayers to the former First Family.

'We have been in touch with the Bush family today,' he said. 'They have not only dedicated their lives to this country, they have been a constant source of friendship and support and good counsel for Michelle and me over the years.

'They are as fine a couple as we know and so we want to send and prayers and our love to them.'

Senator John McCain added: 'Praying for speedy & full recovery of @GeorgeHWBush & Barbara Bush & sending best wishes to the entire Bush family today.'

Chat show host Ellen DeGeneres also passed on her 'love' to George and Barbara Bush, while Texas Rep. Bill Flores and Sen. John Cornyn sent their prayers to the family.

It was reported earlier this week that President Obama was leaving office with approval rating of 58 percent, the highest of any departing President since George H W Bush in 1993.

Ellen DeGeneres also tweeted she was 'sending love' to George and Barbara Bush

Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath said: 'Doctors and everyone are very pleased, and we hope to have him out soon.'

His office announced earlier this month that Bush and his wife, Barbara, would not attend Donald Trump's inauguration due to his age.

His son, George W Bush, became President in 2000 and was re-elected four years later but another son, Jeb, failed to reach the White House last year, crashing out of the race for the Republican nomination in the face of the phenomenal rise of Donald Trump.

Bush Sr has not been politically active in recent years although he did give his support to Jeb's doomed bid for the Presidency.

The former head of the CIA has had his share of health issues in recent years.

In July 2015 Bush, who has a form of Parkinson's disease, was taken to a hospital in Portland, Maine after fracturing a bone in his neck in a fall.

But he was out of bed within a day of the accident, which happened at a family home in Kennebunkport.

Six months earlier, he had been taken to Houston Methodist hospital after complaining of 'shortness of breath' but was released a week later.

George H W Bush with his son George W at the Cape Arundel Golf Club in Maine in 2002

Bush (second from right in the front row, sitting next to his wife with the rest of his family in 2005), was taken to Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas after falling ill, according to his office chief of staff, Jean Becker

Barbara and George H. W. Bush married in 1945 (left). They are seen in China in 1974 (right)

George H. W. Bush with his wife, Barbara, and their children Pauline and George W. on horse in the yard of their Midlands, Texas ranch in an undated photograph

In late 2012 he was hospitalized with a 'bronchitis-related' cough and spent time in intensive care before returning home early in 2013.

Bush has used a wheelchair in recent years and his public appearances have been few and far between.

In October 2015, Bush, sitting in his wheelchair, wearing a brace on his neck and clad in a Houston Astros jersey, tossed out the first pitch at the team's playoff game against the Kansas City Royals.

He marked the 75th anniversary of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor last month by attending a ceremony at his presidential library at Texas A&M University, where Bob Dole, the former Republican Senator from Kansas, was presented an award for public service.

Before serving as president, Bush was a former U.S. Navy pilot and lieutenant during World War II.

Last summer he led a group of 40 war veterans on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration.

Their grandson George P. Bush (pictured in 2015) Jeb Bush's son, has announced he no longer plans to attend Donald Trump's inauguration due to his grandparents' ill health

Mrs Bush was just 16 when she met her future at a school dance, and he borrowed a car for the couple's first date, Today reported. They tied the knot in 1945 and hold the record for longest-married presidential couple.

After graduating from Yale, Bush moved his wife Barbara and their children to west Texas, where they moved into the oil business.

Bush later entered politics and was sworn into the U.S. Congress in 1967. After two terms, he was named U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Richard Nixon.

He also served as chairman of the Republican National Committee and then director of the CIA and in 1980, he joined Ronald Reagan's ticket, to become the 43rd vice president in January 1981.

Bush was elected president in his own right in 1988, defeating former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

The couple's six children include former President George W. Bush, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, Dorothy Bush Koch, and the late Robin Bush, who died in 1953. They have 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Chippewa Falls City Council on Tuesday recognized three officers for earning the Wisconsin attorney generals Top Cops Award.

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matt Kelm recognized officers James Luckey and Drew Zehm, and Sgt. Deb Brettingen for earning Attorney General Brad Schimels award for helping a homeless person find housing on a cold December evening.

(The persons) sister came down to the police department around Christmas and said her brother was doing well, Kelm said at the council meeting. He was still employed, had housing and this was the first time he was going to be able to host Christmas dinner at his house.

The attorney general recognizes officers throughout Wisconsin who do good deeds that otherwise go unnoticed. Schimel said during a phone call in December they started the Top Cops Award to balance out the negative rhetoric of law enforcement that has caught in national headlines recently.

When bad things happen, Schimel said those should be talked about, but so, too, should the many good deeds officers do on a daily basis.

The compassion (of these officers) is what, in over 25 years with the DAs office, I became accustomed to and kind of took for granted at times, Schimel said. Not everyone is suited to go into public service, it takes a special kind of person with high compassion for the lives around them.

Mayor Greg Hoffman thanked Luckey, Zehm and Brettingen at the Council meeting for that compassion.

On a similar note, Hoffman also issued a proclamation declaring Thursday, Jan. 19 as Big Brothers Big Sisters Thank Your Mentor Day in the city, marking the 15th year the city has celebrated January as National Mentor Month.

Wes Escondo, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Wisconsin, attended the meeting to thank the city for recognizing this day.

I cant think of anything more powerful than a child who truly believes and has confidence they can be better tomorrow than what we are today, Escondo said. Thank you to the council and the city who year after year commit to this proclamation as an expression that our children are definitely worth fighting for.

In other news

Before Tuesdays Council meeting began, City Clerk Bridget Givens swore in Robert Hoekstra, who filled the Seventh Ward vacancy.

Hoekstra was the only one to file nomination papers for the seat, which was vacated after Brent Ford resigned in December, citing personal reasons.

The city also approved a request for Glen Loch Saloon, LLC, to change its name to Wood Fire Bar & Grill.

Finally, the city set public hearings for the March 7 Council meeting to discuss a resolution regarding the discontinuance of portions of Lakeland Drive and Lake Wissota Drive in the Lake Wissota Business Park.

According to the Monday, Jan. 9 minutes of the Board of Public Works, Doug Clary representing Chippewa County proposed discontinuing small portions of the existing right of way on Lakeland Drive would allow the City/County more flexiblity in providing larger sized lots for marketing to potential developments.

The existing right-of-ways were platted as parts of improvement, but the actual streets were not installed, Assistant City Engineer Rob Krejci said according to the minutes.

The Lakeview Drive discontinuance cited similar reasons.
The dead bodies of ISIS fighters lying in the streets of Mosul are spreading lethal disease, after they were killed by Iraqi forces who have recaptured the eastern part of the city.

Health workers have spoken of the devastating humanitarian situation in the northern city in Iraq following more than two years of ISIS rule.

Experts in Mosul warned of the threat of disease being spread by contaminated water in the city.

The dead bodies of ISIS fighters lying in the streets of Mosul are spreading lethal disease, after they were killed by Iraqi forces who have recaptured the eastern part of the city

US-backed Iraqi government troops announced on Wednesday they were in 'full control' of eastern Mosul, three months since the major operation started

Hospital worker Mahmoud told charity Save The Children and The Sun: 'The bodies of ISIS fighters are still lying in the streets and no-one has moved them. The rotting bodies could start an outbreak of disease.

'There is no power. No water. People are drinking from the wells here. This water is unsafe.

'The well water is contaminated with metals and acids. There are infectious diseases, skin diseases caused by dirty water.'

He also spoke of the psychological impact that seeing bodies lying in the streets is having on children, in addition to the 'killings and beheadings' they have already seen.

Pictured are members of Iraqi counter-terrorism service in eastern Mosul on Wednesday

Lt. Gen. Talib Shaghati, who commands the counter-terrorism forces, described the achievement as a 'big victory'

US-backed Iraqi government troops announced on Wednesday they were in 'full control' of eastern Mosul, three months since the major operation started.

Lt. Gen. Talib Shaghati, who commands the counter-terrorism forces, described the achievement as a 'big victory', adding that the success of the Iraqi forces was 'unprecedented.'

He said plans were now being drawn up to retake the western part of the city but did not elaborate on when that part of the operation would begin.

Health workers have spoken of the devastating humanitarian situation in the northern city in Iraq following more than two years of ISIS rule

Experts in Mosul warned of the threat of disease being spread by contaminated water

Mosul - Iraq's second-largest city and the Islamic State group's last urban stronghold in the country - fell to ISIS in the summer of 2014, when the militant group captures large swaths of northern and western Iraq.

The operation has also left more than 148,000 people homeless, according to the United Nations. Nearly 12,500 people have been forced to flee their homes just over the past week, the U.N. said.

More than one million people were estimated to still be living in Mosul in October, when Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the city.
Thousands of relieved British tourists have arrived home safely after escaping an impending conflict in Gambia.

Special evacuation flights were put on by travel operators in a bid to get UK citizens out of the country before any fighting breaks out.

Military forces have gathered at Gambia's border poised to invade if the president Yahya Jammeh does not stand down after refusing to accept the latest election result.

Thousands of relieved British tourists have arrived home safely after escaping an impending conflict in Gambia

British traveller Sara Wilkins was seen consoling a fellow passenger Ebrima Jagne, who is originally from the African country and was clearly distressed

They arrived on repatriation flights organised by tour operator Thomas Cook at Manchester Airport

It comes as military forces gathered at Gambia's border poised to invade if the president does not stand down after refusing to accept the latest election result

British traveller Sara Wilkins was seen consoling fellow passenger Ebrima Jagne, who is originally from the African country and was clearly distressed, after they arrived at Manchester Airport.

Tour operator Thomas Cook started flying nearly 1,000 holidaymakers home on Wednesday.

In a statement, the company said: 'Our colleagues on the ground in Gambia and our special assistance team who flew into Banjul today have been working hard to get our UK customers home from the Gambia as quickly as possible.

'Today, we operated four extra flights from Banjul airport in addition to one scheduled flight.

British tourists stuck in Gambia produced a spectrum of reactions to their predicament on social media

'Banjul airport has limited check-in and departure facilities compared with most UK airports and is operating with fewer local staff because of the situation.

'We would like to thank customers for their continued patience as our teams on the ground work to get everyone home as quickly as we can.

'Over the next two days we will be operating nine extra flights from Banjul airport, in addition to two scheduled flights, to bring home our remaining UK customers.

'To help our customers with check-in and departure we are flying additional colleagues out from the UK on the first flight tomorrow.

'By the end of Friday, January 20 we expect to have brought home approximately 3,500 passengers on a total of 16 flights.'

Gambia's president Yahya Jammeh has failed to accept his election defeat to Adama Barrow

A Thomas Cook travel representative helps tourists prepare to leave the Gambia after the British Government changed the travel advisory to amber due to the state of emergency issued by Gambian President Jammeh

British tourists check in at Banjul Airport, Gambia, Wednesday, as special flights are arranged

Tourists are seen gathered as they board buses leaving for the airport a day after the country declared a state of emergency, in Banjul, Gambia

Meanwhile, nearby nations are preparing for military action in Gambia to overthrow Yahya Jammeh, as the man who once pledged to rule the West African nation for a billion years clung to power.

Jammeh failed to accept his election defeat to Adama Barrow, an ex-Argos security guard from north London.

After a midnight deadline set by the West African regional bloc to step down, there was no word from Jammeh.

Gambia's economy relies on one main crop, peanuts, and tourism. Its beaches are popular with European holidaymakers seeking a winter break.

Adama Barrow, the flag-bearer of the coalition of the seven opposition political parties in Gambia, greets supporters during a gathering in the buffer Zone district of Talinding on November 29

Extra flights are being laid on for tourists who are attempting to escape Gambia

Meanwhile, witnesses in Senegal have reported seeing troops making their way toward Gambia's borders.

Jammeh, who has held the post for 22 years, is refusing to stand down, which has prompted West African nations to prepare for an invasion of Gambia to ensure democracy is adhered to.

Barrow, who worked at Argos while studying in London, was meant to be sworn in on Thursday, but the long-term leader is standing his ground.

Gambia crisis: What to do if you are are there Thomas Cook has today brought in emergency plans to bring all its UK customers home as soon as possible. It will operate additional flights from Banjul airport over the next 48 hours to bring the 985 UK customers they currently have on holiday in Gambia home, including four additional flights today. In addition, it has approximately 2,500 flight-only customers in Gambia, who they are contacting to offer the earliest possible flight availability for return to the UK. The travel company is also dispatching a special assistance team from the UK to provide additional support at Banjul airport, while staff on the ground in Gambia will proactively contact all customers who flew with them but are staying independently. Tourists due to travel up until January 20 are being offered free cancellations. People travelling after that can make free changes to their holidays. Customers can call Thomas Cook on 01733 224 536. Advertisement

Nigeria is understood to have asked the British Army to help out with plans for what is being described as a 'rapid reaction' to install the county's rightful president, according to the Telegraph.

The country has sent 200 soldiers and air assets including fighter jets to Senegal as part of the operation.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had 'today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, light utility helicopter as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia'.

The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has repeatedly called on leader Yahya Jammeh to respect the result of the December 1 election and step down after 22 years in power.

Jammeh on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as President-elect Barrow maintained his inauguration will go ahead as planned on Thursday on Gambian soil.

Nigeria said the forces were part of an ECOWAS military standby intervention force 'tasked by ECOWAS heads of state to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in The Gambia'.

'The deployment is also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may result from the current political impasse in The Gambia,' it added in a statement.

Cars line up at the border post check point in Seleki, Senegal, at the border with Gambia

Tourists prepare to leave the Gambia after the British Government changed the travel advisory to amber due to the state of emergency

Incumbent Gambian president Yahya Jammeh (centre) has his finger inked before casting his marble in a polling station in a presidential poll, in Banjul, last year

In the wake of presidential polls in the country in December, Barrow remains in exile in Senegal, according to the IB Times.

The bitter stand-off means the president-elect cannot even attend the funeral of his eight-year-old son Habibu, who was mauled to death by a dog in the Gambian town of Manjai.

The situation has led to thousands of citizens fleeing the country who are in fear of mass bloodshed.

Earlier this week, Jammeh filed an injunction to stop election winner Barrow from taking office and to bar other parties from swearing in the opposition coalition leader.

Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow speaks during an interview in Banjul in December

The president told Gambians they must wait for a supreme court hearing before he considers stepping down.

He addressed the West African nation as Senegal said it was hosting president-elect Mr Barrow until his January 19 inauguration.

But Jammeh, 51, said that date, marking the end of his mandate, was 'not carved in stone'.

'I have confirmed that we have filed an application for an injunction to restrict Adama Barrow from being sworn in as well as restricting the chief justice and any other parties from swearing in Adama Barrow until the application is decided by the supreme court of Gambia,' Jammeh said.

'And until then, the status quo remains.'

President of Gambia Yahya Jammeh (centre) welcoming President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari (right) and President of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (left) for talks at the State House in Banjul, Gambia, on Friday

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh who is refusing to stand down after losing the election

Jammeh, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1994, had conceded after losing in the December 1 election, but a week later he rejected the vote, saying there were irregularities.

He and his party filed a petition calling for a new vote and he appointed judges to the supreme court, which had not sat for more than a year.

The Nigerian and Sierra Leone judges he appointed, however, have said they cannot sit until May.

ECOWAS leaders attempting to mediate the political crisis met Jammeh and Barrow in Gambia on Friday, but said no deal was reached.

The West African regional bloc has said if Jammeh does not cede power it will consider military intervention and has already prepared a standby force led by Senegal, which almost completely surrounds Gambia.

A Nigerian army memo has also ordered officers to prepare a battalion of 800 troops for the possible military intervention, should Jammeh not step down.
A five-year-old Chicago girl is in serious condition after she shot herself in the abdomen with a handgun that she found in her mother's purse, police say.

The girl's mother, 22-year-old Larrinita Starks, has been charged with child endangerment, police said Wednesday.

The shooting happened Tuesday night in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the city's West Side.

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Larrinita Starks was charged with child endangerment after her 5-year-old daughter accidentally shot and wounded herself in the abdomen

The shooting happened Tuesday night in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the city's West Side. It took place in the home second from right, WLS reports

Starks posted this message on Facebook Wednesday, indicating her child's surgery went well

Police say the girl got the gun from her mother's purse in a bedroom.

The girl's family brought her to Rush University Medical Center, before was transferred to Stroger Hospital, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Starks also posted this message on Wednesday

Police say the injured girl is in serious condition.

Her grandmother Oretha Miller, says the child is stable and recovering.

Miller told the newspaper: 'I'm not doing good. I'm really upset because of what I'm going through with my grandchild. My grandchild has been hurt.'

The grandmother also told The Chicago Tribune: 'I'm praying right now for my (grandchild).'

Starks is due in court March 16, and she's been released on her own recognizance, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Starks wrote on Facebook Wednesday that 'MY BABY SURGERY WENT GOOD #TUBES COMING OUT MY BABY BREATHING ...GOD GAVE ME A WAKE UP CALL N A HEALING THAT NONE OF YALL CAN DESTROY'.
A Good Samaritan paid nearly 160 for a new train ticket to help a stranded student get home.

Martin Gallagher stepped in when he saw Grace Georgina, 21, in tears at London Euston station after she lost the second part of her return ticket.

She was warned she would be unable to travel back to university in Liverpool so Mr Gallagher, 45, selflessly footed the 159 bill to enable Grace to get back home.

Nurse Martin Gallagher (right) stepped in when he saw Grace Georgina, 21, in tears at London Euston station after losing the second part of her return ticket

Explaining his random act of kindness, Mr Gallagher, a nurse specialising in kidney disease, said: 'I have two daughters myself, 12 and 10, and if something like that were to happen to them, I would want someone to help them.

'The poor girl was so upset and started hyper-ventilating and I just thought, "that's not nice".

'The staff were making a really big deal of it.

'I don't even remember how much the ticket cost, but I paid it because I would never want anyone to leave my girl in that sort of state.'

Mr Gallagher, who is originally form Liverpool, now works at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital in the Channel Islands and was visiting friends when he crossed paths with Grace at London Euston station.

Grace, a pharmacology student at Liverpool's John Moores University, told her story on Twitter after the ordeal and it sparked hundreds of messages about his selfless act - and the kindheartedness of Scousers.

After seeing her in floods of tears on the platform, Mr Gallagher approached her and insisted on paying the full single fare back to Liverpool, where she is studying pharmacology

The student, who works at Liverpool's Hilton Hotel, wrote: 'I do not want to hear anyone EVER say a bad word about people from Liverpool. I lost my return ticket from London and even with a collection Receipt, email/Trainline app the staff refused to reprint.

'A man saw me crying down the phone about my night/day and stepped in to pay ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX POUNDS for my single journey replacement. Jesus Christ. Good morning.'

She later corrected herself with a follow up tweet that the actual cost was even steeper at 159.

With an accompanying picture of her ticket, she wrote: '159**.. I swear I'm praying with all my heart that this man gets everything he wants in life because he bloody deserves it.'

Dozens of people responded to the act of kindness - with one man writing: 'Spent four years at uni in Liverpool. The people are amazing there.. So warm & friendly.'

Another said: 'This is so refreshing. The fact that someone was so selfless to pay so much money for someone they don't know, amazing.'

Another wrote: 'Best people on earth mate, friendliest city on the planet.'
Justine Greening has hit out at MPs who called for unpaid internships to be scrapped

Justine Greening has hit out at MPs who called for unpaid internships to be scrapped, insisting social mobility was about levelling up rather than down.

The education secretary said it would be an anathema to her to see wealthy youngsters have opportunity taken away to make them just as disadvantaged as everyone else.

Instead, she said companies must work to ensure their internships are accessible to everyone, no matter how poor they are and where they come from.

Her comments come after a group of MPs called for a ban on unpaid internships, saying they were unfair because only rich youngsters can afford to work for free.

In a wide-ranging and highly personal speech, Ms Greening also spoke of her own rejection from the collapsed bank Barings because she could not afford to carry out a gap year.

The bank told her she did not have enough world experience and she was too embarrassed to tell them she had no money to travel the globe.

Launching a new drive yesterday to tackle underachievement in the poorest parts of the country, Ms Greening urged companies to give a chance to rough diamonds as well as those who have had every opportunity in life.

She said such people may still be on a journey to being polished up because of the barriers they have faced, but should be allowed to fulfil their potential regardless of their accent or where they are from.

Ms Greening, whose father was a steel worker, attended a comprehensive school in Rotherham before studying at the University of Southampton.

She said yesterday: Its about levelling up. When I was growing up, I knew there were other children whod probably had a better start  who didnt have a father who was unemployed at the moment, etc.

I think it would have been an anathema to me to see other children who had opportunity already have it taken away so that they were the same.

That is not for me the right way to drive social mobility in Britain. Im a Conservative, and what we want is to level people up.

The issue for me is making sure that those internships are truly open to everyone and if they are not, what we can do to make sure that they are.

Ms Greening said companies must work to ensure their internships are accessible to everyone, no matter how poor they are and where they come from (file photo)

On Tuesday, the All Party Parliamentary Group on social mobility said all interns should be paid after their first month to make such positions more accessible to poorer youngsters.

Ms Greening, who worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers before becoming an MP, said she faced her own share of prejudice as a young graduate from a recruiter at Barings Bank.

She said: He looked me in the eye and said he felt I didn't have enough of the "world experience" that they wanted, and pointed out that I hadnt had a gap year travelling. That was correct.

At the time I was too embarrassed to admit that I simply couldn't afford one.

At any rate, I didn't get that job.

Ms Greening used her speech at PwCs headquarters to call for greater social mobility in the wake of Brexit, insisting that disadvantaged children must be given better opportunities if the country is to thrive outside of the European Union.

She announced a 72 million fund which will provide extra help for the very poorest youngsters in 12 deprived pockets of the country left behind by the success of London.

The education secretary said it would be an anathema to her to see wealthy youngsters have opportunity taken away to make them just as disadvantaged as everyone else (file photo)

Many are coastal or rural areas, where youngsters are often isolated in communities which lack attainment or aspiration.

They are Blackpool, Derby, Norwich, Oldham, Scarborough, West Somerset, Bradford, Doncaster, Fenland and East Cambridgeshire, Hastings, Ipswich, and Stoke.

It follows speculation that many of those voting for Brexit did so because they felt left behind by the liberal elites controlling the country.

Ms Greening also signalled that she has no intention of scrapping plans for a new wave of grammar schools in the countrys poorest areas.

A consultation on expanding selective education closed before Christmas and the responses are being analysed by officials.

She insisted education reforms cannot be put on one side because people feel that there are things we shouldn't be looking at.

She added: I don't agree with that and for young people growing up in parts of the country where they don't have opportunity, where they don't have good school places, they need us to look at all the options for improving their education.
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Ivanka Trump began preparations for her new life as the nation's first daughter today by moving her possessions, along with her preferred Ikea range, to Washington.

The eldest daughter of President-elect Donald Trump assigned truck after truck to remove the furniture and personal items from her New York home to the $5.5 million detached house, around two miles from the White House where her father will take up residence on Friday.

The delivery men also let slip that, like millions of other Americans, she has a simple taste when it comes to furniture as there were a few dozen cardboard boxes from Ikea.

The removal workers made no attempt to conceal Ivanka's purchases from the outside world and one item was revealed to be a single Ikea 'Malm' bed.

Everyday Americans: The Kushners' new house is being partly furnished from Ikea, just like millions of American homes. A mover was carrying in part of a $179 self-assembly bed

Self-assembly starts here: The Malm single bed which was carried in is (right) a popular IKEA item

Detatched splendor: The $5.5 million six-bedroom, seven-bathroom home Ivanka Trump, her husband and children will move into, is in the exclusive enclave of Kalorama

Not entirely welcome: A poster for a protest against Ivanka's father has been taped to a post directly outside the house

Ikea advertises the Malm bed frame for $179.00 on its website.

There were also dozens of other Ikea items which have become the staple purchase for many of the less wealthy moving into a new home.

Other large white boxes had 'fragile  dish pack' labelled on them.

The Trump family have also splashed out on a range of furniture from Restoration Hardware which has outlets across the US to decorate their new 6,870 square feet house.

Security engineers were also in attendance to install new surveillance cameras and check the existing anti-intruder alarm system.

Ivanka, 35, her husband Jared Kushner who is advising the president-elect, and their three children are set to take up residence permanently in the six-bedroom house within the next few days.

When they do they will find that the campaign against the new President has literally reached their doorstep as a poster promoting an anti-Trump march in Washington has been fastened to a streetlight on the sidewalk directly outside.

Security upgrade: The Kushners are increasing security at the home they will move into in Washington D.C.

Security work: A private security firm is installing new features at the home where Ivanka will live with her family.

Also shopped at: The family are also having items from Restoration Hardware, the upscale furniture chain, moved in

Purchases: The family appear to have been shopping at a variety of popular outlets and had staff on hand to move in

Big task: A series of items of furniture were being delivered to the D.C. home. It is unclear when the First Daughter and her family will move in

Ready-assembled: Not all the furniture being delivered to Ivanka Trump's new home was self-assembly

Tight squeeze: The 15 steps up to the detached home proved a challenge for the movers

Moving on up: Movers had to wrestle with the large items of furniture being delivered to the Kalorama home

Under the carpet: Among the items being delivered were a floor covering

Plenty to furnish: The Kalorama home has six bedrooms and 6,870 square feet to fill. The family of five are leaving a four-bedroom condo in New York

Careful: A large item of furniture posed a particular challenge for the team of movers

DailyMail.com was on hand to witness deliverymen struggle to gain access to the property with two large couches which they had to swivel and turn several times before managing to carry them through the front door after negotiating 15 steps.

Four trucks and two security equipment installation vehicles were positioned outside the house, which has seven bathrooms, for much of the morning.

Ivanka's staff were on hand to help with the move and one of the first things to help make it look like a lived in home were several of the children's toys being placed on a bedroom window sill which were visible from the street.

The couple have three children; Arabella Rose, 5, Joseph Frederick, 3, and nine-month-old Theodore James.

Their new home is in a highly exclusive area where former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld once lived and several diplomats live in gated mansions.

The streets are crammed with cars carrying diplomatic license plates and parking restrictions are in force.

Ivanka and her family were living in a four-bedroom condo in Manhattan while she was at the helm of her father's businesses with her siblings.

Doting mom: The 35-year-old held three-year-old Joseph's hand while five-year-old Arabella walked closely behind them as they left their New York home.

Ivanka Trump poses next to an inauguration cake made for Donald Trump on Tuesday presented at a Trump Tower party for her dad

'Packing buddy': The mom posted a photo of Arabella surrounded by boxes in their apartment - some of which may have been photographed arriving in Kalorama on Wednesday

Outgoing president Obama has also bought a large detached home around the corner which was also the subject for removal men and secret service officials.

The Islamic Center of Washington DC is also a few minutes away and on the corner of the streets where Ivanka and the Obamas will reside.

With her father's new role and her installation as a quashi-first lady while his wife Melania spends time staying in New York, Ivanka has become one of America's most influential women.

But she is not the first powerful woman to move into neighborhood.

An antique red street lamp outside her new home points out that presidential wives Eleanor Roosevelt, Lou Henry Hoover and Edith Galt Wilson also lived there.

Shirley Temple Black and supreme court justice Sandra Day O'Connor and pro China political campaigner Chiang Kai-Shek were also residents.
Grandfather Mark Durden, 60, preyed on shoppers using an iPhone

A taxi driver is facing a prison sentence after admitting taking more than 250 videos up the skirts of young women and schoolgirls as they shopped.

Grandfather Mark Durden, 60, preyed on shoppers using an iPhone at the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent because he had a schoolgirl fetish.

Durden, of Lamberhurst, Kent, pleaded guilty at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court to committing an act of outraging public decency by taking images up the skirts of women, without their knowledge, over the course of three years.

David Holman, prosecuting, said: 'He was found out by the police following a report from Topshop.

'A team leader at the Tunbridge Wells store in Royal Victoria Place gave a statement saying they had noticed the same person was coming in regularly from 3.30pm onwards.'

Mr Holman read out the statement from the Topshop employee, which said: 'My attention was caught as he was clearly not in the shop to purchase anything.

'He was looking at young girls, mainly in school uniform, and following them around the shop.

'It was creepy and made me feel uncomfortable.'

CCTV footage was obtained of Durden and he was arrested on June 10 last year.

Mr Holman said: 'During the arrest he was recorded having a conversation with his wife in which he said he had been taking pictures up young girls' skirts, using a 'thing' in a bag in Tunbridge Wells.

'His address was searched and devices were seized, including a black laptop bag.'

Mr Holman explained how the laptop bag had a clear section on the end, in which Durden concealed an iPhone behind some magazines, the covers of which he had cut a hole through for the camera lens.

Police discovered hundreds of videos dated over a period of three years between June 13, 2013, and June 10, 2016.

They found 268 'iPhone videos of the backs of legs and up the skirts of unsuspecting females and young women in tight clothing' including 93 thought to be of teenage schoolgirls.

The shops Durden targeted included schoolgirls' favourites Topshop and Claire's Accessories, as well as New Look, Marks & Spencer and Miss Selfridge.

Police discovered hundreds of videos dated over a period of three years between June 13, 2013, and June 10, 2016

There was also footage from Sainsbury's, at a train station and on platforms in the London Underground.

Eleanor Dobson, defending, said: 'Mr Durden has extensive personal mitigation.

'He is a 60-year-old man of previous good character, up until he committed these offences, and led a law-abiding life.

'He says he is remorseful and ashamed, and described himself as a man who worked hard all his life.

'He has tried very hard to come to terms with his behaviour and its effects on his family.'

Durden had experienced a number of 'very stressful events' since 2010, including financial difficulties and the ill health of his wife.

He took a job as a taxi driver working nights from 7pm to 7am, and this resulted in him having an 'isolated social life'.

Ms Dobson said: 'Mr Durden said he would do it up to three times per month.

'He would sleep after work and then he would leave the house and go out - this was after school time.

'He says only a third of the videos were of schoolgirls. He denies age was the draw, but says it was the uniform and short skirts.'

She said Durden had 'taken the matter seriously' and had visited his GP to arrange seeing a psychiatrist, and paid privately for psychological help.

He has also not been able to continue his work as a taxi driver.

Three magistrates, including chairman of the bench Abigail Brennan, referred his case to crown court for sentencing.

He was given bail with conditions of not being in possession of any device capable of recording or capturing images in public, and is supervised when visiting his granddaughter.

Durden will be sentenced at a later date at Maidstone Crown Court.
President-elect Donald Trump says the GOP's Obamacare replacement will be 'much less expensive' and will include taxpayer-funded coverage for those who can't afford it.

Trump said his administration would most likely ease the burden on lower-income Americans through Medicaid, which he said he would he'd like to see controlled by the states through a fixed-funding mechanism known as block grants.

'Nobody is going to be dying on the streets with a President Trump,' he told Fox & Friends. 'We want to take care of everybody.'

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President-elect Donald Trump revealed new health care plan includes 'insurance for everybody,' as Senator Rand Paul also said the bill will give access to 'the most amount of people, at the least amount of costs

Trump said additionally said insurance companies would pick up the costs for 'people that can afford it.'

'That's going to take a tremendous burden off and they're going to be able to have plans that are great plans.'

On Sunday Trump revealed that Republicans' plan to repeal and replace the Obamacare law would provide 'insurance for everybody.'

The incoming president said the the nearly-finished bill would include 'lower numbers' and 'much lower deductibles' but declined to reveal any specific details, the Washington Post reported.

His comments followed Republican action to repeal the Affordable Care Act, amid political concerns that repeal before a replacement bill had been crafted would leave the GOP holding the bag if the program collapsed as they've warned.

Trump did not give specific details about the GOP bill, but said he plans to go after pharmaceutical companies and insist they negotiate directly with the government on Medicare and Medicaid health plans on lower costs.

'There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can't pay for it, you don't get it,' he said Sunday. 'That's not going to happen with us.'

Trump stated then that the bill is 'down to its final strokes' and he is waiting for his nominee for secretary of health and human services, Republican Tom Price, to be confirmed.

Congress is expected to address the issue in the upcoming weeks.

Rand Paul previously told Fox the new plan will 'legalize the ability to buy inexpensive insurance' and will get rid of the Obamacare mandates

Senator Rand Paul tweeted a pictured of the bill which can potentially replace the Affordable Care Act. Trump has provided few details about it

Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul has been telling his colleagues they should vote on an Obamacare replacement the same day.

He said on Sunday that the Obamacare replacement bill he plans to unveil would get rid of some of the mandates for health insurance coverage with the aim of bringing down the cost of insurance.

Paul said the plan includes parts of previous GOP 'replacement bills' and will 'insure the most amount of people, give access to the most amount of people, at the least amount of costs.'

It will also 'legalize the ability to buy inexpensive insurance,' he said,

Americans will also receive tax credits for health savings accounts so that they can buy healthcare, according to Paul.

'[The new bill will] let individuals come together as part of groups or associations so they can buy their insurance as part of a big pool, to have leverage to get lower prices, and also so they don't get affected by adverse things such as pre-existing conditions,' he said.

Republican lawmakers worked under a 'budget reconciliation' process which prevents Democratic leaders from blocking the plans to repeal

On January 6th, Senator Paul tweeted: 'I just spoke to @realDonaldTrump and he fully supports my plan to replace Obamacare the same day we repeal it. The time to act is now.'

House Republicans won passage on Friday of a measure starting the process of dismantling the Affordable Care Act.

Republican lawmakers worked under a 'budget reconciliation' process which prevents Democratic leaders from blocking their plans.

They've been holding anti-repeal events around the country to gin up support for their position.

Hundreds of nurses, healthcare workers, and activists rallied outside the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center in Boyle Heights in support of Obama's healthcare plan, warning it could leave millions of Californians without coverage.

In Michigan, Senator Bernie Sanders also led a rally while braving freezing temperatures in efforts to save the system, telling protesters it is time the country gets its 'national priorities right.'

California Senator Kamala Harris hosted a protest outside the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center in Boyle Heights in support ofObamacare

Trump has been clear about his plans to scrap the Affordable Care Act, referring to it as a 'disaster' that provides 'poor coverage.'

He had stated in interviews that repealing the act would be his first order of business once he takes office January 20th.

President Barack Obama said he would laud Republicans if they were able to come up with a better system. That would require them to put forward a plan, though, he said, which they have not done.
The owner of two dogs that killed one child and injured another in southwest Atlanta has had one of his charges upgraded.

Local news media reports Cameron Tucker was initially charged with two counts of reckless conduct, but one charge was upgraded to involuntary manslaughter during his court appearance Wednesday.

Tucker was arrested after six-year-old Logan Braatz and five-year-old Syari Sanders were attacked walking to a bus stop early Tuesday. Logan died from his injuries. Syari is in stable condition.

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Cameron Tucker was charged with involuntary manslaughter in Atlanta, Georgia court on Wednesday

Tucker was arrested on Tuesday after two of his dogs killed a boy and injured a girl. Above, one of the dogs in the attack

Logan Braatz, 6 (left) died of his injuries and Syria Sanders, 5 (right) suffered serious injuries

Several school students who were with them at the time tried to pull the animals off the pair.

Atlanta Police Sgt. Warren Pickard says one of the dogs was shot by officers.

Fulton County Animal Control says one dog is a pit bull mix and the other is a border collie.

Tucker is at Fulton County Jail on a $70,000 bond. It's unclear if he has an attorney.

Neighbor Shamonte Clayton says he awoke to the sound of screams. He ran outside, saw one pit bull standing over Syria Sanders and eventually chased the dog away with his gun.

He then noticed Logan Braatz' body lying on a patch of grass and picked him up as his mother sobbed nearby.

Tucker was taken away from the scene on Tuesday in a police cruiser

Police work the scene of a fatal dog attack on Tuesday, January 17, in Atlanta

One of two pit bulls that killed a child and injured another is cornered by police Tuesday

Another neighbor, Angie Smith, described the moment she saw little Syria get mauled.

'The dog just ripped into her,' she recounted. 'I ran to the baby and when I looked down at her I knew there was nothing that I could do,' she told WSB-TV .

Logan was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Syria was transported to the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, where she was listed in stable condition this afternoon.

Police say three other children witnessed the grisly dog attack and valiantly tried to help their friends who were being mauled by pulling the pit bulls off of them.

A crisis team was dispatched to Stanton to provide grief counseling for students and staff.
President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he commuted Chelsea Manning's sentence because the punishment did not fit the crime.

Manning, an army intelligence analyst who shared classified documents with Wikileaks, was sent prison for 35 years. Obama said that was too long, compared to other leakers.

'I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent,' the president said.

Obama ordered that Chelsea, who went by the name Bradley at the time of the crime, be released on May 17, 2017, cutting her jail time down to more than six years.

He said today that his decision had nothing to do with pleas from Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who offered extradition in exchange for Manning's release.

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President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he commuted Chelsea Manning's sentence because the punishment did not fit the crime

Manning, who went by the name Bradley at the time, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for her crimes. She'll get out in May, thanks to Obama

President-elect Donald Trump has not commented on Manning's release.

Senior aides to the incoming president called the commutation 'partisan politics at its worst' and said he was 'troubled' by the eleventh-hour commutation.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton scathingly accused Obama of treating a 'traitor like a martyr.'

Obama's outgoing Defense Secretary, along with other Army leaders, recommended that the president not commute Manning's sentence, according to reporting from Fox News.

Obama said Wednesday at a news conference that Manning had 'served a tough prison sentence.'

'So the notion that the average person who was thinking about disclosing vital classified information would think that it goes unpunished, I don't think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served.'

Manning had applied for leniency through the Department of Justice. A favorable outcome seemed probable, given Manning's multiple suicide attempts and the Obama administration's LGBT policies.

Assange had challenged Obama to grant Manning clemency in a cryptic message on Twitter that mentioned a Department of Justice case and an offer of his own extradition.

'If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case,' a Wikileaks tweet said.

Obama denied today that Assange's offer was a factor in his decision.

'I don't pay a lot of attention to Mr. Assange's tweets, so that wasn't a consideration in this instance,' he said at his final news conference as president. 'And I'd refer you to the Justice Department for any criminal investigations, indictments, extradition issues that may come up with him.'

A White House official could not say on a Tuesday evening call detailing the Obama commutations what case or charges Wikileaks was referring to in the tweet, either.

The senior official said the president's decision 'was not influenced in any way' by Assange, who lives in the Embassy of Ecuador in London, or Wikileaks.

Manning's sentence is being commuted to time served 'to ensure that the sentence that she served is comparable to the sentences that were handed down to individuals who committed comparable crimes,' the White House official said.

Commenting on the decision Wednesday, Obama said, 'I looked at the particulars of this case the same way I had the other commutations and pardons that I've done, and I felt that in light of all the circumstances, that commuting her sentence was entirely appropriate.'

Wikileaks called Manning's forthcoming release a 'victory' in a statement Tuesday afternoon that didn't mention Assange's promise.

'Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible,' Assange said via the organization's Twitter.

Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who fled the country after he stole a tranche of classified documents and exposed government secrets, did not apply for a pardon, the White House said, nor did he proactively receive one

He thanked Obama in a tweet on Tuesday afternoon for sparing Manning from a life in prison

Obama did not mention, and was not asked about, a potential pardon for another leaker, Edward Snowden, at his Wednesday news conference.

Snowden, the former NSA contractor who fled the country after he stole a tranche of classified documents and exposed government secrets, neither applied for a pardon, the White House had said, nor did he proactively receive one in Tuesday's clemency declarations.

The president plans to give another round of criminals early release before his final day in office this Friday, the White House says. But they were cast as low-level drug offenders whose sentences would have been shorter if they were sent to jail now.

Asked about Snowden at his last press briefing on Tuesday, before the commutation notice went out, Obama's spokesman said, 'I cant rule anything in or out.' He noted then that Snowden had not filed paperwork to seek clemency from the administration, however, suggesting that precluded him from receiving pardon.

Snowden had lobbied the White House to commute Manning's sentence, as well.

He thanked Obama in a tweet on Tuesday afternoon for sparing Manning from a life in prison.

'In five more months, you will be free. Thank you for what you did for everyone, Chelsea. Stay strong a while longer!' he said in another tweet alongside a 2010 photo of Manning dressed as a woman.

The White House laid the groundwork for Manning to get a commutation last week, differentiating the case from that of Snowden.

Unlike Snowden, Manning, arrested in 2010, 'acknowledged wrongdoing,' the White House said, and appeared in a military court.

Snowden has taken refuge in Vladimir Putin's Russia, 'a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine confidence in our democracy,' Obama's spokesman said, and refuses to return to the U.S. face prosecution in the United States.

The Manning and Snowden cases have similarities, press secretary Josh Earnest said, but they are quite different in scale and scope.

Manning was convicted in 2013 of illegally sharing 700,000 State Department and military documents. Snowden stole a million more - a reported 1.7 million secret documents.

'Obviously, as Chelsea Manning has acknowledged, and as we have said many times, that the release of the information that she provided to WikiLeaks was damaging to national security,' Earnest said. 'But the disclosures by Edward Snowden were far more serious and far more dangerous.'

Republican Senator and Afghanistan veteran Tom Cotton said he was baffled by Obama's decision in a quick reaction to Manning's planned release.

'When I was leading soldiers in Afghanistan, Private Manning was undermining us by leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks,' Cotton said.

'I dont understand why the president would feel special compassion for someone who endangered the lives of our troops, diplomats, intelligence officers, and allies. We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr.'

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had challenged Obama to grant Manning clemency in exchange for extradition to the United States. It's unclear what charges are being brought against him and in what case

Teeing up Obama's comments today, the White House said on its call with reporters that 'the president continues to believe that her actions were criminal, and were not good for the country. They harmed our national security.'

But he believes that her six years in prison are' sufficient,' for several reasons, including the remorse she has shown for her actions, an official said.

Manning's military record states she was suffering from gender identity disorder when she stole and released classified documents, and a court ordered the army in September to pay for her gender reassignment surgery.

The transgender soldier's attorneys have said that she was placed in solitary confinement as punishment for a July suicide attempt and other abuses in prison contributed to her mental state and a second attempt on her life this fall.

Steve Scalise, House Republicans' top vote counter said in a statement after the White House call that the Manning commutation 'is an insult to the rule of law and is an added stain on his legacy of abused executive action.'

The anti-secrecy group called Manning's forthcoming release a 'victory' in a statement Tuesday afternoon that didn't mention Assange's promise

The White House laid the groundwork for her to get a commutation last week, differentiating the case from that of Snowden, who had lobbied the White House to commute Manning's sentence, as well

In commuting 209 sentences, in addition to the 64 pardons, on Tuesday Obama broke a White House record, granting more second chances than any other president in history.

Obama has handed out a sum total of 1,385 commutations during his time in office - more than the last 12 presidents combined, the White House said Tuesday, and he plans to hand out more on Friday, leaving the door open for a Snowden pardon, though it remains highly unlikely.

The outgoing president told German publication Der Spiegel last month that he 'can't' pardon Snowden, who's wanted for three felony charges tied to his 2013 exposure of the NSA's bulk data program, because he hasn't presented his case in court.

'I think that Mr. Snowden raised some legitimate concerns,' Obama stated. 'How he did it was something that did not follow the procedures and practices of our intelligence community.

Obama, a Harvard-educated lawyer who taught constitutional law, said, 'If everybody took the approach that I make my own decisions about these issues, then it would be very hard to have an organized government or any kind of national security system.'




At the end of this week, the two tiny houses hosting people without homes at Landmark Christian Church in Lake Hallie will hit the 200th night of shelter.

Now, Mike Cohoon and Pastor Terri Koca at Trinity United Methodist Church in Chippewa Falls, are hoping to double the number of homes being used.

The Chippewa Falls City Council on Tuesday set a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, to place two more tiny houses on Trinity UMCs property. The hearing will be during the regularly scheduled council meeting.

These are people who live and work in our community, Larry Larson, who has been working with Cohoon on the project since its early days, said. These are our neighbors who need our help.

The tiny houses are licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation as homemade campers. The city needs to approve a special use permit to have them on the churchs property.

The citys Plan Commission met Monday to hear from Cohoon, who addressed safety concerns for neighborhoods as well as for the stewards of the homes.

That committee recommended the council hold a public hearing to allow the homes to shelter homeless people on a temporary basis, based on certain conditions.

Council member Chuck Hull, who is also on the plan commission, wanted to make clear no one was against the homes, but it is the citys job to raise concerns before approving and making sure all needs are met.

The location youve chosen is very good, near services that are needed and are available, Hull said during the council meeting. (But) there are health and safety things we should consider before moving forward.

Some of the citys concerns included sanitary facilities maintenance and disposal, garbage receptacles and pickup, proper electrical connections, supervision and maintenance of the homes and operating procedures for placing residents in the facilities, among others.

Cohoon believes all of these concerns are valid, but they have taken them into consideration and will be monitored.

They chose Trinitys location because of its proximity to grocery stores, shopping and resources for people who need a little help getting back on their feet.

Members of the mission coalition went door-to-door in Trinitys neighborhood in December to inform residents of the possibility of the homes, and invite them to attend a meeting on Jan. 3.

No one showed up to that meeting, which Cohoon hopes is a good sign.

We were able to talk to people when we went door to door, so maybe they got enough information that way, he said.

Landmarks two tiny houses were approved by the Lake Hallie Plan Commission at its January meeting.

The church has three tiny houses built, all from funds donated by individuals and organizations and through volunteers. A family in Jim Falls is working on building a fourth.

The homes are designed for one individual or family to live in temporarily. The contracts are for a 7-day period with the opportunity to renew.

We want to be careful, make sure the people are a good fit for the neighborhood and for what were asking them to do, Cohoon said.

If they are, they can renew as many times as necessary.

To live in a tiny house, a person has to fill out an application and go through a background check for criminal activity.

Each person is also assigned a navigator, who helps them create a secure employment plan and a health plan to help them move on to a more permanent dwelling.

The Bloomer School District has volunteered to have a class build a tiny house in the spring semester, and the Chippewa Falls School District has agreed to have a shop class work on one when the weather gets nicer, bringing the total up to five.

Cohoons goal is to have eight homes completed by the end of 2017, and secure funding toward a more permanent location for the homes.

That location is Hope Village, a community of tiny houses with one main building that would house bathroom and resource facilities for all members.

Were partnering with churches now and we want to keep that partnership, but we know eventually for the good of those who are living in the houses, it would be better for them to live in a community together, he said.

They are fundraising this year with a goal of $100,000 to put toward the remaining houses and secure property.

They have created a conceptual drawing of the village based on property near Trinity UMC, and have been in contact with the owner of that property, but nothing has been finalized.

Until then, Cohoon hopes the process for approving these homes at the churches on a temporary basis becomes more streamlined once theyve addressed the citys concerns.

These are people who live and work in our community. These are our neighbors who need our help. Larry Larson, Chippewa Falls resident
Beverly Hills Cop star Judge Reinhold has admitted that he was a 'dumba**' after pleading no contest to disorderly conduct charges from his December TSA meltdown.

Reinhold was arrested on December 8 after a refusal to submit to a security pat-down turned into a protracted argument with airport staff that reportedly ended with him shirtless and swearing at officers.

'I am sorry for being such a dumba** with the TSA,' the actor said Wednesday, according to Dallas News, 'and continue to respect and support the work of the Dallas Police Department.'

Sorry: Actor Judge Reinhold (seen left being arrested on Dec 8) pleaded no contest Tuesday to a disorderly conduct charge. If he stays out of trouble in Dallas for 90 days, it will be dropped

Arrested: Reinhold was arrested after he refused to comply with a TSA pat-down, something he blamed on a bad reaction to medication. He later called himself an 'a**'

Reinhold faced at most a fine of $500 if found guilty on his one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct at Dallas Love Field airport.

Instead, however, he took deferred adjudication Tuesday, which gives him a 90-day window to avoid trouble in Dallas.

If he doesn't come to the attention of the city's police during that time, the charge will be dropped.

Reinhold and his family spend most of the year in New Mexico, Dallas News reported, so he looks unlikely to see a fine.

The December incident occurred as Reinhold and his family were visiting Dallas on their way to a comic book convention.

Star: Reinhold is seen here with Eddie Murphy in a promotional picture for Beverly Hills Cop II. His role as Detective Billy Rosewood is probably his most famous

Reinhold was selected for a random pat-down by TSA officials, something he objected to.

Reinhold refused to comply, even after security guards offered to do the search in a separate room, and a source told WFAA that Reinhold took off his shirt and used explicit language.

Officers had tried to calm him down but he again became belligerent.

At that point police were called and he was taken into custody.

Reinhold later claimed that he was suffering from the side-effects of a cocktail of drugs.

He said he had an allergic reaction to Cipro, which he had taken the night before because of a respiratory infection, and was subsequently given epinephrine, 'super Benadryl,' Xanax and prednisone.

The actor claimed the combination led to an out-of-character reaction in the airport, and apologized the next day and a number of times since.

Reinhold is best known as Detective Billy Rosewood, baby-faced colleague of Eddie Murphy's wisecracking Detective Axel Foley in the three Beverly Hills Cop movies.

A fourth Beverly Hills Cop film, again starring Murphy, is currently in production. It's not known if Reinhold will be involved.
Police are searching for a woman who they believe stole large numbers of suitcases from an airport then went to the owner's home and stole from them.

Victoria police are searching for a woman who allegedly stole suitcases from Melbourne's Tullamarine airport in November last year.

They say the same woman then robbed the home of one of the people who had their luggage stolen.

Police are searching for a woman who they believe stole large numbers of suitcases from Melbourne's Tullamarine airport - then went to the owner's home and stole from it

Police also believe the woman went to the bag owner's home in Alma Avenue in Altona Meadows, in Melbourne's south-west, and broke in.

Officers were told electrical goods, cash and jewellery were stolen during the burglary.

Investigators believe a woman stole the suitcases from the Terminal 4 carousel at the airport about 3pm on November 20.

They have released an image of a blonde woman who they believe may be able to help them with their inquiries.
A 30-year-old Hollywood producer was found dead in a Manhattan apartment where police found cocaine and heroin.

Matthew Lamothe was discovered sitting upright on the couch when a super entered the apartment in the trendy Soho neighborhood on Monday morning.

A sink was overflowing in the apartment and Lamothe was unresponsive.

Hollywood film producer Matthew Lamothe, 30, was found dead in a Manhattan apartment with cocaine and heroin on Monday morning

Lamothe (pictured with the late Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin) was found sitting upright on the couch at the apartment with the sink overflowing

The apartment is leased by by executive producer and film financier Tommy Vlahopoulos (pictured)

He was declared dead at the scene. The Medical Examiner's Office is investigating to determine the cause.

In addition to the coke and heroin, police found clear envelopes with the word 'Supreme' stamped on them.

An empty bottle of red wine was sitting on the coffee table, according to the New York Post.

The apartment was leased by executive producer and film financier Tommy Vlahopoulos, who owns the Tommy V Productions company.

Lamothe was running the company's operations in Los Angeles and would stay in Vlahopoulos' apartment when he was in New York.

Authorities do not suspect any foul play in Lamothe's death.
President-elect Donald Trump's dinner with diplomats last night was just the opening act to a number of exclusive inauguration events, many of which are only open to his highest of donors.

Tonight there will be dueling dinners  one at the National Portrait Gallery to fete Vice President-elect Mike Pence and another at the Library of Congress so the well-heeled can meet with Trump's future cabinet members.

The president-elect will be stopping by both.

Then tomorrow, those who put $1 million or more toward the inauguration are invited to a special 'leadership luncheon'  taking place at the Trump International Hotel  for their own grip-and-grin with cabinet members, along with GOP House and Senate leadership.

Scroll down for donor packages

President-elect Donald Trump kicked off the inaugural festivities last night by attending the 'Chairman's Global Dinner' - a ritzy dinner for diplomats and donors

Tonight Vice President-elect Mike Pence will be feted at the National Portrait Gallery, where President Abraham Lincoln celebrated his second inaugural

Several blocks away slightly lower-dollar donors will attend a dinner with soon-to-be cabinet members at the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill

The $1 million donors will have lunch tomorrow at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.

In late November, the details of various inauguration donor packages leaked out, with the Center for Public Integrity and Variety first publishing details.

Tonight's vice president's dinner was planned for those donating $500,000 or $1 million, while the cabinet dinner  going on at the same time  was for people who threw $100,000 to $250,000 at the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

The double-booked dinners haven't been sitting pretty with some donors who griped about the conflict to Politico.

'It's all messed up, they have the cabinet dinner and the V.P. dinner on the same night at the same time,' complained a top donor, who wanted to be able to attend both.

A donor also told the online publication that 'people will be pissed' if only lower-level cabinet appointees show.

Tomorrow night, those who donated $250,000 or more to Trump's inauguration can attend a 'candlelit dinner' with the first and second families at historic Union Station

Additionally, donors who gave $250,000 or more are invited to a 'ladies' luncheon to meet female members of the president's family, which likely include daughter Ivanka Trump (left) who is moving to Washington and future first lady Melania Trump (right)

Other events promised to donors include a 'ladies luncheon,' only accessible to those who gave $250,000 or more.

There's tomorrow night's big 'candlelight dinner' at Union Station, with appearances by the president-elect, Melania Trump, Pence and his wife Karen.

That, too, was offered to only those who gave $250,000 or more.

For those who gave $25,000 and up, the Presidential Inaugural Committee offered a basic package of tickets to a victory reception, the concert tomorrow afternoon at the Lincoln Memorial  featuring Toby Keith and Three Doors Down  along with parade tickets and tickets to the inaugural ball.

Tickets to the swearing-in ceremony weren't given out through the Presidential Inaugural Committee, as they're handed out through members of Congress.

Those who donated $100,000, were promised VIP seats at the parade, which takes place following Trump's swearing-in ceremony and a lunch on Capitol Hill.

After the daytime festivities Friday, Trump will head off to three balls.

The balls will be segregated, too, by donor level, with VIP ball access given to those who gave more than $100,000.

There will be two balls at the Washington Convention Center, the larger Freedom Ball and then the more exclusive Liberty Ball.

Several blocks away, Trump and his wife will attend a third ball, The Salute To Our Armed Services Ball, open to veterans, service members and first responders.
A toddler who died of significant brain injuries the day before Thanksgiving had 'thug life' and 'loco' written on his stomach and forehead photos found on his mother's cellphone show, authorities say.

Eighteen-month-old Ares Baroz was found to have fractures on his skull, legs and shoulder area, chronic brain bleeding and bruising on the cartilage in both ears when he died in a New Mexico hospital on November 23, according to court records.

His mother, Miranda Rabago, 27, who told authorities that she was his only caretaker, was arrested and indicted days later on a child-abuse resulting in death charge.

Assistant District Attorney Susan Stinson told The Washington Post that a photo found on Rabago's cellphone shows the toddler with the words 'thug life' written in black Sharpie across his small stomach.

She added that a fake tattoo and the word 'loco' was written on his forehead as well.

Heartbreaking: Eighteen-month-old Ares Baroz (above) was found to have fractures on his skull, legs and shoulder area as well as bleeding on his brain when he died in a New Mexico hospital on November 23,

Miranda Rabago's (left in her mugshot) cellphone contained photos showing the toddler had the words 'thug life' written on his stomach in black Sharpie, and 'loco' on his forehead, the prosecutor said

It's not clear when the photos were taken of the toddler, or if they are connected to the extensive injuries that doctor's at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque discovered.

It's also unclear if he had those words written on him when he was taken to the hospital.

Stinson said the Office of the Medical Investigator autopsy report has not been released and that is crucial evidence they are waiting on that could determine additional charges.

Rabago's public defender, Stephen Taylor, said it's too early to discuss what the photos suggest in the case.

'It's difficult to look at something like that and think the worst about that kind of picture, especially in the context of what we know so far,' Taylor stated.

'I just want to caution everybody into thinking that there's something to that evidence, when we haven't gotten everything yet to see the whole picture, the whole story about what led to Ares's death.'

However, the prosecutor countered that the photos do shed some light as to how the 18-month-old boy was treated at home.

It is believed that his horrific injuries happened over a period of time, as staff at the hospital found him to be malnourished and under-cared for when he was transported from Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, criminal documents state.

Rabago's (above) public defender, Stephen Taylor, said it's too early to discuss what the photos suggest in the case. She has denied to police that she did anything wrong to her son

Police were called to the hospital after staff suspected the toddler (above) was being abused. The criminal complaint states that a detective at the hospital spotted bruises on the boy and red spots on his face

Police were called after hospital staff suspected the toddler was being abused.

The criminal complaint states that a detective at the hospital spotted bruises on the boy and red spots on his face.

Rabago, who is pregnant, denied hurting her son and told authorities that he seemed fine and didn't have any bruises when she got up earlier that day around 7am.

She explained that they both rested on a mattress in the living room around noon, and that the boy fell asleep so she moved him to his crib, the criminal complaint states.

Rabago said that she slept for the rest of the day until about 5pm when she woke up and found her son unconscious and not moving.

She took him to the hospital and he died two days later on November 23.

Doctors told police that the toddler had a head injury caused by shaking, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

Investigators who searched her apartment found a sippy cup with rotten milk in his crib, along with blood on a pillow, according to the complaint.

Police also found marijuana pipes next to the mattress in the living room and in the bathroom.

Rabago was indicted last month on charges and is still claiming that she didn't hurt her son.

On Friday, she pleaded not guilty in Santa Fe District Court. If convicted, she faces up to $20,000 in fines and up to 21 years in prison, Stinson said.

Authorities say Rabago is a mother to two other children who are living in Colorado with her parents.

Court records show that she filed for divorce from the toddler's father, Brandon Baroz.

He is currently incarcerated inside of a community corrections facility in Colorado.
President Barack Obama sought to justify late-game foreign policy decisions like the United States' vote on a UN Security Council resolution that's caused controversy at home and end to the Cuban wet foot, dry foot policy in his final remarks from the podium Wednesday.

Obama said a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine is the only way for there to be peace in the Middle East, claiming anything else is an occupation.

Echoing remarks made after the UN resolution's passage's by his secretary of state, Obama said he doesn't 'see how this issue gets resolved in a way that maintains Israel as both Jewish and a democracy.'

He also defended his administration's sanctions against Russia, claiming the country's president, Vladimir Putin, had embraced the 'adversarial spirit' of the Cold War.

President Barack Obama sought to justify late-game foreign policy decisions like the US' vote on a UN Security Council resolution that's caused controversy at home and end to the Cuban wet foot, dry foot policy in his final remarks from the podium Wednesday

Obama upset the nation of Israel, and the president-elect, who accused him of putting up 'roadblocks' intended to hamper his administration, when he ordered his United Nation's ambassador to abstain from a vote on settlement building in Israel at a security council at the end of December.

His decision to put new sanctions on Russia for hacking also raised eyebrows, as did a declaration that the administration was unilaterally changing its Cuban immigration policy.

Talking to reporters one last time today, Obama claimed that the United States has a vital role to play around the world, in preserving basic norms and values.'

'The United States has not always been perfect,' he said. 'It is important for us to continue to be on the right side of these issues because if we, the largest, strongest country and democracy in the world, are not willing to stand up on behalf of these values, then certainly China, Russia and others will not.'

Obama made the remarks after he was asked specifically about Russia, and his advice to the president-elect about dealing with Putin, especially when it comes to the lifting of sanctions.

'I think it is in Americas interest and the worlds interest that we have a constructive relationship with Russia. Thats been my approach throughout my presidency. Where our interests have overlapped, weve worked together,' he said.

The outgoing president said he tried to encourage Russia to become a constructive member of the international community.

'I think its fair to say that after President Putin came back into the presidency, that an escalating anti-American rhetoric and an approach to global affairs that seem to be premised on the idea that whatever Americas trying to do must be bad for Russians, so we want to try to counter act whatever they do.

'That returned to an adversarial spirit that I think existed during the Cold War, has made the relationship more difficult,' Obama argued.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine added to the conflict between the two nations, he said.

President-elect Trump could have better luck negotiating with Putin in areas like nuclear non-proliferation, Obama said, responding to a questioner's inquiry about lifting sanctions in return for a reduction in Russia's stock pile.

'I think its important just to remember that the reason sanctions have been put in place against Russia, has to do with their actions in Ukraine,' he stated. 'And it is important for the United States to stand up for the basic principal that big countries dont go around and invade and bully smaller countries.'

Talking to reporters one last time today, Obama claimed that the United States has a vital role to play around the world, in preserving basic norms and values'

Of the UN Security Council vote, Obama was equally defiant.

'I think the status quo is unsustainable, that it is dangerous for Israel, that it is bad for Palestinians, it is bad for the region and it is bad for Americas national security,' he said.

Reflecting on his early years in office again, Obama said he tried to 'encourage serious peace' talks between the adversaries.

'Ultimately, what has always been clear is that we cannot force the parties to arrive at peace,' he said.

Instead, his administration worked to 'preserve the possibility of the two-state solution because we do not see an alternative to it.'

'And Ive said this directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ive said it inside of Israel, Ive said it to Palestinians as well. I dont see how this issue gets resolved in a way that maintains Israel as both Jewish and a democracy,' Obama said, reciting Secretary of State John Kerry's public warning to the country after the UN vote.

'Because if you do not have two states, then in some form or fashion you are extending an occupation, functionally you end up having one state in which millions of people are disenfranchised and operate as second class residents. You cant even call them citizens necessarily,' Obama said.

Speaking for the first time about the controversial resolution that passed while he was on vacation, Obama said it states that new Israel settlements in the West Bank 'are creating a reality on the ground that increasingly will make a two-state solution impossible.

'And weve believed, consistent with the position that has been taken with previous U.S. administrations for decades now, that it was important for us to send a signal, a wake-up call that this moment may be passing,' he said.

Obama also addressed his administration's surprise decision to reverse a 20-year old policy that allowed Cuban nationals to stay in the United States if they emigrated to the country, legally or illegally.

Noting the seismic shift in United States and Cuban relation's that took place in his administration, Obama said the wet foot, dry foot policy that treated Cubans different than any other class of immigrants 'was a carryover of a old way of thinking that didnt make sense in this day and age, particularly as were opening up travel between the two countries.'

'And so, you know, we had very length think consultations with the Department of Homeland Security, we had some tough negotiations with the Cuban government, but arrived at a policy which we both think is both fair and appropriate to the changing nature of the relationship between the two countries.'
Austin Ruiz was killed during a live-fire training on Friday which left another Marine injured

A 19-year-old Marine was killed during a live-fire training exercise at a California desert base on Friday.

Lance Cpl. Austin J. Ruiz of Naples, Florida, died during Integrated Training Exercise 2-17, which involves firearms, in preparation for a larger exercise at Twentynine Palms Marine Corps base according to a Marine Corps statement on Wednesday.

The base is located in the Mojave Desert of southern California's San Bernardino County.

Base spokeswoman Cpl. Medina Ayala-Lo told USA Today the exercise includes live-fire training and tests their 'offensive, defensive and stability operations.'

A second Marine was injured and was flown to a Palm Springs hospital and is listed in critical condition.

The teen had only been at the Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center since January 4, his mother Sheara Ruiz told the website.

The 19-year-old (pictured with his father) had been at Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center for only one and a half weeks

Ruiz died at Twentynine Palms Marine Base which is seen above on November 14, 2005. Range 200 at the base is a simulated Iraqi village

Ruiz served as a combat engineer with the III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa, Japan.

He was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division and based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

The family said Austin always wanted to be in the military and he had told his parents via text message he was excited for training.

'We send our prayers and condolences to the families of the Marines killed and injured. Our first priority is to support them during this difficult time,' Brigadier General William F. Mullen III said in a Facebook post.

According to his family, Austin was always interested in being in the Marines and had been excited for his training (pictured right in his training gear)

The outside of the base where Ruiz was killed is seen above. Ruiz served as a combat engineer with the III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa, Japan

Austin's father, Nell Ruiz, said the Marine was scheduled to deploy to Japan again after the 29-day training regimen.

The 19-year-old had trained in Tokyo in December as part of his training and had been recently engaged.

According to the Marine Corps statement, the incident is currently under investigation and no other details have been released.
Kanye West is used to being the topic of discussion, but one professor is taking it to another level by designing a class around the 'cultural icon'.

The new course at Washington University in St Louis will focus on societal issues using Kanye's 'black genius'.

About 75 students are registered for 'Politics of Kanye West: Black Genius and Sonic Aesthetics,' which began this week, according to the St Louis Post-Dispatch. But there's a waiting list to get in.

The professor, Jeffrey McCune, says the course, which is focused on the rapper, producer and fashion designer, offers a way for students to connect issues of politics, race, gender, sexuality and culture.

Kanye West is used to being the topic of discussion, but professor Jeffrey McCune (right) is taking it to another level by designing a class around the 'cultural icon'. The new course at Washington University in St. Louis will focus on the world of Kanye

McCune says the course will neither fawn over West's music nor be an exercise in bashing him.

The class will have much to discuss as they take a look at the past year when West had a public breakdown followed by a stint in rehab.

West also released his album, The Life of Pablo last year.

McCune told the Dispatch that he sees the course as a 'good way to get students to connect issues of politics, race, gender, sexuality and culture'.

'We're always thought of as maybe being articulate or smart but not really genius.'

McCune said Kanye has used hip-hop to give African-Americans platforms on which they could become geniuses, musically and even politically, according to the Dispatch.

McCune said Kanye has used hip-hop to give African-Americans platforms on which they could become geniuses, musically and even politically. West (at Trump Tower), 39, made headlines in December when he visited Donald Trump and then posed for photos

Trump told reporters that he and West have 'been friends for a long time,' and said they discussed 'life'

West, 39, made headlines in December when he visited president-elect Donald Trump and then posed for photos.

Trump told reporters that he and West have 'been friends for a long time,' and said they discussed 'life'.

'Hip-hop is a way to show our creative genius,' McCune says. 'Kanye really uses hip-hop as a vehicle to display all of his talents, albeit some better than others.'

McCune told the Dispatch that West has always interested him because of his sense of 'black excellence', adding that West constantly reminds the public of hip-hop's connection to politics.

COURSE SYLLABUS TOPICS Who is Kanye West and Why is He in the Flashing Lights?'  'Touch the Sky, When the Aspirant Turns Genius'  'Father Stretch My Hands, or How Hip-Hop Takes Us to Church'  'Love Lock Down, or Hip-Hop's Queer Love Languages'  'I Love Kanye, or How Critique Slips Into Hate' Advertisement

For example, after Hurricane Katrina, West famously said that former President George W Bush doesn't care about black people.

'At that point, I realized the dynamics of this performer, how he embodied multiple fears of black life,' McCune told the Dispatch.

The class takes place on Tuesdays with 'critical listening parties' and on Thursdays, with guest artists.

This isn't the first time a university has embraced hip-hop icons within their college courses.
Whitehall officials are working behind the scenes to persuade Donald Trumps team not to do a deal with Vladimir Putin.

They have been tasked with contacting their counterparts in the Pentagon to persuade the incoming administration to stick to a hard line against Mr Putin.

Senior ministers will also be reassuring key strategic allies on Natos periphery that the UKs stance on the issue will not change ahead of Mr Trumps inauguration on Friday.

The Governments greatest fear is the president elect will cosy up to the Russian leader and tear up the current rulebook which will shake up the world order.

Defence officials are attempting to persuade the administration of Donald Trump (pictured) to stick to a hard line against Putin

Whitehall officials are secretly working behind the scenes to persuade Donald Trumps team not to do a deal with Vladimir Putin

There has been heightened panic in Number 10 after Mr Trump proposed dropping sanctions against Mr Putin in return for nuclear arms cuts

On Tuesday night the British Army practised moving tanks through the Channel Tunnel in case they need to deploy to Eastern Europe quickly

There has been heightened panic in Number 10 after Mr Trump proposed dropping sanctions against Mr Putin in return for nuclear arms cuts.

A senior government source said: The greatest risk is with Russia. It is a big uncertainty.

The biggest worry is what the new administration will do when it comes to Russia and are they going to do a deal with Putin.

There is a lot of work being done behind the scenes to avoid this.

On Tuesday night the British Army practised moving tanks through the Channel Tunnel in case they need to deploy to Eastern Europe quickly.

Soldiers sent tanks, the Warrior fighting vehicle and recovery vehicles across to France during the middle of the night for the first time.

A defence source said: This was not a charge to Eastern Europe. You have to practice before you try and move hundreds of tanks through the tunnel.

It is testing the viability of using the tunnel should we be required to move our armoured troops.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and US President Barack Obama shake hands for the cameras before the start of a bilateral meeting at the United Nations headquarters September 28, 2015 in New York City

Britains relations with Russia are in deep freeze after Moscow blamed MI6 for the dossier of sordid claims about Mr Trump last week.

Then the US president elect suggested in an interview with MP Michael Gove this week that he could do a deal with Putin even if he refuses to back down on the Ukraine.

His comments sent shockwaves across the foreign office and Britains allies - who fear an emboldened Putin could launch a full-scale invasion on its western flanks.

Last night a senior diplomatic source said: Everyone is very nervous about what is going to happen.

The Baltic States, Poland and the Ukraine fear Russia could wage a covert war against them and have pressed ministers in Nato to protect their borders with troops.

Britain is sending tanks, drones and 800 troops to Estonia as part of the biggest military build-up on Russians borders since the Cold War later this year.

The Ukraine has been fighting against pro-Moscow rebels and Russian troops in the countrys east for three years in a conflict which nearly 10,000 people have been killed.

Foreign office sources said Britain would not budge on the EU sanctions imposed on Russia unless Moscow stopped acting aggressively towards the Ukraine.

EU sanctions require Russia to withdraw its troops from the country and end its support to the separatists.

Similarly, US sanctions on businessmen and companies were imposed by the Obama administration on Moscow in 2014 over the Ukraine crisis.

Under current terms, they will not be lifted unless Moscow completely withdraws Russian troops from the Ukrainian Donbas.

Mr Trump suggested he would lift the sanctions if Putin agreed to reduce nuclear arms

However on Monday, Mr Trump suggested he would lift the sanctions if Putin agreed to reduce nuclear arms  irrespective of whether he withdraws troops from the Ukraine.

The distinct policies have put the UK on a collision course with Mr Trump before he has even entered the Oval office.

Mr Trump also declared he was ready to trust Putin and he believed Nato was obsolete.

His comments fuelled fears of a deeper relationship between the US and Russia under Trump which risks leaving Britain out in the cold.

There are fears that if the US  which contributes the greatest manpower by far to the Nato alliance - takes a softer stance on Putin then he could exploit it.

A former head of Nato said that such a deal would be wrong and would be trading off the Ukraines independence.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who was Nato secretary general from 2009 to 2014, told the Mail: Wavering does not signal US strength to the Kremlin.

It would be wrong to trade Ukraines independence in a nuclear deal between US and Russia.

He added: Its critical that the new administration stays strong and firm on sanctions as long as conditions for lifting them are not fulfilled.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a news conference on Tuesday

Former defence minister Gerald Howarth, who is chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on Ukraine, said a lifting of sanctions would strengthen Putin.

He said: Theres no way we would agree to sanctions on Russia being relaxed without a form of settlement in the Ukraine.

Not only has Russia wholly unlawfully annexed a countrys territory, they continue to destabilise the Ukraine.

That is a simply unacceptable way to behave and I just hope that President elect understands the gravity of this relationship - not only the gravity of his relationship with the UK but also with Russia.

We know what Putin does, he exploits western weakness and theres a risk his approach could be seen as weak and you are dealing with an extremely experienced operator.

Speaking about the movement of vehicles through the Channel, an MoD spokesman said: The Army successfully conducted an exercise to test the viability of using the Channel Tunnel to move vehicles and equipment to mainland Europe, adding to the existing range of options available and increasing the agility of our Armed Forces.

Last August foreign secretary Boris Johnson said Britain must normalise its relationship with Russia after years of hostility.

They had hit rock bottom after an inquiry found Putin probably approved the assassination of the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko.

But then relations between the two countries plummeted even further when Russia stepped up its fight in Syria and joined forces with President Assad to bomb Aleppo.

Last month Russias top UK diplomat accused Britain of overt hostility and of working with Nato to prepare for a major war in Europe.
Marla Maples' designer clothes from Lanvin were spotted on an M72 crosstown bus in Manhattan on Wednesday

Marla Maples clothes may have designer labels, but that doesn't mean they're too glamorous to take a ride on public transportation.

A messenger was spotted carrying garment bags from the French fashion house Lanvin that had Maples' Manhattan address written on front.

The messenger was taking the M72 crosstown bus on Wednesday afternoon, likely headed toward Maples' Upper East Side apartment, according to Page Six.

It remains unknown if the bags held Maples' inauguration outfit, but at least one stylist has made it clear she won't be helping with Trump's ex-wife's hair.

Freelance hairstylist Tricia Kelly said she turned down Maples and Tiffany Trump's request to have their hair styled for free in exchange for exposure.

Kelly said she was first contacted by contacted by one of her longtime clients who has ties to the new first family about an opportunity to work with them, the Washington Post reported.

The stylist, who in the past has worked with many contestants in the Miss America and Miss USA competition, said she was interested in working with the pair.

She said she explained her styling rates of a $150 fee to travel in addition to the cost of her services.

However, through Maples' assistant, Kelly claims the mother and daughter made it clear they were unwilling to accept the initial cost.

'I was told they had a $300 budget for both of them for hair and makeup,' Kelly told the Post.

Freelance stylist Tricia Kelly (left) claims Maples attempted to get her and her daughter Tiffany Trump's (pictured right) hair styled for free in exchange for 'exposure on Inauguration Day

Kelly says she was contacted by one of her longtime clients who has ties to the Trumps about an opportunity to work with Marla Maples and her 23-year-old daughter

The Washington-based hairstylist said that after some back and forth she agreed to be compensated $200 total, as a makeup artist would earn $150 to get the mother-daughter duo ready for the big day.

However, the actress' assistant apparently contacted her again to propose the idea of having the services done for free in exchange for getting 'exposure' with Maples mentioning her on social media.

Kelly, who declined that proposal, said: 'I told them...I work for a fee, not for free.'

The hairstylist explained that she usually turns down having clients who are involved in politics provide exposure of her work because she does not want to appear partisan, as many of the people she has worked with are prominent Republicans and Democrats.

Kelly added that she was 'reluctant' to speak out about the situation with Maples, as she also prides herself on 'discretion'.

However, she told the Post that she was not happy with Maples' 'entitled' behavior and that's why she went public with her story on the situation.

'There are people who make far less than they do who pay full price,' Kelly said.

'People on staff  the incoming White House and the outgoing one  pay full price.

'It seemed like they were trying to see how much they could get for free based on their names.'

A rep for Maples declined to comment on the claims made by Kelly.

After some back and forth about prices, they settled on a deal that would have seen Kelly (above) and a make-up artist be compensated for work

But the Maples' assistant apparently contacted Kelly again to propose the idea of having the services done for free in exchange for getting 'exposure' with Maples (pictured right with Tiffany) mentioning her on social media

The hairstylist claims that she received inauspicious messages from her client that first put her in contact with Maples' team after the Post tried to contact the second-wife of Trump.

'You are messing with the president of the United States,' the Maples contact allegedly wrote to Kelly.

The contact also claimed to Kelly that Maples is concerned about her financial situation since her daughter finished college, which concludes her child-support payments from the billionaire businessman.

'She is used to a certain lifestyle and you don't understand that,' the contact apparently told Kelly.

Elected officials, lawmakers and other government officials are banned from accepting giveaways.

But for Maples and her daughter, accepting freebies is not illegal since the president is required to report any 'gifts' over $300 that is received by him, his spouse and any minor children.

Maples and the youngest daughter of the Trump family are not bound by those rules, attorney Jan Baran, who served on President George H.W. Bush's ethics commission, told the Post.
There exists a famous photo of previous presidents gathered around Barack Obama in the Oval Office shortly before he began his first term. Its as though they all dropped by to wish him luck.

What makes this photo such a gem is the positioning of the men: Obama appears to be chummy with both the Bushes, while Bill Clinton stands close by with that recognizable grin.

But off to the side stands Jimmy Carter, seemingly singular and oddly out-of-place.

Many regard President Carter, the first of the photographed group to serve as president, a failed leader.

Consider that much of his proposed legislation never made it out of a Democrat-controlled Congress. And his image as a bullying micromanager, his mishandling of the nuclear debacle at Three Mile Island and the Iran hostage crisis are all most Americans think about when it comes to Carters legacy.

Yet he may well end up being considered the greatest president ever given his involvement as a peacekeeper, his tireless effort to build homes for the impoverished and his stalwart commitment to human rights.

None of his living peers can make the same claim: George H.W. and George W. have both slipped into an abyss away from the public eye, while Clinton has spent the last few years running from intense scrutiny  deserved or not  as a wheeler-dealer who may have improperly operated his familys foundation.

The former presidents varied histories makes one wonder: What will become of Obama after Friday?

Like Carter, hes a former outsider who can extend his legacy well beyond his White House years.

It would be a mistake, though, to cast Obama in the same light as Carter.

After all, he was able to pass meaningful health care legislation and did manage to kill the most wanted terrorist in the world, among other major achievements.

When it comes to a post-presidency, though, its clear to me the former law professor and community organizer would do well to follow Carters path.

Just as Carter has plied his talent and energy to help transform Habitat for Humanity into a poverty-eradicating force and to ensure free elections in the worlds most dangerous countries, Obama could do the same in health care, using his powerful voice and committed base to ensure safe and affordable access for millions of poor Americans, especially children and the elderly.

He could become a powerful voice for gun control, having witnessed some of our nations most tragic mass shootings  Sandy Hook, San Bernardino and Orlando  while in office.

He might even take up the cause of criminal justice reform and work to bring change to a broken system that houses the largest number of low-level, nonviolent drug offenders of any nation in the world.

Whatever path he chooses, Obama will leave office young and with his health intact, a claim few former presidents can make. If he so chooses to employ them, the unbridled energy and ability to create consensus hes displayed throughout his political career will propel him to great things still.

He can choose to stand idly with other former presidents, or, like Carter, he can choose to stand apart.

When it comes to a post-presidency, its clear to me the former law professor and community organizer would do well to follow Carters path.
The widow of Orlando nightclub killer Omar Mateen pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting his slaughter, and interfering with the subsequent FBI investigation Wednesday.

Salman had been arrested Monday on both charges in the suburban San Francisco home she shared with her mother, and on Tuesday was accused of complicity in her husband's rampage, which saw 49 dead and 53 injured in the gay club Pulse.

The 30-year-old gave her plea to District Judge Donna Ryu in the Oakland, California courthouse, and will return on February 1 to argue for her release pending her trial.

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Noor Salman (left) pleaded not guilty Wednesday to helping her husband, Omar Mateen (right, with their son center), in the months leading up to his attack on Orlando gay club Pulse

Salman also denies a second charge misleading police in the wake of the shooting. Above, a view of Pulse in the aftermath of the massacre, which saw 49 people dead

Salman was represented by a local attorney in the hearing, but will hire Texas lawyer Charles Swift, from the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, for her trial.

First, however, he must get permission to practice law in California.

Salman made her first appearance in court Tuesday, during which she visibly shook as the prosecutor, Roger Handberg, laid out his case.

'She knew he was going to conduct the attack,' federal prosecutor Roger Handberg told the judge. Handberg did not disclose any more details and declined to comment after the hearing.

She could get life in prison if she's convicted of the aiding and abetting charge.

In court Tuesday, Salman, wearing a mustard-yellow jail uniform, looked downcast and bewildered and at times started to shake.

When she was led back to jail, she looked up for the first time to lock eyes with her tearful uncle.

Outside court, Salman's uncle Al Salman said his niece was innocent and did nothing to help her husband, Omar Mateen, plan the June 12 attack on the Pulse, a gay nightclub in Florida.

'She's a very soft and sweet girl,' Salman said. 'She would not hurt a fly.'

In an indictment unsealed Monday, she was accused of aiding and abetting Mateen in providing material support and resources to the Islamic State group between April and June of last year. She was also accused of misleading and lying to police and the FBI during their investigation.

The indictment gave no additional details on Salman's alleged actions.

Al Salman, uncle of Noor Salman, told media outside court Tuesday that his niece was innocent of the charges and did nothing to help Mateen

Salman (above on her wedding day) said Mateen was violent towards her and often beat her at home. She was arrested in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she is from, on Monday

The couple was living in Fort Pierce, Florida, with their young son when Mateen drove two hours to Orlando to unleash terror on the gay nightclub on June 12

FBI agents previously accused Salman (pictured, right, two days after the shooting) of scoping out the nightclub with her husband before the attack. She said they were merely in Orlando, which was two hours from their home, to visit Disneyland with their son

The attack was the deadliest mass shooting in US history and sparked an outpouring of grief in Orlando and around the world. Above, a vigil is held in Orlando on the day after the shooting

During the standoff, Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a 911 call. He was killed in a shootout with SWAT officers. In addition to the 49 victims killed, 53 people were injured.

The couple lived in Fort Pierce, Florida, at the time of the rampage.

After repeated interrogation by the FBI, Salman was arrested Monday at a house she shared with her mother in Rodeo, a San Francisco suburb.

Al Salman said that Noor Salman was physically and mentally abused by Mateen and that she stayed with him for fear of losing custody of their son.

A judge scheduled another hearing Wednesday to discuss her possible release ahead of trial, her transfer to Florida to face the charges, and the appointment of a lawyer to represent her.

Linda Moreno, a Florida attorney who also represents Salman, said after Salman's arrest that the widow 'had no foreknowledge nor could she predict what Omar Mateen intended to do that tragic night.'

Salman told The New York Times in an interview published in November that she knew her husband had watched jihadist videos but that she was 'unaware of everything' regarding his intent to shoot up the club. Salman also said he had physically abused her.

Salman agreed to be photographed by the New York Times after the attack when she sat for her only interview - but she would not show her face, shown here

Salman (left) previously claimed she was 'unaware' of her husband's murderous plan. She will appear in court in San Francisco on Tuesday

Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in a 911 call during the three-hour standoff that ended in his death. Forty nine patrons were killed and another 53 were hospitalized.
The bravery of Lance Corporal William, a stretcher bearer at the Battle of the Somme, has now come to light

As a stretcher bearer at the Battle of the Somme, Lance Corporal William Peniston was kept horribly busy  but it seems he never lost his nerve.

The First World War confrontation raged for five months, and left 95,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers dead, with another 325,000 injured. Little territory was won.

Yet only now is the remarkable story of L/Cpl Penistons bravery under fire during the battle emerging  as three medals he won in only three weeks on the Somme are put up for auction.

The battle, on the Western Front in France, began on July 1, 1916, with Britain suffering almost 60,000 casualties on the first day alone, a third of them killed.

On August 26, L/Cpl Peniston, then 27, won his first decoration of the battle, the Military Medal, during the fight for Delville Wood.

On September 11, he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal  ranked immediately below Britains highest honour for valour, the Victoria Cross  for his bravery at Woodlane.

His official commendation for the decoration said: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an action.

His company came under enemy barrage fire which caused considerable casualties, and he remained behind under heavy shelling attending to the wounded, and helped to carry them to the aid post. He undoubtedly saved the lives of many seriously wounded cases by his prompt action, and set a fine example to the stretcher bearers under him.

And four days after that remarkable display of courage, L/Cpl Peniston secured his third medal in as many weeks at the Somme by again being awarded the Military Medal for his bravery in continuing his duties during the fighting at Flers-Courcelette. This was marked by a bar being added to the Military Medal he had won three weeks before.

He went on to be awarded a third Military Medal in 1918, which was again marked with a bar.

L/Cpl Peniston, who was born in Sheffield in 1889, had worked as a miner at Thoresby colliery in Nottinghamshire before the war and resumed that job after it ended.

His medals for valour, as well as his service medals, are being auctioned together. Pictured from left to right: his Distinguished Conduct Medal; Military Medal; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals; and St John Service Medal

When he joined the 9th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, he was a natural choice to serve as a stretcher bearer throughout the four-year war because beforehand he had volunteered as a corporal in the St John Ambulance Brigade.

By the end of the war L/Cpl Peniston seems to have been a German prisoner of war, but full details of his capture are not clear.

He lived in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, for many years, dying there in 1974 aged 85.

His medals for valour, along with the heros service medals, photographs, and letters, are being auctioned together with an estimate of 10,000. They part of a sale being held by London auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb in Mayfair on March 1 and 2.

A spokesman for the firm said: Few could equal his astonishing achievement in winning three of his four gallantry awards in the space of a month.

By the end of the First World War he was one of just 184 men to win the Military Medal three times.
President-elect Donald Trump just paid $25million to settle litigation over his now-defunct Trump University real estate seminar program.

The move comes just two days before Trump is set to take the oath of office as president during the Inauguration on Friday.

Trump University, which is now known as the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative, transferred the funds Tuesday night to be put into escrow until a judge decides on whether to approve the settlement, Politico reported.

A hearing is set for March 31 in relation to the proposed deal that was reached in November shortly after he won the election.

Of the $25 million settlement, $21 million is going to former students of the program in California where two class-action lawsuits were filed.

The remaining $4 million will go to lawsuit filed in New York by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

The settlement keeps the president-elect from having to testify in a trial.

President-elect Donald Trump just paid $25million to settle litigation over his now-defunct Trump University real estate seminar program. He is pictured above on Tuesday

Trump University, which is now known as the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative, transferred the funds Tuesday night to be put into escrow until a judge decides on whether to approve the settlement (Trump on Tuesday)

Trump University was created in 2005 by Trump and was said to offer a series of seminars that taught students how they could get rich off of real estate with the right investing techniques.

But in both 2010 and 2011 Trump University was hit with fraud lawsuits.

Students who participated said they were promised access to private financing option that never happened. They came to the conclusion that Trump University was fraudulent as it was advertised that Trump picked out the instructors himself, but former students of Trump University said that wasn't true.

Trump had publicly vowed in March of 2015 that he would not settle the class-action fraud lawsuits and the parallel state court action brought against him by Schneiderman.

The real estate mogul's lawyer said that any 'misstatements about Trump University amounted to 'mere puffery',' Politico reported.

The move to settle the lawsuits comes just two days before Trump (above in November Tuesday) is set to take the oath of office as president. The settlement keeps Trump from having to testify in a trial

Plaintiffs in court documents said that a 'one year apprenticeship' was essentially a three-day seminar that cost $1,495, while a 'mentorship' cost at least $10,000 and the top-tier Gold Elite program cost nearly $35,000.

Trump has not issued a statement since the settlement was announced on Wednesday afternoon.

But two months ago when the deal was proposed, he tweeted his rationale to explain why he would settle the lawsuits.

'I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country,' Trump, wrote at the time.

'The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad!'

Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for Schneiderman, said the payment is an important step and a victory.

'The $25 million settlement marks a significant victory for the thousands of fraud victims in New York and across the country, all of whom will receive restitution, in addition to the up to $1 million in penalties Donald Trump will pay to the State of New York for violating education laws,' Spitalnick stated.

Trump University did not accept wrongdoing or fault as part of the settlement deal.

'While we have no doubt that Trump University would have prevailed at trial based on the merits of this case, resolution of these matters allows President-Elect Trump to devote his full attention to the important issues facing our great nation,' the Trump Organization said in a statement in November.
The desperate phone call made by a chef after an avalanche hit a hotel in Italy has been revealed, as it emerged that guests were about to leave when tragedy struck.

Up to 38 people are believed to have been killed when the hotel, in the remote village of Farindola, was crushed under a 6ft wall of snow yesterday as four earthquakes hit the central Italian region of Abruzzo.

Giampaolo Parete, 38, a chef who was on vacation there, was one of two people rescued from the three-storey hotel.

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A rescuer arrives at the wrecked Hotel Rigopiano and looks up the mountainside where the avalanche hurtled down the slope yesterday

Rescuers have been digging through the huge pile of snow which crashed down onto the hotel

A survivor is seen being led out from the Hotel Rigopiano by rescue workers

Up to 30 people are feared dead after an Italian ski hotel was buried by an avalanche during a series of earthquakes

Italy's Civil Protection Agency said there had been around 30 guests and staff at the hotel on the eastern lower slopes of the Gran Sasso mountain

His boss, restaurant owner Quintino Marcella, said he received a phone call at 5.30pm yesterday.

He said: 'He calls me and says "Help me, an avalanche has hit and the hotel isn't there anymore. It's disappeared. It's buried. Two of us are here but call rescue crews.'''

Marcella said he immediately called police and the prefecture's emergency coordination centre, but the prefect's office assured him that the hotel had phoned two or three hours earlier reporting everything was OK.

Marcella said he frantically tried to call other emergency numbers but no one took him seriously. Speaking on Sky TG24, he said only hours later, after 8pm, did the response begin.

He said his chef kept saying 'Help, help, help, help.'

Dramatic pictures from inside the hotel show how part of the building collapsed under the weight of the avalanche

Rescue workers continued to search for victims at the Hotel Rigopiano in the town of Farindola

The desperate phone call made by a chef who survived the disaster has been revealed. He told his boss: 'Help me, an avalanche has hit and the hotel isn't there anymore. It's disappeared'

Rescuers were met with an eerie silence today as they arrived at the Hotel Rigopiano and began digging through the snow in an attempt to find survivors (pictured)

A police helicopter dropped off food supplies for rescuers at the scene of the disaster

He told an Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, the group had all checked out of the Hotel Rigopiano and had gathered in the lobby.

But heavy snow had made the road outside impassable and they were waiting for a snow plough to clear a path up to the hotel.

As they waited in the foyer the avalanche cascaded down the mountainside, smashing into the hotel and burying them under a huge pile of snow.

Marcella told La Repubblica: 'Giampaolo and all the other guests had paid and had reached the lobby, ready to go as soon as the snow plough arrived.'

'They had already prepared suitcases. All the customers wanted to leave.'

Hopes of finding anyone alive in the snow and the wreck of the hotel are receding

Shocking images from inside the hotel show how snow had cascaded down stairways and corridors

Up to 30 people are feared to have been killed after an Italian ski hotel was buried by an avalanche during a series of earthquakes

There are reports this morning that as many as 30 people - guests and staff- are missing after the avalanche crashed in to the three-storey hotel, shifting it up to 30ft

A man is escorted by Alpine policemen and a fireman outside the Hotel Rigopiano, near the village of Farindola

Rescue teams are still battling to access the hotel - a task made more difficult by huge snow drifts in the area

Italian rescuers directed rescue cars at a road block in Farindola on Thursday

A road block is in place preventing people from entering the village where the tragedy struck

The BBC reported that three bodies had been found in the hotel but rescuers were searching for up to 35 others.

Earlier it was reported that desperate guests trapped inside the hotel sent texts to loved ones after the building was crushed.

One message, believed to have been sent from the four-star Hotel Rigopiano, said 'Help, help, we are dying of the cold' while another, sent from outside, urged those still caught inside to 'be calm'.

Other trapped guests are reported to have sent texts directly to emergency services with phone lines in rooms said to have been cut off by the force of the avalanche.

Mountain emergency crews using cross country skis trekked six miles through the night to reach the hotel, battling through 15ft of snow which has fallen in a matter of days.

There are reports this morning that as many as 30 people - guests and staff - are missing after thousands of tonnes of snow engulfed the three-storey hotel, causing part of it to collapse and shifting the building 30ft. Two have been rescued so far.

According to Sky, One text message sent to someone inside the hotel said: 'They are extracting them from the hotel, and bringing them to hospitals, I think. But I don't know because it is impossible for us to go up. I am sorry.'

Rescuers, who have begun extracting bodies after battling through blizzard conditions to reach the hotel on skis or by helicopter, say there were no signs of life inside the building

Rescuers have started the grim task of excavating snow from the interior of the building

Another photograph shows the snow filling up the inside of the Hotel Rigopiano

A photograph shows the damage done inside the spa hotel after it was buried by the avalanche

Separate aerial video shows how a column of rescue vehicles attempting to reach the remote community had become completely stuck in huge snow drifts

A snow-plough truck made its way through the snow in order to reach the Rigopiano Hotel

A rescue convoy became stuck in snow drifts as emergency crews scrambled to reach the village

The Hotel Rigopiano pictured before the devastating avalanche hit yesterday (file photo)

Emergency crews were eventually able to fund a way in to the Hotel Rigopiano, which has been crushed by an avalanche

Police released images showing the damage done to the interior of the hotel following the avalanche

The hotel is located around 55 miles from the epicentre of the earthquakes yesterday

Earlier, it emerged that a father had survived the tragedy because he left to get something from his car when the avalanche hit the building. But he told doctors the wall of snow had buried his wife and two children.

Rescuers, who have begun extracting bodies after battling through blizzard conditions to reach the hotel on skis or by helicopter, say there were no signs of life inside the building.

An aerial shot of the hotel released by the fire brigade showed just the last floor and the roof visible above a thick blanket of snow. Initial television pictures showed that mounds of snow and debris had smashed through a hotel wall into the lobby.

Haunting footage also shows how piles of snow and rubble had cascaded down stairways. The audio was silent.

The largest wall of snow shown was in the pool area, where plastic lounge chairs were flipped on their sides and Christmas decorations still dangled from the ceiling.

The bar area appeared flooded, with nearby cracked skylights covered with snow outside.

Separate aerial video shows how a column of rescue vehicles attempting to reach the remote community had become completely stuck in huge snow drifts.

Pictures emerging from the scene show how rescuers are having to contend with mountains of snow

Rescuers used shovels as they attempted to clear a pathway to the hotel where dozens are feared to have been buried

Rescue teams had to trek for six miles using cross country skis to reach Hotel Rigopiano, in the remote village of Farindola, in the Abruzzo region, which has been hit by heavy snowfall in the last week

Twenty firemen, two mountain rescue teams, six ambulances and local police were heading for the site last night, but the weather conditions were expected to cause major delays, a civil protection agency spokesman said

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni today urged authorities to redouble efforts to reach people isolated by the earthquakes and unusually heavy snow, as he sought to deflect criticism of the rescue efforts.

Gentiloni told reporters Thursday that the priority is to reach all isolated towns and hamlets that have been buried under snowfall for days and then jolted by four powerful quakes on Wednesday.

Residents have been complaining for days that they have been without electricity because of what Gentiloni called a 'record snowfall.' Criticism has also come in about the response time to reach a hotel buried under an avalanche.

Gentiloni said: 'I ask everyone if possible to multiply their efforts. I ask politicians to show sobriety respecting the difficulty of the situation and the commitment of civil and military crews who are responding.'

The head of the Italy's civil protection authority, Fabrizio Curcio, says that authorities are confronting 'two exceptional events that that already alone would have created great difficulty in the response.'

For the heavy snowfall, Curcio said: 'We try to tell people to stay in their own homes, if they are secure, obviously. And in the areas of quakes, people should leave their homes. Putting together these two elements is extremely complicated.'

Mountain rescue teams reached the hotel by skis at around 4am local time, Sky TG24 reported.

An ambulance was blocked several miles from the hotel, according to Sky, while footage showed emergency services helicopters in the air near the scene

Rescue teams seen arriving in the town of Farindola, central Italy, following the disaster

A rescue truck making its way through Farindola, as another vehicle is seen buried in the snow

Blizzards in the area were hampering rescue operations as helicopters were brought in

A rescuer carries food supplied by an Italian Police helicopter in front of the hotel

Video footage showed rescuers with shovels digging through a wall of snow, and at least one man being led through the cleared path. An ambulance was blocked several miles from the hotel, according to Sky, while footage showed emergency services helicopters in the air near the scene.

Italy's Civil Protection Agency said there had been around 30 guests and staff at the hotel on the eastern lower slopes of the Gran Sasso mountain.

It said it could not immediately confirm any deaths out of respect for the families of the guests and staff.

A base camp for rescue workers has been set up in the nearby town of Penne (pictured)

A car is buried in snow in Penne, which is about six miles away from Farindola

A soldier pictured in the town of Amatrice after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck the region

Antonio Di Marco, president of the province of Pescara, which includes the mountain village of Farindola, said two people had been saved.

'We don't know yet how many people are unaccounted for or dead,' he wrote on his Facebook page.

'What is certain is that the building took a direct hit from the avalanche, to the point that it was moved by 10 metres.'

Farindola mayor Ilario Lacchetta said on his Facebook page that 'the dimensions of the avalanche were huge

Rescuers have been facing tough conditions as they attempt to reach the scene of the avalanche

Video footage showed rescuers with shovels digging through a wall of snow, and at least one man being led through the cleared path

Tractors with snowploughs are being used in a desperate bid to clear roads in the area

Farindola mayor Ilario Lacchetta said on his Facebook page that 'the dimensions of the avalanche were huge.

'It took the whole hotel with it.' he said.

The region was hit by four seismic shocks measuring above five magnitude in the space of four hours on Wednesday, with at least one person confirmed dead.

The hotel is located around 55 miles from the epicentre of the quakes.

Twenty firemen, two mountain rescue teams, six ambulances and local police were heading for the site last night, but the weather conditions were expected to cause major delays, a civil protection agency spokesman said.

EUROPE'S DEADLY AVALANCHES Avalanches are a recurring threat in Europe's mountain ranges, and have claimed dozens of lives in the past 20 years: - 2016 - FRANCE: Six deaths Six French legionnaires on a training mission in the Cerces range near the Italian border died on January 18 when they were caught at an altitude of more than 6,000 feet. ITALY: Six deaths Five Italians and an Austrian who were mountain climbing died on March 12 when a 300 yard snowslide swept them away at an altitude of more than 10,800ft in the Monte Nevoso region near the border with Austria. - 2015 - FRANCE: 13 deaths Four French men and two women were ski touring on January 24 in the Queyras range in eastern France when they were killed by an avalanche. And on September 15 four Germans and three Czechs who were climbing in three teams died when an avalanche broke loose on the Dome de Neige des Ecrins, a 13,170-foot peak in the French Alps. The summit is popular with tourists because it is readily accessible. - 2012 - FRANCE: Nine deaths Nine climbers from Britain, Germany, Spain and Switzerland were killed on July 12 as they tried to scale the north face of Mont Maudit in the Mont-Blanc range in the French Alps. - 2002 - RUSSIA: 127 deaths On September 20, a huge mass of rock and ice broke off a glacier and crushed the village of Nizhny Karmadon in the Caucasian republic of North Ossetia, leaving 127 people dead or missing. They included Sergei Bodrov junior, son of a prominent Russian director of the same name, who was filming with a crew when the disaster struck. The glacier lies at an altitude of more than 8,000 ft between two peaks, Mount Kazbek 6,500 ft and the Elbruz 18,480 ft. The region's president said millions of cubic metres of ice had cascaded over a distance of 20 miles. - 2000 - AUSTRIA: 12 deaths On March 28, an avalanche killed 11 young ski instructors and a snow surfer on the Kitzsteinhorn, 50 miles southeast of Salzbourg. - 1999 - AUSTRIA: 38 deaths A huge avalanche buried several houses and killed 31 people at the Galtuer ski area in western Austria's Tyrol region on February 23. The next day, another slide killed seven more people in the nearby village of Valzur. FRANCE: 12 deaths On February 9, an avalanche swept away around 20 chalets near the village of Tour, in the Chamonix valley near Mont Blanc, killing 12 people. - 1998 - FRANCE: 11 deaths Nine teenagers, a teacher and an instructor were killed as they were snow-shoeing on January 23 at an altitude of 7,200 ft near the Orres ski area in the southern French Alps. Advertisement

Italy was hit by four earthquakes in four hours on Wednesday, killing one and bringing terror to snowbound mountain areas still recovering from last year's series of deadly tremors.

The quakes, all measuring more than five magnitude, struck close to Amatrice, the mountain town devastated by an August earthquake that left nearly 300 people dead.

The body of one victim was found under the debris of a building in the town of Castel Castagna, in the province of Teramo, local authorities said in a statement.

And as night fell and temperatures plummeted, fears mounted for isolated residents of remote hamlets cut off by heavy snowfall, while more than 130,000 homes were without electricity.

A mother and child dragged from the ruins of a collapsed country cottage near Teramo in the Abruzzo region were both found to be suffering from hypothermia.

Italy's Civil Protection Agency said there had been around 30 guests and staff at the Hotel Rigopiano on the eastern lower slopes of the Gran Sasso mountain when the first of four powerful quakes hit the region on Wednesday morning

Antonio Di Marco, president of the province of Pescara, which includes the mountain village of Farindola where the hotel is located, said two people had been saved

The region was hit by four seismic shocks measuring above five magnitude in the space of four hours on Wednesday, with at least one person confirmed dead

Shortly before dusk, Nello Patrizi, a farmer in Montereale, south of Amatrice, was out with his dog, trying to check on cows knee-deep in snow.

'It was an apocalyptic shock. We were petrified,' the 63-year-old told AFP.

'The first one was bad enough, the others seemed even stronger. You had the impression everything was collapsing, people were screaming.

'With all the snow there was this morning, people could not get out of their houses. I thought 'all we need now is an earthquake' and here it is.'

Fabio di Gianfrancesco, 55, drove from Rome to another hamlet, Aringo, to check on elderly relatives.

'They were trapped in the house because of the snow,' he said. 'We got them out and then helped the last 10 or so residents here to leave.'

Around 160 people were preparing to spend the night under the canvas of a giant tent on a local sports field.

Wednesday's first shock struck at 10.25 am local time.

A hotel in central Italy was hit by an avalanche on Wednesday, and rescuers are trying to ascertain whether there are any victims, Italian media reported

Three people were believed missing after the avalanche hit the hotel in Pescara, a province in the Abruzzo region

Four strong earthquakes have shaken the same region of central Italy that suffered deadly tremors last year, and could have had an affect on the avalanche

As night fell and temperatures plummeted, fears mounted for isolated residents of remote hamlets cut off by heavy snowfall, while more than 130,000 homes were without electricity

Monitors put its strength at between 5.1 and 5.3 magnitude. A second, 50 minutes later, was measured between 5.4 and 5.7.

A third, minutes later, measured 5.3, while one of more than 100 major aftershocks was measured at 5.1 at 2.30 pm.

The tremors were felt powerfully across the Abruzzo, Lazio and Marche regions and clearly in Rome, over 100 kilometres (60 miles) away.

Residents of Aquila, where over 300 people died in a 2009 earthquake, rushed into the snow-covered streets in panic but the city suffered little damage.

Avalanche warnings were issued across a region that has a number of ski resorts and a highest peak, Gran Sasso, at 2,912 metres (9,554 feet).

In Amatrice, the belltower of the 15th Century Church of Sant'Agostino collapsed. It had been damaged by the first of the earthquakes which struck the mountainous centre of the country between August and October last year.

Shell-shocked residents from the village of Montereale arrive to set up for the night in a large tent on a nearby sports ground

Road block: Thick snow covering earthquake hit areas of Colledara in Italy have been hampering rescue operations

Most of those who died in that quake were in the town, a beauty spot which was packed with holidaymakers at the height of the summer season.

Two further quakes rattled the region in October, with the most powerful measuring 6.5 magnitude.

Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi cursed his town's bad luck.

'I don't know if we did something bad. That's what I have been asking since yesterday. We have got up to two metres of snow and now another earthquake!'

Stefano Petrucci, mayor of nearby Accumoli, said roads were unpassable and bemoaned a shortage of clearance trucks. 'We can't fight a war with bows and arrows.'

The affected area is thinly populated and thousands of residents were evacuated last year pending reconstruction of their homes.

The last of the 2016 quakes, on October 30, was the most powerful since a 6.9 magnitude one struck near Naples in southern Italy in 1980, leaving 3,000 people dead.

Much of the country's land mass and some of its surrounding waters are prone to seismic activity with the highest risk concentrated along its mountainous central spine.

Italy straddles the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, making it vulnerable when they move.

The worst disaster of the 20th century was in 1908 when an estimated 95,000 died in tidal waves following a quake in the sea between mainland Italy and Sicily.
Single women in China are renting fake boyfriends to appease their pushy parents during family gatherings.

Demands for rent-by-day boyfriends have peaked as the Lunar New Year, the most important holiday in the Chinese tradition, is less than two weeks away.

The price for a pretend partner can run up to 180 per day and services on offer range from meeting parents to staying the night.

The profile of a male candidate usually state his age, height, weight and occupation. Above is a screen shot from 89yn.com, one of the websites that rent out boyfriends

The candidates also state their services, such as meeting the parents and watching films. Above is a screen shot from 20py.com, another website that rents out boyfriends

A Chinese woman posted an advertisement on a Chinese website looking for a fake boyfriend to meet her parents in Anhui province during Lunar New Year

'Rent a boyfriend' is a trending keyword on most Chinese search engines, as well as online shopping site Taobao.

Chinese rental websites offering male candidates include 89yn.com and 20py.com. The men's profiles usually state their age, height, weight and occupation.

They also state the services they are willing to provide.

According to a report on People's Daily online, rental princes are up to 60 yuan (7.13) per hour or 1,500 yuan (178) per day.

Some male candidates offer free service as they say to have no one to spend the holidays with anyway.

Chinese women rent boyfriends from the internet to deal with marriage pressure (file photo)

The pretend partner can meet the parents and have dinner with them (file photo)

The list of services are flexible and are mainly decided by the men.

They can include meeting the parents, having dinners with them, watching films, kissing and spending the night.

Some men require the women to pay for all the expenses, including the train tickets and meals.

To attract more customers, some candidates offer what they call a 'green lease' , which is an agreement signed by both parties to make sure there are no grey-areas or violation of rules.

'Green lease' holders are not allowed to sleep with the woman in the same room.

The Chinese tradition often see marriage in a very high priority and single women aged 27 and over are considered as Shengnu, the 'leftover women'.

On the hunt: This is Shanghai's marriage market where parents question each other on their children's income and prospects to decide whether they are marriage material for their kids

Concerns: Parents worry their daughters won't marry in time to have children and post their resumes on the line in the hope that boys' parents will take an interest

Some Chinese single men see that as a chance to earn quick money and rent themselves out to the desperate women and soon it becomes a trend.

Single women also see it as a way to stop their parents pestering them about their love life and pressuring them to have babies.

Li Hongzhao, vice secretary of Criminal Law Committee of Beijing Law Association, told a reporter from People's Daily Online the rental agreement could be considered as a legally binding contract as long as both parties performed what was stated on the agreement.

However, Li added that there could be violations of laws if one party had an indecent intention. Li said that could lead to sexual assault.
A woman in Taiwan recently discovered that an anonymous blood donor who saved her life nine years ago turned out to be her boyfriend of two years.

The woman, Lin Xiaofen, and her boyfriend, Lian Zhicheng, were both surprised when Miss Lin received the information of her donor, according to media.

Miss Lin reportedly decided to find out the identity of her life saviour after Mr Lian, a regular blood donor, joked it might be his blood that she had used.

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Incredible coincidence: Lin Xiaofen (right) found out that the person who donated blood to save her life nine years ago was her current boyfriend Lian Zhicheng (right)

Miss Lin passed out one day nine years ago in Taipei and was hospitalised, according to Huanqiu.com, an affiliation to People's Daily Online.

She was diagnosed with bleeding disorder and her condition was critical, the report said.

Her life was saved after receiving 10 units of blood and two units of isolated platelets.

It's fate! Miss Lin (pictured) said in a TV interview that she was surprised when staff at the local blood station gave her the information

Blood bond: Mr Lian said he could feel a telepathic connection between him and Miss Lin

Two years ago, Miss Lin returned to her hometown Hsinchu in north-west Taiwan and got to know her current boyfriend Mr Lian.

Miss Lin soon discovered that Mr Lian donated blood on a regular basis.

She told her boyfriend about her treatment in 2008 in a recent conversation. Upon hearing it, Mr Lian joked: 'Could it be my blood that you used?'

This sparked Miss Lin's curiosity. She decided to requested information about her blood donor from the local blood station.

In the TV interview, shared by Pear Video, Miss Lin said: 'When they told me it was a Mr Lian from Hsinchu, I felt surprised.'

Miss Lin and Mr Lian started dating about two years ago - long after Miss Lin's treatment

Miss Lin fell ill nine years ago when she lived in Taipei. Then she moved to Hsinchu (pictured)

After checking the donor's identification number with the staff at the station, Miss Lin confirmed that the man was her boyfriend.

Mr Lian was also stunned to find out the truth.

In the same TV interview, Mr Lian said he could feel a telepathic connection between him and Miss Lin before they made the discovery.

He also encouraged the public to donate blood because 'you might have a chance to save your future wife'.
Birds of a feather flock together, as anyone who has seen a dazzling gathering of starlings in the sky will know.

But why the birds congregate in vast numbers  called murmurations  has been one of nature's mysteries.

Now scientists have shown that the hypnotic, aerobatic displays confuse any would be predators such as hawks.

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Birds of a feather flock together, as anyone who has seen a dazzling gathering of starlings in the sky will know

WHY DO BIRDS FLY TOGETHER? Scientists have shown that the hypnotic, aerobatic displays confuse any would be predators such as hawks. Other possible benefits of the large flock are that more birds can be on the lookout for predators at any one time. It is also possible that as 'news' of a predator is passed through the group from bird to bird, it leads to the flock taking evasive action. Advertisement

To test their theory, scientists from the Universities of Bristol and Groningen, in the Netherlands, used a computer simulation creating a swirling mass of starlings.

The predator in the simulation has to select an individual starling to attack  and in the case of the computer simulation a human was asked to attempt to pick out one of the birds.

The task becomes exceptionally difficult and is known as the confusion effect. And the bigger the flock, the more difficult it becomes.

Benedict Hogan, a PhD student based at Bristol's School of Biological Sciences, explained: 'Testing these theories is difficult in the wild, so we traded hawks for human participants and made a computer game-style experiment, where the participant attempts to fly in and catch one target starling in a flock of up to 5,000 simulated birds.

'What we aimed to do was to find out whether or not confusion does occur in these massive and complex aggregations, like those of starlings.

'We found that, in line with the predictions of the confusion effect, participants had more difficulty in capturing a target starling in larger flocks, and in denser flocks; and that these effects interacted.

'This means we have evidence that suggests that starlings could indeed be safer from predation in larger and denser flocks, through the confusion of predators.

'However, it is likely that predator confusion is only one of many functions of these impressive groups in starlings.

'Computerised experiments like this may allow us to test other potential functions in starling groups, and similar simulations may help others to understand the mechanisms and functions of complex groups in other species.'

Other possible benefits of the large flock are that more birds can be on the lookout for predators at any one time.

Other possible benefits of the large flock are that more birds can be on the lookout for predators at any one time

It is also possible that as 'news' of a predator is passed through the group from bird to bird, it leads to the flock taking evasive action.

Previously, most evidence of the confusion effect has been found in very small groups  less than ten.

A similar confusion effect can be expected in large groups of fish.

The research is published in the Royal Society online journal Open Science.
Researchers have solved the mystery of what happens inside the eye of a tornado.

Witnesses have reported freezing conditions, and a lack of oxygen - similar to the 'death zones' on high mountain peaks.

Now researchers have worked out what causes them.

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Tornadoes which occur over water are referred to as a waterspouts and those which do not touch ground are referred to as a funnel cloud

Georgios Vatistas, a professor of engineering at Concordia University in Montreal, solved the mystery with a team of two Master's students.

'As air pockets move from the outer periphery of the vortex toward its centre, the pockets expand, thereby bringing the temperature and density down,' he said.

The research, which is set to be published in the next edition of the Journal of Aircraft of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, analyzed the events of a violent tornado that affected Scottsbluff, Nebraska in 1955.

During that tornado, three broadcasters from a local radio station were reporting live at the scene when they had to take shelter in a stone building.

When the tornado's vortex passed above them, the climate around them changed.

The temperature dropped from a warm summer's average down to chilly, and then even further to cold.

They also found it difficult to breathe as the air pressure dropped, causing a reduction in the amount of oxygen in the air.

Until now, the cause of these climate changes has remained unexplained.

But Professor Vatistas, who is an expert in tornadoes and has been studying them since 1984, was able to apply an analytical approach to the problem to construct a mathematical model of what happens during a turbulent tornado.

As air pockets from the outside of the vortex move towards its centre, the pockets expand, which brings the temperature and density down

Professor Vatistas and his team of two master's students, Badwal Gurpreet Singh and Rahul Rampal, found that in the case of the 1955 Scottsbluff tornado, the temperature inside the vortex would have dropped from a background temperature of 27C to 12C.

At the tornado's centre, the researchers estimated the air density would have been 20 per cent lower than what's found at high altitudes.

'That's what's known as the "death zone," at 8,000 metres in altitude, beyond which mountaineers should not climb without breathing assistance gear,' said professor Vatistas.

This is why the broadcasters in the Scottsbluff tornado had difficultly breathing, but luckily the tornado passed quickly and they avoided asphyxiation.

'It's my hope that this important finding will help researchers better understand the many mysterious manifestations associated with violent atmospheric vortices like tornados and waterspouts,' said Professor Vatistas.

The researcher says that the study will help engineers improve the operation of refrigeration vortex tubes, which are often used in cooling down cutting tools in machines, electronic components, hot melts, gas samples and heat seals.
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A series of stunning new images from the NASA rover Curiosity have revealed what scientists say if the first evidence or cracked, dry mud on the red planet's surface.

The images are fresh evidence that the ancient era when these sediments were deposited included some drying after wetter condition.

Curiosity has already found evidence of ancient lakes in older, lower-lying rock layers and also in younger mudstone near the mud, in an area called Old Soaker.

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The network of cracks in this Martian rock slab called 'Old Soaker' may have formed from the drying of a mud layer more than 3 billion years ago. The view spans about 4 feet (1.2 meters) left-to-right and combines three images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera on the arm of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover.

HOW IT FORMED The cracked layer formed more than 3 billion years ago and was subsequently buried by other layers of sediment, all becoming stratified rock. Later, wind erosion stripped away the layers above Old Soaker. Material that had filled the cracks resisted erosion better than the mudstone around it, so the pattern from the cracking now appears as raised ridges. Advertisement

Scientists have been using NASA's Curiosity Mars rover in recent weeks to examine slabs of rock cross-hatched with shallow ridges that likely originated as cracks in drying mud.

'Mud cracks are the most likely scenario here,' said Curiosity science team member Nathan Stein.

He is a graduate student at Caltech in Pasadena, California, who led the investigation of a site called 'Old Soaker,' on lower Mount Sharp, Mars.

If proved to be the case, these would be the first mud cracks confirmed by the Curiosity mission.

'Even from a distance, we could see a pattern of four- and five-sided polygons that don't look like fractures we've seen previously with Curiosity,' Stein said.

'It looks like what you'd see beside the road where muddy ground has dried and cracked.'

The cracked layer formed more than 3 billion years ago and was subsequently buried by other layers of sediment, all becoming stratified rock, NASA said.

Later, wind erosion stripped away the layers above Old Soaker.

Material that had filled the cracks resisted erosion better than the mudstone around it, so the pattern from the cracking now appears as raised ridges.

The team used Curiosity to examine the crack-filling material.

A grid of small polygons on the Martian rock surface near the right edge of this view may have originated as cracks in drying mud more than 3 billion years ago. Multiple Dec. 20, 2016, images from the Mastcam on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover were combined for this view of a rock called 'Squid Cove.'

Cracks that form at the surface, such as in drying mud, generally fill with windblown dust or sand.

A different type of cracking with plentiful examples found by Curiosity occurs after sediments have hardened into rock.

Pressure from accumulation of overlying sediments can cause underground fractures in the rock.

These fractures generally have been filled by minerals delivered by groundwater circulating through the cracks, such as bright veins of calcium sulfate.

This view of a Martian rock slab called 'Old Soaker,' which has a network of cracks that may have originated in drying mud, comes from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover. It was taken on Dec. 20, 2016. The slab is about 4 feet long.

Both types of crack-filling material were found at Old Soaker.

This may indicate multiple generations of fracturing: mud cracks first, with sediment accumulating in them, then a later episode of underground fracturing and vein forming.

'If these are indeed mud cracks, they fit well with the context of what we're seeing in the section of Mount Sharp Curiosity has been climbing for many months,' said Curiosity Project Scientist Ashwin Vasavada of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.

'The ancient lakes varied in depth and extent over time, and sometimes disappeared.

'We're seeing more evidence of dry intervals between what had been mostly a record of long-lived lakes.'

Besides the cracks that are likely due to drying, other types of evidence observed in the area include sandstone layers interspersed with the mudstone layers, and the presence of a layering pattern called cross-bedding.

This pattern can form where water was flowing more vigorously near the shore of a lake, or from windblown sediment during a dry episode.

MARS: A WET PLANET Evidence of water on Mars dates back to the Mariner 9 mission, which arrived in 1971. It revealed clues of water erosion in river beds and canyons as well as weather fronts and fogs. Viking orbiters that followed caused a revolution in our ideas about water on Mars by showing how floods broke through dams and carved deep valleys. Mars is currently in the middle of an ice age, and before this study, scientists believed liquid water could not exist on its surface. In June 2013, Curiosity found powerful evidence that water good enough to drink once flowed on Mars. In September of the same year, the first scoop of soil analysed by Curiosity revealed that fine materials on the surface of the planet contain two per cent water by weight. Last month, scientists provided the best estimates for water on Mars, claiming it once had more liquid H2) than the Arctic Ocean - and the planet kept these oceans for more than 1.5 billion years. The findings suggest there was ample time and water for life on Mars to thrive, but over the last 3.7 billion years the red planet has lost 87 per cent of its water - leaving it barren and dry. Advertisement

Scientists are continuing to analyze data acquired at the possible mud cracks and also watching for similar-looking sites.

They want to check for clues not evident at Old Soaker, such as the cross-sectional shape of the cracks.

The rover has departed that site, heading uphill toward a future rock-drilling location.

Earlier this week Curiosity spotted a peculiar rock on the red planet that could be a rare iron-nickel meteorite.

A raw image shared on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory site reveals an unusual, dimpled grey rock with a metallic luster laying on the ground in the Mount Sharp region of Mars.

The Curiosity rover has spotted a peculiar rock on the red planet that could be a rare iron-nickel meteorite. A raw image shared on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory site reveals an unusual, dimpled grey rock with a metallic luster laying on the ground in the Mount Sharp area

METAL METEORITES ON MARS The Curiosity rover has spotted what could be the third meteorite since it began its exploration of Mars. Its first find was an object dubbed 'Lebanon' found in May 2014. Just this past November, the rover discovered a metal meteorite that Nasa scientists are calling 'Egg Rock.' And its predecessor, the Opportunity rover, found five metal meteorites during its own Mars excursion. Advertisement

If confirmed as a meteorite, the object would be the third Curiosity has discovered since it began its mission over four years ago.

Among the telling signs that this could be a meteorite are the 'dimples' speckling the strange rock, Universe Today explains.

These could be regmaglypts  indentations created as the object plunges through a planet's atmosphere, stripping it of some of its minerals.

Curiosity captured the image on January 12 at 11:21 UT using the color mast camera, but shiny spots on the rock's surface suggest it also used its ChemCam laser to investigate the object.

In this process, the rover fires a laser at the rock to vaporize part of its surface, allowing its spectrometer to analyze the resulting plasma cloud, Universe Today explains.

And, the shimmer seen in the image also supports the idea that the rock is made of iron-nickel.

Among the telling signs that this could be a meteorite are the 'dimples' speckling the strange rock. And, shiny spots on the rock's surface suggest it also used its ChemCam laser to investigate the object

NASA has yet to confirm whether or not the rock is actually a metal meteorite, but, similar objects have been found on Mars in the past.

Just this past November, Curiosity stumbled upon a tiny, metallic meteorite with some puzzling features.

Using its ChemCam Remote Micro-Imager, a long-distance, laser-guided camera aboard the rover, the rover captured several detailed close-ups of the strange object.

The metal meteorite has been dubbed by Nasa scientists as the 'Egg Rock'.

Experts from Arizona State University have suggested that the object is made of nickel-iron, a metal alloy found in the cores of planets and used to make special, durable batteries.

The scientists concluded that the metal meteorite likely originates from the core of a dwarf planet, small planets forged by the clumping of large volumes of cosmic dust.

This meteorite may have crash landed into Mars from the asteroid belt that forms a part of our solar system and sits between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Curiosity has studied countless rocks and asteroids on the surface of Mars in its first four and a half years there.

Its predecessor, the Opportunity rover, found five metal meteorites during its own Mars excursion.
Some iPhone 6 and 6s owners have reported that their handsets are unexpectedly shutting down.

In November, Apple vowed to fix a technical issue for the iPhone 6s by providing a replacement battery.

But it has now denied rumours that it will be extending that exchange program to the iPhone 6.

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Some iPhone 6 and 6s owners have reported that their handsets are unexpectedly shutting down. Apple clarified that the bug was not a safety issue and that it only affects devices within a limited serial number range, manufactured between September and October 2015

The firm launched the replacement program for the iPhone 6s after a Chinese consumer protection agency found that some iPhones would shut down with 30 per cent battery life.

The issue only affects a 'relatively small batch' of the devices manufactured last year, says Apple. The firm will not disclose the exact numbers.

Last night, a rumour published by Mac Otakar suggested Apple would launch an iPhone 6 battery replacement program.

An Apple spokesperson told Apple Insider that the company does not have plans of launching a battery exchange program for the iPhone 7's predecessor.

'We constantly evaluate service statistics. There are no plans or grounds for a wide iPhone 6 battery exchange program at this time,' the insider said.

Apple has vowed to fix a technical issue that has seen some iPhone 6s handsets shutting down unexpectedly, but it will not be extending that offer to iPhone 6 users, it said

'Apple has determined that a very small number of iPhone 6s devices may unexpectedly shut down,' said the tech firm in an online statement in November.

Apple clarified that the bug was not a safety issue and that it only affects devices within a limited serial number range, manufactured between September and October 2015.

'If you have experienced this issue, please visit an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider and have your device's serial number checked to confirm eligibility for a battery replacement, free of charge,' adds Apple.

However, this only relates to the iPhone 6s.

To prepare handsets for the battery replacement, Apple advises users to back up their data to iTunes or iCloud, turn off the 'Find my iPhone' feature and then erase the phone to delete all content and settings.

If the iPhone has any damage, such as a cracked screen, that impairs the replacement of the battery, then this will be need to be resolved first, says Apple, and there may be a fee attached.

The battery replacement itself is free of charge.

For iPhone users who have previously paid to have their batteries replaced because of this issue, Apple is offering refunds.

Apple said that it may limit the replacement scheme to the country where the handset was purchased.

The unexpected shutdown issue doesn't appear to be limited to any specific region.

Apple clarified that the iPhone 6s bug was not a safety issue and that it only affects devices within a limited serial number range

Just three days ago, Apple announced that it will fix the 'touch disease' issue blighting many users' iPhone 6 Plus handsets.

The issue causes the phone screens to gradually become unresponsive and a flickering grey bar to appear across the top.

When it was first reported several months ago, Apple appeared to be unequipped to offer repairs, but will now fix the issue - for a fee of $149 (146.44 in the UK).

The service will be available to iPhone 6 Plus owners worldwide, however Apple said that it may limit the service to the country where the device was purchased.

The repair scheme covers all affected iPhone 6 Plus handsets for five years after their first retail sale.
The following editorial appeared in The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday, Jan. 11:

The Wall Street Journal recently ignited an online forest fire when some of the early champions of the 401(k) surprisingly disclosed a change of heart, seeing that the retirement investment accounts havent lived up to their expectations.

Why the lament? Herbert Whitehouse, a former Johnson & Johnson human-resources executive, and one of the first in the U.S. to urge workers to use a 401(k), now says he intended the retirement investment accounts to supplement, not replace, company pensions.

Ted Benna, a retired benefits consultant and a so-called father of the 401(k), frets that the accounts provide savers too many opportunities to make deadly investment mistakes.

Other pioneers say that because the market has changed, early, low calculations of how much saving would be necessary to retire comfortably have proved unrealistic.

Defined-benefit pensions, which guarantee workers monthly checks after they retire, arent going to make a comeback. Plus, 401(k) accounts have worked for those disciplined (and fortunate) enough to set aside bigger chunks of their salary for several decades in the right investments. In many instances, these accounts have provided more in retirement benefits than a traditional private-sector pension would have.

The reality is that most Americans  especially the working poor and those without access to employer-sponsored 401(k) accounts  have woefully undersaved for retirement. And despite bull markets since the 1980s, many with 401(k) accounts havent amassed enough individual wealth to leave the workforce.

About 52 percent of U.S. households are at risk of running out of money during retirement, up from 31 percent in 1983, according to Boston Colleges Center for Retirement Research. And a staggering 45 percent of all households have put aside nothing in retirement savings. Workers in other developed nations, such as France and Germany, save a much higher percentage of their personal income.

This retirement savings gap reinforces a major concern: Americans arent as financially savvy as they need to be. Add in our debt-financed consumer spending, rising medical expenses and stagnant salaries, and work-free retirements are at risk for many. This at a time that the Social Security safety net has problems of its own.

This isnt likely a problem that government or business can solve; Americans must be prepared to take control of their future. Schools and parents need to start treating financial literacy as a required life skill. Too many people arent able to balance a checkbook let alone understand the compounding factor of money over time.

Ignorance isnt bliss. Now more than ever, financial literacy could mean the difference between having a cushion in retirement and looking under the cushions.

About 52 percent of U.S. households are at risk of running out of money during retirement, up from 31 percent in 1983
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'Fairy circles' have long been one of nature's greatest mysteries, prompting wild theories they were created by aliens or legendary gods.

These images show the vast areas that are covered by the mysterious fairy circles that pock the grassy desert of Namibia and why they have captivated the imaginations of visitors to the region.

But now a team of scientists believe they have finally unravelled what causes these strange circles of bare earth to form in their millions.

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Namibia's 'fairy circles', such as the one pictured, have long been one of nature's greatest mysteries, prompting wild theories they were created by aliens or legendary gods. Now scientists at Princeton University believe they have solved the mystery

Writing in the journal Nature, scientists say these s elf-organised regular vegetation patterns are created by a combination of plant and insect behaviour.

The researchers from Princeton University and the University of Strathclyde looked at two leading theories for the fairy circles to make the discovery.

The first theory suggests that plants around the fairy circles help their neighbours but compete with distant individuals in a tug-of-war for water and other scarce nutrients.

The tug of war causes the landscape to organise into rings of deep-rooted plants that are capable of draining water from a main reservoir.

Photographer Thomas Dressler took these images of the fairy rings, which can measure between six and 40 feet across from the air during three visits to the Namib desert between 2010 and 2014. The strange structures have prompted wild theories they were created by aliens or legendary gods

In this image graduate student Jen Guyton collects data on the enigmatic 'fairy circles' of the Namib Desert, which exhibit strikingly regular spatial patterns that have mystified many observers

One theory argues the circles are formed by subterranean ecosystem engineers, such as termites, ants or rodents. According to the termite theory, a species called Psammotermes allocerus is engineering the circles by destroying the plants above them

The second theory argues the circles are formed by subterranean ecosystem engineers, such as termites, ants or rodents.

According to the termite theory, a species called Psammotermes allocerus is engineering the circles by destroying the plants above them.

The two theories on their own aren't enough to explain the bare patches.

But Corina Tarnita and colleagues at Princeton University combined both of these theories into a computer simulation.

They show that, instead of one or the other, a combination of competition between subterranean social-insect colonies of the same species and a tug of war between plants can explain the self-organized regular vegetation patterns.

They believe termites may create the large-scale pattern, and plants help establish a small-scale pattern of fairy circles.

The unusual patterns seen between circles are plants that establish an orderly root system so they don't compete too much for limited water.

"Out of all these processes, where each is doing what they need to, emerges this large scale pattern," Tarnita said.

The circular shape is a result of termites venturing as far as possible from their own colony's nest without encroaching on a competing colony.

It's not quite a conspiracy, says co-author Robert Pringle, because the creatures aren't trying to make the patterns. "There's no master plan, there's no kind of blueprint for what's supposed to emerge," he said.

Several outside experts contacted by the Associated Press weren't convinced by the study, because they weren't comfortable with the author's assumptions about rainfall and especially termite colony lifespans.

Another theory suggests that plants around the fairy circles help their neighbours but compete with distant individuals in a tug-of-war for water and other scarce nutrients

The tug of war between plants causes the landscape to organise into rings of deep-rooted plants that are capable of draining water from a main reservoir

WHAT ARE FAIRY CIRCLES? Fairy circles are barren patches of land which can be found across the Namib Desert in southern Africa. They can be 6-40 feet (2-12m) in diameter, are found in the region's arid grassland on sandy soils. A ring of vegetation around the edge of the ring is taller than the surrounding grassland. The mystery of how they got there, or why they stay there, has stumped scientists for decades. Theories have included grass-killing gas, termites and even UFOs while local myth holds that a dragon lives beneath the Earth and his fiery breath burns the vegetation. Advertisement

Last year, photographer Thomas Dressler revealed a series of photographs captured from the air that reveal the scale of these bizarre patches.

Found in hotspots along a 1,242 mile (2,000km) long stretch of desert between Angola and South Africa, they transform the landscape into something more like the surface of the moon.

Mr Dressler, 58, from Marbella, Spain, took the pictures from a hot air balloon and a small plane during three visits to the area between 2010 and 2014.

He said: 'I regularly travel to this location because the Namib Desert, including the pre-Namib, for me, belong to the most stunning landscapes on earth.

'I came across this phenomenon by chance during one of my very first visits.

'It was very exciting to fly over the area for the first time.'

The fairy rings, which measure between 6 feet and 40 feet across (2-12 metres), are essentially bare patches of earth in the stubby grass that grows across the Namib desert.

Local legends say the fairy circles are the footsteps of the gods while others have suggested they are burn marks from dragons living beneath the ground.

Some have suggested they may be the landing spots of UFOs or the sleeping spots of Namibia's national animal the oryx.

There are some scientists who have suggested the circles are created by radioactive patches of soil that prevent the grass that covers the landscape from growing.

The fairy circles have baffled scientists for decades and often form in hotspots along a 1,242 mile stretch of desert. Local legends suggest they are the footprints left behind by gods, as the image above illustrates

THE THEORIES OF WHAT CAUSES THE MYSTERIOUS FAIRY RINGS Scientists claimed in 2013 that the sand termite species Psammotermes allocerus was the most likely suspect for creating the fairy circles. Norbert Jurgens from the University of Hamburg said the insect was the only species consistently present across the 1,200 miles of desert which included the circles. His theory centres around the termites eating plant roots before they can sprout through the desert soil creating a water trap - in a similar way that beavers create dams. Because of the lack of foliage, rainwater is not lost through transpiration - the evaporation of water from plants - and instead stays below the surface. This allows the sand termites to survive and stay active during the dry season and also helps grasses at the edge of the circle to thrive attracting other life forms. The termites feed on those grasses and gradually extend the circle. Others have suggested that the activity of termites building nests beneath the ground causes the release of poisonous gas that causes the plants above to die. Some have suggested a pathogenic fungi may be responsible or the patches are the former sites where highly toxic euphorbia bushes grew. The most recent theories suggest that the circles follow patterns of rainfall and may be caused by competition between plants, with circles of stronger more vibrant grasses sucking nutrients and moisture from the poor soil in the centre. Some researchers have suggested the fairy circles are caused by termites burrowing under ground and eating the roots of the plants above while others say it is due to competition between the plants themselves Advertisement

A convoy of vehicles can be seen above crossing the Namib Desert, picking their way through the fairy rings

The fairy circles tend to be found in hotspots in the Namib desert down the east coast of Namibia, as highlighted in the map above

The best way to see the fairy rings is from the air, either by balloon, as shown above, or in a light aircraft which make trips of the desert. Only from the air is it possible to see their scale and extent

Some locals believe the rings are actually the sleeping places of animals like the oryx, shown above, but there is little scientific evidence to support this idea and instead scientists are exploring other theories

The circles create a landscape more like the pock-marked surface of the moon than a desert on Earth
Google originally launched its Android One initiative to bring low-cost smartphones to the developing world.

Now, the tech giant is set to offer these devices in the US, with the first handset hitting the market in the middle of this year.

The report suggests the smartphones will cost between $200 and $300, and could be manufactured by LG, according to The Information.

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Google originally launched its Android One initiative to bring low-cost smartphones to the developing world. Now, the tech giant is set to offer these devices in the US, with the first handset hitting the market in the middle of this year

ANDROID ONE Google originally launched its Android One as an initiative to bring low-cost smartphones to the developing world. And started with India in 2014, moving on to other countries in the Pacific shortly after. The devices launched in India feature 4GB of storage and 1GB of RAM, plus a microSD card slot up to 32GB. Other features include 1.3 GHz MediaTek quad-core processors, 4.5-inch screens, 854 x 480 pixel displays, 5MP rear cameras, 2MP front cameras, and 1700mAh batteries. Now, sources say the low-cost devices are heading to the US and could cost between $200 to $300. These smartphones are said to come with a guarantee from Google to be updated with the latest Android updates and security for two years after the phone was purchased. Advertisement

Amir Efrati, with The Information, uncovered Google's plans after speaking with three people briefed in the plan.

The phones that launched in India included a range of features, which may offer a glimpse into what Google has in-store for the US.

The Spice Android One Dream UNO MI-498, Micromax Canvas A1, and Karbonn Sparkle V all feature 4GB of storage and 1GB of RAM, plus a microSD card slot up to 32GB.

Other features include 1.3 GHz MediaTek quad-core processors, 4.5-inch screens, 854 x 480 pixel displays, 5MP rear cameras, 2MP front cameras, and 1700mAh batteries.

But in other countries where Android One is offered, the starting price for is around $100, which makes some suspect that the devices sold in the US will be much better quality.

The Information's report does not reveal if Google plans to make its own low-cost smartphones, but has noted that the firm intends to manufacture the operating systems inside of the devices.

What is important about the launch is that the smartphones will come with a guarantee from Google to be updated with the latest Android updates and security for two years after the phone was purchased.

On the other hand, Google has handed off updates to hardware partners following the launch in India  the phone did not do as well as the firm had hoped.

Now, some speculate if Google is going to take charge of the updates or they will come from an outside source, reports Ars Technica.

Google launched three phones on the Android One scheme in India in 2014 and said more countries would follow by the end of the year and into 2015, which included Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines  among others.

The report suggests the smartphones will cost between $200 and $300, and could be manufactured by LG. However, Google intends to manufacture the operating systems inside of the devices.

Knowledge is a game changer,' explained Googles senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, Sundar Pichai in a 2014 interview.

'Ive long been inspired by the internet and how it opens the doors to opportunity.

Smartphones will come with a guarantee from Google to be updated with the latest Android updates

'It provides access to knowledge, no matter who you are or where you are,

[But] even entry-level smartphones still remain out of reach for many - in some of these countries the average monthly income is around $250.

Android One aims to help tackle these challenges.

'By working closely with phone and silicon chip makers to share reference designs and select components, were making it easier for our partners to build phones that are not just great to use, but also affordable.

They have lots of processing power, so you can get information quickly.

They have high-quality front- and rear-facing cameras.

'And for all those pictures, along with your apps and videos, Android One phones will have expandable storage.
Portugal holidays: Discovering Lisbon, the 'capital of espionage'

Becoming lost in Lisbon is only too easy. The winding streets of Alfama, the city's oldest district, with its narrow staircases and twisting alleyways, are known to bamboozle even long-term residents.



In this maze of fishmongers and doorway bars, only the initiated can navigate successfully.



I give up on anything as prosaic as directions or map reading and set off on some gloriously aimless wandering. It is the right decision - if there's one city in Europe tailor-made for guideless whiling, it is Lisbon.

Worth the legwork: The hills of the city afford views across the colourful rooftops to the River Tagus

Set on a series of hills and valleys overlooking a bend in the River Tagus, a few miles from the Atlantic, Lisbon has more than its fair share of muscle-stretching inclines. But the pace of life is so calm, the people so polite and the views so stunning, that ambling amid its sumptuous architecture and graceful ways is pure bliss.



And a little leg work reaps rewards. I make a pit-stop for one of Lisbon's renowned custard tarts, climb a few steps and reach a spectacular view over the clay-tiled rooftops down to the sparkling river.



I succumb to a yellow tram for the ride downhill. Here they're not a tourist attraction, but a popular means of transport used by residents.



Crammed full of elderly women chatting away, shopping in tow, these clanking carriages navigate the steep inclines and sharp drops like sedate rollercoasters.



The daring youngsters who can often be seen clinging onto the sides, hitching a free ride, add to the thrill. Refreshingly, health and safety hasn't curbed their fun.

The legendary No. 28 tram I catch is the city's most wide-ranging, taking in most of Lisbon's major historical sights and careening up and down roads so narrow, at times it feels as though you could reach out and touch the walls.



As we hurtle past the city's towering Romanesque cathedral (built on the site of a mosque after the city had been conquered from the Muslim Moors in the 12th century), we move into the wide boulevards of the Baixa.



Unlike the delightful and higgledy-piggledy nature of the rest of Lisbon, the streets here are straight and symmetrical, due largely to the destruction wrought upon them 250 years ago.



On November 1, 1755, Lisbon was struck by a powerful six-minute earthquake, which devastated-most of the city and killed 15,000 people. Many were crushed by collapsing churches, where they had been celebrating All Saints' Day. The Baixa area was particularly badly hit, not only by the earthquake, but by the subsequent tsunami.

Higgled-piggledy: Lisbon's narrow streets are a joy to explore

Rebuilt along a grid pattern, the area's streets evolved into a busy hive of traders. The character is maintained today both here and in the neighbouring Chiado district, where haberdashers, goldsmiths and shoemakers sit beside chains such as Zara and Mango.



These stores are invited guests among a plethora of old-fashioned craft shops and family owned retailers. Lisbon's lease laws allow small shopkeepers to pay minimal rent, ensuring chains don't dominate, and perhaps there's a lesson for the bland and uniform high streets of Britain.



On the Rua do Carmo I wander into what must be one of the world's tiniest shops, a glove emporium where, at a squeeze, two people can fit in front of the counter. Luvaria Ulisses has been making and selling handmade gloves here since 1925, and the walls are covered with a selection of the beautiful results.



Owner Carlos Carvalho has been working here for 35 years. To see him in action is to observe a master craftsman at work.



Taking a hand, he instantly sizes up shape and measurements and suggests the sort of glove that will suit. 'Everybody's hands are different,' he smiles, 'and it's important to make sure you take these into account. After all, you want these to fit like a glove.'



For a little over 45, you come away with a gorgeous pair of handmade kidskin gloves with cashmere lining. Wonderful.



Eating is something of a permanent pastime here, with brimming cafes, low-key bars, restaurants and bakeries every few yards, many of them decorated in the stunning blue and white decorative tiles (azulejos) for which Portugal is so well-known.

Style central: The fashionable Bairro Alto district is full of popular bars

Anybody wanting to watch their weight would be advised to avoid Tavares restaurant, where I find myself in the early evening.



Located on the edge of the fashionable Bairro Alto district, with its bars and lively street life, this is one of Lisbon's oldest and grandest establishments.



Opened in 1784, it boasts a chandelier-filled interior that wouldn't look out of place in the Palace of Versailles and elegant fare such as twice-cooked baby lamb, lobster and the finest Portuguese wines.



By night the city takes on a mysterious air. After leaving the restaurant, I walk down the shadowy streets and begin to picture Lisbon as it was during World War

II. During this time it was dubbed the 'capital of espionage', its streets teeming with spies, double agents and informers.



Portugal was neutral, so Lisbon became a centre for both Allied and Nazi intelligence operations, its back alleys, bars and casinos the backdrop for intrigue and liaisons.



It was the only city in wartime Europe whose airport offered flights to both London and Berlin. Refugees fleeing Nazi occupation all wound up here, alongside half of Europe's exiled royal families.



Dark secrets: Lisbon's reputation for espionage inspired James Bond author Ian Fleming to write Casino Royale

Novelist Graham Greene gathered material here after working on the Lisbon desk for British intelligence, and it is where Ian Fleming drew inspiration for James Bond and his first Bond novel, Casino Royale, after being posted to Lisbon.



I half expect to spot some shady trench-coated figure ducking down an alleyway, or to be approached by an unfeasibly beautiful woman asking me for a light.



Instead I arrive at a large, unmarked red door on Rua Dom Pedro V. It is opened by a burly Portuguese bouncer who ushers me into a stylish, booth-filled bar where the walls are covered with cabinets of curiosities. Waiters in red jackets serve classic cocktails.



This is the famed Chinese Pavilion, a former 19th-century tea and coffee merchants, now bar, which feels like an old-school speakeasy.



The knocking to gain entry is not only a hangover from war days, but from the years up to 1974 when Portugal was under dictatorship and drinkers needed an escape, should the secret police turn up.

Next day, I escape the city and head to the breathtaking beaches of Cascais and Estoril, 20 miles down the coast.



From here, I move nine miles inland to Sintra, the former summer retreat for the Portuguese royal family, now a leafy town and Unesco World Heritage Site dominated by a fairytale castle. It's easy to see why poet Lord Byron called Sintra the 'most beautiful village in the world'.



A mansion once owned by the Dutch ambassador has been converted into the luxurious Tivoli Palacio hotel, frequented by celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp.



I arrive back in the city in time for a late-afternoon drink at the rooftop bar of the Bairro Alto hotel. With panoramic views over the Tagus River, this is the perfect location to sit and soak up the scene.



Sipping my beer, I can see the magnificent 25 April suspension bridge, which spans the river. It is this which Bond crosses in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, when he departs the city. Watching the sun set, I muse that Lisbon is far from easy to leave.



Travel Facts



TAP Portugal flies From Heathrow and Gatwick from 52 one way (0845 601 0932, www.flytap.com). The Sheraton Lisboa Hotel and Spa has rooms from 95 (0800 325 35353, www.sheraton.com). See www.visitlisboa.com for further information about Lisbon and surrounding regions.




Anyone who has ever passed through airport security will be aware that the staff aren't known for their sense of humour.

As such, a traveller heading through Kuala Lumpur airport recently with a bag that claimed to contain weapons and drugs was dicing with trouble.

A shocked onlooker shared a snap online of the tourist, thought to be Dutch, after spotting the joke message, which read: 'This bag contains a bomb, a gun, a very large knife and loads of drugs.

A shocked onlooker shared this image online of a unnamed traveller heading through Kuala Lumpur airport sporting the comedy bag

The bag is available from the Berlin-based clothing company ApeWear and can be bought from Amazon for 9.50.

A passenger who witnessed the bag-toting traveller heading through security told The Sun: 'It beggars belief that people can be so stupid in this day and age of heightened security in the face of terrorist attacks.

'But saying that, the guy got through okay so they clearly didn't notice the message on the bag.'

It was a lucky escape for the holidaymaker as there have been several incidents in recent years when passengers have been arrested for joking about guns and bombs at airport check-in.

Passengers at Kuala Lumpur airport where the tourist was spotted at airport security (stock image)

Just last month MailOnline reported that a man sparked a major airport security alert after allegedly making a joke about his mother-in-law and a bomb.

The alarm was sounded when the unnamed 62-year-old reportedly went up to the Latam Airlines desk at Tucuman International Airport in north-west Argentina and said: 'I've come to wait for my mother-in-law.

'If the plane crashes, it's because I put a bomb on board.'

In November, a pair of revellers on a stag do missed their trip abroad after claiming there was a bomb on the plane that they were about to board in Scotland.

The men were about to fly to Alicante from Glasgow in June to celebrate their friend's wedding when they allegedly made the claims to other passengers.

The police were contacted and concerned officers raced to the scene but found the pair asleep on the floor in the departure lounge.

MailOnline has contacted ApeWear for comment.
It's been two years since she was given the title of Miss Universe Australia in 2015.

And Monika Radulovic proved why she was awarded the coveted crown as she stunned in a sexy number at a launch party for Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old model looked as glamorous as ever alongside fiance Alesandro Ljubicic, who were both invited to attend the event in Geneva, Switzerland.

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Thighs the limit! Former Miss Universe Australia Monika Radulovic flaunts her lithe pins in daring slit gown while attending Switzerland event for Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen on Tuesday with fiance Alesandro Ljubicic

Monika slipped into a semi-sheer silver frock with a sexy thigh-high split design, showcasing her sculptured legs with the aid of black strappy heels.

The floor-length evening gown had bell sleeves, and a plunging neckline with adjoining choker material.

The low-cut dress gave a glimpse of cleavage as Monika posed with her arm around her beloved fiance dressed in a suave tuxedo.

Glam! The low-cut dress gave a glimpse of cleavage as Monika posed with her arm around her beloved fiance dressed in a suave tuxedo

Flaunting an effortless bronzed glow, the Serbian-born stunner appeared to have a flawless application of makeup, with a smoky eye becoming the feature to her look.

The brunette beauty was pictured with a slicked back bun for the A-list gala launch.

The engaged pair both made their watches their main accessories, making sure they were on view when posing for photographers.

Later taking to Instagram, the duo flaunted their time pieces further as they raved about the brand.

Watch it! The engaged pair both made their time pieces their main accessories, making sure they were on view when posing for photographers

'Alesandro and I are so excited to be here': It appears the cute couple were invited and flown to the exclusive event in Geneva, with Monika captioning numerous posts with equal excitement and gratitude

Monika captioned numerous posts with equal excitement and gratitude.

Some of her uploads read: 'So honoured to be travelling to Geneva for #SIHH17 with THE best watch company in the world' and '@alesandroljubicic and I are so excited to be here... it's been an amazing start so far.'

The pair recently celebrated three years of being engaged after returning from a trip to New York over the Christmas break.

Happy couple: Early Christmas and New Year celebrations took place with her family and friends in Sydney before Monika headed to the Big Apple with fiancee Alesandro Ljubicic

Dream come true: Monika's Christmas wish was granted after she flew to New York for the festive period, something that's always been on her wish list

Monika recently gushed about her partner online: 'Wow, time really does fly when you're having fun  And my gosh do we have fun- my daily life is pretty much constant laughing with @alesandroljubicic by my side.'

She cheekily added: 'My love; you are the best person I know, your huge heart is made of absolute gold and I am SO grateful that you stalked me on Facebook.'

The pair have been together for four years, with no known set date for the wedding.
As a child of one of the world's most wealthy and legendary stars, she is kept informed of the hottest locales in Hollywood.

And on Tuesday, Sofia Richie stopped by celebrity go-to, Mauro's restaurant, at Fred Segal in West Hollywood.

The 18-year-old socialite made sure to make an impression in a well thought out ensemble.

Out to lunch! On Tuesday, Sofia Richie stopped by celebrity go-to, Mauro's restaurant, at Fred Segal in West Hollywood

Sofia, 18, kept warm for the cool LA weather in a worn-in, oversize trench coat.

The outwear was layered over a dark-coloured hoodie and paired with a set of striped trousers.

The pretty blonde's look was complete with multiple items of jewellery, rounded shades, a Louis Vuitton backpack and heeled booties.

Fashion statement: The 18-year-old socialite made sure to make an impression in a well thought out ensemble

Trendy piece: Sofia kept warm for the cool LA weather in a worn-in, oversize trench coat

Friends' outing: The ex of Justin Bieber was also joined by two male pals

The ex of Justin Bieber was also joined by two male pals.

The young trio looked to be enjoying the day together as they made a trip to Alfred Coffee on Melrose.

Later, the model, who's posed for Elle, Vanity Fair and Nylon, treated her followers to a selfie during a drive with her friends.

'Home for the night ,' wrote the star, who's hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

Out together: The young trio looked to be enjoying the day together as they made a trip to Alfred Coffee on Melrose

'Home for the night ,': Later, the model, who's posed for Elle, Vanity Fair and Nylon, treated her followers to a selfie during a drive with her friends

Sofia is part of the new crop of young teens and twenty-somethings using social media to elevate their status.

She, along with celebrities like the Jenner and Hadid sisters, Nicola Peltz, and Hailey Baldwin have been given a boost into the world of Hollywood thanks to their famous parents.

The old love: Justin Bieber, seen here on Saturday in LA, dated Sofia for two months

By association, they have caught the attention of magazine editors and designers who fill their pages and runways with the new crop of stars.

Sofia's older sister Nicole also rose to fame via their father, and she, along with Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, were arguably the most gals to pave the way for the current generation of Instagram and Twitter star.

On Saturday, generations merged as Sofia and Paris attended the Moschino show in Paris together, where they sat front row.
Bali no doubt holds sentimental memories of her romantic getaway with ex Sasha Mielczarek.

But strangely, Sam Frost, 27, happily returned to the Indonesian island last week, months after her and Sasha's loved-up getaway.

The newly single Bachelorette star escaped to the popular holiday spot just weeks after her shock split from Sasha, 32.

Brave: Sam Frost travelled to Bali to heal following her split from Sasha Mielczarek, despite holidaying there with him months earlier

Despite being faced with fresh heartbreak, the blonde beauty evidently didn't mind travelling to the very place that no doubt triggers memories of her relationship with Sasha.

Sam, who announced her split from the construction manager just two days after Christmas, looked to be in happy spirits in Sydney on Tuesday upon returning from her trip.

While her solo holiday was far from the romantic jaunt she enjoyed with Sasha in June last year, the beauty appeared relaxed and content as she returned homed this week.

Happier times: The couple fell in love on the Bachelorette in 2015 and are seen during their Balinese getaway last year

Bikini babe! Sam stripped down to bikini during her jaunt

While it is unclear what exactly Sam got up to during her time in Bali, the beachside holiday spot is often a destination of choice for singles due to its spiritual retreats and relaxation resorts.

Sam's vacation was no doubt much needed following her evidently challenging year.

Earlier this month, it was announced that her and co-host Rove McManus' 2Day FM breakfast show was axed, just one year after its debut.

Moving on: While it is unclear what exactly Sam got up to during her time in Bali, the beachside holiday spot is often a destination of choice for singles due to its spiritual retreats and relaxation resorts

Having a ball: Exes Sam and Sasha documented their romantic trip on social media last year

A statement released by Southern Cross Austero confirmed that Rove and Sam would move to the 7-8pm weekday time-slot from January 30 this year.

'The decision came after Rove & Sam along with SCA executives took some time off over the Summer and after review, decided that the best route forward for all was to move their show into another time slot,' it read in part.

The news may not have come as a surprise to those who read last month's radio ratings, however.

Smiling through the pain: Sam, 27, happily returned to Bali last week, months after her and ex Sasha's loved-up getaway

Year from hell: The last 12 months have been anything but easy for Sam, who recently suffered heartbreak when her breakfast radio show was axed

Ouch! On Friday, a statement released by Southern Cross Austereo confirmed that Rove and Sam would move to the 7-8pm weekday time-slot

KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O nabbed the top spot among the Sydney breakfast radio shows, finishing on a 10.5 per cent radio share despite dropping 0.3 per cent.

Rove and Sam suffered yet another blow, claiming just 3.8% audience share and slipping to 10th place overall, making it their lowest score in six months.

The news is just one of many recent disappointments experienced by the financial assistant- turned- radio personality.

Declining listenership: The news may not have come as a surprise to those who read last month's radio ratings, however

She confirmed her split from Sasha in a statement to Daily Mail Australia last month.

'After 18 months together, Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek have come to a mutual decision to end their relationship,' the statement read, in part.

'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,' part of it read, adding that they remain friends.

Extremely slender: Sam's slim-down garnered negative attention from online trolls

The pair, who battled with breakup rumours for the latter part of 2016, had previously denied that they had split in October.

Meanwhile, Sam appeared to have undergone a dramatic body transformation after being photographed late last year looking extremely slim.

Sam made headlines at the time when she deleted her Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page, after denying New Idea's claims that they had separated.

Underwraps: The pair, who battled with breakup rumours for the latter part of 2016, had previously denied that they had split in October

Hitting back at the claims on Facebook - before deleting her account - Sam claimed her and her ex were 'stronger than ever' and 'prefer to keep social media out of our relationship.'

Sam and Sasha also unfollowed each other on Instagram, before she deleted her account.

In July, Sam revealed she had been having suicidal thoughts after bullying from cruel online trolls about her radio show, and had been undergoing therapy.

Slamming reports: Hitting back at the claims on Facebook - before deleting her account - Sam claimed her and her ex were 'stronger than ever' and 'prefer to keep social media out of our relationship'

Suspicious: Sam and Sasha also unfollowed each other on Instagram, before she deleted her account

Opening up: In July, Sam revealed she had been having suicidal thoughts after bullying from cruel online trolls about her radio show, and had been undergoing therapy

On her radio show, she bravely revealed her struggles.

'It got to a point where I wouldn't want to leave my house. I was in a really, really dark place,' Sam said.

'I shut my friends out, I shut my family out and I would go home from work and stay in that dark, horrible place. My relationship was also struggling because I shut Sash out.'

'It got to a point where I wouldn't want to leave my house': On her radio show, she bravely revealed her struggles, but said that she had decided to get better for Sasha's sake

'You have won': Her on-air honesty came after she sent a concerning tweet

'It wasn't until Sash said to after three or four months: ''Sam I don't know what to do anymore because all you do is cry and you're not talking to me".

'And I said to him I don't want to be here anymore. I don't want to wake up every day anymore.'

Sam added that she decided to get better for Sasha's sake.

Her on-air honesty came after she sent a concerning tweet, which read: 'To the fake accounts heavily trolling me online and into my personal life. If you wanted to break me...Congratulations you have won. #broken.'

Sam has been plagued by online trolls and hurtful social media comments throughout the two years since she first stepped into the limelight on The Bachelor.
She cemented her name in Gone Girl.

And Rosamund Pike showcased her star quality as she attended the IWC Decoding the Beauty of Time Gala Dinner in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

The Bond star, 37, worked relaxed chic in a bandeau-style black frock.

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Chic: Rosamund Pike showcased her star quality as she attended the IWC Decoding the Beauty of Time Gala Dinner in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday

The strapless number clung to her toned curves, hugging her slender physique perfectly.

Falling to the floor, the piece was teamed with a pair of strappy black sandals, accentuating her stature.

Wearing her blonde shoulder-length tresses in tousled waves, it framed her pretty face perfectly.

Posing up a storm: The Bond star, 37, worked relaxed chic in a bandeau-style black frock

Understated: The strapless number clung to her toned curves, hugging her slender physique perfectly

Letting her stunning bone structure do the talking, the mother-of-two added a touch of blusher, and accentuated her full brows.

Smiling happily for cameras she posed up a storm at the plush event, having changed into her second outfit of the day.

Earlier in the evening she arrived in a head-turning rose and black mixed textured dress.

She joined a slew of celebrity guests including fellow Bond actresses Naomie Harris and Olga Kurylenko.

Natural beauty: Letting her stunning bone structure do the talking, the mother-of-two added a touch of blusher, accentuating her full brows

Outfit change: Earlier in the evening she arrived in a head-turning rose and black mixed textured dress (left) before she changed into the floor-length black gown

Naomie also looked classy in an unusual white dress with frilled neckline adorned with black handwriting.

She teamed her frock with black and white strappy heels, while her long black hair was worn in a straight style behind her back.

Meanwhile, Rosamund's dress featured long black velvet sleeves along with a shimmering cerise skirt and matching panel along the chest area while the star's blonde hair was teased into a half ponytail.

She posed for pictures with actor James Marsden and veteran British actress Vanessa Redgrave who sported grey trousers and a matching cardigan.

Painting the town red: Naomie was joined by Olga Kurylenko at the bash who looked striking in red and black stripes

Ready for her close up: The striking brunette looked incredible in her strapless gown

Quick change: Olga also sported a red and black striped number as the celebrations got underway

Buttons: Olga's eclectic ensemble perfectly flattered her slim figure

Ready to mingle: Rosamund posed for a snap with James Marsden before rubbing shoulders with Vanessa Redgrave

Rosamund has a busy year ahead, appearing alongside Christian Bale and Jesse Plemons in Western film Hostiles and action thriller High Wire Act with Jon Hamm.

And Naomie, who has just appeared with Will Smith and Helen Mirren in weepy drama Collateral Beauty and critically acclaimed film Moonlight with Mahershala Ali.

Other attendees included French actress Olga Kurylenko who wore a red and black striped dress with military button down style.

The white stuff: Models Xenia Tchoumitcheva and Adriana Lima sported coordinated ensembles at the Da Vinci Collection launch

The white stuff: Adriana sported a crisp white shirt and matching trousers teamed with long cream coat

Suited and booted: Dutch actress Anna Drijver also stuck to an all-white look

Elegant: Supermodel Karolina Kurkova made a grand entrance in a metallic column dress

Strike a pose: Karolina showed off her model credentials, modelling the watch in all its glory

Teamed with black tights and strappy high heels, Olga wore her dark brown hair in a loose and low chignon, while brown smoky eye shadow added to the look.

Models Xenia Tchoumitcheva and Adriana Lima found themselves coordinating in white ensembles, with the Victoria's Secret model sporting a crisp white shirt and matching trousers teamed with long cream coat.

In fact, the Brazilian born beauty even wore white heeled boots with her outfit, with the pale ensemble setting off her sleek dark brown hair.

Silk sensation: Adriana looked simply sensational in a one-shoulder, thigh-split gown

Sealed with a kiss: The striking Victoria's Secret Angel commanded attention as she walked the red carpet

Monochrome madness: Later in the evening, Naomie emerged in an elegant two-tone dress

Thigh's the limit: The eveningwear attire boated a daring, high slit running up one leg, adding some red carpet drama

Xenia, meanwhile, wore a caped sleeveless white dress with black tights and matching shoes, while her brown hair was worn long and loose around her shoulders.

Dutch actress Anna Drijver also stuck to white, sporting wide-legged trousers and a belted jacket teamed with a white blazer.

Elsewhere racing aces Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were also in attendance, with Nico looking dapper in a grey suit and toyal blue shirt.

Stunning: Xenia Tchoumitcheva made a strong impression in a barely-there gown with gold accessories

Fashionable line-up: Kristina Bazan, Negin Mirsalehi and MO (from left to right) looked sensational

A-list attendee: X-Men favourite Sir Patrick Stewart was smartly clad for the occasion

Plus ones: Patrick, Formula One act Niki Lauda and Alesandro Ljubicic (from left to right) were joined by their partners

Driving geniuses: Nico Rosberg looked smart in a grey shirt and royal blue shirt while Lewis Hamilton sported a bright jacket and geometric black and white shirt

Old meets new: Niki Lauda caught up with the young racing hot shot
She's become a household name playing the sensible, straight-laced Alex Dunphy.

But Modern Family's Ariel Winter is fast proving she is nothing like her television character as she holidays in Sydney.

On Tuesday, the 18-year-old wore a revealing corset and puffed on a cigarette during a night out with her actor beau Levi Meaden, 29.

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What would Alex Dunphy think? Ariel Winter wears a revealing corset and smokes a cigarette during night out in Sydney with beau Levi Meaden

Visiting her man: Ariel is in Sydney while Levi films Pacific Rim: Maelstrom, which also stars Scott Eastwood and John Boyega

The curvy actress braved the city's heatwave in a pair of ripped skinny jeans and stiletto black ankle boots.

Ariel's dark locks were styled simply and she wore a hint of a smoky eye as makeup.

The Modern Family actress wore a tight corset which featured sheer paneling at the back.

All black outfit: The actress braved the city's heatwave in a pair of ripped skinny jeans and stiletto black ankle boots

Her beau looked more casual in a navy polo shirt and chinos.

Both puffed on cigarettes as they made their way along the streets, stopping occasionally to check out different venues.

The couple have been inseparable since they were first spotted together last November.

Revealing: The Modern Family donned a tight corset which featured sheer paneling at the back

Levi is currently in Australia as he films Pacific Rim: Maelstrom, which also stars Scott Eastwood and John Boyega.

Ariel has joined her beau in Sydney after previously holidaying in Bora Bora reportedly with travelling companion Jack Griffo, as well as Nolan Gould, who plays her younger brother on Modern Family.

On Tuesday, the actress shared a romantic moment of the pair on Sydney's famous harbour.

Looking for a bar? Both puffed on cigarettes as they made their way along the streets

The pair were pictured caressing each other near the harbour as they leaned in for a kiss.

The Modern Family star went for an understated style in a black off-the-shoulder top.

She captioned the picture: 'Wuv uuu to da (moon).'

Levi similarly cut a casual figure in a grey graphic print T-shirt, with a pair of reflective aviator sunglasses clipped to his shirt.

Ariel gazed lovingly at her beau, as he place his arm around her to bring her close.

The actress held back her hair in the breeze with her black painted fingernails, as she appeared to have a heavy lashing of mascara for the outing.
She's enjoying her summer break from co-hosting Channel 7's The Morning Show.

And Kylie Gillies has spent the past week with her husband Tony and sons Gus and Archie in Dubai for a desert adventure.

The 49-year-old has shared various photos of the popular holiday destination to her Instagram, including dinner under the stars, camel riding and a visit to the world's tallest building.

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Family ties: Kylie Gillies has spent the past week with her husband Tony and sons Gus and Archie in Dubai for a desert adventure

The Tamworth-born beauty flew out for an extended getaway with her family in late December last year.

The foursome ventured to Austria, Italy, France and England before arriving to warmer temperatures in Dubai.

'Winter in Dubai looks pretty good!' the presenter wrote in the caption for her first photo of their stay.

Idyllic: The 49-year-old has shared various photos of the popular holiday destination to her Instagram, including dinner under the stars and camel riding

The family took part in an Arabian Adventures Desert Safari and smiled as they rode camels amid sand dunes.

The TV host looked glamorous as she sat atop the humpback in a red kaftan with gold trim, while her husband and sons donned traditional Emirati clothing.

'We couldn't find an Uber! So when in Dubai...' she joked as she added camel emojis to describe their form of transportation.

Desert dining: They sat down on intricately patterned rugs and cushions for a moonlit dinner where Kylie gushed, 'Better than 5-star. A magical night'

'One of our best holiday moments ever,' she added.

They sat down on intricately patterned rugs and cushions for a moonlit dinner where Kylie gushed, 'Better than 5-star. A magical night'.

Numerous fans in the comment section referred to the similarity of the setting to a group scene from the second Sex & The City movie.

'A real SJP moment,' one wrote, alluding to main character Sarah Jessica Parker.

How high? The veteran reporter later posed for a separate shot at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper

The veteran reporter later posed for a separate shot at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper.

'Burj Khalifa. Tallest structure in the world,' she said. 'I'm hangin' on the 148th floor.'

She gazed into the camera placed above her with the city's impressive waterside structures dwarfed beneath her.

'High Dubai,' she added to the caption. 'Like, super scary high.'
Terri Schiavo Archives: A Permanent Place at Ave Maria University for Learning Terri Schiavo's Historic Story Contact: Tom Shakely, Executive Director,



PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18, 2017 /



Since Terri Schiavo's death, her parents and siblingsMary and Robert Schindler, and siblings Bobby and Suzannehave envisioned a supportive, permanent home for the public records that tell the story of Terri's battle. Thanks to Ave Maria University's Canizaro Library, the Schindlers have found that home.



"We knew that my Terri's death wouldn't be the last time someone was fatally denied food and water," reflects Mary Schindler, Terri's mother. "She had a brain injury. She wasn't terminal, she wasn't dying. She was conscious. We knew when she was killed that she was just the first victim of many yet to come."



It was this conviction that led the Schindlers to preserve dozens of boxes worth of materials that tell the story of Terri and her family's struggle to protect her, with the belief that future researchers inquiring into the history of American euthanasia would need to understand Terri's story in an unbiased and straightforward way.



The Terri Schiavo Archive will be available for privileged access to students, researchers, and visitors interested in learning more about Terri's fight, available by inquiring with Ave Maria University's Canizaro Library directly. The Terri Schiavo Archives represent the first ever comprehensive collection of the records pertaining to Terri's prolonged legal clash , and the first time these materials are available to the public.



"We were thrilled to donate these materials to Ave Maria University," reflects Tom Shakely, executive director of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network. "We know Terri's case remains profoundly important not only in itself, but also in relation to the larger battles for the dignity of the human person."



"We're so pleased to add the Terri Schiavo Archive to our growing collection," shares Jennifer Nodes, Ave Maria's Director of Library Services. "It is a wonderful opportunity to preserve unique primary source materials for research, teaching, and scholarship and will no doubt shape lives and perspectives far into the future."



Ave Maria is located in Southwest Florida, roughly 45 minutes from Naples on the west coast, and approximately 90 minutes east from Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Ave Maria University was founded by Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza, as an orthodox Catholic university.



The Terri Schiavo Archive can be accessed online here.



The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network upholds human dignity through service to the medically vulnerable. This mission is expressed by affirming essential qualities of human dignity, which include the right to food and water, the presumption of the will to live, due process rights for those facing denial of care, protection from euthanasia as a form of medicine, and access to rehabilitative care. The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network has supported more than 2,000 families and has directly advocated hundreds of cases since its founding. Visit

Share Tweet Contact: Tom Shakely, Executive Director, Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network , 855-300-4673, tshakely@lifeandhope.com PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 18, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Terri Schiavo's 2005 death by starvation and dehydration marked the start of America's slide toward treating euthanasia generally, and assisted suicide specifically, as if they were forms of medicine. Knowing the true story of Terri's fight is important for understanding the roots of America's culture of death.Since Terri Schiavo's death, her parents and siblingsMary and Robert Schindler, and siblings Bobby and Suzannehave envisioned a supportive, permanent home for the public records that tell the story of Terri's battle. Thanks to Ave Maria University's Canizaro Library, the Schindlers have found that home."We knew that my Terri's death wouldn't be the last time someone was fatally denied food and water," reflects Mary Schindler, Terri's mother. "She had a brain injury. She wasn't terminal, she wasn't dying. She was conscious. We knew when she was killed that she was just the first victim of many yet to come."It was this conviction that led the Schindlers to preserve dozens of boxes worth of materials that tell the story of Terri and her family's struggle to protect her, with the belief that future researchers inquiring into the history of American euthanasia would need to understand Terri's story in an unbiased and straightforward way.The Terri Schiavo Archive will be available for privileged access to students, researchers, and visitors interested in learning more about Terri's fight, available by inquiring with Ave Maria University's Canizaro Library directly. The Terri Schiavo Archives represent the first ever comprehensive collection of the records pertaining to Terri's prolonged legal clash , and the first time these materials are available to the public."We were thrilled to donate these materials to Ave Maria University," reflects Tom Shakely, executive director of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network. "We know Terri's case remains profoundly important not only in itself, but also in relation to the larger battles for the dignity of the human person.""We're so pleased to add the Terri Schiavo Archive to our growing collection," shares Jennifer Nodes, Ave Maria's Director of Library Services. "It is a wonderful opportunity to preserve unique primary source materials for research, teaching, and scholarship and will no doubt shape lives and perspectives far into the future."Ave Maria is located in Southwest Florida, roughly 45 minutes from Naples on the west coast, and approximately 90 minutes east from Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Ave Maria University was founded by Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza, as an orthodox Catholic university.The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network upholds human dignity through service to the medically vulnerable. This mission is expressed by affirming essential qualities of human dignity, which include the right to food and water, the presumption of the will to live, due process rights for those facing denial of care, protection from euthanasia as a form of medicine, and access to rehabilitative care. The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network has supported more than 2,000 families and has directly advocated hundreds of cases since its founding. Visit lifeandhope.com
Diane Keaton has been on screen for nearly all of her life, but on Tuesday the star was a little camera shy while travelling.

The 70-year-old star was in a playful mood when she arrived at Los Angeles International Airport.

Walking through the terminal, the Godfather vet joked and ducked behind an airline employee before finding her way outside.

Peek-a-boo! On Tuesday, Diane Keaton was in a playful mood as she arrived at the Los Angeles airport, hiding behind a flight attendant as she walked through the terminal

Emerging from her flight, the Manhattan actress clung to the arm of a nearby flight attendant.

It seemed like this was all in a day's work for the airline employee, as she calmly escorted the star on-wards while continuing a phone call.

At one point, the memoirist took a second to wave before going incognito once again.

Quick hello: The Annie Hall actress stopped for a quick wave before hiding behind her scarf

The Hollywood veteran smiled and laughed, wearing a fun outfit that matched her playful demeanor.

The Annie Hall inspiration showed off her quirky signature style in the dark duds, adding a polka dotted scarf and camel colored hat for just the right amount of flair.

She embraced her youthful spirit with a pair of platform combat boots on her feet.

Diane covered her face with a dark scarf while making her final steps towards the exit and into her ride.

Cool kicks: The 70-year-old star looked pretty hip in her chunky combat boots

The LA native is back in the spotlight with her latest role. In the provocative new series The Young Pope she appears as Sister Mary, the spiritual confidant of Jude Law's Pope Pius XIII.

The series, which is a collaboration between European networks Sky Atlantic and Canal+Italian and US premium channel HBO, is a surreal take on Vatican City and the religion that rules the Roman enclave.

Surprisingly, it is the longtime actress's first role as a regular on a TV series. The Young Pope airs Sundays at 9pm ET in the US.
Woody Harrelson recently revealed he 'rues the day' he ever thought up the concept of his innovative live film.

But the Hollywood actor got stuck into filming Lost In London alongside his A-list co-star Owen Wilson on Tuesday, giving the nerve-wracking performance their own.

The movie is inspired by a real-life incident back 2002 when the actor spent the night in a police cell after apparently damaging the inside of a taxi that had picked him up following a wild night out at Chinawhite club in the capital.

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Live film: Woody Harrelson got stuck into filming Lost In London alongside his A-list co-star Owen Wilson on Tuesday, giving the nerve-wracking performance their own

Based on a true event: A drunk looking Owen was pictured flashing a cheeky grin as he reenacted being carted away in a police car with Woody and their pals

Woody was seen lying on the floor, seemingly involved in a punch-up with fellow revellers.

A drunk looking Owen was pictured flashing a cheeky grin as he reenacted being carted away in a police car with Woody and their pals.

Lost In London will be shown in 500 cinemas across the United States this week.

Drunken escapade: The movie is inspired by a real-life incident back 2002 when the actor spent the night in a police cell

Arrested: Woody spent the night in a police cell after apparently damaging the inside of a taxi that had picked him up following a wild night out at Chinawhite club

As well as its live broadcast on Thursday January 19 in the US, Londoners will also be able to catch the movie live as it will be shown at 1.30am on Friday 20 at the Picturehouse Central.

However, the decision to screen it live across the US and in London seems to be something Woody, 55, is now dreading.

Speaking to fans during a Mashable Facebook Live, the True Detective star admitted: 'God, I rue the day I had that thought. Sitting here now, a week to go, I rue the day.'

Ambitious plans: Woody's latest film is causing the actor to have second thoughts, as he admitted he regretted the day he decided to make a live movie in London

With so much resting on one continuous take and the ever unpredictable nature of films, props, people and the British weather, it seems that Woody already has an idea of what could make life difficult.

Revealing they would be shooting in the early hours of the morning on the street, he said that members of the public may make things difficult as they 'do tend to have had a little bit to drink' at that time.

However, he is also concerned about the weather, noting that it will be 'bad if it rains' - though the wind knocking over the antenna is also playing on his mind.

'I rue the day I had that thought': The film, Lost In London, will be shown in 500 cinemas across the USA next Friday, as the actor and his co-stars play out the action live across the city

The adventurous film recalls Woody's memorable brush with the law when he attempted to get back to his hotel after partying at the infamous Chinawite nightclub, which used to be based in Soho.

Taking a black cab back to his hotel, the star - who first shot to fame in sit-com Cheers - tore off an ashtray in the back of the taxi before smashing a locked door.

Tearing out of the vehicle he then hailed a second taxi, at which point his first ride pursued him to Sloane Square where he unsuccessfully tried to evade the police.

Catch it if you can: Londoners will be able to catch the movie live as well, as it will be shown at 1.30am on Friday 20 at the Picturehouse Central

Too much? The decision to screen it live seems to be something Woody, 55, is dreading: 'God, I rue the day I had that thought. Sitting here now, a week to go, I rue the day'

Speaking of the night in question, he said: 'I didn't have a great time that night, but reflectiung, there were so many elements, it was entertaining.'

The films has a cast of 30 and will also see the likes of Owen Wilson and Willie Nelson attempting to make a perfect run.

Alongside the off-the-wall live project, Woody is set to star in two of the year's big blockbuster; with the actor starring in both War For Planet of The Apes and the forthcoming Han Solo Star Wars Story Film.
He recently claimed he is 'worried' that Stephanie Davis' newborn son could be his.

And Joshua Ritchie, 21, has now claimed he's been in contact with the former Hollyoaks actress, 23, who gave birth late last week after a gruelling 48-hour labour.

In response to a Twitter troll, the Ex On The Beach star said: 'Steph isnt going favourite your tweet you beggy ugly f*****g mug! Ive spoke to Steph you ugly c**t.'

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Rumour has it: Joshua Ritchie, 21, has claimed he's been in contact with Stephanie Davis - after admitting his worries that he could be her newborn's son

He posted the Tweet after the user claimed Joshua was trying to steal the spotlight and get publicity from Stephanie's pregnancy.

After Stephanie gave birth, the Bolton-born model tweeted her to wish her congratulations.

He wrote on Sunday: 'congrats on your new born babe.. Hope your all well and healthy take care'.

MailOnline has contacted reps for Joshua and Stephanie for comment.

In contact? Stephanie gave birth late last week after a gruelling 48-hour labour

Cheeky: The EOTB star posted a very revealing shot in the shower with Jasmin Walia's ex Ross Warwick

It comes as he reportedly claimed he is 'worried' that Stephanie Davis' baby son, who was born last week, could be his.

The pair were last linked in May and the reality star told The Sun: 'I slept with Steph nearly a year ago.

'Im worried  she could be turning up on my doorstep with the baby any time soon.'

However, Stephanie has always insisted that her former flame Jeremy McConnell is the father of her baby.

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for both Stephanie Davis and Joshua Ritchie for comment.

Joshua's words came after a Facebook live chat for The Sun in which he discussed who he would get with on the show.

He said: 'Jasmine Walia. She's a rocket. Vicky Pattison. She's a rocket. Stephanie Davis... already got with her.'

'She could be turning up on my doorstep with the baby': Ex On The Beach star Joshua Ritchie claims he's 'worried' Stephanie Davis' tot is his

Blast from the past: The pair were last linked in May and the reality star said: 'I slept with Steph nearly a year ago' - however, Stephanie has always insisted the baby belongs to her ex Jeremy McConnell

Sweet: The former Hollyoaks actress, 23, re-tweeted a picture posted by her best friend Jay Roberts, who she has chosen to be the tot's godfather

While it's unclear whether or not Joshua was joking with his remarks about Stephanie, no doubt she will be focusing on her new role as a mother.

Stephanie continued to give fans a glimpse into her life as a new mother online.

The former Hollyoaks actress, 23, re-tweeted a picture posted by her best friend Jay Roberts, who she has chosen to be the tot's godfather.

The picture showed him tenderly touching the baby's feet while he still wore his hospital nametag.

He captioned the image: 'Welcome to the world godson. I promise to love and care for you for the rest of your life.'

Stephanie announced the birth of her baby with another image of her newborn's feet.

She gushed in the caption: 'The day my world became complete.

Welcome! Stephanie announced the birth of her baby with another image of her newborn's feet last week

Taking a swipe? While the star is focusing on her new role as a parent, her CBB ex Jeremy McConnell has been continuing his wild ways on a trip to Thailand

'I've been overwhelmed & so in love with you. Words could never describe. Thank you for all your support!'

While the star is focusing on her new role as a parent, her CBB ex Jeremy McConnell has been continuing his wild ways on a trip to Thailand.

While he has long denied that he's father of Stephanie Davis child the Irish appeared to be celebrating the birth of his rumoured love child with the disgraced Hollyoaks actress.

In a video obtained by the Mirror Online, the 26-year-old former Celebrity Big Brother star can be seen looking bleary eyed as he parties in Thailand with pals hours after his ex gave birth.

MailOnline have reached out to representatives of Jeremy for comment.

The videos shared on a friend's Snapchat see Jeremy swigging beers, play-fighting and partying at a club.

In the stream of clips, believed to have been recorded hours after Stephanie gave birth to a baby boy, Jeremy and his friends seemingly ridicule and taunt the former CBB star.

One clip which shows Jeremy swigging form a beer as he collapses on a bed is captioned: 'Get the kid a physcoligist (sic)'.

Not thinking of her: In a video obtained by the Mirror Online , the CBB, 26, star can be seen looking bleary eyed as he parties in Thailand with pals hours after his ex gave birth

The caption appears to be a dig at Stephanie as the caption seems to be a miss-spelling of 'psychologist'.

However, a source close to Jeremy denied it was aimed at the new-born, saying: '

'The text on the snap chat "Get the kid a ..." is referring to Jeremy as the kid and is personal joke between friends.

'It has been completely taken out of context and is certainly not aimed a Steph's son.'

Lashing out? In the stream of clips, believed to have been recorded hours after Stephanie gave birth to a baby boy, Jeremy and his friends seemingly ridicule and taunt the former CBB star

Later on the evening the former Beauty School Cop Outs cast-member is seen dancing at a party shirtless.

As he dances and plays up for the camera a caption on the clip alludes to Jeremy being the father - something he categorically denied in June.

Spinning around and pulling faces in the snippet, a caption above Jeremy reads: 'Yes, a son.'

Whetting the baby's head? Later on the evening the former Beauty School Cop Outs cast-member (pictured with Stephanie in April) is seen dancing at a party shirtless

Not a care: A fellow reveler said: 'Jeremy doesn't seem to care too much about becoming a dad, it was as though he didn't have a care in the world'

A fellow reveler told the Mirror: 'Jeremy doesn't seem to care too much about becoming a dad, it was as though he didn't have a care in the world.

'How insensitive to share such a video saying her baby needs therapy, my heart breaks for Steph. Even if it was made in jest, it's pretty disgusting.'

Jeremy is still refusing to confirm he's the father of his estranged ex Stephanie Davis' baby boy - despite her finally giving birth on Friday.

Not about her: A source close to Jeremy said: 'The text on the snap chat "Get the kid a ..." is referring to Jeremy as the kid and is personal joke between friends'

The Irish model revealed he was 'delighted' for his former flame after she welcomed her new bundle of joy after a reported 48 hours in labour - but still echoed his former denial of the baby being his.

Jeremy addressed the issued of the child's paternity on Twitter shortly after the news broke, writing:

'I am delighted that Steph has safely had the baby, of course if he is my son I will absolutely step up and do what I can to support him.'

'Any timescale for that is in Steph's hands now. I did reach out to her some weeks ago but didn't hear back,' Jeremy explained the situation further.

'I am delighted': Jeremy McConnell, 26, congratulated his ex Stephanie Davis after she gave birth on Friday but still refused to confirm he was the father

Jeremy and Stephanie embarked on a toxic romance after meeting on CBB a year ago which culminated in a bitter split shortly before she announced she was expecting his child - claims he vehemently denies.

She has maintained constantly throughout her pregnancy that Jeremy is the father, yet the Dubliner has lashed out at her claims and insisted he wants a paternity test upon the arrival of the little boy.

Speaking about the saga, the actress told new! magazine: 'Jeremy knows the truth. I'm keeping (the DNA test) private. I'll sort that with him. If I could have done one straight away, I would have, but it was too dangerous for the baby.'

'If he is my son I will absolutely step up': Jeremy revealed he will do his best once he's confirmed as the father of the newborn (Pictured February 2016)

Meanwhile, just weeks before Stephanie gave birth, Jeremy had told the Daily Star: 'I was in a position where we broke up for a period of time. I found out she was pregnant, but in the meantime I knew she was with other people.'

'I can't do anything while the baby's in there,' he explained. 'When it comes out I would step up to the plate. All I want is clarification. If I find out it's mine I'll be the best dad.'

A source close the star told MailOnline: 'Jeremy has tried to contact Steph on a number occasions but he hasn't heard back.

'If he is the father then of course he going to do step up and do the right thing.'

Tumultuous times: The former lovers have had a bitter back-and-forth war of words since splitting up

In the past: The couple found love in the Celebrity Big Brother house back in January 2016

Meanwhile, a representative for Stephanie confirmed her happy news to the MailOnline on Friday, stating: 'We are delighted to confirm that our client Stephanie Davis gave birth to a baby boy on Friday. Mother and baby are doing fine.'

The former Hollyoaks star, whose baby's name is yet to be revealed, is believed to have been in labour for a gruelling two days.

As Stephanie's labor went on, a source told The Sun: 'The baby's taking his time, but we're hoping that he will arrive today. Steph is so excited that the day has finally come that she will meet her son.

'At the moment she is focusing on welcoming her little boy - her priority is his safe delivery and spending some quality time with him.'

The birth comes after a close pal of Jeremy defended the inked hunk for jetting off to Thailand for a lad's holiday, despite his ex's due date being imminent - saying he's within his rights to take the break as he has nothing tying him down.

He's finally here! The former Hollyoaks star, whose baby's name is yet to be revealed, is believed to have been in labour for a gruelling two days

'No ties': Pals of Jeremy McConnell have reportedly defended the Irish model for going on holiday to Thailand with his friends as his ex Stephanie prepares for the birth of their child

'Jeremy is simply having a well deserved holiday in Thailand with his pals,' the source told The Sun. 'I'm not sure why he's getting so much grief for posting a selfie of him having a drink.'

Despite, Jeremy's long-haul trip, the star is ready to come back at a moments notice, with his representative telling MailOnline: 'Jeremy is currently in Thailand enjoying a short holiday with friends, which has been booked for sometime.

'He has an open return ticket should he need to return to the UK before the end of his trip'.

The reality star has certainly been enjoying himself since splitting with Stephanie - and was most recently accused of sleeping with a fan's girlfriend after a nightclub appearance after a barrage of Twitter direct messages were revealed.

And Jeremy he also set tongues wagging again as he enjoyed a steamy New Year's Eve kiss with a mystery blonde earlier this month.
When two reality TV stars bump into each other on a flight, of course they snap a selfie.

And that's exactly what happened when Real Housewives of Melbourne's Janet Roach bumped into Kim Kardashian on a flight to New York recently.

The Australian reality TV starlet took to Instagram on Tuesday to share the filtered snap, after Kim had landed back in LA following the quick stint on the East Coast.

Fancy seeing you here! Real Housewives of Melbourne's Janet Roach (right) bumped into Kim Kardashian (left) on a flight from Dubai to New York recently, sharing the selfie to Instagram on Tuesday

Flying Emirates from Dubai to New York, Kim then switched over to a private jet for the rest of the journey, cross country.

However, on the almost 15 hour journey, the duo appeared to meet in First Class and had a decent conversation.

'Managed to have a really nice chat with @kimkardashian on the way to New York,' Janet captioned the post.

'I was blown away with how down to earth she was, a really great girl!!' the 57-year-old told her 51,000 followers.

'I was blown away with how down to earth she was, a really great girl!!' The 57-year-old told her 51,000 followers how impressed she was with the megastar

Sleep tea? While Kim shared a photo sipping on a beverage out of a mug once on her private plane, it's not known if she was drinking the sleep tea Janet promoted

'Travel buddies': The brunette beauty shared a number of photos with her entourage as they made their way through the airport en-route home

And it seems the businesswoman was also able to convince the 36-year-old mother-of-two to try one of her teas.

'She even tried and liked my sleep tea!!' Janet boasted.

While Kim shared a photo sipping on a beverage out of a mug once on her private plane, it's not known if she was drinking the sleep tea Janet promoted.

While the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has been keeping a relatively low profile since her robbery incident in Paris but has made a return to social media.

On Tuesday, the brunette beauty shared a number of photos with her entourage as they made their way through the airport en-route home, captioned: 'Travel Buddies'.

Reality TV star: Janet (second left) appears on Real Housewives of Melbourne alongside (L-R) Jackie Gillies, Gamble Breaux and Susie McLean
She started the new year as a single woman following the end of her 11-year relationship with Liev Schreiber.

And Naomi Watts looked as fresh as ever on Tuesday as she treated herself to a relaxing facial on her day off.

The 48-year-old actress took to Instagram to flaunt an enviable dewy appearance to her 609 thousand followers.

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Beaming beauty! Naomi Watts enjoys relaxing facial after starting the year on a bikini trip to Mexico following split from partner Liev Schreiber

The ageless beauty radiated a youthful glow as her facialist rested her hands around her head on the towel-covered table.

Naomi was taking a break from filming her upcoming Netflix series Gypsy in New York when she decided a facial was the best way to unwind.

She captioned the image, in part: 'When you have a day off... and you're lucky enough to be in the hands of @joannavargasnyc (her facialist).'

'When you have a day off...': The ageless beauty radiated a youthful glow as her facialist tended to her on her day off from filming upcoming Netflix series Gypsy in New York

The last year changed Naomi's life in ways she might never have predicted, but it's clear that she was excited to start afresh.

Posting pictures from a bikini break in Mexico over the New Year period, the British-Australian star looked happy and care free.

'Ring in 2017!!' she wrote. 'Happy New Year from Mexico have fun everyone!!'

'Girl power!' Naomi rings in the new year as a single woman... with a bikini trip to Mexico

Tagging a couple of her female friends, she wrote: 'dorks, girl power, over excited.'

The images showed blonde Naomi wearing a black bikini and smiling widely on the sand in Mexico.

The girls' trip came after reports that the star was 'in a good place' after her split from Liev.

Couldn't be happier: The images showed blonde Naomi wearing a black bikini and smiling widely on the sand in Mexico

The pair ended their 11-year relationship in September and Naomi says the most important thing now is ensuring that their sons, Samuel, seven and nine-year-old Alexander, are happy.

She told Australia's Daily Telegraph: 'I feel I'm in a good place in my life and I want to make sure my kids are healthy; my kids are happy and things are going to go well. Those are my hopes for me and for all of us.'

'I feel like change is always scary, but that's only because transition for anyone is new and you wonder how things are going to go.'

Following their split, Naomi was spotted in the audience at the 49-year-old actor's new Broadway play, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and she believes it is vital for their children that things stay cordial between them.

Separated: The pair ended their 11-year relationship in September and Naomi says the most important thing now is ensuring that their sons, Samuel, seven and nine-year-old Alexander, are happy

She previously said: 'He's the father of my kids. So it was important to support him.

'I was very curious to see this and all of his work.

'The play is fantastic and really I hope everyone gets to see it because he does some extraordinary work up there.'

'Best way forward': The couple announced their split in a joint statement, where they said they felt the 'best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple'

The couple announced their split in a joint statement, where they said they felt the 'best way forward' for the two of them - and for their family - was to 'separate as a couple'.

They explained: 'Over the past few months we've come to the conclusion that the best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple.

'It is with great love, respect and friendship in our hearts that we look forward to raising our children together and exploring this new phase of our relationship. While we appreciate your curiosity and support, we ask the press to be mindful of our children and respect their right to privacy.'
She's been touted as the latest Aussie 'It Girl' to watch, by fashion industry critics.

And Lianna Perdis continues to make her mark on the fashion world at the tender age of 17, with the model recently landing the cover of Harper's Bazaar Greece.

The Heiress to the Napoleon Perdis makeup empire dazzles in a new 8-page spread for the fashion publication, and she recently credited her parents, Napoleon Perdis, 46, and Soula-Marie, 45, with teaching her to be comfortable in her own skin.

Up and coming: Lianna Perdis continues to make her mark on the fashion world at the tender age of 17, with the model recently landing the cover of Harper's Bazaar Greece

'I've got a Cali girl accent, a Greek girl's features and an Aussie girl's spirit,' she said of her unique appeal.

'My parents always encouraged my sisters and I to be confident and comfortable in our own skin.

She added: 'You're not going to be everyone's cup of tea - and that's okay. It's about knowing who you are, what you stand for, and feeling happy and confident from within, even on the days you might not necessarily be feeling it.'

Wow: The Heiress to the Napoleon Perdis makeup empire dazzles in a new 8-page spread for the fashion publication

On the Harper's cover, the socialite wows in a strapless red ball gown, complete with an oversized black bow.

She is seen casually posing atop a large ladder while showcasing her best model angles.

In other snaps from the shoot, Lianna stuns in a series of vibrant and feminne outfits.

Talented: She is also pictured modelling a pleated pink skirt paired with a tan-coloured bodysuit

The beauty oozes confidence in a pink long-sleeved sequienned dress.

She is also pictured modelling a pleated pink skirt paired with a tan-coloured bodysuit.

Lianna dazzles in a chic pink fringe dress and matching blazer as she strikes a pose.

Style: Lianna dazzles in a chic pink fringe dress and matching blazer as she strikes a pose

Her Harper's cover marks her fifth magazine cover between Europe in Australia.

Though she is not yet 18, she already has her very own line of cosmetics Total Bae under her belt, recently walked in her very first runway and has signed to CHIC Management.

Despite her feats, Lianna insists she's still an ordinary teen.

Rising star! Lianna wowed in her very first runway show for celebrity designer, Dimitri Petrou (right) in Athens, Greece last month

'I wake up at 6am and dread it every morning, catch the bus, go to school, take exams, grab coffee with my friends after school and then study,' she said.

Last month, she wowed in her very first runway show for celebrity designer, Dimitri Petrou in Athens, Greece on Tuesday.

Lianna strutted down the the catwalk during The Couture Affair Autumn Winter 2016/17 show and despite oozing confidence, she told Daily Mail Australia that the experience was 'nerve wrecking.'

Fashionista: The 16-year-old, who recently signed to CHIC Management, strutted down the the catwalk during The Couture Affair Autumn Winter 2016/17 show and despite oozing confidence, she told Daily Mail Australia that the experience was 'nerve-racking.'

'It was a combination of many feelings,' the cosmetics heiress said in a statement on Wednesday.

'It was so surreal and a tad nerve wrecking. But something I've been dreaming of, since I was five, when I first 'walked' in my mum's heels. And so humbled and excited to be in the finale!!!'

Dimitri Petrou is familiar with the Perdis family as he was commissioned to design her Sweet 16th dress.

Success: 'It was a combination of many feelings,' the cosmetics heiress said in a statement on Wednesday

Reflecting: 'It was so surreal and a tad nerve wrecking. But something I've been dreaming of, since I was five, when I first 'walked' in my mum's heels. And so humbled and excited to be in the finale!!!'

Red carpet photos from the event show Lianna wearing an oriental-inspired gown paired with black velvelt gloves.

Backstage snaps show the teen show her getting her hair and makeup done as she excitedly prepares to walk in her first ever runway show.

In October, she signed to international agency Chic Model Management - signalling a very bright future for the rising star.

The agency manages the likes of Home And Away star Pia Miller, Miss Universe Australia Laura Dundovich and model Chloe Maxwell.

Making moves: Lianna signed with Chic Model Management in October

'Lianna is an impressive young girl who is not only smart and well presented but also stunningly beautiful,' Chic Management told The Daily Telegraph.

It has been a big year for the rising star, with the striking teen gracing the cover of Girlfriend's July issue after launching Total Bae in May.

The socialite, who was born in Australia and raised in the US, now splits her time between Athens and Australia with her parents and three younger sisters - Athina, Angelene and Alexia.

Famous family: The young beauty splits her time between Athens and Australia with her parents and three younger sisters - Athina, Angelene and Alexia

And while she was Down Under last year, she spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her stance on plastic surgery and beauty.

With plenty of young celebrities going under the knife in their teens, the natural beauty admitted she felt no pressure to get cosmetic work done.

'Obviously everyone has insecurities and no one is perfect but I don't think you should get work done to change how you look,' she said.

Speaking highly: Chic said the 16-year-old was 'impressive young girl who is not only smart and well presented but also stunningly beautiful'

'You're beautiful the way you are,' Lianna added.

Meanwhile, it's no secret that the young beauty's father has had work done, with Napoleon himself being quite open about his use of Botox injections.

While Lianna says she understands her father's choice, noting he 'does it for age reasons,' cosmetic work is not a path she's keen to go down.

Non-stop: It has been a big year for the rising star, with the striking teen gracing the cover of Girlfriend's July issue after launching her own Total Bae cosmetics range in May

The heir to the multi-million dollar Napoleon Perdis brand also spoke about her decision to enter into the family business and whether she thinks her younger sisters will follow suit.

'Not everyone wants to work with the business,' the teenager said.

'I hope they do, but for right now, that's what I like doing and they're all really proud of me and supportive.'

'If you're doing something that you enjoy, then it's not necessarily hard or stressful for you.'

Confident: Lianna told Daily Mail Australia that she isn't keen on cosmetic surgery, saying: 'You're beautiful the way you are'
Priyank Chopra returned to work on the set of her hit drama Quantico on Monday, four days after suffering a concussion in an on-set accident.

The actress's rep confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday.

'While she is still sore and stiff from her fall, she is getting stronger every day and is happy to be back at work,' the rep said.

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Back at work: Priyanka Chopra, 34, pictured January 8, returned to the New York set of her ABC series Quantico on Monday after being injured last week in a fall while performing a stunt

The 34-year-old was injured on the ABC show's New York set last Thursday night in what a network spokesperson described as a 'minor incident.'

Sources told THR.com that she had suffered a concussion while performing a stunt.

She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was examined by a doctor and then released.

She spent the weekend resting at home, tweeting her followers on Sunday: 'Thank you for all of your warm thoughts and well wishes.'

The Indian beauty, pictured on set in October, stars as former FBI agent and CIA operative-in-training Alex Parrish in Quantico and likes to perform her own stunts in the high action series

Update: On Sunday she tweeted her fans to let them know she was doing okay and thanked them for the well wishes

The Indian beauty stars as former FBI agent and CIA operative-in-training Alex Parrish in Quantico and likes to perform her own stunts in the high action series.

She was last seen looking in great health as she wore a plunging gold lace dress at Sunday's Golden Globe awards in Beverly Hills.

The star has already finished shooting Seth Gordon's action comedy Baywatch, in which she plays the main antagonist opposite Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. The film is due out on May 26.
CBB newcomers Jessica Cunningham and Chloe Ferry have no chance of seducing house hunk Calum Best, according to newly evicted James Jordan.

The latest housemate to be evicted gave an interview following his surprise exit from the show on Tuesday night and was his usual straight-talking self.

Since entering the house on Friday, Chloe, 21, and Jessica, 29, have both admitted to fancying Calum. The pair became embroiled in a heated spat over the handsome star on Monday night's show which resulted in Chloe being summoned to the diary room.

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Give up now: CBB newcomers Jessica Cunningham and Chloe Ferry have no chance of seducing house hunk Calum Best, according to James Jordan, who spoke to the press following his eviction on Tuesday night

James said: 'Two little girls arguing over Calum Best? Not a hope in hell, never ever. There's no one that Calum Best is interested in in the house.'

The former Strictly star, 38, also dismissed any hint of romance between Nicola McLean and Jamie O'Hara, insisting there is nothing between them.

Referring to the pair's controversial drunken flirting, he said: 'Nicola's a lovely girl. She said to me if I got too drunk take me to bed. There's nothing going on between them at all. I don't know where that's come from, to be honest with you.'

James was reunited with his wife Ola, 34, following his eviction, and the star joked things between the pair were about to get steamy now they were back together.

Spilling the beans: The latest housemate to be evicted spoke to the press following his surprise exit from the show and was his usual straight-talking self

He quipped: 'I'm going to smash her back doors in... [Just joking]. We are quite busy, Ola's sitting right next to me. We are forming Team Jola.

'We have got lots in the pipeline we will do together. We want to do more things together like on Strictly.'

The pair will also have to pencil a trip to California into their diaries as James revealed he'd love to visit Speidi after the series is finished.

'He (Spencer) said to me he's definitely going to FaceTime,' said James. 'We will 100 per cent go and visit them because he's got exactly the same sense of humour as me.

Straight-talking: James said: 'Two little girls arguing over Calum Best? Not a hope in hell, never ever. There's no one that Calum Best is interested in in the house'

'Heidi and Spencer reminded me so much of me and Ola. I actually think me and Ola are more funny with each other because Heidi doesn't like sarcasm. I rip into Ola all the time, and that's not a euphemism.'

James had a number of heated exchanges during his time in the house, including a notable clash with Kim Woodburn.

The pair appeared to make peace before his exit, and James believes he knows why she's acting in an abrasive manner.

He said: 'She came for me the first day and the second day. I just kept saying about washing up, which I knew would send her crazy.

No chance: The former Strictly star dismissed any hint of romance between Nicola McLean and Jamie O'Hara, insisting there is nothing between them

'I'm not going to have a shouting and screaming match with 74-year-old lady. She's gone in there to ruffle some feathers and she's done her job brilliantly. She came up to me today and said I was a wonderful human being, she's actually an all right bird.

When asked whether Kim's behaviour amounted to bullying, he said: 'I hate the word bullying. It's a word that's used nowadays so blase. I believe for whatever reason she's targeting Nicola. She said she's a massive fan of the show, she's going in there to try and give the public what they want. I don't think she's doing it in a nasty way.'

While there's been plenty of drama in the house, James wanted things to get even crazier.

Friends for life: James and wife Ola will have to pencil a trip to California into their diary after James revealed he'd love to visit Speidi after series is finished

'I wanted it to kick off more,' he confessed. 'I was bored. I was praying for someone like Perez (Hilton) or (Stephen) Bear.

'You get bored out of your mind during the day, then all of a sudden we have got to do a task and you're on edge because you're bored.

'I was exactly the same person as I was last time round. When I first went up for nominations last time I couldn't believe it. The first time I did Big Brother I thought I was the funny one in the house but they showed another side to me. I stand up for what I believe in. If someone comes for me I will come back 10 times harder.

'The first time I went in there I was myself and came third. So I thought why would I do anything differently.'

Memorable: James had a number of heated exchanges during his time in the house, including a notable clash with Kim Woodburn

And he revealed he had no time for Jedward, with their immature behaviour grating on him.

He said: 'I hardly ever spoke to them because you can't have a normal conversation with them.'

James is the latest contestant to be evicted from CBB.

The former Strictly star was voted out ahead of James Cosmo and Jedward following a brutal round of face to face nominations.

Time's up: James is the latest contestant to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother

James's exit came just a day after Jasmine Waltz was unceremoniously given the boot by her fellow housemates, leaving through a side door.

The star received the second most nominations from housemates, just behind Jedward.

The Irish twins accused him of being manipulative and grooming his fellow housemates.

In his exit interview, James told host Emma Willlis: 'Of course I'm gutted.

Taking it well: The former Strictly star was voted out ahead of James Cosmo and Jedward following a brutal round of face to face nominations

Wasn't to be: The star received the second most nominations from housemates, just behind Jedward

Happy to see him: James was greeted by his wife Ola, 34, who looked great in a chunky knit and a black scarf

'But if I come out I get to see my wife. Jedward have got a massive following so they're a massive power in the house.

'James is just a true gentleman. Myself and Coleen spent a lot of time with him in the smoking area and he's adorable. He said his highlight of the whole series was when his housemates saved him (from 'hell').

The star was less complimentary about Calum Best and Jamie O'Hara with both nominating James for eviction.

'They've just got no banter. I knew Calum was going to nominate me, and I had a sneaky suspicion Jamie was.

Dropping like flies: James's exit came just a day after Jasmine Waltz was unceremoniously given the boot by her fellow housemates, leaving through a side door

'I forgot he (Calum) grew up in America where they don't have a sense of humour. He's very cool, very chilled out. I just think he doesn't fully get the humour, whereas Jamie does.'

When Emma suggested James had been softer in this series of CBB, he strongly refuted it, claiming it was just 'good editing'.

He added: 'I did have a few days where I was really ill suffering from flu, that's probably when I apologised (to Jamie).'

Crowd-pleaser: James blew kisses to his fans as he made his way to Emma

James had several heated exchanges with Jedward in the house, most recently during nominations when he told them to 'shut the f**k up'.

He said: 'I still can't believe they're 25 years old. My nephew is 14 and he's far more mature. They're so childish.'

His departure had a big effect on Spencer Pratt, who was left in tears when James left the house.

James described the controversial American as 'such a funny, brilliant guy.'
Osher Gunsberg's Cavoodle pup Frankie is truly part of the family, so much so that when the TV host married his love at the end of last year, his dog was ring bearer.

Frankie was front and centre at The Bachelor host's nuptials with Audrey Griffen, bringing the pair their rings when they tied the knot in the Hunter Valley.

Osher told his Instagram fans on Wednesday, '@audreygriffen and I had @frankie_thecavoodle be the ring bearer. Yes, we did. It was awesome.'

Raising the ruff: Osher Gunsberg's Cavoodle pup Frankie is truly part of the family, so much so that when the TV host married his love at the end of last year, his dog was ring bearer

Dog gone it: Frankie was front and centre at The Bachelor host's nuptials with Audrey Griffen, bringing the pair their rings when they tied the knot in the Hunter Valley

The fluffy brown pup even has his own Instagram account with just under 2000 followers.

The Poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross 'shares' photos of his baths, cuddles with Osher and park play dates with his 'step brother,' a dog called Jamie.

Osher, Audrey and her 12-year-old daughter Georgia adopted the canine just under a year ago and have showered him with love.

Instagram snaps often show one of the family of three walking the dog by Bondi beach, where they reside, or taking him to the park.

Mates for life: Osher told his Instagram fans on Wednesday, '@audreygriffen and I had @frankie_thecavoodle be the ring bearer. Yes, we did. It was awesome'

Walkies: Instagram snaps often show one of the family of three walking the dog by Bondi beach, where they reside, or taking him to the park

Frankie was a big part of the nuptials when the 42-year-old former VJ held his extravagant three day wedding with make up artist Audrey.

The pair met on the set of The Bachelor and wed last year in a top secret ceremony that included three days of festivities.

Osher declared himself 'really, really happy' as he spoke to New Idea after the fun-filled, country wedding.

Puppy love: The fluffy brown pup has his own Instagram account with close to 2000 followers

Newly wed: Frankie was a big part of the nuptials when the 42-year-old former VJ held his extravagant three day wedding with make up artist Audrey

He added: 'It's great. I'm just really, really happy, and I'm so lucky.'

Two of the show's famous couples, Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski, as well as original couple Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich, were part of 200 guests in attendance to see the couple tie the knot.

The newlyweds recently headed off to honeymoon in Japan and took Audrey's daughter Georgia along.
The American actor is making the most of the Australian lifestyle while filming Pacific Rim: Maelstrom in Sydney.

And Scott Eastwood took to Instagram on Wednesday to declare his love for the Aussie climate and the heatwave sweeping the nation.

The 30-year-old star gave a passionate speech from a stationary car's passenger seat, saying in part: 'The heatwave continues out here in Australia... and I love it.'

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'Some people don't like the heat, I f***ing love it!' Scott Eastwood raves about Australia's heatwave via Instagram stories on Wednesday

The son of Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood wore a pair of sunglasses as he braved the already searing 35 degrees celsius (95 degrees fahrenheit) conditions at 6am.

'Some people don't like the heat, I f***ing love it. I don't know what those people are thinking going to the snow,' he said.

The Hollywood hunk wore a white T-shirt while in the car with his passenger Michael.

Hot! The son of Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood wore a pair of sunglasses as he braved the already searing hot 35 degree Celcius (95 Fahrenheit) conditions at 6am

When temperatures remained in the 30s earlier this week, Scott took to New South Wales' Wattamolla rocks to cool off.

He couldn't help but share footage of a daredevil leap he took off the rocks on Monday to Instagram, which has landed him in trouble.

The actor may be facing a fine of $300 for his death-defying dive - one that plenty of tourists and locals have also conquered.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the video posted to Instagram is being 'reviewed' by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as it violates the ban put in place in the interest of public safety.

Trouble in paradise? Actor Scott Eastwood faces a potential fine for his leap off Wattamolla rocks, which has been banned by authorities

With a jump of around 9 metres high, diving off the rocks and into the water has been deemed unsafe by the authorities and there are plenty of signs to warn people of the dangers.

'Jumping off Wattamolla Falls is not safe and the NPWS has put a range of measures in place to manage public safety,' a spokesperson told the publication.

They added: 'These include advising visitors of the risk through signage and safety barriers at the site.

At risk? According to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, there are warning signs and barriers around the site to warn people against jumping

Daredevil: The 30-year-old actor seemingly ignored the danger warnings and completed the 9metre high jump anyway

'Unfortunately some individuals put themselves at risk of injury by disregarding warning signs, jumping over barriers and not keeping to formed paths.'

Daily Mail Australia has also reached out to the NPWS for further comment.

The popular destination is also where a man lost his life on Christmas Day, after completing the jump.

It is understood the man leaped off the rocks and into the water, but failed to emerge.

Deadly: It's the same tourist hot spot where a man drowned and died on Christmas Day after completing the leap of faith

Making the most of his day off: The Pacific Rim star also shared a snap from Figure 8 pools, where he enjoyed a dip with a group of friends

Swimmers found him and pulled him back into shore where they attempted to resuscitate him and called 000, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Despite emergency services personnel's efforts, he died on the scene.

Scott's potentially costly adventure came during his day off from filming Pacific Rim: Maelstrom.

Like father, like son: Scott is the son of legendary actor, Clint Eastwood

The son of Hollywood director Clint Eastwood also made the most of his trip with a hike to the famous Figure 8 pools.

Posing for a snap amongst a group of friends, Scott wrote: 'Great end to an amazing day. Hiked into Figure 8 Pools. These natural rock pools were incredible. The company was even better!!!'

Since touching down in the country, he's been snapped fitness training in Bondi, and even took a trip to the famous 'Big Banana' in Coffs Harbour.

He spent New Year's Eve on Sydney Harbour, later claiming the city put on the best end of year fireworks display in the world.
She's moving to Bali, where she will move in with her girlfriend Megan Marx.

And Tiffany Scanlon certainly looked beach ready while making the most of her last days Down Under as she relaxed poolside on Tuesday.

The Bachelor beauty showed off her chiseled torso and slender frame in a cleavage-baring green bikini while enjoying a day of swimming at Crown Metropol in Perth.

Wow: Tiffany Scanlon certainly looked beach ready while making the most of her last days Down Under as she relaxed poolside in a bikini on Tuesday

'Making the most of my last days in Perth hanging pool side today @crownresorts Cannot wait to go on the hunt for the best swimming spots in Bali. Any recommendations?,' she captioned on Instagram.

The reality TV star is said to be planning a move in with Megan, who she met on the Channel Ten dating show last year.

The pair became the first ever lesbian couple to form from the show after both being rejected by Bachelor star, Richie Strahan.

Last week, the couple shared Instagram updates of themselves packing up their apartment in preparation for the impending move to Bali.

The bubbly blondes each filmed the other packing their suitcases with the essential items - including several sex toys.

All the essentials! Megan and Tiffany shared Instagram updates of themselves packing up their apartment on Sunday, (including their sex toy collection) in preparation for the impending move to Bali

In one video shared to Tiffany's Instagram Story, Megan can be seen undulating wildly while brandishing the silicone object, which was a shade of vibrant purple.

Meanwhile, Megan shared a photo of Tiffany presenting her pink pleasure apparatus to the camera before switching it on and watching it vibrate with intense fascination.

Later on Sunday, Megan shared a photo of herself on the beach clad in a barely-there yellow bikini alongside the message: 'My last day in WA! Today I'm heading to live in Bali- Tiff will be meeting me in a week, and we'll be moving in together! Yippee!'

Violet surprise! In one video shared to Tiffany's Instagram Story, Megan can be seen undulating wildly while brandishing the silicone object, which was a shade of vibrant purple

Thanks for sharing! Meanwhile, Megan shared a photo of Tiffany presenting her pink pleasure apparatus to the camera before switching it on and watching it vibrate with intense fascination

It represents somewhat of a symbolic location for the couple, who fell in love in Bali late last year.

The loved-up blondes confirmed their romance last November after months of speculation they were more than just close friends.

'While we were in the show, it was just a friendship,' Tiffany said.

New beginnings! Later on Sunday, Megan shared a photo of herself on the beach clad in a barely-there yellow bikini alongside the message: 'My last day in WA! Today I'm heading to live in Bali- Tiff will be meeting me in a week, and we'll be moving in together! Yippee!'

'It probably wasnt until we were in Bali together that it was like, "Oh, this is more".'

Megan also explained that she was drawn to Tiffany from the moment they met but didn't act on it in the house.

'We had very different experiences when we were on the show,' she said.

'Obviously I found Tiffany very attractive but I was there to get to know Richie. But instantly we knew there was a very strong connection. I was so excited to meet her in Bali.'
She's the wildlife conservationist famous for wrestling crocodiles.

But Bindi Irwin's 'spirit animal' is in fact an owl, with the 18-year-old sharing a gushing post about a bird she recently met.

Sharing a photo of a barn owl resting on her hand, the daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin wrote: 'My spirit animal. I am so in love. Meet Twinkle the gorgeous Barn Owl.'

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Her spirit animal: Bindi Irwin shared a gushing post as she posed with a barn owl, describing the moment as 'precious'

The Dancing With The Stars champion added: 'Words can't describe how precious this moment was.'

Bindi's hashtag suggests the meeting took place at Queensland's Lamington National Park.

In the bright photo, Bindi is seen smiling from ear to ear as she lovingly gazes at her new friend.

Back with her beau: The 18-year-old has recently reunited with her boyfriend Chandler Powell, after the wakeboarder spent three weeks in his native US

The wildlife lover wore a large glove to protect her hand from the bird's sharp claws.

Meanwhile, Bindi has been enjoying spending time with her boyfriend Chandler Powell after the pair spent three weeks apart.

The 20-year-old wakeboarder jetted off to his native US for just under a month, with the pair reuniting earlier this year.

'I missed you': The wildlife conservationist was thrilled to have her other half back, and revealed the pair celebrated New Year's Day in Tasmania

The young love birds spent New Year's Day in Tasmania before flying back to Australia Zoo in the Sunshine Coast.

Bindi shared her excitement at returning to the zoo with her fans, while Chandler thanked her for the trip together and indicated he'll be spending the next few weeks working with Bindi at the zoo.

'I missed you. Wonderful to be back @AustraliaZoo after celebrating New Years in gorgeous Tasmania together,' wrote Bindi.

'I missed you so much': Wakeboarder Chandler also thanked his girlfriend for 'an incredible Tassie trip'

'Ready for lots of fun these Australian School Holidays doing shows at #AustraliaZoo'.

Chandler replied in the comments, saying: 'I missed you so much. Thank you for such an incredible Tassie trip. Looking forward to these next couple weeks at #AustraliaZoo.'

At the same time, Bindi reached out with love for her mother on Twitter, saying: 'I love you so much. You and Robert will always be the light of my life.'
They're one of the most down to earth famous couples.

But Guy and Jules Sebastian have left Australia behind for a very celebrity luxury holiday at a Mauritius villa.

The couple are staying at a Club Med resort with their two children, which carries a nightly price tag of more than $1000 per person.

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'Villa hangs': Guy and Jules Sebastian's holiday at luxurious Mauritius resort, where one is flaunting their side boob and the other 'joining the circus'

Guy and Jules have both been documenting their stay at the resort on Instagram.

In one photo, Jules wears a chic halter one-piece as she floats in a secluded pool, with the mother of two looking relaxed with just a hint of a smile on her face.

'Tough. Really tough. Having a terrible time,' she captions the photo jokingly.

Relaxing: Another social media snap shows off the couple's holiday villa, which features an enormous bed and open spaces

Another social media snap shows off the couple's holiday villa, which features an enormous bed and wide open spaces.

Jules perches on a wooden bench, wearing sneaks and a breezy cotton dress, captioning the photo: 'Villa hangs.'

But in a photo shared on Tuesday, Jules appears to have taken up a less than conventional holiday hobby- trapezing.

Paying big: The couple are staying at a Club Med resort with their two children, which carries a nightly price tag of more than $1000 per person

Joining the circus: The blogger is the picture of concentration as she suspends herself upside down, legs splayed

The blogger is the picture of concentration as she suspends herself upside down, legs splayed.

'No big deal...#joiningthecirus,' she captioned the photo.

In another photo, Guy shows off his holiday tan in the resort's bar, wearing a muscle tee which shows off his buff body.

Guy writes: 'Just waiting for a mate', cheekily also adding the hashtag 'sideboob'.
Her name has become synonymous with fitness thanks to her reputation as Australia's preeminent celebrity trainer.

And so it's no surprise Michelle Bridges, 45, looked trim and toned as she hit a Byron Bay beach with her partner Steve 'Commando' Willis, their one-year-old son Axel.

Also joining the trio was Steve's two other children from his previous marriage, Ella, eight, and Jack, five.

Body goals! Michelle Bridges, 45, looked trim and toned as she hit a Byron Bay beach with her partner Steve 'Commando' Willis, their one-year-old son Axel

Michelle looked healthy and fit as she showcased her gym-honed glutes in navy bikini briefs.

On top she wore a multi-coloured triangle bikini top that showcased her whittled waist and washboard abs.

Her ensemble was complete with a straw sun-hat and a black waterproof watch.

Fit mumma! Michelle looked healthy and fit as she showcased her gym-honed glutes in navy bikini briefs

All smiles! Axel was seen grinning as his famous mother held him up in the air

Happy family: Little Axel wore swimming trunks, a rash vest and a blue floppy sun-hat. Meanwhile, shirtless Commando showcased his muscle-bound torso in a pair of yellow board shorts

Little Axel wore swimming trunks, a rash vest and a blue floppy sun-hat.

Meanwhile, shirtless Commando showcased his muscle-bound torso in a pair of yellow board shorts.

He too remained sun-safe for the summer outing, donning a straw hat that featured camouflage-print lining.

Inspirational: Michelle's name has become synonymous with fitness thanks to her reputation as Australia's preeminent celebrity trainer

Bub and mum workouts: Michelle has been including her one-year-old son in her workout routines, including jogging up and down concrete stairs using Axel as a weight earlier this month

At one stage, Michele was seen lifting her cherubic tot into the air so as to simulate the feeling of flying.

Clearly enjoying the experience, Axel was seen giggling with delight.

Michelle has been including her one-year-old son in her workout routines, including jogging up and down concrete stairs using Axel as a weight earlier this month.

Weighty issue: Michelle recently told her 234k Instagram followers that she's been using her son as '12kg weight vest.'

'You want me to do more than 10 times Axel?! Are you nuts!?? My legs are shaking!!' the fitness author captioned the picture.

She recently told her 234k Instagram followers that she's been using her son as '12kg weight vest.'

A mother's love: Michelle appears to have well and truly embraced motherhood, seen relishing any opportunity to bond with her young son

Wheeeeee: At one stage, Michele was seen lifting her cherubic tot into the air so as to simulate the feeling of flying. Clearly enjoying the experience, Axel was seen giggling with delight

Intense: Michelle began working out less than a month after giving birth, spending 56 minutes a day jogging and walking

Michelle began working out less than a month after giving birth, spending 56 minutes a day jogging and walking.

She came under fire for the intense post-natal routine, which was slammed as 'irresponsible' by physiotherapist Lyz Evans.

She defended her choice to return to her normal routine as 'right for her body.'

Under fire: Michelle came under fire for the intense post-natal routine, which was slammed as 'irresponsible' by physiotherapist Lyz Evans. She defended her choice to return to her normal routine as 'right for her body.'
She's set to welcome her first child with her South Sydney Rabbitohs husband.

And Joanna Burgess (nee King) is taking the final leg of her pregnancy easy, with the glamorous WAG seen lounging on the couch with her bump on display.

Pulling up her white T-shirt to unveil the burgeoning belly, the 28-year-old cut a relaxed figure in an image shared to Instagram on Tuesday night.

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Winding down: Joanna Burgess has shared a snap of herself showing off her burgeoning baby belly while lounging on the sofa

Sporting a tiny pair of white shorts to match her top, Joanna simply caption the photo with a heart and baby emoji.

The wife of NRL star George wore her blonde locks in a half up, half down bun.

Her bronzed pins were also on display as she laid across the sofa.

At home with hubby: The 28-year-old took to Instagram earlier to share a snap of her husband George Burgess hanging out with their dog

It appears Joanna was enjoying a quiet night at home, having shared a photo of her beau also sitting on a sofa alongside their dog.

Joanna meanwhile, has been confident throughout her pregnancy, sharing bikini-clad snaps as she enjoys the Sydney Summer.

Last week, the blonde beauty visited Malabar Beach for an impromptu photo shoot with her husband.

Confident: The interior design student has been confidently showing off her pregnancy physique

She showed off her tan in a multi-coloured bikini, with off-the-shoulder sleeves and skimpy bottoms.

Her wavy locks hung loosely over her shoulders as she beamed happily, with sunglasses shading her eyes from the glare of the sun.

She credited her partner for taking the pic and added the caption: 'Afternoon dip'.

The genetically-blessed couple started dating in 2014 and were married last month with a lavish ceremony in Noosa.

Joanna's sister-in-law Phoebe served as one of her bridesmaids.
This model certainly is her own best sales weapon.

Alessandra Ambrosio wowed in red as she promoted her clothing line on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old got very cheeky in a cleavage-baring look from Ale By Alessandra X Revolve.

A little frosting: Alessandra Ambrosio wowed in red as she promoted her clothing line, Ale By Alessandra X Revolve, on Tuesday

The red romper featured a very low neckline which plunged all the way down to her midsection, leaving her cleavage exposed.

Really turning up the heat, the beauty is holding on to a cupcake but icing her lips with some sweet frosting in the snap.

Posting the picture on Instagram she wrote: 'My favourite kind of lipstick.'

Earlier on Tuesday, Alessandra was in mom mode rather than model mode.

Mommy and me: The catwalk star was seen on an outing with her son Noah on Tuesday in Brentwood, California, earlier on Tuesday

The catwalk star was seen on an outing with her son Noah on Tuesday in Brentwood, California.

For the bonding adventure, she cut a casual-chic figure in a loose-fitting white blouse, boyfriend jeans and Chanel espadrilles.

Not seen with the pair were daughter Anja, eight, and fiance Jamie Mazurwhom she has been engaged to since 2008.

Let it to mamma: The supermodel wasted no time and lead the way to their car

Bonding: Not seen with Alessandra and her son Noah were daughter Anja, eight, and fiance Jamie Mazur

The mommy-and-me time came after they recently returned from a long holiday in South America that included the entire family. During the vacation to Alessandra's native Brazil, they enjoyed quality time on the beach.

They had reveled in soaking up the sun in her country since before the New Year, but when she returned on Monday it was business as usual for the busy bombshell.

And her day out taking care of errands didn't inspire a smile. Alessandra had on workout gear as she picked up coffee and took care of tasks.
Lisa Rinna accused Kyle Richards of being an 'enabler' to her older sister Kim on Tuesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills.

The explosive charge was levelled by Rinna, 53, during a conversation with Eden Sassoon.

Rinna also told Eden that she doubted Kim's sobriety.

Bold statement: Lisa Rinna accused Kyle Richards of being an enabler to her older sister Kim on Tuesday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

'I would say she's mostly sober. Right now I don't think she's completely sober,' Rinna said.

Eden's older sister Catya died in 2002 of a drug-induced heart attack and Eden said she wanted to help Kim.

Kim and Rinna clashed in last week's episode during Game Night but appeared to make up.

Eden complained that she and Kyle had 'no connection' and wondered if Kim's situation had something to do with it.

Slow down: Kyle was soon peppered with questions from Eden Sassoon about her family life

Candid conversation: Lisa told Eden that she also doubted Kim's sobriety

'Kyle is her enabler. I will say that,' Rinna blurted out.

The former soap star then gave a definition for the cameras.

'An enabler is someone who continues to support through love or financially support an addict,' Rinna stated.

Human dictionary: The former soap star provided a definition for enabler

Eden who has become sober told Rinna that she took a 'tough love' stance with her late sister.

Rinna suggested that Kim was perhaps on a fatal path as well.

'She's afraid. She's going to die, I know it,' Rinna said.

She added: 'To me, this is what's going to happen next. They are this close to Kim dying.'

Face to face: Eden was shown in a preview clip closely observing Kim

Eden was shocked to hear that Kim was 'close to death' and was further resolved to help her.

Rinna told the cameras that she had good intentions regarding Kim.

'All I ever tried to do is help her, but it looks like I'm being a mean f***ing bitch,' she said.

Eden and Rinna moved fast and met Kyle at The Larchmont restaurant on trendy Melrose Avenue.

Moved fast: Eden was resolved to learn more about Kyle and quickly moved to meet her

Kyle, 48, flashed her mother's 10 1/2-carat wedding ring and was peppered with questions from Eden.

She revealed that her mother died 14 years ago from breast cancer and described her as 'very entertaining'.

Eden than asked if her mother was a drinker as she tried to get to the root of Kim's alcoholism.

Listening in: Rinna listened as Eden grilled Kyle for family details

Kyle said her mother wasn't an alcoholic.

'Whoa, back up. I don't even know you. Why are you jumping to conclusions,' Kyle told the cameras.

Kyle admitted though to Rinna and Eden that she doesn't talk to Kim about how she maintains her sobriety.

Back up: Kyle told the cameras that Eden needed to back up

Getting emotional: Eden fought back tears talking to Kyle

The episode titled It's Expensive To Be Me also featured Erika Girardi preparing for an upcoming show in Mykonos, Greece.

Kyle made the trip out there to support Erika who performs as her alter ego Erika Jayne.

Lisa Vanderpump and husband Ken met up with Kyle before she departed.

For sale: Kyle's husband Mauricio had a Malibu property listed with his real estate firm

They toured a 17-acre Malibu estate that Kyle's husband Mauricio had listed on the market as part of his real estate business.

'He's one of the top brokers in the nation,' boasted Kyle who noted that his listings included the $200 million Playboy Mansion.

Vanderpump during lunch later told Kyle that Rinna was out of line bringing up Kyle's arrest during their Game Night tiff.

Ocean views: Mauricio showed Kyle, Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd the 17-acre estate

'Lisa Rinna was just inappropriate. You know that,' Vanderpump told her.

Kyle said she didn't want to 'think about it' or 'talk about it'.

Erika was excited to welcome Kyle in Greece because 'she likes to have fun and smile'.

Lunch time: Vanderpump during lunch told Kyle that Rinna was out of line at Game Night

Fan favourite: Erika Girardi prepped for her trip to Mykonos

Kyle said Greece fulfilled her expectations of white walls and blue waters.

Erika and her 10-person entourage holed up at a $50,000 a week rental estate.

Kyle watched as Erika practiced her stage routine with male dancers.

Rental estate: The singer and her entourage were staying at a $50,000 a week rental

Practice makes perfect: Erika and her dancers practiced their routine

Showing support: Kyle flew to Greece to support Erika

The rehearsal ended with the dancers playfully tossing Erika into the pool.

Dorit Kemsley also sought to make amends with Rinna and Eileen Davidson after irking both of them during Game Night.

Eileen grew frustrated with Dorit for talking too much again, but in the end she and Rinna both ended up apologizing.

Making amends: Dorit Kemsley sought to make amends with Eileen Davidson and Rinna

Loquacious wife: Paul 'PK' Kemsley admitted that Dorit takes forever to tell a story

All three agreed to hit the 'reset button' and start fresh.

Vanderpump, 56, meanwhile got emotional after her adopted son Max sought out his birth parents.

Max learned from the original adoption lawyer that his birth father played the guitar.

Rough start: Dorit started rambling with Eileen as they met to hash things out

Mouth running: Eileen grew frustrated with Dorit talking too much

Vanderpump marvelled at the revelation and noted that Max at age 14 taught himself how to play guitar.

'That just shows you that kind of talent is inherited,' Vanderpump said.

She earlier broke down when recalling bringing Max home and their daughter Pandora welcoming him with open arms.

Birth parents: Vanderpump discussed her adopted son Max seeking out his birth parents

Getting emotional: The British restaurateur cried at the adoption lawyer's office

Lost it: Lisa lost it when she talked about her daughter Pandora welcoming her brother Max

Ken suggested having a private detective investigate Max's birth parents before making a decision about meeting them.

Max agreed with the plan.

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills will return next week on Bravo.
She has always been something of a tomboy.

So perhaps high jinks were the reason Kristen Stewart sported some nasty-looking scrapes on her knee as she jetted into Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The Twilight star seemed her usual jolly self as she rubbed shoulders with the proles in the bustling LAX Airport.

Stylish: Grungy Kristen Stewart dabbled in hobo chic as she jetted into LA on Tuesday

The grungy 24-year-old seemed to be trying to keep a low profile as she meandered through the arrival lounge in her ripped Mother Denim jeans, black jacket and Vans shoes.

And it seems she had been on something of a trying flight, as she wore her greasy mane in a tight bun.

No doubt Kristen was looking forward to getting together with her rumoured squeeze Stella Maxwell, the British professional clotheshorse who is the former lover of Miley Cyrus.

Speculation of a romance between the dynamic duo started last May, when they were spotted leaving the Met Ball together.

Knee bother: And the actress sported nasty looking scrapes on her leg

That's torn it: The markings were visible through the rips in her skinny Mother denims

Greased lightning: Perhaps she was in a rush as she did not want anyone to notice her messy mane

During a the interim, however, the The Runaways actress reportedly dated self-styled guitarist Annie Clark, better known by her stage name St Vincent.

They've since reputedly broken up, and Kristen and Stella have been seen together quite a lot lately, including during a cigarette smoking session in Los Feliz, California last week.

Stella even jetted down to Savannah, Georgia, where the her rumoured lover was filming a currently untitled biopic relating the story of accused axe murderess Lizzie Borden.

Kristen is the first woman to be romantically linked with the model since her 2015 spring fling with 'pansexual' pop diva Miley Cyrus.

Smokin' hot couple: She enjoyed a sly puff with rumoured lover Stella Maxwell in Los Feliz last week
Amal Clooney, whose star has had a meteoric rise since she met and married Hollywood star George Clooney, was one of those honored at a special dinner in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

The Lebanese-British barrister and her husband attended the Women Of Impact dinner hosted by Tina Brown during the World Economic Forum.

And Amal kept everyone guessing following rumors she's expecting a baby by donning a loose-fitting two-piece.

Is she? Amal Clooney did little to dispel recent pregnancy rumors as she donned a loose-fitting two-piece for a special event in Davos Tuesday with husband George and Tina Brown

Once again the 38-year-old eschewed the figure-hugging designer outfits she's paraded since tying the knot with her famous husband in 2014.

Instead, she opted for a cropped sleeveless beige top that stuck out over her waist.

Her matching skirt featured a semi-sheer panel at the waistband and fell to the knee with side pleats.

Amal went bare-legged in the outfit squeezing her toes into pointed black pumps.

The Lebanese-born barrister's beige number featured a sleeveless crop top and a skirt with side pleats and contrasting panel at the waist, while Hollywood star George donned a dark suit

Sharing her opinions: Amal was one of those invited to speak at the Women In Impact dinner hosted by Brown duringthe World Economic Forum

Nice to see you: The couple were warmly greeted by outgoing vice-president Joe Biden who also attended the dinner

The pregnancy rumors started swirling after she wore a baggy floral smock to an event promoting the documentary White Helmets in London a week ago.

It was the first time tabloid-stalwart Amal had been photographed in public for a couple of months.

Then she and George were photographer enjoying a country walk near their home in Sonning, Berkshire, for which she donned a loose white sweater.
He found love whilst filming Call The Midwife in South Africa last year.

And Jack Ashton opened up about his relationship with co-star Helen George as he revealed it was 'confusing' dating her after their characters split on the show.

Speaking on Wednesday's episode of Lorraine, the actor - who plays Reverend Tom Hereward on the BBC show - admitted that it was a lot to wrap his head around.

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Perplexing: Jack Ashton opened up about his relationship with co-star Helen George as he revealed it was 'confusing' dating her after their characters split on the show

Lorraine Kelly mused: 'In the show you were dating Nurse Trixie (Helen)... now youre dating Nurse Gilbert (Charlotte Ritchie)... but in real life youre dating Helen. Is it confusing?'

Jack confessed: 'Thats the confusing bit,' as he quipped 'as long as I know where were going...'

Asked when they began to date, he revealed that they got close in April, when the pair were abroad filming the Call The Midwife Christmas special.

Confusing: Speaking on Wednesday's episode of Lorraine, the actor - who plays Reverend Tom Hereward on the BBC show - admitted that it was a lot to wrap his head around

Opening up: Asked when they began to date, Jack revealed that they got close in April, when the pair were abroad filming the Call The Midwife Christmas special

Sympathetic: As Lorraine Kelly told him that she met her husband at work - as he is a cameraman - Jack reasoned that it's tough to meet anyone outside their field

'It blossomed in South Africa I think, around that time,' he explained.

As Lorraine told him that she met her husband at work - as he is a cameraman - Jack reasoned that it's tough to meet anyone outside their field.

'Its the long hours,' he claimed. 'Its where you meet people.'

Cute couple: Helen - who plays Nurse Trixie Franklin - has starred on the show since its creation in 2012, while Jack made his debut as handsome Rev. Tom Hereward in series three

Helen - who plays Nurse Trixie Franklin - has starred on the show since its creation in 2012, while Jack made his debut as handsome Rev. Tom Hereward in series three.

Helen's relationship with Jack is the first star she has been romantically linked to since splitting from fellow actor Oliver Boot.

The couple confirmed their separation in September following three years of marriage.

A representative for the star announced the news in a statement that read: 'I can confirm that Helen separated from her husband some time ago.'
Steve Aoki has revealed how an unlikely collaboration - and global chart success - with Louis Tomlinson came about.

Louis got in touch with the American DJ via Twitter after being 'blown away' by one of his shows in Las Vegas - which he attended with his One Direction band mates.

Recounting the story during an interview with Nova FM's Kent Smallzy Small on Monday, Steve told how he only got the call to perform that night in May last year because Calvin Harris had pulled out after he was involved in a car crash.

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Pop duo: Steve Aoki has revealed how an unlikely collaboration - and global chart success - with Louis Tomlinson came about

He said: 'I play in Vegas a lot and Louis went to a Calvin Harris show and that night Calvin Harris cancelled, he was sick or something and they called me and said "hey Steve, do you want to DJ Calvin's night because he can't make it?"

'And I was like "Yeah, I'm in town. Let's do this!" so I played and Louis and his friends were at the party and they were blown away by the set, you know. I was really happy I got to play that show and he followed me on Twitter. The old Twitter!'

The rest, as they say, is history.

Social network: Louis got in touch with the American DJ via Twitter after being 'blown away' by one of his shows in Las Vegas - which he attended with his One Direction band mates

Besties: On Tuesday night the DJ and the former boyband star hit up top LA nightclub 1Oak

Unfortunate: Steve told how he only got the call to perform that night in May last year because Calvin Harris had pulled out after he was involved in a car crash

The duo released Just Hold On in December last year and immediately topped charts all around the world.

Louis' vocals feature on the track, which topped iTunes charts in 43 countries and climbed to second in Steve's homeland.

Since collaborating on the record, the pair have gone on to become good friends, regularly featuring on each other's Instagrams.

Chart toppers: The duo released Just Hold On in December last year and immediately topped charts all around the world

The voice: Louis' vocals feature on the track, which topped iTunes charts in 43 countries and climbed to second in Steve's homeland

Earlier this month, Steve posted a behind the scenes video of the pair's performances and promotion of Just Hold On.

He added an emotional caption, it read: 'One of the most inspiring dudes on the planet & being there to support @louist91 on this day to debut our song to the world was life changing.'

Next week, the duo will perform on American TV twice, taking to the stage on the Tonight Show before rocking NBC's TODAY Show.
She's evolved from a privileged socialite reality star to an elegant mother-of-two.

And Nicole Richie stole the spotlight as she made a stylish arrival at the SVEDKA Vodkais 2nd Annual Broken Resolutions Bash in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

The 35-year-old showed off her svelte frame in a striking metallic gold blouse which she tucked into a figure-hugging patterned skirt.

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Stylish arrival: Nicole Richie, 35, showed off her svelte frame in a gold blouse and matching maxi-skirt at the SVEDKA Vodkais 2nd Annual Broken Resolutions Bash in Los Angeles on Tuesday

The dazzling top complemented her stylish floor-length skirt, which sported foiled gold leaf patterns throughout and an underlay of navy lace.

Sticking to the regal colour scheme, the daughter of Lionel Richie adorned herself with a labyrinth of matching gold chains and rings.

Nicole's shoulder-length blonde locks sported a deep side parting and were styled in sexy waves, framing her perfectly preened, chiselled make-up look.

The former Simple Life star - who is mother to Harlow, eight, and Sparrow, seven, with husband Joel Madden - took initiative from her former partying ways as she put on a lively display at the event.

All that glitters is gold: The dazzling top complemented her stylish maxi-skirt, which sported foiled gold leaf patterns throughout and an underlay of navy lace

Letting loose: Heading straight to the props section, Paris Hilton's former BFF threw on a bright orange cap and couldn't contain her giggles as she had some fun with an inflatable phone

Wrapping up: The former Simple Life star ensured her style icon status by arriving in a cream faux-fur shaggy coat

Accessorising: Sticking to the regal colour scheme, the daughter of Lionel Richie adorned herself with a labyrinth of matching gold chains and rings

Heading straight to the props section, Paris Hilton's former BFF threw on a bright orange cap and couldn't contain her giggles as she had some fun with an inflatable phone.

The beauty, who ensured her style icon status by arriving in a cream faux-fur shaggy coat, also took part in a giant spinning wheel game.

Nicole, who is a successful fashion designer with her line House of Harlow, made time at the event to mingle with her pal, Sara Foster.

The 35-year-old blonde bombshell rocked a pair of ankle-cropped denim jeans which she teamed with a matching one-shoulder frilly blue top.

Gal pal: Nicole, who is a successful fashion designer with her line House of Harlow, also ensured to enjoy the event by mingling with actress Sara Foster

Chic: The blonde bombshell rocked a pair of ankle-cropped denim jeans which she teamed with a matching one-shoulder frilly blue top

Meanwhile, Nicole's high-spirited appearance comes after rumours that her six-year marriage to Good Charlotte front-man was in trouble.

There has been reports of Richie ditching her wedding ring in early December, apparently fed up with rumours of Joel's flirting and philandering.

According to sources close to the reality starlet - who is big sister to rising model Sofia Ritchie, 18 - she is at her 'wits' end.'

A individual told the gossip site Radar: 'Nicole has tried everything! Shes just reached the end of her rope. She was a wild child once, but they have two kids now and she believes Joel needs to grow up for them  if not her.'
The full horror of her robbery ordeal in Paris in October - during which 8.5m worth of jewels were stolen - was laid bare after her police statement was published last week.

So it came as a shock to production staff working on star-studded film Ocean's 8 that Kim Kardashian chose to make a cameo in a jewellery heist film.

As part of her major comeback following a three-month hiatus from the spotlight, the reality TV star was in full Kardashian glamour mode as she filmed a part in the all-female installment of the Ocean's 11 franchise earlier this week.

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Odd choice: Kim Kardashian reportedly shocked production staff on new jewellery heist film Ocean's 8 by shooting a cameo this week - despite her own recent robbery hell

But the odd decision to appear in a movie with a subject so close to home is said to have baffled insiders on the movie, especially as it reportedly includes the theft of a necklace in a museum bathroom.

A source tells the New York Post's Page Six: 'We were surprised Kim showed up for filming.

'She had seemed totally traumatized by her Paris robbery. But then shell still appear in a movie that glamorizes a jewelry heist.'

Kim's sister Kendall had joined her on set to also film a small part. It is not yet known whether the siblings will be involved in a heist or are just part of the famous faces in the project, which boasts a stellar cast including Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter.

Her return to the spotlight comes as her full police statement was revealed, in which the 36-year-old told officers that she 'heard a noise at the door' and 'shouted out' but no one answered.

She described how masked thugs grabbed her and took her out to the entry hall.

She said: 'I was in a bathrobe, naked underneath. We went back to the bedroom and they pushed me onto the bed.'

Comeback: The decision to appear in a movie with a subject so close to home is said to have baffled insiders on the movie, especially as it reportedly includes the theft of a necklace in a museum bathroom

Too close to home? Kim's sister Kendall had joined her on set to also film a small part. It is not yet known whether the siblings will be involved in a heist or are just part of the famous faces in the project

Ordeal: The star's full police statement about what happened that night in Paris was published last week

The location: She described how masked thugs grabbed her and took her out to the entry hall of luxury apartment (pictured). The alleged mastermind behind the robbery has been charged, according to a French prosecutor

The statement release comes as the full names of the alleged gang members behind the robbery were made public, and Ms Kardashian prepared to travel to France to give evidence against them.

The mother-of-two was in a state of severe shock when she was quizzed for an hour from 4.30am by detectives on October 3 last year.

Less than two hours earlier five men broke into her central Paris apartment where she was sleeping alone after a fashion week dinner on a Sunday night.

'I heard a noise at the door, like footsteps, and I shouted to ask who was there, but no one answered,' said Ms Kardashian in the statement leaked to Le Journal du Dimanche.

She added that she called her bodyguard at 2.56am and saw trough her sliding doors two people arrive with a male reception who was tied up.

The concierge was Mr Abdulrahman, 39, who was forced to take the gang to the flat at gunpoint.

Sources say that 'months of surveillance' has taken place, including phone taps. A suspect is pictured being taken to a police station in Paris

Referring to the robbers, Ms Kardashian said: 'Both men were hooded, one had a ski mask and he had a cap and a jacket with 'Police' on it.

'The second man had the same 'Police' clothes, but did not have any ski mask. The man with the ski glasses was about 1.7m (5ft 6in), thin, black trousers, black boots.

'The second man, also European, was taller and he stayed with the security guard. He was around 1.8 (5ft 9ins) and was dressed in the same way as his accomplice. It was the one with the ski mask who stayed with me.'

Aomar Ait Khedache, a 60-year-old nicknamed 'Old Omar' and Didier Dubreucq, 60, and dubbed 'Blue Eyes' have been arrested on suspicion of robbery.

Referring to one of the men, Ms Kardashian said: 'He had a strong French accent and asked me for my ring [In English]. He looked at what was on the bedside table. It is worth $4 million.'

Police arrested 17 people over the robbery on Monday, including two brothers in their 50s accused of disposing of a $4m engagement ring. Two men are pictured being arrested during the dawn raids

Following repeated requests to produce her diamond engagement ring, Ms Kardashian told the robbers that she 'didn't know' where it was.

She said a gang member then 'took out a gun' and she 'showed him the ring'.

'He had gloves. He asked me where the jewels and the money was. He grabbed me and took me out to the entry hall. I was in a bathrobe, naked underneath,' she said.

She added: 'We then went back to the bedroom and they pushed me onto the bed. And at that point they tied me up and put plastic cables and scotch tap on my hands, and then taped my mouth and my legs. They took me to my bathroom, more specifically in my bathtub.

The reality star then listed the jewellery they had taken.

She said: 'In my jewellery box there were two Cartier diamond bracelets, a Jacob necklace in gold with diamonds, earrings with diamonds by Loraine Schwarz, and others by Yanina.

'There were three gold necklaces by Jacob, little bracelets, jewels, rings. A necklace by Loraine Schwarz with diamonds, another little necklace with six diamonds underneath.

'Another diamond necklace with the name of my son "Saint" on it. There was also a Jacob diamond cross. There were two rings in yellow gold. I think they robbed me of $5 million.'

In fact, the total haul was worth around $10m, or 8.5m.

Ms Kardashian continued: 'Then they ran away. During the theft, they had the hotel's mobile phone and it did not stop ringing, and they spoke in French.

'I got the impression they were saying they had to leave. Then I succeeded in pulling off the tape from my hands and my mouth. I guessed that they were a bit inexperienced in the manner in which they had tied me up.'

Asked if she was would recognise the attackers, Ms Kardashian said: 'Perhaps the small one, with the ski mask, but I'm not sure.'

Aomar Ait Khedache and Didier Dubreucq have been charged with a range of offences, including armed robbery.

Ait Khedache is said to have admitted his involvement in the well organised heist after his DNA was allegedly found on ties used on Ms Kardashian's wrists.

Kim posted this image of her engagement ring on Instagram before it was stolen in the robbery

His son, Harminy Ait Khedache, 27, is one of eight others also charged. Pierre Bouainere, a 72-year-old alleged career gangster, and a woman named only as Christiane, 70, who was the girlfriend of Aomar Ait Khedache, have also been charged.

Yunice Abas, 63, has reportedly admitted his involvement, according to judicial sources. He is said to have dropped a piece of jewellery as the gang escaped on bicycles.

Ms Kardashian is being kept informed about all developments in the case, and her lawyers have made it clear that she is prepared to return to Paris to give evidence.
Jennifer Lopez looked stunning when she headed to Catch in West Hollywood on Tuesday evening.

But the 47-year-old beauty did not get all dolled up for one of her female pals.

Rather the Shades Of Blue actress was having a one-on-one date with rumoured beau Drake, DailyMail.com has learned exclusively.

Bringing the drama: Jennifer Lopez (pictured left) headed to LA hotspot Catch LA on Tuesday to meet up with new 'beau' Drake (seen in 2016)

'They sat together, just the two of them, and looked very close,' a source told DailyMail.com.

Lopez and Drake, who spent time together at her Las Vegas All I Have show in December, have been making new music together.

'They looked like they were more than friends.'

It was added that the beauty looked 'very happy and very nicely put together in a sexy outfit.'

Thinking pink: The star carried a pastel and gold handbag and accessorised with oversized hooped earrings

The World Of Dance star 'leaned in close' to the ex of Rihanna and 'seemed to be having a blast.'

Lopez has yet to deny she has been dating the Hotline Bling hit maker. She was last linked to dancer Casper Smart.

Also at the hot spot was Scott DIsick and Chris Brown - who also used to date Rihanna. But they left shortly after the arrived.

The cover girl did her best to look comely for Drake. She teamed her fur vest coast with skinny jeans and suede brown ankle boots with fringed detail.

Fringe benefits: The singer sported eye-catching brown boots with fringed detail

Carrying a dusky pink handbag with gold clasps, the star teamed her outfit with oversized hooped earrings and layered bracelets.

J-Lo has a busy year ahead, starring opposite Ray Liotta in New York police drama Shades Of Blue where she appears as a hardened detective.

The superstar actress plays New York detective Harlee Santos, a struggling single mother who turns corrupt, in a desperate attempt to give her teenage daughter a better life.

She'll also appear as a judge alongside Ne-Yo and Derek Hough in the forthcoming show World Of Dance which will be hosted by actress Jenna Dewan.

Busy year: J-Lo will star in detective drama Shades of Blue as well as judge new talent show World Of Dance

U.S. network NBC ordered a 10-episode season of World Of Dance last July.

The winner of the dance competition series will win a grand prize of $1 million.

Crowd appeal, routine, execution and presentation will all factor into the contestants' scores.

On Tuesday, the star posted an Instagram of herself during the first day of the new talent show, alongside the caption: 'I love the first day of a new production!! Its the beginning of a new adventure!! I feel so lucky to be here with @neyo @derekhough @jennaldewan So exciting!!!! @nbcworldofdance Here we go!'
It's claimed his ex-girlfriend of nine years and mother of his three children, Kourtney Kardashian, is serious about giving their relationship another chance.

But glum Scott Disick didn't look too thrilled about the latest developments in his romantic life as she stepped out near his home in Calabasas, Los Angeles, on Tuesday morning.

The reality star, 33, looked a far cry from his usual dapper dress code as he donned a loose-fitting grey tracksuit to keep the cool January weather at bay.

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Something to smile about? Scott Disick didn't look too thrilled about the latest developments in his romantic life as she stepped out near his home in Calabasas, Los Angeles, on Tuesday

Opting for a decidingly laidback look, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star wore a baggy grey sweatshirt paired with black tracksuit bottoms.

Scott covered his floppy locks with a lint covered beanie, while his stylish facial hair drew focus to his chiseled jawline and handsome features.

Completing the simple look, the father-of-three donned comfortable white trainers as he ran errands across the Californian city on his day off.

The star's outing comes as it was reported his former flame Kourtney, 37, is keen to give their relationship a second chance - 18 months on from their split.

Cheer up, Scott! The reality star, 33, looked a far cry from his usual dapper dress code as he donned a loose-fitting grey tracksuit to keep the cool January weather at bay

Another shot: Kourtney Kardashian, 37, is said to be keen on giving her relationship with Scott another go (pictured in a social media snap earlier this month)

The eldest of the Kardashian siblings is said to be putting her rumoured romance with pop star Justin Bieber behind her in order to focus her attention on the father of her children.

The reality star, 37, and Bieber, 22, were spotted at The Peppermint Club in West Hollywood on Saturday, but things didn't go any further than that, according to People.

A source told the magazine that the famous two 'hung out together with friends, but didn't spend the night together. Kourtney is still serious about making things work with Scott.'

The source added: 'They chatted, had fun but that was it. Kourtney is finished hooking up with Justin.'

Done: Kourtney is said to no longer be having a fling with Justin Bieber, and has now focused her attention on giving her relationship with Scott another go

Kourtney met up with Justin after celebrating Cash Warren's pajama-themed birthday party, which saw the likes of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen in attendance.

A source told Us Weekly that Kourtney and Justin also met up at Delilah that same evening, but 'just...as friends'.

'They were just there as friends, with friends and and it was not romantic,' the source added of the pair, who reportedly parted ways at two in the morning.

Kourtney's late night rendezvous with the Justin came after several sporadic sightings dating back to August 2015.

Pajama party: Kourtney met up with Justin after celebrating Cash Warren's pajama-themed birthday party, which saw the likes of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen in attendance

A year ago, the University of Arizona grad coyly admitted 'We're friends, yes' on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

And Justin addressed the rumours in 2015, telling The Bert Show: 'I'm being used, man. What can I say?...No, no, but for real, shes great. I've known [the family] for years.'

Kourtney and Scott have three children together: Mason, seven, Penelope, four, and Reign, two.

From the beginning: Kourtney's late night rendezvous with the Justin came after several sporadic sightings dating back to August 2015 (Bieber, pictured in January 2017)

The pair called it quits in July 2015 after photos emerged of Scott canoodling with stylist Chloe Bartoli.

On Friday, meanwhile, Kourtney's ex reportedly 'went MIA' during his trip to Dubai with her younger sister Kim.

'No one knew where he was at. He was supposed to be there to watch over Kim, but no one could find him,' a source told RadarOnline of Disick.

Kourtney flipped out and when she finally got Scott on the phone, he told her that she has trust issues.' Infuriated she promptly tweeted: 'I've got trust issues.'
They're one of TOWIE's most solid and stable couples, having seemingly avoided the pitfalls of a relationship on reality TV.

So it was no surprise to see Georgia Kousoulou and her boyfriend Tommy Mallet looking every inch the picture perfect couple on their holiday to Mexico.

Sharing some sunny snaps from their break in Riviera Maya on Instagram, Georgia, 25, couldn't resist showcasing her enviable bikini body in a range of outfits.

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TOWIE's Georgia Kousoulou couldn't resist showing off her enviable bikini body as she slipped into a bikini whilst enjoying a romantic break in Mexico with boyfriend Tommy Mallet

Sharing a series of sunny and idyllic photos with her 970,000 followers, Georgia couldn't help but flaunt her gym-honed physique as she enjoyed some R&R with her beau.

Posing up a storm for one picture on her own, the TOWIE star took the chance to showcase her enviable figure in a tiny black bikini.

Opting for a plunging, strappy two-piece, Georgia showed a serious amount of skin whilst also flaunting her toned abs and lithe legs.

Fun in the sun! Sharing some sunny snaps from their break in Riviera Maya on Instagram, Georgia, 25, couldn't resist showcasing her enviable bikini body in a range of outfits

Sweeping her long blonde hair off of her face, the clothing designer and reality star looked to be channelling a beachy look.

But while pictures from both Georgia and Tommy's feeds on Instagram show them enjoying the sun, sea and sand in Mexico, the couple have also been keen to keep themselves fit.

The keen fitness followers have shared a series of workout snaps during their time at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.

Flaunting that figure: Sharing a series of sunny and idyllic photos with her 970,000 followers, Georgia couldn't help but flaunt her physique as she enjoyed some R&R with her beau

Fighting fit: While pictures from Georgia and Tommy's feeds show them enjoying the sun, sea and sand in Mexico, the couple have also been keen to keep themselves fit

While Georgia has been shared a number of snaps of her taking in some exercise around the picturesque location ,Tommy has been more quiet on the gym front.

After suffering from piriformis syndrome [a condition which affect the piriformis muscle in the buttock] over December, the Essex boy revealed he'd piled on weight.

'Put so much weight on over December from having piriformis syndrome,' wrote Tommy next to one sullen picture in which he highlighted his struggle to get back in shape.

In pain: After suffering from piriformis syndrome [a condition which affect the piriformis muscle in the buttock] over December, the Essex boy revealed he'd piled on weight

Battling back: He wrote: 'Been stuck in a back brace... But lost a stone in 7 days... I ain't a ripped geezer but considering I've struggled to walk I think I've done ok!'

'Been stuck in a back brace... But lost a stone in 7 days... I ain't a ripped geezer but considering I've struggled to walk I think I've done ok!! Thanks @georgiakousoulou for pushing me.'

In another shirtless picture, the shoe designer made fun of his belly and arms, though it didn't stop him casting a smouldering look at the camera.

However, despite Tommy's back problems, the couple looked to be having plenty of fun in the sun.

Cute couple: However, despite Tommy's back problems, the couple looked to be having plenty of fun in the sun

'We cute': Georgia in particular has been keen to share a number of loved-up selfies, with the blonde Essex girl cosying up to her boyfriend
They've been inseparable since their reconciliation late last year.

And Vicky Pattison and her boyfriend John Nobel looked like they were still going strong as they enjoyed a loved-up date night at London's STK restaurant on Tuesday evening.

The former Geordie Shore star, 29, looked overjoyed to be spending her night off with her man as she beamed from ear to ear while heading into the upmarket eatery.

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New year, same bae! Vicky Pattison, 29, looked happier than ever as she enjoyed a loved-up date night with her beau John Nobel at London's STK restaurant on Tuesday evening

The reality star looked her usual fashionable self in a sophisticated peach frock, which elegantly hugged her figure in all the right places.

Featuring a huge slit up one side, the floor-length dress billowed in the breeze as she strutted into the restaurant while clinging onto her man for support.

Vicky kept the winter chill at bay in a sophisticated white coat, while she teetered on towering gold stilettos and toted her belongings in a matching metallic clutch.

The I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! winner pulled her chestnut locks into an elegant up-do, and opted for heavy make-up.

Date night: The former Geordie Shore star looked glamorous in a floor-length peach frock, which she teamed with a pristine cream coat and towering gold stiletto heels

Hold me close: With a hand tenderly resting on her boyfriend's leg, Vicky looked happier than ever as she pouted for the camera in a sweet social media snap

Vicky's beau echoed her stylish ensemble, opting for a dapper three-piece suit paired with a crisp white shirt and satin tie.

John seemed besotted with his leading lady as he took to Instagram to share a sweet snap from the couple's date night.

With a hand tenderly resting on her boyfriend's leg, Vicky looked happier than ever as she pouted for the camera.

John simply captioned the shot: 'Another amazing evening'.

Vicky has been littering her social media with pictures of the couple ever since they rekindled their flame late last year.

Style queen: The Newcastle native has been enjoying the start of the new year with a string of dates with her new beau (pictured leaving BBC Radio 1 in central London on Monday)

In her romantic gushings, the Newcastle-native has written: 'What's meant to be will always find a way...', '(He is) the love of my life..' and also branding John 'the only man I have ever loved...'

The brunette beauty's love life has cut a chequered story since she first soared to fame on Geordie Shore five years ago.

Wild child Vicky dated Jay Gardner in the inaugural series, before departing the show in the ninth season in 2013.

The most prominent of her love stories was undoubtedly her engagement to co-star Ricci Guarnaccio, who she met in the second season while in the midst of another relationship, although she cut off the romance to start dating Ricci.

Vicky and Ricci split 15 months later and she went on to date a plethora of reality stars, including Made In Chelsea's Spencer Matthews, TOWIE's Mario Falcone and her Ex On The Beach co-star, Stephen Bear.
She recently revealed she dropped out of school for being bullied.

And on Wednesday model Nikki Phillips escaped the heat by taking a stroll beachside in Sydney.

Wearing a stunning blue floral frock, the blonde beauty showcased her toned legs and pert posterior as she walked barefoot on the sand.

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Nikki captioned the post: 'Heatwave. Sydney you are seriously handing out some flaming hot days! Dip between meetings today was a must!'

She began her modelling career at just 14 after entering a New Zealand competition in 1998.

But Nikki had less success winning over peers at school when she revealed a frightful incident with bullies that forced her to drop out after one peer cut her with a knife.

The 33-year-old spoke candidly about being bullied in high school during a Date With Kate interview with Kate Waterhouse.

'One girl cut me with a craft knife': Nikki Phillips recalls unpopular status in high school and how bullies forced her to drop out early in a Date With Kate interview

The model admited she was always a country kid at heart, but was relentlessly picked on after she started modelling.

'I was in a popular group, but I was like the loser in the popular group I started modelling pretty early and got bullied like nothing on Earth,' she added.

She said the bullying reached fever pitch when she was in her final year of high school.

'I was like the loser in the popular group': The model revealed she had a rough time finding genuine friends in school after she began modelling

'I actually left school early [at the beginning of year 12] because one girl cut me with a craft knife,' Nikki revealed to lifestyle blogger Kate.

Nikki was previously attacked by the public for opening up about her cervical cancer diagnosis in Cleo Magazine.

She said she deals with criticism by building a wall and staying happy and content within her own life.

New life in Australia! In 2002, shortly after her high school incident, Nikki moved to Australia to pursue work at a modelling agency booking talent before clients began to ask her: 'Are you available?'

In 2002, shortly after her high school incident, Nikki moved to Australia to pursue work at a modelling agency booking talent.

However, her potential was spotted by clients: 'I would be booking models [for clients] but they would be like, "Well, are you available?"' she said.

Enjoying a successful model career since, she reminisced on a Dolce & Gabbana show in Germany with Gisele [Bundchen] as a particular highlight.
Sasha Mielczarek has wasted no time finding someone else to spend his time with after his split from Sam Frost.

The Bachelorette winner, whose relationship with the 2DAY FM radio host ended last month, has been busy throwing himself into his new fitness blog for tradies.

Sasha took to Instagram on Wednesday to promote the second post on Fit Tradie with a picture of him and co-founder Chris, dressed in matching shirts as they cruise around on a street sweeper.

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Sasha took to Instagram on Wednesday to promote the second post on Fit Tradie with a picture of him and co-founder Chris

He captioned the snap: 'They see us rolling, they hating! That's how @chrisweir05 and I role! It's week 2 and the latest @FitTradie blog is up like a hot air balloon and it's all about New Years Resolutions! (sic)'

The reality star had earlier penned a post advising his Fit Tradies how to stick to their New Year's resolutions and to add a 'walk around the block' into their workout schedules.

Sasha unveiled his new project on Instagram last week, uploading a photo of himself and his chum in a pub giving each-other a high-five while taking a sip from their glasses.

Sasha Mielczarek has wasted no time finding someone else to spend his time with after his split from Sam Frost in December

Living the bachelor dream! Sasha Mielczarek appears to have brushed off heartbreak with the help of his construction worker pal, having launched a collaborative fitness blog for tradies last week

In the caption, he wrote: 'Hi 5! Yes that's right the moment you've all been waiting for - and no it's not your leopard skin g-string you missed out on for Christmas! @chrisweir05 and myself want to introduce you to @fittradie!'

'A blog full of gramatical errors where two Aussie fellas (didnt even mean to rhyme there but you're welcome) will offer their perspectives on how to lead a healthy yet balanced lifestyle where smashing the odd Chiko Roll or a can of froff (beer) is strongly encouraged.'

He went on: 'If you have a spare 5 minutes go to the link in my bio and have a 'Captain Cook' (look).'

Worried? Sources close to Sam's family claim the reality star's family is relieved she split from Sasha due to his father's ties to a bikie gang. Sasha poses with Mielczarek's Snr (centre) and his brother Jay (R) who's tattoo shop was pelted with bullets in 2015

'If you like it share it with your friends and if you don't tell a stranger so you can waste their time too,' he concluded.

Sasha is likely to have more time to dedicate to his new blog following his recent split from Sam Frost, who often invited him to appear on her 2DAY FM radio show.

It comes after Woman's Day reported that Sam family is glad she split from Sasha due to his father's ties to a bikie gang.

Sisterly love: Sam's family have always been close to her, especially her sister Kristine, who has said in the past that, 'Being Sam's big sister, I'm very protective of her'

'Sam's family have always been fearful of Sasha's dad's ties to the Rebels motorcycle gang,' a close friend told the publication this week.

In an October 2015 interview with OK! magazine, Sasha confirmed his biological father, Sasha Mielczarek's Snr, had been linked to the bikie club.

Sasha Jnr, himself however, has no links to the outlaw gang.

Confident: Sam, seen here with her brothers, wasn't worried about Sasha's family. 'There's nothing I could ever find out that could sway me because he tells me everything. It's all cool on my end,' she insisted

'That's a fact,' he told the publication, clarifying his father's involvement with the motorcycle club, before adding, 'and at the end of the day, I chose a different path'.

Former Bachelorette Sam did not seem too fazed either by Sasha's dad's ties to the Rebels bikie club, insisting in 2015 that her man 'has been really open about it'.

'There's nothing I could ever find out that could sway me because he tells me everything. It's all cool on my end,' she insisted.

Troubles: The Woman's Day report goes on to say that 'alarm bells rang' for Sam's family (she's pictured here with her mother Debbie) when a Picton, NSW tattoo shop run by Sasha's brother Jay was pelted by bullets in 2015

Family ties: 'Sam's family have always been fearful of Sasha's dad's ties to the Rebels motorcycle gang,' a close friend told Woman's Day this week

The Woman's Day report goes on to say that 'alarm bells rang' for Sam's family when a Picton, NSW tattoo shop run by Sasha's brother Jay was pelted by bullets in 2015.

Sasha's father denied that the incident had anything to do with his bikie affiliations.

'The place next door was hit three times and this shop has been caught in the crossfire,' Sasha Mielczarek's Snr told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

'I don't have a criminal record and we don't let people loiter around the shop. The business is now run by Jay anyway.'

Sam's family have always been close to her, especially her sister Kristine, who has said in the past that, 'Being Sam's big sister, I'm very protective of her'.
Geoffrey Edelsten appears to have patched things up with ex-wife Brynne.

The flambouyant 73-year-old and his former flame have spent time together at their 2009 wedding venue, Crown Casino in Melbourne, according to The Daily Telegraph on Thursday.

The publication report that the pair have met 'a couple of times recently' after years of little contact since splitting in 2014.

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Back on? Geoffrey Edelsten appears to have patched things up with ex-wife Brynne, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph

Geoffrey seperated from his third wife, Gabi Grecko, in September 2015 - just four months after they had tied the knot.

The elderly socialite was married to first wife Leanne Nesbitt for four years before they divorced in 1988.

His five-year union with Brynne was the longest of his marriages and the publication alleges that the couple have been 'mending bridges' in recent times.

Last week, Geoffrey made a spectacular entrance when arriving for a divorce settlement hearing with Brynne.

Making an entrance: Geoffrey arrived for court in a Mercedes with blacked out number plates last week

The colourful entrepreneur arrived in a flash Mercedes, which retails for $100,000 brand new, and a blacked out number plate which he attributed to a car accident last year.

Geoffrey wore a black suit and shirt to court, accessorising with a yellow and purple patterned tie.

He paired the conservative outfit with a pair of heeled cowboy boots.

Clutching a notepad and some papers, Geoffrey wore a sombre expression as he made his way into the court.

'The number plate has been destroyed': When asked why his number plate was blacked out, the entrepreneur told Daily Mail Australia the car he has 'had for a while' was involved in an accident before Christmas

Clutching a notepad and some papers, Geoffrey wore a sombre expression as he made his way into the court

When asked why his number plate was blacked out, the entrepreneur told Daily Mail Australia the car he has 'had for a while' was involved in an accident before Christmas.

'It was smashed into by a bus and it's on its way to the repair shop,' Geoffrey said.

'The number plate has been destroyed.'

A splash of colour: Geoffrey wore a black suit and shirt to the hearing, accessorising with a yellow and purple patterned tie

A touch of Texas: He paired the conservative outfit with a pair of heeled cowboy boots

Getting repaired: The luxury car aficionado also added that the relevant authorities were aware of the issue, which had been delayed due to closures over the holiday

Victorian law states that number plates must be clearly visible from a distance of 20 metres, and obscured plates carry a fine of $110 and three demerit points.

However, the luxury car aficionado also added that the relevant authorities were aware of the issue, which had been delayed due to closures over the holidays.

Geoffrey declined to comment on how his day in divorce settlement had gone, adding there was 'nothing I can say about it' while it was still before family court.
He enjoyed a rather memorable 2016 after welcoming his first child into the world in June and being awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in December.

But Eddie Redmayne looked every inch the regular doting daddy as he carried his baby daughter, Iris Mary, six months, through London's Heathrow Airport as they prepared to catch a flight on Wednesday.

The Oscar-winning actor, 35, tenderly cradled his little girl in a carrier on his chest as they wandered through the terminal together.

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Daddy daycare: Eddie Redmayne looked every inch the regular doting dad as he carried his baby daughter, Iris Mary, six months, through London's Heathrow Airport on Wednesday

A far cry from his usual slick suits on the red carpet, the The Theory Of Everything star kept things casual in a red and black plaid jacket and charcoal jeans.

The Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them star accessorised his jet-set look with a cosy black scarf and comfortable white trainers as he headed off to catch his flight.

Eddie's wife of two years, publicist Hannah Bagshawe, 33, wasn't present as the pair prepared to jet out of London.

2016 was quite a year for Eddie, who welcomed his first child, daughter Iris Mary, into the world in June.

Daddy's little girl: The Oscar-winning actor, 35, tenderly cradled his little girl in a carrier on his chest as they wandered through the terminal together

And his stellar 2016 was capped off in December when he collected an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle in Berkshire in recognition of services to drama.

But the Eton-educated star admitted that while being a parent was 'wonderful', he was feeling a little sleep deprived on his big day because of little Iris.

'She does have the habit of knowing when you have a big day, like today', he sighed.

'And she was up until four in the morning, so both my wife and I came today with matchsticks under our eyes. Other than that she is on cracking form.'

Of his latest honour, he said: 'It was absolutely wonderful.

Daddy cool: A far cry from his usual slick suits on the red carpet, the The Theory Of Everything star kept things casual in a red and black plaid jacket and charcoal jeans

'Also being with such extraordinary people the whole experience is incredibly humbling and also getting to be in Windsor Castle is breathtaking, around Christmas as well with all the decorations.'

Pressed on what the Queen had said to him, the Danish Girl star said: 'She was asking me whether I prefer film or theatre, and asked me if I enjoyed it.

'Im very lucky to do something I am passionate about - Im very grateful to do something I love because it is a rare thing.'

Eddie said it was 'an extraordinary thing' to receive his OBE, adding: 'It is something that I had never thought of and it was never in my wildest imagination.'

Talented: Eddie's stellar 2016 was capped off in December when he collected an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle in Berkshire in recognition of services to drama

Eddie and Hannah started dating in 2012 after previously being friends since their school days.

They first met when the actor was studying at Eton College, while Hannah was boarding at a nearby girls' school.

However their friendship turned to romance when Eddie invited her to visit him in Italy while he was filming Les Miserables.

The couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at Babington House in Somerset in December 2014.
Imogen Anthony went to great lengths to make her sister feel better on Wednesday.

The Instagram model used the social media site to post a video of her having three piercings in her left ear - in an attempt to make her sibling feel better about having her own ear pierced.

Imogen is seen shouting 'you're a f***ing trickster' at the man performing the piercing at Pierce Xpress in Sydney.

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Sisterly love: Imogen Anthony went to great lengths to make her sister feel better on Wednesday

In the caption, Imogen wrote: 'Just got three ear piercings at once to make my sister feel better about her getting one.'

The blonde is seen lying on a bed at the parlour in a tie-dye t-shirt as the body piercer pokes a needle through her ear.

The workers at Pierce Xpress clearly found the video amusing, commenting 'Hahaha nailed it!!! (sic)' on her post.

Hole in one: The Instagram model used the social media site to post a video of her having three piercings in her left ear - in an attempt to make her sibling feel better about having her own ear pierced

Pain: Imogen is seen shouting 'you're a f***ing trickster' at the man performing the piercing at Pierce Xpress in Sydney

On Wednesday, Imogen shared yet another bizarre photographic offering on Instagram - an image of herself posing with a knife held between her breasts.

With the blade delicately poised beneath her flimsy bra, the girlfriend of shock jock Kyle Sandilands, 45, was sure to raise some eyebrows.

Imogen was clad in an edgy ensemble consisting of a black mini skirt covered in chains, a patch-work leather bra and a series of studded leather accessories.

'Knife party': Imogen didn't dissapoint fans on Wednesday when she shared her latest photographic offering on Instagram- an image of herself posing with a knife held between her breasts

'Equipped #KnifeParty,' she wrote in the caption, making sure to tag her own fashion brand, White Trash Royalty.

Delighted fans showered her with compliments, with one commenting: 'absolutely gorgeous.'

It comes days after Imogen shared a sultry clip of herself performing tongue tricks, while staring seductively into the camera.

Tongue-tied: It comes days after Imogen shared a sultry clip of herself performing tongue tricks, while staring seductively into the camera

She began the video by gazing at the camera, showing off her plump pout.

The star then opened her mouth and contorted her tongue seductively.

The clip was recorded using an old video camera footage-style filter thanks to it's grainy texture.

'You insolent piece of s***': Imogen recently hit out at her fashion critics after she was dubbed one of Australia's worst dressed celebrities for 2016 by an unnamed writer

Imogen recently hit out at her fashion critics after she was dubbed one of Australia's worst dressed celebrities for 2016 by an unnamed writer.

'You insolent piece of s***,' Imogen said in an expletive-ridden response video shared to her Instagram page.

'If I see one picture of you wearing a f***en Birkenstock or a white collared shirt with a pleated skirt, I will put my cigarette out on it,' she later said.
Halle Berry was spotted on Tuesday filming an intense scene for her forthcoming historical drama Kings.

The 50-year-old's character flung herself into the fray as a male character was apprehended by police during a scene shot in LA.

The officer was holding the tearful-looking man's arms behind his back, and the Oscar-winner lunged forward, looking as though she wanted to break up the pair.

Hard at work: Halle Berry was spotted on Tuesday filming an intense scene for her forthcoming historical drama Kings

She is wearing a faded denim jacket over matching jeans cut off above the ankle, as well as a simple white blouse and nude high-heeled shoes.

Several other characters were milling about near the central scuffle, which involved at least three police officers.

At one point, one of the coppers put a hand on each of Berry's arms as she lifted her hands, seeming to speak emphatically.

Getting involved: Outdoors in Los Angeles, the 50-year-old's character flung herself into the fray as a male character was apprehended by police

At least three police on the scene: At one point, one of the coppers put a hand on each of Berry's arms as she lifted her hands, seeming to speak emphatically

A hand of reassurance?: At another point, as the police officers hauled off the man they'd apprehended, the Berry character clutched at the latter's arm, a stricken expression on her face

At another point, as the police officers hauled off the man they'd apprehended, the Berry character clutched at the latter's arm, a stricken expression on her face.

She also appeared to be speaking vehemently to the policemen as a group, one of whom kept a firm grip on the man they were whisking from the scene.

A portion of the scene also saw her wrapping her arms about the caught character in an emotional embrace.

Tough situation: She also appeared to be speaking vehemently to the policemen themselves, who'd kept a firm grip on the man they were whisking from the scene

Emotional moment: A portion of the scene also saw her wrapping her arms about the caught character in an embrace

When he wound up on the ground, seemingly in physical pain, she squatted near him, her own consternation clear.

The entire encounter appeared to go disastrously, as Berry's character, the police, the man they'd got, and several onlookers wound up a tangled heap on the ground.

Written and directed by Deniz Gamze Erguven, Kings - her first film in English - follows a South Central LA foster family as the Rodney King trial progresses.

Staying near him: When he wound up on the ground, seemingly in physical pain, she squatted near him, her own consternation clear

The outcome: The entire encounter appeared to go disastrously, as Berry's character, the police, the man they'd got, and several onlookers wound up a tangled heap on the ground

When the police officers who'd beaten King were acquitted, the infamous six-day 1992 Los Angeles riots flared up, leaving 55 people dead.

Erguven's known for Mustang, a 2015 Turkish-French-German co-production set in Turkey which earned a Best Foreign Language Film nod at the Oscars.

Last June, Deadline reported Daniel Craig was in talks for a Kings role, though there's been no confirmation since that he'll be in the film.

A new language: Written and directed by Deniz Gamze Erguven, Kings - her first film in English - follows a South Central LA foster family as the Rodney King trial progresses
Amber Heard hit up ArcLight Hollywood on Tuesday night just five days after her divorce from Johnny Depp was finalised.

The 30-year-old actress looked somber in a black top, matching jacket, skinny jeans, booties, and a statement necklace.

The Danish Girl stunner caught a showing of 20th Century Women with her 'Internet researcher' mother Patricia Paige and sister Whitney.

Single lady: Amber Heard hit up ArcLight Hollywood on Tuesday night just five days after her divorce from Johnny Depp was finalised

High school drop-out: The 30-year-old actress looked somber in a black top, matching jacket, skinny jeans, booties, and a statement necklace

Chick flick: The Danish Girl stunner caught a showing of 20th Century Women with her 'Internet researcher' mother Patricia Paige and sister Whitney

That same day, Amber's 53-year-old ex was in costume as Detective Russell Poole on the set of LAbyrinth about the unsolved murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.

The Rum Diary co-stars officially ended their 15-month marriage Friday after Heard shockingly accused Depp of domestic abuse.

According to TMZ, the Texan-born blonde got custody of their Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo and will donate her $7M settlement to ACLA and Children's Hospital.

And the three-time Oscar nominee got to keep his numerous properties worldwide as well as his 42 vehicles/boats.

Working: That same day, Amber's 53-year-old ex was in costume as Detective Russell Poole on the set of LAbyrinth about the unsolved murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.

That's all folks: The Rum Diary co-stars officially ended their 15-month marriage Friday after Heard shockingly accused Depp of domestic abuse (pictured in 2016)

It's over: According to TMZ, the Texan-born blonde got custody of their Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo and will donate her $7M settlement to ACLA and Children's Hospital (pictured in 2014)

Worth $12.6B: The Magic Mike XXL actress has already been romantically linked to billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk since last summer (pictured November 8)

The Magic Mike XXL actress has already been romantically linked to billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk since last summer.

In November, Amber was sued by London Fields producers for $10M for ditching performance and promotional obligations - according to THR.

It's been three years since Heard wrapped her role as clairvoyant femme fatale Nicola Six on the troubled film noir and no release date has been set.

The bisexual beauty will next play Mera (Queen of Atlantis) opposite Jason Momoa's Aquaman in DC Comics flick Justice League, which hits UK/US theaters November 17.

More legal woes: In November, Amber was sued by London Fields producers for $10M for ditching performance and promotional obligations

Coming soon? It's been three years since Heard wrapped her role as clairvoyant femme fatale Nicola Six on the troubled film noir and no release date has been set
Natalie Portman was spotted on Wednesday looking casual while out to run an errand or two in Los Angeles.

Her tight black tank top draped about the bulging bump that indicated her second pregnancy by her husband Benjamin Millepied.

The 35-year-old had pulled her hair severely back and wound it into a bun behind her head, popping a pair of aviator sunglasses onto her face.

Relaxed: Natalie Portman was spotted on Thursday looking casual while out to run an errand or two in Los Angeles

On the way: Her tight black tank top draped about the bulging bump that indicated her second pregnancy by her husband Benjamin Millepied

She'd slung on a hoodie designed in various shades of grey, complementing the comfortable-looking sweats she'd slipped into for her day out.

'RADARTE' was scrawled in gleaming letters down the side of one trouser leg, and she'd picked out a pair of blue, white and grey trainers.

The Jerusalem-born actress and Bordeaux-born choreographer wed in 2012, having welcomed their son Aleph the previous year.

Nesting: The Jerusalem-born actress and Bordeaux-born choreographer wed in 2012, having welcomed their son Aleph the previous year

Keeping fit: Natalie kept up the pace during what appeared to be an easy trek

Tip-top shape! Her low intensity workouts will surely allow her to maintain her health

Walk in the park: After her morning errands, the expecting mother hit the trails for a little excercise

After her morning stroll, the star kicked things up a notch with a little excercise.

The expecting mommy kept on her cute Rodarte sweatsuit while hitting the trails for a low intensity hike with a friend.

Natalie and her excercise buddy chatted and power walked, both staying hydrated with refillable water bottles in hand.

Chit chat: The mother-of-two was in an intense conversation

Light and fresh: Natalie's clothing allowed her enough breathing room

Portman's given a critically exulted performance as the woman then called Jacqueline Kennedy in the 2016 Pablo Larrain film Jackie.

The biopic follows the erstwhile US First Lady as she comes to grips with bereavement in the immediate aftermath of her husband John F Kennedy's assassination.

She's told W that, as far as getting into character was concerned, 'The physical and emotional sides came together all at once.'

Lumberjack lovely: Natalie's friend wore a stylish plaid hat

Grey details: She also wore similar colours as the stary

Easy style: Her pretty friend sported a long braid

Baby on board! Natalie looked very pregnant in her black and grey outfit, showing off quite the bump when seen in profile

She recalled: 'I was doing the research - watching the tapes and working on the dialect and everything - at the same time as they were getting me into my costume fittings and hair and make-up tests.'

As she described her process, 'once you have that hair... the hair is so iconic that it can kind of make you look like her even though I don't naturally look like her that much apart from my colouring.'

At another point, she noted that 'Obviously, people have preconceived ideas about who she was and what she was like. And the first thing you want to be for an audience is believable, of course.'

As a result, 'you have to achieve a certain threshold of believability at the beginning just to get people to go to the movie, and to stop seeing you as an actor.'
She recently made her Broadway debut in the Sydney Theatre Company's production of The Present.

And Cate Blanchett, 47, took a break from the stage during a low-key outing in New York's ritzy Tribeca neighbourhood on Wednesday.

The Academy award-winning actress looked very chilly, rugged up in a chic grey winter coat as she braved Manhattan's freezing tempertaures of below 10 degrees celcius, while making her way around town.

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All rugged up! Cate Blanchett, 47, took a break from the stage to enjoy a low-key outing in New York's ritzy Tribeca Neighbourhood on Wednesday

She paired the look with black jeans and matching boots while sporting dark shades to add an element of mystery.

The mother-of-four's blonde locks were swept up in a loose ponytail and she appeared makeup-free as she pounded the pavement.

Last month, the Hollywood beauty and wife of Australian playwright Andrew Upton, told Vogue that she wasn't concerned about her film career when she decided to focus on work with the STC.

Winter chic: The Academy award-winning actress rugged up in a chic grey winter coat as she braved Manhattan's freezing tempertaures of below 10 degrees celcius, while making her way around town

Freezing! The Hollywood starlet did her best to cover her face in the cold weather

Low-key outing: The mother-of-four's blonde locks were swept up in a loose ponytail and she appeared makeup-free as she pounded the pavement

'Someone said to me when Andrew and I were offered the job of running the theater "That is the most insane decision you could make. What's going to happen to your film career?" I didn't think about it. It'll either be there or it won't,' she said.

'It's the interesting work and conversation that drive me, whatever the medium may be.'

When speaking of her role in The Present, Cate explained Anna's emotional state changes like the weather.

Debut: Cate made her Broadway debut in the Sydney Theatre Company's production of The Present at New York's Ethel Barrymore Theatre earlier this month

All Australian cast: Cate (L) was joined by Richard Roxburgh (R) on stage at New York's Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Saturday, with 11 other members of the all-Australian theatre company

'Emotional states come upon her one after the other, and you have to simply be inside the shifting states, which is either excruciating or thrilling.'

The Present is Andrew's adaptation of Chekhov's Platonov and will officially began on January 8 and runs for 13 weeks.

Andrew, Cate, and actor Richard Roxburgh, have dabbled in New York theatre before, including 2012's run of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya at the Lincoln Center - but never on Broadway.

The Present unfolds over the course of a birthday celebration in the post-Perestroika Russian countryside when old flames reignite.

Coming soon: The Present is playwright and Cate's husband Andrew Upton's adaptation of Chekhov's Platonov and will officially begin January 8 and last for 13 weeks
She recently returned from a getaway to Bali, following her painful split from her boyfriend of 18 months.

But Sam Frost was all smiles on Wednesday, 'happy to be home' and hanging out with her former Bachelorette flame, Dave Billsborrow.

In a short clip uploaded to her Instagram Story, the blonde beauty was seen smiling broadly as she whirled her camera phone around on a balcony to reveal she was with the plumber.

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'Happy to be home': Sam Frost was all smiles on Wednesday and 'happy to be home' as she filmed a video while hanging out with her former Bachelorette flame, Dave Billsborrow

However, the duo weren't alone, they were also joined by Dave's girlfriend of approximately eight months, Cortnee Spessot.

The trio giggled as the camera appeared to move somewhat out of control on a selfie stick, the reflection of which could be seen in her oversized sunglasses.

Later, a smiling Sam shared a still image on her Story - a selfie with Dave, who didn't look quite as impressed.

Writing over the image, Sam captioned it: 'Cort + This dude are legit my favourites', adding the hashtag 'good to be home' and tagging the couple.

Selfie stick: In a short clip uploaded to her Instagram Story, the blonde beauty was seen smiling broadly as she whirled her camera phone around on a balcony using a selfie stick

Not alone: The duo weren't alone, they were also joined by Dave's girlfriend of approximately eight months, Cortnee Spessot

Dave and Cortnee have been dating since May last year, shortly after his split from Sam's best friend at the time, Sarah Mae Amey.

Meanwhile, Dave and Sam have been seen hanging out a number of times since her split from boyfriend Sasha was first rumoured.

And while Dave and Sasha appeared to be good mates, with the trio often spending time together, it seems Dave may have sided with Team Frost in the split.

'Cort + This dude are legit my favourites': A smiling Sam shared a still image on her Story - a selfie with Dave, who didn't look quite as impressed

Team Frost? While Dave (left) and Sasha (right) appeared to be good mates, with the trio often spending time together, it seems Dave may have sided with Team Frost in the split

Good mates: Sasha (centre) and Dave (right) became good friends in the Bachelorette mansion while competing for Sam's affections

Sam, who was dressed in a red and white polka dot top, was seen giggling and smiling throughout the video and looking relaxed after her much-needed getaway.

It was a rough end to the year for the reality TV star-turned-radio host, who announced her breakup after Christmas and days later lost her breakfast radio gig.

However, not all is lost for the Bachelorette babe with her show alongside Rove McManus shifted to an evening slot, which means more sleep in in 2017.

Split: Bachelorette couple Sam and Sasha (pictured) announced their split in December, after 18 months together
Kim Zolciak-Biermann's retro mother-daughter snap (likely taken around 2005) only served to highlight how much cosmetic work the reality star has undergone.

The 38-year-old TRHOA alum - who boasts 5.3M followers - captioned her picture: 'Can't believe this one will be 20 next month [February 25] @briellebiermann!'

The selfie enthusiast gave birth to Brielle when she was just a 19-year-old nursing student still being supported by her own parents.

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From faux fur to leather: Kim Zolciak-Biermann's retro mother-daughter snap (likely taken around 2005) only served to highlight how much cosmetic work the reality star has undergone

Not the nose or the lips? The 38-year-old TRHOA alum has admitted to having botox, breast implants, and a tummy tuck in the past

Kim - born Kimberleigh - has admitted to having botox, breast implants, and a tummy tuck in the past.

The Florida-born mother-of-six even allows her 19-year-old daughter to receive lip injections from Dr. Simon Ourian (just like Kylie Jenner).

And as recent as October 24, the popular cosmetic dermatologist injected Sculptra fillers into the Southern belle's buttocks to remove cellulite at his Epione clinic.

But when Zolciak-Biermann's executive producer Andy Cohen accused her of having 'a little shaved off your nose' - she flatly denied it.

Bad influence? The Florida-born mother-of-six even allows her 19-year-old daughter Brielle to receive lip injections from Dr. Simon Ourian (just like Kylie Jenner)

Magic man: And as recent as October 24, the popular cosmetic dermatologist injected Sculptra fillers into Kim's buttocks to remove cellulite at his Epione clinic

2008 versus 2015: But when Zolciak-Biermann's executive producer Andy Cohen accused her of having 'a little shaved off your nose' - she flatly denied it

The 48-year-old Watch What Happens Live host challenged: 'How long have I known you, Kim? You've had a little shaved off your nose and your lips are bigger'

'How long have I known you, Kim?' the 48-year-old Watch What Happens Live host challenged back in 2015.

'You've had a little shaved off your nose and your lips are bigger.'

Bravo has yet to renew the wig-loving blonde's series Don't Be Tardy for a sixth season following the December 14 fifth season finale.

Kim and her second husband Kroy are parents to - Kroy Jr., 5; Kash, 4; and twins Kaia & Kane, 3 - and she also has a daughter Ariana, 15, with first husband Daniel Toce.

More to come? Bravo has yet to renew the wig-loving blonde's series Don't Be Tardy for a sixth season following the December 14 fifth season finale
He's the Australian model 'it boy' with a jawline that could poke an eye out.

And genetically-blessed Jordan Barrett, 20, put his features to work in a smouldering fashion photo-shoot for GQ Australia magazine this month.

Posing in a pair of Givenchy glasses, Jordan is pictured pulling a sultry expression as he crosses a busy city street in Sydney.

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Sultry: Jordan Barrett, 20, posed in a pair of glasses in a smouldering photo-shoot for GQ Australia magazine this month

The look was complete with a khaki linen suit by Ralph Lauren, which he wore without shirt, and a silver chain necklace.

His windswept, voluminous hair appeared to defy gravity, while his facial features appear to have been accentuated with the help of bronzer.

In another shot, Jordan is seen lying seductively on a bed while clad in a knitted singlet top by Prada.

Bedroom eyes? In another shot, Jordan is seen lying seductively on a bed while clad in a knitted singlet top by Prada

See the whole editorial! Jordan's sultry editorial is featured in the latest edition of GQ magazine

Several tattoos could be seen in the snap, what appears to be an X and O symbol inked onto his right forearm.

Hailing from Byron Bay, Jordan was discovered at age 14 by a model scout working for international agency IMG.

The chance meeting took place when he was caught stealing matches from a convenience store.

Staring young: Hailing from Byron Bay, Jordan was discovered at age 14 by a model scout working for international agency IMG

Currently in Milan for the men's collection shows Jordan is walking for Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and Versace.

He recounted the bizarre incident during an interview with Vanity Fair, saying: 'He was asking me all these questions about my mom and stuff I didn't understand. I thought he was security, and I sort of scampered away.'

Speaking of the incident to New York Magazine, Jordan added: 'I wanted to have a cigarette, but I couldn't get a lighter because apparently you have to be over 18, so I decided I was gonna take matches from the counter.'

Rumoured flame? ast year, Jordan shot down rumours he was dating 35-year-old Paris after the pair were spotted getting cosy at the Cavalli Club in Milan, Italy

The bad-boy model also proved to be a hit with some of the world's sexiest women throughout his teenage years.

Last year, Jordan shot down rumours he was dating 35-year-old Paris after the pair were spotted getting cosy at the Cavalli Club in Milan, Italy.

He has since been spotted getting cosy with Scott Disick's rumoured flame Megan Blake Irwin, Hailey Baldwin and Lara Stone
As a mother to six children, she's no stranger to mischievous behaviour.

But Madeleine West, 36, was left stunned by the lengths one of her children went to for some expired chocolate on Wednesday.

The unsuspecting Neighbours star took to Instagram to share a video of one of her 'cheeky' kids sneakily reaching for 'out of date' Easter eggs that she had placed on the kitchen bench for disposal.

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Not impressed: Madeleine West, 36, was left stunned by the lengths one of her children went to for some expired chocolate on Wednesday

'You find a stash of LAST YEARS #eastereggs, so put them safely out of reach for later disposal,' she captioned.

'#fool! Never underestimate the lengths a child will go to for an out of date foil-wrapped #chocolate @madmadswest #cheekymonkey #perfectcrime #quickswhilesheisntlooking.'

It is unclear whether the child actually consumed any of the expired sweets.

Busy mum: The Wrong Girl actress has six children- 11-year-old Phoenix, eight-year-old Hendrix, six-year-old Xascha, four-year-old Xanthe and two-year-old twins Xalia and Margaux with her partner of eleven years, chef Shannon Bennett

Earlier this month, Madeleine revealed how she juggles her large brood with her acting career, one week ahead of her return to Ramsay Street.

The parenting advice author told The Daily Telegraph's Switched On that she limits her children to just one extra activity per term and they must prove their devotion to it in three weeks or it gets dropped.

The Wrong Girl actress has six children- 11-year-old Phoenix, eight-year-old Hendrix, six-year-old Xascha, four-year-old Xanthe and two-year-old twins Xalia and Margaux with her partner of eleven years, chef Shannon Bennett.

'We end up in a state of children who are entitled': Madeleine recently revealed her no-nonsense parenting style (Pictured with daughter Phoenix in 2012)

The busy mother teaches her children how to succeed by making them wholly responsible for their own success.

'Its not anyone elses responsibility to push us forward, otherwise we end up in a state of children who are entitled, undeservedly so and are consistently sending their parents in to fight their battles for them,' Madeleine said.

'In the end, we end up with a society who dont have the skills they need for the jobs they are doing.'

The blonde beauty also revealed using every moment of the day is the key to managing her successful career and being a good mother.

She explains: 'If it means getting up at four or five in the morning to run through some scripts, or do a final edit on a column Ive written; or work on kids school production costumes, I just figure Ill sleep plenty when Im dead.'

The insight into Madeleine's parenting style comes as the actress prepares for a very big 2017.

'I just figure Ill sleep plenty when Im dead': The blonde beauty also revealed using every moment of the day is the key to managing her successful career and being a good mother (Pictured with her partner Shannon Bennett)

She will be reprising her iconic Neighbours character Dee Bliss, who was believed to have died while plunging off a cliff in 2003 on her wedding day.

Since starring on the soap, Madeleine also released a parenting book, Six Under Eight and regularly shares motherhood advice in online columns.

Last year, she revealed she sometimes lets her children wear their school uniform to bed to make things easier in the morning.

Parenting guru Madeleine also released a parenting book, Six Under Eight and regularly shares motherhood advice in online columns

The confession was deemed controversial by many of the actress' fans.

'I am not talking full school uniforms, I am talking track suits, casual wear, and if it a school day, the foundations: stockings and T-shirt perhaps,' she wrote for Kidspot.
Its not easy to keep a four-year-old boy on course, but Alessandra Ambrosio is a pro both on the runway and on the sidewalk.

During an outing with her son Noah on Tuesday in Brentwood, California, the 35-year-old supermodel helped the youngster pick up the pace as he became distracted while dragging a bag-on-wheels on their way to a car.

The Victorias Secret Angel made a few attempts to move the boy in the right direction, including jointly toting the bag, and then taking it by the handle herself.

Mommy and me: Alessandra Ambrosio helped her son Jamie Mazur, four, tote his bag during an outing on Tuesday in Brentwood, California

For the bonding adventure, she cut a casual-chic figure in a loose-fitting white blouse, boyfriend jeans and Chanel espadrilles.

Not seen with the pair were daughter Anja, eight, and fiance Jamie Mazurwhom she has been engaged to since 2008.

The mommy-and-me time came after they recently returned from a long holiday in South America that included the entire family. During the vacation to Alessandras native Brazil, they enjoyed quality time on the beach.

Let it to mamma: The supermodel wasted no time and lead the way to their car

Bonding: Not seen with Alessandra and her son Noah (wearing the Monalisa military open-front hoodie) were daughter Anja, eight, and fiance Jamie Mazur

Super mom: Alessandra is back to business as usual after returning from a long family holiday in Brazil

They had reveled in soaking up the sun in her country since before the New Year, but when she returned on Monday it was business as usual for the busy bombshell.

And her day out taking care of errands didn't inspire a smile. Alessandra had on workout gear as she picked up coffee and took care of tasks.
France weighs UN sanctions regime for Mali

France is considering a UN Security Council draft resolution that would set up a sanctions regime for Mali to target opponents of a peace deal signed 19 months ago, the ambassador said Tuesday.

The peace accord signed in June 2015 between the Malian government and rebels ended years of fighting in the north, but its implementation has been piecemeal.

Mali regained control of the north after a French-led military intervention in January 2013 drove out jihadists, but insurgents remain active across large parts of the region.

A French-led military intervention that started in January 2013 helped Mali drive out jihadists, but insurgents remain active across large parts of the region STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN (AFP/File)

French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters that a sanctions regime for Mali was a "very important" measure and that France was eager to discuss it at the council.

"The utmost priority with respect to Mali is to encourage the swift implementation of the peace agreement and to make sure the mission there, MINUSMA, has everything it needs," Delattre said.

In one of his last reports in late December, former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon called on the council to consider targeted sanctions against those who are impeding the peace deal.

"The peace process in Mali is at a critical juncture," Ban wrote.

While there has been some progress, "the signatory parties continue to disagree on key interim measures, thus stalling the process for all other provisions."

The Security Council will meet Wednesday to discuss the situation in Mali.

The proposed sanctions regime would set up a mechanism to allow individuals and entities to be blacklisted by the United Nations. Targeted sanctions include a global travel ban and an assets freeze.

The United Nations has deployed 13,000 troops in Mali to serve in the MINUSMA force, considered one of the deadliest missions in peacekeeping.

Ban said the force remains ill-equipped and urgently requires helicopter units, armored personnel carriers and armored cars for police among other resources.
Buffeted by change, US auto workers resigned to uncertainty

Detroit, the once-thriving capital of the US automobile industry, has seen most of its jobs move overseas, leaving the remaining workers at the "Big Three" auto plants wondering about the future.

As the jobs have vanished so has the security and benefits they once offered that helped make the American middle class the engine of the world economy.

When Janet Parker, 46, learned she would be hired by Ford, she was sure it meant the start of a worry-free working life. Eight years later, she is disillusioned.

Detroit's auto plants once offered work, security and benefits but many of these these have gone as jobs have moved overseas BILL PUGLIANO (GETTY IMAGES/AFP/File)

"Things have changed for the worse," said Parker, who works in a plant building axles and is still not entitled to employee benefits.

"It's declined for a lot of the employees."

The lack of certainty auto workers have in their future is a persistent burden, and efforts by the once-powerful United Auto Workers labor union to stem the tide have borne little fruit.

Parker says that income from her husband's job at a Fiat Chrysler plant is what allows her to make ends meet.

"I don't make enough money to do everything we do," she said. "It if wasn't for him, I'd be riding a bike."

The downhill slide for US auto workers began after 2000 and gathered pace in 2009 with the near-collapse of the Big Three -- Ford, GM and Chrysler -- during the global financial crisis.

That year, GM and Chrysler declared bankruptcy and were taken over by the federal government as part of a highly unpopular, $80 billion taxpayer-funded bailout. Ford also laid off thousands of workers and shuttered factories.

"Our plant was always working. You could count on that," said Michael Gilliken, a team leader at a factory making the popular Ford F-150 pickup. But starting in 2005, overtime ended, the first warning sign.

-'You start to get frightened' -

One by one, such perks and benefits as free meals and training centers -- which had convinced young generations in the region to forgo higher education and follow in the footsteps of their parents -- began to disappear.

"It shocked us. We were not prepared for that," said Gilliken, a father of five who managed to save his job thanks to his seniority.

"You are talking about selling the car, selling the house. You start to get frightened."

Gilliken had to accept a freeze on pay raises and a pay cut.

While the 2008 crisis did force the Big Three to cut production, automation, competition from Asia and the free-trade pact linking the United States, Canada and Mexico also put dents in the domestic industry.

"The trade agreements have caused wage suppression," said Scott Houldieson, a regional UAW executive and employee at a Ford plant in Chicago.

As for Gilliken, he blames "bad management decisions" and the fact that Detroit made cars that often did not appeal to the consumer: "We did quantity, not quality."

"When the Japanese saw they could build a cheaper, better car that can last longer, the average American says, 'Why wouldn't I buy it?'" he said.

As a result, while GM and Ford remain the two biggest sellers of cars and trucks in the United States, Toyota is hot on its heels while Fiat Chrysler is neck-and-neck with Honda and Nissan.

Gilliken also expressed frustration with southern US states, where foreign auto makers such as Volkswagen have opened factories to take advantage of an anti-union environment where they can impose lower salaries.

While the 2012 comeback of the American car helped stabilize the workforce and led in 2015 to the first rise in wages for a decade, workers find themselves on no surer footing.

A new recruit earns between $14 and $20 an hour with no retirement benefits and often no health coverage, and must wait years before collecting other benefits.

- Hoping for a long future -

"When I started off, you had to work 90 days to get entitled to the benefits," said Jeff Brown, who works at Ford's assembly plant in Flat Rock.

Ford has just announced a $700 million investment in Michigan in the face of President-elect Donald Trump's public strong-arm tactics with major auto makers who planned to sell Mexican-made cars on the US market.

Workers interviewed by AFP appeared resigned. While they did not express support for Trump, they hailed his displays of protectionism. Parker, the Ford employee, said Trump's policies could ultimately help her keep her job.

After being carried by Democrats in every presidential election since 1988, in November Michigan narrowly tilted toward Trump, who eked out a victory by 0.2 percent of the ballots cast in the state.

"I am hoping there is a long future in the plant," said Brown. "People are always worried that the plant might shut down because Ford has done that in the past."

Janet Parker works in a Detroit plant making axles for Ford -- she doesn't earn enough to make ends meet and has few benefits JEFF KOWALSKY (AFP)
Murray magic at Australian Open but Kyrgios booed in stormy defeat

Top seed Andy Murray sped into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday but bad boy Nick Kyrgios was booed and accused of not trying as he crashed to a stormy defeat.

Roger Federer progressed despite unexpected resistance and women's world number one Angelique Kerber celebrated her 29th birthday with a hard-fought win.

Murray painfully rolled an ankle and needed treatment in the third set against Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev, but he shook off the problem to win 6-3, 6-0, 6-2.

Britain's Andy Murray celebrates after victory against Russia's Andrey Rublev in his Australian Open second round match in Melbourne on January 18, 2017 SAEED KHAN (AFP)

While the world number one cruised, Kyrgios stood accused of tanking, or giving up, during his 1-6, 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 loss to Andreas Seppi.

Kyrgios, who is returning from a ban for "lack of best efforts" in a match in Shanghai, played lethargically and casually, especially in the fifth set.

"Obviously it's not the greatest thing to hear," he said of the booing. "I didn't have the best preparation coming into the Australian Open. Pretty banged up, my body."

"I don't even know what the score was in the end. Was it 10-8? 10-8 in the fifth, getting booed off, definitely not the best feeling."

Tennis legend John McEnroe said Kyrgios's lack of effort was a "black eye for the sport". Kyrgios explained that "my body was sore. I was hurting.

"I mean, John McEnroe. Good on him. Great career. Good on him."

Asked how he could have been better prepared, Kyrgios, who hurt his knee playing basketball, said: "I don't know, maybe just not play as much basketball. Actually take my pre-season seriously."

Earlier Federer was made to work by 200th-ranked Noah Rubin for a 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win that set up a third-round assignment against his old rival Tomas Berdych.

"I know what he's got. I don't need to tell you where he's beaten me," Federer said of Berdych. "Then again I've played him here, played him on many occasions, as well, when it went my way."

- Happy birthday -

Federer wasn't the only leading player challenged in the second round as Kerber, the women's defending champion, dropped a set against world number 89 Carina Witthoeft.

Kerber won 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 before being treated to a rendition of "Happy Birthday" by the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

"I was doing I think a lot of mistakes in the important moments. But at the end, I'm happy that I won the match," said the world number one.

In the men's draw, Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori marched into the third round alongside former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, with both winning in straight sets.

Nishikori was extended to five sets in his first-round win over Andrey Kuznetsov, but he found the going a little easier in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory against Jeremy Chardy.

Nishikori, who believes he is due a first major win this year, next plays Lukas Lacko, with Berdych or Federer waiting in the fourth round.

France's Tsonga, who is seeded 12th and was runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2008, beat Serbia's Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to go through.

Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 winner, recovered from his tetchy five-setter with Martin Klizan to beat Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

In the women's draw, 36-year-old Venus Williams continued her smooth progress when she beat qualifier Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-2 to set up a meeting with China's Duan Yingying.

Williams, the oldest player in the women's draw, pulled out of the doubles competition with her sister Serena as a precaution to rest a sore elbow.

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova thrashed Australian wildcard Jaimee Fourlis 6-2, 6-1 to set up a third-round clash with 31-year-old Serb Jelena Jankovic.

And Britain's Dan Evans claimed the highest-ranked scalp of his career when he stunned former US Open champion Marin Cilic, the world number seven.

Nick Kyrgios crashed out of the Australian Open on January 18, 2017 PETER PARKS (AFP)

Germany's Angelique Kerber celebrated her 29th birthday with victory on day three of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 18, 2017 SAEED KHAN (AFP)
Iran 'hostile' to US involvement in Syria talks

Iranian officials said Wednesday they were strongly opposed to the United States joining Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan next week, local media reported.

"We are hostile to their presence and we have not invited them," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said late Tuesday, according to the Tasnim news agency.

That goes against the position of the other two organisers of the talks -- Russia and Turkey -- which have said the new US administration of Donald Trump should be represented in Astana on Monday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks with his Russian counterpart during thir meeting in Moscow, on December 20, 2016 Natalia KOLESNIKOVA (AFP/File)

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council which oversees international coordination on the Syrian war, confirmed on Wednesday that Iran had refused to invite the US.

"There is no reason for the United States to participate in the organising of political initiatives in the Syrian crisis and it is out of the question that they should have a role in the Astana negotiations," he said, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Next week's talks, which aim to bring together representatives of the Syrian government and rebel groups, mark the first time since the conflict began in 2011 that the US has not been at the centre of peace negotiations.

Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told AFP that any expansion of participants "could increase the risk of failure".

"Our policy is to not add other countries at this stage," he said.

The talks come in the wake of President Bashar al-Assad's symbolic victory last month in retaking Aleppo, Syria's second city and a key rebel stronghold through much of the war.

Iran and Russia have been the key diplomatic and military backers of Syria in the war, while Turkey has supported rebel groups.

The three countries are still discussing which officials will travel to Astana, Ghasemi said, adding that other countries could be included in later stages if the "first steps" are successful.
Demolitions spark deadly violence in Arab Israeli village

Demolitions in an Arab Israeli village that activists say has been targeted by racist policies sparked violence Wednesday in which a policeman and his alleged attacker were killed.

A prominent Arab Israeli lawmaker was also wounded in Umm al-Heiran in southern Israel, where activists have long sought to draw attention to what they call the unjust practice of demolishing Arab homes deemed illegally built.

Police said a local resident rammed officers with his vehicle, killing one of them. He was shot dead.

Israeli policemen stand guard as bulldozers demolish homes in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran, which is not recognized by the Israeli government, near the southern city of Beersheba, in the Negev desert, on January 18, 2017 MENAHEM KAHANA (AFP)

They alleged he was active in the Israeli Islamic Movement and may have been influenced by the Islamic State organisation -- a claim residents strongly denied, calling him a respected teacher.

Residents said the man was heading to the scene to talk with authorities in an attempt to halt the demolitions in the Bedouin village.

His home was among five buildings being demolished and he had packed all his belongings in his car, they said.

Police released aerial video footage of the pre-dawn incident, but no clear conclusions could be drawn.

It appears in the video that officers open fire on the villager's car before it speeds up downhill toward police.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said officers fired in the air as a warning, and a police spokesman said the man drove without lights.

The officer killed was identified as 34-year-old Erez Levi, while the villager was named as Yacoub Abu al-Qiyan, 47 and the father of around a dozen children.

"The Israeli narrative is a lie," village activist Raed Abu al-Qiyan told AFP.

- 'Enemy number one' -

The injured lawmaker, Ayman Odeh, heads the Joint List, a coalition of mainly Arab parties and the third-largest bloc in parliament.

His spokeswoman said he was hit by two rubber-tipped bullets fired by police, and photographs spread online showing him with a bloodied head.

Odeh said in a video posted to Facebook that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had "diagnosed Arab citizens as enemy number one."

Netanyahu, under pressure from Israel's far-right to carry out such demolitions, said "Israel is above all a law-abiding state, and will enforce the law in an egalitarian manner."

Many were quick to point out an apparent difference in treatment of Jewish residents of illegal West Bank outposts not forced to leave and Arab residents of Umm Al-Heiran and other such villages.

Arab Israelis, descendants of Palestinians who remained after the creation of Israel in 1948 and who now make up some 17.5 percent of the population, called for a general strike Thursday in response.

- Pre-dawn confrontation -

Wednesday's confrontation began around 5:00 am (0300 GMT).

One activist said residents had moved their cars to the entrance of the village to block the demolitions.

Police then moved in and fired flares, lighting the pre-dawn sky, according to the activist, Isaac Kates Rose, who was there at the time.

Shooting could later be heard and the sound of a car crashing, he said.

Demolitions began around 11:15 am (0915 GMT), with security forces taking up positions on rooftops and guarding the surrounding area.

Residents gathered around the village's mosque, with women wailing as demolitions started. The five structures were razed by early afternoon.

"Of course they will return," the brother of the man who allegedly rammed the officers told AFP.

"They want to destroy everything here," he added, declining to give his name.

- 'Racist' judgement? -

Israeli authorities regularly carry out demolitions of Arab homes they deem built illegally.

However, building permits are extremely difficult to obtain, according to residents and activists, who say Jewish Israelis are given preferential treatment.

Umm al-Heiran residents have waged a years-long legal fight against demolition orders.

Located in the Negev desert, the village is home to around 1,000 inhabitants who mainly live in small, concrete buildings, relying on solar panels for electricity and raising livestock.

In 2013, Israel approved the establishment of two new Jewish communities, called Kesif and Hiran.

To make way for the new towns, Umm al-Heiran, which is unrecognised by the authorities, is to be removed.

Israel's supreme court approved the removal, saying since residents could theoretically live in the new towns, it did not constitute discrimination.

The government says Umm al-Heiran's residents are to be moved to the nearby Bedouin village of Hura, home to around 300 families, with compensation offered.

It is unclear when the other residents would be moved.

Rights group Adalah, which has represented the villagers in court, on Wednesday called the court decision on demolition "one of the most racist judgements that the court has ever issued."

Bedouins cry following the destruction of houses on January 18, 2017 in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran, which is not recognized by the Israeli government, near the southern city of Beersheba, in the Negev desert MENAHEM KAHANA (AFP)

Israeli police speak with Arab-Israel demonstrators in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Heiran, in the Negev desert, during a protest against home demolitions AHMAD GHARABLI (AFP)
Bollywood's Salman Khan cleared in illegal arms case

An Indian court on Wednesday acquitted Bollywood superstar Salman Khan of using unlicensed firearms to kill protected wildlife almost two decades ago.

Khan, 51, has now been acquitted in three out of four cases filed against him for hunting rare black bucks, a native species of antelope, while shooting a film in the northwestern state of Rajasthan in 1998.

Sporting dark sunglasses, Khan was in court to hear the verdict as hundreds of police deployed outside tried to keep the crowds of fans under control.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan, 51, has now been acquitted in three out of four cases filed against him for hunting rare black bucks, a native species of antelope, while shooting a film in the northwestern state of Rajasthan in 1998 - (AFP/File)

"He was charged under two sections of the Arms Act and he has been cleared in both," Hastimal Saraswat, a defence lawyer, told reporters outside the court in Jodhpur city.

"He was acquitted due to lack of conclusive evidence."

While pronouncing the acquittal, magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit said the prosecution could not prove that Khan possessed and used fire arms with expired license.

Prosecution counsel B. S. Bhati said they would appeal the verdict after studying the 102-page order. The actor still faces a fourth case on charges of poaching black bucks.

Khan, known for playing a tough guy in Hindi films, had accused the state forest department of framing him in the case.

Shortly after Wednesday's verdict, Khan thanked his fans for their "support and good wishes" on Twitter where he has 21.1 million followers.

The actor is one of the Indian movie industry's biggest draws and has starred in more than 100 films and television shows.

Last year his movie "Sultan", in which he played an ageing wrestler, smashed Bollywood's box office records.

But Khan is no stranger to controversy and in 2015 he was cleared in another long-running case of killing a homeless man in a hit-and-run crash.

That decision is now being challenged in the Supreme Court.
An Iranian bodybuilder has been arrested after publishing selfie of her muscles on social media which were deemed to be 'nude'.

The woman, who is accused of breaking the Islamic Republic's strict rules on nudity, has been locked up in prison because she was unable to post bail of two million rials (50), according to the Mizanonline news agency.

She has not been identified but it is thought she may be Shirin Nobahari, one of two women who took part in an international competition and were reported in September to have been warned about selfies which they posted afterwards.

Shirin Nobahari (pictured) posts numerous pictures on her Instagram account of her showing off her biceps. Her clothing, including bear arms, would be deemed 'unIslamic' in Iran

Ms Nobahari, who has 67,000 followers on Instagram, posts images and writes in Farsi

Ms Nobahari's Instagram account, which users the moniker Shirin Muscleking, contains a number of photographs and videos of her showing off her biceps and lifting weights.

The Iranian judiciary's own news agency said today: 'One of the female bodybuilders who recently published nude photographs on social networks has been arrested.'

In Iran 'nude' can refer to any woman who is not wearing a headscarf or revealing parts of her body such as arms and legs, that must be covered in public.

The identity of the arrested woman is not known but it is thought it may be Ms Nobahari (pictured), whose selfies on Instagram are certainly in breach of Iranian clothes rules

Bodybuilding is popular in Iran but few of those taking part are women

Iranian women are allowed to take part in international sporting events, but must respect strict Islamic rules on clothing at all times.

Female swimmers have to wear full bodysuits and headscarves and women footballers and athletes have to wear tracksuits and long sleeves.

There have also been incidents where female sports fans were arrested for watching male sports events.

In 2014 a British woman, Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, was arrested and taken to Tehran's notorious Evin jail after attempting to watch a men's volleyball match between Iran and Italy.

Iranian women are routinely banned from watching football matches, including the national team's games.

The woman who was arrested was reportedly held in prison because she could not make bail

Iran is a rigidly regimented country where women in particular must conform to the rules

Bodybuilding and wrestling are popular sports in Iran. One of the country's biggest bodybuilding stars is Sajad Gharibi (pictured), who weighs 24 stone. But rules for men showing off their bodies are different to the rules applying to women
IS lights smokescreen against regime raids in east Syria: monitor

Fierce clashes gripped the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor on Wednesday, a monitor said, as the Islamic State group set tyres ablaze to create a smokescreen from regime warplanes.

An activist group publishing news on the besieged city told AFP that IS had executed 10 Syrian regime fighters captured during the jihadist onslaught.

IS launched the brutal assault on Saturday to capture the government-held third of Deir Ezzor city, as well as the adjacent military airport.

The IS group launched the brutal assault to capture the government-held third of Deir Ezzor city, as well as the adjacent military airport Ayham al-Mohammad (AFP/File)

More than 150 people are reported to have been killed in the fighting.

Syrian and Russian warplanes have carried out intense bombing raids in a bid to halt the jihadist advance, according to a military source and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

IS on Tuesday tried to generate a smokescreen to shield its positions from fresh air strikes.

"The Islamic State group set tyres and barrels of crude oil on fire in Deir Ezzor... to block Syrian and Russian jets heavily bombing the city," the Observatory said.

Since Saturday, 46 regime fighters and 75 IS militants have been killed, along with more than 30 civilians, according to the Britain-based monitor.

A local activist group told AFP on Wednesday that IS had killed at least 10 Syrian government fighters captured during the clashes.

"IS executed them last night by driving over them with tanks," said Omar Abu Leila of Deir Ezzor 24, which publishes news on the eastern city.

He said the gruesome killings took place inside IS-controlled neighbourhoods of the city.

"If IS seizes regime-held neighbourhoods, it could carry out massacres. This is a huge source of concern for us," he said.

The jihadist group, excluded from a nearly three-week ceasefire in Syria, has carried out mass killings of military rivals and civilians, often with particularly grisly methods.

As it advanced on ancient city Palmyra in 2015, it killed dozens of civilians and then staged mass executions of government troops in the city's theatre.

The World Food Programme on Tuesday said the clashes had forced it to suspend aid drops to Deir Ezzor, where more than 100,000 people have lived under IS siege since early 2015.
Myanmar restricts used car imports

Myanmar has restricted imports of right-hand drive used cars in a bid to boost local production, draw foreign investment -- and phase out notoriously chaotic driving habits.

Almost all of the cars on Myanmar's road are second-hand, 90 percent of them from Japan, even though the two nations drive on different sides of the road.

Used car imports surged after the government liberalised restrictions in 2012, the year after breaking from half a century of isolationist military rule.

Almost all of the cars on Myanmar's road are second-hand, 90 percent of them from Japan, even though the two nations drive on different sides of the road Soe Than WIN (AFP/File)

But until recently Western trade sanctions blocked imports of left-hand drive cars from Europe and the US, forcing motorists to turn to Japanese vehicles.

As a result horn-beeping drivers routinely veer into the centre of the road to guage whether it is safe to overtake and buses unload passengers into the middle of busy streets.

But that is set to change after the government banned imports of right-hand drive cars from this month.

The move aims to boost local manufacturing and attract much-needed foreign investment, top priorities for Myanmar's newly elected government.

Foreign automakers are now eyeing the largely untapped market of some 55 million consumers as a potential bright spot at a time of lacklustre sales in Southeast Asia.

Only seven out of 1,000 people own cars in Myanmar, compared to 200 in neighbouring Thailand, said Nissan regional senior vice president Yutaka Sanada.

"Out of the ASEAN countries, Myanmar, in terms of the opportunity, is bigger than our neighbours," he told AFP on Wednesday at the launch of the Japanese giant's first locally manufactured car.

Ang Bon Beng, senior regional director of Indochina at Nissan's partner Tan Chong Group, predicted annual sales would grow 5-10 percent in the next few years.

"If you look at the current market of Myanmar, 95 percent are used cars," he said. "But this country has decided it wants to liberalise"

Myanmar has been the top market for Japanese second-hand car exports for the past three years, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation.

Safety campaigners say the ban on imports of used right-hand drive cars will save lives and mean rickety old bangers are taken off the streets.

Others hope it will ease the daily gridlock that chokes the streets of the commercial capital Yangon, home to most of the country's cars.

But many locals complain the ban has simply driven up the cost of second-hand cars and they cannot afford to buy new.

Prices have risen 20-30 percent since it was announced in November and U Soe Tun, chair of industry body MAMDA, said they could double this year.

"If I'm buying a car, I want to buy a car imported form Japan like Toyota and Nissan," said rice shop owner Soe Nyut Aung.
OPEC output inches down after November deal

OPEC oil production fell in December but remains well above levels envisaged under a recent deal due to take effect from January, the cartel's new monthly report showed Wednesday.

Total output by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries fell 221,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 33.1 million bpd from November, the December report showed, citing secondary sources.

Under the landmark November 30 deal, aimed at reducing a global supply glut that depressed oil prices, OPEC is meant to slash its output ceiling to 32.5 million bpd, effective January 1.

OPEC's landmark deal in November aimed to cut production, but the latest figures show that output is still above promised levels JOE KLAMAR (AFP)

Kingpin Saudi Arabia bore the brunt of the cut in December, lowering output by 149,000 bpd to 10.5 million bpd. Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Nigeria, Qatar, UAE and Venezuela also reduced production.

However Iraq, OPEC's second biggest producer, ramped up output by 43,000 bpd to 4.6 million bpd. Iran's rose 10,000 bpd to 3.7 million bpd and Kuwait by 2,000 bpd to 2.8 million bpd.

Under the deal, Saudi Arabia is to cut production to 10.1 million bpd, Iraq to 4.4 million bpd, Kuwait to 2.7 million bpd and UAE to 2.9 million bpd, according to OPEC.

Iran, able to export crude freely again following the lifting of sanctions under a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, can ramp up output to 3.8 million bpd.

Libya and Nigeria are exempt from the accord, while Indonesia has suspended its membership.

On December 10, OPEC also struck an agreement with countries outside the group, most notably Russia but not the United States, for them to reduce production by 558,000 bpd.

On Sunday a monitoring committee charged with tracking adherence to that deal is due to meet in Vienna for the first time.

Both deals boosted oil prices by around 20 percent to above $50 per barrel, but gains have been capped by unease about implementation and rising US shale production thanks to the higher prices.

Both agreements are valid for six months and are extendable for another six months.
Sisi reopens Egypt's Islamic museum damaged in bombing

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reopened the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo on Wednesday, three years after a car bombing partially destroyed the building.

The museum, which boasts about 100,000 relics including a sword said to have belonged to the Prophet Mohamed, holds one of the largest Islamic civilisation collections in the world.

The museum in central Cairo had been partially destroyed after a massive car bomb went off outside nearby police headquarters in January 2014, in an attack claimed by Egyptian jihadists.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (2nd-left) attends the reopening of the Museum of Islamic Art in the capital Cairo on January 18, 2017 STRINGER (EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY/AFP)

The blast damaged 179 relics including glass lanterns from the era of the Mamluks, the slave warrior caste that directly ruled Egypt from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Enany said 160 relics have been restored, at the reopening ceremony attended by Sisi and aired on television.

Three new exhibit rooms have been built, with the museum now showing 4,400 relics, from more than 1,450 before the bombing, he said.
Russia, Turkey stage first joint air strikes against IS in Syria

Russia and Turkey on Wednesday staged their first joint air strikes against the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria, the Russian defence ministry said.

Nine Russian and eight Turkish planes took part in the "first joint air operation" in the area around the town of Al-Bab in the Aleppo region, Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoi told a briefing.

The announcement came less than a week after Russia said Moscow and Ankara had signed an agreement spelling out mechanisms to coordinate their air forces in Syria when conducting strikes "on terrorist targets".

Russia launched its bombing campaign in Syria in September 2015

Rudskoi said that "36 targets" had been destroyed. He said Syrian authorities had agreed to the operation that he hailed as "highly effective."

Russia, Turkey and Iran are organising Syria peace talks that begin in the Kazakh capital Astana on Monday in a bid to bolster a frail truce brokered by Moscow and Ankara last month.

The truce went into effect on December 30 and has brought calm to much of Syria, although fighting persists in some regions.
US congresswoman Gabbard makes secret Syria trip

A US congresswoman made a rare secret visit to Syria as part of her effort toward ending the years-long conflict in the Middle Eastern nation, her office said Wednesday.

House Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran, made a fact-finding mission to the capital Damascus despite continued fighting in the war-torn country in contravention of a frail ceasefire.

"As an individual committed to doing all she can to promote and work for peace, she felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees and government and community leaders," said Gabbard spokeswoman Emily Latimer.

US Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who often clashes with her own party on issues related to Syria, has long opposed a US policy of regime change there SAUL LOEB (AFP/File)

The exact dates of the trip were not provided for security reasons, but her office said she was currently in the Middle East.

The congresswoman from Hawaii met with US President-elect Donald Trump in November two weeks after his election victory to discuss Syria policy, raising speculation that the incoming commander in chief might consider her for a position at the Pentagon or State Department.

Gabbard said at the time that she shared with Trump "my grave concerns that escalating the war in Syria by implementing a so-called no fly/safe zone would be disastrous for the Syrian people, our country and the world."

Gabbard, who often clashes with her own party on issues related to Syria, has long opposed a US policy of regime change there, arguing that the country would descend further into chaos should President Bashar al-Assad be ousted.

Latimer declined to say whether Gabbard met with Assad on her trip, which also included a stop in Lebanon.

On January 13, Gabbard introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act, which bars US taxpayer dollars from supporting organizations allied with or backing "terrorist groups like ISIS (an acronym for the Islamic State) and Al-Qaeda in their war to overthrow the Syrian government."

The measure would prevent the US government from providing funds or weapons to groups seeking to overthrow the Assad regime, including the Levant Front and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.
Senegal asks UN to back ECOWAS action in Gambia

Senegal on Wednesday presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council seeking support for ECOWAS efforts to press Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh to step down, diplomats said.

But the text does not explicitly seek council authorization to deploy troops to The Gambia to force Jammeh to cede power to president-elect Adama Barrow, diplomats said.

The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has repeatedly called on Jammeh to respect the result of the December 1 election and step down after 22 years in power.

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh refuses to step down despite losing the December 1 presidential election to rival Adama Barrow Marco LONGARI (AFP/File)

Jammeh on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, maintained his inauguration will go ahead as planned on Thursday on Gambian soil.

At Senegal's request, the Security Council will discuss the crisis in the West African country on Wednesday, diplomats said.

The African Union has said it will no longer recognize Jammeh as head of state as of January 19.

UN envoy for West Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas last week told the council that ECOWAS was prepared to ask the council to approve the deployment of troops to the Gambia.
Assange says would go to US only if rights guaranteed: WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks said Wednesday its founder Julian Assange could travel to the US to face investigation after one of the whistleblowing site's main sources was given clemency -- but only if his rights were "guaranteed".

"Assange is still happy to come to the US provided all his rights are guaranteed," WikiLeaks said on Twitter, the day after US President Barack Obama commuted a prison sentence for former soldier Chelsea Manning.

Manning was sentenced to 35 years behind bars in 2013 for handing 700,000 sensitive military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange took refuge in Ecuador's London embassy four years ago to avoid possible extradition to the US by Sweden or Britain BEN STANSALL (AFP/File)

Assange said last week he would abandon his refuge in the Ecuadoran embassy in London, where he has been since 2012, if the United States agreed to free Manning.

Washington has maintained the threat of prosecuting Assange over the 2010 documents leak, although no charges have been publicly filed.

One of the Australian's lawyers, Melinda Taylor, told AFP on Tuesday that it had failed to obtain confirmation on his legal status.

"Julian's US lawyers have repeatedly asked the Department of Justice to clarify Julian Assange's status and would like them to do so now by announcing it is closing the investigation and pursuing no charges," she said.
Nigeria sends troops, jets to Senegal for Gambia force

Nigeria has sent 200 soldiers and air assets including fighter jets to Senegal as part of a regional force to enforce the result of Gambia's contested election, the country's air force said Wednesday.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had "today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, light utility helicopter as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia".

The Economic Community Of West African States has repeatedly called on leader Yahya Jammeh to respect the result of the December 1 election and step down after 22 years in power.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (L) and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf meeting Gambian President Yahya Jammeh (R) in Banjul on January 13, 2017 Handout (NIGERIAN PRESIDENCY/AFP/File)

Jammeh on Tuesday declared a state of emergency as President-elect Adama Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, maintained his inauguration will go ahead as planned on Thursday on Gambian soil.

Nigeria said the forces were part of an ECOWAS military standby intervention force "tasked by ECOWAS heads of state to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in The Gambia".
Bahrain police disperse Shiite protesters

Police in Bahrain used tear gas and buckshot Wednesday to disperse protesters who took to the streets following prayers for three Shiites executed over a deadly bombing, witnesses said.

Dozens of people took part in the demonstration in the Shiite village of Sanabis, east of the capital Manama, following prayer services for the three men who were executed on Sunday.

The protesters were trying to reach the area of Manama's Pearl roundabout, which was the focal point for a Shiite-led uprising in February 2011, the witnesses said.

Bahraini protesters take cover January 8, 2015 during a confrontation with police after a demonstration on the outskirts of the capital Manama, east of which protestors also clashed with police using tear gas January 18, 2017 Mohamed al-Shaikh (AFP/File)

Bahrain's High Court last week upheld the death sentences against the trio convicted of a bomb attack in March 2014 that killed three policemen.

Seven other defendants received life terms.

Tensions in the Sunni-ruled kingdom have been on the rise since the executions, which drew international condemnation.

Masked men set a municipal building ablaze on Monday in a nearby village, and demonstrations broke out across Shiite villages.

A Bahraini court also on Wednesday sentenced four Shiites to life in prison, while jailing eight others for between three and 10 years over a bombing that targeted police in July 2015, a judicial source said.

The Shiite majority in Bahrain, which has been ruled by the Al-Khalifa dynasty for more than two centuries, has long complained of marginalisation and the country has been rocked by sporadic unrest since 2011.
Calls mount against Tunisia jail-for-joint law

Tunisia is facing mounting calls, from rights groups all the way up to the head of state, to reform a law that jails youths for a year for smoking a joint.

"Repression is not effective at all... I am totally against imprisonment," the country's secretary of state for youth, Faten Kallel, said in La Presse newspaper.

Law 52, dating back to 1992 during the rule of toppled dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, lays down a mandatory jail sentence of one year for use of narcotics and rules out any mitigating circumstances.

Human Rights Watch's director in Tunisia, Amna Guellali (R), speaks during a press conference on February 2, 2016 in Tunis to present a 33-page document about the country's draconian drug law FETHI BELAID (AFP/File)

Before Tunisia's 2011 revolution, the law was used to suppress criticism of the Ben Ali regime.

Its use has since become widespread, with thousands of young Tunisians locked up each year mostly for use of cannabis.

Between 2011 and 2016, the number of trials under Law 52 shot up from 732 to 5,744, official figures show.

"Long prison sentences are cruel, disproportionate, and counterproductive punishment for recreational users," Human Rights Watch said in a report entitled "All this for a joint".

Behind bars, those convicted often have "to share an overcrowded cell with persons imprisoned for serious crimes", said HRW.

"People convicted for drug use or possession leave prison with a criminal record that often prevents them from gaining employment and subjects them to social stigma and police harassment," said the New York-based rights watchdog.

Civil society groups hailed an amendment which the government proposed to parliament in December that would not lay down prison sentence for first- or second-time offenders.

But "the enthusiasm was short-lived", said HRW's Amna Guellali.

The justice ministry, at the bidding of a parliamentary legal commission, has restored the possibility of prison terms for first-time offenders.

"Deputies thought the original version was too tolerant," the commission's Hassouna Nasfi told AFP.

He said the commission would hear the views of civil society groups on Thursday and of detainees next week.

- 'Serious consequences' -

At a meeting on Wednesday night, a group of non-governmental organisations including HRW and the Tunisian League for Human Rights said they had sent a letter to deputies warning of the "serious consequences" on society of the legislation.

In its latest form, the proposed law would "demolish" the changes proposed by the government, they wrote.

The backdown has mobilised public opinion against the drugs law, gathered around the "Sajin 521" (Prisoner 52) movement.

President Beji Caid Essebsi, who is aged 90, is also an advocate for reform.

"We must not wreck young people's future," he told a group of foreign students last week.

Yassine Brahim, leader of liberal centre-right party Afek Tounes, has warned that convicted youths -- in a country struggling to redress its economy and faced with jihadist threats -- risked radicalisation behind bars.

On the Islamist side of Tunisian politics, Lotfi Zitoun has joined the clamour against Law 52.

The numbers are "crazy: almost a third of the prisons' population is made up of young Tunisians who used illicit substances. Among them are students, pupils, our children," Zitoun, who is close to Rashed Ghannouchi, leader of the powerful Islamist movement Ennahdha, told a forum.
I.Coast rocked by protests as deadly army mutiny spreads

Ivory Coast's government on Wednesday pleaded for calm as deadly protests by angry security forces and troops spread across the country, shutting down the main port of Abidjan.

In a bid to quell the rising unrest, which on Tuesday left four soldiers dead, the government pledged to improve the troops' livelihoods.

"Nothing can be done so long as there is chaos," Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko said after a cabinet meeting over the crisis.

In a bid to quell the rising unrest, which left four soldiers dead, the Ivory Coast government pledged to improve the troops' livelihoods Sia KAMBOU (AFP/File)

He called the growing tension "alarming", adding that he feared a "contagion" as more troops joined the revolt.

A mutiny among troops over pay erupted on January 5, stoking security fears in the world's top cocoa producer.

Initial protests were quelled when mutineers reached a deal with the government -- but more soldiers have since Tuesday taken to the streets of the west African country demanding similar bonuses.

While the first wave of protests did not cause any fatalities, four soldiers were killed on Tuesday in the administrative capital Yamoussoukro, the government said.

With tension spreading, soldiers and members of the security forces fired shots in the air in Abidjan, the economic capital, and second city Bouake on Wednesday.

Abidjan port, one of Africa's biggest, was closed Wednesday when angry security forces began firing in the air, port staff said.

However the port's management swiftly issued a statement saying that security measures were being implemented to allow operations to resume.

In Bouake, prison guards also staged protests to show their anger, reported an AFP correspondent.

"We cannot accept that part of our army benefits from a bonus of 12 million CFA francs (18,000 euros, $19,000) while others do not. That's why we are shooting in the air," a Bouake prison guard said on condition of anonymity.

- 'Act of anger' -

"Worrisome," screamed the headline of local newspaper Le Patriote. The subheading branded the soldiers' protests an "act of anger".

Several mutinous troops have told AFP that under a deal reached last week, 8,500 troops were promised 12 million CFA francs each. The government has refused to disclose any figures.

Five million CFA francs are due to be delivered by February 5, although it is unclear how the government intends to finance the payments.

According to a statement, the government sought to justify its concessions by saying it in fact owed the mutineers payments in delayed bonuses and salaries.

"The president (Alassane Ouattara) has instructed all the top commanders to begin meetings with all our security forces," the government statement said.

The authorities sought to assure the forces "of the will to improve their living conditions," the statement added.

- 'Trembling with fear' -

But with no solution yet in sight, civilians in Ivory Coast feared a return of unrest.

"We are trembling with fear," said Rachel Kouame, 27, a seamstress in Yamoussoukro.

Kone, the manager of a phone booth, agreed: "There is a heavy mood with the military patrols."

This is not the first crisis involving Ivory Coast's military in recent years.

Bouake, which is home to 1.5 million people, was the cradle of a rebellion in 2002, in a failed attempt to oust then-president Laurent Gbagbo.

The revolt sliced the former French colony into a rebel-held north and government-controlled south, triggering years of unrest.

Ivory Coast has long been west Africa's star economic performer. But when Gbagbo refused to step down despite an election defeat in 2010, 3,000 people were killed in months of conflict.

Later, in 2012, rebels-turned-soldiers protested in Bouake and Abidjan, and briefly brought the country to a standstill.

The government then agreed to a deal that provided amnesty for the mutineers and a financial settlement.

- Waves of unrest -

With a 10-percent yearly economic growth rate, the west African country is now back on the rails.

The International Monetary Fund said last month that Ivory Coast was on track towards becoming the continent's fastest-growing economy.

The latest mutiny, however, has raised fears the country might slip back into deadly unrest.

In 2016, Ivory Coast approved an ambitious military planning budget seeking to modernise the army and aid in buying new equipment for 1.2 billion euros (1.25 billion dollars).

Now the government could have to delve into those funds to finance the payments of mutinous troops.
Tense Gambia awaits inauguration of new president Barrow

Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow was to take power Thursday, capping weeks of tension over Yahya Jammeh's refusal to quit which has seen Senegalese and Nigerian troops massing at the border and tourists racing to leave.

With Senegalese troops backed by Nigerian forces and fighter jets gathering, the country appeared on the brink of a military crisis although the army chief insisted his soldiers would not get involved in a "political dispute" nor prevent foreign forces from entering The Gambia.

Despite a midnight (0000 GMT) deadline for the expiry of Jammeh's term, the situation remained calm in the city overnight, witnesses said following a last-minute mediation attempt by the Mauritanian president.

Although Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow is holed up in Senegal until he can cross the border safely, officials insisted his inauguration would go ahead Thursday SEYLLOU (AFP/File)

Jammeh, who has ruled the former British colony with an iron fist for 22 years, initially acknowledged Barrow as the victor in December elections, but later rejected the result, this week declaring a national state of emergency.

With the country in deadlock, hundreds of panicked tourists were rushing to leave after Britain and the Netherlands issued travel warnings, with the small airport near Banjul struggling to handle the influx.

Although Barrow is holed up in Senegal until he can cross the border safely, officials insisted his inauguration would go ahead but there were no immediate details.

- Inauguration to go ahead -

Speaking to AFP by phone, senior coalition official Isatou Touray said her team in Banjul had still not been told where the inauguration would take place or at what time, but was adamant it would go ahead.

And she welcomed a declaration by army chief Ousman Badjie that his troops would not prevent Jammeh's removal by force.

"That's a very positive outlook from him, given that Jammeh's regime is done," Touray said.

"We don't have to risks the lives of innocent citizens."

In remarks at a hotel restaurant late on Wednesday, Badjie said he loved his men and wouldn't risk their lives in a "stupid fight," eyewitnesses said.

A spokesman Mai Fatty for Barrow's opposition coalition said anyone carrying weapons on the streets "shall face definite consequences, to their peril" in a Facebook post.

Soldiers and police would "certainly become a legitimate target" if they stood in the way of the new government, Fatty added.

Despite the buildup along the border, an army source told AFP Senegalese troops were "not yet" present on Gambian soil.

- Eyes on border -

After 11th-hour talks in Banjul, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel flew on to Dakar where he met with Barrow for talks at which Senegal's President Macky Sall was also present, the private RFM radio station reported.

It was not clear whether the Mauritanian leader had secured a deal or made an asylum offer to Jammeh.

The last-minute intervention by Mauritania came after several unsuccessful attempts at diplomacy by the 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS).

Mauritania is not part of ECOWAS and diplomats have previously reached out to the conservative desert nation in hopes of brokering a deal with Jammeh.

The UN Security Council is expected to meet later on Thursday to adopt a statement on west Africa that will reaffirm the demand for Jammeh to stand down, diplomats said.

- 'An important message' -

Barrow and his team have said the inauguration will go ahead on Thursday on Gambian soil.

But the inauguration's head organiser James Gomez said plans for the ceremony to take place in a huge stadium outside the capital had been cancelled.

On Tuesday, Jammeh announced a state of emergency due to what he said was foreign interference in the December election.

Speaking to AFP at the World Economic Forum in Davos Amnesty International chief Salil Shetty hailed ECOWAS efforts to resolve the crisis.

"ECOWAS has stood up, and they don't always do that, he said.

"It's an important message to Jammeh, both from the people of The Gambia, the people of Africa, and from neighbouring states, that it's not business as usual any more."

Factfile on Gambia, where President Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency Wednesday Gal ROMA (AFP)

Gambia's incumbent president Yahya Jammeh (C) has refused to leave office, ignoring a midnight deadline Wednesday to stand down or face military action MARCO LONGARI (AFP/File)

A Thomas Cook travel representative helps tourists prepare to leave the Gambia after the British Government changed the travel advisory to amber due to the state of emergency in the country on January 18, 2017
Three women killed in central India blast

At least three women were killed and five others injured in an explosion in the remote forests of conflict-torn central India, police said on Thursday.

A 14-year-old girl was among the dead in the blast triggered by an improvised explosive device which exploded after a group of women collecting herbs accidently stepped on the device in restive Chhattisgarh state.

"Two women died on the spot and one died in the hospital. Five more are injured in the blast," Abhishek Meena, police chief of Narayanpur district, told AFP.

Thousands of armed Maoists (pictured) inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong are fighting the Indian government for land, jobs and other rights for poor tribal groups, with thousands of lives lost in the the decades-old insurgency NOAH SEELAM (AFP/File)

One of the injured was a six month-old girl, he said.

The officer said they were yet to ascertain whether the explosive was meant to target the security forces in the area, which is one of the strongholds of Maoist rebels.

The rebels are often accused of planting IED's to target the troops patrolling the vast swathes of the resource-rich region.
Obama warns Trump against 'sudden' unilateral moves' on Mideast conflict

President Barack Obama on Wednesday warned his successor Donald Trump against any "sudden, unilateral moves" on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in an apparent reference to his plan to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

"The president-elect will have his own policy," Obama told his final news conference, two days before leaving office.

"But obviously it's a volatile environment. What we have seen in the past is when some unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive."
Yahya Jammeh: devout and erratic leader of The Gambia

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who is facing possible military intervention to force him to step down, seized power in a 1994 coup and clung to office for 22 years with a blend of severity, mysticism and iron-clad self-belief.

"No matter what people say about me, I am not moved... I don't listen to anybody because I know what is important," he said before December 1 elections in which he was seeking a fifth consecutive term at the helm of the small west African nation.

Governing, he said, "is between me and God Almighty."

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh lost the December 2016 presidential election to outsider Adama barrow, but has refused to recognise the results Handout (GRTS - Gambia Radio and Television Services/AFP/File)

Jammeh lost the vote to outsider Adama Barrow, but has refused to recognise the results.

On Tuesday, he announced a state of emergency, saying it was necessary because of interference by foreign powers in the election.

Barrow is currently in Senegal but due to take office on Thursday.

The Senegalese army said it was ready to intervene in its neighbour failing a solution to the crisis, and Nigeria announced it had sent 200 troops as well as fighter jets to Senegal as part of a regional force to enforce the result of the vote.

A deeply devout Muslim, Jammeh was born in the western village of Kanilai in 1965, the year that The Gambia, a long east-west sliver of land bordered by Senegal, gained independence from Britain.

His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Doctor Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh Naasiru Deen joined the army in 1984.

Ten years later, Jammeh mounted a coup with fellow army officers against Dawda Jawara, who had ruled the country since independence, pledging to root out corruption and hold elections.

After giving up his rank of colonel to allow him to contest elections as a civilian, Jammeh swept the vote in 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011, following a 2002 constitutional amendment removing presidential term limits.

- Rights abuses -

Now 51, Jammeh has attracted worldwide attention for declaring The Gambia an Islamic nation, withdrawing the country from the International Criminal Court, and claiming he had concocted a herbal cure for HIV/AIDS.

The longtime ruler has woven a shroud of mysticism around himself using religion and rumours of secret powers.

Never seen without his Koran, sceptre and prayer beads, Jammeh's billowing white robes are rumoured to hide a bulletproof vest, the legacy of several coup attempts by his own guards.

In the last few years, a crackdown on journalists, opposition figures and anyone deemed disloyal within the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), has intensified.

He has promised to bury critics "nine feet deep" and told the UN Secretary-General to "go to hell" after Ban Ki-moon called for an investigation into an activist's death in custody.

But in another moment he urged his supporters to restrain themselves from violence and allow last month's election to go ahead peacefully.

Rights groups allege that those who defy him end up in the country's notorious Mile Two prison, where the UN in 2014 said it had obtained evidence of torture and executions by the country's National Intelligence Agency, which reports directly to Jammeh.

This was supplemented by "interference with the independence of the judiciary, denial of due process, prolonged pretrial and incommunicado detention," Special Rapporteur Christof Heyns said.

"The security forces are his tools, and he uses them to control Gambia by arresting people who don't share his views," a prominent opposition figure told Human Rights Watch.

- Isolated -

Gambia's diplomatic relations have also been precarious of late. In December 2014, the EU cut off 13 million euros of funding, and threatened to block another 150 million euros in response to the country's poor human rights record.

International criticism followed the introduction of an "aggravated homosexuality" law in October 2014 that imposed life sentences for a series of new offences.

And the presidential vote was carried out without the presence of EU or ECOWAS observers.

Relations with neighbouring Senegal have also reached an all-time low while the state of the economy has pushed many young Gambians to take the "Back Way", or migrant route across the Sahara to Libya, where they board boats bound for Italy.

But others remain grateful for investment in education and the health system, which were severely neglected under Jammeh's predecessor.
Pentagon prepares new military options for Trump

He wants to frantically bomb the Islamic State group and has slammed White House micromanagement of America's warfighting generals, but President-elect Donald Trump has offered few specifics about what his Pentagon will look like.

While Obama administration officials, who cede control of US foreign policy at noon Friday, say they did everything possible to destroy IS, senior military commanders are now drawing up fresh plans.

These could potentially see more US troops being sent to the Middle East and have the Pentagon taking a more aggressive stance in other key areas, which include countering growing Iranian regional influence.

Fighters from the Kurdish-Arab alliance, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, advance towards the Islamic State group bastion of Raqa on December 13, 2016 DELIL SOULEIMAN (AFP/File)

During his campaign, Trump said he would "bomb the shit" out of IS and claimed to have a secret plan to quickly defeat the group.

He gave no details, but later said he will convene his top generals and "give them a simple instruction: They will have 30 days to submit to the Oval Office a plan for defeating" IS.

An early indication of a break from Obama policy came last week at the confirmation hearing for incoming Pentagon chief James Mattis, a retired Marine general who has garnered broad cross-party support and will likely be one of the first of Trump's cabinet to be sworn in.

He said an ongoing push toward Raqa, the IS group's main stronghold in Syria and the capital of its supposed caliphate, "needs to be reviewed and perhaps energized on a more aggressive timeline."

A key question is whether America will arm Syrian Kurdish forces to lead the fight -- a move sure to infuriate ally Turkey, which considers the Kurdish fighters terrorists -- or whether the United States should send in more combat troops.

A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that senior planners are readying a slew of options for the president and Mattis to weigh.

"If the proper resources -- including arms -- cannot be distributed to the partners who are actually going to fight going into and around Raqa, then another option would be to put coalition or US folks somewhere on the ground to be able to leverage that kind of combat power or direction of combat resources," the official said.

- Arming the Kurds -

Potential Syria plans could include adding one or more US fighting brigade, each of which has thousands of troops.

Currently, only about 500 US troops are in Syria, mostly special operations forces working behind the front lines to train local Kurdish and Syrian Arab fighters.

"Having more US troops would be one way that you can offset not having the ability to properly arm and resource the (local forces), that would be an option," the official said.

General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday he would present Mattis with options to "accelerate the campaign" against IS.

"What is really important is first that we have a conversation about what we are doing today, why we are doing it, and what other things might be done and why we haven't done it to date," Dunford told reporters in Brussels.

Because Obama was elected in 2008 on the promise of ending US conflicts in the Middle East, he has been loathe to put US forces in combat and has insisted on oversight of even minor strategic tweaks.

Trump, on the other hand, is a business executive accustomed to delegating, so may grant Mattis greater autonomy.

The anti-IS campaign began in earnest in August 2014 and has seen a US-led coalition pummel targets across Iraq and Syria.

Some military officials privately voice frustration over the piecemeal nature of the effort, with every new "accelerant" and additional troop deployment needing presidential approval.

Commanders say they worry as much about selling policies in Washington as they do actually fighting the war.

"There are active requests for different authorities that are unresolved on Inauguration Day that the new administration will have an opportunity to look at," the official said.

In an interview with USA Today, Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein said military chiefs are readying options that would grant commanders greater authorities to use secret cyber-warfare and space weapons.

- Killing jihadi families -

Trump, whose campaign was underscored by fiery rhetoric, has said he wants to kill the families of suspected jihadists.

Such inflammatory remarks likely will be resisted by Mattis, a scholar who says such a move is inconsistent with US law and the Geneva Conventions.

But Mattis is hawkish on Iran and has publicly called it the "single most belligerent actor in the Middle East."

Iranian gunboats frequently shadow US destroyers in the Persian Gulf and buzz dangerously close to the ships.

The official said that the United States could take a more assertive stance against Iranian influence, including a more systematic checking of maritime traffic for hidden Iranian arms shipments.

Mattis and Trump must also address China's South China Sea military aspirations, what to do about the North Korean missile program and, pressingly, how to deal with Russia.

Trump had signaled a rapprochement with President Vladimir Putin, but Mattis accuses Russia of trying to break up NATO and has said the United States needs to stand up to its old foe.
Timeline of The Gambia's political crisis

Here is a timeline of developments in Gambia since the December election which President Yahya Jammeh lost to opponent Adama Barrow:

- Jammeh concedes defeat -

- December 1, 2016: Gambians go to the polls to choose their new president from three candidates, including incumbent Jammeh, who has ruled with an iron fist for 22 years, and Barrow, representing a large opposition coalition.

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh refuses to step down despite losing the December 1 presidential election to rival Adama Barrow Marco LONGARI (AFP/File)

A day later the electoral commission announces that Barrow has won, to scenes of jubilation on the streets.

Jammeh concedes defeat, congratulating Barrow for his "clear victory", adding: "I wish him all the best and I wish all Gambians the best."

- Opposition freed -

- December 5: Gambian opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, who was jailed in July for taking part in a protest, is freed on bail with 18 others.

In the following days some 40 other members of the opposition are also freed.

- Jammeh U-turn -

- December 6: The electoral commission says that Barrow has won the election more narrowly than originally thought, and with a lower turnout. He garnered 43.2 percent and Jammeh 39.6 percent of the vote. Third party candidate Mama Kandeh took 17.1 percent.

- December 9: Jammeh announces he has changed his mind, saying: "In the same way that I accepted the results faithfully believing that the Independent Electoral Commission was independent and honest and reliable, I hereby reject the results in totality."

He lodges a complaint with the Supreme Court to overturn the result.

The defiance sparks global concern, with the UN Security Council among those demanding Jammeh hand over power.

- Jammeh urged to go -

- December 13: Heads of state from West African regional bloc ECOWAS are sent to Gambia, but do not manage to persuade Jammeh to acknowledge his defeat. A new mission takes place a month later.

- On December 31 Jammeh accuses ECOWAS of declaring "war".

- Supreme Court stalls -

- January 4, 2017: The army chief reaffirms his loyalty to Jammeh.

- January 9: Jammeh fires 12 ambassadors after they called for him to step aside. Several ministers have since been fired or resigned.

- January 10: The Gambia's chief Supreme Court justice says Jammeh's legal challenge against the result will not be heard for several months.

- January 13: The African Union (AU) urges Jammeh to respect the results and quit power peacefully, warning of "serious consequences". It says it will not recognise him "as of 19 January 2017".

Thousands of Gambians fearing unrest cross the border into neighbouring Senegal and further afield to Guinea-Bissau.

- Barrow in Senegal -

- January 15: Senegalese President Macky Sall announces that he has agreed to "welcome Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow in Dakar until his inauguration," on January 19.

- January 16: The Gambia's top judge pulls out of hearing a bid by Jammeh to halt the inauguration.

- State of emergency -

- January 17: Jammeh declares a state of emergency, saying foreign powers had created an "unwarranted hostile atmosphere, threatening the sovereignty, peace, security and stability of the country".

- African troops ready -

- January 18: The Senegalese army says it is ready to intervene in Gambia if there is no solution to the crisis.
Orlando shooter's widow pleads not guilty

The widow of the gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges she aided her husband in planning the attack.

Noor Salman, 30, entered her plea at a hearing in federal court in northern California where she was arrested on Monday in relation to last year's assault by her husband Omar Mateen.

The judge in the case ordered that she be held pending a bail hearing on February 1.

Forty-nine people died in the assault on the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida Mandel Ngan (AFP/File)

Forty-nine people died in the assault on the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Mateen was killed in a shootout with police and during the attack called dispatchers to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State terror network.

Salman was charged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday with assisting her husband in his bid to help a terrorist organization and misleading local police in Florida and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on information related to the attack.

Federal prosecutor Roger Handberg told magistrate judge Donna Ryu at an initial hearing on Tuesday that Salman was well aware her husband "was going to conduct the attack."

However her family and her attorney Linda Moreno insist the young woman -- who grew up in California and who had a four-year-old son with Mateen -- had no prior knowledge of the attack and was herself the victim of domestic abuse.

"We believe it is misguided and wrong to prosecute her and that it dishonors the memories of the victims to punish an innocent person," Moreno told local media.

Salman told the New York Times in an interview in November that she met her husband -- the son of Afghan immigrants -- on an Arab dating website in 2011 and that he started beating her about six months into their marriage.

She said she was afraid to leave him as he assured her that in the event of a divorce he would get custody of their son.

Salman faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Malaysia PM urges Myanmar to end Rohingya crackdown

Malaysia's prime minister Thursday urged Myanmar to end its crackdown on the Muslim Rohingya minority, warning that Islamist extremists may exploit the crisis.

The plight of the Rohingya, a stateless group denied citizenship in Myanmar and reviled as illegal immigrants by the majority Buddhist population, has become a lightning rod for anger across the Muslim world.

Since October Myanmar's army has carried out "clearance operations" in the north of western Rakhine state to root out insurgents accused of deadly raids on police border posts.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak addresses the Extraordinary Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Rohingya situation in Myanmar, in Kuala Lumpur, on January 19, 2017 MANAN VATSYAYANA (AFP)

At least 66,000 Rohingya have subsequently fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, alleging rape, murder and torture at the hands of security forces. But Myanmar denies the allegations.

"Far too many people have lost their lives in Myanmar," said premier Najib Razak, speaking in Kuala Lumpur at the opening of a special meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"Many have suffered appalling deaths, and those that have lived through the atrocities have witnessed or endured unspeakable cruelty," he added.

"For a start, the killing must stop. The violation of women and girls must stop," he said, adding that "the persecution of your fellow men and women, simply on the grounds that they are Muslim, must stop."

Najib, who has called the crisis a "genocide" and whose prominent defence of the Rohingya comes as he battles a massive graft scandal at home, warned the issue could fan the flames of international jihad.

"OIC member states are well aware that terrorist organisations such as Daesh (Islamic State) could seek to take advantage of this situation," he said.

"This should concern the international community as a whole, as the threat of a new home for terrorist groups has the potential to cause death and destruction well beyond this region."

Najib added that Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya -- tens of thousands of whom have languished in displacement camps since communal riots in 2012 -- was a "stain" on the 10-member Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN.

Najib said Malaysia would deploy a food flotilla and provide 10 million ringgit ($2.25 million) for humanitarian relief.

- Stop the killings -

The plight of the Rohingya has put Myanmar's democracy champion and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi under immense international pressure.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner is accused of standing by while the Rohingya have been persecuted.

She has appointed a commission to investigate the latest violence and has urged the international community to give Myanmar time to heal a bitter and complicated issue.

Myanmar refuses to recognises Rohingya as an official ethnic group.

Instead it describes them pejoratively as Bengalis -- or illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh -- even though many have lived in Myanmar for generations.

The secretary-general of the 56-member OIC, Yousef Al-Othaimeen, urged Myanmar security forces to use restraint with civilian populations or risk fuelling a violent reaction from oppressed groups.

Meanwhile the OIC in a joint communique called on Myanmar to end the "violence and discrimination" against the Rohingya Muslims.

"Myanmar should ensure that the security forces act in accordance with the law and that all perpetrators of acts of violence be held accountable," it said.

The OIC also shared Najib's jihadists fears, saying that if the root causes of the Rohingya are not addressed there could be "infiltration of radical elements" into the community and called for the "reconciliation process", including a safe return of Rohingya refugees.

Myanmar authorities accuse militants with overseas training of launching the October attacks on border posts in Rakhine.

Analysts say Najib's embrace of the Rohingya in part aims to burnish his international image after the damaging 1MDB graft scandal.

The premier has been buffeted by allegations that he took part in the looting of billions of dollars of public cash through state fund 1MDB.

Both he and the fund vehemently deny the allegations.
With clemency for Manning, attention turns to WikiLeaks head

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Barack Obama's decision Tuesday to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence brought fresh attention to another figure involved in the Army leaker's case: Julian Assange.

On Twitter last week, Assange's anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks posted, "If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case."

Obama's move will test the promise. The president commuted Manning's 35-year sentence, freeing her in May, nearly three decades early. Manning has acknowledged leaking a trove of diplomatic cables and national security documents to WikiLeaks in 2010.

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2016, file photo WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. President Barack Obamas decision to commute Chelsea Mannings sentence quickly brought fresh attention to another figure involved in the Army leakers case: Julian Assange. In a tweet in early January 2017, Assanges anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks wrote, If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

In a statement, Assange called Manning "a hero, whose bravery should be applauded."

Assange went on to demand that the U.S. government "should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers, such as WikiLeaks and myself," but he made no mention of the Twitter pledge. His lawyer said he has been pressing the Justice Department for updates on an investigation concerning WikiLeaks.

Assange has been holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he remains wanted on an allegation of rape, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

The Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange, and it's not clear that any charges have been brought under seal.

The department, in refusing to turn over investigative documents sought by Manning under the Freedom of Information Act, has acknowledged that the FBI is continuing to investigate the publication of national security information on WikiLeaks arising from Manning's disclosures.

"That investigation concerns potential violations of federal criminal laws, in the form of serious threats to the national security, and the investigation continues today," Justice Department lawyers wrote in a court filing last year. "From the terms of her request, it is clear that Manning seeks to obtain documents concerning that investigation.

Separately, the FBI is also investigating Russian meddling through hacking in the U.S. presidential election. Hacked emails from top Democratic officials and Hillary Clinton campaign officials were posted on WikiLeaks in the final weeks of the presidential race.

With the commutation coming just days before Obama leaves office, any decision on whether to charge or seek to extradite Assange will now fall to the Trump administration.

In a statement Tuesday, a lawyer for Assange did not address whether Assange intended to come to the U.S.

"For many months, I have asked the DOJ to clarify Mr. Assange's status. I hope it will soon," Assange's lawyer, Barry Pollack, said in the statement. "The Department of Justice should not pursue any charges against Mr. Assange based on his publication of truthful information and should close its criminal investigation of him immediately."

Another Assange lawyer, Melinda Taylor, suggested he wouldn't go back on his word. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," she said in a brief telephone conversation with The Associated Press.

____

Associated Press writers Danika Kirka and Raphael Satter contributed from London.

___
Business group: China preparing to retaliate on trade

BEIJING (AP)  China is preparing to retaliate if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump raises duties on Chinese goods and already has toughened its stance, an American business group said Wednesday.

Trump, who is due to be inaugurated Friday, threatened during his campaign to raise import duties on Chinese goods to 45 percent. American companies are frustrated by Chinese market barriers and want Washington to take a tougher stance toward Beijing but worry reckless action might trigger retaliation.

Already, China has ordered unusually high anti-dumping penalties against a U.S.-made agricultural chemical.

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2015, file photo, the Space Needle towers in the background beyond a container ship anchored in Elliott Bay near downtown Seattle. A board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, Lester Ross, says China is preparing to retaliate if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump carries out promises to impose sanctions on Chinese goods. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

"China has indeed threatened to and is preparing to take steps in retaliation if such actions take place," said Lester Ross, a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce, at a news conference.

In an implicit rebuke to Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphatically defended free trade in a speech Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. A "trade war" would harm all countries involved, he said.

On Jan. 11, the Ministry of Commerce raised duties on DGGS, an additive for livestock feed, to up to 53.7 percent, nearly double the 33.8 percent rate it recommended in September before Trump was elected.

The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Officials have not said publicly that China is preparing retaliatory measures but state media have emphasized its importance as a market for U.S. soybeans and other exports and warned against starting a "trade war."

Asked at a Jan. 6 news conference whether Beijing would retaliate by hiking import duties on U.S. goods, a deputy Chinese commerce minister, Wang Shouwen, said, "I believe mutually beneficial Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations will be further developed in the future and no one will destroy the win-win relationship."

The United States and China have one of the world's biggest and most complex trading relationships but American companies increasingly complain Beijing is blocking access to technology and other promising industries.

While Beijing has promised to open more industries to foreign companies, they also have issued new rules on electric car manufacturing, data security, internet censorship and other fields.

In a reflection of companies' concerns, the American chamber's chairman, William Zarit, said it plans to send seven or eight businesspeople to Washington in February to meet lawmakers and Trump administration officials. Zarit said that is in addition to a delegation that makes an annual visit to Washington in April or May because this year is "special in many ways."

"We certainly are not going there to lecture the administration but we will share our ideas on a win-win path forward," Zarit said.

In a report released Wednesday, the chamber said a survey found American companies are increasingly unhappy with what they see as unfair treatment in China.

"We would recommend that the U.S. be more aggressive in talks," Zarit said. However, he said, "We don't want to do things that are counterproductive to both countries."

The chamber said 81 percent of companies that responded to a survey feel "less welcome" in China, up from 77 percent last year. It said one in four is shifting operations to other countries due to concern about the regulatory environment, higher costs and other reasons.

"Most respondents say China's environment now discourages investment," the report said.

Communist leaders have promised to make China's state-dominated economy more productive by opening more industries to private and foreign competitors. In December, the Cabinet promised to open fields including banking and motorcycle manufacturing.

Zarit and Ross said foreign companies welcomed such announcements but have yet to see significant changes in operating conditions.

Beijing also faces U.S. and European complaints it is threatening thousands of jobs abroad by exporting steel, aluminum, solar panels and other goods at improperly low prices.

The American chamber said its survey found 83 percent of companies expect U.S.-Chinese ties "to remain the same or to deteriorate in 2017." It said the "big question" for them is "what steps both governments will take to ensure a positive business environment."

For their part, European companies also are increasingly frustrated with Chinese trade policy. They complain they are blocked from acquiring assets in China at a time when Chinese companies have bought leading brands including German robot maker Kuka in a multibillion-dollar global acquisition spree.

On Tuesday, German Ambassador Michael Clauss urged Chinese leaders to make good on promises to open wider to foreign investment and give foreign companies a "level playing field."

"Many companies keep telling us that their difficulties in these areas have increased," Clauss said in a statement. "It often appears that somewhere down the line, political assurances of equal treatment give way to protectionist tendencies."

___

American Chamber of Commerce in China: www.amchamchina.org
Rabid bobcat attacks 4, terrorizes resort town in Arizona

PHOENIX (AP)  People flock to the Arizona desert town of Sedona for its tranquility and relaxation. But tranquility turned to terror after a rabid bobcat attacked residents and pets.

Authorities killed the rabid animal after it injured four people, a dog and a house cat in three separate attacks last week in Sedona.

The bobcat first struck Thursday morning when a man heard strange noises coming from his parked vehicle and looked underneath. The sick animal scratched and bit the man and injured his dog before running away.

Five hours later, a woman called police to report that a bobcat attacked her house cat, Roger, while the two animals were under her vehicle. The woman was not injured, but Roger was scratched on his rear leg before the bobcat fled.

The bobcat was spotted about 20 minutes later running through the parking lot at Los Abrigados Resort and Spa. Three employees trying to get the bobcat out from under vehicles and to leave the property were scratched before police arrived.

"There were all these kinds of people crowded around the cat, which was under the car growling," said Gene Kurz, a community service officer for the Sedona Police Department who responded to the call at the resort. "And once it was determined the cat was sick, people listened real fast and got out of the way."

The bobcat ran into a nearby storm wash. Game and Fish officers attempted to capture the animal, but it was too aggressive, and they shot and killed the bobcat with a pistol.

Authorities say the incident serves as a reminder to not approach wild animals, especially ones acting as erratically as the bobcat.

"In the future, if anyone sees an animal that's acting unusual, somewhat more aggressive or a nocturnal animal out in the daytime, the best thing is to stay away, get your pets secured, and the first call should be to Arizona Game and Fish department," said Arizona Game and Fish spokeswoman Shelly Shepherd.

Test results later confirmed the bobcat had rabies.

Only the man from the first incident was bitten. The three men at the resort suffered minor scratches to their arms.

The dog, which was vaccinated, was placed in quarantine that will last less than two weeks. The house cat's vaccinations were expired so Roger was placed on a longer, 45-day home quarantine.

Shepherd said the bobcat may have had contact with other people or pets in the five-hour gap between attacks.
Chinese coal mine caves in, killing 9 workers

BEIJING (AP)  The partial collapse of a coal mine in northern China has left nine people dead, state media reported Wednesday, reflecting the stubborn persistence of safety problems despite years-long efforts to reduce deaths in the sprawling sector.

The people killed were doing maintenance work inside the mine shaft when it collapsed Tuesday morning, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said. Rescuers were able to save one person, who is now in stable condition at a hospital.

The cause of the accident on the outskirts of Shuozhou city in coal-rich Shanxi province was under investigation. Local government officials did not immediately return phone calls from The Associated Press.

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal. Its mining industry has long been one of the world's deadliest, even as the government has strived to improve safety inside the mines and phase out older operations with outdated safety standards. A heavy reliance on coal is also blamed for the serious air pollution and smog that routinely smother northern cities in winter.

China's work safety administration reported 931 coal mine accident deaths in 2014, the last year for which figures were available, although official statistics are often questioned for their accuracy. The head of the agency has acknowledged that some mines cut corners on safety standards under financial pressure, while operators sometimes cover-up deadly accidents to avoid prosecution.
Man charged after fire at Washington state mosque

BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP)  A man with an extensive history of mental illness and property damage has been charged with arson in connection with a fire that severely damaged a Washington state mosque Saturday.

The Seattle Times reports (https://goo.gl/qB4nZR ) Issac Wayne Wilson was charged in King County Tuesday. Bail was set at $1 million.

Charging documents say Wilson was found in a parking lot behind the Islamic Center of Eastside in Bellevue early Saturday, staring at the fire.

The documents say when approached by police, Wilson said, "I did it."

The mosque was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported.

In July, Wilson disrupted prayers at the mosque and had to be escorted out. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct.

His probation officer told the court in December that Wilson suffered from "serious mental-health issues."

___
North Texas police officer killed, suspect later found dead

LITTLE ELM, Texas (AP)  A police detective has died after being shot while answering a report of an armed man outside a house in a suburban Dallas neighborhood.

Little Elm Police Chief Rodney Harrison says Detective Jerry Walker died Tuesday night at a Denton hospital hours after the shooting.

Fire Chief Ryan Roach later said the suspect was found dead in the house after a six-hour standoff. Roach didn't identify the suspect or give a cause of death.

This undated photo provided by the Little Elm Police Department shows Detective Jerry Walker. Little Elm Police Chief Rodney Harrison says Walker died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at a Denton hospital hours after being shot while answering a report of an armed man outside a house in a suburban Dallas neighborhood. (City of Little Elm via AP)

Authorities say the incident began about 3 p.m. Tuesday with the report of a man outside a house, armed with a long gun. Denton County sheriff's Lt. Orlando Hinojosa (ee-noh-HOH'-sah) says officers arrived to find an armed man screaming at them from a backyard.

As officers withdrew, the man ducked into the house and fired from a window, striking Walker.

Tactical squad officers arrived and a standoff ensued.
Were opportunities for clues from MH370 debris missed?

SYDNEY (AP)  Three nations shelled out around $160 million and years' worth of work on the underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The result: No plane. The only tangible  and arguably most important  clues into what happened to the aircraft have come courtesy of ordinary citizens, who bore the costs themselves.

The deep-sea sonar search for the vanished Boeing 777 was suspended on Tuesday after officials conceded defeat following the most expensive, complex aviation search in history.

But while search crews spent years trawling in futility through a remote patch of the Indian Ocean, people wandering along beaches thousands of kilometers (miles) away began spotting pieces of the plane that had washed ashore. Those pieces have provided crucial information to investigators and prompted some to question whether Malaysia, Australia and China  who funded the hunt for the underwater wreckage  missed key opportunities by failing to organize coastal searches for the remnants that drifted to distant shorelines.

FILE - In this July 29, 2015, file photo, French police officers carry a piece of debris from a plane known as a "flaperon" on the shore of Saint-Andre, Reunion Island. While search crews spent years trawling in futility through a remote patch of the Indian Ocean for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, people wandering along beaches on the other side of the ocean began spotting debris that washed ashore. Those pieces provided key information and raised questions whether Malaysia, Australia and China - who funded the hunt for the underwater wreckage - missed key opportunities by failing to organize coastal searches for plane parts. (AP Photo/Lucas Marie, File)

"It would have been good to have been getting people looking for debris," said David Griffin, an Australian government oceanographer who worked on an analysis of how the debris drifted in a bid to pinpoint where the plane crashed. "I think that was a job that fell between the cracks of whose responsibility it was."

Since the plane vanished on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, more than 20 pieces of debris confirmed or believed likely to have come from the aircraft have turned up on beaches along the east coast of Africa and on islands including Madagascar. All of the parts have been found by local residents and tourists who stumbled upon them, and by Blaine Gibson, an American amateur sleuth who launched his own, self-funded hunt for debris after working with oceanographers to estimate where bits of the plane may have ended up.

Several family members of Flight 370's passengers asked officials to launch a search along the coastlines for parts of the plane. When their pleas went unheeded, they banded together and traveled to Madagascar to encourage residents to keep an eye out for more debris. The family members, who covered all their travel expenses themselves, even offered a potential reward to anyone who found a piece of Flight 370.

Grace Nathan, a Malaysian whose mother was on board Flight 370, was among those who made the trip to Madagascar last month. She is deeply frustrated that the families felt compelled to take on the task themselves, and that the underwater search yielded nothing.

"Every single clue to date has been found by private individuals by chance," Nathan said. "Not a single piece of hard evidence has been found by the official search."

Nathan believes the governments' failure to search for coastal debris may have resulted in missed clues.

"They should have done more to initiate something like what we did," she said. "We are laypeople. We don't have the kind of reach they have, we don't have the kind of contacts that they have."

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which led the search for the underwater wreckage, said Thursday that it's impossible to know whether organized searches of the coastlines would have yielded more debris.

"The dynamic nature of the ocean means that items are continually being cast ashore and carried away again  a beach cannot simply be ticked off as 'searched' at a single point in time," the agency said in a statement. "What has helped significantly is the substantial public awareness since early 2016 of the possibility of debris from MH370 being washed up on beaches bounding the western Indian Ocean which has resulted in many people coming forward with finds."

Initially, experts believed that the pieces washing ashore would be virtually useless to the investigation. Too much time had passed, they argued, and ocean currents are too volatile to make it possible to trace the pieces back to their origin.

Yet the recovered parts of the plane provided valuable insight into what happened to it. They confirmed, firstly, that the aircraft went down somewhere in the Indian Ocean. Before the first part  a piece of airplane wing known as a flaperon  was discovered on Reunion Island, farther east of Madagascar, in 2015, some people continued to insist the plane had flown north into Asia, rather than heading south. The flaperon effectively killed that theory and bolstered the investigators' interpretation of satellite data that indicated the plane had ended up somewhere along a vast arc slicing across the Indian Ocean.

A wing flap that washed up in Tanzania also gave investigators clues into what happened in the final moments of the plane's flight. No one knows why the aircraft veered so far off-course after takeoff and turned south into the Indian Ocean, though Malaysian officials have said the plane's erratic movements after takeoff were consistent with deliberate actions. Investigators operated on the theory that the plane was on autopilot in its final hours before it ran out of fuel and plummeted into the sea.

A key question was whether anyone was still at the controls when the plane hit the water, which would affect how far the plane could glide after running out of fuel. Critics who favor the theory that Capt. Zaharie Ahmad Shah hijacked the plane say he could have made a controlled ditch at sea in order to minimize debris and help the plane disappear as completely as possible.

But an analysis of the wing flap by Australian investigators suggested it had not been deployed when it hit the water. A pilot attempting a soft landing would have extended the flaps.

The flaperon and other debris also helped officials narrow down the potential search zone. Griffin, the Australian oceanographer, set replicas of the flaperon adrift in the ocean, measuring how fast they traveled and noting how much the wind influences their rate of speed. He and his team then ran computer simulations of how the aircraft parts could have drifted, giving them an idea of where they originated. Late last year, investigators coupled that drift information with a fresh analysis of other data on the plane's movements and concluded that search crews were looking in the wrong part of the Indian Ocean. The investigators recommended crews instead search an area to the north, where they now believe the plane may lie.

But Australia, Malaysia and China have nixed that idea, saying they won't relaunch the search until they have credible evidence pointing to the plane's exact location.

That decision has stunned Gibson, the American who has found MH370 debris. To him, the debris that has been found is the most credible evidence investigators have.

"Debris is the key. Debris is the main clue. Those are actually pieces of the plane," he says. "The debris is really narrowing it down better than it's ever been narrowed. ... There's no excuse for them to not go search that area."

FILE - In this July. 20, 2016, file photo released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), staff examine a piece of aircraft debris at their laboratory in Canberra, Australia. The flap was found in June 2016 by residents on Pemba Island off the coast of Tanzania and officials had previously said it was highly likely to have come from flight MH370. While search crews spent years trawling in futility through a remote patch of the Indian Ocean for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, people wandering along beaches on the other side of the ocean began spotting debris that washed ashore. Those pieces provided key information and raised questions whether Malaysia, Australia and China - who funded the hunt for the underwater wreckage - missed key opportunities by failing to organize coastal searches for plane parts. (ATSB via AP, File)
China judge sees notion of independent courts as 'erroneous'

BEIJING (AP)  China's top judge dismissed the concept of judicial independence as an "erroneous Western ideal" in remarks that seemed to emphasize the Communist Party's ultimate control over all areas of public life.

Zhou Qiang, the head of the Supreme People's Court, has at times been seen as a reformer keen on limiting the influence of government officials on the courts, but his recent statement drew criticism from legal professionals.

Chinese state media quoted him over the weekend as instructing leading judges to "draw your sword" against words and actions that run counter to party dictates.

Since seizing power in 1949, the party has maintained strict control over the government, judiciary and military despite the rapid social change accompanying breakneck economic growth. Leaders in recent years have firmly rejected calls for political reform, crushing the 1989 pro-democracy movement and harassing and imprisoning advocates of change, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.

Responding to Zhou's comments, Chinese legal scholars including Peking University professor He Weifang said the public would lose confidence in a legal system seen to be in thrall to the party.

"If there is no judicial independence, the ultimate result can only be injustice everywhere, sparking unrest. Calling judicial independence a Western concept and taking joy in its elimination is the sort of talk and action that leads to disaster for the nation and its people," He wrote.

Scores of lawyers also signed an open online letter calling for Zhou's resignation. The concept of judicial independence is not a Western concept, but one recognized around the world, the letter said, and Zhou's remarks attacking the concept had "caused an inevitable, harmful effect on Chinese society."

Despite his reform reputation, Zhou at other times has criticized ideas he deemed unsuitable for China's political system. In 2015, he told a party committee that the high court will "resolutely resist the influence of mistaken Western concepts and ways of thinking."

China rejects the notion of an American-style separation of powers and its constitution emphasizes the unassailable primacy of the Communist Party. But the same constitution also calls for courts to exercise judicial power independently and be free from "interference by administrative organs, public organizations or individuals."

In his remarks, first reported Saturday by the state-controlled China News Service, Zhou also urged China's judges to avoid the "trap" of judicial independence, follow the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics and "protect government leaders, the image of heroes, and the glorious history of the party and the People's Army" according to the law.

Following his ascension as party leader in 2012, President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of governing through laws and regulations, rather than official fiat. Yet that is seen as merely an attempt to codify party dominance, and legal and political experts say that party leaders have not only maintained their grip over the courts but increasingly wield the legal system as a lever of power.

Xi has also demanded strict ideological conformity within the party and repeatedly cautioned against liberal Western values seeping into China's political sphere and the classroom. His administration rounded up dozens of lawyers and civil society activists in 2015, leveling state subversion charges against many, while cracking down on any criticism of the party or attempts to openly question its history.

Last year, a Beijing court convicted a writer of libel after he challenged the veracity of a famous tale of Communist Party soldiers sacrificing themselves against the Japanese.

In December, Beijing prosecutors dropped criminal charges against five police officers over the death of a man who died in their custody  after concluding the officers had used excessive force and sought to cover up the man's death. The prosecutors' 180-degree turn sparked outrage among many in China's urban middle class who suspected that political interference prevented the prosecution.

Days after the court case was dropped, the Communist Party said it would discipline the officers through its own, separate channels.

Zhou's weekend meeting with top judges came weeks after the party's powerful anti-corruption agency wrapped up an internal investigation of the Supreme People's Court. Zhou, who has a master's degree in law and took over as chief justice in 2013, has previously criticized the judiciary for the prevalence of wrongful convictions and warned against the use of testimony obtained through torture.

Peking University School of Transnational Law scholar Susan Finder said that given Zhou's sometimes frank criticism of the system, many legal experts wondered whether his warnings about Western influence  a common party refrain since Xi took power  indeed reflected his own thinking or were required of him.

Eva Pils, a Chinese legal expert at King's College London, said Zhou's comments reflected clear instructions coming from the top that the courts must be part of the fight against China's perceived foreign enemies and domestic dissidents.
Caroline Kennedy boosted US-Japan ties as US ambassador

TOKYO (AP)  Caroline Kennedy stepped down Wednesday after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa.

Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013, she had been expected to leave with the coming change in U.S. leadership. President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has also said that all envoys who were political appointees must step down by Inauguration Day on Friday. Trump has not named a new ambassador yet.

Kennedy ruffled some feathers early in her tenure by tweeting her opposition to Japan's dolphin hunt, shortly after her embassy issued a statement expressing "disappointment" that Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had visited a shrine that memorializes World War II war criminals, among others.

FILE - In this March 28, 2014, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Japan's Central League professional baseball opening game between the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

During her time, though, the conservative Abe and liberal Obama found common ground despite coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

"She has great skills and authority as a convener, a much needed function in U.S.-Japan relations," said Kent Calder, the director of the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. "She has been more of a network builder than a concrete policy initiator, but that is almost an inevitable role for ambassadors these days."

He said her legacy includes facilitating Obama's historic visit to Hiroshima last May, one of two Japanese cities devastated by U.S. atomic bombs in 1945. Kennedy was in Pearl Harbor at the end of last year when Abe reciprocated with a visit to the site of Japan's 1941 surprise attack that drew America into World War II.

Some will also remember the efforts of the first female U.S. ambassador to Japan to promote literacy and women's and LGBT rights, and for her visits to the northeast region slowly recovering from a deadly and destructive tsunami in 2011.

"She was true to the Obama administration goals, and she maintained the Kennedy mystique without making it the focal point of her tenure," said Nancy Snow, a professor of public diplomacy at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. "I will remember her as a champion of person-to-person exchange and engagement."

Winning understanding in Okinawa for a reduced but still large U.S. military presence proved an impossible task, and was hampered by a series of incidents from crimes by U.S. base personnel to crashes of U.S. military aircraft.

"In every ambassadorship, there are both enduring issues and unpredictable events," she told Japan's largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, in a farewell interview. "In my case, both were linked to Okinawa."

The daughter of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy arrived in November 2013 to more fanfare than the typical envoy. Thousands of onlookers lined streets to snap pictures and wave as she traveled by horse-drawn carriage to present her credentials to Japan's emperor. The procession was broadcast live on Japan's public broadcaster NHK.

Her popularity strained embassy resources, a 2015 U.S. government report found, because of the demands for her participation in events across the country. It noted that the embassy "has now caught up on the backlog of gifts sent to the ambassador in her first six months in Japan."

Now 59, Kennedy is returning to her Manhattan home with husband Edwin Schlossberg, who split his time between Tokyo and New York. She hasn't indicated publicly what her future plans are.

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Online: Kennedy's farewell video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPcI7txv6V0&feature=youtu.be

FILE - In this April 16, 2014, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, center, and her husband Edwin Arthur Schlossberg, center right, walk on a souvenir shopping street, outside of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, Japa. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

FILE- In this Feb. 12, 2014, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, left, shakes hands with Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima after she handed a copy of visa application form of her father President John F. Kennedy, which was issued when he visited Japan, at Okinawa Prefectural Government in Naha, Okinawa. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (Kyodo News via AP, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 25, 2013, file photo, new U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy shows her work of the Japanese word of "friends" as she attends a calligraphy lesson with children at Mangokuura Elementary School in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

FILE - In this May 13, 2014, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, center, tries a local specialty, sweet rice cakes she made with students at a high school in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (Kyodo News via AP, File)

FILE - In this April 23, 2014, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, left, shakes hands with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida after exchanging the documents to extend the agreement on cooperation in research and development in science and technology between the two countries in Tokyo. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (Toshifumi Kitamura/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2016, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy speaks before a sake barrel breaking ceremony commemorating the opening of the exhibition, "Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan," at the Asia Society, in New York. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2014, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy greets attendants as she offers flowers to the atomic bomb victims during a ceremony at Nagasaki Peace Park in Nagasaki, southern Japan. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (Kyodo News via AP, File)

FILE - In this June 14, 2015, file photo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, right, and Akie Abe, wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, wearing "Monpe," or work pants for women, prepare for rice planting, in Shimonoseki, western Japan. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (Kyodo News via AP, FIle)

FILE - In this April 24, 2014, file photo, President Barack Obama sits with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy, left, during a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Akasaka State Guest House in Tokyo. Kennedy is stepping down Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 after three years as U.S. ambassador to Japan, where she was welcomed like a celebrity and worked to deepen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite regular flare-ups over American military bases on the southern island of Okinawa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Czech man accused of AIDS offense held in Thailand

BANGKOK (AP)  Thai police said Wednesday they have arrested a Czech man wanted in his country for allegedly having unprotected sex with several people, including a minor, while being aware that he had AIDS.

Zdenek Pfeifer, 49, from northeast Bohemia, was picked up on the resort island of Phuket on charges of overstaying his visa, said deputy police spokesman Krisana Patanacharoen.

Police acted on a notice issued by Interpol on behalf of a Czech court seeking help in arresting Pfeifer, who faces charges of battery, sexual abuse, spreading disease and distributing pornography, Krisana said. The offenses carry a maximum sentence of 12 years.

He said Pfeifer had been living in Phuket on a tourist visa which expired in 2015. He was to be taken to court later Wednesday to be charged with overstaying his visa, which would allow him to be deported.

"He overstayed in the country for more than 500 days, so that's against the immigration law here," Krisana said.

The Interpol notice says Pfeifer was informed in 2013 that he suffered from AIDS, but that he went on to have unprotected sex with many men in the Czech Republic over the next two years before fleeing to Thailand.

"At least in one case he infected his sexual partner," the notice says. "One of the men was a minor and the wanted person paid him money for sexual intercourse with him and recorded the intercourse" to make a pornographic video, it says.
More clemency coming after Obama shortens Manning's sentence

WASHINGTON (AP)  Embracing his clemency powers like never before, President Barack Obama is planning more commutations in his final days in office after a dramatic move to cut short convicted leaker Chelsea Manning's sentence.

Obama became the president to have granted more commutations than any other when he announced Tuesday that Manning will be freed in May, almost 30 years ahead of schedule. Manning, the transgender Army intelligence analyst who leaked more than 700,000 U.S. documents, was one of 273 people receiving clemency on a single day.

Receiving pardons from the president were retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during another leak probe, and San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, sentenced in 1996 on tax evasion charges. Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera's 55-year sentence was commuted.

FILE - In this undated file photo provided by the U.S. Army, Pfc. Chelsea Manning poses for a photo wearing a wig and lipstick. On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, President Barack Obama commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, who leaked Army documents and is serving 35 years. (U.S. Army via AP, File)

But Obama is not finished. The White House said Obama would grant more commutations Thursday  the day before his presidency ends  though officials said those would focus on drug offenders and would not likely include any other famous names.

Neil Eggleston, Obama's White House counsel, said the individuals were learning "that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance."

The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump. Still, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the incoming president was "troubled" by Obama's decision, which he called disappointing.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and spent more than six years behind bars.

Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a men's prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests. The former cheered Obama's move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.

Obama did not grant a pardon to another prominent leaker, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. Snowden hasn't formally applied for clemency, though his supporters have called for it. Yet Obama has taken a dim view of Snowden because he refuses to return to the U.S. from Russia to face charges.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced. She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

"We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obama's action could "quite literally save Chelsea's life."

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move "just outrageous," and added, "Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets."

Obama's press secretary, Josh Earnest, told reporters on Wednesday that Obama was inclined to grant Manning clemency because she'd expressed remorse and started serving her sentence, which he said was much longer than sentences that less prominent leakers had received for similar crimes.

Manning, Lopez and many of the others will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry. Obama also pardoned hotelier Ian Schrager, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion.

Commutations reduce sentences being served, but don't erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a two-year sentence.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

The White House noted that absent a commutation, the 74-year-old Lopez likely would have died in prison.

Obama's commutation for Manning also raised fresh questions about the future of another figure involved in the Army leaker's case: Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks had earlier pledged, via tweet, that its founder would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning. Holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he's wanted on a rape allegation, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

But the Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange, and WikiLeaks has said authorities have refused to say whether the U.S. has requested extradition. Following Obama's announcement about Manning, it was unclear whether Assange planned to abide by his earlier pledge.

White House officials said neither Assange's fate nor separate concerns about WikiLeaks' role in Russian hacking of the election factored into the decision to commute Manning's sentence. The officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

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Williams, Safarova in French Open final rematch at Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  On paper, Serena Williams' second-round match on Thursday against Lucie Safarova should be no contest.

The six-time Australian Open champion in search of her record 23rd Grand Slam singles title has beaten the Czech player all nine times they've met, including the 2015 French Open final.

But Safarova, ranked 61st, saved nine match points in the second set of her first-round match here against Yanina Wickmayer before advancing 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1.

United States' Serena Williams reaches for a shot to Switzerland's Belinda Bencic during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

So Williams may need to be patient, or ruthless, in the match which opens night play at Rod Laver Arena.

After her win Tuesday, Safarova wasn't aware of the extent of her feat.

"I stopped counting after a few (match points), I was like, just another one," she said. "But I was like, 'I'm just going to go for it and if she closes the match, well OK, but I'm just going to play my game.' It was exciting."

Safarova is expecting a fast start from Williams.

"Serena's always a tough opponent," Safarova said. "She hasn't played many matches so that could be maybe a little bit to my advantage, but she always comes out strong. I have nothing to lose so I'll be ready."

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Here is a look at some other matches in the bottom half of the draw on Thursday, the fourth day of the Australian Open:

CONCERN FROM RAONIC: Milos Raonic takes on Gilles Muller, who is coming off his first career tournament victory at the Sydney International last week. Muller broke down at the trophy presentations in Sydney, relieved that he finally achieved a win.

Raonic lost to Muller in Valencia, Spain in 2012, although that was before Raonic developed into the third-ranked player in the world. Raonic also had to retire from a second-round match at Wimbledon in 2011 while leading 3-2 in the first set due to a right hip injury. "I have struggled with him," Raonic said. "He had a great, phenomenal week last week. For him it was something very special, and obviously it was pretty special to see, as well, that final and his reaction to it." They play an afternoon match on Margaret Court Arena.

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MUTUAL RESPECT: Johanna Konta beat Naomi Osaka in straight sets in their only previous meeting in the semifinals of qualifying at the U.S. Open in 2015. The pair, who meet again Thursday  the opening match of the day at Rod Laver  made positive impressions on each other during that match in New York. "I remember playing her, and she had a real good serve and a really good return," Osaka said of last year's semifinalist. "I think it's really awesome like how she rose so high and quickly. She's a really good player." Konta returned the favor: "She's improved a lot. I know she plays a big game. She has big shots. I'm definitely prepared to go in for a battle."

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DOMINATING DJOKOVIC: Six-time champion Novak Djokovic has beaten his second-round opponent, Dennis Istoman, all five times they have met. Two of those matches have come at the Australian Open, although it wasn't until the third round. Istoman has won only one set in those five career matches.

Among other matches Thursday, 2009 champion Rafael Nadal plays 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis and No. 3-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska takes on Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Spain's Fernando Verdasco in their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

Japan's Naomi Osaka celebrates after defeating Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Supreme Court nominee returns to bench as judge, not justice

WASHINGTON (AP)  Merrick Garland, the judge nominated by President Barack Obama to the U.S. Supreme Court, made his return to the courtroom on Wednesday to hear cases as a federal appeals court judge, not a Supreme Court justice.

Garland, the chief judge of the District of Columbia Circuit, stopped hearing cases in March after he was nominated to fill the seat of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February. But after Republicans blocked his confirmation, it was announced in mid-December that he'd again begin hearing federal appeals court cases.

President-elect Donald Trump is now expected to announce his own nomination to the court within the two weeks of his inauguration on Friday.

FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2016 file photo, President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland is seen in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Garland has put on his judges robes again. Garland stopped hearing cases last March after he was nominated to fill the seat of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February. But after Republicans blocked Garlands confirmation it was announced in mid-December that the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit would again begin hearing cases. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

There was no mention during nearly three hours of argument on Wednesday that it was Garland's first day back on the bench in 11 months.

The three judges hearing the cases entered the courtroom following the call of "oyez, oyez, oyez," the same call to order used at the Supreme Court. But there was no confusing the small courtroom, in the same building as the federal district court and along the parade route Trump will pass Friday, with the Supreme Court.

The judges enter from a doorway, not through red velvet curtains. Nameplates remind lawyers the names of the judges they are addressing.

The two judges sitting with Garland on Wednesday have also been mentioned as possible future nominees to the Supreme Court, though by different parties.

Judge Sri Srinivasan, appointed by President Obama in 2013, has been mentioned as a possible nominee by a Democratic president. Judge Brett Kavanaugh, named by President George W. Bush in 2006, has been mentioned as a possible Republican nominee, though he is not one of 21 potential nominees listed by Trump.

One subtle reminder of Garland's unsuccessful nomination was literally staring him in the face Wednesday. Among the roughly three dozen people watching the proceedings was one lawyer with a familiar name: Eugene Scalia, a lawyer and one of Justice Scalia's nine children.

Scalia, who represents one of the parties in a case being heard by the court, declined to comment on his case or Garland's return to the bench.

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Russia extends residence permit for Snowden

MOSCOW (AP)  Russian authorities have extended a residence permit for U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked thousands of secret documents from the National Security Agency.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a post on Facebook late Tuesday that Snowden's residence permit has been extended for "a couple of years."

Snowden has been living in Russia since 2013 when he got stuck in the transit area at a Moscow airport after the United States canceled his passport.

The announcement comes as U.S. President Barack Obama has commuted the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, who was convicted for leaking more than 700,000 U.S. documents.
GOP prescription of minority outreach forgotten with Trump

WASHINGTON (AP)  Together, they delivered a post-election autopsy with a dire prediction: Republican survival requires embracing a message of tolerance and respect in an increasingly diverse United States.

Yet on the eve of Donald Trump's inauguration four years later, the authors of the Republican National Committee's 2013 "Growth and Opportunity Project" concede their report is little more than an afterthought as members gather in Washington to celebrate their party's success. The authors tell The Associated Press they continue to believe the GOP must improve its standing with women, Hispanics and black voters in the age of Trump, but they disagree on a path forward.

One of the five authors quit the Republican Party to protest Trump. The others stayed, but as their party prepares to control the White House, House and Senate for the first time in nearly a decade, they have abandoned any sense of urgency to address Republicans' persistent struggles with women and minorities.

FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2016, file photo, then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall event in Columbus, Ohio. On the eve of Donald Trumps inauguration four years later, the authors of the Republican National Committees 2013 Growth and Opportunity Project concede their report is little more than an afterthought. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

"I don't think there's an issue. Trump won," said Glenn McCall, an African-American committeeman from South Carolina who helped write the section of the report that said: "The Republican Party must be committed to building a lasting relationship within the African-American community year-round, based on mutual respect and with a spirit of caring."

Regarding women, outgoing RNC co-chair Sharon Day says, "We're good."

Trump's poor showing with female voters last fall, she said, was a simple byproduct of a unique election. "You had a man running against a woman," Day said. "I'm not concerned about anything."

Party leaders suggest their brand will benefit from the looming election of Ronna Romney McDaniel, who is expected to become the first woman elected to lead the RNC on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the undisputed leader of the GOP, Trump, has refused to soften his tone.

Only this past weekend, the president-elect lashed out at civil rights legend John Lewis as the nation prepared to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. The incoming president, responding to criticism from the Democratic congressman, called Lewis "all talk" and charged without evidence that his Georgia district is "crime-ridden" and "falling apart."

Another author of the report, veteran Republican strategist Sally Bradshaw, determined there is no path forward with Trump in the White House.

"I still stand by the report, and so much so that I left the party over Donald Trump's treatment of women and minorities," Bradshaw told the AP. "That report was a roadmap for long-term sustained wins by Republicans  celebrity and anger really aren't much of a long-term strategy. Absent engaging with the changing demographic make-up of our nation, any GOP victory is likely short-lived."

Bradshaw, who most recently served as chief strategist for Jeb Bush's failed 2016 presidential bid, now runs a bookstore in Florida.

Another author, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, has given up hope that Trump will adopt a "welcoming and inclusive tone," as he called for in the autopsy.

"It ain't happening. At least not for Donald Trump," Fleischer said.

Trump's 2016 success, he said, came from his unique ability to expand the Republican electorate by winning over new white working-class voters. His performance with women and minorities, however, was little better than Mitt Romney's underwhelming showing four years ago.

"Donald Trump was able to come in and expand the party in a way that nobody anticipated," Fleischer said. "That doesn't change demographics. And the Republicans' central issue remains: America is becoming more diverse. And Republicans have got to expand in order to be successful."

Trump won the presidency by the narrowest of margins.

The president-elect lost the popular vote by more than 2.9 million votes, but he scored the necessary electoral votes with the help of unexpected victories across the industrial Midwest. He won Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania by a combined 82,000 votes out of roughly 13 million cast.

Trump struggled in swing states with larger minority populations, losing Colorado and Nevada where the Hispanic population is booming. And his margin of victory in Texas and Arizona, traditional Republican strongholds with large minority communities, was narrower than that of any other Republican presidential contender in at least two decades.

Among African-Americans, Trump got 8 percent of the vote, slightly better than Romney's 6 percent against President Barack Obama, according to national exit polls.

For now, at least, the glass is half-full.

"Frankly, there's a lot that those of us who wrote the report could have learned from Donald Trump," said another author, Henry Barbour, a Republican national committeeman from Mississippi. "Be more the party of working-class folks."

Yet Barbour described the report's conclusion that the GOP must improve its standing with minority voters "a fundamental truth."

"Trump's come a long ways in that regard," Barbour said. "And he's made plain he wants to be the president for all of America. I'm encouraged. I think we're making pretty good progress."

Trump will take the oath of office Friday as the least popular incoming president in at least four decades, according to polls.

Perhaps more disturbing to some Republican strategists is Trump's standing among women.

National exit polls showed that Trump lost women overall by 13 points last fall. Fleischer noted that he was the first Republican nominee to lose college-educated white women in the modern political era.
China calls on US to bar Taiwan from Trump inauguration

BEIJING (AP)  China on Wednesday called on the U.S. to bar a Taiwanese delegation from attending Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday, underscoring concerns that the incoming president could seek to redefine relations between Beijing, Taipei and Washington.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the request had been passed to Trump's transition team and to the current administration of Barack Obama.

"We urge the U.S. side once again not to allow the Taiwan administration to send the so-called delegation to attend the inauguration and to avoid any forms of official exchange with Taiwan," Hua said at a daily briefing.

China firmly opposes "anyone from the Taiwan administration engaged in activities that interfere or undermine the China-U.S. relationship in the U.S. under any pretext," she said.

Delegation leader and former Premier Yu Shyi-kun departed for Washington on Monday together with politicians from both Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition Nationalists.

Along with attending the inauguration, the delegates plan to hold talks with politicians, academics and overseas Chinese community representatives.

Trump angered Beijing and upset decades of diplomatic precedent by talking by phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen shortly after winning November's presidential election.

Last week, he said in a newspaper interview that Washington's "one China policy" under which it recognized Beijing in 1979 was open to negotiation, and earlier questioned why the U.S. should be bound by such an approach without China offering incentives.

The U.S. has no formal relations with Taipei in deference to China, which claims the island as its own. However, the two maintain robust informal ties, while Washington sells Taiwan arms and is legally bound to regard any threat to the island as a matter of grave concern.
Boris Johnson says Britain wants free trade deal with India

NEW DELHI (AP)  Visiting British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Wednesday that his country would like to forge a free trade agreement with India as it prepares to leave the European Union.

Johnson said a free trade deal would benefit both countries. He was talking to reporters after arriving in New Delhi for a two-day visit.

He said British Prime Minister Theresa May set out a powerful vision in a speech Tuesday of how Britain can negotiate trade deals with all nations, benefiting not only friends in the European Union but also driving growth in the rest of the world.

Johnson is the first British Cabinet minister to travel to India since May visited last November. He was scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later Wednesday.

Trade between the two countries totaled $19.7 billion (16 billion) last year, he said.

During May's visit to India in November, the two countries signed agreements on protection of intellectual property rights and on ease of doing business. Among the Group of Twenty countries, Britain is the largest investor in India.
Hong Kong actor Andy Lau injured while working in Thailand

HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong actor Andy Lau has been injured while working in Thailand.

A statement from his representative said the 55-year-old actor fell off a horse and injured his pelvis on the set of a commercial Tuesday.

The statement thanked people who expressed their concern but said fans shouldn't worry. It said: "Mr. Lau is under the sound care of a medical team and all is fine."

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 13, 2013, file photo, Hong Kong actor Andy Lau poses on the red carpet at the 50th Golden Horse Awards in Taipei, Taiwan. Hong Kong actor Andy Lau has been injured while working in Thailand. A statement from his representative said the 55-year-old actor fell off a horse and injured his pelvis on the set of a commercial. (AP Photo/Wally Santana, File)

No further information about how he was injured or his current condition was disclosed.

Lau is one of the most beloved actors from Hong Kong and has won countless accolades for singing and acting.

His notable films include the blockbuster thriller "Infernal Affairs" and the drama "A Simple Life." He recently appeared in Chinese director Zhang Yimou's period drama "The Great Wall," opposite Matt Damon.
Police: MLK Day shooting in Miami sparked by gangs

MIAMI (AP)  Police say rival gangs are to blame for a shooting at a park following the annual Martin Luther King Day Parade in Miami.

News outlets report that Miami-Dade police announced Tuesday that the gunfire that wounded eight people at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park on Monday was an exchange between gangs.

Hundreds of people had gathered in the park after the MLK Day parade in the Liberty City neighborhood. People scattered in all directions when they heard the shots fired.

The wounded ranged in age from 11 to 30. Police say two people were arrested on un-related weapons charges. The search for the shooters continues.
6 state AGs urge rejection of Sessions for attorney general

NEW YORK (AP)  Attorneys generals from six states, including New York's Eric Schneiderman, have sent a letter urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general.

In the letter dated Jan. 17, the prosecutors said they had "grave concern" that Session would "diligently and fairly enforce all laws protective of civil rights, public safety, health and welfare."

The letter said Sessions made bigoted statements in the past, rejected sensible, criminal justice policy reforms, and badly managed his office during his tenure as Alabama Attorney General.

Attorneys General Ellen Rosenblum of Oregon, Brian Frosh of Maryland, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Doug Chin of Hawaii and Karl Racine of the District of Columbia also signed the letter.
Death toll in Mali suicide blast rises to at least 60

GAO, Mali (AP)  A suicide bomber in an explosives-laden vehicle penetrated a camp in northern Mali on Wednesday, killing at least 60 people and wounding 115 soldiers and former fighters who are trying to stabilize the region. The attack marked a significant setback for peace efforts.

Suspicion quickly fell on the Islamic extremist groups operating in the area which oppose the 2015 peace agreement that brought the parties together. A Mauritanian news agency that frequently receives communications from extremist groups, Alakhbar, said a group linked to al-Qaida's North Africa branch, al-Mourabitoun, had claimed responsibility.

The morning blast hit the Joint Operational Mechanism base in the city of Gao, home to Malian soldiers and hundreds of former fighters who signed the peace agreement with the government. Witnesses said the car breached the camp as hundreds of fighters were gathering for a meeting.

People gather outside a hospital were injured were taken after an explosion at the Joint Operational Mechanism base in Gao, Mali, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. A suicide bomber in an explosives-laden vehicle attacked a camp in northern Mali on Wednesday, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 100 soldiers and former fighters now trying to stabilize the region. (AP Photo/Yacouba Cisse)

The office of Mali's president late Wednesday put the provisional death toll at 60, with 115 wounded.

Dr. Sadou Maiga at Gao's hospital told The Associated Press that all other hospital activities had ceased with dozens of wounded victims arriving.

"Some have died from their wounds, and others are in a very grave state," he said. "At this point, it's not the toll of dead and injured that interests me, it's saving who I can."

The attack underscores the enormous challenges that remain in northern Mali four years after the French military led an intervention to drive the jihadists from power in the major towns across the north. The peace agreement has proved difficult to implement.

The former fighters who signed the 2015 peace deal include ethnic Tuareg secular rebels who once fought the Malian military. Now they are supposed to be forming joint patrols in the area, though the program has yet to begin.

"If the security situation continues to deteriorate, then soon there won't be any peace to keep in Mali," U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. He said attacks are becoming more sophisticated, and that rivalry among armed groups continues to slow implementation of the peace deal.

Ladsous reminded the council that it has the power to impose "targeted measures" against those who violate the cease-fire.

At the United Nations, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said the "criminal, cowardly, barbaric attack" will not deter the government from moving forward to promote peace.

The U.S. condemned the "cowardly attack," State Department spokesman John Kirby said. French President Francois Hollande, who visited a French military base in Gao just a few days ago, also condemned the attack and reiterated support for Mali's peace process.

Mali has become the world's deadliest U.N. peacekeeping mission. Some 29 U.N. peacekeepers were killed last year in attacks blamed on jihadist armed groups, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday.

The report says extremists are extending their reach further into central Mali, trying to implement their strict interpretation of Shariah law and pressuring families to give up their children as soldiers for the cause.

Malian Security Minister Salif Traore declined to respond to the report's specifics but said he is well aware of security challenges throughout the region.

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Associated Press writers Baba Ahmed in Port-Gentil, Gabon, Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Matthew Pennington in Washington and Robbie Corey-Boulet in Abidjan, Ivory Coast contributed to this report.

Wounded Malian troops receive medical treatment after being injured by an explosion at the Joint Operational Mechanism base in Gao, Mali, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. A suicide bomber in an explosives-laden vehicle attacked a camp in northern Mali on Wednesday, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 100 soldiers and former fighters now trying to stabilize the region. (AP Photo/Yacouba Cisse)

Malian troops patrol near the scene of an explosion at the Joint Operational Mechanism base in Gao, Mali, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. A suicide bomber in an explosives-laden vehicle attacked a camp in northern Mali on Wednesday, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 100 soldiers and former fighters now trying to stabilize the region. (AP Photo/Yacouba Cisse)

A military truck, right, arrives outside a hospital where injured were taken after an explosion at the Joint Operational Mechanism base in Gao, Mali, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. A suicide bomber in an explosives-laden vehicle attacked a camp in northern Mali on Wednesday, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 100 soldiers and former fighters now trying to stabilize the region. (AP Photo/Yacouba Cisse)
The Latest: George HW Bush, Barbara, in hospital overnight

HOUSTON (AP)  The Latest on the hospitalization of former President George H.W. Bush (all times local):

4:45 p.m.

Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, will remain hospitalized overnight at Houston's Methodist Hospital.

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 file photo, former President George H. W. Bush, right, and his wife, Barbara, are greeted before a Republican presidential primary debate at The University of Houston in Houston. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, the former president was admitted to an intensive care unit, and Barbara was hospitalized as a precaution, according to his spokesman. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Bush spokesman Jim McGrath says physicians initially believed the 92-year-old former president would be released later this week following several days of treatment for respiratory issues related to pneumonia, but his stay has been extended after doctors performed a procedure Wednesday to help clear his airway. He then was moved to intensive care. There is no timetable for his release. He was taken to the hospital over the weekend.

Barbara Bush decided to go to the hospital Wednesday after not feeling well in recent weeks. McGrath says doctors want to see how the former first lady responds to treatment before allowing her to return home.

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3:20 p.m.

Former President George W. Bush still plans to attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration this week even though his father and mother are hospitalized in Houston.

Freddy Ford is a spokesman for the younger Bush in Dallas. He said Wednesday that the 43rd president expects to be in Washington on Friday and doesn't plan to travel to Houston.

Bush's 92-year-old father, former President George H.W. Bush, was hospitalized for respiratory issues over the weekend. Barbara Bush was hospitalized as a precaution Wednesday for fatigue and coughing.

Last week, George H.W. Bush cited health concerns when announcing he couldn't attend the inauguration. In a letter to Trump, Bush said his doctor told him that if he sat outside in January, "it likely will put me six-feet under. ... Same for Barbara. So I guess we're stuck in Texas."

But he offered Trump help, if needed, and wished him "the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country."

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12:55 p.m.

George H.W. Bush's spokesman says doctors are happy with how a procedure went to help clear the former president's airway following his hospitalization for respiratory issues.

Family spokesman Jim McGrath tells The Associated Press that doctors were monitoring the 92-year-old former president on Wednesday to see how his body responds. But he says he doesn't think "there's a whole lot of money to be gained betting against George Bush."

McGrath says former first lady Barbara Bush decided to go to the same Houston hospital Wednesday morning. He says she hadn't been feeling well for about two weeks and decided to "take it out of committee and have experts check it out."

McGrath says the move was precautionary and "it's nothing acute, just a gradual not feeling well."

The Bushes recently celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary.

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12:25 p.m.

A spokesman for former President George H.W. Bush says Bush has been admitted to the intensive care unit at Houston's Methodist Hospital to address a respiratory problem from pneumonia.

Spokesman Jim McGrath says Bush's wife, Barbara Bush, also has been hospitalized as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing.

McGrath says the 92-year-old former president was placed under sedation for a procedure to protect and clear his airway. He is stable and resting comfortably. He has been in the hospital since Saturday.

Barbara Bush is 91. The couple marked their 72nd wedding anniversary on Jan. 6.

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5:20 a.m.

A spokesman for former President George H.W. Bush says the 92-year-old was taken to the hospital over the weekend for shortness of breath.

Spokesman Jim McGrath says in an email to The Associated Press that Bush has responded well to treatments and that doctors are pleased with his progress. McGrath says the oldest living U.S. president was taken to the hospital on Saturday and he hopes that he can go home soon.

Bush served as U.S. president from 1989 to 1993. He has a form of Parkinson's disease and uses a motorized scooter or a wheelchair for mobility.

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2:20 a.m.

Houston-area media are quoting former President George H.W. Bush's chief of staff as saying that Bush has been hospitalized in Houston.

The Houston Chronicle and KHOU-TV reported early Wednesday that Bush chief of staff Jean Becker says the 41st president was recently admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital after becoming ill. Becker did not specify the reason the 92-year-old was hospitalized. Both media outlets say his office expects him to go home in a couple of days.

Becker did not immediately return email or telephone calls to her office from The Associated Press.

Bush was hospitalized in Maine in 2015 after falling at his summer home and breaking a bone in his neck.

He served as US president from 1989 to 1993.
Greece sells state-owned railway operator to Italian firm

ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greece's privatization agency has signed a deal to sell the country's state-owned Trainose railway operator to Italian state's Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane for 45 million euros ($48 million).

The agency says the sale of its 100 percent stake to the Italian railway company is subject to approval by European Union authorities.

Wednesday's agreement is part of Greece's huge, but dragging, drive to sell off state assets, required under the terms of its bailout agreements with the country's European partners and the International Monetary Fund.
The Latest: 3 young Afghans stopped in Poland

ATHENS, Greece (AP)  The Latest on the flow of migrants into Europe (all times local):

3:25 p.m.

A Polish official says three young migrants with no documents are being questioned after illegally entering Poland, hidden in a truck trailer.

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, whose country holds the European Union's presidency, addresses members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. Antonio Tajani of the EPP Christian Democrat group was elected president of the European Parliament on Tuesday in a daylong polling series during which he defeated his socialist opponent. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Dorota Kadziolka, spokeswoman for the border guards in Zakopane in southern Poland, said Wednesday the three  aged 10, 15 and 17  say they are from Afghanistan. They are being questioned through an interpreter of the Pashto language, one of Afghanistan's official languages. They reportedly wanted to get to Germany or to Belgium.

A Polish truck driver discovered them in his trailer in cold weather on Tuesday when he stopped for refueling, after driving through Hungary and Slovakia.

The three were checked by a doctor and fed and put up for the night by the border guards.

Officials are to decide whether to return them to Afghanistan.

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1:55 p.m.

The head of the European Union's presidency is urging member countries to consider opening up humanitarian corridors to allow people fleeing conflict to cross the Mediterranean.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Wednesday that the EU's migrant deal with Turkey must be replicated with northern African countries otherwise "Europe will face a major migration crisis."

Such deals would see migrants screened in Africa to see whether they would be eligible for asylum or are job-seekers unlikely to be allowed in.

Muscat said the EU should "organize humanitarian safe passages and corridors that would get recognized asylum-seekers to Europe safely."

More than 181,000 people attempted dangerous sea crossings of the Mediterranean to get to Italy last year. About 4,500 died. Muscat is expecting another record year in 2017.

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1:50 p.m.

A Serbian government official says about 1,100 migrants remain out in the open in severe weather after only 250 people agreed to move away from the streets into a camp outside Belgrade, the capital.

Svetlana Velimirovic, from the government's refugee agency, said Wednesday that Serbia's asylum centers have enough room for all migrants but that most have refused to go.

Migrants trapped in Serbia have been reluctant to seek official help, fearing they could be deported or unable to move toward Western Europe.

Hundreds of men have occupied a sprawling abandoned warehouse by the Belgrade bus station, enduring freezing temperatures, snow and cold wind without any facilities.

Aid groups have criticized the Serbian government for letting the migrants stay out during winter. About 7,000 people remain stranded in the Balkan country.

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12:40 p.m.

Europe's top official for migration is deploring the plight of thousands of refugees and other migrants in camps on Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos who face harsh winter conditions.

Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Union's commissioner for migration, says solutions must be found immediately.

Avramopoulos was visiting Lesbos Wednesday, accompanied by Greece's migration minister.

More than 5,000 people live in overcrowded camps on Lesbos, and hundreds had to be evacuated from tents that had been covered by snow during a cold spell this month.

More than 62,000 refugees and other migrants have been stuck in Greece since a series of Balkan border closures and an EU-Turkey deal on stemming migration last March.

Avramopoulos also promised action to reduce congestion in island camps.

In this Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 photo, a migrant passes by a graffiti reading "The problem is borders" on a wall of a crumbling warehouse that has served as a make-shift shelter for hundreds of men trying to reach Western Europe in Belgrade, Serbia. It was a week in frigid hell for hundreds of migrants squatting in an abandoned warehouse in the Serbian capital of Belgrade while trying to move on toward Western Europe. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

In this Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 photo, migrants queue for food in front of an abandoned warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia. It was a week in frigid hell for hundreds of migrants squatting in an abandoned warehouse in the Serbian capital of Belgrade while trying to move on toward Western Europe. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

In this Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 photo, two migrants carry a wooden railway track to use as firewood inside a crumbling warehouse that has served as a make-shift shelter for hundreds of men trying to reach Western Europe in Belgrade, Serbia. It was a week in frigid hell for hundreds of migrants squatting in an abandoned warehouse in the Serbian capital of Belgrade while trying to move on toward Western Europe. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Migrants play volleyball at a facility of the Elaionas refugee camp, where 2,000 people live in Athens, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. Italian President Sergio Mattarella is scheduled to visit the Elaionas refugee camp on the occasion of his two-day official visit in Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

A migrant smokes outside a facility of the Elaionas refugee camp, where 2,000 people live in Athens, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. Italian President Sergio Mattarella is scheduled to visit the Elaionas refugee camp on the occasion of his two-day official visit in Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Charges dropped against teen accused in slaying of rabbi

MIAMI (AP)  Charges have been dropped against a teenager accused of killing a New York rabbi in Miami.

News outlets report that the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said in a statement Tuesday that there wasn't enough evidence to prove without a doubt that 16-year-old Deandre Charles was guilty of killing Rabbi Joseph Raksin.

Sixty-year-old Raksin of Brooklyn was fatally shot Aug. 9, 2014, as he walked to a temple in Miami, where he had been visiting family.

The state had been relying on DNA evidence and cellphone records to charge Charles.

Prosecutors also say the gun used in Raksin's death had been used 30 hours before in an armed robbery.
Airbnb, others sued in France for alleged unfair practices

PARIS (AP)  A group of French hoteliers and real estate agents has launched a lawsuit targeting accommodation-rental platforms, including Airbnb, arguing that their practices amount to unfair competition.

Lawyer Guillaume Navarro said they want French authorities to impose the same rules on them as those regulating the traditional rental market.

The group, which targets other vacation rental portals like HomeAway and Wimdu, is accusing the platforms of offering a string of tourism services, including tour operator and insurance services, without proper authorization.

Navarro told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the online platforms are making the most of a "grey zone" in which they are not on the same level playing field with competitors to save money and tedious paperwork.
Official: Russia could end ban on US adoptions

MOSCOW (AP)  The speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament said Wednesday Moscow is willing to open discussions about rescinding the ban on Americans adopting Russian children.

The ban was imposed in 2012, prompted by a U.S. law sanctioning some Russians identified as human-rights violators.

Russia was a popular country for prospective adoptive parents who could not find suitable children in the United States. More than 1,000 adoption attempts were estimated to be in progress when the ban took effect.

Russians had long bristled at the implication the country could not care properly for its children, and complained about children who died after being adopted.

"We are ready for dialogue," upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko said Wednesday, saying the ban could end if the U.S. guarantees the welfare of Russian adoptees.

A day earlier, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia must pay damages and legal costs to Americans who were barred from adopting Russian children. Russia has three months to appeal.

The case was brought by 45 Americans who had been in the final stages of the adoption process. Many of the children they planned to adopt had serious health issues.
Luxury goods maker Burberry sales up over Christmas period

LONDON (AP)  Luxury goods maker Burberry says retail sales rose in the three months including the critical Christmas season, as improved results in Asia helped reverse recent declines.

The maker of famous checkered clothing says retail sales advanced to 735 million pounds ($903 million) in the quarter ended Dec. 31, up 4 percent excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuations. Growth in China accelerated, while declines in Hong Kong slowed to the "low single-digit" range.

The results come days before Marco Gobbetti joins Burberry as executive chairman for Asia Pacific and the Middle East. He will become chief executive in July.
Russian runner loses court case over doping allegations

MOSCOW (AP)  Russian runner Kristina Ugarova has lost a defamation lawsuit against a German TV company over reports she used steroids.

Ugarova had sued broadcaster ARD, which worked with Russian athlete and doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to obtain undercover footage of Russian track and field competitors apparently admitting to drug use and cover-ups.

The footage later formed part of a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation into Russian track and field in 2015. WADA's independent commission recommended a lifetime ban for Ugarova, a middle-distance runner who had been part of the Russian national team.
Temple to rename communication school in honor of Lew Klein

PHILADELPHIA (AP)  Temple University has announced it will rename its School of Media and Communication to honor Philadelphia broadcast pioneer Lew Klein.

The Lew Klein College of Media and Communication will be formally dedicated this spring as part of events marking the school's 50th anniversary celebration.

The university says the renaming is a tribute to Klein's more than six decades of teaching at the school, and recognizes a multi-million dollar gift to the school from Klein and his wife.

Klein started teaching at Temple in 1952 while working as an executive at what is now WPVI-TV. He served as an executive producer for "American Bandstand" and helped launch the career of late host Dick Clark, as well as NBC's Matt Lauer and comedian Bob Saget.
Mississippi man pleads guilty in slaying of 5-year-old girl

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi man has pleaded guilty to capital murder in the 2014 death of a 5-year-old girl.

Local media report Alberto Garcia pleaded guilty Wednesday in Harrison County Circuit Court, ahead of a trial set next week. He had been jailed without bond after the death of Ja'Naya Thompson.

The plea means there will be no trial. Prosecutors say a sentencing hearing will determine whether Garcia is sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.

The child's body was found in an abandoned trailer in July 2014.

An investigator at Garcia's preliminary hearing said Thompson had been sexually assaulted. The investigator also said Garcia gave details that only the killer would know.
Japanese woman testifies man attacked her at Niagara Falls

LOCKPORT, N.Y. (AP)  A Japanese tourist who became lost during a visit to Niagara Falls State Park has testified that she was robbed and sexually assaulted by a man who offered her directions.

At trial Tuesday, Koyuki Nakahara described screaming as the man punched her and shoved her to the ground, then groped underneath her skirt and asked whether she was wearing underwear.

From the witness stand, Nakahara identified defendant Robert Macleod, of Niagara Falls, New York, as the man who attacked her on Christmas night in 2015.

Macleod has pleaded not guilty to robbery, sexual abuse and assault.

A jury could begin deliberations Thursday.
Florida city settles with 2 men injured in Zombicon shooting

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)  The city of Fort Myers, Florida, has settled lawsuits with two people who were wounded during a shooting at a Zombicon festival.

Kyle Roberts and Tyree Hunter were both 20 years old when they were wounded in the October 2015 festival in Fort Myers. The News-Press (http://newspr.es/2jxq7A3 ) reports the city awarded $7,499 each to Roberts and Tyree on Monday. Their litigation with the festival's organizers and security firm is continuing.
Review: Lovingly constructed 'Red Turtle' entertains slowly

When was the last time an animated film actual lowered your pulse rate?

In its typical Hollywood form, an animated feature is usually the cinematic equivalent of a sugar rush  a frantic barrage of colors and movement and jokes and sounds.

It's safe to say that "The Red Turtle," a fortuitous collaboration between Japan's famed Studio Ghibli and Dutch animator-director Michael Dudok de Wit, is very, very different. A fable, beautifully drawn in calm, soothing colors, it doesn't even have dialogue, let alone a throbbing soundtrack. Those sounds you hear are the sounds of silence, and eventually they become hypnotic.

This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows a scene from the animated film, "The Red Turtle." (Sony Pictures Classics via AP)

As Dudok de Wit tells it, he received an email out of the blue in 2006 from the vaunted animation studio, asking if he'd be interested in working on his first feature (the director is known for his animated shorts.) He was, and he came up with the story of a man cast away on a deserted island.

The director's research took him to his own deserted island, in the Seychelles, where he shot thousands of photographs. He wanted to recreate the feeling of how time stands still in such a place. He spent nine years creating that animated world. And you can tell.

The film begins with a roiling sea. A man is lost in the waves; we don't know how he got there. Finally, he washes up on a tranquil island, inhabited seemingly only by a few friendly crabs on the beach.

Exploring the rocky cliffs, he slips and falls into a crevasse, and seems about to drown in the water below when he steels his nerves, dives deeper down, and finds a way out. Slowly, in this way, he learns how to cope with the forces of nature around him. And slowly we relax, too, into the rhythms of this natural world.

There are some lovely greens and blues and grays here, but unlike many animated films, the palette is limited and the colors fairly muted  as they are in life. It's beautiful, but we also know that the man  of course we don't know his name, or anything about him  aches to find a way back to civilization.

He builds an impressive raft and sets sail, only to have some unknown underwater force  could it be a shark?  destroy it and send him gasping to the shore. He rebuilds the raft and tries again, but the same force destroys it once more.

It turns out this is no shark, but a big, beautiful red turtle that is thwarting our man's dream of escape. But why? And how will this confrontation end?

It's tempting to continue recounting the plot here, but this is one of those films where the less you know beforehand, the better. Suffice it to say that as our main character learns to be patient with nature, we too sense the need to slow down and wait for our own gratification.

Of course nature can be terrifying, too, in sudden ways, and so another thing this expressive film manages to convey is how vulnerable man is to the caprices of nature. Finally, we're also asked to contemplate our attitudes toward death  but now we're really getting ahead of ourselves. No more plot revelations here, other than to say that the entire cycle of life is lovingly portrayed.

After watching "The Red Turtle," you might find yourself checking out flights to your own deserted island. Especially now, with so much turbulence in the headlines, you could do worse than submit to 80 minutes of watching crabs crawl in the sand and feeling some cool ocean breezes  if you pay close enough attention, you can actually sense them wafting through the screen.

"The Red Turtle," a Sony Pictures Classics release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America "for some thematic elements and peril." Running time: 80 minutes. Three stars out of four.

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MPAA definition of PG: Parental Guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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Follow Jocelyn Noveck at http://www.Twitter.com/JocelynNoveckAP

This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows a scene from the animated film, "The Red Turtle." (Sony Pictures Classics via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows a scene from the animated film, "The Red Turtle." (Sony Pictures Classics via AP)

This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows a scene from the animated film, "The Red Turtle." (Sony Pictures Classics via AP)
Finally, an explanation of strange African 'fairy circles'?

WASHINGTON (AP)  The forces behind the mysterious "fairy circles" that dot a desert in southern Africa do not appear to be supernatural, but they are intricate and complex.

The formations are circles of land dozens of feet wide that create a stunning pattern in the Namib desert and have mystified locals and scientists for ages. Inside the circles it looks like nothing is growing, while plants grow well on the land surrounding them. Similar patterns have also been seen in Australia.

Paranormal powers like fairies and even dragon breath have been credited with creating them. But Princeton University ecologists have come up with a much less shadowy  and maybe less charming  explanation for what's afoot. Using computer simulations, they say an intricate combination of animals and plants cooperating and competing help explain the unusual patterns, according to a study in the journal Nature Wednesday.

In this photo provided by Jen Guyton, one of the mysterious fairy circles in the Namib desert that dot the area with circular barren patches. Scientists have come up with a complex theory involving termites and plants to explain whats happening. (Jen Guyton/www.jenguyton.com via AP)

Corina Tarnita, the study's lead author, calls it "simple and elegant geometry on such enormous scale."

Until this study, there were two competing explanations: Termites created the pattern or plants surrounding the circles did it. Tarnita's theory borrows from both. The giant circles  from six to 100 feet in diameter  are mostly from termites that cooperate with others in their colony, but compete against other colonies, she said. The unusual patterns seen between circles are plants that establish an orderly root system so they don't compete too much for limited water.

"Out of all these processes, where each is doing what they need to, emerges this large scale pattern," Tarnita said.

The circular shape is a result of termites venturing as far as possible from their own colony's nest without encroaching on a competing colony.

It's not quite a conspiracy, says co-author Robert Pringle, because the creatures aren't trying to make the patterns. "There's no master plan, there's no kind of blueprint for what's supposed to emerge," he said.

Several outside experts contacted by The Associated Press weren't convinced by the study, because they weren't comfortable with the author's assumptions about rainfall and especially termite colony lifespans.

They did not, however, argue that it was fairies at work.

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The Latest: Woman charged in infant kidnapping denied bail

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  The Latest on the 18-year-old woman who was abducted as a newborn and raised as her captor's daughter (all times local):

12:00 p.m.

The woman charged with kidnapping a baby 18 years ago and raising the child as her own daughter, appeared briefly in court and was ordered to be held without bail.

This undated photo provided by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office shows Gloria Williams. Authorities say Williams, a woman arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a baby girl from a Florida hospital 18 years ago and raising her as her own daughter, is now being held in Jacksonville, Fla., and was booked Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017. (Jacksonville Sheriff's Office via AP)

Gloria Williams, who appeared in a Jacksonville courtroom Wednesday, is charged with kidnapping and other counts related to the 1998 abduction of Kamiyah Mobley, who was just eight hours old.

Mobley, who was living in Walterboro, South Carolina, under the name Alexis Manigo, told ABC's "Good Morning America" in an interview that Williams "will always be mom."

But Manigo also said she wanted to give her birthparents a chance, saying she owed them the opportunity to get to know her. Manigo says she knows her life would have been different had she not been kidnapped.

She said discovering another family gives her more love.

No attorney has been listed for Williams.

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8:17 a.m.

An 18-year-old woman abducted as a newborn from a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, says she still loves the only mother she has known.

Alexis Manigo told ABC's "Good Morning America" in an interview broadcast Wednesday that the woman charged in her abduction, 51-year-old Gloria Williams, "will always be mom."

But Manigo also said she wanted to give her birthparents a chance, saying she owed them the opportunity to get to know her. She met with Craig Aiken and Shanara Mobley last weekend in Walterboro, South Carolina, where she was found earlier this month.

Manigo says she knows her life would have been different had she not been kidnapped. She said discovering another family gives her more love.
Texas House speaker pans bathroom bill, exposes GOP divide

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A proposal barring transgender people in Texas from using the bathroom of their choice is unequivocally bad for business, a powerful state Republican legislator said Wednesday, in defiance of conservative leaders who have applauded the measure amid North Carolina's economic upheaval due to a similar law.

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus' comments underscore an escalating ideological battle between the GOP's traditional business-minded base and further-right grassroots activists in a deeply red state. It's not just a squabble over civil rights that'll be laid bare during the 2017 legislative session, where Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, but also on how to deal with as much as $6 billion less to spend on the budget due to slumping oil prices in the nation's top oil-producing state.

"Many people where I come from get concerned about anything that can slow down the overall job-creating machine," Straus, a San Antonio Republican, told a gathering of the Texas Association of Business. "I think we should be very careful about doing something that can make Texas less competitive for investment, jobs and the highly skilled workforce needed to compete."

FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2017, file photo, Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, stands before the opening of the 85th Texas Legislative session in the House chambers at the Texas State Capitol after he was re-elected for a fifth consecutive term in Austin, Texas. Straus has branded as bad for business a Texas proposal barring transgender people from using public restrooms of their choice that's been championed by his state's leading conservatives despite echoing a law that caused upheaval in North Carolina. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

The speaker's remarks drew a standing ovation from members of the association, which has suggested the so-called bathroom bill could cost Texas billions in lost revenue and thousands of jobs.

"One way to maintain our economic edge is to send the right signals about who we are," Straus said.

North Carolina's law, which went into effect last year, caused corporations, entertainers and NCAA sporting events to leave the state rather than being seen as endorsing discrimination. University of North Carolina President Margaret Spellings even said Wednesday that professors being recruited by her university system don't want to move there because of the law.

Still, lawmakers in Texas and at least three other states  Kentucky, Virginia and Washington  have introduced similar bills.

Texas' proposal is championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who founded the Legislature's tea party caucus and oversees the state Senate. Patrick has scoffed at possible economic fallout, noting that Houston is hosting this year's Super Bowl.

San Antonio is the site of the 2018 NCAA men's basketball Final Four, which Straus said the city hopes will generate $230 million-plus in economic activity  though he stopped short of saying a bathroom bill could derail the event.

Straus is at the height of his powers after being elected unanimously to a record-tying fifth straight term as speaker. In previous sessions, Straus swatted away tea party-backed challengers who branded him as too moderate, but none bothered to oppose him this time.

Straus can ensure that a bathroom bill never makes it to the House floor, but told reporters Wednesday that he doesn't plan on doing that. Instead, he suggested, he used his speech to ensure lawmakers know what they could be getting themselves into.

"I hear from the business community and leaders back home that are very, very concerned that we might be walking into a situation that would be similar to be what North Carolina has experienced," Straus said. "I'm hearing that we should be very, very cautious about that, and I agree with that."

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Harry Winston jewelry store robbed in French Riviera

PARIS (AP)  A French official says a robber with a hand grenade and an automatic handgun has stolen diamond necklaces and other jewelry from a Harry Winston store in the French Riviera city of Cannes.

Alain Guimbard, a deputy prosecutor in nearby Grasse, said Wednesday that the robber gained entry to the luxury jeweler on the seaside avenue La Croisette by pretending to be a customer.

Guimbard told The Associated Press the robber then forced employees to give him diamond jewelry from a display window and other pieces.

Outside view of the Harry Winston jewelry store in Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. A French official says a robber armed with a hand grenade and an automatic handgun has stolen diamond necklaces and other valuable jewelry for an estimated 15 million euros ($ 16 million) in the Harry Winston jewelry store in Cannes the French Riviera. (AP Photo)

The holdup lasted only a few minutes. Guimbard says the robber escaped and no one was injured.

The stolen merchandise is estimated to be worth 15 million euros ($16 million.)
Guantanamo prisoner loses bid for release before Trump era

MIAMI (AP)  A Guantanamo prisoner from Algeria lost a last-minute legal maneuver Wednesday to go home before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer in Washington declined to intervene in a Defense Department decision not to repatriate Sufyian Barhoumi in the final days of the Obama administration.

A government review board approved the repatriation of Barhoumi in August. But Defense Secretary Ash Carter did not give final approval and issue a 30-day notice to Congress of his impending release as required by law.

This undated photo taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross and released by lawyer Shelby Sullivan-Bennis shows Abdullatif Nasser, a citizen of Morocco, who has been held at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since May 2002. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly is considering a motion filed on behalf of Nasser. The 51-year-old was cleared for repatriation by the review board in July 2016. But the Department of Justice said his country did not provide some needed information until Dec. 28, which was too late for the Defense Department to give its required 30-day notice to Congress. (Shelby Sullivan-Bennis via AP)

In an emergency court petition, Barhoumi's attorney, Shane Kadidal, said he feared that Barhoumi and a Moroccan prisoner in a similar situation might not make it out under Trump, who has said he wants to continue using the detention center on the U.S. base in Cuba.

Lawyers for the men argue that there is no longer any justification for holding them given the board's decision, which found that both countries could adequately ensure neither man posed a threat in the future. Kadidal said he had expected Barhoumi to be released and the prisoner's family had already begun making preparations for his return, including by buying him a car and a small restaurant for him to run.

"We had no indication that there was a problem until suddenly the deadline passed," he said.

The Justice Department opposed the request and said Carter rejected the release of Barhoumi on Jan. 12 "based on a variety of substantive concerns, shared by multiple agencies," without going into detail.

Collyer said the defense secretary has the authority not to release the 43-year-old Algerian at this time and denied the request. Kadidal, of the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, said he probably would not appeal given the timing, two days before the inauguration.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly is considering a similar motion filed on behalf of the Moroccan prisoner, Abdullatif Nasser. The 51-year-old was cleared for repatriation by the review board in July. But the Department of Justice said his country did not provide some needed information until Dec. 28, which was too late for the Defense Department to give its required 30-day notice to Congress.

There are 45 prisoners at Guantanamo. They include nine cleared for release such as Nasser and Barhoumi. Several may still make it out before Jan. 20.
The Latest: Obama chats with leaders of India, Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on President Barack Obama (all times EST):

9:15 p.m.

The White House says President Barack Obama has placed a pair of farewell telephone calls to the leaders of Afghanistan and India.

President Barack Obama speaks during his final presidential news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Obama thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his partnership and congratulated him on India's upcoming 68th Republic Day anniversary. Obama traveled to India as Modi's chief guest for the 2015 holiday.

The two leaders also reviewed cooperation on defense, civil nuclear energy, climate change and other issues Wednesday.

Obama also spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who was joined on the call by the country's chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah.

Obama expressed appreciation for the partnership between the U.S. and Afghanistan. He encouraged both leaders to continue working to enhance national unity and support a lasting peace and stability.

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3:16 p.m.

President Barack Obama says daughters do not intend to pursue a future in politics  thanks to the influence of his wife, Michelle.

But he says the girls "could not help but be patriotic" given the environment where they have grown up.

During Obama's eight years in office, the first lady became one of the most sought-after Democratic surrogates. But she detests politics and repeatedly has said she will never run for public office.

Obama says his daughters  18-year-old Malia and 15-year-old Sasha  were disappointed in the outcome of the presidential election. Donald Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton, who had been Obama's secretary of state.

He says he and his wife try to teach their daughters resilience.

The president says, "They don't mope."

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3:14 p.m.

President Barack Obama says that claims of voter fraud in the U.S. elections are "fake news," and that the U.S. is the only democracy that makes it harder for its citizens to vote.

Obama referred in his final presidential news conference to election fraud claims repeatedly raised by Donald Trump during his campaign. He didn't use is successor's name, but said claims of voter fraud have been "disproved."

Obama says there is an "ugly history" behind restrictive voting that traces back to the era of slavery.

Obama also warned that many Trump voters also feel disenfranchised. He says those people feel forgotten, looked down upon or fear that their children don't have the same opportunities as other Americans.

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3:06 p.m.

President Barack Obama says that economic equality is one of the reasons President-elect Donald Trump won his election.

Obama says in his final news conference as president that there are many people who voted for the president elect "because they feel forgotten and disenfranchised. They feel as if they're being looked down on.

He says, "You don't want to have an America in which a very small sliver of people are doing really well and everybody else is fighting for scraps." He says that's often "when racial divisions get magnified."

Obama also says that he expects to see a woman president, a Latino president, a Jewish president, a Hindu president and many others in the future.

He says he suspects "we'll have a whole bunch of mixed up presidents at some point that nobody knows really knows what to call them."

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3:04 p.m.

President Barack Obama says he doesn't think the expansion of LGBT rights in the U.S. is reversible.

Obama said as his final presidential news conference that society's attitudes have changed too much to turn back the clock on these issues.

He says there's still more work to do on the subject, but that acceptance by young people like his daughters has made a difference.

Obama also says he "could not be prouder" of the country's transformation on these issues, most of it coming during his tenure as president.

He gives credit to individuals and couples who he says were courageous in saying "this is who I am and I'm proud of it."

That, he says, helped open people's minds and hearts and the legal system eventually caught up.

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2:54 p.m.

President Barack Obama is warning that the "moment may be passing" for a two-state solution to the Israeli and Palestinian conflict.

Obama says in his final White House news conference that he continues to be worried that the "status quo is unsustainable" in Israel. He says his administration has tried to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution because he does not "see an alternative to it."

The United States decision to allow the United Nation's most powerful body to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem has been condemned by President-elect Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu.

Obama says the president-elect "will have his own policy" and that is his administration's prerogative. The president calls the situation in Israel "a volatile environment."

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2:50 p.m.

President Barack Obama says that United States underwent "a fundamental shift" in its relationship with Cuba.

But in his final press conference as president Wednesday, Obama adds that treating Cuban migrants differently "didn't make sense" in this day and age, saying it shouldn't make a difference whether migrants come to the U.S. by land or by foot.

Obama announced last week that he is ending a longstanding immigration policy that allows any Cuban who makes it to U.S. soil to stay and become a legal resident.

He says that opening up bilateral relations with Cuba last year ultimately would lead to a "serious improvement" in commerce and trade relations with Cuba.

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2:48 p.m.

President Barack Obama says that after he leaves office on Friday he wants to take time to process the "amazing experience" his family has gone through.

Addressing reporters at his final news conference, Obama says he wants to make sure that Michelle Obama, his wife of 24 years, is willing to "re-up" and put up with him a little bit longer.

He wants to write, be quiet a little bit and "not hear myself talk so darn much." He also wants to spend time with daughters Malia and Sasha.

Obama and his family will head for vacation in Palm Springs, California, after Donald Trump is sworn in as president.

The White House has not said how long they will stay in California before they return to a rented home in Washington.

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2:47 p.m.

President Barack Obama says he has had "cordial" talks with President-elect Donald Trump but he's under no illusions that they share many policy goals.

Obama says in his final White House news conference that Trump won the election opposed to many of his initiatives during the past eight years. The outgoing president says it's appropriate for Trump to move forward with his own vision and values.

Obama says, "I don't expect that there is going to be enormous overlap."

Obama is avoiding a question on whether he supports about 50 House Democrats planning to boycott Trump's inauguration. He says he'll be there along with outgoing first lady Michelle Obama.

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2:40 p.m.

President Barack Obama is calling on President-elect Donald Trump to continue trying to persuade Russia to reduce its nuclear stockpiles.

In his final press conference as president Wednesday, Obama said that he tried to negotiate further reducing nuclear arsenals with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he says Putin was reluctant.

Obama is also calling on the next administration to lead by example and work to prevent big countries from "bullying" smaller countries.

He says that implementing sanctions on Russia following its incursion of Ukraine is a "good example of the vital role" America must play in advocating for and enforcing basic rights around the world.

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2:33 p.m.

President Barack Obama says the WikiLeaks website was not a factor in his decision to grant clemency to Chelsea Manning.

Obama on Tuesday commuted the 35-year sentenced given to the former Army intelligence analyst for leaking more than 700,000 classified and military documents to the anti-secrecy website. The website's founder, Julian Assange, had recently said he would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning.

Obama said at the final news conference of his presidency that he examined Manning's case and thought that commuting her sentence was "entirely appropriate."

Manning is more than six years into her 35-year sentence. She is set to be released from prison in May.

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2:29 p.m.

President Barack Obama is defending his decision to commute convicted leaker Chelsea Manning's prison sentence, telling reporters that "justice has been served" in her case.

Obama says in his final news conference as president that Manning has already served a "tough prison sentence" and it will not make people think that they won't face punishment if they disclose vital classified information.

Republicans have assailed the decision, saying it sets a dangerous precedent for national security.

The former Army intelligence analyst asked Obama to commute her 35-year sentence for giving classified government and military documents to the WikiLeaks website.

Manning was known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest and is more than six years into the sentence. She is set to be released from prison in May.

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2:26 p.m.

President Barack Obama is thanking the journalists who have covered him in the White House, saying that "having you in this building has made this place work better."

In his final press conference as president Wednesday, Obama said of journalists, "you're not supposed to be sycophants. You're supposed to be skeptics. You're supposed to ask tough questions."

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is considering holding briefings outside the White House briefing room, a proposal that is raising concern over whether it could result in limited White House access.

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2:25 p.m.

President Barack Obama is opening his final news conference by sending his thoughts and prayers to former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara.

Both Bushes are hospitalized in Houston. The 92-year-old former president was admitted for a pneumonia-related respiratory problem. His wife was hospitalized as a precaution.

Obama says the White House reached out to the Bush family after learning of the hospitalizations.

He says the Bushes have not only dedicated their lives to country, but have been a constant source of friendship, support and good counsel for him and first lady Michelle Obama.

Obama adds that "they are as fine a couple as we know."

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10:00 a.m.

President Barack Obama is expected to defend his decision to shorten the sentence of convicted leaker Chelsea Manning when he holds his final news conference on Wednesday.

Obama plans to answer reporters' questions at the White House, two days before he leaves office.

Manning asked Obama last November to commute her 35-year sentence for giving classified government and military documents to the WikiLeaks website.

Manning, who was known as Bradley Manning at the time of her arrest, is more than six years into the sentence. She will be released from prison in May.

Republicans have blasted the decision, with House Speaker Paul Ryan calling it "outrageous."

Ryan says Obama has set a "dangerous precedent" that anyone guilty of who compromises U.S. national security won't have to pay for their crimes.
Authorities say a bobcat that attacked three Connecticut women has tested positive for rabies.

The attack happened Tuesday in Colchester, Connecticut, inside a greenhouse on the grounds of The Caring Community, a social services center for adults with developmental disabilities.

The bobcat sneaked inside the plastic-covered greenhouse around noon, jumping on a woman in side.

Two other women rushed to assist her and the bobcat scratched them, authorities say.

'We need an ambulance here, we just had someone get attacked by some sort of animal like a lynx or something,' a female caller can be heard telling emergency dispatchers on 911 tapes of the incident.

The three women were treated at a nearby medical center.

Neighbors had spotted a bobcat in the area (pictured) in the hours leading up to the attack

The rabid bobcat sneaked into a greenhouse (pictured) on the grounds of a social services center on Tuesday

'We need an ambulance here, we just had someone get attacked by some sort of animal like a lynx or something,' a 911 caller said after the bobcat (pictured) attacked three women

The bobcat was then shot and killed.

The bobcat was taken to the state health lab for a rabies test and the results were reported Wednesday.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says it's rare for bobcats to attack people, but when they do, rabies is often the cause.

Bobcats are about two to three times the size of an average house cat, and adult males can weigh up to 35 pounds.

The animal is the most common wild cat in North America, with a range that includes most of the contiguous 48 states.
Rogue cow injures Mississippi woman before being recaptured

NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP)  Police have recaptured a rogue cow that roamed near Natchez, Mississippi, for three months, but not before the runaway animal seriously injured a woman.

Emmett Robson tells The Natchez Democrat (http://bit.ly/2iByD1q) that his sister, Dorothy Echols, was raking leaves outside her home Monday when the cow "ran her over."

Robson says Echols was hospitalized and likely will require hip replacement surgery.

The cow, missing for three months, showed up Sunday on the city's south side, along U.S. 61. The animal led police officers and wranglers on an overnight chase before being caught Monday at Monmouth Historic Inn, two miles north.

Police Sgt. Jerry Ford says any injury to Echols is not a criminal matter, but a civil issue for the victim and the cow's owner to resolve.

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Venezuela president reneges on pledge to free opponent Lopez

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  Venezuela's president is backing out of a pledge to free opponent Leopoldo Lopez now that President Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of a Puerto Rican independence activist whose release the embattled socialist has long promoted.

In 2015, Maduro said he would release Lopez the day that Obama freed Oscar Lopez Rivera. When asked Wednesday at a press conference about that pledge, Maduro said he'd been joking.

He also went one step further and accused Lopez of being a CIA spy not worthy of being compared to Lopez Rivera, who was serving out a long sentence for his role in a violent struggle for the U.S. island territory's independence.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, speaks during a press conference with at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Lopez is serving a 14-year sentence for allegedly inciting violence against the government during a wave of anti-government unrest.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a press conference at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. The main opposition coalition marched to call on the Organization of American States to intervene in Venezuela's political crisis. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Backdropped by live reconstructions and a painting of independence hero Simon Bolivar, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a press conference at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. The main opposition coalition marched to call on the Organization of American States to intervene in Venezuela's political crisis. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
6 civilians killed in rebel strike in Yemen's Taiz

SANAA, Yemen (AP)  Yemeni security officials say a rocket fired by Shiite rebels has killed six civilians in the war-torn city of Taiz.

They say the Wednesday strike hit a residential area inside Taiz. It comes one day after six civilians were also killed outside the city, which is known as the cultural center of Yemen.

Clashes between rebels and forces loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi have been ongoing for nearly two years.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief reporters.
Prosecutors: Minnesota cop should go to trial for shooting

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Prosecutors argued Wednesday that the case against the Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Philando Castile during a July traffic stop should proceed, saying several issues raised by the defense team  including the suggestion that Castile was negligent  must be left for a jury to resolve.

Attorneys for St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez asked in December that the case be dismissed because Castile was negligent in his own death and did not obey the officer's commands.

But evidence disputes those claims, prosecutors said in a Wednesday court filing, adding that even if Castile was negligent, it was not an intervening, superseding cause of his death as a matter of law.

FILE - This Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, file photo provided by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office shows Jeronimo Yanez. Prosecutors argue the case against Yanez, the Minnesota police officer who shot and killed Philando Castile during a July traffic stop should proceed, saying several facts must be resolved by a jury. It was in response to a defense request to dismiss the case. Yanez is charged in Castile's death. (Ramsey County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for Feb. 15.

Castile, who was black, was killed July 6 after being pulled over in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. The shooting's gruesome aftermath was streamed live on Facebook by his girlfriend, who was in the car along with her young daughter. Prosecutors said the 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker was shot at seven times after he told Yanez he was armed. Authorities later discovered that Castile had a permit to carry a weapon.

Yanez, who is Latino, is charged with manslaughter and other offenses. He has not yet entered a plea, but his attorneys have indicated he will plead not guilty.

Prosecutors' filing said the evidence suggests Castile was trying to get his wallet when he was shot and that squad video and audio, which has not been made public, shows Yanez never told Castile to show his hands, disputing Yanez's claim that Castile disobeyed that order.

Defense attorneys also claimed last month that Castile was negligent because he was high on marijuana. Prosecutors said THC was found in Castile's blood, but there is no evidence of erratic driving and the squad video shows Castile conversed normally with Yanez and followed directions.

Prosecutors also said that Yanez's claim that he believed Castile was an armed robbery suspect is unreasonable. They said Yanez did not carry out a high-risk traffic stop, and he asked Castile for his driver's license and proof of insurance without determining if he was armed.

"Thus, even crediting Defendant's account that he shot Castile because he could not see one of his hands, Defendant recklessly created the perceived risk he now claims justified his use of deadly force," prosecutors wrote.

___

Follow Amy Forliti on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amyforliti . More of her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/amy-forliti
Man gets year in prison for running illegal cosmetic clinic

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  A Colombian national accused of pretending to be a doctor in South Florida and injecting silicone into his patients as part of cosmetic procedures has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

A U.S. attorney's office news release says 44-year-old Juan David Acosta was sentenced Wednesday. He pleaded guilty in October to two counts of receiving the silicone with intent to defraud or mislead.

Authorities say patients paid Acosta thousands of dollars for treatments at his Hallandale Beach apartment. Acosta was charged with injecting silicone last summer into the buttocks of two victims to affect the size, contour and structure of the area.
Policeman rescues injured owl in road; 2nd time in 3 months

WHATELY, Mass. (AP)  A Massachusetts police sergeant is being credited with rescuing an injured owl for the second time in three months.

Who?

Whately police say Sgt. Donald Bates responded to a call about an owl that apparently had been struck by a car on a local road on Tuesday. They say he found the owl standing in the middle of the roadway.

Bates says the owl had an injured leg and did not try to fly away when he approached it.

Bates wrapped the barred owl in a blanket and took it to a bird rehabilitation center in Conway, where it's being nursed back to health.
Labor Department sues JPMorgan over sexual discrimination

NEW YORK (AP)  The Department of Labor is suing JPMorgan Chase & Co. for discriminating against female workers.

The federal agency said Wednesday that its review found that at least 93 female workers in an investment-bank division earned less than comparable men in the same jobs since at least May 2012.

The Labor Department said it filed its complaint after it was unable to get JPMorgan to voluntarily make changes. Its lawsuit seeks to make the New York bank comply with regulations, prohibit further discrimination and give the affected workers lost pay, benefits and interest.

JPMorgan said it tried to work with the agency and was disappointed that it filed the complaint.
Puerto Rico control board considers extending moratorium

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  The federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico's finances says it is inclined to extend both a debt moratorium and a deadline for the U.S. territory's government to submit a revised fiscal plan.

The board made the announcement Wednesday as it ordered Puerto Rico's new governor to present a plan that would generate $4.5 billion a year in revenue or savings through 2019. Officials said the U.S. territory should reform its tax system and reduce health care and higher education spending as well as the size of government.
Vegemite goes home: Oreo maker sells to Australia's Bega

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Vegemite, the salty, brown spread beloved in Australia, is going home, purchased by an Australian dairy company from the maker of Oreos.

Mondelez International Inc. said Wednesday it was selling Vegemite and other Australian and New Zealand grocery products to Bega Cheese in a deal worth about $345.3 million (460 Australian dollars).

Deerfield, Illinois-based Mondelez said it plans to focus on other products like Oreo cookies and Cadbury chocolate.

FILE- In this March 20, 2012, file photo, a customer takes a jar of Vegemite from next to an empty shelve in a supermarket in Auckland, New Zealand. Vegemite and other grocery products are being sold by Oreo-maker Mondelez to Australian dairy company Bega Cheese in a deal worth about $345.3 million (460 Australian dollars), Mondelez International Inc. said Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. (Sarah Ivey/New Zealand Herald via AP, File)

The sale was welcomed by many Australians who complain that iconic Down Under brands, including Foster's beer and Speedo swimwear, have been sold to foreign companies.

"This is the best news I've heard for a long time," Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith, who developed an Australian-owned yeast extract alternative called OzEmite, told Australian Broadcasting Corp on Thursday. "To bring Vegemite back into Australian hands after over 60 years of it being in American hands, it's great because it means the profit will stay in Australia."

A byproduct of brewing beer, Vegemite was introduced in the 1920s and is an Australian household staple.

Those who haven't been brought up on the spread, long marketed as a rich source of Vitamin B and ideal for healthy children, often find it a difficult taste to acquire.

President Barack Obama once said: "It's horrible."

Australians abroad commonly bemoan how difficult Vegemite is to find outside their country.

Although it remains by far the country's most popular yeast-based spread, its market share and sales have slipped in recent years, according to Euromonitor International. Last year, Vegemite's sales in Australia were $78.5 million, down from $86.9 million in 2011.

Barry Irvin, Bega Cheese's executive chairman, attributed the recent declines to changing breakfast habits.

He described Vegemite and Bega as a natural fit: Cheese and Vegemite are a popular taste combination on sandwiches.

"The wonderful heritage and values that Vegemite represents and its importance to Australian culture makes its combination with Bega Cheese truly exciting," Irvin said in a statement.

Bega shares rose on the news on the Australian market in early trading Thursday more than 5 percent from AU$4.84 to AU$5.09.

Mondelez had licensing rights for Kraft's products overseas after it split with Kraft Foods in 2012. Mondelez says it is holding onto Philadelphia cream cheese in Australia.

The sale also includes other local Australian grocery products, peanut butter and salad dressings that use the Kraft name under licensing. Bega Cheese makes Kraft cheeses for Mondelez and was looking for opportunities to grow beyond dairy. The diversification "adds stability to Bega Cheese," Irvin said.

Michael Mitchell, a Mondelez spokesman, said about 200 employees will be offered roles "on comparable terms" with Bega Cheese. He said a manufacturing plant will transfer to Bega, but that there will be no closures.

For non-Australians, the mention of "a Vegemite sandwich" in Australian band Men at Work's 1983 hit song "Down Under" may be their only exposure to the stuff.

Not so back home, where it can be found in 90 percent of Australian households.
Baby sitter who was watching boy killed by train charged

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP)  Authorities say a baby sitter who was watching a 2-year-old Florida boy when he was struck by a train has been charged in his death.

A Pasco County Sheriff's Office statement says 26-year-old Heather Henderson was arrested Wednesday and charged with aggravated child neglect with great bodily harm.

Authorities say Henderson was walking along raised train tracks in Zephyrhills, northeast of Tampa, with Hunter Fink, the boy's 4-year-old sister and another man Dec. 12 when a train approached.

Authorities say the man grabbed the sister and jumped off the tracks, while Henderson picked up Hunter and couldn't get out of the way in time. The boy died and Henderson suffered head trauma and a broken arm.
Ex-NY state Sen. Sampson sentenced to 5 years in prison

NEW YORK (AP)  A once-powerful New York legislator convicted of lying to FBI agents has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Former state Sen. John Sampson was also fined $75,000 at his sentencing Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court after being found guilty in 2015 of obstruction of justice and making false statements. He was acquitted of six other counts.

The Brooklyn Democrat was accused of attempting to block an investigation of a real estate developer who loaned him money. He originally was charged with embezzling funds while acting as a court-appointed referee in home foreclosure proceedings, but those charges were set aside.

Judge Dora Irizarry said at the sentencing that she struggled to understand Sampson's behavior given his good fortune in life.
FBI investigating threats to Jewish centers

CHICAGO (AP)  Federal authorities say they're investigating threats to Jewish centers nationwide.

A brief FBI statement Wednesday says it and the Justice Department's civil-rights division are investigating "possible civil rights violations in connection with threats." The statement from the agency's Washington headquarters doesn't characterize the threats.

But the Anti-Defamation League the same day issued a statement citing "a series of bomb threats to Jewish community centers in at least 17 states."

The ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt adds about actual explosives that "so far these threats do not appear to be credible." But the statement says centers should still take them seriously.
A Nigerian air force fighter jet on a mission against Boko Haram extremists has mistakenly bombed a refugee camp, killing more than 100 refugees and aid workers, a Borno state official said.

The state government official was helping to coordinate the evacuation of the wounded from the remote area by helicopters.

Military commander Maj Gen Lucky Irabor confirmed the accidental bombardment in north-east Rann, near the border with Cameroon, saying some civilians were killed.

Cameroon soldiers stand guard at a lookout post as they take part in operations against Boko Haram near Nigeria's Borno state, where a refugee camp was mistakenly bombed

It is believed to be the first time Nigerias military has admitted to making such a mistake.

The International Committee for the Red Cross said six staff members and volunteers with the Nigerian Red Cross were among the dead and 13 were wounded.

They were part of a team that had brought in desperately needed food for over 25,000 displaced persons, spokesman Jason Straziuso said in a statement from Nairobi, Kenya.

For the second time in a day we report on the tragic death of aid workers: 6 #RedCross workers have died in todays air strikes in #Nigeria.  IFRC (@ifrc) January 17, 2017

#Nigeria: we renew our call for aid workers to be able to operate safely & be allowed to deliver assistance where its needed most.  IFRC (@ifrc) January 17, 2017

Two soldiers were also wounded as well as Nigerians working for Doctors Without Borders, Maj Gen Irabor said, without giving a precise figure.

Doctors Without Borders said its team based in Rann had counted 50 bodies and treated 120 wounded.

Maj Gen Irabor said he ordered the mission based on information that Boko Haram insurgents were gathering in the area, along with geographic coordinates. It was too early to say if a tactical error was made, he said.

Statement from @NigAirForce on the regrettable accidental air strike on innocent civilians at Rann in Borno State, today. pic.twitter.com/6W01skUKaS  Government of Nigeria (@NigeriaGov) January 17, 2017

The general, who is the theatre commander for counter-insurgency operations in north-east Nigeria, said the air force would not deliberately target civilians but there will be an investigation.

The bombings have helped drive Boko Haram out of many towns and villages and, according to Nigerias president, Muhammadu Buhari, the insurgents last stronghold in the Sambisa Forest last month.
Relatives of the Chinese citizens aboard doomed Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 say the authorities who ended the search for the plane are deceiving them.

Their angry comments came as Australia defended the decision to call off the hunt, and insisted that the enormous cost had nothing to do with the decision.

Dozens of relatives gathered in Beijing on Wednesday, one day after Australia, China and Malaysia called an end to a nearly three-year search for the plane. Nearly two-thirds of the 239 people on board were Chinese.

Attempts to solve tragic mystery of Flight 370 have been suspended, perhaps forever. Heres how we got here. https://t.co/NMCbBuTpmJ? pic.twitter.com/YIoQ9QH528  The Associated Press (@AP) January 18, 2017

Zhang Meiling, whose 37-year-old daughter was on board, told reporters that the authorities have cheated us for the past three years.

Another relative, Dai Shuqing, said the authorities were wasting time and owed them an explanation for why they failed to find the plane or the victims.

(Ng Han Guan/AP)

Wen Wanchang, whose son was on board the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, reacts to journalists

Several of the attendees were crying, and shouting could be heard from outside the meeting.

Australias transport minister Darren Chester said experts will continue analysing data and scrutinising debris washing ashore from the plane in a bid to narrow down where it crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

But he declined to specify what kind of breakthrough would convince officials to resume the search for the missing airliner.

Confirming tripartite decision to suspend #MH370 search. Thoughts and prayers with family/friends of the missing. https://t.co/LvecJ4MQfR  Darren Chester MP (@DarrenChesterMP) January 17, 2017

When we get some information or data or a breakthrough that leads us to a specific location, the experts will know it when they see it, he said.

The sonar seabed search ended on Tuesday, possibly forever - not because investigators have run out of leads, but because the countries involved in the expensive and vast deep-sea hunt have shown no appetite for opening another big phase.

Late last year, as ships with high-tech search equipment covered the last strips of the 46,000-square mile search zone west of Australia, experts concluded they had been looking in the wrong place and should have been searching a smaller area immediately to the north.

Relatives of passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 chant slogans before resuming their meeting with Malaysia Airlines officials in Beijing

But by then, 130 million had already been spent by Malaysia, Australia and China, who had previously agreed not to search elsewhere without pinpoint evidence of the planes location.

Mr Chester insisted the enormous cost had nothing to do with pulling the plug.

It is a costly exercise, but it hasnt been the factor which led to the decision to suspend the search, he said.

He added that he had not given up hope that the plane may one day be found.

Its an extraordinary aviation mystery as it stands today, he said.
Mobile phone firm EE has been fined 2.7 million by Ofcom for overcharging tens of thousands of customers.

The communications regulator found that the company broke a fundamental billing rule on two separate occasions, resulting in nearly 40,000 customers being overcharged around 250,000.

An investigation by Ofcom accused EE of carelessness or negligence, adding that while it did not set out to make money from its billing mistake, the company had decided not to reimburse the majority of affected customers until Ofcom intervened.

We have today fined EE for overcharging thousands of its customers. Find out more: https://t.co/embYX6Au0l pic.twitter.com/TtWdc6q4uk  Ofcom (@Ofcom) January 18, 2017

Lindsey Fussell, Ofcoms consumer group director, said: EE didnt take enough care to ensure that its customers were billed accurately. This ended up costing customers thousands of pounds, which is completely unacceptable.

We monitor how phone companies bill their customers, and will not tolerate careless mistakes. Any company that breaks Ofcoms rules should expect similar consequences.

EE is owned by telecoms giant BT, which acquired the mobile operator last year in a 12.5 billion deal.

EE customers who called the companys 150 customer services number while roaming within the EU were incorrectly charged as if they had called the United States.

Ofcom has today fined EE 2.7million for overcharging thousands of its customers: https://t.co/OpN8wXMVwm pic.twitter.com/RCJLtj2tHH  Ofcom (@Ofcom) January 18, 2017

Ofcom said the mistake saw customers charged 1.20 per minute, instead of 19p per minute. As a result, at least 32,145 customers were overcharged around 245,700 in total.

It added that EE wrongly decided it could not identify the people it overcharged and was proposing to give their money to charity, which would have left them out of pocket.

In another breach, despite making it free to call or text the 150 number from within the EU from November 18 2015, EE continued to bill 7,674 customers up until January 11 2016.

In total, these customers were overcharged 2,203.33, although in this instance EE issued full refunds to those affected.

EE sign

While the majority of customers have now been refunded, EE was unable to identify at least 6,905 customers, who have been left around 60,000 out of pocket.

The company has made a donation of just under 62,000 to charity in lieu of the payments owed to these customers.

However, Ofcom is requiring EE to make further attempts to trace and refund every customer who was overcharged.

An EE spokesman said: We accept these findings and apologise unreservedly to those customers affected by these technical billing issues between 2014 and 2015. We have put measures in place to prevent this from happening again, and have contacted the majority of customers to apologise and provide a full refund.

For those customers that we could not identify, we donated the remaining excess fees to charitable causes in line with Ofcoms guidelines.
Jeremy Corbyn has accused Theresa May of demeaning her office and her country by threatening to make the UK an offshore tax haven if she cannot get the Brexit deal she wants from the EU.

The Prime Minister denied the Brexit plan she unveiled on Tuesday was based on threats, insisting she had set out a vision for a stronger, fairer, more united, more outward-looking, prosperous, tolerant and independent, truly global Britain.

The exchange at Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons came after Brexit Secretary David Davis said Britain may not have fully freed itself from European Union rules until 2021.

Our plan for a strong, new partnership with the EU: my statement to @HouseofCommons https://t.co/SEvbsJlac9  David Davis (@DavidDavisMP) January 17, 2017

Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Mr Davis brushed aside suggestions that MPs might vote down a deal thrashed out over the next two years under Article 50 of the EU treaties, insisting: I intend to make this a success.

He said he was very determined to agree a divorce deal with Brussels and a new trading relationship within the two-year deadline, and said Britain would not be supplicant to any EU demand to extend the negotiation period.

The man who will lead the European Council when negotiations begin  Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat  warned that the negotiations would be arduous and that any deal offered to the UK must be inferior to the terms it could have as a member.

We want a fair deal for the UK but that deal necessarily needs to be inferior to membership, Mr Muscat told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

@jeremycorbyn says May should stop threats "of a bargain basement Brexit" & she "demeans herself and her office" by making threats #PMQs  Kate Ferguson (@kateferguson4) January 18, 2017

This should not come as a surprise to anyone. Indeed, thinking it can be otherwise would indicate a detachment from reality.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson warned the remaining EU nations not to pursue a punitive approach to the Brexit negotiations.

Responding to comments from an aide to French President Francois Hollande, who said Britain should not expect a better trading relationship with Europe from outside the EU, Mr Johnson said: If Monsieur Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings that anyone chooses to escape, rather in the manner of some World War Two movie, then I dont think thats the way forward.

Its not in the interests of our friends or our partners.

PM: Today I have set out a clear vision for a stronger, fairer, Global Britain as we leave the European Union https://t.co/NhBoQeUltz pic.twitter.com/q5VpgTKjVv  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 17, 2017

Mrs May used a high-profile speech at Lancaster House in London on Tuesday to announce she will take Britain out of the European single market and may also quit the customs union, while seeking a free trade agreement with the EU to allow UK companies to continue doing business with its 27 remaining members.

She made clear that she was ready to walk away from a punitive deal, warning EU partners that Britain could use low corporate taxes to attract business and investment from around the world if it could not strike a favourable trade deal with Europe.

Speaking at PMQs in the Commons, Mr Corbyn called on the PM to stop her threat of a bargain basement Britain, a low-pay tax haven on the shores of Europe.

The Labour leader said: It wouldnt necessarily damage the EU, but it would certainly damage this country  businesses, jobs and public services.
European newspapers have responded to Theresa Mays speech setting out her priorities as she negotiates the UKs exit from the European Union (EU) with a series of striking front pages.

The Prime Minister confirmed on Tuesday that Britain will quit the single market and warned she will walk away from exit talks rather than accept a punitive deal.

The front page of German national daily Die Welt features Mrs Mays torso with a Union flag in the background, and the words Little Britain below.

Theresa May gives her Brexit speech

She is pictured wearing a blue checked blazer and white shirt with matching red lipstick and nail varnish  a nod to her previous red, white and blue Brexit reference.

Italian daily La Repubblica leads with the headline Brexit, London gets its wall, away from the EU and the common market' (translated from the original).

Brexit, Londra alza il suo muro Via da Ue e mercato comune - La prima pagina di Repubblica di oggi https://t.co/LZaZp2FObT pic.twitter.com/5RPvoMOaFC  Repubblica (@repubblica) January 18, 2017

The Spanish newspaper El Pais does not top with Brexit, but there is a mention of Mrs Mays speech in the top right of the title page.

It references the Prime Ministers announcement that Britain will leave the single market, adding that Mrs May is hoping for a hard Brexit subject to Parliaments vote.

It calls the announcement her most important speech since coming to Downing Street.

A close-up of Mrs Mays face set against a Union flag dominates the front of Spanish newspaper ABC.

Ya esta disponible la primera edicion de ABC del miercoles 18 de enero en @abckioskoymas https://t.co/IcQxg6om8f pic.twitter.com/ZPA150mgGp  ABC.es (@abc_es) January 17, 2017

Its headline translates to: May threatens the EU with a commercial war.

It warns that Britain will create a tax haven if the rest of Europe punishes it during negotiations.

French national paper, La Croix, puts Mr Trump and Mrs May side by side against a black backdrop and the headline: Le Monde Chahute  the world argues or bickers.
The first freight train service from China to the UK arrived on Wednesday.

Some 34 containers packed with clothes, bags and millions of pairs of socks completed the 7,456-mile journey to east London.

The 18-day trip saw the boxes transported from the city of Yiwu in eastern China to a rail freight terminal in Barking.

A fanfare of costumed dancers, drummers and choreographers posing as Chinese dragons welcomed the inaugural service alongside members of the Chinese embassy and trade representatives.

The first freight train service from China to the UK arrives at DB Cargo's rail freight terminal in Barking (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The freight passed through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before entering the UK via the Channel Tunnel.

A number of different locomotives and wagons were used as the former Soviet Union states have a larger rail gauge than the other countries involved.

The first freight train service to have travelled from China to the UK has crossed the line https://t.co/2IzETHwdOg pic.twitter.com/M8F1A4nAMy  Stephen Jones (@SteveJonesPA) January 18, 2017

The service is cheaper than air freight and faster than sending goods by sea.

Weekly trains will initially be run to assess demand.

Today a freight train arrived in Barking from China, the 1st to the UK. Travelling 12,000 km. It is a historic moment for the UK & Barking. pic.twitter.com/FZHyF8soXt  Margaret Hodge (@margarethodge) January 18, 2017

China Railway already has freight services to a number of European destinations, including Hamburg and Madrid.

They are part of Chinas One Belt, One Road programme of reviving the ancient Silk Road trading routes to the West, initially created more than 2,000 years ago.

Intl Trade Sec @LiamFoxMP: first freight train from China arrives in UK today  another boost to #trade ties between our countries  Department for International Trade (@tradegovuk) January 18, 2017

Mike White, group operations director of Brunel Project Cargo, which is involved in the London service, told Railway Gazette: The new service has a very quick transit time.
The Supreme Court is to give its judgment in the legal battle over Brexit on January 24.

The highest court in the land will decide whether to reject or allow a Government appeal against a High Court ruling which blocked the royal prerogative being used to trigger Britains exit from the European Union without Parliament having a say.

Judgment in Article 50 #Brexit case to be handed down on Tuesday 24 Jan at 9.30am. Details on public access here https://t.co/DnQfsF0fKj  UK Supreme Court (@UKSupremeCourt) January 18, 2017

The ruling was won by campaigners led by investment manager Gina Miller and hairdresser Deir Dos Santos.

An exterior view of The Supreme Court in Westminster (Yui Mok/PA)

In a case of major constitutional importance, three High Court judges unanimously decided last November that Prime Minister Theresa May did not have authority to use Crown prerogative powers to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to start the two-year process of negotiating the UKs departure from the EU.

The Government is asking a record 11 Supreme Court justices to overturn the decision and rule the use of prerogative powers did not interfere with the sovereignty of Parliament.
Workers at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) are continuing with the first of two strikes in a long-running dispute over pensions.

Unite said 600 of its members at AWEs two sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire were supporting a 48-hour walkout on Wednesday and Thursday, and will strike again on January 30 and 31.

The union said workers felt deeply betrayed as promises made a quarter of a century ago guaranteeing their pensions, when they were transferred from the Ministry of Defence to the private sector, have been broken.

Workers at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire (Steve Parsons/PA)

The union is protesting at plans to close the defined benefit scheme at the end of the month and replace it with a defined contribution one.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey will tell AWE members on the picket line at Aldermaston on Thursday: In the early 1990s, the then-Tory government made iron-clad promises to AWE workers regarding the future of their pensions, once they transferred to the private sector.

These promises have now been broken as the AWE bosses want to slash the retirement incomes by jettisoning the current defined benefit pension scheme.

Our members could lose thousands of pounds when they retire, which is a disgrace.

Workers at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Burghfield in Berkshire (Steve Parsons/PA)

It is clear that this pledge has been broken and our members feel deeply betrayed. They have Unites 100% support and solidarity in this dispute.

We call upon defence secretary Michael Fallon to honour those pension pledges made 25 years ago.

An AWE spokesman said: AWE is committed to establishing future pension arrangements that are affordable for our staff and attractive to future employees.

Over recent weeks, improvements have been made to the new scheme and additional enhanced benefits have been included.

Workers at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire (Steve Parsons/PA)

This is a very competitive scheme which has been benchmarked against external comparators and puts the revised AWE scheme in the top 25 percentile.

Staff have been informed that from January 31 2017 the AWE defined benefit scheme will close and as of February 1 2017 all members of the AWE pension scheme will be enrolled into the AWE group personal pension scheme.

The safety and security of AWE staff and the general public remains our top priority during periods of industrial action.
Last year was the hottest year on record globally, beating 2015s exceptionally high temperatures, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said.

The global average temperature in 2016 was 1.1C higher than pre-industrial levels and about 0.07C higher than the previous record set in 2015, the organisation said.

Along with record temperatures, other long term indicators humans are changing the climate reached new heights in 2016, including levels of greenhouse gases and melting ice, the WMO said.

A fishing boat shimmers in the heat of the sun this morning off the North Sea coast of Whitley Bay (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The analysis is based on data from the UKs Met Office Hadley Centre, the University of East Anglias Climatic Research Unit, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Nasas Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

WMO secretary general Petteri Taalas said: 2016 was an extreme year for the global climate and stands out as the hottest year on record. But temperatures only tell part of the story.

Long-term indicators of human-caused climate change reached new heights in 2016.

Carbon dioxide and methane concentrations surged to new records. Both contribute to climate change.

We have also broken sea ice minimum records in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Greenland glacier melt - one of the contributors to sea level rise  started early and fast.

2016: one of the warmest two years on record https://t.co/phT6aA7sri pic.twitter.com/anDWaAwQM6  Met Office (@metoffice) January 18, 2017

Arctic sea ice was the lowest on record both at the start of the melt season in March and at the height of the normal refreezing period in October and November.

A powerful El Nino, a weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean which pushes up global temperatures, fuelled high temperatures in the early months of 2016.

The Met Office Hadley Centres acting director Peter Stott said: A particularly strong El Nino event contributed about 0.2C to the annual average for 2016, which was about 1.1C above the long-term average from 1850 to 1900.

However, the main contributor to warming over the last 150 years is human influence on climate from increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The record prompted renewed calls for a rapid shift away from fossil fuels to curb greenhouse gas emissions and rising temperatures.

WWF-UK chief executive Tanya Steele said: This is yet again a warning sign for governments, businesses and citizens to speed up the shift to a low-carbon economy.

The two US datasets and the one from the UK vary slightly, mostly because of different ways that the polar regions, with little data, are assessed.

The Met Office and UEA figures found that 2016 only exceeded 2015 by a small margin, making the past two years the warmest in records dating back to 1850.

All three sets of data reveal that the planets average surface temperature has risen by 1.1C (2F) since the late 19th century.
Disabled traveller Doug Paulley has said he is absolutely delighted after winning a Supreme Court ruling that drivers must do more to ensure wheelchair users are given priority spaces on buses.

Mr Paulley said the decision marked a significant cultural change.

Drivers representatives fear the decision, widely welcomed by disabled charities, is ambiguous and could leave drivers facing conflicts when non-wheelchair users refuse to vacate wheelchair spaces.

Doug Paulley (centre), from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, outside the Supreme Court in London (Yui Mok/PA)

Calls are being made for Parliament to step in and make the legal position even clearer in the wake of the ruling by seven Supreme Court justices.

The case has been referred to as the wheelchair v buggy dispute because Mr Paulley, from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, took legal action after a mother with a sleeping baby in a pushchair that would not fold refused to move when requested by the driver of a FirstGroup bus to Leeds in February 2012.

Mr Paulley was left unable to board.

The Supreme Court unanimously ruled it was not enough for drivers to simply request a non-wheelchair user to vacate the space without taking any further steps, and they must consider whether it is reasonable to pressurise reluctant passengers to move.

Wheelchair spaces on buses must be a priority, Supreme Court rules in Doug Paulley v First Group case: https://t.co/CIVp9d8z8u pic.twitter.com/WuylI7By8p  EHRC (@EHRC) January 18, 2017

Court president Lord Neuberger said a driver should also consider refusing to drive on in appropriate cases.

He also warned that passengers are at least arguably not subject to a statutory obligation to comply with a policy relating to the use of the space.

The union Unite, which represents bus workers across the UK, said it was concerned over what further steps would be acceptable.

Bobby Morton, Unite national officer for transport, said: This ruling is a step in the right direction but the ambiguity of it and the onus on the bus driver to resolve disputes over wheelchair spaces potentially places them in a position of conflict.

He said bus companies need to put in place clear guidance and procedures for bus drivers to ensure their safety and the comfort of passengers.

Mr Paulley was cheered by other wheelchair users and disabled people outside the court in London after the ruling.

He said: I am absolutely delighted. It has been a long fight.

We have achieved something really substantial here which will make a difference to people who need the wheelchair space  not just wheelchair users but other disabled people.

This is important  a significant cultural change.

Disabled charities have widely welcomed the ruling  handed down by Lord Neuberger sitting with Lady Hale and lords Kerr, Clarke, Sumption, Reed and Toulson.

They are calling for Parliament to reinforce it with changes to the law through the Bus Services Bill.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which supported Mr Paulleys legal battle, said the court had suggested the law should be reconsidered in order to provide much-needed clarity for bus companies and their customers.

Muscular Dystrophy UK spokesman Nic Bungay said that, following the judgment, there was a need for further clarity and potentially a change in the law in order for everyone to understand what their rights and responsibilities are.
British holidaymakers told of a chaotic scramble to get on flights out of Africa when they landed home from crisis-torn Gambia.

Around 1,000 sun seekers on Thomas Cook packages were ordered to pack their bags and head for the airport after the Foreign Office (FCO) issued an alert late on Tuesday.

Gambia faces the threat of military action by regional forces after its unseated president, Yahya Jammeh, refused to hand over power to his successor by midnight last night.

Many people across the world hoping for a peaceful #Jammehxit today. Respect to #Gambia's opposition for maintaining nonviolence throughout.  Jeffrey Smith (@Smith_JeffreyT) January 18, 2017

Holidaymakers described confusion before being greeted by a nightmare situation at the airport in the countrys capital, Banjul, when they arrived to board flights alongside desperate locals on Wednesday.

People were crying and panicking. It was just chaos, said Sara Wilkins, from Church Stretton, Shropshire, as she arrived back at Manchester Airport.

British tourist Sara Wilkins, from Church Stretton, Shropshire, who arrived back at Manchester Aiport from crisis-hit Gambia (Pat Hurst/PA)

Thomas Cook deployed four extra flights alongside a scheduled service on Wednesday to return its 985 package holiday customers.

It is believed around 2,500 Britons were in Gambia when the FCO issued its warning.

British and Dutch tourists wait in the lobby of their hotel to be taken to Banjul Airport, in Gambia (AP)

Elicia Gardner, a teacher at Portland School, Stoke-on-Trent, had been on a weeks volunteering trip in a school with three pupils and another teacher.

A lot of people out there are quite worried, and we are worried for our friends out there, the Gambian people who were taking care of us while we were out there, she said.

Among the arrivals at Manchester airport was Gambian Ebrima Jagne, a textile engineer in Burnley, Lancashire.

Mr Jagne was comforted by fellow passengers as he wept out of concern for his wife, Haddytouray and their three-month-old daughter, Ajiamina Jane, who he is trying to get out of the country.

Tourists check out of their hotel before being taken to Banjul Airport, in Gambia (AP)

He said everyone in the country felt unsafe and on edge  because you dont know whats going to come next.

I cannot get my daughter out. Im desperate. Its not easy at all when I leave my wife there and daughter.

Since the disputed election in December the FCO advised Britons travelling to Gambia to follow events closely.

Mr Jammeh, who has been president for 22 years, has refused to cede power to rival Adama Barrow.

The FCO warned of a growing risk of unrest, including the shutting of the airport, as Wednesdays scheduled power handover approached.

There are still tourists stranded in Gambia including Scotswoman Arlene Robertson, who told BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland that tour operator Thomas Cook had not been in contact.

She said: Ive not really got anywhere to be honest, they havent contacted me. Theyve been in contact with everyone that has booked a package holiday, but because mine was flight only, Ive kind of met some other people who are in the same position as me and we just dont know.

She said only a few people remained in her hotel and staff were not turning up to work because of the political situation.
Memphis Depay has arrived in Lyon to discuss personal terms after the French club agreed a deal with Manchester United for the Dutch forward.

Memphis Depay est arrive a Lyon pour discuter des termes de son futur contrat avec l'OL, assiste de ses agents qui arriveront ce jeudi. pic.twitter.com/yIAxf3NDyK  Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) January 18, 2017

Lyon, who are currently fourth in Ligue 1, tweeted a picture of Depay on Wednesday night and said: Memphis Depay has arrived in Lyon to discuss the terms of his future contract with OL, assisted by his agents who will arrive this Thursday.

Much was expected of the 22-year-old forward after arriving from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2015, but a frustrating first season at Old Trafford was compounded by a disappointing second campaign.

Memphis Depay

Lyon have agreed a deal that could reach around 25million with Man Utd for Memphis Depay. United will have buy back & sell-on clauses  Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) January 18, 2017

Depay has made just one start in all competitions under Jose Mourinho and Lyon have had an offer accepted, which Press Association Sport understands could reach around 25 million euros (21.7m).

United have inserted buy back and sell-on clauses into the deal, while add-ons to the initial outlay include the French club qualifying for the Champions League and the Dutchman signing a new deal with them.

The deal represents a small loss on a player who scored seven goals in 53 appearances for United, where things have not worked out for the well-paid winger.

Depay on big wages & hasn't shone at Man Utd, so it looks a good deal for a player that has made just one start under Mourinho  Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) January 18, 2017

Depay is set to follow Morgan Schneiderlin out of Old Trafford after the France international last week joined Everton for an initial 20million fee, rising to 24million.

Ronald Koemans men were also linked with a move for Depay, but Lyon coach Bruno Genesio has been much firmer with his interest.

Things are progressing, we keep on working, Genesio was quoted as saying on www.olweb.fr on Friday.

It takes time, discussionsbecause recruiting a player now is not easy. I trust the president to get things done quickly. I have put a priority on Memphis Depay. He is a powerful player who scores goals and is good at set-pieces. Rachid (Ghezzal) has left for the African Nations Cup and Memphis knows how to play out wide.
US President Barack Obama has defended his decision to cut nearly three decades off Chelsea Mannings prison term.

The outgoing president argued in his final White House news conference that the former Army intelligence analyst had served a tough prison sentence already.

Mr Obama said he granted clemency to Manning because she had gone to trial, taken responsibility for her crime and received a sentence that was harsher than other leakers have received.

Barack Obama

He emphasised that he had merely commuted her sentence, not granted a pardon, which would have symbolically forgiven her for the crime.

I feel very comfortable that justice has been served, Mr Obama said.

Manning was convicted in 2013 of violating the Espionage Act and other crimes for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad.

"My hope is that you will...push those of us in power to be the best version of ourselves." @POTUS to the press https://t.co/LYDqtVviur  White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) January 18, 2017

Formerly known as Bradley Manning, she declared as transgender after being sentenced to 35 years in prison. She had served more than six years before Mr Obama commuted her sentence on Tuesday, with a release date set for May.

The notion that the average person who was thinking about disclosing vital, classified information would think that it goes unpunished, I dont think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served, Mr Obama said.

Mr Obama said he saw no contradiction in granting clemency to Manning even as he warns about Russias hacking of the US presidential campaign, in which stolen emails were released publicly by WikiLeaks.

"Thank you Press Corps, good luck!" - President @BarackObama's last words in his last presser while in office.  KelleyLCarter (@KelleyLCarter) January 18, 2017

He said he was not motivated by WikiLeaks recent pledge on Twitter that founder Julian Assange would agree to extradition to the US if Mr Obama commuted Mannings sentence.

I dont pay much attention to Mr Assanges tweets, so that wasnt a consideration, the president said.

Mr Obamas comments came as he prepares to exit the presidency after eight years marked by major victories on healthcare, the economy and climate change, along with disappointments over his inability to achieve his goals on immigration, gun control and closing the Guantanamo Bay prison.

He also wound down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but wrestled with other security threats posed by the Islamic State group and the Syrian civil war he was unable to resolve.

Even many of Mr Obamas proudest achievements, like the Obamacare healthcare overhaul, stand to be rolled back or undermined by President-elect Donald Trump, a shadow that hangs over Mr Obamas legacy as he leaves office.

The formal end comes on Friday when Mr Obama and Mr Trump will travel by motorcade together for Mr Trumps swearing-in before Mr Obama, then an ex-president, flies with his family to California for a holiday.

Appearing for the last time in front of the White House seal, Mr Obama also defended his administrations rapprochement with Cuba and his eleventh-hour move to end the wet foot, dry foot policy that lets any Cuban who makes it to US soil stay and become a legal resident.
Liverpool booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup as Lucas Leiva proved the unlikeliest of goalscoring heroes in a 1-0 replay win at Plymouth.

The Brazilian had not scored since finding the net in a Europa League tie against Steaua Bucharest in October 2010, but he provided the decisive touch of this third-round replay with an 18th-minute header.

League Two Plymouth came agonisingly close to an equaliser when Jake Jervis volleyed against the post 15 minutes from time and, although Divock Origi saw his late penalty saved by Luke McCormick, Liverpool move on to a home tie with Wolves in the next round.

Lucas Leiva celebrates scoring Liverpool's winning goal

Liverpool through 1-0, tense at times. Great to see @FAWales Harry Wilson make his Reds debut. #PLYLIV #FACup  Phil Blanche (@philblanche) January 18, 2017

The Premier League side chose to omit Joel Matip as the row over the defenders eligibility rumbles on.

Boss Jurgen Klopp felt he could not risk playing Matip with FIFA unable to say whether he is free to play after Cameroon tried to call him up for the African Nations Cup. But Origi, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho all started.

Plymouth only had 23 per cent possession in the original at Anfield and the tie quickly developed a similar pattern as Liverpool set up camp in the Pilgrims half.

Liverpool saw penalty appeals waved away after Sturridge fell under Oscar Threlkelds clumsy challenge, but the visitors were ahead after 18 minutes.

Plymouth would have been bitterly disappointed by the nature of Liverpools goal, while few - if any - could have predicted the identity of the scorer.

Lucas had scored only six goals in nearly a decade at Liverpool - and none for over six years - but it was the Brazilian who stole in unmarked at the near post to head home Coutinhos corner.

Collector's item goal from Lucas Leiva - first since September 2010 - and seconds later thwarted Plymouth chance.  Phil Blanche (@philblanche) January 18, 2017

Moments later Lucas, the Liverpool captain for the night, stopped Ryan Donaldson from claiming an instant equaliser after Loris Karius had pushed out Graham Careys well-struck drive.

Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a timely tackle on Arnold Garita following good work by the lively Threlkeld, and Joe Gomez was booked for felling Jordan Slew.

Liverpool needed the security of another goal but it was the hosts who started the second half as they had finished the first.

87: 'Keeper goes the right way - it's saved from Origi.



[0-1] #PLYLIV  Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 18, 2017

Carey was at the heart of an incisive one-touch move which ended with David Fox firing from distance and Karius gathering on his line.

Klopp was relaxed enough to withdraw Coutinho and send on Harry Wilson for a Liverpool debut over three years after he eclipsed Gareth Bale to become Wales youngest player.

But Liverpool had an almighty scare when Jervis was left unattended from Sonny Bradleys knock down to volley against the post with Karius beaten.

Origi failed to double Liverpools lead after Yann Songoo had fouled Alberto Moreno in the penalty area, sending his shot straight at McCormick.
Steven Gerrard has urged Daniel Sturridge to prove he can be a Liverpool hero in a team on the verge of something really big.

Former Reds captain Gerrard believes there is a key role in Jurgen Klopps plans for his former team-mate and challenged him to show patience.

Sturridge has started just five Premier League matches this season, and has shown little of the form that made him such a threat to defences when paired with Luis Suarez, before the Uruguayan left for Barcelona two and a half years ago.

Daniel Sturridge, left, and Jurgen Klopp

Should @DanielSturridge seek a move away from @LFC? Gerrard insists the club still need him. #EmiratesFACup https://t.co/3qWkjB4Pd1  Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 18, 2017

He played from the first whistle against Plymouth on Wednesday, before being subbed off in the 76th minute, and it was Lucas Leiva who grabbed the goal in a 1-0 win that carried Klopps team into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Sturridge will hope to be regularly selected by new England boss Gareth Southgate, and it was put to Gerrard that limited club action may not help his international chances.

Thats the thing that Daniels got to assess himself. Only he knows whether hes happy, whether hes frustrated or whether he wants to go somewhere else and challenge himself, Gerrard said on BT Sport 2.

77: A second change for the Reds:



 Sturridge

 Ojo



[0-1] #PLYLIV  Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 18, 2017

But Liverpool arent going to let him go for cheap. Liverpool need him. He scores goals when he plays, his minutes-to-goals ratio is incredible.

Im sure if someone came along with a huge, huge offer and Daniel wanted it there could be a solution there, but as it stands right now Liverpool need Daniel Sturridge and I cant see him going anywhere short term.

Hes capable of world-class moments and performances and I think Liverpool are on the verge of something really big under this manager.

Maybe he is frustrated from week to week but theres a great chance he could get silverware with Liverpool in the near future.
Berlin minister quits under pressure over Stasi past

BERLIN, Jan 16 (Reuters) - A leftist coalition in Berlin's city hall that could be a model for a federal government later this year faced a crisis on Monday after a minister quit because of his past in East Germany's Stasi security police.

Andrej Holm, an academic who had hidden the fact he served in the notorious communist police before the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, resigned as deputy housing minister on Monday after Mayor Michael Mueller had called for him to be fired on Saturday.

Holm was appointed by the Left party, which along with Mueller's Social Democrats (SPD) and the environmentalist Greens formed the first such three-way coalition at the state level only five weeks ago.

The Left party has both former eastern communists and western radicals among its members. Some analysts believe could join the SPD and Greens in a federal government after the next general election in September.

"The SPD and Greens have made it clear to me that they won't support me politically as deputy minister," Holm said in a statement. "Mr Mueller has publicly demanded that I be fired and thus terminated possible cooperation in a coalition. The coalition itself is at a crossroads."

Holm had concealed details of his Stasi past in his application for a job at Berlin's Humboldt University in 2005.

When this became known, he became a lightening rod for the Left party, which is strong in the formerly communist east. Demands he step down or be fired over his work for the Stasi as an 18-year-old split the city and its government coalition.

Many leaders in the Left party were appalled that Mueller had attacked their junior minister.

"There are many differences of opinion in the coalition and a need to clear certain things up," said Katrin Lompscher, the Left party's construction minister. "I regret his resignation and there's a need for the coalition to talk about this."

The three leftist parties could have had a majority in the federal parliament after the 2013 election but the SPD and Greens ruled out such an alliance with the Left.
French financier de Castries backs presidential hopeful Fillon

By Ingrid Melander

PARIS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - French presidential candidate Francois Fillon got the backing of prominent French businessman and HSBC board member Henri de Castries on Tuesday, with his long-term friend confirming a move into politics.

De Castries, who left AXA in September after nearly 17 years leading Europe's second-biggest insurer, had been regarded as frontrunner for taking over as chairman of HSBC after joining its board in March.

However, the 62-year-old started appearing at campaign events for Fillon, who in November became the conservative candidate in the presidential election and is the frontrunner in opinion polls to succeed Socialist President Francois Hollande.

It is not very common for corporate leaders to publicly back French presidential candidates and it is even more rare for them to get involved in campaigning or join government.

"Francois Fillon has the best answers for the challenges we face: security, solidarity, competitiveness, education and innovation," de Castries told Le Figaro newspaper.

Fillon has said he wants non-professional politicians to join his government if elected in May. French media speculated at the end of last year, when he was advising Fillon unofficially, that de Castries could become finance minister.

De Castries, a pro-European, declined to say what form his support would take or if he wanted to become a minister.

An aristocrat known for his economically liberal ideas, de Castries has been criticised by union leaders and opposition politicians who saw him behind Fillon's plans to radically overhaul France's social security - something he denies.

Fillon has since toned these down after raising concerns even within his centre-right The Republicans party.

De Castries, whose full name is de la Croix de Castries, is the descendant of an ancient aristocratic French family.

The family has counted among its ranks a defence minister and several centuries previously one of the few holders of France's top military distinction.
Sinn Fein's Adams anticipating significant Irish border changes

By Padraic Halpin and Amanda Ferguson

DUBLIN/BELFAST, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Britain's plan for leaving the European Union is unlikely to be accomplished without significant changes to border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland, a British province, will represent the only land frontier between Britain and the EU once it leaves and leaders in London, Dublin and Belfast say they want to avoid the raising of a "hard" border, with customs checks and border posts.

Setting out her vision for Brexit on Tuesday, Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain will leave the EU's single market upon its exit and cannot remain a full member of the customs union, but will seek tariff-free trade with the bloc.

She said Britain will seek a practical solution to preserve a common travel area between it and Ireland predating their entry into the EU in 1972, while simultaneously protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom's immigration system.

"It is difficult to see how this can be accomplished without significant changes to the current border arrangements," Adams, whose party has shared power in the north for the past decade and is a growing force in the south, said in a statement.

Sinn Fein, which wants a referendum to unite the two sides of the border after 56 percent of Northern Irish voters backed staying in the EU, reiterated that the province should be given a special designated status within the EU once Britain leaves.

The pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Fein's rivals and partners in Northern Ireland's devolved government before its collapse this week, said it was committed to helping May build a "prosperous and strong UK outside of the EU".

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who has called Brexit the biggest challenge Ireland has faced in 50 years, said he welcomed his British counterpart's willingness to look at the most effective and practical outcome to the border situation.

However one of his senior ministers called for more clarity from London.

"What is now of importance for us is we receive further clarity in relation to the status of the customs union and the United Kingdom's relationship with that," Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe told national broadcaster RTE.
Ireland says has fielded over 100 inquiries from UK financial firms

DUBLIN, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Ireland's central bank has had over 100 inquiries from UK financial firms considering moving operations as a result of Britain's vote to leave the European Union, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said on Tuesday.

"The Central Bank has had in excess of 100 inquiries from the City of London from people who are anxious to find out what the regulatory regime would be here if they were to move activity," Noonan told parliament.
Obama shortens sentence of Manning, who gave secrets to WikiLeaks

By Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday shortened the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. military intelligence analyst who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, the biggest such breach in U.S. history.

A White House official said there was no connection between Manning's commutation and renewed U.S. government concern about WikiLeaks' actions during last year's presidential election, or a promise by founder Julian Assange to accept extradition if Manning was freed.

Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks - a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Obama, in one of his final acts before leaving office, reduced her sentence to seven years, angering some Republicans.

"This is just outrageous," House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. Ryan, a Republican, said the decision was a "dangerous precedent" for those who leak materials about national security.

"Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets," Ryan said.

Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a U.S. Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news staff.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton said the leak endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies.

"We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr," Cotton said.

TOOK RESPONSIBILITY

Manning, formerly known as U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. The White House said her sentence would end on May 17 this year.

Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, men's military prison, accepted responsibility for leaking the material -- a factor that fed into Obama's decision, a White House official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said Obama's decision was rooted in Manning's sentence being longer than sentences given to others who had committed comparable crimes. Obama, who leaves office on Friday and is scheduled to give his final news conference on Wednesday, is expected to discuss his decision then.

WikiLeaks also published emails in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 presidential election that U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies hacked the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of leading Democrats, part of a campaign by Moscow to influence the election.

But Obama's decision had nothing to do with the latest WikiLeaks controversy, the White House official said.

"The president's decision to grant clemency and offer commutation to Chelsea Manning was not influenced in any way by public comments from Assange or the WikiLeaks organization," a White House official said on a conference call with reporters.

Assange has been holed up at Ecuador's London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for the investigation of allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape there in 2010. He has said he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks sent a tweet quoting Assange's attorney, Melinda Taylor, saying he would abide by his promise to accept extradition if Manning was freed. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," Taylor said, according to the tweet.

Civil rights groups praised the move, calling it overdue.

"Chelsea Manning exposed serious abuses, and as a result her own human rights have been violated by the U.S. government for years," said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.

STUXNET

Obama also pardoned retired U.S. Marine Corps General James Cartwright who pleaded guilty in October to making false statements to the FBI during an investigation into leaks of classified information.

The aggressive prosecution of Cartwright, who last served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent shockwaves through the Pentagon.

He lied during questioning by the FBI over a book written by a New York Times reporter that exposed a malicious computer software program known as "Stuxnet" designed to disrupt Iran's nuclear program. Cartwright denied being the source of the leak.

Obama weighed Cartwright's service along with his motive when making the decision, the White House official said, noting Cartwright had not divulged material that the journalist was not already aware of, and that his conversations were focused on preventing the publication of material that could hurt national security.

"It's clear in this case ... that General Cartwright's motive was different than most people who are facing charges of leaking classified information to a journalist," the official said.

PUERTO RICAN MILITANT

Also on the pardon list: Oscar Lopez Rivera, who was sentenced in 1981 to 55 years in prison for his involvement with Puerto Rican militant group FALN, which claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings in the 1970s and 1980s.

Lopez Rivera -- who turned down a similar offer from President Bill Clinton in 1999 -- was the last remaining member of FALN still in prison.

"Mr. Lopez Rivera is now in his 70s. He has served 35 years, nearly half of his life in prison," a White House official said. "The president determined that was sufficient amount of time to serve, although the president certainly believes that the crimes that were committed were serious."

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders campaigned for the release of Lopez Rivera during his unsuccessful campaign against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Manning and Lopez Rivera were among 209 commutations granted by Obama on Tuesday and Cartwright was among 64 pardons.

In total, Obama has commuted sentences for 1,385 federal prisoners -- a total greater than that of the 12 previous presidents combined -- and he is expected to announce more on Thursday, the White House official said.
Brazil Air Force to privatize air traffic control telecom system

BRASILIA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The Brazilian Air Force is planning to privatize the running of its telecom network used for defense, surveillance and air traffic control, an Air Force spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

The planned public-private partnership is aimed at reducing the cost to the Air Force of modernizing the system and would involve about 4.3 billion reais ($1.3 billion) in investment and operating costs.

Brazilian newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo reported earlier that 17 companies participated in public hearings on the possible privatization.

U.S. defense contractor and information technology company Harris Corp and Mexico's America Movil, which owns Claro, Brazil's third-largest cellular telephone company, were the most interested, it said.

"We have demonstrated interest in pursuing the program, but are not able to provide any additional input at this time," Jim Burke, Harris Corp's global public relations director, said by email.

Claro representatives declined to comment on the issue.

Estado newspaper, citing an Air Force official in charge of air traffic control, said the private company picked for the project would be expected to invest 1.5 billion reais to modernize and operate the telecom system.
Indonesia palm output likely dropped in Dec, first decline in months -Reuters survey

By Fransiska Nangoy and Bernadette Christina Munthe JAKARTA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) output likely fell slightly in December, ending a seven-month run of gains in the world's top producer of the commodity used in everything from chocolate to biofuels, a Reuters survey showed. A year-end decline in output would be in line with earlier predictions that production would likely peak in November after steadily recovering from drought brought on by an El Nino weather pattern in 2015 and the start of 2016. CPO production in the Southeast Asian nation likely eased to 3.22 million tonnes in December from 3.31 million tonnes in November, according to the median estimate in a survey of three industry associations and a state palm research firm. Meanwhile, December exports of Indonesian CPO were forecast to have risen 7 percent to 2.38 million tonnes, from 2.23 million tonnes a month earlier. Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) data showed the country exported 2.41 million tonnes of palm oil and palm kernel oil in October. The group's November and December data is not yet available. Domestic consumption was seen in a range of 900,000 tonnes to 1.10 million tonnes, while the survey median showed domestic palm stocks at 1.89 million tonnes. The December survey comprises responses from GAPKI, the Indonesia Palm Oil Board, the Indonesian Vegetable Oil Industry Association and the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute. Below is a table of the median responses to the Reuters CPO survey and GAPKI palm and palm kernel oil export data for 2015/2016 (in million tonnes). Month Output Exports Inventories GAPKI export data December 3.218 2.382 1.886 -- November 3.310 2.221 1.786 -- October 3.064 2.225 1.945 2.41 September 2.900 2.000 1.738 1.73 August 2.833 1.740 1.700 2.07 July 2.802 1.875 1.875 1.60 June 2.464 1.798 1.712 1.78 May 2.188 1.919 2.100 1.76 April 2.132 1.928 2.250 2.09 March 2.150 1.895 2.592 1.74 February 2.300 2.010 3.633 2.29 January 2.440 2.005 2.025 2.10 2015 December 2.457 2.675 2.425 2.51 November 2.800 2.093 2.950 2.39 October 3.010 2.213 3.025 2.61 September 3.100 2.235 3.050 2.34 August 3.198 1.885 3.392 2.10 July 2.856 1.920 3.200 2.09 June 2.800 2.400 3.046 2.27 May 2.774 2.150 2.540 2.22 April 2.662 2.046 2.602 2.25 March 2.397 1.800 2.667 2.03 February 2.049 1.750 2.425 1.79 January 2.056 1.658 2.413 1.81 (Reporting by Fransiska Nangoy and Bernadette Christina Munthe; Editing by Joseph Radford)
Romania - Factors to watch on Jan. 18

Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Wednesday.

GOVERNMENT MEETING

Romania's leftist government holds a weekly meeting, at which it may discuss passing emergency decrees that grant prison pardons and decriminalize some offences.

On Tuesday, the justice minister said he did not support amnesty, but that prison pardons are needed to help ease pressures on overpopulated prisons. Judges and prosecutors have said they do not support such legislation.

Government critics have said passing such decrees were aimed at weakening anti-corruption prosecutors.

CEE MARKETS

Central European stocks mostly eased slightly on Tuesday ahead of a speech by British Prime Minister Theresa May in which she will set out her priorities for Brexit divorce talks with the European Union.

ROAD

Romania's state road infrastructure management company said on Tuesday a dip in the pavement on a segment of the Sibiu-Orastie motorway in central Romania has prompted rerouting traffic in the area. It is not the first time that the company has had to rehabilitate segments of the motorway. Ziarul Financiar

RAIFFEISEN

Raiffeisen Bank Romania was looking at all acquisition opportunities on the local market, hoping the country's banking system would consolidate, said James Stewart, a bank executive.

Ziarul Financiar

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Poland - Factors to Watch Jan 18

Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Wednesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):

WAGES, EMPLOYMENT DATA

The statistics office is expected to publish corporate wage and employment data for December at 1300 GMT.

CPI

The economy ministry forecasts consumer prices (CPI) to rise by 1.8 percent year-on-year in January, Parkiet daily reported.

GAZ-SYSTEM

Poland's gas grid operator Gaz-System and its Danish partner have finished consultations on procedures needed to show interest in supply of gas from Denmark to Poland and allow excess supply to be resold to other countries including Ukraine, the daily Gazeta Polska Codziennie reported.

COAL MINING

Poland's state-owned mining group Polska Grupa Gornicza (PGG) will present details of its planned merger with another state coal mining group Katowicki Holding Weglowy (KHW) by the end of January, a spokesman for PGG told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

EUROCASH

Distribution firm Eurocash plans further acquisitions after taking over retail group Eko Holding, a board member of Eurocash, Jacek Owczarek, told Parkiet daily.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****
Belgium leads euro zone yield rises after record bond sale

By Abhinav Ramnarayan

LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Belgium led a broad rise in euro zone bond yields on Wednesday after a record 6 billion euro sale of 10-year bonds the day before fuelled expectations for future supply.

With Italy expected to launch a 15-year syndicated bond in the near future, investors are selling outstanding euro zone government bonds to make space for the new supply, pushing yields higher.

"The size of the Belgium deal shows how the governments themselves view the way in which rates are going to go upwards in the future," said DZ Bank strategist Daniel Lenz. "Therefore it is reasonable now to come up with large issuance sizes."

Tuesday's sale was Belgium's largest via syndication, in which banks distribute bonds on behalf of the borrower to a range of investors.

Italy's Treasury said on Tuesday it had hired five banks for its syndicated issue, which will be the first test of market demand for its debt after a credit rating downgrade last week.

On Wednesday euro zone bond yields rose 1-3 basis points across the board, led by Belgium's 10-year benchmark, which was up 3 bps at 0.66 percent. Italian 10-year yields were up 2 bps to 1.92 percent, a higher rise than equivalents in Spain and Portugal.

The market calmed on Tuesday after UK Prime Minister Theresa May took the edge off Brexit-related concerns by saying the terms of Britain's divorce from the European Union would be put to a parliamentary vote.

Euro zone yields had fallen sharply in the run-up to May's speech when it became apparent she would signal a "hard Brexit" that will take Britain out of the EU single market, but they came off lows after her comments.

SCHATZ SUPPLY

Supply has also been partly responsible for easing some of the pressure on short-dated bonds, which faced a severe squeeze at the end of 2016 on the back of a shortage of collateral.

Yields on Germany's two-year bonds, or Schatz, rose 1 bps to minus 0.73 percent on Wednesday, well off their December 2016 record low of minus 0.836 percent.

"The short-end yields are moving to the upside as we expected as some of the ECB (stimulus) measures kick in, and also with some recent supply," said Lenz.
Norway is still violating the human rights of mass killer Anders Behring Breivik despite some easing of his near-isolation in jail since he massacred 77 people in 2011, his lawyer has claimed.

As the court case about his treatment in prison comes to an end, his lawyer said his conditions were 'bad for his mental health' and were causing him headaches.

The Norwegian state is appealing against a lower court ruling in 2015 that jail conditions for neo-Nazi Breivik, 37, breach a ban on 'inhuman and degrading treatment' under the European Convention on Human Rights.

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Anders Behring Breivik looks on during the last day of his appeal case in Borgarting Court of Appeal at Telemark prison in Skien, Norway

'It's too strict,' Breivik's lawyer Oeystein Storrvik told the high-security court, saying Breivik had no contact with other inmates even though he has spent more time with guards and priests in recent years.

The case is 'really about a person that is sitting very, very alone in a small prison within a prison' since 2012, Storrvik said.

He dismissed the benefits of the weekly visits by a state-appointed prison confidante for Breivik, saying 'it's a paid job.'

Anders Behring Breivik arrives for the last day of his appeal case. Norway has defended the prison conditions under which mass murderer Breivik is being held

Since late 2016, Storrvik has met Breivik separated by bars, a slight improvement from a glass wall previously in place, he said.

Breivik's only family visitor was his mother, who gave him a hug before she died of cancer in 2013.

Breivik says he has no one with whom to build a friendship in 'psychologically damaging' isolation.

The Norwegian state says extreme restrictions are needed after Breivik gunned down 69 people, many of them teenagers, at a youth camp of the then ruling Labour Party on July 22, 2011, after detonating a bomb in central Oslo that killed eight.

Breivik looks on during the last day of his appeal case. The state attorney presented its closing statement in the appeals trial today

On Tuesday, arguing for the state, Attorney General Fredrik Sejersted said Norway faced a 'liberal paradox' on how to uphold the rights of extremists who want to overthrow the system.

'But we don't have to be too kind and naive,' he said.

The three-judge panel said it was likely to give its ruling in the second half of February.

Anders Behring Breivik is pictured on the last day of the appeal case, which will decide on whether he will remain in isolation in prison

It may eventually end up in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

In previous cases, the European court found that Turkey violated the human rights of Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan during some of his detention alone on a remote island after his conviction on treason charges in 1999.
SOFTS- London cocoa rises on weaker pound and Ivory Coast unrest

By Mariana Ionova

LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - London cocoa futures rose on Wednesday, lifted by a weaker pound and renewed concerns over unrest in top producer Ivory Coast.

The March London cocoa contract was up 22 pounds, or 1.2 percent, at 1,814 pounds a tonne by 1312 GMT.

Prices were supported by a weaker pound, which fell back after making its biggest one-day gain since at least 1998 in the previous session.

The market was also keeping a close watch on unrest in the Ivory Coast.

Gendarmes sealed off the entrances to the port in Abidjan, on Wednesday, forcing companies including cocoa exporters to halt operations, a customs officer and an employee of an export firm said.

The port is one of the two main export points for cocoa shipped from the Ivory Coast.

An armed mutiny in West African nation earlier this month gave only a brief boost to prices because it did not directly affect the cocoa value chain and seemed to be on its way to being swiftly resolved this week.

"If there is disruption at the ports, then absolutely we could see an impact on the cocoa prices," said Edward George, head of group research at Pan-African lender Ecobank. "That might be a game-changer."

However, George added that gains could be capped by a good outlook for the mid-crop in both Ivory Coast and Ghana.

The Ivory Coast's Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) marketing board also denied on Wednesday that it plans to cancel about 300,000 tonnes of cocoa contracts on the verge of default and resell them.

Reuters reported on the plan, revealed by a CCC official and finance ministry source, on Tuesday.

March New York cocoa rose $2, or 0.1 percent, to $2,237 a tonne. Gains were capped by a stronger dollar, which rebounded ahead of a speech by the head of the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.

March robusta coffee futures fell $10, or 0.5 percent, to $2,228 a tonne, having scaled a 4-1/2 year high the previous day on worries over a poor crop in Brazil.

March arabica coffee futures were down 1.65 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $1.4925 per lb.
Mali attack toll hits 47, including five suicide bombers

BAMAKO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - At least 47 people including five suicide bombers were killed when a vehicle packed with explosives detonated inside a military camp in the northern Mali city of Gao on Wednesday, the government said.
Iraq special forces chief says mission accomplished in east Mosul

By Isabel Coles

BARTELLA, Iraq, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Elite Iraqi forces have ousted Islamic State insurgents from all districts of eastern Mosul they were tasked with recapturing, their commanding officer said on Wednesday, bringing almost all of the city's eastern half back under government control.

Lieutenant-General Talib Shaghati said the Counter Terrorism Services (CTS), who have spearheaded the three-month-old offensive against Islamic State (IS) in the northern Iraqi city, had taken the eastern bank of the Tigris river.

Regular army troops were still fighting the ultra-hardline militants in northeast Mosul, however, according to a military statement. A few parts of the bank further north had yet to be fully taken.

"Today we celebrate ... the liberation of the eastern bank in Mosul," Shaghati told reporters in the nearby town of Bartella.

He said that recapturing Mosul's western half, which the jihadists still fully control, would be an easier task. Officers have previously said that the more densely populated west bank of the Tigris could pose additional military challenges.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said victory was near. "The promise of final liberation and total victory in Mosul has come close to being realised," he said in a statement.

"Work is under way now to liberate what remains of the forests and palaces (along the eastern bank) and few areas" where IS was still holed up.

Bridges across the Tigris, which bisects Mosul from north to south, have been hit by U.S.-led warplanes to prevent IS reinforcements joining the fighting in eastern neighbourhoods, and more recently by the militants trying to block a future westward advance by the military.

If the U.S.-backed campaign is successful it would probably spell the end of the Iraqi side of the jihadist group's self-styled caliphate, which also extends well into neighbouring Syria, that it declared during a lightning offensive in 2014.

The Iraqi army, special forces and elite police units have operated in tandem to capture different areas of eastern Mosul. The army is mostly deployed in the north, the CTS in the east, and the federal police in the south.

Army units advanced into the northeastern neighbourhoods of Qadiya 2 and al-Arabi, the military statement said.

Abadi said late on Tuesday that IS had been severely weakened in the Mosul campaign, and that the military had begun "moving" against it in western Mosul, without elaborating.

Residents reached by phone said air strikes against Islamic State deep inside western Mosul had increased in recent days.

More than a dozen missile strikes in the Yarmouk district targeted weapons depots and workshops the militants used to make explosives, and also destroyed two car bombs stored there, according to one resident.

Some raids had killed or wounded civilians, including in the Mosul al-Jadida neighbourhood and an industrial zone, residents said.
Russia says teams up with Turkey for first time to bomb Syrian militants

By Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Russia said its war planes had joined forces with Turkish jets for the first time on Wednesday to target Islamic State militants holding the town of al-Bab in northern Syria, evidence of increasingly close cooperation between Moscow and Ankara.

Russia and Turkey are the main organisers of a new round of Syrian peace talks due to take place in Kazakhstan on Jan. 23 and have set aside their differences over the political fate of President Bashar al-Assad to try to forge a wider Syria deal.

Moscow backs Assad, while Ankara has diluted its demands for the Syrian leader to urgently step down as part of what some sources say is a backroom deal aimed at dividing Syria into informal zones of regional power influence.

Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi, a senior Russian Defence Ministry official, said that nine Russian jets and eight Turkish war planes had together struck targets in al-Bab, which is located around 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Aleppo.

"Today the Russian and Turkish air forces are conducting their first joint air operation to strike Islamic State in the suburbs of al-Bab," Rudskoi said.

"The assessment of the initial results ... showed the strikes were highly effective."

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wants Turkish-backed rebels to capture al-Bab to prevent Kurdish militias from doing so. Rudskoi said the joint mission had been conducted in agreement with the Syrian government.

He said the Russian air force was also providing air support to Syrian government troops trying to fight off an Islamic State assault around the town of Deir al-Zor.

The town's civilian population could be massacred if Islamic State took Deir al-Zor, he said.

Russian jets were also backing a Syrian army offensive near the town of Palmyra, said Rudskoi, who added that Islamic State militants were planning to blow up more of the ancient city's historical monuments.

"We have received information, confirmed by several sources, that a large amount of explosives has been brought into the Palmyra area and that the terrorists plan on destroying the city's world-class historical legacy," he said.
Ukrainian MPs demand probe into former pilot Savchenko, allege treason

By Natalia Zinets

KIEV, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Ukrainian lawmakers called on Wednesday for an investigation into what they say are anti-Ukrainian actions by Nadiya Savchenko, a helicopter navigator who returned to Ukraine to a hero's welcome last year after being held in a Russian jail.

Savchenko, herself now a lawmaker, has sparked anger since her return by holding talks with pro-Russian separatists without the government's consent and also for publishing secret lists of people who were captured or are missing in the eastern conflict.

On Tuesday, she suggested Ukraine would have to relax its claim on Russia-annexed Crimea in order to win back control of the eastern Donbass peacefully -- a final straw for some lawmakers who demanded she be investigated.

"I would like to appeal to the State Security Service," Ivan Vinnyk told fellow lawmakers at a televised meeting of the parliamentary defence committee, which includes Savchenko.

Vinnyk said Savchenko had committed "deliberate acts to the detriment of Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, national security - preliminary indicators of treason".

The criticism provides a sharp contrast to the fanfare that greeted Savchenko when she was freed in a prisoner exchange last May.

Captured on the frontline by Russian separatists and then held in jail on murder charges that she said were fabricated, Savchenko became a powerful symbol of resistance against Russia to many Ukrainians.

In a testy exchange during the committee meeting, Savchenko rejected the allegations against her.

"I'm very ashamed of the people here who at one time promoted themselves off the back of my name and continue to promote themselves off the back of names of political prisoners who are behind bars and continue to defend Ukraine in Kremlin prisons," she said.

"You were the first to show what betrayal is."

Asked about her Crimea comments, a Kremlin spokesman said on Wednesday different claims to the peninsula were not up for discussion, but added: "Russia is doing everything to promote a settlement of Ukraine's internal affairs."

Savchenko isn't the only prominent Ukrainian to find herself in hot water. Viktor Pinchuk, one of the country's wealthiest businessmen, sparked a backlash after writing an editorial in the Wall Street Journal in December arguing that Kiev had to make "painful compromises" to secure peace with Russia.
Missing Pakistani activists' families decry blasphemy allegations

By Saad Sayeed

ISLAMABAD, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Families and supporters of five missing Pakistani activists on Wednesday denounced what they called a campaign to accuse the men of blasphemy, a highly charged allegation that could endanger their lives were they to reappear.

The accusations, made online and in a complaint to police, have unsettled Pakistan's small community of social activists.

The families of two of the missing men, Salman Haider and Waqass Goraya, described them as part of a "malicious campaign".

"This campaign can only be meant to divert public sympathy away from our plight and the plight of our loved ones, who have been illegally abducted," the two families said in a statement handed out at a press conference in the capital, Islamabad.

Associates and supporters of all five men deny they have blasphemed.

The liberal activists disappeared since Jan. 4, and some rights groups and newspapers have questioned whether state or military agencies were in some way involved.

Pakistan's Interior Ministry has said it is seeking information and the Federal Investigation Agency says it has not arrested them. Other state agencies and the country's military declined to comment.

Haider, a leftist writer and professor, disappeared in early January as did liberal bloggers Goraya, Aasim Saeed and Ahmed Raza Naseer, as well as Samar Abbas, head of an anti-extremism activist group in Karachi.

All were reported missing separately by their families within a week of each other.

In recent days, the missing activists have been accused of blasphemy in online posts and by at least three television commentators.

Haider Shah, of the Rationalist Society of Pakistan, said the blasphemy allegations endangered the activists.

Even if they were freed without charge, they could be targeted by extremists who believe violence is justified to defend Islam, he added.

"These people will be running from these allegations for the rest of their lives," Shah said.

In 2011, a Pakistani governor, Salman Taseer, was assassinated by his bodyguard after calling for reform of the blasphemy laws. His killer was hailed a hero by religious hardliners, and tens of thousands of supporters attended his funeral after he was executed last year.

POLICE REVIEWING COMPLAINT

One of the first blasphemy allegations appeared on Jan. 9 on the pro-military Pakistan Defence page on Facebook.

The anonymous Urdu-language post displayed photos of Haider, Goraya and Saeed linking them with a Facebook group called Bhensa, which it said contained "blasphemy toward the Koran".

When contacted by Reuters via email, an anonymous administrator for Pakistan Defence said the Facebook page and website were an "open source debate platform" and that comments were linked to members who "contribute anonymously".

The administrator added that, while many posts praised Pakistan's powerful military, the army was in no way associated with it.

A group called Civil Society of Pakistan filed a police complaint over the weekend against the missing men, demanding that they be charged with insulting the Prophet Mohammad, a crime in Pakistan that carries a mandatory death sentence.

Tariq Asad, chairman of Civil Society of Pakistan, said the organization filed its police complaint in outrage after reading about the case.

"Every Pakistani has awareness of this issue and many have asked us to take this up ... Whoever does not love the Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, more than his own family is not a true Muslim," Asad said.

Police officer Khalid Awan, based in Islamabad where the complaint was lodged, said it was under legal review, but so far formal criminal charges had not been brought.

Both Pakistan Defence and Civil Society of Pakistan dismissed suggestions that they were part of a coordinated campaign.

Critics of Pakistan's blasphemy laws say they have long been used by individuals and religious groups to settle disputes, but activists say that the accusations against the five signal a worrying escalation.

"The intensity of it is very worrying," said Shahzad Ahmed, director of cyber-security group Bytes for All.
Trump EPA pick says backs biofuels program, but open to tweaks

WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said on Wednesday he would honor the intent of the U.S. biofuels program, but remained open to tweaking it.

The Renewable Fuel Standard requires the EPA set annual quotas for the use of ethanol and biodiesel in transportation fuels. More than a decade old, the standard is fiercely defended by the U.S. corn industry that provides most of the ethanol, but it has been a source of frustration for oil refiners. They say the goals are unrealistic without an overhaul in automobiles and infrastructure, and are calling for changes.

Pruitt said during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that he was committed to Congress' plan, laid out in 2007, to annually increase the amount of ethanol and other renewables blended with petroleum fuels. He said the waivers that EPA has already used to set requirements below those targets to accommodate market conditions should be used "judiciously".

He explained his view that the EPA should not use those waivers to "undermine commitments" from Congress but that they are needed in some cases, including when there is lower-than-expected fuel demand.

The comments quelled some concerns from within the industry over the nominee, who as Oklahoma's attorney general had described the program as "flawed" and "unworkable."

Renewable Fuels Association Chief Executive Officer and President Bob Dinneen described Pruitt's comments as "heartening" in a statement.

While generally supportive of program, Pruitt said it was too soon to say whether it needed to be altered.

Oil refiners including HollyFrontier Corp and Delta Air Lines Inc's Monroe Energy have requested that the responsibility of blending renewables like ethanol into their fuel be shifted from them to companies further down the supply chain.

The EPA moved to deny the request, but is seeking public comment on the decision.

When asked about the idea, Pruitt said he did not want to "pre-judge" the outcome of the comment period.

Trump has separately tapped billionaire and RFS critic Carl Icahn as a special advisor on regulations, raising industry speculation that the incoming administration will be more likely to consider the change.
Germany says boosting defence spending, demands clear U.S. agenda

BERLIN, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Germany, under fire from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for not meeting NATO's defence spending goal, is boosting military budgets, but also wants Trump to map out a consistent foreign policy agenda, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said.

Trump sparked concern among NATO and EU foreign ministers on Monday when he said NATO was obsolete and criticised NATO members that failed to meet the alliance's target of spending two percent of national output on defence.

A key Trump adviser on Tuesday said only parts of NATO were obsolete, while Nikki Haley, his nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, said NATO was an important alliance and she did not believe it was obsolete.

"We want the Americans to be clear, 'What is your agenda,'" German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told German broadcaster NTV. "The most important thing ... is reliability."

Von der Leyen said Germany was boosting military spending by nearly 2 billion euros in 2017 to 37 billion euros, or 1.22 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). It is due to reach 39.2 billion euros by 2020.

"We're moving in the right direction, but we can't do it in one year," she told NTV.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in November she did not expect Germany to meet its NATO defence spending target in the near future.

Von der Leyen welcomed support for NATO voiced by Trump's defence secretary nominee, James Mattis, during his Senate confirmation hearing.

"He's very reliable," she said, adding that the Trump administration still had to resolve some issues internally.

A defence ministry spokesman said the German military's spending on weapons, munitions and other equipment rose by nearly 11 percent in 2016 to 5.1 billion euros and would increase even more sharply to 6 billion euros this year.
Bolivia environment minister resigns amid historic drought

LA PAZ, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Bolivian Environment and Water Minister Alexandra Moreira resigned on Wednesday before she was scheduled to testify in front of the country's legislative assembly about shortages of potable water amid the worst drought in 25 years.

Moreira, an ally of socialist President Evo Morales, has been harshly criticized for her handling of the water crisis by civil society groups, the opposition, and even ruling party lawmakers.

She had been expected to testify about a water rationing program that has been in place in hundreds of La Paz neighborhoods since November. The opposition called her resignation a "political game," claiming that she stepped down to avoid being censured by the legislative assembly.

The South American country declared a state of emergency due to the drought in November, after residents of El Alto, near La Paz, briefly held authorities with a local water-distribution company hostage to demand the government explain its plans to mitigate the shortage.
Outgoing U.S. envoy says U.N. needs to 'push' Iran on arms embargo

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council needs to push Iran to abide by an arms embargo, outgoing U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said on Wednesday amid U.N. concerns that Tehran has supplied weapons and missiles to Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah.

Most U.N. sanctions were lifted a year ago under a deal Iran made with Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia, the United States and the European Union to curb its nuclear program. But Iran is still subject to an arms embargo and other restrictions, which are not technically part of the nuclear agreement.

In her last appearance at a public Security Council meeting before U.S. President Barack Obama's administration steps aside on Friday, Power said that recognizing "progress on Iran's nuclear issues should not distract this council from Iran's other actions that continue to destabilize the Middle East."

Under a Security Council resolution enshrining the 2015 deal, the U.N. secretary-general is required to report every six months on any violations of sanctions still in place.

U.N. political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman briefed the 15-member council on the second U.N. report and said there had been no reports of nuclear-related or ballistic missile-related violations of the council resolution.

However, the report expressed concern that Iran may have violated the resolution by supplying arms to Hezbollah. Iran's senior nuclear negotiator said in 2015 that Tehran had no intention of complying with the arms embargo or ballistic missile restrictions.

"We on the council need to come together to push Iran to effectively implement the binding provisions of resolution 2231 - especially restrictions that ban Iran's export of arms and related material," said Power. She did not specify how.

The council could impose further sanctions over breaches of the arms embargo, but Russia and China - which are council veto powers along with the United States, France and Britain - were unlikely to agree to such a move, diplomats said.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to scrap the nuclear agreement or seek a better deal. Trump's nominee to replace Power, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, said it would be better to review the deal rather than withdraw from it.
Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrema in a recent interview with the Sunday Lankadeepa disclosed his views about the Ruhunu Development Zone, the Development Special Provision Bill and other matters:



QAre you satisfied with the performance of the Good Governance Government over the past two years?

Of course I am satisfied with what we have done. When our Government was formed the economy of the country was in a mess with Rs. 9,500 billion foreign debt. We inherited about Rs. 1,200 billion off balance sheet debts from the previous Government as well. Despite these figures we have been able to formulate an economic plan while also paying the installments of these massive loans. The good governance administration established by us is obvious to all.



Q The Opposition has alleged that you were selling national resources under the guise of repaying the massive debt. What is your response?

We will not sell any State resource. Our effort is to bring loss making State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to an economically viable state. The Oppositions criticisms are baseless and we are not traitors. Those who destroyed the countrys economy are the real traitors. As we are not in a financially sound position we have to think of the ways of developing these enterprises to earn profits with foreign investment.



QWere you able to attract foreign investors to the extent expected?

We are still in the process of finalizing the economic plan. They will start investments from this year onwards. We expect between Rs. 5 to 8 billion on the Hambantota investment plan within a couple of years.



QSLFP and UNP Ministers are displaying their difference of opinions and continue to criticize each other. Certain Ministers have even threatened to leave the Government. How can a Government survive in such a situation?

Our main objective is the development of the country. Our sole concern is not victory at the next election.



QTo achieve your goals, stability of the Government is foremost, isnt it?

We do have political stability. The two main parties and several other parties of the Government are working in unison. We will continue to work with unity.



QAre you confident the President is still with you?

Certainly! There are no issues at the top level but some Ministers and Parliamentarians have made various comments to the people of their respective electorates. These comments are made aiming victory at the next elections.



QWhy dont you speak with the President about the views being expressed by Minister Dilan Perera and Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya?

We should not be so concerned about their comments. Our objectives are quite different and development is our concern.



QThe President said he would not contest the Presidential Election for a second term during the 2015 election campaign. However, as reported by the media, the Central Committee of the SLFP has taken a decision about candidacy of the president for the next Presidential Election.

I am not aware of such a decision. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has clarified the matter to the media that such a decision was not made.



QFormer President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that they would topple the Government this year. Isnt there any weight in this prediction?

All are free to enjoy their dreams.



QWhat is your response to charges levelled by the Joint Opposition that thugs sent from Colombo attacked protesters in Hambantota?

That is wrong. We did not take any thugs with us. People from every part of the country visited to attend the programme. It was the members of the Joint Opposition who rushed to the venue and created chaos.



QThe Government has decided to develop the Hambantota Port as a China- Sri Lanka Joint Venture. How would this project proceed?

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said they had spent $1.3 billion to construct this Port. However, when we inquired about their valuation of the Port, the China Harbour Engineering Company, which constructed the Port, said that the cost was only 1 billion US Dollars. Although they received US$ 1.3 billion the real value of the port is $1.1 billion.



QDid the China Harbour Company demand 80 per cent ownership of the Port?

A. That is a different story. If we consider the relevant point, this company had offered a price which was less than the cost of construction. It was Parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa who wanted us to give the harbour to this company. The other point is that the China Harbour Company has no previous experience in managing operations of a harbour.



But the other Company - China Merchants offered a price of $1.4 billion to the Hambantota Harbour. That is why we entrusted the harbour activities to this company, which manages Port activities in 28 harbours in the world.



QConsidering only the price difference, is it reasonable to give 80 per cent ownership of the port?

The company will have to invest to US$ 500 million more in addition to the $1.4 payment for the Port. (The 80 percent of shares if it is to be profitable for them).



QWhat was the percentage of shares quoted by the other bidder- the China Harbour?

Their demand was for 65 percent.



QWhy didnt you accept that condition?

We are already straddled with debt. How can we afford to pay for the balance thirty five per cent? If a profit can be earned, there would have been no need to give the port to anyone. We first have to earn what we have already invested.



QIs it true that the Minister of Ports and the Director Board of the Ports Authority (SLPA) were in disagreement over the decision to offer operational activities to the China Merchants Group?

Minister Arjuna was not against the decision. We had discussions with him. He also wants it to be more profitable.



QAre you also of the view that the Port problems were aggravated due to the differences of opinions openly expressed by several Ministers in the Government?

That may be due to inadequate knowledge some have on this issue.



QWhat you mean is Ministers in the Government are not aware of the Governments activities?

It may be. At the same time we have accepted our fault of failing to communicate the matter properly.



QThere is also a problem about the lease period of the harbour. Is it true that China Harbour Company wanted it only on the conditions of a 50 year lease period?

It is entirely wrong. They have not mentioned about a lease period.



QDidnt the company impose conditions over a lease period during discussions with the present government?

No such conditions were laid.



QThen, why did you agree for a 99-year lease period with the China Merchants?

Because they agreed to give a higher value for the Port. We also took into account the experience the company has in handling port operations. Based on these factors we decided to agree with their conditions.



QIn the preliminary agreement signed with company is there a clause to extend the lease period for a further 99 years?

This is absolutely wrong. The Joint Opposition is responsible for the spread of such rumours and false information. The final agreement is still in negotiation.



QWhat favourable factors will be included in the final agreement?

We will review the lease, and also the income generated from services provided by the harbour. 20 percent of the profit of harbour operations will also be ours. The establishment of factories in the area will also provide employment opportunities for the youth. Foreign exchange can be earned. In short this area will be developed like Colombo within the next 10 to 15 years.



QIn a statement Mahinda Rajapaksa has criticised the government for seeking 15,000 acres of land without utilizing the 2,000 acres in the vicinity of the harbour for development activities.

Just because he had planned for such zone with wider roads and other facilities they could not attract the investors. We cant afford to leave the Port in such a loss incurring state. That was why we took this decision.



QWhat assurance can you provide that foreign investors would invest in the new trade zone?

We are already holding negotiations to establish an oil refinery, two cement factories and similar investments.



QThere seems to be disputes emerging with regard to the land required for these industries. What remedies will the government resort to?

Initially we said the entire area of 15,000 acres would not be from Hambantota alone. Only 4,000 to 5,000 acres of State owned land in Hambantota would be used.

Private land utilised for the project is under 5 percent. We will only acquire this land after negotiating with the owners.



QThere have been numerous criticisms over the utilisation of 15,000 acres of land.

This shows the expertise of the government in attracting big investors. Why should we oppose such opportunities? We can get lands even from Moneragala and Matara. Lands will be acquired at several phases except for religious sites such as temples and places of historical importance. During the last government about 3,000 families have been evicted even without paying compensation. We have allocated Rs. 2 billion to pay compensation for these people. With this project we will have to evacuate residents of about 300 houses. But we will only proceed with their consent in exchange of compensation or alternate houses.



QThe Joint Opposition also has also charged that one terminal of the Colombo harbour will be operated by an Indian company?

There is no such request. There have only been enquiries about the possibility of them engaging in operational activities of the East terminal of the Colombo Port.



QAnother controversial issue raised over the past few days was the Development Special Provision Bill which would supposedly give you super - ministerial power.

There will be no Super Ministers. My name is not linked to the matter and I do not want to be a Super Minister.



QIs there any possibility of an institute under your Ministry being empowered with such authority?

When investors come to our country they have to go to various places for documentation work and other formalities. But in countries like Singapore and Thailand all such requirements are attended to at a single place. What we are trying to do is provide the investors with their requirements at one place.



QHowever this bill had been defeated at the Provincial Councils. They expressed their views on the adverse effects of this bill on PCs.

The matter has no relevance to the PCs. When there is a necessity to acquire lands it will be done with the consent of these institutes.



QThere have been allegations that the economic affairs of the country are being carried out on the decisions taken by a Royal College Team comprising Paskaralingam, Charitha Ratwatte, Malik Samarasinghe and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. What is your response?

As far as I Know Paskaralingam studied in Jaffna and not at Royal College. Charitha Ratwatte has no involvement in these activities whatsoever. All these affairs are taken care of by the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs under the purview of the Prime Minister. But the decisions are not made by the Prime Minister alone. All the matters are first considered at the Economic Management Committee and then submitted to the Cabinet. Changes are possible only on new thinking.
The Galle Police launched an investigation into the death of a 48-year-old Croatian national who had died when he attempted to board another ship in the seas off Galle last night.

Police spokesman DIG Priyantha Jayakody said the operation officer of a shipping line had informed the Galle Police that the Croatian national had fallen to the sea when he was trying to board the ship sent from the Galle harbour.

According to the information received by the police the deceased was one of the three security personnel who was aboard the Chennowa, which was traveling from Egypt to Singapore.

The ship sent from the Galle harbour at 9.45 p.m was sent to bring the three security personnel to the Galle harbour.

The body of the deceased was kept on board the ship, Police said.(Darshana Sanjeewa)
In response to requests made by several Universities in the country, the Biodiversity Cultural and National Heritage Protection Branch of the Sri Lanka Customs today donated forfeited sea shells, corals, preserved butterfly frames and other biodiversity articles at the Customs Headquarters in Colombo. The raided biodiversity articles were handed over to the Colombo and Uva Wellassa Universities. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja
(c) 2017, The Washington Post

by Heba Mahfouz, Kareem Fahim

CAIRO - A top Egyptian court on Monday overruled a government plan to transfer sovereignty of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, dealing an embarrassing and unexpected setback to President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and his attempts to reward financial benefactors in the Persian Gulf region.

The verdict, by Egypts Supreme Administrative Court, rejected a government appeal of an earlier court ruling and was final, said Khaled Ali, one of the lawyers who challenged the transfer.



The plan to hand over the uninhabited islands had sparked unusually large protests in Egypt, shocking officials and defying a ban on demonstrations. Many Egyptians saw the possible loss of territory as overreach by an unaccountable government as well as an intolerable attack on identity, with the islands representing, for some, the countrys steady loss of independence and regional clout.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations have propped up Egypts faltering economy with billions of dollars in aid since 2013, when the military, led by Sissi, ousted President Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist leader from the Muslim Brotherhood and the countrys first democratically elected leader.

During a visit to Egypt by King Salman of Saudi Arabia in April 2016, the government announced it was transferring the two islands, which sit at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba and are called Tiran and Sanafir. Officials said that the islands belong to Saudi Arabia and that Egypt had taken control of them in the 1950s, out of concern Israel would seize them.



The backlash was immediate, with Egyptians criticizing the decision and mocking the government on social media. The fury of the reaction, which included one of the largest demonstrations in years, suggested that the nationalism Sissis government had stoked for several years to shore up its own legitimacy had suddenly backfired: For many, the giveaway of the islands was a red line, whether they belonged to Egypt or not.



The judges of the administrative court ruled Monday that Egypts sovereignty over the islands was irrevocable. Celebrations broke out in the courtroom when the verdict was read, and outside the court, protesters chanted against Sissi, according to the Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif, who attended the hearing and posted updates on Twitter.



The chants are: bread freedom social justice, she wrote, and down down with military rule.

The future of the proposal remains uncertain. Egypts parliament has been debating the transfer of the islands, and the government, separately, has challenged the jurisdiction of the administrative court to rule on the matter. Also left unresolved is the fate of dozens of protesters who were arrested during demonstrations against the transfer of the islands and are facing criminal charges.
On January 9, in a dimly-lit court room of the Badulla High Court, five police officers and a civil defence officer were sentenced to death over the murder of 17-year-old Sandun Malinga from Megahakiula and assault of four others.



Sandun Malinga, a cheerful and optimistic boy, never hesitated to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Before his tragic end, he had staged a play in the village temple along with his friends. He had big plans for the play in the year to come but he did not live to witness that day dawn.



On May 7, 2014, Sandun was on his way to purchase a trishaw with his brother and three relatives when the foursome were arrested by the Kandaketiya Police. At the police station, they had been tortured severely by a group of drunken policemen and Sandun sustained internal injuries.



The next day, when his parents visited him, Sandun had told them that he was beaten and was not feeling well. Unfortunately, the parents pleas to hospitalise Sandun fell on deaf ears. When Sandun was produced before the magistrate, the lawyer appearing on his behalf informed the magistrate that he had been tortured. His father said he overheard Sandun complain about his plight. However, the complaint was ignored and he was not hospitalised. Instead, he was imprisoned till May 21. At the magistrates chamber, it was disclosed that he had been charged with treasure hunting. However, a statement released later by the Archaeological Department stated that there was no archaeological importance in the area and there had not been any illegal mining.



Prison authorities had promised to direct Sandun to the hospital. However, Sandun had not received any medical treatment till May 9 when he succumbed to his injuries. He had died in the arms of his older brother who had been arrested alongside him in the Badulla prison.



The autopsy carried out by the Judicial Medical Officer of the Badulla Hospital revealed that Sandun had been tortured. His internal organs had been injured as a result of the beating he had to endure.



Negligence

Philip Dissanayake, the Executive Secretary of Right to Life, a human rights organisation which played a pivotal role in pursuing justice for Sandun, said Sanduns death could have been prevented if the District Medical Officer (DMO), magistrate or prison officials had fulfilled their duties.

If he had been hospitalised within the 48 hours leading to his death, he could have been saved and the policemen would not have been sentenced to death. This shows the shortcomings in the mechanism in executing the law, he said addressing a press conference.



A DMO should submit a report after inspecting the suspect. But the DMO of the Kandaketiya Hospital had asked for the name and address of Sanduns brother, but had not inquired anything from the other suspects. Hence, he has not fulfilled his job, he added.



Right to Life has written to the Medical Council on the role played by the DMO over the death of the youth. However, Mr. Dissanayake charged that there was no investigation conducted.



We wrote to the IGP, the police commission, prisons commissioner and the prison reforms minister at the time to take action against the officer in-charge and other police officers attached to the Kandaketiya police station, he noted.



In 2011, the UN committee against torture recommended that all suspects directed to the magistrate should be questioned as to whether they had been tortured. The government has promised to execute this proposal. But this magistrate did not act according to it, he said.



Accordingly, a letter was sent to the Judicial Service Commission over the non-fulfilment of duty by the magistrate. But Dissanayake charged that there had not been an investigation yet.



Justice Delivered Forthwith

The verdict sentencing R.M.P. Somarathna (SI), D. M. Aberathna (PC), D. P. P. Gamage (PC), L. C. G. Silva (PC), S. M. Pushpa Kumara (PC), D. M. Wijerathna (Police Assistant) and S. M. Jayasundara (Civil Defence Force) was delivered on January 9.



Though we cannot retrieve Sanduns life, we were able to achieve justice. This verdict could be perceived as a positive sign of the supremacy of law and justice, said Dissanayake.



Laws delay is prominent when it comes to criminal cases and usually they drag on for 10 years or more. Sarath Nanda Silva, the former Chief Justice, prior to leaving office said 94% of cases filed under criminal charges were dismissed as they couldnt be taken forward or because defendants were released. Against such a backdrop, this verdict given within two and a half years looks promising, he said.



Writ Mandamus filed

Mr. Dissanayake pointed out that the Attorney General (AG) should have filed a case under the Torture Act No. 22 of 1994 as Sandun died as a result of being tortured. Therefore, he said that for the first time his organisation attempted to file a writ of Mandamus against the AG.



When a government official has not fulfilled his duty, we are able to file a writ of Mandamus. The case was accepted but finally the Court of Appeal informed us that since a criminal case had been filed, there was a difficulty in permitting it, he said.



He added that though the Torture Act was ratified in 1994, cases were filed under the act only during the early part of the 21st century. However, he said it seemed as if there were no cases filed against this Act after 2006. Hence, he added that their effort was mainly to file cases under the Torture Act where such incidents occurred.



Substantiating his claim that the change in government had brought about reforms, he cited the independent commissions, National Police Commission and the Human Rights Commission established through the 19th Amendment.



There has been a relative decrease in the influence made on the Judiciary and the police. We believe this verdict is a result of these changes, he added.



Justice Served Rightly

Amidst tears, Kanda Udagedara Mallika, the mother of Sandun, said though she had lost her son forever, she was saddened to hear the six police personnel being sentenced to death.

Family members of the six cops were present that day and they wailed when the verdict was read out. There were around 30 family members including small children. Though my son was killed, I am heartbroken because six families will become destitute. Now, the culprits must be regretting their actions, she said.



Expressing gratitude to Right to Life for joining them in the bi-monthly case hearings, she also thanked the OIC and other police officers attached to the Badulla Police for supporting them and not siding with the perpetrators.



My son pointed out three cops who had severely tortured him. We expected punishment for those three police officers and we thought the other three would escape taking advantage of a loophole. But justice was served rightly and they were all condemned to death,

she said.



Sandun had been the strength of their family and helped them in all household chores.

He sold vegetables and spices with me at the Meegahakiula market, the still grieving mother said.

Meanwhile, Gamini Priyantha, the father of Sandun, told Daily Mirror that he received death threats from Police Assistant D.M. Wijeratne. Fearing for their safety, they have moved to Galle. Recollecting fond memories of his son, he said he was economical and did not waste a cent.



Police Torture

As Nandana Weeraratne, the producer of the short documentary portraying the plight of Sandun Malinga commented, Sandun is neither the first nor the last to die in a prison as a result of police torture. Sanduns story remains a powerful testimony to the plight of countless victims who underwent injustice at the hands of the powerful, negligent and irresponsible.
The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today urged Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne to intervene in the implementation of the directives on annual transfers of government doctors.

GMOA Media Spokesman Dr. Samantha Ananda told a news conference that a certain director who had been removed from the transfer board was sabotaging the annual transfers of government doctors.

The Health Minister had removed this individual from the transfer board some time ago. But as a result of his continuous intervention to this process, all annual transfers have being delayed for a long period of time, Dr. Ananda said, adding that it was however questionable as to how this individual could act against the recommendations of the Health Minister.

An inquiry is ongoing regarding this director over several issues. The annual transfers for government doctors have been continually disrupted since 2012 due to an administrative lapse. All government medical officers attached to the Health Ministry are subjected to the transfer system, he said.

Dr. Ananda added that the GMOA would be forced to resort to trade union action if the authorities failed to resolve these serious concerns. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)
The Government has decided to terminate the agreement with the American Embassy and take over the block of land which was leased out to the embassy to set up a Voice of America (VOA) transmission station.

The American Embassy has informed the Sri Lankan Government that it wished to hand over the land and the other assets before the expiration of the lease agreement.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, had submitted a Cabinet proposal to take over the block of land and the assets by terminating the agreement.

The proposal was approved by the Cabinet yesterday.

Some 166 hectares, at Iranawila in Puttalam, was leased out to the American Embassy in 1991 to set up a VOA transmission station.
Fouzul Hameed - Managing Director Hameedia Group

On the first day of 2017, Sri Lankas leading menswear specialist, Hameedia, embarked on the new year by gathering at the factory premises to focus on their personal and professional goals for the year. The dawn of the New Year was distinguished by the Group Leadership Team who engaged in fellowship with factory staff while reaffirming the goals of the company for the New Year and the strategies and steps that will be taken to achieve these objectives. Fouzul Hameed  Group Managing Director of Hameedia, led the days proceedings, including the unveiling of expectations and targets for staff in the areas of leadership, empowerment, accountability and so on. Key appointments were announced on this occasion, effected to strengthen the Hameedia team and better position it to achieve stated goals for the year.

The Group Leadership Team treated all factory staff to a sumptuous lunch followed by a dynamic session on the companys plans for the year. Later that evening, the Grand Finale, Executive Night 2017, the Annual Achievers Award ceremony to recognize the sales team members who performed well during 2016 was held. At this event, staff members from Manufacturing, and Franchised businesses were rewarded and recognized. A lavish dinner for the staff ended proceedings for the day.

The Hameedia Groups journey is strengthened in 2017 by the appointment of Chinthaka Wanigasekara as the Group General Manger. Prior to his new appointment, Chinthaka was a senior member of the Hameedia team counting over 16 years experience across multiple sectors within the Group. Having joined Hameedia as the Chief Accountant in year 2000, Chinthaka moved on to hold key positions as Finance Manager, Sector Head Manufacturing (Perks Clothing), General Manager HS Marketing (the wholesale arm of Hameedia), Sector Head of HS Clothing which deals with international brand such as Adidas and as General Manager Operations of Hameedia Group prior to his current appointment.

Meanwhile, the Wholesale Division is led by Indika Perera, the current General Manager of HS Marketing. Indika joined Hameedia Group in 2009 as the National Sales Manager of HS Marketing and was promoted as Retail Sales Manager of Hameedia Group in 2011. Indika counts over 20 years in Sales and Marketing across leading corporates in Sri Lanka.

Hameedia is further strengthened by former General Manager Mr Jamshid Sourjah rejoining the company, and who will function as the new Head of Retail Sales. Jamshid brings along over 30 years experience in the Sri Lanka apparel industry and overseas (UAE, HONGKONG & CANADA), covering manufacturing, merchandizing and fashion retail. He has also served on executive committees of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters and NAITA thus bringing in valuable leadership expertise to Hameedia.

Ameer Hamza, former Hameedia member of the leadership team as Senior Manager Marketing and Sales rejoined and is appointed as the new Head of Business Development & Corporate Communications. In addition, he will be responsible for the development of the international market. He will also manage HS Clothing Pvt. Ltd. that represents Adidas franchise in Sri Lanka for over 18 years, and also lead the CSR program. Hamza has over 30 years experience in multiple industries covering in functions related to marketing, product development, operations and management. Of this he counts over 15 years working in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. During this period, Hamza served as the Head of Marketing at Diners Club International in Saudi Arabia.

Further, Group Finance is headed by Suranga Bandara, who counts over 20 years industry experience across leading Banking, Stock brokering, Unit Trusts and Capital Market Regulators. Suranga functioned as the CFO of a leading garment manufacturing company in Bangladesh and Vietnam for a period of over 5 years in his career.

Group Strategic Projects & Corporate Finance will be headed by Rohan Senewiratne who counts over 20 years industry experience in the financial services industry including Banking, Stock brokering, Unit Trusts and regulatory exposure at Colombo Stock Exchange and Securities and Exchange Commission. Rohan is expected to give leadership on new initiatives and development projects under the leadership of Hussain Sadiq - MD Hameedia Investment.

Hameedia is expected to stream ahead in 2017 with these new strategic leadership changes.
Front row from left: Wurth Lanka Sales Executive Gayan Pothupitiya, Wurth Lanka Managing Director Rohan Amirthiah, Wurth Lanka Regional Sales Manager Prasanna Mayadunne, Hyundai Lanka AGM After Sales Sandeep Katapearachchi; back row from left: Prestige Group Director After Sales Volker Arnkens and Hyundai Lanka Director Julian Reuter

Hyundai Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd recently upgraded its repair, maintenance and service workshop with state-of-the-art, customized tool trolleys from Wurth Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, the Sri Lanka subsidiary of Wurth Gmbh, Germany.

Hyundai Lanka is the sole authorised agent for Hyundai vehicles in Sri Lanka and has been in the forefront of providing high-quality repair, maintenance and services to Hyundai customers since its inception regularly investing and upgrading the facilities at its workshop.

The recent upgrade of the workshop tools and equipment with the Wurth tool trolleys is another step and commitment by Hyundai Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd to the Hyundai brand in Sri Lanka. The investment in the state-of-the-art tool trolleys from Wurth will further enhance the level of customer satisfaction currently being enjoyed by Hyundai vehicle owners in Sri Lanka.

The increasing Hyundai population in Sri Lanka demands that the after sales are in top gear and worker productivity is enhanced by investing in the right tools and equipment. We want to ensure that each and every Hyundai vehicle that comes to our workshop is treated in the right way and with respect by using the right tool for the right job by the highly trained and professional technicians.

Investment in state-of-the-art tools and equipment from Wurth helps us to achieve our aspirations, said Hyundai Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd General Manager Hyundai After Sales Sandeep Katipearachchi.

We have been investing in tools and equipment from Wurth since our inception. When we opened our after-sales services and repair workshop 18 years ago, we evaluated and selected top-quality tools and equipment supplier and service provider Wurth Lanka to supply the equipment and tools we required to support our expanding customer base.

It is important to have strong partners when you are dealing with top world-renowned brands such as Hyundai for reliability and trust. The order for the first set of tools and equipment was placed with Wurth and we are happy with their supplies and support so far, said Hyundai Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd Director After Sales Volker Arnkens.

We are delighted that one of the leading vehicle repair, maintenance and servicing workshops representing a prestigious global brand  Hyundai  has reaffirmed its satisfaction and commitment to Wurth equipment and tools.

As the leading supplier of innovative tools and equipment for engineering workshops and repair centres of this nature, we are committed to provide customized solutions based on our customers unique needs, said Wurth Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd Regional Sales Manager Prasanna Mayadunne.

Since its inception on June 1, 1999, Hyundai Lanka is committed to further expand and support islandwide customers, promising to be the best after-sales service team in Sri Lanka.
The Joint Opposition yesterday lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission and the CID against Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim, management of the SriLankan Airline and Prime Minister's Advisor Charitha Ratwatte.

In its complaint, the JO alleged that the government had incurred a loss of Rs. 150 billion when cancelling an order to purchase three Airbuses for SriLankan Airlines from the AerCap Company.

Minister Hashim, SriLankan Airline Chairman, its CEO and members of the Director Board are responsible for this colossal loss. Prime Minister's Advisor Charitha Ratwatte is responsible for aiding and abetting in this fraud. It was reported that a government bigwig had obtained a commission of US$ 10 million by cancelling the Airbus deal, MP Kanaka Herath, who lodged the complaint, said.

He said the new government cancelled the order made by the previous government to purchase three Airbuses in an attempt to restructure the national carrier. The cancellation had resulted in the AerCap asking for a compensation of US$104 million from Sri Lanka since the aircraft had already been made.

The subject ministry was in discussions with the said company to sell the ordered aircraft to another airline service so that we dont have to pay any compensation. Despite these attempts, the SriLankan management had entered into an agreement with the company to pay Rs. 150 billion as compensation based on an email by Charitha Ratwatte. This agreement had been signed without any approval from the ministry, Cabinet or the Attorney General, MP Herath said.

He said President Maithripala Sirisena had issued an order saying any decision on paying compensation to the AerCap should be taken by the subject ministry. SriLankan has disregarded Presidents orders, he said.

The MPs of the JO requested the Bribery Commission and the CID to take action against those who are responsible for the grave loss. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

Pic by Damith Wickramasinghe
By Yohan Perera

Sri Lanka will finalize trade agreements with India, China and Singapore by June this year, the Sri Lankan delegation attending the World Economic Forum said yesterday.

This was revealed by the Sri Lankan delegation led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during a media briefing in Davos, Switzerland.

We hope to complete the negotiations with India, China and Singapore by June this year, Development Policies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama specifically told the briefing.

We expect existing investors to expand their investments and expect new investors as well, he added while highlighting that the government is banking on the Sri Lankan diaspora to step in for investments.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe who elaborated on the trade agreements that are being lined up said, Sri Lanka will be going in for separate trade agreements with five Southern Indian states, including Tamil Nadu.

In addition he said, Sri Lanka would be looking at entering into a trade agreement with the ASEAN rather than going for separate trade pacts with the member states of the region.

We will also have trade ties with Japan, he added.

Announcing further plans to lure the much needed foreign investments into the country, Wickremesinghe said the government will come up with a tax incentive programme for investors.

Minister Samarawickrama, who elaborated on the progress the country has made in infrastructure development said, the Southern Expressway extension up to Hambantota and the Central Expressway up to Kandy will be completed within next two and a half years.

Finance Minsiter Ravi Karunanayake said the Sri Lankan economy cannot depend on a 23 million population and therefore should venture into foreign markets.

The perilous economy which we inherited from the previous regime had been brought somewhat under control, he stated.

Digital Infrastructure Development Minister Harin Fernando said the government would introduce an overall digital payment platform this year while focusing on digital technology education and developing other digital infrastructure facilities.

SL-Thai FTA study to conclude by August

Thailand will complete a feasibility study on a future Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka by this August, a communique from the Sri Lankan Industry and Commerce Ministry said yesterday.

On Sri Lankan Ministers inquiry on the proposed FTA, the Thai side mentioned that they will be completing the feasibility study by August this year, it said.

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen during his visit to Thailand last week, held meetings with his Thai counterpart, Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn. There was no mention of whether Sri Lanka is conducting a feasibility study on a FTA as well.

Sri Lanka is currently conducting FTA negotiations with China and Singapore, and a deeper trade pact with India. In addition to Thailand, the government has mentioned its interest in signing FTAs with Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Turkey, the US and the UK. FTAs are already in operation with India and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Bathiudeen has requested technical assistance from Thailand in the areas of gem and jewellery, food processing, agriculture, electronics and automobile components, the Ministry said. It added that he had also requested 2-3 Thai dry fruit manufacturing companies to invest in Sri Lanka, and requested cooperation in OTOP (One Tambon, One Product) local entrepreneurship programme that is present in Thailand.

The Thai Commerce Minister mentioned that the Thai government will continue the support for jewellery designing in future also adding that she will check with the Ministry of Interior for the possibility of cooperation in OTOP projects and also provide support to identify companies to invest in dried fruit areas in Sri Lanka, it said.

Regarding the agricultural cooperation between the two countries, she (Tantraporn) agreed to seek the assistance of TICA (Thai International Cooperation Agency) to bring agriculture experts to Sri Lanka, the ministry statement added. Thailand exports sprats, rice, canned fish, green gram, sago seeds, shoes and vehicle parts to Sri Lanka. Bathiudeen said that Ceylon Tea could be exported to Thailand.

He had also met with Thai sugar giant Mitr Phol Sugar Corp Ltd to inquire about its capacity to import sugar to Sri Lanka, since sugar importers have halted imports from Brazil due to concerns of cocaine being trafficked under the guise of sugar imports.
The Maldives International Education and Career Expo will be held on three consecutive days on the 30th, 31st of March and 1st of April in Male.

The event is the only exhibition focused for the education sector in Maldives and will be patronized by keen students who have clear intentions on furthering their education in Sri Lanka or overseas.

A highlight at this edition will be the offering of over 50 scholarships for students to study overseas. Scholarships ranging from 50 percent to full free scholarships will be offered by the participating institutes and organizers.

Maldives International Education & Career Expo 2017 is seen as a central platform by students to pursue their education. There will be over 50 exhibition stalls displaying and informing the general public of various courses, student programs, higher education options and job opportunities.

The exhibition is jointly organized by Maldives Exhibition and Conference Services together with Asaree Services of Maldives. Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services will be strategically involved with its Maldivian partners. This joint venture will enhance the image of the exhibition to be a must attend event for all.

The event is the best opportunity for students who are looking for immediate opportunities to further their education.

The three-day education fair is set to feature specific pavilions for visiting universities and will include special sessions focused on students and their career decisions with the participation of a host of top professionals.
A 34-year-old man who was on his way back from the Homagama Magistrates Court was shot dead at Pitipana in Homagama this morning by an unidentified gunmen arrived in a motorbike.

Police said the victim, Chaminda Perera alias Chana, was shot dead at the Station Road in Pitipana while he was traveling in a three-wheeler.

The victim, a resident of Meegoda, succumbed to gunshot injuries upon admission to the hospital. (Muditha Dayananda)

Video by Buddhika Kumarasiri
All indications are that the Hambantota Industrial Zone (HIZ) project has run into serious trouble with the JO dead set to upset the apple cart.



However, the second in command in yahapalanaya who has set his heart on this project appears determined to go ahead with it come hell or high water. Having got around the elder sibling  the former Diyawanna chair to support the project, the other day he took the soft-spoken elderly politico along with him on a visit to all Buddhist temples in Ruhuna in a bid to win over the Maha Sangha.

The militants in the JO camp had gone into a flutter on hearing about the elder siblings new tie-up with the second in command and had complained about the new development to their mentor, the former strongman: Sir, when they are battering us, he is getting pally with them



However, the former strongman had expressed his reluctance to intervene in the matter out of his respect of the elder sibling.



Nevertheless, the JO militants had kept mounting pressure on the former strongman who had finally pacified them by sending a message to his elder sibling, they say.
So, almost 70 years on since our independence we are now discussing the need to return sovereign power back to the grassroots, thus it has taken us all this time to realize that bit-by-bit, the power to govern ourselves has been carefully and continuously removed from us; notwithstanding Article 3 of the constitution that proclaims that sovereignty of this republic lies in us, its people and is inalienable.



Proposed constitutional reforms  grama raajya

If one were to carefully peruse the constitutional amendments proposed following the committee deliberations (we are reliably informed that the document itself is being carefully crafted beyond closed doors), it casts a critical overview on the present system of power sharing to the periphery; finding fault with the present divisional secretariat, district functions, even some concurrent list subject allocations and restrictions on raising finance in the provinces as reasons for its failure of purpose.

They advocate the recognition of local authorities as a third-tier of government and furthermore the establishment of a grama raajya as an independent body at community level to advise and navigate the activities of these local authorities  very good!



Nothing new  Democracy began in this manner

A student of this science (of politics) will argue that what the pundits have realized now is nothing new to the discipline; if one looks at the nation-state concepts of ancient Greece, widely accepted as the birthplace of modern-day democratic models, those citizens met together and exercised their legislative, executive and even judicial functions in a manner agreed by them, hence, the term direct democracy.

Over the effluxion of time and what we call evolution of man, we have moved to a representative democratic model, from that underdeveloped state (that we are supposed to have been in then) to this sophisticated age of modern living (that we are credited to having achieved now).

We have slowly but surely alienated that direct authority we had over decisions that affect our lives (or governance), mostly for reasons of capital-driven economic and time convenience, delegating more and more of that authority on institutions to do the job for us, paying for their subsistence with our taxed monies.

Those institutions or rather the crooks that we have elected into them have quickly realized that other than the occasional comments on Facebook that the majority of us will post, that too only if we are really frustrated with the government over something affecting us personally and except for a handful of civil-conscious fellows, who are constantly shouting (insignificant in number to make any real impact, except perhaps at a time of elections), they have a free hand to carry on as they desire with their merry governing and globetrotting, all at our taxed expense and no one really seems to care!

So, if we assume that this is what has prompted the select few, who have apparently been handed over the task of drafting our supreme law (to govern all of us) avoiding public debate or consensus for some silly reason, to recommend that democracy must be returned to the people at the grassroots; it is an admission that the system has failed by removing those powers from us  very good, again!



Global trend  Peoples participation in governance

The grama raajya model or empowering the people at the lowest level of political interaction is also nothing new to Asia, if you consider Gandhis concept of democratic decentralization in our very own big-brotherly neighbour, which stemmed from the passionate belief in non-violence, truth and individual freedom of this great-small-man, the father of modern India.

He advocated the Panchayati Raj (or village Swaraj) as a little village-republic, self-sufficient in its vital wants, non-hierarchically linked with the more politically advanced institutions but enjoying maximum freedom of deciding their own affairs.

The concept was for political power to be distributed amongst these villages, hence the term Swaraj or what Gandhiji described as true democracy based on individual freedom, which he postulated could only be achieved in autonomous, self-reliant communities with the fullest participation by its people.

We could perhaps look at our own home-grown model by accommodating local authorities driven by such Gram Raj concepts at the centre, which will certainly boost our national development. Perhaps an electoral system that will return the head/chairman of such a local unit ex officio to the central legislature will alleviate the acute need to have real people participation in the day-to-day running of affairs.

This will also remove that political party cancer that we have, to divide ourselves into colours and fight during any election only for the party hierarchy to get their family and friends into public office at our cost. We could perhaps accommodate a Bicameral Legislature with an equal number of representatives returned from the regions, thus making a meaningful Upper House similar to the German Bunderstrat, which may then also pave the way for a limited cabinet to be inclusive of the concerns of all our regions or provinces (regions and ethnicities) in central decision-making.



Do we not need to change system?

The present regime appears to have accepted that the present system is not working. That is why they are looking at models of returning the power to the people.

WHEN will we realize that our present system only returns a majority of clowns as our representatives, who thereafter behave as if the peoples wishes are the furthest of their considerations? WHY do we not mobilise ourselves as a people in whom this republic has vested its absolute sovereign power and start acting in the role of masters of that authority?

HOW do we stop our servants, to whom we have delegated our power abusing their office? WHERE do we draw the line and say enough is enough or do we go on like this without changing the system and at the next election as well, pick another bunch of cronies and permit them to carry on for a further term, enjoying and partying the spoils of our taxed rupees with their royal jet-sets and families?

Power to the People!

(Chrishmal Warnasuriya has BA (Colombo), P Dip. (Hons), LLM (Hons) (London))
What does Patali know about politics that Harini doesnt know?

Sri Lanka is going through great pains to get its economy in order after the
Sri Lanka is slated to play a significant role in integrating trade in the Asian region through a number of trade ties which are to be signed, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

He made this remark at a media briefing held in line with the World Economic Forum in Davos last evening.

Sri Lanka will tie up with nations such as India, Bangladesh and Vietnam, and thereby bring the Indian Ocean states together and then go in for trade ties with Japan and whole of ASEAN and thus play a role in integrating trade in Asia, he said.

Mr. Wickremesinghe elaborating on the trade agreements which are being lined up said Sri Lanka will go in for separate trade arrangements with five Southern states in India, including Tamil Nadu. Sri Lanka will also go in for a trade pact with Bangaladesh, Vietnam and other Indian Ocean states, he said, In addition he said Sri Lanka would be looking at going in for a trade agreement with ASEAN rather than separate trade pacts with its member states. We will also have trade ties with Japan, he said.

He said the government would come up with a tax incentive plan in March this year.

We hope to complete the negotiations with India, China and Singapore by June this year, said Minister of Development Policies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama at the briefing.

We expect the existing investors to expand their investments and expect new investors as well, he added. He said the government also expected the Sri Lankan Diaspora to invest.

Mr. Samarawickrama describing the progress made in infrastructure facilities development, said The Southern Highway extension up to Hambantota and the Central Expressway would be commissioned within the next two and a half years.

Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake said Sri Lanka cannot depend on a 23 million population but should venture into the foreign markets. The perilous economy which we inherited from the previous regime has been brought somewhat under control, he said.

Minister of Digital Infrastructure Development Harin Fernando said the government would be stepping into an endeavour to introduce an overall digital payment platform this year, while focusing on digital technology education and developing other digital infrastructural facilities. (Yohan Perera)

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana
A Sri Lankan labor delegation has agreed to follow Saudi Arabias Musaned online recruitment system following a meeting with senior officials.

A four-member Sri Lankan team headed by G.S. Withanage, secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Employment, met with Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development Ziyad AI-Sayegh at the headquarters of the Labor Ministry in Riyadh.

Speaking to Arab News after the bilateral discussions, Sri Lankan Ambassador Azmi Thassim said the two parties agreed to follow the Musaned system since it is fast and efficient.

Another advantage of the system arises in the event of labor violations by either employer or employee, the envoy said.
By Robbie Gramer

(c) 2016, Foreign Policy  

One might have thought that 2016 closed the door on the terrible Zika virus. But just weeks into a new year, Zika has reared its ugly head - this time in southwest Africa.



On Wednesday, Angola announced its first two cases of the virus. Its doubly bad news for a country that is still recovering from both a cholera and a yellow fever epidemic that has killed hundreds. The two cases may not yet be cause for concern, but theyre an ominous reminder of how ripe the region could be for a widespread Zika outbreak.



Up until two months ago, we didnt have any detected case, but, now, we have two cases of Zika, Health Minister Jose Luis Gomes Sambo said on Wednesday. We have to take preventable measures, especially in the anti-vectorial fight against the mosquitoes, he added.



One case was reportedly a French citizen on travel, while the other is a 14 year-old in the Angolan capital Luanda, World Health Organization (WHO) regional emergency director Soce Fall told Foreign Policy.



Even though its just two cases, health officials arent taking any chances. Fall said the WHO is working closely with Angolas government to monitor the patient and investigate any new suspected Zika cases. After West Africas Ebola outbreak in 2014, international health experts are on edge. We didnt wait to react, Fall said.



And for good reason. Luanda, with a dense population and poor infrastructure, is a ripe breeding ground for disease outbreaks, said New Americas Donna Patterson.



From there, the virus could spread like wildfire if uncontained.



This [Zika] strain seems to be much more virulent than ones weve seen in the past, Patterson told FP. And if it turns from two cases to 20 or more rapidly, we know we have real cause for concern for Angola.



A study in September 2016 found that over 2 billion people in Asia and Africa could be at risk of contracting the Zika virus in Asia and Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. Many countries in the region have weak health systems, including Angola, Fall said. That makes it hard for developing countries to respond to outbreaks in time.



Angola has already learned that lesson the hard way. On Tuesday, the ministry of health said 106 people have died in a cholera outbreak since December. And a yellow fever epidemic killed 400 three months ago. (The yellow fever outbreak jarred the international community so badly that the WHO led a campaign to vaccinate over 12 million people in Angola and neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo last year).



And disease isnt the only struggle Angolas beleaguered health sector faces. It also has steep funding problems. In March last year, Angola gutted public spending after laggard global oil prices stifled its economic growth (Angola, one of Africas largest petro-states, relies on oil for 95 percent of its government revenue). The spending cuts targeted vital government services like water sanitation, sewage, and health, which likely exacerbated the disease outbreaks.



In September 2016, the WHO declared an end to the global Zika emergency, though emphasized the virus remained a threat.



Before the new Angola cases, 69 countries and territories around the world reported cases of the Zika virus since the outbreak started in 2015, the WHO says, with most reported cases in Central and South America.
Tourist arrivals to Maldives rose by 15.9 percent in November, recording its highest year-on-year (YoY) growth in 2016 to 104, 572 as the arrivals from all major regions picked up from a year ago but the visitors from China, its largest sourcing market continued to falter, the data released by the Maldivian Department of Immigration and Emigration showed.

For the eleven months to November, arrivals to the Indian Ocean archipelago rose by a modest 4.6 percent to 1.17 million. This is in comparison to 2.05 million visitors to Sri Lanka, Maldives closest rival.

Maldives attracted little over a quarter of a million visitors from China but in recent times the numbers have been waning.

In November, Chinese arrivals declined by 4.5 percent YoY to 19, 856 while the eleven months arrivals declined by a sharp 10.2 percent YoY to 308, 077.

In recent times the arrivals to Maldives were adversely impacted by tensed domestic politics, which scared away the visitors, tensions in other source markets and the global economic downturn.

According to sector specialists, a hard Brexit could also weigh on the arrivals from the Britain to Maldives as the sterling hit its 31 year low early this week to an expected announcement by the Prime Minister seeking a clean break from the European Unions single market.

Visitors from Britain rose by 15.3 percent YoY to 8,071 in November and account for 8.0 percent of total arrivals to Maldives.

Nevertheless Sri Lanka is less likely to be affected by a hard Brexit, unless it leads to a deep recession because Sri Lankas facilities are priced much lower to those in the Maldives.

Despite this gloomy outlook, many Sri Lankan hotel operators continued to remain optimistic as both established and new players increased their investments in hotels and resorts in the island, pinning their hopes on high-end segment.

Sri Lankas largest leisure sector operators, John Keells Holdings PLC and Aitken Spence PLC are also the largest resort operators in the Maldives.

Besides them, Hayleys group leisure arm, Amaya Leisure recently bought a 2-year old resort in a 7-acre Maldivian island for US$ 25 million. The Sanken Construction Group opened 4star resort and plans further expansion.

Meanwhile, Galle Face Hotel fame Ceylon Hotel Corporation also entered the Maldives recently with plans to construct a US$ 28 million property with many other newer players entering the archipelago.

In November, 1,295 Sri Lankans visited Maldives, a big jump from 881 a year ago. During the eleven months, 15,889 Sri Lankans visited Maldives, recording a growth of 28.5 percent YoY

Arrivals from India have also picked up by 28.1 percent during the period to 57, 264, accounting for almost 5.0 percent of the inward market.

After North East Asian region led by China, which accounted for one third of the arrivals to Maldives, Western Europe came second with a share of 16.6 percent led by German tourists.

Despite the drop in the mid-level market, the high-end arrivals remain a thrust market for Maldives and the hotel operators are seen looking to leverage this segment.
COLUMBUS  A Columbus woman who awoke her sleeping brother and stabbed him six times last summer was sentenced to 30 months behind bars.

Platte County District Court Judge Robert Steinke sentenced 21-year-old Alicia Martinez to prison for her conviction of attempted second-degree assault in connection with July 11 stabbing of 33-year-old Rogelio Barrios in the bedroom of his Eighth Street residence.

Martinez pleaded no contest to the charge.

The Class 3A felony carried a maximum penalty of three years in prison. A charge of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony was dismissed.

Steinke also sentenced Martinez to 18 months of post-release supervision and gave the city woman credit for 177 days already served in the county jail.

According to court documents, Martinez stabbed her brother six times in the chest, arms and hand. The victim found his sister standing at the side of his bed while holding an 8-inch boning knife.

He reported his mother warned him that his sister said she was going to hurt him.

Columbus Police Investigator Gregory Sealock said the victim reported Martinez dropped the knife and fled the house when another woman entered the bedroom.

The blood-covered boning knife was recovered on the floor of the victims bedroom, Sealock said.

The victim said the knife was brought into the residence by his sister, the investigator wrote in his arrest statement.
By Chris Strohm

(c) 2017, Bloomberg

U.S. law enforcement is focusing on the potential for lone-wolf terrorist attacks during the presidential inauguration and associated events, including the possibility assailants may try to use vehicles to plow into crowds, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said.



We have to be concerned about individual acts of violent extremism and those who self-radicalize, Johnson told reporters Friday at a security center in the suburbs of Washington that will serve as the hub for more than 40 federal, state and local agencies to coordinate their inauguration efforts. Well be on guard for those threats.



To-date, there is no specific or credible threat against the inauguration or related events, which begin on Jan. 19 and run until Jan. 21, Johnson said. The official ceremony in which Donald Trump will be sworn in as president occurs on Jan. 20.



The U.S. presidential inauguration is typically one of the most heavily guarded events in the world, but the openness of the event -- the president-elect and his family often get out of their armored car to walk along Pennsylvania Avenue so supporters can more easily see them -- complicates those efforts.



Johnson said law enforcement is expecting 700,000 to 900,000 people to attend inauguration events while about 100 different organizations are planning demonstrations either for or against Trump, Johnson said. That is about half the 1.8 million estimated to have attended President Barack Obamas first inauguration in 2009.



Trump is aiming even higher. In a tweet in December, he wrote, Well, we all did it, together! I hope the MOVEMENT fans will go to D.C. on Jan 20th for the swearing in. Lets set the all time record!

To ensure security for such crowds, about 28,000 will be people dedicated to security, from agencies including DHS, the FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Park Police and local law enforcement, Johnson said.



The use of trucks as a weapon in terrorist attacks has spiked worldwide, even appearing in an al-Qaida manual. There were 157 such assaults from 1970 through 2015, with almost half taking place since 2014 and many of those in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to the University of Marylands Global Terrorism Database.



A lone-wolf terrorist killed 12 people in Germany in December after plowing his truck into a Christmas market. He was later killed by police in Italy. A similar attack in Nice, France, in July last year killed more than 80 people before the driver was shot.



In response, U.S. security agencies plan to fortify perimeter locations around inauguration events with dump trucks, trucks carrying cement and buses, Johnson said. That is a precaution that we are doubling down on in particular this inauguration, Johnson said.



Johnson said the terrorist environment is very different than it was just three years ago given the recent attacks in Europe. The central focus of inauguration security will be to ensure that official events arent disrupted, such as the procession of the presidential motorcade up to the Capitol and back, Johnson said.



Nearly 65 groups plan to demonstrate on Jan. 20 when Trump gets inaugurated. Anytime you have coming together such large numbers of people -- such large numbers of groups that intend to demonstrate and exercise their First Amendment rights -- weve got to vigilant, weve got to plan and we
Number One in Yahapalanaya held a powwow with the front-liners of the Betel leaf party at his official residence recently.



At the outset, two party stalwarts  a vociferous young top team member from Wayamba and an equally vociferous spokesman from Uva - made a request that they be allowed to make some important revelations. And the Number One immediately gave way to them.



The duo had then begun making serious allegations against two top team members who, they charged were undermining the unity government by resorting to self-seeking nefarious activities.

Asked whom they were driving at, the two stalwarts had named the two top team members they put in the dock and proceeded to describe their charges against them. Of the two top team members who had come under the vociferous duos fire is from the upcountry and the other is from the Colombo district, they say.



After giving an attentive ear to the litany of charges made against the two top team members, Number One had confided in those present the action he proposed to take against the two top team members. As the Betel leaf bigwigs had vowed to guard as a secret what Number One confided in them, they refused to divulge it to us.



As to what action Number One proposes to take against the two top team members facing serious charges  your guess is as good as mine!
Caption is a query raised without consulting an astrologer or a suggestion from a wild buffalo. Voters expect too much in return from a country that is near broke. Politicians make offers beyond their means to gain power. Nation has to beg and borrow to live another day. Whoever is in power from 2017 to election date is the likely loser at the next presidential or general elections.



Any ruler in office is ineffective in a sagging economy unless corruption is slackened and administration tightened. Neither is on mend. Route Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe picked was nullified by minions in the government as seen in the Development (Special Provisions) Bill, shot down by his buddy President Maithripala Sirisena and his provincial marauders. Same fate, thankfully awaits, the controversial Constitutional Amendments that would gather dust on the shelf. Naturally, these are scatterbrain schemes. Unseen saboteur is the President, studies the ground situation rationally, more than Ranil, living a planet away. Knows opposition could coalesce on a sentimental issue that is attractive to the fast expanding middle - income groups that carry voting strength.



Middle-income, middle-class strayed from the government as the economy started tickling them. Tickle turned to a scratch and became a wound that did not answer to any antibiotic. They were the bulwarks of the 2015 elections.



Middle-incomers, after the victory over terrorism led a more comfortable life style (travelling around Sri Lanka in vans on pilgrimages to the hill country, up north, improving home conditions, purchasing mechanized two, three or four wheelers and sending kids to more tuition classes!) acquired wealth after the chapter on terrorism was firmly nailed. They presently live in discomfort with luxuries pruned down.



Billboards on road side advertise expertise from dressing brides to repairing computers to perming hair in their homes in proof of an emerging economic class where the income is tax free, earned without paying rent or incurring transport charges. These homes had more than one income earner and parked more than one vehicle. Roads naturally are clogged with vehicles with the middle-tons on the move.



Public officers in this category, if convinced, the government is frail and vulnerable, as at present, would accelerate the rate of destabilization in search of their advancement.



Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR)s apparent fizz is not self-induced but coincides with the unpopularity of the Ranil-Maithri combine. A coalition between UNP and SLFP cannot function smoothly as they tread different paths with competing MPs having an eye on re-election. Presently, Ranil is trying cheap gimmicks to make the economy tick without luck, as his vintage administrators are an elitist bunch forming the establishment that misled him with their unfriendly policies that undid the UNP between 2001-2004.



Daydreaming of manufacturing a Volkswagen vehicle locally failed miserably, Ranil has not succeeded in attracting a maker of dinky toys to set up a factory, notwithstanding having the best finance minister in the world as determined by a banking magazine.



The economy is the live issue, relegated at the last election to the background, while good governance was made sugary sweet by the NGOs whacky armies; genuine few, in disgust, sought fresh pastures in anguish, regretting their misguided exercise was badly fractured.



Ranil and Maithripala enjoyed an easy ride to office without an Economic Master Plan (J.R. Jayewardenes bags of cereals Ata atta or R. Premadasas dole assured every poor household a bounty of Rs. 2,500 per month) to keep the poor out of despair awaited patiently for the arrival of a miraculous go-dot. An absent Santa makes thefed-up rate grow swifter. Good governance kids unwittingly caused the government to engage in disastrous ad hoc economic policies, on being underprepared.



The former President peaked in popularity with the war victory, became a sitting duck unable to respond to the cry for good governance with rampant corruption marching hand- -in-hand at the elections; voters knew and know the culprits of then and now. Mahindas toadies made him look regal. Being a silly mortal fell into their trap in believing that King can do no Wrong- fiddled like Nero while the country was on the mend, then fell into an insurmountable hole on public debt - the encircling albatross of economic development.



Restrictive phase where general elections are tabooed for 12 months after the previous, was by Constitutional Amendment extended to 54 months; needed a simple majority of one in Parliament to revise the prohibitive period, now requires a 2/3 majority. Silly surplus, as no MP is prepared to shorten his parliamentary lifeline? These are the achievements of the 19th Amendment that could unsettle the present government. Draconian provisions were extended without the 5/6th majority enjoyed by J.R.Jayewardene



Therefore, a general election could be held after February 16, 2020. Yet governments could change hands in persons and parties without the exercise of the franchise - the issue is the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Siripavan evaded answering in the 19th Amendment. Justices are answerable some day, somewhere, since the issue causes havoc. All that is needed is a show of hands in Parliament. The 19th Amendment kills the good work of good governance with one stroke! Mahinda promises an early return to power by this queer process with his old familiar unfriendly faces. New government, if any, will be virtually the same that lost in 2015, back in the saddle knowing well this is their last hurrah, multiplying corruption. Some sail with President Maithripala and continue to hold ministerial appointments. Such are not wanted for a parade before the FCID that has failed to lead any evidence in any court on any corruption charges. Mahinda has to play with these past masters till 2020; many cheated him. Maithripala, champion at pole vault, holds a whip in hand, against possible double crossing-tons with or without sharing a hopper; others will say bye-bye to the FCID, already in toe with the tortoise, would parade different faces; tempting more from the UNP to join the Mahindas bandwagon, to be secure. Has a new insurance policy been designed exclusively for MPs?



Tired Sinhala Buddhist nationalists trek to learn thorny constitutional issues under the tutelage in the home of unblemished Prof. G.L. Piers. Tolerance in Buddhism makes it possible to forget and forgive. Prof. Pieris has artfully won over a hostile constituency. Now dressed as a Sinhala Buddhist zealot is ousting the old guard in the MEP, JNP, SLFP and JHU that stood loyally in difficult days when waltzing Prof. Pieris, with the UNP evolved federal structures with the LTTE and produced a Package for the SLFP in the company of Neelan Thiruchelvam of the TNA. Selling names attracts dodgy funding.



Good Health and Long Life to those seeking a place in the sun in their last days. Sulking dears may surface in round two, poorer with sour faces sadly muddied for life. Sad to say they are purchasable for a sandwich and an outing being long without recognition sought desperately.



Prof. Pieris is a treasured asset for Mahinda, as he is a master of the English language (quality sadly lacking in the joint opposition) supposedly knows the law, is no threat to Mahinda, flexible to vary directions, has space to set up a clubhouse to varied and conflicting causes of persons with excess free time and provide refreshments to all and sundry. Such a combine together with culinary skills cannot match gallons of tea and lumps of jaggery offered by the MEP, JNP or JHU or SLFP patriots as they fall by the wayside against a buying office well funded.



Pieris is Mahindas on/off Anagarika with western flourishes as he doubles as latters principal spokesman in the English-speaking to foreign dignitaries in different tongues. Mahinda wants to enjoy power with his manageable old stock that provides him a free hand.



Mahinda needs 75% of Sinhala Buddhist support, not necessarily as votes, since there is no election - to counter the oncoming economic upheaval responding with the shrill cry of a divided nation to keep him afloat in the south, without a team of any re-known. Minority vote is not his constituency but fortifies the majority vote. People abhor terrorism, learnt lessons at their doorstep. Maithripalas SLFP too needs the Sinhala Buddhist vote to survive. Vote as you desire; dont make Sirisena a foe for he can be a friend to offset Ranils wild desires, with his presidential powers. Think of the nation, my friends, not of politicians that provide a tasty bite.Be your thinking machines and no particle of any politicians Seeya/Archie Armies.



Ranil in his wisdom may craftily manoeuvre a shift to the opposition by having him outvoted in Parliament or more likely dissatisfied parliamentarians may shift loyalties and outvote him in parliament leaving the country in the hands of Mahinda and his merry men to fumble. Reminded of a story of treading angels and rushing fools.



More likely, UNP may return without Ranil or the SLFP without Mahinda, whichever or whoever is out of power, in 2020: reaction to a bored leadership. Generation gap between an aged leadership and youthful constituents is expanding - forced retirements may be a mutual feature.

A timetable to remember -



A) Presidential elections must be held on any date before the 7th of January 2020

B) General Elections must be held between February16 and the August 16, 2020.



The President has to determine the dates of both elections. Both elections cannot be held on the same day, much to Maithripalas disadvantage due to the artificial datelines. Which will he hold first? Will he as promised gracefully retire than be sure defeated as the permanent fixture of hard times and search a corner to sulk?
By Leonid Bershidsky

(c) 2017, Bloomberg View 

What has been billed as the last chance for Greek and Turkish Cypriots to reunite the island nation appears to be tantalizingly within reach -- but it might not get there without a nod from Russia.



Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded to prevent the island from being swallowed up by Greece and set up an unrecognized state in Northern Cyprus. Now, Greece, Turkey and the U.K., which has bases in Cyprus, are the guarantor states of a military status quo. Along with the leaders of the two Cypriot states, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker took part in the talks in Geneva this week. After breaking down on Thursday, the talks are scheduled to pick up next week at a lower level.

Russia offered to attend but it wasnt invited; theres no formal reason for that. Yet there are plenty of informal ones for Moscows interest in the Cyprus process. Though Russia has officially voiced support for a settlement, the final deal -- depending on which way it sways -- could hurt its many interests in the region.



About 40,000 Russians live on the island, which has a population of 800,000. They own real estate and businesses in both the Greek-run and Turkish-run areas. Thanks to its history as an offshore haven for post-Soviet money, tiny Cyprus is officially the biggest source of foreign direct investment in Russia. According to the Russian central bank, in the second quarter of 2016 (the latest for which data are available), it accounted for $2.8 billion in investment, more than twice as much as the next country. They are also a major source of tourist revenue for Cyprus. According to the Cyprus government, 525,000 Russians visited the island in 2015; only Britain provides more tourists.

In short, Cyprus is an important place for Russia and Russians. But reunification would only benefit Moscow under certain conditions.



Russia seeks to weaken and divide the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but a settlement could strengthen it by resolving a longstanding conflict between Greece and Turkey -- members both . It could also mean an end to Russias military foothold in the region, gained in 2015 when Cyprus opened its ports to Russian warships taking part in anti-piracy and anti-terrorist operations. The U.K. has criticized the move. Russia hasnt used the official agreement to help its military action in Syria, but it appears to have used Cyprus ports to smuggle jet fuel to Syria despite an EU ban.



President Vladimir Putin is also seeking to forge an energy partnership with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to sell gas to southern Europe, but reunification threatens to clear the way for a competing one. Big natural gas discoveries in the eastern Mediterranean and a warming of relations between Israel and Turkey made the construction of a pipeline carrying Israeli gas to Turkey a possibility -- though the Greek government of Cyprus has linked the pipeline to reunification.

All of these interests have naturally created suspicions about Russias role in the unification process.



The local press has reported that the Russian ambassador, Stanislav Osadchiy, recently attended an anti-unification political gathering and was applauded by its participants. After that, the Cypriot foreign ministry reportedly demanded an explanation.



A Politico report suggested that Russia may meddle quietly to undermine the deal. It certainly has enough influence on the island and enough contacts with Cypriot officials and politicians to do that. More likely, however, Russia is merely signaling -- as it has often done in recent years -- that it will need to be consulted for a successful result to be achieved.



The success of the Geneva talks, which the UN envoy on Cyprus has called the moment of truth, hinges on the resolution of tangled property issues -- but at this point, thats not whats holding up the deal. Greek Cypriots are against any special security guarantees for the reunited island, which will be an EU member. Turkey, however, insists on its guarantor status. On Friday, Erdogan said Turkish troops would remain on the island forever.



A complete breakdown of the talks would be fine with Putin. It would preserve and perhaps deepen the Greek-Turkish rift within NATO, stave off gas pipeline projects in the eastern Mediterranean, allow Russia to keep Cyprus as the EU playground for its business and a neutral but friendly port of call for its ships.



If reunification does finally take place, Russia will need to know how its interests will be protected. What it clearly doesnt want is for NATO to be strengthened and for Cyprus to join it -- a possibility after unification. If Moscow is not satisfied, it could undermine the deal both inside Cyprus and in the UN.
The Greenpeace report on air pollution in Indian cities comes at a time when politics and elections are dominating the news cycle; Diwali smog has long gone, lifting with it the sense of urgency with which various reports say air pollution needs to be dealt with.

The Plume Labs App on a friend's phone still shows Delhi air quality as "extremely serious", and identifies particulate matter, ozone and nitrogen oxide as key pollutants; its recommendation for outdoor activities, and that includes eating out in fancy open-air restaurants, is "take it easy", which can be translated to "avoid".

It is one of the better-air days, because till few days ago it was advising strictly against any outdoor activity.

Despite a crisis of this scale, the response to the pollution problem is so muted that it is hardly noticeable. Photo: Reuters

But as long as the smog pressed against the city doesn't force on us the realisation of inhaling pollutants many times more than their safe limits, the air we breathe doesn't bother us. Expect governments to be bothered even less.

Beyond Delhi

In the last few years there's been more conversation around the quality of air we breathe than before, but it has largely focussed on Delhi. It doesn't make Delhi the only city with unbreathable air, rather just highlights the fact that smaller cities have few equipments, if they have them at all, to measure the quality of air their residents breathe.

The Greenpeace report highlights that air pollution is in fact a national problem, and that air in most of the Indian cities has way more pollutants than would be deemed safe.

For example, Delhi's annual PM 10 levels in 2015 averaged to 268 g/m3 (60 microgram per metre cube) which is more than four times the maximum limit of 60 prescribed by NAAQS (the US National Ambient Air Quality Standards). At least 11 other cities had an annual PM 10 level higher than 200.

How many meet the NAAQS standard? Just 12 of the 137 cities analysed. And these numbers are only about PM 10, there are other pollutants that we haven't even talked about yet.

The gravity of the situation can be guessed by the fact that outdoor air pollution claims about 1.2 million lives a year in India; to put it a bit dramatically, 1.2 million people lose their life a year for breathing in this country.

It is almost 41 times more than global terrorism casualties in 2015, and more than two times that of lives lost in road accidents in India.

Despite a crisis of this scale, the response to the pollution problem is so muted that it is hardly noticeable. Delhi's Odd-Even experiment led to more political noise than results. But other cities haven't even made that noise.

Brace up for worse

Air pollution is real and it has reached alarming proportions. What's equally worrying is the lack of drastic measures that the crisis of this scale needs.

The Greenpeace report also offers a comparison of air pollution in major economies and what they are doing about it, and there are many red flags for India. Let's look at a simple India vs China comparison:

> Between 2010 to 2015, PM 2.5 levels in China have fallen by 17 per cent; in India, it has increased by 13 per cent

> China's PM 2.5 is consistently falling since 2011; India's is steadily increasing

> For PM 2.5 monitoring, China has 1,500 stations in 900 cities; India has just about 40

> China has set 2030 as the deadline for meeting national air quantity standards; we have no such deadline

> China has national, regional and city-level action plans with measurable five-year targets; India has seen action in individual cities with no measurable targets

This comparison shows how mammoth the task on hand is; the concern is that it is not being addressed as aggressively as it should. If the PM 2.5 levels kept increasing at the current rate, by 2020 we'll have 13 per cent more of it in our breath.

The fact that we reached this point despite repeated alarms by activists in the last decade points to the lack of political will.
COLUMBUS  Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts had some strong medicine for a roomful of Columbus business and industry leaders Tuesday afternoon  its time to show some Nebraska grit while restraining spending and balancing the budget to help revive the biggest driver of the states economy.

Nebraska grit is one of the things that characterizes us as a people, Ricketts said during his State of the State fly around stop in Columbus to highlight his legislative priorities for the next several years.

Grit is also required to address the hard times in agriculture, which has experienced a severe slump in the last few years with shrinking commodity prices, the governor said.

The ag industry accounts for 25 percent of Nebraskas overall economy.

The ag downturn has contributed to state revenue forecasts that project about a $267 million shortfall for 2017.

Projected funding gaps for the upcoming two-year budget total nearly $900 million through June 2019.

We have to address that to get back in balance, Ricketts said. Farm and ranch families have been tightening their belts and they expect us to do the same. Thats the Nebraska way, we dont spend money we dont have.

Ricketts' plan to balance the budget relies on a combination of spending cuts and drawing money from dozens of cash accounts that are separate from the state's general fund.

Getting back in balance in the biennium budget is going to require spending restraint, average growth of 1.7 percent per year, while maintaining essential services that include the funding of K-12 education and prison reforms, the governor said.

Some of the major cuts Ricketts proposed for the upcoming budget are $50.7 million in state aid for individuals, $17.6 million from the University of Nebraska and $6 million from the state's community colleges.

Child welfare services, K-12 public education and ongoing reforms in the state prison system would see funding increases.

His plan would also pull money from the state's emergency cash reserve, reducing it from a projected $630 million to around $500 million.

We can do it (balance the budget) all without raising taxes, Ricketts said.

Ricketts budget package would change the way property taxes are calculated starting in 2019, using a land parcel's earning potential rather than its market value. The new approach would more closely align ag property tax values with income potential, Ricketts said.

This would be a big change, the governor said, adding that making it effective in January 2019 would give taxpayers a chance to understand and adjust to it.

The overhaul could lower property taxes for farm and ranch owners when times are rough, but would also require an automatic increase in state aid for schools in future years.
Of many factors, one that makes India stand out in the world is that the nation is the worlds largest democracy with a population of 1.2 billion. The country shall complete 70 years of independence this year, and has never faced serious political instability or threat of military rule or dictatorship, barring an exception of 21 months in the 1970s when it was under Emergency.

India is definitely an example of a successful democracy if we go by the procedural definition of democracy and it is no doubt an achievement in itself.

However, the need of the hour is to ask ourselves whether, as a nation, we are proud of this achievement? If yes, what are we going to do to strengthen our democracy and to make it more accountable? And then, what does it take to make democracy accountable and what are we doing about it?

These questions become even more pertinent when steps are being taken by governments across the world to shrink the democratic space by throttling the voices of civil society, including in India.

Civil society is one important element that makes a democracy accountable. While celebrating the first international day of democracy in 2008, the UN secretary general commented that democracy everywhere is ultimately the product of a strong, active and vocal civil society.

In India, Professor Andre Beteille confirms that we live in the age of democracy and the civil society has to play an active role in it. In his very recent address, the UN secretary general restated that civil society is the oxygen of democracy" and that "we see this clearly in the worlds most vibrant and stable democracies, where the government and civil society work together for common goals.

However, today the scenario in the so-called stable democracies of the world does not seem to be promising and consistent with the above observations. In the US, which is one of the oldest democracies and the largest supporter of civil society in the world, there is growing anxiety about the future and nature of American democracy, in anticipation of a Donald Trump presidency.

In India too, the situation is no less than grim; the government cancelled the FCRA licences of 20,000 NGOs, preventing them from receiving foreign funds. These include prominent organisations such as Greenpeace, Lawyers Collective and Ford Foundation in India.

Apart from this, the most recent news came from Europe, where the Hungarian government expressed its intention to sweep out NGOs funded by Open Society Foundations, accusing it of serving global capitalists and back political correctness over national governments.

Before that, in 2015, the Russian parliament passed a Bill on "undesirable organisations", which will let the government ban activities of foreign or international non-governmental groups deemed to undermine "state security", "national defence" or the "constitutional order".

There are similar reports of civil society oppression from different parts of the world documented by Civicus in their report.

Thus, there are efforts around the world to muzzle civil society and the democratic space. The Indian government is also engaging in the same activities, which is certainly not suited to a country that is aspiring to be a global player with a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Donald Trump is set to lead the American democracy.

When countries in the world are inclining towards building illiberal democracies and discrediting contributions of civil society, it is a chance for India to stand out to fortify its image as a truly responsible global player in world politics.

The recent steps taken by the government go against this very image of India as a responsible nation and a great democracy. On this background, it is important to take corrective steps and the following points are proposed for consideration:

According to data acquired by the CBI, it is reported that there are 31 lakh NGOs registered under the Societies Registration Act in 26 states. The NGOs registered under the other two acts (Indian Trust Act and Companies Act) are different and thus the number of total NGOs must be much higher than that.

First, what is required is that NGOs must be compliant to the statutory requirements of filing financial statements and thus practice transparency. In case of non-compliance, the government must take action, but only on the grounds of non-compliance.

The government should acknowledge the fact that some NGOs do indulge in corruption but not all. The contribution of some civil society movements and organisations has been remarkable in areas of health service delivery, employment and livelihood generation, and child labour eradication.

Apart from all these important functions, fighting for the rights of the vulnerable population, protection of the environment and economy, facilitating access to justice for the poor and vulnerable are also important functions that civil society actors are engaged in that helps bridge the gaps left by the government machinery.

It is important that the government should evaluate its policy for the civil society in the country. In 2007, the erstwhile Planning Commission came up with a national policy for the voluntary sector. This policy was meant to cater to the entire civil society/non-government organisations in the country.

In the preamble, it stated that this policy is a commitment to encourage, enable and empower an independent, creative and effective voluntary sector, with diversity in form and function, so that it can contribute to the social, cultural and economic advancement of the people of India. The Indian government must revive this policy and bring it for public discussion with an intention to adopt it.

Holding the government accountable by questioning it about its various policies, programmes and actions is no doubt the hallmark of a good democracy. The individual people themselves cannot question the government and therefore the free press and civil society organisations are there to represent them.

Immediate steps needs to be taken in this regard. The Indian government should revoke cancellation of licences of all genuine and reputed civil society organisations and stop the witch-hunt against them; the government should also proactively enforce laws to prevent financial irregularities and take appropriate action against non-compliant organisations.

Lastly, the Indian government must bring back the discussion on national policy on the voluntary sector and take all steps to adopt it.
Last week - in a move widely celebrated across Pakistani social media - a case was registered in Pakistan's courts in the aftermath of the alleged kidnapping of four secular activists, including renowned academic and human rights advocate Salman Haider.

The case didn't revolve around government complacency in their lack of response for an immediate investigation into the abduction of these citizens, or against the control of social media by the draconian Pakistani establishment. It called for the prosecution of these kidnapped individuals under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which underlines the mandated punishment for blasphemy - death.

This case was registered by the chair of the civil society of Pakistan, Muhammad Tahir, who justified his actions on the ground that these activists were admins of social media pages that "not only posted inflammatory content against state agencies but were guilty of the worst kind of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)".

Activist and academic Salman Haider was reported missing on January 7.

While protests have erupted in the UK and other western countries with Muslim communities against the abductions and the untimely filing of the blasphemy case, the liberal pushback in Pakistan has been disturbingly lukewarm.

Even the most outspoken secular activists seemed to tailor their message to something along the lines of "we're not saying they did the right thing, or the blasphemy law shouldn't be applied in this case, but they should be brought before a court of law".

That is an awfully meek opposition to a law which didn't even exist for half of Pakistan's history. But their opposition or lack thereof, is understandable. Surely, the murders of Salman Taseer, Sabeen Mehmud, Rashid Rehman and others who stood up are fresh in their memory.

But that is the trap we have fallen into on both sides of the ideological spectrum: that the kidnappings or bursts of violence are in any significant way related to religion. It is about power, and the fact that underpinnings such as religion reinforce it, does not make it any less of what it is.

Within this last week, there were reports of another missing person feared abducted - Maulana Abdul Wasim, a prominent member of the Majlis Tahafuz-e-Khatam-e-Nabuwat.

He is no radical liberal vying for a secular Pakistan; in fact, the organisation he is affiliated with is linked to attacks against the Ahmadi minority.

This break in "trend" is in no way an anomaly. In Balochistan, thousands of citizens who fall in no way contrary to Pakistan's religious mainstream have been kidnapped.

Last year, the Pakistan parliament passed the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, more commonly known as the "cyber crime" law, which gives the government immense agency to put down dissent on social media. But repression by its very nature is uncontrollable and, hence, unsustainable.

What Pakistani officials need to realise, regardless of whether they were complicit in the kidnappings, is that the power to put down the powerless is not a smoking gun - it is a boomerang that will come back and strike them when they abandon the annals of power for those who come after them.

We have seen this before in recent history with the seizures and arrests that accompany each successive administration targeted at officials appointed by previous administrations. The blasphemy law has only extended the power of the state to do this.

It is important to keep in mind that the blasphemy ordinance was passed by Zia-ul-Haq, a dictator, and we cannot separate the law from the lawmaker. The legislature was intended to reinforce the ruling elite's grip over the masses, and it continues to do so today.

The more powerful the establishment, the worse it is for the present establishment, for people will come and go, but the power of the institution will stay, ripe for exploitation by the men and women of the day.

That is not to say that respect for the Prophet is not paramount - respect for religious ideas and principles is an important facet of theological democracy. However, we do naught but disrespect the said religion when we use it to abuse the power that comes with the weight of the blasphemy law.

Religion has been used to justify many of our worst actions in human history. We must abandon any pretence of love and respect for religion before they unravel the religious haven we crafted for ourselves 70 years ago. The state must do this not for us, or democracy, or even for Islam.

It should do this purely in self-interest, because this monstrosity that it has created is one that no one can fully control, and one that has, and will affect the state's own interests in the future.
All eyes will be peeled on President-elect Donald Trump's showbiz-style inauguration on Friday, January 20.

The real action though begins on Monday, January 23 when Trump has pledged to hit the ground running and "sign lots of notifications", some undoing policies of the Obama administration. Obamacare, the controversial medical insurance scheme for low-income Americans, could be the first casualty.

Rex Tillerson, the incoming secretary of state, has meanwhile already roiled China by telling it to stop monopolising the South China Sea.

All eyes on Trump. Photo: Reuters

Tillerson, the former chairman of ExxonMobil, directed his ire at China's aggressive moves to build artificial islands in the South China Sea: "First the island building (must) stop and second, your access to those islands is also not going to be allowed."

Beijing reacted with customary fury through its official mouthpiece Global Times:

"China has enough determination and strength to make sure that (Tillerson's) rabble rousing will not succeed. Unless Washington plans to wage a large-scale war in the South China Sea, any other approaches to prevent Chinese access to the islands will be foolish. Tillerson's statements regarding islands in the South China Sea are far from professional. If Trump's diplomatic team shapes future Sino-US ties as it is doing now, the two sides had better be prepared for a military clash."

Behind Beijing's bluster lies a deep sense of insecurity. China's annual military budget at $146 billion is less than one-fourth America's ($614 billion). Its navy is hopelessly outgunned.

America has 19 aircraft carriers and 68 battleships. China has just one aircraft carrier and 32 battleships. The last war China fought was in 1979 when tiny Vietnam gave it a bloody nose in a short, sharp battle that left Beijing humiliated.

That was the year President Deng Xiaoping launched China's ambitious economic reforms which have transformed the country from an impoverished behemoth to the world's second largest economy in little over a generation.

China's economy slows

And yet China still has many vulnerabilities. Public and private debt is unsustainably high. Banks are over-leveraged. Exports have declined for two consecutive years. Last week, the official export numbers were released for calendar 2016: exports fell by 7.7 per cent over 2015, the year exports had first begun slipping.

Chinese GDP growth is slowing as well. China's official position is that it is comfortable with the current GDP growth rate of 6.5 per cent. In reality, GDP growth - without fudged numbers - is nearer 5 per cent as the economy cools.

For India, America's bellicosity towards China is welcome. Incoming defence secretary General James Mattis said at his confirmation hearing last week that US ties with India are of "utmost importance".

General Mattis, who takes over from outgoing defence secretary Ashton Carter, added: "US policy should continue to pursue a long-term strategic relationship with India based on convergence of our interests and our shared democratic values."

General Mattis was blunt about confronting China, saying Washington should not tolerate "inappropriate" Chinese behaviour and deepen its partnership with India.

He added: "We have a strong interest in ensuring safe and secure access to maritime routes there, and to a stable, peaceful and prosperous region. India, Australia, Japan, and several of the Gulf Cooperation Council states are key partners for addressing the security challenges in this region, and it is my view that increasing our security assistance and military-to-military engagement with strategically positioned nations such as these is essential."

General Mattis' remarks are being closely followed in Pakistan which since 2001 has successfully "gamed" two successive American administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. That could be about to change.

Untrustworthy Pakistan

General Mattis, nicknamed "Mag Dog Mattis", says coldly: "Sanctuaries and freedom of movement for the Afghan Taliban and associated militant networks inside Pakistani territory is a key operational issue faced by the Afghan security forces. I will examine efforts to deny sanctuary to the extremist forces undermining the stability and security of Afghanistan. We have long faced a lack of trust within the Pakistani military and government about our goals in the region."

Cynics say they've heard it all before. America under Trump will continue to be gamed by the shrewd, ruthless generals in Rawalpindi GHQ who use their country's geostrategic location and in-house terror groups to remain indispensable to the three great powers: America, Russia and China.

New Delhi cannot rely on a Trump presidency or Mattis-Tillerson rhetoric to tackle the threat Pakistan and China pose to India. Pakistan believes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) makes it indispensable to China as well as Russia which needs to sell to China a large portion of its oil and gas that is currently under severe sanctions from the US following Moscow's annexation of Crimea.

But there are increasing signs that the CPEC may not be quite the lottery Pakistan thinks it has won. Apart from growing violence in Balochistan where the CPEC begins, problems have surfaced in Gilgit-Baltistan through which it passes on the way to Xinjiang.

China has reportedly closed part of its border with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to stem the flow of terrorists who pose a long-term threat to the CPEC. The blunt message from Beijing to Islamabad: you can have either the CPEC or terrorists, not both.

For India, the challenge as the Trump administration takes office this week is to make clear to Washington that, as far as Pakistan and China are concerned, it can't be business as usual.

In the end though India must be prepared to act alone. The new chief of army staff, General Bipin Rawat, was right to assert last week that India wants peace with Pakistan. However, if Islamabad does not reciprocate, he said future surgical strikes on Pakistani soil cannot be ruled out.
HEMINGFORD  Matha Christina (Hansen) Hollinrake, 85, of Hemingford, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.

Matha was born May 10, 1931, in Hemingford to Martin Christian and Mary Barbara (Walters) Hansen. She was the youngest of four children. Matha married James Jim Hollinrake on July 14, 1952, at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Hemingford. The couple has two sons, Steven and Gary.

Mathas passion was the Village of Hemingford, and she had a lifelong career in finance, real estate, church and community service. Always on the move to better herself, Mathas last retirement was from the role of real estate agent at age 80. Matha attended school in Hemingford, graduating high school in 1948. Immediately after graduation she took a job at the Bank of Hemingford. Her responsibilities there grew to include managing the banks insurance agency and involvement in loans. Her advancements eventually placed her in charge of bank operations and supervising five employees. Matha retired from the bank after 35 years of service. Her subsequent career endeavors included time as a bank examiner for the state of Nebraska, branch manager for Nile Valley Federal Savings & Loan, and real estate agent with Buchfinck Inc.

Mathas volunteer service included serving as Cub Scout Den Mother and secretary-treasurer for the Cub Scout Pack; many years typing bulletins and keeping books for St. Bridget Church; member of Hemingford Ministerial Association; member, treasurer and president of the Hemingford American Legion Auxiliary; secretary-treasurer and board member for Hemingford Christmas Diorama; secretary-treasurer of the Village of Hemingford Planning and Zoning Committee; president and multi-year member of the Hemingford Chamber of Commerce; vice-chair of the Hemingford Centennial Committee; volunteer office worker for Social Services; election to the Hemingford Village Board; and serving as mayor of Hemingford.

Matha spent many years assisting elderly in Hemingford with their insurance and medical-related paperwork.

Matha was a lifelong learner, obtaining licenses and certifications in banking, insurance, securities and real estate. Her long time goal of obtaining a college degree was achieved when, in her 60s, she received an associate degree in business from Nebraska Western College and Bachelor of Arts degree in business management from Chadron State College.

Matha is survived by her son, Steve (Jeannette) Hollinrake of Columbus; son, Gary (Peggy) Hollinrake of Hemingford; sister, Helga Tschacher of Scottsbluff; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; five step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and her Sunday afternoon card group.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; parents, Martin and Mary Hansen; sister, Ann Johnson; infant brother, Carl Hansen; and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Hemingford with Father Roy Pasala and Father Mike McDonald officiating. Burial will be in Hemingford Cemetery. Wake services will be held 7 p.m. Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department, St. Bridget Catholic Church, Hemingford Christmas Diorama, Hemingford Legion Veterans Memorial Park or the donors choice.
Orange S.A. provides various fixed telephony and mobile telecommunications, data transmission, and other value-added services to customers, businesses, and other telecommunications operators in France and internationally. It operates through France; Spain and Other European Countries; The Africa and Middle East; Enterprise; International Carriers & Shared Services; and Mobile Financial Services segments. The company offers mobile services, such as voice, SMS, and data; fixed broadband and narrowband services, as well as fixed network business solutions, including voice and data; and convergence packages. It also sells mobile handsets, mobile terminals, broadband equipment, connected devices, and accessories. In addition, the company provides IT and integration services comprising unified communication and collaboration services, such as LAN and telephony, consultancy, integration, and project management; hosting and infrastructure services, including cloud computing; customer relations management and other applications services; security services; and video conferencing, as well as sells related equipment. Further, it offers national and international roaming services; online advertising services; and mobile virtual network operators, network sharing, and mobile financial services, as well as sells equipment to external distributors and brokers. Orange S.A. markets its products and services under the Orange brand. The company was formerly known as France Telecom and changed its name to Orange S.A. in July 2013. Orange S.A. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.
Steelcase Inc. provides a portfolio of furniture and architectural products in the United States and internationally. It operates through Americas, EMEA, and Other segments. The company's furniture portfolio includes furniture systems, seating, storage, fixed and height-adjustable desks, benches, and tables, as well as complementary products, such as work accessories, lighting, and mobile power and screens. Its seating products comprise task chairs; seating for collaborative environments and casual settings; and specialty seating for specific vertical markets, including education and healthcare. The company's interior architectural products comprise full and partial height walls and architectural pods. It also provides textiles, wall coverings, and surface imaging solutions for architects and designers; and workplace strategy consulting, lease origination, and furniture and asset management services. The company markets and sells its products to corporate, government, healthcare, education, and retail customers under the Steelcase, Designtex, Coalesse, AMQ, Smith System, Orangebox, and Viccarbe brands. It distributes its products and services through a network of independent and company-owned dealers, as well as directly to end-use customers. The company was founded in 1912 and is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
LINCOLN  Nebraska would replace Columbus Day with Standing Bear and Indigenous Leaders' Day under a bill introduced Tuesday in the state Legislature.

Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks sponsored the bill (LB485). Its seven cosponsors include Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, the first Native American ever elected to the Legislature.

Columbus Day takes place each year on the second Monday in October and has been a federal holiday since 1937.

Pansing Brooks' bill says replacing the holiday would "honor Chief Standing Bear and the many other remarkable and noble leaders of the state's indigenous peoples, including, but not limited to, Chief Blackbird, Chief Little Priest, and Big Eagle."

Standing Bear was a renowned Ponca chief who in 1877 led his people on a march to Oklahoma after the federal government forced them from their land in northeast Nebraska. He later returned to Nebraska to honor his dying sons wish to be buried along the Niobrara River and was captured by the Army.

He was allowed to fight for his freedom in court, and his 1879 trial led to him becoming the first Native to be legally recognized as a person.

In recent years communities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day, citing historical misunderstanding of Christopher Columbus' role in American history. Native American groups also blame Columbus in part for the genocide of millions of indigenous people.

In September, the Lincoln City Council unanimously approved a resolution naming the second Monday in October Indigenous People's Day. The city didn't recognize Columbus Day before and still doesn't, and city offices do not close for Indigenous People's Day.

Other bills introduced Tuesday include:

Income tax cuts

Cuts in corporate and individual income tax rates would be at least partially offset by adding sales taxes for maintenance and repair services, personal care services, storage and moving services, newspapers, laundromats, lottery tickets and taxis under a bill (LB452) sponsored by Omaha Sen. Brett Lindstrom and cosigned by Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion.

Life and death

Sen. Ernie Chambers is refusing to give up on three bills he has introduced in recent years, reintroducing a bill (LB446) that would replace the death penalty with a sentence of life in prison for first-degree murder; a bill (LB450) that would allow for assistance in dying, in which a qualifying person could seek a prescription for aid-in-dying medication from his or her attending physician; and a bill (LB448) that would ban mountain lion hunting in the state.

Texting while driving

Texting while driving would become a primary offense under a bill (LB471) sponsored by Sen. Rick Kolowski of Omaha. Nebraska law currently treats texting while driving as a secondary offense, meaning it can't be the only reason for a traffic stop.

Breaks for part-time workers

Workers would be guaranteed a paid 15-minute rest for every four hours they work, in addition to the unpaid 30-minute lunch required for people working eight-hour shifts, under a bill sponsored by Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont and cosigned by Lincoln Sens. Matt Hansen and Adam Morfeld. The change would apply to all employers in the state, public or private, with six or more people on the payroll.
AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products worldwide. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, and onshore energy installations; marine insurance products covering offshore energy, cargo, liability, recreational marine, fine art, specie, and hull war; and terrorism, aviation, credit and political risk, and liability insurance products. It also provides professional insurance products that cover directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, crime, professional indemnity, cyber and privacy, medical malpractice, and other financial insurance related coverages for commercial enterprises, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and other professional service providers. In addition, this segment offers accidental death, travel, and specialty health products for employer and affinity groups. The Reinsurance segment offers reinsurance products to insurance companies, including catastrophe reinsurance products; property reinsurance products covering property damage and related losses resulting from natural and man-made perils; professional lines; credit and surety; and motor liability products. This segment also provides agriculture reinsurance products; coverages for various types of construction risks and risks related to erection, testing, and commissioning of machinery and plants during the construction stage; marine and aviation reinsurance products; and personal accident, specialty health, accidental death, travel, life and disability reinsurance products. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda.
Brookdale Senior Living Inc. owns, manages, and operates senior living communities in the United States. It operates in three segments: Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The Independent Living segment owns or leases communities comprising independent and assisted living units in a single community that are primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors. The Assisted Living and Memory Care segment owns or leases communities consisting of freestanding multi-story communities and freestanding single-story communities, which offer housing and 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living for the Company's residents. This segment also operates memory care communities for residents with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The CCRCs segment owns or leases communities that provides various living arrangements, such as independent and assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing; and services to accommodate various levels of physical ability and healthcare needs. It also manages communities on behalf of others. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned 347 communities, leased 299 communities, and managed 33 communities on behalf of others. Brookdale Senior Living Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee.
LINCOLN  Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln on Tuesday introduced legislation to expand Medicaid coverage in Nebraska, suggesting it as a means of transitioning into a forthcoming Republican health care plan.

"LB441 allows us to bring home $775 million (in federal funds) paid in part by hard-working Nebraska taxpayers to reduce health care costs, improve efficiency in our Medicaid system and make sure the workers who are the backbone of our state's economy are as healthy and productive as they can be," Morfeld said.

President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican majority in both the Senate and House have promised to replace the Affordable Care Act with a new GOP plan.

Congress has taken action to repeal ACA, or Obamacare, with its provisions essentially remaining in effect until a replacement plan is enacted. Current provisions of Obamacare provide a lopsided infusion of federal funds to expand Medicaid in states that enroll in the program.

Nearly 100,000 Nebraskans, most of whom hold modest-paying jobs, would qualify for the new program.

Acquiring a large influx of federal funding assistance would strengthen the state's health care system in advance of the new Republican health care plan, Morfeld said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan "has repeatedly indicated their desire to keep the Affordable Care Act in place until it is replaced and LB441 will ensure a smooth transition to the Republican health care plan for working Nebraskans," he said.

Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia already have created plans to participate in ACA's Medicaid expansion provisions.

The Nebraska Legislature rejected the most recent plan to access that additional federal Medicaid assistance last year.

In order to access $775 million in federal funds under current ACA provisions, the state would need to provide about $12 million in state funding.

"For too long, tens of thousands of Nebraskans have struggled with no way to get health insurance," Nebraska Appleseed health care director James Goddard said.

"They are people we see every day working on construction sites and farms, in our schools, hotels and restaurants. These (often) are single parents fighting to give their children a better future."
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.
A rendering of the Trump Ocean Club project in Panama City, Panama.

Related An Interview with the Donald

Donald Trump has never been accused of subtlety. So there is nothing retiring about the celebrity real-estate magnate's venture into Panama. His 70-floor sail-shaped Trump Ocean Club, under construction in Panama City's exclusive Punta Pacifica district, will be the largest and most expensive building ever built south of the Rio Grande. "Nothing like this has ever been attempted in Latin America," says head developer Roger Khafif, whose K Group construction firm is handling the $400 million project. "When you think of Sydney you think of the Opera House, when think of Paris you think of the Eiffel Tower, and when you think of Panama, you are going to think of this building."

The 1,080-unit building's construction has now reached the 62nd floor and is scheduled to be inaugurated by the end of the year, complete with luxury condos, a five-star hotel, six restaurants, a Las Vegas-style casino and a private yacht club on the nearby Isla Saboga. The project is 10-to-20 times more expensive than that of any other skyscraper in Panama City. It will be 20% bigger than the AOL-Time Warner building in New York City, Khafif says.

Khafif says Trump's name will help the country's image makeover. "Before it was Panama and Noriega," he explains, referring to Manuel Noriega, the notorious general who ruled the country from 1983 to 1989. "But now it will be Panama and Trump." Or at least he hopes so. "We bet $400 million on it," Khafif says. (From TIME's Archives: The Fall of Manuel Noriega.)

If Khafif sounds proprietary about something with Trump's name on it, it's because the project was his idea in the first place. When the Colombian-born developer came up with the plans for the building in 2005, amid Panama City's real-estate explosion, he realized it was too big to be financed without a major-league brand name. Khafif knew that Trump had been in Panama in 2003 for the Miss Universe Pageant, so he asked a mutual friend to set up a meeting in New York. "I know the guy has an ego and likes pretty things and, boom, Panama is exploding. So baby, if there's any right time, this is the right time," Khafif recalls, explaining the spirit in which he approached Trump. (See pictures of Trump and others most likely to succeed.)

The meeting happened in 2005 and Khafif said he was surprised to learn how much homework Trump had done beforehand. "He had done a lot of due diligence. That's what let me walk through that door; it's not easy to walk through that door," Khafif says. Trump "already knew that the country was booming," but "hates to fly or leave the country." The day after the meeting, Khafif said he received an early morning phone call. "I hear a voice that sounded like Trump, but I thought it was friend who can imitate voices. Two minutes later I realized I was talking to the real thing and I had to apologize," admitted Khafif, who speaks in a quick and seamless flow between Spanish and English, oftentimes switching languages several times in the same sentence. Trump, perhaps accustomed to telling people it's him and not an impersonator on the phone, told Roger, "I love it and I am going to send Ivanka down."

Ivanka is Trump's daughter by his ex-wife Ivana. The young woman is now the company's executive vice president of development & acquisitions, and keen on bringing a more global vision to the family business. The next week, Ivanka visited Panama City and liked what she saw. "Panama is a spectacular, thriving country, changing by the day," Ivanka told TIME in an email. "It's been amazing for me to see the growth of Panama City first hand." "She's a very intelligent young woman," Khafif says. "Sometimes I think she's even smarter than her dad about certain things." The contract was signed and the project was launched in New York City in 2006  the same day authorities back in the Latin American nation announced a dramatic $5.2 billion expansion of the Panama Canal. (See a multi-media presentation of Panama's vote on expanding its historic canal.)

More expensive than Miami real estate and priced three-to-eight times higher than property in the rest of the Panamanian market, the Trump Ocean Club is partially financed by a $230 million bond offering from Bear Sterns. That bond is now being handled by JP Morgan following the collapse of Bear Sterns in the 2008 global financial crisis. "Without Trump, we would have lost our shirt," Khafif admits. Since then, more than 2,000 construction workers add a new floor each week, silencing many of the earlier skeptics who claimed the project would never get off the ground.

But some doubts remain. Eric Jackson, owner of the English-language Panama News thinks that many of buyers in the Trump Ocean Club, which claims it is 90% sold, could be speculators rather than future tenants. "You go around Panama City and look at these new 'sold out' luxury towers at about 8 p.m. and there are hardly any lights on in them," Jackson says. Samuel Taliaferro of the PrimaPanama investment blog agrees. "I have received emails from a number of speculators who never intended on taking possession."

Others worry the Trump Ocean Club will only contribute to what they see as the city's coming urban-planning disaster. Marco Gandasegui Jr., a University of Panama professor with the Center for Latin American Studies, says many Panamanians are "convinced Panama City's skyline gives us a better image," but warns the building spree is putting an enormous strain on the city's infrastructure. "The Trump Ocean Club is just another example of the chaotic situation Panama City finds itself today," Gandasegui said. "It is squeezed into a tiny dead-end street where it will share space with another dozen similar buildings. It will be part of a permanent traffic jam created by its designers." (Indeed, in a bid that may trump Trump, a project may soon be underway to build Los Faros, an 85-floor gargantua flanked by two 75-story towers.)

But realtors say Panama is just the type of image-crazed country where people will put up with traffic problems in order to boast "Trump" as their address. Kent Davis, owner of real estate agency Panama Equity, says that even the neighbors are excited about Trump. "It's not like having Wal-Mart move in and force out the competition. People are psyched to have Trump in the neighborhood. I even sold a property in a nearby building because the buyer was excited about using the Trump facilities."

See 10 perfect jobs for the recession  and after.
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Following the conference "Waste legislation review: regions & cities for a circular economy " on January 31st, the 12th meeting of the ENVE Commission of the European Committee of the Regions will take place on February 1st 2017 at the JDE building, room 52.

Members of the ENVE Commission will discuss and vote on amendments submitted for opinions currently under the approval process, will proceed to an exchange of views for opinions under preparation and will discuss any other business.

For more information, please refer to the programme in the "Related Information" section (see right column of your screen).


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On behalf of the European Committee of the Regions I warmly welcome the election of Mr Tajani as President of the European Parliament. He can count on our support to build a strong leadership of the willing to unite the pro-European political forces.

We have a common goal: to ensure first and foremost that the European Union works with and for every citizen. This effort cannot come only from Brussels. It needs to be delivered at the local, regional, national and EU level.

This election takes place at a critical juncture in Europe's history where the EU is faced with unprecedented challenges on many fronts.

Now, more than ever, we must act with openness and honesty. We must assume our political responsibility at all levels if we are to rebuild citizens' trust in the European project.

President Tajani ' s leadership will be pivotal to bring the EU and its policies closer to the wishes, expectations and needs of European citizens. The success of Europe will also rely on its local and regional decision-makers, given that they are in constant contact with the ever changing reality on the ground.

The European Parliament can continue to count on the European Committee of the Regions' full support and partnership. We have no doubt that President Tajani will be pragmatic in his approach, visionary in his thoughts and innovative in his actions.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express our warmest thanks to Martin Schulz for the excellent cooperation over the last five years and his unwavering commitment to engage with the EU's cities and regions.
Rep. Tom Garrett, R-5th, has been named to three committees in the House of Representatives, according to a news release from his office.

Garrett was selected to sit on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Committee on Homeland Security and House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Garrett said in the release that he is honored to have been chosen for these committees.

Having served overseas as an officer in the United States Army, I understand firsthand the threats we face and am eager to get to work to continue improving our relationships on the global stage while protecting the sovereignty and safety of these United States, he said.

Regarding his selection to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Garrett mentioned his Student Security plan he promoted during his campaign last year as a possibility to help address the student debt crisis.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to improve the learning environment for our students and continue pushing control over our schools to the localities, where they understand the needs of our children better than Washington, he said.
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The University of Virginia will enroll an additional 100 in-state students in the fall.

The UVa Board of Visitors passed the resolution in a brief meeting at the Rotunda on Tuesday afternoon.

The board also voted to create a new grant aimed at middle-income families who do not currently qualify for need-based aid. Those families could receive up to $2,000 in new grants funded in part by the universitys $2.3 billion Strategic Investment Fund.

About $15 million in SIF payouts will pay for the initiatives over the next three years.

The new grants will target families making between $75,000 and $125,000 each year, UVa Rector William H. Goodwin said.

Below that [income level], we have already in place a lot of student aid, Goodwin said.

As part of the enrollment increase, the university will focus on admitting students to the schools of architecture and engineering, said UVa President Teresa A. Sullivan. Students applying to all schools will be considered, but those are the schools that have the most capacity for increased enrollment, she said.

Those two deans have told me they have additional capacity, Sullivan said. We dont want to overstress a part of the university that is overstressed and weaken the experience for those students.

About half of the in-state students added under the increase will be community college transfers and half will be incoming first-year students, Sullivan said.

The new grant program, known as the Cornerstone Grant, could provide up to $2,000 in aid to in-state middle class families of incoming first-year and second-year students.

Returning third-year students could receive up to $1,000 in aid, reflecting changes in tuition rates over the past two academic years.

What were doing here is trying to relieve them so everyone has the same tuition as the fourth-year students next fall, Goodwin said.

To qualify for the grant, students must come from families making $125,000 or less. The grant will be reserved for in-state students who are not already receiving the maximum award amount  $2,000 for entering first- and second-year students and $1,000 for third-year students  in grants and scholarships from other sources.

The Cornerstone Grant is aimed at families who dont qualify for need-based assistance under AccessUVa  the universitys need-based financial aid program  but may still have trouble paying tuition.

The board has been talking about ways to better serve these families, who often fall in between the cracks in the current financial aid system. That was one of the objectives of an ad hoc committee on the Strategic Investment Fund headed by Vice Rector Frank M. Rusty Conner III.

This group of middle-income [families] really needs help, Conner said. We think its a very direct way to use money from the SIF to try to relieve some of that burden.

UVa has taken criticism for creating the SIF  which is supposed to be used for improving the universitys research and academic standing  while raising tuition. The fund, which was created by combining new investment revenues with surpluses from various departments, is expected to produce about $100 million in payouts annually.

In December  after public pressure to use part of the SIF to relieve cost of attendance  the Board of Visitors voted to create a $300 million endowment that would help support financial aid, also known as the Bicentennial Scholars Fund.

About $100 million of that fund will come from the SIF over a three-year period, while the remaining money will be raised through philanthropy.

Between the Cornerstone Grant and the Bicentennial Scholars Fund, UVa will spend $113.5 million of SIF payouts on financial aid and student need over the next three years, said board member James B. Murray.

Lets be clear: we are spending every penny we can spend on access and affordability, and I think were doing it in the right way, Murray said.

SIF spending rules created by the board allow require any program or initiative supported by the fund to receive a portion of the payout for three academic years. After that, they must become self-supporting.

The university will raise philanthropic funds and look for institutional savings to cover the costs of these programs beyond those first three years, said Patrick D. Hogan, UVas chief operating officer.

We dont want to fund this out of future tuition or any state funding once the first three years are up, Hogan said. It would not be appropriate.

The measures could provide reassurance to critics  including some General Assembly members  who believe UVa is overlooking the needs of in-state students.

About 69 percent  more than 11,300 students  of UVas current undergraduate population are Virginia residents, according to the latest numbers from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Thats up slightly from 67 percent during the 1992-93 academic year, the oldest statistics provided by SCHEVs online database.

But some members of the General Assembly, including Del. Timothy Hugo, R-Fairfax, have pushed for laws mandating up to 75 percent of students admitted to Virginia universities be from the commonwealth.

Hugo called the in-state enrollment increase passed by the BOV on Tuesday totally inadequate.

Its really an insult to the taxpayers of Virginia and the outstanding young men and women hoping to attend school at UVa but are forced to go across the [state] border to somewhere else, he said.

Goodwin acknowledged the tensions with some legislators but said that wasnt the reason for the new initiatives.

Certainly the legislature has some expectations, and I would think this would be a help to their [minds], he said. But I think this is the right thing to do. And its not done to solely satisfy legislators.
For many years we have watched Russia warily, always worrying what its leaders were up to. Now we seem to be certain: They are trying to manipulate our government by influencing our very elections.

Scores of American politicians and "celebrities" are battling both the leaders in the Kremlin and some of our own by boycotting the inauguration of a controversial president, Donald Trump. And what are the pols in the Kremlin doing? Laughing their heads off, probably. What greater gift could we give to Vladimir Putin than tearing our country apart and blaming (crediting?) his evil genius?

On a broader scale, it is interesting to see the switch in political polarity that has occurred during this election. Time was, Republicans and other conservatives blamed a host of evils on Russia (then the Soviet Union), while Democrats and other liberals often focused on its good points. Now we seem to see the two taking opposite sides, at least in the tolerant attitude of Mr. Trump.

Time will tell if the poles once again reverse, perhaps in another election season.

Tom Doran

Buckingham County
More than 10 million people visited Virginia State Parks last year  a 12 percent increase over 2015, according to a recent news release from the office of Gov. Terry McAuliffe. On a related note, the proposed Battlefield State Park in Culpeper County remains on the horizon as local advocates continue to call for its creation at Civil War sites that could potentially attract thousands of visitors per year.

In the meantime, the closest state park to Culpeper at Lake Anna in Spotsylvania County saw a slight decrease in visitors last year while the second closest state park at Sky Meadows in Fauquier realized a 4 percent boost in attendance year over year, according to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Visitors to Lake Anna totaled 400,893 last year compared to 401,172 in 2015  a .07 percent reduction.

Department of Conservation and Recreation spokeswoman Shannon Johnson said there is no one reason why park attendance is up or down, but that weather is usually the No. 1 factor.

Lake Anna may have had a great year in 2015. They only decreased by about (300) visits in 2016 so this could be the difference of one cloudy Saturday, she said. The park makes most of its revenue on swimming guests so weather does play a huge factor at this park.

In addition to a beach area and swimming, Lake Anna  about 30 miles from Culpeper  offers a fishing pond, boat launch and boathouse, concession complex, camping, cabins, 15 miles of trails, a visitors center and tours of the old Goodwin gold mine.

The park also hosts special events including the ICY-8 Adventure Trail Run on Feb. 4. It starts at 7:15 a.m. at the visitors center with participants able to run as much as they want. Registration closes Feb. 1.

A Snakes Alive home school class will be held at 10 a.m. on Feb. 8, also in the visitors center, as part of Lake Anna State Parks monthly Standards of Learning-based activities for area homeschoolers.

Over at Sky Meadows State Park  about 50 miles from Culpeper  last years attendance reached 217,805, compared to 208,945 in 2015, according to the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The park is located on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering 10.5 miles of bridle trails, 24 miles of hiking trails, nine miles of bike trails and access to the Appalachian Trail.

It also hosts nature history programs, and primitive hike-in camping in addition to fishing and picnicking. The circa 1840s Bleak House on site serves as the visitors center and will be open for more extensive tours in the spring.

On Feb. 25, Sky Meadows hosts a history event, Drill, Boredom and More Drill: Winter Life of Civil War Soldiers featuring a daylong recreation of an 1861 encampment.

McAuliffe said Virginias State Park system is the best in the country.

State parks are a vital part of communities large and small, attracting visitors to the region and generating substantial tourism revenue that directly benefits our local economies, he said.

Department of Conservation & Recreation Director Clyde Cristman said the states 37 state parks have impacted the Virginia economy to the tune of $222 million.

A 2015 economic study of a state park on the Culpeper County Civil War battlefields at Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain estimated it would generate more than $4 million in local tourism spending within five years of opening. Many groups are supporting the idea, including the Civil War Trust, Culpeper Dept. of Tourism, Brandy Station Foundation, Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield and Virginia Association for Parks, among others, but it has yet to gain real traction at the legislative level.

Johnson, asked Wednesday about the initiative, had no new activity to report.

Civil War Trust spokeswoman Meg Martin said Wednesday that key members of the Brandy Station & Cedar Mountain State Park Alliance participated in last months Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Legislative Forum, advocating on the proposed parks behalf directly to Culpepers state legislative delegation.

The circa 1813 estate at PresquIsle in Culpeper County survived the Civil War  it sits adjacent to the Brandy Station Battlefield, which remains the largest cavalry battle ever fought on North America with more than 20,000 men on horseback clashing there on June 9, 1863.

The current owners at PresquIsle are among the alliance supporting the local state park. The site retains two original slave quarters.

Co-owner Josh Millson-Martula said in a recent email to the Star-Exponent that a state park in Culpeper would be an economic asset for the area.

It would present a great opportunity for locals and visitors to experience an important part of the regions history while helping to add context and cohesion to many of the other nearby historical sites and attractions, he said.

To support a state park in Culpeper, check out http://www.civilwar.org/take-action/speak-out/bscm/bscm-alliance.html to sign a letter to the Virginia General Assembly.
Tickets start at $30

NOTE: Due to scheduling conflicts, STEEP CANYON RANGERS must cancel the March 17, 2018 concert. The concert was part of Victoria Theatre Associations Projects Unlimited Star Attractions Series. Refunds will be processed through Ticket Center Stage. Ticket holders will be contacted by email or phone by a Ticket Center Stage. For questions regarding ticket refunds, please contact Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630, 888-228-3630, Ticket Center Stage is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Theyre as danceable as the most progressive, party-oriented string band, and equally comfortable translating their songs for accompaniment by a full symphony. Its that mix of serious chops and good-natured fun that earned the STEEP CANYON RANGERS the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album Grammy in 2013 (for Nobody Knows You), and that drew celebrated comedian/banjoist Steve Martin to them when he needed a backing band. Fifteen years and nine studio albums since forming in Chapel Hill, the sextet  who resides in the western North Carolina mountains of Brevard and Asheville  returned to their roots at Echo Mountain Recording for their staggering new collection, Radio.
The Bajaj V12 is priced at Rs 56,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi) and appears similar to the V15 apart from minor cosmetic changes and a different engine. The visible differences are a 5-spoke alloy wheel and a front drum brake. It also has rubber gaiters on front forks and gets a pronounced grab rail. While the rear tyres are slimmer, the front ones are same as compared to the V15. The V12 also has a slightly less kerb weight.

The biggest change on the bike is the new 125cc engine which is derived from the V15's 149cc engine but gets a different head architecture. The V12 is powered by a 125cc single-cylinder, engine mated to a 5-speed transmission, which produces 11PS and 11Nm of torque.

The Bajaj V12 is available in three colours - Wine Red, Midnight Blue and Ebony Black. We might see more colour options in the future. The V15 was well received by the audience thanks to its butch looks, fat rear tyre, removable plastic cowl and beefy exhaust. Its low pricing too attracted a lot of price-sensitive customers. Dealer sources inform us that the V12 is receiving similar interest from customers with a substantial amount of enquiries/bookings coming their way.

Source: Bikedekho.com
Mumbai: In a big relief to Tata Sons, National Company Law Tribunal on Wednesday dismissed contempt plea brought in by Cyrus Mistry against the company, CNBC-TV18 reported.

Mistry took up the issue of his ouster as Tata Sons chairman with NCLT after he engaged in a bitter battle of words with Ratan Tata for weeks.

Earlier, he had alleged in a plea that Tata Sons overlooked minority interests in the company and also claimed the company indulged in oppression and mismanagement.

Sterling Investments and Cyrus Investments, two Mistry family run companies, approached the tribunal with the grievance. Earlier, NCLT had refused to grant interim relief to Mistry who wanted his ouster turned void and entire Tata Sons board disbanded.

Mistry had invoked section 241 of the Companies Act to support his claims made in the petition.

Meanwhile, Cyrus Mistry indicated he will file an affidavit to stay Tata Sons EGM within 3 days and Tata Sons will file a rejoinder to Mistry's affidavit in 3 days thereafter, the channel reported.
RIL and Sibur set up RSEPL joint venture in February 2012 to produce 1,20,000 tonnes of butyl rubber per year

New Delhi: Reliance Industries and Russian petrochemical giant Sibur have signed an agreement to set up South Asia's first butyl rubber halogenation unit at Jamnagar in Gujarat.

The two signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the same at last week's Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gandhinagar, RIL said in a statement without giving investment details.

The unit, to be set up at RIL's integrated petrochemical site in Jamnagar, Gujarat, "will produce 60,000 tonnes of halogenated butyl rubber every year under Reliance Sibur

Elastomers Pvt Ltd (RSEPL), a joint venture in which RIL owns 74.9 per cent and Sibur 25.1 per cent", it said.

Halogenated butyl rubber is used to manufacture tubeless tyres. Apart from the planned halogenation unit, the joint venture owns a 1,20,000-tonne per annum butyl rubber plant, currently under construction at the same venue which will provide the necessary butyl rubber feed to the halogenation unit.

Nikhil Meswani, Executive Director, RIL, said, "RSEPL's halogenated butyl rubber plant will be well-poised to capitalise on the significant surge in regional demand in tyre and pharmaceutical industries."

India, he said, is expected to see a quantum jump in tyre production, with domestic and international tyre majors lining up Rs 15,000 crore of investment. "The halogenated butyl rubber demand is expected to grow at a rapid pace of 8-10 per cent CAGR over the next few years, driven by increasing customer preference for tubeless tyres in India and neighbouring countries, and significant investments in manufacturing of pharmaceutical closures and tank inner liners," he said.

Sibur Chairman Dmitry Konov said India offers attractive investment opportunities, given the growing local demand for synthetic rubbers and Gujarat's favourable investment environment, coupled with the well-developed infrastructure and raw material.

"Sibur has a long track record of successful cooperation with RIL and Gujarat government, which has provided us with a solid basis for expanding our footprint in India," he said.

Halogenated butyl rubber is a key ingredient for manufacturing inner liner of tubeless tyre. With the Indian automobile trend aligning with global trends, penetration of tubeless tyres is expected to accelerate in the Indian market, resulting in an increased demand of halogenated butyl rubber.

The ingredient is also used in the manufacturing of pharma stoppers and inner liner of storage tanks. "Construction of the butyl rubber plant is in full swing at Jamnagar, its commissioning targeted for 2018," the statement said, adding that production from RSEPL will substitute imports and reduce outflow of valuable foreign exchange from India.

RIL and Sibur set up RSEPL joint venture in February 2012 to produce 1,20,000 tonnes of butyl rubber per year at former's integrated petrochemical site in Jamnagar.
New Delhi: A crucial meeting of Parliament's standing committee on finance over the demonetisation issue began here this morning with Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel expected to brief it on the matter.

Senior bureaucrats, including Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikant Das, Banking Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal and Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, and top bank honchos like Chanda Kochhar of ICICI Bank and Usha Ananthasubramanian of Punjab National Bank are also to appear before the committee headed by Congress leader Veerappa Moily.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is one of its members. Patel will brief the parliamentary panel about demonetisation and its impact on the economy and the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch post withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

The meeting will discuss the "demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and the impact thereof". The RBI Governor is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet today approved apared-down modified special incentive package meant to boost electronics manufacturing by cutting down the application window by about one and a half year to December 31, 2018, and capping the outflow at Rs 10,000 crore.

"We have today amended MSIPS scheme. Now, proposals under MSIPS will be accepted till December 2018. Incentives of Rs 10,000 crore have been allowed. If investment is more than of USD 1 billion, then a high-powered committee presided by the Cabinet secretary will approve it," Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters today.

Under the scheme, the applications will be received up to December 31, 2018, or till such time that an incentive commitment of Rs 10,000 crore is reached, whichever is earlier, an official statement said.

The previous amendment in MSIPS in August 2015 had extended the scheme till July 27, 2020. The Cabinet, however, has decided to review the decision on further financial commitments in case the incentive commitment of Rs 10,000 crore is reached.

For new approvals, the incentive will be available from the date of approval of a project and not from the date of receipt of application. The Cabinet has also halved the period of investment from 10 years to five years to avail incentives.

"The incentives will be available for investments made within 5 years from the date of approval of the project," the statement said. A unit receiving such benefits under the scheme will provide an undertaking to remain in commercial production for at least 3 years.

A government official said the idea behind the new changes is to get serious players in and expedite the projects. However, the government has decided to give approval in time-bound manner to applicants which will be "within 120 days of submission of the complete application".

Investments above Rs 6,850 crore will be cleared by a high powered committee. "A separate Committee headed by the Cabinet secretary and comprising CEO, NITI Aayog, expenditure secretary and MeitY secretary will be set up in respect of mega projects, envisaging more than Rs 6,850 crore (around USD 1 billion) investments," the statement said.

An official source said the Cabinet secretary-headed panel will decide whether the incentives for the projects being screened by it should be provided within the Rs 10,000 crore limit or considered separately.

In July 2012, the Cabinet had approved M-SIPS to provide a special incentive package to promote large scale manufacturing in the electronic system design and manufacturing (ESDM) sector.

The scheme provides subsidy for capital expenditure  20 per cent for investments in special economic zones (SEZs) and25 per cent in non-SEZs. It has attracted investments in the ESDM sector to the tune of Rs 1,26,838 crore, of which investments of around Rs 17,997 crore have been approved by the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
Further details on the case are awaited.

Mumbai: A rape case has been registered against Bollywood film producer Karim Morani for allegedly raping a Delhi-based woman on promise of marriage, police said today.

The woman, aged around 25, lodged a complaint with Hayathnagar Police under Rachakonda police commissionerate last week alleging that Morani had "raped" her in Mumbai and at a film studio here in 2015, DCP (LB Nagar Zone) Tafseer Iqubal told PTI.

"She accused Morani of raping her on different occasions in Mumbai and here by promising to marry her. The alleged incident took place during 2015," the senior police officer said, adding "We have taken up the investigation."

Following the complaint a case under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation), 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and other relevant sections of IPC has been filed, the DCP said.

Further probe is on, said the officer. Morani could not be reached for comments.
Karan is in the Swiss Land to attend the World Economic Forum.

Mumbai: Karan Johar has been in the news for the sensational revelations made in his biography, 'An Unsuitable Boy,' and social media has been unable to get enough of him.

The ace director, who last helmed the successful 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil,' has also been much into his usual business in the latest season of his much appreciated celebrity chat show, Koffee with Karan.

KJo had also got invited invited to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, after such legends as Amitabh Bachchan and AR Rahman.

After Shah Rukh Khan launched his biography, Karan flew to the Swiss land right away to attend the event.

And believe it or not, he was hanging out with none other than George Clooney.

George and wife Amal, a human rights lawyer, are in Davos. The couple, who were also attendees at the Forum, met Syrian refuges and heard their tales.

Karan, who's yet to commence work on his next directorial, is going international and how!
Mumbai: Akshay Kumar is one actor you wouldn't expect to resort to a body double and the superstar never disappoints.

The actor, considered to be the pioneer of breath-taking action and pantomime physical fitness in Bollywood, has performed the most death-defying of stunts in his films, himself.

The 'Khiladi Kumar,' who'll next be seen in Subhash Kapoor's 'Jolly LLB 2,' did an encore while filming one of the scenes in the film.

The actor, who'd never been to Banaras, where the film was predominantly shot, previously, had to jump into the raging Ganga, right after the monsoons.

While director Subhash was hesitant, and suggested the use of a body double for the scene, Akki insisted he would do it himself.

And much to the surprise of the crew, not only did he pull it off smoothly, he also went on to enjoy a good few minutes of carefree swimming.

Trust Akshay to push all sorts of physical boundaries!

'Jolly LLB 2,' also starring Huma Quereshi, Annu Kapoor and Saurabh Shukla, is slated to release on February 10.

Watch the video here:
Four months after being robbed at gunpoint in Paris, Kim Kardashian is filming a cameo for the upcoming female heist caper "Ocean's Eight."

Kardashian, dressed in a white sheer ballgown and fur jacket, and her half sister Kendall Jenner, wearing white lace, were photographed in New York on Monday, after apparently shooting scenes at a fictitious Metropolitan Museum of Art gala for the movie.

A Hollywood source said the sisters are making cameos for the film, whose A-list stars include Sandra Bullock, Rihanna, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway.

Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour and fashion designer Zac Posen have also been spotted near the set of the movie, whose plot reportedly includes a jewel robbery at New York's annual Met Gala, a celebrity-packed fundraiser.

In October, Kardashian was tied up and robbed of some $10 million of jewellery in Paris while attending fashion week. The robbery caused her to retreat from public life and social media but in the past couple of weeks, the TV reality star has travelled to Dubai, begun making appearances again and returned to her popular Twitter and Instagram accounts.

"Ocean's Eight" is a female-driven spinoff of the "Ocean's Eleven" crime caper trilogy starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the early 2000's.

It is expected to arrive in movie theatres in June 2018
Paris: Clinical trials which conclude that the drug being tested works are more likely to be conducted by researchers with financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, a study said Wednesday.

The investigation, published in The BMJ medical journal, was fuelled by concerns about bias on the part of doctors and scientists running drug trials.

Nearly 60 percent of some 400 principal investigators in 195 clinical drug trials analysed had traceable financial ties to the drug industry, the researchers found.

Such ties, in turn, "were independently associated with positive clinical trial results", wrote the team, led by Salomeh Keyhani of the University of California in San Francisco. Financial ties included honorariums, payment for consulting work, and stock ownership.

This did not necessarily mean that results were falsified, the researchers pointed out. It could also be that the results of failed drug trials are simply not published.

"More thought needs to be given to the roles that investigators, policy makers and journal editors can play in ensuring the credibility of the evidence base," the BMJ study concluded.

The investigation looked at a selection of randomised clinical trials conducted in the United States in 2013. In a typical randomised trial, a group of volunteers taking a new medication are compared to a group given a look-alike placebo with no active ingredients.

Previous investigations into possible bias linked to financial ties have yielded conflicting results. In a 2002 survey of more than 3,200 US National Institutes of Health scientists, 15 percent admitting to fiddling with the design, methods or results of a trial under pressure from a funder.

In the peer-review process, medical and scientific journals distribute studies submitted for publication to outside experts for review. Most journals also require authors to disclose any conflicts of interest.

"Journals could help by rejecting research by authors who are unwilling to share their data, and by penalising authors who fail to disclose financial ties," commented Adreas Lundh of the University of Southern Denmark and Lisa Bero of the University Sydney, also in The BMJ.
People across the world must surely have included becoming fit and exercising regularly in their new years resolutions for 2017 but even as almost a month has passed most are struggling to get out of bed on a winter morning to start our hectic days with a work out.

But even as young people cant seem to get started with their fitness regime, a 94-year-old grandma from Australia is putting everyone to shame as she attends 10 gym classes every week. While she is more enthusiastic about fitness than most of us, she does take a break on Thursdays, since thats when she does some intense Zumba.

Not only does the gym junkie averse to the idea of sitting around and doing nothing, she always looks forward to meeting new people at the gym and also jokes that she likes hugging the men.

Edna Shepherd has won accolades from local administration and even as she is 94, Edna has no plans to give up on her active lifestyle.
New Delhi: The 38-year-old man, who was arrested in east Delhi last week for allegedly sexually assaulting several schoolgirls, was hunting for minor girls even when his daughter needed medical attention.

According to a report in The Indian Express, on January 10, serial rapist Sunil Rastogi along with his daughter and brother-in-law went to his relatives home as she was depressed and had fever for the last few days.

After arriving at the relatives home in the morning, he went out looking for unattended minor girls in New Ashok Nagar instead of taking his ill daughter to hospital.

He swore to return after taking care of some unfinished business. His daughter went to the hospital by herself and returned in the afternoon He didnt return the entire day, Rastogis 35-year-old brother-in-law said.

I was sent by his wife to ensure he would be present with her, he added.

Rastogi was arrested on Saturday on the basis of tip off, DCP (East) Omvir Singh said. He told police he had sexually assaulted many minor girls in Uttarakhand's Rudrapur, where he currently stays, Ghaziabad and New Ashok Nagar in east Delhi.

"The accused told police that he used to target minor girls. Whenever he would find any minor girl going to home from school, he used to mislead her on the pretext that her father had sent some clothes or some other articles to give her and take her to an isolated place," he added.

Police have been able to identify 58 girls who allegedly had been his victims.

Police said the girls who participated in the test identification parade broke down during the exercise as they were reminded of the incident when he had tried to sexually assault them.

Three other girls also came forward along with their families alleging Rastogi had sexually assaulted them.

The accused works as a tailor and is married with five children, including three girls, said another officer, adding that his daughters are being counselled to know whether he had also targeted them.

To make the case watertight against Rastogi, the Delhi Police is planning to conduct DNA and brain-mapping tests on him.
A six-year-old orphan boy was allegedly sodomised by three staffers of an ashram in central Delhi. (Representational image)

New Delhi: A six-year-old orphan boy was allegedly sodomised by three staffers of an ashram in central Delhi's IP Estate area.

The incident came to light after the boy, who was being victimised by the accused for a long while, reported the matter to the ashram chairman's secretary on January 14, according to a senior police officer.

Four counsellors visited the ashram to speak to the victim but one of them was allegedly thrashed by one of the accused, the officer said.

Two separate FIRs, one for the sodomy and another for beating the counsellor, have been lodged under relevant provisions of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) at the IP Estate police station, he said.

One of the accused, Amarjeet has been arrested while two other staffers - Chandan and Mangal - were at large, he said.

The incident was reported on January 14 when one of the counsellors was informed by an ashram representative about the boy's suffering of the boy who was brought to the ashram by one of the members six months ago.

When the counsellors questioned one of the accused about the abuse, Chandan thrashed her. The counsellor was rescued after police arrived at the spot.
Bengaluru: Yet another case of molestation has been reported in the city. This time, a woman from the Northeast has alleged that two men dragged her out of a bar, put her in a car and later abandoned her on the night of January 13.

The police arrested the two accused on Wednesday and produced them before the court, which remanded them to judicial custody. They have been identified as Ricky alias Thimmanna Uttappa, 34, a resident of Richmond Town and a software engineer, and a Yemen national Ayub Ali, 26, a resident of OMBR Layout. Ayub is also an employee with a software company in the city.

In her complaint to the police, the victim has alleged that the men misbehaved with her when she had gone to Fusion Lounge Bar on Brigade Road. After dragging her out of the bar, they took her in their car and left her on the middle of the road in Banaswadi.

Sources said that the victim, who is from Arunachal Pradesh, came in contact with the accused six months ago, while she was working at a private company.
Ludhiana: If voted to power, Aam Aadmi Party will make Punjab the "first corruption-free state" in the country, the party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

The Delhi Chief Minister claimed that in the national capital his government has to face "hurdles created by the BJP-led Central government", but in Punjab the party would have a "free hand" in its development as it is a "full-fledged" state.

Addressing a meeting of the members of the district bar association in Ludhiana, he alleged that the law and order situation in the state is in shambles.

"Murders, incidents of loot are taking place without any fear of authorities," he claimed and alleged that no case is being solved as police are now answerable not to the people but to "political bosses" including ministers, MLAs, area in-charges and jathedars.

Kejriwal said if his party forms government in Punjab, it would provide all type of facilities and benefits to police that they "badly need". But if they (police) do not improve despite this, they will be "dealt with an iron hand".

Earlier, he went to Bhaini Sahib, the headquarters of the Namdhari sect, 30 km from here and spent about half an hour with Satguru D Thakur Udey Singh, the head of the sect.
In the 2012 assembly elections, BJP's hope of retaining power on the back of the then Chief Minister B C Khanduri's clean image was dashed tantalisingly close to the finish line with Congress winning 32 seats, one more than its 31. (Photo: Representational Image/PTI)

New Delhi: BJP hopes to do an Assam in Uttarakhand by replicating the strategy it adopted in the northeastern state where it poached on several Congress leaders before launching a successful electoral campaign.

If the likes of Himanta Biswa Sarma and other Congress MLAs supporting him helped BJP realise its dream of forming a government in Assam by switching their loyalty before 2016 assembly polls, saffron party leaders expect a similar result in Uttarakhand with the joining of Congress satraps like Yashpal Arya, Kedar Rawat, Harak Singh Rawat and Satpal Maharaj. Satpal Maharaj, a former union minister, had joined BJP last year.

All these leaders enjoy a loyal support base in different regions of the state where fluctuation of even one per cent vote proves decisive.

In the 2012 assembly elections, BJP's hope of retaining power on the back of the then Chief Minister B C Khanduri's clean image was dashed tantalisingly close to the finish line with Congress winning 32 seats, one more than its 31. The difference in votes polled by the two parties was a mere 0.66 per cent in favour of Congress.

In the three assembly elections in the state after it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh, BJP's best performance was in 2007 when it won 35 out of 70 seats, one short of simple majority, and formed government under Khanduri.

In Assam too, former Congress veterans like Sarma played a key role in BJP winning elections with a strong majority. It has now roped in Sarma to expand its footprint across other northeastern states.

Even Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was formerly in AGP before he joined BJP in 2011 and led it to successive victories in 2014 Lok Sabha polls and state assembly polls.

"We are sure that these Congress leaders will tilt the scale decisively in our favour," a BJP leader said about the party's prospects in Uttarakhand.

Regional satraps can be particularly useful as BJP has not declared a chief ministerial candidate, while incumbent Chief Minister Harish Rawat is the face of Congress there.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Congress on Wednesday questioned the central government's decision to provide 'Y' category security to four BJP state leaders and said it was against the principles of federal structure.

Opposition Leader in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said providing 'Y' category security to BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan and three general secretaries, M T Ramesh, K Surendran and P K Krishnadas without consulting the state government, was not right and against the principles of federal structure.

"In case the four leaders were facing any threat, the state government should have been informed. It was the state's responsibility to ensure security to them," he said in a statement.

Only if the state government shows any laxity can the Home Ministry intervene, he said.

Here the state government has been completely kept in the dark and the Home Ministry has directly provided them 'Y' category security which is against the federal principles, he said.
Based on Interpol input of an IP address from which child porn contents were being shared from Hyderabad, the CID sleuths zeroed in on him and seized a laptop containing 29,288 items, including child porn videos and images. (Photo: Representational Image)

Hyderabad: Telangana police are planning to approach the Interpol and the US Embassy for information on the antecedents of a US citizen who was arrested from Hyderabad for allegedly circulating child porn content online, and they will also probe if any Indians connived with him in the offence.

"We will write to the Interpol and also to the US Embassy asking them to share information with us on his background.

That has to be further verified," Telangana CID Inspector General of Police Soumya Mishra told PTI on Wednesday.

James Kirk Jones, 42, working with a multinational law firm in Hyderabad, was arrested by the Cyber Crime Wing of CID on January 16 from his residence at Madhapur, for allegedly downloading and uploading child porn videos and images.

Based on Interpol input of an IP address from which child porn contents were being shared from Hyderabad, the CID sleuths zeroed in on him and seized a laptop containing 29,288 items, including child porn videos and images.

They also found that there were 497 GigaTribe (a file-sharing site) profiles and 24 Twitter handlers/profiles, with whom he was connected, sharing child pornography.

"We have recovered huge material from his residence. Over 29,000 video clips, images of child porn stored in his laptop. An external hard disk and cell phone containing adult porn content was also seized," Mishra said, adding that with all this evidence they are confident of having a strong case.

Jones, who is unmarried, allegedly confessed that from an early age he developed the habit of watching child pornography and has been downloading, watching and sharing such material ever since, she said.

"He has confessed that he has been doing this from a long time. He was living in Hyderabad for the past five years and he must have been doing it. What all he has done we will further probe all the electronic evidence that we have got and find out how many people from India cooperated with him or have been conniving with him to see the entire range of the crime that has been committed," Mishra said.

Further investigation into his activities in India is in progress. The Twitter handles and GigaTribe profiles are further being probed to find out if any of the profiles belong to India, CID officials said.

"We want to know how many from India are also doing such things and if they are from Telangana, we will nab them. If any of them are from other parts of the country we will share information with police of the other states," they said.

"From our inquiries, he seems to be the lone operator from Hyderabad. He was doing it from his residence itself and not from the office. But online he was sharing with many people," they said.

"We will try to find who they were and if they are residents of India, necessary legal action will be initiated," they added.

"We are inquiring into that and finding out who they are also may be other nationals, we have to find out their actual addresses and trace them," the CID officials said.

A case under relevant sections of Information Technology Act has been slapped against the accused who has been sent in judicial remand and is lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad.
New Delhi: Latching on to IMF's projection of lower growth rate for India, Congress today targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonetisation accusing him of "derailing" the country's growth story.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his hubris has managed to do what our enemies have failed since 1947, which is derail India's economic growth story," the party said.

Noting that the latest prediction by the International Monetary Fund has lowered India's GDP growth forecast from 7.6 per cent to 6.6 per cent, it said it is "primarily due to Modi's demonetisation decision."

In a post titled "India no longer the fastest growing economy, courtesy PM Modi", the AICC said that the justification for the lowering of the GDP forecast was "primarily due to the temporary negative consumption shock induced by cash shortages and payment disruptions".

Industry, trade and agriculture have all been negatively hit due to the governments decision, which has been panned by reputed economists from across the world, the opposition party said.

"Never before has an Indian Prime Minister exposed his own office to such a level of global criticism. In contrast, the IMF has raised China's GDP growth forecast due to an expected policy stimulus," it said.

"The economic disruption has been seen across almost all sectors. Bank credit fell to a multi-decade low for the fortnight ending December 23, 2016. SBI chief economist has said this has been the slowest credit growth in over 60 years.

The purchasing managers index (PMI) has shown that both manufacturing and services have shown contraction," the post said.

"When Modi went on his election campaign in 2013, armed as he was, with good speech writers and well-funded public relations machinery behind him, he lamented the 'pitiable state' of India's economic story," it said.

Attacking the Prime Minister, the party said that Modi promised to take the economy to 'new heights', but all he did was some "simple number jugglery" to show a growth in the GDP.

He has been unable to deliver neither jobs nor the economic progress he promised, the party said. "Forget surpassing UPA's record, he has not even been able to match it. While Modi can give good speeches, it is the Congress which gives India good policies targeted at strengthening the Indian economy, and empowering its people", it added.
New Delhi: In the backdrop of growing unease in Sino-India ties, India on Tuesday said it has been trying to convince the Chinese government that its ascent is not harmful to the rise of China and that both countries should be sensitive on matter relating to sovereignty.

In an address at the Raisina Dialogue, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar took strong objection to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, saying there should have been some reflection on India's unhappiness over it.

"What we are trying to do is to convince China that our rise is not harmful to China's rise just as China's rise need not be to India's rise," he said at the gathering attended by representatives from across the world.

A chill has set in the Sino-India ties following China's opposition to India's membership at the Nuclear Suppliers Group as well as Beijing blocking India's move at the UN to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

During the interactive session, during which he touched upon a vast array of subjects concerning international relations, Jaishankar said the SAARC has been made "ineffective due to the insecurity of one member".

Identifying terrorism as the most "pervasive and serious challenge" to international security, the Foreign Secretary said developing a serious global response to it is of the highest priority but rued that it is hard to do.

On ties with China, Jaishankar said there has been overall broadening of ties, especially in areas of business and people-to-people contact, but they have been overshadowed by differences on certain political issues.

"But it is important for the two countries not to lose sight of the strategic nature of their engagement, or falter in their conviction that their rise can be mutually

supportive," he said.

Replying to a question on CPEC, he said both countries should show sensitivity to each other's sovereignty.

"China is a country which is very sensitive on matters concerning its sovereignty. So we would expect that they would have some understanding of other people's sensitivity on their sovereignty," he said.

Jaishankar said the CPEC passes through a "piece of land that we call Pakistan occupied-Kashmir which is territory belongs to India and which is illegally occupied by Pakistan".

He said the project has been undertaken without consultation with India and that its sensitivity and concerns towards it are natural.

On India's overall ties with China, he said both the countries have opened up significantly since 1945.

"In a sense, both of us, if you step back and look at it, are opening up a very close international order. When people talk about change since 1945, I think two big changes are really India and China.

"I would say if China had not opened up the international order the way it did, I think it would be much harder today for India also to exploit those phases. There is a high degree of shared interests," he said.
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday said it will not "interfere" on the issue of protests in the city against the ban on Jallikattu, holding that the Supreme Court was seized of the matter.

The court made this observation when a mention was made by an advocate K Balu in the open court about the protests at the Marina on the Jallikattu issue.

He brought to the court's notice disconnection of power supply in the area when a "peaceful demonstration" was going on Tuesday evening. Besides, drinking water was not provided to protesters, he complained.

The first bench, comprising Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice M Sundar, declined to "interfere in the matter at this stage."

"First of all, the apex court is seized of the matter. When it is so, even the High Court and Tamil Nadu government cannot do anything and moreover, Marina Road is not a place for any demonstrations. The court does not want to interfere at this stage," the bench said.

As pro-Jallikattu protests gained steam with a group of youngsters continuing their agitation at the Marina here overnight, the state government today held talks with the protesters to sort out the matter.

The government also told the youths that it would even approach the President seeking an ordinance on the matter.

The Supreme Court had on January 12 rejected a plea urging it to pass judgement on the sport before Pongal festival.

The apex court had outlawed Jallikattu in 2014 and the state government's review petition was also dismissed last December.

It has reserved judgement on a matter related to the Centre's notification of last year to exempt alligator from the ban.
Mumbai: With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election in Maharashtra just a month away, Shiv Sena has hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by comparing demonetisation to a nuclear bomb that the Centre dropped on the Indian economy, akin to Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

Shiv Sena bashed the BJP government  its ally at the Centre  over the scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana.

It compared the Indian economy with Hiroshima and Nagasaki  the two cities of Japan that were destroyed when the United States dropped atomic bombs on them during the World War II.

"Modi appears to be not in a mood to listen to anybody today... Deaf and dumb parrots have been installed in the council of ministers and a similar RBI Governor has been appointed, who have let the nation's economy shake in its roots," the editorial said.

"Even ASSOCHAM has concluded that 40 lakh jobs have been lost post demonetisation and that the number will rise in future. This means that by dropping the nuclear bomb of note ban, Modi has turned the Indian economy into Hiroshima, Nagasaki. We are very worried about the nation's future," it said.

Recalling Modi's statement during a recent visit to Maharashtra that he used to seek Sharad Pawar's advice on matters of governance, Sena said that had the PM consulted the NCP chief on demonetisation, he would have advised him not to insult the co-operative movement, which is the backbone of rural economy.

"The backbone of farmers has been broken and nobody is there to ask about their condition. By barring district co-operative (DCC) banks from exchanging old notes, all such banks have been labelled corrupt," the editorial said.

Farmers use DCC banks for their daily transactions and if the government thinks these farmers are black-marketers, it has no right to say 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' slogan, the party said.

The Sena noted that beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who allegedly owe banks crores of rupees, had never had his loans from DCC banks.

"We are pained to see that the paces of lives of people have been derailed," it added.

Shiv Senas comments against the BJP government came about a month ahead of the BMC election, for which the two parties are holding discussions on their prospective alliance for the upcoming BMC polls.

The BJP has been emphasising repeatedly that it would forge an alliance with the Sena only on the condition of clean functioning. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also raised the issue of transparency and criticised corruption in the BMC.

The Sena, however, said the norms should be extended at the central and state government levels as well.
Chennai: Nearly 40 people were found guilty on Tuesday of buying and selling girls in Karnataka, signalling a rare victory for prosecutors in a country where fewer than two in five trafficking cases ends in a conviction.

Human traffickers, pimps and brothel owners were among the 39 people convicted by a district court in Ballari with sentencing due on Wednesday, according to prosecutor Rathod Ramsingh, who said he hoped the verdict would deter others.

"Normally only the pimps get picked up but this time everyone involved in buying, selling and reselling of these girls has been found guilty," Ramsingh said.

The prosecution came after Ballari police raided several brothels in 2013, rescuing 43 women and 21 children, including a 13-year-old, and seizing evidence including cash and account ledgers.

Seven of the rescued victims were from Bangladesh and the rest were from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka and Odisha.

A further 48 suspects in the case are being tried in three separate cases in Karnataka.

Of an estimated 20 million commercial sex workers in India, 16 million women and girls are victims of sex trafficking, according to non-governmental organisations working in the country.

Of the 2,075 human trafficking cases that were prosecuted in 2015, 824 ended in a conviction, according to India's national crime records bureau.

Campaigners welcomed Tuesday's verdict, saying it should encourage other victims to come forward.

"This conviction is because of the courage of the survivors, all young women, who walked into the packed courtroom to identify their traffickers and the men who abused them," said Adrian Phillips of non-profit Justice and Care that worked with the police on the case.

"Offenders who previously assumed they would get away with the crime will now know otherwise."
If the claim of the three accused turns out to be true, it would be the first such case of train derailment in India carried out at the behest of the Pakistani agency. (Photo: Representational Image)

New Delhi: A two-member team of NIA has been dispatched to Bihar by the Home Ministry for investigation into the claims of three arrested persons that the derailment of Indore-Patna Express was carried out at the behest of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.

The Home Ministry has also sought reports from the Bihar government and central security agencies regarding the arrest of Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar and Mukesh Yadav and their disclosures to Bihar Police.

Official sources said the role of ISI will be probed by the NIA and find out whether there was a larger conspiracy involving ISI agents based in Nepal and Dubai. Central intelligence agencies are now questioning the three accused.

If the claim of the three accused turns out to be true, it would be the first such case of train derailment in India carried out at the behest of the Pakistani agency, the sources said.

A report is also being sought from RAW about ISI activities in Nepal and India. The three persons arrested on Tuesday in East Champaran district in Bihar had told police that they were paid Rs 3 lakh to plant explosives at Ghorasahan in the district on October 1, 2016.

A report is said to have come from Nepal confirming the Bihar Police's claim that Pakistan's ISI had paid Rs 30 lakh to its agent Brajesh Giri for triggering blasts on rail tracks targeting popular trains in Bihar, the sources said.

Central security agencies were now looking for two more persons identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav in East Champaran area for their suspected links with the accused.

The role of ISI in the recent train disaster in Kanpur was being suspected after Bihar Police had yesterday arrested three persons who they claimed were working for the Pakistani spy agency to target Indian railways.

The ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police had said.

During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana had said.
New Delhi: Growing military ambitions in the Asia-Pacific are creating security risks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday in a coded message to China to exercise strategic restraint.

Although couched in diplomatic language and not mentioning China by name, Modi's remarks in a keynote foreign policy speech aligned New Delhi with US President-elect Donald Trump's intent to curb Beijing's regional clout.

"Rising ambition and rivalries are generally visible stress points," Modi told an audience of politicians and top military brass from 65 nations at a security conference in New Delhi.

"The steady increase in military power, resources and wealth in the Asia-Pacific has raised the stakes of security."

The US Republican has, since Trumps shock election victory in November over Democrat Hillary Clinton, called into question the "One China" policy that Washington has adhered to for decades.

His pick for secretary of state, former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, also told a confirmation hearing that Beijing's militarisation of reclaimed islands in the disputed waters of the South China Sea must be stopped.

That is music to the ears of the foreign policy establishment in New Delhi, as are Trump's tentative - albeit in Washington controversial - overtures towards Russia's President Vladimir Putin, whom Modi on Tuesday called "an abiding friend".

Emerging India

Modi was addressing the second annual Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi sponsored by the foreign ministry and the Observer Research Foundation, a think tank that is competing for attention with the higher-profile World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Speaking in Davos, Chinese President Xi Jinping avoided mention of Trump and instead mounted a vigorous defence of free trade that the American president-elect has vowed to roll back to protect US jobs.

Although many of the guests in New Delhi were former, rather than current prime ministers, they did include the top US naval commander in the Pacific, Admiral Harry Harris.

Modi for a rules-based security architecture in the Asia-Pacific that is "open, transparent, balanced and inclusive, and promote(s) dialogue and predictable behaviour rooted in international norms and respect for sovereignty."

That reflects not only India's concerns about the South China Sea, but fears that Beijing is threading a "string of pearls" in the Indian Ocean theatre by building strategic ports in countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Djibouti on the eastern coast of Africa.

India has maritime interests in all directions that are "strategic and significant", said Modi. India is the world's fourth-largest oil importer and juts southward from the Eurasian landmass into the strategic shipping lane running from the Middle East to the rising economies of the Asia-Pacific.

"Primary responsibility for security in the Indian Ocean rests with those who live in this region," he said.

"Respecting freedom of navigation and adhering to international norms are essential for peace and growth in the larger and interlinked marine geography of the Indo-Pacific."
Students gathering to protest against Union Government and against the ban on Jallikattu, in Coimbatore. (Photo: PTI)

Chennai: Amid intensifying protests across Tamil Nadu for 'Jallikattu', Chief Minister O Panneerselvam today said he would call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow seeking an immediate promulgation of an ordinance to allow the sport and appealed to protesters to end agitations.

"Tomorrow morning I will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urge him to promulgate an ordinance to conduct Jallikattu. Hence, I appeal to all protesters to give up their agitations," the Chief Minister said.

He assured the agitators that the Tamil Nadu government would continue to make all efforts to conduct 'Jallikattu'.

His assurance came after thousands of youths converged on Marina Beach here demanding a personal assurance from him that the sport would be held.

Panneerselvam said the Tamil Nadu government "is on the same page" with the people of the state on the issue.

"The democratic protests by students and people to uphold our rights and guard our culture are expressive of our feelings (on Jallikattu)," he said.

However, to conduct 'Jallikattu', the Supreme Court should give a favourable verdict, he said.

If the sport was to be held before such a verdict was given, "only the central government has the powers to bring in an amendment to facilitate that," he said.
Bengaluru: Calling the practice of denying women and people of a certain caste entry into temples "inhuman," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday instructed the muzrai department to ensure that everyone irrespective of their caste, colour or creed were allowed into them.

Mr Siddaramaiah ,who was inaugurating a state level convention of archakas here, said although there were no such restrictions on temple entry in Bengaluru, it should not happen anywhere at any cost. "Our government's endeavour is to ensure that entry into temples is not denied to anyone since all are equal before God," he added, emphasising that such a practice would not be tolerated in Karnataka. "Such practices should not be supported by any government. Unfortunately, vested interests are creating divisions in society," he regretted, asserting that humaneness was more important than religion , and discrimination of any sort was detrimental to peaceful co-existence in society

Reiterating that he was not an atheist, he said while he did not go in search of temples for darshan of their deities, he made it a point to go to them when he happened to be in their respective towns. For instance he went to the Chamundeshwari Temple while in Mysuru, the Sri Male Mahadeshwara Temple while in Kollegal and the Sri Venkateshwara Temple while in Tirupathi.

"I am a strong believer in the theory of one God, many names. To me God is everywhere. No one has said secularists must forget their religion, but we must learn to respect all religions without believing that only ours is supreme and the others are not," he stressed.

Admitting that the living conditions of archakas had become difficult after the abolition of inam land, Mr Siddaramaiah said the state government was considering hiking the monthly tastik of archaks to Rs 7500 a month to ensure they made a decent living.

While admitting that he was not supposed to make any new announcements in view of the elections to the Legislative Council from the South East Teachers' constituency in view of the poll code in force, he said his government would take a call on hiking the tastik amount to Rs 50000 a year from the current Rs 36,000.
Guntur: The ACB raided the home of Ongole Police Training College Deputy Superintendent of Police D. Durga Prasad, at Brodipeta in Guntur on Wednesday and were met by the unusual sight of people gathering outside the house and bursting firecrackers to express their happiness. The ACB also searched the homes of Durga Prasads relatives in Guntur, Chirala and Ongole.

The celebrants said that Durga Prasad harassed the public while working in Guntur rural and Pattabhipuram police stations. N. Sowjanya Kumar, the grandson of AP's first speaker, N Venkatar-amaiah, and his friends were among those celebrating. Mr Kumar said that his land was encroached upon and so he lodged a complaint with Durga Prasad who was CI. But the policeman supported the encroachers, demolished his house and handed his land to the encroachers.

He alleged that Durga Prasad harassed many people while working as CI of Arundelpeta, Guntur rural and Pattabhipuram, using his influence. He sought stern action against the DSP.

Eleven teams led by ACB DySP A. Rama Devi raided the houses of S. Ramesh, T. Subba Rao, Kausalya and other relatives of Durga Prasad. Ms Rama Devi said that the checking was under way and details would be disclosed after the raids.

The ACB found gold, papers of 24 plots of land and a ship during a search of the home of Durga Prasad. ACB director-general R P Thakur said Durga Prasad has been arrested and a case of disproportionate assets has been registered against him. He said searches were conducted at 14 other places in Guntur, Chirala, in Prakasam district, and Hyderabad.
Hyderabad: The Telangana government is likely to present its annual budget for financial 2017-18 on February 16 or 17. With the end of the winter session of the state legislature on Wednesday, the finance department has concentrated its efforts on the Budget preparation.

According to the tentative schedule, the budget session of the state legislature will start on February 15. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan will address the joint session of Legislative Assembly and Council on the first day. The annual state bud-get will be presented by finance minister Etela Rajendar on February 16 or 17. Sources claim the budget would be presented on February 17.

Finance department principal secretary K. Rama Krishna Rao and special chief secretary planning department B.P. Acharya held discussions on the budget session and the presentation of annual budget on Wednesday.

The date will be decided by finance minister after consultation with the Chief Minister. As against the Rs 1.3 lakh crore budget of the current fiscal, the Budget for the next financial year could be around `1.5 lakh crore.
Kolkata: A day after the clashes at Bhangar over the construction of a PGCIL sub-station, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today instructed the force to identify the "outsiders" who had provoked the people and flush them out even as stary incidents of violence were reported.

State police sources here said Banerjee, who held a high-level meeting with top police officers, including the director general of police and Kolkata police commissioner, during the day, said no one should be allowed to provoke and law should be strictly enforced.

She has asked the police to spot the outsiders and get them arrested, the sources said.

When asked, Banerjee did not say anything about the meeting. A senior state police officer said properties at a police outpost were destroyed and a motorcycle was put on fire by agitating villagers this morning.

"Forces were withdrawn from the area but we are keeping an eye on the situation there," he said.

One person was killed and another injured at Bhangar area in clashes yesterday.

While the villagers claimed that police had opened fire on the protesters, police said the firing took place between two groups of protesters in which the casualty took place. "There was no police firing. The police didn't fire a single shot," ADG (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma had said.

There was unconfirmed report of a second person dying in the crossfire.

State Power Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, when contacted, said the state government would "surely" hold a meeting with the agitated villagers and farmers after the situation "normalises".

"The situation is under control in Bhangar. Till now, there is no news of any second person dying there. And there is no news of any protests anywhere there also," he said.

On compensation to the family of the deceased, Chattopadhyay said Banerjee was looking into the matter and would decide on it.
Chennai: In an anti-climax, late chief minister J. Jayalalithaas niece Deepa Jayakumar did not shed much light on her taking the political path  launching a party of her own or joining any party  but merely promised a big announcement on the first birth anniversary of her late aunt which falls on February 24.

There was intense speculation that Deepa, an MBA graduate who shot into fame after she was stopped at the gates of Apollo Hospitals when she tried to meet Jayalalithaa in October last year, would announce the launch of her political party at Tuesdays press conference, coinciding with the birth centenary of late M. G Ramachandran.

However, the niece of the late chief minister merely said she has decided to take a plunge in politics and contest elections to carry forward the legacy of her late aunt. Deepa had on January 9 said she would take a political plunge on January 17.

I cant see anyone in the place of Jayalalithaa. It was after talking to AIADMK cadre that I decided to enter politics. I will take a call on whether to launch a political party of my own after consulting my supporters, Mrs Deepa told reporters at her T. Nagar residence here. She also said she will work to ensure that welfare schemes conceived by late Jayalalithaa reaches the right people.

I will make a big announcement on February 24  the birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa. In the mean time, I will consult all my supporters and decide (on the future course of action), Deepa said.

Draped in a saree and sporting a shawl over it, Deepa claimed she has decided to take a plunge in politics only after requests from many cadres. However, she evaded direct reply to questions on whether she would challenge V. K. Sasikalas election as general secretary of the AIADMK or launch her own political outfit.

Im not scared of anybody, it is not my nature, she replied to a question on whether she was scared of Sasikala. Earlier, Deepa visited MGRs memorial house in T. Nagar and MGR memorial on the Marina beach and paid floral tributes to the late leader. At the MGR memorial house, a verbal duel broke out between police and supporters of Deepa after they restrained entry of people due to lack of space on the premises.
Even as his fellow Kuruba and BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa fought a battle with former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah enjoyed a session with kids at the inauguration of the planetarium hybrid projection system at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Bengaluru: Apparently encouraged by the support he claims to have received from the backward communities and a section of his party and RSS leaders, senior BJP leader, K.S.Eshwarappa has offered to hold conditional "peace talks" with state party president, B.S. Yeddyurappa should the latter be interested in holding them.

In an informal chat with reporters here on Tuesday, Mr. Eshwarappa said he was ready for a dialogue with Mr. Yeddyurappa provided he agreed to revise the state , district and taluk office bearers' list and accommodate loyal workers in the party organization. Also, he made it clear, he would not give up his Sangolli Rayanna Brigade (SRB) and expected the party president to unequivocally accept its presence.

"There is no question of the SRB winding up its activities as it will help the BJP come to power in the 2018 elections. I have been stunned by the support it has received from backward class people and other sections of society. When we started the SRB, I would not have thought to take it forward, but after seeing the rousing support it has received from the public, there is no question of letting it die, " he said, adding, " I have explained the motive behind the formation of SRB to BJP national president, Amit Shah and he has not instructed me to stop its activities. Senior parivar leaders have also appreciated the SRB after the grand success of our programme whihc was organised at Koppal."

The BJP leader said if peace talks between him and Mr Yeddyurappa did not materialise, Mr Amit Shah would come to the state after the five state assembly elections are held to "set right organisational matters." "During my meeting with him recently, the party national president has assured me that he will come to Bengaluru and set right the organisational issues," he claimed.

While some party insiders believe that Mr. Eshwarappa's tough posturing and setting of conditions to arrive at a truce is based on the support he has been gaining from some BJP seniors and Sangh leaders, others say Mr. Yeddyurappa 's softening stand on the SRB following the backward class support it has been getting , has also emboldened him.

Moreover, SRB office bearers assert that the Kuruba community is bound to look to Mr Eshwarappa for leadership once the Siddaramaiah government bows out in 2018 ahead of the Assembly polls.

Feud worsens, loyalists clash in Shivamogga

The internal conflicts in the district BJP unit came to the fore on Tuesday when party workers clashed over the differences of opinion between state BJP President B.S. Yeddyurappa and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council K.S.Eshwarappa with regard to the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade controversy.

The members of the two factions favouring Mr Yeddyurappa and Mr Eshwarappa had a scuffle when supporters of Mr Yeddyurappa led by K.P. Purushottam, Ballekere Santosh, Slum Morcha leader B.Channbasappa and M.Lakshman Rao Pawar submitted a memorandum to the District BJP President S. Rudre Gowda demanding disciplinary action against former district unit presidents Girish Patel, S. Dattatri and Mr.S.N.Channabasappa, for allegedly showing disrespect to Rudre Gowda and Mr Yeddyurappa during a press conference which was held on Monday.

The BJP office witnessed an unhealthy atmosphere due to the heated arguments and differences among party workers.

It is also said that a party worker said to be part of the Eshwarappa camp, had allegedly thrashed a worker in the Yeddyurappa camp.

With the situation going out of control the district BJP leaders with the help of the police pacified the workers of both factions and restored peace.
It is shocking that Kashmirs religious right, which draws sustenance from Islamist terrorist outfits in Pakistan and their controllers, that countrys military establishment, has chosen to troll a 16-year-old Srinagar girl, Zaira Wasim, who is still making waves for her stellar performance in the superhit Hindi film Dangal, in which she played Aamir Khans daughter. To begin with, Zaira was praised by ordinary Kashmiris and her role in the film positively received, before the social media trolls took over. In their eyes, the child had committed a cardinal sin in having a courtesy meeting with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, whom they dont like any more.

Evidently, they wish to impose their post-Burhan Wani politics on a youngster. The young girl, who has emerged as an iconic figure, was put under such enormous pressure that she apologised on social media to her tormentors. She withdrew the apology after finding support from stalwarts across the nation, including Aamir Khan, who called her his role model, and others.

It would have been better if the so-called wise men of Kashmir, who are otherwise quick to pronounce themselves on the smallest of matters and arrogate to themselves the role of the societys guide, watched the wilful insulting of a young girl in a non-committal fashion. They should have spoken up, but instead remained silent. This speaks volumes about their leadership quality.

The same lot didnt troll a young boy who emerged as a singing sensation in a television contest. This makes their action misogynistic as well.
Scientists will return to their duties at the research center once winter has passed. (Photo: NASA)

The British Antarctic Society is recalling scientists from its Halley VI polar research base in March after a fissure developed in the ice sheet.

The decision was taken after a huge crack appeared in the Brunt Ice Shelf, just 10 miles away from the Halley VI research station.

"We want to do the right thing for our people, said Captain Tim Stocking, Director of Operations at the British Antarctic Society (BAS).

"Bringing them home for winter is a prudent precaution given the changes that our glaciologists have seen in the ice shelf in recent months."

There are currently 88 scientists stationed at the Halley VI research centre, which monitors climate data and played a key role in discovering the ozone hole in 1986.

The station is currently undergoing a process of relocation, after a fissure - once thought to be dormant  began encroaching on the base in 2012, advancing a mile every year.

But the new site is faced with another huge chasm, which developed in October 2016.

Scientists from the center have been monitoring the chasms development but cannot be sure whether a large iceberg will "calve, splitting away from the main ice shelf.

According to the BAS, the risk of this happening is low and the decision to pull scientists form the research station was made as a precautionary measure.

If the ice fractured during summer months, an evacuation could be swiftly mounted. But the forthcoming Antarctic winter complicates things, bringing 24-hour darkness and frozen seas, making evacuation an extremely complex process.

Scientists will return to their duties at the research center once winter has passed.

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WhatsApps end-to-end encryption relies on a set of keys that verify whether the sender and the receiver are, who they claim to be. But the receivers encryption key will change if the app is re-installed, the handset is replaced or there is a change of mobile number.

The Guardian posted an article earlier this week which left majority of the WhatsApp users in a state of panic. The report quoted cryptography and security researcher at the University of California Tobias Boelter as claiming that due to a given security vulnerability, Facebook-owned WhatsApp could intercept and read encrypted messages that the users exchanged on the app.

If WhatsApp is asked by a government agency to disclose its messaging records, it can effectively grant access due to the change of keys, Boelter said.

What is he really referring to?

WhatsApps end-to-end encryption essentially relies on the generation of unique keys. This is done with the help of a Signal protocol developed by Open Whispers System, that is traded and verified between users to guarantee communications are secure and cannot be intercepted by a middleman. However, The Guardian piece describes a believable attack that WhatsApps given encryption system cannot stop.

Photo credit: Open Whispers System

In other words, if an attacker gained access to a WhatsApp server, he/she could forcibly reset the keys used to encrypt messages and install himself as the user thereby gaining access to the future messages exchanged between parties. Privacy campaigners feel that this vulnerability is a huge threat to freedom of speech and warned that it could even be used by government agencies as a backdoor to snoop on users.

However, WhatsApp rebutted these accusations. In a statement WhatsApp said that it would fight any government request to create a backdoor. The design decision referenced in The Guardian story prevents millions of messages from being lost, and WhatsApp offers people security notifications to alert them to potential security risks, the company added.

WhatsApp further clarified stating that the company has even published a technical white paper of its encryption design. The chatting app has been transparent about the governments requests it receives, publishing data about these requests in the Facebook Government Requests Reports.

So where does the issue really lie?

WhatsApps end-to-end encryption relies on a set of keys that verify whether the sender and the receiver are, who they claim to be. But the receivers encryption key will change if the app is re-installed, the handset is replaced or there is a change of mobile number. In such cases, WhatsApp generates a new key for that user. During this time the senders encrypted messages are in a state of void, waiting to be re-sent. Once the message is re-sent, the sender is notified of the receivers key change.

WhatsApps end-to-end encryption relies on a set of keys that verify whether the sender and the receiver are, who they claim to be. But the receivers encryption key will change if the app is re-installed, the handset is replaced or there is a change of mobile number. (Photo credit: Open Whisper System)

The catch here is that the sender is notified of the key change only if the Key Change Notification feature is on. The chatting app also offers users an added layer of verification through options like Safety Number or Security Code that both the parties can visually check and verify to know if they are using the same security code.

WhatsApps backdoor issue, not really an issue

Moxie Marlinspike, founder of Open Whisper Systems in contrast to The Guardian piece states, This is something any public key cryptography system has to deal with. WhatsApp gives users the option to be notified when those changes occur.

The fact that WhatsApp handles key changes is not a backdoor, it is how cryptography works. Any attempt to intercept messages in transmit by the server is detectable by the sender, just like with Signal, PGP, or any other end-to-end encrypted communication system, Marlinspike said.

He further states that the only reasonable question to ask in this scenario is whether WhatsApp should just delete messages in transit or hold them until a new key is generated.

What is interesting to note is that the Signal private messaging app unlike WhatsApp, isnt vulnerable to the same attack. In the case of former, when the client detects a new key, it will block the message rather than risk sending it across, unsecured. On the contrary, WhatsApp will send that message anyway.

At the same time, American digital rights group, Electronic Frontier Foundation suggests that there is no backdoor or anything insecure about WhatsApp. WhatsApp is not competing with Signal, but it does compete with many apps that are not end-to-end encrypted by default and dont have to make these security trade-offs, like Hangouts, Allo or Facebook Messager.

Safe or not?

The question is: Should WhatsApp require the user to manually verify the new key before continuing or should the app just continue without blocking the user? Either way, both the app and its users are left in a somewhat tricky situation. It is undeniably true that the messages on WhatsApp are encrypted by default, however; there is a demonstrated way for WhatsApps servers to break a given conversations encryption (as explained above). Thus, when a situation arises wherein WhatsApp comes face-to-face with uncomfortable legal demands, it would become difficult for them to not comply.

However, this does not make it a backdoor issue but simply a bad engineering decision. End to end encryption is a good thing, but its really just the beginning of good security, said Jonathan Zdziarski, a leading independent security researcher and forensics expert. No question about it, this is good tech. But just like any tech its not perfect.

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Verizon intends to place the Note 7 units in a special category so as to make sure the customers do not put themselves or others in danger.

Early this month, many US carriers had taken the decision to push out software updates which would prevent the Galaxy Note 7 from charging. This update comes after Samsung took a similar step for unlocked phones last year.

US carriers wanted the holidays before pushing the update that would compel customers to return all of the remaining Galaxy Note 7 smartphones. But it seems that some Verizon owners have retained their units and even managed to avoid the automatic software update.

In a Fortune report, a Verizon spokeswoman recently stated, In spite of our best efforts, there are still customers using the recalled phones who have not returned or exchanged their Note 7 to the point of purchase.

She added that, The recalled Note 7s pose a safety risk to our customers and those around them. The statement is true because Galaxy Note 7 was part of the biggest tech failures when Samsung was forced to issue a recall and discontinue the phone after reports of Note 7 units catching fire went through the roof.

Verizon intends to place the Note 7 units in a special category so as to make sure the customers do not put themselves or others in danger. The US carrier wants all outgoing calls not directed to the 911 emergency services, but to connect to customer service.

Galaxy Note 7 customers who returned their units last year were already reimbursed for the devices cost. However, Verizon might be planning to bill those who are still holding on to their Note 7 phones, for the retail cost of device. But until the measure is officially announced, Note 7 owners can still get a bill credit of up to $100 and a waived upgrade fee for returning the phone.

Samsung has planned to announce the results of its investigation on January 23. The company will disclose the reasons why Note 7 units caught fire and the measures that it wants to take in order to avoid similar incidents with upcoming phones.

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Local media had earlier reported that 3 people were killed in the incident. (Representtaional Image)

Mexico City: A student opened fire at an American school in northern Mexico on Wednesday, gravely injuring two students and a teacher, the state's security spokesman said, but there were no confirmed deaths.

Local media had earlier reported that 3 people were killed in the incident.

Local television footage showed ambulances and police outside the Colegio Americano del Noreste, south of the industrial city of Monterrey.
File photo of US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the former's India visit (Photo: PTI)

Washington: Outgoing US President Barack Obama made strengthening relations with India a "genuine priority" and sought ways to effectively work together to fight extremism and enhance economic ties, the White House has said.

"President Obama did make strengthening our ties with India a genuine priority," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Tuesday at his last news conference as the presidential spokesman.

"The President believed that it served our economic interest and national security interest, and that would certainly explain the frequent visits of both Indian Prime

Ministers during President Obama's tenure in office to the White House and it would explain Obama's visits to India as well," he said.

Obama, during his eight years in office, not only became the first US President to visit India twice, but also hosted Indian leaders in the Oval Office a record number of times, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thrice and his successor Narendra Modi twice in 2015 and 2016.

Obama met Modi as many as eight times since their first meeting at the White House in September 2014.

"Each of those visits was oriented around a discussion about how to deepen our economic ties in a way that has positive benefits for workers in other countries, but also to look for ways that we can work more effectively together to fight extremism and to enhance the security of citizens of both our countries," Earnest said.

"President Obama certainly believes that we have made important progress in deepening and strengthening the relationship between two of the world's largest democracies and is hopeful that progress will continue into the next administration," he said.
Bush is expected to go home in a couple of days, Becker told KHOU. (Photo: AP)

Washington: Former US President George HW Bush has been hospitalised in Houston, CBS Houston affiliate KHOU television reported on Wednesday, citing his office chief of staff.

Bush, 92, was in stable condition and doing fine, Jean Becker told the television station. Bush is expected to go home in a couple of days, Becker told KHOU.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach the family spokesman Jim McGrath or the hospital where Bush was taken.

Bush is the father of former President George W Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who sought the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

The elder Bush, a Republican like his sons, served as vice president during Ronald Reagans two White House terms before being elected president in 1988. He served four years in the White House.

Bush has used a wheelchair in his later years and was hospitalised twice in 2014 - once for seven weeks with pneumonia and again for breathing difficulties. In July 2015 he broke a bone in his neck in a fall at the family home in Maine.

Bushs public appearances have been rare since he entered his 90s. In October 2015, Bush, sitting his wheelchair, wearing a brace on his neck and clad in a Houston Astros jersey, tossed out the first pitch at the teams playoff game against the Kansas City Royals.

He marked the 75th anniversary of Japans attack on Pearl Harbour in 2016 by attending a ceremony at his library at Texas A&M University where Bob Dole, the former Republican Senator from Kansas, was presented an award for public service.
Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, who also went by the name of Navin Xavier, was the Chief Executive Officer of Essex Holdings. (Representational image)

New York: A 44-year-old Indian-origin former CEO of a firm has been convicted of two separate fraud schemes totalling more than USD 30 million and faces up to 40 years in prison.

Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, who also went by the name of Navin Xavier, was the Chief Executive Officer of Essex Holdings.

He was convicted of two separate fraud schemes totalling more than USD 30 million.

The first scheme involved nearly 100 investors who purchased interests in iron ore mining in Chile while the second scheme involved unlawfully obtaining economic development funds from the state of South Carolina.

Xavier had entered a guilty plea last week before US District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami to two counts of wire fraud.

He faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for each count and a fine up to USD 250,000 when he is sentenced in March.

According to documents filed in court, from September 2010 through May 2014, Xavier raised more than USD 29 million from nearly 100 investors for supposed investments in sugar transportation and shipping, as well as iron ore mining in Chile.

Xavier used a false financial statement, forged documents, and false promises of fixed rates of return, to induce investors to invest with his company.

He used most of the money on his lavish lifestyle, buying expensive jewellery, luxury vehicles for his wife and on wedding expenses, cosmetic surgery.

The second scheme involved Xavier using Essex Holdings to obtain USD 1.2 million in payments and approximately USD 1.5 million worth of commercial real estate from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development, a division of the South Carolina state government, that was supposed to be used to develop a dilapidated industrial property into a diaper plant and rice packaging facility.

Xavier provided false financial documentation to South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development (SCCCED) in order to obtain the contract and later provided fake contractor invoices and fake bank statements in order to get paid under the contract.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York. (Photo: File)

Washington: The roster of House Democrats planning to boycott President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration grew to about 50 on Tuesday in a protest of the New York businessman's policies and his repeated criticism of legendary civil rights activist John Lewis.

The Georgia congressman made headlines over the weekend for challenging Trump's legitimacy to be the next president and erroneously claiming that Trump's inauguration would be the first he will have missed since coming to Congress three decades ago.

In fact, Lewis had skipped President George W. Bush's inauguration in 2001.

Trump struck on Tuesday morning, as is typical, on Twitter: "WRONG (or lie)!" Trump tweeted, citing a 2001 Washington Post report that noted Lewis had skipped George W Bush's inauguration.

Lewis' office on Tuesday confirmed that the congressman had missed Bush's swearing-in.

"His absence at that time was also a form of dissent," said spokeswoman Brenda Jones. "He did not believe the outcome of that election, including the controversies around the results in Florida and the unprecedented intervention of the U.S. Supreme Court, reflected a free, fair and open democratic process."

Lewis said last week that he would skip Trump's swearing in on Friday, telling NBC News that he didn't view Trump as a legitimate president.

"I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton," Lewis said in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press that aired Sunday.

Lewis' comments drew angry weekend tweets from Trump, who wrote that "rather than falsely complaining about the election results," Lewis should focus on his congressional district.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., also weighed in, telling a Milwaukee Fox television affiliate Tuesday that Trump "won this election fair and square" and that Democrats were wrong "to try and inject some kind of claim of illegitimacy on the dawn of a new presidency."

Ryan praised Lewis, however, telling Fox6Now.com that Lewis "knows what I think of him, how much I look up to him. I think both men would do better by just getting to know each other, and understanding each other."

The number of Democrats boycotting Trump's inauguration continued to increase, including Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, a top contender to lead the Democratic National Committee, as well as many black and Hispanic lawmakers. Top Democrats like House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York will attend, however, and none of the Senate Democrats said they'll skip the inauguration.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer shrugged off the protest and indicated they would give away the seats.

"We'd love for every member of Congress to attend but if they don't, we've got some great seats for others to partake in. It's a shame that these folks don't want to be part of the peaceful transfer of power," Spicer told reporters on a morning call.

On Tuesday, Democrats such as Alma Adams of North Carolina, Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania and Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire joined the growing ranks of lawmakers boycotting Trump's inauguration.

"I cannot in good faith and consciousness pretend to celebrate the inauguration of someone who has spoken so horribly about women, minorities and the disabled," Adams said.

Trump and other Republicans have dismissed the boycott and complaints, saying Democrats are sore losers who need to accept the results of the election and move on. Democrats control 194 House seats.

While many Democrats were furious with the outcome of the drawn out 2000 election in which George W. Bush defeated Al Gore after recounts and a Supreme Court ruling, they generally attended Bush's inauguration as the nation's 43rd president.

The House is out of session most of this week and roll call votes are not anticipated, so other lawmakers in both parties may skip the trip.

Obama repeatedly faced questions during the 2008 campaign about the widely debunked claim that he was not a U.S. citizen and that his birth certificate was a fake. Trump, in fact, perpetuated that notion for many years before a brief statement last year that Obama was a citizen. Republicans attended Obama's two inaugurations.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., said he will not be part of the "normalizing or legitimizing" of a man whose election may be the result of "malicious foreign interference of Russian leaders," a reference to US intelligence's assessment that Russia meddled in the election to help Trump win.
Washington: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday slashed the sentence of transgender army private Chelsea Manning, who had been sentenced to 35 years behind bars for handing classified US documents to WikiLeaks.

Obama pardoned 64 people and commuted the sentences of 209 others -- including 29-year-old Manning, who will now be released in May -- in one of his final acts as president.

Manning was convicted in August 2013 of espionage and other offenses, after admitting to the leak of 700,000 sensitive military and diplomatic documents.

The cache included military logs from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and cables offering sensitive -- and often embarrassingly bareknuckle -- diplomatic assessments of foreign leaders and world events.

Then Bradley Manning pleaded guilty and was sentenced by military court martial. She has since been held in an all-male prison, at times in solitary confinement, and has attempted to commit suicide twice.

Activists had argued her sentence is excessive and point to the psychological frailty of the transgender soldier.

"This move could quite literally save Chelsea's life," said Chase Strangio of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Still, Obama's move is something of a surprise, coming in the midst of a scandal over election-related hacking.

Obama has imposed sanctions on Russian intelligence services over the hack of Democratic party emails, some of which were released via WikiLeaks.

'Victory'

In recent weeks the White House had refused to be drawn on a possible commutation or pardon.

But spokesman Josh Earnest did attempt to paint a stark difference between Manning - who went through the courts and admitted wrongdoing -- and the likes of Edward Snowden.

Snowden, a former NSA contractor, fled to Hong Kong and then Russia in 2013 after revealing a highly classified global communications and internet surveillance system.

He was not on Obama's list of commutations or pardons, but did tweet his thanks.

"Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama."

WikiLeaks -- which has been linked to last year's election hacks -- claimed "victory" and thanked those who campaigned on Manning's behalf.

"Your courage & determination made the impossible possible," the group tweeted, citing founder Julian Assange.

But there was no suggestion Assange -- who is holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London -- would make good on a promise to be extradited to the United States if Manning was freed.

"If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case," the group tweeted last week.

White House officials dismissed any link between WikiLeak's pledge and Obama's decision on Manning.

Backlash

Republicans expressed outrage at Obama's decision.

"This is just outrageous," said House Speaker Paul Ryan. "Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets."

"President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security won't be held accountable for their crimes."

Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who is tipped as a possible future leader of the party, expressed fury at Obama's decision, saying "we ought not treat a traitor like a martyr."

"I don't understand why the president would feel special compassion for someone who endangered the lives of our troops, diplomats, intelligence officers, and allies."

Republicans have been on the back foot over Russian hacks that appeared to help their presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Among the others who received commutations was Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez-Rivera, who has been in prison for more than three decades on terrorism charges.

Obama also pardoned James Cartwright, a former four-star general who lied to the FBI about his discussions with journalists about Iran's nuclear program.

Another round of commutations is expected on Thursday, officials suggested.

Many will look to see whether the new list includes Bowe Bergdahl, a US Army sergeant held captive for five years by the Taliban before his release in a prisoner swap. He is due to be court-martialed for desertion.

Other names omitted Tuesday were General David Petraeus -- who pleaded guilty to improperly sharing classified information -- and Obama's ally Hillary Clinton.

There had been wild speculation that Obama may choose to preemptively pardon her, forestalling any Trump-led prosecution over her handling of email as secretary of state.

Presidents can theoretically pardon people before they are even sentenced.

Trump takes office on Friday.
Butt has pleaded guilty to six counts of mail fraud, announced US Attorney Kenneth Magidson. (Representational Image)

Houston: A Pakistani-origin man in the US has pleaded guilty for defrauding American courier company FedEx by opening various shipping accounts causing losses of nearly USD 300,000 to the enterprise.

Babar Butt, 32, resided in multiple locations in Houston and Spring and operated an electronics export business, routinely shipping items to Dubai in the UAE.

Butt has pleaded guilty to six counts of mail fraud, announced US Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Beginning in February 2015, he devised a scheme whereby he defrauded FedEx by opening various shipping accounts.

Butt would ship one or more packages of cell phones and electronics to Dubai and elsewhere until the charges were declined and he could no longer ship on that account.

He would then open new accounts to continue his scheme and would again not pay his shipping invoices, causing significant losses to FedEx.

US District Judge Keith P Ellison accepted the plea yesterday and set sentencing for April 4, 2017. At that time, Butt faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible USD 250,000 maximum fine.

Butt could also be ordered to pay restitution in the amount of USD 287,679. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation.
A 2015 report from the National Academy of Medicine says that number could decrease to 12 per cent should the minimum age to purchase products is increased. (Photo: Representational Image/AP)

Houston: Lawmakers in the US state of Texas are seeking to become the next state, after California and Hawaii, to raise the minimum smoking age to 21.

Several state officials have been trying to convince lawmakers to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products and finding ways to keep Texans, especially kids, from picking up the habit.

"We can move this bill forward," said Rep. John Zerwas, a Richmond Republican and physician who will champion the effort in the House. He will be joined by Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Sens. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, who will each file a bill.

Zerwas told local media that he believes the bill can get through the Legislature, especially with more Republicans backing the proposal.

State Senator Uresti has been trying to convince lawmakers to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products for the last 10 years.

"We have as good a chance as we've ever had. I'm just glad. I welcome all the support we can get," Uresti was quoted as saying by the Dallas News.

Texans who use tobacco products has decreased over the last decade, with more than 15 per cent of residents admitting they smoke or chew tobacco.

A 2015 report from the National Academy of Medicine says that number could decrease to 12 per cent should the minimum age to purchase products is increased.

The issue concerns not just health, but money. A reduction in tobacco purchases would also mean a reduction in tax revenue.

However, supporters of the initiative cite a Department of State Health Services analysis which claims that raising the smoking age could save Texas USD 406 million in health care costs over five years.

The Department of State Health Services released a report that calculated the cost savings of reducing birth complications caused by smoking, such as low birth weights. Hawaii in June 2015 and California in May 2016 raised the legal smoking age from 18 to 21.
New York: Donald Trump's pick for UN ambassador will echo his condemnation of the world body's treatment of Israel at her Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, although offering some praise for an organization the President-elect has disparaged.

Nikki Haley, a rising star in the Republican Party, will face tough questioning from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about her lack of experience in foreign policy and the federal government. Haley, who turns 45 on Friday when Trump takes office, has been governor of South Carolina since 2011.

In prepared testimony, Haley seconded harsh criticism by Trump and many of their fellow Republicans and some Democrats over the United Nations' treatment of Israel, especially a Security Council resolution in December demanding an end to settlement building.

"Last month's passage of UN Resolution 2334 was a terrible mistake, making a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians harder to achieve," Haley said in her prepared remarks.

The United States declined to veto the resolution, a move Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as 'shameful.' After the December 23 vote, Trump took to Twitter to criticize the 193-member world body, warning that "things will be different" at the United Nations after he takes office, without offering any details.

Several days later, Trump tweeted: "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!"

Promising to work with Congress to push for reforms at the world body, Haley said: "The American people see the UN's mistreatment of Israel, its failure to prevent the North Korean nuclear threat, its waste and corruption, and they are fed up."

But she praised some UN work, including aid programs she said had helped millions of people, weapons monitoring and some of its peacekeeping missions, a departure from Trump's criticisms of the international organization.

Some lawmakers who have met with Haley also said her comments in private meetings had differed from some of Trump's positions, such as praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioning the value of the NATO alliance.Other Trump national security nominees, notably former Exxon Mobil Chairman Rex Tillerson, his choice for secretary of state, and defense secretary nominee, retired Marine General James Mattis, have also veered from Trump's positions during their Senate hearings.

Experience at issue

A number of senators, including some Republicans, have said privately they hope some of Trump's Cabinet appointees will rein in his more controversial positions on Russia and other issues.

"I would far rather have a strong-willed, capable elected leader with experience at the state level who says those things than someone who has been a diplomat for 30 years and says: 'Oh, I'll do whatever Donald Trump says,'" Democratic Senator Chris Coons told reporters after meeting with Haley on Tuesday.

In her prepared testimony, Haley acknowledged her lack of diplomatic experience but said she thought her role as governor would stand her in good stead.

"I would suggest there is nothing more important to a governor's success than her ability to unite those with different backgrounds, viewpoints, and objectives behind a common purpose," she said.

Coons and other Democrats said they were still worried about her lack of experience.

"My concern is that our adversaries in the United Nations are represented by very seasoned, very capable, very sharp-edged diplomats," said Coons, a member of the Foreign Relations committee,

Haley did not speak to reporters.

Democrats and Republicans 2016 praised Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, after she led a push to remove the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the state capitol after a white supremacist killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston.

She is expected to have strong support from Republicans, despite her lack of foreign policy experience, and she already has fans at the United Nations in New York.

"She's a very respected politician and a highly regarded and results-driven professional," France's ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters on Tuesday. Delattre met Haley in his previous role as French ambassador to the United States.
New York: Most young Americans are concerned about the media's ability to report on Donald Trump and his efforts to obstruct coverage of his administration, and most think it's at least somewhat likely he will make it harder for Americans to express dissent.

That's according to a new GenForward poll of Americans aged 18 to 30, nearly two-thirds of whom say they're either very (25 percent) or somewhat (38 percent) concerned about Trump trying to impede journalists as they report on his incoming administration.

"I am really concerned that Trump tries to muddy the waters, that his attitude is to try to block the press from doing their job," said Becky Berenbon, 22, a graduate student who lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan. "I think the media will try to hold him accountable, but he will do what he can to stop them."

GenForward is a survey of young adults by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago with the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Most young people in the poll said Trump is likely to make dissent and protest more difficult. Twenty-two percent are very confident he will do so, and another 36 percent say they're somewhat confident. More than 7 in 10 young people say they have little to no confidence that Trump will show respect for people he disagrees with.

"I don't think he'll outwardly limit free speech. But I think (the Trump administration) will limit or not acknowledge people's opinions they disagree with," said Desiree Batista, 22, a college student from Woodbridge, New Jersey. "There will be a rise in different protest movements, but I don't know how the administration will view it. And I also think that he thinks all press is good press, even if it's people smack-talking him."

In general, young people express little confidence in the media. Seven in 10, including similar percentages across racial and ethnic groups, say they have little confidence or none at all in the media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly.

Eileen King, a 23-year-old waitress from Norfolk, Virginia, who backed independent candidate Gary Johnson in last year's election, said she didn't trust the media, preferring to get her news from a diverse set of conservative and liberal friends on Facebook.

"I don't know that the media will give him a fair shake, but I also don't think it matters," King said. She said her biggest concern would be that an unfettered Trump would ignore the media's traditional role of a watchdog and "present an ugly face to the world."

Trump made the media part of his campaign in an unprecedented way, using his celebrity along with a penchant for saying the outrageous - to draw hours upon hours of free coverage. But he is also quick to condemn news reports he does not like.

During his campaign, Trump incited his rally crowds to boo reporters, singling out individual journalists with derogatory names such as "sleazebag." Last week, during his first news conference as president-elect, he lashed out at a reporter from CNN and refused to field a question from the network.

Young adults have mixed opinions on whether the media have thus far gone too easy on Trump or too hard. Overall, about a third say news coverage has been too easy, another third say it's been too tough, and the remaining third say coverage has been fair.

Batista, for one, said the media spent far too much time on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server and not enough time examining Trump's background. But many Trump supporters cheered the candidate's harsh treatment of the media. Saleena Dayani, a 20-year-old student from Fayetteville, Georgia, said journalists' coverage of the president-elect has been "the opposite of fair."

"The major networks like CNN are totally unfair to him," said Dayani, who voted for Trump. "They look at one bad thing and they want to stretch it like a piece of gum. They are only focusing on negatives and not the positives."

Trump's transition team has signaled it wants to shake up how the White House press corps will cover the new administration, floating the idea of doing away with the press secretary's daily briefing or moving it to a more spacious location outside the building.

The head of the White House Correspondents' Association has called any move to push reporters out of their White House workspace "unacceptable."

"I imagine the media will do their best," said Alice Ma, a 19-year-old student from Jupiter, Florida. "But that might not be good enough."

The poll of 1,823 adults age 18-30 was conducted Dec. 9-12, 2016, using a sample drawn from the probability-based GenForward panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. young adult population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The survey was paid for by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago, using grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods, and later interviewed online or by phone.
President Barack Obama speaks during his final presidential news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington.

Washington: Addressing his final press conference, President Barack Obama on Wednesday said that after he leaves office on Friday he wants to take time to process the "amazing experience" his family has gone through.

"He wants to make sure that Michelle Obama, his wife of 24 years, is willing to "re-up" and put up with him a little bit longer. He wants to write, be quiet a little bit and "not hear myself talk so darn much." And, even wants to spend time with daughters Malia and Sasha", said out going President during press meet.

Obama and his family will head for vacation in Palm Springs, California, after Donald Trump is sworn in as president. The White House has not said how long they will stay in California before they return to a rented home in Washington.

Speaking on the meet with Trump, Obama said, he has had "cordial" talks with President-elect Donald Trump but he's under no illusions that they share many policy goals.

Obama says in his final White House news conference that Trump won the election opposed to many of his initiatives during the past eight years. The outgoing president says it's appropriate for Trump to move forward with his own vision and values.

Obama says, "I don't expect that there is going to be enormous overlap." And, also avoided a question on whether he supports about 50 House Democrats planning to boycott Trump's inauguration. He also mentioned that he'll be there along with outgoing first lady Michelle Obama for sworn ceremony of Trump.

Meanwhile, mentioning the reaction with Russia, President Obama called on President-elect Donald Trump to continue trying to persuade Russia to reduce its nuclear stockpiles.

He said that he tried to negotiate further reducing nuclear arsenals with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he says Putin was reluctant. And, also called on the next administration to lead by example and work to prevent big countries from "bullying" smaller countries.

He said that implementing sanctions on Russia following its incursion of Ukraine is a "good example of the vital role" America must play in advocating for and enforcing basic rights around the world.

Talking on the LGBT law, Obama says he doesn't think the expansion of LGBT rights in the U.S. is reversible. Obama said as his final presidential news conference that society's attitudes have changed too much to turn back the clock on these issues.

He says there's still more work to do on the subject, but that acceptance by young people like his daughters has made a difference. Obama also says he "could not be prouder" of the country's transformation on these issues, most of it coming during his tenure as president.

He gives credit to individuals and couples who he says were courageous in saying "this is who I am and I'm proud of it." That, he says, helped open people's minds and hearts and the legal system eventually caught up.

Similarly, speaking on Israeli and Palestinian conflict, President Obama warned that the "moment may be passing" for a two-state solution to the Israeli and Palestinian conflict.

Obama says in his final White House news conference that he continues to be worried that the "status quo is unsustainable" in Israel. He says his administration has tried to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution because he does not "see an alternative to it."

The United States decision to allow the United Nation's most powerful body to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem has been condemned by President-elect Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu.

Obama says the president-elect "will have his own policy" and that is his administration's prerogative. The president calls the situation in Israel "a volatile environment."

As during his tenure the diplomatic relations with Cuba was resumed, Obama said that United States underwent "a fundamental shift" in its relationship with Cuba.

But in his final press conference as president Wednesday, Obama adds that treating Cuban migrants differently "didn't make sense" in this day and age, saying it shouldn't make a difference whether migrants come to the U.S. by land or by foot.

Obama announced last week that he is ending a longstanding immigration policy that allows any Cuban who makes it to U.S. soil to stay and become a legal resident. He says that opening up bilateral relations with Cuba last year ultimately would lead to a "serious improvement" in commerce and trade relations with Cuba.

President also send his thoughts and prayers to former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara. As both Bushes are hospitalized in Houston. The 92-year-old former president was admitted for a pneumonia-related respiratory problem. His wife was hospitalized as a precaution.

Obama says the White House reached out to the Bush family after learning of the hospitalizations. He says the Bushes have not only dedicated their lives to country, but have been a constant source of friendship, support and good counsel for him and first lady Michelle Obama. Obama adds that "they are as fine a couple as we know."

As he spoke to press for the last time as President, Obama thanked journalists who have covered him in the White House, saying that "having you in this building has made this place work better." Obama said of journalists, "you're not supposed to be sycophants. You're supposed to be skeptics. You're supposed to ask tough questions."

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is considering holding briefings outside the White House briefing room, a proposal that is raising concern over whether it could result in limited White House access.
Phnom Penh: Seven Cambodian women have been rescued from a restaurant in Japan where they were allegedly forced into sex work after a victim made a desperate Facebook plea for help, an official said Wednesday.

The women, who are in their 20s, were lured to work at the restaurant in central Honshu island November with promise of high wages by a Japanese owner who arranged visas and airfares for the them, the Cambodian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"But (he) threatened and forced the victims to have sex with guests at the restaurant and did not pay them salaries," the statement said.

Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Chum Sounry said the women were rescued in mid-December after a victim wrote a plea for help on the Facebook page of the Cambodian embassy in Japan.

Japanese authorities in Gunma prefecture, west of Tokyo, were then alerted.

Six of the women are now staying at the Cambodian embassy in Tokyo awaiting repatriation on Thursday while the seventh victim was sent home late in December for health reasons.

Cambodian officials did not say if the Japanese restaurant owner was arrested or faced any charges.

Japan has long been a destination for women from Southeast Asia seeking higher wages who often find themselves forced into sex work or indentured labour.

Last August the Philippines warned its citizens against illegally travelling to Japan in search of work, saying they often risked being trafficked for sex or forced labour.

Washington's annual report on people trafficking says Japan remains a "destination, source and transit" country for human trafficking despite a recent increase in prosecutions.

"Traffickers strictly control the movement of victims using debt bondage, threats of violence or deportation, blackmail, passport retention, and other coercive psychological methods," the State Department's 2016 "Trafficking in Persons" report says.
Sydney: Three nations shelled out around $160 million and years' worth of work on the underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The result: No plane. The only tangible - and arguably most important - clues into what happened to the aircraft have come courtesy of ordinary citizens, who bore the costs themselves.

The deep-sea sonar search for the vanished Boeing 777 was suspended on Tuesday after officials conceded defeat following most expensive, complex aviation search in history.

But while search crews spent years trawling in futility through a remote patch of the Indian Ocean, people wandering along beaches thousands of kilometers (miles) away began spotting pieces of the plane that had washed ashore. Those pieces have provided crucial information to investigators and prompted some to question whether Malaysia, Australia and China - who funded the hunt for the underwater wreckage - missed key opportunities by failing to organize coastal searches for the remnants that drifted to distant shorelines.

"It would have been good to have been getting people looking for debris," said David Griffin, an Australian government oceanographer who worked on an analysis of how the debris drifted in a bid to pinpoint where the plane crashed. "I think that was a job that fell between the cracks of whose responsibility it was."

Since the plane vanished on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, more than 20 pieces of debris confirmed or believed likely to have come from the aircraft have turned up on beaches along the east coast of Africa and on island nations including Madagascar. All of the parts have been found by local residents and tourists who stumbled upon them, and by an American amateur sleuth who launched his own hunt for debris after working with oceanographers to estimate where bits of the plane may have ended up.

Several family members of Flight 370's passengers asked officials to launch a search along the coastlines for parts of the plane. When their pleas went unheeded, they banded together and traveled to Madagascar to encourage residents to keep an eye out for more debris. The family members, who covered all their travel expenses themselves, even offered a potential reward to anyone who found a piece of Flight 370.

Grace Nathan, a Malaysian whose mother was on board Flight 370, was among those who made the trip to Madagascar in December. She is deeply frustrated that the families felt compelled to take on the task themselves, and that the underwater search yielded nothing.

"Every single clue to date has been found by private individuals by chance," Nathan said. "Not a single piece of hard evidence has been found by the official search."

Nathan believes the governments' failure to search for coastal debris may have resulted in missed clues.

"They should have done more to initiate something like what we did," she said. "We are laypeople. We don't have the kind of reach they have, we don't have the kind of contacts that they have."

Initially, experts believed that the pieces washing ashore would be virtually useless to the investigation. Too much time had passed, they argued, and ocean currents are too volatile to make it possible to trace the pieces back to their origin.

Yet the recovered parts of the plane provided valuable insight into what happened to it. They confirmed, firstly, that the aircraft went down somewhere in the Indian Ocean. Before the first part - a piece of airplane wing known as a flaperon - was discovered on Reunion Island, farther east of Madagascar, in 2015, some people continued to insist the plane had flown north into Asia, rather than heading south. The flaperon effectively killed that theory and bolstered the investigators' interpretation of satellite data that indicated the plane had ended up somewhere along a vast arc slicing across the Indian Ocean.

A wing flap that washed up in Tanzania also gave investigators clues into what happened in the final moments of the plane's flight. No one knows why the aircraft veered so far off-course after takeoff and turned south into the Indian Ocean, though Malaysian officials have said the plane's erratic movements after takeoff were consistent with deliberate actions. Investigators operated on the theory that the plane was on autopilot in its final hours before it ran out of fuel and plummeted into the sea.

A key question was whether anyone was still at the controls when the plane hit the water, which would affect how far the plane could glide after running out of fuel. Critics who favor the theory that Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah hijacked the plane say he could have made a controlled ditch at sea in order to minimize debris and help the plane disappear as completely as possible.

But an analysis of the wing flap by Australian investigators suggested it had not been deployed when it hit the water. A pilot attempting a soft landing would have extended the flaps.

The flaperon and other debris also helped officials narrow down the potential search zone. Griffin, the Australian oceanographer, set replicas of the flaperon adrift in the ocean, measuring how fast they traveled and noting how much the wind influences their rate of speed. He and his team then ran computer simulations of how the aircraft parts could have drifted, giving them an idea of where they originated. Late last year, investigators coupled that drift information with a fresh analysis of other data on the plane's movements and concluded that search crews were looking in the wrong part of the Indian Ocean. The investigators recommended crews instead search an area to the north, where they now believe the plane may lie.

But Australia, Malaysia and China have nixed that idea, saying they won't relaunch the search until they have credible evidence pointing to the plane's exact location.

That decision has stunned Blaine Gibson, the American sleuth who conducted a self-funded hunt for the debris along shorelines in the west Indian Ocean. To him, the debris that has been found is the most credible evidence investigators have.

"Debris is the key. Debris is the main clue. Those are actually pieces of the plane," he says. "The debris is really narrowing it down better than it's ever been narrowed. ... There's no excuse for them to not go search that area."
Medics carry a wounded person at the scene after an attack at a popular nightclub in Istanbul. (Photo: AP)

Istanbul: The man suspected of killing 39 people at an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Eve has claimed he received the order to attack from Islamic State jihadists in Syria, local media reported on Wednesday.

Turkish authorities on Monday detained Abdulgadir Masharipov, 34, who spent 17 days on the run following the attack which was claimed by the extremist group. They also arrested an Iraqi man and three women from Egypt, Senegal and Somalia.

Officials identified him as an Uzbek national who trained in Afghanistan, saying he confessed to carrying out the attack and that his fingerprints matched those of the attacker at the scene.

Using the code name Ebu Muhammed Horasani, the man told police he entered Turkey through Iran in January 2016 and moved to the central city of Konya, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.

"When I was in Konya, an order came from (the Syrian city of) Raqa for me to carry out an attack in Taksim" Square in Istanbul, he said in testimony to Turkish police. Raqa is the self-declared capital of IS in Syria.

He moved to Istanbul on December 16 and scouted out the popular square to locate a suitable place to attack.

"I arrived at Taksim on New Year's Eve but there were very intensive (security) measures. It was not possible to carry out an attack," he said.

"I re-established contact with the person who gave me the order and we agreed that Taksim was not suitable for an attack. I was ordered to scout a new target in the area."

Images initially released by police during the manhunt were taken from a chilling silent video he purportedly took in the square with a selfie stick, before carrying out the bloodbath.

The suspect said he later took a taxi for a tour along the shores of the Bosphorus at around 1900 GMT when he spotted the Reina nightclub.

"It didn't look like security measures were high.

"I explained the situation to the person who gave me the order and told him that Reina was suitable. He agreed and asked me to carry out the attack at Reina," the man told police, according to Hurriyet.

After getting the green light from an unnamed IS jihadist in Syria, the suspect said he took a taxi to Istanbul's Zeytinburnu neighbourhood, picked up the weapon from home and came back to attack the club.
Paris: Throwing its weight behind India, France on Wednesday said it will ensure that the proposal to designate Pakistan-based JeM Chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist is "reintroduced" at the Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

The strong assertion was made by Jacques Audibert, Diplomatic Adviser to French President Francois Hollande, weeks after China blocked India's move to get the Pathankot attack mastermind banned by the UN.

He also exuded confidence on India becoming member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) notwithstanding stiff opposition by China on admitting India into the 48-nation grouping.

"We will make sure that demand is reintroduced. We are still hopeful that the UN will designate him (Azhar) as a terrorist soon," Audibert told reporters on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue when asked about the Azhar issue.

India has already initiated preliminary discussions with several member countries of the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council on once again brining back the proposal to ban Azhar. France is a member of the Sanctions Committee and has been strongly supporting India on the issue.

On India's NSG bid, Audibert said France supports New Delhi's membership as its entry into the grouping will improve non-proliferation regime.

"We have been supporting India's NSG bid because India is providing necessary guarantee. India's membership of NSG will improve the non-proliferation regime," he said.

Asked about the Scorpene submarine deal with India, Audibert said he did not think the alleged leak of some secret documents has compromised the project.

Earlier, speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, he made a veiled reference to China on the South China Sea dispute, saying freedom of navigation and law of the sea needs to be defended by all the states.

"India and France act together to improve stability in the region through their cooperation in maritime security," he said.

He also spoke about right of any country to defend itself against a threat of terrorism.
A man walks amongst the debris at the crash site of a passenger plane near the village of Hrabove, Ukraine. (Photo: AP)

The Hague: Ukraine has urged the UN's top court to order Russia to pay damages for attacks on civilians during its bloody conflict with separatist pro-Russia rebels, accusing Moscow of "sponsoring terrorism", officials said Tuesday.

In its filing, Kiev accused Moscow of "intervening militarily in Ukraine, financing acts of terrorism, and violating the human rights of millions of Ukraine's citizens," the International Court of Justice said.

It has asked the tribunal to "declare that the Russian Federation bears international responsibility, by virtue of its sponsorship of terrorism... for the acts of terrorism committed by its proxies in Ukraine," the court added in a statement.

Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, accuses its neighbour Russia of triggering unrest by separatist pro-Russian rebels in retaliation for the ousting of Kiev's Moscow-backed president in February 2014.

Russia annexed Ukraine's southern peninsula of Crimea in March 2014 and fierce fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine between Kiev's forces and pro-Russia rebels.

Sporadic violence still flares up despite several ceasefire accords, and nearly 10,000 people are said to have died.

Kiev is also calling on the tribunal to order Russia to halt all shipments of arms and money destined for rebel groups into Ukrainian territory.

Russia had also "brazenly defied" the UN Charter by seizing Crimea, and then attempted to "legitimise its act of aggression" by engineering an "illegal referendum," the filing said.

"Russia must pay its price for the aggression," Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Monday just after Kiev launched the proceedings with the court based in The Hague.

Moscow has long denied arming the rebels and hit back that the case was just motivated "by political interests" adding Kiev had "shown a lack of will to hold a concrete dialogue."

"Russia has always condemned in the strongest manner any signs of terrorism and actively fights against it," the foreign ministry added in a statement.

Funding terror

The court, founded in 1945 to rule in disputes between nations, will now have to decide whether to take up the case. And the legal proceedings are unlikely to have any immediate effect on the ground.

"For three years, Russia has been committing the illegal annexation of Crimea, illegal occupation of the east of our country in the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, implementing the policy of elimination and discrimination in Crimea," Poroshenko said.

Kiev has asked the tribunal to declare that Moscow has violated its obligations under the Terrorism Financing Convention and an international treaty against racial discrimination.

It urges the tribunal to order Moscow to "immediately and unconditionally cease and desist from all support, including the provision of money, weapons, and training, to illegal armed groups that engage in acts of terrorism in Ukraine."

It also asks that Moscow be ordered:

-to ensure that illegal arms are withdrawn from eastern Ukraine

-to control its borders to stop acts of "financing of terrorism including the supply of weapons"

-to "make full reparation" for the shelling of civilians in the eastern Ukrainian towns of Mariupol, Kramatorsk, Volnovakha and Kharkiv, as well as for the shooting down of MH17.

- to protect the rights of "all groups in Russian-occupied Crimea, including Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians."

A Dutch-led international investigation found that Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made missile in July 2014 over eastern Ukraine, launched from a field in rebel-held territory.

All 298 on board the routine flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, mostly Dutch citizens, were killed.

Moscow said it would "use all means available for its legal defence" if the ICJ agrees to hear the case.

Any proceedings are likely to be lengthy, but the decision would be binding and without appeal.
Just a week before his inauguration as US president, Donald Trump became deeply embroiled in a bizarre story about unverified claims that the Russian government holds compromising information on his private life. The claims were made in a series of reports said to have been written by Christopher Steele, an ex-MI6 officer turned private intelligence consultant, who it is claimed was commissioned by groups opposed to Trump to dig up discrediting material.

The dossier makes claims personal claims regarding Trump, based on information provided by officials of Russias Federal Security Service (FSB). Trump has furiously rejected the dossier as fake.

Plenty of observers have questioned the dossiers accuracy; its claims are, after all, both remarkably lurid and conveniently topical, and it is notably light on specific sources.

But the story refocuses the spotlight on Russias extensive use of so-called honeytraps. This is one of its most reliable tools for generating Kompromat, embarrassing information gathered for use against individuals, which it can then use to extract secret information  and throughout the Cold War, the FSBs Soviet predecessors, the NKVD and KGB, famously used it to great effect.

Defences down

William Luers, a former US ambassador to Czechoslovakia, assumed he was always watched as a young diplomat in 1960s Moscow: What they would do, Im sure, is listen to my wife and me to find out if we had any problems financially, was I given to promiscuity, and just listen to our apartment and wherever I was. Sir Brian Crowe, once a junior Foreign Office official in Moscow, remembered the restrictions, self imposed, on us  no romantic/sexual relations with Russians for fear of blackmail.

Western officials are routinely warned about the risks of being compromised in sexual acts or illegal activity, yet Russias intelligence agencies have enjoyed much success, both past and present. Major Ivan D Yeaton, US military attache to Moscow from 1939 to 1941, described regular parties with girls generously provided by the NKVD.

In the 1950s, at least a dozen US diplomats were recalled to Washington after admitting sexual liaisons with KGB partners, and, in 1981, the US assistant military attache to Moscow  the best Russian-speaker in the American Embassy  returned to the US following a party stage-managed by the KGB.

In 1989 a US State Department official, Felix Bloch, was discovered to be passing secrets to the Soviets having been compromised following an interest in sadomasochistic sex. He was forced to resign his post, though he was never charged.

Various British officials in Moscow also fell foul of Soviet honeytraps. John Vassall, an admiralty clerk working at the UKs Moscow embassy, was famously blackmailed into spying for the KGB after being photographed during an orgy with several men at a time when gay sex was illegal in Britain. I remember the lighting was very strong and gradually most of my clothes were removed. I remember two or three people getting on to the bed with me, he recalled. Certain compromising sexual actions took place. I remember someone in the party taking photographs.

In the 1960s, Jeremy Wolfenden, The Daily Telegraphs Moscow correspondent and an SIS agent, was also blackmailed by the KGB with photos of him having sex with a man. (Funnily enough, he was the son of Lord Woldenden, who chaired the committee that recommended Britain legalise homosexuality.)

Soviet intelligence also compromised Sir Geoffrey Harrison, Britains ambassador to Moscow from 1965 to 1968. In his own words, Harrison let his defences drop and started a sexual relationship with a young, attractive Russian maid, who turned out to work for the KGB. As a result, Harrison was forced to admit the affair to Foreign Office mandarins, leading to his removal in 1968 and the end of his diplomatic career.

It is happening all the time to diplomats and journalists, even to politicians, he explained at the time. If you are on a long tour abroad then your defences can drop. Its unforgivable but it happens.

Then and now

Sir Anthony Brenton, Britains ambassador to Moscow between 2004 and 2008, described kompromat as very much a part of the way Russia works. Sure enough, various incidents of recent years prove that Western diplomats and luminaries on tour in Russia still need to keep their noses clean.

In July 2009 British diplomat James Hudson, then deputy consul general at Yekaterinburg, was humiliated by the release of a four-minute video, Adventures of Mr Hudson in Russia, which showed him with prostitutes. There was no suggestion he was involved in espionage. He resigned his post. In a statement, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned that staff should demonstrate high levels of personal and professional integrity.

A month later, a US diplomat was also involved in a sex scandal following a video which showed him with a prostitute being leaked online.

Whatever the truth regarding allegations against Trump, sexual entrapment was, and is, a tool frequently used by the Soviet intelligence services and their modern-day Russian descendants. The claims in the dossier are lurid and unproven, but they draw on very real precedents.
Manchester: A horrifying footage shot by the Printworks in Manchester city centre, captured the moment when a knife wielding attacker stabbed a man 12 times on the chest and stomach, at around 12:15 am on Monday.

The attacker fled the scene of crime in a taxi, after threatening the driver with the knife, The Sun reported.

The police released the footage in the hope of catching the thug, who can be seen wearing a dark coloured body-warmer, with a light coloured long-sleeved top under it, and dark jeans with white trainers.

The victim, a 25-year-old man was taken to the hospital with multiple stab wounds, and later discharged.

Detective Sergeant Richard Anderton said: This was a violent attack which initially left a man in hospital.

"The incident has been captured on CCTV and I am urging the public to please study the footage to see if you recognise the attacker or the man he was with."

The man injured in the attack was also arrested on suspicion of disturbing peace and later bailed until February 13.
Beijing: China on Wednesday called on the US to bar a Taiwanese delegation from attending Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday, underscoring concerns that the incoming president could seek to redefine relations between Beijing, Taipei and Washington.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the request had been passed to Trump's transition team and to the current administration of Barack Obama.

"We urge the U.S. side once again not to allow the Taiwan administration to send the so-called delegation to attend the inauguration and to avoid any forms of official exchange with Taiwan," Hua said at a daily briefing.

China firmly opposes "anyone from the Taiwan administration engaged in activities that interfere or undermine the China-U.S. relationship in the U.S. under any pretext," she said.

Delegation leader and former Premier Yu Shyi-kun departed for Washington on Monday together with politicians from both Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the opposition Nationalists.

Along with attending the inauguration, the delegates plan to hold talks with politicians, academics and overseas Chinese community representatives.

Trump angered Beijing and upset decades of diplomatic precedent by talking by phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen shortly after winning November's presidential election.

Last week, he said in a newspaper interview that Washington's "one China policy" under which it recognized Beijing in 1979 was open to negotiation, and earlier questioned why the U.S. should be bound by such an approach without China offering incentives.

The U.S. has no formal relations with Taipei in deference to China, which claims the island as its own. However, the two maintain robust informal ties, while Washington sells Taiwan arms and is legally bound to regard any threat to the island as a matter of grave concern.

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have risen since Tsai's election last year, with Beijing cutting off contacts and working to deepen Taiwan's diplomatic isolation.
Li Zheng, general manager of Nanchang Banknote Printing Company, a branch of CBPM, said the whole printing process was localised, including materials and technology.

Beijing: Nepal has handed over the printing of its 1,000-rupee denomination currency notes to China and the first batch of the new notes has been "safely delivered" to the country, according to state media reports in Beijing on Wednesday.

The first batch of 28.4 billion rupees in Nepal's highest denomination, printed by China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM), was delivered on January 16, CCTV News reported.

The new banknotes were safely transported to Nepal from Nanchang in southeast China's Jiangxi province within five months of it giving a contract to the Chinese corporation.

CBPM, a state-owned company under the direct leadership of the People's Bank of China, earned the contract to print 200 million 1,000-rupee notes in August 2016.

Li Zheng, general manager of Nanchang Banknote Printing Company, a branch of CBPM, said the whole printing process was localised, including materials and technology.

The notes were printed in the same workshop as Chinese RMB are produced, state-run People's Daily reported.

"The printing of the notes requires precise anti-counterfeiting and design technology, while their successful delivery indicated China's high standards for banknote printing and minting," the report said.

China itself faces serious problems of counterfeit notes with regular complaints about fake money, especially drawn money from ATMs.
The role of ISI in the recent train disaster in Kanpur was being suspected after Bihar police arrested three people on Tuesday, who they claimed were working for the Pakistani intelligence agency to target Indian railways.





The ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police said.



During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said.



He said ATS and central agencies have been apprised of it for comprehensive investigation.



Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav were arrested from Adapur police station area and they allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to ISI to target the railways, Rana told reporters.



The three are "professional criminals" involved in more than a dozen criminal cases.

The three were paid Rs three lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly has connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai who has links with ISI, the SP said.



The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran district, bordering Nepal, in October 1 last year, Rana said.



"Fortunately, the bomb was detected with the help of villagers at Ghorasan and defused which prevented the sinister designs of the terror elements," Rana said.



The arrest of the trio came in course of investigation in the murder of two persons of East Champaran district in Nepal on December 28 last year for failing to successfully blast bomb on track in Ghorasan, he said.



Efforts are on to arrest, in this connection, two others identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav, who are "hiding" in East Champaran, he said.



While three persons were arrested from East Champaran district, three others have been captured earlier at Tailaya in Nepal for targeting railways on behalf of suspected terror elements in India, the SP said.



East Champaran is a district bordering Nepal. Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in the district in August 2013.


A Chinese court has sold a seized foreign ship in online auction for whopping USD 2.41 million through e-commerce giant Alibaba.





The Shanghai Maritime Court sold the seized ship for 16.89 million yuan (USD 2.41 million), state-run Global Times reported today.



The Panamanian-flagged Mahoni was bought by the Hong Kong-based Zhongjiang Ocean Shipping Limited through an auction hosted by Taobao, China's biggest consumer-to-consumer online shopping platform, and was transferred to the firm by the court on last Friday.



Mahoni was seized in May 2016 by the local court in Shanghai Harbour after 31 Filipino crew members filed a lawsuit against the boat's owner - an Indonesian shipping company - as they claimed they had not been paid for 18 months.



The auction attracted 12,112 viewers and went through 63 rounds of offers, before reaching the final price.



This is not the first time that the Shanghai Maritime Court has auctioned seized vessels online. As the first Shanghai court to make use of Taobao's online auction platform, it sold a confiscated Chinese ship for 769.92 million yuan in January 2016, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.



"Online auctions can boost enthusiasm for this kind of activity since they require less time and expense, and the process of making bids is clearer compared to traditional auction modes," Ni Zhongyue, an official from the court, told the Times.



Compared to live auctions who charge proportional commissions based on the final deal price, Taobao's online auction platform takes no commission.



"Online auctions can avoid potential buyers communicating before making bids in order to keep prices low," Ni said.


In a surprise move, the outgoing US President Barack Obama has commuted the 35-year sentence of Chelsea Manning, a transgender soldier who was convicted of stealing and disseminating 750,000 pages of sensitive diplomatic documents and videos to whistle-blower WikiLeaks. The 29-year-old American military analyst, born Bradley Manning, will be freed on May 17 instead of her scheduled 2045 release, the White House announced.



She was sentenced to 35 years in 2013 for her role in leaking diplomatic cables to the anti-secrecy group. The leak was one of the largest breaches of classified material in US history. While commuting the sentence, President Obama overruled his Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter's objections and immediately touched off a controversy in the closing days of the Obama administration, US media reported.



A former intelligence official described being "shocked" to learn of Obama's decision, adding that the "entire intelligence community is deflated by this inexplicable use of executive power." Manning has been lodged in prison after being convicted in August 2013. She also attempted suicide twice last year.



According to the White House, Manning's offences included one specification of wrongful and wanton publication to the internet intelligence belonging to the US, five specifications of stealing, purloining or knowingly converting US government records. Manning also passed on sensitive messages between US diplomats, intelligence assessments of Guantanamo detainees being held without trial and military records from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.



The disclosures were considered an embarrassment to the US, prompting the Obama administration to crack down on government leaks. The New York Times said the commutation also relieved the Department of Defence of the difficult responsibility of her incarceration as she pushes for treatment for her gender dysphoria, including sex reassignment surgery, that the military has no experience of providing.



Earlier in the day, the White House ruled out a similar commutation to Edward Snowden, who is currently on a political asylum in Russia. "Mr Snowden should return to the US and face the serious crimes that with which he's been charged. He will of course be afforded the kind of due process that's available to every American citizen who's going through the criminal justice process," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.



"But the crimes that he's accused of committing are serious. We believe that he should return to the US and face them rather than seeking refuge in the arms of an adversary of the US that has their own strategic interests in disseminating information in a harmful way," he said.



While responding to a question about Manning, Earnest said, "However, Chelsea Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing".
No compensation has been paid to the next of kin of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani or his brother Khalid Muzaffar Wani, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said today while revealing that such exgratia has been given to the next of kin of 77 soldiers killed in the state since January 2015.



In a written reply to a question in the Legislative Assembly, Mehbooba, who also holds the Home Portfolio, said, "No Ex-gratia/compensation has been paid to the next of kin of Khalid Muzaffar Wani and Burhan Wani".



Some months back, there a major controversy after the state authorities listed Muzaffar Wani as a potential beneficiary of the ex-gratia despite his being killed by security forces when he was returning after meeting his elusive brother Burhan.



Burhan was also killed later in an encounter with security forces on July 8 last year. She said the state government provided ex-gratia of Rs 1.66 crore to the beneficiaries of 77 Army and Central Armed force personnel who were killed in the state since January 2015.



"The amount is disbursed among the beneficiaries through the commanding officers concerned," she said. "The NOK (next of kin) of only those army/CAPF personnel who get killed within the territorial jurisdiction of the state of J&K in militancy related incidents, violence attributed to breach of law and order etc. including while on leave/ inter station movement, are eligible for sanction of ex-gratia" Mehbooba said.



She said the ex-gratia cases in respect to the NOKs of Uri attack of 2016 have not been received from the concerned Units/authorities so far in the Home Department.



She also said that the family of Chamel Singh, who was killed in Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan in 2013, has also not been provided with any ex-gratia.



Regarding a question about the policy of providing compensation to the soldiers killed while defending the borders or fighting militancy in the state, the chief minister said that those who hail from state get an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh and those from outside the state are paid Rs 2 Lakh.



"The amount of ex-gratia payable in favor of the NOK of the deceased Army/CAPF personnel is Rs 5 lakh for state subjects and Rs 2 Lakh for non state subjects," she said.
A rape case has been registered against Bollywood film producer Karim Morani for allegedly raping a Delhi-based woman on promise of marriage, police said today.





The woman, aged around 25, lodged a complaint with Hayathnagar Police under Rachakonda police commissionerate last week alleging that Morani had "raped" her in Mumbai and at a film studio here in 2015, DCP (LB Nagar Zone) Tafseer Iqubal told PTI.



"She accused Morani of raping her on different occasions in Mumbai and here by promising to marry her. The alleged incident took place during 2015," the senior police officer said, adding "We have taken up the investigation."



Following the complaint a case under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation), 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and other relevant sections of IPC has been filed, the DCP said.



Further probe is on, said the officer. Morani could not be reached for comments.
A 21-year-old woman from the Northeast was drugged at a popular pub on Brigade Road after which she was physically and sexually assaulted by four men in a car late on Friday night (January 13, 2017). The men later dumped her in Kammanahalli.



The police have registered a case and arrested two persons identified as Ricky alias Thammanna Uttappa and Ayub Ali, a Yemen national.



The incident happened after 10.30 pm on Friday. The victim, a BPO employee, had come to Fusion Lounge pub on Brigade Road, which had a Ladies Night (when women get free drinks), and was waiting for her friend who later informed her that he would not turn up.



She, however, decided to have a few drinks before returning home. The woman had two shots of tequila and was subsequently joined by three to four men at the pub, one of whom was an acquaintance of the victim. After this, the victim said that she doesnt remember anything.



The victim woke up to excruciating pain at around 2.30 am on Saturday at a stranger's house in Banaswadi. The stranger, identified as Lucy, told the victim that she was found screaming and fighting with three men near her house.



As Lucy was also from Northeast, she offered me help by taking me to her house," the victim told DH.



Her body bore burn marks caused by some kind of a hot water or chemical substance or an iron box. If these marks were not for forcing her to cooperate, then why would someone hurt a female like this, asked victim's friend.



The victim says that she was offered drink laced with a sedative. She vaguely remembers that a little after 11 pm, all four including her left the pub arguing. She was forced into a car by a man. She saw the CCTV footage and recognised one of them as her friend Ayub Ali, but could not recognise others, especially the one who was holding her.



I don't remember anything. I have burn injuries all over my upper thighs and lower back. I have pain in my left chest and a deep cut mark on my right elbow. I also have marks on my shoulders, the victim said.



The victim approached the women's police station at Basavanagudi on Saturday. She was told to approach the jurisdictional Banaswadi police who took up a case and arrested two persons based on the CCTV footage.



Based on the womans statement, the police on Wednesday arrested the two and booked them under IPC Section 354  Assault or force with intent to outrage the modesty of a woman. The car that the men used have also been, a senior police officer said.



No medical tests

The police on Saturday did not subject the victim to medical examination to prove sexual assault. They instead took her to a private hospital, got her treated for her injuries and sent her home.


Khuadun Kungham, a youth from Arunachal Pradesh, who was assaulted at Koramangala earlier this month, is battling for life in a hospital.





However, even as doctors have asked the victims family to fly him back home, they have not been able to do so for want of money.



Kungham, a native of Ozakho village in Longding district, was working as a waiter at a pub in Koramangala. He has been in a semi-coma state at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) after he was assaulted on January 6.



Philip, the victims friend who is currently aiding him, said that they are under tremendous financial pressure because doctors have asked them to discharge Khuadun as soon as possible because his treatment is complete.



"We not have the necessary funds to treat him in another hospital. All possibilities are closed to us, Philip said. We have also spoken to some commercial airlines to take him back home at concessional rates so that he could be treated back home. But they are asking us to pay in lakhs," he added.



The family claims that airlines are quoting close to Rs 2 lakh to take him back home. With no evidence, there has been no progress in the case, keeping the family waiting. We are looking at public funding and support from NGOs to have his hospital stay extended, said Philip.



Meanwhile, the hospital authorities said that they would be unable to keep him for long. We will keep him for some days because he is a special case. They can nurse him in another hospital," said Dr V Badrinarayan, medical superintendent, Nimhans.



Kungham was found lying unconscious with grievous injuries following which a complaint was lodged with the Koramangala police. They are examining whether this was an accident or intentional assault.


A 26-year-old woman, who had complained that a civil contractor had kidnapped her husband, is now being accused by the husband of having an illicit affair with the contractor

.



The woman had complained to the Banaswadi police that her husband Raju Mazumdar had been kidnapped by their civil contractor as she opposed his sexual advances. Both Mala and Raju are residents of Babusapalya and natives of Kolkata, the police said.



The police, upon investigating the case, discovered that the wife had an illicit affair with the contractor which the husband found out later. A depressed Raju then left for Kolkata without informing his wife, the police said. Using this as an opportunity, Mala confronted the contractor and asked him to either marry her or settle the issue with money. The contractor brushed aside her threats.



Mala then lodged a complaint against the contractor, cooking up the kidnap story, the police said.


The city may still have a chance to host the National Exhibition of Art by the Lalitkala Akademi (LKA).





In an emergency meeting held by the advisory panel of the National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru, the issue of providing the gallery premises to LKA was discussed.



According to the minutes of the meeting, it was decided to allow the premises to be used for NEA, said Chi Su Krishna Setty, who is a member of the panel.



Setty, who is also the administrator of LKA, said, The Akademi has not received any official communication regarding the panels decision. We have already begun the process of holding the exhibition at the Chennai centre of LKA. However, if we receive the communication in time, we will consider shifting the venue back to Bengaluru.



The exhibition was supposed to be held from January 15 to February 28.

However, because of the delay in finalising the venue, the exhibition may begin on February 23.



Lack of approval

NEA was supposed to be hosted by the National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru starting from January 15. However, citing lack of approval from the Union Ministry of Culture, NGMA had declined to host the prestigious art show, which will bring together 111 of the countries best artists.




BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa will hold a meeting on Thursday with disgruntled leaders of the party who had recently expressed their resentment against his style of functioning. The meeting will be held in Bengaluru.





Those who have been invited include sitting MLCs M B Bhanuprakash, Raghunath Rao Malkapure, Somanna Bevinamarad, former MLA Nirmal Kumar Surana and who they have confirmed that they would attend the meeting, party sources said.



Eshwarappa not invited



The meeting will be held at state BJP headquarters in Malleswaram at 3.30 pm. As many as 14 of the 24 BJP leaders who had purportedly signed a letter addressed to Yeddyurappa stating that his style of functioning was damaging the image of the party, have been invited to the meeting. Yeddyurappas bete noire K S Eshwarappa has not been invited for the discussions as he is not one of the signatories to the letter, the sources added.



The letter stated that Yeddyurappas unilateral decisions while appointing party office-bearers, district presidents and other functionaries have dampened the spirit of party workers. Besides the appointment of party functionaries, the disgruntled leaders at the meeting are likely to seek a clarification from Yeddyurappa on his opposition to Eshwarappas association with the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. The recent suspension of a few supporters of Eshwarappa is also likely to be raised.



KSE holds meeting in Tumakuru



Meanwhile, Eshwarappa held a meeting with dissident BJP leaders at the residence of former minister Sogadu Shivanna in Tumakuru, reports DHNS from Tumakuru. Media was not allowed into the meeting which lasted for three hours. Later, Eshwarappa told reporters that they discussed measures for strengthening the party. He said Yeddyurappa should review appointment of BJP office-bearers in all the districts and provide opportunity for loyal workers.



Former minister S A Ravindranath, MLCs Somanna Bevinamarad, Bhanuprakash, former MLA Nirmal Kumar Surana, former Bengaluru mayor Venkatesh Murthy were present at the meeting. Eshwarappa said he had not been invited for the meeting called by Yeddyurappa and hence he wont attend it.




Speculation is rife in political circles that senior leader and BJP MLC V Somanna may join the Congress.





Sources in the Congress said he is weighing the possibility of returning to the ruling party. The Congress leaders are said to be having an open mind in this regard. Somanna, who is a known party hopper, joined the BJP in 2009 when B S Yeddyurappa was the chief minister.



When contacted by DH, he refused to comment. Somanna, who was once a close follower of Yeddyurappa, is said to have fallen foul of the BJP leader of late. One of the reasons is that Somanna did not stand by Yeddyurappa when the latter launched his own political party, the KJP, in 2013. Ever since Yeddyurappa became the state BJP president, Somanna has been uncomfortable in the party and does not see a bright future for himself in the party, sources explained.



Besides, the Congress, too, will stand to gain by taking Somanna back. The party lost a prominent Lingayat leader in the old Mysuru region with the death of H S Mahadeva Prasad recently. Somanna will emerge as the Lingayat face of the Congress in the region if he joins the party, the sources said.



A four-time MLA



Somanna, who is a four-time MLA, had won as the Congress candidate from Govindrajnagar Assembly constituency in 2008. He resigned as MLA to join the BJP in 2009. But he lost in the subsequent by-election against Priya Krishna, son of A Krishnappa, who is now Housing Minister. Hence, he became an MLC. Somanna again lost in the 2013 Assembly elections from Vijayanagar Assembly constituency.



Realising that winning from either Vijayanagar or Govindrajnagar, will be a tough task, he started developing a base in Hanur constituency in Chamarajnagar district. He chose Hanur as an alternative constituency as it has a sizable Lingayat population.




The state Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for regularisation of grazing land being cultivated by farmers. If all the 3.4 lakh applications seeking the regularisation are approved, 11 lakh acres of land being cultivated illegally will be regularised.





Law Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters after the meeting that suitable amendments will be made to rules to provide ownership rights to farmers engaged in cultivation on bagair hukum land (government land used for cultivation), even if it includes parcels of gomala land (grazing land).



At present, ownership rights cannot be given if farmers are cultivating on grazing land. As many as 3.4 lakh applications for regularisation are pending before bagair hukum committees headed by MLAs at the Assembly constituency level, for regularisation of 11 lakh acres.



Most of the applications have been kept pending as the land sought to be regularised has parcels of gomala land. We have decided to relax the rules to expedite the process of providing ownership rights to farmers, Jayachandra said. However, a maximum of four acres 38 guntas per family can be regularised.



The government has already instructed officials to grant ownership rights to farmers who have been cultivating forest land. However, the upper limit of land holding is three acres. The Cabinet gave its nod for downsizing the cost of the Higher Education Academy, coming up in Dharwad, for providing training to first grade college lecturers. As per the original estimate, the academy was to come up at a cost of Rs 166 crore, but the Cabinet felt it was too high and revised the estimate to Rs 90 crore, Jayachandra said.



Compulsory retirement for Rs 2k bribe



The state Cabinet on Wednesday accepted the recommendation of the Lokayukta on two government employees who were caught accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000 in 2005. Law Minister T B Jayachandra said the Cabinet decided to compulsorily retire Dr Basappa, presently working at community health centre in Chikkaballapur and to permanently withhold 50% pension payable to Abdul Ravoof, who retired as an assistant attached to a primary health centre in Yadgir.



Other approvals



Govt to recommend premature release of 188 prisoners to Governor on Republic Day on basis of good conduct



State to release additional Rs 349 crore as its share for Bidar-Kalaburagi railway line.



Bidar-Kalaburagi line to be over by March-end this year



Approval for purchase of books for 6,778 public libraries at Rs 19 crore and for government PU colleges at Rs 6.5 crore



Approval for purchase of uniforms for anganwadi workers at Rs 7.54 crore



Approval for purchase of medical kits for anganwadi beneficiaries at Rs 6.4 crore








A day after two people died due to bullet injuries in Bhangor, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday pulled up senior officials to find out why the situation took a turn for the worse.





The police, who refuted reports of opening fire on a mob of unarmed protesters, put the blame on outsiders, stating that the movement is being spearheaded by Maoists.

The police submitted a report to the state government, accusing Maoists and a group of around 40 Jadavpur University students of turning the peaceful agitation into a violent outburst.



Within hours, Mamata backed the theory, with a tweet blaming outsiders.

Bhangor has been on sporadic boil over land acquisition since 2013 after 13 acres were acquired to set up a power sub-station for the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.

The agitation, which has been going on for months, took a violent turn on Monday night after the police picked up Sheikh Kalu, leader of the agitation.



Though there are no visuals of officers opening fire on Tuesday, locals claimed that police bullets injured two of the protesters, who died later in the night at a government hospital.



The police report stated that Maoists and some Maoist-led students have been camping at Bhangor for the past two months to organise the agitation.



Political insiders acknowledged that a conglomeration of fringe ultra-Left outfits have been backing the movement.



A government source admitted that the situation could turn messy since Mamata has ordered the police to apprehend those behind the agitation.


The Supreme Court on Wednesday made it clear that it does not want its decree passed in 2004 for constructing the Satluj-Yamuna link canal to be flouted.





We will not allow the decree of the court to be flouted by anyone in any manner. How you do it is your headache, a bench of Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy told the counsel representing the Centre, Punjab and Haryana.



The court made the observation even came as it issued notices to the Punjab government and the Centre, seeking their response to an application by Haryana for the implementation of the 2004 decree.



The issue involved completion of the canal work allocating 3.50 MAF (million acre feet) water to Haryana. The existing Bhakra Main Canal has the capacity of supplying only 1.62 MAF of water to Haryana.



The Centre, on the other hand, represented by Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, pointed out that the 2016 decision of the Constitution bench was made in advisory jurisdiction on the Presidential reference.



After the apex courts order in 2004 for constructing the Satluj-Yamuna link canal, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, which received the governors assent in 2004 itself. It is still in the statute book, he said.



Unless that act is set aside, nothing much can be done. The advisory jurisdiction does not take away the effect of the act, Kumar said.



Advocate Jagdeep Dhankar, appearing for Haryana, urged the court to implement its specific directions by invoking Article 144 of the Constitution.


The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other intelligence agencies will be looking for evidence to pin down Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for its suspected involvement in targeting the Indian Railways, including the train accidents in Uttar Pradesh.





The agencies were called in after the Bihar Police informed that three arrested persons have provided some positive leads about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur in November.



The police claimed that Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav, whom officers described as professional criminals, were paid Rs 3 lakh by Nepali national Brajesh Giri, an associate of ISI operative Shamsul Hoda, who is based in Dubai.



A two-member team of the NIA has been dispatched to Bihar by the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the government has sought a report from the Research and Analysis Wing about the activities of ISI in Nepal and India.



Sources said if the ISI link is established, it marks a major change in the strategy of the spy agency in executing terror acts in India. It may be asking its handlers to use local criminal networks to execute their work so as to ensure that the links are not traced to the spy agency, the sources said.



They may also be using people from the majority community so that it would enable them to revive the bogey of Hindutva terror, they said.



Further, this would also reflect poorly on the investigators as it took almost two months to link the Kanpur tragedy to an ISI plot.






A local court in Bihars Motihari on Wednesday remanded three suspected ISI agents in police custody for their role in the November 21 Kanpur train derailment, which claimed as many as 148 lives.





Uma Patel, Mukesh Yadav and Moti Paswan are suspected of planning to target the Indian Railways. NIA and ATS teams are likely to interrogate the suspects.



Though the Motihari police could not corroborate further evidence to link the three with the Kanpur incident, sources said they confessed to planting bombs on the railway tracks at Ghorasan near Motihari.



Motihari SP Jitendra Rana said that following interrogation of the trio, who reportedly worked on behalf of Dubai-based ISI operative Shamshul Hoda, the NIA and ATS were informed.



Uma, Mukesh and Moti were arrested when the police were investigating the murder of two persons, killed for their failure to plant bombs on the tracks at Ghorasan.



Moti Paswan, during interrogation, told the police that two of his associates Mohan and Sohan Paswan, both residents of Bakhri village in Champaran on the Indo-Nepal border, were killed reportedly by ISI operatives in December after they failed in their mission to cause derailment of the Raxaul-Sitamarhi train, a senior official told DH. Moti also reportedly told his interrogators that Hoda, a resident of Nepal, has shifted his base to Dubai from where he, at the behest of ISI, chalks out strategies to carry out attacks on India.



A senior railway official in UP said that so far there was no evidence to prove that bombs had been planted on the tracks to derail the Indore-Patna Express near Kanpur on November 20.


Chemicals and Fertilsers Minister Ananth Kumar on Wednesday said the government will fix prices of coronary stents in the next 10-15 days.





We have asked the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority ( NPPA) to fix prices of stents. This issue is pending for long. The price will be fixed in the next 10 to 15 days. This will give huge relief to patients, Kumar said here.



The minister made a statemnt in this regard on the sidelines of signing of an MoU between the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India and National Yuva Co-operative Society for opening of 1,000 Jan Aushadhi drug stores across India.



The NPPA, which has convened a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the issue on January 24, also asked manufacturers and marketers of the medical device to disclose detailed pricing data and related information.



In July, the Ministry of Health had included stents in the National List of Essential Medicines, whereby the device came under the purview of price control of the government. There were complaints that the margin for hospitals in terms of MRP of the stents was too high.



Dismissing speculation that the role of the NPPA would be changed, Kumar said its mandate is to regulate drug prices and would continue to do so. To make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines, the Department of Pharmaceutical will hold talks with the Ministry of Health and Medical Council of India.



As part of the governments efforts to make available good quality medicines at affordable prices, we will make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines. If any modification of rules is required, same will be done accordingly, the minister told DH.

The government has received 20,000 applications seeking permission to open generic medicine shops. Of this, 5,000 applications have been processed.



In Karnataka, another 200 generic medicines shops will be opened soon. With every such shop, which will come up in government hospitals, the government will extend Rs 2.5 lakh financial assistance.



At present in the Janaushadhi Kendras, a portfolio containing 600 drugs and 154 surgical equipment are available and the same are expected to double soon, he said.


India on Wednesday rejected calls for dropping its opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), pointing out that the proposed project would infringe on its sovereignty.





New Delhi not only dismissed proposals from Beijing and Islamabad for it to join CPEC, but also conveyed to Beijing that it expected the communist country to be sensitive towards Indias sovereignty.



China is a country which is very sensitive to matters concerning its sovereignty. So we expected that it would have some understanding of other peoples sensitivity about their sovereignty, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said in response to a question at the second Raisina Dialogue here.



The proposed CPEC will link Kashgar in Xinjiang in north-western China and a deep sea port at Gwadar in Balochistan in south-western Pakistan. Beijing is planning to spend over $46 billion on a series of infrastructure projects along the proposed corridor.



New Delhi has been opposing CPEC, as the proposed economic corridor would pass through areas which India has been accusing Pakistan of illegally occupying in Kashmir.



The CPEC passes through an area that we see as territory of India and illegally occupied by Pakistan, said Jaishankar. He pointed out that China had not consulted India before initiating the project with Pakistan and hence the strong reaction from New Delhi was on expected lines.



There needs to be some reflection (by China on the issue of sovereignty of India) and I am sorry to say that we have not yet seen signs of that, added Jaishankar.



New Delhi had earlier lodged its protest against CPEC with Pakistan and China. India has also formally lodged a protest against the project at the United Nations.


Former prime minister Manmohan Singh came to the rescue of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel who was facing some tricky questions from a parliamentary panel on Wednesday.





During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance, Congress leaders Digivijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia fired a series of questions on demonetisation, such as the total amount in scrapped notes deposited with banks and the time taken to restore normal banking operations.



But when Digvijaya Singh sought to know if chaos would break out if the RBI lifted all restrictions on cash withdrawals, the former prime minister advised Patel not to answer the question, a member of the committee told DH.



Manmohan Singh, a former RBI governor, was of the view that the dignity of the central bank should be maintained.



Manmohan Singh also suggested that RBI Deputy Governors R Gandhi and S S Mundra, who were also present at the meeting, answer the supplementary questions put forth by the members.



Patel told the members that the RBI and the Union government had been discussing the demonetisation issue since January last year.



As per the assessment by the central bank, the impact of demonetisation on the economy was assessed to be temporary in nature and beneficial in the long run, Patel told the panel.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing internal unrest over tickets to outsiders in UP and Uttarakhand Assembly elections.





As the party finalises tickets for the two states, BJP workers protested what they said leadership was giving preference to outsiders.



Some party workers raised slogans such as dont give ticket to outsiders, don't give ticket Congress leaders, don't give ticket to SP leaders and honour old timers in the party.



Party workers were said to be from Noida, where name for one seat has not been declared. They were later escorted out of the BJPs Delhi office complex by security guards.



The BJP also sent a general secretary to talk to agitated workers.



It is learnt that party cadres had staged similar protest outside the Houe of BJP president Amit Shah on Akbar Road.



The BJP central election committee is meeting on Thursday to release remaining names of candidates for the two states.



Reports of turbulance within the BJP is also coming from UP and Uttarakhand due to turncoats, who are influential in their own areas, are getting in nominations.



The partys decision to feild candidates from Khatauli and Meerpur constituencies of western UP has not gone down well with local workers.



The party is also under pressure to give more seats to its allies Apna Dal and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party headed by Om Prakash Rajbhar  a leader of most backward caste having votes in eastern part of the state.



In Uttarakhand too, the BJP is repeating Assam where it had won polls by bringing in its fold prominent Congress leaders.




Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and newly anointed Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav may deny tickets to tainted and controversial leaders.





Akhilesh, who is finalising the SPs first list of nominees, is likely to deny tickets to mafia don-turned-politician Ateeq Ahmed.



Ahmed had figured in the list released earlier by Akhileshs uncle and the then state unit president Shivpal Singh Yadav.



Ahmed, who faces several criminal cases, including those of murder and extortion, had been made SP nominee from Kanpur Cantonment seat.



He may, however, contest as an independent if he is denied ticket, a source said.

A source in the party said Aman Mani Tripathi, who is in jail in connection with the murder of his wife, may also be denied ticket from Nautanwan seat in Maharajganj district. Tripathis name also figured in the earlier SP list.



A SP leader close to the chief minister said, Akhilesh wants to send a message that he prefers only candidates with a clean image.



The chief minister had strongly opposed attempts to merge mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansaris Quami Ekta Dal (QED) with the SP. The merger, which was being facilitated by Shivpal, was one of the reasons behind the SP family feud.



Akhilesh is likely to accommodate the names of Shivpals supporters though he has reservations on some.


Amid protests across the state to lift the ban on Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said he would discuss the promulgation of an ordinance to conduct the sport with the prime minister.





Panneerselvam assured the protesters that he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to ask for immediate action on bringing the ordinance.



Protesters in various districts, however, vowed to continue their agitation until the state obtains official clearance.



Thousands of youths and college students have been taking to the streets over the past few days, braving chilly nights and hot days, to demand



repeal of the ban on the bull-taming sport.



This is the first major political test for the chief minister after assuming office last month.

People are thronging the streets of Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy, Sivagangai, Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari to express solidarity with the organisers of the sporting event.



Agitations have also been continuing for the past one week in traditional Jallikattu venues like Alanganallur and Palamedu.


The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved plans for 25% sale of the governments share in each of the five state-owned general insurance companies.





The government currently holds 100% stake in the five general insurance companies, namely, New India Assurance Company, National Insurance Company, Oriental Insurance Company, United India Insurance Company and a re-insurance firm General Insurance Corp.



Briefing reporters on the Cabinet decision, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government holding in these five companies will gradually fall to 75% after listing them on stock exchanges.



During the process of disinvestment, existing rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) will be followed, Jaitley said.



In August, the IRDA had issued a discussion paper on listing of firms, proposing that all general insurance companies in existence for eight years and life insurance companies for 10 years should initiate steps to get their shares listed on stock exchanges.



Jaitley said the listing may include issue of fresh shares and offer for sale of existing shares.



In the 2016-17 Budget, Jaitley had proposed public listing of public sector general insurance entities.



The government expects listing on the stock exchange will require companies to come out with a number of disclosures and accounting requirements of the Sebi that will act as an additional oversight mechanism. The disclosures bring about transparency and equity in the companies functioning, an official statement read.



Listing is expected to lead to improved corporate governance and risk management practices, leading to improved efficiency. A greater focus on growth and earnings can also be expected, it said.



Listing will also open the way for companies to raise resources from the capital market to meet their fund requirements to expand their businesses, instead of being dependent on the government for capital infusion, officials said.


Actor Salman Khan was acquitted in the Arms Act case by the chief judicial magistrates court in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on Wednesday.





The court gave Salman the benefit of doubt and held him not guilty of possessing an unlicensed weapon and using it to allegedly hunt blackbucks in 1998.



In the 102-page judgement, Chief Judicial Magistrate D S Rajpurohit held that while the evidence against Salman is weak to hold him guilty, the prosecution has also failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.



The verdict was pronounced within minutes after Salman and his sister Alvira entered the court.



Referring to the two post-mortem reports that listed different causes behind the blackbucks death  dog bite and gunshot wound  Salmans lawyer Hastimal Saraswat argued that the actor possessed only an air gun and there was no evidence that he used firearms.



Saraswat told reporters, We have always said that the evidence, documents and the entire case were fabricated to frame Salman. He was innocent and justice has been rendered by the court.



Rajasthan Law Minister Arjunlal Garg said, We will form a committee which will read the complete judgement after which we will decide the future course of action.



The Arms Act case dates back to October 1, 1998, when five actors  Salman, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam  were accused of hunting two blackbucks while shooting for the movie Hum Saath Saath Hain at Kankani village in Rajasthan.





Salman was accused of possessing two guns with expired licence which he used to kill two blackbucks, a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act.



Salman, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali and Tabu have been summoned by the Jodhpur chief judicial magistrate court on January 25 for recording their statements in the blackbuck poaching case.



Minutes after he was acquitted, Salman tweeted, Thank you for all the support and good wishes.



Since then, Twitter has been abuzz with reactions.



Former state environment minister and a close friend of Salman, Bina Kak, also tweeted within minutes after the verdict was announced.



Salmans fans rejoiced outside the court premises by dancing to the actors hit numbers though private bouncers had cordoned off the area.


Marine Corps F-35 Squadron Arrives In Japan



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After undergoing her own ostomy surgery, Carmel Valley resident Dawnette Meredith created Awesome Ollie the Ostomy Bear, to provide comfort and positivity to young ostomy patients. She made her first deliveries of Ollies to Rady Childrens Hospital ostomy nurses last year and is looking to get bears into the arms of more kids this year.

Dawnette Meredith with her stuffed rabbit with ostomy bag that inspired Awesome Ollie.

It was so joyful, to take something that isnt ideal and make something positive out of it; to make somebody happy, Meredith said.

There are many reasons why people undergo ostomy surgeries, creating an opening in the body for the discharge of waste. Merediths reason was the digestive illness she had since birth, battling colonic-inertia for a long 49 years, nine months and 15 days.

I was left with no other choice but to have the surgery done. I did and I feel so much better, said Meredith, who had the surgery in December 2015 and now lives with an ostomy bag. Ive been on a mission to tell people its not that bad. I can still swim, run, hike, surf, do hot yoga. Its really been motivating for me to be an advocate for what this is and that you can live a full life.

She started a video blog where she helps answer lifestyle questions for those living with ostomy bags and how they shouldnt be afraid to get back to doing what they love.

After her ostomy surgery, Meredith went online and found a stuffed bunny with an ostomy bag, made in Scotland. She ordered one for herself and was so happy when the cute and admittedly expensive bunny with a pouch arrived.

My bunny was a bright spot in my recovery. It was a daily reminder to smile and laugh at an otherwise less than ideal situation, Meredith said. It somehow made it easier to talk about my illness and recent surgery.

Ollie the ostomy bear.

The bunny gave her the idea for Awesome Ollie, to help kids going through the same thing she did. She started in her own backyard where Rady Childrens Hospital performs roughly 120 ostomy surgeries per year. She got in touch with the Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society to help make the connection with Rady and worked like a crazy woman to find a way to produce the bears.

Meredith buys the bears locally and cuts and sews the ostomy pieces themselves  the pouch and a red stoma button. The bears are then sent to a commercial sewer in order to meet safety standards.

She and her husband sponsored the first eight bears, which were delivered to Rady nurses in October 2016.

They were so excited, said Meredith, who isnt able to distribute the bears herself due to privacy laws but loves to hear the stories about the recipients. Its great for the nurses because its a learning tool to use with the kids, it helps them talk to kids about whats going on in their bodies.

Meredith approached her ostomy support group asking for sponsorships and they sponsored 35 bears, which she was able to get to Rady before the holidays. She has since had requests for bears from the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, as well as a hospital in New Jersey.

Merediths goal  and she acknowledges its a big one  is to get Awesome Ollie bears in every childrens hospital in the country.

Its just something that made me happy and I want to pass that along, Meredith said.

An Awesome Ollie sponsorship is $20 a bear. Anyone interested in sponsoring bears at a local hospital or to purchase a bear can contact Terrabusy@yahoo.com or call (858) 336-4418. Follow Ollie on Facebook at facebook.com/AwesomeOstomy.
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by Tad Lindley

Marijuana sales is now legal in the State of Alaska. What does this mean for Christians? What position should the church take on the use of marijuana? Will it now be acceptable for preachers to smoke a bowl before stepping into the pulpit?

Illegal means illegal, but what does legal mean

If you are a Christian, illegal means illegal. As Christians we are to honor the laws of the land as long as they are not contrary to the Bible. I Peter 2:13 lays this out very clearly (also see Romans 13:1-7). We are called to honor the laws of the land. But what about the case where something has been made legal, does that automatically make it legal for us as well? At one time in many parts of the world adultery was illegal. In ancient Israel, it was punishable by death (Leviticus 20:10). Today it is legal in all 50 states. Similarly, homosexual activity and cross-dressing were also illegal in many places (see Leviticus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 22:5). Those things too are becoming more mainstream. Even though the government has become more permissive concerning these things, they are still an abomination to God, and so Christians are bound to a higher law. The use of marijuana falls under a similar situation.

Marijuana not in the Bible

You will not find the word marijuana in the Bible, so we have no direct commandment concerning marijuana. The same is true for the words heroin, hydrocodone, LSD, crack, glue, meth, nicotine, or any other drug that destroys human life. Unlike the State of Alaska, the Bible does not have a list of schedule C controlled substances. It does deal at length with the most widely abused drug on the planet today, alcohol. The guiding principles for alcohol are pretty straightforward and are easily transferable to other mind altering substances.

A heaven or hell issue

Intoxication is a real heaven or hell issue. This is not my opinion, it is straight out of the Bible. Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (I Corinthians 6:9 NIV) We will die lost if we live a drunken lifestyle, the Bible cant get much clearer on that.

But didnt they drink in the Bible?

Yes, grape juice both fermented and unfermented was used in the Bible. In fact Jesus first miracle involved turning water into wine (see John 2:1-11). They drank the fruit of the vine at the last supper (Matthew 26:17-30), which is why we use grape juice and some even use wine in communion. Paul even advised Timothy that small amounts of wine had medicinal use (I Timothy 5:23). Also notice that Timothy did not drink wine at all prior to that. At any rate the issue clearly is not with alcohol itself, the issue is with intoxication.

This is some good stuff man!

Neither you, nor I have ever heard a dope smoker praise the flavor or the taste of marijuana with those words. When they say, This is some good stuff man!, they are referring to the intoxicating properties of marijuana. Except in very rare cases of legitimate medicinal use of marijuana, the purpose of smoking it is to get high. If you went to the local dope dealer and dropped half of your childs dividend on marijuana that does not impair your brain, you are going to feel like you got ripped off. If you agree, then your purpose in smoking is to get stoned. You are getting drunk in a different way.

Legal, but not expedient

To wrap it up, the Christian cannot afford to smoke marijuana, except in very rare medical situations such as an anti-nausea medication for chemotherapy patients. But perhaps you disagree, All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (I Corinthians 6:12 NIV) Unfortunately, there is no social using of marijuana. It is possible for some people to drink small amounts of alcohol and walk away from it before being brought under the power of it. With the majority of mind-altering drugs, glue, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, we are either under the power of it or completely clean from it. There is no middle road. This is why Christians will not be able to smoke marijuana without cutting themselves off from the promise and glory of God, even if that marijuana is legal.

Tad Lindley is a minister at the Bethel United Pentecostal Church in Bethel, Alaska.

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by K.J. Lincoln

The Bethel City Council has worked on setting the funding priorities for the State of Alaska Capital Budget for FY 2018. There are four items on the list.

Every year the City of Bethel and just about everybody else submits capital requests to the legislature, said Mayor Richard Robb during the November 8th, 2016 council meeting. Last year we were lucky our community got the capital request of the high school cafeteria. That was the only thing that got funded. That was not a capital request but it was something for our community. During the legislative session after it was approved this body did pass a resolution in support so that it would not get vetoed.

The community of Bethel takes its responsibility as a hub community for a region of 30,000 people seriously, says Resolution 16-32 which describes the requests. Many projects the City has championed benefit tens of thousands of Alaskans who do not reside in City limits.

At the top is the Institutional Corridor Water Delivery System Phase 2 in the amount of $4,500,000. The State of Alaska provided the City of Bethel with $7,000,000 from the FY 2014 Alaska Capital Budget to fund more than half of the Institutional Corridor Water Delivery System project, which left the City with a shortfall of $4,500,000.

The City worked with DOWL engineers to design the project which now requires less linear feet of pipe at less cost to accomplish the same number of institutional connections.

Once the project is complete, the City will receive a net gain from water sales to the institutions and three of the institutions will be able to close their water plants for good, eliminating the hardship of well management and proper water treatment, states Resolution 16-32.

In number two is a request for $850,000 for an Emergency Response Fire Ladder Truck. The Bethel Fire Chief has determined that the current ladder truck no longer meets mission requirements, safety requirements, or the needs of the community. After 36 years of continual service, the ladder truck is in poor condition and has failed to achieve certification in each of the last three years.

Furthermore, parts and service for the 1980 ladder truck have become obsolete or exceedingly difficult to find though significant repairs are needed. The truck also does not meet current NFPA, DOT, or EPA standards.

In the last three years, the City of Bethel responded to two major fires as well as numerous smaller fires. The last fire damaged the ladder truck rendering it no longer operational.

With the development of several buildings exceeding the reach of the current ladder truck, the Fire Department needs a ladder truck capable of reaching the third floor of a building to rescue trapped or endangered building occupants. A ladder truck with greater reach and greater pumping capability will help to lower home insurance rates in Bethel.

Thirdly, a road around H-Marker Lake is desperately needed. This request is in the amount of $1,820,752. The community of Bethel has been severely hampered by the closure of Tundra Ridge Road in 2008 because it broke the circuit and causing all traffic to flow in a U pattern from the State Highway to Ptarmigan Street.

The City worked diligently with State and private landowners to re-open the road, but after seven years, the impasse remains, Res. 16-32 says.

The Citys proposed solution is to build a new gravel road around H-Marker Lake that will connect the public part of Tundra Ridge Road with Ptarmigan Street to complete the circuit again. The new road, if built, between the State Highway and Ptarmigan is expected to save lives and reduce injuries as a result of faster emergency vehicle response times, less drive time to town, lower fuel cost, and reduced vehicle maintenance cost.

The City of Bethel is willing and able to provide sand, heavy equipment, and personnel to assist in the development of the new road.

For number 4, it is the Small Boat Harbor for $2,500,000. The City of Bethel has received funding from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the Denali Commission, and the State of Alaska for improvements to the Bethel Small Boat Harbor over the last five years. Three sections of bank encompassing 1,300 feet are all that are left to improve with webbing and gravel in order to stabilize 100% of the banks, thereby reducing slough-off and the need for dredging. Additionally, several culverts are needed to improve the parking lot and road access to the harbor.

The harbor allows Bethel residents easy, convenient, and inexpensive access to the Kuskokwim River for subsistence harvest of fish and game, access to fish camps, recreational uses, commercial fishing, commercial birding/guiding, wood gathering, and transportation to and from villages on the river.

Nearby villagers depend on the harbor when they travel by boat to Bethel for medical appointments, vocational training, college attendance, conferences/workshops, government services, shopping, employment, air transportation to Anchorage and points beyond, and to visit friends and relatives.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has designated the Bethel Small Boat Harbor as a harbor of refuge and provides protection for small boaters from storms, high seas, and other natural hazards.

Res. 16-32 states that great strides have been made to improve the harbor over the last five years and this project represents the final bank stabilization effort needed to complete the harbor.

The total requested comes out to $9,670,752. Resolution 16-32, introduced by the then Acting City Manager Pete Williams (now the current City Manager), passed unanimously.

The City of Bethel has been proactively pursuing funding strategies with federal and state agencies amidst the States difficulties in maintaining a sustainable budget. A legislative update was provided to council by Senator Lyman Hoffman and Representative Zach Fansler during the December 13th, 2016 meeting.

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by Joanne Kameroff

When I was 12 years old I remember the day my grandfather died, it was the evening of Slaviq. I remember being late going to the airport, and we were speeding. As we were passing the water pump house we ended up being stopped by the police, and we explained that we had to rush to the airport, and they offered a police escort to the airport. Feeling that importance from the police being escorted with our Captain of the Kuskokwim seeing his last journey through Bethel, Alaska.

As I was returning home on that cold airplane traveling to Stony River, I looked out the window and I saw the great scenery of the vast mountains and the swirling curves of the Kuskokwim River. I remember grieving over my dead grandfather, remembering the ways he taught me respect, and telling me not to show any grief over him, for he is in a better place. He told me once before not to cry in front of the little ones to show how to be strong and stand with courage.

After landing in Stony River, we were bringing him to his house. At that moment I felt full of sorrow, but I was glad to be back and happy to see all my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

As we were preparing the house and preparing meals we decided to sing to our grandfather one last time, the songs of Slaviq. The songs that he once led and the song that he once taught us. Telling us not to forget these songs, as the songs hold our culture and our beliefs of that spinning star.

As we were singing, there was this warm feeling in the house. I know it wasnt from the wood stove because it was off and the windows were open. That warm feeling wasnt coming from anything physical, but from something much more. It was coming from my heart. That feeling in my heart, was filled with secureness, full of joy, and just being grateful.

As we were bringing him to his final resting place I felt a sharp pain come over my heart, my throat stinging, and my eyes starting to fill with tears. Holding back that one tear from falling down my cheek was difficult, but as that tear came out I started sobbing and buried my face into my mothers arms and hugged her tight as we both wept over him.

As I glanced over to his casket being lowered down to the ground next to his beloved wife, I started to think to myself that he wouldnt be in that agonizing pain he once was. He would be watching over us, and waiting for us to return home. From that moment on, I knew everything was going to be okay and I will always remember the ways of respect.



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This post is all about the warm fuzzys. (Plus a fun downloadable quilt pattern!)

First of all, some of you who have been hanging around these parts for a l o n g time now may remember when I made an Irish Flag quilt for the baby of my dear friend Sarah who passed away due to complications in childbirth delivering her first baby. Making that flag helped me through my own grieving for Sarahs tragic loss and for this baby who wouldnt know his feisty Irish mother.

I wanted so much to hold that baby in my arms and love him, but sending a quilt to the UK was the next best thing I could realistically do. Fast forward just over 7 years and that sweet baby came to visit! Only hes obviously not a baby anymore. His Dad got remarried a few years ago to an awesome woman from America and they are living in the states. Seeing this boy so happy and with two parents who he loves was so heart-warming and joyful for me. And it was extra fun for me to see Sarahs eyes and smile come alive exactly in this little face. To top it all off, they told me the quilt still lives on his bed. [Cue heart melting]

So a happy update there.

Want some more warm fuzzies? This week the Fat Quarter Shop released the design for their 2017 Patchwork Quilt Along!

Each month a new free downloadable block pattern will be released on the 15th. This quilt pattern is designed as a fundraiser for the Make A Wish Foundation as the FQS requests (but doesnt require) a $5 donation to the Make A Wish foundation with the download of each pattern. The FQS and Moda Fabrics has pledged to match up to $20,000 of those donations.

I have such a soft spot for the Make A Wish foundation because Ive seen firsthand the difference they make in the lives of not only terminally ill children, but also in the lives of their families. I have a neighbor with 4 sons who have Muscular Dystrophy. Yes four. The oldest passed away at the age of 24 about 2 years ago. The other three are on their way to the same, degenerative fate. And yet these boys live life cheerfully and crack me up! Their family has been granted special family trips thanks to Make A Wish. Not only were these boys in heaven, but it was a great bit of respite and happy memories for two parents and healthy siblings who meet the needs of these boys every day.

The first block in the Quilt Along kicked-off this weekend  its this cute Souvenir of Friendship block. In addition to the free downloadable block pattern, there is also a handy video with tips on block cutting and assembly. You can find all of the information in this post.

If you make 6 blocks a month, by the end of the year you will be able to complete the full patchwork quilt design. The blocks will be demoed using Bonnie and Camilles latest Basics collection. A limited number of kits are available. This would also be a fun project for using up your stash! Im excited to quilt along!

Lastly- for those who might have missed the update  the Class Lists are now available for the Sew On and Sew Forth quilting retreat in Midway, Utah at the beginning of March! More details in the previous post.
With the internet on our fingertips, the world is a pool of knowledge. All you need to do is jump in and start swimming. Given that digital skills are increasingly becoming more coveted, its about time we leverage the vast ocean of information and educational training available online. But, we dont want you to dive into the world of online education blindly. So here is a list of 10 free, yet highly valuable online tech courses from some of the top international universities and companies around the world. Are you up for some skill building?

Harvard Universitys complete photography course is now online!

Yes, you heard it right, Harvard Universitys entire photography course is now available online, free of cost. The course has been uploaded by Alison, one of the many online learning resources available to internet users today. Harvards photography course consists of 13 modules including Introduction to Digital Photography, Software, Light, exposure, Digital Cameras, Colour, Artifacts, Histograms, etc. The last module acts as an assessment module for students, based on learnings from the 12 curriculum modules. However, the course has been picked up from Harvards 2009 course structure, making software tools outdated. The fundamentals of photography, though, remain the same even now and the course is completely free of cost, making it ideal for those looking to brush up their camera skills this year.

Learn digital skills with Google

Google recently launched the Digital Unlocked programme in India and while users can opt for offline training and certification under the same, they can also leverage the programme online. Great for those looking to learn the basics of growing a business or a startup on the web, the course offers a personalised video lesson plan as per a users needs. Those looking to learn can repeatedly watch the course videos and practice each topic. Each video offers a quick and fun lesson in digital marketing and as Google puts it, youll learn from everyday experts. After the lessons are completed, users are guided to practice their learnings with bite-sized activities based on real life situations. There is a final quiz at the end of each topic to complete the personalised plan.

MIT will teach you how to design Mobile App Experiences

How do you design a mobile app that can truly change lives? Well, who better to tell you than the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The online course will endeavour to teach students how to create mobile apps, from research to design, usability, implementation and field evaluation. The course is based on a popular MIT class that has been taught since 2006 by Frank Bentley of Yahoo Labs and Ed Barrett, a Senior Lecturer at MIT. It will also explore what makes mobile devices unique. A primary focus will be on studying existing behavior and using key findings for design. While writing the code for an app is a part of the class, majority of the topics will cover designing and evaluating a unique mobile experience.The course will begin on March 7, 2017, but enrollment for the same has already started on edx, another online learning portal. Free of cost, the MIT Mobile App Experiences course will run over 10 weeks, requiring 10-12 hours of the students time every week. Great for those looking to make a mark with a well-designed and useful app.

Get an Intensive Introduction to algorithms, software development and computer systems from Harvard

Ever blamed yourself for not taking up Computer Science in school? Want to learn programming languages like HTML, CSS or SQL? Want to know all about algorithms, software development, website development and operating systems? Look no further than this Intensive Introductory course on Computer Science from Harvard University. All of the course material, including video lectures from Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, are available online and completely free of cost. Students will also get access to notes, quizzes, problem sets, seminars, study guides and more as part of the the 11 week online learning curriculum.

Think, create & code with The University of Adelaide

This free course offered by The University of Adelaide is aimed at teaching the basics of coding to the online learner. In this 6 week long online course, students will not only learn the inner workings of the digital world, but also create and manipulate images with code, creating new artworks and interactive animations. User made images and animations will be displayed in an online Art Gallery. Students will also have an opportunity to develop effective computational thinking skills and concepts transferable to other coding environments and programming languages.

Explore alien worlds and exoplanets with the help of Boston University

If you are one for alien theories and want to study planets outside of our solar system (exoplanets), then check out this course from Boston University. In this 9 week course, you will learn how to use basic scientific tools to discover and characterize exoplanets. You will also get the skills you need to understand your place in the universe. Its an introductory level course, so you can go in a novice and come out with a basic understanding of concepts of astrophysics including, light, gravity, and motion. Check out the course here.

Learn how the Internet works with Stanford University

Stanford University offers a free introductory networking course which will require students to devote 5-10 hours of study every week. This self-paced course focuses on explaining how the internet works, ranging from how bits are modulated on wires and in wireless to application-level protocols like BitTorrent and HTTP. The course also explains the principles of how to design networks and network protocols. Students gain experience in reading and understanding RFCs (Internet protocol specifications) as statements of what a system should do. At Stanford, this course is typically taken by undergraduate seniors and first or second year masters students, hence it will require online learners to have prior knowledge of algebra and an understanding of how computers lay out data in memory.

Build your own IoT devices with help from Qualcomm and UC San Diego

Ok, this one is not exactly free, but costs just Rs 1,292 per course. If you want to learn how the Internet of Things works, then this one is probably the best available online. In this course, students will get the necessary skills to build their own IoT products and services including devices for sensing, actuation, processing, and communication. The entire curriculum is 6 course long, and each course is priced around Rs 1,292. The IoT course has been developed in partnership with chip maker Qualcomm, and in the final project, students will apply their skills using the DragonBoard 410c platform.

Whats inside your phone? Let Cornell University teach you

What makes a smartphone? How do processors work? How can you design a small working computer? You can learn all this and more in this free online course offered by Cornell University. This course is spread over 10 weeks and will require 6 dedicated hours of effort from online students per week. Here you will gain knowledge on Digital logic, Computer organization, Instruction sets, Application Software, Advanced performance techniques and Actual smartphone processors. Dont worry, this is an introductory level course, so you can go in with bare minimum knowledge about smartphones.

Learn how to make Apps and Bots with Microsoft

Have a killer app idea but not sure how to execute it? Looking to leverage the growing bot platform? You can now learn from the people who actually build these things. Microsoft offers a free online app and bot development course where students will learn how to create intelligent apps using Microsoft Azure machine learning APIs. In addition, students can also learn how to build autonomous bots and real-time intelligent solutions for IOT/big data scenarios, over a period of 6 weeks.
The Spanish government will be reasonable in its approach to Brexit, economy minister Luis de Guindos said on Wednesday.

De Guindos told CNBC that Britain was Spains closest economic ally regarding trade, tourism and investments, and that the Spanish government would want to have a reasonable discussion about Brexit.

He added that the government would likely push for companies and workers to look to Madrid as an alternative for London.

There are many issues that Britain will need to entangle as it extricates itself from the bloc with British expats concerned over their future in EU countries particularly Spain, which is home to the largest population of people living abroad in the EU.

Meanwhile the prospect of a closed or hard border with Gibraltar, a British territory, could threaten 40% of jobs in the territory, according to Gibraltar's chief minister, Fabian Picardo.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain will no longer be a member of the European single market and the customs union from the European Economic Area after Brexit. The country will instead seek to forge a new trade deal with the EU, with as much as access as possible to the single market and a new agreement for customs.
The Federal Trade Commission in the United States has decided to bring an antitrust lawsuit against Qualcomm Inc, a major producer of microchip technology for smartphones.

The Trade Commission voted 2-1 to bring the case and, even though an investigation into the company's licenses for creating technology was opened in 2014, shares in the firm fell more than 4% on announcement of the news.

With Donald Trump's administration arriving in Washington on Friday, the investigation into Qualcomm has been accelerated, with the one Republican commissioner who voted not to bring the lawsuit voicing dissent after the decision was made.

Maureen Ohlhausen said in a statement afterwards that the decision "lacks economic and evidentiary support, that was brought on the eve of a new presidential administration, and that, by its mere issuance, will undermine US intellectual property rights in Asia and worldwide."

The case from the federal organisation centres around patents from certain communications standards, which Qualcomm has previously agreed to limits on given the essential nature of them.

"Qualcomm has engaged in exclusionary conduct that taxes its competitors' baseband processor sales, reduces competitors' ability and incentive to innovate, and raises prices paid by consumers for cell phones and tablets," the ccourt filing said

It is the latest setback for the company, which was recently hit with a $854m fine from regulators in South Korea in a similar licensing case.
Deutsche Bank and the US Department of Justice have agreed the German lender will pay a $7.2bn settlement, one of the largest ever banking fines, for misleading investors in its sale of residential mortgage-backed securities in the run up to the financial crisis.

In settling the civil case, Deutsche will fork out for a $3.1bn penalty and has agreed to disburse $4.1bn in relief to affected homeowners, distressed borrowers and communities.

Last September, the DoJ proposed a $14bn payment to settle the investigation, at which Deutsche balked.

"This resolution holds Deutsche Bank accountable for its illegal conduct and irresponsible lending practices, which caused serious and lasting damage to investors and the American public," attorney general Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

She added that the German lender "did not merely mislead investors: it contributed directly to an international financial crisis".

Since 2008, Deutsche Bank had already paid out over $9bn in fines and settlements





The DOJ said it is "one of the largest FIRREA penalties ever paid."



To compare, in 2014, Bank of America agreed to pay $10 billion to regulators in a settlement tied to residential mortgage-backed securities. That included fines from Merrill Lynch and countrywide that BofA acquired during the financial crisis.

In 2013, JPMorgan agreed to pay $9 billion, according to regulators.

As a part of the settlement, Deutsche Bank will admit to making "false representations and omitting material information from disclosures to investors about the loans included in RMBS securities sold by the Bank."

The agreement follows months of negotiations with the DOJ. The bank's stock was hit hard in September after it acknowledged the Justice Department had been seeking nearly twice as much.

In December, Reuters reported that Deutsche Bank had reached an agreement but it had not yet been finalized.

The Justice Department sued Barclays in December on charges of fraud in the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the 2008-09 financial crisis. Barclays said that the claims in the lawsuit are "disconnected from the facts" and that it has an obligation to defend against "unreasonable allegations and demands," according to a Reuters report.
Christine Lagarde , the head of the International Monetary Fund , has said that the middle classes of the global economy are close to crisis.

Speaking during a panel event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, the Frenchwoman pointed out that she foresaw the rise of populism and political backlash which dominated much of 2016, as well as highlighting the increased inequality showcased recently.

Oxfam last week calculated that eight of the world's billionaires own the same amount of money as the poorest half of the world's population.

"With lower growth, more inequality and much more transparency, you have the good ingredients for a crisis of the middle classes in the advanced economies," Lagarde said.

The economist called on global leaders to address the issue as soon as possible by making fiscal and structural reforms in order to even up the gaps between the classes.

"There is clearly a sense that when you have a real crisis, or when you have signals from voters who say 'no', it is really time to say  What policies do we have? What more can we do ? What measures can we take to reduce inequalities," Lagarde said.

Lagarde was recently found guilty in a case relating to her time as the French finance minister, but did not receive a sentence and her role as head of the monetary body was unaffected.
Stocks in London edged higher in early trade despite a series of profit warnings, as investors looked to the release of some key jobs data.

At 0830 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 0.3% to 7,242.94. Meanwhile, oil prices ticked higher, with West Texas Intermediate up 0.4% to $52.69 a barrel and Brent crude up 0.5% to $55.75.

In currency markets, the pound was down 0.5% to $1.2339, having made strong gains in the previous session on the back of Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit speech.

Spreadexs Connor Campbell said: That leaves most of the currencys post-May Brexit speech gains intact it does suggest that investors arent too keen to send it above $1.24 and 1.16 respectively. As for the FTSE, sterlings early shyness only helped it post a meagre five point rise, meaning the index is still more than 100 points from the highs it hit at the start of the week.

The focus this morning is likely to remain on the pound as it processes the UK jobs data. For the three months to the end of November wage growth is expected to creep up to a fresh one year-plus high, with the unemployment rate forecast to come in unchanged at 4.8%. The claimant count change reading for December, meanwhile, is set to rise to 4.6k from 2.4k, though with some chunky revisions likely to be made to that latter number. If accurate these figures probably arent enough to inspire another round of remarkable growth for the pound, though it could ease its current losses.

The UK claimant count, unemployment rate and average earnings are due at 0930 GMT. In the US, the consumer price index is at 1330 GMT and the NAHB housing market index is at 1500 GMT.

In corporate news, Burberry edged higher after posting 4% growth in underlying retail sales for the third quarter, boosted by a return to growth for the Asia Pacific region but with the Americas still in decline.

Ladbrokes Coral was on the front foot as it said 2016 profit is likely to rise in line with market and management expectations.

Vodafone pushed up after announcing that it and TDC Group have agreed to renew their strategic partnership for Denmark and Norway, building on a successful fifteen-year relationship that began in 2001.

On the downside, education publisher Pearson  which has already issued a string of profit warnings in recent years  tanked after it cut its profit forecast for this year and said the dividend will be lower.

Outsourcer Mitie was also under the cosh following its third profit warning since September and as it announced the appointment of a new finance director.

Shares in Premier Foods, which owns the Mr Kipling and Bisto brands, were also hit by a profit warning, as the company said trading profit for full-year 2016/17 is now expected to be 10% lower than previously anticipated, and announced a cost saving and efficiency programme.

Pub group JD Wetherspoon nudged lower after saying it expects profits to drop in the second half of the year due to rising costs and weaker sales.

Information services company Experian was on the back foot after reporting a 4% rise in third-quarter organic revenue as it maintained its guidance for the full year.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,242.94 0.31%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 18,240.29 -0.00%

techMARK (TASX) 3,384.45 0.30%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Dixons Carphone (DC.) 352.40p 1.70%

Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,619.00p 1.63%

Mondi (MNDI) 1,765.00p 1.55%

British American Tobacco (BATS) 4,648.50p 1.50%

Compass Group (CPG) 1,444.00p 1.33%

Unilever (ULVR) 3,363.50p 1.29%

Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 6,854.00p 1.21%

HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 674.50p 1.14%

United Utilities Group (UU.) 896.00p 1.01%

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 3,719.00p 0.90%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Pearson (PSON) 616.50p -23.70%

Capita (CPI) 500.00p -3.38%

Experian (EXPN) 1,540.00p -2.41%

Royal Mail (RMG) 440.90p -1.36%

Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 171.00p -1.16%

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 486.00p -1.12%

Barratt Developments (BDEV) 515.50p -1.06%

Standard Life (SL.) 348.40p -0.88%

Barclays (BARC) 229.80p -0.78%

Anglo American (AAL) 1,314.00p -0.76%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Hochschild Mining (HOC) 243.00p 4.38%

Ladbrokes Coral Group (LCL) 129.30p 3.86%

Spectris (SXS) 2,488.00p 3.32%

Henderson Group (HGG) 240.60p 2.34%

PZ Cussons (PZC) 335.30p 1.61%

Capital & Counties Properties (CAPC) 284.10p 1.25%

Britvic (BVIC) 593.00p 1.19%

Smith (DS) (SMDS) 432.10p 1.17%

Rightmove (RMV) 4,132.00p 1.08%

Booker Group (BOK) 186.60p 0.97%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Mitie Group (MTO) 186.00p -9.49%

Inmarsat (ISAT) 667.00p -5.39%

Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 499.80p -2.19%

International Personal Finance (IPF) 168.60p -1.98%

Redefine International (RDI) 39.69p -1.76%

SSP Group (SSPG) 390.40p -1.56%

John Laing Group (JLG) 260.00p -1.44%

Virgin Money Holdings (UK) (VM.) 307.00p -1.29%

Essentra (ESNT) 438.20p -1.28%

Bellway (BWY) 2,564.00p -1.23%
Stocks in London were set for a firmer open on Wednesday following heavy losses in the previous session on the back of Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit speech, with the pound likely to be in focus again.

The FTSE 100 was called to open 22 points higher than Tuesdays close at 7,242.

CMC Markets Michael Hewson said: Yesterdays speech by UK Prime Minister Theresa May may not have pleased everybody, indeed it didnt take too long before it was receiving criticism for being a theft of democracy but it certainly had an unexpected effect on the currency markets, sending the pound up sharply, as it posted its biggest one day rise since 2008.

Having been told ad nauseam for months that the prospect of a so called hard Brexit/clean Brexit would send the pound even further down, this reaction was an unexpected outcome, however given that immigration was always likely to be a red line, this was realistically the only option open to the Prime Minister, something that markets have had more than enough time to price in.

On the data front, investors will turn their attention to the UK claimant count, unemployment rate and average earnings at 0930 GMT. In the US, the consumer price index is at 1330 GMT and the NAHB housing market index is at 1500 GMT.

In corporate news, Pearson expects to report full year profit and earnings in line with forecasts, but also expects a reduction in revenue due to a decline in the North American higher education market as it aims to accelerate its digital transition in order to manage a fall in print.

Adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share for the year ended 31 December 2016, are expected to be about 630m and 57p, respectively, with revenues down about 8% primarily due to the weakness in North American higher education courseware.

Boosted by a return to growth for the Asia Pacific region but with the Americas still in decline, Burberry's underlying retail sales grew 4% in the third quarter.

In the three months ending December, the fashion retailer made revenues of 735m that were 22% higher than the same period last year thanks to the significant currency shifts, with like-for-like sales up 3%.

Vodafone announced that it and TDC Group have agreed to renew their strategic partnership for Denmark and Norway, building on a successful fifteen-year relationship that began in 2001.

The FTSE 100 mobile network operator said under the renewal, which commenced on 1 January, TDC's mobile customers will continue to benefit from mobile voice and data roaming, including high-speed data on Vodafone's 4G networks.
The offices, which the company holds a 49% stake in, were sold by a share sale, which were held in a joint venture with Israeli insurance and pension fund, Menora Mivtachim Group.

The proceeds of the same, which will amount to 24.9m, including a 2.4m performance fee will be reinvested into value accretive opportunities and to reduce debt.

The properties in Berlin, Dresden, Cologne and Stuttgart are currently let to a German government-backed social insurance body, VBG, on a contract about seven years, and generate rental income of 8.1m per year, of which 4m was attributed to Redefine International.

Mike Watters, chief executive of Redefine International said: "In line with our strategy to continuously improve the quality of our portfolio, these four offices were identified for sale. We are very pleased with the transaction having achieved an impressive 27% internal rate of return over the investment period.

He added that the proceeds from the sales was timely as it was enhanced by the current strength of the euro against the pound.

Shares in Redefine International were down 1.76% to 39.69p at 0826 GMT.
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Bicycle advocates want more protected lanes as Columbus develops plan

Columbus bicycle advocates want more protected bike lanes for safety as city embarks on new bikeways plan.
McGranahan Architects

Bose

Hendricks

Waytashek

Archer

Fong

Buchberger

Engelhardt

Tacoma-based McGranahan Architects hired Kim Fong and Jessica Archer as project architects, Scott Waytashek as a construction administrator, Jinger Hendricks as a graphic designer, and Shona Bose, Leah Engelhardt and Heidi Buchberger as project designers. Fong is assisting with Highland Middle School for Bellevue School District. Archer is on the Glacier Middle School team for White River School District. Waytashek is providing construction administration on the Environmental Learning Center for Tacoma Public Schools. Hendricks is assisting on environmental graphics for Tacoma Community College Health and Wellness Center. Bose is assisting on Pleasant Glade Elementary School for North Thurston Public Schools. Engelhardt is assisting with Highland Middle School. Buchberger is supporting the Redmond Ridge Middle School team for Lake Washington School District.




The train derailment in Kanpur on 21 November that killed 150 people was a terror act, planned and funded by anti-India elements based in Dubai, according to Bihar police. The revelations were made by the three criminals arrested for planting a bomb on rail track in Bihar's Raxaul district on 1 October, according to police in East Champaran district. Motihari police in Bihar have arrested three persons, and based on their statements, it has been concluded that Pakistan might be behind the disastrous Kanpur train accident. The arrested trio also gave a brief description of a network of anti-India elements with likely links with Pakistan's ISI paying money to criminals in India to carry out blasts and sabotage action on rail tracks in the country, police said. The arrested persons said they were given more targets and police probe is underway to find their links with Kanpur train accident, East Champaran SP Jitendra Rana said. Police also said that one of the persons arrested has confessed that he was paid by the ISI agents based in Pak. ''The recovery of an improvised explosive device on Raxaul-Sitamarhi route near Ghorasahan railway station on October 1, which disrupted train services for more than 12 hours, was funded by a Dubai-based trader from Nepal named Shamshul Hoda,'' said Rana. ''There is a possibility that the derailment of Indore-Patna Express and the Shealdah-Ajmer Express were also carried out by these people. Efforts are on to find out more details from the ongoing interrogation,'' he added. Moti Paswan, the main accused in the Ghorasahan sabotage case, and two others arrested in that connection have reportedly confessed to have received a ''big amount'' from Hoda to carry out blasts on rail tracks in north India. The two criminals were arrested in connection with the murder of two Raxaul residents in Nepal. ''Three people arrested in Nepal  Brijkishore Giri, Muzahid Ansari and Shambhu  and two other men were active in this group. Giri, the kingpin, had paid money to these people to carry out blasts on rail tracks near Ghorasahan. Umashankar Patel, Mukesh Yadav and Moti Paswan, who have been arrested, had received the money and given the bomb planting task to two other men,'' said Rana. The two men were killed for their failed attempt as the police detected and recovered the powerful IED and averted a major accident. ''They were taken to Nepal and brutally killed in a jungle there. Investigation into these two murders unravelled the sinister network,'' said Rana. Bihar police have sought the assistance of ATS and intelligence agencies to explore the entire extent of this network. ''The involvement of some agencies from across the border has been detected. Further probe will expose the exact role of these agencies and the likelihood that they were behind the Kanpur derailment,'' said Rana.










The online sales tax list for the world's largest online retailer gets longer.

Amazon will start collecting state sales taxes on shipments to South Dakota on Feb. 1 and to Wyoming on March 1.

If, however, you buy from other online vendors who ship to those states, your bills might not contain a sales tax charge. The deals each state struck with Amazon and announced this week are specific to that company only.

Wyoming tax law in the works: While the decision by the Seattle-based online giant to start collecting sales taxes is welcomed by officials in South Dakota and Wyoming, the states are depending on legislative actions to expand the sales tax collection responsibilities to all remote retailers.

"Wyoming businesses are at a disadvantage when internet businesses fail to collect tax," Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said in his Jan. 12 announcement of the Amazon tax collection deal. "This is an important step in the right direction. I encourage the Legislature to continue to work on the remote seller's bill."

The bill to which Mead referred is H.B. 19, which has been prefiled in the Wyoming legislature. It would require a remote seller to remit tax when its gross revenue from in-state sales exceeds $100,000 or it makes 200 or more separate sales into the Cowboy State.

South Dakota law passed, now in court: The Wyoming bill is similar to the South Dakota law that took effect last year. That measure requires remote sellers with no physical location in the Mount Rushmore State to collect and remit sales tax on online purchases.

That legislation deliberately conflicts with federal law, noted South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard, in order to force the legal challenge to it that is now working its way through the courts and, it is hoped, come up with a definitive answer regarding the current nexus requirement.

Nexus, or a physical presence, is the standard set for remote sellers and out-of-state tax collections in 1992 by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Quill vs. North Dakota.

Yes, the prevailing sales tax collection law for out-of-state sellers was set by South Dakota's neighbor. And yes, it soon might be supplanted.

"This is not a new tax. It is an issue of tax uniformity," said Daugaard of his state's remote sales tax law. "If South Dakota retailers must collect sales taxes, their online competitors should as well."

As South Dakota (and other states) wait for the final word from the courts, Daugaard welcomed the Amazon deal. It is the latest in a series of agreements his state's Department of Revenue has reached under the new law with online retailers to voluntarily remit sales tax. For those who did/do not register, an injunction bars enforcement of the provisions until the litigation is resolved.

"Thanks to the Departments efforts, 101 online businesses without a physical presence in our state are voluntarily collecting sales tax from their customers and remitting those dollars," Daugaard said in his announcement of the Amazon deal.

Amazon collecting in 36 jurisdictions: The impending sales tax collection in South Dakota and Wyoming brings to 36 the number of taxing jurisdictions where Amazon will be collecting sales levies.

The table below shows the full list of 35 states (and Washington, D.C.) where Amazon will be collecting sales taxes in a couple of months.





Alabama Indiana Nebraska South Dakota Arizona Iowa Nevada Tennessee California Kansas New Jersey Texas Colorado Kentucky New York Utah Connecticut Louisiana North Carolina Virginia District of Columbia Maryland North Dakota Washington Florida Massachusetts Ohio West Virginia Georgia Michigan Pennsylvania Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota South Carolina Wyoming



Since 5 states don't collect a state-wide sales tax, that leaves just 10 states where Amazon customers -- and, in some cases, other cyber shoppers -- won't see sales taxes added to their online invoices.

The still Amazon tax free states, for now, are Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Vermont.

You also might find these items of interest:
Mardi Gras will be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 18, and the public does not have to leave Dothan to join in the festivities.

Hollon Contracting has teamed with the Exchange Center for Child Abuse Prevention to present the seventh annual Charity Mardi Gras Ball. The event will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, from 7-11 p.m., at the Grand on Foster. Tickets are $50 per person.

The Charity Mardi Gras Ball presents a two-fold message. The proceeds generated from the event will benefit the Exchange Center. The event also provides the Exchange Center an opportunity to educate the public about its multi-faceted mission in the community.

To that end, Liz Ploss, community relations liaison with the Exchange Center, discussed the programs and services offered by the nonprofit agency.

Every time we have an event, we want to get our name out to the public, Ploss said. We want to let the public know what our mission is, which is to prevent child abuse.

Prevention of child abuse is the nonprofit agencys goal, but, Ploss notes, the agency has a two-member counseling staff that works with victims of abuse.

The Exchange Centers Prevention Education Programs target students and adults in the effort to eliminate abuse before it starts.

Part of that program is educating the public for the signs of child abuse, Ploss said. We have a prevention educator who goes to the middle schools and high schools to talk to the kids in their classes. They are told such things as what is safe and unsafe touch.

Ploss noted the education process also includes a special hospital effort called the Baby Whisperer Program.

We have a staff member who sees new moms and dads at the Southeast Alabama Medical Center, Ploss continued. Among the topics covered is the danger of the shaken baby syndrome. Our hospital educator also gives the new parents a community resources booklet for them to take home. It is a resource for them to keep and to use to get help, when they need it. Last year, we gave these resource booklets to 1,200 moms and dads.

Were looking to expanding this program to Flowers Hospital.

The Exchange Center also provides in-home services for parental support.

The in-home visits are made to individuals who have been self-identified as being at-risk, Ploss said. We also provide education for the parents through our basic parenting class and our time management class. We also help them manage anger and manage money. We do this through hands-on management in the home, with their child present, which helps the parents build a relationship with their child.

The Exchange Center, Ploss says, through its community education program, works with different professional groups to help them recognize the signs of child. The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine is one professional entity that the center works closely with in its community education program.

The counseling program, led by two licensed counselors, handles more than child abuse cases. Ploss noted 548 people received counseling assistance last year. Most of them were walk-ins off the street who may have a history of abuse.

Our counselors see children and adults, Ploss said. And no fee is ever charged.

The Exchange Center also hosts group sessions. Parenting classes comprise one component. Ploss says the center also holds a weekly group session for those who have been victims of domestic violence.

The centers anger management class is the only program with a fee charged. Many of the participants in the anger management class are court referred, Ploss said.

Because most of the services offered by the Exchange Center for Child Abuse Prevention are free to the participants, the nonprofit agency relies on the public for a portion of its support. That is where events like the Charity Mardi Gras Ball fit into the overall support structure. This marks the first year that Hollon Contracting has served as the presenting sponsor.

The festivities at the Grand on Foster on Feb. 18 will include a live band, Legacy, performing inside with a DJ providing music in the courtyard of the facility.

Dress for the occasion is formal (suit/tie, cocktail dress) or festive Mardi Gras costumes.

Tickets are $50 per person, and they can be purchased via the Exchange Centers website, www.exchangecap.org.
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During the past week I have received an email from a man named Dermot Kelly, whom I presume lives somewhere in the Liverpool area, which included an old photograph of a famous incident at Dundalk's Courthouse Square on May 17, 1910. The occasion was the proclamation of King George V (the present Queen's grandfather) as sovereign of Great Britain (including Ireland) by the High Sheriff of County Louth, R. J. Montgomery, Killineer, Drogheda. The scene is well documented in several photographs that have already been published and picture postcards of it were circulated but I had never seen this particular photograph previously.

This photograph, however, gives a different view of the Sinn Fein demonstration at the foot of the Maid of Erin 1798 Monument which, I believe, was the very first demonstration by the party anywhere in Ireland and may mark the beginning of the War of Independence! Incidentally, I believe that it was taken by a Robert Abernethy whom you can see setting up his camera at a first floor window of his Photography Studio at the Square in a picture on the cover of Harry Tempest's 'Gossiping Guide to Dundalk', first published in 1917. Many Dundalk people of the period would have had their wedding portraits taken by him at this studio as it was the custom to go there immediately after their church wedding and, of course, he would have taken many other local family photographs.

The photograph sent to me by Dermot Kelly relates to the death of a James Kelly of Dowdallshill whom, the inscription claims, was the last surviving member of the protesting Sinn Fein party on the day. Dermot tells me that this James Kelly was a first cousin of his father who was born on Merseyside in 1904 and lived in Dundalk briefly around 1920. He also mentions that this James Kelly had received a 1916 medal for his part in the Rising and there, indeed, a James Kelly listed among the Irish Volunteers who left the Hibernian Society's Hall at 30, Clanbrassil Street, on Easter Sunday 1916 to take part in the Rising. He says that he was surprised to learn that James was employed by the Dundalk Urban District Council up to the time of his death, it is really not surprising, however, as many men who had been involved in the struggle for Independence were later employed by the Council. This information was given me by the late Canice O'Mahony who had been Dundalk Town Surveyor for many years.

The picture is also of great interest to me for a number of other reasons. Firstly it is the only which shows clearly that there were not more than about ten men in the Sinn Fein party that day and the inscription gives the names of eight of them, including Paddy Hughes of Park Street, who seems to have been the leader of the group. Secondly, you can seen in the picture some sort of a low barrier in front of the group which seems to confirm the story that the police on the day could not move them because they were standing on private property. The explanation for this is that the Dundalk 1798 Commemoration Committee had purchased this patch of ground from the Roden Estate in 1897 to allow the monument to be erected.

Another point of interest to me was that the 'Connacht' plaque on the base of monument was missing in 1910 which Victor Whitmarsh says in his 'Old Dundalk' was blown off by an explosion in 1903! I have discovered something in an old Democrat recently which may give a clue as to what happened on that occasion (and will deal with it later).

Black dog

I was also fascinated by the little black dog which is standing beside the protesters! I had noticed that little dog in other pictures and it clearly belonged to one of the protestors. I had been told that the black dog was a pet of one of the Hughes brothers, Peter and Patrick, who founded the Sinn Fein branch at their Park Street home in 1907 but have never found out if that was true! If it was owned by one of that intrepid band, this dog is a part of Irish (and Dundalk's) history!

There are many other things of interest in the picture, and in Dermot Kelly's email, which I hope to be able to return to in later notes but, in the meantime, I hope that readers may be able to spot things in it which relate to their own families!
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted there will be no return of a hard border with the North as the British Prime Minister laid out her plans for leaving the EU.



Mr Kenny moved to ease concerns after Theresa May made a landmark speech outlining Britain's post-Brexit future.

Mrs May said that Britain will leave the European single market, but stressed that the Common Travel Area with Ireland would be preserved.

Mr Kenny moved to ease concerns after Theresa May made a landmark speech outlining Britain's post-Brexit future.

Mrs May said that Britain will leave the European single market, but stressed that the Common Travel Area with Ireland would be preserved.

Mr Kenny said he has no reason to believe the Common Travel Area is under threat.

"We agreed when I went to Downing Street before that we will preserve the Common Travel Area.

"That's something we want and will preserve. It doesn't just mean travelling for social reasons; Irish people travel to Britain and British people travel to Ireland, not just travel but also for work," Mr Kenny told RTE News.

"There'll be no return to the hard border which I call it, or as she says the borders of the past where there were customs post every 100 yards, we want a preservation of the seamless border that's there now."

Mrs May has signalled that Britain will not be looking for associate membership of the EU.

Mr Kenny said it had brought some clarity to the issue following the referendum vote last June.

"Well this is part of the journey that began on June 23 with the referendum and the Prime Minister declaring that Article 50 would be triggered by the end of March," he said.

"And then all of the conversation and confusion looking for clarity, so now the speech from the prime minister has brought clarity and some measure for what Britain is looking for in its new relationship with the European Union in the future."
Mairead McGuinness MEP has been elected First Vice-President of the European Parliament after topping the poll with a massive 466 votes in the first count, well ahead of the absolute majority of 310 votes required and some 88 votes ahead of the next elected Vice President. The vote took place this morning in Strasbourg (Wednesday).

"I am honoured to have been re-elected as Vice-President of Parliament and as First Vice-President in particular with such strong support from across the House, reflecting my work as a fair and firm Vice-President.

"I am delighted with the result. 466 votes is impressive - representing 75 percent of the valid poll of MEPs.

"I will continue to be a strong voice for European citizens, for Ireland and my constituency of Midlands-North-West", said McGuinness MEP, speaking after her re-election as Vice-President for a further two and a half years.

As First Vice-President, McGuinness will now replace the President of the European Parliament in first instance should he be absent or unable to discharge his duties, including chairing plenary sittings or representing Parliament at specific ceremonies. McGuinness will also hold several high-level responsibilities as a member of the Bureau, the body responsible for all administrative, staff and organisational matters of the Parliament.

"The New Year signals a challenging time for the EU ahead of Brexit negotiations. It will be a particularly challenging time for Ireland and our best interests are served by a united EU27 negotiating a deal on Brexit which addresses the many challenges facing us and the EU. In that context is very important that Ireland has strong visibility in the European Parliament," added McGuinness.

"The EU also faces many other challenges including migration and security."

An MEP since 2004 and Vice-President since 2014, McGuinness oversees the European Parliaments Information Policy, Press and Relations with Citizens, including the Parliaments information offices across the Member States. The Midlands-North-West MEP has responsibility for the Parliaments scientific research body - STOA, which aims to bridge the gap between the scientific community and policy-makers. McGuinness also serves as the Parliament's Children's Rights Mediator in cases of international abduction. She is an active member of the Parliaments Agriculture & Rural Development Committee and the Environment, Public Health & Food Safety Committee.

"This year there will be renewed focus on agriculture policy in advance of likely further reforms post-2020, which will be influenced by further tightening of the EU budget, demands for greater environmental delivery and the need to strengthen the food supply chain in favour of the primary producer. I expect the coming two and a half years to be demanding and challenging and I welcome the opportunity to shape the future of the EU as the first?? Vice-President of Parliament.

McGuinness congratulated the newly elected President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, a fellow EPP Group colleague.

Following today's election, President Tajani will review parliamentary responsibilities and assign vice-presidential portfolios for the second half of term.
Fianna Fail TD for Louth and East Meath Declan Breathnach has slammed Theresa May's vision for Brexit, describing it as the 'worst possible news' for the people of Northern Ireland.

Deputy Breathnach said, While she says maintaining the Common Travel Area between UK and Ireland is a priority, she is intent on a hard Brexit and is very vocal in the area of controlling immigration. How is she going to control the border between our two nations, which stretches to 499 Km?

We must remember too that any plans she has, including those in relation to maintaining the Common Travel Area with us, or in treating Ireland in any way differently to other EU nations, has to have the agreement of the entire EU.

Her speech was full of aspirations for a Global Britain. She wants to retain full trading rights with the EU whilst at the same time leaving the Single Market. She said that the UK is not looking to be half in and half out. However, it seems she wants to retain all their rights without making any contributions.

While she said that EU nationals will still be welcome, she stressed that Brexit will mean that full free access will end. What will that mean for the numerous Irish living in the UK? We dont know. From here on in, the UK will be targeting only the best and brightest.

May spoke of the need for unity as the Brexit negotiations get underway. However, for the people of Northern Ireland, who already have the highest unemployment and poverty rates within the UK, a hard Brexit, as has been proposed today, is the worst possible news. The impact of exit from the Single Market and Customs Union will be catastrophic.

For the border regions both North and South, we need to be assured that the future of Peace IV and Interreg funding following the UK exit from the EU will be guaranteed. While these funds have been guaranteed up until 2020 we need to have assurance beyond that. The importance in terms of meaningful cross-border co-operation and relationship building of these programmes cannot be underestimated and the UK cannot turn its back on this. We cannot let the magnificent work of the Good Friday Agreement go to waste and this must be dealt with in our negotiations with the UK.
Businessmums (i.e. business-minded mothers) shouldnt have to choose between their family and their career  that principle is the DNA of Mums & Co, a new venture birthed by entrepreneur and Daily Addict founder Carrie Kwan.

Backed by insurance provider IAG, Mums & Co is a membership-based service that offers businessmums online content as well as a range of free or heavily discounted services to help them grow their businesses, including emergency childcare, HR and legal support, and business insurance for home offices. It also provides members with a community of mums with which to share business knowledge and stories from which inspiration can be mined.

Everything we do is geared towards helping mums succeed in business, Kwan, a mother of two, explained. Were here to support all businessmums from SME operators and sole traders, to women who work on a freelance basis or run their own consultancies, to those who run a family business with their partner or who are contemplating motherhood and want to set up a business that will afford them the necessary flexibility.

Starting a business is daunting and running one is tough  and when you add children to the mix, it takes the challenge to a whole new level. Were trying to level the playing field for business-minded mums by saving them time and money, while at the same time enabling them to be more productive by providing family-friendly ways of doing business and access to the sort of perks that are taken for granted in larger corporate workplaces.

Kwan spoke to Dynamic Business about her latest venture as well as the importance of enabling entrepreneurial mothers to be successful in business.

Dynamic Business: What led you to establish Mums & Co with IAG?

Kwan: When I founded my lifestyle site, Daily Addict, in 2008, it was exciting because I was launching a digital start-up at a time when Twitter was new  indeed, the tech industry was still in its infancy. Still, I wish I had a better support network. I didnt have the advice and expertise to help me navigate the business side of things, access resources and gain knowledge  I had to figure it out all by myself.

Six years on, Daily Addict was a healthy business with 20,000 engaged subscribers, 45,000 social media fans and 50,000 monthly visitors and ready for growth. At this point in time, I was starting a new personal chapter in my life with the birth of my first son, Remy. As a mother running a business, I had new hurdles to overcome. The biggest for me was isolation  I couldnt attend as many meetings and functions and, despite a virtual team, was unable to have simple daily office interactions. I had to be more efficient with my time while finding ways to make money stretch. They say it takes a village to bring up a child, and I found that out first-hand: I relied on my partner and family to help to give me time to run the business, attend meetings, source new business and so on. With a family, I also became more aware of the risks I exposed myself to, including business risks. I know how difficult running a business is, and running it with babes in arms is a whole other ballgame. This lived experience, together with the fact that I was expecting my second child, compelled me to partner with IAG in the first half of 2016. Mums & Co operates like an agile start up but has the financial security, strength and scale that come from being backed by IAG. In addition, IAGs strategic partnerships means members have access to a range of perks, including business and insurance services, they wouldnt ordinarily get access to.

According to Labour Force data, around 406,400 women runs businesses in Australia, meaning they account for a third of all business operators locally, and this number is growing. Furthermore, there are more than 313,000 businesswomen with dependent children in Australia. On their own, and together, these women are making a significant contribution to the economy, providing employment and providing services that solve problem Thus, affording mothers the flexibility to raise families while pursuing their entrepreneurial ambitions in business can only be a good thing for society. With Daily Addict, had I had the sort of support now offered by Mums & Co, I would have catapulted to the next level much quicker.

Dynamic Business: What problems does Mums & Co help mothers overcome?

Kwan: When my now co-founding partner Phuong Ly [Executive General Manager, Agencies at IAG] learnt I was pregnant with my second child, he said Congratulations. You shouldnt have to choose between your family and your career. This attitude is the DNA of Mums & Co. In particular, we help businessmums overcome the following barriers:

1) Isolation: When youre working from home, the loneliness and sense of disconnect can be challenging. It can create a perception that youre in this endeavour alone, despite the support of family and friends. I know that I receive a lot of energy and knowledge from being around others, being able to bounce ideas off each other and discuss different approaches. To share small chats and bigger discussions. Many tap into family and informal social networks like Facebook groups or turn to a friend that runs a business, but this is often a loose structure and inconsistent. There is also the challenge of sourcing co-sharing workspaces, especially those that are child-friendly  but this is changing. Mums & Co builds a community offering real business networking opportunities  face-to-face, webinars and chat forums. It also offers a market place for talent sourcing and promotion.

2) Inadequate time: For mothers, lack of time and always being pressed for time is an ongoing concern. Theyre having to stay focused and fit everything in while contending with constant distractions. Me-time takes a back seat. Our solution is to help them get the right help fast from our pool of services. We also help them with advice and tips on how to get super-organised and have systems in place.

3) The Guilt Cycle: Mothers often feel guilty about leaving their children if they must attend to work commitments and guilty about leaving their employees if they must leave work early to be with their children. They feel stretched thin between their family and what many refer to as their other family at work. At Mums & Co, we support them with a community of like-minded people sharing similar experiences, facing similar problems and going through similar journeys. Its an opportunity to share family/lifestyle and business-related stories. You can celebrate successes and joys and commiserate with one another about pain points and losses.

4) Risk: Women across Australia are taking control of whats important to them, theyre building significant ventures and taking on significant risks without access to the training, insurance and professional development normally afforded by bigger companies. Our insurance offering is tailored for home-based businesses, and we have partnered with an insurance broker who specialises in insurance for women.

5) Identity: Mums in business are also constantly battling with identity as they are wearing multiple hats. Is she mum, is she wife, is she a business owner, is she a woman, is she a friend? At Mums & Co, our solution is to nurture her whole identity. We inspire her with rich online content, stories of other successful mothers running businesses, solving problems, disrupting ways of working and industry norms, all whilst juggling family commitments.

Dynamic Business: Could the government do more to assist enterprising new mothers?

Kwan: We are lucky here in Australia that parents get some support from the government, as do small businesses, but greater support would be welcome. Worthwhile government driven initiatives would include reduced red-tape (for example, reducing the amount of time small businesses have to spend on compliance and tax) as well as incentives, grants and resources geared towards female entrepreneurs such as improved child care affordability and accessibility (tragically pertinent if youre a single mum or dont have access to grandparents). Its also worth considering whether government could make a greater effort to award contracts to small, female-owned businesses during the public procurement process. I would add that with paid parental leave, it seems like were going backwards here with recent policy changes proposed to the current scheme. We need a social infrastructure that keeps up with modern working mums. Starting your business exposes yourself to a new level of financial stress, and balancing the family budget is always top of mind.
Square has expanded its range of secure payment solutions for Australian business owners, with the launch of two new APIs it says will reduce the complexity of accepting and tracking payments in-store and online.

The global payments technology company said its new API for e-commerce integrates with custom websites as well as pre-existing e-commerce shopfronts developed by ready-to-go website developers including BigCommerce, Weebly, Ecwid, WooCommerce and Wix, so that businesses can accept payments via Squares online payment gateway. A flat rate of 2.2% per transaction for any Visa, MasterCard or American Express transaction applies to online payments processed through Square.

Meanwhile, Square said its API for point of sale (POS) enables businesses to integrate their custom-built iOS or Android POS platform with Square hardware, such as its contactless and chip reader. Card payments accepted in person using a Square hardware via applications integrated with the API for POS are charged at 1.9% per transaction for any Visa, MasterCard or American Express transaction.

Squares Australian Country Manager, Ben Pfisterer said it is free and simple for businesss to integrate Squares APIs with their platforms, and that sales processed in-store and online via the APIs both show in Square Dashboard.

Its more common than ever for businesses of any size to sell their products or services online and in-person, so having a fully integrated omni-channel system gives them a powerful advantage, he said.

With Square, businesses can now accept payments through any channel and gain a single, holistic view of their business, which vastly reduces the complexity of having to navigate numerous, disparate systems.

Pfisterer said the Melbourne-based technology start-up SwiftHero  whose app matches vetted tradespeople with those who need them  is the first business in Australia to employ Squares new API for POS.

He explained, Embracing Squares API means tradespeople can now accept card payments right from the SwiftHero app using affordable and accessible hardware, while overcoming challenges of payments partnerships often experienced by start-up companies.
Over 15.8 million Australians are on social media, and 57% of them are active on social media at least once a day. Whether or not your business has a social media presence, its likely your employees do. With this in mind, its important you keep up to date with current trends and potential issues relating to social media use by your business and your employees. As we enter 2017, heres what employers and employees should understand about social media in the workplace.

For the employer

1. Have a robust, up-to-date social media policy and social media compliance training

As social media continues to evolve, be sure to keep your workplace policies up to date. A robust social media policy should cover, at a minimum, what constitutes proper and improper use of social media by employees, and what disciplinary action may be taken as a result of improper use. Once your social media policy has been successfully updated, ensure all new and existing staff have undertaken social media compliance training and understand the policy  including any recent changes. There have been many cases in the past few years where an employers decision to dismiss an employee for inappropriate social media use was found to be justified because they had an existing social media policy and compliance training, so dont let it lapse or become irrelevant.

2. Understand the boundaries of your social media policy and how it is enforced

A number of cases in the past year have validated employee dismissal as a result of improper social media use, even when the employee used social media out of hours or did not publicly list their employer on their social media profile. As an employer, its important to make clear when and where you consider your employees activity on social media to impact the business. For instance, Australian debt collection company Credit Corp dismissed an employee for posting negative comments on a clients Facebook page, even though the employee was on leave and did not publicly list his occupation or the businesss name on his profile. In this case, the employee was found to have been fairly dismissed because of the damage the posts did to his employers reputation  the employees location and profile information did not tip the balance.

3. Be clear on how to use social media for job screening purposes

Using social media to understand more about a potential employee can be a useful tool; for instance, LinkedIn is a social media platform where individuals can list relevant skills, experience and connections that may display their suitability in a chosen position or career. However, it is important to take care not to use this information inappropriately, as anti-discrimination laws also apply to information employers find online. This means it is unlawful to, for example, hire or not hire a person based on their age, race, marital status, political opinion, pregnancy or sexuality. So even if a candidates Facebook profile indicates a factor they do not reveal when applying for a job with your business, this information cannot be used in a discriminatory manner.

4. Use social media to drive employee advocacy

On the flipside, social media can be a powerful driver for the brand and culture of your business. Employee social media advocacy programs encourage staff to share updates about the business on their individual social media accounts, increasing the businesss digital presence and content reach. These programs have already grown by 191% since 2013 and are continuing to develop as businesses become more social-media savvy. Instead of relying on your business social media accounts to do all the work, embrace social media as a valuable channel for employee engagement, and provide content your employees will want to celebrate and share with their friends.

For the employee

1. Be aware and keep informed about your obligations under your work contract and workplace policies

Your employment agreement probably refers to workplace policies that set out your obligations in relation to social media. Most employers have these types of policies, so if you cant recall this information or skimmed over it in your initial onboarding, take the time now to review your contract and check with your employer if any details have been updated. Review any changes or updates to the policy thoroughly and ask your employer questions about anything youre not sure about.

2. Improper social media use out of hours can still be grounds for disciplinary action

As mentioned earlier, many recent cases have demonstrated that what you say and do online outside of work hours can still amount to a breach of your employers social media policy in some cases. In the case of the employee dismissed by Credit Corp for posting derogatory Facebook comments, the tribunal found that the fact the employee made the comments in his own time was not relevant, as it was the effect and impact of those comments on CreditCorp and its employees that mattered. Similarly, Meriton Apartments dismissed an employee who had made derogatory comments towards writer Clementine Ford on her public profile. Although these comments were also made out-of-hours it had the ability to bring the employer into disrepute, particularly as he had identified his employer on his social media profile.

3. If you wouldnt want it publicly shared, keep it private

Remember that social media has a global reach; you dont have to list your occupation or add colleagues from work to find information from your online life is making it back to your employer. In the case where Clementine Ford was targeted, Ford directed the employers attention to the employees comment directly as well as sharing it with her 80,000 followers, gaining a large amount of public attention. In the CreditCorp case, the dismissed employee claimed he did not intend for his posts to be publicly accessible and didnt understand how Facebooks privacy settings worked, but this defence was found to be insufficient by the tribunal.

4. Use your common sense

At the end of the day, if you have something to say that may cause offence to your co-workers, employer or clients, publishing it on a global platform where posts can be saved and shared even if you remove it is probably not a good idea. As an emerging area, the laws and considerations around social media and its use in the workplace will continue to evolve, so the soundest risk management strategy is to refrain from making comments that could discredit you or damage your employer, on social media or otherwise.

About the author
Via New Vision: Avian Flu Is Under Control - Govt. Excerpt:

Government has urged the country to stay calm despite the outbreak of the deadly avian flu virus in some parts of the country.

Sarah Opendi, the minister of health for general duties, told New Vision that there is no need for alarm as the situation is now under control.

"We have not heard any issues of persons contracting the disease. There is therefore no threat for anybody to worry about," Opendi said.

She said that except Masaka and Lutembe beach (near Entebbe), where the disease has been detected, there has been no further spread to any other parts of the country.

Strains such as H5N1 are deadly to humans and to other mammals that catch the virus. People contract the avian flu virus by close contact with birds or bird droppings, according to online sources.

The minister's remarks come barely hours after United Kingdom asked its citizens traveling to Uganda to take extra precautions.

In a message on its website, citizens intending to travel to Uganda were urged to visit health professionals before their trip to check whether they need any vaccinations or other preventive measures.

The UK also urged its travelling citizens (and those living in Uganda) to ensure they have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

However, Opendi said steps taken by government have forestalled any grave risks to human beings.




My Lakbayan grade is B-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!
Two different countries compete last Saturday to become the 3rd Pyromusical champion to display breath-taking fireworks display synchronized with their background music. Korea displayed more than 10 minutes fireworks that lit the Manila Bay skies veautifully! Malta, a first time.country contender for the Pyromusical did not disappoint with their big bang fireworks! David Archuleta capped the.night with song numbers for the audiences.for the first ever Pyropalooza

Compared to the two, I loved Koreas fireworks display, music synchronity wise I go for Malta. I must say my shots were good! I was just using the cam on my HTC Sensation!



David Archuleta



KOREA display at the 3rd Pyromusical

MALTA at the 3rd Pyromusical

Next week it will be UK vs Spain, these two countries shows the best fireworks in the Pyromusical history so they are definitely the ones to watch out for. See you next week at the SM Mall of Asia?

Stay gorgeous everyone!
To say that Michigan Gov. Rick Snyders State of the State Address last night was a whitewash of the reality we face in our state is an understatement. He avoided any serious discussion about his plans to remedy the slow motion infrastructure catastrophe that is in visible progress. He never mentioned the tens of thousands of out of work Michiganders who, though a now well-documented computer error, were fined exorbitant fines for non-existent fraud. And he basically took credit for improvements in Michigan resulting from Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and for the improving national economy.

What most blew me away was how little time he spent talking about his biggest failure: the Flint water crisis. After spending 70 seconds exalting Michigans cows and dairy industry (When you see those cows, give em a shout out), he spent only 95 seconds talking about the ongoing tragedy in Flint, the poisoning of their drinking water with the powerful neurotoxin lead by the Emergency Managers he appointed, a human-made disaster compounded by the ineptitude of the head of the Department of Environmental Quality tasked with protecting our states drinking water.

Throw in the time he spent talking about a hog processing company that slaughters 10,000 pigs a day and livestock in Michigan got more time in Snyders State of the State Address than Flint did.

More shocking, he bragged about the replacement of over 600 lead service lines. That represents just FOUR PERCENT of the lead service lines that were compromised when his Emergency Managers switched Flints water source from safe water delivered by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to the corrosive water of the Flint River. Only FOUR PERCENT replaced and its been one year and 110 ten days since he first admitted there was a problem in Flint and many more than that since Flint residents began to be poisoned by their tap water.

His short shrift of the Flint water crisis is an insult to every resident in Flint, a blatant dodging of his continued failure to make any sort of significant progress in resolving this outrage.

Meanwhile, we have a new state legislature that is even more conservative and pro-business meaning that well see no movement in rescinding the massive corporate tax giveaways that are hobbling our state for the precious revenues we need to fix our roads, bridges, schools, and other essential services.

Gov. Snyder wants us all to believe that Michigan is resurging. The reality for far to many Michiganders is that its status quo. Jobs are still hard to come by in the most hard-hit communities. Our schools, woefully underfunded thanks to anti-public school Republicans, continue their downward slide. And our workers continue to have less and less of a voice in their futures as Republicans work to destroy the unions that represent their interests by fighting for better wages, working conditions, and benefits.

We have much work to do in this state. Stay engaged, continue to put pressure on state legislators. And, above all, do NOT let Gov. Snyder get away with avoiding his responsibility for what he and his Republican colleagues in the state legislature are doing to our once proud state.

UPDATE: Our friends at Progress Michigan came up with this fine meme to commemorate Gov. Snyders new-found love of cows:

LOL.
Betsy DeVos believes these 5 things about government. As a career teacher, I thought Id take this opportunity to grade Ms. DeVos responses as though they were answers on an exam. I understand shes a big fan of accountability, so Im sure she will appreciate the feedback, especially as she crams for her confirmation hearings, scheduled for later today

1. Government tends to believe in top down solutions and government fears of bottom up solutions.

WRONG. Ms. DeVos, a self-described government outsider, is a big fan of vouchers, and vouchers are a decidedly top down solutionwhenever put to a public vote (i.e., a bottom up solution), they lose, widely and decisively. We also need to deduct points because the vast majority of vouchers dont come close to covering the cost of private school attendance. As I wrote recently,

The amount of the voucher she received through Floridas Tax Credit Opportunity Scholarship was around $4000. The tuition of the private Christian school she attended was around $6000 per year, plus uniforms, books, and fees. So, the voucher Ms. Meriweather and her family received may have helped, but it certainly did not cover the full cost of attending the school. This is one of the under-reported problems with voucherswhile the rhetoric around vouchers promises to level the playing field, and allow poor children to attend the private school of their choice, the vast majority of children and families dont receive enough in the form of vouchers to attend the school of their choice. In fact, theres an insidious but unmistakable scent of racism and classism associated with voucher programs. As an example: Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida and a huge supporter and close friend of Betsy DeVos, sent his own children to the elite Gulliver Prepatory School in FL, where tuition for grades 6-12 rings up at an eye-popping $36,840 per year. Ms. Meriweathers $4000 voucher wouldnt have covered textbooks and uniforms at Gulliverhardly a game changer. The subtle, yet obvious message here is that while Jeb and Betsy want the public tax money that allows poor children almost afford to attend some low-level private and Christian schools, they have no intention of letting those children go to the same elite private and Christian schools that their children attend.

Extra points were deducted for this answer, because the best solutions are some combination of both top-down and bottom-up initiativeskind of a middle-out. Betsys answer reveals a limited grasp of both how government works and how to solve problems. Next question

2. Government tends to stifle innovation and it abhors improvisation. Any good military strategist will tell you that a battle plan rarely survives past the first engagement. After that, you have to improvise to survive and to win.

WRONG. It appears that Betsy knows nothing about military strategy, or education strategy for that matter. Her brother, Eric Prince, who founded Blackwater, at least knows how to profit off of armed conflict, but thats not quite the same as military strategy.

Now, if Betsy wants to see some real improvisation, she should drop by any public school classroom in her hometownsomething she hasnt done for 58 years by all accountsunless its for a photo op to sell her boxed water to unsuspecting children. Teachers are improvising on a minute by minute basis, tweaking lesson plans, and capitalizing on teachable momentsor at least they were before Betsy and her friends started ramming the Common Core and dozens of standardized tests down their throats, narrowing the curriculum to reading and math, and driving the innovation out of education in far too many places.

So, Betsy, if you really want to see more innovation and improvisation, back away from policies that lessen local control, let go of your obsession with standardized testing that stifles creativity and diversity of curriculum, and let teachers do their jobs.

3. Government tends to favor one size fits all solutions handed down from central command.

WRONG. Actually, this kind of thinking is more characteristic of large organizations of all kinds, not just governmentfor example, multi-level marketing corporations, where the power is located centrallysay, in one family. A family that adheres to a rigid set of beliefs, perhaps even laid out in a book written by the family patriarch.

Across those efforts, one constant is the DeVos familys devout Christian beliefs, and the indivisibility they see between Christian and Calvinistic notions and their conservative politics. The real strength of America is its religious tradition, Richard DeVos wrote in Believe!. Too many people today are willing to act as if God had nothing whatsoever to do with it.  This country was built on a religious heritage, and wed better get back to it. We had better start telling people that faith in God is the real strength of America! In the mid-1970s, DeVos made major donations to the Christian Freedom Foundation and Third Century Publishers, an outlet that printed books and pamphlets designed to strengthen the ties between Christianity and free-market conservatism; among those products was a guidebook instructing conservative Christians how to win elections and help America become as it was when first foundeda Christian Republic.

Government is actually a system in which competing beliefs are encouraged; where vigorous debate between persons of differing viewpoints is celebrated. Again, Betsy seems to be confusing government with an authoritarian business or family structurealmost as though thats how she grew up, and knows no other way of dealing with the world.

4. Government likes committeesa lot. Committees kill all the really good ideas and generally all the really bad ideas. They produce middle ground mush.

PARTIAL CREDIT. Betsy has a point heregovernment does like committees. But only partial credit, because it appears that some, large, West Michigan families like committees, tooa lot:

Over time, the DeVos clan has evolved an unusual and highly structured internal governance system. Family patriarch Richard DeVos, now 90 and retired from an active role in Amway, explained the formal structure of this family government in his 2014 book, Simply Rich: We formed the DeVos Family Council, which is made up of our children and their spouses and meets four times a year. The Family Council just approved a family constitution that essentially captures our family mission and values.  The Family Council also articulates how the family will work together in managing our shared financial interests and our philanthropy. We also have the Family Assembly . When grandchildren turn 16, they are inducted  in a formal ceremony that everyone attends. An aunt or uncle makes a presentation of their achievements, reminds them of their responsibility as they go forward, and affirms them as a member of the Family Assembly.  They are able to vote in the meetings at age 25, after they have met additional qualifications for taking on this added responsibility. This collective approach is how the family runs their home lives, too. The DeVoses myriad properties are managed through a single private company, RDV Corporation, which both manages the familys investments and operates as a home office, paying the familys employees, maintaining the DeVoses residences and assuring them as frictionless a life as possible. (The duties outlined by one recent property-manager job with RDV Corporation include ensur[ing] doors are well-oiled to avoid squeaking and that broken toys [are] repaired or disposed of.)

5. Government prefers control and tightly-defined systems. It fears entrepreneurs, open systems, and crowd sourcing. All of which they find threatening.

WRONG. Again, Betsy seems to be confusing government with the influence of wealthy, conservative political activists who have never held elected office, but wield brutal control over a states legislature, economy, and education system

Privately, many Michigan Republicans are afraid of getting on the DeVoses bad side. At the American Federation of Teachers, there were always Republicans wed endorse, recalls Matuzak, who retired from the union in 2014. And it got to the point where  the Republicans would say, Please dont endorse me because it will hurt me with the DeVoses. Theyd send back money because the DeVoses would punish them. (In an email to POLITICO, the chief of staff to one Republican state senator declined comment for this story, saying it would not be productive before linking to two anti-DeVos columns in the Detroit Free Press. The articles speak for themselves, he wrote.) Theres a general awareness if theyre not supporting you, says John Truscott, a longtime Republican operative in Michigan and the president of Truscott-Rossman, a powerhouse bipartisan PR firm that represents the DeVos family on certain matters. If youre always getting along with everybody, youre probably not making a difference. Year by year, cycle by cycle, the DeVoses built a state Legislature in their own image. By the time Democrat Jennifer Granholm was term-limited in 2010 and Republican Rick Snyder was elected governor without any political experience, it was the DeVoses, not Snyder, who knew how to get things done. Unlike the Engler years, this time, they had more sway than the governor. Today, 16 years after the DeVoses failed constitutional amendment, this constant push has totally remade Michigan education. The cap on the number of charter schools eliminated and attempts to provide public oversight have been defeated, making Michigans charters among the most-plentiful and least-regulated in the nation. About 80 percent of Michigans 300 publicly funded charters are operated by for-profit companies, more than any other state. This means that taxpayer dollars that would otherwise go to traditional public schools are instead used to buy supplies such as textbooks and desks that become private property. It is, essentially, a giant experiment in what happens when you shift resources away from public schools.

FINAL GRADE = 0.5/5; F

Good luck with your confirmation hearings today, Betsy. I hope you studied.
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PARIS - Louis Vuitton, the luxury brand of French business LVMH, says it has ceased all trading with a number of Vietnamese farms after the animal rights activist group Peta alleged the farms had mistreated crocodiles, whose skins are used to make handbags and other accessories. "The LVMH group and its suppliers ceased all trading in 2014 with the farms named by Peta," claimed LVMH. The company continues to source crocodile skins from other Asian suppliers.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final deregulation decision Wednesday approving Monsanto and Scotts genetically engineered (GE) bentgrass, even as the highly invasive creeping grass continues to spread unchecked beyond its Oregon and Idaho test plots.

Roundup Ready GMO Grass Coming to a Lawn Near You?  EcoWatch https://t.co/aullaF55p2 @NonGMOProject @gmo917  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) July 12, 2016

Decades-old outdoor experiments have proven the bentgrass impossible to control since it escaped from controlled plots and invaded irrigation ditches, riverbanks and the Crooked River National Grassland, crowding out native plants and the wildlife that depends on them. Despite more than a decade of efforts and millions of dollars spent, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Scotts and Monsanto have failed to curb the spread of the invasive grass. Yet now the USDA has capitulated to Monsantos and Scotts request that federal regulators relinquish any authority over the GE grass, leaving local landowners and state of Oregon to wrestle with the problem.

The USDAs decision ignores a groundswell of united opposition from state departments of agriculture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, university professors, scientists, farmers and conservationists, said Lori Ann Burd, director of the environmental health program at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Because this blatant bow to industry will continue to harm farmers, endangered species and the precious landscape, the USDA has left us with no choice but to explore our legal options to return the burden of controlling this weedy grass back to the shoulders of the corporate profiteers who brought it into the world.

The GE bentgrass has already illegally contaminated at least three Oregon counties and the ultralight grass seeds and pollen have proven impossible to eradicate. Farmers and noxious weed experts in eastern Oregon have been outspoken critics of the proposal to approve the grass. In response to widespread contamination, GE creeping bentgrass was declared a noxious weed in Malheur County in 2016. With this approval the responsibility for controlling contamination now shifts from the USDA, Scotts and Monsanto to individual farmers and landowners, left alone to grapple with the problem.

This decision is a slap in the face to family farmers, said Jerry Erstrom, chairman of the Malheur County Weed Board.

Its extremely disappointing that the USDA has ignored the concerns of those of us affected by the existing contamination, as well as the Oregon and Idaho departments of agriculture and concerned folks from across the region. I just cant believe that they will turn this loose and let Scotts and Monsanto walk away from what they did here.

USDA Gives Monsanto and Scotts' Glyphosate-Resistant Grass Green Light https://t.co/c0p7wPMadJ @GMOTruth @bpncamp  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) December 9, 2016

Unlike the USDA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized the danger of the novel GE grass and its likelihood of spreading out of control. The federal wildlife agency concluded that if approved, the grass is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the endangered Willamette daisy and Bradshaws lomatuim and harm the critical habitat of the endangered Fenders blue butterfly and Willamette daisy.

USDAs approval of this genetically engineered grass is as dangerous as it is unlawful, said George Kimbrell, senior attorney for the Center for Food Safety. The agency is giving Monsanto and Scotts a free pass for the harm their product has already caused farmers and the environment and is irresponsibly gambling future harm on nothing more than their empty promises. The Center for Food Safety won a 2007 legal victory declaring the GE creeping bentgrass field trials unlawful. Kimbrell authored this December 2016 article on the GE bentgrass saga to date.
Next week, Monsanto and Californias Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) will face off over the agencys plan to list the herbicide glyphosate as a carcinogen. The outcome of this legal battle could have major ramifications to Californias long-established regulatory program.

It all started back in Sept. 2015 when the OEHHA issued a notice of intent to list the chemical as known to the state to cause cancer under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, commonly known as Proposition 65. The OEHHA determined that glyphosate met the criteria under the Labor Code listing mechanism, which directs the office to add a chemical or substance to the Prop 65 list of known carcinogens if it meets certain classifications by the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The France-based IARC concluded that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) in March 2015.

California Becomes First State to Label Monsanto's Roundup as a Carcinogen http://t.co/04UWTPbcc5 @TrueFoodNow @justlabelit  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) September 9, 2015

Monsanto then filed a lawsuit against the OEHHA in January 2016 to prevent the listing, arguing that the Labor Code listing mechanism is unconstitutional because the office delegated law-making authority to an unelected and non-transparent foreign body that is not under the oversight or control of any federal or state government entity.

Glyphosate happens to be the main ingredient in Monsantos Roundup, the worlds most popular herbicide. The chemical is applied onto Roundup Ready crops that are genetically modified to resist applications of the spray. The agribusiness giant has long maintained the safety of their flagship product and has vehemently denied glyphosates link to cancer and has also demanded a retraction of the IARCs report. The companys lawsuit also cited the OEHHAs own 2007 study concluding that the chemical was unlikely to cause cancer.

Monsanto Files Lawsuit to Stop California From Listing Glyphosate as Known Carcinogen https://t.co/DsTD0Ki4TG @food_democracy @TrueFoodNow  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) January 24, 2016

In response, the OEHHA filed a motion to dismiss Monsantos lawsuit. The office asserted in its motion that the listing mechanism simply provides a way for OEHHA to make the most of scarce resources. According to the motion, IARCs scientific determinations are the gold standard in carcinogen identification, and are trusted and relied upon by state governments, the federal government and foreign governments alike.

At the upcoming Jan. 27 hearing in Fresno Superior Court, both sides will make their arguments before a judge decides whether to dismiss the case or allow it to proceed.

Monsantos lawsuit is significant for a number of reasons, Kevin Haroff and Marina Cassio of Marten Law wrote in a blog post. It raises fundamental issues over how scientific health assessments can appropriately be used as the basis for governmental actions, with broad-reaching implications for both consumers and the overall economy. As a practical matter, it also challenges a key element of a unique California regulatory program that has now been in place for three full decades.

The OEHHAs Labor Code listing mechanism using IARCs classification scheme has been tested in court before. In 2013s Styrene Information & Research Center v. Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (SIRC v. OEHHA), the trial court and appeals court determined that the OEHHA could not just rely on the IARCs classification scheme to list a chemical as a known carcinogen in the state. Rather, the court decided that a listing must always be supported by a finding that the chemical in fact is known to the state to cause cancer. In the end, the OEHHA was required to reevaluate four listed substances and six substances under consideration for listing.

Put another way, an IARC Group 1 or 2A classification decision could create a presumption that a chemical must be listed as a known carcinogen under Proposition 65; however, court decisions construing the application of the Labor Code listing mechanism and similar provisions suggest that at least in some circumstances the presumption should be a rebuttable one, Haroff and Cassio point out.

This may be important to how the courts will respond to Monsantos legal challenge to OEHHAs proposed glyphosate listing, the authors continue. Monsantos argument that Proposition 65 improperly delegates lawmaking power to IARC assumes that OEHHA plays no independent role in identifying chemicals known to the state to cause cancer using the Labor Code listing mechanism. OEHHA could counter that that it does play an independent role, since under SIRC v. OEHHA, it has an independent obligation to find that there is evidence sufficient to establish that a chemical is known to the state of California to cause cancer.

On the same day of the hearing, environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the law firm of Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman will hold a press conference in Fresno in support of the OEHHA. The press conference will take place outside the courthouse at Noon PST and EcoWatch will stream the event live on Facebook.

Kennedy and Michael L. Baum, senior partner at Baum Hedlund, will speak in support of the state of Californias motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Arturo S. Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers of America, will speak in support of protecting farm workers from harmful herbicides and pesticides.

Several of Baum Hedlunds and Kennedys California Roundup cancer clients will also be speaking at the press conference.

Since Monsantos lawsuit was filed, a number of organizations have intervened on both sides. The organizations that support Californias OEHHA include the AFL-CIO, Center for Food Safety, Sierra Club, Canadian Labor Congress, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Law Foundation.

The organizations supporting Monsanto include California Citrus Mutual, California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association, California Grain and Feed Association, Almond Alliance of California, Western Plant Health Association and Western Agricultural Processors Associations.

The OEHHA has received more than 9,300 written comments in response to the listing. The comments are mostly from individuals and groups supporting the proposed listing. Monsanto, chemical producers and industry groups have also submitted comments opposing the listing. The public comment period is now closed, and OEHHA has yet to take final agency action on the listing.
By Carey Gillam

Monsanto and officials within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are fighting legal efforts aimed at exploring Monsantos level of influence over regulatory assessments of the key chemical in the companys Roundup herbicide, new federal court filings show.

The revelations are contained in a series of filings made within the last few days in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California as part of litigation brought by more than 50 people who are suing Monsanto. The plaintiffs claim they or their loved ones developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after exposure to Roundup herbicide, and that Monsanto has spent decades covering up the chemicals cancer risks.

Monsanto, California Battle Over Listing Glyphosate as a Carcinogen https://t.co/qn0xnO7Hw8  Mark Hyman, M.D. (@drmarkhyman) January 18, 2017

Lawyers for the plaintiffs want the court to lift a seal on documents that detail Monsantos interactions and discussions with former top EPA brass Jess Rowland regarding the EPAs safety assessment of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup. Monsanto turned the documents over in discovery but marked the documents confidential, a designation plaintiffs attorneys say is improper. They also want to depose Rowland. But Monsanto and the EPA are fighting both requests, the filings show.

The EPA has spent the last few years assessing the health and environmental safety aspects of glyphosate as global controversy over the chemical has mounted. The World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared in March 2015 that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen, with a positive association found between glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Monsanto has been fighting to refute that classification because of financial and legal liability ramifications.

Rowland has been key in Monsantos efforts to rebut the IARC finding because until last year he was a deputy division director within the health effects division of the EPAs Office of Pesticide Programs, managing the work of scientists who assessed human health effects of exposures to pesticides like glyphosate. And, importantly, he chaired the EPAs Cancer Assessment Review committee (CARC) that issued an internal report in October 2015 contracting IARCs findings. That 87-page report, signed by Rowland, determined that glyphosate was not likely to be carcinogenic.

The report was a godsend to Monsanto because it has helped bolster the companys defense against the Roundup liability lawsuits, and helped shore up market support for a product that brings in billions of dollars in revenues to the company annually. The EPAs stamp of approval for the safety of glyphosate has also been key to the success of Monsantos genetically engineered, glyphosate-tolerant crops, which have been popular with farmers.

But the handling of the CARC report raised questions last year when it was inadvertently posted to a public EPA website on April 29, 2016, and kept on the site three days, before being pulled down. The agency said the report was not final and that it should not have been posted, but Monsanto touted the report as a public affirmation of its safety claims for glyphosate. The company also cited the report at a May court hearing in the Roundup litigation as a counter point to the IARC cancer classification. Shortly after the CARC report was removed from the EPA website, Rowland left his 26-year career at the EPA.

Plaintiffs attorneys have asked to depose Rowland to learn about that situation and other dealings with Monsanto. But, along with Monsantos objection to a release of the documents that relate to its conversations with Rowland, the EPA has specifically refused the deposition request, saying it would not clearly be in the interests of EPA to allow attorneys to question Rowland about the cancer review and interactions with Monsanto.

Monsanto has so far turned over roughly six million pages of documents through the court-ordered discovery process, but has designated roughly 85 percent of the information as confidential, meaning plaintiffs attorneys must black out information from those documents in any court filings that could be accessed by reporters or other members of the public. That designation is improper for many of the documents, especially ones dealing with the companys interactions with, and influence attempts over, EPA officials, plaintiffs lawyers argue.

The lawyers said that the documents obtained through discovery show that Monsanto has been confident all along that EPA would continue to support glyphosate, whatever happened and no matter who held otherwise. According to the court filings by plaintiffs attorneys, the documents show it is clear that Monsanto enjoyed considerable influence within the EPAs OPP, and was close with Mr. Rowland  The documentary evidence strongly suggests that Mr. Rowlands primary goal was to serve the interests of Monsanto.

The EPA is a taxpayer-funded, public agency and its dealings with Monsanto should be subject to public scrutiny, particularly given the widespread use of glyphosate herbicide products and the current ongoing international debate over the safety of the chemical, the lawyers claim.

Breaking: EPA Panel Divided on Whether Glyphosate Causes Cancer https://t.co/4WtRfwRWpd Here's why it matters https://t.co/kX8IfqWYtX  Food Democracy Now! (@food_democracy) December 23, 2016

The health and safety of millions of U.S. citizens is at stake, states the Jan. 16 plaintiffs filing. Decisions affecting the public health should not be based on secret conversations between Monsanto and EPA officials. If Monsanto wants to advocate on behalf of glyphosate to EPA employees, they should have to do it publicly, so that concerned citizens have equal opportunity to advocate for their health and the health of their families. This issue is too important to allow Monsanto to improperly influence the EPA, and then hide such communication behind an improper confidential designation.

Monsanto is adamant that its documents not be made public, saying releasing them would be premature and improper. Allowing public dissemination of a few select internal corporate documents taken out of context  would be prejudicial to Monsanto and could cause reputational harm, the companys attorneys wrote in their response.

The plaintiffs attorneys say at least four specific documents they have obtained are clearly in the public interest and illuminate that one of Monsantos chief business strategies is its secret and untoward influence on EPA. The documents include both internal memos and email chains, according to descriptions of the documents.

Since Monsantos communications with the EPA remain secret, these known lobbying efforts are only the tip of the iceberg of Monsantos collusion with the EPA. Monsantos bad acts in violating U.S. regulations through secret communications with the EPA should not by rewarded by allowing them to keep these communications secret by merely stamping them confidential,' the plaintiffs attorney state in the filings. These documents summarize communications with EPA which are not elsewhere memorialized; they are not trade secrets and the public has a compelling interest in disclosure.

Monsanto argues otherwise, saying the four documents at issue contain sensitive, non-public commercial information, relate to a motion seeking to obtain discovery from a non-party, and bear only a tangential, at best, connection to the questions at issue in this litigation; hence, any public interest is minimal.'

U.S. District Jude Vince Chhabria, who is overseeing the multi-district Roundup litigation, could rule on these matters any day.
New Yorks Republican-controlled State Senate voted 42-18 Tuesday in favor of a measure that would kill New York Citys five-cent fee for carryout bags.

Many families have a hard time just getting by, paying for groceries, rent and heat, Sen. Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn), who introduced the bill, said before Tuesdays vote.

As the Gothamist noted, Felders bill took specific aim at New York City, as it would prohibit bag taxes or fees in cities with a population of 1 million or more. The Big Apple is the only city in the state with 1 million people.

https://twitter.com/NewYorkCityOBN/status/821521253538246657 the amount of waste we send to landfills, and will also help keep bags out of our trees, streets and oceans. New York City shoppers were encouraged to bring their own reusable bag to stores instead.

People on the supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP), aka food stamp, program do not have to pay the fee, as stores will provide carryout bags for these customers free of charge.

According to the New York League of Conservation Voters, the city spends more than $12 million each year sending 10 billion plastic bags to landfills. The organization argues that the bill would save taxpayers millions of dollars while also cutting bag litter in the streets, parks, waterways and landfills.

https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/761251420897247232

Raul A. Contreras, a spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio, defended the fee. He told the New York Times that similar laws already exist in more than 200 municipalities in 18 states across the country.

This is the type of progressive and environmentally conscious action that helps create a more sustainable city, Contreras told the newspaper via email. We are going to continue to work with our partners in the city council and Albany on implementation of this legislation.

Democratic Senators also argued that the Senate should not overrule the city councils wishes.

This is the nullification of the wishes of a legislative body representing 8.5 million people, Sen. Brad Hoylman, (D-Manhattan) told the New York Daily News, adding the Senate measure was breathtakingly arrogant.

I understand that people dont want to pay the fee. But a much easier way to avoid the fee than pre-empting our law is just to bring a reusable bag, Democrat Councilman Brad Lander told the Times. Its just not that hard.

https://twitter.com/bradlander/status/821486313689976832

However, the American Progressive Bag Alliance said in a statement that the fee would disproportionately impact those who can least afford itwithout providing any meaningful benefit to the environment or New Yorkers.

The measure now heads to the Democrat-controlled Assembly. If the measure is approved by both chambers, Democratic Gov. Cuomo could sign it into law.

If the Legislature passes a bill, we will review it, Cuomos spokesman, Frank Sobrino, told the Times. The governors position on the measure is currently unclear.

In recent years, carryout bag legislation in the form of bans or taxes has taken center stage in many cities and even entire states. While states like California have legislated against these single-use items, a growing number of states are spearheading bans on bag bans.

https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/815028477644722176

Last month, Michigan passed a law making it illegal for local governments to enact ordinances that ban or place fees on plastic bags or disposable containers used by stores and restaurants. Other states that have banned local plastic bag ordinances include Wisconsin, Idaho, Florida and Arizona.
By Susan Cosier

On the final day of the Illinois State Assemblys 2016 session, a bill was passed that environmentalists can celebrateone that significantly increases incentives for renewable energy and energy-efficiency requirements. Though the Democratic-led congress debated the Future Energy Jobs bill for months, legislators and Gov. Bruce Rauner worked together on a bipartisan compromise. And just in time.

2 Republican governors pass major clean energy bills https://t.co/YRN5HaIAzU via @EcoWatch  EDF Energy Program (@EDFEnergyEX) December 21, 2016

Since the November election, the incoming Trump administration has threatened to cut back federal funding for clean energy and climate change initiatives, pull out of the Paris climate agreement and drop the Clean Power Plan (currently stalled in the Supreme Court).

But a handful of midwestern states are refusing to abandon their growing clean energy and efficiency industries, which support roughly 113,900 jobs in Illinois, 87,600 jobs in Michigan and 100,800 jobs in Ohio. Soon after the Prairie State passed its promising energy bill, Michigan enacted two of its own. And in late December, when a bill that threatened to kill Ohios renewable dreams appeared on Gov. John Kasichs desk, he gave it the ol Hell-naw veto.

We have a very interesting message coming from the heartland, said Henry Henderson, director of Natural Resources Defense Councils Midwest program. These policies come from the most energy-intensive part of the country, and there has been a bipartisan embrace of clean energy as good for the public, good for the economy and good for states.

The broad appeal of the new bills is indeed hopeful. According to Henderson, they won support from moderate Republican governors and Democratic and Republican lawmakers who were making practical, not ideologically driven, decisions.

Gabe Pacyniak, a climate change mitigation specialist with the Georgetown Climate Center, agrees that there is broad public support for clean energy. Many states see significant economic benefits from clean energy, including in-state jobs, he said.

Heres a closer look at how Midwesterners have been sticking up for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Illinois

Aside from Californias energy policies, the Future Energy Jobs bill might be the most significant state energy legislation passed in the U.S. in decades, wrote David Roberts on Vox. Though several media outlets have called the legislation a bailout for two Illinois nuclear plants, it does much more than that. Of the money coming from various provisions in the bill, just 30 percent will go to the nuclear plants. The remaining 70 percent will go toward clean energy and energy-efficiency programs, including retrofitting homes to make them more energy efficient, green jobs training, and money for communities to access solar power.

Wind turbine tower segments being transported. Heritage Wind Energy

The bill keeps the states existing requirement that utilities get 25 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2025, but it fixes certain structural barriers within the renewable portfolio standards (RPS) in order to help Illinois reach that goal. For instance, the revamped RPS now redirects dollars to developing in-state renewable projects (instead of buying renewable credits from out-of-state operations) and will, at a minimum, bring 3,000 megawatts of solar and 1,300 megawatts of wind to Illinois.

The bill also protects people who generate their own renewable energy (think rooftop solar panels). Energy companies wanted to prohibit the sale of such electricity back to the utility when the homeowner wasnt using it. The practice, called net metering, doesnt just make for a more stable electric grid, but it also helps encourage more small-scale renewable energy installations. The new legislation allows net metering to continue.

And that nuclear power provision? It gives the plants money to operate for another decade, allowing time for investments in efficiency and renewables to scale. This would ease the eventual transition away from nuclear power to a more distributed grid. Previously, they were going to be phased out over the next six years as natural gas facilities, which emit more carbon, took their place.

Michigan

Just two weeks after Illinois made its climate intentions known, Michigan lawmakers also passed two pieces of legislation that boost the states solar and wind industries. Michigans laws are more modest than its southwesterly neighbors, but in a state where energy efficiency and renewable standards were almost removed, these bills are strong steps in the right direction. Senate Bills 437 and 438 increase Michigans renewable energy standard, requiring the state to generate 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2021. The state reached its previous goal of 10 percent renewables in 2015 and Pacyniak said it already looks like its on track to hit the new target.

Stoney Corners Wind Farm in McBain, Michigan. Heritage Wind Energy

The bills also offer bigger incentives for energy efficiency. The goal there is to meet 35 percent of the states energy needs through a combination of energy conservation and renewable energy by 2025. Although this target is non-binding, it shows that Michigan is looking ahead and optimistic about its renewable energy future.

Ohio

The bill Gov. John Kasich vetoed at the end of 2016 would have given electric utilities a pass for not complying with renewable energy and efficiency requirements. Ohio requires energy companies to get 12.5 percent of their electricity from renewables and cut consumer energy use 22 percent by 2025. In 2014, however, the state froze that mandate for two years. A bill passed by the state legislature in November would have extended the time frame of that clean energy freeze, but Kasich vetoed it, saying the bill amounts to self-inflicted damage to both our states near- and long-term economic competitiveness.

When more than 60 green energy businesses and advocates testified against the freeze before the Ohio Senate in November, they said the state needed to be more hospitable to renewables if it wanted more alternative energy companies to move there. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, 227 solar companies employ 4,800 people in the state. By vetoing the bill, Kasich said hes also encouraging the growth of energy options prized by high-tech firms, ones that could bring jobs to the state.

On top of ending the freeze, Kasich also vetoed a bill that would have given $264 million in tax breaks to oil and gas companies. The message behind Kasichs double whammy is pretty clear: Ohio is ready for a change.

Susan Cosier is OnEarths Midwest correspondent. Cosier previously worked at Audubon magazine and has written for a number of science and environmental publications. Shes a graduate of New York Universitys science journalism program.
As incoming President Donald Trump prepares to appoint an anti-regulatory U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator based on claims that environmental regulations kill jobs, a new report that synthesizes decades of economics research documents that this claim is false.

5 Things You Need to Know Trump's EPA Pick Scott Pruitt https://t.co/gASl3w4OuE @HuffPostGreen @greenpeaceusa  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) January 7, 2017

The Environmental Integrity Projects report, Dont Believe the Job Killer Hype, examines data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as reports from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and more than two dozen economists and researchers.

The federal government data show that only about two tenths of one percent of layoffs are caused by government regulations of any kind, including environmental regulations. Layoffs are caused far more often by corporate buyouts, technological advances and lower overseas labor costs.

The evidence shows that there is simply no truth to the idea that regulations kill jobs or stifle growth, said Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project. In fact, regulations provide huge economic benefits to our society, with minimal, though generally positive, effects on jobs and productivity. On the other hand, the absence of regulation can have severe economic consequences, with perhaps the most notable example being the 2008 financial collapse.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate held a confirmation hearing on Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as Trumps pick to serve as the next EPA Administrator. Pruitt has made a career of repeatedly suing EPA for its overreach and has promised to make regulatory rollback a top goal.

President Elect Trumps website praises Pruitt for his opposition to what it calls job killing regulations. The Trump website features quotes praising Pruitt including this one from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: I look forward to working with Scott as he brings common-sense policies to a federal agency that has been one of the biggest job-killers in the Obama administration.

This term has been used repeatedly by Trump and Congressional Republicans, but an examination of economics data and literature reveals that the claim lacks a factual foundation and is just an empty rhetorical device that journalists should challenge and the public should reject.

Here are the facts, all of which are backed up by detailed citations listed in the report:

According to information reported by employers to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only two tenths of one percent of mass layoffsdefined as more than 50 people laid off for at least 30 daysare caused by government intervention or regulations (of any kind, not just environmental regulations).

For every job lost due to regulations, 15 are lost due to corporate cost cutting and 30 are lost due to changes in the ownership of business or other organizational changes, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A 2014 review paper from the London School of Economics concluded that the effect of environmental regulations on the competitiveness of businesses is negligible compared to other factors such as market conditions and the quality of the local workforce.

Over the last decade, the benefits of environmental regulations have exceeded the costs they impose by a ratio of more than ten to one, according to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

All told, major regulations provide net economic benefits to the U.S. of more than $500 billion per year.

A 2014 report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that stronger environmental policies lead to short-term gains in productivity growth, resulting in permanently higher levels of productivity.

Clean air and water regulations often require power companies and municipalities to hire construction workers and engineers to build filtration systems. A report prepared for the Utility Air Regulatory Group estimated that the installation of a sulfur dioxide scrubber on a 500-Megawatt coal plant, for example, creates more than 100 full-time jobs for three years.

In 2009, Economists at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst found that per dollar of spending, solar and wind energy projects create twice as many jobs as coal or natural gas, including more jobs in manufacturing and construction and more high-credentialed jobs at an average hourly wage of $24.50.

Solar Employs More Workers Than Coal, Oil and Natural Gas Combined https://t.co/rWWibCQUzq @SolarEnergyNews @votesolar  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) January 17, 2017

Abel Russ, attorney for the Environmental Integrity Project and author of the report, noted that by selecting Scott Pruitt to run and possibly dismantle EPA, Trump appears to buy into the argument that its better to delegate environmental regulations away from the federal government and towards the states.

If this happens, we may also see a repeat of what some economists observed during President Reagans efforts at deregulation in the 1980s, Russ said. States with stronger environmental policies will outperform weak states and create more jobs, while states with weak environmental policies will suffer. Senators should keep this in mind when they vote on Pruitts confirmation during the hearing this week.
(Photo: REUTERS / Andrew Winning)The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu (L), speaks next to the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at the General Synod in Church House in central London November 20, 2013. The Church of England's law-making body voted in favour of female bishops on Wednesday, a move that ended a 20-year impasse and could see women ordained as senior clergy by the end of 2014.

The Church of England's two most senior clerics Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop John Sentamu have issued a statement recalling "the lasting damage" 500 years after the Reformation.

They issued their statement ahead of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017, which started Jan. 18.

"The Reformation was a process of both renewal and division amongst Christians in Europe," Welby and Sentamu said.

"In this Reformation Anniversary year, many Christians will want to give thanks for the great blessings they have received to which the Reformation directly contributed," they say.

However they note, "Many will also remember the lasting damage done five centuries ago to the unity of the Church, in defiance of the clear command of Jesus Christ to unity in love.

"Those turbulent years saw Christian people pitted against each other, such that many suffered persecution and even death at the hands of others claiming to know the same Lord.

"A legacy of mistrust and competition would then accompany the astonishing global spread of Christianity in the centuries that followed. All this leaves us much to ponder."

The bishop say that the commemoration should include a clear proclamation of the gospel of grace, the availability of the Bible to all in their own language and the recognition of the calling of lay people to serve God in the world and in the church.

LUTHER'S 95 THESES

The Reformation in Europe, is seen as starting with Catholic priest Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses against a church door in Wittenberg, Germany protesting against practices such as indulgences seen as a way of buying a way into heaven.

It took place on Oct. 31 1517 at Wittenberg and the Church of England will participate in various ways, including sharing in events with Protestant church partners from Continental Europe.

On Oct. 31 last year, Pope Francis and the General Secretary of The Lutheran World Federation Rev. Martin Junge jointly preached at the same altar in an ecumenical ceremony commemorating the Reformation 500 years ago.

"We have the opportunity to mend a critical moment of our history by moving beyond the controversies and disagreements that have often prevented us from understanding one another," Francis said in his sermon in Lund on Oct. 31

"We acknowledge that there is much more that unites us than that which separates us. We are branches of the same vine. We are one in Baptism," said Junge.

Institutional Anti-Catholicism in the United Kingdom had its origins in the English and Irish Reformations under King Henry VIII and the Scottish Reformation led by John Knox, following persecution of Protestants before that.

The Act of Supremacy 1534 declared the English crown to be "the only supreme head on earth of the Church in England" in place of the Pope, says Wikipedia.

Any act of allegiance to the Pope was considered treasonous because the papacy claimed both spiritual and political power over its followers.

The Scottish Reformation in 1560 abolished Catholic ecclesiastical structures and rendered Catholic practice illegal in Scotland. Today, anti-Catholicism is common in peripheral areas of the United Kingdom, mainly Scotland and Northern Ireland, says Wikipedia.

Anti-Catholicism among many of the English was grounded in the fear that the Pope sought to reimpose not just religio-spiritual authority over England but also secular power in alliance with its arch-enemy France or Spain.
(Facebook/GameofThrones)"Game of Thrones" has resumed filming in Northern Ireland and Iceland.

"Game of Thrones" has resumed production for its upcoming seventh season. Filming is currently underway in parts of Northern Island and Iceland. After three actors were spotted shooting scenes in Iceland last week, another notable name joined them over the weekend.

Iain Glen, who portrays Jorah Mormont, is back from winter break and is ready to film in Iceland. It can be assumed that he is joining Kit Harington, Joe Dempsie, and Paul Kaye  all of whom were spotted in the same country for the same purpose.

Based on the sightings, Watchers on the Wall theorizes that all four actors will be filming a critical scene involving some wildlings and White Walkers. Harington was last seen with Glen, Rory McCann, and Kristofer Hivju at Wolf Hill Quarry in Belfast. The scene was believed to depict Harington's Jon Snow traveling far into the North with Glen's Jorah Mormont, McCann's Sandor Clegane, and Hivju's Tormund Giantsbane to retrieve a wight. It is possible that filming for the same scene has been picked up in Iceland. McCann and Hivju are nowhere to be found, although it will not come as a surprise should they arrive at the same location.

Instead, Dempsie and Kaye join Harington and Glen in Iceland. Dempsie's Gendry was last seen paddling away in a rowboat way back in season 3, so his return will definitely be exciting and full of questions. Kaye's Thoros of Myr, along with Gendry, are expected to lend Jon a hand in his quest to capture a wight, which he then intends to show the leaders of Westeros in order to lend credence to the White Walker threat.

Considering the episode is being directed by Alan Taylor, it can be assumed that the scene will be shown in episode 6 of season 7. And since episode 6 is the penultimate installment of the next season  thanks to the shortened seven-episode order  a shocking occurrence is bound to happen.

"Game of Thrones" season 7 will premiere in the summer.
Latest News

Pollution hazard: Schools in Delhi to be closed for primary classes Schools in the NCR region will remain closed till November 8 as the air quality index touched 500 points

DU admissions: Mid-entry provision to be made available to fresh applicants The two-day window will be made available to candidates from Saturday

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi to set up offshore campus in Abu Dhabi Many other IITs are receiving offers from Middle East and South Asian countries for setting up their offshore
When the Every Student Succeeds Act removed the federal requirements from teacher-evaluation systems imposed by the Obama administration, states were given the opportunity to decide the best way to grade their teachers.

And a year after ESSAs passage, most states are still tinkering with their evaluation systemsparticularly regarding student growth measures, a controversial addition that assesses teachers based on students academic progress and performance.

ESSA does not require states to set up teacher-evaluation systems based in significant part on students test scores, which was a key part of the U.S. Department of Educations state-waiver system under the No Child Left Behind Act, the predecessor to ESSA.

States now have a newfound flexibility to adjust their evaluation systemsand in doing so, theyre all over the map.

If I were to use two words to describe the landscape right now in regard to teacher accountability: messy and complicated, said Kimberly Kappler Hewitt, an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, who researches teacher-evaluation policies and student-growth models. No two states are doing the same thing right now.

A number of states, however, have been moving away from student growth measures in evaluations, Kappler Hewitt said, whether that means postponing their inclusion, reducing their percentage in the evaluation breakdown, or eliminating those measures altogether.

Not all of that is directly related to ESSA, said Andy Baxter, the vice president of educator effectiveness at the Southern Regional Education Board. States had been moving away from student growth measures for the past several years. The ESSA requirement [change] will only accelerate that or reinforce that, he said.

Still, some states, including Iowa and Alabama, have at least considered tying student test scores to evaluations.

I dont think were going to have any sort of consensus or any sort of mellowing out of the waters for several years as states try to grapple and feel their way through these things, Kappler Hewitt said.

The Policy Landscape

Even within states, there has been some back and forth.

In 2012, the Alaska State Board of Education had approved a plan that would eventually require 50 percent of a teachers evaluation to be comprised of student test scores. But the board delayed the implementation and ultimately repealed the requirement in June.

In August, the New Jersey Department of Education tripled the weight of PARCC tests in teacher evaluationsto 30 percent. The decision drew criticism from state teachers unions and some local districts, and legislators quickly introduced a bill that would eliminate student standardized test scores from teacher evaluations.

The bill passed the New Jersey General Assembly and is currently pending in the state Senates education committee.

In another policy turnaround, New York in December 2015 suspended the use of student scores on statewide tests in teacher evaluations for four yearsless than a year after the governor signed a law that increased the weight of test scores to up to 50 percent in evaluations. Teachers in New York will still receive a growth score based on tests, but it wont count toward employment consequences, positive or negative. By 2019, state officials have said, the teacher-evaluation system will be completely revamped.

Kappler Hewitt said New York exemplifies one of the trends she is seeing: putting the brakes on test-score data for the time being.

States have gone through a lot of change in terms of standards and assessments, she said. All that change, that churn, has big implications for teacher evaluations.

For example, Ohio will not use value-added ratings from state tests for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years in evaluations, to ease the transition to new state tests.

Meanwhile, Alabama considered moving toward incorporating student growth measures into teacher evaluations with a controversial piece of legislation that died in committee in last years session. The bill would have tied 25 percent of an evaluation score to student growth, using the ACT and the ACT Aspire college-readiness tests as indicators of student performance.

The bill was largely condemned by educators in the state, including Jennifer Brown, the 2015-16 Alabama teacher of the year, who led a social media campaign against it.

Kids are more than a score, she said. A test score doesnt determine how well I taught that student. I just dont think thats a good measure about how well your student is doing.

Brown was also concerned about the logistics. How would educators who dont teach core subjects, for example, art or physical education, be evaluated? Furthermore, the ACT and the ACT Aspire dont count for a students grade. Im very much opposed to using a test for teacher accountability when theres no accountability for the student, she said. Its got to be fair for educators. Until theres a fair system, Im going to oppose using tests for evaluation.

In late September, California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have required school districts to evaluate teachers based on multiple measures of student academic growth and performance, including state standardized test scores.

And in the spring, North Carolina removed student growth measures as a stand-alone standard in the states teacher evaluation system. We wanted growth as a school improvement tool, and not as a hammer, said Rebecca Garland, the deputy state superintendent for the states department of public instruction.

The data, which are calculated from student assessment scores, were never meant to be punitive, she said. Theyre meant to assist principals in determining professional development and to counsel teachers about how they can improve.

But teachers were becoming overly anxious about whether they would get fired or not, said Thomas Tomberlin, the director of district human resources at the state education department. "[We heard] feedback from the field that teachers were not feeling like they could focus on the improvement aspect of the data because they were too concerned about possible employment ramifications.

Now, teachers and principals will still receive the growth databut how it is integrated into the teacher evaluation system is at the discretion of individual districts, Tomberlin said.

I think teachers, by and large, have come to see the value of the informationthe limited value, it doesnt tell us everythingand teachers are much more comfortable with it as a data point than they have been in the past, he said.

Setting Up Safeguards for Equity

Despite the tinkering within states, Daniel Weisberg, the CEO of the teacher-training and advocacy group TNTP, said he doesnt see states backing away entirely from considering student growth measures under ESSAs new flexibility. In the No Child Left Behind era, some states already had committed to retooling their evaluation systems to qualify for federal Race to the Top funds.

The goals of that approachto provide teachers regular feedback on their performance against clear performance standardsare still widely supported by many state officials and others who want hard and fast accountability based on metrics, Weisberg said.

You havent seen the clock turn back to 2009, and I dont think youre going to see that, he said.

Not all educators are convinced that student growth measures are the way to ensure equity, but SREBs Baxter said it is a challenge for states to make sure that groups of students are not systematically getting teachers with weaker skills.

I think states do need to hold districts, and in turn their schools, accountable for some sort of connection between evaluation ratings of the teachers and the success of students, Baxter said. Having student growth is one way to do that, having student surveys is another way. In the absence of those, weve got to avoid situations where large numbers of teachers in the school are getting high ratings and students arent growing. ... States need to set up safeguards.

North Carolinas policy of providing teachers and principals student growth data while not mandating its inclusion in evaluations is one such safeguard, he said. Another is Louisianas public database of teachers evaluation ratings by school. If there are schools with a large percentage of highly effective teachers, but students arent progressing, thats a problem, Baxter said.

Weisberg said he hopes states will continue to provide teachers and principals and school system leaders with meaningful information on how teachers are doing and growing and where they need help.

But, he said, he doesnt expect there to be a consensus among states, when the dust settles: There isnt a magic bullet answer.
Donald Trumps election to be the 45th president of the United States gives a huge boost to the movement for school choicebut may also foreshadow its undoing.

For 25 years, proponents of school choice have promoted two mechanisms: education vouchers and charter schools. Vouchers, which direct public funds to private schools to help cover tuition, are the more politically fraught of the two. Both options provide alternatives to a local public school, but charter schools are public schoolsprivately managed, but authorized by and ultimately accountable to government agencies. This has given them broader bipartisan appeal than vouchers.

While voucher and charter school proponents have historically been allies linked by providing greater choice, the political alliance between them might be fraying. The election of Trump, who is a major voucher supporter, provides an opening that critics of market-based educationcritics who instead advocate for traditional public schools with effective government oversightcan exploit.

Expanded school choice was one of the few specifics that President-elect Trump offered during his campaign about how he would improve U.S. schools. He proposed $20 billion in federal grants to vastly expand the number of voucher schools on the condition that states and localities kick in another $110 billion from their own revenues. Trump further signaled his intentions by nominating Betsy DeVos, a prominent promoter of enhanced parental choice through both vouchers and charters, to be his secretary of education. The stage seems set for both vouchers and charter schools to grow, likely at the expense of traditional public schools.

But voucher proponents have lost national debates about school choice in the past. President Ronald Reagan twice failed to get Congress to approve a national voucher law, and Republicans in Congress couldnt persuade President George W. Bush to include vouchers in the No Child Left Behind Act when it was passed in 2001. Many Americans think vouchers threaten the traditional vision of public common schooling because of their potential to redirect government dollars to private schoolsones that can be less racially, ethnically, and economically diverse. Still others worry that vouchers use for religious schools could lead to undesirable entanglement between church and state.

Because of this resistance, voucher proponents jumped on the charter school bandwagon in the early 1990s. Many aligned themselves with charterswhich spread rapidly during the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, as well as that of President Barack Obamato make inroads for market-based ideas in education and to build a future political constituency. Charters are supported primarily by public tax revenues and state law typically bars them from charging tuition or refusing admission based on family background, school mission, or students academic preparation. Yet they also are run by private boards; are exempt from many regulations that regular public schools must follow; usually hire non-unionized teachers; and win funds based on the number of students.

Many charter supporters are uncomfortable with the pure market rationale behind vouchers."

Charter proponents, who believed themselves David confronting the Goliath of union-backed traditional public education, welcomed the political and philanthropic support of the pro-voucher forces.

But fault lines underlie the alliance. Many charter supporters are uncomfortable with the pure market rationale behind vouchers, which trusts that competition among schools will be enough to ensure the improvement of their quality. Steve Wilson, the founder and CEO of the New York City-based Ascend charter network, recently expressed his belief that many charter supporters and founders are deeply troubled by the idea of vouchers.

I would venture most charter school founders are liberal Democrats who are committed to social justice and would be very troubled by free-market mechanisms, he said.

Instead, many charter supporters value government oversight, especially given the poor performance and outright corruption of choice systems in some statesincluding minimally regulated school choice programs like Michigans, which DeVos fought to protect. And while charter school leaders celebrate the idea of many small entrepreneurial schools competing with one another, in practice they often prefer working with large charter management organizations and urban districts that want to diversify the portfolio of schools, rather than offer services to millions of voucher families.

On the other side, the pro-voucher Roman Catholic Church hopes public funding could revive falling enrollments in its parochial schools. The church views tuition-free chartersespecially those that emphasize order and disciplineas competition.

Charter and voucher advocates have fought the common enemy of traditional public schools, but they may turn on one another if Trump and DeVos push to expand the voucher system. Robert C. Enlow, the president and CEO of the pro-voucher lobby EdChoice has already called for expansion of the federally funded voucher program for low-income families in the District of Columbia. That program provides vouchers worth over $8,000 per child per year, so charter supporters should worry that after voucher funding is doled out, they might be left with only financial crumbs.

In recent years, traditional public school districts that once strictly assigned most families to a single-zoned school have quietly added other options, often including charters. If advocates of democratically controlled common schools can swallow their fear that any embrace of choice will lead to privatization, they may be able to expand their impact. By openly welcoming supporters of well-regulated, socially inclusive, and democratically responsive charters, they can ally with choice proponents alarmed at the prospect of massive voucher schemes.

Will the longtime alliance between charter and voucher advocates unravel? Supporters of democratically controlled public education might find this a good time to tug at the thread.




US welcomes back French beef after 19 years

The US has lifted a 19-year ban on beef imports from France

The decision was welcomed by the European Commission, which said it represented a new stage in the reopening of a market that had been closed since the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic in the late 1990s.

This lifting of the ban also showed that the European Union's efforts to eradicate BSE (more known as mad cow disease) from its territory have been successful, the EC said in a statement. It followed similar decisions on imports from Ireland, Lithuania and the Netherlands.

"This decision by the US clearly shows what we can achieve through an open, constructive relationship with one of our most important commercial partners", declared Commissioners Cecilia Malmstrom, responsible for trade; Vytenis Andriukaitis, responsible for health and food safety; and Phil Hogan, responsible for agriculture.

The EC said it would continue to work with all concerned parties to enable all member states to have the same access to the American market, which banned beef from the EU in January 1998, when the US introduced restrictions on the import of bovine, ovine and caprine meat following the BSE epidemic.

The restrictions, the EC said, were "harsher than the recommendations of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)". It maintained that European beef was safe for consumers. -Rick Alberto
To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020.
LEBANON  Police and emergency dispatchers in Lebanon County are training together to improve their working relationship.

Its not always easy out here, North Lebanon Police Chief Harold Easter said. Its convoluted, complex and sometimes very confusing, particularly the initial scene.

Police say their biggest partner in fighting crime is the emergency management agencys county dispatch. Thats why police, firefighters and dispatchers in the county have resurrected the ride along program.

We depend upon them to give us information that could even save an officers life, Easter said of dispatchers. Its very important.

The program lets dispatchers spend a day with officers, and officers can spend a day at the Emergency Management Office to better understand the challenges each faces.

We had some issues with communication between officers on the street and dispatchers, so I think this will take care of a lot of that friction, tension, Easter said.

Different parts of the criminal justice system working in conjunction with each other always produces very positive results, he added.

Residents can request to ride along with an officer, too.

Police officers are good people that want to do a good job for the citizens, Easter said. And this is one way for the citizens to meet the officers.
Mechanicsburgs engineer told borough council on Tuesday night that its time to look at the timing of many of the boroughs traffic signals.

Borough engineer Greg Rogalski advised borough council members that the borough has experienced some deficiencies in recent weeks with the timing of several traffic signals along the Main and Simpson streets corridors, particularly the signal at Main and Market streets. In many instances, lights either take too long to change or change too quickly, depending on which side drivers are located.

The borough has made appropriate timing adjustments to individual signals when needed, but Rogalski said this really is only a temporary fix. Theres a system in the borough that allows a computer to talk to our traffic signals. We need to look at that whole system, he said.

Although Mechanicsburg conducted a traffic study focusing on traffic signals four years ago, the borough lacked the funds to implement any recommendations included in the study, Rogalski said. The study was funded through a state grant.

Rogalski said he plans to apply for state funding in mid-year that could finance more work on the boroughs traffic signal system. He advised council members to begin a list of which signals should be considered as top priority for remediation. Council members agreed to do so.

Gaga pit approved

Also on Tuesday, borough council members unanimously approved an Eagle Scout project proposed by Boy Scout Cedar Brill of Troop 190, Mechanicsburg. Brill plans to construct a gaga pit in Memorial Park. The octagonal pit comprising pressurized wood and poles would be designed for a fast-paced sport similar to dodge ball that is played with a soft foam ball, Brill told borough council last month. He plans to construct it this year.

The gaga pit will be located east of the parks existing pickle ball court and near the walking path, Borough Manager Roger Ciercierski said. Mechanicsburg Parks and Recreation Director Toyna Brown approved the location for use by the Summer Adventure Program, he said.

Resolutions honor 2

In other news, borough council passed a resolution on Tuesday honoring Phil Dolson, who maintained an active role in the Mechanicsburg Recreation Commission, according to his obituary. He died on Jan. 1.

The borough council also passed a resolution honoring Richard Pap Cornman, who died on Jan. 8.

He worked in the boroughs sewer plant and highway department, retiring in 2011, according to his obituary. He also was a long-time member of the Citizens Fire and Rescue Company #2, Station #27 in Mechanicsburg, serving as director and several other positions.

Walk approved

Finally, borough council granted a special event permit to the National MS Society to conduct a walk fundraiser on April 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in and around Memorial Park.
DHSC has 11.1m extra funds approved



Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft MHK

The Health and Social Care Minister says her Department needs to be more cost aware after being granted an 11.1m additional budget.

Kate Beecroft, who only took charge of the Department in October, had to ask Tynwald to approve the overspend, blaming the cost of temporary staff and difficulties recruiting permanent workers.

Tynwald voted to approve the extra money, but the Minister will have to outline plans to reduce spending and increase income by July.

The DHSC also sought additional funds last year when led by Howard Quayle, while Mrs Beecroft admits there could be some difficult choices ahead to ensure such overspends don't continue.

The Department has the largest budget in the Isle of Man Government, having been given a 250m gross fund for the current financial year.
Witnesses sought following honesty box theft

Police are appealing for witnesses after money was stolen from an honesty box at a farm in the south of the Island.

Cash was taken from the front of Croit Y Kelly Farm on St Marks Road between 6pm on Monday and 8 o'clock yesterday morning.

The box is left at the roadside where vegetables and eggs are available to purchase.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Castletown Police Station.
Mechanicsburg Police have charged a Duncannon man after they say he exchanged sexually explicit images with a 16-year-old girl.

Donald E. Gotwalt Jr., 53, was charged Wednesday with felony distribution of sexual explicit materials to a minor, possession of child pornography and misdemeanor corruption of minors after police say he sent a photograph of his genitals to a 16-year-old girl on Oct. 25 via text message.

A search of Gotwalts phone revealed images of the victim engaged in sexual activity with another minor that the victim had sent to Gotwalt on Oct. 24, according to police.

Gotwalt responded to the photos with sexually explicit messages, police said.

At no time does the defendant tell the victim not to send such inappropriate texts and pictures, the affidavit stated.

Gotwalt is currently not listed on Pennsylvanias sexual offender registry.

He was arraigned Wednesday and released on $20,000 unsecured bail.

A formal arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 16 at the Cumberland County Courthouse.
Honda confirms McGuinness, Martin TT lineup



John McGuinness and Guy Martin will ride for Honda Racing at this year's Isle of Man TT.

Guy Martin and John McGuinness will race for Honda Racing at this year's Isle of Man TT.

The team confirmed their lineup following reports Martin was set to return to the TT after a year off, partnering the 23-time TT winner.

The duo will ride the new Fireblade SP2, which is the latest edition of the most successful bike ever to race at the TT.

The pair will race on the new machines for the first time at the North West 200 ahead of TT, while Martin will also return to the Isle of Man in July for the Southern 100.
U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (PA-4) Tuesday unveiled legislation to ensure the Crime Victims Fund is used only to assist crime victims, rather than paying for unrelated federal projects.

Congress created the Crime Victims Fund in 1984, based on a simple idea: Money collected by the federal government from those who commit crimes should be used to help those victimized by crime, according to a news release from Perry's office. Each year, criminal fines and penalties collected by the federal government are deposited into the fund to pay for other government spending.

Perry said the Fairness for Crime Victims Act (H.R. 275), introduced with Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA-13), would end that practice.

Since 2000, Perry said Washington has diverted billions of dollars that, under federal law, must go to victims of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes. Congress uses this money to fund other federal programs  despite the fact that federal law says money deposited into the Crime Victims Fund may be used only to assist crime victims.

Through a budget gimmick, Congress claims that the money already spent is still in the Fund and available for victims, according to the news release from Perry's office. From Fiscal Year 2010 through 2014, the fund collected $12 billion, but gave only $3.6 billion, or 30 percent, to victims. H.R. 275 would require the fund, which receives no taxpayer dollars, to disburse what it brings in each year to crime victims.

You know Washington has a spending problem when its willing to steal money from victims of child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes to keep the funds flowing, Perry said.

Perry is a member of the House Victim Rights Caucus and has voted for legislation to support sexual assault victims and give local law enforcement the tools they need to assist victims. These efforts increased funding for programs aimed at preventing sexual assault and help survivors find justice, including the Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecutions programs.

The 4th Congressional District encompasses Adams and York counties, as well as part of Cumberland and Dauphin counties, including Silver Spring Township, Hampden Township, East Pennsboro Township, Camp Hill, Lower Allen Township, New Cumberland, Wormleysburg, Lemoyne and parts of Mechanicsburg Borough and Upper Allen Township.
A lot of people anticipated that Nvidia will unveil its most powerful graphics processor at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The event has ended without any details about the GPU.

According to recent rumors, the California-based tech manufacturer intends to release the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti during the first quarter of 2017. Although the target date has not been confirmed, there is also the possibility that the graphics card will hit the market during a series of gaming festivals called PAX East in Boston this coming March.

Judging from its Pascal platform, it is perceived that the new GeForce will provide a major boost to gaming systems. Gamers see the chip as an enhanced variation of the GP102 piece of the GTX 1080.

Compared to the previous brand, the Ti contains an estimated 12 billion transistors, and that is 5 million more than the older model. At 12GB, the upcoming GeForce has a RAM that is 4.8GB faster than its predecessor.

Although Nvidia's newest graphics flagship has 3,328 CUDA cores, which is less than what the GTX 1080 has, the Ti still has a better clock rate. At 1,503MHz, the next GeForce chip is better than the Titan's 1,417MHz performance.

It should be noted that the presence of the GDDRX5 RAM increases the memory speeds when exceeding the 10GHz limit. With a 384-bit bus giving extra memory, the bandwidth of the Ti is raised to 480GB/s. Judging from this kind of output, Nvidia's next graphics processor becomes powerful by incurring 10.8TFLOPS when operating.

Considering that most incoming games are already showcasing 4K capability, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is in a better position to sustain playing performances. At around 60 frames per second, the soon-to-launched card is just short of being described as overwhelming.

According to a report from HotHardware, Nvidia is still in a position to dominate the GPU market since its GeForce cards are better than what rival AMD can offer. However, with the Vega architecture in the horizon, the whole equation of the graphics prowess will likely change soon.
After Idris Elba and Tom Hiddleston, the name of Tom Hardy now emerges to replace Daniel Craig to do the next James Bond film. As Christopher Nolan already revealed his interest to direct the 007 film, anchoring the two in the movie might be the best team up.

In an interview with The Daily Beast, the 39-year-old star of the new television series Taboo was amazed and found it cool if the Interstellar director would direct the British Secret Service agent film. He now wonders what would be the 46-year-old producer's take on the movie franchise and what would be the outcome.

"I think when you mention someone like Christopher Nolan, that's a very powerful figure to bring into that world who could bring something new and create something profound - again," Tom Hardy added. This, too, is the perfect time for Christopher Nolan to direct the next James Bond film as the production of his war movie with Harry Styles, Dunkirk, is now done.

Tom Hardy, on the other hand, was also asked if he wants to reprise Daniel Craig's role as James Bond, Slash Film reported. "You know, there's a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, and in the fellowship of my peer group, that if you talk about it you're automatically out of the race," The Revenant actor explained.

Hence, he doesn't want to talk about it to secure the role when the right time comes. Tom Hardy even commended Sam Mendes and Barbara Broccoli for their take on the James Bond franchise.

The Mad Max: Fury Road star described that what they have done is impressive and might be very hard to follow. But, knowing how fantastic a director Christopher Nolan is, it will be no sweat for him to direct the next James Bond film. To recall, it was in 2013 when the latter first talked about his interest in the Ian Fleming-based movie.
AMD Global-managed Nokia is blitzing on its comeback trail. The excitement over its upcoming products, however, has induced a bit of complication along the way.

During this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), an item depicting the Nokia 8 has been found at Qualcomm's booth. The sighting immediately becomes an instant hit that projected an upcoming flagship product.

Although the Nokia 8 is not the new device that many are anticipating, the Finland-based tech group remains on course to unravel new handsets this year. In fact, the organization plans to present around seven units for 2017.

One of the rumored items will feature sophisticated components that will rival the best in the mobile industry. Russian news agency Worket has reported that the Snapdragon 835 chip will be integrated into this Nokia product. Apparently, the handset is similar to the Aquos Xx3 unit of Sharp which was released in Japan last year.

With that context in mind, the Nokia P1 emerges as the prime candidate. It is expected that this 5.3-inch smartphone will be running on Android 7.0 Nougat OS with a formidable Snapdragon 835 chip powering the unit.

Carl Zeiss will have a hand in the integration of the device's photo tracker. The rear camera will be sporting a 22.6MP capability.

A couple of storage models will be in place. One will have a 256GB capacity while the other can accommodate 128GB of memory.

A distinct feature for the P1 is its IP57 certification. This means that the handset is protected against water and dust particles.

The forthcoming phone will be equipped with a Quick Charge component. Its battery contains 3,500mAh of energy.

It is likely that the Nokia P1 will be dueling against sophisticated flagships like Apple's iPhone 8, LG's G6 and Samsung's Galaxy S8. A common denominator among these brands is the presence of the 10nm processors.

While the anticipation is high for the AMD Global's product, the attached prices will have a different impact. If the company will push with its $800 and $950 costs for the 128GB and 256GB models, respectively, it is highly likely that Nokia's attempt to re-establish its presence will be mostly uphill.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship moves to the next levelk as rumors arfe rife that the couple is already living together in London before the engagement if there are plans. Because of this, Queen Elizabeth is reportedly worried and this would again bring trouble to the royal family.

Harry and Meghan are dating for almost a year now and with the flow of events it seems like the two are taking their romantic relationship to the next level. Even if they are not yet engaged, speculations are swirling that the two are planning to live together already.

With reports from Celeb Dirty Laundry, the "Suits" actress has already planned of moving to London after her trip in India for a charity trip for the World Vision.

The reports also added that Harry and Meghan have been spending a lot of time under the radar together and that they prefer to stay indoors while loving and getting delight from the lazy days together.

Some even claimed that the couple is already living together in Nottingham Cottage while others refer to the palace as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's "love nest."

Reports are even swirling that Meghan is spending so much time in Kensington Palace and rumors are escalating that she might already consider staying there. But how about Queen Elizabeth?

Because of this, there are claims that the Queen is actually worried about this and that the couple is already trying to live together even if they are not yet married. Queen Elizabeth has been reported to have disapproved of this plan of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Perhaps, Harry already felt that the American actress is the one for her and that they also share the same passion together which is on humanitarian work. Lately, Harry has been rumored to have already introduces his girlfriend to Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte as per CBS News.

If Prince Harry already wants to live with Meghan Markle then he should at least ask first her hand for marriage since nothing is wrong with that and Queen Elizabeth would be pleased as well.
Marc Hafstead and Yunguang Chen:

The election of Donald Trump has cast significant uncertainty over the future of the Paris Agreement to combat global climate change, as the president-elect actively campaigned to pull the United States from the international accord. Under this agreement, which officially went into force in November 2016, the United States (under President Obamas leadership) pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2628 percent relative to 2005 levels by 2025. Despite his assertion that climate change is a hoax created by China, however, Trump has moderated his hardline approach since the election by stating that he would keep an open mind on the agreement.

Should the president-elect choose to pursue policies to meet the US pledge, as urged by over 600 US companies, what options exist to reduce greenhouse gas emissions below projected business-as-usual levels? A regulatory approach through the Clean Air Act is likely out of the question, given Trumps nomination of Scott Pruitt (a vocal critic of the Clean Power Plan) to lead the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Still, if we assume that EPAs Clean Power Plan is upheld in the court system or not dismantled by the incoming Trump administration, US emissions in 2025 are projected to be only 14 percent below 2005 levels under current law. Even with additional regulatory measures that have been proposed by the Obama administration ... US emissions levels in 2025 are projected to be only 19 percent below 2005 levels, still well short of the 2628 percent target.

Yet Trumps nomination of Rex Tillerson for secretary of state suggests a possible alternative policy approacha revenue-neutral, economy-wide carbon tax. As CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson has publicly backed the idea since 2009. Using the Goulder-Hafstead E3 model, we investigated how such a tax on carbon dioxide emissions from combustion (representing about 75 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions) could be designed to meet the US target at a relatively minimal cost. ...
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the
I've used this list a number of times on this blog (most recently here with, I must say, a nice comment on the economics of the industry):

via retractionwatch.com

Emil Karlsson reports:

BREAKING: Retraction Watch has received a statement by the university indicating that Beall has decided to no longer maintain or publish his research or blog on open access journals and predatory publishers. The statement notes that Professor Beall remains on the faculty at the university and will be pursuing new areas of research. Now the only information that we need is additional details about why Beall decided to call it quits. Did he reach his breaking point or where lawsuit threats (or similar) involved? (note added 20170118 01:14 UTC+1). BREAKING: ScienceInsider reports that the university has stated that the disappearance of the list is not related to legal threats. Now we know the how and the what, but not the why (note added 20170118 01:47 UTC+1).

It is a shame that we have lost this public good. Predatory journals are a problem in academic publishing. I've sent two papers to journals on Beall's list over the past several years. I submitted old, unpublished papers with a made up name and email address. Both papers were accepted for publication in a couple of days with either no or very minor revision. The journals then began asking for money and I closed the email accounts.

Emil Karlsson posts links to the list:

Thankfully, there are cached copies of his key lists available: Publishers: Archive.is | Archive.org

Standalone journals: Archive.is | Archive.org

Hijacked journals: Archive.is | Archive.org

Metric companies: Archive.is | Archive.org

Here is the January 13 link on the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20170113114519/https://scholarlyoa.com/2016/01/05/bealls-list-of-predatory-publishers-2016/.
Bangladesh's chase didn't begin well: they lost three wickets and scored 28 runs in the first 10 overs. The next 20 overs yielded just 35 runs without a boundary. Fargana Hoque struck her career-best ODI score, a 144-ball 67. It was her third ODI fifty. Ayabonga Khaka picked up three wickets. Moseline Daniels and Moseline Letsoalo claimed two wickets each.
International community representing about 75 countries and organizations gathered on Sunday (15 January) to affirm their position on peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, only a few days before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office. However, neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians nor the new US administration attended the conference. The represented governments therefore used the occasion to remind all sides that the only viable solution to the conflict is the two-state solution. French President Francois Hollande said that decades of talks to create a Palestinian state couldnt be improvised or overturned.

The United States were represented by Secretary of State John Kerry but Mr. Trumps administration did not extensively comment on the Paris gathering. Mr. Trump is known to be forcefully supporting the Israeli government and is even planning to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Some analysts believe that such a move could threaten the delicate balance that Washington has been always striving to keep in the region. Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French foreign minister, called Mr. Trumps remarks a provocation. A question as sensitive as Jerusalem can only be addressed in the framework of negotiations between the parties, Mr. Ayrault commented.

Another controversial step taken by Mr. Trump is the appointment of his personal lawyer David Friedman as the US Ambassador to Israel. Mr. Friedman is known for his hardline political views and he has personally provided funding to Israeli settlements, widely regarded as the main stumbling block to a lasting peace, in the West Bank. In late December, Mr. Trump slammed the Obama administrations move not to veto a United States resolution condemning the Israeli settlements.
More than 1 million refugees later, German unemployment is still falling.

Europes largest economy is defying concerns that the mass arrival of people from war-torn countries including Syria and Iraq over the past two years would lift joblessness and hurt growth. Instead, labor is the tightest in more than a quarter of a century and output increased in 2016 at the fastest pace in five years, bolstered by private consumption and government expenditure on migrants.

The resilience masks some of the challenges related to absorbing foreign workers into a sophisticated labor market when they lack language skills and qualifications. Integrating them is a test for Angela Merkel, whose refugee policy has been described as catastrophic by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Any setbacks threaten to turn the German Chancellors bid for a fourth term in national elections this year into a vote on her immigration policy.





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: bloomberg.com

21
I dont usually live my days according to a particular theme. No planning goes into them, unless Im celebrating a birthday or some other exceptional event. But every now and then, in a sort of strange serendipity, the day comes together around people, places and ideas that have a strange symbiosis. So it was last Tuesday.

First, on the radio, there was the confirmation hearing of Jeff Sessions or, as the Democrats insisted on calling him, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, just to make sure we recognized his despicable Dixie pedigree. It was similar to all of those conservatives who insisted on calling our president Barack Hussein Obama to remind us of, well, you know what.

It seemed as if Sessions was on trial for his past as a man of a certain age raised in a certain place, during a certain time. If you dig deeply enough into the histories of Southerners who came of age in the 1950s and 1960s, you inevitably find traces of horrible words spoken, troublesome associations made, jokes that werent funny and an insensitivity born of the historical moment. Sessions is a product of his past. And yet, others testified to his change of heart, his prosecution of racist men in white sheets, his befriending of men and women of color and a colorblind style of mentoring.

After that, on the same radio station, I heard that Dylann Roof, a man who murdered innocent black churchgoers in an effort to start a race war in South Carolina, had been sentenced to death. Even those who oppose the death penalty had to feel some sense of justice in that. And I do not oppose the death penalty.

Later that evening, I went with a friend to see the movie Hidden Figures, about the African American female trailblazers at NASA who played a critical  and, until recently, unknown  role in the space program. There is a scene at the end of the movie in which John Glenn basically refuses to get in the Friendship 7 capsule until one of those black computers played by Taraji P. Henson does the numbers in her head and calculates the accuracy of his splashdown. It might have been Hollywood, but it sent chills down my spine.

And then I came home, turned on the TV and watched President Obamas speech, the one Id had the presence of mind that morning to DVR. It was moving, as most of his speeches are, and particularly compelling because it was the last major address hed give the American people as an occupant of the White House.

I wont get into the substance because I disagree with so much of his agenda. I did not vote for him, and Im at peace with that. But he made the attempt, as he usually does, to rise above the partisan labels and talk to us as Americans. Some who were already predisposed to find fault heard him criticizing us or them and dismissed his words as just another late and final dig against Trump voters. I didnt hear that, even though I absolutely heard his disdain for them in the past.

What I noted in the speech, and it could have been entirely of my own imagining, was a wistfulness at how close we Americans come to perfection and then willfully step away from it. Of course, one mans perfection is another mans Obamacare, but I think that, generally speaking, we spend more time hating than debating, more time whining than shining, more time inciting than uniting.

Looking at those attacking Sessions, I saw unforgiving avengers who really just wanted to fight the Civil War all over again. Then, when I heard about Roofs sentencing, I saw the real face of racism and understood why some might still be armed for battle.

Watching that movie with those gentle, dignified women made me think of my father who, when he went to Mississippi to register black voters in 1967, encountered courage in the oppressed and oppression from the cowards. That quiet dignity, steel-backed and patient, makes the coarse, divisive chants of No justice, no peace seem like the work of spoiled, embittered children. Black lives do matter, of course, but so do good manners.

Which brings me to Obama. The words of this man, who has been accused of fomenting racial divisions by people on both sides of the color divide, were reminiscent of the dignified rhythms of the past. Tuesday was a day when old racists were challenged and redeemed, when murderous bigots were put down, when hidden figures of historic importance were finally illuminated and when the first black president, with trepidation and his own brand of hope, passed the baton.

And we, imperfect but with promethean potential, pick it up. And move on.
Investors were disappointed by a sharp drop in UK retail sales on the month in December, with rising inflation expected to put greater pressure on consumer confidence and spending in the coming year.

Due to limited demand for emerging market currencies, GBP/INR trended near its best weekly levels on Thursday.

Sterling performed strongly throughout the day thanks to yet another confident speech from UK Prime Minister Theresa May. The Indian Rupee, on the other hand, struggled to hold its ground due to poor demand for risky emerging market currencies.

GBP INR Exchange Rate Strengthened by Mays Speech

GBP/INR skyrocketed yesterday afternoon following Prime Minister Theresa Mays speech outlining her plans for 'Brexit'.

The PMs speech helped to dispel some of the uncertainty that has plagued the Pound in recent months as it finally gave investors a clear picture of how the UK government plans to leave the EU.

Markets were not overly pleased by Theresa Mays announcement that the UK would be leaving the single market as she said that staying in would have equated to not leaving the EU at all, but traders reacted positively to her promise that MPs and Peers would be given a final vote on the terms of negotiation.

While May made it clear that the vote would not be able to block 'Brexit' itself, investors were upbeat as they believe that opposition MPs and some Conservative backbenchers may seek to amend the governments terms to force it to adopt a softer approach to 'Brexit'.

However the Pound was softened slightly this morning as the Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, warned about the impact of leaving the single market, saying it would be economically catastrophic and pave the way for a second Scottish referendum.

Sturgeon said in reaction to the speech, One thing should remain crystal clear: the Tory government cannot be allowed to act against Scotlands wishes and our interests, and reject all attempts at compromise.

Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain part of the EU in Junes referendum and Sturgeon had been seeking a deal that would allow Scotland to retain single market access even if the rest of the UK left.

Pound Stabilises as Employment Improves

The Pound was prevented from slipping further following the release of the UKs latest employment data, which reported that unemployment fell by 52,000 to 1.6 million in the three months through November.

While this did not impact the unemployment rate, which held steady at 4.8%, the news that average wages had risen from 2.6% to 2.8% in November helped Sterling sentiment improve.

However, some analysts did warn that the labour market could soon soften as the UK economy slows down and the impact of leaving the EU causes new hirings to fall.

Trumps Inauguration to Hold down INR?

The Indian Rupee may struggle to advance against the Pound for the remainder of the week as the inauguration of Donald Trump drives traders to move cautiously.

Investors are likely to remain dovish towards emerging-market currencies like the Rupee as they wait to learn more about the president-elects policy plans.

Should markets react positively to the new administration and buy into the US Dollar (USD) then it is highly likely that the INR GBP exchange rate will suffer.

Pound Likely to Rise at the end of week as Retail Sales Expected to Improve

Sterling is likely to show further improvement on Friday as the UK releases its latest Retail Sales figure, with sales expected to surge from 6.6% to 7.6% in December as consumer demand is driven by the expectation of price hikes in January due to the low value of the Pound.

Meanwhile the Indian Rupee is likely to continue to struggle for the foreseeable future thanks to the governments decision to demonetise over 80% of the nations notes as the largely cash based economy still faces a shortage of the new bills.

GBP INR Data Releases

Thursday

00:01 GBP RICS House Price Balance (DEC)

Friday

09:30 GBP Retail Sales (MoM) (DEC)

09:30 GBP Retail Sales (YoY) (DEC)

09:30 GBP Retail Sales Inc Auto Fuel (MoM) (DEC)

09:30 GBP Retail Sales Inc Auto Fuel (YoY) (DEC)

11:30 INR Foreign Reserves (13/JAN)

11:30 INR Deposit Growth YoY (JAN)

11:30 INR Bank Loan Growth (JAN)
Mapcat said: Thanks in advance for your thoughts/wisdom/expertise. I'm over 60. Does anyone know if I may be able to get a visa to live in Oz? Not hopeful, but very keenThanks in advance for your thoughts/wisdom/expertise. Click to expand...

Unless the majority of your children live in Australia (Parent Visa) or you want to try for a Business/Investment type visa (normally A$1.5 - 15 Million required investment, but still a provisional/temporary visa to start with), then there are no other permanent visa options.
I shouldn't think that this would be acceptable. The money would have to be in your name alone or in joint with your spouse. Unless you are a minor, having a parent listed as an account holder doesn't mean that the funds are totally in your control.







Have you read the Express Entry guidance? What does it tell you?







Again, what does the guidance tell you about this?
For the Canadian Immigration purpose, do I need to provide a separate police clearance certificate from each city of Pakistan where I lived for more than 6 months or it is for every country of stay after attaining 18 years of age?



Thank in advance.
Hi Guys



Just some info,



Changes you may or may not be aware of or considered



Ni contributions have increased now to 35 years from 30 years previously and the age when you can claim has increased as well



if you dont have the full 35 years contributions you can make additional ones to increase your pension



Each additional full year gives you an added 4.45 GBP per week currently ( full year being April to March) Class 2 Ni contributions are currently 2.80 GBP per week and are paid either quarterly, or yearly in most cases



Some countries were we retire the pension is not indexed linked, so any increase via the Budget are not passed on, luckily Philippines has an a agreement with the Philippines and any increase is received



Info might be useful to some



HIMMY123
atkin8 said: The Irish/EU position at present is that there is no double tax treaty with the Philippines .The Common Reporting Standard is not applicable but I would expect that to change .The 41% tax on investments in Ireland is excessive . Click to expand...

Good advice given already by other members, do take heed with investing in the Philippines, my suggestion is to get a good accountant in Ireland, a versatile accountant that thinks outside the box.Not sure at all what your tax scenario is but here in Oz I have a company that is a trustee for my family trust, I distribute funds to suit as it is a discretionary trust, all profits through the trust have to be distributed annually and that works well with creative thinking........my company without the trust pays 30% tax on profits.As my long departed Father always told me, "son if you make money you pay tax" ,,,,,,, yes Dad but it is very legal and your right to minimise your tax position, look and you will find as others do, look around at some squilionairs, do they pay tax? do they go bankrupt to evade?For me the more tax I am paying, the more money I am making.Cheers, Steve.
I did a similar process in the UK. I think the policy is global.



Firstly register the birth and get the unabridged birth certificate through the SA embassy or consulate in France. You can get the forms from the embassy (by post - not download) but physically submission at the embassy is necessary, at least in the UK. The certificate will be posted to you.



Once you have that, then apply for the passport or emergency travel documents if there is not enough time. There is a fair amount of travelling to the embassy or consulate involved and time taken as the papers actually get shipped to Pretoria for process. I think the whole process took around 5 months for my kids, but I recall the embassy website says 6 months alone for the birth certificate. Otherwise have a look at the emergency travel documents.



I think time is not in your favour with this method. Does anyone have a faster solution?
KCR  BJP      : -      ;       
Tuesday, January 17, 2017

At the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Associations (ICCFA) summer University, in the College of International Studies, students learn a rich combination of cultural and religious funeral traditions, presented by experienced industry professionals. Heres one cultural insight that can improve business for any funeral home or cemetery, or any service business.

In the session on Chinese American funeral traditions, Bob Yount, General Manager of Green Street Mortuary in San Franciscos Chinatown, presented an important lesson about a ritual that shows respect to the family before the start of a funeral arrangement conference. He taught a simple ceremony that in 90 seconds makes a huge positive impression on the family.

Hierarchy is very important to the Chinese, and the highest official of a business is known as the lobahn in Cantonese. Any time a manager or person of authority walks into the room, thats important.

When a family comes in to make arrangements, they are escorted into a conference room and seated. Within the first two minutes, Yount will knock on the door and walk in bearing a wooden tray holding bottled water, individually wrapped sweets and a flower. He carefully places the tray in a pre-arranged spot on the table.

The arranger introduces him as the lobahn. The family stands up. He bows, they bow, and he makes a gesture for them to be seated (otherwise, they would remain standing).

He then says, Jo Sahn (good day). My name is Bob Yount, and I am the general manager here at Green Street Mortuary. I would like to offer you our condolences on the loss of your [relative]. We here at Green Street are committed to honoring your [relative]. You are very fortunate and lucky to have [name] working with you. [He/She] is a most experienced, compassionate counselor. If at any time I may be of personal assistance to you, all you need to do is ask.

Walking in with the tray is a great gesture of respect which shows you understand the meaning placed on hierarchy. Yount explained, Your stock shoots up immensely with them. That gesture is everything.

Jim Hammond, Dean of the College of International Studies, explained how this ritual can work for any business. This gesture helps distinguish you from the funeral home down the street. As an owner or manager, you are not that busy that you cant take 90 seconds to go in and express your respect. It makes an enormous difference.

Consider incorporating this kind of consideration for all of the customers you serve, whatever your business. You may be surprised at how this gesture of respect makes a big difference.

Share this:
Emerging from the gilded doors of an elevator in Trump Tower on Friday, Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson said shed just promised President-elect Donald Trump to hire 1,800 workers in Texas. Four days earlier, Jack Ma of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba stood in the marble-clad lobby to announce an expansion of his companys U.S. business. That same day, French luxury mogul Bernard Arnault was there to tell Trump that his LVMH group might step up U.S. manufacturing.

Why the CEO parade? Its clear that Trumps threats and tweets are having some effect on global corporations. Lockheed, for one, looks ready to do whatever the new president asks  but thats no surprise, since the Pentagon is its biggest customer. Besides adding jobs in Texas, Hewson promised to lower costs significantly for Lockheeds F-35 fighter jet program, which Trump has blasted for cost overruns.

Most companies, though, simply seem to be trying to avoid the presidential cross hairs by showcasing projects already in the works.

General Motors Co. on Tuesday announced $1 billion in U.S. investments this year that will add or retain 1,500 workers. But the plan was approved before the election in November, according to a person familiar with the matter. At the Detroit Auto Show, Toyota said it will invest $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years  the same amount it spent over the past five years. And on Jan. 3, Ford Motor Co. said it had scrapped plans for a $1.6 billion expansion in Mexico after Trump called for levies on U.S. corporations that send jobs abroad. But the company later said Trumps threats had no effect on the decision.

Foreign manufacturers have good reason to fear Trumps wrath, as he has proposed new trade barriers to keep their products out of the U.S. In an interview published Sunday by Germanys Bild newspaper, he threatened a 35 percent levy on BMWs from a new $1 billion factory in Mexico. BMW countered that the Mexico facility will ship cars worldwide, and that its biggest plant in the world is in Spartanburg, South Carolina, most of which are exported. The company sees no reason to change its plans, Peter Schwarzenbauer, head of BMWs Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, told reporters at a conference Monday in Munich.

Overseas companies account for a growing share of U.S. manufacturing employment as factory jobs have fallen to 8 percent of the U.S. workforce, from 13 percent in 2000. Foreign multinationals created some 11,400 manufacturing jobs in 2015 by expanding their U.S. operations or establishing new U.S.-based ventures, up from 8,300 jobs created in 2014, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

The U.S. remains attractive because of its vast consumer market, skilled workforce, strong intellectual property protections and predictable regulatory environment, says Aaron Brickman, senior vice president of the Organization for International Investment, a Washington-based association of foreign corporations with U.S. operations. Politics can be emotional, but companies tend to look past emotion when deciding on investments, Brickman says.

Chaney Ho, president of Taiwanese computer maker Avantech, says his company has been expanding its U.S. footprint for several years and now has 90 workers at an assembly facility in Milpitas, California, along with more than 500 sales, marketing, and technical-support staff nationwide. That growth would have continued no matter who won the presidential election, he says. The U.S. is quite strong in networking systems, network security and cloud computing, Ho says. A lot of our business comes from that sector.

Foxconn Technology Group, a major supplier to Apple, has said its considering an expansion of its investments in the U.S., stirring concern in China, where many of the Taiwan-based companys factories are located. Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou has promised Chinese authorities that he wont withdraw capital from the mainland, according to people familiar with the matter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., another key Apple vendor, has said it wants to help create jobs in the U.S., without giving details.

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.

Luxury group LVMH, which already makes Vuitton bags in California, has an incentive to increase U.S. production as it seeks to boost sales in the country, says Deborah Aitken, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst. Time to market has become more important, having the product there to meet rising demand as youre expanding, Aitken says. Still, CEO Arnaults visit to Trump Tower was clearly intended to pre-empt adverse moves by the incoming administration, says Luca Solca, an analyst at Exane BNP Paribas in Geneva. Arnault meeting Trump was a masterpiece of diplomacy.

Sometimes, the visits are simply optics. Trump, who has accused China of stealing U.S. jobs and called for higher tariffs on Chinese imports, praised Ma as a great, great entrepreneur, even though Alibaba isnt even planning to hire any U.S. workers. The company does, though, predict it will create 1 million U.S. jobs by recruiting more American small businesses and farmers to sell goods in Asia via its website.

One CEO who apparently didnt get the memo about Trump diplomacy is Fiats Sergio Marchionne. Fiat drew a thank you tweet on Jan. 9 after announcing a $1 billion investment for U.S. production of three new Jeeps and a Ram pickup now made in Mexico. Marchionne, though, quickly pointed out that the move had long been planned. We dont make decisions, Marchionne told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show, based on the risk of a tweet.

CORRECTION: This report was updated to correct the nationality of Foxconn.
Boeing Co. CEO Dennis Muilenburg said he made some great progress in face-to-face talks with Donald Trump on the president-elects demand to hold down costs on the next-generation version of Air Force One.

In addition to Boeings contract to build the new Air Force One, the main presidential aircraft, they talked in their second meeting since the election about the companys F-18 Super Hornet, which Trump suggested last month should be upgraded to compete with Lockheed Martin Corp.s F-35 as the Pentagons advanced fighter jet.

We discussed Air Force One, we discussed fighter aircraft, Muilenburg told reporters after the meeting Tuesday at Trump Tower in New York. We made some great progress on simplifying requirements for Air Force One, streamlining the process, streamlining certification.

Trump has shaken the defense industry  and put all large U.S. companies with government contracts on notice  with his Twitter postings. In a tweet Tuesday morning, the president-elect boasted of the massive cost reductions I have negotiated on military purchases, although no specific reductions have yet been announced.

I think Mr. Trump is doing a great job of engaging with business, Muilenburg said after their meeting Tuesday. Were on the same page here.

Although Boeing has announced plans to pare its workforce amid slowing commercial aircraft sales, its CEO touted the economic growth and the 1.5 million manufacturing jobs that the largest U.S. exporter supports.

You want manufacturing jobs  aerospace is the place to invest, Muilenburg said. Were proud to take on that mission.

Trumps public pressure on Boeing began on Dec. 6, when he tweeted that 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!

In the wake of that comment, Muilenburg vowed that the Chicago-based company could build a new version of Air Force One for less than $4 billion.

Were going to get it done for less than that, and were committed to working together to make sure that happens, Muilenburg said as he left the president-elects Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last month. Muilenburg said he gave Trump his personal commitment on behalf of the Boeing Co.

More than a potent symbol of U.S. power, Air Force One planes are outfitted to highly classified specifications, which include secure communications and anti-missile defenses, so they can operate as a flying White House in a national crisis. Boeing is currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of the complex military aircraft.

Boeing isnt the only defense contractor thats felt the fury of Trumps tweets. Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson has met twice with Trump after he attacked the company for out of control costs on the F-35 jet, the largest U.S. weapons program. The $379 billion program for over 3,000 fighters started development in 2001 after Lockheed beat Boeing in the winner-take-all contest. The 200th aircraft was delivered Jan. 11.

Trump also called on Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet, referring to the companys F/A-18E/F jet, to compete with the F-35, a proposal defense analysts said was probably unworkable given the different roles and capabilities of the two fighters.

After the president-elects criticism, Hewson told Trump last week that Lockheed is close to a deal with the Pentagon to lower costs significantly on the next and largest production lot yet of F-35s.

Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The push to reduce F-35 costs over time was underscored by Roger Carr, the chairman of BAE Systems, a key subcontractor on the program.

Over a period theres no question weve been told through Lockheed that the president has an ambition to reduce the cost of that aircraft by a material amount of money, many percent, into double digits over a period, Carr said in a Bloomberg TV interview Tuesday from Davos. We respect that and well work towards a contribution towards that.

At the time of Trumps tweet about Air Force One, it wasnt immediately clear where his estimate of $4 billion originated. The Pentagons top weapons buyer said in an interview that the president-elect may be taking total acquisition costs and assuming that they are already built into the Boeing contract.

On Air Force One and the F-35, hes heard these big numbers, Frank Kendall said in an interview. Those are often program costs, or maybe acquisition total costs. Theyre not contract values, necessarily.

The basic aircraft is a small fraction of that $4 billion  the 747s were buying  so Boeing has part of that cost but not all of that, by any means, Kendall said. Were still negotiating with Boeing on that.

Kendall praised the incoming president, who takes office Friday, for his focus on reducing taxpayer expenses on large weapons contracts.

His general interest in reducing costs is terrific  his focus on that is good, but I think there are a lot of details I think he needs to absorb before he can talk about specifics, Kendall said.
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Joe King Carrasco never could have predicted March 14, 2016, at South by Southwest. There were no clues in telephone calls from the day before.

The Tex-Mex garage rocker and Nuevo Wave-O icon (born Joseph Charles Teutsch), who performs Friday in San Antonio, talked long-distance to his brother, just as he had almost daily for the last 30 years.

We were arguing about stuff, said Carrasco, 63, from his ranchito near Llano. Yeah, we talk constantly.

Tucker Teutsch was flying in from his home in Nicaragua to catch his brother at SXSW. Carrasco would pick him up at the airport. He replays the finalized instructions in his head.

It was a short call, which began and ended in the grunted shorthand-speak of brothers.

What time is it there? Teutsch asked.

Five-thirty, Carrasco answered.

OK. Good. Click.

That was the last time he would ever speak to Tucker, who was his greatest musical influence. He was the dude who had enthralled his baby brother with tales of seeing the Rolling Stones the first time the band played San Antonio at Teen Fair (in 1964), the one responsible for getting him into Tex-Mex music and the blues and suggesting some pretty wacky song titles.

For the following day, Carrasco was planning an admittedly dark practical joke for his oldest brother, who also had served as his first manager.

More Information In concert: Joe King Carrasco When: 9 p.m. Friday Where: Sam's Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St. Also on the bill: Patricia Vonne with Rick Del Castillo Tickets: $12-$50, 210-223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com See More Collapse

He had played a pre-SXSW party themed as a mock wake, and afterward he had gathered up all of the funeral wreaths and flowers and taken them to his house to surprise his brother, 10 years his elder, with something really spooky.

A few hours later came the devastating news. Tucker was dead, killed in a bizarre accident when a loaded gun went off in its travel case after he dropped it.

It was a real freak case, Carrasco said. He made five phone calls trying to get help.

He later learned that some of his brothers last moments were spent trying to reach friends for help. One of them, Carrasco recounted, wasnt sure if Tucker was kidding.

I think I shot myself was one of the messages. By the time help arrived, it was too late.

It was out there in the jungle, man, Carrasco said glumly, explaining it took the ambulance an hour to arrive. After he was pronounced dead, he was put in the back bed of a Nissan truck and driven to Managua, an hour away. Life in the tropics.

Teutsch had lived in the jungle an hour outside of San Juan del Sur for a dozen years, enjoying the beach life. In his younger days, he lived in San Francisco and was a booking agent for bluesman Freddie King. But down in Nicaragua, he was known simply as Taco. He owned properties there, not far from Costa Rica. The trip to SXSW was not unusual.

He always came, Carrasco said. I always bounced everything I did off of him, you know. He gave me a purpose, like, Oh, this is really goin to blow his mind. Its sort of like the reason that you did everything is gone. But I still keep doing it. I guess you gotta just keep carrying the flag, right?

Somehow, Carrasco managed to get through his SXSW shows. He later flew to Nicaragua to scatter his brothers ashes.

I think Tucker wouldve wanted me to keep playing, said Carrasco, whose latest album is Chiliando. I was crying every day. It was tough. Im still not over it. Yeah, I miss him.

Lately, hes been writing about about his brother. The music has been blues, not the usual Tex-Mex and tropical styles hes known for.

As long as I can play guitar, Im good, he said.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Carrasco was the skinny kid with the cape and outrageous crown who aimed to bridge the Ramones generation and the Sir Doug crowd. Hed grown up in North Texas and the Bay Area but came to San Antonio to record with West Side legends such as organist Arturo Sauce Gonzalez, saxophonist Rocky Morales and bassist Speedy Sparks. In private moments, Sahm lamented that Carrasco had stolen his act.

The truth was he updated it and made it relevant, said music journalist Ron Young, who knew Sahm and followed Carrascos rise in Its Only Rock and Roll, the alternative music publication he edited and published in the late 1970s and early 80s.

He was recording on the West Side with a lot of the guys that used to play with Doug (Sahm) and Augie (Meyers), Young said. We got excited about what he was doing. It was kinda revved up Quintet stuff. But he was making it a lot more contemporary, a lot more energy.

He was doing stuff that people like Iggy Pop or the Ramones, and people like that, were sort of tapping into, that audience energy exchange. He became a worldwide sensation. He was doing a lot of stuff that maybe Doug and Augie were a little jealous of. You could see he was a star in the making.

Party Weekend, Rolling Stone, Saturday Night Live and MTV were all on the horizon then.

Carrasco was last in town for a couple of photo exhibits at TexPop, which featured him at his fun Caca de Vaca zenith. He got a kick out of it. He still plays some of those songs, acknowledging you cant run from them.

Its cool. I kinda go, Wow, I knew that guy. I heard about him, Carrasco joked. Im like a tribute band to that guy. Im still trying to make it.

hsaldana@express-news.net
WASHINGTON - With days left in the Obama administration, the United States has sent 10 more lower-level detainees from the wartime prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Oman, and lawyers for two more who are on a list of those recommended for transfer are urgently asking a court to send them home as well.

The government of Oman announced Monday that it had resettled the 10 men. They were from a list of those approved for transfer, many after about 15 years of detention without trial, but remained stranded because they come from unstable countries like Yemen. Oman, which has a custodial rehabilitation program for Islamist extremists, previously took in 20 detainees, all Yemenis.

The Pentagon had not yet formally announced the transfer or named the 10 men, but a defense official confirmed that 10 prisoners had been transferred to Oman. The transfers reduced the remaining population at the prison to 45. Nine of those men are approved for transfer to a country that is willing and able to provide security assurances.

Saudi Arabia also resettled four detainees earlier this month, and several more transfers, including to the United Arab Emirates, another to Saudi Arabia and possibly one to Italy are expected in the coming days, based on notifications that the secretary of defense, Ash Carter, sent to Congress in December.

A federal statute generally requires that the government tell lawmakers that a transfer is coming at least 30 days before it is carried out.

Lawyers for two men who are on the transfer list but are set to be left behind are trying to get their clients out through federal court orders. President-elect Donald Trump has called for a halt to any more transfers.

The men - an Algerian named Sufyian Barhoumi and a Moroccan named Abdul Latif Nasir - both come from countries that the government has deemed stable enough for repatriations of other detainees in the past. Both were added to the transfer list last year by a parole-like board, but Carter did not sign off on a repatriation arrangement for them by the deadline.

On Friday, however, lawyers for the two men filed an "emergency motion" before two judges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing that the judges should order their release without any delay as a matter of habeas corpus, lest their clients be imprisoned for at least another four years "because of administrative delays in filing paperwork."

U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer, who is overseeing the Algerian man's case, ordered the government to respond to the motion by 10 a.m. on Tuesday, and in the meantime, she ordered, the government "should begin to make preparations in the event" she granted the motion "as a matter of equity" - presumably a reference to arranging for a flight to transfer him immediately.

Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, the judge overseeing the Moroccan man's case, on Monday ordered the government to respond to it by noon Wednesday.

If the Obama administration's Justice Department decides not to fight the requests and one or both judges do issue a transfer order, it will raise the question of whether the executive branch may carry out such a transfer without telling Congress and waiting 30 days first - by which time the Trump administration will have taken over.

Congress has enacted different versions of the waiting period law. The 2012 intelligence authorization act, for example, included transfers undertaken pursuant to a judicial order in the required waiting period. But several recent defense authorization acts exempted judicially ordered transfers.
Brian Laurence Stringer, who established himself as a premier interior designersand antique dealer in San Antonio, died on December 30, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Brian was born March 29, 1937 to Olive Coleman and Laurence Stringer in Coventry, England.

One of four brothers, Brian survived the Axis bombings of England during WWII before the family moved to Australia where he spent his adolescence and young adulthood. He was a member of the artillery unit of the Australian Army.

At the age of 20, Brian and his family immigrated to the United States and established their home in Washington, DC. He enlisted in the Air Force Reserves, as a radio officer, and was stationed in Georgia, Mississippi and San Antonio before returning to Washington, DC for the remainder of his service. Following an honorable discharge, Brian attended the American Institute of Interior Design in DC, before moving back to San Antonio to work for Mildred English, a leading interior designer and one of Brian's mentors.

As Brian was establishing himself in the design world, he met and married Jessica Schulte in 1972. The couple moved to Corpus Christi, where Brian worked for Norman Foster, ASID. Their daughter, Aimee Lauren, was born in 1973 and the couple returned to San Antonio a few years later, where Brian opened his own business, Brian Stringer Antiques, which became one of the most respected design studios and antique stores in the Southwest.

Brian transcended clients' expectations and with success at hand, Brian moved the headquarters of Brian Stringer Antiques to Houston in 1981. Brian was a true advocate of British antiques, specializing in oak and pine, and eventually mahogany. Following a divorce from his first wife, in 1985 he married Kathleen Abel in a small country wedding in Nucort, France. Brian grew his business by incorporating reproductions from Italy, Spain, Sweden, and England, as well as custom designs for clients, and continued to follow his passion of buying antiques, his true love.

In addition to their home in the Montrose area of Houston, Brian and Kathi summered at their chateau in St. Antoine, France, located in the Gers region of the Midi-Pyrenees, a stop on the pilgrimage, Camino de Santiago. Brian loved nothing more than hosting friends on the chateau's stone terrace, while holding court by telling jokes, stories and tales from his many colorful adventures. He had an insatiable desire to learn, the gift of a precise, photographic memory and a passion for history, films and literature. Brian will be remembered for his impeccable eye for style and integrity of architectural vision.

Brian is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen, his daughter Aimee Olinghouse (Tate), three grandchildren, Lauren and Mitchell Berry and Beck Olinghouse of Little Rock, AR. He is also survived by his brothers, Don of Melbourne, Australia, and Paul (Cara) and Roger of the Washington DC area.
For Norwegians, the sight of dozens of U.S. Marines traipsing through the snow in military fatigues - the first time foreign troops have been posted to their country's territory since World War II - may have brought a welcomed sense of security, but it also harked back to a dark era of the Cold War that many had hoped to forget.

A U.S. military plane on Monday delivered most of the 330 Marines to a garrison in Vaernes, in central Norway, a deployment that Norwegian officials said had been carried out by the U.S. as part of a bilateral agreement. It was the latest effort by the U.S. and its European allies to buttress their defenses against a resurgent Russia, which condemned the move.

'Hunt for Reds'

Despite being generally welcomed across the political spectrum, the arrival of the Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C. - shown on Norwegian television dragging their suitcases through the snow - also provoked some jitters in Norway.

A wealthy oil-rich country that is a member of NATO but not the European Union, the Nordic state has long prided itself on its independence. But the deployment recalled a Cold War era in which Russian intrigue grabbed headlines and Norwegians lived in fear of Soviet hegemony.

Neuroses about Russia continue to exert influence in Norwegian popular culture. The political television thriller "Okkupert" depicts a future in which Norway is occupied by Russia and, with the backing of the EU, takes over the country's oil production.

Such fears have been magnified in recent years with murky sightings of submarines across the region that have stoked concern about Russian espionage and military intervention.

Last spring, several residents of Sunnfjord in the country's west reported to Norwegian authorities that they had seen a submarine with its periscope up. But officials were not convinced that the object was in fact a submarine.

In October 2014, an unidentified vessel spotted off the Stockholm archipelago spurred Sweden's largest mobilization since the Cold War and accusations that Russia was spying on the country. The episode, called "The Hunt for Reds in October" in the Swedish news media, included unsubstantiated reports of a man in black spotted wading near the vessel. It deeply unsettled the nation, even as the Kremlin issued strenuous denials and accused Stockholm of scaremongering.

Then, in April 2015, the sudden appearance of an underwater vessel in Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, prompted the navy to fire depth charges - the first such warning in more than 10 years.

'Bomb target'

In Moscow, the deployment of U.S. Marines has been met with disdain.

After plans for the deployment were confirmed in October, Frants Klintsevich, a deputy chairman of Russia's defense and security committee in the upper chamber of Parliament, was quoted by Russian news media as saying that the Kremlin viewed the Marines as a direct military threat. He also said the deployment made Norway a potential target for Moscow's powerful arsenal, which includes nuclear weapons.

On Monday, Russian authorities reiterated their discontent.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with NRK, the Norwegian public broadcaster, that the move "certainly will not improve relations."

"The relationship between Norway and Russia is put to a test now," she said. "Instead of developing economic cooperation, Norway is choosing to deploy United States troops on Norwegian soil."

In Norway, some lamented that the Marines' arrival stood against the country's traditions and threatened to make it a target of its much larger neighbor.

Morten Harper, a leftist member of the local assembly that governs the area housing the military base, said the Marines' arrival was ensnaring Norway into the United States' "power struggle" with Russia.

"We see an ever more tense foreign policy situation," he said. "If there ever was to be a major conflict between the great powers in the future, this makes us a more likely bomb target."
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An inaugural cohort of six school districts will begin receiving leadership training this summer from the Holdsworth Center, a new nonprofit funded by a $100 million legacy gift from H-E-B Chairman and CEO Charles Butt, leaders of the initiative announced Tuesday at Garza Independence High School here.

I cant tell you how valuable I believe this will be in changing the trajectory of teaching and learning for our 5.3 million kids in the state of Texas, said Shari Albright, chair of the education department at Trinity University and a member of the centers board.

By Feb. 1, about 200 school districts across the state will receive invitations to apply to the program, which will train superintendents, district administrators and principals. Of those invited, six will be chosen by the end of March for the first cohort. San Antonio Independent School District already has been invited to apply.

Applicants will submit written applications and undergo site visits and interviews, said Kate Rogers, H-E-B spokeswoman and acting executive vice president of the Holdwsworth Center.

SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez said he would encourage trustees at a board meeting next month to apply for the program. He said the opportunity to strengthen administrators leadership skills  including his own  could help SAISD achieve its goals. H-E-B has already donated $2 million to SAISD for leadership development and almost $4 million for a technology-focused high school in the district.

Weve already seen how supportive Mr. Butt is of our district, so were hopeful that we will meet the criteria to participate, Martinez said.

The Holdsworth Center will be located in Austin, although an exact site has not been chosen. Until it opens, trainings will rotate between conference centers near the participating districts. Butt wanted the center in Austin because the properties there would provide a retreat-like setting and because of its proximity to state government offices, Rogers said.

The center is named after Butts mother, the late Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt, who was a teacher in the Hill Country. Butt, 78, did not attend Tuesdays announcement because he wanted the focus to be on the centers board and staff, Rogers said.

Ruth Simmons, who rose from segregated public schools in Houston to become president of Smith College and then Brown University, is chair of the centers governing board.

Mr. Butt is doing something, to me, that is enormously significant in endorsing the idea that our children matter, that we can do better for our public schools and that we all need to step up and assist in that, Simmons said.

amalik@express-news.net
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In the warm light of San Fernando Cathedral, with brother priests and brother mariachis all in white, San Antonio said goodbye Tuesday to Archbishop Emeritus Patrick Flores, the mariachi bishop who rose from the fields of Texas into Catholic history by becoming the nations first Mexican American bishop.

Flanked on one side by the citys clergy and on the other by his large, extended family, Flores casket was placed at the center of the cathedral where he once preached, sang songs and told jokes to entertain as well as evangelize.

The Archdiocese of San Antonios priests, some of whom Flores himself ordained, filed past his casket, which was draped with a white pall to represent his Christian baptism. Placed atop it were a cross and a book of the Gospels.

The cathedrals choir was matched by the chorus of the faithful in singing Alleluia and in answering Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Sillers Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! with a resounding Viva!

Flores, 87, died last week from congestive heart failure and pneumonia. For the second day of services in tribute to him, San Fernando was packed.

Mayor Ivy Taylor and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff were in attendance, as was Sheriff Javier Salazar, District Attorney Nico LaHood and several members of the City Council.

In all, 25 bishops from around the state and the country were there, including some for whom Flores had blazed a path: Bishop Gerald Barnes of San Bernardino, California; Bishop Richard Garcia of Monterey, California; Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda of Detroit; and Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo.

Arturo Chavez, president of the Mexican American Catholic College, which Flores co-founded, joined retired Methodist Bishop Joel Martinez and two imans  Beytullah Colak of the Islamic Institute and Mehmet Oguz of the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest.

More than 100 of Flores relatives came from throughout the state. Many wore buttons adorned with Flores photo and a motto he often cited: I work not for myself but for others.

Only two of his siblings survive him and both attended  a sister, Viola Gonzales, and a brother, Guadalupe Flores. The archbishop is also survived by 20 nieces, 17 nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews, a family member said.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, who also serves as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, concelebrated the funeral Mass. Earlier in the day, he called Flores an authentic voice and an authentic witness to the Christian faith and its expression in Hispanic Mexican culture.

The Mass was wedged between several other observances Tuesday  a three-hour morning visitation during which ordinary San Antonians filed past Flores open casket to pay final respects, an hour-long procession after the Mass to San Fernando Cemetery No. 2 and a gravesite service at Calvary Circle, a spot at the cemetery where other bishops have been buried over the years.

Hundreds filled seats under a tent set up against chilly temperatures and occasional rain on Main Plaza to mourn a man called both an icon and a humble shepherd, a leader among Gods people, as Garcia-Siller put it in his homily.

In Scripture, God often calls someone least expected to be a leader among Gods people to play an important role in the history of salvation, he said, adding, to laughter, God clearly had an important mission for this cotton-picking boy.

Flores became a servant first, then a leader, said the archbishop, who wore the episcopal ring of his longtime friend and mentor Tuesday in his honor. Garcia-Siller also momentarily held Flores crozier, brought to his side, calling it a great shepherds staff.

God called him, and he answered with simplicity and generosity, Garcia-Siller said.

Evoking Flores history of preaching truth to power, Garcia-Sillers homily touched on social justice themes, including Flores compassion for farmworkers, immigrants and others on societys margins.

Archbishop Flores never forgot his roots and what it meant to be poor and looked down upon, Garcia-Siller said. He was a beacon of light in a world of darkness torn by divisions, hatred, racism and exclusion.

Though mourning Flores death, several in attendance couldnt quite call the proceedings sad.

Today was a very moving celebration, and I emphasize celebration, said Kathy Flores Palacios of El Paso, one of Flores nieces. Others agreed, calling the service beautiful, even joyful.

At a morning press conference, several of the bishops spoke of Flores mentorship and leadership among Latino clergy.

We all know how popular Pope Francis is, said Bishop Emeritus Joseph Fiorenza of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, who studied with Flores in seminary. Archbishop Patrick Flores was like Pope Flores.

At the Bexar County Courthouse across the street, Judge Peter Sakai remembered Flores for his commitment to the least of our community.

It's ironic, his passing, as civil rights is again at the forefront in our country, he said.

One of two San Antonio police officers posted at Flores and Guadalupe streets, Steve McGowan, isnt Catholic but said the archbishop meant a lot to the city regardless of religion  People grew up knowing what kind of man of faith he was, what he did for them, he said.

Gabriel Gonzales attended the Mass and rushed back to St. Timothy Catholic Church to pick up signs so he could join about 20 parishioners at the corner of Barclay and Guadalupe to watch the procession. Flores became archbishop around the time he graduated high school, and it opened doors for all of us, Gonzales said.

The small crowd waved at escorting officers, then the hearse, then the SUVs and charter buses. Some rolled down their windows and waved back, some nodded their heads and one said, Bless you, mijo.

Gonzales was on one knee in the street, bowing his head as the hearse drove by.

About 200 people gathered at the cemetery for a service that included a mariachi performance of several melancholy tunes that Flores enjoyed singing. Msgr. Larry Stuebben recalled how Flores could interact with popes and Fidel Castro and still maintain his humility.

He did his own laundry, he cooked his own meals, he drove his own car and he shopped at Dollar General, Stuebben said. He was a Pope Francis before there was a Pope Francis.

Flores is the second archbishop to be buried at San Fernando. He is now among roughly 100 Catholic clerics buried there, his grave next to that of the citys second bishop, John Claude Neraz, and near that of San Antonios first archbishop, Arthur J. Drossaerts of the Netherlands.

In all, 10 nations are represented in Calvary Circle, including Spain, France, Ireland, Germany, Luxemberg, Poland, Canada and Belgium, reflecting the early and continuing diversity of the citys Catholic hierarchy.

Sister Therese San Miguel, a spokeswoman for the cemetery, said Flores decided to be buried there more than 20 years ago, and encouraged other priests to reserve their graves there.

They are the shepherds in a parish, and its a blessing for them to want to be buried here among the people of God whom they served, she said.

Staff writers John W. Gonzalez, Vincent T. Davis, Fauzeya Rahman, Elizabeth Zavala and Silvia Foster-Frau contributed to this report.

eayala@express-news.net
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Mayor Ivy Taylor and her two challengers each touted successful fundraising efforts Tuesday as they filed semi-annual campaign finance reports that show the incumbent surging ahead of Councilman Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Democratic Party Chairman Manuel Medina in the horse race for political contributions.

In the reporting period between July 1 and Dec. 31, Taylor received $325,520 in contributions. Councilman Ron Nirenberg raised $143,847 in the same time period, but because he did not announce his intentions to run for mayor until December, he was capped at a $500 contribution limit. Nonetheless, his 161-page report shows no maximum $1,000 contributions, which he could have begun accepting in mid-December, after he announced his mayoral candidacy.

Medina  who officially kicked off his bid earlier this year but created the campaign infrastructure to begin raising money in mid-December  collected $6,364 from 531 supporters, leading him to declare that he has a record number of contributions in a 15-day window.

Nirenberg is expected to begin picking up $1,000 contributions ahead of the next campaign-finance report, due 30 days before the May 6 election.

We announced our run for mayor at the end of the year and almost all of our fundraising efforts on this report came before then, he said. We raised enough to be competitive with Mayor Taylor and Chairman Medina by working twice as hard and spending exponentially less on political consultant and fundraising expenses.

Nirenberg said hes proud of his campaigns fundraising efforts and the broad-based support it demonstrates.

Taylors campaign manager, Christian Anderson, said his clients report also is indicative of hard work and widespread support.

Mayor Taylors report clearly demonstrates that her support is deep, broad, and diverse, he said. Its a vote of confidence in her leadership and her vision for San Antonio.

That vision has been a key target for her opponents, who criticize her for lacking a vision for San Antonio.

Medina, meanwhile, said Tuesday that hes building a base of support that spans party lines in the nonpartisan mayoral race. When he announced last month that he was considering entering the race, Medina said hed given himself a $250,000 loan to kick-start his would-be campaign. Hes repeatedly implied that his opponents are beholden to special interests because they accept contributions from the development community, lobbyists and other special interest groups that want power at City Hall.

I am politically and financially independent. I will be accountable to the taxpayers of San Antonio  not the paid lobbyists, not the political insiders, not the special interests, Medina said. Our campaign has received a record number of contributions, and our average contribution was $9.71. Clearly, we are uniting Democrats and Republicans, and together, we will challenge the status quo at City Hall.

In an interview, Medina said hed received more than 500 individual contributions in the final days of December from small gatherings, friends and neighbors.

He lives in the Dominion, one of the most exclusive, gated communities in San Antonio.

The campaign finance reports show that by Dec. 31, Medina had not spent any campaign funds, but Nirenberg had paid out $45,222, while Taylor spent $115,486 in the same time period.

The mayor shows that she has no loans on the books, while nearly 98 percent of Medinas campaign war chest comes from his own pocket. Nirenberg, meanwhile, is carrying a $15,125 loan from himself.

As the candidates move forward in the mayoral race, ramping up their campaigns  which some expect to reach the $1 million mark  theyll dip into the cash left on hand from the January campaign-finance reports as they continue their fundraising efforts.

Taylor leads the pack with some $390,402 in the bank. Shes trailed by Medina with $256,128 and Nirenberg with $244,400 left on hand.

In the 10 district races, three-term Councilman Rey Saldana, currently uncontested in his bid for a final term in office, leads the pack in both funds raised ($47,560) and cash on hand ($105,243), followed by District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevino, who raised $35,070 and has $66,507 in the bank.

Political newcomer Clayton Perry, a District 10 candidate, loaned himself $50,000 for his campaign in the Northeast Side district that has already drawn six candidates, including Jonathan Delmer, president of the Oak Park-Northwood Neighborhood Association, and Reinette King, a former Zoning Commission member who represented District 10.

By 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, several candidates  including incumbents seeking re-election  had not yet filed campaign-finance reports, which were due at 5 p.m., according to the City Clerks website.

jbaugh@express-news.net

Twitter: @jbaugh
WASHINGTON - San Antonio congressmen Joaquin Castro and Lloyd Doggett, along with Al Green of Houston, announced Tuesday that they will join nearly 50 other House Democrats in boycotting this weeks inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

They said they would skip the event in protest of Trumps attacks on political opponents, including civil rights legend John Lewis, the Georgia congressman who questioned Trumps legitimacy as the 45th president.

Tuesdays announcements came amid a deepening divide between Trump and Democratic lawmakers over the Martin Luther King weekend, particularly among those representing urban and minority districts.

The boycott, already being contemplated by other Democrats, gathered momentum over the weekend after Lewis told NBCs Meet the Press that following reports of Russian interference in the Nov. 8 election he did not see Trump as a legitimate president and would not attend Fridays inauguration.

Trump responded with a pair of tweets attacking the Atlanta congressman, whose legacy includes a concussion suffered in the 1965 police melee during a civil rights march in Selma, Alabama. Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad! Trump wrote.

Trump kept up the attack on Tuesday, calling out the congressman for saying this would be the first inaugural he missed in 30 years. In fact, Lewis skipped the first inauguration of President George W. Bush, who won after a protracted recount battle in Florida. Tweeted Trump: WRONG (or lie)!

A spokesman for Lewis told the Washington Post that he had forgotten about the 2001 protest. Trump, recalling that Lewis also had questioned Bushs 2000 election victory, chided on Twitter, Sound familiar!

Castro, the brother of outgoing Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, announced his intention to stay away Tuesday in a statement, saying that while he accepts Trumps victory, the president-elects contempt for millions of people makes him unworthy of popular celebration.

I come from a family and a place, Texas, where respect is a fundamental value, Joaquin Castro said. Respect for people regardless of what they look like, where they were born, or whether they share your view of the world. Donald Trump has shown an utter lack of respect for so many Americans. His attack on civil rights hero John Lewis is the latest example.

Doggett said he would stay away to send a message: Respect, like Pennsylvania Avenue, is a two-way street, he said in a statement. Instead of uniting our country, his continued unprecedented, unpresidential actions are further dividing it. By repeatedly taking the lowest road, he is not showing respect for the highest office. We are in for a long struggle that must strategically utilize every nonviolent opposition tool available.

Republicans have dismissed the boycott, saying Democrats are trying to undermine the incoming president and delegitimize his election victory.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas told Newsmax TV Tuesday that the boycott would backfire.

These are the most liberal of the liberal of the leftists in the House of Representatives, said the former Sugar Land Republican. The American people in this last election, and, frankly, in the last three elections, have completely rejected who they are and what they are. The more they do this kind of stuff, the better off we are. So, keep at it. I hope they interview every one of them, all  of them after Trump is sworn in.

Green, after maintaining a weekend-long silence - declining to answer a reporters questions about whether he would participate in the boycott - held a press conference Tuesday in Houston to explain his reasons for staying away from the inaugural.

For some time, I have been hearing from many constituents with varying points of view on the question of whether I will attend the inauguration, Green said in a statement. My response is, Dr. King was right when he indicated: On some issues cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But, conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.

I will not attend the inauguration, he continued, because conscience says it is the right thing to do.

At least six other Texas Democrats, including Houstons Gene Green, said that, despite their differences with Trump, they planned to attend the inauguration out of respect for the office of the presidency and the peaceful transition of power.

Another, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

El Paso Democrat Beto ORourke, one of those who will attend, said Tuesday that while he respects those who refuse to attend, he does not want to contribute to the undermining of national institutions that often came under attack during the presidential campaign.

We need to respect the institutions of our government, ORourke said. I believe President-elect Trump won the election, and an important part of our democracy that distinguishes us from much of the rest of the world is that we believe in the peaceful transfer of power, even between opposing parties.

kevin.diaz@chron.com
AUSTIN  Removing Planned Parenthood from the states Medicaid program would have a devastating effect on poor women in South Texas, employees testified Tuesday in the first day of a three-day hearing over the states plan to cut the nonprofit out of the health care program.

Planned Parenthood has asked U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks to block the states move just days before the organization is set to be ousted from Texas Medicaid program.

The nonprofit receives about $4 million a year across Texas through the state Medicaid program.

Citing that, state attorneys on Tuesday tried to show Planned Parenthood of South Texas would be able to sustain its operation without the Medicaid dollars. The Planned Parenthood affiliate, which operates eight clinics in San Antonio, Harlingen and Brownsville, receives about $350,000 in Medicaid reimbursements a year, according to President and CEO Jeffrey Hons.

Lawyers for the state pointed to Planned Parenthood of South Texas millions of dollars in 2014, but Hons said the money the nonprofit earns through its fundraising would not be enough to serve thousands of poor women who would be without access to womens health care services.

The effects would be devastating, Hons said. These women are the poorest of the poor.

When an attorney for the state asked if the South Texas affiliate would be able to still provide care to some patients, Hons said they would just have to wait and see.

This isnt the first time Planned Parenthood has faced funding cuts. In 2013, the state cut Planned Parenthood from the Texas Womens Health Program.

This latest fight dates back to 2015, when a California anti-abortion group calling itself the Center for Medical Progress released an undercover video purporting to show employees at an office of Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast discussing the procurement and sale of fetal tissue.

A Harris County grand jury cleared the clinic of any wrongdoing in February 2016 and instead indicted the undercover videographers. Those charges eventually were dropped.

Texas officials cited the undercover video in its decision to boot Planned Parenthood from the states Medicaid program, saying it is not qualified to provide medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal and ethical manner. That ouster is supposed to take effect Saturday.

Planned Parenthood has sued to block its removal from the Medicaid program.

The hearing will resume Wednesday morning.
A nonprofit housing group has purchased 11 acres of vacant land on San Antonios far West Side, where it plans to build 75 new homes for families earning limited incomes.

The development, near the Southwest Loop 410 and U.S. 90 interchange, will contain single-family houses, town homes and duplexes, said Michael Shackelford, director of policy and resource for Alamo Community Group. Each of those houses will span at least 1,200 square feet, with sales prices starting around $150,000, according to the nonprofits plans.

The development aims to address a shortage of affordable housing, Shackelford said Tuesday.

Theres no longer a single-family affordable housing builder in San Antonio, he said. So we felt like it was an opportunity for us to capture that market and really try to resolve an issue thats in San Antonio and Bexar County.

Alamo Community Group closed the purchase of the land Friday. The property, at 505 Tarasco St., is next door to Western Hills Apartments, a multifamily housing complex that the nonprofit owns and recently refurbished.

The group hopes construction will begin this summer and that the first families move in by November or December, Shackelford said.

To complete the purchase, the group borrowed $600,000 from LISC  Local Initiatives Support Corp., a national community development institution that works to sustain and revitalize low-income neighborhoods.

LISC, which has offices across the country, just opened one in San Antonio last year. This will be the national organizations first venture into affordable single-family housing in the Alamo City, said Alice Salinas, a senior program officer at LISCs local office.

There most definitely is a perception that housing in San Antonio is affordable  but, in fact, we have families that are living at the poverty line who have little to no housing options, Salinas said Tuesday. So its very much important to LISC that we create opportunities for working families, seniors and other vulnerable populations.

Single-family home ownership is something that LISC sees as a critical component in revitalizing neighborhoods and alleviating poverty, in that it assists low-income families in building equity and wealth, she said.

The 75 new homes will be sold to individuals or families earning restricted incomes, but specific details on those income levels are still being determined, Shackelford said.

Alamo Community Group already owns multifamily housing developments at nine locations, including apartments, fourplexes and town homes.

Last year, the nonprofit also purchased nine empty lots from the city to build single-family homes in an already developed neighborhood near Texas 151 and Loop 410. Three of those houses have been built, while the other six are being designed, Shackelford said.

The nonprofit has also partnered with the Wells Fargo Foundation to provide down payment grants of $15,000 each to more than 280 qualified families who bought single-family homes.

This article has been updated to report the correct square footage of the planned homes. Because of inaccurate information provided to the San Antonio Express-News, the original article incorrectly described how large the homes will be.

pohare@express-news.net
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As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and still closely tied to that country, San Antonio businesswoman JoAnn Boone could not sit silently for the impending inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Boone will be among dozens of women  and some men  traveling to the nations capital from the Alamo City this week to peacefully protest the incoming administration.

Hundreds of thousands of people, including a large contingent from Texas, are expected for the Womens March on Washington on Saturday, the day after Trump takes office.

On buses, cars and airplanes, more than 100 San Antonio marchers will take a unified message to their demonstration: Trumps insults wont be forgotten and his every move will be watched the next four years.

It means a lot to me that its a peaceful expression, Boone said Wednesday. This might have an effect, she said, adding, this started getting legs the more I thought about how widespread his effect was in my immediate family.

More Information Saturday's protest marches Washington, D.C. - The Women's March on Washington, near U.S. Capitol, 10 a.m. CST. Austin - The Women's March on Austin, Texas Capitol, noon. San Antonio - Women's March in San Antonio, City Hall, 11 a.m. See More Collapse

While Boone is making her own way to Washington, many others are going in groups  sometimes with the help of donations and Gofundme accounts. Other D.C. marchers from San Antonio include a grandmother, mother and daughter combination.

Among the San Antonio contingents organizers is Marissa Anne Bennett, who joined the social media-driven march effort when it started a few days after Trumps win on Nov. 8. I was still on my couch in shock, Bennett said.

Networking with others, she found a common thread  the reason I got involved  and thats a deep remorse for my complacency prior to the election.

Despite having volunteered for Democrat Bernie Sanders and later helping Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, I just had a lot of regret that I didnt do enough, Bennett said.

Last month, Bennett, who works at a small business, helped secure a charter bus that will take 55 San Antonians to the march. On Tuesday, a second bus for 49 was secured, partly with the help of donations, Bennett said.

Its gaining momentum. Two months ago, we were struggling to get interest  Now were having people join the (Facebook) group every day. The overarching message is that womens rights are human rights, we are watching, we are galvanized, we are not going away, Bennett said.

The Womens March on Washingtons Facebook page said it would be a starting point to move forward in the face of national and international concern and fear.

The rhetoric of the past election cycle has insulted, demonized and threatened many of us  women, immigrants of all statuses, those with diverse religious faiths  particularly Muslim  people who identify as LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer, intersex, asexual), native and indigenous people, black and brown people, people with disabilities, the economically impoverished and survivors of sexual assault, march organizers proclaimed.

Sister protests are slated Saturday in scores of U.S. cities, including San Antonio and Austin.

To promote diversity in the San Antonio contingent, benefactors from as far as California came forward offering to pay the $375 round-trip fares to ride the bus. The buses leave Thursday evening and arrive late Friday, when Republicans will be celebrating Trumps daytime inauguration.

The San Antonians aboard the buses plan to march with other Texans, and soon afterward begin the 25-hour return trip, Bennett said. Along the way, theyll see documentaries, hear commentaries and discuss the historic events, she said. Sleep is optional, she added.

Though Bennett expected mostly young activists to sign up for the trip, the first 10-15 people were over 55. The first person to sign up was 78 years old, a nurse practitioner, Bennett said.

That initial signee, Carmen Dennis, said her interest resulted from being a mother, grandmother, aunt and community volunteer. She said she hoped she would inspire more sisters to join the protest.

When this man became the president-elect  I wont mention his name  we were all shocked. He had gone way beyond insulting not only American people but women and disenfranchised people, she said.

Working among abused children, Dennis said she believes hes an abusive person. He has incited the worst in us, looking for the dark side.

Dennis started the week by participating in the local march honoring Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.

Also on one of the San Antonio buses will be Nikki Kelley, one of the nine sponsored riders. Eager to represent her hometown at the events, Kelley said Im protesting what I believe to be a very dangerous precedent thats being set in so many ways by the Trump presidency.

Her motivation, first and foremost, is fighting the rise in white supremacy that is directly associated with Trumps election. Beyond that, for me, its reproductive rights, Kelley said, noting that the movement is not monolithic. Participants will be bringing a variety of concerns to Washington, she said, and many already are shifting focus to 2018 elections.

Linking up with the bus riders in Washington will be retired San Antonio teacher Steve Jennings, one of many people driving to the Jan. 21 events. He was spurred to action seeing the impact of Trumps election on students concerned about deportation.

You had kids who cried in the classroom because Donald Trump was elected president, Jennings lamented.

Were starting a movement to take a stand for human rights and against any policies of the administration that are going to be a threat, Jennings said. Its basically a positive response to his negativity in the campaign, he said.

Another marcher, college instructor Suzanne Martinez, will attend with her daughter, Ruby, using airline tickets purchased last year to attend what they thought would be the inauguration of the nations first woman president.

We kept our tickets and were heading up there, said Martinez, who will help carry a banner saying Dont mess with Texas women.

For me, its simple. Im marching for equality, Martinez said.

Some Republicans planning to attend Fridays inauguration already have dismissed the anti-Trump demonstrations as more sour grapes.

Were going up there to have a good time and enjoy this historic event, said Bexar GOP Chairman Robert Stovall.

Were not interested in people making stuff up about Trump not being concerned about womens issues. Let this guy govern and hell do a good job, Stovall said.

Thats unlikely to march participants including Sydney Rubin of Austin, a special adviser to WomenStrong International whos determined to keep momentum going after the marches. Some activists will regroup after the Washington march at events called We Rise and Roll Up Your Sleeves: You came, you marched, now what?

This march will be really counterproductive if its just an opportunity for people to blow off steam and return home to their online shopping, Rubin said. But if it serves as a catalyst for ongoing engagement  the kind of engagement that President (Barack) Obama was talking about in his (farewell) speech this week  then this march really will be historic, she said.

jgonzalez@express-news.net

Twitter: @johnwgonzalez
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Standing beside a busy avenue in Mexico City last spring, Agustin Barrios Gomez, a former Mexican congressman who is founder of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations and head of the Mexican Image Foundation, took on Donald Trumps adversarial talk about U.S.-Mexico relations with a television spot dubbed The truth about us.

He cited key statistics, several put out by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and often used by defenders of the North American Free Trade Agreement: Fourteen million U.S. jobs depend directly on NAFTA trade. Of every dollars worth of Mexican imports to the U.S., 40 cents represents U.S. content. Immigration from Mexico is decreasing, with 1 million fewer Mexicans living in the U.S. since 2013.

The Mexican economy, meanwhile, has grown to the 11th largest in the world by purchasing power, he said, about two-thirds the size of Russias.

Thats not a friend you want to lose, Barrios Gomez said. We make stuff together, which means that we help America stay competitive.  Come home, have a Corona, and lets prosper together.

But as the world readies for Trumps swearing-in Friday, Barrios Gomezs tone has gotten more dire. Any hope that Trumps talk would soften after visits with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and prominent Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim evaporated last week at Trumps news conference, when the president-elect spoke of fast-tracking a southern border wall.

Closer to home, U.S. mayors of border cities fear a new Rust Belt emerging amid a post-NAFTA administration. And farmers and ranchers who cheered on Trumps talk of a lighter regulatory environment hope that unraveling NAFTA doesnt ruin trade with one of their biggest customers.

Many also favor passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-nation pact that could have brought even more customers for U.S. agricultural products, but is considered dead with the Trump victory.

Lets be clear, Barrios Gomez said in an interview. Donald Trump rode to the White House on basically a platform of war with Mexico in one way or another. Right now, thats what were facing.

The Mexican peso has plummeted since the election, and a steep boost in gasoline prices attributed to energy reform has erupted in violent protesting.

News that air conditioning company Carrier would keep jobs planned for Mexico in Indiana, that Ford has backtracked on plans for a $1.6 billion plant in Mexico, and General Motors, Toyota, and others manufacturing in Mexico could be hit by a big border tax has Mexicos manufacturing sector cowed.

If trade arguments dont work, security implications might, Barrios Gomez said.

How hard is it to understand that the United States has basically half of humanity that is willing to do itself harm in exchange for hurting the United States and the fact that it is blessed with two neighbors that have up until now been stable and cooperative? he said.

Eduardo Bravo, a San Antonio magazine publisher who is past chairman of the binational Association of Mexican Entrepreneurs, said a trade disruption would cause at least short-term pain for Mexico and the U.S. cities that conduct a lot of Mexican trade. But he said Mexico had developed a sophisticated labor force that could look to other markets.

Obviously, San Antonio and the border states, they are going to be hurt because its a global market, Bravo said. If the commerce with the United States becomes difficult, other countries like China, European countries, they are going to see Mexico. Because Mexico, they have engineers, they have technology, they have the qualified people. I know the biggest market is the United States, but the United States is not the whole world. We have a globalized economy.

He doubted the Trump administration, including Cabinet nominees Rex Tillerson as secretary of state and Rick Perry as energy secretary, would be able to turn its back on opportunities in deregulated Mexican oil.

He has great people, business people, in the Cabinet, he said. Maybe they hurt for the manufacturing, but remember when NAFTA was negotiated, we didnt have the oil in NAFTA. But now, with the open oil industry in Mexico, its going to be for Texas and Mexico a big opportunity.

Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz hosted Trump for a 21/2-hour stop at the border in July, but said he now wonders if it was for naught.

He saw the (World Trade) bridge, we gave him all the data, the metrics, and he was very impressed. And then this issue with the wall, we discussed that, too, he said.

I told him, Look, its a river. Its got creeks emptying into it. Are you going to dam those creeks? And then livestock use it. River, water, wildlife, well have the environmentalists. Its private property. Youll be in court for years. Its not practical. So anyway, he just listened and then at the press conference he said, Well maybe some areas, some parts of the border may not be conducive. But then the next week I heard him say its going to be wall across the entire border, real deep and real high and real thick.

Displaced jobs

There are plenty of statistics on how NAFTA has failed U.S. workers. According to a report by Washington-based Public Citizen, NAFTA in its first decade contributed to a trade deficit with Mexico and Canada that translated to a net loss of 1 million U.S. jobs.

Workers without college degrees, 63 percent of the U.S. workforce, lost an estimated 12.2 percent of their wages, even after accounting for the benefits of goods made less expensive by manufacturers lower labor costs.

The pact has by no means been a blanket bonanza for Mexico, either, Public Citizen said, with imports of subsidized U.S. corn destroying the livelihoods of more than 1 million Mexican farmers and more than half the population still falling below the poverty line as of 2014.

Many outcomes are exactly the opposite of what was promised, the report said.

According to a recent report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Texas was second only to North Carolina in the number of jobs lost in the wake of the pact, with El Paso alone seeing 18,500 trade displaced workers between 1994 and 2014. Many of the jobs were at cut and sew plants such as Levis, Haggar and Fruit of the Loom.

But in part by evolving into production-sharing hubs and trading goods destined for assembly or other production back in the U.S., border cities came out ahead.

Granted, I know the Rust Belt is having a hard time, but believe me, if NAFTAs gone, well mirror that, said Saenz, the Laredo mayor. The unemployment rate in Laredo is 5.1 percent. Toward the (Rio Grande) Valley, its more like 8 or 9. It would easily double that.

The international bridge upriver in Del Rio is the citys largest revenue source, Mayor Robert Garza said, contributing about $6 million annually to the general fund.

Most of that is truck traffic coming from the more than 50 maquiladoras, or foreign-owned factories, across the Rio Grande in Ciudad Acuna.

The commerce is so lucrative that Del Rio has been studying the idea of a second bridge that would take advantage of a new superhighway cutting through Mexico from the Pacific port of Mazatlan to allow Asian and South American shippers an alternative to ports in California.

Were in direct route on the ports-to-plains (corridor) that goes up to Denver and Canada, so and for us locally it would be a superboost economically, Garza said.

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.

Factories in Acuna tend to have management offices and managers living in Del Rio. Whats good for the border is good for San Antonio, Garza added, because prosperity there means more trips east on U.S. 90 to the Alamo Citys malls, medical complexes and automobile dealerships.

We all come to San Antonio, he said.

Impact on agriculture

NAFTA also has given a major boost to farm and ranch profits. Fearing the loss of an open market, sixteen powerful agricultural lobbying groups signed a Jan. 6 letter urging Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence to tread carefully on trade.

The importance of trade to Americas farmers and ranchers cannot be overstated, read the letter from groups including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union.

The letter noted that more than 20 percent of U.S. farm output is exported, including more than 70 percent of cotton and tree nuts, 60 percent of soybeans, and 50 percent or rice and wheat. China, Canada and Mexico rank as the top three buyers.

When NAFTA began, the United States was exporting about $5 billion in agricultural products to Mexico, and today were exporting over $20 billion, said Ryan LeGrand, Mexico director for the U.S. Grains Council. Unfortunately, agriculture takes a back seat to manufacturing and other issues like that.

If NAFTA were completely scrapped, Mexico would start to look to South American nations for the grains, and thats obviously something we dont want, LeGrand said.

Sorghum has become one of Texas most important exports, with 85 percent of the worlds sorghum seed coming out of the Texas Panhandle. China came to supersede Mexico as the top buyer of U.S. sorghum, which upped Mexicos consumption of U.S. corn even more.

For Dale Artho, a sorghum farmer in the Texas community of Wildorado, the evolving market is a case study of why the Trans-Pacific Partnership merits more consideration.

Were 4 percent of the worlds population, he said of the U.S. That means 96 percent of the market is outside of the United States.

And with Mexico and Canada among the signatories, the TPP fixes glitches that manifested with NAFTA, he said.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership was probably the most up-to-date trading mechanism thats ever been developed, he said.

Richard Thorpe, a rancher from Winters who serves as president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, said the beef industry backed NAFTA from the beginning and under it saw beef exports just to Mexico jump from less than $300 million a year to a peak in 2008 of $1.4 billion. Beef exports to Mexico in 2015 were valued at $1.1 billion.

Twelve percent of U.S. beef goes to exports, he said, accounting for an added $275 for each animal raised.

Like other agricultural producers, cattle raisers fear Trumps promise to deport undocumented immigrants will worsen an already tight labor market. The Labor Department estimates 53 percent of U.S. farm workers are undocumented, and those in the industry say the percentage is much higher.

lbrezosky@express-news.net
Ingram Hills residents dropped their opposition to a proposed low-income housing complex on Tuesday after its developer agreed to a long list of concessions, leading the city Zoning Commission to pass it unanimously.

Developer Mike Hogan appeased local residents by agreeing to market the apartments to senior citizens to reduce the impact on traffic and nearby schools. He also agreed to build fences and a grass berm between the complex and the rest of the neighborhood, among other things.

That wasnt enough to win support from Ingram Hills Neighborhood Association President Mike Phillips, who has vehemently fought the development, but he agreed to adopt a neutral stance on the $39 million complex.

The compromise brings an end to a bitter struggle between Hogan and Ingram Hills residents over the 13-acre, 288-unit complex, named Majestic Ranch and located at the intersection of Callaghan Road and Horseshoe Bend.

Debate over the complex became so heated that officials called security to a Planning Commission meeting in October after it devolved into a shouting match between the two sides. Hogan and residents have met several times since then and were cordial on Tuesday. Phillips and Hogan shook hands and wished each other a happy new year before the meeting.

Phillips still isnt supporting the complex because it violates Ingram Hills neighborhood plan, approved by City Council in 2009, which calls for putting single-family homes and retail shops on the site.

Neighborhoods dont have any power anymore, Phillips said before the meeting on Tuesday. He later added, the way the Planning Commission and Zoning Commission are being run these days, it doesnt seem like they pay as much attention to neighborhood concerns.

Local officials are so convinced theres going to be 1 million people moving to San Antonio over 20 years, they love the workforce housing thing, he said.

Ingram Hills residents were worried that Majestic Ranch would strain the neighborhoods roads and schools, some of which have already resorted to using portable classrooms. Some residents have raised concerns that low-income housing would bring crime and affect property values. The complex would be eligible for a full property tax exemption.

Hogan, a 40-year veteran of the local real estate industry and frequent city campaign donor, declined a request for comment after the meeting. Hes said in past interviews that the complex will provide the affordable housing that San Antonio desperately needs as its population grows and home prices and apartment rents climb.

Hogan is applying for $14 million in federal low-income housing tax credits to build the complex, which would limit it to renters making at or below 60 percent of the local median wage and would set rent for a three-bedroom at about $899 a month.

The city Planning Commission approved the complex in December, and City Council will vote on it on Feb. 9.

Residents of other San Antonio neighborhoods, including Beacon Hill and Oakland Estates, have opposed the complex because theyre worried it would set a precedent for violating their neighborhood plans as the citys development speeds up.

Whats galvanized me is the lack of concern, or the way the Planning Commission ignores neighborhood plans in favor of developers, said Sue Snyder, president of the Oakland Estates Neighborhood Association. People put a lot of work in those things, and they represent their desires of the neighborhood.

Many San Antonio residents, and some local officials, have raised concerns that the Planning Commission doesnt fairly represent neighborhood interests and tends to favor developers. Some have called for it to be overhauled.

Hogan has also agreed to move the Majestic Ranchs entrance to the thoroughfare of Callaghan Road from the residential street of Majestic Drive to reduce traffic congestion. He plans to build a childrens playground at nearby Joan Price Park.

Ken Brown, a local attorney representing Hogan, told the Zoning Commission on Tuesday that the complex provides a transition between commercial and industrial businesses on Callaghan Road and single-family homes in Ingram Hills.

Im familiar with the area, and this has to be a benefit for it and Im thankful the developers kind of stuck with this, said Cecilia Garcia, Mayor Ivy Taylors appointee to the commission. Hopefully this will be a positive for the neighborhood.

rwebner@express-news.net

@rwebner
SALEM, Ohio  The Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio State University and other agricultural organizations are urging Ohio farmers to attend courses for the Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training, or FACT, program.

The law

Signed into law by Gov. John Kasich in May 2014, Ohio Senate Bill 150 created a first of its kind certification program for applying commercial fertilizer in Ohio.

Focusing on science-based practices, the bill requires farmers applying commercial fertilizer to more than 50 acres to attend a course on fertilizer application. Applicators must be certified no later than Sept. 30, 2017.

Ohios agriculture community has been a good partner, stepping up to make sure we are part of a great economy, said David Daniels, director of Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Compliance

Since the law took effect, more than 12,000 people have been certified, but it is estimated that another 6,000 to 10,000 people need to be certified, said Daniels.

For more information on certification training and to sign up for classes in your area visit, www.nutrienteducation.osu.edu.

Farmers can get recertified for pesticide application and their fertilizer certification at the same time.

So far, the training has been positively received by farmers, with 93 percent of farmers saying in a post-training survey that it improved their knowledge and they learned something that could save them money or help with environmental stewardship on their farm, said Daniels.

Knowledge

The three-hour training covers water quality, nutrients, sediment, erosion and phosphorus application. The training will also continue to evolve, said Greg LaBarge, Ohio State University Extension field specialist.

The training sessions focus on best management practices and the latest research to keep nutrients in the field and available to crops while reducing nutrients leaving the field.The law is broad, including the side dressing of corn and nitrogen applications to corn or wheat, said LaBarge.

More than 200 trainings in 80 counties are scheduled between now until April.

While applicators have until Sept. 30 to become certified, the majority of training sessions for certification will occur this winter.

We have given farmers and applicators more than ample opportunity to be certified and meet the requirements of Senate Bill 150, Daniels said.

Missed deadline

What happens if you dont get certified by Sept. 30?

The cost will no longer be subsidized, said Daniels. There will be a cost associated with the training, just as there is now with pesticide certifications.

ODA will strive to gain voluntary compliance, but applying commercial fertilizer after Sept. 30 without a certification could result in fines and/or being charged with a misdemeanor offense.

We preach compliance, not wanting to beat [the requirement] over anyones head, said Daniels.

If you are caught applying fertilizer without the certification, we will ask you to get off the tractor, said Daniels. We want to work with those individuals that might not really know of the requirement, but if they simply refuse, we have the ability to file a misdemeanor with the county prosecutor.

Responsibility. Between the law and voluntary efforts, farmers have proven theyre willing to help address Ohios water quality challenges, said Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureaus executive vice president.

Becoming certified by the deadline is a crucial part of meeting our responsibilities.

For more information on certification training and to sign up for classes in your area visit www.nutrienteducation.osu.edu.

Agriculture Fertilizer Certification Training

Click on your county to find nearby agricultural fertilizer certification training. Three hours are required for initial certification for those who DO NOT have a pesticide applicator license. Applicators who DO have a pesticide applicator license are able to attend two hours (done in conjunction with their pesticide recertification) For a list of meetings by county, click here! Fertilizer Application Certification Training FAQ

Who needs certified?

Fertilizer certification is required if you apply fertilizer (other than manure) to more than 50 acres used for agricultural production grown primarily for sale.

If you have the co-op or other custom applicator make all fertilizer applications, you do not need the certification.



What fertilizers are included?

Fertilizer is any substance containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, or other plant nutrient in a dry or liquid formulation. All application types (broadcast, side dress, sub-surface, knifing, etc.) are included in the certification requirement.

The only application exempted is start-up fertilizers that are applied through a planter. Lime and limestone are not considered fertilizers in the certification process.



Who is exempt?

Applicators who are a Certified Crop Advisor or Ohio Certified Livestock Manager are not required to attend training to become certified for fertilizer applications.

They, however, must register with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.



What is the deadline?

The certification must be obtained by Sept. 30, 2017. There is no registration fee to attend any of the sessions, however, pre-registration is required.



What are the consequences if I do not get certified?

ODA will strive to gain voluntary compliance, but applying commercial fertilizer after Sept. 30 without a certification could result in fines and/or being charged with a misdemeanor offense.
Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plans 'lacked detail' and could 'practically crucify' the Scottish rural economy, MPs have said during a debate in the House of Commons.

Calum Kerr, Scottish National Party MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk said the government must offer a 'clear statement' on how they intend to mitigate the impact of leaving the EU on rural areas.

"They must do so now because the combined threat of the loss of direct funding, an end to tariff-free trading and the abolition of the free movement of people could have devastating consequences for rural communities throughout Scotland and, indeed, the rest of the UK.

"The Prime Minister set out 12 points in her speech, but people in my constituency are not reassured, because it lacked detail and certainty.

"We are told that Brexit is about a more global Britain, and that the process will represent a clean break. Well, let me be absolutely clear in stating how far removed from reality that rhetoric is," the MP said.

"Will the Government take this opportunity to recognise the potentially devastating impact that a hard Brexit could have on the Scottish rural economy or will they be content to make a desert of rural Scotland in the name of Brexit?"

Pete Wishart, SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said Brexit "will perhaps be remembered as the biggest single act of economic self-flagellation ever inflicted on a nation. It will practically crucify our rural economy."

'Deep concerns'

Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom has said she wants to make a success of the farm industry during Brexit

Much of the concern revolved around keeping up with current European Union farming subsidies after Brexit.

Ms Margaret Ritchie, SDLP MP for South Down said there was a similar situation in Northern Ireland where 80% of farm incomes are dependent on European resources.

She said there was a fear that current funding is 'not likely to come from the Treasury': "Thus undermining local rural economy and agricultural enterprises."

But Jake Berry, Conservative MP for Rossendale and Darwen said leaving the European Union could present an opportunity for the government to refocus on marginal areas of the rural economy.

"Specifically the uphill farms in Lancashire and Scotland. Farmers in Lancashire are hoping for more from Brexit, just as farmers in Scotland will be hoping for more from Scexit?" he inquired.

"I have deep concerns about its support in the future," Mr Kerr replied.

"I want to make a point about the level of funding because we need the Government to step up. I would like to talk about lamb when we look at trade, because it is one of the most threatened trade areas."

"Another area in which the rural economy has benefited massively from EU membership is freedom of movement. For significant portions of the Scottish rural economy, access to a seasonal workforce is a vital factor in keeping their operations sustainable."

Bespoke rural economy

Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom was also present at the debate and re-assured farmers across the UK that they will receive the 'same level of financial support' under pillar one until 2020.

"For rural development programmes, agri-environment schemes and the European maritime and fisheries fund, we will guarantee projects that are signed before we leave the EU for their lifetime, even when this stretches beyond our departure from the EU.?

"We should all be proud of the world-class food and drink those industries produce and the role they play in our national life. The rural economy matters enormously.

"Leaving the EU will give us the chance to develop policies for the rural economy that are bespoke to the needs of this country rather than the different approaches and circumstances of 28 different member states."

Mrs Leadsom said she made it clear that her two long-term ambitions are to make a success of the farm industry during Brexit and exporting more British food.

"These ambitions look far beyond tomorrow; they are about long-lasting change and real reform. They form the bedrock of a balanced approach to policy, and the success of one is integral to the success of the other."

David Rutley, Conservative MP for Macclesfield, echoed Mrs Leadsom's views: "For too long, it has had all the hallmarks of a system created in the 1950s.

It is over-bureaucratic and designed for the needs of 28 states, not the primacy of the UK national agricultural interests that we have to have in mind.

"Brexit will bring us a huge opportunity, so the passing of the CAP will not be mourned. We will create a better approach. The Prime Minister has already said that there are going to be protections for pillars 1 and 2 of the CAP until 2020."
European Union action to combat food waste is 'fragmented', 'intermittent' and should do more, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors.

EU policies have the potential to reduce food waste but their potential is not being 'exploited'.

Current estimates indicate that, globally, around one third of the food produced for human consumption is wasted or lost. This waste represents huge economic and environmental costs.

"Our report to the Commission identified a number of missed opportunities and potential improvements which would not require new legislative initiatives or more public money," said Bettina Jakobsen, the member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the report.

"What we need now is better alignment of existing policies, better coordination, and a clear policy objective to reduce food waste."

'Action plan'

The auditor's report, entitled 'Combating food waste: an opportunity for the EU to improve the resource-efficiency of the food supply chain,' called for the EU to create an 'action plan' and to resolve legal obstacles to food donations.

"Our recommendations on how to develop future policy have either been ignored or only partially accepted, while the draft guidelines just pass the problem on to the Member States", she added.

They found that the EU had not contributed to a resource-efficient food supply chain by combating food waste effectively.

Food waste is a problem along the entire food supply chain, say the auditors, and action should be targeted all along the chain.

The emphasis should be put on prevention, as the benefits of avoiding waste outweigh the cost of dealing with it later.

The auditors found that there had been a notable lack of assessment of the impact of EU policies on the fight against food waste.

Major policy areas such as agriculture, fisheries and food safety all have a role to play and could be used to combat food waste better.
Managing risk and planning for the future in the farming industry will be the major talking points at this years Lincolnshire Farming Conference to be held next month.

Making its return to the Lincolnshire Showground on February 28, the highly-anticipated conference will feature the latest farming news, discussions, Brexit concerns and much more for Lincolnshires agricultural industry.

Chris Rothery, trustee at the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, said that farmers should anticipate changes post-Brexit within the farming industry and be prepared as a business for a possibly bumpy start to 2017 for the agricultural sector.

He said: Britains decision to leave the EU poses many threats to a number of sectors in the UKs economy, most notably the farming industry.

With a high level of uncertainty over the future of the UK agricultural sector, at this time in transition, it is especially important that UK farmers are up to speed with the impact that Brexit could impose on their business. The conference will give insight and analysis as well as an opportunity to meet with others in the industry in order to lead their sector into a positive light for the future of farming.

Expert discussions

Chairman Andrew Ward will give an introduction at the conference before a series of expert discussions take place.

Kelly Hewson-Fisher from Anglian Water and Bill Clark, Technical Director at science-based agricultural business NIAB, will be giving industry analysis and advice about water management in farming and explaining uncertainty in cereal disease control strategies respectively.

Jayne Southall, Chief Executive at Lincolnshire Showground, said: We have secured some brilliant speakers for the 2017 Lincolnshire Farming Conference. As the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, its important that we provide on-going support and analysis on what proved to be a turbulent year for farmers and agriculture in 2016.

Although the future is uncertain it is still crucial that we are all striving forwards in 2017. We will hear from fourth generation Kent farmer, Doug Wanstall, on how to build financial resilience in farming businesses.

We are also continuing to focus on young people working in the industry in Lincolnshire who are key to the future of agriculture, with an opportunity to speak with three young, local, talented individuals starting their careers in agriculture with short videos of their achievements.

The conference will be closed by keynote speaker Guy Smith, NFU Vice President, who will be offering an insight into farming post-Brexit.

Tickets cost 12 for adults, 6 for students, with members of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society free to attend once registered. The event opens from 1pm.
Farm union members have said a decision by Anglesey council to sell two of their farms could result in 'severe consequences' for the area.

Councils from across the UK have been selling their farms and local farm bosses have complained that it 'pulls the ladder' from under the next generation as they attempt to forge careers in the sector.

Both properties are set to go under the hammer at Morgan Evans auction in Llangefni on February 23.

Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) Anglesey Officer Heidi Williams said: "The sale of local council holdings is of great concern for us here on Anglesey.

"Council farms provide a stepping stone for our young people to get into the industry and whilst we appreciate the financial difficulties councils find themselves in, selling off their holdings does nothing to support those who want to get started in the industry."

'Council budgets'

Anglesey council looks to be facing cuts of around 3m and may follow councils like Herefordshire in selling their local farms.

In December 2015, it was reported that Herefordshire council's decision to do so likely affected up to 45 farming families.

"Farms like these bring many benefits in terms of quality food, their contribution to the county economy, jobs and so much more," said Clare Greener, NFU Herefordshire county adviser.

"We understand there are pressures on council budgets but they are a valuable resource and properly managed can provide sustainable long term income; we remain convinced that they should not just be cashed in."

'Self-sustainable'

Angleseys Head of Service for Property, Dewi Williams, said: "Anglesey has the second largest agricultural estate in Wales, identified by the Welsh Government as being proactive in comparison to other authorities.

"In total we've invested 10m over five years, completely self-funded through the disposal of a small number of vacant farms, exploiting development opportunities and rental increases during a time of financial hardship and cuts in almost every other service.

"The rural estate on Anglesey is now more streamlined and self-sustainable, providing both security to existing tenants and future opportunities when farms become available."
Free range eggs could be completely wiped from supermarket shelves if the Government's current housing order is extended beyond the end of February.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ordered all free range poultry locked up in an attempt to curtail the spread of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza, which has hit 18 European countries, including the United Kingdom, where four cases of the virus have been confirmed so far.

Under European Union rules, free range birds can only be housed for a maximum of 12 weeks without losing their free range status.

Those 12 weeks will be up in the UK at the end of February. If the housing order is extended beyond that point the whole of the UK's free range flock will be downgraded to barn, causing a financial crisis for free range producers and leaving retailers with no supply of free range eggs.

It comes at a time when free range eggs are more popular than ever with consumers.

'Must not be allowed to happen'

Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has said that the loss of free range status must not be allowed to happen.

Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC)

He is pressing both the UK Government and the European Union for action. FarmingUK has been told that farmers' representatives in other EU countries are also lobbying politicians.

Mark Williams said: Whilst we would be guided by veterinary advice, in the face of potentially losing free range egg marketing status - which we cannot allow to happen - we believe that the AIPZ (avian influenza protection zone) must be lifted on February 28 across Great Britain, but with the maintenance of high levels of enhanced bio-security.

It was the AIPZ order that included the instruction to house poultry. He said, We are working with Defra to determine what this would be in high risk areas.

At European level, he said, egg industry leaders wanted a temporary extension to the time that birds could be housed without losing their status.

This would remain in place until such time as veterinary authorities determine that the disease situation allows for any housing restriction to be lifted - possibly in a further one to two months, said Mr Williams.

It is our view that we are in exceptional circumstances across the EU and this calls for exceptional measures to be put in place. The simple solution is for the EU Commission to allow the 12 weeks to be extended for a further one to two months to get past this time of heightened disease challenge.

761 outbreaks of H5N8

Between October and January there were a total of 761 outbreaks of H5N8 in Europe - 51 per cent in poultry and the rest in wild birds.

Some 1.6 million poultry were destroyed. As well as affecting 18 countries in Europe, H5N8 has also been found in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The housing order was put in place across the United Kingdom on December 6

Based on figures produced by free range egg magazine The Ranger, losses for the UK free range egg industry could run into millions of pounds if its eggs have to be downgraded.

Ranger costings show that producers are already losing as much as 4.08 per bird on an average egg price of 88 pence per dozen.

If the eggs had to be sold as barn and the price was consequently cut to 70 pence per dozen, the loss per bird would be 8.58. On a national free range flock of 18 million birds, the additional loss to the free range egg sector could amount to as much as 81 million.

'Extremely worried'

Robert Gooch, chief executive of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), said the association's members were extremely worried about the prospect of birds losing their free range status.

The cost to free range producers of having their eggs downgraded to barn doesn't bear thinking about, he said.

There will need to be many discussions over the next few weeks. I know how busy Defra will be but we will need to have an answer before the end of February.

Supermarkets are clearly aware of the looming crisis. Individual retailers did not want to comment at the moment, although they made it clear that they were in discussions with the BEIC, the British Poultry Council, the National Farmers Union and Defra. The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents the British retail industry, is also involved in talks.

A BRC spokesman told FarmingUK: As producers are required by law to bring the birds indoors to prevent the spread of the virus, the free range status of eggs is maintained and they will be marketed and labelled as free range.

We are working with Defra to find a pragmatic solution that mitigates any negative impact on free range farmers should the enforced housing period extend beyond the 28 February, when the derogation from free range regulation ends.

'Protecting against avian flu a priority'

Defra was non-committal when FarmingUK approached it for a comment. A spokesman said: There is no impact on the free range status of birds or eggs as result of the prevention zone currently in place across the UK.

Protecting against the threat of avian flu is a priority and it is essential all bird keepers maintain high bio-security standards.

Appropriate measures have been put in place to reduce the risk of domestic birds becoming infected and they are kept under review following the best scientific evidence.

FarmingUK pressed Defra on whether it was possible that the Government could ask the EU to extend the 12-week period to enable producers to maintain their free range status.

The spokesman simply said: We are keeping all measures under review and following the best scientific evidence.

Housing order

The housing order was put in place across the United Kingdom on December 6 - before any AI cases had been found in the UK.

Defra took the measure to try to prevent H5N8 carried by migratory birds infecting commercial flocks in this country.

When cases were subsequently discovered here, Defra extended the housing order until the end of February, although the decision to introduce such a long extension came as a surprise to many in the industry.

Robert Gooch said: We had been asking for a 14-day or 30-day extension so that we had some leeway before we had birds losing their free range status, he said.

An extension until the end of February had not been officially discussed with anyone else, as far as he knew.

'Swift action'

The most recent case of H5N8 in the UK was confirmed on a turkey farm in Lincolnshire on January 16. The same strain of the virus was found on another turkey unit nearby in December.

The virus has also been found on backyard flocks in Wales and North Yorkshire, in a swannery in Dorset and in a number of other wild birds across the country.

Following the latest outbreak, chief veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said: We have taken swift action to limit the risk of the disease spreading, with restrictions in place around the affected premises. A full investigation is underway to determine the source of the infection.

This finding reminds us that we must all be vigilant for signs of disease and take steps to minimise the risk of birds catching the disease from wild birds  either directly or through the environment.

This means complying with the legal requirement currently in place to house birds or otherwise keep them separate from wild birds and following strict bio-security measures to minimise the risk of avian flu spreading via the environment."

Defra has warned that everyone must comply with the order, after concerns were raised that some owners of backyard flocks may not be following instructions as strictly as commercial poultry farmers.

Mark Williams says that breaking the rules could be an offence under the 1981 Animal Health Act. Anyone breaking the order could face a fine and/or imprisonment.
The Government has backed down and confirmed that HS2 Ltd is not allowed to buy land through compulsory purchase to develop projects unrelated to the construction of the rail line.

Transport Minister Chris Grayling delivered his response to the recommendations made by the Lords Select Committee report on the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill yesterday (17 January) in the wake of intense lobbying by the CLA.

The rural sector has in the past accused HS2 Ltd of wanting to 'land grab' for 'lucrative developments'.

Landowners organisation CLA said they are 'delighted the Government has seen sense' over giving HS2 Ltd.

CLA President Ross Murray said: The ability to compulsorily acquire land for lucrative developments completely unrelated to the railway which would have been an outrageous land grab.

Throughout this process we have stood up for land and property owners over how the fundamental principles of fairness are applied to compulsory purchase rules. The decision by the Government to withdraw these sweeping powers is a victory for all those affected by the scheme.

The Department for Transport response follows the Lords report after a period of formal legal petitions to the Lords Committee. Alongside limiting compulsory purchase powers solely to land acquisition directly related to the railway, the CLA petition has also been successful in securing clarification on permanent purchase and temporary occupation.

Duty of Care

However, the Duty of Care proposed by the CLA has not been addressed by the Government response even though the House of Lords report was very critical of HS2 Ltds engagement with farmers and landowners.

Mr Murray added: This was an ideal opportunity to acknowledge HS2s poor practice and introduce a Duty of Care to ensure this is no longer a feature of the project. We will keep up the pressure on the Government to accept this recommendation for the benefit of anyone affected by the thousands of infrastructure schemes taking place now or in the future.

The HS2 Bill will receive further debate in the House of Lords before becoming law this Spring. Construction for HS2 Phase One is likely to commence later this year.
After years of sitting empty and unused, the old Walmart building in Leadington has a new owner.

"SportsPlay builds playground equipment and sells it," said Mayor Dustin Winick, just prior to the start of Tuesdays regular session of the city's board of aldermen. "They've got a facility in St. Louis and another in Park Hills and they're combining them into the Walmart building.

"This is a good thing for the town and there's quite a few jobs. It's going to put some use to the building that was there, for sure. It's been empty for 13 or 14 years."

According to Winick, the city had been working with a commercial real estate agency for a year or more in hopes of bringing in a new business.

"We didn't know who the future tenant was, but we were trying to get all the stuff in line," he said. "We finally got the tenant information about five months ago."

While he didn't provide any details, Winick said he hoped in the near future to announce several other businesses that will be moving to the city.

At the meeting, Joe Gabel of Taylor Engineering announced that he had the revised plans for the Woodlawn/Taum Sauk project that is being done to aid in water drainage and flood control in the area.

"I don't have the easement documents yet," Gabel told the board. "I've got the plans with relocating the additional pipe. We've have a couple of inlets, some asphalt, paving for the parking lot down by Woodlawn."

The cost estimate for the project, according to Gabel, will be $99,160. The board voted to hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at city hall regarding the widening of Woodlawn Drive.

Mayor Winick informed the board he had met with Brian Okenfuss of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) about clearing the right-of-way along U.S. 67.

"They're going to come in and clear from Forest Park north," he said. "That way it doesn't affect any of the houses back in there. It's only going to be in front of the Plaza Pool and Spa. After that point it's going to be up to the city to maintain it, as far as keeping it mowed down. They'll do it one time for us to get it knocked down."

It was learned that the city fire department was approved to receive a Missouri Conservation Grant through Volunteer Fire Assistance Matching Funds for the purchase of four mobile radios and 20 safety vests.

Board members discussed a request to close an alley along Fleming Street. After a lengthy discussion, the board voted to hold a public hearing on the matter at 5:45 p.m. Feb. 21 at city hall.

At the request of city Street Supervisor Jackie Johnston, the board is asking for volunteers to collect donations at Woodlawn Cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend to help with the cost of mowing over the summer. Call city hall for more information.

In other action by the board, police Taser instructor training was approved as well as bills regarding general penalties for violation and the upcoming municipal election in April. The board also voted to move next month's meeting to Feb. 21 to allow Winick to attend the Missouri Municipal League being held Feb. 14-15 in Jefferson City.
A farmer has warned dog owners he is prepared to shoot the next dog which poses a threat to his flock of sheep.

Tim White owns around 1,000 sheep, and has said he is fed up of having to put his own animals down after they have been attacked by loose dogs.

The Wiltshire farmer's threat to dog walkers who let their animals loose near his sheep comes after an attack on 300 of his sheep, on December 28.

Mr White, who lives in Maiden Bradley with his wife and also breeds sheep in Pewsey and Market Lavington, said to the Wiltshire Times: Last year I lost around 5,000 as a result of dog attacks.

The dog may only catch one sheep but the damage goes far beyond that; the pregnant ewes become stressed after the attack which means their unborn babies have to be aborted.

On top of that I have to call out a vet which adds to the expense, and of course its very sad for the poor sheep to get torn up. One attack can have really damaging consequences.

Most dog walkers are quite good and will keep their dog on a lead, but you get the odd one who doesnt care and lets them run around, not thinking about the consequences.

The farmer, who has been involved in breeding wool shedding sheep for more than 20 years, is now willing to deal with dogs severely.

Sheep worrying by dogs is a serious animal welfare concern, which causes a deal of emotional stress and financial cost to sheep farmers around the country every year.
Retailers stocking more British pork but 'more can be done'
"Even if a new GM wheat variety happened to be feed wheat - and that's the way it was classified - the monetary value would just be huge - and it would have made up the difference between running at a profit and running at a loss for those farmers who've been hit badly by frost damage this season," he said.
The producer of the trio deemed the most profitable throughout the supply chain will take home $5000 thanks to Harvey Beef, and valuable performance feedback relative to his or her own herd.
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Girl Scout Troop 55017 primarily out of Kingston Elementary in Washington County recently donated items to Caring Hearts Pregnancy Resource Center in Potosi and Shared Blessings in Bonne Terre as part of a family service project.

Girl Scouts Troop 55017 Leader Theresa Robson said they were having a Christmas party for the kids and they decided to make it into a family service project.

In Jefferson County I made blankets for the foster kids, but down here I checked with (Caring Hearts PRC Executive Director) Ellen Masulit to see if that was something they could use. She said they could use the blankets and we decided to do that as part of our service project. We also made homeless survival kits for the shelter in Bonne Terre.

Robson said the kits included gloves, socks, Kleenex, candles, wet wipes, hand warmers and the girls made Christmas cards to put in there.

All together we made four blankets and 24 homeless survival kits, said Robson. The families all really got involved in doing those, even the dads got down on the floor and helped cut out the patterns. I was really impressed. People were really getting into it and enjoy doing things as a family for a service project.

Robson said this was the first time this troop had done anything like this and they are going to start doing a family service project as an annual event.

I am going to do this with my other troops too, said Robson. I kind of tried it out on them to see how the families would react to it and they really responded well. The kids were very excited about having the parents involved with it too.

Robson said they didnt go out and get donations for the project this year. They did shop around to get the best prices on the items they needed though.

We figured out where we could get the items for the least amount of money, explained Robson. We did check some things online and Alicia Pashia was very helpful in comparing prices. We did go to Dollar General and Walmart to get our products depending on which one she found the better pricing at, so we were able to make our money go further.

Robson said the money that they spent on the projects was from the girls cookie money this past season.

They are getting ready to sell cookies again and that is one thing we talked about, said Robson. When they sell their cookies its OK to do something fun, something that is going to be helpful for them to help them grow or maybe learn a new skill. But they also need to do something to give back to the community and that is one of the neat things with the girls there, they are very open to that.

Robson said they ask how they can help and do things. They made cards for the Moyers girls after the accident.

We have talked about if there is something going on in your community how you should take action and if there is something you can do, then you should do that, said Robson. In their case, we made cards for the girls. I think a lot of times people think about themselves or their immediate family and that is one of my goals, to get the girls to think beyond that and think about their community and how they can take action.

Masulit said they are very thankful for the blankets the girls made.

I took the survival kits over to Shelly (Bess) at the homeless shelter to keep there for when they need them for homeless individuals in the community, said Masulit. We help pregnant women and women with young children up to age 3 and part of what we help them with is their basic material needs.

Masulit said they like to have nice blankets on hand and that is why the Girl Scout troop made blankets for them.

We are really grateful they chose us and the moms love the blankets, said Masulit. These are families that dont get brand new items like that very often and they are very grateful.
Country

Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Rolls-Royce plc agreed to pay the United States a criminal penalty of $170 million under a deferred prosecution agreement after being charged with a long-running global conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The DOJ action was part of an $800 million resolution of investigations into overseas bribery by U.S., UK, and Brazilian authorities.

Rolls-Royce and the DOJ entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (pdf).

The DOJ filed a criminal information (pdf) and the DPA in federal court in Columbus, Ohio on December 20. The documents were under seal until Tuesday.

On Monday, UK-based Rolls-Royce reached agreement for a deferred prosecution agreement with the UK Serious Fraud Office. That DPA (pdf) requires Rolls-Royce to pay 497 million ($599 million) plus interest and the SFOs costs. A London court Tuesday approved the DPA.

SFO chief David Green said: This is the largest ever single investigation carried out by the SFO, costing 13 million ($16 million) and involving some 70 SFO personnel. It is the third use of a DPA since the power became available to prosecutors in 2014.

In Brazil, Rolls-Royce will pay the Ministerio Publico Federal a $25.5 million criminal penalty under a leniency agreement.

Rolls-Royce said its total payments under the three agreements will be about 671 million (more than $800 million).

The company makes engines and generators for the aerospace, defense, marine, and energy sectors.

Rolls-Royce admitted in the U.S. enforcement action that between 2000 and 2013 it paid more than $35 million in bribes to foreign officials.

In exchange, the officials gave Rolls-Royce confidential information and awarded it and affiliated companies contracts.

In Thailand, Rolls-Royce paid $11 million in bribes to officials at Thai state oil and gas companies in return for seven contracts.

In Brazil, Rolls-Royce used intermediaries to pay $9.3 million in bribes to officials at Petrobras or another state-owned affiliate.

In Kazakhstan between 2009 and 2012, Rolls-Royce paid commissions of $5.4 million to multiple advisors. The company knew some of the commissions would be used to bribe foreign officials involved in building a pipeline between Kazakhstan and China. In 2012, Rolls-Royce hired a local distributor, knowing that a high-ranking Kazakh official with influence over Rolls-Royces business actually owned the business.

In Azerbaijan, Rolls-Royce used agents to pay $7.8 million in bribes to foreign officials at the state oil company in return for several contracts.

In Angola, Rolls-Royce paid $2.4 million in bribes through a third party to officials at a state oil company in return for three contracts.

And in Iraq, Rolls-Royce bribed officials so it could stay on a list of bidders for the supply of turbines.

Under the U.S. deferred prosecution agreement unsealed Tuesday, Rolls-Royce agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $195.5 million. But the DOJ gave a $25.5 million credit for the Brazil penalty. That reduced the total U.S. fine to $170 million.

As part of its resolution with the SFO, Rolls-Royce admitted (pdf) paying other bribes or failing to prevent bribery in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Russia, and Thailand from 1989 to 2013.

The DOJ said Rolls-Royce didnt self report the bribery until after the media began reporting allegations of corruption and after the SFO had initiated an inquiry into the allegations and that the conduct was extensive and spanned 12 countries.

But Rolls-Royce cooperated with the U.S. investigation, the DOJ said. And the company fired employees and agents implicated in the bribery. It also put in place better compliance features and internal controls.

The DOJ said it therefore gave Rolls-Royce a 25 percent reduction in its criminal penalty.

The DOJs Andrew Weissmann said Tuesday the global nature of Rolls-Royces crimes required a global response and collective efforts to ensure that ethical companies can compete on an even playing field anywhere in the world.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
It sounds like a preposterous scenario. A member of the companys finance team transfers several million dollars to an unknown firm for a transaction no one in the company has ever heard of, based solely on confidential orders from the companys CEO or CFO sent by email.



Preposterous or not, it happens more often than most people would believe. Fake CEO/CFO scams are such a serious problem that the FBI last year issued a special warning about them.

Victims range from large corporations to tech companies to small businesses to non-profit organizations, the FBI said. Many times, the fraud targets businesses that work with foreign suppliers or regularly perform wire transfer payments.

The FBI said law enforcement authorities have received complaints from victims in every U.S. state and in at least 79 countries. From October 2013 through February 2016, agencies received reports from 17,642 victims. The victims lost more than $2.3 billion.

In Germany where Im based, the losses suffered by companies as a result of this scam amount to millions of euros a year. In most cases, despite the authorities best efforts, only a fraction of the money is recovered.

How does it work? There are several versions of the scam. Usually the scammers pose as the CEO or CFO of a company, or even as one of the company lawyers. Sometimes they use company or personnel information they obtained through phishing schemes against people inside the company, or they simply call the company switchboard and ask innocent sounding questions. They then use information they collect to make their emails appear legitimate.

The scammers eventually order the victim inside the company to wire-transfer funds to an outside account, while telling the victim to maintain strict confidentiality about the transfer.

The harm to a company is bad enough; the harm to the employee making the transfer can be devastating and permanent. These victims have often been with the company for years and enjoy a high level of trust by their managers. After a fake-CEO loss, that trust is often damaged beyond recovery. Victims frequently experience strong feelings of self-doubt, guilt and shame; many leave the company soon after the incident.

The fraudsters dont succeed most of the time. But they keep trying and eventually they find a victim. When that happens, it is often due to a combination of factors, including:

The real CEO or CFO is out of office or hard to reach on the day in question

The corporate culture discourages staff from questioning instructions by senior-level managers

No systematic pre-employment checks of new staff take place to deter accomplices of the fraudsters from trying to infiltrate the business to collect information

The IT system does not flag emails from unusual or excessively long external domains

A strong belief in maintaining confidentiality hinders an open exchange with colleagues, which otherwise might quickly reveal the instructions received to be bogus

The finance employee is flattered by the supposed CEO or CFO confiding in him or her; constant praise during the scam reinforces the effect

The finance employee is one of a pair of individuals authorized to sign off transactions under the four-eyes principle

The internal controls applicable to transfers can be circumvented through the unwitting cooperation of a finance team member (usually the key to success in this scam)

Robust technical and organizational processes can help to protect a company from fake-CEO/CFO fraud. However, in our experience, even the best internal controls are undermined time and again by the human factor.

In fact, the most effective and also simplest way to combat this kind of fraud is training. Employees who know how the scam works are much more likely to recognize it when it happens.

Senior managers should also foster a culture in which employees are encouraged to contact them directly in case of doubt or questions concerning transfer instructions.

The effort required for such measures is small compared to the losses usually suffered when the fraud is successful. And companies in Germany and elsewhere shouldnt doubt that sooner or later the fraudsters will target them.

____

Matthew Kinch is an Associate Director in Control Risks Compliance, Forensics & Intelligence practice, based in Berlin. He specializes in due diligence and fraud investigations, litigation support and anti-corruption audits. He is responsible for managing investigations in German-speaking countries and South-Eastern Europe, with a particular focus on fraud and corruption cases.
The SEC Wednesday charged Texas-based medical device maker Orthofix International with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act when its subsidiary in Brazil made improper payments to doctors at government-owned hospitals to increase sales.

Orthofix paid more than $6 million in disgorgement and penalties to settle the FCPA charges. It also agreed to retain an independent compliance consultant for one year to review and test its FCPA compliance program.

Orthofix wont face criminal enforcement. It said in a statement Wednesday that the DOJ has decided to take no further action with respect to this matter.

The SEC said Orthofix used high discounts and improper payments through commercial representatives and distributors to induce doctors under government employment to use Orthofixs products.

Fake invoices were used for purported services, the SEC said.

The company disclosed allegations of improper payments in Brazil in March 2014. It self reported the allegations to the DOJ and SEC.

Orthofix was involved in another FCPA enforcement action in 2012. A Mexican subsidiary bribed officials at government hospitals with cash, laptops, televisions, and other appliances. Orthofix paid $7.4 million to the DOJ and SEC to resolve those FCPA offenses. It entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ as part of the resolution.

The SEC settled Wednesdays case with an internal administrative order (pdf) and didnt go to court. Under the order, Orthofix paid disgorgement and interest of $3.2 million and a civil penalty of $2.9 million.

Kara Brockmeyer, chief of the SEC Enforcement Divisions FCPA Unit, said in a statement: Orthofix did not have adequate internal controls across all its subsidiaries and failed to detect and prevent the improper payments in Brazil that were intended to boost sales.

But the SEC said it noted Orthofixs cooperation and remedial acts.

Orthofix said it instituted extensive remediation measures including firing employees and ending relationships with third-party representatives and distributors. It expanded its compliance department and began enhanced anti-corruption compliance training for employees and certain third parties.

In a separate action Wednesday, the SEC charged Orthofix and four then-executives with improperly booking revenue and other accounting failures. Orthofix agreed to pay an $8.25 million penalty to resolve the accounting violations.

___

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
Professor Green discussed the issues of mental health and masculinity with Prince William at an event staged by the charity Heads Together on Tuesday (17.01.17).

Professor Green

The 33-year-old rap star - whose real name is Stephen Manderson - is a long-time sufferer of anxiety and has lifted the lid on the candid conversation he had with the British royal.

He said: "I've always had anxiety. Before I knew it was anxiety I used to tell my nan that I had a bellyache.

"Later in life my dad took his own life and so did his brother.

"I know a lot of people who have suffered a hell of a lot due to mental health issues so it's something that means a hell of a lot to me.

"We see being sad or being scared as a vulnerability but there's a real strength to be taken from being honest about how you feel."

The rapper said it is important that people feel able to speak openly about their mental health struggles.

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "People think that being hard is being strong and it's quite often the opposite.

"The image of masculinity is one of being hard but being hard and being strong are two completely different things.

"That's what I want to get across to people.

"The conversation that I had with William we were saying the same things to each other about how there is that common misconception between being hard and being strong and they are two completely different things."

Meanwhile, Prince William's younger brother, Prince Harry - who also attended the event - said he is encouraged to see attitudes changing towards mental health.

Prince Harry said: "In the past, the phrase 'mental health' would be translated to mental illness. But thankfully that is changing!

"As a result of family, school or work pressures, everyone's lives are lived at a frightening pace and these stresses can often seem overwhelming.

"Some will ignore the signs of stress, others will insist they're OK after losing a loved one.

"Some will be afraid to ask for help, others won't have anyone to turn to.

"The truth is we can all help each other. You don't need any qualifications to help your mate out, simply to listen to what they have to say. At the heart of this campaign is our hope that no-one should be afraid to ask for help, and no-one should worry about knowing how to help."
An ex-soldier has revealed the unfortunate gaffe he made to Princess Diana in the midst of her break-up from Prince Charles.

Princess Diana

The Princess visited a minefield in war-torn Angola five months after her break-up from her husband, but guide Paul Heslop made a cringe-worthy joke about her marriage without realising they had split.

Handing over a decommissioned mine, he quipped: "For God's sake, when you get home don't put this in Charles' bed."

But Paul insisted it was a completely honest mistake, pointing out that he had not visited the UK for 12 months and, therefore, was not up-to-speed with the status of their relationship.

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Of course, at this point I didn't even realise the marriage was as troubled as it was, let alone over. I hadn't been in Britain for a year."

Thankfully for Paul, Diana - who died in a car accident in Paris in 1997 - laughed the comment off rather than making him feel guilty about it.

Meanwhile, Prince William recently spoke about the death of his mother when he visited a bereavement centre run by Child Bereavement UK.

The 34-year-old royal is a patron of the charity - which strives to help families struggling with the loss of a child, or to help children facing their own bereavements - and spoke openly about his mother's passing at the event in London.

The future King was filmed comforting a nine-year-old girl - who had recently lost her father - by explaining that he "lost [his] mummy when [he] was very young too."

Speaking to the girl, who was named as Aoife, Prince William said: "Do you know what happened to me?

"You know I lost my mummy when I was very young too. I was 15 and my brother (Prince Harry) was 12. So we lost our mummy when we were young as well."
Nacogdoches, TX (75965)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Some may be severe, especially this evening. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 51F. SW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Some may be severe, especially this evening. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 51F. SW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
'Call the Midwife's Jack Ashton finds it "confusing" dating Helen George.

Helen George

The couple found love while shooting the drama series in South Africa last year but thought it was really weird when they had to play out a break up between his character Reverend Tom Hereward and the blonde beauty's alter ego Nurse Trixie on screen.

Speaking on 'Lorraine' on Wednesday (18.01.17), host Lorraine Kelly said: "In the show you were dating Nurse Trixie (Helen)... now you're dating Nurse Gilbert (Charlotte Ritchie)... but in real life you're dating Helen. Is it confusing?"

To which he replied: "That's the confusing bit. As long as I know where we're going..."

Things heated up between Jack and Helen last April when they jetted abroad to shoot the festive special, which hit screens last month, because of the long hours they spent together.

He said: "It blossomed in South Africa.. It's the long hours. It's where you meet people."

Helen first joined the show in 2012, while Jack made his debut in series three in 2014.

This is the first time Helen has had a boyfriend - in the public eye - since she split from her husband Oliver Boot, whom she married in 2012, two years ago.

A representative for the 32-year-old stat announced the news in a statement that read: "I can confirm that Helen separated from her husband some time ago."
The Government of India is looking at allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) through automatic route for single brand retailers in a bid to attract more global players to India. The government currently permits FDI up to 49 per cent under the automatic route in this sector. Governments permission is required beyond this limit.

Products introduced under FDI in India need to be of a single brand and should be sold globally under the same brand. For proposals involving FDI of 51 per cent or more, it is necessary to source at least 30 per cent goods from the small-scale sector of the country.

The ministry of commerce and industry and the ministry of finance are discussing the issue of easing the FDI policy for the sector. Single brand retail sector has a lot of potential of attracting FDI and the government wishes to provide easy policies for domestic as well as foreign investors, said a news agency citing a source.

The Government of India is looking at allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) through automatic route for single brand retailers in a bid to attract more global players to India. The government currently permits FDI up to 49 per cent under the automatic route in this sector. Government's permission is required beyond this limit.#

The mandatory sourcing from local MSMEs was tweaked by the government last year. It agreed to exempt foreign firms from the norm for three years if they bring state-of-the-art technology to the country.

FDI in India touched $40 billion in 2015-16, a 29 per cent rise from $30.93 billion in 2014-15. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Global apparel and innerwear retailer HanesBrands said it has received above average scores for its water management and supply chain from the CDP 2016 Climate Change Report. Formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP is a global disclosure system that enables companies and other entities to measure and manage environmental impacts.For its water score, the retailer earned an A that was higher than the apparel industry and S&P 500 averages, in the categories of context; governance and strategy; direct risks and response; and indirect risks and response.

Global apparel and innerwear retailer HanesBrands said it has received above average scores for its water management and supply chain from the CDP 2016 Climate Change Report. Formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP is a global disclosure system that enables companies and other entities to measure and manage environmental impacts. #

Its supply chain score, B too was ahead of the supply chain average in all reporting categories like governance and strategy; risk and opportunity management; and emissions management.Since 2007, the company has reduced energy consumption by 25 per cent, carbon emissions by 21 per cent, and water use by 31 per cent, and established renewable energy sources for 25 per cent of its worldwide energy needs.According to the retailer, the benefits of the companys reduced carbon footprint are equivalent to those provided by more than 2 million tree seedlings grown for 10 years. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The Woolmark Company has partnered with fashion designer Raf Simons for developing his autumn/winter 2017 collection. It features fine merino wool jersey, wovens and knits sourced from some of the worlds best fabric and yarn manufacturers including Manifattura Sesia and Olimpias Group. Merino wool has always been an intrinsic element of Simons collections.

The partnership marks the beginning of a longstanding relationship where The Woolmark Company will continue to work closely with and support Simons design team with innovations and sourcing of merino wool, said Woolmark in a statement.

I appreciate that The Woolmark Company encourages brands to come up with innovative ways to work with merino wool, a material that I love and often use in my own collections. It feels very natural for me to partner with The Woolmark Company to create something special using the finest wool in the world, said Simons.

The Woolmark Company has partnered with fashion designer Raf Simons for developing his autumn/winter 2017 collection. It features fine merino wool jersey, wovens and knits sourced from some of the world's best fabric and yarn manufacturers including Manifattura Sesia and Olimpias Group. Merino wool has always been an intrinsic element of Simons' collections.#

As the global authority on wool, one of the worlds finest natural fibres, The Woolmark Company prides itself on partnering with designers that continually push the boundaries of contemporary fashion, said Stuart McCullough, managing director, The Woolmark Company.

Through our partnership with Raf Simons, one of the industrys most creative visionaries, we are able to demonstrate the distinct versatility of Merino wool far beyond its traditional positioning in the suiting market. Through his iconic work, Raf Simons will bring a newfound creativity to the world of wool, added McCullough. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The world economy expanded by just 2.2 per cent in 2016, the slowest rate of growth since the Great Recession of 2009, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2017 report. World gross product is projected to grow by 2.7 per cent in 2017 and 2.9 per cent in 2018, a slight downward revision from forecasts made last May.

Although a modest global recovery is projected for 2017-18, the world economy has not yet emerged from the period of slow growth, characterised by weak investment, dwindling trade and flagging productivity growth, states the report.

Launching the report at the UN Headquarters in New York, Lenni Montiel, assistant secretary-general for Economic Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, underscored the need to redouble the efforts to bring the global economy back on a stronger and more inclusive growth path and create an international economic environment that is conducive to sustainable development.

The world economy expanded by just 2.2 per cent in 2016, the slowest rate of growth since the Great Recession of 2009, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2017 report. World gross product is projected to grow by 2.7 per cent in 2017 and 2.9 per cent in 2018, a slight downward revision from forecasts made last May. #

The moderate improvement expected for 2017-18 is more an indication of economic stabilisation than a signal of a robust and sustained revival of global demand. As commodity prices trend higher, commodity exporting economies are likely to see some recovery in growth.

The report projects that growth in the developed economies will slightly improve in 2017, but headwinds arising from weak investment and policy uncertainty continue to constrain economic activity.

Developing countries continue to be the main drivers of global growth, accounting for about 60 per cent of the worlds gross product growth in 2016-18. East and South Asia remain the worlds most dynamic regions, benefiting from robust domestic demand and supportive macroeconomic policies.

The report identifies prolonged weak investment as a major cause of the slowdown in global growth. Many economies have experienced a marked downturn in private and public investment in recent years, particularly in the oil and extractive industries. In commodity-exporting countries, governments have curtailed much needed public investment in infrastructure and social services, in response to sharp revenue losses. At the same time, labour productivity growth has slowed markedly in most developed economies and in many large developing and transition economies.

The report stresses the importance of investment in new capital as a driver of technological change and efficiency gains. In particular, it concludes that investment in key areas, such as research and development, education and infrastructure, can serve to promote social and environmental progress, while also supporting productivity growth.

The report, however, cautions that the global outlook faces significant uncertainties and risks. A high degree of uncertainty is identified in the international policy environment and elevated foreign currency-denominated debt levels as key downside risks that may derail the already modest global growth prospects. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The United Kingdom will pursue free trade agreements with the EU and also with countries from outside the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May has said while setting out the Plan for Britain, including the 12 priorities that the UK government will use to negotiate Brexit. The agreement with the EU should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services.

The United Kingdom will pursue free trade agreements with the EU and also with countries from outside the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May has said while setting out the Plan for Britain, including the 12 priorities that the UK government will use to negotiate Brexit. The agreement with the EU should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services.#

As a priority, we will pursue a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the European Union. This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EUs member states. It should give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets  and let European businesses do the same in Britain, May said in her speech.

The United Kingdom will pursue free trade agreements with the EU and also with countries from outside the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May has said while setting out the Plan for Britain, including the 12 priorities that the UK government will use to negotiate Brexit. The agreement with the EU should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services.#

However, she was clear that her proposal of free trade agreement cannot mean membership of the single market. We do not seek membership of the single market. Instead we seek the greatest possible access to it through a new, comprehensive, bold and ambitious free trade agreement.

The United Kingdom will pursue free trade agreements with the EU and also with countries from outside the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May has said while setting out the Plan for Britain, including the 12 priorities that the UK government will use to negotiate Brexit. The agreement with the EU should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services.#

An important part of the new strategic partnership that UK seeks with the EU will be the pursuit of the greatest possible access to the single market, on a fully reciprocal basis, through a comprehensive free trade agreement, May said.

The United Kingdom will pursue free trade agreements with the EU and also with countries from outside the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May has said while setting out the Plan for Britain, including the 12 priorities that the UK government will use to negotiate Brexit. The agreement with the EU should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services.#

Speaking about forging new trade agreements with countries from outside the European Union, she said, Since joining the EU, trade as a percentage of GDP has broadly stagnated in the UK. That is why it is time for Britain to get out into the world and rediscover its role as a great, global, trading nation.

The United Kingdom will pursue free trade agreements with the EU and also with countries from outside the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May has said while setting out the Plan for Britain, including the 12 priorities that the UK government will use to negotiate Brexit. The agreement with the EU should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services.#

We want to get out into the wider world, to trade and do business all around the globe. Countries including China, Brazil, and the Gulf States have already expressed their interest in striking trade deals with us. We have started discussions on future trade ties with countries like Australia, New Zealand and India, she said. UK is also front of the line for a trade deal with the US.

The United Kingdom will pursue free trade agreements with the EU and also with countries from outside the EU, Prime Minister Theresa May has said while setting out the Plan for Britain, including the 12 priorities that the UK government will use to negotiate Brexit. The agreement with the EU should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services.#

May said she wants to remove as many barriers to trade as possible. And I want Britain to be free to establish our own tariff schedules at the World Trade Organisation, meaning we can reach new trade agreements not just with the European Union but with old friends and new allies from outside Europe too. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
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HON PM BAINIMARAMA SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF JEREMIAH COLLEGE





Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you.

Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all.What a pleasure it is to be here with all of you to officially open the first-ever High School to service this community  the new Jeremiah College. Today is a tremendous occasion for the people of Tacirua and all of its surrounding settlements, as it marks the start of an educational journey that will carry your children and the many generations to come into a new era of knowledge and prosperity.Thank you for the welcome you have afforded me and my delegation. Ive said it many times, that to be here among all of you  to see the smiles of your children and to work with you to help build a better Fiji  is the highlight of my job as Prime Minister.This new school is one of many developments throughout Fiji that my Government is working hard to bring into our communities  so that every Fijian has an equal shot at bettering their lives, and my Government is working equally hard on the global stage to protect all the progress we have already achieved in that regard.Last year, I spent many days abroad encouraging all nations of the world to change the wasteful and irresponsible behaviour that is warming our planet and causing severe weather events  like Tropical Cyclone Winston  and other disasters. Some of the consequences of that behaviour cause immediate devastation, like severe storms or the droughts that threaten our crops and our ability to sustain ourselves. Others cause great damage continually over time, like the warming of the oceans that threaten coral reefs and marine species. But immediate or gradual, they all cost much pain and suffering. And to be here with you all serves as a reminder of everything I am fighting so hard to protect  your future, your childrens future and Fijis future  and for me personally, there can be no greater motivation than that.So my Government will be continuing that fight in the year ahead. Fiji is assuming the Presidency of the 23rd conference of parties, known as COP 23, which is the governing body of the United Nations negotiations between countries to deal with climate change. And we plan to use our presidency to do whatever it takes to reverse the global course on greenhouse gas emissions and protect all vulnerable nations  Fiji included  from the climate-related catastrophes already at our shores.And here in Fiji, we will continue the good work that has brought us unprecedented levels of success and given Fijians from all walks of life access to essential services, infrastructure and education like never before. Because we cannot afford to take even one step backward. We cannot be fearful of what is to come. We have to keep advancing our country, bringing opportunity into the lives of our people and building a nation and society we can one day be proud to pass on to our children.Here in Tamavua, you are a part of the largest population centre in our nation  the Suva-Nausori corridor. Through your efforts, this community has made major strides over the past decade and has attracted Fijians from all over the country. And in order to keep pace with your rapid development, the next generation needs to come equipped with skills and knowledge that meet the demands of the 21st century.I know that the opening of this school has been a long time coming, that for the last 30 years, your community has sought to establish a high school here, in your community, and end your childrens ordeal of travelling great distances to get the education to which they are entitled. Past Governments failed to make your community a priority, but let me assure you all that those days are over. Because my Government doesnt simply talk about the importance of education, we make access to quality education a reality.Through our free education initiative for Years 1 to 13, our free text books and free fares for travelling students, all across our islands students have been able to attend school without burdening their families with financial worry. We have delivered on our promises, and there is no greater evidence of that than in the confident smiles of schoolchildren all throughout our islands.Access to education is expanding all over Fiji. Just last week, I was in Ba opening a new secondary school, and now we are gathered today to celebrate the birth of this new high school. My Government has made the expansion of education options for our young people a top priority, and we want the next generation of Fijians to have every possible chance to succeed and do well. We want our schools to be in the communities they serve. We want our teachers to live among you and know the families of the students they have been entrusted to teach. And we want every Fijian  regardless of where they call hometo have access to the resources they require to better themselves and their communities.To our pioneer students of Jeremiah College, congratulations on making history. This school belongs to you and your community  care for it, respect it and do your duty in paving the way for the generations of students that will follow.Im excited for what this new institution will allow your community to accomplish and look forward to seeing your young people work hard and find success.Thank you again for your warm welcome. It is now my pleasure to officially declare the new Jeremiah College open.
After maintaining a stoic silence for long, Saif Ali Khan has finally opened up about naming his and Kareena Kapoors son, Taimur Ali Khan. Soon after couple revealed their sons name, the baby was trolled for his name all over the internet. While Kareena and Saif refused to comment, more than a month later, Saif spoke about his and Kareenas decision, the trolling and how the baby resembles him.

Talking to a tabloid, he said, "Perhaps, I should have added a disclaimer, as they do in the movies, that any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental." He continued, "I'm aware of the heritage of the Turkish ruler and my son was not named after him. He was Timur, my son is Taimur. Perhaps the root is similar but it's not the same name. Taimur is an ancient Persian name meaning iron. Both my wife and I liked its sound and the meaning. In fact, of all the names I ran by Kareena, she liked this one the best because it's beautiful and strong." He added, "It's an old family name like Sara who was also named after a cousin I admired."

On son Taimur, he said, "Like me, Saif Ali Khan, he will be international ambassador for his heritage and counter Islamaphobia. When people meet me they are surprised that I'm not a right-wing Muslim, my son too will be a liberal, balanced, open-minded guy."
When Karan Johar's Mother Got A Call From The Underworld

"On Monday, we were writing out the cards, dispatching them through production. My maasi had come to the house to help us. I went down to drop her. My mother was alone at home, even the servants were not there, and all of them had gone out.''

The Call Was From Abu Salem

''The phone rang. My mother picked it up, and it was a call from the underworld. A man's voice said, Your son's wearing a red T-shirt, I can see him right now. And we're going to shoot him if you release this film on Friday.'"

"For some reason, they didn't want the film to be released that Friday; we didn't know why. It was a call from Abu Salem, and my mother was shaking with terror. She put the phone down and ran towards the door.''

When Karan Johar Contacted Shahrukh & Aditya

''She pressed the lift number, and I was coming up. As I came up those nine floors, she was going through really tough moments. When I reached, she just dragged me to the room and said, You have to call the cops. This call has come and they said they're going to shoot you, they don't want you to release your film this Friday...'"

"That evening, my father, Shahrukh, the cops, Adi, everybody was there. The cops advised us, We will protect you but you have to go ahead. You can't show your fear. You have to have the premiere on Thursday.'''

At The Premiere Karan Johar Was Kept In A Small Room For Protection

''But my mother said, What does this mean?' We were a simple family. We'd never had the underworld calling us to stop the release of a film. We'd never dreamt that something like this could even happen to us. My mother said, We don't want all this nonsense.'"

As planned, the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai premiere had taken place but Karan Johar was kept in a small room with two security guards for his protection. Later, his mother spoke to Shahrukh Khan about Karan's absence and why the cops had decided to keep him away from the premiere.

When Shahrukh Khan Dragged Karan Out & Was Ready To Take A Bullet For Him

Karan Johar adds, "Shahrukh said, What nonsense!' He went inside and dragged me out. He said, I'm standing here in front of you. Let's see who shoots you. I'm standing right here. ''

''I said, No, no, no, my mother was...' He told my mother, Nothing's gonna happen. I'm a Pathan. Nothing can happen to me and nothing will happen to your son. He's like my brother. Nothing's gonna happen.'"
The celebrated Hollywood actor of Indian Origin, Dev Patel, who is currently receiving applauds from all rounds for his most appreciated and also critically-acclaimed movie Lion, is at present in India for the shooting of his next upcoming film named as Hotel Mumbai.

The film directed by Anthony Maras, renowned Australian director, is all about the 26/11 terror attacks at the 'Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel' in Mumbai. According to the source this film will try to throw light on the insights of the unfortunate terror attack at the metropolis in the west coast.

"He is busy shooting at the moment. But he will be heading back to Los Angeles on January 23 for Oscar nominations," a source close to the actor said in a statement.

During an interview, talking about the plot and backdrop of the movie Hotel Mumbai Dev Said, he tried to go deep down understanding the plights of the hotel staffs during that terror strike.

"When I decided to do the story on Taj, we looked past the colour and skin of the characters...and focused on how some of the staff went over and above to protect their guests in times of terror." Dev Patel stated.

However, Dev being currently in India, it is still not confirmed though if he will get involved in the promotional activities for his upcoming film Lion in India.

The film has been scheduled to release in India on February 20, 2017.
Deepika Padukone who made her Hollywood debut recently in xXx: Return of Xander Cage opposite Vin Diesel, says she has a big crush on superstar Vin Diesel and in her head, Deepika has "amazing babies" with the xXx actor.

Deepika while talking about her amazing onscreen chemistry with Vin Diesel at a talk show said, "Well, there is no smoke without fire!"

"But, it's all in my head! So yeah, I mean in my head I think, like yeah, we are together and we have this amazing chemistry, and we live together and we have these amazing babies! But it's all in my head." said Deepika.

Deepika Padukone also revealed that she was not informed that she got selected for the role in xXx till the end.

"I actually auditioned for 'Furious 7' about two or three years ago and for whatever reason that didn't work out and I think people remember me for that audition." Said Deepika.

"Everyone talks about that chemistry and people remember me from that and then, about a year ago, I get a call from Paramount saying that they are casting for this film and I flew down and met DJ, my director Caruso, and then Vin found out in Los Angeles that I was in Toronto." Deepika added.

"So, overnight I flew down from Toronto to Los Angeles to see Vin and suddenly in the middle of the night we are doing this forty-five-minute photo-shoot." Added the Xxx actress.
Dileep, the janapriyanayakan is extremely busy with a handful of promising projects in his kitty. Now, the actor is all set to join hands with SL Puram Jayasurya, the director of Speed Track, once again.

According to the latest reports, Dileep and Jayasurya are teaming up for a suspense thriller. The actor will appear in a different get-up in the movie, which will be totally different from his typical entertainers.

The team is yet to finalise the title female lead, rest of the star cast, and technical crew of the movie, which will start rolling in August. The movie is expected to be a total image breaker for Dileep.

As per the sources close to the project, the team is planning to shoot the movie at the various locations of Kochi, Trivandrum, and Goa. The untitled project is produced by Shibu Thameens for Thameens Films.

Dileep is all set to release his upcoming project Georgettan's Pooram, in February, The actor is currently filming for Arun Gopi's Ramaleela, which is expected to hit the theatres for Vishu 2017.

The other upcoming projects of the actor include ad film-maker Rathish Ambat's feature film debut Kammara Sambhavam and Ramachandra Babu's upcoming directorial venture Professor Dinkan.
Bigg Boss Contestants With Mona During Mehndi Event

Bigg Boss has assigned the marriage work to the housemates. Lopamudra, Rohan and Manu will be ladkiwale, while Bani and Manveer are the Ladkewale.

Mona Welcomes Friends & Family

Ravi Kishan, Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua who were ex-Bigg Boss contestants along with other close friends of the couple will be entering the house to congratulate their friends.

Grand Party After Marriage

After Mona and Vikrant's wedding, there will be a grand party. Bhojpuri tracks will be played in the background. The guests along with the bride and groom will be seen dancing together on the stage.

Ravi Kishan To Dance With Bani & Lopa

Ravi Kishan will be seen shaking legs with the Bigg Boss contestants Bani and Lopa. The bride and groom will also be having a photo session with the contestants, friends and family members.

Will Mona Get Evicted?

Apparently, it was said that Mona will leave the house after her marriage, which would be considered as eviction. There were also reports that Mona will not be evicted as well.

Mona & Vikrant Sent To Secret Room!

But, Mona and Vikrant will be sent to the secret room and the other contestants are unaware of it. She will be checking the contestants over the video and will know who are talking behind her back!

Monalisa-Vikrant Marriage

It was even said that Vikrant wanted Salman to attend the marriage. But, because of busy schedule, Salman will not be able to grace the event.

BB 10 Contestants Unaware Of Mona Watching Them!

Apparently, Mona will come out of the secret room, surprising everyone in the house, during elimination day. It is then Salman will wish the couple for the wedding.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Tuesday said it agreed to buy SimpliVity, a provider of software-defined, hyperconverged infrastructure, for $650 million in cash. The hyperconverged market was estimated to be about $2.4 billion in 2016, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 25 percent, to nearly $6 billion, by 2020, the company said. HPE believes that by combining its infrastructure, automation and cloud management software with SimpliVity's software-defined data management platform will help the company deliver the industry's only 'built-for-enterprise' hyperconverged offering. 'This transaction expands HPE's software-defined capability and fits squarely within our strategy to make Hybrid IT simple for customers,' said Meg Whitman, President and CEO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise. 'More and more customers are looking for solutions that bring them secure, highly resilient, on-premises infrastructure at cloud economics. That's exactly where we're focused.' HPE expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings in the first full fiscal year. The company expects to closed the deal in the second quarter, subject to regulatory review and approval. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 01/17/17 -- Theratechnologies Inc. (Theratechnologies) (TSX: TH) announces that the abstract submitted by its partner, TaiMed Biologics, Inc., for the 24-week study results of the ibalizumab (IBA) phase III study (TMB-301) has been selected for a late breaker presentation, Tuesday, February 14th, 2017, at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) to be held in Seattle, WA, from February 13 to 16, 2017. These results were first announced in our press release of November 10, 2016. Dr. Brinda Emu, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, CT, will be presenting additional efficacy and safety data related to the 24-week study.

In addition, an abstract presenting the preliminary pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) data of a study comparing the intramuscular (IM) to the intravenous (IV) administration of ibalizumab has also been accepted for a presentation, Wednesday, February 15, 2017. The results of this study demonstrate that the PK profile of 800 mg IBA bi-weekly IM administration was comparable to the 800 mg IV bi-weekly administration while maintaining effective concentration during the dosing period.

About TMB-301, ibalizumab Phase III study

TMB-301 is a single arm, 24-week study of ibalizumab plus optimized background regimen (OBR) in treatment-experienced patients infected with multi-drug resistant HIV-1. The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate the antiviral activity of ibalizumab seven days after the first dose of ibalizumab. Patients receiving their current failing antiretroviral therapy (ART), or no therapy, were monitored during a seven-day control period. Thereafter, a loading dose of 2,000 mg of intravenous (IV) ibalizumab was the only ART added to their regimen. The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of patients achieving a greater than or equal to 0.5 log10 decrease in HIV-1 RNA seven days after initiating ibalizumab therapy, day 14 of the study. Ibalizumab is continued at doses of 800 mg IV every two weeks through 24 weeks on study treatment. A total of 40 patients have been enrolled in the study. After completion of treatment, patients are offered participation in the expanded access study (TMB-311). TBM-311 is also open for recruitment of any patients with limited options. For more information about TMB-301 and TMB-311, please refer to the ClinicalTrials.gov website (www.clinicaltrials.gov).

About ibalizumab

Ibalizumab is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody currently being developed for the potential treatment of HIV-1 infection. Unlike other antiretroviral agents, ibalizumab binds primarily to the second extracellular domain of the CD4 receptor, away from major histocompatibility complex II molecule binding sites. It potentially prevents HIV from infecting CD4+ immune cells while preserving normal immunological function. Ibalizumab is active against HIV-1 resistant to all approved antiretroviral agents. Ibalizumab has been tested in Phase I and II clinical trials and the Phase III study is the last pivotal clinical study necessary for the completion of a biologics license application (BLA) expected to be filed with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

About Theratechnologies

Theratechnologies (TSX: TH) is a specialty pharmaceutical company addressing unmet medical needs to promote healthy living and an improved quality of life among HIV patients. Further information about Theratechnologies is available on the Company's website at www.theratech.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, or, collectively, forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities laws, that are based on our management's belief and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. You can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "would", "outlook", "believe", "plan", "envisage", "anticipate", "expect" and "estimate" or the negatives of these terms, or variations of them. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, the filing of a BLA with the FDA and the approval of ibalizumab as a treatment for HIV patients by the FDA.

Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Theratechnologies' control that could cause actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. These assumptions include but are not limited to, the following: results from the Phase I, II and III studies using ibalizumab will allow the filing of a BLA with the FDA, an approval of the BLA by the FDA, patients and physicians will accept ibalizumab as a treatment for HIV-infected patients, if approved, and Theratechnologies will have the necessary infrastructure in place to launch and commercialize ibalizumab as a drug, if approved. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that results from the Phase I, II and/or III studies are not good enough to file a BLA with the FDA, that the FDA does not approve the BLA for ibalizumab and that Theratechnologies is unable to set-up its infrastructure on time to successfully launch and commercialize ibalizumab, if approved by the FDA.

We refer potential investors to the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Information Form dated February 24, 2016 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for other risks regarding our business and affairs. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other risks and uncertainties carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this press release and represent our expectations as of that date.

We undertake no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Philippe Dubuc

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

514-336-7800, ext. 297




TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - January 17, 2017) - iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. ("iAnthus" or "the Company"), (CSE: IAN), financier and manager of licensed cannabis cultivators, processors and dispensaries throughout the United States, today announced the appointment of Russell Shepard to the Company's Advisory Board. Mr. Shepard is the founder of Pursuit Advisory LP, a New York based transaction and strategic advisory firm that deploys capital into select investments opportunities.

"As head trader for over 11 years at one of the largest quantitative funds in the world and founder of multiple investment funds and businesses in other high growth industries, Russell's investment track record is exceptional. This considerable expertise, insight and experience in the U.S. investment community will be valuable to iAnthus as we continue to grow in 2017," stated Hadley Ford, Co-founder and CEO of iAnthus.

Mr. Shepard has a stellar track record spanning 30 years as a hedge fund trader and private investor. From 2003 to 2014, Mr. Shepard was the head trader at Renaissance Technologies LLC ("Renaissance"), a highly respected quantitative investment fund that earned exceptional returns through mathematical and statistical methods. Over his 16 years at Renaissance, Mr. Shepard was instrumental in the performance of the firm's funds which grew to over $60 billion under management. Since leaving Renaissance, Mr. Shepard has founded six successful businesses and recently founded a seventh, Pursuit Advisory LP, a strategic advisory and investment firm that provides transaction and strategic advisory services to media, technology, digital, and private equity clients, and serves as a principal investor in the media and technology sectors. Mr. Shepard serves on the Board of Directors of the East Harlem School, the Board of Trustees at the Marymount School, and on the Board of the Stony Brook University Endowment Investment Committee. Mr. Shepard is a noted philanthropist who has made substantial contributions to several other schools and organizations including the World Science Foundation, Partners in Health, The Robin Hood Foundation, and Texas Children's Hospital. Mr. Shepard received a B.A. in Business Administration from James Madison University.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has granted incentive stock options, exercisable at CAD $2.91, to purchase up to an aggregate of 153,000 shares of the Company, to employees and consultants of the Company.

All options are subject to any earlier termination in accordance with their terms and vest at a rate of 12.5% quarterly beginning on March 31, 2017.

The aforementioned stock options are subject to applicable regulatory filings.

About iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc.

iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc., through its 100% owned subsidiary, iAnthus Capital Management, LLC, delivers a comprehensive solution for financing and managing licensed cannabis cultivators, processors and dispensaries throughout the United States. Founded by entrepreneurs with decades of experience in investment banking, corporate finance, law and healthcare services, iAnthus provides a unique combination of capital and hands-on operating and management expertise. The Company harnesses these skills to support a diversified portfolio of cannabis industry investments for our shareholders, including direct equity investments in for-profit license holders and lending facilities coupled with management services to not-for-profit license holders. For more information, visit www.iAnthuscapital.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in iAnthus' periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements including statements related to iAnthus' future growth.

Although iAnthus has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under US Federal laws; change in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. iAnthus disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and iAnthus does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

CONTACT INFORMATION



Corporate:

Julius Kalcevich

Chief Financial Officer

iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc.

647-705-5544

julius.kalcevich@iAnthuscapital.com



US Investors:

Stephanie Prince

PCG Advisory

646-762-4518

SPrince@pcgadvisory.com



Canadian Investors:

Nicole Marchand

Nicole Marchand Investor Relations

Nicole@nm-ir.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - McKesson Corp. (MCK) agreed to pay a $150 million civil penalty for alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act or CSA, the U.S. Justice Department announced today.



The nationwide settlement requires McKesson to suspend sales of controlled substances from distribution centers in Colorado, Ohio, Michigan and Florida for multiple years. The staged suspensions are among the most severe sanctions ever agreed to by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registered distributor. The settlement also imposes new and enhanced compliance obligations on McKesson's distribution system.



In 2008, McKesson agreed to a $13.25 million civil penalty and administrative agreement for similar violations. In this case, the government alleged again that McKesson failed to design and implement an effective system to detect and report 'suspicious orders' for controlled substances distributed to its independent and small chain pharmacy customers - i.e., orders that are unusual in their frequency, size, or other patterns. From 2008 until 2013, McKesson supplied various U.S. pharmacies an increasing amount of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, frequently misused products that are part of the current opioid epidemic.



The government's investigation developed evidence that even after designing a compliance program after the 2008 settlement, McKesson did not fully implement or adhere to its own program. In Colorado, for example, McKesson processed more than 1.6 million orders for controlled substances from June 2008 through May 2013, but reported just 16 orders as suspicious, all connected to one instance related to a recently terminated customer.



In addition to the monetary penalties and suspensions, the government and McKesson agreed to enhanced compliance terms for the next five years. Among other things, McKesson has agreed to specific, rigorous staffing and organizational improvements; periodic auditing; and stipulated financial penalties for failing to adhere to the compliance terms. Critically, the settlement will require McKesson to engage an independent monitor to assess compliance - the first independent monitor of its kind in a CSA civil penalty settlement.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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TSX ticker symbol; BKX

CAMARILLO,California, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --BNK Petroleum Inc. (the "Company") (TSX:BKX) is pleased to announce that it has successfully finished drilling the first well of its 2017 drilling program, the Chandler 8-6H well, in the Company's Tishomingo Field, Oklahoma.

The Chandler 8-6H well, in which the Company has a 99.9% working interest, has been successfully drilled and cased. The well was drilled under-budget and the entire lateral has been placed on target, within the preferred sub-interval of the Caney formation. As anticipated, strong oil and gas shows were recorded while drilling, which are comparable to some of the Company's best producing wells to date.

The Company is scheduled to begin fracture stimulation operations late next week. Once the stimulation operations are complete the Company will immediately begin flowing back the well and put it on production.

The drilling rig will be rigging down over the next few days and then moving to the next location to drill the Hartgraves 1-6H well (100% working interest).

Wolf Regener, President and CEO, commented "I am very pleased that we were able to drill this well safely and under-budget, and that the oil and gas shows look so strong. This result is a testament to the excellent team that we have in place. We are looking forward to completing this well and to drilling and completing our next planned wells, which are also in areas that are geologically comparable to some of our best performing wells. We expect this drilling program to significantly increase our already positive cash flow, as well as prove up additional reserves."

Operations Update

The Company plans to restart the Company's three previously announced shut-in wells over the next week as the offset operator has completed its fracture stimulations. The four non-operated Woodford wells in which the Company has a 5% working interest are also expected to be on production shortly.

About BNK Petroleum Inc.

BNK Petroleum Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and production company focused on finding and exploiting large, predominately unconventional oil and gas resource plays. Through various affiliates and subsidiaries, the Company owns and operates shale oil and gas properties and concessions in the United States. Additionally, the Company is utilizing its technical and operational expertise to identify and acquire additional unconventional projects. The Company's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol BKX.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the timing of and expected results from planned Caney wells development and the timing of production and the performance of planned wells. Forward-looking information is based on plans and estimates of management and interpretations of data by the Company's technical team at the date the data is provided and is subject to several factors and assumptions of management, including that that indications of early results are reasonably accurate predictors of the prospectiveness of the shale intervals, that required regulatory approvals will be available when required, that no unforeseen delays, unexpected geological or other effects, including flooding and extended interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions, equipment failures, permitting delays or labor or contract disputes are encountered, that the development plans of the Company and its co-venturers will not change, that the offset operator's operations will proceed as expected by management, that the demand for oil and gas will be sustained, that the Company will continue to be able to access sufficient capital through financings, farm-ins or other participation arrangements to maintain its projects, and that global economic conditions will not deteriorate in a manner that has an adverse impact on the Company's business, its ability to advance its business strategy and the industry as a whole. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions on which such forward looking information is based vary or prove to be invalid, including that the Company or its subsidiaries is not able for any reason to obtain and provide the information necessary to secure required approvals or that required regulatory approvals are otherwise not available when required, that unexpected geological results are encountered, that equipment failures, permitting delays or labor or contract disputes or shortages are encountered, the risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g. operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration and development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks, including flooding and extended interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions), that the offset operator's operations have unexpected adverse effects on the Company's operations, that completion techniques require further optimization, that production rates do not match the Company's assumptions, that very low or no production rates are achieved, that the Company is unable to access required capital, that occurrences such as those that are assumed will not occur, do in fact occur, and those conditions that are assumed will continue or improve, do not continue or improve, and the other risks and uncertainties applicable to exploration and development activities and the Company's business as set forth in the Company's management discussion and analysis and its annual information form, both of which are available for viewing under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com, any of which could result in delays, cessation in planned work or loss of one or more concessions and have an adverse effect on the Company and its financial condition. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.







For further information: Wolf E. Regener, +1 (805) 484-3613, Email: investorrelations@bnkpetroleum.com, Website: www.bnkpetroleum.com
BOSTON and DUBLIN, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Digital Health company SilverCloud Health, the leading provider of evidence-based online mental health and behavioural healthcare solutions, announced that it has raised $8.1 million in Series A funding. Venture capital firm B Capital Group - founded by Raj Ganguly and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin - led the investment round with significant participation from ACT Venture Capital and returning investors, Investec Ventures and AIB Seed Capital Fund managed by DBIC, NDRC and Enterprise Ireland.

SilverCloud Health is a multi-award winning global health tech company providing online therapeutic solutions to improve behavioural health and mental wellness; since launching in 2012 it has gone on to support over 80,000 patients across its global customer base, delivering clinical results that are on par with face-to-face therapy.

SilverCloud Health chief executive and co-founder Ken Cahill said the company is defining a new healthcare model to meet the demand of the rapidly growing behavioural healthcare market, which in the US alone is estimated to be worth $440 billion. "This new investment enables us to drive forward with our commitment to evolve our health platform and address the ever-increasing global need in behavioural healthcare. We believe that technology is the enabler to address the biggest healthcare challenge of this century, maximising clinical delivery while enhancing patient access and choice, through the ability to engage with therapy at a time that fits into diverse lifestyles and through devices that are a part of our everyday lives."

"We chose B Capital to lead our Series A because of their healthcare knowledge and relationships, and due to their partnership with The Boston Consulting Group, which has opened doors for us to new commercial partners in the US," he added.

"SilverCloud Health's mission is to make people healthier by providing effective, accessible and affordable behavioural healthcare opportunities, filling a massive void in the market today.B Capital Group is excited to back Ken and the team at SilverCloud Health, as they continue to change the way behavioural healthcare is delivered," said Eduardo Saverin, Co-founder and Partner, B Capital Group. "Our investment in SilverCloud Health is driven by our confidence in its team, its proven track record working with global health organisations and its esteemed partner network. This new capital will enable SilverCloud Health to continue to innovate, expand and broadly deploy its programmes to the millions of individuals who need them."

This funding round comes as SilverCloud Health is growing rapidly with an expanding research pipeline that continues to show the clinical effectiveness of the company's behavioural health platform. The SilverCloud Health platform is currently used by over 120 healthcare organisations across Europe and North America. Within the UK National Health Service (NHS), the company has seen an exponential growth of clients-from supporting 1 percent of NHS mental health services two years ago to over 45 percent today. More broadly within the UK SilverCloud Health works with other organisations including universities and employers. The new capital will be used to meet growing demand in Europe and North America, build out its commercial, development and clinical teams and drive its strong clinical research and publishing agenda.

With proven results in major health systems globally, this investment will allow expansion into new areas such as integration with personal health and activity monitoring devices to give a more integrated personalised context across physical and behavioural healthcare.

Gavin Teo, Partner at B Capital Group said, "SilverCloud Health is redefining access to quality, outcomes-based care for hard-to-treat and high cost behavioural health populations. Their digital health platform is enabling new ways for provider systems and pharma companies to personalise therapeutic delivery to the individual patient, which is a building block for clinically validated, value driven care. B Capital is thrilled to be the lead investor in SilverCloud Health at such an exciting time in their growth."

"We've seen SilverCloud's impact on patients and clinicians. Patients have seen it transform their daily lives, with a therapy they can control, and clinicians have been able to rapidly integrate it into clinical pathways," says John O'Sullivan, General Partner at ACT Venture Capital. "The efficacy data is compelling and is evident across a very large and diverse range of cases. We are delighted to be working with the SilverCloud team to positively impact and change many more lives and transform the economics of healthcare delivery."

Today SilverCloud Health offers 22 evidence-based programmes addressing conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress as well as for long-term chronic conditions (diabetes, COPD, and cardiovascular disease). SilverCloud Health has spun out from the NDRC in 2012, with the backing of Investec Ventures and Dublin BIC and has been built on over a decade of academic and clinical research. Clinically led full randomised control trials (RCT) have demonstrated that SilverCloud Health's programmes are extremely effective, engaging with patients and provide positive clinical outcomes that are on par with face-to-face therapy.

In 2016, SilverCloud Health was highlighted in Accenture's Digital Health Tech Vision 2016 report. The report listed 5 key innovative companies taking charge of healthcare delivery including Apple, Uber, United Healthcare, Philips and SilverCloud Health. In November 2016, SilverCloud Health was listed in the Top 100 Global Disruptive Companies in Healthcare, a report compiled by The Journal of mHealth which provides insight into the key sector trends that are emergingfrom across the healthcare continuum when it comes to the adoption of technology-led products and services.

In the UK, clinical and financial benefits of online mental health services are being increasingly recognised, with Prime Minister, Theresa May, announcing 67.7 million funding for its expansion earlier this month.

About B Capital

B Capital Group is a venture capital firm specialising in growth-stage investments with pioneering companies that are ready to scale across the global stage. B Capital Group was co-founded in 2015 by Eduardo Saverin (Facebook founder) and Raj Ganguly with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Singapore. Partnering with The Boston Consulting Group, and its incubation arm BCG Digital Ventures, B Capital delivers unparalleled access to top corporations to match cutting-edge start-ups with the world's most powerful CEOs, platforms, and brands. Current companies include Evidation Health and Ninja Van.

About ACT Venture Capital

ACT Venture Capital is a specialist, multi-stage, technology investor. ACT is Ireland's leading independent venture capital company with over $500m under management and a team with extensive experience working with entrepreneurs to build scale.

About SilverCloud Health

SilverCloud Health is a leading provider of outcomes-focused online behavioural health and wellbeing solutions. Health systems and healthcare organisations use SilverCloud Health to provide care populations with immediate access to clinically proven, evidenced-based content, programmes and support within the area of mental health (depression, anxiety, stress) and long term/chronic illness care (diabetes, COPD, CVD). SilverCloud Health offers a complete clinical platform that flexes around a provider's specific care delivery needs and protocols delivering mental wellness up to full clinical intervention level including self-help, supported online, preventive care, treatment, adjunct to face-to-face through to relapse care.

SilverCloud Health is a spin-out company from the Technology Enhanced Therapy (TET) project, a four-year joint translational research project (2008 - 2012) backed by NDRC investment and undertaken by NDRC, Trinity College Dublin's School of Computer Science & Statistics and Parents Plus, Mater University Hospital. Prior to this, the project also benefited from over a decade of direct collaborative academic research between Trinity College Dublin and Mater University Hospital into online behavioural health delivery.
PowerHouse Energy Group plc

("PowerHouse" or the "Company")

Cooperation Agreement with Project Development Consultant

PowerHouse is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Cooperation Agreement ('the Agreement') to appoint Waste2tricity plc (Waste2Tricity) as its Project Development Consultant on an initial 24 month contract. The purpose is to cooperate in the development of multiple waste to energy (WTE) plants in the UK using the PHE G3-UHT gasification technology ("G3"), subject to both parties meeting specific performance criteria. The contract may be extended if development milestones are met and is subject to cancellation with a 90 day notice period.

The terms of the contract are such that Waste2tricity will initially be compensated in PowerHouse shares for its fees of 20,000 per month to be issued on a monthly basis. 51 per cent. of the shares will be restricted until a final investment decision on a commercial project is reached. Subsequent to successful project development, and after each party recovers its project-related costs (including PoweHouse recovering the expense of the shares issued,) the profits of the project will be shared 50/50. In the event it becomes necessary, each party will provide the other with specialized, externally sourced, personnel at cost + 5 per cent.; such cost to be recovered from the project related costs as defined above.

Waste2tricity has a history of initiating projects both in the UK andin Thailand and PowerHouse had previously signed an exclusive distribution agreement for Thailand with Waste2Tricity, Thailand, a subsidiary of Waste2Tricity.

Waste2Tricity's staff and Board consist of well-respected members of the WTE and Project Engineering communities; Waste2tricity's significant shareholders includes AFC Energy PLC. PowerHouse has previously announced the intended acquisition of an AFC Energy fuel cell (04/04/2014) for demonstration with PowerHouse derived Hydrogen.

The Company believes that PowerHouse and Waste2tricity will be able to identify and secure a suitably accessible, and highly visible, demonstration site for G3 in advance of its arrival in the UK. The Agreement seeks to successfully demonstrate the use of G3 in a commercial installation as well as to explore the potential for the integration of AFC Fuel Cell technology, to which Waste2Tricity has an exclusive WTE related licence in the UK, with G3 for ultra efficient generation of electricity.

Subject to successful commercialisation, each of PowerHouse and Waste2Tricity will have a right of first refusal for WTE projects using each other's technology for projects up to 1,000 tonnes of waste per day. The continuation of the right of first refusal is subject to a to be agreed minimum number of installations over each 24 month period.

Keith Allaun, Executive Chairman of PowerHouse said: "We are delighted to have developed this relationship with Waste2Tricity over the past several years. With their involvement we now have 'boots on theground' in the UK. They are extremely well-connected, knowledgeable about the industry, and we're eager to work with their experienced and talented staff. We are confident that together we will be able to deliver successful projects far more rapidly than working independently."

John Hall, Managing Director of Waste2tricity said: "This is a great opportunity for Waste2Tricity to get involved at the early stage of commercialisation of a product that we believe will have an enormous impact on the distributed waste conversion market, distributed power market, and in the future, the distributed hydrogen market. In addition to working on deploying the systems we will also be working with PowerHouse to endeavour to find ways to reduce the manufacturing costs especially with our existing relationships in Thailand."

The Company will keep the market apprised of any future developments relating to the agreement between PowerHouse and Waste2Tricity.

For more information, contact:

PowerHouse Energy Group plc

Keith Allaun, Executive Chairman Tel: +44 (0) 203 368 6399 WH Ireland Limited (Nominated Adviser)

James Joyce / James Bavister Tel: +44 (0) 207 220 1666 Vicarage Capital Limited (Broker)

Jeremy Woodgate Tel: +44 (0) 203 651 2910 IFC Advisory (Financial PR & IR)

Tim Metcalfe / Graham Herring / Heather Armstrong / Miles Nolan Tel: +44 (0) 203 053 8671

About PowerHouse

PowerHouse is the holding company of the G3-UHt System Ultra High Gasification waste to energy systems.

The Company is focussed on technologies to enable energy recovery from municipal waste streams that would otherwise be directed to landfills and incinerators; or from renewable and alternative fuels such as biomass, tyres, and plastics to create syngas for power generation, high-quality hydrogen, or potentially reformed into liquid fuels for transportation. These waste to energy systemsaim to provide the "best solution" to the on-site energy market.

PowerHouse is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM Market. The Company is incorporated in the United Kingdom.

For more information see www.powerhouseenenergy.net
DUBLIN (dpa-AFX) - Experian plc. (EXPN.L), an information services company, reported Wednesday that its third-quarter total revenue growth from ongoing activities was 4%. At constant exchange rates, revenues grew 6%, while organic revenue growth was 4%. Looking ahead, the company noted that if current exchange rates prevail through to the end of the year, it expects a resulting headwind to Benchmark EBIT of approximately 1% for the full year. In North America, third-quarter organic revenue growth was 3% and total revenue growth from ongoing activities was 7%. Latin America delivered another strong performance with organic revenue growth of 8% at constant exchange rates. Organic revenue growth in the UK and Ireland was 2% at constant exchange rates. Brian Cassin, Chief Executive Officer, said, 'Looking ahead, our guidance for the full year is unchanged. At a Group level and at constant currencies, we expect organic revenue growth in the mid-single digit range, to deliver stable margins while investing for growth, and further progress in Benchmark earnings per share.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Mitie Group plc (MTO.L) said that it expect underlying operating profit for the full year to 31 March 2017 to be in the range of 60 million pounds to 70 million pounds, including ongoing healthcare losses, but before the previously disclosed 10 million pounds one-off costs of change.



Despite lower forecast earnings, the company expects to continue operating within contractual banking covenants.



Property Management and Technical FM divisions have been impacted by client deferrals and investment plan delays, respectively, which are now expected to be fulfilled in the second-quarter of 2017. Separately, it is clear that our Cleaning division is underperforming; management changes are being implemented.



In addition, the Board is undertaking a balance sheet review, and has taken a more conservative judgement on contractual positions, identifying an additional 14 million pounds of one-off charges in the year. Separately, Mitie Group plc announced succession plans for the position of Group Finance Director.



Following the recent appointment of Phil Bentley as Chief Executive Officer, the Board can now announce that Suzanne Baxter will step down as Group Finance Director of Mitie and from the Board on 10 February 2017. The company said that Sandip Mahajan has been appointed to succeed her in the role.



Sandip joins Mitie today, and will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer and be appointed to the Board on 10 February 2017.



Sandip brings a wide range of financial and accounting experience, including most recently at Balfour Beatty PLC, where he served as Group Director of Finance from 2013-16 and held other roles in project and structured finance in the successful Investments Division from 2005 - 2013. He was previously at Ernst & Young and British Airways Plc.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Hochschild Mining plc (HOC.L) reported record full year attributable production in 2016 with: 17.3 million ounces of silver; 246.1 thousand ounces of gold; 35.5 million silver equivalent ounces which was up 31% from 2015; and 479.6 thousand gold equivalent ounces. The company said its 2016 all-in sustaining costs per silver equivalent ounce is on track to meet $11.0-11.5 guidance.



In the fourth-quarter 2016, the company delivered attributable production of 116.6 thousand gold equivalent ounces or 8.6 million silver equivalent ounces. This comprised of 4.1 million ounces of silver and 61.6 thousand ounces of gold.



Hochschild Mining recorded total cash of approximately $140 million as at 31 December 2016. Net debt is approximately $183 million as at 31 December 2016; $127 million of debt repaid in 2016.



The overall production target for 2017 is 37.0 million silver equivalent ounces or 500 thousand gold equivalent ounces exceeding previous guidance of 35.0 million ounces. The all-in sustaining cost per silver equivalent ounce in 2017 is expected to be between $12.2 and $12.7. Excluding the increased investment in resource growth as well as the one-off investment in Pablo infrastructure, the all-in sustaining cost forecast is between $11.5 and $12.0 per silver equivalent ounce. The overall capital expenditure budget for 2017 is approximately $120-130 million.



Ignacio Bustamante, CEO said: 'In 2017, we will continue our focus on cost effective organic growth with the start of production from the new Pablo vein as well as an increase in brownfield drilling as part of our recently announced exploration programme. We are also targeting a fifth consecutive year of production increases and, despite the rise in brownfield investment, cost control at all our mines will remain a priority.'



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Iceland's Air Navigation Service Provider and Aireon sign agreement for real-time air traffic surveillance in more than 5.4 million square kilometers of airspace

MCLEAN, Virginia, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of a successful launch of the first ten Iridium NEXT satellites on Saturday, January 14th, Aireon announced today that it has signed a data services agreement with Isavia, the Icelandic Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP). Isavia will deploy Aireon's space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) service throughout the Reykjavik Oceanic Control Area (OCA). In addition to providing enhanced redundancy to existing terrestrial surveillance resources in the southern part of the airspace, the AireonSM service will, for the first time ever, provide real-time surveillance and tracking in the region extending from 70 degrees north to the North Pole.

Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458195/Aireon_Logo.jpg

With control of more than 5.4 million square kilometers of airspace, Isavia is looking to improve safety, and efficiency (through reduced separation) of operations by expanding the ADS-B service area. Continuity of service will be enhanced through use of Aireon's technology in airspace where line-of-sight surveillance is already.

"Aireon is already working with our colleagues at NAV CANADA and UK NATS to introduce this capability for oceanic crossings in the North Atlantic. We had initially signed a memorandum of agreement to ensure the benefits would be realized, not only with safety, but also efficiency," said Asgeir Palsson director, Air Navigation Services, Isavia. "The benefits speak for themselves, and we are working closely with our North Atlantic neighbors. We anticipate optimizing the 160,000 flights that use our airspace every year."

Isavia's northerly location makes it a key player in the North Atlantic (NAT) region bordering Gander Oceanic Flight Information Region (FIR), controlled by NAV CANADA, and Shanwick Oceanic FIR, controlled by NATS, to the south, and Bodo Oceanic and Murmansk FIRs in the northern part. Space-based ADS-B will provide a best-in-class technology for this region of the NAT, and give participating ANSPs 100 percent, real-time coverage. Isavia will also be conducting flight trials in polar airspace north of 70 degrees to evaluate the expected benefits of previously unavailable surveillance in polar airspace.

"Isavia, given their location, have a strategic mission to utilize the most advanced technology. Not only will they use Aireon for increasing safety, but they will also use it as a contingency source of surveillance to add an extra layer to their robust series of cutting-edge technologies," said Cyriel Kronenburg, Vice President, Aviation Services, Aireon. "We will also be working closely with Isavia to test the impact of real-time surveillance in the North Pole. Isavia will soon have the ability to track a flight across the entire polar region, in real-time, an unprecedented capability in the history of aviation."

For more information about Aireon visit: Aireon.com

For more information about Isavia visit: Isavia.is

About Aireon LLC

Aireon is deploying a global, space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system capable of surveilling and tracking ADS-B equipped aircraft around the globe in real-time. The system will be used to provide ADS-B coverage that will span oceanic, polar and remote regions, where current surveillance systems are limited to line-of-site and densely populated areas. Aireon will harness the best of aviation surveillance advancements already underway and extend them globally in order to significantly improve efficiency, expand safety, reduce emissions and provide cost savings to aviation stakeholders. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, NAV CANADA, ENAV, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon is developing an operational, global, space-based air traffic surveillance system expected to be available by 2018. For more information about Aireon, visit: www.aireon.com.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Jessie Hillenbrand

Aireon

+1 (703) 287-7452

Jessie.Hillenbrand@Aireon.com

Gudni Sigurdsson

Isavia

+354 424-4507

Gudni.Sigurdsson@Isavia.is
ACCRINGTON,England, Jan. 18,2017 /PRNewswire/ --Kleeneze Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JRjr33, Inc., doing business as JRJR Networks [NYSE MKT: JRJR] a Dallas, Texas based company, announced today that it has executed a 1.2 million ($1.5 million) funding agreement with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to finance the consolidation of its world-wide product logistics operations into a 100,000-square footwarehouse, fulfillment, distribution and office center in Rochdale.

Kleeneze, a94-year old direct sales organization, sells and distributes a wide range of household and beauty products through an extensive network of independent sales distributors throughout Great Britain and Europe.

JRJR Networks is a market leader in global direct-to-consumer product distribution through its family of 10 businesses which operate in over 60 countries with over 70,000 sales associates around the world.

Kleeneze will use the new funding to consolidate its global logistics operations into a new facility in Rochdale, providing an opportunity to expand its already successful business and to offer additional employment with more than 100 new jobs in Rochdale, North East of Manchester.

Michael Khatkar, Kleeneze Managing Director said, "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to make this contribution to the local economy and to offer additional employment support to the region. This new facility should enable us to drive our business further in 2017, expanding into new markets and enabling more people to engage in personal economic development. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with the GMCA."

GMCA Lead member for Investment and Finance, Councillor Kieran Quinn said, "This investment shows that the Combined Authority has become a vital player in the commercial finance market. More and more firms are looking to us to support their growth plans and of course we are only too happy to assist in the creation of more jobs and prosperity in the region."

John Rochon, Jr., Vice-Chairman and Founder of JRJR Networks said, "Kleeneze is an important member of the JRJR family of companies. We are very proud of Kleeneze's many accomplishments and we expect that this initiative will enable Kleeneze to make a meaningful leap in development of its already successful record, expanding profitability and greatly benefitting our customers, our sales associates and our shareholders."

About JRJR Networks (www.jrjrnetworks.com)

JRJR Networks is a growing platform of direct-to-consumer brands. Within JRJR Networks, each company retains its separate identity, sales force, product line and compensation plan, while JRJR Networks seeks synergies and efficiencies in operational areas. JRJR Networks companies currently includeThe Longaberger Company, a 42-year old maker of hand-crafted baskets and other home decor items; Your Inspiration At Home, an award-winning maker of hand-crafted spices and other gourmet food items from around the world;Tomboy Tools, a direct seller of tools designed for women;Agel Enterprises, a global seller of nutritional products in gel form as well as a skin care line, operating in 50 countries;Paperly, which offers a line of custom stationery and other personalized products;Uppercase Living, which offers a line of customizable vinyl expressions for display on walls in the home;Kleeneze, a 95-year old UK-based catalog seller of cleaning, health, beauty, home, outdoor and a variety of other products, andBetterware, a UK-based home catalog seller. JRJR Networks also includesHappenings, a lifestyle publication and marketing company.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," or "will" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology and include statements regarding the expected contribution of the new Kleeneze facility and our continued growth. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, our ability to expand profitability at Kleeneze, our ability to expand leadership activities in support of our sales, our ability to continue to grow, our ability to integrate the entities that we have acquired, our ability to strengthen our internal controls and the other risks outlined under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and our other filings with the SEC, including subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact:

Investor Relations: Tucker Gagen (tucker.gagen@jrjrnetworks.com)

Media Contact: Brenton Baker (brenton.baker@jrjrnetworks.com)

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160128/327033LOGO
BUCHAREST, Romania, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- Vocea.Biz continues to triumphantly work its way to the top

Vocea.biz is announcing the rebranding of Vocea Transilvaniei, a local newspaper, as a national level publication. Radical changes and a new image await readers.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458029/Vocea_Biz.jpg )



Vocea.biz - a way to stay connected

Vocea.biz offers expats and Romanian speakers living abroad a chance to read the latest news and relevant information currently taking place in Romania. It is of utter importance for readers interested in Romania's political and cultural agenda, to stay up to date on current matters, whether they are considering relocating or starting to work in the country.

When and why it all began

The site launched in September 2016 and by the end of the month, it reached the top 2 most read Romanian publications in the News and Investigation division, according to BRAT (The Romanian Transmedia Audit Office), with almost 3.3 million unique clients and approximately 17 million posts.

https://vocea.bizwas created as means of collecting and offering excellent information to all its users in order to keep them updated on the most relevant, useful events taking place in and around the territory of Romania. Each of the headlines on the website is classified in several news categories for user convenience.

A reader can choose any of these topics according to a location, by picking any of the 42 Romanian counties to view the most relevant news from that region.

Another way users can browse the website is by topic. The categories of interest readers can select are Politics, Economics, Health, Inspiring Stories, Sports, Travel, Weather and more.

The site also includes a section for International News and even a Daily Caricature to lighten the mood with some clever humor. All this variety provides both an educational and entertaining user-friendly platform for readers to enjoy.

A team concerned with quality and work ethics

The team in charge of this project is comprised of several well-known journalists, with experience working in newsrooms both in Romania's capital, Bucharest, and in the cities of Cluj-Napoca and Satu Mare.

Maintaining the quality and integrity of the site are the main attributes all Vocea.biz members are driven by on a daily basis. Thus making it possible for them to provide high-quality writing backed up by accurate fact-checking.

An open-minded organisation

Vocea.biz constantly collaborates with Romanian press agencies like News.ro and Mediafax, the largest Romanian provider of general and business information. This is why the facts they publish are not just educational in nature, but also well-documented and relevant to their target audience.

Notes about the organization

Mandarine International, the company behind Vocea.biz, is a highly specialized organization, skilled in providing the best solutions in the fields of Graphic Design, Software Development and Social Media, for users and clients worldwide. The ideas at the center of each service provided by the company are all fueled by a passion for quality, which becomes obvious when using their services.

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LONDON, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Ximbio, a non-profit online one-stop-shop for the global life science community to share research resources, has opened its first North American headquarters in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

This marks an expansion for Ximbio following its launch in October 2014 as a business unit of UK- based company Cancer Research Technology (CRT), the commercialization arm of the foundation Cancer Research UK.

Ximbio.com allows scientists to find, source and share important research resources from cell lines, antibodies, proteins, microbes, small molecules and vectors to genomic models such as zebrafish and mice.

It sells and licenses them on behalf of academic institutes, onto the life science reagents market. Ximbio maintains the link between the product and the scientist and university that created them, so that they are credited for the research.

Melanie Hardman, Head of Ximbio, said: "We're delighted to expand to North America to continue our important work to get academically-funded research tools out of laboratory freezers and into the hands of other scientists - accelerating research.

"Our partnerships with non-profit research institutions create one of the most comprehensive collections of rare and unique biological materials available anywhere for the study and cure of disease."

The Ximbio, North America office will be headed by Robert Bondaryk, previously CEO at reagents company, Kerafast, senior VP & GM at genomic services company, Cogenics, and VP at laboratory supplies company, Fisher Scientific.

Robert Bondaryk, Head of Ximbio, North America, said: "I'm honored to be heading up this expansion into North America. Ximbio has extensive experience in managing research tools - with a portfolio exceeding 2,000 reagents available for commercialization and has signed over 700 agreements with more than 200 companies.

"And we're looking forward to working closely with academic and research laboratories in North America to build on this tremendous experience and success in Europe and beyond."

Notes to editors:

About Ximbio

Ximbio is part of Cancer Research Technology, the technology management arm of Cancer Research UK. It partners with academic and government research laboratories as a non-profit extension of their technology transfer offices, offering a comprehensive range of expertise and resources in the management of institutional bioresearch tool assets. These include actively promoting research tools worldwide in the extensive Ximbio online catalog, and professionally managing material inquiries, sourcing and repository, investigator and end-user relations, technology transfer and licensing of materials by a large and international staff dedicated solely to making life science research reagents widely available to the global scientific community.

About Cancer Research Technology

Cancer Research Technology (CRT) is a specialist commercialization and development company, which aims to develop new discoveries in cancer research for the benefit of cancer patients. CRT works closely with leading international cancer scientists and their institutes to protect intellectual property arising from their research and to establish links with commercial partners. CRT facilitates the discovery, development and marketing of new cancer therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics and enabling technologies. CRT is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cancer Research UK, the largest independent funder of cancer research in the world. Further information about CRT can be found at http://www.cancertechnology.com


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Pearson plc. (PSON.L) said it expect to deliver operating profit in line with guidance for 2016, despite a further unprecedented decline in the fourth-quarter 2016 in North American higher education courseware business. Its 2016 restructuring program has been delivered in full and the financial benefits are a little higher than planned.



The company announced actions to accelerate digital transition in higher education, to manage the print decline, and to reshape portfolio. The guidance for 2017 reflects continued challenges and uncertainty in the North American higher education courseware market and it no longer expects to reach prior operating profit goal for 2018. The Board intends to recommend a final dividend of 34 pence for an overall 2016 dividend of 52 pence in line with guidance, but as a result of the factors the company intends to rebase dividend from 2017 onwards.



For 2016, the company expects to report adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share of approximately 630 million pounds and 57 pence respectively, with revenues down approximately 8% in underlying terms primarily due to weakness in North American higher education courseware.



The company continued to manage discretionary cost tightly and are accruing around 55 million pounds less than originally planned for 2016 staff incentive programme, enabling the company to report within the guidance range it had previously set.



The North American higher education courseware market was much weaker than expected. Its net revenues fell 30% during the final quarter resulting in an unprecedented 18% decline for the full year. The company estimates 2% of this decline was driven by lower enrolment, particularly in Community College and amongst older students; 3-4% by an accelerated impact from rental in the secondary market; and approximately 12% due to an inventory correction in the channel reflecting the cumulative impact of these factors in prior years.



Whereas the company had previously anticipated a broadly stable North American higher education courseware market in 2017, the company now assume that many of these downward pressures will continue.



The company accelerates work to simplify product technology platform and enhancing courseware service capabilities with 50 million pounds of additional investment, which will remove barriers to faster product innovation, accelerate product roadmap by two years and drive faster adoption of institution-wide Digital Direct Access for Pearson courseware.



The company increased participation in the courseware rental market, by reducing eBook rental prices by up to 50% across 2,000 titles - making digital rental the best option for price-conscious students.



With the integration of Penguin Random House complete, and with greater industry-wide stability on digital terms, the company intends to issue an exit notice regarding 47% stake in Penguin Random House to JV partner Bertelsmann in the contractual window, with a view to selling our stake or recapitalising the business and extracting a dividend.



The company noted that it will use proceeds from this action to maintain a strong balance sheet; invest in our business; and return excess capital to shareholders whilst retaining an investment grade credit rating.



The company will continue to reduce exposure to large scale direct delivery services and focus on more scalable online, virtual, and blended services, across portfolio.



'The challenges we have faced during 2016 mean we begin 2017 with a base level of underlying profitability that is around 180m lower than we had expected in early 2016. Our preliminary guidance range is for operating profit in 2017 of 570m to 630m, driving adjusted earnings per share of 48.5p to 55.5p. This is based on our existing portfolio, a 2017 net interest charge of 74m, a tax rate of 20% and exchange rates on 31 December 2016,' the company said.



The company withdrew its operating profit goal for 2018 reflecting portfolio changes and challenging and uncertain markets.



Pearson will report its preliminary results on 24 February 2017.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, which hosts the Middle East's largest commercial storage capacity for refined products, today published inaugural weekly inventory data via S&P Global Platts to advance the emirate's progression towards becoming one of the world's leading energy trading hubs. The data can be viewed at https://fujairah.platts.com/.

The weekly oil inventory data is an aggregate breakdown of fuel oil, residuals, middle distillates and light ends. The visibility provided by publication of this data is a key ingredient of successful liquid trading centers around the world and helps reduce market opacity, enabling traders and investors to see opportunities and develop cohesive risk-aware strategies.

The publication of this data will help elevate Fujairah's growth as a top tier energy trading hub alongside Singapore, Rotterdam and Houston. Data clarity lies at the core of accurate supply-demand outlooks, understanding trends in market prices, the movement of oil products and in attracting energy investors.

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Rashid bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Deputy Chairman - FOIZ, and Chairman of Fujairah Culture and Media Authority, the Government of Fujairah said: "Releasing Fujairah's oil inventory data on a weekly basis is a crucial step to nurturing the growth of a robust energy trading ecosystem in the emirate and the wider Gulf. Fujairah's strategic geographic position at the heart of the growing energy corridor east of the Suez Canal to Asia and Africa, as well as its world-class bunkering and oil products storage, heralds the emirate's dawn as a global energy hub.".

Dave Ernsberger, Head of Energy Pricing, S&P Global Platts said: "We are pleased to have partnered with Fujairah by offering our distribution capabilities to ensure that Fujairah Oil Industry Zone inventory data is widely available to a global audience interested in understanding the flows of oil products in the region. In doing so we are able to support Fujairah in the next step in its development towards becoming a global trading hub. The data complements our recent launch of Fujairah oil products price assessments as the Middle East continues its diversification into producing, exporting and locally trading refined oil products".

Note to the Editor:

Fujairah sits at the heart of the new energy corridor that stretches from the East of the Suez Canal to Asia and has a vast array of capabilities, including oil transmission pipeline connectivity with Abu Dhabi, vast oil storage facilities, supporting utilities infrastructure, and a deep water port. Since September, the Port is also home to the first very large crude carrier (VLCC) jetty on the Indian Ocean. The number of financial centers in the region has also grown, with the majority of banks, private and national oil companies and commodity trading houses engaging in local activities.

S&P Global Platts is the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets. As part of a separate effort, the company started publishing independent and outright price assessments for a range of oil products for the Middle East market on a Free-On-Board Fujairah (FOB FUJ) basis on October 3, 2016.

Visit S&P Global Platts dedicated website page to access Fujairah's weekly oil inventory data alongside details of methodology.

About S&P Global Platts

At S&P Global Platts, we provide the insights; you make better informed trading and business decisions with confidence. We're the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets. Customers in over 150 countries look to our expertise in news, pricing and analytics to deliver greater transparency and efficiency to markets. S&P Global Platts coverage includes oil and gas, power, petrochemicals, metals, agriculture and shipping.

S&P Global Platts is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for companies, governments and individuals to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visitwww.platts.com.
RAMAT GAN, Israel, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- New state-of-the-art technology helps clinicians provide personalised pain relief

Medasense Biometrics Ltd. announced today that it has received CE mark approval for its novel Pain Monitoring Device, PMD200'. This new technology is now available to help physicians objectively assess a patient's pain in critical care situations, where patients are unable to communicate. This allows physicians to ensure pain is properly managed.

Objectively assessing how much pain an individual person is in has long been a challenge. When a patient is unable to describe their pain, it is even more of a problem. There are currently no validated objective markers of pain that are recommended for clinical use[1] and this can make it difficult, especially for anaesthesia teams, to provide the right amount of pain-relief medication.

To address these challenges Medasense has developed PMD200', a pain monitoring device based on the patented NOL' technology that quantifies patients' physiological response to pain. The easy-to-use system consists of a non-invasive finger probe which acquires physiological signals from four different sensors and calculates dozens of pain-related physiological parameters. This data is then analysed by artificial intelligence algorithms and converted into a single pain index, the Nociception Level (NOL') index, where 0 = no pain and 100 = extreme pain.

Using the system will enable physicians, in particular critical care teams, to optimise and personalise pain treatment avoiding over or under use of pain medication that can result in significant complications[2],[3]. On regaining consciousness after surgery, common complications resulting from opioid administration include nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, constipation[4] and hyperalgesia[5]. Successful clinical validation studies in world-class European and Canadian hospitals support its use in these settings, with the NOL' Index demonstrating superior intraoperative pain assessment over currently used methods[6],[7].

Professor Albert Dahan, MD. PhD. from the Department of Anaesthesiology at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands said, "We have been studying the PMD device for a number of years now, and I believe that the NOL index may allow for more balanced anesthesia, as for the first time we are able to titrate analgesic medication to patients' needs. In the upcoming weeks the LUMC will be adding PMD200 devices into the operating rooms, in the future I hope to see the NOL index integrated into other monitors as it provides significant decision support information and can potentially positively impact patient outcomes".

"The European launch of PMD200 marks a significant milestone for Medasense's breakthrough pain assessment technology," said Galit Zuckerman, Medasense's CEO and founder, "With future products and applications in development, our technology has the potential to dramatically change pain care, pain research and the industry as a whole."

The company is setting up distribution networks to make the system available in operating rooms and critical care units across Europe.

The company is also conducting research in other forms of pain, for example chronic pain including long-term back pain, with the aim of broadening the situations where the NOL' Index could help with pain management.

About Medasense:

Medasense develops innovative medical devices and applications in the field of objective pain monitoring.

The company is led by experienced professionals in the fields of signal processing and computer engineering, together with an extensive team of medical industry veterans and prominent pain specialists.

Following extensive multidisciplinary research, the company has developed a novel index that quantifies the physiological response to pain.

The breakthrough NOL' (Nociception level) index technology paves the way for precision medicine, allowing for personalised and optimised pain care.

For more information, visit: http://www.medasense.com.

* PMD-200 is CE marked. Available for commercial use in Europe and is currently limited by U.S. law to investigational use only.

Additional Media Resources

Product backgrounder - http://www.medasense.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Medasense-Backgrounder-PMD-200-Product-1.2017.pdf

Pain during surgery backgrounder - http://www.medasense.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Medasense-Pain-during-surgery-and-objective-measurement-1.2017.pdf

PMD200' video - http://www.medasense.com/about-us/media-resource-center/

References:

Cowen R et al., (2015) Assessing pain objectively: the use of physiological markers. Anaesthesia, 70:828-847 Gan TJ et al., (2014) Incidence, patient satisfaction, and perceptions pf post-surgical pain: Results from a US national survey. Current Medical Research and Opinion. 30:149-60 Pogatzki-Zahn E et al., (2015) A Prospective Multicenter Study to Improve Postoperative Pain: Identification of Potentialities and Problems. Plos One, 10:e0143508 Benyamin R et al., (2008) Opioid Complications and Side Effects. Pain Physician: Opioid Special Issue. 11:S105-S120 Joly V et al., (2005) Remifentanil-induced postoperative hyperalgesia and its prevention with small dose ketamine. Anesthesiology, 103:147-55 Julien M et al., (2016) Nociception Level (NoL) index alteration after standardized nociceptive stimulus decreases with higher doses of remifentanil. Abstract:European Society of Anaesthesiology. Edry R et al., (2016) Intraoperative validation of the NOL Index, a non-invasive nociception monitor. Anesthesiology, 125:193-203

Media Enquiries



Kate Perry

Phone: +44(0)7747-533-260

Email: kperry@jpa.com


LONDON, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Avignon Capital, the European property investment specialist, has sold its prime retail portfolio in Copenhagen to Hines, the global real estate investment management firm, for 119m, achieving a 135% return on equity.

The portfolio consists of five prime retail assets; a block of three located on Koebmagergade, a prime pedestrian shopping street in the Old Town of Copenhagen, whilst the other two are on stergade and Vimmelskaftet. The units are let to international retailers, including Superdry and Benneton. The property manager of the five Copenhagen assets is Capital Investments.

The portfolio was assembled by Avignon Capital between Q2 2012 and Q1 2014, at a time when few international investors were in the market and yields were heavily discounted, in comparison to other European capital cities. Avignon Capital identified the Copenhagen retail market as having significant growth opportunities offered by its rapidly growing tourism industry and high domestic spending power.

Avignon Capital further increased the value of the portfolio with active asset management initiatives, including the development of a new 8,000 sq ft ground floor retail unit within the Koebmagergade property, which was completed in Q2 2016 and let to international retailer Superdry, increasing rent by 200% since acquisition.

Eric Mounier, CEO at Avignon Capital, said, "The Copenhagen portfolio sale has created another extraordinary return on equity of 100% for Avignon Capital, underpinning our ability to identify market opportunities ahead of the curve and execute innovative acquisitions.

Since we entered the Copenhagen market in 2012, the local retail market has evolved due to the influx of international retailers entering the market, helping to drive the rental and capital value of Avignon's assets.

As our expansion accelerates in 2017, we will continue to look for innovative opportunities in both the Danish and wider European markets."

In Q1 2016, Avignon Capital completed the sale of the Amagertorv 2 building in Copenhagen, the Danish home of Louis Vuitton, for 26.8m, which set a new benchmark yield for retail in the Copenhagen market and crystallised a return on equity of 112% in under 4 years.

Issued by Peregrine Communications on behalf of Avignon Capital

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT AVIGNON CAPITAL



Avignon Capital is a European Property Investment and Asset Management business based on Margaret Street in London's West End. Avignon's core markets are the UK, Germany, Nordics and Spain. Avignon's clients include private investors, family offices and the listed Cubic Property Fund.

As of Q3 2016, Avignon's AUM is 650m, with 103 properties across 5 countries in its portfolio.

Press enquiries:

Karolis Adomaitis

+44(0)20-3040-0873 or +44(0)7730-526-335

karolis.adomaitis@peregrinecommunications.com

Alexander Gorokhov

+44(0)203-040-0892

alexander.gorokhov@peregrinecommunications.com


Hong Kong Education Bureau selects Shrewsbury to build new school to boost attractiveness of Hong Kong as most-favoured destination for expatriate talent

Invites registration of interest for 2018/19 academic year at www.shrewsbury.hk

HONG KONG, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong, today, announced that it has been selected by the Hong Kong Education Bureau to build a new, world-class school in Hong Kong to help boost the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a most-favoured destination for expatriate talent.

Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458540/Shrewsbury_Intl_HK.jpg

Shrewsbury Hong Kong is a primary school that plans to cater for children between the ages of 3 and 11 years.It is being purpose-built in the Tseung Kwan O district of Hong Kong's New Territories next to a 350-hectare mountain forest and opens in 2018.

Sir David Lees, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Shrewsbury Hong Kong and a former Chairman of the Court of the Bank of England, said, "We are delighted with the trust placed in Shrewsbury by the Hong Kong Education Bureau. Our commitment is to create a great school in Hong Kong in the tradition of Shrewsbury School in the United Kingdom, which is one of the original nine 'Great Schools' of Britain, and has a firm place among the country's highly reputed schools."

Shrewsbury School was established by Royal Charter in 1552. Its tradition of excellence reaches to the time of the great British monarch Elizabeth I, who supported its development and expansion to become one of the finest schools in Britain.

Shrewsbury Hong Kong's establishment is a part of the Hong Kong Education Bureau's strategy to increase the competitiveness of Hong Kong as a destination that can attract the best expatriate professionals, and, with them, greater investment. Hong Kong has a shortage of international school places which is particularly acute at the primary level, with an estimated shortfall of over 4,200 places in the 2016/2017 school year.

Sir David, who has also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Shrewsbury School in the UK, added: "From its first day, Shrewsbury Hong Kong will achieve the standards of excellence of the school in Britain. We are putting in every resource necessary to make that happen - from ensuring that there are a sufficiently large number of children in every age-group to enable the best learning environment, to enrolling the finest teachers through a recruitment programme conducted in the UK."

Ensuring the excellence of Shrewsbury Hong Kong is Mr. Stephen Holroyd, Director of Schools for Shrewsbury in Asia and an educationalist with 12 years' experience in the region as Principal of the outstandingly successful Shrewsbury in Bangkok.

"We are doing something truly exceptional and establishing no less than 6 classes in every primary year group, each with around 20 children. It's an unusually big commitment, but one that will lay the foundations of a genuinely great school," he said.

Mr. Holroyd explained that having a critical mass of 120 children of similar age in every primary year group lets the school design age-appropriate environments specifically to suit the needs of a particular age group as well as to build function-specific space that is equipped just right for that particular year group.

He noted that Shrewsbury Hong Kong is the only new school in Hong Kong to have made such a deep commitment to every age group and that it was also enrolling more than 70 age-specialised teaching staff.

"Having such depth and diversity of specialised teaching talent within an individual year group leads to a much richer curriculum and the pooling of a broader mix of teaching experiences from which both children and other teachers benefit," Mr. Holroyd added.

He said that the presence of many peers in a year group also supports the proper social development of children, because children learn a lot from interacting with their peers.

"Every child at Shrewsbury will have around 120 other children of similar age with whom to play and learn, and from among whom to choose and make all-important life-long friendships," Mr. Holroyd noted.

Mr. Ben Keeling has been appointed as Principal of Shrewsbury Hong Kong.

Mr. Holroyd said, "We are pleased that Mr. Keeling has accepted our invitation to lead the school.He is a highly respected educationalist with specialist experience in primary schools and extensive knowledge of local needs.He has an outstanding track record as an Assistant Principal and Deputy Principal in two international schools in South East Asia, including four years in another international school in Hong Kong."

Parents are invited to register their interest in the school at www.shrewsbury.hk. An Open House will be held in Hong Kong on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd April, 2017, where parents can meet the Principal and his team to learn more about Shrewsbury in Hong Kong and the UK.

Note to the Editor :

The nine 'Great Schools' of Britain are: Shrewsbury School, Charterhouse School, Eton College, Harrow School, Rugby School, Westminster School, Winchester College, St. Paul's School, and Merchant Taylors' School.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Saudi Arabian Oil Co., most popularly known as Saudi Aramco, is yet to finalize a date for its long planned initial public offer, but reports said, citing Saudi Arabian officials, that the IPO most likely would be conducted in the second half of 2018. Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser told Bloomberg that the country has promised to reduce the overall tax rate paid by the state-owned energy giant to make its 2018 IPO more appealing to investors. At present, Aramco pays a 20 percent royalty on its revenue along with an 85 percent tax on income. In the IPO, which is said to be the world's biggest ever IPO, the government plans to sell up to 5 percent of the company. Since early last year, Saudi Aramco officials have been working various details of the offer. Meanwhile, reports said that a cut in Aramco's tax rate may not be necessary as the company is making profit with the current tax regime even when oil prices decline. In 2016, Aramco paid a dividend and funded its biggest-ever capital investment program, after paying the hefty tax and despite a 12-year low oil price. In his interview with Bloomberg, Nasser said the country was considering whether to do a double listing, or a triple-listing. For the international sale of shares, Saudi Arabia reportedly is looking at markets including Hong Kong, London, New York and Canada as international venues for the sale. The IPO is part of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plan to set up a sovereign wealth fund and to reduce the economy's reliance on hydrocarbons. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
SILICON SLOPES, UT -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Today InsideSales.com, the world's leading AI-powered predictive sales acceleration platform, announced the close of a $50 million growth equity round, representing the first significant investment in AI for business in 2017.

The round is led by returning investor Polaris Partners with support from Microsoft, also a returning investor. New investors include QuestMark Partners and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. Existing venture investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Hummer Winblad, U.S. Venture Partners, Epic Ventures, and Zetta Venture Partners also participated. The round brings the company's total venture capital funding to over $250 million.

"With this financing, we further cement our leadership position in a sector where customers are now expecting AI to produce real results," said Dave Elkington, CEO, InsideSales. "As an early leader offering AI-fueled tools in the workplace, we're excited to use this new investment to bring InsideSales' technology to new geographies, new platforms and to foster smart growth for companies of all sizes."

This funding comes at a time of unprecedented momentum for the company, following the launch of its new AI-fueled Playbooks platform. Worldwide, AI is at a tipping point: According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), revenues from the technology are projected to grow from just under $8 billion in 2013 to more than $47 billion by 2020.

"Having witnessed InsideSales' consistently impressive growth over the past few years, we're excited to lead this round," said Dave Barrett, managing partner at Polaris Partners. "The diverse range of investors joining us - from growth equity to corporate strategic development to sovereign funds - is representative of the broad confidence we all share in the strategy and trajectory of InsideSales as a company and the power to use AI to shape the way we all do business."

In an increasingly global marketplace, InsideSales identified Ireland as an optimal jumping off point for its next strategic expansion into Europe and beyond. This will position its Playbooks platform to gain a strong foothold in the European market, helping sales teams to leverage AI in the workplace, thereby empowering global enterprise customers to sell better, sell faster, and sell more.

"We are pleased to welcome InsideSales into Ireland's flourishing technology community," said Eugene O'Callaghan, Director of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. "This investment is well aligned with the ISIF's mandate to invest on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. The key benefits to the Irish economy will be the targeted creation of more than 120 high quality jobs in the next 3 years, in addition to the collaboration between InsideSales and the Insight Centre fostering growth in this important specialist sector."

InsideSales' previous funding round, a strategic investment led by Salesforce Ventures with participation from Microsoft, marked Microsoft's first investment in the company. In addition to investing, Microsoft has also partnered with InsideSales on CRM and cloud technology integration. As a next step in the partnership, InsideSales plans to create versions of Playbooks that run on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform and integrate with Microsoft Azure cloud services.

"As a close partner, it's exciting to imagine the potential of InsideSales paired with Microsoft technology," said Jujhar Singh, corporate vice president of Microsoft Dynamics 365. "With even greater focus on AI in our day-to-day lives, we're excited to help InsideSales deliver its intelligent solutions to more workplaces through the Dynamics 365 platform."

For more information about InsideSales.com, please visit www.insidesales.com.

About InsideSales.com

InsideSales.com offers the industry's leading sales acceleration platform built on Neuralytics, a predictive and prescriptive self-learning engine that drives revenue growth by delivering an optimized experience for both salesperson and buyer. The platform fuels sales rep performance and provides buyer personalization with breakthrough innovations in predictive sales communications, engagement tracking, forecasting and rep motivation. InsideSales.com has received numerous accolades for its technology, including being named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 and Forbes Cloud 100 lists, and earning recognition as one of the fastest growing companies, according to Inc. InsideSales.com enterprise customers include ADP, Microsoft and Groupon.

Media Contact

Margaret Farrell

insidesales@highwirepr.com

(415) 962-4174




AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwired - January 18, 2017) - EPIC Corporation (OTC PINK: EPOR) ("EPIC"), and Ronald S. Tucker announced "EPIC the Dividend and Outside the Box Company is now the TRANSFORMED EPIC."

EPIC is a Special Purpose Vehicle ("SPV") and is transformed from a product and product services business to an EPIC Process business.

EPIC Process

The EPIC Process provides cost effective, value-added turn-key solutions, to under capitalized small companies. The turn-key solutions include exempted transactions from registration of short and long term integrated private and public solicitations of capital that provide a builtin exit strategy.

The EPIC Process enables a qualified private company ("QPC") through a qualified private placement ("QPP") or a qualified merger ("QM") to raise capital at a low cost, in the short and long term, while establishing a built in exit strategy. The exit strategy, at an appropriate time, enables it to become a development stage public company ("DSPC"). The DSPC by becoming a publicly traded company will have a higher intrinsic value then remaining private and provide a basis for raising additional capital at a lower cost.

The QPC, as a DSPC (a publicly traded company), can continue to operate as a private company and is not subject to the limitations and restrictions imposed by the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

EPIC Revenues

The EPIC Process generates revenues from one or more the following:

Tax free exchanges of free trading securities of subsidiaries or affiliated companies for restricted securities of independent start-up or development stage companies, with an option to repurchase the free trading securities;

The sale of free trading shares of subsidiary or affiliated companies to QPC's for a two to five year promissory note, payable on demand in cash or in Qualified Securities, which include free trading shares of common stock plus one or more series of free trading warrants to purchase free trading common stock; and/or

Fees earned from the EPIC Process are paid in restricted stock and cash or its Qualified Securities which include free trading shares of common stock plus one or more series of free trading warrants to purchase free trading common stock.

EPIC Revenue Growth

EPIC realizes revenue growth from the appreciation of acquired Qualified securities and gains from the sale of equitable interests in affiliates, QPCs and/or DSPCs.

EPIC Projections

The following projections are for a five year period that started as of January 1, 2017. The projections are based on a primary assumption of one QPC transaction per quarter for the five years, and there are may detailed assumptions in another document. The summary represents 1/2 of the annual totals calculated in the detailed assumptions.

SUMMARY OF PROJECTIONS 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Net Operating Profit* 1,458,000 1,452,000 1,440,000 1,428,000 1,416,000 Gains from Sales of Shares** 0 0 562,500 1,468,750 2,431,250 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net Profit 1,458,000 1,452,000 2,002,500 2,896,750 3,847,250 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

* Net Operating Profits are non-cash transactions. ** Gains from Sales Shares are in cash.

The Summary of Projections above are based on the assumptions set forth in another document. There is no assurance that EPIC will be able to contract with QPC on the prediction of one per quarter for a period of five years, or that the QPC Will agree to provide EPIC with its restricted common stock in the amount projected, or pay the fees set forth in the proposed contract during the three year period, or the G & A Expenses will be as low as estimates.

EPIC Advisors

EPIC is developing relationships with several knowledgable and experienced people in financial services and/or medical devices who have agreed to become advisors to EPIC. One in particular has been invaluable in EPIC's transition and is expected to join EPIC in the near future.

EPIC and AcuFAB

EPIC is negotiating with a company to sell the AcuFAB Insoles and AcuFAB Overlay Support Surfaces, and another company to sell AcuFAB as a wound healing product. We have also made contact with a manufacturer in New York that can use AcuFAB to produce incontinence pads with a barrier and an absorbent pad that are also washable and dry-able.

About EPIC

EPIC, the Dividend and Outside-The-Box Company, is a Special Purpose Vehicle that provides value added turn-key solutions to qualified private companies ("QPC") enabling them to become a development public stage company ("DSPC").

The EPIC value added difference is its assumption of responsibility for effecting and managing the tactical financial plans as the QPC's Financial Consultant.

Visit www.epiccor.com for corporate information and

http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/EPOR/quote for investor and financial information.

CONTACT:

Scott McIntosh

Email: Email contact



Telephone: 949-228-2352
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RWS Holdings plc ("RWS", "the Group"), the world's leading provider of intellectual property support services (patent translations, international patent filing solutions and searches), commercial translations and linguistic validation, is pleased to announce that Richard Thompson will be appointed as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 April 2017, succeeding Reinhard Ottway who has decided to retire following more than 23 years with the Group.

Richard joined RWS in 2012 as Chief Financial Officer and, following a successful three years in that position, took on the broader role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer from December 2015. In this position, Richard has successfully spearheaded the acquisition and integration of CTi into the Group, following which he has continued to oversee the Group's Life Sciences activities.

Richard's appointment as Chief Executive Officer follows an extensive search process, which considered both internal and external candidates, as part of the Group's ongoing succession planning. Richard will take up his new position from 1 April 2017, with Reinhard remaining in post until 31 March 2017, allowing for a comprehensive and smooth transition process.

The Board has commenced the search for a new Chief Financial Officer and will update on the progress of this search in due course.

Andrew Brode, Chairman of RWS, commented:

"Having considered a number of high calibre candidates, we are delighted to have appointed Richard as CEO. He brings strong experience of our industry as well as an excellent track record in successfully driving the Company's growth, meaning we are well placed to continue executing RWS's organic and acquisitive growth strategy.

"On behalf of the Board and in a personal capacity, I would like to extend sincere thanks to Reinhard for his invaluable contribution to the business over the past 23 years. After 5 years as CEO, he leaves the Group in excellent shape to continue its path of record performance and growth. I wish him well in retirement."

About RWS:

RWS is the world's leading provider of intellectual property support services (patent translations, international patent filing solutions and searches), a market leader in life sciences translations and linguistic validation as well as a high level specialist language service provider in other technical areas, providing for the diverse needs of a blue-chip multinational client base from Europe, North America and Asia. RWS is based in the UK, with offices in Europe, the USA (New York, East Hartford and Chicago), China, Japan and Australia, and is listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (RWS.L).

For further information, please visit: www.rws.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005106/en/

Contacts:

RWS Holdings plc

Chris Rayner, +01753 480 200

marketing@rws.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2017) - CVR Medical Corp. (TSXV: CVM) (FSE: B3BN) (OTCQB: CRRVF) ("CVR Medical") issues correction on the following statement regarding the conduction of clinical trials, previously posted on January 12, 2017:

CVR Medical Corp. is pleased to announce that its "Carotid Stenotic Scan (CSS)" device has received IRB approval for clinical trials, to be conducted through the Jefferson Clinical Research Institute at Thomas Jefferson University under the supervision of Dr. David J. Whellan.

CVR Chief Operations Officer Tony Robinson states, "With this approval, we look forward to moving into the next phase of our device's, and our company's development. To be able to do so with Dr. Whellan at Thomas Jefferson is something CVR is very proud of."

For additional information on the organization, leadership, and current news please visit the newly launched company website www.CVRMed.com

About CVR Medical

CVR Medical is a company that is involved in an equal parts joint venture with CVR Global Inc. (the "Joint Venture"). The Joint Venture operates in the medical industry focused on the commercialization of a proprietary subsonic, infrasonic, and low frequency sound wave analysis technology and has patents to a diagnostic device designed to detect and measure carotid arterial stenosis. CVR Medical is managed by a proven technical team. CVR Medical trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol CVM.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:

(signed) "Peter Bakema"

CEO, President & Director

For further information contact:

Brisco Capital Partners Corp.

Scott Koyich, President

Telephone: (403) 262-9888

This press release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events related to the Joint Venture. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: (1) a downturn in general economic conditions in North America and internationally, (2) the inherent uncertainties and speculative nature associated with commercialization of technology and the practice of medicine, (3) a change in health regulations, (4) any number of events or causes which may delay or cease commercialization and development of the Joint Venture, (5) the risk that the Company or the Joint Venture does not execute its business plan, (6) inability to retain key employees, (7) inability to finance operations and growth, and (8) other factors beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE INC. HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
DALLAS (dpa-AFX) - Verizon is mulling the acquisition of a big cable company following its rival AT&T's deals with DirecTV and Time Warner, the New York Post reported, citing two well-placed sources. The move is expected to help the firm grow demand for its wireless data products. Verizon Chief Executive Lowell McAdam reportedly told friends at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that he wants to buy into cable. The company is likely targeting Charter or Comcast, while Altice is too small. The NY Post noted that Verizon is not in talks with any cable company and may not ever make such a move. However, the CEO is said to be under much pressure recently as Verizon's deal to buy Yahoo is still in trouble following the recent hacks of the internet portal. Verizon is yet to say whether it is moving ahead with its planned takeover of Yahoo. As per the report, Verizon needs the acquisition for their 5G plans. The wireless giants operate on 4G wireless networks, but are trying for 5G connections that can work with cable systems to provide more stable coverage. Rival AT&T, which owns DirecTV, recently announced an agreement to acquire Time Warner for $109 billion in cash and stock deal. In early January, AT&T announced 5G Evolution to offer ultra-fast internet access to its customers. The greater speed of 5G is expected to support overall network performance for video, the Internet of Things, 4K video, augmented and virtual reality, smart home and cities, autonomous vehicles and such things. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The Annual General Meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at SAS head office, Frosundaviks alle 1, Solna.

To attend the Annual General Meeting and notification

Shareholders who wish to attend the Annual General Meeting must be registered in the share register of the Company maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on 16 February 2017, and must notify the Company no later than 16 February 2017. Shareholders with common shares in Denmark and Norway who wish to attend the Annual General Meeting must notify VP Investor Services A/S in Denmark and Nordea Issuer Service in Norway by 3.00 p.m. on 15 February 2017. Detailed instructions about notification and rules regarding proxy and accompanying assistants to shareholders are detailed in the attached complete notice convening the Annual General Meeting.

Admission cards for the Annual General Meeting

Admission cards, to be presented when entering the Annual General Meeting venue, will be sent out around 15-16 February 2017 to all shareholders who have submitted a notification of attendance in accordance with the instructions.

Number of shares and votes in the Company

The Company has at the time of publication of this Notice issued 330,082,551 common shares and 0 subordinate shares, equivalent to a total of 330,082,551 votes. Furthermore, the Company has issued 7,000,000 preference shares equivalent to a total of 700,000 votes. No shares are held by the Company itself.

Proposed agenda

1. Meeting is called to order.

2. Election of a chairperson for the meeting.

3. Preparation and approval of the voting list.

4. Approval of the agenda.

5. Election of two persons to verify the minutes.

6. Determination of whether the meeting has been duly convened.

7. Presentation of the annual accounts and auditors' report as well as the consolidated accounts and consolidated auditors' report.

8. Report on the work of the Board, the Remuneration Committee and the Audit Committee, followed by the CEO's address and in conjunction with this, the opportunity for shareholders to put questions to the Board and Group Management.

9. Resolutions on:

a) the approval of the income statement and balance sheet and the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet,

b) the dispositions of the Company's earnings in accordance with the approved balance sheet, and

c) discharge from liability for the Board members and the CEO.

10.Resolutions on:

a) the number of Board members,

b) remuneration for Board members, and

c) remuneration for the auditor.

11.Election of Board members and Chairman of the Board.

12.Election of auditor.

13.Resolution on the Nomination Committee.

14.Resolution on the Board's proposed guidelines for remuneration of senior executives.

15.Meeting is adjourned.

SAS attaches the full notice.

For further information, please contact:

Press Contact,

Tel: +46-8-797-2944

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/sas/r/sas-ab--publ--announces-notice-to-the-annual-general-meeting-on-22-february-2017,c2168697

The following files are available for download:
ALBANY, New York, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Transparency Market Research has released a new market report titled "Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride Market by Form (Powder and Granules) for Dyestuff & Pigments, Hydrocarbon Resins, Pharmaceuticals, Fumed Alumina, Flavors & Fragrances, and Other Applications - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016-2024." According to the report, the global anhydrous aluminum chloride market was valued at US$ 683.9 Mn in 2015 and is estimated to reach US$ 912.3 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 3.3% between 2016 and 2024.

Anhydrous aluminum chloride, also known as aluminum trichloride (AlCl3), is an odorless, yellow, crystalline solid. It is produced primarily by the gaseous chlorination of molten aluminum through various processes. It is also as employed in polymerization and isomerization reactions of hydrocarbons. The product is highly irritating to eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Anhydrous aluminum chloride is one of those materials that experiences uninterrupted supply, as the raw material required to manufacture it is available in abundance.

Currently, Asia Pacific is leading player of the global anhydrous aluminum chloride market and is followed by North America and Europe. The market for anhydrous aluminum chloride is expanding substantially, owing to speedy growth of pharmaceuticals and consumer goods industries. Growth in the cosmetics industry caused by speedily changing lifestyles of people is likely to fuel the global anhydrous aluminum chloride market during the forecast period. Growth of the food processing industry in South Asian countries such as Indonesia, and Myanmar is also driving the demand for anhydrous aluminum chloride. In terms of volume, Asia Pacific was the dominant region in the anhydrous aluminum chloride market; it accounted for more than 44% share in 2015. North America comprises of industrialized countries and mature markets. Owing to low prices, suppliers, particularly from Japan and the U.S., tend to serve their local markets, or meet the internal demand of the company and then sell surplus material, if any, at a low price. Thus, declining demand and unsustainable prices have left anhydrous aluminum chloride an unprofitable product. Over-capacity and low prices have led to plant closures in all developed regions, especially Europe.

Get Industry Research Report Sample for more Professional and Technical Industry Insights:http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18431

In 2000, the European countries was exported anhydrous aluminum chloride product to Asia, the Far East, and Latin America at extremely low price. East European countries have also witnessed dumping of cheap material from Western Europe. This over supply and low price scenario of product, affect significantly on a regional basis as plants close. Key players operating in the anhydrous aluminum chloride market include BASF SE, Aditya Birla Chemicals, Gulbrandsen, Nippon Light Metal Company Ltd., Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd., Base Metal Group, and others. The report segments the global anhydrous aluminum chloride market as follows:

Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride Market: Form Analysis

Powder

Granules

Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride Market: Application Analysis

Dyestuff & pigments

Hydrocarbon resins

Pharmaceuticals

Fumed alumina

Flavors & fragrances

Others

Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride Market: Regional Analysis

North America U.S. Canada

Europe France U.K. Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA) GCC Egypt South Africa Rest of MEA

& (MEA)

Research PR: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/anhydrous-aluminum-chloride-market.htm

Related Research Reports:

Automotive Aluminum Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/automotive-aluminum-market.html

Calcium Chloride Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/calcium-chloride-market.html

About TMR

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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POWAY, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. (OTC PINK: SIRC) CEO David Massey has been hard at work with the company's management team with aggressive sales programs to enhance customers' experience with the purchase of a new roof and solar system.

With a larger footprint in Southern California and new showroom in Poway, CA, retail customers may visit the company's in house retail location or have a sales representative come to their location for an in depth overview of their needs. With the recent rainfall, the company has had a great increase of calls regarding roofing needs.

The showroom, located at 12411 Poway Road, in Poway, covers about 1,500 square feet and is designed to allow potential customers to view their solar roofing options much as they would tile and carpeting for their floors. Until now, Solar Integrated Roofing Corporation has done all of its sales by way of in-home visits. This new site will be staffed by existing SIRC professionals and so entails no growth in headcount.

SIRC's CEO David Massey said, "The showroom represents another way for us to engage with the consumer. A great many people prefer to come to a showroom at their convenience rather than set an appointment for an in-home visit. We are highly sensitive to the needs and desires of our customers, and the opening of our showroom, located centrally in San Diego County, is proof of that. We will continue to offer in-home consultations, and the showroom is an additional service. We are modernizing the way people shop for solar roofing products."

The showroom is located in a high-traffic area, and the Company expects walk-in traffic to begin forming a significant part of its sales. Management believes that by showing people the actual product, rather than relying on brochures, homeowners will have a better appreciation for how the finished system will look and work in their particular case.

At the same time, Company sales staff can walk customers through the financing process to that they can make an informed decision with just one visit. SIRC can finance the purchase of a solar system with a 12-year, low-interest loan, and the payments are usually less than for a lease. By owning a solar system rather than leasing it, a homeowner gets the federal tax credit plus any state incentives, as well as depreciation. SIRC systems also come with a 25-year warranty, which makes them almost risk-free.

For more information, please visit: www.solarintegratedroofingcorp.com

About Solar Integrated Roofing Corp.

Solar Integrated Roofing Corporation (SIRC) is an integrated solar and roofing installation company specializing in commercial and residential properties with a focus on acquisitions of like companies to build a footprint nationally.

Forward-Looking Statement Any statements made in this press release which are not historical facts contain certain forward-looking statements; as such term is defined in the Private Security Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial condition and other aspects of the company to which this release pertains. The actual results of the specific items described in this release, and the company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based upon the best judgments of management of the company as of the date of this release, significant deviations in magnitude, timing and other factors may result from business risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the company's dependence on third parties, general market and economic conditions, technical factors, the availability of outside capital, receipt of revenues and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the company. The company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement. This press release shall not be deemed a general solicitation.

Contact Information:



Solar Integrated Roofing Corp

Investor Relations

John Randolph

(760) 916-7444




Tech Veteran Will Focus on Expanding Markets/Offerings

Investis, the fast growing digital communications company, today announced that Don Scales has been named CEO, overseeing the company's global business, taking over from Helen James who leaves the company in a full time capacity.

Founded in 2000, Investis has built a large and successful business in the UK and Europe, and launched in the US in 2013. After two years of exceptionally strong growth, Don joined as CEO of North America in March 2016. Since then the revenues have more than doubled. Don will be working with James to ensure a smooth transition.

David Grigson, Chairman of Investis, said, "Don has a solid track record of leadership and growing innovative companies, has a knack for identifying opportunities in nascent markets and has the operational skills to ensure success. His combination of vision and execution will be critical to the next stage of the company's growth. Helen has been part of the Investis family for more than a decade. She has done a tremendous job and we wish her well."

Don Scales said, "I was immediately attracted to Investis by the way they help brands tell their stories. The company's technology is backed by creative expertise and stellar service by some of the most talented people I've had the privilege to work with. Investis is already a leader in the UK and Europe and I will be focusing on expanding our business both in Europe and in the US."

Helen James said, "Investis is the clear market leader in helping companies make the most of their digital communications in Europe and their growing position as the leader in the US is very exciting. I am incredibly proud to have led the brilliant team at Investis for the past 4 years. It is a great company and this is an exciting next step to ensure a successful future ahead."

About Don Scales

Scales has a reputation for improving profitability and expanding market share. Prior to joining Investis, Scales was CEO of digital marketing agency iCrossing. Under his leadership, iCrossing expanded beyond its origins as a search agency and grew to over 900 employees in 19 countries. Scales also managed iCrossing's acquisition by Hearst Magazines in 2010. Before iCrossing, Scales was CEO of digital pioneer Agency.com.

Investis employs more than 500 people in 6 offices globally. The company headquarters will remain in London. Scales will split his time between the London and New York offices.

About Investis

Investis is an award-winning digital communications company that makes businesses more successful by sharing their brand stories with target audiences such as shareholders, investors, employees, customers, and influencers. We work with more than 2,000 clients around the world. Businesses such as GE, the New York Stock Exchange, BP, Rolls Royce and Jet.com trust our team of more than 500 employees to deliver stronger relationships with audiences and improved ROI through a unique blend of technology, expertise, and service. For more information about our data-driven approach, please visit www.investis.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005577/en/

Contacts:

For Investis

Dana Mellecker, 646-435-4456 (US)

dana@mellecker.com
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Asian stock markets ended mixed on Wednesday, with some of the markets recovering from initial losses. While investors were optimistic that Trump's comments about a strong U.S. dollar would benefit the currencies of emerging markets, they also remained cautious amid uncertainty about the U.S. President-elect's economic policies. Investors also digested British Prime Minister Theresa May's statement that her country will leave the European single market when it quits the European Union. The Australian market closed lower for the second consecutive day, with banking stocks once again dragging the market lower. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index declined 20.60 points or 0.36 percent to close at 5,678.80 and the broader All Ordinaries slipped 21.00 points or 0.36 percent to settle at 5,733.70. In the banking space, ANZ Banking, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank and Westpac closed lower in a range of 0.7 percent to 1.1 percent. Among the major miners, BHP Billiton declined 0.7 percent and Fortescue metals dipped 0.5 percent, while Rio Tinto added 0.7 percent. Shares of Wesfarmers added 0.2 percent after the conglomerate raised its first-half earnings outlook for its coal mining business. The Japanese market recovered from initial losses to close higher, after the yen weakened against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Index advanced 80.84 points or 0.43 percent to finish at 18,894.37. Toshiba rose 2.4 percent after the Nikkei business daily reported that the company is considering spinning off its semiconductor operations and selling a partial stake in the unit to Western Digital Corp. Among the major exporters, Panasonic lost 0.7 percent and Sony fell 0.6 percent. Automaker Toyota added 0.3 percent and Honda advanced 1.5 percent. South Korea's KOSPI Index declined 1.33 points or 0.06 percent to settle at 2,070.54 in choppy trade. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics edged down 0.05 percent and chipmaker SK Hynix lost 0.91 percent. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX-50 index edged down 3.69 points or 0.05 percent to settle at 7,059.27. Among the major losers, Westpac Banking lost 1.8 percent, A2 Milk dropped 1.7 percent and Tegel Group Holdings fell 1.5 percent. Also, Singapore's Straits Times Index dipped 0.42 percent and Taiwan's Weighted Index declined 0.13 percent. Meanwhile, China's Shanghai Composite Index closed higher for a second day, adding 4.24 points or 0.14 percent to settle at 3,113.01. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 1.13 percent, Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index rose 0.53 percent, Malaysia's KLSE Index added 0.12 percent and India's Sensex edged up 0.08 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.




Huawei's strong growth strategies earned it almost 60 new communications service provider customers in just the last three years

SANTA CLARA, California, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Huawei Technologies captured the prestigious 2016 Stratecast Global Growth Excellence Leadership Award in the CSP Billing Market at Stratecast | Frost & Sullivan's 2016 Growth, Innovation and Leadership Awards banquet, a two-part black-tie event that celebrates the achievements of the industry's best. Mr. Wangrui accepted the Award on behalf of Huawei on Monday, September 12th, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara, CA, joining an elite list of innovators and visionaries from diverse industries.

Click here for the full multimedia experience of this release - http://bit.ly/2g0VuC7

The Growth Excellence Leadership award is given to the company that demonstrates excellence by growing strongly and capturing additional market share in the global CSP billing market, both in the short-term and in the long-term. In recent years, Huawei has shown market growth with its billing solutions exceeding the growth rate of the global end-to-end billing market.

"Huawei has emerged the growth leader in the global CSP billing market after an assessment of more than 100 suppliers of CSP billing solutions," said Troy Morley, Operations, Orchestration, Data Analytics & Monetization (ODAM) Strategy Analyst at Stratecast | Frost & Sullivan. "This extremely competitive market grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5% from 2009 to 2015. Huawei, during the same period, exhibited a CAGR of more than 14%, which is almost three times the rate of the overall market."

Huawei growth can also be demonstrated by the number of CSP customers its supports globally with its business management and billing solutions. In 2015, Huawei reported it serves 1.7 billion customers from 190 CSPs across 107 countries and regions in the world. Perhaps more impressive is the number of CSPs the company reports adding as billing customers in recent years: 20 new CSP billing customers in 2013, 17 new CSP billing customers in 2014, and 20 new CSP billing customers in 2015.

Huawei offers a full complement of billing, policy, customer and partner management solutions that span all segments of CSP billing. It ranks among the leaders in every segment of CSP billing, and currently leads the billing mediation segment. Most of the functionality modules that define Huawei's billing solution are contained within the Huawei Convergent Billing Solution (CBS).

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Stratecast

Stratecast collaborates with our clients to reach smart business decisions in the rapidly evolving and hyper-competitive Information and Communications Technology markets. Leveraging a mix of action-oriented subscription research and customized consulting engagements, Stratecast delivers knowledge and perspective that is only attainable through years of real-world experience in an industry where customers are collaborators; today's partners are tomorrow's competitors; and agility and innovation are essential elements for success.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huawei's 170,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the world's population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Chiara Carella

P: +44 (0) 207.343.8314

F: 210.348.1003

E: chiara.carella@frost.com




ATLANTA, GA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Vystar Corp.'s (OTC PINK: VYST) CEO Mr. William Doyle and Member of the Board of Directors and Director of R&D Dr. Ranjit Matthan will join Mr. Sivanyana Moorthy Nadesan of Sibelco Malaysia Sdn Bhd to present "The Manufacture and Markets of Medical Elastomeric Devices-Prospects and Challenges" at the India Rubber Expo (IRE) in Chennai India on January 21, 14:00-18:00, Hall #2.

Medical elastomeric devices cover an expanding range of natural and specialty synthetic rubber-based products, including catheters and tubing, in a market that is expanding at over 10% per annum globally as medical services are expanded in the emerging markets and new techniques invariably require polymer-based components.

"Dr. Matthan and I worked closely with Siva on the initial scale up and development that used Vystar's breakthrough patent processes that remove virtually all proteins and non-rubbers that cause latex allergies from latex to create Vytex several years ago," said William Doyle. "Through our alliance with our Vytex foam distributor NHS, we have made great strides in incorporating Vytex in bedding in the U.S. We believe manufacturers of medical devices worldwide will eagerly welcome news of our recent advances with Vytex and that, with our support, will allow them to cost effectively produce technically superior, eco-friendly medical devices."

Vystar's Vytex natural rubber latex (NRL) is a game changer for latex in the medical industry. In recent years, the medical industry moved away from latex due to increasing rates of latex allergies from prolonged body contact. Vystar's patented technology that removes 99.85% of allergenic proteins and other non-rubber components from latex, enables the production of a "clean" latex that is odor free and more durable, buoyant, resilient and whiter, while requiring less water and processing during the manufacture of several medical devices. Vytex latex allows surgeons and healthcare professionals to enjoy the superior tactile sensitivity and strength of latex gloves virtually without risk of developing or experiencing allergic reactions. Vytex is also ideal for more than 40,000 other applications such as catheters, medical devices and tubing, condoms, mattresses, pillows, cushions, balloons, footwear, apparel and threads.

The India Rubber Expo, Asia's largest rubber expo, will be spread over an area of 25,000 square meters with around 400 participating companies from India and worldwide and an expected 30,000 visitors. It made its debut in 2001 and has grown to be one of the most anticipated events in the rubber industry today and a valuable platform for growth, exchange and collaboration. Experts and specialists from Japan, China, Malaysia, Korea, Netherlands, Germany and USA come together with those from India to discuss emerging market scenarios, technologies, alliances and various related issues. It is organized by the All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA).

For details on Vytex licensing, deproteinization or purchase, contact info@vytex.com or (866) 674-5238, x1

About NHS

Nature's Home Solutions, LLC (NHS), a Worcester, Mass.-based distribution company devoted to identifying and bringing to market innovative, high quality, certified sustainable, eco-friendly durable materials and components for use in the home furnishings, apparel, and other markets. For more information, contact srotman111@aol.com

About Vystar Corporation

Based in Atlanta, GA, Vystar Corporation (OTC PINK: VYST) is the exclusive creator of Vytex Natural Rubber Latex (NRL), a multi-patented, all-natural, raw material that contains significantly reduced levels of the proteins found in natural rubber latex and can be used in over 40,000 products. Vytex NRL is a 100% renewable resource, environmentally safe, "green" and fully biodegradable. Vystar is working with manufacturers across a broad range of consumer and medical products bringing Vytex NRL to market in adhesives, balloons, condoms, medical devices, mattresses, toppers, and pillows. For more information, visit www.vytex.com.

Forward-looking Statements: Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this document as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of VYST officials are "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Forward-looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future VYST actions, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and to vary significantly from reporting period to reporting period. Although management believes that the assumptions made and expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that the underlying assumptions will, in fact, prove to be correct or that actual future results will not be different from the expectations expressed in this report. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and VYST has no specific intention to update these statements.

Contacts:

Vystar Media:

Julie Shepherd

Accentuate PR

847 275 3643

Email Contact



Vystar Investors:

William Doyle

President

(866) 674-5238, x1



NHS:

508-769-2395

Email Contact




BALTIMORE, MD -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- JMRConnect (www.jmrconnect.net), a multinational public relations (PR), corporate and influencer communications agency, today announced that The Holmes' Report has named it a 2017 North American In2 SABRE Awards finalist in four categories: Best Agency Disruption; Corporate/B2B; Employee Engagement; and Marketing Technology. The nominations reflect the effectiveness and utility of JMRConnect CEI (connect. engage. influence.), the agency's social engagement, employee advocacy and content marketing platform, as well as the results achieved by JMRConnect client, Yorktel.

Through CEI, companies can empower their biggest supporters to act as word-of-mouth brand ambassadors; content is sent directly to them through CEI and they share with the click of a button. CEI is customizable and user-friendly, and enables PR and marketing to engage employees, activate them as brand advocates, organically augment the credibility and visibility of content, and push approved corporate messaging to employees for multi-channel socialization to wider population.

Proving the efficacy of JMRConnect CEI is the success of YorktelShare, an employee advocacy campaign powered by CEI, executed on behalf of Yorktel. In 2016, content distributed through YorktelShare was shared by individuals more than 2,000 times on LinkedIn and 3,300 times on Twitter, garnering over 22,000 click-throughs and $59,000 in advertising equivalence . (click here for full case study)

"People tend to listen more when a message comes from their peers, whereas messages directly from a corporate entity tend to be tuned out as self-promoting and sales-oriented. YorktelShare not only helps us exponentially increase the visibility of our posts, it also ensures that important news and information is is kept consistent when our employees share company news on social media platforms," said Samantha Osowski, vice president of marketing, Yorktel.

Because posts shared through JMRConnect appear as first-person recommendations, not as advertisements or promoted content, the platform helps brands build credibility and expand reach. One click takes content viral, extending earned media value while promoting approved brand messages on multiple channels.

"YorktelShare makes it simple and rewarding for employees to organically share Yorktel media coverage, case studies, whitepapers, blogs, and corporate messaging with colleagues, customers, prospects, and partners on LinkedIn and Twitter, supporting company branding as well as helping employees build personal thought leadership," added Samantha Osowski.

By providing a platform to recruit followers and recommend content that they can push across their social networks with a single click, CEI solves four very real problems: 1) how to make employees aware of earned analyst and media coverage, case studies, webinars, whitepapers, and other content; 2) make it easy and rewarding to share organizational content and messages across social networks; 3) Build corporate brand visibility on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms; and 4) leverage analytics to measure engagement, visibility, and quantify ROI.

"We are honored to be recognized by such a highly respected organization and are grateful for their consideration," said JMRConnect CEO and Principal, Mostafa Razzak. "Social media has forever changed how and from where people consume news and information. Today, B2B consumers are inundated with sponsored content, fake news and paid-for digital ads. Thus, corporate communications, PR and marketing teams struggle to maximize the organic visibility and value of content across multiple channels, with both internal and external stakeholders. CEI is the solution to these problems and for Shaping Influence Worldwide."

The Innovation + Insights (In2) SABRE Awards celebrates the rise of content, digital engagement and analytics as it applies to communications and PR. This year's fourth annual awards will be held in Chicago in February 2017. The judges read through hundreds of entries to decide upon these finalists and winners.

ABOUT JMRConnect

JMRConnect is a public relations, corporate communications and digital engagement firm. JMRConnect embraces Influencer Communications; a 360-degree approach, leveraging both traditional and next-generation mediums. Team members are each expertly trained in specific disciplines to address varying client needs, such as public and investor relations, marketing communications, social media, grassroots outreach, lead generation, and advocate engagement. With thoughtful strategy and precision execution, JMRConnect helps clients achieve their goals by Shaping Influence Worldwide. (www.jmrconnect.net)

ABOUT THE HOLMES REPORT

The Holmes Report (http://www.holmesreport.com/) is the authoritative voice of the global public relations industry, dedicated to proving and improving the value of public relations by providing insight, knowledge and recognition to public relations professionals.

The Holmes Group was founded in 2000 by Paul Holmes, publisher and CEO, who has more than two decades of experience writing about and evaluating the public relations business and consulting with both public relations firms and their clients. The Holmes Group delivers against its mission by providing the most sophisticated reporting and analysis on public relations trends and issues, along with an extensive global footprint of events and awards.

CONTACT:

Theresa Finochiaro

JMRConnect

(949) 835-4290

tfinochiaro@jmrconnect.net




CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- BMO Harris Bank today announced the release of BMO Harris Bank Masterpass, Android Pay and Samsung Pay digital wallets for select BMO Harris Bank credit and debit cards. Digital wallets offer customers a convenient and seamless option to pay for purchases in-store, in-app and online in a customized experience using either their mobile Android or Samsung devices or home computer.

This new digital wallet lineup is just one more way BMO Harris Bank is digitally connecting customers to payments without the need to dig for a wallet or a card. BMO Harris Bank Masterpass, Android Pay and Samsung Pay are available for BMO Harris Bank personal credit cards, personal debit cards and small business debit cards only. More BMO Harris Bank card products will be available for use with digital wallets later this year.

"We are constantly seeking new ways to make the customer experience more enjoyable, seamless and secure, and these new digital wallets are an example of our commitment," said Patrick Strieck, Managing Director U.S. Retail and Small Business Payments, BMO Harris Bank. "Our partnership with Mastercard allows us to differentiate our product suite in the marketplace, and we are thrilled to debut our new digital wallets and enrich the shopping experience for our customers."

With BMO Harris Bank Masterpass, purchases are expedited wherever contactless payments are accepted. Transactions are made with a quick tap using the BMO Harris Bank Masterpass app, which pays securely with the user's digitized debit or credit card number assigned within the app. Shopping experiences are simplified across channels with the option to use at thousands of retailers worldwide. In a similar manner, Android Pay and Samsung Pay users simply hold a Near Field Communications (NFC) enabled device near a participating terminal and the payment is made. Samsung Pay users will also be able to make contactless purchases at merchant point-of-sale swipe terminals.

Digital wallet accounts always remain secure with the fingerprint or PIN security feature, which prompts users to confirm their identity. In addition, digital wallets use uniquely encrypted assigned card numbers, which are not the physical credit or debit card number and can also be quickly and easily suspended in case a device is lost without disabling the physical card.

To learn more about BMO Harris Bank Digital Wallets, please visit: https://www.bmoharris.com/main/personal/credit-cards/digital-wallet

About BMO Harris BankBMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through nearly 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, go to the company fact sheet. Banking products and services are subject to bank and credit approval. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with approximately 1,500 branches, and CDN $688 billion in assets (as of October 31, 2016).

Android and Android Pay are trademarks of Google, Inc.

Samsung and Samsung Pay are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Mastercard and Masterpass are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Contacts:

Media contact:

Emily Penate, Chicago

Emily.Penate@bmo.com

(312) 461-7956




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Alexandria Minerals Corporation (TSX VENTURE: AZX)(FRANKFURT: A9D)(OTC PINK: ALXDF) ("AZX" or the "Company") is pleased to report on the final 4 drill holes of last quarter's drill program at Orenada Zone 4. The results of these 4 drill holes extend the known strike length of the stacked, high-grade gold-quartz veins by 200 meters.

Highlights

-- Four step-out drill holes at Zone 4 intersected high-grade gold veins and include the following results: 10.00 g/t gold over 0.8 meters, 9.99 g/t gold over 0.6 meters, and 8.55 g/t gold over 0.6 meters; -- The results show that stacked, high-grade veins extend at least 200 meters east beyond the previously known length (see Figures 1 and 2 below); -- The holes tested a zone between Zone 4, and nearby Zone 2 to the east, and have opened up a new target area - previously, this area was not well explored; -- At 400 meters depth, the intersections are deeper than previously drilled.

Eric Owens, President and CEO of Alexandria, "These results show the potential for growth of the gold deposit at Zone 4. These holes hit gold in an underexplored area, and deeper than previous holes. We expect our much larger current drill program to provide even greater detail and growth."

To view Figure 1, Longitudinal Section with New Step-Out Holes OAX-16-80, 81, 82, and 83, see the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1083079_Figure_1.pdf

The results of these four holes at Zone 4 (see Table 1 below) indicate the eastward continuation of the stacked vein sets from the main body of Zone 4 gold mineralization, into an area with little previous exploration. In addition, the four holes tested deeper targets, in this case down to 400 meters in depth on the eastern flank of the Zone 4 gold deposit, as shown on Figure 1 above.

Cross sections of these drill holes can be viewed by clicking the following links:

- http://bit.ly/2jvIXXX - http://bit.ly/2jsNkDK - http://bit.ly/2j5iuxA - http://bit.ly/2jvDtg5

Between September and November, 2016, Alexandria Minerals completed an 11 hole, 4,020 meter drill program at Orenada, five of which were completed at Zone 4 (see Figure 2 below). In addition to expanding on the size of the deposit, this program has provided further confirmation of the new geologic model.

To view Figure 2. Drill Hole Location Map Zone 4, superimposed on geology, see the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1083079_Figure_2.pdf

Alexandria's 2017 Winter Drill Program

Alexandria is drilling a 12,500 meter winter drill program which has begun at Zone 4. The Zone 4 drilling is aimed at better establishing the size, volume and grade of high-grade gold veins and vein sets there. The gold-quartz veins and veinlets occur in clusters within the Cadillac Break Shear Zone and adjacent rocks (Figure 1). The veins and vein sets, together with their gold-bearing alteration envelopes, dip shallowly to the south within the more broadly steeply dipping shear zone.

Initial drilling is testing Zone 4, both east and west of the core area of DDH OAX-15-54. A second drill rig will be added in the coming weeks to test gold targets on the Company's Triangle Too program, located 2 kilometers northwest of Zone 4.

On a related note, Company geologists are currently examining and re-logging much of the 46,870 meters of pre-Alexandria drill core from Zone 4 and Zone 2. Such efforts will add considerable detailed knowledge and information about the high grade veins and the new geological model to Alexandria's own drill database. Sampling of previously un-sampled sections of this core is also underway.

Table 1. Selected Assay Results at Zone 4, Diamond Drill Holes

OAX-16-80, 81, 82, and 83

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Core Length Hole # From (m) To (m) (m) Gold (g/t) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-080 192.5 204.0 11.50 1.20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-080 203.4 204.0 0.60 6.50 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-080 280.4 282.0 1.6 2.73 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-080 280.4 280.9 0.50 6.40 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-081 293.40 294.00 0.60 3.42 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-082 210.80 211.30 0.50 5.67 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-082 224.20 224.80 0.60 8.55 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-082 230.20 232.10 1.90 3.36 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-082 231.00 231.60 0.60 9.99 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-083 351.00 351.80 0.80 10.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- OAX-16-083 353.10 353.70 0.60 2.71 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In other matters, Alexandria announces that a total of 8,250,000 incentive options to purchase common shares of the Company have been granted to directors, officers, and employees as a result of the expiration of previously issued options. The incentive options have an exercise price of $0.06 per share and expire on January 13, 2022. The grant is subject to regulatory approval.

Further information about the Company is available on the Company's website, www.azx.ca, or our social media sites listed below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandriaMinerals Twitter: https://twitter.com/azxmineralscorp YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/AlexandriaMinerals Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/alexandriaminerals/

Program design, management, and Quality Control/Quality Assurance are conducted by Alexandria's exploration group of which Phillippe Berthelot, P.Geo, is the Company's Qualified Person. Mr. Berthelot has reviewed the results in this press release. The QA/QC program is consistent with National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 and industry best practices and has been previously addressed in NI 43-101 reports found on the Company's website or on www.sedar.com.

About Alexandria Minerals Corporation

Alexandria Minerals Corporation is a Toronto-based junior gold exploration and development company with strategic properties located in the world-class mining districts of Val d'Or, Quebec, Red Lake, Ontario and Snow Lake-Flin Flon, Manitoba. Alexandria's focus is on its flagship property, the large Cadillac Break Property package in Val d'Or, which hosts important, near-surface, gold resources along the prolific, gold-producing Cadillac Break, all of which have significant growth potential.

WARNING: This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of up-coming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Alexandria Minerals Corporation relies upon litigation protection for forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Mary Vorvis

Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

(416) 305-4999

info@azx.ca



Eric Owens

President/CEO

(416) 363-9372

www.azx.ca




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Vinergy Resources Ltd. ("Vinergy" or the "Company") (CSE: VIN)(CSE: VIN.CN) in conjunction with its proposed acquisition of MJ Biopharma (announced December 14, 2016) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Dr. William Panenka, MD as Chair of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Bringing on the right human capital through strategic hires is an important part of the Company's strategy to develop, test and identify specific cannabinoid isolates for targeted therapeutic purposes.

Dr. Panenka received his M.D. and M.Sc. from the University of Calgary in Canada. His M.Sc. was basic science-focused utilizing Western Blotting, PCR, in-situ hybridization and other wet lab techniques to study the immune system. He completed residencies in both psychiatry and neurology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Panenka is one of only two specialists in Western Canada with a unique dual certification from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in both the specialties of neurology and psychiatry.

In 2011 Dr. Panenka began a research fellowship focusing on the mental and physical health, as well as the brain imaging correlates of drug use, addictions, and traumatic brain injuries. In 2012, he became a research fellow at Harvard University and was competitively recruited to the University of British Columbia in 2013 as an assistant professor in psychiatry. His main focus is addiction and traumatic brain injury, with multiple basic science and clinical collaborations nationally and internationally.

For the past five years Dr. Panenka has been involved in a large project funded by a CIHR team grant to longitudinally follow over 400 vulnerably housed individuals, with a high burden of addictions and mental health issues, in Vancouver's poorest neighborhood. They perform extensive cognitive phenotyping, neuropsychiatric assessments and multimodal MRI on participant, and follow them for 10 years. This study involves collaboration between multiple medical specialties, local health clinics, and community organizations. He is a Co-Investigator on an extension study that was just funded by CIHR and slated to run for the next five years.

He is also the BC Primary Site Investigator on a national multi-site study funded by Brain Canada titled "A National biobank and database for patients with traumatic brain injury". The goal is to enroll TBI patients of all severities and longitudinally follow them for six months with cognitive assessments and MRI, and pool this data into a national database. He is part of a multidisciplinary team within the division of neuropsychiatry at UBC that includes of neurologists, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others that contribute. Within this role he is developing a research-enabled Neuropsychiatry concussion clinic at the University of British Columbia. I am the medical lead of this clinic and the physician consultant to the Fraser Health Concussion Clinic, the largest Concussion Clinic in the province.

Dr. Panenka brings invaluable experience, expertise and insight and we look forward to developing numerous projects that he can participate in. Dr. Panenka will be granted 150,000 options exercisable at $0.55, subject to approval by the CSE.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Vinergy Resources Ltd.

Randy Clifford

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. By its very nature, such forward-looking information requires the Company to make assumptions that may not materialize or that may not be accurate. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such information.

Contacts:

Vinergy Resources Ltd.

Randy Clifford

780-466-6006

drcliff@telusplanet.net




GATINEAU, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- As part of the migration of Nouveau Monde Mining Enterprises Inc. (TSX VENTURE: NOU)(OTC PINK: NMGRF)(FRANKFURT: NM9) ("Nouveau Monde") from an exploration company to a graphite mine developer and aspiring producer, the company's Board of Directors propose a change of name of the corporation as well as the nomination of six new candidates for directorships.

The name change to "Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc." as well as the nomination of the new directors will be proposed at Nouveau Monde's next Annual General Meeting ("AGM"). The AGM will be held on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) at Hotel V, 585 de la Gappe Boulevard, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, J8T 8N7.

All shareholders are welcome to join Eric Desaulniers, President and CEO of the corporation, who will present Nouveau Monde's Matawinie project development, the current state of the graphite market and upcoming milestones.

The new nominees to directorships as well as their credentials are listed below. Please note that Eric Desaulniers and Nathalie Jodoin remain as proposed directors of Nouveau Monde.

GUY BOURASSA:

Mr. Guy Bourassa has graduated in law from the Universite Laval, Quebec, in 1983. He has been a member of the Quebec Bar from 1983 to October 2011. During his career as an attorney, he has mainly worked with Quebec mining exploration businesses. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of Nemaska Lithium Inc., a lithium development company, since January 2008. He has been President and Director of Radisson Mining Resources Inc. from November 1988 to June 1991. He has also been President and Director of Dufresnoy Industrial Minerals Inc. from May 1994 to November 1996, and Corporate Secretary of Mazarin Mining Corporation Inc. from September 1991 to June 1994. He has previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Monarques Resources Inc. (now Monarques Gold Corporation), an exploration mining corporation, from March 2011 to October 2012. From June 2004 to October 2007, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of T-Rex Vehicles Inc., a corporation specialized in the construction of three-wheel vehicles.

PIERRE RENAUD:

Mr. Pierre Renaud, counsel and head of the Environmental Law Group for the Quebec region at McCarthy Tetrault LLP, has 29 years of experience in environmental law. He acts as a strategic advisor to clients and provides guidance from the earliest project stages on matters such as sustainable development, social acceptability, the environmental authorization process, consultation and public participation processes. As former president of the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) from 2007-2012, he was in charge of appointing and monitoring over 40 commissions of inquiry (public hearings/mediation), in addition to managing and tabling reports with Quebec's environment minister on a variety of specific initiatives. Early in his career, he was a legal counsel for the Quebec Ministry of the Environment and Hydro-Quebec. He completed an internship with the UNEP Ozone Secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya, where he primarily worked on the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. In parallel with his professional activities, and for more than 10 years he taught in the master's program in environmental law at Universite de Sherbrooke and the bachelor's program at Universite du Quebec a Montreal. In addition to co-authoring two books on mediation, he has written several articles and reports and given more than 100 talks and presentations on topics related to the environment. Admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1987, Mr. Renaud has a master's degree in public administration. In 2014, he received the CETEQ's tribute award in recognition of his achievements and commitment to the sustainable development and promotion of the green economy.

MICHEL DELSAER:

Mr. Michel Delsaer has over 45 years of experience in the organization, coordination, planning, control and management of major projects in all fields. His expertise is particularly sought after for the establishment of project development strategies, the implementation of project execution plans and management systems, the training in project management to corporate managers and in the evaluation of project performance through all phases of the project life cycle. Mr. Delsaer has participated in the development of joint ventures and governance structures for major industrial projects. Since November 2011, he serves as a senior advisor, project and business manager of Groupe Delsaer inc.. Mr. Delsaer has been Chairman of the board of directors of Delsaer Projet Management Inc. from 2007 to 2011.

MARC PRUD'HOMME:

Mr. Marc Prud'homme graduated in 1983 from the Universite Laval, Quebec with a bachelor's degree and a licence in pharmacy. He was consequently involved in the development of Familiprix, a Canadian group of independent pharmacists, from January 1989 to July 2013. Since February 2015, he owns and participates to the development of L'Auberge du Lac Taureau. As an experienced business administrator, he ensures the touristic and property development of this institution and thus participates to the reputation of Saint-Michel-des-Saints as a favoured tourist destination.

JEAN-PHILIPPE AUBE:

Mr. Jean-Philippe Aube is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV). He holds a bachelor's degree in commerce with specialization in accounting from the University of Ottawa and a graduate diploma in accounting from the Universite du Quebec en Outaouais. Mr. Aube is a partner with Sixa Capital Partners Inc., a global financial consulting firm, combining the expertise of several independent professional advisors with extensive investment, financial and business experience, since September 2016. Mr. Aube is President of PME Performance Inc., a corporation specializing in business valuation, which he founded in January 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Aube was a partner with SME Business Appraisers Inc., a firm specializing in business valuation, from November 2011 to January 2015.

YANNICK BEAULIEU:

Mr. Yannick Beaulieu is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA). He holds a bachelor's degree in administration (accounting) and a master's degree in business administration (MBA) from the Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres. He held the position of auditor in a few accounting firms, including his own, for seven years and then Mr. Beaulieu accepted the position of Controller and then Chief Financial Officer for Verval Ltee, a corporation specializing in building envelope in the region of Gatineau / Ottawa. He holds this position since June 2015. Since January 2011, Mr. Beaulieu is a part-time Accounting Lecturer with Universite du Quebec en Outaouais. He was also an accountant of his holding corporation, Y. Beaulieu CPA Inc., from June 2012 to May 2015.

About Nouveau Monde

In 2015, Nouveau Monde discovered a graphite deposit on its Tony claim block, part of its fully owned Matawinie graphite Property. This discovery resulted in the publishing of a Preliminary Economic Assessment, completed according to NI 43-101 guidelines, in June of 2016. This study demonstrated strong economics with a planned production of 50,000 tpy of high purity flake graphite over a period of 25.7 years which is expected to provide a solid operational margin and relatively low capital expenditures (see press release dated June 22, 2016). The project is located in the Saint-Michel-des-Saints area, some 120 km north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It has direct access to all needed infrastructure, labour as well as green and affordable hydroelectricity. Nouveau Monde is developing its project with the highest corporate social responsibility standards while targeting a low environmental footprint (targeting a net zero carbon emission operation).

This press release was reviewed by Eric Desaulniers, M.Sc., P.Geo., President and CEO of Nouveau Monde, Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 guidelines.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) has in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction or approved or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated by such statements. Nouveau Monde will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by Nouveau Monde.

Contacts:

Eric Desaulniers, M.Sc., P.Geo.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Nouveau Monde

(819) 923-0333

edesaulniers@nouveaumonde.ca




FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- VPR Brands, LP (OTC PINK: VPRB) is proud to announce its participation in the 2017 Big Industry Show in Los Angeles, California on January 19-20th where we will be showcasing our flagship product, the STINGER, part of our Honey Stick Brand.

The STINGER is a fully ceramic unit that is meant for the vaping of cannabis concentrates that is designed to be sleek and elegant for the on the go individual. The Fully ceramic unit is not only to enhance its appearance but allows it to perform well to maximize the taste and provide an even heating in terpene-rich cannabis. Its high capacity battery is convenient and allows for great power output. The unit's core features are: full Ceramic Donut Heater, 3 Available Temperature settings, deep Bowl design, ported Air holes for maximum vapor and taste, and powered by a small 1650mAh lithium-ion battery. To see more go to www.vapehoneystick.com

Dan Hoff, COO says, "California as a state has gone a long way with its contributions and innovations in the area of extracts and cannabis concentrates, so I am happy to attend the BIG Industry show in LA to meet with some of our large clients, strategic partnerships, and help show off the STINGER as one of the best performing and versatile ceramic vape pens."

"Big industry show takes place at an opportune time to start our marketing strategy in 2017, which is to drive sales in the wax/dab and oil market. We look forward to huge growth in the market this year in California due to the recreational ballot being passed, said Kevin Frija CEO of VPR Brands." According to New Frontier Data, Annual sales of weed in California could reach $7.6 billion by 2020, -- $4.3 billion for recreational and $3.3 billion for medical.

About the Cannabis industry in California: The cannabis market research firms recently published the 2016 California Legal Cannabis Market State Profile, which projects that California's legal marijuana market, currently valued at $2.76 billion, would pull in $1.6 billion in recreational sales in the first year of legalization and have an annual growth rate of 18.5 percent. According to John Kagia, executive vice president for industry analytics at New Frontier Data said legalization will create "income opportunities for businesses that do not touch the plant but serve the needs of the industry," like financial services, security, accounting, transportation, and marketing."

About The Big Industry Guide and Show:

The Big Industry Show sponsored by High Times is setting new standards in the business to business and wholesale 420 lifestyle sector. The 2017 BIG smoke shop trade show will be held in Los Angeles, California on January 19-20, 2017 and will be the year's must-attend show for retailers, wholesalers, and distributors across the US. BIG has the wholesale information that is essential for every vape shop, grow shop, glass shop, manufacturer, wholesaler, and distributor.

About VPR Brands, LP:

VPR Brands is a technology company, whose assets include issued U.S. and Chinese patents for atomization related products including technology for medical marijuana vaporizers and electronic cigarette products and components. The company is also engaged in product development for the vapor or vaping market, including e-liquids. Vaporizers and electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) are devices which deliver nicotine and or cannabis through atomization or vaping, and without smoke and other chemical constituents typically found in traditional products. For more information about VPR Brands, please visit the company on the web at www.vprbrands.com

Forward-looking statements:

This news release contains statements that involve expectations, plans or intentions, and other factors discussed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These statements are forward-looking and are subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results may vary materially. The company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Contact Information:

VPR Brands, LP

Kevin Frija

CEO and CFO

(954) 715-7001

info@vprbrands.com




Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2017) - Pistol Bay Mining Inc. (TSXV: PST) (FSE: OQS2) ("Pistol Bay" or the "Company') is pleased to update the Company's plans for exploration of its properties in the base metal-rich Confederation Lake greenstone belt southeast of Red Lake, Ontario. The Confederation Lake project now includes six separate claim blocks with a total area of approximately 17,400 acres, over a 42-kilometre length of the belt.

Pistol Bay's review and compilation of the large data package received from AurCrest Gold Inc. (formerly Tribute Minerals Inc.) is ongoing and close to completion. Pistol Bay acquired four of its claim groups from AurCrest/Tribute. The data package includes records received by Tribute from Noranda Inc., from which Tribute acquired most of the property in 2003, and from BP-Selco, from which Noranda acquired the property in 1987. It includes records of approximately 850 historical diamond drill holes dating from 1962 to 2007.

Pistol Bay is developing a multi-disciplinary exploration program to explore the property. Charles Desjardins, CEO of Pistol Bay, stated "the Confederation Lake project has experienced 50 years of exploration by well-funded companies using the best technologies that were available at the time. Exploring deeper using the latest geophysics is one obvious advantage that we have, but we must also use every other tool at our disposal. It's obviously a very well mineralized belt, and if we are smart, and if we try harder, we'll maximize our chances of making Canada's next base metal VMS discovery."

Geophysics: Geophysical survey, specifically electromagnetic ("EM") surveying, will still be the primary exploration tool. The whole belt has been surveyed by at least two different airborne EM systems including Dighem and INPUT, and large parts were also surveyed with GeoTEM in 1997. Also, selected areas that were considered prospective were covered with large-loop time-domain ground EM surveys (EM-37, Crone PEM) or Quantec's Titan-24 IP/MT hybrid survey.

Pistol Bay is planning to survey all its claims with VTEMPlus, the latest version of Geotech Ltd.'s very successful VTEM helicopter-borne time-domain EM system. VTEM Plus has more power and better signal/noise discrimination than its predecessor systems, and is capable of detecting conductive zones at significantly greater depths than was possible with airborne EM systems that were available 20 years ago.

Rock Geochemistry: The data inherited from AurCrest includes a remarkable database of whole-rock chemical analyses that was compiled by Noranda. Surface and drill core samples were collected and analysed as part of Noranda's ambitious area-wide exploration program between 1987 and 2003. It appears that Noranda did not make a great deal of use of the data, perhaps because of changing priorities and budgets. Augmented by AurCrest's whole-rock analysis of selected drill core samples, the database contains major and trace element data for a remarkable 6,890 samples that cover a 60 kilometre length of the Confederation Lake greenstone belt.

The main uses of the whole-rock chemical data base are (1) defining areas of hydrothermal alteration that may be related to the VMS mineralizing process, (2) lithological mapping to assist in unravelling volcanic stratigraphy and (3) defining areas of background enrichment in zinc and/or copper.

Very preliminary plots of whole-rock chemical data have outlined five areas that appear to exhibit intense hydrothermal alteration. The largest of these covers a length of 3.5 kilometres.

Geology: Although most of the project area has been geologically mapped, the work was done by different mappers at different times with different levels of detail. There is room for substantial improvement in mapping detail and the reconstruction of the submarine volcanic history and the tectonic framework of the belt.

A limited amount of mapping on the Fredart claim group in the fall of 2016 revealed what appears to be part of the bounding fault of a collapse caldera, or one side of a graben. Further mapping planned for the summer of 2017 may be able to refine the interpretation, but either possibility has implications for VMS potential. Calderas (circular collapse structures) and grabens (elongated, trough-like collapse structures) can focus hydrothermal discharge sites along their bounding faults, and the depressions that they create in the sea floor can help to retain the discharged fluids and localize VMS mineral deposition.

Acquisitions: The fourth ingredient in Pistol Bay's exploration arsenal will comprise strategic property acquisitions, either by staking or by acquiring existing claims. The Company is in preliminary negotiations on four claim blocks with significant mineral occurrences and/or exploration targets.

Technical material in this news release has been prepared and/or reviewed and approved by Colin Bowdidge, Ph.D., P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About Pistol Bay Mining Inc.

Pistol Bay Mining Inc. is a diversified Junior Canadian Mineral Exploration Company with a focus on precious and base metal properties in North America. For additional information please contact Charles Desjardins - pistolbaymining@gmail.com - at Pistol Bay Mining Inc.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

PISTOL BAY MINING INC.

"Charles Desjardins"

Charles Desjardins,

President and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary note:

This report contains forward looking statements. Resource estimates, unless specifically noted, are considered speculative. Any and all other resource or reserve estimates are historical in nature, and should not be relied upon. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on factors that will or may occur in the future. Actual results may vary depending upon exploration activities, industry production, commodity demand and pricing, currency exchange rates, and, but not limited to, general economic factors. Cautionary Note to US investors: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission specifically prohibits the use of certain terms, such as "reserves" unless such figures are based upon actual production or formation tests and can be shown to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions.
SEATTLE, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- CFN Media Group, the leading creative agency and digital media network dedicated to legal cannabis, announces the publication of an article covering Medical Marijuana Inc.'s (OTC PINK: MJNA) recent groundbreaking agreement with a South American pharmaceutical distributor and how the company aims to capitalize on the market.

The hemp industry may be confronting some obstacles in the United States, but many Latin American countries have embraced the plant's potential. For instance, Mexico's COFEPRIS approved the impact of cannabidiol (CBD) oil for epilepsy treatment; Brazil's ANVISA legalized CBD for various therapeutic uses; and Chile approved a measure legalizing the cultivation and sale of medical marijuana last year and has since opened the largest marijuana farm in the region.

Over the past couple years, Medical Marijuana has set up several subsidiaries designed to distribute RSHO (the company's flagship CBD oil) outside of the United States. HempMedsPX LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary that distributes RSHO in Mexico and Puerto Rico using sub-distributors. HempMeds Brasil is a second 93.4% owned subsidiary focused on distributing RSHO in Brazil, which is the largest economy in South America and a significant end market for its products.

HempMeds Brazil recently announced a partnership with Paragon HealthCare BR, a leading global wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical products that has relationships with medical professionals, doctor's groups, hospitals, pharmacists, and other health care providers. Paragon HealthCare also has several other businesses that serve customers around the world.

Under the terms of the agreement, Paragon HealthCare BR will make RSHO products accessible to those in need by assisting individuals in securing special importation permits. Over time, this will reduce the wait from prescription-to-delivery for patients that require CBDs to treat medical conditions. The distributor will also help facilitate medical research surrounding the applications of CBD in treating numerous medical conditions. With a wealth of doctors and clinics ready for such research, Paragon HealthCare BR is well positioned to help execute these studies and legitimize the use of non-psychoactive cannabinoids for neurological and other conditions. The good news is that Brazil and other countries are more open than the U.S. to such studies.

Please follow the link to read the full article: http://www.cannabisfn.com/medical-marijuana-secures-partnership-with-key-pharmaceutical-distributor/

Learn how to become a CFN Media featured company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/become-featured-company/

Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from your smart phone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8

Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com

About CFN Media

CFN Media (CannabisFN) is the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to legal cannabis. We help marijuana businesses attract investors, customers (B2B, B2C), capital, and media visibility. Private and public marijuana companies and brands in the US and Canada rely on CFN Media to grow and succeed.

About Medical Marijuana Inc.

Our mission is to be the premier cannabis and hemp industry innovators, leveraging our team of professionals to source, evaluate and purchase value-added companies and products, while allowing them to keep their integrity and entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to create awareness within our industry, develop environmentally friendly, economically sustainable businesses, while increasing shareholder value. For details on Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s portfolio and investment companies, visit http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com.

To see Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s video statement, click here.

Shareholders are also encouraged to visit the Medical Marijuana, Inc. Shop for discounted products.

Disclaimer:

Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CFN Media and CannabisFN.com, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. Emerging Growth LLC may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Emerging Growth LLC may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or equity securities in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/.

CFN Media

Frank Lane

206-369-7050

flane@cannabisfn.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Dividend Select 15 Corp. (The "Company") declares its monthly distribution of $0.07367 per Equity share. The distribution is payable February 10, 2017 to shareholders on record as of January 31, 2017.

Under the distribution policy announced in September 2014, the monthly dividend payable on the Equity shares is determined by applying a 10.00% annualized rate on the volume weighted average market price (VWAP) of the Equity shares over the last 3 trading days of the preceding month. As a result, Equity shareholders of record on January 31, 2017 will receive a dividend of $0.07367 per share based on the VWAP of $8.84 payable on February 10, 2017. The yield will remain stable at 10.00% (based on the VWAP) under this distribution policy.

Since inception, Equity shareholders have received a total of $4.81 per share inclusive of this distribution.

The Company invests in a portfolio of 15 Canadian companies selected from the following 20 company universe which are among the highest Canadian dividend yielding stocks.

Bank of Montreal Great West Lifeco inc. TELUS Corporation BCE Inc. Husky Energy Inc. The Bank of Nova Scotia CIBC National Bank of Canada The Toronto-Dominion Bank CI Financial Corp. Power Corporation of Canada Thomson Reuters Corporation Enbridge Inc. Royal Bank of Canada TMX Group Inc. EnCana Coproration Loblaw Companies Limited TransAlta Corporation Sun Life Financial Inc. TransCanada Corporation ------------------------------------------------------------ Distribution Details Equity Share (DS) $0.07367 Ex-Dividend Date: January 27, 2017 Record Date: January 31, 2017 Payable Date: February 10, 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------

Contacts:

Investor Relations:

1-877-478-2372

Local: 416-304-4443

www.dividendselect15.com

info@quadravest.com




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Eguana Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EGT)(OTCQB: EGTYF) announced today that it has expanded its energy storage partnership with LG Chem. Development has begun to optimize integration and delivery of LG Chem's new industry-leading JH3 battery cell technology for stationary storage systems as part of Eguana's AC Battery portfolio.

Since the product was first announced, the US Residential AC Battery, based on LG Chem's JH2 cell technology, has been certified to meet US national standards and passed rigorous internal testing at both Eguana and LG Chem. Deployments in the Hawaii and California markets have taken place in both homeowner and utility applications.

"This is a natural, yet very exciting next step for our partnership," said Brent Harris, CTO at Eguana Technologies. "The new JH3 battery technology that won the ees award in June 2016, against a field of global competitors, provides the path for best in class fully integrated energy storage solutions. High capacity cells are the key to lower costs and increased performance and growth in the EV and stationary storage markets."

"Our engineering team has evaluated Eguana's integration of our lithium batteries into their AC Battery product and we have been very impressed by the reliability and the performance of their solution," said Peter Gibson, US Sales Director of LG Chem. "We look forward to seeing the results of the next generation systems in 2017."

Eguana will also expand its AC Battery product line to introduce a 15kVA/37kWh commercial energy storage product based on the JH3 cell in the same standalone module format in the second quarter 2017.

About The AC Battery:

The Eguana AC Battery is a certified, grid ready power control solution pre-integrated with LG Chem Li-ion batteries. Our solution can be seamlessly integrated with a local energy management system or a distributed fleet control network using open communication protocols to provide a fully functional energy storage installation. The AC Battery provides maximum flexibility for system aggregators which want to deploy it as a standalone product, as part of new solar storage installations, or as a retrofit to solar PV installations already in place.

About LG Chem

LG Chem Ltd. is one of the world's largest lithium-ion battery manufacturers with significant market share in consumer, automotive and stationary applications. The LG Chem Energy Solution division engineers and delivers energy storage systems for utility, C&I and residential applications. LG Chem Ltd. is a globally diversified chemical company that operates three main business units: Petrochemicals, IT & Electronic Materials, and Energy Solution. The company manufactures a wide range of products, from petrochemical goods to high-value added plastics, and extends its chemical expertise into high-tech areas such as electronic materials and rechargeable batteries. For more information, please visit www.lgchem.com www.lgesspartner.com

About Eguana Technologies Inc.

Eguana Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EGT) designs and manufactures high performance power controls for residential and commercial energy storage systems. Eguana has more than 15 years' experience delivering grid edge power electronics for fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery applications and delivers proven, durable, high quality solutions from its high capacity manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America.

With thousands of its proprietary energy storage inverters deployed in the European and North American markets, Eguana is the leading supplier of power controls for solar self-consumption, grid services and demand charge applications at the grid edge.

To learn more, visit www.EguanaTech.com or follow us on Twitter @EguanaTech.

Forward Looking Information

The reader is advised that some of the information herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning assigned by National Instruments 51-102 and other relevant securities legislation. In particular, we include: statements pertaining to the value of our power controls to the energy storage market and statements concerning the use of proceeds and the Company's ability to obtain necessary approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or future events or developments, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date hereof. Readers are also directed to the Risk Factors section of the Company's most recent audited Financial Statements which may be found on its website or at sedar.com The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

LG Chem:

Dick Pacini

The Millerschin Group

O: 248-276-1970 or C: 248-770-6446

dpacini@millerschingroup.com



Company Inquiries

Justin Holland

CEO, Eguana Technologies Inc.

+1.416.728.7635

Justin.Holland@EguanaTech.com



Product Inquiries

Vishwas Ganesan

Director of Business Development, USA

+1.408.685.2670

Vishwas.Ganesan@EguanaTech.com




HONG KONG, CHINA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- The most comprehensive guide to Chinese social media, ChoZan, today announced its launch in Hong Kong, unveiling its marketing-guidance platform. As the first of its kind, ChoZan will be placed as the go-to guide for agencies and companies seeking to engage consumers on Chinese social media, such as WeChat and Weibo.

Hong Kong has historically, and presently, benefited from its close proximity to China, serving as a super connector between the mainland and the West. In the past two decades Hong Kong has not only engaged in cross-border trade, but also accommodated various international retailers selling to mainland Chinese consumers and Western brands establishing regional offices.

With the continued decline in the amount of inbound Chinese travellers, which has seen visitor arrivals to Hong Kong from mainland China decrease by 3.5% from 2015 to 2016 (according to Hong Kong Tourism Board), Hong Kong has seen a sharp decline in retail sales; Western brands have also suffered as a result. Local marketing teams now need to work proactively to attract Chinese customers to their stores, or explore other channels, such as online cross-border trade. These days, HK's major shortcoming might be the lack of understanding of the Chinese market, and modern Chinese consumers; particularly their habits, triggers, and buying behaviors.

China possesses the world's largest online retail market with total sales of 899 billion USD, whilst advertising spending on Chinese social media reached $6 billion USD in 2016. Consequently, Chinese social media is now the most important promotional channel for the Chinese market. Despite these numbers and an almost universal understanding that the Chinese market and Chinese consumers cannot be overlooked, most Hong Kong-based marketing departments do not possess the necessary knowledge and expertise to effectively market and sell to Chinese consumers. This is regardless of whether they are local or international brands, and B2B or B2C companies. These circumstances have made China-focused digital marketing platforms, like ChoZan, a necessity.

ChoZan understands the current landscape in China, and was carefully constructed to help various internal marketing teams and agencies utilize Chinese social media.

With the launch of ChoZan, there is now an option for agencies and internal marketing teams all over the world that are looking to capitalize on the rise of social media in China. ChoZan works with clients to improve understanding of Chinese consumers, by providing updates and advice regarding Chinese social media channels, tools, and marketing best practices. ChoZan's benefits can be divided into three core components: Navigators, Resource Centre, and Helpdesk. The ChoZan Navigators are essentially detailed e-books on marketing through Chinese social media, that are intended to transfer expertise. The Chinese social media platforms covered include: Weibo, WeChat, Douban, Youku, Yizhibo, and Miaopai; new Chinese social media navigators will be added quarterly. The second core component of ChoZan is the Resource Centre, which covers recent campaign cases and best practices, as well as blogger databases and reviews of crucial updates to social media platforms. The final component is the Helpdesk which includes email and one-on-one video conferences with ChoZan's social media experts.

Ashley Galina Dudarenok, Founder of ChoZan, has lived in China for five years, and has had a further six years' experience running a Hong Kong based digital marketing agency. Ashley stated that the launch of ChoZan in Hong Kong is pivotal considering the current trends in Chinese social media. "Considering the continued growth in social media use, which has seen a 14% increase in social media use in the Asia Pacific from 2015 to 2016 (according to smartinsights.com), and the current state of the dynamic Chinese consumer market, there is now a distinct need for marketing teams to effectively market their products via social media. This is true for both local Hong Kong agencies entering new social media platforms, and international brands looking to target Chinese consumers". Ms. Dudarenok further explained that marketing industry does not have a Chinese social media resource as comprehensive as ChoZan. "To date there has not been a Chinese social media guide that offers comprehensive e-book Navigators, a regularly updated and insightful Resource Centre, as well as one-on-one consultations and a Helpdesk backed by experienced professionals". With the outpouring of money into Chinese social media and online advertising sure to increase, it is up to ChoZan, to provide the expertise that marketing teams and agencies require to become front runners in the fiercely competitive metropolis of China, and its booming digital market.

ChoZan opens for subscriptions in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore on 23 January 2017, and will further expand into USA by the end of Q1. To learn more about ChoZan and book an online demo, please visit www.chozan.co

Notes to Editor

About ChoZan

ChoZan was created by a team of Chinese social media marketers, strategists, copywriters, designers, bloggers, and project managers based in Hong Kong. ChoZan serves marketing directors, social media managers, and SMM agencies. Their team provides a range of expertise and features to clients. Firstly, through navigators, the platform educates on how to choose, manage, and optimize the leading Chinese social media platforms for marketing. Secondly, in the Resources Centre ChoZan provides updates on the most successful campaigns, latest tools, features, regulations, and best practices in the fast-paced world of Chinese social media. Lastly, through Helpdesk it provides advice on how to draft strategy, create content, manage followers, engage thought leaders, and launch campaigns.

As of 23 January 2017, subscriptions to ChoZan will become available in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. ChoZan will have expanded to USA by the end of Q1, and further into the UK, Australia, and Canada by the end of Q2. For more information, visit http://chozan.co

To download images, press material and information on ChoZan

Visit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fssxttctpnn4upx/AABCiasjic--vbnjxFEwIm6Wa?dl=0

Sources:

http://partnernet.hktb.com/en/research_statistics/index.html

http://www.smartinsights.com/social-media-marketing/social-media-strategy/new-global-social-media-research/attachment/screen-shot-2016-02-15-at-12-04-37/

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3100050



For further Information and interview requests, kindly contact:

Alarice International Limited

Mason Ku

Phone: (+852) 3709 2258

Email: Email Contact




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2017) - Iconic Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: ICM) (OTC Pink: BVTEF) (FSE: YQGB) (the "Company" or "Iconic") is pleased to announce that it has initiated work at its recently acquired Smith Creek Valley lithium project ("Smith Creek"), located 140 miles (225 km) east of Reno, near Austin, Nevada. Claim staking, geologic mapping, surface geochemical sampling and gravity interpretation have been completed on Smith Creek. A map of the Smith Creek property is available on the Company's website.

Iconic controls 808 placer claims totaling 25.25 square miles (65.4 km2) over a major gravity low. The enclosed Smith Creek Valley Basin covers 582 square miles (1,507 km2), which is slightly larger than Clayton Valley Basin where lithium brines are produced. Smith Creek Valley is over +40 miles (+64 km) long in a north-northeast direction and averages 9 miles (14.5 km) in width. The vast majority of rock weathering into the basin is felsic ash flow tuff, which is an excellent source of lithium. The Smith Creek basin itself is composed of alluvium surrounding a mud flat, a remnant of a paleo-lake. Brine evaporate is found around the edges of the mud flat, but not in sufficient quantity to be mapped as a unit. The basin is bounded by a series of step faults that down-dropped the central basin several thousand feet. Some of these step faults serve as fluid conduits for present day hot springs that border the mud flats. Activity in this geothermal location is believed to be a major contributing factor to the presence of economic lithium brines. Previous shallow drilling by the USGS in the valley for a ground water study discovered the presence of brine, though it was not assayed for lithium.

A gravity study of the Smith Creek Valley area completed by Frank Fritz of Fritz Geophysics of Fort Collins, Colorado, discovered a large gravity low under the southern portion of the valley. The mud flat sediments have a calculated thickness of over 4,000 feet (1,220 m). Sampling of brine evaporates deposited in the mud flat downslope of hot springs, located just northwest of the flat, returned lithium values of up to 470 ppm. It is possible that the lithium is being brought to the surface from brine at depth by geothermally heated groundwater.

A MagnetoTelluric (MT) geophysical survey has been conducted at Smith Creek Valley and is currently being interpreted. The purpose of this survey was to verify the extent and depth of the potential brine deposit.

Bonnie Claire Project Update

McClelland Laboratories, Inc. of Sparks, Nevada has commenced agitated leach testing of the drill cuttings from BC1601. These tests will determine the leachability of lithium from the sediments using several different leaching agents including water, dilute hydrochloric and dilute sulfuric acid. Results of this first phase of metallurgical testing are expected within a few weeks. After determination of the optimal leaching agent, concentration and leaching time, advanced metallurgy including column leach testing is planned.

Additional geophysical surveying has been scheduled north of drill hole BC1601, in order to determine the location of the major east-west fault that is interpreted to truncate the brine horizon. This fault could be a major feeder structure for lithium brine and therefore, is a high priority drill target. Subject to the ground conditions, the survey will be conducted in February.

Richard Kern, Certified Professional Geologist (#11494) and CEO of Iconic is the Qualified Person who has prepared and reviewed this press release in accordance with NI 43-101 reporting standards.



On behalf of the Board of Directors

SIGNED: "Richard Kern"

Richard Kern, President and CEO

Contact: (604) 336-8614

For further information on ICM, please visit our website at www.iconicmineralsltd.com. The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com

Forward Statement: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Iconic expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- McClatchy, owner of media companies in 29 U.S. markets in 14 states, has selected MPP Global to support its digital initiatives with intelligent technology to drive audience engagement turning casual consumers into paid subscribers.

Subscription Management

As one of the largest media companies in North America, McClatchy sought a new digital subscriber management solution to provide more robust integration of user data and an improved user experience. These requirements led the publisher to MPP Global and eSuite, an advanced eCommerce platform empowering publishers to monetize digital content and physical publications.

The new subscriber management platform will be rolled out on a phased basis and provide a centralized digital ecosystem for McClatchy's brands. It provides functionality to gather behavioral intelligence and create a seamless experience for readers with numerous opportunities for relevant and timely engagement. The publisher will have access to common and intuitive subscriber interfaces, which provide extensive insight and the ability to personalize and optimize engagement based on users' behaviors.

Intelligent Access Control

eSuite will provide McClatchy with intelligent identification, digital fingerprinting and access control technology coupled with a granular decisioning engine. This functionality, part of eSuite's Intelligence & Decisioning module, will enable the company to define content access policies, including article-based metering, across its numerous publications. The Intelligence & Decisioning module also enables reader insights and the gathering of behavioral information, which is then used to personalize and optimize the experience.

Enhanced User Experience & Flexibility

eSuite will enable McClatchy to offer an enhanced user experience across its publications. This intuitive user experience for subscribers is fully integrated into the company's websites. The flexibility of eSuite also enables the company to react to audience attitudes with functionality to easily create, test and launch new products and promotions that support a number of different business models.

Commentary

Speaking on the project, Kathy Lehman, Head of Marketing at McClatchy, said, "We look forward to working closely with MPP Global on this project as we implement eSuite and enhance the audience experience across our publications. The functionality available in eSuite allows us to better manage, adapt to, and address consumers' habits and market conditions while they are engaged with our products."

Paul Johnson, CEO at MPP Global, said, "This project with McClatchy reaffirms the need publishers have to incorporate innovative technology and digital strategies, as well as being able to support print demands."

Johnson added, "As we continue to see digital make further advances in the publishing space, we are confident McClatchy has taken the right step to offer a seamless experience for its audiences and a more centralized solution for the business for many years to come."

About MPP Global

MPP Global is a technology company that delivers eSuite, an advanced eCommerce platform empowering publishers to monetize digital content and physical publications. eSuite enables publishers to identify, engage and convert consumers into paying customers, with new subscription and one-click payment models that extend existing ad-generated revenue streams.

Founded in 2000, with offices throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific, MPP Global has an impressive track record of helping companies deliver digital monetization solutions.

Clients include The Times, McClatchy, L'Equipe, Racing Post, El Espanol, The Irish Times, Daily Mail, Winnipeg Free Press and the New Zealand Herald.

About McClatchy

McClatchy is a 21st century news and information leader dedicated to the values of quality journalism, free expression and community service. McClatchy operates media companies in 29 US. markets in 14 states, providing each of its communities with high-quality news and advertising services through a wide array of digital and print formats. McClatchy is the publisher of iconic brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, The Sacramento Bee, The Charlotte Observer, The (Raleigh) News & Observer, and the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram. McClatchy is headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MNI.

Media Contact

Lacy Gallagher

Blast PR on behalf of MPP Global

Email Contact




ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- GLOBEX MINING ENTERPRISES INC. (TSX: GMX)(FRANKFURT: G1M)(STUTTGART: G1M)(BERLIN: G1M)(MUNICH: G1M)(XETRA: G1M)(OTCQX: GLBXF) is please to inform shareholders of the results of a drill hole on our Francoeur Gold Mine Property, 25 km west of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec.

Drill hole FS-16-35 intersected 4.64 gpt Au over 8 m from 99 to 107 m including 8.01 gpt Au over 4 m from 100 to 104 m (0.14 oz/t Au over 26.25 feet between 324.8 feet and 351.1 feet including 0.23 oz/t Au over 13.12 feet from 328.1 to 341.2 feet). The true width is approximated 55% of the intersection width. The gold intersection occurs at a vertical depth of approximately 90 m (295 ft) below surface in altered and fractured diorite and mafic volcanics with carbonate/silica/hematite alteration.

A second series of assays was done to define a potential lower grade gold envelope around the intersection described above. The results from this sampling have now caused Globex to split all the remaining core. Once all the assay results are received, Globex will issue a second press release dealing with the wider low grade zone which may have economic significance as a potential target for open pit mining.

Assaying was performed by Accurassay located in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec using the standard fire assay method. Details of the assay methods are available on Globex's website at www.globexmining.com

The core was logged and the processing supervised by Benjamin Mougin, P.Geo. This press release was written by Jack Stoch, P. Geo., President and CEO of Globex in his capacity as a Qualified Person (Q.P.) under NI 43-101.

We Seek Safe Harbour. Foreign Private Issuer 12g3 - 2(b) CUSIP Number 379900 50 9

Forward Looking Statements

Except for historical information, this news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". These statements may involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity and performance to be materially different from the expectations and projections of Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. ("Globex"). No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits Globex will derive therefrom. A more detailed discussion of the risks is available in the "Annual Information Form" filed by Globex on SEDAR at www.sedar.com

Contacts:

Globex Mining Enterprises Inc.

Jack Stoch, P.Geo., Acc.Dir.

President & CEO

819.797.5242

819.797.1470 (FAX)

info@globexmining.com

www.globexmining.com




TORONTO, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Convergence, the first and only platform exclusively focused on blended finance, announced it will award a grant to ADM Capital and ADM Capital Foundation (ADMCF) for the design of a Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF) and Tropical Landscapes Bond (TLB), which in partnership with UNEP, ICRAF, and BNP Paribas, will provide long-term financing for projects that improve access to rural electricity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance smallholder farmers' livelihoods in Indonesia. The design grant is part of Convergence's efforts to surface the next generation of blended finance models and foster market-wide learning to drive the field forward. Convergence will award a minimum of CAD 10M in design grants over the next five years, and this initial funding is provided by the Government of Canada.

ADM Capital will use the Convergence proof of concept funding to help finalize the overall design of the TLFF -- which will include a loan fund and a grant fund -- and structure initial projects that will be funded by the TLFF. ADM Capital anticipates that the loan fund will benefit from contingent funding commitments from development finance institutions and aid agencies to mitigate credit risks of the underlying projects.

"We are creating a novel structure that will address multiple challenges to financing renewable energy and livelihood projects in Indonesia. The loan platform together with contingent funding commitments will ensure the TLFF is able to fund early-stage projects that must be nurtured and further developed," said Chris Botsford, co-founder of ADM Capital. He said that once projects reach maturity and begin to generate cash flows, they will be aggregated and packaged in a bond program that will help recycle loan capital for further TLFF lending. Lisa Genasci, CEO of ADM Capital Foundation, commented, "The grant fund within the TLFF will be a critical component, helping to cultivate a bankable project pipeline, supporting select projects to achieve the intended impact, helping to build capacity where it matters most, and monitoring the impact of all projects."

The mechanism will support the Government of Indonesia in meeting key development and environmental objectives. Dr. Yanuar Nugroho, Deputy Chief of Staff, Executive Office of the President of Indonesia said, "The Government of Indonesia has several ambitious targets around deforestation and sustainable energy, including restoring 2 million hectares of peatland by 2020, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by between 29% and 41%, reaching full electrification by 2020, and increasing the renewables mix from 6% to 23% over the next 5 years. The structure proposed by the Tropical Landscape Finance Facility will help towards achieving these goals."

Convergence is an independent institution that helps public, philanthropic, and private investors find and connect with each other to co-invest in blended finance deals in emerging markets. Convergence offers grant funding for practitioners to design innovative blended finance instruments that address a key development need but would otherwise be too risky or complex to pursue. To share what grantees have learned through their design process, Convergence, in partnership with the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business, will create learning briefs that outline key decisions and outcomes from the design processes to ensure practitioners considering similar instruments have access to design best practices.

"ADM Capital has proven itself as a leader in designing open and evergreen debt funds in the region, and is developing with its partners a potentially landmark transaction that, if successful, will be a blueprint for leveraging capital market principles and financial institution capabilities alongside mechanisms available from development funders to finance early-stage, high-risk development projects," said Joan Larrea, CEO of Convergence.

Convergence accepts Design Funding applications on a continuous basis, and reviews applications every quarter. To be considered for the next review cycle, practitioners must submit their applications by February 28, 2017. Visit www.convergence.finance/design-funding to learn more.

ABOUT CONVERGENCE: Convergence is an institution that connects, educates, and supports investors to execute blended finance transactions that increase private sector investment in emerging markets. Visit www.convergence.finance to learn more.

ABOUT ADM CAPITAL: ADM Capital is an investment management firm with a focus on private equity and private credit investments in Asia and Europe. The group has 20 years of investment experience, over which time it has developed strong relationships with borrowers and investors in various sectors, countries and asset classes. ADM Capital has been active in Indonesia for over 18 years, having helped companies restructure and recover from the Asian crisis in 1998 and Global Financial Crisis in 2008, while helping them take advantage of growth opportunities in their markets. ADM Capital is headquartered in Hong Kong, with satellite offices in Istanbul, London and Almaty.

ABOUT ADM CAPITAL FOUNDATION: In 2006 the partners of ADM Capital established ADMCF to support critical research and impact-driven approaches to promoting equity and environmental conservation in Asia. The Foundation works toward solutions to key challenges facing our oceans, and at the intersections between conservation and development, water, food and energy. Over the past decade, ADMCF has provided funding and strategic support to over 40 partners in 10 Asian countries.

ADM Capital Media Contact:

Scott Emmerson

Email Contact



MEDIA CONTACT:

comms@convergence.finance






WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Federal Aviation Administration said that SkyPan International Inc. will pay a civil penalty of $200,000 for violating federal regulations by flying remote-controlled aircraft in congested airspace over New York and Chicago. This is the largest civil penalty issued by the FAA against a drone operator.



The FAA noted that the agreement settles enforcement cases involving a $1.9 million civil penalty proposed earlier by the agency against SkyPan in October 2015.



The FAA had alleged that between March 21, 2012, and December 15, 2014, SkyPan conducted 65 unauthorized drone flights over various locations in New York City and Chicago. The flights involved aerial photography. Of those, 43 flew in the highly restricted New York Class B airspace.



Chicago-based SkyPan has agreed to pay an additional $150,000 if it violates federal aviation regulations in the next year, and an additional $150,000 if it fails to comply with the terms of the settlement agreement.



In addition, SkyPan has agreed to work with the FAA to release three public service announcements in the next twelve months to support the FAA's public outreach campaigns that encourage drone operators to learn and comply with UAS regulations.



SkyPan said in a separate statement that while neither admitting nor contesting the allegations that these commercial operations were contrary to FAA regulations, it wishes to resolves the matter without any further expense or delay of business.



The company added that its drone flights were conducted two years before the FAA's first rule for commercial drone operations went into effect in August 2016.



SkyPan noted that for 28 years, it has offered aerial robotic systems that serve the needs of the construction and real estate industries. According to the company, it conducts aerial panoramic photography operations above private property in urban areas under very controlled conditions.



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First commercial unit will be one of three sites in Hagerstown, MD totaling 12 MW

Alevo Group, the Energy Storage Provider, today announced that its first GridBank storage unit has been cleared for shipping and installation after completing an extensive factory acceptance testing (FAT) process at Parker Hannifin's Energy Grid-Tie Division. Alevo and Parker Hannifin have collectively conducted a series of validation and application tests on the 2MW/1MWh unit to verify the GridBank's performance based on safety, power, thermal stability, communications, response rates and ability to deliver specific applications.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005812/en/

First Alevo GridBank being delivered to Hagerstown, Maryland, for installation (Photo: Business Wire)

"We have been testing the GridBank in conjunction with Alevo since August and are satisfied the unit operates as per its design intent," explained Jim Hoelscher, General Manager of Parker Hannifin's Energy Grid Tie Division in Charlotte. "Parker has conducted a series of robust tests as part of a jointly developed factory acceptance test program and initial results confirm the Alevo GridBank capabilities, including its high-power among other attributes. We are excited to see the field performance and proud to have played a key role in this historic milestone."

The unit will be utilized primarily for frequency regulation and charging/discharging cycles in durations of less than an hour. GridBanks are well suited to power applications such as these due to its proprietary and patented inorganic electrolyte, Alevolyte which demonstrates no degradation in its power capability after thousands of full battery cycles. Due to its long cycle life, while continuing to provide its nameplate power output, the Alevo GridBank's projected 20-year duty cycle offers a grid asset that has the lowest total cost of ownership of any storage technology, an important economic factor to consider in application specific Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS) calculations. LCOS is calculated as the net cost to install and maintain an energy storage system, divided by its expected life-time energy throughput.

Speaking about the system, which will be installed mid-January and commissioned later in the month, Michael S. Spiker, Director of Utilities for the City of Hagerstown, said, "The Hagerstown Light Department is proud to welcome the installation of the first Alevo GridBank. We look forward to the successful operation of this unique storage technology."

To augment the installation of the GridBank, Alevo Analytics, the intelligence and analytics arm of Alevo Group, will provide its full suite of GridMaestro software and run other real-time analytics as well to verify the GridBank's performance on the grid.

"We are excited to get our first GridBank in the field with many more to follow," said Christopher Christiansen, President of Alevo Energy. "We can now demonstrate what makes a GridBank's safety and performance characteristic unique in the market. With our non-flammability and full range of usable capacity, we are also capable of following PJM's enhanced Reg D signal accurately."

About Alevo

Alevo, a leading provider of energy storage is redefining energy as a developer, manufacturer and provider of grid-scale energy storage solutions featuring GridBank and Alevo Analytics. GridBank lithium-ion batteries feature a proprietary inorganic electrolyte (Alevolyte), which is non-flammable and offers extreme long life and stability. Alevo's vertically engineered turnkey energy storage solution can be placed anywhere on the electricity supply chain, to reduce energy waste, lower greenhouse gases and other emissions, create efficiencies and lower costs. Founded in 2009, Alevo is headquartered in Switzerland with GridBank manufacturing in the U.S. For more information, visit www.alevo.com.

About Alevo Analytics

Alevo Analytics provides advanced analytics and simulation capabilities, business intelligence and advisory services with a primary focus on the power and energy sectors as well as Analytics IQ databases and the GridMaestro Software Suite- real time software solutions for GridBank optimization. Alevo Analytics collaborates with customers to provide unique insights regarding where the deployment of distributed energy resources will yield the greatest benefits while demonstrating the efficiencies which can be realized across the electricity supply chain.

About Parker Hannifin Corporation

Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. For 100 years the company has engineered the success of its customers in a wide range of diversified industrial and aerospace markets. Learn more at www.parker.com or @parkerhannifin.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005812/en/

Contacts:

AxiCom PR for Alevo

James Kennedy

James.kennedy@axicom.com

+44 020 7559 5624
Leading Japanese luxury resort brand opens its first hotel abroad in Ubud, Bali on January 20th, 2017

The leading Japanese hotel management company, Hoshino Resorts Inc. (Yoshiharu Hoshino, CEO) is opening its first HOSHINOYA brand hotel abroad in Bali, the Republic of Indonesia on January 20th, 2017. "HOSHINOYA Bali" is enveloped by the lush green hills of Ubud, known as a center for Balinese traditional crafts and dance, surrounded by an environment of untouched rich nature. HOSHINOYA Bali overlooks the Pakerisan River, with sacred water canals running through the property, part of the island's age-old water temple network recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Landscape.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005044/en/

Cafes in the Sky There are cafe spaces designed to blend in with the jungle they overlook. (Photo: Business Wire)

The surrounding dense rainforest and terraced rice paddies as well as the extended mountain range are among one of Bali's most famous landscapes. The beautiful land provides the ultimate fresh-air vacation, but also the landscape dotted with Bali Hindu temples and shrines offers a spiritual atmosphere to the visitor. HOSHINOYA Bali provides the perfect relaxation experience, allowing guests to feel in true harmony among the nature, people and God of Bali.

Beauty in Every Detail

In HOSHINOYA Bali, we offer an exclusive and comfortable alternative to hotels. We offer 3 types of private, luxury villas enveloped in the lush green and mystical river valley, all connecting with the semi-private pool area allowing the guests to descend from the terrace of their villa. The architecture of the villas represents Bali's traditional beauty and ancient wisdom. On the inside of the villa, there are many beautiful walls and furniture covered with carvings, which techniques have traditionally been inherited and conveyed as the traditional culture. To stay in HOSHINOYA Bali means enjoining the custom, culture and tradition in the heart of Bali but also experiencing great moments of contemporary lifestyle.

Hoshino Resorts

Founded in 1904 as a forestry business in Karuizawa, in the Japanese Alps, it opened its first hot spring resort in 1914. Rebranded by Yoshiharu Hoshino in 1995 as Hoshino Resorts, it has expanded across Japan with a focus on local culture and tradition. Hoshino Resorts has developed three separate hospitality brands, HOSHINOYA, KAI and RISONARE. Now it operates 36 properties around Japan and abroad.

For more information please visit Hoshino Resorts (hoshinoresorts.com).

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005044/en/

Contacts:

Hoshino Resorts Inc.

Seiko Mahae, +81-3-3564-5453

global@hoshinoresort.com
SINGAPORE, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

ZEDRA expands their Singapore team to service growth in business relationships and client portfolios in Asia

New hires bring a skill set that will undoubtedly support ZEDRA's current clients and expand its capabilities as it continues to grow

ZEDRA is continuing to strengthen its industry presence with the appointment of two new Business Heads. Based in the Singapore office, Yuan Yuan Woo, Executive Director, and Nithya Camoens, Director, will be key to drive new business, foster relationship building and support the underlying efforts of the company as it continues to expand and grow in Asia.

"We are developing an experienced and highly qualified team by adding premium resources to help us manage our growing client base and, most importantly, to underscore our continued commitment to providing excellent client service," says Wendy Sim, Managing Director, ZEDRA Singapore.

Yuan Yuan Woo will head new business for trust services. She will also have a focus on key client relationship management. Ms. Woo is a member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountant (ISCA) and a Certified Financial Planner with Financial Planning Association of Singapore. She is also a qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner with STEP.

"Yuan Yuan has spent almost 20 years carefully establishing and maintaining trust structures with Asian families that has required a great deal of attention to detail and commitment as family dynamics change and evolve," continues Wendy. "She began her career in tax services for PwC, before moving to a number of private banks including Citibank, DBS and UBS where she advised private clients on succession and estate planning matters."

"Yuan Yuan Woo comes to ZEDRA with a serious skillset in client management and client focus. She has the adaptability, resourcefulness and marketplace knowledge required to help grow the Singapore office and our client business in Asia," says Niels Nielsen, ZEDRA CEO.

Nithya Camoens will be responsible for developing corporate solutions to complement ZEDRA Singapore's private client offering.

Nithya Camoens most recently spent five years at PwC Singapore, where she was responsible for managing the company secretarial practice there. Prior to PwC, she worked for a private management group whose international operations spanned the Asian continent, and rising through the ranks, she held various senior positions for the group's operations in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as assisted in the setup of offices in India, Mauritius and Cambodia. Nithya has a post-graduate diploma in Finance from the

London School of Economics, and a First Class Honours Degree in Business Information Technology from Coventry University

"We are thrilled to add Nithya to our team," says Wendy Sim. "In addition to her strong background in corporate organisations, there is no doubt she understands the discipline and dedication of being a team player with a varied experience in compliance, company legislation and corporate transactions."

"Nithya brings a solid understanding in corporate business, as well as great enthusiasm, experience and personality to the Singapore team," says Niels Nielsen. "I'm certain our clients and our extended ZEDRA team will enjoy working with her as much as I will."

ZEDRA is an independent, global specialist in trust, fiduciary, corporate and fund services. The company was acquired from Barclays in January 2016 by an experienced independent investor group, led by two families, Sarikhani and Nielsen as well as Bart Deconinck as Deputy Chairman on the Board of Directors.

Based in offices across 11 key jurisdictions, its 370 strong team of industry experts is dedicated to creating and delivering bespoke solutions for its clients. The business is focused on the strong commitment of an experienced team, fostering an entrepreneurial approach to delivering exceptional client services across its international markets.

For further information, please visit http://www.zedra.com

About ZEDRA

ZEDRA is an independent, global specialist in trust, corporate and fund services. The company was acquired from Barclays in January 2016 by an independent investor group, with an ambitious plan to grow the company, expanding and strengthening the services it offers to clients around the world. It currently has global offices in 11 jurisdictions, including Jersey, Guernsey, Luxembourg, the Isle of Man, the Cayman Islands, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Singapore, the UK and Switzerland.

ZEDRA's 370 strong team of industry experts is dedicated to creating and delivering bespoke solutions for clients. The business is focused on the strong commitment of an experienced team, fostering an entrepreneurial approach to delivering exceptional client services.

ZEDRA has diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals and their families, international corporations, institutional investors and entrepreneurs. Under the ownership of a private independent investor group, ZEDRA have the flexibility, boldness and expertise to respond to complex needs whilst maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance in an ever-evolving regulatory environment.

http://www.zedra.com


Digital customization, neuro-cosmetics, targeted advertising campaigns and DIY beauty formulation among the visionary use cases for the design concept

E Ink Holdings, "E Ink" (8069.TWO), the leading innovator of electronic ink technology in the world, and TEXEN, a leading provider of product solutions for the luxury and beauty market, today announced a collaboration to bring personalized packaging solutions to cosmetic customers.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005847/en/

E Ink's technology brings customizability to TEXEN packaging displays for makeup compacts, perfume bottles and other cosmetic packaging. (Photo: Business Wire)

The smart packaging design concept combines E Ink's low power, high contrast paper-like display technology with TEXEN's packaging expertise to create customizable packaging displays for makeup compacts, perfume bottles and other cosmetic packaging. The E Ink display, powered purely by near field communications (NFC), can be updated by a smartphone that generates radio frequency signals carrying both the information and energy needed to update the display. Once an image is switched, the display will continue to show the information with no further power input required.

"With the rise of beauty on a micro scale, our partnership with E Ink looks to enable our cosmetic customers to be the first to offer customizable digital packaging," said Stephane LESPRIT, TexenLab Innovation Manager at TEXEN. "With E Ink's battery-free, thin, lightweight and durable technology, brands could enhance their packaging without having to alter the shape and design of their packaging, truly making this solution a first for the industry."

With E Ink's ultra-low power technology, along with lightweight, flexible and easily visible characteristics, the customizable E Ink displays will be more effective in bringing personalized messaging to packaging, which has largely remained static until now. In addition, the resulting packaging provides consumers with the following benefits:

Personalization features: consumers can put their names on their makeup compacts and perfume bottles or write personal messages to gift recipients

Neuro-cosmetics: combining well-being and a unique sensorial experience, E Ink displays will be the interface to bridge consumers' digital lifestyle with the product itself

Connected cosmetics: connectivity will be the vehicle for targeted advertising and social media campaigns

DIY beauty formulation: E Ink display modules can integrate sensor or diagnostic components to enable beauty treatments based on skin condition as affected by factors such as weather, humidity, etc.

"As products and packaging design continue to go digital, ePaper is increasingly emerging as the technology of choice," said Hui Lee, senior director for business development at E Ink. "Our technology has brought innovation to industries once reluctant to change, such as the pharmaceutical market. We are looking forward to working with TEXEN to expand the realm of possibilities for the beauty packaging industry."

The solution is currently available and E Ink and TEXEN are taking customer orders. For more information please visit http://www.eink.com/

About E Ink Holdings

Founded in 1992 by Taiwan's leading papermaking and printing group YFY (1907.TWSE), E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TWO), based on technology from MIT's Media Lab, has transformed and defined the eReader market with its ePaper technology, enabling a new multi-billion dollar market in less than 10 years. Its corporate philosophy aims to deliver revolutionary products, user experiences, and environmental benefits through advanced technology development. This vision has led to its continuous investments in the field of ePaper displays as well as expanding the use of its technologies into a number of other markets and applications. Its EPD products make it the worldwide leader for ePaper. Its FFS technologies are a standard for high end consumer electronic products. Listed in Taiwan's Taipei Exchange (TPEx) and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world's largest supplier of displays to the eReader market. For corporate information, please visit www.einkgroup.com; for EPD information, please visit www.eink.com.

About TEXEN

Texen is a leading provider of product solutions for the Luxury Beauty market (make-up, skincare, fragrance spirits). Beginning of 2016, Texen has acquired Topline Products and extended its service offering from packaging to finished products (Full Service) and accessories (including inhouse brushes). With sales of more than USD200 million, 1500 employees, 11 production sites worldwide, multiple partnerships and major launches in recent years, the group is now the third largest plastic packaging solution provider to the cosmetics and fragrance industry.

Innovation and industrial excellence are two central elements for Texen. In this context, a laboratory dedicated to innovation, TexenLab, has been created in 2013. This 250m2 space has its own dedicated machinery and a Fab-lab. It specializes in technical re- search, the creation of new techniques and the initiation and coordination of R&D projects. TexenLab cultivates close relationships with other market stakeholders including designers, innovators and materials and machinery suppliers. This collaborative approach notably concerns research into new product concepts, materials and technologies. It allows the development and testing of various projects and drives a proactive approach to customers.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005847/en/

Contacts:

Racepoint Global

Jon Diaz, 415-694-6708

jdiaz@racepointglobal.com
WASHINGTON, January 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

From 9-10 March 2017, Ministers of Energy, Regulators and Heads of Utilities from Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Brazil and Peru will meet with energy investors in Washington D.C. at the Growing Economies: Latin America Energy Forum to discuss opportunities for project partnerships in the energy sector.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458576/Growing_Economies_Latin_America_Logo.jpg )



(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458577/Latin_America_Energy_Forum.jpg )



Latin American public and private sector leaders will address countries' policies and strategies to engage investors and stimulate open discussions. 250 energy developers, financiers and public sector stakeholders are expected to attend the meeting from North America and countries across Latin America.

"The meeting will feature high level keynote presentations to highlight new investment opportunities, and panel discussions to address new trends for power development in the region," said Talita Covre, Programme Manager at EnergyNet. "With official representation of Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Brazil and Peru, among others, the purpose is really to put government representatives and investors together and get new partnerships started for power projects in these countries."

Primary themes and topics of the meeting include regulation development, investigating how regulator strategies are impacting investors' confidence and behaviour, the 'Renewable Energy Transition', identifying the increasing need of adaptation to accommodate the growth of the renewables sector, and a panel on 'Renewable Energy Technology' - exploring the potential of technology as the biggest enabler of renewable power production at more competitive costs.

Other panel discussions will explore the impact of 'Distributed Generation' in saving investments in transmission and improving the stability of the electric power service, a session on gas demand following the International Energy Agency's estimate that natural gas fired generation in Central and South America will increase by an average of 2.2 per cent a year, and a finance-focused session examining the role of development finance institutions and commercial finance providers in availing capital.

The Latin America Energy Forum is co-located with the Powering Africa: Summit from 9-10 March at the Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C. The Powering Africa: Summit is a conference for decision-makers in the energy sector showcasing African energy & infrastructure projects seeking investment.

For more information about this meeting:

Meeting dates: 9-10 March 2017

Venue: Marriott Marquis, Washington, D.C., USA

Website: http://www.latam-growingeconomies.com

Contact: Amy Offord - Marketing Manager

Email: Amy.offord@energynet.co.uk

Telephone: +44(0)20-7384-8068


QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this Press Release.

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Central and Arctic Region, wishes to warn residents that it may be dangerous to venture out onto the ice at this time due to a warming trend over the past few days. Noticeable splits and cracks have occurred in the ice along the shoreline in the area of Sainte-Angele-de-Laval and on Lake St. Pierre.

As well, it may be dangerous to venture out on the ice when an icebreaker or hovercraft is operating in the area. Fractured ice may become hazardous and unstable, and may create a danger for anyone in the area. Facilities on the ice may also be affected by icebreaking operations.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that pedestrians, fishers and snowmobilers leave the ice when they see an icebreaker in the immediate vicinity.

CCG icebreakers have a red hull with a transverse white band and a white funnel bearing a maple leaf.

For more information about the Canadian Coast Guard, visit www.marinfo.gc.ca or www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca.

Follow us on Twitter! twitter.com/DFO_CCG_Quebec

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20170118-MPO_QC_800.jpg

Contacts:

Communications Branch

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Quebec Region

medias.qc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

418-648-5474




Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2017) - Highvista Gold Inc. (TSXV: HVV) ("Highvista" or the "Company") provides a further update to its press release of June 28, 2016 regarding the conditional sale of certain of its mining properties and updates to its reverse take over ("RTO") and its change of business originally announced August 31, 2015.

By mutual agreement with the prospective purchaser the Corporation has put an end to the previously announced negotiations to sell all of its interests in its Mexican mining exploration assets to Minerales y Yacimientos Mexicanos Sacreamento S.A de CV. The Corporation will seek to maximize the value of these assets through other transactions or potential operating relationships or partnerships that it intends to develop prior to the completion of its RTO, as further described below.

The Corporation is completing advanced negotiations with a group of third-parties to develop a real estate merchant banking operation through an initial investment in a portfolio of Canadian real estate assets focused primarily on buildings with one or more long-term government leases and include specialty healthcare uses. This portfolio includes a mix of leased-up properties that produce immediate cash-flow and properties that are being developed or tenant mix/usage being repositioned over a 12-18 month period. The investment strategy is intended include various structured finance components in addition to equity participation. For the healthcare-related properties, additional financing opportunities related to equipment and technology used in conjunction with the facility will be considered so long as they produce immediate or near term cash-flow.

The real estate portfolio and financing opportunities are being vended into the Corporation for consideration that will include cash and shares of the Corporation.

In addition to the real estate and resources investments, the Corporation is also in the process of finalizing the rights to acquire certain assets and associated rights to finance and develop certain construction and infrastructure-related properties and assets and is conducting preliminary due diligence regarding certain distributed grid power generation projects and assets, for consideration that will include cash and shares of the Corporation.

As with the real estate investments, the model is to partner with experienced operational management teams and to offer active finance, corporate development and strategic expertise in the targeted areas.

These transactions and any financings related thereto are intended to constitute the Corporation's reverse takeover ("RTO") and change of business to an investment company focused on specialty real estate areas with an emphasis on healthcare-related and government tenants, construction and infrastructure related financing, equipment and services investments and opportunistic investments in resources and power generation.

Paul Crath, President and Chief Executive Officer of Highvista has the following comment on the updated activity: "Our belief is that although our process has been a long one, we have attempted to be very diligent and selective in developing unique relationships where we can now move aggressively forward in areas such as niche real estate, construction and infrastructure where we expect future growth potential driven by a combination of demographics and government policy that combine the potential for near term cash flow and investment upside."

Although conditional on the completion of certain negotiations, it is anticipated that the RTO process and related filings and shareholder meeting notices are intended to be initiated in the near term.

The RTO will be subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation as well as the approval of regulatory authorities.

The Corporation has requested that the trading of its shares on the TSX Venture Exchange continue to be halted until the completion of the RTO.

About Highvista

Highvista owns 100% of a Mexican subsidiary that controls the 24,055 hectare Canasta Dorada Gold Project. This project is located in the Sonoran Gold Belt immediately adjacent to Alamos Gold's El Chanate Mine. Details of Highvista's Canasta Dorada Project can be viewed at the Company's website at www.highvistagold.com.

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. When used herein, words such as "anticipate", "will", "intend" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Highvista Gold Inc.'s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company's website at www.highvistagold.com

For further information, please contact:

Highvista Gold Inc.

Paul Crath, President and CEO

Tel: (416) 504-4128

Fax: (416) 504-4129

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- DataSift today announced a strategic partnership with LinkedIn and unveiled PYLON for LinkedIn Engagement Insights to provide marketers around the globe with advanced insights into the activities and interests of over 467 million professionals.

LinkedIn Engagement Insights is a privacy-first analytics offering from DataSift that equips marketers with an in-depth understanding of key audiences, their interests and engagement with content, and how they interact with brands on LinkedIn. With these insights, marketers can inform and optimize advertising planning and measurement, brand building activities, and content marketing on LinkedIn. DataSift's approach to data processing provides an environment that allows for results to be aggregated, giving marketers audience-level insights while respecting LinkedIn members' privacy and preventing private member data from being collected or viewed.

Fully customizable and adaptable for a variety of use cases, LinkedIn Engagement Insights allows marketers and agencies to improve the use of the LinkedIn platform:

Discover new audiences for brands and products - Research the behavior of high value audiences on LinkedIn and validate assumptions. Confirm audience segments by analyzing the job titles, locations, and skills of audiences who are engaging with relevant content on the network. New audience segments can also be identified based on their engagement with content that intersects with a brand's existing audience.





Learn what content works best with audiences - Gain a greater understanding of what topics, types of content and creative resonates most with key audiences. Use content insights to better shape and inform content marketing strategies on LinkedIn, create more compelling content for target audiences and more effectively measure success on LinkedIn.





Benchmark brands against the competition - Analyze brand sentiment and understand how audiences engage with their brand, products or services on LinkedIn relative to industry competitors and peers.





"Being able to make data-driven decisions is vital for us to increase the reach and success of our clients' campaigns on LinkedIn. So, we were very interested in getting more data from LinkedIn, an extremely valuable and solid source of information for advertisers," said Eleonore Laubier, Business Integration Lead at Publicis Media. "We started using LinkedIn Engagement Insights with UBS, one of our biggest global clients, and were so impressed by the results that we've started integrating it into our Connected Intelligence tool for all of our clients. We now have a more in-depth understanding of our clients' target audiences and can use the data to optimize campaigns on LinkedIn, as well as create and target custom audiences. It has also enabled us to identify the audiences generating the highest engagement and interest around our clients' industries and key topics, and surface related trends that clients can capitalize on."

"Partnering with DataSift will enable LinkedIn to provide access to better data-driven insights so that marketers and agencies can improve engagement with their target audiences and deliver positive ROI on LinkedIn -- all in a way that respects member privacy," said Russell Glass, VP of Products at LinkedIn. "LinkedIn Engagement Insights is a major milestone in our efforts to empower marketers to make more informed media planning decisions that can help them be more successful on our platform."

LinkedIn Engagement Insights is powered by DataSift's PYLON technology, which processes LinkedIn's live newsfeed of published content and the engagement surrounding it (clicks, impressions, shares, likes, comments.) PYLON for LinkedIn Engagement Insights then applies Artificial Intelligence (AI) to understand the text within posts and articles, identifying the topics, companies, and products mentioned. The advanced analytics allows marketers to perform multidimensional analysis across audience and engagement data and unlock valuable, actionable insights.

"Until now, there has been very little data available for gaining insights on content for professionals," said Benjamin Borch, Managing Director at Motley, part of the Dentsu Aegis Network. "LinkedIn Engagement Insights changes this, providing us with a deeper understanding of the content and topics that are trending with different audiences. There is a limited amount of content that people can consume and our clients are now battling with news sites, as well as their competitors, to capture people's attention. Having visibility into the content that resonates with professionals enables our clients to produce impactful, high-quality content that engages their audience and this is invaluable."

"LinkedIn Engagement Insights will open up powerful new ways for our clients to plan, design and deliver their advertising campaigns on LinkedIn," said Jamie Tedford, Founder and CEO, Brand Networks. "They will have the ability to discover valuable information in real-time and rapidly apply it to active campaigns to achieve the best possible results. LinkedIn Engagement Insights promises to create a new high-water mark when it comes to actionable insights for social advertising."

"Our partnership with LinkedIn highlights the future of the intersection between data-driven marketing and human data intelligence," explains Tim Barker, CEO, DataSift. "LinkedIn Engagement Insights fundamentally re-invents marketers' campaign planning and delivery, providing access to rich audience, content and engagement data. We're looking forward to working with LinkedIn on advancing the use of privacy-first data to inform marketing decisions on LinkedIn."

LinkedIn Engagement Insights is available today from DataSift as an API, enabling the broad ecosystem of agencies, adtechs and martechs to integrate LinkedIn Engagement Insights into the tools that marketers use every day.

About DataSift

DataSift is the leader in Human Data Intelligence. Every day, DataSift transforms billions of items of human-created data into business intelligence. DataSift's privacy-first PYLON platform extracts actionable intelligence without compromising consumer trust. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Francisco, DataSift has operations in New York, Reading and London, UK, and Canada. DataSift's powers an ecosystem of developers that deliver solutions for agencies, application builders, and brands. More information can be found at datasift.com.
DUBLIN, Jan 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market by Product, by End User - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014-2022" report to their offering.

Vital signs monitoring 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.

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.

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 Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market:

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 BPmonitorsis 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 professionalforoperation of the device.

Digital thermometers accounted formajor 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 bethefastest 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.

is expected to bethefastest 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.

and jointly accounted for almost one-third of the European vital signs monitoring devices market in 2015. North America generated the highest revenue, accounting forapproximately 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.

Key Market Segments

By Product type

Blood Pressure Monitoring Device

Aneroid BP Monitors

Digital BP Monitors

Ambulatory BP Monitors

Blood Pressure Instrument Accessories

Pulse Oximeters

Table-top/Bedside Pulse Oximeters

Fingertip Pulse Oximeters

Hand-held Pulse Oximeters

Wrist-worn Pulse Oximeters

Pediatric Pulse Oximeters

Temperature Monitoring Device

Digital Thermometers

Infrared Thermometers

Temperature Strips

By End User

Hospitals & Clinics

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs)

Home Care Settings

Companies Mentioned

Welch Allyn (a subsidiary of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.)

SunTech Medical, Inc. (a subsidiary of Halma plc)

Nonin Medical, Inc.

Omron Corporation

Masimo Corporation

Contec Medical Systems Co., Ltd

Medtronic plc

Nihon Kohden Corporation

Smiths Group plc

A&D Company, Limited

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/97vrfd/vital_signs

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Wireless giant Verizon is reportedly seeking to acquire a major cable company as its rival AT&T's is on verge of buying Time Warner in a $109 billion deal. According to New York Post, citing two well place sources, the wireless giant expects an acquisition of a cable company to drive demand for its wireless data products. Verizon Chief Executive Lowell McAdam told friends at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that he wants to buy into cable, the report says. Verizon requires a cable company as the wireless industry transitions to 5G. The most viable targets are said to be 'Charter or Comcast,' while 'Altice' is considered to be too small. However, market experts say that the news does not make any sense in technical terms as Verizon's network is different from Comcast and Charter and 5G networks are different from cable networks. Meanwhile, Verizon is currently under pressure after its deal to buy Yahoo is under threat after the internet company's disclosure of a data breach that affected more than 500 million accounts. AT&T, which owns DirecTV, had recently announced a deal to buy Time Warner for $109 billion in cash and stock deal. In early January, AT&T announced 5G Evolution to offer ultra-fast internet access to its customers. The greater speed of 5G is expected to support overall network performance for video, the Internet of Things, 4K video, augmented and virtual reality, smart home and cities, autonomous vehicles and such things. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Regulatory News:

The Board of Directors of Brokersclub AG, Baar, Switzerland (MLBRO, ISIN CH0139322835, WKN A1JLAK) has announced that the publication of the Annual Financial Statements 2015 and the invitation to the Annual General Meeting will be delayed beyond the required filing date.

Brokersclub AG is currently not able to complete its annual reports as the directors of its holding, Brokersclub Ltd. ("BTFX"), have not fulfilled their legal obligation to accurately and timely report to Brokersclub AG as the solid shareholder and did not provide data. Thus, the Board of Directors is not in a position to evaluate a significant Asset. The company is in contact with BTFX and is confident that all required information will be available shortly.

The Board of Directors also announce that the Investigation against Brokersclub AG by Swiss Financial Market Authority FINMA initiated by preliminary injunction as of January, 14th 2016 was finally closed already by order of September 8th 2016.

As announced om January 14th 2016 the Swiss Financial Market Authority FINMA has established GHR Rechtsanwalte AG, Zurich as the investigating agent of Brokersclub AG and empowered the investigating agent to act in place of the prior management on behalf and in the name of the company and withdrawn the authorisation temporarily of the ultimate directors.

By order of September 8th the Swiss Financial Market Authority has terminated the mandate of GHR Rechtsanwalte AG, Zurich and ceased all measures order by primary injunction of January 14th 2016.

As a conclusion of the investigation the Swiss Financial Market Authority FINMA confirmed that Brokersclub AG has not violated any supervisory regulation and reset the prior situation by default which left the company in organisational deficiencies.

With convening of the extraordinary general meeting as of October, 25th 2016 Mr. Guido Colombo was appointed as the new board director of Brokersclub AG and the relevant change was entered in the commercial register on December 8th 2016.

Caused by the circumstances the company apologize for its late publication of the last events and important developments.

Although the investigation will have some lasting effects the new management is positive that the company is shortly back on track and with priority all efforts will be taken to fulfil all regulatory and market requirements.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005921/en/

Contacts:

Brokersclub AG

Guido Colombo

Tel: +41-41-588-0062

info@brokersclub.ch
UANI releases open letter signed by former global policymakers

Leaders of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) today released an open letter to participants attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, warning them of the severe legal, financial, and reputational risks associated with doing business in Iran. In keeping with WEF's theme of "responsive and responsible leadership," UANI called on all attendees to forgo developing business links with Iran, until its government demonstrates sustained compliance with the JCPOA, and fundamentally abandons its pursuit of nuclear weapons, sponsorship of terrorism, human rights abuses, and destabilizing aggression in the Middle East.

UANI's open letter, which ran as a full page advertisement in today's Wall Street Journal Europe, was signed by former high-ranking government officials and policy experts, including former U.S. Senator and UANI Chairman Joseph I. Lieberman, former Acting Director and Deputy Director of the CIA Michael Morell, former Special Assistant to President Obama Ambassador Dennis Ross, former Chief of the Mossad Tamir Pardo, former Director of the Federal Intelligence Service of Germany Dr. August Hanning, the former Foreign Minister of Italy Giulio Terzi, and the former Foreign Minister of Poland Radek Sikorski. The open letter is part of a broader global campaign by the nonpartisan organization to highlight the dangers of doing business with the Iranian regime.

About UANI

UANI is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan, advocacy group founded in 2008 by Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, former CIA Director Jim Woolsey, and Middle East Expert Ambassador Dennis Ross, that seeks to heighten awareness of the danger the Iranian regime poses to the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005932/en/

Contacts:

UANI

Steven Cohen, 212-922-0063

press@uani.com
DUBLIN, IRELAND -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Corvil today announced that 2016 was another record performance year with continued profitable revenue growth, expansion of solutions for cybersecurity and regulatory compliance, and penetration of new verticals and markets.

Enterprises increasingly require improved transparency into how their businesses are operating from an IT, customer experience, and commercial perspective. This level of visibility is essential to attaining real-time, actionable insight into user satisfaction, risk, and business performance. The implementation of Corvil has been proven to reduce the costs associated with managing and maintaining IT systems while also allowing teams to identify and address issues before they result in downtime or business failure.

Over the last twenty-four months, Corvil has nearly doubled its revenues as customers turn to its streaming analytics for insight into IT operations, cybersecurity, and business applications and transactions. 2016 saw not only growth of existing customers, but a 25% year-over-year increase in net new customers across new industries and in emerging markets such as Mexico, Brazil, and Indonesia.

"Our continued growth reflects both a market need for greater depth of insight from machine data sources to empower IT, network, operations, and security teams as well as strong execution of our strategic plan," said Donal Byrne, CEO. "We see business services continue to move from digital to algorithmic, requiring companies to have improved levels of precision, performance, and granularity. With our industry-leading approach to deriving intelligence from network data and with numerous product advances in machine learning, adaptive context enrichment, and machine-time analytics, Corvil is uniquely positioned to satisfy these needs in 2017 and beyond."

In 2016, Corvil

Grew year-over-year sales by 50%

Secured key wins in cyber threat detection and forensics

Launched App Agent to enable customers to gain visibility into intra-application performance

Released its Amazon Web Services (AWS) Connector, allowing customers to stream network and analytics data directly into AWS Kinesis to utilize the cloud for big data initiatives using Corvil data

Developed unified communications and security apps for Splunk

Introduced solutions for precision time-stamped, clock synchronized transaction capture to support MiFID II and other regulatory compliance requirements

Launched the world's highest performance analytics appliance for network data with Corvil 8400

Named "Indigenous Irish Company of the Year" at Inaugural Data Science Awards

Ranked among Top Global Financial Technology Providers in American Banker and BAI's FinTech Forward List

Corvil announced a number of key partnerships and technical alliances in 2016, reinforcing its commitment to provide open access to its rich data analytics and enable customers to leverage existing systems and workflows.

"As IT and digital business infrastructures become more dynamic and complex, spanning multiple services and service providers, customers require efficient, tightly integrated workflows," said David Murray, Chief Business Development Officer at Corvil. "Corvil integrates with our customers' ecosystems to enable them to gain increased value from their current investments; to increase automation; and to achieve greater operational and business value outcomes for network, IT, security, and business operations teams."

Trusted by the most demanding institutions around the world to safeguard critical business, Corvil is the streaming analytics platform for a machine world. 2016 saw a substantial broadening of Corvil's product offerings, with enhanced security, compliance, IT operations, and business intelligence solutions now available. As new regulations, security threats, and technical complexity are introduced to IT infrastructures, Corvil stands out as the only platform able to provide granular transparency across network and application data in real-time.

Learn more about Corvil: Corvil.com | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

About Corvil

Corvil is the industry leader for deriving IT, Security, and Business intelligence from network data. As companies adopt faster and smarter machine technology, it becomes critical to tap into richer and more granular machine data sources to safeguard the transparency, performance and security of critical infrastructure and business applications. The Corvil streaming analytics platform captures, decodes, and learns from network data on the fly, transforming it into machine-time intelligence for network, IT, security and business teams to operate efficiently and securely in this new machine world. Corvil uses an open architecture to integrate the power of its network data analytics with the overall IT ecosystem providing increased automation and greater operational and business value outcomes for its users.

The Corvil solution is trusted by leading financial institutions to safeguard their businesses across the globe involving 354 trillion messages with a daily transaction value in excess of $1 trillion.
STRATHMORE, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Western Economic Diversification Canada

The communities of Strathmore, Siksika Nation, Airdrie, Banff, Stoney Nation, Standard and Chestermere will receive a total of over $1.6 million through the Government of Canada's Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program to help communities modernize local recreation facilities and community infrastructure.

The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program is part of Canada 150 Celebrates, the Government of Canada's celebration of our country's 150th anniversary of Confederation. Budget 2016 provided an additional $150 million over two years to Canada's Regional Development Agencies to deliver further community funding across the country, starting in 2016-17, with Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) being responsible for administering the program in Western Canada.

Through investments in community, social and cultural infrastructure and programs, the Government of Canada is supporting the legacy of many Canadians who have invested their time, energy and spirit into improving the cultural and recreational opportunities for people of all ages within their communities.

Quotes

"Throughout Canada, communities are adding improved infrastructure and amenities for use by residents and visitors alike. The new Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program-funded arenas and recreational facilities in Strathmore, Airdrie, Siksika Nation, Standard, Stoney Nation, Chestermere, and Banff will be enjoyed for generations to come."

- Darshan Kang, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada

"The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure grants are a welcomed way to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary of confederation. Quality cultural, social and recreation infrastructure is important for healthy, vibrant communities and citizen well-being."

- His Worship Michael Ell, Mayor of the Town of Strathmore

Stay Connected

Twitter: @WD_Canada, @canada150th, @MinisterISED

Hashtags: Canada150

Website: WD Homepage, Canada 150 Homepage

Facebook: @canada150th

Instagram: @canada150

WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)

TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388

Additional Links

- Government of Canada Announces Support for Community Infrastructure in Alberta

- Backgrounder: The 150th Anniversary of Confederation in 2017

Backgrounder

Government of Canada invests in south-central Alberta's community infrastructure

The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP 150) is part of Canada 150 Celebrates, the Government of Canada's celebration of our country's 150th anniversary of Confederation.

Budget 2016 provided an additional $150 million over two years to Canada's Regional Development Agencies to invest in local improvements to communities across the country, starting in 2016-17. $46.2 million was allocated for projects across Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is responsible for administering the program in the West.

CIP 150 supports projects seeking to renovate, expand, and improve existing community infrastructure. Priority was given to projects that upgrade recreational facilities, advance a clean growth economy, and have a positive impact on Indigenous communities and peoples.

A Government of Canada CIP 150 investment of $1,638,814 was announced today for work on 7 recreational and cultural projects in south central Alberta.

----------------------------------------------------------------------- Organization Project Location Federal Funding ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Chestermere RegionalEnhance energy Chestermere, AB$41,423 Community efficiency at the Association Chestermere Regional Recreation Centre ----------------------------------------------------------------------- City of Airdrie Upgrade the Ron Airdrie, AB $293,425 Ebbesen Arena ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Siksika Nation Renovate the Siksika Siksika, AB $409,500 Deerfoot Sportsplex ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Standard & District Enhance light energy Standard, AB $50,000 Agricultural efficiency at the Society Standard and Rosebud Arena ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Stoney Tribal Renovate facilities Morley, AB $150,000 Administration at the Morley Community Recreation Centre ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Town of Banff Enhance energy Banff, AB $244,466 efficiency at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Town of Strathmore Upgrade the ice Strathmore, AB $450,000 plant system at the Strathmore Family Centre Arena -----------------------------------------------------------------------

IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.

Contacts:

Carolina Calderon

Acting Regional Communications Manager

Western Economic Diversification Canada

780-495-6892

carolina.calderon@canada.ca



Marilyn Kaiser

Communications

Town of Strathmore

403-813-1742

mkaiser@strathmore.ca




FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Western Economic Diversification Canada

Fourteen communities in northern and central Alberta will receive a total of over $1.7 million through the Government of Canada's Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program and Canada 150 Fund and Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to help communities modernize local recreation facilities, as well as improve social and cultural infrastructure and programs.

These funding programs are part of Canada 150 Celebrates, the Government of Canada's celebration of our country's 150th anniversary of Confederation. Budget 2016 provided an additional $150 million over two years to Canada's Regional Development Agencies and $168.2 million over two years through Canadian Heritage's Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to deliver community funding across the country.

Through investments in community, social and cultural infrastructure and programs, the Government of Canada is supporting the legacy of many Canadians who have invested their time, energy and spirit into improving the cultural and recreational opportunities for people of all ages within their communities.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada recognizes that cultural and recreational activities bring communities together and contributes to our overall health and well-being. The renewed facilities and programs not only respond to the demand for community infrastructure improvements, but also provide us an opportunity to celebrate the people of this great country."

- The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada; and the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

"The communities of Wood Buffalo have deep roots and a rich history. Investments like these help the people of our region connect with each other and celebrate our unique history and culture."

- Melissa Blake, Mayor, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Backgrounder

Government of Canada Invests in central and northern Alberta Community Infrastructure

Announcement by the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and MP (Edmonton Mill Woods) on behalf of the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development.

Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (Department of Western Economic Diversification)

Budget 2016 provided an additional $150 million over two years to Canada's Regional Development Agencies to invest in local improvements to communities across the country, starting in 2016-17. A total of $46.2 million was allocated for projects across Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is responsible for administering the program in the West.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Organization Project Location Federal Funding ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Athabasca Chipewyan Expand the Youth Fort Chipewyan, $404,789 First Nation and Elders Lodge AB ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bigstone Cree Nation Upgrade recreation Wabasca, AB $150,350 facilities on the Bigstone Cree Nation reserves ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buffalo Lake Metis Upgrade recreation Caslan, AB $125,000 Settlement complex at Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elk Point and District Upgrade the A.G. Elk Point, AB $54,235 Agricultural Society Ross Arena ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mannville & District Enhance the Mannville, AB $95,824 Agricultural Society Mannville Centennial ice arena ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marwayne Agricultural Repair and expand Marwayne, AB $75,000 Society the Marwayne Arena ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portage College Renovate the Lac La Biche, AB $72,100 entrance of the Lac La Biche County Pool ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smoky Lake Agricultural Renovate the arena Smoky Lake, AB $125,100 Society in the Smoky Lake Complex ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Town of Bruderheim Renovate the Bruderheim, AB $169,500 Bruderheim arena ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Town of Two Hills Renovate the arena Two Hills, AB $188,475 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Victoria Trail Renovate the Waskatenau, AB $80,000 Agricultural Society community centre ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canada 150 Fund (Department of Canadian Heritage)

The Government of Canada established the Canada 150 Fund to create opportunities for Canadians to participate in local, regional and national celebrations that will provide lasting legacies for future generations.

With a budget of $200 million, the Canada 150 Fund has allowed hundreds of organization to submit funding applications for activities that will mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Organization Project Location Federal Funding ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Janvier Sekweha Chard, AB $47,000 Youth Centre ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Paul and 150 Years - Canada St. Paul, AB $24,000 District Arts Yesterday, Today, Foundation Tomorrow ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (Department of Canadian Heritage)

The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) program seeks to improve physical conditions for artistic creativity and arts presentation or exhibition. It is also designed to increase access for Canadians to performing, visual, and media arts, and to museum collections and heritage displays.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Organization Project Location Federal Funding ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fort McMurray Flood Recovery: Fort McMurray, AB Historical Society Equipment $140,000 Upgrade ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOTAL FEDERAL INVESTMENT ANNOUNCED: $1,751,373

Stay Connected

Twitter: @WD_Canada, @MinisterISED, @CdnHeritage, @RMWoodBuffalo, @canada150th

Hashtag: Canada150

Website: Western Economic Diversification Canada, Canadian Heritage, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Canada 150

Facebook: @canada150th

Instagram: @canada150

WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)

TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388

Additional Links

- Western Economic Diversification Canada: Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program

- Canadian Heritage: Canada 150 Fund

- Government of Canada Announces Support for Community Infrastructure in Alberta

- Backgrounder: The 150th Anniversary of Confederation in 2017

IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.

Contacts:

Carolina Calderon

Acting Regional Communications Manager, Alberta Region

Western Economic Diversification Canada

780-495-6892

carolina.calderon@canada.ca



Pierre-Olivier Herbert

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage

819-997-7788



Media Relations

Canadian Heritage

819-994-9101

1-866-569-6155

pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca



Nicole Power

Communication Strategist

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Fort McMurray, Alberta

780-799-8671

nicole.power@rmwb.ca




WINNIPEG, MANITOBA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Note to Editors: There is a photo associated with this press release.

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Captain Matthew Kutryk as the pilot for the 2017 CF-18 Demonstration Team.

Capt. Kutryk will wow audiences around North America during the 2017 air show season, flying his specially painted CF-18 Hornet commemorating Canada's 150th Anniversary of Confederation.

Captain Matthew Kutryk

Capt. Matthew Kutryk was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. and spent most of his early childhood in Whitehorse, Yukon. He later moved to a farm near Beauvallon, Alta., graduating from Two Hills High School in 2002.

Inspired to fly by his first airshow experience at Cold Lake in the late 1980s, Capt. Kutryk was eager to join the Royal Canadian Air Cadet program; first with 551 Whitehorse Lions Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron (RCACS), and later with 341 Mundare RCACS. As an Air Cadet, Capt. Kutryk earned his glider pilot's licence in 2000 and his private pilot's licence in 2001.

Capt. Kutryk studied mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta and spent his summer months fighting forest fires on an Alberta Wildfire Helitack Crew based in Rocky Mountain House, Alta.

Capt. Kutryk joined the Canadian Armed Forces in August 2006, and in 2008 began military flight training in Portage la Prairie, Man. and later in Moose Jaw, Sask. In 2010, Capt. Kutryk was selected to fly fast jets and moved to Sheppard Air Force Base at Witchita Falls, Texas for training, graduating in May 2012 and realizing a life-long dream by receiving his RCAF pilot's wings.

He returned to Canada as a student at 410 Squadron at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta. for operational training on the CF-18 Hornet, and finished training in 2013 before being posted to 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron at 3 Wing Bagotville, Que.

Capt. Kutryk has actively trained throughout Canada and in the United States with the CF-18 Hornet, and has served on NORAD missions across Canada, including the high arctic. Capt. Kutryk is currently a Section Lead and Fighter Electronic Warfare Instructor with 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron. In April, Capt. Kutryk will take to the skies over Comox, B.C., where the CF-18 Demo Team will conduct its annual training before launching the 2017 air show season.

2017 Theme

The RCAF selects a theme for each year for its Air Demonstration Teams and 2017 will feature Canada's 150th Anniversary of Confederation.

Throughout the year, the Department of National Defence and the CAF will support the Government of Canada in its Canada 150 celebrations, participating in numerous events across the country. The upcoming air show season is a special opportunity for the RCAF to join Canadians across the nation as we celebrate our shared values, our achievements, and our place in the world.

Quotes

"This year marks Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation and the RCAF is honoured to be able to contribute to the celebrations of this important milestone with the CF-18 Demonstration Team. The RCAF's history is an integral part of the history of Canada as a whole. We are proud of the tradition of excellence that the men and women of the RCAF have demonstrated in service to Canada, and we look forward to continuing this legacy in the years to come."

- Major-General Christian Drouin, Commander, 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region

"Being selected as the pilot for the CF-18 Demonstration Team is an incredible honour, especially on such a significant year for Canada. I am excited to travel all across Canada and the United States to show the skill and professionalism of the Royal Canadian Air Force. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the team of highly dedicated professionals that support the team and make our performances possible."

- Captain Matthew Kutryk, CF-18 Demonstration Pilot

Associated Links

Government of Canada Website - Canada 150

RCAF Website - CF-18 Demonstration Team

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20170116-1082831_800.jpg

Contacts:

Media Relations

Department of National Defence

613-996-2353

Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811

mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca




HOUSTON, TX and HASSELT, BELGIUM -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- TrendMiner has released results showing a year of strong growth and today confirmed that the company has grown by 250% over the last year. The company's growth in 2016 is due to rapid adoption of the software, which reflects the market's need for a single software solution that supports Industry 4.0 goals.

Investing in the future

Based on the growth that TrendMiner achieved in 2016, the company's Board of Directors has endorsed the acceleration of product development and global expansion during 2017. TrendMiner Founder and CEO, Bert Baeck, said: "Today's endorsement by our Board of Directors further strengthens our ability to accelerate our growth and expansion over the coming year."

This Board endorsement adds to previous investment which TrendMiner attracted from The Innovation Fund in 2016. The Innovation Fund is a European investment vehicle that consists of leading industry companies such as BASF, Solvay, Arkema and Total as well as industry leaders, executives and influencers.

Francois Cornelis, former President of the Chemicals Division at Total SA and current President of The Innovation Fund, stated that: "We added TrendMiner to our portfolio because we recognize that the industry must concentrate on next-generation productivity, digital transformation and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This is the exciting domain where TrendMiner delivers real value to its customers and serves as a rising industry leader."

Global growth

Many new organizations adopted the TrendMiner software in 2016 and, based on proven use cases, have rapidly expanded their use across their entire organizations. Global roll-outs and multi-year global contracts with existing customers resulted in strong growth in all the company's key markets.

Bert Baeck, CEO of TrendMiner, believes the strong performance in 2016 also reflects the company's attitude. Commenting on the 2016 results, he said, "The great response we have seen from companies in the process industry tells us more than that our software meets a significant need; it also tells us that our approach is right. We believe that collaboration with our customers is the key to delivering the solutions that they need today, and as we expand, we will continue to listen to our customers and innovate together."

TrendMiner software allows end users to question their process data themselves in a plug and play solution. The software allows engineers to directly uncover trends in their processes in order to optimize both efficiency and quality in a self-service way. With the additional investment in TrendMiner, current and new customers will benefit from more and quicker delivery of new features, out-of-the-box integration with line of business applications and further expansion in the realm of IIoT and Industry 4.0.

Bert Baeck said: "As first mover in the process and asset analytics field and with our academic background as a university spin-off company, we have a very significant research pipeline. We want to implement and deliver this as soon as possible so that we can win in the analytics market and increase the value we currently provide by at least 300%."

About TrendMiner

TrendMiner delivers Discovery, Diagnostic and Predictive Analytics software for the process industry. TrendMiner software is based on a high-performance analytics engine for process data captured in time series. Through an intuitive web-based client, process engineers and operators can easily search for trends themselves using pattern recognition and machine learning technologies. The TrendMiner plug and play software adds value immediately after deployment, eliminating expensive investments in big data infrastructure and long implementation projects. TrendMiner, founded in 2008, is a software company with global headquarters in Hasselt, Belgium and offices in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and the U.S.A. Visit us at: www.trendminer.com

Media Contact



Dawn Fontaine

Ripple Effect Communications

Email Contact

508-353-3777




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After initially being hospitalized over the weekend, former President George H.W. Bush has been admitted to the intensive care unit at Houston Methodist Hospital. A statement from spokesman Jim McGrath said Bush was admitted to the ICU to address an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia. 'Doctors performed a procedure to protect and clear his airway that required sedation,' the statement said. 'President Bush is stable and resting comfortably in the ICU, where he will remain for observation.' The statement said former First Lady Barbara Bush was also admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing. Bush, the oldest living former president, was taken to the hospital on Saturday after experiencing shortness of breath. The former president had previously informed President-elect Donald Trump he would not be able to attend Friday's inauguration due to concerns about his health. 'My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under,' Bush said in a letter sent to Trump last week. 'So I guess we're stuck in Texas.' 'But we will be with you and the country in spirit,' he added. 'I want you to know that I wish you the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country.' Bush is the father of former President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who unsuccessfully challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
DALLAS, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- BudCube Cultivation Systems (BCS), a subsidiary of Cherubim Interests, Inc. (OTC PINK: CHIT) ("the Company"), an expansion-stage alternative construction and real estate development company, announces that it is releasing conceptual drawings of its single- as well as multi-tenant cultivation business concepts.

BudCube Cultivation Systems USA ("BCS") has developed a proprietary, fully portable and scalable Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology that serves as a turnkey solution for cultivators of legal medical and recreational cannabis. Coupled with a real estate development and property management business model, BudCube Cultivation Systems can position itself anywhere in the world where the cultivation of cannabis is legal.

BudCube Cultivation Systems ("BCS") is pioneering in the real estate development and medical as well as recreational cannabis cultivation industries. The Company will lease modular turnkey cultivation facilities to new and existing market participants in "mini-storage" or "co-op farming," as well as single tenant or "big box" concepts.

"The company initially conducts research to determine land purchase and improvements, as well as construction and deployment to location for leasing," says Patrick Johnson, CEO of CHIT. "These modules provide the floor space and square footage required for operations. We then deliver, install and connect the modules while providing standard operating procedures and ongoing maintenance as needed."

Multi- Tenant (Co-Op) Concept

The multi-tenant concept allows for multiple tenants to rent individual, self-contained BCS cultivation units at a secure location staffed with management, maintenance, and security personnel. BCS will offer either facilities constructed of retrofitted shipping containers (Image Here) or Via modular building components (Image Here). Local zoning variances, climate and logistics, will determine which application the company will use.

Single Tenant (Big Box) Concept

The single-tenant concept allows for an entity to enter into a long-term lease agreement with an option to purchase the facility (plus land if applicable) at the end of the lease term for a sales price determined considering fair market value. This is a much larger square footage concept with construction techniques and materials determined on a case by case basis. (Image Here)

"This industry is moving very rapidly," states Patrick J. Johnson, CEO of Cherubim Interests, Inc. "As we see the front of legalization push across States, companies are scrambling to catch up. The market is there, the demand is high, but the supply from legal cultivators is low. Cherubim Interests and BudCube Cultivation Systems are uniquely positioned at this perfect apex of an emerging, billion-dollar market; we are positioning ourselves to meet the impending demand by supplying the facility necessary to bring existing as well as start-up mom and pop businesses into full scale production in a matter of months."

Through strategic alliances BCS Leasing Centers will offer the following services to consumers:

Standard Operating Procedures

Cultivation

Inventory Control and Management Systems

Genetics Counseling and Testing Procedures

Extract Processing and Equipment Design, and

Proprietary Product Line(s)

"What makes this hybrid business model so compelling is that our facilities will command extraordinary high rental rates per square foot due to rental rates being charged in the cannabis industry across our nation," said CHIT CEO Patrick Johnson. "Our concept, once deployed, will offer investors exponentially high rates of return compared to most traditional commercial real estate assets, and also increasing the companies' valuation significantly faster than traditional commercial assets would in the same scenario for our stockholders."

About BudCube Cultivation Systems

BudCube Cultivation Systems USA ("BCS") has developed a proprietary, fully portable and scalable, Controlled Environment Cultivation Technology that serves as a turnkey solution for cultivators of legal medical and recreational cannabis, as well as any other plant species. Coupled with a real estate development and property management business model, BudCube Cultivation Systems can position itself anywhere in the world where the cultivation of cannabis is legal.

BCS provides cultivation solutions for commercial application. It offers cultivators quick entry into a fast-growing market at a price point that is very attractive when compared to the traditional construction and cultivation solution. BCS features a business model unparalleled in the industry and stands to benefit greatly as more and more market participants seek to gain entry into this sector.

For more information, visit www.budcube.com

About Cherubim Interests Inc.

Cherubim Interests specializes in alternative construction projects, as well as covering the entire spectrum of real estate development: due diligence, acquisition, planning, construction, renovation, and management; providing complete beginning-to-end development programs for mixed use, single, and multifamily projects and properties.

For more information, visit www.cherubiminterests.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E and/or 27E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including statements as to the future performance of the company and the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to raise necessary financing, retention of key personnel, timely delivery of inventory from the company's suppliers, timely product development, product acceptance, and the impact of competitive services and products, in addition to general economic risks and uncertainties.

For more information please contact:



Cherubim Interests, Inc.

Patrick J. Johnson

Chief Executive Officer

(844) 842-8872

pjohnson@cherubiminterests.com




QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- SOCIETE D'EXPLORATION MINIERE VIOR INC. (TSX VENTURE: VIO)(FRANKFURT: VL51) - is pleased to announce that it is has launched a newly redesigned website and corporate presentation. This website offers quick and easy access to essential information and features a more comprehensive understanding of the Company's portfolio of gold and rutile properties as well as its investment in Aurvista Gold Corp. The website also has a comprehensive investor section with updated company news and events, financial and stock information, SEDAR filings and corporate governance information.

The new website has a clean uncluttered design, improved functionality and enhanced rich content focused on the Company's mission to create value for its shareholders by building a portfolio of overlooked and promising exploration properties in safe jurisdictions in North and South America.

The new website went live, January 12, 2017 and is located at the same address: http://www.vior.ca. "We are very excited about the launch of our new website" said Claude St-Jacques, Vior's Founder and President. "We believe that this new site will allow our visitors to better understand the full potential of our portfolio of assets and investments, as well as learn about our partnership with one of the largest producers of the high-grade titanium dioxide products of rutile and synthetic rutile in the world." Moreover, we have one of the best exploration teams in the industry and, to the great benefit of our shareholders, we are truly committed to expanding our promising portfolio of precious metals properties in the near future."

Vior's new website will be updated on a regular basis with news of our business activity, corporate milestones, events, as well as investor and financial information. Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and sign up for our newsletter.

About Vior

Vior's strategy is to generate, explore and develop quality projects in the best proven and accessible mining areas. Through the years, Vior's management and technical team has demonstrated its ability to discover numerous gold deposits and mineral prospects.

Web site: www.vior.ca

SEDAR: Societe d'exploration miniere Vior inc.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provided (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Vior Inc.

Claude St-Jacques

President

418-692-2678

cstjacques@vior.ca



Vior Inc.

Marc L'Heureux

Vice-president Exploration

450-746-1771

mlheureux@vior.ca

www.vior.ca




Huawei scores a hat-trick by topping the billing mediation market leader board for the third time in a row

SANTA CLARA, California, Jan. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Huawei Technologies walked away with the 2016 Stratecast Global Market Leadership Award in CSP Billing for the Mediation Market at the 2016 Growth, Innovation and Leadership Awards gala, Frost & Sullivan's exclusive black-tie event honoring the best and brightest across industries. The annual gala, held on Monday, September 12th, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara CA, was attended by a who's who of the world's premier companies and their leaders. Mr. Wangrui joined an elite list of achievers and pioneers when he accepted the award on behalf of Huawei at the ceremony.



Click here for the full multimedia experience of this release - http://bit.ly/2gw1Y8o

Huawei has dominated the global communications service provider (CSP) billing market for the mediation segment, and continues to outdistance the overall market in terms of year-over-year growth. In addition to this, it ranks among the leaders in every segment of CSP billing. It offers a full complement of billing, policy, customer and partner management solutions that span all segments of CSP billing. Most of the functionality modules that define Huawei's billing solution are contained within the Huawei Convergent Billing Solution (CBS), including the Huawei Mediation module.

Huawei Mediation delivers convergent mediation capabilities that support any service, on any network. Designed for ease of configuration and management, it includes pre-built interfaces, templates and a web-based configuration platform to simplify integration with new network elements, services and downstream systems. Huawei Mediation is built on a rules-based engine that allows configuration of any step in the end-to-end mediation processing flow. It boasts centralized operations management for monitoring, dealing with exceptions and reporting.

"The intensely competitive global CSP billing market has more than 100 suppliers worldwide," said Troy Morley, Operations, Orchestration, Data Analytics & Monetization (ODAM) Strategy Analyst at Stratecast | Frost & Sullivan. "Topping a market that is already served by 50 suppliers mediation functionality is impressive in itself; even more remarkable is achieving that feat three assessments in a row. Furthermore, Huawei has increased its market share from 20% to 22% since the last assessment."

Huawei's success is validated by the high number of customers it has acquired over the last few years, as well as its expanded billing solution capabilities for existing customers. In the months to come, Stratecast expects Huawei to continue growing by augmenting its core solution strengths in every segment of billing, including mediation.

Huawei has achieved success in the global CSP mediation market by winning new CSP customers each year, and by expanding its billing solution capabilities with existing customers. Stratecast expects Huawei's success to continue in the months to come, and for the company to keep on building its core solution strengths in every segment of billing, including mediation.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Stratecast

Stratecast collaborates with our clients to reach smart business decisions in the rapidly evolving and hyper-competitive Information and Communications Technology markets. Leveraging a mix of action-oriented subscription research and customized consulting engagements, Stratecast delivers knowledge and perspective that is only attainable through years of real-world experience in an industry where customers are collaborators; today's partners are tomorrow's competitors; and agility and innovation are essential elements for success.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huawei's 170,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the world's population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Chiara Carella

P: +44 (0) 207.343.8314

F: 210.348.1003

E: chiara.carella@frost.com
BELLEVUE, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- Esterline Technologies (NYSE: ESL)

Members of the Investment Community,

Esterline Technologies (NYSE: ESL) plans to announce financial results for its 1st fiscal quarter 2017 on Thursday, February 2, 2017. Esterline will host a conference call featuring remarks by Curtis Reusser, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bob George, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Following these remarks, there will be a question and answer session. The call is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) and will last approximately one hour. A news release announcing the earnings results will be issued at market close on the day of the call.

To ensure that you are on the call when it begins, we suggest that you access the call approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

Date: Thursday, February 2, 2017 Start Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) U.S. Dial-In Number: 1-877-307-0078 Outside U.S. Dial-In Number: 1-531-289-2890 Passcode: 46097519 Conference Call Host: Julie Albrecht

The conference call will be replayed for one week, starting approximately one hour after the call ends. For callers within the United States, the replay number is 1-855-859-2056. For callers outside the United States, the replay number is 1-404-537-3406. The passcode for both of these numbers is 46097519.

A live webcast and replay of the conference call also will be available on the company website at www.esterline.com. If you have any questions, please call Investor Relations at Esterline Technologies at 425-519-1872.

About Esterline:

Esterline Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier to the aerospace and defense industry specializing in three core areas: Avionics & Controls, Sensors & Systems, and Advanced Materials. Operations within the Avionics & Controls segment focus on high-technology electronics products for military and commercial aircraft and land- and sea-based military vehicles, secure communications equipment, systems and components, specialized medical equipment, and other industrial applications. The Sensors & Systems segment includes operations that produce high-precision temperature and pressure sensors, electrical power distribution equipment, harsh-environment connectors and other related systems principally for aerospace and defense customers. Operations within the Advanced Materials segment focus on technologies including high-temperature resistant materials and components used for a wide range of military and commercial aerospace purposes and combustible ordnance and electronic warfare countermeasure products.
Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft).

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - January 18, 2017) -Almaden Minerals Ltd. ("Almaden" or "the Company") (TSX: AMM) (NYSE MKT: AAU) is pleased to announce further assay results from Almaden's ongoing exploration and development program at the Company's Tuligtic project, Mexico. Results reported today are from drill holes TU-16-482 to 486, 488, 490 and 492 drilled on sections 10+575, 700, 725 and 750 East. The holes intersected significant mineralisation and veining inside or immediately outside of the Amended PEA pit including the previously defined subvertical Ixtaca North vein zone, as well as potential new zones of veining. Highlights from these drillholes include the following intercepts:

Hole TU-16-482 SECTION 10+700 EAST Az. 330, Dip -20 1.00 meter @ 2.23 g/t Au and 119.5 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone? Hole TU-16-483 SECTION 10+575 EAST Az. 340, Dip -50 8.00 meters @ 1.12 g/t Au and 51.6 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone 34.20 meters @ 1.11 g/t Au and 72.5 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Hole TU-16-484 SECTION 10+725 EAST Az. 330, Dip -30 96.00 meters @ 0.34 g/t Au and 41.5 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone? Including 5.50 meters @ 0.78 g/t Au and 144.0 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone? Hole TU-16-485 SECTION 10+575 EAST Az. 340, Dip -70 38.60 meters @ 1.08 g/t Au and 106.2 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Including 7.00 meters @ 2.20 g/t Au and 253.3 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone 32.60 meters @ 1.39 g/t Au and 44.1 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone? Including 7.50 meters @ 3.26 g/t Au and 59.6 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone? Hole TU-16-486 SECTION 10+725 EAST Az. 330, Dip -70 105.00 meters @ 1.20 g/t Au and 87.1 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Including 5.00 meters @ 1.89 g/t Au and 382.2 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone And 10.50 meters @ 4.70 g/t Au and 132.3 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone Hole TU-16-488 SECTION 10+725 EAST Az. 330, Dip -85 40.00 meters @ 0.49 g/t Au and 79.0 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone? Including 3.00 meters @ 2.24 g/t Au and 326.5 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone? Hole TU-16-490 SECTION 10+725 EAST Az. 150, Dip -85 6.00 meters @ 0.50 g/t Au and 365.7 g/t Ag New Vein Zone? Including 2.00 meters @ 1.04 g/t Au and 898.0 g/t Ag Ixtaca North Zone? Hole TU-16-492 SECTION 10+750 EAST Az. 330, Dip -30 3.00 meters @ 0.19 g/t Au and 132.0 g/t Ag New Vein Zone?

www.moosemmc.com.

KP is an international consulting firm and recognized leader in providing engineering and environmental services. KP's expertise has been applied to hundreds of surface and underground mining projects in all stages of development and a broad range of environmental settings. KP provides industry leading services in water and waste management, tailings disposal, heap leach pads, rock mechanics and environmental services, and has been recognized for innovative services that meet high standards of reliability, security and cost effectiveness.

About the Ixtaca Drilling Program and the Ixtaca Zone

The Ixtaca Zone is a blind discovery made by the Company in 2010 on claims staked by the Company. The deposit is an epithermal gold-silver deposit, mostly hosted by veins in carbonate units and crosscutting dykes ("basement rocks") with a minor component of disseminated mineralisation hosted in overlying volcanic rocks.

The Ixtaca deposit is located in a developed part of Mexico in Puebla State, the location of significant manufacturing investments including Volkswagen and Audi plants. The deposit is accessed by paved road and is roughly 20 kilometres from an industrial park with rail service where significant manufacturers such as Kimberly Clarke have facilities. Any potential mining operation at Ixtaca would be located in an area previously logged or cleared with negligible to no current land usage.

The Company has access to the entire project area and works closely with local officials and residents. The Company has employed roughly 70 people in its exploration program who live local to the Ixtaca deposit. For example, local employees have made up virtually all the drilling staff and have been trained on the job to operate the drill rigs being used at the project. The Company has implemented a comprehensive science based and objective community relations and education program for employees and all local stakeholders to transparently explain the exploration and development program underway as well as the potential impacts and benefits of any possible future mining operation at Ixtaca. The Company regards the local inhabitants to be major stakeholders in the Ixtaca deposit's future along with the Company's shareholders. Every effort is being made to create an open and clear dialogue with our stakeholders to ensure that any possible development scenarios that could evolve from the anticipated PFS are properly understood and communicated throughout the course of the Company's exploration and development program. To better explain the impacts of a mining operation at Ixtaca the Company has conducted numerous tours for local residents to third party operated mines in Mexico so that interested individuals can form their own opinions of mining based on first-hand experience. The Company invites all interested parties to visit www.almadenminerals.com to find out more about our community development, education and outreach programs.

Technical Details of the Ixtaca Drilling Program

The Main Ixtaca and Ixtaca North Zones of veining are interpreted to have a north-easterly trend. Holes to date suggest that the Main Ixtaca and Ixtaca North Zones are sub vertical with local variations. This interpretation suggests that true widths range from approximately 35% of intersected widths for a -70 degree hole to 94% of intersected widths for a -20 degree hole. The drilling completed to date has traced mineralisation over 1,000 meters along this northeast trend. The Chemalaco (Northeast Extension) Zone strikes roughly north-south (340 azimuth) and dips at 55 degrees to the west. This interpretation suggests that true widths range from approximately 82% of intersected widths for a -70 degree hole to 99% of intersected widths for a -40 degree hole. The orientations of the new vein zones intersected in the holes reported today are not well understood and true widths cannot be calculated at this time.

Mr. Norm Dircks, P.Geo., a qualified person ("QP") under the meaning of NI 43-101, is the QP and project manager of Almaden's Ixtaca program and reviewed the technical information in this news release. The analyses reported were carried out at ALS Chemex Laboratories of North Vancouver using industry standard analytical techniques. For gold, samples are first analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS"). Samples that return values greater than 10 g/t gold using this technique are then re-analysed by fire assay but with a gravimetric finish. Silver is first analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy ("ICP-AES"). Samples that return values greater than 100 g/t silver by ICP-AES are then re analysed by HF-HNO 3 -HCLO 4 digestion with HCL leach and ICP-AES finish. Of these samples those that return silver values greater than 1,500 g/t are further analysed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Intervals that returned assays below detection were assigned zero values.

Blanks, field duplicates and certified standards were inserted into the sample stream as part of Almaden's quality assurance and control program which complies with National Instrument 43-101 requirements.

Cautionary Note concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources

This news release uses terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada and certain estimates are made in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes Canadian standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and mineral resource information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by United States companies.

This news release uses the terms "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" to comply with reporting standards in Canada. We advise United States investors that while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in such categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves under SEC definitions. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Therefore, United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" exist. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of "inferred mineral resources" cannot form the basis of pre-feasibility or other economic studies. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category.

About Almaden

Almaden Minerals Ltd. is a well-financed company which owns 100% of the Tuligtic project in Puebla State, Mexico, subject to a 2.0% NSR royalty held by Almadex Minerals Limited. Tuligtic covers the Ixtaca Gold-Silver Deposit, which was discovered by Almaden in 2010.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Morgan Poliquin"

Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng.

President, CEO and Director

Almaden Minerals Ltd.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) nor the NYSE MKT have reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release which has been prepared by management. Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of mineralized zone, and size and timing of exploration and development programs, estimated project capital and other project costs and the timing of submission and receipt and availability of regulatory approvals involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Almaden to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint ventures, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labour and employment matters, and government regulation and permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Almaden has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Almaden disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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Contact Information:

Almaden Minerals Ltd.

Tel. 604.689.7644

Email: info@almadenminerals.com

http://www.almadenminerals.com/
CLAREMONT, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/18/17 -- The highly anticipated Model Grand Opening for Meadow Park by William Lyon Homes is Saturday, February 4th, offering homebuyers the opportunity to experience this new attached home collection in Claremont -- the "town of trees and PhDs." Doors open at 10:00 am, when guests can tour the professionally decorated models showcasing modern townhome and motor court designs enhanced by open interiors, spacious great rooms; stylish kitchens; lofts and dens; and covered patios, decks and porches per plan. Furthering the appeal is a well-balanced lifestyle with access to private community recreation, inclusion in top-rated schools, and close proximity to parks and The Claremont Village's charming eateries, boutiques and galleries. To learn more, attend the Model Grand Opening February 4th or go to www.LyonMeadowPark.com.

"We're thrilled to debut Meadow Park's exquisite model homes and look forward to helping homebuyers find their ideal home design," said Lesley Pennington, Vice President of Sales for William Lyon Homes. "Join us and get ready to branch out and thrive at Claremont's most exciting new address."

Meadow Park offers six stunning 2- and 3-story attached designs with floorplans spanning from approximately 1,272 to 2,364 square feet. Interiors feature 2 to 4 bedrooms, 2.5 to 3 baths and 2 to 3-car garages. Homebuyers enjoy private recreational amenities, including a lap pool, cabanas, BBQs, and a great lawn set in the center of the community. Prices are anticipated from the mid $400,000s.

Set just minutes from historic Claremont village, an array of nearby parks, restaurants, shopping and more are within easy reach for leisure, while commuters appreciate the conveniently located Metrolink station, and access to the I-10 and 210 freeways. Ontario International Airport is also nearby. School-aged residents are included in the top-rated Claremont Unified School District, which includes Condit Elementary School, El Roble Intermediate School and Claremont High School.

To visit Meadow Park, travel west on the 210 Freeway, exit N. Towne Avenue and turn right. Turn right on E. Baseline Road, then right on Bloomfield Road into Meadow Park.

The Sales Gallery will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Saturday, February 4th.

It matters who your builder is and William Lyon Homes is a company built upon a legacy of pride and integrity. A team of visionaries who are passionate about homebuilding and committed to providing a high quality homebuying and homeownership experience, William Lyon Homes has earned a solid track record for outstanding construction and customer service since 1956. The company expands its well-respected brand beyond California, Arizona and Nevada and into other market areas across the Western region with the acquisition of Polygon Northwest Homes, its division in Washington and Oregon, and its Village Homes division in Colorado. William Lyon Homes' shares are publicly traded on NYSE under the symbol WLH. For updated information and to learn more, visit www.lyonhomes.com.

Prices are effective as of the date of publication. Pricing is approximate and is subject to change without prior notice. CalBRE Officer License: 00982816.

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Collibra, a NYC-based data governance software for business users, closed $50m Series C financing.

The round was led by Iconiq Capital with participation from Battery Ventures and return backers Dawn Capital, Index Ventures and Newion Investments. In conjunction with the funding, Matt Jacobson, General Partner at Iconiq, will join Collibras board of directors while Battery General Partner Dharmesh Thakker will join the board as an observer.

The company, which has secured more than $75m in venture funding, intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations.

Led by Felix Van de Maele, CEO and co-founder, Collibra provides a cloud-based/on-premises integrated data governance platform for hundreds of organizations across the globe in industries including financial services, retail, healthcare, education, technology, government and others to find and understand the data they need and to gain competitive advantage. In October 2016, the company released Version 5.0 of the Collibra data governance center platform, as well as the Collibra Catalog, a data catalog for data scientists and citizen data analysts to look for data to solve critical business challenges.

Collibras global partner ecosystem now includes more than 200 organizations in the U.S., EMEA and Latin/Central America.

FinSMEs

18/01/2017
Floome, a Padua, Italy-based developer of an innovative breathalyzer for smartphone, received an undisclosed amount of venture capital funding.

Axa Strategic Ventures and Invitalia Ventures made the investment.

Commenting on the investment, Minh Q. Tran, General Partner of AXA Strategic Ventures, said: We are particularly proud of this deal as it is the first investment in an Italian start-up.

Our aim is to invest in technology that can change the future of insurance services beyond national borders, he added.

The company will use the funds to expand hiring, marketing and development efforts as well as to scale in Europe.

Co-founded in 2013 by Fabio Penzo, Marco Barbetta and Luca Escoffier, Floome has developed a device, with a dedicated app, that allows people to transform their smartphone into a blood alcohol level measuring device. The device, which uses the same sensors found in law enforcement breathalyzers, does not need charging or batteries to be replaced.

The application is free to download and allows people to see blood alcohol levels measured by the device on their smartphone, along with other useful information such as the time needed for the body to break down the excess alcohol, the legal drink-drive limit, and any penalties users may face if they decide to drive. The app also allows people to call a taxi or a friend for a lift and to find restaurants in order to discourage people from driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.

Floome currently boasts 20k active users in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and the U.S.

FinSMEs

18/01/2017
InsideSales.com, a Silicon Slopes, Utah-based AI-powered predictive sales acceleration platform, closed a $50m growth equity funding round.

The round, which brought total venture capital funding to over $250m, was led by returning investor Polaris Partners with participation from new investors QuestMark Partners and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and existing investors Microsoft, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Hummer Winblad, U.S. Venture Partners, Epic Ventures, and Zetta Venture Partners.

The company intends to use the funds to bring its technology to new geographies, starting with Ireland in Europe, and new platforms, creating new versions of Playbooks that run on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform and integrating with Microsoft Azure cloud services.

Led by Dave Elkington, CEO, InsideSales provides a sales acceleration platform built on Neuralytics, a predictive and prescriptive self-learning engine delivers an optimized experience for both salesperson and buyer via predictive sales communications, engagement tracking, forecasting and rep motivation capabilities. Enterprise customers include ADP, Microsoft and Groupon, among others.

FinSMEs

18/01/2017
TellusLabs, a Boston, MA-based earth monitoring and machine learning company, raised $3.1m in seed funding.

The round was led by IA Ventures with participation from Hyperplane Venture Capital, Founder Collective, and Project 11 Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate ongoing efforts to take Kernel into emerging markets and new crop types, grow its multidisciplinary team of applied geographers, engineers, and data scientists to create new intelligence suites in sectors such as water resources, forestry, urban systems and energy and industrial activities.

Led by David Potere, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO, and Mark Friedl, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Science Officer, TellusLabs provides answers to time-sensitive economic and environmental questions by assembling decades of satellite imagery and other geospatial data into a dynamic map of the Earth. When connected to TellusLabs big data and machine learning platform, that map gives accurate, timely, and granular insights.

The first product suite, Kernel, focused on the $3 trillion global agriculture market, leverages machine learning algorithms trained on decades of harvest data, spaceborne imagery, weather, and in-field observations across nearly 175 M acres of cropland to provide actionable forecast of yield delivered daily, and ahead of government reporting, to hundreds of farmers, commodity traders and agriculture businesses.

FinSMEs

17/01/2017
Tokyo Smoke, a Toronto, ON, Canada-based premium cannabis-oriented lifestyle brand, raised CAD$3m in funding.

Backers included W. Brett Wilson (iBanker, CBC Dragon Emeritus), Chuck Rifici (co-founder Nesta Holding Co, co-founder of Canopy Growth Corp) and Globalive Capital Inc. (founders of Wind Mobile).

The company intends to use the funds for product development, growing the management team and international expansion, with the first foray into the U.S. market slated for spring 2017.

Led by co-founder & CEO Alan Gertner, Tokyo Smoke is a lifestyle brand that aims to bring design to the cannabis space via immersive experiences and designer retail spaces with coffee, clothing and designer products. In collaboration with Aphria Inc., (TSX VENTURE: APH) (OTCQB: APHQF), one of Canadas largest licensed producers of medical marijuana, the company will release four branded cannabis strains in the first quarter of 2017.

FinSMEs

17/01/2017
In what is the most sensational deal of year, Guy Martin has signed up with the Honda Racing Team to race at the 2017 Isle of Man TT. The former team Tyco BMW rider will join multiple winner and TT legend John McGuinness to form a formidable team as Honda seeks to win yet another TT title.

Guy Martin, whos also a truck mechanic and TV presenter, has been out of action following his horrific crash during the Dundrod 150 Superbike Race at the 2015 Ulster Grand Prix. He suffered multiple broken vertebrae and a broken sternum in the...
Accompanied with his sister Alvira, Salman Khan arrived in Jodhpur on Tuesday, 17 January, in anticipation of his court hearing in the Arms Act case on Wednesday.

A local court in the city will announce the verdict on Wednesday at 10:30 am. Salman was earlier acquitted in the infamous blackbuck and chinkara poaching case by the Rajasthan High Court.

Hindustan Times reports that Chief judicial magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit will pronounce the verdict. The case against Salman was made for allegedly possessing illegal arms during the shoot of his film Hum Saath Saath Hai in 1998. Salman had allegedly in his possession a US made revolver and a 22-bore rifle with him, and both the licences of the arms has expired. He had continued to use the arms to hunt two blackbucks in October 1998, in Kankani village in Jodhpur.

Salman is looking at atleast seven years imprisonment if he is convicted. This will have a huge effect on Bollywood business as Salman is the highest grossing actor in the industry at the moment.

He has two films in the pipeline at the moment: Tubelight and Tiger Zinda Hai

Tubelight might get it's expected release on Eid 2017 but the promotions of the film might see less of Salman, reports News 18.
The cases registered against Salman Khan in the blackbuck and chinkara poaching cases back in October 1998 have dragged on for 18 long years. At the same time, a case under the Arms Act was also filed against Salman by the forest department, for allegedly using weapons with expired licences during the incident.

The case against Salman has been marked by several twists and turns in the legal proceedings. Here's a timeline of all the major milestones:

15 October 1998: Forest department registers case against Salman Khan under 3/25 and 3/27 sections of the Arms Act. They claimed that he used arms with expired license for alleged poaching on the night of 1-2 October, 1998.

18 December 2014: Court rejected Khans application seeking permission to summon the then Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and District Magistrate (DM) of Mumbai as witnesses in the arms case.

25 February 2015: Court deferred the judgment saying four pending applications from the prosecution have come to light.

3 March 2015: Jodhpur court permitted new witnesses, documents and evidence as the prosecution representing the state had brought up a nine-year-old plea to produce new evidence and witnesses in the case.

23 April 2015: Chief judicial magistrate accepted an application moved by Khans counsel seeking exemption from his physical appearance in the court on the grounds of ill health.

29 April 2015: Khan appeared in Jodhpur court to record his statement

25 July 2016: Rajasthan High Court (HC) acquitted Salman Khan in two cases of deer poaching saying the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the actor.

27 October 2015: Rajasthan HC allowed Khans petition seeking documents pertaining to the prosecution sanction against him under the arms act.

October 2016: Special Leave Petition filed by Rajasthan government against Khans acquittal.

11 November 2016: Khan gets a Supreme Court notice on Rajasthan government's appeal

9 December 2016: Final arguments in the case begin.

18 January 2017: Verdict to be announced
Cyrus Mistry, the ousted chairman of Tata Sons, has opposed the appointment of N Chandrasekharan and has dashed off a letter to the Tata Group board challenging the latter's appointment, a report in The Economic Times has said.

Mistry may even consider legal option, the report said citing officials in the know. In his letter to the board, Mistry has termed the appointment as 'illegal' as the matter was still sub-judice.

Mistry, who is still a director of Tata Sons, had not attend the meeting that appointed Chandrasekaran as its chairman, the ET report said.

Popularly known as 'Chandra', 54-year-old Chandrasekaran will take charge at the helm of $103-billion Tata Sons, the main holding company of the salt-to-software conglomerate from 21 February. He will be the first non-Parsi chairman of the 150-year old Tata Group.

Mistry has already filed a contempt application at NCLT against Tata Sons and its directors including Ratan Tata, alleging violation of the tribunal's order in initiating steps to remove him from the board on 24 October.

In the application filed at the National Company Law Tribunal, Cyrus Investments Ltd and Sterling Investment had sought an injunction against Tata Sons from "convening or holding of the EGM scheduled on February 6, 2017 or any other date or from transacting any business thereat".

Tata Sons has called a shareholders' meeting on 6 February to remove Mistry as director of the company.

Meanwhile, Tata Motors on Tuesday appointed Chandrasekaran as its chairman with immediate effect.

In a regulatory filing, the company said "the Board of Directors have today appointed Natarajan Chandrasekaran as additional director and Chairman of the board with immediate effect".

The appointment comes within a week of Tata Sons announcing Chandrasekaran as its Executive Chairman, capping two months of a bitter boardroom battle that followed the unceremonious sacking of Cyrus Mistry and letting of bad blood ever since.

At Tata Motors, he will have to take the responsibility of turning around the struggling homegrown auto major which is trying to regain lost ground, specially in the passenger vehicles segment.

Chandrasekaran will also have to pay special attention to the Nano. Mistry had alleged that Tata Motors has been unable to shut down the loss making small car due to "emotional reasons" and doing so would also stop the supply of "gliders" to an entity that makes electric cars in which Ratan Tata has a stake.

Mistry had alleged that the Nano product development called for a car below Rs 1 lakh but the cost was always above this.

"This product has consistently lost money, peaking at Rs 1,000 crore," Mistry said in his letter written to Tata Sons board members a day after he was ousted as the Chairman of India's largest conglomerate.

He further stated, "As there is no line of profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company (Tata Motors) requires to shut it down. Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision."

Currently, Tata Motors is focusing on reviving its fortunes in the passenger vehicles segment with its compact hatchback Tiago receiving good response from the market.

The company will launch its premium SUV Hexa tomorrow.

With inputs from PTI
Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel will brief a parliamentary panel today about demonetisation and its impact on the economy and the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch.

Besides, representatives of the Finance Ministry, including from the department of Economic Affairs, Financial Services and Revenue will brief the members of the Standing Committee on Finance headed by former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily.

Representatives of Indian Banks Association (IBA), State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) are scheduled to be present in the meeting.

The meeting will discuss the "demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and the impact thereof".

An earlier report in The Indian Express said that in a seven-page reply to the questions raised by the committee, the RBI had said it was the government that advised the central bank to consider demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. This went against the assertion by power minister Piyush Goyal to the Rajya Sabha that the note ban and exchange was the RBI's idea.

According to the RBI's reply, the government wanted it to consider demonetisation of high value currencies "to mitigate the triple problems of counterfeiting, terrorist financing and black money" on 7 November. The central board took a decision on this and the government announced the demonetisation on 8 November.

Another report in the same newspaper also said the RBI had cleared the introduction of new Rs 2,000 notes in May 2016 and that the central board had not discussed the ban of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in its meetings in May, July or August. This essentially goes against the prime minister's statement that the process was in the works for the last 10 months but was kept a secret fearing the black money holders will find escape routes.

On the whole, the entire exercise of demonetisation is mired in secrecy as neither the central bank nor the government has given any details on when the decision was taken and who were involved in the process. The briefing by Patel and other bureaucrats before the Parliamentary panel assumes significance in this context.

Their answers to the committee is likely to throw more light on the yet unknown details of demonetisation.

The RBI Governor is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.

In a surprise move on 8 November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Following the decision, the RBI had put restrictions on withdrawal of cash from ATMs as well as from banks to deal with shortage of new high denomination currency notes. This led to long queues at ATMs and bank branches.

The cash situation has improved gradually with supply of new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes. On Monday, the RBI increased the daily withdrawal limit from ATMs to Rs 10,000, though it kept the weekly ceiling at Rs 24,000.

All over the country, banks had to deal with huge rush of people who thronged their branches to deposit the junked notes. The deadline for depositing old notes with banks ended on December 30.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: The listing of 5 state-owned general insurance companies was approved by the government Wednesday to encourage them to raise funds from capital markets as also improve corporate governance.

"It could be either by fresh equity or Offer for Sale. Both options are available. We can expand the shareholding so that the government share comes down to 75 percent," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after the Cabinet meeting here.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave 'in principle' nod for listing five government owned General Insurance Companies -- New India Assurance Company, United India Insurance, Oriental Insurance Company, National Insurance Company and General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC).

The government shareholding in these companies will be reduced from 100 percent to 75 percent in one or more tranches over a period of time, he said.

"All procedural formalities are over. Now the companies will have to comply with the listing requirements with stock exchanges and Sebi," he said when asked whether they will be listed in the current financial year, ending on March 31.

During the process of disinvestment, he said, the existing rules and regulations of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) will be followed.

"Whatever are the regulations, they have to comply with that," he said, when asked if the companies will initially divest 10 per cent stake as per the regulatory requirement.

He said listing on the stock exchange necessitates compliance with a number of disclosures and accounting requirements of Sebi, which acts as an additional oversight mechanism.

The disclosures bring about transparency and equity in the companies functioning, he added.

Listing is expected to lead to improved corporate governance and risk management practices leading to improved efficiency, he said, adding that a greater focus on growth and earnings can also be expected.

Listing will open the way for the companies to raise resources from the capital market to meet their fund requirements to expand their businesses, instead of being dependent on the government for capital infusion.

In his budget speech for 2016-17, Jaitley had announced that public shareholding in PSU general insurance companies is a means for ensuring higher levels of transparency and accountability and the insurers owned by the government will be listed.
New Delhi: The fastest growing aviation market across the globe continues its struggle infrastructure and performance metrics of its airlines. Data released by DGCA show not a single airline managed to operate one in four flights on time from four of Indias busiest airports last month. This, when Indias airlines carried close to 10 crore passengers in 2016, with 12 consecutive months of above 20 percent growth. The delays have been increasing as traffic grows.

SpiceJet managed average on-time performance of just 70 percent across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad airports in December and this was the best on-time performance by any airline during December. As expected, Air India fared the worst with at least four in 10 flights getting delayed. And others fared only marginally better, getting almost every third flight from these airports delayed.

Traditionally, flying in and out of Mumbai has been the biggest bane for any airline due to massive congestion at this airport. Well, in December, Air India did not get even half its flights on time at this airport and even market leader IndiGo barely managed to get 50 percent of its flight on time here.

So when the government goes ga-ga over impressive traffic growth in the skies and talks of India becoming a global leader in aviation, it must consider developing a robust airport infrastructure too to keep pace with this kind of growth.

Indias aviation traffic almost doubled in the last six years. Airport capacity hasnt. Infrastructure has failed to keep pace with traffic growth fueled by rising incomes and affordable fares.

This piece says the average time an aircraft spends circling before it can land in Mumbai during peak hours is about 45 minutes to an hour, versus 25 minutes for Singapore and zero for Qatar, according to Dubai-based Martin Consulting LLC. A proposal for a new airport in the outskirts of Mumbai has languished on the drawing board since 1997 even as Boeing Co. estimates Indian carriers need 1,740 aircraft over the next two decades.

Global aviation consultancy CAPA has said Indian airlines are together scheduled to induct 60-65 narrow bodies and 10-12 regional aircraft in FY2018. The pace of aircraft inductions in FY2018 will be one of the key drivers of traffic growth, it says.

Earlier this week, GoAir placed a firm order for 72 A320neo aircraft, doubling its firm order book for the aircraft type to 144. It now operates a fleet of twenty three aircraft. With the neo induction, Go Air will expand its network and offer fliers better connectivity. The A320neo provides the latest technical innovations and unbeatable economics.This new order will further strengthen our network by adding more domestic and international routes in the years to come, said MD & CEO, Wolfgang Prock-Schauer.

Market leader IndiGo already has 125 aircraft in its fleet and another about 400 on order, with staggered delivery schedules. SpiceJet has placed a fresh order for 100 aircraft at $22 billion with Boeing just this week.

As robust domestic air traffic growth pushes us ahead of Japan to become the third largest global aviation market, it is interesting to see how the major Indian airlines stack up. In December 2016, when the country witnessed the highest traffic growth ever in a single month, Air India had the lowest percentage growth in passengers while market leader IndiGo had the highest. Total traffic grew 23.4 percent year on year or by fourth to 0.95 crore in December, IndiGos passenger growth was over 40 percent whereas Air Indias was just short of 4 percent. SpiceJet and GoAir also managed double digit passenger growth at 24 percent and 22.1 percent respectively. The Jet Airways group was just a shade better than Air India with growth of 5.3 percent.

This essentially means the three low cost carriers IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir weaned away passengers from full service airlines Air India and the Jet Airways group. Also, analysis of data released by the DGCA shows IndiGo and Jet Airways together own about 60 percent of the market despite Jet having lost share during the last 24 months.

Analysts at brokerage Motilal Oswal have pointed out that domestic air passenger growth of 23.4 percent in December comes on the back of falling airline yields. We believe this strong growth would be at the cost of yields, as seen in headline fares, they said in a note to clients. Yields represent revenue per passenger and almost all airlines have been offering extended discounts on domestic fares to counter possible slowdown in revenues due to demonetisation.
Smart cities concept will keep evolving as over 300 million Indians are expected to move to urban areas over the next 20 years. So the abilities of cities to handle the projected population growth in urban areas in terms of alleviating the concerns thrown up by the speed of urbanisation will ultimately be the test for effective implementation of Smart Cities mission.

The task is all the more difficult as each city has its own set of problems so will need a different approach for its transformation to Smartness. For that the municipal authorities and the Urban Local Bodies need to understand their cities in great depth and require leadership qualities, vision and capacity assistance to act decisively. For, it is at this level that problems could arise in implementation because of lack of finance, technical prowess and talented manpower.

There is a lot to be done at the state and local government level which is outside the ambit of the central budget. Provision of adequate public transport coverage, sanitation, quick building plan approval, etc. are all subjects which need to be dealt at the local government level, says Prof. Dr.P.S.N.Rao, Professor and Head, Department of Housing, SPA New Delhi.

They are the 'last mile connectivity' issues in the urban sector which need to be tackled, without this, no amount of central government initiatives can bring about any meaningful change in our urban scenario, Rao says.

Also, as there are several core elements that combine to make up the infrastructure of the Smart City mission, efficient collaboration among its different stakeholders (Public Private Partnership) could avoid time lags. The government should also come up with a firm legal framework so that multiple stakeholders are bound to work in a timely manner. Another challenge is the communication flow between the city custodians and policy drafters.

Brinda Somaya, Principal Architect, Somaya & Kalappa Consultants says: The problems of urban development are enormous in scale so there is no doubt that there has to be acute decentralisation in all verticals and yet something has to hold us all together.

The role of young people is most important and I have seen the brilliance in the Architecture and Planning schools I visit. They are all hungry to help in the development of the country and so frustrated with the red tape involved making any ideas of these non-implementable.

Citing the example of Cape Town, she says she was amazed to see how the city has developed, renewed itself and built urban housing for the poor. It is clean and walkable...something not one of our cities is. It has been done with government and the citizens of the city and the state. Unfortunately we want to only build statues and live in the past.

The solution will be to be able to work on many scales with many groups the government, the bureaucracy and civil society all being equally important and empowered. Only then will the god of small projects work with the god of large projects together and create cities that work for all Indians.

Budget 2017 has to give incentives to the real estate sector, bearing in mind the Smart City Mission, AMRUT and HRIDAY. In order that this is taken forward further, this budget should reduce the duties on cement and steel so that the cost of construction can be reduced. Also, in order to speed up construction, prefabricated technologies should be given more tax incentives. Green buildings should also receive tax exemptions so that construction of the same can be incentivised. These measures can go a long way in achieving the objectives of Housing for All, says Professor Rao.

India needs two things, Arvind Nandan, South Asia Director, Valuations & Advisory at Colliers International India, points out: Large-scale investments and a sharp rise in technology enabled real-estate services. The government must provide a favourable road-map for FDIs and domestic funds. Among key-steps, providing faster approvals and tie-ups will be important.

Secondly, Nandan points out, technology is the main enabler for creation and operations of new urban centres. It is highly desirable that the government focuses  in this years budget  on incentivising tech-enabled services like consulting, fund-raising, infrastructure-design & implementation, traffic & transportation planning services, feasibility and appraisal services, etc. Moreover, it will be useful for the government to provide necessary platforms for tech-enabled ideations from the large section of experts in the industry. A vital missing link today is the lack of a mechanism for tapping the brain-power available in the country and globally. With the governments keenness on making Digital India a success, this should be necessarily established for smart-cities.

The funding mechanism would have to be re-evaluated. Kishor Pate, CMD - Amit Enterprises Housing Ltd, says, The financing requirements for smart cities are huge, and the government should find ways to make this an investment opportunity even for normal citizens. One such way would be for the Budget to announce something along the lines of municipal bonds, which allow purchasing citizens to lend money to the local government in return for specified amounts of interest and the eventual return of the principal on maturity. Such an instrument would allow citizens to become invested in the Government's Smart Cities mission not only financially but also psychologically.

More than funding, a larger challenge during the implementation of Smart Cities Mission in India is reforming the Urban Local Bodies to make them capable of independently generating their own funding, says Shubhranshu Pani, Managing Director - Strategic Consulting, JLL India. Our suggestion to the finance minister for budget 2017-18 would be to put into practice a clear roadmap on digitisation of the ULBs and database management at the ULBs daily activities level. Till this happens, states will have to act as guarantors for investments made by private companies.

Pani says, Infrastructure financing (via Infrastructure Investment Trusts or InvITS) is yet to take off in a big way in India. Given the sectors importance in the success of several priority sector areas such as affordable housing, smart cities etc., the budget should possibly announce measures to further assure investors of adequate stable policies from the mid to long term. The government also should add transit-oriented development and municipal infrastructure with similar solutions like road and rail infrastructure.

The key to success of Smart Cities mission will be good governance and service delivery in supplying and managing urban amenities, and customisation of adaptable technology solutions to suit different economic and social environments. No technology can make the system work better if basic services dont exist. Smart cities should be able to fulfill increasing urban needs with a long-term vision. Also, the approach should be for smart solutions.

For full coverage of Union Budget 2017, click here
In the opening scene of Shlok Sharmas Haraamkhor, a young girl in a typical small town school uniform is crouching on a rock staring towards a dusty open plain down below. This shot repeats later in the film. Is she seeking out something or looking for someone? After the two-hour viewing, I am still unclear.

In the very next scene, some boys are up to mischief and one of them ends up with two fractured arms. For most part of the film, Kamal runs around continuing to be be a nuisance. egged on by his over-smart best friend Mintu. Much of Sharmas film is from the point of view of these pre-pubescent boys who get away with all kinds of bad behaviour. Kamal adores Sandhya (Shweta Tripathi) from afar and Mintu encourages him with silly ideas such as if they see each other naked they are certain to marry each other etc.

But Sandhya, new in this village, is besotted with her teacher Shyam (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). While the characters' motives often remain hazy, there is no doubt about Shyams motivations  hes a sleazy, immoral small man who enjoys the adoration of his students and exploits his (limited) position of power. For instance, Shyam has married a woman who was formally a student. There is little subtlety or discretion in the way Shyam and Sandhya conduct their affair  sharing careless whispers in the school grounds, travelling into the nearby town on a sensitive mission and meeting at her home whenever her policeman father is away on official work.

Deserted by her mother and raised by her father, Sandhya has complex abandonment issues. Her policeman father is a drunk who is unable to emotionally connect with his teenage daughter and is struggling to share a secret with her.

There seems to be no real threat to this illicit affair, except discovery by Shyams wife as the taboo relationship intensifies. One of the most powerful scenes in Haraamkhor is when Sandhya and Shyam meet at a dusty, windy, unpopulated spot. With a long shot, with the intensity of the wind as a soundtrack we feel the passion between the 15-year-old and her seducer.

The occasional shaky handheld camerawork is bothersome and the jumpy narrative makes you wonder why the filmmaker needs you to apply so much guesswork. There is also a subplot of a new family dynamic in Sandhyas home and a female influence that delivers a speech about the side effects of abandonment and anti-depressants.

What the narrative does not deliver, the actors do  Tripathi pulls off the innocence, rebellion and ego of a teenager while Siddiqui is the perfect foil  he enjoys his status as a teacher but he coats it in a greasiness as he (mostly) pulls off the deception without missing a beat. The two young boys are naturals in their parts. Though the scenes are repetitive, Sharma does succeed in walking the edge between intensity and airiness and transporting the audience into this simple and confined world. As the uneasiness builds, you brace yourself for an explosive end.

Unfortunately, when it does come there is a sense that everything that preceded it was designed to lead up to it and, as grisly as it is, like everything before, this scene too does not move you. I didnt feel for any of the characters and I was let down by this emotional disinterest.

Watch the Haraamkhor trailer here:
Kalki Koechlin is all pumped up for her first documentary titled Azmaish. The film will see her interview commoners of India and Pakistan on their trials and future. She has collaborated with a filmmaker from across the border, Sabiha Sumar, and is looking to crowdfund the project.

In a Facebook Live, Koechlin answered the questions of what could be her prospective sources of funds and also threw light on her ambitious project in the process. She clarified that the documentary looks at the two countries outside the context of conflict and rather focuses on what the common man on the street actually thinks about the relation between the two countries instead of how the relationship has been projected by the media and the political forces.

"What I realised while exploring both the countries was that both are very different. You cannot compare Pakistan, which is just a 70-year old country to a country like India that has been around for centuries. Both the countries have their set of problems to deal with. So what we aim to achieve through this documentary is to make both the countries look inward and deal with their problems rather than pointing a finger at the neighbouring country for their own problems," said Koechlin.

She also stated how both the countries can learn immensely from each other's struggles.

Kalki explained the reason why she was drawn towards the project was also because of her tendency to question identities. "Since I am a French-Indian, I always wondered what my identity is all about. Even my director Sabiha also assumes a mixed identity so it was quite exciting to work together."

Azmaish is scheduled to be screened at a film festival in London, post which it will premier on television in Europe. Kalki was unsure of when exactly her maiden documentary will release in India and Pakistan as the film is yet to garner Rs 5 lakh more to complete its minimum crowdfunding requirement of Rs 20 lakh.

Watch her complete Facebook Live here:
By Ila Ananya

Here are two stories.

A piece by Russian-American writer and journalist Maria Konnikova in The New Yorker, written two-and-a-half years ago, begins with the story of an aspiring professor who tried to negotiate a higher salary, maternity leave, and a deferred starting date with Nazareth College, where she had just got a job. The woman said that she hadnt expected all of these things, but had seen no harm in asking anyway. The college responded promptly and abruptly.

The institution has decided to withdraw its offer of employment to you, they wrote.

The second story has been doing the rounds since Karan Johar launched his biography An Unsuitable Boy on 16 January. It involves Johar and Kareena Kapoor. The fifth chapter in his book, called Early Film-Making Years, has a long description of his investment in beginning to write Kal Ho Naa Ho (his best screenplay, he says), reflecting on his art and how he sat in Central Park in New York, stared at people, and wrote the film.

But his first problem in making Kal Ho Naa Ho, he recounts to us in all seriousness, was with Kapoor. The weekend of that films (Mujhse Dosti Karoge!) release, I offered her [Kareena Kapoor] Kal Ho Naa Ho, and she asked for the same money that Shah Rukh was getting. I said, Sorry. I was very hurt, he says. Why was Johar hurt? Nobody knows.

Why did this (presumably) everyday transaction of an artist/professor bargaining for better pay cause an emotional wound?

They are both pretty much the same story. The first account comes from a woman. The second account is by a man. In both cases, a woman is asking for a higher salary. In each case she isnt given the job because she asked for a higher salary  Nazareth College presumably hired somebody else, and we know that Johar went on to make his movie with Preity Zinta. Perhaps it was too much to expect Johar, who writes of being so invested in the art of making each of his films, to understand that when Kapoor asked to be paid as much as Shah Rukh Khan, she was invested in her art too. Or, maybe Kapoor also thought of this, as Malayalam actor Rima Kallingal said in an interview in 2016 about feminism and sexism in the industry, Perhaps, not even as an artist, as a human being first, you want to react to certain things that are happening around you.

In Johars case, his discussion of the issue doesnt end there. After all this, in the chapter Friends and Fallouts, Johar also writes, Kareena and I have a deep-rooted love for each other. I always say that if things were different in my life, Id have married her. Never mind that she might not have wanted to marry him.

Johar also describes Kapoor at a Bombay Times party when she was 18, and says, But the way she stood in that party, it was as if she had already released five blockbusters. Then he goes on to tell us in his most patronising Koffee with Karan voice, She was a kid; shes a decade younger than me. And then he adds a story about trying to semi-smile at Kapoor at a function after all this, where she happily ignored him  and with his obviously hurt and inflated sense of self, he goes on, I thought, how dare she behave like this with me?

As news of the description of this old nine-month long fight has been making the rounds, there is another not-so-unconnected interview with Priyanka Chopra circulating. Chopra describes complaining about her low pay while she worked in Bollywood, only to be told by producers that she could be easily replaced. Natalie Portman, who won as Oscar for her performance in Black Swan, also recently talked about being paid three times less than Ashton Kutcher in No Strings Attached.

All these stories begin to sound similar. Sonam Kapoor argued in an interview in October 2016, that her film Veere Di Wedding, which has an all-women cast, was not given the same kind of budget by the same studio that John Abraham and Varun Dhawan got to make Dishoom  which meant that she had to cut her fee. Unsurprisingly, when she brought this up on Koffee with Karan, Johar simply changed the topic. Nobody finds it strange that there is no hue and cry every time male actors make many times more than women actors  but when there is even an inkling that Deepika Padukone made more than Amitabh Bachchan in Piku, there is a long, excited discussion.

Johar writes of this fight with Kapoor completely unapologetically, blissfully oblivious to the meaning of what hes said. This is completely normal in his super-feudal world. It makes one of Secret Deodorants recent ads (called #StressTest, which shows women in stressful situations) strangely real. And this might be the only time in the world that we apply the word realism to a deodorant ad. In this one, a woman is in the loo in front of a mirror practising how to ask her boss for a higher salary. We see her trying to be friendly, saying she has a favour to ask of him before trailing off and muttering that its not really a favour  in the same way that its odd that Emma Stone has to say shes lucky to have been paid as much as her male colleagues.

In her piece in The New Yorker, Konnikova goes on to argue that studies have shown that the general advice thats often shot off to women  to stand up for themselves, to be assertive in negotiations  very often backfires. According to the studies, women who asked for higher salaries were penalised more often than men were: women and men were promoted for different skills. While for men the focus remained on their competence at work, for women, the focus shifted to their social skills  nobody liked assertive, loud women. Its just a different way of looking at what Jennifer Lawrence wrote in the Lenny Letter, I would be lying if I didnt say there was an element of wanting to be liked that influenced my decision to close the deal [for American Hustle] without a real fight. I didnt want to seem difficult or spoiled.

In Germany, the cabinet has passed a draft bill that will allow workers to sue their employer if they cant justify the wage gap between men and women for doing the same job. Opposition to this bill has rather conveniently argued that it will foster workplace envy and discontent  something that Johar might vigorously nod his head to. And as Kapoors argument with Johar shows, its only obvious that it isnt true that women arent paid equally because they dont ask for this  there are all these men who need to get out of the way, stop feeling hurt, and pony up.

The Ladies Finger (TLF) is an online womens magazine
The Hyderabad police have filed a case of rape and blackmail against leading Bollywood producer Karim Morani.

News of the charges against Morani were reported by ANI.

Hyderabad: Police register a rape case against Film Producer Karim Morani  ANI (@ANI_news) January 18, 2017

India Today reports that the victim is a 25 year old Delhi-based Bachelor of Business Management student. She lodged a complaint at the Hayathnagar police station on 10 January. She alleged that Morani had raped her on different occasions in Mumbai and at a film studio in the outskirts of Hyderabad in 2015.

The same report quotes Tafseer Iqubal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (LB Nagar Zone), as saying,"Since the info took place over a period of time, we are verifying the fact and gathering the necessary evidence."

Morani has been booked under 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation), 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

However, The Indian Express reports that Morani has rubbished the rumours of this allegation through this statement, "The complaint is absolutely false and bogus with the sole intention of tarnishing my reputation and image. I will be taking appropriate steps in accordance with law to demonstrate that complaint is malafide. I am truthful and innocent and has full faith in the judiciary and is ready and willing to co-operate with the authorities to the fullest extent.

Morani is the producer of films like Chennai Express and Happy New Year. He is also the owner of Cineyug, an events and production company.

His daughter Zoa Morani had made her Bollywood debut with the 2011 film Always Kabhi Kabhi.

In 2011, Morani had come under the authorities' scanner for his involvement in the 2G spectrum scam.

At the time, Firstpost had published a report on just who Morani was:

Bollywoods filmi galas, weddings and stage shows are incomplete without the Morani brothers  Aly, Karim and Mohammad  the super trio of show business. Amir Morani, the eldest brother, after whom their business, Amir Fireworks was named in 1937, has retired and is no longer a partner in the troubled Cineyug Films launched in 1997.

Cineyug Films landed in rough waters when the CBI uncovered its links with Swan Telecom and Dynamix Realty, both involved in the 2G spectrum allocation scam. The CBI, in its second charge sheet alleged that the promoters of these companies, Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka, used Cineyug Films to funnel funds worth Rs 200 crore into the DMK-managed Kalaignar TV. Its founder Karim Morani was the one who facilitated the transfer.

The Morani brothers have seen tremendous rise. Aly, Karim and Mohammad worked their way into the glamour industry by turning Cineyug into an indispensable force in Bollywood. Bunty Soorma was the fourth partner in Cineyug but after his death in March 2002, the Morani brothers maintained their partnership by bringing his wife, Neelam, on board. Despite the flamboyance their work requires, the brothers are quite understated outside the professional realm.

Cineyug manages, scripts, directs and coordinates ad films, live concerts and stage shows in India and abroad.
Salman Khan can heave a sigh of relief for now since he stands acquitted in the Arms Act case, as per the verdict of Jodhpur court on 18 January 2017.

However, the relief is only momentary as legal troubles are far from over. Out of the six cases against Khan, he has been acquitted in only four, while the verdicts of the other two remain pending.

Out of the six cases, four are associated with the black buck and chinkara poaching incidents. While the actor was shooting for Sooraj Barajataya's family drama Hum Saath Saath Hain near Jodhpur, he allegedly indulged in poaching of these endangered species on three separate occasions.

On the night of 27 September 1998, he allegedly shot a gazelle in a forest near Bhawad village in Rajasthan. He allegedly indulged in a similar incident the next night at Ghoda Farm House when he shot two gazelles.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate convicted him in the two cases on 17 February and 10 April, 2006 and awarded a jail sentence of one year and five years respectively. However, the Rajasthan High Court cleared him of both the charges last year. The Rajasthan government appealed against this verdict in the Supreme Court which consequently issued a notice to the actor in the most recent development in the two cases.

The third case against Khan is a result of his alleged act of poaching two black bucks in Kankani village on the night of 1 October, 1998. He was allegedly accompanied by co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre in his Maruti gypsy. As per the most recent development of this case, all the five actors have been summoned by the Jodhpur court so that the judiciary can report their respective statements. All of them have been booked under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act.

On the same night, Salman was accused of using a gun with expired license. Consequently, he was booked under the Arms Act case in which he was acquitted by the Jodhpur court on 18 January, 2017, on the grounds of lack of evidence or benefit of doubt. The prosecutor is uncertain whether he will appeal against the verdict or not.

Besides the four cases associated with the black buck episode, he was also booked in the infamous hit-and-run case in Mumbai. He had allegedly rammed his car over four people sleeping on the footpath near the American Express Bakery on the night of 28 September, 2002. He was booked with the charge of 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder' under Section 304(2) of the Indian Penal Code.

He was also booked for a number of other charges, including over speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and damage to property, under other sections of the same act or sections of other acts like the Motor Vehicle Act. Bombay High Court acquitted him of all charges two years ago, leading to an appeal filed in the Supreme Court by the Maharashtra government.

The lesser known (and sixth) case against Khan is the one on the charges of criminal intimidation and robbery. Ravindra Moorat Dwivedi, a member of Brashtachaar Nirmoolan Samiti, sued the actor for assaulting him on a Mumbai-Delhi flight on 4 November, 2014. He alleged that the actor snatched government documents, related to the demise of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde. He alleged that he was assaulted by Khan and his bodyguard.

Thus, if you do the math, it is easy to come to a conclusion that legal troubles will keep looming large on Salman's head for a good period of time ahead.

The verdicts in two of his cases are pending, and the Supreme Court has accepted appeals against his acquittal in three other cases. So his hassles and run-ins with the judiciary are far from over.

While these repeated court appearances add to the publicity of the actor, it also keeps his prospective filmmakers hanging in the balance as several of their creative and financial decisions depend on Khan's immediate as well as eventual fate. For example, had the actor been convicted in the Arms Act case on 18 January, it would have halted filmmaker Kabir Khan's shooting of the period war drama Tubelight in which Khan plays the lead role. Kabir would have to then resort to the actor's paroles to complete the shooting in a situation similar to how Sanjay Dutt completed the dubbing of Rajkumar Hirani's science fiction satire PK in 2014.

Also, Salman's conviction could have also put a question mark on Ali Abbas Zafar's action entertainer Tiger Zinda Hai. Since it is a sequel to Salman's 2012 film Ek Tha Tiger, it is rather cumbersome to replace the actor.

Similarly, other projects like Remo D'Souza's dream project, a dance drama starring Salman, could have also been shelved. Since Salman brings in the largest amount of moolah into the Hindi film industry through his blockbuster films, his conviction could have given the industry a smashing blow.

All the 11 films, in which he played the lead role in the last six years, have managed to cross the coveted Rs 100 crore mark. Needless to say, his conviction would also affect his brand endorsements, television shows and philanthropy endeavours.

Being the most commercially bankable star has also put him in a pedestal where he is under constant scrutiny for his words, actions, company or even gestures.

The fact is that Salman is one of the biggest megastars of Bollywood today. The media will never ban him and he has his half a dozen cases to thank for this.
JK Rowling must have invented the invisibility cloak only for Salman Khan.

He goes around driving vehicles allegedly in a drunken stupor, mows down people sleeping on a pavement. But, the law can't see him.On a full moon night, Bhai gets behind the wheel of a gypsy, chases protected wildlife in the Thar Desert till the hearts of his prey start bursting. Then, after allegedly wounding them with gunshots, he slices their neck with a sharp knife.

Yet, he goes past the eyes of the law unnoticed. Like Potter gliding through the locked chambers of Hogwarts in an invisibility cloak.

It is now established that two things about Salman Khan are written in tablets of iron. One, every time his film is released, it will get a 100-crore opening. Two, every time his case comes up for hearing in a court, he will be released.

The outcome of the latest court case against Salman  for illegally possessing firearms  was almost expected. A few months ago, the Rajasthan High Court had absolved him of charges of killing black bucks during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain in Jodhpur in October 1998.

After 18 years of trial that must have cost Salman Khan at least half the money his films earn in the first week, the court concluded that Salman had not killed the animals. (They may have died of happiness on finding the star amidst them).

So, if nobody had killed the black bucks, how could Salman have been accused of possessing firearms that were used for poaching? And if no weapons were used, how could have Salman possessed them illegally? Salman not guilty. QED.

There is no point ranting against the prosecution's inability to get the actor convicted in spite of clinching evidence. The investigation was compromised from the very beginning as many powerful politicians and bureaucrats in successive state governments worked as the actor's B-team. In fact, the then minister of environment and forest  whose department had lodged FIRs against Salman  behaved like the star's mater familias, not just in real life but also on the screen, bagging a few acting assignments for herself and getting her daughter to sing in films. Salman, on his part, danced on the streets of Jaipur at a wedding in the minister's family.

So, when the prosecutor struts around as the defence lawyer, what's there to worry?

Salman has one more case pending against him in the court (there were four originally) for alleged poaching of endangered species in Jodhpur. But, it would be almost a travesty of injustice if he gets sentenced. In all likelihood, Salman would be a free bird in a few months, his slate wiped clean of the bloodstains of animals and humans he allegedly killed.

The only people who would regret his acquittal are the lawyers, and some key witnesses, who became overnight millionaires by feasting on Salman's fears and vulnerabilities.

It would be futile, of course, to rant against the criminal justice system. It doesn't need a Salman to remind us how it is loaded in favour of those with influence and money. When Salman was booked for poaching in Jodhpur, the case appeared to be water-tight. There were several eyewitness accounts and forensic evidences that looked irrefutable.

When he was caught, there were reports that Jodhpur villagers had caught him flagrante delicto (busy in the act) and had chased the star and his companions out of Jodhpur forests. But, somebody must have waved a magic wand to make them all disappear. Or, maybe, someone cast a spell that rewrote memories of so many people, made them all mute witnesses to a crime that had just one perpetrator.

Or, may be the rumour mongers were right. In October 1998, when Salman was booked for poaching, several conspiracy theories had surfaced. All of them seemed implausible back then. But, now that he has been acquitted, let us revisit the theory that sounded scandalous at that time.

Back then, Salman's camp claimed the actor was being framed for ignoring the advances of the scion of a powerful Jodhpur family. That the case was nothing but the wrath of a young, beautiful and a powerful woman slighted. Hell hath no fury for Salman like a woman scorned in her own backyard, the gossip mongers concluded.

With a series of acquittals in Salman's pocket, it is now impossible to believe anything  to separate evidence from rumour, crime from a revenge saga, a Quentin Tarantino-isque drama that went horribly wrong for India's leading star.

It was a job our courts and investigators were supposed to do. But then they could not spot Salman committing those crimes in broad daylight.

Perhaps Salman actually had the invisibility cloak. Or, Amitabh Bachchan was right when he sang that famous song: Ye Andhaa Kanoon hai!
By Mubasher Bukhari

| LAHORE, Pakistan

LAHORE, Pakistan Pakistani security forces said on Wednesday they had killed the leader of the banned Sunni Muslim militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) along with three other militants accused of killing hundreds of civilians.The Counter Terrorism Department of the eastern province of Punjab said its forces had killed Asif Chotoo and his comrades during a shootout in the city of Sheikhupura after a tip-off that the group was planning an attack in nearby Lahore.However, an intelligence official with knowledge of the operation told Reuters that Chotoo had been in custody since August and was "eliminated" by authorities, something Punjab police spokesman Nayab Haider called "baseless".The incident came 18 months after police gunned down Chotoo's predecessor, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi's longtime leader Malik Ishaq, in what police sources said bore halmarks of an "encounter", a term government critics use for extrajudicial killings in custody staged to resemble a shootout.

Authorities deny any such practice exists.The actions against LeJ, which targets minority Shi'ite Muslims, could signal a harder line against sectarian militants by a government regularly accused of being softer on them than on militants seeking to overthrow the government, such as the Pakistani Taliban.

LeJ was once believed to have support from Pakistan's military intelligence agency, accused of using such groups as proxies in India and Afghanistan and to counter Shi'ite movements, something Pakistan denies. Last week, opposition members walked out of parliament after Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said: "You cannot equate banned sectarian organisations with the banned terrorist organisations," local media reported.

Pakistan banned dozens of militant groups under a National Action Plan, launched after Pakistani Taliban fighters killed 134 students at an army-run school in Peshawar in 2014. (Additional reporting by Mehreen Zahra-Malik; Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Randy Fabi and Robin Pomeroy)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
GENEVA Global economic growth will quicken to 2.7 percent this year and 2.9 percent in 2018, after growing by 2.2 percent in 2016, the United Nations said in its annual economic forecast on Tuesday.However it saw uncertainty created by Britain's vote to leave the European Union, and British growth is expected to slump from an estimated 2.0 percent in 2016 to 1.1 percent in 2017 and 1.3 percent in 2018. Tax policies espoused by U.S. president elect Donald Trump could also have adverse effects on the world economy, said Alfredo Calcagno, head of macroeconomic and development policies at the U.N. economic agency UNCTAD.

"This might generate a deficit in the short run and that could bring us towards a challenge for the global economy," he told a news conference in Geneva. "The other element of tax reform is whether this tax system would mean a kind of higher protection for American producers. Then this would incorporate a huge challenge for the multilateral system and the WTO."

(Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Dominic Evans)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By David Lawder

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON Renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico will be the Trump administration's first trade priority, U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Wilbur Ross said on Wednesday at his confirmation hearing. Ross also told the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that China was the "most protectionist" country among large economies.Trump has leveled criticism at both NAFTA and China's trade practices, accusing both of causing millions of manufacturing job losses in the United States. He has pledged to renegotiate NAFTA to be more favorable to U.S. manufacturers or leave the 23-year-old trade pact. "NAFTA is logically is the first thing for us to deal with," Ross said. "We ought to solidify relationships in the best way we can in our territory before we go off to other jurisdictions. "That should be, and hopefully will be if I'm confirmed, a very early topic in this administration."Ross said that, working in concert with the U.S. Trade Representative and Trump's new White House International Trade Council, he will seek to reduce China's high tariff and non-tariff barriers to commerce.

He added that Chinese officials "talk much more about free trade than they actually practice. We would like levelize that playing field and bring the realities a bit closer to the rhetoric."His comments early in the hearing did not mention Trump's threats to levy punitive tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the United States.Ross also in his opening statement said that more telecommunications spectrum, a sector regulated by the Commerce Department, was needed by the private sector. He pledged to press government agencies that control it to release what they do not need.

"I am not anti-trade. I am pro-trade," Ross added. "But I am pro-sensible trade, not trade that is to the disadvantage of the American worker and to the American manufacturing community," Ross said in a prepared testimony to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that was seen by Reuters.Countries that violate U.S. standards for free trade should be "severely punished," he added, without elaborating.

"We should not put up with malicious trading activities, state-owned enterprises or subsidized production," he said, without naming any specific countries.Ross disclosed on Tuesday that he would sell investments valued at up to about $300 million, including his stake in his private equity firm, in order to avoid conflicts of interest as Commerce Secretary, a position with responsibilities ranging from trade enforcement and economic data publication to telecommunications auctions and weather forecasting.Reuters also reported that companies run by Ross had shifted about 2,700 U.S. jobs to other countries since 2004, according to Labor Department data. (Reporting by Andy Sullivan and David Lawder; Writing by David Lawder; Editing by Clive McKeef)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The recent Mumbai High Court judgment which appears to legitimise murder in the course of communal incitement has upset and alienated the most reasonable and inclusive among Kashmiri Muslims  those courageous voices who are routinely attacked by Islamist and other anti-India propagandists as pro-Hindu or too liberal.

Overturning a sessions court judgment, the high court granted bail to murderers. It appeared to argue that the murderers crime was mitigated since they had killed Muslims after being incited to hate them.

The message that interpretations of such judgments gives tends to further weaken the confidence of Kashmiris in an Indian state in which Muslims and other minorities can feel safe and a sense of belonging. To that extent, this judgment has strengthened illiberal extremists on both sides of a growing communal divide and has strengthened the cause of Kashmiri separatism.

The murder of Akhlaq in Dadri, a couple of years ago over a mobs suspicion that he had beef in his fridge had already given a fillip to separatist sentiment and arguments. Extraordinarily macabre anti-Muslim statements from some ruling party MLAs over the past couple of years have added fuel to the fire of resentment.

Compared with that vitriolic rhetoric from men in power, inclusive Kashmiris messages in response to such public formulations as the recent judgment have been tame, but they reflect the deep pain of isolation.

Sualeh Keen, one of the most courageous Kashmiri Muslim voices for inclusive secularism posted on his Facebook wall after the Mumbai judgment that, "Just like in the ridiculous Dara Singh judgment, again the court has sent out this ridiculous message: that it is less of a murder if the murderer was driven by communal animosity."

Keen had recently appeared on a widely watched debate about Kashmiri aspirations conducted by Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera. Keen defended the rights of those in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, many Muslims and others, to prefer to live as Indians.

A lot of vocal Kashmiri Muslims despise courageous voices of inclusion such as Keens. After this judgment, they will have another potent arrow in their armoury of attack against persons such as Keen.

Another courageous inclusive voice on social media is that of US-based Kashmiri academic Sadaf Munshi. She has often stood firmly and feistily for the rights of women and minorities such as Kashmiri Pandits.

In her Facebook post, Munshi asked, "How do you respond to such blatant mockery of the very idea of the judicial process? It's just mind-boggling." In that post, she referred to the judgment as something that had happened to 'justice' in 'my country.'

For a Kashmiri Muslim to openly post about India as 'my country' takes courage. For, she is likely to be trolled by propagandists with a hate-filled mindset  as has recently happened to a teenage actor who had starred in the film 'Dangal'. The young actor was viciously pilloried on social media after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti described her as a role model.

The judgment tends to confirm the perception that Muslims are unsafe in India  an idea on which Kashmiri separatism has thrived for 65 years. Even Sheikh Abdullah made some strong speeches about the negative prospects for Muslims in a post-Nehru India. In the most tendentious of these, he told an audience at Ranbirsinghpora in April 1953 that he had committed a crime against the Quran by backing accession to India.

Any perception that Muslims rights are threatened tends to revive unhappy memories of 19th century Kashmiri history. During Sikh rule (1819-1846), the punishment for the murder of a Sikh was legally set at a higher level than that for the murder of a non-Sikh. Discrimination was established in writing.

Not only that, poor Kashmiri Muslims faced the prospect of forced labour, known as begar. This included being forced to carry supplies for troops in Ladakh and Gilgit over life-threatening mountains and passes. Begari continued to be a part of Kashmiri life until early 20th century.

That history is often conceptualized as near-slavery, and that has a potent influence on shaping responses and biases. The subliminal message of several public formulations by powerful representatives of the state have severely damaged the cause of national integration.
Kolkata: One person was killed and another was injured in the Bhangor area of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Tuesday as clashes broke out between the police and villagers opposing construction of a Power Grid sub-station in the area.

Villagers, who blocked roads and damaged several police vehicles, claimed that police had opened fire on the protesters while police said the firing took place between two groups of protesters in which the casualty took place.

"One person has been killed and another received bullet injury during the crossfire between two groups of outsiders and other residents of the area. We are looking into it," ADG (law and order) Anuj Sharma told PTI.

When asked about reports of police firing in the area, Sharma said, "There has been no police firing. The police didn't fire a single shot. The work of the Power Grid station has already stopped. The person was declared dead on arrival at the hospital and the other person is undergoing treatment."

The person who died has been identified as Mafijul Ali Khan, the police said.

The West Bengal government has declared that the project has been stopped.

According to a highly-placed source at the state Secretariat Nabanna, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday asked the police to exercise restraint and refrain from opening fire in Bhangor.

In a tweet, Banerjee had earlier in the day said, "No land will be acquired if people don't want to give away land. Proposed power grid will be relocated if required." Her party later on removed the tweet and said it should be ignored.

A senior police officer said the police were attacked by the villagers and a few of them were injured by stones and bricks thrown at them.

To bring the situation under control, police resorted to bursting tear gas shells and lathicharge, he said.

Villagers on the other hand alleged that the police resorted to unprovoked lathicharge, teargassing and firing.

State Power minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said "Police did not retaliate, but only chased away the villagers when stones and bricks were thrown at them."

"There was no reason for the protests as the state government has already halted the project following protests by the people. I had invited them (farmers and villagers) several times for a meeting, but they kept on refusing.

"The state government has stopped the project as per their demand. Still they are creating problems in the area. I do not see any logic behind this... I have doubts about their real intention," Chattopadhyay said.

"If the sub-station was set up, everyone would have got electricity, whether they belonged to TMC, CPI(M), Congress or BJP," he added.

Local MLA and state Food Processing and Horticulture minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah rushed to the area following instructions from the Chief Minister.

On Banerjee's instruction, forces from Kolkata Police and other commissionerates have been asked to rush to the place to maintain law and order, the secretariat source said.

The Chief Minister also directed the Police to nab around 30-40 "outsiders", who could be Maoists and backed by a section of Jadavpur University students, responsible for instigating the villagers and farmers in Bhangor for such violent protests, he said.

Police were posted at neighbouring Machhi Bhanga and Tona on Monday night following demonstrations by villagers protesting the setting up of the substation by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.

The incident has also kicked off a political storm with the opposition CPI(M) and BJP condemning the incident.

"Then in opposition, it was the TMC which had opposed Nandigram and Singur. But, now they themselves are using brute force to acquire land. We condemn this. The police action and atrocity in Bhangor should immediately stop," CPI(M) Politburo member Mohammed Salim said.

BJP too condemned the police action and said it should immediately stop.

"Police action should immediately stop there. Why is the state government so intolerant and arrogant that it can't talk to the locals? We will visit the place soon," BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said.

Reacting to the allegations, senior TMC leader and state Parliamentary Affairs minister Partha Chatterjee said political parties should not fish in troubled waters.

"They should not equate Nandigram with this incident. In Nandigram CPI(M) went for forcible land acquisition, but our policy is not forcible land acquisition. Work has already stopped, so why are they protesting," Chatterjee said.
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The state government in Tamil Nadu has declared Thursday a holiday. With schools and colleges remaining shut, numbers of protestors at Marina Beach expected to swell.

"Jallikattu is the sport of the brave," he said.

"In addition to this, Tamil Nadu is also facing drought. This has caused immense pain and misery to Tamil Nadu," he said. "We requested the Centre for drought-relief measures. We have requested the Centre to sanction Rs 32,000 crore for drought relief."

"PM Modi said he gives highest importance to cultural values of the state. He assured he will extend full support to us," ANI further quoted him as saying.

"We need to bring an emergrency ordinance," said the Tamil Nadu chief minister. "I have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We all want an emergency ordinance to be brought for jallikattu."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam addressed reporters and said that he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to pass an emergency ordinance.

Jallikattu the sport of the brave, we want emergency ordinance: Panneerselvam

Equally shocked (to see video of cop committing arson), hope some sort of explanation is given to us so that we can calm down: Kamal Haasan pic.twitter.com/j6sl0jNJNF

Addressing the media on Tuesday, actor Kamal Haasan questioned the Chennai police action against the protester and said that anyone who opposes Jallikattu (on whatever count) has double standards. "I was shocked (to see video of cop committing arson), hope some sort of explanation is given to us so that we can calm down."

Have been demanding this for over 20 yrs. We were the early agitators of this law because it showed double standard-Kamal Haasan #Jallikattu

Kamal Haasan comes out in full support of jallikattu and said that it cannot be banned. He asked why is not Peta also looking into the treatment of Kerala's temple elephants.

"People make fun calling this a leaderless movement, but look at the cohesion among the people."

When asked on why he is not actively part of the movement, Kamal said, "I kept out because I didn't want to steal the limelight on the agitating students."

Kamal said that the violence in Chennai has disturbed him. He also added that he hopes that the videos showing police indulging in arson are fake.

"CP Ramaswami Iyer wanted a separate Trivancore, would you call him anti-national? Even Tamil Nadu wanted to go separate. It is Patel and VP Menon integrated India. However, we must clarify and why did he said such things. There is some legitimacy in the complaint."

I could have imagined a scenario where MGR would have come to meet protestors. He would have also protested with them: @ikamalhaasan

"I could have imagined a scenario where MGR would have come to meet protestors. He would have also protested with them."

Even MGR would have supported the movement

On the question whether he supports a ban on Peta itself, Haasan said that it is wrong to ban the animal welfare organisation as India is a democracy. He said that we must rather correct them wherever necessary.

Chennai: Violence broke out on Monday in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu as police cracked down on protesters even as the six-day-old 'Marina uprising" was

called off after the state Assembly passed a bill to replace the ordinance allowing the banned jallikattu.

The agitation in Madurai, famous for its Alanganallur bull taming event, Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore and other places were also withdrawn late in the evening.

After the crackdown early in the morning, the sands of Marina beach and areas around it in Triplicane, Teynampet and Sellur in Madurai and Gandhipuram in Coimbatore witnessed pitched battles between the protesters and police who fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the large crowds.

There were incidents of stonethrowing and burning of vehicles and sundry items at various places in protest against the police action. Police personnel and their vehicles along with those of public were targeted. A number of policemen and members of the public were also injured.

Police suspected that some protesters belonged to ultra-left organisations like CPI-ML and Revolutionary Youth Front of India but the agitators said the students and youth who had given the call were not involved in the violence.

Initially, crowds defied appeals for withdrawing the agitation but the protesters were not in a mood to relent.

Acting quickly, the AIADMK government tabled the bill in the Assembly after the Governor's address to replace the ordinance for conducting jallikattu without any hindrance. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017 piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam was adopted unanimously by a voice vote after a brief debate.

After the ordinance, for which the Centre gave quick approval last week, was enacted, pro-jallikattu organisations and film director Gautaman appealed to the protesters to withdraw the stir.

Parallely, former Madras High Court judge Justice Hari Paranthaman acted as a mediator by explaining the process of lawmaking through ordinance and said for the moment this was a

"permanent solution" that is a victory for the agitators. The agitators numbering a few thousands withdrew their protest after appeals by the judge and office bearers of advocates associations.

Tamil stars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan also expressed concern over the violence and called for restraint by the agitating students.

The protesters fought pitched battles with police in several pockets in Chennai, especially around Marina Beach from where thousands were evicted, and blocked roads in various parts of the city.

Police fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge at some places as sections of protesters, removed from Marina in an early morning crackdown, pelted stones.

The agitators went on a rampage, setting on fire vehicles at a few places, including in front of Ice House Police Station near the beach.

While vehicles were gutted, the front portion of the station and the name board were damaged in the fire.

Similarly, vehicles including some cars were set on fire by unidentified elements near Nadukuppam in Triplicane area, close to Marina.

Several schools chose to shut early in view of the sudden turn of events while city buses went off the roads as a preventive measure.

In Coimbatore, police forcibly evicted the protesters from VOC Park Grounds and lathicharged students in Gandhipuram bus stand.

As the appeal made by senior officials to clear the grounds failed, police in large numbers started to bodily lift them and shift them out of the venue.

Some 200 people sat on dharna near the Central bus stand in Gandhipuram to protest police action. Police managed to chase them away.

Even as some protestors were seen leaving the venue voluntarily, police removed nearly 300 protesters from there, police said.

Protesting against the police action, some youths formed human chain on the main Avanashi chain and police made a cane charge to disperse them, police said.

A section of protesters were standing and raising slogans in support of their demand for permanent Act for conducting jallikkatu and against Peta and Police, near the Central Jail, some 200 metres from the venue, prompting the police to take into custody nearly 300 persons, they said.

Police said they had cleared the grounds, venue for the Republic day function, and it is under control of the district administration and police.

Police resorted to lathicharge at two places in Coimbatore to disperse protesters, who allegedly indulged in stone pelting against police.

Protests continued in Madurai with protesters throwing stones on police at Alanganallur.

Police forcibly removed protesters from protest venues at Alanganallur when they refused to heed their repeated requests to disperse.

According to Alanganallur police, 20 persons, many of them policemen, were injured in stone pelting by protesters. Roads near the protest venue were strewn with stones, glass pieces and wooden logs.

Earlier, the Alanganallur village committee, which was satisfied with the ordinance, announced that jallikattu will be held on February one and in Palamedu on 2 February.

On Sunday, the chief minister could not launch the jallikattu event in Alanganallur as planned due to locals' protests.

Though the decision of the local committee was made through public annoucement system, some miscreants at the "agitation venue" refused to disperse and started pelting stones, police said.

There was a scuffle between police and some of the youths in which some protesters were injured. Police were forced to take action as several rounds of talks failed, an official said.

Police said the situation was fully under control and some persons who were seen instigating the crowd have been detained for questioning.

Meanwhile, DIG of Police Anand Somani led a flag march in the village to boost the confidence of the local people.

In Madurai, Additional SP Murugesh held talks with protesting students and urged them to disperse.

One woman was injured in the scuffle between police and youths in the city.

In Madurai, students continued to block a train at Sellur for the fifth day.

Meanwhile, an Erode report said several students sustained minor injuries when police made a lathicharge after a section of them indulged in violence, refusing to disperse.

Two buses were damaged when some miscreants pelted stones while they were being dispersed by police at Thomaiyarpuram railway station where they tried to block train traffic.

A report from Tiruchirapalli said a jallikattu event was held at Kumlur near the city, in which seven persons were injured. All the injured were treated as outpatients.
Primary and secondary schools run in tribal areas are by-and-large a neglected topic in our everyday discourse. The following is the third part of a five-part series that seeks to explore some of the issues that affect these schools.

When the rest of India was ready to welcome 2017, tribal students at the state-run ashram school in Aswali village of Palghar  about 120 kilometres from Mumbai  were in for an unpleasant shock. At around 11 pm on 31 December, the principal of the school, Yashwant Wagh, barged into the hostel in a drunken state and physically abused the students.

A nine-year-old boy, when asked about the incident, stood up and positioned himself on the floor as if getting ready to do push-ups. But he soon touched the floor with his tiny elbows and arduously pushed himself forward on the ground. Around 30 students were made to do this on the rough, stone cold floor. The boy then said the principal even kicked some of the students and stood on them. They were being punished for not doing their homework.

When the local media took up the issue, the principal apologised, but the petrified students said they have seldom felt safe around him. He was later suspended.

In Maharashtra, over 5 lakh tribal students are enrolled in 1,109 tribal residential schools  554 state-run and 555 state-aided  spread across 16 tribal-populated districts. While the conditions in which these tribal students live are repugnant, security of the students, or rather the lack of it, has remained an alarming concern. Apart from being beaten up and ill treated, the cases of sexual exploitation are rampant and it is merely a tip of the iceberg, believe activists.

In November last year, the whole state of Maharashtra woke up to a horror  a tribal school in Buldhana was derecognised after reports emerged that girl students are being sexually assaulted there. The incidence only came to light after a girl, who was visiting her parents, complained of stomachache and was later found to be pregnant. As the episode unfolded, several other girls came forward complaining of sexual harassment, and at least three of them were pregnant. Eleven people were arrested, including school trustees, the headmaster and a few teachers.

Incidentally, a report led by the former director of health, Dr. Salunkhe, was submitted to the Maharashtra governor a month before the Buldhana incident, warning of sexual crimes at tribal ashram schools across the state. The report noted that an alarming 1,077 deaths had transpired in 15 years at the tribal schools, 493 of them were girls. Sexual assaults, suicide, lack of medical help, malnutrition and negligence were cited as major causes for the deaths.

In 67 percent cases, there was no proper mention of the cause of death in the death certificates, states the report, adding that schools could not produce any data regarding 12 percent deaths while vague descriptions like unknown cause, severe illness and sudden death were the other reasons. We had a feeling that the girls were being sexually exploited, but it was obvious they were under pressure from teachers and the management and would not open up to us, Salunkhe had reportedly said. Since death certificates in most cases were vague, missing most crucial details, reason of their deaths cannot be ascertained. Sexual exploitation angle cannot be ruled out.

The report suggested the setting up of an internal committee that would address the issue of gender violation according to the Vishaka guidelines. It further stressed the need for teachers and the staff to be appropriately sensitised to gender violations and child rights. The governor wrote a letter to the chief minister asking for lady officers to periodically visit the tribal schools.

After the findings of the report, the Maharashtra government towards the end of 2016, promised to take corrective measures, including a womans squad for the safety of girls, ambulances and posting of auxiliary nursing and midwife. However, the promises did not have a deadline, casting aspersions on the sincerity of the move, for all those years, even the most basic security measures had been palpably missing.

The Tata Institute for Social Sciences (TISS) had submitted a comprehensive study to the government on ashram schools, which noted only 25 percent of the aided and 46 percent of the government-run schools actually had a concrete compound wall marking the premise of the school. With many of the schools located along the road, lack of concrete fencing magnifies the chance of an accident. The state-run ashram school at Thanes Aaine village presents an amusing and disturbing example. It takes a while to differentiate the school from the village as the houses used for the school are some of the rented apartments of villagers living in the neighbouring houses. The classes function sans any privacy or silence with locals going about their day outside. Building a compound wall for the school would practically cordon off the whole, or at least a part, of Aaine.

TISS further highlighted that only 31 percent aided and 39 percent government schools had a security guard. More shockingly, the post of female warden is vacant in almost 80 percent aided schools and 42 percent of the government schools.

At the government-run ashram school in Palghars Sakhre village, the principal, SS Sooryavanshi, said he uses the cook as a security guard at night. There is only one security guard for 352 students staying here, he said. I use him to guard the girls hostel. The cook is deployed where the boys live.

The ground reality at the moment indicates the callousness with which the delicate issue of security is handled by the state. With lack of female wardens, inadequate number of security guards and no compound walls, the schools provide an easy access to any outsider to merely stroll into its premises without being scrutinised. As a result, cases of sexual harassment and assaults on tribal students often crop up every now and then, which activists say are more acute than what the citizenry finds out.

Tribal families are poor and police do not take them seriously, said activist Bandu Sane. Moreover, the fear of dishonour intimidates them against filing a complaint. Other times, the families are paid off to remain silent. And when they conquer all adversities and decide to fight the case, they often find out that the perpetrators have better contacts and their might overwhelms the tribals.

Read Part 1: State of neglect endangers student health

Read Part 2: Students stare at malnutrition due to poor food, filthy kitchens
In the book "Guns, Germs and Steel", author Jared Diamond builds a beautiful case of how the white man (read the Western Civilisation) came to dominate the course of world history. Much of this dominance could be attributed to three factors; guns (invention of gun powder), germs (immunity to diseases because of urbanisation) and steel (related to the industrial revolution). While the guns helped win over the enemies on a battlefield, the germs the colonist carried with them spread afar, decimating populations that had never faced such biogens before. This is how the Incas were defeated by the Spanish, or even how the North American continent was brought under control by the progeny of the Mayflower settlers.

India too has made a contribution (a rather dubious one) to the global bank of germs and diseases. Cholera is described as an acute diarrhoeal infection that is caused by the intake of contaminated water. Caused by the bacterium vibrio cholerae, the disease is a global one, infecting some 4 million people a year, and accounting for some 143000 deaths according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The origin of the disease is has been placed in India, the first recorded instance was in 1563 in an Indian medical report (http://www.choleraandthethames.co.uk/cholera-in-london/origins-of-cholera/). It was called as Haiza by the Arabs, caused by fasaad-e- ghiza (Decay of food) and Fasaad-e- hazm (Dyspepsia). (http://www.nhp.gov.in/haiza-cholera_mtl)

But it was the 19th century when the disease acquired a global dimension. Traveling on board the Company ships that docked on the colonised ports in India, the rather innocuous invertebrate from the deltas of Ganges reached the banks of Thames. And so in 1831, London, the largest city in the world (back then) had its first devastating encounter with Cholera. The streets of London back then were overflowing with filth, human and otherwise, and the bacterium was much at home in all the filth. Thousands were infected and hundreds died within a matter of few days.

Over the course of next couple of decades, there were numerous outbreaks of Cholera. Sadly, much of it was attributed to the stench in the air or miasma (as it was called). The co-relation between contaminated water and spread of Cholera was discovered by a local doctor in London, named Dr. John Snow, who helped understand the dangers of drinking contaminated water.

As a result of this discovery, Great Britain took up the single largest engineering project in the 19th Century, namely creating a sewer network underneath the city of London. The same was completed in a span of some 18 years, under the watchful eyes of Sir Joseph Bazalgette. This network of sewerage has become the sort of template for all urban cities across the world.

It was this outbreak of Cholera and chance discovery of the correlation with contaminated water that is responsible for the setting up of the modern municipal structure. Considering that it was the same Britishers who ruled us, our cities too have the same structure and mechanism. This is how the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata got their sewer and water infrastructure. Gandhis India that largely lived in the villages, now steadily moved into the cities.

Sadly, the population has expanded many times more than the system could cope up with. Although access to drinking water has improved, the World Bank estimates that 21% of communicable diseases in India are related to unsafe water. In India, diarrhoea alone causes more than 1,600 deaths dailythe same as if eight 200-person jumbo jets crashed to the ground each day.

Yet, in spite of the obvious dangers, even today, hundreds of thousands of Indians are coerced to drink dirty water.

Thankfully, there seems to be a growing realisation on the need to resolve this problem. The government of India and the various state governments have instituted a series of reforms that are targeted providing clean water to the citizen. In addition, there are also efforts being undertaken by private companies like Eureka Forbes that have launched an initiative like Jaldaan, under which every signatory pledges to provide 5 litres of clean water to the needy. In fact, for every single pledge, the company has committed to provide Rs. 10 towards setting up special filtration plants in poor areas.

Humanity (be it white or coloured) has been battling the menace of germs for centuries. With science and technology, we have been able to redraw the battle lines. Today, with medical interventions like vaccinations, Cholera has been largely contained. Yet, the war is not over. Till every drop of water that is drunk by the people is not pure and healthy, the struggle will be on. Everyone can be a part of the movement, by taking a pledge at http://bit.ly/Jaldaan

So why wait? Do it now!

This is a partnered post.
After its successful foray in Maharashtra by winning two seats in the legislative assembly and some seats in the Nanded and Aurangabad civic bodies, the Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is poised for debut in Mumbai, primarily eyeing predominantly Muslim and Dalit localities.

The AIMIM, which has hit headlines in the past for controversial statements by its leaders Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin, has, after winning the Byculla and Aurangabad (Central) assembly seats in 2014; 11 seats in the Nanded Municipal Corporation in 2012; and 25 in the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation in 2015, is likely to contest around 70 out of the 227 seats in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls scheduled for 21 February.

Over the past few years, the AIMIM has gained considerable following in Muslim pockets of Mumbai, with its leaders, mainly the star campaigner Asaduddin Owaisi, taking a hardline against mainstream political parties for marginalizing the community. The partys strategy has been to polarize the Muslims and forge solidarity with Dalits to form a considerable vote-bank. In the process, the AIMIM aims to target the traditional voters of the mainstream secular parties like the Congress and the NCP.

When the AIMIM made a debut in Nanded civic body, it was considered to be a stray incident arising out of disillusionment of the local Muslims over the Congress-NCP rule. However, when the party bagged two seats in the assembly polls, it created ripples in political circles. The party, subsequently, continued with asserting its presence by an impressive debut in the Aurangabad civic body, after the change of guard in the state.

For wooing Muslims, the partys strategy is to portray the incumbent rulers in the state as anti-Muslims. The previous government had granted a five per cent quota in jobs and education for Muslims by issuing an ordinance on the eve of the 2014 elections. The High Court had stayed the quota in jobs but allowed it in education. However, after assuming office, the new BJP government allowed the ordinance on Muslim quota both in education and jobs to lapse. The party highlights the woes of Muslims, despite their support to mainstream secular parties. The AIMIM also distances itself from Muslim fundamentalist organizations, condemns Islamic terrorism and swears by the constitution.

To gain support from Dalit voters, Asaduddin Owaisi, makes it a point to eulogize Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar and the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution of which Ambedkar was the chief architect. The AIMIM has also coined the Jai MIM  Jai Bheem slogan to bring Dalits and Muslims together. Since, traditionally, Dalits live on the outskirts of villages and share spaces with Muslims in ghettoes in villages and cities, the party aims at targeting the anguish and insecurity among voters of both communities. Owaisi has also visited families of Dalits, who were subjected to atrocities by upper castes and expressed solidarity with them and called for a Dalit-Muslim unity to take on the oppressors.

We have lost faith in secular parties, a senior leader from the Muslim community, requesting anonymity, said, The secular parties have used us only for getting votes and ignored our problems. We want to come into the mainstream, especially our younger generation is looking forward to better education and employment, but the situation is bad and there is sense of insecurity after the BJP coming to power in the state and central governments. He pointed out that Owaisi had called for budgetary allocation for Muslims from the BMC budget in proportion to their population, which might click for the AIMIM.

The attempt to unite Dalit and Muslim voters is reminiscent of the Dalit-Muslim Suraksha Mahasangh launched by reformed smuggler Haji Mastan Mirza and Dalit leader Prof Jogendra Kawade in the 1980s. The Mahasangh, however, did not succeed in making any significant political impact.

The rising graph of the AIMIM, has however, not been steady. In the 2014 assembly polls, the party candidate Rahebar Siraj Khan from Bandra (East) constituency, had secured an impressive 23,976 votes, though he had lost the seat. Shiv Senas Prakash (Bala) Sawant had won the seat, polling 41,388 votes, with runner-up BJPs Krishna Parker garnering 25,791 votes. In the 2015 byelection necessitated due to the death of Sawant, his widow Trupti Sawant won the seat securing 52,711 votes, trouncing former chief minister Narayan Rane (Congress) who garnered 33,703 votes. The MIM continued to be in the third position, but its candidate Rahbar Khan could garner only 15,050 votes.

The AIMIM, however, is looking forward to swing the Samajwadi Partys (SPs) voters in its favour by focusing not just on Muslims migrating from rural Maharashtra to Mumbai, but also those from North Indian states. The SP has nine corporators in the BMC. A party functionary said that the partys focus would be in predominantly Muslim-Dalit areas like Byculla, Kurla, Bandra, Godandi, Dharavi, Wadala, Sewri, Jogeshwari, Andheri and Malad.
When 91-year old Narayan Dutt Tiwari walked into Amit Shah's residence on Akbar Road in New Delhi on Wednesday morning to switch over his loyalties from Congress to BJP, he created a picture-perfect situation, albeit of a different kind, for his new political destination  barring serving Chief Minister Harish Rawat, all former chief ministers of the state are now in challenger BJP ranks.

Since its inception in November 2000, Uttarakhand has seen seven chief ministers  Nityanand Swami, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, ND Tiwari, BC Khanduri, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Vijay Bahuguna and Harish Rawat. Of these seven chief ministers, present and past, four have been from BJP and three from Congress. But with Vijay Bahuguna and ND Tiwari severing their ties from Congress and joining BJP, an interesting situation has arisen.

A veteran ND Tiwari has the unique distinction of being chief minister of two states  thrice of undivided Uttar Pradesh and once of Uttarakhand. He was the last chief minister from Congress party in UP and was ousted from there on advent of Mulayam Singh Yadav as Samajwadi strongman in the state. However, he never served full five year term in UP and got this privilege in Uttrakhand where he remained chief minister for full five year term of the assembly from March 2002-March 2007. Onset of 2017 assembly elections in Uttarakhand it was his belated affection for son, Rohit Shekhar who fought and won a prolonged legal battle to prove Tiwari's paternity to him. Tiwari has lived political his life king size, as chief minister, as union minister, as Governor and as one of the most prominent Brahmin leader in the country. A substantive section of people in hilly regions and plains of Uttrakhand have soft corner for Tiwari, with or without the generous colours he had in his personal life.

Another interesting feature in photo gallery of all ex-chief ministers of the state is that all prominent Brahmin faces in the state are now with the BJP, besides party's very own Brahmin faces. Another Brahmin leader who strike an emotional cord with people in the hilly state was Hemwanti Nandan Bahuguna. His son Vijay Bahuguna, a former High Court Judge who was once picked up by Rahul Gandhi to be chief minister of the state. Vijay Bahuguna's sister Rita Bahuguna Joshi too has switched her loyalty from BJP to Congress. BC Khanduri and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank too are Brahmins.

Likes of Tiwaris, Bahugunas, Rawats, Aryra and so on who have lately deserted Congress to join BJP has created a piquant situation in the state  where some are sarcastically calling BJP as "Modi's Congress". Around 20 former Congressmen and women have got BJP ticket for 15 Feb 70-seat Uttarakhand Assembly election.

This has its own consequences in the BJP rank and file in the state. Denial of party tickets to hard-boiled BJP workers has brought internal dissensions and at some places rebellion of the cadre. Second, there is a feeling among BJP leaders from the state that given a situation where the party wins, which they expect to win if all goes well till date of polling, then there could a situation where a sub-group of erstwhile Congress leaders is created in the BJP. Over-riding personal ambitions of these leaders in a small assembly like Uttarakhand could have its own fallout.

The BJP leadership, however, believes that in a small state like Uttarakhand, which have smaller constituencies in terms of number of electorate, what matters most is the personal profile of the candidate. That's why BJP has given tickets to so many turncoats. The party leaders hope that their gamble would pay off. That's why the party has decided not to project any individual leader as their chief ministerial candidate. In case the party emerges victorious, the leadership will have a problem in naming the chief minister.

Satpal Maharaj, though a Rajput but a prominent spiritual-political leader who joined BJP from Congress ahead of 2014 parliamentary elections will be a prominent contender. But there are at least three major contenders for the position, Ajay Bhatt, Anil Baluni, Trivendra Singh Rawat. All three ex-chief ministers from BJP's own rank, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Ramesh Pokhriyal and BC Khanduri are Lok Sabha MPs from the state.
Mumbai: In a vitriolic attack, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday compared the fallout of demonetisation on Indian economy with the disaster wreaked by the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"By dropping the 'atom bomb of demonetisation', Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reduced the Indian economy to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 'All are dead'," the Sena said in an edit in the party mouthpieces Saamana and Dopahar Ka Saamana.

Accusing Modi of "not heeding anybody", the Sena said the Prime Minister did not listen to the advice of even the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) before spiking Rs 500 and 1,000 notes on November 8 last year.

"Just like the deaf-and-dumb parrots sitting in his Cabinet, (Urjit Patel) was appointed the RBI Governor and the country's economy has been reduced to shambles," the Sena noted.

The party led by Uddhav Thackeray is any ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the Centre and Maharashtra.
New Delhi: Election Commission-appointed surveillance and expenditure monitoring teams have recovered over Rs 64 crore in cash, including Rs 56.04 crore from Uttar Pradesh alone, and liquor and drugs worth over Rs 8 crore from the five poll-bound states.

As per official data, Punjab has witnessed the maximum seizure of drugs worth Rs 1.78 crore (heroine and poppy husk) followed by contraband in Goa valued at Rs 16.72 lakh while such seizures in Manipur amounted to Rs 7 lakh.

Among other illegal inducements used to bribe voters during the polls, the maximum of 1.98 lakh litres liquor worth Rs 6.06 crore has been seized in Uttar Pradesh while 10,646 litres of spirit has been seized in Punjab, valued at Rs 17.54 lakh.

Officials said a total of "Rs 64.38 crore in cash, Rs 6.23 crore of liquor and over Rs two crore worth narcotics have been seized in the five poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur, till data recorded upto January 17."

UP has led the suspicious cash seizures tally with Rs 56.04 crore (Rs 31.65 lakh in old notes) followed by Punjab at Rs 8.17 crore, Uttarakhand Rs 10 lakh and Manipur Rs 6.95 lakh.

There has been no cash and illicit liquor seizure in Goa and Uttarakhand till now while Manipur has had no liquor seizure even as UP saw no drugs seizure till now.

The EC has appointed about 200 election expenditure observers apart from other central observers to keep a check on black money and illegal inducements used to bribe voters at the hustings.

Assembly elections in UP, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur will be held between 4 February and 8 March.

Counting of votes for all states will take place on 11 March.
Five states, including the most populous Uttar Pradesh (UP), are slated to go for polls in February and March 2017. BJP is continuing with its policy of not announcing CM candidates. The fact is that given the umbrella coalition of castes (Forwards, OBCs and some Dalit segments) and the limited list of candidates who can appeal to all groups, Amit Shah has little choice. Instead, the focus will be on using demonetisation-related incentives, development and Modi to win the election.

Traditionally, the party focused on a bottom up approach where RSS cadre worked to mobilise support for the BJP. It was extremely important as media penetration and literacy was quite low. In late 1970s, erstwhile Jan Sangh along with the RSS and associated parivar units mobilised grass root workers and built a strong foundation for the party. The Ram Janmabhoomi fuelled strong bonds with the party both at the local and national level, leading to its success in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Gujarat in the 1990s. Top leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani, Modi, SS Chouhan, Ram Singh etc have all risen up the ranks.

To expand its base nationally in the south and north east, the party has adopted middle up approach in states like Karnataka and Assam. In this approach, strong local leadership (Yeddyurappa and Sonowal) and caste combinations along with a less aggressive RSS were used to drive the campaign. The rapid increase of media and literacy due to the economic boom in the last decade led to the full top down approach best seen in the 2014 elections which was made into a clash of personalities  Modi vs Rahul.

In top down campaign approach, central leadership designs campaign strategy, finalises ticket distribution and alliances with regional parties. Big rallies of Modi are organised to draw bumper crowds. Then, it is the local teams responsibility to get in touch with people and convert them into votes. Posters, banners all include central leadership (Modi-Shah) pictures.

This strategy has been increasingly successful given the high media penetration amongst voters. Unlike the past, there is no need to individually meet every voter. Depending on the state, an average of only 60% of the voters are met by any party worker, in Urban areas, this could be as low as 30%.

This modus operandi worked very well in state elections in 2014 just after Lok Sabha polls. In all the four states  Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand  BJP won and formed governments. Modi popularity was at peak during this time. All had extremely unpopular governments and the opposition was still recovering from the shock of May 2014.

In Maharashtra and Haryana, there was significant anti-incumbency against current governments. People wanted change. BJP was the only viable option available. People didnt care about leadership. Jammu and Kashmir followed the trend of alternate governments every five years. In Jharkhand, people were fed up of corrupt and inefficient coalition of JMM-Congress and opted for stability.

Given the stupendous success in 2014 in national elections and four state elections after that, the Modi-Shah combine believe that a well-thought-through campaign run from the Centre with all the skill sets and experience available at one place can run a better campaign than leaving it to the State which may not have all the strategic thinking, the skill sets or the experience. These skill sets could be related to organising large events, social media, voter feedback, candidate selection, messaging or advertising. In each of these areas, the central BJP leadership has developed excellent teams with very high order skill sets or brought in people like Sunil Kanugulu who ran the excellent DMK campaign in Tamil Nadu.

The strategy did not work effectively in 2015 state elections where BJP was pitted against strong and popular local leaders particularly those who were not from the Congress party. In Bihar, Nitish didnt suffer from any anti-incumbency and in-fact his popularity was higher than Modi (Net Likeability score as per CSDS survey).

In Delhi, there was significant displeasure with then Shiela Dikshit regime. It was a stage set for BJP-style top down campaign approach. However, there was a credible challenger  AAP  which had a local face and ran a directly opposite campaign style  door to door, public participation in selection of candidates, drafting of manifesto among other things. BJPs top down strategy faltered against AAPs bottom up strategy.

Learning from past mistakes, BJP did tweak its strategy in 2016 polls in Assam. It had extremely unpopular Congress regime which was incumbent for 15 years, on the other hand the BJP had done well in 2014 and had a strong CM candidate of its own. So reverting back to a local leadership supported by a centrally driven campaign (middle-up) bore fruits.

The weakness of a centrally driven campaign, specifically for heavily populated States like UP and Bihar is that tiny cultural nuances that are easily understood by locals are sometimes lost by people from outside the State, for example, Modis DNA remark on Nitish and his bid style package announcement for Bihar.

The strategy of centrally driven campaigns is similar in some ways to the strategy of the Congress party where key decisions about a state election are taken by the central leadership. However, unlike the Congress party where the central leadership is usually protected from state losses, the direct running of the campaign exposes the Modi-Shah combine to the vagaries of State election results.

Should they lose, it will be a big setback for PM. The anti-Modi forces in party and NDA will gain strength. RSS may force Modi to consult partners in key decision-making. Advani may get a new lease of life and try to push for Presidency with support of disgruntled NDA partners. However, if the BJP wins UP, the upside benefits are also high. Modi becomes stronger in the party and will be able to create a larger than life image of himself. He will be able to get President of his choice elected. Bihar and Delhi will be forgotten as an aberration.

2017 will not only be a defining moment of Modis tenure but also his campaign style and strategy. It is to be seen whether this strategy would work in Uttar Pradesh and other states this year.

(This article has been co-authored by Amitabh Tiwari and Subhash Chandra. They are independent political consultants, authors of Battle of Bihar and can be reached at @politicalbaaba and @schandra_100.)
Imphal: Home Minister Rajnath Singh will meet Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Wednesday to discuss the protracted economic blockade along the two national highways in the state.

The meeting in New Delhi is being held in the wake of Manipur High Court observation on Monday that efforts to bring essential commodities through the NH 2 and 37 are "not satisfactory".

While a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party on Tuesday told Ibobi to put all his cards on the table.

Besides, a 17-member team of the Joint Forum of Peace formed by 64 civil society organisations, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Home Minister and others to demand lifting of the blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) on 1 November.

Rajnath Singh has expressed surprise that the UNC has not lifted the blockade as some scribes from Manipur met the minister recently.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju recently said the blockade in any form was "totally unacceptable" and "additional central paramilitary forces will be rushed to Manipur to cope with the situation".

Hundreds of loaded trucks and oil tankers bring various items from Assam through NH 37.

However, the NH 2 that snakes through Nagaland is impassable as activists have blocked the highway. Even military convoys are stopped and checked.

The Naga Students' Federation, a Nagaland-based group, had banned all vehicles from Manipur on NH2. The group is reluctant to ply along the highway as it feels there is not enough security cover.

The UNC demands that council President Gaidon Kamei and Publicity Secretary Stephen Lamkang, who are in police custody, be released and talks be held in Senapati district of the state, where its office is located.

However, Ibobi has said: "First, the UNC should lift the blockade and ensure to never repeat it again. Talks can be held either here or Delhi."

"The UNC cannot choose the venue since other clubs and organisations shall emulate it in future and the government will be reduced to a farce."

Meanwhile, over 1,500 loaded trucks and oil tankers wait for security cover at Jiribam, a town in Manipur which is adjacent to Assam.
For a protest, Tamil Nadu could not have asked for a better theatre. Marina Beach, the second longest urban beach in the world was filled with people, protesting for lifting the ban on jallikattu. A little more than one thousand of them spent the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday under the stars, with the sand for a mattress.

By Wednesday afternoon, the number had swollen to about 50,000, with non-conservative estimates pegging the crowd at a lakh. Without a doubt, the turnout at the Marina Beach has been extremely impressive, especially given that there is no political hand behind organising it. It is not the Tasmac liquor seduced crowd, the kind one sees at political rallies. Tamil Nadu police officials admit the turnout is because the youth feel an emotional connect with the jallikattu issue. Many of the cops, especially those with roots outside of Chennai, admit in private that they too identify with the sentiment.

Over the past 48 hours, the jallikattu uprising has brought this part of Chennai, abutting the beach, to a standstill. It is as if Tamil Nadu wants to tell the rest of mainland India that its feelings matter.

How did this sea of people get mobilised? Mainly through social media. A majority of these are college students, making a connect to the argument that Tamil culture is being subjugated by a foreign entity called PETA. Many of them are youth who have migrated to Chennai who yearn for their roots and feel victimised by the Supreme Court and the central government. Even many of those settled in Chennai for long, fear their identity as proud Tamilians is being threatened and feel the need to stand together. Marina is witnessing an outpouring of that anger and anguish.

For those who pitch this as an animal lover vs the rest issue, many of the protesters point out that they are animal lovers too and want jallikattu to be allowed with reasonable and strict rules instead of an outright ban. They point to the need to preserve native breeds of bulls instead of leaving them at the mercy of abattoirs. Almost as coincidence, 60 Jersey bulls from Denmark landed at Chennai airport on Wednesday. The news only angered the crowd more.

But the 'Occupy Marina' drive is not just about jallikattu. The Pongal event is only the manifestation of anger and resentment that has been brewing for some time now. It has become a flashpoint because it is yet another issue on which they feel the political class has failed them. Just a few months back, it was the Cauvery issue where Tamil Nadu buckled in front of an aggressive and hostile upper riparian Karnataka. The severe drought, following the denial of Cauvery water and the worst north-east monsoon in 140 years, has led to over one hundred farmers dying or killing themselves in the last three months. Banners talking of agrarian distress dot the Marina protest site, making a link between the farm crisis and jallikattu.

This apolitical and leaderless agitation displays a contempt for politicians, who they feel have failed them in adequately representing the jallikattu case in court. Which is why this impromptu decision to make Tamil Nadu appeal to New Delhi.

What this mobilisation has done is to give Chennai's civil society a voice, some rational, some discordant. Some youths want the Government of India and the national media to get out of its 'New Delhi is India' mindset. Some shrill voices irresponsibly talk of secession. Many talk of an international conspiracy to harm Tamilians.

But even allowing for some fancy kite-flying theories, what the congregation has done is to remove the assumption that the support for jallikattu is primarily restricted to the Madurai belt of southern Tamil Nadu. The ground zero of jallikattu is witnessing protests as well but making Marina the canvas of protest has captured the nation's imagination.

What has also fueled this protest is the open support extended by Tamil television channels. Pretty much on the lines of how the Kannada news channels during the Cauvery agitation took a shrill pro-Karnataka position, vernacular channels in Tamil Nadu have campaigned aggressively for protecting Tamil culture. Read jallikattu.

While politicians have not been allowed on to the protest site, film stars have been more than welcome. Superstars like Suriya and Vijay and other actors like Vishal and Lawrence have extended support by releasing video messages. Vishal has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pleading for an ordinance on jallikattu.

The protesters want chief minister O Panneerselvam to say he will allow jallikattu, something he is loathe to, given the Supreme Court ban on the bull-taming sport. The angry youth ask when Karnataka assembly can pass a resolution refusing to release water and defying the apex court order on Cauvery, what prevents Tamil Nadu from standing up to the court. They say when cockfights take place despite a ban in Andhra, why can't the Tamil Nadu police look the other way while jallikattu is conducted. The argument is not entirely rooted in logic, but it finds many takers at the Marina.

The jury is out on how long the Marina can be occupied. The social activists associated with the agitation say the youth-driven agitation is a rolling stone which won't stop. But even if it does, the show of strength has managed to send across a message to the judiciary and the governments in Chennai and New Delhi that emotions on the ground need to be understood and respected. But given the Supreme Court's past judgements on jallikattu, it is highly unlikely to sway its verdict which is due any time on jallikattu.
Chungkham Taratombi Devi is an Indian citizen, a Manipuri and a mother. She is just another woman who many would not have known had her son Chungkham Sanjit Meitei not met with a gory death in a fake encounter on 23 July 2009 in the heart of Imphal.

And Sanjit is not the lone Manipuri whose body was fatally riddled by state-owned bullets in questionable circumstances.

For a state that has been battling insurgency for a long time, the 15 years of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh's rule has been the bloodiest in its history so far when it comes to "administrative liquation", a term coined by the Supreme Court.

The "state-sponsored terrorism" became so frequent that an organisation called Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association (EEVFAM) came into being, which along with other bodies filed a case at the apex court seeking justice for the 1,528 victims killed between 1979 and 2012.

According to statistics compiled by Human Rights Alert, which is one of the petitioners in the EEVFAM versus Union of India case, a spike in extrajudicial killings was immediately noticed soon after Ibobi took over as chief minister in 2002.

"It started with 90 killings in 2003 and reached its peak in 2008 with 355 dead in doubtful encounters. The open killing of Sanjit by a Manipur Police commando Thounaojam Herojit Singh upon orders from his senior as confessed by himself is when a huge uproar against this trend started. The case was also filed in the Supreme Court in the same year," said Babloo Loitongbam, director of the Human Rights Alert.

"In Manipur, we have something called Unified Headquarters, that's pretty much in charge of security in the state with the police, paramilitary forces and the Indin Army part of it. Before Ibobi, all other chief ministers resisted such a security structure. But he went ahead with it and these extrajudicial killings just took a quantum leap. Almost 1,200 were killed during Ibobi's three tenures so far," said Loitongbam.

Demand for fresh CBI probe turned down

Sanjit's mother, Devi, wrote a letter to the director, Central Bureau of Investigation on 28 December 2016 with a "request to conduct further investigation on the basis of disclosure made by Shri Thounaojam Herojit Singh".

It's important to remember that the CBI had submitted a charge sheet on 9 September 2010 as well. However, the case took a dramatic turn when Herojit Singh "made an extra-legal confession through print and electronic media stating inter alia that he killed Chungkham Sanjit Meitei on 23 July 2009 as ordered by his superior, Dr Akoijam Jhalajit Singh, the then Additional Superintendent of Police, Imphal West (now holding the post of Superintendent of Police, Imphal East District, Manipur)".

However, the trial court turned down Devi's application for "further investigation" until the investigation agency moves the court itself seeking the same, something that it has not done so far warranting her December 2016 letter to the head of the CBI. It may be mentioned that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Narendra Modi government took office in May 2014, and before that both the centre and the state had a Congress government in power.

"I have been waiting for a positive outcome to my earlier application dated 27 January 2016 to the Superintendent of Police, CBI, Imphal Branch. However, since there is no response, I am constrained to approach your good office to look into the matter afresh and issue necessary directions so that a further investigation into the incident may be ensured," she said in the letter to CBI head.

BJP jumps in: Politics on human rights?

According to a source, who did not want to be named, some leaders from Manipur BJP in view of the polls ahead  Manipur's state Assembly goes on polls on 4 and 8 March 2017  approached the Prime Minister's Office seeking a thorough investigation into the extrajudicial killings during Ibobi's tenure. The letter addressed to the PMO, further wanted that Ibobi, who was also home minister of the state from 2002 to 2012, be sacked from office so that a fair probe can take place. Ibobi will return for a fourth term if elected to power in the upcoming polls.

"The Sanjit case was opened by the accused Herojit himself following his confession. Some of our leaders have 'unofficially' approached the PMO demanding a thorough probe," a senior BJP leader from Manipur told Firstpost on the condition of anonymity.

However, the Congress expressed ignorance about any such move.

"I have no idea. Now the situation is fine," said T Manga Vaiphei, Manipur Congress general secretary and Minister of Public Health Engineering Department, Labour and Employment, in an obvious attempt to steer clear of any controversy ahead of the polls.

This could be largely a political move from the BJP, but the fact is that the blood of many "innocent persons with no criminal record whatsoever" has been spilled on the streets of Manipur. Many of the victims "are later on conveniently labelled as militants", of course, this is not to prove or deny that Sanjit belonged to a banned organisation. But human rights in the state have been the biggest victim, particularly during Ibobi's tenure.

A missing human rights commission

"The situation is so pathetic that the Manipur State Human Rights Commission has hardly any existence. The commission has not been appointed despite a Gauhati High Court order. The Ibobi government has been delaying the process for the last seven years," said Loitongbam.

Even the Supreme Court in its verdict on the EEVFAM petition expressed its displeasure to this end.

"The Manipur State Human Rights Commission is defunct due to the non-appointment of members and non-allocation of resources despite an order of the Manipur Bench of the Gauhati High Court," the apex court said in its judgment.

The role of the Manipur Police in the last 15 years have also become a suspect with the Supreme Court coming down heavily on the force. "As a result of the failure of the Manipur police to register FIR not a single investigation or prosecution has commenced and the cries of anguish of the families of the victims have fallen on deaf ears," the judgment said.

Lamenting at the situation in Manipur, the Supreme Court said, "There is no doubt from the records of the case that Manipur has been and is facing a public order situation equivalent to an internal disturbance. The tragedy is that this situation has continued since 1958 for almost 60 years."

However, the highest court did not agree that a "war-like situation" has been prevailing in the state unlike the contention of both the centre and the state.

"The submission of the learned Attorney General is nothing but a play on words and we reject it and hold that an internal disturbance is not equivalent to or akin to a war-like situation and proceed on the basis that there is no war or war-like situation in Manipur but only an internal disturbance...," it said, making it clear that, "... When the State uses such excessive or retaliatory force leading to death, it is referred to as an extra-judicial killing or an extra-judicial execution...".

Sadly, in this maze of "rightness" or "wrongness" of the killings, apart from the person who got killed many families have got sucked into an unholy trinity of a dark future, insecurity and the travesty of justice.

Young widows of Manipur

For Renu Cakhellamgam, perhaps starting EEVFAM on 11 July 2009, was a moment of hope and despair simultaneously. Her husband Mung Hamzo, who was going through a bad phase due to drug addiction, was shot dead by Manipur Police commandos along with two of his friends hardly half a kilometre from his residence on 6 April 2007. Hamzo was not part of any banned outfit either.

"He was innocent. All I got was Rs 50,000 from a local MLA. The other two families also got Rs 50,000 each. They are done with the judicial inquiry but we are still waiting for a final report. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act also known as AFSPA has become a bane for Manipur. (It's) not only Ibobi. So many extrajudicial killings occurred even before his term. It went up during his tenure," said Cakhellamgam, founder president EEVFAM. A former evangelist who now devotes her entire time to EEVFAM, Cakhellamgam has a son who studies at Class 6.

Once known for the beautiful Loktak lake and the famous Sangai deer, has this blood-soaked history robbed Manipur off its charm?

"Manipur is a terrible place. Since the last decade, Manipur has been facing so many problems. Not only the army, the paramilitary forces and the state police are also involved in these extrajudicial killings. In most cases, the army is the mastermind although the trigger is being pulled by the Manipur Police commandos. The forces are getting massive power because of the AFSPA. We can't say we got justice till now," says Neena Ningombam, who lost her husband Nongmaithem Michael in a fake encounter on 4 November 2008 in Imphal.

A mother of two school-going sons, Ningombam now works for EEVFAM full time on an honorary basis while doing other things on the sidelines for her livelihood. She holds a grudge against Ibobi but more so on the women MLAs of Manipur.

"Ibobi's wife (L Landhoni Devi) is also an MLA. But no women MLA ever helped us. Being women they should know our condition better. However, they are too busy maintaining their coterie. The state police never punished the guilty," she said.

Ningombam's husband was a small-time businessman with no connection to any outlawed outfits. Although her husband had called her around 3.30 pm on the fateful day asking her to get in touch with the local superintendent of police for his release, she could never contact him later.

"The officer who apprehended my husband gave me the location where he was kept which was hardly a kilometre away from my home. But when I wanted to speak to my husband later, the phone was never given to him and was later switched off. Even the SP's wife whom we also approached failed to get any information. Later in the evening on the 9 pm news, I saw my husband's dead body claimed to be killed in an encounter 15 km away from my place," Neena said.

She, however, received a compensation of Rs 5 lakh from the state government, an admission that the killing was, in fact, a murder by the state. But that does not give her solace.

"What happened to the affected families? The state and the centre never cared. The culprits are mostly rewarded with promotions. Only a few got suspended briefly. There are so many young widows in Manipur. We are trying to save a generation from getting killed, from becoming widows," Neena said.
New Delhi: Even as tribal bodies in Nagaland boycott upcoming civic polls opposing the constitutional provision of 33 percent reservation of seats in civic polls, 140 intending candidates have withdrawn their nomination in the last one week.

The Eastern Mirror Nagaland on Wednesday reported that 72 intending candidates rolled back their decision to contest in the civic polls on 17 January, the last date to withdraw nomination. Earlier 68 candidates had withdrawn nomination taking the tally up to 140.

The newspaper also reported that four town councils namely Pfutsero, Chumukdema, Chozuba and Mangplemba saw withdrawal of all the candidates.

The report also stated that after the withdrawals, 349 nominations stood unwithdrawn.

The withdrawals came on the face of diktat issued by the tribal bodies on the intending candidates to refrain from the election. Many of the tribal bodies also mentioned in the diktat that candidates failing to withdraw may face social exclusion, non-cooperation, social exclusion, barring from leadership, responsibility for any eventuality relating to urban local body (ULB) elections 2017.

Naga tribal bodies have also ex-communicated a number of candidates who failed to withdraw their nominations.

Lotha Ho Ho, a tribal apex body ex-communicated a candidate named Viketu Nienu in Phek district.

A copy of the ex-communication order accessed by Firstpost reads that, "He is banished from Chakhesang region in Phek district with effect from 17/01/2017, for a period of 7(seven) years as per our customary laws."

The district administration of Phek district imposed a prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC in Phek town, following incidents of violence by mobs on the streets and the residences of the candidates refusing to withdraw.

A Nagaland Post report said that incidents of violence took place in the district on Tuesday, where residence of three candidates were vandalised and vehicles were damaged.

The report stated that one policeman was also injured while attempting to control the mob. Police used tear gas, baton-charged protesters and blank fired to disperse the mob.

Many of the intending candidates who did not withdraw their nomination fled to save themselves from such attacks.

Reportedly some of the candidates who took shelter in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland faced similar threats there too.

Angami Youth Organisation, another Naga group issued a press release which stated, It has come to the notice of the Angami Youth Organisation that some intending candidate to the ULB who have been ex-communicated by their community have relocated themselves to angami areas in Dimapur and Kohima. AYO will not allow such negative characters who have refused to listen to the voice of their community and the Nagas in general to come and pollute our land, our community and the people residing in our land. Therefore AYO directs these individuals to immediately relocate themselves elsewhere, if not, AYO will take own course of action to any extremity."

The present crisis in Nagaland, on account of the governments decision to reserve 33 percent seats for women in the civic polls slated on 1st of February has aroused the debate of applicability of the 74th amendment of the Indian Constitution in Nagaland, a state that is provided with constitutional protection under its Article 371(A).

TR Zeliang, Chief Minister of Nagaland said addressing the candidates in the election, "Article 371 A clearly says that notwithstanding anything in the Constitution, no Act of the Parliament in respect of four points shall apply to the State of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides", reported a press release issued by the Chief Ministers Media Cell.

We must differentiate here what are Acts of Parliament and what are Constitutional provisions. Article 243 T which gives reservation for women in ULBs is not an Act of the Parliament which Nagaland Legislative Assembly can decide whether to adopt or not  it is an Article of the Constitution of India which we cannot decide whether it should be applied to Nagaland or not," he said.

Stating that debating over an Article of the Constitution of India whether should be applied or not as a futile exercise, he said, "As long as we are part of the Union of India, the Constitution of India will be binding on us and we cannot deny this fact."

Naga Ho Ho, an apex body of the Nagas earlier stated that the committee to scrutinise Parliamentary Laws for Application to Nagaland constituted by the Nagaland Assembly is of the consensus view that the 33 percent reservation of seats for women infringes on the social and customary practices of the Nagas, the safeguards of which is enshrined in Article 371A of the Constitution of India.

The Naga body said that, the sections of the Municipal Act of Nagaland related to the building and property tax of are also detrimental to the "Naga society so as to protect the rights and aspiration of the Naga people."
Munger (Bihar): Intensifying the campaign for complete ban on alcohol in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday that no license would be provided to any liquor manufacturing unit from the next financial year.

"License of existing units would not be renewed in the financial year 2017-18 and no new license will be provided to any liquor manufacturing unit in the state from April 1 this year," he said addressing 'Chetna Sabha' marking the eighth leg of 'Nishchay Yatra'.

The decision, he said, was taken as per provisions of the Excise Act, 2016.

Kumar said the state cabinet at its meeting at Rajgir on Tuesday decided not to renew the licence of beer manufacturing units and its bottling plants and ENA (Extra Neutral Alcohol) manufacturing units in the next financial year.

It was also decided not to renew license of three beer manufacturing units, 12 bottling plants and six ENA making establishments in the 2017-18 fiscal.

Distilleries facing closure includes some big names like United Spirits Limited at Hathidah in Patna district, United Breweries Limited, Carlsberg India Limited and Molson Coors Cobra India Ltd located at other places in the state.

Six units manufacturing ethanol would continue to function as the substance is used for mixing with petrol and is environment friendly, he said.

Principal secretary to cabinet coordination department Brajesh Mehrotra said if the units whose license would not be renewed in the next fiscal wish to manufacture non-alcoholic products in their existing establishments, they would be permitted.

The 'Nishchay Yatra' began in December last year and is aimed at taking feedback from people on prohibition as well implementation of government's 'seven resolves' of development.

The chief minister, who was to fly directly to Munger from Jamui, made an unscheduled stop near Bhimbandh in the jungles where he took a bath in a hot spring and announced the place would be developed as a tourist spot.

Bhimbandh is a Maoist-affected area and several incidents related to LWE had taken place there in the past.
The announcement of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) into the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election is likely to play a crucial role with the Assauddin Owaisi-led party likely to attract minority votes that would have otherwise gone to the Indian National Congress or the Samajwadi Party.

Though the sole dark horse in the municipal election, the AIMIM's entry has added a new dimension in the election which has already seen breakage of alliance between the Indian National Congress and Nationlist Congress Party, and ruling alliance partners Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quarrelling with each other. Then there's the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS) whose railway engine is not on track.

So, how will the AIMIM's presence change the poll equation in the financial capital of the country?

Of the total 227 wards in BMC, there are 77 wards which represent the minority population. Earlier, these voters were either with the Samajwadi Party or the Congress. But these wards have been seeing a change in voting since 2014 after AIMIM started increasing its presence in the state and began focusing on the minority and Dalit pockets closely. In fact, the AIMIM opened its account in the last state Assembly election with Waris Pathan winning from the Byculla constituency and former media person Sayed Imtiyaz Jaleel winning from the Aurangabad constituency. Not only that, in the recent civic poll in Aurangabad, AIMIM won 26 seats. It also opened account in Kalyan-Dombiwali Municipal Corporation with four corporator seats. Now with AIMIM turning its focus on the BMC and Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) election, its presence is likely to affect the poll results.

Sources confirmed with Firstpost that AIMIM will be contesting on 77 seats with considerable minorities and dalit population. Both Owaisi brothers  Asaduddin Owaisi, MP and president of AIMIM and his younger brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, MLA in Telangana assembly  are conducting minimum a 30 public meetings for the BMC election. The strong pockets for AIMIM is Kurla, Byculla, Masjid Bunder, Sandhurst Road, Malwani, Bandra, Bhendi Bazar, Nagpada, Jogeshwari, Behrampada, Malad, Oshiwara, Golibaar and Bharat Nagar. In the 2012 BMC body, Congress had 52 corporators whereas Samajwadi Party had 9 Corporators. AIMIM's focus on 60 plus wards and their MLA constituencys might just be the winning formula.

Though the party is yet to take a final call on the number of seats it will contest in the upcoming municipal election, the party's Mumbai head, Waris Pathan said that a final decision is likely to be taken in the public meetings with the Owisi brothers.

"We are preparing a detailed schedule for the Owaisi brothers meetings, which will start in February. We are focusing on minority and Dalit population wards. We have not yet decided the actual wards in the BMC election, but the party will not let down minorities, the Dalit and the poor people of Mumbai," he said, adding that the Owaisi brothers are the star campaigners for AIMIM.

Patahn alleged that while Congress and the Samajwadi party used these communities, the ruling party Shiv Sena and the BJP were corrupt."In the last 20 years they jointly ran the BMC. Now, see the condition of the roads. There's water issue and sanitation problem everywhere," he said.

Pathan also pointed out AIMIM's focus Will be to start canvassing in the Muslim and Dalit dominated areas. "People of Mumbai have lost faith in Sena, BJP, Congress and SP. They did nothing in minority schools. Marathi schools are closing every day. Then there's a shortage of medicines in hospitals and poor civic amenities. Our focus is Dalit, poor and minority population," said Pathan.

However, according to AIMIM leaders, the party could bag seats in areas like Golibar, Byculla, Bharat Nagar, Jogeshwari, Juhu Galli Andheri, Malad, Behrampada among others.

Based out of Hyderabad, AIMIM contested in Maharashtra civic elections for the first time by participating in the civic polls in Nanded two years ago. The party later also contested the Aurangabad civic polls and the state assembly election in which its MLAs won the Byculla and Aurangabad seats. The party also won more than 50 seats in recently concluded civic polls across Maharashtra.

In his first public meeting in Nagpada on 1 January, Assauddin Owaisi has said, "Elect at least 25 members of AIMIM in the BMC and we will get the fair share for Muslim wards." The focus of the party has not changed. Speaking with Firstpost from Uttar Pradesh, Assauddin Owaisi said that as per internal reports by AIMIM, the party will definitely win more than 25 seats in the BMC election.

"My brother is going to be the star campaigner in the municipal elections. I will also participate in the BMC campaign but Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election is going to be my main responsibility. But this time we change all equations in the BMC," he said.

"Like the state Assembly election, people in Mumbai will definately support us and our symbol kite. Every one will see it in Mumbai and the BMC headquarter too," he added.
Had he been alive, 28-year-old Rohith Chakravarti Vemula, son of a Mala (SC) mother and a Vaddera (OBC) father, would have passed out as a PhD degree holder in Social Sciences with distinction in October 2016.

Many of his fellow scholars and his professors say that Rohiths thesis in Social Sciences would have set a new milestone. He had almost finished research, only drafting was left, said one of his mentors Professor K Lakshminarayana.

Rohith Vemula's tragic suicide on 17 January, 2016 sparked off a movement that made him a symbol of protests against caste oppression. Since his death, his face and name have become familiar at national protests from JNU in Delhi to Una in Gujarat and the University of Hyderabad.

In November 2015, the University of Hyderabads Executive Council had expelled five students including Rohith Vemula, all Dalits, from the hostel and barred their access to public places on campus. The action came in the wake of their alleged support of a documentary screening of Yakub Memon on campus and allegedly assaulting an ABVP student leader.

They were only allowed to attend lectures and pursue their research but denied access to the library, hostels, canteens and also university hospital. The issue snowballed into a political storm after Vemula committed suicide in a hostel room on 17 January last year.

Vemula had been on the wrong side of the Human Resources Department and his scholarship money of Rs 25,000 per month (a CSIR-Junior Research Fellowship) was scrapped in July 2015. He was declared a non-Dalit after he became a champion of Dalit causes and emerged as a leader of the Ambedkar Students Association (ASA). His strong links with the ASA and his hard-hitting writing, his skills as an orator, earned him more enemies in the college and the ABVP camp but carved him a niche in the Dalit movement of the country.

A question of caste

My sons skills as an orator and his intellect turned out to be his bane, rues his mother Radhika Vemula, speaking with Firstpost before she was detained by the Hyderabad police on the night of 17 January. She asserts that her son had never liked to claim his caste and that it was his talent and hard work that put him on the path of glory and envy of his detractors in the upper castes.

Rohith is also on record stating that he had not got his seat in UoH on the basis of his caste. His friends and family say that he never liked to be referred to as Dalit and got admission for Masters and PhD in Life Science from HCU in the Open Category. I have not shared my family background with anyone, he wrote in one of his Facebook entries. He changed from Life Sciences to Social Sciences following his entry into Dalit activism.

The controversial birth certificate

The status of Rohiths suicide case now is centred on the certificate of his caste by the revenue authorities of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, where he hails from. The Cyberabad police who booked a case against University authorities under the Prevention of Atrocities towards SCs and STs Act say that they are still awaiting an official communication from Guntur revenue officials on whether Vemula belonged to the Vaddera Other Backward Classes (OBC) caste of his father or to the Mala Scheduled Caste (SC) as claimed by his mother. Gunturs District Collector Kantilal Dande has already submitted a report to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes that Vemula was a Dalit. All records and investigations proved he was a Dalit.

However, the District Collectors version goes contrary to that of the findings of the one-man judicial committee led by former Allahabad High Court Justice AK Roopanwal set up by the Union Ministry of HRD. The Committee says that Rohith Vemula was not a Dalit but a Vaddera (OBC). The Committee has even blamed mother Radhika and her social condition  poverty and the issue of being estranged from her husband, stating that it drove her to seek the SC caste certificate in order to claim the benefits for her children.

Dalit movement in Andhra and Telangana

As unbridled casteism surrounded the Telugu states in pre-independent India, the forward communities  Reddys, Brahmins and Kammas  dominated in Andhra and Velamas and Reddys dominated in the Telangana region. Dalits, tribals and BCs had survived through centuries in the Telugu lands dominated by these landlords.

Since 1995, the Dalit movement in the state has been caught up in the web of reservations-oriented activism. Dalit castes, such as Mala and Adi-Andhra, became socially and politically conscious and gained employment and education opportunities, using the benefits of welfare and reservations for Scheduled Castes.

On the other hand, Dalit sub-castes like the Madiga and Relli which lacked education had failed to grab advantages of the government welfare programs and reservation. It is due to this reason that the benefits of SCs were taken largely by Malas and Madigas are nowhere in government jobs, higher studies and still remain as cobblers, explains Manda Krishna Madiga, leader of the MRPS (Madiga Reservation Protection Samiti).

The MRPS wanted government to set up a committee to categorise SCs as per their social and economic backwardness and re-allocate the quota among all. We want the SC quota to be categorised as ABCD so that the least developed castes could get better reservation and representation, Dalit advocate, the late Bojja Tarakam, had said.

But the Malas opposed any reworking of the Dalit quota, contending that it broke the unity of Dalits and also that Madigas could complete and get education to get their share of quota instead. They also formed Mala Mahanadu, a frontal organisation for Malas. Formation of Mala Mahanadu had exposed the Mala domination and also strengthened the Madiga charge, said K Balagopal, who during his stint in APCLC (Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee) campaigned intensively for Madiga promotion in rural Telangana.

Left out by the Left

In pre-independent India, Left parties and the MarxistLeninist (ML) sections supported the Dalit movements as part of their battle against the landed gentry. But over the years, Dalits were disillusioned with the Left parties led by prominent upper caste leaders. How can we expect justice from upper caste leaders like Sudhakar Reddy (CPI) and P Madhu (CPM)? asked Dr Siddoji, a Dalit teacher in Hyderabad.

After the Telugu Desam Party arrived on the political scene in the 1980s, the CPI and CPM became permanent allies of the regional party and their political agenda was just a photocopy of the larger party. These parties took advantages of the ruling party  MP seats in Rajya Sabha, land for party offices and other such perks, and did not differ with the ruling party on all issues of suppression of Maoists and quelling of rural upsurge. The ultras also gave up Dalit patronisation after the latter walked into the trap of quota, sub-plans and SC/ST welfare programs created by ruling parties.

The Dalit movement continued as a front for students and aggrieved farmers but never threatened the upper castes. Caught in the vortex of quota raj, sub-plans and representations in Cabinet and Assembly, the Dalit campaign remained on paper and surfaced only during atrocities on Dalits, said C Arjun Rao, a senior Dalit bureaucrat, who was denied the elevation due to him as Chief Secretary. Caught in these vicious circles, Dalit groups have all along been taken for a ride by their leadership. Social dignity continues to be a dream for them. If a bright Dalit topped the merit lists, he is still tagged as a bright Dalit student and not a bright student, laments Velupula Sunkanna, who in October 2016, refused to accept his doctorate from the hands of the controversial UoH Vice Chancellor Appa Rao Podile.

On his part, Podile has been reiterating that he was not anti-Dalit and that he was also not a pro-BJP guy as he has been frequently accused. I am unnecessarily caught in student politics, as during my earlier stints in the university, I earned the grudge of students, he says.
A day after the Election Commission allotted the cycle symbol to the Akhilesh Yadav faction and established him as the party president, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav accepted the EC verdict in a public declaration. He also gave a list of around 38 candidates to Akhilesh, reported The Times of India. After months of intra-party fight, Mulayam's acceptance of son's ascendance was perceived as some sort of an olive branch.

Hindustan Times reported Mulayam's list included brother Shivpal Singh Yadavs son, Aditya, and ministers like Narad Rai and OP Singh. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister had earlier said that he would take Mulayam, describing the ties with his father and the SP founder as "unbreakable". "I will take Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) along...my relation with him is unbreakable," he said.

"I was confident that I will get cycle. Little time is left. It's a big responsibility and I will take everyone with us," he said.

"Over 90 percent candidates in both the lists are common. We will finalise the list of candidates soon," Akhilesh told reporters after his meeting his father, Mulayam.

Party sources said the list would be prepared keeping in mind the possible alliance with Congress as nomination for first phase has already started.

Dealing a severe blow to Mulayam, the Election Commission gave the 'cycle' symbol to the faction headed by Akhilesh, recognising it as Samajwadi Party, thereby giving a major boost to the chief minister ahead of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

On Tuesday, Akhilesh confirmed that that there will be an alliance between Samajwadi Party and the Congress for the UP Assembly election. A deal is likely with the Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) as well. Reports also suggest that Akhilesh had tried convincing his father to agree to an alliance with Congress, claiming that the deal could get them 300 out of the 403 seats in UP.

On the other hand, Sheila Dikshit has withdrawn as Congress' chief ministerial candidate, saying she would support the candidature of Akhilesh.

Hectic efforts are underway to hammer out such an alliance, with Congress being offered 90 to 100 seats by the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, which is also trying to rope in Ajit Singh's RLD as a junior partner.

Congress General Secretary in-charge of UP Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ramgopal Yadav from SP were said to be resolving some disputes over certain seats.

Uttar Pradesh has 403 Assembly constituencies where Akhilesh's party would be contesting the majority of seats and was likely to have RLD as a junior partner in western UP, which was once a stronghold of Ajit Singh. Leaders from the three parties insist that the main task

in UP is to stop the Narendra Modi-led BJP from coming to power.

In the 2015 Assembly elections in Bihar, Congress had joined hands with JD(U) and RJD to form a grand alliance, which caused a major upset for BJP-led NDA which had won 31 of the 40 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Bihar.

With inputs from PTI
Meet the latest recruit to the BJP's cause in Uttarakhand, the man rumoured to be a Brahmin heart-throb and the X-factor in the forthcoming polls.

Those who understand the nuances and cadences of Hindi would agree if there is one politician who is a perfect fit for the proverb langot ka dheela hona, it is the man who could have once been the prime minister of India.

In 1991, when the Congress was looking for a leader after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, it was widely believed that the crown would be passed on to Narayan Dutt Tiwari, the rumoured heartthrob of Brahmins of north India.

Unfortunately for Tiwari  and perhaps fortunately for India  Tiwari lost the 1991 Lok Sabha elections by a narrow margin, thus getting booted out of the race by PV Narasimha Rao.

Not many would remember Tiwari for his near-miss then. But, images of the octogenarian Tiwari supine in the Governor House of Andhra Pradesh with three women allegedly testing the knots of his loin cloth are still ripe in everybody's memory.

After the CD came out and became a blockbuster on the social network, Tiwari resigned, citing ill health. (Yes, the grainy visuals gave enough evidence that not everything was right about the governor). But, that was just the beginning of Tiwari's juicy story.

For the next few years, he remained embroiled in a paternity case, refusing to own up a young man who called Tiwari his father. The drama dragged on for several years, with salacious and comic details, till the world realised that Tiwariji had finally been blessed with a son at the ripe age of 90. Intermittently, he would be spotted pulling cheeks of a young woman or getting a sudden rush of blood that would make him break the dance floor, kick his walking stick.

For several reasons, Tiwari was a subject of wink-wink-nudge-nudge jokes in the Congress. Juicy narratives of his fixation with a particular female name (no hints there) were the staple of chai pe charcha within the party.

It was rumoured that Tiwari would suddenly disappear, leading to panic among his colleagues and the bureaucracy. To track him down, anxious followers would then call up several name with one thing in common -- a particular name. And after days of calling, Tiwari would either be discovered in Jaipur or some faraway corner of Uttar Pradesh, dealing with his obsession, his idee fixe.

This man with a life so colorful that it would make Princess Di look dull in comparison now joins the BJP, ostensibly to influence the Brahmin voters, at the behest of Amit Shah, in Uttarakhand.

Now, before you laugh at the comic circus that is unfolding, spare a thought for the Brahmins of Uttarakhand. They must have done something really interesting to deserve a nonagenarian politician who was hounded out of office because of an alleged sex scandal as their poster boy. Perhaps somebody should light up a candle at Kedarnath for the well-being of Uttarakhand Brahmins.

Tiwari, like an ambitious politician and a doting father of a son he discovered at 90, is, of course, justified in his new venture. He is doing his best to making up for his absence from son's life for decades, not giving him the love, care and attention the boy deserved.

Just a few days ago, he had written to Mulayam Singh Yadav advising cease-fire in the battle with Akhilesh and hand over the reins of the party to the son. The missive, apart from an attempt at brokering peace, also had a small request: Ticket for his son latest son. Obviously, Akhilesh and Mulayam had enough of the father-son bond and ignored Tiwari's request, making the Brahmin leader knock on Shah's door.

But, it is impossible to be amazed by the BJP's antics in Uttarakhand. If it is indeed eyeing Tiwari as one of the stars, the vote-magnet for Brahmins, the BJP must be really desperate, willing to do anything for votes.

Already, the joke about the BJP in Uttarakhand is that it is living up the Shakespearean adage of the name being nothing: What you call the BJP may be Congress in a saffron outfit. The levity has been inspired by the BJP's decision to give tickets to Congress turncoats  including former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna who had attempted an Arunachal Pradesh in the state but was outfoxed by Harish Rawat  at the cost of BJP leaders. The first list of candidates has at least 15 imports from the Congress, a number that has left many party veterans fuming.

Perhaps having Tiwari as a prominent face of the party would help the BJP recover lost ground. Tiwari has always believed that he is immensely popular among women. Having him around is, for the BJP, perhaps half the battle won.
Strasbourg: An affable and and canny Italian politician, Antonio Tajani on Tuesday snagged the European Parliament's top job in a comeback of sorts for his mentor Silvio Berlusconi.

Silver-haired, sharp-suited and with a fondness for luxury watches, the 63-year-old pro-European conservative is well connected after a long spell in EU politics.

A good communicator in several foreign languages  he speaks French, English and Spanish  he "speaks a lot but never says anything," one parliamentary source joked.

Formerly a journalist with Italy's Rai television and Il Giornale newspaper, Tajani is a founding member of Berlusconi's Forza Italia.

He has long spread the former Italian premier's influence in the centre-right European People's Party, the biggest bloc in the European Union's only elected body.

Tajani strictly follows Berlusconi's dress code and style: dark suit, discreet tie, firm handshake and fresh breath.

His election is a setback for Manfred Weber, the head of the EPP group. "Tajani was not his candidate. He is too controversial because of his links with industry, too branded by Berlusconi," an aide to Weber told AFP.

Weber's favourite was former French minister Alain Lamassoure but the EPP voted by secret ballot and the Frenchman was swept aside amid the distrust of German lawmakers, the aide said.

"Antonio Tajani won because he was always loyal and because each elected member knew him personally," German member of the European Parliament Andreas Schwab told AFP.

He knows everyone

Tajani's greatest strength is he knows just about everyone not only in the 751-seat parliament, where he has been since 1994, but also in the European Commission, the executive of the 28-nation EU.

He served as EU transport commissioner in 2008-10 and then as industry commissioner in 2010-14.

"He has done favours for an enormous number of people and many elected members owe him," an EPP official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

When he was a member of the EU executive, Tajani boasted he was Spain's second commissioner because the socialist Joaquin Almunia  then in the Jose Manuel Barroso team - was a strong opponent of Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, a conservative.

"He has really no enemies. Tajani is an affable networker," another official said.

However, he recently ran into heavy flak over his handling of the Volkswagen "Dieselgate" pollution cheating scandal.

Meanwhile EU parliamentarians have remarked on the irony of a Berlusconi disciple replacing Germany's Martin Schulz, whose political career was effectively launched by a clash with the former Italian premier.

Berlusconi once compared Schulz to a Nazi concentration camp "kapo" after the German had alluded to tycoon-turned-politician Berlusconi's business affairs. Schulz then won praise for his dignified response.

Tajani will however seek to differentiate himself from his predecessor, who made the job of European Parliament head far more powerful and prominent that it had ever been.

"We don't need a powerful president of the European parliament. We need a strong European Parliament," Tajani said.

"I am a consensus man. I want to be president of all the members of parliament."
By Kate Kelland

| DAVOS, Switzerland,

DAVOS, Switzerland, A global coalition of governments, health specialists and philanthropists will launch a new plan on Thursday to "outsmart" future disease epidemics with a fund to prepare and create new vaccines.Stung by the devastation of West Africa's 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, which killed more than 11,300 people before an effective vaccine was developed, the coalition is aiming to ensure such deadly outbreaks can't happen again.John-Arne Rottingen, interim chief executive officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), said it is designed as "a global insurance policy against epidemic and pandemic threats".CEPI's founders used the World Economic Forum in Davos to announce its launch, with initial funding of $460 million from the governments of Germany, Japan and Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust global health charity.Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation and a leading global health philanthropist, said recent major viral disease epidemics - Ebola and Zika - showed how the world "is tragically unprepared to detect local outbreaks and respond quickly enough to prevent them from becoming global pandemics".

"Without investments in research and development, we will remain unequipped when we face the next threat," he said. "The ability to rapidly develop and deliver vaccines when new unknown diseases emerge offers our best hope to outpace outbreaks, save lives and avert disastrous economic consequences."The initial commitments mean CEPI has raised nearly half the $1 billion it needs for its first five years. It is now calling for proposals from researchers and companies who want to work on developing shots against its first target diseases - the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Lassa and Nipah viruses.Rottingen said all these have shown the capacity to spread across borders and become fast-growing outbreaks causing death and illness. CEPI aims to drastically shorten the time it takes to make vaccines to protect against these and other viruses, which can emerge suddenly as global public health threats.

Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, told Reuters CEPI aims to develop two vaccine candidates against each disease before any epidemic, so they are ready for rapid deployment in field trials if and when an outbreak starts.He noted that with Ebola, despite huge international efforts to work faster, a vaccine was developed and validated as 100 percent protective only in the final months of the West Africa epidemic, after thousands had been infected and killed in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

"This partnership is trying to make sure the horror of Ebola is not forgotten," he said. "There are moments in time that have to be seized." CEPI is also backed by major pharmaceutical companies, the World Health Organization and the international health charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).Joanne Liu, head of MSF, welcomed the launch of CEPI but said price, safety and speed were crucial. "For new vaccines to be game changers, they must be developed and tested before outbreaks hit and made accessible and affordable for all communities in times of health crisis," she said. (Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Isabel Coles

| BARTELLA, Iraq

BARTELLA, Iraq Elite Iraqi forces have ousted Islamic State insurgents from all districts of eastern Mosul they were tasked with recapturing, their commanding officer said on Wednesday, bringing almost all of the city's eastern half back under government control.Lieutenant-General Talib Shaghati said the Counter Terrorism Services (CTS), who have spearheaded the three-month-old offensive against Islamic State (IS) in the northern Iraqi city, had taken the eastern bank of the Tigris river.Regular army troops were still fighting the ultra-hardline militants in northeast Mosul, however, according to a military statement. A few parts of the bank further north had yet to be fully taken."Today we celebrate ... the liberation of the eastern bank in Mosul," Shaghati told reporters in the nearby town of Bartella.He said that recapturing Mosul's western half, which the jihadists still fully control, would be an easier task. Officers have previously said that the more densely populated west bank of the Tigris could pose additional military challenges.Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said victory was near.

"The promise of final liberation and total victory in Mosul has come close to being realised," he said in a statement."Work is under way now to liberate what remains of the forests and palaces (along the eastern bank) and few areas" where IS was still holed up.Bridges across the Tigris, which bisects Mosul from north to south, have been hit by U.S.-led warplanes to prevent IS reinforcements joining the fighting in eastern neighbourhoods, and more recently by the militants trying to block a future westward advance by the military.If the U.S.-backed campaign is successful it would probably spell the end of the Iraqi side of the jihadist group's self-styled caliphate, which also extends well into neighbouring Syria, that it declared during a lightning offensive in 2014.

The Iraqi army, special forces and elite police units have operated in tandem to capture different areas of eastern Mosul. The army is mostly deployed in the north, the CTS in the east, and the federal police in the south.Army units advanced into the northeastern neighbourhoods of Qadiya 2 and al-Arabi, the military statement said.Abadi said late on Tuesday that IS had been severely weakened in the Mosul campaign, and that the military had begun "moving" against it in western Mosul, without elaborating.

Residents reached by phone said air strikes against Islamic State deep inside western Mosul had increased in recent days.More than a dozen missile strikes in the Yarmouk district targeted weapons depots and workshops the militants used to make explosives, and also destroyed two car bombs stored there, according to one resident.Some raids had killed or wounded civilians, including in the Mosul al-Jadida neighbourhood and an industrial zone, residents said.Reuters could not independently verify the witness accounts. (Reporting by Isabel Coles in Bartella, John Davison and Saif Hameed in Baghdad; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
One was speaking in New Delhi and the other in the Swiss Alps, but two voices in two corners of the world struck a similar note on Tuesday, both suggesting that the burden of free-market capitalism is now Asia's to bear, as the West battles a rising tide of anti-globalisation populism.

There are hurdles, of course; India and China will have to come to terms with the trajectory of each other's ambitions. It won't be an easy marriage, if at all. But judging from what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while inaugurating the Raisina Dialogue, just a few hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping's hour-long address at Davos, it won't be a stretch to conclude that both Asian leaders eye the vacant spot of global economic leadership.

Xi's speech was more direct. Though China would like the world to believe that its 6.7 percent (estimated) GDP growth is driven mostly by domestic consumption, truth is its economy is far more dependent on free trade than Beijing is ready to admit.

There remain concerns, however. The International Monetary Fund told Reuters about "ongoing risks to the Chinese economy, including its high reliance on government spending, record lending by State banks, and an overheating property market". As the world's top exporter, Beijing will be hit the hardest if countries hide behind trade barriers and if globalisation is seen as the root cause of all evil.

While the shadow of a credit bubble looms large over its economy, China, driven by a low-wage, enormous workforce, has become the global factory for low-cost products which it badly needs to market. It must have noted Donald Trump's protectionist rhetoric with horror.

In his first media interaction since becoming the president-elect, Trump declared, "I will be the greatest job producer that God has ever created."

He moved swiftly to back up the claim. He warned German auto giant BMW to get ready for a 35 percent tax if it plans to import units from Mexico into the US. He slammed Ford and Fiat and asked US auto behemoth General Motors to fall in line, wasting no time in claiming credit when GM announced plans of investing $1 billion in its American factories to "create or retain 2,000 new manufacturing jobs".

Trump has not made any attempts to sugarcoat his disapproval of China either. During his election campaign, the tycoon-turned-politician vowed to impose a 45 percent tariff on Chinese goods to "correct the trade imbalance", which according to 2015 figures, stands at a massive $367 billion. He has also charged Beijing with undervaluing the Yuan by about 15 to 45 percent to gain an export advantage, and has accused it of putting millions of Americans out of work.

In this backdrop, Xi Jinping positioning himself as a globalisation crusader has perhaps more to do with dire necessity than idealism. Nevertheless, his words portend the drawing of a new global order, one where Asia will carry the torch for a multi-polar world.

As Xi issued a passionate defence of free trade because "no one will emerge as a winner in a trade war" and warned that protectionism is akin to "locking oneself in a dark room" which cuts out both "light and air along with wind and rain", the elite crowd of bankers, CEOs and politicians nodded in agreement.

"There is a vacuum in global leadership. Xi sees it and he seizes it. If the US does take a more mercantilist route, overall the Asians and Europeans will have to combine to preserve global free trade," Wall Street Journal quoted Carl Bildt, the former prime minister of Sweden, who was present among the audience.

Back in New Delhi, Narendra Modi was making a similar point while cautioning against stiff barriers on movement of trade and people. Speaking at the second edition of Raisina Dialogue, a seminar on geopolitics organised jointly by Observer Research Foundation and the External Affairs Ministry, Modi warned that barriers will increase and not decrease income inequality. It is no less ironic that both Modi and Xi delivered their speeches on a day when British Prime Minister Theresa May advocated a "clean Brexit".

Modi highlighted the fallacy of the new millennium where technology has brought countries and people closer, but yet there is a rising sentiment against trade and migration. "Physical borders may be less relevant in this age of bits and bytes. But, walls within nations, a sentiment against trade and migration, and rising parochial and protectionist attitudes across the globe are also a stark statistic. The result: Globalisation gains are at risk and economic gains are no longer easy to come by," he said.

The result of this dangerous tilt towards exclusion is greater "instability, violence, conflict, extremism, exclusion and transnational threats continue to proliferate in dangerous directions", he added.

The Prime Minister's harshest words were reserved for Pakistan, but the ones obliquely referred to China are more interesting. Acknowledging the fact that India must cope with the scope and extent of China's rise, Modi stressed that both nations must highlight areas of convergence while working simultaneously on areas of divergence for a better working relationship.

"It is not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences. For peace and progress in the region, both countries need to show sensitivity and respect for each other's core concerns and interests," he said, the words carefully weighed not to bruise China's fragile sensitivity while red-flagging India's concerns over its revisionist attitude.

China may be ahead in the race for global economic leadership, but India enjoys greater trust. Within this framework lies huge opportunity for both nations.
Maidguri: Nigeria's air force killed at least 52 people and injured 120 in an air strike on a refugee camp in the country's northeast on Tuesday, a spokesman from NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said after the military earlier disclosed the strike was meant to target Boko Haram militants. MSF said the strike occurred in Rann in Borno state, the epicentre of the jihadist group's seven-year-long bid to create an Islamic caliphate.

Nigerian General Lucky Irabor, a regional military commander, located the incident at Kala Balge, a district that includes Rann. Irabor told journalists an unknown number of civilians had been killed, adding that humanitarian workers from MSF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were among the injured. "At least 52 people were killed and 120 wounded," said Tim Shenk, a spokesman for the MSF medical charity. "The organization's medical and surgical teams in the region are preparing to treat evacuated patients," he added. An ICRC spokeswoman said six Nigeria Red Cross members were killed and 13 wounded.

The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) said the deaths "underline the importance of protecting civilians in complex humanitarian emergencies." The Boko Haram insurgency has killed more than 15,000 people since 2010 and forced some two million to flee their homes, many of whom have moved to camps for internally displaced people.

"The president pledges federal help for the state government in attending to this regrettable operational mistake," said Femi Adesina, a spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari, in an e-mailed statement. The air strike came amid an offensive against Boko Haram by Nigeria's military over the last few weeks. Buhari said last month a key camp in the jihadist group's Sambisa forest base in Borno state had fallen. The president also said the air strike occurred during the "final phase of mopping up insurgents in the northeast."

Boko Haram has stepped up attacks in recent weeks as the end of the rainy season has enabled its fighters to move more easily in the bush. A video featuring an audio recording purporting to be Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, which was posted on social media late on Monday, said the group was behind twin suicide bombings at a university earlier that day which killed two and injured 17 others.
Washington: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday shortened the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former US military analyst who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, the biggest such breach in US history.

A White House official said there was no connection between Manning's commutation and renewed US government concern about WikiLeaks' actions during last year's presidential election, or a promise by its founder Julian Assange to accept extradition if Manning was freed. Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks -- for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

Obama, in one of his final acts before leaving office, reduced her sentence to seven years, angering some Republicans. "This is just outrageous," House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. Ryan said the decision was a "dangerous precedent" for those who leak materials about national security. "Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets," Ryan said. Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a US Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news staff. Republican Senator Tom Cotton said the leak endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies."We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr," Cotton said.

Manning, formerly known as US Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. The White House said her sentence would end on 17 May. Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year and who has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth men's military prison, Kansas, has accepted responsibility for leaking the material -- a factor that fed into Obama's decision, a White House official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said Obama's decision was rooted in Manning's sentence being longer than sentences given to others who had committed comparable crimes. Obama, who leaves office on Friday and is scheduled to give his final press conference on Wednesday, is expected to discuss his decision then. WikiLeaks also published emails in the weeks leading up to the 8 November presidential election that US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies hacked the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of leading Democrats as part of a campaign to influence the election.

But Obama's decision had nothing to do with the latest WikiLeaks controversy, the White House official said. "The president's decision to grant clemency and offer commutation to Chelsea Manning was not influenced in any way by public comments from Assange or the WikiLeaks organization," the official said on a conference call with reporters.

Assange has been holed up at Ecuador's London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for the investigation of allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape in 2010. He has said he fears extradition from Sweden to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks. Civil rights groups praised the move, calling it overdue. "Chelsea Manning exposed serious abuses, and as a result her own human rights have been violated by the US government for years," said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.
By Jeff Mason and Dustin Volz

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that former military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning had served a tough prison term and his decision to commute her 35-year sentence to about seven years served would not signal leniency toward leakers of U.S. government secrets.Obama told his final news conference as president that he felt it made sense to commute Manning's sentence because she went to trial, took responsibility for her crime and her sentence was disproportionate to those received by other leakers."Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence," Obama said of his decision to reduce her sentence, which was announced Tuesday in a batch of 209 commutations and 64 pardons granted. "I feel very comfortable that justice has been served." Manning gave classified information of more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks in 2010, the biggest such breach in U.S. history. Congressional Republicans criticized the commutation as a dangerous precedent for leakers. Sean Spicer, the press secretary for President-elect Donald Trump, told reporters Wednesday it sent a "very troubling message."Obama said the commutation was done without regard to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who said on Twitter last Thursday that if Manning was freed, he would accept extradition to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks.

"I dont pay a lot of attention to Mr. Assanges tweets," Obama said, adding that he did not see a contradiction with his administration's approach to Assange and Manning and referring more questions on WikiLeaks to the Justice Department.What I can say broadly in this new cyber age, were going to have to continually work to find the right balance of accountability and openness and transparency that is the hallmark of our democracy, but also recognise that there are adversaries and bad actors out there who want to use that same openness in ways that hurt us," Obama said.Barry Pollack, a U.S.-based lawyer for Assange, said in an email Wednesday that Obama's commutation of Manning fell "well short" of what Assange sought because he had called for her "to receive clemency and be released immediately."

A U.S. official said the Justice Department was investigating "civilian" individuals associated with the leaking of government secrets via WikiLeaks."The Department of Justice is conducting an investigation and it remains ongoing. I am not able to provide any further information," said Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Alexandria, Virginia.WikiLeaks returned to prominence during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, publishing hacked emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of senior Democrats.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies were responsible for the hacks and that they were carried out as part of a campaign by Moscow to help Republican Donald Trump win and discredit Democrat Hillary Clinton.Obama said the intelligence agencies were not conclusive in their assessment of the hacks "whether WikiLeaks was witting or not in being a conduit" for Russia's efforts to use cyber attacks to influence the election. Assange has said the Russian government was not the source of the emails.Manning, formerly known as U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. The White House said on Tuesday that her sentence would end on May 17 this year.Manning twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, men's military prison. Her case became a rallying cause for civil liberties advocates who saw the punishment as too severe and an attempt to chill whistleblowers from speaking up about government misdeeds. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Dustin Volz; additional reporting by Mark Hosenball and David Alexander; editing by Grant McCool)

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By Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON In one of his final acts before leaving office, President Barack Obama on Tuesday shortened the prison sentence of former U.S. military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was responsible for the biggest breach of classified materials in U.S. history to anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks in 2010.A White House official said there was no connection between Manning's commutation and renewed U.S. government concern about WikiLeaks in last year's presidential election, or a promise by its founder Julian Assange to accept extradition if Manning was freed.Manning has been a focus of a worldwide debate on government secrecy since she provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks - a leak for which she was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison and now reduced to seven years.Wikileaks also published emails in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 presidential election that U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies hacked from the Democratic National Committee and the accounts of leading Democrats, part of a campaign to influence the election.A WikiLeaks tweet on Tuesday quoted Assange as saying: "Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible."Assange has been holed up at Ecuador's London embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for the investigation of allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape in 2010. He has said he fears extradition from Sweden to the United States, where there is an open criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks."The president's decision to grant clemency and offer commutation to Chelsea Manning was not influenced in any way by public comments from Assange or the WikiLeaks organization," a White House official said on a conference call with reporters.

Manning, formerly known as U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning, was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. The White House said her sentence would end on May 17 this year.Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year and has struggled to cope as a transgender woman in the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, men's military prison, accepted responsibility for leaking the material.Manning was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2010 when she gave WikiLeaks a trove of diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts that included a 2007 gunsight video of a U.S. Apache helicopter firing at suspected insurgents in Iraq, killing a dozen people including two Reuters news staff.

Her attorney had her sentence exceeded international legal norms.Manning's clemency was criticized by Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who said Manning endangered troops, intelligence officers, diplomats and allies with the leaks."We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr," Cotton said.But civil rights groups praised the move, calling it overdue.

"Chelsea Manning exposed serious abuses, and as a result her own human rights have been violated by the U.S. government for years," said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.Obama also pardoned retired U.S. Marine Corps general James Cartwright who pleaded guilty in October to making false statements to the FBI during an investigation into leaks of classified information.Manning was among 209 commutations granted by Obama on Tuesday and Cartwright was among 64 pardons.Most of the commutations were a part of Obama's effort to reduce the number of people serving long sentences for non-violent drug offences. The White House official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said Obama would likely announce more such commutations on Thursday. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Phillip Stewart; Editing by Sandra Maler and Grant McCool)

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By Andrew Osborn

| MOSCOW

MOSCOW Russia said its war planes had joined forces with Turkish jets for the first time on Wednesday to target Islamic State militants holding the town of al-Bab in northern Syria, evidence of increasingly close cooperation between Moscow and Ankara. Russia and Turkey are the main organisers of a new round of Syrian peace talks due to take place in Kazakhstan on Jan. 23 and have set aside their differences over the political fate of President Bashar al-Assad to try to forge a wider Syria deal.Moscow backs Assad, while Ankara has diluted its demands for the Syrian leader to urgently step down as part of what some sources say is a backroom deal aimed at dividing Syria into informal zones of regional power influence. Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi, a senior Russian Defence Ministry official, said that nine Russian jets and eight Turkish war planes had together struck targets in al-Bab, which is located around 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Aleppo."Today the Russian and Turkish air forces are conducting their first joint air operation to strike Islamic State in the suburbs of al-Bab," Rudskoi said.

"The assessment of the initial results ... showed the strikes were highly effective."Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wants Turkish-backed rebels to capture al-Bab to prevent Kurdish militias from doing so. Rudskoi said the joint mission had been conducted in agreement with the Syrian government.

He said the Russian air force was also providing air support to Syrian government troops trying to fight off an Islamic State assault around the town of Deir al-Zor. The town's civilian population could be massacred if Islamic State took Deir al-Zor, he said.Russian jets were also backing a Syrian army offensive near the town of Palmyra, said Rudskoi, who added that Islamic State militants were planning to blow up more of the ancient city's historical monuments.

"We have received information, confirmed by several sources, that a large amount of explosives has been brought into the Palmyra area and that the terrorists plan on destroying the city's world-class historical legacy," he said.Significant numbers of Islamic State militants fleeing the U.S.-led coalition offensive against Mosul in neighbouring Iraq were streaming into Syria "almost unobstructed," Rudskoi said. (Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

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BANJUL Senegal's forces are at the Gambian border and will enter at midnight if veteran Gambian President Yahya Jammeh refuses to leave power, Colonel Abdou Ndiaye, a spokesman for the Senegalese army, told Reuters on Wednesday.Jammeh, who lost a Dec. 1 election to opposition leader Adama Barrow, said he would not step down, citing irregularities in the vote. His official mandate was due to end at midnight GMT. "We are ready and are awaiting the deadline at midnight. If no political solution is found, we will step in," Ndiaye said.The Nigerian Air Force said it had deployed to Senegal in case of need. Nigeria is part of the West African bloc ECOWAS, which has threatened Jammeh with sanctions or intervention if he does not step down.Senegal's statement raises the prospect of armed confrontation between forces loyal to the president who has ruled Gambia for 22 years and Senegal, which surrounds the tiny country on three sides.Authorities took steps to shore up Jammeh's authority this week. Jammeh declared a state of emergency on Monday, while on Tuesday the National Assembly passed a resolution to enable him to remain in office for three months.Gambia has had only two rulers since independence in 1965. Jammeh seized power in a coup and his government has gained a reputation among ordinary Gambians and human rights activists for torturing and killing opponents.Senegal circulated a draft resolution to the 15-member U.N. Security Council that would give "full support to the ECOWAS in its commitment to take all necessary measures to ensure the respect of the will of the people of The Gambia".The draft, seen by Reuters, would endorse the decision of ECOWAS and the African Union to recognise Barrow. It also called on Gambia's security forces to protect lives and property and serve the elected authorities.It was not immediately clear when Senegal planned to put the draft resolution to a vote. U.N. Security Council approval is not needed for an ECOWAS military intervention in Gambia if Barrow requests help, some diplomats said.

Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz arrived in Gambia for last-minute talks ahead of the deadline, Gambian state television said.REFUGEES FLEE GAMBIA

Few people expected Jammeh to lose the election and the result was greeted with joy by many in the country and by democracy advocates across the continent, particularly when Jammeh initially said he would accept the result and step down.

Barrow, who is in Senegal, was examining the implications of the assembly's resolution and the state of emergency, given the constitutional requirement for a handover and the need to maintain peace, his spokesman Halifa Sallah told Reuters.Barrow could be sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Senegal, which is technically part of Gambian territory, diplomats said.Jammeh's decision to backtrack has unleashed turmoil. At least eight ministers have also resigned from his government.At least 26,000 people have fled Gambia to Senegal fearing unrest, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday, citing Senegalese government figures."Up until the night of the 16th there were 26,000 people ... The flow has increased sharply since then," said Helene Caux, regional information officer for the UNHCR. She said up to 80 percent were children accompanied by women.

"Senegal has informed us that they have the capacity to take in 50,000 refugees in the short term and is making plans to accept up to 100,000," Caux said."People are afraid, we don't know what's going to happen," said a restaurant worker who gave only his first name, Musa, at an eatery in the capital Banjul normally buzzing but now empty of tourists."We hope he (Jammeh) will leave so this will be over quickly and things can get back to normal," he said.Tour operator Thomas Cook started flying nearly 1,000 holidaymakers home on Wednesday. It said on its website it was laying on extra flights in the next 48 hours to remove 985 package tour customers.It was also trying to contact a further 2,500 "flight only" tourists in Gambia to arrange for their departure on the earliest available flight, it said in a statement.Gambia's economy relies on one main crop, peanuts, and tourism. Its beaches are popular with European holidaymakers seeking a winter break. (Additional reporting by Emma Farge in Ziguinchor, Senegal, Diadie Ba in Dakar, Kissima Diagana in Nouakchott, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Alison Williams)

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By Valerie Volcovici and Timothy Gardner

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of Interior, on Tuesday said he would consider an expansion of energy drilling and mining on federal lands but would ensure sensitive areas remain protected.The former Navy SEAL sought to outline a measured approach to the job of managing Americas national parks, forests and tribal lands during a four-hour Senate confirmation hearing that was mostly cordial, lacking some of the hot-tempered grilling that has marked other sessions to vet Trumps cabinet nominees."Yes," he said in response to a question from Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska about whether he would review drilling curbs imposed by President Barack Obama's administration in her state, home to vast petroleum deposits both onshore and beneath Arctic waters."I can guarantee you it is better to produce energy domestically under reasonable regulation than overseas with no regulation ... We need an economy."But he added he was committed to protecting sensitive wildlife habitats and to keeping federal lands under federal control to ensure they are preserved for future generations, so "my granddaughters children can look back and say that we did it right."The Interior Department oversees territories covering a fifth of the United States' surface from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico, including rich deposits of oil, gas and coal and important pasturelands for ranchers.Zinke, an avid hunter and angler, emerged as a surprise pick to head the department in part because he has embraced federal stewardship of public land, diverging from the Republican Party's official position to sell off acreage to states.But as a congressman he has also fought for increased energy development, a position that has worried conservationists and which fits neatly with Trump's campaign vows to bolster the U.S. energy sector by scaling back regulation.

Over the last eight years, the Interior Department has sought to limit industry access to federal lands and played a key role in Obama's agenda to combat climate change by curbing greenhouse gas emitting industries.Under Obama, the department banned new coal mining leases on federal property early in 2016. More recently the agency placed parts of the offshore Arctic and Atlantic off-limits to drilling and declared national monuments that protect large parts of Utah and Nevada from development.Zinke said he believed Trump could "amend" Obama's moves to declare millions of acres of federal property as national monuments. But he said that any move Trump made to rescind a designation would immediately be challenged.He did not comment directly on whether he would seek to reverse Obama's federal coal-lease ban but said he believed coal plays an important part in the U.S. energy mix and has previously pushed to end the moratorium.

Zinke was the first of three Cabinet heads Trump has chosen to oversee his environment and energy portfolio to face Senate scrutiny this week. All three have opposed Obama's measures to combat global climate change by targeting carbon dioxide emissions.Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, was to testify on Wednesday, and Trump's choice for Energy secretary, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, was to testify on Thursday.CLIMATE CLASH

Zinke told committee members that he believes humans contribute to global climate change  a statement that appeared to clash with Trumps views. Before running for the White House, Trump called climate change a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese to weaken U.S. businesses, a position he has since defended."I do not think it is a hoax," Zinke said.But he added that he believed there is still debate over the degree to which humans have an impact, and what should be done about it, adding that regulations could sometimes hurt jobs without helping the environment. He said, for example, he would support efforts by the U.S. Congress to cancel recent regulation imposed by the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management aimed at preventing leaks of methane - another gas scientists blame for climate change - from oil and gas installations.In his opening remarks, Zinke struck a moderate tone, saying that he recognises that some federal lands require strong protection. He also called himself an "unapologetic admirer of Teddy Roosevelt," a former Republican president who pioneered public land conservation.Zinke also said he would tackle a multi-billion dollar backlog in maintenance at national parks and promised to ensure greater sovereignty for tribes. (Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

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By Patricia Zengerle and Arshad Mohammed

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON Donald Trump's pick for U.N. ambassador echoed his condemnation of the world body and pledged to push for reforms at her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, but broke from the president-elect on some other policy issues, including Russia and NATO.South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley seconded criticism of the United Nations by Trump and many of their fellow Republicans before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, especially for what she termed its "bias" against Israel.Some Republicans want to stop U.S. funding for the United Nations over a Security Council resolution last month demanding an end to settlement building that the United States declined to veto, instead of abstaining.Haley pledged that she would not abstain on U.N. votes. But she did not back "slashing" U.N. funding. The United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. budget.Trump took to Twitter in the wake of the Israel vote to criticize the 193-member world body as "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time." He warned "things will be different" after he takes office, without offering details.Haley said Washington should always back Israel. "If we always stand with them, more countries will want to be our allies," she said.Haley said she "absolutely" backs moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. That shift, which would up-end decades of U.S. policy, is supported by Trump and congressional Republicans but seen by the Palestinians and many Arab states as an impediment to Middle East peace.Although some Democrats questioned Haley's lack of diplomatic experience, she is expected to be approved. At the end of the mostly non-contentious hearing, Senator Bob Corker, the committee's Republican chairman, said he expected she would be confirmed "overwhelmingly."Haley, a rising star in the Republican party who turns 45 on Friday when Trump takes office, has only held office in South Carolina. She has been governor since 2011. Haley praised U.N. food programs, efforts to alleviate AIDS, its weapons monitoring and some peacekeeping missions, a departure from Trump's criticisms.

Haley also broke from Trump's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin. She agreed that Russian actions in Syria such as bombing hospitals are "war crimes," condemned Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and said she would oppose easing sanctions until Moscow changes."I think that Russia has to have positive actions before we lift any sanctions on Russia," she said. Haley said she had not had detailed conversations with Trump about Russia or China.The United States and its frequent rivals Russia and China all hold permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, along with U.S. allies Britain and France.Haley did not advocate backing out of the international nuclear agreement with Iran, which is supported by the United Nations, although she said it should be closely reviewed. She also praised the NATO alliance.INFLUENCING TRUMP?

Some other Trump nominees, including his choice for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, and his Pentagon nominee, retired Marine General James Mattis, have also veered from Trump's national security positions during their hearings.Several senators, including Republicans, have said they hope some appointees will rein in his more controversial positions."I would far rather have a strong-willed, capable, elected leader with experience at the state level who says those things than someone who has been a diplomat for 30 years and says: 'Oh, I'll do whatever Donald Trump says'," Democratic Senator Chris Coons told reporters.Some questioned whether the president-elect would change. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said the Tillerson and Haley hearings were in "an alternate universe," given two years of Trump statements backing torture or suggesting NATO is obsolete."That's all going to change after Friday?" Murphy asked.

Haley said she expected Trump's Cabinet would try to influence him. "I do anticipate that he will listen to all of us, and that hopefully we will get him to see it the way we see it," she said.Haley did not endorse Trump during last year's primaries and has warned that some of his most inflammatory statements promoted dangerous hate. She initially backed the presidential bid of Senator Marco Rubio and later Senator Ted Cruz.She acknowledged her lack of diplomatic experience but said her time as governor would stand her in good stead."I would suggest there is nothing more important to a governor's success than her ability to unite those with different backgrounds, viewpoints and objectives behind a common purpose," she said.Senator Ben Cardin, the committee's top Democrat, praised Haley for being willing to disagree with Trump.Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, rose to national prominent last year after she led a push to remove a Confederate flag from South Carolina's capitol grounds after a white supremacist killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston.She already has fans at U.N. headquarters. "She's a very respected politician and a highly regarded and results-driven professional," France's ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters on Tuesday. Delattre met Haley in his previous role as French ambassador to the United States. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by John Walcott and James Dalgleish)

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By Patricia Zengerle and Arshad Mohammed

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON Donald Trump's pick for U.N. ambassador echoed his condemnation of the world body and pledged to push for reforms at her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, but broke from the president-elect on some foreign policy issues, including Russia.Nikki Haley, a rising star in the Republican Party, was questioned by some members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about her lack of diplomatic experience. Haley, who turns 45 on Friday when Trump takes office, has been governor of South Carolina since 2011.Haley seconded criticism of the United Nations by Trump and many of their fellow Republicans, especially for what she termed its "bias" against Israel. Some Republican lawmakers want to stop U.S. funding for the United Nations over a Security Council resolution last month demanding an end to settlement building that the United States declined to veto, instead of abstaining.Haley said she did not like abstentions and would not abstain on U.N. votes.Trump took to Twitter in the wake of the Israel vote to criticise the 193-member world body as "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!" He warned "things will be different" after he takes office, without offering details.Haley said Washington should always back Israel. "If we always stand with them, more countries will want to be our allies," she said.She is expected to be approved by the U.S. Senate. At the end of the hearing, Senator Bob Corker, the committee's Republican chairman, said he expected she would be approved "overwhelmingly."Haley repeatedly questioned the amount Washington contributes to the world body and demanded reforms, but said she did not back "slashing and cutting."The United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. budget. "The American people see the U.N.'s mistreatment of Israel, its failure to prevent the North Korean nuclear threat, its waste and corruption, and they are fed up," Haley said.

But she praised U.N. food programs, efforts to alleviate AIDS, its weapons monitoring and some peacekeeping missions, a departure from Trump's criticisms.Haley also broke from Trump's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin. She said she considered Russian actions in Syria such as bombing hospitals "war crimes," condemned Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and said she would oppose easing sanctions until Moscow changes."I think that Russia has to have positive actions before we lift any sanctions on Russia," she said.Haley did not advocate backing out of the international nuclear agreement with Iran, which is supported by the United Nations, although she said it should be closely reviewed.STANDING UP TO TRUMP?

Some other Trump nominees, including his choice for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, and his Pentagon nominee, retired Marine General James Mattis, have also veered from Trump's national security positions during their hearings.Several senators, including Republicans, have said they hope some Trump appointees will rein in his more controversial positions."I would far rather have a strong-willed, capable, elected leader with experience at the state level who says those things than someone who has been a diplomat for 30 years and says: 'Oh, I'll do whatever Donald Trump says'," Democratic Senator Chris Coons told reporters.Some questioned where the president-elect will stand. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said the Tillerson and Haley hearings were in "an alternate universe," given Trump statements like backing torture or suggesting NATO is obsolete."That's all going to change after Friday?" Murphy asked.

Haley said she expected Trump's Cabinet would discuss such issues with him, to change his opinions.Haley did not endorse Trump during last year's primaries. She initially backed the presidential bid by Senator Marco Rubio and later Senator Ted Cruz.She acknowledged her lack of diplomatic experience but said her time as governor would stand her in good stead."I would suggest there is nothing more important to a governor's success than her ability to unite those with different backgrounds, viewpoints and objectives behind a common purpose," she said.Senator Ben Cardin, the committee's top Democrat, praised Haley after the hearing for being willing to disagree with Trump.Democrats and Republicans praised Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, after she led a push last year to remove a Confederate flag from the state capitol grounds after a white supremacist killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston.Haley already has fans at U.N. headquarters. "She's a very respected politician and a highly regarded and results-driven professional," France's ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters on Tuesday. Delattre met Haley in his previous role as French ambassador to the United States. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by John Walcott and James Dalgleish)

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Washington: The man who killed five persons at the Fort Lauderdale airport in the US state of Florida, told Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents he carried out the attack on behalf of the Islamic State, media reports said.

On 6 January, Esteban Santiago opened fire at the airport, killing five people and injured six following which he was taken into custody.

Testifying at Santiago's bond hearing on Tuesday, FBI special agent Michael Ferlazzo did not elaborate on whether Santiago was purporting to be linked to the Islamic State or simply inspired by the terrorist organisation, CNN reported.

Federal authorities in Alaska said Santiago told them prior to the attack that he was hearing voices and that his mind was being controlled by the Central Intelligence Agency. Santiago initially made similar claims during an interrogation following the shooting, but once he was transferred to the FBI office in Florida, he introduced the Islamic State claim and never again mentioned mind control, Ferlazzo testified.

The Islamic State has not claimed responsibility for the 6 January attack at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Authorities have said that Santiago confessed to the mass shooting, which they said he perpetrated after disembarking a plane and collecting a checked bag containing a pistol and two magazines.
HARARE A Zimbabwean activist pastor appeared in court on Wednesday after police arrested him for predicting that President Robert Mugabe would die in October this year.Patrick Mugadza, a preacher in the tourist resort town of Victoria Falls, told journalists last week that he had received a prophecy from God that Mugabe would die on Oct. 17.Mugadza was arrested on Monday after appearing at the magistrate court on a separate charge of abusing the national flag. He also faces another charge of public nuisance after holding a one-man anti-government protest last year.Prosecutors could not formally lay charges of criminal nuisance on Mugadza because his lawyers objected to an additional charge of "offences to persons of particular religion or race."

He will return to court on Thursday.

Zimbabwean police often arrest political activists for insulting or undermining Mugabe's office, but most of the cases have been dismissed by the courts.Mugabe has since December been in Singapore on his annual holiday. He has travelled to China and Mali in between.

(Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; editing by Ralph Boulton)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Google launched Android One program in India back in 2014 partnering with several smartphone players to launch affordable phones running stock Android in the emerging markets. Even though Google continues to release some mid-range Android One phones in markets like Spain and Africa, we havent seen any new phones in India for more than a year.

Now The Information reports that Google will launch the Android One program in the United States in the coming months. It also says that the first Android One device will launch in the U.S before the middle of the year, which is sometime in Q2 2017.

These phones might launch in the U.S. running the latest Android Nougat, and there are chances that it might also include Google Assistant. However it is doubtful if it will come with Daydream VR support since it needs a powerful hardware.

We still dont know the partners for Android One program in the United States, but one of them could be LG.

Source | Via
It looks like we will soon see the successor of Xperia XA. A bunch of photos of alleged Xperia XA successor have surfaced in a new leak. The images offer a good like at the design of the phone especially from front and the sides.



One of the images shows the front of the phone with earpiece,proximity sensors, Sony branding and front camera. You can see a small cutout at the bottom of the display which could be front facing stereo speaker. USB Type-C port and 3.5mm audio jack is also seen in another image. It looks like the phone will sport the same 5-inch display as the XA.

Unfortunately, the images dont show fingerprint sensor and rear camera, however, power key and volume rockers are seen on the right side. The alleged Xperia XA successor is seen in red, purple, and a navy blue color variants.

The Sony Xperia XA successor can be announced at the upcoming MWC 2017 next month.

Source | Via
After Delhi-NCR, Airtel today announced that it has rolled an upgraded mobile network in Rajasthan. The Dual Carrier technology combines the spectrum capacities of two 5MHz carriers in the 2100 MHz band that significantly boosts network capacity through highly efficient usage, and promises a superior mobile experience in the form of faster data speeds, better voice quality, and improved network coverage  indoors and outdoors.

Airtel also said that it is the first mobile operator to deploy Dual Carrier technology in Rajasthan. With Dual Carrier technology deployment, customers will be able to enjoy 4G like data speeds even when they are on the 3G, said Airtel. However it doesnt say the maximum speed that can be achieved.

Airtel already has Carrier Aggregation technology in several circles that combines capacities of spectrum in 2300 MHz (TD-LTE) and 1800 MHz (FD-LTE) for data speeds up to 135 Mbps with compatible handsets.

Commenting on the roll out of new Dual Carrier technology, Manoj Murali, CEO  Rajasthan, Bharti Airtel said:

The deployment of Dual Carrier technology is yet another milestone for Airtel in Rajasthan that will help deliver a seamless 4G experience to our customers. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our valued customers for their cooperation during the network upgrade.
A while back, DigiTimes reported that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM 3.65%), a major contract chip manufacturer, planned to introduce an enhanced variant of its 16nm manufacturing technology dubbed "12nm."

On the chipmaker's most recent earnings call, an analyst asked management about this potential new technology. The company seemingly confirmed its existence, though it's not clear if the technology will, in fact, be marketed as 12nm.

Let's look at just what management had to say about the tech, and why it matters to TSMC investors.

A refinement of 16nm tech

On the call, TSMC Co-CEO C.C. Wei told analysts that its strategy is "continuously to improve every node in the performance, such as 28-nanometer." He went on to say that TSMC is "continuing to [improve] the 16-nanometers technology." Wei explained that its next revision of the 16nm technology may be worth calling 12nm because it will deliver improved "density, classical density, performance, and power consumption," according to a transcript by Seeking Alpha.

TSMC has, to date, announced several 16nm variants. The first was vanilla 16nm, which didn't seem to gain much traction as a performance-enhanced version of the technology quickly replaced it, branded 16nm FinFET Plus.

After introducing 16nm FinFFET Plus, TSMC rolled out yet another version of the technology, called 16FFC (with the 'C' standing for "compact") that allowed chipmakers to build smaller, more cost-effective chips.

The upcoming "12nm" technology looks like TSMC taking an additional step in its efforts to try to maintain technology leadership against competing 14/16-nanometer technologies, particularly as competition in those technologies heats up in the coming years.

Why it matters to TSMC investors

There are few chip manufacturing companies that can bring leading-edge technologies to market. However, over time, the weaker chip manufacturers bring out products that can compete with those the stronger companies debuted several years earlier.

Since contract chip manufacturers tend to generate significant revenues from older-generation manufacturing technologies (TSMC's 28-nanometer technology, first introduced in late 2011, accounted for 26% of the company's revenue in 2016), it is important for TSMC to remain cost/performance/feature competitive with these older technologies.

United Microelectronics (UMC 6.12%), for example, has said that it expects to begin "commercial production" of a 14-nanometer technology "by the second half of 2017," per EETimes.

China-based Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMI), too, is planning to introduce a "14nm" technology at some point.

By continuing to enhance its 16nm technology, TSMC should be poised to defend its market share position against upcoming competitors while at the same time keeping its cost structure competitive and its average revenue per wafer as high as possible.

All that should ultimately translate into robust revenues and profitability on this technology.

Looking out to 2017, TSMC management appears confident that it will be able to maintain its strong market share position in the contract chip manufacturing space. "I will say that we certainly do not think we will lose market share," Chang told analysts. "We're not going to grow less than foundry," he said, referring to the contract chip manufacturing, or semiconductor foundry, market.
Cave Carson, Green Arrow and The Ray were truly brilliant.

I cant recommend them highly enough.

There are still a plethora of books that deserve your attention and teams seems to be the theme this week with JL vs SS really exploding and expanding. Still side from the strong arming to read everything versus this week the three books I singled out are the real must reads.

This is my look into the DC Universe this week!



CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE #4

City of Ghosts

Writers: Jon Rivera & Gerard Way

Artist: Michael Avon Oeming

Cover: Nick Filardi

Variant: Andrew MacLean

With everyone dead, Chloe examines the door her Grandfather supposedly sought refuge in and her unique genetics causes it to open.

Somehow psychotropics are unleashed and both Wild Dog & Cave are punished by visions of regret and suffering.

Tchloe manages to shut the door as the Mole II and its crew arrive to capture them. Mutants interrupt and savagely kill half the crew and Cave uses the opportunity to evade EBX.

They arrive at a small refuge called Sha-Muldroog and find the remains of the city and its populace in hiding there along with Chloes grandparents.

The citizens and in particular Mazras parents, the king and queen are saddened to learn she has passed away.

Meanwhile back at EBX they have tracked the Mole and Cave to the coordinates and swear to capture Cave and Chloe at all costs.

To Be Continued

ART: 5/5

I love the style, the character, the personality exuding from the artwork.

I get this strange feeling when reading the book that its going to suddenly burst into life. DC Animation, please make it happen or at least give Cave a cameo in JLAction!

COVER: 3/5

Nice illustration and metaphorical theme however Im not sure that the abstract style of the cover feels like it does the book justice. Its as weird and wonderful as the story but perhaps Im just too used to the mainstream books to embrace it.

ISSUE RATING: 4/5

This book goes from strength to strength, the only thing I would change is name tags. I got lost when suddenly two Mole teams came face to face and had to flip through the back issues to figure out who was who. If not for that mild confusion the book was practically perfect.

GREEN ARROW #15

Emerald Outlaw: Part Four

Writer: Benjamin Percy

Artist: Juan Ferreyra

Cover: W. Scott Forbes

Variant: Neal Adams & Dave McCaig

While Ollie struggles with his life choices the Vice Squad break into a Detention Center and recruits anyone with a badge, killing all the inmates and any of the guards that dont join their cause.

As Ollie, Dinah and Diggle race to aid Chief Westberg the Vice Squad manage to steal an armoured car and make an escape.

Intercepted by Team Arrow, both teams fight until Ollie is almost killed.

The rogue cop Ollie fought reveals himself and tells him that he cant fight crime if he allows villains to live and continue to break the law, but as he is about to kill a flurry of arrows soars through the air.

The Vice Squad escape and Team Arrow are shocked by yet another archer, this time its Emiko Queen aka Red Arrow!

To Be Continued

ART: 5/5

The character moments really shone this issue.

There was an equal balance with that and the action scenes, of which there was no shortage, but the character beats were the strongest and its rare for art to shine through with the sequences based in drama and stillness but it is an exception to the rule here.

COVER: 5/5

Another stand off, with Ollie looking mean and determined. The perspective seems a little off, not artistically but the Vice Squad are clearly the secondary threat I know the second archer is deliberately shadowy to hide the identity but they deserved a bit more of the cover ratio I think.

By the way, this is for Gail Simone I think Ollie is trying to outdo Nightwing for rear of the year.

ISSUE RATING: 5/5

Im not sold on the subplot with the Vice Squad. Their argument is a solid one but they are more of an irritation than a real nemesis for Team Arrow. With Malcolm Merlyn exposed I had hoped wed explore more of his story and the plot that has made him an outlaw more than these goons.

The saving grace is Oliver Queen. His talk with Victoria Much and the scene where he breaks down with only Dinah to comfort him. Storytelling at its best, as these two scenes were so memorable, it reminds you there is more to Ollie than his millions and his superhero career. Benjamin Percy is doing a superb job of showing us a window into his life.

JUSTICE LEAGUE vs SUICIDE SQUAD #5 of 6

Chapter Five

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Robson Rocha

Inker: Jey Leister, Daniel Henriques, Sandu Florea & Oclair Albert

Cover: Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques & Alex Sinclair

Variants: Andy Kubert, Brad Anderson, Amanda Conner & Laura Martin

The Flash disarms all the weapons of mass destruction on Earth.

The Green Lanterns seal the Earth from extraterrestrials.

Aquaman secured the shores and borders.

Wonder Woman was guarding the world leaders.

Cyborg took control of the planets communications network.

Superman breaks into the White House and places Max Lord in control of the United States, then Superman kidnaps Amanda Waller from Belle Reve right out from under Batmans protection and presents her to Max.

In Belle Reve, Batman and Deadshot find Lobo, now regenerated and free of Max Lords control. Soon joined by Katana and Rick Flag they meet up with the Suicide Squad.

Cyborg has been able to isolate part of himself from the Eclipso/Max Lord influence and tells them all about Eclipso and offers to Boom Tube them close to the White House.

Meanwhile Waller and Lord have a heart to heart and Amanda realises the Heart of Darkness diamond has tricked Max into thinking he is in control.

The former Suicide Squad is now a newly deputised Justice League and they arrive to be met by the Eclipso infused heroes and launch into battle.

A terrified Max loses control and Eclipso takes over his body, only Batman and a rag tag band of villains stands between him and world domination.

To Be Continued

ART: 3/5

The inking really weakens the issue. There are so many different styles at play here that Robson Rochas pencils struggle to shine through and they really deserve to because some of the pages are stunning. I may be being harsh here but the strongest pages of art are hampered by the ones that are really feint and rely heavily on digital colouring to lift things.

COVER: 5/5

This cover is fun I like the split of the two teams and threat of Eclipsos influence. Get the feeling this would be ideal as one of those 3D covers?

I feel like the League are after me! Yikes!

ISSUE RATING: 3/5

This issue had a lot of work to do. Even with the tie in (Justice League #13) so much is glossed over that could really have enhanced the story, the impact of Eclipso and his manipulations of the manipulator. The League were reduced to cameos despite their evil actions at the very beginning of the book. Despite the fact their aid in Lords scheme would have usually bred distrust in them in the long term for example its literally played out in a handful of panels.

Then there is Max Lord, after grooming the story and his extensive back story over six issues hes dumped just like that? Weak I think

Finally we have versus it isnt really is it. Now were closing in on the end it really feels like this should have been Justice League/Suicide Squad: Rise of Eclipso rather than a versus, as there have only been little spats, not a real grudge match  unless in this final issue we really have some consequences.

It isnt that the book hasnt been enjoyable so far, its just that as we get to the end Im feeling like I didnt get what I was promised.

JLA REBIRTH: THE RAY #1

Writer: Steve Orlando

Artist: Stephan Byrne

Cover: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & Marcelo Maiolo

Variant: Stephen Byrne

Ray is allergic to light, the side effects of exposure can harm those around him.

One night, Rays physical reaction to an innocent Polaroid camera flash almost killed his best friend , Caden. Rays mother has tried to keep him indoors for much of his life to protect him and the press dubbed him the Pennsylvania Night Boy.

After ten years of confinement, a teenage Ray finally rebels and escapes into town, much to his mothers horror. There he discovers his mother was right, as even the muted street lamps supercharge him with explosive energy.

Finding himself invisible Ray spends the next four years learning to control his powers and traveling the world. When he finds himself in Vanity City, Oregon. Ray discovers that Caden has grown up to be Cade Zapote, a mayoral candidate.

During a rally, Ray sneaks in invisibly and when a protestor, from the Sons Of Liberty tries to assassinate Caden, Ray intervenes and saves the day introducing himself to Caden who commends his rescuer as a ray of hope.

Finally able to control his power and with no need to hide he is The Ray the night boy finally has a real life, friends and family but also a new career as a hero.

To Be Continued in JLA: REBIRTH #1

ART: 5/5

Stephen Byrnes turn in the JL/PRs miniseries shows he can handle action.

The Ray shows he can handle drama.

Pages 9, 11, 16, 17 & 18 are just a few of the stand outs that really exploded with energy, apt for The Ray I suppose but aside from my groan inducing puns, the art was faultless.

COVER: 5/5

Changing the leaping theme of the tie in covers so far is a wise move this makes Ray look very mysterious and equally powerful. Easily the strongest of the JLA: Rebirth covers so far.

ISSUE RATING: 5/5

Everything that Vixen got wrong in my eyes the issue got right.

I never read The Ray aside from cameos in other books but Im keen to see more of him. Hes damaged, socially broken but where he could have sunk to a life of crime or worse, his optimism, his love of movie heroes and friendship pulled him back from the brink.

His journey of never fitting in to finally finding himself and a place in the world were truly touching. I hear The Ray is also getting an animated miniseries soon and I look forward to seeing more of the character.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #13

Welcome To Eclipso

Writer: Tim Seeley

Artist: Scott Eaton

Cover: Scott Eaton, Wayne Faucher & Gabe Eltaeb

Variant: Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn

Steve Trevor is at The Picket when Superman breaks into the White House with Max Lord.

As the events of JL vs SS take effect Steve finds he cant call for assistance and that the staff in The Picket are also now minions of Eclipso. He locks the staff inside the base and tries to make his way through the city avoiding the minions. By luck Steve finds a torch and discovers its light can hurt the minions.

Steve gets home hoping his visiting niece and nephew are safe and Eclipso reaches out to Steve mentally and tells him that he revels in not controlling everyone otherwise there is no one to torment.

Steve fights the vision off and greets his family but the sun suddenly eclipses and even with all his might Steve and his family are turned into minions too.

To Be Continued in Justice League vs Suicide Squad #6

ART: 5/5

Considering this issue was filled with anything but superheroes youd think it would be filled with unremarkable art and story. Happily that isnt the case and Steves strength of character really shone through as we saw the effects of JL vs SS from a civilians eye view. This was a clever and unique way to frame the story and the art never relented in strength. Scott Eaton really kicked butt this issue!

COVER: 5/5

This is the most screen time the League get this issue but Ill be damned if they didnt go to town on making them as vile and evil as possible. If they League can be taken down what chance does a mere mortal have? On top of that, Diana versus Steve? Youre killing me with the wow factor here.

ISSUE RATING: 5/5

It is interesting that Steve Trevor was chosen as the focus here.

It proved to be a wise decision as the issue was perhaps the strongest in the whole JL vs SS story.

They still chose to paper over the JLs actions but they showed the strength of the human spirit and also gave a clue as to how Eclipso can be overcome and as a trade that is worth it. Ive really liked Steve Trevors portrayal in wonder Woman as handled by Greg Rucka and Im glad Tim Seeley sees the same in him. This tie-in really adds more to issue 5 of JL vs SS the human element always does in stories (when writers remember the regular joes) with heroes raising the bar in bigger and louder battles sometimes a fresh perspective can add s much more.

SUPER POWERS #3 of 6

Writer: Art Balthazar

Artist: Art Balthazar & Franco

Cover: Art Balthazar

Brimstone is rampaging through Metropolis and only Supergirl, Martian Manhunter, Lois Lane and Wonder Woman are able to fight him as Superman is visiting his new half brother, Prym-El on New Krypton.

Brainiac and General Zod are uncharacteristically friendly and while Clark is busy with the new baby growing faster than normal, the two villains teleport Jor-El into the Fortress and into a coma.

Aquaman aids the capture of Brimstone and while the world is distracted Lex Luthor, from his own Kryptonite fortress reveals that his mysterious ally is really one of Supermans deadliest foes!

To Be Continued

ART: 5/5

Supergirl, Brimstone, Lois, Jimmy, Darkseid, Zod, Brainiac, Aquaman so much to love, I cant pick a favourite scene! Actually I can. Brimstone on a time out was gold. I also want a pet Parademon, Dear DC make some Super Powers merchandise!

COVER: 5/5

Homage to the Supergirl show? Homage to the Legends miniseries? I dont care, Brimstone has always been an eye catcher and to see Supergirl and Martian Manhunter take centre stage is a great thing. Bring on the action and fun!

ISSUE RATING: 5/5

How everything fits together in the long-term mystery has me really perplexed but it is a fun rollercoaster ride in the meantime with even the silliest moments really appealing to me. Maybe Im a man-child but I really dont want this series to end!

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Martin Shkreli, better known throughout the world as Pharma Bro, is betting on Donald Trump to bring pharmaceutical jobs back to the U.S.

Donald Trump is a dream for business people like me, Shkreli said during an exclusive interview with FOX Business Networks Maria Bartiromo. I think Trumps going to make pharma great again.

The former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO, who first made headlines for sharply increasing the price of a widely-used HIV/AIDS drug, said Trumps proposed policies will make the industry more competitive.

Almost all pharma manufacturing right now is done in India and China and the quality of manufacturing pharmaceuticals has declined dramatically, he said. Bringing those jobs and manufacturing to the U.S.  I think that can only help us.

He added, I think Trumps going to make it easier to be a drug company in America.

When asked whether he would be willing to talk to Trump about pharmaceutical policy, Shkreli said he is more than eager to do so.

Sure, the same way he ran on a platform that hes the best to close loopholes and to close exploitations because hes the one who took advantage of them, Shkreli said.

He said he knows how to lower the prices of drugs and believes it has to be done in a way thats fair.

It has to be done in a way that allows innovation, he said, and I have a lot of great ideas for the president-elect.

More From Shkreli's Interview on FBN Martin Shkreli: The government should start a drug company

One of those ideas includes having the government start a drug company.

Even though he hasnt directly reached out, Skreli said he is the perfect person to present new ideas to Congress.

Last time I was in Congress, they werent very receptive, he said. At the end of the day thats whats wrong with Washington. Instead of asking the one guy who knows the system better than anybody, they just wanted to yell at me.

But, he said, the great thing about Trump is he understands whats its like to be yelled at.

He understands what its like to send offensive tweets, Shkreli said. He understands what its like to be someone like me where a lot of people dont like him, but there [are] also a lot of people that like him, too.
Visiting British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says his country would like to forge a free trade agreement with India as it prepares to leave the European Union.

Johnson said a free trade deal would benefit both countries. He was talking to reporters after arriving in New Delhi on Wednesday for a two-day visit.

He said British Prime Minister Theresa May set out a powerful vision in a speech Tuesday of how Britain can do trade deals with all nations, benefiting not only friends in the European Union but also driving growth in the rest of the world.

Johnson is the first British Cabinet minister to travel to India since May visited last November.

He is to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) has joined a growing list of oil producers who are expanding in the Permian Basin of Texas, betting that Americas shale boom is far from over.

The worlds largest publicly traded oil company inked a deal with the Bass family of Fort Worth, Texas, to double its footprint in the Permian. Exxon will pay up to $6.6 billion, mostly in stock, for approximately 275,000 acres of land. Exxon said 250,000 of those acres are located in the Permian, the largest oil field in America.

The acquisition is Exxons most expensive move since its 2010 buyout of XTO Energy, which made Exxon the nations top natural-gas producer. The deal is also Exxons first under new CEO Darren Woods, who replaced Rex Tillerson after he was tapped as President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for Secretary of State.

The deal doubles [Exxons] estimated resources in place in the Permian, and sets the stage, in our view, for years of drillable inventory, CFRA Research analyst Stewart Glickman wrote in a note to clients.

Billions of dollars have poured into the Permian in recent months. According to Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), companies have invested around $30 billion into 1.2 million net acres since mid-2016.

Just a day before Exxons announcement, Noble Energy (NYSE:NBL) said it agreed to buy Clayton Williams Energy (NYSE:CWEI) for $2.7 billion in stock, touting the acquisition targets presence in the Permian. Other energy firms, including Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ:FANG) and EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG), have made deals with ties to the prominent oil field as the industry hopes to cash in on the hot Texas shale play at a time when oil prices are expected to rise.

Ticker Security Last Change Change % XOM EXXON MOBIL CORP. 112.31 +1.21 +1.09% CVX CHEVRON CORP. 183.42 +2.29 +1.26% NBL n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

The Permian, which also stretches into southeastern New Mexico, managed to weather the storm brought on by a global oil glut and the sharp decline in prices. The downturn hit shale producers the hardest, given the higher costs associated with extracting oil using a combination of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling.

But production costs in the Permian are on the low end. Exxon can expect positive returns as long as oil trades above $40 a barrel, whereas other shale plays have a breakeven price of as much as $60 a barrel. U.S. crude was trading near $51.50 a barrel on Wednesday morning.

Exxon believes 3.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil is sitting under its newly acquired land in the Permian. The Irving, Texas-based company will boost its Permian operation from 10 rigs to 25 rigs in order to develop the land.

The real estate deal will help Exxon deliver production growth, although one of its main rivals, Chevron (NYSE:CVX), has more exposure to the lucrative Permian, Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a research note.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is projecting a slight uptick in oil prices through 2018, saying strong demand and OPECs deal to cut production will further reduce supplies. However, the EIA expects an overall increase in global crude output to counteract the impact of OPECs cuts.

Analysts are keeping a close eye on U.S. drillers, who are ready to reopen the spigots amid stronger prices. The latest weekly report from Baker Hughes (NYSE:BHI) showed an increase of nine rigs in operation compared to a year ago, although the U.S. rig count was down by six rigs versus the prior week. In Canada, the tally surged a whopping 110 rigs in just one week.
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush has been moved to an intensive-care unit at a Houston hospital with pneumonia and was resting comfortably after doctors performed a procedure to clear his airway, his office said in a statement on Wednesday.

His wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, also was admitted to the same hospital on Wednesday as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing, the office said.

Below is an earlier reported version of this story

Former U.S. president George H.W. Bush has been in a Houston hospital since Saturday after he experienced shortness of breath, a family spokesman said on Wednesday.

Bush, who at 92 is the nation's oldest living ex-president, has "responded very well to treatments" at the Houston Methodist Hospital, spokesman Jim McGrath said in an email to Reuters.

"Doctors and everyone are very pleased, and we hope to have him out soon," McGrath wrote.

Bush is the father of former President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who sought the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

The elder Bush, a Republican like his sons, was vice president during Ronald Reagan's two White House terms before being elected president in 1988. He lost his reelection bid to Bill Clinton, then the Democratic governor of Arkansas, in 1992.

A naval pilot during World War Two, Bush became an occasional skydiver after leaving the presidency and marked his 90th birthday with a jump out of a helicopter.

He has used a wheelchair in his later years and was hospitalized twice in 2014, once for seven weeks with pneumonia and again for breathing difficulties. In July 2015, he broke a bone in his neck in a fall at the family home in Maine.

Bush's public appearances have been rare since he entered his 90s. Sitting in his wheelchair, wearing a brace on his neck and clad in a Houston Astros jersey, he tossed out the first pitch at the team's playoff game against the Kansas City Royals in October 2015.

In 2016, he marked the 75th anniversary of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor by attending a ceremony at his library at Texas A&M University, where Bob Dole, the former Republican senator from Kansas, received an award for public service.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Additional reporting by David Ingram; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
HSBC will move staff responsible for generating around a fifth of its UK-based trading revenue to Paris following Britain's exit from the European Union, Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver said on Wednesday.

"We're not moving this year and maybe not even next year," Gulliver said in an interview on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"We will move in about two years time when Brexit becomes effective," Gulliver added.

HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, has all the licenses it needs for such a move, Gulliver said, and would only need to set up a so-called intermediate holding company in France, a move that should take only a matter of months.

HSBC's global banking and markets division that houses those trading jobs made profits of $384 million in the UK in 2015, according to a company filing.

Gulliver has been among the more outspoken global bank chief executives about the impact of the Brexit vote, saying in the immediate aftermath of the referendum last June that the bank could move around 1,000 roles to Paris.

Britain's financial services sector has said it will accelerate plans to move some business overseas after Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday the country will quit the European Union's single market.

Banks had initially hoped Britain could retain the access to Europe's single market that allows them to trade and sell all financial products from London, meaning they would not have to move staff, but such a deal now looks unlikely.

Financial firms instead have shifted to pushing for a transitional period in case it proves difficult to negotiate a favorable deal or if talks are protracted and go beyond the two-year time frame for divorce talks.

HSBC shares were up 1 percent by 0821 GMT, against a 0.8 percent fall in the broader European banks index.

(Reporting by Pamela Barbaglia in Davos, writing by Lawrence White; editing by Jason Neely/Keith Weir)
Netflix Inc's international and U.S. subscriber additions sped past analysts' estimates as the video streaming service released shows including the award-winning British drama "The Crown" and a revival of "Gilmore Girls".

Netflix, whose original shows include "Narcos" and "Stranger Things", said on Wednesday it signed up 5.12 million subscribers outside the United States in the quarter ended Dec. 31. (http://nflx.it/2jyes47)

Analysts on average had estimated 3.73 million additions, according to research firm FactSet StreetAccount.

Faced with slowing growth in the United States, Netflix has launched in almost every country, but is now faced with the task of tweaking the service to suit different markets and cultures, even as competitors expand.

In the United States, Netflix added 1.93 million subscribers, compared with the average estimate of 1.44 million.

(Reporting by Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
Donald Trump's pick for U.N. ambassador echoed his condemnation of the world body and pledged to push for reforms at her Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, but broke from the president-elect on some foreign policy issues, including Russia.

Nikki Haley, a rising star in the Republican Party, faced tough questioning from some members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about her lack of diplomatic experience. Haley, who turns 45 on Friday when Trump takes office, has been governor of South Carolina since 2011.

Haley seconded criticism of the United Nations by Trump and many of their fellow Republicans, especially for what she termed its "bias" against Israel, including a Security Council resolution last month demanding an end to settlement building that the United States declined to veto.

Trump took to Twitter recently to criticize the 193-member world body as "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!" He warned that "things will be different" after he takes office, without offering details.

Haley told the hearing that Washington should always back Israel. "If we always stand with them, more countries will want to be our allies," she said.

Promising to work with Congress to push for reforms at the world body, Haley said: "The American people see the U.N.'s mistreatment of Israel, its failure to prevent the North Korean nuclear threat, its waste and corruption, and they are fed up."

But she praised some U.N. work, including food programs, efforts to alleviate AIDS, weapons monitoring and some peacekeeping missions, a departure from Trump's criticisms of the international organization.

Haley also broke from Trump's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin. She said she considered Russian actions in Syria such as bombing hospitals "war crimes," condemned its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and said she would oppose easing sanctions until Moscow changes.

"I think that Russia has to have positive actions before we lift any sanctions on Russia," she said.

She promised to bring a message to Russia's U.N. ambassador that the United States will not accept its attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election, in which Trump won the White House.

STANDING UP TO TRUMP?

Some of Trump's other national security nominees, including former Exxon Mobil Chairman Rex Tillerson, his choice for secretary of state, and his Pentagon nominee, retired Marine General James Mattis, have also veered from Trump's positions during their hearings.

Haley said she expected that Trump's Cabinet would discuss such issues with him, to influence his decisions.

A number of senators, including some Republicans, have said they hope some of Trump's appointees will rein in his more controversial positions on Russia and other issues.

"I would far rather have a strong-willed, capable elected leader with experience at the state level who says those things than someone who has been a diplomat for 30 years and says: 'Oh, I'll do whatever Donald Trump says'," Democratic Senator Chris Coons told reporters after meeting with Haley on Tuesday.

Haley acknowledged her lack of diplomatic experience but said her role as governor would stand her in good stead.

"I would suggest there is nothing more important to a governor's success than her ability to unite those with different backgrounds, viewpoints and objectives behind a common purpose," she said.

Senator Ben Cardin, the committee's top Democrat, warned against calls to cut funding of the United Nations since the Israel vote. "We will need a strong, principled voice at the United Nations who is committed to reforming and strengthening it, not irreparably damaging it," Cardin said.

The United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. budget.

The committee's chairman, Republican Senator Bob Corker, criticized what he saw as U.N. failures to effectively handle a wide range of matters, including the crisis in Syria and the influence of a rising Russia and China.

"Being U.N. ambassador is really causing something that is dysfunctional to function," Corker said.

Both Democrats and Republicans praised Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, after she led a push last year to remove a Confederate flag from the grounds of the state capitol after a white supremacist killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston.

There have been few serious doubts raised about Haley's selection. She already has fans at U.N. headquarters.

"She's a very respected politician and a highly regarded and results-driven professional," France's ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters on Tuesday. Delattre met Haley in his previous role as French ambassador to the United States. (By Patricia Zengerle and Arshad Mohammed; Additional reporting by and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by John Walcott and James Dalgleish)
On Wednesday South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, President-elect Donald Trumps choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, defended her outsiders approach to the United States relationship with the world agency.

Like most government agencies, the United Nations could benefit from a fresh set of eyes. I will take an outsiders look at the institution, Haley said while testifying in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Haley has voiced skepticism about the proportion of funds the U.S. provides to the U.N., and questions whether it serves U.S. interests.

In an interview on FOX Business Network Cavuto: Coast-to-Coast, former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young said the U.N. is actually a very cost effective investment for the U.S.

You pay according to your ability to pay, Amb. Young said. The U.N. is a good savings for us. It does a lot of work we dont need to be doing and other people need to carry the burden, Amb. Young said.

The former Democratic mayor of Atlanta believes Gov. Haley is a good choice for U.S. ambassador to the U.N.

I think she will be well received and I think shell be able to get almost anything done she wants to get done there, he said.

Young, who served as U.N. ambassador under President Carter, is hopeful about the Middle-East peace process, despite the U.S. decision to abstain from voting on a resolution to end Israeli settlements.

We have to realize that the Israel that I visited in 1966 with Ben-Gurion and Shimon Peres and Moshe Dayan is completely different from the Israel that exists now. And you have new waves of migrants coming in and they are coming from places where they been persecuted. So, they feel very, very insecure, but that doesnt mean that we cant find a solution there, Young said.

The Ambassador also spoke about the House Democrats who are boycotting Trumps inauguration.

I think that Democracy is difficult, it has its messy side but its the best method of getting along with people with whom you disagree, he said.

Young, who was with Martin Luther King Jr. when the civil rights leader was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, received a surprised phone call Monday afternoon from President-elect Donald Trump where the two discussed the ongoing dispute with Georgia lawmaker John Lewis.

I said [to Trump] look, this is a time of extremely difficult change. We were not-- including President-elect-- nobody anticipated the world making the shift that it did and its going to take us a little while and I think that democracy requires that we respect each other and we disagree, but we can disagree without being disagreeable, he said.

The Ambassador said the country will move forward despite the growing list of House Democrats who plan to skip President-elect Trumps inauguration on Friday.

I think this is what American freedom is about. The freedom to protest is one of the first amendment freedoms and if they want to protest, let them protest.

When asked whether he believes Trump is a legitimate president, Young said, Though I know the Russians tried to disrupt this election, we lost this election. The Russians didnt take it.
The Washington D.C. Police Department says it is ready for President-elect Donald Trump's big day on Friday.

"We will be more prepared for this inauguration than any other," D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham told FOXBusiness.com's Jade Scipioni. "This is my seventh inauguration that I have been involved in and the planning for the inaugurations gets better every single time."

Newsham says the local police will be working with multiple agencies, including the Secret Service who will take the lead, to make sure everyone is safe.

"We've actually increased staffing in our community by 30%," Newsham said.

As reported by FOXBusiness.com, over 7,000 National Guardsmen and 3,000 police from outside the city of D.C. will join the security effort. When it comes to the price tag, the inauguration will cost D.C. $32 million. Some reports estimate overall costs will exceed $100 million dollars.

"This is a federal government event, so we will be asking the federal government to reimburse us for any costs," Newsham said.

And in a city where citizens overwhelmingly voted for Hillary Clinton, some community members are worried for their safety.

"Some of them are a little concerned but like any other transition of power the American people will get through this," Newsham added.

Be sure to watch the full interview above and check back at FOXBusiness.com for complete inauguration coverage.
When Hillary Clinton uttered the words basket of deplorables while referring to Donald Trump supporters last September, few thought it would ever turn into anything more than a few t-shirt sales and a good news headline.

But Evelio Medina, president of the Downtown Miami and Brickell Chamber of Commerce, saw something different  a huge business opportunity. He immediately seized the moment and trademarked the term, Deplorables Nation.

I immediately bought the websites, too. Im a proud deplorable and there are a lot of us out there, Medina, founder of the Deplorables Nation, told FOXBusiness.com. I wanted to create a movement.

He says the idea is not to make money off of Hillarys faux pas (which she later publicly regretted), but position the new company as a 501(c)(4) organization for Trump supporters.

Were having a Deplorables Inaugural Ball in D.C. tomorrow night, he said. Over 300-plus tickets have been sold and I can tell you that Trump knows about it.

While Medina is unsure if President-elect Trump will show up to the event, he says that he has received calls from all across the country, from ranchers in Montana to high-network people. I just got a call from a man from Nantucket today, where it is typically a very liberal area, and a bus full of women are coming from North Carolina," he said. "We have people coming from all over."

Over 2,000 tickets are available for the Deplorable Inaugural Ball between $500 and $1,000 a pop, which means Medina could potentially make over $1 million  not including sales of souvenirs with the Deplorable Nation trademark. But Medina says he plans to put all the money back into the non-profit, which he hopes to build out in the coming months.
Chinas food regulation agency is warning residents against consuming potentially toxic products disguised as being produced by reputable brands like Nestle and Knorr.

The Telegraph reported that about 50 factories in the northern port city of Tianjin had manufactured the counterfeit products for the last 10 years or more. Those items  which include soup base mixes, vinegars and soy sauce  contain dangerous ingredients like artificial coloring, food additives and industrial salt, Chinese media reported.

"Industrial salt is considered dangerous, Liu Shaowei, a food safety professor, told the Global Times. It contains hazardous chemicals like nitrite  a carcinogen  and heavy metals, which harm the liver and kidney.

The Telegraph says that at this time it remains unclear whether the items were exported, but investigators believe they were sold by lower-level wholesalers to smaller supermarkets and restaurants in China.

Officials in Tianjin are searching for criminal clues to identify how much of the product was sold and how.

The reported food scandal is the latest in a string of similar cases that have plagued the countrys food and drug administration.

The Telegraph referenced similar cases in the past decade from the sale of breast milk tainted with melamine, an industrial chemical, to a meat supplier repackaging and selling expired meat to KFC and McDonalds across China.
A middle-age man in Canada with oral cancer found that medical cannabis oil may have helped to slightly reduce the size of a wound that his cancer caused on his cheek, according to a new report of his case.

The cannabis oil treatment also reduced the man's pain after the cancer created a hole in his right cheek, according to the report published in the January issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. Studies have suggested that marijuana may work to treat cancer patients' pain .

Much more research is needed to know whether medical cannabis oil may have a wound-healing effect. But the man's case "really validates what has been known for thousands of years about the utility of cannabinoids in so many different areas," said Dr. Vincent Maida, an associate professor in the Division of Palliative Care at the University of Toronto, who treated the man.

"Ancient cultures used cannabis extracts on wounds," Maida said.

The 44-year-old man went to see Maida at a palliative-care clinic in Toronto in the spring of 2016 for the treatment of pain caused by a malignant wound in his right cheek. The man had been diagnosed with oral cancer three years earlier, and despite having the tumor surgically removed as well as undergoing radiation and chemotherapy for his condition, the cancer returned. The man had chosen, two years before his visit to Maida's clinic, to forgo any further treatments for his cancer, according to the report. (Palliative care generally involves only treatments to reduce pain.)

The man had tried taking opioid medications , but was still having severe pain in his cheek. In addition, he was experiencing side effects from those medicines, such as drowsiness and constipation, the man told Maida. He asked Maida to prescribe medical marijuana to treat his pain.

The doctor prescribed vaporized medical marijuana for the man, which the man then used for the next few months. The marijuana seemed to help alleviate the pain significantly, and allowed the man to reduce the doses of opioids he was taking. However, the wound in his cheek grew and the cancer eventually eroded through his cheek, creating a hole, which prevented the man from continuing to use vaporized marijuana.

The man then asked Maida for a prescription for medical cannabis oil, which he could apply directly to his wound. The man used the oil four times daily for about a month.

He found that his wound stopped growing, and shrank by a small amount, about 5 percent, over the next month. The man said he experienced pain relief starting about 10 to 15 minutes after he applied the oil to the wound, which lasted for about 2 hours after application.

However, about a month after the man started using the oil, he was admitted to a hospital because his overall condition had deteriorated. He died from cancer three weeks later, according to the report.

The new report showing that the cannabis oil seemed to work for treating the man's wound "is really interesting," said Dr. Anita Gupta, the vice chair of the Division of Pain Medicine at Drexel College of Medicine in Philadelphia, who was not involved in the report.

So far, no actual studies have looked at using cannabis oil for wound treatment in people. One study, done on human intestine cells growing in lab dishes, suggested that cannabinoids may enhance the closure of wounds .

Though it is not clear why cannabis oil may have had a wound-healing effect in this case, one possible reason might be that the oil reduced inflammation , Gupta said.

However, she noted that more research is needed to examine whether cannabis oil may have any robust benefit in large numbers of patients with significant wounds.

Originally published on Live Science.
The commutation of Chelsea Mannings prison term will forever be a blot on President Obamas legacy. Just as the pardon granted Marc Rich by President Clinton on his last day in office became a totem of the odious pay-to-play money grubbing of Bill and Hillary, laffaire Manning will be an enduring reminder of Obamas constant pandering to special voter groups and mindless adherence to a progressive agenda.

It will also stand as testimony to President Obamas questionable fealty to Americas security and the rule of law.

It was, and will prove to be, a terrible decision.

Private Bradley Manning was court-martialed in 2013 and found guilty of leaking 700,000 documents, the largest dump of military secrets in our history and the first case involving large-scale publishing of classified information via WikiLeaks.

In announcing the guilty verdicts on 17 of 22 charges brought against him and on an amended 4 others, the judge in the case agreed that Manning had released Afghan and Iraq war logs, embassy cables and Guantanamo files with reason to believe such information could be used to the injury of the U.S She let Manning off on the most serious charge  that of aiding the enemy, which at the time meant Al Qaeda. If convicted of that offense, Manning could have been sentenced to death under the Espionage Act.

Instead, with Mannings defense team arguing that confusion over his sexuality had caused him to be in a fragile state, he received a sentence of 35 years. The maximum sentence would have been 90 years; the prosecutor had asked for 60. With time off for good behavior, Manning could have been paroled as early as 2021. When released in May she will have served seven years.

Given the furor over WikiLeaks intrusion into the presidential election last year, the uproar over Hillary Clintons careless handling of classified information and the uncertain fate of Edward Snowden, also accused of making public reams of classified information, the commutation of Mannings sentence was swiftly slammed by both Democrats and Republicans on Tuesday night.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan described the act as outrageous while Democratic Senator Robert Menendez expressed puzzlement as to why Obama would have acted, saying national security is at stake. Most concerning, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter opposed the move.

As well he should have. In this era of internet access, our state secrets are more vulnerable than ever before.

The Manning releases, including more than 470,000 Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield reports, have been described as putting U.S. troops and many individuals working with our armed forces at risk. The Afghan war logs contained the names of 900 Afghanis who had worked with U.S. soldiers; though it has never been proved that any of those individuals died as a result of Mannings perfidy, anecdotal tales of Taliban recriminations suggest otherwise. At the least, the release of the names impeded our vital efforts to work with and gain the trust of locals.

In addition, Manning leaked some 250,000 diplomatic cables, which reportedly damaged our communications channels with allies, according to Patrick Kennedy, a senior State Department official who testified against Manning.

Manning will not be the last disgruntled soldier in a position to leak important documents. Edward Snowden, while not a soldier, of course, followed in her footsteps and more will follow.

To release Manning now sets a dangerous precedent and suggests that guarding state secrets is no longer mandatory or a high priority. Coming after the decision by the Department of Justice not to indict Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified information in an extremely careless fashion, it may undermine the ability to prosecute future cases against people who leak documents important to our national security.

Presidential pardons and the commutation of sentences are meant to give criminals a second chance  to acknowledge that a person has been adequately punished for his crime, and that he or she is repentant.

In the case of Chelsea Manning, Obama wanted to show that the U.S. is a "forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance," according to White House Counsel Neil Eggleston. It is unclear just what hard work Manning has performed or what evidence there is of that rehabilitation.

Obama also recently pardoned Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright who was vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until his retirement in 2011. Cartwright had been convicted of lying to the FBI about giving a reporter classified information about Stuxnet, a cyber-warfare operation that targeted Iran's nuclear reactors. Unlike Manning, Cartwright has served the country for many years with distinction, which arguably overshadows his transgressions.

Manning has reportedly attempted suicide twice and is in need of sex change surgery. The New York Times has described her situation as "[a] transgender person in a men's military prison...." while sympathy for Manning is appropriate, her difficulties do not seem sufficient rationale for reducing her sentence or for establishing this dangerous precedent. Especially for a White House that the New York Times describes as having carried out an unprecedented criminal crackdown on leaks of government secrets.

Mannings sexual issues do, however, underline the most plausible excuse for Obamas cutting her sentence short. As Peter Weber wrote in The Week, Obamas move was a debt of gratitude to his LGBT supporters.

Obama heads out the door doing what he does best, slicing and dicing the country into voter blocks. Is it any wonder the country is so divided?
President-elect Donald Trumps alt-radical left critics are desperately trying to undermine his incoming administration as Fridays inauguration approaches, with Hollywood blowhards, musical mediocrities and tedious TV talkers all getting in on the act.

Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin and Mark Ruffalo plan to join New York City mayor, Comrade Bill De Blasio, in a Big Apple protest that ought to warm the hearts of their friends on the left. But get this: According to the New York Post, their fellow liberals are worried the New York event might overshadow all the events that they have planned in Washington, D.C.

Variety magazine is paying homage to the Trump haters with a cover featuring as many as they could round up. And then you have the band Green Day taking shots at the president-elect by putting out a video on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

A new day dawning comes without warning, goes the song. So don't think twice. We live in troubled times. We live in troubled times.

Katy Perry, one of Hillary Clinton's biggest liberal Hollywood supporters, has produced a public service announcement that invokes Japanese internment during World War II to talk about Trump's incoming administration.

And liberals over at "The View" are getting in on all the Trump-hating hysteria. They won't even say the president-elect's name. These are the same people, by the way, who are talking about building walls around women's body parts and Trump-triggered "electile dysfunction" and much more.

But let's talk about what's going on right now because the inauguration of a certain person is happening on Jan. 20, The View host Joy Behar said on a recent show.

He who shall not be named, chimed in co-host Sunny Hostin.

Right, Behar replied. It's happening on Jan. 20. And there are millions of people who did not vote for him and who feel frightened. I run into people all the time, Joy, keep talking. We're scared. We don't know what to do."

Isn't it really time for these crybaby left-wingers to grow up, accept the fact that Donald Trump will be the 45th president and be gracious losers? These folks need to get a grip on reality and realize just how completely out of touch they are with the American people. It's the failed progressive policies of Obama and the alt-radical left that propelled Trump to victory.

Don't believe me? Look at how cities like Chicago, Detroit and Baltimore have been ruined by decades of big government, Democrat rule. So now we're supposed to listen to these same liberals and let them influence the rest of the country? I don't think so.

It's time for the elite left to get out of their little bubbles, off of their private jets and open their eyes for once to the electoral maps sea of red in between California and New York. You have millions of people who live in the middle of the country, where all that red is. And for eight years, we've had 13 million more Americans on food stamps, 8 million more in poverty. We have the lowest labor participation rate since the 1970s and lowest home ownership rate in 51 years.

The American people rejected the Obama-Clinton agenda because it doesn't work. It is time for celebrities to stop whining and fear mongering and give President-elect Donald Trump a chance to fix the mess that President Obama has left us.

Adapted from Sean Hannity's opening monologue on "Hannity," Jan. 17, 2017
For President-elect Trump, boosting economic growth and creating more good-paying jobs recovery will not prove easy. George W. Bush campaigned on -- and delivered -- lower taxes and more limited government, but his economic expansion was no more robust than Barack Obamas and ended with the 2007/08 financial crisis.

Mr. Trump has promised a lot that will be difficult to accomplish, because federal resources are limited. Without any new tax or spending initiatives, the federal deficit will grow as more baby boomers retire, and congress will not always cooperate.

Still public confidence is as important as government policies for inspiring growth, and he can still spell out a robust agenda during his first 100 days. Here are five things to look for in the new president's first days:

1. Repealing ObamaCare

Repealing ObamaCare is easy but replacing it requires the GOP to craft programs to insure Americans with pre-existing conditions and who need financial assistance can obtain coverage.

Other challenges abound but to address those issues Mr. Trump will confront an essential reality. Americans pay 50 percent more for medical services and drugs than do Europeans, many of whom like the Germans have private insurance systems similar to ours.

Federal and state programs are two-thirds of health care spending, and those often permit service providers to drive up prices rather than contain costs. More competition, as congressional Republicans prescribe, may help but the Germans have found they simply must regulate prices to stem profiteering by pharmaceutical companies and the like.

American businesses are terribly handicapped in global competition by paying too much for employee health care, and Mr. Trump needs to spell out how he expects to lower, not merely contain health care costs.

2. Tax Reform

It is quite difficult to see how Mr. Trump can cut taxes, if as Treasury Secretary-Designate Steven Mnuchin promises, upper income Americans will see no overall tax cut but rather only rates lowered as permitted by curtailing tax credits and deductions. The top 20 percent already pay about 84 percent of income taxes, hence any meaningful reductions would virtually eliminate income taxes for most Americans. That would only encourage most voters to elect officials who spend profligately.

Trump should table a plan to simplify the personal tax code and lower rates enough to provide a modest cut for everyone. That would encourage small businesseswhich generally file under personal, not corporate, lawsto create more jobs and in turn pay for the tax cut.

Eliminating special deals to lower corporate rates would boost investment by larger businesses. Rebating taxes on exports and applying those to imports, as proposed by Ways and Means Chairman Brady, would generate $100 billion in new revenue, which could fund general tax relief and infrastructure improvements.

3. Infrastructure Spending

Additional spending on roads and other public facilities could provide a quick boost to growth but Mr. Trump must avoid Mr. Obamas pitfall of relying on slow federal and state procurement processes.

He should send to congress a plan to distribute money directly to the state and local governments with use or lose deadlines but subject to broad guidelines. Local governments have lots of schools, bridges and the like in queue for repair and replacement. Private accounting firms could audit spending to ensure funds are used properly.

Federal money could be spent better too. Gas taxes should fund roads not bike paths or high salaries for big city mass transit workers. Eliminating Davis-Bacon rules that union labor be used on federally-assisted projects would trim costs by 20 percent.

4. Deregulation

Mr. Obama imposed a record number of regulationsmany of which impose needless constraints on growth. Some, imposed by executive order, are easy to repeal but most will require congressional action or laborious processes to write new regulations and public comment that can take years. Mr. Trumps team should put together a list of what needs doing and send a grand deregulation bill to congress. Then its up to the GOP in congress to show Americans how serious it is about quick action.

5. Trade

Imports exceed exports by about $500 billion. That kills millions of jobs directly and lowers annual growth substantially by curtailing investments in R&D.

China accounts for about two-thirds of the trade imbalance and its undervalued currency is a problem. However, so are its high tariffs, administrative barriers to U.S. exports, pirating of intellectual property and other trappings of its socialist-market economy.

Some change can be forced with a 45 percent tariff but Beijings culture would inspire new, even more opaque protectionism.

In addressing China, Mr. Trump should seek balanced trade while acknowledging that its system is not about to become a western-style market economy, and work to manage trade to eliminate the bilateral trade deficit.
Donald Trump's choice to head the Interior Department on Tuesday rejected the president-elect's claim that climate change is a hoax, saying it is indisputable that environmental changes are affecting the world's temperature and human activity is a major reason.

"I don't believe it's a hoax," Rep. Ryan Zinke told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at his confirmation hearing.

"The climate is changing. The debate is what is that influence and what can we do," said the Montana Republican.

Trump has suggested in recent weeks he's keeping an open mind on the issue and may reconsider a campaign pledge to back away from a 2015 Paris agreement that calls for global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

In contradicting Trump, Zinke cited Glacier National Park in his home state as a prime example of the effects of climate change, noting that glaciers there have receded in his lifetime and even from one visit to the next.

Still, he told Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that there is debate about how much humans have influenced the climate.

Likely to win Senate confirmation, Zinke sketched out a variety of purposes for the nation's vast federal lands, from hiking, hunting, fishing and camping to harvesting timber and mining for coal and other energy sources.

An admirer of President Theodore Roosevelt, Zinke said management of federal lands should be done under a "multiple-use" model set forth by Gifford Pinchot, a longtime Roosevelt associate and the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

Zinke also pledged to tackle an estimated $12 billion backlog in maintenance and repair at national parks, saying parks and other public lands should be a key part of Trump's infrastructure improvement plan.

Zinke has said he would never sell, give away or transfer public lands -- a crucial stance in his home state of Montana and the rest of the West where access to hunting and fishing is considered sacrosanct.

Zinke feels so strongly that he resigned as a delegate to the Republican National Convention last summer because of the GOP's position in favor of land transfers to state or private groups. But Zinke's commitment to public lands has come into question in recent weeks.

The Interior Department and other U.S. agencies control almost a third of land in the West and even more of the underground "mineral estate" that holds vast amounts of coal, oil and natural gas.

Zinke's position on public lands came under fire after he voted in favor of a measure from House Republicans that would allow federal land transfers to be considered cost-free and budget-neutral, making it easier for drilling and development.

Zinke "says he's against transfer of federal lands, but there's a big gap between what he says and what he does in that regard," said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, the nation's oldest and largest environmental group.

Zinke told senators Tuesday that he flatly opposes all sales or transfer of federal lands.

Indeed, his support for public lands was a crucial reason why Zinke was chosen by Trump. The president-elect and son Donald Trump Jr. both oppose sale of federal lands. The younger Trump, an avid hunter, has taken a keen interest in Interior Department issues and played a key role in Zinke's selection.

Zinke also reiterated his support for coal production on federal lands as part of an all-of-the above energy strategy

Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state, the top Democrat on the energy panel, asked Zinke about modernizing the federal coal program, saying it was important "to make sure American taxpayers aren't short-changed for the benefit of corporate interests

Zinke promised to review the coal program and said he thinks taxpayers "should always get fair value," whether it's coal, wind power or other energy sources.
40 years after the first execution of Gary Gilmore under contemporary laws, 18 anti-death penalty activists were arrested at the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. The group unfurled a 30-foot-long banner that read "STOP EXECUTIONS!" on the steps of the Court.





On the sidewalk, a crowd of over 80 supporters observed the action, carrying 40 posters (1 for each year) with the names of the other 1442 men and women executed since 1977. They also carried roses in 2 colors, a reminder that they are remembering both families of the murdered and families of the executed as they stand together saying, as one banner did, "We Remember the Victims, But Not With More Killing."





The group included several murder victim family members, a death row exoneree, family members of the incarcerated, pastors and religious leaders, and national leaders in the death penalty abolition movement. It was the largest act of civil disobedience against the death penalty in modern history.





One of the participants who was arrested was Randy Gardner, whose brother, like Gilmore, was executed in Utah by firing squad.





"My Brother Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed in 2010 by the same state and by the same method as Gilmore," Gardner stated. "I believed then, and I still believe now, that the death penalty is morally wrong. I never condoned what my brother did, but when the state executes someone, they create yet another family that is damaged and grieving. We don't have to kill to be safe from dangerous criminals and hold them accountable. It is time to abolish the death penalty."





Shane Claiborne, influential Christian author and activist, speaking of the significance of religious leaders, said this: "Sadly, the death penalty has succeeded in America not in spite of Christians but because of us. Over 80% of executions in the past 40 years have been in the Bible Belt. As a Christian, that is especially troubling because one of the tenants of our faith is this: No one is beyond redemption. Much of the Bible was written by murderers who were given a second chance. Moses. David. Paul. The Bible would be much shorter without grace. So it was a beautiful thing to stand alongside my fellow clergy and faith leaders ... And, if you go to jail, it's good to have a nun and a priest next to you. As we look at history, we are reminded that we've got good company among the holy troublemakers who have gone to jail for justice. Abortion is not the only pro-life issue."





Claiborne continues: "When we try to kill those who kill, we mirror, and legitimize, the cycle of violence. We can deal with violent crime without resorting to the violence we want to rid the world of. As faith leaders and clergy, we stand together, with families of the murdered and families of the executed, and say NO to all killing. Violence is the disease, not the cure."





Scott Langley, a death penalty abolition organizer from New York, said "The national tide has turned against the death penalty with more and more states, counties, and juries refusing to continue this barbaric practice. We acted today to call on this Court to recognize that standards of decency and human rights have evolved to the point that this has to end now."





Those arrested were Peter Armstrong (Washington, DC), Leroy Barber (Portland, OR), Abraham J. Bonowitz (Columbus, OH), SueZann Bosler (Miami, FL), Shawn Casselberry (Chicago, IL), Shane Claiborne (Philadelphia, PA), John Dear (Santa Fe, NM), Randy Gardner (Taylorsville, UT), Lisa Sharon Harper (Washington, DC), Derrick Jamison (Cincinnati, OH), Art Laffin (Washington, DC), Scott Langley (Ghent, NY), Michael McBride (Oakland, CA), Tom Muther (Topeka, KS), Doug Pagitt (Minneapolis, MN), Jack Payden-Travers (Lynchburg, VA), Sam R. Sheppard (Oakland, CA), and Kelton Tupper (Cheverly, MD).





Background: 40 years ago, on January 17, 1977, 40 years ago, on January 17, 1977, the State of Utah shot to death Gary Gilmore , who "volunteered" to be killed in revenge for his murder of Ben Bushnell and Max Jenson. This state-assisted suicide was the 1st execution under the Supreme Court's upholding of the death penalty in 1976. Since then, there have been 1442 more executions, with another scheduled on January 18 in Virginia. Nearly 3,000 prisoners are currently on death rows in 31 states.





The protest is organized by the Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC), an ad-hoc group of individuals committed to highly visible and effective public education for alternatives to the death penalty through nonviolent direct action. The AAC also organizes a 4 day fast and vigil on the Supreme Court sidewalk every June 29 through July 2, and all are invited to participate.

Death penalty protesters arrested outside Supreme Court

Police arrested more than a dozen death penalty protesters outside the Supreme Court Tuesday.





The Abolitionist Action Committee organizes protesters to engage in civil disobedience every 5 years on Jan. 17, marking the date of the 1st execution after the Supreme Court allowed the death penalty to resume in 1977. This year is the 40th anniversary of Gary Gilmore's execution by firing squad in Utah. Gilmore, who shot and killed 2 people reportedly without a motive, volunteered for the death penalty.





The protesters' arrests outside the court come as the death penalty is resurfacing as a contentious issue at the Supreme Court. A split decision from the Supreme Court last month allowed the execution of an Alabama man to proceed after multiple stays. Justice Stephen Breyer, who favored granting a stay to block the Alabama man's execution, then delivered a public call for the high court to "reconsider the constitutionality of the death penalty" in a dissent from the court's inaction on a death penalty case from Florida.





The high court has heard oral arguments in a death penalty case this term in Moore v. Texas, in which the justices will look to answer whether the execution of an inmate after an elongated period of incarceration violates the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment.





Tuesday's arrests of anti-death penalty protesters also happened as the nation's capital braces for the arrival of thousands of protesters unhappy with President-elect Trump's looming inauguration. Protesters have made plans to disrupt the inauguration and spoil several inaugural balls beginning on Thursday.

18 Arrested at Anti-Death Penalty Protest

On a wet January day - as the nation's capital preps for Inauguration Day and the Women's March on Washington - more than 80 anti-death penalty protesters sang, prayed, and chanted on the steps of the U.S Supreme Court. 18 were arrested for nonviolently proclaiming their beliefs.





The protestors held a large white banner with the words "Stop Executions" written on it as they stood on the highest steps on the Supreme Court building - forbidden to protestors.





Protestors on the lower steps held flowers and large red placards with the names of executed individuals on them.





"We are standing with families who have had their loved ones murdered and families who have had their loved ones executed or put on death row," said activist Shane Claiborne, who was arrested during the protest.





"Violence is a disease not the cure," he continued. "As families themselves say, remember our loved ones but not with more killing. That's our message today."





This protest brought together leaders from faith-based civil rights organizations including Sojourners, supporters of the cause, and people directly affected by the Supreme Court's death penalty decisions.





1st-time death penalty protestor Don McCraw of Baltimore said he remembers being conflicted about death penalty.





"I didn't really think at first that I had an opinion about it," McCraw said, adding it was mostly due to his own ignorance about how the American government deals with people on death row.





"For me to have knowledge, I need to hear stories about people who have reasons to want the death penalty and still don't support it."





Stories like Bill Pelke's.





Death penalty issues are deeply personal for Pelke, co-founder of Journey of Hope, an organizing partner of the rally. His grandmother was brutally murdered by a 15-year-old girl who was later sentenced to death for the murder.





"Originally I supported that decision, but I became convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that my grandmother would have been appalled," Pelke said. "I was convinced that she would have had love and compassion for this girl and for her family."





Pelke began working in justice and peace amid his own complex healing process. He began to understand how terribly the death penalty affects both the murder victim's family as well as the people who commit the crime.





"The death penalty has nothing to do with the healing of the victim's family," Pelke said. "It continues the cycle of violence."





Tevyn East, a participant from Pennsylvania, said she believes her faith binds her to her beliefs about executions.





"Jesus died because of a state-sanctioned violence, so I see it as a faith issue," she said. "I believe it's in our best interest to turn towards more restorative justice."





This rally was organized by a group called Abolition Action Committee, an ad hoc group of activists dedicated to voicing their beliefs in highly visual, nonviolent ways. The group organizes a protest every 5 years on Jan. 17 - the anniversary of the 1st lawful execution in the U.S. Since Gary Gilmore's execution in Utah on Jan. 17, 1977 for the murders of Ben Bushnell and Max Jenson, there have been 1,442 executions in the United States - an issue that many protests find alarming.





Faith leader Tony Campolo said he believes this movement is a call for people of faith to take up their mantle and fight for justice and mercy.





"The thing that people think of when they think of evangelical Christians is that here's a group of people who are for the death penalty, who are opposed to immigrants, who are homophobic, who raise questions about the feminist movement, and we say to ourselves, is that who we are?" Campolo said.





"We are not sure we can be called evangelical anymore if that's what evangelicalism means to the general public."

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He fought in the Vietnam War, worked for the last five Republican presidents and now Al Zapanta has returned to politics as one of the Hispanic advisers closest to President-elect Donald Trump and wants to be his ambassador to Mexico.

With more than 30 medals, including a Purple Heart, Zapanta is famous for saying what he thinks and being unafraid of criticizing Trump's team for not including any Hispanics in top government posts and he also doesn't hesitate to defend the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, which the mogul has promised to revise or cancel.

Zapanta is, in fact, being discussed to replace the current US envoy to Mexico, Roberta Jacobson, a position for which Alberto Gonzales, who served as President George W. Bush's attorney general, is also in the running.

"That is the position, that of US ambassador in Mexico, in which I feel I can have a positive influence," Zapanta told EFE in an interview.

He said that's the only post that would interest him because he has already had the experience of working inside the governments of five Republican presidents, including as head of the Reserve Forces Policy Board from 2002-2004 under George W. Bush.

He was one of the first last summer to join the Hispanic committee tasked with advising Trump and in September he went onstage with a group of war veterans to lend his support to the magnate at his Washington hotel in the old post office building.

"My priorities will be those of the president," said Zapanta when asked about what his objectives would be as US envoy to Mexico.

He defends NAFTA, although he believes that he could help to modify some of its elements thanks to his good relationship with Mexico's economy secretary, Ildefonso Guajardo, with whom he cooperated when the latter worked at the free trade treaty office in the Mexican embassy in Washington.

Regarding Trump's proposal to build a wall along the US-Mexico border to halt illegal immigration, Zapanta said that it would be "very difficult" to put such a structure along the banks of the Rio Grande.

Therefore, he proposes using drone overflights along the border river, while maintaining the portions of the existing wall along parts of the border.

As envoy, Zapanta would also have to deal with cancellation of the Deferred Action program, which has halted the deportations of some 750,000 undocumented migrants who arrived in this country as young children.

During the election campaign, Trump said that they would be deported, along with the 11 million other undocumented migrants living in the United States, but after he won the Nov. 8 election he adopted a more ambiguous tone and said that his decision on the matter would make people "happy and proud."

"Those young people have lived here, gone to school, graduated, are working, paying their taxes. They're not going to be sent back. I'm not going to defend that and (Trump) is not going to do it ... It's physically impossible," Zapanta said.
Both President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush are now in a Houston hospital and will not attend Friday's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

The 92-year-old former president on Wednesday was moved to intensive care at Houston Methodist Hospital after being admitted on Saturday, his office said in a statement.

"Shortly after our previous report on President Bushs condition, he was admitted to the ICU at Houston Methodist Hospital to address an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia," the statement read. "Doctors performed a procedure to protect and clear his airway that required sedation. President Bush is stable and resting comfortably in the ICU, where he will remain for observation."

Barbara Bush, 91, was admitted Wednesday morning as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing, officials said in a statement.

The 41st president previously sent a letter to Donald Trump expressing his regrets he could not attend Friday's presidential inauguration, adding he and the former first lady "will be with you and the country in spirit."

In his letter -- penned Jan. 10, before he was hospitalized Saturday for breathing problems -- the former president quipped, "My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it likely will put me six feet under."

"So I guess we're stuck in Texas," wrote Bush. "I want you to know that I wish you the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country," he wrote. "If I can ever be of help, please let me know."

Bush is the father of former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who ran in a heated -- and, at times, contentious -- contest against Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries.

Jeb Bush will not be attending the inauguration, but George W. and former first lady Laura Bush will be in attendance, as will Bill and Hillary Clinton.

The elder Bush, who served as U.S. president from 1989 to 1993, has a form of Parkinson's disease and uses a motorized scooter or a wheelchair for mobility. He was hospitalized in Maine in 2015 after falling at his summer home and breaking a bone in his neck, and was hospitalized in Houston the previous December for about a week for shortness of breath. He spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues.

Despite the loss of mobility, he celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump in Kennebunkport. Last summer, Bush led a group of 40 wounded warriors on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Scott Pruitt, President-elect Donald Trumps controversial pick to head up the Environmental Protection Agency, on Wednesday told Senate lawmakers hes the right candidate to lead the very agency he has spent years trying to dismantle and discredit.

Pruitt told members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that he wants to make changes to the EPA and steer it away from regulations ushered in during the Obama administration.

In his opening statement, Pruitt said the EPAs core mission has been to protect people and to oppose industry, but argued that environmental regulations should not occur in an economic vacuum.

He accused the EPA of overstepping its authority and said it had bootstrapped its own powers and tools through rulemaking.

In a testy exchange with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Pruitt was pushed to say whether he believes in climate change  he does  and whether he thinks humans are responsible for it.

Pruitt told Sanders he believed there should be more debate on who is to blame. It was an answer that did not sit well with Sanders. Sanders asked Pruitt multiple times about his personal opinions on the environment, which Pruitt largely sidestepped.

Sanders ended the back-and-forth by saying, If thats the type of administrator youre going to be, youre not going to get my vote.

Another fierce critic was Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware  the top Democrat on the committee. Carper has called Pruitt Polluting Pruitt ever since his name was floated to lead the agency and has strongly voiced his opposition to Pruitts nomination.

Several environmental groups have also expressed concern with Pruitts nomination.

This is not somebody who should be leading the Environmental Protection Agency, Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, told National Public Radio. Pruitt has basically made his career working to tear down, or at least challenge, environmental and public health safeguards. So why does he want to lead EPA?

As his confirmation hearing got under way early Wednesday, raised voices could be heard from people outside in the hall who were not allowed in. The room accommodated about 100 people, with most of the seats taken by congressional staff, reporters and others who were allowed in early. Only a handful of seats remained for the public.

One woman was quickly wrestled out of the room by three police officers as she pulled out a roll of yellow crime scene tape and shouted "We don't want EPA gutted!"

Senate Republicans began by praising what they said was Pruitt's record of enforcing environmental laws "when appropriate." Court records show scant evidence of Pruitt acting to protect the environment in years as a state regulator.

Shortly after Pruitt took office in Oklahoma in 2011, he disbanded the unit responsible for protecting the state's natural resources. Instead, he reassigned his staff to focus on filing lawsuits against the federal agency he's now selected to lead.

Records show that Pruitt also failed to push a legal challenge initiated by his predecessor to protect Oklahoma's rivers from pollution caused by animal waste, after receiving tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from individuals connected to the poultry industry.

In Oklahoma, he joined with other Republican attorneys general in opposing the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan, which seeks to limit planet-warming carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Pruitt also sued over the agency's recent expansion of water bodies regulated under the federal Clean Water Act, which has been opposed by industries that would be forced to clean up polluted wastewater.

Though Pruitt ran unopposed for a second term in 2014, campaign finance reports show he raised more than $700,000, much of it from people in the energy and utility industries. Among those who gave the maximum contribution of $5,000 to Pruitt's campaign was Continental Resources Chairman and CEO Harold Hamm, an Oklahoma oil tycoon who has been advising the president-elect.

Like Trump, Pruitt has also publicly cast doubt on the extensive body of scientific evidence showing that the planet is warming and that man-made carbon emissions are to blame.

Pruitt's office declined to comment on his past fundraising, instead referring inquiries to Trump's transition team, which didn't respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for two political action committees tied to Pruitt told AP earlier this month they would be dissolved before any move to Washington.

Pruitt has faced similar criticism over his handling of the poultry case initiated by his predecessor that has been languishing in federal court for more than six years. During his campaign in 2010, Pruitt received nearly $38,000 in contributions from executives with the poultry companies named in the lawsuits and their lawyers.

"Regulation through litigation is wrong in my view," Pruitt told The Oklahoman newspaper in 2015.

Pruitt let expire a 2003 agreement between Arkansas and Oklahoma aimed at reducing pollution from poultry waste and approved a new deal that called for more water-quality testing while agreeing not to institute any new enforcement actions or judicial proceedings against the industry.

Despite a lack of resolution in the case, the water quality in northeastern Oklahoma has improved during Pruitt's tenure, said Ed Fite, longtime administrator of Oklahoma's Scenic Rivers Commission.

Still, other Oklahomans who work to protect the state's waterways say they have grave doubts about Pruitt's commitment to environmental enforcement.

Pruitt also has faced sharp criticism from environmentalists for failing to take any action to help curb a dramatic spike in earthquake activity that scientists have linked to the underground disposal of oil and gas wastewater.

Pruitts confirmation hearing comes on the same day the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its annual State of the Climate report which revealed 2016 was the hottest year on record.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The last press conference question of President Obamas presidency went to a reporter from his Illinois days.

Obama specifically sought out Christi Parsons, who covered Obama when he was starting his political career as an Illinois state legislator, as he closed out Wednesday's White House press conference.

Ive been knowing her since Springfield, Illinois, when I was a state senator and she listened to what I had to say then, Obama said, calling on Parsons in the back rows of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room. So the least I can do is give her the last question, as president of the United States.

Parsons, who covered Obama in Illinois for the Chicago Tribune, asked Obama about how his family, particularly his two daughters, felt about fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton losing the presidential election after first lady Michelle Obama so personally championed key Clinton issues like minority, LGBT and women's rights.

They just surprise and enchant and impress me more and more every single day as they grow up, responded Obama, who leaves office Friday.

But they were disappointed. They paid attention to what their mom said during the campaign and believed it because it was consistent with what weve said in the household.  But what weve also tried to teach them is resilience. And weve tried to teach them hope.  That tended to be their attitude.

Parsons, who came to Washington in 2008 to cover the Obama White House for Tribune sister paper The Los Angeles Times, also thanked the president and said covering him has been an honor.
A 2014 letter from the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terror attacks to President Barack Obama reportedly reached the White House.

A White House source confirmed the delivery of Khalid Sheik Mohammeds letter to the Miami Herald on Monday, but failed to say whether Obama had read it.

Mohammeds lawyer David Nevin told the Herald that the 51-year-old wrote to Obama about Muslim oppression at the hand of the West in general and the United States in particular."

Nevin also said the letter also delves into Iraq during the time of U.S. sanctions and touches on Palestine and Gaza over the years.

The Miami Herald reported that the Guantanamo Bay detention center refused to deliver the letter, until Army Col. James L. Pohl made a point of getting the package to Obama before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Pohl reportedly ruled there was no legal basis for continued sealing of the letters contents. The prison was allowed to scrub the letter of so-called sensitive information before it can be posted on the Pentagon war court website.

Mohammed is currently waiting a death penalty trial at Guantanamo.

Click for more from the Miami Herald.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was on offense Wednesday during her confirmation hearing to become United Nations ambassador, blasting the U.N. for its treatment of Israel and taking a tough line against Russia.

Haley, during her testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also questioned the disproportionate funding the U.N. receives from the U.S., asking if America is "getting what we pay for?"

We contribute 22 percent of the U.N.s budget, far more than any other country, Haley said. We are a generous nation. But we must ask ourselves what good is being accomplished by this disproportionate contribution."

President-elect Donald Trump has been a ferocious critic of the U.N. and just as fierce an advocate for Israel during his brief political career, and Haley echoed those principles.

Nowhere has the U.N.s failure been more consistent and more outrageous than in its bias against our close ally Israel, Haley said.

She added: I will not go to New York and abstain when the U.N. seeks to create an international environment that encourages boycotts of Israel. I will never abstain when the United Nations takes any action that comes in direct conflict with the interests and values of the United States.

Those remarks come on the heels of a controversial December abstention by the U.S. during a Security Council vote that called on Israel to stop building settlements. The move  or lack of one  was heavily criticized by Israeli leaders and also faced condemnation from many domestic politicians, including Trump. Though the U.N. has been historically hostile to Israel, U.S. policy has typically had America stand with the Jewish democracy.

While Trump -- and to some extent Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson -- has been relatively loathe to criticize Russia and President Vladimir Putin, Haley did not shy away from calling the Kremlin's actions in Syria "atrocities" and agreed with Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., that some bombings in Aleppo constituted "war crimes." She also said Russia's incursion into Crimea was "a big concern."

"I think Russia is going to continue to be at the forefront of a lot of issues that we have to deal with," Haley said.

TRUMP CHOOSES HALEY AS U.N. AMBASSADOR NOMINEE

During her opening remarks, Haley admitted she was a novice at international diplomacy but noted "diplomacy itself is not new to me," highlighting her experience as governor bringing together people with different backgrounds, viewpoints and objectives.

Haley named Syria, Iran and North Korea as the "world's worst human rights abusers" and said the American people were "fed up" with the U.N.'s inability to affect real change in countries of concern.

"The time has come for American strength once again," she said.

Haley also spoke about the importance of human rights at home and abroad.

Asked about Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's "extra-judicial killings," Haley said the practice violated basic human rights. She also told Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., there would be no so-called "Muslim registry" in the U.S.

"This administration and I don't think there should be any registry based on religion," Haley said.

While Haley is not thought to be a major target of Democrats looking to derail some of Trumps Cabinet picks, her hearing could end up being a repeat of Tillersons tense Senate appearance last week.

I think shell get many of the same questions Mr. Tillerson did, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said prior to the hearing. It will be interesting to hear how she handles those questions differently.

The South Carolina-born daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley at 38 became the nation's youngest governor in January 2011 and was easily re-elected in 2014. She turns 45 on Inauguration Day.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
He was convicted of trying to overthrow the government, and named a leader of a terrorist group that bombed public buildings and killed people.

Now, President Obama's decision to commute the sentence of FALN member Oscar Lopez Rivera has sparked outrage from terror victims.

"I'm disgusted by what the president did. It's a travesty," said Joe Connor, whose father was killed in an infamous FALN terrorist bombing in Manhattan.

"The enemies of our country are being rewarded, and being treated as if they are heroes. What we hear is that Oscar Lopez Rivera did not get to know his family. Well, neither did my father. The victims and the Americans get pushed aside."

Rivera has been serving a 55-year federal prison sentence for being a leader of the Puerto Rican terrorist group, which sought independence for the U.S. island territory. The FALN claimed responsibility for over 70 bombings in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago from 1974 to 1983. The attacks killed five people and wounded dozens more, including police officers.

In 1981, Lopez Rivera was convicted of seditious conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government and arms trafficking. He was later sentenced to serve 15 more years behind bars for trying to escape twice, and he never renounced his radical cause.

In 1999, on the eve of Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate run in New York, her husband, President Clinton, commuted the sentences of 16 imprisoned FALN members. But Lopez Rivera reportedly turned the offer down, refusing to be released unless all of his comrades were released from prison.

Now, 18 years later, he will be walking out of the federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., a free man, his sentence cut short by 34 years.

"I went to his parole hearing in 2011," said Connor. "We were looking for some sort of reconciliation, some sort of admission, some sort of atonement. We didn't get any of that. He is a sworn terrorist, and for the president to release a sworn terrorist for political reasons, or whatever reason, is a disgrace."

Joe was only 9 years old when his father Frank went to have lunch at the historic Fraunces Tavern, near Wall Street, on Jan. 24, 1975. The colonial landmark is where President George Washington bid farewell to his troops on Dec. 4, 1783. That is why the symbol of the nation was targeted.

As Frank had lunch, a bomb suddenly exploded, killing him and three others. More than 60 people were injured. Frank Connor was 33 years old, and since then his son has taken up the crusade to speak out against terrorism and freedom for the killers. He says Lopez Rivera never admitted or accepted responsibility for his acts, never expressed any remorse, and that the president's decision sends a horrible message.

"It does nothing but encourage terrorism, it makes you think that at some point, terrorism will be forgiven," he said.

Lopez Rivera has become a cause celebre among some Latino officials and celebrities, who have claimed he is a freedom fighter unfairly imprisoned for his political beliefs. His supporters range from Broadway's "Hamilton" creator Lin Manuel Miranda to several members of Congress, the mayor of San Juan, the speaker of the New York City Council, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. More than 100,000 people signed a petition urging Obama to grant the clemency.

I think it is an historic moment for the Puerto Rican people," said Lopez Rivera's brother, Jose, who lives in Chicago.

"It's a moment where we can say the president of the United States, this President Obama, has really shown that we have to reach a level of reconciliation. My brother went to prison and charged with seditious conspiracy for exposing the fact that the U.S. is a colonial power in Puerto Rico," he said.

Connor countered, "There are no political prisoners, the United States does not hold political prisoners, these were terrorists."

Connor is also calling for the extradition of American fugitives from Cuba, including convicted cop killer and Black Liberation Army member Joanne Chesimard and FALN chief bomb maker Willie Morales. Morales has been called the suspected mastermind of the Fraunces Tavern bombing that killed Joe's father and he remains protected by the Castro regime even as he is on the FBI's Most Wanted List with a $100,000 reward offered for his capture.

"We have 70 or 80 fugitives in Cuba, and we have to now look to the Trump administration and say, hey we have to bring back Willie Morales," Connor said.

"We need justice, and my father deserved that justice. He was a good man, and the rest of the people who were murdered by the FALN deserve justice."

Lopez Rivera will walk out of prison a free man on May 17, and President Trump, by U.S. law, will not be able to reverse the decision.

Follow Eric Shawn on Twitter @EricShawnTV

Fox News Jen Oliva contributed to this report.
President Obama, at his final press conference in office, on Wednesday defended his controversial decision to commute the bulk of Chelsea Mannings 35-year prison term for leaking classified documents  claiming the former intelligence analyst served a tough sentence, and disputing the notion that clemency could embolden future leakers.

I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent, the president said.

The president has faced mounting bipartisan criticism over the commutation, announced as part of a late wave of clemency decisions a day earlier. Manning, who has served more than six years of the 35-year sentence, will now be released in May.

The president also used his last meeting with the press to discuss his plans for life after the White House, offer general advice to successor Donald Trump and even offer a few kind words about the media. The session for the most part was not contentious, but he did start by responding to critics who warned his decision with Manning set a dangerous precedent.

Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence, so the notion that the average person who is thinking about disclosing vital classified information would think that it goes unpunished, I dont think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served, Obama argued.

Citing the time served and saying Mannings sentence was disproportionate, Obama said: It made sense to commute, and not pardon, her sentencing.

The former Army analyst, a transgender woman who was known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, had asked Obama last November to commute her sentence for giving classified government and military documents to the WikiLeaks website.

But Fox News has learned that outgoing Defense Secretary Ash Carter and other top Army leaders recommended against the commutation.

Republicans blasted the decision with House Speaker Paul Ryan calling it "outrageous" and saying Obama had set a "dangerous precedent" that anyone guilty of compromising U.S. national security will no longer have to pay for their crimes.

In an interview with Fox News set to air Wednesday on Special Report with Bret Baier, Vice President-elect Mike Pence said the commutation was a mistake.

Private Manning is a traitor and should not have been turned into a martyr, he said.  Private Manning's actions compromised our national security, endangered American personnel downrange, compromised  individuals in Afghanistan who were cooperating with our forces by leaking 750,000 documents to WikiLeaks.

Obama has two days left in office, before transferring power Friday to President-elect Trump, who has vowed to overhaul, unravel or at least revisit a number of major Obama policies including his signature health law.

The outgoing president largely refrained Wednesday from directly criticizing Trump or his plans, instead advising that hell have to end up relying on his team.

You cant do [this job] by yourself, he said.

Obama also said, in response to a question about the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, "If youre going to make big shifts in policy, just make sure youve thought it through."

Obama also used his final presidential press conference to thank the media for holding his administrations feet to the fire, urging them to continue with the same tenacity after he leaves. In the year ahead, Obama said he plans to do some writing, reflect and spend time with his wife Michelle and his two daughters.

Those are my priorities this year, he said.

But he said he could be speaking out if he sees a threat to core values, including concerns about discrimination, obstacles to voting rights and the deportation of illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.

That, in particular, he said, would be something that would merit me speaking out.

He added, It doesnt mean that I would get on the ballot anywhere.

Asked about his place in history as the first black president, Obama said the country eventually would see others of every race and faith rise up to claim the office, though reiterating that weve got more work to do on race.

He closed the session by talking about his daughters and voicing confidence in Americas future: At my core, I think were going to be okay.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Obama is making one last push to secure appointments for dozens of political allies, celebrity athletes and members of his administration before he leaves office Friday.

The White House announced a wave of nearly 60 appointments earlier this week to relatively obscure commissions, boards and other bodies -- which, despite being largely unpaid positions, still offer a degree of prestige and influence for those chosen.

These assignments included:

National Security Adviser Susan Rice and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett as general trustees of the Board of Trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes and former Michelle Obama head speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz as members of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

Deputy National Security Adviser Avril Haines as a member of the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service.

Chelsea Clintons mother-in-law, Marjorie Margolies, as a member on the Commission for the Preservation of Americas Heritage Abroad.

It is not unusual for presidents to find such positions for allies in the last days of their tenure. President George W. Bush also announced late appointments at the beginning of his final month in the White House.

But former Bush senior adviser Karl Rove, a Fox News contributor, said there was one notable difference.

If he has vacancies on these boards, he can certainly fill those, but whats unusual is that a lot of them seem to require Senate confirmation, he told FoxNews.com. We made similar moves, but probably had our act together and had fewer slots to fill.

David Goodfriend, former deputy staff secretary to President Bill Clinton, told FoxNews.com there is nothing wrong with such appointments.

Theyre all Americans and great public servants and were lucky to have them continue to serve, he said.

In addition to the current and former administration staffers, Obama also appointed to the Presidents Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition:

Retired NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, also a vocal critic of President-elect Donald Trump

Gabrielle Douglas, U.S. Olympic gymnast gold medalist

American soccer player Carli Lloyd

The term limits for these posts range from four years to life.

Press Secretary Josh Earnest, at his final White House press briefing on Tuesday, defended the late appointments for friends and allies.

This is sending a clear signal to Congress about who are the people who are qualified for these jobs, and this can send clear signals, both in terms of career trajectory, and that the president has confidence in their ability, Earnest said in the briefing. Even if theyre not confirmed, there may be future opportunities where they can continue to serve the United States.

Earnest wrapped by saying there are many deserving Americans put forward by the administration that were treated in breathtakingly unfair ways by Congress.

Thats a source of disappointment we continue to feel, Earnest said.

Richard Painter, White House ethics attorney under George W. Bush, told FoxNews.com that while there were a large number of appointments, they were to relatively low-level posts.

You have a 98 percent takeover by the new administration, but you will have some people on these boards who are carryovers, and I think thats good for the bipartisan nature of this country, Painter said. Its a quite dramatic shift from one party to another, and it works, but I do think there should be some participation from Democrats in this new administration  youll have Democrats working with Republicans, and it will help socially.

Trump would appear to have limited say for many of the appointees if theyre confirmed. Only a few of the posts Obama filled have term limits that specify they serve at the discretion of the President, meaning Trump could ask them to step down.

Trump will do the same thing at the end of his presidency -- hell use his powers to the bitter end, Goodfriend said. And hes allowed to do that -- they all are -- thats what the Constitution says.
Inmates meet their religious counselors in this room adjacent to the execution

chamber shortly before their execution is carried out. Tokyo Detention Center.

Japan is one of the few developed countries to still have the death penalty. Documentary filmmaker Mori Tatsuya looks at the issue of capital punishment and tries to answer the question of why 80% of the Japanese populace supports judicial executions.





Choosing Who Lives and Dies





In July 2016, Japan was shocked by the stabbing deaths of 19 residents of a disabled care facility in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. Public outrage swelled when a letter surfaced that was written by the perpetrator, a former employee of the facility, shortly before the incident. In this, he brashly declared that killing the mentally disabled helped minimize misery and that his actions were for the good of Japan and world peace. People across Japan condemned the killer for his eugenic thinking, proclaiming that all life has meaning and that no person has the right to choose who should live and who should die.





I agree that all human life is precious. It defies being ranked or quantified. Yet, if the public outcry we heard after the Sagamihara murders is to be believed, then I am obliged to point out that Japanese society remains willfully ignorant of the eugenic undertones of capital punishment.





The death penalty is the intentional and unnatural taking of human life that a court of law has judged to no longer have meaning or value. In Japan there is broad public support for the system, with more than 80% of citizens approving of judicial executions.





What is important to consider here is not that there is capital punishment in Japan, but why so many people in the country avert their eyes to the reality it represents. People, of course, are cognizant that Japan enforces the death penalty. However, they only give it passing recognition. Hardly anyone in their daily lives ever stops to consider how an inmate is actually put to death, what passes through their mind at the end, or how they spend their final days. More significantly, very few people ever contemplate what having the death penalty means to society.





Aum Shinrikyo on Death Row





For many years my interest in capital punishment was the same as most other Japanese. I felt it was a just and fair punishment for a person who had committed the grave crime of murder. I never questioned why a person who had taken another's life should also die. My confidence began to waver, however, after I interviewed 6 leaders of Aum Shinrikyo sitting on death row while I was shooting a documentary about the cult. As I sat and talked with these individuals the reality that I was speaking with people who were waiting to be killed gradually sank in.





Of course, all of us will die someday. Perhaps it will be in an accident, from illness, or simply due to old age. However, these were not to be the fate of the six men I sat speaking to through thick, transparent acrylic panels. These individuals were slated to be legally murdered.





Each of the cult leaders I interviewed said they regretted what they had done in the name of religious fanaticism. Many choked back tears, saying that it was only fair when considering how family members of victims must feel that they too should be killed.





I met with them many times. We also exchanged letters. When we talked, their words were not always those of regret. There were times when we joked and smiled. When I misunderstood a particular detail of their crime one might shout reproachfully, "It wasn't like that at all, Mori!" In short, these men were normal human beings. In some respects you could even say they were kinder and more genuine and upright than many people I had met.





Somehow I could not make sense of it. It is a sin to kill. These men had broken this fundamental human law, and as punishment they would be legally put to death. The logic defied me. I could not understand why they had to die or why society seemed justified in killing them.





This experience led me to begin reporting on capital punishment. In my work I interviewed a wide variety of people and pondered countless aspects as I struggled to gain an understanding of the issue. After more than 2 years of reporting, I compiled my experiences and thoughts into the book Shikei (Capital Punishment).





Allow me to begin with my conclusion: there is no one overriding, logical argument that justifies the death penalty. Japanese who are in favor of capital punishment like to cite its effectiveness in deterring crime. By this logic, then, one would expect public safety in the 2/3 of the world's nations that have abolished the death penalty to be in decline. The statistics, however, do not clearly bear this out. In fact, sociological research overwhelmingly shows the death penalty serves no significant function as a crime deterrent.





Many advocates of abolishing capital punishment point to the risk posed by false convictions. Proponents of the system, however, argue that such risks exist for all forms of criminal punishment and that abolishing the death penalty based on such a premise would effectively undermine the very foundation of the criminal justice system.





This is a false argument as the 2 punishments could not be more different. Incarceration restricts a criminal's freedom, whereas capital punishment results in their death. While behind bars there is hope that an offender can be rehabilitated and eventually rejoin society. Executing a prisoner eliminates any such chance. Imagine a legal system where the punishment for breaking a person's arm was to break the arm of the perpetrator. This would be no different than the eye-for-an-eye reprisals of the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi and would hardly be compatible with the spirit of modern jurisprudence. Yet the death penalty is the lone form of criminal punishment that is still based on this ancient idea of retributive justice. Its finality - once carried out a prisoner can never be freed if later found innocent - gives the potential of wrongful conviction weightiness far beyond that of other punishments.





Out of Consideration for Victim's Families





Ultimately, many death penalty advocates do not rely on logical arguments, but base their position on the feelings of the family of victims. When a heinous killing occurs in Japan, the media is quick to play up the bitterness and hatred of the victim's relatives toward the attacker. Exposed to this emotionally charged coverage, readers and viewers naturally feel sympathy toward the family, certain they would harbor the same thoughts if it was one of their own loved ones who had been murdered. Seen in this light, the death penalty serves to assuage the grief and anger of the victim's family. Its justification, then, does not have a logical foundation, but is based on the raw desire for retribution.





Society, of course, must do all it can to help and support family members in dealing with such an incomprehensible act of violence as murder. There is an endless array of issues that families face, many of which can be addressed through social programs providing emotional and psychological care. However, supporting survivors and vengeance against the perpetrator do not occupy the same space. If maturity is responding to calamity in a calm and logical manner, then we must say that Japan has yet to grow up when it comes to considering the death penalty.





When I make the case for ending capital punishment I am often asked if I would feel the same if my own child had been killed. I generally preface my response by acknowledging the sheer impossibility of knowing how I would react, and then follow by saying that instead of the death penalty I would prefer to kill the perpetrator with my own hands.





Understandably, many people are taken aback by this and some even accuse me of having double standards. My response is that it is only natural to have double standards. If my child was killed, I would suffer from the crime too.





It is important that we try to empathize with the victim and their family. Yet it is also important that we acknowledge that we can never truly understand their thoughts and emotions without experiencing a similar trauma in our own lives.





Many family members of victims that I have met are wracked by guilt, even while harboring a strong desire for retribution. They endlessly berate themselves, asking such questions as "Why did I let you go out that night?" or "Why did I take my eyes off you?" These are the things that while kneeling alone in front of the family Buddhist altar they repeatedly wail to their lost loved ones. Carrying such remorse must be a living hell. People who support the death penalty, however, have no way of understanding such heartrending agony. Even as they tell me in voices quivering with emotion how they understand the feelings of the survivors, all they can really relate to is a banal desire for revenge.





The truth is that more than 1/2 of all murders in Japan are committed by family members. In such situations it is difficult for others in the family to speak out, and the media, too, tends to tone down its coverage. As a result, a majority of murders in Japan go unnoticed by the public, and very few people are even willing to imagine that surviving family members of these killings exist.





Again, if one is going to hold up the feelings of family members as a pillar for maintaining capital punishment, then should we not seek a lighter sentence if the victim has no immediate family? This is not logical, of course, but such crimes actually occur. If such exceptions were made, however, the very cornerstone of modern criminal justice would collapse. In short, emotion would defeat logic, a situation that would invite innumerable legal inconsistencies. The 80% of the population who support the death penalty choose to remain oblivious to this contradiction. Instead of honestly and logically considering the issue, they avert their eyes. This is where Japan stands today regarding capital punishment.





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Source: nippon.com, Mori Tatsuya, January 17, 2017
The mayor of Philadelphia said in an interview Tuesday that he does not know what to expect from a Donald Trump administration, and said he would prefer George W. Bush.

Id take George W. back in a minute, Mayor Jim Kenney said, according to Politico. If it was bush, Reagan, Romney, McCain, youd kind of know what to get ready for. I dont know what to get ready for.

The Democratic mayor went on to criticize Trumps pick for secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson and his nominee for Attorney General, Jeff Sessions.

Trump does not appear to be a favorite among Philly mayors. Former Mayor Michael Nutter reportedly wanted to ban him from the city.
Donald Trump, on a war footing against the media, is now trying to discredit stories even before they air.

In a prebuttal on Twitter, he wrote that @CNN, of all places, is doing a Special Report on my daughter, Ivanka. Considering it is CNN, cant imagine it will be great!

As Trump heads for Fridays inauguration under a barrage of negative headlines, no president has ever taken office on such a war footing against the fourth estate. Theres a fascinating nugget in yesterdays Washington Post poll about the tense relationship between the two sides.

(I should pause here for another Trump tweet: The same people who did the phony election polls, and were so wrong, are now doing approval rating polls. They are rigged just like before. The Post poll echoes Gallup, Quinnipiac and CNN in saying Trump has a 40 percent approval rating, while the last four presidents-elect were in the 60s and 70s.)

But theres an even split over the coverage of Trump, with 49 percent saying the media have treated him fairly and 47 percent unfairly.

When the question is reversed, however, 57 percent say Trump is treating the media unfairly, and 38 percent say fairly.

Leaving aside the sharp divide between Republicans and Democrats on this and other questions, the finding suggests that much of the public is turned off by his attacks on the dishonest media.

I dont think this reflects any great love for the news business, whose credibility is at record lows. But it might indicate a sense that Trump should be more selective in his attacks, whether hes beating up on the press or on those who attacked him first, from John Lewis to Meryl Streep.

But if the incoming president seems to be playing defense, lets remember hes in an environment in which 58 House Democrats are boycotting his inauguration. So much for the country coming together for the peaceful transfer of power, with hardly a disapproving note from the press.

At the same time, Trump is being hit with headlines like this: As Trump Era Arrives, a Global Sense of Uncertainty. (Fair enough to quote nervous foreign leaders, but it coincides with a largely sympathetic six-part series on President Obama, including an interview on the books he loves to read.)

Politico, in Trumps Divided State of America, says since the election he has done more to court Vladimir Putin than the 74 million Americans who voted for other presidential candidatesor the tens of millions who didn't vote at all.. Trumps Presidency Is Doomed, says Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen.

So when we evaluate Trumps handling of the transition, its important to look at both sides. The man who vowed to drain the swamp is finding that plenty of swamp creatures are fighting back.

As for the president-elects tweet about CNNs Ivanka Trump special, well, it went a bit awry. He used @Ivanka, the Twitter handle of a British digital consultant named Ivanka Majic, who responded: May I suggest more care on Twitter and more time learning about #climate change.
Outside Brownsville, the 'wall' is made of rust-colored steel bars embedded in concrete. Elsewhere, it's a mix of steel and metal mesh.

In other spots across the southwest, it's nothing at all.

The southern border barrier that separates the U.S. from Mexico is in fact a mishmash of materials that stops and starts at various points across hundreds of miles. FoxNews.com visited one patchy section in southern Texas. Together, the inconsistencies show how big a task President-elect Donald Trump would be taking on if he pursues his big, beautiful wall on the border.

Skeptics are hardly in short supply in this region.

In border city Brownsville, Democratic Mayor Tony Martinez is convinced a wall wont work.

It just boggles the mind, he told FoxNews.com. Why are we playing this charade? Its a form of deception to the American people.

CARTELS EXPLOIT BORDER WALL FEARS

Opinions in border communities like Del Rio, Laredo, Brownsville, Mission and McAllen are split. While almost everyone FoxNews.com spoke with said security needs to be beefed up, they question whether the wall is feasible.

Given the inconsistent barrier in place now, residents could be forgiven for having a hard time visualizing the kind of epic construction feat Trump wants to achieve.

The U.S.-Mexico border, all told, stretches more than 1,900 miles from the coast of California to the southern tip of Texas. Right now, 654 miles of that has fencing of some kind.

The kind of fence varies from location to location.

The El Paso sector, for example, uses post-on-rail steel set in concrete in some sections and a steel mesh fence in others. In San Diego, a bollard fence with cantilever  the kind used for federal buildings  is in place. In Yuma, its a metal mesh fence.

But the landscape along the south Texas border is diverse and unlike parts of New Mexico, Arizona, California, it zig-zags through the river, and cuts through peoples backyards, farmers fields and even the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley campus.

Its really a totally stupid thing, Cameron County Sherriff Omar Lucio told FoxNews.com of the current set-up. Its 10 feet high and has huge openings.

Lucio, who is responsible for protecting a large swath of south Texas, says some border crossers skip the wall altogether and use the mouth of the Rio Grande River to raft across from Matamoros, Mexico -- something a border wall might not be able to stop, either.

Illegal immigrants also can take advantage of other gaps in the wall along terrain too tough or expansive to patrol regularly.

Most agents are in favor of some sort of wall or fence, although a wall alone wont make the country safer, Jon Anfinsen, president of Local 2366 of the National Border Patrol Council, told FoxNews.com. There are other sectors that will simply not support a wall because of the terrain, so a wall has to be combined with new technology and additional manpower to make the country safer.

Anfinsen says while other sectors could support a wall on most or all of its border in their areas, his is too hilly to feasibly make a wall on its entire stretch of border.

The border fence was authorized under the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which was passed by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed by President George W. Bush. The legislation OKd hundreds of miles of fencing along the Mexico border.

Since then, its been tweaked. Then-Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison pushed a measure that would give the Department of Homeland Security the authority to decide what type of fence should go up in different areas  the reason why there are so many different types of border barriers in place today.

As the border was being redrawn  in south Texas, its almost 2 miles north of the natural border of the Rio Grande River  people who had homes or businesses there paid the price.

Ray Loops family farm sits at the southernmost point along the border. Big, rusty 18-foot high steel bars courtesy of the federal government now dissect sections of it.

There are also gaps  lots of them, which border crossers use to make it over. Sometimes, theyll hide in his citrus bushes waiting for the all clear. If that doesnt work, they climb over on parts of the border that are lower.

It takes them about a minute and a half to climb the wall, he said.

Brownsvilles mayor showed FoxNews.com some of the holes in the wall. In one spot, the rust-colored bars end and a much shorter green fence begins. Its easily traversable by migrant workers, asylum seekers, drug smugglers and human traffickers.

But Martinez says building a bigger, better wall like Trump has proposed wont stop those determined to make it into U.S. territory.

Instead, he believes cross-border communication with Mexican authorities would go a long way toward cutting down on illegal immigration.

Cindy Johnson, a deaconess at United Methodist Women in Brownsville who works with illegal immigrants, agrees. As a lifelong resident of Brownsville, she urged Washington lawmakers against rushing to judgment on the benefits of a border wall.

Lawmakers whove never even visited border communities shouldnt be determining their futures, Johnson told FoxNews.com.
Top Congressional Republicans condemned Tuesday the decision by President Barack Obama to commute former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Mannings 35-year prison sentence for leaking classified documents.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., blasted the decision, calling it outrageous.

Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets. President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes, Ryan said in a statement.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the decision was a grave mistake.

"It is a sad, yet perhaps fitting commentary on President Obamas failed national security policies that he would commute the sentence of an individual that endangered the lives of American troops, diplomats, and intelligence sources by leaking hundreds of thousands of sensitive government documents to Wikileaks, a virulently anti-American organization that was a tool of Russias recent interference in our elections."

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, went on further to echo the statements of Ryan and McCain.

It is shameful that President Obama is siding with lawbreakers and the ACLU against the men and women who work every day to defend our nation and safeguard U.S. government secrets.

OBAMA COMMUTES CHELSEA MANNINGS SENTENCE FOR LEAKING ARMY DOCUMENTS

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, told Fox News that while pardons are a Constitutional tool in the president's repertoire, Obama is "undermining our ability on criminal justice reform by granting clemency at an alarming rate."

According to ABC News, Defense Secretary Ash Carter was one of the U.S. officials who were also opposed to the White Houses decision to commute Mannings sentence.

Manning is more than six years into a 35-year sentence at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for leaking classified government and military documents to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. Her sentence is now set to expire May 17.

Manning was known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman.

Manning accepted responsibility for leaking the material to WikiLeaks to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians, and has said she was confronting gender dysphoria at the time of the leaks while deployed in Iraq.

She attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers, citing her treatment at Leavenworth.

Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, said the president's action "quite literally save Chelsea's life."

WILL WIKILEAKS JULIAN ASSANGE MAKE GOOD ON HIS OFFER TO TURN HIMSELF IN AFTER MANNING CLEMENCY?

In a conference call with White House reporters, an official said the decision to grant a commutation to Manning was not influence anyway by Julian Assange or WikiLeaks. A separate White House official said that more commutations should be expected before Obama leaves office.

The U.S. Army declined to comment on the announcement when asked by The Associated Press.

WikiLeaks said earlier this week that Assange would accept extradition to the U.S. if Obama granted clemency to Manning.

Commutations reduce sentences being served but don't erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Most of the other people receiving commutations were serving sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.

Fox News Chad Pergram and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
President-elect Donald Trump met Tuesday with the head of Boeing at Trump Tower to continue dialog about the costs of the Air Force One program.

Reuters reported Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said that the pair had made great progress on simplifying requirements for Air Force One. They also said Muilenburg suggested a deal could be reached "in the very near term."

Muilenburg told Reuters, "we were able to talk about options for the country and capabilities that will, again, provide the best capability for our war fighters most affordably.

Mr. Trump is doing a great job of engaging business," Muilenburg said. We're proud to take on that mission and I think Mr Trump's engagement with industry is going to help us grow manufacturing jobs in this country."

Last month, Muilenburg met with Trump and told him that his company could build a cheaper Air Force One for less than originally quoted.

Trump took to Twitter to blast the company for alleged cost overruns, saying they should cancel the contract.

I don't need a $4.2 billion airplane to fly around in, Trump told Fox News Sunday earlier this month, referring to Air Force One.

Boeing said a contract for $170 million for Boeing 747 planes, but said no cost has been finalized yet, Reuters reported.

Muilenburg has appeared to strike an agreeable tone with the incoming president and said he made a personal commitment on behalf of the Boeing company.

"I appreciate the teamwork approach on this - I think it's the right way to do business," Muilenburg said.


EXCLUSIVE: President-elect Donald Trump told Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt that he doesn't mind Democratic members of Congress boycotting his inauguration, saying "I hope they give me their tickets."

At least 60 Democratic members of the House of Representatives have opted to miss Friday's ceremonies, most notably Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who said last week that he did not consider Trump a "legitimate" president.

"I think he just grandstanded, John Lewis, and then he got caught in a very bad lie, so lets see what happens," said Trump, referencing Lewis' initial claim that Trumps would be the first inauguration hes missed  despite having previously boycotted George W. Bush's 2001 inauguration.

Lewis office later claimed they had forgotten that incident, but Trump said: You dont forget something like that.

Trump said hed be willing to sit down with Lewis but added, Were off to a bad start.

As for other lawmakers not attending, Trump said, thats OK, because we need seats so badly, I hope they give me their tickets."

Trump spoke exclusively to Earhardt in an interview that aired Wednesday morning on "Fox & Friends." Earhardt joined "Hannity" Tuesday night to preview the sit-down.

"Immediately when I sat down, I said How are you doing? because wed been with him on the campaign trail for basically two years," Earhardt told Sean Hannity, "and he said, Its been exhausting, its been hard because Ive had to hire a lot of people."

Just days away from succeeding President Obama in the Oval Office, Trump discussed his plans for tackling a variety of issues, including his vow to repeal and replace ObamaCare at the same time.

Trump also addressed questions about whether his administration might move the location of the White House briefings  saying his team has since backed off those discussions, but warning that keeping the existing room will continue to cause space issues.

The press went crazy, so I said, lets not move it. But some people in the press will not be able to get in, because theres just too many  for this small room, Trump said.

The president-elect touched on his use of social media, which he says will continue after he is sworn in as the 45th president.

"Look, I dont like tweeting. I have other things I could be doing," Trump told Earhardt. "But I get very dishonest media, very dishonest press, and its my only way that I can get out and correct.

"Now, Im going to be close to 50 million people  including Facebook and Instagram and things, Im going to be close to 50 million people," Trump added. "So when people misrepresent me ... I have at least a way of saying its a false statement. Now, if the press were honest, which its not, I would absolutely not use Twitter. I wouldnt have to."
The third of six sunken Spanish ships that were lost in a hurricane in 1559 has been discovered off the coast of Pensacola, Florida.

In the summer of 2016, the wreck of the ship, dubbed the Emanuel Point III, was found resting under the sand 7 feet below the ocean surface in Pensacola Bay. Archaeologists have found the ship's hull, ballast rocks and ceramic artifacts in the wreckage. The ship was part of a failed colonization attempt by Spain that took place just 60 years after Christopher Columbus first sailed across the Atlantic.

"The shipwrecks themselves are giving us insights into these amazing machines they were developing for these voyages that were never really happening before," marine archaeologist Greg Cook, of the University of West Florida, told Live Science. [ Images: See the Lost Luna Shipwreck and Artifacts]

A failed colony

The recently discovered ship was part of a fleet that was led by Don Tristan de Luna, a conquistador who attempted to be the first European to establish a permanent colony in North America. The Spanish fleet launched from Vera Cruz, Mexico, Cook said, with 12 ships carrying a total of 1,500 would-be colonists onboard. It landed in Pensacola Bay on Aug. 15, 1559. On Sept. 19, a hurricane struck . The colonists lost seven ships and many of their supplies, which were being stored onboard.

"It went from being a pretty well-prepared expedition, 24 hours later, to being a survival camp," Cook said.

Some colonists died in the hurricane. The rest tried to push inland, but they lasted only until 1561 before abandoning the settlement. After the disaster, the king of Spain gave up on colonizing the land around the Gulf of Mexico and decided to focus on the East Coast instead, Cook said. St. Augustine, Florida, which was founded four years later in 1565, would go on to achieve the title of the first permanent North American settlement.

The first lost ship in the de Luna fleet, the Emanuel Point I, was found in 1992, and the second, dubbed the Emanuel Point II, was discovered in 2007. In 2015, a local historian noticed pottery shards at a construction site in a residential neighborhood abutting the bay. University of West Florida archaeologists found that the shards were Spanish artifacts dating to the 16th century. The shards were the first terrestrial evidence of the colonists' temporary home, known as the Luna settlement.

New find

As part of a research grant to study the Emanuel Point II wreck and look for more ships, Cook and his colleagues conducted a survey, which was colloquially called "mowing the lawn," between the site of the Luna settlement and the two known shipwrecks. During the survey, marine archaeologists went back and forth in straight lines with a magnetometer, which detects magnetic anomalies from metal on the seafloor. In the summer of 2016, the researchers found roughly 100 magnetic anomalies, Cook said, including one in a sandy-bottomed spot in about 7 feet of water. The Emanuel Point I and Point II shipwrecks are in about 12 feet of water. All of the wrecks are named after a nearby peninsula, since the original ship names aren't known.

"We thought this would be a good opportunity for students to learn how to do searches," Cook said. The bay is full of metal garbage, he said, from old fishing traps to dumped cars and even discarded pizza ovens, so the team wasn't expecting a blockbuster find.

"Nine times out of 10, it can be some wire rope from a barge, or a fish trap or crab trap," Cook said.

But within a few minutes of diving, the student archaeologists reported that their probes were hitting rock under the sand. They excavated by hand to find large cobbles  the same sort used as ballast in 16th-century ships. Soon, they turned up ceramic artifacts as well.

Artifacts of life

That wasn't enough evidence to prove that they had found a shipwreck, though, Cook said. Ships often dumped ballast if they had to take on more cargo, and those piles of rock can mimic the look of a wreck. The team applied to the state of Florida for permission to do a more intensive exploration with dredges.

"It wasn't until we could dig through and see that we had intact hull timbers that we were willing to say we had a wreck," Cook said. [ Shipwrecks Gallery: Secrets of the Deep ]

The excavation turned up the ship's frame, outer hull planking and more artifacts, including fragments of olive jars, which were used to carry food, wine and other supplies.

Of the seven ships that were destroyed by the 1559 hurricane, six went down in the bay and one was grounded on shore, Cook said. That means that three more wrecks from the de Luna expedition remain to be found. The artifacts onboard tell archaeologists more about the day-to-day life on these expeditions than leaders like de Luna would ever think to include in their letters, Cook said. For example, on the Emanuel Point II, the team discovered an ivory manicure set deep in a ballast pile, complete with toothpick and ear scoop, he said. The set, which looked a bit like a Swiss army knife, even had a whistle on it that still worked after 450 years, Cook said. It probably belonged to one of the major officers in the fleet, perhaps even to de Luna himself.

"When that was lost, I'm sure it really ruined someone's day," Cook said.

The team members have covered the initial, excavated portions of the Emanuel Point III with sand to preserve the wood. They're currently finishing documenting the Emanuel Point II and will likely return to study the third shipwreck in more detail next summer, Cook said. They also plan to keep surveying for more lost de Luna ships.

Original article on Live Science .
Delta Air Lines announced Tuesday that it will begin providing dedicated diversity training for its flight crews.

The announcement comes amid scathing criticism of the airline on social media since a midair incident in October, when a black physician who volunteered to assist an ailing passenger said a flight attendant told her, oh no sweetie put ur hand down, we are looking for actual physicians or nurses or some type of medical personnel, we don't have time to talk to you.

Delta made the training mandatory for executives last year and will start training its 23,000 flight attendants this spring, airline spokesman Brian Kruse confirmed to FoxNews.com.

AIR INDIA INTRODUCES WOMEN-ONLY ROWS TO COMBAT REPORTED INCIDENTS OF GROPING

"As part of Deltas ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts, the airline launched inclusion training four months ago for Delta leaders," Kruse said in an emailed statement to FoxNews.com, noting that "cultural sensitivity training has long been part of Deltas flight crew curriculum."

Though Kruse would not specify when the training would be completed, he noted that "some of the flight attendant groups [will be] the first to participate" in the training.

American Airlines requires flight attendants to attend a refresher course every two years; Southwest Airlines mandates that new hires attend anti-discrimination and anti-harassment courses; and United Airlines requires all employees who interact with customers to receive recurrent diversity training. Kruse says Delta has been doing some type of diveristy training for over 15 years.

Delta said it moved up its decision to require diversity training after Tamika Cross, a Houston-based gynecologist, wrote about her snub on Facebook, adding that the flight attendant then permitted a white male physician to attend to the passenger.

Were using this incident and others as an opportunity to improve, Kruse told Bloomberg referring to the viral post.

Their brand reputation is critical, and you dont want that reputation to be damaged, Jason Wingard, dean of Columbia Universitys School of Professional Studies and a consultant on diversity issues, told Bloomberg.

Success for consumer-facing companies such as airlines is tied to customer loyalty and emotions, Wingard said.

In another widely reported incident, Delta CEO Ed Bastian banned a passenger for life in November after he was videotaped yelling in support of President-elect Donald Trump. Bastian also refunded the other passengers tickets.

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The heightened tension in our society means that now more than ever, we must require civility on our planes, Bastian wrote in a memo to employees.

Deltas diversity training will use real and relevant scenarios and discuss unconscious bias and so-called microaggressions, Keyra Lynn Johnson, managing director for diversity and inclusion, told Bloomberg. This goes well beyond the typical cross-cultural training.

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued new guidelines on nondiscrimination for airline personnel on Friday to help them understand their obligation not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or ancestry in air travel. The department also issued a document for passengers, explaining their right to fly free from all forms of unlawful discrimination.
An unidentified man who authorities say fatally shot a Little Elm police officer Tuesday was found dead inside his home after a 6-hour standoff.

Its unclear how he died.

Authorities said officers were alerted of a report of a man outside a home armed with a long gun around 3 p.m. Tuesday. When they arrived at the scene, they found an armed man screaming at them through a fence, Fox 4 reported.

After police told him to drop his weapon, the man ran inside his home and started shooting at the officers. Det. Jerry Walker, an 18-year veteran, was shot in the neck.

Walker was flown to Denton Regional Medical Center where he later died.

After the shooting, the man barricaded himself inside the home, leading to an hours-long standoff.

At around 10:30 p.m., police said the suspect was found deceased inside, however did not elaborate on how he died.

The suspect has not been identified.

We ask for prayers for the family of Detective Walker, said Police Chief Rodney Harrison, according to Fox 4. He was a model officer and a person who will be missed here at the department and in the town of Little Elm.

Walker, who was promoted to detective in 2013, leaves behind four children, including a child who was just a few months old.

Antonio Sutton, who lives just a few doors down from the suspect, witnessed the shooting. He told Fox 4 he noticed police in the area after picking his kids up from the local school.

Sutton said he didnt see the shooter fire his weapon, but did see Walker get shot and police rush to protect him.

The shooting caused several nearby schools to go on lockdown for several hours.
Lawyers for a Dallas police officer filed a federal civil suit late Tuesday against Twitter, Facebook and Google for allegedly providing material support to the Palestinian militant group Hamas and purportedly helping radicalize Micah Johnson, the Army veteran who killed five police officers and wounded nine others in an ambush last July.

In a complaint filed in the Northern District of California, Dallas Police Sgt. Demetrick Pennie argued that the three social media platforms knowingly and recklessly provided the terrorist group HAMAS with accounts to use its social networks as a tool for spreading extremist propaganda.

We want to hold these companies accountable for allowing terrorists to use their sites as an instrument to conduct terrorist operations, Pennies lawyer, Keith Altman, told FoxNews.com. Google, Facebook and Twitter profit from terrorist postings and create new content when they combine postings with advertisements targeted at specific viewers.

Johnson, a 25-year-old Army Reserve Afghan War veteran and Black Nationalist, carried out an ambush-style attack on Dallas law enforcement during a protest in Texas over the recent police-related killings of two African-American men. Johnson was eventually killed by a robot-delivered bomb.

It was unreal, Pennie, who was good friends with two of the officers killed, told FoxNews.com. Seeing guys shot like that, I just cant shake it.

While he has not been linked to any foreign terror organization, Johnson did visit and like numerous websites dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement, the Nation of Islam and the New Black Panther Party  all of whom have sympathized with the Palestinian cause.

The New Black Panther Party and other black separatist groups are directly linking themselves to Palestian groups and they are sharing this stuff on Facebook, Pennie, who is also the president of the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation and a 17-year law enforcement veteran, told FoxNews.com.

Pennie added that any money he is awarded from the lawsuit  or a similar one he has filed against Black Lives Matter - would go directly to his foundation.

The question of whether or not Hamas social media feeds had any influence on Johnson  either directly or indirectly  is something that the federal court will have to decide, but what is not in question is the frequency that companies like Twitter, Facebook and Google have been hit with lawsuits from survivors or families of the victims of domestic and international terror attacks.

There seems to be a spate of these cases recently and its probably because there have been recently a spate of these tragedies, Matt Bartholomew, a professor at the University of Buffalo School of Law, told FoxNews.com.

Hamas, along with terror groups like the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, maintain an active presence on both Facebook and Twitter as a way to recruit and radicalize followers and also rely heavily on the Google-owned YouTube to post propaganda, press releases and even executions.

At the heart of Pennies lawsuit  and a similar one filed by the families of victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting in June  is the interpretation of a provision tucked deep inside the Communications Decency Act (CDA) of 1996 called Section 230.

The language of Section 230 states that No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider." In laymans terms, this basically means that sites like Facebook or YouTube are not liable for what their users post on their sites.

Section 230 of the CDA has protected social media sites in the past, but some lawyers and social media experts have begun to argue sites like Facebook may be violating the provision with their heavily-guarded algorithms. Despite these algorithms having come under fire before  from how Facebook curated its Trending Topics to accusations that YouTube was censoring people  these recent lawsuits allege something much more nefarious behind one of the tech worlds most secretive processes.

There are so many questions that need be answered by these social media companies, Eric Feinberg of the cyber security and intelligence firm GIPEC told FoxNews.com. How good are they at vetting their content? Why arent they sharing this information with law enforcement? They need to either fix these problems internally or hire a third party to do it for them.

Facebook and Twitter argue that they are doing everything they can to prevent terror groups from using their sites, but experts contend the companies are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the issue as the web giants have voiced willingness to aid in the fight but have been less than transparent when it comes to sharing proprietary information like their algorithms.

When asked to comment on this story, a representative from Twitter emailed FoxNews.com the companys policy prohibiting the promotion of terrorism. A spokesperson from Facebook said the company is committed to providing a service where people feel safe when using Facebook.

Our Community Standards make clear that there is no place on Facebook for groups that engage in terrorist activity or for content that expresses support for such activity, and we take swift action to remove this content when its reported to us, the spokesperson said in an email to FoxNews.com.

A spokesman for Google cited a statement last month saying that Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and You Tube were coming together to curb the spread of terrorist content. This included creating a shared industry database of unique digital "fingerprints" related to terrorism.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg also sat down with the Dallas Police Department Monday night to discuss the role of social media and how its changing the dynamics of law enforcement following the mass shooting.

Experts say, however, that until a judge sides with the plaintiffs in one of these cases, social media companies will not have to pay a dime, but they also warn that should the interpretation of Section 230 change, there could be a windfall of lawsuits against these companies.

Were now seeing some of these cases all at once but until a court says under Section 230 these companies are liable then nothing will happen, Bartholomew said. But once there is a chink in the armor, there will be an avalanche.
Mahyaddin spent the final hours of 2016 in solitude, deciding whether to spare the life of a man on death row for killing his only son, Pouya. 5 years ago, Pouya was knifed to death by 17-year-old Hemin Oraminejad in a brawl over petty issues in the western Iranian city of Sanandaj.





The Supreme Court rejected Oraminejad's appeal earlier last year and upheld the ruling, which was death by hanging with the consent of the victim's family under the retribution law known as "qisas." Oraminejad, now 22, was repentant and had asked for forgiveness from the family of his victim.





As the execution scheduled for Jan. 1 drew near, Simin Chaichi was in a state of anxiety. The 60-year-old poet was leading a campaign to save the killer's life by persuading the victim's family to forgive Oraminejad, which under Iranian law meant that he would avoid the gruesome execution chamber.





It was 1 of many such grass-roots campaigns in Iran that have sprung up in recent years to prevent executions. In 2015, at least 262 people on death row for murder were spared thanks to campaigns organized by citizens, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights.





"I think violence fuels more violence," Chaichi told Al-Monitor via telephone from Sanandaj. "That is why I believe these kind of grass-roots campaigns are important," he added.





Despite the efforts of campaigners across Iran to halt executions of convicted murderers under the retribution law, the Islamic Republic continues to use the death penalty extensively. On Dec. 19, 2016, it joined 39 other countries in voting against a UN General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.





"Let's be clear, we are not asking for those who committed murder to be freed," Chaichi said, adding, "Once a family exercises its right to forgive, then it is up to the government to apply the law and keep a murderer behind bars."





In the city of Sanandaj alone, campaigners numbering over 2,000 managed to convince seven families to opt for forgiveness over the noose last year, according to Chaichi - a testimony to the power and influence of these grass-roots activists.





Last August, a mother whose son was killed spared the murderer at the last minute and removed the noose from his neck. "We were under tremendous pressure, and scores of people were coming to our house asking for [our] forgiveness," her husband, Aba Ahmadi - the victim's father - told Al-Monitor via telephone. "I think the campaign was effective in convincing us, and we don't regret our decision to forgive our son's killer."





Energized by this victory, Chaichi and hundreds of other concerned citizens of Sanandaj set about trying to persuade Pouya's family to forgive their son's killer. They focused on Mahyaddin, who is in his late 40s and is a dervish and follower of the Kasnazan Sufi order, a branch of the mystical dimension of Islam.





The campaigners, led by 5 individuals, stayed in regular contact with Mahyaddin's local spiritual leader, the "pir" (elder).





Pouya's mother - and his grandfather, who was also a dervish from the same Sufi order - were against the execution, but the ultimate decision rested with the father, who was still reeling from the loss of his only son.





A group of whirling dervishes even visited from the main base of the Kasnazan Sufi order in Iraq's Kurdistan region to try to persuade the grieving father to forgive his son's murderer. The pressure on Mahyaddin was intense.





Under pressure from the campaigners, Mahyaddin spent the last day of 2016 in a place of worship for Sufis, known as a Takia, as around 2,000 people gathered in a mosque nearby. He refused to see any of the campaigners and was adamant that the execution would go ahead.





"My heart was sinking with anxiety; we were all holding our breath waiting for Mahyaddin's decision," said Chaichi, still tearful in recalling that night. What made Chaichi and others fearful was that Mahyaddin had shown no sign that he would forgive the prisoner. But they stayed hopeful, as they knew miracles could happen seconds before executions.





As Mahyaddin arrived in the central prison of Sanandaj before dawn on Jan. 1, accompanied by his spiritual leader, the guards prepared Oraminejad for execution. Terrified and repentant, Oraminejad, in a blue prison uniform, made his last plea, but to no avail.





Even the prison guards and the judge overseeing the execution pleaded with Mahyaddin to pardon the young man. But Mahyaddin was resolute. In the execution room, he placed the noose around Oraminejad's neck as the convict said his last prayer.





At that moment, the pir, who spoke to Al-Monitor but refused to be quoted, reminded Mahyaddin of the graveness of the act he was about to perform. It was only then that Mahyaddin paused and quietly removed the noose.





According to Chaichi, when the family of the murderer offered to sell their house in order to pay the blood money, which was close to $100,000, Mahyaddin simply responded, "I don't want any money. I did not forgive him for money."





The following day, around 2,000 people, many carrying red roses, went to the main cemetery in Sanandaj where Pouya is buried, paying tribute to the young man who had lost his life in a senseless incident. "Had you had Hemin [Oraminejad] executed, you would have been sitting at home on your own a bitter man," Chaichi said she whispered in Mahyaddin's ear as he stood by his son's grave. She told him, "Look at the smiles you have put on these people's faces. They are celebrating your son's life."

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Source: al-monitor.com, January 18, 2017
The man accused of killing an Orlando police officer and his pregnant ex-girlfriend was caught late Tuesday hiding out in an abandoned home wearing body armor and armed with two handguns, officials said.

Authorities had been searching for Markeith Loyd since Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton was gunned down Jan. 9 in the parking lot of an Orlando Walmart.

We've got him! Markeith Loyd in OPD ICustody. Details to come. Media: stand by for details on press conference. pic.twitter.com/SVjFUEvNak  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 18, 2017

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said Loyd, 41, was found in an abandoned home around 7 p.m. ET on Lescot Lane in Orlando "right around the corner" from Clayton's mother's house.

He first tried to escape out the rear of the house but was confronted by officers out back, according to Mina.

Loyd then ran back into the house, came out the front door wearing body armor and armed with two handguns, including one with a 100-round magazine on it, when he was met by additional officers. He then threw the handguns to the ground and was taken into custody by police out front, but did "resist arrest" and sustained "minor" facial injuries, Mina said.

Markeith Loyd was wearing body armor when he was apprehended. And had these guns in his possession. pic.twitter.com/T0AfzZibmA  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 18, 2017

"I'm very happy no officers or citizens were hurt in his arrest," Minda told reporters. "I'm just happy he's in custody."

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the entire Orlando community is going to "breathe a sigh of relief" following Loyd's capture.

"This maniac is off the streets of our community," Demings said late Tuesday.

The 41-year-old will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder, in addition to two counts of aggravated assault of a firearm, according to Demings.

Mina said that Loyd "was captured by great police work," not an anonymous tip. He added that officers used Clayton's handcuffs to secure Loyd.

These are Lt. Debra Clayton's handcuffs. Markeith Loyd was placed in these when he was arrested. pic.twitter.com/3TKs9nw2lu  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) January 18, 2017

Clayton had been tipped off that Loyd was in the area while she was at the store. She was shot when she approached Loyd, who then fled. As the manhunt intensified that day of the shooting, a motorcycle crash killed Sheriff's Deputy First Class Norman Lewis.

Before the Jan. 9 shooting, authorities had been looking for Loyd for questioning in the death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend last month.

Loyd appeared in an ominous Facebook Live video before the shootings -- as his then-girlfriend joked about killing police and herself, The Orlando Sentinel reported.

The Nov. 4 video showed Markeith Loyd in a car at a traffic stop with his pregnant girlfriend, Sade Dixon.

"Go ahead and kill him, babe, so we can get home faster," she was heard saying, referring to the officer. Later, as Loyd sped down the road, she shouted, "You not about to kill me and the baby."

Just over a month later, police said Loyd did indeed kill the girlfriend, reportedly after she broke up with him.

Last week, cops arrested three people accused of helping Loyd, 41, after the manhunt began, Fox 35 reported.

Loyd's niece, Lakensha Smith-Loyd, was arrested Wednesday on an accessory charge Wednesday. Later the same day, police arrested an ex-girlfriend of Loyd's: Jameis Slaughter, who also faces a charge of accessory, according to online jail records.

And a day earlier, Zarghee Mayan, the fugitive's supervisor at a fried chicken restaurant, was arrested on the same charge.

Hundreds of officers and deputies have been searching for Loyd, and a $100,000 reward was being offered for information that leads to his arrest.

The U.S. Marshals Service had added Loyd to its list of most wanted fugitives Tuesday and added $25,000 to the reward offer.

Click for more from FOX35Orlando.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A law that bars Nebraska public school teachers from wearing habits, yarmulkes, burqas and other religious clothing could soon get overturned under a bill pending in the Legislature.

The bill presented at a hearing Tuesday would end Nebraska's ban on religious garb in classrooms, which was passed in 1919 under pressure from the Ku Klux Klan amid a national a wave of anti-Catholic sentiment.

The law is rarely enforced but came to a senator's attention after a Catholic nun applied for a substitute teaching job at a public high school in his district. Sister Madeleine Miller says a school administrator told her the law would not allow her to wear a habit while teaching, even though she had done so while teaching at a local state college.
Authorities say a woman arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a baby girl from a Florida hospital 18 years ago and raising her as her own daughter is now being held in Jacksonville.

Duval County jail records show 51-year-old Gloria Williams was booked Tuesday afternoon. Williams is being held on $500,000 bail, and faces kidnapping and other charges.

Her arrest came after DNA tests helped authorities identify the 18-year-old woman who had been living with Williams in Walterboro, South Carolina, as Kamiyah Mobley.

A woman dressed as a nurse took Mobley as an infant in 1998 from University Medical Center in Jacksonville. Mobley was living under her given name and has been reconnected with her biological family since learning of her true identity.

Jail records didn't list an attorney for Williams.
The private information of thousands of California firearms instructors was accidentally released by the state late last year in response to a journalists Freedom of Information request.

The data request was made in August, when a reporter for Southern California Public Radio (KPCC), an NPR affiliate, sought all information on Firearms Safety Certifications available from the California Department of Justice.

The information was released in October, and a clerical error gave the reporter wide access to the personal information of 3,424 firearms instructors -- whose dates of birth, drivers license numbers and California identification numbers were handed over, according to NRA-ILA, the legislative arm of the National Rifle Association.

The error was caught two months later, and the California DOJ sent out a letter to all of the Golden States instructors letting them know their personal information had been compromised.

The Department discovered the data breach on October 17, 2016, and notified the requestor of the error and asked that the information be destroyed and that no further dissemination of it occur, said the letter, sent by the Office of the Attorney General Kamala Harris. Harris is now a U.S. senator.

The letter also recommended the firearm instructors place a fraud alert on their credit. Since driver's license numbers are appealing to identity thieves, a fraud alert could prevent criminals from misusing someone's personal data.

NRA officials blasted the California DOJ for its data breach and questioned why it took the department so long to alert the thousands who were affected.

This privacy breach is just another example of the California Department of Justices disregard for the rights of gun owners, Jennifer Baker, director of public affairs for the NRA, said to FoxNews.com. Theres no reason why the private information of firearms instructors should have been released  the DOJ redacts information all the time."

Baker also questioned the length of time it took the state to inform victims of the breach.

Its time the California government start awarding gun owners the same respect as it does non-gun owners.

Some security experts said that while it wasn't a significant data breach, there is still cause for concern.

The main concern, if any, would be identity theft, simply because it is so prevalent, police consultant and retired Los Angeles Police Lt. Raymond Foster said to FoxNews.com. I dont think anyone would threaten these instructors, but one concern is that many of them are retired police officers and that could put them at an additional risk. Most of them when they are off-duty like to lie low and blend in.

But Id imagine that NPR would never publish this info and would likely just rip it up.

The reporter, who the NRA-ILA identifies as Aaron Mendelson, acknowledged in his FOIA request that part of his request would be redacted.

Please inform me of the redaction and the legal justification for it, said the request, which was obtained by FoxNews.com.

Since receiving the data, it appears that none of the information has been published in any recent stories. In its letter to firearm instructors, the California DOJ said that it had asked the reporter to destroy the information he received and if he did not do so he would face legal action.

Neither Mendelson nor officials for Southern California Public Radio immediately returned calls for comment.

Gun instructors in California took the news of their information being released in stride. Dennis Santiago, an independent gun safety instructor in the Los Angeles area, who received the DOJ letter, told FoxNews.com he at first thought it was a hacking incident.

I was speaking with other instructors at a gun shop about it and they didnt seem too concerned, Santiago said. "They took it as being the cost of being in America.
Another round of heavy rain is battering parts of Texas, particularly the Houston area where streets are flooded and emergency personnel have performed dozens of high-water rescues.

WOMAN SURVIVES 12 HOURS IN FRIGID WEATHER AFTER FRIEND'S CAR PLUNGES INTO CREEK

Flash flood warnings were in effect Wednesday for the Houston region as torrential rains closed some schools and delayed the opening for many others. Public transportation was delayed or suspended.

Houston fire officials say they've received more than 65 calls for high-water rescues, primarily from motorists stranded along flooded roadways.

Emergency management officials in the city of 2.2 million are asking people to avoid travel.

Some parts of the metro region received more than 5 inches of rain overnight.

Heavy rain and lightning also fell Wednesday in the region extending from San Antonio over to Austin, and North Texas was experiencing scattered showers.

Click for more from Fox 26.
The Latest on the widow of the Orlando nightclub gunman (all times local):

10:30 a.m.

The widow of the Orlando nightclub gunman pleaded not guilty to charges that she aided and abetted her husband's support of the Islamic State group and then hindered the investigation of the attack.

Noor Salman entered her plea Wednesday in an Oakland, California, courtroom two days after her arrest at the home she shared with her mother in suburban San Francisco.

She will return to court Feb. 1 to argue for her release pending trial on the charges that could result in a life sentence if she is convicted.

Prosecutors and Salman's lawyers declined comment after the hearing.

Prosecutors alleged Tuesday that the 30-year-old Salman knew her husband Omar Mateen planned to attack the Pulse nightclub, a gay bar where he killed 49 people and injured more than 50 others.
Police are searching for the person who broke into an unmarked Ramsey County, Minn., sheriff's car and stole an AR-15 rifle with a loaded magazine.

St. Louis Park police and the Ramsey County sheriffs office are both very tight lipped about this unusual theft, executed Friday night by someone who seems to have known exactly what they were after and just how to steal it.

SAN FRANCISCO SUED BY CAR-THEFT VICTIM FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING ITS SANCTUARY CITY ORDINANCE

A representative with the St. Louis Park Police Department told Fox 9 the thief got into the squad car at the West End shopping center by somehow removing the door handle. The AR-15 was pried from a secured mount inside the vehicle, severely damaging the rifle mount in the process.

Gavin Kroehler manages the Modern Sportsman store in Savage, where he sells anywhere from 75 to 100 AR-15 rifles every week and says theyve become more of a favorite over the past two years.

I havent heard of anyone that doesnt like the AR-15," Kroehler said.

The rifle can range all the way up to $3,000, depending on the parts in it, Kroehler says.

Click for more from Fox 9.
Public execution in Iran, January 2017

IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS (17 January 2017): In a statement released today, three of the United Nations' rights experts called on the Iranian authorities to stop execution of the juvenile offender Sajjad Sanjari who is reportedly in imminent danger of execution and to institute a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in Iran.





The rights experts include Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Benyam Dawit Mezmur Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.





According to the reports collected by Iran Human Rights (IHR) more than 32 prisoners have been executed during the last 6 days in Iran.





GENEVA (17 January 2017) - UN experts today urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to halt the possibly imminent execution of a juvenile offender.





We are deeply concerned that the life of a juvenile offender remains in danger and that he may be executed at any moment, said the experts, Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Benyam Dawit Mezmur Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.





The offender was 15 years old when he was sentenced to death in 2012 for stabbing a man. In February 2014, he was granted a retrial on the basis of the new juvenile sentencing provisions of the 2013 Islamic Penal Code.





However, in June 2015 the Provincial Criminal Court of Kermanshah Province found that, at the time of the commission of the crime, he was mature enough to understand the nature of his crime. The court therefore confirmed his death sentence and rejected his argument that he had acted in self-defence following a rape attempt. The death sentence was upheld by Irans Supreme Court in August 2016.





Iran remains one of several States which execute juvenile offenders despite its strict prohibition under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is a party.





The Iranian authorities must immediately halt the execution of this juvenile and annul the death sentence against him in compliance with international standards for the imposition of this form of punishment, the experts stressed.





Several other juveniles were retried under the revised juvenile sentencing guidelines of the 2013 Islamic Penal Code, and also found to be mature enough to be sentenced to death. Fifteen others were reportedly sentenced to death for the first time under these guidelines.





In January 2016, the Committee on the Rights of the Child urged Iran to end the execution of children and persons who committed a crime while under the age of 18. However, at least five juvenile offenders were executed in 2016 and, to date more than 78 juveniles are reported to be on death row.





Iran must observe its international obligations by putting an end to the execution of juvenile offenders once and for all, the experts said.





Ms. Jahangir and Ms. Callamard also expressed outrage at the reported execution of 16 alleged drug offenders on Saturday 14 January.





Under international law, countries which have retained the death penalty may only impose it for the most serious crimes, that is, those involving intentional killing. Drug related offences do not meet this threshold, the experts highlighted.





Moreover, information we received show that the trials of some of these people marred by violations of due process guarantees and that the proceedings fell short of international fair trial standards, the experts said. Any death sentence undertaken in contravention of a Governments international obligations is unlawful and tantamount to an arbitrary execution.





Over the past two years, more 1,000 people have reportedly been executed for drug related offences in Iran and currently some 5,000 people are reported to be on death row for drug offences.





Until the death penalty for drug related offences is abolished in Iran, a moratorium on these executions should be instituted and all scheduled executions for drug- related offences halted, the two experts stressed.





The experts also noted that human rights defenders campaigning against the death penalty in Iran are being increasingly targeted. Several anti-death penalty activists were sentenced to long prison sentences in 2016.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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 See more at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21093&LangID=E#sthash.GYVJrfe0.dpuf Source: Iran Human Rights , January 17, 2017
The North Dakota Army National Guard reportedly deployed an anti-drone missile system at the site of the Dakota Access oil pipeline on Tuesday.

North Dakota Guard spokesman William Prokopyk confirmed to The Daily Beast the presence of the Avenger missile system. He added that the system was put in place strictly in the observation role.

The Morton County Sheriffs Department echoed Prokpyks statements, adding that the systems are used strictly for observation of ungoverned encampments to help protect private property and maintain public safety, according to The Daily Beast.

Jon Ziegler, who describes himself as a citizen journalist, spotted the surface-to-air missile launchers at the site. He wrote in a Facebook post that they were guarding the DAPL drill pad.

The Avenger Air Defense System is described as a surface-to-air missile system that can defend against cruise missiles, UAVs, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The news website reported that the North Dakota Army National Guards air defense has the ability to operate the Avenger system.

The presence of the system could exacerbate things between the Standing Rock protesters and authorities. Police have already shot down a drone for operating in a threatening manner and used water cannons on protesters in frigid temperatures.

Additionally, the Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners asked a judge Tuesday to stop the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from launching a full environmental study of the $3.8 billion pipelines disputed crossing of a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota.

ETP wants any further study put on hold until Judge James Boasberg, in Washington, D.C., rules on whether ETP already has the necessary permission to lay pipe under Lake Oahe  the reservoir that's the water source for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

The stretch under Lake Oahe is the last big chunk of construction for the 1,200-mile pipeline. The Corps wants to look at alternate routes, the potential for a pipeline leak and tribal treaty rights in the wake of opposition by the Standing Rock Sioux and its supporters who believe a pipeline leak would contaminate the tribe's drinking water.

An environmental assessment conducted by the Corps last year determined that the Oahe crossing would not have a significant impact on the environment. However, Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy said in December that a broader environmental impact statement was warranted. Such a statement can take up to two years to complete, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe has been urging people to lobby the Corps to start the environmental impact study before President-Elect Donald Trump, an energy supporter, takes office Friday. The tribe in a statement Tuesday said it's confident that a full environmental study would be "the best way to analyze the alternative routes."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The owner of two dogs that killed one child and injured another in southwest Atlanta has had one of his charges upgraded.

Local news media reports Cameron Tucker was initially charged with two counts of reckless conduct, but one charge was upgraded to involuntary manslaughter during his court appearance Wednesday. Tucker was arrested after 6-year-old Logan Braatz and 5-year-old Syari Sanders were attacked walking to a bus stop early Tuesday. Logan died from his injuries. Syari is in stable condition.

Atlanta Police Sgt. Warren Pickard says one of the dogs was shot by officers.

Fulton County Animal Control says one dog is a pit bull mix and the other is a border collie.

Tucker is at Fulton County Jail on a $70,000 bond. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
A 32-year-old is suing San Francisco, alleging that the city violated its sanctuary city ordinance by reporting him to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after reporting his car stolen in 2015.

Pedro Figueroa Zarceno, who is from El Salvador and lives in the Mission District, was in federal immigration custody for two months. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that it is prohibited in the city to use local resources to help federal law enforcement.

With an incoming federal administration threatening mass deportations and targeting sanctuary cities, we must hold SFPD and the Sheriffs Department accountable and ensure that every single officer is following the citys due process protections, Saira Hussain, an attorney representing Figueroa, told the paper.

The suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court, seeks an unspecified amount and calls on police to admit that he was a victim of false imprisonment.

A spokesman from the city reportedly said that San Francisco has strong policies in place to encourage victims and witnesses to report crimes without fear of being deported. The report pointed out that in February, then-Police Chief Greg Suhr acknowledged that the man should not have ended up in custody.

The report said that Figueroa reported the car stolen in November 2015.

Authorities eventually found the car, and when he filled out the paper work to pick up the car, he was arrested.

Homeland Security told the paper that police ran the background check and learned that he had a 10-year-old, outstanding warrant for deportation after failing to appear at an immigration hearing in Texas in 2005, and a 2012 conviction for drunken driving, authorities told the paper.

His attorneys told the paper that he planned to file for asylum and intended to go through the hearing process. He reportedly did not hear from authorities about the matter again. And his attorneys told the paper he had no idea there was an outstanding warrant.
Australia's prime minister has announced a limited reshuffle of his Cabinet in which he appointed the nation's first aboriginal federal minister.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday that the indigenous lawmaker Ken Wyatt, who is assistant minister for health and aged care, will be promoted to minister for aged care and indigenous health when the new ministers are sworn in next Tuesday.

The reshuffle was forced by the resignation last week of Sussan Ley as minister for health, aged care and sport because of allegations she shopped for residential investment properties during trips charged to the taxpayer as business travel.

Minister for industry, innovation and science, Greg Hunt, will become minister for health and sport. Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos will take over Hunt's former portfolios.
A prominent member of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party wants to end the country's decades-long tradition of acknowledging and atoning for its Nazi past.

Bjoern Hoecke leads the party in the eastern state of Thuringia. He says Germany needs to perform a "180-degree turn" when it comes to remembering its past.

Hoecke said Tuesday that the Berlin memorial to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust is a "monument of shame." He told party supporters in the eastern city of Dresden that no other country would erect such a memorial in its capital and called instead for Germany to take a "positive" attitude toward its history.

Nazi Germany was responsible for the murder of more than 6 million Jews and other minorities before and during World War II.
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Many Puerto Ricans are celebrating after U.S. President Barack Obama announced he has commuted the sentence of 74-year-old nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera.

Puerto Ricans have long demanded the release of Lopez. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. His release was opposed by a national police organization among others.

Lopez belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation. The group has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings during the 1970s and '80s in U.S. cities including New York, Chicago and Washington.

Lopez attorney Jan Susler told The Associated Press she broke the news to him Tuesday and he was extremely grateful he'll be released May 17.
Last week, WikiLeaks posted on Twitter that if President Obama granted Chelsea Manning clemency, its founder, Julian Assange would agree to be extradited to the U.S.

RUSSIA AGREES TO EXTEND SNOWDEN'S RESIDENCY FOR A 'COUPLE OF YEARS'

The White House announced on Tuesday that Obama commuted the vast majority of the former Army intelligence analysts 35-year prison sentence for leaking classified documents.

VICTORY: Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence from 35 years to 7. Release date now May 17. Background: https://t.co/HndsbVbRer  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 17, 2017

As of Tuesday night, there has been no word on the earlier tweet. WikiLeaks, however, tweeted, VICTORY: Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence from 35 years to 7. Release date now May 17.

TOP CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS CONDEMN CHELSEA MANNING DECISION

In a statement, Assange called Manning "a hero, whose bravery should be applauded."

If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case https://t.co/MZU30SlfGK  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 12, 2017

The Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange, and it's not clear that any charges have been brought under seal.

Assange went on to demand that the U.S. government "should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers, such as WikiLeaks and myself," but he made no mention of the Twitter pledge. His lawyer said he has been pressing the Justice Department for updates on an investigation concerning WikiLeaks.

Assange has been holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he remains wanted on an allegation of rape, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

The department, in refusing to turn over investigative documents sought by Manning under the Freedom of Information Act, has acknowledged that the FBI is continuing to investigate the publication of national security information on WikiLeaks arising from Manning's disclosures.

"That investigation concerns potential violations of federal criminal laws, in the form of serious threats to the national security, and the investigation continues today," Justice Department lawyers wrote in a court filing last year. "From the terms of her request, it is clear that Manning seeks to obtain documents concerning that investigation.

In a statement Tuesday, a lawyer for Assange did not address whether Assange intended to come to the U.S.

"For many months, I have asked the DOJ to clarify Mr. Assange's status. I hope it will soon," Assange's lawyer, Barry Pollack, said in the statement. "The Department of Justice should not pursue any charges against Mr. Assange based on his publication of truthful information and should close its criminal investigation of him immediately."

Another Assange lawyer, Melinda Taylor, suggested he wouldn't go back on his word. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," she said in a brief telephone conversation with The Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Julian Assange headed to U.S. soil? Not so fast, his lawyer says.

Barry Pollack, the WikiLeaks founders U.S.-based attorney, told The Hill in an email that President Obamas commutation of Chelsea Mannings sentence Tuesday doesnt meet the conditions of Assanges extradition offer.

TOP CONGRESSIONAL REPBULICANS CONDEMN MANNING DECISION

Mr. Assange welcomes the announcement that Ms. Manning's sentence will be reduced and she will be released in May, but this is well short of what he sought, Pollack wrote. Mr. Assange had called for Chelsea Manning to receive clemency and be released immediately.

Obama announced that Manning would be released May 17, cutting her sentence for leaking classified government and military documents by almost 30 years. She attempted suicide twice last year, her lawyers have said.

OBAMA MAKES WAVE OF FINAL APPOINTMENTS FOR WELL-CONNECTED FRIENDS, CELEBRITIES

Assange first offered in September to trade extradition to the U.S.  where his legal team believes he may be charged  for a pardon for Manning, The Hill reported. WikiLeaks Twitter account then posted Thursday that If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case.

Assange has taken refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London for more than four years to avoid extradition to Sweden in a sex crime case. He has refused to travel to Sweden, saying he fears being extradited to the U.S. over his involvement in publishinga slew of classified documents.

Assange on Tuesday demanded that the U.S. government "should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers, such as WikiLeaks and myself."

Another one of Assanges lawyers, Melinda Taylor, suggested Tuesday that he wouldn't go back on his word. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," she said in a brief telephone conversation with The Associated Press.

She added that WikiLeaks had yet to learn from U.S. and British authorities whether the American government had requested Assange's extradition to the United States.

Pollack said he asked the U.S. Justice Department to clarify Assange's status.

"The Department of Justice should not pursue any charges against Mr. Assange based on his publication of truthful information and should close its criminal investigation of him immediately," Pollack told The Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
At least 50 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured after an explosives-laden vehicle targeted a camp housing armed groups in northern Mali, a local official said Wednesday.

The morning blast hit the Joint Operational Mechanism base in the city of Gao. The base houses hundreds of fighters including members of armed groups that signed Mali's 2015 peace agreement. The camp also houses Malian soldiers.

The local official called the death toll provisional. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.

GROUP: MALI CIVILIANS THREATENED BY EXTREMISM, BANDITRY

"I am with the injured now," Dr. Sadou Maiga at Gao's hospital told The Associated Press. "We have stopped all hospital activities to handle the many injured who are arriving. Some have died from their wounds, and others are in a very grave state. At this point, it's not the toll of dead and injured that interests me, it's saving who I can."

Witnesses said the car bearing explosives breached the camp at around 9 a.m., just as hundreds of fighters were gathering for a meeting.

Dismembered bodies could still be seen two hours after the blast.

TOURISTS TO BE EVACUATED FROM GAMBIA AS CRISIS DEEPENS

Officials were trying to mobilize Gao residents to donate blood.

The suicide bomber "succeeded in tricking soldiers' vigilance" and penetrated the camp, said an army spokesman, Ly-col Diarran Kone.

Northern Mali remains insecure despite a French-led military intervention launched in 2013 to drive out Islamic extremists that had taken over the area.

On Wednesday, a new Human Rights Watch report said Mali's government is failing to protect civilians in its northern and central regions from Islamic extremists who killed dozens of people last year while pressuring families to give up their children to jihad.

The report describes how militants have occupied villages, attacked U.N. peacekeepers and tried to impose a strict interpretation of Sharia law. The report also denounces rising levels of banditry, a phenomenon victims say is fueled by the slow implementation of the 2015 peace accord.

Security Minister Salif Traore declined to respond to the report's specifics but said he is well aware of security challenges throughout the region.

The U.N. Security Council was expected to be briefed on Mali on Wednesday.
Much of the world's attention is focused on President-elect Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration  but China's president stole the show at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Xi Jinping staunchly defended globalization on Tuesday  a stark contrast to Trumps protectionist instincts.

Xi Jinping said blaming the world's ills on economic globalization is misguided, adding that globalization is actually a force for good because the world should be interconnected.

But, he admitted, it is a double-edged sword.

"Honey melons hang from bitter vines," Xi said.

The Chinese leaders speech was peppered with proverbs and colorful twists of phrase. Though the Chinese delegation here has been growing each year, it was the first time a Chinese president addressed the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.

Xis speech came as populists were making a big push against globalism across parts of the world. It also came as inauguration plans were under way for Trump, who has questioned the benefits of global trade.

Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the Forum, noted Xi's presence was important as people search for signposts in uncertain times.

"Protectionism," Xi said, "is like shutting oneself into a dark room. You keep out the wind and rain, but also the light and the air."



Xi said China's rapid growth during the past few years has been the engine for sustained global development. He went on to praise the hard work of the Chinese people. Xi said China will continue on a development plan that suits its needs. The term "win-win" was used several times.

He also said that in the next five years, China was planning to spend $750 billion in direct investment.

It would seem that the United States would salivate over foreign investments from China. But, as economist Nouriel Roubini pointed out in Davos, things are complicated when it comes to China.

There are plenty of sensitive considerations; not the least, matters of national security when it comes to Chinese state-owned companies investing in America, Roubini said.



In the space of the Internet, the U.S. has been open to Chinese firms, but Facebook and Twitter are not allowed in China and Google is restricted," he said.

But for Roubini, one thing is clear: This will be a critical year for U.S. China relations.
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.
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Germany's vice chancellor on Wednesday harshly condemned remarks by a prominent member of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party, who suggested ending the country's decades-long tradition of acknowledging and atoning for its Nazi past.

Sigmar Gabriel wrote on Facebook that even though he knows the AfD party thrives on provocation, the comments by Bjoern Hoecke, who leads the party in the eastern state of Thuringia, were "shocking."

"This is not just some kind of provocation," Gabriel wrote. "We must never let this kind of demagoguery be undisputed."

Hoecke had called the Berlin memorial to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust a "monument of shame." He told party supporters in the eastern city of Dresden that no other country would erect such a memorial in its capital and called instead for Germany to take a "positive" attitude toward its history. He also said Germany needs to perform a "180-degree turn" when it comes to remembering its past.

Nazi Germany was responsible for the murder of more than 6 million Jews and other minorities before and during World War II.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is situated in downtown Berlin near the city's landmark Brandenburg Gate. It's an uneven field of thousands of concrete slabs, comparable to a gigantic graveyard.

Gabriel said Hoecke had insinuated that dealing with the Nazi past belittles Germans, but opposite was correct: "Learning from our history was the premise for Germany to be respected worldwide."

Gabriel, a Social Democrat, said he entered politics decades ago partly as a protest against his own father's Nazi convictions.

The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany also criticized Hoecke's remarks, calling them as "deeply upsetting and totally unacceptable."

"With these anti-Semitic and inhuman words, the AfD shows its true face," Josef Schuster said. "I would not have dared to think that 70 years after the Shoah such remarks by a politician in Germany would be possible."
A 15-year-old student opened fire Wednesday at an American school in Monterrey, northern Mexico, gravely injuring three students and a teacher before turning the gun to himself.

The shooter died at a hospital and three of the victims are "fighting between life and death," according to the latest update by Nuevo Leon Gov. Jaime Rodriguez. They were all shot in the head.

One boy wounded in an arm is out of danger, he said.

The entire scene was captured by a surveillance camera. The chilling video shows the shooter, identified just as Federico, opening fire from his desk first. He hits one classmate, who is seen collapsing to the floor, and then walks around the room shooting randomly. After a few seconds he pauses and takes the gun, a 22 caliber pistol, to his head.

Aldo Fasci, Nuevo Leon state security spokesman, said the motive was still under investigation.

Fasci said the boy brought the gun from home. It was unclear how he got the firearm into the school. Mexico had once had a program to checked book bags at school entrances, but in many places it has fallen into disuse.

There was a reason why book bags were checked. I think we are going to have to start doing it again, Fasci said.

Mexico has largely been spared the phenomenon of school shootings that has hit the United States. In one of the few previous incidents, a 13-year-old student shot a 12-year-old classmate in the head at a Mexico City middle school in 2004, seriously wounding her.

At the height of Mexico's drug war between 2008 and 2011, schools in northern Mexico had considered a much greater threat the possibility that stray bullets from drug gang gun battles outside schools might enter classrooms. Some schools conducted "duck and cover" drills to combat that possibility.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Irans social media police have struck again.

The Islamic Republic arrested and jailed a female bodybuilder after she published revealing photos of herself online, Iranian media reported Wednesday.

ISRAEL: NEW DEFENSE SYSTEM CAN HIT TARGETS OUTSIDE THE ATMOSPHERE

"One of the female bodybuilders who recently published nude photographs on social networks has been arrested," the Mizanonline news agency reported.

But in Iran, nude can refer to women who are not wearing headscarves or showing parts of their arms and legs, according to AFP.

The bodybuilder  who hasnt been named  was sent to prison because she wasnt able to post a $50,000 bail.

Her current status is unclear.


An Israeli officer was killed Wednesday after a Bedouin man with Islamist ties allegedly rammed his SUV into a crowd of police amid violent demonstrations over a string of demolitions.

ISRAEL EXPANDS MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM WITH NEW INTERCEPTOR

Police killed the driver. Eyewitnesses said he actually lost control of his SUV after police shot him.

The fighting erupted in the early hours Wednesday as police forces arrived to the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran to secure the demolition of illegally built structures.

NIKKI HALEY BLASTS UNITED NATIONS ON ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS, FUNDING DURING CONFIRMATION HEARING

Yaakub Abu al-Qiyan, 50, sped toward the forces, killing 34-year-old Advanced Staff Sgt. Maj. Erez Levi, police spokeswoman Meirav Lapidot said, calling it a nationalist attack exactly as we saw last week in Jerusalem. Earlier this month, a Palestinian truck driver rammed into a group of Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem, killing four.

Lapidot added that police had certain details about the attacker that indicated he was a member of the southern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel and may have had ties to the Islamic State terror group.

Crews finished the demolitions by early afternoon local time, despite the protests.

Israeli Arab lawmaker Ayman Odeh was evacuated to nearby hospital for treatment. Its unclear if he was wounded by the police or by a stray rock thrown by the Bedouin protestors. After his release, he returned to the scene, joining other Arab lawmakers.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan accused Odeh of stirring up the conflict by lying about what actually happened. He said he hoped the incident would not spark further divisions between Jews and Arabs in Israel, but that lawmakers including Odeh bore responsibility if it happened.

"He was there to enflame tensions and incite to violence," Erdan told Army Radio. "He contributed to a very serious event that may also have criminal implications for him."

President Reuven Rivlin urged leaders across Israel to cooperate and to calm the situation. We must fight terror with an unwavering and firm hand, wherever it is found. I turn to all leaders across Israel, particularly in the Arab community, and say this is a stressful and difficult time, and we must all work together and do everything in our power to bring calm, in words and in actions... We must find a solution and a plan to deal with this burning national, social, and civil issue  before it is too late.

The Israeli government had approved the construction of the new Jewish community of Hiran in November 2013, to be built on the land of Umm al-Hiran. Residents mounted legal defenses, including an appeal to the Supreme Court, but were not successful.

Arabs make up one-fifth of Israel's population. They have full citizenship but claim they frequently face unfair treatment in areas such as jobs and housing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Health authorities in Macedonia say Skopje is now Europe's most polluted capital, with poor air quality blamed for the premature death of 1,300 people each year.

Dragan Gjorgjev of the country's National Public Health Institute told reporters Wednesday that the finding was based on a study by the Finnish Meteorological Institute which monitored levels of PM 2.5, tiny toxic particles that damage lung tissue.

He said pollution contributed to between 30 to 35 percent of deaths during the winter period over the past three years, with the figure in other capitals rarely exceeding 20 percent.

Health officials here have been warning for years of the deteriorating air quality in Skopje, a city of some 500,000 people, noting that the elderly and people with chronic diseases are most at risk.
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Romania's government is proposing to pardon thousands of prisoners, in a drive to reduce overcrowding in prisons.

The justice ministry published a draft plan on Wednesday, surprising Romania's top prosecutor and drawing sharp criticism from opposition politicians.

The proposal could affect 2,500 prisoners  those with sentences under five years, except for those convicted of crimes of a sexual nature, violence or corruption.

Prisoners over 60, pregnant women and inmates with young children would see their sentences halved regardless of their conviction.

Premier Sorin Grindeanu wants to implement the measure through an emergency ordinance which would bypass parliament and would not require the president's signature.

General Prosecutor Augustin Lazar criticized the proposal, saying it lacked transparency and had not been discussed publicly.
A Serbian rights group said Wednesday its activists were beaten after interrupting an event organized by the ruling populists that included an appearance by a convicted war criminal.

Youth Initiative for Human Rights said its nine activists were hurt, two of whom sought medical help after the incident late Tuesday in Beska, northern Serbia.

The group said they broke into the event hosting Veselin Sljivancanin, a former Yugoslav army officer sentenced by the U.N. court in the Netherlands for war crimes during Croatia's 1991-95 war.

Activists spread a banner reading "War criminals must shut up so we can talk about victims," but were thrown out and allegedly beaten outside the venue.

One activist, Ana Mitic, told local N1 television that "several men followed us through the corridor and then continued to beat us."

"They beat us hard and we started to run," Mitic said, claiming that the attackers kicked one of the activists who fell down on the floor.

The governing Serbian Progressive Party has protested an intrusion by "hooligans" and the "fascist incident." The party urged the authorities to punish those responsible.

Serbia has seen a resurgence of nationalism stemming from the 1990s Balkan war in which some 100,000 people died. President Tomislav Nikolic last week met with another convicted war criminal, former Bosnian Serb leader Momcilo Krajisnik.

The youth group criticized a "warmongering tone" by Serbia's government and ruling party officials as "very dangerous" and a threat to peace and stability in the Balkans.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Begins 20th Year With Gratitude, New 20th Birthday Celebration Bear And 'Parties On The 20th'

Retailer unveils commemorative bear and thanks Guests for 20 years with lots of heartfelt fun.

ST. LOUIS - Jan. 17, 2017 // PRNewswire // - Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW), an interactive destination for creating personalized furry friends, is celebrating 20 years in 2017 and thanking fans across the globe. The company is also marking the milestone with a new, commemorative Make-Your-Own 20th Birthday Celebration Bear and hosting monthly Parties on the 20th.

Build-A-Bear Workshop begins 20th year with gratitude, new 20th Birthday Celebration Bear and 'Parties on the 20th' to thank Guests for two decades of heartfelt fun.

The 16-inch 20th Birthday Celebration Bear was created as a tribute for this special year, features a Build-A-Bear Workshop 20th birthday logo on its paw pad, and has posable arms and legs. Guests can make their own limited-edition bear at U.S., Canada and U.K. Build-A-Bear Workshop stores, or purchase the bear at buildabear.com for $25.50 (USD) / $27 (CAD) / 19.50 (GBP), plus applicable taxes.

In appreciation of two decades of furry-friend fun, Build-A-Bear Workshop invites fans to attend in-store Parties on the 20th leading up to the company's official birthday on Oct. 27, 2017. The events will take place on the 20th of each month at all U.S., U.K. and Canada stores and will feature special offers and excitement for all ages! Guests can visit buildabear.com/20th-birthday for more details and to find a nearby store.

"Since 1997, more than 150 million furry friends and countless memories have been made at Build-A-Bear Workshop," said Sharon Price John, president and chief executive officer, Build-A-Bear Workshop. "We are incredibly grateful to those who have shared cherished memories, meaningful moments and furry friend hugs with us over the last 20 years. Many of our Guests, who discovered Build-A-Bear Workshop as kids and teens, are now bringing their own children to our stores to experience the joy of making a new furry friend. Today, we invite Guests of all ages to join us in making our 20th year the best one yet and to help us continue to 'add a little more heart to life' for years to come."

Build-A-Bear Workshop was founded in St. Louis on Oct. 27, 1997, as the first retail experience offering kids and kids at heart the opportunity to make and customize their own stuffed bears and animals. Today, the company operates more than 400 stores worldwide and offers a wide array of classic animals, popular characters and, of course, teddy bears. A photo gallery featuring furry friends through the years is available at buildabear.com/20th-birthday.

Guests can join in the 20th birthday fun by:

Attending Parties on the 20th at local Build-A-Bear Workshop stores each month;

Visiting buildabear.com/20th-birthday for complete details and to find a nearby location; and

Sharing favorite Build-A-Bear Workshop memories on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by tagging @BuildABear.

20th birthday shopping bags, Cub Condo carrying cases and birth certificates will begin arriving at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores across the globe in the coming months.

About Build-A-Bear

Celebrating 20 years of business in 2017, Build-A-Bear is a global brand kids love and parents trust that seeks to add a little more heart to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop has approximately 400 stores worldwide where Guests can create customizable furry friends, including company-owned stores in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and China, and franchise stores in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. The company was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the eighth year in a row in 2016. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) posted a total revenue of $377.7 million in fiscal 2015. For more information, visit buildabear.com.

SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.

Contact:

Maria Lemakis

(314) 423-8000, ext. 5367

MariaL@buildabear.com

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Kumon Franchise Expands in the DMV with the Opening of Two Math and Reading Centers in Maryland

January 18, 2017 // Franchising.com // Teaneck, N.J. - Thousands of additional parents in the DMV area will now have access to an individualized learning program for their preschool to high school aged children. Kumon, the worlds largest after-school education franchise, is expanding in Maryland with the opening of two new centers in Frederick and Odenton, Maryland.

There are 13,688 math and reading students studying at 54 Kumon Math and Reading Centers in the DMV. Kumon of Odenton-Fort Meade is the first center to open in Odenton, Maryland and Kumon of Urbana is the second center in Frederick, Maryland.

Kumons Washington, D.C. branch office, which serves communities in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Recognizing the value placed on education in the region, Kumon established its Southeast presence with the opening of the Washington, D.C. branch office in McClean, Virginia back in 1992.

Kumon has become a staple in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore Metropolitan Areas for over 25 years now, said Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. Weve opened 14 new centers in the past five years and are excited to see continued growth with the opening of the new centers in Frederick and Odenton.

Kumons Presence in the DMV

13,688 subject enrollments at 54 centers

First center opened in 1983

25 percent increase in the number of centers in last five years

22 percent increase in subject enrollments in last five years

The Kumon Method empowers children to become self-learners and is designed to advance childrens math and reading skills while fostering a love for learning. Kumon sparks critical thinking, establishes a pattern of success and builds confidence that can lead to accelerated learning throughout life.

To learn more about the Kumon franchise opportunity, visit kumonfranchise.com.

About the Kumon Franchise Business

Kumon is an ideal small business for professionals. Kumon Franchisees must have a four-year college degree, be proficient in math and reading and have investment capital of $70,000 and a net worth of at least $150,000. Founded in 1958, Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 49 countries and regions. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ.

SOURCE Kumon

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Snap Fitness Continues Global Growth With Expansion Into United Arab Emirates

24/7 Fitness Provider Signs Master Franchise Agreement with UAE

January 18, 2017 // Franchising.com // CHANHASSEN, Minn. - Snap Fitness, the worlds premier 24/7 fitness brand, continues its rapid international growth with the announcement of a master franchise agreement for the United Arab Emirates.

Todays news reflects the fitness providers exceptional growth as a global brand. In the last five years, they have signed master agreements for 18 countries and are in negotiations to sign a handful more in the coming months.

Signing a master franchise agreement is a big accomplishment and Praveen Bhatnagar has a great strategy and team in place to grow our brand.With our proven franchise concept and Bhatnagars experience influencing the entire country, he is the perfect person to lead Snap Fitness in United Arab Emirates, said Steele Smiley, Lift Brands Chief Development Officer.

Bhatnagar has been in the region for 20 years, helping companies develop a stronger foothold in their markets. While managing Fitness First for five years, under his direction, they expanded from 11 to 50 clubs, and became the largest fitness operator in the region.

We at JSB Group are equally excited to work with Snap Fitness. The Middle East has high prevalence of diabetes and obesity. We see that Snap Fitness will help bridge the gap and encourage more and more people to exercise at an affordable prices, said Bhatnagar, Master Franchisee for UAE.

Snap Fitness has continued their upward trajectory and world-wide growth with the master franchise agreement for the United Arab Emirates. The brand is far from done expanding and will continue to explore opportunities to sign master agreements across the globe.

About Snap Fitness

With 2,000 clubs open or in development in 18 countries, Snap Fitness is the worlds premier 24/7 fitness franchise. Founded in 2003 by Peter Taunton, Snap Fitness provides entrepreneurs an exciting business opportunity with turnkey systems, financing options with low investments, and world-class support.

SOURCE Snap Fitness

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The British Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin announced a 269M (US$327 million) deal for the procurement of 10 aerial surveillance systems to operate on the Royal Navy new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. Initial deliveries are expected in 2018 with initial operational capability in 2020.

Lockheed Martin UK is the prime contractor for the Crowsnest project. The company will integrate airborne early warning radars and passive electronic support measures in the Merlin Mk2 helicopters provided by Leonardo that will also modify the Navys 30 AW101 Merlin HM.2 platforms to be able to carry the Crowsnet mission package.

Thales will provide the sensor suite solution for the system. With the new radar Crowsnet will replace the Seaking AEW7 that operated from the decks of the Royal Navys Invincible class aircraft carriers that were phased out of service in recent years. The system is an updated and improved version of the Cerberus tactical sensor suite, currently in service on the Sea King Mk7 helicopter.

The Merlin Mk2 Crowsnet will act as the eyes and ears for the Royal Navys ships, providing long range air, maritime and land detection and tracking capability. The Merlin Mk2 helicopters already perform a number of other roles for the Royal Navy, including anti submarine warfare, search and rescue.

The Corwsnet equipped helicopters will be based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, UK and are expected to remain operational for at least 20 years.
Combine the soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, sugar, sesame oil, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk or stir well to dissolve the sugar and salt, and mix everything together into a thin, smooth sauce.
Sunshine briefly returns to Fredericksburg midweek.

The always annoyingly persistent cold air damming wedge is still hanging tough over Fredericksburg and vicinity this Wednesday morning. The southern boundary of Da Wedge is slowly lifting north of I-64 as I write this. By late morning the low overcast mess will begin to clear out as a cold front bulldozes across the area.

Given the later-than-scheduled departure of the wedge high temperatures today will be a few degrees cooler than originally thought. Thermometers will likely top out in the mid-50s this afternoon while westerly winds gust over 20 mph. The colder air behind the front will be mitigated by compressional warming as the air descends east of the mountains. Also, a small upper level low pressure crossing West Virginia this morning is helping to create mountain waves visible via satellite (see graphic).

Thursday will be the bonus day this week with light winds and full sunshine as high pressure reigns supreme over Fredericksburg. Thermometers will again max out in the mid-50s, a full ten degrees above normal for mid-January. While the high pressure center quickly retreats north and east Thursday night clouds will begin to roll in as another storm system approaches from the west.

A peek ahead at the weekend yields the conclusion that while remaining warmer than average it will also be wet. Sunshine will be once again scarce for a few days beginning Friday. But, hey, we need the rain to continue to improve the dry conditions across Virginia.
Fifth-grader Danielle Drumm, Student Council Association president at Madison Elementary, welcomed visitors to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated school in Caroline County.

I have attended Madison for six years and I have watched our school change and grow, Drumm said Wednesday. We are excited about our new Madison and are eager to share it with you.

The $4 million project added 18,572 square feet to the school. The renovations include a new secured main entrance, administration area, clinic suite, media center, conference room, two additional computer labs and four new kindergarten classrooms.

The cafeteria was remodeled and two new serving lines were added. Ramps and vertical chair lifts were also added to render the entire building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Principal Terrie Haley said the renovations allow classrooms that were previously located in learning cottages in front of and behind the school to move inside the school.

More than 80 percent of Caroline County voters approved a $26.3 million bond referendum in November 2013 for improvements at the elementary school and at Caroline High School.

Work on the school began in July 2014 with tree removal, but suffered a setback in August of that year when bids for the project came in over budget and had to be re-submitted. Construction began again in late 2015 and on Jan. 3 of this year, staff moved into the completed areas of the school.

Students returned from winter break to take ownership of their new learning environment. Principal Terrie Haley said there were lots of oohs and aahs.

We are so pleased and elated, we truly are, Haley said. Were so thankful to our Caroline community.

She thanked current and past School Board members, the Board of Supervisors and the architects, builders, electricians and subcontractors who worked on the project.

School Superintendent Dr. George Parker also thanked the Caroline community for supporting its children.

This is all about the kids and their well-being, he said. The community really embraced the concept of upgrading our schools.

School Board chairwoman Nancy Carson, who taught at Madison for several years, said the school has always been great and that the outside now reflects the inside.

These children and their parents deserve this facility, she said.
The first F-35B Lightning II aircraft, belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VFMA-121), arrived today at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni today (January 18, 2017) beginning the squadrons permanent basing at the air station. VMFA-121 conducted a permanent change of station to MCAS Iwakuni, from MCAS Yuma, Ariz., and now belongs to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force positioned at this base.

The arrival of the F-35B embodies our commitment to the defense of Japan and the regional-security of the Pacific, said Maj. Gen. Russell Sanborn, the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. We are bringing the most advanced technology to the Pacific to respond to the wide range of missions we take part in and provide greater support to our regional allies.

The F-35B represents the future of Marine Corps tactical aviation and incorporates the mission capabilities of the current Marine Corps platforms it is replacingthe AV-8B Harrier, F/A-18 Hornet, and EA-6B Prowlerwithin a single airframe. In addition to its short takeoff and vertical landing capability, the F-35Bs unique combination of stealth, cutting-edge radar, sensor technology, and electronic warfare systems bring all of the access and lethality capabilities of a fifth-generation fighter, a modern bomber, and an adverse-weather, all-threat environment air support platform.

Prior to arriving in Iwakuni, VMFA-121 was stationed with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Yuma, Arizona. During the squadrons time in Arizona, the aircraft successfully

participated in numerous exercises and training events. Our training in the U.S. has prepared us well for our mission here in Japan and we are very honored to have such a warm welcome, said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. J. T. Bardo, commanding officer of VMFA-121. Our Marines and family members take great pride in being able to serve here and be part of the amazing community in Iwakuni, both on and around the air station.
Fredericksburg-area hotels started getting feelers for reservations for the end of this week well before Novembers presidential election.

But any hopes of being slammed with requests, as happened during the 2009 inauguration, are largely going unfulfilled.

We will have a great weekend, but we are not sold out as yet, as we were for Obamas first inauguration, said Bonnie Martin, sales director for the Fredericksburg Hospitality House Hotel and Convention Center in Central Park.

She said some reservations were made by people going to Donald Trumps inaugural ceremonies on Friday, while some will be going to the Womens March on Washington the following day.

Ronnie James, general manager of the Homewood Suites by Hilton Fredericksburg and Hampton Inn & Suites Fredericksburg at Celebrate Virginia said that he doesnt expect either property to be fully booked at the end of this weekunless hotels fill up at the last minute in Washington and Northern Virginia.

Some hotels in those areas were only 50 percent full earlier this week, although some higher-end hotels apparently had more bookings, according to an Associated Press article.

We were hoping to get some overflow after everything was booked beyond the Beltway, James said.

While area hotels were booked solid when an estimated 1.8 million people filled the National Mall for Barack Obamas historic inauguration as the United States first African-American president in 2009, James said that surge was smaller when the presidents second inauguration rolled around four years later.

Estimates of the number of people expected to turn out for Donald Trumps inaugural ceremonies range from 700,000 to up to 1 million if protesters are included. Hundreds of thousands are also expected to turn out for the Womens March.

Still, a number of local hotels are seeing an uptick for the end of this week, even though January is normally a slow month for them. Those in Stafford are running at 90 percent and above occupancy, according to Lisa M. Logan, tourism manager for the countys Economic Development & Tourism office.

The hotel managers that I spoke with felt this was due to the inauguration and is on par with past inaugurations, she said.

Jenny Holbert, who owns and operates Lavender Heights Bed and Breakfast in Falmouth, said that her first customers for the end of this week made their reservation in June with the provision that theyd cancel if Trump didnt win. He did, and the bed and breakfast had bookings for all four of its bedrooms by the end of December.

I guess I got lucky, Holbert said.

That wasnt the case for Bryan Vakos, general manager of Sleep Inn Southpoint in Spotsylvania County. The hotels 67 rooms had been filled, but two bus groups whod made reservations for the end of this week canceled the first week in January. One group was from the Deep South and had stayed at the hotel during both of Obamas inaugurations. The other was a Mississippi marching band that had expected to be at the inauguration.

We havent filled up since then, which is interesting, he said, since Sleep Inn Southpoints rates are much cheaper than those in Northern Virginia and Washington.

Part of the problem is that we were turning people away for months, Vakos said. Were about half full, which is normal for this time of year.
Hugh Seymour has spent a lifetime giving his time and talents to the community as a firefighter and paramedic. But now it is his turn to be on the receiving end.

Seymour, whom his friends describe as the type of man who would give someone the shirt off his back, grapples with muscular dystrophy and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Seymour, 51, grew up in Centreville before strip malls, restaurants, supermarkets and large housing developments transformed the area from rural countryside to popular D.C. suburb. He spent most of his childhood outdoors hunting and fishing. He now lives in Spotsylvania County.

From age 12 until he graduated from high school, Seymour worked for a landscaping company. He came to admire the owner, a police officer, and regarded him as a father figure. His spirit of service inspired Seymour to look for ways he could serve his community.

Seymour joined the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in 1983 as a volunteer before becoming a paid firefighter several years later. He said he became a firefighter out of a desire to help people and give back to the community.

I absolutely loved it, and I miss it every day, he said.

Seymour said his experiences as a firefighter have shaped him, and changed the way he chooses to live his life. In addition to being more careful, he tries to be appreciative of every moment, knowing that time is fleeting.

I think firefighters see more in a day than the general public sees in a lifetime, he said. As a firefighter, you see people at their happiest times, like the birth of a baby or bringing someone back from cardiac arrest, and also at their saddest times, like when their house burns down or they get in a bad car accident.

Seymour also served his community as a paramedic. Although he loved his job, one tragic day everything changed. After responding to an incident where a 9-year-old boy was hit by a car and later died, Seymour plummeted into a deep depression. Eventually, he was diagnosed with PTSD.

That boys death was the straw that broke the camels back, Seymour said. It got to the point that I couldnt even function anymore as a person. I couldnt sleep from nightmares and flashbacks, and I self-medicated with alcohol.

But Seymour is a fighter. Over the years, he has worked with a therapist on a regular basis to find ways to cope with PTSD and has opened up to his family and friends about his experience. Each day continues to be a struggle, but he now has the tools to deal with his illness in a more positive way.

PTSD led Seymour to retire from the fire department in 1997. Several years later, his world turned upside down again when he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a progressive disease causing loss of muscle mass and weakness. There is no cure at this time.

As a result, it is difficult for Seymour to walk upstairs and long distances, and he uses a cane to get around the house. Outside of his home, he uses a wheelchair.

Ironically, Seymour used to spend every Labor Day weekend assisting the fire department with its Fill the Boot campaign, which raises money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He never imagined that one day he would be diagnosed with the condition.

I have spent many a year filling the boot and never thought I would suffer from this, he said.

Being outdoors has always been the best therapy for Seymourit is what makes him feel most alive. He used to own a boat, which he would use to take wounded warriors out fishing. He hoped the outdoors could have the same healing effect on them.

But, these days, he can only enjoy the outdoors from the car window. His wheelchair wont operate on uneven terrain, such as trails, making it impossible to go to the park, fish or hunt.

From little kids to the elderly, I love to take people fishing and see them catch the best fish they have ever caught, he said.

He said a wheelchair designed for outdoor terrain would be life-changing. He misses going hunting and for walks with his wife, Sarah. He longs to smell the fresh air and feel a fishing rod in his hand again.

A regular electric wheelchair will not allow you to go on a trail or a mud puddle, he said. I have a 16-year-old son, Jarrett, and I love to spend time with him. He loves to hunt and fish. It tears me up that I cannot do that. If I can get this chair, I will be able to do that.

As if out of a scene of Its a Wonderful Life, Seymours friends have banded together to make sure he gets that wheelchair. They started a GoFundMe page to raise $20,000 and have collected nearly $5,000 so far. He needs $16,500 to purchase the basic chair and the rest would be used to help with a trailer or van.

Seymour also recently received a $2,000 grant from the Action Mobility Foundation that will go towards the chair. Insurance does not cover any costs.

Marsha Drake, the organizer of the GoFundMe page, first met Seymour through a mutual friend who worked with him as a first responder. She moved to Florida several years ago, but when she lived in the Northern Virginia area, Seymour took her fishing and helped her meet new friends at a time when she didnt know many people.

After learning that Seymours mobility has declined over the years, she started brainstorming ways to raise money for the outdoor wheelchair so that Seymour would be able to get outdoors to take people fishing and hunting again. She said helping others is one of the ways Seymour copes with his PTSD.

He is made alive out of serving his community, Drake said. He just has a heart of gold, and is always trying to help other people and give to others. Social status, color, religion, man or womanhe doesnt see any of that. He just sees another human being and tries to enrich their lives.

Anything I could do to try to help himwell, Im all in, she added.

Drake is also exploring the possibility of holding a benefit auction this spring. They have secured an auctioneer, but are waiting to set a date until they receive enough donations. They are accepting a variety of donations including yard sale items, sporting event tickets, vacation rentals and more.

Seymour is humbled by the show of support from his friends, acquaintances and even total strangers. He said after years of serving his community, he never imagined being in a position where he would need assistance. It has been difficult for him to ask for donations, but he is grateful for the support.

He said that even though his life may look like a series of hardships to some, he wouldnt change a thing.

I try to stay positive and stay involved, Seymour said. If you keep sitting on couch that is all you will think about, so I just try to keep going.
The Marine stood up about 34 minutes into a presentation on a private anti-terrorist training facility proposed in Spotsylvania County.

Im Colonel Mark Brinkman, active-duty Marine Corps, not a small business making money, he said, before challenging the proposed facilitys safety standards.

A few minutes later, Douglas Marshall asked the presenter, How much money is in this paid mercenary business that yall in?

John Garman of Cruciblethe security training facility that wants to relocate from Stafford County to Spotsylvaniastarted to repeat the question before Marshall cut him off.

Weve got a good military, weve got Navy SEALS, weve got Green Berets, weve got all kinds and basically it looks like yall training people to do what?

Actually, those folks come to us, Garman said of the military personnel. They need us to do what they do.

Shortly thereafter, a man asked how many bullets at Crucibles current Hartwood location had ever gone off the property or hit anybody or anything like that?

Zero, Garman replied.

Seconds later, another man chimed in: Hold on, hold on. How many does it take for somebody to die?

One! someone shouted.

Those exchanges at a contentious informational meeting Tuesday reflect adamant opposition to Crucibles proposal to move to a nearly 78-acre site at 6116 Jefferson Davis Highwayabout a mile south of Dominion Raceway. Residents raised concerns about safety, noise and the proposed facilitys impact on property values.

Crucible officials hosted the meeting at Dominion Raceway to provide an overview of their proposal and answer questions ahead of mandatory public hearings in front of the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. No hearings have been scheduled because Crucible owner Radio Reconnaissance Technologies has not yet submitted a formal proposal to the county.

Supervisors will have the final say over the companys forthcoming request to rezone the property from agricultural to industrial. The facility would be exempt from county noise limitations from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., based on a county ordinance exempting industrial or commercial facilities that customarily emit noise.

Crucible has been in Stafford for about 16 years, providing specialized training to service members, civilian contractors and others who travel to dangerous parts of the world.

Garman tried to alleviate concerns about safety at the Spotsylvania meeting, explaining that the facilitys shooting ranges will include 20-foot-tall berms topped with sandbags to deflect stray bullets. The facility will initially have five shooting ranges.

Garman also noted that training is done in small groups, with one instructor for every four trainees.

But Brinkman, armed with documents outlining safety guidelines for government-owned shooting ranges, said the facilitys safety standards did not adhere to best practices in the military and other organizations.

Garman replied that the National Rifle Association had offered positive feedback about Crucibles proposal in writing. In an email to The Free LanceStar, attorney Charlie Paynewho represents Cruciblesaid he could not provide NRAs comments because the documentation includes confidential details.

In addition, Garman said a sound consultant for Crucible found that the Stafford facility is compliant with all of that countys noise limitations.

Payne said Stafford had received maybe half a dozen noise complaints about the facility over the years. In most of those cases, he said, the noise actually emanated from Marine Corps Base Quantico.

They have a 16-year history in Stafford County, and people ignore it, Payne said. Not one incident.

Some residents unsuccessfully pressed Crucible officials to promise, in writing, not to exceed a certain decibel level.

At one point, as emotions flared, Payne asked the crowd to calm down a little bit on the reaction, and lets be fair.

Whats wrong with small businesses and government contractors coming to Spotsylvania County, especially as patriotic as this county is and the type of mission that they provide, he asked.

Crucible also faced resistance to a proposal to expand its facility off Richards Ferry Lane in Hartwood. The Stafford Planning Commission recommended denial of the request in 2013, and the Board of Supervisors never took a vote.

The developer of the planned 701-home Westlake subdivision, which borders Crucible in Stafford, filed a lawsuit in 2014 challenging the legality of the facilitys outdoor shooting ranges. Weapons fired at the 88-acre site include assault rifles and grenade launchers, according to the lawsuit, which is still active.

A Stafford zoning administrator ruled that the shooting ranges are allowed.
The wake of Ricky Javon Grays murder rampage that claimed two Richmond families 11 years ago leads tonight to the death house at the Greensville Correctional Center.

Unless the U.S. Supreme Court steps in, Gray will die by injection at 9 p.m. for the murders of Ruby Harvey, 4, and her sister, Stella Harvey, 9, on New Years Day 2006. Also slain in their Woodland Heights home were their parents, Bryan and Kathryn Harvey.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who had been asked to commute Grays death sentence to life without parole, declined to grant clemency Tuesday.

It is the governors responsibility to ensure that the laws of the commonwealth are properly carried out unless circumstances merit a stay or commutation of the sentence. After extensive review and deliberation, I have found no such circumstances. I will continue to pray for all of the individuals and families affected by these tragic and horrible crimes, McAuliffe said in a statement.

Minutes after the governors announcement, Grays lawyers said they filed an emergency application for a stay of execution with the U.S. Supreme Court.

If the justices do not interfere, the execution would be the first in Virginia since October 2015, when serial killer Alfredo Prieto was put to death by injection.

Gray and Ray Dandridge, his nephew and accomplice, both now 39, shook the city of Richmond in January 2006, murdering seven people in six days and setting off an investigation that ended with Grays capture in a Philadelphia basement on Jan. 7.

Looking for a house to rob, the two men entered the open front door of the Harveys home, forced the family to the basement, tied them up, cut their throats and stabbed them.

The fatal injuries were inflicted with a hammer. The house was set on fire, and the killers fled with items including a wedding ring, a cookie plate and a computer.

The smoke was discovered by a friend arriving at the house with his young daughter to help the Harveys prepare for a chili party planned for that afternoon.

Stephen W. Tarrant, 76, lived across the street. He recalls his first inkling that something was wrong was when the fire trucks arrived.

We saw the bodies carried out. We saw the expressions on the faces of the firemen. We saw the expressions on the faces of the police detectives who showed up pretty quickly  and these were people who were both shocked/horrified and extremely angry, recalled Tarrant, who knew the Harveys well.

Bryan Harvey, 49, was a musician and Kathryn Harvey, 39, a co-owner of World of Mirth, a toy and novelties shop in Carytown. Stella Harvey arrived home and was taken to the basement by her mother while the rest of her family was held hostage.

Days later, a mile away on East Broad Rock Road, Gray and Dandridge killed again: Ashley Baskerville, 21, an accomplice in the Harvey slayings; Baskervilles mother, Mary Tucker, 47; and stepfather, Percyell Tucker, 55, in their home.

Each person was gagged with a sock or stocking. Then their heads were wrapped over with duct tape. Their hands and feet were also bound, keeping them from removing the tape and gags.

A tip identified Gray and Dandridge as suspects, and they were tracked down to a house in Philadelphia on Jan. 7. Gray resisted arrest but confessed not long after he was captured.

Gray also admitted killing his wife, Treva Gray, on Nov. 5, 2005, in Pennsylvania. Gray and Dandridge also stabbed a man in Arlington County on New Years Eve 2005. The man was able to escape and later testified against Gray.

Dandridge was sentenced to life without parole in the deaths of the Tucker-Baskerville family.

A member of the Harvey family recently declined to comment, saying it has been the familys policy not to speak with the media.

According to the Virginia Department of Corrections, family members of victims have expressed an interest in witnessing the execution.

Victim witnesses view from a room that is separate from other witnesses and that has one-way glass. Their identities are not revealed.

Two of the three drugs the Virginia Department of Corrections plans to use in the procedure were compounded by a Virginia pharmacy rather than made by a pharmaceutical manufacturer.

That led to a thus-far-unsuccessful court challenge alleging there was an unacceptable risk Gray would suffer cruel and unusual punishment as a result of chemical torture.

Grays lawyers are seeking the emergency stay from the high court so they can more fully challenge Virginias plans to use compounded midazolam and potassium chloride in the first and third steps of the execution.

No state has ever used compounded midazolam in an execution, compounded potassium chloride in an execution, or two compounded drugs in the same execution, wrote Grays lawyers to the high court Tuesday.

His lawyers complained that both drugs were prepared by a secret compounding pharmacy that employed unknown compounding processes outside the purview of any regulation.

The state insists Grays concerns are speculative and the drugs will work properly. A federal judge agreed and turned down a request by Gray for a preliminary injunction. On Friday the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also denied Grays injunction request.

Among other things, Grays clemency petition to McAuliffe cited the physical and sexual abuse he suffered as a child that led to his long-term drug abuse.

Last week, his lawyers released an apology by Gray for the killings.

Following McAuliffes decision Tuesday, Grays lawyers with the Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center said, Rickys execution will serve no purpose other than retribution, and it will add to the losses and suffering of members of our community.

Ricky is, and always has been, a model prisoner. Ricky Gray is filled with remorse for his victims, and he has tried to honor the two Harvey girls by serving as a father figure to his much younger sisters and making sure their childhoods are better than what he endured. We regret that he will no longer be able to try to make amends for his past wrongs, the statement said.

His lawyers complained that the jurors who sentenced Gray to death did not hear that when the crimes were committed, Gray was under the influence of PCP, a drug that caused psychosis. His PCP addiction began in response to physical and sexual abuse he suffered as a child, his lawyers said.

Because of these factors, an outpouring of public support for clemency for Ricky Gray included prominent members in the mental health and child advocacy professions, contend Grays lawyers.

Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, executive director of the ACLU of Virginia, also said the organization was disappointed in McAuliffes action.

Rather than continue to find ways to ensure that government can implement a death sentence, including authorizing the concoction and use in secret of new and untested drugs, we urge Governor McAuliffe to join us and become a champion for full repeal of Virginias death penalty statute, Gastanaga said.

Richmond Commonwealths Attorney Michael N. Herring  who prosecuted Gray and won the death sentence along with deputies Learned Barry and the late Matthew Geary  said that, As an opponent of the death penalty generally, I dont lose any sleep over Mr. Gray being executed.

If were going to have a capital punishment mechanism in Virginia, what Gray did, would fit it, said Herring.

Herring said, If were considering abolishing capital punishment then the granting of clemency would be an appropriate step. But he added, If Virginia wants to entertain a change in direction, then it needs to be at peace with not executing people like Ricky Gray.

Thats a decision for the General Assembly and the governor to make, he said.

Tarrant, the Harveys former neighbor, said, Gray committed  consciously, deliberately  one of the most brutal, inhumane murders, series of murders, I know about.

The Harveys were my friends. Not just good neighbors, but they were my friends. And I consider that (Gray) has forfeited all right to continue living for what he did, Tarrant said. He said there are now just two or three families in the immediate vicinity who still live there.

Its been 11 years. He should have been executed a long time ago, Tarrant said.

Virginia has executed 111 people since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to resume in 1976, the third most in the country behind only Oklahoma, at 112, and Texas, at 539.
A bipartisan group of 15 lawmakers from both General Assembly chambers spoke out Tuesday against public universities they said seemed to have forgotten they are state-supported schools.

At a news conference at the state Capitol, the legislators said two dozen or so bills will address issues related to transparency and access and affordability this session.

The group did not coalesce behind any one piece of legislation but said the General Assembly plans a debate that is overdue.

This has been going on for entirely too long, said state Sen. William R. DeSteph Jr., R-Virginia Beach, who called the news conference. We need to get the cost of tuition back under control.

But representatives of public universities received a more cordial hearing before the Senate Finance Committees higher education subcommittee later in the day.

College of William & Mary President W. Taylor Reveley III and Peter Blake, director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, urged that the assembly preserve the autonomy of governing boards.

Boards need the flexibility to determine how to use limited resources based on on-the-ground knowledge, said Reveley, who spoke as chairman of the Council of Presidents.

Reveley declined to comment after the session on the legislators news conference.

Some proposals, such as caps on the number of out-of-state students, are perennial legislative issues, but other legislation that would add new checks on boards authority is in response to the $2 billion-plus Strategic Investment Fund the University of Virginia created from surplus funds.

Meanwhile, U.Va.s board of visitors Tuesday voted to increase undergraduate enrollment by up to 100 Virginians for the next academic year and provide grants to lower the cost of attendance for middle-income in-state students.

Helen Dragas, U.Va.s former rector who disclosed the existence of the Strategic Investment Fund last summer, sat in the front row of the news conference as James V. Koch, former president of Old Dominion University, gave a presentation on the impact of rising costs on student debt.

Tuition and fees have risen faster than even medical costs, said Koch, who is president of Partners 4 Affordable Excellence @EDU. Dragas is the nonprofits chair.

State Sen. J. Chapman Petersen, D-Fairfax City, who has introduced a series of bills on transparency and costs, said spending has been out of control in such a way that public universities can accumulate more cash reserves than the state.

Who would have a state agency that has a cash reserve that is three times the cash reserve of the state itself? he said. That doesnt make any sense.

One of his bills would require surplus funds be used to lower tuition if schools have reserves greater than 150 percent of the institutions cost of education for its total enrollment.

Del. Timothy D. Hugo, R-Fairfax, would open more slots for in-state students and prohibit state funds from being used for tuition assistance for out-of-state students.

He said tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer money is being used to support out-of-state students.

William & Mary and U.Va., he said, might as well be called the College of New Jersey, Williamsburg campus, and the College of Pennsylvania, Charlottesville campus.

Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, wants to prohibit public institutions from using any tuition revenue from Virginia students to provide financial assistance to other students and from using more than 5 percent of tuition revenue from non-Virginia students to aid other out-of-state students.

Blake, the SCHEV director, said public institutions already are prohibited from using tuition of Virginia students to subsidize out-of-state students. However, the assembly in 2007 gave schools the authority to use a portion of tuition revenue as financial aid for in-state students.

A healthy discussion of this issue may be overdue, and I hope it can be done in the context of all of the factors that affect affordability, he said by email after the hearing.

Another proposal would change the name of members of governing boards from visitors to trustees in order to stress accountability.

U.Va.s board has responded to criticism over the Strategic Investment Fund with a new permanent endowment to support student scholarships, approved in December, and the creation Tuesday of the Cornerstone Grant program.

The new program will provide a $2,000 grant to first-year and second-year Virginians from families with incomes of less than $125,000 who do not receive grants or scholarships from other sources. Qualifying third-year students would be eligible to receive a $1,000 grant.

At least half of the 100 slots for additional in-state students would go to first-year students, with preference for applicants to the School of Architecture and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

The remaining new slots would be filled by transfer students, distance learners, and first-year entrants in spring or summer terms.
MOVIES serve mainly to entertain us. Sometimes, though, they can enlighten as well.

If you think race will cease to be part of the Virginia story any time in the foreseeable future, take a look at how Hollywood sees us.

In the last three months of 2016, three major motion pictures with Virginia connections hit the theaters. They had one thing in commonrace.

First, in October, came The Birth of a Nation, a revisiting of Nat Turners Rebellion, the 1831 uprising in which slaves killed from 55 to 60 people in Southampton County in a desperate bid for freedom. Some 200 AfricanAmericans were killed in retribution.

Next, in November, was Loving, which centered on the story of a white man and an AfricanAmerican woman in Caroline County whose 1958 vows led to a Supreme Court case that invalidated the states laws prohibiting interracial marriage. The story of Richard and Mildred Loving and their effort to simply share their lives with each other is well-known to many in our part of the world. Its been written about often, but movies have the power to imprint a story on our national consciousness.

Then, just before the year ended, came Hidden Figures, a story of AfricanAmerican women working for NASA in Hampton who played a large and unsung role in the nations space program while dealing with the prejudice that was hard-wired into so much of the country.

We all know Hollywood will take creative liberties with the facts in order to sell more popcorn, but the three movies do give us a good overview of where weve been, how far weve come and maybe how far we still have to go in race relations and civil rights in general.

A person born in 1980 might look with amazement on a not-too-distant world where a couple could fall in love and not be allowed to marry because of the color of their skin. He or she might find the needless hurdles faced by the women in Hidden Figures to be something out of the 19th century. That person might look at the sad and savage Nat Turner story in utter disbelief.

Maybe its good if weve come far enough toward the light that we see these three movies as historical dramas rather than something relevant to 21st century America. But it is important to see where weve been.

It is important to understand how evil can triumph over good, to know that decency and equality arent necessarily inherent attributes, but are instead qualities whose maintenance requires constant vigilance. In the wake of the slaughter that took place in a Charleston, S.C., church in 2015, by a racist bent on murdering people just because they were AfricanAmerican, the lesson bears repeating.

With Martin Luther King Jr. Day just behind us and Black History Month ahead in February, it is worth knowing that you can drive down a quiet country road in Virginias Southampton County to an area where, less than two centuries ago, people slaughtered other people in a bid to break the chains of slavery, or that you can drive a few minutes south from Fredericksburg to a place where, less than 60 years ago, a couple was arrested in their own bedroom for the crime of loving each other.

In a state that includes both the former capital of the Confederacy and the nations first AfricanAmerican governor of any state since Reconstruction, the past isnt that far past, and it offers cautionary tales.
At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, Columbians are not without good options for takeout. Indeed, I for one have subsisted (more than my wallet would like) on delectable bowls from Freshe Poke, gratifying pizzas from Village Idiot and Il Focolare, baleadas from Cabanas and Chinese feasts  Read moreThe dine-in experiences Free Times food writers have missed during COVID-19
An ex-Richland County councilwoman accused of paying for vacations and other personal expenses with taxpayers' money has been temporarily barred from practicing law. Read moreSC high court suspends law license of ex-Richland County official charged with corruption
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South Albany High School Principal Brent Belveal has been named Outstanding Administrator by the Oregon Music Educators Association.

Belveal received the award at the association's annual conference banquet this past Saturday in Eugene.

Brett DeYoung and Isaac Andrew, who direct South Albany's choirs and bands, respectively, nominated Belveal "for his tireless work during the fire rebuilding efforts on behalf of all the teachers who lost their classrooms and program materials," Andrew said.

"Through his work with the insurance company and donors and Albany Public Schools Foundation, architecture firm and general contractor, Brent championed his teachers, students and school and brokered the best deal he could for our programs and students."

Belveal said he's honored and humbled any time he receives recognition for what he said is just a part of his job.

"I feel like anyone would work hard to make sure that kids are taken care of," he said.

He also credited Andrew, DeYoung and all the other South Albany teachers who spent a year and a half making the best of things while construction crews worked to replace the building lost to arson in 2015. "My role has been to attend lots of meetings and make sure that my teachers and kids were cared for," he said.

Belveal said he'll always do whatever it takes to make sure students have "the best we can provide."

"I have the best job in the world  I get to come and hang out with amazing kids and teachers and someone pays me," he said. "It doesn't get any better than that."
Authorities said that a natural gas line that had leaked following a crash Tuesday on Northwest Grant Avenue was stopped at around 6:30 p.m.

Authorities also expected to reopen Grant between Witham Hill Drive and 34th Street by 7 p.m. after a car ran into a house and severed a natural gas line at about 4:40 p.m.

Authorities said a 60-year-old Corvallis woman was driving a Volvo V50 station wagon on Northwest Grant Avenue at around 4:40 p.m. when she went off the road for an unknown reason and severed a natural gas line.

Fire officials on scene said that no one was home at the time of the crash and the woman in the vehicle suffered what were believed to be minor and non-life threatening injuries. The woman was the only occupant of the vehicle.

Motorists were detoured around the area, and authorities asked residents near the home to evacuate from their houses following the crash.

David Still, battalion chief with the Corvallis Fire Department, said that residents were able to return to their homes at around 6:30 p.m. after officials from Northwest Natural Gas were able to cap the leak. Still said earlier that the crash severed the natural gas line and sheared off the valve that would have stopped the gas.

"There probably wasnt a lot of danger to begin with, but we closed the road out of an abundance of caution," Still said.

Still said the gas appeared to leak outside of the home before it was plugged, but that officials would remain in the area to ensure the gas dissipated.

People in four homes surrounding the crash were asked to leave following the crash.

"I just want to keep the worst thing from happening," Still said.
French lawmakers have passed a bill to install mandatory CCTV cameras in all slaughterhouses following a series of animal welfare scandals.

Now vets and animal rights groups are urging the UK government to introduce similar laws.

Members of the French National Assembly voted in favour of compulsory CCTV monitoring in all the countrys 1,000 slaughterhouses.

See also: French to inspect all abattoirs after video shows animal abuse

The legislation will require all slaughterhouses in France to install cameras in all areas of abattoirs where live animals are handled, including places of transport, accommodation, stunning and slaughter, by 2018.

However, the bill must be passed by the French Senate in February before it can become law.

A trial will take place this year to explain how the technology will be rolled out across the board.

Under the new laws, those caught inflicting unlawful cruelty on animals could face one year in prison.

Animal rights charity Animal Aid UK called on Defra minister George Eustice to bring forward similar measures to ensure the use of independently monitored CCTV becomes mandatory in UK slaughterhouses.

Catalyst for UK?

Animal Aids farming and slaughter campaigns manager Luke Steele said: Animal Aids covert filming has found lawbreaking in 90% of slaughterhouses investigated, which has included cigarettes being stubbed out on pigs, sheep being picked up and thrown by their fleeces and animals being beaten.

If the French National Assembly can make CCTV mandatory, then why can the UK parliament not do the same?

Emma Slawinski, director of campaigns at Compassion in World Farming, added: I hope this will be the catalyst for the UK and other European governments to introduce compulsory CCTV in abattoirs, preventing the suffering we have seen exposed in recent investigations.

The Food Standards Agency, alongside a cross-party representation of more than 200 MPs and the British Veterinary Association now support mandatory CCTV.

However, a report for the Welsh government by a working group of representatives from the abattoir industry concluded that while CCTV was a useful additional tool in improving animal welfare, there was simply not sufficient basis in which to make CCTV a mandatory requirement in abattoirs in Wales.
This week saw close to 50,000 farmers make their annual pilgrimage to the Peterborough Arena for the biggest farm machinery event in the British calendar.

Oliver Mark, James Andrews and Adam Clarke pick out the highlights from a chilly Lamma show.

See also: X8 VT Drive takes McCormick into 300hp division

More muscle from McCormick

McCormick is hoping to elbow its way into the high-horsepower tractor market with the launch of its X8 series tractors that develop more than 300hp.

The range made its first appearance at Germanys Agritechnica show in late 2015. With the testing phase now out of the way, the maker is ready to start selling the machines to UK farmers.

Like its little brother, the X7, the new range is fitted with a 6.7-litre FPT engine. However, this has been given dual turbos and a tune-up to make it man enough to power the beefier X8. In the entry-level X8.660, the block develops a max power of 264hp, with the biggest X8.680 topping out at 310hp.

All tractors will come with a ZF-built CVT transmission that has four virtual ranges and cruise control options. At the back end, the link arms are rated to lift 12t and there will be the option of a 157- or 212-litre/min hydraulic pump.

McCormick is ready to start taking orders for the X8, but full-scale production isnt scheduled to start until September 2017. There is no word on prices.

See also: Combine buyers guide 2017

Downs transfomer trailer

Herefordshire-based importer Miedema Mercer Machinery was showing off a novel new root trailer that doubles up as an in-field conveyer/loader.

The French-built Downs DTX Geo models come with a 18cu m or 26cu m capacity and have a rubber conveyer in the floor that transfers crop to the main 4m front elevator or a bypass transfer belt.

To convert it into an in-field loader, the chassis slides back over the wheels hydraulically until the body comes into contact with the ground. Trailers can then tip into it and the elevator takes the crop up into bulkers waiting at the headland.

All elements of the trailer are powered via a pto-driven, on-board hydraulic system that is controlled via a large touchscreen monitor.

List prices havent yet been finalised, but theyre likely to be north of 150,000.

Caterpillar updates telehandlers

Caterpillar has updated and extended its range of agricultural-spec telehandlers, giving them more power, more reach and a slicker cabin.

The new D range replaces the outgoing C models and extend from the compact 6m TH306D up to the TH3510D, with a 10m reach.

One of the most popular models is likely to be the TH408D that replaces the TH407C. This has a lift capacity of 4t, an 8m reach and, like the rest of the models in the range, has a lower rear pivot point for better visibility.

Power comes courtesy of a 4.4-litre Caterpillar four-cylinder that delivers 125hp as standard or 145hp if youre willing to spend some extra cash. This drives a six-speed powershift transmission controlled via buttons on the joystick.

The cab is one of the biggest improvements from an operators point of view with a fancier dash that includes a digital display for showing all the important info.

Prices start at 65,000 for the base-spec TH408D with a 125hp engine.

Chafer builds mid-sized self-propelled sprayer

Lincolnshire-based sprayer manufacturer Chafer had its new Interceptor sprayer model, which aims to make a dent in the mid-sized self-propelled market, on show at Lamma.

Better known for its trailed and demount sprayers, the firm ended its spray pack and boom supply tie-up with Agco Challenger two years ago and has since set about building a hydrostatic self-propelled machine  Chafers first since 2008.

It is hoped the Interceptor will poach customers from fellow British manufacturers such as Bateman and Househam by packing the new machine with premium features typically seen at the top end of the market.

Available with 4,000-litre or 5,000-litre tank capacities, the Interceptor is powered by an up-to-date 215hp Tier 4 Deutz engine, while a Rexroth CVT gearbox aims to keep crankshaft speed and fuel consumption to a minimum.

The spray pack can be as basic or high-tech as the customer wants, with the choice of a manual or the fully automatic E-Plumbing system that has proved popular on Chafers trailed machines.

A basic 24m Interceptor with two sets of wheels starts at 171,000, with the high-spec 36m version with the same two sets of wheels, GPS, twin lines and auto contour pushing the price up to 191,000.

Swiss shovel digs into agricultural market

Swiss construction machinery maker Liebherr is set to push its way into the UK agricultural market with its high-capacity 550 XPower loading shovel.

Demand for shovels has been on the rise in recent years, particularly on the clamp for large-scale silage contractors and from grain store managers for quicker lorry loading.

Although there are larger models in XPower range, the firm say the 191hp 550 is more than man enough for most UK operators and a different take on design sets it apart from the competition.

Its Liebherr engine sits at the extreme rear for better weight distribution without the need for extra ballast, the company says.

A hybrid transmission combines hydrostatic and mechanical drive to ensure there is no interruption in pushing power. The engine and transmission configuration has also allowed Liebherr to put the cooling system at the side of the machine, minimising dirty air sucked into the radiator.

A tipping load of 14t straight and 12.2t fully articulated offers plenty of capacity, and a High Dump bucket option will appeal to those loading lorries or farm trailers.

The 550 XPower with a High Dump bucket is priced at 160,000.

Ovlac beefs up plough range

Devon-based dealer Halse of Honiton has enjoyed a successful first year selling the Ovlac range of ploughs since it took on the Spanish brand 12 months ago.

So much so, the company is bulking out its existing four-, five- and six-furrow offering with a beasty eight-body model, which heralds Ovlacs UK debut in the 50-units-a-year semi-mounted plough market.

The seven-plus-one set-up also allows the option of taking the total furrow number to nine with a second extra body, though buyers will need a tractor of 380hp to be sure of having the muscle to match it.

Elsewhere, point-to-point clearance measures 105cm, beam height is 78cm and hydraulic vari-width is part of the package. There is also the choice of shearbolts or auto-reset protection, depending on budget and soil type.

In-furrow ploughing is possible, but realistically most of the semi-mounted machines will be run on land with GPS to keep on the straight and narrow.

The on-farm price is a shade above 32,000 and Halse currently has 19 dealers signed up  a fair way towards its target of 45 across the UK and Ireland.
Animal rights activists are using unmanned aerial vehicles or drones to spy on farms  gathering information and frightening livestock, claim pig producers.

The issue was raised by Nottinghamshire pig producer Des Allen during an NFU council meeting at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

Describing animal rights activists as a real bane of our life, Mr Allen told the meeting: My guys are quite confident we have had drones looking at us.

See also: Farm leaders call for tougher rules on drones

He added: If it was dogs in sheep threatening our livelihoods, we could shoot them. They are a real serious problem and they are invading our privacy.

Safety, security and privacy concerns

A government consultation is examining proposals to harness the positive benefits of drones.

But it is also looking at ways to address safety, security and privacy concerns.

National Pig Association (NPA) chief executive Zoe Davies said: We have several issues with respect to drones  [and] not only for outdoor pigs.

Pig panic

Flying a drone over an outdoor pig unit could cause potential panic among the animals, Ms Davies told NFU Council delegates on Tuesday (17 January).

We know outdoor pigs arent particularly keen on hot-air balloons  and we have sorted that issue out  but drones are a threat too, she said.

Drones had also been used by activists targeting abattoirs, said Ms Davies.

The NPA would be responding to the government consultation to try to get some control over where and when they can be used.
Irene Esther Wetherell, 86, of Lebanon died Saturday at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. Viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Huston-Jost Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Lebanon IOOF Cemetery.

Aaron J. Stoll, 30, of Philomath died at home January 7, 2017. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at Peace Lutheran Church in Philomath. McHenry Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Rocky Lee Rose, 55, of Lebanon died January 10, 2017. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at Southside Church of Christ, 196 S. Airport Rd., Lebanon.

Robert Denner, 57, died on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. A celebration of Rob's life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 at First Presbyterian Church, 114 SW 8th St., Corvallis. For more information and to leave condolences for the family, please visit www.mchenryfuneralhome.com.
WHATS UP The Cherokee County Literacy Association is having a hot dog sale fundraiser on November 12 at 11:00 a.m.2:00 p.m. in the office parking lot at 409 Buford Street. Plates for...

Blacksburg town employees to get bonus of $175 Blacksburg town employees were rewarded for their work Tuesday with a little extra in their holiday bonuses. Blacksburg Town Council unanimously agreed to give most full-time and part-time employees an...

In this region, no one fights alone Traditional rivals Landrum and Liberty presented a $4,700 check at Fridays Blacksburg game from a competitive fundraiser to celebrate Pink Out Week. Students competed to see which school could raise...

Pet Obituary Cameo CamiWard 7/27/2004  10/29/2022

Cameo chose her forever family by walking into their yard June 2006. She loved her cat proof backyard, window and screen porch. Cameo for many years played hide and go...
Story Highlights Americans most satisfied with overall quality of life (80%)

Least satisfied with race relations (22%), anti-poverty efforts (23%)

Democrats more satisfied than Republicans on most issues

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the nation prepares to transition to Donald Trump's administration, solid majorities of Americans are satisfied with the U.S. quality of life, the opportunity to get ahead by working hard and the nation's military strength. They are much less satisfied with the state of race relations, the nation's efforts to address poverty, and the moral and ethical climate.

These results are based on Gallup's Jan. 4-8 Mood of the Nation survey, conducted annually since 2001 except for 2009-2011. The survey asks Americans whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with the state of the nation in a variety of life aspects and policy areas. In forthcoming articles, Gallup will detail some of the notable changes in satisfaction among these 28 items.

As Trump prepares to take the presidential oath on Jan. 20, 80% of Americans are satisfied with the overall quality of life, making it the top area of satisfaction. Quality of life has ranked as the top item each year, tying with military strength and preparedness in 2013 and 2014. Since 2001, about eight in 10 Americans -- with a high of 89% in 2001 and 2002 -- have been satisfied with the overall quality of life in the U.S.

Military strength and the opportunity to get ahead by working hard tie for second this year, with 66% satisfied. These two areas have also engendered relatively high levels of satisfaction in the past, but the percentage satisfied has varied on each. Satisfaction with the opportunity to get ahead fell after the recession to the mid-50% range but is now back to 66%, essentially matching its historical average of 65%. Satisfaction with the nation's military strength and preparedness is currently slightly below its average of 70%.

At least half of Americans are also satisfied with the acceptance of gays and lesbians in the nation (59%), the influence of organized religion (56%), the quality of medical care (52%), the quality of the environment (52%) and the nation's security from terrorism (50%). The acceptance of gays and lesbians ranked near the bottom of the satisfaction list in the decade of the 2000s, but as gays and lesbians have made major gains in civil rights and tolerance toward them has grown, it now ranks near the top of the list.

Forty-six percent of Americans are currently satisfied with the state of the nation's economy, which is the highest level of satisfaction for this item since 2007 (52%). It is also substantially higher than in 2012, when only 13% were satisfied -- the lowest level Gallup has measured for any item since 2001. As previously noted, Gallup did not ask the satisfaction question from 2009 through 2011, and it is possible satisfaction with the economy could have been lower in those years, just after the financial crisis and during periods of high unemployment.

Americans Least Satisfied With Race Relations, Anti-Poverty Efforts

This year, just 22% say they are satisfied with the state of race relations, putting it at the bottom of the list along with the nation's efforts to deal with poverty and homelessness (23%). Anti-poverty efforts have always ranked near the bottom of the list. Race relations had ranked higher in the past, including a tie for fourth place in 2014, before a series of deadly incidents between police and young black men changed perceptions.

Americans are also largely dissatisfied with the moral and ethical climate of the nation, as 31% currently express satisfaction with this aspect of U.S. life. It usually ranks near the bottom in satisfaction, but the percentage satisfied has been lower on average during the Barack Obama years (32%) than it was when George W. Bush was president (38%).

Less than four in 10 Americans are currently satisfied with each of the following: the way income and wealth are distributed (35%), the quality of public education (37%), the position of blacks and other minorities (37%), government regulation of businesses and industries (38%), the nation's policies to reduce or control crime (38%), the size and influence of major corporations (39%), the amount Americans pay in federal taxes (39%), the availability of affordable healthcare (39%) and the nation's abortion policies (39%).

Democrats Tend to Be More Satisfied Than Republicans

Generally speaking, the areas of highest satisfaction are those in which members of the three major political groups express similar levels of satisfaction. For example, 83% of Democrats, 82% of independents and 75% of Republicans are satisfied with the overall quality of life. Majorities of all party groups are satisfied with the opportunity for a person to get ahead by working hard and the acceptance of gays and lesbians. At least half of all three groups are satisfied with the quality of medical care in the U.S.

Democrats are more satisfied than Republicans on most issues, consistent with their more positive views of national conditions in general, likely because a Democratic president is in the White House. Across the 28 items tested, Democratic satisfaction is seven percentage points higher, on average, than Republican satisfaction.

The greatest party difference exists on satisfaction with the level of immigration, with 65% of Democrats and only 19% of Republicans satisfied. Democrats are also much more satisfied than Republicans with military strength and preparedness, the size and power of the government, the state of the economy, and the availability of affordable healthcare.

Republicans are much more satisfied than Democrats with the nation's gun laws, the size and influence of major corporations, the way income and wealth are distributed, and the influence of organized religion.

Differences in Satisfaction With State of the Nation, by Political Party Ranked by Democratic-Republican gap Democrats Independents Republicans Dem-Rep Gap % % % pct. pts. Level of immigration 65 40 19 +46 Military strength and preparedness 80 73 41 +39 Size and power of federal gov't 59 40 21 +38 State of the economy 62 48 28 +34 Availability of affordable healthcare 54 39 24 +30 Security from terrorism 63 53 34 +29 Role U.S. plays in world affairs 57 45 32 +25 Amount Americans pay in federal taxes 51 36 29 +22 Social Security and Medicare systems 59 46 37 +22 Abortion policies 47 43 27 +20 Gov't regulation of businesses, industries 44 40 26 +18 Energy policies 49 42 32 +17 Moral and ethical climate 35 33 21 +14 Policies to reduce crime 44 37 32 +12 Overall quality of life 83 82 75 +8 Acceptance of gays and lesbians 62 60 56 +6 Quality of medical care 54 54 50 +4 System of government 41 39 37 +4 Quality of public education 37 36 33 +4 State of race relations 21 22 22 -1 Efforts to deal with poverty, homelessness 16 22 27 -11 Opportunity to get ahead 56 64 75 -19 Quality of the environment 45 50 64 -19 Position of blacks, racial minorities 26 39 45 -19 Influence of organized religion 43 56 65 -22 Way income and wealth are distributed 19 34 48 -29 Size and influence of major corporations 24 38 54 -30 Gun laws 18 44 57 -39 Gallup, Jan. 4-8, 2017

Implications

Americans, including those of different political affiliations, are widely satisfied with the overall quality of life in the U.S. This has consistently been the No. 1 item on Gallup's broad satisfaction list across the 14 years Gallup has asked the question, spanning the end of Bill Clinton's administration and the entire George W. Bush and Obama administrations.

Over those years, Americans also have been largely satisfied with the opportunity to get ahead by working hard, as well as the nation's military strength and preparedness. They have been consistently dissatisfied with U.S. efforts to deal with poverty and homelessness and with the moral and ethical climate in the country. In those areas, the country that Trump is preparing to oversee is similar to the one his predecessors governed.

One area where the U.S. is much different now than in the past is in its high level of dissatisfaction with the state of race relations. Americans' hopes that Obama would improve race relations were largely unmet, in large part because of the many high-profile, deadly incidents involving blacks and whites that occurred in recent years and sparked the Black Lives Matter movement. Trump, whose campaign rhetoric antagonized many racial and ethnic minorities, faces a significant challenge in trying to address the black community's concerns about law enforcement and ultimately heal racial divisions in the country.

Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Jan. 4-8, 2017, with a random sample of 1,032 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 70% cellphone respondents and 30% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.
One of the interesting sidelights in this year's legislative session will be the fate of a proposal to create a public records ombudsman. The idea is that the ombudsman's office would help mediate disputes between state agencies and members of the public requesting public records.

Now, your first question might well be this: Why would such an office be necessary? Don't public records belong to, well, members of the public? Shouldn't state agencies consistently be bending over backward to help citizens access those records?

To be fair, there are agencies where that occurs on a regular basis. But the overall picture is not as bright as it should be  and the number of instances in which a government bureaucracy has blocked legitimate requests for records or has charged unrealistic fees is on the rise, and has been for years.

The idea for the ombudsman is the work of a public task force that has been laboring for more than a year on overhauling the state's records laws. It's been challenging work; the task force had hoped, for example, to examine the 500 or so exemptions to the public records law that have cropped up in the decades since 1973, when Oregon enacted a law that was at the time considered among the best in the nation.

That's no longer the case, a realization that helped pave the way for Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to create the task force in the first place. But it became clear to task force members that the work of cataloging and examining the exemptions will take some time.

So, in the meantime, the task force has recommended some smaller steps, including the idea of creating the ombudsman. A bill pending before the 2017 Legislature, Senate Bill 106, does just that, creating a position that will be called the "public records advocate."

Let's be clear: This isn't the huge breakthrough in access to public records that Oregon citizens deserve. For starters, the advocate position would not have the authority to compel release of records, but it potentially would have the ability to work with citizens to mediate solutions to records disputes.

But it is a step forward, unless the position is created in such a way to undercut its legitimacy from the start. That's part of the reason why former Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins recommended setting up the advocate's position as an independent office in state government. But the state's budget shortfall makes that a long shot, and Atkins understands that.

After initially proposing that the office be housed in the office of the secretary of state, Gov. Kate Brown recently suggested that the office be placed in the Department of Administrative Services. There's a critical problem with that: The director of that department reports to the governor.

Why would Brown, a Democrat, change her tune about where the advocate should be located? The November elections may offer a clue: Voters chose Republican Dennis Richardson as the state's new secretary of state.

But Brown, who has talked about the need to increase public confidence in state government, needs to shrug off whatever political concerns she might have and stick with the original plan. There is a promising sign on that front: A spokesman for the governor recently said that she's less concerned with where the position might be housed and more focused on making sure it's effective.

Let's be blunt: It's more effective if the governor doesn't have direct authority over the position. In a legislative session that increasingly seems defined by hard partisan lines, it will be interesting to watch this issue play out. (mm)
Readers, we need your help to prove a merry Christmas for victims of domestic violence.
LEBANON  Pending city approval, Kidco Head Start will be breaking ground later this year on a new, five-classroom preschool facility at the south end of Lebanon.

The new building will allow the federally funded early learning program to move from its current location west of Lebanon at 31575 Sand Ridge Road to an in-town location, Executive Director Stephany Koehne said, which should mean easier access for Lebanon-area families.

It also will allow Kidco to offer extended learning programs in Lebanon for the first time, and to have its own in-house commercial kitchen instead of renting space at a church in Plainview west of town.

The new preschool center needs a conditional use permit, which the Lebanon Planning Commission will be evaluating later this month, but Koehne said she didn't anticipate any problems.

The plan is to complete the center by August and be offering classes this fall.

The center will be a prefabricated modular similar to, and modeled after, the new classroom addition at Periwinkle Elementary School in Albany.

The Kidco center will be an 11,000-square-foot rectangle that will include five classrooms, offices, a reception area, a meeting and training room, and the long-anticipated kitchen, she said.

The building and its adjacent parking lot to the south and covered play area to the north will take up a 3.4-acre parcel on South Main Road between Vaughn Lane to the north and Joy Street to the south. The main entrance will be on Joy.

A vacant home on the property is to be given to the Lebanon Fire District for demolition and training purposes, Koehne said. Three massive cedar trees are to stay, however.

Locals know the property as "the dog park"  or they think they do, Koehne said. Several years ago, Kidco fenced a small section of the property  she doesn't know for what purpose  but then left it unlocked. People have been using it as a place to exercise dogs off leash ever since.

In 2013, Koehne, who often runs in the area, saw two dogs she felt were behaving aggressively and got to wondering what the insurance claims against Kidco might be if anyone were to be injured while using the area. After that, Kidco locked the fence and the "dog park" access stopped.

"People are going to wonder, why did you close the dog park?" she said. "Well, it was never a dog park."

Kidco purchased the property more than a decade ago with a goal of building there, but didn't have funding available.

Then last year, Head Start changed its performance standards, requiring all Head Start center-based programs to begin offering more hours.

At least half of a program's centers must offer a minimum of 1,020 annual hours of service for preschoolers by Aug. 1, 2019, and all the centers must have this option by 2021. That's up from the old minimum, which was 3.5 hours per day and 128 days per year, or about 448 hours per year.

To make it easier to achieve the goal, the program offered federal funds to help centers provide the expanded offerings for up to 40 percent of their facilities, and additional grants to expand those facilities.

Kidco applied for both funding sources and received approximately $1.6 million for its new center and enough to pay for expanded programs at the extended day programs it already has elsewhere.

Anticipating the change, Kidco already had begun pilot extended-day classrooms at its Riverside and Linn-Benton Community College centers in Albany and its centers in Jefferson and in Crawfordsville, near Sweet Home. But it didn't have room to offer the full-day services in Lebanon, and a plan to expand to Cascades Elementary School fell through because the available classroom didn't meet Head Start's requirements.

When the new center is complete, Koehne said three classrooms will offer the regular Head Start program for children ages 3 to 5 on an extended-hour basis: 6.25 hours per day, four days a week, 163 days a year.

A fourth classroom will remain a Head Start a.m./p.m. program, still running about 128 days a year because no extra funding was received for the shorter-term classes, Koehne said.

No decisions have been made yet on the fifth classroom, which may be used for Early Head start (pregnant women to children up to age 3) or may become space for a partner agency that offers similar services, such as the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Education Service District.

The center will be open for public use, too; cost-free to agencies that serve similar populations, Koehne said.
A College Night open house will be held at Linn-Benton Community College Monday, Feb. 6, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. starting in the college theater in Takena Hall, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W., Albany.

Information will be available on college admissions processes, financial aid, scholarships and how to earn college credits while still in high school.

Advisers will be on hand to explore degree options and share information about college partnership programs with Oregon State University and Oregon Institute of Technology.

Information tables include program majors, college clubs, co-curricular programs, short-term training programs and more.

Register online at www.linnbenton.edu/college-night. Informacion de LBCC en Espanol.

For special needs and accommodations, contact the Office of Disability Services at Phone 541-917-4690 or via Oregon Relay TDD at 1-800-735-2900 at least 72 hours in advance of the event.
The icy, snowy and chilly conditions throughout the state likely will result in a lower attendance for the Center for Nonprofit Stewardships 13th annual winter conference, set for Saturday at Oregon State University.

But Heidi Henry, executive director of the organization, said that she still expects nearly 300 people to attend the Statewide Nonprofit Board Training.

The event usually attracts somewhere between 350 to 425 attendees.

And the conference comes at an uncertain time for the nonprofit sector, as there are concerns with the shifting political climate and what might happen with the Affordable Care Act, Henry said.

Nonprofits are monitoring trends carefully, she added.

Henry said many employees of nonprofits don't have any health care except for through the Affordable Care Act. If the act is gutted, there might not be as many people eager to enter the field.

Nonprofits already are seeing a lack of young hires due to the strong economy. Recent college graduates are looking to eliminate their student debt, Henry said, and currently can find higher-paying jobs.

Were actually seeing a lot of second career folks who want to give back, Henry said.

These aging boomers entering the nonprofit sector, however, are concerned about health care, which is natural given their age. And that makes action on health care even more of an issue, according to Henry.

Im a little worried about it, because it affects so many nonprofits throughout the U.S.  Can we keep the good career people we need in order to deliver our services? she asked.

Organizations throughout the country also are becoming more reliant on major gifts from wealthy donors, rather than numerous small donations from middle-class citizens, Henry said.

Some of those major donors have a specific agenda and want more of a say in an organizations mission.

The Statewide Nonprofit Board Training will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Saturday at the LaSells Stewart Center at OSU. Cost is $135.

Nonprofit attorneys, certified public accountants and other consultants will present nearly 20 workshops throughout the day.

At 8:45 a.m., Scott Crabtree, the founder or Happy Brain Science, will give the keynote presentation, The Science of Being Healthy and Happy at Work. Studies have shown that happy people are more productive, creative and resilient, and the presentation will focus on techniques to improve workplace happiness.

Henry took over the reins of the Center for Nonprofit Stewardship in April. The center also moved from Philomath to 2021 N.W. Grant Ave. in Corvallis in 2016.
Hiking, biking, camping and other types of recreation draw thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to the woods every year. When conflicts arise, users can be at odds with each other and with the businesses and agencies responsible for managing forestland.

The annual Starker Lecture Series at Oregon State University will explore this issue with presentations, discussions, forest tours and a capstone field trip.

The series is hosted by the OSU College of Forestry. It kicks off at 7 p.m. on Thursday with a film, Pedal Driven, at the Whiteside Theatre, 361 S.W. Madison Ave., in downtown Corvallis.

Other events in the series will be held at the LaSells Stewart Center, C&E Hall, at Oregon State. They include:

 Feb. 15, 3:30 p.m.: The Intersection of Outdoor Recreation, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: from increasing awareness to creating relevance, with Nina S. Roberts, San Francisco State University.

 March 8, 3:30 p.m.: Sustainable Recreation on the National Forest  Healthy Balance? with John Allen, U.S. Forest Service, Deschutes National Forest.

 April 12, 3:30 p.m.: Is National Monument Designation an Economic Blessing or an Economic Curse? with Paul Jakus, Utah State University.

The Starker Lecture Series is sponsored by the Starker family in memory of T.J. and Bruce Starker, prominent leaders in the development of the Oregon forest products industry. The series is also supported by the OSU College of Forestry and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute.

The entire lecture series is free. More information on the series is available at http://starkerlectures.forestry.oregonstate.edu
Delays in Bonn : Continuous frost is problematic for city trains

Bonn The frosty temperatures are not only a challenge for people. City railway traffic in Bonn has also been affected by the cold temperatures, causing morning delays.

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Our vehicles suffer to the extreme. Thats why there are general delays this morning in public transportation. SWB, Bonns publication transportation authority, sent out this Tweet this morning because it was also too cold for the city railway. The frosty temperatures caused 20-minute delays for metro Lines 63 and 66.

Spokesperson for the SWB, Michael Henseler explained that the reason for the problems with the railway is that there are systems on the trains which are operate with compressed air. The water components in these mechanisms, used in operating the doors for example, can freeze up and no longer function properly. Then the trains have to thaw, says Henseler. They have to be heated up until everything is working again. Only then can the trains leave the station. The same can happen with buses.

Trams themselves are not affected by the frost. The systems there are electrically controlled, says Henseler. However, the overhead lines can freeze up and this can lead to delays. At these frozen points, the trams can only move through slowly, according the to spokesperson.
Accident in Bonn city center : Fire and rescue workers free seriously injured 18-year-old

Bonn Three teenagers were hurt in a car crash on Wesselstrae not far from Bonns Munster Cathedral in the inner city. On Tuesday evening, their car veered off the road and rammed several posts and a street sign.

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Reports from the fire department say the 18-year-old driver of an Opel Astra suffered serious injuries in the crash. Because he was trapped, rescue workers didnt want to risk further injury to him and removed the roof of the car to reach him.

In the car were also two passengers, 13- and 15-years-old. They suffered minor injuries and were also taken by ambulance to the hospital. Emergency workers who were on the scene could not say why the young man lost control of his car. Other vehicles were apparently not involved in the crash.

According to police, the car was coming from the direction of the university when it first hit the curb on Wesselstrae. The Opel Astra was thrown into a spin, hit five bollards, a road sign and billboard before landing in front of a store.
Refugee shelters : More and more refugees leave Bonn

BONN The crisis mode is over as the number of refugees in Bonn slowly decreases. Four mobile container projects will offer living space for 900 people.

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At the beginning of the year, the City of Bonn offered shelter to around 3,000 refugees. The number continues to decrease because no new refugees have been assigned to Bonn and asylum seekers continue to leave Bonn. At the end of December, hotels which had been rented by the city to house refugees were all be cleared out.

We are out of crisis mode and now in a more regulated situation in terms of accommodations, said Carolin Krause, the new department head of education, health and social welfare. But she adds that the topic is far from over and that the emphasis is now on integrating those who will stay in Bonn. She says an important aspect is finding permanent living spaces for the refugees.

There are currently four projects to build up mobile living containers. The city plans to continue with those projects, which will offer 900 persons a place to live. Mobile containers on Siegburger Strae and Herz-Jesu-Kloster are expected to be finished in the middle of this year, and the ones on Rheinweg and at Reuterpark are expected to be completed in June. A building at Koblenzer Strae 148 is being converted and its projected completion date is in March.
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Protecting the worlds oceans  an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy

The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs.
NEWS: Troops, Nigerian Warship Head For Gambia To Sack President Yahya Jammeh

xspraise at 18-01-2017 08:33 AM (5 years ago) (m)



Nigeria soldiers will, on Wednesday (today), arrive at a base of the Economic Community of West African States troops in Senegal to ensure that President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia steps down on Thursday, January 19.

Nigeria soldiers will, on Wednesday (today), arrive at a base of the Economic Community of West African States troops in Senegal to ensure that President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia steps down on Thursday, January 19.

Nigerian warship, NNS UNITY, is also heading for the coast of The Gambia to join the operation.



The Punch learnt from a top military source in the Nigerian Air Force that the troops would be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, before leaving for Senegal.



It was gathered that apart from the NAF and the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army would also contribute troops, although the number of deployment could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.



The source said some of the NAF fighter jets were expected to airlift the troops.



He said, I can confirm to you that men of the Air Force will leave for Senegal tomorrow (Wednesday). They will be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Kainji base in Niger State.



That Nigeria is deploying troops is now a certainty after several meetings with The Gambian president yielded no result. The Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries came to Abuja on Saturday, where they discussed what components each member state is expected to contribute to the troops that will force Yahya Jammeh out.



The troops are expected to stay for two weeks and they will be received at a base in Senegal.

Another military source added, The NNS Unity is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana, after leaving from Lagos. It is not only Nigeria. Senegal is the host country for the troops, as it would be easy to launch an attack from there.



The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, however, said it could not confirm the deployments, adding that it was a matter being coordinated by political leaders.

Nigerian warship, NNS UNITY, is also heading for the coast of The Gambia to join the operation.The Punch learnt from a top military source in the Nigerian Air Force that the troops would be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, before leaving for Senegal.It was gathered that apart from the NAF and the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army would also contribute troops, although the number of deployment could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.The source said some of the NAF fighter jets were expected to airlift the troops.He said, I can confirm to you that men of the Air Force will leave for Senegal tomorrow (Wednesday). They will be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Kainji base in Niger State.That Nigeria is deploying troops is now a certainty after several meetings with The Gambian president yielded no result. The Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries came to Abuja on Saturday, where they discussed what components each member state is expected to contribute to the troops that will force Yahya Jammeh out.The troops are expected to stay for two weeks and they will be received at a base in Senegal.Another military source added, The NNS Unity is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana, after leaving from Lagos. It is not only Nigeria. Senegal is the host country for the troops, as it would be easy to launch an attack from there.The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, however, said it could not confirm the deployments, adding that it was a matter being coordinated by political leaders.

Post Reply I am Victor, I write reportage on sport news and latest metro happenings in Nigeria. Posted: at 18-01-2017 08:33 AM (5 years ago) | Hero

Floyd29 at 18-01-2017 08:45 AM (5 years ago)

(f) Nigeria get warship na boko haram dey deal with us why we never use am finish them Posted: at 18-01-2017 08:45 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac Nigeria get warship na boko haram dey deal with us why we never use am finish them Reply

chukkychukky at 18-01-2017 08:54 AM (5 years ago)

(m) Quote from: Floyd29 on 18-01-2017 08:45 AM Nigeria get warship na boko haram dey deal with us why we never use am finish them

wen dem say make una go school una prefer to dey do alaye for lagos. Na which water warship go follow go sambisa, abi u no knw say God curse north Joramentity aka chukkychukky Posted: at 18-01-2017 08:54 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac wen dem say make una go school una prefer to dey do alaye for lagos. Na which water warship go follow go sambisa, abi u no knw say God curse north Reply

chukkychukky at 18-01-2017 08:55 AM (5 years ago)

(m) nigerian govt should not underrate gambia oooo Joramentity aka chukkychukky Posted: at 18-01-2017 08:55 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac nigerian govt should not underrate gambia oooo Reply

Knowman at 18-01-2017 10:02 AM (5 years ago)

(m) Americans NATO go to war on their interest, Nigeria ecomog go to war free of charge Posted: at 18-01-2017 10:02 AM (5 years ago) | Upcoming Americans NATO go to war on their interest, Nigeria ecomog go to war free of charge Reply

gogoman at 18-01-2017 10:35 AM (5 years ago)

(m) NICE NICE BUHARI!! WE CAN'T SIT DOWN DEY LOOK THIS BASTARD CAUSE ANOTHER MAYHEM IN WEST COAST OF AFRICA.. KICK THE BASTARD OUT Posted: at 18-01-2017 10:35 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero NICE NICE BUHARI!! WE CAN'T SIT DOWN DEY LOOK THIS BASTARD CAUSE ANOTHER MAYHEM IN WEST COAST OF AFRICA.. KICK THE BASTARD OUT Reply

sandra78 at 18-01-2017 10:47 AM (5 years ago)

(f) Quote from: Knowman on 18-01-2017 10:02 AM Americans NATO go to war on their interest, Nigeria ecomog go to war free of charge



Hahahaha, Yes they are senseless people Posted: at 18-01-2017 10:47 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac Hahahaha, Yes they are senseless people Reply

james987 at 18-01-2017 11:03 AM (5 years ago)

(m) Funny.. Now e no dey obvious say them dey preserve boko haram for future use? With so many internal problems in our own country,soldiers are shown the way to Gambia.. If I were to be jameh I will not step down.. I will invite the Russians and see if countries will not back down. Posted: at 18-01-2017 11:03 AM (5 years ago) | Hero Funny.. Now e no dey obvious say them dey preserve boko haram for future use? With so many internal problems in our own country,soldiers are shown the way to Gambia.. If I were to be jameh I will not step down.. I will invite the Russians and see if countries will not back down. Reply

blowout at 18-01-2017 11:12 AM (5 years ago)

(m) make una see how Iraq and Libya be o! Posted: at 18-01-2017 11:12 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac make una see how Iraq and Libya be o! Reply

tuscanT at 18-01-2017 12:06 PM (5 years ago)

(m) Quote from: james987 on 18-01-2017 11:03 AM Funny.. Now e no dey obvious say them dey preserve boko haram for future use? With so many internal problems in our own country,soldiers are shown the way to Gambia.. If I were to be jameh I will not step down.. I will invite the Russians and see if countries will not back down.

why are you enemy of peace. Just read your statement back to your self tomorrow you carry bible and go to church. Always consider other ppls interest Posted: at 18-01-2017 12:06 PM (5 years ago) | Upcoming why are you enemy of peace. Just read your statement back to your self tomorrow you carry bible and go to church. Always consider other ppls interest Reply

akinmanchy at 18-01-2017 12:46 PM (5 years ago)

(m) Alright na, 19th na tomorrow all fingers crossed Life na jeje so just try to take am softly Posted: at 18-01-2017 12:46 PM (5 years ago) | Hero Alright na, 19th na tomorrow all fingers crossed Reply

WhaleDog at 18-01-2017 01:55 PM (5 years ago)

(m) Jammeh has lost credibility and the confidence in his command rank .Observation of the fact in Gambia suggested Gambia has no millitary capability to repel attack for a week from the Nigerian army and ecomog troops .It will quickly wind down to mass surrrbder of jammeh army because the army itself has no confidence whatsoever in jammeh . Spare me Posted: at 18-01-2017 01:55 PM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac Jammeh has lost credibility and the confidence in his command rank .Observation of the fact in Gambia suggested Gambia has no millitary capability to repel attack for a week from the Nigerian army and ecomog troops .It will quickly wind down to mass surrrbder of jammeh army because the army itself has no confidence whatsoever in jammeh . Reply

concentrate at 18-01-2017 05:15 PM (5 years ago)

(m) Quote from: Knowman on 18-01-2017 10:02 AM Americans NATO go to war on their interest, Nigeria ecomog go to war free of charge

Hahahahahahaha Posted: at 18-01-2017 05:15 PM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac Hahahahahahaha Reply

jeroba1 at 19-01-2017 01:31 AM (5 years ago)

(m) OK. Posted: at 19-01-2017 01:31 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac OK. Reply

james987 at 19-01-2017 08:38 AM (5 years ago)

(m) Quote from: tuscanT on 18-01-2017 12:06 PM why are you enemy of peace. Just read your statement back to your self tomorrow you carry bible and go to church. Always consider other ppls interest

What peace are you talking of? Is it the type we have now after Jonathan conceeded defeat to buhari? Is it? Bringing untold hardship to the citizens? Posted: at 19-01-2017 08:38 AM (5 years ago) | Hero What peace are you talking of? Is it the type we have now after Jonathan conceeded defeat to buhari? Is it? Bringing untold hardship to the citizens? Reply

kima77same at 19-01-2017 10:00 AM (5 years ago)

(m) This is what i called : SHOTAGE OF MENTAL DEVELOPMENT S.M.D. so, nigerian goverment has help to render to outside country and nigerian citizens are dying without help inside the country Posted: at 19-01-2017 10:00 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac This is what i called : SHOTAGE OF MENTAL DEVELOPMENT S.M.D. so, nigerian goverment has help to render to outside country and nigerian citizens are dying without help inside the country Reply
clarajancita at 18-01-2017 11:58 AM (5 years ago) (f)

There are suspicions that Niger Delta militants have attacked another crude oil pipeline in Delta to express displeasure about the peace process pursued by the Federal Government. Less than 24 hours after the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbanjo, visited Delta State, unknown persons set fire on a crude oil pipeline at Ughelli, in the state, sparking fears of attacks by suspected oil rebels.

There are suspicions that Niger Delta militants have attacked another crude oil pipeline in Delta to express displeasure about the peace process pursued by the Federal Government. Less than 24 hours after the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbanjo, visited Delta State, unknown persons set fire on a crude oil pipeline at Ughelli, in the state, sparking fears of attacks by suspected oil rebels.

The pipeline belonging to the Niger Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, located behind the SETRACO construction yard, along the East/West express road, was seen raging with fire at about 4:30p.m, sending huge balls of flame into the atmosphere, which could be seen from different parts of Ughelli metropolis.



Though the flame had subsided at about 7:12p.m, we could not immediately reach the spot reason, as the terrain could not be easily accessed. As at press time, it was not certain if the cause of the fire was as a result of an attack or environmental impact, as no group has claimed responsibility. However, confirming the incident, a security source, operating in the area, debunked insinuation that the inferno was as a result of an attack by suspected militants.



He said: The pipeline belonging to the Niger Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, located behind the SETRACO construction yard, along the East/West express road, was seen raging with fire at about 4:30p.m, sending huge balls of flame into the atmosphere, which could be seen from different parts of Ughelli metropolis.Though the flame had subsided at about 7:12p.m, we could not immediately reach the spot reason, as the terrain could not be easily accessed. As at press time, it was not certain if the cause of the fire was as a result of an attack or environmental impact, as no group has claimed responsibility. However, confirming the incident, a security source, operating in the area, debunked insinuation that the inferno was as a result of an attack by suspected militants.He said: Quote The cause of the incident is as a result of bush burning. Someone set fire on the area and the pipeline, which had some crude oil spill on it and the surrounding environment went up in flames, sending huge balls of flame into the air..



Speaking further, the source said: Speaking further, the source said: Quote We are ensuring the maximum protection of oil and gas facilities in the area and I can assure you that there would be no form of attacks on oil facilities in the area like time past.

Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 18-01-2017 11:58 AM (5 years ago) | Hero
Moto G5 Plus with Snapdragon 625 SoC spotted in Indonesia ahead of its launch at MWC 2017 News oi -Prajith The Moto G5 and G5 Plus are the fifth generation of Moto G series.

Just a few days ago Lenovo, the Chinese smartphone maker had sent out media invites for an event scheduled on February 26 at the MWC 2017. From the invite, it is clear that the company will launch a Moto phone. Moreover, given the fact that the Moto G5 and G5 Plus were subjected to continuous leaks in the recent past, the device in question is none other than the 5th Generation Moto G and the Moto G Plus smartphones.

Although the media invite didnt reveal much about the handsets, the bigger 'Plus variant was spotted paying a visit to TKDN, an Indonesian Telecom Agency revealing some of the key specs of the handset.

Also Read: Moto G5 Plus press images leaked

Leaked specs reveal the inclusion of Qualcomms octa-core Snapdragon 625 chipset paired with Adreno 506 GPU to take care of the graphics. As per the listing, it will sport a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of onboard storage, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front-facing camera, and fingerprint scanner. The entire package will be backed by a 3,100mAh battery.

As per the design, it is still not clear if the device will feature a metal body or will stick to the plastic design. But, considering the fact that the mid-range Moto M came with a metal design, we expect the same to be the case with the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus.

Both the smartphones are expected to be launched at the MWC 2017 and may hit the Indian shores in the month of March.

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Airtel upgrades mobile network with Dual Carrier technology News oi -GizBot Bureau Airtel's network upgrade will add significant capacity for voice and data, enhance overall network experience through improved stability and coverage.

As part of its ongoing network nationwide transformation initiative - Project Leap, Bharti Airtel, India's largest telecommunications services provider, today has rolled out an upgraded mobile network in Rajasthan.

As part of the network upgrade, Airtel has deployed state of the art 'Dual Carrier' technology to combine the spectrum capacities of two 5MHz carriers in the 2100 MHz band. Airtel is the first mobile operator to deploy 'Dual Carrier' in 3G technology in Rajasthan.

The highlight of 'Dual Carrier' technology deployment is that customers will be able to enjoy 4G like data speeds even when they are on the 3G.

The technology will also help in optimising the backend engagement between the network and mobile devices, enabling customers to enjoy extended battery life on their mobile devices. With this deployment, Airtel will now offer the widest 4G experience across Rajasthan.

SEE ALSO: Airtel Upgrades Mobile Network in Delhi-NCR With '4G-Like Speeds on 3G'

Commentating on the rollout Manoj Murali, CEO, Rajasthan, Bharti Airtel said, "The deployment of 'Dual Carrier' technology is yet another milestone for Airtel in Rajasthan that will help deliver a seamless 4G experience to our customers. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our valued customers for their cooperation during the network upgrade."

Airtel has over 19.9 million customers in the Rajasthan and offers 4G, 3G and 2G services in the state.

As part of Project Leap, Airtel has been deploying state-of-the-art technology solutions for better indoor coverage and network optimization; overhauling legacy networks with new equipment and making investments in additional spectrum and fiber to significantly improving its network capabilities across the country since last year.

-Press Release

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Obama Commutes Sentence of Military Documents Leaker Chelsea Manning

By VOA News January 17, 2017

President Barack Obama has commuted the prison sentence of former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who leaked hundreds of thousands of military documents to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013. She now will be freed in May.

She is among 209 prison commutations and 64 pardons Obama issued Tuesday as his presidency draws to a close. Most of the others were serving sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.

"These 273 individuals learned that our nation is a forgiving nation where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward," White House counsel Neil Eggleston said Tuesday.

Chelsea Manning was formerly Bradley Manning when he handed over more than 700,000 classified U.S. military documents to WikiLeaks. They included battlefield reports from Afghanistan and Iraq, and State Department cables.

Government prosecutors argued that Manning's actions could have endangered the lives of U.S. servicemen and women.

The defense argued that Manning wanted to expose what they called the truth about U.S. military involvement, and that most of the information was worthless to anyone wanting to harm U.S. interests.

Gender Identity Confusion

Manning admitted leaking the documents and said it was done, in part, because of his gender identity confusion.

He declared himself to be a woman after his sentencing, changed his named from Bradley to Chelsea, and said he plans to undergo a sex change surgery.

Manning's lawyers say she has tried to commit suicide twice, and say commuting her sentence could "quite literally save Chelsea's life."

A White House official says Obama's decision was based on the fact that Manning's 35-year sentence was a lot longer than what was handed out to those who committed similar crimes.

Assange Reaction

WikiLeaks called the Manning commutation a "victory." Founder Julian Assange said the "courage and determination" of everyone who campaigned on Manning's behalf made the "impossible possible."

But some Republican lawmakers are furious that Manning will soon be free.

House Speaker Paul Ryan called it "just outrageous," tweeting that "Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets."

He accused Obama of setting a "dangerous precedent."

Alabama Senator Tom Cotton said Manning should be treated like a traitor, not a martyr.

Cartwright Pardon

Among those President Obama pardoned are retired Marine General and former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Cartwright.

He pleaded guilty in October to charges of lying to federal investigators about leaking classified information about a U.S. cyberattack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

The details appeared in a book by New York Times reporter David Sanger.

Cartwright was awaiting sentencing. Federal prosecutors were asking for a 2-year prison term.

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The Korean Service Corps Battalion conducts MOBEX and WHNS Exercise

By Cpl. Sung Guk Byun January 16, 2017

DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA -- The United States Army Materiel Support Command - Korea's (MSC-K) Korean Service Corps (KSC) Battalion, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, conducted its annual mobilization exercise (MOBEX) and wartime host nation support field training exercise (WHNS FTX) over a three day period at Daebong Elementary School, Daegu from Jan. 11-13.

The MOBEX and WHNS exercises are two separate exercises, but the KSC holds these exercises in preparation for the same situation: for all possible contingencies on the Korean Peninsula.

The purpose of the KSC's mobilization operation is to activate a skilled labor force in a swift manner in the event of a contingency. There are four mobilization stations across the country that will mobilize nearly 22,000 personnel if a contingency were to occur. The MOBEX was conducted to rehearse this operation procedure.

Commander Song Hwan Yun, 32nd KSC Company, KSC, said, "Although these are annual exercises and we perform them every year, the exercises this year, especially the MOBEX, were executed with a contingency or wartime situation in mind. We performed the exercise with only the KSC mobilization cadre or personnel that would take part in the real situation."

The process is quite simple but very efficient and can be completed in six stations. Mobilees are pre-registered into the system and first undergo the identification procedure and a physical exam. Then, they are issued a M50 mask (gas mask) and are trained on how to properly use it. At the third station, personal information is inputted. Then, mobilees are issued organizational clothing and individual equipment (OCIE). They then conduct army warrior training before being given a Geneva Conventions Card and 2 identification tags. The operation cell oversees the entire process and deploys the troops accordingly.

The WHNS program utilizes the resources and assistance provided by the Republic of Korea in a contingency to support the mission of the US Army and specifically Team 19 here in Area IV.

For the WHNS exercise, vehicles were brought to Daebong Elementary School by Korean companies where they were inspected by both ROK and KSC personnel before being handed over to the US Army.

These vehicles include various trucks, fuel tankers, refrigerator trucks, and ambulances. All the vehicles are vehicles that are currently being actively used in the Korean economy that would be ready to use for Team 19's purposes.

Commander Yun added, "The KSC has an old history. It was establised over 60 years ago in 1950. Since the beginning, the KSC has supported the US Army and we will continue to do so to further strengthen the ROK-US alliance and be ready to fight tonight. We aim to sustain the mentality and the KSC is also an important resource that serves as a bridge between the two nations."

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'Fighting Eagles' conduct first gunnery range in Poland

By Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos, 24th Press Camp HQJanuary 16, 2017

ZAGAN, Poland -- The Soldiers of Bravo and Charlie Companies, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division have rolled out to the fields of Poland for the first time.

"We arrived in Poland a week ago," said Capt. Justin Bowen, commander, Charlie Company, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt. "We are out here today conducting our LFAST and zero gunnery range in preparation for our ranges later this month. We are strong. We are ready to fight."

The purpose of the Live Fire Accuracy Screening Test (LFAST) is to ensure that the tank can fire accurately using the fleet zero method of calibration. The tanks are not individually zeroed. Instead, they are zeroed via a common, or fleet, zero that has been established for each type of main gun ammunition. Each tank must go through the LFAST process prior to live-fire gunnery training.

"We are going through our systems to get our processes in place, and increase our speed and tempo to better fight and train," said Bowen.

While this was their first training event in Poland, the Soldiers have been preparing for this for over a year.

"When we say, we are ready, we are ready," said Capt. Sean Griffin, Alpha Company commander, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt. "As soon as we got word that the range was hot, we began putting rounds down range."

Even though the crews are now training in Poland; in many ways, it is almost like home for them.

"The weather here is like Colorado," said Griffin, referencing the unit's home base of Fort Carson, Colorado. "So, it is familiar"

Once the crews get their initial training out of the way, they will head to Bulgaria and Romania to begin training with their Allies.

"I am looking forward to working with our NATO Allies," said Griffin. "I worked with them during previous deployments, and I am looking forward to renewing our partnership."

This rotation will mark the start of a persistent presence in this region of Europe. The battalion will conduct exercises across the theater during their nine-month rotation. The rotational elements in these countries will not be permanently stationed there, but will provide a persistent presence across the theater, routinely moving and massing for exercises and training events.

---

U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned in its 51 country area of responsibility to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships we build during more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnerships and enhance global security.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Colonel John Dorrian, Operation Inherent Resolve Spokesman January 17, 2017

Department of Defense Press Briefing by Col. Dorrian via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq

PETER COOK: JD, are you there?

COLONEL JOHN DORRIAN: Yes, sir. This is John Dorrian.

MR. COOK: All right. JD just confirm before we get started, you're -- you are rolling a camera, you're looking at the camera and that video's being taped and it'll be uploaded to DVIDS.

COL. DORRIAN: You know what, sir? I'm -- I'm afraid that's not the case. It appears that DVIDS was unsuccessful in being able to patch in to this call.

MR. COOK: All right. All right, we'll go ahead anyway. Apologies to the broadcasters today for that.

Listen, I wanted to be here for this update from Colonel Dorrian at the top here just to say, more than anything else, I wanted to personally thank Colonel Dorrian for his efforts, at least on my watch here at the Pentagon, to represent OIR and everything going on downrange.

I can assure you that a few months ago, Colonel Dorrian had no idea that he was going to be in Baghdad at this time conducting this very important role -- playing this very important role for us. So I just want to -- while I have the opportunity, with everyone here, publicly before I step away from the scene here at the Pentagon -- to thank Colonel Dorrian for everything he's done. The effort and commitment that he's made to this particular position and to trying to share as much information as we can from downrange.

So with that, JD, you have my personal thanks and you also have a room here of reporters, who'd much rather hear from you than hear from me. So take it away and thank again for all your efforts, really appreciate it.

COL. DORRIAN: All right, sir.

Well, you know, Pentagon press, I hope you'll just indulge me for a quick minute. I want to take just a quick moment and thank Mr. Cook for his service, for his leadership and support for our public affairs activity out here.

Operation Inherent Resolve is tremendously complex and we just could not do what we do without a lot of support from Washington, and, sir you always delivered that support and you did it in a spirit that made you a pleasure to work with.

So I want to wish you well, every success and happiness and I hope you'll stay in touch.

MR. COOK: I will do that. Thank you, JD.

And I want to make sure everyone knows that I am -- in addition to Colonel Dorrian, there are all those people that you all don't get to speak with who are part of this effort that I want to personally thank, who have made significant effort to make sure you guys get as much information as possible. I know you guys -- it's never perfect, but it's been a pleasure to work with these people.

I spoke with Colonel Joe Scrocca. I'm going to mention his name. Some of you have dealt with him. So I just found out today, that Colonel Scrocca in October, missed the birth of his -- of a new daughter, and is leaving to take a break to go meet his daughter this week. That's the kind of commitment we've seen from folks downrange in the public affairs operation.

So with that, JD again, please pass along my thanks to everyone along the way with OIR and I just wanted to do that publicly this one last time. So Jeff's going to be master of ceremonies here, to help. But there's questions abounding, but do you got an opening statement?

COL. DORRIAN: I do indeed, sir.

MR. COOK: Take it away.

COL. DORRIAN: All right, we'll get started. Folks, we'll start in Syria and we'll move on to Iraq.

In Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian Arab Coalition have continued their progress, isolating Raqqa. Since their operation started November 5th, our partner forces liberated 3,172 square kilometers of terrain and moved within five kilometers of Tabaqah Dam to the west of Raqqa.

They've cleared the entire area east of the Euphrates and northwest of Raqqa, displaying tactical skill by switching back and forth between the northern and western advancements -- axes of advance to keep ISIL guessing and on the back foot. Now they're facing the stiffest resistance thus far, about five kilometers north of the dam.

Elsewhere in Syria the coalition continues its daily coordination and its conversations with Turkey. As a result, we have recently flown several ISR missions to support Turkey and their partnered forces operating around al-Bab. We've also begun conducting strikes against those targets in the vicinity of al-Bab. These strikes eliminated Daesh capabilities around the forward line of enemy troops near the city.

The coalition will continue to work with our Turkish partners to maximize these and other counter ISIL operations, on as many fronts as possible, to ensure the military defeat of ISIL provides stability to the region and security to our homeland.

U.S. and Turkish military officers will continue to work in combined headquarters de-conflicting, coordinating and developing targets to maximize effects against Daesh and avoid negative effects from this complex and crowded battlefield.

In Iraq, the ISF have continued making steady progress against the enemy, taking control of the east bank of the Tigris River in Mosul along with three -- the three southern-most of the five bridges over the river in the city.

As the Iraqi CTS continues clearing operations along the river, the big news of the week, from the Iraqi forces is their liberation of Mosul University, a sprawling complex on the northeast side of the city where the enemy was deeply entrenched.

The liberation of the university is a very significant event for a lot of reasons. It denies ISIL a significant base for operations and research, it's culturally significant to the citizens of Mosul and it's also important as a landmark educational institution.

As the ISF continues searching university buildings, they are finding laboratories and workshops the enemy is suspected to have used to manufacture machine-grade weapons and facilities indicating the university was a significant command and control node.

The enemy fought hard to retain this key terrain and the -- they were vulnerable to the ISF's continued use of synchronized advances on several axes. The waning resources of the enemy on the east side leave them vulnerable to such coordinated attacks.

As the university is liberated Iraqi forces are finding the types of damage, booby traps and weapons storage that we've seen in other places they've controlled.

There is evidence the enemy also trained their fighters in the university and we've seen reports that Daesh has torched several facilities, a continuation of the despicable tactics we've seen from these terrorists throughout the campaign.

In recent days we've seen the tapes of the enemy's use of vehicle borne improvised explosive device attacks waning and we've seen them use VBIEDs with less up-armoring which makes them a bit more difficult to identify, but a little bit easier to stop.

Some of this effect is a result of the supply routes from the west Mosul being cut off by coalition airstrikes. We're prepared to continue striking VBIEDs anywhere that they can be found. To date, in the Mosul campaign, the coalition has destroyed 145 of these which are the enemy's weapon of choice.

Even as we support the ISF advance with our artillery strikes, advisers and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, we continue to train Iraqi forces to hold the terrain they're liberating and to sustain a strong force that can maintain security as the enemy resorts to terrorist-style attacks. Currently there are more than 4,400 Iraqi security forces in training, including nearly 2,500 police.

With that, we will pause and I will be delighted to take your questions.

CAPTAIN JEFF DAVIS: Sure. We'll start with Bob Burns with the Associated Press.

Q: Colonel Dorrian, on the action you've described around al-Bab, it was- at least today's release of U.S. strikes that there were two air strikes that hit a vehicle and an excavator. Can you elaborate on the extent of the air strikes around al-Bab? And was this a one-off thing or has the U.S. made a commitment and like an indefinite commitment to support Turkey with air strikes there?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, these -- Bob, these strikes were a result of continued coordination with Turkey and we saw a window of opportunity where it was in our mutual interest to get those targets destroyed. This is something that we expect to continue doing.

So we strike targets anywhere in Syria or Iraq that they can be found, and you know, essentially there are more targets in Syria and Iraq than we can destroy at any one time. We have identified these targets by working with Turkey and we do expect to continue doing these types of strikes in the day ahead.

Q: So was it just the two air strikes that were yesterday?

COL. DORRIAN: There have been four of these strikes so far. We struck ISIL tactical units, an excavator, we've attacked an armored personnel carrier. I'd have to check and see what the other one was. But we -- we destroyed all those. And again, we do expect to continue doing these types of strikes in the days ahead.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Phil Stewart with Reuters.

Q: Just another follow-up on al-Bab. How many -- how many ISIL do you believe you've -- you took out on the -- in these strikes?

COL. DORRIAN: You know what, I don't have that figure and we'll have to take that one.

Q: You said you identified these strikes by working with Turkey. So they were not as a result of your own ISR, they were a result of targets selected by Turkish forces initially? Or they were both, the Turks are the ones who selected the targets and then you confirmed them with ISR? How did that -- how did that work exactly?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, we -- we have been flying ISR missions with Turkey, and so those targets were mutually developed and then we decided to strike them.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Joe Tabet with Ahurra.

Q: Thank you.

Colonel Dorrian, is it -- is it fair to say that Turkey is coordinating all its operation around al-Bab with the coalition?

COL. DORRIAN: I -- I don't know that I could make that as a declarative statement. I don't know.

Q: Could you give us more details about the -- the two strikes in the vicinity of al-Bab? You mentioned that they have been coordinated with -- with Turkey. Could you give us more -- more details?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, you know what, this is -- this is a part of our ongoing effort to coordinate with Turkey and to continue our conversation about how we might be helpful to them. So we have been working in sharing our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information and -- and develop those targets in concert with them in a joint command center and then struck them.

So, I don't have any further details beyond what I've provided on those targets. But that is, you know, consistent with about the level of information that we provide on all of our strikes.

Q: Quick question: Is the joint command center -- center that you mentioned something new?

COL. DORRIAN: No, it is not new.

We've -- we've had Turkish military in our command center at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. And we continue to work closely with them in Turkey as well.

Q: Thank you.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Carla Babb with Voice of America.

Q: Hi, colonel. Thanks for doing this.

Going back to al-Bab, two questions on that. Does Turkey have the authority to call in strikes like the Kurds or the Syrian Arab Coalition? I know you said that these particular strikes were mutually developed. So, does that mean that they do or do not have the authority to call in those strikes?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, every nation has the authority to call in strikes. I'm not sure I understand the question.

Q: I guess I'm just wondering if this is similar to when the Kurds are on the battlefield and they have a strike, that they are able to locate and call into the U.S. forces the strike.

Does Turkey -- in the fight for al-Bab, does Turkey have that same authority, where they can just call in to the United States aircraft and say, "We have this strike that we'd like you to do, strike this target"? Because this, as you're saying, was developed mutually with U.S. ISR.

COL. DORRIAN: Right.

What I would say about that is all the strikes that we conduct in concert with our partners and with our allies, this is something that we always do when it's mutually agreed that we do that.

So, we -- we do conduct strikes for Turkey. We have done that before. We've conducted strikes for our partners in Iraq and Syria, as well.

This is something that they can request the strikes, we work with our strike cells to make sure that we're achieving the effects on the battlefield that we intend to achieve. In other words, we want to damage the enemy and minimize the risk of collateral damage or some type of mishap.

Q: And secondly, Russia has announced that they've been operating in the al-Bab area as well. Was the Russian military notified of these strikes?

COL. DORRIAN: We do maintain our -- our channel for deconfliction with the Russians.

As far as what was done with these specific strikes, I don't know.

But that's a dialogue that we maintain and it's a regular -- it's a regular dialogue. So I don't -- there isn't anything here that's happened that hasn't been happening for quite some time.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next Tara Copp, Stars and Stripes.

Q: Hey, Colonel Dorrian.

Last week, I believe it was Colonel Sylvia -- I wasn't here -- was talking about, again, the drones and their ability to now drop munitions on troops, although they're very small munitions, and I guess seemed to, kind of, downplay that effect.

I'm just wondering what sort of defenses against the drones are being considered. And is this something that we're seeing a lot more of them, or was it just a couple of drones and we ended up writing about it?

And then, secondly, for training, can you tell us how many Iraqi police have been trained to this point? And is their primary focus the post-conflict role in Mosul?

COL. DORRIAN: As far as the -- the threat from these commercial off-the-shelf drones that the enemy is using, this is something that we've seen quite a bit of, you know, more than -- more than 100 times in the last 60 days. So it's -- it's a regular tactic for them. But as far as their ability to drop ordinance, I'd have to check and see, you know, how often they do that. I know they fly these types of missions with their -- with their little commercial off-the-shelf drones on very regular basis.

It's not a strategic impact on the battlefield. It's a localized threat. It's not gonna stop any of our partners or us from doing what we need to do, but it is a threat that's -- that's ongoing. It's something that the enemy has continued to do. What we do in response to that -- we have a variety of systems that we use to get after it. We can't really go into great detail on those because of classification and tactics, techniques and procedures.

But those go anywhere from simply working with partners to shoot them down, up to other, you know, electronic means to -- to stop them from working.

As far as the forces that are in training now, those are -- many of those, especially the police, are going to act as hold forces and wide-area security forces. The purpose of those is that once the enemy has been cleared out of areas like Mosul and other areas around Iraq, these are the forces that go in behind them and maintain security in those areas so that sleeper cells can't cause major disruptions, nor can the enemy re-infiltrate and cause problems that way.

Q: Do you know how many total of the police have been trained to date?

COL. DORRIAN: I think we can get the number of police that have been trained to date. I don't have that handy, though.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next to Lucas Tomlinson with Fox News.

Q: Colonel, are you surprised that Turkey's had so many problems in -- fighting in al-Bab?

COL. DORRIAN: You know, they're fighting a -- a determined enemy that has no problem with using civilian shields and they've had quite some time to dig into the areas where they are. So there's gonna be tough fighting there.

We do believe that certainly, our -- our partners, our allies are more than a match for them and they'll be successful against them. But it -- it -- it's not surprising that it's a tough fight to defeat Daesh. They have had a lot of time to build their defenses in all the areas that they control, and so they're not going to be easily dislodged.

Q: And on the battle for western Mosul, do you anticipate that that fight will be tough than the fight in eastern Mosul?

COL. DORRIAN: It's very difficult to predict whether it'll be tougher in west Mosul. There are a couple of things, you know, factors that -- that play into that.

One is that the enemy has, especially early when the -- the bridges were intact, they brought a lot of resources forward from west Mosul into east Mosul, and a lot of those capabilities and resources were expended and a lot of fighters were killed. So that's something that obviously would indicate that some -- there's been some reduction in their capabilities over there.

The tough piece is there are a lot of civilians over there. The U.N. estimates that there are 750,000 civilians remaining in west Mosul. I saw that report recently and it's even more dense terrain in west Mosul than it is in east Mosul. So that would probably have a tendency to complicate factors.

The long and short of it is, we absolutely expect our partners, the Iraqis, to be successful in liberating that area. We're going to hammer the enemy with our air and artillery strikes to help facilitate their advance and our advisers will be there to support them.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next we'll go to Thomas Watkins of Agence France-Press.

Q: Hello, colonel.

Actually just to follow up on that, how many ISIL fighters are there in -- in Mosul and do you have breakdown of east versus west?

COL. DORRIAN: You know, I think we'll have to take that one for you. The number of fighters in Mosul. You know, we were estimating 3,000 to 5,000 early. There have been a tremendous number of enemy that have been killed as a part of the battle, but we'll -- we'll have to get back with you on -- on the current estimate.

CAPT. DAVIS: Christina Wong of The Hill.

Q: Hi colonel, thanks for doing this.

Just a few questions. You mentioned terrorist style attacks versus -- fewer VBIEDs and more terror style attacks. I was wondering if you could discuss what kind of attacks those are.

And then just to get an update of how many U.S. forces are now in Iraq and Syria and if any of those are acting as, sort of, forward deployed you know, J-TACs in Iraq or Syria.

COL. DORRIAN: Okay.

Well, as far as the terrorist style attacks, what I mean by that is that this enemy aspires to be a nation state or -- the Islamic State, that's what they call themselves. So they desire to control terrain. Their control of terrain is being rolled back and it's being rolled back rather quickly.

They've done nothing, but go backwards when they encounter our partner forces for more than a year. So they're not going to control Ramadi, they're not going to control Fallujah. After sometime they're not going to control Mosul anymore and they're going to be pushed out of the other areas that they control.

That doesn't mean that they will no longer be present, there will still be pockets of resistance and what we would expect from them is that they will devolve into the types of attacks that we've seen from enemies past.

So they will still try to conduct spectacular attacks. These are bombings, suicide bombing, vehicle borne improvised explosive devices moving into populated areas and the Iraqis are working to mitigate that threat, even as we speak.

So what they're doing is, you know, conducting hold force training and security police training and that's, you know, a big part of the answer. Because when you have a local force that's from the area that knows who's supposed to be there and who's not suppose to be there, they're more likely to be able to disrupt these types of attacks.

In addition they've built layered defenses in some of these populated areas and reduced their ability to infiltrate.

Let's see, your second question, I apologize.

Q: Number of U.S. forces right now in Iraq and Syria?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, as far as our -- we haven't had any change in our numbers or at least not a significant change. So our FML in Iraq is 5262. And then in Syria it is 495. We're under those numbers in both places. And as far as, you know, for -- for the forces that have been authorized to be in there longer term, we do sometimes have people there for temporary duty. Those don't count against those numbers and we don't give out that number.

So that's kind of where we're at.

Q: And then the J-TACs?

COL. DORRIAN: As far as J-TACs, we do have J-TACs that -- that are in theater. The majority of them are working in our strike cells. I don't have numbers of how many are -- are operating in the country, but we do have them. The purpose of those forces is to make sure that we're coordinating all of our air attacks. So they coordinate with our air operations center, they coordinate with the strike cells and they coordinate with our partners to make sure that the targets that we're hitting we have good eyes on and we know what we're strikingly and we know what effects are going to be achieved on the battlefield.

There are some limited numbers that are operating with special operations forces, but we don't give out those numbers. They're basically doing the same thing, except they operate to help protect the forces that they're with.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next, to Bill Hennigan of the Los Angeles Times.

Q: Hey, JD. Is it safe to say that the -- some of these J-TACs are -- are inside Mosul?

COL. DORRIAN: It's safe to say that they have been in at different times. They do work directly with their -- their teams and those teams are operating with the Iraqi security forces and travel where the Iraqi security forces need them to go.

So as far as specifically where they are, I don't give that out at any given time. But yes, they have been in the city at different times.

Q: Got you. Thanks.

And last week, I think the number was 80 percent cleared from east Mosul. Do you have an update on that? And do you have kind of an expectation of when west Mosul will kick off? Is that days or weeks or months, years?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, I would say we're probably at the 85 or 90 percent point on eastern Mosul at this point. I think, you know, it's very difficult to predict exactly how long it's going to take to clear the rest of Mosul, and the reason for that is because one of the tactics that the enemy has used in the past is to have sleeper cells in this sort of thing that will pop up in areas that are largely pacified. So there's gonna have to be some significant clearing to make sure that these areas remain secure.

And we've also seen that the enemy, when they're in close proximity to liberated areas, they continue to fire indiscriminate weapons like indirect fire, mortars and artillery into those liberated areas and -- and harm civilians. So the Iraqis will, you know, take whatever time is needed in order to deal with that threat. And then I would imagine, but I don't have a lot of detail on what their planning cycle is for beginning operations in the west of Mosul, but I can assure you everything that I have heard indicates to me that they intend to do this as quickly as they can.

I know Prime Minister Abadi has thrown out a three-month estimate, so that tells me that, you know, there's not gonna be a long wait before we start seeing ISIL killed in west Mosul.

Q: And just to follow up on the sleeper cell thing that you're talking about, does that mean like these guys are holed up and as soon as the Iraqi forces are there, they launch suicide attacks or something like that?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, it -- it can be that or it can be people that just try to melt away into the population. It can be small numbers of fighters that have found a place to hide and then they decide to come out once, you know, the fighting has passed them. As you know, the enemy has used tunnels under the city for quite some time in order to try to either flank or get behind the Iraqi security forces.

So this is the type of thing that slows the Iraqi advance. They have to clear buildings really from rooftop level all the way through every room, every closet, every area around there all the way down into basements and into tunnels. And then you always run the risk of having these folks pop up. And so that's -- that's going to slow things down, but this is something that now the Iraqis are certainly developing plenty of tactics to deal with, but that doesn't mean that it's not dangerous and that doesn't mean that it's not slow, tedious work.

Q: Thanks.

CAPT. DAVIS: Next, Andy -- pronounce your last name for me again.

Q: DeGrandpre.

CAPT. DAVIS: DeGrandpre of Military Times.

Q: Colonel, nice to meet you.

Just to go back to the question about J-TACs for a moment, for the U.S. to conduct air strikes in support of Turkish forces, does that require an American on the ground outside the wire with eyes physically on target or can that work be done from an operation center?

COL. DORRIAN: One of the things that we very much prize is to have boots on the ground operating in proximity or directly with our partner forces. So, you know, that is the preferred alternative and that is one of the reasons why, you know, we have to be very careful, especially in a very crowded and complex battlefield with a lot of different actors to make sure that we're hitting the targets that we intend to hit.

CAPT. DAVIS: Okay. The queue is empty.

Cami McCormick, CBS News.

Q: Hi, colonel. I have one follow-up to Tara's question about the drones. Have there been -- been any recent injuries due to drone attacks by ISIS, either to coalition or to Iraqi or Kurdish forces that you're aware of?

COL. DORRIAN: I'm not aware of any coalition injuries as a result of drones. As far as the Iraqis, they don't give out their casualty statistics, so I couldn't -- I couldn't say. But this is a dangerous tactic. It is something that certainly we're getting after, and so are the Iraqis and so are the Peshmerga.

Q: And can you say where most of these attacks are occurring?

COL. DORRIAN: Well, most of them are -- are in areas where our partner forces are advancing, so that would be up around Mosul, although it's certainly not restricted there. The enemy tries to surveil any, you know, target that they can and they want to do damage anywhere they can do it because, you know, the nature of this enemy, they're indiscriminate. So, you know, one of the tactics that we've seen from them is they'll fly a drone over a liberated area and drop a grenade and then say that we did it.

So, you know, these are the types of things that this enemy does, and that -- that just makes things very dangerous for civilians.

Q: Thank you.

Q: Can I follow up with a-

CAPT. DAVIS: Yeah, go ahead. Thomas Watkins.

Q: Yeah, hi.

Just to follow up that, I think earlier you said -- you said that you've seen more than a hundred of these incidents in the last 60 days. Is that a hundred attacks using munitions, or was it a hundred surveillance or a mixture?

COL. DORRIAN: That's a hundred surveillance.

Q: So how many attacks have you seen?

COL. DORRIAN: Yeah, I don't have that stat.

CAPT. DAVIS: Okay, the queue's empty. Anyone else? Going once, going twice.

JD, thank you very much for your time.

And apologizes to everybody for the technical problems today. We will get those fixed next time.

Thanks, everybody.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1051735/

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USS Monterey Outchops from U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Operations

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170117-03

Release Date: 1/17/2017 8:44:00 AM

From USS Monterey Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) concluded its mission in the Mediterranean.

While in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations (AOO), Monterey conducted two port visits in Spain, the first to Palma de Mallorca and the second to Naval Station Rota, Spain. Monterey remained in the 6th Fleet AOO as part of the overall mission to the area.

Monterey celebrated the new year in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. During the port call, command leadership met with Spanish Central Government Representative for the Baleric Islands Delegada Maria Salom and Lt. Cdr. Jose Maria Marquez Montero, a representative of the Spanish Navy.

"It was great to be in Palma. Meetings like this strengthened the bonds between the U.S. and our NATO Allies," said Capt. Chris DeGregory, commanding officer of Monterey. "We share the same interests of maintaining safety and security of the world's oceans and sea lanes."

While in Palma de Mallorca, many Sailors were able to experience the culture of Spain and see the sites.

"I was impressed by the beauty of Palma and all it had to offer. I loved the rich history and classic beauty of the island," said Lt. j.g. Christina Valladares. "My favorite part was visiting the Catedral de Santa Maria."

Monterey arrived at Naval Station Rota for a brief visit before setting out again for home.

"The crew had a great time in 6th Fleet, but after a long seven months on deployment, we are all excited to get home and see our families," said Command Master Chief James Stedding.

Monterey, deployed as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with joint, allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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USNS Able Visits Yokosuka during Indo-Asia-Pacific Deployment

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170117-02

Release Date: 1/17/2017 8:16:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian G. Reynolds, Submarine Group 7 Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command ocean surveillance ship USNS Able (T-AGOS 20) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Jan. 16 for a port visit as part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol.

The visit strengthens the already positive alliance between the U.S. and Japan through the crew's interaction with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It also demonstrates the U.S. Navy's commitment to regional stability and maritime security in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

"The crew has worked tirelessly during this deployment," said Phillip Thrift, Able's master. "The visit gives the crew some well-deserved time off and an opportunity to explore the rich culture of Japan."

Able is the first ship in the U.S. Navy to bear the name and is the second of four Victorious-class ocean surveillance ships. Its primary purpose is to conduct anti-submarine warfare by deploying a Surveillance Towed-Array Sensor System (SURTASS) which provides passive acoustic mobile detection, tracking, and reporting of submarine contacts at a long range. Additionally, Able is one of four ocean surveillance ships capable of searching for submarines using Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFA). The data provided by SURTASS is analyzed aboard Able and then sent to Submarine Group 7 (CSG-7) in Yokosuka, Japan. CSG-7 then uses the information collected to make critical decisions regarding the placement of its assets.

Able is operated and maintained by civilian contractors for the Military Sealift Command. The SURTASS surveillance system is operated by an aboard military detachment from Naval Oceanographic Processing Facility Whidbey Island, Washington.

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USS Michael Murphy Deploys to Western Pacific

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170117-01

Release Date: 1/17/2017 8:10:00 AM

From Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) departed Pearl Harbor for a regularly-scheduled deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, Jan. 13.

Michael Murphy deployed with a crew of approximately 320 Sailors and a detachment of MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters from the "Easyriders" of Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 37, based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, who trained for months to earn deployment certification.

"The crew has worked tirelessly in preparation for this deployment," said Cmdr. Robert A. Heely, Jr., commanding officer, Michael Murphy. "'Team Murphy' will be challenged with diverse mission sets within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Their resiliency will be tested, but they are up to the task and are ready to perform as part of Carrier Strike Group 1."

While deployed, the Carl Vinson CSG will remain under U.S. 3rd Fleet command and control, including beyond the international dateline which previously divided operational areas of responsibility for 3rd and 7th Fleets. Third Fleet operating forward offers additional options to the Pacific Fleet commander by leveraging the capabilities of 3rd and 7th Fleets. This operational concept allows both numbered fleets to complement one another and provide the foundation of stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

"Our forward presence contributes to freedom of navigation and lawful use of the sea, as well as furthers operational training and enabling the exchange of culture, skills, and tactical knowledge," said Rear Adm. James W. Kilby, commander, CSG 1.

The Carl Vinson CSG will report to U.S. 3rd Fleet, headquartered in San Diego, while deployed in the western Pacific as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of 3rd Fleet into the region.

Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, and embarked Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 1 deployed from San Diego, Jan. 5 with Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108).

The Carl Vinson CSG deployed with approximately 7,500 Sailors and will focus on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. The strike group assets will conduct bilateral exercises in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to include anti-submarine warfare, maneuvering drills, gunnery exercises, and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) subject matter expert exchanges.

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Gambian president declares state of emergency

Iran Press TV

Tue Jan 17, 2017 6:28PM

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has declared a 90-day state of emergency, citing foreign interference in the presidential election of December.

The incumbent Gambian president made the announcement on state television on Tuesday.

"I... hereby declare a state of public emergency throughout the Islamic Republic of Gambia," the declaration said.

Some regional countries have been trying to persuade President Jammeh to hand over power to opposition leader, Adama Barrow, who was declared the winner of the December 1, 2016 election.

Barrow is meant to be inaugurated as the new president on Thursday. An emergency could allow the government to cancel or postpone the inauguration.

Earlier on Tuesday, a Nigerian military source said the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could launch a military intervention if Jammeh did not step down when his five-year mandate ends on January 18.

The possibility of a military intervention in the Gambia gained strength after the UN and the African Union both called on Jammeh to accept the results of the vote and leave after 22 years in power.

Jammeh had initially accepted the results but later reversed his position and lodged a complaint with the Supreme Court over election irregularities.

Jammeh's defiance has sent the West African country into crisis, causing many Gambians to flee to Senegal, which has increased security on the border.

Awa Sanneh from Birkama in the Gambia, who was leaving with two children and 24 other family members said, "We are scared. There are soldiers with guns all the time."

In recent weeks, at least 650 Gambians have crossed into the Senegalese town of Diouloulou, located about 12 kilometers south of the border point of Seleti.

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Saudi vessels target southwestern Yemen, kill 10

Iran Press TV

Tue Jan 17, 2017 8:41AM

Ten people have been killed in rocket attacks by Saudi military vessels against a residential neighborhood in Yemen's southwestern coastal province of Ta'izz.

Unnamed local sources said the Saudi craft fired a barrage of rockets at a village in the Maqbanah district of the province, which is situated 346 kilometers south of the capital, Sana'a, on Tuesday morning, also injuring dozens of people, Arabic-language Saba news agency reported.

Shortly afterward, Saudi military aircraft carried out an airstrike against a truck as it was traveling along a road in the al-Khawkhah district of the western coastal province, of Hudaydah. The attack claimed the life of a civilian.

Additionally, five people were killed and two others injured when Saudi fighter jets pounded a market in the Haydan district of the northwestern province of Sa'ada.

Saudi jets also launched three attacks against an area in the Red Sea port city of Mukha, though no reports of casualties and the extent of damage inflicted were reported.

Saudi warplanes conducted two aerial attacks against an area in the city of Sirwah, which lies about 120 kilometers east of the capital, as well. No reports of casualties were available.

Farming lands in the Abs district of the northwestern Hajjah Province were also bombarded, but no words on possible casualties were available.

UN updates death toll from Saudi war

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, says the nearly two-year conflict in the impoverished Arab country has claimed the lives of 10,000 people and left 40,000 others wounded.

McGoldrick told reporters in Sana'a that the figure is based on lists of victims gathered by health facilities and that the actual number might be higher.

The Saudi war on Yemen, which local sources say has killed at least 11,400 people, was launched in an unsuccessful attempt to reinstate the former government.

The Saudi war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools and factories.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Yemen, Meritxell Relano, said last week that almost 1,400 children had been killed and 2,140 injured as a result of the conflict in Yemen.

He added that some 2,000 schools have been destroyed, damaged or used as shelters for displaced families.

"Schools should be zones of peace at all times, a sanctuary where children can learn, grow, play and be safe. Children should never risk their lives only to attend school," Relano underlined.

He said UNICEF called on all parties to the Yemeni conflict to honor their obligations under international humanitarian law and stop attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools.

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Trump's NATO Remarks 'Real Mistake' as Alliance Important to US

Sputnik News

11:43 17.01.2017(updated 14:08 17.01.2017)

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said US President-elect Donald Trump's statements regarding NATO as an obsolete organization were "worrying."

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Dutch minister's comments were echoed by other European politicians. On Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the European Union must stand united in the face of Trump's comments, while his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier admitted that Trump's comments were met with "astonishment," but noted the existing "contradiction" between Trump's message and that of his nominated cabinet, calling for a wait-and-see approach.

"We need to sit down with Trump as soon as possible, because NATO is important for the US too. There are mutual interests," Koenders was quoted as saying by Dutch News on Monday in Brussels where he attended a meeting of European foreign ministers.

Koenders also stressed that "in an unsafe world to say that we no longer need NATO" would be "a real mistake."

On Monday, in an interview with The Times newspaper, Trump called NATO an "obsolete" organization, since it was not much engaged in countering terrorism, arguing its member countries' contributions were not efficient.

"We can see that he has less faith in institutions such as the UN, NATO and the EU. How that translates in practice remains to be seen," Koenders said.

 Sputnik

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Dozens Killed as Nigerian Army Mistakenly Bombs Refugee Camp

By VOA News January 17, 2017

More than 50 people were killed when a Nigerian military jet mistakenly bombed a camp for homeless people Tuesday.

Aiming for Boko Haram militants, the attack struck Rann - a refugee camp for people internally displaced by the terrorist group, a military official said.

"I received with regret news that the Air Force,working to mop up BH insurgents, accidentally bombed a civilian community in Rann, Borno State," Nigerian president Muhammudu Buhari wrote on his official Twitter account Tuesday, promising support for the victims.

Aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said that its members were treating 120 wounded patients in their facility in the Northern Borno state. MSF put the death toll at 52 in a statement released in the hours after the attack.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said six of its Nigerian members were among the dead.

Major General Lucky Irabor, who heads the military operation against Boko Haram militants in the area, said the air force was given coordinates of terrorists.

"Unfortunately the strike was conducted but it turned out that the locals somewhere in Rann were affected," he told reporters at a briefing in the state capital.

The bombing comes as the Nigerian military claims more and more territory in Borno - Boko Haram's stronghold. Last month the army said the conflict was in its final stages after 8 years of violence which has left at least 20,000 dead and over 2 million homeless.

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President : Iran no longer under sanctions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 17, IRNA -- Sanctions against Iran are almost removed, but the country should be prepared for different situations, says President Hassan Rouhani.

'Except for some banking problems, the Islamic Republic of Iran faces no international sanctions and the problems are mostly related to other issues,' President Rouhani said at a news conference on Tuesday on the one-year anniversary of implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The JCPOA was agreed between Iran and the G5+1 (The US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany) in July 2015. It was later implemented on January 16, 2016.

'Today we are free to have business with any country we like,' he said.

'We no longer face sanctions,' the President said, but he remained critical of the United States for showing disloyalty towards its commitments.

'But the Americans have been disloyal,' Rouhani said.

'To us, extension of the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) amounts to violation of the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,' he said.

The US president refrained from signing the Act, still he fell short of doing his job, the Iranian President said.

'The US president should have vetoed the Act but he just waived it,' Rouhani said.

'Had Americans not waived the ISA, we would not have sit idle and would have taken actions against their violation,' Rouhani said.

'I have ordered the foreign minister and head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to take appropriate steps (regarding the extension of the ISA), lest we may face more disloyalties in the future,' Rouhani said.

President Rouhani also, referring to comments by US president-elect Donald Trump on the nuclear deal, said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action cannot be violated by the president of any country.

'The JCPOA is not something that someone in another country, following his election as president, decides whether he likes or dislikes it,' he said.

'The JCPOA has created a new global environment and it should be taken care of with prudence,' he said.

'It is a win-win deal.'

2044**1420

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Rouhani: Fresh talks on JCPOA 'meaningless'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 17, IRNA -- President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday ruled out any new talks on Iran nuclear deal  known as JCPOA  as meaningless.

Rouhani, who was speaking at a press conference on the one-year anniversary of JCPOA implementation, made the remarks in response to US president-elect Donald Trump's recent remarks about revision of the JCPOA.

The JCPOA was agreed between Iran and the G5+1 (The US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany) in July 2015. It was later implemented on January 16, 2016.

'Mr. Trump has not expressed satisfaction with Iran nuclear deal so far and has said the deal is not a good deal,' the president said.

'These claims are nothing but a slogan,' Rouhani added.

Noting that the JCPOA is not a bilateral accord, President Rouhani said the JCPOA has already been agreed upon and confirmed in the United Nations.

On the probable influence of new US president in Iran's upcoming presidential election, Rouhani said the new president in the White House will have no influence in Iran's elections and the Iranian people will make their own decision.

9341**1420

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Iran supports political initiatives on Syria: Shamkhani

Iran Press TV

Tue Jan 17, 2017 3:27PM

A senior Iranian official says the Islamic Republic supports political initiatives on Syria, which seek to address the real demands of the Syrian people and preserve the war-stricken country's territorial integrity and independence.

In a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani and Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, in addition to politico-economic cooperation between the two sides.

"The continuation of all-out efforts to liberate areas under the control of terrorists in order to restore security and peace to Syria and the simultaneous pursuit of Syrian-Syrian talks in order to achieve national unity will guarantee successful management of the existing crisis in the country," Shamkhani said.

He added that enemies of Syria must not be allowed to take advantage of the current ceasefire and political negotiations as a tactic to revive, rearm and regroup terrorist groups.

The Iranian official also stressed the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of plots that seek to undermine cooperation among Iran, Syria and Russia in the fight against terrorism.

Shamkhani, who acts as Iran's senior political, security and defense coordinator with Russia and Syria, said playing a dynamic and influential role in political issues requires constant cooperation among Tehran, Moscow and Damascus in all decision-making and executive processes.

The SNSC secretary further urged a relentless campaign against Takfiri terrorism, saying, "Unfortunately, Western countries and the US, instead of fighting terrorist elements who are threatening their own national security as well, are imposing sanctions on Syrian officials and the resistance front, and this shows their double-standard approach to the issue of terrorism."

Khamis, for his part, said the Syrian government has always negotiated with unarmed opposition groups that are keen to preserve the country's unity.

The Syrian premier said sustainable peace and security will be achieved in Syria if certain countries change their policy of supporting terrorists.

Senior Iranian and Syrian officials have recently exchanged visits and views ahead of the planned intra-Syrian peace talks in the Kazakh capital city of Astana.

The Astana negotiations will be held between representatives from the Damascus government and foreign-sponsored opposition groups on January 23.

The negotiations, which exclude the Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist groups, are mediated by Russia, Turkey, and Iran. The three countries successfully implemented a similar accord in December after militants were defeated in Syria's northwestern city of Aleppo.

The Astana talks would be held in the wake of a nationwide ceasefire in Syria, which was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on December 31.

Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, was fully liberated in December, less than a month after the Syrian army started to drive foreign-backed militants out of their stronghold in the eastern side of the strategic city.

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US increasing airdrops of arms supplies to militants in Syria: Report

Iran Press TV

Tue Jan 17, 2017 2:41PM

The United States is increasing airdrops of weapons, ammunition and other equipment to foreign-backed militant forces in the northeastern Syrian city of Raqqah, according to a report.

"Our expanded precision airdrop capability is helping ground forces take the offensive to (Daesh) and efforts to retake Raqqah," Gen. Carlton Everhart, commander of the US Air Force's Air Mobility Command, was quoted by USA Today as saying.

The Air Force carried out a total of 16 airdrop missions in Syria last year; six of those were in December alone, the report said.

Officials say the airdrops are meant to boost the capabilities of militants who do not have extensive ground supply lines in a hostile environment. Raqqah is Daesh's self-proclaimed "capital." The terrorist group took over the city in March 2013.

"In those instances airdrops are absolutely essential," said Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a military spokesman in Baghdad.

The USled coalition is backing a proxy force of about 45,000 militants, allegedly battling Daesh terrorists in Syria, with airstrikes and dozens of US Special Operations troops.

The militants have also been fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who the US has repeatedly said must step down.

The US Air Force uses GPS technology and steerable parachutes to guide bundles of supplies, ranging from small arms ammunition to vehicles, onto landing zones.

The Daesh terrorist group has released several videos in the past bragging about capturing weapons and other supplies airdropped by the US military.

The State Department said last month that the US could not guarantee that the weapons it sends to militants in Syria would not end up in the hands of Daesh terrorists.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Pentagon have also been providing the militants with military training.

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Syrian Minister Skeptical About Outcome of Astana Settlement Talks

Sputnik News

20:09 17.01.2017(updated 20:15 17.01.2017)

On of the Syrian Minister Ali Haidar doubts about the positive outcome of the forthcoming Astana talks.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Syrian Minister for National Reconciliation Ali Haidar on Tuesday expressed his doubts about the positive outcome of the forthcoming talks on the Syrian settlement in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

"We do not have high expectations of the meeting in the Kazakh capital, especially because regional and international intentions have not proved to be sincere so far," Haidar said citing Turkey's attempts to pursue own goals at the talks, as quoted by the Iranian Tasnim news agency.

He added that the atmosphere surrounding the upcoming negotiations was "not a positive one."

The so-called Arab Spring protests shook the Middle East in 2011. In Syria, the protests resulted in clashes between the government forces and opposition. Since then, the Middle Eastern country has been mired in a war, which involves Syrian army, numerous opposition factions, as well as terrorist groups.

Syrian government and opposition factions are supposed to meet in Astana on Monday for talks brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran. They will be followed by a UN-mediated meeting in Geneva on February 8.

 Sputnik

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PKK bombing leaves 4 cops dead in southeastern Turkey

Iran Press TV

Tue Jan 17, 2017 5:28AM

Four Turkish police officers have lost their lives and two others sustained injuries in a roadside bomb explosion that targeted their patrol vehicle in Turkey's southeastern and Kurdish-populated province of Diyarbakir.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said militants with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, also known as the PKK, detonated the explosives near an excavation site in the Sur district of the province, situated 676 kilometers east of the capital, Ankara, on Monday afternoon as a police vehicle was passing by.

Video footage, broadcast by the private Dogan news agency, showed ambulances, a fire truck, and security forces arriving at the scene of the blast.

Hospital sources said one of the wounded victims was in critical condition.

The governor's office later condemned the bombing as "an atrocious terror attack" in a statement, adding that police were conducting an operation in the region to arrest the perpetrators.

The statement further vowed that Turkey would continue to fight against terror with determination.

Turkey has declared the PKK a terrorist organization and has banned it. The militant group has been calling for an autonomous Kurdish region since 1984.

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 in northern Iraq and neighboring Syria.

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Edge data centres will account for most of the telecom server market growth and is projected to reach US$14 billion by 2026 according to a new report from DellOro Group.
Taxiway improvements at Danville Regional Airport and funding for a storm sewer project on Pine Street were among items green-lighted by Danville City Council on Tuesday night.

The work to revamp the taxiway is expected begin in March, said the citys director of transportation services last week.

About $3.1 million in grant money from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Virginia Department of Aviation will pay for upgrades at Taxiway A at the airport off U.S. 58.

Taxiway A provides airplane access to the primary runway at the airport.

The work will include milling, resurfacing, narrowing the taxiway from 50 feet to 35 feet in width and replacing the taxiway lights. About 5,500 feet slightly more than a mile  of the taxiway will be rehabilitated.

A portion of the project paid for by the state will entail taxiway intersection maintenance in the south end of the field to support turning movement requirements for large corporate jets.

It has been about two decades since the taxiway has been rehabilitated.

Work should be complete by the fall. Apac-Atlantic Inc. in Greensboro, North Carolina, will be the contractor for the project. About $2.77 million from the FAA and $340,000 from the Virginia Department of Aviation will pay for the project, for a total of about $3.1 million. Danville will pay a local match of $86,152 for the rehabilitation.

Councilmen voted 5-0 to approve the budget appropriation for the project, as well as funding for a storm sewer project on Pine Street. Councilmen Fred Shanks and James Buckner were absent.

City Council voted to support a $75,040 Community Development Block Grant for phase II of the Pine Street storm drainage project.

The project would be done in two phases. The first phase would be paid for from the Virginia Department of Transportation maintenance funds, and would be located in the right-of-way areas on Pine Street. Phase one is projected to cost $126,215.

The second phase would be on private property, so its projected cost of $75,090 would be paid through Community Development Block Grant funding.

At least 10 homes have been getting flooded for nearly a year due to the antiquated storm sewer system on Pine Street.

The new storm sewer line would run from Jefferson Street through the rear yards of five housing units, the front yard of another and at properties of four other units. The current system is causing flooding to properties of low-income families.

Most of the homes affected were purchased by the Danville Redevelopment Housing Authority about a year ago under the Blight Eradication Program, which is when the problem was brought to the citys attention.

The mostly vacant houses on Pine Street were built between 1890 and 1910, with the storm sewer system put in piecemeal as the homes were constructed.

Other homes on the street have been damaged due to water, extreme moisture and rot under the homes. Others have simply had unusable yards due to the standing water.

There is a possibility of a third phase later on, as they get further down the street and see what needs to be done there.

During closing remarks, councilmen wished good luck and a successful recovery for Buckner, who is scheduled to have open-heart surgery Wednesday following the recent discovery of blockages in his arteries.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie took a driving tour of Danville and talked about his plans for helping area small businesses on Wednesday.

Gillespie, along with former U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt and Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler, toured new Danville business development in the River District, as well as areas affected by blight and closed factories.

Gillespie  who has spent the last several days touring the state  said he felt a cautious optimism about the economic and political climate.

People feel like were shifting from a headwind to a tailwind, Gillespie said. Ive been encouraged by a sense of optimism, but also realism.

Gillespie said the state had been hit hard by federal overregulation. He said he believed small businesses were the key to new job growth, criticizing the headline-drawing large job announcements of big businesses.

Weve just been hammered so badly from these federal policies, he said.

Gillespie said if elected he planned create a sort-of office of federalism, where the commonwealth could work with the federal government to reverse or mitigate damaging policies. He noted a similar program created by Vice President-elect Mike Pence when he was governor of Indiana.

Vogler and Hurt noted Danville had seen its own share of problems with federal bureaucracy, mentioning the trouble securing a permit for the Berry Hill Industrial Mega Park from the Army Corps of Engineers unless the park had a committed user.

How do you get an end-user without a permit? Gillespie asked in disbelief.

Gillespie also expressed his interest for continuing support for vocational education, like the type being offered by Danville Community College.

It baffled me why vocational education was stigmatized, Gillespie said about a national push for four-year degrees several years ago.

Gillespie said large companies were not looking simply for a pretty location to house factories or offices.

They see Where is the workforce? Where do the roads go? he said.

During the ride, Gillespie also spoke about his three pet dogs and how he met his wife, Cathy, at a congressional co-ed softball team.

Before the tour, Gillespie ate at the more than 50-year-old Marys Diner restaurant on Piney Forest Road, in addition to saying hello to several customers.

Gillespie, a former George W. Bush aide and founder of a bipartisan lobbying firm, most recently narrowly lost a 2014 U.S. Senate bid to incumbent Mark Warner by just 0.8 percent. He is running against fellow Republicans Corey Stewart and Frank Wagner, as well as Democrats Ralph Northam and Tom Periello.
The two women found dead on Jan. 8 on Wrenn Drive died of stab wounds.

The Danville Police Department announced the cause of death from the medical examiners office Wednesday afternoon.

The bodies of Kelly Fears Wrenn, 49, and Ashley Lauren Joy Jones, 28, were found Jan. 8 on 334 Wrenn Drive.

Police were called to the residence by a concerned person who knows the two victims, Danville Police Lt. Mike Wallace said.

Another resident of the home, Amanda Lynn Willhite, was located a few days later in Jacksonville, North Carolina, by detectives from the Danville Police Department. She is currently being held on drug related charges there, police said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Danville Crime Stoppers at (434) 793-0000, the Danville Police Department at (434) 799-6508 or crimetips@danvilleva.gov. Information given will remain confidential.
CHATHAM  Two people were flown via helicopter from the scene of a tractor-trailer accident on U.S. 29 near the Olde Dominion Agricultural Center on Tuesday morning.

The driver was entrapped after the truck overturned, and it took around an hour to remove him.

The truck was carrying an unidentified cleaning chemical that, when mixed with water, could potentially be dangerous. Hazmat teams were on the scene to contain the chemical.

Virginia State Police Sgt. Richard Garletts said via email he could not identify the chemical.

Rain began pouring down Tuesday morning as volunteer firefighters from Blairs, Brosville, Chatham, Climax, Danville, Gretna and Ringgold worked to secure the crash site.

Traffic was backed up as firefighters secured the chemical leakage. By 9:45 a.m., one lane of traffic was allowed to move.

The crash occurred at about 8 a.m. when the truck was traveling southbound on U.S. 29, according to a Virginia State Police news release. Police did not release any other details of the crash.

The two victims were later taken to Danville Regional Medical Center for treatment via helicopter.

Information about their injuries was not disclosed.

There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors took a step toward bringing broadband internet access to rural areas Tuesday evening.

Supervisors unanimously voted to award a contract to AcelaNets SCS Broadband.

Internets no longer a luxury, Pittsylvania County Economic Development Director Matt Rowe said. Its a necessity like electricity these days.

SCS Broadband was created for the purpose of bringing true high-speed internet to the rural areas of Virginia by wireless and fiber, Acelanets website states.

Bringing AcelaNet to the area allows the county to create a revenue stream, and allows AcelaNet to have a lower entry point for their services, according to Rowe. This project is something residents of Pittsylvania County have been asking for more than a year.

It will be a three-phase project, which would allow the company to gain a foothold in the county while building out the product. The first phase includes putting equipment on currently available space on anything tall in the county in order to set up a first network.

AcelaNet Chief Operating Officer Clay Stewart was at Tuesdays meeting to present AcelaNets case, and talk about their current services. He emphasized the operations would all be local.

Our main operating network center is in Nelson County, and well be looking at an office here for on-site support, Stewart said. Everything is done in house, including our call center.

Based in Arrington, which is a town smaller than Chatham, SCS Broadbands website touts service as entirely local  with neighbors serving neighbors, no data caps, with contracts optional for wireless and fiber services. The service will be available for homes, businesses and government operations.

I am so happy to be able to help low income people, but at the same time, we help the other end of the line, and everybody in between, Stewart said. Plans start at $34.95.

SCS Broadband is a company that Rowe is very familiar with. As Charles City County planning director, Rowe brought the company into the area in 2015 to bring internet to the underserved areas of the county, before he was hired by Pittsylvania County.
Perth - MZI Resources Ltd. (ASX:MZI) is pleased to provide the company's Quarterly Activities Report.HIGHLIGHTS- Design HMC recovery and grade achieved at Keysbrook Wet Concentrator Plant (WCP) in December following completion of Optimisation Project- Increased production with a number of records achieved. Total finished products 15,636t (+17%), L88 8,194t (+21%, record) and HMC 24,744t (record)- Steady product sales 10,061t with receipts of $7.5M after port congestion delayed planned December leucoxene (L70) shipment until 2 January- Keysbrook operating cash flow negative (-$3.9M) due principally to timing of sales (including delayed shipment, $3.0M) and temporary higher mining-related costs. Importantly, half yearly operating cash flow was positive ($3.4M)- US$16 million debt facility secured with RCF- Leadership transition announced with Steve Ward appointed Interim Managing Director and Kevin Watters permanent Head of Operations- Land access program progressed- Mineral sands market conditions continuing to strengthenDuring the December quarter 2016, MZI's primary focus remained on ramping-up production at the Company's Keysbrook Operations to achieve targeted recovery and production rates.Production and sales data for the December quarter are detailed in Table 1 on page 3 (see the link below) of this report.CommentMZI Interim Managing Director Steve Ward said: "The December quarter was one of special significance for MZI, during which the Keysbrook WCP achieved critical Design Performance milestones following the recently completed Optimisation Project. We also achieved significantly higher production in the quarter, with a number of records set including L88 production."The WCP Optimisation Project has quickly proven its worth and we are now working to deliver abovedesign performance on a sustainable basis as a part of our continuous improvement approach. The excellent improvement already achieved at Keysbrook should also flow through to the performance of the Picton Mineral Separation Plant (MSP) when our next processing campaign commences late in January."On the corporate front, cash flows from Keysbrook Operations were negative this quarter in part reflecting the irregular and lumpy nature of our business in terms of sales revenue, but significantly they still remain positive for the half year period. A US$16 million loan facility from our major shareholder RCF has given us greater financial flexibility as we complete our ramp-up to full production. Importantly, Keysbrook is starting to hit its straps at the right time, with the market outlook for mineral sands, including higher value products such as Keysbrook leucoxene, continuing to strengthen. This puts MZI in a strong position heading into 2017."CORPORATEMZI finished the December 2016 quarter with $13.1 million in cash and undrawn guarantee facilities of $6.9 million.In November1, MZI announced a leadership transition. Mr Trevor Matthews had elected to resign after four and a half years as Managing Director, during which time he oversaw the successful development and start-up of the Keysbrook Mineral Sands Project. With the project now undergoing a transformation from an early-stage operation to ramping up to design capacity with steady state production, the Board and Mr Matthews mutually agreed the time was right to transition to a new Managing Director. To begin this process, MZI Resources' Independent Non-Executive Director Dr Steve Ward was appointed as interim Managing Director while an executive search for a permanent candidate for the role is conducted. In addition, Kevin Watters was appointed as permanent Head of Operations, succeeding Chief Operating Officer Mike Ferraro.To support the transformation of the Keysbrook Project, MZI also announced a US$16 million debt funding package with Resource Capital Fund VI L.P. These funds will ensure MZI has the financial flexibility to deliver on the optimisation activities required at the Keysbrook Operations to ensure the plant achieves the targeted production rates.On 22 November 20162, the Company held its Annual General Meeting, at which all resolutions were passed unanimously on a show of hands. As previously announced, it also marked the retirement from the Board of Non-Executive Director and former Chairman, Mr Mal Randall, after ten years with the Company. In accordance with the Company's succession plan and to ensure that the Company has access to his experience, Mr Randall will be retained as a consultant to the Company for a further 12 months.The Company continued discussions with landowners in the ore reserve footprint in relation to land access or property purchases to support future production plans including potential expansion opportunities. One property was acquired and other negotiations are in progress.Total issued capital at 31 December 2016 was 210,444,785 ordinary shares with a further 6,762,500 unlisted options with varying exercise prices and maturity dates.OPERATIONSProduction and CostsThe primary focus of activity during the December quarter was the continuing ramp-up of production at the Keysbrook Operations. Production and sales statistics are detailed in Table 1 (see the link below).In summary there was a significant improvement in operational performance with a number of production records achieved:- Record quarterly HMC production of 24,744 tonnes with record daily and monthly HMC production achieved in December- Quarterly saleable production increased 17% to 15,636 tonnes (all products):-- Record L88 production of 8,194 tonnes, up 21%-- L70 production increased 22% to 3,640 tonnes-- Zircon concentrate production increased 4% to 3,802 tonnesMining volumes were 12% lower in the December quarter compared with the record level attained in the prior quarter, totalling 966,406 tonnes. The mined grade for the quarter was 2.73% heavy mineral compared with 2.53% in the previous quarter. Mining volumes did not constrain overall production and were consistent with overall HMC production levels achieved.Mining activities were adjusted to cater for long road haul distances as the exploitable ore in the current Mining Feed Unit (MFU) location nears exhaustion. Additionally, as part of MZI's adaptive noise management measures to better understand and manage its noise footprint mentioned in the previous quarter, night time mining was temporarily ceased at this location. The longer haul distances and increased daytime mining required the hire of additional mobile equipment, with an associated increase in overall operating costs. Night-time processing continued and day-time mining was consequently increased to deliver sufficient material to maintain 24-hour WCP processing and HMC production. Mining in the current area will be completed shortly, and mining activity will move to a new area on the eastern side of the orebody in February when normal haul distances will be re-established and a return to night-time mining is planned.Ore processed decreased 6% to 895,435 tonnes, reflecting downtime at the Mine Feed Unit (MFU) until equipment reliability issues were substantially resolved and a planned shutdown (circa 4 days) for the tieins for the WCP Optimisation Project was completed.As previously reported, the MFU has experienced reliability issues with the low profile feeder, screen and trommel, resulting in ongoing excessive MFU downtime. This also impacted costs in the December quarter, with repairs to equipment and also the need to use supplementary mobile feeder equipment to supply ore to the trommel. However, as noted above, mining is scheduled to move to the eastern side of the Keysbrook orebodyin February, and instead of relocating the existing MFU as originally planned, a proven alternative mobile integrated feeder/screening unit will be used at the new mining area.Since commissioning and processing commenced in late 2015, the operational focus has been on improving heavy mineral recovery both at the Keysbrook WCP and Doral's Picton MSP and in achieving long-term sustainable throughput rates.The improvement trend reported in prior quarters continued in the December quarter, during which the WCP Optimisation Project was successfully completed in late November, including commissioning of 48 large capacity spirals and uprated screening equipment. Consequently, record quarterly HMC production of 24,744 tonnes was achieved, despite MFU reliability issues and a four-day shutdown at the WCP to tie-in new equipment installed as part of the Optimisation Project. Records for daily and monthly HMC production were also achieved in December.As reported in the period, following commissioning of the new spirals and screening equipment, the WCP achieved the important Design Performance milestone with respect to HMC recovery and grade over a fourday test run at design throughput levels.Notably, HMC recovery levels circa two per cent above design have already been shown to be possible, and the Company is now focused on continuous improvement in pursuit of sustained higher level performance.Improved WCP production contributed to an 8% increase in HMC processed at the Picton MSP to 22,932 tonnes, compared with 21,161 tonnes in the prior quarter. Significantly, improved HMC production at Keysbrook contributed to a 17% increase in total saleable production at the Picton MSP to 15,636 tonnes for the quarter, up from 13,378 tonnes in the prior quarter. This included record L88 production of 8,194 tonnes, an increase of 21% from 6,748 tonnes, a 22% increase in L70 production to 3,640 tonne and a 4% increase in zircon concentrate production to 3,802 tonnes.SalesFinal product sales for the quarter totalled 10,166 tonnes, compared with 10,061 tonnes in the prior quarter, comprising 6,243 tonnes of L88 and 3,923 tonnes of zircon concentrate. Congestion at Bunbury Port delayed an additional 6,500 tonne shipment of L70 previously scheduled to depart in December by approximately two weeks to 2 January 2017.Sales revenue booked in the quarter totalled $7.0 million, with cash received from sales in the quarter totalling $7.5 million (prior quarter sales revenue $6.8 million, cash receipts $17.3 million).Mineral Sands MarketMineral sands products such as rutile and leucoxene contain titanium dioxide (TiO2), which is primarily used in the manufacture of pigments for paints, plastics, paper, inks and coatings. TiO2 is also used to produce titanium metal which is most commonly associated with aerospace and other specialist applications. Zircon is a major component in ceramics used to manufacture tiles and bathroom furniture and is also used in specialty chemicals, precision castings, zirconium metal and special refractories. Consequently, the mineral sands market is closely aligned with global economic growth and urbanisation.The mineral sands market showed further signs of improvement during the December quarter as pigment producers continued to recover from the severe downturn of recent years. Pigment producers are now seeing improvement in both volume and price, which is depleting inventory. Importantly, Chinese producers have been most aggressive announcing 13 rounds of price increases in 2016. Major non-Chinese pigment producers have also announced a further pigment price increase effective early in 2017 following price increases achieved in 2016.Another strong northern hemisphere painting season would place considerable upward pressure on high TiO2 feedstock prices in 2017. The outlook for zircon, however, remains mixed with growth in demand being reported in western economies while Chinese demand remains subdued pending recovery in the building and construction sector. Whilst the Chinese real estate market has performed strongly in recent times, this has been largely driven by demand for existing dwellings in major cities rather than new construction.Sentiment remains positive that the mineral sands market cycle has moved through the bottom as the reduction in feedstock supply starts to affect inventory and demand.Importantly for MZI, demand for chloride pigment has resulted in reducing inventory levels and put upward price pressure on high-TiO2 feedstock such as rutile and leucoxene. In response to stronger demand, chloride pigment producers are expected to increase production by either restarting idled capacity or utilising higher grade feedstock to increase yield, which will be positive for existing feedstock producers. There is now also considerable effort in China to expand chloride pigment capacity which will further increase the demand for feedstock.Flat conditions in China's building and construction sector have been driving negative sentiment in the Chinese zircon and TiO2 coatings sector despite fresh government stimulus to help rebuild soft consumer confidence. The zircon price showed a modest increase during the December quarter with further upside expected in 2017 as zircon producers have continued to limit production to ensure the market is not oversupplied.MZI is heavily weighted to the TiO2 market with 70% to 75% of annual revenue from leucoxene sales.Health, Safety and EnvironmentThere were no Lost Time Injuries during the reporting period, and the Company-wide rolling 12-month Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (per 1 million hours worked) was 32.7 at the close of the period. Proactive reporting of potential hazards by employees continued during the period, providing a strong platform for the reduction of the risk of harm, damage or loss.During the December Quarter, the Company continued to systematically implement a range of noise monitoring, management and abatement initiatives at Keysbrook to further understand and improve its noise footprint. These actions included refinement of the adaptive noise management approach, deployment of additional monitoring equipment, fully enclosing the WCP and installing noise cladding on individual items of equipment. In addition, mining was temporarily ceased at night time at the current location. The Company's requested review of its approved noise conditions was granted in December and MZI continues to work with the relevant regulatory authorities and stakeholders.The progressive rehabilitation of mined areas at the Keysbrook Operations continued during the period, with successful re-establishment of pasture being achieved on rehabilitated areas.CommunityThe Company hosted a Mine Open Day on Saturday 12 November to mark the first year of operations and invited the local community and employees' families to attend. Approximately 350 people toured the operations which showcased the mining fleet in operation, a walking tour inside the wet concentrator plant, a first-hand view of newly rehabilitated pastoral land and participation by a number of local suppliers, including the Serpentine Lions Club, the Peel Zoo and the Serpentine Food and Farm Alliance. It was a very successful event with positive feedback received throughout the day.Community partnership commitments continued with support given to a number of local initiatives and events.Community engagement activities for the quarter included the annual Community Briefing held at the North Dandalup Hall in October, and communications to key stakeholders regarding the scheduled move to a new mining area in the March quarter. MZI's Keysbrook Community Consultative Group meeting was held on 7 December. As the Keysbrook Project has now transitioned to full operations, future meetings will be held on a quarterly basis.Geology and Regional ExplorationActivities for the quarter were focused on compilation of data to enable a revised resource estimate for the Keysbrook Deposit which is expected to be completed during the March quarter 2017.To view tables and figures, please visit:http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/4322UGW3 MZI Resources Ltd. (ASX:MZI) is a mineral sands producer focused on the high value minerals of zircon and leucoxene, and owns the newly commissioned Keysbrook Mineral Sands Mine, 70 km south of Perth in Western Australia.Development of Keysbrook was completed ahead of schedule and within budget in October 2015, and completed its first shipment of zircon concentrate in December 2015. Keysbrook is designed to produce approximately 96,000 tonnes of zircon concentrate and leucoxene annually, with over 85% of all planned production committed under offtake contracts with blue chip international customers.Steve Ward Managing DirectorT: +61-8-9328-9800E: admin@mzi.com.au www.mzi.com.au
TSX-V Symbol (DMI)

KELOWNA, BC, Jan. 18, 2017 /CNW/ - Diamcor Mining Inc. (TSX-V.DMI / OTCQX-DMIFF), (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the installation of additional operational equipment and expansions underway at the Company's Krone-Endora at Venetia Project (the "Project") have been completed, and all items are now operational. The additional operating equipment and expansions undertaken were aimed at supporting initial processing volume increases, allowing the Company to incorporate the crushing and processing of material up to 45mm, establish a dedicated large diamond recovery circuit, and increase the capacity of the Project's final recovery and sorting facilities for the long-term. Work on these various objectives commenced during the previous quarter as announced on November 2, 2016, and with the majority of the items finalized by the end of the year, final testing and calibration was able to be completed early in the New Year. Initial testing of the new facilities has demonstrated their ability to meet or exceed the Company's expectations with regards to targeted initial increases in processing volumes of up to ~100%, the processing of all material from 1.0mm to 45.0mm, and the potential for yet additional capacity and operational efficiencies in the long-term.

A summary of the equipment acquired and the expansions completed during the quarter ending December 31, 2016, along with their potential benefits moving forward is as follows:

The Company received final approval for, and completed the installation of, four additional water boreholes and the required pipelines for each. These additions increase the total number of operational boreholes/pipelines established at the Project to seven, and are aimed at supporting both the short and long-term needs of the Project.





The installation of a crushing circuit at the Project's in-field dry-screening plant was completed. Previous efforts aimed at the development of the dry-screening plant focused on achieving high volume screening to remove fine material under 1.0mm in size without the use of water. During these exercises the Company primarily processed material in the +1.0mm to -15.0mm size fractions, with material in the +15.0mm to -45.0mm size fractions largely stockpiled. The main objective of the new crushing circuit installed is to liberate diamonds from the calcretized material typical of the higher-grade lower basal portion of the deposit, and allow for the simultaneous treatment of all screened material from 1.0mm to 45.0mm which can then be transported to the main treatment plant for processing moving forward.





The Company completed the installation of a significantly larger dense media separation (DMS) plant at the Project's main treatment facilities. This is aimed at supporting initial processing volume increases of ~100%, with the potential for additional increases over the long-term. The upgrading of various screening components, material handling systems, and water recovery systems was also completed, along with the establishment of a dedicated larger material circuit for the treatment of material up to 45.0mm in size. Collectively, all elements are designed to enhance automation and operational efficiencies for the long-term.





As part of the expansion efforts, a significantly larger final recovery and sorting facility was installed at the Project. The expanded final recovery facilities include the addition of four new x-ray diamond recovery units to supplement the Project's existing x-ray units, an expanded secondary recovery system, a dedicated large diamond recovery circuit, and the expansion and further automation of the Project's sorting facilities. The new facilities are expected to support not only the Company's short-term targeted increases in processing volumes, but will also facilitate potential expansion in the long-term

With the installation, commissioning, and calibration of the upgrades complete, the Company is targeting initial processing volume increases of up to ~100% over previous capacities, and the treatment of all material from 1.0mm to 45.0mm moving forward. These elevated processing levels are designed to facilitate additional expanded trial-mining exercises which are aimed at allowing the Company to arrive at initial production decisions for the Project in the near term.

THIRD FISCAL QUARTER ROUGH DIAMOND TENDER AND SALES UPDATE

The Company is also pleased to announce the results of rough diamonds delivered, tendered, and sold in the Company's fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2016 at the Project:

4,093.01 carats sold for USD$558,758.55 in November tender

5,342.40 carats sold for USD$624,925.95 in December tenders

9,435.41 carats in total sold for USD$1,183,684.50 in third fiscal quarter

In an initial tender and sale completed in November, 2016, the Company sold 4,093.01 carats of rough diamonds, for gross proceeds of USD $558,758.55, resulting in an average price of USD $136.51 per carat. In tenders and sales completed in December 2016, the Company sold 5,342.40 carats of rough diamonds, for gross proceeds of USD $624,925.95, resulting in an average price of USD $116.97 per carat. The combined rough diamonds tendered and sold during the current fiscal quarter were 9,435.41 carats, generating gross proceeds of USD $1,183,684.50, resulting in an average price of USD $125.45 per carat. The price per carat realized during the tenders and sales completed during the period continued to reflect price weaknesses in certain categories of rough diamonds, with additional weaknesses experienced in the prices of smaller goods in December due to widely reported currency issues in India during the period.

Total rough diamonds delivered, tendered, and sold in the Company's third fiscal quarter was comparable to the 9,469.34 carats tendered and sold in the Company's third fiscal quarter for the same period during the prior fiscal year, despite the fact the Company was engaged in significant operational expansion and upgrades during the current quarter. Rough diamonds tendered were the result of processing material in the +1.0mm to -15mm size fractions, along with limited processing of material from larger size fractions during the period. The combined efforts currently underway are designed to support the continued advancement of objectives consistent with the recommendations of the updated NI 43-101 Technical Report ("Updated Technical Report") filed by the Company on April 28, 2015, and to aid the Company in arriving at initial production decisions for the Project. The recovery of all rough diamonds to date are incidental to the ongoing commissioning and testing exercises performed at the Project. The above-noted testing exercises and incidental recoveries do not form part of the Updated Technical Report and therefore no general grade, price, or quality determination is intended by the Company at this time due to the nature and purpose of the processing of this material.

About Diamcor Mining Inc.

Diamcor Mining Inc. is a fully reporting publically traded junior diamond mining company which is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol V.DMI, and on the OTC QX International under the symbol DMIFF. The Company has a well-established operational and production history in South Africa and extensive prior experience supplying rough diamonds to the world market.

About the Tiffany & Co. Alliance

The Company has established a long-term strategic alliance and first right of refusal with Tiffany & Co. Canada, a subsidiary of world famous New York based Tiffany & Co., to purchase up to 100% of the future production of rough diamonds from the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project at then current prices to be determined by the parties on an ongoing basis. In conjunction with this first right of refusal, Tiffany & Co. Canada also provided the Company with financing to advance the Project. Tiffany & Co. is a publically traded company which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TIF. For additional information on Tiffany & Co., please visit their website at www.tiffany.com.

About Krone-Endora at Venetia

In February 2011, Diamcor acquired the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, consisting of the prospecting rights over the farms Krone 104 and Endora 66, which represent a combined surface area of approximately 5,888 hectares directly adjacent to De Beers' flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. On September 11, 2014, the Company announced that the South African Department of Mineral Resources had granted a Mining Right for the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project encompassing 657.71 hectares of the Project's total area of 5,888 hectares. The Company has also submitted an application for a mining right over the remaining areas of the Project. The deposits which occur on the properties of Krone and Endora have been identified as a higher-grade "Alluvial" basal deposit which is covered by a lower-grade upper "Eluvial" deposit. The deposits are proposed to be the result of the direct-shift (in respect to the "Eluvial" deposit) and erosion (in respect to the "Alluvial" deposit) of material from the higher grounds of the adjacent Venetia Kimberlite areas. The deposits on Krone-Endora occur in two layers with a maximum total depth of approximately 15.0 metres from surface to bedrock, allowing for a very low-cost mining operation to be employed with the potential for near-term diamond production from a known high-quality source. Krone-Endora also benefits from the significant development of infrastructure and services already in place due to its location directly adjacent to the Venetia Mine.

Qualified Person Statement:

Mr. James P. Hawkins (B.Sc., P.Geo.), is Manager of Exploration & Special Projects for Diamcor Mining Inc., and the Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 responsible for overseeing the execution of Diamcor's exploration programmes and a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta ("APEGA"). Mr. Hawkins has reviewed this press release and approved of its contents.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Mr. Dean H. Taylor

President & CEO

Diamcor Mining Inc.

DTaylor@diamcormining.com

Tel (250) 864-3326

www.diamcormining.com

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements represent our best current judgement, they are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict and which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Further, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

WE SEEK SAFE HARBOUR

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Diamcor Mining Inc.
TSX-V: CLZ

www.canasil.com

VANCOUVER, Jan. 18, 2017 /CNW/ - Canasil Resources Inc. (TSX-V: CLZ, DB Frankfurt: 3CC, "Canasil") announces that the Company has completed the first hole, ES-16-12, of the 2016-17 core drilling program at the La Esperanza silver-lead-zinc project in Durango and Zacatecas States, Mexico. The hole was drilled to a downhole depth of 394.5 metres. This hole intersected an extended interval from 345 metres to 391 metres down hole, carrying banded quartz veins, veinlets and breccias hosted within fractured and brecciated volcanic rocks. Base metal sulphides including sphalerite, galena, and chalcopyrite have been noted. The core is being logged and prepared for assaying to determine base metal and possible silver content.

A second drill hole, ES-17-13, is now in progress. It is a step-out, collared 90 metres northwest of ES-16-12 along strike, and targeted to intersect the vein structure at a similar depth. The initial 2016-17 drill program is planned for 1,500 to 2,000 metres of core drilling in 4 or 5 drill holes.

Drill hole ES-16-12 was targeted to intersect the main La Esperanza vein approximately 75 metres below a previous drill hole, ES-12-03, which intersected a 10-metre structure at 266 metres down hole carrying a mineralized interval returning 189 g/t silver, 5.20% zinc and 2.22% lead over a true width of 3.24 metres, including 278 g/t silver, 5.8% zinc and 2.8% lead over a true width of 1.92 metres (reported in the news release dated February 22, 2012).

About La Esperanza

The La Esperanza silver-lead-zinc project covers 14,916 hectares, located 100 km SSE of the city of Durango on the border between Durango and Zacatecas States. The project site is easily accessible from Canasil's operating base in Durango with excellent infrastructure. The project location in southern Durango and northern Zacatecas States is on the well-recognized world class Fresnillo silver belt, hosting a number of prominent silver mines such as San Martin-Sabinas mines of Grupo Mexico and Penoles, the La Colorada mine of Pan American Silver and La Parrilla and Del Toro mines of First Majestic Silver Corp. and Fresnillo Plc's Fresnillo mine.

A series of silver-lead-zinc epithermal veins are observed over a northwest-southeast striking zone extending over approximately 20 kilometres hosted in the Lower Volcanic Group. Mineralization occurs in low to intermediate sulphidation veins, primarily striking northwest and dipping southwest. The main La Esperanza vein is a banded and cockade white to grey quartz breccia epithermal vein with silver, lead and zinc mineralization associated with argentiferous galena, silver sulfosalt minerals and sphalerite. Past drilling on this vein was focused along an approximate strike length of 250 metres and to a relatively shallow depth of approximately 250 metres and returned consistent high-grade silver-lead-zinc intercepts from the main La Esperanza vein and an associated Hanging Wall vein at the upper levels. The average true width of intercepts from 8 drill holes on the main La Esperanza vein was 4.21 metres returning 330 g/t silver, 0.93% zinc and 1.57% lead. The average true width of drill intercepts from 5 drill holes which intersected the Hanging Wall vein was 1.53 metres returning 324 g/t silver, 1.37% zinc and 1.80% lead (details listed under the La Esperanza project profile on the Company's website www.canasil.com, and previously reported in the news release dated November 6, 2006).

The technical information herein has been reviewed and approved by J. Blackwell (P. Geo.), a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Blackwell is a technical advisor to Canasil.

About Canasil:

Canasil is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a strong portfolio of 100% owned silver-gold-copper-lead-zinc projects in Durango and Zacatecas States, Mexico, and in British Columbia, Canada. The Company's directors and management include industry professionals with a track record of identifying and advancing successful mineral exploration projects through to discovery and further development. The Company is actively engaged in the exploration of its mineral properties, and maintains an operating subsidiary in Durango, Mexico, with full time geological and support staff for its operations in Mexico.

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 news release.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward looking statements, including statements that address future mineral production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in commodities prices, exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. The reader is referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for disclosure regarding these and other risk factors. There is no certainty that any forward looking statement will come to pass and investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Canasil Resources Inc.
VANCOUVER, Jan. 18, 2017 /CNW/ - Trilogy Metals Inc. (TSX, NYSE-MKT: TMQ) ("Trilogy Metals" or the "Company") announces that the management team will be attending the following investor and mining conferences in January. Come meet the management team and learn more about our high-grade copper, zinc and precious metals projects located in one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world  Alaska.

Global Chinese Financial Forum  January 21, 2017

GCFF Vancouver 2017 will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton Vancouver Airport, Richmond, British Columbia on January 21, 2017. The conference will be focused on the recovering resource sector and offer networking opportunities with company executives. Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President and Chief Executive Officer will be presenting.

Vancouver Resource Investment Conference  January 22-23, 2017

The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre West on January 22 and 23, 2017. VRIC Cambridge House conference is the world's largest resource investment conference dedicated to resource exploration. Our CEO will be presenting on Sunday, January 22, 2017, at 11:30am Pacific Time. Rick and members of the management team will be at Booth 517.

Association for Mineral Exploration BC Roundup Conference  January 23-26, 2017

AME Roundup 2017 will be held under the sails at Canada Place on January 23 to 26, 2017. Roundup is the world's premier technical mineral exploration conference. Our CEO will be presenting at the BC/Yukon/Alaska Technical Session on Thursday, January 26, 2017, from 9:00am to 12:00pm Pacific Time. Rick will focus on how our Company has advanced our projects in northern Alaska by building strong partnerships with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. (NANA), the local native corporation, and with the State of Alaska through the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). Trilogy Metals will also be participating in the Roundup Core Shack on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and on Thursday, January 26, 2017, from 9:00am to 2:30pm. Come visit our exploration team at Booth 921 and view drill core from the 2016 drill program at the polymetallic VMS Arctic deposit, as well as drill core from the carbonate-hosted copper replacement Bornite deposit.

About Trilogy Metals

Trilogy Metals Inc., formerly NovaCopper Inc. is a metals exploration company focused on exploring and developing the Ambler mining district located in northwestern Alaska. It is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic VMS deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high-grade copper mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate-hosted copper replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within the Company's land package that spans approximately 143,000 hectares. The Company has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., a Regional Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a premier North American copper producer.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including but not limited to anticipated activities at the UKMP, and achieving a pre-feasibility level of study at some point in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the uncertainties involving the need for additional financing to explore and develop properties and availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the development and operation of properties and infrastructure; the need to obtain permits and governmental approvals; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, metal grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2015 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other NovaCopper reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc.
Gov. Gina Raimondo called for new focus on manufacturing jobs Tuesday night in a State of the State address that centered on expanding opportunities for the state's middle class through job creation and job training.In her third address to the General Assembly, Raimondo referenced a forthcoming plan to "rebuild and reinvent" the state's manufacturing industry -- hearkening back to a campaign promise she made in 2014 and retelling the story of her late father who lost his job at the former Bulova watch factory when work was shipped overseas.Raimondo said the state's economy, business climate and workforce have all become stronger, but state leaders have missed opportunities to rebuild the manufacturing industry. They "sat back on a simple hope that jobs like my dad's would come back; that the factories would miraculously reopen," she said.The address was a precursor to the governor's 2018 budget proposal, which will be released Thursday. That budget will include money for manufacturing training in high schools. It will also support equipment investments and workforce training for companies, she said.Just how much money is involved in the plan and how it would be distributed isn't yet clear. The governor has repeatedly named increasing manufacturing jobs as a priority -- one that was also mentioned in last year's State of the State address. To date under the Raimondo administration at least two manufacturers -- Finlay Extracts and Ingredients USA and Greystone of Lincoln -- have received state incentives.Raimondo, a Democrat, largely directed her speech at a blue-collar middle-class population holding high school diplomas but struggling to find jobs -- the same nationwide voter base credited with electing Republican Donald Trump as president."We need to realize that our economy has changed in ways that are causing real challenges. How we meet those challenges will determine our future," Raimondo said, promising to deliver a budget that "protects and expands" job training programs.She also showed a willingness to work with the General Assembly's progressive Democrats, saying it's time for the state to pass an earned sick leave law. The issue was one of several the progressive wing outlined last week in their "fair shot" agenda.Other forthcoming budget proposals referenced included "funding to support recovery housing for Rhode Islanders struggling with addiction," a hike in the minimum wage from $9.60 an hour to $10.50 an hour, and a raise -- for the second consecutive year -- for direct care workers.Raimondo also plugged her recently announced plan for two years of free tuition at the state's public colleges for in-state students. Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed called the governor's plan an "innovative approach" that she welcomes.In an acerbic response to the address, House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan was critical of the tuition plan, saying no amount of free tuition will stop the 25-to-45 age demographic from leaving the state. Morgan also downplayed many of the economic accomplishments Raimondo touted in her address, including the addition of roughly 200 jobs combined from GE Digital and Johnson & Johnson, saying too much money has been given to companies that have promised "too few" jobs.As for common ground with House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, the governor said -- as expected -- that she agrees cutting the car tax should be a priority. The budget will include Raimondo's plan to slash the tax by at least 30 percent while Mattiello hopes to eliminate it entirely over five years.After her remarks, Mattiello said he intends to go forward with his more aggressive approach."I appreciate the governor's moving in the right direction, but I don't know if it will go far enough to satisfy the citizens of the state.... I intend to go forward with it unless the citizens tell me otherwise," he said.Raimondo also used the platform to address brewing fears that civil rights could become a point of contention in the Trump administration."When we're confronted by uncertainty, we hold to our founding covenant: That there's a place here for everyone. There's a place here no matter your race, your creed, your gender, where you're from or who you love," she said.
Gov. Phil Bryant in his sixth State-of-the-State Address vowed that blue lives matter and taxpayers are sovereign and said continued improvements to the states troubled foster-care system will be my top priority.Bryants address focused on familiar themes from recent and years-past speeches and on goals he outlined in his recent budget proposal to the Legislature. The governor touted education-reform and economic development successes and chided self-appointed education advocates and creators of fake news who say public education or state finances are in the dumps.In his address before a joint assembly of the House and Senate and other state leaders, Bryant quoted President-Elect Donald Trump  drain the swamp; William Faulkner  Mississippi did more than just endure, we prevailed; the Old Testament  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves . and the Rolling Stones  You cant always get what you want, but you get what you need. He called on lawmakers to stash more money away for rainy days, and for naysayers to quit nay-saying and making fake news about the state budget.
As the divided Congress stammers and stalls over almost every significant issue, cities are often forced to innovate and take matters into their own hands on topics formerly considered to be almost totally within the scope of federal responsibility.Perhaps the most interesting of these issues is the debate around the minimum wage. Originally based on the Fair Labor Standards Act passed in 1938, the first minimum wage was $.25 per hour. Today, the hourly rate for most of the lower 48 states is $7.25, which has not been adjusted since 2009. Most calculations agree that, had the wage kept up with inflation, it would be now be $10.90.The present rate will barely provide a poverty-level existence for a single individual employed full time, never mind a family. As all efforts to increase the basic national rate have been strenuously and (so far) successfully rebuffed, the responsibility has fallen to cities and states to try to make things more balanced and responsive to todays realities.As of December 2013, according to a Pew report, 19 states plus the District of Columbia have set their own minimum wages, ranging from $7.35 in Missouri to $9.19 in the state of Washington. Cities have been active as well. Among the more prominent: New York at $8.00 and San Francisco at $10.74.More recently, Seattle has been the focus of much national attention on the minimum wage debate. Kshama Sawant, a well-educated young political activist and avowed socialist, ran successfully in November 2013 for a seat on the Seattle City Council, promising to pursue a $15 minimum wage. Last year, SeaTac, the small municipality that surrounds the airport serving Seattle and Tacoma, narrowly passed a referendum raising the minimum wage to $15. Sawant, in her new capacity on the Seattle Council, set about to achieve the same result for the larger city of Seattle.In May 2014 she essentially achieved her goal when Seattle Mayor Ed Murray brokered a compromise that would raise the rate over time to $15  though Sawant was unhappy with the final product that gave additional time to large employers. In an act of political purity rarely seen today, Sawant was the only holdout on the council refusing to sign on to the final version of the ordinance that reflected her own initiative. Subsequently, two business coalitions unsuccessfully sought to collect sufficient signatures on a petition to force a referendum on the matter.Meanwhile, San Diego is in the middle of a similar political dogfight. On August 1, the City Council established a graduated rate, which will increase the minimum wage to $9.75 on Jan 1, 2015, and to $11.55 by 2017. The plan is that the wage will be adjusted by inflation after 2019. The ordinance was subsequently vetoed by Mayor Kevin Faulconer on August 8, followed by an override of that veto on August 18 by the City Council. Now, much like in Seattle, the San Diego Small Business Coalition has announced plans to try and secure over 30,000 signatures on a petition within the required 30 days to subject the issue to a referendum. We shall soon see whether that effort is successful.As the debate and countervailing political winds push the issue to the left and right, it is apparent that few can take comfort in our present circumstances. Failure to act in a timely manner on a national measure has left us with two levels of minimum wage: the legal limit set by statute and a second de facto wage that more accurately reflects the actualities of the market. In many cities, the $7.25 minimum wage serves as little more than a very low benchmark  a reference point for discussing the state of the local economy.Recently, one of our local Chattanooga television stations conducted "man on the street" interviews for the evening news. I watched as the reporter interviewed a number of our citizens on the question of raising the minimum wage. Of course, the responses covered the full range of opinions from a very hopeful "yes" to a very concerned "absolutely not." This being a rather conservative part of the country, I was not surprised to hear more than a few respondents express a belief that raising the rate would be hard on small business.I soon saw the face of a young contractor I happened to know quite well. I had been one of his first customers when he started a small HVAC company and I knew him to be an ethical and fiscally conservative businessman. I also knew he had to watch his expenses carefully as any small business owner does. However, when asked how a higher minimum wage might affect his business, he replied he would be embarrassed to pay his employees minimum wage for the work they do. I couldnt wait to see him again so I could tell him how proud I was of him and his philosophy.The battle is still raging and promises to go on for some time yet to come. In those communities that have taken action on their own, some employers have reacted by reducing jobs and benefits. Others have absorbed the higher rate and moved on. The jury is still out on the ultimate effect on the greater economy.So why is all this important to city innovation, particularly as it relates to poverty?In any consideration of poverty and income disparity, it is practically impossible to carry on a conversation without reference at some point to the uniform minimum wage. As that basic minimum standard becomes less uniform, cities are forced to establish their own micro economies that might put them at a further disadvantage to their suburban neighbors. Thus, an already complex situation (dealing with urban poverty) becomes even more challenging and unmanageable.The City Accelerator offers an unprecedented opportunity for leading-edge cities to learn from one another and act in concert on common problems. Raising the level of debate on basic issues such as the federal minimum wage just might jar the deadlocked Congress into action and move us all toward a more desirable future.
Gov. Susana Martinez opened the last 60-day legislative session of her tenure on Tuesday by asking New Mexico lawmakers to embrace bipartisan solutions -- as they have in the past, she said -- to shore up the state's flagging budget and promote economic growth.But the Republican governor didn't back away from her demand that the Legislature -- Democrats now control both chambers -- avoid increasing taxes to balance the budget."We've met challenges before in a bipartisan manner, and we can do it again," Martinez said in her annual State of the State address, which clocked in at 43 minutes. "But it will take courage."State Sen. Joseph Cervantes, a Las Cruces Democrat and potential 2018 candidate for governor, said Democrats are "prepared to meet her halfway." But the governor's call for bipartisanship is about six years late, he said.The start of the session Tuesday comes as New Mexico continues to face incredible challenges -- including the second highest rate of unemployment in the nation and a budget squeezed by falling oil and natural gas prices. The governor and lawmakers must address not only this year's budget but also agree on a spending plan for next year.Cash reserves have been nearly wiped out, and the state's top bond rating was downgraded.Martinez urged lawmakers to focus on the budget and work together to craft a solution that attracts support from both Democrats and Republicans, as they have previously on tax cuts and pension reform."These weren't wins for the governor or the Legislature -- or Republicans or just Democrats -- these were big wins for New Mexicans," Martinez said.Her tone on Tuesday wasn't as combative as it was last week -- when she described a legislative budget plan as a "cop out" -- but the substance of her proposals hasn't changed.She renewed her push on Tuesday for reinstatement of the death penalty for people who kill police officers or children and tougher criminal penalties in general, including a "three-strikes bill" targeting repeat offenders.Martinez also asked lawmakers -- once again -- to pass legislation requiring some third-graders who can't read proficiently to repeat the grade. Martinez noted that Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama oppose "social promotion," and she jokingly offered to name the bill after them.Democrats didn't sound inclined to embrace ideas they've rejected in the past. Cervantes told reporters that the state needs to do more to encourage great teachers to enter or stay in the profession, not focus on social promotion.And, he said, last year's election results -- when Democrats retook the House and expanded their majority in the Senate -- show voters are ready for change. Democrats will propose solutions focused on growing the economy and creating jobs, he said."The state of our state is unacceptable," Cervantes said. "This session, legislators will begin to tackle those challenges and the plans that we need to undertake to balance the budget and make sure it's a meaningful and longterm plan."Martinez, in turn, highlighted some recent successes. Graduation rates hit a record high, she said, and the state succeeded in attracting investment from FedEx and Facebook, which is building a data center in Los Lunas."When we put political parties aside," Martinez said, "we get a lot done."She urged lawmakers to agree to consolidate state agencies to save money and to focus their capital spending on projects that make a difference, not small, frivolous expenses.Legislators should also disclosure their clients, Martinez said."New Mexicans deserve to know if officials are making decisions on behalf of voters or on behalf of undisclosed clients," she said.But she and others at the Roundhouse returned repeatedly to the task of fixing the state budget for this year and next.Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, warned senators Tuesday that he expected them to be back in the chambers within 30 minutes of the end of the State of the State address, and when they did come back, he urged them to read through the budget proposals immediately. Budget solvency bills could be debated on the Senate floor as early as Wednesday night, he said."We've got an immediate budget crisis," Wirth said. "The plan is to get right to work."
Description

GIS  18 January, 2017: A National Consultation meeting on the creation of a Regional e-Governance Academy in Mauritius, which will help advance the digital culture across communities and within the region, was held yesterday at the Voila Hotel, in Bagatelle.

In his address at the event, the Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Etienne Sinatambou, indicated that the Academy, which will be based on the Estonian model, would enhance the quality of life of citizens through innovative technologies by providing personalised and efficient government services.

The Minister pointed out that given the expertise of Estonia in the digital governance domain and the position of Mauritius as a leader on the African continent, our country can play a leading role in the region so as to promote the emergence of a robust, efficient and reliable e-Governance platform.

The National Consultation was organised at the initiative of the Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation (MTCI), in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the e-Governance Academy (eGA) of the Republic of Estonia. The aim was to examine various aspects regarding project implementation, discuss the provision of a training of trainers of IOC Member States, and make recommendations.

A delegation from the eGA, along with other stakeholders, participated in the event. The eGA delegation will be in Mauritius till 20 January 2017 to provide technical assistance and lead activities for capacity-building on digital governance. Several other aspects related to the Academy project, including the design of study programmes, and knowledge transfer will also be discussed.

It is recalled that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Estonian Government in September 2015 in the area of e-Governance which provides for the setting up of a Regional e-Governance Academy.

The Estonian model is privileged for the Academy given that Estonia is a leading country in the field of e-governance infrastructure and digital services in the European Union.

The setting up of a Regional e-Governance Academy falls also in line with the MTCIs e-Government Strategy which includes recommendations for a more effective, secured and efficient delivery of Government services to citizens and businesses. Over the past years, Government has invested heavily in the competitiveness of different Ministries and departments to improve productivity and enhance efficiency of service delivery to citizens and the business community.
Description

GIS  18 January 2017: The Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Mr Anil Gayan, urged the 120 newly qualified doctors enlisted as pre-registration house officers to embrace the challenge of super-specialisation, which is considered as the medicine of the future.

The appeal was made today at a one-day induction course for pre-registration house officers held at Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in Bell-Village. Pre-registration house officers refer to medical graduates who have completed their medical degree and are undertaking an 18-month internship in local hospital setup, following an entry examination. Participants were given an overview of the local health sector and apprised of their duties and responsibilities as doctors.

According to the Minister, the level of treatment in Mauritius has reached a plateau of development. He hence put forward the imperative for the new doctors to reach a higher level in other disciplines such as neurosurgery, orthopaedics, and oncology, similar to that achieved by the cardiac centre. This will contribute to achieve Governments vision of making Mauritius a centre of excellence for treatment of patients, both at the local and regional level, he said.

The Minister called on the pre-registration house officers to acquire higher standards of scholarship, learning and professionalism taking into account the fact that they have the talents, knowledge and intelligence to match those of any foreign consultant. He reminded the officers that apart from practising as doctors, there were other avenues in their careers such as teaching and academia, research and clinical trials.

With regard to the future of medicine for Mauritius, Mr Gayan pointed out that prevention and primary care will be key features while highlighting that personalised medical technology will transform the practice of medicine in the years to come. With the upcoming e-health initiative, relevant data will be fed into health records, thereby contributing to better health outcomes, he said. He stressed the need to re-think the medical curriculum to prepare physicians for the digital health open platform.

The objective of pre-registration training is to enable medical graduates acquire the necessary skills in various specialities, under the supervision of experienced consultants and specialists, with a view to enabling them to function independently. Upon the completion of the internship, the medical graduates will be required to sit for an examination carried out by the Board of Examinations of India.
One mans innovation ...

Where It's Done California Innovation Lab

Government entity: California

Director: Scott Gregory

Launched: July 2016

Examples of projects: Green Buyer, SmartFLEET

Website: innovate.ca.gov



PGH Lab

Government entity: Pittsburgh

Director: Debra Lam

Launched: August 2016

Examples of projects: Pilots with startups HiberSense, TransitSource and Renerge Inc.

Website: pittsburghpa.gov/innovation-performance/pghlab/index.html



Montgomery County Innovation Program

Government entity: Montgomery County, Md.

Director: Dan Hoffman

Launched: October 2012

Examples of projects: Autism Communication and Technology Pilot, the Safe Community Alert Network

Website: mcinnovationlab.com



imaginarium

Government entity: Denver Public Schools

Director: Peter Piccolo

Launched: July 2015

Examples of projects: Virtual reality tours, mobile maker cart

Website: imaginarium.dpsk12.org







Different missions, different goals

Picking winners

Ask a technology executive what innovation means and you probably wont get a fast, succinct or even very useful answer. Innovation is one of those things thats hard to define, but you know it when you see it.Nevertheless, government has started to experiment with innovation labs. While there seems to be no hard data, most observers say the trend is growing. And its happening at all levels of government: state, county, municipal and even school districts. But the concept of an innovation lab  a place where risky, out-of-the-box ideas are given space to grow, succeed and sometimes fail  is at odds with traditional government operations. Government likes clearly defined missions and measurable goals. Because its responsible for spending taxpayer dollars wisely, it shies away from risky ventures. This all makes running an innovation lab within government a tricky prospect.To explore how governments are handling the challenge,looked at four labs at various government levels. Each has a different model, a different goal and different sources of funding. Each uses different criteria to select projects. Each measures success differently. The one thing they all have in common: Each is trying to push the limits of traditional government bureaucracy by infusing their organizations with fresh ideas and a greater willingness to push the envelope.To begin with, government innovation labs struggle to figure out exactly what innovation is. That struggle affects how they operate and what they can, and cannot, do.Our innovation program has had to work hard to define what innovation is, said Dan Hoffman, chief innovation officer (CInO) of Montgomery County, Md., and director of the countys innovation program. After its launch in October 2012, Hoffman spent months meeting with other public-sector innovation officers around the country and found a wide disparity in their missions. Some had merely changed their titles to CInO for the coolness factor, yet the job had not changed. One CInOs idea of innovation was setting all of the printers to double-sided by default, said Hoffman.Most agree that innovation involves taking some kind of risk, but the degree varies dramatically. The California Innovation Lab creates space within the states private cloud ( CalCloud ) for programmers to experiment with developing Web applications using open source code.Its a place where people can come in, develop and fail, said Scott Gregory, state geographic information officer and director of the program. If they succeed, California will become more efficient in developing code that can be repurposed.At the other end of the spectrum is the imaginarium, an innovation lab launched last year by Denver Public Schools. Part of its reason for being is to counter traditional approaches to improving education, explained Peter Piccolo, director of innovation at the lab. My colleagues are making sure the trains go down the tracks while Im trying to build the rocketship, he said.Theres also a big difference in the amount of money that governments are willing to spend. Gregory couldnt put a number on the cost of his program, but it probably amounts to little added expense. The cost of provisioning space on CalCloud is low. There is also the cost of the manpower of the developers. Currently, any other expenses are coming out of the states enterprise IT fund, which already supports approved IT projects that are developed in the lab. But the program is brand new, and the state is still discussing how projects might be funded in the future, said Gregory.The imaginarium, on the other hand, is a big investment. It has a staff of 20 and a budget this year of almost $6 million, with about $3.8 million coming from the school district and $2 million from philanthropies, according to Piccolo.The Montgomery County lab operates on less than $1 million, about 80 percent of which comes from outside sources including federal grants and corporate sponsors, Hoffman said. Funds for his salary and supplies are provided by the county executives office. Departments within the county that are co-sponsoring innovation projects also kick in some funding. In addition to Hoffman, staffing varies from three to four people, with various interns and fellows coming and going.Each lab takes a different approach in terms of goals and projects. The mission of the imaginarium is to explore and create nontraditional learning experiences for students. It actually grew out of the failure of an earlier approach, Piccolo said. Five years ago, he and his colleagues would identify things they thought needed changing, then try to alter them.We realized over the span of several years that top-down innovation was not the best approach, he explained. So we basically flipped the paradigm to bottom-up.Nevertheless, he believes that the bureaucracy cannot help itself  its an uncontrollable organism that will smother innovation. He hopes the imaginarium can be a safe space for students, teachers and others in the education community to try new things. In that way, we are trying to plant seeds of innovation directly into the belly of the beast.The lab is structured and run like a consulting company, serving clients within the school district and helping to develop their ideas. In terms of selecting projects, the lab casts a broad net, but each project incorporates what Piccolo called student agency. In other words, students must have some influence on what they are learning and how, he said.One project is focusing on developing a mobile maker space. Most public schools do not have the space or funds to create maker spaces, in which kids can experiment with 3-D and other technologies. So this project puts 3-D printers and other equipment on a cart, similar to the roving computer carts schools use when they cant afford a laptop for every student. In another project, two guidance counselors developed a virtual-reality-based product that can give underprivileged students an economical and engaging way to experience job shadowing, visit colleges and explore careers.The PGH Lab , launched in August as a partnership between Pittsburgh and the citys nonprofit Urban Redevelopment Authority, aims to forge stronger connections with the local startup community.I get a lot of ideas from local startups. But under our [previous] structure there was no way to try out their products or services and provide feedback, said Debra Lam, chief innovation and performance officer for the city. We launched PGH Lab specifically for that purpose.Startups whose projects are approved test their product with the city for three months. They get a chance to learn how it works in a real-world environment. The city, in turn, gets plugged in to new technology developments that may be useful.Projects are chosen based on several criteria, including their extent of innovation and feasibility, as well as potential benefit for the city and its citizens. The first three startups began pilots in August and were expected to be completed by October. HiberSense is testing a network of sensors and smart vents for micro-zone climate control in the Urban Redevelopment Authoritys office. TransitSource has built a box that can be mounted on a bicycle to record close calls to help identify potentially dangerous spots in a city. It works with a cyclists smartphone to record location, time of day and other details, and sends them to a central database. The company is working with city transportation planners to show how the aggregated data might highlight problem areas and help them make better decisions on infrastructure improvements. Renerge Inc. has invented the Water Horse, a transportable piece of equipment that can generate electricity in a novel and environmentally sustainable way from rivers. It is working with the citys sustainability manager and small-business department.The most important aspect of each project, said Lam, is matching it with a city champion in an appropriate department that will ensure good communication between the innovators and Pittsburgh.The mission of Montgomery Countys lab is to explore new ideas, processes and technology to improve its citizens quality of life. Project ideas come from citizens, the County Council, companies and other outside sources such as universities. In addition, Hoffman is trying to build a mix of projects that will create an innovation ecosystem and inspire more ideas.Brandon Bedford is an innovation program specialist for Montgomery County, Md. Photo by David Kidd/Government TechnologyAt the same time, the lab had to develop criteria that would encourage innovation but screen out ideas that were not appropriate. As Montgomery County defined the kind of innovation it wanted, it developed three criteria by which to choose projects. We needed a very clear definition and criteria for what was innovation and what was not innovation, Hoffman said. First, it must be testable in a lean, iterative and entrepreneurial manner. Second, there must be potential to scale the idea if it proves successful. Third, it must be experimental and risky.Having operated for four years, the lab in Montgomery County now sponsors a wealth of projects. One of the most successful is its Safe Community Alert (SCALE) Network, a prototype showing how the Internet of Things (IoT) might help vulnerable populations. At a senior living facility, the project installed a network of sensors that could monitor things like smoke and carbon dioxide, as well as some facets of residents physical health, such as heart rate. The network transmits this sensor data to the cloud. If a problem is detected, the system dispatches an emergency response team.SCALE is a collaborative partnership between the county and researchers from the University of California, Irvine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with multiple vendors. The project received national attention when it was showcased at the SmartAmerica Challenge, an event sponsored by the White House Presidential Innovation Fellows program and the National Institute of Standards and Technology last year. SCALEs success led to the creation of an entire focus area specifically on the IoT, called the Thingstitute.The goal of Californias program is to encourage the use of open source software. Launched in July, it is the first major initiative by the states newly created Office of Digital Innovation and Technology Engagement. Employees pitch ideas, which must be approved by their manager and innovation program staff. Then a virtual machine is provisioned where the developers can build, test and deploy applications.The idea for the lab came partly from the states Green Gov Challenge , a code-a-thon in fall 2015 to inspire ideas for software to help California adopt more sustainable practices. Gregory and his staff had already been exploring how open source could benefit the state. While open source is commonly used in industry, the state did not have many open source projects except in a few pockets, he said. This is our first step forward in providing a formal environment for organizations to experiment with [open source].The labs first two projects are winners of the Green Gov Challenge. One, Green Buyer, helps identify how many sustainable products California agencies purchase. Another, SmartFLEET, is a dashboard that shows environmental statistics, such as carbon dioxide output, on the states vehicles.Another problem innovation labs present government is how to measure success. Government likes quantifiable results, which can be hard to get when youre experimenting with new technology and novel approaches. Still, some labs do have specific yardsticks.The imaginarium, for example, uses a common one for education: standardized test scores. But Piccolo said the lab is also trying to track other, hard-to-measure information, such as whether projects help students develop emotional and social intelligence.Montgomery County considers a project successful if it carries through on all three of its criteria. One such success, said Hoffman, was a pilot in county schools that used technology to improve the performance of autistic children. The idea originally came from parents. It was risky, and it was iteratively testable. Four of five kids in the initial pilot started to perform at or near grade level. It is also scalable, and therefore is being handed off to the countys public school system for growth.But the ultimate test for these government innovation labs will be the test of time. Will government continue to support programs where more projects fail than succeed? After all, the idea of innovation is much more attractive than the messy business of innovation. Everyone wants to innovate; no one wants to be a dinosaur, Piccolo said. That is, until its time to innovate. 
Detroit, City Asset Map: Fostering connection and civic involvement in Detroit by creating a map that highlights cultural, educational and mobility resources, such as libraries, health centers, museums, educational spaces, bike infrastructure and parks.

Detroit, Neighborhood Voice: Improving ways to obtain feedback from neighborhoods by supporting the best connected people  such as barbers, bartenders and baristas  to get and share feedback through technology, tools and training.

Ft. Wayne, Ind., Alumni Association: Keeping and attracting talented workers to Ft. Wayne through a digital platform that connects local graduates, with the goal of encouraging those who leave the city to return.

Lexington, Ky., civiclex.org: Informing and engaging more people about the issues facing city government through a new digital platform.

Milledgeville, Ga., The Year of Voting Dangerously: Engaging the community with a mobile voting booth that prompts residents to respond to pressing local issues and initiatives.

Philadelphia, Just Space Audit: Creating and deploying an audit tool to assess the accessibility and equity of a public space network.

Philadelphia, Before, During and After Redlining: Highlighting inequality and the negative effects of denying services to specific residents through the practice of redlining with an interactive data map and exhibition.

Philadelphia, Mobile Design Lab: Providing a space for Philadelphians to design city service solutions with a mobile, participatory city design lab that will travel from neighborhood to neighborhood.

St. Paul, Minn., Black Market: Advancing a deeper awareness of black creativity and culture with a digital directory of black artists and organizations; the project aims to better connect the black creative community with other civic and public organizations interested in diversifying their boards, staff, vendors and programming.

Multiple cities, Civic Incite: Citizens Setting the Agenda (submitted by Civic Incite): Inspiring civic engagement with an online platform that tracks public meetings and legislation across cities to promote in-person engagement with local governments.

The average person doesnt know how to access an API. But they do listen to music.Thats the driving idea behind a proposal from the Office of Creative Research (OCR) in New York: to make data valuable to people by interpreting it in more human ways.Specifically, they want to do that by telling data stories through bluegrass music.Weve been thinking for a long time about this sort of divide that exists between data and culture, said Jer Thorp, OCRs co-founder. Data is usually communicated through these really sterile means like charts and graphs. And theyre designed for a really narrow purpose  like policy decisions.But especially in the age of ubiquitous government open data, its also supposed to be for the people. Thats the concept behind Socratas open data portals , Esris story maps and a recent collaboration between LiveStories and the U.S. Department of Defense.So Thorp, along with OCR Director of Projects Ayen Tran, work on ways to make data more human, more interesting and more meaningful. One of their ideas, which was recently named a finalist for the 2017 Knight Cities Challenge program, was to tell stories with data through a cultural staple of Appalachia: bluegrass music.Music, and the techniques you hear in bluegrass, are really about emotion and experience, Thorp said. Those are things that are missing (from data).To do that, they want to head to the heart of bluegrass country  Lexington, Ky. Not only is the city home to the Festival of the Bluegrass, one of the oldest such events in the country, but its also home to an open data portal with nearly 100 data sets available online. Tran said its also important that there is a robust culture of communal collaboration in Lexington as well.It seems like exactly the kind of place where people would be open to this kind of wild exploration, she said.And thats just what they want the project to be  collaborative. Tran and Thorp want the musicians, the civic leaders, the community of Appalachia to come up with their own ideas and figure out what data is really meaningful to them. And they might not just stick to the open data portals of the region, either. The project could involve building new data sets.In my experience theres always some other stuff under the surface that might be useful as well, Thorp said.The project is one of 144 finalists for the challenge. The Knight Foundation expects to pick its winners in the spring, doling out up to $5 million in funding between them.Several of the other entries involved civic tech . Among them are:
Road-testing autonomous vehicles

Metro to assess wireless transit

Safety, regulatory concerns abound

(TMS)  Car-crazy Houston has cars and trucks that can traverse floodwaters, some that can reach NASCAR-level speeds and even in the oil and gas capital of the world others powered by electricity.Pretty soon, local highways also could be home to cars that can talk to each other and possibly the traffic signal ahead via wireless connections  as researchers, automakers and the government prepare for when cars and trucks can drive themselves.Researchers, business leaders and elected officials are about to turn Texas into the biggest laboratory for connected cars in the nation, with the likeliest place to spot a self-driving car in Houston along the high occupancy vehicle and toll lanes along some of the region's busiest freeways.Officials are moving quickly to create a welcoming environment for the vehicles and the scientists and engineers who will fine tune them, though safety standards and even testing methods remain a work in progress."We want companies to come to Texas and develop [autonomous and connected vehicle] technologies," said Christopher Poe, assistant director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and head of the agency's connected and automated vehicle program.The latitude to lead on connected cars also comes with intense motivation to succeed, both to win over skeptics who worry about driverless cars and to buoy the next steps toward seamless use of automated cars."These systems have to work," Poe said. "We can't have failures right out of the box."Safety regulations  and the glacial pace at which governments can adopt safety standards and approve changes to liability laws and even department rules  might be the biggest mountain to climb in Washington."There is no established method for determining if these vehicles are safe," said Ginger Goodin, director of the transportation institute's policy research center.Meanwhile, some think the business-friendly climate already makes a lot of testing possible in Texas, provided companies assume a lot of that risk. Poe said even as researchers and communities are actively collaborating, a firm could simply start testing anywhere provided the vehicle was street legal."There will be companies that will come to Texas who we may or may not know about," Poe said.Major automakers, however, told Texas lawmakers they're eager to cooperate, and see clear guidelines of when and where would be best to deploy connected and autonomous vehicles."If we're going to move forward with this technology - and we will - it is critical we move forward in the safest manner possible," said Hal Lenox, regional director of government affairs for General Motors' western division. "The best approach is launch a fleet with someone behind the wheel."In the Houston area, some of the first tests could be along high occupancy vehicle and high occupancy toll lanes where the cars could drive themselves in typical situations and then cede control to a person for stop-and-go traffic, Poe and others said.To prepare for the cars, the A&M transportation institute and the Texas Department of Transportation earlier this month forged an agreement that allows researchers to test wireless-connected and automated vehicle technologies on state highways. The agreement will pave the way for installing devices on state highway rights of way such as signs readable by automated vehicles and even detectors that can communicate with cars to provide traffic information and even control traffic signals.The development will take automated cars from closed areas such as the Texas A&M's RELLIS campus west of College Station to the streets of Texas cities.Before that, however, researchers and local officials in various Texas cities will develop locations where certain driverless vehicle technologies can be tested. In Houston, officials have identified the Texas Medical Center, high occupancy vehicle lanes maintained by Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Port of Houston as potential live testing locations. Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and El Paso also are readying for live testing.Plans are to test facets of connected cars, such as traffic signals that could relay information and communicate in the Texas Medical Center, or autonomous vehicles that could lug freight from the docks of the Port of Houston to a central sorting operation.Freight, along with public transit, are two transportation sectors in which businesses and local governments see the most potential for connected and autonomous vehicles. Texas, meanwhile, is ripe with opportunities for both, with increasing demand predicted for both trucks, freight rail and options other than solo driving in the state's largest metro regions.Local officials, especially Metro transit leaders, are particularly eyeing a western stretch of Westheimer, said Terence Fontaine, the transit agency's executive vice president and chief innovation officer. The 12 miles of road between Loop 610 and Texas 6  technically part of the state highway system as FM 1093  is a major thoroughfare and big headache for drivers, with stops and starts because of traffic flow and seemingly ill-timed traffic lights.Moving buses down the road poses even more challenges for Metro, along what is its busiest bus route and second-largest transit line behind only the Red Line light rail.Eventually, Fontaine said Metro will study the merits of offering express bus service, preemptive traffic signal timing so buses can avoid frequent stops at red lights and possibly dedicated bus lanes and rapid transit service down Westheimer.Though years away, Westheimer could be where all the efforts to leverage technology collide, such as with automated buses following a dedicated route where traffic lights respond to approaching vehicles and buses can move more people faster than driving alone."We see it as a big opportunity," Fontaine said.On the freight front, Steve Boyd, co-founder and external affairs director for California-based Peloton Technology, told a Texas House committee last month the company is excited to explore its "platooning" concept in the state.Peloton allows trucks to pair up, so the lead truck can control braking and acceleration for the other vehicle. The technology allows the freight trucks to travel more closely together, improving aerodynamics and safety for both. An operator stays in the driver's seat of both vehicles at all times.Boyd encouraged officials to see the potential of innovation to solve lingering problems, such as freight congestion that affects traffic in metro areas  including Houston  and air quality."We want to make sure the U.S. maintains leadership," he said of the autonomous and connected vehicle efforts.Reaction, however, to the rise of robotics and computer-controlled vehicles has come with caution from some skeptics, who note safety cannot be compromised and mounds of regulations and laws will need tweaking to determine who's responsible when two autonomous cars have a fender bender.Going slow, however, doesn't have to mean losing excitement. State Rep. Joe Pickett, chairman of the House Transportation Committee that heard from Boyd and others, urged the transportation industry to keep coming up with ideas and considering Texas to test them."I want to get a little ahead of the curve," Pickett said. "I am not afraid of it; I welcome it."Even with a clear road ahead, it will take years for autonomous vehicles to make their way from fleet, freight and transit uses and become mainstream. Along the way, Poe said people are likely to see subtle changes, such as freshly-painted road stripes and maybe new road signs where testing starts."What the industry doesn't know right now is how smart the road needs to be," said Poe of the A&M transportation institute, adding much of that refinement will happen off the street at places such as the RELLIS campus.He acknowledged not everyone is enamored with new connected-vehicle technologies, and successful tests will be a start of winning them over, or at least calming their fears."As with any technology, you will have early adopters who are really excited and others who are not," he said. "That's part of the process. ... It will happen. Our vision is the future is connected automation."
Cameras work better in some conditions than others

image-20170116-16922-1eckpm6.jpg Infrared camera image (grayscale) of a controlled methane leak superimposed on the modeled leak image (color).

A possible solution: Fix super-emitters

Infrared imaging of the Aliso Canyon leak from a natural gas storage reservoir near Porter Ranch, California, January 12, 2016. NASA Earth Observatory

Not all locations are created equal

Using an infrared camera to detect methane emissions at an oil and natural gas corporation facility (video developed by EPA).

Better options?

Methane is the major component of natural gas, which heats our homes and recently surpassed coal as the top fuel for generating electricity in the United States. But methane is also a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. And because methane is highly flammable, gas leaks pose a significant safety hazard, as we saw in fatal explosions in 2010 in San Bruno, California and 2015 in New York City . The massive gas leak from the Aliso Canyon storage facility in Southern California in October 2015 led to evacuations of over 8,000 families after reports of serious health issues.The United States, Canada and Mexico are working together to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector through the North American Climate, Clean Energy and Environment Partnership . As one step, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized rules that require oil and gas companies to adopt leak detection and repair programs.EPA recommends that gas companies use infrared cameras, one of the most commonly available leak detection technologies. These cameras enable gas leaks to be detected rapidly and safely. Although other detection technologies are available, theyre either expensive, slow or unsuitable.My research focuses on evaluating leak detection technologies and using those insights to inform emissions mitigation policy. In our most recent work , we analyzed the limits of infrared cameras in effectively detecting methane leaks. Some of these limitations have important policy implications.Infrared cameras work much like an iPhone camera, with a key difference. While an iPhone camera is sensitive to visible light, infrared cameras are sensitive to infrared light, the portion of the suns light that is invisible to the naked eye and has wavelengths longer than red. Since methane is sensitive to infrared light, infrared cameras can detect it. Indeed many production facility operators use them routinely for leak detection and repair procedures, with anecdotal success Despite such evidence, there were no systematic studies on the effectiveness of these cameras. And because all objects emit infrared light, we suspected that environmental conditions might play an important role in how the camera works. In the study I coauthored, we analyzed how environmental factors like temperature, wind, humidity and background conditions affected what the camera sees.We developed a model to predict whether the camera will detect a leak of given size under different measurement conditions. In order to verify that this model is accurate, we intentionally released methane and compared the corresponding camera images with model results.We found that the cameras effectiveness in detecting leaks was highly variable based on weather conditions. Also, the camera operators expertise and even properties of the facility, such as its location and gas composition, affected the readings. Under ideal conditions, the cameras detected over 80 percent of the total leakage at the facility.But such a high success rate is possible if and only if the camera is operated during periods of low wind, warm weather, clear skies and leaks are imaged from distances of about 30 feet. Under nonideal conditions (high wind, cold days or viewing distance greater than 100 feet), they detected as little as 10 percent of the total leakage.Recent EPA regulations do not specify many crucial parameters. For example, an operator decides maximum viewing distance and acceptable wind conditions for testing leaks; and there are no requirements on temperature or cloud cover conditions.With such latitude in determining testing protocols, an operator can perform a leak detection survey, without actually finding any leaks. This can be done by searching for leaks on cold or humid days or measuring from distances farther than about 100 feet. In order to consistently find leaks using this technology, we concluded that EPAs rules need to be more specific, or use a different metric to track progress. Super-emitters, as the name implies, are very large leaks with a leak rate between 100 tons/year to over 1,000 tons/year. All tests that have been conducted at gas facilities  production wells, processing facilities and compressor stations  often find a small number of these super-emitters.Infrared cameras are naturally suited to detect these super-emitters because it is easier to detect bigger leaks than smaller ones, even under unfavorable measurement conditions. Fixing super-emitters could be a cost-effective way for facility operators to significantly reduce leakage and improve safety.The number and sizes of leaks at any facility vary significantly across the country. For example, recent research at production facilities has shown that super-emitters contribute to a larger fraction of total leakage in Pennsylvania compared to Texas . Because super-emitters are easily detected by these cameras, leak detection will be more effective in Pennsylvania than in Texas.In addition to its size, the composition of a leak can also significantly affect detection. Drilled wells can often release nonmethane gases like ethane and propane. Often termed wet-gas, these nonmethane compounds are more sensitive to infrared light than methane. Therefore, a leak rich in these compounds will look brighter than a similar leak that contains only methane. Such situations commonly occur in regions where significant oil is also extracted along with gas.These subtleties have important consequences for policy. A cameras effectiveness depends not only on its own properties, but also on the properties of the facility being tested. An 80 percent success rate in one location will not translate into a similar success rate at other locations.Detecting methane leaks is a hard problem further complicated by the large number of potential sources and by a scarcity of cheap detection technologies. By effectively endorsing infrared cameras as a preferred option, EPA has rightly chosen the most efficient and, by some estimates, least-cost option.However, new technologies and startups, many funded by the Department of Energys MONITOR program, are being developed. Although many are in their early stages, these new technologies promise faster and more accurate leak detection. It would be a mistake for any mitigation policy to not take advantage of these new technologies, especially if they can further reduce costs and improve safety. We are currently researching broader questions on ways to design effective methane mitigation policy. How this will unfold in the context of the incoming administration remains to be seen. Arvind P. Ravikumar , Post-doctoral Fellow: Energy systems analysis and energy policy,This article was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article
Smart city initiatives often emphasize a mix-and-match approach to technology: lamp posts that also measure air quality, for example.

Slated to pilot in half a dozen cities in the coming months, the Soofa Sign offers an example of such synergies. Take a bus stop sign and make it digital. Now layer on transit data, municipal announcements and even some paid advertising. When combined, these items may add up to more than the sum of their parts.

There are other ways to deliver these different kinds of information, but this is an interesting new format that we want to explore, said Tom Evans, executive director of the Cambridge (Mass.) Redevelopment Authority, which is piloting the technology.

Founded as an outgrowth of the MIT Media Lab in 2014, Cambridge, Mass.-based Soofa Technologies said it has deals to launch additional pilots in New York City, Los Angeles, Norfolk, Va., and Austin, Texas, in 2017.

The company made inroads in the civic tech space last year with the introduction of a solar-powered park bench that serves as both a charging station for personal devices and a Wi-Fi-enabled sensor to collect data on usage levels in parks and civic spaces. Boston, Oak Park, Ill., and Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., have piloted the bench, the company reported.

Its latest offering aims to combine a range of uses on a digital signage platform. The tall, freestanding sign could co-mingle public and commercial information in a single space for the benefit of citizens.

Right now bus stop advertising mostly goes to big national brands, because those ads are expensive to produce, Soofa CEO and Co-Founder Sandra Richter said. By going digital it becomes possible to change that content easily, so you can begin to use it in different ways. It becomes a platform that can combine civic uses with for-profits and even private citizens.

The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority placed its sign at the busy Kendall Square subway stop, which services MIT and a thriving tech-startup community. The tech firms post want ads on the sign, while the redevelopment authority uses it to post subway schedules and promote its own events.

In summer there is a farmers market, there are evening events in the neighborhood that we will advertise," Evans said. "Right now, we are using it to announce public meetings, as a means of government transparency and outreach. We are on the Web and Twitter and social media, but this gives us an added way of doing that kind of outreach.

On the tech side, the signs software employs applets to perform predefined functions, for instance using APIs to interface with the mayors tweets or the bus schedule. An applet might also grab data from an event calendar or pull from a communitywide emergency alert system.

While the integration of messaging has gone smoothly in Cambridge, the agency has faced some challenges in adapting its message to the new, electronic format.

From a government perspective, we tend to publish notices with basic time-and-place data. In this format that comes off a little bland," said Evans. "You need a photograph, maybe an aerial of the neighborhood or images of people collaborating at work. We want to utilize the screen element, rather than just putting text up there.

On the plus side, because digital signage is untested territory, Evans has some wiggle room in how he presents news to the community. There is no prescribed format for this type of outreach, so we have some flexibility on how we work with it, he said.

Soofa said it is aiming to craft a risk-free financial proposal for cities willing to experiment with the medium. If a municipality will take on the sign, the company will foot the bill and reimburse itself over time from ad revenues. Richter said a sign may generate $20,000 to $40,000 in annual revenues depending on where and how it is used.

She wouldnt disclose how much the company will be paid in this model. Its going to be a big investment and big risk for us, but we believe in the model and the cities we are talking with believe in the model, she said.

With conventional signage, we have these huge communications surfaces all over the city and they are not filled with very relevant content. At the same time, we have civic leaders struggling to find ways to connect with the public, Richter said. We need democratized communication channels.
(TNS)  In his final public address as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler implored the incoming Trump administration to press ahead with efforts to preserve and strengthen net neutrality amid increasingly strong signals that the policy designed to keep the Internet fair and open may be in jeopardy.Before a crowd gathered at the Aspen Institute, the think tank Wheeler will be joining after formally relinquishing his post this week, Wheeler said Friday that the country stands at a crossroads when it comes to Internet policy.One path leads forward; the other leads back to re-litigating solutions that are demonstrably working, Wheeler said. All the press reports seem to indicate that the new commission will choose an ideologically based course.Passed in 2015, net neutrality, which requires that Internet service providers treat all Web traffic equally, is the hallmark of Wheelers three-year tenure at the helm of the FCC. The regulations were widely praised by open-Internet advocates as crucial to keeping the access to the Internet on a level playing field.But the rules have been assailed by critics who see it as needless regulation that will prevent investment and innovation in Internet technologies. Some of net neutralitys most vocal detractors have come from within the FCC itself.Commissioner Ajit Pai, widely considered to be on President-elect Donald Trumps short list of candidates to replace Wheeler as chairman, has been outspoken about his desire to revisit many of the policies enacted under Wheelers watch.In a Dec. 7 speech delivered to the Free State Foundation think tank, Pai pledged to fire up the weed whacker and remove those rules that are holding back investment, innovation and job creation.On the day that (net neutrality rules were) adopted, I said that I dont know whether this plan will be vacated by a court, reversed by Congress, or overturned by a future commission. But I do believe that its days are numbered.Several advisers that the incoming Trump administration has brought on to help manage transitional matters at the commission have been outspoken critics of net neutrality. Mark Jamison, for example, wrote a post for the American Enterprise Institute in which he said that the rules were backfiring and frequently work against the entrepreneurs and consumers the rules are intended to help.In his speech, Wheeler fought back against the idea that net neutrality had hobbled Internet service providers. Network investment is up, investment in innovative services is up, and ISPs revenues  and stock prices  are at record levels, Wheeler said.So, wheres the fire? Other than the desires of a few (providers) to be free of meaningful oversight, why the sudden rush to undo something that is demonstrably working?Many net neutrality advocates have vowed to fight against dismantling the policy. Chris Lewis, a vice president at the consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge and former deputy legislative affairs director at the commission, attended Wheelers farewell address Friday, and praised his efforts to protect consumers during his time as chairman.Looking ahead to the incoming administrations antagonistic posturing toward net neutrality, Lewis said his organization and others were on guard: Were certainly concerned, but at the same time this is why our organization exists. Well be there working to preserve those protections that are working for the American people right now.Ernesto Falcon, legislative counsel at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said that while his group is anticipating an aggressive effort to roll back the scope of net neutrality, he remains optimistic that the broad public support behind the regulations will help to shape the president-elects selection for the next FCC chair.Ajit Pai represents a clear establishment Republican mind-set, that all regulations are bad in the FCC space, Falcon said. But its worth remembering from the campaign that Trump ran against Republicans on a handful of issues, and he defeated the entire Republican establishment.Wheelers appointment in 2013 touched off a firestorm of criticism over his long career as a top lobbyist for the cable and cell phone industries. But critics who decried what seemed like a fox guarding the henhouse nominee were quickly silenced by the pro-consumer issues Wheeler took up once in office.They thought he would be a cable stooge, and he ended up being the exact opposite. He was an extreme adversary of the cable industry, said Bruce Leichtman, the president and principal analyst at Leichtman Research Group, which conducts research on the broadband and media industries.George Foote, the lead telecommunications attorney at the law firm Dorsey & Whitney, has known Wheeler since the two crossed paths at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, where Wheeler served as president and CEO from 1992 to 2004. Foote dismissed the initial backlash against Wheeler as the knee-jerk reaction of a polarized public.He struck a balance between protecting the public good and advancing the good through these technologies without overburdening business, and I think his vision has been proved out, Foote said.He believes in government, and he believes that governments should make things work, he said.
(TNS)  Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler asked Tuesday President-elect Donald Trump to undo a recent federal decision that designates elections systems in all 50 states as critical infrastructure.U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Jan. 6 said in a press release that the designation allows voter registration rolls, balloting and other parts of the election system to receive priority cybersecurity assistance.The federal government has 16 critical infrastructure sectors, including dams, government facilities and nuclear reactors. The designation allows those sectors to work with federal authorities on a variety activities, such as, risk assessments.Johnson acknowledged that many state and local election officials are opposed to this designation. But, he added, the designation does not mean a federal takeover, regulation, oversight or intrusion concerning elections.Schedler said in a prepared statement that during a conference call with elections officials around the country, Johnson could not say why such a formal designation was immediately necessary.Over the summer, Arizona and Illinois reported efforts to infiltrate their voter registration systems. No data was manipulated and the systems targeted had nothing to do with vote casting or counting.The FBI reported to Congress that a variety of scanning activities  early indications of computer hacking  was found in as many as 20 states. Johnson, at the time, encouraged states to secure their election systems and ensure that electronic voting machines were not connected to the internet.Louisiana already had implemented all of the recommendations made by Johnsons agency, Schedler said. He questioned the need to make the designation during the final weeks of the Obama administration.He asked Trump to rescind the designation after taking office on Friday.When it comes to election integrity, I am not going to let the federal government have the keys to our secured election system unless they can better articulate their intentions, Schedler said, adding that it was intrusion into states rights and a step towards nationalizing elections.
Honda's plans to begin supplying a second F1 team with engines are now shaping up.

That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, who said the obvious first customer for Honda is Sauber.

"The Swiss team has not extended its contract with Ferrari," correspondent Michael Schmidt revealed.

Currently, Honda's exclusive works partner is McLaren, whose now-ousted supremo Ron Dennis was earlier opposed to allowing the Japanese carmaker to sell its power unit to a customer.

Reportedly, Honda has completely redesigned its turbo V6 package for 2017, including Mercedes-like 'jet ignition', and a relocated turbine and compressor.

Schmidt continued: "For 2018, the Honda engine will be an option for customers. That is why the Japanese are currently expanding their factory in Milton Keynes, in order to serve two teams in the future."

It is believed Honda needs to know its 2018 plans by this year's Monaco grand prix.

But Auto Motor und Sport said Honda's only logical customer is Sauber, who will this year use a 2016-specification Ferrari power unit.

"There are rumours that preliminary talks between Sauber and Honda have already taken place," said Schmidt.

(GMM)
Only one hurdle remains as F1's new owner Liberty Media looks to complete its buyout of the sport.

This week, Liberty's shareholders got together in Colorado to vote on the F1 acquisition, the company headed by US media tycoon John Malone confirmed in a statement.

It said shareholders duly "approved" the purchase, including an official change of name to "Formula One Group".

Liberty said: "The closing of the acquisition remains conditioned upon approval from the FIA, the governing body of formula one."

The company said that approval is likely "before the end of the first quarter in 2017".

(GMM)
Autonomos GmbH was founded in 2012 by former members of the intelligent systems workgroup of Freie Universitaet Berlin, a leading robotic laboratory in Germany, well known for its pioneering experiments with self-driving-cars around the world (Autonomos-Labs). With financial support from the IBB (Investitionbank of Berlin) and alubi capital GmbH, run by Business Angel Alfred Mockel, Autonomos grew independently to a team of more than 30 software engineers in Berlin and Frankfurt.

Autonomos has provided Research & Development consultancy services for automated vehicle assistance systems and has built up expertise and technologies in the process, including a full demonstration-level autonomous driving software stack, 3D sensor technology, and digital image processing.

With the acquisition of Autonomos, TomTom is joined by a team that traces its lineage back to the DARPA Grand Challenge competitions. The team will advance TomToms map-based products for autonomous driving applications. Having an in-house autonomous driving stack will enable TomTom to better serve customers with its products, including its HD map, RoadDNA localization technology, as well as its navigation, traffic and other cloud services.

This is an important development for TomTom as it will help us to continue to strengthen our capabilities for the future of driving and expand our knowledge and expertise. With this deal we are further positioning ourselves as one of the leaders in autonomous driving. Harold Goddijn, CEO and co-founder of TomTom

No further details of the acquisition are disclosed.
Two years after states around the country passed an unprecedented number of police reforms after the killing of George Floyd, some are struggling to make the new policies stick. The momentum for change has slowed from its earlier frenetic pace. Some of the reforms have been rolled back or at least tweaked after police complained that the new policies were hindering their ability to catch criminals. Legal experts say police killings of Black people over the last decade  epitomized by Floyds killing  have altered the trajectory of policing. But change has come about unevenly in thousands of police departments across the U.S.
This strikes me as an important ruling:

The N.C. Court of Appeals Tuesday said a charter school operator can't sue a public school superintendent for libel when the superintendent is acting in his official capacity.

The charter school operator is Baker A. Mitchell Jr., owner and manager of The Roger Bacon Academy, a for-profit corporation that runs four public charter schools in southeastern North Carolina.

Mitchell sued Edward H. Pruden, who was superintendent of Brunswick County Schools from 2010 to 2014 for allegedly false and malicious statements about Mitchell and Roger Bacon Academy.

I don't know all the particulars, but it doesn't matter. The legal question was whether Pruden enjoyed immunity because he was acting in his official capacity.

Pruden and his school board clearly believed that for-profit charter schools drain funds that ought to go to traditional public schools. They aren't the only superintendent and school board that think so. Maybe Pruden's rhetoric was over the top. From the summary in the court opinion, it sounds like he was aggressive in lobbying the State Board of Education to turn down Mitchell's bid to open yet another charter school.

Yet, the court found that Pruden was not acting in his individual or private capacity, as the lawsuit claimed. He was doing his job  or at least his words and actions fell within the rather wide parameters of what his job could be considered to be.

Public officials are afforded broad immunity from liability when they're working in an official capacity.

"It is well settled that absent evidence to the contrary, it will always be presumed that public officials will discharge their duties in good faith and exercise their powers in accord with the spirit and purpose of the law," Judge Douglas McCullough wrote for the COA panel, citing a 1984 N.C. Supreme Court ruling, Grad v. Kaasa.

"This presumption places a heavy burden on the party challenging the validity of public officials actions to overcome this presumption by competent and substantial evidence."

That's a good thing, because we wouldn't want superintendents, city managers or others in similar positions to be subject to legal sanction if they speak out for what they believe is in the public interest.

The subject this time happened to be charter schools, and no doubt their proponents might disagree with this ruling. But there certainly was nothing partisan about it. McCullough and the two judges who joined him in the unanimous decision, Donna Stroud and Valerie Zachary, are all Republicans.

The next time, the topic could be something else entirely. The decision was important to let public officials speak freely without fear of retribution.

Note: The Roger Bacon Academy decries the COA ruling, saying "This decision is not a final ruling, nor does it in any measure address the falsity of Prudens statements."

Its full statement is here: http://www.rogerbaconacademy.net/newsandupdates/blog/4031/rba-statement-on-117-court-of-appeals-decision/

Further note: The ruling may indeed be final, unless the full Court of Appeals or Supreme Court accepts a petition for discretionary review.

Final note: Prudent was fired in a 3-2 vote in November 2014 by the Brunswick County school board, without public explanation.
A lot of people have used the word outsider to describe Betsy DeVos, the nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education. Heres an example (paywalled); heres another.

I think "outsider" the wrong word to use. Its true DeVos has no D.C. experience. (I wrote about that earlier.) But she has been very involved in education over the years. DeVos has spent her time and money pushing charter schools and vouchers in her native Michigan and throughout the country. (Here's a deep-dig into her work in Michigan.) Moreover, DeVos is a big player in the Republican Party. She is a past chairman of Michigans Republican Party, and she and her family have given tens of millions to GOP candidates and causes.

After last nights Senate hearing, there are better out words to use to describe her  outmatched and out of her league are two terms that come to mind. I expected DeVos to be able to talk clearly about her pet issues of school choice, charters and vouchers, and she did. I didnt expect her to stumble so badly over basic questions about special ed, testing, financial aid and firearms on school campuses  things that the Education Department is actually responsible for. (Choice programs are managed at the state and local levels.) I was surprised DeVos seemed to be so poorly prepared to answer questions on these topics. I mean, her answer about Wyoming schools needing guns to fend off grizzly bears was  wow. Im out of words.

Lucky for you, others still have their power of description. Vox said she failed. The Times (and US News) said the hearing highlighted partisan differences over education. Slate said she seemed unprepared. The Washington Post put together a video of what it called head-scratching moments. Politico said her appearance went viral. (Must have been what she said about the bears.)

Conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin noted that DeVos performance makes the new administration look bad and probably hurts their case for vouchers or charters or anything else they want to propose:

The argument for hiring businesspeople and others outside government rests on the proposition that smart, competent people in one field can do well in another and bring new ideas and energy to government. The Trump team undercuts that argument when its ill-prepared nominees dont sound informed or competent. Maybe both Trump and his nominees need to be put through their paces by people who respect the complexity of policy issues and the importance of the departments and agencies that they will be leading.

I'm professionally agnostic on education policy, and DeVos might turn out to be a great Ed Sec. (Let's hope, right?) In the meantime, though, she has a lot of homework to do. Based on the president-elects lousy poll numbers, I dont think the public seems all that willing to grade him  and his appointees  on a curve.

Want to make sure you see these blog posts? Like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter.

Have something to say? Email me at john.newsom@greensboro.com.
GREENSBORO  The trial of a Guilford County man charged in the 2013 shooting death of a 21-year-old college student began Tuesday.

Bertie McQueen, 35, of 2818 Vanstory St. Apt. 2B in Greensboro, faces a first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon charge in the shooting death of Derrick Michael Rogers.

Rogers, a father and student at Guilford Technical Community College, was found shot to death on July 2, 2013, in the parking lot outside 1304 Craven St. in Greensboro.

If convicted of first-degree murder, McQueen faces a sentence of life in prison. If convicted on the robbery charge, he faces a maximum of 12 years in prison.

McQueen, who has maintained his innocence, gave attorney Robert McClellan permission Tuesday to tell jurors that he was selling marijuana before Rogers was shot.

A key point in McQueens defense is that he and Rogers were both present at the time of the shooting because of a drug deal.

A third man, 28-year-old Damon Jerel Bell, is charged with accessory after the fact and will serve as a witness for the prosecution. His case is still pending.

Bailiffs told Superior Court Judge Bradford Long that McQueen has a pending charge for assaulting a detention officer en route from the courtroom back to the Guilford County Jail following a pretrial hearing.

On Tuesday morning, McQueen walked into the courtroom in handcuffs, without jurors present. He looked at his family and said Whats up? before taking a seat. A family member repeated the phrase back to him.

McQueen sat at the defense table and only spoke when Long asked him a question or to whisper something to his attorney.

Members of McQueens family sat in front of Rogers family during the jury selection. They didnt speak to one another and sat quietly while listening to the attorneys and the judge address the jury.

Opening statements are expected to be heard today in Guilford County Superior Court.
Updated 2 p.m.

GREENSBORO  Chanting, No documents, no peace; no secret police, seven members of the group GSO Operation Transparency were arrested on trespassing charges Wednesday at Greensboro City Hall while other members of the group chanted and cheered.

The group demanded documents from the city in a police misconduct case in the violent arrest of Dejuan Yourse by former Greensboro Police officer Travis Cole.

Now more than ever we need (Council) to put safety above comfort, group member CJ Brinson, 28, of Greensboro said. There must be something that makes them uncomfortable about releasing the files.

About 40 people, a few carrying boxes they hoped to fill with documents, marched to the Melvin Municipal Office Building at about 9:45 a.m. The group had first asked for the full investigative file of the Yourse arrest, including written and electronic correspondence, in mid-December. A few days later, City Council voted 7-2 not to release the files. Councilwoman Sharon Hightower and councilman Jamal Fox voted yes.

The documents were not released today.

Brinson, one of the seven arrested, said in two days the U.S. will be governed by a president that has suggested expanding the Stop and Frisk policy as well as enrolling Muslims in a national registry.

We know Greensboro can do better, he said.

Prior to the arrests, Brinson said he was willing to be arrested because democracy matters.

We need to ensure we live in a city with democracy and transparency, Brinson said. Im prepared to stand for democracy and protect those who are most vulnerable.

He said it doesnt matter who is at the heart of the issue at this point, be it Yourse or someone else.

All subjects should be treated with the same type of dignity, Brinson said. I want to continue to raise awareness and build a stronger community against any tactic that fights against the democratic process.

Footage of the June 17 arrest from the body cameras of former officers Cole and Charlotte Jackson was released last September. In the incident, Cole punches Yourse in the face and throws him to the ground from his mothers porch. Cole and Jackson were investigating a possible robbery at the address of Yourses mother. Both officers have since resigned.

The seven group members were arrested inside the executive offices of City Hall after talking with City Manager Jim Westmoreland about why the files would not be released. Other members of the group remained in the hallway and chanted release the files.

Lamar Gibson, 25, of Greensboro, asked Westmoreland to recommend to council that the files be released. Westmoreland refused, citing the file as a personnel record.

Westmoreland told the group that City Council has released an amount of information in the Yourse arrest he characterized as unprecedented. Council voted to release the body camera footage, he said, and the council asked the Guilford County District Attorneys Office to review the case a second time (the prosecutors office declined prosecution of both Cole and Yourse) and the group sent a letter to the state Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission that asked Coles law enforcement license be revoked.

The city manager warned the group not to block the halls, and said they could assemble during business hours, but not if they were disruptive. Seven members of the group, all dressed in red, were led away in handcuffs when the chanting grew louder and some group members talked over Westmoreland.

The group members were charged with second-degree trespassing. Westmoreland later said they were arrested because they became disruptive and didnt follow City Hall rules and procedures.

Police identified the seven arrested as: Pamela Theresa Crosson, 42, of 813 Glenwood Ave.; Sabina Nogo, 26, of 2406 Gracewood Court; Cletis John-Allen (CJ) Brinson, 28, of 504 Gorrell St.; James Lamar Gibson, 26, of 422 N. Cedar St.; Sofia Tull, 25, of 519 N. Mendenhall St.; Juan Carlos Miranda Buzetta, 26, of 1100 Hicks Court; and Gary Scott Kenton, 66, of 606 Park Ave.

Initially GSO Operation Transparency went to the administrative office of chief of police where they chanted outside for a few minutes before moving upstairs to the executive offices of city hall.

Yourse, 37, arrived at City Hall just in time to see the arrests. He said he thinks the files should be released.

Its a very unfortunate situation. I came to support those people who came to support me, he said. Im very thankful theyre doing this now.

Following the arrests, Isabell Moore said the group would continue to push for the files release.

This is not the end today, she said. Transparency needs to be a core value in our city. In the coming weeks we will strategize about what to do to figure out our next steps.

Posted 12 a.m. Wednesday

GREENSBORO  A watchdog group demanding documents in a police misconduct investigation will be at city hall at 9:30 a.m. today.

Andrew Garces, a member speaking for GSO Operation Transparency said a few dozen people are expected to show up at the Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St., to demand the release of the full investigative file on the arrest of Dejuan Yourse.

The group requested the information from Greensboro City Council Dec. 13. Council voted at its Dec. 20 meeting not to release the remaining documents.

Garces said the group will conduct what it describes as a peoples document search for all written and electronic correspondence on the Yourse arrest.

Yourse was thrown from his mothers porch and punched in the face on June 17, 2016, during his arrest by former Greensboro Police Officer Travis Cole. Cole and Officer Charlotte Jackson were investigating a possible robbery at the address. The incident was captured on the officers body cameras. Both have since left the department.

Garces said members of GSO Operation Transparency have been trained in methods of civil disobedience related to its request for the documents.

The training includes knowing their rights to access of public buildings and knowing how to move as a group to accomplish its goals.

At least five people in the group are prepared to be arrested, Garces said.

This is a developing story, read new information as it becomes available on greensboro.com.
Thomas Jefferson had lots to say about lots of things. As the North Carolina General Assembly begins its 2017 session and new Gov. Roy Cooper begins his term, its worth considering what Jefferson had to say about striking the proper balance between local and central authority.

Jefferson was clearly wary of the latter. It is not by the consolidation, or concentration of powers, but by their distribution, that good government is effected, he wrote in 1821. If the country were not already divided into individual states, he added, that would be necessary so that each might do for itself what concerns itself directly, and what it can so much better do than a distant authority.

Similarly, Jefferson observed that states were divided into counties, and counties into townships or wards. It is by this partition of cares, descending in gradation from general to particular, that the mass of human affairs may be best managed for the good and prosperity of all, he concluded.

Youll not find a better description of the case for devolving power within a federal system. And yet, Jefferson did not think states could do whatever they wanted to their citizens, or localities to theirs, without oversight from above. Were it observed that either party the central government or a state  set up unjustifiable pretensions, he wrote, perhaps the other might be right in opposing them by a tenaciousness of his own rigorous rights.

Since the Republicans won control of the state legislature in 2010, we have witnessed numerous disputes between localities and the state. The highest-profile dispute began last year with Charlotte passing an anti-discrimination ordinance and the General Assembly responding with House Bill 2. But earlier debates produced legislation with major impacts on policy  perhaps none more so than the 2012 bill that essentially ended involuntary annexation in our state.

For decades, North Carolina was extremely deferential to municipalities. They could yank properties into their jurisdiction without giving affected landowners a vote, while avoiding any real responsibility to deliver services to those new residents for years. Advocates of forced annexation made two key arguments: 1) that it was only fair to tax people who lived outside city limits but worked, shopped or played in the city; and 2) that annexation was good for city finances, and for the state economy.

Opponents countered that nonresidents who worked, shopped or played in cities already paid city taxes while doing so, either directly on retail sales or indirectly by bearing a proportional share (through higher prices or lower wages) of taxes on commercial or industrial property. They also noted that most states already protected property owners from annexation abuse. Many had economies at least as healthy as ours.

Did forced annexation really do wonders for city finances? A new study in the academic journal Growth and Change raises doubts. Co-authors Russel Smith of Winston-Salem State University and Whitney Afonso of the UNC-Chapel Hill found that, during the pre-reform period, greater annexation activity resulted in a decrease in municipal fiscal health for North Carolina municipalities and that involuntary annexation had a particularly detrimental effect.

Municipalities lost on that issue. So far, however, theyve won on another one: staving off a constitutional amendment blocking localities from condemning private land to promote economic development.

As before, the argument is partly economic. And once again the evidence says otherwise. A new study in Economic Development Quarterly found that states that have protected their citizens from eminent-domain abuse experienced no adverse effects in terms of state employment and gross state product. Protecting the property rights of North Carolinians wont hurt our economy. Its also an example of the proper use of state powers to limit abuses by localities. I think Jefferson would approve.
Ted Budd marked two weeks in office by starting a listening tour in Greensboro Tuesday.

His meeting with about 30 people at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce was the first of seven scheduled throughout the 13th Congressional District.

Budd, a businessman from Davie County, was elected to Congress in his first run for office. He won a crowded Republican primary, defeating Guilford County Commissioner Hank Henning and state Rep. John Blust of Greensboro, among others. He beat Democrat Bruce Davis, a former Guilford County commissioner, in the general election.

The latest redistricting, implemented last year, split Guilford County between the 6th and 13th districts. The 6th is represented by Republican Mark Walker, whom Budd called a mentor. Davis won 60 percent of the vote in Guilford County, but Budd swept the other counties  Davidson, Rowan, Davie and Iredell.

Its safe to say that Budd and Guilford County voters could get better acquainted, so his visits to Greensboro Monday (for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday events) and Tuesday could be helpful.

I didnt want to do a bait-and-switch when I came for a listening tour and I do all the talking, Budd said at the chamber meeting, inviting people to have their say. Many of those gathered are in business and expressed a desire to see lower tax rates and regulatory reform. Budd is very much in support.

Others raised more challenging subjects, such as how to protect access to health care and maintaining gun safety.

Budd acknowledged that Republicans drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act has created confusion about what might follow. When Congress and the Trump administration begin to work together, he said, I think youre going to get more clear answers with more consistency.

He repeated the promise made by President-elect Donald Trump to offer universal access with better quality at lower cost but said the marketplace is the best mechanism for achieving that. Government is the last resort, not the first. That statement might worry people whom the marketplace  insurance companies  declined to cover before the ACA was enacted.

Budd believes in empowering the individual. When I take personal responsibility, thats when I make the most progress, he said. A culture of personal responsibility is the No. 1 thing that will make us better.

Asked about a bill he co-sponsored that would require states to recognize concealed-carry permits issued in every other state, some of which dont require gun-safety training, he said, We need to take safety very seriously. But he added that carrying a gun, unlike driving a car, is a constitutional right.

Budd was personable and pleasant, answering all questions politely and succinctly. He seemed interested in listening. He likely will support Greensboros business interests and the GOP agenda, but he also needs to hear from more of his constituents who dont share his views.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  City officials are looking for input from entrepreneurs about the local business climate and ideas to be pursued through a grant awarded last fall.

In October, Bridgeport was awarded a $50,000 Innovation Places Planning Grant through CTNext, a state-backed initiative meant to foster startup growth. The city was one of 12 communities in the state, including Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford, to be funded through the program.
Breakfast congee with maple granola, blueberries,and poached strawberries. Photo: Melissa Hom

Australians have contributed many things to the New York coffee shop, flat whites and avocado toast among them. And as of next week, the Good Sort brings something new to the category: sweet and savory congees, the rice porridge commonly consumed in China for breakfast. This makes sense, since the shop is co-owned by Australian expat Eddy Buckingham and his Chinese-born partner Jeff Lam, and is adjacent to their restaurant, Chinese Tuxedo. Theres a turmeric-and-coconut congee with Champagne-poached cranberries; a mushroom congee with braised shiitake and jicama, served with the Chinese cruller called youtiao; and even Aunt Kates pear crumble congee. There are also Chinese teas, espresso drinks, and come spring, fresh juices, all categorized by color. Another innovation: Everything is vegan, including the pastries and the milks (oat, coconut, almond) in the lattes.

Clockwise from top left: Aunt Kates pear crumble congee with poached pears. Turmeric-and-coconut congee with Champagne-poached cranberries. Breakfast congee. Not a congee: pandan tapioca with kaffir-and-palm-sugar caramel, lychee, pineapple, and puffed rice. Photo: Melissa Hom

Color-coded vegan lattes, made with non-dairy milks and no coffee: Red (beet), Black (sesame and activated charcoal), and Gold (turmeric). Photo: Melissa Hom

Algae-enhanced Blue latte. Photo: Melissa Hom

The Green Latte, with matcha. Photo: Melissa Hom

Prior to becoming a Sino-Australian vegan coffee shop, the space was a Chinatown liquor store. The espresso machine is Italian; the Vittoria coffee beans come from Australia. Photo: Melissa Hom

The shop is next to Chinese Tuxedo on Chinatowns most atmospheric block. Photo: Melissa Hom

The name refers to Aussie slang for a person you like and would like to spend more time around, according to co-owner Eddy Buckingham. Photo: Melissa Hom

5 Doyers St., nr. Bowery; 646-895-9301

*A version of this article appears in the January 23, 2017, issue of New York Magazine.
The owner says the situation shouldnt have gotten out of hand. Photo: Azle Cafe/Facebook

A Texas restaurant owner admits she may have struck out with Mondays lunch special commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Sabrina Pyle tells WFAA it seemed harmless at first  she was actually pretty excited about this incredible, ingenious idea for a dish that would bring people in for some of Azle Cafes Southern home-style cooking. Naturally, it being the days special, she advertised it in a post on the restaurants Facebook page. It read:



Happy MLK Day guys! Come have some chicken  & waffles w/a side of watermelon 

Pyle now admits she didnt think through the special. She removed the post, but not before the offensive combo circulated pretty widely online. Around this point, the angry phone calls began, and reviews started pouring in with personal attacks like You should know better, you racist scum, and You are going to hell, end of story. Its Pyles opinion things got blown way out of proportion, way fast, and she tells the local news she found the publics reaction hurtful.



She adds shes not racist, realizes now the idea was distasteful, and will make doubly sure the food she serves on that particular holiday from here on out doesnt carry negative racial stereotypes. As she explains, I was thinking we have margaritas and tacos on Cinco de Mayo, so lets have some fun with Martin Luther King Day.


Fly free while you still can, little guy. Photo: Stephen Stickler/Getty Images

Opponents of New Yorks plastic-bag fee are taking one last stab at derailing the change before it rolls out February 15. New York bipartisanship is all but dead nowadays, but one way to unite Republicans and Democrats is apparently to impose a five-cent citywide fee on their grocery bags. Yesterday, state senators passed a bill 42 to 18 prohibiting any tax, fee, or local charge on carry-out merchandise bags in cities having a population of one million or more. Of course, that plural cities part is sort of a joke because Buffalo is the states second largest, and its current population is 258,959.



The reason for the wording is actually so that if signed into law, the bill wont invalidate other bag fees already on the books, like ones in Long Beach or Suffolk County. The bills sponsor, Brooklyn Democrat Simcha Felder, explains that New York City families have problems just getting by, paying for groceries, rent, and heat, and that this nickel surcharge  which breezed through City Council, and applies to each individual bag, both paper and plastic, but not to restaurant takeout  is an attempt to shake them down every time they shop.

For the last-ditch torpedoing to work, the Democrat-controlled Assembly would have to vote in favor of the bill; then Governor Cuomo would have to sign it. Brad Lander, a pro-fee City Council member, tells the Times he cant imagine why Assembly Democrats would help Republicans overturn a democratically adopted law to reduce plastic waste. Backers of the fee can probably take solace in the fact that Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie wouldnt say when, or if, theyll take up the legislation when asked by reporters, and Cuomos office has so far declined to discuss the governors position.


Maison Pickles Classic French dip. Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine

When a restaurant opens on the Upper West Side of Manhattan serving $15 cocktails and five kinds of French-dip sandwiches, you begin to wonder about culinary nostalgia and the eternal lure of the familiar. The new Maison Pickle (2315 Broadway) lists many other things on its menu, from pigs-head confit to Tomahawk steak, but its the drippy meat sandwiches (lamb, pork, and three grass-fed-beef variations) served on housebaked rolls that get star billing. Downtown, at the studiously retro 4 Charles Prime Rib (4 Charles St.), hefty slabs of the eponymous cut may be the thing, but they also make their way into a terrific off-menu French dip, the paper-thin slices drenched in jus, topped with Swiss cheese, tucked into a garlic-buttered Parisi Bakery roll and delivered to your red-leather booth with all the suaveness and ceremony the vintage creation deserves.

The French dip isnt just a recipe; its a national treasure. Said to have been invented in L.A. circa World War I by either Philippe the Original or Coles P.E. Buffet, depending on which old-fashioned dives colorful origin story you believe (see below), its a simple dish that transcends its simplicity  just meat and bread and heady pan juices. A French dip doesnt rely on condiments to make it good, and although hot mustard and horseradish are acceptable garnishes, its the sidecar of jus that makes a dip a dip. Unlike almost every other sandwich known to man, its designed to be eaten wet, even soggy  sandwich fondue, if you will.

Considering its humble origins, New Yorks French-dip revival is notably upscale. The new arrivals join first-rate renditions served for lunch at Minetta Tavern and Dirty French. At Rider in Williamsburg (80 N. 6th St.), the sandwich comes on a thick slice of toasted country bread with a marrow bone and black-garlic jus, like an over-the-top update of that coffee-shop classic, the hot open-face roast-beef sandwich. Court Street Grocers recently debuted a French dip made with corned beef, mayo, garlic butter, and Frenchs crispy fried onions. And Gerardo Gonzalez, whose food pulls influences from Mexico and Southern California, has been experimenting with a lamb-barbacoa dip for the daytime menu at his Chinatown restaurant, Lalo (104 Bayard St.). With modern upgrades like better meat and bread plus a little tweaking, these chefs are mining the past, finding new jus-soaked pleasures in a dusty old favorite. Of course, a purist would argue that tweaking misses the point. I like to focus on food that has a lot of history to it, says 4 Charless owner Brendan Sodikoff. Not to change it, but to ask what makes it great? and do more of it. People understand the French dip. I think its a great way to connect with them.

Who Invented The French Dip?

Like many great sandwiches, the French dip has a contentious history. Two rival Los Angeles restaurants, both of which opened in 1908, claim to have invented it. The folks who run Philippe the Original say that in 1918, Philippe Mathieu accidentally dropped a French-style roll into some hot pan juices while making a sandwich for a policeman on his lunch break. Officer French  yep, that was his name  liked it so much he came back the next day for an encore performance. If Philippe had had quicker reflexes, or if the cop had been fussier about how his sandwiches were put together, the French dip might never have been.

The owners of Coles P.E. Buffet dispute this. They say they were the ones who invented the French dip at the request of an old dentally challenged regular who wanted his sandwich roll dipped in pan juices to make it easier to eat. Coles says this happened a decade before Philippe dunked its first bun, but absent any concrete evidence  a photograph, say, of a toothless geezer gumming a French dip while holding a newspaper dated 1908  we may never know.

Taxonomy: Wet Hot American Sandwiches

Some other super-soggy, hot-beef sandwich styles and where to find them.

Beef on Weck

Buffalos signature roast-beef sandwich is defined by its distinctive bread, the hard, round salt-and-caraway-seed roll called a kummelweck, and by the accompanying gob of horseradish. Get it at Buffalos Famous, an orange-Formica takeout joint in Prospect Park devoted to the foods of western New York (1111 Church Ave.).

Sheepshead Bay Standard-bearers

Sog shrine Brennan & Carr (3432 Nostrand Ave.) has been dunking roast-beef sandwiches in vats of broth like bonbons in chocolate since 1938. And neighbor Roll-N-Roaster (2901 Emmons Ave.) has been lightly moistening the insides of its soft round rolls in meat juice since 1970.

Hot Italian Beef, Chicago Style

A comer hereabouts, served on a long Italian roll with the essential, spicy pickled-veg condiment called giardiniera. At Als in Chicago, after they drown the meat in gravy and assemble the sandwich, they take the whole thing back to the gravy tank for a final dunk. Emmetts (50 Macdougal St.) and Hanks Juicy Beef (84 Chambers St.) abstain from this baptism. And at Bodega, Dale Taldes 24-hour snack shop in the lobby of the Arlo Nomad hotel (11 E. 31st St.), the sandwich comes with melted provolone, giardiniera, and a cup of dipping jus on the side.

Hot Italian Beef, Tri-state Style

The New York and New Jersey way to eat a hot beef hero is with slabs of fresh mozzarella and streams of dark, viscous gravy (dont even think about calling it jus) on long rolls. Fiores is the ne plus ultra of roast beef, mutz, and gravy sandwich achievement in Hoboken (414 Adams St.), and over in Kings County, its a toss-up between Defontes (379 Columbia St., Red Hook) and Johns Deli (2033 Stillwell Ave., Gravesend), where you can get extra gravy by the Styrofoam cup.

*A version of this article appears in the January 23, 2017, issue of New York Magazine.
Trade comissions all over the world race to sue Qualcomm for malicious practices and now its time for the US FTC to file an appeal against the San Diego-based company.

According to FTCs court filing:

Qualcomm engaged in exclusionary conduct that taxes its competitors baseband processor sales, reduces competitors ability and incentive to innovate and raises prices paid by consumers for cell phones and tablets.

This comes just weeks after a lawsuit in South Korea that ordered the chipset company to pay $854M for the patent licensing practices and half a year after another fine - in China for $954M.

The FTC found that Qualcomm threatened the supply of baseband processors to customers that didnt agree to its patent licensing terms. They also laid a so-called licensing tax on companies when they purchased baseband processors from competing firms.

Source | Via
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Haiti - Politics : EDH denies its responsibility





Following the floods that recently affected the plantations of peasants in the Artibonite Valley, the Electricity of Haiti (EDH) informs that contrary to the information reported in some media, the average flow of water discharged during the period from 11 January by the Peligre hydro plant (281,25m3/s), can not in any way cause floods, which probably result from the flooding of the Rivers Fer a Cheval and Latheme located downstream of Peligre.



Recall that on 11 January the EDH "[...] having noticed a difference in water level rise of more than 2.5 meters, increasing the elevation of the reservoir to 167.2 m. In view of the readings recorded by the observers of the water level measurement stations located upstream of the Guayamonc and Los Abeyos rivers and given the impossibility of storing this water upstream of the dam because of the requirements related to the rehabilitation works of Peligre, in agreement with one of the Heads of the Development Agency of the Artibonite Valley (ODVA), we evacuated an average flow of 281,25m3/sof water, ie 14,05% of our evacuation capacity.



Therefore, the EDH denies any involvement in the unfortunate events affecting the plantations of the peasants of the Artibonite Valley."



HL/ S/ Haitilibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping politics...





Jude Celestin, out of his silence

Jude Celestin (LAPEH) emerged from his silence and announced his intention to continue fighting against the "electoral coup" of the PHTK which allowed the election to the Presidency of Jovenel Moise. He said he had discussions with Jean-Charles Moise (Pitit Dessalin) and members of Fanmi Lavalas, "We will continue to fight the political battle and we are certain that the victory will be that of Haiti [...]"



6.7 million more for the elections

The government should disburse in the coming days 5 million dollars for the Electoral Council and about 1.7 million to the national police to ensure the security in the next elections, scheduled on January 29. Or a total of  448,900,000.00 Gourdes



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19836-haiti-flash-costs-of-elections-under-the-privert-jean-charles-administration.html



NOTICE Diaspora :  Konsila Mobil 

The Consulate General of Haiti in Miami announces that the "Konsila Mobil" will be in Lake Worth on Thursday, January 19th, 2017 at Salem Evangelical Haitian Lutheran Church, located at 1020 South Dixie Highway Lake Worth, FL 33460. From 9h AM until 1h PM, consular agents from the consulate will give you the possibility of renewing your passport, applying for an archive document and answer any questions you may have.



Jovenel Moise meets the diaspora in DR

Tuesday, in a meeting with Haitian compatriots living in the Dominican Republic, President-elect Jovenel Moise told them "I am ready to face the challenges that await me, including complex issues such as the Program for the Identification and Documentation of Haitian Immigrants (PIDIH)."



The APH always the majority in the Lower House

"The Parliamentary Alliance for Haiti" (APH) for the 2nd consecutive legislative year is the majority in the Chamber of Deputies (64 deputies)," informed the deputy of Delmas Gary Bodeau (BOUCLIER), Quaestor of the lower house.



12 months of salary arrears

Since Monday, the third cycle of the Basic School of Application and Center of Pedagogical Support (EFACAP) of Petit-Goave no longer works. Some professors are on strike, claiming from the Ministry of Education the payment of 12 months of salary arrears. Other teachers refuse to work in solidarity. HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave)



Promise of the VP of the bureau of Senate

Jean Marie Salomon (OPL), the Vice-President of the Senate, promises that the new office of which he is part will work to restore prestige of the Jean Marie Salomon (OPL), the Vice-President of the Senate, promises that the new office of which he is part will work to restore prestige to the Grand Corps. He said his peers are aware of the challenges to meet during the year.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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The Fair Work Ombudsman took legal action in relation to the employees being underpaid a total of $59,969 over a four-year period from 2007 to 2011.

The Federal Court has ordered Complete Windscreens to back-pay the employees in full, plus pay superannuation owing.

Justice Anthony Besanko found that some of the conduct involved an element of exploitation, describing some contraventions as deliberate, or at the very least reckless.

He found that Complete Windscreens and Dean must have known that the employee paid the lowest flat rate was being underpaid.

His hourly rate was considerably lower than other employees who were both younger and less experienced, Justice Besanko said in his judgment.
ders like Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs are known for being bold thinkers who drive their teams to hit their goals. They hold themselves to high standards and expect the same from team members.But while such leaders can have a major impact on their companys bottom line, their leadership styles might be too exhausting for employees to keep up with, wrote organisational leadership expert and author Mark Murphy.If you are following Steve Jobs leadership style, then you should be on the lookout for two warning signs from your team.Are they missing deadlines and making mistakes often? And when they do make mistakes, do they appear to magnify the situation or beat themselves up over it?If so, chances are theyre feeling very anxious.Instead of telling the employee to stop whining or to suck it up, back off a little bit and dial down your intensity, he advised.If possible, break down the project into smaller pieces to help them feel less overwhelmed.No bad news is not good news for team morale, said Murphy.Leaders who know whats going wrong in their operations generally have a higher career survival rate than those in denial, he said, adding that employees need to be comfortable enough with you to let you know when there is bad news.When it seems like the information flow in the organisation is weak or non-existent, be proactive and speak directly to the employees and ask them whats been getting in their way and how you can help fix it.Challenging your employees to reach for more is a cornerstone of great leadership. But you do want to guard against pushing your team so hard that they buckle under the pressure, he concluded.
Channel Seven newsreader Talitha Cummins is suing the network for unfair dismissal after she was allegedly sacked from her role while on maternity leave.



The 36-year-old claims that soon after her son was born the network informed her that she would not be returning to the role she had held for three years.



Cummins had expected to return to her weekend newsreader role but was offered a weekday 5am time slot instead. However, that time slot was not appropriate given the recent birth of her son.



HC contacted Channel Seven for comment.



Cummins has lodged a general protections application in the Fair Work Commission. She alleged Channel Sevens decision constituted an adverse action, according to The Guardian.



The case looks to be going towards conciliation before the commission in late January.



Prior to going on maternity leave, staff at Channel Seven seemed to be under the impression that Cummins was returning.



Co-host Monique Wright said on air: We cant wait for you to come back, it becomes very real now when you finish work.



Moreover, fellow co-host Andrew OKeefe told Cummins to make sure you come back and have another baby, because that cake looks fantastic.



Cummins has also been in the media spotlight for discussing her problems with alcoholism on the ABCs Australian Story.



I could hide my hangover and pretend everything was fine, she said.



At 6.30pm when I finished work, Id go straight to the bottle shop and buy two bottles of wine. Id usually go back there later and buy another bottle or two.



Id drink myself into oblivion, but you can only maintain that lifestyle for so long.






By Kirk Ross / Carolina Public Press

Legislators from Western North Carolina will exercise a substantial amount of oversight for the General Assemblys powerful committees during the 2017-2018 session.

State House Speaker Tim Moore of Cleveland County and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger of Rockingham County, both Republicans, announced their choices for committee chairs and other assignments for the 2017-2018 session of the General Assembly on Monday.

Earlier this month, the General Assembly conducted a one-day opening session to swear in members and elect the leaders for each chamber. Legislators return to Raleigh next week to begin committee work.

In the House, Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, was renamed as a main co-chair of the House Appropriations Committee, but this year Moore added two co-chair slots, so McGrady will be one of six co-chairs instead of one of four. McGrady was also named chair of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee.

Rep. Jonathan Jordan, R-Ashe, will also be managing multiple chairmanships. Jordan was appointed chair of the Homelessness, Foster Care and Dependency Committee and co-chair of the House Education Committee on Universities and Judiciary III Committee.

Rep. Josh Dobson, R-McDowell, will co-chair the Health Committee as well as the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.

Also in the House, Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Yancey, was named a co-chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.

House committee assignments are expected later this week.

In the Senate, Sen. Ralph Hise, R-McDowell, will serve as co-chair of the Health Care Committee and Sen. Jim Davis, R-Macon, was named co-chair of the Transportation Committee.

Berger also handed out committee assignments for the Senate, which has far fewer committees than the House.

Hise will serve on the Finance Committee, Davis will serve on the Health Care Committee and first-year Sen. Chuck Edwards, R-Henderson, was appointed to the Education, Health Care and State and Local Government committees.

Senator Terry Van Duyn, D-Buncombe, was appointed to the Transportation Committee.

Apodaca launches lobby business

One familiar WNC name not on the list of committee chairs is former Senator Tom Apodaca, who served as Bergers second-in-command and chair of the Rules and Operations Committee before resigning in July 2016.

That resignation started the clock on a required six-month pause before he could lobby his former colleagues in the legislature.

This week, Apodaca filed paperwork with the Secretary of States office setting up his lobbying business.

According to the filing, Apodacas Vista Strategies, with offices in downtown Raleigh not far from the legislature, will represent tobacco giant Altria, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, lottery equipment maker IGT, the N.C. Wine and Beer Wholesalers Association and Winston-Salem based insurer National General Management Corporation.

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Migri reveals in a press release that it specified its decision-making practices throughout last autumn based on current information from the source countries of refugees and on new rulings by administrative courts.

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has unveiled its updated assessments of the security and human rights situations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia.

The prevailing case-law is that Afghans, Iraqis and Somalis who have entered Finland as asylum seekers can be returned to their countries of origin unless they satisfy the personal grounds for granting international protection, it says.

Administrative courts, it adds, have rejected the majority of appeals against negative asylum decisions.

The Helsinki Administrative Court overturned almost one-quarter, or 23.7 per cent, of the contested negative decisions brought before it for consideration in 2016, the press release also indicates. Migri says the majority of the repeals were made on grounds of a change in circumstances that occurred during the appeal process, such as the production of new evidence, the occurrence of a change in the situation in the country of origin or the delivery of a new ruling by an administrative court.

Migri in its assessment acknowledges that the security situation in Baghdad, Iraq, has deteriorated, albeit not to the extent that would warrant granting international protection based solely on the conditions in the applicant's home region.

Also [the Supreme Administrative Court] KHO has ruled that applicants can be returned to Baghdad, it points out.

Mosul, on the other hand, is considered unstable to the extent that no applicants have been returned there since early last autumn.

Migri also estimates that no major shifts have taken place in the security situation in Afghanistan, with the situation continuing to fluctuate considerably both regionally and even seasonally.

The Immigration Service and the Helsinki Administrative Court are in agreement that it is possible to return to Kabul []. The Helsinki Administrative Court, however, has ruled contrary to the Immigration service that returns cannot be made to some provinces of Afghanistan, the press release reads.

Migri has consequently requested a ruling on the issue from the KHO.

No changes have similarly taken pace in the security situation in Somalia since the first half of 2016, the assessments indicate.

Unsuccessful applicants can be returned to, for example, Mogadishu, according to both Migri and the Helsinki Administrative Court. Migri will also look into the possibility of returning individual applicants to central and southern parts of Somalia and the conditions along their return route upon a request from the Helsinki Administrative Court.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Emmi Korhonen  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
A serial thief snatched an envelope full of Dublin Bus tickets and cash from an unattended hotel reception desk in a "classic case of opportunistic crime".

Seamus Rooney (54), who has 192 prior convictions, stole the tickets and cash worth 348 after walking into the hotel lobby.

Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned the case for payment of compensation for the stolen 120 cash after hearing the bus tickets had been recovered.

He said the accused was facing jail if the money was not paid.

Rooney, a grandfather with an address at St Mary's Mansions, Railway Street, in the north inner city, pleaded guilty to theft.

Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at the Academy Hotel, Findlater Place, Cathal Brugha Street, on October 3, 2016.

Gda Aisling Dillon gave evidence that Rooney entered the hotel and stole an envelope that had been left on the reception desk containing 120 in cash and 12 Dublin Bus tickets worth 19 each.

Rooney was later identified on CCTV footage from the hotel and the bus tickets were on him when he was located and arrested.

He had a total of 192 previous convictions, including many for theft and burglary.

Methadone

"This is a classic case of opportunistic crime," defence solicitor Declan Fahy said.

Rooney had a long history of drug addiction and had been on methadone for many years.

However, he was now off all drugs including methadone for the first time in his adult life.

He could pay compensation if given time, Mr Fahy said.

He accepted that the defendant had an "appalling record", but Rooney's last serious conviction was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2013 for robbery and the hotel theft had been a "lapse".

He was engaging with a drugs treatment project and a report presented to the court was "very positive".

However, Judge Smyth said the accused had been given a week to pay compensation on an earlier date and he had not done so.

Rooney had committed the offence last year and had "said he would have" the money.

Mr Fahy said the accused was not working, was in receipt of social welfare and would need more time to get the 120.

The judge adjourned the case to a date later this month, remanding Rooney on continuing bail.

"Given his history, if the money is not paid, he's looking at a sentence," Judge Smyth added.
Sales and marketing salaries should remain steady this year, with some increases depending on skillsets and experience.

Recruitment activity throughout last year was highest in and around Dublin, with many new roles emerging across brand management, channel marketing, communications, advertising and, in particular, digital and online marketing.

The Morgan McKinley 2017 Irish salary guide says blended skillsets in sales and marketing, by combining creativity with analytical competence - particularly an ability to use big data to segment markets for campaigns - are now in high demand.

Interest has also emerged for customer experience (CX) managers with e-commerce experience.

The report identified an average earnings gap of 20pc between male and female executives. This gap reflects a global rather than an Ireland-only trend.

Alternatives director Sandra Lawler (inset) says that with unemployment at 7.3pc - and continuing to fall - there will be a battle to hire top talent.

Lawler says the marketing skills most in demand this year include digital, CX, insights, data analytics, product development and innovation.

Languages

Strategic planning and brand and marketing management at mid- to senior level will continue to be sought, as will marketers with languages and a background in selling overseas.

Due to skills shortages, those with the in-demand skills will be able to pick and choose opportunities and the way they work.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted there will be no return of a hard border with the North as the British Prime Minister laid out her plans for leaving the EU.

Mr Kenny moved to ease concerns after Theresa May made a landmark speech outlining Britain's post-Brexit future.

Mrs May said that Britain will leave the European single market, but stressed that the Common Travel Area with Ireland would be preserved.

Mr Kenny said he has no reason to believe the Common Travel Area is under threat.

"We agreed when I went to Downing Street before that we will preserve the Common Travel Area.

Seamless

"That's something we want and will preserve. It doesn't just mean travelling for social reasons; Irish people travel to Britain and British people travel to Ireland, not just travel but also for work," Mr Kenny told RTE News.

"There'll be no return to the hard border which I call it, or as she says the borders of the past where there were customs post every 100 yards, we want a preservation of the seamless border that's there now."

Mrs May has signalled that Britain will not be looking for associate membership of the EU.

Mr Kenny said it had brought some clarity to the issue following the referendum vote last June.

"Well this is part of the journey that began on June 23 with the referendum and the Prime Minister declaring that Article 50 would be triggered by the end of March," he said.

"And then all of the conversation and confusion looking for clarity, so now the speech from the prime minister has brought clarity and some measure for what Britain is looking for in its new relationship with the European Union in the future."

However, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said Ireland should be wary of the difficult road that lies ahead.

"Britain is speaking softly but behaving and acting differently," said Mr Martin.

"I get a real sense we are heading down a very difficult road and hence the need for Ireland to argue robustly now to protect our interests, our jobs and companies." He said Mrs May's Brexit speech was disappointing and contained very little about Irish concerns.

"There is no mention of any special status from Northern Ireland, for example. In fact, it is going in the opposite direction."

Meanwhile, the party's jobs spokesperson, Niall Collins, said it is time for Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor to act.

"At the end of the day, the hard Brexit strategy being pursued by the British Government is very bad news for Irish jobs and all businesses who export to Britain," he said.

"At Government level, Minister Mitchell O'Connor, as the senior minister responsible for jobs and enterprise must immediately look at introducing transitional aid measures for enterprises impacted by the fallout from Brexit and currency fluctuations between the Euro and Sterling.

Commit

"Minister Mitchell O'Connor must immediately get government approval for transitional aid measures to safeguard Irish export jobs and businesses.

"The time for talking is over. Immediate enterprise stabilisation measures must be introduced and the Minister should commit to leading on this."

Earlier, a Government spokesperson said that Ireland will "vigorously pursue" businesses and EU agencies to attract them to Dublin.

"The Government notes that the British approach is now firmly that of a country which will have left the EU but which seeks to negotiate a new, close relationship with it," the spokesperson said.

"While this will inevitably be seen by many as a 'hard exit', the analysis across government has covered all possible models for the future UK relationship with the EU."

The Irish government said it is "very aware of the potential economic opportunities that may arise for Ireland" from Mrs May's planned hard Brexit.
Transcription

1 Northern Madagascar Explorer & Nosy Be

2 Discovery of Madagascar Northern Madagascar Explorer & Nosy Be 10 nights / 11 days Theme: Adventure & Beach

3 Madagascar Situated about 400km off the Mozambican coast, Madagascar is known as a Great Adventure destination. The island with its luxuriant vegetation, rich fauna and flora, offers unique discovery opportunities for nature lovers. Nosy Be is sunny all year round, with white sandy beaches and clear turquoise lagoons. Could this be your idea of paradise? Northern Madagascar Explorer & Nosy Be This tour visits the far North of Madagascar, starting by the historic town of Diego Suarez, formerly the largest French Port in the Indian Ocean, as well as the Grey and the Red Tsingy. A visit to the Madagascar s Oldest National Park, the Amber Mountain National Park an oasis of rainforest rising to nearly 1500m is also real highlight, the tour finishes in Nosy Be where you will enjoy a relaxing beach stay. Day 1: Antananarivo Diego Suarez Joffre Ville (1hr Flight & 45mn Transfer) After breakfast, transfer from your hotel in Antananarivo to the airport for your flight, upon arrival in Diego Suarez, transfer by road to Nature Lodge. You will then continue to Amber Mountain National Park which is the country s oldest National Park. Depending on your fitness levels and the climate you will visit the big waterfall, the sacred waterfall and have the opportunity to see lemurs, chameleons and birds. Dinner and overnight at Nature Lodge (or similar). with a picnic lunch Date Itineraries Route Activities Accommodation Meals Day 1 Tana - Diego - Joffre Ville Flight & Road Transfer Amber Mountain Nature Lodge LD Day 2 Joffre Ville Road Tsingy Rouges* Nature Lodge FB Day 3 Joffre Ville - Diego Suarez Road Emerald Sea Grand Hotel FB Day 4 Diego Suarez Road Windsor Castle Grand Hotel FB Day 5 Diego Suarez Road Ramena et Montagne des Francais Grand Hotel Day 6 Diego Suarez- Ankify Road Transfer Plantation & Ankarana Baobab Ankify FB Day 7 Ankify - Nosy Be Road & Boat Transfer Nosy Komba & Tanikely Nosy Be Hotel FB Day 8 Nosy be - Lokobe Reserve Nosy Be Hotel FB Day 9 Nosy be Boat Nosy Iranja Nosy Be Hotel FB Day 10 Nosy be Road Tour of the Island by 4x4 Nosy Be Hotel Day 11 Nosy be - Antananarivo Road & Flight Transfer - On request BB FB FB

4 Day 2: Joffre Ville Depart after breakfast to the Red Tsingy, a more delicate and very unusual version of the Grey limestone Tsingy found uniquely in Madagascar. The Red Tsingy are made of sandstone form beautiful shapes. After a picnic lunch, return to Nature Lodge. Dinner and overnight at Nature Lodge (or similar) lunch in excursion *Dry Season only. Day 3: Joffre Ville Diego Suarez (45mn - Transfer) Depart after breakfast for a visit to the Emerald Sea on the Indian Ocean side of Diego Suarez, lunch is served on a virgin island and there is the opportunity to swim in the clear waters or walk along the long expanses of white sand. Dinner and overnight at Le Grand Hotel (or similar) - lunch in excursion Day 4: Diego Suarez After breakfast, explore the Windsor Castle, so named because it is a rocky outcrop resembling a castle, it has a great view point over the Mozambique Channel, Indian Ocean and the bay of Diego. You will also be able to see many endemic plants and birds. Dinner and overnight at Le Grand Hotel (or similar) - lunch in excursion Day 5: Diego Suarez After breakfast, you will head north to Ramena and La Montagne des Francais for another full day excursion trekking and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Dinner and overnight at Le Grand Hotel lunch in excursion Day 6: Diego Suarez Ankify (5hrs Transfer) After breakfast depart for Ankify through Ankarana East where you will see the Grey Tsingy and most probably have a picnic lunch, then continue to Ankify while visiting various plantation like coffee, vanilla, cocoa, ylang ylang, pepper and more. Dinner and overnight at Le Baobab Ankify

5 Day 7: Ankify Nosy Be (boat transfer) After breakfast at the Baobab, you have a boat transfer to Nosy Be and on the way you will stop at Nosy Komba and Tanikely, two small islands near Nosy Be where you will spend the day, relax, bath and enjoy lunch etc. In the afternoon you will reach Hellville still by boat and then be transferred to your hotel. Day 8: Nosy be (Full day excursion) Visit of the natural reserve of sleeping lemurs, situated 7 km away from Nosy Be. At the port of Ambatozavavy, embark in a boat to the Lokobe Reserve. Enjoy an excursion in a traditional pirogue through the mangroves. The island offers excellent trekking possibilities and you will meet the village people. You will be served a typical meal. In the afternoon enjoy free activities. Day 9: Nosy Be (Full day excursion) After an early breakfast discover Nosy Iranja situated South of Nosy Be and on the North West of Madagascar. Day 10: Nosy Be (Full day excursion) Guided Tour in a 4 x4 vehicle and discover the North beach.visit of the traditional distillery of Ylang Ylang. Stop at a fishermen village. While taking isolated roads, you will pass by plantations of Ylang Ylang and coffee. You will discover desert beaches. You will be served with a Typical Lunch of lobster. Enjoy the sunset at Mont Passot. Day 11: Nosy Be Antananarivo (flight 1hr) Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Antananarivo, then connecting flight or onwards arrangements.

6 Amber Mountain National Park Set on a large volcanic massif rising from the dry savannah, Amber Mountain is an oasis of rainforest rising to nearly 1500m above sea level. This is Madagascar s oldest National Park having been created in 1958 and is the main water resource for this region of North Madagascar as it has 10 times greater rainfall than the surrounding savannah. The Park is a sacred area for the local inhabitants and offers an interface for them to convene with their ancestors in places such as the sacred waterfall. The park is easily accessible from both Diego Suarez and Nosy Be and is often visited on day excursions, The Flora and Fauna are typical of Madagascan Rainforest with 7 species on Lemur (including crowned lemur) and a host of birds including The crested Ibis and Forest Rock Thrush. Ankarana Special reserve The reserve covers and area of 18,000Ha and is a limestone outcrop of Tsingy (pointed shards of rock). Criss-crossed by canyons and replete with numerous caves, the park is a fantastic hiking area and has some great flora and fauna, much of which is endemic. Lokobe The only reserve of the island, Lokobe is an ideal reserve to discover a wide variety of birds, chameleons, lemurs, and snakes in the heart of endemic plants. Nosy Iranja Nosy Iranja is situated 30 miles on the South coast of Nosy Be and is divided in two islands Nosy Iranja Be (200 hectares) and Nosy Iranja Kely (13 hectares) which are linked by a path of white sand submerged during high tide. The Nosy Iranja Lodge is situated on the small island and offer a very good standard of accommodation.

7 Contact Us This sample itinerary is just a taster of a unique tailor made itinerary we can craft for you. At Worldwide Holidays we look forward to building your custom-made holiday. Because we regularly travel to our exotic locations, we know the hotels, local attractions, and transfers to suit every type of traveller. We look forward to tailoring the perfect experience for you. With over 50 species of lemur, 316 endemic reptile species, birds, flora and fauna Madagascar is unique, with amazing variety and diversity that can be found nowhere else on earth. Whether you are after adventure, beautiful beaches, deserts or a combination of Madagascar's highlights we can arrange the perfect luxury holiday to suit your lifestyle and budget. Phone: C4 Arena Business Park, Holyrood Close, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7FP
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
Washington County elections workers get ahead of the game

Washington County works ahead to count mail-in ballots before Election Day. About half of the state's 24 jurisdictions are also counting early.
Crafting a Music Career Part 4: Teaching High School

This series is divided into five parts:

Part 1  Preface: My Strange Path Through the Music World

Part 2  Building My Freelance Career

Part 3  How Sinking My Freelance Career Helped Me

Part 4  Teaching High School (what youre reading)

Part 5  Building My Portfolio Career

JUMP TO A SECTION OF THIS POST:

_____

Jumping into the Music Education World

So I decided to go into music education. What a wild ride!

I was entering this new profession at an older age (33) than most, and with a fair amount of attitude/expectation. I decided that If I was going to do this education path, I was going to crush it. I wanted to get the Chicago Symphony of education jobs.

Fortunately, I was in an area (suburban Chicago) with outstanding orchestra programs. Lots of great jobs. The only problem was that these jobs were all filled with qualified educators!

With a bit of horror, I realized that my qualifications as a performer didnt amount to a hill of beans for people in the education world. Thats not exactly true, but it was close.

Jobs opened up and I sent off my materials.

No response whatsoever.

I realized that, even though Id done a lot professionally in performance and at the university level (not to mention the online presence Id built), my resume was that of a new teacher with no experience. Those qualifications didnt matter to administrators.

I was despondent. All that time and money invested, only to discover that I was a novice teacher in this new world.

So what happened?

Looking back on it, it seems like a logical progression for someone like me, though it felt like a series of random occurrences while it was happening.

Isnt that how life works, though?

To me, its all about giving it your all and keeping those antennae up for the next right opportunity.

_____

Job No. 1  Orchestra/Band Assistant Director

One of my friends from college was the director of a strong suburban high school orchestra program. I had been teaching bass there for a decade. It was like home base for me in terms of private teaching. Id had many successful bass students graduate from the school. I even did my student teaching at this school!

It just so happened that a part-time job (with benefits) opened up in the music department. It was a great way to get my feet wet in the high-end (apologies for the terminologyIm not sure of a better term) world of music education.

In this job, I helped out with the orchestra program, co-directing the middle orchestra, plus doing band and orchestra sectionals.

These music teachers were good. I realized that I had stumbled upon an incredible opportunity. I was working alongside the best in the business. What could I learn from this experience? How could I maximize this opportunity?

I began to show up at 7 am every day even though I wasnt on the clock until 10 am. I would practice violin for an hour each day, getting my chops better for my sectionals.

I worked on my conducting all the time.

I read books, watched videos, and observed my fellow music teachers. I sat in on every conducting clinic I could find.

Score study became a part of my daily life. I worked on my transpositions. Could I see and identify harmonic progressions? Principal and secondary themes? Could I fix balance and blend? Identify problems?

I had never spent time conducting a large group.

Could I motivate them?

Keep them engaged?

Rehearse them effectively?

I began recording rehearsals and taking notes while listening back. Was I communicating effectively? Was I clear? Was I addressing what really needed addressing?

_____

Discovering My Dream Job

I began attending the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. This event is like the Super Bowl for school ensembles. Hearing the best groups in the country perform was incredibly inspiring.

Would I ever conduct at this event? That would be a dream come true.

The school at which I worked had performed with both their band and orchestra at Midwest. This was a really big deal.

I vividly recall seeing the other high school orchestra in our district perform. I was blown away. Heres a bit of their performance at Midwest:

This seemed like the ultimate orchestra job. Never in a million years did I think that Id end up being the orchestra director at that very school only a few years later!

My skills were improving in all areas as a music educator and as an orchestra director. I also had a couple years of experience in a strong program on my resume.

Heres the progression so far:

I had a lot of professional music experience but no public education experience.

This was not appealing to employers.

A program who knew me and understood what my experience would bring to their program hired me (this way my big break for my education career).

Now I had experience in a strong program. This is when my professional experience started to differentiate me.

How I was doing financially:

High school job: $43,000 (not bad for a part-time gig!)

Private students: $10,000

DePaul University: $8000

Gigs: $15,000

TOTAL: $76,000

I kept up a lot of my freelance work plus most of my private bass studio while I taught at this first job. That made for some super-long days, and I was still working seven days a week most of the time.

Keeping up the blog and podcast proved to be impossible for me. The demands on my time were enormous with the high school job, and my head just wasnt in that game anymore. I was focused on building skills in this new world and seeing how far I could go.

Average work hours: 60-80 per week

_____

Job No. 2  Orchestra Assistant Director and Electronic Music Teacher

Another suburban Chicago program expressed interest in me for an upcoming opening. This was a competitive full-time opening. The combination of teaching at the previous school plus my professional music resume put me over the top for that job.

There would have been zero chance of me getting this job without both the strong educational job Id had plus my professional music experience.

Evolving as a Conductor

This job gave me a chance to come into my own as a conductor, and it placed more responsibility on me administratively. The hours were longer but the pay was higher. As a result, I scaled back my freelancing and stopped teaching privately except for my DePaul students.

I also started to get more gigs as a guest conductor. I really enjoyed the conducting gigs and said yes to pretty much opportunity. As a result, more and more conducting gigs came in.

Teaching Electronic Music

I also got the chance to grow and develop a course in electronic dance music. This became a totally unexpected passion of mine, and I spent at least three hours a day making beats, creating virtual instruments, and exploring sonic textures.

Heres a link to a great article from the school paper about the electronic music program that we were developing.

I spent two years in this job. The electronic music experience was great, and I built up a large program. I was getting good experience in the orchestra job, but I was the assistant director and it was clear that his would be my role long-term.

I wasnt looking for a new job, but it was announced that the orchestra position at the other high school in my old district (the one that played Midwest) would be open.

This would be my dream job. I got my materials in on day one. It was another highly competitive audition experience, but I got the job.

I was on cloud nine. I began planning a trip to Spain for the following year. We hired an orchestra assistant for my new job. I spent all my free time picking out repertoire for the following year, watching old videos of performances from this school, and spending time at the school getting to know the students.

How I was doing financially:

High school job: $77,000 plus stipends = $83,000

DePaul University: $8000

Gigs: $8000

TOTAL: $99,000

_____

Job No. 3  Director of Orchestras

This job really was a dream come true. Maybe its a cheesy comparison, but for me getting this job was like getting into the Chicago Symphony. I put all my energy and enthusiasm this exciting new role.

That Id be filling big shoes was an understatement! The retiring director was one of those names that everyone instantly recognizes in the music education world. In fact, after mentioning that Id be replacing this director, the common response was big shoes to fill!

Rules for New Directors

I recall a colleague describing the four ways in which you could walk into a new gig. You were filling the shoes of someone who was:

Strong and well-liked. Strong and not well-liked. Not strong and well-liked (the worst one to follow). Not strong and not well-liked.

The strategy for following differs drastically. Fortunately, I was coming into a program with a strong and well-liked director.

Here was my general strategy:

Observe how the program currently worked.

Change little or nothing year one.

Each new year, make one change if needed.

If it aint broke, dont fix it.

My strategy at least.

I loved loved loved this job! Sure, the hours were long, and there are certain inevitable frustrations that youll encounter in any job. Those were small potatoes, though. You couldnt ask for a better bunch of colleagues and students.

I saw my life stretch out in front of my eyes.

Unlike the grey freelance existence that Id seen for myself before, this one seemed bright and full of possibility.

We played cool concerts. I bonded with the kids. We took trips. Worked in clinics. Got ready to go to Spain. All the busy machinations of a strong high school music program were in place.

Heres a favorite memory from one of our spring pops concerts. Note my acting appearance in the preview film!

One of the students put all of these visuals together and another student built out all the lighting cues. Just another example of how awesome these people were.

_____

My Wifes Shocking News

My wife found out that shed be doing four or five years in San Francisco as a radiology resident. This was at the University of California San Francisco, the top radiology program in the country. Pretty cool.

And it was in San Francisco! Also pretty cool. After 39 years spent enduring endless winters, San Francisco seemed like a cool change of pace.

But what about the dream job that I had? These jobs were incredibly difficult to get in any part of the country, and I quickly discovered just how different California was for education than Illinois. Jobs like I had were rare to nonexistent, and I couldnt find even one job even remotely related to orchestra in the entire Bay Area!

With my high school job, various stipends, DePaul, Elgin Symphony, guest conducting, and other assorted gigs, I was pulling in $120-130K easily.

So in addition to the whole satisfying career thing, there was the financial aspect.

Finally, there was the outrageous cost of living in San Francisco, which at that time was the most expensive place to live in the country.

_____

Big Life Decisions

I found myself back at that what do I do with my life? point:

Do I move out to San Francisco and try to get an education job? But what education job? There arent any that I can find!

Do I try to go back into freelancing? Nooooo!

Do I try to go into something else out there? But what? And start over? Really?

Do I stay in Chicago and do long-distance?

In the end, I decided to stay in Chicago and do long-distance. I know that we could afford to do that with our two salaries, whereas I had real fears about what the Bay Area would bring for me. Also, I couldnt conceive of giving up my dream job.

At the same time, my new orchestra had been selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic. This was a dream come true in my (albeit short) educational career. I really wanted to play at that event.

So I stayed.

I moved into a bachelor pad back in Evanston.

I prepared my group for the Midwest Clinic. They rocked it, by the way. Heres a recording of them at the event:

I kept myself busy with the myriad extra gigs I had.

I missed my wife dearly.

I got depressed and sat on the couch watching Netflix every night.

I began obsessively running.

I began to think over my options.

What the heck was I going to do?

Next time: Starting from Scratch  How Im Building my Portfolio Career

Part 1  Preface: My Strange Path Through the Music World

Part 2  Building My Freelance Career

Part 3  How Sinking My Freelance Career Helped Me

Part 4  Teaching High School (what youre reading)

Part 5  Building My Portfolio Career

I hope you enjoyed reading this! More articles like this can be found on my articles page.
The following is a guest post by Jahara W. Matisek. Jahara FRANKY Matisek is a Major in the U.S. Air Force, with plenty of combat experience flying the C-17 and an instructor pilot tour in the T-6. He is an AFIT Ph.D. Student in Political Science at Northwestern University, a recent Summer Seminar participant in the Clements Center for National Security, and Coordinator for the War & Society Working Group at the Buffett Institute. Upon completion of his doctoral studies, Major Matisek will be Assistant Professor in the Military & Strategic Studies department at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The opinions espoused in the essay do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense, or U.S. government.

How bad would the Russian cyber-hack have to be in your mind to make you reconsider Trump being allowed to become President on the 20th of January?

I posed this provocative question to 28 individuals[1] that are currently serving in the U.S. military,[2] or had served at some point.[3]

Depending on where you fall along the political spectrum and level of engagement, this question came off as a genuine question to some, and to others, it was perceived as a loaded/slanted question. Thing is, I intentionally asked this, not because I wanted a direct answer to the question, but because I wanted to understand the current sociological state of civil-military relations (CMR) relative to this incredibly divisive political election season. Understanding these answers can provide greater clarity to Peter Feavers civil-military problematique, where the very institution created to protect the polity is given sufficient power to become a threat to the polity. Indeed, it is right to openly wonder military attitudes concerning civilian control of the military under the pretext of political leadership that might be perceived as illegitimate.

Nonetheless, I was greatly surprised with the incredibly high percentage of responses from such an opening question directed at military personnel  given the contentious election and continued controversy. Even as a mid-level military officer, I was able to start with this type of question, and many opened up immediately  regardless of rank and position  telling me much more than I anticipated, to include about half of the respondents  on their own accord  admitting who they voted for.

So why ask a very narrow segment of American society this question?

A survey by the Military Times after the election, showed that 51 percent of active-duty troops supported their new president-elect, but that about a quarter of respondents were worried Trump may issue orders that violate military rules or traditions. My semi-structured interviews were intended to provide more clarity and texture to such findings.

In this context, each person I made contact with had a security clearance (or had one when they served). Having such a security clearance inherently gives most individuals a legalistic understanding and interpretation of laws and rules. Many individuals within this framework, perceive no gray area in behaviors and actions. Such binary thinking leads many to perceive any deed as either legal or illegal. Such an internalized sense of rules was surely to guide thinking (in my opinion at least) on Hillary Clintons past and the controversies surrounding Donald Trump before and after the election.

Second, it would have been incredibly sensitive to ask any of the military members (active duty especially) about their thoughts on whether they would disobey illegal or unethical orders from a future commander-in-chief, especially with some thinking Trump is illegitimate. Opening with my provocative question unlocked a window into the deeper thought processes of military personnel (to include veterans) to assess their present sociological state, understanding of presidential legitimacy, and comprehension of American institutional processes.

Finally, as there are two main branches of CMR, I felt it necessary to consider which one is more salient in the 21st century, or if there needs to be a third branch to account for the current state of CMR in the U.S. and other liberal Western states. The first branch, an institutional approach established by Samuel Huntington in The Solider and the State (1957), contended that the military was much more conservative and illiberal in many ways when compared to society, making it a threat to government unless civilian leadership could foster military professionalism in conjunction with objective control of the armed forces. The second CMR branch founded by Morris Janowitz in The Professional Solider (1960) was a sociological approach that agreed somewhat with Huntingtons assertion concerning a difference between civilian society and military culture, but Janowitz believed that convergence between both spheres would solve civil-military strife.

Given the level of convergence (or lack thereof known as the civil-military gap) between society and the military, to include Americas apathy towards its perpetual war  has the U.S. military become so institutionally isolated from society that it is embedded within the state? In essence, has the U.S. military moved beyond Feavers civil-military problematique via institutionalization; posing no threat to civilian leadership even if leaders might lack legitimacy?

Trends in Responses from Military Personnel

I identified three major trends from the 28 respondents, concerning the election outcome and controversies.

Resentment: Almost half of the personnel I interviewed did not answer the question directly. Instead they immediately deflected the question by blaming Hillary Clinton, launching into interesting tirades against her and the wrong direction the country has been taken by democrats, republicans, media, etc. Such responses were illuminating because these individuals also told me who they voted for without asking (support split between Donald Trump and Gary Johnson). Nonetheless, it is sociologically important to understand this sort of frustration and resentment directed at the political system, especially by individuals responsible for guarding said system and entrusted with national defense.

Faith in Institutional Procedures: Most individuals that did answer the question directly stated that if Trump had colluded with Russia and/or if votes had been altered, they believed Congress would need to take action in both cases. First, if Trump had conspired with Russia, many believed that Congress would need to initiate impeachment hearings. Second, if votes had been altered resulting in a fraudulent election, then many believed Congress would need to order a new election. These answers indicate that most military personnel have an attachment to the institutional and legalistic processes that dictate how the government operates, to include the procedures that are supposed to sustain rule of law in government.

Apathy: Despite many offering comments about correcting the possibility of an illegitimate presidential election, most expressed a sense of helplessness and inevitably. For example, a high ranking officer admitted that even if Trump had colluded with Russia and votes had been altered that its almost impossible to stop the train at this point. Similarly, a lower ranking officer expressed similar sentiments, stating were full speed ahead at this point and it would look worse to renege everything thats happened the past month with him contacting world leaders and picking cabinet members. Such remarks from personnel in the armed forces indicate a subconscious attachment to the polity and its civilian leaders, regardless of issues pertaining to legitimacy. It also indicates a professional adherence to military and civilian institutions, which invariably defaults towards a normative deference for civilian control even when Trump might possibly pose a danger to CMR.

Entering a new paradigm of post-Civil-Military Relations?

Answers from these respondents seem to indicate that we have entered a post-Civil Military Relations era. Deference to political institutions and civilian leaders is so embedded within the mindset of military personnel that there is an instinctual reverence for the institutional framework built into the military. Despite personal feelings, such leaders and institutions are impersonally accepted despite their legitimacy being at stake.

If there is such a new era of post-Civil Military Relations in the West, where militaries no longer pose a threat to the government regardless of its validity, then perhaps the CMR literature needs to shift towards a new conceptualization of how political and military leaders interact. Perhaps a third branch of CMR literature should adapt to how Douglas North et. al. conceptualizes states in the world as either Open Access Orders (OAOs) or Limited Access Orders (LAOs). Only 20% of countries are OAOs, where there is open access in organizations and the rule of law is applied in a rational-legal manner throughout society. The rest of the world is made up of LAOs, where dominant coalitions of elites personally control the state and economy and focus more on securing rents and loyalty, all while trying to limit internal threats to the regime.

The election of Trump makes CMR incredibly more interesting because in other parts of the world, military coups are sometimes a reflection of popular will, where democratic backsliding compels the military to intervene, attempting to reign in a leader becoming more authoritarian (e.g. Egypt in 2013, Turkey in 2016, etc.). Even if Trump were to rollback democracy in America, it is highly doubtful the U.S. military would intervene given its institutional embeddedness in a rational-legal system (i.e. OAO), indicating that we might have transitioned into a post-Civil Military Relations phase.

[1] Response rate of 28 out of 30.

[2] I queried male and female personnel that were enlisted or officers. While most respondents were primarily drawn from the U.S. Air Force, some individuals had experience in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Army. I guaranteed each individual anonymity.

[3] Responses from ranks as low as E-3 and as high as O-6 (e.g. Colonel), to include a retired General. Personnel in the reserves and national guard were also included.
The capital's endless twists on white, slender rice noodles.

In 1960, Vu Bang dedicated an entire chapter of Hanoi Delicacies to the towns special relationship with bun (pronounced boon!) a noodle the world at-large likely knew nothing about.

This is one dish that truly belongs to Hanoi, he wrote in his seminal book on cuisine in the capital. I can't imagine a single Vietnamese has ever passed up, much less disliked, a meal based in bun.

The oft-employed translation rice vermicelli fails to impart the versatility of this dynamic noodle which you may find swimming in snail soup, holding together spring rolls or hiding (semi-fermented) below piles of grilled meat and herbs.

At one point, wise Hanoi cooks chopped Tet leftovers into an attractive melange for a final feast they called bun thang.

Bun is all things to all people in Vietnam, but the world knows it best as bun cha.
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Investing in EU bonds is investing in the future. We are sowing the seeds today, so we can harvest growth, jobs, and prosperity tomorrow.
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China trade has been a boon to the US, China, and the world. By: Scott Sumner

Heres Ryan Avent:

ECONOMISTS are realising that they have got some things about trade wrong in the past. Just because trade can make everyone better off, doesnt mean it will, for instance (at least without some help from politicians). That new research, and this years political ructions, are generating some reflection on these issues among economists is a good thing. But it is important to maintain ones perspective. Tim Duy has not done that, I think, in this stemwinder of a post on the effects of American trade policy. He quotes Noah Smith, who says: [I]n the 1990s and 2000s, the U.S opened its markets to Chinese goods, first with Most Favored Nation trading status, and then by supporting Chinas accession to the WTO. The resulting competition from cheap Chinese goods contributed to vast inequality in the United States, reversing many of the employment gains of the 1990s and holding down U.S. wages. But this sacrifice on the part of 90% of the American populace enabled China to lift its enormous population out of abject poverty and become a middle-income country. And then writes: Was this fair trade? I think not. Let me suggest this narrative: Sometime during the Clinton Administration, it was decided that an economically strong China was good for both the globe and the U.S. Fair enough. To enable that outcome, U.S. policy deliberately sacrificed manufacturing workers on the theory that a.) the marginal global benefit from the job gain to a Chinese worker exceeded the marginal global cost from a lost US manufacturing job, b.) the U.S. was shifting toward a service sector economy anyway and needed to reposition its workforce accordingly and c.) the transition costs of shifting workers across sectors in the U.S. were minimal. Before closing: I dont know how to fix this either. But I dont absolve the policy community from their role in this disaster. I think you can easily tell a story that this was one big policy experiment gone terribly wrong. I think Mr Duy is getting the story wrong in a few important ways.

Im not too happy with the way Ryan frames the issue. The first sentence seems to imply that economists didnt understand the second sentence of his post. But virtually every EC101 textbook published in the past 50 years tells students that trade benefits the US overall, but that specific groups in import-competing industries are hurt by trade. Thats not a new insight. Otherwise I think Avents post is excellent, and well worth reading. My only other quibble is that I think the Smith/Duy posts are much weaker than even Ryan suggests, for reasons Ill discuss below:

1. Much of the recent discussion, including posts by Noah Smith, are based on a misinterpretation of research by Autor, Card and Hanson, which I discussed in multiple posts. Autor, et al, provide cross-sectional evidence that areas of the US that were most affected by competition from China did relatively poorly. Many people (including, at times, the authors) misinterpreted that finding as suggesting that the overall impact on the US was negative. But you cannot draw macroeconomic conclusions from a cross-sectional study. They showed that areas most impacted by China trade did relatively poorly (a finding I accept) but their study told us nothing about the macroeconomic impact. It would be like trying to draw macro conclusions about fiscal multipliers by looking at state level multiplier effects. Monetary offset anyone?

2. At times, Autor seems to suggest that China trade might have hurt the US by boosting our trade deficit. First, its not clear that China trade does boost our trade deficit (which is based on saving and investment flows), but lets suppose it did. What then? Here it might be worth comparing the US to the Eurozone, which has a massive current account surplus, far larger than Chinas surplus. I did so in this post, and found that Europe has experienced almost exactly the same sort of decline in manufacturing jobs as the US. So trade deficits dont seem to be the culprit.

3. But its even worse. Their study looked at data from 1990-2007, when the US was not at the zero bound. Paul Krugman pointed out that monetary offset would have been expected to apply during this period, and thus that the Fed would, as a first approximation, expand monetary policy enough to offset any job losses from falling AD due to trade deficits.

Just to be clear, Im not saying China trade might not have produced some net job lossone can tell stories where workers losing jobs in manufacturing arent able to find jobs in the service sector because of a lack of skills, and hence the natural rate of unemployment rises. But the natural rate has not risen. A better story is that somehow China has contributed to workers simply exiting the labor force, and not even looking for jobs. Maybe, but as well see, China is probably not the right target, even if that theory is true.

4. I wonder why there is so much focus on China. Its true that about 20% of our imports come from China, but about 80% come from other areas. About 20% of our imports come from Europe, and a much higher figure from NAFTA (Canada plus Mexico). Are Chinese exports particularly toxic? The best argument in favor of that proposition is that Chinese exports were unusually fast growing, and thus unusually disruptive. I agree. But there are many other arguments that cut in exactly the opposite direction:

a. The goods we buy from Europe and NAFTA tend to be goods that we would otherwise produce at home, like cars and other sophisticated manufactured goods. In contrast, the goods we buy from China are often goods that would otherwise have been bought from other countries in East Asia, and elsewhere. This is not always true, but its certainly true on average. When China opened up to the world, lots of production shifted from the so-called Asian Tiger economies to Mainland China. There is no way that industries like clothing, shoes and toys were going to stay in America. If we did not buy these goods from China, we could have bought them from other Asian countries. Today thats probably even true of more sophisticated goods like laptop computers and iPhones.

b. Also keep in mind that China is often simply an intermediary. The important components might be made in Korea or Taiwan, and then sent to China for assembly. The data may show massive growth in imports from China, but the actual value added in China may be much less than the official growth figures. But then how to explain the rapid growth in trade?

c. Chinas entry into the world economy occurred just as technology like container ships was dramatically reducing the cost of trade, and boosting trade as a share of global GDP. Some of the fast growth in Chinese exports over the past few decades would have instead come from other East Asian countries, or even Mexico, if China has stayed a closed economy. In other words, correlation does not prove causation. How much was trade liberalization, and how much was cheaper trade costs?

d. Chinas exports to America were rising very fast even before the trade reforms such as WTO, which Tim Duy refers to. Im not disputing that the reforms boosted trade further. But only a portion of the effects found by Autor, et al can be attributed to the WTO, a big part is simply the fact that China had a huge comparative advantage in lots of industries, and the cost of trade was falling fast.

Now lets suppose that all of the preceding arguments made above, and also by Krugman are wrong. And not just a little bit wrong, but 100% wrong. Just how bad might China trade actually be? Whats the worst case?

Start with the fact that we imported $466 billion from China in 2015, about 2.5% of GDP. Im not going to argue that 2.5% of GDP is a small number, its not. But can that possibly be all cost? Wouldnt you want to at a minimum look at our exports to China (I view that as a cost, BTW, but mercantilists often see it as a benefit)?

More importantly what about all the goods we get from China? Walmart and Target stores are a cornucopia overflowing with Chinese goods, which provide great benefits to Americans living on modest incomes. Surely that counts for something, indeed quite a lot. Id say it means the US is a net gainer from trade, but lets say Im wrong. And lets continue to assume that all of my preceding arguments are utterly without any merit. You are still left with 2.5% of GDP, minus any benefits you attribute to exports to China, minus the undeniably vast benefit to consumers from access to Chinese goods. Thats is, 2.5% of GDP minus a number that is almost certainly quite large.

Now contrast that with the rhetoric in the Smith and Duy quotes. Smith refers to a sacrifice by 90% of Americans. Where does this number come from? Well over 80% of Americans are in the service sector. Many others are in construction or export industries. When coal miners or policemen or fireman or teachers or construction workers or Boeing employees or nurses or cashiers go shopping at Walmart, and load up on Chinese goods, precisely how are these groups being devastated by China? I dont get it. Smith seems to be assuming that everything that has gone wrong in America since 1990 is due to China. OK, thats hyperbole, but isnt the 90% figure he cites equally exaggerated?

In other posts Ive pointed out that in industries like steel and coal the vast majority of job loss is due to technology, not trade. And of the modest part of job loss that is due to trade, only a modest part of that is due to trade with China (particularly if you keep your eye on value added, and Chinas role in a global supply chain that often starts in other East Asian countries.)

And Id say the same about Tim Duys remarks. I believe the China trade is a good thing. The China growth story since 1980 is literally the best thing that has ever happened on the last 4.6 billion years on planet Earth, and Chinas opening up to foreign trade is an important part of that story, albeit far from the whole story. (It might be helpful here to think of the worst thing that has ever happened, and then imagine its exact opposite.) The cost to America would have to be mind-bogglingly large in order for this not to have been a wise policy, even if our role in Chinas growth were modest (which it was.). I share the view of most economists that the US has actually benefited from China trade. But even if there had been a small net loss, how could it possible be set against the obviously vast benefits to extremely poor Chinese from global trade?

Ryan Avents post is well worth reading, but if anything I believe he understates how far off base Smith and Duy are in this case. To summarize:

1. The problem isnt trade, its automation.

2. If trade is a small part of the problem, its not China: its the other 80% of exporters.

3. If China imports are a tiny part of the problem it mostly reflects deeper changes in East Asian supply chains, and nothing specific about China.

4. And only a small part of that tiny part of the problem is the WTO, a lot of it is cheaper shipping costs and Chinas powerful comparative advantage in many industries.

5. Chinese goods are a huge boon to low income Americans.

6. If trade really did boost inequality, the way to fix that is with redistribution and/or weaker IP laws, not protectionism.

7. The argument for protectionism is exactly the same as the argument for Ludditism. It hurts society overall, but helps certain groups hard hit by change. Is that what we want? Do policies that make America poorer also make America great again?

I got into blogging in 2009 because I was upset about how monetary policy errors were devastating working class Americans. Id be really upset if I thought the China complaints were true. But no one (including Autor, et al) has given me a scintilla of evidence for the sweeping claims being made.

PS. There are many more arguments to be made. Those struggling coal towns in West Virginia would be hurt by protectionism against China. Those struggling lumber areas of Oregon (Duys home state) would also be hurt, as we export both coal and lumber to China. The more you drill down into the details, the weaker the argument against trade becomes. Construction in the US would be hurt as well, as I>S by exactly the amount of our current account deficit.

PPS. EU exports to the US are slightly below Chinas, but if you add in exports from Switzerland, and other non-EU countries, then Europes exports would be about the same as Chinas.
The New Year has begun on a familiar template for India-Pakistan ties: talks and terror cannot go together, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi put it.

In other words, the possibility of resuming a bilateral dialogue remains slim, at least till the assembly elections in five states are over.

The reasons are simple: For both India and Pakistan, ties with each other are linked to domestic politics in some way or other.

Modi was unambiguous while laying out his governments policy towards Pakistan at the Raisina Dialogue, a conference on geopolitics hosted by India annually.

I had also travelled to Lahore. But India alone cannot walk the path of peace. It also has to be Pakistans journey to make. Pakistan must walk away from terror if it wants to walk towards dialogue with India, Modi said at the opening session on Tuesday.

Any move by Delhi that would appear to be soft on Pakistan is not something the Modi government can afford at this time, especially after a series of terror strikes India blamed on the neighbour.

For the nationalist BJP government, its carefully crafted credentials of dealing with Pakistan and terrorism firmly are a unique selling point to voters in the five states. The government projects its Pakistan policy as an indicator of its decisiveness and diluting it ahead of the elections wouldnt be politically prudent.

The Modi government has been on a diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and it is using every available forum to achieve the goal.

The same holds true for the Pakistan government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistan will go for general elections in 2018 and Islamabad cannot afford to appear to be buckling under pressure and give in to what it says are unreasonable demands by India, such as putting conditions on talks and talking tough on the Indus water sharing issue.

The Pakistan army, which has always played a crucial role in determining the countrys India policy, has just got a new chief and it would take a while to know how this would play out in the internal dynamics of the neighbouring country.

During the last elections, Sharif had batted for better ties with India.

Though elections in both countries cannot be fought in the name of each other, the complex history of their relationship shows one thing: There is no escaping the domestic politics in their ties.

The best possible icebreaker to end the logjam appears to be the neighbour hosting the SAARC summit, which was postponed after India pulled out citing Islamabads continued support to militant groups.

Not so long ago, Modi had invited all SAARC leaders to his swearing-in ceremony. And then he made a high-risk, unannounced visit to Lahore, which many believed could be a game-changer in bilateral ties. Pakistan responded by allegedly sending more terrorists across the border.

Islamabads tactics this year could very well determine the future of the ties between the two countries. Best fences always dont make good neighbours. Dialogue and trust do.

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What is the foreign policy legacy of Barack Obama, who won a Nobel peace prize not for his accomplishments as US president but for the expectations his entry into the White House aroused? Obama is receiving glowing tributes from many Democrats and establishment commentators for his record in clinching deals like the Paris climate change agreement, the nuclear accord with Iran and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But these deals are already under threat from his successor, Donald Trump.

More significant is the fact that many of Obamas own supporters believe the Nobel prize to him was a mistake. He got the prize in the hope that he would be fundamentally different from his predecessor, George W. Bush. Yet, paradoxically, Obama  the supposed peacemaker  turned out to be a mirror image of Bush on foreign policy.

To set himself apart from Bushs aggressive hard power approach, Obama campaigned to become president on a foreign-policy platform of smart power. Yet in office, Obama relied heavily on raw power, waging serial military campaigns from Somalia and Yemen to Iraq and Syria and initiating targeted killing of even US citizens with suspected ties to terrorism. Obama championed a nuclear-free world only to quietly pursue an extensive expansion of the US nuclear arsenal.

Indeed, if one disregards his softer tone in comparison with Bushs strident rhetoric and examines his record, it becomes apparent that Obama was even more interventionist than Bush. Last years military data, for example, shows that the US dropped more than 26,000 bombs in seven countries. This happened under a president who, while deploring the ethos of might makes right, told the UN that right makes might.

Read: Indias NSG membership cant be Obama administrations farewell gift: China

In truth, Obama, like Bush, paid little heed to international law  or even American law  when it came in the way of his overseas military operations. For example, Obama did not seek UN or US congressional authorisation before launching an air war in Syria. In fact, he speciously justified his bombing campaign in Syria by relying on the unrelated congressional authority that Bush secured to go after those who planned, authorized, committed or aided the 9/11 attacks.

In Libya, the success of the 2011 US-led operation to topple Muammar Gaddafi quickly bred chaos and mayhem. Obama will be remembered in history for demolishing Libya in the same way that Bush unravelled Iraq. The collapse of the Libyan state has created a jihadist citadel at Europes southern doorstep.

Obamas CIA-led, regime-change operation in Syria, although unsuccessful, contributed to plunging another secular Muslim autocracy into jihadist upheaval. Obama indeed presided over the birth of the most potent terrorist organisation in modern history  ISIS, which still controls large tracts of territory in Syria and Iraq even 29 months after Obama began an air war against it. As John Kerry has admitted, the Obama team viewed ISISs rise as a possibly useful development to overthrow Bashar al-Assad, only to see it grow into a monster.

Read: Obama shortens sentence of WikiLeaks source Chelsea Manning

The rise of this hydra-headed group represents just the latest example of how successive US presidents have been fighting the consequences of their own short-sighted policies. The US has first trained and armed non-state combatants in breach of international law, calling them freedom fighters or the opposition. Then it has branded the same militants as extremists and terrorists and waged war on them. This was the story of Al Qaeda, made up largely of CIA-trained freedom fighters who turned on the US and whose leader, Osama bin Laden, was killed in an Obama-ordered raid deep inside Pakistan.

But American presidents rarely learn from history: Obamas own creation of moderate rebel forces in Libya and Syria has backfired. Obamas legacy also includes millions of uprooted refugees from the states in which he intervened, especially Syria.

Stuck in the old paradigm, Obama did not seek to alter the geopolitical framework governing US foreign policy. He did not change even the Bush-era Afghanistan strategy to use aid and other inducements to prod the Pakistani military to go after the Haqqani network and get the Afghan Taliban to agree to a peace deal. With Washington clinging to a failed Pakistan policy, the longest war in US history still rages in Afghanistan.

Obamas legacy will be defined as more war than peace. Obama embraced drone attacks with such alacrity  authorising 506 known strikes, compared to the 50 strikes under Bush  that he was dubbed the Drone President. By dramatically boosting US weapon exports, Obama also distinguished himself as the greatest arms exporter since World War II.

Read: Barack Obama leaves office: Highs and lows in India-US ties during his tenure

From torture and drone strikes to regime change, Obamas troubling legal legacy mirrors Bushs. In fact, both Obama and Bush dramatically expanded the executive branchs power and authority in the realm of national security, including waging war.

During Obamas tenure, as during Bushs, the world not only became less peaceful but also Americas relative decline appeared to intensify. For example, in handling China  Americas principal long-term geopolitical rival  Obamas policy unambiguously advertised US weakness, including allowing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea to go scot free. Unlike Russia  still the top concern of the Washington elites  China sees itself as superior to the rest of the world and seeks to regain its fabled Middle Kingdom status.

Ominously, Obama has handed down to Trump more theatres of war than he inherited from Bush. Add to the picture the deep political polarisation in America over Trumps election and the threat the establishment perceives from Trumps out-of-the-box thinking on several sensitive subjects  from Russia and NATO to trade and one China policy.

Rarely before has a president assumed office in a major democracy with the deep state and mainstream media so unwelcoming to him. If critics succeed in crimping Trumps presidency, Obamas legacy will look better than the actual record.

Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist and author.

The views expressed are personal
The expert committee led by Lieutenant General (retd.) D.B. Shekatkar has recently submitted its report to the Defence Minister. The committee, composed mostly of retired senior military officers, was appointed in May 2016 and was tasked with looking at Enhancing Combat Capability and Rebalancing Defence Expenditure. Among its many recommendations is the appointment of a single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister. Since Manohar Parrikar has already spoken of his desire to move in this direction, the recommendations of the Shekatkar committee assume greater importance.

The committee has reportedly recommended the new post should be a four-star appointment  equivalent to those of the service chiefs. This top four-star officer is envisaged as a coordinator, who will not impinge on the operation or administrative functions of the military chiefs. The creation of such a post should be accompanied by the integration of the service headquarters with the Ministry of Defence. However, the committee has apparently recommended against integrating the three services into joint commands. This is seen as an American model tailored for expeditionary role rather than homeland defence and hence unsuitable for the Indian context.

Read: PM Modi, Parrikar to decide on chief of defence staff role next month

While the committees recommendations are well-intentioned and such reforms long overdue, the proposed institutional design is deeply problematic.

The idea itself is hardly new. The Group of Ministers (GoM) following the Kargil Review Committee called for the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as a single-point military adviser to the Defence Minister. This stemmed from the lack of integrated planning and operations between the services during the Kargil War. In fact, this is a problem that has plagued the armed forces in every conflict since 1947. The appointment of a CDS was expected to usher in top-down integration among the services and better coordination between the services and the government.

The Vajpayee government created a new joint headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS). But it baulked at appointing a CDS and instead appointed a Chief of Integrated Defence Staff who would run the HQ IDS until the CDS was appointed. This half-baked solution persists to date. In fairness, HQ IDS has managed to bring a degree of coherence to issues like procurement and joint doctrine. But this is hardly adequate. More importantly, it has allowed the political leadership to perpetuate an illusion of reforms while continuing to resist the appointment of the CDS.

Then again, in the early years after the GoM report, the services themselves were a divided house on this question. In particular, the air force resisted the creation of a CDS  apparently on the grounds that it would pave the way for institutional domination by the army. This came handy to political leaders and bureaucrats in deflecting questions about their own unwillingness to institutionalise the system. Towards the end of the UPA-II government, the three service chiefs jointly wrote to the prime minister expressing support for the creation of a CDS.

Read: Army responded appropriately to acts of aggression: Defence minister Parrikar

Meanwhile, the government had appointed another committee led by Naresh Chandra to examine why the GoMs recommendations of were not fully implemented and to suggest a new road map for national security reforms. This committee suggested that instead of a full-fledged CDS, the government appoint a permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee with a fixed tenure. By giving the chairman a fixed term of, say, two-years, it was hoped that he would have enough time to work on key issues of integration between the services. Now the Shekatkar committee has come up with another halfway house.

Any institutional solution along these lines is unlikely to deliver the necessary levels of integration. If the CDS does not outrank the service chiefs, then his ability to function as the single-point military adviser to the government will be undoubtedly circumscribed. At best, it will amount to an incremental improvement on the existing HQ IDS. Worse still, it will yet again create the illusion of progress and delay real reforms for years at end. The idea that such reforms should be imposed gradually or piecemeal is seriously mistaken. In most countries that have achieved institutional integration, the process has been driven politically from on high.

The CDS must be empowered fully. There should be no doubt about his being superior in the chain of command to the service chiefs. The appointment should be followed by the setting up of integrated theatre commands. For starters, the supply and logistics commands could be integrated. The claim that such theatre commands is only required for expeditionary forces is specious. It is an indispensable prerequisite for ensuring jointness in war fighting. Simultaneously, the service chiefs should prepare to relinquish operational control over the services and become what their titles suggest: chiefs of staff, primarily responsible for raising, equipping and training of the forces. The chain of operational command should run from the Defence Minister through the CDS to the integrated theatre commanders.

Read: Suspense builds over chief of defence staff post after Bipin Rawats elevation

The advocates of compromise solutions miss the point that something is not always better than nothing. As the case of HQ IDS shows the half-life of such institutional short-cuts tends to be very long. More worryingly, it helps anaesthetise the system and masks need for real reform. Enhancing the combat capability and effectiveness requires full-blooded measures. It would be sad if the government perpetuates or aggravates the problem by using palliatives. It would sadder still, if the government were forced to consider real reform by another external crisis.

Srinath Raghavan is senior fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi

The views expressed are personal

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In Iraq and Syria, U.S.-led coalition forces are making progress in the fight against ISIL, including in two crucial areas: killing its leaders, and taking back territory.

The U.S Defense Department announced this month that a Syria-based Islamic State leader, Mahmud al-Isawi died in a coalition airstrike in Raqqa on December 31. Al-Isawi was a long-standing ISIL member who controlled the flow of instructions and finances between ISIL-held areas and ISIL leaders, and provided support to propaganda and intelligence outlets. Al-Isawi was also known to have facilitated trans-regional travel with other ISIL external operations coordinators and had a close relationship with Abd al-Basit al-Iraqi, the emir of ISILs Middle East attack network, who was killed in a coalition airstrike on November 2, 2016.

Al-Isawis death brought the number of significant ISIL leaders killed last year to 16. These losses, as the Defense Department said, have degraded ISIL's trans-regional attack and facilitation network, and are forcing ISIL fighters to increase their focus on internal security.

In a press briefing from Baghdad, U.S. Airforce Colonel John Dorrian, Spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, also noted the progress being made in liberating territory from the terrorists.

In Syria, he said, the Syrian Democratic Forces are continuing their advance to isolate Raqqa:

Since this current phase began on December 9th, the SDF have liberated more than 500 square miles of Syrian land, home to tens of thousands of people who have been brutalized by ISIL's rule.

In Iraq, Colonel Dorrian noted, Iraqi security forces, with the help of coalition airstrikes and advisers are making progress in their operation to liberate Mosul:

The city is completely surrounded and the enemy doesn't have the ability to resupply or reinforce their fighters.

Colonel Dorrian said as difficult and dangerous as the fight for Mosul is and will be, Time is not on the enemy's side, it's on the side of the Iraqi security forces and they are going to retake Mosul.

ISIL is a brutal and determined enemy. But the U.S.-led coalition and the local fighters it supports will keep intensifying the pressure until Syria and Iraq are free from ISILs gruesome grip.
For generations now, hard currency was not just a store of value but it has value by itself. In the mind of a farmer or a day labourer a bunch of notes is the equivalent of a seasons crop or a days work or a bag of grain for the family. Notes have a visual meaning even if they lie, without safety, below the mattress or in the cupboard of the house, in rural India. If anything changed in the visual meaning it was only the relative nostalgic value (i.e. what could a 10 note buy a person 20 years ago v/s what it buys now).

The visual impact of currency has also been part of the cultural front. As an example, the prevalence of gifting odd numbered denominations ( 51, 101, 501 etc.) at weddings and other events as indicators of relative social standing is commonplace in several parts of India. The recognition that such denominations are auspicious is taken for granted. In parts of north India, a mistaken touch of a mans leg to a note is followed by touching it to the forehead to cleanse it. Currency notes are still part of worship at festivals among certain communities.

Numbers in an e-wallet or smartphone clearly do not have the same cultural significance, yet. The current challenge with digital money, which has received significant spurt in volumes post the recent demonetisation, is that it remains at the level of basic awareness in many parts of the Indian hinterland.

Read: Manipurs Karang is Indias first cashless island

In one stroke, demonetisation has shifted gears for digital money from discretionary, urban focused spends to more pervasive low volume daily spends across the spectrum, primarily due to relative shortage of alternatives. The persistence of this change remains to be seen. Doubtless, there are important economic benefits (move from informal to formal sector, increase in tax base etc.) and by banks and digital operators for its convenience and usage based benefits. The pitch is so far on utilitarian grounds, in essence. At least in rural and semi-urban areas, the cultural and social role of hard currency is yet to be fully tapped.

The relevance of the cultural linkage and the rootedness of cash lies in the speed and manner which any alternative digital format will get accepted in the hinterland of India where even the utilitarian aspects of digital money are limited as of now. For a cash-heavy society no one expects a full transition to digital money, however adoption can change dramatically if digital money starts trickling into cultural and social aspects of life. This is made harder by the fact that cash has been there for generations as an indicator of wealth, prosperity and social standing. Except for the current generation, no one has seen or experienced an alternative form of cash such as credit/ debit cards which have picked up pace only over the last decade or less.

Read: Cashless rural economy can spur demand for traditional banking

A parallel can be drawn from the fate of e-book readers like Kindle, in India and its impact on printed books and publications. While the e-book reader has begun making inroads largely in urban areas, the traditional printed book remains a dominant medium across the country. Even if the cost of e-book readers is ignored, the strong cultural and social connect between readers and printed books has played a silent role in the relatively slow adoption of e-readers.

Getting digital money deeper into the cultural milieu especially in rural and semi-urban areas will not be easy, especially now  when the effort is first to create basic comfort and acceptance of the medium. Cultural acceptance is clearly a second stage but an important stage. It would at the least involve a mapping of symbols and references around cash. There could be a need to create visual symbols or representations of digital cash which can begin to replace the current cultural value of cash. It may also mean creating completely new cultural symbols around digital money. The process of cultural assimilation of digital cash could be prolonged but it would result in a more sustained usage environment over time.

Nilesh Shrivastava heads the financial institutions investments portfolio for IFC in South Asia covering India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries. The views expressed in this piece are personal.
The electoral battle between the two former army officers on the Patiala assembly seat turned murkier on Tuesday with Punjab Pradesh Congress President (PPCC) Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday asking Gen JJ Singh (retd), who is Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate, why he did not resign from the army after Operation Bluestar, if he is so concerned with Punjab and Sikhism.

Hitting back, the General said, Who is Amarinder to judge me? Be it in the army or politics, Amarinder is an absentee and thus he has no right to do any type of assessment of mine.

While it is the first election of Gen JJ Singh, Amarinder has declared that it would be his last electoral battle. Reacting to the Generals remarks that the Congress was responsible for Operation Bluestar and that SAD defends rights of Sikhs, Amarinder lashed out on the latter and termed him a thankless person.

General is a thankless person. JJ Singh was an average cadet and a bogus man who became chief of army staff due to his seniority, not because of any caliber. Having been made the army chief and then a governor by the UPA, he is now claiming to have been upset by Operation Bluestar, exposing himself to be the fraud he is, said Amarinder.

General must answer why he had not resigned from the army, if he is so critical of Operation Bluestar, which he is citing as the reason to join SAD? he asked.

In response, Gen Singh said, Amarinder has spent only two years in the army, that too without facing any bullet or fighting in the field. He never went to a battalion, but remained attached with senior officials. He added, I have faced battles of 1971, Kargil and other operations. Amarinder has no right to judge me. Whatever I have achieved came due to my hard work, honesty and extraordinary services... Amarinder has no role to comment on my service.

Gen Singh said Amarinder was misleading the public by claiming that he had fought in the 1965 battle. He had never gone on any front. He has neither fired nor faced a single bullet whereas I have fought from the front. Before questioning my credentials, Amarinder should come clean on his track record in the army. He was an absentee army man, absentee CM, MLA and MP as he never met public in his entire life. He has no right to judge me, he said.

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Controversial BJP legislator Sangeet Som was on Wednesday charged with instigating communal hatred in his constituency in Uttar Pradesh after his supporters screened a documentary that allegedly polarised voters.

On Tuesday night, police seized a pen drive and a vehicle from his supporter, Shekhar, and a driver in Alamgir Faridpur village. Police charged them under section 188 of the IPC and booked Som under the Peoples Representation Act.

They were accused of screening the documentary glorifying Som in his constituency, Sardhana, without seeking the nod of the Election Commission.

The documentary purportedly showed Soms role in the Bisada and Kanth incidents, and his arrest from Salawa village after the Muzaffarnagar riots, thereby projecting him as the saviour of the Hindus.

The BJP MLA was booked under the National Security Act in connection with Muzaffarnagar riots and had visited Bisada village of Dadri after a mob lynched a Muslim man on suspicion of consuming beef in September 2015.

He also participated in the partys movement in Kanth in Moradabad where two communities came face to face over the removal of a loudspeaker from a temple during Ramzan.

Villagers, who informed police about the documentary, claimed it was screened deliberately to instigate communal passions.

A team of officials examined the contents of the 20-minute documentary and found it unfit for screening.

SP (rural) Shravan Kumar Singh said Soms aide had taken permission for an election campaign, but did not seek required certification for the content of the documentary.

The model code of conduct is in place in Uttar Pradesh, which goes to polls in seven phases --- from February 11 to March 8.
Rohit Shekhar, the son of senior Congress leader from Uttarakhand Narayan Dutt Tiwari, on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Tiwari accompanied Shekhar when his son joined the BJP, sparking media reports that the veteran politician too had joined the party.

Shekhar in 2014 won a six-year old legal battle and persuaded Tiwari to accept that he was his son. He was born out of an affair between the politician and his mother Dr Ujjwala Sharma..

Tiwari, 91, is a three-time chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, one-time CM of Uttarakhand and also held a gubernatorial post and several key portfolios in various Congress governments at the Centre.

His presence can help the saffron party in Kumaon region, a stronghold of chief minister Harish Rawat.

Rohit may be fielded from Lalkuan or Haldwani assembly constituency. Tiwari will not contest the election, a BJP source said.

Tiwari was seeking ticket for his son from the Congress party, too, and had recently extended support to Akhilesh Yadav following the family feud in UPs ruling Samajwadi Party.

He had an unceremonious exit from Raj Bhawan of Andhra Pradesh after a CD featuring showing him in compromising position with women was aired by a local TV channel.

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Congress vice-president president Rahul Gandhi chartered a plane to visit Dera Radha Soami Satsang in Beas on December 17 last year. His security personnel cooled their heels outside the mammoth dera as Gandhi spent a night there along with Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh. Though the dera with a large and powerful following has remained avowedly apolitical, politicians have been flocking it in the hope of garnering votes by sheer association.

With elections around the corner, politicians of all hues are beating a path to various deras in the state, which have increasingly become a place of political mobilisation for the candidates.

Also read | Know the sects, and where and why they matter

Punjab is home to more than 9,000 deras, according to a 2007 study by Prof Ronki Ram of Panjab University. While the apolitical Radha Soami dera cuts across caste and religion, many other prominent deras, such as Dera Sachkhand Ballan near Jalandhar, cater to a large number of Dalits, who are an important vote bank comprising 33% of Punjabs population against the national average of 16%.

FROM BIPOLAR TO TRIANGULAR CONTEST

With the state moving from bipolar polity to a three-cornered contest with the entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), every vote counts, and deras are a way of ensuring Dalit votes en bloc. Saying that deras provide a religio-caste space for politics to function, Pramod Kumar, director, Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), says it is common knowledge that deras helped the SAD-BJP combine win 11 seats in the 2007 polls, and 20 seats in the 2012 elections. This time, he claims, they will play a decisive role in at least 37 constituencies.

Dr Ashutosh Kumar of PUs political science department says deras will be the deciding factor between the AAP and Congress. Explaining the importance of the deras, and the blind loyalty of their followers towards the dera head, he explains: They not only provide a space that promotes associational relationships between different castes, but also undertake societal reforms and social work. For instance, they forbid the consumption of liquor.  And the dera heads are the spiritual guides of their followers.

Dr Jagroop Singh Sekhon, head of political science department, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, calls deras the ATMs of vote banks, which started exerting their influence on voters after the terrorism period.

Dr Ashutosh recalls how the Akalis, who were on a losing wicket in Moga in 2012, went on to win the seat after the Sirsabased Dera Sacha Sauda mandated its supporters to vote for Akali candidate Joginderpal Jain on the polling day. In fact, the Sirsa (Haryana)-headquartered dera announced candidatewise support in 35 constituencies of the Malwa region in the 2012 polls.

OF BLESSINGS AND SUPPORT

While the Shiromani Akali Dal doesnt publicly seek the support of deras as they are considered anti-Sikh by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for upholding a living guru, it has given tickets to Kabir Das and Satpal Mal, pointsmen of Dera Ballan, the seat of the Ravidassia community.

Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and deputy, Sukhbir Singh Badal, have also been consistently visiting Dera Radha Soami. Revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia is married to a relative of the dera chief, claims Dr Ashutosh, even as the dera refuses to be drawn into any kind of political discourse.

Even in the case of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, Nurmahal, which is facing a legal wrangle because of its late head Ashutosh whose body lies frozen, the Akalis have not taken a stand but for providing security to the dera. The Akalis have, in fact, stayed ahead in the dera game, by allying with Panthic deras such as Nanaksar near Raikot. Earlier, in 2011, the CM spent the night at the dera of Sant Baba Harnam Singh in Rampur Khera, Hoshiarpur.

Damdami Taksal, the Sikh seminary at Chowk Mehta, which was once headed by radical leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, is aligned with the SGPC, controlled by the Akali Dal.

Congress, however, took the lead in tapping deras for the 2017 polls when Amarinder began his stint as the state unit president by touring several deras, such as Beas, Ballan, Nurmahal, and Dera Dhesian, besides Namdhari headquarters Bhaini Sahib and Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale in December 2015.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal too has been making the rounds of the deras. The latest was his visit to Dhadrianwales dera near Patiala after its chief was attacked at a village near Ludhiana.

Union minister and Punjab BJP head Vijay Sampla, a Dalit, is also in favour of approaching deras for political support. We will go to the deras and we will go openly, he said, alluding to the earlier practice of soliciting the support of deras in a hush-hush manner.

Whether the deras will be as open in their support to any party or candidate remains to be seen.

Strap: While all political parties are courting and counting on myriad of deras in Punjab, these religious sects vote banks will play a crucial role in a closely fought triangular contest in the state. The dera vote could be a swing factor in at least 37 of the 117 constituencies.
Returning to home city to begin his new political innings, Congress Amritsar East candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu has said he is not here to fight personal battles but with a mission to change Punjab.

Earlier, Sidhu was given a rousing welcome by Congress leaders and workers, who lined up along the roads as he took a round in an open vehicle.

I have no personal enmity with anyone. Punjab has been pushed into a mess and we all need to get together to make this state prosperous again, Sidhu said.

I will reveal my agenda on January 20 and aim is to change Punjab and bring out a plan to rid Punjab of chitta. A state known for the Green Revolution is now known for chitta. Those responsible for this will be taught a lesson.

Upping the ante against deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal, the Congress candidate and the star campaigner for the party said, Some people constructed Sukhvlas on the dukh (sorrows) of the people of Punjab. I will expose everyone and open their pol. I am here to fight for Punjab and not to settle personal scores. I want to tell that it is time to stay united to change the face of Punjab. I am here to turn Punjab from behaal to khushaal.

Sidhu paid obeisance at the Golden Temple. On a question how many seats he predicts for the Congress party, he said people will decide that. The threetime MP from Amritsar said he was thankful to the people of Amritsar for all their love and support. I can leave anything but not Amritsar, he said.

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The BJPs second list of candidates for Uttar Pradesh assembly election is stuck following a tug of war between allies, turncoats throwing tantrums and a lack of consensus on seats sought by veterans for their children.

Even after several rounds of meetings, the Bharatiya Janata Party has not been able to decide the number of seats it will allocate to two of its allies - Apna Dal of Union minister Anupriya Patel and Bharatiya Samajwadi Party of Om Prakash Rajbhar.

The elections will be held in seven phases in February and March.

Both the parties have a base in eastern Uttar Pradesh and have influence among OBC communities - Kurmis and Rajbhars. The BJP has been traditionally weak in the eastern region and is banking upon the alliance partners to woo the backward classes. Eastern UP is a Samajwadi Party stronghold area.

We want to leave maximum 20-25 seats for allies. Their demand is much higher, a BJP leader involved in negotiation with the two parties told Hindustan Times.

Anupriya, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Mirzapur, had initially sought about 50 seats for the Apna Dal faction led by her, but later scaled it down to about 30 seats. Her mother, Krishna Patel, is the leader another faction of Apna Dal and is being wooed by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Rajbhar, too, wants about two dozen seats for his party. He met BJP chief Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday and left his ally worried with his subsequent meeting with Samajwadi Party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav.

The BJPs Uttar Pradesh in-charge Om Mathur held a closed-door meeting with Rajbhar later to sort out issues.

Rajbhar was told by the BJP that he can get maximum half a dozen seats, a source privy to the deliberation said. He has refused to accept.

The BJPs plan to keep its allies in a limit has its genesis in Bihar, where its alliance partners were given a sizable number of seats in the 2015 assembly elections but did not do well.

The BJP had fielded candidates in 157 out of 243 seats, leaving 86 seats for allies - LJP Ram Vilas Paswan, RLSP of Upendra Kushwaha and HAM of Jitan Manjhi. These three allies could win just five out of 86 seats they contested.

We paid a price in Bihar, we dont want its repeat in Uttar Pradesh, a BJP general secretary said.

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It goes without saying that grandchildren share a special bond with their grandparents. Nil Battey Sannata actor Swara Bhaskar recently gifted her grandmother Rama Sinha a new haircut. And as per Swara, her grandmother is totally loving her new look.

The actor shares that her 75-year-old nani is weak, and her arms pain a lot when she tries to move them much. It aches when she tries to comb her long hair daily. So when she came to Mumbai to attend a relatives wedding, Swara decided to give her a haircut.

Swaras grandmother showing off her chopped braid. (Swara Bhaskar)

Yes I got my nani a haircut. Shes been wanting a boy cut for some time now and I didnt want her to go to a random place. So I booked an appointment with Sapna (Sapna Bhavnani, celebrity hair-stylist) and got it done. It was the first time in 75 years that she cut her hair. Sapna was pretty nervous and kept asking Aunty are you sure you want to go that short? But my nani was very adamant that humko boy-cut chaahiye (I want a boy cut only), Swara smiles.

Actor Swara Bhaskar with her nani, and celeb hair-stylist Sapna Bhavnani.

The actor is happy that her grandmother is looking stylish after the cut. Nani is looking very stylish these days. Though my cousins ragged me about it and were like Kaisi grandchild hai, naani ke saarey baal katwaa key show off kar rahi hai! (What kind of a grandchild are you who has not just given her nani a haircut but is also showing it off), adds Swara of Tanu Weds Manu fame.

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A rape case has been registered against Bollywood film producer Karim Morani for allegedly raping a Delhi-based woman on promise of marriage, police said on Wednesday.

Hyderabad: Police register a rape case against Film Producer Karim Morani  ANI (@ANI_news) January 18, 2017

The woman, aged around 25, lodged a complaint with Hayathnagar Police under Rachakonda police commissionerate last week alleging that Morani had raped her in Mumbai and at a film studio here in 2015, DCP (LB Nagar Zone) Tafseer Iqubal told PTI.

She accused Morani of raping her on different occasions in Mumbai and here by promising to marry her. The alleged incident took place during 2015, the senior police officer said, adding We have taken up the investigation.

Following the complaint a case under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation), 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and other relevant sections of IPC has been filed, the DCP said.

Further probe is on, said the officer. Morani could not be reached for comments.

Morani has produced 2013s hit film Chennai Express starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.

Morani is said to be close with Shah Rukh. He has also produced Ra.One, Yodha and Dum, according to a report in IBTimes.

This, however, isnt Moranis first run-in with law. In 2011, he was under scanner for the 2G spectrum scam as well. Actor Salman Khan had come to his support and said that he wont believe Karim is guilty until proven so. Karim and I have worked together for many concerts. I have even carried his bags to locations, he had said.

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The Jaipur Literature Festival is a unique and joyous celebration of writing that has grown into something far bigger and more wonderful than anything we could ever have hoped when we first conceived this festival exactly a decade ago. From only 14 guests turning up in our first year, most of whom were tourists who took the wrong turn; in 2007 we had a big enough crowd nearly to fill the Diggi Durbar Hall.

About 500 people came in 2008. Last year, we had over a third of a million footfalls. The success of Jaipur has inspired a whole galaxy of nearly 90 other literary festivals not only in India but in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and now Burma. We are as surprised as we are proud of this.

Poet-novelist Margaret Atwood at JLF last year. (HT archive)

All events are completely free; there are no reserved seats for grandees; our authors mingle with the crowds and eat with them on a first-come, first-served basis. People also know that when they come here they will have a lot of fun. As Time Out put it nicely, Its settled. The Jaipur Literature Festival is officially the Woodstock, Live 8 and Ibiza of world literature, with an ambience that can best be described as James Joyce meets Monsoon Wedding.

But the scale and reach of the festival is something that still takes us all aback. When we ask an author to come to Jaipur, they very rarely say no, and this year we are proud to present a galaxy of the worlds greatest writers and thinkers, including constellations of Harvard, Yale, Oxbridge and St Stephens faculty as well as glittering cohorts of Booker, Pulitzer, Sahitiya Akademi, Vodafone/Crossword and Samuel Johnson winners  completely for free. Its like a super-university pitching it tents in Jaipur for five days and opening its doors to all comers.

Noble laureate VS Naipaul at a session during JLF 2015. (HT archive)

Anyone who wishes to see the draw should visit Jaipur railway station one evening and see all the book-loving students camping on the platforms. They may not be able to afford a hostel bed, theyve found ways of getting to Jaipur from Tamil Nadu, Assam and Kashmir and super-charge their minds. Our audiences are the youngest, brightest and most enthusiastic of any festival I know.

This year we have so much to offer that it is difficult to know where to begin. My colleague Namita Gokhale has written eloquently on the extraordinary list she has put together in all its multi-linguistic glory. I am equally proud of my international list which this year is, I believe, the most cerebral, intellectually-stimulating and high-powered weve ever fielded.

Indian American author Jhumpa Lahiri attended JLF in 2014. (HT archive)

We have gathered talent from across the globe  from Jamaica to North Korea and Tasmania to Zimbabwe  to present writers of genius as diverse as the war correspondent Dexter Filkins , the economist Ha Joon Chang and the amazing European aesthete and polymaths, Roberto Calasso and Neil MacGregor. We import some of the worlds most admired playwrights and novelists, including Mark Haddon,

David Hare and Man Booker Prize winners Alan Hollinghurst and Richard Flanagan as well as arguably the worlds greatest living archaeologist, Barry Cunliffe. We delve deeply into areas of world literature we have so far failed to explore, notably the novelists and poets of the Caribbean, Turkey and Iran, while returning to examine eternal classics such as the work of Homer, Ferdowsi, Yeats, Nabakov and the Thousand and One Nights.

Girish Karnad and Naseeruddin Shah during JLF 2015. (HT archive)

We will explore a vast range of subjects from the history of scent to the rise of the Trilobites; biography from Jack the Ripper to Queen Victoria via Napoleon and Anne Boleyn; tales of the spice trade to the eruption of Krakatoa; we look at Jamaican rap and mediaeval mystic poetry and the art of film and screenwriting and ask whether the page is mightier than the screen; we probe the reason for the Fall of Rome, the dilemmas facing Edward Snowden, KGB assassination techniques and the secrets of the Panama Papers; the agonies of Syria and the pleasures of Ottoman Istanbul as well as enjoying the decadent swagger of the Rolling Stones 1970 World Tour. Come and join us: its going to be an incredible few days.

Click here for our full coverage of The Jaipur Literature Festival 2017.

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Try not to think about people who are writing facile things on the Internet. Remember the radical ancestor poets who have gone before, especially those who receive less acknowledgement than they should have, those whose genius was insufficiency recognized. When you feel paralyzed by the pointlessness of temporary fashion, or when dull or predictable work is lauded, try new things that will surprise you as you work for the joy of the process, remembering that all a writer needs are four true readers and one of them can be a tree.




Ryan Gosling and Emma Stones La La Land has many remarkable visuals that stay with the viewers long after they leave the theatre. The Indian viewer gets one such moment at the beginning of the film, when we see a brown girl leading its opening number, Another Day of Sun. A little research later, we found the girl in the yellow dress - Reshma Gajjar - whos been mentioned in movie reviews everywhere (The New York Times calls her the ingenue in the yellow dress). Brunch spoke to the very talented actor and dancer tracing her journey from her Indian roots to the stages of La La Land and beyond.

Growing up in the best of both of worlds

Reshmas parents immigrated to the United States in the 70s from Ahmedabad and settled down in northern California. Like all first-generation Indian Americans, Reshma grew up balancing two very different cultures and growing up being equal parts Indian and American. She told us, I appreciate how hard it was for my parents to hold onto and instil their values in me even though they completely clashed with the American way. I feel I really got the best of both worlds.

Studies first, dancing later

Reshma says she started dancing when she started walking. But even then, she didnt think of it as a career option till much later. A scholarship to The Edge Performing Arts Center brought her to Los Angeles but as per a promise to her parents, she continued her college education. I signed with an agent after my graduation performance from The Edge and started working professionally as a dancer and actor. Eventually I got that college degree, too, in business law, she shared.

Reshma bonding with the crew while shooting

Auditions and more auditions

According to Reshma, La La Land captured the life of a struggling artist in LA perfectly. The audition scenes made me laugh and cry because they were so accurate. You really are on display, willingly making a fool of yourself. There is often a feeling of disconnect from everyone in the room. You put your heart and soul into an audition and then walk away knowing you have to let it go. Jobs are uncertain, relationships are sacrificed and finances are unstable. However, Ive never been to a party where someone dove into a pool from three stories up!

From freeways to the Golden globe red carpet, what the dancer life looks like:

Reshma was among the skeleton crew that helped shape up the choreography for the film and was selected by the Golden Globe winning director, Damien Chazelle, to play the girl in yellow. Explaining the shooting schedule, she said, Outside of the many hours it took to conceptualise, plan, and create the choreography, it took about a week to rehearse and two days to shoot Another Day of Sun. There was so much to coordinate, between the dancers, cars and cameras. It was 104 Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) on the freeway overpass, and the cars were hot to the touch. The monitors and production were hidden from view far away from me, which made the moment feel more real, like I was really alone, stuck in traffic, with my dreams.

Jimmy Fallon matched steps with Reshma during his opening act at this years Golden Globes (Dana Wilson)

Once a dreamer, always a dreamer

Reshma found a spot in Jimmy Fallons opening act at the recently held Golden Globe awards. That and the international recognition La La Land has received makes her feel awesome. She shared, Its not surprising to me that La La Land has such a wide appeal. Ive received a lot of positive feedback from people, expressing how excited they were to see a brown girl open a Hollywood film such as this. I believe it makes the movie feel more inclusive. Even though the story identifies with Los Angeles and those that live here, I think on a fundamental level it is relatable to everyone, everywhere, who dreams.

From HT Brunch, January 18

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Idea Cellular, the telecom company run by the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Aditya Birla Group, has moved telecom tribunal, TDSAT, against the telecom regulatory authority of India (TRAI).

The move comes after Sunil Mittal-promoted Bharti Airtel moved against the telecom regulator in December over issues against Reliance Jio, Mukesh Ambanis telecom startup, offering free services.

Two calls by this reporter to Ideas corporate affairs head went unanswered. The listing on the tribunals website doesnt disclose any details, however, industry insiders said that the matter can be similar to Airtels.

Airtel had moved the tribunal urging it to look into the matter on TRAI allowing Reliance Jio to continue with its free internet services beyond the stipulated 90-days time period, and called the regulator a mute spectator in the matter.

The violations of TRAIs order, Airtel alleged, has caused significant prejudice and day-to-day loss to it business and has also burdened its network because of free calls offered by Jio.

Any kind of free services has a negative impact on the revenue and margins of the industry, said Mittal. He added that the free services has given rise to unfair competition.

TDSAT, a quasi-judicial body in its last hearing directed TRAI to come to a conclusion in reasonable time.

Reliance Jios free services has already started a price war by offering free data and free voice for life to attract customers. Throw in the new investment numbers of Rs 30,000 crore, which Ambanis investment in the telecom venture to Rs 2,00,000 crore by end of this fiscal, the price war will only increase.

The recent slash -- by almost 66% -- in data rates has also impacted Ideas stock prices, which is trading at a 52-weeks low. Bharti Airtels stock is also in the list of the top losers on the Nifty 50.

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At 59, Sunil Bharti Mittal is perhaps fighting the biggest battle in his lifetime. It is against Mukesh Ambani, Indias richest man who is committed to infuse another $4.4 billion (Rs 30,000 crore) into his telecom business. He has already spent $25 billion.

Mittal, chairman and managing director of Bharti Enterprises, which runs Airtel, is not ready to give up pole position in the $35 billion Indian telecom industry.

Ambani wants to reach 100 million subscribers by March 2017 -- it is already at 72 million, adding six lakh every day, the company clams. That would also make Jio the worlds fastest growing company by number of users, faster than Facebook, Google and Whatsapp in their first year.

But, Reliance Jios 100 million users would also be little less that Airtels 259 million Indian user base, and Mittal would want to keep his lead over Ambani, even it means taking a hit on revenue and profitability.

Ambani has started a price war in the Indian telecom business by offering free data services and free voice calls for life to its users, until March 31.

That is the biggest reason of worry for incumbent telecom operators, who are already under heavy debt due to roll out of 4G network and buying airwaves. The cumulative debt of the industry is Rs 3,85,000 crore.

The last time there was a price war, when Tata Teleservices started one-paisa-per-second tariff in June 2009, the combined market capitalisation of telecom fell by 37% to Rs 1,62,300 crore in six months.

Sunil Mittals resilence

In the past six months Airtel has slashed data prices by 66%, and so have some of the other operators. For its new users on 4G, the new battleground for operators, it is giving Rs 9,000 worth of data free for the first 12 months.

Airtel will spend in the tune of $3.2-3.5 billion in 2016-17 in 4G roll outs and services.

While all the top three operators are gaining share, Bharti Airtel is pulling ahead of Vodafone and Idea Cellular, driven by its lead on data roll outs and spectrum edge, writes Deepti Chaturvedi in her report for equity consultancy CLSA, November.

The report also mentioned, the top three incumbent players gained market share, which went up to 75%. Reliance Comm lost the highest revenue market share at 1.3% to a mere 4.2%, driven by migration of its CDMA subscribers.

In a January report CLSA named Airtel as its top pick, and wrote that Mittals company would gain from spectrum lead and execution.

Last week, Mittal said, Free services will impact revenue and margins... However, of all the telecom operators, we are the least impacted.

Meanwhile, Airtel has also moved the telecom tribunal, urging it to direct the telecom regulatory authority of India to put an end to Jios free services, a hearing of which is due on February 1.

Airtel has also rolled out its V-Fibre network, based on European standards, to offer faster internet speeds at home. It is also launching unlimited internet-based voice calls at Rs 148 for a month to counter Jios free voice calls offer.

Mukesh Ambanis gambit

Ambani has already spent $25 billion in building Reliance Jios infrastructure, applications and offering the services for free to its users.

It has raised another $4.4 billion from right issue. The company is expected to use that money to dole out more freebies in order to gain market share.

So far, most of Reliance Jios users are using its service as a second SIM, which might be Ambanis biggest worry, as it would lead to a low ARPU game. ARPU is the average revenue per user, where Airtel is the leader.

Jios free service is gaining reasonable traction with 26% using it as primary SIM and 21% as secondary SIM. 55% of the surveyed users find Jio speeds higher than that of other telcos, writes Sachin Salgaonkar , research analyst at DSP Merrill Lynch.

Salgaonkar added, Voice calling is still an issue (with Jio) with only 22% have no problems at all. 32% users indicated that they use Jio as it is faster and 28% as cheap. Interestingly, 67% said they will use Jio as secondary SIM/dongle and 18% will use as primary one when Jios free offer ends.

Ambani has, however, indicated towards a bigger problem with other telecom operators. Jio continues to face interconnection congestion issues with some of the large operators on account of inadequate provision of points of interconnection (POI) capacities even months after commencement of services by Jio. The POI capacity provided by these operators is still way below requirement and is falling short of the customer addition pace of Jio, resulting in quality of service issues for Indian customers, he said in a statement, on Monday.

The telecom war between two of Indias most formidable businessmen -- Mittal and Ambani -- has just started to take control of multi-billion dollar telecom industry.

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US President-elect Donald Trump does not make India-born Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella nervous, and he is confident about the tech giants place as a job creator.

Were a US-based company that operates worldwide and our predominant employment is in the United States, Indian-American Nadella told CNNTech at the Digital Life Design tech conference in Munich on Monday.

Weve already created a tremendous amount of high-paying jobs in the US.

Microsoft employs over 113,000 people worldwide, more than 64,000 of whom are in the US, mainly in Washington state, according to the company.

But Nadella said Trumps ascent to become the President has not changed the road map much for Microsoft.

If anything, well double down on what weve always done, which is be a US company that operates in the United States very responsibly, but also being a multinational company that contributes into every country that we work in.

In the wake of Trumps win in the November 8 election, companies are eager to play up the number of Americans they employ, CNN reported.

Companies like Amazon have made very public announcements about the jobs they expect to add, with messaging that seems to be in direct response to the real estate magnates win.

Last month, the President-elect met with Nadella and 12 other technology titans in a bid to heal rifts and get them on board with his programme of creating more jobs and increasing investments in the US.

Trump, who had slammed the technology sector during his campaign for exporting jobs and manufacturing overseas, hailed them as an amazing group of people, and promised them, I am here to help you folks do well.
The National Company Law Tribunal on Wednesday dismissed a contempt petition filed by two Cyrus Mistry family companies against Tata Sons and its directors, alleging violation of NCLT directives in taking steps to remove him from the board of Tata Sons.

The bench, however, gave liberty to the Mistry family companies to file an affidavit within three days on the issue of Tata Sons holding EGM on February 6.

Pronouncing the operative part of the order, a division bench of NCLT said, the contempt petition is dismissed.

The bench was of the view that the action of Tata Sons did not amount to contempt of court.

In their petition, Cyrus Investments Ltd and Sterling Investment had also sought injunction against the Tata Sons barring them from convening or holding of the EGM scheduled for February 6, 2017 or any other date or from transacting any business thereat.

Though the contempt plea was dismissed, the bench gave liberty to Mistry family companies to file an affidavit within three days on the issue of Tata Sons holding EGM on February 6.

Tata Sons was also asked to file a rejoinder, if any, three days thereafter.

NCLT kept this matter for hearing on January 31 and February 1 when the main petition filed earlier by the two Mistry companies against Tata Sons would be heard.

The earlier petition had challenged Mistrys removal as the chairman of Tata Sons alleging bad practices, oppression and mismanagement in the holding company.

NCLT, on December 22 last year had refused interim relief and posted the main petition for hearing on January 31 and February 1. Today, the tribunal clubbed the issue of holding EGM of February 6 along with the hearing of the main petition.

Meanwhile, the Mistry companies filed a contempt plea with NCLT against Tata Sons alleging that the respondents committed a breach of an NCLT order of December 22 by giving a special notice on January 3, 2017, for removal of Mistry as a director of the board of Tata Sons, in the clear violation of the order.

It sought punishment for Ratan Tata, other directors of Tata Sons and trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabjee Trust -- N A Soonawala, R K Krishnakumar and R Venkatramana -- under the Contempt of Court Act which provides for simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine of Rs 2,000 or both.

Last October, Tata Sons removed Mistry as its Chairman, nearly four years after he took over the reins of the over USD 100 billion salt-to-software conglomerate.
American coffehouse chain Starbucks is making its future bets on Indias large tea-drinking population.

On Wednesday it introduced Teavana speciality teas in 88 of its stores in India. We are looking at attracting newer customers with our focus on tea, and are looking to double tea sales at our Starbucks stores, Sumitro Ghosh, CEO of Tata Starbucks, told PTI.

Starbucks was already serving nine varieties of tea, and will double its tea offering with its new range, the company added.

To throw in some numbers -- an average Indian drinks two cups of tea in a day, and Starbucks will become the only coffeehouse chain to offer a large variety of tea in its cafes. Indias domestic tea consumption is 900 million kgs of tea.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Teavana is an American specialty tea retailer present in over 400 locations across the US, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Middle East.The speciality tea retailer was acquired by Starbucks for an estimated $620 million in 2012.

With Teavana, Starbucks hopes to change the way Indians drink tea -- usuallym round the street at what is called a tapri or a corner tea stall -- through its range of premium offering.

Starbucks started in 1971 in Seattle, Washington, and since then has come up as the worlds largest and most successful coffeehouse chain. In India, it has an equal partnership joint venture with Tata Beverages, part of the Tata Group, which has recently been in controversy over the ouster of former chairman Cyrus Mistry.

That doesnt change Starbucks growth plans in India. Howard Schultz, chairman and CEO of Starbucks during his visit to India last year said that there is major business opportunity in India.

Since Starbucks launched its operations, local rival Cafe Coffee Day has been facing a lot of challenge, as a large number of young Indians have gravitated to the American rival.

However, Starbucks is not alone in its race to get tea-drinkers into a cafe -- Chaayos, Chai Point, Tea Trails and Tea Point are have also opened tea cafes.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Move over Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai. Congress supporters in Uttarakhand have found their own bewafa or unfaithful in senior leader Yashpal Arya, who severed his 40-year association with the party to join the BJP on January 16.

The Congressmen are posting and sharing on social media Rs 2,000 and Rs 10 banknotes with Yashpal Arya Bewafa Hai scribbled on it in Hindi  a spoof of the original that trended in November with Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai written on an old Rs 500 bill.

Much like the real thing that appeared to be a jilted lovers way of getting even with a girl named Sonam, Congressmen are dishing out bewafa jibes against Arya and 10 more turncoats.

They have come up with parody lists too, after the BJP put several Congress deserters on its first list of 64 candidates for the February 15 assembly polls.

Memes sprang up minutes after Congress veteran and former chief minister ND Tiwari joined the BJP along with son Rohit Shekhar in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Caustic cartoons and one-liners are directed towards the rival BJP, as at least one-fifth of those on the partys candidate list are former Congress faces.

Social media is the best way to vent our anger against those who deserted the party, said Amarjeet Singh, state head of the Congresss information technology cell. And nothing gets catchier than the viral bewafa trend.

Some of the posts wondered if being an ex-Congress hand was one of the criteria for getting a BJP ticket. Others shared cartoons, saying vote for BJP and elect your old Congress MLA.

The list spawned a whole range of catchphrases that can be interpreted in more than one way  baagi for Congress rebel, daagi for tainted candidates, parachute for those who landed on someone elses turf, beta, beti, bhatija for politicos kids and relatives given poll tickets, and Shaktiman for the BJP leader who has been accused of breaking a police horses leg.

The best of the bunch are RAC and tatkal  a take from railway booking status. The first refers to leaders waiting for a poll ticket, while tatkal or the emergency train ticketing system is for Congress leaders who got their election booking within hours of joining the BJP.

There is a design behind this wit-hit. We are trying to hit (the conscience of) social media users by circulating these posts as much as we can, said Vijay Pal Rawat, a state Congress spokesperson.

Surendra Kumar, chief minister Harish Rawats spokesperson, called the Congress dissidents in the BJP camp udhaar ka sindoor, or borrowed vermillion.

For his part, the chief minister drew on an ancient hymn to pack a pun on the turncoats.

Bhajpa sharanam gachchami (going to the BJP for refuge).

Arya could not be reached for comments.

The BJP called the Congresss social media barrage a shallow tactic.

The Congress should introspect on the reasons (behind its leaders exodus), said Vinay Goyal, the state BJP spokesperson.

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The month-long legal battle of an 18-year-old girl, suffering from a drug resistant form of TB and in critical stage, finally paid off on Wednesday with the health ministry agreeing to administer her with Bedaquiline, used to treat drug resistant forms of TB.

Bedaquiline, made by pharma major Johnson and Johnson, was added after 50 years to Indias TB-control programme to treat extensively drug resistant tuberculosis, which cannot be treated with existing drugs.

Since March 2016, the drugs has been made available in six sites in India - two centres in Delhi and one each in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Guwahati. The administration of Bedaquiline is restricted and available only through the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).

Capitals Lala Ram Swarup (LRS) TB Hospital, which is part of the National Institute of Tuberculousis and Respiratory Diseases, told the Delhi High Court that it was ready to administer the medicine to the patient under its supervision.

Read: Centre launches door-to-door screening for tuberculosis in 5 states

LRS TB hospital had earlier refused to administer Bedaquiline to the patient, hailing from Patna, without drug sensitivity test saying it could lead to development of a strain which is resistant to this medication also.

The hospitals stand changed after senior counsel Anand Grover, appearing for the father of the girl, submitted a drug sensitivity test report carried out of the girl last year.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked the health ministry whether the TB medical centre in Mumbai can administer Bedaquiline to the patient as she has been moved there.

The judge also asked the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to expeditiously decide the application on behalf of the girls father to import a new drug  Delamanid - which is one of the two optional medications to treat her disease.

The court has posted the case for further hearing on January 20.

Kaushal Tripathi, father of the patient, said his daughter has been suffering from TB since the age of 13 and her health has consistently deteriorated despite the treatment provided under the care of the government hospital.

It was only in 2013 when after first line and second line treatment failed that drug sensitivity tests and cultures revealed that she had multiple drug resistant TB, Tripathi said.

Read India will witness 152% rise in TB cases in next 20 years: Study

However, access to Bedaquiline has, in practice, only been restricted to those who are domiciled in any of the six sites. And Tripathis effort to get his daughter treatment done at one of the Delhi center was denied on the ground that she is not a resident of Delhi.

Tripathi moved the court last month as his daughters health was at a critical stage.

Grover said that with geographical factors has been done away with in her case as LRS TB Hospital has agreed to treat her here.

An estimated 25,00 people with TB in India are resistant to second line medicines, who can only be effectively treated with Bedaquiline.

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Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday sarcastically dismissed reports that senior party leader Kumar Vishwas is likely to join the BJP and contest in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

The poet-politician on Wednesday tweeted to played down the rumours.

Yes, according to sources PM joining TDP, now run this as a news. Just joking like u guys (sic.), tweeted Vishvas in a response to question from a journalist.

.@akhileshsharma1 @ArvindKejriwal Yes,according to sources PM joining TDP,now run this as a news.Just joking like u guys  Dr Kumar Vishvas (@DrKumarVishwas) January 18, 2017

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, a school mate of Vishvas, also tweeted sarcastically to rubbish the reports.

I have information that PM (Modi) is joining Congress. He has already met Rahul Gandhi, tweeted Sisodia.

Sources in AAP said Vishwas was upset with the party because he was not named as its star campaigner in Punjab, but he continues to play a critical role in campaigning.

Vishwas has been wooing NRIs and seeking funds for AAP from them.

A plane is arriving tonight in Delhi airport from Canada carrying NRI volunteers who will be campaigning in Punjab. Vishwas is scheduled to receive them at the airport in person a source said.

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A first-year Delhi University (DU) student was allegedly molested by an employee of a bank, located inside her college premises, in north Delhis Maurice Nagar area on Wednesday.

The employee was arrested soon after the student approached the college authorities, who informed the police about the incident.

According to the police, he allegedly met the student outside a metro station in the area and offered her a lift to the college. The student reportedly agreed and sat inside the car.

Read: In Delhi, more than 33% molestation cases unsolved last year

She alleged he attempted to sexually assault her inside the car. When she resisted, he allegedly thrashed her, a police officer said.

Sources said there were scratch marks on her neck and arms. She alleged that the man insisted on dropping her. When she sat inside the car, he touched her inappropriately and made advances. She said that he parked the car and tried to rape her. She, however, managed to push him and escaped, the officer said.

As news spread, many college students gathered outside the principals office demanding strict action against the clerk.

The employee, whose daughter studies in another DU college, used to harass the student on several occasions but she never complained fearing her mother would stop sending her to college. She belongs to a lower middle class family and does not have a father. She discussed the case with a friend once as she was planning to lodge a complaint against the clerk, but stopped, a student told HT on condition of anonymity.

Read: A woman raped every 4 hours, 21 cars stolen every day in 2016: Delhi Police data

This time she could not tolerate it and straight went to the principal. All of us went in support of her, he added.

Members of ABVP reached the principals office in support of the student. The clerk was arrested from the spot and handed over to the police.

We have registered a case and arrested him. We have seized his mobile phone to access his chats, SMS and call logs. He is being questioned, a senior police officer said.
Just three days after Delhiites celebrated Makar Sankranti, flying colourful kites on their terrace and balconies, the cases of bird injuries and deaths by Chinese manja has also shot up.

Animal rescue NGO, Wildlife SOS, Tuesday said that they have received five cases of bird injuries and deaths by the glass-coated manjas since Saturday.

We have started receiving numerous bird rescue calls in the past few days. Manja strings are often fatal for birds and the injuries caused can permanently the birds ability to fly. Festivals like Makar Sankranti have had long standing traditions of kite flying. However the Chinese manja is coated with powdered glass which makes it sharp and coarse and can cause great damage, not only to wildlife but also human beings as we have seen in the past, said Geeta Seshamani, co-founder of the NGO.

Despite the ban issued in August last year on these nylon threads which are used to fly kites, shops continue to openly sell them.

Read: Green panel imposes interim nationwide ban on glass-coated manjha for kites

Narrating tales of rescue operations, the NGO said that they have rescued two Kites that were found entangled in manjha, hanging from trees and fighting for their lives.

Tenders had to be called from Delhi Fire Services to rescue one of these kites. A member from our rapid response unit climbed up the tree to save the other bird. The birds were severely dehydrated and injured and required immediate first aid before they were sent for further treatment. Another kite was found in the premises of the National Gandhi Museum at Rajghat with a broken wing, because of manjha injury, the NGO said.

They said the number of bird injuries and deaths see a spike around Makar Sankranti and Independence Day, when people come out to fly kites. Last year during Makar Sankranti, 12 cases of bird injuries were registered in their helpline.

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The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Wednesday said that every family living in Kathputli colony will get a house under the in-situ rehabilitation plan and the agency was in the process of updating its list in consultation with pradhan (heads) living in the colony.

According to an initial survey, a total of 2,800 families had to be shifted out of which 1,150 families have already been relocated to a transit camp in Anand Parbat.

In 2011, we had done a survey. In the six years that followed, several new people moved into the camps. Also some people, who were earlier minors, have now turned into adults. Hence, we need to update the list, said JP Agarwal, principal commissioner, DDA.

After holding meetings with some colony pradhans, the list was being revised and around 400 families are likely to be added, he said.

Agarwal added that some people, who had put up their houses on rent in the area, were spreading rumours in the area.

Read more: Destinys kathputli: Displacement makes survival tough for artisans

Kathputli colony, spread on 5.2-acre, was the first slum in the city to be taken up for in-situ redevelopment on a public-private partnership model in 2009. It has been more than seven years, but DDA has not been able to relocate all the people.

The scheme has hit roadblocks, with a section of people unwilling to move to Anand Parbat transit camp due to lack of trust The protesters have demanded that DDA should give a written submission in court of all the facilities that they would be given during the relocation process and afterwards.

On Wednesday, DDA also denied rumors that people were being forcefully evicted. Agarwal said he was hopeful that in next two months, all the people in the area would be relocated.

Talking about the police presence, the DDA principal commissioner added that security had been deployed not to terrify people but to ensure that no untoward incidents takes place.

According to rules, the authority can use force to displace them, but we have not done so, he said.
The Delhi Police have linked the involvement of Sunil Rastogi to 12 more cases of sexual abuse of minors reported from across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand between 2004 and 2017.

Sources revealed that five cases were reported from east Delhi between 2004 and 2017, two cases are from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, two from Rampur in UP and three from Ghaziabad again in UP. Earlier, three cases were reported from Rudrapur in Uttarakhand between 2004 and 2016, taking the total number of cases to 15.

All these cases, police said, were registered under sections of molestation, rape and abduction. In most cases, the accused was not identified till date. The investigators went through all the case files and tallied the statement of the complainants to identify the common thread. They found that all the complaints were similar in nature. The minors had described their assaulter as a short skinny man who took them to a terrace on the pretext of giving them new clothes and other goodies.

We have managed to link 15 cases of sexual abuse of minors with Rastogi. We suspect that there are many more cases. The investigation to identify the cases is on, a senior police officer said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have formed a joint team with the UP and Uttarakhand Police to make it a watertight case. It has also been decided that a list of all the cases against Rastogi will be cited in the court during hearings of individual cases.

Sources also revealed that the trial of the case that was filed in 2006 in Rudrapur is nearing completion and a sentence will be pronounced soon. The police are now pushing for a life sentence for Rastogi in the case. The purpose is to make this into one consolidated case instead of separate cases of sexual abuse. We are working with teams from different states to make this a strong case, a police officer said.

The police have also roped in NGOs to counsel the parents of the women who were allegedly assaulted in 2006 in East Delhi but did not lodge a complaint fearing for their lives. Rastogi allegedly threatened to push them off a terrace and cripple them for life if they dared to file a police complaint.

It is important for these women to come forward and lodge a case. We are constantly trying to convince them to give us a complaint so that we can register an FIR and add them to the existing cases, a police officer said.
Feeding of stray dogs has become an intense issue lately, in the premises of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). A group of seven women has alleged that the authorities is stopping them from feeding the strays on the campus, as a result, the strays are forced to starve.

My friends and I have been looking after these dogs everyday for a decade now, and suddenly we have been told that we cannot do so as outsiders arent allowed inside the campus anymore, says Neerja Chaudhry, who is part of the group. A female dog had recently given birth to puppies and when we pleaded the chief security officer to let us in and look after them, his reply was a callous let them die. Not just that, the guards even broke the thermocol house that we had made for them, she adds.

Chaudhry explains that as per High Court orders, people can feed strays at Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) designated feeding spots. Out of seven of us, some are JNU alumni and one even has a feeders card so she has all the right to feed dogs. But the guards have noted down our vehicle numbers to stop us from entering. They have even physically misbehaved with us, and thrown away the food that we carry. Even the police refuse to help us in the matter, saying that it is JNU administrations call and they cant do anything about it, she says.

The administration, however, has another story to tell. JNU Security has never assaulted anybody. And JNU residents are allowed to feed strays at designated points. Notice boards are displayed to identify them, says Poonam S Kudaisya, PRO, JNU.

Naveen Yadav, chief security officer, JNU, says, Yes, we have stopped people from entering the varsity campus but we have not misbehaved with anyone. The administration had passed orders restricting the entry of outsiders and some people even filed cases against it, but in the end, it is the varsitys call.

However, Meenakshi Awasthi, from People for Animals (PFA) says, What the JNU authorities are doing is illegal. Volunteers can feed the dogs as JNU is not a restricted space and has established 15 feeding places. The Chancellor of the University has asked the Vice Chancellor to step in but he is not taking a stand on the matter.

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If you wear slippers to take a flight from the Delhi airport, chances are you may be stopped for additional checking.

On Wednesday, customs officials caught two passengers who hid gold pieces worth Rs 26 lakh in their slippers -- the fourth such incident. Three attempts were foiled last year. Customs officials are now extra careful while scanning slippers.

The passengers reached Delhi from Bangkok on a Thai Airways flight were stopped for checking. A total of 118 cut pieces embedded in the false cavity of slippers were seized from them, said a customs official. At least 938 grams of gold was seized.

From hiding gold in diapers to inside a papaya, smugglers tried all possible tricks to hoodwink customs officials last year.

According to customs, as they have increased the vigil, smugglers are trying every possible trick to smuggle gold into Delhi.

Read: Cheeky gold smuggler caught at Delhi airport

There have been cases of gold stitched into a bra, stuffed in the rod of a baby walker and tied on thigh guards and around the waist.

Against the 6.6 kilos of gold seized in 2012-13 financial year, the quantity seized in 2013-14 increased to 384 kilos, and reached an all-time high of 574 kilos in 2014-15.

The next year, the quantity seized fell.

However, in 2016, the department seized over 220 kilos of gold worth around Rs 60 crore.

Earlier, the most common form of smuggling was by hiding it in the shoe sole, officials claimed. In the 80s and 90s, when gold smuggling was at its peak, several cases were reported of smugglers caught hiding gold bars in the shoe sole. The shoes were specially prepared for it. Later, bags were designed with false cavities where gold could be hidden to avoid detection, the official added.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) teachers will start a lecture series on Wednesday with professors and activists addressing students at administrative block, popularly known as Freedom Square.

This is the second lecture series that the JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) is organizing ever since the university came under attack for various reasons, including an event in which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised by some students.

The move comes after a spate of notices sent to teachers over their address to students at the spot. At least five teachers have received notices asking them to follow the rules and not address students at administration building. Recently, the administration put up a notice banning all protest within 20 metres of the building and asked students to do democratic protest beyond that area. Recently, the administration blocked parts of the Freedom Square with grilles to keep protesters at bay.

Read: JNU to investigate teachers for violating protest rules

The lecture series titled Democracy and Social Justice- Access and Equality will last five days and has at least fourteen speakers, including Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav, historian Sohail Hashmi, Anita Ghai, and YS Alone.

The first speaker of the series is Ramon Magsaysay award winner Bezwada Wilson. He is likely to start the lecture on Crisis of democracy and the question of rights around 4.30 pm followed by Delhi University professor Ashwini Despande, who will talk on The new grammar of caste, and JNU professor Archana Prasad slated to speak on Adivasis and the politics of the Right.

The lecture series will conclude on next Monday with a book release by JNUTA. The previous lecture series which was held in the wake of debate on nationalism and sedition, has been complied in a book titled What the Nation Really Needs to Know: JNU Nationalism Lectures.

Read: JNU professor Nivedita Menon gets warning notice for addressing students

The universitys move to send notices to teachers has been termed as an attack on free speech by JNUTA, which decided to start a public lecture series at the same spot.

In this hour of all out attack on free speech by JNU administration, JNUTA would like to reassert its privilege to call upon a public lecture series at the Administrative Block in JNU as it is well within its democratic rights, Bikramaditya Choudhary, secretary JNUTA had said.

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The lawns of Jawaharlal Nehru Universitys (JNU) famed Freedom Square may have been barred to stop protests, but the voices of dissent have not died.

JNU teachers on Wednesday started a five-day lecture series with over 14 professors and activists set to address students on Democracy and Social Justice- Access and Equality.

The first lecture of the series was addressed by Ramon Magsaysay awardee, Bezwada Wilson, who has been working to eradicate the practice of manual scavenging, along with Ashwini Deshpande, visiting faculty at JNUs Centre for Political Studies and Archana Prasad, professor at JNUs Centre for Informal Sector and Labour Studies.

Wilson said the governments practice of branding anyone holding an opposing view as anti-national is a dangerous trajectory.

The governments concept of anti-nationalism is nothing but anti-democratic. If a citizen is not allowed to express his opinions and feelings, how can the government call this nation a democracy? Wilson said.

Read: Dogs are a bone of contention at JNU campus

Talking about the recent video uploaded by a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, Wilson said, Till the time a soldier is dying at the border, he is a patriotic hero. The moment he complains about daal he is an anti-national and an alcoholic. The Prime Minister keeps telling us his mann ki baat, but he is not ready to know what the people of this country want to tell him.

Wilson also spoke about how the holiness and the purity of a cow has become a burning issue for India.

These lectures come after a spate of notices sent to teachers over their address to students at Freedom Square.

Recently, the JNU administration had put up a notice banning all protest within 20 metres of the administration building and asked students to hold democratic protests beyond that area. The administration had also recently blocked parts of the Freedom Square with grilles to keep protesters at bay.

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The CBI initiated on Wednesday preliminary investigation against Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and health minister Satyendar Jains daughter for two separate cases of alleged wrongdoing.

Both cases were referred to the central agency when Najeeb Jung was lieutenant governor of the national capital. Jung resigned for his position last month.

The CBI initiated its probe registering separate preliminary enquiries (PE) against Sisodia and the health ministers daughter Saumya, who was appointed an adviser to the Delhi government for its mohalla clinic project aimed at boosting primary healthcare in the citys neighbourhoods.

PE is precursor to an FIR, CBI sometimes registers a PE to inquire into allegations to see an FIR is required in the case or not @htTweets  Rajesh Ahuja (@iamrajeshahuja) January 18, 2017

First PE is against Sisodia and unnamed Delhi officials for alleged irregularities in awarding contract for the governments social media campaign,Talk to AK. The second is against Saumya Jain over her appointment as an adviser a CBI spokesperson said.

Saumya resigned after her appointment triggered a controversy.

In his response, Sisodia tweeted: Welcome to the field Mr Modi. I will wait for your CBI tomorrow at my residence and office. Lets see how strong you are.

The citys ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using central agencies and the lieutenant governor, who reports to the Centre, to harass the government of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. The BJP, which rules the Centre, denies the charges.

The CBI is also probing five cases of alleged irregularities in the AAP government.

These include two FIRs against alleged anomalies in the Delhi Waqf Board when AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan was chairman and appointment of Nikunj Aggarwal as a senior resident in government hospital and later as officer on special duty to health minister Jain.

Besides, the CBI had earlier registered another PE in connection with the creation of a feedback unit in the Delhi vigilance directorate to gather information on how the citys government departments were performing.

These irregularities were reportedly found when a Jung-appointed panel went through more than 400 files of the Kejriwal government. That was done to check whether all decisions by the government were in accordance with the law.

Read I YouTube kissing prankster Sumit faces cops again, girls say hes their friend

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Tuesday morning saw residents wrapping themselves tight and huddling for heat as the Capital witnessed another very chilly morning.

However, if the Celsius scale is to be believed, the temperature never dropped below six degrees. A cold north westerly wind was held responsible for Tuesdays extra nip in the air by weathermen  a phenomenon they said would get more severe on Wednesday.

Just imagine that you are in a room and somebody switches on the fan. We will start feeling colder, even though the temperature in the room does not change. Something similar happens when wind starts blowing in the winter, explained a weather expert.

The minimum temperature on Wednesday, recorded by the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, was 6.0 degrees as against 8.9 degrees on Monday. This is only a degree below normal for Delhi at this time of the year.

The temperature this year has already touched 3.4 degrees on Thursday, January 12.

In spite of the mercury not registering a sharp dip, weather experts said the cold was more biting because of westerly and north westerly winds since Monday night in Delhi. These winds, they said, passed over snowcapped peaks in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh before reaching the city.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials also confirmed that these winds were responsible for the chill in Delhi. The wind is making people shiver, said an official from the IMD.

An expert added that the faster these winds are, the colder you feel. With windspeeds, oscillating between 12-14 kmph during the day, these colder westerly winds had residents shivering on Tuesday, even though the maximum temperature rose to 15.7 degrees Celsius during the course of the day.

The maximum temperature on a comparatively sunny Monday was 19.1 degrees Celsius.

The Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) expects the day to get colder on Wednesday, with maximum and minimum temperature expected to be 18 and five degrees Celsius respectively. The cold winds are expected to persist. The Met department also forecasted a moderate to dense fog in the morning.
Excitement and anxiety were two words that captured the emotions of Delhis political circle perfectly on Tuesday after the notification of municipal wards was announced on Tuesday.

The common assessment across the political spectrum, however, was that the delimitation of municipal wards  which revised the number of municipal wards in 37 out of 70 assembly segments  had made the upcoming municipal elections in Delhi unpredictable by altering the traditional strongholds of different parties.

For the first time, the city would have witnessed a triangular fight in municipal elections. The delimitation of wards, which has altered the geographical boundaries, has only added to uncertainties regarding outcomes, a senior BJP leader said.

Read I Post delimitation, battle lines drawn ahead of civic polls

The delimitation will lead to critical changes in the demography and character of the seats. Population being the fundamental criterion of redistribution, most of the assembly seats that had larger concentration of unauthorised colonies and slum clusters now have more municipal wards under its fold.

The number of municipal wards in assembly seats like Burari, Kirari, Bawana, Vikaspuri, Matiala have gone up from four to six or more. It could be an advantage AAP, party leaders said.

The population density is higher in unauthorised colonies, slum clusters and villages  where the core support base of AAP lies. Though the party swept Delhi in 2015 assembly polls, the catch lies in the victory margins. Victory margin in seats like Burari, Kirari, Deoli and Matiala was much higher as compared to urban seats like Greater Kailash, Malviya Nagar and Kasturba Nagar, a senior AAP leader said.

The BJP has traditionally been strong in the urban pockets. The Congress enjoyed mass support in areas dwelled by low-income groups, unauthorised colonies and slum clusters, until the emergence of AAP on the political horizon.

Congress leaders argued that support for AAP had waned and the party stood a fighting chance in the next polls.

We won four of 13 seats. One more seat, Bhati, was won by a Congress rebel. Five of these four seats Jhilmil, Kondli, Bhati and Nangloi  are dominated by unauthorised colonies, a senior Congress leader said.

A section in the BJP is anxious about the fallout of the change in demography on the electorate in some wards. Hauz Rani, which is dominated by the minority community, was a separate ward. Now it has been merged with Malviya Nagar. That will impact the poll dynamics, a senior BJP leader said.

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ELKO  Commissioners may apply for a federal grant to improve a county road and will discuss the upcoming legislative session during their Wednesday meeting.

Troy Jorgenson, civil engineer for the U.S. Forest Service, reached out to the County to see if there was any interest in a grant to improve Bruneau River Road, County Road 749 (Gold Creek Road).

The project would likely require upgrading the road to a maintenance level 3, which would make it a road suitable for passenger car use and subject to the Highway Safety Act, Jorgenson stated in his letter.

The grant would be through the Federal Lands Access Program for the fiscal year 2018 funding.

Jorgenson told the County the grant would have a required match, and he thought it would be about 7 to 8 percent.

There is a possibility of using Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLAP) funds to contribute a portion of the match, he stated. A condition of the FLAP is that the road, upon project completion, must become Elko County Jurisdiction. Currently the portion of the road within the Forest Service administrative boundary is Forest Service jurisdiction.

The commissioners also will discuss the Nevada Legislative session, which begins Feb. 6. The commissioners may go over several issued including any unfunded mandates from the state, possible recreational marijuana regulations, the proposed Elko Regional Airport flight route subsidy, defendant bail requirement restructuring, public guardian and voting machines.

The commissioners meet at 1:30 p.m. in the Nannini Administration Building, Suite 102, 540 Court St.
A 43-year old English teacher of a government school was locked up in the washroom by a male student in east Delhi on Wednesday. The teacher alleged that the student also used lewd language and harassed her.

The incident took place in the afternoon during the girls shift at the school situated in Vivek Vihar. The school runs in two shifts with the second shift starting around 1pm for boys.

I went to the bathroom after classes. Later, when I tried to open the door I found it locked from the outside. Then someone from outside said something obscene to me. The student passed sexual comments, the teacher told HT.

Read: YouTube kissing prankster Sumit faces cops again, girls say hes their friend

She said the boy kept repeating the same thing and threatened that he will enter the washroom from.

I kept requesting him to let me go, but he didnt budge. I even threatened him that I will make a call, even though I had left my phone in the staff room. He probably knew that I didnt have my phone with me, she said.

She said the student finally left when she climbed to the ventilator of the washroom. He ran away and I was stuck there. It was after some time that a sweeper passing the corridor responded to my cries for help, she said. She later filed a complaint with the police.

Read: Woman teacher suspended for making students massage her legs

Police confirmed that they received a complaint from a school teacher alleging that she was locked inside the schools washroom.

DCP ( Shahdara) Nupur Prasad said the teacher had locked for a few minutes. When she tried to escape through the ventilator and raised an alarm, somebody opened the door. The boy who made the sexual comments had fled by then. We have registered an FIR and are investigating the case, Prasad said.

Officials of the education department said a meeting between principals and school management committee of both the shifts was conducted in the presence of deputy director education, after the incident.

A teacher was locked up allegedly by a student. The student has not been identified.

We have assured the teacher of all support, an officials said.

A member of the government school teachers association (GSTA) said: The attitude of students towards teachers has changed. After the stabbing of a teacher, this incident has happened. There should be more security for teachers.

Read more:



Teacher dies after two Class 12 students stab him in Delhi school

Delhi govt school teachers demand security after students kill colleague

On Teachers Day, student slaps teacher

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A Tibetan man, living as a refugee in the US, was arrested on Sunday at the Delhi airport for allegedly allowing a Nepali citizen to travel on his documents after accepting Rs 40 lakh from him.

Police said Wangyal Pema met Rajendra Gurung through a tout at a budget hotel in Mahipalpur.

Gurung desperately wanted to go the US and get refugee status but he did not have valid documents. He contacted a tout which brought him in touch with Pema.

On Sunday, both reached the Indira Gandhi International Airports Terminal 3. While Pema had his legal papers and visa, Gurung had an Air India ticket to Mumbai.

Read: Sari, mangalsutra come in the way of full-body scanner at Delhi airport

Pema, who had come to India a month ago, passed the immigration channel with his papers and Gurung went through the immigration channel from the domestic counter with the boarding pass for the Air India flight, which operates from the international side of Terminal 3. Both then went to the washroom and exchanged their travel papers.

Gurung then went to board the United Airline flight UA-83 to Newark, USA, with the boarding pass and passport of Pema. During checking of the papers, the airline staff got suspicious and alerted the CISF.

Gurung was detained and taken away for questioning. He told the security officials that he is a Nepalese citizen and his real name is Rajendra Gurung. He told officials that he tried to pass off as his friend and believed that the securitymen would not spot him because they looked alike.

While reviewing the CCTV footage, we found that Pema crossed the proper immigration channel with a boarding pass of United Airlines flight. After completion of immigration and security clearance, both the passengers went to the washroom at security hold area where they interchanged their boarding passes, said a CISF official.

Read:Cheeky gold smuggler caught at Delhi airport

CCTV cameras showed Pema moving towards the boarding gate for Delhi-Mumbai flight, the official said.

Soon after Gurung gave out his plan, Pema too was intercepted at the boarding gate and was handed over to the Immigration. A separate complaint was lodged with the airline, the CISF official said.

Both the men have been handed over the Delhi Police.

We have got the custody of Gurung and are interrogating him, said DCP (airport) Sanjay Bhatia.

We will need an interpreter to interrogate Pema. Initial investigations show that Gurung had planned to get a refugee status in the US and paid Rs 40 lakh to Pema, Bhatia said.

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A major criticism of Theresa May and her government after last Junes Brexit vote is that it allegedly has no plan, is riddled with muddled thinking on leaving the European Union (in the words of Britains top diplomat in Brussels), or worse. Tuesdays speech in the grand environs of Lancaster House, setting out her stall for negotiations with Brussels and her vision of a Global Britain, was supposed to overcome such perceptions. It was an improvement from her oft-repeated quote that Brexit means Brexit; it was the first time she made it clear that Britain will leave the European Single Market and will not try to hold on to bits of the EU. In short, it is going to be a hard Brexit. The announcement has major implications for Britain and EUs economies, but remains enmeshed in various complexities: from immigration to prices to exports to jobs to workers rights to laws and beyond. At the same time, May rolled out an optimistic vision of free trade agreement with the EU and seeking greater engagement with India, Commonwealth and the rest of the world. The contradiction was quickly picked upon by critics as wanting the cake and eating it too. The speech revealed the direction in which the Brexit talks will go, but left many  including economists and industry experts  clamouring for detail.

Read: Britain PM Theresa Mays India visit was underwhelming, say critics

Too many imponderables remain, not least the idea of leaving the European market, yet seeking access to it. The crucial subtext here is that May evidently considers controlling immigration with the EU a more worthy objective (and the real message of the Brexit vote) than remaining in the market. This is because market access comes with the obligation of free movement of people. Mays announcement implies that in the post-Brexit scenario, EU migrants will face similar controls as those faced by Indians and other non-EU citizens. Again, detail on this is missing. Another challenge is taking the United Kingdom out of the market, when Scotland, among the four nations, is overly keen to remain within the market. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has threatened another referendum on independence if Scotland were to be taken out of the market without its consent. And the gigantic task of unpicking EU laws and regulations incorporated in British law over the decades is one that is not even being considered yet. If all goes to plan and May triggers Article 50 in March, the formal exit is scheduled for 2019, which is close to the 2020 general election. It may yet come to pass that due to the many legal, parliamentary and other complexities, the exit is delayed and the next election turns into another vote on Brexit before it is formalised. In short, the imbroglio means that Mays Tuesday speech was easier said than done.
There have been task forces and committees galore to look into the issue of food adulteration but nothing much has come of these. Clearly, the only solution to this is stricter laws and penalties and this is what the Law Commission has recommended. It has suggested that those convicted of manufacturing and selling adulterated food should be given life imprisonment or pay 10 lakh as fine. In its report The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Provisions dealing with Food Adulteration) submitted to the law ministry, the law panel has proposed amendments to sections 272 and 273 of the Indian Penal Code. At present the penalty starts from a mere six months in prison. Grading injury to those consuming these adulterated products into various categories, the Commission has recommended different jail terms and fines. Section 272 deals with manufacture of adulterated items, section 273 deals with their sale.

According to the amendments proposed, a non grievous injury may attract jail term of one year and a fine of  3 lakh. A grievous injury will fetch a jail term of six years and a fine of  5 lakh. At the same time, the Food Safety and Standards Act, Rules and Regulations has to be strengthened to stop what really amounts to slow poisoning through unregulated use of pesticides, antibiotics and other harmful chemicals and additives in food and other items of daily consumption. An earlier study found that one in five of food items contained some form of adulterant. Many of these are used daily like water and milk. The adulteration of milk is particularly worrying as it affects young children the most. One of the most frightening instances of adulteration was that of low quality khesari dal being added to arhar dal resulting in paralysis of the lower body. This toxic dal had been banned since 1961 but was freely used over the years. Another report released a few years ago referred to `permissible levels of rat excreta in milled flour. Even high end products in India do not have proper labelling, prime among them being cosmetic products.

The Indian penchant to adulterate goes as far as goods being exported. A consignment of Indian pepper was turned back from a European country on account of its containing poor quality berry substitutes. This adulteration affects the health of people at every level, causing life threatening morbidities and in some cases death. Cutting corners for profit in items of daily use cannot be dealt with on a piecemeal basis. A stricter law will be a deterrent once the conviction rate which is abysmal at the moment goes up. The Law Commissions suggestions are a sign that the cavalier attitude to food adulteration is changing and this must be followed through.
If you are suspicious of the quality of food or beverage being served and feel it is adulterated, you can soon find out the chemical and metallic contents of the item with the help of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG).

The MCG will partner with a leading pharmaceutical company recommended by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to set up a food and water testing laboratory in Gurgaon.

Although the service will be open to public, from MCGs perspective, the lab can assist in expanding and replicating their dedicated street food vending zones across the city.

Once food and water served at the street vending zones are certified that they are within the permissible safety limit and do not include high content of metals or other harmful elements, the MCG is looking to expand the scope of the project to other parts of the city, Vivek Kalia, joint commissioner of the MCG, said.

At the two street vending zones in sectors 38 and 4, the hawking zones offer snacks and beverages at nominal rates.

At each zone, 20 hawkers have set up stalls and serve a range of dishes, including paranthas, vegetarian dishes, maggi, bread and egg, hot and cold beverages, rajma chawal and kadhi chawal, costing between Rs 15 and Rs 70. The MCG has earmarked 31 areas where the zones can be replicated.

Kalia said the new lab will be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) and adhere to ISO guidelines.

Some of the technologically advanced instruments in the project will include high pressure liquid chromatography (used to separate, identify, and quantify each component in a mixture), ultra water purifying system (used to identify mineral content in liquids), and a dedicated microbiological department that will identify bacteria and microbes in an item.

The MCG said public can test their samples at nominal rates and results can be returned within a month. It is expected to open towards 2017-end, though the MCG is yet to finalise a location to establish the lab.

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Traffic was disrupted briefly at Shankar chowk when two cars collided on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway (NH8) on Wednesday morning. The occupants of the vehicles sustained minor injuries.

A stationary WagonR car had stopped at the exit point near Shankar Chowk and a Maruti Ertiga cab hit it from rear. The cab driver could not see the stationary WagonR due to low visibility, said a traffic policeman.

A stationary WagonR car had stopped at the exit point near Shankar Chowk on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and a Maruti Ertiga cab hit it from rear on Wednesday morning. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

The accident occurred at 7.30 am when a cab carrying four passengers from Delhi to Manesar hit the WagonR. The car driver had stopped to drop a passenger near the Shankar chowk exit.

Read: Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway hit by four-hour jam

The vehicle occupants escaped with minor injuries but the vehicles were badly damaged in the impact. Eyewitnesses said that the WagonR was dragged along the jersey barriers.

Highway operators removed the vehicles from the spot to remove traffic snarls.

Highway operators removed the vehicles from the spot to decongest the spot. (Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

The wagon R had stopped at the exit point near Shankar chowk and the cab driver perhaps could not see the vehicle or he might have slept and this led to the mishap. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the accident, said Dhruv Kishor, route patrol officer, Skylark.

Harpreet Singh, who was sitting in the cab, said that the incident shocked the passengers and they could not guess what happened. I have suffered internal injuries in the leg and there is severe pain. I will return to home and take rest, said Singh, who works at Keyside Technologies in Manesar.

Police constable Amarjeet, who reached the accident spot, said that both the cars were removed from the road and a case of accident would be filed after receiving complaint.

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Four BJP workers were arrested in Keralas Kodunagallur after they allegedly shaved off the moustache of a 30 year-old CPI(M) activist after he lost a bet .

Police said that CPI(M) worker Kannan had promised to shave off his moustache if the BJP were to win even a single seat in the last years state assembly election .

BJP went on to win one seat in the 140-assembly with former Union minister O Rajagopal clinched the Nemom constituency.

On Tuesday, the four workers caught hold of Kannan, held his arms behind and forcibly shaved off half his moustache, the police said. After a police complaint by Kannan, the four workers were arrested.
After Tonk in Rajasthan, an ATM in central Assams Jamunamukh rained cash on Tuesday.

An ATM of the United Bank of India (UBI) near the civil hospital in Janumamukh dispensed four times more cash than sought.

By the time bank officials realised what was happening, almost Rs 7 lakh had been withdrawn by people who had rushed to avail of the machines generosity.

This happened because of a system error. Banknotes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 were put in the ATM slots but when a client keyed in his requirement of Rs 2,000, he received two notes of Rs 2,000 instead of Rs 500, UBIs Jamunamukh branch manager Krishna Bhowmick told Hindustan Times.

The bank informed the local police, but did not lodge an official complaint. We helped restore order after a mad rush to the ATM because of the extra cash people received, officer-in-charge Abhiskek Boro said.

Bhowmick said he was awaiting instructions from his seniors for filing an official complaint. We are hopeful of tracing the transactions to the people and make them return the money that does not belong to them, he added.

Read | Man in Rajasthan asks for Rs 3,500, gets Rs 70,000
The whir of the ATM machine sounded very reassuring for Jitesh Diwakar, a resident of Tonk in Rajasthan. But he was not prepared for what followed  an avalanche of cash for Diwakar who got Rs 70,000 in place of just Rs 3,500 he had typed in.

Diwakar was among several people who turned richer after a malfunctioning ATM rained cash on Tuesday evening at the Rajasthan town, about 80 km from capital Jaipur.

But he was the only person who chose to inform the Bank of Baroda about the malfunctioning cash-dispensing machine  all others before him went home with extra cash, thanking their lucky stars.

I immediately called my father who arrived with my uncle and we informed the bank manager, Diwakar said.

By the time bank officials shut down the ATM near the collectors office, it had dispensed Rs 6.76 lakh. And 10-odd people are believed to have got excess cash when the ATM gave out 2000-rupee notes in place of 100-rupee-notes.

Tonk Harishankar Meena, chief manager of the banks collectorate circle, said 2000-rupee notes were loaded in the slot meant for 100-rupee notes, resulting in the malfunction.

Following the shock recall of high-value banknotes in November, banks have recalibrated two lakh-odd ATMs across the country to dispense the newly-designed Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes. However, ATM glitches have been reported from several parts of the country over the past two months.

Technically, Rs 2,000 notes cannot be loaded in the Rs 100 cassette as the sensors wont accept it. Thats why we have called technical experts to investigate how this happened, Meena said.

He said the bank will lodge a complaint with police against the people who took away the excess cash and that efforts were on to identify them.

Out of all these people, only one person contacted and brought the matter to our notice. We have taken a back-up of the ATM machine (records) from which we will get information of the people who withdrew money in these two hours. After tracking them we will ask them to return the extra money, said Meena.

Local shopkeepers told me that people coming to the ATM were suddenly leaving very happy and smiling, Meena told HT.

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Six Indian cities have made it to the worlds 30 most dynamic places that have the ability to embrace technological change, absorb rapid population growth and strengthen global connectivity, with Bengaluru topping the chart.

Cities in India, China and Vietnam, along with several in the US, head the list of worlds fastest changing cities in JLLs fourth annual City Momentum Index.

Other Indian cities in the list are Hyderabad at the 5th position, Pune (13), Chennai (18), Delhi (23) and Mumbai (25).

Asia Pacific cities comprise half the top 30 fastest- changing cities.

India has taken over from China as home to some of the worlds most dynamic cities. Six Indian cities feature in the CMI Global Top 30, with the countrys primary technology hub, Bangalore, moving into the top spot for the first time, JLL said.

Top 10 cities in the JLL index are Bengaluru, Ho Chi Minh City, Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Hyderabad, London, Austin, Hanoi, Boston and Nairobi.

With more than half the worlds population currently living in cities, a proportion that is expected to grow substantially over the next few decades, the success of our cities takes on great importance, said Jeremy Kelly, JLL director in global research.

The report noted that dynamic labour markets help fuel some emerging megacities such as Chennai, Manila, Delhi and Mumbai. However, this group faces significant infrastructure and quality of life issues, with high levels of inequality, congestion and pollution hindered by weak city governance.

In all, 134 cities were assessed by CMI using 42 variables including recent and projected changes in city GDP, population, corporate headquarter presence, commercial real estate construction and rents.

Other factors included education, innovation and environment.
The charges listed above do not imply guilt. Under the law, everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Senior Congress leaders on Wednesday staged RBI gherao protests outside its offices in several states as part of the partys anti-demonetisation stir during which ex-Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde was detained in Ahmedabad and police resorted to lathi charge in Nagpur.

The leaders, who were joined by scores of Congress workers, also demanded the resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel for the failure to maintain RBIs autonomy and for the problems being faced by people following the note ban announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8.

In the national capital, the protesters led by Congress MP Ahmed Patel, partys deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, DPCC chief Ajay Maken and P C Chacko tried to march from Jantar Mantar to RBIs regional headquarters in Parliament Street but were stopped by police.

They alleged that the central bank has failed miserably in handling the situation post-demonetisation.

People react as they are detained by police during a protest organised by India's main opposition Congress party against demonetization, outside a Reserve Bank of India office in Ahmedabad. (REUTERS)

The government cannot stop people from withdrawing their own hard-earned money. We are lodging a protest to tell the government and the RBI that the ceiling on withdrawal limit be lifted, Chacko told reporters.

Congress workers staged similar protests in other cities in the country today, he said.

Congress activists during their RBI gherao programme to protest against the demonestisation in Guwahati on Wednesday. (PTI)

Tripura Pradesh Congress activists at a protest rally to RBI against the demonetisation policy, in Agartala on Wednesday. (PTI)

Shinde and Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki along with nearly 130 party workers were detained by police for trying to lock down the RBIs regional headquarters in Ahmedabad.

The Congressmen were detained by police when they tried to gherao the RBI and lock it down, alleging that the bank has failed on all fronts to address the woes of common man after the Centre announced demonetisation of high value notes in November last year.

While Shinde, Solanki, and 90 others were detained by Madhavpura police on the eastern end of Gandhi Bridge in Ahmedabad, around 40 Congress workers were detained by Vadaj police from outside the main gate of RBI on the western end.

We gave them permission for their gathering only, not for holding rally till RBI on the other side of the bridge. Madhavpura police have detained Shinde, Solanki and 90 others while trying to take out the rally. They will be released later, Assistant Commissioner of Police Arpita Patel said.

In Mumbai, state Congress president Ashok Chavan accused the Modi government of converting the RBI into a RSS shakha and demanded resignation of Urjit Patel for throwing the lives of 125 crore Indians into a disarray with demonetisation.

People at a protest organised by Congress against demonetization, in Mumbai. (REUTERS)

We held a gherao protest at RBI in Mumbai, on behalf of MPCC and MRCC, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters. He accused the Modi government of trying to make RBI a branch of BJP and RSS.

In Nagpur, Congress workers were lathicharged by police during their demonstration in front of the RBI office even as a morcha led by former Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan demanded the resignation of the RBI Governor.

While a delegation led by Prithviraj Chavan went inside the RBI to submit a memorandum, some Congress workers outside the office raised slogans and the situation became tense. Some party workers alleged that the police lathi-charged them.

A few Congress workers were also detained and to protest the police lathi-charge, some party leaders later staged a sit-in dharna in front of the RBI office.

The Haryana and Chandigarh units of Congress held a protest near the RBIs regional office in Chandigarh against the central banks failure to carry out its constitutional duty at the time of demonetisation, but were stopped by police when they tried to gherao the building.

Led by former Lok Sabha Speaker and former union minister Shivraj Patil, slogan shouting Congress workers took out a rally from the Odisha state party headquarters in Bhubaneswar to the RBI office, dubbing demonetisation as a surgical strike on the poor people, farmers, labourers, small traders and middle class.

Leaders of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee demonstrated in front of RBI office in Guwahati.

Led by APCC president Ripun Bora, AICC general secretary C P Joshi and other party leaders, Congress members attempted to break the security barricade to cross the RBI gate.
Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech at the second Raisina dialogue, Indias flagship geo-political conference, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said that he has no ideological disagreement with the former on foreign policy, adding that hosting delegates from 65 countries is healthy affair from national point of view.

On foreign policy, we believe in speaking for the nation rather than on any party. I even tweeted during the speech that I agreed with Modis avocation of Buddhism, Ayurveda and yoga as part of Indias offerings to the world. I am very glad that this is part of doctrine of the country. I honestly dont think it is such a departure for the past, if you compare the Modi doctrine and Manmohan doctrine, they are the same, which is that the foreign policy must serve the Indias development and transformation. So I have no real ideological disagreement with the statement, Tharoor told ANI.

The Congress leader further said that such international initiatives and conferences should be conducted more in India.

I think this was a very welcome initiative. I have long been an advocate of more international events that place India very visibly on the world map. It is very healthy thing from national point of view that we are able to host delegates from 65 countries in Delhi and open a perspective on the world, which of course is the perspective of the current government, he added.

Prime Minister Modi yesterday in the second edition of the Raisina dialogue said that USA and India will be keep on building the relationship further in regard to the strategic partnership and also pointed out that Russia is an abiding friend and the partnership between the old allies has deepened.

In my conversation with President elect Donald Trump, we agreed to keep building on these gains in our strategic partnership and Russia is an abiding friend. ( Russian President Vladimir) Putin and I have held long talks on the challenges that confront the world today. Our partnership in defence has deepened. The emphasis on energy and trade has shown results, he said.

Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the relations between India and China, saying that it is not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences.

In the management of our relationship and for peace and progress, we need to show sensitivity and respect for our core concerns. I see the development of India and China as an unprecedented opportunity, for our two countries and for the whole world, he added.

Prime Minister Modi told the 69 nations participating in the three-day dialogue that reforms would not be enough unless it transforms economy and society.

He said for his government, this means a path of international engagement -- focussed on restoring bridges, shaping relationships, making India human resource to be reckoned with.

More than 250 representatives of 65 nations are participated in the second Raisina dialogue.

With a theme of New Normal: Multi-lateralism with Multi-Polarity, the meet organised annually by the Observer Research Foundation(ORF) in association with the Ministry of External Affairs, is focusing on deliberate on strategic issues including new challenges and cyber security.
Supporters of the Congress party will protest in front of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) branch offices across the country on Wednesday to protest the Centres decision to continue restricting weekly cash withdrawals at Rs 24,000.

Launching the second phase of the partys agitation against demonetisation, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: This is treachery. The RBI has become the Modi governments captive puppet. Its autonomy has been compromised.

The main opposition party plans to picket 25 RBI officers across the country, including Delhi. The movement will be spearheaded by senior party leaders such as its working committee members, general secretaries, state unit presidents and legislative party heads.

Pointing out that 70 days have passed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of high-denomination currency notes on November 8, Surjewala said, Failure to restore the cash supply has paralysed Indias economy, leading to massive loss of jobs and closure of businesses on a daily basis.

The party spokesperson alleged that the RBI had been reduced to being a mere post office that follows the diktats of the Modi government, instead of playing the role of an independent monetary regulator and key denominator of economic growth.

Surjewala has been deputed to handle the partys agitation in Mumbai. While Anand Sharma  the Congress deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha  will lead the protests in Delhi, former Union ministers Kapil Sibal and Sushil Kumar Shinde will handle the movement in Dehradun and Ahmedabad respectively.

The Congress wants to make the note ban a key issue in the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur. The party had launched the first phase of the agitation on January 1, concluding it with a day-long convention at Delhis Talkatora stadium on January 11.

Surjewala then went on to allege that the destruction of the autonomy and integrity of institutions  essential for preserving the countrys democratic fabric  has become a sine qua non (an essential condition) for Modis unitary style of functioning.

The Congress leader said the need of the hour was to ensure the complete restoration of money supply, fixation of responsibility for the demonetisation mess, and permitting people to withdraw their own hard-earned money from bank accounts.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has been at the forefront of attacks against the NDA government, bringing several opposition parties together on the demonetisation issue.

In response to the BJPs complaint to the election commission over his remarks linking the Congress symbol  the hand  with various religious figures, Gandhi tweeted on Tuesday: Dear BJP, daro mat (dont be scared).

The ruling party had asked the poll body to freeze the Congress election symbol in this connection.

Last month, the Amethi MP described demonetisation as the single-biggest arbitrary decision in the history of the world. He claimed that the move, taken by a single individual (Modi), had affected the lives of 1.3 billion people.

The Congress vice-president also alleged that he has information on personal corruption by the Prime Minister, and said there would be an earthquake if he was allowed to speak on demonetisation in the Lok Sabha.

Gandhi has sought steps such as compensation to state governments by the Centre for any loss of revenue caused due to the move, besides income tax and sales tax rebates of 50% to small shopkeepers and businesses. His others demands included doubling the number of guaranteed work days and wage rate under MGNREGA for a period of one year, besides providing Rs 25,000 to women of BPL families affected by demonetisation.

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A specially-designated court in Odishas Balasore on Wednesday directed the state government to auction the confiscated properties of chit fund firm Saradha Group.

The court, which confiscated a total of 13.64 acres of land belonging to the group, ordered for its public auction, so as to equitably distribute the sale proceeds among the duped investors.

The value of the attached properties is estimated to be around Rs 4.20 crore.

The court in its verdict ordered for public auction of around 13.64-acre land belonging to Saradha Realty. The proceeds of the public auction on court orders will be distributed among the needy depositors on a priority basis, said public prosecutor Sushil Kumar Roy.

The pronouncement was made under the Odisha Protection of Interest of Depositors Act-2011 (OPID Act).

The West Bengal-based Saradha Group had opened around 200 branch offices in the country, including offices at Bhadrak, Balasore, Ganjam and Bhubaneswar in Odisha. It had duped thousands of depositors in the state.

Saradha Realty had its office at Fakir Mohan circle in Balasore town.
Reserve Bank governor Urjit Patel escaped intense grilling by a parliamentary committee over the demonetisation issue on Wednesday, thanks to the intervention of former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

Patel, who along with other RBI and finance ministry officials appeared before the parliamentary standing committee on finance, was put to some tough questions by members, sources in the committee said.

He could not reply to questions like when normalcy would be back in the banking system and how much of demonetised currency was deposited during the 50-day window that ended on December 30.

Before further grilling could start, Singh, who made a forceful speech against demonetisation in Rajya Sabha calling it a monumental failure and organised loot, intervened to say that the central bank and the governors position as an institution should be respected.

He should not be put to odd questions, Singh, who himself was the RBI governor once, reportedly told the committee.

Singh is understood to have told Patel that he need not answer a question put by one of the members relating to non-removal of cash withdrawal restrictions.
Sunil Kumar, a 31-year-old farmer in Tondala village, Kolar district, 85 km east of Bengaluru, lost Rs 300,000 in November when tomato prices crashed after the November 8, 2016, scrapping of 86% of bank notes, by value, and the excess supply of vegetables.

Kumar, who cultivates tomatoes on his five-acre farm, said he made a profit of Rs 30 lakh during the same time last year.

The 110% drop in income from 2016 has come at a time when the weatherand so the harvestwas good this year, said Kumar. So, notebandias demonetisation is called colloquiallycouldnt have come at a worse time. With money sucked out of the market, there was a tomato glut, and prices crashed by 80%.

A 15-kg crate of tomatoes traded this year between Rs 30 and Rs 50 (instead of Rs 700 at its peak), said Kumar. I had no reason to spend on transportation and bring it to the market or wait for the price to pick up. So, I uprooted all my tomato plants in late November to minimise the loss. This is the worst we have seen in my experience.

Kolar is the biggest vegetable-growing region in Karnataka, and houses Asias second-largest tomato market. In November, the ruling price of tomatoes in the Kolar market was Rs 3-5 per kg, or 85% lesser than the same time in 2015.

Kumars case is echoed across India. The price of tomatoes crashed to 25 paise/kg, The New Indian Express reported on December 10, 2016, which prompted farmers in a Chhattisgarh district to dump nearly 100 tractor-trolleys, or about 45,000 kg, of tomatoes, on a national highway.

Similar incidents by frustrated farmers were reported in Nashik, Hyderabad and other key vegetable-growing regions.

Worst hit: Southern tomato farmers, western onion farmers

Tomato farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were the worst hit since prices fell by 60-85% while onion farmers were the worst hit in Maharashtra and Gujarat, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of vegetable prices in seven Indian citiesAhmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbaibetween November 2015 and November 2016.

Source: National Horticulture Board; Negative values indicate rise in prices

The price of potatoes, which have a shelf life of up to 2-3 months, was stable in places such as Delhi and Chennai, while it rose between 17% and 25% in Bengaluru and Mumbai. The price of potatoes per quintal was Rs 1,086 in November 2015, increasing 27% to Rs 1,376 in November 2016.

The price of peas dropped between 15% and 20%, with arrivals increasing in six cities, except Mumbai.

The crash in prices was also due to oversupply, the data show. While the prices of tomatoes (hybrid variety) fell by 55-85%, the supply was double and even triple the previous year in parts of India, such as Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Hyderabad, according to data from the National Horticulture Board.

In Chennai, for instance, the maximum price a farmer could get per quintal of tomatoes in November 2016 was Rs 760, compared to Rs 4,900 in November 2015, a drop of 85%. The supply to the city was 2,910 metric tonne, an increase of 40% from 2015.

In Hyderabad, prices dropped 60% but supply increased 337% in November.

Onions were traded anywhere between Rs 650 and Rs 1,500 per quintal in November 2016, compared to Rs 3,027 to Rs 5,600 in 2015.

At the Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Nashik, Maharashtra, Indias largest wholesale onion market, onions were sold at between Rs 5 and Rs 7 a kilogram.

In the seven cities we analysed data for, supply was 196,400 metric tonne in November 2016, against 186,175 metric tonne in November 2015.

The situation worsened in December, as prices fell by another 20-50%, and peas traded at a 10-year low in the Delhi market, according to officials from the horticulture department.

Enough rains ensured a good harvest but low prices

The monsoon rains would subside during September to November, and it would result in lesser yield, indicating lesser supply and higher prices, Bellur Krishna, managing director of the state-owned Horticultural Producers Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society, told IndiaSpend. This year, the rainfall was good in the vegetable-growing regions of Karnataka.

This led to good harvest but the prices are also down due to the cash crisis triggered by demonetisation, he said.

Kolar, Belagavi, Haveri and Chitradurga, the top vegetable-growing regions in Karnataka, received normal rainfall during the south-west monsoon in 2016.

Karnataka declared a drought in 22 districts and some additional talukas in October 2016; the state received Rs 1,782 crore from the central government, IndiaSpend reported on January 10, 2016.

The impact of demonetisation could only be to the extent of 20% of the price fall, said Krishna.

Demonetisation is expected to hurt agriculture and informal-sector workers, IndiaSpend had reported on November 15, 2016.

Around 9.4 million hectares, or 10% of Indias cropped area, is under vegetable cultivation, of which 50% is given to potato, onion and tomato, according to Horticulture Board data.

Most of the transactions in fruits and vegetables are in cash, Brajendra Singh, director, National Horticulture Board, told IndiaSpend. So, demonetisation has definitely had some bearing. Arrivals had increased; so, the downturn was obvious.

Tomato cultivation is usually routed through market clusters (around cities) and is profitable, Singh said.

This time, it was available from local sources, said Singh. The price of tomatoes had gone up to Rs 50 a kg over the last two years. This year, the climate was favourable and resulted in bumper crops. Suddenly, the markets were depressed due to oversupply and because there was no cash.

Singh predicted the situation would be normal over the next quarter, and crops would fetch a good price for farmers by the summer of 2017.
The government stood its ground to present the Union Budget 2017-18 on February 1, despite objections raised by the opposition parties, but agreed to refrain from making any announcements pertaining to poll-bound states.

The government has before the Election Commission vehemently defended its move to advance Budget presentation by a month saying it had made clear its intention on this way back in September 2016 so as to help begin the investment cycle right from the first day of the new fiscal, April 1.

Budget presentation on February 1 is a done deal, we will not make any specific announcement for poll-bound states, a top source said.

Read | What to expect from Union Budget 2017

Opposition parties including Congress and TMC had approached the Election Commission against presentation of the budget just days before the first of the five states goes to poll on February 4.

But the government stoutly defended the move. The source said that in view of the model code of conduct, the budget will not make any announces related to poll-bound states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.

According to the scheme drawn, the first part of the Budget Session of Parliament will start on January 31 with President Pranab Mukherjees address and tabling of the economic survey, which sets the scene for finance minister Arun Jaitleys fourth annual budget. The budget will be presented the next day.

The Cabinet had decided last September to scrap nearly century-long practice of having a separate railway budget and instead merged it with the general budget. It had also decided to scrap a distinction between plan and non-plan expenditures.

Full coverage of Union Budget 2017-18
Home Minister Rajnath Singh will meet Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Wednesday to discuss the protracted economic blockade along the two national highways in the state.

The meeting in New Delhi is being held in the wake of Manipur high court observation on Monday that efforts to bring essential commodities through the NH 2 and 37 are not satisfactory.

While a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party on Tuesday told Ibobi to put all his cards on the table.

Besides, a 17-member team of the Joint Forum of Peace formed by 64 civil society organisations, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the home minister and others to demand lifting of the blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) on November 1.

Rajnath Singh has expressed surprise that the UNC has not lifted the blockade as some scribes from Manipur met the minister recently.

Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju recently said the blockade in any form was totally unacceptable and additional central paramilitary forces will be rushed to Manipur to cope with the situation.

Hundreds of loaded trucks and oil tankers bring various items from Assam through NH 37.

However, the NH 2 that snakes through Nagaland is impassable as activists have blocked the highway. Even military convoys are stopped and checked.

The Naga Students Federation, a Nagaland based group, had banned all vehicles from Manipur on NH2.

The UNC has demanded that council President Gaidon Kamei and publicity secretary Stephen Lamkang, who are in police custody, be released and talks be held in Senapati district of the state, where its office is located.

However, Ibobi has said: First, the UNC should lift the blockade and ensure to never repeat it again. Talks can be held either here or Delhi.

The UNC cannot choose the venue since other clubs and organisations shall emulate it in future and the government will be reduced to a farce.

Meanwhile, over 1,500 loaded trucks and oil tankers wait for security cover at Jiribam, a town in Manipur which is adjacent to Assam.
RBI governor Urjit Patel has told colleagues that any effort to belittle the reputation of the central bank deserves zero tolerance and asked them to guard the integrity of the institution.

In his first address to the staff after taking over as the 24th governor on September 4, Patel, in an email, said the RBI has achieved the excellence only because of the collective efforts of its employees.

Specifically talking about the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the Centre on November 8, he said, Let me emphasise that one thing we should all zealously guard is the integrity and reputation of our organisation and any act belittling the same should deserve zero tolerance from all of us.

During the demonetisation drive, a few senior RBI employees were held for alleged money laundering and illegal exchange of banned notes. Following this, the CBI had in December arrested a few RBI officials.

Post note-ban announcement, the RBI in general and Patel in particular, were also criticised by opposition politicians as well as analysts over abdication of responsibility by the monetary authority.

Some of Patels predecessors including D Subbarao, YV Reddy, Bimal Jalan, and Manmohan Singh, criticised the apex bank for not doing enough to reassure the public in the wake of currency invalidation exercise.

During the 50-day demonetisation period, the RBI faced flak for numerous flip-flops over currency exchange norms.

I am confident that all of us working together will rise to the occasion and face these challenges in a manner befitting the reputation of this esteemed organisation, Patel said in his email to the employees on the eve of the New Year.

Patel said that during the year gone-by, RBI continued its efforts at restoring macroeconomic stability to the economy.

While the policy actions have already shown positive effects, nevertheless they are work in progress and need to be fine-tuned constantly to keep pace with the changing environment, he said.

RBI employees union, feeling deeply humiliated by the events since demonetisation, on January 13 wrote a letter to Patel protesting against operational mismanagement in the exercise and the government bid to impinge on its autonomy by appointing an official for currency coordination.

In the letter, they claimed this has dented beyond repair RBIs autonomy. They said appointment of a senior finance ministry official for currency coordination was a blatant encroachment on RBIs exclusive turf of currency management
In the backdrop of growing unease in India-China ties, India said on Wednesday it has been trying to convince the Chinese government that its ascent is not harmful to the rise of China and that both countries should be sensitive on matters relating to sovereignty.



Read: Full text of foreign secretary Jaishankars speech at Raisina Dialogue

In an address at the Raisina Dialogue, foreign secretary S Jaishankar took strong objection to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which passes through Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, saying there should have been some reflection on Indias unhappiness over it.

What we are trying to do is to convince China that our rise is not harmful to Chinas rise just as Chinas rise need not be to Indias rise, he said at the gathering attended by representatives from across the world.

Read: Indias NSG membership cant be Obama administrations farewell gift: China

Chill has set in India-China ties following Beijings opposition to Indias membership at the Nuclear Suppliers Group as well as the neighbour blocking Indias move at the UN to designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

During the interactive session, during which he touched upon a vast array of subjects concerning international relations, Jaishankar said the SAARC has been made ineffective due to the insecurity of one member.

Identifying terrorism as the most pervasive and serious challenge to international security, the Foreign Secretary said developing a serious global response to it is of the highest priority but rued that it is hard to do.

On ties with China, Jaishankar said there has been overall broadening of ties, especially in areas of business and people-to-people contact, but they have been overshadowed by differences on certain political issues.

Read: India must rethink opposition to Chinese investment in Lanka

But it is important for the two countries not to lose sight of the strategic nature of their engagement, or falter in their conviction that their rise can be mutually supportive, he said.

Replying to a question on CPEC, he said both countries should show sensitivity to each others sovereignty.

China is a country which is very sensitive on matters concerning its sovereignty. So we would expect that they would have some understanding of other peoples sensitivity on their sovereignty, he said.

Jaishankar said the CPEC passes through a piece of land that we call Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir which is territory belongs to India and which is illegally occupied by Pakistan.

Read: PM Modi slams Pakistan over terrorism, but reaches out to China

He said the project has been undertaken without consultation with India and that its sensitivity and concerns towards it are natural.

On Indias overall ties with China, he said both the countries have opened up significantly since 1945.

In a sense, both of us, if you step back and look at it, are opening up a very close international order. When people talk about change since 1945, I think two big changes are really India and China.

I would say if China had not opened up the international order the way it did, I think it would be much harder today for India also to exploit those phases. There is a high degree of shared interests, he said.
Jan. 3

Adrian Villarreal, 38, of West Wendover was taken into custody on a warrant issued from the Eastline Justice Court for a domestic battery charge. He was located in the casino area of the Pilot Travel center by an officer who was doing a security check of the business.

Jan. 5

Officers were called to the Red Garter casino on a report of an intoxicated male causing a disturbance within the business. James Bolles, 55, of Salt Lake City was identified by casino employees and accused of becoming belligerent and throwing personal items when asked to leave the casino. The officer who identified him learned that he had two warrants for his arrest issued from the West Wendover Municipal Court for trespassing. Bolles was taken into custody for the warrants without incident. No other charges were pursued at this time.



Brenda Duran, 37, of West Wendover was taken into custody on a warrant issued from the Eastline Justice Court with a bail amount of $500. She was located in the casino area of the Pilot Travel center by an officer who was doing a security check of the business.



Jesus Jurado, 23, Taylorsville, Utah, was identified as the driver of a vehicle in the Peppermill parking lot by an officer who observed him acting suspiciously. During the interview the officer became suspicious that Jurado was operating the vehicle while under the influence. He performed field sobriety testing poorly and was subsequently taken into custody. KC Valdez, 43, of Ely was identified in the passenger seat of this vehicle. Valdez had two warrants for his arrest issued from the Ely courts totaling $2,260, and was taken into custody without incident.



Ronica Smith, 46, of Nephi, Utah, was identified as the driver of a vehicle that was stopped by an officer who observed her commit traffic violations including failure to maintain travel lanes. During the course of the stop the officer became suspicious that she was operating the vehicle while under the influence. Smith was unable to perform field sobriety testing due to prior health problems and inclement weather. She was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence without incident.

Jan. 7

Edgar Serrano, 22, of West Wendover was identified as the driver of a vehicle that was stopped for failure to use a turn signal and operating a vehicle after sunset without headlamps. During the course of the stop the officer began to suspect that Serrano may be operating the vehicle while under the influence. He submitted to testing and was subsequently arrested for DUI.

A passenger in the vehicle was identified as Lorena Lujan, 26. She had a warrant for her arrest issued from the West Wendover Municipal Court. Lujan was able to post cash bail in West Wendover and was released.

Jan. 9

Draven Cisneros 20, of West Wendover was taken into custody on a warrant issued for his arrest by the Eastline Justice Court for destruction of property. Cisneros was observed driving a vehicle on Alpine Street by an officer who recognized him and knew of the warrant.



Officers responded to the Montego Bay casino to assist security with a male subject who had previously been removed from the property and warned to not return. Officers identified Gino Notini, 38, of Vernal, Utah and learned of a warrant for his arrest issued from the Eastline Justice Court. Police said Notini had initially lied about his name, which resulted in an additional charge of obstructing an officer.

Jan. 10

John Macfarlane 39, of Kearns, Utah, was identified by officers as a suspect in a theft that occurred at the Wendover Nugget casino. A female customer had placed her wallet in between two slot machines while gambling. A male reached between the machines from the opposite side and grabbed the wallet. This male was located at the Montego Bay using his clothing descriptions from surveillance video obtained at the Nugget. A search revealed that Macfarlane was also in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken into custody without incident.

Jan. 15

Officers responded to a residence on a report of a domestic violence incident. Upon arrival Denisse Pico-Renteria, 28, was identified along with her husband. Officer learned that an argument began when Denisse could not locate her cellphone. Denisse began to throw items around in the house while searching for the phone. Denisse also allegedly struck her husband during the argument. She was taken into custody without incident. No injuries occurred as a result of this incident.



An officer doing a security check of the casino at the Pilot Travel center recognized Damien Perkins, 27, of Wendover, Utah, as someone who had a warrant for his arrest. Upon his approach, the officer observed Perkins try to discard of an item by throwing it away. He was secured into handcuffs. The item that was thrown contained over 4 grams of suspected methamphetamines. Perkins was taken into custody without further incident.
The three suspected ISI agents, arrested by Bihar Police, were on Wednesday questioned by sleuths of RAW, NIA and Railway Police in connection with the November 20 Indore-Patna Express mishap in Kanpur that claimed 150 lives and other train accidents.

The trio had provided some positive lead about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur on November 20 last year during questioning after their arrest from Adapur police station area on Tuesday.

After the central agencies were alerted about these leads, teams of NIA, RAW, Railway Police and UP and Bihar ATS came here to extract more details from Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav to ascertain ISI role in triggering train mishaps in India.

Meanwhile, a court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate, Raxual, SK Mishra sent the trio to six days in police remand.

East Champaran district superintendent of police Jitendra Rana told reporters that they sought remand of the three in connection with murder of two residents of the district -- Arun Ram and Deepak Ram -- in Nepal on December 28 last year for failing to trigger blast on the track in Ghorasahan in East Champaran district on October 1, 2016.

The district police would intensively question the trio for details regarding Ghorasahan incident and killing of the duo in connection with which a case was registered with Adapur police station of the district.

Rana said NIA, RAW, ATS and Railway Police quizzed the three in connection with Indore-Patna Express mishap.

Paswan, Shankar and Yadav had allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to ISI to target the railways.

They had revealed that they were paid Rs three lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly had connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai who had links with the ISI.

The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on the railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran district, bordering Nepal, on October 1 last year, Rana said.

Efforts are on to arrest, in this connection, two others identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav, who are hiding in East Champaran, the SP had said.

While three persons were arrested from East Champaran district, three others were captured earlier at Tailaya in Nepal for targeting railways on behalf of suspected terror elements in India, the SP said.

East Champaran is a district bordering Nepal. Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in the district in August 2013.
At least 4,000 protesters, mostly students, continued their demand for the removal of the ban on Jallikattu - Tamil Nadus traditional bull taming sport - at Chennais Marina Beach on Wednesday.

The protestors at the beach converged on Tuesday following an agitation at Alanganallur in Madurai, the epicentre of the current wave of protests. They are also seeking a ban on animal rights body People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Protests continued unabated at many places in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. People even defied the Supreme Court ban by holding Jallikattu in a village near Tiruchirapalli in the morning even before police could realise what was happening.

The state government is finding it difficult to deal with the largely leaderless protests that are being fuelled by social media.

On Tuesday night and early on Wednesday, two state ministers  Jayakumar and K Pandiarajan  held talks with the protesting students and assured the governments commitment to hold the bull taming sport in the state.

The students, however, declared that unless chief minister O Panneerselvam gives an assurance about holding Jallikattu they would not budge from the site. Later, it was conveyed that the chief minister would issue a statement.

A student said a decision to withdraw the protests will be taken only after the chief ministers statement.

If anything, the protests have only spread to other cities as well with the common demand that central government and state government work out a formula to enable holding of Jallikattu within this month.

At many places such as Alanganallur protesters did not allow the ruling AIADMK legislator S Manickam to enter the arena but let DMK MLA P Moorthy to participate in the protests.

More than 200 people were taken into custody on Monday night after they held protests at Alanganallur village demanding the lifting of the ban.

DMK working president MK Stalin joined the protests from day one and his party has held state-wide protests seeking an ordinance from the central government and also a ban on PETA.

The Jallikattu protests seem to have turned into an apolitical and leaderless movement, with students coming out onto the streets on their own. We will not attend classes till the government comes out with a clear cut stand on holding Jallikattu, a student said.

Another student at Marina beach said, It is Jallikattu now and we will move onto other issues as well, whether it is farmers suicide, Cauvery waters or fishermens issue.

Observers fear the protests could snowball into a bigger movement on the lines of the anti-Hindi agitation in the 1970s. Police sources said that the sentiments expressed at these protests gatherings are anti-central government and are being fuelled by some fringe groups.

Meanwhile, reports of protests poured in from Salem, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli and many other cities, where people from neighbouring villages congregated.

Last week, the Supreme Court refused to advance its judgment on a clutch of petitions challenging a notification by the Centre allowing Jallikattu this year.

The apex court had banned Jallikattu on grounds of animal cruelty in 2014  drawing protests from political parties across the state. In November last year, SC dismissed the state governments plea for a review of its judgment.

Die-hard Jallikattu supporters along with major political parties in Tamil Nadu have been demanding an ordinance for conducting Jallikattu after the Supreme Court ban.

Hundreds of people have been arrested in the last few days across the state for holding Jallikattu defying the Supreme Courts order.

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As pro-Jallikattu protests across Tamil Nadu continued to gain steam with a group of youngsters continuing their agitation here through the night, the state government held talks on Wednesday with agitators and assured its commitment to hold the bull taming sport in the state.

The government also told the youth it would approach the President, seeking an ordinance on the matter.

State fisheries minister D Jayakumar, who along with his cabinet colleague K Pandiarajan held talks with representatives of the protesting youth here in the wee hours, said the 50 AIADMK Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs will exert required pressure on the Centre for conduct of Jallikattu.

Read: Jallikattu row: Trishas mother seeks police protection for daughter

Not just that, this government will also take steps to meet the President to seek an ordinance, Jayakumar said.

Tamil Nadu has been urging the Centre repeatedly to issue an ordinance for the conduct of Jallikattu, held during the Tamil harvest festival Pongal in mid-January.

More than 200 youths were taken into custody on Monday night after they held protests at Alanganallur village demanding lifting of the ban on Jallikattu.

Responding to the protestors demands for an assurance from Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for conducting Jallikattu, School Education Minister Pandiarajan said the government cannot give any oral assurance and indicated that the chief minister could issue a statement later in the day on the matter.

The ministers urged the protestors to withdraw their agitation.

Chandramohan, one of the representatives who held talks with the ministers on behalf of the protestors, insisted that the chief minister support the bull taming sport.

The government should understand the sentiments of the people and exert pressure on the Centre. They (ministers) have assured to find a solution, he said.

Meanwhile, the protestors at Marina, who converged on Tuesday following an agitation at Alanganallur in Madurai, were unrelenting in their demand for conducting Jallikattu and continued to stay put at the protest site and sat through the night.

The agitators claimed that more volunteers had either joined them or were on their way to join the protests.
The spontaneous Jallikattu uprising in Tamil Nadu is in fact the result of four years of sustained hard work by a group of men who used modern communication tools to garner support for the protest.

It all began with a modest protest on Marina beach with 15 participants in 2013 that has now become a mass movement in Tamil Nadu. These warriors roped in youths, cutting across caste, class and region barriers, and encourage them to join the mass agitation.

Himakiran Alagula is a professional from Chennai with rural roots and is an owner of a bull. In 2013, he got interested in Jallikattu and got in touch with Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Federation president P Rajasekharan, who has been fighting for the sport for over 10 years.

Alagula also teamed up with Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, who heads the Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation near Tirupur. Slowly others began to join the fight.

Another professional and businessman from Coimbatore, Balakumar Somu, too, joined the team that prepared the blueprint for the battle.

We organised seminars, workshops, cattle fairs, meetings, and distributed pamphlets and reading material among college and school students, educating them about the native breeds, agricultural practices. And when they realized the true reason for holding Jallikattu, more support started pouring in, said Alagula.

Read | Save Jallikattu: Not a protest for a sport, but our cultural heritage, say Tamil Nadu students

Over the years, support for the three organisations  Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Federation, Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation and Biodiversity Conservation Council of India (formed by professionals in India and abroad)  grew and what you see on the Marina beach or in different parts of the state is a result of a sustained effort since 2013, Alagula said.

It is the failure of the central government to facilitate the native sport and the abusive campaign carried out by PETA against the Tamils that exploded into an outburst of emotional protest, said Alagula.

We created awareness through Twitter and Facebook, seminars in colleges and lectures at institutions. The real spark that ignited the anger of the people was the abusive negative campaign by PETA and central governments indifference, said another Jallikattu warrior.

WhatsApp, too, came handy for the campaigners.

Read | Centres 2016 notification on Jallikattu balances sport, animal care: Javadekar

It was a television programme in January last year that the warriors dominated. It was followed by Hiphop Tamizha, who did a Tamil video song that went viral. It garnered more support from within India and abroad.

Sri Ganesh, the Chennai-coordinator for the Chennai Memes, one of the sites that was extensively used by Jallikattu warriors to spread their message said, Jallikattu is our cultural heritage. Its not just one generation at Marina beach, but Tamils from all ages and backgrounds.

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Those who knowingly manufacture or sell adulterated food could now face a life time in jail and pay a hefty fine running into lakhs of rupees.

The Law Commission has recommended changes to the Indian Penal Code which currently prescribes imprisonment of up to a mere six months and a fine of one thousand rupees for such cases.

Commission sources said that the law, once amended is expected to arrest rising cases of food adulteration. Currently, sections 272 and 273 of the IPC which deal with Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale and Sale of noxious food or drink lay down imprisonment up to six months and a fine extending up to Rs 1000 for both offences.

For both sections of the IPC to apply knowledge of the adulteration and the food or drink being rendered noxious or unfit for consumption are necessary. In contrast, punishment is harsher for lesser offences which are dealt with under the prevention of food adulteration Act of 1954, a relatively newer legislation as compared to the IPC.

The states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha had, however, amended the IPC over the decades to increase the term of imprisonment to life term.

The amended laws for the three states lay down that the courts can award lesser punishment, provided that the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment which is less than imprisonment for life.

The states were able to change the laws because adulteration of foodstuffs falls under the concurrent list in the constitution allowing both the Centre and the states to enact laws.

The Supreme Court referred the matter to the commission and asked us to come up with a standardised law, a commission member who was present at a full meeting of the commission earlier this month said. The meeting was also attended by the union law secretary Suresh Chandra and the governments view taken on the proposal.

The consensus was in favour of applying the amended state laws to the rest of the country. The Centre will now bring a bill in Parliament to effect the amendments.

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Actor Salman Khan was acquitted on Wednesday in a case linked to the alleged killing of black bucks 18 years ago. Salman Khan had pleaded not guilty to charges of violating the law by keeping unlicensed weapons and using them.

Khan was accused of carrying and using illegal arms with an expired licence. A case under the Arms Act was registered against him. The actor allegedly had a US-made revolver and a 22-bore rifle with him. The prosecution had said the licence of both the firearms had expired on September 22, 1998, but the actor used them to hunt two blackbucks on October 1 and 2, 1998, in Kankani village on the outskirts of Jodhpur.

Here are the highlights:

12.35pm:

Thank you for all the support and good wishes  Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) January 18, 2017

11.55am: Salman expected to fly back to Mumbai and shoot for TV show Big Boss, reports TV channel India Today

11.50am: The prosecutions case was rejected by the court: Hastimal Saraswat, lawyer for Salman

11.45am: Salman Khan has been acquitted of charges in the 1998 Arms Act case. He was accused of using firearms with expired license.

11.30am: Jodhpur Court gives Salman Khan 30 minutes to appear, reports NDTV. Khan is currently discussing the case and its repercussions with his lawyers.

11am: If convicted, Khan faces up to seven years in jail. He has told the court he is innocent and that he was framed by the state forest department.
An earthquake of 3.0 magnitude was felt in New Delhi on Wednesday morning.

The tremors were felt in the national capital at around 7:16 am.

Meanwhile, tremors of 3.7 magnitude were also felt in Aizwal, Mizoram at the same time.

No reports of any casualty have been reported yet from New Delhi and Mizoram.

A low-intensity earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale had struck several parts of Karachi, Pakistan on Tuesday.

The tremor lasted for 12 seconds but no loss of life or damage to property was reported from the city.
The Madras High Court on Wednesday said it will not interfere on the issue of protests in the city against the ban on Jallikattu, holding that the Supreme Court was seized of the matter.

The court made this observation when a mention was made by an advocate K Balu in the open court about the protests at the Marina on the Jallikattu issue.

He brought to the courts notice disconnection of power supply in the area when a peaceful demonstration was going on Tuesday evening. Besides, drinking water was not provided to protesters, he complained.

The first bench, comprising Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice M Sundar, declined to interfere in the matter at this stage.

First of all, the apex court is seized of the matter. When it is so, even the High Court and Tamil Nadu government cannot do anything and moreover, Marina Road is not a place for any demonstrations. The court does not want to interfere at this stage, the bench said.

As pro-Jallikattu protests gained steam with a group of youngsters continuing their agitation at the Marina here overnight, the state government today held talks with the protesters to sort out the matter.

The government also told the youths that it would even approach the President seeking an ordinance on the matter.

The Supreme Court had on January 12 rejected a plea urging it to pass judgement on the sport before Pongal festival.

The apex court had outlawed Jallikattu in 2014 and the state governments review petition was also dismissed last December.

It has reserved judgement on a matter related to the Centres notification of last year to exempt Jallikattu from the ban.
Citing ignorant attitude of BJP and Shiv Sena towards them amid the seat-sharing talks for upcoming civic polls, at least three constituents of NDA have decided to form a separate political front to contest against the ruling parties.

Despite having an alliance, we have been ignored by the BJP while they talk of alliance for upcoming BMC and other municipal corporations and Zilla Parishad polls, Shiv Sangram president Vinayak Mete said on Wednesday.

The allies are: Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana, Rashtriya Samaj Party and Shiv Sangram.

Mete said they have some pockets of influence in Mumbai as well nine other corporations and 25 Zilla Parishads.

The elections are slated for next month.

Mete said he met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and urged him to consider views of the Mahayuti constituents on forging alliance with Sena.

I am yet to hear from CM...Enough is enough. I, Raju Shetti of SSS and Mahadev Jankar of RSP have decided to form a new front and we will announce our candidates against BJP and Sena in the corporation and ZP election across the state, the Maratha leader said.

The name of the proposed front and the seats to be contested is yet to be decided by these leaders.

Jankar, who heads animal husbandry department, belongs to Dhangar (shepherd) community which has a considerable presence in more than 145 assembly constituencies.

Shetti, a farmers leader and an MP, has a strong base in Kolhapur and Sangli while Shiv Sangram has some pockets of influence in Mumbai and other parts of the state.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sangram has registered itself as a political party with the Election Commission.

Mete will make an official announcement in Pune on Friday.
The Congress on Wednesday approached the Election Commission with a complaint demanding stern action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for violation of the Model Code of Conduct for invoking Bhagwan Ram and Hanuman at an event.

It also demanded that the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) poll symbol must be cancelled and withdrawn.

The complaint was submitted to the Election Commission by All India Congress Committee secretary KC Mittal, who heads the partys legal and human rights department.

On January 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural event of Ramayana Darshanam Exhibition at Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari, via video conferencing, the complaint said.

The Prime Minister found this an occasion to utilise the event as a part of election campaign in the name of religion by invoking and making statements regarding Bhagwan Shri Ram, Ayodhya, Ram Rajya, Hanumanji and Bharat repeatedly, the complaint submitted to chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi and others read.

The complaint also said the Prime Minister deliberately mentioned about Bhagwan Shri Ram, Hanumanji and other characters from the Ramayana and compared the policies of his government with those of Bhagwan Shri Ram.

The whole idea and tenor of his speech was to invoke religion to further the election prospects of the BJP and their candidates in poll-bound five states, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and other states generally, it added.

The complaint also drew the ECs attention to the photograph of the Prime Minister during the video conferencing, which showed him with the national flag as the backdrop along with Ashoka symbol with slogan Rama became Lord Rama when he empowered the poor inscribed at the top of the photograph.

The Congress claimed this was used with an eye to the poll campaign in poll-bound states.

It is, therefore, requested that the Commission may be pleased to take immediate stern action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and issue appropriate orders and direction, since the BJP and their prominent representatives have been flouting the Model Code of Conduct repeatedly, the complaint read.

It is an appropriate case where the symbol of BJP may be cancelled and withdrawn, it added.

Read I Daro mat, tweets Rahul after BJP moves EC against him
Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam said on Wednesday he would urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue an ordinance allowing Jallikattu, which the Supreme Court banned in 2014 on grounds of cruelty against animals.

As thousands of students gathered on the sands of Marina Beach demanded the lifting of the ban on the bull-taming sport, Panneerselvam said he will go to Delhi on Thursday to meet Modi. He will be accompanied by 49 parliamentarians of the ruling AIADMK. The delegation will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee.

In a statement issued in Chennai, the CM assured the agitating students that his government will take steps for holding the traditional sport and requested them to end their protest.

AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala too lent her support to the agitation and demanded that the Centre come out with the ordinance.

We will move and adopt resolution in the ensuing assembly session for the removal of the ban against Jallikattu, she said.

The epicentre of protests appeared to have shifted to the state capital, with students and youths saying the sport symbolised Tamil culture and the ban reflected an anti-Tamil mindset.

Animal rights organisation PeTA, which had moved the Supreme Court against the holding of the sport, was the target of attack by protesters.

Read: Jallikattu ban: Protests at Chennais Marina Beach, Madras HC refuses to interfere

Nadigar Sangam -- the South Indian Artistes Association -- said it will observe a day-long hunger strike on Friday to express solidarity with youngsters protesting against the ban.

It was announced that all the artistes of the Tamil film fraternity will participate in the fast.

This is a protest to express our solidarity for all those who have been protesting on ground for the last two days, actor Ponvannan, a member of the Sangam said.

He added all members of Producers Council, Directors Association and Film Employees Federation of South India were also invited.

We really hope the Centre speeds up legal action and allows the conduct of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, Ponvannan said.

Read: Jallikattu ban protests not a first, here are other cases of definace
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned the country into Hiroshima and Nagasaki by dropping the demonetisation bomb, the Shiv Sena has said in its most vicious attack on the government over the shock recall of high-value banknotes.

The Sena, an ally of the ruling BJP at the Centre, has been critical of the government ever since Modis November 8 announcement recalling 500 and 1000-rupee notes that sucked out 86% of the banknotes in circulation.

In an editorial in its mouthpiece, Saamana, the Sena also accused Modi of taking decisions unilaterally, besides making the comparison with the two Japanese cities destroyed by atomic bombs dropped by the United States during the World War II.

Read: Demonetisation: Why PM must pay attention to YV Reddys warning on RBI

It said Modi was not in a state to listen to anyone and has not taken the counsel of even the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor.

The way he has picked deaf and dumb parrots to sit on his cabinet meetings, he has also chosen the RBI governor and turned the countrys economy into shambles, the editorial said.

The partys taunts a came day after it attempted to push the BJP into a corner and beat its ally with the same transparency stick it was using against the Sena amid seat-sharing talks for the forthcoming civic body polls in Mumbai.

Read: Economy to revive from demonetisation setback by June, says govt

The BJP has been insisting that the Sena commit itself to transparency in administration as a key factor for a pre-poll alliance between the two parties. The BJP move is being seen as an attempt to distance itself from graft allegations against the Sena.

The Sena on Tuesday hit out at the BJP, saying it was fully on board in wanting transparency in administration, but it should be seen in the Central and state governments too, and decisions should not be unilateral.

Read: Demonetisation: Mamata holds totally arrogant PM Modi responsible for 120 plus deaths

In the Saamana editorial, the Sena also criticised Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar for first welcoming the demonetisation decision and then back-tracking once it stifled the cooperative sector, where the NCP has always had a strong grip.

The Sena lashed out at the Modi government for not allowing district cooperative banks to accept demonetised currency notes, saying farmers suffered the most because of the decision.

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Throwing its weight behind India, France on Wednesday said it will ensure that the proposal to designate Pakistan-based JeM Chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist is reintroduced at the Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

The strong assertion was made by Jacques Audibert, Diplomatic Adviser to French President Francois Hollande, weeks after China blocked Indias move to get the Pathankot attack mastermind banned by the UN.

He also exuded confidence on India becoming member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) notwithstanding stiff opposition by China on admitting India into the 48-nation grouping.

We will make sure that demand is reintroduced. We are still hopeful that the UN will designate him (Azhar) as a terrorist soon, Audibert told reporters on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue when asked about the Azhar issue.

India has already initiated preliminary discussions with several member countries of the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council on once again brining back the proposal to ban Azhar. France is a member of the Sanctions Committee and has been strongly supporting India on the issue.

On Indias NSG bid, Audibert said France supports New Delhis membership as its entry into the grouping will improve non-proliferation regime.

Read: France asks UN to declare JeM chief Masood Azhar as international terrorist

We have been supporting Indias NSG bid because India is providing necessary guarantee. Indias membership of NSG will improve the non-proliferation regime, he said.

Asked about the Scorpene submarine deal with India, Audibert said he did not think the alleged leak of some secret documents has compromised the project.

Earlier, speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, he made a veiled reference to China on the South China Sea dispute, saying freedom of navigation and law of the sea needs to be defended by all the states.

India and France act together to improve stability in the region through their cooperation in maritime security, he said.

He also spoke about right of any country to defend itself against a threat of terrorism.
A crucial meeting of Parliaments standing committee on finance over the demonetisation issue began in New Delhi this morning with Reserve Bank of India governor Urjit Patel expected to brief it on the matter.

Senior bureaucrats, including Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikant Das, Banking Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal and Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, and top bank honchos like Chanda Kochhar of ICICI Bank and Usha Ananthasubramanian of Punjab National Bank are also to appear before the committee headed by Congress leader Veerappa Moily.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh is one of its members.

Patel will brief the parliamentary panel about demonetisation and its impact on the economy and the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch post withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

The meeting will discuss the demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and the impact thereof.

The RBI Governor is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.
Regional political parties received nearly Rs 108 crore in 2015-16 in donations in excess of Rs 20,000, the limit above which funding sources have to be disclosed, says a report.

Shiv Sena tops the list with a total Rs 86.84 crore collected in donation during 2015-16, while AAP received Rs 6.605 crore during the same period, Delhi-based think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said in a report released on Wednesday.

The total amount of donations declared by Shiv Sena is about 81% of the total donations received by all the regional parties together which have been considered for the report during the same period, it said.

With regard to the total number of donations, AAP leads with 1,187 donations from individuals and corporates, while Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) declared a total 571 contributions followed by Shiv Sena with 143 and TDP 75.

Section 29C of the Representation of People Act, 1951 mandates that political parties submit their contribution details in excess of Rs 20,000 received from any person or company to the Election Commission of India (ECI) annually, in order to enjoy 100 per cent tax exemption.

The total amount of donations above Rs 20,000 declared by the Regional Parties was Rs 107.62 crore, from 2,249 donations which amounts to an average of Rs 4.79 lakh per donation, it said.

The report, jointly prepared by ADR and National Election Watch (NEW), said that no donations have been declared by AIADMK, BJD, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Naga Peoples Front (NPF) and RLD during 2015-16.

A total of 26 regional parties have defaulted in the submission of their donations report to the ECI during 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Out of the 26 parties, 21 parties have not filed their reports for both the financial years while 5 parties had filed for 2014-15 but failed to submit for 2015-16.

A comparison of donations received by regional parties between 2014-15 and 2015-16 shows that the overall donations of the 21 regional parties decreased by Rs 27.24 crore or 20.20 per cent.

AIUDF, DMDK, JDS, PMK and Shiv Sena are the five regional parties which have declared increase in the amount of donations received between 2014-15 and 2015-16, it said.

PMK, AAP, Shivsena, IUML, DMDK and AIUDF were the only regional parties which declared collecting donations in cash.

Rs 3.326 crore in cash donations formed 3.08% of the total contributions declared by the regional parties from 784 donations, the report said.

Out of 16 regional parties which had declared receiving donations above Rs 20,000, 9 parties; Shiv Sena, AAP, PMK, YSR-Congress, AIUDF, IUML, MNS, SAD and DMDK have not declared PAN details of 1,567 donations through which the parties collected a total of Rs 6.79 crore, it added.
Bollywood star Salman Khan was on Wednesday acquitted in an Arms Act case which charged him with possessing and using unlicensed weapon to allegedly kill black bucks in Jodhpur in 1998.

Chief judicial magistrate (CJM) Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit said the prosecution had failed to prove both the charges against him.

A case of possessing arms.32 US-made revolver and .22 riflewhose licence had expired, was filed at the Luni police station of Jodhpur district on October 15, 1998, days after he was charged with poaching chinkaras in Bhawad and Ghora, and black bucks in Kankani.

Rajasthan high court had acquitted him in the two chinkaras case in July last year. The black buck case is in the final stages of trial.

Salman Khan, who was present in the court along with his sister Alvira, took to Twitter to thank his fans for their good wishes and prayers.

Thank you for all the support and good wishes, he tweeted.

The CJM observed the charges were framed against Salman Khan by the then district magistrate Rajat Kumar Mishra under section 3/25 of Arms Act for possessing arms despite licence expiry.

Holding that section 25 of the Act provided for conviction for violation of section 21not surrendering armsto nearest police station despite licence expirythe court noted that offence was lodged under section 3/25 and failed to justify the section.

It said Mishra had granted prosecution sanction without applying his mind. Had he studied the case properly, the accused would not have had to face trial, the court said.

Also, the sanction has no mention of the place and date of arms in possession, and that created doubt, it noted.

The judgement further observed that the seized arms were later renewed, and as per norms, such armsare believed to be legal since the day their licence expired.

It also noted that the contradiction between evidences and witnesses did not prove that the same arms were used to poach the black bucks.

In the black bucks poaching case, the CJM court has summoned six accused, including Salman Khan, on January 25 for recording their statements.

The charges were framed against Salman Khan when he was reportedly on a hunting trip in Jodhpur where he was filming Hum Saath Saath Hai along with his co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, Sonali Bendre, Dushyant and Dinesh Ganware.
A Jodhpur court will announce its judgement in an arms act case against actor Salman Khan on Wednesday.

Chief judicial magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit will give his verdict on a case against the actor for allegedly possessing illegal arms during the shoot of his film Hum Saath Saath Hain in Jodhpur in 1998. On January 9, the court had reserved its judgement after hearing the concluding arguments from both sides.

The actor is required to be present in court when the judgement is announced.

Arms Act Case: Timeline

October 15, 1998 - Gordhan Singh, a then forest guard, files FIR at Luni police station accusing Salman Khan and his companions of killing black bucks on the intervening night of October 1-2, 1998 in Kankani. The hunters allegedly flee after villagers chase them.

Later, investigations reveal Salman Khan had sent his licensed weapons to Mumbai. Police call for the weapons from Mumbai and seize them. Case registered against Salman under sections 3/25 and 3/27 of the Arms Act.

July 28, 2000 - Police file charge-sheet against Salman under the Arms Act.

Febuary 27, 2006 - Charges framed against Salman Khan. Rajasthan high courts Jodhpur bench seeks case records in a revision petition filed by the Rajasthan government. The documents stay in Jodhpur from 2006 to 2014

Prosecution witnesses - At least 20 witnesses questioned. Statement of Salman also recorded.

Defence witnesses - Only 1 witness was produced. Judgment reserved

Salmans other legal tangles

Bhawad hunting case - The chief judicial magistrates court on February 17, 2006 sentenced Salman Khan for a year in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 5000 for hunting two chinkaras in Bhawad village on the night of September 26, 2006. Actor Satish Shah and seven other accused were acquitted. The Rajasthan high court on July 25, 2015 acquits Khan of all charges. The state government files appeal before Supreme Court, which is pending consideration.

Ghora farm hunting case - The CJMs court on April 10, 2006 sentenced Khan to five years imprisonment and fined Rs 25000 in a chinkara hunting case on the night of September 28, 1998. Co-accused Govind Singh was convicted for one year while four others were acquitted. The district and sessions court upheld the conviction of Khan. On July 2, 2015 the high court acquitted Khan of all charges. The state government filed an appeal before the Supreme Court, which is pending consideration.

Kankani hunting case - Khan along with Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, Sonali Bendre, Dushyant and Dinesh Ganware were accused of hunting two black bucks on the night of October 1, 1998. The hearing in the case at the CJM court is in its final phase.

Illegal possession of arms - A case of illegal possession of arms was separately lodged against Khan as the license of the arms he used while hunting on the night of October 1-2, 1998 had expired.
A sniffer dog of the CRPFs CoBRA battalion was killed in an IED blast during a search operation for Maoists in the jungles of Latehar in Jharkhand on Tuesday.

The dog named Aminika which was part of a CoBRA unit involved in a search operation to nab top Maoist leader Arvindji, stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and was blown apart.

The handler however survived. Police officials said he is out of danger.

We are proud of the dogs supreme sacrifice. The carcass is being bought to the battalion headquarters this afternoon where we would hold a Rest in Peace (RIP) ceremony before burying it, said commandant, Pankaj Kumar of the CRPF battalion 11 to which the dog belonged.

Latehar superintendent of police Dhananjay Singh said, The sniffer dog laid down his life and saved lives of several jawans engaged in the operation. I am sure the sacrifice would not go in vain.

The incident occurred near Ambapani along the Chhattisgarh border where a massive combing operation is on for the past one week. According to security forces, Maoist leaders Arvindji and Sudhakaran are carrying out recruitment and training of youngsters in the area.

On Friday, five security personnel including three from the CoBRA force and two from Jharkhand police were injured in a land mine blast in the same jungles where the dog was killed.

Officials said each battalion fighting the Maoists in Jharkhand has at least 6-8 sniffer dogs, most Belgian Shepherds. These sniffer dogs move in the jungles with the forces and sniff for explosives and hunt the ultras holed up in the woods.
Allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodo Peoples Front (BPF) are eyeing a larger share in the proposed expansion of Assam cabinet, putting chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP in a spot.

Sonowal is expected to expand his seven-month-old 11-member cabinet this month by inducting eight new faces and both coalition partners are seeking two more berths each.

AGP, with 14 MLAs, has two ministers and BPF, with 12 legislators, has the same number of representatives in the cabinet. BJP, which has 60 MLAs in the 126-member assembly, has seven ministers including Sonowal.

Sources say in order to placate party legislators seeking ministries, Sonowal is planning to induct six more BJP members in the cabinet, and give one berth each to AGP and BPF.

Taking a dig at the governments reported desire to expand the cabinet at an auspicious time, Rajya Sabha MP from BPF Biswajit Daimary said BJP should wait for the opportune date, but induct BPF and AGP MLAs soon.

He had earlier this week said that ministers have several portfolios each, affecting their performance. The cabinet should be expanded soon to make it more effective.

BPFs ministers Pramila Rani Brahma and Rihon Daimary are handling four departments and three departments respectively.

Last week, AGPs executive committee meeting decided on seeking two more ministries for the party. The chief minister has been apprised of our partys decision, AGP president and cabinet minister Atul Bora told journalists.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed BJP state unit chief Ranjit Das has requested the chief minister not to expand the cabinet before the budget session, which will begin on February 7.

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The Supreme Court asserted on Wednesday that Centre and Punjab government have to ensure the construction of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and a failure would force it to invoke its contempt powers.

Punjab, which is going to polls next month, has openly defied a five-judge bench SC judgement that held The Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004 unconstitutional.

The law was enacted to deny due water to riparian states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Delhi. Despite the SC verdict Punjab took a decision to return the land to its farmers, a move Haryana challenged before the top court.

Purpose of decree is to be implemented. Whatever, way you want to do, do it. If you fail to implement we will determine it (contempt powers), a bench led by Justice PC Ghose told the NDA government.

We will not allow the decree of this court to be flouted in any manner. How it will be done is the headache of you all (all the parties to the dispute). You (Centre) have to take the burden on your shoulders and protect dignity of the court, the bench said.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar was present in the court to counter Haryanas contention to initiate contempt against Punjab and Centre.

The Constitution Bench had passed the judgment on November 10, while answering a Presidential Reference made in July 2004 after Punjab came out with the legislation.

Haryana government counsel, senior advocate Jagdeep Dhankar told the court that Punjab should be hauled up for contempt because it has refused to implement the judgement, giving a go ahead to the SYL canal work.

On behalf of Punjab, senior counsel Ram Jethmalani passed the buck to the NDA government at Centre.

Dispute between states was like a dispute between two sisters. I want this matter should be resolved by the statesmanship of the Union government. For Gods sake ask your client (Centre) to do some arbitration, Jethmalani told the Solicitor General.

In Kumars opinion the law had not been struck down. He argued the SC had given an opinion on a Presidential reference.

But, the court brushed the arguments and asked Punjab to respond to the contempt petition. It refused to fix a date after the state elections and said it would hear the parties again on February 15.

Let us not make our schedule co-extensive with elections, the bench observed. Punjab has been restrained from parting away with land acquired for the project.

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Thousands of protesters gathered at Chennais signature Marina Beach on Wednesday in the first wave of mass public dissent against a court ban on Jallikattu, Tamil Nadus popular bull-taming sport played during Pongal festivities in mid-January.

Thousands more vented their anger on social media platforms against the Supreme Courts 2014 ban, which upheld concerns by animal rights activists that the sport amounted to cruelty to the bull.

This isnt about just a sport, but about Tamil culture, said Saravanan, a student from Chennai who joined 5,000-odd protesters at the seafront.

They demanded lifting of restrictions on Jallikattu, a ban on animal rights campaign group PETA, and an audience with chief minister O Panneerselvam.

Shouts of Chinnamma Chinamma, OPS enge ma? (Where is Sasikala Natarajan and O Panneerselvam? and PETA varigai, Jallikattu vendum (Ban PETA, we want Jallikattu) rent the air as people sought the presence of the chief minister and the AIADMK chief.

The chief minister didnt go to Marina, but promised in a statement that he would request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass an emergency ordinance to allow the sport. Also, he implored the protesters to end their demonstration.

The protests began on Tuesday and the numbers swelled each passing hour.

If the situation continues, students like us who have been patient will be tested, and then both Tamil Nadu and India will have to deal with dire consequences, Saravanan warned, echoing the views of fellow protesters around him, shouting slogans and waving placards.

Read: 30 held in Tamil Nadu after Jallikattu supporters continue to defy SC ban during Pongal

In a related development, the Madras high court refused to interfere in the protests, saying the matter is being heard in the top court, which last week refused to pass an order before Pongal and allow the popular sport.

Political parties, including the opposition DMK, had staged protests earlier, but the seaside rally appeared to be a spontaneous show of defiance, especially by youngsters.

The ruling AIADMK has also expressed displeasure over the top courts ban.

Fisheries minister D Jayakumar and cabinet colleague K Pandiarajan held talks with the protesters and said AIADMK parliamentarians will exert pressure on the Centre for lifting the ban.

Observers fear the protests could snowball into a bigger movement on the lines of the anti-Hindi, pro-Dravidian agitation in the 1970s. Police sources said views expressed at these protests are against the Union government and are being fuelled by fringe groups.

Reports of protests poured in from Salem, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli and many other cities, where people from neighbouring villages congregated.

Police installed jammers to block mobile phone signals, fearing that social media posts could add to the anger and bring in more protesters.

Were receiving coordination and new information on Facebook and WhatsApp, said Arul Ravichandran, a 17-year-old student who joined the protests with his classmates. You cant stop us. We will be here for however long it takes until the ban is lifted.

IT professionals also joined in as the agitation showed increasing signs of turning into an urban movement.

Our culture is being trampled by the Centre and the BJP. This is unacceptable, said Anand Ravishankar, a 31-year-old IT professional.
RBI governor Urjit Patel couldnt give on Wednesday a time frame for an end to cash restrictions nor could he provide a parliamentary panel a figure for the amount of banned notes deposited into banks after demonetisation, sources said.

The central bank had pumped in Rs 9.2 lakh crore in new banknotes to help replace the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bills banned on November 8, Patel told a parliamentary panel. Around Rs 15.4 lakh crore worth of the notes were removed from circulation.

The RBI governor was unable to tell us how much old currency has come to the banks, panel member and Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy told media, criticising Patel for his inability to answer vital questions.

The deadline for depositing old notes ran out on December 30, though these can be deposited at RBI offices till March 31.

Read | Urjit Patel asks staff to guard RBI reputation

Patel and several finance ministry officials appeared before the panel to answer questions on the demonetisation decision that triggered a huge cash crunch and restrictions on money withdrawals.

Patel, who took over as the countrys top banker on September 4, had a tough time fending off MPs, prompting former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who is also on the committee, to come to his rescue, sources in the panel said.

Singh, a former RBI governor, told Patel not to answer questions that would compromise the autonomy of the central bank, sources said.

Patel failed to provide a figure for how many of the banned notes were had been deposited. The RBI was still in the process of calculating how much money came into the banking system, he said.

The figure would be an indication of the success or failure of the disruptive move, which the government said was aimed at curbing black money and choking counterfeit currency.

Read | Talks with govt on demonetisation began early last year: RBI

Congress Digvijaya Singh wanted to know when restrictions on withdrawals would end.

Patel said the present limit  Rs 24,000 per account holder, per week and Rs 96,000 per month  was reasonably high and normalcy would be restored gradually.

Revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia said data suggested that on an average, a customer withdrew Rs 50,000 per month in pre-demonetisation days.

You are not lifting the limit as it will lead to chaos, said Digvijaya.

You dont need to reply. Answer questions that do not compromise the autonomy of the central bank, Manmohan told Patel, as he asked members to respect the RBI.

The former PM has described the currency recall as monumental mismanagement and organised loot.

Read | Congs anti-demonetisation protests end in lathi-charge, detention of leaders

Demonetisation has emerged as a major campaign issue in next months five state elections, with the Opposition targeting the Modi government and his BJP party for putting people through hardship.

Patel told the panel that bills worth Rs 9.1 lakh crore had been released post-demonetisation, 43% of these were in the denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000.

Congress leader M Veerappa Moily-led panel had summoned Patel to brief the members on demonetisation, its impact on the economy and the steps taken to ease cash crunch.

The process of recalling old notes started in January 2014 while the call to withdraw the two high-value notes was taken in January 2016, a finance ministry official told the panel.

The RBI was in agreement with the government on the objectives behind scrapping of the two bills, said Patel, who along with finance ministry officials is likely to be called again by the panel after February 8.

The RBI governor is to appear before the public accounts committee of Parliament on January 20.
The prevailing cold wave condition across Rajasthans Kota division has impacted coriander crop due to frost, farmers said on Wednesday.

Kota division is known as the coriander bowl of Rajasthan where the fragrant herb is cultivated on more than two lakh hectare and produces more than two lakh metric tonne of the herb that accounts for 90% of coriander cultivated and produced in the state.

Apart from Kota, farmers extensively cultivate coriander in Baran and Jhalawar districts of the division.

Farmers from different parts of the division, including Kotas Ramganjmandi, Chhabra, Chhipabarod and Baran and Bhawanimandi regions of Baran district and parts of Jhalawar, have reported loss of coriander crops due to frost.

Radheshyam Meena, 45, a coriander farmer from Dhakiya village in Ramganjmandi, said more than 60% coriander crop of farmers in his village has been damaged.

Another farmer Lakshmi Narayan from Julmi village too said the crop of most farmers of the village is ruined due as the fragrant herb is extremely sensitive to frost.

A group of more than 200 farmers on Wednesday demonstrated in front of the Ramganjmandi sub division office demanding adequate compensation from the state government for damaged coriander crop.

Dashrath Kumar, general secretary of Hadauti Kisan Union, said coriander crop across the division has been damaged due to the cold wave conditions.

Jhalawar district Congress chief Rajesh Gupta Karawan said farmers who cultivated coriander early this year, have faced greater loss as the crop was in the flowering stage.

Kumar demanded that the state government carry out a survey to access the loss of coriander crop and adequately compensate farmers.

Meanwhile, Met department officials said the maximum temperature in the region has been hovering around 20 degree Celsius and the minimum around 7-8 degrees from the last 10 days.

Asked about the loss to coriander crop, RB Dadhich, agriculture research officer (horticulture) said a team from the department surveyed Sangod, Bapawar, Atru, Baran and other regions over the last couple of days and found that there was no major loss to the crop.

Surveys will be conducted in Ramganjmandi region of Kota and Jhalawar region soon to assess loss to coriander crop, he said.
CBI has drawn up plans to bring Rose Valley chairman Gautam Kundu and Saradha boss Sudipto Sen from Kolkata jails to the interrogation table in Bhabaneswar where TMC MPs Tapas Paul and Sudip Bandyopadhyay are held for questioning, giving the impression that ruling party leaders and politicians benefitted from both and they want to revive the Saradha probe.

Over the past few days, suspended Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh met CBI officers in their Salt Lake office twice and gave them fresh statements to help the investigation on the Saradha front.

Though Kundu has been behind bars since March 2015 and Sen since April 2013, CBI never brought them to the investigation table at the same place and almost at the same time. However, sleuths also indicated that they wont interrogated together.

Even as the arrest of the TMC MPs has triggered a high-pitched battle between the leaders of the ruling party in Bengal and BJP, CBI sources indicate that half a dozen TMC leaders, MPs and cine stars are under their scanner.

The arrest of Sudip Bandyopadhyay, the Trinamool leader in Lok Sabha, triggered high-pitched protests by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (HT Photo)

We are already trying to bring in Rose Valley Group chairman for a fresh round of interrogation to Bhubaneshwar. We are trying to shed light on new sides of investigation. Likewise there is a pending warrant against Saradha chairman Sudipto Sen related to a case in Odisha. However, Sen is reportedly ill and we are waiting for him to recover, said a CBI source from Delhi.

Sudipto Sen was arrested by CBI on April 23, 2013 and after a period of interrogation was sent to Alipore central jail. Gautam Kundu implicated in the Rs 17,000 crore Rose Valley scam was arrested on March 23, 2015 and faced a similar situation. He is now housed in Presidency central jail in Kolkata.

According to CBI sources, last year in February, sleuths discovered a diary from the hidden chamber of Kundu at his office in DLF building at the outskirts of Kolkata.

Kundu, according to investigators, kept records of payment to influential people in the diary. Many new evidences have emerged that now needs to be verified before CBI initiates fresh set of interrogation and arrests.

We had to break a wall to find the hidden chamber in Kundu office. Illegal payments made to influential people have been recorded in the diary. It is an important piece of evidence and we need to interrogate him on that, said a CBI source.

According to sleuths, Ghosh has provided leads and named a few political heavyweights who have received money.

The Enforcement Directorate, too, has stepped up speed of investigation as well as the process of attachment of properties of Rose Valley. In the last few months ED has attached properties worth Rs 1,250 crores including 10 hotels and resorts. It expects the worth of these properties to be more than Rs 2,000 crores.

The properties underwent provisional attachment under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. ED is sending the papers to union finance ministry to complete the process.

ED has already seized 17 luxurious cars of Gautam Kundu including Rolls- Royce and a limousine. Over 200 cars belonging to Rose Valley Group have also been seized so far.

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The buzz in political circles in Uttar Pradesh suggests that the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership postponed its Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting on Tuesday to redraw its strategy ahead of the likely grand alliance among the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).

The BJP insiders said they planned to expose the inherent contradictions among the alliance partners.

For instance, a party source said the BJP will pick on the Congress pre-alliance slogan 27 saal, UP behaal (UP in bad shape for 27 years). The Congress has been out of power in UP since 1989.

In the 27 years since, the BJP, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have been in power. The Congress slogan was aimed at targeting these three parties, one of whom it now plans to partner with.

Read more | Politics of compulsion: Why SP and Congress want a poll tie-up in Uttar Pradesh

Its not a gathbandhan or alliance but a thagbandhan (cheating). After screaming about UP plan for which it even projected former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit as its CM face, the move to play the junior partner in the proposed alliance showcases the Congress mood. Rahul Gandhi must answer if his party has conceded defeat even before the polls, said UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Its an unethical alliance that signals how demonetisation has made them make such political compromises, said UP BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak.

The BJP plans to market the alliance in poll-bound UP as a desperate but futile unity attempt by ideologically opposite political forces to stop the BJP.

Congress leaders say they are aware that they will be targeted. They tried that in Bihar but failed. Let them try that here, they will fare worse, said the Congresss Hilal Naqvi.

Read more | Congress, Samajwadi Party will fight UP election in alliance: Ghulam Nabi Azad

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Allahabad Nagar Nigam (ANN), which has been striving to secure a place for Allahabad in the list of smart cities ever since Smart City Mission was launched in 2015, will now get assistance of Delhi-based consultants in this connection.

Four cities of state including Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi have already been shortlisted under the mission.

The consultants will assist the civic body in preparing an effective project report on infrastructure and service delivery with actionable plans for area-based development.

Project managers Siddhartha and Praveen Bhardwaj from KPMG Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, recently had a meeting with municipal commissioner Sheshmani Pandey at the nagar nigam.

They also held talks over the ongoing projects and development work in the city. Later, they inspected a few sites like Sangam to prepare a preliminary report.

It is disappointing that despite making all possible efforts, the ANN failed to secure a place for Allahabad in the first and second lists of the smart cities. Now, with experienced consultants aiding us, we are confident that the city will find a place in the third list, said Pandey.

The team will stay here for two months and help ANN prepare a project report that will be submitted to the central government in March, he added.

This firm, which has in the past helped the New Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Varanasi Municipal Corporation prepare their smart city project reports, will also help Aligarh and Ghaziabad as well in the mission.

At present four cities including Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi have got selected under the smart city initiative. The state capital was selected in the first list of 13 cities in May 2016 while the remaining three were chosen in the list of 27 cities declared in September 2016.

The list of first 20 smart cities out of the total 98 shortlisted for the smart cities mission was announced in January 2016. The central government will provide an assistance of Rs 500 crore to the cities selected or will be selected under the smart city initiative. The fund will be given in instalments. The state governments will also have to provide the same amount to the selected cities.

Read more| Smart City round 3: Ghaziabad officials plan redevelopment of old city
A bureaucrat-turned-politician, Congress Rajya Sabha member PL Punia is known for his accessibility and popularity cutting across political lines.

As a bureaucrat, he worked closely with politicians. However, Punia is opposed to bureaucrats seeking or giving political patronage.

He is also against cooling off period for bureaucrats before they join politics.

A bureaucrat need not have a cooling off period if he or she decides to join politics and contest a direct election. One should, however, not cross ones line while in service. Similarly, seeking political patronage to take Rajya Sabha route is not acceptable, Punia told HT.

During our times, complaints were received against tehsildars and naib tehsildars. PCS officers were considered honest and there were no complaints against them. Corruption in IAS cadre was unthinkable. But now, IAS officers try to make money in their first posting, said Punia.

I joined the Congress about 5-6 months after retirement in 2005. I wanted to join politics. What is the harm if some one wants to serve people after retirement? I did not get any favour in politics. In fact, I was among the people till 2009 when I contested and won the Lok Sabha election, he said.

Punia said he never thought of joining politics when he was a bureaucrat although he always considered Congress as a party that upheld high values.

I always liked the ideology of the Congress. I worked as principal secretary to two political adversaries, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP president Mayawati, during their tenures as chief minister. Jagdambika Pal also asked me to join him as principal secretary during his short stint as the chief minister, he said.

As principal secretary to the CM, I had interaction with MLAs and MPs who used to visit the CMs office in the evening. They often asked me about joining SP or BSP but I always liked the Congress ideology, said Punia.

Many people approached me recently and suggested I should switch over to the BJP. I made it clear to them that I am not pursuing this kind of politics, said Punia.

There was no electricity in my village in Haryana and I used to study in the light of an earthen lamp. I had my first experience of studying in the light of an electric bulb only when I took admission in intermediate at tehsil headquarters in Jhajjhar. I did my MA from Punjab University, Chandigarh, and joined the IAS on July 10, 1971. I served as district magistrate in five districts and was posted in Lucknow from 1985 onwards, he said.

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Decently educated and comfortably placed in private companies, they appeared to be following the work hard and party harder mantra quite literally, till the day they decided to stretch the maxim a little further.

Soon, the mantra turned into modus operandi, and the suave group, a gang of burglars.

The Special Task Force (STF) sleuths busted this gang on Tuesday.

The gang members, all from decent background, used to party at high-profile hotels and lounges till midnight before committing thefts at residences of retired bureaucrats, government officials and doctors, said Amit Pathak, senior superintendent of police (SSP) of STF. While seven people have been arrested from Vibhuti Khand in Gomti Nagar, the STF claimed five others are still at large.Cash and valuables worth over Rs 20 lakh and two illegal pistols were also recovered from the accused.

Mostly qualified and working professionals, the accused told STF that they were working as executives in different companies.

Those arrested were Sameer alias Sunny, Ashish Kashyap, Azmaan alias Baba, Shivam Awasthi, Arvind, Rajnish and Rafiq Khan while those still at large are Ashish Rajput, Honey Nishad, Manoj Shankwar, Vivek Singh and Kundan.

The gang is led by Sameer who is a commerce graduate, Ashish, an arts graduate, and Ajmaan who has done his masters in computer application, said Pathak. The trio had roped in other members from different fields and formed a gang around a year ago.

Pathak said the gang only targeted big bungalows where chances of good amount of cash and valuables were more.

They used to roam around posh colonies during day time and spot bungalows to be targeted, said Pathak while revealing that their frequent meeting points were Renaissance hotel, Zero Degree lounge, Concept Lounge and Discotheque and Aryan Restaurant.

The STF claimed the groups habit of frequenting clubs and lounges gave them a clue.

We got the first cue on New Year party at Zero Degree lounge in Inox mall in Gomti Nagar when one of the group members opened firing during a brawl with another group of youths, said Pathak.

The video footage of gang leader Sameer and the mobile number mentioned in the entry book was found in the incident. Moreover, Sameer had also injured one traffic constable at Polytechnic crossing on being intercepted for checking on January 10.

He said the STF was tracking him since and came to know about this notorious gang. He said the recovery included cash Rs 2.19 lakh, silver utensils and bricks weighing around 20 kg, 150 grams of gold and other electronic gadgets from their possession.

Read more: Two members of axle gang held for robbing bus passengers on Yamuna e-way

Brother-sister duo held for running fake call centres, eight others arrested

The UP special task force (STF) on Tuesday unearthed two fake callers centres being operated by a brother-sister duo in Krishna Nagar and Sarojini Nagar areas here. The call centres were involved in duping people, making them reveal their bank account details on the pretext of transferring bonus amounts to them. Eight others, 7 women and one man, were also arrested in the case.

The two key operators were identified as Ajeet Verma and his sister Sumit, residents of Ambedkarnagar. Ajeet was operating a call centre in a private building in Transport Nagar, barely a few metres from the regional transport office in Sarojini Nagar, while Sumit was running another centre in Gopal Nagar locality of Krishna Nagar.

Additional superintendent of police (ASP) of STF, Saheb Rashid Khan said, The idea of running the fake call centres was Sumits brainchild. She had worked in similar fake call centres in Noida and Ghaziabad for several years. She quit her job around two years ago and started operating her own call centres in Lucknow, along with her brother.
Wrestler Narsingh Yadavs village Nima in Varanasi wants the Samajwadi Party to put its feud on the mat.

Yadavs constitute almost every household in the village. They are fed up with the taunts by supporters of other parties over the bickering in the ruling party.

Narsinghs father Pancham Yadav wants Akhilesh to seek Mulayams blessings before launching the poll campaign.

The wrestlers mother Bhulana Devi says, Youngsters should respect their seniors. They should not fight with them. They should seek their blessings, which bring good luck and yield the desired results.

The villagers want Mulayam and Akhilesh to address the partys first two election rallies together.

Narsinghs uncle Videshi Singh says: Unity between Netaji (SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav) and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is necessary for the partys success in the polls. It is already too late. Seniors should call for truce.

Videshi, a former village head, keeps an eye on developments in the SP which he supports since its inception.

People say that one who is fighting father and uncle will run the state. This is what we get to hear at tea stalls and sweet shops in towns and villages, he says.

Read more: Akhilesh is SPs heart, Mulayam its heartbeat

He advises Akhilesh not to fight Mulayam, for whom everyone in the village has great respect, at any cost.

If the feud continues, the party will suffer badly, he says.

Pardeshi Yadav, another villager, says: Netaji has nurtured the party. He cant be ignored. Akhilesh should understand that Netaji has struggled a lot to take party to this height. His standing has given respect to the whole Yadav community, says Arvind Yadav, a villager in his early thirties.

Without unity, chances of success are bleak, Arvind Yadav says.

Rampyare Singh Yadav, the current village head, too hopes for an amicable solution.

Narsingh may join politics a few years later, says kin

Will wrestler Narsingh Yadav join politics a few years from now? His uncle Videshi Singh says the grappler taking the political plunge is a strong possibility. The inspiration came four months ago when chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said he was ready to offer a ticket to Narsingh for the assembly elections.

The chief minister talked about the offer when Narsingh met him at his official residence in Lucknow on September 6 after the doping controversy surfaced during the Rio Olympics, his uncle said.

Narsingh thanked the chief minister but said he wanted to spend some more time in the wrestling arena and may join politics arena a few years later.

Narsingh shared the great news with me few days after calling on the CM. I was really overjoyed and advised him to go ahead, Videshi told HT.

Videshi chose the suitable assembly constituencyShivpur in Varanasi for Narsingh. I want to see my nephew as an MLA. He has dropped the idea to contest the assembly polls this time Hopefully, Narsingh will contest the next one, Videshi said.

Read more: Disabled wrestler gives up paan till Akhilesh wins UP dangal

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Ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in February, citizen groups have started placing their demands before political parties. Free A Billion, a citizen group has released 10 principles required for better urban governance in the city. RTI Activist Shailesh Gandhi has also released a list of seven promises.

The civic elections will be held on February 21 and the results will be announced on February 23.

Identifying shortcomings in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act, 1888, Free A Billion has drafted an urban governance bill for an empowered and accountable government.

The 10 principles, which are their demands, include a directly-elected city mayor, financial and legislative autonomy for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a decentralised process of decision-making, with greater citizen participation and a system to ensure complete accountability and transparency.

Biney Koul from Free A Billion said the organisation has been asking people to vote for None of the Above (NOTA) during this elections as a mark of protest against the poor civic services in the city.

Gandhi demands that the BMC handle all open spaces in the city without the interference of a private party, repair potholes within 48 hours, ensure a five-year guarantee for bitumen roads, publish funds spent by corporators on the official website and conduct a survey on learning-levels in civic-run schools.

Citizens should demand these promises from the political parties seeking their votes this election, Gandhi said.

He has also demanded disciplinary action against officials delaying files. There are numerous cases in which citizens do not get a response to their applications, representations or complaints. Section 64 C of the MMC Act mandates that decisions on all files should be taken within 45 days, failing which, disciplinary action must be taken against the defaulting officer, he added.

Last week, the Mumbai Vikas Samiti, a group of retired engineers, also released their citizen charter demanding better civic services for the city.

READ

BMC polls: Parties spell war with taglines

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We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America. So declared Barack Obama in Columbia, Missouri on October 30, 2008, on the cusp of his historic presidential election.

It was a stunning statement, boldly revolutionary, surpassed only by the response of those in attendance, who, rather than pausing to reflect upon such an audacious assertion, wildly applauded. To be sure, these Obama enthusiasts would have ecstatically cheered anything he said at that moment. There was a full-fledged Obama personality cult in motion at that time. He couldve promised a box of Lucky Charms cereal in every home and gotten a giddy reaction. Obama himself admitted to serving as a kind of blank screen upon which Americans desiring some warm and fuzzy hope and change could project whatever they wanted.

But even then, the words fundamentally transform should have alarmed everyone. We Americans generally dont do fundamental transformation. We make changes, yes, small and large, but who among us  other than the most radical revolutionaries  actually want to fundamentally transform the nation? Many people think that America has many problems, but those can be addressed without a fundamental transformation. Ask professors who teach history or political ideologies (as I have for two decades) and we will tell you that totalitarianism is the ideology that fundamentally transforms. Indeed, the textbook definition of totalitarianism, which Ive scribbled on the chalkboard every fall and spring semester since 1997, is to seek to fundamentally transform  specifically, to fundamentally transform human nature via some form of political-ideological-cultural upheaval.

So, that being the case, I winced when Barack Obama said that, and then felt sick to the stomach when I watched people blissfully and blindly applaud without question or objection.

But now here we are, at the end of Obamas presidency, a two-term one, and the question begs to be pondered: Did Barack Obama fundamentally transform the United States of America, as he promised?

The answer is absolutely yes.

That fundamental transformation, however, has not happened in areas where many might have hoped (or feared) in 2008. It has not been a fundamental shift in the attitudes of the vast majority regarding the role of government, taxation, regulations, economics, education, or even healthcare, where Obama had his signature legislative achievement. It hasnt happened in foreign policy, though Obama has made a seriously detrimental impact in regions from Eastern Europe to the Middle East.

The reality is that the true fundamental transformation has been in the realm of culture, notably in matters of sexual orientation, gender, marriage, and family. The shift there has been unprecedented and far beyond anyones imagination eight years ago. Looking back, that was where Obamas heart was, and that was where his deepest impact will be felt.

Obamas cultural revolution on the sexual-gender-family front is all around us. We see it in the culture of fear and intimidation by the forces of diversity and tolerance who viciously seek to denounce, dehumanize, demonize, and destroy anyone who disagrees with their brazen newfound conceptions of marriage and family, even as our position (not theirs) has been the prevailing position of 99.99%-plus of human beings who have bestrode the earth since the dawn of humanity.

Instead, in the Obama era, we are the ones portrayed as the outliers, as abnormal, as extremists, as haters. If you dissent from this new vociferous breed of human-nature redefiners, they sue you, they jail you, they smear you, they boycott you, they harass you, they ruin you  and they do so (with no sense of their hypocrisy) in the name of tolerance and diversity. Whether youre a Baptist grandma who bakes cakes or a Catholic photographer who takes wedding photos or a Mormon florist who arranges flowers, they refuse your appeals to your conscience; they steamroll you.

Changes by Obama and his allies here have constituted a major attack on religious liberty, where two-century-old First Amendment guarantees have been torched by modern culture warriors discerning heretofore unknown higher rights like marriage equality and co-ed toilets.

That is a fundamental transformation of a culture and a nation that did not exist prior to Barack Obamas ascent.

The manifestations of this are so ubiquitous that laying them out here isnt necessary, but Id like to offer just a handful of brief illustrations and images:

The first was the Newsweek cover from May 2012 showing Barack Obama with a rainbow halo over his head above the words, The First Gay President. This was in response to Obama coming out for same-sex marriage, which for five years he had claimed to oppose. After that announcement, Obama went wild with an aggressive agenda of fundamental transformation on the sexual-gender-family front, one that picked up speed, depth, and arrogance throughout his second term.

The second is another image, more profound than the Newsweek creation/coronation because it was real. It was from June 2015, when the Obama White House, the nations first house, was lit up in the colors of the LGBTQ rainbow on the day of the Obergefell decision, when a Catholic Supreme Court justice, Anthony Kennedy, led the liberal bloc of the court in redefining marriage and imposing this non-existent Constitutional right on all 50 states. If ever there was a picture of Obamas fundamental transformation of America, that was it.

Third was the bathroom fiat, when according to Barack Obamas word, all public schools were ordered to revolutionize their restrooms and locker-rooms to make them available to teenage boys who want to be called girls (among other gender novelties). It is hard to conceive a more surreal example of executive overreach. Truly, George Washington is rolling over in his grave.

Fourth is an ironic moment of Obamas own doing, one that got virtually no press coverage. It occurred at a townhall meeting in London last April, where Obama was scolded by a young man for not doing enough to recognize non-binary people such as himself.

That London incident might have prompted a remarkable action by the Obama White House a few weeks later, which also got virtually no news coverage: The White House press office released two extraordinary fact sheets detailing Obamas vast efforts to promote LGBT rights at home and abroad. Not only was it telling that the White House would assemble such a list, and tout it, but the sheer length of the list is striking to behold. It is hard to find any similar roster of such dramatic changes by the Obama White House in any policy area. The list runs page after page.

In short, what we see here is the true Barack Obama legacy, the genuine fundamental transformation. It has occurred not in economics, government, or foreign policy, but in culture.
It looks like innovative taglines are the way to go this civic polls as major political parties have resorted to various them to drive their campaign for the 2017 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

While the ruling Shiv Sena, which pioneered the concept in the 2012 BMC elections with Karun Dakhavale (We did it), has now kicked off the new one Did You know highlighting its achievements in the last five years, other parties are going out of the way to tear it.

Take the case of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) that launched its new campaign called You should know, which aims to expose the Senas achievements. An advertisement campaign is going on in the city with a tagline  Did you know? So we decided to come out with the facts by launching the You should know campaign, said NCP MP Supriya Sule, who has now become the partys face in the elections.

The Congress is, in fact, using the same Sena tagline to expose its maker. We are using their taglines and hashtags to expose their misleading campaign. They have failed in every front, be it roads or providing proper water supply and still claim to be successful. This is what we want to bring before the citizens, said Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam.

The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is not too far behind with The time has still not gone positioning itself as an alternative choice to the Sena. Our campaign focuses on the failures of the Sena-BJP government  both at the state and the BMC. It has made life difficult for Mumbaiites, said MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande.

All parties have put up hoardings and used the social media to drive home this campaigning blitz.

Political commentators called this a trendy new-age campaigning tool. This basically appeals to the youth who are now heavily into social media, said B Venkatesh Kumar, a political expert. However, Kumar calls it a peripheral medium of campaigning. These are just add-ons and the traditional campaigning methods along with the performance of the candidates matter, he added.

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Pawar plays peacemaker to end Tatkare family feud

BMC polls: Bickering among parties plagues Mumbais open spaces policy
What should a 20-year vision document of the countrys richest civic body mean to its citizens? If you ask any Mumbaiite  who has waited for it for six years, seen the draft development plan being revised, along with more than 70,000 suggestions  the answer is errors, delays and extensions.

Development plan (DP) is the infrastructure blueprint for the city for the next two decades. The 600-page plan tells how tall the buildings can be, open spaces the city will get, how the commute can be made better and the plots reserved for schools and hospitals for the next two decades.

The plan, which was to be ready in 2014, is yet to be passed. Political parties have shown little interest in the document shaping Mumbais future by diluting the vision for better standard of living and ignoring a majority of citizens demands. The result: development work has taken a hit.

It doesnt end here. Even as Mumbai witnesses a high-pitched BMC poll battle, DP 2034, which probably everything a partys manifesto mentions before any election, is unlikely to be a part of any partys manifesto or a concern.

Pankaj Joshi, executive director of the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI), said, It is political apathy as the plan has never been an election issue. This is also because elections are held every 5 years, while the plan is made only in once in 20 years. The awareness of the plan is low and the impact is not understood.

The story so far

The 60-day window for citizens to submit their suggestions/objections to the revised DP 2014-34 ended in July 2016. In August, the state appointed three experts to the planning committee to hear citizens objections along with three corporators. However, the ruling parties in the BMC -- Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- named the three corporators after nearly two months. Recently, it sought another extension to not release the plan before the February civic elections. Sources say even if the planning committees report is ready, the Sena is wary of getting into a blame-game before the crucial elections.

Shirish Sukhatme, an architect and member of Practising Engineers, Architects and Town Planners (PEATA) said, There is ambiguity in policies which is killing development.

The exemptions

Around 41.2% of Mumbais population lives in slums, approximately 8-9% of Mumbais land, for which there are no provisions in the plan. Instead, there are various reservations for public amenities on the plot.

Political parties approach slum-dwellers every election, but what about its development? Even the boundaries of gaothans/koliwadas have not been marked clearly, Joshi said.

The plan excludes slums from its proposed land use (PLU) maps, although it is a part of the existing land use (ELU) maps prepared in 2012.

Manoj Kotak, BJP corporator and planning committee member said, The reservations on slum areas mean they will be included in the plots development.

Vision blurred

Every political partys election manifesto promises a better quality of life. But the per capita allocation for open spaces, health care facilities, education amenities and social amenities in the DP is not even close to the required national standards of the urban development plans.

Trushna Vishwasrao, senior Sena leader and planning committee member, said, We have given prime importance to open spaces and affordable housing in the plan.

Another criticism is the ruling parties express their objections only after the draft is released. Kotak, however, said it is only natural to give suggestions after the release.

Sitaram Shelar, member of the Hamara Shehar Mumbai Abhiyaan, a campaign working towards creating an inclusive DP, said, None of the parties are serious about the plan. They raise objections later only to show they are still in control.

A tale of space crunch in Maximum City

Per capita amenities available in the city

Open spaces (e.g. playgrounds): 1.24 square meters (sqm)

Health (e.g.hospitals): 0.15sqm

Education (e.g. schools): 0.5sqm

Social (e.g. markets): 0.16sqm

Standards proposed in DP 2034 (per capita)

Open spaces: 4sqm

Health: 0.419sqm

Education: 1.574sqm

Social: 0.13sqm

Standards required (according to national norms)

Open spaces: 10-12sqm

Health: 1.28sqm

Education: 3.58sqm

Social: 1.37sqm

Suggestions/objections

For the plan draft released in February 2015, the BMC received more than 50,000 suggestions and objections from citizens

For the revised plan released in May 2016, the BMC received 84,000 suggestions and objections, according to an RTI application filed by UDRI

Implementation percentage of previous DPs

DP 1991: 33%

DP 1964: 18%

Rs14.15 lakh crore: Estimated cost of DP 2034

A saga of delays

February 2015: The BMC released the draft Development Plan (DP) 2014-34 after working on it for three years. For the next two months, the civic body was at the receiving end for errors in the draft

April 2015: CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered a revision of the draft plan within four months. Ajoy Mehta succeeded Sitaram Kunte as the civic commissioner

May 2015: Ramanath Jha, a retired bureaucrat, was appointed to re-draft the plan. The BMC also decided to do away with the private consultants appointed to prepare the plan earlier. While the revised draft was supposed to be published by August 21, 2015, the BMC sought two extensions. It also appointed urban planners for each of the 24 wards to rectify the errors

October 2015: The BMC decided to revise the plan in four different phases covering development control regulations, plot reservations, erroneous naming and designation of locations and roads. Citizens were asked to submit their observations to the different parts.

May 2016: The revised draft development plan (now called RDDP-2034) was released with a 60-day window for citizens to submit their suggestions and objections

July 2016: The BMC ruling party Shiv Sena postponed the formation of a planning committee which will hear objections to the DP. It was formed in October

December 2016: The committee completed its proceedings with an extension. It later demanded another extension till March 7, 2016 under the pretext of code of conduct and elections.

The draft is now expected to be passed by the general body by March 20, 2017, after a delay of four years

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Mumbai police detained Congress leaders Ashok Chavan, Sanjay Nirupam, Randeep Surjewala and other party leaders for protesting outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus against demonetisation. The party was denied permission to hold a demonstration outside the office of the Reserve Bank of India in Mumbai.

After Mumbai police denied them permission to hold a demonstration outside the Mumbai office of the Reserve Bank of India, the Congress held a protest rally outside CST on Wednesday. The partys state and city level leaders addressed the gathering of workers outside CST .

Following the All India Congress Committees announcement of holding demonstrations outside various offices of the RBI across the country on a single day, the Mumbai Congress had announced a gherao to condemn the RBIs mismanagement post demonetisation.

State unit chief Ashok Chavan said that the Modi government was guilty of compromising the autonomy of the RBI as the central bank was kept in total darkness when the decision on demonetisation was taken. He said that the bank was treated like an RSS branch.He said that the issue would be raised even during the budget session of the parliament, beginning later this month.

Party workers raised slogans against the Modi-governemnt, condemning demonetisation.

Former chief minister and senior party leader Narayan Rane, former minister Harshavardhan Patil, Suresh Shetty, and Kripashankar Singh also participated in the demonstration headed by Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam.

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BMC polls: Parties spell war with taglines

Free water, better roads: Congress to announce sops before Mumbai civic polls
The Mumbai traffic police chief, Milind Bharambe, sits in his sixth-floor office overlooking the Arabian Sea in Worli, but his eyes are fixed on a six-panel monitor broadcasting CCTV feeds from across the city. Every minute, he refreshes the real-time traffic data option on the monitor.

He notices a traffic congestion in Borivli along the Western Express Highway (WEH) and telephones his deputy , ordering him to ease the congestion Within a few minutes, the traffic is moving, but slowly. He then reprimands another officer for not starting counter lanes at another stretch of the highway.

The traffic police have been experimenting with counter lanes. By allowing one south-bound lane in the evening peak hours and vice-versa, it eases the congestion greatly, Bharambe added.

But the process of setting up the counter-lanes is not easy. Traffic police at the 12 divisions of the WEH start preparation at least an hour before the peak hours. Scores of policemen armed with LED batons take their positions, barricades are put up on the flyover so as to allot an additional lane. After the peak hours, they go back to removing the plastic barricades.

The practice takes up most of the time of these officers and the effort is not always appreciated. But for now, it is the only solution if motorists want a safe journey back home. Last month, the traffic police placed a ban on heavy vehicles from plying on city roads for eight hours in a day in an aim to ease congestion on the WEH. To keep the traffic on the main roads moving, it is important that the arterial roads also remain unclogged, said Sanjay Mohite, additional commissioner of police, traffic.

The traffic police are fighting a double battle on the WEH these days. As work on the Metro corridor between Dahisar and Andheri is underway, the work occupy one-and-a-half lane on the highway. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) aims at finishing construction by 2019.

The police have also been making use of the specialised cranes to crack down on vehicles parked in no-parking zones along the arterial roads leading up to the WEH. Last year, in the west and north traffic zones, which mainly cover the WEH, the traffic police registered 1,81,489 cases of no-parking out of a total number of 4,13, 631 cases across the city.

Read

HT Road safety series: Bikers, beware! Taking JJ flyover comes with a risk

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NCP chief Sharad Pawar has played role of a peacemaker to end the political feud in the family of his partys state unit chief, Sunil Tatkare.

The differences between Sunil Tatkare and his brother Anil Tatkare, a party legislator, have finally come to an end with Pawars intervention. He called both brothers to his Baramati residence in Pune and played mediator, ahead of the Municipal Corporation and Zilla Parishad (district council) elections slated for next month.

The senior leader chose to play peacemaker as the elections has become crucial for the party after it lost its top position in the municipal council polls held recently.

One can be older in age but the one who handles the responsibility of state president of a party has more experience, Pawar told the media after the meeting. He also added that this development will positively reflect in the coming Zilla Parishad (district council) elections. Tatkares hail from Raigad district near Mumbai.

Differences between the brothers came to fore when Sandeep Tatkare, son of Anil Tatkare, contested municipal council polls against the NCP candidate in Roha of Raigad district. Anil Tatkare too had campaigned for his son. Sandeep lost the elections despite getting Shiv Senas support and the family dispute deepened even further.

Finally, Pawar came in to end the feud that was affecting the partys prospects. The meeting held at Baramati was also attended by Sandeep, Avdhoot Tatkare, another son of Anil and an MLA, and Sunils son and daughter . The Tatkare brothers were not available for comment.

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You should know: NCPs answer to Senas Did you know campaign for Mumbai polls

Can smaller parties sway major players voters?

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A circular released by the management of SNDT Womens University which insists on a formal dress code for students at the Churchgate campus has kicked up a storm across all college campuses. This circular follows a recent decision by St Xaviers College at Dhobi Talao, which banned students from wearing ripped jeans on campus.

We are grown up and responsible enough to know what is decent and what is not, so instead of imposing strict dress codes, wed appreciate if the college doesnt make a dress code compulsory on campus. Weve seen too many restrictions in school and to be facing such rules in college too only ends up demotivating us, said Khushali Bhansali, a third-year student of UPG College, Vile Parle.

While the circular, dated December 6, put up at the SNDT campus only mentions the need for students to wear decent and formal clothes to an education institute, it doesnt mention exactly what type of clothes fall in this category.

The vice chancellor of the university, Shashikala Wanjari on Wednesday told HT that the circular was only reiterating a known fact, and not an assault on students Right to Wear. As an education institute we are expecting our students to wear decent and formal clothes. By common sense we all know what is decent and formal in the context of a classroom. In no way was this circular released to infringe rights of students, said Wanjari.

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At least 24 to 25 corruption cases against private school staffers are pending with the anti-corruption bureau over the last few years, said the principal secretary of the school education department. The reluctance by the school managements to take action against them spurred the Maharashtra government to empower the department to sack private school employees caught taking bribes.

School managements are fuming because the department didnt consult them before taking the important decision. The managements will appeal to chief minister Devandra Fadnavis against the impingement of their rights as private institutions.

Hindustan Times on Tuesday reported that the government revised the Prevention of Anti-Corruption Rules, 1988, to delegate powers to the director education to take action against private school staff convicted of corruption.

Earlier, under the section 19 of the rules, the department could take action only against employees of government-run and government-aided schools. Managements complained that since private schools do not receive financial aid from the government, they are not entitled to take action against their staff. It is okay for the government to take action against aided schools as they receive grants from the government but it has no right to interfere in unaided schools, said Prashant Redij, member of the Mumbai Principals Association and Maharashtra Unaided Schools Action Committee.

Redij said often management doesnt take harsh action taking the culprits economic condition into consideration. Many unaided schools dont pay teachers on time. This makes them act out in desperation, said Redij, adding that the organisations 145 agitations (since 2005) demand of timely payment of teachers salaries have fallen on the deaf ears.

Fear of legal action also prevents management from sacking employees. Anyone who is fired knocks on the tribunal doors and the school gets dragged into a court case that can go on for years, said Freny Mehta, principal, Alexandra Girls English Institute, Fort.

But Nand Kumar, principal secretary of the department said private schools are accountable to the public as they get grants and aid from the government in various forms. It is the public money, said Kumar. Even self-financed institutes are accountable as even though they dont get aid right now, they will in the future.

Kumar added that a strong decision was needed as school managements dont take action against their staff. There are 24-25 pending cases with the anti-corruption bureau. The cases are pending because management has not sacked the guilty parties, said Kumar. So we decided to take the power in our own hands.

Also read

Maharashtra can act against private school staff for graft

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Ahead of the UP assembly elections, the Ghaziabad police on Wednesday arrested two persons and allegedly recovered three illegal pistols and 600 semi-finished pistol magazines from their possession. Officials said the entire consignment was traced to their hideout in Meerut and was meant for supplies in the state elections.

The police arrested Suleman Saifi who hails from a locality under Lisadi Gate area of Meerut, and Saifis alleged accomplice Sunil Kumar who is from Shatabdipuram in Ghaziabad. They were arrested from Hapur Crossing in Ghaziabad and the magazines recovered from them later, police said.

Saifi has a criminal background and has also been to jail earlier in connection with illegal arms supplies. The consignment of 600 empty and semi-finished magazines was recovered on his instance from a hideout in Azad Nagar area of Meerut. He was manufacturing the arms and the magazines to be supplied during elections, said Deepak Kumar, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad.

According to the police, the magazines were meant for .32 caliber pistols and were prepared with the help of machines and equipment that were also recovered from Meerut. Sources said some informers tipped off the police when Saifi had come to Ghaziabad to supply pistols to Sunil. The two were nabbed by the police during their meeting at Hapur Crossing on Tuesday.

We later questioned Saifi and raided his hideout in Meerut from where we recovered pistols and semi-finished magazines. He told us that he supplied pistols for Rs25,000 to Rs50,000 to customers in Ghaziabad and adjoining areas of western UP, Kumar said.

Also read: Police raid illegal arms factory in Ghaziabad, arrest one

Police said Saifis father and uncle are also registered as repeat offenders from Lisadi Gate police station in Meerut. They added that Saifi himself worked at different arms shops and knew the techniques to manufacture and handle country-made weapons, and his brothers, Samir and Bilal, too are well-acquainted with repair and manufacture of arms.

Saifi refused to comment on his arrest and the consignment recovered, but Sunil said he met Saifi a couple of months ago in a bus while travelling to Meerut.

I got in touch with him later and he said that he possessed arms that are also available for sale. I had tied up with him for supply of a pistol for Rs25,000. When he arrived in Ghaziabad to deliver, both of us were nabbed, Sunil said.

Following the arrest and recovery, the two were booked under the provisions of the Arms Act in two different FIRs registered at Ghanta Ghar Kotwali police station.

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On the second day of filing nominations for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Vedram Bhati and an independent candidate filed their nomination papers, said Kumar Vineet, additional district magistrate and deputy district election officer.

Bhati, who has filed his nomination from Jewar on Wednesday, said, I will ask for votes for development. In the BSPs previous tenure, Gautam Budh Nagar district, especially Jewar, has witnessed fast development.

Bhati is the sitting MLA from Jewar. In the last assembly elections, he had polled 67,524 votes, defeating Congress candidate Dhirendra Singh by 9,500 votes, a margin of 5.32%. The electorate strength at the time was 2,87,711 with 1,78,399 voters casting their votes. The polling percentage in Jewar constituency was 62.5%, the highest in the district among the three assembly constituencies of Noida, Jewar and Dadri.

The independent candidate, Anoop Khanna, filed his nomination from Noida.

Madhu Chaudhary of the Hindustan Awam Morcha (secular) has taken the form and is to file nomination on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a meeting of political parties and the district election authorities was called on Wednesday afternoon, but was attended by just two representatives of political parties  Anoop Tiwari from Samajwadi Party (SP) and Lal Singh Gautam from the BSP. ADM Kumar Vineet briefed them about the model code of conduct to be followed by their candidates.

Additional district magistrate Keshav Kumar said, Printers and publishers have to inform us within 72 hours of printing any political pamphlets or other material, but no one has informed us till date. This means in the last 72 hours, no political material was published in the district. We will conduct raids and seal printing presses if they are found printing (such material) without informing us.

District magistrate and district election officer NP Singh said, Even Whatsapp messages sent by candidates will be included in their expenditure. The commercial rate card has been procured. Messages sent by candidates to media through groups too will be included.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Wednesday declared Jalaluddin Siddiqui as its candidate to contest the polls from Sahibabad constituency. The move came after the party recently expelled its sitting MLA and candidate for upcoming assembly polls from Sahibabad, Amarpal Sharma, on January 16 on charges of anti-party activities.

Siddiqui, popularly known as Jallu bhaiya, is considered a close aide of the partys national general secretary Nasimuddin Siddiqui. Jalaluddin had contested three previous mayor elections in 1995, 2000 and 2006 in Ghaziabad but lost. He is from Vijay Nagar in Ghaziabad and has a scrap dealing business.

I am sure I will get support from all sections of society as I also have a house in Arthala and Sahibabad. In all the triangular elections, BSP has done well and emerged the winner in Ghaziabad. Sharmas probable candidature from any party will not be a hindrance for my contesting elections from Sahibabad. People will not support those who lose the respect of their fellows, Siddiqui said.

Ghaziabad district president Premchand Bharti confirmed Siddiquis candidature and said that his documents are being assessed and the nomination will be filed on January 22. Siddiqui also came to the Ghaziabad election office to obtain a nomination form on Wednesday.

With Siddiquis candidature from Sahibabad, the next announcement of candidature for the seat is expected from Bharatiya Janata Party. Pankaj Singh, son of Union minister Rajnath Singh, is touted as a possible candidate. However, the BJP is yet to name a candidate in Noida as well, besides Sahibabad, in the districts of Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

On Wednesday, few disgruntled BJP workers had also gone to Delhi to meet party president Amit Shah and requested him to name a party loyalist as the candidate from Noida. The protesters said that Pankaj Singh is an acceptable candidate. However, there is also opposition among another section of the party about his candidature.

There is opposition in nearby districts to a few candidates. We need a local candidate who has worked at the ground level. There is confusion about Pankaj Singh, as his name doing the rounds for the Noida constituency as well. We want a different candidate. In all other matters, we will abide by what the party leadership decides, Pappu Pehalwan, a BJP supporter said.

Besides the BJP candidate, the earlier lists released by Samajwadi Party (SP) named Virender Yadav and Rashid Malik as candidates, but Malik had opted to contest from Loni instead. However, with a probable alliance among SP, Congress and Rashtriya Lok Dal, there may be a change in the candidate. Following his expulsion, Amarpal also joined Congress and could be a strong contender for the seat.

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Editor:

I have said, since moving to Elko in December of 1993, that this is the best hometown in Nevada, and I am so pleased to be living here.

This truth was reaffirmed to me this past November 2016, when my husband, Charles Adams, passed away at our home. Jerry Pierce, from Burns Funeral Home, was prompt and helpful when responding to our call for assistance. The Deputy Coroner, Don Unruh, had known Charles as the police chaplain. It was such a comfort to us that both men were known to our family. Jan Hilyard, from Burns Funeral Home, was very helpful in filing required forms.

The Elko Police Department, under Chief Ben Reed, gave a spray of flowers and provided an honor guard during the Celebration of Life for Charles. The respect shown by the honor guard and the memorial flag that they presented to me were a real source of comfort and lent such dignity to the service.

The city of Elko, Mayor Chris Johnson, council members and city staff sent a patriotic flower arrangement which was a fitting and meaningful way to honor the years of service that Charles had given as a volunteer police chaplain.

Many folks, from Elko and beyond, came to honor Charles and strengthen our family as we began this season of sorrow.

Elko  what a great place to live and work! Thank you for being such an all-embracing community for those of us who call you our hometown.

My family and I also owe a debt gratitude to those in our community who have been such a blessing during Charles seven-year journey with Alzheimer's disease:

Dr. Hogle and nurse, Tami Stigen

Dr. Colon and staff

Dr. Draper, Dr. Lindstrom and staff

The staff of the former BrightPath Enrichment Center

The Alzheimer's Association of Northern Nevada

Dorothy Minor and the Elko Alzheimers Support Group

Highland Estates Manager, Mary Allen, and family of residents

Sunday Worship Volunteers for Highland Estates Service

Respite Caregivers: Eileen Penrod, Wendy Bernhard, Robin Hicks

Weekly visitor, Bill Chamness

Calvary Baptist Church family

With Sincere Appreciation,

Marge Adams and Family
The district election officer announced that a voter slip with a photograph is sufficient for casting their vote in the upcoming assembly elections.

A photo voter slip is sufficient for a voters identification. Photo voter slip will be distributed to voters from February 1-5. From January 12-16, as many as 6,548 new voter forms were received in the three assembly constituencies. These voters, if unable to get the EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card i.e. voter ID card), can produce the photo voter slip to the presiding officer and cast their vote, NP Singh, district magistrate and the district election officer (DEO) said.

Singh held a press conference in this regard on Wednesday at the collectorate.

It has been observed that presiding officers insist on EPIC even though the voter is carrying the photo voter slip. The Election Commission has made it clear that a photo voter slip is sufficient, Singh said.

The 6,548 applications will be processed in a week and the names will be included in the voter list by January 24. Efforts are also being made to provide them EPIC before the polling day, Singh said.

The DEO also informed about the provisions made for voters who are currently residing in other districts and states. The Election Commission has made it clear that the polling day will be a paid holiday for such voters. Companies and industrial associations across the country have been informed by the EC, Singh said.

Singh said that after revision of lists, there are presently 5,19,038 voters from Noida, 4,34,496 from Dadri and 3,21,860 from Jewar. The total number of voters from Gautam Budh Nagar district is 12,75,394  7,18,839 men, 5,56,454 women and 101 others.

Noida has 109 polling centres and 483 polling booths while Dadri has 170 polling centres and 416 polling booths, and Jewar has 201 polling centres and 343 polling booths.
The district election officer of Gautam Budh Nagar has appealed to NGOs and social organisations to refrain from holding functions to campaign for any candidate, in view of the upcoming assembly elections.

All functions by NGOs and residents are to be conducted with prior permission from the district administration. I have also directed the authorities and nagar panchayat officials to inform the administration about the venue, including community centres and parks, of such functions. The administration will send a notice to such NGOs holding functions, NP Singh, the district magistrate and the district election officer, said.

All such functions, even after being permitted by the district administration, have to be videotaped. If it is found that there was campaigning for a particular candidate, then the expenditure of the event will be added to the candidates election expenditure, Singh said.

Further, candidates can use any number of vehicles for campaigning but they have to take permission. Also, they have to follow other local authority guidelines and environmental norms. They cannot use loudspeakers that affect others. Any objections to the sound level will also have to be addressed and it has to be ensured that the complainant is not affected, Singh said.

Flags can be used on private vehicles and houses if local authorities permit it. Also, the size of the flag must be as per EC norms, said Singh.

The DM said that there are nine flying squads operational in each of the three constituencies in the district.

NGOs cannot hold any distribution camps. They should postpone it until after the elections, or take permissions. The teams are operating round-the-clock to keep a watch on the movement of liquor, cash and other campaign material. Static teams have also started functioning. They will videotape all rallies and seizures, the DM said.

Banks have also been told to inform about cash deposits or withdrawals of 10 lakh and above, to check if a candidate is using this money illegally. Teams will conduct an investigation and add the amount to the candidates expenditure if it is found to be used for campaigning, Singh said.
The proposed alliance among Samajwadi Party, Congress and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections could not be finalised on Wednesday. Gautam Budh Nagar is to go to polls on February 11.

Sources said that Congress and Samajwadi Party have agreed on most major details of the alliance, but the RLD is not happy with the number of tickets allocated to its workers. As a result, the three parties are yet to name their candidates in the state as they are still finalising the details for teaming up.

Ticket seekers in all three parties for Noida, Dadri and Jewar constituencies are worried and are eagerly waiting for the official announcement of the alliance in Delhi.

The Gautam Budh Nagar district has three seats  Noida, Dadri and Jewar. The results will be declared on March 11.

We have not yet reached the stage where we can announce the alliance officially. Discussions are underway. Several rounds of talks have not yielded a concrete demarcation as of now due to the differences over seat sharing. I do not know when the issues will be sorted out, Trilok Tyagi, general secretary, RLD, said.

Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad has proposed to the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav that the Congress will field a candidate from Noida and the remaining two seats  Dadri and Jewar  can be decided upon by the SP and RLD.

SP had initially agreed to the idea, but many Noida-based SP workers are seeking the ticket from Noida. They are trying to convince the SP chief to field the party candidate from Noida and allot the other two seats to RLD and the Congress.

One of the Samajwadi Party ticket hopefuls, Sunil Chaudhary, has even bought a nomination paper from the constituency to file his candidature.

However, members of the Congress party are persuading the party leadership to contest the elections from Noida as the party stands a better chance of winning an urban seat, as opposed to the rural constituencies of Dadri and Jewar.

Ticket hopefuls in the Congress and SP from Noida are camping in Delhi, to confirm their candidature from the Noida constituency.

Discussions among leaders of the three parties continued till evening. We hope that the alliance among three parties will be declared tonight or tomorrow as it is already two days since the nomination process was started, Mukesh Yadav, president of Congresss Noida unit, said.

Congress and SP workers are lobbying aggressively for the ticket in Noida because they believe that three-party alliance will make it easy to win the constituency.

If three parties are able to form the alliance, it will be very tough for BJP or BSP candidates to win the Noida seat. With this alliance, we will be able to win Noida for sure and we will form a government in Uttar Pradesh, Rajendra Awana, secretary, Uttar Pradesh Congress, said.

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Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday promised disgruntled Gautam Budh Nagar party members of action on their demands in two days. They also assured that the party will not field a turncoat from Noida constituency, as in the case of Dadri and Jewar.

BJP is fielding Tejpal Nagar, 58, from Dadri, and Dhirendra Singh, 50, from Jewar.

Nagar had quit the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and joined the BJP during the 2014 general elections while Singh quit the Congress and joined the BJP on January 8. However, the party has delayed naming a candidate from the Noida assembly constituency due to the unrest among loyalists.

Angry party workers staged a protest outside the BJP national president Amit Shahs residence on Akbar Road around 1.30pm. They had initially protested outside BJP office in Delhi.

Protesters met with senior leaders, including Dinesh Sharma and Om Mathur, who promised that the party will not ignore Nawab Singh Nagar. Shah held a meeting with an 11-member delegation of the protesters.

Central leaders met us for 30 minutes at Amit Shahs residence and assured us to look into our demands. They have promised to act on it within two days. We demanded that turncoats not be fielded when there is an abundance of options from loyal party workers, Sunil Nagar, a member of the youth wing of BJP in Gautam Budh Nagar, said.

The protesters said they will intensify their agitation if the party fields a turncoat from Noida. They are also hopeful that the Dadri candidate, Nagar, will be replaced.

We are not against any person, we are only questioning the policy of ticket distribution. Dr Mahesh Sharma, MP from Gautam Budh Nagar and minister of state for tourism and culture, is lobbying for tickets to outsiders, Inderraj Khatana, BJPs booth level president in Noida, said.

The protesters said that naming Pankaj Singh, son of Home minister Rajnath, is an acceptable option.

Workers who have been with the party for 35 years, even when BJP was not strong in Noida region, should not be neglected for a turncoat, Khatana said.

Dr Sharma said, The decision to name candidates from Dadri or Jewar was taken by central leadership. It is the central leadership that will look into the protests by party workers. The protesters allegations over ticket distribution are baseless because the party has fielded those who can win seats.

Protesters said that the party is distributing tickets on the pattern followed in Bihar, where they performed poorly.

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A senior Hindi professor at Patna University has been suspended in connection with a dance fest held in his classroom last year.

Incidentally, this was not the first time Hindi department head Matuknath Choudhary faced penal action at the hands of the varsity administration. He was earlier suspended in 2006 for entering into a live-in relationship with a student, an incident that earned him the sobriquet love guru on the university campus and prompted his estranged wife to drag him to court.

The professor was reinstated by Raj Bhawan in 2011, over five-and-a-half years after his suspension and subsequent dismissal.

However, the chancellor of universities was again instrumental in suspending him the second time, after students handed over a CD of the dance event  organised during class hours on October 6 last year  to the university authorities.

Sources said the chancellors office communicated the suspension order to university vice-chancellor YC Simhadri, who wasted no time in complying.

Choudhary remained defiant, claiming that he had been framed by the university management. I have done nothing wrong dance is the message of my life. Yes, dance did happen, but that is not the only reason for my suspension. There is more to it than what meets the eye. I have been framed for not kowtowing to the vice-chancellor, he said.

We do organise dance events, and this happened a long time ago. If some people have circulated the CD, they have only done my job of spreading the message of love, the professor added.

However, university proctor & registrar BK Polai termed holding a dance programme inside the classroom  with teachers gyrating to music while holding girl students by the hand  as unacceptable. Raj Bhawan had written to us in this regard long ago, but due to a change of guard at the registrars office, the letter could not be traced. Once the vice-chancellor came to know about it, he called for prompt action, said Palai.

The registrar said Choudhary was facing a string of other charges too. He had allegedly stopped the stipend of a junior research fellow on flimsy grounds, despite specific directions issued by the students grievance redressal cell. Besides this, he froze the salary of a peon for eight months and refused to revoke it in spite of the recommendations of a panel set up to probe the issue, he added.

Another professor, Dilip Ram, has also been suspended for participating in the dance event along with retired staffer Shankar Prasad.

Following his suspension, Choudhary was replaced by Sardendu  Hindi department head of Patna College  at the university. Sardendu will be succeeded by his colleague, Tarun Kumar, at the college.

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A two-member committee on Tuesday began probe into Saturdays tragedy in which 24 persons were killed when a boat capsized in the river Ganga. The committee is probing the circumstances that led to the mishap.

The members of the committee are principal secretary, disaster management department, Pratyaya Amrit, and deputy inspector general (DIG) of police (central range, Patna) Shalin.

At least, 24 persons were drowned while returning from kite festival organised by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) at Sabalpur diara, located opposite Patnas NIT Ghat, across the Ganga, on Makar Sankranti day (January 14).

The BSTDC had advertised in a big way for the festival and provided free boat service to ferry people to diara, which was found inadequate for thousands who turned up for the event. Sources said close to 25,000 people had visited Sabalpur diara to witness the kite fest.

The department had also invited international kite flyer Jamaluddin to display his skills at the festival.

However, on their return trip, in the absence of government arranged boat service, many of the revellers had to board decrepit country boat(s), which sank on the way, leaving at least 24 dead.

The committee visited the diara area and assessed the arrangements made on the fateful day. We also met a cross section of people, talked to BSTDC officials and also met the Inland Waterways Authority of India officials to gather information. We expect to submit our report by month-end, said Amrit.

The committee is also probing the co-ordination or lack of it among different agencies, namely, the BSTDC, district administration and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force).

The SDRF had deployed eight boats with 40 personnel, but according to eyewitnesses, almost all of them were focussed on conveying officials and their families.

While the magnitude of the mishap and the lapses on part of the authorities has rattled the government, the boatman of the ill-fated boat is yet to be located. He can reveal what exactly happened that day, said an official.

Sources said the boat which capsized was used for ferrying vegetables from diara area and at the most could have carried 15-20 persons. But at the time of tragedy, it had on board around 40 people, they added.
In December first week, central intelligence agencies intercepted a conversation on mobiles.

Two persons based in Nepal then, were discussing the November 20, 2016 derailment of the Indore-Patna Express at Kanpur. Their antennae were up immediately.

One person was telling the other that Keel-khunti nikalney se kaam hua. Bomb laganey sey kucch nahin hua(The job was done by removing the clips and plates, nothing could be achieved by planting bombs).

The intercept within the first two weeks after the incident, which killed 148, made it clear that there was a terror angle to it and led to the arrests of Mohammad Muhazir and Braj Kishore Giri soon after. Their confessions led to the unravelling of a whole gang, which specialised in such sabotage, highly placed officials in the Bihar police told HT on Wednesday.

Read: Indore-Patna Express accident: Arrested ISI suspects quizzed by RAW, NIA sleuths

So far, based on intelligence input, seven terror suspects have been arrested: three in Nepal and four around Motihari on the Indian side. The interrogations have revealed a shift in the modus operandi of terrorists to inflict heavy damage even without use of explosives and weapons and by using new modules comprising local people with Maoist links.

According to IB sources, Giri, suspected of murder of two people and a prime mover in getting bomb plants on Ghorasahan railway tracks, was on the police radar. A raiding Nepalese police party of Bara district, however, ran into an encounter with him, during which Giri suffered an injury. He was nabbed even as he was fleeing and his brother-in-law, Shambhu alias Laddu, an accomplice in his operations, from Nepal.

Further interrogation of Giri led to more clues and on that basis four persons - Umashankar Patel alias Raju, Mukesh Yadav, Mintu alias Moti Paswan and Bittu - were picked up from Motihari. All the four have Maoist links since 2008, they added.

During interrogation, Mintu Paswan revealed that one Shamshul Hoda of Bara district in Nepal, who also contested parliamentary elections in the Himalayan country and is currently living in some gulf country, was the financer of Giri, who in turn paid local modules for carrying out subversive activities.

Hoda is said to be into fake notes racket and has ISI links, said intelligence sources, adding two persons of Motihari - Dipak Ram and Arun Ram - had been hired for planting bomb at Ghorasahan railway track in Motihari.

They did plant bomb, but it did not go off, when the train passed. The police later discovered the high intensity bomb on information from locals and defused it. Hoda was then informed about the unsuccessful attempt and both Rams were called to Nepal only to be killed for their failure. A video of their killing was posted to Hoda. Both the bodies were recovered from Nepal on December 28, 2016, even as their kin registered an FIR with the police claiming they had gone missing.

Read: Kanpur train tragedy: Police probe Pakistan ISI link in accident, 3 arrested

Intelligence sources said that Mintu admitted to have received Rs 50,000 for carrying out another operation in Kanpur with his team, while Giri got Rs 7.5-lakh and another one, Gajendra Sharma, who is still missing, got another Rs 7.5-lakh. Raju, who was picked up from Motihari, is said to be an expert in fabricating improvised explosive devices and was paid Rs 2-lakh.

Giris bank account has entry of Rs 30-lakh and it has been traced, said sources, adding search was on for Gajendra Sharma and one of his missing associates, Rakesh Yadav, both from Bakhri village in Ghorasahan.

Mintu, according to sources, admitted having changed different trains to reach Kanpur with a gas cutter, where he damaged the track at the intersection point by removing the pandrol clips and cutting some portion of the track. Further interrogation is on and some more suspects might be picked up from UP and Delhi also, they added.

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City residents woke up to the coldest day of the season on Tuesday with the mercury dipping to 11.5C during the day (9C) below normal. On January 7, the city had recorded 12.6C (7C above normal). In December, the lowest temperature was 19.1C. The city remained engulfed in fog throughout the day. There seems to be no respite from the chill as the weatherman has predicted moderate to dense fog and cloudy sky during the next three days.

Fog will intensify in the region during the next two-three days, adding chill in the air. The maximum temperature will dip by 3-4 degrees, said Surender Paul, director, India Meteorological Department.

Travelers will have to face difficulty as visibility will become poor in the coming days.

NIGHT TIME TEMP 3C ABOVE NORMAL

The night temperature was 9.4 and it was 3 degree above normal. The night temperature has witnessed a slight dip from the previous night, which recorded 11.4 degree. The humidity level was as high as 96 per cent.

MET WARNING ON FOG

The meteorological department has issued a warning, which states Dense to very dense fog is likely at isolated places in Haryana and Punjab during the next three days. Cold day conditions and ground frost is likely during the next 36 hours in the region.

8 TRAINS DELAYED

Eight trains including Shatabdi got late by more than half an hour on Tuesday. Kalka Mail, which was late by nearly eight hours, reached Chandigarh at 10:42am.

Barmer-Kalka Express, Lucknow-Chandigarh SuperFast Express were late by one hour. Una-New Delhi Janshatabdi express got late by 50 minutes.

Three trains including New Delhi- Kalka Shatabdi Express, Kalka Ambala Passenger, and Ambala-Amb Andaura DEMU were late by around 40 minutes.
The court of additional sessions judge Ranjit Kumar Jain acquitted a convict held guilty for forging medical qualifications in a fake doctor practitioner case in 2015.

The court acquitted the accused while accepting a criminal appeal filed by the counsel of the accused against the judgment of conviction.

He, was, however, asked to pay a bail bond of Rs 10,000.

Raj Kumar Sood, resident of Sector 56, Chandigarh, had been convicted and sentenced under Section 15 (of Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1956; under Section 17 of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 and under Section 15 of the Homeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, to rigorous imprisonment for one year each. All the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

PREVIOUS JUDGMENT CHALLENGED

The judgment was challenged on the grounds that the same was against facts law and was erroneous and that the learned trial court had erred in law in convicting the appellant on discrepant, unreliable, untrustworthy evidence of prosecution.

It also emerged that wrong procedure had been followed in registering FIR in the case involving cognisable offence.

The appeal had also stated that the court had not taken into consideration the glaring contradictions and discrepancies in the prosecution evidence, which were fatal for the prosecution case.

THE CASE

This was based on a complaint by Dr Rajeshwar Singh Rana, wherein he had stated that on September 15, 2009, he accompanied Dr Rajeev Kapila and checked the private clincic namely Raj Clinic in shop no 5725, Sector 56, Chandigarh. The signboard of the clinic read as Raj Clinic and the doctors name was displayed as Dr RK Sood.

It was found that he was practising in allopathic medicine, ayurvedic Edison and homeopathic medicine in the clinic.

It was alleged that when he was asked to show his degree/ registration which allowed him to practice in any system of medicine, the accused had shown a photocopy of registration certificate of ayurvedic Avam Unani Chikitsa Parishad, Bihar.

The education qualification as Vaid Visharad 1984 from Hindi Sahitya Sammelan Prayad, according to CCIM Act of 1970 Vaid Vishrad of Hindi Sahitya Sammelan prayag was valid from 1931 to 1967.

This is when it was alleged that Sood was practising as bogus medical practitioner and was posing danger by checking the public and making money. On the basis of the complaint, an FIR was registered and the accused was arrested under Section 161 of CrPc and the challan was presented post the investigation.

Charges were framed under Section 419 IP (punishment for cheating by personation), Section 17 of Indian Medicine Central Council Act and Section 15 of Homeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.

THE NEW JUDGMENT

The court in its final observations stated that wrong procedure had been adopted by the local police in registering the case in non-cognisable offence. It was said that instead of getting FIR registered, it was required to file complaint before the competent court of jurisdiction. Counsel of the accused, Harish Bhardwaaj, said, In similar cases in the past three months, involving accused Naresh, Swapan and Rajinder were acquitted.

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A local court on Tuesday sentenced three years of imprisonment to a man accused for thrashing a head constable inside the Chandigarh District Court Complex, Sector 43. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on the convict.

Pertinently, the accused was already in jail as he was sentenced 10 years in another case.

A first information report was filed against 30-year-old Sonu alias Bakri of Mauli Jagran on September 4, 2015 after head constable Anand Singh complained against him for misbehaving with him.

In the complaint, Singh said he, along with other officials, was accompanying Sonu on September 4, as he had to be produced before the court of civil judge Hirdejit Singh in a case. Sonu told him that he wanted to speak to his brother and demanded a mobile phone for the same. Singh said when he refused him, as it was not allowed as per the protocol, Sonu got agitated and used abusive language.

He then allegedly manhandled Singh, which was followed by chaos in the court. He then went to the incharges room and even broke cups and glasses post this. He was then convicted under Sections 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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Nayr Macedo is a Spanish national studying political science at university. Her hair is long, curly and red. She is wearing a miniskirt with tights, hardly any makeup and has a penetrating gaze. She speaks with determination. The 22-year-old may sound like an average Spanish student, but many people here insist on treating her differently for one reason: her mother is from Africa. We never decided that we were black, yellow or blue, she says. Its other people who tell me Im black.

Nayr, along with Moha, Paula and Ruben, is a young Spaniard of African descent. Go back to your fucking country, I dont rent apartments to people like you, If you shower do you lose your color? Is that your mom or your nanny? Come with me, Ill give you ten bucks, You cant come in, Your cousins are monkeys.

These are a few of the comments that these members of the Afro-Spanish community have heard throughout their lives. There is no official census to determine exactly how many people of African descent live in Spain, but estimates suggest that the black population of Spain is around one million.

Paula Prudencia Napi Collins, 20, a student of management and public administration, is an example of the impact of Spanish colonialism. Her parents were born in Equatorial Guinea while it was still under Spanish control.

I realized that I was black when I arrived in Spain, she said.

The Spanish media has not helped to change the collective image of black people

The fact that youre black makes you live in a different reality to other Spaniards, says Moha Gerehou, a 24-year-old journalist and president of anti-racism NGO SOS Racismo in Madrid. Despite the fact that he was born in Spain, Gerehou says he has faced discrimination on many occasions.

Ruben H. Bermudez, 35, is a photographer. He has light skin and wears his hair in an afro, but says he does not know why he looks the way he does. That said, he is from an area in the western region of Extremadura where Spaniards held slaves until the 19th century  a fact rarely taught in Spanish schools. The countrys education system does not include any content that explains the relationship between Spain and Africa, despite the fact that the two share a border.

While in power, in 2010 the Socialist Party (PSOE) tabled a non-binding law covering the historical memory of slavery, which aimed to recognize and support the black, African and Afro-Spanish community in Spain. The legislation was passed unanimously in the Equal Rights Commission but has proved little more than a gesture.

Estimates suggest the black population of Spain is around one million

The Society of Africans and African-descendants in Spain is demanding that the measures become law and says it should be expanded to involve full integration of the black community. The society wants a law that specifically targets racism, whether it be institutional (political, judicial or health-related) or social (fair access to housing, the labor market, against racist attacks).

Of the 1,328 hate crimes registered in 2015 in Spain, the principle motive was racism.

The Spanish media has not helped to change the collective image of black people, argues Napi, insisting that instead they have helped perpetuate the stereotypes. Black people are often associated with illegal immigration or crime. Advertisements also tend to exclude the black community.

"Los Conguitos [a popular brand of chocolate] is a very crude representation of us: a black guy with a loincloth and a spear, says Bermudez.

Another of the areas where Spains black community is underrepresented is in politics. Rita Bosaho of Podemos is the countrys first and only black parliamentarian out of its 616 deputies and senators. She was elected in December 2015.

We need institutions that really represent our society, says Gerehou.

There is also only one black mayor in Spain  Juan Antonio de La Morena of the Popular Party who has led the town council of Villamantilla, Madrid since 2007. Equal representation would mean at least 177 mayors would be black, according to calculations from The Society of Africans and African-descendants in Spain.

The racism in Spain is structural, says Gerehou.

For Macedo, racism lies in the small details and daily obstacles. For example, one of her professors asked: Whats a girl as black as you doing in university? Perhaps you should look for a husband because you shouldnt be here.

Napi has felt discrimination while hunting for an apartment. Either Ive had really bad luck, or this is a racist society, says the young student.

English version by Alyssa McMurtry.
Liquor vends, roadside eateries and cigarette vendors are fearlessly flouting rules in Sector 17 and Sector 22.

As per the norms, liquor vends need to close down latest by 11 pm, which does not seem to be the case in these sectors.

As the HT team did a reality check of the area, people were seen buying liquor till late night on Monday.

In a video recording by the team, shutter of a liquor vend was seen getting closed within the permissible time but liquor was still being sold through a small window.

Customers were seen knocking the shutter and few even called names, following which the window was opened to ask them for the required brand. Bottles were eventually handed over to the customers through the window, as captured in the video.

Moreover, the liquor was sold at a much higher price.

Adviser faces heat

Meanwhile, as per the police sources, car of UT adviser Parimal Rai got stuck in the traffic late Saturday night in Sector 17.

Sources said the road was blocked by people who had halted their cars to buy cigarettes. They said the officer informed senior police officials, following which the encroachers were removed.

We challaned all the vendors found encroaching after being informed by the adviser. We will also call the owner of the said liquor vend to probe the matter, said a senior police official, Sector 17 police station.

The adviser, however, did not respond to the calls.

However, vendors were least affected by the police action as cigarette vendors were again seen encroaching the footpath in front of Sector 17 bus stand.

Meanwhile, the inner market of Sector 22 was seen crowded till late Monday night due to presence of food vends selling eatables including noodles, omelets, tea, soft drinks, etc.

It was only after the instructions of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ram Gopal, who was on night duty, that vendors were removed from these markets around 1 am.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Eish Singhal said, Strict action will be taken against the people responsible. We are not going to tolerate any illegal activity in the city and thus, the matter will surely be probed.

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She was hoping for a Congress ticket, but Rajdeep Kaur, 41, has now filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Fazilka. Her name may not ring a bell, because shes better known as Rocky di bhen, sister of slain gangster-politician Jaswinder Singh Rocky.

Rocky, who had finished a close second on his electoral debut as an independent last time, was shot dead allegedly by rivals in the business of crime near Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh on April 30 last year. It was at his bhog (memorial prayers) that Rajdeep came into the limelight, and supporters of Robinhood Rocky  who was known to operate a parallel system of justice besides carrying out public welfare programmes  declared that she would contest the polls. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, who represents the area as part of the Ferozepur Lok Sabha segment, was present.

While Rocky was said to have been backed tacitly by the SAD in 2012  when SAD ally BJPs Surjit Kumar Jyani won  she had sought the Congress ticket. Rockys well-wishers want me to carry on his public welfare works through politics, she said.

The equation has turned even murkier this time, as the Congress ticket has gone to the SAD MPs son, Davinder Ghubaya. The MP, too, has all but officially switched allegiances. The BJP has fielded Jyani again.

Rajdeep, in her well-attended rally before filing the papers on Wednesday, was particularly ballistic against the Ghubayas: Whosoever remained in power did nothing for the poor of the region. A live example is Akali MP Sher Singh Ghubaya who being in power for more than two decades (as MLA or MP) did nothing for the poor, including Rai Sikhs, the community in whose names he bargained for the Congress ticket for his son.

Rajdeep, a baptised Sikh, explained why she is in politics: It is the most powerful tool to serve people. Whoever wishes to join it, must follow that in letter and spirit.

She keeps it simple, drawing mostly on the appeal of her brother, who was booked at various police stations in at least 23 cases, including those of murder, and had been acquitted in 18.

Rocky had been eyeing a life primarily as a politician for some years, hobnobbing across parties. He had taken a step towards that life in 2012 and had polled over 39,000 votes, but lost to Jyani by merely 1,600 votes from his native town. During the 2011 floods in Fazilka, he had earned goodwill in the border villages by distributing essential commodities much before the state government could come to the peoples aid.

In 2013, he was photographed with the then Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde in a delegation with Congressmen Raj Kumar Verka and Ravneet Singh Bittu on the Parliament premises in New Delhi. He was often resolving disputes of locals in Fazilka, and in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he openly supported Akali nominee Sher Singh Ghubaya who won.

Born in a farming family at Chugian Kesar Singh village, Rocky did his schooling from Fazilka. His tryst with crime, that too within the family, came when he was barely 20, when he got a case registered against his brother, Romi Singh, for firing a shot at their father, Mahinder Singh. Romi remained in jail but was later acquitted. He was unmarried, while his mother had once asked for security over a threat from Rocky, though she later settled their disputes before the 2012 polls. The mother, Harminder Kaur, has filed her papers as covering candidate for Rajdeep.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said if voted to power, their government would usher in reforms in the judicial system in Punjab besides promising to resolve the lawyers long-pending issues.

Kejriwal said this while interacting with lawyers at the district courts complex.

Addressing a gathering of more than 150 lawyers of the Ludhiana district bar association, Kejriwal said drugs and corruption were ailing the state and the issue needs to be dealt with strictly. He claimed that Punjab will be the first corruption-free state in the country.

We have not tolerated corruption in Delhi. Even MLAs who were found to be dishonest were taken to task. We will follow the same system in Punjab once our party comes to power. Any MLA indulging in corruption will be sent to jail, he said.

Kejriwal also stated that the Punjab Police have to face a lot of political interference and, therefore, they cannot work freely. If we form government here, the police will be free from political pressure, he said.

The lawyers raised the issue of parking hassles they have to face on daily basis and the absence of a law bhawan in the city. Kejriwal promised that he will boost courts infrastructure in a big way.
Renowned actor Geeta Sen, wife of celebrated filmmaker Mrinal Sen, died in her residence on Monday after a month-long illness. She was 86.

She leaves behind her famed husband and only son Kunal.

A month back, she had suffered cerebral hemorrhage, which robbed her power of speech and made her bed-ridden.

Known for her excellent portrayal of character roles, she had acted in a number of films including Chorus, Calcutta 71, Kharij, Akaler Sandhane, Ekdin Pratidin and Khandahar.

http://i.imgur.com/bb60vkb.jpg

Geeta Sen with Mrinal Sen. (HT Photo)

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While several reports claim that stand up comedian Bharti Singh had a secret roka ceremony with long time-beau Haarsh Limbhachiyaa  writer of Comedy Nights Bachao  Bharti says none of it is true.

Talking exclusively to HT City, she says, Im surprised people have started congratulating me 15 days ahead of my engagement. I am not denying that I am getting engaged but it will only happen by the end of this month.

Rubbishing reports that they had a private ceremony on Sunday, January 15, Bharti adds, It was a housewarming ceremony, as Haarsh has bought a new house in Andheri. Since there was a puja and havan, we couldnt offer drinks after a religious ceremony, so we took our friends out for a party.

 A photo posted by Bharti Singh (@bharti.laughterqueen) on Jan 5, 2017 at 10:28am PST

Bharti says its unfair on anyones part to assume and spread rumours about her relationship status. If I partied, drank and posted pictures, its assumed that I got engaged. Tomorrow if I shoot for an episode and wear a bridal outfit, theyll declare my wedding also. If I bought a car, theyll say its a gift from Haarsh. If I flaunt my ring, theyll assume he has put it on my finger. Why? Am I not making enough money? I slog so hard to earn and then to read such demeaning things is so unpleasant. We went to Dubai for a show and people said we have gone out for a

pre-honeymoon. What is that supposed to mean?, retorts Bharti.

Though the stand-up comic says shes been laughing ever since she read about her engagement, she admits false reports upset and affect her family a lot. My mother hasnt read the news yet, but she will get to know from someone I am sure. I dont have a father, so my mom gets even more worried that her daughter is facing all this humiliation. Im still the same small town girl from Punjab. I belong to a middle class family and these rumours affect us in a big way, she says.

We have known each other for seven years and this is our eighth year together as a couple

On being asked about the reports that she would be seen participating in couple dance reality show Nach Baliye, Bharti confirms, Yes thats true. I am keen but Haarsh is not agreeing and Im trying hard to convince him. He is just not ready and is saying he doesnt want to get embarrassed on national television.

And what about the November 2017 wedding? No date has been fixed as yet. It would be either the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Also, contrary to the reports that I and Haarsh have been dating for two years, Id like to clarify that we have known each other for seven years and this is our eighth year together as a couple, she says.

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Salim Ahamed, who gave us Adaminte Makan Abu some years ago, presented on Tuesday his latest, Pathemari (Dhow), in the 23-strong competition at the ongoing Dhaka International Film Festival.

Much like Adaminte Makan Abu, which paints the sorrow and suffering of an old Muslim couple whose dream to go on Haj always finds itself facing an impregnable wall, Malayalam superstar Mammoottys travails in Pathemari as an illegal immigrant in Dubai during the 1960s when Indian labour helped the desert transform into sheer modernity, is a story of disappointment and dejection.

Driven by his familys grinding poverty, a young Narayana (his older version is played by Mammootty) risks his life to get on to a small boat to cross the sea and enter Dubai. It takes several weeks for Narayana and his fellow travellers to sight land - a huge rock on the Gulf shore providing them shelter from the police before they disappear into the city - which was then really a desert.

While Narayanas back-breaking labour helps his family of his aged mother, wife and children to steadily improve their living standards, the avarice of his relatives keep pushing him down every time he thinks he has reached his goal. In the end, Narayana finds himself as a tenant in his own house, and fails to improve his work status. He remains a janitor, while he finds some of the others around him rising to impressive heights.

More than this, Narayana begins to realise that it is only his position as a bread-winner in Dubai that keeps even his immediate family happy. There is one significant scene when he tells his wife (played by Jewel Mary) that he has had enough, and that he will like to stop working. But that will lower my status as the wife of a Gulf earner, she looks perturbed. And his grown up sons do not even want to talk to their father when he calls long distance, longing to hear their voices. A life driven by loneliness must have been painful for Narayana having lived away from home for decades.

Ahamed has this ability to move us with a kind of realism that places his cinema much above the mundane fare that is so common in India. And Mammootty sinks himself into his character with such ease that tells us that he is just not a star, but an actor par excellence. Someone else in his place might not have been able to justify Ahameds script and story - which, above all, seeks to remind us, and maybe the rulers in Dubai and other parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), that Indias contribution in helping the region fulfill its great dream has been huge.

Pathemari also comes at a time when there is a move to change the demographics in the UAE. The Indian labour is slowly being replaced by that from other nations - a turn that can have far reaching consequences in Kerala. Ahamed told this writer soon after his film was screened that time was when every family in the State had someone in the Gulf, and a lot of boom that happened in Kerala could be attributed to the money which came from Dubai and other neighbouring areas.

Pathemari ran in Kerala for 125 days, a fact which proves that the subject is very close to the average Malayali. He or she can identify with it. Also, although the Gulf prospects may be fading today, many people still remember the sacrifices which their fathers and grandfathers made to support, sustain and lift their families from penury. There have been instances of full boatloads of Indians sinking on the high seas. We see that even now in different parts of the world where refugees running away from despotic regimes and famines suffer and even die.

Pathemari is a poignant picture of one Narayana, who was part of a whole generation in the 1960s who helped Kerala bridge that wide chasm between dream and fulfilment.

Ahamed said that the prosperity we see today in Kerala - social, cultural, educational and financial - may well be because the Malayali man went to the Gulf in the 1960s to earn in the face of extreme hardship so that his family will have food on the table.

There was a period when the total budget of the Kerala State was less than what the Malayali expats as a whole were sending from places like Dubai.

Ahamed made extensive research -- for more than a year -- before he began writing the story and script. My Narayana is real. There have been men like him in Kerala, and the boatman you see in the movie actually existed - a boatman who risked his life to transport men across sometimes dangerous waters so that they may find a better life.

In short, Pathemari is a poignant picture of one Narayana, who was part of a whole generation in the 1960s (and later), who helped Kerala bridge that wide chasm between dream and fulfilment, between desire and success.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

(Gautaman Bhaskaran is covering the Dhaka International Film Festival.)

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Insurance premiums would soar for millions of Americans and 18 million more would be uninsured in just one year if Republicans scuttle much of President Barack Obamas health care overhaul without a replacement, Congress budget analysts said Tuesday.

Spotlighting potential perils for Republicans, the report immediately became a flashing hazard light for this years effort by Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers to annul Obamas law and  in a more complicated challenge  institute their own alternative.

It also swiftly became political fodder in what is expected to be one of this years biggest battles in Congress.

Republicans have produced several outlines for how theyd redraft Obamas 2010 statute, but theyve failed to unite behind one plan. President-elect Trump and GOP congressional leaders have at times offered clashing descriptions of their shared top goal, so eventual success is hardly guaranteed.

Tuesdays evaluation came from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, joined by Congress Joint Committee on Taxation.

Together, they analyzed a Republican-written bill, vetoed by Obama last January, that would have erased major portions of his overhaul. Those included tax penalties for people who fail to buy insurance and for larger companies that dont cover workers, federal subsidies to help consumers buy policies on the laws online marketplaces and an expansion of Medicaid coverage for low-income people.

Read| Trump ready with plans to replace Obamacare, cut corporate tax

The new report said under such a measure, premiums for individual policies  excluding the coverage many workers get from employers  would swell by up to 25 percent the first year after enactment and double by 2026. The number of uninsured would reach 32 million over the decade, the analysts said.

However, Republicans say theres a big difference between that 2016 bill and this years plan: Last years version would not have replaced Obamas statute with a GOP alternative, while Republicans insist replacement will be an integral part of their new health care drive.

Citing that difference, Donald Stewart, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the report assumes a situation that simply doesnt exist and that no one in Congress advocates. AshLee Strong, spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., called the estimates meaningless because they ignore plans for legislation and regulatory actions by the incoming Trump administration for revamping how people could obtain coverage.

Nonpartisan statistics dont lie, countered Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who said the report showed Republican plans to void Obamas overhaul will increase health care costs for millions of Americans and kick millions more off of their health insurance. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said it illustrated that the GOP effort will be nothing less than a nightmare for the American people.

Trump seemed to complicate the GOP drive last weekend when he told The Washington Post that a forthcoming Republican plan would provide insurance for everybody. In contrast, some congressional Republicans have described their goals more modestly, saying they will offer universal access.

In one sign of how GOP plans continue proliferating, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., are planning legislation that would let states retain coverage under Obamas law or choose different options.

The CBO analysis has particular weight because Republicans have cited last years bill as a starting point for their 2017 drive to erase Obamas law.

For Senate procedural reasons, that 2016 GOP bill also had to leave intact some mandates that Obamas law has imposed on insurers. Those include requiring coverage of certain services and barring insurers from denying policies to sick people or charging them higher rates.

Those same Senate procedures could make it hard for Republicans to erase the mandates this year, too. That would make things tough for the GOP because those insurance requirements tend to drive insurers costs higher, and leaving them in force while other parts of Obamas statute are erased could wreak havoc on markets.

CBO said that under the 2016 Republican bill, the number of insured people would fall mostly from annulling the tax penalties Obamas law imposes on people who dont buy policies: Some people would simply drop out if not forced to buy insurance. In addition, some insurers would leave individual insurance markets as consumers stopped buying coverage.

Some 59 million people under age 65  about 1 in 5  would be uninsured by 2026, the report said, compared to 28 million under Obamas law.

Premiums would rise because without a tax penalty to fear, many people would stop buying insurance. Since disproportionate numbers of sicker people would be likely to retain coverage, insurers costs would rise and higher premiums would follow.

The report estimated that half of Americans live where no insurers would sell individual policies in the first year after marketplace subsidies were eliminated. That would grow to 3 in 4 people by 2026.

At her last official session with reporters, Obamas outgoing health secretary, Sylvia Burwell, said a GOP repeal without a replacement would push the market into a negative spiral.

In early signs of grassroots rumbling, KHQ-TV news reported that Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., was interrupted by chants and booing at a Monday event in Spokane, Washington. Denver TVs 9News reported that Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., stealthily left a Saturday community event early with more than 100 people waiting to talk to him. Both back repeal of Obamas overhaul.

Coffman spokesman Daniel Bucheli said the meeting room was reserved for only 90 minutes. McMorris Rodgers spokeswoman Molly Drenkard said the lawmaker said she wants to keep communications open between foes and supporters of Obamas law.
Last year, the Earth sweltered under the hottest temperatures in modern times for the third year in a row, US scientists said on Wednesday, raising new concerns about the quickening pace of climate change.

Temperatures spiked to new national highs in parts of India, Kuwait and Iran, while sea ice melted faster than ever in the fragile Arctic, said the report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Taking a global average of the land and sea surface temperatures for the entire year, NOAA found the data for 2016 was the highest since record keeping began in 1880, said the announcement.

A separate analysis by the US space agency NASA also found that 2016 was the hottest on record.

The global average temperature last year was 1.69 Fahrenheit (0.94 Celsius) above the 20th century average, and 0.07 degrees F (0.04 C) warmer than in 2015, the last record-setting year.

Upward trend

Each of the first eight months of the year had record high temperatures for their respective months, NOAA said.

The main reason for the rise is the burning of fossil fuels like oil and gas, which send carbon dioxide, methane and other pollutants known as greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and warm the planet.

The mounting toll of industrialisation on the Earths natural balance is increasingly apparent in the record books.

Since the start of the 21st century, the annual global temperature record has been broken five times (2005, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016), said NOAA.

Another factor has been the Pacific Ocean warming trend of El Nino, which experts say exacerbates the planets already rising warmth.

El Nino comes and goes. The latest episode became particularly strong in 2015, and subsided about halfway through 2016.

But El Nino was responsible for just a small fraction of last years warmth, according to Peter Stott, acting director of Britains Met office Hadley Center.

The main contributor to warming over the last 150 years is human influence on climate from increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, he said.

Piers Forster, director of the Priestley International Center for Climate at the University of Leeds, agreed.

Even if you remove the extra warming due to El Nino, 2016 was the warmest year ever recorded, Forster said.

2017 will likely be cooler. However, unless we have a major volcanic eruption, I expect the record to be broken again within a few years.

Read | Global warming could steal postcard-perfect weather days from you

Scenes from a warming world

All of North America was the warmest since records began in 1910, breaking that regions last record set in 1998.

Europe and Asia each saw their third hottest years on record, while Australia marked its fourth warmest year since records began more than a century ago.

Unusual spikes in temperature were seen in Phalodi, India, which reached 124 F (51 C) on May 19 -- marking Indias hottest temperature ever.

Dehloran, Iran hit 127 F (53 C) on July 22, a new national record.

Meanwhile, Mitribah, Kuwait hit an all-time high of 129 F (54 C) on July 21, which may be the highest temperature ever recorded in all of Asia, NOAA said.

Planet-wide, the heat led to more melting at the poles. In the Arctic, average annual sea ice extent was approximately 3.92 million square miles (10.2 million square kilometers), the smallest annual average in the record, NOAA said.

In the Antarctic, annual Antarctic sea ice extent was the second smallest on record, behind 1986, at 4.31 million square miles, it said.

Both the November and December 2016 extents were record small.

Read | Climate change: Warning signals from the ends of the earth

Dangers

Unusually hot years wreak havoc on the planet by increasing heavy rainfall in some parts of the world while leading to drought in others, damaging crops.

Fish and birds must migrate farther than ever to find suitable temperatures.

Diseases can spread faster in the warming oceans, sickening marine life and killing corals.

Glaciers and polar ice caps melt, leading to sea level rise that will eventually swallow many of the globes coastal communities, home to some one billion people.

Experts say the only solution is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, in favour of Earth-friendly renewable energy such as wind and solar.

Climate change is one of the great challenges of the twenty first century and shows no signs of slowing down, said Mark Maslin, professor of climatology at University College London.

The decarbonisation of the global economy is the ultimate goal to prevent the worst effects of climate change.

Read | Climate change: Arctic lost nearly 95% of its old ice since 1984
Juan A. S. A. knew his partner Nuria S.U. had had a series of affairs, including one with his own brother, but he was determined not to lose her. So he embarked on a strategy involving blackmail and pornographic videos to win her back.

I spy. A man on a mission with his cell phone. Claudio Alvarez

That strategy saw him assuming a false online identity as Johnny. Using this alias, he went online and met Nuria S.U. She soon sent him erotic videos via WhatsApp and other private channels.

As the relationship remained virtual, Nuria was unaware until much later that Johnny was, in fact, her partner Juan and that the pornographic material she had filmed would be used against her in a vicious game of stay with me or else.

His strategy failed and the couple split up in 2012, but Nuria is currently suing Juan for failing to provide child support for their son and neglecting his duties as a parent. Whats more, the case is being heard at a domestic violence court in Madrid because Nuria was found to be a victim of abuse and blackmail in July 2015, when Juan, 36, was found guilty of coercive control within the family environment.

At that time, he was sentenced to 41 days of community service with a restraining order obliging him to stay at least 500 meters from his ex-partner and refrain from contacting her for three years by any means, including computers or in a written, verbal or visual manner.

These were precisely the means by which Juan tried to blackmail Nuria in his campaign to win her back in January 2014. He sent her hundreds of messages and when he wasnt threatening to kill himself  warnings occasionally accompanied by images of bleeding wrists  he was threatening to send the pornographic images she had sent Johnny to her work colleagues, family and close relatives.

One of the messages Nuria received from Juan, and which was read out in court, said: Youre going to find out what its like to be socially stigmatized for the rest of your life () there wont be a corner of the world left that doesnt know the truth () this can only end in two ways  by being a happy family or with the three of us losing everything.

Nuria was tricked into sending erotic videos of herself to her partner after he used a false identity to 'meet' her online

Juan used the couples son as leverage, implying he would end up an orphan unless they got back together. Meanwhile, Juans defense attorney pleaded leniency on the grounds of his clients emotionally fragile state and the psychological problems he was suffering due to the break-up. It was put to the judge that Juan was dealing with an adjustment disorder that prevented him sleeping and clouded his judgment.

While the judge refused to take these arguments into consideration, he was not severe when it came to Juans sentence. Taking into account recent modifications to Spain's domestic violence legislation, the judge concluded that there had been minor coercion, which carries a sentence of between six months to a year in prison or community service of between 31 and 80 days.

The sentence also complies with current legislation in the Madrid region that condemns any physical or psychological aggression towards a woman that compromises her health, her physical integrity, her sexual liberty or any other circumstance that produces fear and anxiety that threatens this freedom.

Youre going to find out what its like to be socially stigmatized for the rest of your life Juan A. S. A.

Be it Johnny or Juan, all these lines were crossed. Juan was undoubtedly guilty, reacting to the split-up by threatening to kill himself. The fictitious Johnny was just as guilty. By creating a character and seducing Nuria on the social networks where she picked up partners, he managed to accumulate an arsenal of videos and sexually explicit images to threaten her with.

English version by Heather Galloway.
A suicide bombing on Wednesday on a camp grouping former rebels and pro-government militia in troubled northern Mali left 50 people dead, UN and local sources told AFP.

The presidents office ordered three days of national mourning following the attack, the worst in the country in recent years.

A member of the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA, who asked not to be identified, initially put the death toll at 37 but hospital sources later said 40 people had been killed and 60 hurt.

The camp is located in Gao, a former bastion for Malian rebels and Islamist fighters who together seized control of much of the countrys vast arid north in early 2012.

It was set up under a 2015 peace deal signed between the government and various militia and rebel groups following a French-led international military intervention that was launched in 2013 but which is still in place.

The attack occurred as former rebels in the Tuareg-led CMA movement and ex members of a pro-government militia prepared to go on a joint patrol, under the terms of the peace accord.

Implementation of the peace accord has been piecemeal with insurgents still active across large parts of the region.

The suicide bomber came in a vehicle and blew himself up, the MINUSMA source said.

The attack took place at 8:40am (local and GMT) as the former rival groups were due to soon leave on a joint patrol, the source added.

The camp is close to Gao airport, a key transport hub, which was closed briefly in early December following a suicide attack blamed on jihadists.

Fighting broke out following the attack between armed groups, leaving at least one person dead and a dozen injured.

A car bomb destroyed prefabricated hangars used by the missions aircraft, MINUSMA said at the time, and damage to the installations and debris on the runway made the airport temporarily unusable.
In the face of death threats and accusations they are dishonouring their families by daring to perform, the women of Afghanistans first all-female orchestra are charting a new destiny for themselves through music.

The group is set to be catapulted onto the world stage with a performance at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Zohra, an ensemble of 35 young musicians aged 13 to 20, some orphans or from poor families, will be performing before 3,000 CEOs and heads of state during a session on Thursday and at the closing concert on Friday.

Led by Negina Khpalwak, who will be celebrating her 20th birthday on the return flight from Europe, the girls have overcome death threats and discrimination in this deeply conservative war-torn country to play together.

Afghan girls of the first female orchestra playing flutes. (AFP Photo)

With their hair hastily knotted, eyes focused on their instruments, the musicians performed in unison under Khpalwaks baton earlier this month at one of their last rehearsals in Kabul before the concert.

She is Afghanistans first female conductor, Dr Ahmad Sarmast, the musicologist who founded Afghanistans National Institute of Music (Anim) and the Zohra orchestra, said proudly of Khpalwak.

Sarmast understands the risk facing women in Afghanistan who pursue music -- which was banned during the Talibans repressive 1996-2001 rule and is still frowned upon in the tightly gender-segregated conservative society.

Zohra, he says, is very symbolic for Afghanistan.

Its so hard for Afghan girls. Some fathers do not even let their daughters go to school, not to speak about music school, Negina said. For them, women are to stay at home and clean up.

Nineteen year-old Afghan Negina Khpalwak (L), the first female orchestra conductor in Afghanistan, conducts her musicians during a rehearsal at The Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul. (AFP Photo)

Her parents, she said, stood against her entire family to allow her to attend music lessons. My grandmother told my dad: If you let Negina leave to music school, you wont be my son anymore.

Since then, her family has left their native Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan, and moved to Kabul.

Life is hard in the capital city, jobs are scarce, but it is better than being dead, Negina said, recalling what her uncle promised her: Wherever I see you, Ill kill you. You are a shame for us.

Neginas goal is to win a scholarship to study outside of the country, and study, and study. Then, she says, she will return to her country and and become the conductor of the National Orchestra.

Dangerous life

Fifteen years after the end of Taliban regime, gender parity remains a distant dream in Afghanistan despite claims of progress.

According to a National Bureau of Statistics survey conducted in 2016, just 19 percent of all Afghan women had attended school. Of women and girls under the age of 25, only 36 percent of those surveyed said they had been to school.

Afghan girls playing sitars and violins during rehearsal ahead of their perforamance at Davos. (AFP Photo)

If you dont stand up you will have no future, Negina said. I want to pave the way for other girls.

Music has offered Zohras girls the chance of another life. Among the now adept players of the violin, piano and traditional instruments of Afghanistan, some were once street working children.

At 18, violinist Zarifa Adiba has already performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. In Davos, she will also conduct four pieces as the second conductor of the orchestra, where the young Shia Hazara girl with high cheekbones knows how to obtain focus and silence among the excited young troops.

Being Afghan and living here is every minute dangerous for your life: you dont know where will be the next blast, and when... will it be here? she recalls.

For musicians, she says, remembering the Taliban regime, the danger is even worse.

But far from giving up, Zarifa, whose mother never got the chance to go to school, believes that it is up to her generation to reverse mentalities.

Afghan music student Zarifa Adiba plays a violin during a rehearsal at The Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul. (AFP Photo)

Now its up to my generation to try to do something for my country, but it will take at least one generation to change, she said.

I wish to apply to Yale University, my first choice, or to Harvard, or Stanford. I will study and make a good personality for myself and then I will come back as a positive person, she vows.

Do you think Michelle Obama will be in Davos? she asks suddenly. I have been listening to all her speeches: when I hear her speaking, I feel proud to be a woman. I love Michelle Obama.

For Dr Sarmast, who wants to promote a better side of the country than the Kalashnikov, rockets and suicide attacks, these girls are Afghanistans best ambassadors.

We hope to change the perception of Afghanistan abroad, he said.
A brash tycoon who has also become a reality TV star aspires to the highest political office in his North American nation. While this may sound familiar, given that Republican Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States on Friday, in Canada, businessman Kevin OLeary joined the fray on Wednesday for the leadership of the opposition Conservative Party in an attempt to become the countrys next Prime Minister.

He tweeted: Its official, Im in! The Conservative Party of Canada needs a candidate who can beat (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau and bring back jobs to this country!

He also posted a video of the formal announcement and a statement on his campaign website, which begins: Canada cannot afford another 4 years of Justin Trudeau.

Echoing Trumps outsider rhetoric, OLeary said, Canadians are looking for a Prime Minister who is not a career politician; a Prime Minister who will fight for them, and is not afraid to tell them how it is.



In fact, he even mentioned Trump in the statement: Now, with the election of Donald Trump to our south, Canadas largest trading partner is headed by a businessman with an aggressive strategy that could hurt the Canadian economy. Trudeau doesnt stand a chance, and we deserve better.

OLeary, who co-founded the mutual fund company O'Leary Funds Inc in 2008, is worth approximately $300 million but has gained name recognition from his appearances as an abrasive investor in the reality shows, Shark Tank in America and its Canadian version, Dragons Den.

After speculation since Federal elections in late 2015, he finally announced he is running for the leadership of the Conservatives, to replace former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The partys version of the primary, the convention, is scheduled for this summer.

OLeary will enter the race with some momentum as polls taken over the last few months have consistently shown him leading other contenders.

The 62-year-old businessman, who was born in Montreal, chose to make the announcement after a French-language debate for the party leadership.

Though born in the Francophone province of Quebec, he is not fluent in French which is considered a disadvantage in Canadian politics given that its a bilingual nation.

He has an affinity for Trump, as he told the countrys national broadcaster CBC in an interview, I know Trump. I know his family. I've watched him work. I think he's smart as a fox.

Much like Trump, he also holds an MBA, and is the author of books on earning wealth, starting with Cold Hard Truth: Business, Money Life in 2011.

And he echoed Trump as he wrote in that book that the brutal truth is so rarely spoken these days. Its like an ancient tribal language weve forgotten we know how to speak.

He is also a harsh critic of the Liberal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During a speech at the right-leaning Manning Center in Ottawa last year, he said, Our financial policy in this country is broken.

He also uses Twitter to attack Trudeau.

In recent days, he tweeted the hashtag #Incompetentleadership.

He has also expressed positive views about economic ties with India in interviews.

The expected move may have come from an exploratory committee that he appointed, which reported last week that it saw a clear path to victory for OLeary if he ran.

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Australias transport minister Darren Chester said on Wednesday that experts will continue analysing data and scrutinizing debris washing ashore from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in a bid to narrow down where it crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

But Chester declined to specify what kind of breakthrough would convince officials to resume the search for the missing airliner that was suspended this week after almost three years.

The Australian government said it was not ruling out a future underwater search for a missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet as families of those on board criticised the decision to suspend the hunt after three fruitless years.

The location of Flight MH370 has become one of the worlds greatest aviation mysteries since the plane, a Boeing 777, disappeared in 2014 en route to Beijing from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board.

I dont rule out a future underwater search by any stretch, Chester told reporters in Melbourne, a day after Australia, Malaysia and China officially called off the search in the southern Indian Ocean.

The search cost around A$200 million ($150 million), mostly paid by Malaysia, and has already been extended twice. But the three countries involved have been reluctant to keep looking without new evidence about the planes final resting place.

A recommendation from investigators last month to look to the north of the 120,000 sq km (46,000 sq mile) area that has been the focus of search efforts was rejected by Australia and Malaysia as too imprecise.

Chester said cost had not been the determining factor to halt the search, but he said restarting it would require credible new information which leads to a specific location.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday expressed deep regret that the plane had not been found, but reaffirmed the agreement between Malaysia, Australia and China to stop looking.

Boeing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Read| Malaysia Airlines MH370 mystery: What happened to flight, where did it go down?

No Clues

Flight MH370 lost contact over the Gulf of Thailand in the early hours of March 8, 2014. Subsequent analysis of radar and satellite contacts suggested someone on board may have deliberately switched off the planes transponder before diverting it thousands of kilometres out over the Indian Ocean.

Since the crash, there have been competing theories over whether the plane was hijacked and whether it was under the control of anyone when it finally ran out of fuel.

The head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which led the hunt for the plane, said authorities are confident it is not in the area that has been searched.

ATSB chief commissioner Greg Hood said residual search activity, including satellite and drift analysis would continue until the end of February.

But quitting the underwater search drew a swift and angry reaction from relatives of those on board, who had called for the project to be expanded.

In China, Jiang Hui, whose mother was also on board the flight, said he felt disappointed, helpless and angry because the search had been ended.

Wen Wancheng, whose son was among passengers onboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 which went missing in 2014, cries as relatives arrive for a meeting with the airline representatives in Beijing, China January 18, 2017. (REUTERS)

There was also anger on social media at the news.

Didnt they say they would never end the search? What the hell happened? wrote one user on Chinas Twitter-like Weibo service.

The only confirmed traces of the plane have been three pieces of debris found washed up on the island country Mauritius, the French island Reunion and an island off Tanzania.

As many as 30 other pieces of wreckage found there and on beaches in Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa are suspected to have come from the plane.

Read| MH370 plunged rapidly, wing flap not out for landing: Report
Pakistani counter-terrorism forces killed the new leader of the banned sectarian Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group, along with three more militants, in an operation in the eastern province of Punjab, authorities said on Wednesday.

The killings come 18 months after police gunned down longtime Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) leader Malik Ishaq in a separate encounter.

Among the four militants killed on Tuesday night was Asif Chotoo, also known by the name Rizwan, who was named LeJ chief after Ishaqs death, authorities said.

He was now heading Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, the Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab said in a statement.

The extremist Sunni Muslim LeJ, one of a myriad of Islamist militant outfits operating in Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of civilians, mostly minority Shiite Muslims.

The four suspects were killed in a shootout in Sheikhupura city, about 40 km (25 miles) northwest of the Punjab capital of Lahore, by counter-terrorism forces acting on a tip that the group was planning an attack in Lahore.

Big chapters of terrorism, target killings have been closed today, the statement added. These terrorists were merciless killing machines.
China on Wednesday applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modis positive remarks on bilateral ties but made it clear even before the applause ended that Beijings position is not changing any time soon on Indias Nuclear Suppliers Group membership, terrorist tag for Masood Azhar and the economic corridor with Pakistan.

This means China will continue to block Indias entry to the NSG, block Pakistan-based Masood Azhar from being designated a terrorist by the United Nations and continue building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)  which passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir  notwithstanding New Delhis objections.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue on Tuesday, Modi said he saw the development of India and China as an unprecedented opportunity for our two countries and the world.

At the same time, its not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences. Both countries need to show sensitivity and respect for each other's core concerns and interests, Modi told the policy dialogue.

He added that both countries should respect each others core interests.

It was expected China will appreciate Modis overture and then make its point, and foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying came prepared.

Hua said India and China were expanding our cooperation to make relations grow in a sound and stable way.

In this process China has been committed to respect the core interests and major concerns of each other and enhancing mutual interest and promoting cooperation. For the differences and problems, we are clear that we will remain in touch with India and properly manage these differences and resolve them through friendly consultation, she said.

But China will continue to build the CPEC, she quickly added. Regarding CPEC, this is a project that is devised for long term development and cooperation in various fields. It is of great significance in regional connectivity and trade cooperation. It is for regional peace and development. It targets no third country and it will not affect China's position on Kashmir, she said.

On NSG, she said: First of all we need to reach an indiscriminatory agreement applicable to all the parties. Secondly we can discuss specific cases of application .The purpose is to uphold the sanctity of the (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) regime.

On banning Azhar, she said China wants to uphold the effectiveness of the 1267 committee and show some respect to the rules of procedure of the committee.

And this issue will be resolved when all parties reach consensus. We need more time for more thorough deliberations so consensus is reached, she said.

So these two issues shall not be stumbling blocks for China-India to develop their relationship. We need to look further and seek common ground to remain and maintain our mutually beneficial cooperation and together seek a solution to these issues.

I think we need to try to understand from the other party's position. Respecting each other's core interest is our basic position. We have common interests as well as we also have differences. Resolve these differences through friendly consultation instead of pointing fingers at each other and accusing the other of neglecting their core interests.
A Chinese court has sold a seized foreign ship in online auction for whopping $ 2.41 million through e-commerce giant Alibaba.

The Shanghai Maritime Court sold the seized ship for 16.89 million yuan ($ 2.41 million), state-run Global Times reported on Wednesday.

The Panamanian-flagged Mahoni was bought by the Hong Kong-based Zhongjiang Ocean Shipping Limited through an auction hosted by Taobao, Chinas biggest consumer-to-consumer online shopping platform, and was transferred to the firm by the court on last Friday.

Mahoni was seized in May 2016 by the local court in Shanghai Harbour after 31 Filipino crew members filed a lawsuit against the boats owner - an Indonesian shipping company - as they claimed they had not been paid for 18 months.

The auction attracted 12,112 viewers and went through 63 rounds of offers, before reaching the final price.

This is not the first time that the Shanghai Maritime Court has auctioned seized vessels online. As the first Shanghai court to make use of Taobaos online auction platform, it sold a confiscated Chinese ship for 769.92 million yuan in January 2016, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Online auctions can boost enthusiasm for this kind of activity since they require less time and expense, and the process of making bids is clearer compared to traditional auction modes, Ni Zhongyue, an official from the court, told the Times.

Compared to live auctions who charge proportional commissions based on the final deal price, Taobaos online auction platform takes no commission.

Online auctions can avoid potential buyers communicating before making bids in order to keep prices low, Ni said.
Donald Trump has one big lesson to learn from outgoing US President Barack Obama: he needs to learn to be cool about crying.

If he could squeeze one tear out during his inauguration on Friday, people will turn around quite quickly their feelings towards him, British behavioural expert Judi James told AFP.

Clearly he is going to go swanning out there with his alpha male feathers strutting, but if at the right moment he could squeeze out a tear it would have an amazing effect on people, said the author of The Body Language Bible.

I think there is quite an emotional guy in there somewhere, said added.

Showing his emotions certainly worked for Obama, James argued.

The president has wept at least 10 times on camera since he took office, most tellingly when tears poured down his cheeks last year when he talked about the toll gun violence was taking on America.

He wiped away another few earlier this month when paying tribute to his wife Michelle and his teenage daughters in a farewell speech in Chicago.

Tears are one of the most powerful weapons politicians have in their arsenals, James insisted.

And for Trump, crying would be ideal to allay the worries of a world fretting about what his presidency will hold, she said.

I think so many people are depending on Trump now that unmasking himself as quite a warm, well-meaning character with values that he has been hiding all this time would go a long way.

For her, Obamas tears helped show his sincerity, connected him with the public and undercut his reputation as an intellectual.

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the Chairman's Global Dinner, a black-tie, invitation-only dinner aimed at introducing foreign diplomats to the team tasked with implementing the "America First" policies of the next administration, in Washington, DC on January 17, 2017. (AFP)

Tears show empathy

Tears help to bring him down from the pedestal. He is a bit more of a New Man. You can imagine him doing the shopping whereas up to now the US presidency has been an alpha male preserve. And it is again (with Trump).

Obamas comfort with big emotions was also evident when he surprised his tearful vice president Joe Biden with the highest US civilian honour last week as they prepared to leave office.

Crying specialist Lauren Bylsma, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, said it was clear that Obama is a man that is comfortable expressing his emotions in public.

In terms of character, we know that crying is associated with personality traits such as higher levels of empathy, she said.

Despite his hardman image, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has also shed tears several times in public, mostly notably after winning back the presidency in 2012 despite street protests he claimed were orchestrated by the West.

Crying at the pain of others makes politicians particularly attractive, James added.

But psychologist Jean-Pierre Friedman insisted politicians well up more because they are afraid of losing power.

Most of them are not the sensitive type. They cry the day they lose power, said the French psychoanalyst and author of two books on politicians inner lives.

Danger of faking it

They would take the loss of power as a bereavement, or not being able to put their projects into force.

Whatever the case, Friedman said he could not imagine Trump ever blubbing publicly. Hes someone from another generation. Fifty years ago the attitude was men do not cry. Hes a hardened old cowboy.

Indeed, the president-elect has ridiculed those who cried at his election victory and was famously irked by a crying baby at one of his rallies

James, however, is convinced that he is capable of shedding a tear in public.

I think Trump could cry, but it would be more to do with self-pity or even anger, which does not go down so well.

But tears can also be a politicians undoing, James warned, particularly if they are seen as put on.

She pointed to the former British prime minister Tony Blair whose emotional openness was first seen as a breath of fresh air only to be later ridiculed.

Subliminally people are very good at spotting real tears from fake ones.

When Tony Blair blinked back the tears after the death of Princess Diana... it created a huge moment of empathy, particularly as the British royal family were not coming up with the tears. That bonded people with Blair.

But he used the same technique a lot over the years, usually when he was put on the spot.

We saw him do it too much, particularly over the war in Iraq. It looked like tears to order, she added.
Noted Pakistani human rights lawyer and activist Asma Jahangir has called for a counter-narrative of liberal politics to challenge religious intolerance, which she says has seeped into the politics, policies and institutions in her homeland as well as mature democracies.

Delivering the 2017 Amartya Sen lecture at the London School of Economics on Tuesday evening, Jahangir  who has faced several threats and challenges in Pakistan  referred to religious intolerance as an infection capable of crossing borders.

Jahangir said several wrong and dangerous lessons were learnt after the terror attack on September 11, 2001. Some of them involved going for a regime change (in favour of a rigid government), painting all Muslims with the same brush (of terrorism and religious extremism), and responding to brutality with an equal measure of intolerance.

We never learnt the right lessons. We never went to the root of the problem. Once you start politicising religion, you play with fire and get burnt as well. Another lesson we did not learn is that Muslims are not homogenous, she said in her lecture on Religious Intolerance and its Impact on Democracy.

Jahangir said religion in todays world has been politicised to such an extent that it plays a role in everything from electoral politics to policies and institutional proceedings. One example that has hurt me is that of Aung San Suu Kyi. I admire her a lot, but her unwillingness to protect the Rohingiya Muslims shows how intolerance has seeped into politics and the level at which it has seeped. It immobilises politicians, she added.

There was large scale impunity among those who commit crimes in the name of religion, and this has to be addressed at the national as well as the international levels, the rights activist said. In 1986, Pakistan got the blasphemy law. So, while we had just two cases of blasphemy before that year, now we have thousands. It shows that one should be careful while bringing religion into legislation, because the law itself can become an instrument of persecution, she added.

Jahangir rued the polarised place that the world has become, where the freedoms of expression, association and assembly have become difficult not only in countries like Pakistan but also mature democracies such as India and the United States.

Religious intolerance was usurping digital space, Jahangir alleged, adding that the potential for liberal politics in the social media was not being exploited.

Stressing on the need to build public opinion that refuses to tolerate intolerance, she said: Unless we challenge the undermining of democratic values and the leadership that the new or old democratic system is producing, we will end up living in a world that becomes increasingly oppressive with each passing day.

Sen, who was also present at the packed event, paid tributes to Jahangirs works. The Nobel laureate said a big lesson he learnt from his friendship with Jahangir was not to consider any situation  not even the dire one under the Taliban  as hopeless, but to do something about it.

Read| PM Modi slams Pakistan over terrorism, but reaches out to China

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Former US President George HW Bush has been hospitalised in Houston, CBS Houston affiliate KHOU television reported on Wednesday, citing his office chief of staff.

Bush, 92, was in stable condition and doing fine, Jean Becker told the television station. Bush is expected to go home in a couple of days, Becker told KHOU.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach the family spokesman Jim McGrath or the hospital where Bush was taken.

Bush is the father of former President George W Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who sought the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

The elder Bush, a Republican like his sons, served as vice president during Ronald Reagans two White House terms before being elected president in 1988. He served four years in the White House.

Bush has used a wheelchair in his later years and was hospitalised twice in 2014 - once for seven weeks with pneumonia and again for breathing difficulties. In July 2015 he broke a bone in his neck in a fall at the family home in Maine.

Bushs public appearances have been rare since he entered his 90s. In October 2015, Bush, sitting his wheelchair, wearing a brace on his neck and clad in a Houston Astros jersey, tossed out the first pitch at the teams playoff game against the Kansas City Royals.

He marked the 75th anniversary of Japans attack on Pearl Harbour in 2016 by attending a ceremony at his library at Texas A&M University where Bob Dole, the former Republican Senator from Kansas, was presented an award for public service.
In the latest revelations to emerge in the so-called Nadia case, involving the Spanish parents of an ill child accused of charity fraud, the couple are now being formally investigated for exhibitionism and sexual provocation after having sex while their daughter lay awake next to them in bed.

Nadia's mother (right) making a statement on December 10. ALBERT GARCIA

The judge overseeing the fraud investigation has decided to expand the charges after studying images of a sexual nature found by police on a pen drive at the home of Fernando Blanco and his wife Marga Garau. Some photographs show the couple having sex while their daughter is lying next to them, whereas others show the naked child in various positions.

In a case that has received wide media attention in Spain, Blanco and Garau were arrested in December on suspicion of fraudulently raising money through media campaigns to pay for what they said were cutting-edge treatments for their 11-year-old daughter Nadia Nerea, who suffers from trichothiodystrophy (TTD), a rare disease that can delay development and lead to significant intellectual disability and recurring infections.

Nadias father has been in custody since December, while he is investigated for fraud

The possibility that the campaigns were a scam was uncovered by EL PAIS and a number of other media outlets, which revealed inconsistencies in Blancos story. Original reports put the sum of money obtained by Blanco and his wife for their daughters treatments at around 300,000  including 153,000 in just four days during a recent publicity campaign  but police in Spains Catalonia region later said the figure was closer to 918,000.

Last week, police found a pen drive with the photographs of Blanco and Garau having sex in the same bed as their daughter. The Catalan regional police advised the judge that the photos could be evidence of possession of child pornography, as well as several other offenses.

The parents were questioned by the judge and reportedly told him that their daughter was asleep and unaware of what was going on.

The judge has questioned this explanation, pointing out that in the photographs, Nadia is a few centimeters from the parents and on the same mattress. The television is also on. In the photographs it can be seen that the childs feet appear in different positions.

Either she was awake, says the judge in his writ, or she woke up while the parents were having intimate relations. The sexual relations are so explicit, including images of different postures, rapid movement, close-ups of genitals, felatio and the use of flash, that the child, despite her medical condition, must have known what was happening.

In a second group of nine photographs, Nadia appears naked in different positions

In a second group of nine photographs, Nadia appears naked in different positions. Blanco and Garau told the judge that these images had two purposes: to monitor the impact of her illness on her skin, as well as to portray her funny gestures.

The judge responded by saying that if the parents wanted to monitor the impact of the disease on Nadias skin they should have taken detailed photographs, and not images of her naked body in which it is impossible to identify ailments.

The writ points out that Nadia is naked in all the images, and on occasion lying on the sofa with a hand over her genitals, and in another, with her legs open showing her genitals.

The judge added that the location of the photographs, their context and the lack of any other reasonable explanation leads him to think there are serious suspicions that Blanco and Garau committed exhibitionism and sexual provocation.

Nadias father has been in custody since December while he is investigated for fraud. The judge has set a civil bond for his release of 1.2 million. Her mother, meanwhile, has had her custody of the child suspended.

Wiretaps of conversations between the couple show Blanco was considering escape just hours before the Catalan regional police located and arrested him on December 7 in La Seu dUrgell.

English version by Nick Lyne.
An Uzbek gunman who killed 39 people in an Istanbul nightclub on New Years Day told police he had to change target at the last minute to avoid heavy security and acted with direct orders from Islamic State in Syria, a newspaper said on Wednesday.

The gunman, named by the authorities on Tuesday as Abdulgadir Masharipov, had initially been told to attack the area around the central Taksim square and said his instructions came from Raqqa, a Syrian stronghold of Islamic State, the Hurriyet newspaper cited him as saying in police testimony.

I came to Taksim on New Years Eve but the security measures were intense. It was not possible to carry out the attack, he was quoted as saying.

I was given instructions to search for a new target in the area. I toured the coast at around 10 p.m. with a cab, he said, referring to Istanbuls Bosphorus shore where the Reina nightclub is located.

Reina looked suitable for the attack. There didnt seem to be many security measures.

Hurriyet did not say how it obtained the testimony and Reuters was not immediately able to verify the report.

Masharipov was caught in a police raid late on Monday in Esenyurt, a suburb on Istanbuls western outskirts, following a two-week manhunt. He was captured with an Iraqi man and three women from Africa, one of them from Egypt.

On January 1, he shot his way into the exclusive nightclub and opened fire on New Years revellers with an automatic rifle, throwing stun grenades to allow himself to reload and shooting the wounded on the ground.

Islamic State claimed responsibility the next day, saying the attack was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria. Turkish troops entered Syria last August to push Islamic State away from the border and halt Kurdish militia advances.

Like many cities around the world on New Years Eve, Istanbul had taken additional security measures, deploying 25,000 police officers to try to thwart attacks after a year of bombings by Islamic State and Kurdish militants.

Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said on Tuesday that Masharipov had admitted his guilt and that his fingerprints matched those at the scene.

Sahin described him as well-educated, able to speak four languages, and said he had received training in Afghanistan.
A Nigerian air force fighter jet on a mission against Boko Haram extremists mistakenly bombed a refugee camp on Tuesday, killing more than 100 refugees and aid workers and wounding 200, a government official and doctors said.

Military commander Maj Gen Lucky Irabor confirmed an accidental bombardment in the northeastern town of Rann, near the border with Cameroon, saying some civilians were killed.

People walk at the site after a bombing attack of an internally displaced persons camp in Rann, Nigeria. Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari expressed deep sadness and regret at this regrettable operational mistake. (MSF/Handout via Reuters)

Covered bodies seen at the site after the bombing attack. A Borno state government official, who was helping to coordinate the evacuation of wounded from the remote area by helicopters, said more than 100 refugees and aid workers were among the dead. (MSF/Handout via Reuters )

Injured people are comforted at the site. Boko Harams 7-year-old Islamic uprising has killed more than 20,000 people and forced 2.6 million from their homes, creating the continents worst humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning some 5.1 million people face starvation. (MSF/Handout via Reuters )

Doctors Without Borders said its team based in Rann counted at least 52 bodies and was treating 200 wounded, many in critical condition, and the death toll was expected to rise. (AFP PHOTO / Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) / Handout )

This file photo, taken on December 8, 2016, shows an aerial view of the Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Bama, northern Nigeria. The incident happened at about 9:00 am (0800 GMT) in Rann, in the far north of Borno state, the epicentre of the jihadists' insurgency, while food was being distributed to displaced people. (Stefan Heunis/AFP)

This shows Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) mostly women and children standing, waiting for food at Dikwa Camp, in Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. It was believed to be the first time Nigerias military has acknowledged making such a mistake in a region where villagers have in the past reported civilian casualties in the near-daily bombings targeting the Islamic militants. (File photo/ AFP Photo)
A pupil killed at least three people and injured five when he opened fire on his classmates at a high school in northern Mexico on Wednesday, officials said.

The boy opened fire at Northeastern College in the city of Monterrey before trying unsuccessfully to kill himself, civil protection official Oscar Aboytes told AFP.

A minor entered and fired at several of his companions, Aboytes said. There are three dead and five injured.

Mexico suffers regular gang violence but so far nothing appeared to indicate that the school shooting was gang-related.

It is an unprecedented situation. Nothing like this has happened before in schools in the surrounding state of Nuevo Leon, state security secretary Aldo Fasci told reporters.

The deadly rampage came as the northeastern state of Quintana Roo, hundreds of miles from Monterrey, reeled from two shootings, thought to be linked to gangs or drug dealers, that left nine people dead.

In 2014, 43 students from a teacher training college in southern Mexico went missing and are believed dead.
The family members of a group of Chinese passengers who presumably died aboard the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have lashed out against the decision to indefinitely suspend the search for the aircraft, calling it a wrong, sloppy and unilateral choice made by the authorities.

The Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 went missing while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Of the 239 people on board, 153 passengers were from China.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, members of at least three such families in Beijing termed the decision as insensitive and completely wrong. At least one of them said even the Chinese working group for affected families had stopped communicating.

A statement released on Tuesday by Malaysian minister of transport Sri Liow Tiong Lai, Australian minister for transport Darren Chester and Chinese minister of transport Li Xiaopeng said the underwater search would be suspended indefinitely in light of no new evidence of the airplanes whereabouts.

Read: Aus defends end of MH370 hunt; study to continue, search could resume in future

Today, the last search vessel has left the underwater search area. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has not been located in the 120,000-square kilometre underwater search area in southern Indian Ocean, Chinas official news agency Xinhua quoted from the statement.

Three years ago, angry Chinese families had marched through the streets of Beijing, entered into scuffles with airlines members, and raised slogans against alleged lack of transparency in sharing information on the sequence of events.

Today, Jiang Hui  whose mother was on the ill-fated flight  feels disappointed, helpless and angry. Besides the wrong decision to call off the search, he expressed frustration over the callousness with which the authorities made announcements related to the operation over the years.

Read: Malaysia Airlines MH370 mystery: What happened to flight, where did it go down?

Take, for instance, the time they announced in 2015 that the plane had crashed. An elderly family member became too emotional after reading the news, and died. It was irresponsible and improper, Jiang said.

Xu, whose 67-year-old mother was on the flight, termed the suspension as unreasonable.

It is definitely wrong. Once, the Australian PM said the location of the crash was here. But when nothing was found, they just planned to end up with nothing definite, she told HT.

Xu said a Malaysian Airlines official informed her about the suspension of the search on Tuesday afternoon. But when I asked him about their plans for the future, he said he didnt know. He said he will have to find out.

Wen didnt want to talk about her husband, who was on the flight, but she reacted to the suspension with anger. It was wrong from the beginning  it (the crash) did not occur in the South Indian Ocean. They can suspend the search, but they should start anew. It is very irresponsible to have no plan, she said.

Wen said contact with Chinese officials following up on the search was also broken over the months. There used to be a working group responsible for family chores before. But now it seems they no longer have any staffers, she said.

Malay Mukherjee, whose son Muktesh Mukherjee and daughter-in-law Xiaomo Bai were on the flight, reacted similarly over email. Very disappointed and pained to know that the search for the MH370 has been suspended indefinitely. Now we will never have closure, and our orphaned grandsons will never know what happened to their parents, said Mukherjee, a well-known face in the steel industry.

He accused Malaysian Airlines of always being uncaring and unsympathetic to relatives of the missing passengers. This is just another chapter in their callous approach to the tragedy, Mukherjee said.
Embracing his clemency powers like never before, President Barack Obama is planning more commutations in his final days in office after a dramatic move to cut short convicted leaker Chelsea Mannings sentence.

Obama became the president to have granted more commutations than any other when he announced Tuesday that Manning will be freed in May, almost 30 years ahead of schedule. Manning, the transgender Army intelligence officer who leaked more than 700,000 U.S. documents, was one of 273 people receiving clemency on a single day.

Receiving pardons from the president were retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during another leak probe, and San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, sentenced in 1996 on tax evasion charges. Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Riveras 55-year sentence was commuted.

Read: WikiLeaks hails Manning clemency, avoids mention of Assanges extradition pledge

But Obama is not finished. The White House said Obama would grant more commutations Thursday  the day before his presidency ends  though officials said those would focus on drug offenders and would not likely include any other famous names.

Neil Eggleston, Obamas White House counsel, said the individuals were learning that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward.

The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama last November to commute her sentence to time served.

Read: More war than peace: Nobel peace winner Obamas legacy

Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a mens prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests. The former cheered Obamas move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.

Obama did not grant a pardon to another prominent leaker, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, whom the U.S. has been unable to extradite from Russia. Snowden hasnt formally applied for clemency, though his supporters have called for it. Yet the White House drew a distinction between the unapologetic Snowden and Manning, whom officials noted has expressed remorse and served several years already for her crime.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced. She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obamas action could quite literally save Chelseas life.

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move just outrageous, and added, Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets.

Obamas press secretary, Josh Earnest, told CNNs New Day on Wednesday that Obama believes Manning received an appropriate punishment. Earnest said the time Manning had served was consistent with the sentence imposed on others who committed similar crimes but got less attention for committing them.

Manning, Lopez and many of the others will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry. Obama also pardoned hotelier Ian Schrager, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion.

Commutations reduce sentences being served, but dont erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Irans nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the U.S. government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

The White House noted that absent a commutation, the 74-year-old Lopez likely would have died in prison.

Obamas commutation for Manning also raised fresh questions about the future of another figure involved in the Army leakers case: Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks had earlier pledged, via tweet, that its founder would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning. Holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where hes wanted on a rape allegation, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

But the Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange. WikiLeaks lawyer Melinda Taylor said U.S. and British authorities refuse to say whether the U.S. has requested extradition. Though she praised the commutation for Manning, Taylor made no mention of Assanges earlier promise to agree to extradition.

White House officials said neither Assanges fate nor separate concerns about WikiLeaks role in Russian hacking of the election factored into the decision to commute Mannings sentence. The officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

Any action that Justice Department officials may take regarding Assange is something that they would do independent of the White House, Earnest told CNN.
Ahead of his swearing-in as the 45th President of US, a new endangered species of moth has been named in honour of Donald Trump by scientists because the insect shares his hairstyle.

The new moth, officially described as Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, stands out with yellowish-white scales present on the head in adults.

It was in these scales that evolutionary biologist Vazrick Nazari from Ottawa, Canada found an amusing reference to Trumps hairstyle and turned it into an additional justification for its name.

The fame around the new moth will successfully point to the critical need for further conservation efforts for fragile areas such as the habitat of the new species, said Nazari.

While going through material borrowed from the Bohart Museum of Entomology at University of California, Davis in the US, Nazari stumbled across a few specimens that did not match any previously known species.

Following thorough analysis of these moths, as well as material from other institutions, the scientist confirmed he had discovered the second species of a genus of twirler moths.

While both species in the genus share a habitat, stretching across the states of California in US, and Baja California in Mexico, one can easily tell them apart.

Trump, 70, will be sworn-in as the 45th US President on January 20.

Trumps flying namesake has been announced only a month following the recently described species of basslet named after Barack Obama.

The fish is only known from coral reefs in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Northwestern Hawaii, a nature reserve which the 44th President of the US expanded to become the largest protected marine area in the world.

Being a substantially urbanised and populated area, the habitat of N donaldtrumpi is also under serious threat.

The discovery of this distinct micro-moth in the densely populated and otherwise zoologically well-studied southern California underscores the importance of conservation of the fragile habitats that still contain undescribed and threatened species, and highlights the paucity of interest in species-level taxonomy of smaller faunal elements in North America, said Nazari.

By naming this species after the 45th President of the US, I hope to bring some public attention to, and interest in, the importance of alpha-taxonomy in better understanding the neglected micro-fauna component of the North American biodiversity, Nazari added.

The research was published in the journal ZooKeys. PTI SAR AKJ SAR
Nikki Haley, the nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations, has said there is no need for a registry for Muslims as has been proposed by some on the right and not ruled out entirely by president-elect Donald Trump.

The South Carolina governor, who will make history as the first Indian American to hold a cabinet-rank position if she is confirmed, said during her confirmation hearing at the US Senate in very clear terms that there was no need for a registry.

This administration and I dont think there should be any registry on religion, she said. She did however echo Trump on vetting people coming into the US from areas impacted by terrorism.

The registry, which was suggested by some supporters of Trump, was never really ruled out completely by him. He has since doubled down on his call for extreme vetting of people coming from certain areas of the world.

Haley seemed to differ from Trump on other critical issues as well, including the lifting of sanctions in place against Russia.

Haleys parents Ajit Singh Randhawa and Raj Kaur Randhawa, who immigrated from Punjab, India, sat behind her at the hearing, as did her brothers and her husband Michael Haley and their son Nalin Haley.

Haley is the second Indian American appointed by Trump to his team at a senior level  the second is Seema Verma, who was named head of medicaid and medicare services in the department of health and human services.

My story is an American story, Haley said, opening her testimony at the hearing. I was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, the daughter of immigrants from Punjab, India. My parents had comfortable lives in India, but they chose to give up those comforts and move to America with just eight dollars because of the freedoms and opportunities this country offers.

Our familys experience is unique, but it is also familiar, because it is one that has been repeated many times, by many people, in American history.
Chelsea Manning will walk free this May, four years after the transgender army intelligence officer was convicted of leaking a massive amount of confidential US military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks that put them out in public domain becoming a global force of sorts itself.

Mannings 35-year jail sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama along with hundreds of others as has come to be expected from outgoing presidents last days in office. Obama hands over charge to Donald Trump on Friday noon.

The other famous US leaker Edward Snowden, who had appealed for presidential pardon from self-exile in Russia arguing he had performed a public service, was not, however, on the list. But he welcomed Mannings commutation.

Manning was arrested in 2010 for stealing 700,000 documents while posted as an army intelligence analyst in Iraq. She had handed over these documents to WikiLeaks, which released them in a steady trickle that has come to be identified with the secret-leaking website.

The documents contained military records, including videos of civilians killed in US military raids in Iraq and Afghanistan, and diplomatic cables containing unguarded thoughts, observations and analysis from US diplomats.

Over 3,500 of those state department cables were about India, originating either from the three US missions in New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai or the state department. They were embarrassing but did little or no damage to relations.

The US never confirmed the veracity of these documents but had at the time argued they had caused irreparable damage, which in hindsight, it is widely held, was a gross exaggeration, that led to no loss of life as feared initially.

A military court acquitted Manning of the more serious charge of aiding the enemy, which could have got her the death punishment, but held her guilty of theft and violating the Espionage Act, which together could add up to 100 years.

But prosecutors sought 80 years, and the court granted 35, which was also the longest prison term given for this crime.

And now just a few months more, and she will be free, to the relief of those who have argued her punishment was much in excess of her crime.

But not for Republicans. Senator John McCain said the commutation of her sentence is a grave mistake that will encourage further acts of espionage.

House of Representatives speaker Paul Ryan called it outrageous. Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets.

President-elect Donald Trump, who has tended to side with WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange-- who are where they are in no small measure due to Manning--had not said or tweeted a word about it, in support or in opposition.

Bradley Manning began to publicly identify herself as woman shortly after being convicted and changed her name to Chelsea Manning, and underwent gender transition surgery while in custody in 2016.

Held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, she tried to kill herself twice, and her plight has begun to attract attention outside. Supporters started a #HugsForChelsea campaign on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and urged Obama to commute her sentence.

Her supporters succeeded, but not Snowdens. The two cases may seem similar, but are also significantly different: Manning has expressed remorse for her actions, and Snowden hasnt, and continues to claim he performed a public service.

A forgiving nation

Obamas White House counsel Neil Eggleston said the individuals would learn that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward.

Prominent names in Obamas commutation list include Puerto Rican nationalist activist Oscar Lopez Rivera and the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff retired Gen James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during another leak probe.

Others are mainly non-violent drug offenders.

The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Mannings commutation was cheered by LGBT rights activists who had warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a mens prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to US interests.

We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many, said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obamas action could quite literally save Chelseas life.

Manning and many of the others receiving commutations will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry.

With just days left as president, Obama also pardoned hotelier Ian Schrager, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion. The White House said Obama would announce more clemency actions on Thursday  his last full day in office.

Commutations reduce sentences being served, but dont erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who received a pardon, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Irans nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the US government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the US island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

The 74-year-olds term will expire in May. The White House noted that absent a commutation, Lopez likely would have died in prison.

What about Assange?

Obamas commutation for Manning also raised fresh questions about the future of another figure involved in the Army leakers case: Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks had earlier pledged, via a tweet, that its founder would agree to US extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning.

Holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where hes wanted on a rape allegation, fearing he would be extradited to the US to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

Assange: "Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible."  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 17, 2017

But the Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange.

WikiLeaks lawyer Melinda Taylor said US and British authorities refuse to say whether the US has requested extradition.

Though she praised the commutation for Manning, Taylor made no mention of Assanges earlier promise to agree to extradition.

White House officials said neither Assanges fate nor separate concerns about WikiLeaks role in Russian hacking of the election factored into the decision to commute Mannings sentence.

The officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. (with inputs from agencies)
The outgoing Barack Obama administration announced Tuesday a contribution of half a billion dollars to the UN Green Climate Fund, just three days before Donald Trump takes over the White House.

The $500 million payment, announced by State Department spokesperson John Kirby in a statement, is the second from the United States to support the United Nations Green Climate Fund, which aims to mitigate the effects of climate change in the worlds poorest countries.

The Paris accord reached in late 2015 has been dubbed one of Obamas successes -- whereas the Republican president-elect has called climate change a hoax.

The Obama administration had announced in 2014 -- a year before the COP 21 agreement was adopted -- a $3-billion pledge for the fund.

Trump said during his campaign that global warming was a hoax invented by the Chinese, and vowed to ditch US commitments to cut down greenhouse gas emissions.

Rex Tillerson, former ExxonMobil chief and the president-elects nominee for secretary of state, said last week that he wants the US to keep a seat at the table regarding global warming.

No one country is going to solve this alone, he said at his Senate confirmation hearing.

The risk of climate change does exist, and the consequences could be serious enough the action should be taken.

Trump had threatened to cancel the Paris Agreement -- a global accord on curbing greenhouse gas emissions -- but after being elected he dialed back that promise, saying he had an open mind about it.
Describing the US ties with Pakistan as extraordinarily complicated, the Obama administration said on Wednesday it hoped that the incoming Donald Trump administration would deepen its security and counter-terrorism cooperation with Islamabad to make America a safer place.

Obviously, the US has an extraordinarily complicated relationship, particularly when it comes to national security with Pakistan, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

There are some areas where the United States and Pakistan have been able to effectively cooperate to counter terrorism and to fight extremism, and thats served the interest of both countries, and obviously, tragically, Pakistan is a country where many victims of terrorism have been claimed, he said.

Read: Left unsaid at Raisina Dialogue: Little chance of improvement in India-Pak ties

He said that President Barack Obama is certainly interested and hopeful that the next administration will be able to deepen that cooperation with Pakistan as it would enhance security in Pakistan and make America safer too.

Responding to a question on Afghanistan, Earnest said it will be the kind of issue that historians spend a lot of time looking at when evaluating President Obamas presidency.

What President Obama promised to do when taking office was to refocus our attention on the threat from Al-Qaeda that emanates in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, and President Obama put in place a strategy, working closely with his national security team at the state department and the intelligence community, and of course the Department of Defense, he said.

Read: Pakistan needs to walk path of peace: PM Modis Raisina Dialogue top ten quotes

Over the course of several years, in part relying on some new capabilities, succeeded in decimating core Al-Qaeda that previously menaced the United States from hideouts in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, he added.

But the threat in that region of the world has not been eliminated and there continues to be a smaller number of US service members keeping us safe, engaging in counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, Earnest said.

Theyre also working closely with thousands of troops from our NATO partners who are also there doing the same thing, he said.

Read: PM Modi slams Pakistan over terrorism, but reaches out to China

And I know there has been a question raised about how important a role NATO has played when it comes to counter-terrorism. You have to look no further than Afghanistan to assess just how valuable a contribution that they have made to that effort, he added.

Asserting that the situation in Afghanistan continues to be a concern, Earnest said the President would acknowledge that it is an area where the US has made important progress that has made the American people safer.

...but theres still important work to be done in this region of the world and this is a responsibility that the incoming President will assume, he said.
Every region in Spain, save for the Canary Islands, was on a weather alert on Wednesday due to a cold spell , the effects of which are expected to last until Saturday. The cold snap has already given rise to unusual images across the peninsula, including wintry landscapes on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca.

Kids playing with snow in Bunyola, on the island of Mallorca. J. GRAPPELLI (EFE)

Other unlikely places such as eastern Andalusia, Valencia and the Spanish city of Ceuta, located on the northern coast of Africa, are expecting to see snow sometime on Wednesday or Thursday. Ceuta has not seen snow since 1993.

Temperatures have dropped between 8C and 10C on average across the country, with parts of Aragon and Catalonia expecting to see -12C today. The wind-chill factor will make it seem much colder, however.

In Madrid, street thermometers were showing -8C at 7am.

Alejandro Roa, a spokesman for the Spanish national weather service Aemet, said that whats most interesting about this cold snap is not the cold temperature in itself, since no records are going to be shattered. Instead, it is its sheer scope, considering that only the Canary Islands, located west of Morocco, are out of its reach.

The Aemet said there are 43 provinces on either orange or yellow alert (with red representing the highest risk).

Snow on the island of Mallorca has forced authorities to cut off traffic on the road between Fornalutx and Pollenca. J. GRAPPELLI (EFE)

Almeria, one of Spains driest regions and a popular filming location for Westerns because of its arid landscape, is expecting 10 centimeters of snowfall in the Valley of Almanzora and Los Velez. In Campo de Tabernas, whose famous desert served as the backdrop for Sergio Leone films, the Aemet is forecasting four centimeters of snow. At 5am on Wednesday, a weather station atop the Sierra de los Filabres mountain range recorded -15C, La Voz de Almeria reports.

English version by Susana Urra.
Russian authorities have extended a residence permit for US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked thousands of secret documents from the National Security Agency.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a post on Facebook late Tuesday that Snowdens residence permit has been extended for a couple of years.

Snowden has been living in Russia since 2013 when he got stuck in the transit area at a Moscow airport after the United States cancelled his passport.

The announcement comes as US President Barack Obama has commuted the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, who was convicted for leaking more than 700,000 US documents.

Reporters asked presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday whether Snowden was planning to return to the United States in reaction to the Manning pardon. Peskov said the Kremlin is not aware what Snowdens plans are.
Sri Lankas cabinet has rejected a proposal to end discrimination based on sexual orientation because it could legitimise homosexuality, which is illegal on the island, a government minister said on Wednesday.

Sri Lankas 1883 penal code, a legacy of its British colonial rulers, makes sex between men punishable by 12 years in jail, although the law is rarely enforced.

Health minister Rajitha Senaratne said the cabinet had refused to endorse a provision in a proposed human rights plan that would have undermined the code.

There was a provision referring to the sexual orientation of individuals and we clearly said it was not acceptable, said Senaratne, who is also the government spokesman.

The government is against homosexuality, but we will not prosecute anyone for practising it, the minister said, adding that the islands conservative Buddhist clergy was also opposed to the provision.

He said the proposed National Human Rights Action Plan included a provision to remove discrimination based on sexual orientation.

People could interpret this (rights plan) in their favour, the minister said, adding that the government did not want to create social problems by inviting a challenge to the law.

Following intense campaigning by a gay rights group in 1995, the then government agreed to review the penal code that prohibited sex between men.

But rather than repeal the law, they expanded it to include women.

Rights activists say although there have been no known prosecutions in recent decades, Article 365 of the penal code is discriminatory and stigmatises homosexuality.

They also argue that it has led to the abuse of gay people.
Iraqi forces have fully retaken east Mosul from the Islamic State group, a top commander on Wednesday said, three months after a huge offensive against the jihadist bastion was launched.

Elite forces have in recent days entered the last neighbourhoods on the eastern side of Mosul, on the left bank of the Tigris River that runs through the city.

Speaking at a press conference in Bartalla, a town east of Mosul, Staff General Talib al-Sheghati, who heads the Counter-Terrorism Service, announced the liberation... of the left bank.

Sheghati added however that while the east of the city could be considered under government control, some work remained to be done to flush out the last holdout jihadists.

The important lines and important areas are finished, he said, adding that there is only a bit of the northern (front) remaining.

Read: In parts of Mosul, a semblance of normality despite war

Wednesdays announcement marks the end of a phase in the operation launched on October 17 to retake Mosul, Iraqs second city and the last major urban stronghold IS has in the country.

The offensive, Iraqs largest military operation in years with tens of thousands of fighters involved, began with a focus on sparsely populated areas around Mosul.

CTS entered the city proper in November and encountered tougher than expected resistance from IS, whose fighters launched a huge number of suicide car bombs against advancing Iraqi forces.

The going was tough for weeks but a fresh push coordinated with other federal forces and backed by the US-led coalition was launched in December and yielded quick and decisive gains.

The west bank of Mosul is a bit smaller but is home to the narrow streets of the Old City - impassable to most military vehicles - and to some of the citys traditionally most dyed-in-the-wool jihadist neighbourhoods.

Brigadier General Yahya Rasool also stressed that despite Sheghatis announcement, there would be more fighting in east Mosul in the coming days.

Read: Iraqis who escaped Islamic State grapple with trauma

Sheghati is the head of CTS and he was talking about areas under CTS control. There are some neighbourhoods that are still being liberated and that could take a few days, he told AFP.

All the bridges across the Tigris in Mosul have been either blown up by IS or destroyed by coalition air strikes, which has made it very difficult for Iraqi forces to resupply its fighters in the citys east.
WikiLeaks said President Barack Obama may have saved Chelsea Mannings life by granting clemency to the former Army intelligence analyst Tuesday. But the secret-spilling site said little about founder Julian Assanges promise that he would agree to extradition to the United States if Manning got clemency.

The statement came after Obama announced that Manning would be released May 17, cutting her sentence for leaking classified government and military documents by almost 30 years. She attempted suicide twice last year, her lawyers have said.

Ms. Manning is a hero, whose bravery should be applauded, Assange said in the statement. Journalists, publishers, and their sources serve the public interest and promote democracy by distributing authentic information on key matters such as human rights abuses and illegal acts by government officials. They should not be prosecuted.

Assange went on to demand that the US government should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers, such as WikiLeaks and myself, but he made no mention of a pledge that he made on Twitter five days ago in which he appeared to offer himself up to US authorities in return for Mannings freedom.

The pledge, posted to Twitter on Jan. 12 at 2:40 p.m. EST, said: If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case

Assange lawyer Melinda Taylor suggested that he wouldnt go back on his word. Everything that he has said hes standing by, she said in a brief telephone conversation with The Associated Press.

She added that WikiLeaks has yet to learn from US and British authorities whether the American government has requested Assanges extradition to the United States.

Taylor didnt respond to a later email message asking why Assange made no mention of his pledge in his statement.

Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London more than four years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden, where authorities are investigating his role in a possible sex crime. Assange has refused to travel to Sweden, saying he fears being extradited to the US over his involvement in publishing classified documents.

Assanges US attorney, Barry J Pollack of Miller & Chevalier, said that Assange welcomed Obamas action and that the war on whistleblowers should end now. Pollack said he has asked the US Justice Department to clarify Assanges status.

The Department of Justice should not pursue any charges against Mr. Assange based on his publication of truthful information and should close its criminal investigation of him immediately, Pollack said.
The Russian Civil Wars, 19161926: Ten Years That Shook the World

By Jonathan D. Smele. 464 pages.

Oxford University Press, 2016. $74.

Reviewed by Anthony Paletta

AT FIRST GLANCE, the ironical Russian, the plural Wars, and the decade span in the title might seem like three almost Bolshevik steps into academic punctiliousnessand yet the author soon amply justifies such careful distinctions. There have been other histories of these conflicts, but none have determined so directly to avoid treating them as a simple binary. The Bolsheviks won the most important of these wars, but they didnt win all of them, and they werent even involved in many of the briefer struggles that unfolded along the former empires western periphery.

The conflict was, in Smeles terms, a world war condensed, initially involving U.S., British, French, and Japanese forces from that other World War and subsequently many of their leftover arms. It featured the only instance of German units remaining in combat after the armistice of 1919. (They remained in conflict by Allied instruction but then, going renegade, toppled the nascent Latvian government and attempted to overthrow the Estonian one.) The United States and France sold surplus arms on credit or at a discount to Poland to aid its war with Russia. Enver Pasha, former Ottoman minister of war, died fighting with the Central Asian resistance to the Soviets.

Russias anticommunist Whites had the initial benefit of inheriting most of the officers of the tsarist army and theoretical control of much of Russia, and yet the conflicts outcome pivoted on the tremendous benefits the Bolsheviks derived from their occupation (and increasingly strenuous exploitation) of the Russian heartland. As Smele notes, The Red zone, which covered almost a million square miles and had a population of some 60 million souls (more than any other country in Europe at the time), was far more urban, industrialized, and ethnically homogeneous than the peripheral lands in which its White opponents were based.

White forces, which did enjoy some early successes, were also hobbled by a persistent inability to coordinate their effectively autonomous fronts or to act in any remote concert with the independence movements rising along the empires western border. Fractious mixtures of tsarists, socialists, and ethnic nationalists were given to mutual distrust or even outright internal war. The wars of the title are the unsung conflicts between Poland and Lithuania, Poland and the Ukraine, Whites and Ukrainians, German freikorps and Estonians, and more.

A repeated emphasis in Smeles account is the larger portrait of state formation. Viewed in historical context, the eagerness of Poland, Finland, and the Baltic States to make peace with the Soviets as soon as their borders were secured looks like a dramatic failure of collective action, but their wars were several in which the Soviets did not prevail and which did secure a cordon that stopped the possible fluid expansion of Bolshevism into the war-torn Central Powers. As tragic as the eventual fortune of most of central Europe was in 1945, it could have been far worse in 1920. MHQ

ANTHONY PALETTA writes the Spaces column for the Wall Street Journal and contributes to Metropolis, The Awl, and The Daily Beast.

[hr]

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2016 issue (Vol. 28, No. 4) of MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: Reviews: Unsung Conflicts.

Want to have the exquisitely illustrated, premium-quality print edition of MHQ delivered directly to you four times a year? Subscribe now at special savings!
The Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday that reports of U.S President-elect Donald Trump have been compromised. He further said that the allegations were untrue to undermine the legitimacy of Trump's Presidency.

This has been Putin's first direct denial of the uncertain dossier that was written by a former British Intelligence agent. It is believed that the agent was hired to compile opposition research as per Yahoo.

The uncertain record stated that Trump was compromised by Russian intelligence agents, during his visit to Moscow to hold the Miss Universe pageant in 2013. Putin further elaborated on some of the more sensational rumors in the dossier. He said that it was tough for him to imagine that Trump ran to the hotel to meet with the women of lower social responsibility reported The Washington Post.

Putin said that Russian prostitutes are best in the world but he certainly doubted that Trump went after them. He said it was "total nonsense" and the people behind this are trying to fabricate it and turn it into a political fight. He said that they were worse than prostitutes and has no ethical boundaries.

It is clear that Russia has nothing to do with the issue after the president rejected the dossier saying it was false. As they bid farewell to Obama's administration in a few days they await the new U.S administration and hope that they will have greater influence in international affairs.

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the U.S spy agencies; the document about the president-elect was published by Buzz Feed. At the press conference when Putin addressed the gathering he said they had no idea that Trump had political ambitions when he was in Moscow in 2013. He made it clearer when he expressed that the Russian intelligence agencies have better jobs to do than chasing after every American billionaire.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Argentinean public prosecutor appointed to establish whether Alberto Nisman, the special prosecutor who accused former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of covering up the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires, was murdered or committed suicide in January 2015 has highlighted major failings in the original investigation.

Alberto Nisman, the former prosecutor overseeing the AMIA investigation. Reuters

More information Nisman, el gran misterio argentino se complica dos anos despues

Eduardo Taiano, who is running the investigation into Nismans death, has admitted that not even the time of his demise has been established.

We are not sure of the time. Everything is unprecedented in this case, the investigation was carried out very badly. And I believe that was deliberate, which is why I reported prosecutor Fein [who first oversaw the case] and former security secretary Berni [one of the first to arrive at Nismans house on the night of January 18, 2015]. I hope that some of the evidence is of use, Taiano has told EL PAIS.

Video footage of police officers contaminating evidence has been shown on Argentinean television

Since Taiano and federal judge Julian Ercolini took over, the line of inquiry points toward Nisman having been murdered. Until now, the authorities in Argentina have worked on the hypothesis that he committed suicide because there was no evidence that anybody else was in Nismans apartment prior to him being found dead with a bullet in his head on January 18, 2015.

At the end of December 2016, a federal judge ordered the reopening of Nismans investigation. He had accused Fernandez de Kirchner, who was president between 2007 and 2015, of setting up a sophisticated criminal plan to protect the identity of the Iranians he believed were responsible for the car-bombing of the Israeli-Argentina Mutual Association (AMIA) on July 19, 1994 which left 85 people dead and more than 300 injured.

Nineteen years later, in 2013, the government of Fernandez de Kirchner signed a deal with Iran allowing five Iranian officials and ex-officials indicted in the AMIA case to give evidence in their own country rather than in an Argentinean court. Nisman alleged that the deal was signed in return for trade agreements and Buenos Aires withdrawing its Interpol arrest warrant.

On January 14, 2015 Nisman accused Fernandez de Kirchner, along with her foreign minister, Hector Timmerman, as well as two senior officials, of conspiring to cover up Irans involvement.

Four days later, the day before he was due to present his findings to the Argentinean Congress, Nisman was found dead in his bath. His case against Fernandez de Kirchner was subsequently shelved for lack of evidence and the circumstances of his death have never been explained.

The case has recently been decontaminated and the judge replaced, says Patricia Bullrich, a former opposition deputy and current health minister in the government of President Mauricio Macri, and one of the last people to speak to Nisman.

Bullrich says a number of telephone conversations that she and others made to Nisman were erased from his phone. The objective was to cover up everything, because Nisman wanted to show the carnal relations between Kirchnerism and Iran. They wanted to get him out of the way, says Bullrich, who has few doubts that Nisman did not commit suicide.

Everything is unprecedented in this case, the investigation was carried out badly Eduardo Taiano, newly appointed prosecutor

Calls disappeared and Nismans computer was searched. Its clear that his death is related to the investigation he was carrying out, says Taiano, who still hasnt officially said the prosecutor was murdered.

Video footage of police officers walking around the crime scene and contaminating evidence, including cleaning a pistol with toilet paper, has been shown on Argentinean television.

There were 60 people in that apartment. It made no sense. The place should have been sealed off. It was tremendously negligent. Everything was done badly and now I have to work with that. The image of Argentinean justice in this case is dreadful, we are trying to fix it, says Taiano, who has asked a new group of experts for a conclusive report to find out if Nisman was murdered or committed suicide. But the investigation will take time: there are some 56,000 phone calls that need to be analyzed. Meanwhile, the conspiracy theories mount.

It has also emerged that Taiano has received death threats since taking over the case, and his son now has a bodyguard. He believes the secret services are responsible. The threats started when it was revealed that I was cross-referencing the telephone calls. In Argentina everything is relative, especially if the intelligence services are involved, he says with irony.

English version by Nick Lyne.
The Hope College Concert Series will feature Hiss Golden Messenger with special guest Phil Cook on Friday, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland.

Originating from Durham, North Carolina, Hiss Golden Messenger is an American folk music band led by M.C. Taylor. After releasing material on his own label, Taylor signed with Merge Records in 2014. He released his newest album, Heart Like a Levee, and began his Heart Like a Levee World Tour in 2016.

Taylor says of his music, I have dedicated every day to song. I have been traveling all my life. And I understand that I am so lucky, and I am thankful. Money is easy enough to find if you want it bad enough; but art, true deep art full of grace that shakes and terrifies the soul, is an elusive spirit.

Hope College Concert Series (HCCS) hosts concerts that aim to inspire the West Michigan and Hope College communities in areas of diversity, originality and openness. By bringing successful musical talents to campus and promoting discussion about their artistic process and the issues addressed by their music, HCCS works to strengthen the communitys artistic voice and creative fellowship.

Tickets for the concert are $15 for the general public, $10 for members of the colleges faculty and staff, $5 for Hope students, and are available at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at (616) 395-7890. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets.

The Knickerbocker Theatre is located at 86 E. Eighth St. between College and Columbia avenues.
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Ever since he fled Mexico three months ago, Javier Duarte, the former governor of Veracruz, has been accused of many types of crimes: money laundering, embezzlement, buying homes using public funds... But he had never been accused of killing children. Not until Monday, that is.

Wanted posters for ex-Veracruz governor Javier Duarte. REUTERS

More information El Gobierno de Javier Duarte en Veracruz compro pruebas falsas de sida para la poblacion

The new governor of the eastern Mexican state, Miguel Angel Yunes, is using the terms brutal sin and attack against childrens lives to describe a corrupt public health system that allegedly used fake medication to treat kids with cancer and knowingly bought counterfeit HIV tests.

We have the results of a lab test showing that a medication that was being administered to children in chemotherapy [at public hospitals] was not in fact a drug at all, but distilled water, said Yunes at a press conference.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg in a tale of statewide medical negligence and corruption, he added.

The states public health system is now in bankruptcy, and doctors are having trouble getting their paychecks

There are other, much more serious cases such as the purchase of thousands of fake HIV tests, said Antonio Nemi, who was health secretary under Duarte between March 2013 and October 2014, in a conversation with EL PAIS.

Between 50,000 and 70,000 were bought. They all gave out negative test results; they were detected in time and never reached the population, but eight million pesos (345,335) were spent in the knowledge that they were fake.

Nemi is laying the blame on Ricardo Sandoval, a former administrator at the health department whom he fired as soon as he himself became secretary in March 2013.

Javier Duarte knew about this. I filed more than 400 criminal and administrative complaints, and I personally walked into his office and told him about it countless times, he says. Duarte always encouraged me to act and to report any irregularities I saw.

But a year and a half later, in October 2014, Nemi was sacked and Sandoval was given his old job back, where he was once again in charge of making expensive purchases on behalf of the Veracruz health services.

I went public with this information again and again. Why do you think I got fired? asks Nemi.

The states public health system is now in bankruptcy, and doctors and other health professionals are having trouble getting their paychecks. The federal government has had to step in with a bailout, and a government audit shows that nearly 2.5 billion has been siphoned off from public hospitals and medical centers.

A 2015 shot of Javier Duarte (l) greeting Zacatecas governor Miguel Alonso Reyes, who is now being investigated for embezzlement. Cuartoscuro

Yet the corruption goes back much further than Duartes era, to the 2004-2010 period when the state was being run by Fidel Herrera, who is now the Mexican consul in Barcelona.

Following the revelations about the distilled water used to treat young cancer patients, on Tuesday it emerged that the Veracruz Comptrollers Office has known since 2011 that a consignment of counterfeit drugs purchased in 2010 under Herrera was, in fact, fake medication after Roche, the pharmaceutical giant, provided confirmation of the fact.

The fake drugs, which had no active ingredient, were sent to the Xalapa Cancer State Center, which treats mostly children and teens. When it emerged that they had been sold by a contractor named Especialidades Medicas del Sureste, the company lost its public award in May 2011, under Duarte. But no charges were pressed against its officials, who had ties to the federal deputy Jorge Carvallo Delfin, a former aide of Duartes.

English version by Susana Urra.
Midge Ure makes a welcome return to Ireland for a Nationwide Tour playing 40 years of material from Ultravox, Visage, Rich Kids and solo hits.

Shape shifting his way through the UK music scene for 35+ years, from prototype boy band with Slik, through electronic pioneer with Visage, rock guitarist with Thin Lizzy, chart topper with Ultravox and his solo career, Midge Ure needs little introduction.

Perhaps his most historically memorably moment came on November 25 1984 when Midge and 36 other artists became the collective Band Aid and gathered at SARM Studios in west London to produce 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'

Bob Geldof said that without Ure's initial enthusiasm for the idea, not to mention his rapidly penned sketch for the single, neither Band Aid nor Live Aid could have happened. Midge is still to this day a Band Aid Trustee.

See the full tour dates for the tour here:

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Feb 22 - Belfast Waterfront Studio

Feb 23 - Cork Opera House

Feb 24 - Galway Town Hall Theatre

Feb 25 - Dun Laoghaire Pavilion Theatre

Feb 26 - The Helix, Dublin.

Tickets are on sale now.
The Leeds-based band will release their fourth album this March.

The Haze, which was recorded and produced by Ross Orton in Sheffield, is set to arrive on March 17 and follow up 2014's Blood.

In a statement of Facebook, the band said:

"Ladies & gentlemen, boys & girls. Our fourth album is upon us and after spending most of 2016 working on it, we are immensely proud to announce our brand new record The Haze. Recorded and produced by the very talented Ross Orton in Sheffield, weve never been this excited about releasing a new record and we have poured every ounce of energy, soul and creativity into it."

Listen to the new track from Pulled Apart By Horses here:

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Here's the full tracklist for the album:

1. The Haze

2. The Big What If

3. Hotel Motivation

4. Prince Of Meats

5. Neighbourhood Witch

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Exxon Mobil Corp. has joined the drilling frenzy in West Texas with a $6.6 billion deal to snap up enough land there to pump oil for two decades.

The U.S. oil giant said Tuesday that it acquired several private companies and 275,000 acres in the Permian Basin controlled by Fort Worth's Bass family, which includes some of the most storied Texas oil billionaires and investors. Exxon Mobil's investment is by far the largest in the Permian, a particularly prolific shale oil field that has attracted companies of all sizes and a combined $27.2 billion in land deals over the past year.

"All these guys putting money to work are going to have to drill," said Stephen Trauber, head of global energy investment banking at Citigroup in Houston. "They're going to see pretty significant growth. There are still several more deals that could get done."

The resurgent Texas oil patch has become the epicenter of the U.S. oil industry's recovery after a brutal two-year oil bust. It is set to increase oil production this month by the largest amount in a year. Analysts believe an industry comeback, as soon as 2018, could eventually threaten OPEC's efforts to curb the world's oil glut.

If oil prices stay at current levels, around $50 a barrel, oil production in the Permian Basin and elsewhere in the United States could rise by half a million barrels a day by year's end - about one-third the promised output cuts of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major producers, such as Russia. By 2018, revived production could once again throw off the balance between global oil supply and demand, leading to another slide in crude prices, said Ann-Louise Hittle, an oil market analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

More Information The biggest deals in the Delaware Basin of the past year: 1Buyer: Exxon Mobil; seller: BOPCO and other Bass family-owned companies; price tag: $6.6 billion 2 Buyer: Noble Energy; seller: Clayton Williams; price tag: $2.7 billion 3Buyer: RSP Permian; seller: Kayne Anderson; price tag: $2.54 billion 4Buyer: EOG Resources; seller: Abo Petroleum Corp., MYCO Industries and Yates Petroleum Corp.; price tag: $2.46 billion 5Buyer: Diamondback Energy; seller: Brigham Resources; price tag: $2.4 billion 6Buyer: Occidental Petroleum Corp.; seller: undisclosed; amount $2 billion 7Buyer: Riverstone and other private equity firms; seller: Centennial Resource Development and NGP Energy Capital Management; price tag: $1.53 billion 8 Buyer: PDC Energy; seller: 229 Resources, Arris Petroleum Corp. and Kimmeridge Energy; price tag: $1.51 billion 9Buyer: WPX Energy; seller: Carrier Energy Partners, Panther Energy Company II; price tag: $775 million 10Buyer: Callon Petroleum Co.; seller: American Resource Development; price tag: $615 million Source: IHS Markit See More Collapse

On Tuesday, the Energy Department said oil production in the Permian Basin will increase by 53,000 barrels a day this month, the biggest monthly increase in a year, a result of the 130 rigs dispatched to the region in recent months. Multibillion-dollar deals like Exxon Mobil's could keep rigs running hard.

Exxon Mobil and other major energy companies largely missed the shale oil bonanza a few years ago as smaller rivals took control of the nation's most coveted oil fields and led the biggest domestic energy boom in four decades.

But the Irving-based oil company, the largest of its kind in the country, cemented its place among the scrappy West Texas drillers on Tuesday when it said it purchased private energy producer BOPCO and a handful of subsidiaries owned by the wealthy Bass family for $5.6 billion in shares and $1 billion in cash, which it plans to pay over several years starting in 2020.

Bass dynasty

The Bass dynasty began with Perry Bass, who inherited $11 million from his uncle, renowned wildcatter Sid Richardson, who in turn struck oil a century ago. Bass set up Bass Brothers Enterprises in 1960 to manage the family's oil land and ranches.

His sons, Sid, Robert, Edward and Lee, have since vastly expanded the empire; Robert, for example, is chairman of the Las Vegas supersonic airplane company Aerion Corp., president of Forth Worth private equity firm Keystone Group and the founder of the Oak Hill family of funds. Forbes valued the family at $9 billion in 2014 but acknowledged that the Basses are so private, they may be worth far more.

Exxon Mobil said the 275,000 acres it purchased from the Basses will double its resources in the Permian to 6 billion barrels of oil equivalent. It's so vast that the company could plant 15 or more rigs there and still have plenty of oil to produce for the next 20 years, said Scott Silvestri, an Exxon Mobil spokesman.

Big rivals to expand

Exxon Mobil isn't the only major oil company investing in the Permian. In November, Chevron Corp. said it plans to spend $1.5 billion a year developing what executives called a "well factory" across its 2 million Permian Basin acres in West Texas and New Mexico.

The California-based oil major said it could profit from drilling in the region at $40 to $50 a barrel oil. By the end of the decade, Chevron said, it could increase oil production there by as much as 200,000 barrels a day.

Royal Dutch Shell also has some 300,000 acres across West Texas and New Mexico, pumping 31,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day there, with plans to expand. The company's chief financial officer, Simon Henry, called the region the "crown jewel" of its energy portfolio in the United States.

For years, oil companies bought out rivals for the proven oil and gas reserves they had on the books. Now, the vast untapped resources within shale plays have drillers focused on long-term drilling prospects, rather than existing reserves, and the more land they can buy in the most productive areas, the better.

'Real estate plays'

"They're real estate plays," said John Herrlin, an analyst at French bank Societe Generale. "It's all about location, location, location."

On Tuesday, Citigroup, Credit Suisse and J.P. Morgan launched an initial public offering of Denver oil driller Jagged Peak Energy, and the value of its shares implies its 60,800 acres in the Southern Delaware Basin, a section of the larger Permian, are worth about $60,000 an acre, Citigroup said. Last week, Tulsa oil explorer WPX Energy joined the ranks of companies buying further into the ultra-hot West Texas basin. It scooped up 18,000 net acres in the Delaware Basin, the Permian's western half, for $775 million in cash, from Tulsa-based Panther Energy Company II and Sugar Land-based Carrier Energy Partners.

WPX valued the deal at $28,500 per acre. It's a follow-up to a $2.75 billion deal it struck two years ago in the region - before other drillers recognized the potential of the shale play.

"We had a lot of eyebrows raised - 'You know, what are you guys doing?' " Clay Gaspar, senior vice president and chief operating officer for WPX, said Tuesday. "Fast-forward 12 months later, and everyone sees it."
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DAVOS, Switzerland - With the U.S. increasingly looking inward and China eager to take a lead on the global stage, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday cast his country as a champion of free trade and stability, a rebuke to the isolationist urges that helped carry Donald Trump to power.

Some of the elites listening in Davos, Switzerland, hailed a statesmanlike, even Barack Obama-like speech from Xi as the first Chinese head of state to attend the World Economic Forum - even if it depicted a Chinese commitment to open markets that falls short of reality.

The speech, rife with metaphor and allusions to Ali Baba, Chinese proverbs and even Abraham Lincoln, highlighted a highbrow effort to make a contrast with an incoming U.S. leader whose words regularly stirred controversy at home and abroad and created new doubts about U.S. leadership in the world.

"We must remain committed to promoting free trade and investment through opening up and say no to protectionism," Xi told an opening meeting of the WEF. "Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. While wind and rain may be kept outside, so are light and air."

"No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war."

During his campaign, Trump promised to raise tariffs on Chinese goods and declare Beijing guilty of keeping its currency artificially low. That would be a first step toward imposing sanctions. But in fact, for the past couple of years China has been intervening in markets to prop up its currency, not push it lower.

"China has no intention to boost its trade competitiveness by devaluing the renminbi, still less will it launch a currency war," Xi said Tuesday.

Xi made no direct reference to Trump, but his vocal support for free trade could appear rich to other Western countries who have grumbled about commercial restrictions in China.

Foreign companies complain Beijing is cutting access to its markets for electric cars, computer security technology and other promising fields or pressing them to give know-how to potential Chinese rivals.

Some say they are blocked from acquiring assets in China, just as Chinese companies have been on a foreign buying spree.

"The political leadership of China never ceases to assure us that further opening toward foreign investment ... is a priority," Germany's ambassador to China, Michael Clauss, said this week. "However, many companies keep telling us that their difficulties in these areas have increased."

"It often appears that somewhere down the line, political assurances of equal treatment give way to protectionist tendencies," he said in a statement.

Beijing also faces U.S. and European complaints it is exporting steel, aluminum, solar panels and other goods at improperly low prices, threatening thousands of jobs abroad.

"These are very nice words," said Nariman Behravesh, IHS chief economist, of the Xi speech. "What specific things is China going to do in terms of opening up, becoming a true engine of globalization? ... I like the commitments but in English we have an expression, 'Actions speak louder than words.' Let's see what the actions are."

Xi also stepped into other areas of international consensus, calling the Paris accord to fight climate change a "hard-won achievement," and urging signatories to "stick to it."

Trump, who has called climate change a Chinese hoax, has raised speculation that he might pull the U.S. out.

The visit by Xi caps the largest-ever Chinese delegation to Davos, including over 100 officials and scores of business executives and embodying a tectonic shift at an event that started nearly a half-century ago among Europeans and Americans.

Speaking Monday, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab said this year's event is "not just a Western meeting." One third of participants are from developing economies.
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Houstonian Christine Ha, the visually impaired Season 3 "MasterChef" winner, often relies on friends and her husband to help guide her around. But she prefers more independence in mastering such everyday tasks as reviewing her pantry and looking over bills and receipts.

That's when she uses Aira glasses.

An Aira user, with the push of a button, is put in touch with a certified agent in California who can view the user's surroundings through the glasses. These agents track users by global-positioning satellite and get a Google streetview look of their location in near real-time, then offer verbal guidance and even assistance in reading documents, ordering a ride on Uber or picking out clothing.

The Aira glasses for the visually impaired is the first commercial project completed in partnership with the AT&T Foundry for Connected Health housed in the Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute through the TMCx accelerator.

The Foundry offers technical research and expertise for connecting the products that startups and other tech companies make to a variety of networks required to operate them. It is the sixth AT&T foundry but the first in Houston and the first to focus on health care that requires digital services. It opened last June.

With more than 23 million Americans and about 670,000 Texans diagnosed with visual loss in 2015, Ha feels it's time for the tech world to get involved. She serves as an adviser to California-based Aira.

"It's a need that should be met immediately," Ha said.

Over the course of 12 weeks, Foundry engineers in Houston teamed up with Aira to create a secure network for the smart glasses.

"Network is such a key fundamental part of our service," Aira CEO and co-founder Suman Kanuganti said.

Nadia Morris, head of innovation at the Foundry, said Aira sought ways to reduce the amount of cellular data that users had to pay for to make the glasses work and to protect them from hackers. Morris and her team ultimately developed a way to route data through a private network source, or VPN, that is attached to the glasses' battery pack.

The VPN also prioritizes service to the glasses in areas, such as a concert, where wireless traffic is congested.

Some of the connectivity testing took place in Houston, but the bulk was done in California and on the East Coast.

Two months ago Aira launched a beta version of its commercial glasses program with 200 participants, who pay $129 to $200 a month for a package deal that includes the glasses, AT&T service and insurance. Kanuganti said Aira is working to bring those costs down.

He said places like the Foundry are invaluable as the internet becomes more prominent in all aspects of life.

One of the next projects Morris is leading will update internal hospital communication systems that largely still rely on technology such as fax machines.

"I want to take hospitals out of their basements and into the cloud," she said.

Morris also is looking to improve post-hospitalization care through connectivity networks, a growing focus area. At Children's Health of Dallas, for example, pediatric patients and their parents can now participate in virtual after-care visits with hospital staff via a remote patient-monitoring program.

Perhaps one of the biggest areas of focus for the Foundry, and a personal focus for Morris, is the growing population of older Americans who want to remain independent as long as possible. With a "living lab" that includes a bed, bath tub, kitchen and living room set, Morris and her team test a variety of technologies, from mattress sensors that track sleeping patterns to floorboards that can sense when a person has fallen and alert caregivers.

Erik Halvorsen, director of the Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute, said Morris and her team often serve as mentors to startups they share space with at TMCx.

"They have a level of expertise and perspective we wouldn't have otherwise," Halvorsen said.
Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

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There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

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Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

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Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

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U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, faced a skeptical and at times testy crowd Tuesday as dozens of people arrived at an afternoon meeting to make sure he knew they would not let the Affordable Care Act end without a fight.

The hourlong session, tucked away in a back meeting room at The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce headquarters, was not publicly announced and was billed by Brady's staff as a chance for "local people affected by ObamaCare" to "share their experiences with rising costs and loss of coverage and choice."

Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is a vocal critic of the law known as Obamacare and is among the conservative congressional leaders determined to repeal it quickly and replace at an unspecified later date.

But if he was expecting a completely friendly, like-minded group, he quickly found something else from many in the 50 or so who crowded the room.

"Don't lie!" shouted Emily Hoppel, a 39-year-old with her 2-year-old son perched on her hip, when Brady moved from one goal of dismantling ACA to another of defunding Planned Parenthood, which he said used taxpayer money for abortion.

"The Hyde Amendment," she sputtered, incredulously, as Brady continued to talk over her. Hoppel referred to the legislative provision that already prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for abortion.

"Well, we disagree on that," Brady said, his smile tightening but composure intact.

Hoppel, who does not get her insurance through the Affordable Care Act, believes access to health insurance and, by extension, health care, should be a "human rights issue."

In an impossible situation

Emotions have been rising across the nation in recent days, with battle lines clear, as the Republican-led Congress and President-elect Donald Trump are making good on their promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But such action throws into question what will happen to the estimated 20 million people who now have coverage because of it.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday estimated that 18 million Americans could lose coverage in the first year of repeal.

While Brady acknowledged that the law that has become the signature piece of President Barack Obama's legacy has helped some, he added, "It's hurt a lot, too."

"The Obama experiment has failed," he said, citing rising premiums and shrinking choices as insurers flee the exchanges in states like Texas and many providers are reluctant to accept ACA plans.

Brady called on Dan Altom, who runs a chain of three child-care centers, to discuss his experience of feeling squeezed by the ACA's requirement to provide a certain level of coverage for his 100 employees.

"We want to keep offering plans," Altom said after the meeting, adding that it is difficult to find a compliant plan that is affordable.

He felt he was in an impossible situation: face going out of business because of the cost or be penalized for not providing employee coverage.

Tomi Phillips sees it through a different lens.

"I've had cancer twice. The last thing I need to worry about is losing health care," said the 65-year-old grandmother from The Woodlands. Although now eligible for Medicare, she said she was "kind of nervous about that, too."

'Where are the plans?'

In Congress some have recently indicated a willingness to overhaul and potentially dismantle that federal program as well.

Last week both houses of Congress voted to begin the framework to pick apart certain key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, setting in motion a budgetary action known as reconciliation that does not require a two-thirds majority.

But there seems to be less unity in the timeline both for the repeal and its replacement. Brady assured the crowd that repeal will be complete by next month with a new plan unveiled by the end of the year.

The actual implementation of any replacement plan, however, could take years. Brady said he favors a "stable and deliberate transition."

That timing could run afoul of Trump's promise for an "essentially simultaneous" repeal and replacement.

"Where are the plans?" came a call from the increasingly feisty gathering, many scowling and unmoved by Brady's assurance that better solutions are on the horizon. He chided the most vocal of the group to be more respectful.

The congressman said he favored the elimination of mandates that he said do not work and put undue burdens both on individuals and small businesses. He promised that the prohibition against denying someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition would remain and that children could still remain on their parents' plans until age 26.

'They should be passionate'

But some health economists are doubtful that, without the mandate to increase the risk pools, insurers would be able to offer plans that covered people no matter their health.

Brady countered that concern with a return of federally funded, state-run high-risk pools. Such plans would offer coverage for those with chronic or pre-existing conditions but could come at a higher price.

It was clear that local organizers of the event had not anticipated so much spontaneous dissent. Chamber CEO J.J. Hollie remarked at the beginning that the crowd was larger and more varied than expected, making a pointed comment that word must have seeped out on social media.

This was not the first meeting where elected officials who favor repealing the ACA have encountered unhappy constituents. A video of Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., sneaking out early of a town hall meeting has made the rounds of the internet. Frustration boiled over as those who opposed a repeal were unable to speak with him.

Brady, however, said he was not rattled by the surge of anti-repeal sentiment in the room.

"This is health care," he said. "They should be passionate."

Bridget Balch contributed to this report.
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Con artists make their living promising sweet deals; a chance to have something valuable for next to nothing.

Too many politicians do the same thing.

British Prime Minister Theresa May promised a great new trade deal with the European Union on Wednesday, promising her supporters that the United Kingdom's economy will perform even better than before. In other words, the subjects of her royal majesty will get the sovereignty they want without paying a penalty for Brexit.

The European Union would have to be suicidal to accept such a deal. If the UK can get a better trade deal outside the EU than within, why would any nation stay remain?

"UK's plan seems a bit ambitious - trade as free as possible, full control on immigration ... where is the give for all the take?" Czech Secretary of State for EU Affairs Tomas Prouza rightfully asked on Twitter.

After all, there is a reason why the EU looks as it does, it was the product of years of negotiation between 28 nations seeking to be stronger together than apart.

Conservative English-speaking leaders seem to think that simply saying something makes it so. They tell supporters that the negotiators on the other side of the table will acquiesce to all of their demands. That you really can get something for nothing,

President-elect Donald Trump has made similar proclamations, even promising May a quick and helpful trade agreement. At the same time, though, he wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico, expecting our southern neighbor to give him everything he wants without making counter offers.

Both May and Trump hold their interlocutors in low-regard, assuming that because they are the United Kingdom and the United States, Europe and Mexico will dispense with their self-interest and self-respect.

Don't count on it. And don't forget, other nations with aspirations to global leadership are waiting in the wings.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday making his case for why Trump's protectionism will only hurt the United States economy and shrink U.S. influence in the world. He suggests China, the world's second-largest economy, is ready to takeover as the leader of global trade.

"Pursuing protectionism is like locking yourself in a dark room, which would seem to escape the wind and rain, but also block out the sunshine and air," Xi said, the first Chinese head of state to address the annual World Economic Forum.

May and Trump have laid out their opening gambits, but don't get too excited about them. The first move in chess is frequently to sacrifice a pawn. The opening move rarely determines whose king gets toppled, and what at price, in a competitive match.

We'll see what they have to say for themselves once the sloganeering ends and the hard talks begin.
We talk about the high stakes. We talk about the scores, the prepping, the stressing, the strategizing, the failing, the re-taking, the protesting, the A-F ratings, the making or breaking of schools, of teachers, of kids.

In Texas, we talk a lot about standardized testing.

But after 15-plus years of it, here's what we rarely discuss: What good has that testing done for Texas students?

Has the emphasis on test-based accountability made them better college students, better thinkers and problem-solvers, better writers, better employees?

Isn't that the point of it all? To have success on a bubble sheet align with achievement in the real world?

Yet, the question stumped some of the brightest folks I know in education circles, and none of them could say for sure.

"That's kind of tough," said one spokesman at a federal agency that tracks national assessment. "That definitely doesn't ring any bells off hand."

To be fair, I'm sure it's difficult to measure some of the attributes I mentioned. But, usually, if you ask the data folks about the effectiveness of testing in Texas, they point to rising results. That tells us something, including that kids are getting better at taking tests.

Thomas Ratliff, a former member of the Texas State Board of Education, said he thinks the answer lies "in the eye of the beholder," citing employers, colleges and the military. "They seem to tell us that kids graduate from high school unable to write or communicate very well, but that's the main criticism I hear."

I've heard the same com- plaints about writing from English professors and corporate managers alike. One of the reasons students may be lagging in that area, according to Rick Cruz, in Houston ISD's college readiness office, is our reliance on multiple-choice exams.

"In a high-stakes testing environment, educators focus on what is tested - not necessarily what kids need to know and be able to do in order to be college- and career-ready," Cruz said. Less focus on writing, he said, "is especially worrisome given that writing is perhaps the most important skill a student needs to possess to be successful in college and in many careers."

Swimming upstream

That sentiment was echoed by Scott McClelland, president of H-E-B Houston, otherwise known as the bespectacled guy who appears in TV commercials with J.J. Watt.

"When kids get out of school, they need the ability to think critically, problem solve and write coherently. That's what employers are looking for," said McClelland, who previously oversaw education policy at the Greater Houston Partnership. "Combine this with an underfunded school finance system, and we're asking public schools to swim upstream against a strong current."

He questioned why Texas' accountability doesn't seem aligned with college readiness: "Today, well over 80 percent of kids graduate from high school, but only about 20 percent graduate from college," he said. "That's not a measure most public schools hold themselves accountable to."

Others, though, argued that while the standardized testing system isn't perfect, the state's early emphasis on measuring performance and tying it to consequences has done a lot to improve schools. Everything from providing transparency by breaking scores into subgroups, including those in special education, to simply setting a floor for performance.

"Before, there was anecdotal evidence that kids were graduating and unable to read and do simple arithmetic, because there was no standard of what graduates should know," said Paul Castro, a Houston charter school superintendent.

Anna Eastman, a Houston ISD board trustee, credits tests with raising standards and opportunities for low-income students and students of color. She said scores help identify high-performing students and encourage them to attend college when no one else in their families had.

While previous state tests could be mastered through "drill and kill" tactics and teaching students "strategies," today's exams are more complex and require a higher level of critical thinking, she said.

"People talk about the punitive nature of standardized tests," she said. "I can think of NOTHING more punitive that handing a child a diploma, who then shows up for college and can't even begin to understand their classwork."

Making strides

Eric Hanushek, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute of Stanford University, has tackled the question of whether accountability is linked to better school performance. He has concluded it is, but only if test results are tied to consequences. But he defines performance by - what else? - a national test, albeit a respected one.

"I think it tells you something real," he pushed back. "I don't think you should discount it for all the language about 'isn't this just teaching to the test?' "

He says Texas' accountability system has helped students make great strides in performance, especially considering the high population who are disadvantaged. He added that recent reforms to scale back testing have been wrongheaded.

Finally, I asked the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for a response to the question of whether testing produced better college students. A spokeswoman said the commissioner was busy and steered me toward the Texas Education Agency, which oversees K-12 education.

"TEA has not specifically studied this topic," spokesman Gene Acuna wrote in an email. But he said Commissioner Mike Morath has been meeting with the heads of the workforce commission and the higher education agency regularly to discuss related questions.

"Between the three of them, I believe there is a commitment to learn - beyond test scores - how Texas public education students are doing once they leave high school. "

It's about time. Most of us believe in some degree of accountability, but with so much focus on scores and ratings, it's easy to forget the point.
More Houston ISD students could soon show mastery in a subject by completing hands-on projects rather than taking pen-and-paper quizzes.

Schools across the district, especially Vanguard schools that serve gifted and talented students, will be encouraged to use the Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP), which offers guidelines for project-based learning and other tasks.

TPSP is meant to provide instruction to gifted and talented students of all grade levels but is applicable to all students.

The popularity of project-based learning has exploded in recent years across the country.

It is a teaching method that sees students work for an extended period of time to research and answer a complex question or challenge.

Entire schools in states like California and Massachusetts are dedicated to the practice, abandoning tests, quizzes and even specific courses altogether.

Energy Institute High School, an HISD magnet program focused on STEM courses, is already a project-based learning campus, though it still uses periodic assessments and specific courses.

Adam Stephens, HISD's officer of advanced academics, said such independent projects require more critical thinking than simple question-and-answer assignments or teacher lectures.

"What we see through research and conversations, is that this gives students a chance to demonstrate what they've learned and how they've learned," Stephens said. "A focus of the district is wanting students to own their learning. We feel like project-based learning does that."

The Texas Legislature in the early 2000s called for the creation of TPSP for gifted and talented students as a way to develop statewide standards, sample projects and assessments.

The TPSP projects are based on the state's learning standards in areas including English language arts and reading, math, science and social studies with interdisciplinary connections.

The district will roll out the TPSP curriculum in phases until it is district-wide for all grade levels in all HISD schools, and it will provide special training on TPSP to selected campuses in February.

Stephens said schools will not be required to use TPSP and can use other programs or curriculum that include project-based learning such as International Baccalaureate or Buck Institute for Education projects.

"We want to make sure schools have access to resources," Stephens said. "It would be different if we were moving toward a district mandate that every student must do x, every student must do y. But we're presenting this as an option or suite of options schools already have access to."
By all accounts, they were a happy family  a single mother living and working in Houston for at least two decades with her two growing daughters. They planted roots, bought a home and expanded their clan with husbands and grandchildren.

The long-running charade apparently collapsed on Monday.

A Houston businesswoman living under the name Liana Waldberg - who is well-known in Houston's ballroom dancing circles - was arrested Monday as the missing Elaine Yates, a fugitive from Rhode Island accused of abducting her children more than 31 years ago.

The woman, now 69, surrendered without incident after Texas Rangers and Rhode Island detectives arrived at her condo in west Houston.

"They just knocked on the front door," Lt. Col. Joseph F. Philbin, the chief investigative officer for the Rhode Island State Police, said Tuesday. "They told her the reason they were there. She understood and she was cooperative and she was taken into custody."

Yates appeared before a Harris County Criminal Court at Law judge Tuesday and waived extradition to Rhode Island. She is being returned to the Northeast to face charges there.

Russell Yates, the father of the now-grown daughters, said by telephone from Rhode Island that he hopes to hear from his children and regrets that their mother faces criminal charges.

"Hopefully, now, my children have my contact information and they'll get in touch with me," he said. "I was greatly relieved to know that they're still alive. I haven't heard from them yet. They were just little babies."

Sightings and tips

New England authorities have been looking for Kelly and Kimberly Yates and their mother since they vanished on Aug. 26, 1985.

Just 10-months and 3-years-old, the children disappeared abruptly from their Warwick, R.I., home, and the abduction was front-page news.

A missing persons complaint was filed by Russell Yates, Elaine Yates' husband; the initial police investigation determined that the mother left with the children because of a domestic dispute.

A felony warrant for two counts of child snatching was issued for Elaine Yates in November 1988.

Posters of the girls and their mother were distributed by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Over time, age-progressed renderings of all three were added to the listings.

Despite alleged sightings and tips over the years, the cold case didn't thaw until this week after anonymous information reported in December led Rhode Island State Police to Houston.

"With the help of the Texas Department of Public Safety, it was investigated," Philbin said. "They checked the locations we asked them to check to see if the individuals did in fact live there and they did. They confirmed it."

Philbin said each felony child-snatching count carries a maximum penalty of two years in state prison.

By Tuesday afternoon, the woman believed to be Elaine Carolyn Yates was headed back to Rhode Island on a flight with detectives to face charges. She is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in Kent County Superior Court in Warwick.

Authorities told her daughters, now 32 and 35, how to reach their father.

"It's going to be up to the children to see if they want to reach out to him," Philbin said.

Russell Yates, still considered the custodial parent in court records, declined to discuss the circumstances immediately before his wife and daughters disappeared.

"I don't want to get into what was going on and why it happened," he said, before ending the call.

Secrets and name changes

George Rapier knew her in Houston as Liana Waldberg.

They both worked in information technology, and met when their children began dating. They eventually wed, though the marriage ended in 2005 after five years, said Rapier, who has since retired to Tennessee.

He knew Kimberly and Kelly Yates as Melissa and Sarah Waldberg.

"I still consider them my stepkids," Rapier said, adding that he knew there were details about Liana's background that they didn't discuss. "I am really distressed to hear this.  I had the impression that her ex - I thought it was an ex - was abusive to her and that is why she left him."

Harris County civil court records show that someone named Elaine Carolyn Pigeon, also known as Elaine C. Yates, applied in the summer of 2009 to change her name to Liana Lynn Waldberg. A judge granted the request in August 2009. In 2010, a person named Kimberly Ann Yates filed for a name change to Melissa Lynn Waldberg, but the effort was dropped in 2011.

Rapier said he was aware of his ex-wife's legal efforts to straighten out her name.

"I think she was getting a little worried as she gets to retirement age and Social Security that it would become a problem for her," he said. "She did mention that she had talked to a lawyer to help her with that process."

He remained shocked that the "very nice person" he knows has been a fugitive all of these years and that their union might have been considered bigamy.

"I'm distressed about it because I still love her, really," he said. "She told me once that she hated that she could never go back up there. She was completely cut off from Rhode Island. Her mother passed and she could really do nothing about it. It's very sad."

As it happens, Rapier remains in touch with the family because his son married, then divorced, the woman known as Melissa Waldberg, and that couple has a child.

Liana Waldberg joined one of Houston's largest dance studios 10 years ago, after her divorce.

She was popular, skilled and enthusiastic, and participated in local dance cruises every year from 2010 to 2015, said Rick Archer, founder of Houston's SSQQ Dance Studio.

"She was literally a very popular member of a very large dance community," Archer said. "There would literally be several hundred people who would know her through dancing."

She stood out on the dance floor, he said.

"About 5-foot-3, ridiculously trim for her age - she's pretty, she's a sandy blonde, she's a great dancer," Archer added. "She follows like a glove. She's fun to dance with, always smiling, very warm."

He said the allegations left him "flabbergasted," but he's reserving judgment.

"My first reaction is: What kind of man did she leave? And why did she need to acquire a secret identity?" he asked. "It's one thing to take someone else's child. It's another thing to take your own children if it's meant to protect them."
The city of Pasadena is fighting a federal judge's ruling that officials intentionally violated the voting rights of Hispanic residents, arguing in court papers Tuesday that the judge based her findings on speculation and misleading testimony.

Pasadena officials stated in court documents they are appealing Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal's conclusion that a redistricting scheme pushed by longtime Mayor Johnny Isbell intentionally diluted the voting power of the blue-collar city's Latino population.

"I don't think they were trying to prevent Hispanic success," said C. Robert Heath, the attorney representing the city.

Pasadena's move Tuesday comes one day after Rosenthal ordered the city to submit to federal oversight for any changes in its electoral system until 2023 - and to base the upcoming May elections on a single-member district system last used in 2013.

The suit - a contentious voting rights case that has drawn national attention - threatens to throw into flux the May elections, when the entire City Council and the mayor's seat are set to be on the ballot. Candidate filing is set to begin Wednesday and run through Feb. 17.

Rosenthal ordered the city to return to the older district map, stating that the map gave Hispanic voters equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

The city filed a motion Tuesday to stay Rosenthal's order, meaning that upcoming elections could be conducted using a 2014 redistricting scheme Rosenthal found to be discriminatory. The 2015 elections were also conducted using that scheme.

Nina Perales, a Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund attorney who litigated the case, said she believes the courts will move swiftly. Election law experts said it is unlikely the single-member system would be tossed out given the rapidly approaching election.

"I would not expect it to happen here because the stakes are so high in the upcoming May election," Perales said.

Two-thirds Hispanic

MALDEF filed the lawsuit in 2014 on behalf of Latino voters after Isbell and the city replaced the eight single-member districts with six single-member and two at-large districts. Pasadena voters approved the change in a referendum in 2013, and it was adopted the next year.

That scheme was pushed through shortly after a far-reaching U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2013 removed federal oversight over local changes to election procedures in Texas and other states with a history of discriminatory practices.

The case cast a spotlight on a yearslong political struggle in the Houston suburb that has long featured tense racial dynamics. Almost two-thirds of Pasadena residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, up from less than one-third in 1990 when white residents dominated both population and politics.

Rosenthal issued a 113-page opinion Jan. 6 ordering the city to use the older map for the May elections, since already had been determined not to be discriminatory.

City officials directed all questions about the case to Heath. The appeal drew criticism from some members of City Council who have aligned themselves with the plaintiffs.

Councilman Ornaldo Ybarra, who supported the goals of the lawsuit despite being named as a defendant, called the appeal a waste of taxpayers' money.

"The legal bill has already surpassed $2 million, but I guess since it's not the mayor's money, he doesn't mind spending it," Ybarra said, adding that "this council is told nothing" by the administration about the legal process.

Heath, however, said even the six single-member and two at-large scheme protected Latinos' rights, an argument furthered in the city's filings Tuesday.

"If you look at the plan, Hispanic growth is dramatic out there," Heath said. "I think there is a point where at-large works to their advantage, and I think it's very close to being there if it's not already."

The city argued that even under the new system, four city council members - not a majority - were preferred by the Hispanic population.

It also challenged Rosenthal's finding that the city discriminated intentionally.

"The city believes that several aspects of the district court's interpretation of the record regarding the finding for discriminatory intent are flawed," the city states.

Heath said he expects the appeals court to overturn Rosenthal's ruling.

Election looms

Timing in the case, now, is critical. Rosenthal must first weigh in on whether to stand firm in her decision to keep the single-member system in place for the May elections - or whether to grant a stay on her own ruling.

The city's appeal of the full ruling, meanwhile, moves on to the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

"It wouldn't surprise me if Judge Rosenthal made a ruling on the stay right away.  It will be a yes or no, probably," said Elaine Wiant, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas.

She said if Rosenthal denies Pasadena a stay, it is unlikely the city's lawyers would be able to derail the May election.

Chad Dunn, a lawyer who has represented voters and governmental entities in voting rights cases, agreed.

"It would be out of the ordinary for the court to stop her ruling and let the election go forward under a plan that's been found to be discriminatory," said Dunn, who represents council members Ybarra and Cody Ray Wheeler, who vocally opposed changes to the city election system. "It's more likely than not that Judge Rosenthal's judgment will carry the day on this election."

Official retires

The circuit court can affirm the district judge's decision, reverse it or remand it back to Rosenthal for additional fact-finding, said Austin attorney Roger B. Borgelt, who specializes in election and campaign law.

Separately Tuesday, Richard Scott, the Pasadena official who admitted during the trial that he had unlawfully conducted campaign work using city time and resources, has retired from the city.

Scott, 78, retired effective Jan. 13, according to an item on the agenda for a City Council meeting Tuesday night.

Several City Council members had been pressuring Isbell to fire Scott based on his testimony in the recent federal court trial over a challenge to the city's revised City Council structure.

Scott acknowledged that he had used city time and resources to campaign for a 2013 ballot measure that changed the council system, and for Isbell's re-election.

Mike Snyder contributed to this report.
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H-E-B Chairman and CEO Charles Butt announced Tuesday that he will invest more than $100 million in creating a leadership institute to support and train public school leaders across Texas.

The Holdsworth Center in Austin will work with school districts over a five-year period to develop and empower leaders, including superintendents and principals. It's named after Butt's late mother, Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt, a lifelong philanthropist and champion of social justice.

Butt said Texas, which educates about 10 percent of public school students nationwide, was an ideal place to launch the center.

"With our size comes a tremendous responsibility to provide the highest quality education to all students," the supermarket magnate said. "The Holds-worth Center will help to ensure we have inspired and enlightened leaders at every level within the education system making daily decisions that positively impact the future of our students and the state."

Starts in June

The center's inaugural class will begin in June with six school districts that will be invited to apply by Feb. 1, then notified of selection by the end of March. In future years, the application process will be open to districts statewide.

Klein ISD in northwest Harris County is one of two Texas districts now participating in a pilot version of the program. The other is Grand Prairie ISD near Dallas.

The center will be governed by a 17-member board chaired by Ruth Simmons, who served as president of Smith College from 1995 to 2001 and as president of Brown University from 2001 to 2012. Simmons, who attended Houston public schools, said the center's opening comes at a time when confidence in public schools continues to erode.

"As a proud alumna of Texas public schools, I owe my career to the excellence and strong leadership of public school educators, for which I and so many others remain grateful," Simmons said. "Mr. Butt's generous gift to the children of Texas demonstrates the level of commitment necessary to ensure a more hopeful future for our schools. I am grateful to work with him in developing and supporting leaders for our public schools."

Jenny McGown, chief learning officer for Klein, said Holdsworth officials visit the district twice a week, sometimes to meet with a core team of district leaders, other times meeting with principals, teachers or focus groups.

"We're helping them design the rest of the model - almost like the pre-pilot to the pilot," McGown said. "We've been working for a couple of months to figure out what does this look like. We're getting different surveys out to stakeholder groups, experimenting with focus groups, figuring out what kind of resources we need from education and business to inform what quality leadership looks like."

Building better leaders

Holdsworth officials said school district applicants with a commitment to talent development and a well aligned vision among their superintendents, board of trustees and other key leaders will have the best chance of being accepted.

McGown did not know if the leadership center would invite Klein to be part of its inaugural class.

She's thankful Butt and others are investing in public education leadership, which has an often-overlooked effect on a student's experience.

"We know from research that after classroom teachers, school leadership has the greatest impact on student performance," McGown said. "We know it will have a positive outcome for students and create a better pipeline of high- quality leaders. It's better not only for students, but also for staff and the community as a whole."
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Authorities are searching for two men suspected in an armed robbery at a pool-supply store late last year in northwest Houston.

Police said two men wearing Halloween masks and armed with pistols walked into the business about 6:50 p.m. Nov. 11 in the 7900 block of FM 1960, pointed the guns at workers and demanded money from the cash register.
Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

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Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan

Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement

With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building

OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh
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AUSTIN - Removing Planned Parenthood from the state's Medicaid program would have a "devastating" effect on poor women in South Texas, employees testified Tuesday in the first day of a three-day hearing over the state's plan to cut the nonprofit out of the health care program.

Planned Parenthood has asked U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks to block the state's move just days before the organization is set to be ousted from Texas' Medicaid program.

The nonprofit receives about $4 million a year across Texas through the state Medicaid program.

Citing that, state attorneys Tuesday tried to show Planned Parenthood of South Texas would be able to sustain its operation without the Medicaid dollars. The Planned Parenthood affiliate, which operates eight clinics in San Antonio, Harlingen and Brownsville, receives about $350,000 in Medicaid reimbursements a year, according to President and CEO Jeffrey Hons.

Lawyers for the state pointed to Planned Parenthood of South Texas' millions of dollars in 2014, but Hons said the money the nonprofit earns through its own fundraising would not be enough to serve thousands of poor women that would be without access to women's health care services.

The effects would be "devastating," Hons said. "These women are the poorest of the poor."

When an attorney for the state asked if the South Texas affiliate would be able to still provide care to some patients, Hons said they would "just have to wait and see."

This isn't the first time Planned Parenthood has faced funding cuts. In 2013, Texas cut Planned Parenthood from the Texas Women's Health Program.

This latest fight dates back to 2015, when a California anti-abortion group calling itself the Center for Medical Progress released an undercover video purporting to show employees at an office of Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast discussing the procurement and sale of fetal tissue.

A Harris County grand jury cleared the clinic of any wrongdoing in February 2016, and instead indicted the undercover videographers. Those charges eventually were dropped.

Texas officials cited the undercover video in its decision to boot Planned Parenthood from the state's Medicaid program, saying it is "not qualified to provide medical services in a professionally competent, safe, legal and ethical manner." That ouster is supposed to take effect Saturday.

Planned Parenthood has sued to block its removal from the Medicaid program.

The hearing will resume Wednesday morning.
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WASHINGTON - Three U.S. lawmakers from Texas announced Tuesday that they will join more than 50 other House Democrats in boycotting this week's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Al Green of Houston, Joaquin Castro of San Antonio and Lloyd Doggett of Austin, all Democrats, said they would skip the event in protest of Trump's attacks on political opponents, including civil rights legend John Lewis, the Georgia congressman who questioned Trump's legitimacy as the 45th president.

A fourth, Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, declined to commit, saying Tuesday through an aide only that "the congresswoman will be in Washington this week greeting her constituents."

On Monday, Jackson Lee told the Chronicle that even before the flap between Trump and Lewis, she had been considering whether to go and would make a "deliberate and principled decision."

Tuesday's announcements came amid a deepening divide between Trump and Democratic lawmakers over the Martin Luther King weekend, particularly among those representing urban and minority districts.

The boycott gathered momentum over the weekend after Lewis told NBC's "Meet the Press" that following reports of Russian interference in the Nov. 8 election, he did not see Trump as a legitimate president and would not attend Friday's inauguration.

Trump responded with a pair of tweets attacking the Atlanta congressman, whose legacy includes a concussion suffered in the 1965 police melee during a civil rights march in Selma, Ala.: "Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!"

Trump kept up the attack Tuesday, calling out the congressman for saying this would be the first inaugural he missed in 30 years.

Lewis skipped the first inauguration of President George W. Bush, who won after a protracted recount battle in Florida. Tweeted Trump: "WRONG (or lie)!"

A spokesman for Lewis told the Washington Post that he had forgotten about the 2001 protest.

'Most liberal of the liberal'

Other Republicans have dismissed the boycott, saying Democrats are trying to undermine the incoming president and delegitimize his election victory.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas told Newsmax TV on Tuesday that the boycott would backfire.

"These are the most liberal of the liberal of the leftists in the House of Representatives," said the former Sugar Land Republican. "The American people in this last election, and, frankly, in the last three elections, have completely rejected who they are and what they are. The more they do this kind of stuff, the better off we are. "

Green, after maintaining a weekendlong silence - declining to answer a reporter's questions about whether he would participate in the boycott - held a press conference Tuesday in Houston to explain his reasons for staying away from the inaugural.

"For some time, I have been hearing from many constituents with varying points of view on the question of whether I will attend the inauguration," Green said in a statement. "My response is, Dr. King was right when he indicated: On some issues 'cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But, conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.'

"I will not attend the inauguration," he continued, "because conscience says it is the right thing to do."

At least six other Texas Democrats, including Houston's Gene Green, told the Chronicle that, despite their differences with Trump, they planned to attend the inauguration out of respect for the office of the presidency and the peaceful transition of power.

Another, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

'Respect is a two-way street'

Castro, the brother of outgoing Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, announced his intention to stay away Tuesday in a statement saying that while he accepts Trump's victory, the president-elect's "contempt for millions of people" makes him unworthy of popular celebration.

"I come from a family and a place, Texas, where respect is a fundamental value," Joaquin Castro said. "Respect for people regardless of what they look like, where they were born, or whether they share your view of the world. Donald Trump has shown an utter lack of respect for so many Americans. His attack on civil rights hero John Lewis is the latest example."

Doggett said he would stay away to send a message: "Respect, like Pennsylvania Avenue, is a two-way street," he said in a statement.
When it comes to public education, walking the talk is something state lawmakers almost never do. As established by their actions over decades, they leave their top priority - properly funding the state's public education system - to the courts or private philanthropy. With its ruling last year that found the public education funding system constitutional, the Texas Supreme Court joined the do-nothing crowd. Thank goodness into the chaos stepped H-E-B Chairman and CEO Charles Butt. The longtime supporter of public education is Texas' own private-citizen champion.

Butt on Tuesday announced a pledge of more than $100 million to create a leadership institute for public school leaders designed to improve over time the quality of education delivered to students in our state.. Holdsworth Center - named for his mother, Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt, an educator and lifelong philanthropist - will work with districts during a five-year period to provide leadership training to superintendents, principals and key administrators.

The need in Texas for leadership training for public school educators is critical. Texas school districts serve 10 percent of the nation's pupils, yet Education Week Research Center, a division of Editorial Projects in Education, the nonprofit organization that publishes Education Week, recently ranked Texas 43rd in the nation for student achievement in its annual report.

The Holdsworth Center, to be based in Austin, will be governed by a 17-member board chaired by Ruth Simmons, a Houstonian and former president of Brown University. Although teacher quality is the single biggest factor affecting school achievement, strong principals are key to teacher development and retention. Strong superintendents play the same role with respect to principals.

Yet superintendents and principals typically don't receive adequate training for their multi-faceted jobs. The center aims to improve the odds that our education leaders can succeed, stay on the job and reach their full potential. Through exposure to the best leadership experts in the country and the world, and facilitated lectures and group discussion, educators selected to participate will focus on critical topics such as change management and board relations. The center also will assist districts in establishing a sustainable vision for identifying and supporting future leaders.

In addition to fostering a culture of high expectations for educators, this center carries on a tradition that Butt started in 2002. Ask most people what the most important profession is and they'll say educators. But in our modern economy, respect can be measured in dollars, and educators are not well-paid.

Annually, H-E-B gives the Excellence in Education awards to honor outstanding public school professionals across the state. The awards event is a glittering affair that conveys to educators the importance of their work.

Similarly, the center will host trainings, envisioned by Butt as restorative experiences, at a campus to be designed by the award-winning architectural firm, Lake Flato. Butt will donate the funds to complete the campus in addition to the $100 million grant.

While the actions of our state political leadership signal a lack of commitment to educational excellence, Butt's vision is to help educators become extraordinary in their jobs. His consistent, thoughtful action is a model for our state's business leaders, sure, but especially so for lawmakers. Butt is saying and doing the right things for kids - and for Texas. It's past time state lawmakers do the same.
Drink to good health

Regarding "Sodas top list of items bought with food stamps" (Page A10, Sunday), I have issues with the fact that families on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, use the government money to buy sodas. I grew up in a single-parent home, and we didn't get food stamps. My mom didn't have the money to buy sodas so we went without. I'm grateful today for that, since I don't need to have a soda daily.

I believe SNAP funds should be used to buy necessary food items that allow kids and adults to have healthy meals.

Charlotte Pendergraft, Houston

Blind justice

Regarding "Judge denies bail for indicted executive from VW" (Page B3, Friday), why is it that we arrest and hold a German VW executive on criminal charges in the company's U.S. emissions scandal, yet we see no arrest warrants for the multitude of U.S. executives, bankers, Wall Streeters, fund managers, traders, etc., who caused the massive financial crisis.

These clearly criminal actions have resulted in losses in the billions, but we allow top executives to "retire" with their golden parachutes, and their companies pay a token fine without admitting guilt.

Let Germany deal with their lawbreakers. Maybe Germany and other foreign countries should start arresting certain U.S. executives when they are on vacation abroad.

Fred Graves, Houston

China-Taiwan relations

Regarding "Cruz calls meeting with Tsai an honor; Abbott joins senator in controversial talk with Taiwan leader" (Page A3, Jan. 9), Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Greg Abbott join President Donald Trump to unwittingly push for war between China and Taiwan by their contact with Taiwanese President Tsai lng-wen.

For more than 40 years, China's civil war has been cold. Taiwan has peace and prosperity. They elect their own leaders; they have their own currency and their own military. Taiwan voters vote to keep this peace.

Taiwan has two political parties, the Nationalists and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The DPP has roots in Taiwan's independence movement, but each election they promise not to push for independence.

When Nationalists are in charge, they manage the improving relationship with China. But Taiwan Democrats always use American Republicans as unwitting tools to provoke tension with China.

How will this civil war likely end? The Chinese solution is to let time heal this dispute between brothers. They once exchanged artillery shells, now they exchange tourists. Investors from Taiwan built much of China and own much of China's economy.

Taiwan's prosperity is linked to China's huge and friendly market. Taiwan has 23 million people. The city of Shanghai more than 24 million. Very likely Taiwan autonomy will gradually become official. Peace is winning.

Extremists would end all this with a war Taiwan cannot win. Elected Republican officials, ignorant tools of the DPP, push for war between China and Taiwan, a war which will force China's army to occupy Taiwan.

Bill Waters, Houston

Emotional outbursts

Regarding "Trump strikes back at Lewis" (Page A1, Sunday), Rep. John Lewis' declaration that he did not view Donald Trump as a "legitimate president" shows as much lack of class or manners as does President-elect Trump's tweet back. If Rep. Lewis doesn't want to attend the inauguration, so be it, no one will miss him, but to all those who feel compelled to make the declaration "they will not attend" it would appear they want to assure "they are missed."

To me it is just more of the Democrats' inability to accept the loss by Hillary Clinton because they don't understand and didn't listen to what many Americans said and believed. Believe it!

Jude Wiggins, Houston
Why are we arguing about vaccines? They are one of the medical marvels of the last century, ridding the world of devastating diseases like smallpox, eliminating the risk posed by six HPV-related cancers, and preventing grave consequences to infants born to mothers with rubella.

For those who lived during widespread outbreaks of polio or measles, there is no debate about the effectiveness of vaccines. But a new generation of vaccine deniers, having never experienced the horror of a world with such diseases, is leading a campaign of misinformation that can do great damage to our community health.

If you end up on the receiving end of a vaccine-denier's vitriol, you will quickly learn they claim their own facts and their own science. Films like "Vaxxed," based on research that has been discredited, and a researcher who fled the United Kingdom due to the fallacious uproar he created, are quoted as science. They misinterpret data about vaccine injuries; such as their claim of a link between the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine and autism, which has been debunked and disproven thoroughly.

The effects of their pseudo-science risk the health and safety of our schoolchildren while providing the breeding grounds for contagious events, such as the measles outbreak at Disneyland two years ago in California or the mumps outbreak in Texas in the past few weeks.

Deniers make their arguments under the guise of parental rights and personal liberty. In claiming a right to not vaccine their children, they rob other parents of the right to protect the health and safety of their children by exposing them to harmful diseases. For responsible citizens, there is a recognition that personal liberty ends where harm to another begins.

The state mandates childhood vaccines for enrollment in our schools because all children should have the opportunity to be educated in a safe and healthy environment. A twisted concept of parental personal liberty should not risk the health and safety of millions of schoolchildren. Nonetheless, the state does allow parents to seek non-medical vaccine exemptions from school vaccine requirements on the basis of religious or personal beliefs. These exemptions would not be a problem if such exemptions were granted so rarely as to not compromise herd immunity. This concept is achieved when the general immunity to a pathogen in a population is based on the acquired immunity to the pathogen by a high proportion of members over time.

But recent data are concerning. The number of schoolchildren exempted from school-required vaccines has increased 19-fold since 2003. I filed four bills that will help improve public awareness about the benefits and safety of vaccines, and help prevent six HPV-related cancers.

HB 126 will require parents to take an online education class in order to receive a non-medical exemption for their child. This kind of information campaign has proven effective in other states that have sought to stop parents from opting out of vaccine requirements out of convenience instead of personal conviction.

I have also filed legislation, HB 120, that clarifies that exemptions of "conscience" or those based on religious belief will simply be categorized as non-medical exemptions, getting the state out of the business of providing moral high ground to parents who risk exposing us all to vaccine-preventable diseases.

My other two bills deal with HPV-related cancers. As a young cancer survivor, I want to do everything in my power to prevent another Texan from experiencing the pain I went through for close to a year.

HPV has been linked to several cancers, including cervical cancer and head and neck cancers, and is the cause of 5 percent of cancers worldwide. Cancer experts say HPV kills about 1,000 Texans every year. My primary concern is not how the HPV virus is transmitted, but how we can save lives. If parents neglect the future health of their child, I believe a minor should be able to legally offer their own consent to receive the HPV vaccine.

Lastly, I have written legislation to study and report HPV vaccination rates at the county level. Current data has been rendered useless due to the change in dosage by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making a new data set a vital piece of information to public health professionals and researchers. We need better information to deploy limited resources in a more cost-effective manner.

Cancers that are preventable should be prevented. Viruses that are preventable should be eradicated. And the safety and efficacy of vaccines are no longer subject to serious debate. They work, and Texas must make sure more of our citizens are immunized against preventable diseases.

Davis represents Houston-area District 134 in the state House of Representatives.
In 2014, law students at the University of Hawaii asked Justice Antonin Scalia to comment on the Korematsu case, the infamous 1944 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld Japanese-American internment during World War II. "Well, of course, Korematsu was wrong," he said. "But you are kidding yourself if you think the same thing will not happen again."

In an environment infused with fear, panic and antipathy against a minority group, "that's what happens," Scalia observed. "It is the reality."

That reality could be upon us shortly. Following the November 2015 Paris attacks, Donald Trump called for the registering and tracking of American Muslims. Just after his election in November, the press and internet exploded with news that his transition team was seriously considering a Muslim registry. Then, members of his camp began citing Japanese internment as precedent for a Muslim registry.

The Korematsu decision has long been widely discounted as legal precedent and taught as a tragic failure of American values. It is evident that the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans - three-quarters of whom were U.S. citizens, the rest immigrants who were not permitted to become citizens, and all of whom were interned without due process - was based on fear, panic and racism.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act, issuing an apology and compensation as redress for the wrongful internment. In 2011, the Department of Justice - finally - conceded that it committed grave error in the Korematsu case 67 years prior when the government submitted false and incomplete evidence and suppressed the fact that FBI and military investigations refuted claims of Japanese American disloyalty.

This is not simply a case of hindsight. When the Korematsu Court decided to uphold the government's decision to intern Japanese Americans as a "military necessity," the government was already dismantling the internment policy. The internment had begun in May 1942, but before the end of the year, many young Japanese Americans were released from the camps to attend colleges in the Midwest and the East, while others were released to provide much-needed labor. (Never mind that the government never interned Japanese Americans en masse in Hawaii out of concern it would cause economic ruin for the territory.)

Then, on Feb. 1, 1943, Roosevelt announced his decision to let Japanese Americans enlist, and more than 26,000 served in the U.S. Army during the war. On Dec. 17, 1944, Roosevelt issued Public Proclamation No. 21, ordering the internment camps to be closed and all remaining Japanese Americans to be released.

The very next day - Dec. 18, 1944 - the Supreme Court released its Korematsu decision, upholding the constitutionality of the government's internment policy and affirming the conviction of Fred Korematsu, 23-year-old Japanese-American welder from California, who had defied the government order to move to an internment camp.

But that was not all.

On the same day, the Court released its decision on an arguably more important internment case, Ex Parte Endo. Mitsuye Endo had lived in Sacramento, worked for the Department of Motor vehicles, was a practicing Christian, could neither speak nor read Japanese and had a brother in the U.S. Army. Nonetheless, she'd been forced into an internment camp.

In the Endo case, the Court unanimously ruled that the U.S. government could not continue to detain a citizen who was "concededly loyal" to the United States. It stressed that "[a] citizen who is concededly loyal presents no problem of espionage or sabotage. Loyalty is a matter of the heart and mind, not of race, creed, or color. He who is loyal is, by definition, not a spy or a saboteur." The Court found that as a loyal citizen, Endo was entitled to unconditional release from the internment camp.

It has never been clear to me why the case of Endo - the case which legally brought the internment camps to a close - has been so overshadowed by Korematsu. But if we are to call upon history to help us make decisions today, we need to look at the whole picture. The same Supreme Court that seemingly upheld the internment of Japanese Americans in Korematsu affirmed in Endo the right of those very same Japanese Americans to not be detained and interned. The history that some are invoking as support for a Muslim registry is not at all what they think it is.

Inter arma enim silent leges This was the ancient saying that Scalia frequently invoked to explain how bad history could still repeat itself. "In times of war, the law may fall silent." But we, the people, can't. Nunquam iterum - never again.

Lim is an assistant professor of history in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies at Arizona State University, Tempe. He wrote this for Zocalo Public Square.
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Ombusman: The truth is on our side, so we need to be active (video)

Intense ceasefire violations in the direction of Chinari village of Tavush marz in December 2016, as well as intense shelling of the Armenian village in January 2017 are gross and large-scale violations of human rights: the gunfire aimed to harm the civilian population of the village. This became known in the result of fact-finding activities carried out by a representative of the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia in Chinari village. Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan today met journalists in Yerevan to present the report of the fact-finding mission and results of an on-site examination. The aim of the fact-finding mission is to record such violations. The Ombudsman's representative had private talks with the head of Chinari village, residents and representatives of the Council of Elders. Then, he visited the places where most violations of human rights had been reported. Arman Tatoyan said the shelling continued at around 6-7 p.m. on January 3 and after midnight on January 8. The village kindergarten, school and houses came under intense Azerbaijani fire. The fact-finding activities showed that the enemy started its sabotage operations and subversive attack by killing three Armenian soldiers when, in fact, there was no real threat to the Azerbaijani side. The residents of the village, including children, went into hiding when the shelling started, Mr Tatoyan said. The Armenian ombudsman said that they are exclusively concerned with the protection of human rights and the report has no political connotation. They [Azeris] had an obvious intention: the attack was directed against the civilian population [of the village]. Arman Tatoyan added that the report will be forwarded to international organizations in the coming days. He will visit Strasbourg next week to meet senior EU officials. In two weeks he is scheduled to meet with senior representatives of international organizations in Brussels. The Armenian ombudsman will present the report during these meetings. I have expectations but I cannot say anything now: one should be quick and decisive in such issues. The truth is on our side, so we need to be active, he stressed.
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In spite of the digital revolution, the hiring process remains mired in the Stone Age, akin to throwing darts at a board. The main culprits are over-reliance on resumes and anxiety over possibly making a wrong hiring decision, says recruitment expert Adam Robinson. To Check Immigration and Mobility Themed Edition Click Here The majority of companies dont train managers how to hire well, or at all, says Robinson, co-founder and CEO of Hireology, a human resources technology company. Instead, we rely on outdated techniques and gut feelings to make high-impact decisions involving the most valuable assets in our business. In THE BEST TEAM WINS: Build Your Business Through Predictive Hiring, Robinson makes the case that the hiring process, at its core, is about assessing the potential risk of a candidate not being able to achieve desired performance. Based on years of experience as a recruiter and entrepreneur, he has developed a five-step system for identifying, selecting, and retaining the best employees: 1. Candidate Sourcing The hiring manager uses a combination of tools, technology, and networking techniques to identify candidates who appear to fit the requirements of the open position, and either emails or phones the candidates to determine their interest and availability. 2. Initial Interviews Roughly seventy-five percent of the candidates found in step one are ...
Happier employees impact the bottom lineeach and every day. If youre not working on this, start today because it will cost you in turnover, recruitment efforts and company reputation, not to mention your productivity. All these equal revenue either lost or gained. Forbes.com states that in 2013, revenues increased by an average of 22.2 percent for the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these same companies added new employees at a rate that was five times higher than the national average. Happy employees pay off in a multitude of ways. Theyre more likely to be creative, have better analytical skills, be more productive, provide better service, be better at closing deals, handle adversity better and theyre more likely to stick around. And according to Gallup, they dont take as many sick days. Research has found that Millennials particularly want to have a different type of relationship with their employers than Xers and Boomers do. They want to know that their manager cares about them as a person. Keeping employees happy is a simple task and yet overlooked or waved away as being indulgent to employees for doing their jobs. The psychology of happy employees is multidimensional and complex, but this can be broken down into short but effective steps that a manager can do in 5 minutes every workday. And if thats too much to ask th...
Top enterprises know the importance of talent management. The reason, according to Edward E Lawler, is straightforward. Talent management directly contributes to the bottom line. Why does talent management have such an impact? Todays companies, more than ever, rely on their intangible assets to compete and succeed. Ocean Tomo points out that in 1975, less than 20% of the value of S&P 500 companies was made up of intangibles. Today, that figure is closer to 85%. It is a companys intangible assets  its intellectual capital, its brand and, above all, its human capital  that give it the competitive edge over other companies. And it is employees who put those intangible assets to work. Talent management  getting the right people into the right jobs and helping them excel once there  is core to organizational success. Five steps to success Managing the talent process can be broken up into these steps: Understand the requirement for a role  what are the characteristics that make top performers stand out? This is the basis for a role success profile. Source the talent that matches closest to this success profile, focusing on behaviors for repeatable, predictable success. (Side note: this approach also boosts diversity.) Develop your employees. After recruiting the best people, keep developing them. This need not mean, however, train...
All of your locations are up and running. Youve done all you could do to advertise and get a jump on your competition. So now, the only thing you have left to do is the hiring. Plus you must retain good employees. Success includes retaining good employees. Turnover creates inefficiencies that cost companies major dollars every year, so it's important to pay employees for the efficiencies they create and by staying with the company. Success is hiring and retaining good employees and training them. Treasure your Best Employees In 1994, Cary Albert and his wife Jacquelyn began Schlotzskys. At Albert Enterprises, the owner claims labor costs as a percentage of his business are some of the lowest in the Schlotzsky's system, but that he pays some of the highest hourly rates. Why? "Because we retain great people and reward them with higher pay. You can't put a price tag on this." Albert Enterprises, which landed at No. 1,372 on Inc.'s list of the fastest growing companies in America. It grew to 845 employees and annual revenue of $21 million in 2015, up 280 percent from $5.5 million in 2012 when it employed 125. Teamwork The Albert's are actively involved in all facets of their businesses. Having grown at an eye-popping 100% over the past few years was a remarkable feat. This is a testament to the amazing TEAM assembled by this ownership. Our PE...
working dads getting a raw deal? Thats the question one British inquiry is asking as it explores the barriers facing men who want to take an active role in raising their children.For centuries, women have been considered the majority caregivers but attitudes have changed over the last few decades and many fathers are now favouring a hands-on approach at home  so whats the problem?Well, according to activist group Fathers4Justice, rigid stereotypes mean many new dads face stigmatisation for taking parental leave while a lack of flexible working limits their family time."Dads need to feel that they can take parental leave and be encouraged to do so, founder Matt OConnor told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. We need to ditch this baggage that says 'men go to work, women stay at home,'  its rubbish, change it, it's antiquated.Adrienne Burgess, joint chief executive of the Fatherhood Institute, said employers had a key role in changing attitudes and well-established practices.(We need) forward-thinking employers who normalise active fatherhood among their employees, actively seeking to help fathers be the kinds of dads they aspire to be, said Burgess.Last year, the Fatherhood Institutes Fairness in Families Index found that British parents are among the worst in the developed world for sharing childcare duties, with fathers spending 24 minutes with their children for every hour that women do.The report also pointed to three key factors inhibiting gender equality around looking after children  pay gap, an unequal parental leave system and mother-centric family services.Maria Miller, chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, agreed that the gender pay gap was indisputably linked to the parenting imbalance.Until fathers can take up more parental responsibility, particularly when their children are very young, we wont see a reduction in the gender pay gap, she said.
The recent discovery of naproxen in Brazilian horsemeat has led Humane Society International/Europe to sound the alarm bell about the safety of horsemeat imports from outside the European Union. This substance, which is prohibited for use in food animals, was identified in horsemeat shipped from Brazil to Belgium.

An audit by the European Commission had previously identified major shortcomings in the production of horsemeat destined for export to the EU. It noted that the design and implementation of Brazils 2014 and 2015 residue monitoring plans for horses could not demonstrate that an equivalence to EU food safety standards could be guaranteed.

Live in the EU? Take Action to Suspend Horse Meat Imports.

Joanna Swabe, Ph.D., executive director of Humane Society International/Europe said: For years, we have consistently warned about the threat that the export of horsemeat from non-EU countries poses to EU consumers. The detection of naproxen in Brazilian horsemeat demonstrates yet again that the Brazilian authorities are unable to ensure compliance with EU import requirements and that urgent action is needed to protect both animals and consumers.

Brazil is a key supplier of horsemeat to the EU, with several thousands of tonnes being exported annually, primarily to Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. It is therefore crucial for the European Commission to closely monitor the health risks to which EU consumers are potentially exposed. These substances are typically administered to horses who are not raised for food, entering the cruel slaughter pipeline following their life as companion or work animals.

Short of suspending the import of Brazilian horsemeat altogether, the European Commission should require mandatory testing for the presence of unauthorised substances for all horsemeat imports to the EU originating from Brazil.

Facts:

Since 31 st July 2010, the EU has required that only horses with a known lifetime medical treatment history, and whose medicinal treatment records show they satisfy the veterinary medicine withdrawal periods, will be allowed to be slaughtered for export to the EU.

July 2010, the EU has required that only horses with a known lifetime medical treatment history, and whose medicinal treatment records show they satisfy the veterinary medicine withdrawal periods, will be allowed to be slaughtered for export to the EU. In 2014, the European Commission suspended the import of Mexican horsemeat imports owing to serious traceability and food safety concerns.

More than 25,000 EU citizens joined HSI/Europes call to the European Commission to suspend horsemeat imports from non-EU countries that do not comply with EU food safety standards.

Media Contacts:

US: Raul Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org, +1 301.721.6440

UK: Wendy Higgins, whiggins@hsi.org, +44 (0)7989 972 423
MEDIA DOWNLOADS

LONDONA group of eight dogs has arrived safely at Heathrow Airport being saved from their lives of misery on a South Korean dog meat farm. Animal charity Humane Society International rescued them along with 192 more from the facility where they were kept in metal cages with little food or protection from the harsh climate. The dog meat farm, now permanently closed, was located in Gangwon province, the same area where the 2018 Winter Olympics will take place. HSI is calling on the South Korean government to support a phase out of the dog meat trade ahead of the Olympics and an ultimate ban on the trade.

The eight dogs, soon to be adopted into loving homes, include a golden retriever-cross Bridgette, white Chihuahua Poppet, terrier-cross Rufus, black and white terrier cross Coco, a beagle mother and son pair Sophie and Brent, terrier cross Simona and spaniel collie mix Nina. HSI is working with the All Dogs Matter rehoming centre in north London to find them families and with the Medical Detection Dogs charity in the hope that a couple of dogs may be suitable for their programme to sniff out cancer and other ailments. MDD will assess the dogs at the rehoming centre once they have fully recovered, and if they are not good matches for their programme, they will be placed for adoption too.

Adam Parascandola, HSIs director of animal protection and crisis response, who assisted in the dog rescue, said: With the Winter Olympics just over a year away, now is the time for the South Korean government to end the dog meat trade and let the world focus on the countrys preparations for a great sporting event, rather than on the terrible suffering of dogs being raised on farms for a meat few Koreans consume.

This is the sixth dog meat farm closed by HSI, with a total of 770 dogs rescued so far since the charity began its campaign to end the dog meat trade in South Korea in 2014. The owner of this dog meat farm approached HSI after being urged by her daughter to give up the dog meat business and transition to another line of work. On all the dog operations visited, including this latest one, HSI has found breeds of all kinds, such as cocker spaniels, huskies, beagles and Pyrenees, as well as those more commonly found on meat farms, such as mastiffs and Jindos.

Claire Bass, UK director of HSI said from Heathrow where she greeted the dogs: Its such a wonderful feeling to get these dogs out safe and sound, and to know that they are at last free of daily suffering and the threat of being killed and eaten. Despite being denied love and comfort for so long, its incredibly touching these dogs still have such great affection for people, and were very confident that theyll make wonderful companions in their happy new homes here in the UK. Theyll also serve as ambassadors for the millions of other dogs still languishing on dog meat farms in South Korea.

The dogs will now settle in at the All Dogs Matter rehoming centre in north London who will find them happy homes. Ira Moss, All Dogs Matter director said: All Dogs Matter are truly honoured that we are able to help the dogs that Humane Society International have rescued from South Korea. We look forward to finding them their forever homes and hope to see an end to the horrors of this awful trade.

HSI has found many operators of dog meat farms in South Korea are eager to leave the trade and transition to new livelihoods. Only a government-led phase out of dog meat farming and consumption could effectively and permanently eliminate the cruel trade. HSIs successful interventions with dog meat farmers over the last two years clearly show that dog meat farmers are willing to give up their trade if given an alternative.

Facts:

With this latest operation, HSI has helped rescue nearly 800 dogs from dog meat farms in South Korea.

Most people in South Korea dont regularly eat dogs, and the practice is increasingly out of favor with the younger generation.

Most people in South Korea never visit a dog meat farm and are unaware of the suffering experienced by the dogs. HSI is keen to dispel the widespread misconception that farmed dogs are somehow different in nature to companion dogs.

How You Can Help

* If youre interested to adopt one of our South Korean rescues, or any of the dogs and cats at All Dogs Matter, apply online at http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/adopt-a-dog/

*Text WOOF03 3 to 70070 to donate 3 to help HSI end the dog meat trade

*Donate dog toys and blankets to All Dogs Matter, South End Farm, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3SE.

ENDS

Notes to editor

For more information visit hsi.org/dogmeat

B-roll video and photos of the dogs are available here.

Media contacts: HSI (United Kingdom): Wendy Higgins: whiggins@hsi.org, +44 (0)7989 972 423
The Tom Ford Versus Melania and Donald Trump saga continues.

After appearing on "The View" back in November and confessing that he was "sad and disappointed" with Hillary Clinton's loss in the 2016 presidential election, the 55-year-old American fashion designed revealed he had no interest in dressing president-elect Trump's wife, Melania.

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"I was asked to dress her quite a few years ago and I declined," Ford said. "Shes not necessarily my image."

This got a lot of people talking, in both politics and fashion.

The "Nocturnal Animals" director clarified his remarks at the 2017 Golden Globes, saying that "given this president's belief about 'made in America,'" both the president-elect and first lady should only wear clothes made in America and accessible to all Americans.

"I think that whoever is the president, or the first lady, should be wearing clothes at a price point that are accessible to most Americans, and wearing clothes made in America. My clothes are made in Italy, they're very, very expensive. I don't think most women or men in our country can relate to that, and I think the first lady or the president should represent all people."

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Enter Donald Trump.

The president-elect appeared on "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday, adding Melania never asked Ford to dress her in the first place.

President-elect #DonaldTrump on #TomFord refusing to dress #MelaniaTrump: "He was never asked to dress [Melania] Im not a fan of Tom Ford" pic.twitter.com/1PmMPWs9zk  Fox News (@FoxNews) January 18, 2017

"[She] never asked Tom Ford, doesn't like Tom Ford. Doesn't like his designs. He was never asked to dress [Melania]," Trump told Ainsley Earhardt.

Im not a fan of Tom Ford, never have been, Trump said.

Trump also said Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn called him and thought, "it was so terrible what Tom Ford said that he threw his clothing out of his Las Vegas hotel."

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(Side note: tossing designer clothes out the window? Sad!)

(Side note again: should Trump really be encouraging people to throw out designer clothes considering he is the man to claim his inauguration is causing a dress shortage in Washington? We don't think so.)

As of press time, it is still unclear who will dress Melania for Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, but, of course, there are the rumours. Both Ralph Lauren and Karl Lagerfeld are reportedly in the running to dress the future first lady.

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A Halifax mother says she was called a bitch and child abuser on social media after Ezra Levant re-posted a photo of her taking her son to see Justin Trudeau.

Erin Moore, a journalism instructor at Nova Scotia Community College, took her seven-year-old to the prime ministers town hall on Monday. She posted a photo on Twitter, saying they had waited an hour in the cold to get into the event.

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Levant retweeted Moores photo with the caption 'Journalism Instructor' to which she responded.

An hour in long line in the freezing cold to take Ollie to see @JustinTrudeau in Dartmouth. pic.twitter.com/RfdDkxk7e4  Erin Moore (@moorejourno) January 16, 2017

The implication Im guessing is that I couldnt possibly have journalistic integrity if I took my child to a Liberal event, Moore wrote in the Halifax Examiner.

My Twitter account started blowing up with mostly anonymous users calling me a child abuser, a bad mother, and a bitch. Hundreds of them. Theyre still coming.

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@ezralevant STOP INVOLVING KIDS IN POLITICS  Mattchu Picchu (@MattchuPicchu85) January 16, 2017

@ezralevant looks like child abuse to me.  liqdmetal (@liqdmetal) January 16, 2017

@ezralevant@moorejourno@JustinTrudeau Cause that's what a good parent does, brings their kid to see a pussy in the freezing cold  Angry Asian (@AngryAsian60) January 17, 2017

Levant is a former lawyer who now runs The Rebel, a conservative website. He became known for his outspoken rants on Sun News  including one where he referred to former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau as "a slut."

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The former Sun News host shared an exclusive excerpt of his new book, Trumping Trudeau, on Breitbart News on Wednesday.

The site used to be run by Steve Bannon, who is now chief strategist to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Bannon described the site as the "platform of the alt-right," which is a U.S.-based offshoot of conservatism that combines elements of racism, white nationalism and populism.

Moore said it was her intention was to introduce her son to politics and encourage him to become an engaged citizen.

Yes, journalism instructor (no quotes) introducing son to democratic experience of listening to PM while protestors demonstrate outside. https://t.co/tY0YuAhRFn  Erin Moore (@moorejourno) January 16, 2017

Trudeau was in town taking questions as part of a cross-country tour. Over the next few weeks, he's set to visit Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and the prairies, with later trips to the north and the Maritimes.

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A widower in B.C. is reaching out to moms after his wife took her own life, following a struggle with postpartum depression.

Florence Leung gave birth to a boy last September. Less than two months later, she disappeared. After an intense extended search, her body was found off the coast of Vancouver in November.

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This week, her husband, Kim Chen, sent a message of support to new mothers, hoping that they will reach out for help, and learn from his wife's story.

"For all the new moms experiencing low mood or anxiety, please seek help and talk about your feelings," he wrote on Facebook Tuesday. "You are Not alone. You are Not a bad mother."

In a Facebook group dedicated to his wife's memory, Chen urged hospitals to put less pressure on moms to breastfeed.

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"Apparently the hospitals are designated 'baby-friendly' only if they promote exclusive-breastfeeding," Chen wrote, adding moms who opt for formula milk should not be shamed as bad parents.

Health Canada recommends breastfeeding as the only food for infants in the first six months. However, many women are often unable to for many reasons, such as illness or an inability to produce enough milk.

Chen said he remembers receiving a handout when his wife was discharged from the maternity unit, urging exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and posters around the hospital touting that "Breast is Best."

"While agreeing to the benefits of breast milk, there [NEEDS] to be an understanding that it is OK to supplement with formula, and that formula is a completely viable option," wrote Chen.

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Postpartum depression generally affects 20 per cent of women  and sometimes men  in the first year after childbirth. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and sometimes thoughts of harming oneself or the child, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Recent reports indicate that not being able to breastfeed may increase the risk of postpartum depression, noted a study published in the Depression Research and Treatment journal.

"You are not alone. You are not a bad mother."

The Facebook group in Leung's memory has also become a place for parents to discuss mental health.

Chen also shared the difficulties he's experienced since losing his partner.

"As the initial shock and emotional numbness slowly subsides, I'm experiencing more flashbacks of memories from our 6.5 years of happiness, and for now these memories tend to trigger pain and intense longing."

He added that their baby boy is "growing well and well taken care of, he is at 90th percentile for height and weight, and smiles and laughs a lot!"
Sometimes all you need to do is add ice.

At least that's the idea behind ice dragon boat racing. The newly unveiled sport arrives in North America in a historic first and Ottawa's hosting the inaugural race.

For the uninitiated, dragon boating takes crews anywhere from 12 to 22 people and pits teams in a competition mixing speed, strength and traditional Chinese drumming.

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Ice dragon boating takes all that and adds skates. Oh, and paddles are traded in for sticks with spike-laden horsehoofs.

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"It's only been done in Mongolia, China and Budapest. [The sport's] really only about a year and a half to two years old," John Brooman told the Huffington Post Canada.

Brooman is the CEO of the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival and currently tasked with making sure North America's first ice dragon boat race goes smooth, as well, ice, on the Rideau Canal.

"I think there's something historic and magical about the canal itself. There's something very special about it in Ottawa," Brooman said. "I think we got lucky... we hit it at the right time."

Timing has been on the organization's side so far.

When they first announced it in October of 2016, all 30 spots sold out in eight minutes. The second round of registrations filled up entirely. There will be 60 competitors, making the event the largest in the world.

The event has also received the thumbs up from the National Capital Commission, Heritage Canada and funding from the Chinese embassy, the event's first and only sponsor so far.

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"It's just been a match made in heaven," according to Brooman.

"We are taking a big gamble on this. There's no question: we are trail blazing and we're just seeing the opportunity and hoping that we get the ideal conditions."

Spectators can head to Dow Lake to catch all the action on February 17 and 18.
Will this make Nestle think twice about taking Ontario's water?

The provincial government has posted a new proposed regulation that would raise the amount of money bottling companies would be charged for taking groundwater. The proposal would see the fee rise to $500 for every one million litres of water taken, from the current $3.71.

While that's a huge increase in percentage terms, it's a tiny actual increase in costs for a company like Nestle Waters Canada, which has been embroiled in a controversy about a water well in Centre Wellington, Ont., on which the company outbid the local municipality last summer.

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The new fee would work out to .025 cents per 500-mL bottle sold individually, and just .6 cents for every 24-pack of bottled water sold in supermarkets.

Many environmental activists say hiking fees won't address the real issues involved with water-bottling.

"Our position is that an increase in fees charged by a provincial government does not address the fundamental issue of extracting a public resource for corporate profit, the commodification of a human right, or the cumulative impact of the loss of groundwater from a local watershed," the Council of Canadians said in a statement.

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The fee hike comes in the wake of a controversy over Nestle Waters Canada's purchase of the rights to a water well in Centre Wellington, a southern Ontario community that's anticipating major population growth in the coming years.

Activists launched a boycott of Nestle, and urged governments to stop issuing water-taking permits to bottling companies altogether. Nestle defended itself, saying it hadn't known it was competing against a municipality for the water.

Nestle has previously said that it would be prepared to pay more for permits if rates were increased, but only if all companies with water-taking permits face the higher fees.

The company said last month it wants to partner with Centre Wellington to share the water. Activists accused the company of trying to make "a back door deal ... that would in effect privatize the community's water supply."

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Environmental Defence called the new fee good news, noting it would be the highest in Canada, but said Ontario still needs to better protect communities' access to clean drinking water and should give priority to "beneficial'' uses such as agriculture over water bottling.

The group also called for Ontario to put a deposit on plastic bottles, similar to what is in place for liquor and beer bottles.

Premier Kathleen Wynne has spoken about a need to look at the culture around bottled water.

"Why are we all drinking water out of bottles when most of us don't need to?'' she said in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press. "I think we need to have a bigger look at the whole industry, and our role in regulating it.''

 With files from The Canadian Press

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Galust Sahakyan receives Ambassador of India

On January 18, Speaker of the Armenian National Asembly Galust Sahakyan received Yogeshwar Sangwan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to Armenia. Welcoming the guest, Galust Sahakyan highly assessed the warm relations existing between the two countries and added that this year is the jubilee in the newest history of bilateral relations: the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries will be marked. In that context, Mr Sahakyan recorded with satisfaction that during the last years the Armenian-Indian relations have developed in the atmosphere of mutual trust and mutual understanding and at present continue maintaining the rates of progress in different spheres. In terms of mutually beneficial cooperation, the NA Speaker highlighted the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation, the active contacts of the Friendship Groups andocumented with satisfaction that the cooperation is at high level. Thanking for the warm reception, Ambassador Yogeshwar Sangwan assured the Armenian official that during his diplomatic mission he will do his best to promote the development and deepening of the Armenian-Indian relations. The interlocutors expressed hope that with the Ambassadors direct participation and active efforts in the coming years Armenia and India will launch the disclosure of the potential of the cooperation existing between the two states and its full realization. The sides also referred to the NK problem and the parliamentary elections to be held in Armenia in April and other issues.
Millions of Canadians get their periods every month, but believe it or not, some cant afford basic menstrual supplies.

Some girls are even missing school because of it, according to a northern Saskatchewan MP.

Georgina Jolibois, who is based in La Loche, Sask., told The Huffington Post Canada that food and personal hygiene products are pricey in the northern part of the province. And some communities are so small that people might have to drive an hour simply to find a store in a town that sells them, she said.

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"It is very expensive, not to only buy the tampons or the pads, but also [treatment] for their cramps," she told CBC News.

"They might not have the money to buy Midol or other pain-relief medication, so they stay home."

It creates unfair barriers, she said: All Canadian women ... should have the ability to participate freely and equally in Canadian society."

A new organization in Regina hopes to provide a solution with free menstrual cups. The silicone cups are reusable, environmentally friendly and generally cheaper than their disposable counterparts. They sell for about $40 online and can be worn for up to 12 hours before being emptied.

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Typically a problem in impoverished countries

Staying home while on your period is a problem more common in impoverished countries.

A study from Uganda cited by The Guardian found that girls in rural areas miss, on average, more than 10 per cent of their school days annually because of a lack of pads and access to bathrooms, and even bullying because they have their periods.

Your Time Women's Empowerment Foundation originally planned to help girls in Colombia, but the organizers soon discovered that there was also a need in their own province.

"We have three board members that go up into northern Saskatchewan quite often, and they said, 'Wait a minute, we should be doing something here in our own backyard,'" Sandy Beug, the group's president, told HuffPost Canada.

"It is appalling that thats happening right here in Canada."

Secretary Lisa Peters said shes heard from Street Culture Project, which helps vulnerable people in Regina, that young homeless women are missing school because they can't afford pads or tampons, much less food.

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Together with DivaCup, a Canadian company that makes the cups, the group plans to distribute them to Street Culture Project, as well as an organization that helps impoverished young people in Colombia.

After that, they hope to go into northern Saskatchewan.

Their goals are to identify girls and women in need, educate them on how to use the cups and sanitize them, as well as answer any questions about reproductive health.

"It is appalling that thats happening right here in Canada."  Sandy Beug, Your Time Women's Empowerment Foundation

"I know it's going to be a little icky in the beginning, and they're going to get over it, because the benefits are going to be incredible," Peters said about the cups.

"With the DivaCup, once you get the hang of it, you can wear that almost all day at school."

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Jolibois, who advises the group, likes the idea. But she repeatedly stressed the sensitivity of the issue, adding that she didn't feel comfortable revealing details about her constituents' experiences.

Peters thinks that stigma is part of the problem. Girls feel embarrassed to ask, and it isn't an issue that occurs to many men.

If we just start the conversation, and we can keep a few more girls in school, then the world's going to be a better place."

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Chris Helgren / Reuters Protesters hold a rally at City Hall before a march against the proposed expansion of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain Pipeline in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada November 19, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Helgren

Last week the B.C. Liberal government approved the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project. They have stated that Kinder Morgan has met their five conditions and have added 37 new conditions with their approval.

From the National Energy Board hearings, to the recent to governmental approval, the process was problematic right from the start. It was nothing more than a public relations exercise.

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With this decision comes a more than 500% increase in diluted bitumen transports through the Salish Sea. I have heard consistently from all communities in Saanich North and the Islands that this project is a top concern, and so it should be. It threatens our coastline, our wildlife, our tourism industry and our quality of life.

We have seen opposition from communities and First Nations all along the route but it has been the strongest on the coast. The mayors of Vancouver and Victoria have been unequivocal in their opposition.

I was an intervenor in the National Energy Board (NEB) hearings for the project. I can say from first hand experience that the review process established by the Harper Government, and subsequently supported by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, is not one in which British Columbians can have any confidence in. The evidence was not tested, questions went unanswered, assurances were vague and often inaccurate.

At the very least, Kinder Morgan should have been expected to show that they can clean up a dilbit spill to get approval. But they haven't - because they can't.

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This is the result of a 'get to yes no matter the costs' approach to public policy. We have a process that actively excluded people and communities and with mounting evidence that we do not have the capability to deal with a spill, we hear the government say 'don't worry, Kinder Morgan will figure it out.'

The B.C. Liberals promised that any heavy oil pipeline would have to meet their five conditions before it was granted. Do we suddenly have a world-leading marine oil spill response...no we do not. Do we have world-leading practices for land-based oil spill prevention... no we do not. Have we addressed the legal requirements regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights... no we have not. Does a few million dollars each year give British Columbia a "fair share", due to the high risk we are accepting...hardly.

A year ago the B.C. Liberal government said a firm "no" in its final written submission to the NEB (a 72 page document) to this pipeline because it did not meet these conditions, now they have suddenly reversed course and approved it.

Kinder Morgan itself has donated more than $28,000 to the BC Liberals in the years leading up to 2015 - after that, they stopped donating to the BC Libs in the company's name.

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But that's not the whole story. Some of the pipelines biggest customers include Nexen, Devon, Canadian Resources Ltd, Cenovus Energy, Imperial Oil and Suncor - all of which have contributed substantially to the B.C. Liberal coffers.

The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association lobbying group was another large donor to the BC Liberal Party. When we combine the donations from all of these organizations over the last decade, we get a total of almost $720,000 donated to the BC Liberals!

So why did the B.C. Liberals reject it in the first place?

Politics. They knew that they could hide behind the Federal NEB process and "stand up for British Columbia" without having to do anything.

Once the Federal government approved it, that changed the stakes. Now there was the political pressure from the Federal Government, the neighbouring "left-leaning" Alberta Government, and let's not discount the lobbying and donations from the oil industry itself.

First, Notley visited British Columbia to sell the project, followed by a visit from Trudeau who also promoted his approval. They both claimed the project was good for the climate and part of our climate strategy. Rubbish.

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The B.C. Greens are not against all industrial projects - but we're fully against this type of process. It is no way to build public confidence in a major industrial project.

This is irresponsible decision making fueled by unlimited lobbying and large corporate donations, that is not in our interests. That's it, plain and simple.

The B.C. Liberals' approval not only undermines our environment and the communities directly affected, it undermines the role of science and evidence, our climate responsibilities, and all of the economic sectors that will be negatively impacted by industrializing the Salish Sea. We have to transition away from fossil fuels.

Mark Carney (the Governor for the Bank of England and chair of the Financial Stability Board) recently wrote that the Carbon Bubble is starting to look more and more dangerous for the world economy.

This project takes us in the completely wrong direction by investing in fossil fuel infrastructure that will last decades, and which poses serious long-term environmental and economic risks.

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The 21st century is increasingly powered by the innovation found in the creative economy. Indeed President Obama recently made a convincing case in the journal Science that "the trend towards clean energy is irreversible." Instead of doubling down on the industries of the past, we need to be making investments in the future.

I have stood up for the interests of our riding throughout the NEB process and I will continue to stand up for the Salish Sea. I am running in this election with the BC Green Party -- the only party that has consistently opposed to this reckless industrial project. There's a hopeful future where BC is a leader in the new economy, but it needs new leadership to get there.
There's a quote from a dead French guy I've always adored and it goes something like this: "Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you what you are."

I love it because I've always considered it true. It's right up there with other facts of life like "everything tastes better with cheese" and "you don't win friends with salad."

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But lately the words of Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin have got me in an existential crisis.

Who am I?

If you look at what I eat and what I cook, it's the equivalent of throwing a dart at a map.

The easy answer to that question is that I'm Canadian. Few nationalities give you the privilege of good global gastronomy with such ease.

To be part of any ethnic community means you have to work for it.

The complicated answer is that I'm someone longing to reconnect with my Vietnamese roots.

I've made strides with language in the last few years and done a better job to stay in touch with family, but it still isn't enough.

To be part of any ethnic community means you have to work for it. There's work to be done on my part reaching out to the Vietnamese community and lots of homework when it comes to the history of my family and their motherland.

Story continues below the video

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But I'm no historian. The only books I crack open nowadays are cookbooks. So I've decided to start there. Food has always been more than fuel for me. Food encompasses history, culture, geography, politics and lately, identity.

Which brings us back to the dead Frenchman's words of wisdom: "Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you what you are."

So this year I'm going to start off with cooking more Vietnamese dishes, and that begins with xoi. Next to pho, it's the only dish I regularly crave.

Xoi sounds like "soy," which confuses the hell out of my friends when I try to explain what it is. More confusing is that it can be served as a dessert when flavoured with fruits like coconut and jackfruit or served as a main dish when you add chicken or pork floss to the mix.

Food encompasses history, culture, geography, politics and lately, identity.

But no matter how you prefer it, at the core is glutinous rice. If you've ever been to Dim Sum and ordered the sticky rice in lotus leaf, you'll be right at home with the savoury versions of xoi.

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My favourite variation is xoi lap xuong. It's a little odd that one of my all-time top Vietnamese dishes literally translates to "sticky rice with Chinese sausage" but I believe that's a reflection of Vietnamese food in general: we borrow from our neighbours (or depending on where you are in your history books, our colonizers).

I grew up eating xoi lap xuong on weekends (sticky rice wasn't a regular carb on the dinner table for us) but remember it the most on road trips as a kid because it was:

1. Cheap and certainly cheaper than the fast-food options at gas stations.

2. Always served in re-used tofu containers (a.k.a. Asian Tupperware) packed by my mom.

3. Meat plus carbs with minimal vegetables? What's not to like?

Having made the dish myself, I can also say it's simple to pull off.

If you live by a Chinese grocery store, you'll have no problem finding the rice and the sausage. The sausages will probably be in the frozen section or hanging dried in bunches from red string. If a supermarket is easier for you, you might find the sausages in the processed meat section. As for the rice, try asking for bags of "glutinous rice."

Eat up,

-BLT

Xoi Lap Xuong// Sticky Rice With Chinese Sausages

Feeds 4

You'll need:

2 cups of glutinous rice

4 medium-length Chinese sausages, sliced width-wise

4 cloves of garlic, sliced

4 green onions, chopped

1 medium white onion, diced

1 lb of lean ground pork

8 dried shitake mushrooms, rehydrated and sliced

3 tbsp of soy sauce

2 tbsp of sesame oil

Ground pepper to taste

1. Start with rinsing the rice under cold water.

I use a rice cooker so I pour the grains into the metal insert, add water and stir until the liquid becomes cloudy. You'll then want to drain the water. Rinse and repeat. No, I'm serious. Do this for another three to four times until the liquid is clear.

2. Level the rice and add an inch of water to cover.

If you're using a rice cooker, set it and forget it. If you're cooking it over a stove top, bring the pot to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Stir occasionally and the rice should be cooked after 15 minutes.

3. In a large heated frying pan or wok, add the sesame oil and diced onions.

Cook until soft, roughly five minutes over medium high heat. Add garlic followed by the pork. Cook until the pork is no longer pink.

4. Add sausages, mushrooms and soy sauce.

Cook for another five minutes. Add green onions, remove from heat and give the pan a stir until everything is well mixed.

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5. Spoon rice into bowl and top with the sausage and pork mixture. Purists will insist on garnishing with fried shallots -- or do as I do and dig in.

Born And Raised is an ongoing series by The Huffington Post Canada that shares the experiences of second-generation Canadians. Part reflection, part storytelling, this series on the children of immigrants explores what it means to be born and raised in Canada. We want to hear your stories -- join the conversation on Twitter at #BornandRaised or send us an email at bornandraised@huffingtonpost.com.

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Professor25 via Getty Images Torn pieces of paper with the word Corruption. Concept Image. Black and White. Closeup.

Several high-level corruption cases in 2016 have brought corruption to the public's attention. Last month, the South Korean Parliament voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye for extorting millions from major Korean corporations. In Brazil, President Dilma Rousseff was impeached in August for the "carwash scandal" which included a network of government officials involved in money-laundering and corrupt procurement. Another South American female leader, former Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, was indicted in May for manipulating the nation's Central Bank during the final months of her administration. Over the past few months, South African President Jacob Zuma, nicknamed the "Teflon President" for his ability to survive scandals, has been facing pressure to resign because of misuse of public funds.

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Even though high-level corruption is worthy of our attention, by focusing only on these cases one might fail to assess and address the impact of all forms of corruption on economic and social development. As in cases such as South Korea, grand corruption is committed at a high governmental level where leaders benefit at the expense of the public good by distorting the central functioning of the state. On the other hand, petty corruption is committed by low- and mid-level public officials in their everyday interactions with ordinary citizens and often takes place in hospitals, schools, police departments, and other government agencies. Petty corruption is often overlooked, even though it hinders access to basic goods affects economic development, and disproportionately affects the poor in public service delivery.

The vast majority of scholars and specialists support that corruption, which is strongly negatively correlated with sustainable growth, "sands" the wheels of development by making economic and political transitions difficult. In fact, most economists agree that corruption has a major negative impact on development and, by generating poverty traps, is one of the causes of low income.

Dr. Jillian Kohler, a Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, highlights the impact of corruption on global health. Dr. Kohler argues that corruption jeopardizes international security by compromising population health and that access to vaccines and medications could improve security. The global poor are most affected by problematic access to health as they often face the trilemma of choosing between purchasing from illegal sellers to reduce the cost, deepening their impoverishment by using private health systems, or not taking medications at all.

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Dr. Kohler suggests that transparent electronic procurement system would improve the integrity and efficiency of the global pharmaceutical supply system, improve access to healthcare for the poor, and provide fewer opportunities for corruption.

University of Wisconsin-Madison economists Jeremy Foltz and Daniel Bromley examined petty corruption in West African trucking and its impact on delivering basic goods and on trade more broadly. They documented petty corruption between drivers and officials at regular checkpoints and barriers and they found that bribe payments are required in 90 per cent of the stops.

Drs. Foltz and Bromley argue that petty corruption reduces 1-2 per cent of trade, which in turn deters foreign direct investment, and creates captive markets where citizens either don't have access to or pay premium prices for goods such as food and medicine.

As the World Bank highlights in a report on corruption in Bank-financed projects, the negative impact of corruption on development is not only limited to financial damages but involves a broader chain of events, including raised prices and/or lowered quality due to bribery; qualified bidders who are discouraged and stop bidding as less qualified bidders win by bid rigging; and citizens who are unwilling to report corruption because of undermined trust in public institutions.

A powerful and innovative tool against petty corruption is the use of information technology (IT) either in the form of mobile applications or web platforms. IT and e-governance could be the antidote and have the potential to improve efficiency and transparency, remove the element of discretion that public officials have, help lower the cost of services, and assist in indicting public servants for corrupt activities. Also, the first stages of petty corruption in accessing services can be largely eliminated by introducing e-governance in accessing and filing forms and documents such as licences.

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As part of the Asia Connect Initiative of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada - the foremost think-tank on Canada's relations with Asia - I am currently leading a team to produce a report on how new technologies can help tackle corruption. As the focus of the report is Indonesia, we have been able to talk to several local anti-corruption organizations and run a survey for university students. Indonesia is a particularly interesting case as it is the third largest democracy in the world, faces high corruption rates, and has multiple government and non-government initiatives collaborating with each other, often using new technologies.

Anti-corruption initiatives in Indonesia already use mobile apps to prevent corruption, facilitate the reporting of corrupt activities, educate and inform the public, and empower women to be anti-corruptions agents.

One of the new initiatives is Korupedia, an online tool built with the collaboration of the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK), Transparency International Indonesia, and volunteers. Korupedia provides two services through their website: first, an online list of government officials who have been convicted for corruption and the documents associated with their trials and, second, information on cases that are stalled in a certain stage of legal proceeding . Users can see on the map each case and follow its history. This "naming and shaming" approach is believed to be effective for tackling future corruption as public servants will be more cautious. Additionally, the public can sometimes avoid services that are more corrupt, for example when choosing where to get a document or passport.

The interviews and survey conducted for our project showed the potential and challenges of the collaborative initiatives using new technologies. The concurrent use of top-down and bottom-up approaches through the collaboration of a government agency with high independence, such as KPK, and grassroots organizations give the opportunity for speedy results. Even though social media and other online tools look promising and have already delivered results, the low internet penetration of the country (20.4 per cent) and the slow internet connection keep their impact limited.
At noon this Friday, what was once thought impossible is scheduled to happen -- Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.

More than two months after the U.S. election, it is still shocking and frightening to say those words.

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In the days, weeks and years ahead, however, we must do more than fret and worry. Instead, we need to organize and learn effective ways to assert more strongly the values we hold most dear. It is important to not be silent but rather to push back against the politics of sexism, racism, xenophobia and fear that got Trump into the White House.

It is a dangerous and irresponsible way to lead or to govern.

We are entering a period of unprecedented instability brought on by a Commander in Chief in the United States who seems to make policy through middle-of-the-night tweets and headline-grabbing interviews with select media.

In just the past week, Trump's impulsive musings have cast into doubt the future of longstanding U.S. policies toward both Israel and China. He's questioned the legitimacy of NATO and his own intelligence community. He has applauded the Brexit vote, predicted the demise of the European Union and said Germany made a "very catastrophic mistake" by accepting so many Syrian refugees.

It's hard to keep up with it all, honestly. The broadsides keep coming. By the time you've digested one, another comes flying. It is a dangerous and irresponsible way to lead or to govern.

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Among the most startling in Canada this past week, Trump's team said that cars from Canada could be subject to the same "big border tax" he has been musing about for automakers importing cars to the U.S. from Mexico. The comments from Trump spokesman Sean Spicer were the first time Canada had been specifically mentioned when it came to auto imports.

I have never been a big fan of NAFTA. Our trade deficit with the U.S. has soared since NAFTA came into effect. The deal has put downward pressure on wages and working conditions, and it has failed to lift up Mexican workers as was promised.

I do however have a few ideas, outlined recently with Council of Canadians National Chairperson Maude Barlow, on ways to improve NAFTA for all working people, but I suspect that's not what Trump is talking about. Trump, instead, is talking about an isolationist, protectionist America-first policy that spells danger for the rest of us.

It's the same sort of attitude we saw in his dismissive comments about NATO and Europe over the weekend. As a German broadcaster reported, such comments show that Europe and NATO simply don't matter to Trump, personally, so no longer matter to the U.S. government.

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As well, judging from his past comments about women, immigrants, racialized people, Muslims and others, there seems to be a great deal that doesn't matter to Trump beyond pushing his own brand and his own self-defined corporate success at making America great again.

Unifor is joining efforts across Canada to encourage union members to attend and say no to hate, and yes to justice.

Many are already pushing back. Since the election we have seen rallies across America warning Trump not to take America backwards. Within 24 hours of his inauguration, what promises to be a historic march will be held on Saturday on the very streets where Trump's inauguration will take place, along with hundreds of solidarity marches happening.

The march has grown to a worldwide phenomenon, with rallies around the globe, including several across Canada. It began as a humble appeal for women to descend on Washington the day after the inauguration to show that they will not stand by and let their rights be taken away by a president who boasted during the campaign of assaulting women.

This march has now become a massive mobilization with a call to action and a demand for women and others to speak up and have our voices heard. Unifor is joining efforts across Canada to encourage union members to attend and say no to hate, and yes to justice.

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We can take inspiration from this. Saturday's march won't immediately stop Trump's agenda, but it's an important start for what must be done to build a united mobilization effort. Let's keep it going.

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Justin Trudeau was elected prime minister with a campaign fuelled by "sunny ways," but a few months back he ran out of solar power.

Now, as human tornado Donald Trump begins his apocalyptic presidency and Conservative leadership candidates Kellie Leitch and Kevin O'Leary try to emulate him here at home, it's time for Trudeau to get back to his old ways before the southern storm front crosses our border.

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Trudeau's honeymoon had to end sometime. That's why it was so appropriate when protesters at a youth labour forum turned their backs on him, a prime minister so focused on symbolism and imagery.

"It is a little bit frustrating for me to come in, sit down, look forward to hearing from you, talking with you, and seeing a room full of people who are standing in a way that shows they're not listening," he griped.

No doubt they felt similarly frustrated given that they were shouting out "hypocrite" and holding "Keep the Promise" signs, angered over the Liberals' support for Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal and other rightward moves.

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Over the course of his first year, Trudeau's much-vaunted electoral reform efforts went off the rails. Canadians continue to be jailed and dispensaries continue to be raided even as the country awaits marijuana legalization, all because Trudeau ordered the police to "enforce the law."

Trudeau's honeymoon had to end sometime.

On energy policy, the man who proclaimed "Canada is back, my good friends. We're here to help to build an agreement that will do our children and our grandchildren proud" at the Paris climate change summit went on to approve the Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal, as well as the Trans Mountain and Line 3 pipelines, infuriating environmentalists and First Nations.

Indigenous people have even more reason to be disappointed with Trudeau as remote reserves continue to be gripped by an ongoing suicide crisis while nothing has been done to address deficits in education funding, clean water or housing.

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I'm not one to say that there's no difference between the Liberals and Conservatives -- a decade under Harper made that abundantly clear -- but the similarly untrue notion that there was no difference between the Democrats and Republicans was what allowed Trump to win.

Now it is admittedly typical for the Liberals to run left and govern centre-right, but the prime minister would do well to realize that these are unusual times.

Canada's 2015 election began with the NDP out in the lead until Tom Mulcair began campaigning right and progressive voters increasingly felt they couldn't trust him because of his unclear position. So they moved to Trudeau and won him the election. Hillary Clinton, however, failed to convince the Bernie voters that she could be trusted to represent their values and lost as a result.

The difference here in Canada is that our three-party system means that even though a plurality of Canadians are progressive, when the NDP and Liberals split the vote the Conservatives win by default.

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Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch speaks during the Tory leadership debate in Saskatoon on Nov. 9, 2016. (Photo: Liam Richards/CP)

That was one thing when Obama was president, but with Trump we need a strong progressive leader who not only says the right things about issues like climate change and indigenous rights, but does the right things, too.

I do believe that Trudeau means well. His diverse and gender-balanced cabinet and Pride parade presence sent important messages to Canadians, and his Syrian refugee plan came through as promised, saving tens of thousands of lives.

But he must do more, because making progressive voters feel used and abandoned is a recipe for Trumpism to come to Canada.

There's still time for Trudeau to learn from his mistakes.

Last September, Trudeau addressed the world at the United Nations and asked: "When leaders are faced with citizens' anxiety, we have a choice to make. Do we exploit that anxiety or do we allay it?"

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He warned about turning anxiety into "fear and blame" and "rejecting others because they look, or speak, or pray differently than we do."

Yet that fear was how Trump won, and precisely why populists Leitch and O'Leary are exploiting it, too.

But Trudeau said something else that he needs to remember right now: "What matters is that we learn from our mistakes, and recommit ourselves to doing better."

There's still time for Trudeau to learn from his mistakes, to enact the progressive policies Canadians voted for and to recommit his government to doing better.

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We are currently embroiled in a mass-extinction event and, by 2025, up to a fifth of our known wildlife species will be lost. Don't worry, this post isn't like the last ten minutes of a wildlife documentary where they tell you that all the lovely animals that you have been enjoying are about to die, and it's your fault. Instead of feeling depressed about the future of these animals, let's work together to save them.

By adopting a greener lifestyle, you can reduce your carbon footprint and your impact on the environments that support these animals. You can spread awareness, volunteer, elect officials who make the environment a priority and donate to wildlife foundations. Through awareness, we are able to prevent extinctions by managing habitats and protecting vulnerable populations. Here are some of the most vulnerable species of animals and what you can do to help keep them from extinction.

Elephants

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Rampant poaching for the ivory trade has halved the population of elephants in Africa and, together with habitat loss and conflict with human populations, has driven these denizens of the savanna to the brink of extinction.

You can help save the elephants by supporting one of the following foundations:

Adopt an elephant through one of these programs:

Apply for an internship to save the elephants in Kenya.

Polar Bears

Canada is home to two thirds of the world's polar bear population. Hunting, industry and habitat loss are responsible for dwindling polar bear numbers. There is much you can do to help bolster their numbers:

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Reducing your greenhouse gas emissions

Electing officials who take action on climate change

Support renewable energy initiatives

Adopt a polar bear

Buy a gift certificate

Give a donation

Orangutans

As Asia's only great ape, these lovable primates could be extinct in ten years if we don't take action to save them. Here's how you can help support their Malaysian and Indonesian habitats:

Barn Owls

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Barn owls can be found in Southern Ontario and in British Columbia. Barn owls are threatened by a lack of habitat and by the use of pesticides. They are endangered and there is much that you can do to help save them from extinction.

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This blog originally appeared on Hype Foodie.

Dear McDonald's Canada,

You had me...

I've been loyal to the McDonald's brand ever since I can remember. As a child, many of my birthday parties were at McDonald's. I grew up knowing Grimace, Birdie, the Hamburglar, the Fry Guys and Ronald McDonald. I recited commercials, sang about the ingredients in a Big Mac, and still talk about how much I loved the pizza. I even ate McDonald's after my prom.

Once school was done and after a short stint in Montreal, I moved back to Toronto and found my dream job at the head office of McDonald's Canada. I was young, energetic and excited to help build a brand that I believed in. The company was generous, and I worked with passionate and intelligent people. We were motivated and aspired to bring innovative menu items and marketing programs to our customers.

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I had the honour of interacting with and learning from George Cohon, the kind and outgoing visionary that founded McDonald's Canada. It was only for professional reasons that I felt the need to move on, but the "ketchup continued to run through my veins."

Years later, I had children and got thrown into the scary and unpredictable world of allergy management, but I still chose to raise my kids under the McDonald's umbrella. On weekends and while travelling we make frequent visits to McDonald's restaurants.

My eldest son is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs and wheat, and my youngest is allergic to eggs and fish. Although French fries, apple slices and juice are the only three items they can safely consume, that is three more items than most places can offer them. My kids with food allergies are satisfied with their fries, apples and Happy Meal toys, while the rest of the family, including my daughter that does not have food allergies, enjoys nut-free meals. Most meals ended with a quick run through the Play Place.

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These are simple indulgences that the entire family treasures. You had me, McDonald's... but now you don't. I have defended and promoted the McDonald's brand countless times, but now I feel that I can't.

The McDonald's Allergy Notice states:

"Dear Guests -- We now offer products containing NUTS that are not individually packaged. Products at this location may contain or come into contact with PEANUTS, TREE NUTS or OTHER ALLERGENS. If you have questions or concerns, please ask to speak to a Manager."

This new allergy notice posted in all Canadian restaurants tells me that anyone with food allergies is not welcome at McDonald's. It tells me that McDonald's Canada does not want the responsibility of being "nut-free" or "allergy-friendly" because of the legal risks. This allergy notice tells me that the brand I have cared about and worked to build for many years does not value my sons, my nephew, my friends and the millions of Canadians living with food allergies as consumers... and yes, we are millions.

We might not all have food allergies, but the parents, the siblings, the close friends and relatives of people with severe food allergies all "live" with food allergies, too.

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You have posted an UNWELCOME sign in all of your restaurants for the food allergy community.

McDonald's is one of the largest and most powerful brands that caters to kids and families. I had always hoped that McDonald's would be the trailblazer in providing allergy-friendly quick service meals, and the Create Your Own Burger felt like a step in the right direction. I was thrilled that wheat-free options like the lettuce wrap were finally available. It felt like McDonald's actually prioritized increased options and customization over speed of service.

With the new ordering technology and dedicated CYB concierge, I envisioned a McDonald's where allergy-friendly quick serve might be a reality in the future. I know it's not an easy task, but I hoped that McDonald's Canada would be bold enough to take on that challenge. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll need to put those hopes aside for now, as the new SKOR McFlurry has sprinkled peanuts all over those dreams.

The new allergy notice has sparked a lot of emotions in me, but the most prevalent is disappointment. I'm disappointed that I can no longer support McDonald's Canada, because you have posted an UNWELCOME sign in all of your restaurants for the food allergy community. I am disappointed that the McDonald's brand is abandoning a large proportion of the future generation. I am sad that it feels like the world is moving backwards instead of forwards.

I am asking, as a long-time patron of McDonald's Canada, for you to reassess the decision to add open nuts to your kitchens. The food allergy community is a valuable community, not only in terms of profit, but in terms of our customer loyalty and appreciation to allergy-friendly brands. It's not too late for McDonald's Canada to show the world that you truly care about your customers.

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Sincerely,

Pauline Osena

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I have this photo in my apartment. It is of a man who's recently been involved in some scandal with our prime minister, Justin Trudeau. This man is known as the Aga Khan, Imam i.e. religious leader to approximately 15-million Ismaili Muslims worldwide. Aside from being a religious leader, he's also a well-respected philanthropist and businessman.

Recently, Justin Trudeau and his family took up an offer from the Aga Khan to join him on his private island in the Bahamas. They were able to escape the cold, but clearly not the controversy.

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As part of their vacation, they took the Aga Khan's private helicopter from Nassau to get to and from the island. Newfoundland MP Seamus O'Regan and Liberal Party President Anna Gainey also joined the Trudeaus.

This whole thing has rubbed many people in Parliament and across the country the wrong way. People have grabbed their metaphorical pitchforks and the ethics commission is now investigating.

So, why the fuss? While I completely agree that Justin Trudeau should have been more forthcoming from the get-go about this vacation and more transparent afterwards (a political and life lesson learned, I'm sure), this whole thing is being blown out of proportion. Trudeau, his family and some friends going on a private vacation with the Aga Khan is really not a big deal.

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Sure, without context it seems as though this is just another lobbyist using wealth and influence to sway things in his favour, but if you actually want truth, context is everything.

Now, although I did grow up as an Ismaili Muslim, my stance on the matter isn't based on some hasty "he can do no wrong" faith-based defence. I'm not a religious person and I definitely have some reservations with organized religion. Even with that, I've had at least one photo of the Aga Khan in every place I've lived, from my childhood growing up in Calgary to my current apartment in downtown Toronto.

Actually, if you're non-Ismaili and had an Ismaili friend growing up, I'm sure you went to their house, saw a picture of the Aga Khan and asked, "Hey, who's that guy?" or in some hilarious cases asked, "Hey, why do you have a picture of a white guy up?!" You were also likely lovingly harassed by a mom pushing a plate of roti (Indian flatbread) or samosas in your face, pleading for you to "Just have one!"

So, why would someone who's not religious display a picture of a religious leader? I've contemplated that same question in the past, and my answer to that question is two-fold:

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1) Growing up Ismaili is a huge part of my identity and having the picture around reminds me where I come from. Also, in a roundabout way it is a connection to my parents and ancestors.

2) Aside from that history, my admiration for the Aga Khan is mainly due to his vast philanthropic and humanitarian works worldwide, not just for his own community, but for ALL communities.

His largest charitable organization, the Aga Khan Development Network provides education, health care, jobs and infrastructure to millions upon millions of people in need, and has touched most parts of the developing and developed world.

"The Aga Khan's relationship with Canada, especially for many in the Ismaili community, is crucial to our history."

The idea of pluralism is a key pillar of the organization's framework, and because of this Canada in particular has always been near and dear to the Aga Khan's heart, seeing it as a bit of a shining example of a pluralistic society. He even established the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa in 2006. The centre is a non-profit whose mission is to "advance respect for diversity as a new global ethic and foundation for inclusive citizenship."

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He also opened the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto a couple of years back, a museum that's dedicated to showcasing art from across the Islamic world. The museum exists with hopes to build a greater understanding of Islam and Islamic communities and their history through art.

The Aga Khan's relationship with Canada, especially for many in the Ismaili community, is crucial to our history. I, like many, wouldn't have been born in Canada -- a country I love -- if it wasn't for that relationship.

In 1972, Ugandan president and dictator Idi Amin issued an edict -- it essentially told anyone who was Asian that they had 90 days to leave Uganda, promising severe consequences for those who didn't. This gave the Aga Khan an urgent timeline to get people out.

He contacted many world leaders asking for help, including his close longtime friend, Pierre Trudeau, who happily obliged. And just like that, Canada took in about 7,000 Ismailis. The number of Ismailis in Canada today is closer to 100,000, and there's a good chance that you know an Ismaili. Perhaps one's even your Calgarian mayor.

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This close friendship with Pierre Trudeau meant that he also had a close relationship with his family, including Justin Trudeau, who has known the Aga Khan since he was a toddler and even calls him "Uncle K." The Aga Khan's relationship with the Trudeau family is so close that he was a pallbearer at Pierre Trudeau's funeral in 2000.

Again, I agree that Justin Trudeau should have been more transparent and forthcoming about this vacation because of his role as our PM. However, I would like to assure you that there's nothing sinister going on here. It was a vacation to see and spend time with someone who is kind of like a father figure to him, an important opportunity for his own family to get to know someone who is part of their family history.

The Aga Khan in my opinion is a great man, humanitarian and intellectual. Canada specifically has been working with him on international aid projects through many different political parties and PMs. Even under Stephen Harper's tenure he was named an "Honorary Canadian."

Justin Trudeau spending time with the Aga Khan is a great thing. We should want and support any PM spending time with such a respected statesman, humanitarian and voice of reason in a world filled with chaos. Even whittling it down further, people should spend time with those that they're close to and have history with.

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Yes, that's a painfully obvious thing to state, but it's true. Regardless of being PM, Justin Trudeau is still a human being and is allowed to vacation with someone he knows and has known since childhood -- in this case, his "Uncle K."

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Indigenous women are asked to fit into their organizations. Sometimes it's with simple questions, and it's uncomfortable to confront something so subtle, systemic, and troubling. The burden of proof to expose disparity typically falls on members who are already burdened enough.

One in three Indigenous women will be raped in her lifetime, and we're murdered at a rate ten times higher than the national average. Six out of ten will be physically assaulted. It's obvious that these disparities follow us into a room, a job, a community, and an organization.

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The ways women are asked to fit in are subtle. It's a nuanced and systemic issue that shows an organization's gender perceptions and lack. There are invisible and visible lines that discourage an Indigenous woman's success in the world.

You could qualify every Indigenous woman in a room as a survivor for simply working and living against odds that aren't present for so many. Does our disparity change the way men interact with us? I believe so.

"I've seen men simply repeat our ideas and garner attention we'd never receive."

There are a lot of kind, educated, empowering and reasonable men in our communities, but sometimes they fail to acknowledge what we deal with. Sometimes there's so few of us working at an organization that we become representative of Native American Women concerning every issue, no matter our personal experiences, or specializations, or politics on representation.

It's not usually intentional, but we are often given the task to problem solve and work behind the scenes, because people need a woman like that around, but the only people benefitting from our work usually undervalue it.

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I've seen men simply repeat our ideas and garner attention we'd never receive. We eventually get ours, but usually, we have to be so persistent about our own faculties and values that we're deemed overly aggressive.

For Indigenous women authors, we're usually labeled as 'powerful' or 'strong' or 'brave,' but I've never heard a male author introduced as such. It's as if our own voices are brave for simply articulating our experiences. I believe it's become so familiar and disingenuous that it's lost all meaning for me.

"We should hold each other up. Maybe holding each other up is the only thing we can do sometimes."

Our work is often discouraged when it is sentimental, but when we draw romantic imagery of our people, plight, or the old ways, it's lauded as 'brutal' and 'heart-wrenching.' It's a strange thing.

It's not just men who use their positions to discourage us.

At my own residency as a graduate a mentor I admired introduced herself and exchanged contact information with my white husband, and then failed to ask me for mine every semester -- for two years.

We should hold each other up.

Maybe holding each other up is the only thing we can do sometimes. Without my mentors at the Institute of American Indian Arts I wouldn't have honed my work or seen it published. Men played roles in my success, but seeing other Indigenous women write, speak, and work within the organizations I'm part of has empowered me.

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"We aren't your happy helpers."

I don't think some of the men in our spaces know that acclaimed women authors, academics, and peers, wonder sometimes if we aren't pretty enough, thin enough, polite enough, or able to navigate our spaces, and stay in good favor with the people we work with.

Some men don't realize that we are often asked to hide our pain or criticisms until we move up in the world, at a time when opinions can't be dismissed. We're asked to wait when we should be wielding our power any time we see fit.

We aren't your happy helpers.

You are going to make us coffee henceforth. Some of you already do, and you're truly amazing for that selfless effort.

Our voices are not tokens.

We have earned positions of power.

Your boy's club is done.

There's a way to carry dialogue that benefits both of us, but it honestly feels paternalistic when you're too quick to explain things.

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We know you're well intentioned, but if you're ever working on a project and you haven't included an Indigenous woman, it might be lacking some potency and dynamism.

We're going to be important to you if we aren't already, and you're going to need us. I'd say you should pay us what we're worth and extend the same benefits and attention to us as you do with them.

Some of you are our brothers, and we need you too. Some of you know how being an outcast can feel, and we'd like to be acknowledged.

The community is stronger together, absent of discrimination or the gender perceptions that hurt us.

I'll close with a link to Ramona Emerson's work, which could use love, support, and funding. A woman who has a book to publish and work to do--nothing can stop her, but I believe we exist in a community full of members who can help:

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Her new film will be released by PBS in November.

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These are the breathtaking pictures of the world's largest stone forest - made up of hundreds of razor sharp vertical rocks.

The colossal 600km square landscape is a labyrinth of 300ft high spiked towers, slot canyons and caves.

But despite its harrowing appearance and dangerous structure, the bizarre space is in fact home to a whole host of animals.

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In a remote part of Madagascar the spectacular structure is known as the Tsingy, which translates as 'where one cannot walk'.

It is formed by tropical rain which eroded the limestone into razor sharp pinnacles.

The Tsingy, or stone forest as it is more commonly known, is the largest of its kind in the world.

But with it's narrow passageways, knife-edged towers and remote location the stone forest has remained largely unexplored.

White-legged lemurs cling to the tips of the razor sharp pinnacles

Intrepid explorer and photographer Stephen Alvarez is just one of a handful of people lucky enough to capture the natural phenomena on camera.

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The 47-year-old visited the Tsingy de Bemaraha national park, home of the stone forest, with a team of explorers as part of an expedition for National Geographic Magazine.

The photographer from Tennessee squeezed through tiny passageways and clambered over rocks which he said were so sharp they cut his skin and tore the soles of his shoes.

He said: "I'd never seen a landscape like it. "My first impression was thank god, it was more tremendous than I had ever imagined and I knew straight away I would be able to get some fantastic photos.

"It is in such a remote part of Madagascar, that no-one has ever spent a long time there and there have been very few images ever published of it.

Stephen said the Tsingy was so remote it took him five days to reach it from Madagascar's capital and it was so difficult to explore it took a whole day to walk just half a mile.

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"It's like a cave without a roof, it gets a tremendous amount of tropical rain that has eroded the rock into these sharp rock pinnacles.

Stephen Alvarez clambers among the spiky rocks

"The rocks themselves are really sharp, they stick up like giant steak knives. It is one of the most difficult places I've ever explored."

But he said despite the dangerous and inhospitable environment, the Stone forest home to a whole host of animals from white-legged lemurs to lizards.

Stephen added: "There's forest within those rocks and animals including families of lemurs live within it.

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"It's an unbelievable experience to watch them, they forage in the forest in the day and jump like acrobats from the sharp pinnacles where they sit at night.

"The stone forest is a natural phenomena and is largest one of it's kind in the world.

"Everyday I felt lucky to be there, lucky that I was spending time in such a spectacular place that most people will never get the chance to see.
Bastiaan Slabbers via Getty Images

The genius of Donald Trump is his ability to hold our gaze. We are like moths dancing in front of his flame. He has us where he wants us.

Nigel Farage - Sideshow Bob to Trump's Krusty - has a similar ability to attract our attention.

Neither Trump nor Farage have ever been popular; they are as divisive as a jar of yeast extract. But they are always there. From tweeting out bilious message at 3am and deriding journalists to picking fights with the recently-bereaved and suggesting there will be unrest if they don't win votes, they reach parts of politics others dare not.

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At some point, however, we have to stop staring and do something.

As of Friday, Trump will be the US President and will have pulled off this most unlikely of feats by running his campaign as if it were reality TV. We lap it up because we all know, consciously or otherwise, the semiology of the genre; the heroes and villains, the uncompromising host, the Hobson's choices and - more than anything - the manufactured moments of drama.

Of course, some aspects of Trump and Farage and their ilk ring true to people. However intellectually preposterous, they've very successfully sported the anti-globalisation clothing that was tailor-made for the left. But mostly these demagogues are a dangerous sham.

And while there may not be many of their 'ilk', like an oil slick they're rising to the top.

Le Pen in France may yet seize power in this year's elections (the smart money is almost unanimous in believing she will not, so just watch it happen). Austria only narrowly avoided electing Norbert Hofer, a far right party leader with strong fascist connections, for a president. Germany's ultra-right AFD is in its ascendency.

Not since the 1930s has politics been so polarised and troubled and dangerous and farcical.

Unify opposition politics

The paradox of acting now is that much of what really needs to be done will take time, and yet that is precisely the commodity we have so little of. With Brexit of some sort and Trump for some time now inevitable and France and Germany waiting in the wings, it's already five-to-midnight on the face of the populists' clock.

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The women's marches planned for Saturday are a very good place to start and will hopefully demonstrate that opposition and resistance will come from a very broad political spectrum. The acid test for such events both in the US and Europe, is whether people can take part who consider themselves conservatives but share the same sense of alarm at the rise of the populist right.

If this and other waves of activism are successful, then people will need somewhere to go. There is evidence from polling, such as GQR's work for the New Economics Foundation, that Labour-inclined voters growingly want a new party.

In lieu of this, Paul Mason's recent, public call for a united front across the left and centre of politics is a good place to start once this first wave of marching is over. Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens and nationalist parties must work together to face down the much greater threat from right-wing populism.

It is an approach that succeeded in London's Richmond Park by-election last year, with Labour - defying its tribally-inclined leadership - and the Greens backing Sarah Olney, the winning Liberal Democrat candidate. Zac Goldsmith, an otherwise popular incumbent, paid the price for supporting Brexit and signing off on a Tory Central Office race-tinged London Mayoral election campaign. He was made a victim of his party's lurch to the right by cross-opposition cooperation for the common good.

It will mean compromise, but fascism will be far, far worse. There is no world in which refusing to cooperate to stop this beast taking hold because of party tribalism or a wild perception of an opportunity for the left is acceptable. If centrist Conservatives can join in then all the better, especially while the party's majority remains so small, which is why the proposed anti-Tory alliance per se is not quite what's needed (though in effect, while the sitting Conservative government is in thrall to the populist right, that is the job at hand).

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A new intellectual case

As well as unity across left and centre, the movement needs substance.

The problems that the populists have tapped into - and that the fascists will if we let them - are not issues of communication or presentation alone. Sometimes stories ring true because they are rooted in real and substantial losses, especially in post-industrial towns and cities.

For two decades, centrist politicians have assumed that neo-liberal economic globalisation - opening trade and joining trading blocs, greasing the palms of big finance, peeling government away from the economy, leaving Adam Smith's 'invisible' hand of the market to do its work - will be an innately good thing, both politically and in the real economy.

Thatcher and Reagan tore down the barriers and uprooted industries to usher in the neo-liberal era. Subsequently, whatever party has been in power (Labour, Conservative, Republican, Democrat) has pursued the project.

Clinton and Blair espoused neo-liberalism with evangelical zeal. But, to paraphrase US economist Joseph Stiglitz, the invisible hand of the market has often been invisible because it hasn't been there. Government retreat and latterly austerity, plus the flagrant and largely unpunished abuse of the system by the finance sector, has left many feeling as though they have merely been palmed off with a second-tier globalisation.

There are banks of servers creaking under the weight of analysis of this. Jim O'Neil's excellent contribution to BBC Radio 4's recent series 'The New World' rehearsed many of the arguments. But as yet there has been no coherent attempt to bring this together into some sort of intellectual thesis to counter the populist right and, as economist Dani Rodrik puts it, 'rescue globalisation from the populists and its cheerleaders'.

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The case for this mercy mission needs building coherently and quickly.

Meeting across the divide

Perhaps most importantly of all, as part of creating both unity and purpose people must meet face-to-face across whatever political divides exist and find proximate causes to share. This is indispensable but it's a massive ask.

Although the divisions created by the binary nature of the EU referendum in the UK are often overstated, there are deep class, income, age, rural-urban and technological chasms that are the perfect breeding-ground for the social and political bacteria we are seeing infect our politics.

The only way to tackle this, and to find out why whole regions have been drawn towards the populist flame, is to go to where people are and start a purposeful conversation.

The populists have no solutions to the problems faced by people for whom globalisation has not proven inherently and magically good. In fact, the likes of Farage and Trump are uniformly beneficiaries of the kind of 'hyper-globalisation' that has maligned the rest; it is not in their interests to make material changes that benefit those who are not.

Organisations such as Citizens UK and Hope not Hate have been at this for some time; it's painstaking work. But now it must happen in all of the locations that the populists may otherwise pick off and it must amount to something nationally as well as locally. The effort must benefit from conscious coordination so that neighbourhood leadership can find a wider channel and a common cause.

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Building a new, 'radical' politics - one that is rooted in people's experiences and prioritises their solutions - will take time, but there is no way around it and the price of trying to short cut to a new politics will be that it may fail to address people's real concerns because it will not have understood them and the new leaders will not have been found and nurtured.

Turning point

Trump's inauguration must not be seen as a victory for populism and a further episode in the reality show. It should be a turning point.

Much grit and grist lies on the political road ahead; it will have to be used to slow and obstruct the machinery of Trumpism and any other populists that take power.
BBC

With a huge disaster about to hit Walford, there's set to be some dramatic scenes on 'EastEnders' in the coming days - and boy are they overdue.

Even the most ardent of fans will admit 2016 wasn't exactly a vintage year for 'Easties', with both 'Emmerdale' and 'Coronation Street' outshining it in terms of ratings and quality of stories.

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But while next week's actioned-packed episodes will give the show a boost in the short term, there's some much larger problems that need fixing if it is to regain its rightful crown as the nation's favourite soap.

Bring back Tanya Branning

With Max Branning now back on the Square with daughters Lauren and Abi by his side, we're tantalisingly close to having a full-scale Branning reunion. Having Jo Joyner return as Tanya would be the last piece of the puzzle, and could lead to plenty more drama - I'm thinking a Max/Michelle/Tanya love triangle, as I can't be the only one who spotted the spark between Max and Michelle in the caff earlier this month?

Not only that, but Tanya has been off screen while Abi has undergone her personality transplant - what would she make of mean Abi? And with Jane Beale having gone through a pretty hellish two years without her best mate by her side, Tanya is long-overdue a visit - if only to find out how Adam is now.

Rejuvenate the older cast

Since the departures of Pam and Les Coker (who I still believe were cut down in their prime, for what it's worth), the older cast is being propped by Dot and Patrick, and the show is crying out for some older characters to re-address the age balance in Walford. It's not often I'll praise 'Corrie', but one thing they've always assured is that their golden oldies are as much a part of the show as the young'uns, and it is all the better for it.

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There's been so many legendary older characters in the past - Peggy Mitchell, Pat Butcher, Pauline Fowler, Ethel Skinner, Big Mo, Lou Beale, Archie Mitchell and Nanna Moon to name but just a few - so how's about creating some more?

Stop underusing the talent

There is no shortage of acting talent among the cast, but it always seems like it is the same characters who get the big storylines, with many good actors pushed into the background or yet to have their big moment.

Bonnie Langford's Carmel Kazemi is a perfect example. Yes, she's provided some highjinx and camp one-liners here and there, but she's long-overdue a decent plot to sink her teeth into. Meanwhile, Johnny Carter is still being side-lined in favour of the rest of the Carter clan, despite bosses insisting he was such a necessary character that he needed to be recast when Sam Strike declined the chance to return. But if Johnny isn't thrown a bone soon, no-one could blame Ted Reilly for following Sam's footsteps right out of Walford...

Cut the community crap

Bingate became one of the most talked-about stories of last year, but it certainly wasn't for the right reasons. For months on end, the saga of Walford's uncollected waste was a central part of the show, and my god did it make for the dullest viewing. New exec producer Sean O'Connor may have decided that getting realism back into the show is a key point for his tenure, but as anyone who lives in London will tell you, people do not speak to each other, least of all about their bins. So let's cut these daft attempts at making Walford seem like a real community (see also: the Christmas play), and crack on with making some decent storylines, yeah?

Some more comedy

While 'EastEnders' has never exactly been a laugh a minute, we've seen some lighter moments recently thanks to the likes of Kim Fox-Hubbard and Honey Mitchell, while 'Dot's pussy' also became a trending topic on Twitter after one saucy line of dialogue over Christmas. And while I'm not saying the show should be turned into 'Carry On Walford', I'm here all day for things to continue this way in the coming months.

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Bring in a new villain

While Aunt Babe has been giving it her best shot as E20's resident meanie, she's no Janine Butcher, is she? What Albert Square is really missing at the moment is an old-school villain - we're talking Steve Owen, Archie Mitchell, Dirty Den, Cindy Beale and the likes. It needs someone who is going to ruffle a few feathers and upset the status quo, putting a much-needed rocket up some of the character's arses.

Just putting it out there - surely Chrissie Watts is due a release from prison by now?

Stop letting storylines fizzle out

If it was one thing 'EastEnders' was guilty of in 2016, it was letting some plots completely fizzle out. Ronnie Mitchell's stalker plot ended on a completely underwhelming note, the uncovering of Grant Michell's secret son was a hot mess, while don't even get me started on how everyone practically forgot about Roxy Mitchell after her death (where's Christian when you need him, eh?). Viewers are not stupid, and we don't forget when loose ends aren't tied up, which brings me nicely to my next point...

Solve the problem of Peter Beale

With Ben Hardy off dazzling in Hollywood, it seems unlikely we'll be seeing his incarnation of middle Beale boy any time soon. But there still feels as if there is so much unfinished business with the character, especially now Lauren is back on the Square with his son, and brother Steven. Their relationship still isn't ringing true, and a return from Peter would iron out the mess producers made when bringing back Jacqueline Jossa from maternity leave. Plus, there could be potential for Sharongate 2.0, with the brothers fighting over Lauren.

And while I'm not always a big fan of recasts, this seems like a prime opportunity - they could even get one of the six previous actors to play the character to come back. After all, if Danniella Westbrook was allowed to return as Sam Mitchell over Kim Medcalf, anything is possible.

Some new eye candy
Yesterday we learned nothing that the PM hadn't already signaled in recent speeches, so you could say that at least Sterling didn't tank again. Of course that would be to misunderstand markets; the damage has already been done to our currency, since, as I've already said, all Theresa May did yesterday was reiterate her position.

And what a cataclysmic, devastating and disastrous stance it is too. Total departure, a scorched earth policy to anything that has anything to do with the European Union. Theresa May's Speech yesterday was 40 minutes long, but if you take out all the flowery bollocks about staying friends and doing what's right for everyone, her blinkered, and unfeasible, position, as I told the BBC News Channel yesterday is: HAVE CAKE & EAT IT.

We are supposed to believe that negotiators on the European side will give her everything she wants, just because she said it on TV; wonderful trading rights outside the European Single Market and Customs Union, while accepting no free access to the UK for their workers. Complete fantasy land if you ask me.

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Mrs May says if they don't drop their trousers she'll walk away, but to what? And for what gain? Once Article 50 is triggered we have 730 days to come up with an interim deal, and if we don't we could end up with the same trading relationship with the EU as North Korea.

The PM has also promised that both houses of parliament will get a vote on the final deal. It wasn't quite clear if she meant the interim deal, due in roughly two years, or the final deal that many believe will take a decade. Either way this is a piece of 24-carat bone fide deceit. Let's say parliament don't like the deal and vote it down. Is the EU going to say 'oh sorry, we drove too hard a bargain, it's not to your liking . . . okay, let's get you a better deal then!' Only in Theresa May's fantasy land! Truth is they'll say - 'Vous avez vote pour. Maintenant, va te faire foutre!' Or words to that effect.

So our last chance to put any kind of muzzle on the PM's rabid dogs of Brexit is with full parliamentary scrutiny of the decision to trigger Article 50, which will be demanded by the Supreme Court, any day now. The Article 50 Bill will be the final safety valve between the UK's economy and the disastrous effects of exposing the country to life outside the EU, where we currently enjoy privileged access to 500 million customers, and its pool of skilled labour that has been propping us up for years.

This is why I have been funding Gina Millers' successful High Court challenge, and Supreme Court defense against Theresa May's attempt to subvert democracy (and the UK's constitution) and trigger Article 50 herself.

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Once they are engaged in this process, MPs - who in all likelihood will vote for Brexit to begin - must take the opportunity to gain assurances from the PM's Brexit brigade, that they will not pursue the irresponsible hard line outlined in yesterday's speech.
Christian Fuchs' new study "Donald Trump: A Critical Theory- and Political Economy-Perspective on Economic Power, State Power and Ideological Power in the Age of Authoritarian Capitalism" analyses economic, political and ideological dimensions of Donald Trump's power. The study is based on Frankfurt School critical theory and works by some of its representatives such as Theodor W. Adorno, Franz Neumann and Erich Fromm. The piece published here shows how aspects of Frankfurt School theory allow us to understand Trump's Twitter populism.

Donald Trump won the US presidential election against all expectations. Hillary Clinton organised a big data campaign that did not succeed against Trump's ideological campaign that focused on scapegoating, American nationalism, friend/enemy-logic, political anti-correctness, breaking taboos, and the mobilisation of emotions.

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Twitter and Trump as Culture Industry

A first aspect of Frankfurt School critique is that it analyses how culture for the matter of profitability is turned into an industry and a show. In mid-January 2017, Trump had almost 20 million followers on Twitter. The number of his followers increased rapidly after he had won the election. Trump is not just a president, candidate and capitalist. Trump is a brand and a media spectacle that celebrates itself and thereby accumulates capital, power and followers. Trump is also an ideology - Trumpology. Trumpology is Trump-style ideology. It is not the ideology of a single person, but rather a whole way of thought and life that consists of elements such as hyper-individualism, leadership, the friend/enemy-scheme, and Social Darwinism, and the fetishism of hard labour. This became evident in the way Trump acted as host and chief eliminator in The Apprentice. As US President, Trump has become the chief-populist-Twitterer, the master of 140-character-politics. The acceleration, compression, superficiality, tabloidisation and one-dimensionality of politics and ideology have found a new point of culmination in Trump's Twitterverse. Critical theorists Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno wrote about traditional commercial mass media that "[c]ommunication makes people conform by isolating them". In the world of Twitter and Trumpology, communication makes people conform by networking them as "friends", "followers", "likers" and "re-tweeters" of their leader.

Authoritarianism Online

A second aspect of Frankfurt School critique is the analysis of authoritarianism and the authoritarian personality. The leadership principle is an important element of authoritarianism. Theodor W. Adorno writes that an authoritarian leader "characteristically indulges in loquacious statements about himself". Twitter's structure supports me-centredness by its focus on individual profiles, postings and the accumulation of followers and re-tweets. Trump likes to present himself on Twitter as lone wolf who is a winner and does it all his way:

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Trump's populist, aggressive, attack-oriented, offensive, proletarian language and style make him appear as a great little man, who is on the top, but at the same time an ordinary person. The great little man is according to Adorno "a person who suggests both omnipotence and the idea that he is just one of the folks". The leader often presents himself as a lone wolf fighting against political elites. This comes along with "aversion to the professional politician and perhaps to any kind of expertness". Trump-style politics are "post-truth" politics, where not facts, themes and debate, but ideology, personalities and emotions matter. It turned out that the great little man Trump appointed many representatives of the billionaire class to his cabinet. That a billionaire turns president means a significant change in the relationship between the state and the economy. Big capital has more opportunities to rule directly. Promising to challenge the rule of the political elite, Trump installed the rule of yet another elite - the billionaire class.

Tweeting Nationalism

Nationalism is another feature of authoritarianism. Trump argues that he will make "America great again". He promises prosperity, wealth, and worldwide recognition to American citizens. By playing with nationalism, Trump detracts attention from the actual class differences within the United States. Twitter's allows the use of pictures and images for visualising ideologies such as nationalism.

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Online Liking of Friends, Online Hating of Enemies

Another feature of authoritarianism is that it makes use of the friend-enemy scheme. Authoritarianism has an extremely polarised relationship to the powerful and the weak. Critical theorist Erich Fromm says in this context: "To the one group all good characteristics are ascribed and they are loved, and to the other group all negative characteristics are ascribed and they are hated". Critical theorist Franz L. Neumann argues that in authoritarianism, "[h]atred, resentment, dread, created by great upheavals, are concentrated on certain persons who are denounced as devilish conspirators". In such situations, the "fear of social degradation [...] creates for itself 'a target for the discharge of the resentments arsing from damaged self-esteem'".

Trump constructs out-groups such as illegal immigrants, Mexico, China, Muslims, oppositional politicians, and his critics. They are presented as threatening the greatness of the American nation. The speed and anonymity of social media allows the fast and global spread of rumours, fake news, stereotypes, and prejudices.

Data scientists conducted a quantitative analysis of Trump's tweets. They found that Trump tends to use language that is negative and scapegoats: "But what's truly distinctive is how he uses adjectives: He combines an adjective followed by someone's name a stunning 10 times more than any other candidate. This is primarily because of his proclivity for using Twitter to launch personal attacks on specific individuals, like 'lightweight' Megyn Kelly, 'little' Marco Rubio, 'low-energy' Jeb Bush, 'dopey' Bill Kristol, etc. [...] Trump is also distinctive in his use of pronouns ('I,' 'you,' 'he,' 'she,' 'we,' 'us,' etc.). Trump uses pronouns in a very different way than the other candidates. 'I' and 'me' (as well as Trump's own name) are used much more than other candidates. While @realDonaldTrump's use of 'we' is within the range of other candidates', Trump hardly uses the pronoun 'us' - a bit surprising for a presidential candidate who is expected to lead America to a 'great' shared future".

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Trump's Twitter-politics is a politics of 140 characters that consists of a world polarised into friends and enemies. Via Twitter, Trump broadcasts news about how his personal friend/enemy-scheme evolves. There are two sides: The side of the friends, whom he characterises as great, impressive, nice, successful, and talented. And the side of the enemies, whom he characterises as bad, biased, failing, inaccurate, dishonest, nasty, not nice, one-sided, overrated, poor, rude, sad, terrible, untalented, or wrong. Trump's politics is a world of polar opposites, in which representatives of the two sides have completely opposed characteristics.

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Militarism and Patriarchy

Patriarchy plays a peculiar role in authoritarianism. The male warrior, who fights and does not show emotions, is presented as the ideal human being that should be imitated. According to Adorno, in authoritarianism the "model of the military officer" is "transferred to the realm of politics":

For Trump, Twitter is a symbolic and communicative battlefield. Trump calls social media his "method of fighting back": "It's a great form of communication. [...] I think I picked up yesterday 100,000 people. I'm not saying I love it, but it does get the word out. When you give me a bad story or when you give me an inaccurate story or when somebody other than you and another network, or whatever, 'cause of course, CBS would never do a thing like that right? I have a method of fighting back. That's very tough. [...] I really believe that the fact that I have such power in terms of numbers with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, et cetera, I think it helped me win all of these races where they're spending much more money than I spent".

The other side of militarism in patriarchal ideology is the disrespect towards women.

Tweeting Emotions, Tweeting Ideology

Critical theorist Wilhelm Reich argued that authoritarian politicians are convinced that one cannot "get at the masses with arguments, proofs, and knowledge, but only with feelings and beliefs". Twitter is a medium that supports politics that are based on feelings, beliefs and irrationality instead of arguments, proofs and knowledge. Donald Trump has made emotionally laden ideological Twitter politics a key element of his political strategy. He uses Twitter's brevity of 140 characters for a politics that does not rely on arguments, but on negative emotions that he communicates and tries to stir among his followers. Twitter is the best-suited medium for the emotional and ideological politics of outrage, scapegoating, hatred, and attack because its ephemerality, brevity and speed support spectacles and sensationalism. It leaves no time and no space for substantial debates. The custom of liking and re-tweeting on Twitter appeals to Trump's narcissistic side so that he enjoys his status as a celebrity, brand and political leader. Trump makes use of Twitter for broadcasting 140 character soundbites about what he likes and dislikes.

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Twitter Diplomacy

Diplomacy is a form of political communication that requires direct communication, listening, empathy, compromise and agreement. In a world in crisis, diplomacy is of tremendous importance in order to prevent new wars. Trump's 140 character-"Twitter diplomacy" operates by offense, unpredictability, provocation, attack and disagreement. What lots of people fear is that Trump's personality is too uncontrolled and too revengeful, which could be dangerous in a ticklish political situation. China's Xinhua news agency, a mouthpiece of the Chinese government, commented that Trump's "obsession with 'Twitter diplomacy' is undesirable"

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Liberal Media = Trump's Political-Economic Allies

The New York Times saw its paid subscriptions increasing by 132,000 during a three-week period in November 2016, a growth rate ten times higher than during the same period in 2015. The first television debate between Trump and Clinton reached a total of 84 million US viewers, the largest audience ever in sixty years of televised US presidential debates. In the world of the capitalist spectacle, the capitalist media need Trump just like Trump needs the media. The mainstream media helped making Trump both economically and politically.

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The mainstream media's Trump spectacle also continues after the election. It has now become common that they devote front pages and entire articles and reports to Trump tweets. Either they report what Trump tweets or in a Kafkaesque manner discuss whether it is good or not that the media report about Trump's tweets. The point is that they give constant attention to Trump and provide free Trump brand propaganda. The continued attention for Trump is itself the message. Trump makes strategic use of the fact that he sells attention. Trump: "The cost of a full-page ad in the New York Times can be more than $100,000. But when they write a story about one of my deals, it doesn't cost me a cent, and I get more important publicity. I have a mutually profitable two-way relationship with the media - we give each other what we need. And now I am using that relationship to talk about the future of America. [...] These media types sell more magazines when my face is on the cover, or when I bring a bigger audience to their television show than they normally attract, and by far. And what's funny is that it turns out the best way for them to get that attention is to criticize me".

A truly critical strategy would be to provide no free promotion to Trump by ignoring him. To say nothing, report nothing, and comment on nothing that is right-wing populist in character has to be part of breaking the right-wing spectacle's spell. According to a report, NBC, CBS and ABC gave 23.4 times more coverage to Trump than to Sanders. An alternative strategy also requires changing the balance of forces in media coverage.

Trump's tweets are the ultimate expression of populist and ideological communication in a capitalism that is based on high velocity, high one-dimensionality and high superficiality. The only practical hope for political communication is the struggle for dialectical forms of political communication that provide space and time for reporting and debating the world's complexity.
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So, now we know.

Prime Minister Theresa May set out British objectives for the negotiation to leave the European Union. Britain seeks a new partnership with our European neighbours. Parliament, she announced, will make the final decision on the deal and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be involved in overseeing the conduct of the negotiation.

Mrs May's ideal deal does not include membership of the Single European Market but will seek a free trade agreement with the European Union: maximising access to the Single Market but minimising any involvement with EU laws and ending any say by the European Court of Justice; removing any future barriers to trade with the EU and opening up new opportunities to agree trade deals internationally. Negotiating to have our cake and eat our gateaux too, with a phased transitional 'implementation' period, to avoid the effects of an indigestible cliff edge.

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Following the referendum, this may be the best deal that can be achievable by this government. It ends free movement of people. It anticipates a deal where EU nationals can remain with reciprocal arrangements for expat Brits abroad. It is very welcome that Parliament and the devolved administrations can have their say. Welcome and necessary but insufficient.

What about actively listening to business? At the moment, those likely to be most affected by Brexit - enterprise, entrepreneurs, importers and exporters, employers and employees - are least able to influence the scope, structure, conduct and conclusion of the negotiations.

Mrs May talked about establishing a new Cabinet committee of ministers to facilitate the involvement of other administrations in the process. Fair enough. But what new structures will be put in place to allow business, employers and employees to contribute directly towards the outcome? None are planned.

It seems to me that without ensuring that these new Cabinet Committee structures are constructed in order to encourage and involve representatives of capital and labour there will be no dynamic means of hearing from those at the coalface of British business. In these circumstances the danger is that their voices will not be properly heard or listened to. If the CBI and the TUC are not directly brought into these discussions then Mrs May's ambition to bring the Country back together will be made more difficult.

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A quick thought experiment: imagine if you'd been told on January 1 2016 of everything that lay ahead for the year. Would you have believed that British democracy would be brought to the brink by a referendum on the EU? If you'd heard that a billionaire renowned for paying few taxes and low wages would be elected to the White House as a champion of poor Americans, would you have believed that?

And yet, here we are. 2016 has been a topsy-turvy, through-the-looking-glass year. Black is white, rich is poor, lies are truth. The Brexit vote, the election of Donald Trump, and the surge of populism across Europe have left the West more divided than many can remember. No matter what side of the debate one sits on in any of these events, these are seismic, disruptive events that will have profound effects on people's lives.

The key now is not to lament these events, but to work out how to respond to them. A starting point might be to ask what individuals and nations need to do in the West to make sure they get the best out of 2017. Here are five suggestions of areas that need attention, reflection and thought.

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1. Accept compromise

First, consideration must be given to the concept of politics itself, of what politics in liberal democracies should look like. Perhaps most important here is to accept the first dictum of life in a democracy: you can't always get what you want. That is, in societies made up of many millions of people who are politically represented by one equal vote, you are not going to always have things your own way.

We all know this, deep down, so perhaps the real lesson here is: let's concede that the fact we will not always get our own way is absolutely fine. It should not lead to rage, to anger, to emotional dismissals of the people we disagree with, as has all too often been the case in 2016.

What tells us that this is fine? Well, in every other area of our personal lives, we know this is the case. Our individual wills and desires are thwarted at every turn, and rightly so. To make our lives work, we compromise constantly - with our parents and siblings when we are young and with our spouses, friends and children when we are older. We compromise with our neighbours, with whom we share our towns and cities, and with the colleagues with whom we share our offices and factories.

Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that our personal lives are one long succession of compromises. Why should politics be any different? The first thing we need to do in 2017 is refocus on this notion of compromise in the collective political realm.

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2. A plea for honesty

Second, we should demand exactly the same of our politicians. For far too long, way before Brexit and Trump, the strong politician who refuses to compromise has been an admired figure - heroic, even. But this, in truth, is, and always has been, a nonsense. Behind the scenes, compromise is what makes liberal democratic politics work.

Even in the most ardent cases of a public heroic commitment to principles, such as Margaret Thatcher's avowedpledge to no discussion with the IRA in the 1980s, in the background, the channels of communication are open. The UK government desperately tried to get all sides to the table to make compromises and bring the Troubles to an end, despite Thatcher's public position.

We should demand of our politicians that they are open and honest with us about how government and politics works. No more grandstanding.

In 2016, we were told that "Brexit means Brexit" and that the US will pull down all trade agreements. As the year draws to a close, we can see both these positions softening as reality hits home. So please, let's cut out the intervening stage of political positioning and have an adult discussion of how we work together to make politics work for all.

3. Stop calling people losers

Which leads to our third lesson for 2017: we need to talk about the role of the minority position in democracy. This is a conversation for politicians and voters alike. Let's please disavow ourselves of the notion that people who voted against Trump and Brexit are losers or whingers. Let's dismiss the ludicrous claim that if you disagree with Brexit, you are trying to subvert the democratic will of the people.

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No - categorically, no. In a democracy, the role of the minority position is essential. The role of the minority is to dissent and criticise the position of the majority. Every political thinker who has ever written on democracy tells us this. Every government in Britain and the US since universal suffrage has understood this.

4. Reassess what's normal

The fourth thing we should insist on in 2017 stems, in fact, from one of the more useful concepts introduced by the convulsions of 2016 - the notion that in the US, people should not "normalise" Donald Trump. We should ensure that the unacceptable misogyny and bullying of minorities displayed during the campaign trail should always and forever be called out, lest it seep into US politics in general. It is an excellent rule of thumb generally. Politicians who do not adhere to the basics of dignity and respect in polite society should be challenged.

Other problems should be de-normalised. When politicians lie or mislead, it should not be deemed a normal part of politics. For too long, the whole political system has accepted that what politicians say in public may be different from what they say in private. That not only encourages more mendacity, but also leads to the loss of legitimacy of the whole political class, as it just becomes par for the course that politicians are liars.

5. Get reading

Finally, there is one other thing we can all do in 2017 - perhaps the simplest of all of the five recommendations, and yet one that underpins the preceding four. We as citizens should pick up a book, a book chapter, a newspaper article, a journal article, that argues for the very thing it is that we oppose. If you voted Brexit, pick up some reading on what the EU actually does - on the history that brought it into being. The same goes for the other side. If you voted Remain, do some reading on euroscepticism and where it came from.

If you voted for Trump, read something on the positive role of free trade, or on the actual impact of immigration on US history. If you voted Clinton, read some of the critiques of the Democratic party and the role of money - or read some Chomsky on the many failings of mainstream democracy in the US over the last several decades.

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You do not have to agree with everything any of these works say, you just have to understand why they are saying it. And pretty soon, as you read this stuff, it is possible to move from distrust and fear of the other side to understanding, to seeing that there is merit in their position, too.

We need to relearn the notion that the other side could be right, too, that they have quality in their arguments as we do in ours. This might help us challenge decades of falling engagement in political issues. It might help remind us that politics is ultimately a fascinating and rewarding part of our lives and that it's worth investing time to follow it.

So here's to a bright, progressive 2017, where differences of opinions do not drive people apart but rather bring them together in an open and respectful discussion. The future of liberal democracy depends on it.
Over the weekend my middle daughter had to write an essay on the most significant event of 2016. She quite wrongly rejected the idea that this was Hiddleswift; rather boringly she chose instead the election of Donald Trump. Her 13-year-old judgement on the new PEOTUS was as pithy as it was damning: most people, she wrote, think Trump is a sexist, racist, orange mess.

My first reaction was to smirk at the basic truth of this analysis, chuckle and move on. But it really is depressing, yet another reminder that lots of people see politics as a game for crooks and conmen, remote from the realities of their everyday lives. Then yesterday the annual Edelman Trust Barometer was published, confirming that public trust in government has plummeted everywhere over the past year. This 'implosion of trust' is another dispiriting sign of how public discourse and political life has been undermined in the past few years.

Far too many people, especially smartarse members of my profession, at this point simply shrug, say 'that's politics', and say that the current political class have brought it upon themselves. Others are angrier, arguing that politicians deserve to be pilloried and turned out of office because they are venal, corrupt or at the very least incompetent. If politics delivers the stagnation and deadlock of the past few years it needs to be overthrown. Populism is the right antidote to a disastrous, failing, system.

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But I just don't think the system is the problem. Without question, some of the people in the system, our political leaders, have not performed well, and some of them may never be up to the task. There is a perfectly good argument to be made about the way in which capitalism has in many places failed to address issues of inequality, and democracy has not responded to the negative aspects of globalisation. But these are problems of personnel and of application: does anyone seriously think the foundations of the system, the principles that lie behind it, should be thrown away? Anyway, a lot of the criticism is madly overblown and hugely, and often deliberately, uninformed.

To illustrate this point look at the current crisis in the NHS. This week Survation published the results of a poll asking what is to blame for pressure on the Health Service. The top reason given was immigration, notwithstanding the facts, for example that foreign-born staff make up a significant proportion of health professionals, that so-called health tourism takes up a relatively tiny portion of the total NHS budget, and that immigration generally has boosted GDP and so the tax take, and so the money available to be spent on hospitals and other services. The next most popular reason given was 'cuts', despite the fact that more money is being spent than ever before on the NHS. And so on, and so on.

The reality, that demand is growing relentlessly as people live longer and as expectations rise, that costs are increasing as treatments become more and more sophisticated, and that maybe we just don't pay enough tax to cover these rising costs and to meet this booming demand, didn't even make the list. It rarely does: so much easier for Punch and Judy politicians to blame the other wide, or the unions, or the foreigners, and so much simpler for the media to shriek about it all being someone else's fault, than to tell the truth. We are all to blame for the problems of the NHS because we are too cheap to pay what it really needs. We want lower taxes but a shiny Health Service; we want lower council taxes but perfect social care. It doesn't add up, and it is to the shame of our politicians and media that they don't say so.

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The same might be said about the response to the banking crisis, the problems of the Eurozone, the threats of climate change and global terror, and a million other difficult issues politicians face today: they are just bloody hard. They are full of nuances and complications and trade-offs and just don't lend themselves to being boiled down to 140 characters or a screaming headline or a pithy soundbite. And yet politicians have cravenly given in to the demands of the media and tried to distil everything down to basic, painting-by-numbers, messaging. And as a result the quality of debate, the strength of decisions, the capabilities of many people in public life, all of it has gone down, and down, and down.

What's worst is that politicians and the media in Western democracies are now engaged in a hideous dance of death. The constant demands of the media for unthinking, often negative, commentary is driving down the standard of discourse; in turn politicians are undermining papers and broadcasters at a time when they are anyway under attack from online news sites, fake or otherwise, irresponsible blogs and Facebook posts and tweets and so on. In the UK regulation of the mainstream press is seen by many as having gone too far; and repeated attacks on the BBC by Ministers and others weaken that great national institution. In the US the incoming President has both indulged in fake news and accused respectable outlets of lying and conspiring against him. The same pattern can be seen the world over.
You can't love someone else without loving yourself first. It is sad that some of us must learn this the hard way, through a heartbreak or abuse.

I was fourteen years old when I had my first 'boyfriend'. What kind of relationship can you have at that age? After two weeks, I thought to myself, "I do not have time for this", so I broke it off and went back to favorite hobby at the time: dancing.

At the age of seventeen, I had my first real (or should I say semi-real) relationship. He was about five years older than I. P (to respect privacy I will refer to everyone by their initials) was a DJ that organised techno parties. It was perfect at the time, I could go to parties and do what I loved the most, dance of course.

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You would think that the dancing was the foundation of that relationship, but it wasn't. What I most liked about us was the fact that we could just sit and talk for hours about anything and everything. From sun, down till sun up. It was not love though, more a friendship. By the time that I was leaving to pursue a career we mutually agreed on ending it.

After about a month of living in LA my housemate invited me to go to dinner with her and a colleague friend of hers, T1. We struck it off immediately.

An eighteen-year-old girl from Finland with not so much experience in either relationship or love was being courted by a handsome dark haired American man. You can imagine what happened next. Of course, I fell in love. In the beginning, all was fantastic. We were good together. For the first year, all was beautiful and fascinating.

Somewhere along the way it changed though. He was somehow different, and things weren't going smoothly to say the least. I was thinking about ending it all and moving to Milan to pursue my career in Italy when the call for a job in Finland came through. In a way, I was happy and relieved. I needed a vacation from the relationship.

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When he heard about the stroke he came rushing to Finland. I must confess that although he brought me some joy, still his presence was bittersweet. Every time he would walk in the door of the hospital room I would have some seconds of joy that would vanish almost immediately when I saw the look of pity in his eyes. That sympathy felt more like pity for himself than pity for me. I was glad when he left back for USA. I was going through such a hell myself already and I certainly did not have any power to manage someone else's hell too.

He called me once a week for about a year. Then I finally broke it off telling him that there is no reason for him to waste his life too.

I felt like I didn't have anything to offer to anyone. Being paralysed and strapped to a chair and all. I even heard a guy commenting once: "How could she keep a man if she is not able to satisfy him..."

I tried hard to freeze all my emotions forget about love and romance. However, my stubborn heart kept itself healthy with an immense faith. It became like a lighthouse standing in the middle of a storm. In silent it would beam out its light hoping that a passing ship would sail in and bring me my prince charming.

One of the vessels that passed by was L. I first met him when I was fifteen years old. I was on a school trip to Germany. It clicked immediately between us with the first glance of each other's eyes. It was a weird relationship. From a crush to love, from love to friendship, from friendship to love, etc. The fact of not living in the same country made it difficult for it to amount to anything.

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L called many times when I was in rehab. He wanted to come and see me but I refused. I did not want him to see me in that condition. He did come to see me though after I went back home. When I saw him he told me how he had felt about me all those years. I realised that what we had was something real. Something beautiful that could have grown into maybe the real thing. All those wasted years, all that lost love. I cannot lie, I did have some regrets at that moment.

Another craft to reach the shores of my heart was J. We met each other just before I finished high school. We dated intensively for a month but then I put an end to it because I felt like I could fall for this guy, and that was just out of the question. All my life I had dreamt about moving abroad and pursuing my modeling career and I was not about to let a man (for how incredible he maybe) ruin my plans.

He came to visit me in the hospital and afterward at home. He was pretty much into sailing, and he was always planning to take a sailing trip around the world (which he did). Through this whole year when he was sailing we kept contact. After his journey, he established himself in Monaco. Still every time he came to Finland we would spend much time together. We even secretly got engaged without rings. I went to visit him in Nice, France where he lived. What can I say; the tides of life pulled this ship too to higher seas, and he also faded away in the horizon.
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When Donald Trump is sworn in as US President on Friday 20 January, it will be the culmination of a campaign that has traded in division and fear.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic the Brexit vote has coincided with a rise in recorded hate crime in the UK and risks undoing recent progress in women's rights.

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In this climate of growing intolerance, it is more important than ever for those of us who believe in equality to stand up and be counted.

This is what the Women's March is all about.

On Saturday, the day after Trump's inauguration, women and men will come together in Washington, DC to reassert their values and reject the divisive rhetoric that helped propel him to power. At the same time, over 600 sister marches will take place worldwide, including one in London where I'll be among 22,000 people expected to converge on Grosvenor Square at noon.

As a charity that works to ensure women and girls are treated the same as men and boys, Equality Now is proud to be taking part in this global celebration of democracy and diversity. We have to make sure our governments know women's rights are something to be promoted and respected.

The Women's March is not an anti-Trump movement, rather, it is part of a continuum of women around the world standing up for their rights, which are increasingly at risk.

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In Poland, 30,000 people took to the streets in October to protest against a proposed ban on abortion, while women in Latin America demonstrated against impunity for those who rape and murder teenage girls.

Here in the UK, hard-won improvements in equal pay, parental leave and protection from discrimination need to be preserved in the wake of Brexit.

That's because gender equality, while it has never been fully realised, is one of the European Union's core aims. Once Britain leaves, the lack of minimum standards to abide by could allow the Government to chip away at existing protections. We need to remind the Government these rights are not negotiable.

For women from ethnic minority groups, the charged political climate can be doubly harmful. Cases of racially or religiously aggravated crime in England and Wales jumped 41% year-on-year in the month after the EU referendum. And the number of reported anti-Muslim attacks in public places rose by 326% in 2015 according to monitoring group Tell MAMA, with the bulk of them against women.

In the face of so many threats to our human rights, the time has come to push back. We need to draw a line in the sand, to reassert why equality for all is so important.

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And while it's easy to feel powerless, the story of how the Women's March came about shows how one person can make an incredible difference.

It began with a simple question on Facebook by a retired lawyer in Hawaii. Disturbed by the result of the presidential election, Teresa Shook wondered what would happen if women marched on Washington around Inauguration Day en masse. After asking friends to help her set up an event page, she went to bed - and woke the next day to find 10,000 women already on board.

Now, in an inspiring example of the power of grassroots activism, the march has grown into what may well prove one of America's biggest ever protests. More than 200,000 people - men included - are expected to turn out, with simultaneous rallies across all 50 states and in over 50 countries including France, Kenya, Iraq and Israel.

With so much support from around the world, I'm confident we can put pressure on our governments to do the right thing and adhere to the international human rights conventions that most of them have signed up to.

It's time for all of us who share these values to come together and make our voices heard.

About Equality Now:

Equality Now is an international human rights organization that works to protect and promote the rights of women and girls around the world by combining grassroots activism with international, regional and national legal advocacy. An international network of lawyers, activists, and supporters achieve legal and systemic change by holding governments responsible for enacting and enforcing laws and policies that end legal inequality, sexual trafficking, sexual violence, and Female Genital Mutilation.

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Equality Now is one of the partner organisations for the Washington March and has supporters attending marches in London and Los Angeles.
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The Celebrity Big Brother house is often a home of raised voices and clashing personalities but after housemates have vented their spleen, there is an overriding love for each other.

That was until a few days ago, when the Channel 5 show's producers threw in a few hand grenades in the shape of three new, outspoken 'celebrities' to shatter the camaraderie.

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The presumed wisdom was that Geordie Shore's Chloe Ferry was going to go in all guns blazing, portraying the worse habits that have made her such a hit on the MTV drink fest. So, it was not unsurprising that she came in like a tornado, looking to get tanked up and flash what Mother Nature endowed her with.

Cringeworthy was the sum of her performance, especially as she insulted the gentleman of the house, James Cosmo, by calling him 'Santa' due to him being over 50 and sporting a white beard.

There was no thought given to the adage of respecting one's elders here, which brings us to one of the other new arrivals.

Kim Woodburn is the self-styled Queen of Clean after her How Clean Is Your House? series and has been a regular guest on CBB's Bit On The Side spin-off show. She has taken these opportunities to be rather outspoken about housemates and take umbrage at the state they leave the house in.

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Surely she wouldn't be so opinionated if she was to become a housemate herself?

Kim was probably the biggest shock of the series so far. She came in with a hit list and tucked into those in the house as if she had been starved of an argument for the past few weeks. If you wanted to a practical guide as to how to lose friends and alienate people, then this was it.

While James Cosmo demanded respect by his demeanor and the way he carried himself in the house, Kim was screaming for it in a way that proved an instant turn-off for viewers. Anyone that disagreed with Kim's bile infected character assassinations were labelled 'b****es' and shouted over.

All of a sudden, Chloe Ferry seemed an eloquent addition to the house.

We all know that Celebrity Big Brother is a game and it seems that Kim has spent the first ten days of the show formulating a plan to upset the apple cart. It's a shame though that she feels that such a negative route would be the best way of making her top dog in the house.

Dirty tricks and being mean to all that deign themselves worthy of speaking to her, seem to be the formula. Let's hope that she cleans up this image soon, otherwise the only future she will face once the series is over, are questions as to why she become such a bitter and twisted individual.
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Unless you've been living in a news vacuum, you will not have failed to miss the A&E crisis that has been dominating the headlines. It's a double edged sword - on the one hand the media is a great way to highlight an issue, but on the other hand the focus is often so narrow it fails to give the bigger picture.

A&E targets are a very visible part of the health service. They're a crude measure of how well one cog in the huge NHS machine is doing. But the fact remains; the pressures A&E departments are facing - overwhelming demand in the face of under-staffing and under-resourcing - are being played out in every setting, be it in hospitals, in general practice or at home.

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As Chief Executive of the RCN, one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job is speaking to nurses. Their dedication to patients, and their thirst for knowledge and expertise so they can achieve more is palpable. Time with them reminds me of why I chose to enter the profession myself. But the sad truth is, far too many encounters with those on the frontline must also include the omnipresent, negative aspects of modern day nursing. Words like 'crisis', 'breaking point' or 'unsafe', are often found in eye-catching headlines, but they describe the grinding reality of daily life for many of our nursing staff.

A community sister recently got in touch and told us about the massive knock-on effect of A&E nurses being told to discharge patients before they are fit, just to free up beds. This, along with more people choosing to be cared for at home, has had a huge impact on health and social care professionals working in the community.

Her story is typical of the stress and strain community and district nurses are experiencing. She said she and her team of nurses have to see up to 20 patients in a 7.5 hour working day. A day which also includes travelling time and completing paperwork. She and many of her staff have been sick with stress-related illness because they cannot cope with what is being asked of them. They are worried that being under such pressures will cause them to make mistakes. But in her own words, which nobody can dispute, she finished by saying the NHS is "an amazing health system which should be cherished".

The solutions, like the problems, are complex. There are currently 24,000 vacant nursing posts across the country and one piece of recent research estimated there could be 36,000 by 2030. Having the right number of nurses will not fix the NHS but it will certainly help.

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Since the Government announced the withdrawal of student funding for would-be nurses last year, we are already hearing of a 20% drop in applications for graduate nursing courses. And the 1% pay cap on salaries is not helping to encourage people into nursing and is making existing nurses reconsider whether they can even afford to continue.
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Now we know that Brexit means Brexit, even if parliament votes against the deal negotiated by the Prime Minister.

The stark truth which has emerged over the last 24 hours highlights clear evidence that we should all be worried about the future of the UK's parliamentary sovereignty, which many are so keen to wrestle back from Brussels. And that matters hugely for the future of the UK's environment.

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Yesterday Theresa May set out her thinking on leaving the EU. Yet while it came as welcome news that MPs and peers would be given a vote on the Brexit deal, today the Brexit Secretary David Davis brushed parliamentary sovereignty aside by saying that even if parliament votes against the plan, we will still leave the European Union.

The prospect of the UK Government ignoring parliamentary votes on such a significant constitutional issue and carrying on regardless must surely heighten fears that laws to protect the natural environment might also be ignored after repatriation from Brussels.

If this is how the government treats parliamentary sovereignty, then what hopes can we have that environmental laws, like those on pollution which the government doesn't pay much heed of anyway, won't be treated similarly once we leave the EU?

The government's approach shows a scandalous disregard for parliament.

The UK is due, within weeks, to spark the formal process of leaving the European Union, beginning negotiations triggered by the planned Article 50 notice.

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But it is at home that the future of environmental protections in the UK will be determined. And it is crucial, now more than ever, that Parliament plays a central role.

In parallel to negotiations with Europe, Mrs May has confirmed that the Great Repeal Bill will enable the UK's exit - most centrally from a constitutional and political perspective, by allowing the repeal of the European Communities Act 1972.

However, it is the technical function of the Bill to which Parliament and those who care about the environment, health, and climate change must look. It's there that the foundations of environmental law must be established. And it's where the promised return of parliamentary sovereignty will be put to the test.

The law is the law. Or is it?

Theresa May has promised that existing laws will be maintained upon exit, that the Great Repeal Bill is the mechanism to achieve this and that converting EU laws will create as much certainty the day after Brexit, as there was the day before.

There are many pieces of legislation worth saving. UK air quality laws are, in blunt terms, a mess. But they are complemented by comprehensive European laws, to which the UK is legally bound and committed. These laws protect us with health-based standards that ministers cannot escape. They mean the government has to clean up our dirty towns and cities, making them more pleasant places to live and reducing the terrible health impacts of pollution.

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It was a similar story in the 1980s, when the EU's clean bathing water laws improved the UK's polluted beaches - against the will of the government and to the great benefit of those enjoying blue flag beaches.

At the moment, some of these vital laws are not on the statute books; some are only in secondary UK regulations and some are in EU directives. This must change.

Turning EU laws into UK laws is not the end of the story, but the beginning. The Great Repeal Bill will draw a line that will determine the future law-making sovereignty of Parliament after the UK leaves the EU.

False sense of security

Let's not be lulled into a false sense of security. The Great Repeal Bill must go further. The Great Repeal Bill must affirm the role of Parliament and ensure that environmental laws are truly that: laws.

We need laws, on the statute books, that can only be changed or repealed by a fully sovereign Parliament. It is after the UK leaves the EU that fundamental environmental protections could be most at risk of a deregulatory agenda pursued by a minority of interests. They certainly exist.

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By all means, the UK should embark on a public debate and engage actively in public policy processes. Let us pursue an active agenda of good government with white papers, public participation and pre-parliamentary scrutiny of legislation. That agenda should include the government's '25 year plan for Nature' - which must leave the natural environment in a better condition for future generations than now; the forthcoming emissions reduction plan - which will prepare the UK to meet its carbon budgets in the 2020s; and the government's new air quality plan - mandated by the High Court in the ClientEarth case to tackle illegal pollution levels as soon as possible.

Ultimately, post-Brexit, the UK should make environmental laws that suit the UK and its unique natural and social environment. This may include a new environment act as proposed recently by the Commons Environmental Audit Committee, as well as legislation for sustainable agriculture and fisheries management.

But the starting point must be the sovereignty of Parliament as the rightful law-maker. That sovereignty must be recognised first by 'saving' laws: maintaining the foundations of environmental law on our statute books and ensuring that future alterations can only be made by Parliament.

That means with all the rigour of the passage of bills through three readings in each House and the accountability of the government to parliament. These core constitutional functions must be asserted and respected.

Of course, many other questions must be answered and resolved in the process. But let's first recognise the question at the heart of the Great Repeal Bill: who will decide what happens to our laws in future? Rightly that must be Parliament.

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So Chelsea Manning's long ordeal is set to end. Her scheduled release on 17 May - International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia - will bring to end a distinctly unsavoury chapter in recent US history.

Punished for trying to alert the world to possible US war crimes in Iraq, the US military authorities have treated Chelsea with rank injustice and barely-disguised contempt for seven years.

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From the 11 months of crushing pre-trial solitary confinement in a military jail in Virginia (where various humiliations included being stripped and made to stand naked for parade every night), to an unfair trial where she wasn't allowed to present evidence that her actions were in the public interest, to a post-conviction routine which denied her treatment to assist in gender transition - Chelsea's nightmarish seven years have taken her to brink of despair and suicide.

This is hardly now "over" in any straightforward sense, but at least the terrible prospect of decades behind bars has been replaced by a happier one.

Amnesty International has watched in horror and disbelief as the full punitive might of the US military system was used to crush Chelsea. Despite the hardship and the depression, I'm extremely relieved she's made it this far and that there's now light at the end of the tunnel. I'm also glad that nearly 10,000 solidarity messages that Amnesty arranged for well-wishers to send to Chelsea may have played a small part in lifting her spirits during some of her darker moments. (For more on how Chelsea dealt with some of the hardship she's endured, listen to this fascinating podcast from last year).

There was always a starkly political quality to Chelsea Manning's case. Her unprecedented 35-year jail sentence was obviously designed to deter anyone from following her example. A crushing "pour encourager les autres" jail term that would have seen her left to languish in a maximum-security military prison until 2045. It was an exercise in political retribution, not justice.

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It's surely no coincidence that Chelsea received her huge sentence a few months after the former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden revealed the bewildering extent of the USA's secret global surveillance system. Amid political denunciations of whistleblowers as "traitors", the US authorities were clearly intent on silencing other would-be Mannings and Snowdens.

Let's take a moment to reflect on the warped priorities that Chelsea Manning's hounding represents. She had helped put into the public domain important information about apparent abuses by US military personnel in Iraq. In particular, a video showing US helicopter gunships firing repeatedly on people on the ground in Baghdad appeared to be damning evidence of reckless behaviour on the part of trigger-happy US forces, including against members of the press.

The helicopter video wasn't the first visual evidence of US misbehaviour in Iraq, and it's instructive to compare the fall-out from this to the other landmark instance - Abu Ghraib. The release of a cache of photos showing US military contractors indulging in sadistic and thoroughly depraved acts of torture against detainees should have had major repercussions within the US military and political establishment. Yet it was essentially brushed aside, with not one high-ranking military or political official facing a proper investigation. Ditto Guantanamo Bay and numerous misdeeds committed for years in secret CIA "black site" detention facilities around the world.

After the 2014 Senate Intelligence Committee report into years of CIA torture, President Obama appeared to rule out further investigations and prosecutions, and the US Department of Justice made clear it had no intention of pursuing prosecutions despite what appeared to be a wealth of evidence. Torturers and their military and political commanders were to go scot-free. Manning would stay in prison for half her life.

So now, belated though it is, President Obama's commutation sets right some of the wrongs done to Chelsea. He should now use his vanishing time as 44th US president to pardon Edward Snowden, ending this other brave whistleblower's enforced Russian exile. He should also issue a clemency order for the 72-year-old Native American man Leonard Peltier, who has been in jail (including in solitary confinement) for over 40 years, despite serious concerns over the fairness of his trial.

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We've seen many historic moments over the past 12 months, and yesterday was yet another.

In her speech, the Prime Minister confirmed what many of us have known for some while: that this Conservative Government has decided to put immigration policy over and above what is in the national economic interest - without even attempting to address the two together.

Giving up on our membership of the EU Single Market before negotiations have even begun is a gamble on all our futures.

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This market of 500 million consumers, who buy 44% of everything we sell as a country, has brought huge benefits for Britain's manufacturing industries and service sector, for workers rights, consumer protections and environmental standards.

Yet the Prime Minister has ruled out even trying to retain our membership, despite the serious implications this has for jobs, living standards, inward investment and growth.

She also repeated the Chancellor's threat that Britain will change our "economic model" if we don't get what we want.

This is no way to get agreement from the remaining EU countries. The Prime Minister should be building bridges, not issuing threats, if she wants to get the best result from the negotiations.

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Claiming we could walk away because "no deal is better than a bad deal" could not be further from the truth.

No deal would be the worst possible deal for Britain, because if we end up falling back on WTO rules it could mean increased tariffs on around 90% of the goods we export to the EU, making British businesses less competitive. It could also mean increased costs for UK consumers if EU companies face tariffs in return.

Worst of all, threatening to turn us into some kind of off-shore tax haven in an attempt to stay competitive and lure companies to the UK would be a disaster for the vast majority of people in this country. It would not help create good jobs that pay a decent wage in every region, or provide the funding our public services desperately need, but instead benefit a tiny minority of already wealthy people.

Many of those behind the Vote Leave campaign have long championed this small state, low tax, deregulated, trickle-down vision for Britain, where a few succeed and the majority pay a bitter price. But this is not what the vast majority of people in Britain want or voted for, either in the Referendum or the general election.

Labour must speak up for jobs and growth, and for the real changes we need to ensure our economy works for everyone, not just a few at the top.

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Whilst the economy is growing, growth is still based in too few sectors and regions and is too reliant on cheap credit and house prices.

We have serious skills gaps in areas like science and engineering, and we invest too little in infrastructure and research and development.

With half of all British households facing a decade of stagnating wages, many people rightly feel the economy isn't working for them.

I am under no illusions. I know from my own constituency that many people voted to leave the EU in order to control immigration. But the Hard Brexit which the Prime Minister now champions will not solve the problems my constituents or the economy face, and in reality risks making them far worse.

This is not a popular or easy argument to make. But true leadership is about more than holding a mirror up to people's anger and despair. It is about providing real solutions to the problems they face.

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Those of us who believe in progressive politics will not be bullied into silence by the hard-line Brexiteers. We will show the courage of our convictions and stand up for Britain's national economic interest. We have the fight of our lives on our hands.
Business faces a huge challenge and a long period of uncertainty.

Theresa May delivered her long awaited Brexit speech yesterday, presenting her Government's 12 objectives for the negotiations ahead. The UK will leave the Single Market, the Customs Union and just about everything else.

What does this mean for UK business? In a nutshell, all existing provisions, rights, recognitions, memberships and agreements are effectively off the table, and controls on immigration may limit access to workers from the EU.

So almost all the existing relationships, such as tariff free access to the Single Market, participation in the European Agencies, mutual recognition of professionals, access to trade agreements with 50 non EU Counties and participation in EU funding and research programmes, will cease to apply. May said 'we do not seek to hold on to bits of membership when we leave.' That seems clear and looks like a very hard Brexit for business.

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However, it's not clear at all because she then went on to say the UK will seek what I would describe as a 'Trade Deal Plus' relationship, and will aim to hold on to at least six important bits of EU membership in areas of particular relevance to business. If she was successful this would indeed represent a significant softening of Brexit:

 First, a 'new partnership' with the EU built around a Free Trade Agreement, that may include 'elements of current Single Market arrangements in certain areas.' Here May gives the example of automobiles and financial services

 Second, 'a customs agreement with the EU' with the aim of facilitating tariff-free trade and making it as frictionless as possible

 Third, an agreement on 'science, research and technology' initiatives

 Fourth, appropriate contributions into the EU budget in order to participate in specific European programmes

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 Fifth, a phased process of implementation, which might include 'customs systems'

 Sixth, maintaining 'The Common Travel Area with Ireland'

Given it is not clear what business sectors will be included in the 'Free Trade Agreement', the 'phased process of implementation', the 'new partnership', any 'science, research and technology initiatives' or 'specific European programmes', we simply do not know what the Brexit plan for business is.

Moreover, May's 'Trade Deal Plus' will require the unanimous support of all EU Member States, National Parliaments and in some cases Regional Parliaments such a Wallonia. Given the desire by the UK to control immigration, and reach agreements on much of this in two years, this will not be easy.

The reaction in Brussels and Berlin has been brutal and swift.

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's chief negotiator, said Britain has chosen a 'hard Brexit' and whilst he welcomed the 'clarity' he underlined that 'the days of UK cherry-picking and Europe a la carte are over', giving a clear signal he will oppose any deal that allows the UK to hold on to bits of membership when it leaves. The EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said an 'agreement on orderly exit is prerequisite for future partnership', signaling the 2 year timeframe outlined by May is unrealistic.

And in Berlin some leading commentators welcomed the 'clarity' of the speech, but described it as 'provocative' and 'blind to reality'. The German Foreign Ministry also welcomed the clarity, but stressed the priority was protecting the EU 27 and the 'integrity' of the Single Market, in other words no sectoral deals.

Given a 'Trade Deal Plus' will be negotiated sector by sector, and nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed, business faces a huge challenge and a long period of uncertainty.

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So it's official - the UK is planning to leave the European Single Market. Details are - I assume at least - to follow, but as of this moment in time the future the modelling industry, our employees and our clients is still completely up in the air.

Six months ago all we knew was that Britain is leaving the EU. Six months on and all we know is that Britain is leaving the EU... and the single market. Now all we need are some actual details so we can start planning for the little things; like our livelihoods, our employees' livelihoods and our businesses' futures for example

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We have a government who shortly before the EU referendum had completely lost support from the people of this country. Now they are in a position where they need to both win back voters while at the same time doing what's best for the country. Sadly it seems that this is impossible so what we are going to get is an arrangement that will keep Leave voters happy while taking a vague gamble at the fact Brexit will benefit the country.

Despite the enormous number of Leave campaigners who insisted that voting leave was not about immigration, Theresa May has stepped forward today to confirm that it is all about immigration. In fact, Brexit is so much about immigration we are going to leave the single market so we can restrict the movement of EU citizens. While I am sure this statement is highly likely to get a sizeable number of Leave voters back on board with the Tories, there seems to have been very little thought given to industries such as ours that rely on the free movement of EU workers to sustain our businesses.

It is like Groundhog Day - Theresa May comes out of her den periodically to prognosticate that the future of the UK will be bright, then disappears without imparting any further information. However, this is no way to instil confidence in the businesspeople of Great Britain.

There are hundred of millions of pounds for the UK economy at stake within the modelling industry alone and unless we can get some answers pretty soon things are undoubtedly going to take a turn for the worse. An entire industry cannot operate on this kind of instability. Of course, I am sure that there will be plenty of people reading this thinking that we should put Brexit into perspective since it is 'just' the modelling industry, but if you do that you are missing the point. We are just one industry of the thousands out there. Brexit is going to affect everyone and hopefully by drilling down to one single industry you can see just how many problems it will cause across the entire country. Anyone who had dealings with the EU is going to be affected by Brexit, and we all need answers for the future and fast.

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However, this is the whole problem with how Brexit is being handled - a small group of people attempting to negotiate something as sizeable as leaving the European Union makes it impossible to take into account every issue it will cause. I do not think at any time David Davies or one of his team ever turned round and said: "but guys, what about the modelling agencies?"

Modelling might seem frivolous to many people, but the fact is that the modelling industry is huge, and makes a sizeable contribution to the economy. London Fashion Week is one of THE events of the global fashion calendar. According to FashionUnited's Business Intelligence, the total income made from London Fashion Week is 322 million for the UK economy... and that's just two weeks of the year. The agencies themselves also generate millions of pounds to the economy every single year. Then there are the knock-on effects to areas such as the fashion, retail and beauty industries. They all rely on the model agencies for much of their promotional and marketing work.

As a global fashion hub, the UK will see hundreds if not thousands of models from the UK and EU flying in and out of the UK every single year for work. Freedom of movement is a massive incentive for clients across the world to work with British agencies. There is a very real threat that American, Asian and European businesses will take all their work to another EU country after Brexit because the visa/permit issues will be too much of a headache.

A clampdown on freedom of movement is going to affect the whole industry, to what extent we still don't know despite the referendum taking place six months ago. It is time for the government to stop making these vague promises and start making something like a plan that will help us prepare for the future. If the government decide that a restriction on freedom of movement is needed then on their head be it, but give the people who rely on it some indication of what will be replacing it!

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Why this feminist won't be joining the Women's March.

On 21 January, hundreds of thousands of women will join together for the Women's March on Washington and its sister marches across the world to demonstrate for women's rights.

Most sensible people are feminist, whether they would specifically call themselves that or not. And many of them will take part in the Women's March.

But it is precisely because I am a feminist that I won't be joining. Marches only come round once in a while.

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But what we do every day is buy things. And with that come opportunities through which, to my mind, we can have more far-reaching impacts than a march.

Take fashion. In the UK, the fashion industry contributes around a quarter to economic growth, the single biggest sector. Fashion is particularly relevant for women's rights, with around two-thirds of garment workers female, millions of them in countries where their rights aren't adequately protected. Do these women need our marches, or do they need us to exert pressure on companies to work harder to ensure they are safe, treated fairly and paid a living wage?

Marches only come round once in a while. But we have opportunities every day to ask questions and make an impact on what businesses we want to succeed and therefore what values we support.

An excellent presentation by the Fair Wear Foundation this week at Berlin Fashion Week highlighted how, as a typical family of garment workers in India, it can be close to impossible to support two daughters through education while also meeting the basic needs of the family on two parents' wages.

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So you know who won't be marching? These parents and their daughters. They'll be busy sewing the zipper on your 25 skinny jeans, then possibly continuing to do that for 14 hours without a toilet break.

It is depressing that we are seemingly unfazed even by things like child labour. You know what happened in the weeks after BBC Panorama published a report on Syrian refugee children as young as eight years old being employed by Turkish garment factories, supplying British high street giant M&S and others? M&S reported an unexpected increase in clothing sales. Its management quoted 'better prices' as one factor for its success.

It is by no means only cheaper brands that have inadequate control over their supply chain being fully ethical. In fact Fashion Revolution's latest Transparency report finds that some of the most coveted global luxury brands cannot trace all their inputs to source and do not publish lists of countries in which they produce.

That said, we must be aware that customers' demand for ever lower prices are a major driver of at least unreasonable, at worst highly dangerous conditions for garment workers. As Lucy Siegle, one of the most accomplished writers about ethical fashion, once remarked: 'Fast Fashion isn't free. Someone, somewhere is paying.' More often than not, that 'someone' is a woman.

What is especially frustrating is that it is easy to be a more responsible fashion consumer. No longer is ethical fashion about spending all your time on research, or buying nothing, making major style sacrifices or spending a month's salary on handknitted alpaca sweaters.

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This is 2017, and there are countless brilliant fashion labels and an increasing number of retailers (Gather& See, The Acey, as well as the company I started, Sheer Apparel, only a few examples. There is even one for menswear.) bringing ethically and sustainably produced gorgeous clothing to market. Each has their individual take on what 'sustainable fashion' means to them, but a focus on fair treatment of garment workers is a common denominator.
We are in the fifth decade of the Women's Aid movement, working with survivors of domestic abuse, campaigning to protect their rights, and striving to make sure their voices are heard - in public and in politics. I am very proud to be chief executive of Women's Aid.

In all those years, progress has been made, sure - but many women are still denied safety even in their own homes, from the people they should trust the most.

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There are many hundreds of thousands of men who still feel entitled to control every aspect of a woman's life, to diminish her, wipe out her self-esteem, treat her body as belonging to him in every way, and even to kill her - because in 2017 two women a week in this country are still being killed by their current or former intimate partner. The Femicide Census, which Women's Aid published at the end of 2016 in partnership with Karen Ingala Smith, found that between 2009 and 2015, 936 women were killed by men in England and Wales.

Misogyny and sexism give men permission to abuse. It's as simple as that. We all know Trump's locker room jokes aren't funny. But they aren't just crude - they are dangerous. They normalise sexism so that we accept it. We see it as how things are. And then we see men's violence against women as inevitable. That's just how it is, isn't it? In fact, when we were launching the Femicide Census, somebody commented on Twitter that 936 women being killed in seven years seemed "about right" and that it was around the same number of people who die each year after being hit by icicles in Russia (I wish I was joking).

I would love to believe that those attitudes that accept male violence as normal were dying. But after the past year, it's impossible to believe that. They are very much alive, and kicking. Misogyny is on the march, all the way to the White House.

So we march for optimism: we believe male violence against women is not inevitable. Men can stop, if they choose. They don't stop because it means giving up power - and Trump is showing men very clearly that power and misogyny go hand-in-hand. He's a simple guy, and it's a simple message.

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So let me try and make it simple too. Misogyny puts women in danger. It kills. And it harms men too. Inequality eats away at trust. It means women don't trust men's motives; they cross the street because they fear them. Bitter experience makes women wary, they are resentful of men. Or they resort to laughter, but it's laughter with an edge - men can feel it. Is this what we want for our relationships, for our futures? Mistrust and misunderstanding, with domestic abuse appallingly common? Or would we rather work together, women and men, to change the record at last?

Thousands of women in the UK, right now, are denied the basic human right of safety in their own homes. They are robbed of their autonomy. They and their children are thrown in harm's way, again and again, by systems that should protect them but instead let them down.

This is happening because when sexism asserts itself, not enough people say no. And then women are robbed of the power to say no. Well, we have that power and we are using it. That's why I march.
Yesterday, the results of a new study from the Department of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and University College London shone a much-needed light on the widespread impact of eating disorders. These illnesses with their accompanying misconceptions are frequently stereotyped as affecting only young women and teenage girls. Yet, according to this research, published in open access journal BMC Medicine, eating disorders affect 3% of women in their 40s and 50s.

This is the first time the prevalence of eating disorders in women in this age group has been researched on a large scale, and the outcome of the study surprised researchers, who expected the percentage of sufferers to be lower. But the results of the study reflect what we already know and what we work to raise awareness of at Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity. 15% of the calls to our helpline last year were about someone over the age of 40, and common but rarely talked about eating disorders such as binge eating disorder mainly affect older people, with most sufferers developing the illness in their 30s and beyond.

In a speech to the Charity Commission a week ago, Theresa May spoke of the need for a "transformation" of attitudes to mental health and the services offered to people who experience mental health issues. She highlighted the need to help children and teenagers, which is of course extremely important. Not only are many sufferers of eating disorders and other mental illnesses young, but we hear from many older people that they have suffered with their eating disorder for many years, with the illness becoming more ingrained and therefore harder to treat over time.

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Treatment for mental illnesses should be easy to access and offered as early as possible, and Theresa May was right when she referred to the current failings in this area when it comes to young people as a "burning injustice". But we know many people are also developing eating disorders in later life, after the point at which they might be expected to. What we hear and what this new research suggests is that they are being overlooked when it comes to accessing treatment, or don't feel able to seek help in the first place. This too is an injustice that needs urgently addressing.

In fact, out of the 5,320 women who took part in the study, less than 30% said that they had sought help or received treatment for their eating disorder. Dr. Nadia Micali, who led the research, said: "Many of the women who took part in this study told us this was the first time they had ever spoken about their eating difficulties... It may be that there are some barriers women perceive in healthcare access or a lack of awareness among healthcare professionals."

Beat are working hard to dismantle these barriers. This year, our annual Eating Disorders Awareness Week (27 February - 5 March) will focus on the importance of early intervention. Understanding from healthcare professionals and from society in general is a vital part of getting people who suffer with these illnesses into treatment as soon as possible, giving them the best chance of recovery. We'll also be supporting the Government's initiatives to help people with mental illnesses in any way we can, and we urge the Government to commit to making sure everyone, no matter what their age, gets the help they need.

All people with eating disorders undoubtedly struggle when it comes to seeking understanding, support, and treatment, in large part because of the stigma and misconceptions around these serious mental illnesses. Eating disorders can affect anybody, no matter what their age, gender, or background; we know this. But assumptions about who can develop these illnesses make it harder for people to ask for and get support, especially when they don't fit the stereotype. We have a long way to go to make sure that everyone with an eating disorder, including older people, has a voice.

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Last week I wrote about being a single gay dad and how my son was denied a playdate because certain parents did not agree with my 'lifestyle' choice. First things first, it's not a lifestyle choice; I was born this way. Second, thanks for the supportive messages recognising that I am a parent first, and that being gay has nothing to do with my ability to be an amazing parent.

Someone did, however, describe my family as 'dysfunctional' simply because it did not consist of one male plus one female and one or more children. That surely can't be right.

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Psychologists and psychiatrists describe dysfunctional families as ridden with conflict, (alcohol, drug, gambling) addictions, and possibly child neglect or abuse. Dysfunctional families are those where kids were unplanned and are unwanted and where parents remind their children of that. Dysfunctional families are those where parents put their own needs before the needs of their children. Dysfunctional families are those where children's needs are not met.

I'm probably over-sensitive to my son's needs. I probably spoil him. I probably give him more cuddles, more love and show more public displays of affection than most other parents I see. Every morning when he wakes and every night as I tuck him into bed, I make sure to tell him how grateful I am to be his dad, how lucky I am to have him in my life and how much I love him. Do you know why that is? The answer is simple.

Being gay means it's harder to have a family. Basic biology works against me. I can't have an amazing date on a Friday night with one too many drinks and end up accidentally pregnant. In the case of LGBT adoption, it is not legally possible in about 80% of the world's countries. Adopting my son meant spending hundreds of hours talking with social workers, attending child courses, volunteering with children, researching local play groups and nurseries, and having my home evaluated for suitability; all for a hypothetical child that wasn't mine. With the exception of straight couples who face difficulties conceiving naturally, it is likely safe to say that few parents-to-be have to prove their worth or ability to be a parent like I did.

I am not challenging the adoption process. What I want to highlight is that when people who cannot conceive naturally want to become parents, we are put through numerous extra hurdles to show our commitment, ability and devotion to parenting. I will leave the challenges of IVF, IUI and surrogacy for another time.

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I love my son. I want my son. And I try to do the best by him. Most importantly, I am present and engaged. So, calling my family dysfunctional is laughable.

It also made me think of the importance of teaching my son to never judge people. He may not always like everyone or what they think, and that's OK. But, I teach him to always show respect. That's the polite and open minded thing to do.

I suppose it comes down to a question of attitudes and values. I'm not asking anyone to condone what I do in the bedroom. I'm asking to respect that I strive to be the best dad that I can be; to respect that I've fought hard to be able to parent; to respect that my family is filled with love; to respect and accept that my sexuality is not an inhibitor of being a (functioning) family.

Neither, for that matter, is being a single parent. Single parents successfully love, foster and nurture children. For those who believe that it takes one man and one woman to raise a child, you must consider half of the world's families to be dysfunctional given 42% of marriages in the UK end in divorce and American sociologists continue to believe there is a 50/50 chance a marriage will fail.

A child will tell you that love, care, cuddles, laughter, communication and fun form the foundations of a family. A happy, functioning family has nothing to do with a parents' sex, sexuality or the number of parents.

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I accept that some people still don't understand LGBT parenting as a concept, and may question its validity. Once you meet a gay parent, you quickly realise we are just as tired, run down and always questioning if we are getting it right, just as any other parent.

My son said this weekend "Papa, you're the best dad in the whole world." In his eyes, I am just his dad, and isn't that all that matters? The gay bit has nothing to do with it.

I'd like to share this video which forms part of the #familyislove campaign by P3:Proud.Professional.Parents. I hope it will offer insight into what parenting means for those of us who are LGBT.
By Aimee Okafor, Director of Experiential, HeyHuman

We now spend 10 hours a day looking at a screen. Thats nearly half of our lives spent living in a virtual world. The iPhone was released just 10 years ago. Our existence has been radically transformed in a relatively short space of time. While it is hard to remember life before computers, research shows that we arent as effective on screens as we might think. We tested the effects of multi-screening on brand recall and found that when dealing with more than one device at a time, the mental strain decreases our attention and emotional response and eventually leads to cognitive collapse  which means people are looking, but they havent the mental energy to take more in (all too familiar a feeling in the connected lives we lead.)

But its not just multi-screening that hinders us. Research shows that we are often more adept at analogue tasks versus their digital counterparts. A study from Princeton University showed that we process information better when writing over typing notes, as the exercise is slower allowing students to digest and better remember the content. Another study from the University of Stavanger in Norway suggests that the recall of a storys plot after using an e-reader such as a Kindle is poorer than with traditional books. The researchers suggest that "the haptic and tactile feedback of a Kindle does not provide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does". In other words, the frictionless experience of a Kindle is less memorable than the weighty and physical experience of a book.

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You would be forgiven for thinking that brand experiences have their work cut out in a world that seems obsessed with frictionless experiences. But in fact, the most memorable real-world experiences have a little bit of friction built in. AirBnB for example took the conscious decision to design in a little friction. They removed their role in managing any issues between hosts and guests. Counter-intuitively this direct connection of guests and hosts deepened satisfaction scores across both. Similarly, brands like Amazon recognise they have a problem with this because interactions with them are so fluid that people arent actually engaging with the brand. Amazon themselves say they need to build in more of a human touch.

Life in Flow is a way of thinking about how to make people's lives easier while also bringing in meaningful connective friction. Within this concept are three strands: Relationships, Behaviours, and Brain-friendly creative. We applied this way of working to a sampling campaign for belVita last year that reached 1 in 8 UK households. To grow penetration, we needed to deliver unique reach of 2.4m samples, so we needed to identify new key opportunity areas outside of large city centres which have been historically targeted. Using socio-economic and Census based data modelling, we identified locations with the greatest clustering of belVita audience types, but lower sales penetration. This allowed us to target audiences with the best sales uplift potential, along with a high propensity to buy.

The approach: Relationship Change

Successful brands are human brands in that they evidence evolved human behaviours such as the ability to adapt, simplify, actively listen and speak clearly. As part of this, human brands need to understand where their brand can best connect across the spectrum of human relationships. We needed to move the relationship people have with belVita from more of a low awareness Casual Acquaintance to a Friends with Benefits (FWB) relationship  which is still not brand love right now, but more of a benefit-led value exchange. Another good example of this relationship type would be EasyJet. belVita, with its slow release energy to keep going through the whole morning, seemed like a perfect candidate as an FWB.

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The Approach: Behavioural Change

We identified the need to create a behaviour change and get people to see a biscuit from belVita as a viable breakfast option. Because belVita breakfast biscuits deliver a steady energy it means they can keep you satisfied all morning long (4hrs) In other words, belVita delivers a 'Good Morning.

We used the connective friction of music to spread the feel good vibe throughout the whole morning to help everyone experience Good Mornings from belVita. At the centrepiece was the 'Good Mornings Piano Tour' which delivered over 2.4 million 'Good Mornings from belVita' to 26 cities during the morning commute.

The Approach: Brain Friendly Creative

Brain friendly creative focuses on making work easier to recall by being Recognised, Resonant and Relevant. We made activity brain-friendly by focusing on recognition: using yellow as a positive and dominant brand colour. We created emotional resonance through music and the use of Good Morning (as a positive salutation). Overall, the activity was relevant in context as it sought to tackle the curmudgeonly morning commuter mind-set head-on by giving him something to smile about.

Results

As part of the learning plan, a quantitative research study found that in the 4 weeks post activity, 55% of consumers sampled had bought belVita versus 31% in the control cell, a +24% uplift.
Jerome Whitington and Eben Kirksey

In the face of months of protests and legal campaigning, last December the US Army Corps of Engineers rejected the last critical environmental permit needed for completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). The Pipeline is meant to service the Bakken oil fields and is the largest single project to expand fossil energy transportation for oil and gas. On January 24th, Donald Trump wrote a memorandum to the Secretary of the Army instructing him to "review and approve in an expedited manner...request for approvals to construct and operate the DAPL." This move comes as no surprise, since Trump has a sizable personal financial stake in the $3.8 billion energy project. Reuters reported that Energy Transfer Partners CEO Kelcey Warren personally donated more than $100,000 to Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Trump's memo instructs the Army to forgo an Environmental Impact Statement. "Even for a president who mistakes his own whims for the rule of law and corporate profits for the public interest, these orders are irresponsible," said Congressman Raul Grijalva when he joined activists in front of the White House on Tuesday. "The damage to water quality, public health, and eventually our climate will be on his hands." Rep Grijalva is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and is leading an effort to stand with Standing Rock.

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The Army may resist Trump's executive order. Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), outlined problems with the Dakota Access Pipeline in a December memo: "The proposed crossing of Lake Oahe is approximately 0.5 miles upstream of the northern boundary of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's reservation. The Tribe relies on Lake Oahe for drinking water and irrigation, portions of Lake Oahe downstream from the proposed crossing remain within the Tribe's reservation boundaries, and the Tribe retains water, hunting and fishing rights in the lake."

Democratic Members of Congress played a key role last year in blocking the pipeline's route under Lake Oahe. On November 28, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the floor and released a statement 'The Violence at Standing Rock Must End,' in which he pointed out:

"The simple truth is that Indian tribes - whether the Moapa Paiute or the Standing Rock Sioux - are exposed to more pollution than their fellow Americans. That is the way it is. We don't talk a lot about the people who are severely impacted by the century of practically limitless pollution - Indians. This is not an urban-rural phenomenon. It's everywhere and it's dangerous. From South Dakota to Nevada, Native Americans are on the front lines of these environmental and public health catastrophes."

A number of key Senators and Representatives in the House also have a track record of supporting the Dakota Sioux. We believe the next few weeks will prove a crucial period when the public can play an important role in supporting these efforts. Communicating with your congressional members is an effective way to provide support for Native sovereignty and environmental protection

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Scholars continue to play a small but important role in applying selective pressure on decision makers. To take the discipline of anthropology as an example, the American Anthropological Association has released a statement on Standing Rock, and its members have been engaged in congressional advocacy to provide support for efforts in Washington. In this environment, the Congressional Progressive Caucus is in a unique position to block specific changes that are in store. While many have already demonstrated support, their effort cannot be taken for granted. For others--especially conservative Republican congress people--hearing from a concerned public can be critical in softening their position or making it less of an obvious priority.

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Dozens of Congress members and Senators listed below took action in 2016 on the Dakota Access Pipeline--by speaking on the floor, by writing letters to administration officials, by calling local law enforcement agents to account for their violent tactics. Now we need them to form a dedicated position in the face of the pro-development House, Senate and Executive branches.

Standing Rock Tribal Chairman David Archambault II recently said: "The nation and the world are watching. The injustices done to Native people in North Dakota and throughout the country must be addressed."

Take a moment to see where your Senators and Congress members stand on Standing Rock. Reach out and thank them for taking action and encourage them to remain vigilant in 2017. If your member has not yet taken action, encourage them to take a stand--especially if they have a record of pro-energy development positions. Personal contact can make an incredible difference.

You can look up your Congressional Representative here, and your Senators here. In our experience, writing directly to them or, better yet, establishing face-to-face contact (showing up at a meeting to make a statement, or scheduling an appointment with a staff member) are the most effective ways to communicate. The New York Times explains why it is more effective to call, rather than e-mail your elected official, and describes what happens when someone answers the phone at a legislator's office.

Senators and Congressional members who publicly supported the Standing Rock Sioux in 2016:

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT)

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM)

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Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-MI)

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)

Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL)

Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-MD)

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY)

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI)

Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA)

Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA)

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)
by Anne Speckhard, Ph.D. & Stefanie Mitchell

Daily gains against ISIS in Iraq and the imminent fall of Mosul signal the end of ISIS held territory in Iraq, however, writing in 2017, from Erbil, the conflict here appears as clearly sectarian, if not more so, than it was ten years ago in 2007 when the authors were also present in Iraq and witnessed the failures that happened then that seem about to repeat themselves. Present are the old shadows of al Qaeda, alongside the new specter of the Islamic State and the grotesque escalation of sectarian killings which have been present since they were first sparked by Zarqawi's al-Qaeda in Iraq during the U.S. led coalition invasion of Iraq, and now carried on by ISIS. As territory is increasingly liberated, important questions rise regarding if the terrorist ideology implanted among the Sunni population that lived under ISIS will continue strong and if the retaliations now coming from the Shia side--as Shia militias liberate and take control over several formerly ISIS held areas in Iraq will escalate or fade away. The need now is for peace-building toward enduring stability and security in the country without repeating the past failures in Iraq or allowing repeated circumstances to form the basis of another iteration of al-Qaeda in Iraq--the 3.0 version. The question now is how to get from here to there?

Today the U.S. supported Mosul Offensive and Operation Inherent Resolve, seems to be tackling decade old operational issues in the intervention process; dealing with terrorist groups and militias pouring gasoline into inflamed sectarian divides and flashpoints which threaten to derail the success of intervention efforts at any moment. Shia militias-- now promoted and emboldened with legal status, and heavily supported by Iran--presently control the camps and facility areas in the north, which hold largely non-Shia populations including many Sunnis from Anbar and previously ISIS held territories. These camps and facilities in the north are theoretically being supported by US military forces, forces that do not have equal access to detainees or internally displaced personnel. Moreover, Kurdish Peshmerga forces are at odds with Iraqi government and internal Shia led-security forces and are loathe to give up control when being asked to leave areas they paid a high price to help clear, hold and subdue.

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Currently, distrust is evident at every level of life in Kurdistan, from the normal day-to-day, to the camps where personnel are separated according to religious and ethnic background mirroring social and sectarian divides throughout the country; to Kurdish politics where internal strife is effecting coherent governing; to the regional politics of a divided Iraq and Kurdistan throwing political rockets each other's way. Complaints of torture, human rights abuses, spontaneous killings, political abuse and general lack of humanitarian support come from all sides of the conflict. And still enduring, are the endless rumors and propaganda that the U.S. supported the creation of ISIS for its own nefarious purposes.

How to peace-build in this context and rehabilitate and reintegrate those who lived under, or actually served, the so-called "Islamic State" is a looming question. Likewise there is the question of how to hold in check tendencies for revenge among the Iraqi Army military units as well as the Shia and Peshmerga militias taking control of these areas and populations.

The rise of ISIS and homegrown extremism has spurred increasing research in the field of terrorist disengagement and deradicalization, although the latter has taken on a tarnished reputation with some researchers claiming that deradicalization is not a feasible task. That said, if one can go through the psychosocial processes of radicalizing and in many cases taking on an ideological mindset, is it not also possible to reverse that process using psychosocial supports to do so? Practical knowledge of how to achieve genuine and enduring deradicalization on a community wide scale, however is still in its nascent phases with many unanswered questions of its own.

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What became in 2007, the Detainee Rehabilitation Program (DRP) to be applied to the 20,000 detainees and 800 juveniles held in Iraq during the U.S. invasion there relied on both imams and psychologists working with detainees to talk them out of a commitment to violent extremism and the belief that terrorism is supported by Islamic scriptures, as well as searching for the psychological underpinnings for resonating to and joining a terrorist group with redirection to meet needs the group met, while also backing out out of it . While that program was never effectively tested, the concepts underpinning it may be correct for intervening in Iraq today in a manner much broader than simply trying to address detainees--many of whom back in 2007 were held in Camp Bucca but never treated and who later became the backbone of ISIS leadership today (Speckhard 2012).

In the last two years, substantial research gains were made about the phenomenon of deradicalization with some growing support for the concept and the use of deradicalization programs as a means of rehabilitation and reintegration of persons sucked into the vortex of extremism. Recently, there are also major research gains outlining possible program methodologies and program evaluation methods for use in multiple settings (Koehler 2016; Williams, Horgan and Evans 2016; Mastroe and Szamania 2016; Mitchell 2016; Southers and Heinz 2015; Williams and Kleinman 2013; Barelle 2015; Romaniuk and Fink, 2012.). Researchers have also created assessment tools and scales for rating vulnerabilities to radicalization as well as actual radicalization that may be of use in tracking an individual's progress in such programs, such as Structured Professional Judgement, and the Violent Extremist Risk Assessment developed by Elaine Pressman and a new model using an in-depth, comprehensive philosophy of deradicalization with a multi-tier approach, developed by Daniel Koehler (Koehler 2016; Pressman and Flockton 2014; Pressman 2009).

A major finding in deradicalization research, is the importance of psychological and ideological counseling within treatment programs and the apparent lack of success of programs that relied on only the latter (i.e. Yemen, early Saudi efforts, etc.). The latest program efforts and research supports the idea that psychological counseling which addresses the ideological components, as well as the trauma, disillusionment and identity crisis at the individual level is critical to the success of any rehabilitation intervention (Koehler 2016; Mitchell 2016; Speckhard 2012; GCTF 2013).

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However, while understanding the need for both psychological and ideological counseling is substantially helpful for program planning it highlights a new and enduring issue: the lack of appropriately trained personnel to conduct these programs--in particular--the lack of trained credible personnel with the cultural and linguistic skills to take the role of Islamic or psychological mentors and counselors in this highly sectarian conflict.

So yet another question is posed: Where are the mentors who can effectively mediate and counsel a traumatized population, in a location that has internalized such a deeply sectarian and suspicious worldview? What we found in putting together the Detainee Rehabilitation Program (DRP) in Iraq in 2007 was that many of the highly-qualified psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers had fled the country, relocating to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and elsewhere. Those who were left, were young and inexperienced and many highly traumatized themselves, so much so that they often blanked out or "dissociated" when hearing about the traumas of others--not the best trauma treatment response. Likewise, sectarian politics were so in turmoil that hiring Shia psychologists was problematic, if not impossible in gaining trust with Sunni detainees, and hiring Shia imams was a total no-go when dealing with al-Qaeda related extremists who saw the Shia as the greatest of all apostates (Speckhard 2012). The same is true today with ISIS.

Despite these difficulties, we also found that highly motivated and caring, but inexperienced, psychologists and social workers could be mentored and given lesson plans to carry out under the mentorship of much more experienced practitioners. Likewise, Sunni imams could be trained to be more psychological in their approach and to work closely with the psychologists in dealing with both the Islamic challenge portions and psychological portions of a rehabilitation program (Speckhard 2012). So, we do know that it is possible to mount a program even with less experienced staff on the ground if one commits to training to begin to address the traumas, disillusionment and identity crises as well as the ideological indoctrination that occurs with having joined, or lived under, a terrorist group.

Any peace-building program of this type would be a sizable endeavor, in order to treat the hundreds of thousands of individuals coming from ISIS held territories--families, detainees, and individuals who lived under, are related to, or actually served ISIS. Without the right and well-trained mentors, the research shows that success is less likely (Speckhard 2012). Furthermore, in the context of any intervention, using poorly trained practitioners who interface with the population can actually add to the protraction of the trauma and conflict, such as was seen in the DRP in Iraq in 2007, Abu Ghraib prison and cases of Middle Eastern deradicalization programs, such as Yemen (Speckhard 2012). The vulnerable status and traumatic backgrounds of the detainees and displaced persons under government and security forces care, requires the highest level of ethical treatment. Well trained non-governmental personnel can have a special role in this process.

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It's a gargantuan effort to train and equip the right persons with the appropriate expertise to navigate the trauma and complexity of these particular Islamic communities and also requires that anyone receiving such counseling is living with some daily assurances of security--additional challenges posed to reintegration and peace-building efforts in Iraq. We can hardly expect someone to back off of a commitment to terrorism and sectarian strife, no matter what type of treatment they are offered if they or their family members are currently being victimized or live under daily fears of revenge or general sectarian attacks. When putting together the psychological and Islamic challenge portions of the Detainee Rehabilitation Program in 2007 in Iraq, Speckhard warned General Stone who was in charge at the time, that alcoholism treatment programs that have been studied for decades in the West have only a 2/3's success rate with 1/3 of those having undergone treatment going right back to drinking and another 1/3 falling off the wagon as soon as they hit a rough patch in the road, so we should not expect better success in a newly tried program releasing detainees back into an active conflict zone. Likewise, she warned that those who encountered any unjust arrest, torture, harm or killing of a family member will likely respond by turning back to terrorism (Speckhard 2012). The same is true today--security is paramount to building an enduring peace in Iraq.

An additional interesting problem is the lack of internal cultural support for counseling programs in general. Stigma in the Arab world is high for anyone who seeks mental health counseling. Psychological treatment of those effected by conflict is not a priority, nor is it a cultural norm. Currently, in Iraq there are very few non-governmental organizations conducting psychological counseling for those effected by ISIS and the Mosul offensive, and one of the most critical non-governmental organizations which was providing this kind of support was shut down in the first week of January 2017, due to internal Kurdish political strife. This type of service is also not broadly valued locally. Perhaps religiously trained counselors can provide a quasi-psychological religious style of counseling and support as the final solution?

These issues present important questions to address and if answered correctly may provide critical and immediate means to resolving the current conflicts, even help to provide relative stability, if security assurances can also be achieved. These solutions require substantial commitment however to long-term peace-building, reconciliation, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts--efforts that don't come without a substantial price tag. War also costs a lot of money. Perhaps peace is also worth paying for?

Reference for this article: Speckhard, Anne & Mitchell, Stefanie (January 16, 2016) Possibilities of Peace-Building in Iraq: Questions of Deradicalization and Reintegration amidst Sectarian Conflicts, ICSVE Brief Reports, http://www.icsve.org/brief-reports/possibilities-of-peace-building-in-iraq-questions-of-deradicalization-and-reintegration-amidst-sectarian-conflicts/?preview_id=2548&preview_nonce=083e145731&post_format=standard&_thumbnail_id=2549&preview=true

Anne Speckhard, Ph.D. is Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine, Georgetown University, and Director of the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE). Dr. Speckhard has interviewed over 500 terrorists, their family members and supporters in various parts of the world including Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, Gaza, West Bank, Chechnya, and many countries in Western Europe. In 2007, she was responsible for designing the psychological and Islamic challenge aspects of the Detainee Rehabilitation Program in Iraq to be applied to 20,000 + detainees and 800 juveniles. She is a sought after counter-terrorism expert and has consulted to NATO, OSCE, foreign governments and to the U.S. Senate & House, Departments of State, Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, Health & Human Services, CIA and FBI and frequently appearing on CNN, BBC, NPR, Fox News, MSNBC, CTV, and in Time, The New York Times, The Washington Post, London Times and many other publications. She is the author and co-author of seven books including: Talking to Terrorists: Understanding the Psycho-Social Motivations of Militant Jihadi Terrorists, Mass Hostage Takers, Suicide Bombers and "Martyrs", , Bride of ISIS, ISIS Defectors: Inside Stories of the Terrorist Caliphate, Undercover Jihadi: Inside the Toronto 18--Al Qaeda Inspired, Homegrown Terrorism in the West and Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender. Website: http://www.icsve.org

Stefanie Mitchell, currently based in Iraq, is working as a research fellow at ICSVE where she is working on peace-building initiatives and focus testing the ICSVE Breaking the ISIS Brand videos. Stefanie previously served in the U.S. military as a counterterrorism professional, with deployment and fieldwork experience in the Middle East and Africa. She is completing her Masters in International Relations and Conflict Resolution, with published works focusing on deradicalization, sectarian conflict resolution and transnational security issues. She is also the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Humanitarian Solutions, an Iraq based local non-governmental organization, focusing on post-conflict rehabilitation and development.

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References:

Barrelle, Kate. 2015. Pro-integration: Disengagement from and life after extremism. Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, 7(2), 129-142.

Global Counterterrorism Forum. 2013. Rome Memorandum on Good Practices for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Violent Extremist Offenders. https://www.thegctf.org/Portals/1/Documents/Framework Documents/A/GCTF-Rome-Memorandum-ENG.pdf Koehler, Daniel. 2016. Understanding Deradicalization. Methods, Tools and Programs for Countering Violent Extremism. Routledge.

Horgan, John and Mary Altier. 2012. The future of terrorist de-radicalization programs. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 13(2), 83-90. http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/1350307608?accountid=8289

Mastroe, Caitlin, and Susan Szmania. 2016. Surveying CVE Metrics in Prevention, Disengagement and De-Radicalization Programs. https://www.start.umd.edu/pubs/START_SurveyingCVEMetrics_March2016.pdf

Mitchell, Stefanie. 2016. Deradicalization: Using Triggers for the Development of a US Program. Journal for Deradicalization. (9), Winter, 101-125.

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Pressman, Elaine. 2009. Risk Assessment Decisions for Violent Political Extremism. https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2009-02-rdv/2009-02-rdv-eng.pdf

Pressman, Elaine and John Flockton. 2014. Violent extremist risk assessment. Issues and applications of the VERA-2 in a high-security correctional setting. In A. Silke (Ed.), Prisons, terrorism and extremism. Critical issues in management, radicalisation and reform (pp. 122-143). Oxon: Routledge.

Romaniuk, Peter and Naureen Chowdhury Fink. 2012. From Input to Impact. Evaluating Terrorism Prevention Programs. http://globalcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/CGCC_EvaluatingTerrorismPrevention.pdf

Speckhard, Anne. 2012. Talking to Terrorists. Mclean: Advance Press.

Southers, Erroll. and Hienz, J. 2015. Foreign Fighters: terrorist recruitment and countering violent extremism (CVE) programs in Minneapolis-St.Paul. National Center for Excellence for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE), University of Southern California. http://securitydebrief.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Foreign-Fighters-Terrorist- Recruitment-and-CVE-in-Minneapolis-St-Paul.pdf

Williams, Michael, John Horgan and William P. Evans. 2016. Evaluation of a Multi-Faceted, U.S. Community-Based, Muslim-Led CVE Program. National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249936.pdf

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We have marched before: It was July of 1848 when the giants on whose shoulders we stand organized for women's equality. It was about equality, and it was about rights; Abolition and the vote. Seneca Falls, New York, was the birthplace of this long progressive journey, when women gathered for a convention to address our rights -- social, civil and political.

...And we marched: Suffrage leader Alice Paul took the energy and momentum from Seneca Falls, and she organized a parade in Washington, DC in 1913, the day before Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated. The suffragettes motto was simple: Deeds Not Words. They asked for women to transform their march into perpetual protest. Picketing of the White House, Congress and State Houses; action begot action, a steady drumbeat of protest until the 19th Amendment passed.

...And we marched: It continued in 1923, when a new era of feminism was born. Again, Seneca Falls would call this rebirth home; again, led by Alice Paul. Only a few years after women's suffrage, these activists demanded equal rights, rights not yet guaranteed by the United States Constitution. Thus the long campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment began.

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...And we marched: Throughout the 1960s, our feet grew tired, but they refused to quit walking. We continued to lead and organize for civil rights. Both in Selma and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., women were instrumental organizers; at times we needed to protest within our civil rights movement when the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom lacked official women speakers.

...And we marched: It was June 1969, on a summer night in Greenwich Village amidst the Civil Rights Era, when we led a new public protest. Sparked by police mistreatment of the LGBTQ community, we rose up to claim our power in the streets. While some assume it was led by gay white men, the first protesters were trans women of color -- Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. The Stonewall Riots have since been a hallmark of civil rights protests and a testament to the intersectionality that is so crucial to our LGBTQ feminist identity and movement.

...And we marched: The past few decades, we have continued to march. We gathered on the National Mall to mourn the death of our gay and bisexual brothers at the hands of government inaction. We've marched annually to uphold the Roe decision and those associated with it that protect a women's constitutional right to privacy. We've marched the streets of Los Angeles when Proposition 8 passed.

Marching is in our blood, a simple action that empowers anyone to speak truth. Marching is more than a protest. Marching brings us together in solidarity; it recognizes the history and legacy of leaders who have created change by the simple action of pushing forward. Our history, the long line of women protesters (many of whom LGBTQ), organizers, and leaders have taught us the power in gathering and walking together.

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We were early feminists at Seneca Falls. We were suffragettes planning for an equal future. We agitated alongside Alice Paul; and we rode buses through the South. We sparked Stonewall. And our community led the fight to overturn Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. We've lead across a spectrum of social justice movements, from abolitionists to suffragettes to marriage equality pioneers to creators of Black Lives Matter. And, we will be on the front lines in 2017 and the Women's March. Now is our next great challenge: in the face of racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and misogyny, we must rise once again to lead. In solidarity, we must walk arm and arm to protect our progress, to demand our equality, to warn Congress and the President that we are powerful and we are prepared. And, together, we will march forward...


"While some celebrated the accomplishments of the first African-American president, others devolved into deep-seated anger about how his presidency altered the course of the US, globally and at home. Globalization has undoubtedly contributed to these differences, since the gaps - in education, wealth and access to cultural difference - nurture profoundly different outlooks." -- Bill Gaudelli



In President Obama's farewell address in Chicago, he notes that for democracy to work in a nation that is becoming more and more diverse, we need to "heed the advice of one of the great characters in American fiction, Atticus Finch, who said, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

We live in a time of increasing ethnic and cultural diversity, and in every community it is clear that while some progress is being made, there is still more work to be done: "we have to try harder; to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do; that they value hard work and family like we do; that their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own."

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How we can build more inclusive communities across political, economic and cultural divides? What lessons can we learn from recent events in the UK and the US?



"The lesson is clear: we must learn to respect ethnic, religious, and cultural differences rather than assume that those who approach common issues from different starting points are ignorant or even evil." -- George Rupp

I asked three champions of inclusive societies - George Rupp, Bill Gaudelli and Dana Mortenson - to share their perspectives in The Global Search for Education. George Rupp is Chair of the International Baccalaureate board of governors, is former President of Rice University, Columbia University, and the International Rescue Committee, and is author of the book Beyond Individualism: The Challenge of Inclusive Communities (CU Press). Bill Gaudelli is Associate Professor of Social Studies and Chair of the Department of Arts and Humanities at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dana Mortenson is Co-Founder & Executive Director of World Savvy: Think Beyond Your Borders.

George Rupp: The vote in the U.K. in favor of Brexit, the rejection by referendum of the peace agreement in Colombia, and the 2016 U.S. election all illustrate the power of democratic processes to register forcefully how the prevailing wisdom of a social order may not be in touch with substantial segments of the population. In that sense, these recent developments dramatically underscore how challenging it is to establish and sustain inclusive communities. Put bluntly, these events demonstrate how far we are from achieving communities that cut across economic and political divides.

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"Using storytelling and personal narrative to help young people express who they are, what has shaped their worldview, and what matters to them builds trust in the classroom, and allows students what can often be rare proximity to people who feel or think differently than they do." -- Dana Mortenson

Bill Gaudelli: Interviews leading up to and immediately following the US election reveal different worldviews captured in slogans to 'make America great again' and its retort, 'America is already great'. That these slogans are diametrically opposite gives a sense of how deep is the schism. While some celebrated the accomplishments of the first African-American president, others devolved into deep-seated anger about how his presidency altered the course of the US, globally and at home. Globalization has undoubtedly contributed to these differences, since the gaps - in education, wealth and access to cultural difference - nurture profoundly different outlooks. When these worldviews are amplified by a media-space that spreads vitriol across a multitude of echo-chambers, difference is exacerbated. These differences can begin to be addressed by building a new, 21st Century economy, one that grows in the rustbelt and throughout the many regions 'left behind' around new, green technologies, nano manufacturing for healthcare, micro-finance for local resilience. This is a vision more befitting our time, one that does not look back to a heavy industry, carbon polluting economy, now infeasible as it imperils a warming planet and cannot be remade in a globally competitive market unlike the period prior to global trade liberalization of the early 1970s. Rural and exurbs throughout the US are understandably angry that their economic foundation has radically deteriorated so quickly. The pivot that must occur is towards bringing these communities apace with a global market whose ground has shifted dramatically and will continue to emerge.

George Rupp: The lesson is clear: we must learn to respect ethnic, religious, and cultural differences rather than assume that those who approach common issues from different starting points are ignorant or even evil. In the examples of Brexit, the U.S. election, and even the Colombian referendum, the challenge is the relatively straightforward one of seeking shared approaches within a widely shared polity that is affirmed across a range of ethnic, religious, and cultural communities. But in many areas of conflict, the challenge is even more daunting in that agreements must be forged when there is little or no consensus on the overarching framework for collaboration.

The United States has for decades assumed that we had a model for the rest of the world: e pluribus unum--out of many, one. To put it gently, that ideal has always been very imperfectly realized. But we are now confronting the prospect of disagreement even on the ideal of achieving such an inclusive community, which puts America into the same challenging setting as so many other countries riven by conflict.

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"Promoting earnest dialog, engaged listening and empathic opportunities, mainly in schools but also through community-based organizations, are needed to help people see that otherness is not a fundamental threat but a core advantage of being in the US, one that contributes to a stronger society." -- Bill Gaudelli

Dana Mortenson: One potential consequence of conflict for educators is to refrain from saying anything, sharing any perspective, or addressing contentious political or social issues in the classroom. While the fear of repercussions is real, this serves to distance and often further divide students from deep conversation about issues of consequence, and thwarts opportunity to confront perspectives that may help to challenge, shape and enhance their understanding of their own identity, their relationship to each other and the broader world. There are authentic and meaningful ways to engage in discourse and to develop inclusive learning environments.

First and potentially most importantly, finding meaningful ways for students to express their identity and learn about their classmates' identities - in a safe space - is crucial. Using storytelling and personal narrative to help young people express who they are, what has shaped their worldview, and what matters to them builds trust in the classroom, and allows students what can often be rare proximity to people who feel or think differently than they do. Establishing a safe space for these conversations is critical, and we've seen educators do this in a variety of ways. They can work with their students to create collective norms and rules for discourse, wherein they define together what 'respectful language' constitutes, collectively agree to assume good intent, discuss how they will respond when they feel offended, and provide them with common language to express concern or remorse when they've created offense. If this is well established, a classroom can progressively address deeper and more complex topics that organically source the diversity of student perspective as an asset in those discussions.

Educators committed to creating inclusive spaces also can lean on proven methodologies for culturally responsive teaching, from experts in the field like Zaretta Hammond ("Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students"). CRT allows educators to understand, and interrogate, how they communicate and set up students in their classroom for engagement and meaningful discourse, and contributes enormously to an inclusive learning environment.

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An additional critical step is to acknowledge differences in opinions, worldviews, perspectives and to stress that the discussion and debate of these topics is a foundational component of our democracy. Not all conversation is equal, either; striving for high quality discussions, rather than casual conversation, around political and social issues becomes key; to develop democratic citizens who have the capacity to think critically about issues, research multiple perspectives, then engage in respectful discourse is the goal. This requires work on the part of educators, who must carefully consider how to introduce and scaffold topics for discussion (or allow students to select them), and how they help set collective norms for respectful discourse. Two publications from Diana E. Hess are great reading for this pursuit: "Controversy in the Classroom: the Democratic Power of Discussion" and "The Political Classroom: Evidence and Ethics in Democratic Education".

Bill Gaudelli: Promoting earnest dialog, engaged listening and empathic opportunities, mainly in schools but also through community-based organizations, are needed to help people see that otherness is not a fundamental threat but a core advantage of being in the US, one that contributes to a stronger society. People who feel they are in the economic margins will be much more open to hearing this sort of message when their vulnerability is reduced.

(Photos are courtesy of CMRubinWorld)



L to R: C. M. Rubin, George Rupp, Dana Mortenson, Bill Gaudelli

Join me and globally renowned thought leaders including Sir Michael Barber (UK), Dr. Michael Block (U.S.), Dr. Leon Botstein (U.S.), Professor Clay Christensen (U.S.), Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond (U.S.), Dr. MadhavChavan (India), Professor Michael Fullan (Canada), Professor Howard Gardner (U.S.), Professor Andy Hargreaves (U.S.), Professor Yvonne Hellman (The Netherlands), Professor Kristin Helstad (Norway), Jean Hendrickson (U.S.), Professor Rose Hipkins (New Zealand), Professor Cornelia Hoogland (Canada), Honourable Jeff Johnson (Canada), Mme. Chantal Kaufmann (Belgium), Dr. EijaKauppinen (Finland), State Secretary TapioKosunen (Finland), Professor Dominique Lafontaine (Belgium), Professor Hugh Lauder (UK), Lord Ken Macdonald (UK), Professor Geoff Masters (Australia), Professor Barry McGaw (Australia), Shiv Nadar (India), Professor R. Natarajan (India), Dr. Pak Tee Ng (Singapore), Dr. Denise Pope (US), Sridhar Rajagopalan (India), Dr. Diane Ravitch (U.S.), Richard Wilson Riley (U.S.), Sir Ken Robinson (UK), Professor Pasi Sahlberg (Finland), Professor Manabu Sato (Japan), Andreas Schleicher (PISA, OECD), Dr. Anthony Seldon (UK), Dr. David Shaffer (U.S.), Dr. Kirsten Sivesind (Norway), Chancellor Stephen Spahn (U.S.), Yves Theze (LyceeFrancais U.S.), Professor Charles Ungerleider (Canada), Professor Tony Wagner (U.S.), Sir David Watson (UK), Professor Dylan Wiliam (UK), Dr. Mark Wormald (UK), Professor Theo Wubbels (The Netherlands), Professor Michael Young (UK), and Professor Minxuan Zhang (China) as they explore the big picture education questions that all nations face today.

The Global Search for Education Community Page
Monsanto Co. and officials within the Environmental Protection Agency are fighting legal efforts aimed at exploring Monsanto's influence over regulatory assessments of the key chemical in the company's Roundup herbicide, new federal court filings show.

The revelations are contained in a series of filings made within the last few days in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California as part of litigation brought by more than 50 people suing Monsanto. The plaintiffs claim they or their loved ones developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) after exposure to Roundup herbicide, and that Monsanto has spent decades covering up cancer risks linked to the chemical.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs want the court to lift a seal on documents that detail Monsanto's interactions with former top EPA brass Jess Rowland regarding the EPA's safety assessment of glyphosate, which is the key ingredient in Roundup. Monsanto turned the documents over in discovery but marked them "confidential," a designation plaintiffs' attorneys say is improper. They also want to depose Rowland. But Monsanto and the EPA object to the requests, court documents show.

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The EPA has spent the last few years assessing the health and environmental safety aspects of glyphosate as global controversy over the chemical has mounted. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared in March 2015 that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen, with a positive association found between glyphosate and NHL. Monsanto has been fighting to refute that classification.

Rowland has been key in Monsanto's efforts to rebut the IARC finding because until last year he was a deputy division director within the health effects division of the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, managing the work of scientists who assessed human health effects of exposures to pesticides like glyphosate. And, importantly, he chaired the EPA's Cancer Assessment Review Committee (CARC) that issued an internal report in October 2015 contracting IARC's findings. That 87-page report, signed by Rowland, determined that glyphosate was "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans."

The EPA finding has been highly valued by Monsanto, helping bolster the company's defense against the Roundup liability lawsuits, and helping shore up market support for a product that brings in billions of dollars in revenues to the company annually. The EPA's stamp of approval for the safety of glyphosate over the last few decades has also been key to the success of Monsanto's genetically engineered, glyphosate-tolerant crops, which have been popular with farmers.

But the handling of the CARC report raised questions when it was posted to a public EPA website on April 29, 2016 and kept on the site for only three days before being pulled down. The agency said the report was not final and that it should not have been posted, but Monsanto touted the report as a public affirmation of its safety claims for glyphosate. The company also brought a copy of the report to a May court hearing in the Roundup litigation as a counter point to the IARC cancer classification. Shortly after the CARC report was removed from the EPA website, Rowland left his 26-year career at the EPA.

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Plaintiffs' attorneys have asked to depose Rowland to learn about that situation and other dealings with Monsanto. But, along with Monsanto's objection to releasing the documents that relate to its conversations with Rowland, the EPA has specifically refused the deposition request, saying it would "not clearly be in the interests of EPA" to allow attorneys to question Rowland about the cancer review and interactions with Monsanto.

Monsanto has so far turned over six million pages of documents through the court-ordered discovery process, but has designated roughly 85 percent of the information as "confidential," meaning plaintiffs' attorneys must black out information from those documents in any court filings that could be accessed by reporters or other members of the public. That designation is improper for many of the documents, especially ones dealing with the company's interactions with, and influence attempts over, EPA officials, plaintiffs' lawyers argue.

The lawyers say that the documents obtained through discovery show that "Monsanto has been confident all along that EPA would continue to support glyphosate, whatever happened and no matter who held otherwise." According to the court filings by plaintiffs' attorneys, the documents show "it is clear that Monsanto enjoyed considerable influence within the EPA's OPP, and was close with Mr. Rowland... The documentary evidence strongly suggests that Mr. Rowland's primary goal was to serve the interests of Monsanto."

The EPA is a taxpayer-funded, public agency and its dealings with Monsanto should be subject to public scrutiny, particularly given the widespread use of glyphosate herbicide products and the ongoing international debate over the safety of the chemical, they claim.

"The health and safety of millions of U.S. citizens is at stake," states a Jan. 16 plaintiffs' filing. "Decisions affecting the public health should not be based on secret conversations between Monsanto and EPA officials. If Monsanto wants to advocate on behalf of glyphosate to EPA employees, they should have to do it publicly, so that concerned citizens have equal opportunity to advocate for their health and the health of their families. This issue is too important to allow Monsanto to improperly influence the EPA, and then hide such communication behind an improper 'confidential' designation."

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Monsanto is adamant that its documents not be made public, arguing that releasing them would be "premature and improper." Allowing public dissemination "of a few select internal corporate documents taken out of context... would be prejudicial to Monsanto and could cause reputational harm," the company's attorneys wrote in their response.

The plaintiffs' attorneys say at least four specific documents they have obtained are clearly in the public interest and "illuminate that one of Monsanto's chief business strategies is its secret and untoward influence on EPA." The documents include both internal memos and email chains, according to descriptions of the documents.

"Since Monsanto's communications with the EPA remain secret, these known lobbying efforts are only the tip of the iceberg of Monsanto's collusion with the EPA. Monsanto's bad acts in violating U.S. regulations through secret communications with the EPA should not by rewarded by allowing them to keep these communications secret by merely stamping them 'Confidential,'" the plaintiffs' attorney state in the filings. "These documents summarize communications with EPA which are not elsewhere memorialized; they are not trade secrets and the public has a compelling interest in disclosure."

Monsanto argues otherwise, saying the four documents at issue "contain sensitive, non-public commercial information, relate to a motion seeking to obtain discovery from a non-party, and bear only a tangential, at best, connection to the questions at issue in this litigation; hence, any public interest "is minimal.'"

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, who is overseeing the Roundup litigation, is expected to rule on the matters within the next few days.

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Many of the business and political leaders gathering in Davos this week will be focused on how to protect the global economic order - and their interests - after a year of major political and social upheavals. That is the last thing they should be doing. For me, the greatest lesson from 2016 is that we need to build new mechanisms for airing political grievances and addressing economic frustrations.

Last year, citizens the world over vented their frustrations at traditional political institutions. In 2016, voters in Colombia, Italy and the United Kingdom delivered shock referendum results, showing that citizens will use any means available to express their sense of disenfranchisement. They also voted in populist political figures such as President-elect Trump in the United States and President Duterte in the Philippines.

One of the major themes running through these events is an underlying thirst for more meaningful political participation and economic empowerment.

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For many people trust in establishment institutions is low and falling. Elections every few years to choose between tired and indistinguishable establishment political parties hardly satiate citizens' desire for meaningful political participation. Runaway economic inequality and insecurity has further fuelled people's frustration.

We have more and more reasons to speak out and take action but far too many paranoid leaders have been steadily removing the rights and freedoms that allow ordinary people to make their voices heard.

The numbers behind this global trend are shocking. According to the CIVICUS Monitor, 3.2 billion people now live in countries where civic space is either repressed or closed, experiencing restrictions of their basic freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

From jailing human rights activists, to closing non-governmental organizations and curtailing press freedom, governments around the world are showing less and less respect for their citizens and political participation. Serious threats to our freedoms are now happening even in the most mature and previously respected democracies.

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A key driver is the collusion between business and political elites who want to protect their collective grip on power and money by limiting citizens' options to speak out, take action and criticise.

Take climate change. Billions of people worldwide want meaningful action, many of whom are vulnerable to the devastating impacts of temperature increases and water scarcity as well as the environmental degradation of fossil fuel extraction.

Instead of showing climate leadership, in the United States Trump is appointing foxes to run the hen house with Rex Tillerson, former CEO of Exxon-Mobil as his Secretary of State, and climate sceptic Scott Pruitt as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Whilst the Federal Government's climate policy will likely change as a result, authorities are already brutalizing their own citizens on the frontlines of the US climate justice struggle. This winter at Standing Rock, in below freezing temperatures, police turned water cannons on community protestors opposed to the construction of the North Dakota Access Pipeline. Until recently, Trump himself held shares in Energy Transfer Partners the main company behind the pipeline.

Too often when governments choose to ignore citizens' voices, it is to the benefit of the big businesses waiting in the wings, and this is not just happening in the US of course. In India, Prime Minister Modi, imposed a financial freeze on Greenpeace following criticism of Indian coal mining projects, including a proposal by Adani to build Australia's biggest coal mine, closely bordering the Great Barrier Reef. Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani's friendship with Modi is considered no secret.

While corporations are enabled to work across borders, governments want to limit citizens' abilities to work together and respond to them. As globalization works in one direction by opening up financial flows for capital and goods, governments are increasingly working in the other, by blocking foreign donations to national non-government organizations and thereby curtailing their activities.

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Demonizing the people and organizations that stand up for our rights and clamping down on dissent is on the rise and yet risks further political and economic instability. We must never accept that images of protests become synonymous with canisters of tear gas or water cannons deployed by militarized police, whether deployed against environmental defenders in the US or defenders of sexual rights in the Middle East.

Political and business elites must do more than simply guarantee citizens' basic democratic rights, they have to address the growing thirst for meaningful political and economic inclusion.

New technologies and tools are making it easier and cheaper than ever before to organize, mobilize, monitor and hold the powerful to account. And while younger generations may reject established political institutions, they have a greater thirst to be involved in shaping their communities.

The only way of defeating rising populism is to come up with new ways to listen to and channel the voices of citizens and to create meaningful ways in which people can shape the societies and economies of which they are part.

Responses that don't deal with the politics behind economic inequality and insecurity are doomed to fail.

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For most of human history most of us were treated as subjects; until political revolutions built new institutions that overthrew monarchs and chiefs. Today's world order relies us on being consumers, enabling elites to hoard power and wealth.
The new federal law Every Students Succeeds Act, replacing No Child Left Behind, gutted many powers of the Secretary of Education. In this new legal landscape, the Secretary's greatest and most destructive power thus may be the ability to do nothing on key issues of oversight and educational equity.

Out-going Secretary of Education John King, in his valedictory interview with Politico.com, emphasized that the Education Department is a "civil rights agency." He said: "We have a responsibility to protect the civil rights of students. No matter who the secretary or the president is, that civil rights mission is critical."

Trump nominee Betsy DeVos' failure to share that vision should result in her rejection by the Senate.

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Though Congress can change the present arrangement disempowering the Secretary, the betting is that they will retain their prerogative to set the country's education agenda. This leaves DeVos without the power to initiate programs but she will retain great oversight and enforcement authority, with the role of the Department's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) looming large.

As U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren pointedly asked in her letter to the nominee in advance of DeVos' hearings, "What are your specific plans for ensuring that states and local districts hold schools - particularly for-profit charter schools - accountable if they are discriminating against or failing to educate students? What specific measures will you use to identify discrimination or failure to appropriately educate students?"

This oversight function is crucial to the Department's role in assuring appropriate use of public funds and where DeVos' record falls short. She has never had a managerial role nor has she worked in public education so her ability to handle the responsibility is questionable. More so, as an avowed regulatory opponent, her leadership of what is for the most part a regulatory agency contradicts its mission.

According to the education news website Chalkbeat, she and her husband led opposition to strong oversight of Michigan charter schools, resulting in the conclusion that "state authorities have done little up to now to ensure that charter schools are effectively serving students," an indication that she will bring a weak hand to external regulation consistent with her belief that market forces will somehow do the trick.

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Especially troubling is DeVos' disinterest or even antagonism to strong civil rights enforcement. The Obama Administration used OCR to promulgate and enforce a raft of requirements and guidance to equalize school policies and practices for students of color, immigrants and those with learning English, girls, LGBT students, the disabled, and other traditionally marginalized groups.

In addition to the Administration's well-known application of Title IX requiring schools to protect transgender students from violence and to treat them equally, Obama exposed racial disparities and extremes in school discipline requiring state reporting of suspension data, put forward guidance to encourage diverse enrollments, actively sought solutions to school and cyber-bullying, and took on gender discrimination in extracurricular activities, charter schools, sexual violence, pregnant and parenting students, and other areas of potential inequity.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (and similar advocacy organizations) have cited DeVos' affiliation with groups hostile to affirmative action, LGBT rights, concerted action in response to sexual violence, and the separation of church and state. At least as troubling, like much in her record, is the absence of civil rights advocacy. Related to these reservations is the record of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, Trump's nominee for Attorney General, since OCR often works in tandem with the Justice Department's Civil Right Division in enforcement of student civil rights.

If DeVos is confirmed, she will bring to the job not just a spotty record but one that raises serious doubts about her commitment to the job. The Department of Education must enforce requirements of the Constitution, the Civil Rights Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title IX, the Rehabilitation Act, and many more. So unless the Constitution and underlying statutes are substantially rewritten, the Secretary will be responsible for carrying them out, as the Cabinet Secretary's oath demands, "without . . . purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter."

It is up to the Senate in its questioning to resolve these doubts or deny confirmation. Though likely to conclude with consent, this should not be a scripted outcome. Soft soap won't wash. DeVos needs to demonstrate an active commitment to the Secretary's duties. An intention to do nothing is unacceptable.

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Two years ago, Gyula Kosice declared that his goal for the future was to present his work at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. That goal has now been triumphantly achieved.

The new installation of the Pompidou's permanent collection, titled "Multiple Modernities, 1905-1970," includes 1,000 works by nearly 400 artists from around the world. And one of the rooms of "Multiple Modernities" is dedicated to the work of Gyula Kosice.

Room 37 of the installation presents no less than 13 works by Kosice, as well as two others by members of the Madi movement he founded in 1946. The earliest of Kosice's works on display was made when he was just 20 years old; others were made throughout his 20s, and through the end of his 30s. The Pompidou exhibition is thus a tribute to two remarkable decades of creativity.

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Kosice is a versatile conceptual innovator, and his career has been dedicated to making art from ideas without being constrained to working in any one genre or style. The works at the Pompidou witness the diversity of his materials over time -- paint, wood, bronze, steel, iron, neon, Plexiglas, water. In form, they share little except their beauty, their abstraction, and often their irregular, vaguely geometric forms.
Senate HELP committee chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and the Trump transition conspired to hold Betsy DeVos's confirmation hearing to be Secretary of Education at the bizarre early bird special time of 5 pm. Faced with a billionaire nominee who has financial investments in education companies, has favored privatization over public education, has failed to finalize the necessary paperwork with the Office of Government Ethics prior to her hearing, and has contributed millions to the Republican Party, and is now opposed by leading civil rights and education groups and by 68 members of the congressional black, Hispanic, and Asia Pacific American caucuses, Alexander rejected repeated requests from the Democrats on the committee that each senator get more than one five-minute round of questions.

It also was not reassuring that, when former Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) introduced DeVos, he failed to disclose that his law firm has represented Trump in numerous matters for 15 years.

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Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) asked DeVos whether she had anywhere that she needed to be this evening that would preclude additional questions. When DeVos responded that she would defer to the chairman, Murphy said that Alexander's refusal to allow additional questions suggested that the GOP was "trying to protect this nominee from scrutiny."

As a result, there was little time to ask any detailed questions, and almost no time to ask DeVos about the enormous controversy over for-profit colleges, many of which have over the past few decades used a toxic mix of deceptive recruiting, high prices, and low spending on education that has left many students -- veterans, single moms, and others -- deep and debt and without improved job prospects. The Obama Administration, fighting off hoards of well-paid lobbyists for the industry, has pressed ahead with increasingly strong measures to impose accountability measures on the for-profit college scam artists, who range from strip mall operators beauty schools to giant Wall Street owned chains. For-profit colleges have been getting as much as $32 billion a year from taxpayers in federal student grants and loans -- as much as a quarter of all such aid -- and many of these institutions have been under investigation for fraud by multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies.

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Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) was the first and only senator to really press DeVos on for-profit college accountability issues. She asked DeVos, who admitted to have almost no higher education management or college aid experience, if she supported protecting federal taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse? DeVos said yes. Warren said she was glad to know that, since Trump's higher education experience consisted of fraud so bad at his fake unaccredited university that he paid out $25 million to settle claims from students and New York's attorney general.

Warren pushed, asking DeVos exactly how she would stop fraud. DeVos: "The individuals with whom I work in the Department will ensure that federal monies are used properly and appropriately."

Warren pressed further, noting that there are already "a whole group of rules" written by the Obama Administration to protect college students. In particular, she asked DeVos whether she would commit to enforcing the gainful employment rule, which would penalize career college programs, whether at a for-profit, non-profit, or public college, that leave graduates with insurmountable debt. New data released by the Department confirms what for-profit colleges feared as they have lobbied fiercely against the rule: 98 percent of the programs flunking the test in its first year were for-profits.

DeVos responded, "We will certainly review that rule and see that it is actually achieving what the intentions are."

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In a hearing where DeVos demonstrated a shaky knowledge of many issues related to her supposed area of expertise, K-12 education, DeVos seemed to have memorized that she was not supposed to embrace the higher education gainful employment rule.

Warren shot back: "Swindlers and crooks are out there doing backflips when they hear an answer like this. If you can't commit to use the tools that are already available to you ... then I don't see how you can be the Secretary of Education."

Unfortunately for the veterans and others who are being swindled into enrolling at predatory colleges even as you read this, and for the many more who will be swindled if the Trump-DeVos regime guts the gainful employment rule and other reforms, there is a way for DeVos to become secretary of education. That would be if the 52 GOP senators, many of whom drooled over DeVos during the hearing, vote for her. I fervently hope that a few of these senators actually demonstrate some concern for America's students, and the integrity of the Department of Education, and vote against.

Even without the rules, continued investigative reporting on for-profit college abuses, advocacy work by pro-student organizations, and enforcement efforts by state attorneys general can help deter bad actors and protect the public from predatory schools. But a DeVos education department that sides with wealthy college operators over struggling students will disgrace itself and harm our country.

UPDATE 01-17-17 9:30 pm:

One of DeVos's handlers at tonight's hearing was Lauren Maddox (pictured at right), a Bush Administration Assistant Secretary of Education for Communications and Outreach who serves on the Trump transition staff. A principal at the Podesta Group mega-lobbying firm, Maddox was a long-time registered lobbyist for the now discredited for-profit college trade group APSCU (now called CECU), for the predatory for-profit college company Career Education Corp., and for the student loan companies Sallie Mae and ECMC.

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Former Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) tonight introduced Donald Trump's controversial nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, to the Senate HELP Committee. Lieberman lavishly praised DeVos, but failed to inform the American people that his law firm, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, "have represented Trump in all manner of matters since at least 2001. Such matters have included, but are certainly not limited to, the restructuring of $1.3 billion in bondholder debt connected to his Atlantic City casinos; a defamation case filed against the author of TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald, for stating that the businessman was worth between $150 million and $250 million, not billions (a suit that Trump later lost); and the fight to keep filings from his 1990 divorce from ex-wife Ivana Trump sealed."

Most recently, Lieberman's law firm represented Trump by threatening the New York Times for publishing pieces of Trump's tax return.

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In 2012, asked about his future work upon his retirement from the Senate, Lieberman promised, "I'm not going to lobby. For sure." In 2013, as a member of Kasowitz Benson, Lieberman registered to be a lobbyist, representing a Libyan politician.

As soon as the election was over, Trump abandoned his promise to drain the swamp of corruption in Washington and stand up for working people. His appointment of entitled billionaire Betsy DeVos, who has financial investments in education companies, has favored privatization over public education, has failed to finalize the necessary paperwork with the Office of Government Ethics prior to her hearing, has contributed millions to the Republican Party, and is now opposed by leading civil rights and education groups and 68 members of the congressional black, Hispanic, and Asia Pacific American caucuses, is part of this betrayal.

Joe Lieberman's invocation of his Democratic Party credentials to endorse DeVos, without mentioning out loud to the American people that his law firm has long worked for Trump, is yet another piece of the deep corruption Trump is bringing to Washington.

UPDATE 01-17-17 10:00 pm: More on the Devos hearing, for-profit colleges, and their lobbyists here.
More than 40,000 millennials and non-millennials participated in PwC's "NextGen: A Global Generational Study" which contained findings about what employees in the workplace seek by way of work styles, values, and aspirations. The study revealed that 66% of millennials surveyed said they would like to shift their work hours to later in the day or put in some time in the evening. The desire for flexible scheduling is so great that 15% of male employees and 21% of female employees are willing to make a trade for it -- giving up some of their pay and slowing the pace of a career promotion in exchange for fewer scheduled hours at more accommodating times of the day. And it's not just millennials who dream of flex scheduling either. PwC reported that a significant number of employees across all generations want flexibility in where they work and how much they work. If workplaces want to accommodate the next generation of workers, then the first step will be adapting to a more flexible schedule.

From my experience, flexible scheduling works. I offer it to all of my team members, millennials and baby boomers alike, and it has had nothing but positive effects on both my team and their workload. If you're on the fence as to whether or not to make it an offering for your employees, consider the benefits that this incentive provides in the long run.

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1. Flex scheduling allows work/life balance to be, well, balanced!

Nearly 6 million Americans work part-time and it has nothing to do with being unable to find full-time work either. They choose to work part-time in order to pursue their passions, like attend school, or spend more time with their families rather than commit to a 9-5 job that offers no accommodating leg room. By offering flexible scheduling, you recognize that your team members have busy personal lives outside of the office and give them a chance to active within them.

2. It builds trust.

Flexible scheduling is about give and take: employers give the freedom to head out early or come in later and in turn, employees are still required to get their workload done. Because their needs have been accommodated, employees feel appreciated which creates trust between the employee and employer. As a result, they are motivated to continue to work hard and get everything done and done well.

3. There's an increase in productivity.

In the same PwC study, it's mentioned that millennials don't see their work as something that should be measured by hours, but rather by the quality of the work that has been performed or produced. When the work day is anchored by flexible scheduling, the focus is placed on completing the workload rather than feeling as though you're watching the clock. Everyone's a little more fulfilled and committed to meeting their goals this way, making it easier to anticipate each day.

4. Flex scheduling allows you to save money.

This is a win-win for everyone. Employees can save on anything from commuting expenses to ordering out for lunch while employers (who can also cut back on those areas too!) are able to save on utility bills each month, along with smaller expenses like kitchen equipment (paper towels, plates, cutlery) and coffee.

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5. You feel healthier.

Think about the times you considered calling in sick even though you weren't because you were too tired or stressed. Flexible scheduling allows you to take some "me time" and catch up on the areas of your personal life that might have been neglected otherwise. Whether this means squeezing in a run before work or being able to schedule in an earlier bedtime in the evening, you'll find yourself putting distance between yourself and the office and feeling healthier both mentally and physically because of it.

6. You're much more compelled to stay at your job.
Just five days before inauguration of Donald Trump as the country's 45th President, millions of Americans on January 15 will celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For many, memories of the civil rights icon revolve around his momentous "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, calling for an end to racism and to the expansion of economic opportunities.

Dr. King's brilliance - strategic leadership of the Civil Rights Movement to unparalleled courage and integrity - is often over shadowed by the speech that scholars hailed as the 20th century's top public address in the U.S. Unfortunately, Dr. King's dream of equality articulated in 1963 remains unfulfilled in many communities today - a reality affirming the continued structural inequities and bias spurring widespread disparities in social conditions and opportunities for people of color.

Think about Dr. King's powerful vision. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." That's the America many of us strive to create, but clearly, despite progress in some areas, we are still seeking to realize.

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Furthermore, the vitriolic, divisive rhetoric and raw emotions raging throughout the past year pulled the scab off a persistent wound in the American psyche, bringing the issue of race front and center and exposing the divides in our society. What does the nation do about it? How do we move forward on a path toward racial equity that facilitates racial healing, dismantles structural racism and lifts vulnerable children on a path to success?

To-be-sure, America has made progress over the decades. Government and the courts enacted statutes and rulings ranging from Brown v. Board of Education to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the Fair Housing Act of 1968 that outlawed public discrimination, while purportedly providing equal opportunities. Yet, these actions only addressed the effects of racism, not its core foundation. Time has demonstrated that government and courts can enact and uphold laws, but they don't change hearts, minds and souls or address the root cause of racism.



Racism is rooted in the false belief in a human hierarchy, an antiquated taxonomy of the human family, which has fueled structural racism and conscious and unconscious bias throughout U.S. culture with a perception of inferiority or superiority based on race, physical characteristics or place of origin. Whites are placed at the top and all other racial groups in descending order. This absurd notion, which science has soundly discredited, was used to justify colonization and enslavement for centuries. And the false ideology fuels white supremacist movements and other overt expressions of racial and ethnic hatred and bigotry.

The United States has witnessed how the belief manifests in many ways. From coast to coast, communities experience disparities for people of color in health, education, employment and housing.

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Furthermore, high profile police shootings involving people of color have fueled the perception that the criminal justice system is unfair and bias. In fact, a study by University of California, Davis anthropologist Cody Ross found "evidence of a significant bias in the killing of unarmed black Americans relative to unarmed white Americans, in that the probability of being black, unarmed, and shot by police is about 3.49 times the probability of being white, unarmed, and shot by police on average."

It appears Dylann Roof, the convicted murderer of nine worshippers at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC, was motivated by a belief that he was somehow superior to blacks and others. Friends said Roof complained that "blacks were taking over the world" and he vowed to start a race war.

Dr. King understood that the belief in racial hierarchy created barriers to our country's capacity to fulfill the promise of our democratic ideals. It is time for us to fully eliminate this hierarchy of human value and jettison the antiquated concept. Only then can all of our children be embraced not because of the color of their skin or other physical characteristics, but by their innate essence, their humanity.

Our country needs racial healing and a sustained effort to avert the racism that influences public and private systems, practices and policies. The racial healing can move us toward one another in a spirit of wholeness and love. A transformative, positive change can come from this shift in our individual and collective consciousness and the resulting actions we take on behalf of ourselves, our children and future generations of our human family.

After decades of funding diverse communities to help improve the lives of vulnerable children, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) leadership recognizes the need for racial healing and eliminating racism, and replacing it with the affirmation of our equal and shared humanity. The hierarchy of human value is deeply embedded consciously, systematically, structurally and unconsciously by the people and systems adhering to it.

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Removing it from our society will require a concerted effort over time. The Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) enterprise created by WKKF and a broad coalition of organizations from all sectors of society is working to end the belief and facilitate racial healing. TRHT is a community-driven vehicle for transformative change. The TRHT approach examines how the belief system became embedded in our society, both its culture, and structures, and then works with communities to design and implement effective actions that will permanently uproot it. We are marshaling individual, local, public and private resources to dismantle systemic, structurally-based patterns of discrimination at the municipal, county, state, Tribal and federal levels.

At a recent summit, 570 people representing the 130 TRHT partner organizations issued a call to action to designate January 17, 2017 as the inaugural National Day of Racial Healing in America.

Communities, organizations and individuals will acknowledge that deep, racial divides still exist and must be overcome and healed. They will commit to engaging representatives from all racial, ethnic, religious, gender, and identity groups in genuine efforts to increase understanding, improve communications, caring and respect for one another and the perceived other. You can get more information here.

These actions will help create a new narrative that refutes the belief in a hierarchy of human value and replaces it with the scientifically proven assertion that we're all descendants of one human ancestry and guided by an inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Our country's make-up has changed significantly since its founding, and the demographic changes are continual. Immigration and birth rates, among other contributing factors, are altering the face of communities. Already, children of color represent the majority of children in the country, and far too many are in poverty.

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Part of the allure of Obama when he first ran for President was the prospect of an intellectual in the White House making progressive decisions, but also educating "low information" citizens about how the world works. This would be important, because his days in office would eventually end. A true legacy requires a leader establishing a path-breaking enduring record, but also an accepted ideological framework for understanding its rationale. That perspective can survive term limits. Franklin Roosevelt did this and the New Deal view of government action as a vigorous corrective to the anarchy and social disruption of capitalist development was unrivaled for almost forty years after his death. Ronald Reagan, although his economic policies were never as laissez-faire as his rhetoric suggested, launched an ideology that has endured nearly as long: government is the enemy; free enterprise the cure. Post-Reagan, even Democrats have often believed they had to be defensive about government action, not proud of it.

President Obama had a golden opportunity to launch a powerful ideological counter-revolution when he took office during the Great Recession. Republicans and the most powerful corporate entities were back on their heels. The public was ready for a bold departure from the past. Unfortunately, those who placed such hopes on Obama were to be disappointed, accepting his very liberal 2008 campaign rhetoric as indicative of his deeper convictions on domestic policy.

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Obama is best viewed as a "Rockefeller Republican" or Clinton Democrat on economic and social issues. Even his signature health care legislation resembled what Mitt Romney had implemented as Governor of Massachusetts. Both originated in a proposal of The Heritage Society, a conservative think tank which develops free-market oriented policies to solve social problems. Obama's unwillingness to embrace left-wing populism, lay the groundwork for Donald Trump's bogus appeals to the white working-class component of his winning coalition.

One area Obama appeared poised to radically depart from conventional thought was foreign policy. He was aware of its dark side under Democrat and Republican Administrations: anti-Communism and fear of any forms of populist nationalism, even if non-Communist, led to support for the world's most brutal dictatorships. His childhood in Indonesia under the murderous US- supported Suharto regime, which affected his step-family, and activism in the anti-apartheid movement, taught him lessons other U.S. presidents never learned. He could have punctured the myth of American "exceptionalism" and taught Americans that widespread anti-Americanism in the world is not primarily rooted in hatred of freedom and lack of gratitude for our generous foreign aid.

Anti-Americanism, in fact, reflects our past and, to a lesser degree (Central and South American leaders are not our puppets these days), present global policies. We have long allied with and armed hated dictators. In addition, there have been numerous military interventions, heralded as serving "freedom," but often confusing it with our geo-political and economic interests. American foreign policy has primarily been "exceptional" in negative ways: invading a record thirty countries since the United Nations was founded.

What about our generosity? It is largely an illusion. Our foreign aid for development, for example, is a smaller proportion of our Gross National Income than 19 other nations, including Portugal, and is just .19 percent. Moreover, though things have somewhat improved since 2012, when USAID modified its rules, foreign aid typically required recipients to purchase American-made products even if they were more expensive than alternatives. What is called "tied-aid" is still true of food products, motor vehicles and US-patented pharmaceuticals and is still the norm among non-USAID governmental agencies. To be fair, other countries provide tied-aid as well, but quite a few others do not.

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Unlike, domestic politics, where the President must deal with Congress, foreign policy is a realm of nearly total freedom. Obama has taken some important steps in dealing with Iran and Cuba and not sending more ground troops to entangle us more deeply in the perpetual Middle East chaos resulting from the century old efforts of European imperial powers to carve up the Ottoman Empire.

On the other hand, while admonishing Israel for its continued illegal annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank (though, not about its economic strangling of Gaza), he has continued to give it massive military aid. Ironically, despite the recent uproar over his abstention on a vote confirming a long accepted UN position on the illegality of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, his Republican predecessors have been more willing to actually vote in favor of resolutions condemning Israeli actions. They even threatened cuts in US aid at times, succeeding in curtailing Israeli actions.

Obama has also made other avoidable missteps. He refused to prosecute those in the Bush Administration responsible for torture policies, accepted the legitimacy of the 2009 Honduras coup which overthrew an elected government, and aided and abetted the Saudi bombing of Yemen to appease the Saudis after his nuclear deal with Iran.

Unfortunately, Obama's modest re-thinking of foreign policy stays largely within his own mind. He has made only feeble attempts to be Educator-in-Chief. He knows the Iranians will never forget the 1953 CIA-led coup against an elected leader, Mohammed Mossadegh, the installation of the autocratic Shah, our support for Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran and our indifference, at best, to his use of chemical weapons against them. He is aware Iran abandoned nuclear programs as "un-Islamic" until the horrific chemical warfare made them feel acutely vulnerable. He knows, apparently, that the Saudis are the chief exporters of jihadist theology throughout the Islamic world. But he keeps that knowledge largely to himself, along with his awareness of Palestinian daily life under Israeli rule.

This failure to systematically tell the American people about any of this means perpetuating their ignorance and making it more likely that inhumane and/or foolish policies will be pursued and supported in the future. When Donald Trump becomes President in a few weeks he will apparently be giving unqualified love to the Saudis, cheering Israel's expanding colonization efforts, and hugging friendly autocrats, especially if "friendliness" includes surreptitiously advancing The Trump Organization. Roosevelt had his fireside chats with all the citizens. Obama should at least have a foreign policy "teach-in" before he leaves office. It is now too late to "walk the walk," but he can at least "talk the talk." His Farewell Address, touching as it was, was another missed opportunity.
U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions' confirmation hearings for the Attorney General position have centered on race relations and immigration reform. While the senator has resisted barbs that he is racially insensitive, he has not disputed similar claims that he is antagonistic to immigrant rights. Indeed, in the past Sessions has used the purported negative impact of both legal and illegal immigration as the basis for his views.1 According to the good senator, the undocumented hurt our national economy, and thus immigration as a whole must be curbed. However, the actual research on the economic impact of undocumented immigration is in fact the opposite of what the senator has repeatedly claimed. A sad and more sobering fact is that reporters and other decision-makers have simply accepted Sessions', and similar tales of woe, as Gospel. Thus, neither reporters nor politicians ever seem to challenge the claims of the leader of the anti-immigrant lobby. Well, at least until now.

Senator Sessions as well as the cadre of conservative talk radio hosts, pundits, pseudo-politicians, and even the so-called "Average Joes" that have adopted the new anti-immigrant narrative simply fail to understand the true value of immigrants in our society. The inevitable visceral response to this last claim is that it is some sort of "fake news," or the author must be some sort of anti-American bleeding heart that merely favors hoards of outsiders invading this country. Here too, the ill informed are sadly mistaken. Indeed, the conclusion here that undocumented actually provide significant gains to our economy comes not from some politically motivated agenda, but from studies from all sectors of the national political spectrum 2 --in fact, the exhaustive empirical research on the matter comes from volumes of reports by the federal government mandated by a Republican President,3 studies by the conservative/libertarian CATO Institute,4 and by reports by the Immigration Policy Institute.5 For instance, the most comprehensive examination of these issues stems from the National Research Council, which convened a panel of demographers, economists, and sociologists at the request of Congress's bipartisan Commission on Immigration Reform. It concluded, "undocumented immigrants provide a net positive fiscal impact with immigrants and their concurrent descendants paying nearly $51 billion [in 1994-1995 dollars] more in taxes than they generate in costs."6 The conservative Cato Institute for its part issued a report "Restriction or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform," and concluded " legalization of low-skilled immigrant workers would yield significant income gains for American workers and households.7 Similarly, a 2010 study by the pro-immigrant Immigration Policy Institute, concluded "illegal immigration has been hugely beneficial to many U.S. employers, often providing benefits that the current legal immigration system does not. . . . Not only do unauthorized immigrants provide an important source of low-skilled labor, they also respond to market conditions in ways that legal immigration presently cannot, making them particularly appealing to U.S. employers."8

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Thus, the leading studies on the matter, which come from the federal government, a conservative think tank, and a pro-immigrant think tank, repeatedly and unequivocally conclude undocumented immigrants actually provide significant gains to our national economy. Thus, despite the dominant anti-immigrant narrative, which is made by the politician that may very well be the next U.S. Attorney General, is simply inaccurate. Therefore, the misguided and factually flawed anti-immigrant discourse concerning the negative impact of undocumented immigrants that thus far has gone unchecked must be rectified if this sort of unfounded demagoguery is finally going to be laid to rest. In its place, the consequential issue of immigrant rights and reform must be addressed in an informed and thoughtful manner.



_______________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Jeff Sessions: The U.S. "Economy Cannot Sustain' Lawful Immigration Rates," available at http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/16/jeff-sessions-u-s-economy-cannot-sustain-current-lawful-immigration-rates/

2. For a comprehensive examination of the studies on the economic impact of undocumented immigrants, see Ediberto Roman, THOSE DAMNED IMMIGRANTS: AMERICA'S HYSTERIA OVER UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION (NYU PRESS 2013).

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3. National Research Council, The Immigration Debate: Studies on the Economic, Demographic, and Fiscal Effects of Immigration, ed. James P. Smith and Barry Edmonston, Panel on the Demographic and Economic Impacts of Immigration (Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 1998), 10.

4. Daniel Griswold, "Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Finally Getting It Right," Center for Free Trade Policy Studies, May 16, 2007, http://www.cato.org/pubs/ftb/FTB-029.pdf ; Peter B. Dixon and Maureen T. Rimmer, "Restriction or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform," CATO Institute, Center for Trade Policy Studies, no. 40, August 13, 2009, 1, http://www.cato.org/pubs/tpa/tpa-040.pdf. ; 66. Peter B. Dixon, Martin Johnson, and Maureen T. Rimmer, "Economy-Wide Effects of Reducing Illegal Immigrants in U.S. Employment," Contemporary Economic Policy 29, no. 1 (2011):14; Peter B. Dixon, Maureen T. Rimmer, and Martin Johnson, "Reducing Illegal Migrants in the U.S.: A Dynamic CGE Analysis," Centre of Policy Studies and the Impact Project, General Paper No. G-183, July 2008, 28, http://www.monash.edu.au/policy/ftp/workpapr/g-183.pdf.



5. Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, "Raising the Floor for American Workers: The Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform," (Immigration Policy Center, Center for American Progress, January 2010), http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/immigrationeconreport3.pdf; at p. 1.

6. National Research Council, The Immigration Debate: Studies on the Economic, Demographic, and Fiscal Effects of Immigration, ed. James P. Smith and Barry Edmonston, Panel on the Demographic and Economic Impacts of Immigration (Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 1998), 194.

7. Peter B. Dixon and Maureen T. Rimmer, "Restriction or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform," CATO Institute, Center for Trade Policy Studies, no. 40, August 13, 2009, 1, http://www.cato.org/pubs/tpa/tpa-040.pdf. ; 66.

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To describe the last few weeks and the upcoming days as tumultuous would be an understatement. I believe that now, more than ever, we need an extra dose of art to distract us and keep our spirits high.

Last Saturday, I went to see the exhibition of new works by Jacob Hashimoto at Mixografia, a print workshop in Downtown L.A. renowned for producing and publishing limited edition prints and sculptures by leading contemporary artists. Currently based in New York, Jacob Hashimoto started his career here in L.A. and I've been following his work for years. Three years ago, he had a very ambitious sculptural installation at MOCA's satellite Pacific Design Center. Thousands of Hashimoto's trademark small paper kites were suspended from the ceiling in the shape of billowing clouds.

On Saturday at Mixografia, the artist gave a talk about his new prints, which have an unusually rich 3-dimensional texture. After looking at them carefully, one is tempted to describe them as sculpted paper reliefs rather than traditional prints.

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That same day, I managed to get over to Pasadena, to the Norton Simon Museum to see the famous Van Gogh (1853-1890) painting, Bedroom at Arles, on loan from the Art Institute of Chicago. There are two more versions of this painting: one in Amsterdam at the Van Gogh Museum and another in Paris at the Musee d'Orsay. But somehow, this Chicago version of Bedroom (1889) has extra oomph, with its more pronounced brushwork and slightly brighter palette. If you haven't been to the Norton Simon recently, I highly recommend going there before this great painting returns to Chicago on March 6th. Until then, you can enjoy seeing it accompanied by half a dozen of Van Gogh paintings from the Norton Simon Museum's permanent collection.

And here's yet another welcome distraction; A few months ago, I talked about the exhibition at the Skirball Cultural Center, Pop for the People: Roy Lichtenstein in L.A. The exhibition runs until March 12th. As a pure coincidence, the Skirball's curators chose one of the prints by Lichtenstein -- his homage to Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles -- to build into a life-size recreation of the bedroom as reimaged by Lichtenstein. There is plenty of tension hovering in this interior due to the dramatic relationship between Van Gogh and Gaugin, who stayed together in Arles for a few weeks. But here at the Skirball, you have the choice of asking your kids to sit on the bed, smile, and -- drama be damned -- snap a happy picture.

Sunday at the Getty Center, I had the pleasure of joining Susan Jaques in conversation on the stage of the Harold Williams Auditorium, where we talked about her new book Catherine the Great: The Empress of Art. According to Jaques, Catherine "was a self-proclaimed 'glutton for art' and she would be responsible for the creation of the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world, second to only the Louvre". There were plenty of fascinating stories to share, including secret sales of the Hermitage's masterpieces by the communist government in the 1920s to Andrew Mellon, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Years later, when Andrew Mellon established the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and donated his private collection to the Gallery, some of the paintings bought by Catherine the Great for the Hermitage ended up proudly displayed in Washington.

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Now, let's step into the rather crazy but amusing world of Pedro Almodovar, the Spanish filmmaker whose films are part of the current retrospective at the Cinefamily. Almodovar's films are an incomparable combination of profound and hilarious observations on human nature. Few directors can create female characters as intriguing, complex -- and yes, crazy -- as he does.

With all of the above, it's time to evoke the Latin saying ars longa, vita brevis -- which, in my imperfect translation, goes "life is short but art is forever".

___________

Edward Goldman is an art critic and the host of Art Talk, a program on art and culture for NPR affiliate KCRW 89.9 FM. To listen to the complete show and hear Edward's charming Russian accent, click here.
WASHINGTON, DC - President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Education Betsy DeVos appears before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC Tuesday January 17, 2017. (Photo by Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Betsy DeVos's confirmation hearings for Secretary of Education started Tuesday, nearly a week after they were scheduled to occur. The delay, I understand, was at least somewhat because of Democrats' concerns about President-elect Donald Trump's controversial pick.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington called out DeVos' "extensive financial entanglements and potential conflicts of interest."

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Those are serious concerns and I'm glad our leaders are raising them.

But there are other problems with Trump's pick -- and they are equally as troublesome.

DeVos is a myopic, no-holds-barred proponent of school choice and vouchers -- to the detriment of children whose only choice is the school to which they've been assigned.

As chair of the American Federation for Children, she has joined with others who are ardently pro-school-choice with the goal of privatizing education by creating programs and passing laws that direct public funds (vouchers and other programs) to pay for private school tuition. While public school choice is, on its face, not a bad thing -- and I'm including in this definition charter schools, magnet schools, dual credit and similar programs -- it is misguided to divert public funds to private and parochial schools.

There is not enough evidence, after all, that private and parochial schools do much better at educating the young people who populate many struggling public schools: Black, Brown, poor, immigrant, special needs or otherwise. Instead, what we know is that all students do better when schools are populated with a mix of students from all backgrounds, cultures and family situations.

And public schools where students and teachers both come from varied racial and socio-economic backgrounds -- that works even better. In fact, in the NUA's work with the West Metro Education Program, a desegregation initiative with Minneapolis Public Schools, the students who were bused to suburban schools made three times the progress in both reading and math when compared with similar students who were not a part of the busing program. Desegregated districts such as Eden Prairie, Minn., have reduced the "achievement gap" by nearly 60 percent, using culturally responsive strategies, as well as those pedagogies guided by neuroscience. Districts such as Robbinsdale, Minn., and urban schools in districts such as San Francisco, New York City and Bridgeport, Conn., have in elementary grades seen two standard deviations of improvement for their students.

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It is true that schooling is not one-size-fits-all, and shouldn't be. Families, such as those involved in the busing programs I just mentioned, should have choices. But the foundation of that choice should be of the "first-do-no-harm" variety. When choice A negatively affects those students who are left with choice B, it's then that I recommend a different choice altogether.

DeVos, if confirmed, should use her platform to find out what's really happening in school choice programs and what specific action steps could be taken in federal, state, and public-private partnerships to use choice to help many more students succeed.

Another issue with Trump's pick for Education Secretary is her record.

Education is slow work, with many ups and downs. All of us who do this difficult, but rewarding, work understand that, and expect imperfections on the march toward improvement. But even the most generous evaluation of DeVos' time contributing to her pet education causes in Michigan indicates major failings.

A New York Times commentary writer said that "as one of the architects of Detroit's charter school system, [DeVos] is partly responsible for what even charter advocates acknowledge is the biggest school reform disaster in the country."

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The writer goes on to say that DeVos' hands in the Detroit pot have left the district operating "like the Wild West."

"It's hardly a surprise that the system, which has almost no oversight, has failed," Douglas N. Harris wrote. "Schools there can do poorly and still continue to enroll students. Also, after more than a decade of Ms. DeVos's getting her way on a host of statewide education policies, Michigan has the dubious distinction of being one of five states with declining reading scores."

That's not marching toward improvement at all. Instead, DeVos' work is a case study in backsliding.

It's a stretch in fact to call what DeVos did in Michigan "work." Detroit Free Press editorial page editor Stephen Henderson had this to say about DeVos:

"DeVos isn't an educator, or an education leader. She's not an expert in pedagogy or curriculum or school governance. In fact, she has no relevant credentials or experience for a job setting standards and guiding dollars for the nation's public schools.

She is, in essence, a lobbyist - someone who has used her extraordinary wealth to influence the conversation about education reform, and to bend that conversation to her ideological convictions despite the dearth of evidence supporting them."

How is she now qualified to lead the nation's education agenda?

The truth is, she isn't.

Some Democratic leaders at Tuesday's hearing asked excellent and tough questions -- and tried valiantly to get to the heart of that truth. But we know, like Trump's other candidates for top positions, she will likely sail through this process.

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And so lead she will.

I have my doubts, clearly, but I am choosing to be optimistic that, once appointed, DeVos will ultimately choose the strategies, programs and philosophies that will enable all of our students to succeed -- not just those who believe in the kind of "choice" she has, to date, espoused.

As I said before in an earlier post -- along with my friend and colleague Joe Nathan, director of the Center for School Change -- we hope she'll choose platforms "that engages all in the democracy we recognize as a global beacon; woven together by the cultural, demographic mosaic that defines us: White, Black, Brown, Asian, Native Americans and recent immigrants from many countries."
Some Christians, I read again today, claim that the election of Donald Trump in 2016 is like God's choice of Cyrus the Great in the mid-500s BCE. Let's see if they're right.

In the early 500s BCE--roughly 2,500 years ago--the Babylonian empire destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and left the city in charred ruins. Babylon also took some of Israel's leaders into exile in Babylon (modern-day Iraq). The experience proved treacherous. The prophet Ezekiel heard this exilic threnody: "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely."

By mid-century, however, everything changed. Babylon fell to Persia, thanks to Cyrus the Great. The change was so cataclysmic that a prophet, in Isaiah 45:1, dared to call the founder of the Persian Empire, Cyrus, God's messiah--a term used for Israel's own kings:



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Thus says the LORD to his anointed [messiah], to Cyrus,

whose right hand I have grasped

to subdue nations before him

and strip kings of their robes,

to open doors before him--

and the gates shall not be closed.

Is this a spot-on description of Donald Trump? Will this iconoclast take up the ancient role of Cyrus the Great and subdue nations, stripping prime ministers and presidents of their robes (metaphorically speaking)?

Some Christians say yes. They claim that God once chose a flawed and foreign ruler to shake up the world. God is now doing that with Donald Trump. The president-elect will shake up the world and turn it to rights. That is why, against all odds, Donald Trump is now president.

Here's the rub.

The prophet claimed that God would elect Cyrus because his policies were humane, a reversal of inhumane Babylonian practices.

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While the Babylonians had shattered nations and dislocated them--displacing their leaders hundreds of miles from their homelands--Cyrus the Great had a different policy. Cyrus returned people to their homelands and supported them as they rebuilt their shrines and temples.

In short, Cyrus put in place a humane foreign policy. This was not, historians caution, pure altruism. Cyrus wasn't just trying to be a nice guy. Cyrus had to bolster the greatest empire the world had ever known. To do this, he needed even a small province such as Judah to provide a bridge to Egypt, which seemed endlessly in rebellion. And a province near the Mediterranean coast was handy for fending off the pesky Greeks.

Cyrus' policy of resettlement may not have been altruistic--but it was humane. It gave Israelites in exile--like many other nations in exile at the time--the opportunity voluntarily to remain where they were or to return home, rebuild their homes and temples, and live as their grandparents had. For this reason, the prophet saw God's hand in the politics of Cyrus because his policy reversed the horrors of Babylonian foreign policy.

So is Donald Trump a modern-day Cyrus?

No.

Cyrus' policies were voluntary. People could stay. People could leave. Trump's policies, as far as we can tell, will demand that many leave America against their will. These policies are not at all the same. One evokes hope for the displaced; the other yields anxiety and despair.

Cyrus' policies gave financial support to those who left. (This is clear from the biblical books of Ezra and Nehemiah.) If people returned home, he funded rebuilding. Trump's policies offer no financial support to those whom he will forcibly remove from the USA.

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Cyrus' policies supported the practice of the religions in his empire. Trump's policies, as far as we've seen, may discriminate against Muslims.

Cyrus' policies gave hope to the displaced. Trump's policies aim at ridding America of the displaced.

The comparison of Cyrus and Trump is wrong, not because of any personal considerations, such as God's choice of flawed individuals to do God's will, but because Trump's policies take us in the wrong direction.

The prophet saw hope in Cyrus because of Cyrus' policies toward a people once devastated by the Babylonians, and so he says:

I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness,

and I will make all his paths straight;

he shall build my city

and set my exiles free,

not for price or reward,

says the LORD of hosts.

Build my cities. Set my exiles free.

Why is Trump not a modern-day Cyrus? It's not about personality, peccadillos, or private morality. Trump is not a modern-day Cyrus because of his policies.

Persia, under the leadership of Cyrus, reversed the inhumane policies of the Babylonians. If Trump's policies make our world more humane, more tolerant of other religions, more hospitable to the displaced among us, then I will champion his presidency. Until then, it's premature for Christians to call him God's anointed.
Donald Trump's record $200 million inauguration on Friday is fit for the ruler of an imperial nation which has over 800 overseas military bases, commands the world seas and rules over the skies with robotic machines capable of eviscerating virtually anybody, anywhere on earth on short notice.

The inauguration will also reflect America's new Gilded Age, with the haves celebrating their good fortune, and the have nots protesting outside.

In a course I am teaching we are currently reading the book Crime and the American Dream by Steven F. Messner and Richard Rosenfeld (5th ed. Wadsworth, 2013). This is fitting because Mr. Trump embodies the values the authors say result in particularly high crime rates in U.S. society, notably hyper-materialism, and extreme individualism at the expense of community solidarity and welfare.

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According to Messner and Rosenfeld, a cardinal virtue of American society - its competitive individualistic ethic - leads to great innovation but also a cardinal vice, high-crime rates resulting from lack of concern about the means adopted to achieve the prized cultural end of wealth accumulation.

Trump as we know has gained the highest office in the land because he had the money to bankroll his campaign and the stature that led people to listen to him and believe he has a Midas touch that will bring prosperity to the nation.

Trump though is a con man. He gained his wealth through unethical and sometimes unlawful means and conned people into believing he was an outsider against the system. His Cabinet consists of millionaires whose first order of business will be to undo any progressive gains made in the last eight years.

Crime is a learned behavior and Trump learned from his father Fred who, as David Cay Johnston shows in The Making of Donald Trump, was the target of a federal investigation for profiteering on tax dollars intended to help World War II veterans and partnered with Willie Tomasello, whom the New York State organized crime task force identified as an associate of the Genovese and Gambino crime families.

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Donald too developed business connections with criminals including the heads of the two largest New York mafia families. His business mentor, Roy Cohn, was chief lawyer for Joseph McCarthy and then to the mafia. Trump said: "I didn't kid myself about Roy. He was no boy scout. He once told me he'd spent more than two thirds of his adult life under indictment on one charge or another."

To build Trump towers, Donald bought concrete from S & A concrete which was owned by mafia chieftans "Big Paul" Castellano and "Fat Tony" Salerno whom Trump met with before he was convicted of racketeering.

Trump has been party to over 3,500 lawsuits, some accusing him of civil fraud. He made money by employing a demolition contractor that hired immigrants who worked in violation of various labor laws, which Cohn helped cover up by allegedly paying bribes to inspectors.

Trump University has been exposed to be a "faux university" which did not employ real faculty but sales people many of whom had no experience in real estate and offered students special access to leads that were actually accessible for free on the internet.

Consumer fraud agents in Texas found that students were taught to prey upon homeowners in financial turmoil and to forget foreclosure properties, and to sell real estate without a license which is illegal in Texas. Their report said sales agents posing as faculty falsely approved continuing education credits for realtors though they were not approved, and Trump University violated Texas law in its refusal to pay taxes and in its false branding as a university.

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To deflect an investigation in Florida, Trump gave $25,000 for the reelection of Attorney General Pam Bondi which led Bondi to back off from investigation. This was equivalent to paying a bribe and violated a law in which charities are forbidden from making political donations.

Johnston's book, which includes discussion of Trump's serial tax evasion, was published before the election which begs the question as to how Trump possibly could have won.

The Democrats want to blame Russian hackers whom they are clearly scapegoating, while many on the left want to blame the Democrat's turn towards neoliberalism under Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and the shortcomings of Hillary Clinton which is more plausible.

An added variable, however, is that Trump embodies the values Americans are conditioned to prize; notably wealth accumulation regardless of the means pursued. Ours is a criminogenic society and we have elected a leader who is a successful white collar criminal who never got caught. He gamed the system in business to his own benefit, and then used his moral capital to make a mockery of the election process and political elite Americans have come to loathe.

Many of Trump's critics underestimate his appeal, believing the people chose a man "who shredded our values and morals," as liberal talk show host Bill Moyers put it.

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However in many respects Trump is America. His bullying manner reflects an imperial nation that as Medea Benjamin recently pointed out, dropped 26,000 tons of bombs in a year it was not even engaged in any major land wars; and his shady business dealings are part and parcel of the capitalist system and the vast inequalities and corruption it produces.

Crime and the American Dream includes a revealing discussion of Richard Nixon who retained a popular following even after Watergate because people saw in him a man for whom "ideals had to yield to necessity, right to might, compassion to interest, principle to circumstance." They understood how "Nixon, or anyone, could believe himself forced on occasion to cheat a little, lie a little, find an edge, get out front of more favored competitors any way he could - as they themselves had done, or would do - in the unrelenting battles of life."

Trump's appeal is similar, though he embodies even more what many secretly aspire to in his achieving unimaginable wealth and in turn fame, the means of doing so being less important.

While noble in their cause, the anti-Trump forces face an uphill battle. For a true revolutionary movement to succeed, it would have to effectively challenge the prevailing cultural paradigm that lies at the root of the social pathologies of our society. This paradigm is seductive and accounts for many aspects of our society's success as well as its dark side, which Mr. Trump is iconic of.

Jeremy Kuzmarov is author of Modernizing Repression: Police Training and Nation Building in the American Century (Massachusetts, 2012) among other works.
A little known program at the Department of State is now one of the biggest conflicts of interest sitting in the way of Rex Tillerson's confirmation as Secretary of State.

The program is currently involved in writing oil and gas regulations for the country of Guyana, where Exxon has just announced another major oil find.

Guyana, a South American nation that borders Venezuela, has a population of under 1 million people and is the 3rd poorest country in the region. Exxon's oil find there is currently estimated at over 4 billion barrels of oil - worth more than $200 billion. However, only 2 out of 20 offshore fields have been explored so far - which may mean far more oil is actually available.

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There has never been large scale oil and gas extraction in Guyana, and the country has no real framework for regulating multinational oil companies like Exxon. The oil industry calls such places "frontier" locations. As the Washington Post writes:

"'frontier' locations typically offer the most lucrative terms to foreign companies willing to invest. Guyana's foreign partners stand to earn 60 to 65 percent of profits, a far larger share than what more established nations are willing to offer investors."

This makes Guyana a much larger and economically important find than Exxon's holdings in Russia, at least in the near term.

State Department Oversight of Exxon in Guyana

The Guyanese government faces the prospect of regulating a company with an annual profit margin that is over 5 times larger than Guyana's GDP. With no technical expertise in offshore oil drilling and no experience handling super-powered corporations, Guyana faces the real possibility of suffering the "resource curse," in which a place with massive resource wealth is pillaged and left for broke by bad management and predatory colonial practices.

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Interestingly, the State Department has recognized this dilemma. Under Secretary Clinton, the State Department set up a program called the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative. The program aims to both promote fossil development and prevent the "resource curse" by providing "independent oversight" of the oil and gas industry in nascent oil states. The program is currently helping the Guyanese government write profit sharing agreements, environmental regulations, and develop a strong rule of law to counterbalance corporate power.

There is righteous critique of this from people who say the main outcome of such a program would be to help Exxon profit from Guyana's resources under the patina of rule of law. While that critique may have been valid while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, it will be an inarguable fact if Rex Tillerson assumes the Secretaryship.

It seems unlikely bordering impossible that Tillerson would, or even could recuse himself from his conflicted role. In his nomination hearing, Tillerson said he would recuse himself for one year from carrying out foreign policy that deals directly with ExxonMobil. Considering Exxon has dealings in in nearly a third of the World's countries, a strict adherence to this promise would cripple the State Department.

Furthermore Tillerson will have a significant impact on State Department policy even if he does recuse himself from specific issues. As Secretary he will appoint and hire the staff of the Bureau of Energy Resources, which runs the EGCI. Under Clinton, David Goldwyn was the main negotiator for EGCI, and visited Guyana as part of the initiative. Goldwyn was Clinton's right hand when it came to oil and gas diplomacy, helping her open Mexico's oil market and promote fracking worldwide. It stands to reason that Tillerson will fill that post with someone equally adept at integrating oil industry and State Department goals. They will at the very least represent their boss's position while negotiating in Guyana. This means someone who shares Tillerson's worldview will be responsible for prioritizing environmental and profit sharing regulations affecting Exxon. The unavoidable outcome of this is friendlier rules for Exxon, rules that prioritize production over over the environment, and corporate comfort over social justice.

Exxon in Guyana: a History of Stirring Conflict

There is a long backstory to Rex Tillerson and Exxon's actions in Guyana. When Exxon initially announced this find in 2015, they knowingly caused an international incident, replete with troops amassing on borders and the outright threat of violence. This potential violence was stirred because Guyana's neighbor, Venezuela claims ownership of the area on which Exxon found the oil.
Intuit forecasts that approximately 7.6 million Americans will be involved as providers into so-called "gig" economy by 2020, which means that the current total of 3.2 million will be more than doubled. On-demand business model is constantly escalating in importance and popularity. Small and mid-sized businesses have to reckon with this fact in order not to fall behind.

You as an owner of a home renovation business may face this challenge soon as well. The earlier you get things under control, the more advantages of a new business model you can get. Dozens of online marketplaces were launched in the last few years. Some of them are widely used by people looking for quality renovation, remodeling and construction services. So, obviously getting more new clients is the first reason why you should submit your business to a marketplace (or even to a couple of them).

Second, you don't have to look for work to do yourself, in most cases platform's AI assistants find clients for you. So you can save time to focus on other tasks. Third, appointment scheduling is easy. Your calendar and working schedule can be integrated to some of the websites or their mobile apps, so your customers can check when you are available. And you can access the list of your upcoming appointments to make sure you don't miss anything important.

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The general principle of how marketplaces operate is quite simple. Users submit requests and the platform matches them with particular service providers. It may be the other way round as well - businesses list their services and users can request quotes (multiple quotes to compare prices, availability, etc.) from providers they are interested in.

So, if you are in the renovation business and want to bring it to the next level, here are some marketplace platforms that are worth to be listed on.

Smith matches you with potential customers. If a customer accepts your quote, you will have to pay an appointment fee to view his or her contact info.

On Porch you need to purchase leads based on location and the type of service you provide. Then, leads are delivered to you via email or text message and you choose the ones that satisfy your business' needs.

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Users describe the type of work that needs to be done, and the website provides the best matches to them so that they could select a professional they liked most.

Create an impressive portfolio on Houzz to showcase your business with creative photos, client reviews and community interaction. Users can reach you directly. If you have any products (for the entire home) for sale, you can effectively market them on Houzz as well.

A nice solution for your marketing team. You simply create a profile on Building pros (free for 6 months) and it helps you get promoted on Google. Leads will follow right away.

AMAZON Home & Business Services

Register and set up your account to start getting project offers from customers. Depending on the type of service you provide and the final cost, there is a revenue share for all the completed projects.

Pro Referral finds suitable job requests and provides customers' contact info to you in order to discuss details. Each job request costs some points that you earn for every dollar you spend shopping in-store.

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The resource works two ways. You can register your business and send offers to potential customers that are looking for home improvement services or accept requests from homeowners.

Customers will be able to find your profile here and view your ratings. They can contact you leaving the message (with pictures of your project) through the website and get your estimates.

After you create your profile on Yelp, users will be able to view your ratings, pics of your recent projects and find all the essential info about your business. They can contact you directly or press Request a Quote button (if available) to get your estimates.
A legislative bill to protect Finger Lakes Race Track horsemen and New York's thoroughbred breeding industry has been introduced by state Senator John Bonacic, chairman of the Senate's Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. The imminent opening of the del Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre, 27 miles east of Finger Lakes Race Track (FLRT) in Farmington, is expected to cannibalize patrons and revenue from gaming and wagering operations at FLRT and neighboring regions of the state.

The more casinos the merrier? Not so much.



Last year Delaware North, FLRT's owner, lobbied for and received tax incentives for their on-site racino on par with tax incentives granted del Lago. The horsemen, who constitute the backbone of horse racing at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racing, were unsuccessful in having the law revised to protect purses from a projected precipitous decrease caused by the expected migration of players to the new casino.



Racing purses are in part funded by revenue from video lottery terminals (VLT) at the Finger Lakes racino. VLT players siphoned off to the del Lago casino will result in a decreased revenue stream for FLRT purses.

Lower purses mean reduced income for the owners and trainers who populate Finger Lakes' backstretch. With diminished purses, there would be fewer horses and races; and less need for the jockeys, exercise riders, grooms, hot walkers, farriers and veterinarians who are the fabric of track life.



The races at FLRT are chock-full of horses bred, raised and trained in New York. The robust thoroughbred industry in central and western New York is supported by incentives from the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund that is funded in part by a micro percentage of VLT revenues.

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Lower VLT revenues will diminish the funding streams that sustain the incentives that attract breeders and owners to the NY-bred program. Without the protections afforded in S01003, industry downsizing is inevitable. When breeding and training facilities reduce operations or shut down, jobs evaporate. Every horse farm has a web of suppliers - including feed stores, landscapers, small machinery repair shops, lumber mills and farm machinery dealers. When a farm closes, negative outcomes ripple throughout its community.

All is not lost.



Never a collective to act before necessity, last year the legislature left bills similar to S01003 languishing. With the clock ticking - del Lago is scheduled to open February 1, now is time for legislators to tweak the original legislation and counteract the predation of FLRT operations. *



Under current law, race tracks within the same designated geographic region as a new casino are protected. The challenge that FLRT faces is despite proximity FLRT and del Lago are in different regions. The revised law will extend protection to racetracks within 50 miles of del Lago, regardless of region.

Senator Bonacic explains the importance of S01003:



This legislation is necessary to protect horsemen, breeders, and the entire racing industry from the projected loss of revenue at Finger Lakes when Del Lago begins operations. This is a critical issue and that is why the Senate Budget Resolution last year proposed to address it. Unfortunately, it was not resolved in the final budget, but I will continue to fight to protect the horsemen, breeders, and all the jobs created by the racing industry in New York. **

Bonacic's legislation states:

If an applicant that does not possess either a pari-mutuel wagering license or franchise awarded pursuant to article two or three of this chapter is issued a gaming facility license pursuant to this article, the licensee shall pay:

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(a) an amount to horsemen for purses at the licensed racetracks in the region and in the case of region five any licensed racetracks within fifty miles of the licensee's facility, that will assure the purse support from video lottery gaming facilities in the region and in the case of region five any such licensed racetracks within fifty miles of the licensee's facility, to the licensed racetracks in the region and in the case of region five any such facilities within fifty miles of the licensee's facility, to be maintained at the same dollar levels realized in two thousand thirteen to be adjusted by the consumer price index for all urban consumers, as published annually by the United States department of labor bureau of labor statistics; and



(b) amounts to the agricultural and New York state horse breeding development fund and the New York state thoroughbred breeding and development fund to maintain payments from video lottery gaming facilities in the region and in the case of region five any such facilities within fifty miles of the licensee's facility, to such funds to be maintained at the same dollar levels realized in two thousand thirteen to be adjusted by the consumer price index for all urban consumers, as published annually by the United States department of labor bureau of labor statistics.
Last week, #Maddog was a top trending hashtag during General Mattis' (ret.) Senate confirmation hearing for Defense Secretary. While this nickname may be ideal for social media discourse, it's completely inadequate to describe what James Mattis and other military leaders have experienced over the course of the last two decades. Incoming Secretary Mattis is a strategic thinker who understands how US strength is a cooperative endeavor. Today's military readiness, in fact, requires it. As we move through the rubble of campaign rhetoric into a new administration, the best way to support our own disrupted democracy will be to understand today's security threats and the individuals who are in charge of protecting us. Always look beyond hashtags. Remember, General Mattis served during a pivotal time of transition at the end of the Cold War, when old notions of strength changed dramatically. From the end of World War II until 1991, strong militarily states were the threat. Our Cold War policy of deterrence relied on mutually assured nuclear destruction. In those days, security risks looked linear, technological and even predictable--a Soviet Army on the border of East Germany. In contrast, today's security risks look chaotic, human and even random--a teenager in Minneapolis targeted online, cultivated by peers and recruited by ISIS. Today, weak and collapsed states pose dangers that can't be solved using the methods of the last century. It used to be that military power was measured through the application of force. But in the modern world, deadly force is often counterproductive. Fixating on it as the sole solution will make our problems worse. After all, to an ISIS fighter, "I'm going to kill you" isn't a deterrent, it's an incentive.

Today's defense strategy must recognize that the definition of modern power includes the ability to influence positive change. Incoming Secretary Mattis knows this. His active duty experience happened during the globalization of national security: Terrorism, malevolent ideology, state corruption, cyber attacks, disruptive climate, human migration, contagious disease, nuclear material proliferation. These are mutual threats and powerful countries know that they must be addressed collaboratively by helping willing partners build inclusive governing systems. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is the world's most successful military alliance partly because it supports these activities.

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Secretary Mattis wants to focus on building a strong military to fight and win our nation's wars. That's a fine goal, but to truly achieve a modern security strategy, we must fully embrace non-military methods of prevention as the necessary foundation of the larger objective. If we don't, the military will continue to be dragged out of its remit and into crisis management. Promoting social cohesion and local resilience are the goals of prevention. Socially cohesive societies work for the well-being of all their members. Resilience is the ability to navigate successfully through disruption and change. These are usually tasks for people in normal clothes, not uniforms.

In order to focus clearly on prevention, we'll need a more precise division of labor in our national security. To stress this point, here is a list of what military leaders and other policy types have called the modern battlespace since 1991. (I derived this list from my time spent working on Capitol Hill 97-06) These imprecise labels describe situations where violence lurks everywhere and the lines between civilian and military are blurred. No matter what we call it, these terms describe a military coping with an overwhelming set of global responsibilities. Nearly all of them imply helping or creating space for competent and trustworthy governments, i.e. ones that can build social cohesion and resilience:

Military Missions Other than War (MMOTW)

Cooperative Threat Reduction

Peacekeeping

Peace and Stability Operations

Peace Enforcement

Four Block War

Nation building

Mass Atrocity Response Operation

Fourth Generation Warfare

Asymmetric Warfare

Civilian Security

Population security

Stability and Support Operations

Complex Contingency Operations

Expeditionary Operations

Formative Engagement

Preventive Defense

Unconventional Warfare

Shaping Stability

Phase Zero

Hybrid Warfare

Counterinsurgency

Global Convergence

Irregular Warfare

Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Persistent Conflict

Low-Intensity Conflict

Gray Zone

Feral Cities

Countering Violent Extremism "CVE"

Murky, urgent and potentially violent situations are not going away. Barring a comprehensive push for prevention, the blurred lines in our strategy will continue to cause policymakers to default to the military. The coming years are going to present us with a whole menu of threats caused by grievance and despair. The goal of ISIS and other violent extremist groups is to manage chaos where it exists and create chaos where it does not exist. The goal of Russia, it seems, is to degrade and destabilize democratic systems. Other chaos creating trends--refugee flows, climate disruption, disease--continue. The only way we can truly get in front of these threats is through a comprehensive focus on prevention. A primary driver of violent extremism is predatory governing. We should be seeking and supporting alternative structures to contain and share power. It doesn't have to be called "democracy," but our strategy does have to be local, legitimate and atuned to emerging opportunities for cooperation. It for sure shouldn't use the word "counter" as that signals use of force and will limit participation.

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US troops were recently stationed in Poland. Russia's actions against democracy are putting our best chance at successful, modern government at risk. American troops are fighting ISIS in the region of Northern Iraq. Our military has a considerable set of ongoing responsibilities. For this reason, we must double down on methods of prevention where if the military is involved, it is in non combat support roles. And we must not back away from the need for civilian leadership . Our goal should be to help countries out-govern the extremists in their midst. This is not a job for the use of force, or even just for the US government. It will require the private and public sectors, humanitarians and diplomats, students and citizens. It will require even more cooperation and support among our allies. Only a concerted surge can spur an upward virtuous cycle of life chances for more people. Most important, it will mean that the new administration and Congress must fully fund our civilian agencies--the diplomats at the State Department and our experts at the US Agency for International Development.
The speech "Hostage to Injustice" that I delivered at the 26th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on June 17, 2014:

I was born in a world of borders, barricades, and demarcation lines. And since I could not change the world around me, I created a world inside me, and I held on to it. It was a world with no borders, barricades, or demarcation lines. It was a world of hope.

To deny hope is to deny life. For what is life without hope, but a mockery of living, a theatrical existence, a theoretical state of being, a pale copy of reality? It is hope that has allowed humankind to thrive under the most adverse of conditions, hope that has given human beings the vitality essential to endure all manner of misfortunes, all horrors and hurts, all tragedies and tribulations, all cataclysms and catastrophes, and all seemingly cynical conditions. Hope is the necessary nectar of the demoralized in despair, of the discouraged and downhearted. For when the conditions of our existence are unacceptable, what is left of life but hope?

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And what is a man but his convictions? And what can a good man do but follow his? It has been said that those who rebel are a threat to peace. Yes, rebels do pose a threat. But not to peace. They pose a threat to the global system of control sustained by the transnational ruling class.

Those who resist despotism, occupation, maltreatment, and persecution are not terrorists - they are resistants. The source of all terrorism is the corrupted system that convicts people who follow their convictions, and which imprisons them illegally. The terrorists are the governments serving their own agenda rather than serving their own citizens. For there is a shadowy force lurking behind the scenes, determined to demand the submission of all who refuse to acquiesce and conform. Let us not forget that Nelson Mandela was once called a terrorist.

The only thing worse than being unfairly convicted of a crime is being held longer than one was sentenced. A prisoner held past their sentence is no longer a prisoner, but a hostage. The only thing greater than injustice is injustice within injustice.

Injustice is an insurmountable obstacle to humanity. Neutrality in matters of injustice is complicity. Who but humans can champion human rights? If we do not protect each other, then who will? And if a person trespasses against his fellow man, does not justice even apply to just punishment?

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When we politicize the pursuit of justice, we ironically perpetuate injustice and contribute to corruption. How many voices must scream out before they no longer fall on deaf ears? For our children of conscience are not unruly offspring; they are the progeny of righteous revolution. I have heard their testimonies, felt the anguished breath of the oppressed on my face. They have not been imprisoned by their oppressors, but by their own conscience, and not only their bodies imprisoned, but their very consciousness. The one imprisoned thus becomes both the jailed and the jail itself.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". Those who resist injustice, those who lead rather than follow, have been called dangerous, and I am afraid that this is all too true. They are incredibly dangerous. They are a danger to the powers which seek to suppress the freedoms of every person on the planet and wish to subvert every rebel, every free thinker, and every independent person. They are a danger to this dark force that pits nation against nation and governments against their own people in order to brutalize and prey upon all nations or individuals targeted by their insidious agendas.

Those who resist oppression are dangerous because they think for themselves. But the greatest threat they pose is the potential to inspire others to awaken from apathetic complacency and act on their convictions rather than submitting to malevolent so-called authorities.

If only we were all so dangerous. I call for us all to become dangerous. This is a call for us all to follow our own convictions and resist all suppressive forces. I call for a global revolution, a collective conviction that begins with each individual's personal convictions. May we all rise now with determination and bravery that each and every one of us poses just such a threat and just such a danger to a global paradigm of inconceivable injustice. After all, they cannot imprison us all!
Change is coming into the African Union and Africans should demand the very best person to lead it; we need a responsive and inclusive leader, a leader of global stature, visionary leadership, great intelligence and acumen, international credibility, world class negotiator, experience in leading large international organizations, a leader who can put women and girls issues at the top of their mandate and with a proven international track record of delivering for Africa.

It is a truly demanding job. It is not a job for experimentation, a political crony or regional rotation but someone who has the proven ability of bringing people together can inspire the African people and has the skills, experience and capability to take Africa to the next level internationally. The stakes are very high for Africa if we are to secure our place in the rapidly changing international economic and political environment.

Further the relevance and legitimacy of the African Union ultimately rests on its standing with the people of the world.

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All the candidates are achievers in their own countries, sphere and right but do they have what it takes in all aspects and the proven world class leadership skills to deliver for Africa. In our own interest as Africans we need to be objective, setting aside any other interests, agendas - ours or others, in making this key decision. The person we choose can mean the difference between us continuing as we are or Africa rising to the level we desire and having its rightful place in the affairs of the world.

Agapito Mba Mokuy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Equatorial Guinea, and Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana were not found suitable in seven rounds of voting by the Heads of State at the Kigali Summit. In the seventh and ultimate round of the election, 30 states abstained - the highest number of abstentions in the history of AUC elections. What has changed to make these candidates acceptable since then?

The other candidates Moussa Faki Mahamat Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chad and Dr Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal are quite similar to the two other candidates from Equatorial Guinea and Botswana in terms of what they bring. Great Africans, like the other candidates, but haven't run major multilateral organizations, don't have the track record at the top level internationally, breadth of knowledge, experience or expertise in global negotiations. Are they the very best? Can they best represent Africa on the world stage?

Regional rotation at the expense of choosing the best candidate who could represent and get the best deal for Africa on the world stage would be a shortsighted mistake. Africans would pay the price for years.

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This time we have the right person. The debate held demonstrated it in terms of presence, gravitas, vision, successful experience at the top international level, solid achievements, a leader of global stature with a proven international track record, preparedness, clearly thought out solutions to Africa's challenges. A simple indicator, who was the only candidate to get applause to her answers from the non-partisan audience from all countries until they were shut down by the moderator - Dr. Amina Mohamed.

After all, it is a truly demanding job. It demands visionary leadership, political credibility and acumen, and managerial skills. It is not a job for a political crony, but someone who can truly reach out and inspire the African people and secure Africa's interests and place at the table on the world stage.

Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta perhaps put it most clearly when personally presenting her qualifications, background and reasons for nominating Dr. Amina.

"She has also been influential in promoting Africa's agenda in multi-lateral fora including in the World Trade Organisation where she chaired the 10th Ministerial Conference, successfully hosted in Nairobi. She continues to champion for Africa's voice to be heard within the United Nations System through the proposed United Nations Security Council reforms, with Kenya as a member of the AU Committee of Ten on the Security Council reforms."

Dr. Mohamed was recently honoured by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as one of the four UNDP Champions for the year 2016.

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I don't believe there is anyone on the continent more qualified to lead this important organization than Dr. Amina. She has a clear strategic vision for Africa and she has demonstrated the leadership, negotiating, and managerial skills that are a prerequisite for success in this critical job.

Dr. Amina Mohamed brings extraordinary experience and distinguished service at the national and international levels compare to all other candidates.

Among the most significant recent achievements include being the first woman to lead the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Kenya. She was elected President of UNCTAD 14 for the next 4 years, was the Chairperson of the historic WTO 10th Ministerial Conference which is the top decision-making body of the WTO, and Co-Chairperson of the Ministerial segment of the first ever TICAD Summit held on our continent.

Dr. Mohamed is the first woman to have chaired the three most important bodies of the World Trade Organization; the Trade Policy Body, the Dispute Settlement Body and the Governing General Council of the WTO. She was President of the Conference on Disarmament, and the first African and the first female Chairperson of the Council of the International Organisation for Migration. In addition, she served as a member of the Executive Bodies and Committees of the World Health Organisation, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Intellectual Property Organisation and the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS. Cumulatively, these assignments have earned Kenya and Dr. Mohamed international acclaim and respect.

In 2008-2011 at the height of our country's legal, institutional and constitutional review process, Dr. Amina was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, the Ministry charged with the responsibility of the Constitutional Review and implementation process. She Chaired the Governance, Justice, Law and Order Sector reforms (GJLOS) a sector-wide cross-institutional programme which carried out broad reforms at a time of great change in this country.

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In 2010, Dr. Mohamed was elected President of the United Nations International Conference on Transnational Crime in Vienna, Austria for a two year period. In 2011, she was appointed by the UN Secretary General as United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). During her tenure UNEP was upgraded from a 58 member Governing Body to the Universal Environment Assembly, encompassing all members of the United Nations.

Given her track record, I am confident that Dr. Amina Mohamed will serve our Continent with the requisite professionalism, intellect, skill, integrity, passion and commitment. I have no doubt that her international experience and exposure will be an invaluable asset in driving African Commission in the achievement of Africa's immense potential."

So we have a figure that represents the very best of Africa this time. Stateswoman, Pan-Africanist, great intellect, international lawyer, national and international civil servant in top positions, Cabinet Minister, lifetime of firsts- WTO, IOM etc, formidable negotiator on a global level proven through breakthroughs at WTO MC -10, UNCTAD 14 and so on , highly respected and known quantity worldwide with tested relationships and tremendous goodwill and credibility with people key to Africa built over the years, unmatched experience in both the African and international arena and so on. So what has this done for Africa? - she brought WTO for the first time to Africa , where against all odds, she was able to achieve a breakthrough in the global negotiations and get rid of agricultural subsidies in the rich countries that affects the ability of the African farmer to compete on a level international playing field. She engineered the TRIPS agreement to provide lifesaving medicines for HIV, malaria, Tuberculosis for poor countries at affordable prices. Brought UNCTAD 14 to Africa. Brought TICAD-VI to Africa, where an additional $30 billion was committed to Africa by the Prime Minister of Japan in Nairobi. And the list of achievements goes on. Internationally proven delivery.

She was a much talked about potential candidate to become the first woman Secretary General of the UN. With her resume, experience and track record in the international system and worldwide credibility, she probably would have won. Despite intense pressure, she refused to run choosing to focus on taking Africa to the next level at the African Union Commission. It demonstrates her loyalty to Africa.

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Showing remarkable consensus in a period of uncertainty and of questioning the multilateral system, last year our global leaders adopted the most ambitious set of new policy frameworks that form our collective roadmap for the future: the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing for development, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The 2030 Agenda is an organizing principle for the interrelated frameworks, a universal blueprint to leave our planet in good shape for the generations to come.

This agenda is like nothing we have seen before. The goals are universal, indivisible, inclusive and integrative. Today, we all agree that we can no longer afford to tackle poverty, climate change, environmental degradation, or any of the 17 goals in isolation. We need to 'Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development,' as decided in Goal 17, or, put more simply, International Solidarity needs to be rekindled.

Partnerships will cement the foundation to take forward all the goals. The United Nations is increasingly becoming a facilitator, and whoever has the best competitive advantage, national or municipal governments, civil society, or business, will drive implementation. This also means that closer coordination and information exchange are needed.

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Geneva is a small city with huge impact. The DNA of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is found in international Geneva, which is to international development what Silicon Valley is to Internet start-ups. It is a global operational hub for international development.

Geneva has a unique concentration of actors, knowledge and resources; the United Nations, many other international organizations, over 400 non-governmental organizations, think tanks, academia and business. This is something the world should have on its radar.

In fact, we have an SDG Radar. In light of the goals we have set out for our collective future, the role of International Geneva in the service of the world for peace, rights and well-being is bound to grow.

This did not happen overnight. The construction of this ecosystem has been taking place since the foundation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1863. The ecosystem that forms international Geneva today includes global players in diplomacy, health, trade, human rights, humanitarian action, telecommunications, intellectual property, labour rights, disarmament and migration. But what makes this ecosystem even more unique are the growing synergies that are created between all of these actors.

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Let me give you a few examples: the International Labour Organization is a part of Alliance 8.7, a global initiative designed to help achieve specifically the 7th target of Sustainable Development Goal 8: a world free from forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and all forms of child labour.

The Geneva-Tsinghua Initiative is a partnership between the University of Geneva and Tsinghua University in Beijing aimed at offering innovative teaching programs in the sustainable development field. In close collaboration with international and non-governmental organizations, students devise and prototype solutions to specific problems raised by the implementation of the SDGs.

The Group on Earth Observations, a Geneva-based partnership of 103 member governments and 106 participating organizations, works to build an Earth observation data and information system to support environmental decision-making for the benefit of humankind.

And many more.....
Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump smiles as he speaks at the start of a campaign victory party after rival candidate Senator Ted Cruz dropped after the race for the Republican presidential nomination, at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, U.S., May 3, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Over the holidays, John Farrell, author of an upcoming biography of Richard Nixon, wrote an op-ed piece in The New York Times confirming what many of us have known for nearly 50 years: In the fall of 1968, Nixon, the Republican candidate for president, deliberately torpedoed President Lyndon Johnson's efforts to cease the bombing of North Vietnam and begin peace talks to end the Vietnam war.

Johnson was not running for re-election, but his vice president, Hubert Humphrey, was the Democratic candidate for the White House -- and Nixon was determined to keep Humphrey from reaping the benefits of good news from Southeast Asia. In the course of researching his Nixon book, Farrell found a cache of notes from Nixon aide H.R. Haldeman showing "that Nixon directed his campaign's efforts to scuttle the peace talks... On Oct. 22, 1968, he ordered Haldeman to 'monkey wrench' the initiative."

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Nixon won the election and until the end of his life denied he had interfered. But, Farrell notes, "Nixon had cause to lie. His actions appear to violate federal law, which prohibits private citizens from trying to 'defeat the measures of the United States.'"

Johnson believed Nixon had committed treason, but at the time he and his aides decided they lacked sufficient proof. History has since provided the evidence.

Now we face another electoral crisis of perhaps even greater significance. As the former diplomat James Bruno sums it up in Washington Monthly, "The United States has just endured a carefully planned, well-orchestrated assault against its democratic form of government in the form of a grand cyber-theft of information and targeted release of that information." More specifically, Bruno quotes from the report in which 17 US intelligence agencies unanimously concluded, "Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election. Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump. We have high confidence in these judgments."

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Read that again slowly and carefully: The intelligence community is saying that a foreign country, Russia, deliberately interfered with and corrupted our electoral process to favor the election of Donald Trump. Further, aides to Trump are said to have been in contact with Russian officials throughout the campaign and the presidential transition. (In the Jan. 12 Washington Post, columnist David Ignatius reported, "According to a senior US government official, [national security adviser Michael] Flynn phoned Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak several times on Dec. 29, the day the Obama administration announced the expulsion of 35 Russian officials as well as other measures in retaliation for the hacking. What did Flynn say, and did it undercut the U.S. sanctions?")

Of course, Trump and his allies say the intelligence community not only is wrong but should not be trusted. Nevertheless, the die is cast: Either Trump and friends have engaged in treasonous acts or America's intelligence officials are guilty of a colossal lapse in judgment -- or worse, a conspiracy against Trump. Either way -- whether any of these allegations are true or false -- the entire matter must be investigated thoroughly and immediately.

The dark clouds hovering over American politics must be cleared up. Left unresolved, the allegations present a clear and present danger, a ticking time bomb that could explode and bring an end to America's nearly 250-year experiment in self-government.

While there have been plans announced for Senate and House hearings into this constitutional crisis, these easily can be stalled and manipulated for partisan purposes. Given the Republican Party's hardcore will to power and that it will soon exercise monopoly control over all three branches of government -- not to mention their track record over the past eight years -- it is hard to identify which GOP members of Congress are likely to put country ahead of party and let an investigation go where the facts lead. In addition, with some notable exceptions, the minority Democratic Party appears dispirited and disorganized, if not feckless, and unable to thwart Republicans determined to bulldoze a serious investigation.

No, this crisis requires a more thorough, bipartisan and select committee or commission -- not unlike the 9/11 Commission -- that has adequate staff, funding and subpoena power to conduct as thorough a probe as possible.

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Perhaps even better, before Friday's inauguration, there is still time for Attorney General Loretta Lynch to appoint a special prosecutor. Fordham legal historian Jed Shugerman notes, "A special prosecutor's term does not end with an administration. It is open-ended, so the special prosecutor would continue to serve during the Trump administration... unless the new Attorney General fired him or her, [but] only for 'good cause.'"

In whatever form it takes, said investigation also must include a careful examination of action -- or inaction -- by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Justice Department's inspector general has begun a probe but it also should be within the purview of a select committee, commission or special prosecutor.

Why did the FBI seem to favor pursuing Hillary Clinton's emails over tracking down whatever could be learned about Russia's involvement in our election? Why did it drag its feet when it had evidence that the Democratic National Committee was being hacked -- was it the agency's fault or the DNC's? How the FBI notified the DNC in the first place -- with a phone call to an outside tech vendor -- is right out of a Marx Brothers comedy. And why did FBI Director Comey fail to take action when he had in his hands the dossier ex-MI6 intelligence operative Christopher Steele had assembled on rumors that Russia possessed incriminating evidence on Trump's business dealings and private life?

If real, they could be used to pressure -- blackmail -- Trump into obeisance. If not real, was Russia deliberately feeding Steele false information - "a carefully constructed attempt," in the words of conservative journalist and Russia expert David Satter in National Review, "to disrupt American political life for years to come."

Trump's tax returns should be included in the investigation as well. He can no longer use the flimsy excuse of an audit. They must be subpoenaed and released, for within them may be evidence of whether or not the president-elect's company has sizable debt with Russian banks and investors that could be used as leverage against him. Trump denies Russian investments but as his son, Donald Jr., famously told 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."

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What's more, Megan Twohey and Steve Eder at The New York Times reported late Monday, "Mr. Trump repeatedly sought business in Russia as far back as 1987, when he traveled there to explore building a hotel. He applied for his trademark in the country as early as 1996. And his children and associates have appeared in Moscow over and over in search of joint ventures, meeting with developers and government officials." Trump told biographer Michael D'Antonio, "I know the Russians better than anybody."

Common sense suggests one reason Trump has so doggedly and furiously attacked the intelligence community -- and persisted in flattering Vladimir Putin -- is that he doesn't want known the extent to which he is financially embroiled with Russian oligarchs. Or perhaps he really is serious about wanting to draw the Russians into a closer embrace so that they cease and desist from efforts to disrupt the Western alliance.

Yet how are we ever going to know without an independent investigation? We may never learn the complete truth, but if allegations are proven false, the inquiry may help clear Trump and his associates of the taint that has marked his election and transition and which certainly will be the elephant in the Oval Office once Trump occupies it.

Then it will need to be determined who set out to smear his record and why. Someone -- perhaps among his Republican opponents in the primaries, or among Democrats eager to cripple him once he got the nomination -- went to great lengths to tie Trump to some nasty stuff.

But what if much that has been claimed is true? Then we will have in the White House a president who has betrayed the American people and whose every motive and action must be challenged. Impeachment is not out of the question.

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This is deadly serious business. It is a heinous threat not only to America's future but to other Western democracies, fragile as they are just now. Putin and his kleptocrat cronies aren't limiting their cyberwarfare and other meddling to the United States but encouraging right-wing populism that actively undermines member nations of the European Union and the NATO alliance as well. So far, Trump seems to be acquiescing to this and to other Russian encroachments around the world. And several people around him -- close aides such as Gen. Mike Flynn, his national security adviser; and "The King of K Street," Paul Manafort, his onetime campaign manager -- are reported to have had business ties to Putin's world.

The truth must be known. Left to fester in the dark, lingering suspicions will hang over our politics like a poisonous smog. We will become a society marked by permanent and penetrating distrust, by whispered allegations and rumors, by ill will and a lust for unbridled power. We do not exaggerate when we say this is the most critical moment for the United States since politics failed in the 1850s and the thunderclouds of civil war spread north and south until the nation was engulfed and split asunder.
A couple of suggestions from the audience... no props... and you're off and running. Improvisational comedy has been around for decades, and its popularity shows no sign of declining. One of the most successful exponents of improv is ImprovBoston, which has been around for decades and offers a wide range of performances and classes. I spoke with Mike Descoteaux, ImprovBoston's Artistic Director, to get a sense of how improv has evolved and what it means today.

Levin: How do you keep improv fresh when the genre has been around for so long?

Descoteaux: It's a form of comedy that is a direct reflection of the people who are exploring it. The culture is always new and fresh and is a reflection of where we are politically, where we are socially, where we are economically, and where we are as far as diversity of perspective goes. And all of that shows up on stage not just year-in-year-out but also night-in-and-night-out. What our audiences bring to the table, what our audiences suggest, how they respond, all of that keeps improvisation the single most relevant and timely form of comedy there is.

Levin: What has changed in society, and how is that reflected in improv?

Descoteaux: We have a much more permissive culture when it comes to what we can see up on stage. Improv now pushes past stereotypical comedic subject matter like how men and women are different. Now we might be exploring socioeconomic differences. We might be looking at political movements and reflecting those on stage.

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Levin: Who is the audience for improv today?

Descoteaux: Everyone. At Improv Boston, if you look at our show schedule, we have everything from four o'clock shows for 4-year-olds all the way up to late night shows with standups performing naked and late night comedy exclusively for adults.



So there's a lot more range as far as who improv can connect with. In the early days of improv, the leaders were mostly middle-aged white men. Today, we're looking at a scene where the accessibility and diversity of comedy in improvisation is growing by leaps and bounds every year. Folks who haven't had a voice necessarily in comedy or specifically in improv are now finding the art form.

Levin: Who takes classes at ImprovBoston?

Descoteaux: If you come to an ImprovBoston 101 class, sure, you're going to have a handful of college grads looking to make a career in comedy. You're also going to have a 40-year-old immigrant who is learning to speak English fluently and is taking improv to improve her skills.



You're going to have someone who is in his 30s whose therapist recommended that he come take an improv class to get more socially acclimated. Or you're going to have a grandma whose grandkids bought them this gift because their grandma is the funniest person they know. I think that's a pretty big shift.

Levin: Are people as funny today as they were in the past?

Descoteaux: That's a fascinating question. I think people are as innately funny as they ever were. I think we have more tools to express that innate humor than we ever have. So our ability to connect with audiences is maybe greater than it used to be simply because we have more tools in the toolbox as comedians, as artists, as performers.

Levin: It's a lot easier to find comedy today than in the past. How does that change things?

Descoteaux: The exposure of our audiences to different forms of comedy is also growing. YouTube makes that so much easier. Forty years ago, when you wanted to see comedy, there was only really two ways to see it: you could see it live or you could see it on your TV in a very carefully curated cross-section of what mainstream television considered comedy to be.



Whereas now anyone with an internet connection can basically see absolutely any sort of comedy they want. So I think when we perform for audiences, they're more educated in terms of what kind of comedy exists now.

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Levin: Did you say there are people performing nude at late night?

Descoteaux: I did. In addition to improvisation, Improv Boston features scripted comedy like sketch and stand-up. There's a long-running show at Improv Boston called Naked Comedy. It happens once a month on Thursday nights at 9:30, and it's for stand-up comics who are brave enough and feel compelled to deliver their set entirely in the buff.



Comics are baring their souls on stage every time they get on stage. It's a very vulnerable art form, so what's the way that we can take that vulnerability to its most extreme? It's comics who are willing to be naked in front of their audience and telling their stories, telling their jokes. It is a night unlike any other.

Levin: What's gained by performing in the nude?

Descoteaux: It's the ultimate risk to put yourself out there in that way. It's sort of the way I imagine bungee jumping--having survived it is the reward: putting yourself out there, taking that giant risk in front of 90 people you don't know and then making it to the end of your set and having made the whole audience laugh along with you. Usually about 30 to 40 seconds into any one set, you've almost forgotten that they're nude to begin with.

Levin: Almost.

Descoteaux: So it's really about breaking down barriers. It's opening themselves up to vulnerability. I think the artists who are successful in that go home feeling like they put themselves on the line. They laid it all out there, as it were.
Inequalities in global wealth distribution have never been greater, and innovative approaches are needed to achieve step-change. Just 8 people control more global wealth than the 3.6bn people who make up the poorest half of the world's population, and nearly 25% of the 1.6 billion Muslims globally live in extreme poverty.

In addition, the scale of the Syrian refugee crises is demanding new approaches to hosting refugees and supporting their long-term resilience and ability to pursue independent livelihoods. As most of the global refugee population is from Muslim majority countries, faith-sensitive solutions need to be considered for measures including the provision of work permits, business ownership rights, access to finance, and regional job creation strategies.

The principles behind Islamic finance, such as the right for all people to enjoy a minimum standard of living, and ethical limitations to what is in the public interest, have the potential to help address many of the underlying causes of global inequity. These principles are at the heart of practices like Waqf (a type of endowment) and Zakat (which requires eligible Muslims to give 2.5% of their wealth to charitable causes annually), and are central to Islamic Relief's programmes and microfinance initiatives to support those most in need.

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In Jordan, the Islamic Relief Waqf is providing sustainable financing for the delivery of assistance to Syrian refugees while supporting host communities. The main impact of the project is to enable vulnerable Syrians to deal with life challenges and become independent. In addition to building trust between refugees and their host communities, economic interventions will be used to create improved community cohesion.

We believe that Islamic finance should not be seen as an alternative source of finance but rather an alternative way of doing finance. To effectively leverage Islamic finance approaches, however, strong links between the formal financial sector and communities is crucial, as well as robust, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels (local, national, regional and global).

The governments of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have been the most innovative in trying to formalise and facilitate this. For example, Malaysian state investment corporation Johor Corporation created a limited company to monitor and ensure proper management of $55.5 million in shares and investments that it used to launch a Waqf. The fund's flagship projects target Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and include the provision of healthcare services and start-up capital for microenterprises, as well as funds for disaster relief.

While this example shows the potential of Waqf, in many Muslim communities legal and policy restrictions have often hampered Waqf rather than facilitated its development.

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Islamic Relief is supporting efforts to improve the global regulatory environment, with the aim of achieving wider uptake of Islamic finance in the development sector, including:

A multilateral debt restructuring mechanism within the United Nations (UN) system, as well as increased attention to the debt burdens of low and middle income countries.Inclusive, global regulatory mechanisms at the UN level to reduce the harmful impacts of capital flight, taking particular aim at strengthening tax collection systems and restricting illicit financial flows.

We are committed to advocating for the ethical principles of an economy 'for the common good' to receive greater consideration in global decision-making forums, such as the World Economic Forum (WEF), and will continue to apply Islamic finance approaches throughout our programmes to demonstrate their effectiveness and generate learnings at an operational level.

For more information on Islamic Relief's policy and operational work in this area, please refer to our publication Lessons from Islamic finance for socially, economically and environmentally just outcomes in the Financing for Sustainable Development process.
President Obama has made it clear over the past 8 years that books are a big part of his life--whether he's shopping on Small Business Saturday or releasing his vacation reading list. (Plus, he did an impressive interview with author Marilynne Robinson, which you can listen to here. Cross your fingers for a post-White House podcast!) A bestselling author himself, our reader-in-chief has followed his predecessors in recommending some great nonfiction titles, but has surprised us all by being a particularly prolific fiction reader as well. Here are some of the books he's picked up during his time in office.





All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was a hit with pretty much everyone who read it in 2014 (and since), and the president was no exception. A tale of the intertwining experiences of a blind French girl and orphaned German boy during the Nazi occupation, it is a mesmerizing story of how people can change each other's lives without even realizing it.





Heart of Darkness and the Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad

Though his contemporary reading repertoire is impressive, President Obama also has made time for classics, including Joseph Conrad's duo of literary voyages. Both are chilling yet relevant stories of self-discovery, corruptibility, and the ways of the mind.



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Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

The President called Fates and Furies his favorite book of 2015, and readers across the country agreed. The story of a marriage told from the perspectives of both husband and wife, it's a raw, dark, and dazzling examination of how a relationship--and the people in it--can change over 24 years, for better or worse.





Nora Webster by Colm Toibin

Set in a small Irish village, Colm Toibin's latest novel introduces us to widowed mother Nora Webster, who must navigate the complexities of grief and loss while continuing to live her life. The president picked this one up at the D.C. bookstore Politics & Prose in 2014.





The Whites by Richard Price

Though the reasons for his literary picks are rarely explained, it's safe to say that the unfortunate contemporary debate over police-civilian relationships might have motivated the president to pick up Richard Price's novel about a South Bronx cop trying to find redemption after a new case brings back memories of an old mistake.





Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie

Every reader needs a little escapism, and the leader of the free world is likely no exception. Salman Rushdie's fantastic (and fantastical) story centers on a storm in New York City that reawakens an ancient conflict between humans and the descendants of a mystical creature known as the Jinn.



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The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri

In 2015, President Obama announced that Jhumpa Lahiri's latest novel was one of 6 books on his summer reading list (we love an ambitious book packer!). The Lowland follows 2 brothers bound by tragedy, a fiercely brilliant woman haunted by her past, a country torn by revolution, and a love that lasts long past death.





The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

POTUS showed off his cultural knowledge once again in 2015, when he picked up this Man Booker Prize-winning novel by Richard Flanagan. The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a sweeping story that moves from a Japanese POW camp to present-day Australia and explores the important themes of war and truth, love and death.





A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra

Set in a small rural village in Chechnya, Anthony Marra's novel about love, compassion, and war centers around a young girl named Havaa and the neighbor who takes her in after Russian soldiers abduct her father and set fire to her home. The president likely picked it up in 2013 as an accompaniment to his briefings on the conflict still brewing overseas.





Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

A National Book Award winner and favorite of many adults, Jacqueline Woodson's young adult masterpiece is a collection of poems that reveal what it was like for her to grow up in South Carolina and New York in the 1960s and '70s, among the remnants of Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement.





Tinkers by Paul Harding

One of the first books publicly shared by the president after taking office in 2009, Paul Harding's debut novel is a Pulitzer Prize winner and is a meditation on life, loss, illness, faith, and nature, told through the perspective of a dying old man. As the clock runs down, his memories intertwine with those of his father and grandfather.



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Rodin's Debutante by Ward Just

It's not hard to imagine why the former Chicago resident picked Ward Just's historical epic set in the Windy City. Following the life of Lee Goodell, a man whose life was once changed by a Gatsbyesque figure named Tommy Ogden, Rodin's Debutante explores the ways in which we remember, and how we decide which moments shape us forever.



See the original list at Off the Shelf, a daily blog that connects great readers with great books.


Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) bucked his party in voting against allowing importation of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. (Sipa via AP Images)

BY: NIV SULTAN

Last week, the Senate voted down an amendment to allow importation of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.

Most Republicans voted no; most Democrats voted yes.

One who bucked his party, though, was New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D), the on-the-rise progressive who's been mentioned as a possible contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. As a result, multiple outlets have commented on the contributions that Booker, who represents the state that is the traditional manufacturing hub for drugmakers, and other no-voting Democrats have received from pharmaceutical companies. But because there were also 12 Republicans who went against party lines by voting yes, we looked at the numbers to see how special interest spending may have influenced the vote.

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(Note: These figures include money that came from both PACs and individuals associated with companies in the industry, like employees and their families.)

From 2009-2016, the average member of the 115th Senate received about $108,600 in contributions from the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. The senators who voted no on the recent amendment, on the other hand, received an average of more than $146,000 in the same time frame.

The divide within the Democratic party is even more striking: Yes-voting Democrats received an average of $68,855, while those who voted no received an average of more than $186,000 each. Results were much the same for Republicans: Yes-voters received an average of about $66,000 while no-voters more than doubled that sum with average receipts of nearly $133,000.

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The 13 Democratic senators who voted no -- of the 47 Democrats and Independents who voted on the amendment -- collectively received 50.8 percent of the money that the industry gave to current Democratic senators since 2009.

Booker netted $276,165, but there were three Democratic naysayers who received even more: fellow New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (about $284,000), Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey (about $291,000) and Washington Sen. Patty Murray (about $363,000). From 2011-2016, between PACs and individual donors, Murray received more than $40,500 from Amgen Inc., a pharmaceutical company that contributed over $2 million to candidates and parties in the 2016 cycle.

On the other hand, Washington's other senator, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) received a total of only $31,050 from PACs and individuals in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry from 2009-2016, but she voted against the amendment. For her, at least, it appears there was more at play in the vote than money.

Meredith McGehee, chief of policy, programs and strategy at Issue One, warned about the dangers of assuming that a dollar given is a vote bought. "What we know for sure is that it is a dollar given and access bought," she said. "It gets you in the door, and it gets your argument heard. Any lobbyist worth their salt believes that if they can get their foot in the door, they can make a persuasive argument for their issue."

Brendan Fischer, associate counsel with the Campaign Legal Center, noted that discrepancies in pharmaceutical makers' contributions to yes- and no-voters may not totally illuminate the mindsets of lawmakers, but they can be telling.

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"The fact that it's a pattern that holds across parties suggests that there's something there," said Fischer. "At the minimum it suggests that there's a correlation between campaign contributions and voting."

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch (R), who has served in the Senate since 1977, collected over $437,000 from 2009-2016 -- and voted no. Hatch, along with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (R), has the distinction of being among the top five recipients of both PAC and individual contributions.

Most of the money that the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry has given to still-sitting senators in the past four cycles came from PACs (about 71 percent) rather than individual donors (roughly 29 percent).

Sanders, the amendment's cosponsor, has never received a single dollar from pharmaceutical PACs -- though since 2009, he has led the pack in contributions from individuals in the industry, gleaning almost $147,000 from them. Five other senators have yet to receive PAC money from pharmaceutical companies: Freshmen Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), as well as Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy (D). Sullivan, the lone Republican in the group, was also its sole no-voter.

Some Democrats favored by the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry nonetheless voted yes. In the years since 2009, PACs and individuals in the industry have given West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin $228,500 and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer over $281,000. They both voted yes.

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Ultimately, of the ten active senators who received the most money from the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry from 2009-2016, only one -- Schumer, the Democrats' Senate leader -- voted yes on the amendment.

Booker and other no-voters have claimed that their votes stemmed from concerns about the safety and quality of imported drugs -- which is also an argument frequently made by the drugmakers.

In 2009, a slightly different amendment -- which would have changed H.R.3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- proposed the importation of prescription drugs because, among other reasons, "a prescription drug is neither safe nor effective to an individual who cannot afford it." The legislation explicitly referred to FDA-approved medicines, while the 2017 amendment spoke only of "safe and affordable prescription drugs."

The Senate rejected the amendment in 2009, but every one of the 27 senators who voted on both the 2009 and 2017 amendments voted no in 2017. Ten of them had voted yes in 2009.

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That could be because of slight differences in the amendments, but the switch also could have been the result of increased partisanship: Nine of the 10 senators who flipped from yes to no were Republicans. And they populated all segments of the pharmaceutical money spectrum, ranging from Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) -- who has received almost $342,000 since 2009 -- to Idaho Sen. James Risch (R), who has received a relatively paltry $21,250.

Another possibility is that observers are reading too much into what was largely a symbolic vote, used to take a stand rather than genuinely promote the passage of legislation. But Fischer still sees value in considering how the votes of senators line up with the special interests that contribute to their accounts.

"It seems as though even if the ultimate import of the vote was to send a message or indicate a public position, the fact remains that senators who voted against it, generally speaking, voted in a way that their contributors wanted," he said.

For all that's opaque, one thing is abundantly clear: The web of special interest money, partisanship and votes is a thoroughly tangled one.

"The damaging part of this system for public confidence is that it's almost impossible to disentangle where the influence stops and the firmly-held belief begins," said McGehee. "This is the corrosive part of the current system; it raises these kinds of questions: Did he vote that way because of the money he got, or because it's what he believes is best for public policy?"

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Edward Snowden speaks via video link during a news conference in New York City, U.S. September 14, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Good morning, we've picked our top five news stories for you.

1. 2016 is the hottest year on record, beating out records set in 2014 and 2015. Great, but global warming is just a theory right? More here.

2. There's a new moth with a scaly head which scientists have named after Donald Trump because of the uncanny resemblance to the future president. It is also reported to have a small penis. Just sayin'. More here.

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3. 13 million pages of declassified CIA files have been released. Fingers crossed for detailed accounts of Donald Trump's golden shower fetish. More here.

4. Edward Snowden has been granted three more years in Russia and should be able to apply for citizenship from next year. C'mon Obama you've got two more days to grant the man clemency. More here.
...While the latter part of this argument has been addressed by numerous scholars and activists who write and think about race, class, sexuality and inequality more generally -- with clear and compelling arguments about how this is not a 'new' political reality for many but rather a kind of contemporary culmination and re-entrenchment of the structures of power and oppression that underpin the entirety of the national political project -- the former part of the argument has been allowed to stand with little critique. Do we need to change what we do and not just how we do it? Not necessarily.

..."We worry that by focusing on needing to change what we are doing and how we are doing it we lose sight of what we already do really well. We work to understand the world through research, teaching, writing and reading. Along with this, we produce knowledge that allows others to understand the world and to work to change it.
One of my favorite quotes includes the lines "I awoke this morning to find that it was not judgment day - only morning. Morning: excellent and fair." I think that sums up a part of my thinking, but certainly not all.

A nuclear reckoning, war with China, or anything else quite so violently apocalyptic is imminent, or even underway, as far too many of us think. I live in one of those bubbles, the sum of which make up America now. Many of the people I talk to, in person and here online, seem to believe, truly believe, the world is coming to something of an end. These are by and large educated, once-rational people, some of whom have been voices of reason in the past. They are not that way now.

We are however falling, some important threads of our nation being teased apart, and our best days are behind us. But this did not start on November 8, 2016, or January 20, 2017, thoough historians will note those dates as significant milestones (same as September 11, 2001.) But not because of Donald Trump. Because his name just happened to be attached to what has been growing inside us since the end of WWII.

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The Russians did not elect Trump. They may or may not have tried to get involved in the election, but we did this to ourselves. As the historian you have probably not read but should read Morris Berman predicted years ago, we are eating each other.

We are consumed most of all by our fears. Fear of what the Soviets, and maybe the Chinese, would do after WWII. We created a nuclear arsenal measured in how many multiples of times it could destroy the world. We dragged our country through disasters like Vietnam, that murdered so many and cracked apart our nation. Our fear of race, our war on drugs, and then of course our fear of a world beyond our control after 9/11. Another quote that seems to fit is "The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to one category."

The fears were encouraged at every opportunity by those who profited from them, either by rawly making money, or by acquiring power and control, or in most cases, both. We are unconcerned -- it's normal -- that politicians routinely leave office wealthy despite modest salaries. We have so much, and share so little. We enthusiastically abandoned so many of the good things about America, such as our Bill of Rights. America's pre-WWII Constitutional Era was grossly imperfect. Yet for its obvious failings, there was a sense of the possibility of progress; halting, awkward, unfinished, but, well, for lack of a better word and to use a word that has become a symbol of modern irony, hope.

Of course none of that was close to perfect, but it was good and it is gone in some arenas and going away in most of the rest. We'll still be allowed to rant on Twitter, a modern day bread and circus, but the real stuff of standing up and speaking back to government will happen only with handfuls of whistleblowers who will sacrifice their lives and freedom to say what they need to say.

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I thought we had a chance at change in 2008 but instead was proven to be a dupe. I thought he might turn it all around, in those first weeks he could have asked the rivers to flow backwards and they just might have. He could have grounded the drones, torn up the Patriot Act, held truth commissions to bring into the light our tortures, re-emancipated America in ways not unlike Lincoln did in the 1860s. Slam shut the gates of Guantanamo, close the secret prisons that even today still ooze pus in Afghanistan, stop the militarization of Africa, bring the troops home, all of it, just have done it. What a change, what a path forward, what a rebirth for an America who had lost her way so perilously. One man could have made a difference and when he did not even try, he helped solidify in America a sense of cynicism and powerlessness that empowers evil people further.
Aston, PA, USA - September 22, 2016: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is welcomed on stage at a rally in Aston, Pennsylvania.

Dear President-Elect Trump,

You've come a long way without my advice, but ascension to the White House invites listening to what this letter has to say.

During the primary campaign you said more than once that you had to speak and behave the way you did to get the mass media's attention. But you also pledged that, once in the White House, you would be "so presidential you [all] will be so bored."

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Judging by your remarkably low national polls for an incoming president-elect, it is not just Meryl Streep and John Lewis who think that your transition to becoming "presidential" has not yet materialized. In the spirit of this transition, here are some pitfalls you will need to overcome in order to avoid embroiling your administration (and the nation) in a self-initiated avalanche of charges, disputes and scandals.



If you take the widespread dissent by the American people personally instead of presidentially, you're going to give way to your worst traits and end up stereotyping whole groups in bigoted ways.





1.) Your "Achilles heel" has thus far proven to be your easily bruised ego, which is put on display with every one of your furious, sometimes bullying tweets. When you are President, however, you have more ways to retaliate and more ways to get both yourself and our country in trouble if you do so in such a spasmodic manner. This is the Big Leagues. Adversaries abroad are keenly aware of how easily they can provoke you into impulsive missteps that play into their hands. You would benefit from reading the 2004 book by Richard Clarke, Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror--What Really Happened, on leaving his position as anti-terrorist advisor to President George W. Bush.

In it, Mr. Clarke writes, "It was as if Osama bin Laden, hidden in some high mountain redoubt, was engaging in long-range mind control of George Bush, chanting, 'Invade Iraq, you must invade Iraq.'"

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As for the widespread dissent by the American people, if you take this personally instead of presidentially, you're going to give way to your worst traits and end up stereotyping whole groups in bigoted ways. There are reasons past presidents did not personalize their presidency, however, with some going to extremes and ignoring any responsibility to respond to serious letters (see my book, Return to Sender: Unanswered Letters to the President 2001-2015).

2.) Your Twitter account can get you into 24/7 disputes that are unbecoming of our nation's highest office. Thus far, you have managed to distract media attention from other negative stories about you with personal Twitter attacks. Unlike your campaigns, as president, your customary aggressive tweets will distract focus and attention from your own agenda and turn off even your crucial Republican friends on Capitol Hill. Continuing lack of impulse control will erode your presidency quickly during the 100 day honeymoon period. Best to restrain yourself. There are other more important decisions waiting on your desk.

3.) Early on you'll have to decide the issue of wholesale delegation to your nominees at the cabinet and agency levels and to what extent you will make these significant decisions yourself. Since you are known for your aversion to details, requiring briefings and reading piles of memos, your subordinates will take advantage of your de-management style and go on their own, undoubtedly clashing with each other. In this case, the decision will end up in the White House after lots of press about chaos and tumult in your administration and low morale within the critical civil service.

The most immediate manifestation of the foregoing is the phenomenon widely known as "Killer Tuesday" during which national security advisors briefed President Obama about suspects or "signature targets" to be destroyed in faraway places like Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria by a drone operator in Virginia or Nevada with the push of a button. President Obama wanted to make many of these decisions directly as prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner. Do you wish to continue these violations of international laws known as extra-judicial slayings (inside sovereign nations) that have taken the lives of thousands of innocent women, children and men?

4.) Your well-publicized business ownerships are to be transferred to family members. Many constitutional experts, including Harvard Law Professor Larry Tribe and ethics experts, both Republican and Democratic, are not at all persuaded that this move complies with the Emolument Clause of the Constitution (Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8). They believe that your assets must be sold to non-family members with the proceeds, liquid or otherwise, being held in a "blind trust."

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Once again, whether to curry favor with you by patronizing your hotels and other properties, brandishing your surname here and abroad, or to subject you to an extortion attempt or provocative attacks on these properties, you should change your transfer plan. Otherwise, this could be early constitutional trouble for you, including lawsuits by contractors claiming loss of business due to others currying favor with you. A Supreme Court case gives such businesses "standing to sue."

5.) Lastly, some various suggestions. Please meet early on with a leading delegation of top scientists and engineers and their groups such as the National Academy of Sciences. They can prevent your administration from getting into lots of unsound and costly, ill-advised science/technology trouble.

Because you wish to squeeze out hundreds of billions of dollars in waste, reach out to legendary presidential, gubernatorial consultant and manager of four large public utilities (including the TVA), S. David Freeman on energy waste; to Professor Malcom Sparrow of Harvard on over $300 billion in annual billing fraud in the healthcare industry - including $60 billion rip offs of Medicare alone yearly - and Dr. Marcia Angell, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, on soaring drug prices and other bilks and harms from the "politically protected" (your words) drug giants. These are three of numerous experts who are unlikely to be recommended to you by corporatists in your administration.

In conclusion, can you break the mold of your predecessors and at least acknowledge receipt of substantive letters sent to you, if your staff, cabinet or agencies do not substantively respond to them? Canadian Prime Ministers extend such courtesies. Being president is much more difficult than campaigning to be president. You need to rise above what is petty.

Sincerely,
After much sadness at the shameful events of the past few weeks brought about by a reprehensible man and the disgraceful folks he chooses to surround himself with daily, I have decided to keep my friends and acquaintances in mind who are taking a stand against this new norm. These are common folks who refuse to hunker down in the face of derogation. These are ordinary people who are not swayed by what is popular and therefore what they should do, but remain steadfast about what is right and therefore what they must do. They have not lost sight of what is ethical and integral, no matter how much pressure they are under. They are the ones who do not see race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, skin color as deterrents but as man-made constraints to be torn down just as easily in the name of fairness and freedom. They are the ones who believe in morality, justice, equity and equality of all individuals, whether Black or White, Mexican or Chinese, Gay or Straight, Transgender or Cisgender, Hindu or Muslim or any god-damn anomaly under the sun because in the end they are all part of the one and only human race. They are the ones who do not stand on the sidelines and watch the show play out but who stomp their feet and bang their fists and speak up, no matter how hard the resistance. They are the ones who deeply care about others, especially those who have no one on their side because the tiny voice inside of them always guides them to do what is right and not what is current. They are the ones who shout "Screw him" instead of "Let's give him a chance even though his words and actions clearly prove that he is a racist, sexist, misogynist and a hate-monger." They are the ones who have embraced Reverend King's dream which was well on its way to becoming a reality until it was hijacked by those who were appalled by the playing fields finally and unstoppably being leveled. So on this auspicious day, let's make MLK proud by doing everything in our power to stand by those ordinary folks who remember clearly why he gave up his life. Let's
In a Trump administration, Islamophobia is a reality that many Americans couldn't have fathomed. Surveys show that hate crimes against Muslims are at an all-time high and our country is becoming more divisive and polarized a decade and a half after 9/11. If this is surprising to some, it is unsettling and depressing for many others. The biggest question that arises in people's minds is what can we, average citizens, do to combat Islamophobia?

The answer, I believe, is simple and even fun. As an author, the best advice I can give in the current political environment is to read books -- lots of them. That's why KitaabWorld, a company geared towards highlighting books by marginalized communities, launched a new initiative Counter Islamophobia Through Stories, which highlights four categories of books for children and adults:

1.Muslim kids as heroes: stories that have Muslims as main characters, as positive models, rather than villains.

2.Inspiring Muslim leaders and thinkers: factual information about Muslim scientists, inventors, social change agents and so much more.

3.An introduction to Islam: books that teach the positive aspects of the Islamic faith, and remove negative stereotypes and misinformation popular in the media.

4.Folktales from Islamic traditions: old favorites that are sure to delight readers of any culture.

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I recently asked Gauri Manglik and Sadaf Siddiqui, co-founders of KitaabWorld, to describe their company's new initiative and why it's so important.

SF: What is your goal with this campaign?

GM: Our goal is to get more books representing Muslim children in homes, schools and libraries. Through our campaign, we are facilitating discovery of curated set of books around 4 different themes, so parents, teachers and librarians have a framework to expose the children around them to books on and about Muslim children. This will ensure that from a young age, children see more diversity in the world around them, and do not feel any sense of "weirdness" about other children who may not look like them, or eat or dress like them.

SF: Why now? Islamophobia has been around for a long time, hasn't it?

SS: After the election results, we introspected on what we can do to bridge the deeply divisive environment around us. We felt frustrated that there was no formal exposure or discussions that exposed children to diverse books featuring Muslim kids or other topics which portray Muslims in a positive manner. We saw that there were already so many amazing books that existed, but it seemed that most people didn't know about them. We spoke to parents and teachers and they expressed that they didn't know how to discuss such topics with children. This led us to conceptualize our "Countering Islamophobia Through Stories" campaign, where we provide a framework for parents, teachers and librarians to discuss topics around Muslims with their children.

For more on KitaabWorld's first curated book list, see Muslim Kids as Heroes

SF: Where do you see this leading in the Trump administration?

GM: We're already seeing the damage that has begun as Trump is getting ready to take charge. When someone as powerful as the President of the United States vilifies people based on their religion or skin color, it is bound to percolate down and grow. There are already numerous reports about increased hate violence against Muslims or people perceived to be Muslims since the election results.

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SS: Sadly, the Trump administration is fueling and creating a very divisive environment around us. We observe a sense of helplessness in many people around us who don't support Trump's ideologies. Our campaign is a framework for those people to do something - to change the narrative about Muslims for the leaders of tomorrow, to make children understand and respect the diversity around them, to allow Muslim children to feel safe in their schools, to stop ideologies built on hate and fear mongering from prevailing again.

We can't change those in power, we can only resist them. This is our call for resistance. A call to fight hate with knowledge. And to build a bridge of cultural understanding book by book, story by story.

For more information see KitaabWorld's Counter Islamophobia Through Stories Campaign

SF: So tell me something about KitaabWorld itself. Why did the two of you create it?

GM: KitaabWorld is a small independent online bookstore that facilitates discovery and distribution of South Asian children's books.

Children's books play an important role in helping kids (and often parents) to understand the world around them. We started KitaabWorld because we felt frustrated with the lack of South Asian children's literature in the U.S. While there were a fair number of South Asian books out there, it was not easy to people to discover them or get access to them. This was because many books were self-published or published by South Asian publishers, and so marketing was limited for them in the US.

SS: We decided to bring everything together under one umbrella, to facilitate discovery, access and inclusion of these books in homes, schools and libraries. We also focus on bilingual books for South Asian languages as that is a challenge many South Asian parents face while raising their children in the US.

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Acclaimed organist Christopher Houlihan returns to San Francisco for an all-French program at Grace Cathedral this coming Sunday at 4pm. Christopher's selections include Louis Vierne's Carillon de Westminster and "Scherzo, Cantabile, and Allegro" from Symphony No. 2; Cesar Franck's Choral II in B minor; and Olivier Messiaen's "Serene Alleluias and Outbursts of Joy", from L'ascension. The loftiness of Grace Cathedral and the carriage of its sound reflects the environment in which the writers created these works. The compositions abound in imagery, emotional spirals, complex architecture, and - as I suggested to Christopher - a few squirrelly moments here and there. The 7,466 pipes of the cathedral's magnificent Aeolian-Skinner are in for a full-range work-out.



The Aeolian-Skinner at Grace Cathedral. Pipedreams

"I really wanted a program that was going to do all of that," said Christopher. "Overwhelm them with the power of the organ and then make them lean-in to listen. You're right - some of this music is demanding. Starting with the Vierne 'Carillon de Westminster' - which I think is a fun way to begin. It's based on the Westminster chime themes that everyone knows and probably as a clock chime. Vierne has this fantasy on the theme. You get the gear turning in the clock and hear the bells bonging down in the pedals. It builds and builds to a huge climax.

"People are often surprised by the idea that every organ is different. Every organ is custom built for the space it is in. The organ at Grace Cathedral is an instrument that can grab your attention. Grace Cathedral is a true cathedral space - a huge building with that kind of acoustic. So, you need to choose music that's going to fill that room in a captivating way. This is the kind of music that can fill that kind of grand space."

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Christopher Houlihan. Photo, Christian Steiner

"Vierne was organist at Notre Dame Cathedral. He knew this kind of reverberation. These pieces really feel at home in an acoustic more like Grace Cathedral than at Davies Hall. I think they work in a variety of acoustics. I tend to like a drier acoustic - you hear details in the pieces differently. In the Franck especially, there is some fugal writing, as well as in the Vierne symphony - intricate details that you can't hear as precisely in a wet room. The effect is different, but there is still appreciation. Franck is very interested in the music of Bach and counterpoint. Franck's choral is huge, really a choral fantasia - it goes off in all sorts of directions. But in the middle of it there is a bit of a fugue - a Franck fugue, not a Bach fugue. It's like Franck is imitating Bach or sort-of tipping his hat to Bach - but doing so in his own voice. We have these musical lines that weave together on their own. They could be independent, but the melodies weave together in a magical way. Basically, that's what counterpoint is - independent lines that could otherwise exist on their own but work together."

Works with descriptive titles, such as Messiaen's L'ascension, can guide a listener (possessed with an active imagination) through a specific, even mind-boggling event. The piece might also serve as a meditation or means for exploring the subject - in this case, a tenet of Christian faith. Messiaen's relentlessly challenging Livre Du Saint-Sacrement is a supreme example. Are the works intended to persuade? I asked Christopher ("Houli" to his loyal fanbase) for a hit on this idea - keeping in mind that Franck's B minor choral appeals to an appreciation of music for its own sake.



Christopher Houlihan. Photo, Aleks Karjaka

"Possibly. In some ways, yes. Franck's music exists on it own. Maybe it's more like a poem than a painting. It's a piece that takes you on a bit of a journey. It has its two themes that weave together in interesting ways that surprise you. It also has different moods along the way. It's melancholy and then it's fiery, contemplative and ethereal. It goes through all these different atmospheres. Whereas Messiaen is trying to depict one story, one idea. I have to approach the Messiaen pieces as I would looking at a painting. The subject matter may be a sacred image, but I can still appreciate the beauty of the painting, the technique that went into creating it, and the overall effect of it. I don't think you have to be a devout Catholic to appreciate and be bowled over by the beauty of Messiaen's music. I know that can be challenging for some people. But you can approach it with an open mind and appreciate the image being painted whether or not you have a connection to the subject matter. I play music I want to hear. I try to communicate to the non-organists in the room. For me, that's the way to be an effective musician. Organ music needs to be appreciated by a wide audience - if we want to have it survive and have any relevance. That is more interesting to me, more satisfying."

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Christopher's latest recording, Christopher Houlihan Plays Bach will be released on the Azica label February 17. The album was recorded at the Trinity College Chapel in Hartford, Connecticut. Among its fifteen tracks are the composer's Fantasia and Fugue in G minor; Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor; and Christopher's arrangement of the Italian Concerto.



Courtesy of Trinity College

"I grew up having my first organ lessons there. I am an Artist in Residence at the college now. I wanted to record Bach on a modern organ. It's not an historical recording. I wanted to play Bach in a very colorful way, with a wide range of sounds and dynamics. The beautiful thing about the Trinity College organ is that it has all that color and fire and maintains a lot of clarity - even at full organ. It seemed like it would be an interesting experiment. I'm really happy with the way the recording came out.

"Historical organs are certainly very colorful. On a modern organ you can have, within the same piece, a wider variety of sounds and dynamics. You can have big crescendos, colors and sounds that Bach didn't know himself or would have been able to execute on organs that he knew - but which I believe are in the spirit of the music. It's a little bit like orchestrating a Bach piece for a Mahler-size orchestra - you take a few liberties. It may not be exactly what Bach heard, but I hope the recording highlights other aspects of the music in a new way."



Christopher Houlihan. Photo, Ali Winberry
Co-written by Johan Vardrup

Co-working spaces that cater to startups have boomed in the past decade. Globally, the number of providers now surpasses ten thousand and London has seen an increase from a handful of locations to over two hundred within a few years. So far, the business area is still rooted in a conventional primary business model - that of renting out space.

Co-working firms provide a desk space or a room on a monthly rental basis, enabling startups to save their working-capital for developing their nascent venture. With all this diverse brainpower under one roof, your ideal business partner may be sitting only an arm's length away, so, the possibilities for developing strong value propositions are vast.

Rainmaking Loft, with offices located in Copenhagen, London and Berlin, is exploring new ground by working together with international master graduate students at Copenhagen Business School and applying the latest thinking in design. Several studies have shown that being design-centric increases performance, however does it make one more innovative?

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When business people talk about design and innovation these days, the Design Thinking approach from Stanford d. school and the international design consultancy IDEO inevitably comes up. Focusing on user needs up-front, Design Thinking is excellent at fostering incremental innovations, however it falls short when it comes to supporting breakthrough innovation.

To remedy this known shortcoming of Design Thinking, seven teams of three students began exploring the possibilities of the still evolving Inspirational Design Thinking method in the co-working business. Conceived in late 2015, the process is intended to augment conventional Design Thinking so as to generate breakthrough innovative concepts.

Inspirational Design Thinking focuses exclusively on addressing opportunities from a Why - How - What perspective, as opposed to the traditional What - How - Why angle. Simon Sinek says, "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. What you do simply proves what you believe."

The teams started out by asking the Big Questions and addressing The Meaning of Life. They created business ideas, business strategies and business models, which then informed an actionable Inspirational Design Brief. Linking business ideas to an Inspirational Design Brief that contains the nine most critical Design Quality Criteria enabled the teams to formulate concepts with a higher probability of viable new ventures.

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At the midterm presentation, the teams had generated concepts ranging from "Warrior Rooms" reserved for shared projects among in-house startups, collaborative areas for business travelers in airports and on trains, Pop-up Lofts at universities and co-working facilities made out of recycled shipping containers. The concepts were based on technologies ranging from web platforms/apps to networking and architecture.

So, how promising were these concepts? Applying the Design & Risk Assessment tool, the teams could look reality straight in the eye. Developed together with the INDEX: Award, the tool outlines a new entrepreneurial venture's funding viability based on reported performance on the nine Design Quality Criteria, as well as, Market risk, Technology Risk and Execution risk.

One of the seven teams was found to be fundable, one barely fundable and the remaining five, non-fundable. The decision the teams then faced was: Can we iterate our way to fundability or is a pivot required?

With only two weeks to go between the midterm and the final presentation, the teams hunkered down and went through Redesign / Partly Redesign, Detailing and Refinement phases, making three presentations to their peers as part of the process. Keeping up the pace and not designing in a vacuum improved the overall design and innovation; however, it also increased the risk of their ventures.

The concepts that Rainmaking Loft found useful included the "Warrior Rooms", which would be easy and inexpensive to implement, and Pop-up Lofts at universities that could strengthen the link to higher education. The first is an incremental innovation and low hanging fruit, while the second opens space for new collaborative models with universities and thus is more breakthrough in nature. It seems time to integrate the academic institutions deeper into the entrepreneurial ecosystem and not only use them as a source for interns.

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Which concept to pursue ultimately is a balance between strategic potential, as well as, short and long term viability. The catch-22 being that if one does not take on the breakthrough innovative opportunities, one of thousands of competitors might, leaving one adrift in the vast Red Ocean.


The art created by Thomas Moran showing Artist Point was used to convince congress to establish the national park. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

If you want to walk on a different planet and never leave Earth, go to Yellowstone National Park. It is a landscape so mesmerizing that when early explorer John Colter described what he saw there to interested parties, they surmised he was hallucinating. Painted Earth, steam billowing from waterways, bubbling pools of mud, primordial beasts... it certainly does read like a place rendered from a dream state.

A visit to Yellowstone captivates with more than just beauty--it is a sensory experience gifted to all who enter. The fragrant scent of sulfur dioxide as it exits Earth's crust; warmth from geothermal features rising and enfolding you; the song of bugling elk somewhere in the distance as steam vents hiss at your feet--and of course, its visual aspects--together they command all of one's senses. You aren't just visiting you are in it.

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Yellowstone is a complex environment so for this article we are going to delve into the park's distinct characteristics and highlight landmarks in a place that ultimately changed how we as humans view and care for Earth's wilderness places.

America's First National Park

Yellowstone was created in 1872 in an effort to preserve its enormous wildlife populations and to divert development atop its unique geothermal features. President Ulysses S. Grant who signed the park into law called it a "pleasuring-ground," to be protected "from injury or spoilation, of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonders within." Its establishment would lay a foundation for 58 additional national parks to eventually follow, and extend to 100 nations who would subsequently protect more than 1,200 parks and preserve areas spanning the globe. It was the beginning of a worldwide movement--and it all started at Yellowstone.

None of this happened overnight, of course. The Great Plains, Great Basin, and Plateau Indian cultures converged in this area for millennia before Anglo explorers ever set foot there. Fast forward several thousands of years and you are in the early part of the 1800s, as word started to break to eastern America of the wonders found out west. After exploring on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, John Colter joined fur trappers on an expedition to the Yellowstone plateau and the Teton Mountain Range. He was the first person of European descent recorded to have visited the area that we now call Yellowstone. News of what he saw there spread, pushing the U.S. government to forge their own inquiry into the area. They gathered funds and sent out a team of scientific explorers including the Territorial Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Ferdinand V. Hayden. Hayden employed the well-known photographer William H. Jackson and celebrated landscape artist Thomas Moran to create visual documentation of the area to brief to Congress, helping to push the Yellowstone Park Act that would in turn result in the establishment of America's first national park in 1872. And the rest, as they say, is history.

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'For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.' This statement adorns the Roosevelt Arch, the original entrance to the park located in Gardner Montana. Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

Geothermal Features

Yellowstone National Park is home to more than 10,000 geothermal features, the largest collection on Earth. Geysers, steam vents, travertine terraces, mudpots, and fumaroles create an extraordinary landscape where you are surrounded by rising steam, spewing water, and colorful textures. No two of the hydrothermal features are the same and each one is astonishing in its own way. Here are a few of the most celebrated:

Mammoth Hot Springs located in the northwest section of the park is often a visitor's first stop at Yellowstone because of its close proximity to the original National Park entrance located nearby in Gardner, Montana. The limestone flow formations found there were created by thousands of years of heating, cooling, and the settlement of calcium carbonate that would eventually form the most impressive example of travertine terraces found in the park.

The Great Fountain Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin is one of the most beautiful places in the park to photograph during sunset, and it is one of the few that you can drive right up to, making it an easy place to catch the late afternoon light after a busy day of viewing other landmarks in the park. It is a predictable geyser, erupting every 9 to 15 hours.

The Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest and most actively changing geothermal hot spring in the area, and its intensely colored landscapes makes it one of the most photogenic areas in Yellowstone.

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Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. It is noted by geologists as it shows a full rainbow of colors found in an optical prism--red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The best view of the prism is found on the Fairy Falls Trail which is currently closed to visitors as it undergoes restoration work. In the meantime, you can capture a photo of it at ground level like we did from the elevated boardwalk, or hop in a scenic flight tour to capture a view from above.

The Old Faithful geyser is the most famed, consistently erupting 17 times per day. The scene is spectacular--hundreds of visitors line up for every daylight viewing opportunity, gasping and awing in anticipation of its show. It is no accident that the historic Old Faithful Lodge is just steps from the geyser, and with its famed sky-high stone lobby fireplace and extensive services provided, it one of the most popular cultural and refueling stops in the park. Learn more about the specifics of this Iconic Site in the Park in the Fact Box section of this page (scroll down.)



The Great Fountain Geyser erupts at sunset. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish



The largest hot spring in North America, the Grand Prismatic Spring. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife viewing is the number one reason that more than 3 million visitors plan trips to Yellowstone each year. The park's well-mapped paved park roads make spotting animals easier as you auto-tour sections of the 2.2-million-acre wilderness. For those comfortable with the wilderness backcountry, wandering off on foot provides superb opportunities to see animals that shy from heavily-trafficked roadways.

Any which way you choose to explore, you will experience a vast ecosystem containing the highest population of free-roaming wildlife in the contiguous 48 states. Hayden Valley in the east area of the park is known to be the best area to spot grizzly bears, as well as moose and elk. Llamar Valley in the central area is a prime viewing location for elk, coyotes, and wolves (which are known to be incredibly elusive and are usually spotted only from a far distance, if at all.) Dunraven Pass is at high elevation where black bears, mountain goat, wolverine, and big horn sheep are in their zones. And pretty much everywhere you go you will share the road with the great American bison--which is prominently displayed on the National Park Service arrowhead logo insignia as a representation of all American wildlife.



The National Park Service chose this animal, the American bison, to represent all of American wildlife on their logo insignia. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish



The American wolf! Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Thriving Waterways and Forested Lands

With warm sunsets upon golden grasslands, softly painted rolling hills, vast forests, and cascading waterfalls, it is easy see why this area captured the attention of many and why today it continues to endear the masses.

Approximately 80% of the park is covered by forests of Lodgepole pine, spruce, and fir trees that are typical in the Rocky Mountain Range where Yellowstone is located. And where there are trees and mountains, you can bet there are great hikes to set off on--in Yellowstone, there are at least 1,000 trails--bringing travelers into the fold of an incredible wild landscape where headwaters from the Continental Divide flow creating waterfalls, rivers, and streams in the lowlands. These immense waterways create a playground for anglers who travel from all around the world to cast fly-fishing rods and catch brown trout, rainbow trout, and area-favorite, cutthroat.
In his final weeks in office, between preparing his farewell speech and tying up loose ends, President Obama penned an article for the journal Science to lay out the irreversible momentum of clean power and the renewable energy transition in America and describe why the incoming Trump administration will not be able to fully reverse the forces behind that momentum.

This article is significant because President Obama believes in science and the urgency of climate change, and the importance of imparting the seriousness of these issues before he turns over the keys to the Oval Office to someone who does not.

Also, he's not wrong. There's no turning back the dial to eight years ago, before we heard the Pope's call for climate action, back when rooftop solar was twice the price it is now, and when the Paris climate agreement wasn't anywhere in sight. Many state and local renewable energy markets will continue to push forward. But we can't take for granted the fact that policy decisions can and do determine the success of those markets. We can't sit back with the hope that some amount of momentum will continue when what we need is a revolution, and we don't know what changes Trump and his cronies will make in an attempt to hamper renewable energy progress.

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We're at a turning point (and arguably a point of no-return) for truly ambitious climate action, and we don't have four years to wait. We need to immediately enact policies and programs that will allow for existing renewable energy markets to flourish - especially in order for community- and wildlife-friendly energy sources such as rooftop solar to succeed. There must also be sustained vigilance and mass action to ensure that new policies are created in order for a just renewable energy transition to happen in places where markets don't yet exist.

Subsidies, tax incentives and regulations all determine what kinds of energy projects become economically and practically feasible. This is true for fossil fuel and bio-fuel projects as well as sustainable ones. The shift in the past decade to natural gas as a "cleaner" energy source was only successful due to policy changes and investments. The same was true for the oil markets before that. These market transformations are driven in part by individual and organizational actions and investments, sure, but they require foresight and commitment at an institutional level to take hold.

The kind of institutional change needed at the federal level to combat climate change is more than unlikely under a Trump presidency and the suite of nominated climate deniers and oilmen he plans to surround himself with. Even if Rex Tillerson, former Exxon CEO and oilman at heart, is confirmed as Secretary of State, he can't single-handedly rescind the United States' commitment to the Paris climate agreement. But he could - and likely will - withdraw global investments in clean power via aid programs such as Power Africa while upping investments in fossil fuel economies via bad trade deals for years to come. The EPA, under nominee Scott Pruitt, could weaken or remove restrictions to emissions for the benefit of extractive fossil fuel development here in the U.S. The Department of Energy is responsible for investment and research for renewable energy sources, as well as energy efficiency, and if that cabinet position goes to Rick Perry, who couldn't even remember the agency during his failed presidential bid, there's not much hope for keeping fossil fuel interests from driving those policies either.

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All of those appointments would be disastrous on their own, but paired with the most aggressively anti-climate Congress we've seen, we're facing an unprecedented step backwards.

We'll have to fight to protect existing policies that have allowed us to come as far as we have in just a few years. But in order to sustain the clean energy trend at the pace necessary to make a dent in emissions - especially as the oil and gas industries celebrate fewer federal regulations - state and local governments will have to step up and take action.

Cities and states can put in place the same kinds of policies and programs that have previously been enacted at the federal level to encourage renewable energy growth. States with weak renewable energy markets can look to climate leaders such as California and Massachusetts for policy models to apply in their own states. By enacting policies that support renewable energy markets - particularly those that encourage community-led and wildlife-friendly energy development such as distributed solar - other states can ensure some amount of market resiliency in the face of otherwise unpredictable and inevitably disastrous attacks on climate solutions.
This story first appeared on Ecosystem Marketplace.



While US President-Elect Donald Trump was tweeting dissatisfaction at his perception of how CNN will probably cover his daughter in an upcoming piece that he hasn't even seen yet, Chinese President Xi Jinping was kicking off the 47 meeting of the World Economic Forum, which this year has the theme "Responsive and Responsible Leadership". Xi drew applause from business leaders - many from the United States - as he urged delegates to the annual powwow in Davos, Switzerland to embrace inclusive globalization, fair trade, and coordinated action on climate change.

"Pursuing protectionism is just like locking one's self in a dark room," Xi said. "Wind and rain might be kept outside, but so are light and air."

He spoke of the need to balance economy and ecology.

"It is important to protect the environment while pursuing economic and social progress - to achieve harmony between man and nature, and harmony between man society," he said. "The Paris Climate Agreement is a hard-won achievement...all signatories should stick to it rather than walk away."

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He vowed that China would not only meet but exceed its current climate commitments - boosting its economy in the process - and he had the numbers to back it up: the country already has more than three times as many renewable jobs as the US does, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, and it plans to invest 2.5 trillion yuan ($360 billion) in renewable energy through 2020.

The meeting comes one week after the 12 Global Risks Report showed that business leaders see climate change as one of the world's greatest threats to global prosperity, along with income inequality and a breakdown of social cohesion -and that all of them are interrelated.

Fifteen sessions will focus on climate change, and nine will focus on clean energy, while several discussion papers were released to highlight the need to purge deforestation from corporate supply chains.

Climate Dominates Risks

"Environmental risks stand out as prominent," said Margareta Drzeniek Hanouz, WEF's head of global competitiveness and risks, as she walked reporters through the report, which is based on a survey of business leaders from around the world.

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"Four out of the five environmental risks that we look at are in the upper right quadrant of this matrix," she said, referring to the risk matrix you'll find a few paragraphs down. "That means they will have a large impact and are very likely to happen over the next ten years."

"The environment is becoming more of a pivotal risk," she added. "Many of the consequences of inaction on the environment are going to spill over into societal risk or geopolitical risk."

Indeed, weather-related events already displace more than 20 million people per year - roughly one third of all refugees, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency.

The Matrix

The Matrix that Hanouz mentioned ranks risk according to both impact and likelihood:

Note: Survey respondents were asked to assess the likelihood of the individual global risk on a scale of 1 to 7, 1 representing a risk that is not likely to happen and 7 a risk that is very likely to occur. They also assess the impact on each global risk on a scale of 1 to 5 (1: minimal impact, 2: minor impact, 3: moderate impact, 4: severe impact and 5: catastrophic impact).

Deforestation and Supply Chains

Changes in land use still generate more than 30 percent of all greenhouse-gas emissions, and much of that comes from illegal deforestation. Marco Albani, Director of Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 (TFA2020), highlighted the opportunities that companies face in purging deforestation from supply chains.

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"Ending tropical deforestation is critical to achieving the objectives of both the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)," he wrote in a discussion paper for one of the sessions. "First though, it requires a substantive transformation of the supply chains of four major commodities - beef, soy, palm oil and pulp and paper."

Those "big four" commodities are responsible for the bulk of the world's deforestation, and while hundreds of companies have pledged to reduce their impacts on the world's forests, progress reports were only available on 48% of those pledges as of November 2, 2016, according to the Forest Trends Supply Change project, which tracks corporate reporting on such commitments. On the upside, those reporting progress were 72% of the way towards their goals. A new analysis is due in March.

The Need for Green Infrastructure

Rick Samen, the WEF board member charged with overseeing climate issues, pointed out that trillions of dollars will be needed to re-develop global infrastructure in a resilient way.

"Eighty percent of the funds that are required for both the SDGs and climate change are related to sustainable infrastructure, new investment, or retrofitting of old," he said. "There isn't anywhere near enough money in the public coffers of either developed or developing countries to be able to achieve those goals, and the only solution is to optimize the blending of public and private capital in the system and apply it toward sustainable infrastructure in the various domains that matter for climate and the SDGs."

Nor is there enough public finance available to maintain the existing "gray infrastructure" - like dams, stormwater runoff systems, and treatment plants. Ahead of Davos, Forest Trends President Michael Jenkins pointed out that the current spending on traditional infrastructure, at about $500 billion a year, falls far short of the estimated $10 trillion required to repair and expand the world's existing water infrastructure by 2030.

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"Today, the number one economic threat to humanity is our inability to value nature," he wrote - apropos, since $3 billion earmarked for conservation investment stayed on the table because investors couldn't find enough projects to invest in.

More on the Podcast
From what we've seen of the President-elect so far, he seems to like big, bold ideas. Here's one that could change the world.

The US and China are the world's largest economies and, not surprisingly, the biggest producers of polluting greenhouse gases ("carbon"). Thanks largely to agreements reached in recent years between the two, a global deal was reached in Paris in late 2015 to address climate change by dramatically curtailing carbon emissions.

Critics complain that the Paris agreement doesn't go far enough to avert the most serious long-term consequences of climate change, because if all commitments made by nearly 200 nations are achieved, warming will only be held to an average annual temperature increase of about 3 degrees centigrade instead of the generally accepted target of 2 degrees or less.

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One reason the world would fall short of its goal is because China committed to "peaking" the growth of its emissions in 2030 and reducing them only thereafter. Many fear we can't wait that long, as more carbon is stored in the atmosphere for decades. Moreover, the President-elect has said he would abandon the US commitment under the Paris agreement.

So how do we put policies in place that finish the job, while stimulating sustainable economic growth worldwide?

The Trump administration could make a deal with China that pledges to keep the US in the Paris agreement, striving to meet its carbon reduction goals, in exchange for China committing to peak emissions in 2025.

This first part of the Big Idea would actually be the easiest to achieve. I'll bet China could now easily commit to peaking its pollution five years earlier because, since the original deal was made for peaking in 2030, China has made great strides in energy efficiency, deployment of renewable energy, and replacing the dirtiest coal-fired boilers and power plants with cleaner ones (yes, still coal, but far less polluting than their predecessors).

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And as Leonardo DiCaprio and I explained to the President-elect, when we met with him in early December, he can walk away from the Paris agreement, but the vast majority of what the US committed will happen anyway, thanks to state and local renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency programs, regional cap-and-trade programs, and by California's clean car emissions standards (which were essentially federalized into the CAFE fuel economy rules that are now delivering more fuel-efficient vehicles to American consumers, something that is obvious good for everyone).

The second part of the Big Idea might be harder to achieve, except for the fact that our next Secretary of State may be Rex Tillerson, currently the CEO of Exxon/Mobil. To help the world achieve the goal of limiting warming to 2 degrees centigrade or less, the US and China would agree to implement a price on carbon emissions of at least $25/ton by 2025 and call on the other signatories to the Paris agreement to do likewise. That price, whether implemented with a simple carbon tax or through a market-based cap-and-trade program (such as the systems already in place in parts of the US, Canada, Europe, and China) would force polluters to pay to clean up those emissions and/or provide the incentive to avoid polluting in the first place.

But why would a Trump administration and a conservative-dominated Congress with many members who deny climate science or are openly hostile to climate solutions want to engage in 25 by 25? It is worth quoting directly from a speech by Rex Tillerson to answer that question:

"At ExxonMobil, we share the view that the risks of climate change are serious and warrant thoughtful action. Addressing these risks requires broad-based, practical solutions around the world. Importantly, as a result of the Paris agreement, both developed and developing countries are now working together to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, while recognizing differing national responsibilities, capacities and circumstances. In our industry, the best hope for the future is to enable and encourage long-term investments in both proven and new technologies, while supporting effective policies. Which is what we are doing. We have long supported a carbon tax as the best policy of those being considered. Replacing the hodge-podge of current, largely ineffective regulations with a revenue-neutral carbon tax would ensure a uniform and predictable cost of carbon across the economy. It would allow market forces to drive solutions. It would maximize transparency, reduce administrative complexity, promote global participation and easily adjust to future developments in our understanding of climate science as well as the policy consequences of these actions."

Although Mr. Tillerson has not specifically called for the carbon tax to be $25/ton, some of his Exxon colleagues have supported that level in various meetings, presumably with his blessing. Critics will say $25 may not be enough, but it's a meaningful down payment on getting polluters to pay for dumping their waste into our shared atmosphere, instead of making the whole world subsidize that unsustainable business model.

So how would President Trump explain this deal to those constituents who agreed with his previous contention that climate change was a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese? First, he could say he had gotten a better deal than President Obama (China agreeing to peak emissions sooner). Second, he could say that regardless of one's views on climate science or policy, the 195 nations that signed the Paris agreement will keep their commitments and will need a lot of American technology to do so. If we walk away from our commitment, those nations will shop somewhere else, resulting in America losing jobs and income that could otherwise help us achieve Mr. Trump's lofty goal of 6% economic growth.


Eight US states plus the District of Columbia have legalised cannabis, in conflict with US federal law. Steve Diapola/Reuters

In recent years, many countries - with the conspicuous exception of Indonesia and the Philippines - have been rethinking the international war on drugs. The world, it seems, has grown tired of mass incarceration, militarised law enforcement and endless interdiction of drug shipments that nonetheless keep arriving at borders.

Even the United States, the key enforcer of this relentless and violent obsession with narcotics, started to ease up during the Barack Obama administration.

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Will Donald Trump continue his predecessor's reform path? Or will he reheat the 40-year drug war, domestically and abroad?

A hemisphere behind bars

These questions are not abstract in the Americas.

In the US, eight states have legalised marijuana, in conflict with federal law. This reform movement is partly rooted in the country's outrageous incarceration rates.

Human Rights Watch has dubbed the US a "nation behind bars", because it locks up more of its citizens than any other country in the world. A disproportionate number of them are black.

Long jail sentences for drug offenders, even for low-level crimes such as possession, which represents 80% of drug arrests, are the greatest contributor to the country's massive federal prison population.

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President Barack Obama's compassionate approach to non-violent drug offenders has helped incarceration rates drop by 13% since 2012, back to 1998 levels. But one decade of reform is insufficient to undo a half century of harsh policy; drug offenders still represent 46.4% of federal inmates.

Stakes are just as high in Latin America, where the war on drugs has fueled record levels of violence, corruption, criminality, and social inequality.

Cabinet of drug warriors

So what is Trump's stance on drugs and drug policy? As with many matters, he has proven inconsistent in this realm. In 1990 in a lunch with the Miami Herald newspaper, Trump deemed the drug war a "joke" and called for the legalisation of all drugs.

By his 2016 presidential campaign, however, he seemed to have changed his mind. In a February interview with Fox News, Trump called Colorado's legal marijuana industry a "real problem" (though he said that he's "100%" for medical cannabis). A few months later, he declared that he would "leave [marijuana legalisation] up to the states."

The administration's likely approach to drugs becomes clearer when considering that his cabinet will be crammed with unwavering drug warriors, including vice president-elect Mike Pence.

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Trump's attorney general pick, Jeff Sessions, said in an April senate hearing that "good people don't smoke marijuana" and incorrectly linked cannabis use to cocaine and heroin consumption.

During his recent confirmation hearing, Sessions also opened the door to government intervention in states with legal cannabis.

Trump has tapped John Kelly as Secretary of Homeland Security. As the former head of the US Southern Command, which plays a prominent role in curbing the flow of illicit substances from Latin America into the US, Kelly argued for "destroying" drugs, not legalising them.

Kelly also opposed US marijuana legalisation, claiming it would prevent Latin American countries from staying "shoulder to shoulder" with the US "in the drug fight in their part of the world."

The war on drugs has imposed a huge economic burden on the region. Colombia, for example, spends $US8 billion each year just to keep up in America's fight.

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Kelly admitted during his confirmation hearing that a border wall with Mexico would not prevent the flow of drugs into the US. In his view, "the defence of the Southwest border starts 1,500 miles to the south, with Peru."

This sounds suspiciously like Kelly plans to enlist all countries from Peru to the US in preventing drugs from reaching American consumers.

The war that has not been won

Latin America may prove unwilling to continue guarding America's borders.

In December 2016, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos accepted his Nobel Peace prize. He was awarded the honour for his efforts in negotiating a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

In his acceptance speech, Santos called on the international community to "rethink" the war on drugs, a conflict "where Colombia has been the country that has paid the highest cost in deaths and sacrifices."

According to the National Centre of Historical Memory, Colombia's civil war has claimed at least 220,000 lives since 1958.

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Add in the 150,000 casualties from Mexico's decade-long drug war, plus the unceasing flow of drugs into the US, and Santos' blunt assessment is essentially uncontroversial: "The war on drugs has not been won, and is not being won".

Might does not make right

Things are changing in much of the world. But based on Trump's cabinet and law-and-order rhetoric, the incoming American administration seems poised to look backwards to a time when violence reigned and countless Latin American lives were thrown away for the pipe dream of a "drug-free world".

If the Trump administration fails to pursue President Barack Obama's reform track, which followed years of activism by a growing global reform movement, it will be incumbent on the people of all the Americas to promote change from the grassroots level.

The first step consists of acknowledging that drug consumption is a personal choice and a health issue rather than a criminal or military problem.

Latin Americans have been pioneers in reforming drug laws that fuelled organised crime and undermined democracy in the region. The Contadora Group, which contributed significantly to terminating the military conflicts in Central America in the 1980s, is one such pioneer.

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Launched jointly by Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela to pressure the US to soften its militaristic stance in the region, Contadora ultimately failed to end American unilateral action. But when it concluded in 1986, the effort had opened the possibility of negotiating shared and peaceful solutions to regional Latin American conflicts.

Today, the Atitude Programme in Pernambuco, Brazil, shows how local leaders can stop fighting the drug war on their turf.

The five-year-old programme, which emerged from the government's realisation that it couldn't arrest its way out of its crack problem, combines street intervention, mental health care and provisional housing for drug users. A 2016 study shows that Atitude has not only helped drug users' well-being, it has reduced drug-related violence in the state.

If the Trump administration seeks to draw the Americas back into a violent drug war, resisting may be a civic duty - on both sides of the border.

Luis Gomez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong

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Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters

Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made some surprising remarks about China and the South China Sea during his recent Senate confirmation hearings. He said the US should "send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops, and second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed."

His comments created a furor in the international media as it seems the US might resort to force by blockading the Chinese-occupied features in the South China Sea.

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James Mattis, Trump's defence secretary nominee, was more circumspect in his remarks to the Senate Armed Services Committee. He identified defence of so-called "international waters" as the "bottom line" for the US, suggesting the US would defend freedom of navigation in the South China Sea without challenging the Chinese presence there.

Mattis' comments were in line with US policy towards the South China Sea while Tillerson's remarks were not. But why is the South China Sea so important to the US anyway?

The Chinese regularly castigate the Americans for "meddling" in the area and have difficulty understanding why the US takes a stand on the issue. In their view, the US is making trouble for China and preventing its rise as a great power. The Chinese want to see the Americans abandon the South China Sea and withdraw from the western Pacific.

Some commentators in the US and elsewhere agree. They argue that this would allow America to forge an accommodation with China, which would remove the prospect of conflict between the world's two largest economies and bring peace and stability.

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Others have called for a G-2 or a US-China accord that would settle global problems. They claim that the US is already overstretched and should return to the "offshore" position that it had before the Korean war broke out in 1950. Why let the South China Sea get in the way of this possible accommodation?

Chinese regional presence

The South China Sea has become important to the US because of China's challenge to the liberal rules-based order that America has promoted since the Pacific war. The post-war regional order was based on the American presence, which set the stage for impressive economic growth and regional prosperity without the threat of war or conflict.

It ensured that maritime disputes and territorial claims would be resolved through negotiation and not military power. And it served as the basis for the development of trade and regional economic relations from which all countries in the region benefited.

America's concern with the South China Sea is a result of China's effort to secure control over the maritime territory and the resources it contains. China insists on "indisputable sovereignty" over the area but a number of other claimants - Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines - have the law on their side.

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All have exclusive economic zones (EEZS) in the South China Sea, which is their right under UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and which the Chinese dismiss. To clarify the matter, the Philippines appealed to an tribunal convened under UNCLOS to rule on the situation.

In July 2016, the tribunal issued its judgement and upheld the rights of the ASEAN claimants to their EEZs, noting that the Chinese claim had no legal basis. China, however, has ignored legality in this dispute and is prepared to back its claim with military power. If it does not recognise the rules, the regional order that the US has been promoting breaks up.

China has militarised the Spratly Islands by engaging in reclamation projects in the South China Sea. The Chinese have been dredging sand from the ocean floor and extending the size of seven reefs they have occupied.

They have constructed three airfields there, two are 3,000 metres in length, one is 2,600 metres. These airfields can support military aircraft including bombers and large transport aircraft. With this military presence, China would be able to control the South China Sea. And its strengthened position has geopolitical consequences for the US.

The way ahead

The South China Sea has become an important area for the implementation of China's naval strategy, including blockading Taiwan, and power projection into the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It also has some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

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The Chinese often say that they respect freedom of navigation but can they be trusted? The Japanese think not. During a territorial dispute with Japan in 2010, the Chinese banned the supply of rare earths, which were necessary for Japan's electronics industry, to the country.

The Chinese could block Japanese trade, which would need to be diverted elsewhere at considerable cost. Indeed, control of the South China Sea would allow China to interfere with Japanese and South Korean trade conducted through the area.

For America, then, the future of the current regional order and the security of its allies - Japan and South Korea - is at stake. To maintain its geopolitical position in the western Pacific, the US is obliged to defend the regional alliance system, and reassure local powers who are concerned about China's intentions.

Leaving the South China Sea to the Chinese would undermine that alliance system and America's presence in the western Pacific. China would become the dominant power in the area and regional countries would gravitate towards it.

In October 2015, the Obama Administration responded to China's actions by launching "freedom of navigation" naval patrols in the South China Sea, sending a clear signal that America would not be chased out of the area.

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By all indications, the Trump administration is likely to be more aggressive in resisting China in the South China Sea and more forceful about preventing the erosion of America's position in the region.

Trump has already broken with diplomatic convention by speaking with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen over the phone. More can be expected to demonstrate a new American assertiveness.

One possibility is the formation of an American South China Sea naval squadron that would maintain a regular presence in the region to show the Chinese that they cannot dominate the area. The Trump administration might also strengthen security ties with Japan and attempt to orchestrate the creation of a coalition of powers bringing together Australia, India, as well as Japan, to stand up to China.
As Washington readies for a leadership transition, its resident politicians are more bitterly divided than ever.

Nearly 60 Democratic lawmakers have announced their plans to boycott Donald Trump's inauguration in the wake of his attacks on civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis. Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are ignoring the ethics rulebook to rush approval of Trump's cabinet picks. The sooner his team is seated, the sooner they can start trying to dismantle President Obama's legacy.

Some still talk about bipartisanship -- or finding common cause with political foes -- as the mark of good statesmanship. But that spirit is practically extinct in Washington. The incoming administration is behaving as though it can attend to the people's business without actually consulting with people, or considering any opposing view.

There's a lesson in the recent past that serves as a reminder for the ways in which people can transcend these politics of division.

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Five years ago today, millions of people came together to shock Washington into action on behalf of the public. Jan. 18, 2012 was a day of mass protests against legislation that would have undermined the free and open exchange of information online.

The lobbyist-fueled SOPA and PIPA bills were designed to shut down massive tracts of internet content without due process or accountability. The Washington consensus was that this legislation's passage was a foregone conclusion. But on Jan. 18, we stopped the inevitable. Fifty thousand websites -- including Google, Wikipedia and Reddit -- symbolically "blacked out" their webpages to protest the legislation. Nearly 10 million people took action online or by phone, urging Congress to ditch the bill.

By the end of the day, dozens of senators had come forward to oppose PIPA. The House version, SOPA, had already been put on hold after then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi bent to public pressure and tweeted that they "need[ed] to find a better solution." A Senate staffer at the time told me that "phones were melting" across Capitol Hill.

By the end of that week, both bills were dead. The tide had turned in Washington.

The coalition that defeated SOPA and PIPA included groups and individuals from across the political spectrum. But in many ways the protest transcended all of that.

Much of the campaign can be attributed to the late Aaron Swartz, the open culture and internet freedom activist who took his own life nearly a year later. While progressive in orientation, Swartz disdained political labels, and party ideology never constrained his smart, radical way of thinking. He also knew that the left-right paradigm didn't hold together well around issues of civil rights and internet freedom.

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As early as 2010, Swartz emailed Patrick Ruffini, a veteran of online organizing for right-leaning causes, to ask whether he was interested in working together to fight an early iteration of the legislation, the "Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeit Act," which powerful Hollywood lobbyists and their allies on both sides of the aisle were then pushing through the Senate.

"Working on this right now actually," Ruffini emailed back. "What we're hoping to do is provide a friendly spot for people on the right to engage on this issue."

Both Ruffini and Swartz had come to appreciate the internet's potential for diverse and decentralized activism. They understood that advocacy on internet-freedom issues provided an opportunity to get beyond partisan politics and disrupt Washington's status quo.

Joining right with left was "essential to building a broad, bipartisan, populist coalition," Ruffini wrote in Hacking Politics, which features essays from activists, gamers, artists, tech luminaries and others who came together to defeat SOPA and PIPA.

Beyond this one campaign, the movement to protect everyone's rights to connect and communicate online has always attracted strange political bedfellows. These alliances defy easy categorization, driven by the common desire to protect the internet's inclusive, freewheeling and open nature.

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Internet users themselves form a diverse and powerful constituency who have worked together for more than a decade to safeguard principles of free speech, inclusion, equality, privacy and openness.

The 2012 SOPA and PIPA protests are part of this continuum of organizing and activism. So are the protests millions participated in in support of Net Neutrality, online privacy and universal access.

Social and racial justice movements are as much a part of this fight as the tech community, becoming even more powerful voices for privacy protections following Edward Snowden's revelations about widespread online surveillance.

"I don't know if there's really a name for those moments where left and right ideologues can team up on an issue," David Segal, a colleague of Swartz's and the co-founder of Demand Progress, told me in a 2013 interview. "And, importantly, we do so without compromise, because on many of these issues, we actually agree with each other's policy postures."

Such unity is even more crucial now as Trump's incoming administration is threatening to roll back the hard-won Net Neutrality and online privacy protections activists secured in 2015 and 2016. There are also early signs that Hollywood lobbyists are pressuring Trump to support a renewed push for legislation styled after SOPA and PIPA. His earlier comments opposing encryption make it clear that he plans to perpetuate the online surveillance state. The list of concerns goes on.

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However important the SOPA/PIPA victory was in 2012, its lasting significance depends on how well the internet-freedom coalition holds together in the fights that lie ahead.
It was a pleasant surprise for the Members of the Club de Madrid on Sunday to hear that Prime Minister Theresa May had adopted the term Shared Society for her vision of the future of the UK. For exactly ten years ago, that expression was adopted by the Club de Madrid for one of its major programs, a program supported by the European Commission as well as other donors. Our Shared Societies concept presented a broad vision of the kind of societies we need across the world if we are to overcome the stresses and strains of inter-group distrust, hostility and, too often, violence.

The Club de Madrid is a network of over 100 former Presidents and Prime Ministers who have come together to deal with some of the major challenges of the day. Ten years ago, we affirmed that the phenomenon of divided societies is one of the most important issues of our time. That is even truer today. We have warned of the dangers of leaving people behind and not including them, whether they be minorities who face discrimination and prejudice or parts of the majority community who see their world changing around them due to economic and demographic adjustments. That warning, alas, has too often been ignored. Too often the very groups that have been marginalized are also the ones that are blamed for all the ills of society and turned into scapegoats. This leads to a vicious circle, where those who have been left behind nurture resentments that can keep growing until the very fabric of society becomes threatened.

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A "Shared Society" is neither a tautology nor a truism, for the very simple reason that it remains (at best) as an ideal, rather than a reality in far too many countries across the world. For the whole last decade, the Club de Madrid has worked to give substance to this vision of a Shared Society in which people feel that they belong, that their contribution is valued and their voice can be heard. That means people should feel they are respected and accepted on their own terms, that they are supported in fulfilling their aspirations, provided they do not conflict with the basic values of society at large. Fundamentally, we all share very similar aspirations - to have a reasonable quality of life, to be accepted and respected by the wider society and, as parents, to give our children a good start in life. A fair society should offer a level playing field for people to fulfil their aspirations according to their talents, skills and willingness to put forth effort, not present them with unsurmountable barriers from the moment of their birth.

In terms of practical implementation, the Club de Madrid has identified ten key areas that all must be addressed, calling them simply the "Ten Commitments for Shared Societies". No single strategy alone can achieve a Shared Society, not even providing services to people in more efficient ways (which should be done as a matter of course). There are numerous ways in which people can become disenfranchised and marginalized. For example, many of those who have been involved in violent extremism (another area of concern for the Club de Madrid) have been second or third generation immigrants, had received good educations, held jobs, spoke the language of the host community and still felt excluded. For some reason, they had failed to develop a sense of solidarity with the rest of society. Rightly or wrongly, they did not feel valued and respected by Government, media and by their neighbours, but sought instead a sense of identity and purpose in hating and harming the very societies that had nurtured them. Even among the mainstream of society (possibly because of a feeling of economic exclusion), many have sought refuge in the fuelling of old prejudices and paranoia, falling easy prey to cheap populists preaching xenophobia, exclusion, insularity, and isolationism. There is no magic wand for creating shared societies. It takes political will, popular support, and serious effort on the part of everybody. Any society unwilling to put forth such efforts does so at its peril.

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In this, government has an important role to play, and it must do more than just "get out of the way". Prime Minister May has argued for an active government that will step up and champion the things that matter to people, and that is a worthy goal that any government worth its salt should try and strive for. Giving an active role to government, however, is not the same as advocating "big government" that would take over everything. Since the concept of Shared Societies is non-ideological, we talk about an "enabling government". This allows the concept to be adapted to different political systems, even ones as different from each other as China and the USA, since people can relate to it. While there are things that only Governments can tackle, there are others where the Government's role is to support local communities in doing what they do best -organising their own affairs and ensuring that they include all parts of the community in that process.



The UN Agenda 2030, incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals, very much reflects the Shared Societies Concept when it uses the phrases "realizing the future we want for all" and "leaving no one behind". It is not enough to focus on one disadvantaged group and ignore others, for that would only lead to new resentments and frustrations. Leaving no one behind means just what it says, which is to deprive no one of the opportunity to contribute to society.

When everyone is involved and encouraged, they become an asset to society and a contributor to the common good, rather than being a drain or a liability. For example, cutting down on anti-social behaviour would be far more cost-effective than building more prisons.

The Club de Madrid is greatly encouraged to see a head of government adopt the concept of Shared Societies that we have been advocating for the past ten years. Contrary to what some have suggested, the concept, far from being vacuous, just needs to be translated into concrete action plans by any government that is ready to adopt it. As former political leaders of countries from across the world, we encourage all current leaders to take the goal of shared societies to heart and to do everything in their power to put it into action.
The State of Oklahoma named the Illinois a State Scenic River in 1970 because of the stream's wildlife, recreation and scenic values.



So why did Scott Pruitt, as Oklahoma's attorney general, sit by for years while pollution from upstream Arkansas chicken farms fouled the Illinois River? It's one of many examples that demonstrate why Pruitt, President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, is the wrong choice.



In the case of the Illinois River, industrial-scale poultry farms were spreading hundreds of thousands of tons of manure on land that drained to the river. Pruitt chose not to pursue action against the polluters. Poultry company executives were some of the most generous contributors to his campaign.



As Oklahoma Attorney General, Scott Pruitt has spent the last seven years suing the EPA to block regulations that he would be expected to enforce if confirmed as EPA Administrator.



He sued the agency to overturn the Clean Water Rule, which safeguards more than half the nation's waterways, including streams that feed into the drinking water supplies of 117 million Americans.



He also joined industrial agricultural interests to sue the EPA to stop the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay. EPA's oversight is essential to the health of the Bay and everyone who lives, works and plays in the region. But again, Pruitt put the interests of polluters ahead of clean water and the people and businesses who rely on healthy rivers.



Pruitt believes in a "hands off" approach at the national level, preferring to let states sort out their own regulations. But what happens if neighboring states have different standards? If the upstream state pollutes, the downstream state's health, economy and quality of life suffer. It's why we have national standards for clean water, and why we need a strong EPA to ensure they are enforced. We all live downstream.



In Where the Red Fern Grows, Billy describes his childhood home:
A global provider of claims management solutions to the risk management and insurance industry has appointed a new CEO for its global technical services (GTS) division.Geoff Piggot takes the GTS helm from Mike Reeves, who steps down from the role after 40 years of distinguished service and who was a key figure in the divisions formation.Piggot will report to Ian Muress, Crawfords international operations CEO, and will be based in London. He will head an established global brand and will be responsible for increasing its global revenue and expanding its breadth of services. His highly skilled workforce is made up of several hundred adjusters, engineers, and forensic accountants, many of whom are dual-qualified.Geoffs impeccable credentials include being a former board director at one of the worlds largest global reinsurance corporations, where he has carried out claims leadership roles for 18 years, Muress said. He has extensive experience supporting global property, marine and facultative reinsurance claims functions and, as such, can provide a unique customer perspective our clients will appreciate.Muress also thanked Crawford GTSs outgoing CEO for his service, saying: GTS has been in safe hands during his tenure and is now placed to move to the next level under Geoffs leadership. Mike will be missed not only for his professionalism, but as a charming and popular individual.
Reinsurance broker Aon Benfield said natural catastrophes around the world in 2016 caused the highest amount of insured losses in four years.According to Aons latest Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report, there were 315 natural disasters last year that generated total economic losses of US$210 billion.Just 26%, or US$54 billion, of the economic losses were covered by insurance in 2016, Aon said, due to a higher percentage of damage occurring in areas with a lower insurance penetration.However, the public and private insurance industry losses were 7% above the 16-year average and the highest insured loss total since 2012.Overall insured losses in 2016 ranked as the sixth-highest on record for the industry and just the ninth time that a year has topped US$50 billion.After a decline in catastrophe losses during the previous four years, 2016 marked a bit of an uptick in natural peril costs to the global economy, said Steve Bowen, director and meteorologist at Aon Benfields catastrophe model development team.Bowen said climate change, more intense weather events, greater coastal exposures and population migration shifts are all contributors to the growing trend.With these parameters in place, and forecasts continuing to signal greater risk and vulnerability, it is anticipated that weather-related catastrophe losses will further increase in the coming years, he said.Based on the Aon report, a series of earthquakes in Japan last April was the costliest event both economically (US$38 billion) and for the insurance industry (US$5.5 billion).Six of the top 10 costliest insured loss events occurred in the US, including Hurricane Matthew and multiple severe weather outbreaks.For the fourth consecutive year, flooding in Europe and other parts of the world was the costliest overall peril at US$62 billion. The most significant flood events were along the Yangtze River basin in China and in the US state of Louisiana.Another event that caused one of the biggest insured losses was the wildfire in Fort McMurray, Canada that cost the industry nearly US$2.8 billion.
BRPC Executive Director Nathaniel Karns said the state is releasing the DLTA funds.

Berkshire Planning Receives DLTA Funding To Help Towns With Projects

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  BRPC finally got its local assistance funding and more than 25 towns have requested help.

The funding for District Local Technical Local Assistance program was questionable over the last few months as the state pondered budget cuts to address shortages of revenue. The state provides $2.8 million to regional planning committees to help towns with an array of planning projects.

But, late into 2016 the money hadn't been released and the governor was in the process of making budget cuts.

"The DLTA funding was spared from 9C cuts and I signed our contract on Dec. 15 and we are waiting for the signed contract back. With the holidays, that may be slightly drawn out but we are proceeding in hopes that some projects can commence very early with the new year," said Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Nathaniel Karns.

The program allows BRPC to take on projects for towns, particularly the smaller ones with little full-time staff and resources, such as updating zoning bylaws, master planning, mapping, and more. The program has helped with economic planning, the Rest of the River case, and planning for the impacts of proposed natural gas pipelines - all work that needs expertise that many towns don't have on hand.

BRPC has funding to do a dozen or so projects in a given year. The organization went forward with project solicitation already in hopes the funding would come through and Karns said more than 25 projects have already been submitted for consideration.

"It proves over and over again how valuable the community feels this is," Karns said.

BRPC is now going through a review process to determine which tasks it has the ability to perform this year. Much of the work coincides with the state's Community Compact program and can help towns adopt the best practices the state is promoting municipalities to undertake.

"The priority areas have no changed, focusing on 'Planning Ahead for Housing,' 'Planning Head for Growth,' and Community Compact activities," Karns wrote in a memo to the BRPC board. "Requests for assistance under DLTA are to be submitted to BRPC no later than Jan. 20 and we would welcome conversations about potential requests at any time."

BRPC has been running the program for seven years and receives about $200,000 of the state's $2.8 million allocation. Towns began writing to legislators in the fall when the program's fund had not yet been released and concerns about mid-year cuts arose. The program in the past had been on the chopping block but lawmakers ultimately overrode the veto.

In other business, BRPC is holding a workshop on local regulations around legalized recreational marijuana. The goal is to provide local officials with information about how to control the establishment of marijuana shops or other facilities.

BRPC member Rene Wood said overall the goal is to give officials the "lay of the land" including timelines for decisions in order to get zoning and other regulations in place before shops are approved by the state. The discussion will also outline the options of moratoriums or outright bans. The law which was passed provides very specific formulas for such certain regulations.

The workshop is on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Lenox Town Hall.

"The timeline is relatively short for those towns which may want to consider prohibiting the establishment of marijuana shops or other facilities as such prohibition would need to be on spring town meeting warrants," Karns wrote. "For other communities, there is the ability to have reasonable regulations but those will take time to development and there appears to be adequate, not overly generous, time to do so."
The third-grade students are running a week-long experiment on zebrafish. Williams students teach the lesson. Working in small groups, the third-graders are conducting the experiments. Each aquarium has a male and a female zebrafish. The curriculum teaches scientific methods for experiments. PreviousNext

Williams Brings 'BioEyes' Back To Lanesborough Elementary



The students are learning genetics through the process of watching zebrafish development. LANESBOROUGH, Mass.  It starts with a question: what do baby zebrafish look like?

Then observation, noting what adult zebrafish look like and how they act. Then a hypothesis, an educated guess on what the babies will look like. And finally, an experiment, breed the fish and see.

That's the scientific process third-graders are going through at Lanesborough Elementary School. The lesson is part of the BioEyes program ran by Williams College.

The college sends students into the classroom with the fish over a period of a week to run the experiment.

"Hands-on science is one of the most fun things you can do. This is a weeklong program so they can see everything from the parents to the development of the embryo. It hatches and become larvae and can swim around and they can see its heart beating, they can see the pigment develop. And all of that happens in a course of a week. Zebrafish are unique because you can see through the body," said Williams College Lecturer Martha Marvin.

The program was developed about a decade ago in Philadelphia in which research institutions with the fish reach out to elementary schools to run it. Williams took it on in 2010 and has been bringing it into two or three schools in the county each year.

"This is our seventh year. We've been doing it since 2010 and we've done different towns, different schools," Marvin said. "The program was originally developed in Philadelphia and was developed to bring science into the classrooms."

Last week the college was in Williamstown Elementary and next week it will be in Brayton Elementary in North Adams. On Tuesday, Lanesborough students began their experiment.

The students used a net to fish a male zebrafish out and then a female and placed them in tanks. With workbooks they wrote down information about the zebrafish and then watched as the two swam together in the tanks. The students drew pictures of everything they saw, noting the number stripes or number of fins, the color of the water, the behavior. Then they came to a conclusion  what they believed the babies would look like.

On Wednesday, the Williams students will return and by then the eggs will be laid and fertilized and the students will again follow through with their observations when peering through a microscope and taking notes. On Thursday they'll find out exactly what the baby zebrafish look like  and find out if their hypothesis was correct.



Williams has been bringing the program to elementary schools since 2010. "The teachers don't have to do any raising of the fish or anything. We just bring everything in. Our program is unique because we teach it with Williams students," Marvin said.

Williams brought the program to Lanesborough for the first time last year for the fourth grade class. Now, the program has been moved a grade lower to help with academic standards.

"This year it is different because we are doing all third grade. We've done third grade before in North Adams but with the Next Generation Science Standards this life science fits better in third grade," Marvin said.

The learning goes both ways. The Williams students learned about zebrafish enough to teach the curriculum in class. Now, they get experience working with elementary school students and experience teaching.

"The Williams College students get experience in the classroom. They're using a well-developed curriculum so they have that in place. They can go into a classroom and know more about how to communicate with the kids, how to teach the kids, and get that experience," Marvin said.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal speaks with MCLA students on Tuesday. Neal took questions from the audience and told them they're biggest influence beyond voting was heading to New Hampshire in presidential elections. Neal speaks with MCLA President Jamie Birge and Executive Vice President Denise Richardello. PreviousNext

Neal: Democratic Party Needs a 'Reset'



The stop at MCLA was one of several the congressman made in North Berkshire.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Democratic Party can't "sugarcoat" its disastrous situation, says U.S. Rep. Richard Neal.



And the pain lies deeper than the loss of the presidency and failure to make inroads in the Republican-controlled Congress.



"Time for a reset," he said, pointing out that "the people we're losing used to be for us."



Nearly a third of House Democrats come from three states: Massachusetts, New York and California.



"In the last eight years, all election cycles for Congress, we have lost 62 House seats, 15 Senate seats," Neal said at a session at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Tuesday. "Two-thirds of the governors now in America are Republican and we have lost, during these eight years, more than 1,000 legislative seats across the country."



While the 14-term congressman hasn't decided who he'll back for Democratic National Party chairman, he does know what he wants to hear from the candidates.



"How are you going to build a national party?" he said. "The party I signed up for was a national party and if we're going to cleave to a more narrow base, I don't see us winning national elections."



Neal was speaking to about 40 faculty members and students at MCLA in the afternoon, wrapping up a North County visit that began at Hoosac Valley High School and included teaching a class at Williams College and lunch with Mayor Richard Alcombright.



Much of his talk overlapped with the one earlier in the day, including aspects of contemporary polarized politics, confirmation bias and opinion reporting, his decision to attend the inauguration on Friday and the fight to maintain outgoing President Obama's signature legacy in the Affordable Care Act.



But the Springfield Democrat also touched on how his party has to change messaging to re-engage with its base to overcome an electoral map that's turned a bright red. Even though Hillary Clinton won nearly three million more votes total, she lost three states by 77,000 votes and the Electoral College with them.



Some of that rebuilding, Neal said, will be addressing the changing nature of the workplace in an age of globalization "that's not going to retreat."
'Trees are Terrific' is the theme of the state Arbor Day Poster Contest this year.

Fifth Grade Arbor Day Poster Contest Theme: 'Trees are Terrific'

BOSTON  The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has announced the theme of 2017's fifth grade Arbor Day Poster Contest: "Trees are Terrific  from Berkshires to Bay!"



Fifth grade classes from both public and private schools across the commonwealth are encouraged to participate in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest by having the students create posters highlighting this year's theme, and then hosting a school poster contest. The winning poster from each school can then be submitted to the agency for review.



"I am delighted that students from across the Commonwealth continue to participate in the Department of Conservation and Recreation's annual Arbor Day Poster Contest," said DCR Commissioner Leo Roy. "Every year the agency receives excellent posters from many of the state's fifth grade students, and I am excited to view this year's creative entries."



First place prizes for the DCR Arbor Day Poster Contest include a tree planting ceremony at the winner's school, a certificate for art and science supplies, and more. Second Place, Third Place, and Honorable Mention winners will also receive art and science supplies.


Jesse Wirtes, left, Mount Greylock's facilities supervisor and a member of the School Building Committee, was praised by the rest of the committee at last Tuesday's meeting.

Mount Greylock Building Committee Applauds Staff's Efforts

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Mount Greylock Regional School Building Committee last week took a break from talking about the district's future to recognize how its present staff is working diligently to help move the project forward.

Robert Ericson, a Lanesborough selectman and former member of the School Committee who serves on the SBC's facilities working group, told his colleagues that he did not think people realized how much work Jesse Wirtes and the custodial crew do.

"Not only do they have to keep the school going on a day-to-day basis, but they have to attend to Turner [Construction] and the architects and all the work that is going on in the background here.

"Between running around like crazy, answering questions, being concerned about the traffic out front, I don't think anyone appreciates how hard these guys are working and the hours they're putting in."

The district's business manager, who also serves on the School Building Committee, echoed Ericson's remark.

"I always say, I don't know what other schools do without a Jesse and a Rob [Wnuk]," Nancy Rauscher said. "They're incredible resources, and they're very passionate. [Interim Superintendent Kim Grady] and I talk about it all the time."

Ericson told the committee that Wnuk went through every drawing of every room in the plans for the renovation and addition to analyze details down to the location of the electrical outlets.

"I can tell you from a lot of experience, he must have spent hundreds of hours going over those drawings, in addition to doing his regular job," Ericson said.

School Building Committee co-Chairwoman Paula Consolini added that Wirtes has been helping the committee with its community outreach efforts by posting a timeline and photos on the SBC's website and videos viewable through the building project's Facebook page.

"You've documented [the construction work] clearly beyond your regular time," Consolini told Wirtes.

Consolini added that Principal Mary MacDonald, who serves on the School Building Committee, also deserves the group's thanks for her efforts on the project's design working group. MacDonald previously was the point person for the SBC in developing an education plan that earned praise from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

"We have a lean staff, and listening takes a lot of effort  not just listening to the staff but to the community as well," Consolini said.
Project Spotlight: Aliyah Seminars

The Fellowship | January 18, 2017 Project Spotlight: Aliyah Seminars

Fellowship Freedom Flights have helped thousands of Jewish people make aliyah (immigrate to Israel) in recent years. While the flight to the Holy Land is a big part of what we provide for these immigrants, who often are relocating due to spiritual, physical, or economic hardship, its certainly not the only thing we provide.

Aliyah Seminars

In order to help prepare new olim (immigrants) for the first stage of their new lives in Israel, and to guarantee their absorption will be ultimately successful, we host aliyah seminars, a series of informative lectures by experts in the field about their first steps in Israel, including job searching and navigating the health care and education system in Israel. We also provide Hebrew language classes, help securing their first homes, and grants to help with the costs of setting up their new lives in Israel.

The Fellowship Assisted Us with Every Detail

Olehs family lived in Donetsk, Ukraine, for many years, but then fighting started in 2014 between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian armed forces, turning eastern Ukraine into a chaotic, deadly war zone. The unrest placed many, including thousands of Jews like Oleh, in a desperate situation. Following the confusion that everyone around us felt, things started to really get terrifying, said Oleh.

The family relocated to another part of Ukraine for a while, hoping the violence would die down. But two years went by and it still hadnt, and then economic hardship forced Oleh to close his business.

When hope in Donetsk seemed to be lost for good, they decided to make aliyah with The Fellowship. We had thought about it long ago, said Oleh, but we didnt due to different circumstances. The Fellowship and Israeli government helps people like us. I have a feeling that Israel actually takes care of its citizens, unlike post-Soviet countries, says Oleh.

Oleh and his wife felt comforted when they heard about our Fellowship Freedom Flights, the informational aliyah seminars we host, the $1,000 grant we give to new immigrants after they arrive in the Holy Land, and our helpful volunteers who answer any questions new immigrants have about their new lives in Israel.

The safety of the family and the wellbeing of the children, said Oleh, is the reason were making aliyah. I want a real future for my children. Thats why we left our home city of Donetsk, which is now occupied, and were coming to the Holy Land!

Our main goal at the outset is to settle into our new reality, learn Hebrew, understand the Israeli way of life and become part of the country, said Oleh. My wife Tetiana and I are not afraid of work. Were ready to start with anything. Olehs parents have already made aliyah to Israel, so they will be joining them as well.

The Fellowship staff accompanied and assisted us with every detail in order to make the aliyah process easier, said Oleh. Were grateful for all the information The Fellowship provided us. And we know that were more than lucky to have received financial support. Were very happy and satisfied with everything The Fellowship has done for us.

Learn how you can help more Jewish people make aliyah and have a successful transition to their new life in Israel.
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A student at the University of Manchester has attracted praise after sharing a Van Gogh painting she recreated on her leg in order to prevent herself from self-harming.

Amelia Hall, 18, from Essex, has suffered with depression for around five years, and after a particularly bad day she decided to turn her body - "something I don't consider to be beautiful" - into a canvas.

It took three hours to complete, and Amelia said she contemplated giving up half-way through. She posted the finished result on her Twitter account (now private) where it received over 3,000 likes and hundreds of positive comments.

Amelia's Van Gogh painting while it was half-finished (Amelia Hall)

"I'm so glad I kept working on it because I have something wonderful to show form a particularly bad day, instead of just self-harm marks," she told Buzzfeed.

"I didn't exactly feel better when it was finished. It didn't make the depression go away - it was never going to do that."

(Amelia Hall (Amelia Hall)

Speaking to The Independent Amelia said that she decided to paint the Van Gogh image because he is one of her favourite painters, and "painting helped me realise that there are far less destructive methods of coping with depression that self harm. I wanted to create something positive".

Amelia Hall recreated the Van Gogh painting on her leg rather than self-harm (Amelia Hall)

"The reaction on social media has been amazing," she said. "I never expected it to become so popular or for so many people to see it, and everyone has been incredibly supportive, saying that they've proud of me and that I'm inspiring."

Amelia said that she felt issues around mental illness had become more open to discussion due to social media, and hoped that her painting could help reduce more of the stigma around depression.

"I think the stigma around depression and mental illness has slightly lessened over the last couple of years, particularly with the rise of social media," she said. "It [social media] has created a platform for people to discuss it more easily.

"There's still definitely a long way to go but I think it's becoming easier to talk about, and by posting the painting I was hoping to try and further reduce some of that stigma."

If you feel at risk of self-harm or are concerned about someone else, you can call the Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123
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It might only have two performers confirmed so far, but the protest of Donald Trumps inauguration already has a better line-up than Donald Trumps inauguration.

The National and Common are set to play down the road in Washington DCs 9:30 Club, with more artists expected to be announced on Thursday 19 January.

Planned Parenthood and All Access organised the show, which is designed as a call to action for supporters of reproductive freedom to take action wherever they are.

Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Show all 15 1 /15 Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Kandy Freeman participates in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Hawk Newsome, a Black Lives Matter activist, leads a protest outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Hawk Newsome (C) leads a chant during a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, US. January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower An NYPD officer speaks with a Black Lives Matter leaders during a protest in the snow outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Kandy Freeman participates in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower An NYPD officer speaks with a Black Lives Matter leaders during a protest in the snow outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Carol Garza, a Black Lives Matter supporter, protests outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower People participate in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, U.S. January 14, 2017. Stephanie Keith/Reuters Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower A Black Lives Matter supporter protests in the snow outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter activists march in front of Trump Tower on January 14, 2017 in New York City. Kevin Hagen/Getty Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter activists march in front of Trump Tower on January 14, 2017 in New York City. Kevin Hagen/Getty Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter supporters protest in the snow outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 14, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Black Lives Matter organises march to Trump Tower Black Lives Matter Kandy Freeman marches in front of Trump Tower on January 14, 2017 in New York City. Kevin Hagen/Getty

PP has been very active in the wake of Trumps election given his history of pro-life support, having once said that woman who have abortions should face some form of punishment.

The concert is one of many protests taking place in DC this week, with a Womens March On Washington organised for 21 January - Trumps first day in office.

The inauguration is currently a little short on the high-profile performers that Trump promised, the line-up currently consisting mostly of covers bands, one of which has already pulled out.
Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

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Last year was the hottest since records began 167 years ago, as planet Earth experienced warmer land, warmer seas, warmer air and melting ice as never before, according to new research.

Scientists at the Met Office and East Anglia University found 2016 was 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than the average between 1850 and 1900.

This puts 2016 only nominally ahead of 2015 by just 0.01C  within the 0.1C margin of error  but the Met Office said it was clear the planet had now experienced two years of extremely warm weather.

While the natural El Nino weather effect played a role, it contributed just 0.2C of warming, compared to 0.9C as a result of the greenhouse gas effect.

Recommended May urged by 100 leading scientists to press Trump on climate change

One world-renowned climatologist warned that time was beginning to run out if humanity hoped to prevent particularly dangerous global warming, which is thought to begin after global temperatures increase by about 2C.

The figures were released just two days before the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States, who has claimed that climate change is a Chinese hoax, appointed climate science deniers to key positions and spoken about withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change.

But the researchers could not have been clearer about why the Earth is heating up so rapidly.

Peter Stott, acting director of the Met Office Hadley Centre, said: The final figures confirm that 2016 was yet another extremely warm year.

The temperature for last year was very close to the year before, temperatures for 2016 exceeding those for 2015 by a small margin. 2015 was remarkable for having stood out so clearly from previous years as the warmest year since 1850 and now 2016 turns out to have been just as warm.

A particularly strong El Nino event contributed about 0.2C to the annual average for 2016. However, the main contributor to warming over the last 150 years is human influence on climate from increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

Echoing Mr Stotts sentiments, Professor Tim Osborn, research director at East Anglia Universitys Climatic Research Unit (CRU), added: Multiple lines of independent evidence confirm that the planet has warmed over the last 150 years: warmer oceans, warmer land, warmer lower atmosphere and melting ice.

This long-term trend is the main cause for the record warmth of 2015 and 2016, surpassing all previous years  even ones with strong El Nino events  in the global temperature record [kept by the Met Office and CRU], Mr Osborn said.

The figures showed temperatures had risen particularly sharply since the 1960s, which saw a boom in car ownership and rapid economic development in many parts of the world, largely built on electricity from power stations burning fossil fuels.

Compared to the average between 1961 and 1990, the average global temperature last year was 0.77C higher. In 2015, the Met Office had predicted 2016 would be between 0.72C and 0.96C above the 1961-1990 average.

Nasa and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are also releasing figures based on separate temperature readings, which are expected to be broadly similar to the Met Office and CRU results.

 CIA director nominee Mike Pompeo refuses to accept Nasa's findings on climate change

Professor Gabi Hegerl, a climatogologist at Edinburgh University, was named as one of the worlds most influential scientific minds by Thomson Reuters after helping to write reports for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Commenting on the Met Office and CRU figures, she said: For science, another record, and another year to test our models and narrow down projections of future climate.

"Meanwhile, cumulative carbon is increasing. Time is getting tight for avoiding dangerous climate change.

WWF-UKs chief executive Tanya Steele said: This is yet again a warning sign for governments, businesses and citizens to speed up the shift to a low-carbon economy.

From our coral reefs being bleached at an alarming rate, to glaciers melting, and the world facing the first mass extinction of wildlife since the dinosaurs, there are more and more danger signs that we are breaching the environmental limits of our planet.

The good news is that world leaders have recognised this and signed up to take decisive action in Paris at the end of 2015. And we have made progress in the UK: last year electricity generated by renewable sources, such as wind and solar, overtook coal.

But this is only the start  we need to drastically improve energy efficiency, switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy and change our consumption patterns.

And Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment in London, said: No world leader can afford to ignore these results, which show that people all over the globe are being exposed to increasing impacts of climate change.

Any politician who denies this evidence from world-class climate scientists will be wilfully turning a blind eye to rising risks that threaten the lives and livelihoods of their citizens.

The lowest maximum sea ice extent in the Arctic was recorded in March, and the minimum extent in September was the second lowest ever measured by satellites.

There is evidence of further destabilisation of the major ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica, and the global sea level is rising at a rate of about 3.4 centimetres per decade.

The likelihood of extreme weather, including heavy rainfall and heat waves, is increasing in many parts of the world.

He added that he hoped Mr Trump and his team will acknowledge and act on this important scientific information.
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Tories must loudly disown the climate science denial espoused by Donald Trump and similar sceptics in the UK or they could pay a price at the ballot box as the effects of global warming become clear, a think tank has warned.

In an article for The Independent, Sam Hall, of Bright Blue, which campaigns for liberal conservatism, warned the centre-right could be contaminated as the increasingly irrelevant ideas of sceptics are shown not to be true.

They also pointed to the economic opportunities presented by clean energy, particularly given the rapid falls in the cost of renewable electricity from solar and wind.

Mr Trumps election victory in the US has been hailed by leading British sceptic James Delingpole, a journalist, as the beginning of the end of the Green Blob.

However there has been cross-party support in the UK for taking steps to address climate change for many years in contrast to the situation in the US, where some right-wing Republicans engage in conspiracy theories about climate change being a plot to establish a world government.

Theresa May has sent mixed messages since becoming Prime Minister. One of her first acts was to abolish the Department for Energy and Climate Change, moving its responsibilities to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

But she appointed Greg Clark as Business Secretary and Nick Hurd as Climate Change Minister Nick Hurd and both are well regarded by the climate science community for their grasp of the issues.

Perhaps understandably distracted by the prospect of Brexit, Ms May herself has been noticeably quiet on the subject.

Mr Hall suggested this was a mistake, despite the limited influence of those who dismiss climate science.

There is no prospect of sceptics controlling the climate policy of the main right-of-centre party in the UK as they do in the US, he wrote in the article.

In the UK, they are few in number and lack any real hold over the Governments programme.

But their association with the conservative movement risks contaminating the centre-right brand.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

Conservatives should be loud about disowning the increasingly irrelevant ideas of these fringe elements.

If we do not, as the climate science and economic opportunities of clean energy become clearer, there could be an electoral price to pay.

Amid the disarray of liberal and left-wing politics in the UK, Green Blues as they are sometimes known are increasingly important to ensuring Britain remains at the forefront of efforts to reduce the effects of climate change.

Mr Hall said most people in the UK believe climate change is happening, including more than half of Conservative voters.

 Climate change: It's "game over" for planet earth

A recent YouGov poll found just nine per cent of the British public thought global warming was a deliberate hoax.

Last year was the warmest on record, Met Office and other experts confirmed, prompting one leading climatologist to warn it was getting tight to prevent dangerous global warming from taking place.

The average temperature for the year was 1.1C above pre-industrial levels  although boosted slightly by the natural El Nino weather effect. Climatologists generally believe storms, heatwaves and other harmful effects of climate change will become particularly dangerous after about 2C of warming.

Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell, a former International Development Secretary, told The Independent said he broadly agreed with Mr Hall.

But he insisted leading Tories had been speaking out on the issue.

I think we have been very vocal  look at what David Cameron has said and Theresa May has said on climate change, he said.

And Mr Mitchell doubted that the US would completely change course, even with Mr Trump as president.

The wonderful thing about America is the checks and balances which exist in the system, he said.

The evidence for climate change is so clear that it is unlikely that the general thrust of the policy will be obliterated by the nay-sayers around Donald Trump.

Rob Bailey, research director of the Energy, Environment and Resources Department at think tank Chatham House, said scientists were now able to demonstrate the links between climate change and extreme weather events like floods and heatwaves  and this appeared to be shifting public opinion.

Its becoming increasingly hard for climate sceptics to just dismiss extreme weather events by saying weve always had extreme weather, its nothing new, he said.

I think if mainstream Conservatives were to fall into the trap of pandering to climate sceptics narratives in the media that would be a political risk to them.

It would undermine their credibility as mainstream politicians.

The effects of global warming are already being felt with islands disappearing in the Pacific, the famously impassable Northwest Passage now free of ice, allowing cruise ships to sail through, and increased wildfires on the West Coast of the US just some examples of the effects.

This article has been edited to change 'neigh-sayers' to what Andrew Mitchell actually said, which was 'nay-sayers'
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The CIA is putting its secret history online, uploading millions of newly declassified documents.

The documents include previously unseen information about the agency's hunt for UFOs and its work on the "Star Gate" project, which tried to teach humans to become psychic and see through walls.

One document, for instance, describes that project in detail. It shows how the CIA recruited volunteers to go through a programme of training that would let people access information without any of the usual means, and which would be used as a weapon for which there is "no known defense".

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

The US spy agency will put up 12 million pages into its online "reading room", where people will be able to search through the documents.

The previously classified pages include private briefs given to presidents and the information that is passed between its operatives. They cover everything from the Cold War and Vietnam to relatively modern problems like terrorism.

Recommended Presidential aide says regret is not securing release of UFO files

That means that people can see its history from its formation until the early 90s, for now. None of that is selected, the agency claims, meaning that it shows some of the agency and the US government's most controversial episodes.

The CIA has to declassify records that are 25 years old, unless they are made exempt. That means that each year it releases a whole new set of documents.

But this year that has been accompanied by the first time that the documents have been made available online. Until now, the documents could only be read on four terminals inside the US National Archives, in their original format.
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Julian Assange will not hand himself in despite a promise to do so if Chelsea Manning was granted clemency, according to one of his lawyers.

WikiLeaks had pledged in a tweet that its founder would agree to be extradited to the US if Barack Obama granted clemency to Ms Manning, which he did in the final hours of his presidency. Mr Assange's lawyers initially seemed to suggest that promise would be carried through  telling reporters that he stood by his earlier comments  but it appears now that Mr Assange will stay inside the embassy.

The commitment to accept extradition to the US was based on Ms Manning being released immediately, Mr Assange's lawyer told The Hill. Ms Manning won't actually be released until May  to allow for a standard 120-day transition period, which gives people time to prepare and find somewhere to live, an official told The New York Times for its original report about Ms Manning's clemency.

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

Mr. Assange welcomes the announcement that Ms. Manning's sentence will be reduced and she will be released in May, but this is well short of what he sought, Barry Pollack, Assanges US-based attorney, told the site. Mr. Assange had called for Chelsea Manning to receive clemency and be released immediately.

The statement brings an end to a series of questions about whether or not Mr Assange would be leaving after Mr Obama's surprise announcement. News outlets including The Independent had taken Wikileaks' decision to re-state his commitment to honouring the pledge as an indication that he would accept extradition.

 Trump vs Clinton Like 'Cholera vs Gonorrhoea' - Assange at Green Party Convention

Julian Assange has been inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since summer 2012, refusing to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he is wanted on a rape allegation. He has said that he fears that if he leaves he will be extradited to the US on espionage charges.

It isn't actually clear whether or not Mr Assange faces extradition to the US. Authorities and Wikileaks lawyers have refused to state whether such an extradition has requested, but it may have been done privately or not at all.

White House officials said that neither Mr Assange's previous commitment nor any of his other activities had played a role in deciding to grant clemency to Ms Manning, according to the Associated Press. The Justice Department would consider any potential action in relation to Mr Assange separately from the White House, officials have said.
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Julian Assange is going to face extradition to the US and finally leave the Ecuadorian embassy, Wikileaks has indicated.

Update: since this story was posted, Mr Assange's lawyer has suggested that the clemency granted to Chelsea Manning is unsatisfactory and he will not accept extradition. An updated story can be found here.

Mr Assange promised last week that, if Barack Obama granted clemency to Chelsea Manning, he would hand himself in and go to the US to face a court case. The outgoing US president used his final hours to free the former soldier, who was jailed for handing over classified documents to Wikileaks.

Wikileaks had tweeted last week: "If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ (Department of Justice) case." At that time such a pardon was thought unlikely, but the Obama administration announced last night that it would let Ms Manning go free nearly 30 years early.

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall  and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

Melinda Taylor, a member of Mr Assange's legal team, insisted that those previous comments made about the implications of the Manning case still stand.

"Everything that he has said he's standing by," she said.

Recommended Julian Assange under pressure to hand himself over for extradition

It remains unclear how Mr Assange will hand himself in and when such an arrangement will happen. It's also not entirely clear that an extradition agreement is actually in place, despite the comments.

The Wikileaks Twitter account, which is thought to be controlled by Mr Assange, did not respond to further questions from reporters about whether his lawyers' comment meant that he would be extradited.

Mr Assange has been living at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since the summer of 2012. He argues that if he leaves he will be arrested in relation to allegations in Sweden, and then taken to the US.

He praised campaigners for their role in encouraging the Obama administration to grant clemency to Ms Manning.

"Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency," he said. "Your courage & determination made the impossible possible."

 Julian Assange questions Seth Rich death

Mr Assange was interviewed in the embassy in November in the presence of prosecutors from Sweden, where he faces a sex allegation. He denies the claims, but believes he faces extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy.

Wikileaks and Mr Assange had a central role in the election of Donald Trump. The organisation published private emails sent by and to Hillary Clinton's campaign manager in the days running up to the election, for instance.

Intelligence agencies have suggested those emails came from a hack by the Russian government, but Mr Assange denied they were from "state parties".

Some have even suggested that Mr Trump may choose to pardon or look favourably on Julian Assange if he returns to the US. The President-elect has approvingly quoted comments from Mr Assange  though Mr Trump later said that the tweets didn't indicate the two were "in agreement", just that people should "make up their own minds".
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A new type of three-person IVF has allowed a previously infertile couple to have a baby in a world first.

The baby boy was born in Ukraine using a technique known as pronuclear transfer, a method experts have called highly experimental.

Doctors in Kiev fertilised the mothers egg with the fathers sperm, and then placed the combined cells into an egg donated by a third woman.

The egg was then implanted into the womb of the 34-year-old mother, who gave birth naturally, Valery Zukin, who led the procedure, told The Independent.

The couple, who had been trying to conceive for over ten years, could not believe it, especially in the first weeks of pregnancy, he said.

Three-person IVF has previously been used to prevent babies from inheriting serious genetic disorders, but this is the first time it has been used to treat infertility.

The director of Kievs Nadiya clinic told The Times the technique could in future be used to help woman in their 40s give birth using their own eggs.

However, scientists have warned the treatment has not been scientifically tested and as such could be unsafe or give women false hope.

Dr Zukin said the treatment could help women who experience a condition known as embryo arrest, which affects around one in 150 IVF patients and causes embryos to stop growing before they can be implanted.

He shared a video on his Facebook page yesterday of an IVF fertilisation in progress, with congratulatory messages posted underneath by his contacts.

"Pronuclear transfer is highly experimental and has not been properly evaluated or scientifically proven, said Professor Adam Balen, chairman of the British Fertility Society, reported the BBC.

"We would be extremely cautious about adopting this approach to improve IVF outcomes."

The baby has inherited its genetic identity from its parents, with a tiny amount of DNA from the second woman. He was born on 5 January, the clinic announced yesterday.

In response to experts questioning the treatment's safety, Dr Zukin said: "They are partly right. But how we could confirm the safety if we will not do this?"

The couple had been trying to conceive for more than a decade with no success, despite having undergone four failed cycles of IVF.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) approved the use of three-person IVF to prevent genetic diseases in the UK last month in a historic decision giving the controversial new fertility method the final go-ahead.

Mothers meeting their newborn babies Show all 9 1 /9 Mothers meeting their newborn babies Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Mothers meeting their newborn babies

One in 200 children are born with faulty genes in their mitochondria, small structures inside cells that generate energy.

This can lead to a wide range of potentially fatal conditions affecting vital organs, muscles, vision, growth and mental ability.

The worlds first baby was born using the three-person IVF in Mexico last year.

The baby's mother, from Jordan, had Leigh syndrome  a potentially fatal disorder that affects the developing nervous system and would have been passed on in her mitochondrial DNA.

Dr John Zhang, of the New Hope Fertility Centre in New York, and his team took the nucleus from one of the mothers eggs, containing her DNA, and implanted it into a donor egg that had its nucleus removed but retained the donors healthy mitochondrial DNA.

Dr Zhang told the New Scientist that, as the technique has not yet been approved in the US, the team went to Mexico where there are no rules.

Commenting on the use of the method to treat infertility, Sarah Norcross, director of the Progress Educational Trust, called it "unorthodox" and said scepticism was necessary when assessing future implications.

'If this child appears healthy then that is good news, but we should be sceptical about the merits of mitochondrial donation when it is used as an unorthodox fertility treatment technique," she said.

"The UK has seen some very thorough reports on the safety and efficacy of mitochondrial donation, but these assessed risk only in relation to patients wishing to avoid transmitting mitochondrial disease to their children.

"And even then, it was thought prudent to permit the techniques only for judiciously selected patients."
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Becoming a mother for the first time at any age can be daunting but when you are technically still under the legal age of adulthood yourself, this can take on a whole new meaning.

Hayley Lugassy. 24, found out she was three months pregnant at 14 and gave birth to her son Byron at 15. Despite the assumption that a teenagers reaction to an unplanned pregnancy might be one one fuelled by anxiety, she was actually quite excited  which she now says was down to the fact she did not fully comprehend becoming a mother.

My reaction was probably very immature: Yes Im pregnant, thats fantastic, she told The Independent.  All I could think about was yay Im going to have a cute little thing Im going to look after and be a Mummy.

Her excitement was one she experienced alone. Her school in Spain, where she was living with her family, urged her to get an abortion and even sent her to a therapist who told her she was too young and not ready to have a child. Despite an appointment being booked, Ms Lugassy was determined she was going to keep the baby: I was almost forced to have an abortion but it was my body and nobody could force me.

The 20 best countries to raise a family Show all 20 1 /20 The 20 best countries to raise a family The 20 best countries to raise a family 20. Iceland These are the 20 best countries to raise children according to a Unicef report into child inequality, which measured inequality across income, education, health and life satisfaction in rich countries (Pic: Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik) Getty Images The 20 best countries to raise a family 19. Portugal (Pic: The Douro Valley vineyards) Getty The 20 best countries to raise a family 18. United States (Pic: New York) The 20 best countries to raise a family 14= United Kingdom (Pic: London) The 20 best countries to raise a family 14= Hungary (Pic: Budapest) The 20 best countries to raise a family 14= Greece (Pic: Athens) The 20 best countries to raise a family 14. Germany (Pic: Berlin) The 20 best countries to raise a family 13. Australia (Pic: Sydney) The 20 best countries to raise a family 12. Croatia (Pic: Dubrovnik on Croatia's Adriatic coast) The 20 best countries to raise a family 11. Czech Republic (Pic: Olomouc) The 20 best countries to raise a family 10. Latvia (Pic: Riga) The 20 best countries to raise a family 9. Slovenia (Pic: Ljubljana) The 20 best countries to raise a family 8. Estonia (Pic: Tallinn) The 20 best countries to raise a family 7. Ireland (Pic: Dublin) The 20 best countries to raise a family 6. Netherlands (Pic: Amsterdam) The 20 best countries to raise a family 5. Austria (Pic: Vienna) AFP/Getty Images The 20 best countries to raise a family 2= Switzerland (Pic: Rheinau) The 20 best countries to raise a family 2= Norway (Pic: Saebo) The 20 best countries to raise a family 2. Finland (Pic: Helsinki) The 20 best countries to raise a family 1. Denmark (Pic: Copenhagen)

When Byron was born is when the enormity of having a child hit home: I didnt know what to do. I just remember laying there with all these doctors and nurses around me and then they put this tiny baby onto my chest and I looked at it thinking, What is this and what do I do?... That first experience where it should have been a happy moment in my life was a very confusing one. I was terrified at that point, thats when it sunk in. When the midwife suggested Ms Lugassy feed Byron, she was so unsure of what she meant she asked where the bottle was.

Unsure of what to do and lacking in support, Ms Lugassy had to figure it out herself against the stigma of being a young mother (she had dropped out of school after refusing the abortion) which she says, shockingly, began in the hospital ward.

Hayley and Byron (Hayley Lugassy)

When I gave birth, a male nurse was telling me to push and said in Spanish: Well you were stupid enough to get pregnant, grow up and get on with it. I was so mad at how he was judging me especially as I was giving birth.

Ms Lugassy says she soon experienced an issue which she believes is common among teenage mothers: Loneliness.

I had no friends, within a few weeks I was just by myself. I was very emotional and upset and missed my family, a lot of whom were back in England.

While she no longer felt she fitted in with her own friends, she also distanced herself from other mothers who were mainly older than her, for fear of being judged and not fitting in with them.

Perhaps I could have had more support or made more friends but I felt so judged all the time and so insecure, I felt it was better for Byron and I to be alone by ourselves and to let nobody in in case they hurt us or were friends for a while and then left. It was very lonely, so I stuck to myself and built this little bubble and lived in it for a few years.

Ms Lugassy left Spain when Byron was two, and now aged 24, she has put herself through college to get GCSEs, moved to Colombia and back, met a husband and bought a home. She is now studying psychology at the open university and works in a school. She hopes to write a book on her experiences of being a teenage mother.

I could go on and on about suffering from depression as a young mother, the poverty weve experienced at times, the difficulties we faced and the amount of effort that has been required to get to where we are today [] Thats my job  to share my story in depth and show the world that the girl who was thought to never achieve much in life actually went on to do good things.

And for anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation, Ms Lugassy says you should ignore the judgemental comments and channel your energy into being a good mother and not letting having a baby as a teenager determine what you will go on to do in life.

Most people think if you fall pregnant young, youre never going to be any good, youre just going to be a mother, youre never going to go on to work in business, for example, and that is the biggest misconception. There are so many opportunities and ways to achieve things you just need to know how.
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HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver said trading operations that generate about 20 per cent of revenue for the lenders investment bank in London may move to Paris, quantifying some of the aftershocks for the UK after Brexit.

Activities specifically covered by EU legislation will move, and looking at our own numbers, thats about 20 per cent of revenue, Gulliver said in a Bloomberg Television interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with John Micklethwait. The bank confirmed that he was referring to the lenders global banking and markets operations in the UK capital.

Gulliver, who runs one of the worlds most globalised banks, praised Prime Minister Theresa Mays handling of Brexit so far and also said he doesnt expect a trade war to erupt between the US and China under incoming US President Donald Trump. Such an outcome could damage HSBC, given it makes most of its earnings in Asia. On Tuesday in Davos, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged business and political elites to reject protectionism in his first public rebuttal of Trumps rhetoric on trade.

A trade war would clearly be negative for us, Gulliver said. We are the biggest trade-finance bank in the world.

Gullivers remarks touched on hubs of world trade ranging from the US-Mexican border to Chinas Pearl River Delta. The Davos gathering has seen policy makers and chief executives address the growing populist backlash against globalization and elites that spurred both Trumps election in November and Britains vote to leave the EU in June.

Gulliver said HSBC will proceed quite slowly after May confirmed Tuesday that Britain will leave the European Unions single market. He repeated his pre-Brexit estimate that 1,000 jobs at the banks offices in London are involved with products covered by EU legislation, which probably need to move to France when the UK leaves the single market.

Some of our fellow bankers have to make decisions quickly if they dont have continental subsidiaries like CCF, the French commercial bank HSBC bought in the previous decade, he said.

Gullivers estimate of a 20 per cent Brexit revenue exodus from London matches that of Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam. In September, Thiam said as much as one-fifth of the volume in the banks London operations could be affected by the loss of EU passporting rights.

May set out her most explicit vision of Britains future relationship with the EU in a major speech on Tuesday, pledging a phased process for exiting the single market that would allow financial-services firms time to adjust. Gulliver said he expects the UK financial-services industry to quickly rebound.

Irrespective of Brexit, London will remain a global financial center, and the revenue impact of Brexit on financial services will be made good in two to three years time, Gulliver said. Although some derivative operations may need to move, other business areas such as bond and equity trading and underwriting will remain in the UK capital, he said.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

Gulliver said HSBC will especially monitor developments on work permits, given that his banks UK operations employ about 2,100 EU citizens in the UK and 1,300 more staff from outside the bloc.

The chief exec said his operating assumption was for the US and China to tweak rules on country of origin and dumping goods below fair market value, which would be manageable for HSBC. He said tougher trade barriers could balkanize global commerce, which would benefit Chinas relative strength in the Asia-Pacific region.

HSBC is in the middle of a program to redeploy as much as 122bn in assets to Asia and hire 4,000 people in the Pearl River Delta region around Hong Kong.

Gulliver said he was in Mexico last week and observed the concern about Trumps rhetoric on tougher tariffs and immigration restrictions. While HSBCs Mexican operations havent been as profitable as desired in recent years, Gulliver said he still expects Mexico to represent an important manufacturing hub for US business in the future.

Bloomberg
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The managing director of the International Monetary Fund said that she experienced a fierce backlash from leading economists when she first warned on the impact of rising equality some four years ago.

Christine Lagarde, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, said that her plenary speech in 2013, in which she warned of the rise of populism and the political fallout of rising inequality  both major themes of this years event in the Swiss Alpine resort  did not get much traction.

Well, I hope people will listen now, she said.

Why people didnt listen I dont know. I got strong backlash from economists in particular saying it was not really their business to worry about these things including in my own institution, which has now been very much converted to [focusing on] the importance of inequality and studying it and providing policies in response to that, Ms Lagarde said at the Bloomberg-hosted panel.

Wednesday's panel, which also featured economist Larry Summers, who was director of the National Economic Council for US President Barack Obama until November 2011, discussed the poor employment prospects and low-income growth in many developed economies and the rise in populism seen in the US and several EU nations.

The IMF chief said policymakers need to think about how to address the public discontent. She said that this means fiscal and structural reforms and also effective monetary policies, but it also includes redistributing wealth better.

We now probably have a very opportune time to put in place policies that we know will help [.] There is clearly a sense that when you have a real crisis, or when you have signals from voters who say no, it is really time to say, what policies do we have? What more can we do ? What measures can we take to reduce inequalities, Ms Lagarde said.

The 10 most deprived cities in the UK Show all 10 1 /10 The 10 most deprived cities in the UK The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 10. Rochdale The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 9. Birkenhead The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 8. Salford The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 7. Middlesbrough The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 6. Nottingham The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 5. Birmingham The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 4. Walsall The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 3. Liverpool The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 2. West Bromwich The 10 most deprived cities in the UK 1. Oldham

It needs to be granular, it needs to be regional, it needs to be focused on what will people get out of it. It probably includes more redistribution than we have in place at the moment, she added.

On concerns whether globalisation will take a hit due to the policies of incoming US President Donald Trump, she said: "We have very little by way of detailed information as to what the plan is if there is such thing as a plan."

For a report published ahead of its annual summit, the WEF surveyed 750 risk experts and found that rising income and wealth disparity, which already triggered political change in 2016, were cited as the most important trends in determining global developments over the next 10 years.
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Academics with an open imagination and childlike mind-set are being sought after by the University of Cambridge to fill one a crucial new role.

The Lego professor of play will lead the universitys newly established Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL), investigating how playtime helps with childhood development.

The role offers a competitive salary along with all the benefits that come with teaching at one of the worlds top ranking institutions.

Cambridge states the successful candidate will most likely be an academic who already specialises in education psychology and can think of new ways of doing research and work across different disciplines.

The position is to be funded by the Lego Foundation, which already has ties with PEDAL and has committed a total of 4m towards university research.

The Danish corporation works with researchers to establish the benefits of creative play within childhood learning and views play as a critical component of early childhood development.

Although Lego will have no influence over the new appointment, Bo Stjerne Thomsen, global head of research for the foundation, told The Guardian he hopes for an academic who is playful, extremely curious, open-minded, imaginative and creative  someone who can think of new ways of doing research and work across different disciplines.

What we want is to get the UK government to encourage more playful learning in schools, rather than testing, he added.

The skills you need now as an adult are collaboration, problem- solving and coming up with ideas. In that sense, play is critical.

You use your imagination to plan things, to predict outcomes, to understand how to solve a problem by looking at it from different perspectives.

Creative thinkers toying with the idea of applying must work quickly  the deadline for applications closes at the end of the day on Friday 20 January.
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Former US President George HW Bush has been admitted to hospital in Houston.

The 92-year-old was in a stable condition and "doing fine", his office chief of staff Jean Becker told CBS Houston.

The reason for Mr Bush's admission was not immediately made clear but he is expected to leave the Houston Methodist Hospital in a couple of days, Ms Becker said.

Recommended George HW Bush leaves hospital after receiving treatment for broken

Mr Bush, the oldest living former President, suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease that leaves him unable to walk unaided and uses a wheelchair or scooter to get around.

Although the illness has not stopped him celebrating his birthdays with parachute jumps, most recently for his 90th. His first jump was escaping his plane when it was shot down over the Pacific during the Second World War.

Mr Bush served as 41st President of the US between 1989 and 1993, having been Vice President under Ronald Reagan.

Previously the Director of Central Intelligence in the wake of the Watergate scandal, he led America's intervention against Iraq in the Gulf War and failed efforts to end the Somali civil war.

In pictures: George Bush library Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: George Bush library In pictures: George Bush library bush-library5_1.jpg AFP In pictures: George Bush library bush-library6.jpg AP In pictures: George Bush library bush-library8.jpg Getty Images In pictures: George Bush library bush-library10.jpg Reuters In pictures: George Bush library bush-library9.jpg AFP In pictures: George Bush library bush-library2_1.jpg AP In pictures: George Bush library bush-library3_1.jpg Reuters In pictures: George Bush library bush-library4_1.jpg Reuters In pictures: George Bush library bush-library11.jpg AP

The Republican's son, George W Bush, later took office in 2001.

Mr Bush Sr launched a scathing critique of his son's administration in a biography published in 2015, saying Dick Cheney had asserted too much "hard-line" influence alongside "real hard-charging guys who want to fight about everything, use force to get our way in the Middle East".

He was previously taken to hospital in July 2015 after breaking a bone in his neck while at his summer home in Maine.

Mr Bush was previously hospitalised twice in 2014 - once for seven weeks with pneumonia and again for breathing difficulties. Public appearances have been rare since he entered his 90s.
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Humans may have arrived in North America 10,000 years earlier than originally thought.

Researchers from the University of Montreal claim they have demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that humans settled in modern-day Canada as early as 22,000BC  much earlier than 14,000BC, as has previously been suggested.

Scientists made the discovery by carrying out radiocarbon dating on artefacts and animal bones found in the Bluefish Caves in Canada, close to the Alaska border. The site was excavated by the archaeologist Jacques Cinq-Mars between 1977 and 1987.

Recommended Baboon study suggests language began evolving 25 million years ago

In the latest experiment, researchers examined 36,000 bone fragments as part of a two-year project. They found undeniable traces of human activity on 15 bones. 20 other fragments showed probable traces of human involvement. The findings were published in the PLoS One journal.

"Series of straight, V-shaped lines on the surface of the bones were made by stone tools used to skin animals," said Professor Ariane Burke, who led the research in conjunction with her PhD student, Lauriane Bourgeon. These are indisputable cut-marks created by humans.

Our discovery confirms previous analyses and demonstrates that this is the earliest known site of human settlement in Canada," said Burke. It shows that Eastern Beringia was inhabited during the last ice age.

The bones were also sent for radiocarbon dating, which is used to estimate how old artefacts are. The oldest fragment, part of a horses jawbone, was found to be between 23,000 and 24,000 years old and showed marks from a stone tool that researchers believe was used to remove the animals tongue.

Humans are thought to have reached North America by crossing the Bering Strait from what is now Russia. The new proposed date is in the middle of the last ice age, when the sea could have been frozen over.

The scientists said their findings support the theory a small tribe of humans lived in isolation in the Beringia region of north-western Canada and north-eastern Russia for thousands of years. During the ice age, the area was separated from the rest of the American continent by huge glaciers too difficult to cross.

Thousands of years later, when the ice thawed, the tribe was able to travel west and south  eventually colonising the whole continent all the way down to South America.
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Charities, campaigners and human rights activists have accused Theresa May of using EU nationals as a "bargaining chip" for Brexit negotiations after she refused to guarantee their right to remain in the UK.

Matt Carr, organiser of 1 Day Without Us, a national day of action to celebrate migrant contributions, told The Independent Ms May made a deliberate political choice not to guarantee EU citizens rights.

This encouraged the vilification of European nationals as the enemy, usurpers and parasites, he said.

In a keynote speech outlining the Government's Brexit negotiation strategy, the Prime Minister said it was "right and fair" to guarantee the rights of EU citizens, but stopped short of offering any assurances.

It adds to months of growing uncertainty and worry for more than 3 million EU citizens living in Britain, who have failed to receive any guarantees of their right to remain in the country after it leaves Europe.

Many had hoped the Prime Minister would seek to reassure EU nationals in the speech.

But her lack of clarity led to an outcry of anger from a collective of Britains leading migrant charities and campaign groups.

So how can you push for the rights of EU nationals living in the UK to remain on the agenda?

Join a movement supporting EU nationals

Mr Carr told The Independent many people were desperate to do something to reverse this poisonous current of vilifying foreigners, and to speak out in support of migrant contributions to British society.

The3million was founded by a group of French people in the wake of Brexit to preserve what they saw as their right to remain in the UK.

Spearheaded by Nicolas Hatton, a Frenchman who has lived in the UK for 21 years, the group is lobbying politicians and Government to push for the rights of EU citizens to remain on the agenda. It also works with businesses and local communities to encourage the wider population to pledge support to EU nationals.

Recommended EU nationals applying for permanent UK residency has tripled

Write to your MP

MPs have the platform to bring community voices into Parliament so continued pressure from constituents can make a real difference. Find your MP's contact details here and encourage them to pledge their support to the UK's EU nationals.

Participate in a protest

On 20 February, the3million and New Europeans are holding a mass lobby in Parliament. They are calling for protesters to come to Westminster and call on MPs to press for unilateral action by the UK government to guarantee the rights of residence for Britains EU citizens before Article 50 is triggered. You can find the event information here.

It has been timed to coincide with 1 Day Without Uss National Day of Action as part of the UN World Day of Social Justice. The group is calling on migrants from inside and outside the EU, and everyone who supports them, to celebrate the contribution they make by wearing badges, posting selfies, holding mini-rallies or five-minute silences.

On 25 March, Unite for Europe is holding a national march to Parliament to protest the Brexit result.

Lobby your employer

In 2015, a Government report found businesses who employed migrant workers saw significant improvements in performance and productivity, with a larger talent pool producing more varied skillsets and creative ideas.

Many employers recognise the vital importance of migrant contributions to the British workforce. Call on business leaders to show their support for EU nationals by asking them to write to their MP, pledge their solidarity to their migrant workforce and by highlighting their contribution to the business.

Sign a petition

There are plenty of petitions to choose from on Change.org, 38 Degrees and on Parliament's petition website. All call on the Prime Minister to guarantee EU nationals right to remain in the UK after Brexit.

Alternatively, create your own.

If a petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the Government will respond.
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A new surge in hate crime could be sparked by triggering the Article 50 process which formally begins Brexit, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned.

The organisation's chairman, David Isaac, told the Commons Women and Equalities Committee he was hugely concerned the move would cause a backlash against EU citizens in the UK.

He said: We are hugely concerned about what might happen in relation to an increase in hate crime when Article 50 is triggered.

And so, to give you examples of what we are seeking to do, we are meeting with groups, we are seeking to insure that there is as much police protection and understanding in relation to hate crimes as is possible.

And, I think, given our role, I believe, we are uniquely placed to be doing all of this at a time when Britain needs guidance in relation to huge anxiety that resides, not just in relation to non-UK citizens and our visitors, but actually many of our own citizens.

The commission chairman said the EU referendum saw a marked increase in hate crime earlier this year.

One of the things that concerns us greatly is the position in relation to the spike in hate crimes since June 23. I've met with the Polish ambassador, my opposite number in Poland, because of the large number of attacks against the Polish community, but I am also in touch with various other groups, he said.

The Supreme Court is set to announce its landmark ruling on whether Prime Minister Theresa May, or Parliament, has the final say on when Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which begins the two year exit negotiations, is invoked.

Ms May has stated she wants to see Article 50 triggered by the end of March.

On Tuesday she outlined her 12 objectives for Brexit which included continued cooperation with EU countries on crime, as well as anti-terror and defence policy.

PA
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Britain First leader Paul Golding has warned MPs and journalists will meet their "miserable ends at the hands of the movement".

In a video released a week after he was released from prison, the far-right leader threatens to "confront and oppose every traitor in this country."

Mr Golding was jailed for eight weeks after breaching a High Court ban and entering a mosque.

To a backdrop of images of Prime Minister Theresa May, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr Golding says: "All the politicians, all the journalists who have spent their careers undermining our nation, you will succumb to this movement eventually."

Britain First controversies Show all 8 1 /8 Britain First controversies Britain First controversies 20 November 2014: Britain First claims credit for success of Ukip campaign With the Tory defector Mark Reckless forecast to win the hotly-contested by-election in Rochester and Strood, Britain First suggested they only campaigned to bolster the Ukip campaign. Prior to the start of the vote some bookmakers had Nigel Farages party as huge 1/100 favourites to take the seat, which would make Mr Reckless their second MP at the expense of the Conservative Party. And with things going so smoothly for Ukip, the far right-wing group Britain First has tried to claim some of the credit Britain First controversies 5 November 2014: Britain First accused of hijacking the poppy as Remembrance Day approaches to promote its own agenda The far-right group used the symbol, which is a registered trademark of the Royal British Legion, on its website masthead and in Facebook posts driving more people to its page. It is seen alongside Britain Firsts logo telling people to take our country back and crudely superimposed into the centre of the European Union flag with a message about national sovereignty. Members of opposition group Exposing Britain First believe many Facebook users are sharing poppy posts without realising who it comes from or what they stand for Britain First controversies 28 October 2014: Britain First accuses Ukip of 'playing political game' with snub over Rochester photo Britain First accused Ukip of playing the political game after Nigel Farages party reprimanded its campaigners for posing for a picture with members of the far-right group. A spokesperson for Ukip said the picture, taken while both parties were campaigning for the Rochester by-election on Saturday, was a mistake would not happen again Britain First controversies 25 October 2014: Britain First starts 'direct action' on Mail and Sun journalists over Lynda Bellingham post Britain First encouraged its followers to boycott the Daily Mail and The Sun after it was accused of using actress Lynda Bellingham's death to boost support. The party has threatened to launch "direct action" on the journalists after they said that the group used the cancer victim's death as a way to gain more attention on social media. Britain First posted a photograph to their Facebook subscribers of Mrs Bellingham with co-star Christopher Timothy, above the caption: "RIP actress Lynda Bellingham. Britain First", which garnered more than 6,000 'likes' and 500 shares Britain First controversies 28 July 2014: Britain First founder Jim Dowson quits over mosque invasions and 'racists and extremists' The founder of Britain First resigned from the far-right group over its provocative and counterproductive mosque invasions. James Jim Dowson, a former British National Party (BNP) member and anti-abortion campaigner, announced his departure on 27 July 2014. While Britain First blamed media pressure and family issues for the decision and said he would be missed enormously in a saccharine post, Mr Dowson publicly shamed the groups tactics as unacceptable and unchristian Britain First/Facebook Britain First controversies 15 July 2014: Britain First 'battalion' invades mosque demanding removal of 'sexist' entrance signs A self-styled battalion of the far-right group Britain First invaded a mosque in south London. The stated aim of the altercation was to demand the removal of sexist signs outside the Crayford Mosque. The signs designate separate entrances for men and women, so they can enter for segregated worship as is the custom in most mosques. Men and women also sit apart in Orthodox Jewish synagogues and some Sikh gurdwaras. A film of the encounter was posted on Facebook, set to dramatic drumming music and ending with the slogan: "Britain First Defence Force. No fear. No retreat. No surrender." Britain First/Facebook Britain First controversies 27 June 2014: Britain First's Facebook page taken down for 'hate speech' Britain Firsts Facebook page was taken down for hate speech  only to be restored again an hour later. Facebook claimed the extremist groups page was taken down by mistake but a screenshot posted by anti-fascist campaigners Hope Not Hate seemed to show the social media site had removed Britain First in response to a complaint. With almost 500,000 likes Britain Firsts page has a following that far outstrips the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats, arguably making it the UK's biggest political site Britain First controversies 27 April 2014: Inquiry over far-right Britain First party's use of Lee Rigby slogan on voting slip The election watchdog faced an inquiry over its decision to allow a far-right party to use a slogan referencing the murdered soldier Lee Rigby. The Electoral Commission apologised for allowing Britain First to use the description Remember Lee Rigby on voting slips for next months European elections but Jenny Watson, the chair of the commission, said on Sunday that an immediate and full independent investigation would follow to prevent this from ever happening again PA

He adds: "I can promise you, from the very depths of my being, you will all meet your miserable ends at the hands of the Britain First movement. Every last one of you."

Mr Golding also makes the claim he was put in prison by a "corrupt left-wing establishment" in the hopes it would "moderate" his behaviour.

The anti-fascism charity Hope not Hate said Mr Golding's words must be taken very seriously.

Mr Golding was given an eight-week jail sentence after an injunction was requested by Bedfordshire Police following a series of mosque invasions in which the far-right group filmed themselves going into mosques to confront imams or worshippers.

Last year, Britain First's co-leader Jayda Fransen was found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment after shouting abuse at a Muslim woman wearing a hijab.

She was fined nearly 2,000 for wearing a political uniform and shouting at the woman during one of the group's "Christian patrols".
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Disabled travellers have won a partial victory at the Supreme Court in their battle for priority use of wheelchair spaces on buses.

The case was triggered when a wheelchair user from West Yorkshire attempted to board a bus operated by FirstGroup, which had a sign saying: Please give up this space if needed for a wheelchair user.

Doug Paulley was left at the stop because a woman with a sleeping baby in a pushchair refused to move out of the designated area when asked by the bus driver, saying the buggy would not fold.

FirstGroup has a policy of requesting but not requiring non-disabled travellers, including those with babies and pushchairs, to vacate the space if it is needed by a wheelchair user.

Following the incident, a judge at Leeds County Court ruled that bus companies were not legally required to compel parents to move their childrens buggies to make way for wheelchair users, and that the proper remedy for wheelchair users to get improvements in such cases is to ask Parliament.

But a judge at Leeds County Court has now ruled that the policy breached FirstGroup's duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.

Lord Neuberger, the Supreme Courts president, explained that Mr Paulleys appeal was being allowed, but only to the limited extent that FirstGroup's policy requiring a driver to simply request a non-wheelchair user to vacate the space without taking any further steps was unjustified.
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Police arrested two people and searched a house in Northamptonshire over claims of fraud related to Pippa Middleton.

A 36-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were arrested in Wellingborough on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud and possession of false identity documents with improper intent.

The arrests relate to an investigation that was opened last year after claims the Duchess of Cambridge's sister had been the victim of a hacking attack.

The hacker reportedly gained access to her iCloud account and allegedly attempted to sell thousands of stolen images to a national newspaper.

The photographs were believed to have included images of her sisters children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

A Met Police spokesperson declined to comment on whether the arrests had been made in connection to the alleged hacking.

The man and woman were taken into custody at a south London police station and have since been bailed to return to the police station on a date in mid-March, a spokesperson said.
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A top UK university failed in its duty of care towards a student who was violently assaulted by her staff lecturer, a formal inquiry has concluded, following an investigation by The Independent.

Allison Smith, 24, has spoken of her relief after receiving a formal apology from the University of Sussex for not taking her domestic abuse case seriously.

The former postgraduate student was knocked out, stamped on and had salt poured into her eyes and ears by Dr Lee Salter, a media and communications lecturer at Sussex University.

The institution came under fire for its decision to allow Salter to continue in his teaching position for another 10 months after his arrest, and later commissioned a review into its own actions following pressure from the media and public.

Recommended Lecturer allowed to carry on teaching after beating student girlfriend

In a damning report, independent investigator Professor Nicole Westmarland said Sussex University only began to consider disciplinary action after The Independent had reported on the case, and criticised Sussex for failing to abide by its own safeguarding policies.

Prof Westmarland, who is director of the Durham Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse at Durham University, criticised the HR department in particular for prioritising the protection of the attacker and university reputation over student safety.

It was also highlighted that the only person interviewed during an internal assessment of what dangers Salter might pose was Salter himself.

Salter was convicted of assault by beating and causing criminal damage to property at Brighton Magistrates Court on 13 July 2016.

He was given a 22-week suspended sentence, fined 2,765 and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Salter threw a container of salt at Ms Smiths face, the court heard, chipping her tooth and causing her nose to bleed (Allison Smith)

Ms Smith was left with bruises to her side after she was stamped on (Allison Smith)

When The Independent raised questions following the trial, the university said Salter remained an employee. He resigned from his post in August on the same day the news was published.

New Vice Chancellor Adam Tickell has since apologised on behalf of the university, for what he called an inadequate response to the incident.

Following the publication of the review, Ms Smith told The Independent: Im incredibly relieved and grateful for the support Ive received since the case became public and so pleased that weve contributed towards a very important change that will make students safer as a result.

This just goes to show how important it is to continue the conversation about domestic violence  Id encourage victims to speak out about their experiences.

She added: That feeling of not being believed at the start, of being silenced and feeling very isolated and alone was the most difficult thing Ive ever faced in my life.

So for [the university] to come forward and to say we completely got this wrong ... that is healing for me.

Ms Smith described the extreme physical and emotional trauma she had experienced during a year-long relationship with the senior member of staff.

Following the attack, she sought guidance from student support officers, but said she received no response from the university itself.

The countries with anti-women laws Show all 5 1 /5 The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws

Counsellors who supported Ms Smith through the trial said the university had displayed a concerning lack of care for the safety and welfare of its students.

In her review, Prof Westmarland noted that Salter should have been suspended under the universitys own policy on the Prevention and Management of Violence, and that failing to do so had the (likely unintended) consequence of implying domestic violence is not as serious as other forms of violence.

Managers failed to recognise that the way the senior lecturer acted towards them as male managers was not necessarily the way that he interacted with those with less power, including students, early career academics, and some administrators, she added, noting that other students had voiced concerns about Salters continued presence on campus.

Speaking to The Independent following the publication of the report, Prof Westmarland said it was mostly ignorance at university managerial level that had led to a failure of care.

She added that several other students had come forward during her inquiry to speak about sexual harassment on campus that they felt had not been taken seriously  an issue the professor said was by no means unique to Sussex.

Dr Lee Salter was found guilty of assault by beating and sentenced to 22 weeks in prison in July last year (dialecticalfilms/Youtube)

Assessment of feedback from other students about Salters teaching was deemed at best irrelevant and at worst inappropriate, allowing the university to cast aside Salters violent behaviour as out of character.

The university also failed to communicate with Ms Smith and external organisations involved in supporting her after the attack, the report stated, creating additional and unnecessary stress.

There existed a complete wall of silence regarding the basic actions the University was taking or the policies it was following [Causing Ms Smith to] doubt whether her complaint was being taken seriously and whether she was being believed.

Professor Westmarland made 11 recommendations, including making a public apology to Ms Smith and improving its safeguarding policies and procedures  changes that the university says are already underway.

She said: The case should act as a warning to other universities to get their houses in order not just in relation to staff as well as students but also in relation to partner violence generally  many are treating sexual violence as a standalone problem unconnected to other forms of violence, abuse and harassment.

The new Vice Chancellor added: I am very sorry for the failings identified in Prof Westmarlands report. I am grateful to Allison for taking part in the review. We will continue to offer her whatever support she needs.

Gail Gray, chief executive of RISE, the specialist domestic abuse service that supported Ms Smith throughout the trial, said the charity welcomed the comprehensive and significant report, but most importantly Sussex Universitys apology to Lee Salters victim.

She added: RISE is looking forward to working with staff and students at Sussex university and other partners to implement the report findings.

We hope that other universities will also use the Sussex experience and the recommendations in this report to improve safety and support for students experiencing domestic and sexual violence.
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Boris Johnson has accused the EU of considering Nazi-style punishment beatings on Britain in revenge for Brexit.

The Foreign Secretary appeared to liken French president Francois Hollande to a Second World War German general, in the fallout from Theresa Mays plan for leaving the EU.

Speaking in India, Mr Johnson said: If Mr Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape [the EU], in the manner of some World War Two movie, I dont think that is the way forward, and its not in the interests of our friends and partners.

It seems absolutely incredible to me that, in the 21st century, member states of the EU should be seriously contemplating the reintroduction of tariffs or whatever to administer punishment to the UK.

The comments brought to mind images of famous war films, such as The Great Escape, The Colditz Story and Bridge On The River Kwai, in which British soldiers are abused by Germans, or the Japanese.

Mr Johnson's comments follow similar remarks made by David Davis earlier.

Asked whether the government was ready for potentially tense negotiations with EU leaders, Mr Davis also invoked the Second World War.

"If our civil service can cope with World War Two, they can easily cope with this," he told ITV.

Mr Hollande has not responded to the speech the Prime Minister gave yesterday, in which she threatened to walk away with no trade deal if the EU refuses her demands.

However, last October, he warned that Britain must pay a price if it leaves the EU  reflecting the widespread view across the Channel.

Mr Hollande said: There must be a threat, there must be a risk, there must be a price, otherwise we will be in negotiations that will not end well and, inevitably, will have economic and human consequences.

Mr Johnsons extraordinary comments in India came as he argued Britain could start work on new trade deals on the back of an envelope.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

The Government has said it recognises that it cannot begin negotiating fresh trading agreements until it is no longer an EU member, probably in 2019.

But Mr Johnson said: We need to turbo-charge this relationship with a new free trade deal, such as we will shortly be able to do.

We can't negotiate it now, but we can sketch it out in pencil on the back of an envelope.

The Foreign Secretary also appeared to point to a possible benefit of falling back on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules  despite the fears of most of British business.

Pointing out that Britain is an enormous market for German cars, Mr Johnson said: These things cut both ways.

You can put a 10 per cent tariff on 820,000 cars, Mercs. Thats a lot of money for the Exchequer.

We think we can do a great free trade deal for the benefit of both sides. The more trade, the more jobs on both sides.

Mr Johnson has also claimed countries around the world are eager to strike trade deals with Britain, writing in a newspaper column: They are already queuing up.

The Prime Minister's official spokeswoman: "He (the Foreign Secretary) was in no way suggesting anyone was a Nazi."
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Boris Johnson has said Britain can start "pencilling" in new trade deals on the "back of an envelope" despite still being an EU member.

Speaking during a visit to India, Mr Johnson told business leaders he wanted the UK to cut a fresh agreement with the country.

"We need to turbo charge this relationship with a new free trade deal, such as we will shortly be able to do. We can't negotiate it now, but we can sketch it out in pencil on the back of an envelope," he said.

He said it wasn't on the UK's agenda to "weaken or undermine" Europe after the Prime Minister was perceived as warning Brussels not to punish Britain over Brexit.

Insisting that there are numerous countries around the world "queuing up" to sign free trade deals with the UK, the Foreign Secretary said the UK would also rely on a strong Europe.

It follows Theresa May's comments that it would be "an act of calamitous self-harm" if the European Union attempted to make an example of Britain to dissuade other countries leaving the bloc.

 Pound surges after Theresa May's Brexit speech

Her threat to walk away from a bad deal on trade with the single market came after Chancellor Philip Hammond said the UK could "change the basis of (its) economic model" if refused access.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson acknowledged that the UK wanted "bold and ambitious" agreement for access, but stressed that the coming negotiations had other important objectives.

He said: "We want to build a new European partnership that goes beyond free trade, and develops the co-operation in so many fields that matter to both sides of the Channel - on European security, defence and foreign policy.

"We want a new and equal partnership that strengthens the EU and the UK, and we are emphatic on one key point: that it is no part of the UK agenda to weaken or undermine the EU."

What experts have said about Brexit Show all 11 1 /11 What experts have said about Brexit What experts have said about Brexit Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond The Chancellor claims London can still be a world financial hub despite Brexit One of Britains great strengths is the ability to offer and aggregate all of the services the global financial services industry needs This has not changed as a result of the EU referendum and I will do everything I can to ensure the City of London retains its position as the worlds leading international financial centre. Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Yanis Varoufakis Greece's former finance minister compared the UK relations with the EU bloc with a well-known song by the Eagles: You can check out any time you like, as the Hotel California song says, but you can't really leave. The proof is Theresa May has not even dared to trigger Article 50. It's like Harrison Ford going into Indiana Jones' castle and the path behind him fragmenting. You can get in, but getting out is not at all clear Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Michael OLeary Ryanair boss says UK will be screwed by EU in Brexit trade deals: I have no faith in the politicians in London going on about how the world will want to trade with us. The world will want to screw you  that's what happens in trade talks, he said. They have no interest in giving the UK a deal on trade Getty What experts have said about Brexit Tim Martin JD Wetherspoon's chairman has said claims that the UK would see serious economic consequences from a Brexit vote were "lurid" and wrong: We were told it would be Armageddon from the OECD, from the IMF, David Cameron, the chancellor and President Obama who were predicting locusts in the fields and tidal waves in the North Sea" PA What experts have said about Brexit Mark Carney Governor of Bank of England is 'serene' about Bank of England's Brexit stance: I am absolutely serene about the  judgments made both by the MPC and the FPC Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Christine Lagarde IMF chief urges quick Brexit to reduce economic uncertainty: We want to see clarity sooner rather than later because we think that a lack of clarity feeds uncertainty, which itself undermines investment appetites and decision making Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Inga Beale Lloyds chief executive says Brexit is a major issue: "Clearly the UK's referendum on its EU membership is a major issue for us to deal with and we are now focusing our attention on having in place the plans that will ensure Lloyd's continues trading across Europe EPA What experts have said about Brexit Colm Kelleher President of US bank Morgan Stanley says City of London will suffer as result of the EU referendum: I do believe, and I said prior to the referendum, that the City of London will suffer as result of Brexit. The issue is how much What experts have said about Brexit Richard Branson Virgin founder believes we've lost a THIRD of our value because of Brexit and cancelled a deal worth 3,000 jobs: We're not any worse than anybody else, but I suspect we've lost a third of our value which is dreadful for people in the workplace.' He continued: "We were about to do a very big deal, we cancelled that deal, that would have involved 3,000 jobs, and thats happening all over the country" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Barack Obama US President believes Britain was wrong to vote to leave the EU: "It is absolutely true that I believed pre-Brexit vote and continue to believe post-Brexit vote that the world benefited enormously from the United Kingdom's participation in the EU. We are fully supportive of a process that is as little disruptive as possible so that people around the world can continue to benefit from economic growth" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Kristin Forbes American economist and an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England argues that the economy had been less stormy than many expected following the shock referendum result: For nowthe economy is experiencing some chop, but no tsunami. The adverse winds could quickly pick up  and merit a stronger policy response. But recently they have shifted to a more favourable direction Getty

Mr Johnson said the UK will "continue to share European values", including a mutual interest in tourism, scientific research and educational programmes.

Meanwhile Britain will not be "slamming the door to migrants" and will remain open to "talent" from the EU, he added.

Mrs May delivered her long-awaited speech on Brexit under the buzz phrase "Global Britain" and stressed her plan would allow the country to be "more outward looking than ever before".

 Tim Farron and Jeremy Corbyn react to Theresa May's Brexit proposals

Mr Johnson suggested there was already a high demand for trade deals with the UK from countries around the world, although they will have to wait until the end of Article 50 negotiations in 2019.

"They are already queuing up," Mr Johnson wrote.

"Under EU rules, we are not formally allowed to negotiate these new treaties until we leave. But there is nothing to say that ideas cannot be pencilled in."
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The EU has already won the first round of the Brexit battle by forcing Britain out of the single market, Theresa May has been warned.

Sir Andrew Cahn, a former UK single market adviser, also poured cold water on hopes of a smooth exit, predicting a bitter divorce at potential huge economic cost.

The Prime Minister was adopting a have cake and eat it strategy  although, unlike Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, she was too tactful to put it like that.

Sir Andrew pointed out that the Treasury had forecast a 7.5 per cent slump in GDP if Britain crashes out of the EU with no fresh trade deal  falling back on World Trade Organisation tariffs.

On Ms Mays threat to walk away with no deal if the EU refuses her demands, he said: It is quite a risk to take.

Britain had some levers to pull, because it is a large market for EU countries, but he said: She is playing a weak negotiating hand as well as she can.

And he added: The EU side, after all, in a way, have already won the first round of this negotiation because they have forced the UK to say no, we wont be in the single market.

Ideally, we would have stayed in on our own terms.

Their next line will be to say you sign the exit cheque first and then we will start negotiating  thats a real challenge.

Michel Barnier, the European Commission chief negotiator, has said the UK must agree the fee for outstanding liabilities of up to 50bn.

Sir Andrew, the former chief executive of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), agreed it was in the EUs own interests to reach a new trading agreement, but warned that would take years.

And he said: Its a bit like a divorce  its a bitter divorce and both sides know that the win-win would be to have an agreement.

But the reality is, the bitterness is such  the political red lines are such  that, when we go to court, it could end up being lose-lose.

The warning was in stark contrast to Ms Mays bullish prediction that a trade agreement can be easily reached, because it is in both sides interests.

In her speech, she said: I know there are some voices calling for a punitive deal that punishes Britain and discourages other countries from taking the same path.

That would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe. And it would not be the act of a friend.

The Prime Minister insisted this scenario need never arise, saying: I am sure a positive agreement can be reached.

Sir Andrew, who advised on setting up the single market in the 1980s, also warned of the difficulties of negotiating a trade deal with Donald Trump.

The implacable truth of trade deal negotiations is that if you want something, you have to pay for it.

The smaller negotiating partner pays more and gives more than the larger negotiating partner  and it takes a long time, five to 10 years.
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Brexit Secretary David Davis has said he made 1,000 by betting on the UK leaving the European Union.

Mr Davis joked that the money was still paying drinks bills at his Department for Exiting the EU.

He was being questioned about a poll which suggested voters did not trust the so-called "three Brexiteers" - Mr Davis, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox.

Recommended Boris Johnson attacks French President using Nazi comparison

Mr Davis told LBC radio: "Polls are not that reliable.

"I was in this studio on referendum day with Iain Dale, referendum night, and the polls at that point were telling us there's going to be a 10-point advantage to Remain.

"So I put some money on, and it's still paying my office's drinks bills.

"I made a grand."

Earlier, the Brexit minister admitted Britain may not have fully freed itself from all European Union rules until 2021.

Mr Davis said he was "very determined' to agree a divorce deal with Brussels and a new trading relationship within the two-year negotiating process set out by Article 50 of the EU treaties.

One of the first stages of the negotiation, which Theresa May has promised to begin by April, will be to sign the EU up to the UK's proposed timetable, he said.

But on Tuesday, the Prime Minister acknowledged in a major speech there may have to be an "implementation period" to allow for adjustment to new post-Brexit rules after they are agreed, which Mr Davis said could take a further two years.

 David Davis: 'Why on earth can it go wrong?'

He insisted Britain is not "supplicant" to any EU insistence that the timetable should be longer and would be seeking to conclude a deal in two years before the implementation phase begins.

On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he went on: "At the end of two years, we will have our deals, what may take a little longer is implementation.

"I don't know, whether it's customs arrangements or it's a time for companies to accommodate things, or whether it's border arrangements, or some other elements.

"And we've said we accept that there may be an implementation phase thereafter.

"It won't be a long time...a year or two."

Mrs May confirmed she wants to take Britain out of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and restore control over immigration.

She gave her strongest hint yet that the UK could leave the European customs union (CU), stating she wanted to ensure "frictionless" cross-border trade.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

But she said she had an "open mind" on whether that should be done through associate membership or a completely new customs agreement.

Declaring "no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain", Mrs May repeated Chancellor Philip Hammond's warning that if Europe is refused easy access to the single market, the UK could "change the basis of (its) economic model".

That could mean Britain effectively becoming a low-tax, low-regulation haven like Singapore off the shore of Europe, competing for business and investment with its former partners.

European Council president Donald Tusk said the remaining 27 members were "united and ready to negotiate" while the European parliament's chief negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, said the "days of UK cherry-picking and Europe a la carte are over".

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned she would turn the UK into a "low corporate taxation, bargain basement economy" if the EU did not give her everything she wanted.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "Theresa May has confirmed Britain is heading for a hard Brexit.

"She claimed people voted to leave the single market. They didn't. She has made the choice to do massive damage to the British economy."

Press Association
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German Chancellor Angela Merkels senior adviser has warned that Theresa Mays proposed Brexit plan is impossible.

Ms May used a speech on Tuesday to tell international leaders that she would take the UK out of the single market, but still wanted to negotiate access to it.

Yet German politician Michael Fuchs said the Conservative's plan was "not possible" because "you can't eat a cake without paying for it".

The Prime Minister has said the UK is prepared to default to World Trade Organisation rules if the EU does not cut a favourable agreement for Britain during Brexit negotiations, claiming: no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal.

But Mr Fuchs told Sky News: "I did not really get it out of this speech that she wants to give up something.

"It was a little bit like cherry picking. So to speak: you cant eat a cake without paying for it."

Responding to Ms May's speech, Ms Merkel cautiously welcomed the fact that London had accepted that free movement of EU citizens was not something it could opt out of without losing other EU rights.

"There cannot be any cherry picking by Britain in Brexit negotiations," she told an economic conference, adding that access to the bloc's single market was ultimately linked to accepting the EU's four freedoms - of movement of goods, capital, people and services.

"The speech made by British Prime Minister Theresa May has given us a clear impression of how Great Britain wants to proceed.

"The main thing is that Europe does not let itself be divided and we will make sure of that via very intensive dialogue," she added.

Ms May had suggested Britain would prefer to retain a form of "associate membership" of the union, which would limit red tape for businesses who export to continental Europe

 Theresa May's Brexit speech - five key points

Mr Fuchs added: "Look at the situation with Switzerland and Norway, at the moment they pay quite a lot money  actually, more than the UK per capita  to the EU and Britain doesnt want to do anything. I think this is not possible.

We have four freedoms and this is not negotiable  if you have one of them and you dont want it, it is not possible because I call it cherry picking.

The German economic adviser is the latest to discredit the proposals, which have been branded unrealistic by European leaders and business chiefs alike.

Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Show all 13 1 /13 Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Supreme Court Brexit Challenge People wait to enter the public gallery outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Gina Miller, co-founder of investment fund SCM Private arrives at the Supreme court in London on the first day of a four-day hearing Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waves the EU flag in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Satirical artist Kaya Mar poses with two of his paintings in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin. The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Businesswoman Gina Miller arrives at the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Attorney General Jeremy Wright arrives at the Supreme Court in London EPA Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Protesters outside the Supreme Court in London, where the Government is appealing against a ruling that the Prime Minister must seek MPs' approval to trigger the process of taking Britain out of the European Union PA wire Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protesters wearing a judge's wigs and robes stands outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protester holds up a placard outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waiting to enter the public gallery waves a European Union flag outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters

The European Parliament's appointee to lead Brexit negotiations said on Tuesday Ms May was creating an "illusion" with her Brexit proposals.

Guy Verhofstadt, a former Prime Minister of Belgium, said: I think it creates an illusion that you can go out of the single market and the customs union and you can cherry pick and still have a number of advantages, Mr Verhofstadt said.

I think this will not happen. We shall never accept a situation in which it is better to be outside the single market than be a member of the European union."

He added: If you want the advantages you of a single market and customs union, you have to take the obligations."
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Theresa May has signalled she is willing to drag Britain through the hardest of Brexits, risking the loss of billions of pounds and plummeting GDP, if both Brussels and the UKs Parliament fail to give her what she wants.

In an act of brinkmanship, the Prime Minister warned she will walk away from EU withdrawal talks without a future trade agreement if other countries try to impose a "bad deal".

She agreed to give British MPs a vote on any terms she does agree, but her office then said that if the House of Commons dares to reject them, the UK would still leave the EU, most likely without any other agreement in place.

Ms May deployed the threats despite the Treasurys own estimations having previously suggested quitting the EU without a new arrangement could strip 66bn from the national income, with GDP dropping by up to 9.5 per cent.

She also confirmed that Britain will leave the EUs single market  despite backing membership less than a year ago  to regain control of immigration policy and said she wants to renegotiate the UK's customs agreement and seek a transition period to phase in changes.

Speaking to an audience of foreign dignitaries and journalists at Lancaster House, Ms May started her speech diplomatically, telling EU leaders directly that Britain wants the Union to succeed and admitting there would be "compromises".

But after reeling through 12 negotiating priorities and saying Britain "wants" to remain a friend to Europe, she added: "I know there are some voices calling for a punitive deal that punishes Britain and discourages other countries from taking the same path.

"That would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe. And it would not be the act of a friend.

"Britain would not  indeed we could not  accept such an approach. And while I am confident that this scenario need never arise  while I am sure a positive agreement can be reached  I am equally clear that no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain."

Ms May also confirmed the Government will put any final deal agreed to a vote in both Houses of Parliament before it comes into force.

But after the Prime Minister sidestepped a question on what would happen if Parliament rejects the deal, her officials were clearer.

Her spokesperson said: "We will be leaving the EU.

"We will be having a negotiation. The outcome  MPs will have the opportunity to vote on that. Obviously we are focussed on going after that bright future and that new relationshipbut whatever happens we will be leaving the EU."

Ms May argued that leaving with no replacement deal would be more damaging for European nations than the UK, which could still trade on the continent, strike new agreements elsewhere and transform its economic model into what critics have branded a "tax haven".

 Theresa May says Parliament will have a vote on the Brexit deal

But a Government document leaked in October predicted plummeting GDP if Britain reverts to WTO rules, with a devastating impact on the public finances.

The draft Cabinet committee paper was based on a controversial study published by ex-Chancellor George Osborne in April during the referendum campaign. Despite being vilified at the time, the Treasury later stood by it.

Setting out more detail of her negotiating position, Ms May said she respected the position of EU leaders, that single market membership would mean bowing to free movement rules.

So to gain full control of UK immigration policy, she said: "We do not seek membership of the single market. Instead we seek the greatest possible access to it through a new, comprehensive, bold and ambitious free trade agreement.

"That agreement may take in elements of current single market arrangements in certain areas  on the export of cars and lorries for example, or the freedom to provide financial services across national borders  as it makes no sense to start again from scratch when Britain and the remaining member states have adhered to the same rules for so many years."

Ms May said her desire to sign new trade deals with other countries meant the UK could not stay in the customs union as it stands, but she did also want "tariff-free trade with Europe".

She went on: "Whether that means we must reach a completely new customs agreement, become an associate member of the customs union in some way, or remain a signatory to some elements of it, I hold no preconceived position. I have an open mind on how we do it."

The Prime Minister said she wanted to avoid a "cliff edge" when any new terms came in and to adopt a "phased process of implementation".

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

As well as single market access and a new EU free trade deal, Ms May said she wants to protect rights workers have gained from the EU, guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK and British citizens in Europe, continue intelligence and defence cooperation and maintain a common travel area between Northern Ireland and the Republic. She also said she wants to conclude negotiations for the lot in two years.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Ms May's "powerful" speech will be "well received" by EU nations.

But asked why the EU would give the UK a "free lunch", he said: "As the Prime Minister said, I think it's going to be good for both sides."

Germanys Angela Merkel welcomed the clarity Ms Mays speech had brought, and chief EU Commission negotiator Michel Barnier said he "ready" to start talks.

European Council president Donald Tusk said Ms Mays speech meant the EU had a "more realistic" view of Britain's hopes, but other EU politicians had a less measured reaction.

 Theresa May 'can't cherry pick' benefits of the European Union

Jan Philipp Albrecht, Green Party MEP for northern Germany, tweeted: "May: Go f**k yourself EU but please dont let us down. Whine whine."

Claiming that Mays demands are "daydreams", he added: "Many of the 52 per cent of Brits voting leave clearly believed that they would stay in a common European market. Theyre f**ked together with the 48 per cent."

Kathleen Van Brempt, a Belgian socialist, said the EU is not a menu where the UK can freely pick and choose to their liking", while Swedish Moderate MEP Christofer Fjellner wrote: "UK leaving the single market will come at a large cost."

At home the response from Labour was muted, with leader Jeremy Corbyn expressing concern at the tone of Mrs May's address.

He added: "There seemed to be an implied threat that somewhere along the line, if all her optimism of a deal with the European Union didn't work, we would move into a low-tax, corporate taxation, bargain basement economy on the offshores of Europe."

 Tim Farron and Jeremy Corbyn react to Theresa May's Brexit proposals

The partys shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer suggested Ms Mays plan will not be a hard Brexit if she achieves what she wants.

But backbencher and ex-shadow chancellor Chris Leslie said leaving the single market is "not good news", while ex-shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna warned Britain could be on a path to "ten per cent, 13 per cent and up to 40 per cent tariffs on cars, clothes and meat".

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused Ms May of a "theft of democracy" for not allowing a referendum on her new deal and said she had wrongly claimed people voted to leave the single market in last Junes plebiscite.

He said: "This speech was a mixture of vague fantasies and toothless threats to our nearest neighbours. At the moment Britain needs friends more than ever, she has succeeded in uniting the rest of Europe against her."

The SNPs Nicola Sturgeon said the direction Ms May was taking the country is not in Scotlands interests and accused her of taking decisions based on the "obsessions of the hard-right of the Tory party".

She added: "For all her warm words, it is now clear that the UK is heading for a hard Brexit, which threatens to be economically catastrophic."
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David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, has revealed MPs will get a series of votes in Parliament before a final one on ratifying a new deal with the European Union  opening up the potential for deadlock in the Commons.

It comes after Theresa May used the most important speech of her premiership so far to outline the Governments plan for leaving the EU. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister warned she would walk away from the EU withdrawal negotiations without a trade deal if the other countries attempted to impose a bad deal.

In an interview on the BBCs Radio 4 Today programme the Brexit Secretary, however, insisted this was hypothetical and that the Government would come through with the best deal possible.

Mr Davis also claimed this would be achieved within the two-year timeframe allowed under Article 50  the mechanism Ms May is expecting to trigger before the end of March in order to begin negotiations with the 27 other EU member states.

And in a separate interview on Good Morning Britain, Mr Davies was asked what would happen if his plan all went wrong. He replied: It wont go wrong, were very clear what we want to do. Were very clear what we want out and its in everyones interest. Why on earth could it go wrong?

Recommended Theresa May warns Brussels and MPs to back her or risk hardest Brexit

But referring to an announcement by the Prime Minister that Parliament will vote on the final EU deal at the end of the process, he said: There will be a lot of votes before then. Theres going to be a vote, at the very least, on the Great Repeal Bill. Theres going to a vote on each major piece of change in law.

Theres not going to a single vote, theres going to be series of votes, on which the last one will be the ratification.

Asked what would happen in the event of Parliament voting down the negotiation, Mr Davis replied: Its a legislative matter. Its not dead Parliament gave the decision on leaving to the people by the vast majority. Its not for Parliament to reverse that. So at the end of the day they will end up deciding.

They wont vote it down, he added. This negotiation will succeed.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

According to the Sun, the Prime Minister could be persuaded to head to the polls in 2019 to obtain a mandate for her plan. One minister told the newspaper: The PM knows she always has the voters up her sleeve, and she wants to keep them there.

If Parliament tries to block the deal she has brokered and recommended, then she will go to the country.

In the Radio 4 interview, Mr Davis also added it may be a year or two after Britain formally cuts ties with its European allies before the UK is fully free. Ms May had acknowledged this at her speech at Lancaster House, outlining how there may have to be an implementation period.

Mr Davis added: At the end of two years, we will have our deals, what may take a little longer is implementation.

"I don't know, whether it's customs arrangements or it's a time for companies to accommodate things, or whether it's border arrangements, or some other elements. And we've said we accept that there may be an implementation phase thereafter.

"It won't be a long time... a year or two."

He also referred to Ms Mays speech, which was received with a degree of caution in Europe, as one of the best speeches Ive heard from a Prime Minister in a very long time.
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One of Britain's most important post-Brexit trade partnerships could be at risk due to Theresa May's refusal to reform visa restrictions for Indian citizens.

The Prime Minister has insisted leaving the EU would allow Britain to find other partners abroad and India, the worlds fastest growing major economy, was the first country she visited, accompanied by a large business delegation, outside Europe after the referendum.

But as the offensive to secure a trade deal continued on Wednesday, senior diplomats and Indian government officials warned Ms Mays refusal to reform visa restrictions could scupper her hopes.

 Theresa May's Brexit speech - five key points

Boris Johnson has flown in to Delhi to meet members of the government, business leaders and, he hopes, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Foreign Secretary is due to explain the UKs position on Brexit and stress how leaving the EU offers further commercial and industrial opportunities for the two countries.

I think the time is fast upon us when we need to turbo charge this relationship with a new free trade deal, such as we will shortly be able to do, Mr Johnson said. We can't negotiate it now, but we can sketch it out in pencil on the back of an envelope. This is not the time to put up barriers between our countries. This is time to break down barriers that will in the long term to create the jobs, the good jobs with good incomes that offer real hope and comfort Let us work together, Britain and India are united by our values and in many ways by our approaches to the problems of the world and it is working together to improve our security that we will allow the freedom and the openness that will drive our long term prosperity.

However, the issue of visas quickly surfaced with a senior Indian official saying mobility issues are of importance to us; we cannot separate free movement of people from the free flow of goods, services and investments. And S Irudaya Rajan, an advisor to the Indian government on migration issues added: India is an important country for the UK and curbing the flow of good minds, whether they are students or skilled workers, cannot be good for the UK.

In London, as Mrs May revealed that there will be a hard Brexit leaving the EU single market and customs union, Indias new high commissioner to the UK commented that the issue of the visas is not going to go away. Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha contrasted the stance taken by Britain with other countries on admitting students and workers from fields like IT into the country.

In the field of education we have a bit of a problem. We have countries like US, Australia, Germany and France who are actively going on to campuses in India to try and attract students there, he said. The numbers in these countries have gone up significantly, but for the UK it has actually fallen quite a lot. There is something going wrong here because the UK has obviously been the first preference for Indian students. We need to see how we can ensure that the UK gets or attracts good students from India. Indian students are doing extremely well wherever they go.

The numbers of students from India fell to 16,745 in 2015-16 from 29,900 in 2011-12. Students are included in the total numbers of migrants, although they are meant to be temporary visitors. Critics say that this cutting numbers of students is one of the cosmetic ways the government is saying they are cutting the numbers of migrants.

Mr Sinha also spoke about restrictions affecting IT workers. In Europe the UK is again our first port of call and I think for us its very important our IT professionals can come here and go back. They contribute immensely not only to the local economy but the global economy, which is what they are doing in Silicon Valley and the rest of the world. It is very important that both countries engage in a manner beneficial for both India and the UK, he said.

However, the high commissioner also said of course Brexit is a challenge but I see it more as an opportunity. Indian companies and businesses are looking forward to engaging more closely with their British counterpart. There is good economic engagement between the two countries and that is why we need to talk about the visa situation.

But the chance of the visa regulations being relaxed seems remote. Ms May, as home secretary was responsible for tightening the visa regime and, at the time of her visit to India last November she declared that the current system will not be changed. Trade is an important part of our relationship with India. India is the third-biggest investor into the UK  the second biggest creator of private sector jobs in the UK; and the UK is the biggest G20 investor in India, but there is more we can do, she held.
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The number of EU nationals detained in immigration centres has increased fivefold since the Conservatives came to power, The Independent can reveal.

The sharp rise has led to concerns the Government is trying to spread anxiety among people from EU countries living in the UK, in an effort to deter others from moving to Britain.

In 2015, the last full year for which Home Office data is available, 3,699 EU citizens were detained under immigration powers  11.4 per cent of all detainees  while in 2009 just 768 were detained, 2.7 per cent of the total.

In many cases, no crime had been committed, with people detained for reasons such as losing their ID card or having a birthday party in a park, according to the charity Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID).

Barrister Adrian Berry told The Independent he believed the Government was pursuing a policy of deliberate hostility towards EU citizens, which could intensify when the country leaves the EU.

The policy of the Home Office towards EU citizens started on Theresa Mays watch as Home Secretary, before the Brexit referendum, he said.

Its a marker of her approach to EU citizens and its one we should all take very seriously when we look to her promises on and after Brexit.

The detention of EU citizens has continued to shoot up, with 1,227 detained in the third quarter of 2016  17 per cent of the total number recorded in that period.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. 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Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. 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Since 2010, when Ms May became Home Secretary, the number of EU nationals expelled from Britain has risen by 256 per cent. Removing some people is also telling other people that their status is insecure. It functions to spread anxiety, said Mr Berry.

They have this policy of removing EU citizens when its unnecessary. If youve committed a serious criminal offence, you could be liable for deportation and banned from re-entry. [But] this is a lesser technique called administrative removal, where youve committed no crime but theyve just decided that youre not doing anything like working or being a student.

These are not criminals. No one cares about a French person in Kensington not doing anything. They just pick on the lower-income people from Eastern Europe.

In her speech outlining the Governments Brexit plans, Ms May said she wanted to guarantee the rights of EU citizens who are already living in Britain, and the rights of British nationals in other member states, as early as we can.

But John Hopgood, BIDs Policy and Research Manager, said the Prime Ministers words were hard to swallow as there had been very mixed messaging from Government over the rights of the some three million EU citizens settled in the UK.

I cant see how it cant get worse after Brexit, he told The Independent. Its a real worry for a lot of people. They dont know what they need to do to have the right to stay here afterwards Theres no guarantee they will have that sort of security when they leave the EU.

One Polish national, working in the UK with the right to be in the country, was detained after officials apprehended him in a public park while having birthday drinks, according to BID.

The Home Office told him they planned to expel him for abusing his EU law rights, said the charity, and he remained in detention for five months despite there being an injunction stopping his removal.

 Theresa May's Brexit speech - five key points

An increasing number of EU nationals are being detained, who are facing removal from the UK over, in general, pretty much nothing, said Mr Hopgood.

By and large theyre there picked up on for far less serious things that if they were from outside the EU that wouldnt qualify them for removal or deportation at all.

It seems to have happened very recently, very dramatically, this increase, and its almost without warning. Theres been no Government announcement on were going to be tougher on [EU] immigrants, he said.

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BID also said they had helped an Italian national who was held in detention for eight months because he had lost his Italian ID card, despite co-operating with the Government efforts to return him to Italy.

Mr Berry said in certain cases the Home Office has had to pay out huge damages for unlawful detention of EU citizens who were acting within their rights.

In a blog post, he cited an example taken to the High Court in which the Home Office had attempted to remove a Polish national who was stopped by police while sleeping rough.

The man was detained for more than five months and prohibited from working when he was temporarily released, despite saying they wanted to remove him as a person neither working nor seeking work.

The High Court ruled his detention unlawful and he was awarded damages, according to Mr Berry.

Campaigners have urged Ms May to end the uncertainty affecting EU citizens in the UK by guaranteeing their right to remain in the country after Brexit.

A joint statement issued by the3million  which campaigns to preserve the rights of British citizens in Europe and Europeans in the UK after Brexit  and several migrants' rights groups called for a guarantee to be made before Article 50 is triggered.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The general public expect robust action to be taken against foreign national offenders who pose a risk to the UK  and thats why we deport those who abuse our hospitality by committing crime."

They added: Our deportation action is taken in accordance with UK and EU laws.
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The European Parliaments chief Brexit negotiator has slammed Boris Johnson after he suggested the President of France might be considering Nazi-style punishment beatings on Britain for wanting to leave the EU.

Guy Verhofstadt said the comments made by the Foreign Secretary about Francois Hollande are abhorrent and deeply unhelpful as the UK and EU prepare for sensitive talks to determine Britain's future relations with the bloc.

Downing Street was also dragged into the embarrassing row, being forced to defend Mr Johnson by saying the remarks were theatrical, adding he was in no way suggesting that anyone was a Nazi.

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In characteristically unconventional remarks made in India, Mr Johnson said Mr Hollande might want to administer punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape [the EU], in the manner of some World War Two movie.

Shortly after, Mr Verhofstadt tweeted: Yet more abhorrent & deeply unhelpful comments from @BorisJohnson which PM May should condemn.

Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman attacked the Foreign Secretary for having a habit of making wild and inappropriate comments.

He added: Talking about World War Two in that context is another one of those and that is not going to be something that is going to improve the climate for this negotiation.

Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron said: This is an utterly crass and clueless remark from the man who is supposed to be our chief diplomat.

But responding to the furore, Theresa May's official spokeswoman claimed Mr Johnson was simply making a point about other EU leaders approaching Brexit in a punitive way.

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She said: He was in no way suggesting that anyone was a Nazi. If anything, this falls within the category the PM used yesterday of a hyped-up media report.

During her speech on Tuesday, Ms May accused parts of the media of embellishing stories about the Government's Brexit plans, while eschewing the tight-lipped disciplined approach she and her ministers had taken in recent weeks.

But asked on Wednesday if she would accept that Mr Johnson was at least referencing German World War Two camps in his comments, Ms May's spokeswoman explained: I think he was making a theatrical comparison to those evocative World War movies that people have seen.

She indicated that she would not characterise his words as a stray comment, and would not say that it was inappropriate or that the Foreign Secretary should apologise.

Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned  forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA  because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. 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Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

Asked if Ms May might use similar words to Mr Johnson's, she added: They've got different styles.

A spokesman for the Foreign Secretary said: He was not suggesting anyone was a Nazi and the word never passed his lips. He was simply saying that treating Britain harshly for trying to leave the EU makes no sense.

Mr Johnson's full comments were: If Mr Hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape [the EU], in the manner of some World War Two movie, I dont think that is the way forward, and its not in the interests of our friends and partners.

It seems absolutely incredible to me that, in the 21st century, member states of the EU should be seriously contemplating the reintroduction of tariffs or whatever to administer punishment to the UK.
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Theresa Mays Brexit plan will make most people poorer, Labours leader in the European Parliament said.

Glenis Wilmott MEP described the Prime Minister's plans as chaotic.

Theresa May has previously claimed she would protect workers after Brexit," she told The Independent. "But how does this square with the chancellors vision of a neoliberal lala land in which employment, environmental and consumer rights are sacrificed, taxes are slashed and public services suffer.

"Whether she calls it 'soft', 'hard' or 'red, white and blue', the result will almost certainly be chaotic.

Ms May said the United Kingdom would not remain a full member of the EU customs union after Brexit, and instead would negotiate its own trade deals with the rest of the world.

She also suggested Britain would prefer to retain a form of "associate membership" of the union, limiting the increase in red tape for businesses who export to continental Europe

But Ms Wilmott said the plans meant jobs were at risk and that Ms May had not outlined what she actually wants to achieve from the negotiations.

So now we know: Theresa May has given up on the Single Market before negotiations have even begun, whatever the cost - the cost in jobs, the cost in trade, the cost to our economy.

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. 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Britain is leaving the European Union, but the choices about how we leave will sit with Theresa May and the government - and this looks like a Tory plan that will make most people poorer, Ms Wilmott said.

And despite all of this, we still dont have clarity on what she actually wants to achieve in terms of our future trading relationship with Europe. So despite the all the talk we still face uncertainty, putting even more jobs at risk.
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Sajid Javid has condemned those who make glib comparisons with the Nazis just hours after Boris Johnson was rounded on for comparing the French President to World War Two prison guards.

Speaking at reception hosted by the Holocaust Education Trust the Communities Secretary urged people to push back when people lazily reach for glib comparisons that belittle what happened... calling those we disagree with 'Nazis' or claiming someones actions are 'just like the Holocaust".

Ultimately, we have to be prepared to do that most un-British of things  we have to make a scene. Maybe thatll be in private. Maybe in the media. Maybe on Twitter.

In fact it could be anywhere from the top deck of a bus to right here in Parliament. Whats certain is that if we dont speak out against hatred and anti-Semitism it will become normalised. It will become part of everyday life. And once that happens, the consequences will be tragic.

Earlier on Wednesday the Foreign Secretary had suggested the President of France might be considering World War Two punishment beatings on Britain for wanting to leave the European Union. In characteristically unconventional remarks made in India, Mr Johnson said Francois Hollande might want "to administer punishment beatings to anybody who seeks to escape [the EU], in the manner of some World War Two movie".

The comments brought to mind images of famous war films, such as The Great Escape, The Colditz Story and Bridge On The River Kwai, in which British soldiers are abused by Germans, or the Japanese.

When asked whether Theresa May agreed with Mr Javids comments  at a journalists briefing  a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister, replied: Yes. But Downing Street insisted Mr Johnson made no reference to Nazis in his remarks, adding that he was being theatrical.

He was talking about conjuring up the kind of idea of punitive behaviour from World War II, but he didnt make a specific remark. If you can find for me where the foreign secretary said the word Nazis, well have to take questions on it.

It is not clear whether Mr Javid knew about Mr Johnsons remarks when he spoke at the event at the House of Lords, but they are likely to be hugely embarrassing for the Government just a day after Theresa Mays major speech on Brexit. It also appears Mr Javids remarks were prepared in advance of the Foreign Secretarys comments in India.

Mr Johnsons comments, however, have been widely condemned with Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, suggesting his language demonstrated he is not fit to be Foreign Secretary.

Showing you can be supremely clever and yet immensely stupid, he added.

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliaments chief Brexit negotiator, said the comments made by the Foreign Secretary about Francois Hollande are "abhorrent and deeply unhelpful" as the UK and EU prepare for sensitive talks to determine Britain's future relations with the bloc.

A spokesman for the Foreign Secretary said: "He was not suggesting anyone was a Nazi and the word never passed his lips. He was simply saying that treating Britain harshly for trying to leave the EU makes no sense."
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The Supreme Court will announce next Tuesday if Theresa May must get the consent of MPs and peers before she starts Brexit.

The eagerly-awaited ruling  on whether the Prime Minister has the power to bypass Parliament before triggering the Article 50 exit clause  will come at 9.30am.

If, as expected, the Government loses, a Bill is likely to be rushed through Parliament within days to comply with the judgement.

Ms May has insisted a defeat will not derail her timetable to invoke Article 50 by the end of March  kick-starting a two-year exit process.

However, the need for legislation could give pro-EU MPs and peers the opportunity to table amendments, to try to influence the Governments course.

The Liberal Democrats have vowed they will attempt to force through a second referendum on the final Brexit deal, but lack Labour support.

More troublesome for Ms May would be a ruling that she must seek the consent of the devolved administrations in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff before moving ahead.

The question of Northern Ireland is particularly contentious  after the Supreme Court heard evidence that Stormont is responsible for some border issues.

The need for full consent would plunge the United Kingdom into a full-blown constitutional crisis, as well as potentially sink the Prime Ministers exit timetable completely.

In addition, the Supreme Court may also make a ruling on whether Article 50  and, therefore, Brexit itself  could later be stopped, if Parliament chose to.

The Government is believed to have already drawn up at least two versions of a Bill that could be tabled to comply with an anticipated defeat.

It has been suggested that the Government expects to lose by seven votes to four, when the 11 Supreme Court judges rule on Article 50.

Ministers asked for early sight of the judgment, to enable contingency planning, but the court ruled that out, saying: It's just too sensitive.
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The politics of naming  who is called what by whom  can be used as a weapon, something we saw a great deal of in 2016 against a backdrop of the rise of populism generally. Sometimes it felt absurd: billionaires taking back control from elites was one narrative in the US election campaign, while during the Brexit debate in Britain we heard that Britain had heard enough from experts who were dismissed by Michael Gove, a government minister and leading advocate for Brexit, as elitist.

The subtext in both these debates centred upon a view that education and expertise constitute a new aristocracy which is just as exclusionary as an aristocracy of birth.

So there was a delicious sense of irony in a piece by Toby Young in The Spectator recently. Young sees meritocracy  a term coined by his father Michael, later Lord, Young  as the new ethos adopted by todays ruling class. He believes is has been used to legitimise privilege as the outcome of individual talent, skill and effort rather than the result of birth or education. Young sees the contemporary economic landscape as embodying the situation described by his fathers satirical 1958 account.

For Young, the piece was a way of bashing civil servants such as the former ambassador to the EU, Ivan Rogers, whose recent resignation sparked such a furore and raised questions about who is really running the country  the faceless meritocrats or we, the people.

So what is meritocracy? The word is most usually defined as a society governed by people selected according to merit. The Oxford dictionary goes on to provide a helpful elucidation:

Britain is a meritocracy, and everyone with skill and imagination may aspire to reach the highest level.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images 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 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Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. 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Young (the senior) came up with the new word for the title of his essay The Rise of the Meritocracy  a satire which describes a future where merit, expertise and intelligence reign supreme over previous divisions of social class assigned by birth.

But his son has come to see sees meritocracy as exclusionary:

The well-to-do have seized upon the trappings of meritocracy as a way of legitimising and perpetuating their privileged status.

Young (the younger) may have something there. Contemporary sociological and economic research backs his claims. Economist Thomas Pikettys phrase meritocratic extremism refers to how many of the wealthiest today justify their privilege through recourse to their hard work and educational credentials.

Branded gentry

The week after Brexit I attended an arts week at an ancient British public school. While it shall remain nameless, I spent much of my time thinking about how I should characterise for the purpose of my research the young adults, their parents and friends who were my hosts.

Observing the virtuosity of 18-year-old jazz aficionados, young bakers who produced cakes to rival Mary Berrys, and budding composers giving us renditions of Shakespeare sonnets set to original music which sounded reminiscent of Mumford & Sons, my host asked: What is the biggest difference youve noticed in the arts of the public school system? I responded: The professionalism. No one at my school would have apologised for the absence of another pupil because they were double booked to play in Jools Hollands band.

This ethos of professionalism, an adjunct of meritocracy, was something emphasised in my book, Elites, Race and Nationhood: The Branded Gentry. I make a claim that echoes of the past exist today giving rise to an elite who may be termed a branded gentry.

A landed gentry existed in a society which assigned class by birth, and the next generations inherited the capital which made this possible  generally land. The capital which young elites today inherit is the ability to brand themselves effectively and control their human capital in much the same way as their landed forebears did: their names have more equity, more investment, more sway than yours or mine.

Giles Coren  son of Fleet Street aristo Alan  is what I mean by branded gentry, whereas his brother-in-law, Alexander Armstrong, is proper landed gentry.

At the public school arts week, my hosts remarked upon how cosmopolitan the school is nowadays  sons and daughters of French professors, Russian oligarchs, Nigerian billionaires, Chinese business elites, and so on. I emphasise this point because, on speaking to them, youd be forgiven for assuming their first language to be Received Pronunciation English.

What is cosmopolitan in this elite is that they are citizens of everywhere and nowhere. Despite coming from a number of different backgrounds and breeding, they are all similar: moneyed and educated. Meritocracy is really another name for the professionalisation of elite positions  seemingly removing traditional barriers of entry while erecting new ones that favour the already-established.

So when you hear someone refer to their professionalism, merit or hard work, its generally an attempt to divert attention from their inherited privilege. They are saying they deserve their position because of their individual performance  despite the reality that individual accomplishment almost always lags behind inheritance, accumulated wealth or contacts, and educational credentials.

Daniel R Smith is a senior lecturer in sociology at Anglia Ruskin University.This article was originally published on (conversation.com)
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Theresa May has vowed she will deliver a new trade deal with the EU before Brexit, toughening up her commitment for the exit talks.

Speaking at prime ministers questions, the Prime Minister told MPs she would prevent Britain crashing out of the EU  at potential huge economic cost, say critics.

In her landmark speech yesterday, Ms May said only that she was confident that a fresh agreement can be struck, despite the tight 18-month timetable.

And she threatened to walk away with no deal if necessary  which would inflict punishing World Trade Organisation tariffs on businesses.

But, at prime ministers questions, Ms May insisted that would not be necessary, as she clashed with Jeremy Corbyn over her Brexit strategy.

She said: The whole point is that we will negotiate a free trade agreement with the European Union that is about the best possible access for British business to operate in the European Union member states and for European business to operate here in the United Kingdom.

Its about sitting down and negotiating the best possible deal for the United Kingdom.

Thats what Im committed to  and thats what this Government is going to deliver.

The high-profile promise  made on the floor of the House of Commons  raises the stakes for the negotiations to come, after the Article 50 exit clause is triggered.

Speaking 24 hours earlier, the Prime Minister had said: I am confident that a deal - and a new strategic partnership between the UK and the EU  can be achieved.

And, making clear how willingness to walk away if necessary, she added: I am equally clear that no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain.

The idea of a trade agreement within 18 months  to allow the EU to ratify it, before the two-year Article 50 process is completed  is widely seen as unrealistic.

Later, in answer to a Conservative backbencher who argued leaving the EU with no deal must not become the preferred option, she replied: Absolutely.

During the clashes, the Labour leader accused Ms May of demeaning Britain by threatening to make the UK an offshore tax haven, if she cannot get the Brexit deal she wants.

Mr Corbyn called on her to stop her threat of a bargain basement Britain, a low-pay tax haven on the shores of Europe.

And he said: It wouldn't necessarily damage the EU, but it would certainly damage this country - businesses, jobs and public services.

She demeans herself and her office and our country's standing by making these kinds of threats.

Mr Corbyn also accused the Prime Minister of failing to guarantee the future of thousands of EU nationals working in UK public services - or to explain whether she would be willing to pay for continued access to the single market.

But Ms May denied her Brexit plan was based on threats, insisting she had set out a vision for a stronger, fairer, more united, more outward-looking, prosperous, tolerant and independent, truly global Britain.
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Germany's Die Welt newspaper has accused Theresa May of "leading Great Britain into isolation" with her plan for a hard Brexit, as newspapers across continental Europe reacted very differently to those in the UK.

Splashing an image of Ms May across its front page with the headline "Little Britain", Die Welt ran an article online comparing Ms May's tone in Tuesday's speech to that of the last female Tory Prime Minister - Margaret Thatcher - who extolled the virtues of the single market.

Italian daily La Repubblica led with the headline, "Brexit, London gets its wall, 'away from the EU and the common market"'.

 Theresa May warns EU over 'punitive' Brexit deal

The Spanish newspaper El Pais did not lead with Brexit, but there was mention of Mrs May's speech in the top right of the title page that called the announcement her "most important speech" since coming to Downing Street.

And while Le Monde splashed on "Trump against Europe", a bullet point added: "Trump's support for Brexit is welcomed by Theresa May, who looks to tighten links with her favoured ally".

Die Welt's tone was in stark contrast centre-right newspapers in the UK. The Daily Mail praised the "steel of the new Iron Lady" following the PM's ultimatum that she would walk away from a bad deal, while the Daily Express said she had "laid out the UK's path to becoming truly independent again".

The Sun's editorial called Tuesday's speech "historic and a game changer" and said Ms May's "Brexit vision ... is so close to ours we couldn't have written it any better".

Ms May announced the UK would leave the single market  though attempt to maintain the "greatest possible access" to it  while forging a "bold" trade deal with the EU and similar new agreements around the world.

The final Brexit deal will be put before Parliament, she promised, while warning European leaders that trying to impose a "punitive" settlement would be "an act of calamitous self-harm" and said "no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal".

But the European Parliament's point man for Brexit negotiations said Ms May is creating an "illusion" with her 12-point plan for leaving, adding that her talk of the UK becoming a low-tax haven for corporations was "not very helpful".

Guy Verhofstadt said: "I think it creates an illusion that you can go out of the single market and the customs union and you can cherry pick and still have a number of advantages.

"I think this will not happen. We shall never accept a situation in which it is better to be outside the single market than be a member of the European Union."

Stefanie Bolzen, Die Welt's London correspondent, told the BBC's Today programme: "In a way you could say, if you want to see this as a kind of match, the first point has gone to the EU. And, in a way, also to Chancellor Merkel because as you will remember after June 23 Merkel was very quick to move on, to close the ranks, to travel all the EU countries and make sure that the unity of the EU27 is the most important thing."

The Belgian journalist Christine Ockrent, who works in French television, added: "I'm struck by the fact that it's not headline news really, in Paris. It's as if, you know, everybody here was actually expecting a hard Brexit scenario.

"There is also the sense that there's always the British, or rather the English, delusion about the fact that the continent might be more hurt than indeed the UK.

"So the analysis in our papers this morning stresses that fact. It's really the Brits who are going to hurt, and also it's going to be a very, very long process."

France's finance minister, Michael Sapin, said: "You can see very well that they are improvising, with flip-flopping between accommodating positions ... and harder positions, even a 'hard' Brexit.

"All of this shows how helpless the British government is in the face of a situation that some of them didn't want, and that it has created debates within the government which are clearly very difficult."

Additional reporting by agencies
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A leading Spanish newspaper has accused Theresa May of shameful, xenophobic nationalism and called her model for Brexit extremist.

El Pais, Spains highest-circulation daily paper, used its editorial column to criticise the Prime Ministers radical change of position from her tepid and bashful Europeanism as Home Secretary following Tuesdays speech, in which she warned any move to punish Britain for exiting would be a calamitous act of self-harm.

It scorned the UKs ability to strike trade deals by itself  a skill it claimed Britain had lost during its 40 years in the European embrace  and Ms Mays promise of reaching a positive accord with the continent.

 Theresa May's Brexit speech - five key points

The paper said: Theresa May sketched out yesterday her roadmap for Britains complete withdrawal from the EU. It was a radical change of position that now leads her to postulate a complete separation from Europe, breaking her past promises and setting up a hard, extreme and extremist Brexit.

From professing a tepid and bashful Europeanism when she was Home Secretary under David Cameron, she now supports a shameful, xenophobic nationalism.

Until recently the British Government promised its citizens and businesses they would not lose access to the interior market of the EU, while at the same time demanding permission to limit immigration and discriminate between European citizens, cutting off free movement of people in the common area  a legally impossible, morally evil and politically unviable requirement.

The nub of her 12-point programme is this exclusion of the UK from the market of 500 million consumers, which will fall to 65 million, plus those Britain can add through new trade deals  something hypothetical and difficult for a country which after four decades has lost experience in this arena outside the Union.

It added: Everything in Mays speech grated. The promise of a positive accord is fallacious. It is not positive to spurn European citizens, nor to discriminate against residents. Nor does it make sense to threaten the Europeans with whom she will have to negotiate over the next two years.

Reacting to Ms Mays speech Guy Verhofstadt, the EUs Brexit negotiator, said her demands were creating an illusion and called her suggestion the UK might alter its tax policies not very helpful.

Recommended Boris Johnson attacks French President using Nazi comparison

He said: I think it creates an illusion that you can go out of the single market and the customs union and you can cherry pick and still have a number of advantages.

I think this will not happen. We shall never accept a situation in which it is better to be outside the single market than be a member of the European Union.

If you want the advantages of a single market and customs union, you have to take the obligations.

Other European newspapers also reacted strongly, with Germany's Die Welt accusing the Prime Minister of leading Great Britain into isolation on its front page.

And La Reppublica, in Italy, said that London gets its wall, a reference to US President-elect Donald Trumps plan to build a border wall with Mexico.
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Ukip leader Paul Nuttall is to become the party's candidate in the Stoke Central by-election this year, it has been reported.

According to a political correspondent for ITV, Mr Nuttall will "definitely" contest the seat in the West Midlands.

A source said Mr Nuttall's campaign is to be announced in the city at an event on the weekend, ITV's Alison Mackenzie said.

But Ukip has refused to confirm the reports, saying the selection process is not yet complete.

A source within the party also told The Independent the claims are completely unfounded.

Labour MP Tristam Hunt gave up the seat earlier in January, saying he had accepted a role as director of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Mr Nuttall had come under pressure from party colleagues to stand for the seat and capitalise on Labour's poor favorability ratings.

Ukip came second in the constituency by little more than 5,000 votes in 2015, despite only running a small campaign.

Around 70 per cent of voters in Stoke Central backed vote to leave the EU in June.

Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Show all 13 1 /13 Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Supreme Court Brexit Challenge People wait to enter the public gallery outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Gina Miller, co-founder of investment fund SCM Private arrives at the Supreme court in London on the first day of a four-day hearing Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waves the EU flag in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Satirical artist Kaya Mar poses with two of his paintings in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin. The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Businesswoman Gina Miller arrives at the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Attorney General Jeremy Wright arrives at the Supreme Court in London EPA Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Protesters outside the Supreme Court in London, where the Government is appealing against a ruling that the Prime Minister must seek MPs' approval to trigger the process of taking Britain out of the European Union PA wire Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protesters wearing a judge's wigs and robes stands outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protester holds up a placard outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waiting to enter the public gallery waves a European Union flag outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters

At odds with the majority of his constituency, Mr Hunt was a prominent campaigner for remaining in the bloc.

Mr Nuttall, who has tried to professionalise the party's images following a shambolic election contest, has recently said banning the burqa was one of the first policies he was considering as party leader.

If Mr Nuttall stands, it would be his fifth attempt at being elected to the House of Commons.
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Tour operators wanted to increase security in Sousse before 38 people were killed in a terrorist attack, but did not want holidaymakers to be "scared by seeing an army of police", an inquest has heard.

The hearing into the deaths of 30 Britons in the Tunisian resort in June 2015 was told that in a meeting a month before the attack there was a discussion about police security and how it could make tourists feel "uncomfortable".

Venancio Lopez, managing director of Tunisie Voyages - a subsidiary of travel company TUI - flew to London to give evidence in the inquests at the Royal Courts of Justice.

 Tunisia terror attack inquest: Police 'stalled arrival' at Sousse massacre

He said he was at a meeting with British Embassy officials on May 25 2015 in Tunis - two months after the terror attack at the Bardo National Museum and one month before the Sousse atrocity.

The inquest heard that Mr Lopez had a list of points he wanted the British Embassy to raise with Tunisian authorities, including the matter of police security.

Security in the resorts, and how visible it should be, was discussed, and Mr Lopez said: "If security is too evident they feel uncomfortable in the street."

In his statement to the inquest, he said: "We wanted to increase the security in general but we didn't want tourists to be scared by seeing an army of police."

The inquest heard that it was decided that hotels should have metal detectors, staff should monitor CCTV, that police should patrol the beaches and there would be an extra 400 officers.

Extremist Seifeddine Rezgui massacred tourists - including three Irish citizens - on June 26 at the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel.
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Barack Obama has freed one of the worlds longest-serving "political prisoners" as the outgoing US president uses his last days in office to pardon hundreds of inmates.

Oscar Lopez Rivera, a Puerto Rican independence activist who has been in a US prison for more than 35 years, will be released in May  six years earlier than planned.

The prisoner was placed behind bars in 1981 after being found guilty of seditious conspiracy and has been classified as a terrorist by the US government.

Mr Obama has issued record numbers of pardons and commutations during his last weeks in office before handing over to Donald Trump on 20 January. On Tuesday, he announced that Chelsea Manning, the US solider who in 2013 was sentenced to 35 years in prison for passing secret documents to WIkileaks, would be released in May.

Lopez Rivera was part of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN) armed group, which advocated violence as a tactic in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence and carried out hundreds of bombings in the US.

Now 74, he has spent more than half his life in prison and was due to remain behind bars until June 2023 - when he would have been 80.

During his last days in office in 1999, then president Bill Clinton offered to shorten Lopez Riveras sentence but the prisoner rejected the deal because it did not include two of his fellow activists. In 2011, the US Parole Commission turned down his request for early release.

Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Show all 15 1 /15 Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Dr Jill Biden watch Barack Obama's farewell speech on 11 January. Obama called Biden his 'brother' Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years US President Barack Obama speaks alongside US Vice President Joe Biden about the Affordable Care Act AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Obama listens to Joe Biden speak of his work on defeating cancer on 18 October in the White House Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama is applauded by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden while delivering his final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. Vice President Joe Biden interjects as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a reception for the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics at the White House in Washington REUTERS Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Obama and Vice President Joe Biden react after a heckler was removed for their extended interruption (Reuters) Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Speaker of the House John Boehner (R) as Vice President Joe Biden looks on Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack and Michelle Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden observing a moment of silence outside the White House to mark the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack Obama and Joe Biden putt on the White House putting green Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama and Joe Biden in April 2013 AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years January 1, 2013: U.S. President Barack Obama winks as he arrives with Vice President Joe Biden (L) in the briefing room Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and others receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House May 1, 2011 in Washington, DC Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice-President Joe Biden, right, confirmed that the US was looking at ways of taking legal action against Julian Assange - back in December 2010 GETTY IMAGES Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden, left, and retired military officers watch President Barack Obama sign orders to close down the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in January 2009 GETTY IMAGES

A number of high-profile figures have campaigned for his release, including Pope Francis, former US president Jimmy Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of hit musical Hamilton.

Lopez Riveras lawyer, Jan Susler, broke the news of the release to him.

"He's very, very grateful," she said. "One of the things he said was: 'Tomorrow's my daughter's birthday. What an amazing present for her."'

We have a lot of work left to do, and now Oscar will be able to join us, and we can work side by side, Ms Susler later told The Guardian.

US Senate passes Puerto Rico financial rescue bill

Puerto Rico is classified as a US territory but is not officially a US state.

Lopez Rivera spent his early life on the Caribbean island but moved with his family to Chicago when he was 14. He served in the US army during the Vietnam War before becoming closely involved in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence.

US prosecutors claimed FALN had carried out at least 140 bombings on military bases, government offices and financial buildings, but Lopez Rivera has repeatedly denied he was involved in carrying out fatal attacks.

The group later renounced violence.

Asked about this by the Guardian last year, Lopez Rivera said: We realised other tactics to armed force could be more effective, mobilising people through peaceful campaigning.

Morally, also, we came to see that we had to lead by example, that if we are advocating for a better world then there are things you cannot do. You cannot get a better world by being unjust yourself.

Mr Obama has now commuted the sentences of 1,385 prisoners - more than any other US president. More are expected before he vacates the Oval Office on Friday.
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The Gambias parliament has voted to extend President Yahya Jammehs term of office for three months, state television reports.

It comes a day after Mr Jammeh declared a three-month state of emergency as he sought to stay in power despite losing elections in December.

President-elect Adama Barrow has vowed to be sworn in on Thursday, with the backing of the international community.

The extension will take effect immediately.

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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. 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Mr Jammeh has ruled The Gambia for more than 22 years.

He initially went on state TV to concede his election defeat, only to make a dramatic U-turn a week later.

Mr Jammeh has challenged the election results, citing voting irregularities, and the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has threatened to send in troops to make him leave.

Thousands of people have fled the tiny country, including a number of government ministers. Mr Barrow is in neighbouring Senegal for his safety.

Thousands of British holidaymakers are waiting to hear when they will be flown home by Thomas Cook after the Foreign Office warned the potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high.

In response to the president declaring a state of emergency, Steve Cockburn, Amnesty Internationals west and central Africa deputy director said: Respect for human rights must not be a casualty of the current political crisis in The Gambia.

The declared state of emergency must not be used to crackdown on soldiers, journalists or opposition members for their real of perceived lack of support for the President.
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Gambia's President-elect has hailed a "new era" for his country.

"My dearest Gambians  the presidency of Yahya Jammeh is officially over," Adama Barrow wrote on Twitter. "The new era of Gambia is here at last."

His message was posted shortly after midnight, when Senegalese forces had threatened to enter the country if outgoing President Jammeh had refused to step down.

Colonel Abdou Ndiaye, a spokesman for the Senegalese army, had said forces were ready to step in if no solution to the political unrest in the country was found.

Political tensions have been escalating in Gambia since December, when President Jammeh lost the leadership election to Adama Barrow but refused to leave office, citing irregularities in the vote.

His official mandate ended at midnight and President-elect Barrow had vowed to take office regardless of Mr Jammehs position.

We are ready and are awaiting the deadline at midnight. If no political solution is found, we will step in, Col Ndiaye said.

The affirmation raises concerns over a potential military confrontation between the neighbouring countries.

President Jammeh had declared a 90-day state of emergency on state TV earlier this week. In the announcement, he also blamed an "unprecedented level of foreign involvement" in Gambia's election.

At least 26,000 people have fled Gambia to Senegal fearing unrest, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who cited Senegalese government figures.

Thousands of British holidaymakers in The Gambia are waiting to find out when and how they will be flown home, after the Foreign Office updated its travel advice to warn against all but essential travel to the West African nation.

Tour operator Thomas Cook scheduled extra flights to fly home nearly 1,000 holidaymakers on Wednesday. It was also trying to contact a further 2,500 'flight only' tourists in Gambia to arrange for their departure on the earliest available flight, it said in a statement.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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Hundreds of British tourists are to be flown back from Gambia by Thomas Cook after the Foreign Office warned "the potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high" in the west African nation.

The travel company said it would fly out a special assistance team to help UK holidaymakers leave the country and would operate additional flights from the capital Banjul.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office urged Britons to avoid all but essential travel to the country

"The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high and could result in Banjul International Airport being closed at short notice," it said, in an update to its travel advice.

Thomas Cook said it would operate a programme of additional flights into Banjul airport "to bring the 985 UK customers we currently have on holiday in Gambia home, including four additional flights on Wednesday 18 January."

The company added: "In addition, we have approximately 2,500 flight-only customers in Gambia, whom we are contacting to offer the earliest possible flight availability for return to the UK. Our colleagues on the ground in Gambia will proactively contact all customers on holiday with us as soon as possible to prepare for return to the UK.

The move comes after a 90-day state of emergency was declared by President Yayha Jammeh just two days before he was supposed to cede power.

He is refusing to step down despite international pressure and the threat by other West African nations of a military intervention.

President-elect Adama Barrow, the man who ousted him in the December election, is vowing to take power later in the week, despite Mr Jammeh's refusal to leave.
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Amazon is to begin accepting food stamps as payment for its online grocery products.

The online retail giant is one of seven companies taking part in a two-year trial by the US Department of Agriculture designed to help poorer people access a greater choice of food items.

From this summer, food stamp recipients in the states of Maryland, New Jersey and New York will be able to have their Amazon grocery shopping subsidised by the government. Other companies in four other states will also take part in the study, which is part of the US governments Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The trial is designed to provide lower-income Americans with a wider choice of grocery items and help people in remote areas to access healthy food. Experts have also suggested it could avoid any embarrassment associated with using food stamp cards in shops.

Food stamp recipients are now given an electronic debit card rather than paper vouchers, making it easier for them to purchase products online. Users will have to pay any delivery fees and service charges themselves.

Tom Vilsack, the US Secretary of Agriculture, said: "Online purchasing is a potential lifeline for SNAP participants living in urban neighborhoods and rural communities where access to healthy food choices can be limited.

"We're looking forward to being able to bring the benefits of the online market to low-income Americans participating in SNAP."

The government will add more retailers to the scheme if the pilot is successful, the US Department for Agriculture added. Eventually, our goal is for this to be a national option for SNAP participants, it said.

Amazon claimed sales in the UK of 207m last year. How much did amazon.co.uk actually take? 2.9bn Show all 2 1 /2 Amazon claimed sales in the UK of 207m last year. How much did amazon.co.uk actually take? 2.9bn Amazon claimed sales in the UK of 207m last year. How much did amazon.co.uk actually take? 2.9bn 107472303.jpg Getty Images Amazon claimed sales in the UK of 207m last year. How much did amazon.co.uk actually take? 2.9bn pg-6-amazon-graphic-1.jpg

Amazon has traditionally lost out in the US grocery market, which is worth as much as $800 billion, to companies such as Wal-Mart - particularly among lower-income customers. Experts say the new initiative could help it grow the popularity of its online grocery service.

A spokesperson for Amazon said: We are committed to making food accessible through online grocery shopping, offering all customers the lowest prices possible.

Amazons selection and competitive pricing can improve the grocery shopping experience for SNAP participants while helping them extend their benefits further.

The other companies taking part in the pilot programme are FreshDirect, Harts Local Grocers and Dashs Market in New York; Safeway in Maryland, Oregon and Washington; ShopRite in Maryland New Jersey and Pennsylvania; and Hy-Vee Inc. in Iowa.

The SNAP programme helps more than 43 million low-income Americans every month with the cost of food. Almost half of those who benefit are children, while one in ten are over the age of 60.
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Five people have been injured in a shooting at the private Northeastern American College in Monterrey, northern Mexico.

A student allegedly entered the school around 8am on Wednesday morning, waited until he got into class, and shot his teacher, 24, and three classmates aged between 14 and 15.

The suspect, reported as 15 years old, allegedly then shot himself.

Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Aldo Fasci said that three people were seriously injured, according to the Associated Press, and that the incident was "unprecedented".

Mr Fasci said that a video showed the student firing at the teacher and fellow students. He then pointed the gun towards other classmates before shooting himself.

"[This] is result of a situation that is happening everywhere. The children have access to the internet. This has happened in other countries," he said.

In the confusion of the aftermath, parents and staff gathered around the entrance to the college. Disturbing pictures showed one of the injured, bleeding, being carried into an ambulance.

(Twitter (Twitter)

El Universal newspaper reported that the teenage shooter was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

There were conflicting reports that the injured had died, then the gunman's condition was downgraded to "critical". There was also mixed information on the age of the shooter, and how many people were injured.

School shootings in Mexico are extremely rare.

The college in Monterrey used to check students' bags but ended the policy after parents complained.
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Barack Obama will hand over the US presidency on Friday more popular than at any time since his first year in office.

The Democrat now has an approval rating of 60 per cent, according to a new CNN/ORC poll  the highest since June 2009. Only two other recent presidents - Bill Clinton in 2001 and Ronald Reagan in 1989 - have been more popular at the end of their terms in office.

Sixty-five per cent of Americans said they believed the Obama presidency had been a success, and half said this was a direct result of his personal qualities rather than other factors. Even close to one in five Republicans approved of Mr Obamas time in office, although this was significantly less than the 39 per cent of Republicans who approved of Mr Clinton at the end of his term.

As his presidency draws to a close, some commentators have called the former Chicago senator one of the greatest ever US presidents, and a quarter of Americans agree - significantly more than the number of people saying the same about other recent presidents at the end of their terms.

Mr Obama is considered to have done well on issues such as the economy, foreign affairs, race relations, education, climate change and LGBT rights.

However, a majority of Americans disapprove of his record on gun policy and dealing with Isis. Public opinion is divided over his performance on immigration and healthcare.

US First Lady Michelle Obama is even more popular than her husband. Sixty-nine per cent of Americans scored her performance highly  her highest rating since 2012.

Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Show all 15 1 /15 Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Dr Jill Biden watch Barack Obama's farewell speech on 11 January. Obama called Biden his 'brother' Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years US President Barack Obama speaks alongside US Vice President Joe Biden about the Affordable Care Act AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Obama listens to Joe Biden speak of his work on defeating cancer on 18 October in the White House Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama is applauded by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden while delivering his final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. Vice President Joe Biden interjects as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a reception for the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics at the White House in Washington REUTERS Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Obama and Vice President Joe Biden react after a heckler was removed for their extended interruption (Reuters) Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Speaker of the House John Boehner (R) as Vice President Joe Biden looks on Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack and Michelle Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden observing a moment of silence outside the White House to mark the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack Obama and Joe Biden putt on the White House putting green Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama and Joe Biden in April 2013 AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years January 1, 2013: U.S. President Barack Obama winks as he arrives with Vice President Joe Biden (L) in the briefing room Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and others receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House May 1, 2011 in Washington, DC Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice-President Joe Biden, right, confirmed that the US was looking at ways of taking legal action against Julian Assange - back in December 2010 GETTY IMAGES Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden, left, and retired military officers watch President Barack Obama sign orders to close down the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in January 2009 GETTY IMAGES

Mr Obama will vacate the Oval Office on Friday and hand power to Donald Trump.

The Democrat has used his last days in office to promote a number of his flagship issues, including securing funding for climate change research and abortion clinics and making a last-ditch effort to close down the controversial US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

He also pardoned and commuted the sentences of record numbers of prisoners, including whistleblower Chelsea Manning and Puerto Rica independence activist Oscar Lopez Rivera.
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I did want to stop by and make one thing very clear: I may be a little greyer than I was eight years ago - but this is what a feminist looks like. Of course, in my household theres no choice.

Mr Obamas surprise appearance at the White Houses first ever State of Women summit in June 2016 prompted one of his greatest speeches on feminism in eight years.

Nearing the end of his second term, and just months before Donald Trump was elected, he spoke of the progress made and why it was important to keep going.

Recommended 15 heartwarming pictures of President Obama from the last 8 years

Progress is not inevitable, he said. Its the result of decades of slow, tireless, often frustrating and unheralded work.

It could have been interpreted as a dire warning about the future.

Womens issues will be closely associated with Mr Obamas reign. His first ever act in government was the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. He showed and spoke about his emotions in public, working to dismantle harmful gender stereotypes. Birth control was made free under the Affordable Care Act.

When he gave his speech in June, he was full of hope. Hillary Clinton was in the running as the first ever presumptive nominee of a political party. Women now make up more than half the workforce, he said, more than 60 women have blasted into space and a woman took over chair of the Federal Reserve.

But his legacy, including fighting for womens reproductive rights, equal pay for equal work, and working in partnership with his wife to create change, is likely to live on.

The United States of Women Summit in Washington DC, 14 June 2016

Hello, everybody! Can you please give it up again for Mikaila? What an amazing young lady. I will be back on the job market in seven months, so I hope she is hiring.

I was just told backstage, when she was asked to introduce me, there were some folks who were organizing this amazing event that said, is she going to feel a little nervous speaking in front of 5,000 people? And so they asked her and she said, oh, no, I just spoke to 11,000 last week. So we were looking backstage  she was on her tippy-toes with her entrepreneurial self.

So I know youre really here to see Michelle. Or Oprah. Actually, theyre together, so youre here to see both of them. I cannot compete with them. But I did want to stop by and make one thing very clear  I may be a little grayer than I was eight years ago, but this is what a feminist looks like. Of course, in my household theres no choice.

It is great to be with so many friends. One of my first acts as President was to establish the White House Council on Women and Girls, led by Tina Tchen and Valerie Jarrett, and theyve worked with a lot of you very closely. Were so appreciative of those of you who helped not just make this event possible, but have guided a lot of our thinking across our administration.

Weve got some outstanding members of Congress  of course including my dear friend and one of the finest Speakers weve ever had, and hope to soon have again, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. And I want to thank all of you who worked so hard to make this event happen. Because this is an opportunity to reflect on how far weve come, and why it is weve got to keep going.

It was almost 100 years ago that Alice Paul and her fellow suffragists were arrested for picketing outside the White House for the right to vote. Today, women make up more than half of the electorate. For the first time in history, a woman is a major partys presumptive presidential nominee. And we are here, at the first-ever White House Summit on the United State of Women.

Because of all of you, over the past seven years, we have significantly improved the lives of women and girls not just here at home, but around the world. And I could not be prouder of what weve accomplished. I want to talk about why it matters, and why weve got to do more.

Some of you may know that on Friday, my older daughter Malia graduated from high school. And I sat in the back and wore dark glasses. And only cried once, but it was  I made this weird sound because I was choking back  (makes crying sound)  and people looked at me, people sitting in front of us turned back. And then I suppressed it. But I was thinking about how she is graduating at this extraordinary time for women in America.

The year I was born, in 1961, women made up less than 40 percent of college students. Today, you earn almost 60 percent of college degrees, make up roughly half of the workforce. Back then, the pill was still illegal in some states. And today, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, birth control is free. In the old days, women actually needed a husband to open a credit card. Today, more women are choosing to be single  and all Americans are able to marry whoever they love.

Fifty-four years ago, Katherine Johnson did the behind-the-scenes math to put a man in orbit. Today, almost 60 women have blasted into space themselves. When I was growing up, fewer than 300,000 girls played high school sports. Today, because of Title IX, more than 3 million girls are on the field. Women are leading America at every level of society, from Hollywood to Silicon Valley, from the c-suite to the federal bench to the Federal Reserve.

And that is progress. Its real and we have to celebrate it, but we also have to remember that progress is not inevitable. Its the result of decades of slow, tireless, often frustrating and unheralded work by people like Dorothy Pitman-Hughes and Gloria Steinem, who is here today people who opened our eyes to the discrimination, both subtle and overt, that women face. People like Pauli Murray and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who insisted on equal justice under the law. People like Wilma Mankiller and Patsy Mink, who redefined what leadership looks like. And, yes, people like Hillary Clinton whove raised the expectations of our daughters  and our sons  for what is possible.

In other words, our progress has been the result of countless ordinary women and men whose names will never be written into the history books or chiseled on monuments, but who dedicated their lives to ensuring that America lives up to its promise of liberty and justice for all.

Whats also true is, is that despite all that incredible progress, we are living in a time of great change, a time where people are economically anxious. Unemployment has dropped below 5 percent. Wages are growing again. But while weve made progress in narrowing the gap between rich and poor, it is still too big and the trend lines, because of globalization and automation, are still upon us.

You hear politicians peddle the fiction that blocking immigrants or cutting off trade or big government are all to blame, but we know what the causes are. The rise of global competition, the weakening of the labor movement and participation in unions, the automation of more jobs, the race of technology  all these trends have the potential of leaving workers behind. They let a few at the top do even better. And we see some of those divisions not just between groups, but within groups. There are women who have never had more opportunity, but there are a lot of women who are still stuck in the toughest of economic circumstances.

There is an important reason that so many working families feel like the system is rigged, and its because the economy hasnt caught up to some of the enormous changes that have transformed America over the past 50 years. Those days when the average family was a dad who went to work every day and a mom who stayed at home and did all the unpaid labor  thats not what our economy looks like anymore. Household and work arrangements come in all shapes and all combinations, and yet, our workplace policies still look like theyre straight out of Mad Men.

I will tell you, a lot of the problems that cross my desk are really hard to solve. If they end up on my desk, its because other people couldnt solve them. But this issue of how we support working families, the policies that we could put in place that would make a meaningful difference, here we actually have solutions right in front of us. Just as we know what the problems are, we know what some of the solutions are.

We need equal pay for equal work. We need paid family and sick leave. We need affordable child care. Weve got to raise the minimum wage. If were truly a nation of family values, we wouldnt put up with the fact that many women cant even get a paid day off to give birth. We should guarantee paid maternity leave and paid paternity leave, too. Thats how you value families. Thats how employers retain great workers. And its good for women  because when childcare falls disproportionately on mothers, as it often does, it makes it that much harder to advance in their careers.

So weve got to retool our system so that modern families and modern businesses can thrive. And let me be clear, this is not about big government, or expanding some fictional welfare-and-food-stamp state, the 47 percent mooching off the government. It is accounting for the realities of how people live now, today  the necessities of a 21st century economy.

Weve gotten some things done through executive actions. When we had a cooperative Congress, we got a whole lot more done. So far, a lot of Republicans in Congress have been unwilling to act on these agenda items that I just mentioned. But we just keep on looking for ways to get stuff done. They keep on waiting for this whole lame duck thing to happen. Let me tell you, it will happen as soon as Ive elected a really good successor to carry on our policies. But until then, were working pretty hard.

But weve made progress. The first bill I signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. And I know some of you have seen Lilly here today. We passed the Affordable Care Act to give more Americans the security of health care coverage so that not only people without health insurance could finally get it, but people who had health insurance were treated fairly, so that, for example, no insurer could charge you more just for being a woman. Dry cleaners are next. Valerie, we need to work on that, dont we? Those little blouses of yours  I dont know why they charge so much.

So my administration has taken what action that we can. And weve strengthened equal pay protections and paid sick leave for federal contractors, enhanced work flexibility for all federal employees, raised the minimum wage for federal contract workers, extended overtime-pay protections to over 4 million workers across the country. We try to set a good example providing my staff with 12 weeks of paid parental leave. And by the way, weve been having a lot of babies  Ive noticed  in the White House. Which Im happy about  I love babies. They bring them into the Oval Office and they make me feel good.

This is the right thing to do, its the smart thing to do. And the great news is, were not the only ones doing it. Youve got cities and states and businesses across the country that are adjusting to meet the needs of todays workers. In fact, today we can announce that 28 of Americas leading businesses are committed to closing the gender pay gap. We should encourage more businesses to join them. We should shop and frequent those companies that are doing the right thing because the truth is, most folks agree with each other on this. We dont have to have Congress agree with us  we can go ahead and make progress without waiting for them. Theyll catch up eventually. Theyre usually a lagging indicator on these issues.

If we really want workplace policies that work for everybody, I will say, though, it would help if we had more women in Congress. It would help if we had more women in the corner suite. I have a corner suite, by the way. Just making that connection for you.

If we are going to truly change our policies and our politics, then were also going to have to change something else, though. Were going to have to be honest with ourselves. Were going to have to change something else. Were going to have to change the way we see ourselves. And this is happening already, but I want us to be more intentional about it. I know Im preaching to the choir here, but were still boxed in by stereotypes about how men and women should behave.

As the great Shirley Chisholm once said, The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begin when the doctor says, Its a girl. And that has consequences for all of us, whether were men or women, black, white, gay, straight, transgender or otherwise.

We need to keep changing the attitude that raises our girls to be demure, and our boys to be assertive; that criticizes our daughters for speaking out, and our sons for shedding a tear.

We need to change the attitude that punishes women for their sexuality but gives men a pat on the back for theirs. We need to change an Internet where women are routinely harassed and threatened when they go online.

We need to keep changing the attitude that congratulates men for changing a diaper, stigmatizes full-time dads, penalizes working moms.

We need to keep changing the attitude that prioritizes being confident, competitive, and ambitious in the workplace  unless youre a woman.

We need to keep changing a culture that shines a particularly unforgiving light on women and girls of color. About how they look, about how they feel, about what they should or should not do. Michelle will talk about this in a little bit. Shes talked about this. Despite her extraordinary achievements and success, the fact that she is  she is an American original, she is unique, but she still had times where shes had doubts, where shes had to worry whether she was acting the right way or looking the right way, or whether she was being too assertive or too angry. You remember that?

So weve been working to change these stereotypes. Thats why were encouraging more girls to pursue their love for science, and technology, and engineering, and math. Thats why weve highlighted women trailblazers, and encouraged media to depict more examples of women in STEM  because its hard to be what you cant see. Its why weve launched a movement of women and men to fight campus sexual assault because its on all of us to stop it.

Its why were changing the culture in our military, from the top down, to take this issue seriously. Its why were working with communities, and businesses, and foundations to rethink workplace policies, and fund women entrepreneurs, and expand female leadership, and create more opportunities for girls and women of color  everybody has a role to play in America.

And even as we make progress at home, we look abroad and we know that any country that oppresses half the population  that doesnt let them go to school or work, and does not give them control over their own bodies  thats a society that will not work over the long term. It will not reach its potential. And this is a national security issue. As Commander-in-Chief, Ive seen how the ideology that leads Boko Haram to kidnap schoolgirls, and leads ISIL to enslave and rape women is the same ideology that leads to instability, and violence, and terrorism. Theres a connection there.

So we need to be clear about what were about, what we stand for. Because organizations and ideologies that are repressive and cultivate violence and anger  those are  theres a running thread, and its dangerous, and poses a threat to pluralism and tolerance and openness.

So Ive made advancing gender equality a foreign policy priority. And weve implemented a comprehensive strategy to end gender-based violence around the world, from prevention, to treating survivors, to bringing perpetrators to justice. And were helping to remove barriers that prevent women from participating fully in their societies. Were empowering the next generation of women by investing in adolescent girls and advancing the Let Girls Learn initiative to get 62 million girls into schools.

This is the future that were building, one where all of us here at home and around the world are free to live out our dreams. Where our childrens aspirations arent segregated into pink and blue. Where working families dont have to choose between taking care of a loved one and earning a paycheck. Where women and girls, no matter where they live, are free from fear of violence  including gun violence. Where hatred against women, or hatred against the LGBT community, that doesnt neatly fit into some predetermined notion of how people should be or how they love  where that is no longer the operative rule in any society. A future where women lead half our businesses, make up half of Congress. Where our girls know they can hold any job, and run any company, and compete on any field, and perform on any stage, and science the heck out of any challenge. Thats the future were trying to build.

And the good news is this is the future my daughters generation already believes in. They believe every door is open to them. Theyre not engaging in any sort of self-censorship. Theyre not going to hold themselves back. It couldnt occur to them that they couldnt rise to the top of whatever field they choose. It wouldnt occur to them not to accept all people, no matter how they identify or who they love. They think discrimination is for losers. They think its weird that we havent already had a woman President. They expect the world to catch up to them.

They expect the world to catch up to them, and I have no doubt that we will. It will take leadership. It will take the right policies. Its going to take creating more opportunities. It requires us telling each other and our children the right stories  because the stories we tell matter.

We admire the men who shaped our country, and rightfully so, the men we see as heroes  from Alexander Hamilton to Muhammad Ali  for their confidence and their courage in believing they could change our nation, this idea of self-creation, that theres nothing holding us back. In them, we see America itself, constantly reinventing itself, fearless, looking out over the horizon at the next frontier.

But our country is not just all about the Benjamins  its about the Tubmans, too. We need all our young people to know that Clara Barton and Lucretia Mott and Sojourner Truth and Eleanor Roosevelt and Dorothy Height, those arent just for Womens History Month. Theyre the authors of our history, women who shaped their destiny. They need to know that.

A woman did not magically appear on a space shuttle. It took Sally Rides relentless commitment, Mae Jemisons boundless courage to shatter that glass ceiling. A group of California farmworkers  they werent just handed their rights. It took Dolores Huerta organizing and mobilizing, fighting for the dignity and justice they deserved.

Rosa Parks wasnt simply a tired seamstress who sat down by accident. She was a civil rights leader with the eye of a strategist and the heart of a warrior. She had the confidence to board on that bus, the courage to risk her own life and liberty for the sake of ours. History did not fall into her lap  she seized that moral arc and she bent it with her bare hands in the direction of justice.

Thats the story thats still being written, today, by our modern-day heroes like Nancy Pelosi or Sonia Sotomayor or Billie Jean King or Laverne Cox or Sheryl Sandberg or Oprah Winfrey or Mikaila Ulmer or Michelle Obama the countless ordinary people every day who are bringing us closer to our highest ideals. Thats the story were going to keep on telling, so our girls see that they, too, are America  confident and courageous and, in the words of Audre Lord, deliberate and afraid of nothing.

Thats the country we love, and Ive never been optimistic  as optimistic as I am now that were going to create a country where everybody, no matter who they are or what they look like or where they come from or who they love, can make of their lives what they will. And together, we can build a world thats more just and more prosperous and more free. Thats a job for all of us.

God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Thank you.
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Donald Trumps nomination for Secretary of Education has claimed that records showing her to be vice president of a foundation that funds anti-LGBTQ organisations were a a clerical error".

Betsy DeVos told her Senate confirmation hearing that the listings were incorrect despite records dating back to the 1990s apparently showing otherwise.

Senators confronted her about a perceived history of association between Ms DeVos family and anti-LGBTQ organisations, in a heated and often contentious hearing at the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Recommended Betsy DeVos fails to answer basic question on education policy

One, Maggie Hassan told Ms DeVos she had records listing her as Vice President of the Edgar & Elsa Prince Foundation.

Run by Ms DeVos mother, it has donated more than $5 million (4 million) to Focus on the Family, a group that supports gay conversion therapy, she said.

But Ms DeVos said: "I can assure you, I have never made decisions on my mothers behalf, on her foundation board.

Focus on the Family also oppose non-discrimination legislation designed to protect LGBTQ people, as well as campaigning against marriage equality and same-sex adoption.

The DeVos family have given over $10 million (8.1 million) to Focus on the Family in recent years. The Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation specifically, has given the group $275,000 (223,000) from 1999 to 2001.

Ms DeVos attempted to distance herself from these ties, saying that these donations are her familys and not her own, and that she would embrace equality for all students.

I firmly believe in the intrinsic value of each individual and that every student should have the assurance of a safe and discrimination-free place to become educated, and I want to restate those principles, she said.

 Trump's pick for education sec was asked a basic question about education policy  and couldnt answer

A history of anti-LGBTQ campaigns from Ms DeVos has worried members of that community.

Together with her husband Dick, Ms DeVos put an anti-gay marriage amendment onto Michigan ballots in 2004, contributing $200,000 (162,000) to the ultimately successful campaign.

Senator Al Franken confronted Ms DeVos directly about the issue, asking her whether she still believed in gay conversion therapy.

She replied that she "never believed in that.

The hearing covered a number of contentious issues, including the funding of the countrys public schools, and the fact Ms DeVos family has donated $200 million (162 million) to the Republican Party.

Former Democratic presidential nominee Bernie Sanders suggested that this was the reason she was picked for the role.

Ms DeVos also argued that the threat from grizzly bears justified guns being allowed in some schools, after Donald Trump had suggested that gun-free zones around schools may be abolished.

Referring to an elementary school in Wyoming that built a fence as protection from wildlife, she said: I think probably there, I would imagine that there's probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies.
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President Barack Obama defended his choice to commute the sentence of Wikileaks whistleblower, Chelsea Manning, but made it clear that he did not issue a pardon.

"Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence," the outgoing President told reporters in his final press conference. "So the notion that the average person who was thinking about disclosing vital classified information would think that it goes unpunished, I don't think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served."

Mr Obama explained that Ms Manning faced trial and took responsibility for her actions in leaking hundreds of thousands of classified materials in 2010. But he added: "The sentence that she received was very disproportionate to what other leakers had received, and... she had serve a significant amount of time that it made sense to commute and not pardon her sentence."

The White House announced the commutation of the whistleblower's 35-year sentence on Tuesday. She was included in a list of 209 commutations and 64 pardons.

She had spent almost seven years in prison  a large portion of which was spent in solitary confinement in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, prison.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan denounced Mr Obama's decision to grant clemency to Ms Manning shortly after the announcement.

"This is just outrageous," he said. "Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets.

"President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security won't be held accountable for their crimes."

But Mr Obama said he felt that justice had been served and encouraged whistleblowers who wish to expose wrongdoing to do so through official channels.

"I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent that when it comes to our national security," he said, "that wherever possible we need folks who may have legitimate concerns about the actions of the government, their superiors, or the agencies in which they work, that they try to work through the established channels and avail themselves to the whistleblower protections that have been put in place." Ms Manning is set for release 17 May 2017.

On Wednesday lawyers for Julian Assange said US officials had not met the WikiLeaks founder's conditions for agreeing to be extradited to the United States. Last week Mr Assange offered not to fight extradition if Chelsea Manning were offered clemency. His lawyers now say he was demanding that Manning be freed "immediately".

Mr Assange's US lawyer Barry Pollack insisted that his client was being consistent. He said: "Why would he be calling for Manning's release in a few months?" But Mr Assange made no mention of an immediate release in his offer. Critics accused him of going back on his vow.
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President-elect Donald Trump has said he will give all world leaders "an even start" when he takes up office.

The incoming president suggested he sees all world leaders on par, with a fresh chance to prove themselves, in an interview with Axios.

"So, I give everybody an even start; that right now, as far as I'm concerned, everybody's got an even start," he told the news organisation.

 Donald Trump's five key pledges

Mr Trump's comments come after he said he would "start off trusting both" German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a longtime US-ally, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Well, I start off trusting both  but lets see how long that lasts," he said in an interview with The Sunday Times.

"It may not last long at all.

World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Show all 29 1 /29 World reaction to President Trump: In pictures World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty Images World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mosul , Iraq Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures New Delhi, India Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Karachi, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kabul, Afghanistan AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem. Israel Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Moscow, Russia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Seoul, South Korea AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Peshawar, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Hyderabad, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kolkata, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Aleppo, Syria Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem, Israel EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Baghdad, Iraq Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Tokyo, Japan Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico Getty

During the interview, he also took aim at another key western alliance, describing Nato as "obsolete".

I said a long time ago that Nato had problems. Number one it was obsolete, because it was designed many, many years ago. Number two the countries arent paying what theyre supposed to pay."

He added: "A lot of these countries arent paying what theyre supposed to be paying, which I think is very unfair to the United States. With that being said, Nato is very important to me."
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Donald Trumps nominee for education secretary has said the President-elect is guilty of actions that constitute sexual assault.

Betsy DeVos, a Republican donor, said she considered conduct by the President-elect to constitute sexual assault, in reference to the unwanted kissing and touching he bragged about on a 2005 tape that surfaced last October.

Speaking at her Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Ms DeVos also vowed she would be looking very closely into how such behaviour could be regulated in schools and campuses if she lands the role.

During the hearing, the Republican was asked by a Democratic senator whether if Mr Trumps behaviour, kissing and touching women and girls without their consent, happened in a school, she would would consider it a sexual assault.

The Republican immediately replied: Yes.

When then asked whether she planned to rein in the department's work to protect students from campus sexual assault, Ms DeVos retorted that she would "be looking very closely at how this has been regulated and handled and with great sensitivity to those who are victims."

In a 2005 recording that surfaced a month before the presidential election, Mr Trump bragged that he could do anything he wanted to women  including grabbing and kissing them without consent.

 Donald Trump caught on tape talking about sexually assaulting women: "Grab 'em by the pussy"

The billionaire later dismissed his comments as locker room talk.

Ms DeVos's comments came as a woman who previously accused Mr Trump of aggressive, unwanted sexual advances filed a defamation lawsuit against him.

Summer Zervos, a former contestant on The Apprentice, announced the suit on Tuesday, alleging the President-elect defamed her in tweets and at rallies when he said her claims were fabricated, after she accused him in November of accosting her in New York City and at a Beverly Hills hotel in 2007.

 Former Apprentice star files defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump

Ms Zervos is one among at least a dozen women who have accused the President-elect of sexual assault  all allegations he has strongly denied. Only one person previously filed a lawsuit against him, but dropped the case shortly after she failed to reveal her identity at a press conference.

During the senator hearing, Ms DeVos also said she would not seek to dismantle public schools amid questions by Democrats about her qualifications, political donations and long-time work advocating for charter schools and school choice.

When quizzed by Senator Bernie Sanders on whether she would have gotten the job had it not been for her family's political contributions, Ms DeVos said: As a matter of fact I do think that there would be that possibility.

"I have worked very hard on behalf of parents and children for the last almost 30 years."

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

Amid concerns that Ms DeVos' conservative religious views might make her a poor advocate for the rights of the LGBT community and other minorities, the Republican stressed that no students should face discrimination.

LGBT groups have protested the President-elect's choice of Ms DeVos, saying she has funded conservative religious groups that promote what they consider to be traditional family values.

As education secretary, Ms DeVos would lead the agency responsible for policies affecting public schools, and be in charge of executing Mr Trump's campaign promise to use $20 billion in federal funds to create school choice programmes.
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Incoming health secretary Tom Price has been kept out of the loop on Donald Trumps plan to replace Obamacare and therefore could not tell the Senate how millions of people would retain healthcare insurance.

Vermont senator Bernie Sanders would not let the practising physician off the hook, however.

The former presidential candidate asked Mr Price whether he believed that every American had the right to health care, to go to a hospital if they needed to, regardless of their income.

"We are a compassionate society" Mr Price started.

"No we are not a compassionate society," interrupted Mr Sanders.

"In terms of our relationship to poor and working people our record is worse than virtually any other country on earth," he continued. "We have the highest rate of child poverty than any other major country on earth; our senior, older workers have nothing set aside for retirement, so I dont think, compared to other countries, we are particularly compassionate."

Mr Price responded that he wanted to ensure that every American had the "financial feasibility" to purchase the health care coverage of their choice, and that "nobodys interested in pulling the rug out from under anybody".

The US is the only major, developed country on earth that does not guarantee its citizens health care. As Republicans move ahead to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a solid replacement plan, Democrats have warned that as many as 30 million people could lose their healthcare.

Mr Price said at the hearing that it was "fair" that repeal and replace would happen simultaneously, as President-elect Trump had proposed.

Mr Price defended his investments in private health care companies, saying, "Everything that we have done has been above-board, transparent, ethical and legal."

Democratic senator Patty Murray then quizzed Mr Price on his thousands of dollars worth of investment in a company called Immunotherapeutics, which she accused him of purchasing after receiving a "stock tip" from GOP representative Chris Collins.

"I believe its inappropriate and we need answers regarding this, whether you and Congressman Collins used your access to non-public information when you bought at prices that were unavailable to the public," she said.

Mr Price denied buying the stock after receiving information about the companies that would put him at an advantage, and said his discounted price was simply the result of a private placement offered to a select group of investors.

Senator Al Franken accused Mr Price of making financial gains in tobacco stocks, and tobacco was the leading cause of preventable death in the US.

"Between 1993 and 2012, you were a shareholder of tobacco. Big tobacco companies. Meaning that you personally benefited from tobacco sales. Meanwhile, you voted against landmark legislation in 2009 that gave the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco," Mr Franken said.

"Congressman Price, You're a physician which means you took the Hippocratic oath  a pledge to do no harm. How do you square reaping personal financial gains from sales of an addictive product that kills millions of Americans every decade with also voting against measures to reduce the death toll inflicted by tobacco?"

Mr Price responded that he did not know what stocks he owned in the 1990s, which Mr Franken said he did not believe.

The incoming health secretary was also grilled on his position on Planned Parenthood, which provides overall health care to millions of people, as well as employers firing women who use their healthcare coverage to purchase birth control.

Virginia senator Tim Kaine spoke of the "fear and anxiety" felt by millions of people over whether they would lose their health care - a paradox faced by a Republican administration that has promised to put the health of its nation as a priority.
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Make America Great Again.

The four words that would help propel Donald Trump to the White House were an inspiration born years before, when hardly anyone but Trump himself could imagine him taking the oath of office as the 45th president of the United States.

It happened on Nov. 7, 2012, the day after Mitt Romney lost what had been presumed to be a winnable race against President Obama. Republicans were spiraling into an identity crisis, one that had some wondering whether a GOP president would ever sit in the Oval Office again.

But on the 26th floor of a golden Manhattan tower that bears his name, Trump was coming to the conclusion that his own moment was at hand.

And in typical fashion, the first thing he thought about was how to brand it.

The Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, as the city prepares for Friday's inauguration of Donald Trump as president (AP)

One after another, phrases popped into his head. We Will Make America Great. That one did not have the right ring. Then, Make America Great. But that sounded like a slight to the country.

And then, it hit him: Make America Great Again.

I said, That is so good. I wrote it down, Trump recalled in an interview. I went to my lawyers. I have a lot of lawyers in-house. We have many lawyers. I have got guys that handle this stuff. I said, See if you can have this registered and trademarked. 

Five days later, Trump signed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office, in which he asked for exclusive rights to use Make America Great Again for political action committee services, namely, promoting public awareness of political issues and fundraising in the field of politics. He enclosed a $325 registration fee.

His was a vision that ran against the conventional wisdom of the time  in fact, it was much the opposite, Trump said.

To save itself, the Republican establishment was convinced, the GOP would have to sand off its edges, become kinder and more inclusive. Make America Great Again was divisive and backward-looking. It made no nod to diversity or civility or progress.

It sounded like a death wish.

But Trump had seen something different in the country, and in the daily lives of its struggling citizens.

I felt that jobs were hurting, he said. I looked at the many types of illness our country had, and whether its at the border, whether its security, whether its law and order or lack of law and order. Then, of course, you get to trade, and I said to myself, What would be good? I was sitting at my desk, where I am right now, and I said, Make America Great Again. 

Democrats slammed it.

Women go on strike against Donald Trump Show all 7 1 /7 Women go on strike against Donald Trump Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump Protestors march during a demonstration against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump near Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York City, December 12, 2016. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Women go on strike against Donald Trump Protestors march during a demonstration against U.S. President-elect Donald Trump near Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York City, December 12, 2016. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images Women go on strike against Donald Trump People rally as part of a nationwide protest against US President-elect Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower on December 12, 2016 in New York. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images

If youre looking for someone to say what is wrong with America, Im not your candidate. I think there is more right than wrong, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said. I dont think we have to make America great. I think we have to make America greater.

Her husband, former president Bill Clinton, went so far as to declare it a racist dog whistle.

Im actually old enough to remember the good old days, and they werent all that good in many ways, he said at a rally in Orlando. That message where Ill give you America great again is if youre a white Southerner, you know exactly what it means, dont you?

The slogan itself was not entirely original. Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush had used Lets Make America Great Again in their 1980 campaign  a fact that Trump maintained he did not know until about a year ago.

But he didnt trademark it, Trump said of Reagan.

His decision to claim legal ownership reflected a businessmans mind-set. I think Im somebody that understands marketing, Trump said.

Trump Organisation lawyer Alan Garten said Trump holds upward of 800 trademarks in more than 80 countries.

The trademark became effective on July 14, 2015, a month after Trump formally announced his campaign and met the legal requirement that he was actually using it for the purposes spelled out in his application.

Having won the trademark, Trump was aggressive in protecting his idea. When his GOP primary rivals Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker began tucking make America great again into their own speeches, Trumps lawyers fired off cease-and-desist letters.

Trump was an impulsive and erratic candidate who ran a chaotic campaign. The one constant, it often seemed, was Make America Great Again.

 Donald Trump's own education nominee says President-elect's behaviour is sexual assault

I didnt know it was going to catch on like it did. Its been amazing, Trump said. The hat, I guess, is the biggest symbol, wouldnt you say?

There were plenty of snickers when his Federal Election Commission filings showed that his campaign was spending more on Make America Great Again trucker caps than on polling, political consultants, staff or television ads.

An appropriate icon for his failing campaign, the Washington Examiners Philip Wegmann wrote in late October. The millions of hats will make excellent keepsakes for those who thought his populist bravado could overcome Clintons unimaginative and conventional but well-oiled political machine.

Trump saw the hats as a fundraising and advertising vehicle. He was thrilled when his campaign headgear landed in the New York Times Style section  during Fashion Week, no less.

In the Style section, it was the ornament  what do you call that?  an accessory. They said the accessory of the year. You know the hat. Youd see people going to the fanciest balls at the Waldorf Astoria wearing red hats, he exulted.

As is often the case, Trumps description is more than a little hyperbolic. What the newspaper actually wrote was that the old-school caps had become the ironic must-have fashion accessory of the summer, favored by hipsters for their uncanny ability to capture the current absurdist political moment.

None of which fazed the celebrity billionaire who had debuted the hats by wearing one during a July 2015 trip to the Mexican border  or the legions of supporters who raced to snap them up. Trump had designed them himself, he said. The basic models sold through his campaign website were priced at $25.

How many did we sell? Does anyone know? Millions! Trump said in the interview.

It was copied, unfortunately. It was knocked off by 10 to one. It was knocked off by others. But it was a slogan, and every time somebody buys one, thats an advertisement.

However many hats he sold, what cannot be disputed is that Make America Great Again caught on. It was the most effective kind of political message, bite-sized and visceral.

It actually inspired me, Trump said, because to me, it meant jobs. It meant industry, and meant military strength. It meant taking care of our veterans. It meant so much.

That kind of mission statement was something that Clintons campaign  for all its poll testing and high-priced advice from Madison Avenue  struggled to articulate.

Her strategists considered 85 possibilities for a general-election campaign slogan before settling on Stronger Together, according to an email from the account of campaign chairman John Podesta that was published by WikiLeaks.

What they were up against was nothing short of a marketing genius, said David Axelrod, who had been Obamas chief political strategist. Trump understood the market that he was trying to reach. You cant deny him that. He was very focused from the start on who he was talking to.

While Clinton carried the popular vote, Trump lined up the states he needed to win what mattered: the electoral college.

In terms of galvanising the market that he was talking to, Axelrod said, he did it single-mindedly and ingeniously.

Halfway through his interview with The Washington Post, Trump shared a bit of news: He already has decided on his slogan for a reelection bid in 2020.

Are you ready? he said.  Keep America Great, exclamation point.

Get me my lawyer! the president-elect shouted.

Two minutes later, one arrived.

Will you trademark and register, if you would, if you like it  I think I like it, right? Do this: Keep America Great, with an exclamation point. With and without an exclamation. Keep America Great,  Trump said.

Got it, the lawyer replied.

That bit of business out of the way, Trump returned to the interview.

I never thought Id be giving [you] my expression for four years [from now], he said. But I am so confident that we are going to be, it is going to be so amazing. Its the only reason I give it to you. If I was, like, ambiguous about it, if I wasnt sure about what is going to happen  the country is going to be great.

All of which raises the questions: How can greatness be measured and sensed? What does it even mean?

Being a great president has to do with a lot of things, but one of them is being a great cheerleader for the country, Trump said. And were going to show the people as we build up our military, were going to display our military.

That military may come marching down Pennsylvania Avenue. That military may be flying over New York City and Washington, D.C., for parades. I mean, were going to be showing our military, he added.

But Trump acknowledged that slogans and showmanship will not be the ultimate tests of whether the country is great again.

The president-elect has an ambitious to-do list for the next four years: building stronger borders, keeping the country safe against terrorism, producing more jobs, repealing the Affordable Care Act, replacing it with something better, promoting excellence in engineering and science, investing in modern infrastructure.

Ultimately, it will be up to the people for whom Make America Great Again was a covenant, not a slogan, to decide whether the 45th president has lived up to his promise.

I think they have to feel it, Trump acknowledged. Being a cheerleader or a salesman for the country is very important, but you still have to produce the results.

Honestly, you havent seen anything yet. Wait till you see what happens, starting next Monday, he said. A lot of things are going to happen. Great things.

Copyright Washington Post
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Journalists have penned an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump, warning him they will no longer stand by and watch as their colleagues are insulted or ignored at press conferences.

"We now recognize that the challenge of covering you requires that we cooperate and help one another whenever possible. So, when you shout down or ignore a reporter at a press conference who has said something you dont like, youre going to face a unified front," wrote Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review.

"Well work together on stories when it makes sense, and make sure the world hears when our colleagues write stories of importance."

The letter follows Mr Trumps first press conference of six months, where he refused to take a question from CNN reporter Jim Acosta, calling him "rude" and wrongly blaming CNN for reporting a negative and unverified story about him.

Mr Acosta was told by Mr Trumps press secretary, Sean Spicer, that he would be removed from future events if he behaved the same way.

In the open letter, Mr Pope called for unity of the press, and asked Mr Trump to clarify "the relationship between [his] administration and the American press."

 Donald Trump in angry exchange with CNN reporter after President-elect refuses question

Mr Trump has defied conventions by abandoning the press pool at Trump Tower to go on family dinners, not holding press conferences and accusing individual reporters of being "biased" and "sleaze bags". He has also called out and accused individual journalists at rallies, such as Katy Tur of NBC, prompting rally attendees to levy abuse at her.

His latest tweets as of Wednesday morning targeted "biased" NBC for reporting that he had little to do with big companies pledges to invest more in US jobs instead of moving abroad.

He also recently called BuzzFeed a "failing pile of garbage" for reporting on unverified claims about him, contained in a dossier compiled by a former British MI6 agent.

One press conference in May was hosted to attack the press, listing off charities he had donated to and slandering individual reporters.

The President-elect threatened to sue news outlets several times, including when they reported the sexual assault allegations against him.

Mr Pope added that Mr Trumps threat to ban future contact with journalists would only spur them on.

We are very good at finding alternative ways to get information, he said. "Telling reporters that they wont get access to something isnt what wed prefer, but its a challenge we relish."

It outlines eight points that journalists should fight for, including objective truth, media control over air time and higher standards of journalistic ethics.

Mr Pope ended on an optimistic note, saying that the free press has "been around since the founding of the Republic" and its "role in this great democracy has been ratified and reinforced again and again".
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Former President George HW Bush wrote a personal note to President-elect Donald Trump explaining that he is under doctor's orders to skip the inauguration ceremony.

Mr Bush, 92, says he cannot brave the cool January weather given his current health condition.

"My doctor says if I sit outside in January, it will likely put me six feet under," the 41st President wrote. "So I guess we're stuck in Texas."

Spokesperson for Mr Bush, Jim McGrath, confirmed the authenticity of the letter on Twitter.

Mr Bush had been admitted to a Houston hospital prior to the release of the letter. Former First Lady Barbara Bush was later admitted to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

"Shortly after our previous report on President Bush's condition, he was admitted to the ICU at Houston Methodist Hospital to address an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia. Doctors performed a procedure to protect and clear his airways that required sedation," a spokesperson said.

"Barbara Bush was admitted to the same hospital Wednesday morning as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing."

In pictures: George Bush library Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: George Bush library In pictures: George Bush library bush-library5_1.jpg AFP In pictures: George Bush library bush-library6.jpg AP In pictures: George Bush library bush-library8.jpg Getty Images In pictures: George Bush library bush-library10.jpg Reuters In pictures: George Bush library bush-library9.jpg AFP In pictures: George Bush library bush-library2_1.jpg AP In pictures: George Bush library bush-library3_1.jpg Reuters In pictures: George Bush library bush-library4_1.jpg Reuters In pictures: George Bush library bush-library11.jpg AP

The former president suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease that has left him unable to walk unassisted, and he gets around with the help of a wheelchair.

Mr Bush was hospitalised twice in 2014. One trip to the hospital lasted for seven weeks as he suffered from pneumonia and breathing difficulties. In 2015, he was admitted to a hospital when he broke a bone in his neck while at his summer home in Maine.

Despite his health troubles, Mr Bush graciously offered his support to the incoming president.

He said that he and his wife, Barbara Bush, "will be with you and the country in spirit".

"I want you to know that I wish you the very best as you begin this incredible journey of leading our great country," he added. "If I can ever be of help, please let me know."
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Joe Biden warned that the richest people in the world were not paying their fair share and were instead hollowing out a two-tier world, one that was more vulnerable to fall away from democracy and threaten world order.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he said, There is a palpable sense of uncertainty around the world.

In two days there will be a new President in the United States but the challenges we face and the choices we make by the international community do not hinge exclusively on Washington leadership, he said.

He stressed that he was not only talking about Donald Trump, but that all nations would have to make the same choices to determine what kind of world we are going to leave for our children.

The greatest threat on this front springs from the distinct, illiberal and external actors who equate their success with fracturing liberal, international order, he said. We see it in Asia and the Middle East where China and Iran would clearly prefer a world in which they they have overwhelming sway in their regions. I will not mince words. This movement is principally led by Russia.

The Vice President praised the US and Europe after WWII for creating institutions against wars, investing for the long term and working for the peace which was enjoyed during the second half of the 20th century.

Now, the working class feel they are being overlooked and their economic security is in jeopardy, he said.

His last speech as Vice President comes at the end of several spats with President-elect Mr Trump, who has been the face of the new populism in the US which vows to help the working class but fills its cabinet with corporate billionaires.

Popular movements on both the left and the right have demonstrated a dangerous willingness to revert to political small-mindedness, he said. To the same nationalist, protectionist, isolationist agendas that led the world to consume itself in war during the past century.

He spoke against demagogues and autocrats who exploited peoples vulnerabilities, encouraged division and expressed Islamophobic rhetoric to stoke fear.

Building walls, he said, would only create a false sense of security and would not resolve problems such as terrorism.

Mr Bidens words echoed that of his 2016 speech in Davos, where he said: The digital revolution has the potential to exacerbate this breakdown and further hollow out the middle class, not just in America but around the world.

While highly-skilled workers are paid more and more, demand for lower-skilled workers is shrinking, and contributing to inequity. The bargain that workers are paid fairly and treated with dignity has been fractured in the US, he said.

I will state what I hope what you all believe, that its our responsibility like those who have gone before us, whats been done in every previous revolution, to bend these changes to the benefit of society, he said, to make sure the digital revolution creates far more winners than losers, and thats not evident, in my view.

The Vice President plans to employ his White House staff at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Delaware to continue his cancer Moonshot initiative and to research foreign and domestic policy as well as violence against women.
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When Michael Moore predicted Donald Trump would become US president in July of last year, the majority of pollsters, media commentators and activists overtly scoffed at his grave forecast.

But as the billionaire property tycoon climbed the polls and eventually won the election, the Oscar-winning documentary-makers predictions have held increasing clout. Moore, who has enjoyed a renaissance and emerged as a leading critic of the President-elect, has now made his predictions for Mr Trumps presidency.

Moore said the incoming President would follow through on his campaign plans, distancing himself from the increasingly popular view that he might tone down on his divisive, inflammatory campaign rhetoric once in office.

Moore urged the public to take Mr Trump at his word and argued he would begin rolling back Barack Obamas executive-branch regulations on his first day in office. The political commentator argued Mr Trump would put his two cornerstone campaign pledges - the wall along the border of Mexico and the US and the "Muslim ban"  into action.

The good news: Trump has been up-front about his plans (if only we were listening). The bad news: He'll actually follow through with them, Moore told Variety.

You do have to take Trump at his word. I still hear people say, Oh, hes not really going to build the wall. Oh, he is going to build it. He knows that hes got to deliver at least a version of the wall.

President Donald Trump life in pictures Show all 16 1 /16 President Donald Trump life in pictures President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump poses in a rocking chair once used by President John F. Kennedy at his New York City residence Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Developer Donald Trump with his new bride Marla Maples after their wedding at the Plaza hotel in New York Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Celina Midelfart watch the match between Conchita Martinez and Amanda Coetzer during U.S. Open. She was the date whom Donald Trump was with when he met his current wife Melania at a party in 1996 Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas serving as the grand marshal for the Daytona 500, speaks to Donald Trump and Melania Knauss on the starting grid at the Daytona International Speedwa Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Developer Donald Trump talks with his former wife Ivana Trump during the men's final at the U.S. Open Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and his friend Melania Knauss pose for photographers as they arrive at the New York premiere of Star Wars Episode : 'The Phantom Menace,' Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire real estate developer Donald Trump talks with host Larry King. Trump told King that he was moving toward a possible bid for the United States presidency with the formation of a presidential exploratory committee Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump answers questions as Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura looks on in Brooklyn Park. Trump said on Friday he 'very well might' make a run for president under the Reform Party banner but had not made a final decision Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire Donald Trump makes a face at a friend as he sits next to Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso before the start of the 2003 Miss Universe pageant in Panama City Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Entrepreneur Donald Trump is greeted by a Marilyn Monroe character look-a-alike, as he arrives at Universal Studios Hollywood to attend the an open casting call for his NBC television network reality series 'The Apprentice.' Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Simon Cowell present an Emmy during the 56th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump and Megan Mullally perform at the 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump, poses with his children, son Donald Trump, Jr., and daughters Tiffany and Ivanka Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Billionaire Donald Trump told Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner on Tuesday she would be given a second chance after reported misbehavior Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures Donald Trump holds a replica of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as his wife Melania holds their son Barron in Los Angeles Reuters President Donald Trump life in pictures U.S. property mogul Donald Trump stands next to a bagpiper during a media event on the sand dunes of the Menie estate, the site for Trump's proposed golf resort, near Aberdeen, north east Scotland Reuters

What youre going to see is, on day one, hes going to rescind a dozen or more of Obamas executive-branch regulations. On day two, Republicans will start printing laws the way you print fliers for a homecoming dance. Before the liberals and the Democrats can get their heads screwed on straight, theyll have 20 laws passed. Building a wall. Creating a Muslim ban.

Moore suggested the President-elect has already shown how he will get away with building the Mexican wall.

Hes going to get away with it by making it a ban on Muslims who come from the following countries. He needs just enough cover for his crowd to say, 'Oh, hes being reasonable there. Hes not banning all Muslims.'

Moore said he was worried about the President-elect having access to the nuclear codes and said he wished he had been forced to endure a psychological evalution. He suggested Mr Trump was unable to take criticism and questioned why he was tweeting about Meryl Streep after her Global Globes rebuke of him when there were far more pressing global issues to be dealing with.

It was before the sun came up. With all thats going on the world - the shooting in Fort Lauderdale, the shooting of police in Orlando, North Korea saying they have an ICBM that can hit us - and he woke up being consumed with Meryl Streep.

Recommended Michael Moore weighs in on new Republican congress

Over the weekend, Mr Trump made it clear that he will not start attending to presidential duties until two days after his inauguration. He explained that he would take the weekend off and instead consider Monday as the first day of his administration.

Moore previously positioned himself as a Bernie Sanders supporter, but following the news that Mr Sanders had dropped out, he announced he would vote for Hillary Clinton in order to keep Mr Trump out. He has called on Americans to transform their anger at Mr Trumps victory into action via protests and civil disobedience.

He is playing a key role in the protests surrounding Mr Trumps inauguration on 20 January and will be speaking at the Women's March on Washington on Saturday and holding a massive rally in front of Trump International Hotel in New York the night before his inauguration.
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Rescuers in Nicaragua are working to reach miners still trapped in a gold mine 24 hours after it collapsed.

The first 11 workers were freed on Friday night, walking out to cheers from relatives and fellow miners, but 13 are still underground.

Part of the El Comal gold and silver mine in the town of Bonanza collapsed on Thursday, cutting off men in a shaft.

One of the rescued miners, Marvin Urbina, said they saw an avalanche of mud and rock hurtling towards them and clung onto the walls of the mine as several colleagues were crushed.

I asked God to let me live and he listened to me and now I will serve Him, the 34-year-old told US Channel 6.

Nicaraguas Interior Vice Minister, Carlos Najar, said the miners were dehydrated but in good health.

They are coming out little by little, it's a slow process but we want to make sure they can get out safely, he said.

A rescued miner is evacuated from the El Comal gold and silver mine (AFP/Getty Images)

Earlier, authorities said 20 of the 24 miners had been located and had communicated with rescuers.

Hundreds of relatives and fellow miners had gathered to pray outside the mine as rescuers lined up ladders along a 60-metre long tunnel leading towards where the men were trapped.

The mine cuts into the side of a mountain and tunnels move upwards into the rock.

Javier Amaya, a commander of the rescue operation, said the rescue plan involved groups of five or 10 miners entering the mine on wooden ladders, tying themselves off and going in until they reach them.

Outside the mine, Jorge Hernandez, 25, said he learned his brother was one of the miners on television.

We're praying to God with all of our souls so that my brother and the other men can be rescued alive and well, he said.

It was unclear if he was one of the 11 miners rescued.

A miner enters the El Comal gold and silver mine to help with rescue operations after the landslide (AP)

The gold and silver mine is operated by Colombian company Hemco but the trapped miners are freelancers allowed to work in the company's concession if they sell any gold they find to the firm.

A company spokesperson said they had been warned about the danger of working in the El Comal area, especially after two miners died in a landslide caused by rain last month.

We live by extracting minerals from Hemco. They told us digging here was risky, but sometimes one is willing to risk it for a few more cents, said Absalon Toledo, leader of the freelancers.

Hemco has mined in area since 1995, according to its website, and employs 532 workers who process 700 tonnes of material a day.

The company says it produces more than 1,150 kilograms of gold a year and is Nicaragua's 12th largest exporter.

Additional reporting by AP
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A waitress is suing a Missouri police detective for allegedly performing a cavity search in public using excessive force and without justification while a male officer watched.

Kayla Robinson has alleged that she was subjected to an unlawful and unreasonable vaginal examination by Detective Angela Hawkins from the St Louis Metropolitan Police Department during an incident in 2012, according to the Riverfront Times.

Ms Robinson, an African American waitress, was a passenger in a car that was pulled over in October 2012 for making an illegal U-turn at the time of the incident. Detective Hawkins, a white officer, alleged she witnessed Ms Robinson put a small bag of weed in her underwear and hide a crack rock under her foot.

According to the law suit, Ms Robinson handed over the bag of weed to Detective Hawkins but denied possessing crack. She was then allegedly subjected to a cavity search for which it is claimed there was no justification, and was carried out with excessive force, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

A description of the event in the lawsuit claims that Detective Hawkins requested a pair of rubber gloves and took Ms Robinson to a nearby tractor trailer parking lot while handcuffed. She allegedly put the gloves on and turned Ms Roberts around to face the male officer, before unbuttoning her trousers.

The lawsuit alleges: At this time, Plaintiff was crying hysterically and begging Defendant Hawkins to take her to jail and search her there.

Defendant Hawkins instead forced Plaintiff to bend over and placed her fingers inside Plaintiffs vagina.

After finding no drugs on Plaintiff during the course of this unreasonable and unlawful search, Defendant Hawkins fastened Plaintiffs pants and slammed her with excessive force into the parked trailer.

The cavity search returned no drugs and Detective Hawkins was later disciplined for her actions, according to the lawsuit.

It is also claimed that Detective Hawkins had slammed Ms Robinson against the tractor trailer and demanded to know where the dope and the guns were, the New York Post reports.

 USA: Another black 18-year old teen killed by St Louis police sparks protests

Ms Robinson was arrested on suspicion of two counts of drug possession, though charges were never filed.

The waitress filed a formal complaint at the time but claimed she did not receive a response. After following up the complaint in 2015 she received a letter from the police department stating that Detective Hawkins had been disciplined, but did not specify how.

Ms Robinson began procedures to sue the detective in November last year and the case has now been moved to the US District Court in St Louis. The case reportedly names Detective Hawkins, the city of St Louis, police chief Sam Dotson and two other officers. Ms Robinson is reportedly seeking $25,000 (20,370) in damages.

Speaking to the Riverfront Times, Ms Robinson claimed the police department targets African Americans on a daily basis, oftentimes from northern areas of the city, and they try to shake them down. They make false allegations, threats against them, and their hope is that somebody is going to be weak enough to roll over and provide information to them.

Her lawyer, Jeremy Hollingshead, called St Louis Metropolitan Police Department one of the most corrupt in the country.

A spokesperson for the police department told The Independent it does not comment on pending or on-going litigation as a matter of department policy.
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After enduring more than three decades in a Chicago prison, Oscar Lopez Rivera has been pardoned by Barack Obama.

The Puerto Rican independence activist, who is deemed to be one of the worlds longest-serving political prisoners, was serving a 70-year sentence and has been imprisoned since 1981.

In his final days in office, Mr Obama has issued 64 pardons and 209 commutations, including granting the release of Chelsea Manning. The transgender US Army private, who was jailed in 2010 after handing thousands of secret documents to WikiLeaks, will now be freed on 17 May instead of her scheduled 2045 release.

He was a well-respected grassroots Puerto Rican activist

Born in San Sebastian in Puerto Rico in 1943, Lopez Rivera's family moved to the mainland US when he was just nine years old. At the age of 14, he moved to Chicago with his sister. By the time he turned 18, he was drafted into the army, going on to serve in the Vietnam War and being awarded the Bronze Star.

After returning from the war, Lopez Rivera became a leading grassroots activist in the area. He fought against discrimination, exploitation and police brutality in Puerto Rican communities in the late 1960s. On top of this, he was instrumental in the creation of both the Puerto Rican High School and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and played a key role in campaigning for bilingual education in schools and urging universities to actively recruit members of the Latino population.

Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Show all 12 1 /12 Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence torbakhopper/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Garry Knight/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence People hold signs calling for the release of imprisoned wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning while marching in a gay pride parade in San Francisco, California June 28, 2015. Manning has appealed to an Army court to overturn her court-martial conviction, a court filing released on Thursday said. Reuters Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Around twenty activists associated with the Chelsea Manning support group rally in front of the White House in Washington DC, Sunday May 11, 2014. Stephen Melkisethian/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Daily Chalkupy/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Around twenty activists associated with the Chelsea Manning support group rally in front of the White House in Washington DC, Sunday May 11, 2014. Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Twitter Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Abigail Edward holds up a sign advocating the release of WikiLeaks whistle blower Chelsea Manning along the Gay Pride parade route in San Francisco, California on Sunday, June, 26, 2016. Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Demonstration for Chelsea Manning in London, England, United Kingdom. Chelsea Manning (born Bradley Edward Manning) is a United States Army soldier who was convicted by court-martial in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses, after disclosing to WikiLeaks nearly three-quarters of a million classified or unclassified but sensitive military and diplomatic documents. Manning was sentenced in August 2013 to 35 years imprisonment, with the possibility of parole in the eighth year, and to be dishonorably discharged from the Army. Manning is a trans woman who, in a statement the day after sentencing, said she had felt female since childhood, wanted to be known as Chelsea, and desired to begin hormone replacement therapy. From early life and through much of her Army life, Manning was known as Bradley; she was diagnosed with gender identity disorder while in the Army. Mike Kemp/Getty Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Chelsea M Queer Friends/Twitter Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Instagram Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Jil Love Revolution/Instagram

Convicted of "seditious conspiracy"

Lopez Rivera was convicted of seditious conspiracy for plotting to overthrow the US government in 1981 and sentenced to 55 years in prison. In 1988 he was sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison for conspiring to escape from the Leavenworth federal prison. Law enforcement labels have labelled him a terrorist since the 1970s.

He was a member of Armed Forces of National Liberation, better known by its Spanish acronym FALN, and was one of more than a dozen group members convicted in the 1980s.

US prosecutors accused the group of being responsible for 140 bombings on military bases, government offices and financial buildings, but Lopez Rivera has repeatedly and strenuously denied being involved.

He has repeatedly insisted he poured his energies into activism which did not imperil peoples lives.

Bill Clinton offered him clemency but he declined

President Bill Clinton offered him and other members of the FALN clemency in 1999, prompting an emotionally charged national debate in the US. At the time, Mr Clinton said their sentences were not proportionate to their offences.

But Lopez Rivera turned down the chance to reduce his sentence because it did not include all of the groups members, his lawyer, Jan Susler, revealed at the time. However, 12 prisoners accepted the offer and were released. If he had accepted the agreement, she said he would have been eligible to be freed in 2009.

If Mr Obama had not decided to pardon Lopez Rivera he would have been imprisoned until 26 June 2023, which is five months after his 80th birthday.

 Snowden, Assange and Manning statues unveiled in Berlin

His release sparked celebration from supporters

His release has prompted an outpouring of celebration from his supporters.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the Broadway musical Hamilton applauded the news on Twitter: Sobbing with gratitude here in London. OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA IS COMING HOME. THANK YOU, @POTUS.

Today my little island is the happiest. Thank you President Obama for liberating our Oscar Lopez, wrote Ricky Martin.

There have been long-running calls for his release and it was demanded by ten Nobel Peace Prize winners, including Coretta Scott King, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Jimmy Carter, Senator Bernie Sanders.
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It's not going to be an election in 2019. It's going to be an exorcism.

Bold, boastful  some might even say braggadocious  and armed with a full artillery of one-liners, hes a business magnate and reality TV star who believes hes ready to lead a country.

Sound familiar?

Some are calling Kevin OLeary the Trump of the North  and its not hard to see why. Hes one of the biggest names in Canadian business and has earned celebrity status as the most fiery dragon on CBCs Dragons Den and as a razor-sharp investor on ABCs Shark Tank. He also believes its his calling to lead Canada to greatness.

OLeary, has yet to officially enter the race for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, but is expected to formally throw his hat in the ring Wednesday. And the businessman, who is also known across the country as Mr Wonderful, has not shied away from comparisons between himself and Donald Trump.

Hes the most successful business personality on earth, OLeary tells The Independent. He has previously said that he would have voted Trump himself, in a December interview with Ottawa radio station, 1310 News.

He says he shares common interests with the President-elect, including being pro-growth and pro-reducing regulations, but, the former Dragons Den star also warns Trump is ultimately pro-US and Canada must make sure, as the number one trading partner of the US, that we get our fair share.

Godzilla versus Bambi

The two countries see roughly C$2.4bn (1.5bn) of back-and-forth trade each day. But given the precarious future of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta)  which the President-elect declared the worst trade deal in history and vowed to either renegotiate or scrap altogether during his election campaign  ensuring Canada doesnt get a raw deal is something the current Prime Minister should be concerned about.

Trudeau will get walked all over, OLeary says. It will be like Godzilla versus Bambi.

Like Trump, OLeary lacks practical experience in politics, but says he's been active in economic and fiscal policy for quite awhile. The business owner and investor says Trudeau, on the other hand, lacks the negotiation skills and business savvy Canada will need to stand up to the incoming US President.

Justin Trudeau received a warm welcome from Barack Obama in March 2016 when he made the first official US visit of a Canadian Prime Minister in nearly 20 years (Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool/Getty) (Jim Lo Scalzo-Pool/Getty Images)

As a taxpayer, I consider every single politician an employee, OLeary says. Trudeau is a weak manager leading a weak team of people.

I'm going to help him find his real calling in life, because it isn't Prime Minister, the Shark Tank star quips.

A recent Ipsos poll suggests that the majority of Canadians would disagree with Mr OLeary. The poll, published in December, found that 61 per cent of the countrys population approves of the Liberal government under Mr Trudeaus leadership. The same poll, however, showed that 67 per cent of Canadians feel that the Trudeau government is more style than substance, a feeling Mr O'Leary believes will only grow over time.

I think people are starting to see through him right now and they don't like what they see, OLeary says.

Cross-Atlantic trade deal

Just as the US President-elect seems keen on quickly striking a trade deal with the UK , OLeary says he would be after a similar agreement with Britain.

Brexit is going to make it better for business in Canada, he says, with an enthusiasm that does not appear to be shared by the Trudeau government.

Thus far, Canada has expressed little interest in a cross-Atlantic deal with the UK. The countrys finance minister Bill Morneau had said in an interview with the Financial Times in November that the countrys priorities were focused on Nafta and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) that it recently signed with the EU after nearly seven years of negotiations.

He's incompetent, OLeary says of Morneau, in an attack style that bears some resemblance to that of Trumps. He would be the first guy I would fire.

There are no walls in my world

Asked where the parallels between him and Trump stop, OLeary says he draws a clear line when it comes to immigration policy.

There are no walls in my world, he says. I wouldnt exist if there were. Im the product of Lebanese and Irish immigrants.

The business mogul says if he was elected Prime Minister, he would maintain Canadas Liberal immigration policities and would make it a priority to create a fast-track program to identify anyone from anywhere in the world who can contribute the countrys economy and help them make a life in Canada.

OLeary (L) and Miss America Betty Cantrell share the stage at the 2015 American Music Awards in Los Angeles (Getty)

If youve got the chops, we want you, OLeary says. I will be there with a passport for them and their family. Asked just how many people might benefit from the program, OLeary says, We're talking tens of thousands of people.

The business magnate says that, unlike the President-elect, there wont be any controversies surrounding potential conflicts of interest if he ends up running for Prime Minister. He says he is comfortable putting his investments in a blind trust and already has an action plan that would see his right-hand man, Alex Kenjeev, who he says is a card-carrying Liberal take the reigns on his businesses. Kenjeev is already president of OLeary Ventures, overseeing the Shark Tank stars venture capital business.

Controversial comments

OLeary also says he doesnt identify with much of Trumps campaign rhetoric and champions Canada's commitment to inclusivity. If you're LGBTQ, I've got your back. If you want to legalise marijuana, we can do that, he says.

While he falls short of condemning Trumps often inflammatory statements, he says, I wouldn't do some of the things he does, but he is communicating with the people of America and thats something I do on social media as well.

OLeary says Trump is ultimately pro-US and Canada will have to look out for its own interests (Reuters)

While O'Leary has yet to launch an official campaign, he's already attracted criticism from fellow Conservative leadership candidate Lisa Raitt, who launched a website earlier this month called StopKevinO'Leary.com. On her website, Raitt brings up controversial comments OLeary made nearly three years ago on his former CBC series The Lang and OLeary Exchange. During the programme, he said an Oxfam report revealing that the worlds 85 richest people hold the same amount of wealth as its 3.5 billion poorest was fantastic news.

At the time, OLeary had said: Its fantastic, and this is a great thing because it inspires everybody, gets them motivation to look up to the one per cent and say, I want to become one of those people, Im going to fight hard to get up to the top. OLeary has since tried to explain away those comments, telling CBCs As It Happens: I dont celebrate poverty. That's ridiculous and everybody knows that. He said: That was about celebrating entrepreneurialism and supporting young people that want to grow companies.

Raitt also took aim at fellow Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch, an MP and former surgeon whose stance on immigration is far more in line with the President-elects than OLearys. Leitch has proposed screening immigrants and refugees for Canadian values. She also faced strong criticism after sending out an email in support of Trumps US election victory.

In a press conference on 4 January, Raitt called the OLeary a TV entertainer with no filter and accused both the businessman and Leitch of taking lessons from what we saw in the US election and embracing a style of negative, irresponsible populism.

Asked to respond to Raitts comments, OLeary said: I dont attack any of my fellow candidates,  a clear indication the business shark considers himself part of the candidate pool  and, so far, only plans on going after big fish.

Justin Trudeau will elect Kevin OLeary, he says. Hell do it by screwing up day by day by day.
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China has asked its provinces to turn off smog warnings, generating fears the government is trying to deceive the population about levels air pollution.

China's Meteorological Administration told local provinces on Tuesday to immediately stop issuing smog alerts, according to photo of a memo posted on Chinese social media site Weibo and later confirmed by state media.

One department will now oversee issuing warnings, which one official claimed will help avoid mismatches between different authorities.

According to the notice  purportedly an internal document that was leaked  local departments can still issue fog alerts, but only when visibility falls below 10km.

An unnamed official from Chinas Meteorological Administration told government-backed online publication The Paper: "Meteorological bureaus and the environmental protection administration often disagree when they issue smog-related information.

Almost three years since China declared war on pollution, large stretches of the country are still regularly plagued by bouts of dangerous levels of smog.

Across the new year period, dangerous air quality levels were found in large cities including Beijing, Tianjin and Xian, causing people to live confined to their houses for days on end.

Chinese authorities use a clear colour-coded alert system to warn institutions about the levels of smog and to implement pollution-limiting measures, such as suspending factories and taking cars off the road,.

But the accuracy and fair application of the scheme has been called into question, with critics noting differences between warnings issued under different authorities.

Local bureaus have come under criticism for being too reluctant to issue smog alerts for fear of suppressing the economy.

In 2015, the first ever alert was issued in the country, after authorities came under heavy fire for inaction against a hazardous haze that had blanketed the countrys north-east region.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The government instruction on smog alerts has been met with anger online, with commentators asking why weather experts are no longer allowed to issue environmental warnings.

The meteorological administration fought the environmental protection ministry and lost, the Nanjing Meteorological Institute said on its official Weibo account.

Thus, early warnings about smog, a kind of meteorological calamity, cannot be issued by the meteorological administration, it said.
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The Japanese government has announced measures to limit the amount of overtime employees can do  in an attempt to stop people literally working themselves to death.

A fifth of Japans workforce are at risk of death by overwork, known as karoshi, as they work more than 80 hours of overtime each month, according to a government survey.

And several high-profile cases, such as the death of an advertising agency employee who was working 100 extra hours a month before she took her own life, have prompted calls for a dramatic shift in Japans work culture.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is said to be seeking to impose a cap on the number of overtime hours people can work, and a government scheme called Premium Friday is set to launch in February.

The campaign, spearheaded by the Japan Business Federation, will allow workers to leave the office early on the last Friday of every month.

But critics have said this will not do enough to encourage a better work-life balance, especially as the Japan Business Federation has relatively few members  1,300 companies from the countrys over 2.5 million registered businesses, according to Fortune magazine.

 Backlash at Japan skating rink decorated with frozen fish

Japan needs to end of the norm of long working hours so people can balance their lives with things like raising a child or taking care of the elderly, Bloomberg reported government spokesperson Yoshihide Suga as saying.

The labour ministry has referred Mitsubishi, one of Japan's biggest companies, to prosecutors on suspicion of forcing a 31-year-old male employee to do excessive overtime.

And Tadashi Ishii, the President of advertising giant Dentsu, stepped down at the end of last year after the government ruled that 24-year-old Matsuri Takahashi had died from overwork in December 2015.

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

I will take full responsibility and will step down at a board meeting in January, he said at a press conference.

Ms Takahashi joined Dentsu in April 2015 but her workload rapidly increased in October that year, leading her to work excessive hours, often returning to her home at 5am after having worked a full day and night.

Some companies, including Japan Post Insurance, have taken to switching all the lights off at night to encourage workers to leave the office, according to the Washington Post.
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Police officers in the Philippines kidnapped and murdered a South Korean businessman before trying to extort money from his wife by pretending he was still alive, according to the country's government.

The man disappeared in October from Angeles, a city in the north of the Philippines, before his wife handed over a ransom worth 116,000, a national police spokesman told AFP. ABC-CBN News in the Philippines named him as Ji Ick-Joo.

Mr Ji, who was in his 50s, had already been strangled and cremated at a crematorium owned by a former police officer, according to South Korea's foreign ministry which cited a Philippines government report. Investigators have summoned workers of the funeral home for questioning.

Yonhap news agency reported that Mr Ji was acquainted with the officers and was active in the labour export sector. They are said to have used a forged arrest warrant to kidnap him under the pretext of a drugs investigation, it said, quoting the foreign ministry.

A ministry spokesman said Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se demanded answers and expressed "grave shock over the implication of Philippine police officers in the case", AFP reported.

National police said one of the accused officers, Ricky Isabel, had surrendered while another two were under investigation. A retired officer is also thought to be involved.

All three accused officers were part of the anti-illegal drugs group based in Manila, the police spokesman added.

The incident has reportedly fuelled concern about the Philippine police force's role in enforcing President Rodrigo Duterte's drugs crackdown, in which some 6,000 people have been killed in the months since he was elected.
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A senior Australian politician has courted controversy by saying that he would not encourage people to wear the burqa because it is not part of our culture.

Colin Barnett, the Premier of Western Australia, said the government had no plans to ban the Islamic veil worn by many Muslim women.

But he told the online newspaper WAToday: "I would encourage people not to wear that type of clothing in Australia and as Australian citizens.

He added: "It is not part of our culture. I think in most countries now you don't find it's the case."

The Burqa has been a hot topic in Australia over recent weeks after Pauline Hanson, the leader of the far-right One Nation party, called them an evil tool of oppression.

She said she would ban the burqa from all official buildings if her party wins the Queensland election.

Western Australia's premier Colin Barnett (REUTERS)

Asked about Mr Barnett's statements, Ms Hanson told ABC News it appeared the government was changing position on the issue.

"It is a shift, from what we possibly haven't heard him say anything at all in the past," she said. "It is up to the people, and I think the people should have their say in this. Political correctness has to be thrown in the rubbish bin where it belongs."

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

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has previously said face coverings should be banned from certain places.

But he insisted the matter was of national security and not religious prejudice.

"There are obviously environments where its important for peoples faces not to be covered for identity reasons," he told 4BC Radio. The fundamental rule has got to be safety first... This has got nothing to do with religion or any of that. It is a simple, practical matter.
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A filmmaker withdrew from his role as Davos cultural leader before smashing a TV in protest, after labelling the World Economic Forum event a grotesque charade.

Keiichi Matsuda took to Twitter to announce his departure from the summit, billed as an opportunity for 40 cultural leaders to speak truth to power and inspire more responsive and responsible leadership.

Mr Matsuda wrote: I'm officially withdrawing as a Davos cultural leader. I refuse to let my work be used to legitimise this grotesque charade #wef17.

The post was accompanied by a video in which the artist picks up a metal rope stand and slams it into a television screen.

The screen shatters and falls from its wall mount to the floor, with Mr Matsuda reassuring onlookers: Its my work, its OK."

Mr Matsuda took to Medium shortly after to clarify the intentions behind the provocative statement.

"I found a lot of things upsetting; the CEO of Wal-Mart talking about his commitment to ethics (NEWS: they are releasing a responsibly sourced t-shirt). The biggest mall operator in the middle east talking about his commitment to sustainability (he built a ski slope with real snow in Dubai)," he wrote.

"Under the surface its the same old money, power and callous greed. These people are not stupid. The staff the participants, the delegates, everyone there knows that its not real, that its just theatre. Many people I spoke to confirmed this, with a kind of it is what it is attitude. I found myself becoming complicit, lending my own work to support and validate the whole thing."

He added: "I went to Davos with an open mind, and didnt intend to make any kind of protest, but in the end destroying my own work was the only way I could see to leave cleanly. Im glad I have the freedom to stand up to bulls**t."

The annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos started on Tuesday, billed as bringing together political and business leaders with a mission to improve the state of the world.

Mr Matsuda had been presenting his concept film, Hyper-Reality, as part of the Arts and Culture section of the event.
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Germany has set a date for its federal election as Angela Merkel seeks a fourth term in office amid a surge by populist groups.

The country will go to the polls on 24 September after a tumultuous four years since the last vote in 2013.

Anti-immigration groups have enjoyed rocketing support, fuelled by concerns over the refugee crisis, terror attacks and mass sexual assaults, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party expected to enter the national parliament (Bundestag) for the first time.

 Angela Merkel reacts to shooting of Berlin market attack suspect

The group has attacked Ms Merkel for her decision to open Germanys borders to refugees in 2015, blaming the policy for Isis-inspired terror attacks including the massacre at a Berlin Christmas market.

The AfD will be hoping to build on the gains made in last years local elections in the vote, which will have its date rubber stamped by the President after gaining government approval.

The Chancellors Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) currently hold 311 seats, followed by the Social Democrats (SPD) on 193, Left party on 64 and the Greens on 63.

Ms Merkel currently leads a grand coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD but the Greens believe they could be the new power brokers for Germanys next government.

The party is divided between those who favour a coalition with Ms Merkel and others who back a three-way left-wing alliance that would remove her from the chancellery.

Ms Merkel faces a tougher re-election campaign than in previous years following continued unrest over the arrival of more than a million migrants and refugees in Germany.

Refugees settle in Germany Show all 12 1 /12 Refugees settle in Germany Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, plays with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, in the one room they and Mohamed's wife Laloosh call home at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany A refugee child Amnat Musayeva points to a star with her photo and name that decorates the door to her classroom as teacher Martina Fischer looks on at the local kindergarten Amnat and her siblings attend on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The children live with their family at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian asylum-applicant Mohamed Ali Hussein (R), 19, and fellow applicant Autur, from Latvia, load benches onto a truckbed while performing community service, for which they receive a small allowance, in Wilhelmsaue village on October 9, 2015 near Letschin, Germany. Mohamed and Autur live at an asylum-applicants' shelter in nearby Vossberg village. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Ali Hussein ((L), 19, and his cousin Sinjar Hussein, 34, sweep leaves at a cemetery in Gieshof village, for which they receive a small allowance, near Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, looks among donated clothing in the basement of the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to Mohamed, his wife Laloosh and their daughter Ranim as residents' laundry dries behind in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asya Sugaipova (L), Mohza Mukayeva and Khadra Zhukova prepare food in the communal kitchen at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Efrah Abdullahi Ahmed looks down from the communal kitchen window at her daughter Sumaya, 10, who had just returned from school, at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asylum-applicants, including Syrians Mohamed Ali Hussein (C-R, in black jacket) and Fadi Almasalmeh (C), return from grocery shopping with other refugees to the asylum-applicants' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat (2nd from L), a refugee from Syria, smokes a cigarette after shopping for groceries with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, and fellow-Syrian refugees Mohamed Ali Hussein (C) and Fadi Almasalmeh (L) at a local supermarket on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. All of them live at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian refugees Leila, 9, carries her sister Avin, 1, in the backyard at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to them and their family in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Somali refugees and husband and wife Said Ahmed Gure (R) and Ayaan Gure pose with their infant son Muzammili, who was born in Germany, in the room they share at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity, and are waiting for authorities to process their application for asylum 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel pauses for a selfie with a refugee after she visited the AWO Refugium Askanierring shelter for refugees in Berlin Getty Images

Her policy was initially welcomed amid outrage over boat disasters in the Aegean Sea but a backlash from right-wing groups mounted following the New Years Eve sex attacks in Cologne and three terror attacks carried out by asylum seekers.

A poll by Forsa for the German magazine Stern put Ms Merkel's conservative bloc on 38 per cent, with its junior coalition party the SPD on 21 per cent and AfD on 11 per cent.

Research published earlier this month showed refugee policy will be the biggest issue for voters in the election.

It has driven the formation of far-right groups including Pegida, which has drawn thousands of people at anti-Islam rallies, while German states unsuccessfully attempted to have the neo-Nazi NPD banned.

The number of asylum seekers arriving in Germany plummeted by more than 600,000 last year, after the controversial EU-Turkey deal slowed boat crossings to Greece over the Aegean Sea.

Germanys federal election will elect members of the Bundestag and determine the Chancellor, while the countrys President will be voted in separately by the Federal Convention of electors on 12 February.

Several other countries are holding national elections in 2017, including France, the Netherlands, Norway and the Czech Republic, while the UK will hold its local elections in May.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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The Latvian government has been accused of dragging the Baltic nation into the eurozone by force this week, as it became the 18th member of the single currency.

Latvians have been forced to adopt the euro and havent been allowed their say, said Andris Orols, the chairman of the Anti-Globalist Association. The majority of the population is opposed to the move. An opinion poll conducted last month showed 50 per cent of Latvians were against joining, with only a fifth in favour of their country swapping the old currency  the lat  for the euro.

There is also widespread concerns that retailers will use the currency transition as an excuse to push up prices. In the same poll 83 per cent expressed concerns that the euro would trigger unwarranted price increases.

However, earlier this week the Prime Minister, Valdis Dombrovskis, insisted that, despite the eurozones turmoil of recent years, accession to the currency union was unequivocally the right economic course for Latvia. Its a big opportunity for Latvias economic development Mr Dombrovskis said, speaking at a ceremony on New Years eve in Riga, at which he symbolically pulled a euro note out of a cash machine.

Mr Dombrovskis added a note of caution, warning Latvians that euro membership was not an excuse not to pursue a responsible fiscal and macroeconomic policy. That warning was very much in keeping with the countrys austere economic policy of recent years.

Latvia suffered the most extreme economic bust of any country in the world during the global financial crisis of five years ago. In 2008 and 2009 it lost a full quarter of its economic output  a shock equivalent to Americas Great Depression.

A decade-long boom fuelled by a vast surge of capital inflows from abroad (which accelerated when the former Soviet state entered the European Union in 2003) ended in a banking crash in 2008 and Latvias application for a 7.5bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union.

Many countries experiencing a crash on that scale devalue their currencies in order to boost exports and maintain unemployment  and indeed that was what the IMF recommended. But the administration of Mr Dombrovskis refused to sacrifice the countrys long-standing currency peg with the euro. Instead, it opted to regain its international competitiveness and restore balance to the countrys books by imposing massive fiscal austerity. In 2010 the government pushed through a staggeringly large consolidation, equivalent to 4 per cent of GDP.

This ascetic policy approach thrust Latvia into the international limelight. The European Commission sang its praises for embracing austerity and eschewing devaluation  a policy combination it was demanding of the likes of Greece and Portugal.

Attention intensified when the medicine seemed to work. The Latvian economy bounced back quicker than anyone expected, growing by about 5.5 per cent in both 2011 and 2012. The country is projected by the IMF to have expanded by a further 4 per cent last year, faster than any other country in the European Union and taking Latvia back to its 2007 GDP peak. The current account swung from a 22 per cent deficit to virtual balance. The unemployment rate, having hit 19 per cent in 2010, has since receded to 11.7 per cent, below the eurozones 12.2 per cent average and well below the excruciating 27 per cent rates in Greece and Spain.

However, some say the story of Latvia as a poster child for the merits of austerity is overblown. They claim that its impressive return to growth (despite its severe fiscal squeeze) is more attributable to its latent catch-up potential and developmental momentum rather than the benefits of massive state budget cuts. They reject comparisons with Greece, Spain, Portugal or Italy, pointing out that the Baltic state has a considerably lower income per head and a much larger export sector relative to GDP.

Critics also point out that an exodus of many young Latvians to find work abroad has flattered the unemployment figure. Between 2008 and last year the total population is estimated to have fallen by about 8.5 per cent.

The IMFs chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, says he has been pleasantly surprised by Latvias performance, but maintains that he is not convinced the governments front-loaded fiscal squeeze was either necessary or helpful to the economy.

Nevertheless, it is striking that Latvias growth rate in 2014 is forecast to be four times higher than of the rest of the eurozone which it joins this week. Latvias accession has shown that one of Europes most dynamic economies still regards the eurozone as a club worth joining.
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The Catholic Church should end the celibacy vow, a group of senior priests in Germany has said.

In an open letter, the group of 11 high ranking clerics said every man should have the right to choose to take the vow or not.

The retired clerics were ordained in Cologne in 1967, and wrote the letter as part of a review of their 50 years in the Catholic church.

We believe that requiring that every man who becomes a priest to remain celibate is not acceptable, group member Franz Decker told DW.

We think, every Catholic should be allowed to choose if they would rather be celibate or not, regardless of whether they want to work as priests or not - just like in the Protestant Church or the Orthodox church, really, every church but the Catholic Church.

The group argue celibacy causes many modern priests to suffer from seclusion and believe the men have little to gain from church-imposed solitude.

"What moves us is the experience of loneliness - as elderly people who are unmarried because our office required this from us, we feel it vividly on some days after 50 years on the job We agreed to this clerical life because of our jobs, but we didn't choose it," the group wrote.

The letter also makes a number of suggestions as to how the Catholic Church could modernise, including allowing women to join the clergy.

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Clerical celibacy has often been an issue of contention in the Catholic Church.

The discipline, believed to have been introduced in the fourth century, requires men to be unmarried in order to be ordained, and to practise sexual abstinence.

Proponents of clerical celibacy see it as a special gift of God where they can devote themselves to their religion more freely.

However, according to theologian Wunibald Muller, many priests struggle with the vow. He says some overcompensate for their loneliness by over-eating, drinking to excess or worse.

"Even if you decide to live celibate, your sexuality is still there," he said

"If someone suppresses their desires, for warmth, for intimacy, this can backfire - they are more likely to cross a line, to abuse their position of trust to get intimacy."
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Anas Modamani had only been in Germany for a couple of weeks when a pack of politicians and reporters descended on his refugee accommodation in Berlin.

Among them was Angela Merkel, who had just shocked Europe by opening her countrys borders to Syrian asylum seekers risking their lives in search of safety on the continent.

Anas, aged just 18 at the time, snapped a quick selfie with the German Chancellor as she passed by on 10 September 2015, showing the smiling pair looking happy and relaxed.

I took the selfie because my hobby is taking photos, he told The Independent. It was for me, not for other people.

A photo of Anas Modamani taking a selfie with Angela Merkel went viral after it was used by news organisations (Getty Images)

But the teenager had no idea that an agency photographer standing metres away had captured the moment on camera, with the image going viral in a matter of hours and dominating international news coverage.

It was swiftly picked up by far-right activists and groups in hate-fuelled social media posts that evolved into fake news stories spread on Facebook, accusing Anas of terrorism and attempted murder.

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He is now suing the social media giant in a landmark case, claiming damages for its alleged inability to remove the defamatory and distressing posts.

Among them is a combination of Anas selfie with CCTV images of one of the Brussels bombers, alleging he was among Isis militants who attacked the Belgian capital, with the caption you reap what you sow.

State-owned Russian media helped spread the false claims with an article claiming Anas resembled bomb maker Najim Laachraoui, under the headline: Did Merkel take a selfie with Brussels attack suspect?.

The jihadis were identified, but Anas remained a target. As the hunt continued for the man who rammed a lorry into a Christmas market in Berlin last month, his photo popped up again.

It was superimposed on photos of the wreckage from the massacre in a mock news story with the headline They are Merkels dead.

One of the Facebook posts, which remains available on the site, falsely accusing Anas Modamani of involvement in an attack on a homeless man in Berlin

Then, after a homeless man was set on fire by seven migrants at a Berlin underground station over Christmas, Anas was falsely alleged to be among the suspects.

Homeless man set on fire. Merkel took 2015 selfie with one of the perpetrators! read a Facebook post.

The lies were repeated on Twitter and on websites posing as anti-mainstream media news outlets, where the articles remain.

Anas, who is now 19, said he learned of many of the posts from friends concerned for his safety, who advised him to stay inside amid fears he would be attacked.

He hoped the fake stories would die down but as malicious claims continued to surface in new incarnations, an activist group that previously debunked the allegations put him in touch with a lawyer.

I came to Germany because I wanted to live in peace, away from danger, Anas said.

I dont want anyone to continue using my photo on Facebook. I want to live in peace without any problems.

The teenager, who is working while continuing courses to improve his German, still cherishes his selfie with Ms Merkel, which he posted on Facebook alongside photos documenting his gruelling journey from Daraya to Germany via countries including Turkey, Greece and Macedonia.

Refugees settle in Germany Show all 12 1 /12 Refugees settle in Germany Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, plays with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, in the one room they and Mohamed's wife Laloosh call home at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany A refugee child Amnat Musayeva points to a star with her photo and name that decorates the door to her classroom as teacher Martina Fischer looks on at the local kindergarten Amnat and her siblings attend on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The children live with their family at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian asylum-applicant Mohamed Ali Hussein (R), 19, and fellow applicant Autur, from Latvia, load benches onto a truckbed while performing community service, for which they receive a small allowance, in Wilhelmsaue village on October 9, 2015 near Letschin, Germany. Mohamed and Autur live at an asylum-applicants' shelter in nearby Vossberg village. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Ali Hussein ((L), 19, and his cousin Sinjar Hussein, 34, sweep leaves at a cemetery in Gieshof village, for which they receive a small allowance, near Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat, a refugee from Syria, looks among donated clothing in the basement of the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to Mohamed, his wife Laloosh and their daughter Ranim as residents' laundry dries behind in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. The Zayats arrived approximately two months ago after trekking through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans and are now waiting for local authorities to process their asylum application, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asya Sugaipova (L), Mohza Mukayeva and Khadra Zhukova prepare food in the communal kitchen at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Efrah Abdullahi Ahmed looks down from the communal kitchen window at her daughter Sumaya, 10, who had just returned from school, at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is their home in Vossberg Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Asylum-applicants, including Syrians Mohamed Ali Hussein (C-R, in black jacket) and Fadi Almasalmeh (C), return from grocery shopping with other refugees to the asylum-applicants' shelter that is their home in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Mohamed Zayat (2nd from L), a refugee from Syria, smokes a cigarette after shopping for groceries with his daughter Ranim, who is nearly 3, and fellow-Syrian refugees Mohamed Ali Hussein (C) and Fadi Almasalmeh (L) at a local supermarket on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. All of them live at an asylum-seekers' shelter in nearby Vossberg village and are waiting for local authorities to process their asylum applications, after which they will be allowed to live independently and settle elsewhere in Germany 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Kurdish Syrian refugees Leila, 9, carries her sister Avin, 1, in the backyard at the asylum-seekers' shelter that is home to them and their family in Vossberg village in Letschin Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany Somali refugees and husband and wife Said Ahmed Gure (R) and Ayaan Gure pose with their infant son Muzammili, who was born in Germany, in the room they share at an asylum-seekers' shelter in Vossberg village on October 9, 2015 in Letschin, Germany. Approximately 60 asylum-seekers, mostly from Syria, Chechnya and Somalia, live at the Vossberg shelter, which is run by the Arbeiter-Samariter Bund (ASB) charity, and are waiting for authorities to process their application for asylum 2015 Getty Images Refugees settle in Germany Germany German Chancellor Angela Merkel pauses for a selfie with a refugee after she visited the AWO Refugium Askanierring shelter for refugees in Berlin Getty Images

His lawyer, Chan-jo Jun, said that Facebook has a legal responsibility to remove defamatory or discriminatory content that violates German law.

Instead, Facebook has created an environment that allows illegal content to thrive, he told The Independent.

In this case, I will either demonstrate the legal gaps that are still being closed to effectively enforce German law, or Facebook will learn that it does not pay to constantly violate the law.

Mr Jun prompted an investigation into Mark Zuckerberg and other Facebook executives last year over claims the site may have violated German hate crime laws by failing to remove abusive posts.

He has filed a new injunction seeking to prevent Facebook Ireland Ltd from publishing the slanderous image of the Syrian refugee Anas Modamani and other defamatory material that violates German law  if not the sites community standards.

Mr Jun said Facebooks policies must change, claiming malicious posts had remained online because they were initially judged not to have contravened its rules.

The case also names a politician from the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party, who was allegedly among hundreds of people who shared one of the posts featuring Anas picture.

Mr Jun said that the legal community has a chance to curb fake news, at least where the rights of individuals are violated, and hopes his case could set a precedent for the future.

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A spokesperson for Facebook said it took down one piece of content that violates Mr Modamani's right of personality at his lawyers request, adding: Access to that reported content was quickly disabled, so we do not believe there is any basis for him to seek an injunction.

But a cursory search of the social network reveals several other posts linking Anas photo with the Brussels attacks, as well as the attempted murder of the homeless man in Berlin.

Austrias Mimikama group, which campaigns against fake news and abuse on social media, has worked to debunk the reports.

Member Andre Wolf, who connected Anas with his lawyer, is a member of, said the young Syrians selfie had brought many negative consequences.

Anas Modamani is ultimately a victim of the hatred, prejudice and falsehoods of people on social networks  one of many, Mr Wolf told The Independent.

False and defamatory posts cannot remain unpunished. The internet is not a rights-free zone.

The campaigner said it would be far too easy to blame Facebook alone but called on the social network to make it easier and quicker to take down harmful posts.

The court case must also be a signal to those people who inflict damage on others with false posts, Mr Wolf added.

These people should know that they can be held to account for a lieAnas example could be an important case.

The case will be heard at the district court in Wurzburg on 6 February.
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The governing bodies of the West Bank and Gaza Strip have agreed to bury their differences to form a unity government in order to finally hold delayed elections.

The secular Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah, and Islamist militant group Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007, will form a new National Council including the Palestinian diaspora to hold elections.

We have reached agreement under which, within 48 hours, we will call on [Palestinian Authority President] Mahmoud Abbas to launch consultations on the creation of a government, Fatah spokesperson Azzam al-Ahmad told media after three days of reconciliation talks in the Russian capital of Moscow concluded on Tuesday.

Today the conditions for [the idea] are better than ever, Mr Ahmad added.

Relations between Fatah and Hamas have been tense since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip a decade ago.

The first elections since 2007 were due to be held in 2016 but were delayed multiple times after legal complaints filed by various political actors and a high court ruling found elections could only be held in the West Bank.

The non-official Russian brokered talks also involved representatives from the Shia Islamic Jihad militant group, which has not been present at political talks in years.

The enemy within: life under Hamas Show all 2 1 /2 The enemy within: life under Hamas The enemy within: life under Hamas 505150.bin AFP/Getty Images The enemy within: life under Hamas 505149.bin AFP/Getty Images

While in Moscow, Palestinian representatives also met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, asking him to pressure US President-elect Donald Trump into reneging on a campaign promise to move the US Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The holy city is claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians as their capital. East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War in a move which is not recognised by the international community.

Citing the failure of the Madrid Quartet of the US, EU, UN and Russia to progress towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, spokesperson Ahmad Marzouk of Hamas said it is imperative to find a new working mechanism for any future peace talks.

Hamas wants to transition to working with individual organisations and countries in future, he said, adding tht Russia can play a substantial role in the region in future.
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The Gaza Strip is suffering through winter with just three hours of electricity a day in some places thanks to the worst power outages in a decade.

While the area has always had to contend with unreliable power, in recent weeks the issue has reached crisis levels, with hospitals warning that the frequent cuts endanger patients lives, and the rest of Gazas two million inhabitants dealing with the cold and dark of winter conditions. Some have resorted to burning coal and scrap wood indoors or using old, unreliable kerosene heaters.

Since the water supply to many households relies on electric pumps, many people are also having difficulty washing, showering, cooking and doing laundry.

The outages are affecting businesses, too, since the extra fuel costs of generators are cutting into profits. It eats up your capital My money is being burned, restaurant owner Abdulsalam al-Sheikh told the Associated Press.

Thousands of people took to the streets last week in rare unauthorised protests against Hamas, the militant Islamist group that runs the area, demanding the groups leaders take action.

The current cuts are the worst to hit the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized power 10 years ago. While the groups wealthy ally Qatar sent a grant on Tuesday which should allow three turbines at Gazas only power plant to run, giving two eight-hour periods of power in every 24, the aid is a temporary fix.

The girl who became the only fisherwoman in Gaza Show all 2 1 /2 The girl who became the only fisherwoman in Gaza The girl who became the only fisherwoman in Gaza 432722.bin CATRINA STEWART The girl who became the only fisherwoman in Gaza 432723.bin AFP/ GETTY IMAGES

Gazas residents are already used to being without electricity for eight hours a day, usually in the evenings.

The plant currently produces 50 megawatts daily. Israel provides the area with 120 megawatts of power daily and Egypt an additional 30, but round the clock power would require 400 to 450 megawatts a day.

Hamas buys diesel to run it from Israel, but the group has accused the West Banks Palestinian Authority, which coordinates delivery, of driving up prices through unfair taxation.
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A video which purportedly shows an Arab Israeli ramming a car into a group of police in Umm al-Hiran in th esouthern Negev is at the centre of renewed tensions between the Israeli authorities and the local Bedouin population.

In the video of the incident on Wednesday, shot from a police helicopter above the scene, a car can be seen being driven into a group of police officers.

The car is shot at by the police as it drives a slow pace, suddenly speeding up after several seconds, which is when it hits the group. One officer died in the incident.

The man behind the wheel of the car was identified as Jacob Musa Abu al-Kian, a local teacher.

On releasing the video, a police spokesperson said the driver had intentionally surged towards the forces intending to kill.

However, rights activist Michal Haramati disputed the account, telling Reuters, Suddenly the car started to go down the hill, without control, absolutely. The driver was obviously dead by the time that he lost control this way. That's when he hit the cops.

Several other local witnesses collaborated Ms Haramatis account.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan tweeted that the gunfire at the beginning of the video are warning shots, which were not directed at the cars driver.

The violence sparked riots in the Bedouin village, which is currently being demolished after a court ruling found the settlement was built illegally on state-owned land. A new Jewish village is scheduled to be constructed on the land instead.

Arab-Israeli Knesset member Ayman Odeh, the most prominent Palestinian politician in the country, was injured after being shot with a rubber bullet during the clashes.

It is widely feared the fate of Umm al-Hiran could be a flashpoint for further violence between Israel's Bedouin population and police.

Around 200,000 of Israels eight-million strong population is Bedouin, Arab nomadic tribes that mainly live in desert areas.

Community leaders in the Negev say that the state discriminates against them, denying funds and services.

Israels authorities are on high alert for car attacks after four Israeli soldiers were killed after a Palestinian rammed his truck into them in Jerusalem on January 8.

Reuters contributed to this report
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Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was planning to purge the countrys armed forces of suspected dissenters to his government before the failed military-led coup in July 2016, new European intel says.

A secret report written by Intcen - the EUs intelligence agency - found that the hastily organised attempt to overthrow Mr Erdogan last year was motivated by the fact that military generals feared they were going to be subject to an imminent crackdown on the opposition.

The decision to launch the coup resulted from the fears of an incoming purge, the August 2016 report, seen by The Times, read. The coup was just a catalyst for the crackdown prepared in advance.

Before the coup, several factions within Turkeys army were unhappy with the governments attempts between 2013 - 2015 to make peace with the PKK, the militant Kurdish separatist movement, and Mr Erdogans interventionist stance on the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

Rumours of an expected purge joined army followers of the exiled cleric Fetullah Gulen, secularists, and those opposed to Mr Erdogans policies against the Kurds together, providing the momentum for the dramatic failed July 15 takeover.

European intelligence officials also found that the Turkish governments claim that Fethullah Gulen - whom the country is trying to extradite from the US - was behind the plot were unsubstantiated.

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It is unlikely Gulen really had the abilities and capacities to take such steps... The Gulen movement is very disconnected and somewhat distant from the secular opposition and Turkish army, the report said.

Mr Erdogan has cracked down on Mr Gulens followers since he became president in 2014, as well as civil rights activists, academics and journalists.

Following the July coup attempt, the government declared a state of emergency, during which thousands more deemed hostile to Mr Erdogans ruling AK party have been jailed or fired from state sector jobs.

Turkey is set to hold a spring referendum on legislative reform which would give Mr Erdogan control of the executive branch of government and possibly remain in office until 2029.
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Female fighters carrying babies, rocket launchers and machine guns took to the streets of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa to protest Saudi Arabias involvement in its brutal conflict.

Marching in support of the Houthi rebel movement, they shouted slogans against the multinational coalition forces led by oil rich Middle Eastern state, which support the government.

Their protest followed talks this week between a United Nations envoy and the Saudi-backed, internationally-recognised Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

They attempted to broker a ceasefire to end the brutal conflict, which has claimed an estimated 10,000 civilian lives.

The UN ranks Yemen as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The death toll increased when the Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to push back rebels who had gained control of the capital and other parts of the country.

The majority have been killed by coalition airstrikes and the conflict has triggered a grave humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 80 per cent of the population in need of aid.

Women are pictured with children at the rally (Mohammed HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images)

The fighting began when attempts to bring political stability to the country failed after the country's longtime president Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced relinquish power to his deputy Mr Hadi.

Subsequently, Mr Hadi struggled to handle many of the problems affecting the country, including extremist attacks by al Qaeda, corruption, unemployment and food insecurity.

The Houthi rebels then seized on his weakened control and Many Yemeni civilians backed them as they took control of the capital in 2014.

A lone fighter holds a ceremonial weapon at the pro-Huthi rally (MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Women hold rocket launchers and sport red caps in support of the Huthi rebel movement (MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Many charities, including Amnesty International, have accused the UK of being complicit in the war by arming Saudi Arabia.

The British government has rejected calls by two parliamentary committees for it to stop the sale of British bombs to the country's armed forces in Yemen where they have been widely accused of committing war crimes during the campaign.

Reports on the ground suggest they have blown up international hospitals, funerals, schools, and weddings.
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Extreme weather poses the greatest threat to humanity in 2017, a comprehensive study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has concluded.

Flash floods, heat waves and drought have the potential to cause major disruption and loss of life, the report by the Swiss-based organisation found.

Large-scale migration and deadly terrorist attacks are also judged to be a major risk over the next 12 months.

A devastating natural disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane, and a massive theft of data, make up the top five threats for the coming year.

Strong winds sent high waves crashing over Tynemouth Pier in Tyneside yesterday (Getty)

The Global Risks Report, which is informed by the views of 750 threat experts, ranks emerging dangers in order of probability, with catastrophic weather and mass migration assessed as most likely to happen.

The reports authors state: 2016 saw a crystallisation of political risks that have led to the election of populist leaders, a loss of faith in institutions and increased strain on international cooperation.

However, migration has fallen from the top spot it occupied in last years risk ranking, after the number of people arriving in Europe began to fall.

And inter-state conflict has dropped out of the top five this year, suggesting the panel believe the threat posed by war has been replaced by a growing risk of terror attacks.

US technology seeks to link human activity to extreme weather conditions

Economic inequality, societal polarisation and intensifying environmental dangers are the top three trends that will shape global developments over the next 10 years, WEF analysts said.

But climate change is judged as the most pressing risk for 2017, an issue the report says must be addressed immediately.

It describes global warming as one of the truly existential risks to our world, adding: Unlike the threat of nuclear weapons or pandemic disease, however, climate change ranks among the highest in terms of likelihood as well as impact.

Jahda Swanborough, project lead at WEFs Climate Change Initiative, said: There is one global risk that is not going away  the mismanagement of our global environment.

Environmental issues are critical ingredients for creating stable and sustainable societies and economies  we can no longer treat them as a side agenda.

WEF, which is holding its annual meeting in Davos this week, also assesses the risks for 2017 based on their likely impact.

The report warns the use of weapons of mass destruction would have the greatest effect on civilisation, followed by extreme weather and a water crisis such as a drought, which is already affecting areas from southern Africa to California.

We live in disruptive times where technological progress also creates challenges, Cecilia Reyes, chief risk officer of Zurich Insurance Group, said.

Without proper governance and re-skilling of workers, technology will eliminate jobs faster than it creates them.

Governments can no longer provide historical levels of social protection and an anti-establishment narrative has gained traction, with new political leaders blaming globalisation for societys challenges, creating a vicious cycle in which lower economic growth will only amplify inequality.

Cooperation is essential to avoid the further deterioration of government finances and the exacerbation of social unrest.
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Aviation enthusiasts celebrate 21 January because it was the date in 1976 when Concorde first flew paying passengers: on British Airways to Bahrain, and on Air France to Rio. The supersonic jet was grounded over 12 years ago, and replacements remain firmly on the drawing board.

Yet since the demise of Concorde, many flights have got faster, despite some odd reports to the contrary.

The backbone of the easyJet fleet, for example, used to be the Boeing 737-300. When the -700 model, with a higher cruising speed, replaced it, the faster plane shaved 20 minutes off the flight time from Luton to Athens. Slower 1980s and 1990s aircraft such as the Airbus A340 and Boeing 767 are being replaced by faster jets, such as the A350 and 787.

Flights are also faster because they take more direct routes  with airlines such as Thomas Cook in the forefront of cutting distance, carbon emissions and journey times. The easing of ETOPS rules on how close twin-engined planes must stay to diversionary airports means straighter trans-oceanic journeys aboard aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330.

Recommended Man with van lets tourists sleep in it for free if they share his bed

Despite the acceleration in the skies, though, overall journey times are increasing  partly because of congestion on the ground and approaching busy airports. Published schedules are block times, timed from when pushback starts on departure to the moment the brake is applied on arrival at the gate.

In addition, airlines demand you spend extra time at the airport before your flight. An excellent example of both these phenomena is the Heathrow-Glasgow flight on British Airways.

In the 1980s, the block time for the 345-mile journey was 70 minutes. Today, due to the likely need to queue for departure from Europes busiest airport, it is 90 minutes. And during the days of BAs turn up and go Shuttle operation, passengers with cabin baggage could roll up at the Heathrow gate just 10 minutes before departure. Today, you need to be at the security queue a minimum of 35 minutes ahead, or you wont be allowed on board. That means a journey time around 50 per cent longer.

Yet much has improved for British travellers, mainly thanks to the longer legs of modern aircraft and the vastly increased choice of flights. Flying from Newcastle to Auckland in the 1980s, for example, would typically have taken five or six legs and a good day-and-a-half. Today, theres just one stop required, in Dubai  where there are also connections to the top four Australian cities.

To accelerate your journey, take notice of these six top tips.

Avoid slow planes

Between Manchester and Amsterdam, easyJets twin-jet Airbus is going to get you there quicker than Flybes propellor plane. The two airlines have a daily race, both scheduled to leave Manchester at 7am; easyJet usually wins.

In the first wave of flight from London to New York, Virgin Atlantics Airbus A340 overtakes Uniteds Boeing 757, but is beaten for speed by BAs 747 Jumbo. And even though Americans first 777 leaves after Deltas 767, it gets to JFK five minutes earlier.

Choose a quiet airport

Southend is out on a limb in south-east Essex, with relatively few flights compared with the other London airports. And that is reflected in flight times. While Southend is further from Alicante than Gatwick, easyJets schedule is quicker. And for destinations to the east, including Cologne, Prague, Vienna and Budapest  which start up from Southend in May  not only is the distance shorter, but congested London airspace is avoided.

Celebrate fast connections

Keep the transfer time to a minimum, and youll spend less time on the journey. While Gatwicks short-lived 26-minute promise has extended, there are some key hubs where international connections are quick. In Europe, Vienna and Munich (Terminal 2 only) promise transfers as brief as 30 minutes, while Addis Ababa is Africas unchallenged leader for fast turnarounds with just 45 minutes needed between Ethiopian Airlines international flights.

Haneda not Narita

British Airways serves both Tokyo airports. From Narita, the flight time to Heathrow is five minutes slower. But Narita is also many miles from the Japanese capital, compared with a short hop on the subway to Haneda. Youll get at least an hour extra in Tokyo, and save on rail tickets too.

Choose the quick route

British Airways competes with Qantas between Heathrow and Sydney. BA refuels in Singapore, its Australian rival at Dubai. Because BAs routing is more direct, it beats Qantas by 45 minutes. To Auckland in New Zealand, the fastest way to travel outbound is via Hong Kong or Dubai, but coming back via Los Angeles is best.

Opt for an on-time airline

Three UK airlines made the top 20 of the worlds most punctual carriers in 2016, compiled by the flight information specialist, OAG: Flybe, Jet2 and Monarch.
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Abta, the travel association, estimates there are 2,000 package holidaymakers in the country  of whom half are with Thomas Cook, and the remainder with smaller firms, such as The Gambia Experience and Serenity Holidays. But on top of that Thomas Cook alone estimates that there are 2,500 people that it has flown in on flight-only arrangements.

Other travellers have flown in to The Gambia by other means, such as on the Spanish airline Vueling via Barcelona, so it is likely that around 5,000 British people are on holiday there at present.

Recommended Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declares state of emergency

Around 200 holidaymakers are due to come home today anyway, and their Thomas Cook flight went out empty from Manchester this morning to bring them back. The company is laying on three extra flights today to bring the 985 people currently on holiday with the firm. Two planes are operating from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, and one from Gatwick.

A Thomas Cook travel representative helps tourists prepare to leave the Gambia after the British Government changed the travel advisory to amber due to the state of emergency issued by Gambian President Jammeh in Banjul, Gambia (Getty Images) (Getty)

For passengers who have used Thomas Cook flights to get to Banjul on flight-only arrangements, there is no legal obligation for the firm to offer them emergency repatriation, but Thomas Cook says it is trying to contact them to offer them the earliest possible flight availability for return to the UK. It has issued a special number for flight-only customers: +44 161 774 2966.

Anyone who chooses not to leave The Gambia will find that their travel insurance is invalidated.

Tens of thousands of people have future bookings to go to The Gambia. For immediate departures, including the people who are due to fly out this morning, there will be full refunds. For later dates, holiday companies are likely to offer free amendments until the situation becomes clearer.

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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. 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The Foreign Office advice changed after the current president, Yahya Jammeh, declared a state of emergency a day before he was due to hand over power to Adama Barrow, who won last months election.

"The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high and could result in Banjul International Airport being closed at short notice," it said.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stated it may intervene, and has threatened military action, if President Jammeh does not step down.

The British High Commission in the capital, Banjul, believes that the situation is volatile, and as a result the Foreign Office says The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high and could result in Banjul International Airport being closed at short notice.

Adboulie Hydara, director general of the Gambia Tourism Board, said: "We are monitoring the political situation and are working closely with our UK tour operator partners to support them in returning customers to the UK. All holidaymakers with independent flight bookings are advised to contact their flight provider to discuss travel options. For those with future bookings to the Gambia we advise that they speak to their holiday provider to change their date of travel."
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Stephen Kelly has written 1,934 TripAdvisor reviews. Thats no mean feat in itself, but knowing that he only joined the site in February 2015 makes his effort even more heroic.

Kelly is Britains most prolific TripAdvisor reviewer  in December, the travel review site rewarded him with the titles UK Review Contributor of the Year and Restaurant Expert of the Year. The latter is probably because, of his 1,934 reviews, 1,529 are about bars and restaurants.

As well as writing reviews, he takes photos  15,426 of them are on TripAdvisor so far.

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And Kelly is no sloppy critic. His reviews  for which hes had 577 helpful votes  are packed with information, as well as his views. I always include a bit of history of the place, and how to get there on public transport, because that's what I want to know, he says. Helpful fella.

By day, Kelly, 51, is a porter at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool. But off-shift, hes a one-man review machine. He sets aside time to write every day: one review in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening, taking up to half an hour on each one.

During his work breaks, he checks over his published reviews and plans the next ones. He travels about once a month, and writes up to 30 reviews on the back of each trip. Writing them, he says, reminds him of the good times hes had, and starts the countdown to the next weekend away.

Its an addiction, he says, but quite a pleasant one to have.

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Kellys reviews may be overwhelmingly positive  of the 1,934 reviews, all but three are four or five stars  but thats because he meticulously plans his trips to make sure hes going to places hell like.

He looks for new openings, cross-references TripAdvisor with RateBeer and restaurant sites, and plots his movements so he stays in one area, helping him to cover more venues.

For his five days in Brussels next week, he has a list of 30 places in the Old Town, all within 800 yards of each other  hell visit them all, plus add in any extras that he happens to walk past. For his first visit to Rome, in May, hes already started the research. Theres a big craft beer scene there, he says. Im fitting in the planning on my breaks.

Moscow is Kelly's favourite city and biggest surprise (Valerii Tkachenko [CC BY 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons)

Along with horse-racing, travel is Kellys big love  and as hes single, all his disposable income goes towards it. Hes been to every country in Eastern Europe, and makes multiple visits to places he likes (hes been to Brussels so many times, for instance, that he cant remember whether this next trip will be the 11th or the 13th).

Kellys favourite place? Moscow, where he was taken aback by the friendliness of the locals against all expectations. His least favourite takes some thought (A lot of reviews are negative but most staff are trying their hardest, so I like to give them a chance, he says), but he plumps for Tenerife, though is at pains to say he probably went at the wrong time of year.

Does he feel pressure now that hes officially been rated Britains most prolific reviewer? Not at all.

I hadnt even looked at my ranking or number of reviews before I got the award, he says. Thats not why I do it at all. I havent got a competitive bone in my body.

Kelly says hell continue to travel despite the dwindling pound, not least because he wants to visit every brewpub in Europe.

Recommended Pound sterling slumps below euro

I think Ill always do it, he adds. I cant see me ever getting bored by it, because if Im stuck in work, looking at my reviews just brings me back to where I was. Theres no pressure  its just a nice thing to do. It makes me want to go to new places, too.

After Brussels, hes on to Ostend; after that, its Bratislava. I have nine holidays sorted so far for this year, he says. If anyone wants to topple him from the rankings, theyre going to have a fight on their hands.

Although he does have one tough competitor  his twin brother, with whom he often travels, is also on TripAdvisor. However, his twin tends to review the sights, so theres no clash. Theyre identical  except hes got more hair than me, says Kelly  so even where they cant speak the language, travelling together helps break the ice.

So, after 1,934 reviews, what has Kelly learned?

Plan your trip: I have a list of what I want to see for every trip. A big advantage of TripAdvisor is that its really up to date, but you should cross-reference with other sites  I like RateBeer.

Choose your targets carefully: Its very rare that I end up in a duff place, because I do so much research. Find places you know youll like. If youre looking on the spot, avoid anywhere that doesnt have prices on the menu. I got caught out in Prague recently, and it was a bit of a rip-off.

Buy a public transport pass: You can get around on public transport everywhere in Europe, so buy a pass, whether thats for 24 hours or five days.

Explore by area: I used to go to a place and stay around the same area the whole trip. Actually TripAdvisor has helped me discover different areas and go to more local places than I used to. Also, Europes incredibly safe, but check in advance which areas are best.

Assume the best of people: Be positive. Maybe its not bad service  maybe theyre really busy and trying their best.
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There was little surprise that a number of the White House Press Corps applauded as Barack Obama completed his final news conference.

He had started thanking the media for its work, and ended by declaring them to be a vital part of the democratic process, and said that having you in this building has helped this place work better.

He added: That does not, of course, mean that Ive enjoyed every story that you have filed, but thats the point of this relationship... youre supposed to be skeptics, youre supposed to ask me tough questions. Youre not supposed to be complimentary, but youre supposed to cast a critical eye on folks who hold enormous power.

 Barack Obama honours his press secretary at final briefing

He continued: I spent a lot of time on my  in my farewell address talking about the state of our democracy. It goes without saying that essential to that is a free press. So America needs you and our democracy needs you.

What a contrast to the man who is going to take his place on Friday. Donald Trump has not only talked about moving the White House press corps out of the White House  something he says is all about lack of space  but he has shown a persistent scorn and disgrace for reporters trying to go about their work.

Scum, he has called them, the lowest of the low. Horrible people. At his first press conference as President-elect, Mr Trump even went as far as to refuse a question from CNN because he was upset about its report about an intelligence dossier containing unverified claims about him. Fake news, he shouted at the networks reporter, seated in the front row.

Obama has hardly been perfect on the issue of the media and press freedom. The Obama administration used the Espionage Act to go after whistleblowers who leaked to journalists, more than all previous administrations combined.

His administration has even gone after the reporters themselves. It called one of them, James Rosen of Fox News, a potential co-conspirator with his government source. Meanwhile, James Risen of the New York Times, faced a jail sentence unless he revealed a government source  something he declined to do.

On other issues, such as the use of unmanned drones in places such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, Obama has refused to provide even the most basic information to the media. For the most part, theyve been very precise precision strikes against al-Qaeda and their affiliates, and were very careful in terms of how its been applied, he once said, dismissing well-documented evidence that many civilians have been killed by American drones.

But for all of this, Obama has accepted the role and place of the media in society. Mr Trump, by contrast, has talked about tightening US libel laws to make them more like those in the UK, and has repeatedly threatened to sue the media.

Obama covered a lot of ground in his final White House press conference  his 165th by one count. He defended his decision to commute the sentence of whistleblower Chelsea Manning, said claims of voter fraud had been disproved, and acknowledged that a key reason Mr Trump won the election was because many people feel forgotten and disenfranchised. They feel as if they're being looked down on.

You don't want to have an America in which a very small sliver of people are doing really well and everybody else is fighting for scraps, he said.

He also said he did not believe the expansion of LGBT rights in the US that had taken place on his watch, was reversible. He urged Mr Trump to continue trying to persuade Russia to reduce its nuclear stockpiles.

He also said that while he had a cordial relationship, with Mr Trump, he did not expect there would be many policy goals they shared.

I dont expect that there is going to be enormous overlap, he said, speaking on Wednesday afternoon.

Yet, as he looked out from lectern in the White House briefing room this one last time, it was  appropriately enough  the media and his relationship with it, that he returned to before he concluded.

He said that when reporters questioned him on issues such as why he had not done more to stop the spread of Ebola in West Africa in 2014 or the oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, it allows me to go back to my team and say, Will you get this solved before the next press conference? 

He finished, by saying that at his core, he believed were going to be ok.

We just have to fight for it, and work for it, and not take it for granted, he said. And I know youre going to help us do that. Thanks very much press corps. Good luck
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On Friday, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. His scepticism of manmade climate change is well-known. His tweet from 2012 that global warming was a hoax designed by China to harm American manufacturing has been shared many times online. After Trump appeared to acknowledge some connectivity between human activity and climate change in a post-election interview, his Chief of Staff swiftly clarified that the administrations default position is that climate science is mostly bunk.

Over in the UK, Trumps victory is being cheered enthusiastically by a fringe movement of climate sceptics. They urge Theresa May to follow his lead and abandon attempts to decarbonise the economy. James Delingpole has written that his elections marks the beginning of the end of the Green Blob. Sunday Times columnist Dominic Lawson has suggested that if Trump pulls the US out of the Paris Agreement, perhaps a British cabinet might dare to question Westminsters religious faith in the Climate Change Act.

But the Prime Minister has rightly ignored these voices. Just days after she entered Downing Street, her Government passed the fifth carbon budget into law, setting an ambitious target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2032. She appointed Greg Clark and Nick Hurd to lead on climate change in the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, two of the most committed green conservatives in Parliament. And rightly so, because the case for reducing carbon emissions has never been stronger.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

First, the science. Average surface temperatures across the world in 2016 will make it the hottest year on record. Of course, on its own, this proves nothing: The naturally occurring El Nino weather event in the Pacific earlier this year caused temperatures to spike. But the trend of rising temperatures over several decades provides compelling evidence of the climate change phenomenon. In the UK, the eight warmest years on record have all occurred since 2002. With each year that passes scientists are becoming more knowledgeable about the risks. For instance, research this year has shown climate change has already reduced the number of bird species in the UK.

Second, the economics of clean energy. In over 30 countries, onshore wind and solar are already cheaper than fossil fuels. In just six months last year, competitive power auctions saw global offshore wind prices fall by 22 per cent. Here in the UK, the latest government estimate of the cost of different technologies finds that the next set of onshore wind and solar projects commissioned in the UK will be cheaper than gas. This changing dynamic is why clean energy exponents should beware of expensive projects like Swansea Bay tidal lagoon and Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, which undermine the economic case for clean energy.

The spectre of power blackouts from a lack of renewable output on cloudy, calm days is receding. Technology capable of storing electricity is advancing rapidly. Analysts forecast that the per-unit cost of storage could halve by 2020. And with electric vehicles soon to penetrate the mass market, millions of households could have their own battery able to store electricity when weather conditions are favourable and deploy during peak demand.

 CIA director nominee Mike Pompeo refuses to accept Nasa's findings on climate change

Bright Blue research last year showed we no longer need old, unreliable, and polluting coal to keep the lights on. The remaining coal-fired power stations can be comfortably taken offline by 2025, leaving plenty of time to build the extra gas, renewable power, energy storage, and energy efficiency to fill the gap.

Third, the politics. Already a clear majority of people in the UK believe in climate change  including over 50 per cent of those that vote Conservative. Bright Blue will shortly be publishing a report analysing further the nuances of conservative views on the environment. But as warmer temperatures, more extreme weather events, and rising sea levels start to become more frequent, support for climate action is very likely to increase. Flooding, for instance, is already costing the UK economy on average over 1bn a year, and the Government believes this could rise to 6.8bn by 2050.

There is no prospect of sceptics controlling the climate policy of the main right-of-centre party in the UK as they do in the US, where ironically anti-Trump and pro-Trump Republicans find scant common ground in their opposition to this agenda. In the UK, they are few in number and lack any real hold over the Governments programme. But their association with the conservative movement risks contaminating the centre-right brand. Conservatives should be loud about disowning the increasingly irrelevant ideas of these fringe elements. If we do not, as the climate science and economic opportunities of clean energy become clearer, there could be an electoral price to pay.

Sam Hall is a researcher at Bright Blue
An anti-war activist who has served time in a US prison says while he is relieved Chelsea Manning's sentence has been commuted he will "maintain outrage" she was jailed in the first place.

Ciaron O'Reilly, an Australian who lives in Dublin has campaigned alongside Ms Manning's family for six years since he heard the former intelligence analyst, then known as Bradley, had been arrested in Baghdad.

Mr O'Reilly, 56, who was jailed for 13 months in 1991 after disarming a bomber plane headed for Iraq on the eve of the Gulf War, said: "I have been quite distressed about the suicide attempts.

"It is a relief to know an end is in sight while I maintain outrage for her ever being in jail."

Mr O'Reilly, a member of the Catholic Worker Movement, spent time in prisons in Oklahoma and Louisiana after being arrested at Griffiss Air Force Base in New York, where the group he was part of put the plane out of action for three months.

Although Mr O'Reilly was in federal prisons and county jails while Ms Manning is in a military prison, he empathises with her suffering, which included two suicide attempts last year, according to her lawyers.

Mr O'Reilly said: "I know the physical and mental health problems associated with being in jail.

"The whole system is designed to frighten and break you and to make you feel like you will be forgotten.

"It was very crowded - there were 24 of us in a cage. I was the only white guy in prison which made it culturally interesting.

"But it (anti-war activism) felt like the right thing to do and what I went through was so much less than people in Iraq who have lost their children."

Mr O'Reilly also faced three trials before being acquitted for disarming a US navy warplane at Shannon Airport in Ireland in 2003.

He has since met Ms Manning's family at events in their home town of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire and at events in Dublin.

Mr O'Reilly said: "They are from a pretty small town so it was quite a shock to have the FBI turn up at Chelsea's mother's house. They are quite shy, reserved people.

"They were quite isolated. When I was in prison my biggest worry was my mother and father's welfare so our aim has been to surround Susan Manning (Chelsea's mother) with support.

"It has been a tough time, I am sure."
Brexit is expected to be the number one item on the agenda between Mr Kenny and Lloyds chief executive Dame Inga Beale. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will meet a host of top business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos in a bid to lure more jobs to Ireland.

The meetings include one with the chief executive of Lloyd's of London. The world's largest speciality insurance market is actively examining Dublin as an option for its European base in the wake of Brexit.

Brexit is expected to be the number one item on the agenda between Mr Kenny and Lloyd's chief executive Dame Inga Beale.

Yesterday, Ireland's Financial Services Minister Eoghan Murphy said the prospect of losing access to the European Union's single market should prompt a wave of UK-based financial services companies to announce full or partial relocations to Ireland by the middle of 2017.

But Mr Murphy declined to name any of the companies that are in talks to relocate.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach is due to meet an array of executives from the banking, medical and telco sectors at Davos.

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Mr Kenny will hold a bilateral meeting with Dame Beale tomorrow ahead of a special address to the WEF congress by British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Lloyd's has been one of the London financial institutions most vocal about the need to set up an EU subsidiary as Britain readies for a 'hard' Brexit from the European Union.

Yesterday, Lloyd's chairman John Nelson said the company would make an announcement on its new European subsidiary before the middle of April.

"We will be ready to make an announcement in relation to our move to Europe in Q1, certainly by Easter," Mr Nelson said.

Lloyd's has said it is considering five locations for its new subsidiary, including Dublin.

Mr Nelson did not give any further details on the insurance market's choice of location.

Industry observers say all insurers looking to set up EU subsidiaries have included Dublin among their options.

They are attracted by its language, location and tax and regulatory systems.

The Irish delegation in Davos, which includes Mr Kenny, Finance Minister Michael Noonan and IDA chief executive Martin Shanahan, is focusing its efforts on a series of meetings at which Brexit and other issues such as financial regulation, tax and foreign direct investment (FDI) are expected to dominate proceedings.

Mr Kenny has a series of scheduled meetings with key executives including Michael Rake, chairman of BT Group, and Anne Finucane, vice-chairman of Bank of America.

The Taoiseach will also meet a number of leading medical tech and pharma executives, including Omar Ishrak, chairman and chief executive of Medtronic, Flemming Ornskov, chief executive of Shire, and Michael Nally, president and CEO of global vaccines at MSD.

Mr Kenny will also have talks with Karim Lesina, AT&T's vice-president covering international external affairs for a number of regions, including the EU.

Mr Lesina is in charge of trans-Atlantic relations for the American telco conglomerate.

He is also scheduled to meet with Ginni Rometty, chairman, president and CEO of IBM, as well as Manuel Kohnstamm, senior vice-president of Liberty Global.

Meanwhile, the Irish-born president of the Confederation of British Industry welcomed Mrs May's Brexit speech. Paul Drechsler said it was "a very positive, exciting and aspirational vision" for the UK.

He said Mrs May put forward a very positive message and tone around the sort of relationship that the UK wanted with Europe post-Brexit.

"This isn't about confrontation, isn't about negativity," said Mr Dreschler, who also praised the Irish Government's response to Brexit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered a vigorous defence of free trade at the World Economic Forum in Davos in a speech that underscored Beijing's desire to play a greater global role as the United States turns inward.

In the first appearance by a Chinese leader at the annual meeting of political leaders, CEOs and bankers in the Swiss Alps, Xi also cautioned other countries against blindly pursuing their national interests - an apparent reference to the policies of Donald Trump.

The real estate mogul and former reality TV star will be inaugurated as US president on Friday, after campaigning on a promise to confront China more aggressively on trade.

He has vowed to renegotiate or ditch multilateral trade agreements and protect US industries from foreign competition by levying new tariffs on goods from abroad.

Xi compared protectionism to "locking oneself in a dark room" in the hopes of protecting oneself from danger, but in so doing, cutting off all "light and air".

"No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war," Xi said in a nearly hour-long speech in a large conference hall as an audience, including US Vice President Joe Biden, looked on.

He said Beijing would not boost its trade competitiveness by devaluing its currency, something Trump has repeatedly said China has done in the past, and urged all signatories of a landmark climate deal in Paris last year to stick to the agreement.

Mr Trump has criticised the deal and indicated he may pull the US out of it.

As Mr Trump vows to focus on American interests, Europe is increasingly preoccupied with its own troubles, from Brexit and militant attacks to the string of elections this year in which anti-globalisation populists could score gains.

This has left a vacuum that China seems eager to fill.

Read more: Old roles are turned on their head in Davos at the crossroads

"In a world marked by great uncertainty and volatility the world is looking to China," WEF founder and chairman Klaus Schwab said before welcoming Xi to the stage.

"There is a vacuum when it comes to global economic leadership, and Xi Jinping is clearly aiming to fill it. With some success," said former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, reacting to Xi's speech on Twitter.

Xi's appearance took place at a time of rising tensions between Beijing and Trump, who broke with decades of precedent last month by taking a congratulatory telephone call from the president of Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of China.

Although Xi painted a picture of China as a "wide open" economy, his government has come under mounting criticism from trading partners for its continued restrictions on foreign investments.

China, the world's top exporter, is heavily dependent on free trade and would be hit hard by a new wave of protectionism and a broader backlash against globalisation.

In his speech, Xi acknowledged that globalisation has become a "Pandora's Box", benefiting certain segments of society while harming others.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," Xi said, quoting Charles Dickens.

But he added that globalisation was not to blame for the global financial crisis, which he attributed to an excessive pursuit of profits, nor for the flood of refugees from the Middle East. (Reuters)
A Kerry farmer is facing jail over numerous breaches of farming regulations

A 57-year-old farmer has appeared before Killarney District Court where he pleaded guilty to 14 sample counts mainly in relation to bovine tagging and identification, and animal movement, and also animal health and welfare.

Rarely had Department of Agriculture Inspectors come across breaches on such a scale, the court heard and Judge James OConnor said the farmer in serious trouble and would probably be jailed.

John C Casey, otherwise known as Christy Casey of Crosstown, Killarney Co Kerry, pleaded guilty to the charges mainly at Ryefield, Whitechurch, Co. Cork and within the State.

His suckler herd was registered in Co Cork and he also had leased land, the court was told.

Louis Reardon, veterinary inspector with the Department of Agriculture, said the Department would regularly come across incidents relating to small numbers of breaches of regulations animal movement and registration- but not on the scale of Mr Casey .

Fifty summonses had been issued by the prosecutor the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and 14 sample counts pleaded to, prosecuting counsel outlined.

The breaches were of European Communities bovine regulations, 2009, on animal passports, notification of birth of a calf birth within seven days of being tagged, information on sale or disposal of bovines, failing to provide an animal passport in relation to movement of an animal.

He had also failed to disclose the location of animals as required under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013.

The dates of the offences were mainly on August 14, 2014 and September 15, 2014. Failing to register births of a number of animals were said to have occurred between November 2013 and 2014. He had failed to furnish Mr Reardon with information regarding the sale, supply or disposal of bovines within the State according to one summons.

Mr Reardon said he had failed to produce animal passports; and asked where the cattle were, he would not say.

Only some of the cattle had ever been located and we dont know what happened these animals, Mr Reardon said in response to a query by Judge OConnor regarding 69 animals.

Giving false dates of birth had implications regarding BSE and disease testing as the ages of the animals were important in these tests.

He failed to have his herd available for inspection at Whitechurch.

We had a large team assembled on a number of occasions to inspect the animals  ten officers and three gardai, Mr Reardon said outlining Department of Agriculture costs of 15,000; DNA testing was undertaken; lorries had to be hired and there were travel costs for staff from Waterford to Cork to Kerry.

The Department was seeking to recover 5,000 of the costs from Mr Casey.

Usually breaches involved two to three animals, and they were not on the scale of Mr Caseys the inspector said in reply to a question from Judge James OConnor.

Mr Casey had no previous convictions, but he had public order and road traffic convictions, the court was told. However, he had entered a plea from very early.

Solicitor for Mr Casey, Padraig OConnell, said his client had grown up on a farm in Blackwater and cattle are his life.

Unfortunately he came to a misconceived idea that the Department were not co-operating with himhe apologises unreservedly for his lack of engagement, the solicitor said.

The country would go upside down if every farmer carried on like in relation to stock management, the judge said.

Judge James OConnor told the solicitor his client was in serious trouble and would probably be jailed.

The mans son John Casey Junior also of Crosstown, Killarney had also been issued with summonses for similar alleged breaches. An application by the State was made to adjourn this at the outset.

Judge OConnor asked the Department Inspector, Mr Reardon, to ascertain further details about the father and son farm ownership and herd numbers.

The matter was adjourned until March 21 when the son John Casey Junior would be in court.
Providence Resources chairman Tony O' Reilly says his firm has seen a rise in the level of interest in the Irish oil and gas industry.

BP, Eni, ExxonMobil and Statoil were among the companies offered new licensing options on the Atlantic margin last year.

The company said it expects to start drilling at its Druid and Drombeg plays in June of this year. Providence recently revealed that it had been granted an extension to its drilling licence at the Kish Bank facility near Dublin.

Providence's price was down 9pc at 0.20 in Dublin yesterday. Shares in the company have risen recently, buoyed by an increase in oil prices.

"We've done various things to de-risk our assets. Now we're in a scenario where industry appears to agree with us about Ireland's potential," Mr O'Reilly said.
State backed lender Permanent TSB has confirmed the departure of chief operating officer, Toby Clements, and announced a string of senior organisational changes.

The bank said Toby Clements notified the group before Christmas that he plans to leave in the coming months.

I was lucky enough to persuade Toby to return to Ireland from the UK when I joined the bank in 2012 and he has been a key part of my management team since then. He has made a fantastic contribution to the rebuilding of Permanent TSB and we are indebted to him, group chief executive Jeremy Masding said.

The bank said a role of group director of operations is being created, along with a chief technology officer role.

Recruitment is underway for both jobs.

The bank said its distribution function is being changed to include Branch, Intermediaries, SME and Voice and Digital Sales.

Chief risk officer Stephen Groarke will also now represents Credit on the banks executive committee.
An Irish digital health company has raised 7.6m from investors that include Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.

SilverCloud Health provides online therapeutic solutions to improve mental health. It was spun out of the Dublin-based NDRC accelerator organisation in 2012. Since then, its service has been used by 80,000 patients and it now has offices in Dublin, London and Boston.

The 'Series A' round of funding was led by venture capital firm B Capital Group, which was founded by Raj Ganguly and Facebook co-founder Saverin.

Irish finance firms ACT Venture Capital, Investec Ventures and AIB Seed Capital Fund also participated in the funding round.

SilverCloud Health chief executive and co-founder Ken Cahill said the company is "defining a new healthcare model to meet the demand of the rapidly growing behavioural healthcare market". He said that this market is estimated to be worth $440bn (411bn) in the US alone.

The company's service is currently used by over 120 healthcare organisations across Europe and North America, said Mr Cahill. Within the UK National Health Service (NHS), he said that the company has seen "an exponential growth" of customers, "from supporting one percent of NHS mental health services two years ago to over 45 percent today".

He said that the money raised will be used to meet growing demand in Europe and North America as well as to build out its commercial, development and clinical teams and drive its clinical research and publishing activities.

Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin said that the Irish firm has a "proven track record" in the field.

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"SilverCloud Health's mission is to make people healthier by providing effective, accessible and affordable behavioural healthcare opportunities, filling a massive void in the market today," said Mr Saverin.

"B Capital Group is excited to back Ken and the team at SilverCloud Health, as they continue to change the way behavioural healthcare is delivered. Our investment in SilverCloud Health is driven by our confidence in its team, its proven track record working with global health organisations and its esteemed partner network. This new capital will enable SilverCloud Health to continue to innovate, expand and broadly deploy its programmes to the millions of individuals who need them."

The company has 22 evidence-based programmes addressing conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress as well as for long-term chronic conditions such as diabetes, COPD and cardiovascular disease.
Vanessa Redgrave at the Women In Film And Television Awards

It's that time of year again when Hollywood heads to Dublin to showcase some of the best Irish and international films on offer this year.

The Audi Dublin International Film Festival (ADIFF) runs from 16-26 February with some of 2017's most anticipated films being screened throughout the city.

Irish talent will be out in force with Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor, Moe Dunford and Aiden Gillen all set to attend.

International stars such as Anna Friel, Ross Noble, Natalie Baye and Free Fire director Ben Wheately will also be in town for screenings and premieres.

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This year's festival sees Hollywood royalty, Vanessa Redgrave, honoured with the prestigious Volta Award. The award is reserved for those who have made an outstanding contribution to the world of film.

The English actress comes from an acting dynasty, going back five generations. Her daughter is the late Natasha Richardson, wife of Liam Neeson.

Redgrave has been in the business for over 60 years and has six Oscar nominations to her name. She was awarded an Oscar in 1978 for playing the eponymous Nazi resistance fighter in Julia.

Redgrave - who stars in Jim Sheridan's latest film, The Secret Scripture - will attend a gala Irish premiere of the film and receive the award on the night.

Tickets are on sale from tonight at 6.30pm and the digital programme will be available to browse and download from www.diff.ie.

Tickets are also available by phone on +353 1 687 7974 or in person at DIFF, 13 Ormond Quay from 10am, Thursday, January 19.
The apology was read out as part of the settlement of a High Court action by the widow of paramedic Simon Sexton against the HSE over the death of her husband over six years ago. Stock Picture

The HSE has apologised to the family of a paramedic who died when he fell out of the side door of a moving ambulance.

The apology was read out as part of the settlement of a High Court action by the widow of paramedic Simon Sexton against the HSE over the death of her husband over six years ago.

Father-of-six Mr Sexton (43), of Carricknashoke, Clifferna, Stradone, Co Cavan, died after the fall onto the road as a patient was transported from Cavan to Dublin.

Mr Sexton was in the back of the ambulance when he heard a noise and found the door was not shut properly.

When he put his hand on the lever, the door opened and "wrenched him out".

He suffered serious head injuries and died shortly afterwards.

Three years ago, the HSE pleaded guilty and was fined 500,000 for health and safety breaches in the 2010 death.

Ms Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon yesterday extended her sympathy to Catherine Sexton and her family as she approved a settlement, believed to be a six-figure sum, against the HSE.

Counsel for the HSE Micheal O Scanaill, as part of the apology, read an extract from a letter which the HSE sent to Mrs Sexton in March 2013.

"This was a tragic accident that should not have occurred. All employees of the HSE are entitled to expect a safe system of work, without risk to their life or health.

"The HSE fell below that duty of care in respect of your husband and for this I sincerely apologise," it stated.

Mrs Sexton sued the HSE over her husband's death and for nervous shock over the accident on the N3 on June 3, 2010, about seven miles out of Cavan town.

She claimed she has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.

The court last year heard from Mr Sexton's colleague, PJ Cahill, the driver of the ambulance, who also settled his action over the accident.

He said he was driving the ambulance when he heard a thud.

He looked in a mirror to see his friend Mr Sexton hit the ground.

A court previously heard that, since the 2010 incident, all ambulances have been altered to include front facing hinges along with several other safety measures.
A man who bought a cup of tea from a fast food outlet before robbing the manager was caught after his DNA was found on the paper cup he left at the scene.

Hugh McWeeney (44) of Roseglen Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin was sentenced to five years on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of 8,865 from Eddie Rockets, on Dublin's South Anne Street on August 6, 2013.

He has 33 previous convictions, including one for armed robbery which he carried out with the actor, Stephen Clinch (49), who played "Noely" in RTE's Love/Hate.

He is still serving this sentence.

Garda Brendan Kearns told Tom Neville BL, prosecuting that McWeeney bought a cup of tea in the restaurant before sitting outside to drink it.

When the manager was on his way to the bank to lodge four days worth of takings McWeeney jumped on him and tried to grab the bag.

A second robber then arrived on the scene and the victim was kicked and punched while he lay on the ground before his bag was stolen. Both men managed to get away.

Gda Kearns said the staff alerted gardai to the paper cup that had been left and McWeeney's DNA was later found on it, leading to his arrest.

Pieter Le Vert BL, defending said his client was the primary carer for his bedridden elderly mother for a number of years before he went into custody.

He said he started inhaling solvents at eight years old and began taking heroin and crack cocaine in his 20s.

Counsel told Judge Melanie Greally that McWeeney stopped all drugs at the age of 39 and went "cold turkey."

He said he had not only rehabilitated himself in terms of drug use but had also been of assistance to others in similar situations. He handed a number of reports and references into court.

McWeeney took the stand and told Judge Greally that one of his biggest regrets in life was not being there for his older sons. He said he now wanted to be a better father for his nine-month-old son with his new partner.

"I'm tired with this way of life. I have had enough. There is something else out there," McWeeney said.

He told the court he wanted to apologise to all his victims. He outlined how he got clean but was under duress due to drug debts and had to commit crime to pay them off.

Judge Greally noted that McWeeney's release date from his current sentence is January 2019. She suspended the final 18 months of the five year term, meaning he will spend an additional six months in jail.

She accepted that the assault on the manager was short-lived but described it as violent and noted that McWeeney had "bided his time" in order to mug the man.

Judge Greally said McWeeney had established connections with "unsavoury characters" during his drug addiction who kept a hold over him for years. She accepted he made genuine efforts to stay clean and is "motivated to continue with his rehabilitation".
The Supreme Court has dismissed, by a six to one majority, a further appeal by a man against his conviction for the murder of rugby player Shane Geoghegan in a case of mistaken identity.

The appeal by Barry Doyle raised important issues concerning the right of access to a solicitor.

All the judges agreed a there is a right of reasonable access to a solicitor but, in significant judgments, a majority agreed there is no constitutional right to have a solicitor present during detention and questioning.

Six of the judges dismissed the appeal but on different bases.

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Mr Justice Peter Charleton, in a judgment endorsed by a majority, held the Constitution should be interpreted as requiring and guaranteeing access to a lawyer but the Constitution does not require more, and, in particular, does not require a lawyer be present during detention and questioning.

Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley reserved her position on the constitutional right issue to a more appropriate case.

While, Mr Justice John MacMenamim held the Constitution, in principle, requires in future a lawyer be present for the interrogation but, applying principles set out in another case, he held Doyle's admission of killing Mr Geoghegan would not be excluded.

In a detailed dissenting judgment, Mr Justice William McKechnie said he believed it was of "fundamental importance" , in order to fully protect and vindicate the rights of a suspect, it is necessary there be a solicitor present during garda interrogation.

Doyle (29), of Portland Row, Dublin, was jailed for life in 2012 for the murder of Mr Geoghegan in Limerick on November 9th 2008.

Doyle was brought from Dublin by a Limerick criminal gang to kill a rival criminal but instead, he shot dead Mr Geoghegan in a case of mistaken identity. Doyle alleged gardai induced an admission of the murder from him in his 15th interview with them.

The Court of Appeal found Doyle knew what he was doing when he made the admission. That court also said it was Doyle's solicitor who approached gardai with an offer that Doyle would say he killed Shane Geoghegan if gardai agreed to release his girlfriend, the mother of his daughter, from custody.

Doyle secured a further appeal before a seven judge Supreme Court after it determined he had raised three points of law of general public importance.

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One of those points was whether Doyle, in the circumstances of his case, was entitled to consult with a solicitor, and have a solicitor present, during the 15th interview during which the admission was allegedly made.

That point raised the important issue whether the right to have a solicitor present during questioning is a matter of right of the detained person, or a matter of concession by the Garda.

In her judgment, the Chief Justice, Ms Justice Susan Denham, said it was recognised more than 20 years ago there is a constitutional right of "reasonable access" to a solicitor.

The constitutional right is of access to a lawyer, not of the presence of a lawyer during an interview, she held.

The protection of a trial in due course of law is not confined to the trial in court but also applies to pre-trial detention and questioning, she said. Not all rights guaranteed for the courtroom apply to pre-trial detention and questioning, she added. A solicitor, for example, was not permitted have regular updates of an investigation's progress.

The concept of basic fairness of process applies from the time of arrest, she said. The late Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman had, in another case, previously pointed out the need for regulation by the legislature and State concerning the right of access to a solicitor before questioning, she noted.

She was satisfied the constitutional right of access to legal advice was met by the attendance of Doyle with his solicitor before the interview and by the solicitor's phone call that interrupted the interview.
An air hostess with Azul Brazilian Airlines, who just over three years ago injured her right hand while employed as a waitress, today lost a 60,000 personal injuries claim against the Dublin hotel where she had worked.

Fabiele Marques de Abreu had flown from Brazil for her Circuit Civil Court claim accompanied by Brazilian and Spanish colleagues who had worked with her as housekeepers at The Castle Hotel, Dublin, in 2013 when she injured herself.

Ms Marques (29) posted on her Facebook that she had loved Dublin and the 12 months she spent in the city and had brought Dublin with me to Brazil.

She told Judge Brian OCallaghan she had to give up a photography course because of her injury but had since become a flight attendant. She said she had been unable to properly hold a camera after the accident and nowadays, because of her injury, had to regularly switch hands when wheeling her trolley through airports.

Barrister Matthew Jolley, who appeared with OBrien Dunne Solicitors, told the court that Findlater Hotels Limited, which trades as The Castle Hotel, could not be held responsible for a situation Ms Marques had drawn upon herself.

Mr Jolley said she had opened a kitchen door across herself with her left hand while holding a glass ice-flask in her dominant right hand. The door, which she claimed had a defective spring-loaded opening mechanism and which was denied, had smashed against the glass, cutting her hand.

The court heard that Ms Marques had to have surgery under general anaesthetic for exploration and repair of the digital nerve on her right hand. She claimed to have lost feeling in a middle finger and had been left with a small cosmetic scar.

Judge OCallaghan said Ms Marques had suffered a nasty injury and while she and her colleagues had given evidence of the door sometimes opening too quickly, none of them had reported any suspected defect to management.

The judge said a member of the hotel staff had told him she had used the same door on the morning of the accident and it had been operating properly.

Dismissing Ms Marquess claim and awarding estimated legal costs of up to 10,000 against her, Judge OCallaghan said that to hold the hotel responsible for breaking a glass in her hand by a door opening faster than she had anticipated, would be stretching too far the duty of care owed to an employee by the defendant.
A woman and her husband have been awarded more than 30,000 in damages against a neighbour who defamed them on Facebook.

Anthony Downes launched a tirade of insults against Patricia Barnett and her husband Patrick Murphy for no apparent reason.

The couple, from Buncrana, Co Donegal, took a defamation action against Downes, which was settled at Letterkenny Circuit Civil Court yesterday.

Downes, who did not appear in court, admitted the action and agreed to apologise un- reservedly to the couple.

Ms Barnett, a podiatrist, told the court she barely knew Downes and knew of no reason why he would have posted a number of attacks against her on her private and business Facebook pages.

The court heard how Downes accused Ms Barnett's husband of having an affair with another woman and also referred to her as being overweight.

Ms Barnett said she took screenshots of the posts, which had appeared on February 5 and 6, 2015, and had then deleted them before contacting gardai.

She said the posts had both hurt her personally and professionally and added that she had later met clients who had not come back to her business because of the embarrassment caused.

Horrified

Mr Murphy, who is his wife's officer manager, said he was horrified by the postings.

"Downes was indicating that I was having an affair. That was totally and utterly untrue," he said.

He added that the post had been shared nine times on Facebook.

He said the couple had to speak to their twins (15) about the incident and explain to them that it was not true.

Peter Nolan, barrister for Downes, said his client had agreed to give an apology to Ms Barnett and Mr Murphy. In the apology, Downes said he was "ashamed and embarrassed".

Judge James O'Donoghue described the Facebook posts as "scurrilous and reckless". "The court is satisfied that both were wronged and their names seriously sullied," he said.

He awarded Ms Barnett 20,000 in damages and Mr Murphy 12,500 in damages, and ordered that one of them receive their costs in the case.

The judge also issued a general warning that the posting of Facebook comments was sometimes a "highly dangerous activity".

Anne Harkin, the third plaintiff in the case, is due to have her case heard by videolink from Australia in the coming days.
A young man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Gareth Hutch, who was shot dead outside his home in Dublins north inner city.

Thomas Fox (29) was remanded in custody after he was arrested and brought before Cloverhill District Court today.

The court heard he replied not guilty to the charge when it was put to him.

He had been facing an existing charge of unlawful possession of a handgun the day before Mr Hutchs killing but Judge Victor Blake struck that charge out.

Mr Hutch (35), a father-of-one, died of multiple gunshot wounds after he was shot at the Avondale House flats complex on North Cumberland Street on May 24 last year.

Gareth Hutch was a cousin of the late Gary Hutch and also the nephew of murdered taxi driver Eddie Hutch.

Mr Fox, of Rutland Street, Dublin 1 was charged today with murdering Gareth Hutch at Avondale House on May 24, 2016.

Judge Victor Blake remanded him in custody for a week for the preparation of a book of evidence.

Today, Detective Sergeant Robert OReilly of Mountjoy Station said he charged Mr Fox at 10.34am this morning. He replied not guilty after caution and was handed a copy of the charge sheet.

He asked the judge to adjourn the case for a week and state solicitor Karen Wilson said the DPP had directed trial on indictment.

Defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght asked Judge Blake to dismiss the existing charge against the accused.

This charge alleged Mr Fox was in unlawful possession of a Markov 9mm handgun at Avondale House on May 23, 2106.

Ms Wilson said the file in the case was complex and she asked the judge to adjourn the firearms charge along with the murder charge as the proposed evidence supporting both counts would be in the same book of evidence.

Mr Lysaght said, however, that his client had been in custody since last June and had been in court almost every second week since then hearing how complex the file is.

He said the judge had marked the last adjournment on the firearms charge peremptory against the state - meaning the book of evidence was to have been ready today.

Ms Wilson said in normal circumstances the book of evidence would be ready in two weeks. However, one week was the longest the case could be adjourned for.

Judge Blake said the firearms charge had been going through the system since June 1, 2016.

He had extended time for the preparation of the book of evidence on a number of occasions and marked it peremptory for today, he said,

I do not mark things peremptory lightly, he said. "In respect of that particular charge, I am not dismissing it but I am striking it out.

The judge adjourned the case to January 25, for mention. He granted legal aid on the murder charge, with no garda objections.

No bail application was made as bail cannot be granted on a murder charge at district court level.

The accused, wearing a green sweater and dark grey tracksuit bottoms spoke only to say good morning when greeted by the judge.

Mr Hutch was getting into a car outside the flats at around 10am on May 24 when he was shot by what gardai believe was two gunmen.

He was taken to the Mater Hospital after initial treatment by emergency services at the scene but died from his injuries.

Separately, a 44 year old woman was charged with withholding information and her case is still before the courts.
Gardai are investigating if the latest gangland victim may have been shot in a case of mistaken identity.

Notorious criminal Glen Kiely was injured in the shooting at Balcurris Park West, Ballymun, after one of five bullets fired at him shattered his hip and lodged in his body.

Kiely (30) was recovering in hospital last night after another bullet grazed his head.

Sources said the intended target of the gun attack may have been a close associate of criminal Kiely, who has been the victim of a campaign of harassment by a notorious Ballymun-based gang for a number of years.

"Gardai are looking at the possibility that the gunman might have thought he was shooting at someone else," a source said.

Part of the Garda investigation is determining if the same gang who targeted Kiely is also responsible for arson attacks on three vehicles in the same estate in December 2015. The windows of the vehicles were broken and an accelerant was thrown into the cars, which were parked behind each other.

This dispute between gangs has been ongoing in the locality since the murder of Ian McConnell (28), who was shot dead in Ballymun as part of a feud more than 11 years ago.

Monday night's gun victim was recently released from prison and is extremely well known to gardai.

Kiely has more than 40 convictions and was previously jailed for his part in a violent attack on a man.

A court heard that Kiely had brought a knuckleduster and a hurley to this assault off Balbutcher Lane in November 2013. Two others were also involved in the attack.

The victim suffered what was described as a "severe beating" but no formal complaint was made.

Kiely served an 18-month jail term for this and has addiction problems.
A new system for allocating extra teachers to schools for children with special educational needs was unveiled today.

It will eliminate the need for parents of children with the most complex needs to pay for a diagnosis to support an application for additional classroom resources.

Additional teaching support for pupils with high incidence learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, will be based on the social and educational profile of the school. Currently, this allocation is a proportion of the overall number of teachers in a school.

The profiles will be based on results from standardised tests conducted in second, fourth and sixth classes in primary schools and, at second-level, the Junior Cert, as well as data on the socio-economic backgrounds of a schools pupils, such as the numbers availing of an exam fee waiver.

The profiles will also include a weighting for pupils with the most complex needs, who will be identified through a new scheme being devised in consultation with the school psychologists, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

While that is being prepared any children in that category will hold their current allocation, or, if awaiting an assessment, will be awarded a support.

The current system was seen as unfair to pupils from less well-off backgrounds whose parents could not afford to pay for a professional assessment to support their application.

Education Minister Richard Bruton said it would be a fairer and better way to allocate resources and the key goal was to have better outcomes for children with special educational needs.

The new model arises from a review by the NCSE, followed by a pilot scheme in 47 schools in the 2015/16 year.

Currently there are more than 12,000 special education teachers and further 900 posts will come on stream next September.

The minister said that no school would receive an allocation of resources less than the allocation they received in the current school year.

NCSE chairman Eamon Stack said should would be given guidance on how to use the resources being made available and details of an appeals process will be issued in coming weeks.

National Parents Council (primary) chief executive Aine Lynch welcomed the announcement and said the changes would set a more level playing field.

Meanwhile the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) was more cautious and said while there were a number of positive aspects the jury is out on the new model.
Gardai attend a road traffic accident on the Adamstown road between Newcastle and Lucan in Dublin. Photo: Arthur Carron

A man was killed and a woman injured when they were struck by a vehicle while walking in Co Dublin last night.

The man, in his 60s, died of his injuries following the incident just outside Clondalkin.

The woman (17) was taken to hospital with serious injuries, that are not believed to be life-threatening.

They were struck by an SUV while walking in the vicinity of the 12th Lock bridge on the Newcastle road.

Two fire trucks and an ambulance went to the scene of the accident, which happened shortly before 9pm.

Gardai from Clondalkin are investigating the incident and closed a section of the road last night. They have appealed for any witnesses to contact them.

Expand Close A treasure: Josie Duff (79). Photo: Ciara Wilkinson / Facebook

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It is the second tragedy involving two pedestrians in two days. In Louth, two women were killed after they stepped off a bus in Ardee. Josie Duff (79) was crossing the N2 at the Hunterstown Inn with her cousin Kathy McDonald (70) when they were struck by a car on Monday evening.

They had taken a bus to Dublin for Ms McDonald to attend a doctor's appointment, but were killed crossing the road on their return.

Mrs Duff, who lived on the Kells Road in Ardee, volunteered for local charities and organisations and has been credited with developing the Irish Wheelchair Association in her town. She was described as a "treasure" by locals.

The charity's service co-ordinator, Valene McMullen, said she campaigned for years and it has paid tribute to her by putting her name above the door in the main reception area of its centre.

"Josie was a treasure.

"If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have this centre," said Ms McMullen.

"She was invaluable to the organisation, especially for her fundraising.

"She was so important to us that we named a room here after her.

"Neither Josie or her family needed the use of a wheelchair, but she campaigned for years for us. "She was just that sort of a person.

"She had a kind-hearted nature."

Ms Duff also carried out voluntary work for the local Ardee Hospice.

Its acting chairperson, Breda Lynch, said she had been a fundraising member for years.

Read more: Exclusive: 'They would always accompany each other' - Daughter of Josie Duff (79) speaks after tragic road accident

"Josie worked tirelessly in her fundraising. She would always be there to help in any way she could.

"We are very saddened by her death, and her family are in all our thoughts and prayers," she said.

Former parish priest of Ardee Fr Michael Murtagh praised both Ms Duff and Ms McDonald, who lived on the Drogheda Road.

"Josie was, with her husband John, always happy and smiling, always elegant, positive and charitable.

"Kathy was a senior nurse manager in Moorehall Lodge nursing home for many years.

"She was reserved in manner, extremely professional and caring and her leadership qualities were obviously highly regarded," he said.
A man has been taken to hospital after a suspected hit and run in North Dublin this evening.

Sources said the victim was struck on the Darndale road, Dublin 17, close to the Darndale roundabout at approximately 6.30pm.

The man suffered "minor ankle injuries" and was taken to Beaumont Hospital.

Gardai from Coolock attended the scene.

No formal complaint has been made to gardai.

A garda spokesperson confirmed that they are aware of the incident.

Meanwhile a man killed when he was walking with his daughter in West Dublin on Tuesday night has been named as Martin Finn.

Read More

Mr Finn, who is in his 60s, and his daughter were walking on the R120 Newcastle Road between Lucan and Newcastle in west Dublin at about 9pm on Tuesday when the collision occurred.

Expand Close Gardai attend a road traffic accident on the road between Newcastle and Lucan in Dublin. Picture: Arthur Carron / Facebook

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The pair were struck by an SUV. His 17-year-old daughter was treated in hospital but her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Gardai said the road was closed for several hours to allow forensic collision investigators on to the scene, and they also appealed for witnesses.

Four people have been killed in road accidents in recent days.

Two elderly women were struck by a car after getting off a bus in Co Louth on Monday, and another woman was killed in Callan, Co Kilkenny, on Sunday.
A number of parents have expressed their outrage at the discovery of used condoms at a local playground this week.

Parents who visited a playground in Bandon, Co Cork with their children claim there were used condoms and condom wrappers littered all over the play area.

One horrified parent wrote into local radio station C103, describing what she saw.

"I am writing to tell you about what I came across today! My boyfriend my baby and me met our friends in Bandon today. Our friends have a 2- year-old and we decided we would go to the playground with our kids!

Expand Close Bandon playground Photo: C103 Facebook / Facebook

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"When we got there, there was [sic] condom wrappers and condoms all over the playground!!

"And I mean not just a couple there was [sic] loads! The playground was full of young children running around the place! It was disgusting! I couldn't believe it! We left straight away! Who is supposed to be in charge of the upkeep of this playground? And better off who the hell would leave them around or do there [sic] business there in the first place!! Disgusted!"

A number of other listeners also called in to the show, complaining about the general upkeep of the playground.

Read More

One listener described it as "dirty and unsafe" and said she was "disgusted and appalled" that people were leaving used condoms in the playground.

Another woman claimed she was glad to see people practicing safe sex.

"I'm delighted they're using condoms, I'm just disappointed they are not putting them in the bin," she said.

Parents said they contacted local councillors in the area to address the issue.

Last year, Cllr James O'Donovan (FG) raised a motion calling on Cork County Council to improve the standard of the playground.

"There are a couple of issues here and they include the fact that people feel the slides and swings are unsafe and that there are big gaps. There is also concern about the surface with children falling and cutting themselves as well as anti-social behaviour from a number of people," he said.
17/1/16 Gardai attend a road traffic accident on the Adamstown road between Newcastle and Lucan in Dublin. Picture: Arthur Carron

Gardai attend a road traffic accident on the road between Newcastle and Lucan in Dublin. Picture: Arthur Carron

Gardai attend a road traffic accident on the road between Newcastle and Lucan in Dublin. Picture: Arthur Carron

A man killed when he was walking with his daughter has been named as Martin Finn.

Mr Finn, who is in his 60s, and his daughter were walking on the R120 Newcastle Road between Lucan and Newcastle in west Dublin at about 9pm on Tuesday when the collision occurred.

The pair were struck by an SUV. His 17-year-old daughter was treated in hospital but her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Gardai said the road was closed for several hours to allow forensic collision investigators on to the scene, and they also appealed for witnesses.

Four people have been killed in road accidents in recent days.

Two elderly women were struck by a car after getting off a bus in Co Louth on Monday, and another woman was killed in Callan, Co Kilkenny, on Sunday.
Paschal Donohoe, the Minister for Pubic Expenditure and Reform, speaking at a news briefing on the implementation of the Landsdowne Road Agreement. Photo: Tom Burke

The country's highest paid civil servants are in line for massive pay hikes estimated to be worth more than 8,000 under the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

However, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is refusing to reveal details of individual salaries and expects pay increases due to be paid to Government department secretary generals in April.

The country's most senior civil servants earn between 175,000 and 185,000, and are set to see their salaries soar once the terms of the new public sector pay deal is enacted.

TDs came under fire when it emerged they were due to get a 5,414 pay hike on top of their 87,258 salaries.

Following public outcry, many TDs decided to forgo the increase and the fiasco caused major embarrassment for Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe.

However, Mr Donohoe's officials are now refusing to release any details on the pay increases to be paid to the six-figure salaried secretary generals.

Despite numerous requests over the course of two weeks, officials refused to provide any clarity on the pay deal reached with the country's highest paid civil servants.

Read more: Donohoe says new pay boost for public sector works is no capitulation to unions

A spokesperson said details would only be made available once a circular on civil service pay grades is completed.

Figures previously obtained by the Irish Independent showed a civil servant earning 100,000 a year is expected to get a pay hike of almost 7,000, while those earning 120,000 will see their salary increase by more than 8,000.

These massive pay hikes pale in comparison to the meagre pay increases the average public sector worker will receive over the next two years.

Secretary generals, who are the highest paid members of the unelected permanent government, saw their pay reduced during the recession but are set to see their salaries partially restored under the latest public sector pay deal.

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform secretary general Robert Watt is among those who will see their pay increase.

Mr Watt and Mr Donohoe will be central to the forthcoming pay negotiations with trade unions.

The department regularly releases details of pay increase for low-paid public sector workers agreed under the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

But when asked for details of the pay hikes soon to be paid to secretary generals, officials would only release details of the salaries they currently receive.

On January 3, the Irish Independent contacted the 16 Government departments asking them to provide details of the current pay packet of their respective secretary generals.

Read more: Comment: We're all paying the price for grotesque influence of public service unions and weaker Government

We also asked how much their pay will be increased by on April 1, when pay restoration for all civil servants kicks in under the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

The Department of Public Expenditure issued a response on behalf of all of the departments three days later. It did not provide the salary details of each of the secretary generals.

Yesterday, Mr Donohoe said he would only release details of secretary general pay increases once a circular is drafted by his officials.

A spokesman for the department said under the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015, those on salaries in excess of 110,000 will see restoration in three tranches starting on April 1, 2017, and on the same date in the following years.

"A circular setting out the revised salary rates applicable from April 1, 2017, to general civil service grades, including secretary generals, is currently in preparation and will be issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in due course," a spokesman said.
Transport Minister Shane Ross has not even read a report recommending drastic cuts to Bus Eireann, the Dail heard today.

Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy warned that the States countrywide bus service risked being drastically reduced while private companies were allowed cherrypick lucrative routes.

Mr Troy said the Transport Minister had the name of briefing the Cabinet on the matter yesterday. But he had also said the Minister had not read the report by consultants, Grant Thornton, on the company.

Read More

So what did the Minister actually brief the Cabinet on if he had not read the report? Mr Troy asked.

The Fianna Fail TD said he had yesterday photocopied the report and left in Mr Rosss postal slot at Leinster House.

The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, countered that the Fianna Fail TD was being unfair to Minister Ross.

Ah, youre being very hard on Minister Ross. Youre being very hard on him at the start of a new session, the Taoiseach cajoled.

Mr Kenny said Bus Eireann had themselves commissioned the report and the Minister had not received it. He said Mr Ross had spoken to the Cabinet on the basis of newspaper reports on the consultants findings.

The Taoiseach defended the Governments funding to Bus Eireann and insisted that the grant-aid section of the service was a success, He said Bus Eireann got an increased grant of 40m last year and carried 32 million passengers.
As Sinn Fein demanded a stronger commitment to power-sharing from the DUP, its deputy leader Nigel Dodds insisted: 'As we have in the past, we will not be giving in to Sinn Feins wish-list of demands.' Photo: AFP/Getty Images

The US government has urged a swift resumption of power-sharing in Northern Ireland as it heads into a divisive election campaign.

There are fears that the coming weeks will make a coalition even less likely and this would mean a return to direct rule if a new administration cannot be formed within the required three weeks after the poll on March 2.

The US statement said: "The United States remains committed to supporting a more peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland.

"To this end, we urge all political parties to focus on quickly finding a way forward to the resumption of stable devolved governance.

"We also encourage civil society leaders to continue their vital work building a better, shared future.

"Restored devolved democratic institutions and an engaged, constructive citizenry can best take Northern Ireland forward."

With talks on the cards after the Assembly election, the US has yet to announce a replacement for former senator Gary Hart, who stood down as the country's special envoy to Northern Ireland in December.

It is believed any successor is unlikely to be announced before Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday.

Concessions

Meanwhile, the DUP accused Sinn Fein of triggering the March 2 election to force more concessions from Westminster.

As Sinn Fein demanded a stronger commitment to power-sharing from the DUP, its deputy leader Nigel Dodds insisted: "As we have in the past, we will not be giving in to Sinn Fein's wish-list of demands."

His attack came just hours after the Irish and British governments asked for the election to be held in an "atmosphere of calm".

Read more: Good Friday agreement 'under threat' from Theresa May's Brexit plans

After the poll, there will be a week for the Assembly to attempt to appoint a first minister and deputy first minister, followed by a further two weeks to allow the selection of a full Executive under the d'Hondt mechanism. After that point - if Sinn Fein insists it will not return to the "status quo" - Northern Ireland Secretary Brokenshire will face a decision on whether to suspend the Assembly and re-introduce direct rule, or to call another election.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams insisted his party remains committed to the restoration of the Assembly and Executive.

Mr Adams said that while the DUP's handling of the RHI scandal had been the "tipping point", its attitude to power-sharing and the outcome of the Brexit vote had also brought about the collapse of the Executive and Assembly, which will be dissolved tomorrow.

TUV leader Jim Allister argued: "Sinn Fein has never wanted or intended Northern Ireland to work.

"Now, they are ready to use the leverage of pulling the house down to advance their insatiable republican agenda. Unionists have nothing left to give. The DUP, in particular, with its attachment to power any power, needs to realise this."
The death has occurred of the noted historian Professor Ronan Fanning.

President Michael D. Higgins led the tributes to "a much admired and respected historian whose extensive research and writings delivered a rich legacy to Irish scholarship".

He described him as "an accomplished author and frequent broadcaster" who "possessed a rare and wonderful talent for capturing and enrapturing his audience with an energetic and passionate literary style".

He will be fondly missed by his colleagues in academic life and by all of us who had the privilege of knowing him," President Higgins said.

President Higgins and his wife Sabina expressed condolences to Professor Fannings family, colleagues and wide circle of friends.

National University of Ireland (NUI) Chancellor, Dr Maurice Manning said "his loss will be keenly felt".

Dr Manning said the country "had one of the most eminent historians of modern Ireland".

He described Professor Fanning, who was Professor of Modern History in UCD, as a 'brilliant teacher; he encouraged and inspired new generations of Irish historians'.

For years, Professor Fanning was a regular columnist with the Sunday Independent and last year contributed to the series of 1916 commemoration supplements, jointly produced by the Irish Independent and UCD.

Dr Manning said; "Through his journalism his views reached a wide audience."

He said Prof Fanning brought his considerable academic talents to bear on the study of many aspects of modern Irish history.

He was the author of the authoritative biography 'Eamon de Valera: A Will to Power', which followed in a list of very distinguished publications stretching back to his 'The Irish Department of Finance 1922-58'.

He was also joint editor of the Dictionary of Irish Biography (2009) and of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy.

Dr Manning said he made a substantial contribution to expanding the resources available for scholarship.

Meanwhile, UCD president Professor Andrew Deeks, said news of the death of the UCD Emeritus Professor was met with "deep sadness within UCD. He was one of our leading historians. He contributed to the university in countless ways over many years".

Professor Deeks said Prof Fanning was "truly gracious with his guidance and advice".
Anthonie Van Wilderoden and the pram he used to steal from Irish shops

A businessman jailed for shoplifting 'to order' had previously posed as a Spanish duke and pretended to be state witness against the Dutch Hell's Angels in a series of crimes.

Last week in Dublin Anthonie Van Wilderoden (44) was jailed for two years with six months suspended for a professional shoplifting scheme where he stole high-value household goods.

The court heard that he used an improvised buggy to steal the high-end items which he then sold on the Donedeal website to unsuspecting customers.

But now it has emerged Van Wilderoden has a long and chequered history as a fraudster in central Europe.

It has emerged that he:

Previously acted as a state witness against members of a Dutch motorbike gang but the case collapsed when it emerged that he had fabricated his entire testimony;

Was admitted into the Dutch witness protection programme where he changed his surname and began calling himself the Duke of Aragon;

Arranged to marry a French-trained chef in a lavish ceremony, but was arrested the day before his wedding after it emerged that he hadn't paid the contractors;

Moved to Co Wicklow where he set up an edible insect company but carried out a spate of robberies across the country when his wife left him;

Now looks set to be the subject of a major European movie.

This week Van Wilderoden is getting settled into his new surroundings at Mountjoy prison. Jail will seem quite familiar for the Dutch conman who has 19 previous convictions across the continent.

Read more: Businessman caught using pram to shoplift Irish stores once posed as a Spanish Duke and tried to 'snitch' on the Dutch Hell's Angels

Dutch journalist Jos Verkuijlen, who has followed the case for broadcaster Omroep Brabant, said: "I saw Anthonie as a well-dressed man. He was very polite and very believable. I can understand he fooled a noble family and the justice department in his past."

In November 2009 he asked Tara Elliott - a chef born in Belfast and raised in Dublin - to marry him. His taste for the expensive lifestyle hadn't receded and, according to reports, he proposed with a platinum ring encrusted with 108 diamonds.

The pair had a civil ceremony on April 15, 2010, in Bruges, Belgium, and two months later they were planning to have the official wedding. The ceremony was going to be in the basilica of Oudenbosch - a replica of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome - and some 250 guests were invited.

He was arrested on the day before the wedding after suppliers became concerned.

The court heard that he later became involved with a business called Eddiebug with the help of a government loan. The company sold insects as a speciality foodstuff.

But his wife, who is now estranged, insisted that he "is not, and never has been, involved in any aspect of Eddiebug".
The advice from the Department of Health is that women should not drink any alcohol during pregnancy. Photo: GETTY

Irish women have the world's highest rate of drinking alcohol while pregnant.

A new global study in 'Lancet Global Health' found 60pc of births in Ireland have evidence of their mother consuming alcohol during pregnancy.

This compares to 47pc in Belarus, 46pc in Denmark and 41pc in the UK.

The research looked at more than 3,500 Irish maternal records from 1990 to 2011 and examined the rate of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), where the baby in the womb was affected.

The study said around 119,000 children are born with this syndrome across the world annually and symptoms can include developmental delay, shorter stature and distinct facial features.

The advice from the Department of Health is that women should not drink any alcohol during pregnancy.

Globally, nearly 10pc of women drink alcohol during pregnancy, with wide variations by country and WHO region.

In some countries, more than 45pc of women consume alcohol during pregnancy.

Conservative

"We estimated that one in 67 mothers who drink during pregnancy will deliver a child with FAS," says lead author Dr Svetlana Popova, senior scientist in Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Canada.

She suggested this figure was very conservative and did not include other types of FASD that may occur from alcohol consumption during pregnancy, including partial FAS (pFAS) and Alcohol-related Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ARND).

Although it's well established that alcohol can damage any organ or system in the developing foetus, particularly the brain, it's still not known exactly what makes a foetus vulnerable to the amount or frequency of alcohol use during pregnancy, the study pointed out.
Most of us can probably name a famous transgender person - whether it's Caitlyn Jenner, Orange Is The New Black's Laverne Cox, model Hari Nef or Cher's son Chaz Bono. However, in 10 years' time, it is estimated most people will know a transgender person, just like everyone now knows somebody who is gay.

By that time, much of the current curiosity surrounding trans people will have waned because it will be the norm for people to say they have trans relatives, friends, neighbours and work colleagues - without fear or shame.

Trans issues are moving more and more to the forefront of society and as a gay man, I was ashamed of how little I knew about trans people - so I decided to write a book about it and seek out those trans voices. Being part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, I regret that amongst the gay community there is still a general lack of knowledge about trans people and the issues they face on a day-to-day basis.

"I feel the 'T' is just something that is tagged at the end of LGBT," said Ruth, a trans woman I spoke to. "Gay people can be as ignorant as anybody else in society about trans issues. They are equally capable of poking fun and making snide comments. These are hardly the actions of allies."

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In most western countries, there's greater tolerance of gays and lesbians than trans people, who are still vilified and far more likely to be ostracised at work, attacked or, in some countries, even murdered. It is reasonable to ask if trans people are the last group in society that can be ridiculed and judged without any apparent consequence.

How can society change its attitudes towards trans people? True equality isn't just about tolerance - what is needed is a broad-minded and empathetic attitude, but this can't be achieved without understanding trans identities and dispelling the myths and fears about them.

Laura, a trans woman, told me: "It is like you've been wearing a really itchy suit your entire life and didn't know, until now, you could take it off. What every trans person can say is they just 'know' their gender is wrong for their biological sex."

I am aware that much curiosity surrounds trans people and I too have bought into this. I know if I'm sitting next to a trans person in a restaurant or on a train, it's enticing to look at their clothes, footwear and make-up, particularly if it's a trans woman. I have even found myself rooting for the person when they are spoken to by a waiter or a ticket collector - and when they get up and walk. I have wanted them to be convincing in their new gender because I know it's a harsh world and that people have a propensity for saying horrible things, shattering confidence in the process. But society doesn't have to be like this. Awareness and knowledge break down ignorance and bigotry, and can create a world where everybody can get on with their business without interference or prejudice.

There are as many differences as there are similarities between trans and gay people. Misconceptions and discrimination affect both, and they share similar nuances. They are closely acquainted in terms of homophobia and transphobia. Although homophobia is still prevalent in certain sections of western culture, and homosexuality is still illegal in over 75 countries, there is no denying there has been progress in terms of inclusion and acceptance, culminating in same-sex marriage legislation in many countries. Up until it was declassified in 1992, homosexuality was deemed a mental disorder under psychiatric illnesses. But trans people are still under the mental illness umbrella of psychiatry and having a 'mental illness' label leads to society viewing trans people as being unwell, different or strange.

"Some people view trans as something that goes against the norms of society," Caroline, another trans woman I interviewed, explained. "We are viewed as having a medical condition. Yes, it is a mental condition. How can it not be? But it is not a mental illness. I am not mentally ill. Before I transitioned, my brain and body did not match each other. I viewed it as something that could be fixed. So I fixed it through years of treatments and surgeries."

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In Ireland, the introduction of the Gender Recognition Act in 2015 gave trans people the advantage of being amongst only a handful of countries in the world where they could self-declare their gender and gain legal recognition without seeing a doctor or needing medical treatment. They followed Argentina, Denmark, Malta and Colombia in allowing trans people to self-determine outside the medical process.

Although the Act was seen as a positive step forward for transgender rights in Ireland, it faced criticism for having exclusions within the trans community. At the moment, the Act excludes trans people under 16 and does not allow people who are non-binary (ie those who may not want an 'M' or 'F' on their birth certificate) to be legally recognised. It will be reviewed in September this year, with trans activists advocating to include young trans people, non-binary and intersex people (those born with visibly ambiguous genitalia that do not entirely fit what is considered 'male' or 'female').

In addition to the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act, there is a need for society to address transphobia and the bullying of young trans people in educational settings. Some teenagers are coming out much younger these days and often face challenges in schools, such as wearing uniforms that don't match their gender identity, using the wrong facilities, being referred to by the wrong name/pronoun, etc. Many young people struggle, experience bullying and drop out of education at the earliest opportunity.

Research shows that if people have support from their families, they are more likely to thrive. Coming out as trans involves a complete change of identity, which puts trans people and their families under great stress and can result in self-harming behaviour and suicide ideation. It is found that people who have experienced suicidal ideation or attempted suicide had often faced rejection and verbal and physical abuse from their families, as well as suffering distress and abuse in their communities, workplace and the media.

Megan, a trans woman, told me the lesson she had learned over the years was: "Be as confident as you can. Confidence breeds confidence. Don't let idiots knock you back. I remember being in a shopping mall once and heard the words, 'freak, freak!', knowing only too well they were being directed at me.

"I made sure I went out the next day. I felt nervous and highly-strung, but it was something I had to prove to myself - that I could beat the bullies. These days, I no longer walk around with my head bowed. I look straight at people. I meet their eyes and, as a result, very little abuse is directed at me."

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Trans Voices: Becoming Who You Are by Declan Henry (15.50, Jessica Kingsley) is published January 19
We often associate accidents with speed or drink driving or young brats.

It's not so stereotyped, I can tell you.

Last week a colleague and I were slowly making our way along a suburban road that was busy with mums/dads rushing to pick up their children from school.

One lady, obviously quite late and distracted, shot out from behind a row of parked cars and forced me to choose between crashing or swerving to the empty path. I chose the latter because I honestly don't believe she gave a second thought to stopping. I scuffed one front alloy on my lovely Mercedes E-Class estate in the process.

I was madly upset by that but it was, on reflection, a small price to pay.

The episode highlighted, for me, how otherwise demure drivers can lose their cool when under pressure.

That lady was scooting; so fast I couldn't get her number. Had she emerged from behind the parked cars a couple of seconds later we would have crashed head on. All because she was late. Sadly, I'm the one (and Mercedes) who lived with the consequences. I think she passed absolutely no remarks.

l We're promised a real treat at this year's Carole Nash Irish Motorbike and Scooter Show at the RDS. There will be three new Triumph motorcycles on view here for the first time.

Fans will be able to see the Bonneville Bobber, Street Triple 765 and Street Scrambler models. The Triple 765 will be the first to be featured at a show anywhere as it was only unveiled on January 10.

All the indications are that there will be more new-bike model debuts than ever.

The show runs from March 3-5.

Sounds like fun.

* They've been busy at BMW. They have just facelifted the 4-series range (pictured above). There is refreshed styling and upgraded cabin. The M4 has an optional Carbon Package.

Meanwhile the new 520d EfficientDynamics saloon is being heralded as the most efficient 5-series yet.

And the 7-series gets additional driver assistance systems and Remote 3D View.

* The Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar is expected to be unveiled at Frankfurt motor show.

Reports suggest the 1,000bhp four-wheel-drive motor will be sold out before it is revealed.

* Congratulations to Dublin-born Ger Boyle who has been appointed Aftersales Manager for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland.

He was previously National Service Manager. Ger joined the company back in October 2014.

* We can expect to see the new 210bhp Toyota Yaris hot hatch in all its glory at the Geneva Show in March.

* Bentley intends to have a plug-in hybrid version of all its models within the next few years.
Drivers have been hit hard by increases in motor premiums, but the good news is that premium rises are set to stabilise this year.

Insurance premiums have been rising non-stop for two years.

The insurance industry blames the surge on what it said was a spike in the number of motor accident personal injury claims.

Insurance Ireland pointed to increases in the level of awards and frequency of compensation secured through the courts last year.

An updated book of quantum - essentially a guide to injury payout levels in the courts, Injury Board and directly by insurers - has now been issued in the hope of bringing some consistency to award levels.

Rises in the cost of premiums have been so high that experts now see them levelling off this year.

Director of general services at the Irish Brokers Association, Brian McNelis, feels we are over the worst when it comes to prices rises.

"With reduced losses being reported by the insurers and with the Government determined to deal with the issues affecting premiums, we are hopeful that 2017 will bring a form of stabilisation to the market."

Regardless of what happens you still can save money so here are some ways to fight back against the high premiums.

Switch

If you are claims-free, it makes sense to regularly switch insurer. Compare rates by ringing different companies or going online. It is worthwhile using a broker. It won't cost you any more than going directly to the insurer as the broker is paid by the company.

Don't over-insure

Other tips to keep costs down include being conservative with the car's value. This is important as you can only claim what the vehicle is deemed to be worth by the insurance company's assessor. People often over-value their car.

Check the excess

And be careful about excesses. This is the amount you have to pay before you can make a claim. Lately, insurers are imposing higher and higher excesses. This reduces the risks for them, but means you end up not claiming for small accidents. Excesses of 500 are not uncommon, but when they get to that level, they negate the value of having insurance.

Get a discount by using telematics

Telematics is a way of monitoring the location, movements, status and behaviour of a vehicle. You can do it through a smartphone. Insurer AIG offers discounts of up to 20pc on motor cover for using an app that monitors driving style. AIG says it aims to reward better driving behaviour with potential savings of up to 25pc on car insurance premiums.

Men, get insured with Its4women

Online insurer Its4women markets its motor insurance at females but the law means it cannot refuse to cover men. Because most of its customers are women, who are safer drivers and have fewer claims, it tends to be more competitive than motor cover sold equally to both sexes.

A recent European Union gender directive, which became the law in this country, means men and women can't be discriminated against in terms of the price of insurance.

Take out two-year cover

The cost of motor premiums are predicted to keep rising this year. To ensure you pay the same this year as next, you could opt for two-year cover which is offered on motor insurance by Blue Insurance. This means that the premium you pay this year will be the same again next year. And if you have an accident in the two-year period, your premium will not rise.

Pay annually

Pay for your cover annually if you can afford to do this. Paying for cover on a monthly basis is the same as taking a high-interest loan from your provider, with the interest as high as 20pc imposed on top of the premium for paying by instalments.
Aidan Timmons and Motoring Editor Eddie Cunningham team up to help readers make the right choice with their next car.

My wife and I are expecting our third child in a few months which means we need to move on from our current car, a Volkswagen Passat, as it will not fit us all. We will have three under 3 years old this year and hope to have one more. Could you please give us an idea of what cars we could look at buying based on an assumption of four young children? Do we need a car with 3/4 Isofixes for child seats? When can children move into booster seats? Any relevant information would be greatly appreciated.

Aidan: Let's dispense with the legalities and recommendations of the booster seat first. It all depends on the age and/or weight of the child so there are no strict criteria.

The Road Safety Authority's website is an excellent source of information for such matters but to condense the recommendations here: a child can enter into a forward facing car seat as soon as they weigh more than 9kg, which the RSA estimates as being around 9 months old. The booster seat is recommended for children between 15kg and 25kg. After that, a booster cushion is recommended all the way up to when the child is around 12, or around 36kgs.

As for the car, I think the Volkswagen Touran people carrier is ideal. Unique to the Touran is its five ISOFIX points. All of the rear seats are individual and there is a tremendous amount of flexibility in terms of their arrangements. Slide, tilt, fold: you name it and they do it. It's also a relatively new model (launched last year) so you can get the latest tech and safety equipment. Don't underestimate the latter. You don't provide a budget or your mileage. I encourage you to buy new or an ex-demo if at all possible. It sounds like you will put the family car to great use and so owning something in warranty could pay dividends.

You also have a Passat, so you are familiar with the brand and perhaps have a contact in a VW dealership already. Go there first and see what you can do. I don't see the need to offer alternatives. The Touran has what you want.

Eddie: Do visit the RSA site on child seats; it is excellent. And important. Two other possible cars for you could be the Citroen Grand Picasso and new Renault Grand Scenic, both seven-seaters with three Isofixes on the second row.

The Ford S-MAX is another, as is the SEAT Alhambra, but it may be a little large for you at this stage. My advice is to buy as new as you can and to factor in your next change to a larger MPV in three years because your family will have grown in more ways than one by then. For now, though, the Touran is probably the pick of the bunch. Best of luck.

My budget is about 22,000; my mileage is averaging 14,500km a year, including long trips on holidays around Ireland and the UK. Currently I am driving at 12-reg Skoda Superb Combi top of the range 2-litre DSG. I volunteer with animal rescue and have had occasion to carry traps and dog cages so the large boot space was vital. So is the automatic transmission because of my back problems. I had seriously considered the idea of changing this year but my only dilemma is the new Skoda KODIAQ is about to come out in March. I don't need an SUV per se but I do like the idea of the height and better view of the road. If you had to choose would you wait for the KODIAQ? At the moment there is 0pc PCP on the Superb until the end of the month which is something I could consider instead of lashing out the entire amount of my budget.

Aidan: Sorry to make the assumption that your budget of 22,000 does not include trading in your Superb, but I don't think you would be considering a new KODIAQ if you didn't have something else supporting your budget. Your decision depends on your eagerness to change now.

The new Superb is readily available and the 190bhp version with the DSG gearbox is a delight. You won't regret buying another Superb, that's for certain. Some of the finer details of the KODIAQ, including prices and precise specifications available at launch, are yet to be finalised.

However, irrespective of your choice, you should start lodging your enquiries with your Skoda dealer right now. All of the indicators are pointing to it being a success but time will tell.

However, if those indicators are accurate, then it stands to reason (all things being equal) that its residual values will be strong.

When we consider a "cost of vehicle ownership" metric, depreciation stands as the biggest contributor. Ask someone who changed an Octavia, a Hyundai ix35, or an Audi Q5 in the last couple of years about how nice it is to own one of the sought-after products on the market.

Costs to change for most brands have been attractive and values on the used market have been strong but these models really fought depreciation in an impressive way. There is no guarantee that the KODIAQ will be the same but the signs are promising.

Tough call but I think you are in the enviable position where no matter what you choose, you will have a great machine. Me? I'd wait for the KODIAQ.

Eddie: I've driven the KODIAQ. It's fine, big, roomy and smart and all that but for you and your back problems I think the seats could swing the deal. I drove it 1,200km in December and suffered no lumbar consequences. I think the five-seater version will cost under the 30,000 mark.

However, the top-of-range trim to which you have grown accustomed in your Superb will be a lot more. I don't know if your budget will stretch to that.

The Superb is aptly named but the KODIAQ gives you a lot more flexibility. If the budget stretches, hold for the SUV. If it doesn't buy the Superb. Do your maths now.

I am driving a Ford Focus Titanium saloon, 141-reg. I have driven Fords without a break since 1975. I am toying with the idea of changing to a new SUV. I haven't driven any of them; maybe a short test drive in a Skoda Yeti some time ago. The ones I had in mind are the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Skoda Yeti and the Ford Kuga. I am not a man for very high spec. Is it advisable to go for the 2-litre engine and 18ins wheels? My wife and I are looking for comfort now, especially entering and exiting motor vehicles.

Aidan: The 2-litre diesel Sportage and Tucson are only available with four-wheel-drive, which you certainly do not need.

Don't pay the premium for it if it will be redundant. The 1.7-litre in each instance is absolutely fine and you can still upgrade the alloys if you wish, but that is a matter of taste.

The Tucson was the best selling car last year. On the strength of that fact alone, it is obviously worth considering.

However, there is a new Kuga out now and there are some good deals. It now comes with a 1.5-litre diesel engine with 120bhp (which many old models had from the 2.0 litre diesel engine anyway).

If you want, the price walk to a 2WD 150bhp model is around 2,600. Again, I reckon the 1.5 diesel will be ample for you. You are obviously happy with Ford and I suspect that they are equally happy with having you as a customer. See what deal you can do on a new Kuga.

The only thing to consider is the size difference between the Kuga and the Tucson. The Kuga is a bit bigger. You said that you will thoroughly test drive your short-list, and I encourage you to do so and determine in which model you feel most comfortable. As for not being a man for high spec; you drive a Titanium Focus.

There is no such thing as a bad-spec new car nowadays. Base level specification is still far more generous than before. If you opt for a Kuga, stick with Titanium.

If you decide on the Tucson, then I think the Executive is best but be sure to go for a 'Comfort Plus' model at a minimum.

Eddie: I'm not a mad fan of the Kuga for some reason. It was recently facelifted and is a really decent drive. But I like the KIA Sportage and I have to acknowledge the Hyundai Tucson is a tempting prospect. However, I suspect you will get the best cost-to-change deal with the Kuga because it, like your Focus, is a Ford and you've been such a loyal customer for so long.

But if you were to really press me, I'd tell you my instinct for you is to look at the Sportage.

JUST TO SAY

WE love getting your enquiries but can't reply to all queries in as full a manner as this due to time and space restraints. We try to deal with as many as possible via email. But you can help us help you if you make sure to include the following critical elements in your query:

* Total budget.

* Annual mileage.

* Size of car required (number of seats).

* Present car (make, model, year and mileage).

ecunningham@independent.ie
Black Swan star Natalie Portman said women needed to take the initiative to aim for top leadership roles

Actress Natalie Portman has shared her concern that female leaders are still severely lacking across all industries.

The Black Swan star said that women needed to take the initiative to aim for top roles, but that others have a duty to support them along the way.

Speaking to the BBC, she said: "It's in every sphere of leadership.

"We are really, really lacking female roles still.

"It's very important for women to take the initiative to be leaders, and for us to make sure they are not prevented from getting there."

Her comments came days ahead of the release of Jackie, a biopic in which Portman takes on the role of former US first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Commenting on her research into the life of the former columnist, who married John F. Kennedy in 1953, Portman said: " I didn't know anything beyond the popular conception of this two-dimensional icon.

"She had this breathy voice, which she used when she was cultivating this classic image of femininity and corniness.

"She had this exquisite understanding of public image. The importance they both had to the American people shows how strong the story she told was."

Once a political photographer and writer , the former first lady became known for restoring the White House by painstakingly tracking down historical artefacts.

Video of the Day

She was revered as a role model across the States, both for her sense of style as well as for her work in promoting the arts and improving international political relationships.

But Portman revealed that she had "no idea" what effect Donald Trump's upcoming presidency, more than 50 years on, would have on equality in the US.

Admitting that she did not vote for the business tycoon during last year's elections, she said she hoped his new role would allow for a "positive way forward."

"I really pray for the best for our country and I'm energised to do whatever I can for my own country and community," she added.
Is sexual assault against a man ok?

That would seem to be the message producers of Channel 5's never-ending trash-fest Celebrity Big Brother are projecting.

On Tuesday night's show, viewers saw Chloe from even trashier reality show Geordie Shore rub her bare bottom against John Grimes of Jedward.

As she did so, she said: "This is what you call a real girl, that's a real woman's bum."

A clearly uncomfortable John replied as he covered his eyes with his hands: "Oh God, oh God, what are you doing? What are you doing to us? Jeez, I can't even look at you right now.'"

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The house continued on as normal, with more Z-listers desperately attempting to extend their 15 minutes of fame into a 16th.

But wait, wasn't John just sexually assaulted? If a male contestant left the shower naked and rubbed his bare bottom against an unsuspecting female contestant one would expect he'd receive an immediate warning from producers, if not possibly prosecuted on the outside.

Look, far be it from me to rain on the parade - it very well could have been a harmless joke between friends, which offended neither party involved.

But John looked clearly uncomfortable during the exchange.

Video of the Day

So where's the outrage? Where are the social media campaigns?

During Big Brother's long history between Channel 4 and now Channel 5 - there have been dozens of controversial moments.

The Shilpa Shetty/Jade Goody racism controversy and the Christopher Biggins anti-Semitic joke controversy spring immediately to mind. They both resulted in a massive public backlash.

So where is the outcry over a possible sexual assault? Clearly it's on the minor end of the scale and unintentional, but what message does it send to viewers? Rubbing your bare bottom on a friend is ok? Regardless of how uncomfortable they are?

John could have found the whole exchange funny, and it possibly didn't bother him in the slightest. That's fine. But why didn't producers intervene as they surely would if the genders were reversed?

Chloe obviously intended the whole exchange as a bit of harmless fun - but if the genders were reversed could a man brush off the accusations by saying it was "a bit of fun"?

I don't find the whole incident offensive as TV viewing, rather that I don't think there would have been such a muted reaction if the gender roles were reversed.

A Channel 5 spokesperson told Independent.ie that the incident would be shown on tonight's highlight show in full and that "in accordance with established protocols Big Brother dealt with this accordingly."

So it remains to be seen - maybe Chloe has since been removed from the house for her behaviour.

But anything short of removing her sends the message that John is a man - and a man can't be sexually assaulted by a woman.
London-based Naturist Cleaners is recruiting female staff "of all ages and figures" (Naturist Cleaners/PA)

A cleaning company is offering 45 an hour for women who are prepared to work naked.

London-based Naturist Cleaners is recruiting female staff "of all ages and figures" to clean private houses across the UK while wearing just slippers and gloves.

Clients - the majority of whom are nudists, according to the agency - are charged 65 for the first hour and 55 for each hour after, and must agree to a strict "no touch" and no pictures or video policy.

There are three services: with the client nude, with the cleaner nude, or both.

Owner Laura Smith said she had the idea after a nudist asked if he could be naked while she cleaned for him.

The majority who use the service are nudists, she said.

"We started in London two years ago and it's proved really popular, so we're expanding. We've had quite a lot of female interest for this kind of work.

"It's a service for the nudist community. We are a cleaning company. There's nothing sexual about the business at all. The majority of our clients are nudists."

"I must stress that the cleaners are completely nude. They clean properly, they are not pretending. So the client is getting the benefit of a nice experience and a professional clean for an hour or for however much is paid for."
Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who has been acquitted of using unlicensed arms while hunting in a wildlife preserve (AP)

An Indian court has cleared Bollywood actor Salman Khan of using unlicensed arms while hunting for rare blackbuck antelopes in a western India wildlife preserve 18 years ago.

The 51-year-old star was present in the court in Jodhpur, in Rajasthan state, as Chief Judicial Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit announced his acquittal.

His lawyer, Hastimal Saraswat, said the magistrate dismissed the charge against Khan due to lack of evidence. If convicted, he would have faced up to seven years in prison.

The prosecution argued that the licence for a revolver and a rifle allegedly used by Khan had expired in 1998.

The Indian court system is notoriously slow, and it often takes years and even decades for a case to go to trial.

AP

As Khan's fans cheered his acquittal, he tweeted: "Thank you for all the support and good wishes."

Apart from the illegal arms case, police had filed three poaching cases against the actor during shooting for one of his films in Jodhpur in 1998.

He was convicted by a lower court and sentenced to one and five years in prison respectively.

But he challenged the verdict in a higher court, which said there was no evidence to suggest that the pellets recovered from the animals were fired from Khan's gun.

He is still facing trial in a third case for allegedly poaching two rare blackbucks.

Khan has starred in more than 90 Hindi-language films, but has also had brushes with the law.

In 2014, the Mumbai High Court acquitted him in a drink-driving, hit-and-run case from more than a decade ago.

The judges found that prosecutors had failed to prove charges of culpable homicide, in which they accused Khan of driving while intoxicated in 2002 and running over five men sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai, killing one of them.

The government of Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, has challenged his acquittal in the Supreme Court.

AP
A forensic investigator walks outside a private school in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2016. A 15-year-old student opened fire with a gun at the school, hitting a teacher and two other students in the head before killing himself. (AP Photo/Emilio Vazquez)

A soldier and police stand guard outside at a private school in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2016. A 15-year-old student opened fire with a gun at the school, hitting a teacher and two other students in the head before killing himself. (AP Photo/Emilio Vazquez)

A student opened fire at a private school in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Wednesday, hitting a teacher and two other students in the head before killing himself.

Another student suffered lesser injuries in the shootings, which were captured on a chilling video posted to social media.

Nuevo Leon state governor Jaime Rodriguez said the 15-year-old student died at a hospital and that the other three victims with head wounds were "fighting between life and death". The boy wounded in the arm was out of danger.

A video, apparently from the school's surveillance camera, shows a female teacher handing out materials and students seated at their desks when a boy opens fire with a pistol from a sitting position, hitting a boy sitting in front of him, who immediately slumps to the ground.

He next shoots the teacher, who was looking in another direction, and she falls to the ground. The boy rises from his seat and walks around, firing shots at his classmates, before turning the gun on himself.

His first shot apparently misses his head, and then he runs out of bullets. The shooter runs to his backpack, apparently to reload, as his classmates cower at their desks. He appears to say something to the surviving students, who begin to rush for the door, and then he shoots himself in the head and falls to the ground.

The crowded classroom was left with a jumble of overturned chairs, blood and fallen students.

State security spokesman Aldo Fasci said four of the injured, including the shooter himself, had bullet wounds to the head and were in extremely serious conditions.

He said the student shot the 24-year-old teacher, a 14-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy in the head, and a 15-year-old classmate in the arm. He then pointed the gun at classmates before shooting himself in the head.

"The classes were going perfectly well, the student stands up from his desk and pulls out a gun," Mr Fasci said.

He noted that photographs of the shooting had been posted to social media and said the person responsible would be punished. He also appealed to the news media to avoid using the images, which show minors.

Mr Fasci said the shooter had been under treatment for depression, but that the motive was under investigation.

The spokesman attributed it to "the situation that is happening everywhere. The children have access to the internet. This has happened in other countries".

Mr Fasci said the boy brought the gun from home. It was unclear how he got the .22 caliber pistol into the school. Mexico had once had a programme to check book bags at school entrances, but in many places it has fallen into disuse.

"'There was a reason why book bags were checked. I think we are going to have to start doing it again," Mr Fasci said.

Mexico had been largely spared the phenomenon of school shootings that has hit the United States. In one of the few previous incidents, a 13-year-old student shot a 12-year-old classmate in the head at a Mexico City middle school in 2004, seriously wounding her.

At the height of Mexico's drug war between 2008 and 2011, schools in northern Mexico were more concerned about the possibility that stray bullets from drug gang gun battles outside schools might enter classrooms. Some schools conducted "duck and cover" drills to combat that possibility.

AP
US vice-president Joe Biden has warned that Russia is the greatest threat to the "liberal" world order.

Mr Biden issued a "call to action" to Europe and the United States to defend the order during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He decried a growing impulse in the West towards isolation and to "build walls", which was seen as a veiled criticism of plans from President-elect Donald Trump.

In his final major speech in his post, Mr Biden said he would "not mince words" as he accused Moscow of seeking to "whittle away at the edges of the European project" that has brought decades of peace.

Mr Biden acknowledged to hundreds of people at the World Economic Forum that he will hold his post for only another 48 hours, and quipped: "Then I can start to say what I think."

AP
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal and its mining industry has long been one of the world's deadliest

Nine people have been killed in the partial collapse of a coal mine in northern China.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency said on Wednesday that the people killed were doing maintenance work inside the mine shaft at the time of the accident.

Rescuers were able to save one person, who is now in a stable condition in hospital.

The cause of the accident on the outskirts of Shuozhou city in coal-rich Shanxi province was under investigation.

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal.

Its mining industry has long been one of the world's deadliest, even as the government has strived to improve safety inside the mines and phase out older operations with outdated safety standards.

AP
Samantha Power speaks during a discussion at the Atlantic Council on The Future of US-Russia Relations in Washington, DC, yesterday. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Outgoing US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power launched a direct and verbal offensive against the Russian government for its role in undermining the US presidential election.

At an event in Washington, in one of the her final speeches in her senior role in the Obama administration, the Dublin native also talked about Russian efforts in destabilising and fragmenting America's traditional allies in Europe.

She cited funding to "illiberal political parties", such as France's Front National and others which are growing in popularity across Europe.

The ambassador accused Russia of "tearing down" the world order that exists and called to action the global community to confront the "forces of authoritarianism and nihilism".

Power - who has served in her role in the Obama administration since 2009 - spoke in straight, stoic terms, delivered without the usual aplomb or optimism one might expect for a valedictory speech at the end of the long tenure in one of the world's most influential roles.

She mentioned Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014 after the Ukrainian population voted in a government that supported closer ties to the EU. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin "rammed though a referendum at the barrel of a gun" in order to "justify his sham annexation", she said. She talked at length of Russia's support for Bashar al Assad's "brutal war" in Syria; "support it maintained" even when Assad blocked food and medicine to starving civilians who "were resorting to eating leaves" to survive. This continued she said, even as photos emerged of countless prisoners "tortured to death in Assad prisons" - their bodies "tagged with serial numbers", and when Assad "repeatedly used chemical weapons" to kill his own people.

In 2015, Russia then joined the assault on the Syrian people, "deploying its own troops and planes, targeting schools, hospitals and the brave Syrian first responders who were trying to rescue innocent civilians".

Not only were more innocent civilians "killed, maimed starved and uprooted, but the rules that make us all more secure were eroded", said Power.

The Pulitzer prize-winning author discussed the threat that Russia poses in EU countries due to hold election in 2017.

She said Russia is "sewing doubt and division" in western democracies, and trying to "drive a wedge between the US and its allies".

It's little surprise that Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's Front National, has repeatedly attempted to "legitimise" Russia's land-grabbing in Crimea, she said.

Power added that the US intelligence community has unequivocally found that the "Russian government sought to interfere in the presidential election", with the "goals of undermining public faith in the US democratic process", by "denigrating one candidate and helping the other candidate".

Speaking of the outcome of part of the investigation by US intelligence agencies, she said the modus operandi employed by Russia was the use of a "combination of Russian government agencies, state-funded media and government-paid trolls" - directed by Vladimir Putin.

As well as "hacking the DNC and senior party officials", Russia also hacked US think-tanks and lobbying groups, she said.

"And we know that Russia hacked elements of state and electoral boards, but did not compromise vote tallies."

"Think about what this means," she said. "Russia not only tried to influence our election but to access the very systems by which we vote."

Speaking with the desire to not only relieve her own frustration of years of apparent Russian intransigence at the UN, Power's speech appears to have been an attempt to communicate in no uncertain terms what she has learned and as much as she can say about the future of Russian intent in western democracies.

She urged vigilance amongst US lawmakers and the public at large, as well as robust and well-resourced institutional support in detecting and understanding the "vulnerabilities" within democratic systems.

Shona Murray is Foreign Affairs Correspondent with Newstalk
Police stand by an evacuated school after three earthquakes hit central Italy in the space of an hour (AP/Paolo Santalucia)

Four strong earthquakes have shaken the same region of central Italy that suffered deadly tremors last year.

The quakes sent residents into panic and further isolated towns that have been buried under more than three feet of snow for days.

Premier Paolo Gentiloni said it appeared no one was killed, but that it was a "difficult day" for Italy.

The first tremor, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3, hit Montereale at about 10.25am, according to the US Geological Survey.

A second quake with a magnitude of 5.7 hit the same area about 50 minutes later, and 10 minutes later a third was measured at a magnitude of 5.3. Several hours later another 5.1-magnitude quake shook the same area.

Throughout the day, seismologists registered more than 100 aftershocks.

Several towns and hamlets in the quake zone had already sounded the alarm in recent days that they were without electricity and were isolated from major roads due to the unusually heavy snowfall that has blanketed much of central Italy.

The quakes only made matters worse, knocking out some mobile phone service, hampering the emergency response and sending quake-weary residents into panic. The defence ministry promised to send in army units to help.

"The situation is really getting extreme," said the mayor of Canzano, Franco Campitelli. "It's snowing hard. We're without electricity. We hope the army gets here soon with snow ploughs or we risk being completely isolated," he said.

The quakes, which had their epicentres in the L'Aquila region, were felt as far away as Rome, 100 miles to the south-west.

In the Italian capital, the subway was closed for hours as a precaution, parents were asked to pick up their children from some schools, and offices, banks and shops were evacuated temporarily.

But elsewhere in Rome at the Vatican, Pope Francis' Wednesday general audience went off without a hitch.

In the Umbrian pilgrimage town of Assisi, friars closed the Santa Maria degli Angeli basilica as a precaution. The basilica hosts the famed Porziuncola chapel, birthplace of the Franciscan order of the Pope's namesake, St Francis of Assisi.

Three quakes in mountainous central Italy last year killed nearly 300 people in and around the medieval town of Amatrice and caused significant damage to older buildings. The tower of one of Amatrice's churches toppled in Wednesday's quakes.

L'Aquila itself suffered a devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake in 2009 that killed more than 300 people.

Mayor Maurizio Pelosi of Capitagno, near the epicentre of Wednesday's quakes, said even before the earth shook many roads into and out of the town were blocked due to the snow.

A hotel worker in town, Giuseppe Di Felice, said people could not get out of their homes.

"It's apocalyptic," he said.

AP
A military commander with West Africa's regional bloc says its forces will "take action" at midnight unless a solution is found to Gambia's political crisis before then.

Speaking on Senegalese radio station RFM, Seydou Maiga Mboro of Niger declared that "all the troops are already in place" awaiting the deadline for President Yahya Jammeh to step down.

Witnesses in Senegal have reported seeing troops making their way towards Gambia's borders.

At about the same time on Wednesday, Senegal circulated a draft UN resolution to members of the Security Council on the actions in Gambia planned by the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS.

The key paragraph in the draft, obtained by The Associated Press, reiterates the Security Council's "full support to the ECOWAS in its commitment to take all necessary measures to ensure the respect of the will of the people of the Gambia as expressed in the results of December 1 elections".

Despite losing in the December elections to opposition candidate Adama Barrow, Mr Jammeh has refused to cede power after 22 years at the helm.

President-elect Barrow has vowed to go ahead with his inauguration anyway on Thursday, and ECOWAS, the regional bloc, has pledged to use military force if necessary to remove him. Mr Jammeh seized power of Gambia in a 1994 coup.

As the crisis deepened, hundreds of beach-going tourists were evacuated from Gambia, a popular winter destination in West Africa for visitors especially from Britain, the former colonial power. The streets of the capital, Banjul, were largely empty by late afternoon on Wednesday. There was very little military presence seen, said residents.

The tiny West African nation facing a potential regional military intervention is completely surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean. Late on Wednesday, witnesses reported seeing Senegalese soldiers in both the Kaolack region of Senegal to the north of Gambia, and in the southern Senegalese region of Casamance.

Mr Jammeh lost the December 1 election after more than 22 years in power following a coup. He initially conceded defeat but later said voting irregularities invalidated the ballot. His mandate expires on Thursday, and the president-elect is vowing to go ahead with his inauguration on Gambian soil though he has not offered any details.

"Those who resist peaceful change effective 12 midnight tonight shall face definite consequences, to their peril," said Mai Ahmad Fatty, Mr Barrow's special adviser, in a Facebook post in which he advised Gambians to stay indoors. "Anyone with firearms tonight shall be deemed a rebel, and will certainly become a legitimate target."

In addition to the Senegalese soldiers, private radio station RFM also reported the arrival of Nigerian military equipment in the capital of Dakar. In addition to Nigeria and Senegal, Ghana has also pledged to contribute to the regional force.

AP
The United States' Senate Armed Services Committee has voted decisively to approve Donald Trump's pick for defence secretary.

The decision clears the way for retired Marine General James Mattis to be confirmed shortly after the president-elect is sworn in.

On a vote of 26-1, the Republican-led panel agreed that Mr Mattis' nomination should be sent directly to the full Senate for consideration instead of first being referred to the committee. Although Mr Trump selected Mr Mattis last month, he cannot formally nominate him until after he is inaugurated on Friday.

The move bypasses a procedural hurdle and all but ensures there will be a seamless transition at the Pentagon. Ash Carter has been serving as President Barack Obama's defence secretary.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand cast the lone vote against Mr Mattis. Ms Gillibrand opposed Mr Mattis from the start because she said his appointment undermined the principle of civilian control of the military.

Congress last week approved legislation that grants a one-time exception for Mr Mattis from the law that bars former service members who have been out of uniform for less than seven years from holding the top Pentagon job. The restriction is meant to preserve civilian control of the military.

Mr Mattis retired from military service in 2013 after a 41-year career in uniform.

Confirmation of Mr Mattis by the Republican-led Senate is virtually certain. The legislation granting the exception cleared the Senate 81-17. Thirty Democrats backed the bill, suggesting they will also vote to confirm him. In addition to Mr Mattis' qualifications, many Democrats believe he will counterbalance Mr Trump's impulsive, bombastic style.

AP
Iraqi special forces react after a car bomb explodes during an operation to clear the al-Andalus district of Isil militants in Mosul.

Iraqi special forces pushed deeper into Isil-held districts in eastern Mosul and army units fought the insurgents inside a military base in the city's north, officials said yesterday.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the military had begun "movement" against Isil in the west of Mosul without specifying what action was being taken there.

Three months after the start of the US-backed campaign, Isil has been driven out of about three-quarters of the eastern districts of its Iraqi stronghold. Renewed military progress has been made in the last two weeks, thanks to improved tactics and co-ordination between different units, US and Iraqi military officials said.

Advances slowed towards the end of last year as the military tried to avoid hitting civilians, they said, but now the capture of the entire east bank is imminent and will allow attacks in the city's west, still fully held by the militants.

Rapid response units of the Iraqi federal police have secured many south-eastern districts along the Tigris.

Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service holds large sections of the east bank further north from where the federal police operate.

Meanwhile, a car bomb blast in southern Baghdad yesterday killed at least seven people in a mostly Shi'ite Muslim area. There was no immediate claim for the bombing.
The image of the attack suspect released by Dogan news agency after his arrest. Image: Depo Photos via AP

Turkish authorities have revealed that the suspect they believe killed 39 people in an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day was trained in Afghanistan and had acted on behalf of Isil.

The suspect, an Uzbek national named by Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin as Abdulgadir Masharipov, was caught in a police raid late on Monday in a hideout in an outlying Istanbul suburb.

Masharipov, who was captured with four others, had admitted his guilt and his fingerprints matched those at the scene, Mr Sahin said.

"He knew four languages and was well-educated," Mr Sahin said, adding he was born in 1983 in Uzbekistan and received training in Afghanistan.

There were strong indications he entered Turkey illegally through its eastern borders in January 2016.

Isil claimed responsibility a day after the mass shooting, saying it was revenge for Turkish military involvement in Syria.

Masharipov was captured with an Iraqi man and three women from Africa in the Esenyurt district on Istanbul's western outskirts, about 30km from the Reina nightclub.

Two pistols, mobile phone Sim cards, two drones and (184,000) in cash were also seized, Mr Sahin said.

Dogan news agency published a photo of the alleged attacker with a black eye, a cut above his eyebrow and bloodstains on his face and T-shirt.

He was being questioned at Istanbul police headquarters, while other people were detained in raids across the city targeting Uzbek Islamic State cells.

The gunman appeared to have repeatedly changed addresses before and after the attack. Remaining in Istanbul, he evaded a 16-day nationwide manhunt.

The 'Hurriyet' newspaper said he was married with two children, was a dual Uzbek-Tajik national and spoke Russian, Arabic, Chinese and Turkish, as well as Uzbek. He received two years training in Afghanistan and Pakistan and was believed to have entered Turkey via Iran, it said.
US President Barack Obama is warning that the "moment may be passing" for a two-state solution to the Israeli and Palestinian conflict.

Mr Obama said in his final White House news conference that he continues to be worried that the "status quo is unsustainable" in Israel.

He said his administration has tried to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution because he does not "see an alternative to it".

The United States decision to allow the United Nations' most powerful body to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem has been condemned by President-elect Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Obama said the president-elect "will have his own policy" and that is his administration's prerogative. The president calls the situation in Israel "a volatile environment".

AP
The chairman and CEO of car giant Renault-Nissan has said he is confident Britain will negotiate a deal on its exit from the EU that will safeguard the future of Nissan's plant in Sunderland.

Last year, Carlos Ghosn raised the possibility of moving the plant, which employs 7,000 people, but in October said he had been reassured by the Government about the plant's future.

That led to speculation the Government had offered incentives.

Mr Ghosn said, without elaborating, that anything that would be a "very big negative" for exporters could lead to a "change in policy" by his company.

But he said he is "not foreseeing" that because "I know that this is something that's going to be at centre stage of preoccupation of the British Government".

Mr Ghosn, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said Tuesday's speech by Prime Minister Theresa May, in which she signalled the country will leave the single market, has not changed anything.

AP
A 15-year-old student has opened fire at a private school in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey, seriously wounding himself, a teacher and three other pupils, officials said.

Nuevo Leon state security spokesman Aldo Fasci said four of the injured, including the gunman, were in an extremely serious condition.

Mr Fasci said a school video showed the male student first shot the 24-year-old teacher, then a 14-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy in the head, and a 15-year-old classmate in the arm. He then pointed the gun at classmates before shooting himself.

This has never happened in the state before, Mr Fasci said.

He said the boy had been suffering from depression, but that the motive was under investigation.

The spokesman attributed it to "the situation that is happening everywhere". He added: "The children have access to the internet. This has happened in other countries."

The website of the American School of the Northeast said it offers bilingual education for students from pre-school through to ninth grade.

Mr Fasci said the boy brought the gun from home. It was unclear how he got the pistol into the school.

Mexico once had a programme to check bags at school entrances, but in many places it has fallen into disuse.

"'There was a reason why book bags were checked. I think we are going to have to start doing it again," Mr Fasci said.

Mexico has been largely spared the phenomenon of school shootings that has hit the United States. In one of the few previous incidents, a 13-year-old student shot a 12-year-old classmate at a Mexico City school in 2004, seriously wounding her.

At the height of Mexico's drug war between 2008 and 2011, schools in northern Mexico had considered a much greater threat the possibility that stray bullets from drug gang gun battles outside schools might enter classrooms.

Some schools conducted "duck and cover" drills to combat that possibility.
Former President George H.W. Bush (L), and former first lady Barbara Bush attend the Texas A&M University commencement ceremony in College Station. Picture: REUTERS/Larry Downing/File Photo

George HW Bush has been admitted to an intensive care unit to address a respiratory problem from pneumonia, according to a spokesman for the former US president.

Jim McGrath said Mr Bush's wife, Barbara Bush, has also been admitted to hospital as a precaution after experiencing fatigue and coughing.

Mr McGrath said the 92-year-old former president was placed under sedation for a procedure to protect and clear his airway.

He is stable and resting comfortably. He has been at Houston's Methodist Hospital since Saturday.

Barbara Bush is 91. The couple marked their 72nd wedding anniversary on January 6.

Mr Bush was taken to the hospital over the weekend after suffering from shortness of breath. Mr McGrath had earlier said on Wednesday that he was responding well to treatments.

"Doctors and everyone are very pleased, and we hope to have him out soon," Mr McGrath said.

Mr Bush's chief of staff, Jean Becker, told the Houston Chronicle that the 41st US president was expected to go home in a couple of days.

Mr Bush, who served as US president from 1989 to 1993, has a form of Parkinson's disease and uses a motorised scooter or a wheelchair for mobility.

He was admitted to hospital in Maine in 2015 after falling at his summer home and breaking a bone in his neck. He was taken into hospital in Houston the previous December for around a week because of shortness of breath. Mr Bush spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues.

Despite the loss of mobility, Mr Bush celebrated his 90th birthday by taking part in a tandem parachute jump in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Last summer, Mr Bush led a group of 40 injured veterans on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday celebration.

Mr Bush's office announced earlier this month that he and his wife of more than 70 years would not attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration this week due to the former president's age and health.

George Herbert Walker Bush, born on June 12 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts, also served as a congressman, CIA director and Ronald Reagan's vice president.

His son, George W Bush, was elected president in 2000 and served two terms. Another son, Jeb - a former Florida governor - made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination in 2016.

Only one other US president, John Adams, had a son who also became president.
People take a selfie with a life-sized wax statue of US President-elect Donald Trump during an unveiling ceremony at Madrid's wax museum in Madrid, Spain

Donald Trump would be unlikely to have used prostitutes in Moscow because, as the patron of the Miss Universe beauty contest, he is accustomed to being around attractive women, Vladimir Putin has said.

In his first public comment on claims the Russian security services blackmailed Mr Trump with a sex tape filmed in a Moscow hotel when he visited the city in 2013, the Russian president said the story was "nonsense" and that the people behind it were "worse than prostitutes".

Claims that Russia holds kompromat, or "compromising material", on Mr Trump emerged in a dossier compiled by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, published by Buzzfeed last week.

The report, which was commissioned by opponents of Mr Trump in the United States, also cites highly placed sources in Russia who claim that Mr Trump gathers intelligence for the Kremlin on Russian businessmen in the United States and that his team was aware of a Russian hacking effort to smear Hillary Clinton.

Speaking at a press conference with Molodovan president Igor Dodon in the Kremlin yesterday, Mr Putin said the dossier was "an obvious fake" and ridiculed the suggestion that the Russian secret services "chase after every American billionaire".

He also suggested Mr Trump would not have fallen for a honey trap if one had been laid, asking: "He arrived here and immediately ran off to meet Moscow prostitutes?

"This is an adult and, moreover, a man who for many years has organised beauty contests. He socialised with the most beautiful women in the world. I can hardly imagine he rushed to the hotel to meet our girls of lower social responsibility - even though they are the best in the world, of course.

"We are witnessing an ongoing acute political struggle in the US, whose task is to undermine the legitimacy of the president-elect," he said. "The people doing this are doing enormous damage to American national interests."

Read more:

Earlier, Russia's foreign minister branded the former MI6 officer who authored a report a "swindler" who trades in "absurdities".

Sergei Lavrov called veteran British spy Mr Steele "some kind of runaway swindler from MI6", and his explosive report on the Russian security service's a "rude provocation".

Mr Steele, who served with the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) in Russia in the 1990s, has been in hiding since a report he wrote detailing allegations that Russia has used a sex tape to blackmail Mr Trump was published last week.

Former colleagues of Mr Steele have spoken highly of his professionalism and say he would be unlikely to file any intelligence he did not believe deserved attention.

Speaking at his annual press conference in Moscow, Mr Lavrov called the claims in the report "absurdities" and "fakes".

He also said US intelligence agencies that had tried to prove a link between Russia and Mr Trump had drawn a blank and should be fired. Mr Putin and Mr Lavrov both made clear they hope to strike a more co-operative relationship with Mr Trump than with his predecessor.

Mr Lavrov said the outgoing administration had pursued a "messianic" policy of trying to force Western values on the rest of the world, and blamed it for instability in the Middle East and other regions.

Meanwhile, a former contestant on the US version of 'The Apprentice' who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault has filed a lawsuit against him.

Summer Zervos is suing the president-elect for defamation after he dismissed her allegations as false. In the final weeks in the race for the White House, Ms Zervos was one of a number of women to make claims about the Republican billionaire's behaviour.

The ex-reality television star said she would drop the legal action if Mr Trump admitted she told the truth.

Ms Zervos told reporters yesterday: "Since Mr Trump has not issued a retraction as I requested, he has therefore left me with no alternative other than to sue him in order to vindicate my reputation."

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
People hold signs calling for the release of imprisoned wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning while marching in a gay pride parade in San Francisco,

President Barack Obama has commuted the 35-year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the soldier who leaked thousands of secret documents to Wikileaks in 2010, setting her on track for release in May.

Manning is the most high-profile of those granted clemency or presidential pardons before Mr Obama leaves office.

The White House had signalled that she was being considered for clemency, contrasting her case with that of Edward Snowden, who also leaked sensitive documents to Wikileaks before fleeing to Russia.

"Chelsea Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing," Josh Earnest, Mr Obama's spokesman said last week.

"Mr Snowden fled into the arms of an adversary and sought refuge in a country, that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine confidence in our democracy."

Manning attempted suicide twice last year, saying she had faced harsh treatment from officials at Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas and been denied sex reassignment surgery and other treatments.

Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced in 2013, changing her name from Bradley to Chelsea.

Among the materials leaked by Manning, who served as an army intelligence analyst and was deployed to Iraq, were diplomatic cables and video of an American helicopter attack that resulted in the deaths of civilians and two reporters.

Wikileaks said last week that Julian Assange, the site's publisher, would agree to extradition to the US if Manning was set free. He is currently living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, said the president's action will "quite literally save Chelsea's life".

"We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many," Mr Strangio said in a statement.

The Welsh-Irish family of imprisoned whistleblower Chelsea Manning said they are "over-joyed" that Chelsea will soon be free.

"We are all overjoyed that Chelsea will soon be free," the family said in a statement.

"Chelsea exposed wrongdoing and was punished for being a whistleblower.

"We regret that it has taken so long for President Obama to commute the sentence and are outraged that Chelsea has been forced to endure such abusive treatment in prison.

"We agree with the UN Special Rapporteur Juan Mendez that some of this abuse amounted to torture.

"We sincerely hope that Chelsea will now be able to get on with the rest of her life and that she finds happiness and fulfilment in whatever she chooses to do.

"There will always be a welcome for her here in Wales.

"We will not be giving any interviews to the media and ask to be left in peace and for our privacy to be respected."

Mr Obama also pardoned James Cartwright, a retired Marine general, who pleaded guilty last year to making false statements to investigators. Mr Cartwright had denied leaking classified information, despite having done so.
Relatives of passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, comfort each other before a meeting with officials in Beijing (AP/Ng Han Guan)

Relatives of the Chinese citizens aboard doomed Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 say the authorities who ended the search for the plane are deceiving them.

Their angry comments came as Australia defended th e decision to call off the hunt, and insisted that the enormous cost had nothing to do with the decision.

Dozens of relatives gathered in Beijing on Wednesday, one day after Australia, China and Malaysia called an end to a nearly three-year search for the plane. Nearly two-thirds of the 239 people on board were Chinese.

Zhang Meiling, whose 37-year-old daughter was on board, told reporters that the authorities have "cheated us for the past three years".

Another relative, Dai Shuqing, said the authorities were "wasting time" and owed them an explanation for why they failed to find the plane or the victims.

Several of the attendees were crying, and shouting could be heard from outside the meeting.

The sister of the Flight 370 pilot has criticised the authorities for ending the search despite earlier being confident the plane was in the area.

Sakinab Shah said the unresolved mystery meant that her brother, senior pilot Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, will not be free of the accusations that he turned rogue and crashed the plane deliberately.

"How can they end the search like that? There will be finger-pointing again," she said.

"They just don't give a damn about people's feelings. They were so cocksure it was there but after three years and so much money and manpower poured in, what came out of it? How do they answer that?"

Australia's transport minister Darren Chester said experts will continue analysing data and scrutinising debris washing ashore from the plane in a bid to narrow down where it crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

But he declined to specify what kind of breakthrough would convince officials to resume the search for the missing airliner.

"When we get some information or data or a breakthrough that leads us to a specific location, the experts will know it when they see it," he said.

The sonar seabed search ended on Tuesday, possibly forever - not because investigators have run out of leads, but because the countries involved in the expensive and vast deep-sea hunt have shown no appetite for opening another big phase.

Late last year, as ships with high-tech search equipment covered the last strips of the 46,000-square mile search zone west of Australia, experts concluded they had been looking in the wrong place and should have been searching a smaller area immediately to the north.

But by then, 130 million had already been spent by Malaysia, Australia and China, who had previously agreed not to search elsewhere without pinpoint evidence of the plane's location.

Since no technology currently exists that can tell investigators exactly where the plane is, that means the most expensive, complex search in aviation history is over, barring a change of heart from the three countries.

Mr Chester defended the decision to call off the hunt without checking the new area to the north: "No-one is coming to me as minister and saying, 'We know where MH370 is'."

And he insisted the enormous cost had nothing to do with pulling the plug.

"It is a costly exercise, but it hasn't been the factor which led to the decision to suspend the search," he said.

"We don't want to provide false hope to the families and friends. We need to have credible new evidence leading to a specific location before we would be reasonably considering future search efforts."

Mr Chester said he had not given up hope that the plane may one day be found.

"It's an extraordinary aviation mystery as it stands today," he said.

"I'm hopeful that we have a breakthrough in the future. We need to prepare ourselves for the sad and tragic reality that in this foreseeable future, we may not find MH370."

There is the possibility that a private donor could offer to bankroll a new search. But no-one has stepped up yet, raising the bleak possibility that the world's greatest aviation mystery may never be solved.

AP
People walk next to a destroyed building in the once rebel-held Shaar neighbourhood in Aleppo, Syria (AP/Hassan Ammar)

Russia and Turkey have conducted joint air strikes against an Islamic State group's stronghold in northern Syria, according to the Russian military.

Lt Gen Sergei Rudskoi, of the military's General Staff, said nine Russian warplanes and eight Turkish jets had taken part in the strikes on the outskirts of al-Bab in the province of Aleppo.

Lt Gen Rudskoi's statement was the first acknowledgement of the Russian strikes in support of the Turkish offensive on al-Bab.

It highlighted an increasingly close alliance between Russia and Turkey, which last month jointly brokered a Syria truce and are working to prepare Syrian talks in Kazakhstan next week.

The two nations have backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict, which has lasted nearly six years, with Moscow supporting Syrian president Bashar Assad and Ankara backing his foes.
Lee Jae-yong is questioned by reporters upon his arrival at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul (AP/Lee Jin-man)

A South Korean court has begun reviewing the arrest of a Samsung Electronics vice chairman who faces allegations of bribery, embezzlement and perjury.

Lee Jae-yong, the only son of the Samsung chairman, arrived on Wednesday for the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court but said nothing to the huge media gathering awaiting him outside.

If the court approves the arrest, prosecutors will be able to detain Mr Lee for a period of time set by the court before they formally bring charges against him.

It would mark a stunning fall for a member of the business elite leading South Korea's most successful company.

A special prosecution team investigating the influence-peddling scandal that led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye requested Mr Lee's arrest.

It accused the Samsung heir of bribing Ms Park and her friend who faces a trial for secretly meddling in state affairs.

The 48-year-old faces allegations of giving bribes worth 43 billion won (29 million) to Choi Soon-sil, the president's confidante, and to the president.

He is accused of giving the bribes to win the government's backing for a 2015 Samsung merger that was crucial as Samsung prepared the leadership succession from Mr Lee's ailing father to Mr Lee.

The younger Mr Lee has been serving as its de facto head since his father suffered a heart attack in 2014.

Mr Lee also faces allegations of embezzlement and of lying under oath during a parliamentary hearing last month.

AP
US President Barack Obama has defended his decision to cut nearly three decades off Chelsea Manning's prison term.

The outgoing president argued in his final White House news conference that the former Army intelligence analyst had served a "tough prison sentence" already.

Mr Obama said he granted clemency to Manning because she had gone to trial, taken responsibility for her crime and received a sentence that was harsher than other leakers have received.

He emphasised that he had merely commuted her sentence, not granted a pardon, which would have symbolically forgiven her for the crime.

"I feel very comfortable that justice has been served," Mr Obama said.

Manning was convicted in 2013 of violating the Espionage Act and other crimes for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad.

Formerly known as Bradley Manning, she declared as transgender after being sentenced to 35 years in prison. She had served more than six years before Mr Obama commuted her sentence on Tuesday, with a release date set for May.

"The notion that the average person who was thinking about disclosing vital, classified information would think that it goes unpunished, I don't think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served," Mr Obama said.

Mr Obama said he saw no contradiction in granting clemency to Manning even as he warns about Russia's hacking of the US presidential campaign, in which stolen emails were released publicly by WikiLeaks.

He said he was not motivated by WikiLeaks' recent pledge on Twitter that founder Julian Assange would agree to extradition to the US if Mr Obama commuted Manning's sentence.

"I don't pay much attention to Mr Assange's tweets, so that wasn't a consideration," the president said.

Mr Obama's comments came as he prepares to exit the presidency after eight years marked by major victories on healthcare, the economy and climate change, along with disappointments over his inability to achieve his goals on immigration, gun control and closing the Guantanamo Bay prison.

He also wound down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but wrestled with other security threats posed by the Islamic State group and the Syrian civil war he was unable to resolve.

Even many of Mr Obama's proudest achievements, like the "Obamacare" healthcare overhaul, stand to be rolled back or undermined by President-elect Donald Trump, a shadow that hangs over Mr Obama's legacy as he leaves office.

The formal end comes on Friday when Mr Obama and Mr Trump will travel by motorcade together for Mr Trump's swearing-in before Mr Obama, then an ex-president, flies with his family to California for a holiday.

Appearing for the last time in front of the White House seal, Mr Obama also defended his administration's rapprochement with Cuba and his eleventh-hour move to end the "wet foot, dry foot" policy that lets any Cuban who makes it to US soil stay and become a legal resident.

Ending the visa-free path was the latest development in a warming of relations that has included the easing of the US economic embargo and the restoration of commercial flights between the US and the small island nation.

Mr Obama and his aides have said he plans to assume a low profile in the months after he leaves office, and to avoid commenting on politics on a daily basis unless Mr Trump pursues policies he finds particularly offensive.

Mr Obama plans to write a book, raise money to develop his presidential library, and work on a Democratic initiative to prepare for the 2020 round of congressional redistricting.

"I want to be quiet a little bit, and not hear myself talk so darn much," Mr Obama said.

But he was insistent he would not stay silent if Mr Trump tried to deport children brought to the US illegally, a group Mr Obama has sought to protect through executive action.

"That would merit me speaking out," Mr Obama said.

Although Mr Obama had long intended to take one last round of questions before leaving office, White House officials said that in recent days, Mr Obama became intent on using the occasion to draw a symbolic contrast with Mr Trump on issues of accountability and press freedoms.

Mr Trump's team has said it is considering changes to the traditional daily press briefing and to the location of news conferences, stoking concerns among journalists that their ability to cover the presidency may be scaled back.

Mr Obama alluded to those concerns in his opening remarks, noting the role the press plays in American democracy.

"It doesn't work if we don't have a well-informed citizenry, and you are the conduit," Mr Obama said. He said he hoped the press would "continue with the same tenacity that you showed us, to do the hard work of getting to the bottom of stories."

Mr Obama opted to hold his final news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room, rather than in the East Room or another location, to help emphasise the point, officials said.

AP
By Mike Vinkenborg

On December 30, 2016, Singapore and India agreed on amending their Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) for capital gain income. With the new agreement, which will implemented on April 1, 2017, India aims to tackle investments coming into the country through shell companies and prevent tax avoidance. This follows the agreements reached by India and Mauritius in May 2016 and India and Cyprus in November that year, when they similarly amended their respective DTAAs by implementing a Limitation of Benefits (LOB) clause. The India-Singapore DTAA, last amended in 2005, had the provision that any changes in the Mauritius treaty would automatically apply to the Singapore DTAA. All three DTAA amendments will come into effect on April 1, 2017.

RELATED: Market Entry Strategy Advisory Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

Singapore-India relations

Singapore and India have historically maintained good relations. Approximately 250,000 Singaporeans are of Indian descent, amounting to 7.4 percent of its population. When India announced its Look East policy in 1992, Singapore was one of the first countries to establish deeper ties with the country, recognizing its potential as a regional power.

Hereafter, Singapore has been a pioneer in integrating India with the ASEAN region, which was further strengthened in 2005 when the two countries signed the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). Five years after, the entire ASEAN region followed suit when the ASEAN-India CECA was brought into effect. Consequently, economic ties between the two countries are at high levels, and today, Singapore is one of Indias largest trade partners. Bilateral trade in the 2015/2016 fiscal year (running from April to March) amounted to an estimated US$15 billion. Moreover, largely due to the DTAA, FDI flowing from Singapore to India amounted to US$50.6 billion from April 2000 to December 2016, reaching a high of US$13.7 billion in 2015/2016.

It will be interesting to see how the DTAA amendments will influence these numbers in the future. Mauritius and Singapore have been the main providers of FDI to India since 2000. In the same 2000-2016 period, FDI inflows from Mauritius amounted to US$95.9 billion, nearly double the amount of Singapores US$50.6 billion. With the amendment of both treaties and the India-Cyprus treaty, however, it will become harder for shell companies to benefit from preferential tax treatment in any of the three island states.

Implications of amendments

Similar to the amendments to the Mauritius and Cyprus DTAAs, the India-Singapore treaty will implement an LOB clause as of April 1, 2017. This clause has the intention of curbing black money laundering. In particular, it aims to prevent tax-avoidance attempts known as round-tripping, where money leaves India to one of the treaty partners and returns back to India labeled as foreign investment, thereby benefiting from preferential tax treatment.

In the amended treaty, any company classified as a shell or conduit company shall not be entitled to the DTAA benefits. In the law, a shell or conduit company is defined as any legal entity falling within the definition of resident with negligible or nil business operations or with no real and continuous business activities carried out in that Contracting State. Conversely, a company is not classified as a shell or conduit company  and is thus entitled to DTAA benefits  if:

It is listed on a recognized stock exchange of the Contracting State; or

Its annual expenditure on operations is at least S$200,000 in Singapore, or INR 5,000,000 in India.

To provide certainty to investors, all shares acquired before April 1, 2017 will be grandfathered and not subject to capital gain income tax, irrespective of the sell date. From April 1, 2017, a two-year transition period starts during which capital gains on shares will be taxed in the source country at half the normal tax rate. After that, from April 1, 2019 onwards, all companies identified as a shell or conduit company will be subject to the full tax rate in the source country, currently standing at 15 percent in India.

RELATED: Dissecting the India-Mauritius Amended Tax Treaty

Looking forward

The amendment of Indias capital gain tax treaties is part of the countrys larger battle against black money laundering. Other measures include the recently signed Joint Declaration with Switzerland, allowing for automatic exchange of information between the two countries. As a result, as of September 2019, the Indian government will be able to receive financial information of accounts held by Indians in Switzerland from 2018 onwards. The other well-known measure is the replacement of INR 500 and INR 1,000 currency notes with the newly introduced INR 500 and INR 2,000 notes to battle corruption.

For international investors, the treaty amendments indicate that they may have to look at different investment models. Analysts frequently point to the Netherlands as an alternative. Given the preferential corporate tax environment in the country and its treaty with India, the Dutch route is hinted as the preferential one. For now, the Dutch and Indian governments have indicated that they will leave the existing treaty unchanged. However, this could turn out to be temporary as it is possible that India may be looking to adopt uniform taxes for all investors in the future, thereby taxing all investments equally, irrespective of the destination.

For Singapore, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect its relations with India in the future. As the Mauritius-India DTAA was without any LOB clauses before the coming amendment, whereas the DTAA with Singapore already had a less stringent LOB provision, the relative advantage of Singapore to Mauritius has actually increased. As such, it already overtook Mauritius as the largest FDI provider in the 2015/2016 fiscal year as investors anticipated the treaty amendments.

Looking forward, it can be expected that India will level the playing field for all countries and thus, eliminate the relative advantage of all countries with treaties still in place. In that case, the stable relationship between Singapore and India might turn out to be fruitful for future cooperation. With many Indian investors in Singapore and vice versa, it is likely that Singapore will remain one of the main providers of FDI to India. Furthermore, Singapores economic stability, strategic location, and role within the ASEAN region can help to maintain its status as a stopover for investments into India. In any case, in order to define the optimal entry strategy for India, foreign investors are advised to keep a close eye on developments in the years to come.



About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email india@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight.

An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2016

Doing Business in India 2016 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in India. As such, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Indian market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to stay up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.

Pre-Investment Due Diligence in India

In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we examine issues related to pre-investment due diligence in India. We highlight the different regulatory, tax, and socio-economic issues that a company should be aware of before entering the Indian market. We also detail some of the topics related to entry structures while investing in the Indian market, as well as cultural and HR due diligence, which may differ from state to state.

Strategies for Repatriating Funds from India

In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we look at issues related to repatriating funds from India. We highlight the unique regulations for sending funds back from India, examine the various strategies companies can make use of while repatriating, and look at remittance procedures for different types of Indian entities. Finally, we give some tips on how expats can remit their Indian money to their home countries.
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Currently, there are more than 2.2 billion Christians, 1.7 billion Muslims and at least 15 million Jews around the world, according to the World Factbook published by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States and the Pew Research Center.

What do all of these people, who together represent about 57 percent of the worlds population, have in common?

They all claim a volatile area of the Middle East  known as Israel to some and as Palestine to others  as an important historical place for their religion. Generations of observers have called this area the Holy Land, because it is the site of the ancient Hebrew kingdom of Israel, the place where Jesus proclaimed the Christian gospel and home of the third holiest site in Sunni Islam, Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Given how important the area is to so many people, what has kept its residents from simply enjoying the sacred beauty and living in peace?

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a major source of tension across the Middle East and between faith traditions around the world, said U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, a Democrat who represents Indianas 7th Congressional District, which covers most of Indianapolis.

In comments shared exclusively with the Recorder, Carson highlighted obstacles that have stood in the way of Middle East peace for generations. Like many concerned government officials, he noted that the ongoing dispute over land and other matters between Israelis and Palestinians has been a serious challenge to peacemakers.

There are major disagreements over core faith issues, like who should control Jerusalem, as well as moral issues about Palestinian rights and violence toward Israelis, Carson said.

Jonathan R. White, a professor of interdisciplinary studies in the Frederik Meijer Honors College of Grand Valley State University, agrees with Carson. Religious concerns, he said, are at the center of the conflict between the mostly Jewish Israelis and the predominantly Muslim Palestinians.

The religious differences in the region have developed over centuries, and fanaticism in any one of them can spawn violence, said White, a recognized expert on religious terrorism and national security issues who has conducted counterterrorism training for law enforcement and military forces.

This week, two incidents served as reminders that events in the Middle East, especially the area known to some as Israel and others as Palestine, continue to concern people around the world.

On Sunday afternoon, a Palestinian drove a truck into a crowd of Israeli soldiers, killing four of them near the Old City section of Jerusalem. This action angered supporters of Israel.

On Tuesday, various news reports revealed that the incoming Donald Trump administration has told U.S. allies that it has plans to move the United States embassy in Israel from the city of Tel Aviv to Jerusalem this year.

With this change, the U.S would officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, although it is a disputed city claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians. This action, diplomats from various countries have said, would anger supporters of the Palestinians.

By the time WWI ended in 1918, the area that was once Canaan and Judeah (the ancient kingdom of Israel) was known as Palestine and populated mostly by Muslim Arabs. With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after the war, the British oversaw Palestine, and the city of Jerusalem became a neutral international zone.

At the same time, the Zionist movement grew, leading thousands of Jews to settle in Palestine to escape persecution in other countries, establishing a homeland for the Jewish people. Some wished to restore Eretz Israel, or the Greater Israel of biblical times.

The modern state of Israel is not the nation mentioned in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles or the Islamic Quran, White said. It is a secular power dominated by people of European descent.

Since the 1970s, the United States has tried to directly facilitate peace agreements between Israel and Arab nations supporting the Palestinians. The most successful of these were the 1978 Camp David Accords, a separate peace arrangement between Egypt and Israel, and the Israel-Jordan peace treaty of 1994.

In most other instances, however, American efforts to promote peace have met resistance from extremists on both sides who refuse to compromise. Also, some Arab leaders do not trust the United States as a fair peace broker due to its record of aid to Israel. They are not impressed by its large amount of aid to the Arab state of Egypt.

The United States provides Israel with extraordinary levels of economic, diplomatic and especially military support, said Michael Desch, a political scientist at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Not only does the United States have Israels back  it has its front, top and bottom, too.

Christians often find themselves in the middle of the conflict, either remaining neutral or embracing the cause of one side over the other.

Some Christians, such as Hilarion Capucci, a Syrian Catholic archbishop who died last week, have supported freedom for Palestinians. Others have staunchly backed Israel, like former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who was in Israel last week to support the expansion of Israeli settlements.

Some observers say Israels refusal to stop building Jewish settlements on Arab land in Gaza, and keeping Palestinians under a police state type of occupation, has derailed the peace process.

John Mersheimer, a professor at the University of Chicago, says Israel has become an apartheid state that operates much like the former white-ruled South Africa.

There are already separate laws, separate roads and separate housing in occupied territories, and the Palestinians are essentially confined to impoverished enclaves, Mearsheimer said. This is not sustainable in the long term.

Others, however, believe the major problem in the region is the inability or unwillingness of Palestinians to control terrorists in their ranks and guarantee security for Israel.

Congressman Luke Messer, a Republican who represents Indianas 6th District east of Indianapolis, is among those who believe Hamas is the biggest cause of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

The difference between our ally, Israel, and Hamas is that Israel tries to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas cheers when it brings civilian causalities on the other side, Messer said. Israel uses its weapons to protect its people; Hamas and its allies use people, civilians in the area, to protect their weapons. We have to be clear that the true cause of all of these deaths is Hamas and its unwillingness to recognize Israels right to exist and its unwillingness to lay down its arms.

Messer, who visited Israel during his first term in Congress, said he has personally witnessed the siege mentality among Israelis who must be prepared daily for rocket attacks by Hamas.

Carson believes there has been too much suffering in the conflict on both sides. He said that as a Muslim, he knows that each person has value and deserves respect, no matter their ethnicity, background or circumstances. As a congressman he cares about those who are suffering and would like to see stakeholders in the region address the situation as a humanitarian crisis.

For me, this conflict is a question of how we treat people, Carson said. Too often people get stuck on long-term diplomatic concerns, which are critical but ambiguous, without considering how people in Palestine and Israel are suffering every day. These men, women and children need relief and should be our first consideration.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy with political parties that disagree on some issues, but quickly unite on matters of national security. However, the Palestinian leadership is hampered by a division between its two main groups: Fatah, which is willing to negotiate with Israel, and Hamas, which is not.

Carson calls Palestinian disunity one of the biggest challenges.

So long as Hamas continues to call for the destruction of Israel, there is no hope for reconciliation or a true peace process, said Carson. Recent talks between Hamas and Fatah make me hopeful that unity can be achieved in a way that will move peace efforts forward.

In recent years, diplomats and the United Nations have proposed two main solutions for the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians.

One solution, called the one-state solution, calls for a single state in Israel, as well as the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, where most Palestinians live. All residents would have citizenship and equal rights under this arrangement, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Another solution is the two-state solution, with Israel and an actual Palestinian state functioning independently side by side.

Carson said that, although current political dynamics do not offer much hope for peace in the near future, people in the 7th District and everywhere can still make their voices heard in support of peace.

We should also realize that this does not have a black and white solution, Carson said. Peace will require us to look at all sides, not just stand firm with the Israelis or Palestinians. We need to look at what is right and what it takes to get there, then find others who want to support peace efforts.
India has never been an instigator of war, but unfortunately has been involved in five major ones since Independence. The Indian Army has proved its mettle and emerged victorious and a huge credit goes to the Infantry. A large part of the 1.4 million strong Indian Army is made up of the Infantry. In war, the artillery pulverises the enemy with heavy gun fire, the armoured corps charge ahead to take over enemy territory. But its the Infantry that holds the ground. Just so we understand how important the infantry is, most Chiefs of Army Staff have been infantry officers.

To prepare for future wars, the Indian Army is in the process of modernising all its arms. New generation T-90MS tanks for the Armoured corps and field gun programs for the artillery are being pursued, the infantry is not to be left behind. The modernisation program began with the F-INSAS (Future Infantry Soldier As a System), but has now been dropped in favour of two separate programs  the Battlefield Management System and arming the Infantry with better offensive and defensive gear.

Modern infantryman

Currently the Infantry battalions of the Army are equipped with INSAS assault rifles. While the gun hasnt found wide acceptance among the soldiers on the ground, the Army is in the process of acquiring new assault rifles to arm the Infantry. To this effect the army will now tender for the 7.62x51mm calibre rifles.

Reuters

The reason is that the Army prefers the 7.62 round, that kills, to the 5.56 round that incapacitates. The Army has specified the new rifles to have high kill probability at 500 meter range. The military wisdom till now was that the 5.56mm rifle was better for conventional war because it generally injured an enemy soldier, tying down at least two of his colleagues to carry him in the battlefield. Conversely, the 7.62mm rifle was better for counter-insurgency since terrorists had to be killed at the first instance, eliminating the risk of "suicide bombing". The fully-automatic Excalibur, which fires 5.56x45mm ammunition, is a much-improved version of INSAS rifle that entered service in 1994-1995. But the Army now wants 7.62mm rifles for greater lethal prowess.

The Army wants to quickly acquire about 65,000 assault rifles, and additionally wants to get 165,000 carbines for close quarter battles.

Better protected

The Army will also source a total of 350,000 bullet proof jackets to better protect the soldiers. Last year 50,000 jackets were procured on an emergency basis after the Surgical Strikes in Pakistan. The jackets for the future infantryman will be light weight so as not to impede mobility, while still affording protection to head, neck and groin.

AFP

New light weight ballistic helmets are also required, which number around 150,000. The helmets will be able to stop a 9mm bullet from a distance of 20 metres and also have provision for mounting night vision devices. The helmets for commanders will be equipped with integrated communication headsets.

Battlefield Management System

With technology permeating every field today, future wars will be network centric and each future Indian Infantryman will be directly connected to the command center. The system will allow transmission of data and information in the form of images that the soldier sees also being viewed by decision makers in the command headquarters.

Reuters

The system will be packed with technology  sensors, laser range finders, cameras. The system will merge all this information to give the soldier a real-time picture of the battlefield. The tactical level communication will take place over secure radio networks, while Indias communication satellites will allow for command level communication. Each soldier will have a personal GPS device and will be able to see the position of other soldiers via a helmet mounted display.
Shah Rukh Khan recently unveiled Karan Johar's biography, An Unsuitable Boy'. Apart from spilling the beans on his sexuality, his friendship with Shah Rukh and Kajol, there is a lot more to KJo's book that unveils various phases of his life. In one of the chapters of the book, KJo has mentioned how at one point of life, in 1998, Shah Rukh Khan almost took a bullet for Karan Johar.

Recalling the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai phase, KJo revealed that film had anything but a smooth release, with threats from underworld don Abu Salem.

And during this tough phase, KJo's closest friend Shah Rukh Khan stood by him. Reassuring KJo, SRK assured that he would take a bullet for KJo.

Here is the excerpt from the book:

Twitter

"On Monday, we were writing out the cards, dispatching them through production. My maasi had come to the house to help us. I went down to drop her. My mother was alone at home, even the servants were not there, all of them had gone out. The phone rang. My mother picked it up, and it was a call from the underworld. A man's voice said, 'Your son's wearing a red T-shirt, I can see him right now. And we're going to shoot him if you release this film on Friday. For some reason, they didn't want the film to be released that Friday; we didn't know why. It was a call from Abu Salem, and my mother was shaking with terror. She put the phone down and ran towards the door. She pressed the lift number, and I was coming up. As I came up those nine floors, she was going through really tough moments. When I reached, she just dragged me to the room and said, 'You have to call the cops. This call has come and they said they're going to shoot you, they don't want you to release your film this Friday...'"

That evening, my father, Shah Rukh, the cops, Adi, everybody was there. The cops advised us, 'We will protect you but you have to go ahead. You can't show your fear. You have to have the premiere on Thursday.'

By my mother said, 'What does this mean?'

Pinterest

We were a simple family. We'd never had the underworld calling us to stop the release of a film. We'd never dreamt that something like this could even happen to us.

My mother said, 'We don't want all this nonsense.'"

KJo added that they had their film's premiere but Karan was put in a small room with two security guards for his protection.

Karan writes, "Shah Rukh said, 'What nonsense!' He went inside and dragged me out. He said, 'I'm standing here in front of you. Let's see who shoots you. I'm standing right here.'""I said, 'No, no, no, my mother was...' He told my mother, 'Nothing's gonna happen. I'm a Pathan. Nothing can happen to me and nothing will happen to your son. He's like my brother. Nothing's gonna happen.'"
A 40-year-old man was gored to death by a bull during the banned eruthu vidum vizha (bull race) at Vellakuttai in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu Monday evening.

The deceased has been identified as P Shanmugam of Veppalampattu village.

BCCL/Representational Image

Shanmugam sustained injuries on the left side of his jaw when a bull ran into a group of people watching the bull race organised as part of the Pongal festival in Vellakuttai village.

Around 100 bulls were made to run during the eruthu vidum vizha. One of the bulls ran into spectators and rammed Shanmugam. The incident happened around 4.30pm.

Shanmugam, who sustained injuries, was rushed to Government Hospital in Vaniyambadi where he died around 6.15pm.

BCCL/Representational Image

According to the complaint lodged by the victim's wife Kasthuri, Shanmugam was on his way to a temple in the vicinity when the bull attacked him.

The Alangayam police registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPc (unnatural death).

The body was handed over to his family after postmortem.

Like jallikattu (bull-taming), eruthu vidum vizha is also a traditional sport in Tamil Nadu that has been banned by the Supreme Court.
In unambiguous language India reiterated its terms of re-engaging Pakistan with PM Narendra Modi saying that Islamabad must walk away from terrorism if it wants to revive a dialogue with India.

BCCL

"Pakistan must walk away from terror if it wants to walk towards dialogue with India," Modi said while inaugurating the Raisina Dialogue-II here this evening. "It also has to be Pakistan's journey to make," he said, asserting India cannot walk the path of peace alone.

Modi's comments reflect the line the government has adopted post the attack of the Indian Army camp on Uri when it ordered surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. While reserving the right to respond to terrorist attacks, India has held dialogue must focus on Pakistan's steps to control terrorism against India.

Interestingly, at a time when the western world is witnessing a reaction against globalisation, it fell to leaders of the world's two largest and most populous countries, India and China, to champion the virtues of global integration. Modi in New Delhi, and Xi Jinping in Davos, echoed each other when they made a compelling case for globalisation, free trade and a more connected world for global progress.

BCCL

On a day when UK PM Theresa May laid out a roadmap for a "hard" Brexit, even leaving the single common market and on the eve of a Trump inauguration raising an exclusionary vision, Modi warned "globalisation gains are at risk". He said this was so even when it was clear that digitally-connected societies and innovation had enabled humanity to progress. In Davos, Xi delivered an unusual defence of globalisation. "The problems troubling the world are not caused by globalisation," the Chinese leader, who many compare with Mao and Deng for his concentrated powers, told the World Economic Forum in Davos. "They are not the inevitable outcome of globalisation."

Modi took a more realistic view of India-China relations, which have sunk into a trough in the past year. Preferring to focus on the "vast area of commercial and business opportunities", he said, 'it is not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences...for peace and progress in the region, both our countries need to show sensitivity and respect for each other's core concerns and interests."

BCCL

Keeping a running theme of connectivity, Modi said with the Chabahar port in Iran and the International North-South Corridor, India had overcome the problems of geography to its west, indicating that Pakistan no longer stood in the way of India reaching out to western and central Asia. On the other hand, he cautioned, "connectivity in itself cannot override or undermine the sovereignty of other nations. Only by respecting the sovereignty of countries involved, can regional connectivity corridors fulfil their promise and avoid differences and discord."

This was a veiled but clear reference to China's CPEC which China wants to run through territory claimed by India, Modi made it clear India would continue to oppose it.

With the crown prince of UAE slated to visit as chief guest for Republic Day, Modi dwelt on India's west Asia policy. "We have not just focused on altering the angles of perception. We have also changed the reality of our ties. This has helped us protect and promote our security interests, nurture strong economic and energy ties and advance the material and social welfare of around 8 million Indians."
So the residents of the Belvedere Tower Condominium in Gurugram are really hassled. Why, you ask? Because someone is flinging poop down one of its apartment buildings!

new projects

No, it's not a joke! It's a very real, a very recurring problem. After January 11 incident, the Belvedere Tower Condominium Association put out the following circular.

Twitter

The Association is seeking help from its residents to nab the culprit as soon as possible. Because the poop is flying and the stink is settling.

Someone has been flinging poop from a high-rise in Gurgaon hahahahahahahaha pic.twitter.com/3Jkgr3pFkQ  Vishveshwar Jatain (@eclecticV) January 17, 2017

A resident from Bombay added more 'matter' by recalling another incident:

We had same problem at our apt complex in Mumbai. A neighbour got inventive when he figured who the culprit was. Cue; drop dump at doorstep https://t.co/KkX6FhYN1B  Rohin Nagrani (@rohinnagrani) January 17, 2017

And guess what? It's not only Gurugram that's home to such a unique problem. In Delhi, labourers are often known to take a dump on terraces which the crows, very graciously, pick up and pass around. Eek!

It is, however, worth pondering why the culprit took a two-day hiatus. Did they run out of poop? Did they actually go and bring some more? Bought?

Penny for thoughts, people.
His story bears an uncanny resemblance to the 1994 Demi Moore- Michael Douglas starrer Disclosure, although unlike in the film, the gentleman and lady in question were not exlovers and neither did any hint of temptation run through the victims mind.

punemirror

Digambar Gaikwad woke up one fine day nearly a decade ago, faced with a complaint of molestation against him filed by one of his colleagues, who was vying for the same plum job as him  that is the post of a coordinator of a World Bank project. It took over five years of legal battle to see the case to its logical end, scaling right up to the countrys apex court.

Not stopping at that, Gaikwad, who was a deputy director with the state agriculture department, Shivajinagar, at the time, sought compensation from the lady and has now been awarded Rs 10 lakh as damages.

Also Read: Court Orders Perjury Case Against Teenage Girl For Falsely Accusing Her Father Of Rape

The case dates back to November 2008. Sunanda Kurhade, also a deputy director in the agriculture department, filed a complaint against Gaikwad alleging that he had molested her while they were travelling together in an official car on November 5, 2008. Five days later, she filed an internal complaint with the commissioner of the department and on November 19 an FIR with the cops. Back then, Kurhade was in her 30s while Gaikwad was 57, only a few months away from his retirement in May 2009.

Huffington Post/representational image

A day after the FIR, Gaikwad was arrested and released on bail. He proceeded on leave and contemplated voluntary retirement. He even left his Pune house, choosing to move to his wifes village. While on the one hand he had to appear for an internal inquiry, regular appearances in court were required as cops had filed a chargesheet. All along, he pleaded innocence, arguing that Kurhade was in the race for the same post as he was.

Also Read: Mom-Daughter Duo Arrested For Blackmailing People With False Rape Cases

In April 2010, the additional chief judicial magistrate acquitted him. It can be inferred that the complainant in order to get appointment for the post of coordinator, implicated the accused in a false, frivolous complaint, Magistrate V K Kadam ordered on April 28, 2010. The cops appealed in higher courts but were not successful. Kurhade, too, approached the Bombay High Court but in vain. Lastly she filed a special leave petition in Supreme Court of India, which was also dismissed in 2014, leaving no doubt that Gaikwad was innocent and that he had been falsely implicated.

The internal inquiry, however found him guilty. Gaikwad challenged the inquiry report before the Governor and was declared innocent. It was found that the driver of the official vehicle in which the alleged incident took place was never questioned in the internal inquiry.

ibtimesuk/representational image

Having cleared his name at all levels, Gaikwad filed a defamation case against Kurhade in Punes Small Causes Court in June 2012.

He sought Rs 60 lakhs from her  Rs 50 lakhs is what he claimed he would have earned had he notched the coordinators job, and Rs 10 lakhs for loss of reputation. On January 6, 2017, Magistrate CP Jain ordered that Kurhade has to pay damages to the tune of Rs 10 lakhs to Gaikwad within two months. On failure to pay the amount within aforesaid time, defendant (Kurhade) shall pay six per cent per annum interest on Rs 10 lakhs till the realisation of amount, the order stated.

While Gaikwad is yet to get the money, he is a happy man. A full time farmer on a farm owned by his wife in Dehu village, 30 kms from Pune, he said that he can sleep peacefully now. For years I couldnt sleep properly. Everyone around me knew that the complaint was false and yet only a few stood by me. I was caught between trips to the department and courts in Pune, Mumbai and even Delhi. It took a lot for me to prove my innocence. I had made up my mind that I wont give up ever, said Gaikwad.

He explained that once he had been given a clean chit by HC, he decided to sue his former colleague, whom he treated like a daughter.

My reputation had been dented. From being a straight forward deputy director in the agriculture department with not a single blot on my career of 35 years, I had become this monster who had apparently molested a lady much younger than him. Some of my close associates and friends gave up on me. Fortunately, my wife and two kids stood by me. Now I feel so much better. The outcome of this case is a lesson for all those who file false cases, concluded Gaikwad.

When Mirror contacted Kurhade, who is currently posted in Kolhapur, she said, I am not aware of the order as yet and cannot comment.
Chennai's famed Marina Beach witnessed a unique protest on Tuesday night as thousands converged there to hold a candlelight vigil, seeking the ban on Jallikattu to be lifted.

The protester who stayed on the beach overnight went without any incidents, amid the deployment of riot police. Young and tech-savvy, the protesters said they were concerned about hurt to Tamil pride and wanted to protect their culture. Read more

1. Kanpur Train Accident Could Be Linked To ISI, Dawood Ibrahim Says Bihar Police

Two major train accidents near Kanpur which resulted in deaths of 151 passengers and injuries to 200 others, were carried out on the instructions of Pakistan's external spy agency ISI, according to the Bihar police.

The ISI hand was exposed following the arrest of three criminals Umashankar Patel, Motilal Paswan and Mukesh Yadav from Motihari on the Indo-Nepal border who were working at the instance of an ISI agent, a Nepalese citizen based in Dubai. Read more

2. Pakistan Must Walk Away From Terror, If It Wants To Walk Towards Dialogue With India Says Narendra Modi

In unambiguous language India reiterated its terms of re-engaging Pakistan with PM Narendra Modi saying that Islamabad must walk away from terrorism if it wants to revive a dialogue with India.

"Pakistan must walk away from terror if it wants to walk towards dialogue with India," Modi said while inaugurating the Raisina Dialogue-II here this evening. "It also has to be Pakistan's journey to make," he said, asserting India cannot walk the path of peace alone. Read more

3. Police Have Traced 58 Of The Alleged More Than 500 Sexual Abuse Cases By Delhi Tailor

t cannot have been an easy task given that paedophile Sunil Rastogi confessed to 500 criminal acts over a dozen years, but Delhi Police has now pinpointed 58 of them, greatly increasing the chances of the sexual predator being put behind bars for life.

Only 15 cases of children being sexually assaulted by Rastogi were registered with the cops. Read more

4. Top Woman Officer Asked To Pay Rs 10 Lakh For Filing False Molestation Case

His story bears an uncanny resemblance to the 1994 Demi Moore- Michael Douglas starrer Disclosure, although unlike in the film, the gentleman and lady in question were not exlovers and neither did any hint of temptation run through the victims mind.

Digambar Gaikwad woke up one fine day nearly a decade ago, faced with a complaint of molestation against him filed by one of his colleagues, who was vying for the same plum job as him  that is the post of a coordinator of a World Bank project. It took over five years of legal battle to see the case to its logical end, scaling right up to the countrys apex court. Read more

5. Cyrus Mistry Finds Chandrasekaran's Appointment At Tata Sons Illegal, May Challenge It In Court

Former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry has opposed the appointment of Natarajan Chandrasekaran as his successor and may even be preparing to open another legal front challenging the decision, officials in the know said.

A day before the board of Tata Sons met to consider Chandrasekaran as the chairman last week, Mistry shot off an angry letter to his fellow board members challenging the legality of the appointment. Read more
Three years after doomed Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 plummeted into oblivion, the authorities finally pulled the plug off its search. The many efforts amounted to nothing when on Tuesday, the crew completed its deep-sea exploration of the Indian Ocean without finding any trace of the missing plane.

reuters

The Joint Agency Coordination Center in Australia that spearheaded the massive $160 million hunt for MH370, said that the search has been officially suspended. The announcement came right after the search party finished sweeping the 120,000-square kilometer hunt zone.

reuters

"Despite every effort using the best science available, cutting-edge technology, as well as modelling and advice from highly skilled professionals who are the best in their field, unfortunately, the search has not been able to locate the aircraft," read the agency report that was released as a joint statement from the transport ministers of Malaysia, Australia, and China.

reuters

The joint search was launched by the three countries last year where each had funded the hunt. But they had also agreed that it would be called off once the search area was thoroughly scoped unless new evidence pointed them elsewhere.

Even with the available technology the location of the plane couldn't be determined thus leading to the culmination of the most mind-boggling search in aviation history. For the families, however, the truth comes as a bitter pill that will be hard to swallow.
The sheer waste of food had been bothering teacher Marijke De Jongh for so long that two years ago she set up a pop-up restaurant to serve perfectly good groceries and meat that were approaching their expiry date.

AFP

With her Rekub team, she followed it up with an app that brings thousands of consumers to retail shops were they can buy food closing in on its sell-by date. Still, the efforts of a small group of conscientious consumers are no match for the masses that still waste food from farm to fork.

AFP

The European Court of Auditors on Tuesday chided the European Unions executive branch in a report, Combating Food Waste, that decried the blocs lack of effort in reducing the food waste. It estimated the EU wastes 88 million tons of food a year for a population of 510 million.

The Commission is not combating the food waste effectively, said ECA member Bettina Jakobsen, noting a lack of strategy and inspiration being used to tackle the problem.

Reuters

The report said more efforts should be made all along the food chain and special precautions should be taken when setting farm policy to make sure that less produce is discarded. An EU study, however, shows about half that waste can still be tied to households, not policy.

AFP

The ECA also recommended making food donations easier, since they are still mired in legal and tax issues that sometimes become a disincentive for food producers to give food away. It said with better EU regulations that could be turned around.

At the same time, De Jongh continues to try to make a difference at a local level in Antwerp, northern Belgium.

After her pop-up experiment in 2015, she is planning a permanent Rekub eatery now. We have to keep this moving and put it on everyones radar, she said.
Indonesia's Bandung Zoo has some serious explaining to do because animal rights activists are furious. A shocking video has gone viral where a bunch of severely malnourished sun bears can be seen begging visitors to feed them junk food.

Visitors can also be seen throwing a bunch of treats including candies, cakes, and crackers at the animals.

While the zoo maintained that its bears were kept well-fed, animal rights activists have already launched an online campaign to push mayor Ridwan Kamil into shutting down the facility for good.

Scorpion Wildlife Trade Monitoring Group

One piece of footage also shows a bear defecating and then eating its own faeces!

Scorpion Wildlife Trade Monitoring Group

Scorpion Wildlife Trade Monitoring Group had sent an investigator to the zoo to film the starving bears standing on their hind legs and begging for food. The group has been monitoring the sun bears since 2016.

Scorpion Wildlife Trade Monitoring Group/YouTube

The zoo is widely infamous for its treatment of animals and its poor rating on the travel website Tripadvisor is a testament to that. People have called out the zoo for keeping its animals in horrific conditions and now efforts are on in full swing to ensure its closure.
Three days before he leaves the White House, the US President, Barack Obama commuted sentence of Chelsea Manning, one of the biggest whistleblowers of modern times. Now she will be free on 17th May because of the magnanimity shown by the outgoing President.

AP

Obama used his constitutional power to set Manning free from the prison which was destined to end her life behind bars. Manning was sentenced for 35 years of military prison in 2013 after it was proved that in 2009 she leaked more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks . It was seen as biggest breach of classified material in US history.

But as the dust settles down on President Obamas magnanimous call to pardon her, there will be slew of questions whether Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks will go to US as he promised against the release of Manning.

AFP

Wikileaks, the anti-secrecy organisation which published the diplomatic cables, has previously said its founder Julian Assange would agree to be extradited to the US if Mr Obama granted clemency to Manning.

Assange currently lives in asylum in Ecuadorian Embassy on London.





But before discussing further whether Assange will stand by his word or not, lets know who Chelsea Manning is and what did she do that exposed US and its military campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan before the world.

Who is Manning and how she exposed US atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan

Chelsea Elizabeth Manning (29) is a United States army soldier who was convicted by court marshal in July 2013 for espionage of classified documents to whistleblower organisation WikiLeaks. Chelsea is a transgender woman who was posted in Iraq as an intelligence analyst in 2009. She has access to the classified database. In 2010 she leaked over 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks.

The material she leaked included videos of the July 12, 2007, Baghdad airstrike which show an Apache helicopter killing 12 civilians in Baghdad in 2007, 2009 Granai airstrike in Afghanistan which killed many innocent people. A total of 251,287 documents of the US Diplomatic Cables were leaked along with a total of 482,832 Army reports that came to be known as the Iraq War Logs and Afghan War Diary. On the basis of the information provided by Manning, WikiLeaks exposed US atrocities in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reuters

Manning also passed on sensitive messages between US diplomats, intelligence assessments of Guantanamo detainees being held without trial and military records from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The disclosures were considered an embarrassment to the US, prompting the Obama administration to crack down on government leaks. Much of the material was published by WikiLeaks or its media partners between April and November 2010.

Manning was arrested in 2010 and charged with 22 offence including aiding the enemy which is most serious charge in US law and can end up as death sentence to the accused. After a long trial, she was sentenced to serve a 35-year sentence at the maximum-security U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth Jail in Kansas.



But will Assange stand by his word now?'

AFP

Ever since the arrest of Manning, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks who currently lives in asylum in Ecuadorian Embassy in London has been saying that he would extradite himself to US if Manning is pardoned. Now Manning is pardoned lets see whether Assange stands by her word or not.

Assange lawyer @themtchair on Assange-Manning extradition 'deal': "Everything that he has said he's standing by."  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 18, 2017

Assange: "Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible."  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 17, 2017

He congratulated people for their support for the campaign for Mannings release. His lawyer, however said he will stand by his word.

Obama was magnanimous, but US people wanted it too

Manning will be free in May this year and people will surely praise Obama for his great decision. But the audacious call of the President just three days before leaving the office doesnt happen out of the blue. Actually Mannings case divided the public opinion in the US. Many believed she was a whistleblower who uncovered and breached the code of US military secrets. However, despite being treated as a traitor by many, over 100,000 people signed a White House petition calling for her release.

Manning went on hunger strike and attempted suicide twice

Manning continued her struggle in prison as well where she went on hunger strikes because US authorities denied her the treatment of dysphoria. As a result of her strikes, US authorities agreed to with gender dysphoria treatment. She also twice attempted to commit suicide inside the jail, but couldnt succeed.

Reuters

Now Manning is set to be freed, but what about Snowden?

In his two innings as President, Obama has commuted 1,385 sentences and issued 212 pardons, more than the total granted by the past 12 presidents combined. But Edward Snowden, another whistleblower who like Manning exposed US hasnt been pardoned despite over a million people petitioned Obama to pardon him.

The argument given in favour of no pardon for Snowden, National Security Agency leaker is that he himself hasnt submitted the necessary documents for clemency.

Reuters

In November, Obama was quoted in a German newspaper Der Spiegel about the pardon to Snowden.

"I can't pardon somebody who hasn't gone before a court and presented themselves, had said Obama. Snowden unlike Manning didnt get arrested, instead he fled the US in 2013 and has been living in Russia on temporary asylum. If Snowden faces the charges levied upon him, he could get a sentence upto 30 years.
Theresa May Warns EU Faces Being 'Crushed Into Tiny Pieces'



Video - Full Speech 17/01/2017



Theresa May confirms Britain will leave Single Market - Sets out 12-point Brexit plan :



The Prime Minister used a major speech to warn that the EU will be torn into "tiny pieces" if it does not become more flexible, insisting that she will walk away from negotiations with Brussels if they attempt to give Britain a bad deal.



Posted January 17, 2016 Transcript A little over six months ago, the British people voted for change. They voted to shape a brighter future for our country. They voted to leave the European Union and embrace the world. And they did so with their eyes open: accepting that the road ahead will be uncertain at times, but believing that it leads towards a brighter future for their children  and their grandchildren too. And it is the job of this government to deliver it. That means more than negotiating our new relationship with the EU. It means taking the opportunity of this great moment of national change to step back and ask ourselves what kind of country we want to be. My answer is clear. I want this United Kingdom to emerge from this period of change stronger, fairer, more united and more outward-looking than ever before. I want us to be a secure, prosperous, tolerant country  a magnet for international talent and a home to the pioneers and innovators who will shape the world ahead. I want us to be a truly global Britain  the best friend and neighbour to our European partners, but a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe too. A country that goes out into the world to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike. I want Britain to be what we have the potential, talent and ambition to be. A great, global trading nation that is respected around the world and strong, confident and united at home. That is why this government has a plan for Britain. One that gets us the right deal abroad but also ensures we get a better deal for ordinary working people at home. Its why that plan sets out how we will use this moment of change to build a stronger economy and a fairer society by embracing genuine economic and social reform. Why our new modern industrial strategy is being developed, to ensure every nation and area of the United Kingdom can make the most of the opportunities ahead. Why we will go further to reform our schools to ensure every child has the knowledge and the skills they need to thrive in post-Brexit Britain. Why as we continue to bring the deficit down, we will take a balanced approach by investing in our economic infrastructure  because it can transform the growth potential of our economy, and improve the quality of peoples lives across the whole country. Its why we will put the preservation of our precious Union at the heart of everything we do. Because it is only by coming together as one great union of nations and people that we can make the most of the opportunities ahead. The result of the referendum was not a decision to turn inward and retreat from the world. Because Britains history and culture is profoundly internationalist. We are a European country  and proud of our shared European heritage  but we are also a country that has always looked beyond Europe to the wider world. That is why we are one of the most racially diverse countries in Europe, one of the most multicultural members of the European Union, and why  whether we are talking about India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, countries in Africa or those that are closer to home in Europe  so many of us have close friends and relatives from across the world. Instinctively, we want to travel to, study in, trade with countries not just in Europe but beyond the borders of our continent. Even now as we prepare to leave the EU, we are planning for the next biennial Commonwealth heads of government meeting in 2018  a reminder of our unique and proud global relationships. And it is important to recognise this fact. June the 23rd was not the moment Britain chose to step back from the world. It was the moment we chose to build a truly global Britain. I know that this  and the other reasons Britain took such a decision  is not always well understood among our friends and allies in Europe. And I know many fear that this might herald the beginning of a greater unravelling of the EU. But let me be clear: I do not want that to happen. It would not be in the best interests of Britain. It remains overwhelmingly and compellingly in Britains national interest that the EU should succeed. And that is why I hope in the months and years ahead we will all reflect on the lessons of Britains decision to leave. So let me take this opportunity to set out the reasons for our decision and to address the people of Europe directly. Its not simply because our history and culture is profoundly internationalist, important though that is. Many in Britain have always felt that the United Kingdoms place in the European Union came at the expense of our global ties, and of a bolder embrace of free trade with the wider world. There are other important reasons too. Our political traditions are different. Unlike other European countries, we have no written constitution, but the principle of parliamentary sovereignty is the basis of our unwritten constitutional settlement. We have only a recent history of devolved governance  though it has rapidly embedded itself  and we have little history of coalition government. The public expect to be able to hold their governments to account very directly, and as a result supranational institutions as strong as those created by the European Union sit very uneasily in relation to our political history and way of life. And, while I know Britain might at times have been seen as an awkward member state, the European Union has struggled to deal with the diversity of its member countries and their interests. It bends towards uniformity, not flexibility. David Camerons negotiation was a valiant final attempt to make it work for Britain  and I want to thank all those elsewhere in Europe who helped him reach an agreement  but the blunt truth, as we know, is that there was not enough flexibility on many important matters for a majority of British voters. Now I do not believe that these things apply uniquely to Britain. Britain is not the only member state where there is a strong attachment to accountable and democratic government, such a strong internationalist mindset, or a belief that diversity within Europe should be celebrated. And so I believe there is a lesson in Brexit not just for Britain but, if it wants to succeed, for the EU itself. Because our continents great strength has always been its diversity. And there are two ways of dealing with different interests. You can respond by trying to hold things together by force, tightening a vice-like grip that ends up crushing into tiny pieces the very things you want to protect. Or you can respect difference, cherish it even, and reform the EU so that it deals better with the wonderful diversity of its member states. So to our friends across Europe, let me say this. Our vote to leave the European Union was no rejection of the values we share. The decision to leave the EU represents no desire to become more distant to you, our friends and neighbours. It was no attempt to do harm to the EU itself or to any of its remaining member states. We do not want to turn the clock back to the days when Europe was less peaceful, less secure and less able to trade freely. It was a vote to restore, as we see it, our parliamentary democracy, national self-determination, and to become even more global and internationalist in action and in spirit. We will continue to be reliable partners, willing allies and close friends. We want to buy your goods and services, sell you ours, trade with you as freely as possible, and work with one another to make sure we are all safer, more secure and more prosperous through continued friendship. You will still be welcome in this country as we hope our citizens will be welcome in yours. At a time when together we face a serious threat from our enemies, Britains unique intelligence capabilities will continue to help to keep people in Europe safe from terrorism. And at a time when there is growing concern about European security, Britains servicemen and women, based in European countries including Estonia, Poland and Romania, will continue to do their duty. We are leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe. And that is why we seek a new and equal partnership  between an independent, self-governing, global Britain and our friends and allies in the EU. Not partial membership of the European Union, associate membership of the European Union, or anything that leaves us half-in, half-out. We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries. We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave. No, the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union. And my job is to get the right deal for Britain as we do. So today I want to outline our objectives for the negotiation ahead. 12 objectives that amount to one big goal: a new, positive and constructive partnership between Britain and the European Union. And as we negotiate that partnership, we will be driven by some simple principles: we will provide as much certainty and clarity as we can at every stage. And we will take this opportunity to make Britain stronger, to make Britain fairer, and to build a more global Britain too. The first objective is crucial. We will provide certainty wherever we can. We are about to enter a negotiation. That means there will be give and take. There will have to be compromises. It will require imagination on both sides. And not everybody will be able to know everything at every stage. But I recognise how important it is to provide business, the public sector, and everybody with as much certainty as possible as we move through the process. So where we can offer that certainty, we will do so. That is why last year we acted quickly to give clarity about farm payments and university funding. And it is why, as we repeal the European Communities Act, we will convert the acquis  the body of existing EU law  into British law. This will give the country maximum certainty as we leave the EU. The same rules and laws will apply on the day after Brexit as they did before. And it will be for the British parliament to decide on any changes to that law after full scrutiny and proper parliamentary debate. And when it comes to Parliament, there is one other way in which I would like to provide certainty. I can confirm today that the Government will put the final deal that is agreed between the UK and the EU to a vote in both Houses of Parliament, before it comes into force. There will have to be compromises. It will require imagination on both sides. And not everybody will be able to know everything at every stage Our second guiding principle is to build a stronger Britain. That means taking control of our own affairs, as those who voted in their millions to leave the European Union demanded we must. So we will take back control of our laws and bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain. Leaving the European Union will mean that our laws will be made in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. And those laws will be interpreted by judges not in Luxembourg but in courts across this country. Because we will not have truly left the European Union if we are not in control of our own laws. A stronger Britain demands that we do something else  strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the United Kingdom. At this momentous time, it is more important than ever that we face the future together, united by what makes us strong: the bonds that unite us as a people, and our shared interest in the UK being an open, successful trading nation in the future. And I hope that same spirit of unity will apply in Northern Ireland in particular over the coming months in the assembly elections, and the main parties there will work together to re-establish a partnership government as soon as possible. Foreign affairs are of course the responsibility of the UK government, and in dealing with them we act in the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom. As prime minister, I take that responsibility seriously. I have also been determined from the start that the devolved administrations should be fully engaged in this process. That is why the government has set up a joint ministerial committee on EU Negotiations, so ministers from each of the UKs devolved administrations can contribute to the process of planning for our departure from the European Union. We have already received a paper from the Scottish government, and look forward to receiving a paper from the Welsh government shortly. Both papers will be considered as part of this important process. We wont agree on everything, but I look forward to working with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver a Brexit that works for the whole of the United Kingdom. Part of that will mean working very carefully to ensure that  as powers are repatriated from Brussels back to Britain  the right powers are returned to Westminster, and the right powers are passed to the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As we do so, our guiding principle must be to ensure that  as we leave the European Union  no new barriers to living and doing business within our own Union are created. That means maintaining the necessary common standards and frameworks for our own domestic market, empowering the UK as an open, trading nation to strike the best trade deals around the world, and protecting the common resources of our islands. And as we do this, I should equally be clear that no decisions currently taken by the devolved administrations will be removed from them. We cannot forget that, as we leave, the United Kingdom will share a land border with the EU, and maintaining that common travel area with the Republic of Ireland will be an important priority for the UK in the talks ahead. There has been a common travel area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland for many years. Indeed, it was formed before either of our two countries were members of the European Union. And the family ties and bonds of affection that unite our two countries mean that there will always be a special relationship between us. So we will work to deliver a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the common travel area with the Republic, while protecting the integrity of the United Kingdoms immigration system. Nobody wants to return to the borders of the past, so we will make it a priority to deliver a practical solution as soon as we can. The third principle is to build a fairer Britain. That means ensuring it is fair to everyone who lives and works in this country. And that is why we will ensure we can control immigration to Britain from Europe. We will continue to attract the brightest and the best to work or study in Britain  indeed openness to international talent must remain one of this countrys most distinctive assets  but that process must be managed properly so that our immigration system serves the national interest. So we will get control of the number of people coming to Britain from the EU. Because while controlled immigration can bring great benefits  filling skills shortages, delivering public services, making British businesses the world-beaters they often are  when the numbers get too high, public support for the system falters. In the last decade or so, we have seen record levels of net migration in Britain, and that sheer volume has put pressure on public services, like schools, stretched our infrastructure, especially housing, and put a downward pressure on wages for working class people. As Home Secretary for six years, I know that you cannot control immigration overall when there is free movement to Britain from Europe. Britain is an open and tolerant country. We will always want immigration, especially high-skilled immigration, we will always want immigration from Europe, and we will always welcome individual migrants as friends. But the message from the public before and during the referendum campaign was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. And that is what we will deliver. Fairness demands that we deal with another issue as soon as possible too. We want to guarantee the rights of EU citizens who are already living in Britain, and the rights of British nationals in other member states, as early as we can. I have told other EU leaders that we could give people the certainty they want straight away, and reach such a deal now. Many of them favour such an agreement; one or two others do not. But I want everyone to know that it remains an important priority for Britain  and for many other member states  to resolve this challenge as soon as possible. Because it is the right and fair thing to do. And a fairer Britain is a country that protects and enhances the rights people have at work. That is why, as we translate the body of European law into our domestic regulations, we will ensure that workers rights are fully protected and maintained. Indeed, under my leadership, not only will the Government protect the rights of workers set out in European legislation, we will build on them. Because under this Conservative Government, we will make sure legal protection for workers keeps pace with the changing labour market  and that the voices of workers are heard by the boards of publicly listed companies for the first time. But the great prize for this country  the opportunity ahead  is to use this moment to build a truly global Britain. A country that reaches out to old friends and new allies alike. A great, global, trading nation. And one of the firmest advocates for free trade anywhere in the world. That starts with our close friends and neighbours in Europe. So as a priority, we will pursue a bold and ambitious free-trade agreement with the European Union. This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EUs member states. It should give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets  and let European businesses do the same in Britain. But I want to be clear. What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market. European leaders have said many times that membership means accepting the four freedoms of goods, capital, services and people. And being out of the EU but a member of the single market would mean complying with the EUs rules and regulations that implement those freedoms, without having a vote on what those rules and regulations are. It would mean accepting a role for the European Court of Justice that would see it still having direct legal authority in our country. It would to all intents and purposes mean not leaving the EU at all. And that is why both sides in the referendum campaign made it clear that a vote to leave the EU would be a vote to leave the single market. So we do not seek membership of the single market. Instead we seek the greatest possible access to it through a new, comprehensive, bold and ambitious free-trade agreement. That agreement may take in elements of current single market arrangements in certain areas  on the export of cars and lorries for example, or the freedom to provide financial services across national borders  as it makes no sense to start again from scratch when Britain and the remaining member states have adhered to the same rules for so many years. But I respect the position taken by European leaders who have been clear about their position, just as I am clear about mine. So an important part of the new strategic partnership we seek with the EU will be the pursuit of the greatest possible access to the single market, on a fully reciprocal basis, through a comprehensive free-trade agreement. And because we will no longer be members of the single market, we will not be required to contribute huge sums to the EU budget. There may be some specific European programmes in which we might want to participate. If so, and this will be for us to decide, it is reasonable that we should make an appropriate contribution. But the principle is clear: the days of Britain making vast contributions to the European Union every year will end. But it is not just trade with the EU we should be interested in. A global Britain must be free to strike trade agreements with countries from outside the European Union too. Because important though our trade with the EU is and will remain, it is clear that the UK needs to increase significantly its trade with the fastest growing export markets in the world. We will continue to attract the brightest and the best to work or study in Britain . . . but that process must be managed properly so that our immigration system serves the national interest Since joining the EU, trade as a percentage of GDP has broadly stagnated in the UK. That is why it is time for Britain to get out into the world and rediscover its role as a great, global, trading nation. This is such a priority for me that when I became prime minister I established, for the first time, a Department for International Trade, led by Liam Fox. We want to get out into the wider world, to trade and do business all around the globe. Countries including China, Brazil, and the Gulf States have already expressed their interest in striking trade deals with us. We have started discussions on future trade ties with countries like Australia, New Zealand and India. And President-elect Trump has said Britain is not at the back of the queue for a trade deal with the United States, the worlds biggest economy, but front of the line. I know my emphasis on striking trade agreements with countries outside Europe has led to questions about whether Britain seeks to remain a member of the EUs customs union. And it is true that full customs union membership prevents us from negotiating our own comprehensive trade deals. Now, I want Britain to be able to negotiate its own trade agreements. But I also want tariff-free trade with Europe and cross-border trade there to be as frictionless as possible. That means I do not want Britain to be part of the common commercial policy and I do not want us to be bound by the common external tariff. These are the elements of the Customs Union that prevent us from striking our own comprehensive trade agreements with other countries. But I do want us to have a customs agreement with the EU. Whether that means we must reach a completely new customs agreement, become an associate member of the customs union in some way, or remain a signatory to some elements of it, I hold no preconceived position. I have an open mind on how we do it. It is not the means that matter, but the ends. And those ends are clear: I want to remove as many barriers to trade as possible. And I want Britain to be free to establish our own tariff schedules at the World Trade Organisation, meaning we can reach new trade agreements not just with the European Union but with old friends and new allies from outside Europe too. A global Britain must also be a country that looks to the future. That means being one of the best places in the world for science and innovation. One of our great strengths as a nation is the breadth and depth of our academic and scientific communities, backed up by some of the worlds best universities. And we have a proud history of leading and supporting cutting-edge research and innovation. So we will also welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives. From space exploration to clean energy to medical technologies, Britain will remain at the forefront of collective endeavours to better understand, and make better, the world in which we live. And a global Britain will continue to co-operate with its European partners in important areas such as crime, terrorism and foreign affairs. All of us in Europe face the challenge of cross-border crime, a deadly terrorist threat, and the dangers presented by hostile states. All of us share interests and values in common, values we want to see projected around the world. With the threats to our common security becoming more serious, our response cannot be to co-operate with one another less, but to work together more. I therefore want our future relationship with the European Union to include practical arrangements on matters of law enforcement and the sharing of intelligence material with our EU allies. I am proud of the role Britain has played and will continue to play in promoting Europes security. Britain has led Europe on the measures needed to keep our continent secure  whether it is implementing sanctions against Russia following its action in Crimea, working for peace and stability in the Balkans, or securing Europes external border. We will continue to work closely with our European allies in foreign and defence policy even as we leave the EU itself. These are our objectives for the negotiation ahead  objectives that will help to realise our ambition of shaping that stronger, fairer, global Britain that we want to see. They are the basis for a new, strong, constructive partnership with the European Union  a partnership of friends and allies, of interests and values. A partnership for a strong EU and a strong UK. But there is one further objective we are setting. For as I have said before  it is in no ones interests for there to be a cliff-edge for business or a threat to stability, as we change from our existing relationship to a new partnership with the EU. By this, I do not mean that we will seek some form of unlimited transitional status, in which we find ourselves stuck forever in some kind of permanent political purgatory. That would not be good for Britain, but nor do I believe it would be good for the EU. Instead, I want us to have reached an agreement about our future partnership by the time the two-year Article 50 process has concluded. From that point onwards, we believe a phased process of implementation, in which both Britain and the EU institutions and member states prepare for the new arrangements that will exist between us will be in our mutual self-interest. This will give businesses enough time to plan and prepare for those new arrangements. This might be about our immigration controls, customs systems or the way in which we co-operate on criminal justice matters. Or it might be about the future legal and regulatory framework for financial services. For each issue, the time we need to phase-in the new arrangements may differ. Some might be introduced very quickly, some might take longer. And the interim arrangements we rely upon are likely to be a matter of negotiation. But the purpose is clear: we will seek to avoid a disruptive cliff-edge, and we will do everything we can to phase in the new arrangements we require as Britain and the EU move towards our new partnership. So, these are the objectives we have set. Certainty wherever possible. Control of our own laws. Strengthening the United Kingdom. Maintaining the common travel area with Ireland. Control of immigration. Rights for EU nationals in Britain, and British nationals in the EU. Enhancing rights for workers. Free trade with European markets. New trade agreements with other countries. A leading role in science and innovation. Cooperation on crime, terrorism and foreign affairs. And a phased approach, delivering a smooth and orderly Brexit. This is the framework of a deal that will herald a new partnership between the UK and the EU. It is a comprehensive and carefully considered plan that focuses on the ends, not just the means  with its eyes fixed firmly on the future, and on the kind of country we will be once we leave. It reflects the hard work of many in this room today who have worked tirelessly to bring it together and to prepare this country for the negotiation ahead. And it will, I know, be debated and discussed at length. That is only right. But those who urge us to reveal more  such as the blow-by-blow details of our negotiating strategy, the areas in which we might compromise, the places where we think there are potential trade-offs  will not be acting in the national interest. Because this is not a game or a time for opposition for oppositions sake. It is a crucial and sensitive negotiation that will define the interests and the success of our country for many years to come. And it is vital that we maintain our discipline. That is why I have said before  and will continue to say  that every stray word and every hyped up media report is going to make it harder for us to get the right deal for Britain. Our opposite numbers in the European Commission know it, which is why they are keeping their discipline. And the ministers in this government know it too, which is why we will also maintain ours. So however frustrating some people find it, the government will not be pressured into saying more than I believe it is in our national interest to say. Because it is not my job to fill column inches with daily updates, but to get the right deal for Britain. And that is what I intend to do. I am confident that a deal  and a new strategic partnership between the UK and the EU  can be achieved. This is firstly because, having held conversations with almost every leader from every single EU member state; having spent time talking to the senior figures from the European institutions, including President [Donald] Tusk, President [Jean-Claude] Juncker, and President [Martin] Schulz; and after my Cabinet colleagues David Davis, Philip Hammond and Boris Johnson have done the same with their interlocutors, I am confident that the vast majority want a positive relationship between the UK and the EU after Brexit. And I am confident that the objectives I am setting out today are consistent with the needs of the EU and its member states. That is why our objectives include a proposed free-trade agreement between Britain and the European Union, and explicitly rule out membership of the EUs Single Market. Because when the EUs leaders say they believe the four freedoms of the Single Market are indivisible, we respect that position. When the 27 member states say they want to continue their journey inside the European Union, we not only respect that fact but support it. Because we do not want to undermine the single market, and we do not want to undermine the European Union. We want the EU to be a success and we want its remaining member states to prosper. And of course we want the same for Britain. And the second reason I believe it is possible to reach a good deal is that the kind of agreement I have described today is the economically rational thing that both Britain and the EU should aim for. Because trade is not a zero-sum game: more of it makes us all more prosperous. Free trade between Britain and the European Union means more trade, and more trade means more jobs and more wealth creation. The erection of new barriers to trade, meanwhile, means the reverse: less trade, fewer jobs, lower growth. The third and final reason I believe we can come to the right agreement is that co-operation between Britain and the EU is needed not just when it comes to trade but when it comes to our security too. Britain and France are Europes only two nuclear powers. We are the only two European countries with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. Britains armed forces are a crucial part of Europes collective defence. And our intelligence capabilities  unique in Europe  have already saved countless lives in very many terrorist plots that have been thwarted in countries across our continent. After Brexit, Britain wants to be a good friend and neighbour in every way, and that includes defending the safety and security of all of our citizens. So I believe the framework I have outlined today is in Britains interests. It is in Europes interests. And it is in the interests of the wider world. But I must be clear. Britain wants to remain a good friend and neighbour to Europe. Yet I know there are some voices calling for a punitive deal that punishes Britain and discourages other countries from taking the same path. That would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe. And it would not be the act of a friend. Britain would not  indeed we could not  accept such an approach. And while I am confident that this scenario need never arise  while I am sure a positive agreement can be reached  I am equally clear that no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain. After Brexit, Britain wants to be a good friend and neighbour in every way, and that includes defending the safety and security of all of our citizens Because we would still be able to trade with Europe. We would be free to strike trade deals across the world. And we would have the freedom to set the competitive tax rates and embrace the policies that would attract the worlds best companies and biggest investors to Britain. And  if we were excluded from accessing the Single Market  we would be free to change the basis of Britains economic model. But for the EU, it would mean new barriers to trade with one of the biggest economies in the world. It would jeopardise investments in Britain by EU companies worth more than half a trillion pounds. It would mean a loss of access for European firms to the financial services of the City of London. It would risk exports from the EU to Britain worth around 290bn every year. And it would disrupt the sophisticated and integrated supply chains upon which many EU companies rely. Important sectors of the EU economy would also suffer. We are a crucial  profitable  export market for Europes automotive industry, as well as sectors including energy, food and drink, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. These sectors employ millions of people around Europe. And I do not believe that the EUs leaders will seriously tell German exporters, French farmers, Spanish fishermen, the young unemployed of the eurozone, and millions of others, that they want to make them poorer, just to punish Britain and make a political point. For all these reasons  and because of our shared values and the spirit of goodwill that exists on both sides  I am confident that we will follow a better path. I am confident that a positive agreement can be reached. It is right that the Government should prepare for every eventuality  but to do so in the knowledge that a constructive and optimistic approach to the negotiations to come is in the best interests of Europe and the best interests of Britain. We do not approach these negotiations expecting failure, but anticipating success. Because we are a great, global nation with so much to offer Europe and so much to offer the world. One of the worlds largest and strongest economies. With the finest intelligence services, the bravest armed forces, the most effective hard and soft power, and friendships, partnerships and alliances in every continent. And another thing thats important. The essential ingredient of our success. The strength and support of 65m people willing us to make it happen. Because after all the division and discord, the country is coming together. The referendum was divisive at times. And those divisions have taken time to heal. But one of the reasons that Britains democracy has been such a success for so many years is that the strength of our identity as one nation, the respect we show to one another as fellow citizens, and the importance we attach to our institutions means that when a vote has been held we all respect the result. The victors have the responsibility to act magnanimously. The losers have the responsibility to respect the legitimacy of the outcome. And the country comes together. And that is what we are seeing today. Business isnt calling to reverse the result, but planning to make a success of it. The House of Commons has voted overwhelmingly for us to get on with it. And the overwhelming majority of people  however they voted  want us to get on with it too. So that is what we will do. Not merely forming a new partnership with Europe, but building a stronger, fairer, more Global Britain too. And let that be the legacy of our time. The prize towards which we work. The destination at which we arrive once the negotiation is done. And let us do it not for ourselves, but for those who follow. For the countrys children and grandchildren too. So that when future generations look back at this time, they will judge us not only by the decision that we made, but by what we made of that decision. They will see that we shaped them a brighter future. They will know that we built them a better Britain. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Jeremy Corbyn Accused of Being Russian Collaborator By Glenn Greenwald January 17, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " The Intercept " - The leader of the U.K.s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, called for a de-escalation of tensions between NATO and Russia, adding in a BBC interview on Thursday: I want to see a de-militarization of the border between them. Along with the U.S., the U.K. has been rapidly building up its military presence in the Baltic region, including in states that border Russia, and is now about to send another 800 troops to Estonia, 500 of which will be permanently based. In response, Russia has moved its own troops within its country near those borders, causing serious military tensions to rise among multiple nuclear-armed powers. Throughout 2016, the Russian and U.S. militaries have engaged in increasingly provocative and aggressive maneuvers against one another. This week, the U.S. began deploying 4,000 troops to Poland, the biggest deployment of U.S. troops in Europe since the end of the Cold War. It was in this context that Corbyn said it is unfortunate that troops have gone up to the border on both sides, adding that he wanted to see better relations between Russia, NATO and the EU. The Labour leader explained that while Russia has engaged in serious human rights abuses both domestically and in Syria, there must be better relationships between both sides  there cannot be a return to a Cold War mentality. The response to Corbyns call for better relations and de-escalation of tensions with Moscow was swift and predictable. The armed forces minister for Britains right-wing government, Mike Penning, accused Corbyn of being a collaborator with the Kremlin: These comments suggest that the Labour leader would rather collaborate with Russian aggression than mutually support Britains NATO allies. As with Trident, everything Labour says and does shows that they cannot be trusted with Britains national security. This is the same propagandistic formulation that has been used for decades in the West to equate opposition to militarism with some form of disloyalty or treason: If you oppose military confrontation with a foreign adversary or advocate better relations with it, then you are accused of harboring secret sympathy and even support for those foreign leaders, and are often suspected of being an active collaborator with (or stooge for) them. This lowly smear tactic was, of course, deployed over and over during the Cold War with regard to those who argued for improved relations or a reduction of conflict with Moscow, but it has been repeatedly used since then as well every time it comes time to confront a new Foreign Villain (those opposed to the invasion of Iraq were pro-Saddam, those who opposed intervention in Libya were Gaddafi apologists, those who objected to war on terror programs are terrorist sympathizers, etc. etc.). But this template has recently become super-charged, more widely invoked than ever, as a result of the starring role Russia now plays in U.S. domestic politics, where many Democrats blame Russia for Hillary Clintons defeat. Putin now occupies the role of Prime Villain in Western discourse, and this Cold War rhetorical template  anyone opposing confrontation is a Kremlin operative or stooge  has thus been resurrected with extraordinary speed and ease. The compelling justifications for Corbyns concerns about NATO/Russia tensions are self-evident. The U.S. and Russia have massive arsenals of nuclear weapons. As Lawrence Krauss detailed in the New Yorker in October, the two countries have come horrendously close to full-on, earth-destroying nuclear war on several occasions in the past, and the systems they still maintain are conducive to apocalyptic error through miscommunication and misperception, let alone direct military confrontation. As Krauss noted: In general, during the Obama presidency, we have only deepened our dangerous embrace of nuclear weapons. At the moment, around a thousand nuclear weapons are still on a hair-trigger alert; as they were during the Cold War, they are ready to be launched in minutes in response to a warning of imminent attack. It is not hyperbole to say that perhaps nothing is more reckless, more dangerous, than ratcheting up tensions between these two countries. Thats what makes it so repellent and toxic to demonize those such as Corbyn as collaborators or traitors merely because they oppose this escalation and belligerence. But this is the script that  once again  is quickly becoming mainstream orthodoxy in both Washington and London. Let us, for a moment, imagine if this framework were applied consistently rather than manipulatively. Democrats have been alarmed  rightfully so  by the preliminary belligerence of Trump and his top aides toward nuclear-armed China: accepting a call from Taiwans president, openly questioning the decades-old One China policy, suggesting the U.S. would militarily intervene to prevent Chinese control over nearby uninhabited islands (the latter was also suggested by the current head of the U.S. Pacific fleet). But applying the prevailing Russia logic to these concerns, should one not accuse these Democrats objecting to confrontation with China of being collaborators with and apologists for the dictatorial regime in Beijing, which imprisons dissidents and tortures ethnic and religious minorities? Should we publicly ponder whether the liberal writers demanding that Trump cease his aggressive posture are being clandestinely paid by the Chinese Politburo or merely acting as useful idiots for it? Should those objecting to Trumps belligerent policies be accused of siding with a dictatorial regime over their own president and country? Of course none of those things should happen, because it is not only rational but morally compulsory to be deeply wary of those who seek to escalate tensions between countries with large nuclear arsenals. At the very least, one should be free to debate these policies without being smeared as a traitor. That applies to China, and it applies to Russia. And those who voice such concerns should not, as Corbyn just was, have their loyalties and integrity be impugned by our new Cold Warriors. * * * * * For the crucial context on NATO/Russia tension that is very rarely heard in the Western press, I highly recommend these two items: (1) This Foreign Affairs article by University of Chicago political scientist John J. Mearsheimer on the Wests relentless, aggressive march eastward up to Russian borders and its consequences. (2) The passage of this interview with Noam Chomsky by German journalist Tilo Jung  beginning at 40:30  that explains the crucial historical context of NATOs march eastward toward Russia, how that is perceived in Moscow, and, most important of all, why the dangers this behavior creates are incomparable: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Four Looming Flashpoints Facing President Trump

By Michael T. Klare

January 17, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " Tom Dispatch " - Within months of taking office, President Donald Trump is likely to face one or more major international crises, possibly entailing a risk of nuclear escalation. Not since the end of the Cold War has a new chief executive been confronted with as many potential flashpoints involving such a risk of explosive conflict. This proliferation of crises has been brewing for some time, but the situation appears especially ominous now given Trumps pledge to bring American military force swiftly to bear on any threats of foreign transgression. With so much at risk, its none too soon to go on a permanent escalation watch, monitoring the major global hotspots for any sign of imminent flare-ups, hoping that early warnings (and the outcry that goes with them) might help avert catastrophe.

Looking at the world today, four areas appear to pose an especially high risk of sudden crisis and conflict: North Korea, the South China Sea, the Baltic Sea region, and the Middle East. Each of them has been the past site of recurring clashes, and all are primed to explode early in the Trump presidency.

Why are we seeing so many potential crises now? Is this period really different from earlier presidential transitions?

Its true that the changeover from one presidential administration to another can be a time of global uncertainty, given Americas pivotal importance in world affairs and the natural inclination of rival powers to test the mettle of the countrys new leader. There are, however, other factors that make this moment particularly worrisome, including the changing nature of the world order, the personalities of its key leaders, and an ominous shift in military doctrine.

Just as the United States is going through a major political transition, so is the planet at large. The sole-superpower system of the post-Cold War era is finally giving way to a multipolar, if not increasingly fragmented, world in which the United States must share the limelight with other major actors, including China, Russia, India, and Iran. Political scientists remind us that transitional periods can often prove disruptive, as status quo powers (in this case, the United States) resist challenges to their dominance from revisionist states seeking to alter the global power equation. Typically, this can entail proxy wars and other kinds of sparring over contested areas, as has recently been the case in Syria, the Baltic, and the South China Sea.

This is where the personalities of key leaders enter the equation. Though President Obama oversaw constant warfare, he was temperamentally disinclined to respond with force to every overseas crisis and provocation, fearing involvement in yet more foreign wars like Iraq and Afghanistan. His critics, including Donald Trump, complained bitterly that this stance only encouraged foreign adversaries to up their game, convinced that the U.S. had lost its will to resist provocation. In a Trump administration, as The Donald indicated on the campaign trail last year, Americas adversaries should expect far tougher responses. Asked in September, for instance, about an incident in the Persian Gulf in which Iranian gunboats approached American warships in a threatening manner, he typically told reporters, When they circle our beautiful destroyers with their little boats and make gestures that... they shouldnt be allowed to make, they will be shot out of the water.

Although with Russia, unlike Iran, Trump has promised to improve relations, theres no escaping the fact that Vladimir Putins urge to restore some of his countrys long-lost superpower glory could lead to confrontations with NATO powers that would put the new American president in a distinctly awkward position. Regarding Asia, Trump has often spoken of his intent to punish China for what he considers its predatory trade practices, a stance guaranteed to clash with President Xi Jinpings goal of restoring his countrys greatness. This should, in turn, generate additional possibilities for confrontation, especially in the contested South China Sea. Both Putin and Xi, moreover, are facing economic difficulties at home and view foreign adventurism as a way of distracting public attention from disappointing domestic performances.

These factors alone would ensure that this was a moment of potential international crisis, but something else gives it a truly dangerous edge: a growing strategic reliance in Russia and elsewhere on the early use of nuclear weapons to overcome deficiencies in conventional firepower.

For the United States, with its overwhelming superiority in such firepower, nuclear weapons have lost all conceivable use except as a deterrent against a highly unlikely first-strike attack by an enemy power. For Russia, however, lacking the means to compete on equal terms with the West in conventional weaponry, this no longer seems reasonable. So Russian strategists, feeling threatened by the way NATO has moved ever closer to its borders, are now calling for the early use of tactical nuclear munitions to overpower stronger enemy forces. Under Russias latest military doctrine, major combat units are now to be trained and equipped to employ such weapons at the first sign of impending defeat, either to blackmail enemy countries into submission or annihilate them.

Following this doctrine, Russia has developed the nuclear-capable Iskander ballistic missile (a successor to the infamous Scud missile used by Saddam Hussein in attacks on Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia) and forward deployed it to Kaliningrad, a small sliver of Russian territory sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. In response, NATO strategists are discussing ways to more forcefully demonstrate the Wests own capacity to use tactical nuclear arms in Europe, for example by including more nuclear-capable bombers in future NATO exercises. As a result, the firebreak between conventional and nuclear warfare -- that theoretical barrier to escalation -- seems to be narrowing, and you have a situation in which every crisis involving a nuclear state may potentially prove to be a nuclear crisis.

With that in mind, consider the four most dangerous potential flashpoints for the new Trump administration.

North Korea

North Koreas stepped-up development of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles may present the Trump administration with its first great international challenge. In recent years, the North Koreans appear to have made substantial progress in producing such missiles and designing small nuclear warheads to fit on them. In 2016, the country conducted two underground nuclear tests (its fourth and fifth since 2006), along with numerous tests of various missile systems. On September 20th, it also tested a powerful rocket engine that some observers believe could be used as the first stage of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that might someday be capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the western United States.

North Koreas erratic leader, Kim Jong-un, has repeatedly spoken of his determination to acquire nuclear weapons and the ability to use them in attacks on his adversaries, including the U.S. Following a series of missile tests last spring, he insisted that his country should continue to bolster its nuclear force both in quality and quantity, stressing the need to get the nuclear warheads deployed for national defense always on standby so as to be fired at any moment. This could mean, he added, using these weapons in a preemptive attack. On January 1st, Kim reiterated his commitment to future preemptive nuclear action, adding that his country would soon test-fire an ICBM.

President Obama responded by imposing increasingly tough economic sanctions and attempting -- with only limited success -- to persuade China, Pyongyangs crucial ally, to use its political and economic clout to usher Kim into nuclear disarmament talks. None of this seemed to make the slightest difference, which means President Trump will be faced with an increasingly well-armed North Korea that may be capable of fielding usable ICBMs within the coming years.

How will Trump respond to this peril? Three options seem available to him: somehow persuade China to compel Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear quest; negotiate a disarmament deal directly with Kim, possibly even on a face-to-face basis; or engage in (presumably nonnuclear) preemptive strikes aimed at destroying the Norths nuclear and missile-production capabilities.

Imposing yet more sanctions and talking with China would look suspiciously like the Obama approach, while obtaining Chinas cooperation would undoubtedly mean compromising on trade or the South China Sea (either of which would undoubtedly involve humiliating concessions for a man like Trump). Even were he to recruit Chinese President Xi as a helpmate, its unclear that Pyongyang would be deterred. As for direct talks with Kim, Trump, unlike every previous president, has already indicated that hes willing. I would have no problem speaking to him, he told Reuters last May. But what exactly would he offer the North in return for its nuclear arsenal? The withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea? Any such solution would leave the president looking like a patsy (inconceivable for someone whose key slogan has been Make America Great Again).

That leaves a preemptive strike. Trump appears to have implicitly countenanced that option, too, in a recent tweet. (North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It wont happen!) In other words, he is open to the military option, rejected in the past because of the high risk of triggering an unpredictable response from the North, including a cataclysmic invasion of South Korea (and potential attacks on U.S. troops stationed there). Under the circumstances, the unpredictability not just of Kim Jong-un but also of Donald Trump leaves North Korea in the highest alert category of global crises as the new era begins.

The South China Sea

The next most dangerous flashpoint? The ongoing dispute over control of the South China Sea, an area bounded by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and the island of Borneo. Citing ancient ties to islands in those waters, China now claims the entire region as part of its national maritime territory. Some of the same islands are, however, also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Although not claiming any territory in the region itself, the U.S. has a defense treaty with the Philippines, relies on free passage through the area to move its warships from bases in the Pacific to war zones in the Middle East, and of course considers itself the preeminent Pacific power and plans to keep it that way.

In the past, China has clashed with local powers over possession of individual islands, but more recently has sought control over all of them. As part of that process, it has begun to convert low-lying islets and atolls under its control into military bases, equipping them with airstrips and missile defense systems. This has sparked protests from Vietnam and the Philippines, which claim some of those islets, and from the United States, which insists that such Chinese moves infringe on its Navys freedom of navigation through international waters.

President Obama responded to provocative Chinese moves in the South China Sea by ordering U.S. warships to patrol in close proximity to the islands being militarized. For Trump, this has been far too minimal a response. Chinas toying with us, he told David Sanger of the New York Times last March. They are when theyre building in the South China Sea. They should not be doing that but they have no respect for our country and they have no respect for our president. Asked if he was prepared to use military force in response to the Chinese buildup, he responded, Maybe.

The South China Sea may prove to be an early test of Trumps promise to fight what he views as Chinas predatory trade behavior and Beijings determination to resist bullying by Washington. Last month, Chinese sailors seized an American underwater surveillance drone near one of their atolls. Many observers interpreted the move as a response to Trumps decision to take a phone call of congratulations from the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, shortly after his election victory. That gesture, unique in recent American presidencies, was viewed in Beijing, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, as an insult to China. Any further moves by Trump to aggravate or punish China on the economic front could result in further provocations in the South China Sea, opening the possibility of a clash with U.S. air and naval forces in the region.

All this is worrisome enough, but the prospects for a clash in the South China Sea increased significantly on January 11th, thanks to comments made by Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil and presumptive secretary of state, during his confirmation hearing in Washington. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he said, Were going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed. Since the Chinese are unlikely to abandon those islands -- which they consider part of their sovereign territory -- just because Trump and Tillerson order them to do so, the only kind of "signal" that might carry any weight would be military action.

What form would such a confrontation take and where might it lead? At this point, no one can be sure, but once such a conflict began, room for maneuver could prove limited indeed. A U.S. effort to deny China access to the islands could involve anything from a naval blockade to air and missile attacks on the military installations built there to the sinking of Chinese warships. Its hard to imagine that Beijing would refrain from taking retaliatory steps in response, and as one move tumbled onto the next, the two nuclear-armed countries might suddenly find themselves at the brink of full-scale war. So consider this our second global high alert.

The Baltic Sea Area

If Hillary Clinton had been elected, I would have placed the region adjoining the Baltic Sea at the top of my list of potential flashpoints, as its where Vladimir Putin would have been most likely to channel his hostility to her in particular and the West more generally. Thats because NATO forces have moved most deeply into the territory of the former Soviet Union in the Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Those countries are also believed to be especially vulnerable to the kind of hybrid warfare -- involving covert operations, disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and the like -- that Russia perfected in Crimea and Ukraine. With Donald Trump promising to improve relations with Moscow, its now far less likely that Putin would launch such attacks, though the Russians continue to strengthen their military assets (including their nuclear war-fighting capabilities) in the region, and so the risk of a future clash cannot be ruled out.

The danger there arises from geography, history, and policy. The three Baltic republics only became independent after the breakup of the USSR in 1991; today, they are members of both the European Union and NATO. Two of them, Estonia and Latvia, share borders with Russia proper, while Lithuania and nearby Poland surround the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Through their NATO membership, they provide a theoretical bridgehead for a hypothetical Western invasion of Russia. By the same token, the meager forces of the three republics could easily be overwhelmed by superior Russian ones, leaving the rest of NATO to decide whether and in what fashion to confront a Russian assault on member nations.

Following Russias intervention in eastern Ukraine, which demonstrated both Moscows willingness and ability to engage in hybrid warfare against a neighboring European state, the NATO powers decided to bolster the alliances forward presence in the Baltic region. At a summit meeting in Warsaw in June 2016, the alliance agreed to deploy four reinforced multinational battalions in Poland and the three Baltic republics. Russia views this with alarm as a dangerous violation of promises made to Moscow in the wake of the Cold War that no NATO forces would be permanently garrisoned on the territory of the former Soviet Union. NATO has tried to deflect Russian complaints by insisting that, since the four battalions will be rotated in and out of the region, they are somehow not permanent. Nevertheless, from Moscows perspective, the NATO move represents a serious threat to Russian security and so justifies a comparable buildup of Russian forces in adjacent areas.

Adding to the obvious dangers of such a mutual build-up, NATO and Russian forces have been conducting military exercises, often in close proximity to each other. Last summer, for example, NATO oversaw Anaconda 2016 in Poland and Lithuania, the largest such maneuvers in the region since the end of the Cold War. As part of the exercise, NATO forces crossed from Poland to Lithuania, making clear their ability to encircle Kaliningrad, which was bound to cause deep unease in Moscow. Not that the Russians have been passive. During related NATO naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, Russian planes flew within a few feet of an American warship, the USS Donald Cook, nearly provoking a shooting incident that could have triggered a far more dangerous confrontation.

Will Putin ease up on the pressure hes been exerting on the Baltic states once Trump is in power? Will Trump agree to cancel or downsize the U.S. and NATO deployments there in return for Russian acquiescence on other issues? Such questions will be on the minds of many in Eastern Europe in the coming months. Its reasonable to predict a period of relative calm as Putin tests Trumps willingness to forge a new relationship with Moscow, but the underlying stresses will remain as long as the Baltic states stay in NATO and Russia views that as a threat to its security. So chalk the region up as high alert three on a global scale.

The Middle East

The Middle East has long been a major flashpoint. President Obama, for instance, came to office hoping to end U.S. involvement in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet U.S. troops are still fighting in both countries today. The question is: How might this picture change in the months ahead?

Given the convoluted history of the region and its demonstrated capacity for surprise, any predictions should be offered with caution. Trump has promised to intensify the war against ISIS, which will undoubtedly require the deployment of additional American air, sea, and ground forces in the region. As he put it during the election campaign, speaking of the Islamic State, I would bomb the shit out of them. So expect accelerated air strikes on ISIS-held locations, leading to more civilian casualties, desperate migrants, and heightened clashes between Shiites and Sunnis. As ISIS loses control of physical territory and returns to guerilla-style warfare, it will surely respond by increasing terrorist attacks on soft civilian targets in neighboring Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey, as well as in more distant locations. No one knows how all this will play out, but dont be surprised if terrorist violence only increases and Washington once again finds itself drawn more deeply into an endless quagmire in the Greater Middle East and northern Africa.

The overriding question, of course, is how Donald Trump will behave toward Iran. He has repeatedly affirmed his opposition to the nuclear deal signed by the United States, the European Union, Russia, and China and insisted that he would either scrap it or renegotiate it, but its hard to imagine how that might come to pass. All of the other signatories are satisfied with the deal and seek to do business with Iran, so any new negotiations would have to proceed without those parties. As many U.S. strategists also see merit in the agreement, since it deprives Iran of a nuclear option for at least a decade or more, a decisive shift on the nuclear deal appears unlikely.

On the other hand, Trump could be pressured by his close associates -- especially his pick for national security advisor, retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, a notoriously outspoken Iranophobe -- to counter the Iranians on other fronts. This could take a variety of forms, including stepped-up sanctions, increased aid to Saudi Arabia in its war against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, or attacks on Iranian proxies in the Middle East. Any of these would no doubt prompt countermoves by Tehran, and from there a cycle of escalation could lead in numerous directions, all dangerous, including military action by the U.S., Israel, or Saudi Arabia. So mark this one as flash point four and take a deep breath.

Going on Watch

Starting on January 20th, as Donald Trump takes office, the clock will already be ticking in each of these flashpoint regions. No one knows which will be the first to erupt, or what will happen when it does, but dont count on our escaping at least one, and possibly more, major international crises in the not-too-distant future.

Given the stakes involved, its essential to keep a close watch on all of them for signs of anything that might trigger a major conflagration and for indications of a prematurely violent Trumpian response (the moment to raise a hue and cry). Keeping the spotlight shining on these four potential flashpoints may not be much, but its the least we can do to avert Armageddon.

Michael T. Klare, a TomDispatch regular, is a professor of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College and the author, most recently, of The Race for Whats Left. A documentary movie version of his book Blood and Oil is available from the Media Education Foundation. Follow him on Twitter at @mklare1.

Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Book, John Feffer's dystopian novel Splinterlands, as well as Nick Turses Next Time Theyll Come to Count the Dead, and Tom Engelhardt's latest book, Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World .

Copyright 2017 Michael T. Klare

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.

U.S. Defense Contractors Tell Investors Russian Threat Is Great for Business: The escalating anti-Russian rhetoric comes in the midst of a major push by military contractors to position Moscow as a potent enemy that must be countered with a drastic increase in military spending

War criminal: John McCains 5-year defense plan calls for $430 billion increase over current plans ; Arizona Senator and Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain released a 33-page white paper, Restoring American Power, outlining his recommendations for the defense budget.
As Democrats Press for War, the Left Must Demand Peace and Social Transformation By Glen Ford January 17, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " BAR " - As is ordained by law, at the end of the week much of President Obamas legacy will become Donald Trumps powers, including the power to detain Americans indefinitely (forever) without trial or charge, an authority the First Black President secured from Congress in 2011. Obamas wars become Trumps wars, which, if Trump follows Obamas example -- and if he succumbs to the furious pressures of leading Democrats, old line Republicans and an openly aggressive and politicized national security establishment -- will be expanded and multiplied. The most imminent threats to human survival under a Trump presidency flow, not from the billionaires own belligerent instincts and unpredictability, but from the momentum of Obamas policies of ever-escalating confrontation with Russia and China -- his deliberate pivots towards brinksmanship on all the geopolitical fronts of Empire. U.S. policy is to militarily intimidate the world into submission -- a gangsters game. It is the Democrats that have whipped up war hysteria and a new McCarthyism, attacking Trump from the Right to force him to keep Obamas imperial surge moving forward. With western economic power fading fast, U.S. policy is to militarily intimidate the world into submission -- a gangsters game. For the Lords of Capital and their national security servants, Obamas greatest achievement was to put the U.S. back on the offensive after George Bushs defeat and humiliation in Iraq. From their perspective, Obama has already Made America Great Again with his humanitarian military intervention doctrine, trampling every principle of international law, including the sovereignty of nations, in Libya and Syria. Trumps talk of deal-making with Russia and China threatens to slow the imperial offensive. The ruling class realignment that congealed in the Clinton campaigns Big Tent sees any relaxation of U.S. military pressures against Beijing and Moscow as a prelude to imperial collapse. For them, de-escalation is an existential threat. They dont give a damn about the damage Donald Trump intends to inflict on what remains of the U.S. social safety net -- and neither did Obama, who came into office scheming to forge a Grand Austerity Bargain with the Republicans. And, if his preventive detention bill were not enough, Obamas support for creation of a Ministry of Truth -- officially, a joint governmental commission to police the media for foreign disinformation and manipulation -- screams out to high heaven that protection of civil liberties is not part of their agenda, either. Internet publications like Black Agenda Report, cited by the Washington Post as fake news and minions of Russia, will be punished for deviance from imperial exceptionalism and aggressive war policies. Trumps talk of deal-making with Russia and China threatens to slow the imperial offensive. This is all about war. The Democrats, massed corporate media and the fully mobilized legions of spooks and disinformation specialists are cynically seeking to harness peoples well-founded fears of Trumps domestic policies in order to sabotage the possibility of a relaxation of international tensions. Leftists that think they can exploit the split between the Trump troglodytes (fascists) and the Obama/Clinton/Old Line GOP War Party (fascists) will ultimately wind up caught in a pincer between the two. The ruling class is, indeed, in an acute political crisis, to match its larger, systemic crisis. The duopoly system that has served the rich so well for most of the history of the Republic has come undone, split at the seams, endangering the corporate-imposed national consensus on empire and war. The War Party, deploying every disinformation trick in the book, foments anti-Russian hysteria to create a mass base for its imperial agenda. They point fingers at phantom minions of Moscow in order to make leftists into political foot soldiers of the Pentagon, Langley and the military industrial complex. MoveOn.org moves to their beat, as does the entire Congressional Black Caucus, including Barbara Lee (D-CA), the nations most left-leaning congressperson. Fine; they are duty-bound to go down with the Bad Ship Hillary. But the social movement activists that allow themselves to be swept up in the Democrats offensive-from-the-Right against Trump are the biggest dupes of all. They point fingers at phantom minions of Moscow in order to make leftists into political foot soldiers of the Pentagon, Langley and the military industrial complex. The Democrats are incapable of agitating for anything more than defense of Barack Obamas legacy -- chiefly, his doomed Affordable Care Act, which was already disintegrating from its own contradictions and whose final demise will create an acute crisis that cries out for single payer health insurance, the outcome Obamacare was designed to forestall. The Left should be making that demand right now, rather than helping Democrats join with Republicans to patch together an even worse private-based system, down the road. The precariat economy that is emerging from Obamas post-Meltdown restructuring, in which 94 percent of the new jobs are so contingent, inadequate and insecure they can hardly be called jobs at all, demands a National Minimum Income  a potentially transformative leap that the Left should be loudly championing, right now. Five years after Occupy Wall Street, the Left should finally call for the nationalization -- not fragmentation -- of the big banks, and creation of a public development bank to rebuild the national infrastructure without going into debt to private capital. Anybody that doubts masses of people will join in this demand doesnt know their fellow Americans and their deep hatred for Wall Street banks. The social movement activists that allow themselves to be swept up in the Democrats offensive-from-the-Right against Trump are the biggest dupes of all. Ferguson set the new Black movement on a course of confrontation with the Mass Black Incarceration State, in all its manifestations. Obamas legacy -- and that of the Black misleadership class that has collaborated with mass Black incarceration for two generations  is to intensify intelligence gathering in Black communities, while dispersing Black population concentrations through gentrification. Trump or no Trump, there is no avoiding the logic of the movements central grassroots demand: Black community control of the police. Non-Blacks on the Left must support that demand. There is no such thing as a genuine Left that supports imperialism, but there are plenty of fakers that do, including phony socialists. How sad -- and maddening, at the same time -- that a Donald Trump can speak of cutting down on regime change, while purported leftists rally to Obamas humanitarian military interventionism, the lip-stick on the imperial pig. The Democrats want war so badly, they are fouling their bourgeois institutional nest and bearing down hard from the Right to prevent any let-up in tensions with Russia and China. The Lefts job is to oppose the warmongers, not to band with them. There is no mystery to what the moment demands. Whats needed is Left movements for social transformation, not a farcical, Democrat-led anti-Trump pseudo-movement, whose real agenda is war. BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
From Selma to the CIA



John Lewis, Donald Trump and the demise of the civil rights establishment



By Patrick Martin January 17, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " WSWS " - In an interview conducted Friday for NBCs Sunday morning program Meet the Press, Democratic Representative John Lewis announced that he would boycott the inauguration of President Donald Trump because, I dont see this president-elect as a legitimate president. There are many reasons to reject and oppose the presidency of Donald Trump: he personifies the financial oligarchy that now dominates the US political system and seeks to subordinate all public policy to its mad drive to amass ever-greater wealth; he has filled his cabinet and White House staff with ultra-right ideologues, fellow billionaires and ex-generals; his government is committed to a program of drastic cuts in spending for education, health care and other public services, combined with a massive military buildup. Lewis, however, mentioned none of these things. He based his rejection of Trump on the report by US intelligence agencies about Russian hacking during the 2016 presidential election campaign. I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected, and they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton, he said. Thats not right. Thats not fair. Thats not the open democratic process. No evidence has been presented proving that the Russian government was responsible for hacking the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign. The hue and cry over Russian hacking has two purposes: to conceal the actual content of the leaked emails, which showed the right-wing and antidemocratic character of the Clinton campaign, and to whip up public opinion in the United States in favor of political, economic, diplomatic and ultimately military retaliation against Russia. There is not the slightest genuine democratic content to Lewiss critique of Trump. He did not cite Trumps loss of the popular vote by nearly three million votes, or the impact of voter ID laws enacted by many Republican-controlled state governments to suppress minority voting. His attack on Trump consisted solely of embracing the CIA-led anti-Russian campaign in language reminiscent of the 1950s redbaiter Joseph McCarthy. There is a grim historical irony here. During the years of the most intense struggles for civil rights in the South, in the 1950s and 1960s, the FBI, the police in cities like Birmingham, Alabama, and the southern Democratic politicians all claimed that protests against segregation were the work of outside agitators, communists sent in to do the bidding of the Soviet Union. But John Lewis, who played a significant role as a student leader during those years and led the march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, has remembered only one thing: denouncing your opponents as tools of Russia is a proven propaganda tactic. A congressman from Atlanta for the past 30 years, Lewis personifies the recruitment and corruption of a section of middle-class African-Americans to reinforce the domination of capitalist politics. Civil rights leaders like Lewis were co-opted as part of a conscious strategy of the US ruling elite to refurbish the Democratic Party and the state machinery as a whole. Dozens of major cities were turned over to African-American mayors, some of them veterans of the civil rights struggles, others merely cashing in on it. The Congressional Black Caucus expanded its number from a handful to more than thirty. With the assistance of programs like affirmative action, slots were created for black academics, government officials, military officers, corporate executives and ultimately CEOs. These positions were not very numerous, but they were well paid, politically symbolic and gave a cover of diversity for the depredations of American big business and the crimes of the Pentagon. US imperialism incinerated tens of thousands of defenseless Iraqi conscripts while General Colin Powell, the first black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed the press on the progress of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. In similar fashion, Powell, as the first black secretary of state, and Condoleezza Rice, the first black female national security adviser, were at George W. Bushs side when he launched the illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq. This process culminated in the election of Barack Obama, the first African-American presidentalso the first president to assert the right to assassinate American citizens, using drone-fired missiles, anywhere in the world. Obama, a creature of the military-intelligence apparatus, expanded the war in Afghanistan, launched a new war in Libya and engaged the US military once again in war in Iraq and Syria. He continued and strengthened the police state operations of the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency. It is noteworthyand characteristic of this corrupt layer of African-American Democratic politiciansthat John Lewis has never opposed the military-intelligence operations of the Obama administration. On the contrary, Lewis received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama in 2011, the same year Obama authorized the drone-missile assassination of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen. Some 50 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. made a critical step forward when he sought to combine the struggle for democratic rights at home with opposition to imperialist war abroad, courageously coming out against the war in Vietnam. There is not a shred of such principle among those who today seek to wrap themselves in Kings mantle in order to cover their own right-wing politics. After Dr. Kings assassination in April 1968an event that was undoubtedly linked to his turn against the Vietnam Warhis acolytes made their peace with the establishment. Some of them, like Andrew Young, who had always stood on the right wing in Kings councils, became open apologists for US imperialism, with Young serving as US ambassador to the United Nations in the Carter administration. Others, like Jesse Jackson, Julian Bond and John Lewis, became political hacks for the Democratic Party, giving this party of big business a progressive cover as it moved further and further to the right. Lewis also served in the Carter administration, running several antipoverty programs, before winning a congressional seat in 1986. In recent years, he has cashed in quite literally on his role in the 1960s, with his Faith and Politics Institute selling seats to lobbyists for $25,000 apiece to his annual visit to Selma to reenact the 1965 march. The enlistment of Lewis in the warmongering anti-Russian campaign only underscores the political challenge facing the American working class. No section of the Democratic Party will conduct a genuine or principled struggle against the monstrous right-wing program of the Trump administration and the Republican Congress. The Democratic Party, like the Republicans, defends the profits and wealth of the financial aristocracy and the global interests of American imperialism. Copyright  1998-2017 World Socialist Web Site - All rights reserved John Lewis On Trump, Russia: 'We Must Not Be Silent' (Full Interview) | Meet The Press | NBC News The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Trumps Cat Among European Pigeons By Finian Cunningham January 17, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " Sputnik " - Incoming US President Donald Trump threw a cat among the European pigeons this week after he said that the EU was heading for breakup and that he didnt care much if that were to happen. In interviews with British and German newspapers, Trump said a whole lot more too. He described Britains decision to split from the EU as a great move, and that more countries would follow the Brexit; he called German Chancellor Angela Merkels open-door immigration policy a disaster; and on the NATO military alliance, the new president said it was obsolete . The following day, EU leaders were huffing and puffing with rage and exasperation that Trump should dare be so disrespectful. Trumps NATO, EU comments spark fury, fear across Europe, reported the Washington Times. Germanys Merkel and French President Francois Hollande told Trump to mind his own business. EU foreign policy chief Federica Morgherini claimed that European states followed their own independent course and did not need Washington anyway. Former French prime minister Manuel Valls, always prone to histrionics, even went as far as decrying Trump for declaring war on Europe. The hilarious thing is that Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, and the EU leaders have been for months claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the one who is secretly plotting the breakup of the European bloc and the transatlantic alliance. But after all this rabid scaremongering against Russia, it is an American president, Donald Trump, who is publicly declaring that the days are numbered for the transatlantic status quo. Russia did indeed welcome Trumps comments about NATO being obsolete. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: NATO is truly a relic of the past its entire structure is dedicated to the idea of confrontation; of course, it can hardly be called a modern structure that meets the ideas of stability, sustainable development and security. Moscow also said that it welcomed the opportunity to normalize relations with Washington as Trump has indicated. He has intimated that he is prepared to lift economic sanctions that Washington imposed on Russia since 2014 over the Ukraine conflict. Despite their pretentious bluster, the truth is that European leaders of all political shades have been absolute lackeys to Washington for the past several decades. Not one European state has dared to stand up to American foreign policy misconduct. In reaction to Trumps latest broadsides, European leaders are piously claiming to be independent from Washington. Nothing could be further from the truth about the current and past crop of European politicians. Germanys deputy Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel hit back at Trumps savaging of Merkels disastrous immigration policies. He said that the real cause of the refugee crisis in Europe was Americas military interventions in the Middle East and Central Asia. Well, yes, that is true. But if Sigmar Gabriel knew that was the real cause, then why hasnt Germany  the most powerful EU member  stood up to Washington to oppose its relentless warmongering. The fact is that the EU has gone along with each and every US-led war around the world over the past 25 years. Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya among others. Look at Syria, for instance. The EU has imposed economic sanctions on that forsaken country, in line with Washingtons agenda for regime change, thus exacerbating the exodus of refugees. If the EU had some independent backbone, as it likes to pretend, then it should have firmly opposed the US-led covert intervention in Syria. But it didnt. The EU is fully complicit. The pernicious role of Britain has to be acknowledged here. No other member of the EU has been such an avid cheerleader for NATO and American atlanticist sway over European affairs. Britain has loyally followed the US into foreign wars, thereby dragging Europe into such follies. If Britain had not been a member of the EU, perhaps the bloc might have had more critical foreign policy, one that was more critical of Washingtons lawless depredations. Ironically now, Britain is leaving the EU after 43 years of membership. But it bequeaths a legacy of subservience to Washington that all remaining EU members find themselves bound by. Perhaps the clearest example of European servility to US foreign policy is its acquiescence to Russophobia and the hostile expansion of US-led military forces along Russias borders. European governments have colluded with Washington to meddle in the affairs of Georgia and Ukraine and then seek to cover up the tracks of conflict by blaming Russia for the unrest. Moreover, the EU slavishly followed Washingtons lead to slap economic sanctions on Russia. Those sanctions have caused minimal disruption to Americas economy, but they have wreaked havoc on European farmers, workers and businesses. The incumbent European governments are pathetic. Special mention must be given to French President Hollande, the most unpopular leader ever. To illustrate the puppet status, recall the Mistral helicopter-ship deal worth about $2 billion with Russia. Hollande axed the contract and hence hundreds of French jobs because the Americans instructed him to do so, allegedly to maintain a unified sanctions policy on Moscow. Europe is facing several key national elections this year, in the Netherlands, France and Germany. As with other EU countries there is a popular revolt against the status quo. The mainstream media paint the opposition parties as extremist and racist. The media also claim that Russia is covertly subverting European democracies. This is just scapegoating. Closer to the truth is that ordinary EU citizens are fed up with governments that are in hock to a foreign power  Washington. The atlanticist alliance has been nothing but a euphemism for Washington to dominate politically, financially and militarily over Europe. To the point where Europe has trashed its historic links and natural relations with Russia. After decades of kowtowing to Washington, there is now a new US president who is snubbing the loyal Europeans and showing disregard for atlanticism. Trumps comment that he trusts Vladimir Putin equally with Angela Merkel is surely a sharp putdown to Europeans who have allowed his predecessors to dictate disastrous policies for the EU. Under Trump, the US may well move to cancel its sanctions on Russia. What will European lackeys do then? Keep their own futile anti-Russian sanctions that are wrecking their economies, or sheepishly repeal the sanctions because the Americans have done so? But by then it will be too late for the EU. The European Union is already teetering on implosion because for decades its leaders had no courage or vision to serve the interests of their citizens instead of Uncle Sams atlanticist designs. Trumps indifference towards European subservience and the NATO project is a potentially promising new direction to a more balanced international configuration, especially with regard to restoring relations with Russia. It may not work out, of course. Trump has plenty of enemies at home among the Washington establishment who see atlanticist domination of Europe and antagonism towards Russia as a cornerstone of US global hegemonic ambitions. Nevertheless, Trumps skepticism towards the EU and NATO is setting the cat among the European pigeons. Because it is exposing them as impotent flunkies who have ruined their countries by prostrating themselves as pathetic dependents on American patronage.
I Have Come to the Conclusion the Country Does Not Need a CIA



By John Kiriakou



January 17, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - President-elect Donald Trump is accusing CIA Director John Brennan of being the source of fake news about him, essentially calling our new supreme leader a Russian stooge and accusing him of taking part in a sexual kink in full view of Russian intelligence cameras in a Moscow hotel room several years ago.



I have no idea whether or not Trump, during a visit to Moscow in 2010, hired prostitutes to urinate on a Four Seasons Hotel Presidential Suite mattress because the Obamas had once slept there. I dont care. I also have no idea if the Russian government hacked the Democratic National Committee and stole Clinton campaign manager John Podestas emails. I have not seen any CIA, FBI, or NSA evidence, so I have come to the personal conclusion that the hacking story is overblown. All countries spy on each other. Its a fact of life. The U.S. spies on just about everybody in the world. So I have a problem with the righteous indignation that Im seeing from so many of my friends and former CIA colleagues about the Russians.



With that said, the Russia hacking story distracts from real and important issues surrounding the CIA and its future in U.S. policy.



One of those real issues is that the CIA has consistently lied to the American people for many, many years. Why would Trump conclude that Brennan was spouting fake news? Well, in the past 15 years, the CIA said that it was not torturing its prisoners. That was a lie. The CIA said that it had not created an archipelago of secret prisons where it was holding hundreds of people, including innocent civilians. That was a lie. The CIA said that it had not created and used a dungeon torture center called the Salt Pit in Afghanistan. That was a lie. The CIA said that it was not sending prisoners to third world countries to undergo torture with a wink and a nod from the CIAs leadership. That was a lie. The CIA said that it had not hacked into computers belonging to investigators of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence while they were writing the definitive report on the CIA torture program. That was a lie.



I wont even get into CIA protestations that it hasnt overthrown governments, influenced elections, committed assassinations, or otherwise mucked up U.S. foreign policy since the late 1940s.



Im no fan of Donald Trump. At all. But he does have a good and important point when he complains about the Intelligence Community. When Trump said recently that the CIA was bloated and inefficient, he was right. When he said that it needed to be pared down and restructured, he was right.



First, its good for the country that in a few short days John Brennan will be out of a job. Brennan has been a disaster for the CIA. His ill-advised restructuring of the organization two years ago, which did away with geographical divisions and created 10 new fusion centers that paired operators and analysts, was ill-advised and typical of somebody with no operational experience. It diluted expertise, forced the CIA to rely more on electronic eavesdropping, and pushed human source intelligence collection to the side.



Second, try as he might, Brennan was never able to, and indeed, should not have been able to, deny his role in the Bush administrations torture program. He was Bushs Deputy Executive Director of the CIA  the organizations fourth-ranking officer  from 2001 to 2003 and director of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center from 2003 to 2004. He was in the center of the CIA action and up to his neck in counterterrorism in the Agencys darkest days. To say that he had no idea there was a CIA torture program at the time is utterly laughable.



Third, I have no idea what kind of CIA director Michael Pompeo will be. Im not optimistic. But with that said, if he does only one thing during his tenure, I hope he would clean house by forcing out every CIA officer who ever had anything to do with the torture program, every officer who had anything to do with the Senate hacking scandal, and every officer who has ever provided false information to the oversight committees. As my CIA recruiter told me in 1989, The CIA wants honest people, not perfect people. Well, even all these years later, the dishonest people have to go.



Fourth, we can certainly have a discussion about whether or not the country even needs a CIA. I have come to the conclusion that it does not. The excellent civil servants in the State Departments Bureau of Intelligence and Research can do the analysis. The Pentagons Defense Humint Services can recruit and run human sources around the world. A myriad of DoD and other civilian offices and bureaus can do the science and technology development.



In the meantime, however, the job of the CIA ought to remain simple: To recruit spies to steal secrets. When it cant do that, when a majority of CIA officers are sitting fat and happy in Langley, Virginia, theres a problem. They are doing the American taxpayer a disservice. The top leadership has to go. Employees who dont respect U.S. and international law have to go. The purge should start on January 20.



John Kiriakou is a former CIA counterterrorism officer and a former senior investigator with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. John became the sixth whistleblower indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act  a law designed to punish spies. He served 23 months in prison as a result of his attempts to oppose the Bush administration's torture program. John Kiriakou is a former CIA counterterrorism officer and a former senior investigator with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. John became the sixth whistleblower indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act  a law designed to punish spies. He served 23 months in prison as a result of his attempts to oppose the Bush administration's torture program. Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work.
A Demand for Russian Hacking Proof More than 20 U.S. intelligence, military and diplomatic veterans are calling on President Obama to release the evidence backing up allegations that Russia aided the Trump campaign  or admit that the proof is lacking. MEMORANDUM FOR: President Barack Obama FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) SUBJECT: A Key Issue That Still Needs to be Resolved January 17, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office Friday, a pall hangs over his upcoming presidency amid an unprecedentedly concerted campaign to delegitimize it. Unconfirmed accusations continue to swirl alleging that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized Russian hacking that helped put Mr. Trump in the White House. As President for a few more days, you have the power to demand concrete evidence of a link between the Russians and WikiLeaks, which published the bulk of the information in question. Lacking that evidence, the American people should be told that there is no fire under the smoke and mirrors of recent weeks. We urge you to authorize public release of any tangible evidence that takes us beyond the unsubstantiated, we-assess judgments by the intelligence agencies. Otherwise, we  as well as other skeptical Americans  will be left with the corrosive suspicion that the intense campaign of accusations is part of a wider attempt to discredit the Russians and those  like Mr. Trump  who wish to deal constructively with them. Remember the Maine? Alleged Russian interference has been labeled an act of war and Mr. Trump a traitor. But the intelligence served up to support those charges does not pass the smell test. Your press conference on Wednesday will give you a chance to respond more persuasively to NBCs Peter Alexanders challenge at the last one (on Dec. 16) to show the proof [and], as they say, put your money where your mouth is and declassify some of the intelligence. You told Alexander you were reluctant to compromise sources and methods. We can understand that concern better than most Americans. We would remind you, though, that at critical junctures in the past, your predecessors made judicious decisions to give higher priority to buttressing the credibility of U.S. intelligence-based policy than to protecting sources and methods. With the Kremlin widely accused by politicians and pundits of an act of war, this is the kind of textbook case in which you might seriously consider taking special pains to substantiate serious allegations with hard intelligence  if there is any. During the Cuban missile crisis, for instance, President Kennedy ordered us to show highly classified photos of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba and on ships en route, even though this blew sensitive detail regarding the imagery intelligence capabilities of the cameras on our U-2 aircraft. President Ronald Reagans reaction to the Libyan terrorist bombing of La Belle Disco in Berlin on April 5, 1986, that killed two and injured 79 other U.S. servicemen is another case in point. We had intercepted a Libyan message that morning: At 1:30 in the morning one of the acts was carried out with success, without leaving a trace behind. (We should add here that NSAs dragnet SIGINT capability 30 years later renders it virtually impossible to avoid leaving a trace behind once a message is put on the network.) President Reagan ordered the U.S. Air Force to bomb Col. Muammar Qaddafis palace compound to smithereens, killing several civilians. Amid widespread international consternation and demands for proof that Libya was responsible for the Berlin attack, President Reagan ordered us to make public the encrypted Libyan message, thereby sacrificing a collection/decryption capability unknown to the Libyans  until then. As senior CIA veteran Milton Bearden has put it, there are occasions when more damage is done by protecting sources and methods than by revealing them. Wheres the Beef? We find the New York Times- and Washington Post-led media Blitz against Trump and Putin truly extraordinary, despite our long experience with intelligence/media related issues. On Jan. 6, the day after your top intelligence officials published what we found to be an embarrassingly shoddy report purporting to prove Russian hacking in support of Trumps candidacy, the Times banner headline across all six columns on page 1 read: PUTIN LED SCHEME TO AID TRUMP, REPORT SAYS. The lead article began: President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia directed a vast cyberattack aimed at denying Hillary Clinton the presidency and installing Donald J. Trump in the Oval Office, the nations top intelligence agencies said in an extraordinary report they delivered on Friday to Mr. Trump. Eschewing all subtlety, the Times added that the revelations in this damning report  undermined the legitimacy of the President-elect, and made the case that Mr. Trump was the favored candidate of Mr. Putin. On page A10, however, Times investigative reporter Scott Shane pointed out: What is missing from the public report is what many Americans most eagerly anticipated: hard evidence to back up the agencies claims that the Russian government engineered the election attack. That is a significant omission. Shane continued, Instead, the message from the agencies essentially amounts to trust us. There is no discussion of the forensics used to recognize the handiwork of known hacking groups, no mention of intercepted communications between the Kremlin and the hackers, no hint of spies reporting from inside Moscows propaganda machinery. Shane added that the intelligence report offers an obvious reason for leaving out the details, declaring that including the precise bases for its assessments would reveal sensitive sources and methods and imperil the ability to collect critical foreign intelligence in the future. Shane added a quote from former National Security Agency lawyer Susan Hennessey: The unclassified report is underwhelming at best. There is essentially no new information for those who have been paying attention. Ms. Hennessey served as an attorney in NSAs Office of General Counsel and is now a Brookings Fellow in National Security Law. Everyone Hacks There is a lot of ambiguity  whether calculated or not  about Russian hacking. Everyone knows that everyone hacks, says everyone: Russia hacks; China hacks; every nation that can hacks. So do individuals of various nationalities. This is not the question. You said at your press conference on Dec. 16 the intelligence that I have seen gives me great confidence in their [U.S. intelligence agencies] assessment that the Russians carried out this hack. Which hack? you were asked. The hack of the DNC and the hack of John Podesta, you answered. Earlier during the press conference you alluded to the fact that the information was in the hands of WikiLeaks. The key question is how the material from Russian hacking got to WikiLeaks, because it was WikiLeaks that published the DNC and Podesta emails. Our VIPS colleague William Binney, who was Technical Director of NSA and created many of the collection systems still in use, assures us that NSAs cast-iron coverage  particularly surrounding Julian Assange and other people associated with WikiLeaks  would almost certainly have yielded a record of any electronic transfer from Russia to WikiLeaks. Binney has used some of the highly classified slides released by Edward Snowden to demonstrate precisely how NSA accomplishes this using trace mechanisms embedded throughout the network. [See: U.S. Intel Vets Dispute Russia Hacking Claims, Dec. 12, 2016.] NSA Must Come Clean We strongly suggest that you ask NSA for any evidence it may have indicating that the results of Russian hacking were given to WikiLeaks. If NSA can produce such evidence, you may wish to order whatever declassification may be needed and then release the evidence. This would go a long way toward allaying suspicions that no evidence exists. If NSA cannot give you that information  and quickly  this would probably mean it does not have any. In all candor, the checkered record of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper for trustworthiness makes us much less confident that anyone should take it on faith that he is more trustworthy than the Russians, as you suggested on Dec. 16. You will probably recall that Clapper lied under oath to the Senate Intelligence Committee on March 12, 2013, about NSA dragnet activities; later apologizing for testimony he admitted had been clearly erroneous. In our Memorandum for you on Dec. 11, 2013, we cited chapter and verse as to why Clapper should have been fired for saying things he knew to be clearly erroneous. In that Memorandum, we endorsed the demand by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner that Clapper be removed. Lying to Congress is a federal offense, and Clapper ought to be fired and prosecuted for it, said Sensenbrenner in an interview with The Hill. The only way laws are effective is if theyre enforced. Actually, we have had trouble understanding why, almost four years after he deliberately misled the Senate, Clapper remains Director of National Intelligence  overseeing the entire intelligence community. Hacks or Leaks? Not mentioned until now is our conclusion that leaks are the source of the WikiLeaks disclosures in question  not hacking. Leaks normally leave no electronic trace. William Binney has been emphasizing this for several months and suggesting strongly that the disclosures were from a leaker with physical access to the information  not a hacker with only remote access. This, of course, makes it even harder to pin the blame on President Putin, or anyone else. And we suspect that this explains why NSA demurred when asked to join the CIA and FBI in expressing high confidence in this key judgment of the report put out under Clappers auspices on Jan. 6, yielding this curious formulation: We also assess Putin and the Russian Government aspired to help President-elect Trumps election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him. All three agencies agree with this judgment. CIA and FBI have high confidence in this judgment; NSA has moderate confidence. (Emphasis, and lack of emphasis, in original) In addition, former U.K. Ambassador Craig Murray has said publicly he has first-hand information on the provenance of the leaks, and has expressed surprise that no one from the New York Times or the Washington Post has tried to get in touch with him. We would be interested in knowing whether anyone from your administration, including the intelligence community, has made any effort to contact Ambassador Murray. What to Do President-elect Trump said a few days ago that his team will have a full report on hacking within 90 days. Whatever the findings of the Trump team turn out to be, they will no doubt be greeted with due skepticism, since Mr. Trump is in no way a disinterested party. You, on the other hand, enjoy far more credibility  AND power  for the next few days. And we assume you would not wish to hobble your successor with charges that cannot withstand close scrutiny. We suggest you order the chiefs of the NSA, FBI and CIA to the White House and ask them to lay all their cards on the table. They need to show you why you should continue to place credence in what, a month ago, you described as uniform intelligence assessments about Russian hacking. At that point, if the intelligence heads have credible evidence, you have the option of ordering it released  even at the risk of damage to sources and methods. For what it may be worth, we will not be shocked if it turns out that they can do no better than the evidence-deprived assessments they have served up in recent weeks. In that case, we would urge you, in all fairness, to let the American people in on the dearth of convincing evidence before you leave office. As you will have gathered by now, we strongly suspect that the evidence your intelligence chiefs have of a joint Russian-hacking-WikiLeaks-publishing operation is no better than the intelligence evidence in 2002-2003  expressed then with comparable flat-fact certitude  of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Obamas Legacy Mr. President, there is much talk in your final days in office about your legacy. Will part of that legacy be that you stood by while flames of illegitimacy rose willy-nilly around your successor? Or will you use your power to reveal the information  or the fact that there are merely unsupported allegations  that would enable us to deal with them responsibly? In the immediate wake of the holiday on which we mark the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it seems appropriate to make reference to his legacy, calling to mind the graphic words in his Letter From the Birmingham City Jail, with which he reminds us of our common duty to expose lies and injustice: Like a boil that can never be cured as long as it is covered up, but must be opened with all its pus-flowing ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must likewise be exposed, with all of the tension its exposing creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured. For the Steering Group, Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) William Binney, former Technical Director, World Geopolitical & Military Analysis, NSA; co-founder, SIGINT Automation Research Center (ret.) Marshall Carter-Tripp, Foreign Service Officer (ret) and former Office Director in the State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research Thomas Drake, former Senior Executive, NSA Bogdan Dzakovic, Former Team Leader of Federal Air Marshals and Red Team, FAA Security, (ret.) (associate VIPS) Philip Giraldi, CIA, Operations Officer (ret.) Mike Gravel, former Adjutant, top secret control officer, Communications Intelligence Service; special agent of the Counter Intelligence Corps and former United States Senator Matthew Hoh, former Capt., USMC, Iraq & Foreign Service Officer, Afghanistan (associate VIPS) Larry Johnson, former CIA Intelligence Officer & former State Department Counter-Terrorism Official, ret. Michael S. Kearns, Captain, USAF (Ret.); ex-Master SERE Instructor for Strategic Reconnaissance Operations (NSA/DIA) and Special Mission Units (JSOC) Brady Kiesling, former U.S. Foreign Service Officer, ret. (Associate VIPS), John Kiriakou, Former CIA Counterterrorism Officer and former Senior Investigator, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Karen Kwiatkowski, former Lt. Col., US Air Force (ret.), at Office of Secretary of Defense watching the manufacture of lies on Iraq, 2001-2003 Linda Lewis, WMD preparedness policy analyst, USDA (ret.) David MacMichael, National Intelligence Council (ret.) Ray McGovern, former US Army infantry/intelligence officer & CIA analyst (ret.) Todd E. Pierce, MAJ, US Army Judge Advocate (ret.) Elizabeth Murray, former Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Middle East, CIA (ret.) Scott Ritter, former MAJ., USMC, former UN Weapon Inspector, Iraq Coleen Rowley, FBI Special Agent and former Minneapolis Division Legal Counsel (ret.) Peter Van Buren, U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Officer (ret.) (associate VIPS) Kirk Wiebe, former Senior Analyst, SIGINT Automation Research Center, NSA (ret.) Robert Wing, former Foreign Service Officer (associate VIPS) Ann Wright, U.S. Army Reserve Colonel (ret) and former U.S. Diplomat
Worse Than Prostitutes: Putin Slams Those Behind Trump Leak By RT January 17, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " RT " - Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has no grounds to attack or protect US President-elect Donald Trump, since he does not know him personally. He added though that those behind the recent allegations against Trump have "no moral scruples." "I don't know Mr. Trump personally, I have never met him and don't know what he will do on the international arena. So I have no grounds to attack him or criticize him for anything, or protect him or whatever," Putin said. Despite the fact that elections in the US are over and ended with a "solid win" for the Republican candidate, an intense political struggle continues in the US, the Russian president observed, adding that there are certain forces that aim "to undermine the legitimacy of the president-elect." "I have an impression they practiced in Kiev and are ready to organize a Maidan in Washington, just to not let Trump take office," Putin said, apparently referring to anti-government protests in the Ukrainian capital in 2014, which resulted in the leadership being ousted. Those anti-Trump forces in the US also want to "bind hand and foot" the newly-elected leader, Putin added. He said that in this way, they aim to interfere with the domestic and international policies outlined in Trump's presidential campaign. By doing so, these forces "severely harm US interests," Putin said. The campaign to discredit the president-elect shows that certain "political elites in the West, including in the US," have "significantly" worsened, according to the Russian president. "Prostitution is an ugly social phenomenon," he told reporters, adding that people who stand behind "fabrications" being used against Trump "are worse than prostitutes." "They have no moral scruples," he said. The Russian leader also called the allegations that Moscow might have blackmail material on the US president-elect "evidently fake." "When Trump visited Moscow several years ago, he wasn't a political figure. We didn't even know about his political ambitions, he was just a businessman, one of America's richest people. So does someone think that our intelligence services go after each American billionaire? Of course not, it's complete rubbish," Putin said. Commenting on reports spread in the Western media accusing Trump of frolicking with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel, the Russian president said he doubted that a man who had been organizing beauty pageants for years and had met "some of the most beautiful women of the world" would hire call girls in the Russian capital. Last week, a report on what was claimed to be a secret dossier, reportedly compiled by former UK intelligence officer Christopher Steele, was published by CNN and BuzzFeed. It alleged that Trump was groomed and supported by Russian intelligence and that the Kremlin was in possession of compromising material on the president-elect. The dossier reportedly contained a bizarre story of Trump allegedly hiring prostitutes to "perform a golden showers show in front of him" on a hotel bed in the Ritz Carlton presidential suite in the Russian capital, where Barack Obama and his wife had previously stayed. The US president-elect, who will be inaugurated on January 20, has branded the dossier a "complete fraud," saying that intelligence insiders have confirmed to him that the allegations were fake.
How The U.S. Enabled ISIS To Take Deir Ezzor By Moon Of Alabama January 17, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " MOA " - - The city of Deir Ezzor (Deir ez-Zur) in east-Syria is on the verge of falling into the hands of the Takfiris of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). More than 100,000 civilian inhabitants of Deir Ezzor and thousands of soldiers defending them are in immediate danger of being murdered by the savage ISIS forces. The current situation is a direct consequence of U.S. military action against the SAA and non-action against ISIS. Deir Ezzor is besieged by ISIS since September 2015. But the city was well defended by its garrison of Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and all further attacks by ISIS were repelled. Supply to the city was hauled in by air through the Deir Ezzor airport and through air drops by the Syrian and Russian airforces. Relief by ground forces and ground supplies are not possible as Deir Ezzor is more than 100 km away from the nearest SAA positions west of Palmyra and as the desert in between is under the control of ISIS.

Google map - bigger Four days ago a new attack by ISIS on Deir Ezzor was launched and has since continued. ISIS reinforcements and resupplies had come over months despite air interdiction from the Russian and Syrian airforces. Yesterday ISIS managed to cut off the airport, where the local SAA command and its main supplies are hosted, from the city proper. It is now attacking in full force from all sides. Bad weather makes air support from the outside sporadic and difficult. Unless some unforeseen happens it is only a question of time until the airport and the city fall to ISIS.

Map by Peto Lucem - bigger The U.S. has condoned and/or even actively supported the imminent ISIS taking of Deir Ezzor by (at least) three measures: a massive U.S. air attack on SAA forces in September 2016 enabled ISIS to take a controlling position and to cut off SAA resupplies

a U.S. attack against a power station in January disabled the last electricity supplies to the city

U.S. non-intervention enabled ISIS reinforcements from Mosul and west Iraq to Deir Ezzor in east-Syria On September 16 2016 an hour long U.S. led air attack on SAA positions on the Tharda hills to the south of the airport killed over 100 SAA soldiers, destroyed a big SAA supply dump and several SAA tanks and artillery pieces. Immediately after the U.S. attack ISIS took the hills and has since held them. The positions allow for fire control over the airport of Deir Ezzor. The U.S. military claimed that the attack was a mistake but a thorough reading of the investigation report of that "mistake" shows that the U.S. military attack was intentionally targeting the SAA to make a political point against an announced U.S.-Russian cooperation agreement to fight ISIS. (Danish airforce F-16 planes and drones under U.S. command had taken part in the attack. After the report was published, the Danish government pulled all air elements from its participation in the U.S. coalition against ISIS.) Since the U.S. attack in September no significant air supplies have reached Deir Ezzor. Even helicopter landing at the airport is only possible at night and by taking very high risks. The city inhabitants and their defenders are completely cut off. Early January U.S. airforce attacks destroyed the electricity plant at the Omar oilfield near Deir Ezzor. The plant was the last one to supply the city of Deir Ezzor. Since then only a few military generators and dwindling fuel supplies are left for medical and communication equipment. When the Iraqi Army plans for retaking the ISIS held city of Mosul were developed and commenced in October the U.S. insisted on leaving a western corridor open for ISIS forces inclined to flee from Mosul into the direction of Deir Ezzor. Hundreds if not thousands of ISIS fighters used the corridor. The U.S. controlled Kurdish forces in north Iraq let ISIS pass from Iraq to Syria. Fearing (correctly) that an ISIS move out of Mosul towards Deir Ezzor would mean the fall of Deir Ezzor Russia and Iran intervened with the Iraqi government. Despite U.S. wishes the Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi ordered his Popular Mobilization Forces (PMU) to cut off the western exit: Iran was not the only country pressing for the escape to be closed west of Mosul. Russia, another powerful Assad ally, also wanted to block any possible movement of militants into Syria, said Hashemi. The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. One of Assads biggest enemies, France, was also concerned that hundreds of fighters linked to attacks in Paris and Brussels might escape. The French have contributed ground and air support to the Mosul campaign.

...

Still, the battle plan did not foresee closing the road to the west of Mosul until Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi agreed in late October to despatch the Popular Mobilisation militias. Despite a fast advance by the PMU from the south against Tal Afar to cut off the escape road many ISIS fighters in west Iraq were able to flee across the border and towards Deir Ezzor with their equipment in tact. They reinforced the ISIS troops now attacking Deir Ezzor. The U.S. has uncontested air superiority over west Iraq and east Syria but did not once intervene against the large scale move. If ISIS takes Deir Ezzor it will likely kill (as it did on other occasions) all captured SAA troops and anyone it believes to have cooperated with them. The soldiers know this. They will fight down to the last bullet. But without any reinforcements and resupplies their chances are slim. When the Syrian government besieged al-Qaeda forces in east-Aleppo the "western" media and the various "Syrian opposition" propaganda outlets were running an all out campaign in support of the besieged Takfiris. There is no such campaign in support of the civilians and soldiers in Deir Ezzor. In their few reports about the imminent fall of Deir Ezzor "western" publications even resort to outright lying. Thus claims the Daily Telegraph: The US-led coalition, as well as the Russians, have been bombing the jihadists in Deir Ezzor for the last 18 months but have been unable to dislodge them. No significant U.S. air attacks have been flown against ISIS forces around Deir Ezzor at all. All attacks flown by the U.S. in the area have been against Syrian government troops or their supporting infrastructure. The U.S. official rhetoric about fighting ISIS is not supported by observable facts on the battle field. One can only conclude that the U.S. military does not only condone but supports ISIS in gaining control over Deir Ezzor despite the extreme high risk for anyone left in the city. This likely to further the larger long term plan of installing a "Salafist principality" in western Iraq and eastern Syria that creates a justification for the U.S. military to stay in the area to "fight ISIS" and which can be activated against the Syrian and Iraqi government whenever convenient. U.S. President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have both admitted that they earlier allowed ISIS to grow in Iraq and Syria for exactly such political purposes.
At least three people have been feared killed and several others injured in a renewed violence in part of Southern Kaduna, residents have said.

According to residents who spoke to our correspondents, the fresh attacks took place on at about 9:30 pm on Tuesday night at a relaxation joint near Samarun Kataf Market, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the state.

We heard the sporadic shooting by unknown gunmen last night around 9:30 p.m. at a relaxation joint in Samarun Kataf town. Three people were killed, a source said.

The bodies and those injured have been taken to General Hospital, Zangon Kataf. I am going there now to visit some relations, the source added further.

As a result of the violence, the state government announced a a 24-hour curfew in the affected areas.

Confirming the latest development, Samuel Aruwan, the senior media aide to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, said, The restoration of the curfew follows renewed security threats in Samaru-Kataf where the market was attacked by hoodlums. Security forces have taken steps to restore calm and vigorously enforce the curfew.
A woman from West London, England was fined 80 pounds after pouring a hot cup of coffee down a street drain.

Sue Peckitt, 65, poured the coffee down the drain because she didnt like the taste and didnt want to create a soggy mess in the public garbage can, she told Get West London.

I had bought a cup of coffee, it wasnt very nice and I thought I want to get rid of this, she said. So I poured it down the drain and then I started to walk to the bin to put the cup in the bin.

A group of council enforcement officers then followed Peckitt and informed her she would have to pay a fine for how she chose to dispose of the beverage.

The enforcement officers stopped me and said I was breaking the law, then I filled in all the forms and they fined me 80 pounds, she said.

Peckitt appealed to have the bizarre fine reversed shortly after it was issued in November 2016, but was unsuccessful.

I am astonished by the whole process, she said. I think there is a big problem with litter but it is bizarre, I had put this coffee down [the drain] because it was the safe and environmentally friendly thing to do.

Andrew Wiseman, of environmental law firm Harrison Grant, told the Telegraph the act of pouring the coffee down the drain may have violated laws against introducing poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into the drainage system, but agreed it should not warrant a fine.

If this lady just tipped coffee down the drain, it would be absolutely ludicrous to consider it as an offence, he said.

The council later investigated the incident and offered Peckitt an apology and a refund on Jan. 13.

The council has investigated this particular case and will be dropping the fine originally issued, a council spokesman said. Our priority is to make sure that the borough is clean and litter free and we apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused.
Denys Gauer, France Ambassador to Nigeria said on Tuesday , that France would partner with Nigeria to boost the work of art by providing the platform for young Nigeria artist at the international market.

Gauer said this at the fourth edition of the `Art of Friendship Exhibition organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture, held at the FCT Exhibition Pavilion Abuja, in collaboration with Nigeria, China, Czech Republic and France.

The envoy said that the fourth edition gives them the opportunity to showcase a Nigerian artist of the French embassy young talent award of Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF).

In Abuja the fourth edition of the art of friendship gives us the opportunity to showcase not a French artist,but a Nigerian artist to announce the French embassy young talent award launch at the tenth edition , he said.

Reports say LIMCAF held last October and that since its creation in 2006,France has always worked to promote the development of the LIMCAF every year.

Our commitment takes many shapes both at the local and the national level.

The Alliance Francise in Nigeria participate in the national dimension of the festival by organizing local competitions to identify imaging talent across the whole country.

 The Institut Francais du Nigeria base in Abuja has been a strong partner for one decade, with this young talent award ,France want to go further , our aim is to boost young artist by showing, he said.

According to him, the art world is made up of professionals, Ifeanyi Ugwu, is our first winner and we hope that this art of friendship exhibition would open new possibilities and opportunities.

I am pleased to take part in this join initiative by celebrating the friendship of people and friendship of countries organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture in partnership with the embassies of China, Czech Republic and France.

The fourth edition to the national gallery of art, the art exhibition gathers all countries from three different continents, which are sharing art work as a common tool for mutual understanding.

It is well know that France has a long tradition of intervention and support in the artistic world.

France is also open to patrons and an illustration of the strength and stability of the cooperation between Nigeria and France.

He said the 2017 exhibition would highlight the African continent in Paris, one of this will showcase two Nigerian artist based here in Abuja which have been selected to be part of a three month residency programme in Paris supported by the French Embassy here in Nigeria.
A housewife on Thursday asked an Ibadan Customary Court to dissolve her five-year-old marriage because her husband rendered her barren by conniving with doctors to remove her womb without her consent.

My lord, Musiliu has systematically rendered me barren, because I can no longer conceive due to the removal of my womb during a caesarean surgery when I was trying to deliver my first child.

While in the hospital, he should have informed any of my relatives that for me to have a safe delivery, my womb must be removed.

It is not until recently that Musiliu wanted to be having sexual intercourse with me that he directed me to go for family planning.

Then, medical personnel told me that I no longer have womb.

Worst still, Musiliu is a drunkard and insensitive in all aspect of life, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Kafilat as telling the court, sitting in Ile Tuntun area of Ibadan.

However, Musiliu Raji, who opposed the divorce, did not deny the allegation levelled against him, but pleaded with the court to help keep his relationship with Kafilat.

My lord, it is true that her womb was removed but the doctor informed me that her womb had already been damaged and the only option was total removal for her safe delivery.

The doctor also advised me not to let her know until over a year when she could bear the pain, said Musiliu who lives with Kafilat at Ologuneru area of Ibadan.

Dissolving the marriage, the court president, Henric Agbaje, held that it was clear that there was no more love between the couple.

He awarded custody of their four-year-old son to Kafilat and directed Musiliu to provide N4,000 monthly allowance for his upkeep, in addition to being responsible for the childs education.

Source: NAN
The relatives of a deceased Israeli woman on Sunday received a letter addressed to her, in which police said they had closed all criminal charges since she died six weeks earlier, but that she could appeal if she wished.

Rachel Parquets family eventually realised that the officers were formally notifying Parquet that they were closing the file into her death. Officers helpfully gave her 30 days to appeal.

Parquet died of natural causes in her home in Holon at the age of 84. Her family was upset by the insensitive letter informing her that police had found no criminal cause for her death, Israeli TV station Channel 2 reported.

By law police must attend every death that occurs outside a hospital to ensure that there was no foul play.

I was shocked, said Parquets daughter Tzipi. I didnt understand what [the letter] was talking about. What crimes? What do they want from my mother? Only once I saw the date, and realized that it was written and sent on the date of her death, did I understand that the police are delusional. To address a letter to someone who has died and to give them the right to appeal? What is this? This form is inappropriate and insensitive.

The Ayalon District Police Crime Squad apologised to the family, saying, Our inquiry showed that human error caused the letter to be addressed to the deceased. We are sorry for the inconvenience it caused the family and we share their pain. We will investigate the matter and draw conclusions.
Since his refusal to line up for West Ham following his pleas to leave London Stadium, Dimitri Payet has been targeted by multiple suitors, including Ligue 1 side Marseille and a possible move to the Chinese Super League.

However, current reports are saying that Manchester United and Arsenal are opening talks with the 29-year-old.

As reported in the Daily Star, via TeamTalk.com, both Arsenal and Manchester United have been monitoring the situation and have now made tentative enquiries to sign the French midfielder.

Despite Payets desire to leave West Ham, the London side is still refusing to let him leave quickly after already rejecting two bids for a potential Marseille return at 19.1m and 20m.

Co-chairman, Sullivan and David Gold refuse to be bullied into a quick sale stating they have no financial need to sell the 29-year-old.

Payet, who was once a fan favourite, has received no love from Hammers supporters since announcing that he will be refusing to play for the side last week.

In what has already been a frustrating season for both Dimitri Payet and Slaven Bilics men, the news of him wanting a January exit could put West Ham in an unwanted relegation battle.

Source: Ninetyminutessport
Nigerian newspaper headlines January 18, 2017.

Punch

Following the total electricity grid collapse of January 15, seven power plants have been restarted, while three others are still down.

Vanguard

Members of the House of Representatives, yesterday, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to order the military and the police to be more proactive in identifying exact areas of the attacks in Southern Kaduna and end the killings immediately.

Guardian

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has barred deposit money banks and all other financial institutions from the operation of any form of virtual currency.

Thisday

Tuesday was another day of tragedy for Borno State as a Nigerian Airforce fighter jet mistakenly dropped bombs on some settlements, believed to also harbour Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in Rann, Kala Balge LGA of the state, killing over 50 persons.

Leadership

The Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has declared a 90-day state of emergency a day before his official mandate ends.He decried extraordinary foreign interference in his countrys affairs and Decembers election.

Premium Times

Nigerias Senate on Tuesday failed to stop the planned closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for repair work on its runway.

The Sun

The House of Representatives has summoned the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen Tukur Buratai, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris and the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Lawal Daura, over recent attacks in the Kaura Federal Constituency of Southern Kaduna.

The Nation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has impounded a N948million aircraft allegedly linked with a former governor of Borno State who is under investigation.
Nigerian warship NNS UNITY and soldiers have been reported to have headed for a base of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) troops in Senegal to ensure that Gambia president Yahya Jammeh steps down on Thursday, January 19.

According to The Punch , the troops will comprise of personnel from the Nigerian Air Force, Navy, and Army.

The newspaper quoted military source as saying, I can confirm to you that men of the Air Force will leave for Senegal tomorrow (Wednesday). They will be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Kainji base in Niger State.

That Nigeria is deploying troops is now a certainty after several meetings with The Gambian president yielded no result. The Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries came to Abuja on Saturday, where they discussed what components each member state is expected to contribute to the troops that will force Yahya Jammeh out.

The troops are expected to stay for two weeks and they will be received at a base in Senegal.

Another military source added, The NNS Unity is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana, after leaving from Lagos. It is not only Nigeria. Senegal is the host country for the troops, as it would be easy to launch an attack from there.

Adama Barrow of the opposition party won the December 1, 2016, presidential election but Jammeh, who initially conceded defeat by congratulating Barrow, made a U-turn a week later, saying he would challenge the results.

Jammeh has refused to step down despite calls from the international community to do so.
Inuwa Bwala, publisher of the National Trail Newspaper and media aide to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, was arrested on Tuesday evening in Abuja.

Eyewitnesses said police officers wearing Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) uniforms apprehended Mr. Bwala and his driver shortly after they arrived at the premises of the publishers office.

A SaharaReporters correspondent contacted the Abuja police to clarify the cause of Mr. Bwalas arrest, but the police declined to comment.

Journalists, however, were able to confirm that Mr. Bwala was taken to the SARS office in Abuja. He was seen urging one of his friends to buy his prescription drugs for him while he was in detention.

Source: SaharaReporters
Photo for illustration. (Source: baocongthuong.com.vn)

The trade deal is a firm legal foundation helping Vietnam continue to maintain its rice market share in the Philippines, because the country mainly imported rice through the governments contract.

From 2011 to 2015, the Philippines is always one of the Vietnams key rice export markets. Vietnamese rice shipped to the market often occupies 17-20% of the countrys total amount exported worldwide annually in the 2011-2015 period.

Each year, the Philippines imports from 0.5 to 1.5 million tons of rice from Vietnam.

The extension of the trade deal is expected to contribute to stabilizing Vietnams rice export markets in the context of the globally and regionally complicated situation.



Together with pressure on price and quality from traditional rivals like Thailand and India, Vietnam is competing with the emerging rice exporters such as Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar./.
Mrs. Erueke John, mother of the seven-year-old boy, Joshua Zikeme, allegedly tortured to death at the Akaba community in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has cried out for justice. Joshua was a Nursery 3 pupil of the Dominion Success Academy, located in Yenagoa.

According to her, the boy was allegedly beaten to death by his father and stepmother over alleged suspicion of wizardry, after tying him to a stake.

Authorities of the Bayelsa State Police Command had on Monday night confirmed the arrest of the deceaseds father, Idiesy Zikeme and stepmother, Eunice Zikeme, on the suspicion of beating and torturing Joshua to death.

Police sources told The Guardian that the suspects had on Monday rushed the deceased to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) dead with various nasty marks on his body before the hospital authorities alerted the police, which led to their arrest.

Pictures of the deceased, which has since gone viral, had provoked outrage, as residents called on the state government and the Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) to intervene and ensure swift prosecution of the suspects.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, the 29-year-old mother of the deceased, Erueke said though the boy might have been stubborn towards his father, he had never displayed any sign of witchcraft as alleged by the suspects.

She said: They killed my son in cold blood. I was told the suspects used sharp objects to slice all parts of his body in an attempt to exorcise the alleged wizardry. I left the mans house while I was pregnant with the boy. He was into the illegal sales of hard drugs and other dangerous substances. I also left him because he used to beat me up as a pregnant woman.

If he had come alone to seek that the child should come to stay with him, I wouldnt have agreed because he is too violent, but the stepmother pleaded with him and I agreed. Many people, including the teacher in school warned me but I allowed them take the child. And they have killed him for me, she lamented.

Mrs. John claimed that the allegation of witchcraft and wizardry by the suspect was based on the purported revelation from a church based in the same area. The church is a one-room place of worship. They claimed they took my son to the place and they were told he was a wizard.

At the deceaseds school, Divine Success Academy, the pupils were shocked upon hearing the news of Joshuas death.

Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Juliana Isaac, said: We are shocked at the death of the boy. A child showing signs of stubbornness does not make him a wizard to be killed in cold blood. We know him and we even missed him during the last examinations.

Reacting, the Federation of Female Lawyers in the state led by Dise Ogbise-Erhisere, condemned the rising cases of violence against women and children in the state.

She called on the state government to send the appropriate bill instituting a special court to prosecute cases of defilement and violence against women and children.

Source: Guardian
Mr Mohammed Abdulkadir, the Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command has confirmed the kidnap of the Director of Finance, Isa Local Government and three others in the state.

Abdulkadir told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Wednesday that the victims were kidnapped by some unknown gunmen along Sokoto-Isa road on Monday.

He added that the gunmen were holding the victims captive in the Gundumi forest, located in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Commissioner said: The command has since deployed a team of police officers in uniforms and plain clothes to the forest in search of the victims.

The abductors are yet to establish any communication either with their respective families or the command.

In the same vein, the abductors have not demanded for any ransom, but efforts will be sustained to free the victims.

Abdulkadir appealed to the people of the state to offer useful and intelligence reports to the security agencies to facilitate the release of the victims.

Source: NAN
A witness in the ongoing trial of a Federal High Court Judge, Adeniyi Ademola, has stated that various amounts of foreign and local currencies were found in the defendants residence during a midnight raid by operatives of the State Security Service in October last year.

The witness, Ike Onuoha, an operative of the SSS, also said the operatives involved in the raid were told by Mr. Ademolas domestic workers that he was out of town, although the defendant was inside the house.

According to the witness, Mr. Ademolas security officials had told the operatives that his cook, simply identified as Ken, was the person in possession of the keys to the house.

When we entered the premises, we called on Ken to call the judge with his mobile phone. Ken called the judge several times but he refused to pick. Much later, the judge sent a text message that he was not in town.

After repeated calls, he switched off his phone. At that point, we had no option than to force open the main door. When we entered, we saw Justice Ademola in the masters bedroom upstairs in his night wears. That was few minutes after 12 midnight.

Mr. Onuoha added that they found N8.5 million inside another room, after they forced their way in, when the keys to the room was denied them.

The money was in N1,000 denomination. We also found the sum of N6 million, $121,179, 4,400 Euros, 80 and 1,010 Indian Rupees.

In addition to that; we recovered six ATM cards, eight cheque books, eight deposit slips for various banks, two firearm licences  one for Honourable Justice A.R. Mohammed, Mr. Onuoha told the court.

Mr. Onuoha said they also found other huge sums of money in various parts of the house, including a wardrobe they searched inside Mr. Ademolas residence.

Inside the wardrobe, we found a Ghana-must-go bag containing various N1,000 denomination notes to the tune of N39.5 million after counting it on the spot. We also found two black pump action rifles and 35 life cartridges of ammunition. These weapons were contained in two separate black bags; the cartridges were contained in one black bag. We also found a silver coloured flash drive, he said.

The witness denied allegations that Mr. Ademola was targeted for a ruling he gave regarding the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

He also said the rifles recovered at the residence had renewable licences and that they are no effort to contact Mr. Mohammed, another judge at the FHC whose name was on one of the licences of the recovered guns.

The case was adjourned to Wednesday for continuation of trial.

Source: PremiumTimes
The owners of rival car washes in a Chinese city were filmed fighting with water hoses in an incident witnesses said started as an argument over customers.

A video recorded at the scene on Friday in Yongzhou, Hunan Province, shows the two women using car wash hoses to do battle in a parking lot.

The video shows the women spray each other with freezing water and hit one another with their arms for several seconds.

Witnesses said the women were the owners of rival car washes and were fighting over their customers.
Senegal has deployed troops to The Gambian border ahead of the Presidential hand-over which was earlier scheduled to hold on Thursday. Long time President, Yahya Jammeh lost the Presidential elections on December 1, 2016 to Adama Barrow but has in the past weeks insisted he would not hand over power.

The ECOWAS delegation have failed in mediation efforts to get Jammeh to step down and matters got more complicated on Wednesday when the Gambian parliament extended Jammehs tenure. ECOWAS powers have said military intervention will be a last resort but it is continuing to look more certain as Thursday draws closer.

A Nigerian Navy Warship, NNS Unity has reportedly arrived at The Coast of Gambia in a show of force which is certain to test Jammehs resolve.
Fulani youths in Nigeria under the aegis of Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association of Nigeria (JAFUYAN), have raised the alarm that cattle belonging to its members are starving to death because they cannot go grazing due to fear of attacks from unknown gunmen in the area .

Speaking with journalists, National President of Fulani youths in Nigeria, Alhaji Saidu Maikano said about nine Fulani boys who were brave enough to take their cattle for grazing are currently missing in the area.

He said this was the bitter experience Fulani people residing in Narido village in Kauru local government area of Kaduna State are passing through.

To this end, the Fulani youth leader called on the police and other security agencies to give the herdsmen security in order to go about their normal business of grazing.

He said, We have been searching for about nine of our boys for the past five days, and we are yet to find them. We dont know what have become of them in Narido village of Kauru local government area.

Our cows are dying of hunger because we are afraid to take them for 24-hour grazing for fear of being attacked by unknown gunmen and cattle rustlers.

We are therefore calling on the state and federal government, the Police, and all security agencies to give us cover to enable us take our cattle out for grazing and feeding.

We dont want conflict with anybody, we are peace loving people, but we dont want anybody to tamper with our source of livelihood, which is our cattle.

As farming is important to other people, so also is rearing of cattle to us, and I want to use this opportunity to debunk the bad impression that Fulani people do not forget and forgive wrongs done to them.

Source: Leadership
Irish exports grow

The value of Irish agri-food and drink exports exceeded 11 billion for the first time ever in 2016, the 7th successive year of growth with a further 2% increase recorded to reach a record high of 11.15 billion.

Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has announced that the value of Irish agri-food and drink exports had exceeded 11 billion for the first time ever in 2016. Speaking at the launch of Bord Bias Export Performance and Prospects 2016-2017 report, the Minister said: "2016 marked the 7th successive year of growth of Irish food and drink exports, with a further 2% increase recorded to reach a record high of 11.15 billion, an expansion of 41% or 3.3 billion since 2010. The strongest performing sectors last year were prepared foods (1.92 billion, +9%), beverages (1.4 billion, +4%) and dairy product and ingredients (3.38 billion, +2%).

One of the notable features of this achievement is the impact of market diversification in the year in which the UK decided to leave the European Union. While trade with the UK fell by 8%, triggered by challenging exchange rates, uncertainty arising from Brexit and further competitive pressures, this was offset by increased exports to international and emerging markets such as North America (+200 million to reach 1.1 billion), China (+35% to reach 845 million) and the rest of Asia (+6% to reach 330 million). An overall increase of 13% in shipments to international markets, to reach a value of approximately 3.5 billion, was particularly remarkable" added Minister Creed.

Meanwhile a welcome recovery was also seen in continental EU markets (+3% to reach 3.53 billion) as improving economic conditions led to stronger demand in key categories. The Euro strengthened by 13% against sterling in 2016 while there was little change in exchange rates with the US dollar. According to Bord Bia estimates, the underlying weakness and volatility of sterling negatively affected the competitiveness of Irish exports reducing the value of trade by a potential 570 million.

Noting that the UK referendum on Brexit had led to currency volatility and uncertainty, the Minister said this challenge, together with weakness in some commodity prices, highlighted the importance of market access, of identifying market opportunities for value added products and of continued investment in innovation and competitiveness. "The UK will continue to be a critically important market for Irish agri-food products. The triggering of Article 50 and the continued uncertainty around Brexit will present significant challenges for the sector. However, the 2016 export figures illustrate clearly the importance of collaborative action by Government, its agencies and the industry, and the potential for pro-active effort on international markets to mitigate the risks associated with these challenges."

Padraig Brennan, Director of Markets, Bord Bia highlighted how increased volume in key sectors, and an improvement in market demand for key categories, helped boosted trade throughout 2016. Some 80% of total export growth in 2016 was recorded in trade to international markets where higher demand, improved market positioning and relatively steady exchange rates helped improve the competitive position of Irish exports commented Mr. Brennan. Since 2010, international markets have accounted for half of the growth in total exports, which reflects the industrys ability to identify and develop new business opportunities. Irish food and drink exports to China have increased six fold in six years, while exports to North America and the Rest of Asia have doubled in the same period.

Bord Bia Chairman Michael Carey welcomed the export results and commended the sector on its performance. Despite difficult trading conditions, it is encouraging to see this industry continuing to grow business and extend its global footprint to more than 180 markets around the world. Increased export volumes were recorded across a number of key categories, with milk availability over 5% higher during the first 10 months of the year and beef export volumes up 5%. The combined impact of higher output in these sectors is estimated to be in the region of 250 million.

The strongest performers in terms of export growth in 2016 were prepared foods, sheepmeat, beverages, pigmeat and to a lesser extent dairy. Weaker prices negatively affected the value of beef and edible horticulture exports while lower volumes affected seafood exports. Livestock exports declined in value terms largely due to a significant reduction in live cattle shipments, while poultry exports recorded a significant decrease due to both reduced prices and lower volumes.

Export markets look set to remain challenging in 2017 amid ongoing market uncertainty. However, the pickup in global dairy demand is expected to continue while further opportunities for growth are likely in beverages. Increased beef export availability may put some pressure on returns while prepared consumer foods exports are likely to face on-going competitive pressures, most notably the UK.

Noting the progress made in 2016 on improved market access for livestock and strengthening official relations with third countries through an ambitious programme of trade missions, Minister Creed added that close working relationships of between his Department, the development agencies, producers and industry were a key strength of the Irish food, drinks and horticulture sectors.

"As an exporting country, we need to identify and act on market opportunities promptly. The continued efforts of my Department in international markets and the additional funding for Bord Bias marketing strategy, which I have made available in both 2016 and 2017, will assist Irish exporters in their efforts to retain and diversify export markets."




During the program, Vietnamese Ambassador to Greece Tran Thi Ha Phuong reviewed economic, political, social and diplomatic achievements in 2016, appreciated the efforts of the Vietnamese community last year in sharing difficulties with the Greek people, and maintaining their business activities in Greece, contributing to increasing the image and prestige of the Vietnamese community in Greece.

She confirmed that the embassy would support the overseas Vietnamese community, and continue to urging Greek authorized agencies to address satisfactorily the interests and legal documents for all Vietnamese in Greece.

During the program, a food festival was held, presenting Vietnamese traditional dishes.

Earlier, leaders of the Vietnamese Embassy in Greece visited and gave Tet presents to outstanding, elderly and disadvantaged Vietnamese families in Greece./.
In her new book, the former Citi wealth management boss urges women to reshape companies into places where they really want to work.

In a 2008 New York Times article on the firing of Sallie Krawcheck, then chair and CEO of Citi Global Wealth Management, the reporter wrote that its tempting to attribute Ms. Krawchecks downfall to the ruthless vagaries of the glass ceiling. As it turns out, however, her departure from Citigroup was largely the result of an old-fashioned corporate bar brawl at a bank already notorious for dysfunctional management.

In her new book, Own It: The Power of Women at Work, Krawcheck writes that she believed that line of thinking at the time. But now she feels differently. Yes, she was fired for being a woman, or at least behaving like one. As head of Citis wealth management units, including Smith Barney, Krawcheck wanted Citi to reimburse Smith Barney clients for at least part of their devastating losses on an investment that was wrongly pitched as low risk. Krawcheck thought the bank should take responsibility for not having had a handle on the risk of the investments. But Citigroups thenchief executive, Vikram Pandit, repeatedly said no when presented with Krawchecks take on the situation. Once the board asked to be briefed on the proposal and voted to partly reimburse clients, Krawcheck was fired within months.

I dont mean I was fired because I had different body parts, she writes. I was fired for calling out the risk, prioritizing the long term, and for putting client relationships ahead of the short-term bottom line.

Krawcheck also argues that women should use their natural strengths (earlier in her career, she would have winced at the idea that women are different from men, she says) to gain power in a business world that increasingly needs these skills, including better decision making when it comes to complex problems and more equanimity in dealing with risks. If existing companies cant do the trick for women, she contends, they need to start their own businesses.

One thread running through Own It is research showing that companies with greater diversity perform much better than those that pull employees and senior managers from the same homogeneous pool. Sadly, Krawcheck, who started her career as a research analyst and later held top jobs on Wall Street, including CEO of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, says much of this information is still being ignored.

Senior Writer Julie Segal recently chatted with Krawcheck, 52, now CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, an investment platform for women, and chair of Ellevate Network.

Institutional Investor: The book is quite candid about your own failings and how you have been treated by men during your career. Did you struggle with being so honest?

Krawcheck: No. My career, whether I wanted it to be or not, has been very public. As a research analyst, youre immediately failing in public. If youre right 54 percent of the time, youre doing well. That means youre wrong 46 percent of the time. Hey, I was fired [from Citi] on the front page of the newspaper! Because we women take failure so hard and feel the need to apologize and smooth it over, I wanted to be candid about where I had failed. But really, with my career having been in the public eye, being even more candid in the book  who cares?

You write that during your years on Wall Street, you always believed in equality for women but brushed off the label of feminist. What do you say to people who say youre late to the issue?

If we cant continue to learn, whats the point? Im a very different person today than I was when I walked in the door of Bernstein, Smith Barney, or Merrill. Ive gotten the opportunity to spend some time with Gloria Steinem, and she says women are the only group that become more radical as they age. In my 20s, and in womens 20s, you look around and say, There are so many women here, and were so welcome, and you think feminism is your mothers issue. But as Gloria said, Of course men want women around in their 20s; theyre at their sexual peak. In your 30s you have the two kids and a marriage to work on, and perhaps a sick parent, and it gets harder to move from associate to VP and from VP to director.

This age is when a lot of women drop out, you note in the book.

Yes, because your 30s are a blur. Youre also being told to act unnaturally, told to be confident, make a strong case, ask for the raise. And youre doing that, but youre getting backlash, because society doesnt like women who are too masculine. But then you get to your mid- to late 40s, maybe early 50s, when the kids are older, and you look around and say, Where are all the women? Wait a minutethe fight wasnt over.

I might not have labeled myself a feminist, but I was actually doing the work. I was speaking at every womens conference that ever asked me; I was head of Citis womens group; my management team was gender-diverse and diverse in all sorts of other ways. Did I do it with a big blazing F on my forehead? No. If anybody wants to ding me for not being a feminist earlier, go have a drink.

Youve gone so far as to attribute the 200809 financial crisis to a lack of diversity. Tell me about that.

Conventional wisdom, at least outside of Wall Street, was that evil geniuses took the country for a ride. What I saw was groupthink. And to break groupthink, you need diversity of thought, which comes from diversity of background, perspective, education, orientation, skin color, gender, et cetera. The one Im most drawn to, for obvious reasons, is gender.

You and I both know in our heart that if those trading floors had been gender-diverse, we wouldnt have had the crisis we had. Then during the crisis, boards and regulators said, Id love to put a woman in the job, but were in the middle of a crisis. We dont have that luxury. Of course it wasnt a formal decision to bar women. It was Wed love to have women, but not for this role. Now I need someone who has been in the trenches with me. Women lost out to men in the crisis, and now the industry is less diverse than it was ten years ago.
Despite U.K. Prime Minister Theresa Mays much-repeated Brexit means Brexit comment, little is known yet about what Brexit actually will mean. But financial regulation expert Jerome de Lavenere Lussan, CEO at Laven Partners, says that as details emerge over the coming months, investors and managers should develop their own mind maps as a first step in planning for Brexit. He outlined three possible options for U.K.-based asset managers marketing funds in the European Union, by way of example:

 Option 1: U.K.-based asset managers can stay as they are. Negotiations will allow U.K. managers to continue to distribute funds in other EU states, which is a regulated activity for asset managers.

 Option 2: U.K.-based managers will not be allowed to distribute their funds in the EU, because they lose so-called passporting rights to the single market. Therefore, they will have to place part of their core business somewhere else in the EU to allow them to market across the EU, but they will also have to keep part of the business in the U.K. as well, for serving that market.

 Option 3: A U.K.-based manager could decide to move all its business to an EU center, on the basis that it will then be able to distribute funds back into the U.K. A manager might find it easier to be based in Luxembourg and distribute into the U.K., rather than try to market funds from the U.K. into Europe.

The next decision is over when a manager wants to exercise any of these options, Lussan tells Investor Intelligence Network. If you are the last arrive at the table, then maybe you will find that Luxembourg or Paris, or another EU financial center, is full. But if you decide to move to, say, Paris too early, and everyone else goes to Frankfurt, then you will arguably be in the wrong place in terms of employment and business capacity. So managers have to start building a mind map about whats available and when they should move. I think it would be a waste of time and money to start making detailed plans right now, but you can definitely start making the mind map.

As time passes, we will learn more about what will happen. For example, we learned in early January, from an outgoing U.K. diplomats point of view [U.K. ambassador to the EU Sir Ivan Rogers], that the negotiations will most likely take longer than two years. We also heard this from a senior civil servant who had worked for former prime minister of the U.K. Tony Blair. So we already know a bit more now, compared to January 1, about the two-year window for Article 50 talks. And we heard in December from Michel Barnier, the European Commissions Brexit negotiator, that when Article 50 is invoked, the two-year window will not necessarily lead to a passport for financial services in the U.K.

On the other hand, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage are more positive on a U.K.-USA trade deal. That has nothing to do with U.K. financial services, at least not directly, as U.K.-based managers dont rely on the passport to market in the U.S. but have to be registered with the SEC, so that doesnt change much. But it is news nonetheless that could have an impact, so we need to bide our time.

The Investor Perspective

European investors also have to take a view on how Brexit could affect their use of U.K.-based asset managers, according to Lussan: I suspect that European investors are going to have a potential problem now investing in a U.K. fund. They will have to decide whether they want to be in a fund that is not regulated under EU rules. And if you listen to some of the U.K. politicians who want to deregulate in a post-Brexit Britain, that might make the U.K. less attractive for European pension funds. If the U.K. asset management industry does lose pension fund money from Germany and France, it would be a big problem.

On the other hand, investors from outside Europe might not care whether they are in a fund regulated under U.K. or EU rules, or might even see deregulation in the U.K. as a benefit. Or they may think that the U.K. will get a deal in two years time, so its fund managers abide by the same rules and regulations as before. But that would imply a Norway-type of deal, which allows the free movement of people, which is apparently a red line in negotiations for Theresa May. If that is the case, then nothing changes for you as an investor, but you might not want to depend on that.

Will Asset Managers Leave London?

Asked if he is seeing any business leaving London for the European Union, Lussan demurs, saying that the focus of his work is compliance, not setting up businesses. But what I have seen is that clients who were supposed to expand on their client framework here in the U.K. are not, and, for example, are expanding their French office, he says. Ive seen that on three or four occasions over the past five months; it is business that I know Im not going to get.

And Ive seen people consider whether to start new businesses in Luxembourg or Ireland, as opposed to the U.K. It can be a struggle, though: The reality is that their lives are here in the U.K., and employment is easier here. One option is to use platforms based in Luxembourg or Dublin, and certainly the popularity of platforms has grown. People have established themselves abroad on a platform while maintaining an office here.

Deal or No Deal on Passporting?

In Lussans view, many investors in the U.K. are being unduly optimistic about the prospects of asset managers keeping the same rights to operate in the EU after Brexit. He says that people believe that something will be agreed with regard to the passport issue. I do not, maybe because Im originally from France. There is no benefit for Germany and France to agree a deal. I dont see how there could be. Im cynical, but its still too early to call; I think we need to wait another eight months.

Assuming no passporting deal, where will asset managers go if they leave the U.K.? We did a survey on this, post-Brexit, in July, and it was really interesting because one of the places that came up, which we didnt expect, was Amsterdam. I think that the Netherlands has a big card to play here. Luxembourg was fourth, which was lower than we expected, but it can be hard to live there. Dublin and Paris are more attractive places to live if you want a cosmopolitan life. I dont see anyone moving to Italy, because there is a lack of stability. And Germany is also a strong contender. I think that the whole thing is up for grabs, and anyone who is well organized can get business. The small centers, such as Malta, could also do well. It is obviously very difficult to predict the future, but investors and managers need to have a Plan B. And I think you need to work on it slowly but surely.
A defecting North Korean diplomat has said that North Korea until recently earned tens of millions of dollars every year through insurance fraud.Thae Yong-ho, who defected from Pyongyanys embassy in London, said North Koreas insurance scams have been going on for 30 years, according to a UPI report. North Korea allegedly began scamming the London international insurance market when founder Kim Il Sung was still head of the country and his son Kim Jong Il was his second in command.In North Korea, there is only one state-owned insurance company, so that even if it fabricates an accident, there is no way to verify its claims, Thae told South Korean news outlet Yonhap. After purchasing international insurance or reinsurance for state infrastructure, documents are forged (for phony claims), which earns the state tens of millions of dollars a year.However, economic sanctions against North Korea implemented by Britain and the EU cut off that revenue stream in May, according to UPI.
The start of the year has been filled with new reports from major international firms about the risk landscape of 2017.While these reports offer an interesting insight into the world of risk and insurance, how can an Australian broker use them to their advantage?The latest report, the Global Risks Report 2017, released by the World Economic Forum in association with Marsh and Zurich , reveals the biggest risks facing the world in 2017.Environmental concerns dominated the list with extreme weather events and natural disasters both making the global top three in terms of likelihood and the top four in terms of impact, a ranking which should make Australian brokers sit up and take notice. George Tarabaras , executive director at Marsh, told Insurance Business that while some global risks may have a limited impact on the Australian market, Australian brokers can learn a lot from global research.Among the top global risks identified in the report, extreme weather, natural disasters and cyber security would be the most pertinent to the Australian environment, Tarabaras said.According to Tarabaras, the report offers brokers a chance to engage their clients on risk issues that could have an impact on their business strategy moving forward.A deeper understanding of the world of risk and insurance will help brokers move from a transactional relationship with their clients to a more advisory role.Over the past year, many industry leaders have spoken of the importance of this move and how an understanding of what the future might hold can help establish the important role that a broker plays in any business.When looking at natural disasters, an area that the insurance industry has had a lot of practice dealing with, Tarabaras noted that the report helps bring new detail to the fore which will benefit both brokers and clients.For clients with multiple asset locations and geographic spread, brokers should undertake risk modelling and analytics to help clients understand their risk exposure to extreme weather events and assist with the design of insurance program coverage, presentation of their risks to the market and placement, Tarabaras continued.The World Economic Forum may seem like a world away but the insights available can help a broker no matter their location.
A specialist insurer has teamed up with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to launch a new insurance scheme for all media workers.Insurance for Journalists will provide cover to members of IFJ affiliates who work on assignments in any region in the world including war zones and hostile areas.Every policy provides cover for accidental death, disablement, emergency accident and sickness evacuation and repatriation from any place to the policyholders country of residence.All policies are provided by IOMA Insurance and Lloyds of London.According to the IFJ, many insurance firms refuse to insure media professionals working in dangerous areas. Some companies do it at very heavy costs, leaving many reporters, freelancers and technical staff uninsured when covering news.While careful planning remains the most important part of newsgathering, no media worker should be excluded from access to a decent and global insurance covering all risks, said IFJ general secretary Anthony Bellanger.The IFJ has been working with Insurance for Journalists to offer an affordable comprehensive insurance scheme for all our affiliates members worldwide, he added.The IFJ recorded at least 2,297 media killings from 1990 to 2015. The countries with the highest death rates are Iraq, the Philippines and Mexico.
A specialist law firm has announced internal promotions in its insurance division across its Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide offices.Sparke Helmore Lawyers has promoted to the role of senior associate Jenna Forbes, Ellie Moran, Philip Ramsay, and Tyne van Dissel.It always gives me a great sense of pride to announce internal promotions, said Phillip Salem, Sparke Helmores national managing partner.The Melbourne-based Forbes is an insurance litigator who specialises in state compensation and workers compensation matters in Victoria and Tasmania. She works on a range of matters, including statutory and impairment benefits claims as well as common law claims and damages trials. She also has a wealth of experience representing self-insurers in the Magistrates County, and Supreme Courts of Victoria, as well as on complex exposures relating to employment, compensation, and common law damages.Moran, who works in the Adelaide office, advises and represents insurers and government departments on matters in the South Australian Employment Tribunal, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and the Federal Court of Australia. She actively works on dispute resolution and advocacy, and has experience working for a large firm that specialises in personal injury as well as an associate to a federal court justice and a federal circuit court judge.Ramsay, based in Sydney, specialises in CTP insurance and deals with disputes on indemnity, liability, false and misleading statements, issues surrounding contributory negligence, complex medical issues, and administrative appeals. He has extensive experience in the claims assessment and resolution service, as well as in the District Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal.Dissel is an insurance litigator working with the statutory state compensation team in Adelaide. She has over seven years experience in insurance litigation, specialising in workers compensation and premium reviews, among others. She has extensive experience in proceedings before the South Australian Employment Tribunal and Premium Review Panel, and was recently seconded to a state workers compensation statutory authority.Other appointments to senior associate were Joanna Lee and Stephanie Nevin in the corporate & commercial group; and Elle Tattersall, government.
Lloyds of London will make an announcement on its new European subsidiary by the middle of April at the latest, its Chairman John Nelson said on Tuesday, as it prepares for Britains exit from the European Union.

The worlds largest specialty insurance market, which started life in Edward Lloyds coffee house in 1688, has been one of the most vocal London financial institutions about the need to set up an EU subsidiary as Britain readies to leave the bloc.

We will be ready to make an announcement in relation to our move to Europe in Q1, certainly by Easter, Nelson told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Lloyds has said it is considering five locations for its new subsidiary, including Dublin. Nelson did not give any further detail on the insurance markets choice of location.

Industry observers say all insurers looking to set up EU subsidiaries have included Dublin among their options, attracted by its language, location and tax and regulatory systems.

Nelson said Lloyds would move some senior staff members over to the new EU entity once its established.

We want to have a real presence in Europe with underwriters having the ability to underwrite. It will be a mixture of people from various departments such as regulatory, compliance, risk management etc.

Around 15 percent of Lloyds business comes from Britain, 11 percent from the rest of Europe and 40 percent from the United States.

Im confident London will remain a very powerful financial center whatever happens with Brexit, Nelson said.

The danger is that a lot of business that might have stayed in Britain and within Europe may move to the U.S.

(Reporting by Pamela Barbaglia; writing by Carolyn Cohn; editing by Mark Potter)

Topics Excess Surplus Europe Lloyd's London
Chinas cabinet issued measures on Tuesday to further open the worlds second-largest economy to foreign investment, including easing limits on investment in banks and other financial institutions.

China will lower restrictions on foreign investment in banking, securities, investment management, futures, insurance, credit ratings and accounting sectors, the State Council said in a statement posted on its website.

No further details were provided, nor a timetable for their implementation.

The state planner had indicated at the end of last year that the government would take measures to relax foreign investment in certain sectors.

The measures come as President Xi Jinping seeks to project China as a world leader in fighting protectionism and defending globalization. China will keep its door wide open and not close it, Xi told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

China, however, has been the target of complaints from foreign business groups that have criticized its slow pace of market reforms and say its national security regulations and industrial policies are at odds with its reform goals.

The state council also said in a statement foreign-invested firms would be allowed to list on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges as well as a New Third Board, the countrys biggest over-the-counter (OTC) equity exchange.

It was the first time the government has made clear that foreign companies will be allowed to sell shares publicly on both the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges, apparently overturning a previous plan for an international board in Shanghai.

The Shanghai government in 2010 started lobbying the central government to establish an international board in the city, allowing listings by multinationals such as HSBC Holdings Plc and Siemens AG. But the plan has never materialized.

Foreign-invested firms will also be allowed to issue various debt instruments in China including corporate bonds, enterprise bonds and convertible bonds, the council said.

Fair and Competitive

The cabinet said the measures were intended to create a fair and competitive environment that puts domestic and foreign companies on an equal footing.

The devil is always in the details, said Arthur Kroeber, partner of Gavekal Dragonomics. How the rules get implemented will be very important.

Restrictions on foreign investment in telecommunications, the internet, culture, education and transport sectors would be opened in an orderly way, the State Council said.

The measures will also cancel restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacture of rail equipment, motorbikes, fuel ethanol, and oils and fats processing, while easing restrictions on unconventional gas, including oil shale, oil sands and shale gas, and mineral resources.

Foreign investment in oil and natural gas projects would shift from an approval-based system to a registration system, the councils notice said.

(Reporting by Michael Martina and Matthew Miller in Beijing, the Beijing Monitoring Desk and Samuel Shen in Shanghai; additional writing by Ryan Woo; editing by Jacqueline Wong, Robert Birsel)

Topics China
The hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was called off Tuesday after almost three years of fruitless toil.

The Boeing Co. 777 aircraft disappeared on March 8, 2014, on its way to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board. According to satellite data, the jet headed south over the Indian Ocean for about six hours before plummeting into the water at up to 25,000 feet a minute.

The last vessel left the 120,000 square-kilometer (46,000 square miles) area in the southern Indian Ocean without finding the jet, transport ministers from Malaysia, Australia and China said in a joint statement. Australian investigators put the cost of the operation at A$180 million ($135 million). The scouring for the jet is the longest search for a missing plane in modern aviation history.

Even repeated analysis of the data, aimed at zeroing in on the most likely crash zone, failed to turn up any clues.

Whilst combined scientific studies have continued to refine areas of probability, to date no new information has been discovered to determine the specific location of the aircraft, the ministers said. We remain hopeful that new information will come to light and that at some point in the future, the aircraft will be located.

The first debris from MH370 was found on Reunion Island in July 2015. Four other pieces that turned up on Africas eastern seaboard and in Mauritius almost certainly belong to the doomed jet, according to investigators.

Search teams had battled ferocious winter weather and waves more than five stories high as they dragged sonar devices across the seabed. The ocean floor itself, up to 6 kilometers (4 miles) below, was peppered with trenches and submerged peaks.

The search was an unprecedented challenge, the ministers said.

Air-traffic controllers lost contact with MH370 less than an hour after takeoff as it approached Vietnam. Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak has said the plane was deliberately steered off course.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Aviation
Aon Global Risk Consulting, in collaboration with TNO, a research agency, has launched the Aon Loss Estimating Risk Tool (ALERT), a new modelling tool for oil, gas and petrochemical clients.

The new tool is able to model the potential financial impact from a wide range of fire and explosion scenarios in the hydrocarbon processing industry.

Developed in conjunction with several leading insurers, ALERT is calibrated to model a full range of known historical losses from across the industry and includes discharge and dispersion models, which are used to evaluate cloud dimensions for vapour cloud explosion events.

Robert Robinson, managing director, Energy Risk Engineering said ALERT will support clients and insurers in calculating estimated maximum losses from property damage and in assessing third party liability exposures.

Aons Energy Risk Engineering professionals serve clients across the globe. ALERT will be available to all all of Aons Energy Risk Engineering professionals and will be managed globally from London with support from Aon centers of excellence in Houston, Calgary, Dubai and Singapore.

TNO is a Dutch research agency founded in 1932.

Topics Profit Loss Energy Oil Gas Aon
Photo: VNA



The bust, 1.35 metres in height and 500kg in weight, was made of white marble exploited in Vietnams Nghe An province, the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh, who founded the Indochinese Communist Party and laid the foundation for the ongoing special relationship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Nam Moc, Director of Fine Arts and Technology Development Co. Ltd, reviewed the life of President and Prince Souphanouvong, as well as his contributions to Laos and the Vietnam  Laos special relations.

He also released that the firm had earlier made a statue of President Souphanouvong placed at Luang Prabang University, and created another statue depicting him commanding the Vietnam-Laos joint military alliance in a fight against France on March 21st, 1946 in Thakhek town of Khammouane province, on the occasion of the 100th birthday.

Admiring the example and morality of President Souphanouvong, the company presented the bust as a gift to Laos on the occasion of 55 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries (September 5th, 1962) and 40 years since the signing of the bilateral treaty of friendship and cooperation (July 18th, 1977).

Mr. Souvandy Sisavath, Deputy Office Manager of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party Central Committee, expressed his sentiment before the company, and added that the statue presentation also showed the heart of the people of Vietnam for late President Souphanouvong.

The bust will be placed at the Monument to President Souphanouvong in Phonsaath village of Xaythany district, Vientiane capital for officials, Party members and Lao people to burn incense and commemorate the late President./.
New York-based insurance broker and consultant, NFP, has acquired City Securities Insurance LLC in Indianapolis.

The transaction closed on Dec. 30, 2016.

City Securities Insurance is a full service property/casualty and benefits insurance consultant with a special focus on the commercial P/C needs of its clients. The firm also offers additional expertise in personal lines P/C insurance.

City Securities President John Dillon will join NFP as a managing director and report to Terry Scali, chief executive officer of NFPs P/&C division.

Source: NFP Corp.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Property Casualty Indiana
Attendees at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month could play around with a dizzying array of unmanned aerial vehicles. Drones that take selfies. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to see at night. Drones that help fishermen chase their prey.

No use is too niche as drone-makers chase a market thats forecast to grow an average 32 percent annually over the next decade to reach $30 billion, according to ABI Research. But away from the showroom floor, a chill has settled on a once-hyped market.

Frances Parrot SA, the second-largest maker of non-military drones, is laying off a third of its staff because margins on its consumer drones were insufficient to deliver profitable growth. Thats a remarkable statement from the company that pioneered cheap consumer drones in 2009 and now focuses on those priced between $100 and $500. You may have seen them on shelves of Apple Inc. stores in the U.S. and Europe. Almost 60 percent of Parrots revenue is from drones.

There are two reasons for Parrots woes. First, its withering under the competitive onslaught from Chinas SZ DJI Technology Co., the undisputed king of non-military drones. DJI makes higher-end models pitched at hobbyists and businesses, which use them for everything from crop inspection to construction. The venture-backed company controls the entire process from design to manufacturing, making it more efficient than outsourcing rivals, and with better products. Lately DJI has gotten more aggressive on price, competitors say.

Away from the showroom floor, a chill has settled on a once-hyped market.

Dozens of cookie-cutter drone-makers have also popped up in Asia, further driving prices down. Even camera-makers such as U.S.-based GoPro Inc. tried their hand only to find the business harder than it looked. GoPros Karma drone suffered power outages that made some fall out of the sky.

The sectors following a familiar script for hardware. Commoditization comes fast, even when a segment is growing rapidly. Scale becomes more important than brand. Profit margins can be thin: just ask makers of flat-screen TVs or smartphone makers other than Apple and Samsung.

The shake-out is just coming quicker than investors expected. As recently as 2015, venture capitalists were throwing money at startups. Now layoffs are more common than big fund-raising rounds.

Smaller Chinese player Zerotech fired a quarter of its workers in December. Third-placed 3D Robotics Inc. laid people off and decided to stop making drones altogether last year, citing DJI price cuts of 70 percent. Its now focusing on making software to power drones and offering services to companies.

This rough patch might not be such a bad thing. Drones have the potential to improve many industries when theyre deployed to the real world. But if theyre to be more than a fad, we dont need dozens of makers of whizzy drones that delight consumer geeks, but dont really improve the usefulness and safety of the tech.

VCs are switching their affections to companies more attuned to the enterprise market, including those such as Airwave of the U.S. which offer services. That seems a rational way of trying to avoid a profit-less, as well as a pilot-less, future.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Trends
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy is making an offer to Democrats he hopes they wont refuse: If their states like Obamacare, they can keep it.

A doctor who worked for decades in charity hospitals and clinics before joining Congress, Cassidy plans to introduce soon an updated version of his healthcare plan aimed at giving states flexibility to keep Obamacare, nix it entirely or transition to a new system of health savings accounts and automatic health plan enrollment.

You can go to the reddest state and say we have the option to root and branch it, and you can go to the bluest state and say we have the option to keep what we like, the Louisiana Republican said. Under his plan, Republicans say, You have the option to keep your plan, and we mean it, he added.

Republicans will need Democratic support to pass a full replacement for Obamacare, and Cassidys approach may be the most likely to appeal to Democrats of the ones offered by the GOP so far.

We should have a plan that isnt Republican, that isnt Democrat, he said. Our plan gives each state the authority to run the health plan in their state as is suitable to their peculiar situation, and thats hard to argue with unless you want more power in Washington, D.C.

A reasonable person can say, I live in California, I love Obamacare, this plan allows me to keep it. And I live in Arizona, my premiums just went up 100 percent and I have a chance to do something different.

Thats a feature that other proposed replacement plans floating around  like that of Representative Tom Price of Georgia, nominated to be secretary of Health and Human Services  dont have.

Defining Repeal

Notably, Cassidy has a narrow view of what would count as repeal of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. He wouldnt touch the changes it made to Medicare, nor would he eliminate the Medicaid expansion or the laws taxes, at least not right away. But the federal mandates, which Cassidy said are what his constituents popularly think of as Obamacare, would go away.

They are concerned about the penalties, the mandates, the requirement to buy things they dont need and therefore the escalating costs. If we address that, weve repealed Obamacare, Cassidy said in an interview. They just hate the federal government telling them how to live their lives.

There are roadblocks ahead, especially because he wants his fellow Republicans to delay repealing the laws assorted tax hikes until they can be replaced as part of a broader tax overhaul later this year.

Cassidy had the backing of Republican leaders Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn for an earlier bill in 2015, when they thought the Supreme Court was set to invalidate subsidies in many states in the King v. Burwell case; the court upheld those subsidies. Now, leaders havent indicated which plan they will back, and Cassidy is still revising his bill.

Cassidy said he doesnt see how Republicans can repeal all of the taxes now and have a robust alternative later that could insure more people than the Affordable Care Act without adding to the deficit  because Republicans wouldnt vote to raise taxes later.

Terrible problem! You cant do it! he said.

CBO Trouble

The Congressional Budget Office, meanwhile, weighed in Tuesday with an ugly new assessment of last years GOP repeal bill, which Obama vetoed. The CBO estimated 18 million people would have lost coverage in the first year of implementation and premiums would have risen an extra 20 to 25 percent, provided that consumer protections like a ban on refusing coverage to people with pre-existing conditions stayed on the books.

After a decade, the CBO predicted virtually the entire non-group market would have failed, with insurers abandoning it, premiums doubling and 32 million more people without coverage than if Obamacare had continued.

Republicans were quick to pronounce the score meaningless because they will have a replacement, but the stark numbers underscore that they have yet to agree on one.

Cassidy has worked on his bill with fellow Republicans, including Senator Susan Collins of Maine and House Rules Chairman Pete Sessions of Texas, among others.

He said he doesnt expect Democratic support up front  he thinks the first bill aimed at setting an expiration date for Obamacare will be too partisan for Democrats to consider negotiating. In addition, Democrats still hope the repeal effort will falter.

Have Our Act Together

We have to show that we have our act together before theyre going to risk it, I get that, Cassidy said. He has spoken to several Democrats, and hopes theyll consider working with the GOP on a follow-on replace bill rather than get left out of the process entirely.

A key feature of Cassidys plan is a provision allowing states to automatically enroll eligible people in health plans unless they opt out. Cassidy said this could get more people insured than Obamacares approach of taxing people who fail to get insurance, citing studies showing people are far more likely to participate in benefits like 401(k) retirement savings plans under such an opt-out model.

His plan aims to solve the dilemma Republicans face over nixing the Medicaid expansion. The party faces a split between senators from states that are getting billions of federal dollars under the expansion and senators whose states rejected it. Republicans cant do anything without the votes of both groups of senators, given their slim 52-48 majority.

Cassidy would let the money keep flowing, but with far fewer strings attached. States that didnt expand Medicaid would get fresh funding based on how many people they insured. The new spending in those red states wouldnt count as increasing the deficit because the CBO assumes those states will eventually expand Medicaid and take the money, Cassidy said.

He said he envisions a multi-year transition to his plan  a new law this year, a year for states to decide which option to choose, and implementation in 2019.

Cassidy, like Price, also includes in his plan refundable tax credits that he envisions going into health savings accounts.

Prices plan could have a leg up initially given his key role in the administration. But Democrats, unions and their allies are likely to to attack it heartily, including his intention to limit the tax deductibility of employer-provided health insurance, where most Americans get their coverage. To help pay for a new system of tax credits, he would limit employer-provided tax-deductible health care to $8,000 a person and $20,000 for a family plan.

Public Outcry

Already there are signs of a public outcry from constituents worried they will lose their insurance, and Cassidy said people should weigh in with Congress if they want to keep parts of Obamacare they like.

If they want to continue to have pre-existing conditions covered, they need to let their representative know, he said.

If they want to continue to have some help to purchase coverage for those who are lower income or those who are otherwise struggling, they need to let us know, he added. I think they do, when I speak to them, but Id like to think that were truly functioning as representatives, not as like Obamacare turned out to be: Whether you like it or not, suck it up, youre getting it.'

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Politics
The U.S. Supreme Court last Friday agreed to resolve a legal dispute over whether certain securities class action lawsuits can be barred because they were filed too late.

The justices agreed to hear an appeal filed by the California Public Employees Retirement System seeking to revive a lawsuit against various financial institutions over their alleged role in the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

The retirement system, known as Calpers, was part of extensive litigation against Lehman and its former directors following the banks 2008 collapse, which contributed to that years global financial crisis.

Investors said underwriters helped perpetuate misstatements about Lehmans finances leading up to its historic downfall. Calpers opted out of a $417 million settlement reached in 2011 between investors and multiple defendants, including Bank of America Corp. and Morgan Stanley, preferring to pursue its own case separately.

In a July 2016 ruling, the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district judges decision to dismiss the lawsuit.

The legal fight is over whether Calpers waited too long after the banks collapse to sue or whether the three-year window for suing was put on hold because of the other related lawsuits that had been filed prior to the settlement.

Lower courts are split on the question of whether the window for filing certain securities claims is suspended if investors can show they would have been parties in a previously filed class action lawsuit had it not been dismissed

The legal issue was presented to the court in a 2014 case it agreed to hear concerning claims against underwriters of securities issued by a unit of the now-defunct IndyMac Bancorp Inc. under the Securities Act. The court never decided the case because the parties settled, meaning it was dismissed before a ruling was issued.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)

Related:

Topics Lawsuits
Todays program administrators continue to face plenty of challenges, including increased competition, high merger and acquisition activity, market pressures for more creative options, and other issues. Those challenges are leading to opportunities as the industry is forced to create and innovate, some experts say.

The number one challenge facing program experts is the amount of capacity in the market today, according to Christopher L. Pesce, president, Maritime Program Group. It all boils down to the fact that theres so much capital in the marketplace and thats not changing anytime soon.

That trend is placing a burden on program administrators to find creative ways to offer their products, to try and find a competitive edge, Pesce said.

Program administrators must find a way to deliver more value than just the product, he said. Were up against a commoditization of our products that are being offered by everyone under the sun.

Chris McGovern, senior vice president at All Risks Ltd., says the soft market pricing along with some carrier pullback has created a few disruptions as well.

There are some disruptions going on with carriers pulling out of programs for various reasons, McGovern said. Those carriers may have chosen the wrong classes of business or the wrong program administrator that didnt do the right thing for them and the losses show it.

Its also difficult to start-up new programs today or move some books of business, he added. Most of the books of business that are on the street these days are there because they have loss issues or profitability issues for the carrier.

That same disruption is creating opportunity for the more established program administrators, McGovern said. Those established firms that can offer all aspects from the front-end marketing to the trapping of data, to the underwriting teams, to the back-end policy issuance that act as a virtual insurance company. Youre seeing the large (firms) get larger and the small (firms) get swallowed up.

Despite the challenges, overall the program space continues to be a bright light in the property/casualty insurance market, and carriers have taken note, according to Bob Newmarker, head of Sales for Zurich Programs.

Program business continues to grow and outpace the rest of the industry, which I think were going to continue to see going forward, he said.

Carriers have their eye on program administrators for a couple of reasons, he added. One, insurance companies are recognizing that the expertise thats in the program world is top notch.

And theres an opportunity to develop deep relationships with those program administrators who have that expertise, he added. That expertise  whether its an industry segment, a line of business or their distribution model  gives carriers different ways to capitalize in program business.

That really bodes well for Zurich, he said. Its about measured growth, he added, and finding the right opportunities.

Newmarker also sees opportunity for program growth in the disruption in the marketplace.

Youve seen a lot of acquisitions of program administrators. Weve also seen a lot of acquisitions of carriers, as well, he said. That certainly has given us some opportunity to capitalize on opportunities that are presented to us.

The key to finding success in todays program market is knowing the market and knowing it better than anyone else, said Ron Boudreaux, executive vice president in charge of national accounts with Breckenridge Insurance Services.

Know the market niche, he stressed. Do you have a competitive advantage? Do you have a better program than anybody else does? Are you marketing it appropriately? Ive seen more programs fail because they dont put the horses in. They dont put the time in to figure out how theyre going to market it.

Competition is fierce, so differentiating expertise from everything else available in the marketplace is critical. The more you know, the better you can present yourself to the marketplace, and the better your chances of getting somebody to quote it competitively, he said.

Being nimble is critical, too. You need to be nimble, he said. Theres a lot of large program administrators out there. Sometimes theyre so big they cant find their own way. You need to be nimble.

Having the right terms and conditions, and trying to find something new in an industry thats been doing the same thing forever, is not an easy task, Boudreaux added.

I keep using that phrase, think outside the box, but thats the only way youre going to be successful, he said. Understand the segment youre trying to attack and approach, and make sure you can put the right terms and conditions together to be competitive, to have an advantage over what everybody else is doing.

Program business is the way to go, he added, Thats where this industrys headed.

Topics Carriers
Global insurance broker Willis Towers Watson has appointed Mike Liss as head of its Corporate Risk and Broking (CRB) business in North America, effective immediately.

Liss will be responsible for business growth and strategy, as well as for consolidating Willis Towers Watsons position in the U.S. mid-market while expanding its offering to multinationals.

He will report to Joe Gunn, head of North America and Todd Jones, global head of CRB.

Liss has 20 years experience as a broker. He joined Willis Towers Watson in May 2006 and most recently served as the companys Midwest leader. He will retain these responsibilities until a successor is named.

Before joining Willis Towers Watson, Liss spent two years with Wachovia, leading its Atlanta operations, and nearly nine years as a producer and brokerage leader with J&H Marsh. Prior to this, Liss spent 10 years at Kemper, AIG and Hartford in a variety of large account casualty underwriting and leadership roles.

Source: Willis Towers Watson

Topics Agencies Willis Towers Watson
An Oklahoma truck bed manufacturer was cited by federal safety officials for putting workers at risk and fined more than $500,000 after investigators identified multiple safety and health violations at the companys workplace.

A complaint of unsafe working conditions led U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors to investigate the safety and health of employees at BigTex Trailer Manufacturing Inc., which does business as CM Truck Beds. Investigators found 20 serious violations, one willful and three repeated violations  prompting the agency to propose $535,411 in fines.

In the investigation, begun on July 13, 2016, federal safety and health inspectors found workers who performed spray painting and powder coating did not receive required medical evaluation and respirator fit tests. The agency also cited CM Truck Beds for repeated violations of failing to proof test chain slings and provide welding protection.

OSHA issued citations for a willful violation after inspectors found workers operated hydraulic press brakes without machine guards in place. In addition, they identified 20 serious violations that included failing to:

Ensure safe use of the spray booth and prevent overexposure.

Safely cover floor holes, ensure exits are accessible and labeled properly.

Properly store compressed gas tanks.

Properly label chemicals.

Have a hazardous energy control program in place, and to train workers in its procedures.

Ensure safe use of powered industrial trucks.

Inspect and guard chain slings and sprockets as required.

Ensure safety guards were in place on a portable grinder.

Headquartered in Madill, Big Texs subsidiaries  CM Trailers and CM Truck Beds  employ about 500 workers in Oklahoma, with 120 of its employees at its newly constructed Kingston facility.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA

Topics Workers' Compensation Oklahoma
A former Norman, Okla., attorney has been ordered to pay more than $525,000 in restitution to former clients and the federal government for fraud.

The Norman Transcript reports Dane Thomas Wilson pleaded guilty in February 2016 to using wire fraud in order to embezzle his clients insurance payments. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison in December.

Prosecutors say Wilson would deposit money he received in a client trust account and then write checks to himself. He was also accused of making cash withdrawals or transferring money in amounts that exceeded the fees he was supposed to receive as his clients attorney.

Wilson said some clients received less than or none of the money they were owed.

Nearly $330,000 of the restitution amount will go to the Oklahoma Bar Association, which used its Client Security Fund to pay that amount to Wilsons victims for the past five years.

About $140,000 of the restitution will go to 19 former clients, and the rest will go to the IRS.

Ruby Frame of Norman was awarded more than $80,000 after Wilson reportedly defrauded her of $125,000 she was supposed to receive following a car crash.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A bill making its way through the Mississippi State Legislature that could change the way fire districts in the state are drawn is being praised by Mississippis insurance chief.

House Bill 469 would amend Section 19-5-167 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 and grant authorization to county board of supervisors to dissolve, redefine or reconfigure fire protection districts. The board would be tasked with ensuring the most appropriate and efficient fire protection for the countys citizens, according to the bills text.

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney said the enactment of the legislation would be beneficial to state homeowners because it would allow supervisors to reconfigure, change or move district lines to ensure that homes are located where they can take full advantage of existing fire protection, which can lead to lower insurance rates.

Giving the county board of supervisors this authority helps provide the most appropriate and efficient fire protection coverage for the citizens of their counties, Chaney said in a statement.

The bill was authored by Rep. Brad Touchstone, District 101, Lamar County.

Touchstone told local news station WDAM that giving the county supervisors the ability to adjust fire district lines so homeowners can have their insurance rated based on the nearest fire station.

We have a lot of people in this state who live within five miles of a fire station, but that station happens to be in a separate fire protection district, Touchstone told the news station. So rather than building fire stations to match current boundaries, we are going to be able to move the boundaries to best situate the fire stations.

The Mississippi House of Representatives passed the bill on Jan. 11 and it was sent to the Senate on Jan. 13 where it awaits a vote by state senators.

I commend the House for making House Bill 469 one of the first general bills passed this session, and for recognizing how important it is to quickly address issues that will help reduce homeowner insurance premium rates, Chaney said.

If passed by both houses the change would take effect on July 1, 2017.

Topics Mississippi
Baldwin Risk Partners (BRP), a Tampa-based insurance distribution and consulting holding company, has appointed Joe Finney to President, Mainstreet Insurance Group (MIG).

MIG is a division of BRP focused on providing insurance brokerage coverages and products to mainstreet Americans and businesses. Operating companies in the MIG group includes The Villages Insurance Partners and Ryan Insurance.

In his role as president, Finney is responsible for establishing the organizations strategic and operational performance, developing and facilitating the execution of business integration plans and sharing of operational best practices for newly acquired operations, and identifying acquisition and merger opportunities.

Finney joins BRP with over 30 years of experience. He previously served as an operating partner with Concentric Equity Partners where he was also the chief executive officer for Environment Pest Services, LLC. There he successfully grew the business ten-fold through organic sales and acquisitions. He has also served as the CEO and president of Tire Centers Divisions for Michelin North America, and president of Sears Automotive Group.

In 2016, BRP partnered with Florida Medicare Options and Medicare Market Advisors. So far in 2017, BRP has partnered with Ryan Insurance & Financial Services.

Trevor Baldwin, BRP president, said Finney will help to further develop the Mainstreet Insurance Group division.

BRP is an insurance distribution holding company. Its core focus is on management of resources and capital to fuel organic and acquisitive growth in the insurance industry. BRP member companies include Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners, The Villages Insurance Partners, Medicare Insurance Partners, American Risk Partners, and Florida Medicare Options.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions
The event was held by the Central Committee of Vietnamese Students Association to promote friendship of Vietnamese Students Association, Vietnamese students and foreign students in Vietnam; and help foreign students understand more about the fine Vietnamese traditional culture on the occasion of Tet.

Students participated in five-fruit tray display (Photo by Minh Chau)

It drew the participation of 252 representatives, foreign students from 17 countries and territories who are studying in Vietnam and 178 Vietnamese students in universities in Hanoi. Vietnamese students in the UK, France, Germany, Hungary, RoK and China returning to Vietnam to welcome Tet also took part in the event.

At the event, the students jointly participated in cultural activities to welcome the Lunar New Year, such as decorating a Mam Ngu Qua (five-fruit tray), wrapping 'Banh chung' (Vietnamese Rice Cakes for the Lunar New Year), making greeting cards for Tet under the message I love Vietnam, folk games, and a music gala event.

Vice President of Vietnamese Students Association Doan Hong Ha said that the event promoted exchange between Vietnamese youth and foreign students in Vietnam; created conditions for Vietnamese students to participate in internal exchange activities, contributing to promoting the Vietnamese land and people to friends in the region and in the world./.
Neighbors living near Duke Energys unlined coal ash pits around North Carolina are being offered payment of future water bills plus a $5,000 goodwill payment to households concerned their water wells could be polluted with heavy metals.

The countrys largest electric company says its one-time payment offer comes after property owners complained about the prospects of depressed property values, new water bills and new disruptions.

Duke Energy says besides the $5,000 payments will make up for lost property values by coal-ash neighbors who sell their home before October 2019 and get less than fair market value. The Charlotte-based company says it also will make one-time payments to neighbors to cover about 25 years of bills if they connect to public water lines.

The total amount of the water bill payment will be determined according to local rates. Some lump-sum payments for water bills may be as high as $22,000, the company said. Coal ash neighbors who opt for a filtration system instead of hooking onto a water line would not be paid for future water bills.

Coal ash neighbors will have to agree to some conditions before receiving a payment, including releasing Duke Energy of any groundwater contamination liability, company spokeswoman Erin Culbert told The Salisbury Post.

State law directs Duke Energy to provide alternate water supplies to people who live within a half-mile of coal ash ponds clustered at 13 power plants in the state. The company denies that its ash  the byproduct of dozens of years of burning coal to generate electricity  is the source of contaminants found in hundreds of wells.

Duke Energys shareholders would cover the $22 million the goodwill packages would be estimated to cost, company spokeswoman Paige Sheehan told The Charlotte Observer. Duke Energy plans to ask the state Utilities Commission to let it charge customers for the $31 million cost of extending water lines and installing filtration systems.

We believe that Dukes announcement is too little, too late, said Mona Lisa Wallace, a Salisbury lawyer representing some coal-ash neighbors around the state. Dukes monetary offer does not begin to compensate the worst-affected homeowners. Many individuals have had their property value severely damaged and they are entitled to greater compensation that what Duke is now promising.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics North Carolina
(Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. and its competitors should eschew artificial intelligence systems that replace people instead of maximizing their time, Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said in an interview Monday.

"The fundamental need of every person is to be able to use their time more effectively, not to say, let us replace you," Nadella said in an interview at the DLD conference in Munich. "This year and the next will be the key to democratizing AI. The most exciting thing to me is not just our own promise of AI as exhibited by these products, but to take that capability and put it in the hands of every developer and every organization."

Nadella is pushing Microsoft into consumer and industrial applications of software that can make inferences about its environment. He cautioned his own company and competitors about "parlor tricks" that show AIs power without preserving workers dignity.

The 49-year-old whos entering his fourth year as Microsofts CEO after succeeding Steve Ballmer in 2014, has presided over a 73 percent run-up in Microsofts shares and Azure cloud-computing revenue thats been doubling year over year. Hes compelled Microsofts product groups to cooperate to ship products faster and has greatly expanded Microsoft software available on platforms other than Windows, including those from Apple Inc. and Google. Microsoft last month closed its $26 billion acquisition of LinkedIn Corp.

"Theres a thin line between hubris and confidence," Nadella said. "Always there is risk of hubris coming back, missing trends. The only long-term indicator of success is, how good is your internal culture?"

"What Ive learned if anything in three years as CEO is, its not about celebrating one product," he said. "That, to me, is the sign of a company thats built to last. In tech its even more harsh."

Tablets, Watches

Microsoft suffered for a decade from a tendency to make stabs at technology it failed to propagate widely that ended up benefiting other companies -- mainly Apple. It developed tablet PCs, pocket computers and smartwatches in the early 2000s, and was selling software for cars in the 1990s.

"Because of Microsofts technical orientation, engineers have always wanted to stuff more and more features and tricks into the products," said Michael Cusumano, a professor of management at MIT Sloan School of Management whos written three books about Microsoft and its leaders. "The products ended up becoming huge. Thats what slowed them down."

On the AI frontier, Japan Airlines Co. is using Microsoft-developed holographic capabilities to simulate aircraft engines for training of repair technicians and to avoid costs of sending full repair crews to each broken plane. McDonalds Corp. used Microsoft technology to develop an automated order-taking system that compensates for noise encountered during orders at a drive-through. Microsoft has also designed software that can protect staff who work in environments surrounded by robots.

Microsoft last Friday said it acquired Maluuba, a Montreal-based AI startup specializing in analyzing written content, for example sifting through businesses documents to find experts in given fields.

Yet Amazon.com Inc.s Web Services division has been rapidly releasing AI services for businesses including the ability for developers to build spoken conversation support and speech translation. Alphabet Inc.s Google last year rebuilt its Translate service using neural networks to improve accuracy and produce language that sounds more like what a native speaker would say, and has made strides in image recognition, music and art.

"Theyre all great advances," said Nadella, whos reorganized the companys research arm around AI and shipped products including Azure cloud-computing services and tools for developers to build applications for artificial intelligence applications.

"We should be competitive there and we should be pushing there and we will be doing that," he said. "But whats Microsofts unique contribution beyond doing that is democratizing the access to the same tools that we use for ourselves so that every developer can use them to create their own intelligence," he said.

Cloud Concerns

As Nadella and other tech leaders head to the Davos elite gathering in Switzerland this week, cloud-computings relationship with data privacy in Europe is also top of mind for Microsoft and its competitors. European businesses and governments could be reluctant to store data in clouds operated by American tech companies if the U.S. government can order access to it, and Microsoft has sued the U.S. Department of Justice in two cases over the issue.Nadella said having data centers in Germany operated by Deutsche Telekom AG has "helped build trust with the German customers." The incoming Trump administration, European Union and China together need to weigh issues including the balance between security and data privacy, the CEO said.

"We have business in each one of these countries," Nadella said. "These countries are going to have to work together and there are rightful concerns each one of these constituents has."
Un ottobre da sogno per Antonio Conte: lex ct della Nazionale italiana, attualmente alla guida del Chelsea, nelle ultime quattro gare di Premier League ha collezionato solo successi, conditi da 11 reti segnate e addirittura nessuna incassata. Numeri da record che non sono certo passati inosservati alla Federazione inglese, la quale ha conferito al tecnico leccese lambito premio di Manager del mese.

Unavventura oltremanica iniziata in sordina, quella di Conte, pur a fronte di tre vittorie nelle prime tre gare di campionato. A far vacillare, anche se solo per un momento, le certezze del patron del club londinese, Roman Abramovich, i risultati conseguiti tra la 4a e la 6a giornata, coincisi con un pareggio sul campo dello Swansea City e, soprattutto, con le due pesanti sconfitte subite dal Liverpool, sul terreno casalingo di Stamford Bridge, e dallArsenal. In particolare, la debacle interna coi Reds, aveva irritato non poco il numero uno russo, poiche occorsa proprio nel giorno della sua 250esima partita da presidente della societa.

Come detto, solo un momento. Dopo lincontro dellEmirates, il tecnico salentino cambia modulo, adottando un piu equilibrato 3-4-3 e inserendo elementi di corsa come lo spagnolo Pedro. Una svolta totale perche, di li in poi, il Chelsea inanellera solo e soltanto vittorie: 2 gol allHull City e al Southampton in trasferta, 3 ai campioni dInghilterra del Leicester e 4 allo United in casa, con un meraviglioso numero zero nella casella delle reti subite. Un fantastico poker, ottenuto tra l1 e il 29 ottobre. Un cambio di marcia sbalorditivo, confermato dal 5 a 0 rifilato ai toffees dellEverton nel primo match di novembre, e una scalata che, man mano, ha portato i blues al secondo posto in classifica, a soli 2 punti dal Liverpool capolista.

E allora, non poteva mancare il riconoscimento di migliore allenatore del mese, ottenuto surclassando tecnici del calibro di Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) e Mark Hughes (Southampton). Tanta, ovviamente, la soddisfazione: E un grande onore e voglio condividerlo con i giocatori e con la societa  ha dichiarato Conte sul sito ufficiale della Premier League -. E la prima volta che lavoro in un altro Paese, con una cultura diversa, e portare la propria filosofia non e facile, ma ora sono contento di questa scelta.

A completare la festa, la premiazione del fantasista belga, Eden Hazard, come miglior giocatore di ottobre. Due risultati importanti per il club, ottimo incentivo per la rincorsa al trono dei campioni, occupato dal Leicester di Ranieri. Il prossimo appuntamento per l11 di Conte sara al Riverside Stadium, tana del Middlesborough neopromosso. Il tempo di festeggiare e gia finito.
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Robinhood Markets Inc. is a financial technology (fintech) company that operates an online discount brokerage with commission-free trading. It provides a web- and mobile-based financial services platform that investors can use to buy and sell stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, and American depositary receipts (ADRs). Its users also can invest in certain cryptocurrencies.

How does Robinhood make money? Robinhood makes money in a number of ways, notably through a system known as payment for order flow. That is, Robinhood routes its users' orders through a market maker who actually makes the trades and compensates Robinhood for the business at a rate of a fraction of a cent per share.

Robinhood also makes money by investing users' cash deposits at a higher interest rate.

In addition, the company earns money from its premium Robinhood Gold services, fees related to its debit card, and other smaller revenue streams.

Key Takeaways Robinhood is an online discount brokerage that offers a commission-free investing and trading platform.

The company gets the vast majority of revenue from transaction-based revenues, including payments for order flow.

Robinhoods net funded accounts increased by 81% in 2021, with about 10 million accounts added over the course of the year, but fell during the year's fourth quarter.

After more than doubling its workforce during 2021 to 3,800 by the end of the year, Robinhood said in April 2022 it would lay off about 9% of its full-time workers.

Robinhoods Financials

In its most recent quarterly report for the fourth quarter (Q4) of fiscal year (FY) 2021, ended Dec. 31, 2021, Robinhood posted a net loss of $423.3 million compared with net income of $13 million for the prior-year quarter, as well as 14.2% year-over-year (YOY) growth in net revenue. Net loss was impacted by share-based compensation expenses totaling $318 million for the quarter.

Robinhoods net cumulative funded accounts, a key metric that gauges the number of accounts into which users made an initial deposit or money transfer during a specified period, rose by more than 81% YOY for Q4 FY 2021 to 22.7 million. The companys monthly active user base grew by about 48% YOY but declined by roughly 8% on a sequential basis for Q4 FY 2021.

The company also provided results for FY 2021, which ended Dec. 31, 2021. Robinhood posted a net loss of $3.7 billion for the year, compared with net income of $7.4 million for FY 2020. Share-based compensation expenses were nearly $1.6 billion for FY 2021, significantly higher than $24 million in these expenses for FY 2020. Annual revenue rose 89.3% from the previous year to $1.8 billion.

Robinhood's IPO

After announcing a confidential initial public offering (IPO) filing on March 23, 2021, Robinhood submitted an S-1 registration to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 1, 2021.

On July 19, 2021, it amended its S-1 to announce that it would be selling 52.4 million shares with its founders and chief financial officer (CFO) selling another 2.6 million for a total of 55 million. Robinhood went public at $38 a share, giving it a valuation of $32 billion.

The shares are listed under the ticker HOOD on the Nasdaq.

Robinhood's Competitors

Robinhood faces significant competition from other discount brokerages, new and established fintech companies, banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, asset management firms, and technology platforms.

Some of its major competitors include Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW), Morgan Stanleys (MS) E*TRADE Financial Holdings LLC, Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN), Square Inc. (SQ), and River Financial Corp. (RVRF).



Robinhoods Business Segments

Robinhood operates and reports its financial results as one business segment. However, it does provide a breakdown of revenue into the following categories: transaction-based revenues; net interest revenues; and other revenues. We take a closer look at these revenue categories below.

Transaction-Based Revenues

Robinhood generates transaction-based revenues by routing its users orders for options, equities, and cryptocurrencies to market makers, which is a process known as payment for order flow (PFOF). Brokerage firms that use PFOF are paid to direct customers' orders to a particular market maker. The payment is usually only fractions of a penny per share but can be a significant source of revenue for companies dealing with a large number of orders. PFOF is a major reason why Robinhood is able to offer zero-commission trading. Robinhoods transaction-based revenue rose 12.2% to $362.7 million in Q4 FY 2021, accounting for nearly 73% of company-wide revenue.

Net Interest Revenues

Robinhood generates net interest revenue (interest revenue minus interest expenses) on securities lending transactions. Interest is also earned on margin loans to users, and interest expenses are incurred in connection with the companys revolving credit facilities. Net interest revenues rose 0.5% to $63.4 million in Q4 FY 2021, comprising 17.5% of Robinhoods total revenue.

Other Revenues

Robinhoods other sources of revenue primarily consist of memberships fees for Robinhood Gold. Robinhood Gold is a paid subscription service that offers users premium features, including enhanced instant access to deposits, professional research, Nasdaq Level II market data, and access to margin investing for approved users. Other revenues also include proxy rebates and miscellaneous user fees. Revenue from these sources rose 84.0% to $35.4 million in Q4 FY 2021, accounting for about 9.8% of company-wide revenue.

Robinhoods Recent Developments

On April 26, 2022, Robinhood chief executive and co-founder Vlad Tenev announced the company would lay off about 9% of full-time employees. Robinhood increased its workforce sixfold since the end of 2019 to 3,800 by the end of 2021, Tenev noted. "This rapid headcount growth has led to some duplicate roles and job functions, and more layers and complexity than are optimal," he wrote. Robinhood's share price set a record low the next day, for a decline of 75% from its IPO price.

In its Q4 2021 report, Robinhood saw the fastest growth in cryptocurrency revenue, which more than quadrupled as the company launched Crypto Gifts, a platform enabling customers to send crypto to family and friends. Robinhoods crypto presence is likely to continue to expand in 2022, as the company anticipates a full launch of cryptocurrency wallets and related services in Q1 2022. It also expects to open its crypto platform to customers internationally in 2022.

In early June 2021, the SEC announced that it was conducting a broad examination of market structure after the meme stock trading frenzy that drove the share prices of companies like GameStop Corp. (GME) and AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. (AMC) up to astronomical levels earlier this year. The SEC was focusing on payments for order flow ensuring trade orders from individual investors are routed by brokerage firms to off-exchange, high-speed traders known as wholesalers, such as Citadel Securities LLC and Virtu Financial Inc. (VIRT). These off-exchange traders must offer prices that are at least as good as the national best offer, which is what is offered by the official exchanges. But with the growing proportion of trades taking place off the official exchanges, the SEC is concerned about a lack of transparency for the execution prices for such trades.

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has been a critic of PFOF, arguing the practice creates a conflict of interest for brokerages because it incentivizes them to send customer orders to the highest bidder as opposed to the market maker offering the best prices or fastest execution. The SEC is reportedly considering a variety of other issues that may affect Robinhood as well, including so-called digital trading prompts that gamify the trading process to encourage excessive trading, issues of market concentration and pricing, and settlement times. Retail brokerages were forced to put up extra collateral following the meme stock trading volatility, and blamed the two-day settlement process for stock trades. The SEC was reportedly considering reducing settlement time to a single day.
The Department of Energy, the 12th Cabinet-level department, was established in 1977 during the Carter administration. The departments mission was to oversee the development and testing of the countrys nuclear weapons and coordinate the various, loosely organized energy programs established by the federal government. Today, the position also manages the nation's energy infrastructure and funds scientific research related to energy production and distribution.

Until the 1970s, the government took a relatively hands-off approach to energy production and policy, but the energy crisis of the mid-1970s changed all of that. The Department of Energy was created to address the problem and develop a comprehensive national energy plan that included nuclear energy technology.

Key Takeaways The Department of Energy is responsible for managing the United States nuclear weapons program and carrying out energy policy.

The Cabinet-level department was first established in 1977 under the Carter administration, in response to the energy crisis of that decade.

The secretary must be appointed by the president and then confirmed by the Senate before being officially sworn in.

The current secretary of energy is Jennifer Granholm.

The Current Secretary of Energy

In December 2020, then-President-elect Joe Biden nominated former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm as the countrys 16th secretary of energy. She was confirmed on Feb. 25, 2021, and sworn into office later that day.

Granholm was preceded by Texas businessman Dan Brouillette as the countrys 15th secretary of energy. He had served since December 2019. Prior to that, he was the deputy secretary of energy from August 2017 to December 2019.

Choosing a Secretary of Energy

As with all Cabinet-level positions, the secretary of energy is appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and serves at the presidents discretion. Each president takes his own approachsome make political appointments, while others choose candidates based on particular knowledge in the fields of science and energy. Some are chosen for their executive experience in managing other government agencies. For example:

James Schlesinger, the first secretary of energy, was an economics Ph.D. who originally served under then-Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford as a budget director, director of central intelligence, and secretary of defense before being appointed secretary of energy by then-President Jimmy Carter.

Federico Pena, then-President Bill Clintons second energy secretary, was the former mayor of Denver before being appointed to lead the Department of Transportation and, ultimately, the Department of Energy under Clinton.

Samuel Bodman, appointed by then-President George W. Bush in 2005, was an MIT-educated doctor of science in chemical engineering who also served as deputy secretary of both Treasury and Commerce before assuming the top job at Energy.

Steven Chu, then-President Barack Obamas first secretary of energy, earned a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, where he went on to teach as a professor of physics and molecular biology before accepting the secretary position in 2009.

Rick Perry, confirmed by then-President Donald Trump, earned a B.S. in animal science from Texas A&M and served as governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015.

Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan, where she promoted pro-green policies for the auto industry, serves as energy secretary in the Biden administration.

The Role of Secretary of Energy

The Department of Energy is a sprawling bureaucracy with a budget in excess of $41 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2021. The departments list of responsibilities includes the nations nuclear weapons programs, the Navys nuclear energy program, energy research and conservation, clean energy technologies, and domestic energy policy. The Energy Department spends more on physical science research than any other federal agency, through the National Laboratories.

The secretary of energy, along with assistants and undersecretaries, oversees the entire Energy apparatus and portfolio. In addition, the departments mission statement is to "ensure Americas security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions."

Perhaps most importantly, the secretary advises the president on matters of energy and nuclear security and advances the presidents agenda and policy objectives.

Secretary of Energy Salary

Like all federal employees, pay for Cabinet secretaries is set by Title 5 of the United States Code. Cabinet officials are designated as Level 1 of the Executive Schedule, which carries an annual salary of $226,300 in 2022.

Cabinet secretaries serve at the request of the president. They are not appointed to set terms like appointees to federal boards such as the National Labor Relations Board, where each member serves a five-year term.

Key Points in Secretary History

The first secretary of energy, James Schlesinger, was a Republican nominated by then-President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat. Schlesinger was the only person ever dismissed from the position. Hazel OLeary, who served as secretary of energy under then-President Bill Clinton, was the first woman to hold the position. She was also the first African American to take on the role. Dan Brouillette was the shortest-serving secretary of energy in recent history, lasting just 14 months in the role in the Trump administration. Steven Chu was the longest, serving under then-President Barack Obama from January 2009 through April 2013.
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What is the Davos World Economic Forum?

The Davos World Economic Forum brings together business leaders, politicians, and journalists once a year to discuss current global economic and social challenges. It is the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum and is usually held in January in the ski town of Davos, Switzerland.

The COVID-19 pandemic limited the 51st annual Davos World Economic Forum in 2021 to virtual events. A special annual meeting planned in Singapore was rescheduled later that year and ultimately cancelled. The 2022 annual meeting, initially scheduled for Davos in January, was postponed amid a new wave of COVID-19 infections and held in Davos in May.

The Davos World Economic Forum is a headline-grabbing annual event that draws world leaders, CEOs, and journalists to a small town in Switzerland.

The event is sponsored by a not-for-profit organization that aims to use the tools of entrepreneurship in the public interest.

Usually held in January, the Davos event was staged entirely online in 2021 and delayed until May in 2022, when it returned to the ski resort for the first time in more than two years.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting risks to the global economy and food supplies dominated the 2022 discussions.

Understanding the Davos World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1971 to "demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest." Initially called the European Management Forum, the organization changed its name to World Economic Forum in 1987.

The Davos meeting has long been World Economic Forum's highest-profile event. According to the organization, the annual meeting engages the most experienced and the most promising, all working together in the collaborative and collegial spirit of Davos.

Davos World Economic Forum 2022

The first in-person Davos World Economic Forum in more than two years was held May 22-26, 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine drew the most attention, sharing the spotlight with signs of an economic slowdown amid high inflation and rising interest rates. Among the headline-making events from the latest Davos:

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called for the tightening of economic sanctions against Russia to include a full embargo on the purchase of Russian crude oil and the complete isolation of Russian banks.

Billionaire George Soros warned Russia's invasion of Ukraine could spark a world war, describing it as the flashpoint of a global struggle between open and closed societies.

The head of the United Nations World Food Program, David Beasley, said Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports was causing a global food crisis by keeping Ukrainian exports that feed 400 million people off the market.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the war in Ukraine dealt "a major setback for the recovery of the world economy" amid high inflation, leading the IMF to lower its global GDP growth forecast for 2022 to 3.6%, from 4.9% in October 2021.

Henry Kissinger, an official in the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford administrations, said Ukraine should concede territory to Russia as part of a peace settlement.



Despite a market slump in the value of many cryptocurrencies, industry representatives turned up in force to promote their companies and views on regulation.

The Davos Manifesto

In 2020 the World Economic Forum published a new "Davos Manifesto" updating its 1973 ethics code for business leaders, both authored by WEF founder and executive chair Klaus Schwab. The document calls on companies to "pay their fair share of taxes, show zero tolerance for corruption, uphold human rights throughout their supply chains, and advocate for a competitive level playing field."
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Vancouver, Kelowna, Delta, BC - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering luxury goods and cruise ship stocks releases a special report featuring Maison Luxe, Inc. (OTC: MASN), a company that offers luxury retail consumer items.

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Breaking AI Stock News: GBT's (OTCPK: GTCH) AI Driven Financial Technology Patent Application Received a Notice of Publication

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Breaking AI Stock News: Intellagents, a FatBrain AI (OTCQB: LZGI) Company, Announces Hiring of Insurtech Industry Veteran as Chief Revenue Officer

NEW YORK, NY - November 2, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, announces the hiring of Euan King, an experienced and respected Insurtech industry leader as Chief Revenue Officer for insurance technology-focused subsidiary Intellagents.

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Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures $3.8M Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA from Italy

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Betternet is a terrific VPN service. Its perfectly easy to activate on iPhone with one tap and connect to the optimal location. If you need to connect to a specific location, you can do so at several areas in the world including multiple U.S. points for a low monthly fee. Its secure, fast, and consistently works well.

Editors Note: I would strongly recommend Private Internet Access VPN over Betternet. We recently completed a comprehensive review of Private Internet Access and found it the complete package for your iPhone, iPad, Android device, Mac or PC.

Download Betternet for iOS:

 Betternet in the App Store (free)

There are plenty of legitimate reasons to start using a VPN. A VPN, or virtual private network, shields your IP address by instead running your Internet connection through a different one at a different location. This tricks websites you visit into thinking youre connecting from somewhere else while protecting your own identity.

You dont need to use VPN all the time, but theyre ideal for when you have to use an unsecured public Wi-Fi network or if you cant access location-restricted websites. On iPhone, the best VPN apps are ones that dont log your data and invade your privacy  something VPNs are meant to protect  and they have a simple, easy-to-use interface. Our pick for the best free VPN on iPhone is Betternet.

Setting Up Your Betternet VPN

Apple bakes VPN functionality right into the core of iOS so Betternet just acts as a means for an access point. When you first download the app, you have to install a configuration profile in Settings to let iOS know you want to connect to your VPN through Betternet.

Its just a matter of following the prompts. You should be done in about two taps. Then you can switch back over to Betternet to get started. The easiest way to connect is to literally just press the giant Connect button. Within a few seconds or less, Betternet has you connected and you can already go about browsing. Its totally free and safe, no questions asked.

Betternet does not snoop into your data nor sells it for money. In fact, I greatly admire the transparency Betternet offers about how it makes its money and continues to run. It has a page on its website explaining just how it makes money, none of which include selling your data or showing you annoying ads as you browse.

The only ways Betternet make money are through ads within the app  not while you browse  and videos. Every so often to connect to the VPN youre asked to watch a short advertisement first. The button will say Watch a video and connect but within moments, your VPN is active. Of course, there is an easy workaround to this though. Just tap Skip and connect right underneath.

Feel free to dodge the app entirely the next time you want to enable VPN. Open the Settings app and toward the top, switch on VPN. As long as you have the Betternet app installed and you added the profile, itll connect right away without any video advertisements or opening any apps at all. Then again, if you want to continue to support Betternet, by all means use the app and watch the quick ad.

Advanced Features and Location Changing

Betternets quick one-tap activation should be more than adequate for most people looking to use VPN, but not for all. Some, particularly those trying to access websites blocked either in the office or in entire countries, need more control.

For that, Betternet offers a premium version of its service. Premium gives you several location options, plus the promise of an even faster connection and prioritized tech support should you need it. It costs $4.99 per month or $29.99 on an annual basis  the latter is a nice 50 percent discount.

Your location options with Premium include seven cities in the United States: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Virginia, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. (Virginia is a state, not a city, so thats weird.) Plus you can also connect through an IP address out of the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Australia, Germany, Singapore or Hong Kong. This provides fine-tuned control over your location in an already intuitive VPN app.

While it is a downside that Betternet charges to change your location, the cost is pretty inexpensive especially if you purchase annually. The other downside is that Betternet doesnt appear to show your IP address or location even if youre connected for free. It just says youre connected from an optimal location in the United States but doesnt specify what or where that is.

Ive been using Betternet for years and it has always reliably connected me to the Internet through a VPN. The simple interface and the trustworthy policy of never selling or logging data make it a winner.

Download Betternet for iOS:

 Betternet in the App Store (free)

Editors Note: I would strongly recommend Private Internet Access VPN over Betternet. We recently completed a comprehensive review of Private Internet Access and found it the complete package for your iPhone, iPad, Android device, Mac or PC.
This news comes less than a week after Rafsanjani died of a heart attack on Sunday 8th January.

Raisi was one of the leaders in Iran that held a position of power in Iran during the 1988 massacre in which around 30,000 (most of which were members of the Peoples Mojahedin of Iran  PMOI / MEK) political prisoners were killed.

He is also close to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khameneis approval will be needed for him to secure the position. Some have even said that he could eventually be Khameneis successor.

At the minute Raisi is the custodian of a charity that is in charge of Astan Quds Razavi  Irans holiest shrine.

If he does become the leader of the Expediency Council he will be the second person that was on the Death Commission of the 1988 massacre to gain a high position in the administration of the Iranian regime. The current Justice Minister of Iran is Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi who was also on the Death Commission.

Since Hassan Rouhani became president three years ago there have been more than 3,000 hangings. Twenty of these have taken place in 2017 alone. The Iranian people are severely repressed and the regime is cracking down on the people more than ever.

The truth about the 1988 massacre came to light last August when an audio recording of the late Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeris son released an audio recording of his father telling the Death Commission that what they were doing would go down as one of the biggest crimes in history. And he was right  it really is one of the most alarming crimes against humanity that has taken place in recent history.

In 1988 a fatwa was issued by the Supreme Leader at that time  Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. He ordered the death of political prisoners. People were brought to a Sharia judge who asked each one if they were supporters of the Mojahedin. If the answer was yes they were sentenced to death by hanging.

Justice Minister Pour-Mohammadi recently said that he was proud to have carried out Gods will.

Surely on his arrival to the White House Donald Trump will ensure that this horrific crime will not go unpunished. Especially seeing that several leaders of the current administration in Iran were part of this.
Calls have been made for a special compensation fund to help struggling tillage farmers who have lost up to half of their crops, writes Elaine Loughlin of the Irish Examiner.

It comes as farmers are set to protest outside the Dail this afternoon.

Separately Fianna Fail are to bring forward a motion in the Dail calling on Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to set up a crisis support fund to provide direct payments to farmers who were impacted by severe crop loss last year.

Fianna Fail's agriculture spokesman Charlie McConalogue said: "The Government have not recognised the particular plight of these farmers and indeed recognised that there is a real need for a compensation fund to ensure that they can meet the bills which are falling due and also to ensure that they can stay in business."

Mr McConalogue said around 4m to 5m would be needed to help around 300 farmers.

The Donegal TD said the tillage crisis had impacted particularly on farmers across the west of Ireland.

He said the "unusual rainfall" at harvest time meant that many farmers lost between 25% and 50% of their crops.

Mr McConalogue he said this tillage crisis had impacted particularly on farmers across the west of Ireland.

He said there was an 86m under-spend in the Department of Agriculture last year so he said that the capacity and the money is there but "unfortunately the will isn't there" within the Department of Agriculture.

"Unfortunately up until now the Minister has refused to put the funds in place.

"It comes on the back of three or four years of falling prices in cereals where farmers in the tillage sector haven't been making a profit so for those now who have lost significant portions of their crops this year it puts them in a situation which is exceptionally difficult to continue in business," he said.
BAT increased the cash element of a cash-and-share bid for the 58% of Reynolds that it does not already own.

The new offer values each Reynolds share at $59.64 (55.83), the London-based company said, about 5.6% more than the $56.50 (52.89) it proposed last October.
Unions supported the proposal to bring forward the 1,000 pay rise to those earning up to 65,000.

The payment, which had been due to kick in from September, was brought forward to April 1, in a bid to avoid industrial action.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe had entered talks with public sector representatives to address anomalies arising from the 50m Garda pay recommendation made by the Labour Court.

Mr Kenny told the Dail: The rationale was to restore the structure to the process and to support industrial peace while allowing more difficult issues such as pension benefits, which are to be on the table as part of the later negotiations in respect of the Lansdowne Road agreement.

The public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said the new arrangement is contingent on maintaining industrial peace.

Mr Kenny said the accelerated increases would allow for the continuation of the Lansdowne Road agreement until a new deal is reached.

The agreement will see around 250,000 public service employees receive an increase in annualised salaries of 1,000 for April to August. it means workers will receive around 420 more than had been expected this year.

The pay deal will not apply to gardai, who have already received around 3,000 as part of a Labour Court agreement, nor will it apply to teachers who are members of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland and are outside of the Lansdowne Road agreement.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin told the Dail he does not argue against the acceleration of pay restoration, but said he would like to know where the money is coming from.

Bluntly, a trite line that it will come from unspecified efficiencies or savings is not good enough for the House.

When the Labour Court recommendation relating to An Garda Siochana came through late last year, the Government fudged how it would be paid for.

Earlier in the day, Mr Donohoe said the money would come from savings and efficiencies, but could not identify exactly where these savings would be made.

He said the total amount would be less than the savings that had been accrued in 2016 and that he expects similar savings this year.

He said it is important to secure order in how we plan our public expenditure for this year.

Mr Donohoe said: The other scenario that I faced into is inexorable pressure building up on those unions and their members who were inside the Lansdowne Road agreement.

The consequences for that are unpredictable; they would have been unpredictable for the exchequer, they would have been unpredictable for industrial relations within our country.
Jim Mansfield Jr, aged 48, is accused of having 180 rounds of .22 Walther ammunition without a firearms licence at his home at Tassagart House in Saggart, Dublin on January 29, 2015, a charge he denies.

In an outline of the evidence given earlier, a district court heard gardai searched his home under warrant and located a legally held Walther pistol as well as 480 rounds of ammunition  180 rounds in excess of the licence.

His case was listed for mention before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court yesterday. Tony McGillicuddy, defending, said equipment for playing video evidence would be needed for the trial, which will take one day to be heard.

Judge Smyth ordered Jim Mansfield Jr, who did not address the court, to appear again for his trial on June 12.

His brother, Patrick James (PJ) Mansfield, aged 38, is accused of possession of 1,252 rounds of Walther ammunition without a firearms licence at his former home at Coldwinters Lake in Saggart. He has pleaded not guilty.

It has been held that his case is too serious to be dealt with at district court level and should be sent forward to the circuit court. Judge Smyth ordered PJ Mansfield, who was excused from attending court yesterday, to appear again next month when it is expected he will be served with a book of evidence and returned for trial.

The district court has heard that he was licensed to have 300 bullets for a legally owned Walther .22 pistol which he kept in a picture frame hanging over his bed. However, it has been alleged he had over 1,550 rounds of ammunition for the gun at his home.
The report, Dangerously disproportionate: The ever-expanding national security state in Europe, claims draconian powers have been rushed through, discriminating against Muslims and refugees and undermining fundamental freedoms.

In a section on Ireland, it highlights two deportation cases against people, because of their alleged links to terror groups and the alleged threat they posed.

In the first case, widely reported by the media, a Jordanian man of Palestinian descent was deported to Jordan following a High Court decision on July 6 last.

The State had alleged that the man was the main recruiter of IS in Ireland.

Amnesty said it opposed the deportation on the basis the man would be at risk of torture on his return.

The government successfully argued in court that the man was not at such a risk, because he was so low profile that the Jordanian authorities would not even notice his return, said the report.

This was despite an Irish government experts affidavit noting the utmost urgency of the deportation, because the man was both a domestic and an international security threat.

The report said a letter from the Irish Government on July 11 acknowledged that its assessment of the mans risk on return was governed by the balancing test expressly prohibited by the European Court of Human Rights.

It said the letter stated: All such applications were fully considered and the rights of the individual concerned were weighed and balanced against the rights of the State to ensure the security and safety of the State.

The report said Amnesty and the mans lawyers remain concerned for his safety in Jordan.

Security sources told the Irish Examiner that Amnesty had access to the case, which was held in public.

Everything was done correctly, said the source. Theres a process in place and the court gave its decision.

A second case concerned a man subject to a deportation order on alleged national security grounds.

The man was granted refugee status in 2000, but was subsequently convicted of offences in another European country for activities considered to have provided support to a political grouping in his country of origin deemed to be a terror group.

After release from prison and return here, his status was revoked. The Refugee Appeal Tribunal rejected his appeal, but said there was a substantial risk of serious harm in his country of origin if deported. The report noted that the minister had declined him leave to remain. The report said that, as it stood, the deportation had not been executed.

Amnesty Ireland director Colm OGorman said: In the wake of a series of appalling attacks, from Paris to Berlin, governments have rushed through a raft of disproportionate and discriminatory laws. He said EU governments were stripping away human rights under the guise of defending them.

A security source said new counter-terrorism measures had to be proportionate to the threat being posed.

He added: Theres no issue with police and security services being subject to scrutiny, but every state is entitled to protect its citizens from terrorism.
Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy said Ms Mays speech marked an aggressive step that ran counter to Irish interests.

The possibility of the UK leaving both the single market and the customs union raises fundamental questions about Irelands future trading relations with the UK, he said.

This is an aggressive move by the UK, showing little regard for our trading relationship and for relations with other EU member states.

Mr McCoy said the Irish economy was uniquely exposed because of its deep links with Britain.

Business groups in Britain were also critical.

Carolyn Fairbairn, the director general of the Confederation of British Industry said: Ruling out membership of the single market has reduced options for maintaining a barrier-free trading relationship between the UK and the EU.

Lobby groups representing SMEs here warned that the slump in sterling against the euro was hurting Irish-owned businesses hard.

By embracing a hard Brexit, she has signalled very difficult times ahead for those firms that rely on selling to the UK market or are part of a sub-supply chain connected to the UK, said Patricia Callan, the director of the Small Firms Association.

The broader economy will also face substantial challenges as the UK considers changing its economic model, making it even more tax competitive.

Ian Talbot, the chief executive at Chambers Ireland, said he welcomed Ms Mays comments on the common travel area, but more clarity on barrier-free arrangements with Northern Ireland remains critical for businesses on both sides of the border.
European Council president Donald Tusk and MEPs issued the warning as Irish politicians said thousands of jobs in this country are at risk during crunch talks with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels last night.

In a speech in London that is set to define Europes political future, Ms May warned EU states her country is ready to walk away from talks unless it is given a deal that meets its needs.

Stressing Britain will not accept a deal that seeks to punish it for leaving the EU, Ms May set out 12 key objectives her country has as part of imminent Brexit negotiations in March.

The objectives, which have led to fresh concern in Ireland and the EU over the economic impact of Brexit, include plans to leave the single market and seek an associate membership of the customs union.

In addition, Ms May has confirmed she wants to take Britain out of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and restore control over immigration.

The policy details  which also include the potential to cut British corporate tax, a commitment to keep the common travel area with Ireland but no guarantee a hard border will not return, and plans to strike individual trade deals with countries  were stated in a speech that stressed Britain remains outward looking and keen to work with EU colleagues.

However, in words that will focus attention on the negotiations with the EU, she added that Britain will walk away from any deal that is not in its interests or seeks to punish it for leaving the political bloc.

That would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe, she said.

Responding to Ms Mays comments, which also included confirmation any Brexit deal must be voted on by Westminster, Mr Tusk said the situation was a surreal and sad process which must not lead to the break up of the united EU.

However, a number of MEPs were more outspoken in their views, with Belgian socialist Kathleen Van Brempt tweeting: The EU is not a menu where the UK can freely pick and choose.

Ms May spoke with Mr Tusk and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday, and was due to speak with German chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.

During a separate meeting with the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier last night, Irelands 11 MEPs stressed Irelands Brexit vulnerability and warned thousands of jobs are at risk.

Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy said it was clear the EU will only pursue the strategy we require if they are pressed to do so, while Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan questioned whether the EU gives a damn about what happens to Ireland.
It will automatically ensure costly cross-border procedures are brought back into play on all exports and imports from the UK and with them punitive tariffs on many goods.

Further costs and procedural difficulties will also come into play for the many exporters who use the UK as a land-bridge to move goods to and from the continent.

If the UK is restricted from providing an efficient, competitive land-bridge into Europe for Irish exporters, many businesses will fail.

Theresa May hoped for frictionless access to the EU under a new free trade agreement; her threat of changing Britains economic model if the EU does not agree to such an arrangement is delusional, ill advised, and likely to impact adversely on Irelands international trade.

The threat by Ms May, to change our economic model if a full free trade agreement is not offered to Britain by the EU, has been aired by her cabinet colleagues and effectively refers to the UK reducing its corporate tax regime. If this threat were to bring into play a highly significant tax haven in the UK, then Ireland will have to look again at its international trade model.

The target of this proposal is most likely the concern the City of London stands to lose its so-called passport freedom to sell financial services in a frictionless manner across the open capital markets of the EU, once Britain exits the single market.

The threat to introduce tax and regulatory rules used in other low-tax international centres, such as Hong Kong or Singapore, to attract the EU capital markets would be a Rubicon decision by Britain, requiring robust defence by the EU. Irelands Financial Services Centre will inevitably be affected, regardless of the final negotiated position for Britain.

The one piece of positive news from Ms Mays statement was her determination to retain the free travel agreement between the UK and Ireland.

The UK will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty at the end of March, paving the way for Britain to leave the EU over a two-year period.

Irish businesses will undoubtedly use this period to create a business arrangement to circumvent trade barriers that may be put in place, but also developing new trade arrangements more directly with Europe will become a priority.
The council also stated it had made efforts to notify the deceaseds family as soon as the accident occurred.

The family of the late Michael ODonovan, aged 44, a father-of-three from Aghabullogue, Co Cork, and an employee of Cork County Council, has brought a case for compensation to the High Court in Cork arising out of his death while working on a compound off Carrs Hill, Douglas, in November 2012.

Following discussions between the two legal teams at the High Court in Cork yesterday, Mr Justice Robert Eagar was told the case was now only before the court as an assessment.

Liability was no longer an issue and the local authoritys claim of contributory negligence was withdrawn.

Fergus OHagan, for Cork County Council, had on Monday stated the case has been opened in a somewhat defamatory manner.

He said yesterday the local authority could produce evidence showing it had made fervent efforts to inform the family of the late Mr ODonovan soon after the accident occurred but the efforts had proved unsuccessful.

John OMahony, for the plaintiff, had said on Monday: Cork County Council did not contact the plaintiff. Later she [Mrs Yvonne ODonovan] received a phone call from the nurse advising her of the situation in hospital.

Cork County Council in its wisdom never took the basic human step of telling the family that he was badly injured or dead. The family was deeply offended by this, greatly exacerbating the suffering as a result of what happened on that day.

Mr Justice Eagar will have to determine the amount of damages to be paid to the family now that liability for the accident is no longer an issue.

Mr OMahony said the plaintiffs actuarial evidence put the financial evaluation to the family, arising out of Mr ODonovans death and consequent loss of earnings, at a sum in excess of 800,000. He said the defences actuarial assessment was closer to 500,000.

The civil case continues today with both sides making legal submissions on the actuarial evidence.

Mr OMahony, instructed by Vincent Toher & Co, said a 50-foot Scots Pine tree was being felled when the fatal accident occurred. He said the work was being done in a manner that was careless and reckless. The tree fell on a cable on a phone line that caused the poll to crack at two points. The pole struck the late Mr ODonovan on the head causing massive injuries, as a result of which he died that day.
Rarely had Department of Agriculture Inspectors come across breaches on such a scale, Killarney District Court heard.

John C Casey, otherwise known as Christy Casey, aged 57, of Crosstown, Killarney, Co Kerry, pleaded guilty to the charges, mainly at Ryefield, Whitechurch, Co Cork, and within the State.

His suckler herd was registered in Cork and he also had leased land, the court was told.

Louis Reardon, veterinary inspector, said the department would regularly come across incidents relating to small numbers of breaches of regulations on animal movement and registration, but not on the scale of Mr Casey.

Fifty summonses had been issued by the prosecutor and agriculture minister, and 14 sample counts pleaded to, said the prosecution.

The dates were mainly on August 14 and September 15, 2014.

Mr Reardon said he had failed to produce animal passports, and, when asked where the cattle were, he would not say. Only some of the cattle had ever been located and we dont know what happened these animals, Mr Reardon told the judge, regarding 69 animals.

Padraig OConnell, for Mr Casey, said his client had grown up on a farm in Blackwater and cattle are his life.

Unfortunately he came to a misconceived idea that the department were not co-operating with him He apologises unreservedly for his lack of engagement.

Judge James OConnor told the solicitor his client was in serious trouble and would probably be jailed.

The mans son, John Casey Jr, also of Crosstown, had been issued with summonses for similar alleged breaches. An application by the State was made to adjourn this at the outset.

Judge OConnor asked Mr Reardon to ascertain further details about the father and son farm ownership and herd numbers.

The matter was adjourned until March 21.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny tried to allay concerns in the Dail yesterday, following British prime minister Theresa Mays speech in which she outlined parts of her strategy for Brexit.

However, the opposition said the Tory leaders speech was disappointing and in fact now pointed an agenda for a very hard Brexit and very difficult negotiations for Ireland ahead.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said: By any yardstick or assessment, it constitutes an agenda for a very hard Brexit and very difficult negotiations ahead. Essentially, Britain will be out of the single market and out of the customs union, as we know it. No matter what gloss one puts on this, it can mean tariffs on goods and services between Britain and Ireland and between Britain and the European Union.

Dail members were also dismayed there was no mention of a special status for the North and went as far as calling for a special Brexit minister to be appointed, a suggestion again rejected by the Fine Gael-led minority government last night.

We have a Brexit minister called the Taoiseach, he is the one at the [negotiating] table, said Mr Kennys spokesman.

The Economic and Social Research Institute has already concluded a hard Brexit could result in a big drop in national income over a sustained period, loss of employment and loss of wages, said Mr Martin.

Agribusiness food was one of the sectors most under threat from potential tariffs on Irish exports if Britain leaves the common trading area, as flagged by Ms May.

Mr Kenny welcomed the clarity from Ms Mays Brexit speech. He noted the decision to leave the single market and Ms Mays willingness to look at the most effective practical outcome for the Norths border.

However, Mr Kenny also suggested two years may not be enough time for Britain to leave the EU once Brexit is triggered in March, as proposed by London.

Ahead of a tour of Europes capitals by Mr Kenny to secure support for Irelands position in the Brexit negotiations, Mr Martin warned maybe Dublin was not a priority for Ms May.

I do not get the sense that we are up there as high as some people might diplomatically like to articulate.

Mr Kenny said the Government would argue vociferously for our country.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said there was never going to be a soft exit and suggested the Government had a huge job with regard to the North, and Irelands position in the Brexit talks.
The Green Party warned that the issue potentially poses serious financial implications to the State unless an immediate moratorium is placed on the house repossessions.

Greens TD Catherine Martin said a recent High Court ruling found that European consumer law must be considered in any Irish home repossession.

But while this means judges and county registrars must carry out an assessment of whether the deals involved are fair and appropriate and must ensure home owners are fully informed of their rights.

Ms Martin said the issue renders thousands of repossessions technically illegal and leaves the State liable for any financial implications.

She called for the Government to effectively ban repossessions until the legal problem is resolved.

Citing the 79,562 home mortgages in arrears, she said: There is a potential financial risk for the State here.If the Irish courts were not properly implementing EU law in these cases, and homeowners suffered a loss because of this, the State may be liable to pay them damages.

The repossessions ban request comes amid claims from mortgage rights campaigner, David Hall, that up to 20,000 families are on the verge of losing their homes.

A private members bill motion from the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit calling for strict new laws to regulate vulture funds was also heard last night.

While the AAA-PBP bill is likely to be defeated today, it has demanded that receivers and vulture funds are re-classified as landlords and for a new ban preventing tenants from eviction because their home is being sold, among other measures.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats are demanding an end to assets being sold off by Nama. The party is launching a bill suggesting that the agency should instead become the States social and economic development.

Changing the Nama act so that the priority shifts to focus on citizens and how Nama can act in their best interest seems the very obvious and the right thing to do now, said Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy.
Gareth Merrin, aged 25, from Kimmage Rd West, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Starbucks on Lower Liffey St on December 4 last.

At Dublin District Court, Judge Anthony Halpin heard that Merrin was seen by gardai spraying graffiti on the cafes shutters which cost 150 to clean.

The judge noted that the defendant, who had no prior criminal convictions, was co-operative.

I take it it was not a work of art, queried the judge.

No, it was tagging, said the court Garda sergeant.

I think he has to go back to college, that is not even artistic, it does not have any intellectual merit, said the judge on hearing that Merrin worked as a graphic designer.

Pleading for leniency, Derek Burke, defending, told the court his client had been at an exhibition earlier and had brought his equipment with him.

The court heard Merrin then went to a nightclub and consumed too much alcohol.

Mr Burke said Merrin is absolutely mortified and the following day he went to the Starbucks to tell the supervisor there he would pay for the damage. However, gardai told him he could not consult with Starbucks.

Judge Halpin noted that Merrin had brought 150 to court and he ordered it be paid over as compensation. Sparing Merrin a conviction, the judge struck out the case saying: I wouldnt like to graffitify his unblemished record.
The accused, aged 62, has pleaded not guilty to 13 charges alleging that he indecently assaulted the young boy on unknown dates between January 1, 1979, and December 31, 1981, in Limerick City and Kerry.

Opening the case, Lorcan Connolly, prosecuting, said that, at the time of the alleged offences, the accused lived near the alleged victim.
Patrick ODriscoll, aged 42, with an address in Codrum, Macroom, Co Cork, was found guilty by a jury of 61 counts of raping his eldest daughter, Ellen ODriscoll, between 2008 and 2009. He had denied the charges.

In Central Criminal Court yesterday, Mr Justice Paul Butler said ODriscolls abuse of his daughter tore the family apart.

Her mother, sisters, grandparents, uncles and aunts all took her fathers side. I hope it is of some small consolation to Ms ODriscoll that in the teeth of her fathers denial... a jury of 12 citizens have found by unanimous verdict that he was guilty of 61 counts of rape.

Sentencing ODriscoll to 10 years in prison with the final year suspended, Mr Justice Butler took into account the fact that ODriscoll has led an otherwise blameless life, and appears to be rearing the rest of his family properly.

He suspended the final year on a number of conditions, including that ODriscoll have no contact with his daughter.

Ms ODriscoll, 24, who was not in court for the sentence, previously waived her right to anonymity.

In a victim impact statement previously handed in to court, she said she continues to serve a life sentence since coming forward with the allegations against her father.

Her entire family, including her eight siblings, have turned against her and she is now isolated from her community: It has torn my family apart. My mam, sisters, brothers, uncles and aunts all took his side. So I have no family now. I dont blame my brothers and sisters as I know what its like to have someone messing inside your head. But I will never forgive my mam.

The week-long trial last November heard that Ms ODriscoll was the eldest child of a Traveller family that moved around frequently, but was living in Cork City in 2008 and 2009.

She told the court her father raped her on a weekly basis from when she turned 16, when her mother was out shopping and she was minding younger siblings.

Ms ODriscoll broke down several times as she told the court that on the first occasion, her father ordered her into her parents bedroom, tied her hands behind her back, spread her legs, put a pillow over her face and raped her. He said, Ive missed this. I wont go without it anymore, she said. Afterwards, her father acted like nothing had happened: He just acted like a normal loving father, when he was far from that.

The trial heard Ms ODriscoll wasnt allowed go to school: I had to stay at home, clean, cook, look after the kids, behave like a housewife.

She said he threatened her not to tell anyone about the alleged abuse, telling her he would kill her and kill himself: He used to threaten that I would never see my brothers and sisters if I told anybody and thats what happened. To this day, I dont see them.

In her victim impact statement, Ms ODriscoll said she missed her brothers and sisters very much: We were very close siblings but it was taken away by a very sick man. I feel Im serving a life sentence, even though I didnt do anything wrong. I will be living half a life for the rest of my life.

Thomas Creed, defending, said ODriscolls family support him and are shocked and saddened by his conviction.

They still love him very much and miss him very much, he said.

After he was sentenced, ODriscoll waved to family members before being led away.
Sinead Higgins, aged 37, a qualified nurse who was living and working in England, is believed to have killed her son, Oisin, 7, before taking her own life at their home in Ruislip, West London, last month.

Her family gathered in her home village of Aughagower yesterday after her remains were returned from London and they will say their farewells at her funeral Mass at midday today.

The local area has been deeply shocked by the deaths which were discovered on December 14 when Oisins father, Ms Higginss former partner, raised the alarm after his son failed to turn up at school and he could make no contact with his mother.

Shane ODriscoll, from Bray, Co Wicklow but also living in London, led mourners at Oisins funeral in his home town just before Christmas and the little boy was buried a short distance away in Kilternan Cemetery.

The Higgins family were represented by Oisins grandmother, Mary Higgins, at the ceremony during which Mr ODriscoll spoke of Oisins love for his mother.

Ms Higginss funeral Mass will take place at Aughagower Church and she will be buried in Aughagower Cemetery.

The deaths are the subject of a murder-suicide investigation by police in England. An inquest was opened at West London Coroners Court just before Christmas and adjourned to allow for toxicology reports. The court said yesterday no date had been set yet for a further hearing.

Ms Higgins was one of 10 children of Mary and Tom Higgins who suffered a tragic loss in 2004 when their 19-year-old son, Cathal, was killed in a road accident. The family were left grieving again in 2014 when Tom passed away aged 68 just weeks after falling ill.
Nicole Ryan, who delivers drugs awareness talks in her own time to secondary schools, made the offer yesterday as Garda investigations into the suspected drugs-related death of a teenager in Cork City continued.

She said the death of Michael Cornacchia, 16, has convinced her of the need to work full-time on a drugs awareness campaign.

Nothing I can say, or no amount of sorrys, can make it right for his heartbroken family. I know the pain, Nicole said.

I am willing to give this my full commitment, give up everything, and give this my all. This campaign can bring the much-needed education that young people need today. It can help save lives.

Her brother, Alex, 18, died in Cork University Hospital on January 23 last year after ingesting the synthetic drug, N-Bomb, at a house party five days earlier.

Within months, she launched her own drugs awareness campaign and has visited almost a dozen schools in Cork, Kerry, and Limerick since September, speaking about her familys tragedy, and warning teenagers of the dangers of designer drugs in particular.

She said Michaels death brought memories flooding back of her own familys ordeal this time last year.

It is just so sad to think that his family have been launched into this now  they are just at the beginning.

I want to fully commit to this cause so that others out there do not have to go through this again and again, she said.

The reaction to my message in schools has been astonishing  they really understand where Im coming from, they see its real, she said.

I would like to think that Ive opened their eyes and that they realise that nobody is invincible. There are real dangers and this can happen to anybody.

And with Rag week approaching, I would encourage students and young people to think twice about taking these drugs.

Gardai investigating Michaels death said it could be several weeks before the results of toxicology tests can identify the substance he may have consumed, and which may have contributed to his death.

READ MORE: Deadly drug may be circulating in Cork
The popular Redemptorist cleric, who turns 70 today, has confirmed next Sundays event, which is taking place at his local community centre to mark his milestone birthday, will be his final public Mass.

However, the outspoken founder of the Association of Catholic Priests can look forward to an emotional send-off as he bows out from public ministry in front of what is set to be one of his biggest ever congregations.

Demand is so high for seats at the Killimordaly Community Centre, near Athenry, Co Galway, that organisers are considering erecting a marquee next to the building to cater for the huge numbers anticipated from all over Ireland.

Ive received incredible support since announcing the Mass from across Ireland and abroad and Im truly overwhelmed by the positive reaction Ive had, said Fr Flannery.

Theres been a couple of negative emails from traditionalists, telling me Ill go to hell, but to be honest I always expect that. And its literally just a handful out of the enormous number of messages of support Ive been sent.

Whats pleased me the most is the reaction Ive had here from the local community.

Ill be celebrating the Mass in the place where I was born and reared and people here have told me that this is their way of showing where they stand in regards to my treatment by the Vatican.

Theyve never really had a chance of displaying their support for me, but Ive been told they see this Mass as their way of standing by me, he said.

It looks like its going to be a well-attended event. The community hall holds about 250, but were estimating therell be at least 500 people attending  with people coming from all over Ireland.

So we may have to erect an additional structure, like a marquee, to cater for all of them, he added.

Fr Flannery was censured by the Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith nearly five years ago for his liberal views on issues such as women priests, homosexuality, and contraception.

However, the widely-respected Athenry native said he has come to terms with his ban from ministry after serving more than 40 years as a priest, and the fact that a resolution between himself and the Vatican is now highly unlikely.

For the past few years Ive been giving private Masses in peoples houses and in the backs of pubs, and Ill continue to do those.

But this will my last public event here in Ireland. It will be a happy event and there will be nothing negative about it. Ive no intention of using it as a platform from which to attack the Vatican.

Fr Flannerys Mass is taking place in Killimordaly Community Centre, near Athenry, at 2.30pm on Sunday.
The Religious Studies and Theology Group at WIT have organised a cultural event to mark World Hijab Day on Wednesday, February 1.

There will be an assortment of hijabs on display, and the Muslim women will be happy to show anyone how to wear a hijab and the different styles available.

WIT student union president, Michelle Byrne, will be among the women invited to visit the stall and try on a headscarf.

World Hijab Day, an annual world event, was established by American Nazma Khan in 2013 to fight prejudice and discrimination against Muslim women.

WIT lecturer in world religions, Colette Colfer, said some students will wear the hijab for the day.

With increasing anti-immigrant sentiment around the world, it is really important to have an event like this, she said.

Ms Colfer is not a Muslim but has conducted a lot of research on Islam in Ireland.

Muslim women are far more likely to experience discrimination and prejudice if they are wearing the hijab. I know Irish women who have been told to go back to their own country when they have been wearing a hijab, said Ms Colfer.

Their abusers were shocked when they responded in an Irish accent.

Muslim women choose to wear the hijab for a variety of reasons, including modesty, but most agree it is a womans choice whether or not she wears it.

Ms Colfer said some Muslim women believe that although the principles of modesty are clearly outlined in the Quran, they perceive the wearing of the headscarf as a cultural interpretation of the scriptures.

They would interpret what is said in the Quran as meaning that they should cover and they should be modest.

Speakers in the main auditorium on the day will include Muslim feminist and academic, Dr Rachel Woodlock; local Muslim convert Brigid Aylward; and Muslim businesswoman and photographer, Bara Alich.

Dr Woodlock, originally from Australia, is a convert to Islam from the Bahai faith. She now lives near Clonmel with her Tipperary husband and their daughter.

Ms Aylward is from Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny. She converted to Islam from Catholicism about eight years ago and after two years decided to wear the hijab.

She works as a nurse in the Paediatric Department in Waterford Regional Hospital. Last year she was awarded a masters degree in nursing from WIT.

Ms Alich, originally from the Czech Republic, converted to Islam eight years ago. She will speak about being a Muslim businesswoman who wears the hijab and some of the challenges she has faced over the years.
To achieve this, the team inserted a shell containing flame retardant material triphenyl phosphate (TPP) into a lithium-ion batterys electrolyte fluid. If the battery overheats and catches fire, the shell will melt and release the chemical compound, putting out the fire almost instantaneously.

Indeed, during testing the team were able to put out battery fires using the shell method in 0.4 seconds. A number of Samsungs Galaxy Note 7 smartphones famously caught fire during 2016, and it appears that the research was independently conducted to address this problem.
The Xperia X Compact features a 23MP rear camera capable of going from standby to capture in 0.6 seconds, ensuring you capture a perfect picture every time, and a comfortable to hold compact body with a 4.6-inch screen and loop surface design.

The Xperia X Compact also includes the new Battery Care function and Qnovo adaptive charging to make your battery lifespan last for up to twice as long.
British prime minister Theresa May finally outlined her Brexit plans yesterday. What did she say?

In a high-profile speech that had been widely leaked since the weekend, Ms May confirmed her countrys plans in response to last Junes Brexit vote.

While not specifically mentioning the phrase hard Brexit, this is exactly what it is. The Brexit position involves Britains removal from the single market, though it could have associate member status within the EU customs union.

Ms May also said she wants Britain to gain complete control of its immigration laws as soon as possible.

In addition, she outlined her support for the common travel area with the Republic of Ireland and stressed the close personal relationship between both nations.

However, while answering some questions, Ms Mays comments also raise many others.

What does this mean for the Irish economy?

Despite what many commentators referred to as her friendly tone, Ms Mays plan spells problems for Irelands finances.

Potential tariffs are likely to be imposed on imports and exports with Britain, while it could also result in Britain slashing its corporate tax rate in a bid to lure Irish-based firms.

What does this mean for the Irish border?

While Ms May continued to back the common travel area between the Republic and Britain and stressed there will be no return to the borders of the past, it has been noted she did not rule out a hard border returning and failed to say Northern Ireland will be given a special status in negotiations.

It remains unclear how the current soft border between the Republic and Northern Ireland can conceivably continue if Britain leaves the single market and customs union, a partial reason for Ms Mays suggestion of an associate member status in the customs union.

What does this mean for Irish people living in Britain?

Ms May stressed that while she wants Britain to have complete control of immigration rules, she is aware of concerns this could impact on EU citizens and British citizens working in either jurisdiction.

While a deal is likely, concerns remain over whether immigration rights allowed under existing EU rules will continue in the post-Brexit scenario.

What is the Irish government going to do?

Taoiseach Enda Kenny emphasised yesterday Britain has again recognised the need for a common travel area and its special relationship with this country, but behind the spin, the Government is aware of looming problems for Ireland.

Officials are expected to re-double efforts to emphasise to EU colleagues the vulnerability of Ireland and do likewise during Ms Mays visit to Dublin this month.

Does the opposition agree?

As ever, no. Fianna Fail has been particularly vocal, warning a Brexit minister must now be appointed and that Irelands preparation pales in comparison to Britain and the EU.

The party has also urged the Government to increase financial support for at-risk businesses.

This could be Britain just playing hard ball before EU negotiations begin in March. What if the EU calls its bluff?

This may happen, given the EUs need to ensure a British deal does not encourage other countries to leave.

However, Ms May warned any attempt to punish Britain would be an act of calamitous self-harm by the EU. Watch this space.
Asia OIC envoy calls for UN intervention in Arakan State

Syed Hamid Albar attends the ASEAN summit in Singapore, Nov. 21, 2007. / Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR  The United Nations should intervene in Burmas Arakan State to stop further escalation of violence against Muslims and avoid another genocide like in Cambodia and Rwanda, said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperations special envoy to Burma.

The conflict which has left at least 86 dead and an estimated 66,000 people fleeing into Bangladesh since it started on Oct. 9, 2016, is no longer an internal issue but of international concern, said Syed Hamid Albar, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Special Envoy to Burma.

Syed Hamid said the OIC should seek UN intervention. His comments come ahead of a special OIC meeting called by Malaysia on Thursday to discuss measures to deal with the conflict affecting the Rohingya minority, who are predominantly Muslim.

We dont want to see another genocide like in Cambodia or Rwanda, Syed Hamid told Reuters in an interview ahead of the meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

The international community just observed, and how many people died? We have lessons from the past, for us to learn from and see what we can do, he said.

The OIC represents 57 states and acts as the collective voice of the Muslim world.

Refugees, residents and human rights groups say Burma soldiers have committed summary executions, raped Rohingya women and burned homes since military operations started in the north of Arakan State on Oct. 9.

The government of predominantly Buddhist Burma, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has denied the accusations, saying many of the reports are fabricated, and it insists the strife in Arakan State, where many Rohingya live, is an internal matter.

The military operations were in response to attacks on security posts near Burmas border with Bangladesh that killed nine police officers. The Burmese government has said that militants with overseas Islamist links were responsible.

A Burmese government spokesman said it will not attend the OIC meet as it is not an Islamic country, but that it had already made its actions clear to ASEAN members at their last meeting in December, and that UN intervention would only end up facing unwanted resistance from local people.

So thats why the international community should have a positive approach and understand widely our countrys conflict situation, said Zaw Htay, a spokesman for the office of Burma President Htin Kyaw.

About 56,000 Rohingya now live in Muslim-majority Malaysia having fled previous unrest in Burma.

Malaysia, which is Southeast Asias third-largest economy, broke the tradition of non-intervention by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by speaking out on the conflict, calling on the 10-member bloc to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against the ethnic group.

Zaw Htay criticised Malaysia for its outspoken position on the conflict, saying the country should manage its own political crisis and avoid encouraging extremism and violence in Burma.

Our new government is working seriously and carefully on the situation in Rakhine. We are working on a very complicated and tough problem with this internal conflict, so we need time to prevent it happening again, Zaw Htay said.
Burma China Denies Turning Back Kachin Refugees

Displaced persons on the border with China in Kachin State. / Chris / Kachin Land

The Chinese Embassy in Burma rejected reports that China had blocked Burmese refugees fleeing fighting in Kachin States Waingmaw Township from crossing the China-Burma border last week and pointed the finger at local authorities on the Burmese side.

Burma Army offensives to seize Kachin Independence Army (KIA) outposts and subsequent shelling has displaced some 4,000 residents that were reportedly stopped from entering China by Chinese security forces last Tuesday.

It is learned that Myanmar [Burma] local authorities have strengthen[ed] the resettlement and management of those displaced people and required them not to enter China unless they have to, read a response from the embassy spokesperson released Tuesday. There is no such thing that the Chinese side has blocked them from entering China.

The embassy added, In fact, out of humanitarian consideration, the Chinese side has been continuously providing such aid as food and pharmacy to the displace people from Myanmar [Burma].

General Sumlut Gun Maw, vice chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) told The Irrawaddy recently that the KIO had approached Chinese authorities on the matter of accepting Kachin refugees.
MANDALAY  Leading a life of hand-to-mouth existence, over 100 internal migrants bake blocks every day in one of the brickworks near Don Kone and Thayet Tapinsmall villages on the bank of the Irrawaddy River in Mandalays Patheingyi Township.

In this area there are four brickworks, and each location contains more than 20 small kilns. These workplaces are unique in the way that entire families, with the exception of babies, can be found working there.

In some cases, children as young as five years of age share in their familys labor when they really should be playing or studying at school.

Living in make-shift huts, the migrants have moved from other parts of Mandalay Division to the riverbank in order to earn a living.

For most of these families, the meager wages and the high cost of food mean that everyone has to work. There is no other way to meet production goals and to earn the money they need to sustain themselves.

In some cases, when adult workers have fallen ill, they have asked their employers for an advance on their wages until they can recover. Then, when they are unable to pay the money back quickly, they pull their children into working with them.

The migrant families will bake bricks on the bank of the Irrawaddy River until the rainy season, when water levels rise and clay is no longer available. Then they will movealong with their familiesto another brickworks controlled by the same owners in Madaya Township, continuing the vicious cycle.
Wednesday, January 18th, 2017 (12:13 am) - Score 745

The Connect8 campaign has this week hailed the arrival of a 24Mbps+ Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband network in the rural South Oxfordshire village of Stonor, which has been deployed by Village Networks and is also being extended into Pishill (as far as is technically possible).

Connect8 was originally setup a few years ago to fight for better broadband in the rural villages of Howe Hill, Britwell Hill, Cookley Green, Greenfield, Park Corner, Pishill with Stonor, Russells Water and Swyncombe. However Openreach (BT) recently began rolling out their 80Mbps capable FTTC (VDSL2) broadband network into some of the villages (here), which is expected to cover around 70% of the area by December 2017.

Never the less some parts may not be reached by Openreachs deployment and so a separate deal was done with Village Networks, which has spent the past few months re-lighting / extending an unused fibre optic link in the Stonor Park area and building a new transmitter on top of a nearby hill. The ISP has also worked with Stephen Duckett at the Hundred Hills Vineyard in order to complete the initial network (note: 10,000 has been invested to cover this early work).

The good news is that the first part of the new wireless network covering Stonor and Pishill is now live and delivering download speeds of 29Mbps (4Mbps upload). Going forwards the network could also be extended into a number of other villages, which should help to ensure near total coverage of the area.

Peter Richardson, Connect8, said: We have also received a go ahead from Thames Valley Police enabling VN to add the Britwell Hill masts to the infrastructure backbone, with subsequent community cluster connections to Cookley Green, Russells Water, Maidensgrove, Britwell Hill, Turville Heath and further afield as demand is extended. We are working with [the Better Broadband for Oxfordshire project] to secure as near as 100% coverage in our area as is possible, through a combination of more fibre enabled cabinets and wireless broadband  a model that is the best solution as it currently stands.

Residents can expect to pay 40 per month inc. VAT for an unlimited up to 24Mbps download / 2Mbps upload broadband service over the new wireless network and installation costs around 222 (one-off), although prices do vary depending upon location.

We suspect there may also be a little overlap with Openreachs FTTC deployments in some parts, but at least the VN approach appears to be making good use of private investment.
Today, the MulteFire Alliance released version 1.0 of its specification. The spec, according to the consortiums press release, is based on Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) releases 13 and 14.

Release 1.0 enables LTE to operate in unlicensed, shared spectrum. Essentially, as I wrote last week, there are two kinds of spectrum: licensed and unlicensed. The capacity and cost advantages of unlicensed spectrum have led powerful cellular companies and their ecosystems to try to solve the sticky issues that were a barrier to their use of the bandwidth. MulteFire is one such effort.

Unlicensed spectrum is as available to mobile cellular companies as it is to anyone else. The challenge is that their technology was developed in a landscape in which an individual cellular company plunked down a lot of money and got exclusive rights to a portion of bandwidth. For this reason, technology enabling cellular systems to share spectrum  a huge requirement in the fractious world of unlicensed spectrum  was not needed and never developed. The question now is the fairest system way to give cellular carriers that capability.

That is not wholly a technical question. There is a lot of money in unlicensed spectrum. The politics of how cellular access is written into networks using unlicensed spectrum is tricky and controversial. The issue is even more of a wildcard as a new administration  and one with a very different philosophical orientation  takes the reins.

MulteFire, according to the press release, enables operations to be carried on entirely in the unlicensed spectrum. The key question is what safeguards will be in place to prevent cellular communications from interfering with the tenants who already use the spectrum. That question has caused a long debate between the telephone and cable sectors. At times, the debate has been caustic, and at other times civil.

The spec implements Listen-Before-Talk for fair coexistence with technologies using the same spectrum such as Wi-Fi and LAA, as well as co-existence between different MulteFire networks. It will be interesting to see if that is seen as being a viable answer by the cable companies and other current users. The smart money says that it will not be enough.

PC World says that MulteFire 1.0 will be demonstrated at the Mobile World Congress next month in Barcelona. The group has powerful backers, including Qualcomm, which originated the approach, Intel, Nokia, Ericsson, Cisco, Huawei and others. Consortium member Ruckus Wireless has developed its own approach, OpenG, which it says will be compatible to MulteFire.

In its story on the new spec, RCR Wireless quoted Mazen Chmaytelli, MulteFire Alliances president and Qualcomms senior director of Business Development. He said that private LTE networks will be the earliest MulteFire adopters. The full specification will initially be available to consortium members, with outsiders gaining access mid-year.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.
Israeli drug developer Alcobra Ltd reported their attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) candidate failed a Phase III trial. Metadoxine extended release (MDX) missed primary endpoint and did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference from placebo in the change from baseline as measured using the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS).

Alcobra Is Evaluating Assets And Will Present Strategic Plans To Investors

MDX is Alcobra's only experimental drug to treat ADHD, Reuters reported. Chief Executive Dr. Yaron Daniely confirmed that the company is evaluating assets and will present its strategic direction to shareholders in the coming weeks.

"We are exceedingly disappointed with these top-line results. Daniely said. He also added that Alcobra will review the full data set from MEASURE. "Consequently, we will evaluate our options and communicate our strategic plan to investors." He also said that the company sincerely appreciates all the patients, investigators, and others who aided Alcobra in conducting the study.

The top-line data analysis was conducted on the Full Analysis Set, which includes all subjects which are randomized with at least one post-baseline efficacy assessment. Consistent with previously conducted studies, MDX was generally well tolerated, GlobalNewswire Reported.

MDX Was Not Able To Induce A Statistically Significant Benefit Over A Placebo

The company said that MDX was not able to induce a statistically significant benefit over a placebo in the 283-patient "MEASURE" trial. In addition to ADHD, Alcobra is developing MDX as a treatment for Fragile X syndrome - a genetic condition that causes developmental problems - and cognitive impairment.

Alcobra's announcement came just a week after FDA approved agreement to review data collected to date in the MEASURE study, and consider it in a future NDA submission of MDX for ADHD. Daniely said that they will continue to explore the promise of MDX in other conditions, possibly with a partner in Europe.
A new study has warned that a certain group of a drug-resistant and potentially deadly bacteria may be spreading more widely and become more active in terms of increasing stealth than previously thought. Researchers at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health has reportedly analyzed a large family of bacteria named as Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae more commonly known as CRE. It is said that the bacteria includes many of the more familiar pathogens such as Salmonella that are basically considered to be a disease-causing agent found in four hospitals in the US.

The Antibiotic Resistant 'Nightmare Bacteria'

In one of his statements reported by Daily Mail, last year, CDC director Dr Tom Frieden has dubbed CRE as "nightmare bacteria" after it was proven that the bacteria gets immune to many last-resort antibiotics. It was found that in doing a thorough analysis of samples from across the country, the team discovered that there is a much wider variety of CRE species than there has ever been before. The team has also added that upon doing their analysis, they highly emphasized that each CRE specie has its own medication-fighting properties. Moreover, the Harvard researchers also said that the species seemingly appear learns and adapts from each other, while sharing and spreading medication-resistant genes, highlighting the fact that some of which have never been seen before.

What Is CRE?

Meanwhile, according to SBS, it was found that CRE are a class of bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenems. A significant number of doctors have been considering the use of CRE as last-resort drugs when other antibiotics have failed. Recently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that in terms of infection rates, the incidence of CRE is found to be on the rise just as what happened to an unnamed woman in Reno, Nevada which apparently has killed her. Ultimately, study's lead author William Hanage, an associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard Chan School claimed that the best way to stop the prevalence of CRE in making people sick is to prevent transmission in the first place.
Ukrainian president hopes EBRD to expand financing for Ukraine in 2017

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko discussed prospects of developing cooperation and introduction of investment projects in Ukraine with President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Suma Chakrabarti in Davos (Switzerland).

"The head of state expressed hope that the EBRD would increase financing for cooperation with Ukraine in 2017," the Ukrainian president's press service reported on Tuesday.

The parties also discussed the banking sector reform.

"Chakrabarti praised Ukrainian authorities' effort in the issue of nationalization of PrivatBank and confirmed the EBRD's intention to further provide expert assistance in the reformation of this banking institution," the press service said.

Poroshenko pointed out the key role of the EBRD as the manager of the Chornobyl Shelter Fund and the Nuclear Safety Account. It was agreed to continue cooperation in the area.

The EBRD president assured the Ukrainian president that the EBRD will continue supporting reforms in Ukraine.
The Galaxy S8 has been the most expected mobile device in 2017 along with the iPhone 8, and there have been several rumors suggesting many things about the specs and features that this flagship could wear. However, just a couple of weeks before Samsungs phone is released in New York City, a new leak has revealed on its possible design, giving tech enthusiasts a clear idea of how this smartphone might look.

The New Leak Confirmed Some Previous Rumors

According to the International Business Times, the leaked images come complete with 3D renders of the Samsung Galaxy S8, showing clear shots of front and rear of the smartphone, confirming several suggestions that have been previously rumored about this mobile device, as the possibility of the curved, edge-to-edge display and the removal of the physical home button, which has been extremely controversial for the Samsung lovers.

Also, it seems to be confirmed that the Galaxy S8 would follow Apples steps and remove the headphone. This is one of the most unexpected moves of Samsung, given the fact that it will create a new experience to the customers who are already used with their products' trends. Nevertheless, this is something that cant be taken seriously for sure, considering that a headphone jack was shown off in a separate S8 case leak last week.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Will Have An Outstanding Camera

As reported by Daily Star, the leaks also divulged that the Galaxy S8 will be powered by Qualcomms latest top-of-the-line 64bit Snapdragon chip, and a skinned version of the Android Nougat 7.1.1, which nails the possibility of using its own Exynos 8995 processor, which was something that many people thought it was going to happen.

Also, the Galaxy S8 would feature an improved camera and a new 8MP selfie snapper, which could make this flagship popular enough to restore customers confidence in the brand, considering what happened with the Galaxy Note 7. Apparently, the front-facing camera could sit alongside the integrated iris scanner.
Apple fans from the UK need to watch out the prices in App Store as they will match those of the US. As an example, an iOS or Mac app that costs $0.99, will now be 0.99 instead of costing 0.79. The increase almost reaches a whopping 25 percent. This is a reflection of the depreciation of the pound following Brexit. We should expect the exchange rate to lower even further as talks for UK's departure from the European Union are set to continue for the next few years.

"When foreign exchange rates or taxation changes, we sometimes need to update prices on the App Store," according to Apple which revealed last Tuesday that the price will increase in an email sent to app developers.

In a statement, Apple also enumerated several factors that set the price tiers of App stores internationally. This includes currency exchange rates, business practices, taxes and the cost of doing business. Take note that these factors be different from one region to the other over time.

New prices will be implemented in seven days. This will be the chance for Apple users to make purchases before prices rise. Anticipate price increases in other Apple stores as well, like the iTunes Store for music and video and the iBooks Store.

However, Britain isn't the only one which will be undergoing price changes. The price increases in India because of changes in service tax rate 14 percent and new levies of 0.5 percent set by the government in December 2016. The price in Turkey is seeing an increase as well while the Turkish Lira depreciates. In Romania, due to a tax rate increase from 19 percent to 20 percent, prices are also seen to be affected. Russia's new sales tax which is around 18 percent is disrupting App Store sales.
Facebook revealed that it would put up a base at Station F, a startup campus in Paris and backed by tech entrepreneur Xavier Niel who is behind the French low-cost Internet Provider. It is located in 55 boulevard Vincent Auriol in the 13th arrondissement.

"We're thrilled to be a founding partner and start the Facebook Startup Garage here," Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook chief operation officer said. This is in line with what the COO says about Paris as a city of new ideas and a capital for food, culture, and most importantly, a thriving tech scene. Facebook will work with ten to fifteen startups to support in the development of their businesses, on a six-monthly cycle. This is the very first time Facebook invested in a physical space for startups.

Station F, a transformed listed landmark, will host 3,000 desks for up to 1,000 startups across a space worth 34,000m2. The Facebook chief operating officer said that Facebook will have 80 desks and a working space for up to 15 independent startups found near the entrance of the building.

The Startup Garage from Facebook will help data-driven startups in France. These include Chekk, which allows personal management of digital identity; Mapstr, a service that will let you keep track of places on a map; The Fabulous, a science-based health app; Karos, which helps with carpooling; and Onecub a digital dashboard creator. Facebook won't take equity in the startups and intellectual properly will belong to the individual companies. This means that the use of Facebook services is not obligatory.

The whole Station F campus will bank in from Facebook's mentorship which will include, marketing, technical development, UX/UI, and a lot more. Station F will also house a 360-person auditorium, a post office, a pop-up shop, a four-kitchen restaurant and a public bar.
Right now, Xiaomi is one of the most important brands in China, to the point in which its the main competitor of Huawei in the Asian market, and one of the Chinese smartphones that could conquer the American customers. Although there have been some incredible mobile devices just released by this company, one of the most mysterious is the Xiaomi Mi MIX Evo, since this is a phone which details has remained unknown for the public. However, the device has been spotted on the benchmark website Geekbench, and some of its specs and features have been unveiled.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX Evo Will Be An Improved Version Of The Mi Mix

According to Gadgets 360, the Xiaomi Mi MIX Evo could be one of the most incredible Chinese smartphones of all time, since the specifications listed on the site revealed that this will be a high-end device. It is packed with a capable chip in the form of the almighty Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, which is only used by the most incredible mobile devices right now. Also, it was showed that this phone will have 4GB of RAM, and will run on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, which would turn the Xiaomi MIX Evo into something out of this world.

Apparently, this mobile device will be the upgrade version of the previous Xiaomi Mi Mix, which was probably the most incredible smartphone ever released by the Chinese giant, since it broke the company sales records, being the worlds first phone to wear an edgeless display. Thanks to its outstanding screen-to-body ratio of 91.3 percent. Naturally, this could mean that the mysterious Xiaomi Mi MIX Evo could end up being something ever more spectacular, popular, and lucrative, given the fact that releasing an improved version of a product that excels expectations is usually a successful business.

In fact, considering that the previous version had a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, the Xiaomi Mi MIX Evo improvement might be so attractive for the customers that this mobile device can easily become one of the better smartphones that could be seen in the Chinese market this year, competing against other giants as the Oppo Find 9, the Huawei Mate 10, P10, and the Honor 8.

This Mysterious Smartphone Might Be Unveiled Along The Mi 6 Flagship Range

As reported by the International Business Times, although the memory of the Xiaomi Mi MIX Evo is practically the same as the previous version, it's expected to see an incredible upgrade in any of its specs and features, which hasn't been revealed on Geekbench. This outstanding previous version features 91.3 percent screen-to-body ratio, and a 16 MP rear camera with an outstanding PDAF, f/2.0 aperture, including a dual-tone LED flash.

The most incredible details of this mobile device are the ff: a 5 MP camera at the front for taking selfies and connectivity options that include 4G LET, Bluetooth v4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, a GPS/A-GPS, NFC with Mi-Pay support, and a USB Type-C port. Although the Chinese company hasn't made any announcement about this mysterious smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi MIX Evo might be showed off at the Mobile World Congress 2017, in which it could unveil the Mi 6 flagship range.
Microsoft acquires 3D specialist Simplygon in a move that is part of company's "3D for everyone" strategy.

Microsoft Acquires Simplygon

As Microsoft is making specific investments in 3D technology with the aim to provide even more benefit for creative types, it seems that 3D will take an even more significant role going forward.

According to CNET, Microsoft's is acquiring the Swedish 3D data-optimization vendor. The amount involved in the deal was not disclosed. The announcement was made on company's blog on Tuesday, Jan. 17, by Kudo Tsunoda, a Microsoft executive.

This is part of Microsoft's "3D for everyone" strategy that will be the focus in the upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update. According to Tsunoda, Simplygon, a company with reputable expertise in 3D, could help Microsoft simplify the process of capturing creating, and sharing 3D information. Microsoft's new online creator community, Remix3D.com, and the new Paint 3D application codenamed "Beihai" will be complemented by Simplygon technology.

Among the most important new features implemented into the Windows 10 Creators Update is a wide range of 3D capabilities that cater to creative types, according to Digital Trends. In the next version of Windows 10, in fact, 3D will take a central role, with the ability to scan objects and import them into the new Paint 3D app as 3D objects. It will also be possible to share these objects to the new Remix 3D community sharing site and interact with them using Windows Holographic and HoloLens.

Microsoft's Windows Holographic, HoloLens, and the high-end and very niche Surface Studio show how important is that Windows 10 becomes the best operating system for creative professionals. Microsoft only further demonstrates that it is seriously focusing on its "3D for Everyone" strategy, by purchasing Simplygon.

The major Windows 10 update dubbed the Creators Update has been scheduled by Microsoft for early 2017. The update is set to be rolled out with all-new functionality with a particular focus on 3D, aimed to allow users to freely exercise their creativity. According to vice president of Microsoft's Windows and devices group Terry Myerson, while we are used mostly with 2D apps, the next generation is accustomed right from the start with 3D.

Simplygon 3D Specialist

Simplygon is currently a player in the 3D augmented reality/virtual reality and game optimization niches. The company was developed by Donya Labs AB in Sweden. Simplygon is providing "automatic 3D data optimization solutions," as well as solutions in the fields of e-commerce and interactive visualizations.

Applying the company's expertise in the area of 3D-game optimization is Simplygon's biggest strength. Company's SDK has been adopted by most leading AAA game development studios. Company's technology aims to enable creators and users who are utilizing 3D data to optimize streamline workflows and content pipelines.

Throughout company's journey, it has been focused on supporting developers push the boundaries of 3D tech. From its early days, Simplygon was delivering advanced level-of-detail solutions. With its more recent expansion into enterprise AR/VR, automatic 3D data-optimization has become increasingly more accessible to developers.

According to company's website, Simplygon's next challenge is the ultimate accessibility, 3D For Everyone. In this context, the company is joining forces with high-tech giant Microsoft in order to make this happen.
Qualcomm is being sued by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), after facing similar charges around the world.

FTC Sues Qualcomm

According to Tech Crunch, the FTC filed charges against Qualcomm, accusing the company of anticompetitive tactics. The San Diego-based Snapdragon-maker allegedly attempted to maintain a monopoly in its chip business.

In the statement issued by the commission on Tuesday, Jan. 17, the allegations are detailed, claiming that Qualcomm practiced a "no license, no chips" policy charging elevating licensing fees for patents and forcing smartphone manufacturer companies to pay more for using a competitor's chip.

According to the FTC, other suppliers of semiconductor devices do not impose such conditions. For cell phone makers, the risk of losing access to baseband processors made by Qualcomm it too great to bear because the manufacturer would not be able to sell its phones for use on top cellular networks.

According to The Verge, the lawsuit claims that, relative to how much value they contribute to an overall device, Qualcomm's fees are "disproportionately high." According to the lawsuit, these fees are also too high relative to what competitors charge to use similar technologies. The FTC also says that these added costs hurt the consumers, being passed down to the end price of the products.

Qualcomm response to the charges is that the core of this lawsuit is flawed and the FTC is wrong about all of this. According to the Qualcomm, the company has never withheld chip supply to cell phone manufacturers in order to obtain agreement to unfair or unreasonable licensing terms.

Other Anticompetitive Complaints Against Qualcomm

The FTC complaint is just the latest in a long series of anticompetitive complaints against Qualcomm all over the world. They have resulted in scrutiny in the EU, as well as large fines in China ($975 million) in 2015 and South Korea ($854 million) in December 2016.
University of California President Janet Napolitano was hospitalized over the weekend. School Officials said that she has been undergoing treatment for cancer. She was diagnosed in August and her treatment is early complete.

The University said in a statement that Janet Napolitano has kept the chairman of the University of California Board of Regents informed about her condition. In spite of undergoing the treatment for months now it did not prevent her from doing her job at her best capacity. However, Monday, she experienced some side effects that needed hospitalization.

Officials said Tuesday, she is doing exceptionally well. According to the Los Angeles Times, she is expected to be discharged this week and soon will be back to work in full force. While she is recovering, the University of California senior leadership will take over in managing the University of California system and in advancing the university's key priorities.

University of California spokeswoman said, Napolitano have been previously diagnosed with cancer and had been successfully treated. However, the university did not disclose more information in respect to Napolitano's privacy. According to the Press Of Atlantic City, in November 2004, Napolitano had surgery to remove her right ovary and an ovarian cyst, which was benign. However, she returned back to her duties three days later. And in 2000, after being diagnosed with cancer, she had her right breast removed.

Napolitano, 59, served as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security from 2009 to 2013. She also acted as governor of Arizona from 2003 to 2009 and Arizona's attorney general from 1998 to 2003. She also became U.S. attorney for Arizona from 1993 to 1997. She was also a two-term Democratic governor of Arizona before joining President Barack Obama's Cabinet. She now supervises 10 University of California campuses, five medical centers, three affiliated national laboratories, and a statewide agriculture and natural resources program.
This year is expected to be better for Samsung with the release of its flagship smartphones. Two of these devices are the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. The company was earlier rumored to discontinue the Galaxy Note series entirely following the Note 7 issues, but the presence of a Galaxy Note 8 device is becoming more and more evident every day.

Five Expected Features Of The Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Samsung should make it up to all the fans using the upcoming Galaxy Note 8 after the issues with the Note 7 regarding its battery explosion and recall. According to the International Business Times, ere are the 5 features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that we can expect on its launch.

Dual Screen Display: This year, Samsung is expected to move as far away from the Galaxy Note 7 as possible. The upcoming Galaxy Note 8 is expected to come with an outwardly folding dual-screen display. The said dual display will be located at the front and back of the smartphone

Samsung is also said to be working on another smartphone with a foldable OLED display. As you remember, the company released a video ad back in 2013 showing an in-foldable smartphone device in which the panel would be folded inwards but the upcoming smartphone is expected to be out-foldable. The out-foldable device will be with OLED panels that are placed on sides that would make both the front and the back being folded.

Increased RAM and internal storage: The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is expected to come with 6GB RAM and 128GB onboard memory in addition to its expandable storage via MicroSD card. On the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, there's just one storage option available and almost all Samsung smartphone devices out there is with as much more than 4GB of RAM only. The storage of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is really incredible having its a very large expansion.

Upgraded S-Pen: The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is expected to come with a revamped S-Pen stylus. According to the recently published information in the U.S., the company's patent application was indicating that the presence of a speaker within the S-Pen. Like the Galaxy Note 7, it might weigh only 3g and measure 200mm in length. In fact, that is the length of a standard ballpoint pen for a smartphone.

Non-Samsung batteries: This said feature is kind of obvious since the South Korean tech giant has already found out that faulty batteries caused the battery explosion of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and has already started sourcing batteries from LG. If the main issue that caused the Galaxy Note 7 problems is its battery, Samsung fans should be happy to know that the Samsung is planning to use batteries made by some of its competitors for the Galaxy Note 8.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Release Date

According to Trusted Reviews, the release date of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 should scare Apple Inc. Each year, Samsung launches a Galaxy S device around the month of February or March, and then a Galaxy Note device in the month of August or September. That puts the upcoming Note device in direct competition with Apples iPhone, and thats how fans like it.
Stress can have adverse effects on health. Most people think of heart related issues whenever stress is involved. Work-related stress though could possibly lead to cancer as well.

The work-related stress has been seen in people who have been in stressful jobs for more than 15 years. The study has found that men who held at least four stressful jobs at a time. Some of them even held a dozen or more jobs. It is not only that they are in stressful jobs, but that they have held them for around 15 to 30 years.

The study has been conducted by the INRS together with the Universite de Montreal. Some of the types of cancer that the study participants are likely to get include lung cancer, colon cancer, rectal and stomach cancer. The body parts involved have also been known to be the most affected during times of stress.

Some jobs are also more stressful than others. Some of the most stressful jobs that the study has found include being a firefighter, mechanic foreman, industrial engineer and vehicle and railway equipment repair worker. Stress could also vary depending on the person who is experiencing it, according to the INRS site. Other factors could also contribute to stress.

Most stress in work is due to high work volume and time. Other factors though play in it as well. Stress could also be brought about by temperament, job security, financial issues and work conditions. Daily commute and interpersonal office conflict can also cause stress, as Science Daily reports.

The researchers have noted that earlier cancer studies have not factored in work-related stress. It has not been possible to know how the duration of work-related stress could have with cancer until the study has been made. The researchers have said that there is a need to have more studies related to stress and how to measure it as well as how would relate to cancer.

Stress could cause many effects on a person. Work-related stress could possibly lead to cancer, as the study shows. A study also shows that mini strokes could cause dementia.
South Korea is paying young women get pregnant and have babies as part of the incentive to battle low fertility rate that the country have been facing for 15 years. A mother of 3, Kang Mi-ok had received 2 million won, equivalent to $1,700, to promote the birth of another baby. Kang have been living in the rural county in South Korea where efforts to increase fertility rate is going strong.

Another 8 million won is going to be provided for her to help raise the baby. The financial incentive is set to be given in installments by 202 from Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong province. "It's completely a bonanza," Kang said of the fertility campaign.

The young housewife stated that the incentives have significantly made it easier for her and her husband to raise four kids. South Korea is desperate to raise its birthrate as it is clearly illustrated in Kang's case. Many young people have been deferring getting married and having babies in favor of finding decent jobs, the Vanguard says.

Due to the prolonged economic slowdown, unemployment rate for young people have reached 8.4 percent in December which is much higher compared to the overall rate of 3.2 percent of jobless people. This situation have resulted to delayed marriages and lower number of new babies. That's why the government is restlessly giving incentives to encourage people to make babies, the Yonhap News reports.

Aside from the up front 2 million won and the 8 million won to be given in increment, the government also provides college scholarships to kids. The low fertility situation is the opposite in the 1960s when the government implemented strict policies regarding birth control. As with China's massive health reform plan, South Korea also struggles to construct a new birth policy that would enhance the growth of the population.
A lawsuit of Everest Estate LLC (Kyiv), former Board Chairman of PrivatBank Oleksandr Dubilet and 17 more companies against the Russian Federation filed to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague have reached the stage of hearing on jurisdiction and admissibility. The first hearing was held in New York on December 15, 2016.

"Although invited, the Russian Federation did not attend or otherwise participate The Parties were granted until January 31, 2017 to address any issues arising from the hearing in post-hearing submissions," the arbitration court said in a press release.

According to the press release, Mr. John M. Townsend, Mr. James H. Boykin, Mr. Vitaly Morozov, Mr. Samuel Cowin, Ms. Eleanor Erney and Mr. Alexander Bedrosyan of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP attended for the claimants. In the course of the hearing, Townsend made an opening statement on behalf of the claimants and the members of the Tribunal posed questions to the claimants.

According to the document, on November 7, 2016, having sought the views of the parties, the Tribunal granted an application from Ukraine to make submissions in this arbitration as the non-disputing party under the Ukraine-Russia bilateral investment treaty. On November 25, 2016, the tribunal denied a request from Ukraine to attend and participate in the hearing on jurisdiction and admissibility.

As reported, the lawsuit was initiated by the claimants against Russia on June 19, 2015 under the Ukraine-Russia bilateral investment treaty signed on November 27, 21998 and under the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) regulations.

The claimants submit that, as of April 2014, the Russian Federation breached its obligations under the Ukraine-Russia bilateral investment treaty by interfering with and ultimately expropriating their investments in real estate located in Crimea. The tribunal was constituted on October 27, 2015. It is comprised of Dr. Andres Rigo Sureda (Presiding Arbitrator), Professor W. Michael Reisman (appointed by the claimants), and Professor Dr. Rolf Knieper (appointed by the appointing authority, Mr. Michael Hwang, on behalf of the respondent).

Aerobud, Crimea Development, NIVa-tour, UBK-Invest, Edelveis-2000, Planeta, Privatoffice, Privatland, Dan-Panorama, Energetik recreation center, Financial Capital asset management company and Financial Vector asset management company are among claimants.
New research suggest that the sun has been in the same routine for 290 million years. Scientists are now looking at petrified tree rings for clues on the sun's behavior throughout time. Ancient tree rings from the Permian period recorded an 11-year cycle of wet and dry periods. These fluctuations in climate are caused by the ebbing and flowing of solar activity. The discovery pushes back the earliest evidence of today's 11-year solar cycle by millions of years.

According to Nat Gopalswamy, a solar scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, that the sun's activity has been at this pattern of activity for a very long time. Around every 11 years, the sun's frequency of sunspots, solar flares and its brightness completes one round of waxing and waning. The intensity of sunlight reaching Earth are altered by these solar changes. These activities may affect the composition of the stratosphere and rates of cloud formation according to some scientists. This in turn could change rainfall rates and influence tree growth.

The key to understanding these cycles may lie in ancient trees locked within their petrified trunks. Volcanic eruptions buried an ancient forest in what is now southeast Germany. These eruptions occurred roughly 290 million years ago. Ludwig Luthardt and Ronny Roler, paleontologists from the Natural Museum in Chemnitz, Germany have identified tree rings in the remains of fossilized trees.

The plants showed how much they grew each year by the measurement of their tree rings. The researchers discovered a cycle in their growth rates. The cycle lasted an average of 10.62 years. Long rises and falls in annual rainfall rates are reflected in the cycle. Over the last few hundred years, the length of sunspot cycles were seen to be on an average of 10.44 to 11.16 year length.

Petrified wood is a fossil. These fossils are formed when plant material is buried in sediment and protected from decay. Groundwater rich in dissolved solids then replace the original plant material with silica, calcite and pyrite or other inorganic material. Specimens that exhibit clearly recognizable plant features such as bark and woody structures are common with petrified wood as reported in an article by Geology.com.

According to paleoclimatologist Adam Csank of the University of Nevada, Reno, whether the tree ring cycles and the solar cycles is connected is still uncertain. Studies suggest that it not possible to clearly identify sunspot scycle in modern tree ring records. Other factors such as changes in the Earth's climate system or periodic outbreaks of insect population may contribute to the width of the tree rings as reported in Science News.
Rallies are held across the country as more people come to defend the Affordable Care Act. Congressional Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump have accomplished what President Obama could not in his years in power. They have rallied support for the Affordable Care Act.

Congress is now being flooded by people who benefit from the law with testimonials. Republican lawmakers are being confronted by angry consumers. The Democrats are now defending the law as they see a tide of support washing over the Capitol by Americans marching to protest the repeal of the law that would leave them without insurance coverage.

Across the country, thousands of people have held rallies over the weekend to save the health care law. Last week, Republicans took a first legislative step to repeal the law. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts told a crowd outside Faneuil Hall in Boston that if the Republicans tried to rip health care out of the hands of millions of Americans, that they will fight them every step of the way.

Americans numbering 20 million have gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act's online insurance marketplaces or Medicaid's expansion, around 11.5 million have signed up for the marketplace plans or had automatic coverage for this year as reported in an article by The New York Times.

During a rally at the Capitol, members of Connecticut's congressional delegation told citizens to pressure Congress to reconsider the repeal. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said that this is not a lost fight. If they get rid of Affordable Care Act, they will also be gunning for Medicare, Medicaid and for Social Security. According to Murphy, this is where they draw the line in the sand.

Blumenthal, Esty, DeLauro, Courtney and Murphy urged the people to contact relatives, friends and neighbors to explain why they feel that the Affordable Care Act should not be repealed. According to Blumenthal, they need to mobilize an army of activists to raise the American awareness of what is at stake. He went on to call the repeal an act of war against women's health.

DeLauro approached the issue from an economic standpoint. He said that repealing the act would cause more wealth imbalance. He states that the repeal would give 400 of the richest families a tax cut of $7 million. He stated that millions of middle class working people will lose health care insurance while the rich stands to gain as reported in the Hartford Courant.
A retired professor stepped forward to share his thoughts about what might be a real UFO that crashed in Roswell. The former educator said that he is convinced that the government of U.S.A. has been covering up important details about the bizarre incident. Furthermore, he claimed that aliens have visited the Earth a couple of decades ago and the evidence of the wreckage of the flying saucer was in fact hidden from the public.

Don Donderi, a retired professor at the McGill University, shared to a publication that the U.S. government is covering up the recovered wreckage of a supposed alien space craft. The extraterrestrial craft reportedly crashed into a desert near Roswell, New Mexico in July, 1947. He even claimed that the aliens that might have boarded the space craft have been abducting people for the past decades up to the present.

"The US government recovered the remains of a crashed unidentified flying object (UFO) or to be more correct, an extraterrestrial vehicle," Donderi told the Montreal Gazette. "It is believed that they also recovered bodies of dead aliens," he revealed further. Donderi has been persistent of his claim that the evidences of the shocking incident of a real UFO that crashed in Roswell are solid enough to prove that aliens really exist.

It can be remembered that an alleged UFO crashed at a ranch outside Roswell after the end of the World War II. According to the Daily Express, the military authorities then released a public statement in July 8, 1947 that a wreckage of a crashed flying saucer was recovered. They have however retracted the statement a few hours after the initial official announcement and said that what they found was only a military balloon. Following this, the public then accepted the announcement as truth, until the mid-1970s when a revelation about the incident was leaked by the media.

A UFO investigator then revealed that he learned from Stanton T. Friedman, a nuclear physicist involved in the recovery and transport of the crashed air craft from Roswell to Fort Worth, that there have been a huge cover-up. An alleged Major Jesse Marcel reportedly told Friedman that the truth behind the crash incident have been covered up by the government. He also told that what they recovered from the ranch was a real UFO that crashed in Roswell.

More witnesses of the incident then came forward to give their statement in the 1980s. Glenn Dennis, one of the alleged witnesses, claimed that dead bodies were recovered near the crash site. Furthermore, he said that autopsies were conducted on the recovered dead bodies at the restricted Area 51 USAF facility located in Nevada. Others then claimed that there were alien survivors that were rescued.

Following all of these, Donderi said that the U.S. government covered up the truth because of the suggestion that the Earth is under surveillance by an extraterrestrial race with technology that might be more advanced than what was created by human. "The technology involved is extremely advanced," Donderi claimed. "The implications for human society are incredible and possibly upsetting because we are under surveillance by technologically superior beings from other planets."

Donderi then said that humans do not have any idea why aliens are observing humans because of the cover up. He also said that the most upsetting part of the secrecy is that humans are not able to prepare defensive tactics against possible alien domination since people are not aware that aliens are already coming in and out of the Earth. Furthermore the cover up of the real UFO that crashed in Roswell have hindered the development of a supposed military-technological capability that can defend the human race from extraterrestrials.


Labor pains for expecting mothers in the United States is not a thing anymore as more hospitals are already offering nitrous oxide to divert the attention of patients off their pains. The pain management tool originally used by dentists is now becoming an alternative to pain reducing drugs. As Ohio already adapted the compound earlier this month, more and more hospitals and birth centers are said to be using it successfully.

After the state of Illinois, recent reports reveal that even Indiana is already using the laughing gas as an alternative to anti-labor pain drugs. Expecting mothers admitted at the Birthing Center of St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital can already utilize nitrous oxide during labor. Furthermore, doctors can administer the compound for procedures that may be required after giving birth. The hospital started to use the nitrogen oxide since Jan. 1.

Dylan Kardatzke, a registered nurse and practice facilitator at the above-mentioned hospital said that nitrous oxide can be given to mothers who wish to have a natural birth procedure but wish to diminish the labor pain. Such birth plan reportedly forbids the use of pain-reducing drugs hence the use of an alternate solution. "It can help them keep that birth plan of not wanting the epidural and not wanting the narcotics but a lot of times they will get to 8 to 9 centimeters dilated and need something to take the edge off," Kardatzke said in a statement as cited by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

Following the approval of the utilization of nitrous oxide in birthing centers, the American Pregnancy Association has pointed out several benefits of using the laughing gas during the self-labor. Mothers might love the fact that the alternative is self-administered hence avoiding the costs of hiring anesthesiologists or prescribing doctors. Expecting mothers will simply have to hold a mask discharging the gas to their face, and the drug will then dissipate quickly. As it dissolves faster than drugs, side effects like dizziness, vomiting and nausea.

Reports reveal that the St. Vincent Anderson Regional hospital has just added the nitrous oxide to its pain management options after one of its staff learned from a conference about its uses. Meanwhile, The Columbus Dispatch reported that the nitrous oxide has been a popular pain-management solution in the United Kingdom. As per report, the compound has already been used in the birthing process in the United States since 2017 but by only five birthing centers.

As for mothers who are worrying about the true effect of the new option of pain management, Kardatzke said that the laughing gas does not totally take away the pain. Mothers going through labor will still feel the labor pains and delivery at the same time but will make them care less of the pain. It is also important to note that the nitrous oxide might not be effective to everyone, but patients can shift to another narcotic pain medication once observed that the gas is not taking effect.


Three days after it was launched to space, a 160-foot tall SpaceX rocket booster docked at the Port of Los Angeles. The landing barge with the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket arrived on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 17. This is the company's first mission in 2017 and also the first after the September blast.

The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket which carried 10 Iridium satellites to low space was launched on Saturday, Jan. 14. The 10 satellites are only the first batch of the 70 satellites which SpaceX needs to transport in a series of 7 launches. It is the seventh time in which the company was able to successfully land a rocket booster.

SpaceX previously emphasized its aim to reuse its rockets to reduce the cost of spaceflight. Majority of the budget is spent on building the rockets which can be used only once. "If one can figure out how to effectively reuse rockets just like airplanes, the cost of access to space will be reduced by as much as a factor of a hundred. A fully reusable vehicle has never been done before. That really is the fundamental breakthrough needed to revolutionize access to space," Elon Musk said according to SpaceX.

The first stage of the SpaceX rocket which landed on Los Angeles Port contains tanks for kerosene and liquid oxygen according to CBS Los Angeles. It also contains the nine engines which boosts the entire rocket and payload to space. Two and a half minutes into flight, the first and second stage of the rocket separates and the second stage continues to place the payloads in the proper orbit.

The SpaceX rocket from the mission is parked at the AltaSea marine research center and will be taken back to the company headquarters to be retooled for another flight. SpaceX plans to reuse a rocket in its SES-10 mission scheduled in February. It would be the first time the company would reuse a first stage rocket.
DP World (the United Arab Emirates, UAE), an international port operator, is showing its interest to concession of the Yuzhny port in Ukraine. The company is ready to invest in improvement of logistics of Odesa port, Head of the National Investment Council, former Head of Presidential Administration of Ukraine Borys Lozhkin visiting the World Economic Forum in Davos wrote on his Facebook page.

"We are holding some meetings with representatives of largest global corporations at the World Economic Forum. I want to point out DP World, an international port operator, which is ready to invest in Ukrainian port infrastructure and improvement of operation effectiveness at ports," Lozhkin said.

He recalled that DP World's portfolio includes 77 operating sea and inland terminals and over 50 related businesses in 40 countries. Its revenue in 2015 totaled over $4 billion.

Earlier it was reported that P&O Maritime, a subsidiary of DP World, said that the company is ready to invest in development of tugboat fleet of Odesa maritime merchandise port. A memorandum of intent was signed by the company and the port.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with Chairman of DP World Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. He said that the Ukrainian authorities were doing everything possible to encourage foreign investors. For this end, the National Investment Council under the president of Ukraine has been established. The head of state invited Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem to join the council.

Yuzhny port was founded in 1978. It is located on the Adzhalyk firth and is the deepest harbor in Ukraine. The length of its berths is around 2.6 kilometers. The port has six handling terminals.

Odesa port is located on an area of 109.5 hectares. The port accepts vessels with lengths of up to 270 meters and maximum draughts of 13 meters. The total length of the port's berths exceeds eight kilometers.
The campaign to eliminate passwords has been ongoing, and growing, for close to a decade. There are even some declarations that this might be the year, or at least ought to be the year, that it happens.

Dont hold your breath. Brett McDowell, executive director of the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance, is as passionate an advocate of eliminating passwords as anyone. He says that day is coming, given the creation of a, new generation of authentication technology largely based on biometrics, and a massive collaboration among hundreds of companies to define standards for that technology.

The goal of FIDO, a nonprofit created in 2012, is to supplant passwords with what it calls, an open, scalable, interoperable set of mechanisms, for secure authentication.

But McDowell said last fall, and said again this past week that passwords will, "have a long tail," that is unlikely to disappear anytime soon  certainly not this year.

There are a number of reasons for that, even though the security problems with passwords are well known and well documented. As Phil Dunkelberger, CEO of Nok Nok Labs, put it, the username and password paradigm is fundamentally broken. It was never designed for, and is inherently incapable of addressing, the use cases of modern society. 

FIDO specifications, allow the use of authenticators built into a device, such as biometrics or a PIN, and/or external, second-factor authenticators, such as a token or a wearable.

Brett McDowell, executive director, FIDO Alliance

And of course it is not just technology that has made it easier for attackers to compromise them. Users frequently make it ridiculously easy as well. They use short, simple passwords that wouldnt even take a machine to guess  like admin, password, 12345, etc. They continue to use the same user name and password for multiple sites, since they know they wont be able to remember a couple dozen of them.

The latest Verizon Data Breach Incident Report (DBIR) found that 63 percent of all data breaches involved the use of stolen, weak or default passwords.

And even if users do have somewhat rigorous passwords, far too many can still be tricked into giving them away through social engineering attacks.

Yet, passwords are such an embedded part of authentication systems  most popular websites still use them  that, as McDowell said, it will take considerable time for them to disappear.

Or as Scott Simkin, senior group manager, threat intelligence cloud & security subscriptions at Palo Alto Networks, put it, We have decades of legacy systems and behavior to change, and it will take years for the industry to catch up.

Incorporating customer biometric information will essentially make all companies lucrative targets for attacks and ransomware.

Joe Fantuzzi, CEO, RiskVision

Beyond that, there are at least some in the security community who say we should be careful what we wish for. They note that cyber criminals have always found a way around every advance in security. So while biometric credentials  fingerprints, iris scans, voice recognition etc.  are much tougher to compromise than passwords, they may not be a magic bullet. And if attackers can find ways to steal or spoof them, those will obviously be much more difficult to change or update than a password.

Indeed, there have already been multiple reports of biometric spoofing. FireEye reported more than a year ago that fingerprint data could be stolen from Android devices made by Samsung, Huawei, and HTC because, the fingerprint sensor on some devices is only guarded by the system privilege instead of root, making it easier to target and quietly collect the fingerprint data of anyone who uses the sensor.

The Japan Times reported earlier this month that a team at Japans National Institute of Informatics (NII) found that a good digital image of people simply flashing the peace sign could result in their fingerprint data being stolen.

Researchers have reported that a high-resolution image of a persons eyes can allow an attacker to make a "contact lens" of the iris that would pass as the real thing for authentication.

And there have already been demonstrations that a manipulated recording of a person's voice can trick authentication systems.

Advocates of biometric authenticators dont deny any of this, but say one key to their successful use is for the data from them to stay on user devices only, as is the case with Apples Touch ID. As McDowell notes, one of the many problems with passwords is that they are shared secrets  they exist not only on users devices, but also have to be given to a websites server, which then matches them with what is stored in its database. When such a server gets compromised, millions of passwords get stolen at the same time, through no fault of the user.

(Passwords) remain one of the simplest means of proving identity and gaining access.

Zohar Alon, Co-Founder and CEO of Dome9

According to McDowell, the risk of biometric spoofing is infinitesimal compared to that of passwords.

Since the biometric credential data never leaves the device, the attacker must steal the phone or computer even to attempt an attack, he said. This doesnt scale, and is therefore not viable for financially-motivated attackers.

James Stickland, CEO of Veridium, agreed. You can purchase a kit from China for $10 to copy and extract a fingerprint. This has been shown to work on fingerprint sensors from Touch ID to the device used for the Indian government, and is a problem for almost all but the most expensive sensors, he said.

But this is a problem only when an attacker has access to the users device, so the time window for attack is pretty low.

Of course, not all biometrics remain only on the user device. Some, such as the fingerprints of millions of people who work, or have worked, for government or that are taken by law enforcement, will be stored on servers.

Joe Fantuzzi, CEO of RiskVision, said this might lead to the same risks that plague the healthcare industry, because of its storage of patient data. Incorporating customer biometric information will essentially make all companies lucrative targets for attacks and ransomware, he said.

But those advocating the death of passwords say the other key to secure authentication is what security professionals have been preaching for years: multi-factor authentication.

In other words, they are not trying to mandate that biometrics be the sole replacement for passwords. Dunkelberger, who said the FIDO Alliance is using the authentication technology his firm created, said the core idea, isnt to replace passwords with biometrics, but rather to replace passwords with a strong, secure signal of any kind.

McDowell agreed. He said many FIDO implementations do use biometrics for authentication, but that the specifications are technology agnostic.

It is implementers, he said, who decide what mechanisms it will support. It could be, a local PIN code for user verification vs. biometrics if you prefer.

He said FIDO specifications, allow the use of authenticators built into a device, such as biometrics or a PIN, and/or external, second-factor authenticators, such as a token or a wearable.

The message from Stickland is similar. The only current defense is multifactor authentication, using two or more biometrics  for example, fingerprint and face, or voice. At the very least fingerprint plus a long, randomized PIN would be good.

He said his firm created an authentication tool that, uses a combination of hardware, secure certificates, biometrics, and other information to validate not only the biometric, but every communication between a remote device and a server, basically verifying that not only is the user valid, but the hardware the user is using is also valid.

Simkin also said multifactor authentication, of which there are many options available today, should be used, for all critical resources and applications. The more time and resources you require attackers to expend, the lower the chances of a successful breach.

Stephen Stuut, CEO of Jumio, said organizations will still have to balance security with convenience, since friction in the process of signing on to a site may cause users simply to give up on it.

Companies should focus less on one single technology but rather on the correct combination that meets their business requirements and customer needs, he said. Adding too many steps to the process may increase session abandonment, especially on mobile, where attention spans are short.

All of which sounds like, passwords could for some time remain as a part of multi-factor authentication: Something you know, something you have and something you are.

Zohar Alon, Co-Founder and CEO of Dome9, said he doesnt think they will ever disappear. They remain one of the simplest means of proving identity and gaining access, he said. We can design better security with multiple factors of authentication and authorization that are not correlated with each other, that cannot be compromised all at once.

But Stickland said he believes they will eventually become obsolete. Passwords are painful. We forget them, they are stolen, its time consuming to reset them. At some point, new technology will win.
If the Affordable Care Act is repealed without a replacement healthcare plan, the Congressional Budget Office warned Tuesday that some 18 million people will lose their insurance in the first year -- and millions more will lose insurance later on.

That number includes some of the independent, or gig, workers who use Fiverr's job marketplace.

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Fiverr is part of the gig economy, which is another way of describing freelance, independent or contract workers enabled by applications and online platforms. It has about two million buyers and sellers worldwide, about half of whom are in the U.S. People use the platform to provide and to buy a range of digital services that include programming, development, graphics design, animation and video work.

"The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is incredibly important," said Brent Messenger, Fiverr's global head of community. A wholesale repeal of the ACA, or Obamacare, will not only "negatively impact our marketplace but the gig economy as a whole," he said.

Republicans in Congress and President-elect Donald Trump are promising an Obamacare replacement, but so far they haven't delivered it. That is making people nervous, because some of the ACA's provisions -- including coverage for pre-existing conditions -- are very important, especially to older independent workers.

The gig or independent workforce is large, but remains hard to measure. In a recent report, McKinsey & Company, estimated that 20% to 30% of the working population in the U.S., or some 54 million to 68 million people, are independent earners for either primary or supplemental income. In a separate study last year, MBO Partners, a business services firm, sized the independent workforce at 40 million, with 17 million full-time.

Older workers, said Bruce Bachenheimer, a professor of management and executive director of the Entrepreneurship Lab at Pace University, need health insurance. These are workers with the industry experience, contacts and ability to start a business. But access to health insurance, especially if they or a family member could be turned down because of a pre-existing condition, can play a major role in whether or not to start a business.

Bachenheimer said he cannot imagine how "the staunchest conservative Republican, anti-Obama congressman, could give a reasonable argument about why Obamacare would hurt entrepreneurship."

Jane Langeman, an independent management consultant and president of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP), queried members about the ACA and summarized their views.

"Many of us are on our second-career as independent business owners and have a lot of life and pre-existing conditions under our belts," said Langeman. "The Affordable Care Act made it easier for business owners to even get health insurance, especially when faced with pre-existing health conditions.

"Other members considering launching their own businesses are fearful of assuming the burden of their own healthcare expenses, especially if they also have student debt," said Langeman.

Still, Langeman said one member cited the cost of healthcare under the ACA and questioned whether those costs are sustainable along with other monthly costs.

For Fiverr's Messenger, "If Congress puts forward a plan that is an adequate replacement for Obamacare, that would certainly be a good outcome for us."

But so far, that not what's being promised by Congress, said Messenger. And "you can imagine how unsettling it is for members of our community" to hear about plans to repeal Obamacare without a replacement.

"I would expect President-Elect Trump would want to help the gig economy, not damage it," said Messenger, pointing to it as a growing sector of the economy.
To help crowds deal with Friday's presidential inaugural events, Washington officials have posted an interactive online map showing street closures, transit stops, medical aid stations and even warming tents.

The map can be found on the web using any modern web browser at http://bit.ly/inaug2017.

Users can access the map wirelessly with smartphones and tablets, taking advantage of added capacity from multiple portable cellular transmitters set up near the Capitol and National Mall and along the inaugural parade route from the Capitol to the White House.

[To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page.]

Various estimates have put the potential crowds at between 700,000 and 2 million for the inauguration of Donald Trump, and various related events and protests.

Esri Washington officials provided online maps to help visitors navigate first aid and other landmarks for the inauguration using Esri GIS technology.

With the map, a user can find an address with the added advantage of seeing overlays of where police and fire stations are located, as well as Metro stops, bike-sharing spots and for-hire ride sharing and taxi locations.

The map relies on technology from Esri, a GIS (Geographic Information System) technology provider with a long-time service contract with the District of Columbia's Department of Transportation.

While GPS and GIS mapping are nothing new, officials in Washington said the Presidential Inauguration map represents a way to use a common, precise, widely available map that can be shared by the public and nearly 40 different government entities, including the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Secret Service, and emergency personnel from the suburbs.

"We have decided to get away from static maps and, now with GIS being more robust, we are able to share interactive maps and empower the many stakeholders," said James Graham, GIS and applications manager for the District's Department of Transportation.

"We don't want to recreate these maps each year when we have a big event, so we now have one platform for everyone to use, to work off the same sheet of music," Graham said in an interview.

A common platform helps agencies track conflicting information, such as a wrong address or a building's size or location, Graham added. "One source means every group doesn't have its own information. Location is a key piece in how we organize ourselves."

Jose Colon, CIO of the DC Department of Transportation, said the city recently began matching its GIS data with aerial high-resolution photos taken every four months and with street-level images, some taken via LIDAR on city vehicles.

"We can measure within an inch" various changes in the city's infrastructure over time, including factors like a bridge span that's sagging, he added.

GIS has lately been paired with Waze -- the traffic and navigation app -- and an automated routing system to help oversized trucks avoid restricted routes in the District. The DOT also sponsors a Potholepalooza campaign to encourage drivers and residents to report potholes in streets. With GIS and related automation, maintenance crews can repair a pothole within 48 hours, down from the usual 72 hours.

Modern GIS capabilities are far more affordable and easier to implement than in years past for government authorities, Colon and Graham said.

"The rewards are certainly worth it," Colon said. Using an annual service contract from Esri for GIS mapping and related technology costs far less than the $100,000 the District used to pay to several different companies in the GIS category. He didn't provide the annual cost for the Esri service, but said, "It's not a very big number."

One advantage is that the District can create the map with Esri, which dozens of other outside agencies can use to add their specific information without paying an added fee. "The various agencies all have a stake in what's on that map," Graham said.

"It's getting easier and easier for a city to be more effective in using map technology," Graham added. "It used to be that only experts would be effective, but lately a lot has happened in the background. There's an expert element still, but I can take somebody relatively familiar with Google Maps and a few other technologies and I can have them contributing in a meaningful way. You don't need a four-year degree anymore to do this."
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National joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy has confirmed that the company received a $5.3 billion bill from Russia's Gazprom for gas the company did not order in 2016. Naftogaz does not intend to clear it until Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce issues its final decision, the press service of the company has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Gazprom refers to the take-or-pay requirement in explanations to the bill. Naftogaz does not plan to clear the bill. Until the decision is made by the arbitration tribunal, the take-or-pay provision of the contract is to apply within the existing arbitration," the company said.

Naftogaz said in 2016 the company several times said that it is ready to buy natural gas from Gazprom on the conditions applied to gas purchases in 2014 and 2015 with signing of supplements to the contract.

Gazprom refused to sign the supplements in 2016 without explaining its refusal. This gives additional grounds to say that Gazprom's claims are groundless," the company said.

As reported, on January 17, 2017, Gazprom billed Naftogaz Ukrainy $5.3 billion for not accepting contracted take-or-pay provisions for gas.
A FIGHTBACK has been launched by the Island Independents after former Isle of Wight Council deputy leader Cllr Steve Stubbings, who quit this week together with leader Cllr Jonathan Bacon, claimed the group had fallen apart.

Ahead of the full council meeting tonight (Wednesday), the group announced it would nominate a new leader to run against Conservative Cllr Dave Stewart.

Cllr Stewart said earlier this week he was prepared to serve as leader with cross-party support from other political groups in the council.

The Island Independents' statement said: &am p;quot;We have not stood aside, and the Independent group have not resigned our collective responsibility to the Isle of Wight electorate.

"The Independent group were elected in 2013 with a mandate from the people of the Isle of Wight to minimise and mitigate the effects of the Conservative governments austerity cuts. We intend to continue to fulfil that mandate, despite recent resignations.

"A change in leadership does not require a change in administration. The Independent group are committed to leading through this term of council and beyond May 4 into the next term."

Highlighting what they described as the group's commitment to helping the Island's most vulnerable people, in contrast to the Conservative government's 'savage cuts,' the statement continued: "Cllr Stewart has said he does not have a mandate from the electorate or a Conservative majority. For the Conservatives to take the leadership at this stage would be undemocratic and damaging to the Isle of Wight and its residents, who above all need continuity within the leadership team, and a leader that has a strong working knowledge of current issues with a firm experienced hand on the tiller."



Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk




A NEW chair has been appointed to the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is responsible for buying-in healthcare for the Isle of Wight.

Dr Michele Legg will take over the role from Dr John Rivers, who finishes his term on March 31 this year.

Dr Legg is a GP at Tower House, Ryde, and currently the dementia/older people CCG clinical lead.

She will work with Dr Rivers until the end of March to provide a smooth transition and will continue her GP responsibilities in parallel with her new role, the CCG said.

She grew up on the Island and studied at University College London (UCL) and Middlesex Medical School.

She began her medical career as a hospital doctor on the mainland and in 2004, returned to the Isle of Wight with her family to live and work as a GP.

She is involved in all aspects of healthcare with strong ties with the voluntary sector. She has a special interest in dementia and older peoples health and championed many initiatives including developing Ryde as a dementia friendly town.

She lives with her partner, also a GP, and their two teenage boys. She said: "Being chair of the CCG, I will be able to take an active role in developing excellent health care for Islanders."

Dr Rivers said: "Michele has been working on the Island as a GP for 13 years and has been clinical lead for the CCG since 2011 giving her a good understanding of patient needs and awareness of the health care challenges of the Island."

Helen Shields, Isle of Wight CCG chief officer and the whole of the CCG team thanked Dr Rivers who has recently retired as an Island GP and has been involved in many areas of health care development including diabetes services and GP out of hours services and is deputy chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and chair of the My Life a Full Life Board.

The appointment comes at a time when the NHS on the Island has been struggling to cope with demand and plans to overhaul how services are provided.


Hungary's low cost airline Wizz Air resumes its operations in the Lviv International Airport and from April 2017 launches flights from Lviv to Wroclaw (Poland), Wizz Air Chief Corporate Officer Owain Jones has said.

"We officially inform that we start our operations in our second airport in Ukraine  Lviv. Starting from April 2017 we launch the new route from Lviv to Wroclaw," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.

He said that Wizz Air will service the flights from Lviv to Wroclaw on Tuesdays and Saturdays. First tickets are appeared on the airline's website. The prices start from UAH 619.

"Our clients will receive advantages travelling not only from Lviv to Wroclaw, but they can also use nine other destinations Wizz Air services in Wroclaw," he said.

Jones said that in the near future the airline does not plan to resume operations of its subsidiary Wizz Air Ukraine. It will continue developing the base via Wizz Air Hungary.

He also said that the airline does not plan to resume operations in other Ukrainian airports.

He said that now Wizz Air offers 17 flights to eight countries in Ukraine. The recent destinations the airline launched were flights from Kyiv (Zhuliany) airport to Warsaw (Poland), Nurnberg (Germany) and Copenhagen (Denmark).
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Ukraine wants Russia to stop the persecution of Crimean Tatars and to restore the activity of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people as part of its lawsuit with the International Court of Justice in The Hague (Netherlands) against Russia over acts of terrorism, and discrimination in the course of its illegal aggression against Ukraine.

"We demand they immediately cease violations of the Convention [on discrimination] and take all the necessary measures to protect all ethnic groups in the occupied Crimea, in particular, the Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians. They should immediately resume the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, take measures to prevent further disappearances, killings and torture of the Crimean Tatars, as well as to resume the activities of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian mass media and educational institutions on the territory of Crimea annexed by Russia," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said during a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

The minister stressed that Russia violates the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination through participating in a campaign of discrimination of non-Russian community living in the occupied Crimean peninsula, in particular ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, which was manifested in the prohibition of the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, a wave of disappearances, murders arbitrary searches, arrests, attempts to stop broadcast of media, as well as restrictions on the teaching of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages.

"Of course, we want compensation for the damage. And that the world, which in this case is represented by the International Court of Justice, should clearly state that Russia has violated international law," Klimkin said.

Ukraine's foreign minister says if Russia commits new crimes, Ukraine will file new lawsuits against the state.
Moscow agrees to local law enforcement forces in Donbas being accompanied by unarmed OSCE monitors, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

"At the moment when elections security is discussed, we are ready for local law enforcement forces to be accompanied by unarmed OSCE monitors so that they can become convinced that security is ensured during elections," he said at a joint press conference with Austrian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Sebastian Kurz.

Responding to a question about the transfer of control over the border to Ukraine, Lavrov said that "it is the last step of the Minsk agreements."
Prince William is making a big shift in his career, leaving his job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance and going full time with his royal role.

Beginning this summer, the Duke of Cambridge is giving his time to fulfill his royal duties, The Times reported. His wife, Kate Middleton and their two royal children, George and Charlotte, will move with him to the Kensington Palace in autumn.

The decision comes amid the criticisms against the prince that he has been reluctant on doing more official royal duties than he currently does. In his defense, Prince William said he takes his responsibilities "very seriously."

While Prince William would be expected to do more royal work when he left his pilot career, sources said his functions would not make him overshadow his father. Prince Charles is the next in line to the throne. Princess Anne is also presumed to take on more duties as usual when Queen Elizabeth, 90, and Prince Philip, 95, cut back on their royal engagement.

It is not surprising that Prince William is making such as career decision, as reported by Vanity Fair. As a member of the royal family, the duke has to shift his focus to the royal responsibilities. Still, the 34-year-old prince expressed how he feels about quitting as an air ambulance pilot.

"I know he has really loved living in Norfolk and being just one of the lads at work. He loves the banter," a royal source told The Times. "He will really miss the flying. He does love it," another one added.

Prince William took the job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service in 2015. He spent 7.5 years in military service before that. Prince George and Princess Charlotte would be attending school in London when they moved from Anmer Hall.
This week, Americans are preparing to say goodbye to President Barack Obama as his term ends on Friday, Jan. 20. Along with the end of his term, many people are also steeling themselves to bid adieu to one of the best president-vice president relationships in modern times as Obamas friendship with Vice President Joe Biden has inspired millions of Americans.

Over the years, Obama and Bidens bromance became the subject of hilarious Internet memes. But last week, the presidents tribute to the 74-year-old became the epitome of friendship goals as Obama surprised his brother with the nations highest civilian honorthe Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Internet immediately reacted in full force, with many expressing their admiration for the duos true friendship. But what exactly contributes to Obama and Bidens great working relationship?

Presidential historian and professor at Rice University Douglas Brinkley told the Washington Post, Weve never had that between a sitting president and vice president in recent times, one where the friendship and familiarity factor was sky-high.

CNBC has made a list of what makes their working relationship fantastic, and top executives can certainly learn a thing or two on how the President and Vice President of the United States managed to build a friendship while working hand in hand to lead the country.

Here are some of the things that executives can learn from Obama and Bidens great working relationship.

They value honesty and tell it like it iseven when its hard to do so

In his speech on Thursday, Jan. 12, Obama said that Bidens honest counsel has made him a better President.

After everyone else has cleared the room, hes been unafraid to give it to me straight, even if we disagreein fact, especially if we disagree, said Obama.

For his part, Biden said that they have disagreed, argued, and even raised their voices, but they made a pact to be open and to be like brothers to one another.

They support each other during difficult times

Last year, Biden revealed that the president offered to help out financially when his son, Beau Biden, was diagnosed with cancer. The vice president said (via The Guardian) that he thought about selling his house to help support Beaus family after he resigned from his post as Delaware attorney general. Biden said that he wanted to do it since Beaus family had no income after his son resigned.

He [Obama] got up and said, Dont sell the house. Promise me you wont sell the house, Biden said.

He said, Ill give you the money. Whatever you need, Ill give you the money, the vice president continued. When Beau lost his fight to cancer in 2015, Obama was there for his friend, delivering the eulogy and grieving along with Biden and his family.

They trust each other to do their jobs

The two trust each others strengths and they give each other space to do their work.

Every single thing youve asked me to do, Mr. President, you have trusted me to do, said Biden in his speech on Thursday. Thats a remarkable thing.

They dont take themselves too seriously

The lighter moments of the duos friendship has made the rounds online and have been celebrated throughout the years. From Obama making Biden a friendship bracelet to Biden surprising his friend with cupcakes for his birthday, the president and vice presidents friendship has been admired and joked about, even by their own wives.

In an interview with People, First Lady Michelle Obama said that the president and Bidens friendship will continue even after they leave the White House.

They will find each other, she joked. Theyll go for long walks, looking into each others eyes. The vice presidents wife, Dr. Jill Biden, added, Theyre going to be eating ice cream together somewhere, Im sure.

For more, check out Jobs & Hires report on Spotify wanting Obama to become the President of Playlists.
It appears that President-elect Donald Trump is not yet done with carmakers. After shaming Toyota and lauding Ford and Fiat Chrysler, Trump has now turned his attention to German carmakers.

Shares of German carmakers promptly fell after Trump disparaged them for not making more of their cars in the U.S., Reuters reported. The president-elect has been calling out companies and manufacturers for choosing other countries for their plants.

The president-elect warned German carmakers, including Daimler, Volkswagen and BMW, that he will impose a 35 percent tax on every car imported in the U.S. He threatened the carmakers that they will not be able to sell any of their cars made outside of the U.S. without the tax.

German carmakers and regulators expressed alarm at the idea. The tariff could really cut into the profits of German carmakers especially since the United States is one of the biggest car market in the world.

As Bloomberg News reported, German carmakers pointed out that they have been growing their U.S. operations ever since. BMW noted that its largest factory is in South Carolina. While German carmakers were not exactly surprised with Trump's threat, BMW specifically said it will not withdraw its plans to build production factories in Mexico.

The president-elect also criticized how Germans are not buying as many American cars as Americans buy German cars. He called the relationship a one-way street.

Jobs & Hire previously reported that Ford and Fiat Chrysler quickly drop their plans of manufacturing cars outside of the U.S. after Trump shamed European carmakers and Toyota for their lack of expansion plans in the country.

While it is not certain whether Trump will impose the import tax, it appears that more companies have chosen to be safe than sorry. As president of the United States, Trump will have considerable power to implement what he wants to especially with a largely Republican Congress.
The United States Federal Trade Commission has filed a legal case against Qualcomm, a supplier of modems. The lawsuit stems from allegations that the company is engaging in anti-competitive practices with regard to selling its modems to smartphone manufacturers.

The FTC said that using its "no license, no chips" policy, Qualcomm would not sell its modems to producers who do not agree with its licensing terms. But given that the company is one of the only companies that can provide a large supply of modems of high-end quality, manufacturers have no choice but to agree with the terms. Otherwise, they would have to pay extra just to use Qualcomm's patents or they cannot make smartphones on a large scale, as reported by The Verge.

In addition, Qualcomm essentially makes competitors' modems more expensive when it charges companies an extra fee for phones built with a modem from a competitor. The FTC said that this practice "excludes these competitors and harms competition."

"By excluding competitors, Qualcomm impedes innovation that would offer significant consumer benefits, including those that foster the increased interconnectivity of consumer products, vehicles, buildings, and other items commonly referred to as the Internet of Things," the FTC said in a statement.

In a separate report, The Verge said that Qualcomm also bribed Apple into making a WiMax iPhone back in 2007. In return, Qualcomm allegedly paid Apple some of its patent royalties.

Qualcomm has denied the anti-trust accusations and insisted that they are "based on a flawed legal theory, a lack of economic support and significant misconceptions about the mobile technology industry," according to the publication. The company also denied withholding chip supply just to make partners agree to unfair or unreasonable licensing terms.

Qualcomm's shares fell 4 percent on Tuesday following the news of the antitrust case filed by the regulator, CNBC reported.
Photo credit: T.W. van Urk/Shutterstock Inc.

The European waterfront is looking forward to an uneventful 2017 as the market slide has bottomed out with leading ports posting modest growth or at least stabilizing traffic after several quarters of decline that threatened to become the norm.

Antwerp was the star performer in 2016, with above-average market growth that saw Europes second-largest container hub narrow the gap with leader Rotterdam and pull further ahead of third-ranked Hamburg, a trend that looks as if it will continue this year.

The Belgian port has finally put to rest the myth that its inland location would cripple its ability to handle the latest generation of mega-ships and steadily lose ground to its rivals in the dominant Le Havre-Hamburg range.

Despite snails-pace growth on the key Asia-North Europe trade lane, Antwerp boosted traffic by 4 percent in the first nine months of 2016, to nearly 7.6 million twenty-foot-equivalent units, putting it on course for a second consecutive record year that would breach the 10 million-TEU barrier. This follows 7.5 percent growth in 2015, to more than 9.6 million TEUs.

Rotterdams traffic slipped 0.4 percent in the first three quarters to 9.3 million TEUs, but this was largely due to declines in the first five months. Since then, volume has grown, and it was expected to accelerate in the final quarter of 2016 as its two new automated terminals iron out their teething problems.

Underscoring the Dutch ports position as the top Asia-Europe hub was the acquisition by Chinas Cosco group of a 35 percent stake in the Euromax terminal from Hong Kongs Hutchison Port Holdings.

Hamburg has finally pulled out of an extended slump that reduced its container traffic by 9.3 percent in 2015. Volume was essentially flat through much of 2016, at 6.7 million TEUs in the first nine months, thanks to a long-awaited recovery in Asia trade, which was up 1 percent year-over-year.

Equally significant, the key Russia feeder trade that has been in freefall because of the countrys economic woes also rebounded, with traffic rising 4.4 percent to 337,000 TEUs despite continuing Western sanctions against the Kremlin.

And 2017 could be an even better year as the German Federal Court is expected to approve the long-delayed deepening of the river Elbe, Hamburgs 38-mile link to the open sea, which will boost its competitive position in the north European port range as mega-ships will be able to take on an extra 1,800 20-foot containers per visit.

Despite Europes sluggish economic growth, its second-tier ports continue to invest in a bid to lure traffic from the market leaders. DCT Gdansk, Polands largest container terminal, opened its second deep-water berth in October, doubling its annual capacity to 3 million TEUs and improving its ability to attract long-haul Baltic-bound traffic.

A month later, Liverpool inaugurated a new $500 million deep-water terminal, its second, as it bids to lure traffic away from the UKs dominant southern ports that account for the bulk of shipments from Asia destined for the north of the country. The northwestern ports long-term aim is to capture a 15 to 20 percent market share, up from 8 percent currently.

Meanwhile, state-of-the-art terminals planned in the double-digit growth era before the 2008 to 2009 global financial crisis, are boosting traffic steadily, but not fast enough to throw off their white elephant image. The 4-year-old Jade Weser terminal in Wilhelmshaven, Germanys only deep-water port, boosted traffic more than 26 percent to almost 412,000 TEUs in the first nine months of 2016, but remains far short of its 2.7 million-TEU annual capacity. DP World regularly cites London Gateway among the terminals seeing increased volumes, but it has yet to attract a major east-west service.

Southern Europe, meanwhile, continues to make headlines, as outsiders move in to exploit the regions potential. The acquisitive Cosco group won control of Piraeus, Greeces top port, which it has transformed into a major regional transshipment hub for south and southeast Europe since it obtained an operating concession for two terminals in 2009.

One of the biggest success stories in the Mediterranean was the revival of Gioia Tauro, Italys leading transshipment hub, which boosted traffic 8.4 percent in the first nine months of 2016, to more than 2 million TEUs, and also raised handling rates as a restructuring and cost-cutting program began to pay off.

The double-digit days of growth are long gone and unlikely to return, but the European waterfront looks as if it has shaken off the threat of an extended bear market. Thats progress as 2017 begins.

Contact Bruce Barnard at brucebarnard47@hotmail.com.
Moscow agrees to the arming of OSCE monitors who are working on the contact line in Donbas with firearms, but at the same time finds the idea of creating an OSCE police mission to contradict the Minsk Agreements, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We are ready to increase the number of monitors on the contact line and in warehouses, make this presence round-the-clock and enable monitors to carry personal firearms," he said.

"I think it will be useful and will help calm down the situation on the contact line and may help stop regular withdrawal of heavy weapons from warehouses in violation of obligations under the Minsk Agreements. Such violations are committed primarily by the Ukrainian armed forces," he said.

"If by an armed OSCE mission you meant the idea that is now being promoted from Kyiv, that an armed police mission should be deployed in Donbas to ensure law and order there, this idea absolutely contradicts the Minsk Agreements," Lavrov said.

"The Minsk Agreements provide that Ukraine is obligated to recognize legislatively and stipulate in the constitution the special status of Donbas, including the right of Donbas to have law enforcement forces," he said.

"Therefore, no armed foreign missions to maintain order in Donbas are needed in this situation," he said.
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Turkey has consistently supported the territorial integrity of Ukraine and sees no threat in the intensification of the Russian-Turkish relations, Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey Andriy Sybiha has said.

"Turkey has clearly and consistently supported Ukraine, the territorial integrity and indivisibility of our country, it takes a principled stand in the 'Crimean issue'," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.

The ambassador also said the Ukrainian-Turkish relations are strategic by nature and asked not to "demonize" the relationship between Russia-Turkey. "We, as an embassy, are actively working to ensure a continued strong stand of the Turkish side on the matter of support for the territorial integrity of our country and deepening of political dialogue," Sybiha said.

The diplomat also said that a series of visits by Turkish officials to Ukraine has been planned for the first half of 2017.

However, he said that the issue of the introduction of the free trade area (FTA) between Ukraine and Turkey has not yet been resolved.

"The working groups are in constant contact. At present, we haven't agreed certain groups of goods. In terms of numbers, out of 22,000 items, which should be covered by the FTA agreement, 1,800 haven't been agreed yet," the ambassador said.
Home improvement retailer Lowes informed about 2,400 of its full-time employees Tuesday that they were losing their jobs, part of the layoffs that have been anticipated since last week.

The majority of the cuts are at the store level  one to two assistant store managers per location are losing their jobs. In addition, the company said that it has consolidated some leadership positions in its customer support centers and distribution centers, affecting about 37 employees nationwide, and about 10 percent of vice presidents in the corporate office in Mooresville.

Overall, layoffs affect less than 1 percent of the companys global workforce of 285,000.

Last week, the Charlotte Observer and other news outlets reported that Lowes was expected to announce job cuts as part of an overhaul of its staffing model. The staffing changes are being done now in order to prepare for the busy spring selling season, the busiest time of the year for home improvement retailers.

The staffing changes are intended to address the dramatic shifts that are reshaping the retail landscape, spokeswoman Colleen Penhall said.

Lowes has struggled to improve its profitability as customer traffic has slowed in recent months. Also as a way to trim costs, Lowes in November said it was cutting workers hours.

The staffing changes include the shifting of responsibility from some roles to others, the company said. For example, the department manager title is being eliminated, though those workers may move into new roles. The majority of affected workers have the chance to apply for a new role at Lowes, the company said.

The changes will better align store staffing with customer demand, shift resources from back-of-the-store activities to customer-facing ones, and enhance our efficiency and productivity, Lowes CEO Robert Niblock said in an email to employees Tuesday.

I recognize that change is never easy, but Im confident that if we focus our organizational talent and investments on our omni-channel strategy, well deliver a better customer experience.

The company said it is providing severance and outplacement resources to displaced workers as part of the transition package to those affected.

At an investor conference last month, Lowes said that it expects to make $3.6 billion in capital investments, including plans for 15-20 new stores per year, over the next three years. The expansion, Lowes said, will create approximately 4,000 store-level new jobs, the company said.

Separately Tuesday, Lowes announced the retirement of Bob Hull as its chief financial officer. Marshall Croom, who has been with Lowes for two decades, will succeed Hull as CFO March 3.
Chef Ashley Christensen shares the recipes that have helped make Pooles Diner in Raleigh such a rousing success in her first cookbook, Pooles: Recipes and Stories From a Modern Diner (Ten Speed Press, $35).

Pooles is the flagship of Christiansens group of seven restaurants in downtown Raleigh. Christensen won the James Beard Award for Best Chef of the Southeast in 2014. That same year, Southern Living magazine included Pooles in its list of the 100 Best Restaurants of the South. In December, Eater.com included Pooles in a list of The Best Restaurants in America for the second year in a row, saying, Ashley Christensens flagship blends high-low dining and Southern-French sensibilities (oh, that macaroni au gratin!) in a singular ode to Americana.

Christensen, who grew up in Kernersville, never went to culinary school. And she says she started learning how to cook early on from her mother and other family members.

When it came time to create the menu for her first restaurant, Pooles, in 2007, she started with a feeling, she wrote in the book.

I remembered the way it felt to eat dinner as a kid with my parents  it was an escape from the day, but also a reminder of its blessings, she wrote. It was a process, a gathering space, a warmth. And I funneled that style of cooking through the context of all that Id learned from other chefs and mentors; I translated it into the language of local ingredients and molded it to pay homage to the diner roots of our space.

The result is a menu full of such comforting fare as fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and meatloaf, almost all of which undergoes a twist or two in Christensens creative hands.

Christensen says in the books introduction that her idea felt risky nine years ago. She worried that her food wasnt sophisticated enough, especially compared to what chefs were cooking at fine-dining restaurants. But she decided to keep cooking the food that felt right to her, a kid who grew up in the sticks of North Carolina.

I knew that anything else would feel like an ill-fitting costume and fall short of producing the kind of experience Id set out to create, she said.

So instead of distinguishing our menu with theatrics or reinventing the wheel, we focused on the subtlety of every ingredient and every technique, pushing ourselves to balance flavor with the familiarity of dishes that everyone knew and loved.

The book has almost 120 recipes. The chapter called Counter Snacks (Things That People Stand Around and Eat) includes recipes for such Southern classics as pimento cheese and deviled eggs as well as duck rillettes and tuna tartare with piment despelette and cucumber.

A short chapter on cocktails includes baked apple sangria and beer can michelada.

Christensen admirably includes a whole chapter on vinaigrettes (and the salads they dress), with such recipes as summer melon with country ham, burrata, toasted chiles and white balsamic vinaigrette and lamb carpaccio with roasted tomato, crispy artichokes and yogurt vinaigrette.

Vegetable dishes include cornmeal-fried okra with Tabasco mayo, stewed tomatoes, roasted carrots with whipped tahini, and homegrown tomato pie.

The chapter titled Bowls & Such includes recipes for caramelized onion-tomato soup with Jarlsberg croutons, Pooles famous macaroni au gratin and short-rib pot pie.

The Meat & Fish chapter includes buttermilk fried chicken with hot honey, rabbit poblanos rellenos with charred chile sauce, crispy flounder, cornbread crab cakes, lamb meatloaf with mushroom pan gravy, and braised pork shanks.

Finally, the desserts chapter includes sweet potato hummingbird cake, dark chocolate pecan pie, jacked up devils food trifle, zucchini doughnuts with mascarpone, and benne seed toffee ice cream.

Christensen has come a long way since the opening of Pooles in 2007. Her six other Raleigh restaurants include Beasleys Chicken + Honey, Fox Liquor Bar, Joules Coffee & Table, and Death & Taxes.

I feel so grateful for the confluence of people and events that enabled me to find my voice and use Pooles as my pulpit, Christensen wrote in the book.

We have used food as a lightning rod for building a community, for supporting one another and others, for making our city the only place we could ever imagine calling home. My greatest hope for this book is that these recipes can inspire you to do the same.
People's deputy of Ukraine Nadia Savchenko (non-affiliated) has said she did not violate the state secret by publishing lists of hostages.

"At present, the Minsk process hasn't demonstrated the results for a long time. All I wanted to do is to finally help this process come into effect. And people need to be returned. Notwithstanding the critics against me, I did not break the law. I know how to keep a state secret. I do not recognize any charges that have been brought against me, including high treason," she said at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on the National Security and Defense on Wednesday.

The MP said that she is ready to defend "her every action, every word before a court, a tribunal or before anything else."

"I have not committed any evil breach to the state of Ukraine. I have always defended it, defending it now and will defend," Savchenko said.

As reported, Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on National Security and Defense decided to appeal to the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine with a request to give an estimate as to whether there is a violation of the law in Savchenko's actions on combating terrorism and signs of treason. Such an appeal didn't cause objections from members of the committee.
The decision by British American Tobacco PLC to increase its offer for Reynolds American Inc. should improve the already solid odds in favor of U.S. regulatory approval for the deal, analysts said Tuesday.

BAT raised its offer by $2.4 billion to $49.4 billion. A committee of Reynolds independent board members  those not representing BAT or Reynolds management  announced its support for the revised deal Tuesday.

Since BATs initial offer of $47 billion was made public Oct. 20, analysts have projected a smooth regulatory review.

BAT said the deal also requires anti-trust approvals in Japan. The need for that approval appears to come from projected BAT revenue levels from distributing Reynolds top-selling electronic cigarette Vuse and its heat-not-burn traditional cigarette Core.

The regulatory review process is expected to take between four and five months, some of which will be taken up by BAT fulfilling a requirement to register its shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission. BAT plans to establish a Level III American depository receipt (ADR) with the New York Stock Exchange.

According to Investopedia, an ADR is a stock that trades in the U.S., but represents a specified number of shares in a foreign corporation. A Level III ADR is considered as the most prestigious of the three levels.

The biggest factor when it comes to regulatory anti-trust review is that BAT has not been in the U.S. marketplace since July 2004, when it sold subsidiary Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. to Reynolds for $4.4 billion. BAT gained its 42.2 percent ownership stake and five Reynolds board seats in that deal.

Given the two companies have minimal geographic overlap with traditional and e-cigs in the U.S., the required Federal Trade Commission approval is expected to present very little risk to the deals consummation, said Tyler Tebbs, an analyst with Olivetree Financial Ltd. of London.

Wells Fargo Securities analyst Bonnie Herzog said she believes there is relatively low risk that shareholders vote down the deal given the $1 billion breakup fee and the benefit both sides would see if any corporate tax reform materializes.

However, Tebbs said the breakup fee drops to $500 million if the transaction fails on anti-trust grounds, such as BAT disagreeing with a requirement to dispose of any Reynolds or BAT assets to gain approval.

A primary reason why BAT agreed to sell Brown & Williamson was BATs desire to clear its decks of U.S. litigation costs, particularly as smoker lawsuit costs were rising sharply.

Since 2004, however, the cost and risk of smoker litigation has decreased to the point that Reynolds, Philip Morris USA and most analysts consider them as manageable.

By comparison, with Reynolds $29.25 billion offer for Lorillard Inc. in 2015, some analysts felt the FTC and SEC would not approve the deal from an antitrust perspective because it gave Philip Morris USA (50 percent market share) and Reynolds (33 percent) a potential duopoly.

Reynolds had to agree to sell three traditional cigarette brands (Kool, Salem and Winston), plus Lorillards Maverick traditional cigarette brand and blu eCigs to Imperial Brands LLC to get FTC approval.

Regulators could ask BAT about any plans to introduce some of its popular global brands, such as Kent, Dunhill and Lucky Strike, into the U.S. marketplace in a bid to further increase market share.

Nicandro Durante, BATs chief executive, expects regulators to support the deal given that the company already has secured $25 billion in debt financing.

Analysts with Seeking Alpha said the deal could increase the companies combined debt levels to as much as $62 billion, compared with about $3.7 billion in cash.

Debt levels after the deal is closed are clearly something to watch, the Seeking Alpha analysts said.

Yet, should they be able to deliver on their swift deleveraging promise, shareholders should happily see their company improve their balance sheet and potential for continued shareholder-friendly returns.

There has been talk as recent as last week that the Reynolds board may have been willing to wait to learn the Trump administrations strategy on reducing the federal corporate tax.

If the Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress agree on a 15 percent corporate tax rate, BAT could have been required to raise its offer by several billion dollars.

Thats why Bowman Gray IV, a local independent stockbroker, said he was surprised that the offer didnt exceed at least $50 billion.

Both Susan Cameron, Reynolds executive chairwoman, and Durante declined to discuss what role such speculation of a lower corporate tax might have played in their negotiations.

You cant structure a deal around speculation with no timetable for resolution, Cameron said.
Winston-Salem City Council members heard pleas for the city to become a sanctuary city for unauthorized immigrants on Tuesday, as speakers said the coming administration of Donald Trump has them worried that deportations will increase.

The council also heard complaints about a new bus system route structure that went into effect on Jan. 2. The new routes are supposed to speed travel, but people complained on Tuesday that buses dont come as close to their houses as they used to.

Will Cox, one of the organizers of the sanctuary city effort, told council members that the city needs to make a very clear statement, an affirmation of civil rights following the election of Trump, who campaigned on tougher immigration enforcement.

This is not a time of silence, Cox said. It is a time to stand together.

Theres no official definition of what a sanctuary city is, but it generally refers to cities that do not cooperate with federal officials in the enforcement of immigration law.

Some speakers said that tougher enforcement could tear apart families.

I was born in California, but I was in high school when my dad was first deported, said Jennifer Castillo, now a city resident. She said that in the future young people like her may have to decide whether to stay in this country or go to Mexico to be where their parents are.

Anthony Ndege said the last decade has seen unprecedented anti-immigrant sweeps that have torn apart families, friendships, relationships, and destroyed countless lives.

But Harold Eustache told council members that the N.C. General Assembly had spoken very clearly when it passed a law in 2015 forbidding cities from declaring themselves sanctuaries for the unauthorized immigrants.

Eustache is an assistant district attorney in Forsyth County, but told a reporter he was speaking only for himself.

This is not about discriminating against anybody, Eustache told the council. We all want to be fair. This is about following the law.

The group pushing for sanctuary city status calls itself the Winston-Salem Sanctuary Coalition, and members said they have the support of a number of community organizations in their effort.

Derwin Montgomery, the only council member who directly responded in the meeting to the sanctuary city pleas, said there are people on both sides of the issue who need to be heard, and asked City Manager Lee Garrity to put the issue on the agenda of the general government committee that Montgomery chairs.

I dont believe that we can turn a deaf ear to the concerns, Montgomery said.

After the meeting, Council Member D.D. Adams said that she and others on the council favor sanctuary city status, but that the city is held hostage by the N.C. General Assembly. Adams suggested the city could pass something symbolic on the issue.

Mayor Allen Joines said the General Assembly is pretty clear that we are not allowed to adopt sanctuary city status, and worried that the state could cut the flow of state funds to the city if it goes that route.

I think the city has got to follow the law, Joines said.

Many of the complaints about the Winston-Salem Transit Authoritys new bus routes came Tuesday from residents in the Skyline Village/Columbia Terrace neighborhood, who said they now have to walk up a big hill to get to buses that formerly came through their neighborhood.

The Rev. Dennis Leach, the pastor of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church on Fitch Street, said that the hills in his neighborhood would challenge the fit and are especially hard for those who arent in good health.

I am here to ask for help in restoring bus service to a community that was already feeling boxed in and closed off, he said. Road construction is happening on U.S. 52 near the neighborhood, which is near Bowman Gray Stadium.

Renee Wilkins said she sees people walking with canes, moving in wheelchairs and pushing strollers uphill to catch the bus.

Some people have lost their jobs due to the fact that the bus doesnt come to their area, Wilkins said.

Council Member Dan Besse explained that the bus changes were two years in the making and followed an extensive period of reviewing ridership and getting public input. He said staff would be reviewing how the new routes are doing, but that route alterations cant be done on a dime and overnight.

But Adams said the city may need to look at speeding up the review because of the concerns people are expressing.

And Council Member Robert Clark said he was the only one on the council to vote against the bus changes going into effect the way they did. No business will change everything they do in one day, Clark said.
Reynolds American Inc.s board of directors on Tuesday accepted British American Tobacco PLCs $49.4 billion megaoffer, another iconic local company bought by a larger global rival.

Getting Reynolds to accept the deal required British American Tobacco, or BAT, for short, to raise its offer by another $2.4 billion  raising the value of the deal to $49.4 billion  for the remaining 57.8 percent of Reynolds that BAT did not already own.

The deal is projected to close in the third quarter. There is a $1 billion breakup fee for each company.

Reynolds American shareholders would own 19 percent of BAT, which would become the worlds largest publicly traded tobacco manufacturer. Reynolds would be BATs largest subsidiary.

This is an agreement that offers a compelling premium to shareholders, as well as continued ownership in a company that is well-positioned for long-term success, said Lionel Nowell III, the lead independent director of Reynolds board.

Susan Cameron, who returned as the boards executive chairwoman on Jan. 1, said Reynolds would keep its headquarters in Winston-Salem, similar to how the Brown & Williamson tobacco company operated in Louisville, Ky., when it became a U.S. subsidiary of BAT.

Cameron served as Brown & Williamsons chief executive before joining Reynolds in the same role in July 2004 after Reynolds $4.4 billion purchase of Brown & Williamson.

Cameron confirmed Tuesday that she will remain as chairwoman, transitioning to a nonexecutive role on April 1, until the deal is completed.

Nicando Durante, BATs chief executive, stressed that the company has a strong track record of successfully integrating acquisitions and remains committed to Reynolds Americans U.S. workforce and manufacturing facilities.

Tobaccoville plant

BAT said its manufacturing would be enhanced by the inclusion of Reynolds high-quality production facility in Tobaccoville. Reynolds is estimated to have about 2,000 local employees, the majority of whom work at the Tobaccoville plant.

BAT said the cost synergies for the deal would be relatively modest at $400 million, which could signal limited impact locally beyond back-office and regulatory-oriented positions.

Cameron said the deal is strategic in creating the worlds largest tobacco manufacturer with multiple iconic tobacco brands and a world-class pipeline of next-generation vapor and tobacco-heating products.

Through the transition, we form an industry leader that will focus on innovation and brand building, he said. It hits the sweet spot and brings tremendous value for shareholders for both companies with a more diversified profit pool.

The absence of BAT from the U.S. market since 2004 is expected to be a key factor in a potentially smooth regulatory review of its proposed offer. The companies are projecting a four- to five-month review period with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The new offer represents a 26.4 percent premium in the price of the stock, up from the 20 percent premium BAT initially proposed Oct. 20. Reynolds board turned down that offer in mid-November, the Winston-Salem Journal reported, along with multiple British and U.S. media sources.

Analysts remained optimistic that BAT would increase its offer  and that Reynolds board would accept  given how rapidly the global tobacco industry appears to be consolidating.

Tyler Tebbs, an analyst with Olivetree Financial Ltd. of London, said BAT certainly has not overpaid for Reynolds and the acquirer now has a genuine fundamental story ahead of it.

Durante said he believes the BAT-Reynolds combination has a very compelling strategic and financial logic that will provide a lasting benefit to shareholders, employees and all other stakeholders.

It offers a balanced presence in high-growth emerging markets and high-profitability developed markets, the CEO said.

Sweet spot

BAT valued its initial offer at $24.13 in cash and $32.37 in BAT shares, or $56.50 overall.

The accepted offer is valued at $29.44 in cash and $30.20 in BAT shares, or $59.64 overall.

Durante also used the term sweet spot in discussing the reasoning for raising the cash portion of the deal.

We couldnt go further (in cash) because we want to keep our credit rating ... near where we have it now, he said. The company plans to take on $25 billion in debt to help pay for the deal.

The new offer reached where the Reynolds board thought the offer should be, Durante said.

BAT said it would continue its dividend policy of a minimum annual payout ratio of 65 percent.

By comparison, Reynolds dividend payout has fluctuated between 75 percent and 80 percent in recent years.

Last week, Wells Fargo Securities analyst Bonnie Herzog issued an update after British media reported that negotiations had hit a snag over the Core heat-not-burn technology.

While we would expect some discussion of Reynolds newly reintroduced heat-not-burn platform and possible synergies with BATs existing heat-not-burn glo platform, we have no reason to believe it would be a deal-breaker in and of itself, as we believe BATs interest in Reynolds is driven by bigger potential positives, Herzog said.

Those include BAT gaining a major U.S. market share, acquiring Reynolds cash flow and enlarging its presence as the top global publicly traded tobacco manufacturer.

This deal provides BAT with full ownership of the lucrative U.S. market, complementing its existing presence in high-growth emerging markets, Herzog said.

There are significant synergies/cost savings above the original $400 million synergy target.
RALEIGH  North Carolina Rep. David Price says he'll attend the inauguration of Donald Trump "with pride" in the country even though he's appalled by the president-elect.

The Democrat said in statement Tuesday night that he won't join about 50 House colleagues who say they'll boycott Trump's swearing-in Friday in Washington. North Carolina's other two Democratic House members, Reps. G.K. Butterfield and Alma Adams, said Tuesday they won't attend.

Price says his main reason for attending is to affirm "democracy and the rule of law."

The number of lawmakers who initially said they would skip the event has increased after Trump lashed out at Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., on Saturday for challenging Trump's his legitimacy to be president. Price says he's "angered and disgusted" by Trump's attacks on the civil rights leader.
President-elect Trump once asserted, perhaps jokingly, that the Chinese invented the concept of global warning to make U.S. manufacturing less competitive. However, if global warming is a hoax, it was not fabricated by the Chinese, but by Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius in 1896. Arrhenius was the first to predict that added carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels would cause temperatures to rise.

Irish scientist John Tyndalls discovery that carbon dioxide was a greenhouse gas served as the basis of Arrheniuss later work. In January 1859, Tyndall began studying the radiative properties of several gases and constructed one of the first spectrophotometers, instruments that measure the absorptive power of gases. His experiments demonstrated that water vapor, carbon dioxide and ozone were net absorbers of heat radiation. These basic physical properties are now as widely accepted as the speed of light and sound.

Arrhenius took the hoax a step further by predicting that carbon dioxide waste from burning fossil fuels would cause global warming. Thanks to accounting records kept over the past hundred years, we know how much fossil fuel coal and petroleum companies sold, most of which was burned. We know that the atmosphere now contains over 400 parts per million (ppm) of CO2, up from 317 ppm when measurements began in the 1950s. We also know that December 1984 was the last month that the average monthly temperature was less than the 20th century average.

Actuaries are experts at measuring, managing and mitigating the socio-economic consequences of risk in traditional areas like life, health, property and casualty, pension and investments; and emerging fields like enterprise risk management, cyber risk, crop insurance and environmental hazards. Actuarial organizations in the United States and Canada have recently published more than 50 years of data that reveal whether Arrheniuss theory is a hoax or a real problem. The Actuaries Climate Index (actuariesclimateindex.org) provides insight into the regional effects of climate change, including the impact in the Southeast Atlantic region.

Based on analysis of seasonal data for six different components, including high and low temperatures, heavy rain, drought, high wind and sea levels, the Actuaries Climate Index measures changes in extreme weather events and changes in sea level in the U.S. and Canada. Where possible, the components measure extremes rather than averages because extremes have the largest impact on people and property.

Data for the six components was collected from 1961 to 2016 and compared with a reference period from 1961 to 1990. All data was standardized to measurements over the 30-year reference period. The key metric for the index is a five-year moving average, which reduces the noise of the time series data and allows us to see a clear climate signal.

As seen in the accompanying chart, 1.02 is the current five-year moving average value for the index. The index value remained below 0.25 during the reference period, reached a value of 0.5 in 1998, and first reached 1.0 in 2013. These rising values indicate a sustained increase in the frequency of extreme weather occurrences and changes in sea levels.

The data and physics are clear. Continued burning of fossil fuels increases CO2 levels in the atmosphere, which warms the earth and causes more extreme weather events.

What should we do in the face of this information? Ignore it? The dictionary tells us a conservative person is cautious or moderate. Would a conservative ignore the data and the associated risk?

Some widely accepted economic principles provide guidance toward finding a solution. In 1920, English economist Arthur Pigou taught us that if we want to decrease consumption of something, we need to make it more expensive. This principle is widely used to discourage smoking (cigarette taxes) and drinking (alcohol taxes). Applying Pigous principle means that to reduce fossil fuel consumption we must make it more expensive.

A properly structured, steadily rising price on fossil fuels will reduce consumption, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions. If the funds collected are then returned to households, we will also create jobs and increase GDP while dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

We are already bearing the costs of climate change. Miami Beach, Fla., which has a land area of only seven square miles (Winston-Salem is 133.7 square miles), has already spent $400 million to install pumps and raise streets because of the sea level rise. Think about the costs that will be incurred to protect Charleston, S.C., Norfolk, Va., New York City and other coastal cities and towns that are threatened by sea level rise. If we continue to ignore the risk that Arrenhius identified 120 years ago, we need to be ready to start spending huge sums to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The clock is ticking and the nations fate again is at stake in 24: Legacy, a sequel to Foxs white-knuckle drama series. But this time the hero is black and that matters, says the shows star and producers.

In television, to be a hero and look like I look, that really stuck with me, said Corey Hawkins, who plays Eric Carter, an ex-Army Ranger whos drawn into a fierce new battle at home.

Now that hes helping create a character whos not typically black, the actor said, Carters ethnicity will be more than skin deep.

We have to honor where he comes from, not just his skin color but wheres hes from, the southeast area of Washington, said Hawkins, whos also a native of the city. Thats the authenticity.

Theres pressure in taking over the lead from Kiefer Sutherland, the longtime 24 franchise lead who played U.S. counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer, Hawkins acknowledged.

Uh, yeah. Id be crazy to say there wasnt any pressure, he said. If the challenge wasnt there, theres no reason to say yes to the role.

The series two-night debut is set for Feb. 5, following the Super Bowl, and Feb. 6.

The first edition of 24 was more than a groundbreaker in format when it arrived in 2001. It featured black actor Dennis Haysbert as the U.S. president, well before Barack Obama was elected in 2008.

If you show its possible, it can become possible, said Brian Grazer, among the executive producers of 24: Legacy.

Anna Diop, who plays Carters wife, said all viewers should find the couple familiar, race notwithstanding.

Im hoping people see this and see themselves in these characters and it transcends us being black, Diop said, adding that her character, Nicole, is trying to support her husband and remain true to her own beliefs.

Other cast members include Jimmy Smits as a U.S. senator and presidential hopeful, Miranda Otto as a former counter-terrorism unit head and Ashley Thomas as Carters drug-dealer brother.

The familiar elements, including episodes that play out by the clock, are there for good reason, the shows producers said. The approach remains a brilliant propulsive engine, said series creator Evan Katz.

24: Legacy also is bringing back the character of Tony Almeida, played by Carlos Bernard.

Katz said that reflects what a dynamic actor and presence Bernard is and his characters compelling nature. When he asked himself which of the former characters he wanted to see again, Katz said, it was Tony.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff chief Viktor Muzhenko has presented his views on a possible escalation of the situation in Donbas at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Military Committee in Brussels.

"We have informed the NATO general staff chiefs on possible variants, scenarios, our views of a possible escalation of the conflict and a deterioration of the situation in eastern Ukraine, as well as in the system of the European-wide security. Without exception, all allies have confirmed support to Ukraine, condemned Russia's aggression and said that they will continue to provide assistance to our country," the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's press service cited Muzhenko as saying on Wednesday.

Apart from that, Muzhenko held a number of bilateral meetings, during which the issues of development of cooperation and NATO's assistance to Ukraine were discussed.

In particular, he met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, NATO Military Committee Chairman Peter Pavel, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Curtis Scaparotti and general staff heads of the United Kingdom, Canada, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Lithuania, Moldova and Estonia.
Today

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Tonight

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Tomorrow

Rain showers in the morning becoming a steady light rain in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
KYIV. Jan 18 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The cost of surgical treatment of cardiovascular diseases is from UAH 35,000 to UAH 220,000, and not UAH 10,000 as the Health Ministry believes.

Director General of Heart Center of the Health Ministry Borys Todurov gave the information at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.

"If UAH 60 million provided by the state to finance the Heart Center last year is divided into 5,900 surgeries conducted by the center employees, it would be slightly over UAH 10,000. According to the approved tariffs, the cost of surgical treatment of cardiovascular diseases is from UAH 35,000 to UAH 220,000. Covering only the fifth part of the sum at most the state makes patients and doctors to look for the lacking money," he said.

Todurov confirmed that in 2016 the Heart Center received 1,363 stents procured using budget funds. He said that demand for them is up to 5,000.

"Along with the cost of the stent, the cost of the surgery includes many other medical products, medical expendables and medicines. All stents that we received from public procurement were implanted free of charge. You should understand that only stents were implanted free of charge," he said.

Todurov said that the cost of the stent implantation surgery includes tests and examination, use of expensive medical products, medicines, staying in the intensive care unit and other things.

"A stent procured costs UAH 6,000-8,000. This does not mean that the entire procedure will be free of charge. Many things are not procured," he said.

Todurov said that the switch to insurance medicine could resolve the problem of delivering health care, in particular, cardiovascular care.

"The main efforts to reform the sector should be aimed at this. Medical service standards and approval of their cost, with which the switch to medical insurance should be started, could be made in three or four months. It does not require special legislative changes. However, the new team of the Health Ministry failed to do this," he said.

As reported, according to the Health Ministry, the cost of one coronary angiography and stent implantation procedure is from UAH 10,000 to UAH 17,000, using the formula.

Early January 2017 Todurov criticized effectiveness of procurement conducted using state budget funds. However, some nongovernmental organizations said that this medical institution bought medicines using budget funds at too high prices.

In addition, Todurov accused the ministry of barring the opening of branches of the Health Ministry's Heart Centers in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Meanwhile, according to the website of the Heart Center, on December 26, 2016 its branch was opened in Severodonetsk (Luhansk region).

The Health Ministry believes that the branch was opened in violation of the regulations of the Heart Center of the Health Ministry.
Lets talk about offbeat news: We humans get ourselves into some interesting situations, to put it mildly. The first one made me laugh out loud. I felt bad for the cop, but lol. Read moreSmith Says: Deputy uses taser on K9 unit that attacked cow
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Maan News Agency |  

BETHLEHEM (Maan)  The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, passed a controversial bill on Tuesday that would allow verdicts from military court proceedings in the occupied West Bank to be submitted as evidence in Israeli civilian courts, a move which critics claim is another step aiming to illegally annex the West Bank by applying Israeli domestic laws in the territory.

During a debate over the bill  proposed by MK Anat Berko from the ruling Likud party 

Israeli Parliament opposition MKs argued that the bill constitutes an extension of the Israeli occupation and the governments control over the West Bank, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

MK Zouheir Bahloul from the left-wing Zionist party was quoted by Haaretz as saying the bill would be a de-facto annexation of military court verdicts to civilian courts, adding that the Israeli government would essentially be applying Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, which is occupied territory.

Previously, Israeli military rule, which Palestinians in the West Bank are subjected to, was separate from any civil legal proceedings inside Israel. The new bill would act to synchronize these formerly distinct systems and allow Israeli civilians to use verdicts made in the military courts for civilian cases against Palestinians. Berko reportedly argued in the Knesset debate that the law would make it easier for victims of terror to demand compensation from convicted terrorists in civilian courts since they will not have to begin the legal process from zero, rather can base on evidence already produced in military courts. However, since the Palestinian territory is under a military occupation, Israeli authorities are mandated by international law to follow the local legal systems already extant in the occupied territory, which in the case of Palestine falls within three legal systems: Ottoman, British, and Jordanian law.

Any application of Israeli domestic legislation or courts would be in violation of international law.

The decision is an unprecedented move by Israeli authorities and follows a right-wing upsurge in the Knesset with ultra-right ministers routinely pushing for the annexation of the West Bank.

Berko dismissed claims of annexation, claiming that on the contrary, the law aims to fix discrimination [in the courts] in favor of the Palestinians, because while Palestinians can sue Israelis for civilian compensation based on a criminal conviction, Israelis cannot do the same to Palestinians, adding that the bill would balance the legal situation.

However, Israeli criminal convictions are part of the countrys domestic law, which governs Israeli citizens, while Palestinians are under the Israeli militarys jurisdiction, which is separate from any civilian legal proceedings in Israel.

MK Osama Saadi from the Joint List, representing parties led by Palestinian citizens of Israel, was quoted in Haaretz as saying that this law is a continuation of a series of laws that we will witness in the near future.

Call the child by its real name and dont stand for a laundry of words  were talking about a creeping annexation, he added.

At the end of last year, Israeli ministers advanced the Legalization bill, also known as the regulation or formalization bill, which would see thousands of dunams of privately-owned Palestinian land seized and dozens of illegal Israeli outposts in the occupied West Bank retroactively legalized.

Opponents of the bill also claimed the legislation was another strategy to annex the West Bank.
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

In a daring and bold move that showed his profound humanitarian side, President Obama has commuted the 35-year sentence of Chelsea Manning, a transgender woman and former military intelligence analyst who in 2010 leaked hundreds of thousands of State Department cables and also some Iraq and Afghanistan military logs to the Wikileaks organization, which shared them with the press.

Mannings leaks are credited in some quarters with helping to galvanize Tunisian youth and activists against the brutal dictatorship of Zine el Abidine ben Ali. The argument is that people assumed that Ben Ali was authoritarian but relatively upright and that the corruption was committed by the people around him, whereas State Department cables demonstrated that he personally asked for kickbacks. It is certainly the case that opposition webzines like Nawaat.org in Tunisia translated the cables immediately into Arabic. Manning has been criticized for her scattershot publication of so many documents rather than for whistleblowing, i.e. concentrating on a particular injustice. In the case of Tunisia, some of the released cables did function as whistleblowing. France and the US in public tended to reassure the world that Ben Alis regime was a bulwark against radical Muslim fundamentalism and was improving the lives of its citizens. It was perhaps only just that the sordid reality be exposed to everyone, including the Tunisian people, who now have the only democracy in the Middle East. (Lebanon is too dysfunctional and dominated by a party-militia to fit that bill; Turkey is veering sharply toward authoritarianism, and Apartheid Israel with 4 million people under military colonialism doesnt count by a long shot).

According to a UN inquiry, Manning was tortured when held for 11 months in the brig at Quantico. She was kept in solitary confinement and put under a suicide watch by her jailers despite the opposition of her own physician. The watch involved being made to sleep nude and enchained and being woken up many times each night to be checked, for months on end. The suicide watch was a mere pretext to subject her to the sleep deprivation techniques that are an important arrow in the quiver of contemporary torturers. She still bears the cognitive and emotional scars of this treatment, according to Glenn Greenwald, who has interviewed her.

Obamas commutation of her sentence is all the more surprising because his administration was the hardest in recent memory on whistle blowers and on the journalists to whom they leaked. The idea that whistle blowers should have gone through channels is challenged by the substantial evidence that employees who came forward with concerns faced retaliation. One of the tools Attorney General Eric Holder used against these brave individuals, who were trying to correct some pernicious practice, was the Espionage Act of 1917. This unconstitutional monstrosity was passed at the height of the Red Scare and the immigration hysteria during World War I.

UShistory.org explains:

Once Congress declared war, President Wilson quickly created the Committee on Public Information under the direction of George Creel. Creel used every possible medium imaginable to raise American consciousness. Creel organized rallies and parades . . . Still there were dissenters. The American Socialist Party condemned the war effort. Irish-Americans often displayed contempt for the British ally. Millions of immigrants from Germany and Austria-Hungary were forced to support initiatives that could destroy their homelands. But this dissent was rather small. Nevertheless, the government stifled wartime opposition by law with the passing of the Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917. Anyone found guilty of criticizing the government war policy or hindering wartime directives could be sent to jail. Many cried that this was a flagrant violation of precious civil liberties, including the right to free speech. The Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision on this issue in the Schenck v. United States verdict. The majority court opinion ruled that should an individuals free speech present a clear and present danger to others, the government could impose restrictions or penalties. Schenck was arrested for sabotaging the draft. The Court ruled that his behavior endangered thousands of American lives and upheld his jail sentence. Socialist Party leader Eugene V. Debs was imprisoned and ran for President from his jail cell in 1920. He polled nearly a million votes.

Obama and Holder have bequeathed yet another tool of authoritarianism (along with a revived domestic surveillance program) to the incoming Trumpian troglodytes. Instead of resorting to the Espionage and Sedition Act, they should have worked alongside Libertarian Republicans to get rid of it. Pardoning one person, however praiseworthy, doesnt make up for developing anti-democratic techniques that have now been passed on to the most anti-democratic government in recent decades.

-

Related video:

TYT Politics: BREAKING: Chelsea Manning FREED By Pres. Obama
The US Department of Justice [official website] (DOJ) filed a lawsuit [complaint, PDF] on Tuesday against New York City [official website] for revoking the offer of an emergency dispatch position because the applicant was HIV positive. The DOJ claims [Reuters report] the denial of the position is discriminatory based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) [text], which they claim includes being HIV positive. The applicant, Raymond Parker, applied in July 2013. He received a conditional employment offer but later was disqualified after completing his medical exams. The DOJ is seeking a declaration barring the city from repeating the offense and compensation for Parker.

Combating HIV has been an international concern for years. Last June a group of UN independent human rights experts said that human rights violations contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS [JURIST report]. In May Californias governor signed Senate Bill 1408 into law, allowing HIV-positive individuals to become transplant donors to HIV-positive recipients [JURIST report]. In 2015 President Barack Obama issued executive order 13703 [JURIST documents] Implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which was intended to ensure successful implementation of the the updated national AIDS/HIV strategy. In 2013 the Alabama Department of Corrections [official website] announced an end to its policy of segregating HIV-positive inmates at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women [JURIST report]. In 2010 Human Rights Watch urged the South Carolina Department of Corrections to stop automatically segregating HIV-positive inmates [JURIST report].
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) [official website] filed a lawsuit [complaint, PDF] against Qualcomm [corporate website] in the District Court for the Northern District of California [official website] on Tuesday, claiming the company monopolized a semiconductor device used in cellphones. The FTC alleges [press release] that Qualcomm, a leading supplier of baseband processors, imposed onerous conditions and licensing terms on cellphone manufacturers. According to the FTC, Qualcomm requires cellphone manufacturers to agree to license terms which would require paying higher royalty fees to Qualcomm if the manufacturer uses a competitors device and that the company refuses to provide licenses for competitors. The FTC also believes it precluded Apple [corporate website] from using devices of other companies in their cellphones, knowing that Apples business would make them a stronger company. Qualcomm responded publicly [press release] to the complaint, saying the company defends its business practices and believes the suit is based on a flawed legal theory, a lack of economic support and significant misconceptions about the mobile technology industry.

Qualcomm has faced several other anti-trust lawsuits over the last decade. In December 2008 the US Court of Appeals affirmed a 2007 ruling in part, and vacated in part, against Qualcomm, finding its patents unenforceable [JURIST report]. The court found that by not disclosing relevant intellectual property rights, Qualcomm was engaging in what is known as patent hold-up in an effort to prevent competitors from implementing the technology. Broadcom [corporate website] sued Qualcomm in federal court in 2008 asking the court to declare several Qualcomm patents exhausted and unenforceable. That suit was dismissed [JURIST report] in federal court the following year. Also in 2009, a district court dismissed [JURIST report] a consumer class action lawsuit against Qualcomm which claimed that it used patent licensing to adversely affect competition in the CDMA market. In February 2012 Apple brought suit against Motorola Mobility seeking an injunction to stop Motorola from bringing patent claims against Apple in Germany, which Apple contended violated a licensing agreement [JURIST report] between Motorola and Qualcomm.
[JURIST] Disabled refugees in Greece are not given access to adequate living conditions and medical care, reported [report] Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] Wednesday. Although the EU has provided significant funding to the Greek government, the UN and nongovernmental agencies, most disabled migrants on the eastern Aegean islands are reportedly unable to access basic services such as shelter, sanitation and medical care. One wheelchair-bound woman interviewed by HRW had not been able to take a shower in a month. According to Shantha Rau Barriga, disability rights director at HRW, people with disabilities are being overlooked in getting basic services, even though they are among the refugees and migrants most at-risk. The UN refugee agency told HRW that there are no programs specifically targeting the needs of disabled refugees. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [text], to which Greece became a party in 2012, Greece has a duty to ensure equal access to basic services such as sanitation, housing, schools, and medical facilities in the camps, including in emergency situations [and] failure to do so is a form of discrimination.

The rights of refugee and migrant populations has emerged as one of the most significant humanitarian issues around the world. In November, experts questioned humanitarian conditions at Grecian migrant camps when a 66-year-old woman and six-year-old boy died [JURIST report] in a camp fire. In April several aid organizations urged [JURIST report] EU leaders to stop deportations of migrants from Greece to Turkey and to stop detaining asylum seekers. Also in April Human Rights Watch reported [JURIST report] that the first deportation of 66 people from the Greek island of Chios to Turkey was riddled with an array of irregularities. In April UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged [JURIST report] world leaders to accept more refugees and to combat the growing international anti-refugee sentiments. That same month, an independent UN human rights expert encouraged EU leaders to remain steadfast [JURIST report] in their obligations to handle the recent influx of migrants to the EU.
(Xinhua) 08:39, January 18, 2017

Chinese President Xi Jinpingdelivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for joint efforts to chart the course of economic globalization and forge new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development.

Xi made the remarks while addressing the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He is the first Chinese head of state to attend the Davos meetings in Switzerland.

Amid a rising tide of global concerns for protectionism, anti-globalization sentiment and other economic and political issues, Xi's presence with Chinese wisdom and experiences at Davos bears tremendous historic significance, said WEF founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

GUIDING GLOBAL ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE

In his keynote keynote speech, Xi stressed the importance of adapting to and guiding economic globalization and delivering its benefits to all.

Blaming economic globalization for the world's problems is inconsistent with reality and unhelpful to solving the problems, Xi said, underlining the need to act pro-actively and manage economic globalization appropriately, so as to release its positive impact and rebalance its process.

Xi called on all countries to follow the general trend, proceed from their respective national conditions, and embark on the right pathway of integrating into economic globalization with the right pace.

He stressed the need to strike a balance between efficiency and equity to ensure that different countries, different social strata and different groups of people all share the benefits of economic globalization.

"President Xi's remarks objectively elaborated the role of globalization in the entire process of human history and suggested that its role should be viewed dialectically," said Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Trade protectionism, populism and nationalism can quell public dissatisfaction for the time being, but in the long run, they will harm the overall interests of all," Zhang said.

Analyzing the root causes of the sluggish global economy, Xi pointed to a lack of robust driving forces for global growth, inadequate global economic governance, and uneven global development.

He stressed the importance of developing a dynamic innovation-driven growth model, a model of open and win-win cooperation featuring a well-coordinated and inter-connected approach, and a model of fair and equitable governance in keeping with the trend of the times, and a balanced, equitable and inclusive development model.

Citing the contributing role his country -- the world's second largest economy -- has played in economic globalization, Xi said China's rapid growth has been a sustained, powerful engine for global economic stability and expansion, and the inter-connected development of China and a large number of other countries has made the world economy more balanced.

China's remarkable achievement in poverty reduction has contributed to more inclusive global growth, and its continuous progress in reform and opening-up has lent much momentum to an open world economy, he added.

CHINA'S COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL GROWTH

Xi pledged that China's development will continue to offer opportunities to business communities in other countries.

In the coming five years, China is expected to import 8 trillion U.S. dollars of goods, attract 600 billion dollars of foreign investment, and make 750 billion dollars of outbound investment, said the president, adding that Chinese tourists will make 700 million overseas visits.

China will keep its door wide open, Xi said, voicing hope that other countries will also keep their door open to Chinese investors and keep the playing field level for them.

"China has been a locomotive of growth, especially for the emerging world, but really for the whole world," said Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS, a consulting firm. "More positive perspective of China is an accurate one."

On the progress of the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi told the audience that China's circle of friends along the Belt and Road is growing bigger, and Chinese investment in the countries along the routes has surpassed 50 billion dollars in the past three years.

Over 100 countries and international organizations have given warm responses and support to the initiative, and more than 40 have signed cooperation agreements with China, said the Chinese president, who put forward the initiative in 2013.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies have launched a number of major projects in the countries along the routes, spurring the economic development of these countries and creating many local jobs, Xi noted.

The Belt and Road Initiative, envisioned as an infrastructure and trade network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes, originated in China, but it has delivered benefits well beyond its borders, he said.

China plans to host a Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in Beijing this May to brainstorm on interconnected development, the president announced.

The upcoming forum will explore ways to address regional and global economic problems, generate fresh energy for interconnected development, and ensure that the Belt and Road Initiative delivers greater benefits to the people of the countries involved, Xi said.

Xi arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for a four-day state visit and the WEF annual meeting, which is themed "Responsive and Responsible Leadership" this year and expected to draw together about 50 heads of state and 1,700 political, business, academic and media leaders from across the world.

In his first overseas trip in 2017, Xi will also travel to Lausanne and Geneva to visit the International Olympic Committee, the World Health Organization and the UN Office at Geneva.
[JURIST] The US Secret Service [official website] agreed to a $24 million settlement [text, PDF] with 10 black agents who accused the agency of racial discrimination in a 2000 federal lawsuit. The agents accused the Secret Service of discriminatory practices in promotions, hiring, assignment and transfer practices and of fostering a racially hostile workplace. Under the settlement, the Secret Service could pay as much as $300,000 to each of the original plaintiffs. Jennifer Klar [official profile], counsel for the plaintiffs, told [WP report] the Washington Post at long last . . . black Secret Service agents will not be constrained by the glass ceiling that held back so many for so long. The Secret Service has admitted no wrongdoing connected to the lawsuit but has agreed to reform its employment and promotion practices, the complaint process for employees and how it keeps records. According to [Chicago Tribune report] spokeswoman Catherine Milhoan while the Secret Service takes all allegations in this case seriously, the organization has, and continues to be, committed to a fair and transparent promotion process. A statement [press release] issued by the Department of Homeland Security [official website] said that this settlement is  simply, the right thing to do.

The lead plaintiff in the case, Ray Moore, had been a member of President Bill Clintons detail and had unsuccessfully bid 200 times for a promotion, even training many of the white agents who came to outrank him. Some of the evidence unearthed during the proceedings revealed a workplace culture that during the 1990s and 2000s tolerated racist jokes and slurs, and warned the black agents to stay quiet or risk hurting their careers. Settlement talks were driven primarily by Jeh Johnson [official profile], Secretary of Homeland Security, and they carry symbolic weight at the end of an eight-year period in which the Secret Services primary job was protecting the countrys first black president. The settlement also occurs amidst a turbulent time for the agency, which has suffered a series of blunders in recent years and has had to overhaul most of its senior management.
The US Supreme Court [official website] ruled Wednesday that Fannie Maes sue-and-be-sued clause does not grant [opinion, PDF] federal courts jurisdiction over all cases involving Fannie Mae [official website]. The case was centered around the interpretation of 12 USC  1723a(a) [text]. Under the statute, Fannie Mae has the power to sue and to be sued, and to complain and to defend, in any court of competent jurisdiction, State or Federal. The Supreme Court focused on the qualification any court of competent jurisdiction, or a court with the power to adjudicate the case before it. The court found that in authorizing Fannie Mae to sue and be sued in any court of competent jurisdiction, State or Federal, it permits suit in any state or federal court already endowed with subject-matter jurisdiction over the suit. While Fannie Mae still has a path to federal courts, it will no longer have an automatic pathway.

The effects of the 2008 financial crisis are still reverberating through the legal system [JURIST backgrounder]. Last spring a federal judge unsealed an opinion [JURIST report] from late March ruling that the government did not have grounds to designate the major insurance company, Metlife, as too big to fail, a designation only four firms have received. The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) [official website] determined in 2014 that financial distress at Metlife could significantly affect the national economy and therefore the company deserves increased federal scrutiny. The judge held, however, that such a designation was unsupported by substantial evidence and disregards the costs that Metlife will inevitably suffer. In February of last year Morgan Stanley [corporate website] agreed to pay about $3.2 billion to settle charges [settlement agreement, PDF] that it misled investors in residential mortgage-backed securities [JURIST report]. In September the US Department of Justice [official website] unveiled a new policy [text, PDF] for white-collar crimes, which targets individuals accused of crimes instead of the companies [JURIST report].
Swiss dairy giant Emmi said today (18 January) it had signed an agreement to buy Italian dessert manufacturer Italian Fresh Foods (IFF) for an undisclosed sum.

Free Report Whats the forecast for the food and grocery industry? Market drivers and inhibitors

Five-year forecasts and the impact of COVID-19

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Major trends in the market including rapid delivery, ambient retailing, supply chain disruption, and inflation Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. The food and grocery sector thrived during the pandemic, largely due to the shutdown of the food service industry and the sectors subsequent necessity, panic-induced bulk purchasing, and spending more time at home. The market has grown as a result of inflation. Consumer unwillingness to go out and socialize, and the reopening of several hospitality facilities, helped maintain the demand for groceries, particularly online, in 2021. As consumer behavior changes, we consume more food and drink at home, and inflation increases basket sizes. GlobalData predicts that the sector will continue to hold a higher share than had been predicted prior to the pandemic. This is true despite the fact that the food and grocery sector's share of overall retail will decline from its peak in 2020. This report will discuss market forecasts and key themes in the global food & grocery industry in 2022 and beyond. It covers:Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. by GlobalData Enter your details here to receive your free Report. Please enter a work/business email address Country United Kingdom United States Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of The Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D"ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People"s Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People"s Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Download free Report By clicking the Download Free Report button, you accept the terms and conditions and acknowledge that your data will be used as described in the GlobalData privacy policy By downloading this Report, you acknowledge that we may share your information with our white paper partners/sponsors who may contact you directly with information on their products and services.



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Emmi said the acquisition of Como-based IFF, a family-run international company that manufactures and markets Italian desserts under brands including Dolce Italia, will allow the Swiss firm to strengthen its position in the dessert segment and reinforce its expertise in an attractive niche market.

The purchase of IFF will also boost Emmi in the Netherlands, US and Canada, where Emmi said it has so far had little presence in desserts.

Emmis CEO, Urs Riedener, said: Italian Fresh Foods is an agile, innovative manufacturer of high-quality Italian desserts. The product portfolio suits Emmi extremely well and strengthens a segment that is strategically important for the company.

Under the terms of the deal, which is still subject to approval by competition authorities, Emmi will keep IFFs production structure in Lasnigo. In addition, IFF founder and CEO Flavio Pok will remain in charge of the company and continue to apply his skills to develop the company in future.

According to Emmi, IFF generates sales of almost EUR20m (US$21.3m), 85% of which comes from outside Italy. The company has been characterised by a strong and constant growth in the last five years with key markets being the Netherlands and the UK, Emmi said in a statement.

IFF has an innovative spirit, a strong commitment to quality and state-of-the-art technologies, Emmi added. These include handling convenience products, particularly small portions, and filling glass containers. These segments represent an innovative extension to Emmis existing range of desserts.

The dessert segment is a key area of Emmis product portfolio. Since the acquisition of Italian dessert specialists A-27 in 2011 and Rachelli in 2013, Emmi said it has enjoyed a solid position in Italian speciality desserts.

MainFirst analyst Alain Oberhuber said there was neither any profitability nor transaction multiple given on the IFF deal. He added: We assume that EBIT margin of IFF is around 10%. Emmi could have paid around CHF 26m for the company, which is around 10x EBITDA and slightly above the acquisition policy to pay 7-9x EBITDA for external growth. However, we believe that IFF fits nicely into Emmis strategy to grow stronger in desserts. Desserts is one the four growth categories Emmi focuses on, besides premium cheese, milk drinks and yogurts.

The IFF deal comes just days after Emmi announced a further acquisition in the goats milk sector with the purchase of US-based family-owned business Jackson-Mitchell, which is also known as Meyenberg.

The company first entered the goats milk sector in 2010 with the acquisition of California-based Cypress Grove. It has since expanded its operations via M&A with the purchases of Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery in the US, Bettinehoeve and AVH Dairy in the Netherlands alongside Spanish firm Lacteos Caprinos.

Related Companies
(Global Times) 09:22, January 18, 2017

Chen Qiufa, governor of Northeast China's Liaoning Province, admitted that some local fiscal and economic figures between 2011 and 2014 were falsified and fraudulent, the People's Daily reported on Tuesday.

During the 8th meeting of the 12th People's Congress of Liaoning, Chen said that the province began to increase data accuracy in 2015, when financial revenue contracted 33.4 percent year-on-year. Last year, Liaoning's revenue rose 3.4 percent to 219.9 billion yuan ($32 billion), according to the report.

Since 2014, fiscal revenues and fixed-assets investment in Liaoning have declined.

But the economy probably looked great because of fake numbers for other economic and fiscal indicators, Liang Qidong, vice president of the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, was quoted as saying in the report.

For example, a county near Shenyang, capital of the province, reportedly announced fiscal revenue of 2.4 billion yuan in 2013, but after an audit the figure was reduced to 1.1 billion yuan, and this was not an isolated case.

"It's not only happening in Liaoning, but other provinces as well, as local governments are under pressure to show positive GDP figures. Those figures are part of their evaluation KPI system," Feng Liguo, an expert at China Enterprise Confederation, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

He noted that as the country is in a "new normal" phase of development, local authorities should attach more importance to quality rather than quantity.

"For example, numbers relating to factory bankruptcies, employment rates and capital outflow should be more fully disclosed," Feng added.
Red Monkey Foods, a US manufacturer of own-label organic spices and seasonings, has sold a majority stake in its business to private-equity firm San Francisco Equity Partners.

Missouri-based Red Monkey Foods supplies store-brand products to many of the nations largest food, mass and specialty retailers, San Francisco Equity Partners said.

Scott Potter, managing partner at San Francisco Equity Partners, said, there was a large growth opportunity in front of the company.

Potter added: Red Monkey Foods is at the intersection of two clear trends in the food industry: the rise of gourmet store brand programmes and the continued growth of organic products in numerous categories. The company has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, bringing on new retail partners and expanding to additional premium dry food categories such as seasoned ancient grains.

Founder and CEO Jeff Brinkhoff is to remain with the business, which is located in Springfield in Missouri.

Financial details were not disclosed.
President Xi Jinping and Swiss President Doris Leuthard launch the Swiss-Sino year of tourism next to a panda ice sculpture on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 47th annual World Economic Forum in Davos. [Photo/Agencies]

President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday at the Davos World Economic Forum for boosting open economies as a solution to global sluggishness.

Xi's commitment to an open economy and firm opposition to trade protectionism will bring more confidence to the global economy, analysts said.

"Practicing trade protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. It seems to have screened wind and rain, but it also isolates one from sunshine and air," Xi said at the forum in Switzerland, which was attended by political and business leaders.

"Staging a trade war will only hurt both sides," he added.

Mentioning that economic globalization has been criticized by some as the cause of global sluggishness, Xi said it is not globalization that should be blamed, but regional conflicts. He said these have resulted in many problems, including the refugee crisis in the Middle East and North Africa.

"Of course, we also admit that economic globalization is a double-edged sword," Xi said, adding that it is not easy to "make the cake of global economy" bigger at a time when the traditional economic engine is losing power.

China has not only benefited from economic globalization but also contributed to the process, Xi said, adding that China's economy has contributed to more than 30 percent of global growth.

"China will not envy others, nor will it complain if others benefit from China's development," he said.

China's development is an opportunity for the world and the nation welcomes other countries to share its opportunities, Xi said.

Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF (L) walks out with Chinese President Xi Jinping after a session during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 17, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

While meeting with forum founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab, Xi said that the Davos World Economic Forum had sent positive signals to the world and boosted people's confidence toward economic globalization.

The forum has focused on the current international situation and pointed a way for the world economy to step out of traps, Xi said.

He pointed out that China now has more close links with the forum, and as many as 10 Davos summer forums have been successfully held in the country.

In the past several years, the Chinese economy has made impressive achievements, and the international community is looking for China's solution, he said.

Doris Leuthard, the Swiss president, noting that extremism, violence and conflict have been frequent in recent years, said the world is experiencing fundamental changes.

"The European Union, stable for so long, now has its work cut out," Leuthard said. "Nationalism and protectionism are gaining the upper hand" in many regions of the world, she added.

Huang Ping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Xi's commitment to an open economy has shown China's responsibility in response to global challenges.

Xi has offered China's solutions to various global problems including the refugee crisis, terrorism, poverty and climate change, he said.

Jin Yong, deputy head of the School of International Studies at Communication University of China, said that since economies around the world are facing uncertainties caused by the transition to a new US president and divisions in Europe, the time is right for China to step up and boost global confidence.
Dallas, TX, USA, 01/18/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

In some situations, the police arrest people, and the arrested persons can be charged with a crime, based on little more than someone accusing them, reports Dallas criminal defense lawyer John Helms. When this happens, the arrested person and their loved ones justifiably ask: Is this legal? How could this happen? Isnt everyone innocent until proven guilty?

In my experience, these situations usually involve some type of assault or violence. It could be domestic violence, in which a spouse accuses the other spouse of abuse. It could be sexual assault on a child or an acquaintance, in which the accuser makes an outcry long after the alleged event occurs. What these situations have in common is that there are usually two people involved, no other witnesses, and the accuser is the alleged victim.

To answer the questions above, it is important to understand what proof is needed for an arrest or to charge someone and what proof is needed to prove that a person is actually guilty. They are very different. Below is a chart that illustrates the differences.

Highest

Proof Beyond A Reasonable Doubt (guilty of a crime).

Clear and Convincing Evidence (what the state must show to take a child from parents)

More Likely Than Not (the level of proof in a civil casemore than 50%)

Probable Cause (for an arrest warrant or for a grand jury to indict someone)

Reasonable Suspicion (for a police officer to pull over a car)

Lowest

No Evidence At All

As this chart shows, in order to get an arrest warrant, the police officer applying for the warrant only needs to show that there is probable cause to believe that the person committed the crime. This is a very low standard. One persons word that someone abused, assaulted, or sexually assaulted them can be enough to meet this low standard. This means that the accused can be arrested. After that, a judge will set a bond for them, and if they can post the bond themselves or with the help of a bail bond company, they can be released, adds Dallas criminal attorney Helms.

The next step in a felony criminal case is for a grand jury to indict the person. Again, the grand jury only needs to find that there is probable cause to believe that the person committed the crime. And again, one persons word can be enough.

A grand jury indictment is a criminal charge. It is a formal accusation that a person committed a specific crime. It is also where a criminal case begins. After an indictment, a criminal case is assigned to a judge, gets a case number, and goes on a courts docket. It is also at this point that the government has to turn over evidence to the criminal defense attorney.

The fact that someone is arrested or indicted does not mean that the person is guilty. To be found guilty, the evidence must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is guilty. That is something a jury must unanimously decide at a criminal trial.

So the answers to the questions are: Is it legal for one persons word to be enough to arrest or charge someone? Yes, it can be. How could this happen? It happens because an arrest or a criminal charge does not require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. They only require probable cause, which is a low standard. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? The fact that a person is arrested or charged does NOT mean they are guilty. In order to be found guilty, there must be proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A jury must unanimously decide this at a trial.

Does all this mean that there is nothing someone can do to avoid being arrested or charged with a crime based only on one persons accusation? Absolutely not. If there is evidence to show that a person is innocent, you may be able to present it to the investigator before he or she applies for an arrest warrant. Also, you may be able to present evidence to a prosecutor before the case is presented to a grand jury, and many counties allow defendants to give the grand jurors a packet of information on why the grand jury should not indict the person.

To do any of these things, it is critical to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer who knows how to do it and what is persuasive at each stage. I have had a lot of success heading off criminal prosecutions by presenting evidence to law enforcement or prosecutors before an indictment. The reason is that I know the kinds of evidence that can persuade an investigator or a prosecutor that they should not pursue a case. As a former prosecutor, I have worked with law enforcement at every level, and I know how prosecutors think.

It can seem very unfair that our system allows people to be arrested and charged with a crime based on what may seem like very little evidence. An arrest or a criminal charge can be devastating to lives, careers, and families even if the accused has not been tried and found guilty. That is why it is so important to protect yourself or your loved ones by hiring a skilled and effective criminal defense lawyer who knows how to begin the defense before the case even officially starts.

If you, a family member or someone you know has been charged with a crime or have been convicted and need help with an appeal in the Dallas area, contact Dallas criminal defense lawyer John Helms at (214) 666-8010 or fill out the online contact form. You can discuss your case, how the law may apply and your best legal options to protect your rights and freedom.

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(Global Times) 09:35, January 18, 2017

China and Serbia on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in agriculture.

The MOU was signed in the Serbian capital Belgrade by visiting Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu and his Serbian counterpart Branislav Nedimovic.

China and Serbia will enhance cooperation in agricultural investment and technological development, especially in the areas of meat processing and vegetable and fruit processing, Han told reporters after the signing.

"Regarding trade of agricultural products, we welcome the imports of safe and quality products from Serbia, which not only gives Chinese customers more choices, but also benefits Serbian farmers," he said.

The MOU serves as the starting point of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, Han said, while urging the two sides to enhance cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative and the "16+1" cooperation mechanism.

The "16+1" refers to China and the 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

Nedimovic said the MOU was set to bring Chinese investment into Serbia and such cooperation was vital to the country's food processing industry.
(Global Times) 09:36, January 18, 2017

The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinpingand his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko in Davos, Switzerland, opened a new chapter in relations between China and Ukraine, local experts said on Tuesday.

Viktor Kiktenko, the head of Ukrainian Association of Sinologists, told Xinhua in an interview that the meeting between the two leaders, which took place ahead of the opening session of the 47th World Economic Forum, signaled that the two countries stand ready to deepen their traditional friendship and cement political trust.

"Over the past several years, after the shift of power in Ukraine, many experts have repeatedly stated that it is very important for the Sino-Ukrainian relations to revive the political dialogue at the highest level. That's why this meeting is vitally important in terms of political decisions," Kiktenko said.

The talks,at which the two leaders have agreed to strengthen exchanges between governments, could lay a solid groundwork for the high-level visits between the states, the expert added.

"I believe this meeting is a preparation for the next, more important step -- for an official visit. Most likely, it will be a visit of Ukrainian president to China. I personally and many Ukrainian experts hope that such visit would take place this year," Kiktenko said.

The expert has also underscored the importance of the meeting for strengthening economic partnership between China and Ukraine.

"It is important not only for politics but also for business. Holding the meeting between the two leaders at the highest level would be a signal for the business community that the Ukrainian-Chinese business relations should further develop, should receive a new impetus," he emphasized.

Commenting on Poroshenko's remarks that Ukraine is willing to actively participate in One Belt and One Road Initiative aiming to fully tap cooperation potential with China, Kiktenko highly welcomed the intention.

"It is only the first step, but it is highly remarkable that Ukraine joins this initiative. Yet, a long road lies ahead to fully unlock the complementary advantages of the both economies under this initiative," he said.

Kiktenko was echoed by another Ukrainian international relations expert Denis Necheporuk, who noted that the talks between Xi and Poroshenko have mapped out the direction of further economic cooperation between the two countries.

"We hope that serious negotiations between the two countries will be carried out in 2017-2018 on the intensification of their investment and economic processes," said Necheporuk, who is the head of the non-government organization "Union of Ukraine-China Friendship and Cooperation".

He also praised China's stance on the settling the Ukrainian crisis based on the traditional principles of non-interference and resolution of the disputes through dialogue and negotiations.

"This meeting showed that China plays a constructive and diplomatic role in the settlement. Stressing the need for a peaceful resolution of international issues, the authorities of the People's Republic of China are cementing the position of China as a responsible global leader," Necheporuk emphasized.
A "nianhua" or New Year painting from Tianjin Yangliuqing. [Photo/IC]

China will apply for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status for wood engraving paintings. Respected folk artists from more than 10 places that developed the art form have signed their names in support of the application.

At a forum in Weifang, Shangdong province, on January 13, wood engraving artists from Taohuawu, Suzhou; Yangliuqing, Tianjin; Weifang, Shandong; and Mianzhu, Sichuan discussed wood engraving pictures' present and future with experts and scholars from the Art Academy of Tsinghua University and the Chinese Arts and Crafts Institute.

Huo Qingyou, an artist from Yangliuqing, explained at the forum the process of applying for the UNESCO listing. The application was initiated in November 2011 by Feng Jicai, a famous Chinese writer and artist.

Huo sees wood engraving art as the "encyclopedia of Chinese culture," because it incorporates elements of history, society, fairy tales, religion, beliefs, ethics, and fine literature.

Wood engraving pictures are a Chinese New Year tradition, and there is a long history of households nationwide displaying pictures to celebrate Spring Festival. But the artform needs to adapt to fit the values and aesthetic standards of modern society and gain interest from China's youth.

This application could help ensure that wood engraving pictures are passed down to future generations, and attract attention and gain support from home and abroad.

Wood engraving is passed on in two ways: from the previous generation to its descendants, or by artists recruiting students from outside the traditional art circles.

If the UNESCO application is successful, wood engraving pictures will follow opera, the Chinese zither, shadow plays, Chinese acupuncture, and the 24 solar terms to become China's latest intangible cultural heritage.
After 3 years, MH370 search ends with no plane, few answers

Flight officer Rayan Gharazeddine looks out of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion as it flies over the southern Indian Ocean during the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 March 22, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

The search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 has been called off, in a joint statement made by Australian, Malaysian and Chinese governments on Tuesday.

For the past two years, authorities have combed a 120,000 square km patch of the Indian Ocean to no avail, with no sign of the plane yet to be found.

"Despite every effort using the best science available, cutting-edge technology, as well as modeling and advice from highly skilled professionals who are the best in their field, unfortunately, the search has not been able to locate the aircraft," the statement said.

"The decision to suspend the underwater search has not been taken lightly nor without sadness."

The Malaysian Airlines flight went off the grid in March 2014, with 239 passengers on board heading for Beijing from Kuala Lumpur.

The governments did not make the decision lightly, but were unable to find any credible evidence that a continued search would generate a successful outcome.

"Whilst combined scientific studies have continued to refine areas of probability, to date no new information has been discovered to determine the specific location of the aircraft," the statement said.

"We remain hopeful that new information will come to light and that at some point in the future the aircraft will be located," it said.

The end of the hunt raises the prospect that the world's greatest aviation mystery may never be solved.
(Global Times) 13:38, January 18, 2017

US tech giant Oracle Corp on Wednesday denied a claim that its layoff of a research and development (R&D) team in Beijing was linked to US President-elected Donald Trump's pledges to create jobs at home, stating that the decision was made to further its business restructuring efforts.

"As the global market for Oracle's Solaris [operating system] shrinks, the company is now refocusing on cloud services to better adapt to changes," Li Yingyan, the public relations manager at Oracle's Beijing office, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Li's comment followed a protest on Wednesday in Beijing by some of Oracle's staff, who accused the company of discriminating against Chinese employees.

On Friday night, Oracle sent an e-mail to the roughly 200 employees of its storage and operating system unit in Beijing, asking them to leave before March 31, according to sources close to the matter. The e-mail did not provide details on compensation.

"Oracle is refocusing more R&D efforts on cloud computing  some product teams in some markets will be eliminated," according to the e-mail, which was signed by Bill Nesheim, vice president of Solaris Platform Engineering.

However, most of the laid-off employees didn't buy the explanation. An employee, who only spoke on the condition of anonymity, described the move as "a cut-off to retain job opportunities for the people in the US."

"The Solaris unit may have posted a lower-than-expected performance last year, but the storage group is making lucrative revenues. Oracle does need IT staff to continue offering its storage service, so most of our jobs will be transferred to US engineers," the employees told the Global Times on Wednesday.

However, Li said the layoffs are part of the company's global plan to trim its workforce. "We are cutting employees globally, including in the US," she said. "Meanwhile, we have still hired more than 5,000 people in China, and the employees being eliminated this time are actually fewer than 200, most of whom do not have expertise in cloud computing."

Li also noted that to further develop its cloud business, Oracle is now recruiting in China. "We will scale up our investment and marketing efforts in China," he said.

In December, Silicon Valley executives met with Trump in New York. The co-CEO of Oracle, Safra Catz, later joined Trumps' transition team.
In order to raise funds to start a new business, a 29-year-old man in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province sold the 100-square-meter house bought for him by his parents. After selling the house, he bought a large bus and spent 200,000 RMB ($29,189) to furnish it before moving in, Qianjiang Evening News reported.
(Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province. Photo/China News Service)

China approved no new nuclear power unit projects in 2016, noting the nation's weak electricity consumption market. The only nuclear power unit that launched operations in 2016 was one in Fangchenggang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which was approved at a State Council meeting in December 2015. In 2015, China approved eight nuclear power unit projects, reported Thepaper.cn.

Data from the National Energy Administration shows that electricity consumption in 2016 totaled 5.91 trillion kilowatt-hours, up 5 percent year on year. However, the growth rate before 2008 used to be double digits.

(Map of nuclear power units in China. Source:Thepaper.cn)

The total nuclear generating capacity was 31.35 million kilowatt-hours by the end of last September. Average equipment utilization time was 5,235 hours, down 290 hours from 2015. The decline was reportedly a result of a shrinking electricity consumption market, brought about by the fast growth of nuclear power plants, news site Jiemian.com stated.

As of September 2016, China has 33 nuclear power units in operation, generating about 3 percent of the nation's total electricity  far lower than the world average of 10 percent, according to Jiemian.com.

Even so, China mapped out a number of new projects in coastal regions in its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), which calls for the acceleration of nuclear power development.
A brick-chambered tomb from the Song Dynasty was recently discovered at a construction site in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Workers at the site informed local authorities, and archaeologists have already been dispatched to the site.

A team of experts unearthed the tomb on Jan. 13. The length, width and height of the tomb are 3.15, 2.4 and 1.3 meters respectively. The tomb also featured a 0.8-meter-high clay warrior at its gate. Terracotta animals, figures of civil officials, ancient bronze mirrors and title deeds for land were also discovered inside the tomb, indicating that its owner enjoyed a high social status.

Unfortunately, the tomb was partially damaged by a grave robbery. One side collapsed, and some of the burial objects were destroyed and stolen. Only a small collection of copper coins survived the robbery, offering clues into the period during which they were produced. The tomb is a valuable resource for research into the economy and culture of the Song Dynasty.
A logo design for the China Mars Exploration Project (Photo/CCTV NEWS)

The top eight names and logo designs for the China Mars Exploration Project have already been selected during a preliminary assessment in Beijing on Jan. 16, CCTV News reported.

The evaluation committee consists of 32 experts, including astronautics authorities, graphic design professionals and celebrities. The eight name choices are: Fenghuang (phoenix), Tianwen (questioning heaven), Tenglong (flying dragon), Qilin (kylin, a mythical creature in various East Asian cultures), Zhuque (rosefinch), Huoxing (Mars), Zhuimeng (chasing dream), and Fengxiang (flying phoenix).

A logo design for the China Mars Exploration Project (Photo/CCTV NEWS)

The global call for name and logo designs began on Aug. 23, 2016 and ended on Nov. 10, 2016. The 80-day solicitation saw 35,912 names submitted, of which 14,503 were accepted as valid; 7,439 logos were also sent in, of which 3,239 were valid.

A one-month online vote, starting from Jan. 20, will be arranged for the public to choose their favorite name and logo design from the shortlist. The evaluation committee will then conduct a final assessment based on the poll results. The official name and logo are expected to be released around China's 2017 Space Day.

A logo design for the China Mars Exploration Project (Photo/CCTV NEWS)

China's State Council designated April 24 as Space Day in 2016, choosing that occasion to celebrate the anniversary of China's first satellite launch.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  A man convicted in the murder case that inspired the 1999 movie "Boys Don't Cry" has joined a fellow death row inmate in challenging Nebraska's three-judge method for determining death sentences.

Attorneys for John Lotter argue that he had a right to have jurors, not judges, weigh his fate when he was sentenced to death in 1996. The attorneys cite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that struck down Florida's death penalty process, saying it gave too much power to judges to make the ultimate decision. After that ruling, Delaware's high court followed suit and threw out that state's death penalty-determining method.

Lotter was condemned for his role in the 1993 killings of Teena Brandon, a 21-year-old woman who lived briefly as a man, and two witnesses, Lisa Lambert and Philip DeVine, at a rural Humboldt, Nebraska, farmhouse.

A similar appeal has been filed on behalf of Jeffrey Hessler, convicted in the 2003 rape and murder of 15-year-old Gering, Nebraska, newspaper carrier Heather Guerrero.

The Nebraska attorney general's office has filed motions arguing that Nebraska's sentencing scheme allows jury participation and is not identical to the one struck down in Florida.

In Nebraska when a defendant is convicted in a death penalty case, the jury that decided guilt also decides whether aggravating factors exist to justify the defendant's execution. If the jury finds such, a three-judge panel is convened to determine whether the aggravating factors outweigh any mitigating factors in the defendant's favor. The three judges also must determine if the death sentence is warranted and, if so, whether it is proportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases.

The three judges ultimately determine whether the defendant gets death or life in prison.

Attorney Jerry Soucie, who has represented several Nebraska death row inmates, said Friday that he expects the state's other eight death row inmates to challenge Nebraska's method, too.

"This issue has been floating around a long time," Soucie said.
Our thoughts and prayers go to individuals affected by suicide in our community. The first step in healing our community is to support those who are grieving. Hope is possible and we encourage open conversations of healing throughout our community.

Watch for warning signs in others and learn about community resources. When a community takes these first steps together, we have the potential to prevent suicide. One important step is recognizing the difference between postvention and prevention.

Postvention efforts are vital steps to prevention of suicide. Postvention refers to activities that reduce risk and promote healing after a suicide death and include 1) messages of hope 2) conversations about healing and support 3) knowledge of the warning signs 4) knowledge of resources if someone exhibits warning signs, like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

For those ready to take action, we encourage you to reinforce postvention actions. They are proven effective in communities across the globe to reduce suicide. An important postvention service is the Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team, which consists of trained survivors and mental health professionals acting as volunteers to bring immediate support to survivors of suicide.

The Central Nebraska LOSS Team is activated by first response officials when a suicide occurs to provide resources, support and hope to suicide survivors. Prevention is long term. Prevention is not one speaker on mental health or one classroom discussion; it is a collection of community resources and programs all moving together aimed at a root cause to reduce suicide over time.

The Buffalo County Suicide Prevention Coalition is currently assessing root causes of suicide in our community and identifying key partners and resources to mobilize into action. Be a part of the long-term planning process by signing up to volunteer at Buffalo County Community Partners: www.bcchp.org/volunteers. We all want quick change. It is important to know our best response following a suicide is postvention to reduce the risk of further immediate suicides.

Promote community-based postvention, while long-term prevention strategies are established within the community.

Buffalo County Suicide Prevention Coalition Leaders
A recent tweet from @realDonaldTrump: John Lewis is an American hero. I look forward to working with him in the years to come. That, my friends, is whats known as fake news. It didnt happen. I made it up.

Heres real news: Just days before his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump got into a verbal battle with Georgia Rep. John Lewis, one of Americas greatest living heroes and an icon of the civil rights movement.

As all surely know by now, Lewis said that Trump isnt a legitimate president, to which Trump retorted that Lewis is: all talk, talk, talk  no action.

Now, now, gentlemen, isnt one of you about to become president of the United States?

How rich that Trump would be so offended by a charge of illegitimacy when he spent years trying to prove the same about Barack Obamas presidency. But Trump doesnt take an insult lying down. When someone fires at him, he fires right back. This impulsiveness can have less amusing consequences in a president whose tweets can upset global relations, or worse.

Lewis explained that his position was based in part on alleged Russian interference with the election.

As for all talk and no action, does Trump even know who John Lewis is? The man was bludgeoned bloody by police and hospitalized for peaceably protesting during 1965s historic civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery. Obviously, Trump was referring to Lewis more recent record, but this is hardly the time to start a war with a hero  not that this is his first time. Trump also criticized Sen. John McCain in 2015, saying he was only a hero because he was captured.

Nice touch, Mr. Commander in Chief.

More to the point, his takedown of Lewis is such a waste of time and a squandering of human resources that he may need someday. What profit could there possibly be in firing back at someone so admired by so many, especially within the African-American community?

Meanwhile, his meeting Monday with Martin Luther King III seemed like a one-upmans stunt contrived to show his bona fides among African-Americans. Trump essentially was saying that he didnt need Martin Luther King Jr.s wingman when he has Kings son in his pocket. No offense to King III, but there was only one King who led the civil rights movement  and John Lewis was by his side when it counted.

As Inauguration Day looms, one wishes that Trumps vow to be so presidential would start early. Why wait? If a presidents role is in part to unify the country, he cant start soon enough. Imagine if Trump had taken the high road in this instance. He could have not remarked at all, which would have been refreshing. Or, as suggested in the fake news item above, he could have commended Lewis record and expressed hope that hed soon change his mind.

Trump would have seemed a beacon of wisdom, self-restraint and generosity. Instead, Trumps unnecessary engagement of Lewis has pitted Democrats against Republicans: Do you stand with Trump or Lewis? Thats a helluva choice.

More than 50 Democratic representatives have sided with Lewis and plan to join him in boycotting the swearing-in ceremony and the peaceful transition of power, in effect joining hundreds of thousands of protesters for what promises to be an animated weekend.

Theres only one person who can bring this episode to a gracious close. In my fantasy, Trump issues a statement: With this, my last tweet until I leave the presidency, I invite Lewis to the Oval Office to find mutual ground in aiding all Americans.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday delivered a keynote speech at the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, making a strong case for advancing globalization and rejecting protectionism.

Officials, scholars and economists worldwide spoke highly of the speech, saying it not only showed China's determination to continue its development path, but also offered solutions to the world's economic problems.

Vincent A. Forlenza, chairman of the Board, CEO and President of BD, a global medical technology company, called Xi's speech "positive, realistic and open."

Echoing Forlenza's comment, Gavin E. Wilson, CEO of IFC Asset Management Company LLC, also found the speech with its prominent focus on globalization very positive.

"What impressed me most were his expressions on globalization and free trade. Globalization and free trade have brought enormous progress in health, wealth, education, etc." Wilson said, adding it was refreshing to hear the leader of the world's second largest economy reinforce that message.

Given the current state of slowing global economic growth, the Chinese president presented a clear case for an urgent and courageous response from global leaders, according to Honson To, chairman of KPMG China.

"He persuaded the world to persist with free trade rather than reverting to protectionism for the long term benefit of all nations," To said.

"He then described the long and arduous journey that China had taken in 38 years of reform and opening-up and China's readiness to take leadership in driving global growth for the benefit of not just China but all peoples of the world," he said, adding that he was deeply moved by the strong sense of China's purpose as a responsible leader on the world stage.

President Xi's insights and emphasis on the importance of continued globalization, growth and equity also impressed Hans-Paul Buerkner, Chairman of Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

"He put overcoming poverty and climate change into the context of globalization, growth and equity, to really keep on bringing progress not just to China, but to the world. That's really something that I feel personally very strongly about," Buerkner said, adding that he liked Xi's message about globalization being win-win for everyone.

"We need to push growth. There are still lots of opportunities and we can deal with equity issues best when, as Xi mentioned, the cake grows," Buerkner added.

Khalid Al Rumaihi, chief executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board, said that President Xi's insistence on deepening globalization, strengthening economic growth and his warning against isolationism is extremely comforting.

"I think China as such a vital part of world economy now has that kind of strong message sent by President Xi, which is hugely positive, particularly when the world is fearing the routes towards isolationism today," Rumaihi added.

Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International, said that given the current volatility of global politics, President Xi's address not only helped calm nerves but boosted global confidence.

"Xi's reference to climate change highlights China's evolving calculus toward taking action on the issue. Now more than ever, the world needs to follow committed powers like China to safeguard and enhance the hard-fought international climate regime," Morgan said.

Shu Yinbiao, chairman of State Grid Corporation of China, said that at a time when the economic outlook is uncertain and recovery weak, Xi's speech not offered "China's plan," but expressed confidence in the long-term sustainable growth of the country's economy as well.

"This sent a strong signal to the international community that China's economy is able to maintain long-term, stable and sustainable development," Shu said.

As for the Belt and Road Initiative Xi expounded in his speech, Shu said that this initiative not only helps countries step into the fast lane of development, but also makes important contributions to the global economy.

"China has worked really hard to be one good citizen of the world," Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at the consulting firm IHS Inc., said.

"It added a lot to growth globally. Xi has mentioned the great contribution of China in the last 10 years. It's been tremendous. China has been a locomotive of growth," Behravesh added.

Ding Yuan, vice president of China Europe International Business School, said that as the Davos Forum was held amid a rising tide of de-globalization and trade protectionism, China's attitude toward globalization and free trade issues has attracted the attention of the world.

"With China's economy growing and the improvement of its international status, China is playing a more and more important role on the world stage," Ding said, expecting that China will release clearer and more open signals on reducing trade barriers and increasing trade liberalization and globalization.
West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater, shown here in a file photo beside the town's welcome sign, said Tuesday taxpayers are tired of being nickel-and-dimed as he voted down a proposed new levy that would have netted the municipality an extra $450,000 a year.
Ecuador's Foreign Minister Guillaume Long, right, points the way to Colombian government representative Juan Camilo Restrepo, center, and rebel representative Pablo Beltran, of the National Liberation Army (ELN), left, for a joint press conference in Quito, Ecuador, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. Colombia's second-largest rebel group has agreed to free a prominent politician that it has held captive for almost a year, clearing the way for repeatedly postponed peace talks to begin next month. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
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(Xinhua) 20:18, January 18, 2017

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday sent a message of condolences to his Kyrgyz counterpart, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, over a cargo plane crash in Kyrgyzstan.

On behalf of the Chinese government, Li mourned the dead and extended condolences to their families.

A cargo plane owned by ACT Airlines of Turkey crashed Monday upon landing in foggy weather in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. At least 37 people were killed, with the majority being local residents on the ground.
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At the start of the first week of the medical school at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, students get introduced to the anatomy lab, and by the end of the week, the first dissection occurs. Students study muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and other structures on dead bodies they dissect under the instruction of Dr. Abdo Jurjus, the anatomy course coordinator and instructor.

First-year medical students spend around 3 hours a day, 3 times a week in the lab dissecting and studying the human body, which accounts for over 140 hours during their first module. The time spent with the cadavers is highly enriching, and students get to learn countless lessons that cant be taught in a lecture or through a video. Gross anatomy dissection is an essential step in the medical education, as it combines theoretical knowledge with practice, and most importantly, it gives the students a sense of how our bodies are actually built, how to deal with their first human patient, and how to respect him/her.

During the first lab experience, we cant but feel the seriousness and stressfulness of the room. We are welcomed by the strong smell of formaldehyde and the scary scene of corpuses on the labs tables. The first few cuts, although technically the easiest, are the most grueling emotionally. After several times in the lab, we no longer notice the smell. The scene becomes a casual one, and the bodies become more and more familiar and easily handled. But beyond that, beyond memorizing the muscles, bones, vessels, and nerves, beyond knowing their structures and paths, and their variations and related diseases, we learn to respect them. These cadavers are our first patients. Each one of them had his/her own life that we know nothing about.

On December 7, 2016, and when the last anatomy lab of the first module of the faculty of medicine class of 2020 ended, we organized an event as a tribute to these cadavers. After all the time spent with them and the lessons weve learned, we really appreciate what these cadavers have given us. The event started by Dr. Jurjuss advice on how important it is to take the lessons that weve learned, the scientific and the humanitarian aspect of the course, with us as future doctors.

As we treated our first patients respectively, he hoped that wed stick to this kind of treatment further on. This is our first step in the medical field, and we have done it successfully. Then one of the class representatives, Jawad Barbar, thanked Dr. Jurjus and all the doctors who were helping us in the lab. He also emphasized how much we learned from this course, and wished everyone a good year. Flowers and candles were distributed beside each cadaver to commemorate their memory, and we stood there praying for the cadavers, each of us in his or her own way, and thanking them for their contributions. We also wrote Thank you letters to the anonymous person who donated his/her body for our medical education.

The anatomy lab experience had its huge impact on all of us. It is one of these special courses that we got to learn more than the science, more than the knowledge, and more than the information. We learned the wisdom and the skill of dealing with and respecting others, even in their worst state.

Ill end up by quoting a touching thank you letter written by my colleague addressing the cadavers: You were my first and most important patient. I learned from you more than I could ever learn from a living person. Even though you are gone, your gifts have forever been passed on.

Samer Bou Karroum is a medical student.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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The drama in Syria captivates much of the world. We sit and watch horrified as innocent civilians and children suffer. The pictures coming out of the devastated city are truly heart-wrenching and the fabric that nightmares are created out of. As if to add to that unbelievable suffering, a bomb exploded in a Coptic church in Cairo, Egypt targeting women and children. Their only crime was going to attend the morning liturgy in church. In Germany, another bomb blast detonated in a Christmas village killing shoppers. Around the world, atrocities cry out, and the earth calls out for justice. Many of us watch in shock, plunging into sadness because we are helpless to do anything to halt the turmoil happening around the world.

It is very easy to fall into depression watching the news, but this is not helpful for anyone. We need to watch with open minds and hearts. But when it is overwhelming us, we need to take a break. We are still among the living and have a life to live. While the homage we may show to those killed is a great tribute, those who died have moved on and so should we.

What can we do to stay mentally strong in the face of horrifying news?

1. Know when to walk away. If the news is bringing you down and making you depressed, click it off for a while. You are not helping anyone or yourself by being drawn into terrible events in which you are powerless. And make sure you are getting real news. Just because you saw something on TV or read about it online does not make it true. Media is filled with so much fake news these days.

2. Realize that you have limited power and it is not your fault. Watching the news out of Syria the past several days, I saw pictures of many small kids that I wanted just to go and pull out of that suffering. If militaries cant get in, there is nothing physical you can do.

3. Advocate. Social media has been full of stories and pictures of the atrocities going on over the past few weeks. You dont need to become the poster child for a cause, but just educating others of what is happening can help. The more people who know, the more likely action will be taken. I honestly believe that the evacuations out of Aleppo were forced by the fury growing on social media. The authorities were unable to hide anything or turn away. Those crying out against the horror were too loud for them to close their ears.

4. Donate. People lost their homes, their friends, much of their possessions and even family members. They lost the city that they loved. In other areas outside Syria, many people are cold, hungry, homeless and suffering. You dont need to give to every cause and dont need to feel bad if you cant give much or at all. Choose a cause, and you can make a difference. And if you dont have money, like many people at this time of the year, give a few hours of your time. These charitable organizations are always understaffed. Be sure the ones you decide to give to are legitimate, though. Sadly, even in the face of tragedy, swindlers are still at their jobs.

5. Pray. If you believe, pray to the god you believe in. If you are not a religious person, just send some good thoughts or kind words the way of those suffering. We are all needed to make the world a better place.

6. Be kind. Social media has changed the way we communicate with others around the world. This past week, Twitter allowed me to tweet with some people trapped inside Aleppo. I tried to offer any encouraging words that I could. When people feel all hope is lost, one kind word may help them to hold on. It doesnt matter what we believe, what race we are, where we were born, our education or socioeconomic status, we are all human and made of the same fiber.

While many suffer, we can make a difference. Sadness should not be the result of watching the news. It should inspire us to become better and care for our neighbors near and far. It is very easy to be drawn into the despair others are suffering. If we get dragged too deep, it is time to jump out. Staying mental fit while following the news is a balancing act and we all need to figure out our drowning points.

Linda Girgis is a family physician who blogs at Dr. Linda.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Representatives of the Czech agriculture ministry and agriculture companies intend to visit Azerbaijan by June, Frantisek Masopust, executive director of the Czech Chamber of Commerce for relations with CIS countries, told Trend.

Agriculture ministries of Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic must agree on the date of the visit, he said. The Czech deputy minister, not the minister, can head the ministerial group.

He added that the group is expected to include representatives of the Czech agriculture companies, both suppliers and owners of agro-processing technologies.

Masopust added that there are good prospects for developing the cooperation between Azerbaijan, which is now actively developing the non-oil sector of the economy, and the Czech Republic, which has a developed agriculture.

He said that in particular, the Czech Republic can offer Azerbaijan its milk processing technologies.

The Czech companies are mainly manufacturers and exporters of the products and they do not have enough funds to invest in the projects abroad, Masopust said.

We understand that it would be rather beneficial for the Czech Republic to establish joint ventures in Azerbaijan, he said. The labor force is cheaper in Azerbaijan than in the Czech Republic. Moreover, the goods produced in the Czech Republic could be sold in Azerbaijans partner countries in the region.

He said there are bilateral cooperation prospects in infrastructure construction, construction of roads, railways, bridges.

Masopust added that the Czech Republic has great experience in lightening of cities.

I am pleased to visit Baku because the city is changing for the better every year, he added.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Austrias Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, whose country assumed this year's rotating chairmanship of the regional security organization said the OSCE needed Russia to support its endeavors, Sputnik reported.

"Russia can play a decisive role in fostering constructive dialogue to peacefully resolve the current crises. Russia can help ensure the OSCEs ability to deal with the challenges facing the participating States by supporting measures to give it sufficient resources to fulfill its wide-ranging mandate," he said.
A new blockbuster book, launched on Friday night of last week, presents the man who built Kilkrnny Castle in a bold, new light.

How apt that the Parade Tower in the castle was the setting for the unveiling of William Marshall and Ireland.

Co-editor and imminent Kilkenny archaeologist, Coilin O'Drisceoil said the book, a collection of new essays, portrayed Marshal in a new light as a master strategist, a nation builder,

and economic heavyweight in a way hat differs from his well researched persona as the 'greatest knight that ever lived and a flower of chivalry.

And just as importantly the book shines a light on the important role of Isabel de Clare in developing and defending the lordship of Leinster, Mr O'Drisceoil said.

They were what we might call a medieval power couple, the Bill and Hilary

Clinton of their time, he said.

He dedicated the launch of the book to three people; his late wife, Emma Devine, who was the chief organiser of the conference that spawned the book in 2008.

And I would in particular like to extend a warm welcome tonight to Emma's parents Paula and Ken.

He mentioned the late Billy Colfer, whose magnificent paper on the Marshal and county Wexford is included in the book which is must have for all lovers of Kilkenny and its past.

He finished with a few well chosen words on his now deceased co-editor John Bradley.

The depth and range of his scholarship shines through in his paper on the Marshal charter to Kilkenny and is another reminder of the huge loss he was to Kilkenny and the study of medieval Ireland, Mr O'Drisceoil said.

He thanked the essay writers David Crouch, Adrian Empey, Miriam Clyne and Daniel Tietzsch-Tyler for their research and enthusiasm for their task.

He was warm in his praise of co editor Michael Potterton who also spoke at the launch.

Ben Murtagh who as well as contributing his own paper to the book without

hesitation took on the major task of completing John Bradley's monumental paper on the Marshal charter to Kilkenny, Mr O'Drisceoil said.

He thanked Martin Fanning, Anthony Tierney and the staff at Four Courts Press for publishing the book.

The book was launched by Con Manning of the OPW, a former president of Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.

He carried out a peer review of the work and ended by saying the essays were well researched and had unearthed new and important information on Marshall,

MC for the evening was Mr Seamus Brennan, president of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society who declared that archaeologists should not tell jokes at nook launches after two howlers from earlier speakers.

He yearned the loss of John Bradley and noted that Coilin O'Drisceoil has taken over Bradley's mantle as Kilkenny's leading archaeologist.

He said the book was a hugely impressive undertaking and advised people to purchase it before it went out of print,

Before he left the podium, Coilin O'Drisceoil thanked the OPW, Anne Teehan and Maelle Champenois of the Parade Tower, Michael Dore for the refreshments and his family who were out in force to support him including his parents and his wife Liz and two young daughters.
Kilkenny has the second lowest take up of cervical cancer screening in the country.

The worrying statistic was disclosed by local Fianna Fail councillor Pat Fitzpatrick who has been informed by the HSE that an uptake on cervical screening in Kilkenny is currently just over 70%.

Laois is the lowest at 70% while Carlow is the highest at just over 90%.

Deirdre Ryan, Screening Promotion Manager from the National Screening Services Ireland contacted GPs last week in Kilkenny regarding concerns over the low levels of CervicalCheck uptake in the city and county.

Cllr Fitzpatrick has urged all local women aged between 25 to 60 to avail of free cervical screening through Cervicalcheck  the National

Cervical Screening Programme. All women are encouraged to Freephone Cervical check on 1800 45 45 55 or visitwww.cervicalcheck.ie to check when their next smear test is due.

Meanwhile, the National Screening Programme is partnering with the Irish Family Planning Association and launching the Pearl of Wisdom Campaign from January 22 to January 28. The aim is to highlight the vital importance of women aged 25  60 attending for their regular smear test.
Butterfly Conservation Ireland is the latest group to add their voice to growing concerns over Waterways Irelands plans to upgrade the existing towpath along the Barrow Way.

Described by writer, broadcaster Dick Warner as The most beautiful riverside walk in these islands - The Barrow Way extends from Lowtown in Kildare to St. Mullins in Carlow, along 114 km of canal and river towpaths. Uniquely for a way-marked trail in Ireland - the surface of the Barrow towpath is grassed almost its entire length and it is Waterways Irelands plans to upgrade that grassy surface which is causing great alarm among current Barrow Way users.

Towns and villages along the towpath play host throughout the year to visiting anglers, kayakers, swimmers, walkers and cyclists attracted by the easily accessed low level path which meanders through the picturesque Barrow Valley. In recent years the river banks have attracted a new type of visitor, as wildlife enthusiasts make regular excursions to sections of the walkway in County Carlow, in search of some of Irelands rarest butterflies.

According to Jesmond Harding of Butterfly Conservation Ireland Thanks to the exceptional habitat along the river bank  the Barrow Way has become arguably one of the best and most accessible places in the country to see two of Irelands rarest species  The Comma and the Purple Hairstreak. Any changes to these areas could easily destroy the habitat, and Butterfly Conservation Ireland urges that the work, if it is necessary, be carried out sensitively. In some areas there is simply no need for hard surfaces and no justification for habitat removal. The aim should be to keep any intervention to a minimum.

Recent work carried out by Waterways Ireland on Canal towpaths in County Kildare are fuelling Butterfly Conservation Irelands concerns about potential damage to habitats and wildlife. A new section of greenway installed by Waterways Ireland along the bank of the Royal Canal at Kilcock, in Kildare consists of a tarmacadam path that is according to Jesmond wide enough to accommodate a truck. At its widest the tarmac is 4.2m wide; this is the same width as some of the country roads where I live says Jesmond.

To accommodate the installation of the path, Waterways Ireland removed much of the natural waterside vegetation and this has been replaced by what Jesmond describes as a freshly re-seeded lawn  which is of little value to butterflies or any other wildlife. He explained further The width of the path from the 15th lock to Allen Bridge, Kilcock appears to be unnecessary and the reseeding is certainly an offence against the natural values of the area. The canal bank has been suburbanised.

Were the same approach to be taken along the Barrow Way  it would almost certainly result in the loss of some of vitally important habitat  and the effect on some of our rarest butterfly species in the area would be catastrophic.

According to information on the Waterways Ireland website - the proposed planning application for changes to the Barrow towpath is going through a pre-validation stage and it is hoped that a formal submission will be made to Kildare, Laois and Carlow County Councils by the end of January 2017. Waterways Ireland is hosting a series of Public Information Sessions to provide members of the public with the opportunity to hear the plans in detail. Sessions originally scheduled for week commencing January 16th have been postponed and new times, dates and venues have yet to be announced by Waterways Ireland.
Shortly it will be exactly 100 years since Henry Ford established the Ford factory on the Marina in Cork City.

Ford Ireland plans to mark the centenary through a number of exciting initiatives.

The first was the launch of an extensive and impactful new marketing campaign based around the companys Irish centenary and encouraging consumers to think about the brand differently.

The campaign features the Irish-American actor Aidan Quinn in a range of Online video executions and radio, supported with press adverts, outdoor and other ambient displays, which will become more familiar to Irish consumers during the year.

There are many activities, promotions and events planned throughout the year.

One of the highlights being a gala dinner at Cork City Hall on April 21 to mark the actual centenary.

Ciaran McMahon, chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland, said Ford has a unique heritage in Ireland, not only through the companys close family links with Cork but also through the Cork Ford factory and, of course, many decades of much-loved Ford cars and vans on Irish roads.

Network of dealers

 And we are still to the forefront in the automotive sector in Ireland with the widest network of dealers, providing employment, directly and indirectly, to some 1,000 people across the country, he added.

Ford vehicles were and still are a ubiquitous sight on the streets and roads of Ireland all through the 20th century and right up to the present day, Mr. McMahon insisted.

The brands constant popularity meant that almost every Irish person grew up with a Ford car in the family or had aunts, uncles and neighbours who drove a Ford.

The factory is sadly no more, but Ford remains one of the best-selling brands in both the car and van market in Ireland, he added.

Segment leaders

Several of our models including the Fiesta, Focus and Transit are segment leaders while the all new Mustang is in a class of its own.

The company is also looking to the future as we plan for the next century of business in Ireland, said the Ford Ireland chief.

Ford has the largest test fleet of autonomous driving vehicles in the world, he continued, and in 2017 will start testing autonomous vehicles across Europe.

 The company is moving from traditional vehicle manufacture to being a smart mobility solutions provider as we tackle the global mobility challenges of the 21st century, Mr McMahon said.

Ford in Cork

The Ford Motor Company was set up in Michigan by Henry Ford in 1903.

True to his roots, just 14 years later Henry opened the first purpose-built Ford factory to be located outside of North America at the Marina in Cork.

Henrys father, William Ford, emigrated from Ballinascarty in Co. Cork (50km from Cork City) with his parents and siblings in 1847 during the Famine.

Henry was born in Michigan in 1863. Growing up on the family farm, Henry developed a strong interest in mechanics.

At first he concentrated his efforts on making work easier for farmers, but he soon came to realise the potential of the motor car as a force for good for the development of societies across the globe.

Although he cannot be credited with inventing the motor car, Henry Ford was the man who brought motoring to the masses thanks to the affordable yet rugged vehicles he produced through his newly-invented production-line manufacturing technique  which has since been copied by practically every vehicle and machinery manufacturer across the globe.

Cork roots important

Bringing it all back home  the Ford factory was established in Cork in 1917.

When it came time to expand the business to Europe, there is no doubt that Henrys Cork roots played an important part in his decision to open a plant in Cork.

He said he hoped that the new Ford plant would start Ireland along the road to industry.

The setting up of the Ford plant in Cork was the first example of foreign direct investment in Ireland, many decades before the term was even coined.

The company that he legally established was entitled Henry Ford and Son Ltd. and that continues to be the legal name of Ford in Ireland to this day.

It is the only Ford entity in the world to include the full name of the companys founder in its title.

Tractors needed urgently

When the Cork Ford plant became fully operational, Europe was just emerging from a catastrophic World War.

Communist Russia was in the midst of a huge modernisation programme so tractors were the vehicles that were most urgently needed.

The Fordson tractor was the main product produced by the Cork plant, which in 1929 became the largest tractor factory in the world.

However, the factory also produced passenger models, including the iconic Model T.

Indeed, the last Model T ever produced by Ford anywhere in the world rolled off the Cork factory production line in December 1928.

In addition to the Model T, the Cork factory also produced all the other main Ford vehicles that were sold in Europe from the thirties right up to the seventies and eighties, including the Model A, Model BF and Model Y; Prefect; Anglia; Escort; Cortina; and Sierra.

With Irelands accession to the EEC in 1973, Ireland had to comply with new rules that lifted the previous restrictions on imports of fully built motor vehicles into the country.

No longer viable

This, combined with a depressed car market in the late 1970s and early 1980s meant that the plant became no longer viable and, regrettably, it closed its doors in 1984.

In the intervening years, Ford has continued to be a strong player on the automotive scene in Ireland.

The company has the widest network of dealers in the country with 52 dealerships.

Their Kilkenny dealer is Michael Lyng Motors, Hebron Road.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Seba Aghayeva  Trend:

It is not correct to classify the activities of the blogger Alexander Lapshin as freedom of speech, Hikmat Hajiyev, spokesman for Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, told Trend Jan. 18.

Hajiyev was commenting on the statement of the US State Department spokesman John Kirby on the arrest of Lapshin in Belarus, which was requested by the Azerbaijani side.

Lapshin illegally visited the occupied Azerbaijani lands, disrespecting Azerbaijans territorial integrity, and also crossed Azerbaijans border once again visiting the country using a different passport.

The fact that he is a blogger does not allow him violating laws and rules of other countries, Hajiyev said.

There are enough cases of violation of the Azerbaijani laws in Lapshins acts, and the principle of the rule of law should be applied in a uniform way to everyone, he added.

Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of several countries and has had a criminal conspiracy with Armenians living in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He also illegally visited these territories.

Lapshin is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012.

In order to promote the illegal regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Lapshin presented Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state on his social media account, and supporting the independence of the unrecognized regime he made public incitements aimed at violating Azerbaijans territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Executive Chairman of CISCO John Chambers in Davos Jan. 18 as part of his working visit to Switzerland.

Chambers described Azerbaijan as a reliable partner for foreign companies, hailing the advantages and benefits of cooperation with the country.

President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has entered a new stage of development, adding Azerbaijan-CISCO cooperation must be adapted to this stage.

The sides also exchanged views on the possibilities of cooperation in the fields of public services, industry, agriculture, tourism and diversification of export.
HANOI, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0117 GMT.

Jan 18 Jan 17 USD/VND mid-point 22,164 22,168

USD/VND interbank 22,570/22,572 22,565/22,570 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.45/36.77 36.40/36.72

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, Jan 18 (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 0415 GMT.

Jan 18 Jan 17 USD/VND mid-point 22,164 22,168 USD/VND interbank 22,540/22,600 22,565/22,570 USD/VND unofficial 22,700/22,750 22,710/22,750 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.45/36.77 36.40/36.72

Interbank offered rates Overnight 4.0-5.5 4.8-5.5

1 week 4.5-5.5 5.0-5.5

1 month 5.0-5.4 5.2-5.4

3 months 5.2-5.4 5.2-5.4

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)
PRAGUE, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Wednesday.

ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 1 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA==========================

Real-time economic data releases.................... Summary of economic data and forecasts........... Recently released economic data.................. Previous stories on Czech data............. **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: ==========================NEWS==================================

CME: TCS Capital Management, a minority shareholder in broadcaster Central European Media Enterprises (CME) , , has urged the company to hire an investment bank to run a sale process.

Story: Related stories: INTERVENTIONS: The Czech central bank's balance sheet in the first 10 days of January showed receivables from abroad jumped by 189.6 billion crowns, or 7 billion euros, indicating sizeable interventions to keep the currency weak.

Story: Related stories: GRIDS: German and Czech power grid operators have put measures in place to stabilise excess flows of German renewable energy into the Czech Republic and to allow better commercial power trading between the two countries, they said on Tuesday.

Story: Related stories: CEE MARKETS: Central European stocks mostly eased slightly on Tuesday ahead of a speech by British Prime Minister Theresa May in which she will set out her priorities for Brexit divorce talks with the European Union.

Story: Related stories: ==========================PRESS DIGEST========================

CEZ: CEZ could make a profit from bonds it issued that are convertible into shares of Hungarian oil and gas group MOL , an unnamed manager of the Czech utility said. Analysts estimated it could make 4.9 billion crowns by paying the bonds due this year in MOL shares.

Lidove Noviny, page 13

TELECOMS: Politicians, including Finance Minister Andrej Babis and House Speaker Jan Hamacek, called the country's telecoms and data services overpriced.

Hospodarske Noviny, page 3

MORTGAGES: The average mortgage rate was unchanged at a record low of 1.77 percent in December.

Pravo, page 15

(Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.)

For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX For updates on CEE currencies TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets Prague Newsroom: +420 224 190 477

E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com

(Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
(Kitco News) - Operations have resumed at the El Penon mine in Chile after Yamana Gold Inc. (TSX: YRI; NYSE: AUY) reached collective bargaining agreements with two unions representing underground workers, the company said late Tuesday.

The deals are for 40 and 48 months.

Operations were suspended on Jan. 7 after several members of one union staged a sit-in at the employee camp, Yamana said. Operations partially resumed Friday after these workers relinquished the camp, allowing for the conclusion of negotiations.

The interruption in operations, which have now returned to normal, has not had a significant impact on mine and consolidated production, Yamana said. Further, the company expects to recover production from other operations shorter term and from El Penon throughout the year.

El Penon is Yamanas second-largest mine. Through the first nine months of the year, El Penon produced 167,914 ounces of gold, second only to the companys 50% share in the Canadian Malartic mine, which was 212,937 ounces.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com
Jan 18 Canadian businessman and TV personality Kevin O'Leary said on Wednesday he would enter the race to run the opposition Conservative party, joining a crowded field of candidates.

Montreal-born O'Leary is known for his appearances on reality shows "Shark Tank" and "Dragons' Den", where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas.

"It's official, I'm in. The Conservative Party of Canada needs a candidate who can beat Justin Trudeau and bring back jobs to this country!" O'Leary tweeted.

He is also known for unconventional ideas, including a proposal to let people buy seats in the unelected upper house of parliament.

O'Leary said earlier this month that he would skip a French language leadership debate until he was more "proficient" in the language and that he was committed to learning French again, seen as a crucial requirement to become prime minister.

After nearly a decade in power, the leadership of the Conservative party opened up when Prime Minister Stephen Harper stepped down after his party's defeat by Justin Trudeau's Liberals in 2015.

Since then, a number of politicians have announced their candidacies. (Reporting by Sai Sachin Ravikumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)
* Launches wholly owned subsidiary for doing debt-for-equity swaps

* Huarong AMC has handled 680 bln yuan in NPLs since 1999

(Adds news about 50 bln yuan investment fund)

BEIJING, Jan 18 (Reuters) - China Huarong Asset Management Co's (AMC) newly launched unit for doing debt-for-equity swaps plans to raise a 50 billion yuan ($7.30 billion) investment fund for deals, the country's biggest distressed debt manager said.

Since China's policymakers re-launched the debt-for-equity scheme in October last year to ease the borrowing overhang of struggling firms, the country's state-run banks and bad debt managers have rushed to sign deals with big state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

The country's state-run banks, led by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd and China Construction Bank Corp , also said recently that they would launch their own subsidiaries for debt-for-equity swaps. Since October they have announced such deals totalling more than 300 billion yuan.

China Huarong Asset Management said on Wednesday wholly owned subsidiary Huarong Ruitong Equity Investment Management Co will launch the 50 billion yuan fund but did not specify when.

The unit, which has a registered capital of 300 million yuan, will be responsible for fundraising, project selection, debt acquisition and equity management for Huarong's debt-for-equity swap deals, Huarong said in an emailed statement.

Distressed debt managers should play their "unique role" during China's economic slowdown, such as handling non- performing loans and conducting debt-for-equity swaps, China Huarong Asset Management's chairman Lai Xiaoming told Reuters on the sidelines of the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong on Monday.

Huarong, one of China's Big Four state-owned distressed debt managers, has handled 680 billion yuan in non-performing loans since it was launched by the government in 1999, Lai said in the statement.

In China's last round of government-driven debt-for-equity swaps, Huarong conducted deals with 420 large and medium-sized SOEs, Lai said. The total value was 69.7 billion yuan. ($1 = 6.8475 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Shu Zhang in BEIJING and Julie Zhu in HONG KONG; Editing by Sunil Nair and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) -

* OPEC signalled a falling oil supply surplus in 2017 on Wednesday as the exporter group's output slips from a record high ahead of a deal to cut supply and outside producers show positive initial signs of complying with the accord. * While Saudi Arabia made the largest cuts, lower production in Nigeria, which is exempt from OPEC cuts but has been curbed by conflict, provided the second largest, the survey said.

* At least two cargoes from Angola's just-issued March export plan had already traded, leading to hopes of higher differentials.

ANGOLA

* Sonangol sold its March-loading cargo of Pazflor to Shell, traders said. It had been offering the cargo at a 90 cent discount to dated Brent.

* A cargo of Sangos had traded even before the programme was issued, but the buyer was not immediately clear.

* Asian demand led to quick sales of the February programme, and some expected a similar picture for March cargoes.

* Sellers, expecting firmer differentials, were not making offers yet in hopes of luring higher bids.

* Angola's March exports are expected to fall to 1.51 million barrels per day (bpd) NIGERIA

* Vitol purchased a cargo of Qua Iboe from ExxonMobil, traders said. The grade was offered at premiums of 70 cents per barrel versus dated Brent, but traders said the final price was likely below this.

* A cargo of Akpo from the February programme had also traded, but further details were not available.

* Some buyers are still avoiding Nigerian exports due to continued instability. The Bonny Light loading plan was subject to particular delays, but Qua Iboe cargoes were also becoming less reliable, traders said.

* Oil pipelines in OML 30 and 34 in Nigeria's Delta region were set on fire late on Tuesday and the fires have been extinguished, a community leader told Reuters. * Because these fields feed into the still-closed Trans Forcados Pipeline, the impact on exports was not clear.

* Around 20 cargoes were still available from the February programme, with the March programme due any day.

TENDERS

* India's HPCL was running a tender to buy March-loading cargoes. The results are expected on Friday.

(Reporting By Libby George, editing by David Evans)
The Herald reports:

A Green Party candidate is aiming to be the first refugee to become an MP in New Zealand.

Auckland barrister Golriz Ghahraman, originally from Iran, has been confirmed as a candidate for the general election.

She says electing a refugee to Parliament would send a strong message during a global refugee crisis and at a time of rising anti-refugee and immigrant sentiment.

It would be historic for New Zealand and I think it will mean something at this particular moment in a time when we are seeing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in a lifetime in the Middle East, Ghahraman said.

To say that someone fleeing that part of the world could actually be so accepted, that she could take part in a democratic society, would be really meaningful.

Especially with the rhetoric of Donald Trump and Brexit, I got to the point where I thought some of us who are witnessing this actually need to put our hands up and be at the table in the higher levels of governance.

Her family fled Irans repressive Islamic regime in 1990 when she was 9 and they were granted political asylum in New Zealand.

Having an ambitious, educated mother, she was mostly the driver of us moving away, and she had a lot of trouble continuing to work because she wouldnt adhere to Islamic dress codes and eventually it became dangerous for us, she said.

The family travelled to New Zealand on the advice of a relative, who was also a refugee, and found the country was incredibly welcoming, she said.

The 35-year-old has since built up an impressive CV as a human rights lawyer in New Zealand and overseas. She worked as a prosecutor at United Nations tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, where heads of state were on trial for mass atrocities. After getting her masters degree in International Human Rights Law at Oxford University she also worked on the Khmer Rouge tribunal in Cambodia.
Stuff reports:

Australia has declared the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) not dead ahead of key trade talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Sydney on Saturday, despite opposition to the trade pact from US President-elect Donald Trump.

The talks between Australian Prime Minister Turnbull and Abe also come amid heightened regional tension as China asserts its claims over the disputed South China Sea, setting up a potential clash with the incoming Trump administration.

Talk of the TPP being dead is premature. We need to give the Americans time to work through this issue, Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio on Friday.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

The Armenian journalists got reasons to smile on Jan. 17, as both the Russian Foreign Ministry and the US Department of State, being surprisingly naive, started commenting on the journalists' statements regarding the infamous blogger Alexander Lapshin.

On Jan. 17, during the press-conference on the results of Russian diplomacy in 2016 the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded to a question of an Armenian journalist about Lapshin, which did not contain anything having to do with the truth.

Saying that "Baku is trying to pursue the "journalist" just because of his visit to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh", the Armenian journalist called for justice, which should be implemented by the Russian Foreign Ministry because one of Lapshins three citizenships is Russian.

Lavrov, who is the head of the foreign ministry and is supposed to be aware, did not correct the Armenian journalist for some reason, and did not disprove the allegation about the reasons for detention and possible extradition, but instead said that it is impossible to restrict anyones freedom for visiting even illegally occupied territories.

On the same night, in Washington, another Armenian journalist decided to milk the same pitiful story about Lapshin, and asked about the position of the US on the issue, during the regular press briefing by the US State Departments Spokesman John Kirby.

Id say this is really something for the relevant countries to speak to, especially when youre talking about extradition requests. Thats really for them to speak to, John Kirby said.

This is an unprecedented case of dissemination of absolute misinformation via media and representatives of the two countries foreign ministries have become surprisingly involved in it.

In fact, Alexander Lapshin, a citizen of several countries, hasn't just illegally visited the occupied Azerbaijani territories. There were others before him, and Baku didn't demand their extradition, since such separatism-promoting visits rely more on one's conscience.

In fact, Lapshin (who is not a journalist and is just a blogger) is accused of violating Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012, according to the Prosecutor Generals Office of Azerbaijan.

That is, Lapshin didnt simply visit the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Afterwards, in order to write a series of critical articles about Azerbaijan and knowing that he is in the black list of the countrys Foreign Ministry, which barred him from visiting Azerbaijan, Lapshin entered the country using another ID, where his name was written in Ukrainian.

Lapshin deliberately violated Azerbaijans laws and called to continue the occupation of the countrys territories by Armenia.

As an Azerbaijani journalist, Id like to ask the foreign ministry representatives of Russia and the US the following question: How would your law enforcement agencies react if someone, barred from entering your countries, did it using forged documents, or fake IDs?

If I am not mistaken, thats how terrorists infiltrated the European countries, namely by using forged documents and ignoring bans of the official authorities.

Are Russia and the US ready to turn a blind eye and allow citizens to enter their soil, knowing they were previously banned from doing so for objective reasons?

Russia itself, for one reason or another, has included those journalists in various stop-lists according to which they were banned from entering the country. For example, Jeff Schell, chairman of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors, has been recently denied entry into Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Shell has been included in the stop-list in response to the US sanctions against Russian citizens. How would Moscow react if Shell decided to enter the country with false documents or the Ukrainian passport with a different spelling of his name?

The violation of the state border is a criminal offense. The issue is not only Lapshins visit to the Armenian-occupied Nagorno-Karabakh area, as the Armenians are trying to present it, but his entry into Baku although he was aware about the violation of the law of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Elmira Tariverdiyeva is the head of Trend Agency's Russian News Service
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Rain likely. Snow may mix in late. Low 32F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Snow may mix in late. Low 32F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.
Details added (first version posted on 12:30)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Falih in Davos, Switzerland Jan. 18.

The minister hailed Saudi Arabia-Azerbaijan cooperation as excellent and expressed his hope that bilateral cooperation between the two countries will be further expanded.

He underlined the importance of successful reforms carried out in Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Aliyev.

President Aliyev recalled with pleasure his visit to Saudi Arabia, saying the two countries enjoy brotherly relations.

The sides exchanged views on a number of issues, including Saudi Arabias making investments in Azerbaijan, cooperation between Saudi Arabias Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources and Azerbaijans Ministry of Energy, and implementation of joint projects between Saudi Aramco and SOCAR both in the region and other countries.
The Ruston High School Choir is attending the 58th presidential inauguration in Washington D.C.

"This is an opportunity for them to be enriched personally, academically, and artistically in our nation's capital," says Ruston High School Choir Director, Nathan Trahan.

The choir leaves for the capital early Thursday morning, and some members still haven't wrapped their minds around the event.

"I'm not just going to be half-heartedly watching the inauguration on TV, I'm actually going to be standing there and seeing it with my own two eyes and hearing the inaugural address in person," says choir member Thomas Strebeck.

The inauguration is not the only thing on their agenda, though. The choir is competing in the Worldstrides Choral Festical National Competition on Saturday.

"I'm not nervous. I think we're going to do great," says choir member Katelynn Sherman.

When the competition is over, the group will even get to do a little dressing up. The festival is hosting an inaugural ball Sunday night to bring the competing schools together.

"I'm a girl, you know, and we get to get ready and stuff," says Sherman. "I'm so excited for the ball."

Trahan says he's thrilled the students will be experiencing history close up, with a little bit of fun mixed in.

"I just could not think of a more enriching opportunity and adventure for the students," says Trahan.

The Ruston High School Choir will be joining the West Monroe Rebel Band, who is marching in the parade, at the inauguration.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab in Davos, Switzerland.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked Klaus Schwab for inviting him again to the World Economic Forum. The head of state said fruitful cooperation was created between Azerbaijan and the World Economic Forum.

President Ilham Aliyev said this cooperation was fully compatible with the objective of improving the situation in the world countries.

The head of state said significant measures were carried out in Azerbaijan for ensuring the security and restoring the stability.

President Ilham Aliyev stressed the importance of geographical place of Azerbaijan. The head of state said this factor created opportunity for successful realization of large transnational projects, as well as North-South, East-West corridors and other projects.

President Ilham Aliyev spoke about the ongoing development processes in the country over the last years. The head of state said Azerbaijan entered a new development stage. President Ilham Aliyev noted that impressive measures were carried out in the country for diversification of economy and export.

The head of state said meetings held within the Davos Forum resulted in realization of several important projects. President Ilham Aliyev said the influential international events were held in Azerbaijan over the last years.

The head of state noted that Baku successfully hosted the first European Games.

President Ilham Aliyev described the visit of Pope Francis to Azerbaijan as an example of attention paid to the high tolerance environment in the country.

Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab said there is fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Economic Forum, adding that President Ilham Aliyevs participation in the Forum contributed to bilateral cooperation.

Klaus Schwab said he eye-witnessed the strong development during his visit to Azerbaijan and spoke about the beauty of Baku.

Schwab said security and stability in Azerbaijan played a significant role in the countrys development.

He said great work was done in Azerbaijan over the last years, adding that Baku hosted influential international events. The executive chairman of the World Economic Forum highly appreciated the tolerance environment in Azerbaijan.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the issues of mutual interest.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with head of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government Masoud Barzani in Davos.

President Ilham Aliyev noted historical and cultural relations existed between the nations. The head of state recalled that Masoud Barzani`s father once lived in Azerbaijan.

Masoud Barzani thanked the head of state for commemorating his father, adding that he recalled with pleasure his memories about Baku.

During the meeting, the possibility of exploring the opportunities for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government in the energy, trade, export-import and other directions was stressed.

Masoud Barzani said Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government was interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan`s companies over the various projects, adding there were good opportunities for boosting relations.
By Nam Hyun-woo



The government said Tuesday it will not ask Japan to resume bilateral currency swap talks. Tokyo put the talks on hold as part a "diplomatic retaliation" for the placing a "comfort woman" statue in front of the Japanese consulate in Busan, symbolizing Japan's wartime sexual slavery.



Deputy Minister of Strategy and Finance Song In-chang said in a press conference that there would be "no big impact regarding the halt of the Korea-Japan currency swap talks," although the government "will open channels for discussion, but will not ask the Japanese to resume the talks."



"We regret Tokyo's move regarding the statue. We believe politics and economics should be handled separately."



The two neighbors have been haggling over resuming a swap deal of their currencies since last year.



The bilateral currency swap began in 2001 at $2 billion and increased rapidly to peak at $70 billion in 2011. However, the volume shrank after former President Lee Myung-bak's visit to the Dokdo islets in 2012 and expired in February 2015.



Dokdo is Korea's easternmost territory but Japan also claims sovereignty of the volcanic outcroppings.



In August last year, the two countries agreed to resume talks over the swap, but earlier this month Japan placed the talks on hold after civic activists erected the statue in December last year.



A currency swap is an arrangement between two countries to exchange one currency for another at a specific rate of exchange in a bid to use the more powerful currency to soothe volatility in the market.



A currency swap between Seoul and Tokyo has been widely accepted as beneficial to both. Korea could have an additional safety net to brace for emergencies, while Japan could use the deal to lift the international image of its currency.



Meanwhile, Song said the government is seeking to extend a swap deal with China, which expires in October this year.



In March last year, Korea and China agreed to extend their swap deal "in principle." However, with Seoul's decision to deploy a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery on its soil, uncertainties still linger over the extension.



"It is true that there are uncertainties including political issues," Song said. "Due to the uncertainties, it is difficult to pin down what's going to happen."



Korea and China signed a swap deal in 2009 and extended it twice. The volume of the deal reached $56 billion, which accounts for 51.4 percent of all swap deals Korea has inked with other countries.




North Korea on Wednesday defended its move to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as an act of self-defense against the United States, warning that no one can take issue with Pyongyang's plan.



North Korea's move to launch the missile would contribute to bringing peace and stability to Northeast Asia and the world, the country's main newspaper Rodong Sinmun said.



"As our country possesses hydrogen bombs as well as miniaturized and diversified nuclear weapons, test-firing an ICBM will have significant meaning for us," the daily claimed.



Pyongyang has repeatedly threatened to fire off an ICBM since its leader Kim Jong-un said in his New Year message that the country has entered the final stage of launch preparations.



North Korea's foreign ministry also said that the country can test a missile at any place and time if its leadership gives the order.



The North is seeking to develop an ICBM which can fly as far as the U.S. mainland, claiming that its development of nuclear weapons is a deterrent against what it called Washington's hostile policy toward Pyongyang.



North Korea has for some time argued that it can produce miniaturized nuclear weapons, but many military experts have said the repressive regime is still a few years away from mastering such technology.



The North's repeated threat is seen as aiming to press Washington to change its stance toward Pyongyang as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Friday.



Experts said that the North is highly likely to carry out military provocations at some point in March to protest an upcoming military exercise between South Korea and the U.S.



"We see a high possibility of a North Korean provocation around the time of the joint military drill," said a government official.



Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said that the North's possible missile launch may be timed with the end of the Seoul-Washington military exercise around April.



"I expect that the North would make provocative acts around April 20 as it will celebrate the 85th anniversary of the creation of the Korean People's Army which falls on April 25," he said. (Yonhap)




By Choi Ha-young



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was seen walking with a limp during his inspections last month in footage aired by the state broadcaster, Wednesday.



In the footage, recorded between Dec. 6 and 13 by the Korean Central Television, Kim, presumed to be in his early 30s, looks uncomfortable walking up stairs during his visits to a shoes factory and a power plant. He seemingly has a problem in his left leg.



However, the Ministry of Unification said it's early to affirm Kim's health disorder for now.



"Other video clip recorded after Dec. 13 shows Kim's normal appearance," the ministry's spokesperson Jeong Joon-hee told reporters, Wednesday. "We will keep our eyes on his status."



This is the second time for the outside observers to catch Kim's ankle problem. In July 2014, Kim limped and didn't show up any schedules for 46 days. After the long absence he returned carrying a cane.



At that time, Seoul-based National Intelligence Service said he removed a cyst between September and October 2014, adding that it may recur due to his obesity and heavy smoking.




Outgoing U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Oh Young-jin, Rachel Lee

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may finally feel regret over his repeated attempts to whitewash his country's wartime crimes such as sexual slavery of women, many of whom were Korean girls conscripted and forced to serve imperial soldiers.

In Hiroshima and later in Hawaii, Abe has used outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama as a kind of prop to legitimize post-war Japan's shirking of responsibility for its World War II atrocities.

The Japanese leader's charade was dismissed by Mark Lippert, Obama's protege and the U.S. ambassador to Korea for more than two years. Lippert confirmed the comfort women as a "shocking" example of "human rights violations" that Obama described during his April 2014 visit to Seoul.

"It underscores the way that the United States feels about the issue," Lippert said during an interview with The Korea Times and the Hankook Ilbo at his residence Tuesday, when asked whether he still backed Obama's declaration. "We view this historical issue as very important."

He denied allegations that the Dec. 28, 2015, agreement between Seoul and Tokyo to settle the sex slave issue was a result of U.S. pressure, saying, "We don't mediate and we don't pressure for an outcome." Now, the agreement is unraveling  with Abe claiming Korea is unworthy of the 10 billion won it received as part of the deal, while Seoul is just short of throwing the money back in Abe's face.

Lippert described the historical issue as "very difficult, very tough, very complex," promoting discussions between the two with the goal of achieving peace and reconciliation. Fitting his description is the latest tit-for-tat that increasingly makes Korea-Japan ties look like the intractable Israel-Palestine riddle.

Regarding the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) U.S. missile inceptor, here, Lippert said that it was Korea's "sovereign" decision.

"Korea took the decision in consultation with its ally the United States," he said, adding that the goal was to protect the Korean population and territory from North Korean missile threats.
By Oh Gun-hak



Over the years, I have faced choices that would determine my future. Some came a few times, giving me a chance to reconsider my decisions, while others forked in directions that would I never meet again.



Deciding to go to Ghent University was one of those choices that indelibly marked my future.



To be honest, I once questioned myself over whether applying to Ghent was the right decision and feared that I had set foot on a path that had no turning back. However, as I spent more time there, I realized that going to Ghent University was one of the best decisions I had ever made.



When the time came to start considering which university to go, I was torn.



Having attended an international school, I certainly preferred English over Korean and found Western culture more comfortable. Yet, there was part of me that wanted to go to a Korean university, which could give more clarification to my identity.



However, for some reason, I was irresistibly drawn to Ghent University.



Ghent University Global Campus (GUGC) is a Belgian university that resides in Incheon Global Campus in Korea, along with other universities such as George Mason, Stony Brooks, and Utah University.



Unlike the main campus in Belgium, all of the curricula on the global campus are offered in English. Upon discovering this, I knew right away that this was an opportunity that I could not miss.



When I applied to the GUGC, the admissions office warned me about the rigorous science programs. At that time, I was suspicious about the "rigorous" curricula. Had I heeded those words, I might have at least been prepared for the all-nighters. Every day, classes started at 8 a.m., and ended at around 5 p.m. with a short lunch time in the middle. After dinner, I would meet my friends to review what was covered in class.



Life in college was so different from what I thought it would be like. I doubted myself and was sure that I would not make it through. Fortunately, I found my first year not only meaningful, but also enjoyable thanks to my professors.



In Ghent University, professors have great passion for both science and their students. Subjects that I once thought were boring and incomprehensible became my favorites as my professors revealed the beauty of each subject.



One aspect of Ghent University that enticed me was its vision: "Life on earth is humanity's most precious resource and should be managed responsibly." I unequivocally agree.



Even at a young age, I had such a mindset, which would manifest even in small matters such as not killing insects. But, that developed into more sophisticated concerns about harm inflicted on the environment by human beings, such as the irresponsible use of technology or negligence toward the endangerment of some species. I've always felt the urgency of this crisis.



Sometimes it was so difficult that I'd try to convince those around me. An eye roll and a playful tease was usually what I got. I don't blame them, because I must have sounded like a deranged lunatic. Yet, when I heard about Ghent University, I saw it as an opportunity to make a difference in the world by preserving and improving the most valuable resource that humanity had received.



As hinted earlier, Ghent University has an intensive curriculum. It is definitely an excellent academic environment that prepares young students for the path they have set foot on.



Though it demands hard work and persistence, life in Ghent University became delightful, especially because of the supporting professors. As for me, I am certain that the knowledge and the passion this university has been imparting on me will make me an outstanding environmental scientist. I still see a long path before me, but what motivates me is the desire, nurtured by Ghent University, to preserve what was entrusted to humankind, and perhaps even to turn our attention to something much greater than us.



The writer is a sophomore at Ghent University Global Campus in Songdo, Incheon.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong encounters reporters on his way out from the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, Wednesday, after attending a hearing over an arrest warrant requested for him on criminal charges, including giving bribes to President Park Geun-hye's close friend in return for government favors.

/ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Jung Min-ho

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong attended a four-hour court hearing, Wednesday, held to look into the validity of the arrest warrant requested for him on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury.

The Seoul Central District Court reviewed the warrant request for Lee, the Samsung Group's de facto leader, overnight over allegations that he offered 43 billion won ($37 million) in bribes to President Park Geun-hye's longtime friend Choi-Soon-sil in return for business favors.

The investigation team led by special prosecutor Park Young-soo concluded that Lee was directly involved in the bribery and requested the warrant for him Monday.

A decision is expected near or after midnight.

Lee appeared in front of the court at around 9:55 a.m. As he walked in, he did not answer a flurry of questions from reporters.

Investigators have alleged that Samsung gave the bribes to Choi and her cronies through various channels in the disguise of "donations."

This, investigators believe, was made to take advantage of Choi's friendship with President Park, who later allegedly pressured the National Pension Service (NPS) to vote for a merger of two Samsung units in 2015  a crucial decision for Lee to tighten his control of the group's management.
By Lee Kyung-min

Choi Kyung-hee, Ewha Womans University President

The independent counsel team summoned former Ewha Womans University President Choi Kyung-hee, Wednesday, over her alleged role in granting special treatment to Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, the scandal-ridden confidant of President Park Geun-hye. The former university president faces charges of obstruction of business and perjury.

She resigned last October following a massive protest from Ewha students over her alleged involvement in the scandal. She has been questioned over the university's admissions and grading irregularities concerning Chung.

Three other key faculty members were also arrested including former dean of the college of science and industry convergence Kim Kyung-sook, former admissions chief officer Namkung Gon and digital media studies professor Lyou Chul-gyun.

The team questioned Choi over whether she was aware of or ordered the favors for Chung. The team also questioned whether Cheong Wa Dae or Choi Soon-sil were involved and if so, whether the university or its president received anything in return. After questioning her, the team will determine whether to investigate higher-profile figures.

Earlier, the education ministry audit uncovered that Namkung, ahead of the admissions interview for Chung, told admissions officers to select the candidate who brought in a gold medal to the admissions interview.

Chung, a dressage competitor, won a gold medal in a team event at the Incheon Asian Games in 2014 about a month before the interview.

Under the admissions regulations, interviewees are not allowed to bring any personal belongings or wear anything that might help officers recognize or infer who they are, including Olympic uniforms, as it could undermine fairness.

However, Chung showed her medal to the interviewers and was selected, leading to two other candidates who had higher scores than Chung in the written application material review being rejected.

Another allegation was that Ewha altered admissions regulations to recognize her gold medal, which was won after the application deadline and therefore should have been disregarded.

The team questioned Choi about possible backroom deals over Ewha winning the most state support after granting admission to Chung.

According to data submitted last year by the education ministry to Rep. Do Jong-hwan of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), out of the 163 private universities nationwide, only 16 of them, or 9.8 percent, managed to win five or more state subsidies. Of them, Ewha won the most, securing eight.

The team already secured a statement from former Vice Culture Minister Kim Chong, who said he asked Kim Kyung-sook for the special treatment for Chung by mentioning Choi Soon-sil's plan to help Ewha. The team believes this must have reached the university president.

The counsel team already indicted Lyou Chul-gyun, the professor known by his pseudonym Lee In-hwa, for helping Chung pass his course even though she did not attend lectures.

Lyou did so by having one of his assistants take the final exam instead of Chung, and having another assistant attend online classes on her behalf to give Chung bonus credit. Lyou said Kim ordered him to do so.

The team will determine later whether to seek an arrest warrant for the former university president.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

The international association of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TCITR) will approve the working plan for 2017 on Jan. 18, the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping CJSC said in a message.

The message says that recently Batumi hosted the first meeting of the working group on development of the TCITR. Tariffs on the Trans-Caspian corridor on the China-Europe route through the Caspian Sea were again discussed during the meeting and a comparative analysis of other alternative lines of the route was conducted.

Participants discussed the opportunities to increase the corridors competitiveness, eliminate difficulties, which may arise, as well as the delivery of cargoes to Central Asia and China and vice versa via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway after its commissioning, says the message. A final protocol was signed at the end of the meeting.

The meeting of founders of the TCITR international association will also be held on Jan. 18 and the working plan for 2017 is expected to be approved during this meeting.

In October 2016, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia signed an agreement on the establishment of the TCITR International Association with its office in Astana. Its activities are aimed at attracting transit and foreign trade cargo, as well as developing integrated logistics products via the TCITR.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route runs through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and further through Turkey and Ukraine to Europe.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong encounters reporters on his way out of the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, Wednesday, after attending a hearing over an arrest warrant requested for him on criminal charges, including giving bribes to President Park Geun-hye's close friend in return for government favors.

/ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Park Si-soo



A court denied Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's arrest for "lack of evidence" on Thursday morning, a setback to the independent counsel investigating an extensive corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and the nation's richest people.

Judge Cho Eui-yeon of the Seoul Central District Court, in charge of the case, said Lee's arrest was "not necessary at this stage (of the investigation)" given evidence and testimony tendered to the court.

The judge made the decision public at 4:53 a.m., nearly 14 hours after he questioned the de facto leader of Samsung Group, who has been accused of bribery, embezzlement and perjury.

Samsung said: "The merits of this case can now be determined without the need for detention."

The independent counsel has accused Lee of paying bribes totaling 43 billion won ($36.7 million) to organizations linked to Choi Soon-sil -- a friend of President Park who is at the center of the scandal -- to secure the 2015 merger of two affiliates and cement his control of the family business. The tycoon, 48, is also accused of lying under oath during a parliamentary hearing last month.

It is uncertain whether the independent counsel will again seek an arrest warrant for Lee.

The independent counsel has said it did not seek arrest warrants for three other Samsung Group executives involved in the scandal to minimize the impact on the company's business.


Hankook Ilbo survey shows wider gap between 2 candidates

By Kang Seung-woo

Moon Jae-in, a former chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), extended his lead over former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the latest poll on potential presidential candidates Wednesday, amid growing public calls for a judgment on the Park Geun-hye administration.

The survey by Hankook Research at the request of the Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times, showed that Moon received support of 31.4 percent, up 11.7 percentage points from last month.

Ban, regarded as Moon's biggest rival in the race to Cheong Wa Dae, saw his support advance 5.9 percentage points to 20 percent, but failed to narrow the gap.

In a December survey, Moon had 19.7 percent to Ban's 14.1 percent.

Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung was third at 9.5 percent, while Ahn Cheol-soo, a former co-leader of the second-largest opposition People's Party, and South Chungcheong Governor An Hee-jung rounded out the top five with 4.8 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively.

The survey interviewed 1,000 respondents nationwide, aged 19 and over on Sunday and Monday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The research agency said that the overwhelming public anger at the Park government factored into Moon stretching his lead, with 82.4 percent of the respondents in favor of the catchphrase, "judgment of the current administration."

In addition, it added that the impeached President's continuous denials of her wrongdoings linked to her confidant Choi Soon-sil helped Moon cement pole position.

Moon, who lost narrowly to President Park in the 2012 presidential election, was an even stronger candidate in two- and three-way race scenarios.

Moon had 54.1 percent in a two-way duel, well beyond the margin of error to beat Ban, who garnered 33.2 percent; and he was also well ahead of Ban and Ahn in a trilateral race  47 percent for Moon, 29.4 percent for Ban and 12.1 percent for Ahn.

Ban returned home last week with much fanfare after ending 10 years of service as the U.N. chief.

However, he has yet to live up to expectations amid a split in conservative voters. Recently, 29 lawmakers broke away from the ruling Saenuri Party to form the Barun Party following the Dec. 9 impeachment of President Park.

Before the corruption and influence-peddling scandal broke in late October, Ban was the runaway favorite among a field of presidential hopefuls, including Moon; and at that time, he was highly anticipated to run in the election under the banner of Park's Saenuri Party.

However, in the wake of the scandal that led to Park's impeachment, Ban's approval also nosedived  he once even yielded runner-up place to the rising Seongnam mayor.

According to the poll, 66.5 percent of Saenuri Party supporters and 40.3 percent of Barun Party backers were in favor of Ban.

However, only 38.3 percent of all respondents said Ban should run for president, with 55.2 percent disapproving.

"Ban's return has failed to bring about a convention effect so far, given that his approval is well behind that of Moon," the poll said.

"Unless Ban seeks ways to change the negative public sentiment toward him by the Lunar New Year holiday, it will not be easy for the former U.N. chief to catch up with Moon."

By party, the DPK stood as the most popular with 41.8 percent, followed by the People's Party with 10.8 percent and the Saenuri Party with 10.7 percent.
Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted his likely campaign credo of "grand integration" by visiting both the liberal and conservative bastions of South Korea on Wednesday as he is angling for the country's top elected office.

Since his return to South Korea last Thursday after his 10 years of service at the world body, Ban has been touring the country to meet with voters across the political spectrum in what is seen as a move to gauge public sentiment and build grassroots support.

On Wednesday morning, Ban visited the May 18th National Cemetery in the liberal-leaning city of Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul. It honors the country's pro-democracy fighters who died in a bloody crackdown on the 1980 uprising against the then military junta.

In the afternoon, he is set to visit a fire-ravaged market in Daegu, 302 kilometers south of Seoul, which has long been considered a stronghold for conservatives.

Ban's potential allies and rivals have closely watched his politically tinged tour, as he has emerged as a powerful presidential contender likely to represent the conservative bloc. In various opinion polls, Ban has ranked second, trailing Moon Jae-in, a former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party.

At the Gwangju cemetery, Ban hailed the city as the "birthplace of South Korea's democracy."












A close aide to President Park Geun-hye admitted Wednesday that he leaked classified information to a woman at the center of a South Korean presidential scandal, but claimed he only intended to help the president.



Jeong Ho-seong, a former presidential secretary, made the argument at the Seoul Central District Court where he stands trial on charges of divulging confidential information to Choi Soon-sil, Park's close friend and confidante.



"I generally acknowledge the charge against me and my statements made to the prosecution," he said. "But I was simply trying to assist the president."



The scandal that led to the president's impeachment centers on allegations that Choi colluded with Park to extort money from conglomerates and control state affairs behind the scenes.



Jeong is accused of working with Park to e-mail or deliver 47 documents classified as official secrets to the woman who never held a post in government. Choi also received drafts of some speeches that were to be delivered by Park and made corrections to them. The former aide has said he provided the documents so as to get broader feedback.



"It's true that the president told me to listen to Choi's opinions and incorporate them when necessary," Jeong said. "But she did not specifically order me to send this or that document."



Defending Park, he added that the president was trying to go the extra mile to skillfully run state affairs.



"I, too, was doing my best to assist the president even in the smallest way," Jeong said. "It breaks my heart to hear that I colluded with her."



Jeong is a member of the so-called "doorknob trio" who are believed to have had the most intimate access to the president. (Yonhap)




Rep. Pyo Chang-won of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) / Yonhap



By Hong Dam-young

A "young" opposition lawmaker has stirred a political dispute over the "retirement age" of elected officials, including the President and lawmakers, in what appears to be a move against the rise of senior politicians in the lead-up to the presidential race.

Rep. Pyo Chang-won, 50, of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), wrote on his Facebook page on Monday that the retirement age for public officials should be set at 65.

"Serving 28 years in public office and one year in politics got me to realize that public officials should retire at 65 and provide more room for younger officials to participate," he wrote.

"Elderly officials should step back from the front line so that they can arbitrate different interest groups more objectively and stabilize the society.

"Once retired, they can still have a voice by acting as advisers, writing journals or giving lectures."

But ruling and opposition party officials dismissed Pyo's argument as a gimmick to disadvantage presidential hopefuls older than Moon Jae-in, 64, the leading presidential candidate of the DPK and a close friend of Pyo. They argued that Pyo's remarks are especially aimed at Ban Ki-moon, 73, another potential presidential candidate, who is second to Moon in opinion polls. Kim Chong-in, a former interim leader of the DPK, and Sohn Hak-kyu, a former opposition leader  possible allies of Ban in the presidential bid -- are also well over 70.

"Former French President De Gaulle and former England Prime Minister Churchill were both over 70 when they made their main achievements," Kim Chong-in said.

"Setting an age limit is absolutely preposterous."

Some argued that Pyo's remarks were disparaging of elders and that he should apologize.

"Pyo's argument insulted elders," Kim Sung-won, a ruling Saenuri Party spokesperson, said. "He should apologize to them and step down from the office."

In the face of the roiling controversy, Pyo defended himself on Wednesday, saying he only intended to criticize elected officials who have been vested with rights and privileges for a long time. But he admitted he had kept Ban in mind when making the argument.
By Yi Whan-woo





Lee Myung-bak

Former President Lee Myung-bak is apparently backing Ban Ki-moon.

His former chief press officer Lee Dong-kwan said Wednesday that the former President asked him to help Ban "in a discreet manner."

"When I told Lee that I will help Ban's campaign, he asked me to help Ban in a discreet matter," Lee Dong-kwan said during a radio interview. "Mr. Lee is worried about the current political situation."

Former aides to Lee have sided with Ban. Analysts, however, were skeptical about whether their support will be helpful for Ban in seeking the presidency.

Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, claimed a number of people tend to view the Park Geun-hye administration as a mere extension of Lee's in terms of governing style.

Both Park and her predecessor Lee were criticized for carrying out policies unilaterally without listening to the public or consulting with the opposition parties.

"And getting help from Lee's associates will be seen as Ban trying to inherit the old-fashioned political virtues from both Lee and Park Geun-hye," Shin said.

Citing that Ban vowed to bring the politically divided country together upon his return to Korea, Jan. 12, Shin said, "Pro-Lee figures won't be any good in making Ban's promise convincing."












Presidential contenders from left, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myeong; Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon; former leader of Democratic Party of Korea Moon Jae-in; Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil and Bareun Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min. / Korea Times file



By Lee Han-soo

As Korea's presidential poll clock ticks down, populist campaign pledges from contenders are flooding the media.

But many experts have branded the promises from conservative and progressive parties unrealistic. This is what the critics are saying:

Minimizing military conscripts

Two opposition contenders and one conservative hopeful have pledged to decrease or abolish mandatory conscription in the hope of garnering the votes of young adults.

With mandatory conscription set at 21 months, leading candidate Moon Jae-in, of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), pledged to cut it to one year.

Third-placed hopeful, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, also of the DPK, wants to decrease the number of conscripts and shorten their service to 10 months. Lee outlined a plan to recruit 100,000 active combat personnel, using selective volunteer military to fill any void.

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil, of the Bareun Party, wants to abolish mandatory conscription and introduce a volunteer military system.

But the Ministry of Defense (MOD) has viewed each pledge as unrealistic and somewhat dangerous.

"Decreasing conscription service to 10 months or one year can bring a shortage of troops who are ill-trained to fight," said Moon Sang-gyun, a spokesman for the MOD. "Taking into consideration the current security situation and the decrease in conscriptable personnel, the issue of minimizing our forces has to be thoroughly reviewed."

Public welfare

Lee Jae-myung is in the hot seat with his welfare pledge to give 1 million won ($856) a year as basic income to 28 million citizens.

Those eligible for the welfare would include people under 29 and over 65, and farmers, fisherman and the disabled aged 30 to 64.

Lee says his pledge will increase people's disposable income.

But experts have hit out at his claim. They say giving basic income has little to no effect on increasing disposable income.

"A million won yearly will have no impact on increasing disposable income," a Korea Development Institute professor told the Joongang Ilbo, a Korean news outlet. "To have an actual impact in increasing disposable income, the government has to support the lower-income group, who are more prone to spend money."

Paternity leave

Yoo Seung-min, a lawmaker for the Bareun Party, which spun off from the ruling Saenuri Party, pledged to increase maternity leave up to three years and increase monthly maternity leave wages to 2 million won.

But experts viewed this as unrealistic.

"If maternity leave is increased to three years, companies will most likely avoid recruiting women of childbearing age due to concerns regarding ascending expenses and a vacuum of manpower," an expert said.

Education

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon called for the shutdown of Seoul National University and an end to the college scholastic ability test (CSAT).

"Like Paris, all public universities in Seoul will be called Seoul National University," Park said during a National Assembly discussion.

But his pledge is also viewed as populist.

"Short-term policies such as closing down Seoul National University, abolishing the CSAT and strengthening public universities cannot solve the university hierarchy," a Korea Council for University Education official said. "There needs to be a distribution of infrastructure nationwide and the abolition of the hierarchy between permanent workers and non-permanent workers."
By Jun Ji-hye

Former and incumbent prosecutors have testified that they saw Ban Ki-moon's name on a bribery list local businessman Park Yeon-cha had submitted to the prosecution in 2009, according to media reports Wednesday.

The testimony is expected to add fuel to the bribery suspicions which have emerged as a serious challenge to the former U.N. chief in running for the presidency, although he flatly denied them.

"Indeed, Ban was on the bribery list," a prosecutor said, according to the Hankyoreh daily. "It is an undeniable fact that Ban was among the figures who the businessman claimed to have bribed."

This claim was also backed by former prosecutors, the daily reported.

Upon returning home, Ban denied the bribery allegations, Jan. 12, after completing his job at the United Nations. At the airport, he told reporters, "I can not understand why my name is being mentioned regarding the Park Yeon-cha case. Park is an utter stranger to me. There was no relationship between him and me."

Park, former chairman of Taekwang Industry, was at the center of a bribery scandal involving the late President Roh Moo-hyun and his aides. Park reportedly told prosecutors that he gave Ban $230,000 in bribes in 2005 while he was serving as the foreign minister in the Roh government.

The latest reports said Park made a list on his own and submitted it to prosecutors through his then lawyer, Park Young-soo, who is currently leading the investigation team as an independent counsel to look into the corruption and influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye.

The report also said the list is believed to carry considerable reliability as the businessman was not forced by the prosecutors to draw it up, but did so on his own. The report added that the prosecutors were not aware of Ban's alleged involvement in the bribery scandal until the businessman submitted the list.












Former Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Moon Jae-in, the leading presidential hopeful, talks with a participant during a policy forum at the National Assembly, Wednesday. / Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye

Moon Jae-in, the leading opposition presidential hopeful, pledged to create 1.31 million jobs if elected president in this year's election, Wednesday.

He said the goal will be achieved by increasing the number of employees in the public sector and reducing work hours of laborers.

"Something different must be done to resolve the unemployment problem," Moon said at a policy forum hosted by his private think tank at the National Assembly. "The government will first create more jobs in the public sector."

Moon, the former chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said he will increase the number of firefighters, police, teachers, social welfare employees and military noncommissioned officers.

He noted that jobs in the public sector take up only 7.6 percent of the total employment of the nation, far below the average of 21.3 percent tallied for OECD members.

"Once the government raises the figure by only 3 percentage points, some 810,000 jobs will be created," he said. "For example, the nation is short 17,000 firefighters. I will also abolish the police conscript program and instead hire more regular officers."

Moon also said the labor law limits working hours to 52 hours a week, including overtime, but the Park Geun-hye administration and her predecessor Lee Myung-bak government virtually allowed employers to make workers work up to 68 hours a week by wresting the law to exclude Saturdays and Sundays.

"The government can create about 500,000 jobs by reducing working hours," he said. "If workers are allowed to take all of their annual paid holidays, more jobs will be created."

He also vowed to allow parents to work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. without wage reduction at least until their children enter elementary school.

Moon, who ran as a presidential candidate in the 2012 election in which he lost to Park 51.6 percent to 48 percent, said he will also increase wages of workers of small and medium-sized companies to at least 80 percent of the paychecks of conglomerate workers.

"I will concentrate on investments in new growth industries such as electronic vehicles, new and renewable energy and artificial intelligence," he said. "I will also consistently change temporary positions in the public sector to permanent positions."

The presidential election could take place in the first half of the year instead of December if the Constitutional Court rules for Park's impeachment by the National Assembly. Should this happen, the country has to elect a new leader within 60 days.
Ban drinks during his memorial service for his late father in Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province, Jan. 14.

/ Screen capture from YouTube



By Ko Dong-hwan

Former U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, second in presidential opinion polls, is being pummeled by embarrassing headlines and critics over a series of alleged slip-ups.

Ban arrived back in Seoul on Jan. 12 after ending his tenure as United Nations Secretary-General in New York.

Some of the alleged gaffes were verified, while others were a mere blooper or mash-up spread by the anti-Ban movement. The latter's example is a social media video of Ban attending a memorial service at his father's tomb at Eumseong County in North Chungcheong Province on Saturday.

The 12-second video purported to show that Ban infringed tradition by drinking the first glass of liquor reserved for his late father. The rule, respected by most Koreans, says the first glass must be poured on tombs while the second is for drinking.

The video prompted critical comments online, such as Ban "does not know a basic manner" and "everything he does looks out of tune."

But the full video proved otherwise, showing Ban keeping the tradition. Ban's presidential committee said the video was "vilifying and rueful" and Ban "served according to his hometown tradition of the rite, which differs by region."





Ban tries to jam two 10,000-won bills into a subway ticket dispenser at Incheon International Airport, Jan. 12.

/ Courtesy of Hankook Ilbo



Ban's flip-o-meter cranked up its first notch the moment he arrived at Incheon International Airport. Ban, swamped by hundreds of journalists and fans, visited a convenience shop and picked up a bottle of water made in France. But he quickly changed to a Korean brand after advice from an aide.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

The Azerbaijani government and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have signed a grant agreement Jan. 18 in Baku to provide technical assistance to prepare the legal framework for Islamic finance, Azerbaijans Economy Ministry told Trend.

The agreement envisages the analysis of banking legislation and study of the possibilities of introduction of the Islamic banking principles in Azerbaijan.

The IDB approved technical assistance to Azerbaijan in the amount of $200,000 for the preparation of the legal framework for Islamic finance.

Azerbaijan joined the Islamic Development Bank in 1992. The areas most interesting for the IDB in Azerbaijan are energy, irrigation, road construction and agriculture.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli
Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes in a guestbook during his visit to the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju, Wednesday, to honor those who were killed during a democratic uprising against military dictator Chun Doo-hwan, May 18, 1980. / Yonhap



By Kim Hyo-jin

Speculation is growing that former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon may join the Bareun Party, a breakaway group from the ruling Saenuri Party, for a presidential bid.

Last week, Ban ruled out creating a new party, saying he will join an existing party if he opts to run for the presidency.

Ban has been courted by the Saenuri, Bareun and People's parties. However, he has tried to distance himself from the ruling party and the scandal-ridden President Park Geun-hye. The People's Party has also turned its back on Ban, citing his alleged ties to former President Lee Myung-bak, whom the party calls an "old evil."

For now, the Bareun Party appears to be the remaining option for Ban.

People's Party Chairman Rep. Park Jie-won said Wednesday Ban has been "estranged from the party," while lacking a clear view on state management, and siding with conservative figures.

"It is not too much to say that we have nearly closed the door on him," he said during a radio interview.

"He has yet to present any plan on how to run the administration when he is supposed to do so if he hopes to take power. It is also bothering that he is cozying up to figures from the failed administration."

Disgruntled with Ban's buzzwords "political reform" and his ambiguity with regards to the Park Geun-hye administration, Park said, "His stance makes us wonder if he is willing to take over the current government."

Taking issue with Ban's recent phone call to Park where he told her "be well-prepared," the minor opposition leader claimed he appears to want her impeachment to be overruled by the Constitutional Court.

"He's gone too far away from our policies and ideological trend," he said.

With this strong signal that the People's Party will stop seeking to recruit Ban, the possibility of him joining the Bareun Party is increasing.

Ban earlier clearly rejected aligning with the Saenuri Party, saying, "I would have joined and competed in its primary if it had remained as a decent party without a split."

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is the least possible party to join as there are multiple presidential hopefuls including former party leader Moon Jae-in, who is leading in opinion polls.

Meanwhile, the Bareun Party has stepped up its attempts to attract Ban following his virtual rejection by the People's Party.

"We are sure he will join us," Rep. Hwang Young-cheul, a Bareun Party lawmaker, said in a radio interview.

"What he pursues and how he views things are mostly in parallel with ours. Both are seeking to embrace reformist centrists, and we are open to the idea of expanding our influence by forging alliances with other political forces during the presidential campaign."

If Ban joins the Bareun Party, he is expected to compete with Rep. Yoo Seong-min, a former Saenuri Party floor leader well known for having been at odds with the President over her policies.

Ban's possible alliance with the new conservative party could lead to more lawmakers leaving the Saenuri Party. Ruling party lawmakers whose constituencies are in the Chungcheong provinces have expressed open support for Ban. The 30-member Bareun Party is scheduled to officially launch itself, Jan. 24.

Ban said Monday he will decide which party he will be aligned with after the Lunar New Year holiday, from Jan. 27 to Jan. 30.

"It's troublesome financially to manage things all alone. I'm using my private money as there's no party to ask for support from. I think eventually I will have to join hands with a political party," he told reporters.
Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the World Economic Forum on Tuesday.



President warns against protectionism and promises that China will not embark on a currency war



By Jane Cai, Wendy Wu



Amid rising fears of protectionism, President Xi Jinping used his keynote address to the World Economic Forum on Tuesday to insist that globalisation was not to blame for the world's economic woes. By Jane Cai, Wendy WuAmid rising fears of protectionism, President Xi Jinping used his keynote address to the World Economic Forum on Tuesday to insist that globalisation was not to blame for the world's economic woes.

Xi did not mention Donald Trump by name in his debut at Davos, but his remarks were read as a veiled response to threats by the US president-elect.

On the campaign trail last year, Trump threatened to label China a currency manipulator, impose a 45 per cent punitive tariff on imports from China, and accused China of stealing jobs from American workers.

Xi promised on Tuesday to improve market access for foreign companies and said China had no intention of depreciating the yuan or launching a currency war.

Xi told the 3,000 business and political elites at the Swiss ski resort that protectionism had to be opposed and the finger-pointing should stop.

"Those who push for protectionism are shutting themselves inside a dark house. They have escaped the rain and clouds outside, but also missed the light and air," he said. "A trade war will only lead to suffering on both sides."

Xi said that even though globalisation had led to problems such as uneven development, there was "no point" blaming it for the Syrian refugee crisis or the 2008 global financial crisis.

Any efforts to try to prevent globalisation would not succeed, he added. There was "no justification for wiping out economic globalisation all together", he said.

Xi's appearance at the forum comes as doubts rise over the role the United States will play in multilateral cooperation under the administration of Trump, who is generally seen as an isolationist. Europe is also in disarray over Britain's announcement of a "hard exit" from the European Union.

Against that backdrop, Xi prescribed innovation and structural reforms  as well as changes to financial governance  as cures for the world's economic ills.

Calling for better environmental protection, he said the Paris Agreement on climate change was a "hard-won achievement", and all signatories should stick to it. Trump, meanwhile, has said the concept of global warming is a plot by the Chinese to make US manufacturing uncompetitive.

Analysts said that apart from his allusions to Trump and assurance not to start a currency war, Xi did not cover new ground.

Ricard Torne, senior economist at FocusEconomics in Barcelona, Spain, said Xi's vision of the global economy was in line with previous statements he had made at international forums.

"Xi's words embracing globalisation, [his refusal] to use the yuan as an economic weapon and his warning against a trade war will boost confidence at a time when Western countries appear to be reducing their commitment to free trade," Torne said.

Tao Wenzhao, a foreign relations analyst at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Xi's speech was encouraging "in the winter of globalisation". "It can help reduce misunderstanding and send a signal that China will continue to embrace opening up," he said.
Cat Pang shows off her new bank notes at HSBC in Mong Kok on Tuesday.



Mostly elderly customers queued around block in Mong Kok



By Sarah Zheng



New banknotes were snapped up around the city when banks opened yesterday as Hongkongers queued to get their hands on freshly printed lai see for the Lunar New Year, causing some banks to end new banknote service early. By Sarah ZhengNew banknotes were snapped up around the city when banks opened yesterday as Hongkongers queued to get their hands on freshly printed lai see for the Lunar New Year, causing some banks to end new banknote service early.

At the HSBC branch in Mong Kok, a mostly older crowd clutched red envelopes as they left the bank, which ended service for new banknotes at around noon on Tuesday.

The branch put up posters indicating new HK$10, HK$20, and HK$50 notes were out of stock by 9:30am, although the notes were still issued to queued up customers until around noon, an HSBC spokeswoman said. Early risers prompted the bank to open at 8am, an hour earlier than usual.

"As there [were] a large number of people attending at Mongkok branch this morning and the bank hall was very crowded, we suggested customers to visit our branch for banknote exchange tomorrow or the day after," the spokeswoman said, adding that good as new notes were continually issued throughout the day.

The public is traditionally eager to exchange older notes for just printed or good as new notes for lai see, or red packets, for the Lunar New Year at the city's three note issuing banks  HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Bank of China (Hong Kong).

"There are so many customers today and they arrived so early in the morning," a separate HSBC spokeswoman said.





The large numbers of customers prompted the bank in Mong Kok to open early.



She added that many people came to the bank each year ahead of the holiday and were encouraged by staff to use nearly new notes as opposed to those hot from the printers for environmental reasons, consistent with recommendations by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

"But people like the new notes," she conceded.

The spokeswomen declined to comment about demand for banknotes at HSBC other than at the Mong Kok branch, given the number of banks across the city and how much conditions vary at each.

In Mong Kok, staff prepared a HK$3,000 "ready pack" for customers containing 100 HK$20 bills and 20 HK$50 ones  its two most popular notes.

At one time, more than 40 people were seen queuing outside the branch.

Accountant Dorothy Yau, 55, said it was the second time for her to get new notes for Lunar New Year. She exchanged HK$5,000, about the same amount as last year.

One man left the bank at around 9.35am complaining about how early the notes had run out and claiming the supply was insufficient.

A woman, surnamed Ma, said she exchanged a couple thousand notes at the branch. She said she accepted good-as-new notes in order to be more environmentally friendly.

Another woman, also surnamed Ma, said she exchanged around HK$18,000 in new notes, mostly HK$50 and HK$20 notes, similar to what she exchanged last year.

Bank of China opened at its regular time at 9am Tuesday, and its Mong Kok branch likewise saw a steady stream of around 30 people queuing up for new notes.

Its stock of new HK$10 and HK$50 new notes was depleted by around 10.30am.

"So many people!" the branch's security guard said.

HSBC will open half an hour earlier for new banknote service until Thursday, and will continue providing new banknote service "until stocks last" before the Lunar New Year, a spokeswoman said.
By Choi Sung-jin





Korea is facing a diplomatic perfect storm  as this country surrounded by far larger neighborst has found itself many times over the past hundreds of years.

China's economic pressure against Seoul's decision to deploy a U.S. missile defense system here has already cost several billions of dollars in lost export and tourism revenue.

Japan has suspended negotiations for a bilateral currency swap accord, accusing Seoul of reneging on the 2015 agreement between the two countries and allowing a civic group to put up another statue that symbolizes the "comfort women," in front of the Japanese consulate in Busan.

The two global powers are making economic retaliations against Korea to win a political tug-of-war. Beijing is violating one of its pronounced diplomatic principles of not interfering in other countries' internal affairs. Even after the comfort women accord, not a few Japanese officials have denied their government's legal responsibility or the coercive nature in the recruitment of wartime sex slaves.

All this notwithstanding, Seoul cannot refute Beijing and Tokyo head-on in part because of its weak national power and because of the bungled diplomacy by the Park Geun-hye administration. Had the Park government regarded the U.S. missile shield, called the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, indispensable for national security, it should have done its best to persuade  or plead with  China and Russia into understanding such a need.

Instead, Seoul had stuck to a "three-no" stance  no requests, no discussions and no decisions  until it abruptly turned toward its deployment, and did not even notify Beijing of the decision nor Moscow afterwards. In Korea-Japan relations, too, Park had bet all on seeking the "genuine solution" of the comfort women problem, instead of separating it from other economic and political cooperation between the two countries. Koreans still have no idea why Park settled for the half-baked compromise, except there was pressure from the U.S.

Currently, the nine presidential contenders here are split over the handling of the two biggest diplomatic issues, exactly by ideological lines. Three would-be presidents from the conservative camp call for keeping the two agreements, however flawed they may be, as they are international promises and breaking them would erode foreigners' trust in this country. Six presidential wannabes from the liberal camp say the nation should withdraw these accords or leave it to the next administration to renegotiate them. I, along with many other peace-loving Koreans, support the latter group.

Yes winning international trust is important but not more so than vital national interests, including the life and death of millions of Koreans, south and north. As is well known, both the THAAD decision and comfort woman agreement have resulted from the U.S. intention to keep China in check through cementing a trilateral alliance of Washington, Tokyo and Seoul. As far as the North Korean nuclear crisis is concerned, however, the doves are Chinese and Russians, calling for a negotiated solution while the hawks are Americans  especially the recently triumphant Republicans  who don't seem to rule out the possibility of preemptive strikes.

Both the North's Kim Jong-un, who boasts he can complete a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile before long, and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominees for the state and defense portfolios seemingly ready for surgical strikes, may be bluffing. But history shows massive wars could break out by a slight misjudgment or other minor mistakes. We must not let it happen again on this peninsula, which underwent one of the most tragic proxy wars of Cold War ideologies losing three million lives less than 65 years ago. Nobody knows where the unpredictable Trump administration will go in its North Korea policy but a military card that has even the slightest possibility of turning this peninsula into nuclear ruins can never be an option.

The United States has been, and will be, Korea's most important partner in national security. Like in business, however, it may not be safe or wise to always put all the eggs in one basket in the security area, too. THAAD has yet to prove its efficacy but Washington has made it, almost one-sidedly, a touchstone of Korea's unswerving allegiance to its biggest ally. Still, Seoul will have limitations to oppose its deployment to protect American troops stationed here, at Washington's own cost. If that leads to Beijing's near severing of its economic ties with Seoul, however, the Korean government should be able to ask the U.S. to dissolve Chinese and Russian unease.

The next South Korean president should be a leader who will do his utmost, mobilizing what narrow diplomatic leverage he can muster, to change the decades-long atmosphere of confrontation and military muscle-flexing into one of peace and co-prosperity in this part of the world. True, raw power is justice in international politics but even small countries should be given opportunities to seek its own security and prosperity through more self-reliant and balanced diplomatic policies. Many foreign, even local, gurus will laugh this away as a naive wishful thinking or daydream.

However, as millions of people who gather in Gwanghwamun Square every Saturday braving piercing cold testify, the next president should be able to turn South Koreans' aspirations for a fairer, freer and more peaceful country into a "citizens' revolution for peace." The new leader must do all he can to reconnect the severed relationship between the Koreas and, based on improved inter-Korean ties, attempt to resume the denuclearization talks, starting with the freeze of the North's atomic weapons program at the current state.

Koreans will know then who their true friends are  at least for now  by the latter's willingness to facilitate this process.





Choi Sung-jin is a contributing writer to The Korea Times and an adjunct professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Contract him at choisj1955@naver.com.
By Robin Rhee

Santa Claus can undoubtedly claim he has responsibility for the longest lists. He compiles the lists of naughty and nice children and they make lists of the presents they would like to get for Christmas.

Hosts for important events, weddings, holidays, birthdays and anniversaries, start with guest lists. Those are followed by lists for food, drink, decorations and maybe party favors.

Many people make bucket lists, things they want to do or experience before they die. These may include places to visit, dream career opportunities and personal achievements.

Some lists are not very exciting but are necessary for daily life. If one is planning a trip, a list of things to pack is a necessity, for arrival at the airport without your passport or finding yourself in a foreign country without extra underwear can spell disaster.

Teachers and professors make class lists to help them learn students' names and to keep track of their grades and attendance records.

Housewives make lists for the things needed to keep the house and family running smoothly--from grocery shopping to children's schedules.

Then there are the "Honey Do" lists which wives make for their husbands. Wash the car. Take out the trash. Fix the dripping faucet in the kitchen sink, for example.

Most wanted lists, designed to track down and put behind bars the perpetrators of the most heinous crimes, can even reach across international borders. Serial murderers, rapists, kidnappers, armed robbers and others fleeing from their governments would be prime candidates for these lists.

Hit lists are compiled by gangs, mobs and dictators to rid them of individuals who pose a threat to their power.

Nations work daily to keep terrorist lists, no fly lists and terrorist watch lists up to date, both to protect their citizens and to arrest known terrorists.

Back in the day black lists were made by sororities, fraternities and other groups to blackball certain people from becoming members of their groups.

But in the 1950s when U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy charged he had a lengthy list of communists who had infiltrated the State Department, the term black list took on a more sinister meaning. The list was never seen, however.

He also accused a large number of prominent members of the movie industry as being communist sympathizers which prevented many artists from finding work. When his accusations were proven false he was censored by the Senate and died at an early age.

Now Korea is facing its own black list. It has been reported that at least 1,000 cultural figures have been targeted because they were critical of the government.

Who gave the order to compile the list? Who actually made the list? Who has it?

Is it against the law to criticize the government? Should all the protesters who marched peacefully against the government be on a black list?

So many questions and no answers yet.

It will be interesting to see what transpires in the days ahead.

The writer is a former columnist for The Korea Times and currently resides in Centerville, Ohio. Write to RRKORAM@aol.com.
By Kyung Moon Hwang

A year ago this column predicted that the just-signed agreement between the South Korean and Japanese governments to resolve the "comfort women" issue, once and for all, would instead last only as long as the two current administrations are in power. This appears to have been an over-estimation. Without even knowing the life span of Park Geun-hye's presidency, the brouhaha over the latest statue, which will not be the last, indicates that the agreement is already unraveling.

As usual, there are important historical factors worth examining. Due to the terrible nature of what happened and the postwar amnesia in Japan, the comfort women issue will always arouse nationalist passions across Asia. In South Korea, however, it would be beneficial also to consider the country's complicated history of sexual exploitation and state-sponsored prostitution.

"Comfort Women" or "Comfort Corps" was the euphemism for the military prostitution system servicing the Japanese imperial army in World War II, an offshoot of the "Sacrifice Corps" ("Jeongsindae" in Korean) that produced goods and services for the battle fronts. Various studies over the years have painted a fairly secure picture of how this system worked: The Japanese military helped mobilize and provided the clientele for numerous "comfort stations," run mostly by non-military entrepreneurs (pimps and human traffickers, more or less), that followed the soldiers as they rampaged through Asia.

The question that will never get fully resolved, but which lies at the heart of the continuing controversy, is the extent to which the Japanese government was involved in luring, coercing, and brutalizing these girls. This was not a uniform system, and there was a variety of channels that brought the girls to the comfort stations, although most of the victims appear to have been deceived into circumstances that trapped them in the unrelenting horrors of serial rape.

In the end, of course, it doesn't really matter whether Japanese officials actually managed this system directly, since the Japanese military created and oversaw the demand from its wars of aggression in the first place. The Japanese government, in sum, was responsible for this deplorable reality, and hence this government today should acknowledge and rectify it.

Beyond this general understanding, we would do well to dig deeper into the historical background of the comfort women system and to examine its aftermath. By doing so, we find that the story is more complicated than what is suggested by placing statues in front of Japanese diplomatic compounds.












By Shim Jae-yun

With a few days left before taking office, U.S. Presidentelect Donald Trump has already been wielding his power as the incoming leader of the most powerful nation on the planet. He is making headlines every day, rattling the world by tweeting 278 times in three months since Nov. 9 when he won the election. Most of his statements are short, simple and offensive, targeting opponents and potential enemies.

Psychologists compare Trump's behavior to that of an alpha male chimpanzee. Prof. Don Mark Adams of Northwestern University described Trump as impulsive and lacking self-restraint, given his failure in showing leniency to those who criticize him. An alpha male chimpanzee usually flexes his muscles and beats his chest, even preemptively offending a counterpart who appears poised to attack him.

Trump's intimidating of possible trade and political partners has been bearing fruit. Global entrepreneurs rushed to meet Trump and announced their investment plans in the U.S. including Jack Ma of Alibaba Group and Son Jung-eui of Softbank.

Global carmaker Toyota also plans to build more plants in the U.S., reversing an earlier plan to invest in Mexico. Hyundai Motor has also decided to invest $3.1 billion in the next four years.

Without doubt, the incoming Trump era will see drastic changes in diverse aspects with a huge impact on Northeast Asia including the Korean Peninsula and China. Trump risked China's wrath by talking on the phone with Taiwanese President Tsa Ing-wen.

For China, which pursues the one-China policy as its basis for survival, the Taiwan issue is highly sensitive and completely nonnegotiable. It is a war of nerves. Against this backdrop, many experts speculate over a possible meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the near future. The possible "hamburger" summit, once realized, would surely bring about a far-flung impact upon Northeast Asia.

Relations between Washington and Pyongyang have remained stalled. Despite strenuous efforts, the preceding U.S. governments have failed to deter the North from developing nuclear weapons. Eyes have been turning to whether Trump will dare take a broad approach in resolving the thorny nuclear issue.

China has been taking hostile trade policies in retaliation to Seoul's decision to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. As the rivalry between the U.S. and China is increasing, regional tensions will heighten. This will prompt China to shift its policies toward neighboring nations, imposing serious challenges for Korea. China has already been showing its teeth by sending a fighter jet over the nation's aerial domain.

Concern is growing over the "America First" and protectionism policies pushed by the Trump administration. Korea has been facing difficulties politically and economically since the outbreak of a scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil. Recently, the independent counsel decided to seek an arrest warrant for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, deepening the uncertainty.

Korea is facing tough challenges to overcome  low growth, low birthrate, aging population, economic bipolarization, youth unemployment, rising household debt and environmental problems. The presidential race here has almost begun. It will likely end in a competition between former U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Moon Jae-in of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea. The possibility of unification between the two Koreas will be the utmost important issue. In this vein, Ban, if elected, will be able to fully use his experience in international society as a career diplomat. But he lacks experience in economic and daily life issues. With the coming power transfer, Seoul and Washington need to work more closely to enhance peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region based on their tight alliance.
Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea, left, and National Assembly Secretary General Woo Yoon-keun smile in front of an outdoor shelter for stray cats, Jan. 4. / Courtesy of Rep. Han Jeoung-ae



By Choi Ha-young



The National Assembly opened four outdoor shelters for stray cats on Jan. 4.



The structures were made after Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) rescued three cats from the parking lot at the Assembly last September. They were named "Democracy," "Nuri" and "People" after the three largest parties: DPK, Saenuri Party and People's Party.



The cat called Democracy was seriously injured after being hit by a car, and barely survived. Han proposed to Secretary General Woo Yoon-keun to install the houses for cats at the Assembly and Woo approved it.



"Lawmakers take many steps to protect social minorities," Han told The Korea Times, Wednesday, at her office. "If we fail to protect the weakest creatures here, it would be hard to say we can protect citizens."



This is the first time cat shelters have been built at a governmental facility here. Han dreams of expanding their presence outside the Assembly, to regional assemblies and city halls.



"Further, it can awaken lawmakers' sympathy to take more care of social minorities including the homeless and temporary workers around them," she said.



Recently, the Assembly directly hired sanitation workers, but it has a long way to go to ensure stability for interns and reporters at National Assembly Television.



Animal rights advocacy groups donated the shelters and 200 kilograms of cat food. They will get them spayed and neutered in spring. Currently, cat moms  party officials or secretariat executives  are feeding the animals regularly.



Han is a member of the National Assembly Forum for Animal Welfare, composed of 39 lawmakers. A member of the Environment and Labor Committee, she is now trying to revise the Animal Protection Act in cooperation with activists focusing on animal breeding.



"As breeders produce animals recklessly, people buy pets without consideration," said Han. "Then we have to deal with the social cost of abandoned pets."



She hopes to build a virtuous circle as more Koreans become pet lovers. "If the price of pets increases by an authorization system on breeders, people will visit pet sanctuaries instead of shops."
By Lee Min-hyung





Donald Trump Lee Jae-yong

The nation's prosecution blocked Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong's scheduled meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in December amid a widening investigation into the company over its involvement in the ongoing political scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye.

According to local media and industry sources here, Wednesday, the independent investigation team  led by special prosecutor Park Young-soo  prevented Lee's planned trip to the U.S. last month when Trump met with a group of technology leaders there  including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Alphabet CEO Larry Page.

The Samsung heir, serving as vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was also known to have been invited to the meeting, in what critics say was a rare move as he was the sole Asian entrepreneur among the group of tycoons invited.

But with the prosecution imposing a ban on Lee's overseas travel, Lee failed to attend the special meeting.

"It is true that Trump invited Lee for the meeting, but he was unable to go due to investigation by the prosecution," an industry source said, declining to comment further.

This has raised concerns from the local economy that not a single Korean entrepreneur has had a meeting with the next U.S. president at a time when other Asian business tycoons  including Alibaba Group Chairman Jack Ma and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son  made headlines for their partnerships with the Trump administration through exclusive meetings at Trump Tower.

As the investigation into Lee and the Seoul-based tech titan is intensifying, the special investigation team on Monday requested an arrest warrant for Lee on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury. He was accused of having links to the political crisis surrounding President Park and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

Lee is suspected of offering Choi and her family 43 billion won ($36.8 million) in exchange for approval of a merger between Samsung's de facto holding firm Cheil Industries and its construction affiliate Samsung C&T. The merger was deemed critical to tightening Lee's grip on the group.

Following the prosecution's announcement, Samsung expressed its deep regret, saying the financial support for Choi's family was not aimed at solidifying Lee's ownership structure within the company.



Foreign investors leaving Samsung over uncertainty

The latest decision by the independent counsel is putting the brakes on Samsung Electronics' upward stock momentum.

On Jan. 12, Samsung Electronics shares hit an all-time high, closing at 1.94 million won on the Seoul bourse. But with the leadership vacuum expected to prolong for months to come, uncertainty lingers on its stock price.

Samsung Electronics' foreign investors recorded a net sale of shares in the company for four consecutive days since the prosecution team summoned Lee for questioning on Thursday.

The firm's market capitalization dropped by 2.1 percent, or 5.6 trillion won, on Monday when the prosecution indicated its plan to seek an arrest warrant for Lee.

Analysts said the firm may have to prepare for a long-term loss in its stock value.

"Stocks for Samsung Electronics and other Samsung Group affiliates will suffer a short-term effect (due to the latest scandal), over such reasons as the lack of a control tower," Hana Financial Group analyst Kim Yong-goo said.

This will put the brakes on the recent upward momentum of the benchmark KOSPI, and also cast negative fallout on the local economy, according to the analyst. This reflects Samsung Group's market capitalization takes up more than a quarter of the total of listed firms on the Seoul bourse.

On Wednesday, Samsung Electronics closed at 1.847 million won on the Seoul bourse, down 1,000 won or 0.05 percent from a day ago.
By Jhoo Dong-chan

Hyundai Motor has joined the Hydrogen Council, an international initiative to promote fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) as an alternative means of future transportation, as an official member company at the World Economic Forum (WEF) held at Davos Resort, Switzerland.

According to Hyundai Motor, Wednesday, the council was established Tuesday in which 13 global carmakers and energy companies participated as a follow-up measure to successfully execute the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting global temperature increases to under 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The other 12 participating firms are Air Liquide, Alstom, BMW Group, Daimler, ENGIE, Honda, Kawasaki, Royal Dutch Shell, The Linde Group, Total and Toyota. The council is co-chaired by Toyota and Air Liquide.

Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Yang Woong-cheol said in his keynote speech for the council's opening ceremony they are "determined to develop and provide platforms to realize a hydrogen society while trying to seek cooperation from companies in other fields as carmakers alone are not enough for the commercialization of FCVs."

The carmakers plan to produce a total of 630,000 FCVs annually while building 520 hydrogen fuel stations across the country by 2030, Yang added.

After Yang's speech, the Hydrogen Council strongly requested the international community to use hydrogen fuel as an alternative energy source.

Introducing the Tucson ix fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in 2013, Hyundai Motor has stepped up its efforts to commercialize its hydrogen FCEVs.

The carmaker signed a deal with Ulsan Metropolitan Government and a taxi association in the city to offer 10 Tucson ix FCEVs as taxis. It plans to add five more vehicles in Ulsan in 2017, and begin running another five as taxis in Gwangju.

It also plans to introduce the next-generation FCV model in time for the opening of the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, in February 2018.

An FCEV is a hybrid car that uses a fuel cell and a battery to power an electric motor, instead of a gasoline-powered engine. It generally uses oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen, emitting only water and heat.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Raiffeisen Bank and some commercial banks of Czech Republic consider the possibility of financing the deals on Czech technologies and equipment supplies to Azerbaijan, Milos Vecera, Head of Raiffeisen Banks Division on Trade Finance, Cash Management and Factoring told Trend.

Vecera is among the participants of Azerbaijani-Czech business forum which took part in Baku Jan. 17 and brought together about 20 Czech companies.

He noted that Raiffeisen Bank often participates in the business missions organized by Czech government and Czech Commercial Chambers.

This is not our first visit to Azerbaijan and there are few other banks in the delegation. We all are looking for export finance transaction deals on Czech technologies and equipment, for example in construction works, waste-management, etc. that could be supplied to Azerbaijan with an export credit from one of our commercial banks, Vecera said.

He noted that such a credit could be preferably ensured by EGAP (Czech export credit agency), which have already ensured transactions of Czech commercial and Czech export bank worth hundreds of millions of euros.

Vecera noted that currently the most attractive spheres of Azerbaijani economy are the spheres of oil and gas, processing of crude products, transportation and anything which is viewed as being strategically important for the country.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
After producer Han Dong-Cheol has left Produce 101, the program will not be hosted by Jang Keun-Suk for its Season 2. This added more obstacles to the second season of the singing competition.

According to official from the show as quoted by Hankyung, they are currently searching for the new host. Conflicting schedule has made Jang to be unable to host the second season of the show.

Jang was one of the reason the first season of Produce 101 to be so successful. His lively appearance and cheerful approach helped reduced the tension between the contestants in the competition. Therefore, Mnet needs to find suitable replacement.

The absence of Jan gives more complication to the second season of the sucessful singing competition. It is because at the same time, producer Han Dong-Cheol also submitted his resignation from Mnet. According to Stoo News, Mnet made an official announcement on Jan. 16 that Han is leaving company.

Following the departure of two most important figure of the show, Mnet released the statement. It sad that departure of producer Han and host Jang will not change the schedule of the second season of the program.

First season of Produce 101 is the survival singing competition which put 101 trainees from all artist management agencies in Korea. The singing competition aimed to select members of the new girl group who will be promoted by Mnet. The first season which ended April last year has made the 11-member-group IOI.

The second season of the program will aim to form a new boy group. However, many big agencies such as JYP, SM, YG, Cube, and Wollim have decided to refrain from the program, and not sending their trainees to participate in the second season. The absence of the big-three JYP, SM, and YG is expected to reduce public interest to the show which surely will affect the rating. Watch the teaser of Produce 101 season 2 from MNet below:
Fans of Park Bo Gum are excitedly awaiting the next Korean drama project after the successful run of "Moonlight Drawn By The Clouds." Park Bo Gum is undeniably one of the Korean actors blessed with such a beautiful face.

In fact, Park Bo Gum's facial features are perhaps too perfect that it has caused some fans and critics alike to wonder if the 23-year old South Korean actor went under the knife. According to I Love Kstars, Park Bo Gum has already reacted to plastic surgery rumors during a recent interview with a producer.

According to the report, Park Bo Gum was asked during the interview about his plastic surgery history. "No, everything is original. I'm serious. My nose belongs to me," Park Bo Gum said. The "Reply 1988" actor's clarification about plastic surgery rumors linked to him is expected to boost his celebrity status even more.

Unlike other Korean celebrities who have openly admitted going under plastic surgery, it seems like the handsome prince of Joseon is naturally blessed with a handsome face. Aside from being blessed with handsome facial features, Park Bo Gum is also known to be a good boy - not a smoker, drinker and doesn't say curse words.

Park Bo Gum recently visited Jakarta for a big fan meet event. The said Park Bo Gum meet and greet event took place in Kota Kasablanka Mall, Jakarta on January 13. According to The Jakarta Post, almost 2,000 fans of Park Bo Gum gathered for the meet and greet. Apparently, "Moonlight Drawn By The Clouds" was also a big hit in Indonesia.

Park Bo Gum's next fan meet is scheduled on January 22 in Taiwan. Fans are crossing their fingers that there will be a surprise guest in the upcoming fan meet, in the form of his "Moonlight Drawn By The Clouds" co-star, Kim Yoon Jung. The presence of the fan-favorite Eunuch Hong remains to be confirmed by the organizers.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Azerbaijan has produced 416.5 million tons of oil and 128.2 billion cubic meters of associated gas from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) block of oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea in November 1997  Jan. 1, 2017, Khoshbakht Yusifzade, first vice president of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR, said in his article posted Jan. 18 in the countrys official press.

He noted that 2.5 million tons of oil and more than one billion cubic meters of gas are monthly produced at the ACG block of oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea.

He added that 231.8 million tons of the total volume of the oil produced at the ACG block of oil and gas fields in the Caspian Sea accounted for profitable oil.

The share of Azerbaijans profitable oil is increasing year by year, Yusifzade said in his article. In 2016, Azerbaijan exported 32.7 million tons of oil to global markets. Out of this volume 19.3 million tons of oil (59 percent) accounted for Azerbaijans profitable oil.

He noted that out of 435.4 million tons of oil exported by Azerbaijan in total, 321.7 million tons of oil was transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

A contract for developing the ACG field was signed in 1994. The proven oil reserve of the block nears 1 billion tons.

The shareholders of the project are BP (operator, 35.78 percent), Chevron (11.27 percent), Inpex (10.96 percent), AzACG (11.65 percent), Statoil (8.55 percent), Exxon (8 percent), TPAO (6.75 percent), Itocu (4.3 percent) and ONGC (2.72 percent).

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Some 78.4 billion cubic meters of gas and 19.6 million tons of condensate have been produced so far at the Shah Deniz, Azerbaijans largest gas condensate field, since the start of the fields development in 2006, Khoshbakht Yusifzade, first vice president of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR, said in his article posted Jan. 18 in the countrys official press.

He said that the average of 29.5 million cubic meters of gas and 6,500 tons of condensate is daily produced at eight operating wells of the field.

Yusifzade wrote that to date, Azerbaijan has exported 5.9 billion cubic meters of gas to Georgia and 43.8 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey via the South Caucasus Pipeline.

Four million cubic meters of gas are daily exported to Georgia and 18.5 million cubic meters of gas to Turkey within the first stage of development of the Azerbaijans Shah Deniz gas condensate field, said the article.

The contract for development of the Shah Deniz offshore field was signed on June 4, 1996. The field's reserve is estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas.

The shareholders are: BP, operator (28.8 percent), AzSD (10 percent), SGC Upstream (6.7 percent), Petronas (15.5 percent), Lukoil (10 percent), NICO (10 percent) and TPAO (19 percent).

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.18

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

World oil prices are rising stably on Jan.18 after the optimistic remarks made by the head of Saudi Aramco company in Davos.

The price of March futures for Brent crude oil increased by 0.45 percent and reached $55.72 per barrel as of 02:33 EST, Jan.18. Meanwhile, the price of February futures for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil rose by 0.44 percent and stood at $52.71 per barrel.

Earlier, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, chief executive officer of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) Amin Nasser said that OPECs oil output deal should hopefully see the market balance by the end of the first half of 2017.

These remarks significantly pushed the oil prices up after the decline on doubts about the effectiveness of the output freeze.

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 pledged to implement the reached deal from Jan.1, 2017.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

OPEC revised down its forecast for oil output level in Kazakhstan in 2017 in its monthly oil market report published Jan. 18.

For 2017, in line with the OPEC-non-OPEC cooperation agreement, adjusted Kazakh oil supply is now seen growing by 0.13 million barrels per day to average 1.69 million barrels per day, the report said.

In its monthly oil market report published in December 2016 OPEC expected oil output in Kazakhstan to rise by 0.21 million barrels per day to 1.77 million barrels per day.

In December 2016 OPEC and non-OPEC producers reached their first deal since 2001 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices. OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels per day from Jan. 1, with top exporter Saudi Arabia cutting as much as 486,000 bpd. Non-oil producers agreed to reduce output by 558,000 bpd in total. Kazakhstan agreed to reduce oil production by 20,000 bpd from November 2016 level.

OPEC noted that November liquids output in Kazakhstan was higher by 50,000 barrels per day compared to October to average 1.70 million barrels per day the same growth as a year ago.

In autumn 2016 Kazakhstan launched oil production at the Kashagan field. The cartel noted that Kashagans original ramp-up plan for 2016 was to reach 0.18 million barrels per day by the end of year. However, Kazakh average oil output in 4Q16, along with average output in the preceding quarters, shows that additional production from the new field of Kashagan has not so far exceeded a maximum of 0.11 million barrels per day.

According to OPEC, production ramp-up of the Kashagan field could lead to a maximum level of 0.27 million barrels per day by year end.

Kazakhstan's proven oil reserves as of early 2016 stood at 30 billion barrels, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
During his first State of the State address on Tuesday, new Missouri Governor Eric Greitens outlined his plans for jobs, ethics, public safety and education.

The governor called on lawmakers to reduce government regulations and boost pay for some state employees. At the same time, Greitens said he's also committed to "civil service reform" for state employees. He said that could include a smaller workforce in state government.

He also urged lawmakers to adopt a right-to-work law, barring mandatory union fees. He said it could help improve the business climate in the state.

But Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh denounced right-to-work during the Democratic rebuttal speech. She said it could mean less money, less health coverage and less opportunity for workers.

"This legislation divides Missouri and distracts lawmakers from more important tasks like balancing the budget, funding our schools and ensuring safe communities across the state," Walsh said.

The governor, though, said it's a move to stay competitive and keep jobs in Missouri.

"Since 2009, the country has had 10% private sector job growth. If we had grown just as fast as the rest of the country since '09, we would have 120,000 more jobs in Missouri today," Greitens said.

In the past few years, former Governor Jay Nixon vetoed right to work laws that hit his desk. With the new governor wanting to push it through and Republicans controlling both sides of the chamber, the legislation will likely pass this year.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

OPEC expects global oil demand to grow 1.16 million barrels per day to reach 95.60 million barrels per day in 2017, the cartel said in its monthly oil market report published Jan. 18.

In its previous monthly report published in December, OPEC forecast oil demand growth at 1.15 million barrels per day to average 95.56 million barrels per day in 2017.

Positive upward revisions were focused on OECD Europe, as a result of cold weather and improvement in transportation fuel requirements, the report said.

Forecast on Asia was revised downward in the first half of 2017, following the demonetization policy weighing on the economy and thus oil requirements.

For 2016 world oil demand was revised marginally up by 10,000 barrels per day to average 1.25 million barrels per day compared to the previous report; as a result, total oil demand stood at 94.44 million barrels per day.

According to OPEC, this upward revision was broadly due to better-than-expected data in the OECD region.
A former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, has asked Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos to allow her to be tried separately from a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Usman and Fani-Kayode with an alleged fraud of N4.9bn.

The other defendants in the charge are one Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimensions Nigeria Limited.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Hassan on 17 counts on June 29, 2016.



Trial in the case had commenced on October 21, 2016, with the EFCC calling its first witness, Idowu Olusegun, a media consultant.

At the resumed proceedings in the case on Tuesday, Usmans lawyer, Mr. Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), pointed Justice Hassans attention to two pending applications filed by his client.

One of the applications, Owonikoko said, was praying the court to allow Usman to be tried separately from Fani-Kayode and for her trial to be transferred from Lagos to Abuja for convenience.

Owonikoko said his client was apprehensive that she might not get justice if she was jointly tried with Fani-Kayode.

We are concerned about the joint trial of the first defendant (Usman) with the second defendant (Fani-Kayode), he said.

He said it was inconvenient for his client, who lives in Abuja, to be travelling to Lagos to stand trial.

He said it became even more difficult for the former minister because all her bank accounts had been frozen, adding that for each court appearance, she would fly to Lagos a day before, lodge in a hotel and return to Abuja the day after the court trial.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria told the court that Usman, in the second application, prayed for the release of her passport to enable her to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Fani-Kayodes lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), also filed an application, urging Justice Hassan to excuse himself from the case because the judge was once a prosecutor with the EFCC.

Justice Hassan adjourned till Wednesday (today) to hear the applications.

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A man has been arrested in Thailand on suspicion of having unprotected sex with men and women while knowingly having HIV, and on suspicion of having sex with a minor.

Zdenek Pfeifer, 49, from Bohemia, Czech Republic, was caught after a huge manhunt by Thai police who found him living in Phuke

Pfeifer was on the run after an Interpol release was issued on behalf of Czech authorities who were searching for him.



He is wanted over accusations that he knowingly passed on the sexually transmitted disease to both men and women in his home country.

Pfeifer also allegedly had sex with a minor. One minor alleges he paid him for sex and filmed a pornographic movie of them together.

The Czech national faces charges of battery, sexual abuse, spreading disease and distributing pornography, a police spokesman said.

But bungling cops let him go after the responding officer called for back up, then had to urgently use the toilet  allowing the suspect to flee.

He was found hours later in his rented accommodation in Phuket.

Pfeifer will face charges of overstaying his tourist visa, which ran out in 2015, which will allow him to be deported.

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Nigeria soldiers will, on Wednesday (today), arrive at a base of the Economic Community of West African States troops in Senegal to ensure that President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia steps down on Thursday, January 19.

Nigerian warship, NNS UNITY, is also heading for the coast of The Gambia to join the operation.

The Punch learnt from a top military source in the Nigerian Air Force that the troops would be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, before leaving for Senegal.

It was gathered that apart from the NAF and the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army would also contribute troops, although the number of deployment could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.



The source said some of the NAF fighter jets were expected to airlift the troops.

He said, I can confirm to you that men of the Air Force will leave for Senegal tomorrow (Wednesday). They will be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Kainji base in Niger State.

That Nigeria is deploying troops is now a certainty after several meetings with The Gambian president yielded no result. The Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries came to Abuja on Saturday, where they discussed what components each member state is expected to contribute to the troops that will force Yahya Jammeh out.

The troops are expected to stay for two weeks and they will be received at a base in Senegal.

Another military source added, The NNS Unity is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana, after leaving from Lagos. It is not only Nigeria. Senegal is the host country for the troops, as it would be easy to launch an attack from there.

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, however, said it could not confirm the deployments, adding that it was a matter being coordinated by political leaders.

Punch

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Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 18

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

The registration of candidates in anticipation of the presidential election to be held Feb. 12, 2017 in Turkmenistan has ended, the countrys Central Election Commission said in a message Jan. 18.

Nine presidential candidates were officially registered in Turkmenistan.

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 chairman of the Mary province committee Durdygylych Orazov.

Deputy Chairman of Turkmen state association of food industry Maksat Annanepesov, Deputy Head of the Mary province 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 are among the candidates nominated by initiative groups of Turkmen citizens.

The registered candidates were provided with equal rights and opportunities to organize meetings with voters, make speeches on TV, radio and in print media in accordance with the Turkmen national electoral legislation and the international law, the message said.

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.
Twenty years ago, California Innocence Project director and co-founder, Justin Brooks, changed his career as a criminal defense lawyer for a tenured teaching position at a university in Michigan, a small Victorian house and a good public school for his children. But the quiet, tranquil life as a professor only lasted one year, Brooks told those gathered at the La Jolla Bar Association meeting Jan. 12.

I read an article in the newspaper that talked about a 21-year-old woman sentenced to death on a plea bargain, he explained, I went to visit her on death row, and I found a kid who didnt speak English fluently, and she tells me this other amazing thing, which is, Im innocent. 

That was enough for Brooks to sell his Victorian cottage and move to San Diego to start the ground-breaking California Innocence Project (CIP). This law school clinical program, based out of California Western School of Law, is dedicated to releasing wrongfully convicted inmates and giving students real life law-practicing experience.

Brooks said he decided to start the program in California because the state is the belly of the beast with the largest prison system in the country and the toughest sentence structure.

You may remember a time when people were deeply cynical about this, but DNA was a game changer.  Justin Brooks, California Innocence Project

CIP reviews 2,000 claims of innocence a year, and chooses a few wherein they find strong evidence of innocence to pursue. With the help of students who participate in the clinic and attorneys who volunteer their time, they reopen closed cases, do DNA testing, gather evidence, speak to witnesses and, more importantly, free innocent, wrongfully convicted people.

Brooks, who hails from New York City, reported that so far, there have been 2,000 documented cases of wrongful conviction in the United States. You may remember a time when people where deeply cynical about this, but DNA was a game changer. The Federal government has admitted that there are innocent people in prison, he said.

Today there are 60 Innocence Projects in different parts of the country, and many more around the world. This is a global problem, Brooks insisted. Its not like the U.S. justice system is the worst in the world.

Citing a study that researched the countrys first 300 DNA exonerations, he listed the most common causes of wrongful conviction. The No. 1, he said, is bad identifications.

The study also found that 31 percent (of incorrect IDs) were attributed to false information from informants. Brooks went on to explain that human memory, is mostly not reliable as evidence in a trial. Our memories are affected by everything at the time of the memory. Stress, fear, alcohol  the problem is, every time there is a gun involved, your focus is on the gun, he said.

Furthermore, when a witness is identifying a suspect from a race different than his own, theres a 50 percent change that the ID is wrong. Our ability for facial recognition is mostly developed in the first four years of our lives, Brooks explained. So when youre looking at your mom, brothers and sisters, if they all look the same, youre going to be terrible at cross-racial identification for the rest of your life. Lawyers have to learn how to talk to jurors about this and not sound racist, because theres nothing racist about it.

As an example, he used the case of Uriah Courtney, a San Diegan who was sentenced to life in prison and served eight years for a kidnapping and rape that he didnt commit. His identification was based on the fact that he wore a goatee at the time.

Fortunately, the District Attorney agrees to a DNA test of the victims clothing and we got a direct match with this guy, who lived a few blocks away from the crime scene and was a convicted sex offender, Brooks said.

The CIP also pushes legislation to prevent cases of wrongful conviction. This year, at my office, we wrote two laws that are now law in California; we changed the evidence standards for reopening old cases, creating the laws that allow access to DNA testing for people who are cross-rated, and we changed the law about compensating people who have been wrongfully convicted. Every year we have a legal agenda we push through Sacramento, Brooks elaborated.

He said in San Diego County, theyve been able to create a climate of collaboration with District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, which allows them to reopen old cases more easily than in other California counties.

Want to Know More? The California Innocence Project accepts donations to support investigation, litigation and policy-making. To learn more, visit californiainnocenceproject.org
It was in the early 1980s when long-time San Diegan and now-resident of Vi retirement community at La Jolla Village, Faye Girsh, was asked to help a 28-year-old quadriplegic woman die. She wanted to die by stopping to eat and drink, which was illegal at the time. I evaluated her and found she was a smart, confident lady, not depressed. She just wanted to die.

As a clinical and forensic psychologist, Girsh assisted the woman at the court trial, which she lost. But that sparked a lifetime of involvement in the Right-to-Die movement. In 1986, Girsh organized a Right-to-Die conference, which was sponsored by UC San Diego Medical School, where she met Derek Humphrey, then-president and founder of the Hemlock Society. Girsh went on to start the San Diego chapter of the Hemlock society, over which she still presides.

Girsh, who before beginning her path in the Right-to-Die movement was a civil rights activist, said her motivation always was the injustice behind denying a person the right to decide how they want to die. Many people do it themselves, use violent methods (to end their lives) because their suffering is so great, and that just seems to me to be horribly unjust, she explained.

By the time she started the Hemlock Society of San Diego, it was legal in California to refuse all treatments other than food and water. A person could indicate in a living will, which treatments and when to refuse them, and appoint a representative to speak for them in case they couldnt do it for themselves.

But that was not enough, Girsh said. In 1987, she started the long process than ended in 2015 when the California legislature approved the End of Life Option Act that allows a terminally-ill patient to request the drugs necessary to grant them a peaceful and painless death. We got the initiative on the ballot in 1992, but we were outspent by the Catholic Church, she explained. The Catholic Church, among other groups, maintains it amounts to assisted suicide and goes against the will of God.

But the approved legislation, Girsh said, is still not enough. If you dont have a terminal disease but youre suffering from some horrible disease, and if youre not mentally competent, these laws are useless, she continued, adding that her worst fear is losing her mental faculties. If I knew I had dementia, what would happen is, it would get very bad, I would be put in the memory unit, and then my life could go on and on, and I might not have a clue who I am, where I am or who my loved ones are. If I knew that was going to happen, I would try to get the medication from some illegal means and take it.

From 1996 to 2002 Girsh was president of the Hemlock Society USA, and 2002-2004 senior vice president of End-of-Life-Choices (Hemlocks temporary name). During that time, she said, she resided in Denver, Colorado where the Society is based, to manage its national operations.

At age 83, Girsh said she has survived two husbands and thought a great deal about her own death. When I got into the movement, I was young, and now Im old, so it becomes personal. I live in a retirement community where many people die very bad deaths, she explained.

Its essential to me to know that I can end it when I want, in a gentle, peaceful way, and maybe I would want to have a party with my friends to say goodbye. I think hospice is a wonderful institution, and if I had hospice care and I wasnt suffering too much, I would want to live until the very end, if I was enjoying life. But if I was going through suffering and indignity, I would like to end it with my kids and maybe grandkids (near), in my own apartment, she elaborated.

A native of Philadelphia, Girsh said she moved to San Diego in 1978 after three winters in Chicago. In 2003, she was awarded Hemlocks Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2016, the Marilyn Sequin Award from the World Federation of Right-to-Die Societies.

Girsh recommends to people of all ages that they write their living will and appoint someone to speak for them in case of an accident or sudden illness. The detail of the instructions, she added, should be substantial.

Suppose I got hit by a truck this afternoon. I cant speak or breathe or feed myself. But the chances are that I might recover, so in the meantime, I would want to be fed artificially and put on breathing machine, and maybe on dialysis even. But then, if in a couple months, if I was still needing these things, I would want to be re-examined, and if there was no chance of recovery, I would want to be taken off these things, she concluded.

Want to know more about the Right-to-Die movement? Visit hemlocksocietysandiego.org
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 17



By Farhad Daneshvar  Trend:



There are firm indications suggesting that Iranian capital market has made a minor contribution to the privatization process of the state-run enterprises over the past ten months.



According to the latest statistics, only 17 percent of the shares of the privatized business have been sold on Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) and the countrys over-the-counter market (Farabourse) between last March and January 2017.



Commenting on the issue, Alireza Kadivar, a financial analyst and deputy head of Irans Novin Investment Bank, told Trend that most of the companies who have been sold through tenders were operating at a loss.



Therefore, the TSE and Farabourse would not list them due to the existing regulations on profitability and also transparency, he added.



Iranian government has sold $512.4 million worth of shares of state-affiliated companies through the countrys capital market and also through holding tenders in the mentioned period.



Iranian Privatization Organization (IPO) has sold $71.1 million worth of

shares through Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) and $16.3 million on Farabourse.



This is while $424.9 million worth of shares were sold through tenders, accounting to 83 percent of the whole privatized shares in the country over the current Iranian calendar year (starting March 20).



The IPO in total has sold $512.4 million (16.369 trillion rials converted to US dollar according to official rate) worth of shares between March 20, 2016 and January 4, 2017.
Teen gets Kiwanis grant to build home for needy in Tijuana

Mason Matalon, a member of the La Jolla Chapter of the National League of Young Men (NLYM), was awarded a $5,000 grant from the La Jolla Kiwanis Club to help build a home in Tijuana, Mexico through Project Mercy. Matalon applied for the grant and shepherded it through the Kiwanis Club process to earn the funds.

We are very proud of the work our young men do on behalf of this organization, said League president Alice Mo. Mason, in particular, has shown great initiative in earning this money for the second year in a row.

In 2015 Matalon also won the Kiwanis Club grant on behalf of NLYM, which sent 11 young men and their parents to Tijuana for the philanthropys first experience with home building. I am so excited to be part of such a great experience again, said Matalon, a junior at La Jolla High School. Last years build gave us insight into another way of life that made an impact on us all.

NLYM was founded in May 2014 to provide teens an opportunity to serve their community while gaining leadership skills, along with protocol knowledge and cultural experiences. The program is open to young men and their mothers who reside in or attend school in the La Jolla ZIP code 92037. Membership requires at least 10 hours of service, as well as attendance at cultural events and meetings. For more details, visit nlymlajolla.org

SeaWorld offers $10 pass for tots, teachers

SeaWorld San Diego is offering children ages 3-5 living in San Diego and Orange counties, a SeaWorld Preschool Pass for $10, good through Dec. 31, 2017. Parents interested in registering can visit seaworldsandiego.com/preschool by March 17. Guests should then print and bring the confirmation along with a valid form of ID for the child (a copy of a certified birth certificate or travel passport) to any ticket window at SeaWorld. Redemption and first use must occur by March 31, 2017.

In salute to California and Arizona educators, SeaWorld San Diego is offering free admission through the 2017 Teacher Appreciation Fun Card. Register at seaworldparks.com/swcteachers by May 19, 2017. Teachers will also be eligible for two free, single-day companion tickets that will allow them to bring two friends or family to SeaWorld as guests. Companion tickets must also be claimed and redeemed by May 19. SeaWorld tickets are $93 for ages 10 and older; $87 for ages 3-9; free for children under age 3. (800) 257-4268.

Irish girls sought for Miss Colleen Pageant

The Irish Congress of San Diego is looking for contestants for its 2017 Miss Colleen Pageant to be held Jan. 29 at the Imperial House in Bankers Hill.

Contestants must be single, Irish girls, ages 21-30, and willing to travel to Ireland this summer as part of a paid vacation. The pageant is part of the ramp-up for the annual St. Patricks Day Parade & Irish Festival taking place March 11 in Balboa Park.

Interested lasses may contact Samantha Bonner at samantha_bonner@outlook.com by Jan. 21.

Scripps to offer cancer writing workshop

San Diegans living with a cancer diagnosis can attend a free expressive writing workshop series sponsored by Scripps Health, beginning 9:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6 at Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines in La Jolla.

When Words Heal is a six-week writing workshop series designed to help San Diegans with their difficult journeys through cancer. Workshop sessions will take place Monday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and will run through March 13.

The workshop series will be led by breast cancer survivor Sharon Bray and will take place at Scripps Cancer Center in the Anderson Outpatient Pavilion at Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines, located at 10666 North Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla.

Writing experience is not required to benefit from this workshop, which is designed to help participants learn to navigate the complex emotions that come with a cancer diagnosis, and to gain perspective and cope more effectively with lifes hardships. The program is open to men and women living with cancer, regardless of where they are receiving treatment. Cost for parking is $4. Advance registration is required by calling (858) 554-8533.

Soroptimists attend taping of Dr. Phil

As a fundraiser for the Soroptimist International of La Jolla club, member Vici Willis arranged for a group of 32 San Diego women to attend a taping of the Dr. Phil show.

They left at 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9 by bus and arrived at the CBS Studios in Hollywood about 8:30 a.m. Two episodes were filmed  one involving a woman who was held captive and abused. This was especially poignant for the Soroptimist International of La Jolla members, who are deeply involved with taking steps to end human trafficking.

The event generated over $1,600 for the La Jolla club and its mission to connect women and girls with resources and opportunities so they can reach their full potential and live their dreams.

Soroptimist International of La Jolla meets several times a month, with rotating breakfast and dinner meetings. On first Tuesdays of the month, the club holds dinner meetings at various venues, with location given upon RSVP. On the second and third Wednesdays of the month, there is a breakfast meeting, 7:15 a.m. at the Shores Restaurant, 8110 Camino Del Oro. The club will celebrate its 70th anniversary with an awards ceremony and luncheon, 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Location given upon registration ($70) at soroptimistlj.org
Shores resident Karen Marshal first noticed the noise from airplanes flying over her home in November, she reported at the La Jolla Shores Association (LJSA) meeting Jan. 11. During her research on the problem, Marshal said she found that changes in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight paths were directing jets taking off from the San Diego International Airport over La Jolla Shores.

They used to take off right to the ocean, now theyre coming over La Jolla Shores from Mount Soledad, making a turn in Mira Mesa and University City, she explained.

Marshals remarks were received by a roomful of people participating in the discussion. Another resident commented, We have had tremendous noise, so much so that it wakes me up at night, and then Fed Ex flies over at 3 a.m., and its right overhead, and it feels like were in an airport control tower.

Marshal informed her neighbors of how to make a complaint through the website webtrak5.bksv.com/san Theres 30-minute delay (on the site) with the outgoing planes, but you can still see the paths and the patterns they make, she added.

LJSA board member Dave Gordon, who is also a pilot, said he doubted the residents claims, alleging that commercial airlines cant fly below 6,800 feet over La Jolla Shores. The only air space over La Jolla is between 1,800 and 3,200 feet, and thats reserved for Miramar, he said. Neighbors replied that, regardless of the technicalities, they hear the noise the same, and one woman extended an invitation to Gordon to visit her backyard during peak plane hours.

District 1 Council member Barbara Brys representative, Daniel Orloff, told the group there are further changes to FAA policy coming in March. I dont know (the cause of the noise), nor does the Airport Noise Authority, but they think there may be issues with planes on take-offs, he said.

Gillian Ackland, a Bird Rock resident who attended the meeting to assist Marshal with her presentation, insisted that the only way to fight against the flight path noises is by uniting the different communities affected. This is happening all around town, in La Jolla Village, Bird Rock, Mission Beach and The Shores, she said.

Ackland prompted all interested parties to attend the next Airport Noise Advisory Committee 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, 3225 N. Harbor Dr., Administrative offices.

In other Shores Board news:

Avenida de la Playa construction: City of San Diego Senior Engineer Steve Lindsay gave board members an update on the construction underway since 2013 at various Shores locations. On Avenida de la Playa, where the City is replacing the pipeline and stormwater infrastructure that blew apart in a storm shortly after it was installed, the work has already begun again.

Were going to start on the east end of Avenida de la Playa (where it intersects Camino del Sol) and make our way to the west (toward the ocean), he explained, adding that the road would be torn up in segments of 200 feet to allow traffic to pass through the rest of the street.

Lindsay insisted that the project will be done before May.

Maybe the City was guilty in not reviewing the design the first time, but we will not go through that this time. My team and I are working with the design engineers. This thing will work, theres no question about it. And it will be done on time, too, he assured those present.

Citing the appearance of Shores neighbors and business owners at the San Diego City Council meeting Jan. 9 to protest the construction delays, Lindsay wanted to clarify some topics addressed. The original contract was actually two projects. One was the water sewer group replacement, and the other the stormwater replacement. We combined the two, but the bulk of the job was this water and sewer replacement. That was successful, and everybody mixes both of them and thinks that it was a waste of time, he said. Lindsay pointed out that the low flow isnt being discharged into the ocean, but directed to the sewer to be treated in Point Loma.

Shores resident Nicole Goedhart confronted Lindsay saying that a pipeline and a layer of concrete have blocked the access to her house on Avenida de la Playa. Im scratching the bottom of my car and people are tripping over it. Were here to help and support you, but please let us know when youre going to start construction in front of our homes, she said.

Lindsay apologized for the inconvenience and referred her to The Shores Hotel, where the City is granting free parking to construction-affected neighbors.

DecoBike: LJSA unanimously passed a motion to reject, once again, the installation of DecoBike rental stations in The Shores. Every advisory board in La Jolla voted nay to the project in 2014, but regardless, the City of San Diego has announced that a proposal to install DecoBike stations is on its way.

Shores boardwalk : LJSA chair Nick LeBeouf said the board will start raising private funds for a collaboration project with the City Park & Rec Department to repair the La Jolla Shores seawall and its adjacent boardwalk.

Changes at Scripps: UC San Diego representative Anu Delori announced that a project to repurpose the old fisheries building, now known as Building D on the Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus, will be coming before the LJSA and the La Jolla Community Planning Association in March. Details are forthcoming.

 La Jolla Shores Association next meets 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 8840 Biological Grade. ljsa.org
A meeting to discuss the bike-share program known as DecoBike and its planned presence in La Jolla will be held 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30 at La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. (The Center has offered to provide free valet parking to attendees.) Residents of Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, areas where bike-share kiosks have already been installed, are expected to attend to share their views.

The purpose of the meeting is to collect public comment and demonstrate why La Jolla is not a good market for DecoBike, in a way that will be hard for the City to ignore. Said La Jolla Community Planning Association president Cindy Greatrex, who helped coordinate the gathering, There are a lot of cons, and were scratching our heads looking for pros. We want a moratorium for the City to take another look at this and determine whether this area is the right place to grow the DecoBike program. I dont know if we can stop it forever, but we want them to stop and take another look, and see if their plan makes sense.

The City has not been confirmed whether it will send a representative to the meeting.

Over the past year, La Jollas various advisory groups have voiced unanimous opposition to DecoBike, citing concerns that include safety issues, the fact that La Jollas topography is not conducive to more bicycles, the relinquishing of parking and sidewalk space to kiosks, violation of La Jollas Planned District Ordinance (PDO), a lack of community consideration and more.

Our point in having the meeting is to show that this program will not effectively help with climate change, which the City says is their goal, because we in La Jolla dont have the infrastructure to connect DecoBikes to trolleys or other non-car forms of transportation. Other areas have asked for these stations because they have the mass transit to justify it, Greatrex said. The City wants to rent these bikes to tourists. This doesnt seem climate-action oriented, it seems they just want the money.

Greatrex further argued that the program is not appropriate for tourists. The bikes do not come with helmets or locks (and tourists do not often bring them when they go on vacation), and are meant for flat surfaces, but La Jolla has hilly streets, she said. Were not against bike-sharing, but were advocating for something that makes sense.

In the surrounding beach neighborhoods, some have called the Citys approach to the kiosk installations underhanded and unresponsive to the needs of the community.

DecoBike History

The City of San Diegos 2013 Bicycle Master Plan calls for a bikesharing program to offer cyclists the opportunity to rent a bicycle from an unattended docking station, ride it wherever they want within the network, and return it to any station with an open dock.

To meet the terms of this plan, the City entered into a Corporate Partnership Agreement in 2013 with DecoBike LLC, which provided approximately $8 million in infrastructure investment in return for the ability to sell advertising on the bikes and kiosks. San Diego receives a commission on gross advertising and bike rental revenue. DecoBike receives no public funds.

DecoBike also has a presence in areas of Florida and New York. However, in New York, the bike-share program entered into a corporate partnership with Citi Bank, and the bicycles are known as CitiBikes. La Jolla Light inquiries to the City as to whether a similar partnership could occur in San Diego were unanswered.

An important and unique thing to consider is we have whats known as a Planned District Ordinance, not every village does, but we do. Under our PDO, it is against the law to place a billboard (in The Village). Each bike station has advertising on it, which would qualify as a billboard, which makes them illegal, Greatrex said at a recent La Jolla Town Council meeting.

In 2014, City representatives made the rounds to various La Jolla groups to present the proposal for kiosk locations. By the end of that year, each community group had voted to oppose the locations and the programs presence in La Jolla. A few re-affirmed their position in 2016 and 2017. The Lights inquiries as to whether the City was surprised by the backlash also went unanswered.

Everywhere, from Bird Rock to The Shores, groups opposed this plan in 2014, said La Jolla Parks & Beaches member Sally Miller at a recent La Jolla Town Council meeting. The 2014 plan proposed taking 18 parking spaces from our Village (to install bike-share kiosks). In the 50 years Ive lived here, the issue has always been parking, parking, parking, so to lose 18 spaces is ridiculous. She added there were also proposed DecoBike stations for La Jollas parks and sidewalks.

Reviving the plan

In mid-2016, despite the opposition from local groups, the City announced it would be proceed with the installation of DecoBike kiosks in the beach communities, including La Jolla, but did not specify where or with how many kiosk locations there would be. Since that time, La Jollas advisories groups have requested meetings with City officials that could speak to the finality of the locations, but none were scheduled.

In August 2016, City spokesperson Katie Keach told the Light, The City continues to do our due diligence on the review and selection of potential sites for DecoBike stations in the beach areas. We are taking additional steps to ensure all applicable regulations are considered before we propose stations to the community. This additional work has pushed our timeline out to mid-September. We will reach out to community members at that time.

When September came and went with no meeting, Keach said, We are now planning on scheduling presentations in February. Details as to when or where were not given.

In an e-mail received Jan. 13, Keach told the Light, The City of San Diego believes in the benefits of bike sharing.  We appreciate the feedback of all community members, and it informs our consideration of next steps ... additional station locations would be subject to input from an areas community planning group.

However, residents of areas like Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, would argue otherwise.

Other beach communities

Matthew Gardner, a 10-year owner of Cheap Rentals in Mission Beach and a member of the Mission Beach Town Council, said when City representatives spoke to his areas planning groups, they were unresponsive to the needs of community.

They offered lip service and when the community posed questions or concerns, they basically had the attitude of DecoBikes are coming and you have to deal with it, because we have the support of the Mayor,  Gardner said.

Since the installation of DecoBike kiosks in Mission Beach, Gardner reports his business has lost $60,000 a year. Weve seen growth as a company for the last 10 years, in 2014, before DecoBike came in, we had our best year. In 2015, when the stations went in, our bike rental number specifically dropped. It was a significant hit to our bike rental program.

He added he has no opposition to competition or to bike-sharing programs in general, but alleges that DecoBike is getting unfair advantages by partnering with the City. Its my City, they should be supporting me, but they are competing with me. When they put those stations right in front of hotels, it gets customers before I can get to them. I pay taxes and fees to do business. Its unfair for them to take my money and open a competing business, Gardner said. Its really underhanded.

In Pacific Beach, the lack of communication with residents posed the biggest problems. PB Town Council treasurer Bill Marsh said when DecoBike came before them, There was a lot of talk suggesting they were going to coordinate with the community, but that didnt seem to happen. The next thing we knew, the City and DecoBike had picked locations for where they were going to go and none of that was coordinated with any of our planning groups, our Business District or Town Council, and then all of a sudden the installations were happening. Now, we have them right on the beach, 50 yards from a bike rental shop. There was zero consideration for existing businesses.

Marsh added that he never saw a list of locations before kiosks went in. There was no negotiation, they did their own survey and said this is where they are going, that was the only notice. If they said the coordinated with the community, it was nothing more than this is coming  thats their coordination. Thats where our outrage is.

I know they have a mandate from the City to make this work, he continued, but you dont just put them in front of a bike rental place or on a boardwalk. There is a huge DecoBike rack on the Pacific Beach boardwalk, there are no other commercial agencies there and there are not supposed to be any. I could understand putting them in front of a trolley station or other mass transit, that makes sense, but the way they are doing things now just doesnt work.

Want to learn more about DecoBike? Visit decobike.com/sandiego
Oral arguments were delivered Jan. 10 to appeal the decision in the La Jolla-based Citizens for Odor Nuisance Abatement (CONA) vs. the City of San Diego lawsuit, but the attorney representing the appellants is pessimistic about the outcome.

The CONA suit seeks clean-up duty by the City to remove the pervasive sea lion excrement at La Jolla Cove, which is causing noxious odors that are detrimental to nearby restaurants and businesses. La Jolla Shores-based attorney Norm Blumenthal, who has been representing CONA since it filed the lawsuit in December 2013, argued the appeal of the trial courts ruling, which granted the City summary judgment and dismissed the CONA case.

In March 2015, Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor rejected CONAs claims and ruled that the City doesnt have a duty to control any nuisance caused by wild animals, and that the City isnt the cause of the odor.

Speaking to the issues of causality and duty during the appeal, Blumenthal said that by having the fence along Coast Boulevard in place without a gate for a substantial period of time, the City created the sea lion sanctuary that started a chain of events that led to the current stench situation, and now, the City has a duty to be a good neighbor and reduce the nuisance posed to those nearby.

Since recording devices in the court room were prohibited, Blumenthal told La Jolla Light the day after the appeal hearing, My impression is that the panel is very much in favor of what the trial court did (in 2015) and rather than look at the facts in a light most favorable to the party that did not win (which they are supposed to do in cases like this), they looked at it in terms of the facts most favorable to the City.

In doing that, they dismissed the fact that up until 2013, after we filed our lawsuit, there was no gate in the fence.  Only after we filed the lawsuit did the City put the gate in to allow people on to the cliffs to discourage the congregation of sea lions there (which took place January 2014). They also ignored the fact that the City, like anybody else, has to be a good neighbor.

If anyone else had a piece of property and had animal excrement on it that was offensive to their neighbors, the City would be the first one there to order them to remove the excrement. But because its the City, because its a government entity, they have the backing, in my opinion, of other government entities.

During the oral arguments, which were held in downtown San Diego, Blumenthal referenced the California Supreme Court case, Milligan vs. City of Laguna Beach, which he said determines, While the government has immunity for (when) people are injured on their property, the government does not have immunity for people that are injured on adjacent property for acts on their property.

Thats exactly what we have here, he added. We have an odor nuisance emanating from City property. No one is saying the sea lions are physically coming onto their property, but the odor does.

Thus far, City efforts to reduce the noxious smells include the installation of the gate, which some have argued caused the sea lions to become acclimated to humans, and the spraying of a chemical agent that eliminates bird guano. However, with the sea lion waste, rather than bird droppings causing the stench, the CONA suit wants the City to clean up the sea lion excrement, too. The suit does not ask the City to remove the sea lions or discourage them from congregating, simply to clean up their mess.

Blumenthal said he is doubtful that the three-member appeal panel will hear CONA pleas and reverse the decision that the City is not responsible for the Cove odors, and therefore has no responsibility to clean up the excrement.

My guess is that theyve already written the decision, and judging from their hostility toward the citizens, in my opinion were going to lose. We should expect the decision in the next couple of weeks, he said. My expectation is that there is nothing left to do. When a court decides it is an Issue of Fact (aka a Discretionary Decision), its very difficult to overturn at a higher level.

The only CONA recourse left is to petition local government for action, he said. Mayor Kevin Faulconer has been in office for going on four years with this smell issue in place, and he has done nothing (to resolve it). It was said at the hearing this is a political issue, the only hope we have as citizens is to force the political issue. If they dont get anything done in the near future  it will come down to recalls and replacements.

Restauranteur George Hauer of Georges At the Cove  and president of CONA  said he would like to see where the lawsuit goes before jumping to a conclusion or opinion. I dont think anyone can predict what the City will do, he said. So right now, well look at first things first.

Due to its ocean-side location, Georges At The Cove, bears the brunt of the marine odors, which have been consistently nauseating for the last few summers.

Regardless of the outcome of the appeal process, Hauer said the hazard posed at The Cove needs to be resolved. There might be some solution out there right now (beyond the lawsuit), he said. But I would hope the community and the City could come together and agree that having these animals take over the walkways, beach and the cliffs, is a hazard. The presence of the animals has caused events to be canceled, and there have been illnesses reported from lifeguards (allegedly) due to the fecal matter in the water. Most locals wont swim there anymore. I would think the City would be acting to remove a health hazard, because thats what this is.
Tehran, Iran, January 17

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

Iran is going to take part in the International Congress and Exhibition "Hydropower. The Caspian and Central Asia 2017", which is to be hosted by Vostock Capital company.

An international congress "Hydropower. The Caspian and Central Asia" takes place 15-16 February in Tbilisi, Georgia, and is a professional platform for high-level participants to discuss key topics to guide the course for hydropower construction and operation in the Caspian and Central Asia region, the public relations department of the event told Trend January 17.

High-profile speakers will discuss the changing role of hydropower in the energy mix and the benefits of interconnections beyond national borders. Participants will review initiatives and commitments and discuss action priorities that enable better hydro.

Congress highlights:

It is an exclusive, invitation only, forum for heads of delegations. It includes representatives from sponsor and partner organizations, and gives participants an opportunity to launch and report on their own initiatives, through special sessions and side-events.

Presentation of 40+ projects for the greenfield construction and modernization of large, small and medium HPPs in the Caspian and Central Asia region (Turkey, Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kirgizia and Kazakhstan);

Business meets ministers of energy regarding the international cooperation that will enable better hydro;

Meetings with investors, who will discuss how the early understanding and management of sustainability can remove barriers to investment;

Round tables: the opportunity to discuss the most pressing issues facing hydropower (projects financing, ecological safety and technology innovations). The congress includes high-level plenary discussions as well as focused specialist sessions.

Among confirmed delegations: AES Corporation in Kazakhstan, ANDRITZ Hydro, Energo-Pro Georgia, GE Renewable Energy, Iran Water & Power Resources Development Company, Salini Impregilo, Tata Power Company, Voith Hydro, Azerenergy, State Agency on alternative and renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan, State Committee for Industry, Energy and Subsoil Management of the Kyrgyz Republic, Eurasian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IFC, Ministry of Energy of Georgia, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan Republic, Ministry of energy infrastructure and natural resources of Armenia Republic, National Energy Holding Company of KR, Nord Hydro, Nurek HPP, Chakan HPP, RusHydro, Electric Power Plants and many others.

Among the speakers are:

Usmonali Usmonzoda, minister, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Republic of Tajikistan

Ilia Eloshvili, deputy minister of energy of Georgia

Hayk Harutyunyan, deputy minister, Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of The Republic of Armenia

Ayk Arutyunyan, deputy minister, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia

Nurbek Abaskanov, deputy chairman of the board, National Energy Holding Company

Duisen Mergaliyev, president, AES Kazakhstan

Ronny Solberg, CEO, Adjaristsqali Georgia

Robert L Schenck, executive director, CASA-1000 Secretariat

David Managadze, associate, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Jakob Todua, main expert, Georgian Energy Development Fund

Aieti Kukava, CEO, Alliance Group Holding

Byoung-Seub Choi, CEO and president, Nenskra Hydro

Roman Zorabyants, chairman of the board, RusHydro International

Taalaybek Tolubaev, general director, Electric Power plants (The republic of Kyrgyzstan)
Following in her fathers footsteps, Capt. Zina Opper has been a firefighter/EMT in Lake Geneva since 1995, and shes served fulltime with the Fox Lake, Illinois, Fire Department for 16 years.

Opper was the featured firefighter by Fire Chief John Peters in the departments recent monthly report to the Lake Geneva Police and Fire Commission.

In a recent telephone interview Opper said her father was a firefighter with the Bloomfield Fire Department.

With the Lake Geneva Fire Department, Opper is a firefighter, EMT and EMS coordinator.

I make sure the EMS stuff is up to par and that the training is up to date, Opper said.

According to Fire Chief John Peters, Opper oversees the training of all EMS. members of the department and is also responsible for purchasing of EMS equipment and supplies, personnel scheduling and billing.

And, during the day, she also does data entry, she said.

Opper is also a lieutenant in the Fox Lake Fire Department, where she is the EMS coordinator.

Opper started her career with the Lake Geneva Fire Department on July 18, 1995.

After joining, Opper immediately went to school and received her EMT license in 1995.

She then went to school and earned her firefighter 1 certification.

Later, in 1999, Opper also earned her firefighter 2 certificate and, in 2005, she became a certified fire officer.

Oppers focus on her fire service career led to her promotion to lieutenant with the Lake Geneva Fire Department in 2000. She received her captains bars in 2008.

Opper, who lives in Lake Geneva, said she has two grown sons.
In 1915 Edgar Lee Masters magnificent book Spoon River Anthology was published. It was widely hailed as a literary masterpiece. Over the past century, it became one of the classics of American literature. Spoon River Anthology was a collection of 209 poems that serve as epitaphs for deceased residents of the small towns of Petersburg and Lewistown, Illinois, towns where Edgar Lee Masters lived as a youth. In the second (1916) edition, Masters added 35 poems. The poems are delivered by the deceased residents of the towns whose epitaphs are depicted in the poems. Taken together, the poems provide a social and cultural portrait of small town life.

I know Petersburg very well. It is located approximately 20 miles northwest of Springfield, Illinois. My great grandfather, John Wilkinson, Jr., a friend of Abraham Lincoln, is buried in the Petersburg cemetery, which is called Oak Hill Cemetery, the same name as Lake Genevas prestigious cemetery.

John Wilkinson owned a hotel and tavern located between Petersburg and Greenview, Illinois, which Abraham Lincoln frequently visited. Most of the people whose lives are depicted in the poems that comprise Spoon River Anthology are buried in Petersburgs Oak Hill Cemetery.

Alas, but Lake Geneva does not have an Edgar Lee Masters to write a White River Anthology based on the lives of Lake Geneva residents. Therefore, a collective portrait of small town life in Lake Geneva during the 20th century does not exist. Fortunately, we have James Simmons Annals of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, 1835-1897, which includes brief biographical sketches of prominent residents of Lake Geneva in the 19th century. Simmons Annals, combined with Albert Beckwiths History of Walworth County (1912), offer a partial portrait of life in Lake Geneva during the 19th century, but neither book extends into the 20th century.

What is needed is research that will shed light on the lives of 20th-century Lake Genevans. During the past few years, two prominent 20th century residents of the city, Joe Payne and Sturg Taggart, Jr., passed away, taking with them invaluable knowledge of what life in Lake Geneva was like during their lifetimes. Today residents of Lake Geneva over the age of 75, who have lived here all of their lives, fortunately have memories of Lake Genevans who were prominent during the decades following World War II. But as we get deeper into the 21st century, such memories are fading.

Since a James Simmons for the 20th century does not appear to be on the horizon, it is imperative that persons who have significance in Lake Geneva during the second half of the 20th century be rescued from the mists of passing time before they are completely forgotten.

In my previous columns, I have focused on bringing back to life individuals who played significant roles in Lake Geneva during the 19th century. The balance of this column will be devoted to illuminating the lives of six individuals who played significant roles in Lake Geneva during the last half of the 20th century. There were, of course, many individuals who played significant roles in Lake Geneva during the second half of the 20th century, but I have selected these six as emblematic of their times. Future columns, hopefully, will highlight the lives of additional persons who played significant roles in Lake Geneva during the second half of the 20th century.

The sketches of the six individuals that follow below are scarcely of the same revelatory nature as are those of the individuals depicted in the poems of Masters Spoon River Anthology. These sketches are essentially biographical summaries of the public lives of these six individuals.

Edward P. Dunn

The first person that this column will focus upon in Edward P. Dunn, who not only played an important role in Lake Geneva, but was a member of a Lake Geneva family that is still prominent in the city as the owner of one of Lake Genevas most long-standing businesses, the Dunn Lumber Company. Edward P. Dunn was the son of a former Lake Geneva mayor, Edward F. Dunn, for whom Dunn Field was named. Edward P. Dunn was born in Lake Geneva on Aug. 26, 1898.

After graduating from Lake Geneva High School, he attended the University of Notre Dame. During World War I, he served in France in Battery F of the 120th Field Artillery regiment of the 32nd Red Arrow Division, which had been recruited in Lake Geneva as Troop F of the First Wisconsin Cavalry. When he returned to Lake Geneva after the war he was associated with the Dunn Lumber Company and was in the real estate and insurance businesses.

But he became better known for his political activities and civic duties. He was the head of the Walworth County Democratic Party, served as postmaster in Lake Geneva during 1952 and 1953, and served as Lake Genevas Municipal Justice from 1954 to 1959. He was also the President and Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Lions Club, the American Legion and the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church.

By the time I got to know Mr. Dunn, he was living in the old Y.M.C.A. A short, rotund man, he was frequently seen walking around the downtown business district invariably smoking a cigar. In fact, the odor of his cigar often permeated the old Y.M.C.A. Edward P. Dunn passed away in the Woods (now Zablocki) Veterans Hospital in Milwaukee on Feb. 17, 1961, at the age of 62.

Ralph E. Williams

Ralph E. Williams was born in Lake Geneva on June 28, 1894. He attended Lake Geneva schools. He ran a trucking business in Lake Geneva for 30 years from 1922 until his retirement in 1952. He began his endeavors as a public servant in 1942 when he was elected as an alderman from the Third Ward. In January 1949, he became the mayor of Lake Geneva when Mayor Lloyd Best died of a heart attack just prior to a meeting of the City Council in City Hall. Williams was elected Mayor in a special election held in April 1949.

Ralph Williams was a very colorful and often-controversial mayor. He strongly supported the Venetian Festival, the citys acquisition of the Denison property (east of Center Street along the lakes outlet), the construction of the modern Lake Geneva Public Library, and at first opposed, but later supported the fluoridation of the citys water. He also supported locating of the Air Force Academy near Lake Geneva, moving Carthage College from Carthage, Illinois to Lake Geneva (Carthage eventually moved to Kenosha), and the establishment of Badger High School.

Williams was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Zor Shrine, the Knights of Pythias, and the First Baptist Church. After he retired, he captained the excursion boat, the Walworth, on Geneva Lake. He died on Aug. 14, 1957 at the age of 63. He was the father-in-law of current Lake Geneva resident Peg Williams.

Lyle M. Traver

Lyle M. Traver was born in Linn Township on July 27, 1894. He grew up in Lake Geneva and attended Lake Geneva schools. In 1912, he began working as a mechanic for his father who owned the Ford dealership in Lake Geneva until his father sold the dealership in 1917. In 1918, he acquired the Firestone tire dealership, which he owned until 1948. In 1920, he obtained the Dodge-Plymouth dealership, located on the east side of the 200 block of Broad Street, which he ran until 1948 when he built the Lincoln-Mercury dealership on the south side of the 700 block of Geneva Street.

Traver first entered politics in 1942, when he was elected Mayor to succeed Walter Ledger. He was re-elected Mayor in 1944 and 1946, but chose not to run again in 1948 when he was succeeded by Lloyd Best.

Prior to being elected Mayor, Traver was a two-term President of the Chamber of Commerce. It was during his presidency that the chamber adopted the slogan the Switzerland of America for advertising Lake Geneva (despite the fact that Lake Geneva was named after Geneva, New York, not Geneva, Switzerland). As president of the Chamber of Commerce, he was instrumental in bringing the John L. Cheney Instrument Company and the Belvidere Pottery firm to Lake Geneva. He strongly supported the Venetian Festival.

Traver was a member of the Lions Club, the Zor Shrine, the Masons, and the Methodist Church. He was also an ardent bowler. He died on April 27, 1958 at the age of 60. His half brother Edwin A. Traver, also a prominent Lake Geneva businessman, was associated with the Traver Hotel. The Traver School in Linn Township is named after the Traver family.

Sturges P. Taggart, Sr.

Sturges P. Taggart, Sr. was the father of the recently deceased Sturges Taggart, Jr. The senior Taggart was born in Lake Geneva on June 14, 1893.

His father Louis Taggart was the founder of the Taggart Lumber Company. Sturges P. Taggart, Sr., attended Lake Geneva schools and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1922, following his service in France during World War I.

His first law partner in Lake Geneva was the well-known attorney Charles S. French. His office was at 743 Main Street. He practiced law in Lake Geneva for 39 years and was eventually elected Mayor of Lake Geneva.

During his long career as an attorney and as Mayor, he played a particularly important leadership role in Lake Geneva. His brother Frederick H. Taggart, who ran the Taggart Lumber Company, was also a prominent businessman in Lake Geneva. Sturges P. Taggart, Sr., died in Lakeland Hospital on Nov. 8, 1961 at the age of 63.

Clarke B. Habecker

Clarke B. Habecker was born in Danvers, Illinois on Dec. 18, 1895. After service with the U.S. Navy during World War I, he came to Lake Geneva in May 1921 and, with Tom Derrick, Sr., founded the Habecker-Derrick Funeral Home at 252 Center Street, now the home of Geneva Java Coffee.

He also operated a furniture store on the south side of the 700 block of Main Street from 1921 to 1949. In the mosaic tile at the front door of the store, one can today still see the name Habecker. During his long career as a public servant in Lake Geneva, he was a member of the School Board, a member of the Walworth County Board of Supervisors, a member of the Lake Geneva Cemetery Commission, and a member of the original Police and Fire Commission.

He was also a member of the Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the American Legion, and the First Congregational Church. But it is as a real estate developer that Clarke Habecker will be remembered.

Most notably he developed the Sturwood subdivision, which was Lake Genevas second suburb after the Manor. Clarke Habecker died in Lakeland Hospital on May 25, 1957 at the age of 61. His granddaughter Linda Bailey Bolini, after whom Linda Lane in Sturwood is named, still lives in the Lake Geneva area.

William F. Trinke

William F. Trinke was born on Jan. 25, 1897, in Lyons Township. He was orphaned at the age of 14, and, with only six years of formal education, Bill Trinkes life was a classic Horatio Alger story of rags to riches.

After service in the famed 32nd Red Arrow Division in France during World War I, he returned to Lake Geneva. Without a high school diploma, he entered the University of Wisconsin Law School from which he graduated with a law degree in 1937.

He opened a law office with his partner John Raup on the south side of the 700 block of Main Street in the former Farmers National Bank (which went bankrupt during the Depression). It was during the Great Depression that Trinke got his start as a real estate developer. He purchased the former Levi Leiter estate (which had been bought by H. H. Porter) at a sheriffs sale for $10,000. Levi Leiter had been the co-founder with Marshall Field of Marshall Fields famous department store on State Street in Chicagos Loop.

Trinke developed the Leiter estate into the Manor subdivision, Lake Genevas first suburb. He then went on to develop 11 subdivisions in the Lake Geneva area, including the Geneva Bay Estates, and the one that bears his name-the Trinke Estates-on the south shore of Geneva Lake.

He was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1949 and served as a state Senator until 1961. He was the Commander of the Wisconsin State American Legion and was a president of Frank Kresen Post #24 of the American Legion in Lake Geneva. He was also a 32nd degree Mason, a director for 25 years and chairman of the Board of the First National Bank in Lake Geneva, and a member of the First Congregational Church.

It was as a member of the First Congregational Church that I first got to know Senator Trinke. He was my godfather in the church. His wife Altha was the daughter of William Hooker, who taught my grandfather, Thomas Wardingle, the plumbing trade in 1912. William Trinke was one of the most extraordinary persons that I have had the good fortune to know. He died on Sept. 25, 1982 at the age of 85.

Were any of the individuals described above the scandalous types that Masters depicted in Spoon River Anthology? Probably not. But did such people as Spoon River Anthology illuminated in Masters poems live in Lake Geneva? Probably so. But it is not the purpose of this column to bring them to residents attention.

Quinn is a Lake Geneva native who is the University Archivist Emeritus at Northwestern University.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18



By Fatih Karimov  Trend:



The Iranian administration has removed ban on the import of sugar, said Hassan Abbasi Maroufan, deputy head of the Government Trading Corporation (GTC).



Iran has started issuing license for gradual import of 700,000 tons of sugar, Abbasi Maroufan said, Fars news agency reported Jan. 18.



He further said that the countrys sugar storage is enough to meet the demand for five months.



Iranians consume around 2.2 million tons of sugar per year, he said, forecasting that about 1.62 million tons of sugar will be produced inside the country in the current year.



Iran plans to import 600,000 tons of sugar from Brazil from March 2017, Abbasi Maroufan said.



In June 2016 the decision by Iranian government to ban importing sugar into the country led some chocolate manufacturers to halt production due to lack of the principal ingredients.



Iranian government imposes ban on rice and sugar imports in various periods to support domestic producers.


H.E. Ravinatha Aryasinha, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, highlighted the key developments following the inauguration-in-office of H.E. the President, and reflected on the importance of reconciliation and integration as the way forward for Sri Lanka. He further stated that a number of important steps were taken by the Government both domestically and internationally to promote reconciliation and economic development of the country. Speaking on the importance of continued contribution by expatriate Sri Lankans to this process, Ambassador Aryasinha stressed the need to work together as one community for a better future for Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Aryasinha made these comments at an event organized by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to mark the commencement of the National Integration and Reconciliation Week (08-14 January 2017) and the Second Anniversary of the Inauguration-in-Office of H.E. the President on 08 January from 5.00-6.00pm, at the Mission premises.

The programme commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag and followed by the singing of the National Anthem in Sinhala. Two Minutes silence was observed by those present to commemorate the war heroes and all others who sacrificed their lives in safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. Thereafter, Multi-faith Religious Observances were conducted by the religious dignitaries, invoking blessings on the country and the people of Sri Lanka and its leadership. The staff of the Mission read out the Oath of Reconciliation and the event concluded with the singing of the National Anthem in Tamil.

Traditional Sri Lankan refreshments were served at the end of the event.

The staff of the Mission, religious dignitaries representing Buddhist, Hindu, Islam and Christian religions and representatives of the Sri Lanka Associations in Geneva, were present at the event.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka

Geneva

18th January 2017
On 13 January 2017, the Colombo Process (CP) Member States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Organization of Migration (IOM), operationalising a self-funding funding mechanism for the CP.

Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva, in his capacity as the Chair of the Geneva-Based CP Member States and Bruce Reed, the Director of the Resource Management Department of the International Organization of Migration (IOM), signed the MOU enabling the CP to conduct regular proceedings of this Regional Consultative Process on the Management of Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin in Asia.

The Colombo Process (CP) established in 2003, brings together 12 South and Southeast Asian labour sending countries in a member state-driven non-binding regional consultative process on migration to facilitate dialogue and cooperation on issues of common interest and concerns relating to labour mobility.

The self-funding mechanism initiated and negotiated by the CP Member States in Geneva, was unanimously adopted by the 12 Member States at the last CP Ministerial Meeting in August 2016. It sets out the modalities for the funding of regular Senior Officials and Ministerial Meetings through equal annual contributions by each of the participating countries; thereby ensuring the sustainability of this state-led policy dialogue. The MOU mandates IOM to be the Administrator of this Fund according to the needs and requests by CP Member States.

Speaking at the brief signing ceremony, Mr Reed said The CP self-funding mechanism is quite unique among the many RCPs throughout the world. The establishment of this mechanism demonstrates the CP Member States strong commitment to this process and the continued relevance of its goal to work towards enhancing the protection and provision of services to its migrant workers.

Ambassador Aryasinha, stressed: The self-funding mechanism represents a significant achievement by the CP and will help the CP to continue discussing and initiating tangible actions, without being overly dependent on external funding. He said this will facilitate the CPs task on ensuring orderly, safe and regular labour migration for the benefit of Asian migrant workers and their families.

The 12 CP member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka

Geneva

18th January 2017
Tehran, Iran, Jan. 17

By Mehdi Sepahvand, Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Irans president says many countries, including Kuwait and Iraq, have expressed readiness to mediate between Tehran and Riyadh.

Hassan Rouhani made the remarks during a press conference in Tehran on the first anniversary of implementation of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action aka nuclear deal), Trend's correspondent reported from the event.

We are ready to help Saudi Arabia on Yemen and regional issues if they make a right decision, Rouhani said Jan. 17.

Riyadh started the problem itself by attacking Yemen without any basis, he said, adding that it is in Saudis' interest to stop attacks on Yemen.

Iran does not want to change the regime in Saudi Arabia, nor do we want to intervene in their internal affairs.

However, Rouhani accused the Saudi government of supporting terrorism.

Rouhani said the Saudi government should change its misguided policies, expressing hope to cooperate with Saudis in bringing stability to the region.

Relations between Tehran and Riyadh have been strained over the past years after their conflicting views on regional developments, particularly on Yemen and Syria, became more noticeable.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran after protesters stormed the kingdoms embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad on January 2, 2016 in response to Riyadh's execution of a prominent Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
PRESS RELEASE

Putin Denounces Campaign Against Trump as a Maidan, Calls Leakers Worse than Prostitutes

Jan. 17, 2017 (EIRNS)Russian President Vladimir Putin today told a Moscow press conference that some in Washington "now are ready to organize a Maidan in Washington not to let Trump assume office," and that Trumps political enemies who leaked the phony dossier are "worse than prostitutes." Fox News commented that Putins remarks had "one-upped even some of the president-elects colorful Twitter commentary."

According to accounts in the Russian media, including Sputnik, Putin analyzed the exceptional dirty tricks campaign against Trump:

"In my opinion, there are several goals; some are obvious. The first is to undermine the legitimacy of the elected president of the United States. Incidentally, in this connection I would like to note thatwhether people who do it want it or notthey greatly damage U.S. interests. It seems that they trained for this in Kiev, and now are ready to organize a Maidan in Washington not to let Trump assume office. The second goal is to tie the hands and legs of the newly-elected president related to the implementation of his pre-election campaigns promises to the American people and the international community."

Putin then took up the issue of the phony dossiers and the charges that Kremlin spy agencies were blackmailing Trump:

"These claims are an obvious fake. Trump, when he came to Moscow a few years ago, was not a politician. We did not even know about his political ambitions; he was just a businessman, one of the richest men in America. Is someone really thinking that our intelligence agencies are chasing every American billionaire, or what? Of course not! Its just a complete nonsense."

Taking off the gloves, Putin continued:

"Prostitution is an ugly social phenomenon... But people who order such fakes which are now used against the elected president of the United States, fabricate information and use it in the political struggle, they are worse than prostitutes, they have no moral limits."

Putin then commented on Trump and Obama:

"I dont know Mr. Trump; I have never met him, I dont know what he will do in the international arena, so I have no reason either to attack him, criticize him, or defend him." Sputnik continues: "Putin noted that there is a category of people who leave without saying goodbye, out of respect for the present situation, while others say goodbye all the time, but do not go away. The outgoing administration, in my opinion, belongs to the second category,

he concluded.
PRESS RELEASE

Xi at Davos Places Development at Center of Global Governance

Jan. 17, 2017 (EIRNS)In a wide-ranging speech opening up the World Economic Forum in Davos, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a reform of the system of global governance, in what might be labeled globalization with Chinese characteristics. Warning of the dangers of a retreat into a defensive protectionism in the face of the financial storms, he said, would be like locking yourself in a dark room, where you will be protected from the rain outside, but will also lack light and air to breathe.

At the same time, he decried the failures of the present global system, the growing inequality, growing poverty and unemployment. And yet, the history of man tells us, Xi said,

that problems should not be feared, but have to be faced. We have to meet the challenges and chart the right course for economic globalization.... If one is afraid of the storm and exploring a new world, they will get drowned in the ocean sooner or later.

Referring to Chinas own experience, he said We have had our share of choking in the water and our share of whirlpools, but the global economy is a big ocean and you cant escape from it, nor can you retreat from it. Xi also warned against a trade war, saying that no one will emerge a winner in a trade war.

Speaking of the world financial crisis, Xi said that this was not caused by globalization, but rather by finance capital taking out excessive profits and by the failure of financial regulation to deal with it. While globalization has created significant problems, the mechanism for resolving these problems has failed.

Inadequate global governance makes it difficult to deal with these problems, Xi said. There is a resounding call from the international community for a reform of the system of global governance which is now a pressing task, Xi said. And all countries are equal members of the international community and deserve to be heard. Furthermore, he went on, Global connectivity must be developed in order for all to reach prosperity. The center of this globalization is development, and development is based on increasing productivity based on the development of science and technology, Xi said. This is a product of all of us and not the product of one individual individual alone, Xi said. Quoting Lincoln (and Sun Yatsen, without mentioning either), Xi said Development is of the people, by the people and for the people.

The world community has to develop a dynamic innovation-driven growth model, he said. Only through innovation and reform can we deal with the sluggish economy. Secondly, we should develop an open and interconnected approach to a development of open and win-win cooperation. And thirdly, it is crucial to have a sound development philosophy and model, that is balanced, equitable, and inclusive. Priority should be given to reducing poverty, unemployment and inequality, Xi said.

Xi assured his listeners that China would stay the course, maintain a solid growth rate, continue its structural reform and opening up, and play a greater role in sharing its growth with others. Xi pointed to the Hangzhou G20 Summit, which placed innovation in the center of economic development, and to the Belt and Road Initiative, which will hold a major summit in May in China. If we continue to build a community of a shared future for mankind, Xi said, we can create a better world.
A patron recently returned an overdue library book in San Francisco  100 years overdue. The title? Forty Minutes Late.

In the end, Forty Minutes Late was returned to the library 52,560,000 minutes late.

Webb Johnson returned the book, which was checked out in 1917 years ago by his great-grandmother, to the San Francisco Public Library on Friday, incurring no fine for his ancestors tardiness, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

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Reacting to the news that he wouldnt have to fork over $3,650 in overdue penalties, Johnson said, Whew.

Johnsons great-grandmother isnt really to blame for failing to return the book in a timely fashion. She died a week before the book was due back at the Fillmore branch of the library, which no longer exists.

Its hard to come back as a ghost and return your late library book, Judy Wells, a cousin of Johnson, told KGO-TV.

Forty Minutes Late is a short story collection by F. Hopkinson Smith, published by Grosset & Dunlap in 1909. Smith, whose first name was Francis, is now not known for his fiction but as being the engineer who built the foundation for the Statue of Liberty.

Luckily for Johnson, the San Francisco library is currently in the midst of an amnesty program that waives all late fees for overdue material.

Im guilty. I know it, Johnson said. Guilty, guilty, guilty.

He said he realized the book wasnt legally part of his great-grandmothers estate in 1996.

Luis Herrera, San Franciscos chief librarian, said the library hasnt decided whether to return the book to circulation, but he recognizes that there will be some interest in the long-missing volume.

This is something I know people will want to read, he said.
Big companies love to force their legal adversaries into arbitration, especially when those adversaries are employees, customers or others without money or power, and therefore are at a disadvantage. Judges usually love arbitration too because it relieves them of the chore of overseeing routine docket-clogging lawsuits.

Not so San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn, who on Tuesday slapped down an effort by Cisco Systems to force Ann Bark, 63, into arbitration on her age-discrimination claim. Kahn ruled that Cisco effectively surprised Bark with the arbitration requirement by hiding it deep within a form that appeared to relate solely to intellectual property claims  and which Bark was required to sign as a condition to joining Cisco in 1998.

It was just one more thing I had to complete to stay employed.  Ann Bark explains why she didnt notice an arbitration clause buried in a Cisco document

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Kahn found a high degree of procedural and substantive unconscionability that permeated the entire arbitration agreement. As a result, if Cisco wants to contest Barks discrimination claim, it will have to do it in court, where the playing field is much more level. Cisco has said it will appeal.

Kahns ruling is a rare setback for arbitration clauses, which have swept across the landscape of commercial litigation like a scourge of locusts. When they bind parties that come to the table with roughly equivalent resources  two companies locked in a contract dispute, say  they can effectively function as a cheap and efficient alternative to the courtroom.

The problems arise when theyre imposed by a stronger party on a weaker one. As we reported previously, its a safe bet that many, if not most, individuals forced into arbitration didnt even know they were subject to the requirement until after their dispute arose. Arbitration clauses are buried in the boilerplate you sign when you enroll with a cable company, go to a doctor or hospital for treatment or take a new job. Arbitration favors the bigger party, in part, because its typically an experienced participant in the process and can take better advantage of what are often its very loose standards of evidence and testimony.

One doesnt have to go further than the Wells Fargo identity theft scandal to see how this works. Wells Fargo bankers, it will be recalled, cheated some customers by fraudulently opening multiple accounts in their names in order to meet stringent productivity quotas. When victims demanded redress, the bank forced many of them into binding arbitration, pointing to an arbitration clause that applied not only to the original legitimate accounts the customers opened, but (according to the bank) any subsequent disputes that arose.

Wells Fargo is so in love with the advantages of arbitration that its still insisting on the process, even though it has pledged to do everything in its power to compensate its victims. Because arbitration proceedings typically arent matters of public record, this provision arguably allowed the Wells Fargo scandal to continue and grow without public disclosure, until my former Times colleague Scott Reckard exposed it in 2013.

President Obama recognized the implicit abuse of arbitration clauses in employment disputes. In 2014, he mandated by executive order that complaints about workplace discrimination or abuse could be arbitrated only with the consent of the parties after the disputes arise. Surprise arbitration clauses, in other words, are out. The order applies to firms working on federal contracts worth more than $1 million, which is most of them.

Bark says she was the victim of just that sort of hit-and-run arbitration clause. According to the lawsuit she filed against Cisco in August, the physicist and engineer joined the company in 1998 when it acquired her then-employer. By then, her resume included management stints at Digital Equipment Corp. and Comverse Network Systems. All went well at Cisco, she says, until she was transferred to a new manager in 2013. The new manager, she says, appeared to disdain Barks work because of her age, and started maneuvers to position [her] for termination, sabotage her career trajectory and impact her compensation. These moves cost her more than $100,000 in expected pay.

Bark complained to Ciscos employee relations department, which she said effectively minimized her complaint. She followed with a complaint to California fair employment officials and then sued.

Thats when Cisco asserted that Bark was obliged to take her age-discrimination complaint to arbitration. The company produced a seven-page, single-spaced form labeled Proprietary Information and Invention Agreement, dated Sept. 11, 1998, and bearing her signature. Most of it applies to the safeguarding of company documents and material, including inventions she might develop on its dime. On page 5 is a paragraph requiring that any and all disputes concerning employment will be resolved by binding arbitration, for which Bark would have to pay half the costs. Bark acknowledges she signed it because it was a condition of her employment. But since she was in sales and the document applied to intellectual property and inventions, she did not view it as relevant to my position.

No one pointed out the arbitration clause, which didnt stand out in the text. It was just one more thing I had to complete to stay employed, she said. According to her lawyer, Charles Louderback, she didnt recognize that in fact, shes signing away her constitutional right to a jury trial.

Ciscos position is that Barks failure to read what she was signing is her own problem. Having opted not to read the Agreement, the company says in court papers, Bark cant now complain that she was unduly surprised by its contents. Cisco says its not commenting on the case beyond what it has said in court papers.

Judge Kahn didnt buy the companys position. In his tentative ruling, published Tuesday, he observed it is a surprise to stick an employment arbitration requirement that appears by its title and the great majority of its contents to be concerned solely with intellectual property issues and which was wordy, lengthy and dense, to boot. He noted that nothing barred Cisco from pinpointing the arbitration clause or attaching the applicable arbitration rules, making it much less of a surprise.

Kahn also pointed out that the fee-splitting requirement violates arbitration rules laid down by the California Supreme Court in 2000. Furthermore, while the agreement forces employees to arbitrate almost all their disputes with Cisco, including employment terms, it exempts claims the company might have against the employee over trade secrets, patents or other intellectual property. That strongly favors the company, he ruled.

Cisco says, If you have an employment dispute, you have to go to arbitration,  Louderback explains,  but if we sue you, we get to go to a jury trial. 

Whether Kahns ruling will hold up is anyones guess. But its based on state Supreme Court precedent that sets limits on arbitration. In any event, what may have been Ciscos dream of an easy win has been dashed. Workers and customers who feel theyve been abused in arbitration can take heart  for the moment.

Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com.

Return to Michael Hiltziks blog.
Spanish-language media giants Univision Communications and Grupo Televisa of Mexico are combining their programming units, a move that underscores the increasingly close collaboration between the two companies  and the magnitude of their ratings challenges.

New York-based Univision long has been the dominant Spanish-language broadcaster in the U.S., but since 2013 its flagship TV network has lost more than 45% of its prime-time audience. The soapy telenovelas produced by Televisa in Mexico City, which Univision heavily depends on, have lost relevance with younger audiences.

Televisas ratings in Mexico for its telenovelas also have plummeted as it has faced stiff competition from Netflix and YouTube.

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The consolidation of production groups in Miami and Mexico City would create a more unified focus, the companies said Tuesday. The move also is designed to save money as Univision prepares for its public offering in the U.S. and is under pressure to increase profits amid declining advertising revenue from its TV and radio units.

Univision executive Isaac Lee will run the combined enterprise as chief content officer for both Univision and Televisa.

The shake-up also carries cultural significance: The Mexican company is entrusting its crown jewel  a $650-million-a-year programming operation  to a Colombian-born executive with close ties to Los Angeles billionaire Haim Saban, the chairman of Univision.

Lee will report to Univision Chief Executive Randy Falco and Televisas Chairman and Chief Executive Emilio Azcarraga Jean, who is the grandson of Televisas founder.

The companies said they would keep their news divisions and other business operations separate. Televisas programming head and a longtime Azcarraga associate, Jose Antonio Baston Patino, will shift into a new role as president of international distribution for Televisa.

By unifying our production of content for distribution on multiple platforms in Mexico and the United States, we will take advantage of the unique opportunity that Televisa and Univision have to compete more effectively in an increasingly complex and fragmented industry, Azcarraga said in a statement.

The move could foreshadow further collaboration. Televisa owns 10% of Univision but has long planned to increase its stake in the U.S. media company.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission recently approved a waiver to the 1934 foreign ownership restrictions to specifically allow Televisa to claim as much as 40% of Univision.

Saban had been lobbying the FCC for the waiver for several years, in part, to allow Televisa to buy Univision shares held by private equity firms. The private equity firms are antsy to begin their long-awaited exit from the Spanish-language media company.

Univision has been planning to ramp up its own programming division to create more relevant programming for U.S. audiences. That effort was expected to be costly because Univision historically has outsourced that work to Televisa, which collects license fees when its shows air on Univision in the U.S.

Lee, a former journalist, joined Univision in December 2010 as president of its news division. He has been instrumental in Univisions push into English-language media with its launch of Fusion, originally a joint venture with the Walt Disney Co.s ABC Television Group. Univision bought out ABCs stake in Fusion last year.

Lee is credited with spearheading the companys digital initiatives, including the acquisition of the Onion, a satirical news site, and last years $135-million purchase of the Gawker websites, which it renamed Gizmodo Media Group.

ALSO:

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Univision wins FCC waiver to let its Mexican partner, Televisa, increase ownership stake

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Grupo Televisa CEO Emilio Azcarraga Jean has a life like a telenovela

meg.james@latimes.com

@MegJamesLAT
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued the nations largest servicer of student loans Wednesday, alleging that Navient Corp. cheated borrowers, resulting in higher payments for Americans struggling to pay back their student loans.

The federal consumer agency said that Navient, formerly part of Sallie Mae, failed to provide the most basic functions of adequate student loan servicing at every stage of repayment for both private and federal loans.

The Wilmington, Del., company, the agency said, provided student borrowers with inaccurate information, ignored complaints, processed payments incorrectly and steered borrowers toward higher-cost repayment options.

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For years, Navient failed consumers who counted on the company to help give them a fair chance to pay back their student loans, CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a statement. At every stage of repayment, Navient chose to shortcut and deceive consumers to save on operating costs. Too many borrowers paid more for their loans because Navient illegally cheated them, and todays action seeks to hold them accountable.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania, says Navient violated the Dodd-Frank reform act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. The agency is seeking redress for borrowers harmed by the practices and to prevent any future harm.

In response, Navient called the bureaus allegations unfounded and questioned the timing of Wednesdays lawsuit, noting it came just days before the Obama administration is set to leave office.

The timing of this lawsuit  midnight action filed on the eve of a new administration  reflects their political motivations, the company said in a statement posted on its website.

The filing of the lawsuit comes amid a flurry of new rules and regulations in the waning days of the Obama administration  and as the CFPB is under threat from Republican critics, who have complained that the bureau has too much power and that its attempts to help consumers have restricted access to credit.

Some Republican senators have even asked President-elect Donald Trump to remove Cordray as director, which if undertaken would probably set up a legal showdown over Trumps right to do so.

A major focus of the bureau under Cordray has been education, specifically for-profit colleges and technical schools, which have been accused of encouraging students to load up on student loans and misrepresenting the jobs prospects of graduates.

Corinthian Colleges in Santa Ana was among the schools sued by the agency, which accused it in 2014 of deceiving tens of thousands of students through an illegal predatory lending scheme. The school later went out of business.

More recently, the CFPB has turned its eye toward the servicing of student loans.

In 2015, the agency issued a report documenting widespread problems in the industry, including borrowers who said that servicers often failed to disclose the availability of cheaper repayment options.

At the time, the bureau said more than a quarter of the nations student borrowers were delinquent or in default.

Consumer advocates have praised the agency for its aggressive actions, including Wednesdays suit against Navient.

The action by the CFPB against Navient demonstrates the importance of having a strong and independent consumer watchdog on the side of students and working families, said Persis Yu, director of the National Consumer Law Centers student loan borrower-assistance project. We call on President-elect Trump to reject calls from Wall Street to fire CFPB Director Rich Cordray or to weaken the consumer watchdog.

Among the borrowers who say they have had problems with Navient is Michele McKeever, 46, of Austin, Texas, who has nearly $190,000 left to pay on her student loans.

McKeever, who attended two graduate programs, said in the last two years Navient has levied her with increased payments after the servicer wrongly claimed she didnt submit her application for a reduced payment plan in time.

The first year it happened, I thought, OK, maybe I didnt get it in in time. But this year, I know I did, she said.

McKeever said she emailed company representatives and tried to call Navient, but they just informed me that theres not a lot you can do.

In its lawsuit, the consumer agency alleged many other borrowers had problems enrolling in programs to reduce payments and Navient instead steered struggling borrowers into plans that made more money for Navient but saddled borrowers with higher costs.

Specifically, the government alleged that Navient maintained compensation policies that encouraged customer service representatives to push borrowers into forbearance, which allows borrowers to suspend payments without defaulting but does not stop interest from accruing.

However, most federal student-loan borrowers earned the right in 2009 to enroll in the less costly payment options that are based on their income.

Although those plans save borrowers money, forbearance was more lucrative for Navient, the agency alleged because the company could enroll borrowers in forbearance in less time and with less staff.

In all, the servicer slapped borrowers with additional interest charges of up to $4 billion by enrolling them in repeated forbearance plans from January 2010 to March 2015, according to the consumer agency.

For many of these borrowers, had they been enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan, they would have avoided much or all of their additional charges, the agency said in its complaint, noting the government would have picked up the tab for unpaid interest on subsidized loans for three years.

When borrowers did enroll in the income-driven repayment plans, the agency said Navient failed to provide enough information on renewal deadlines. That caused students to miss enrollment, which could have caused their monthly payments to jump by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. the bureau said in a news release.

In an email, a Navient spokeswoman said the company actively promotes income-driven repayment programs and sends multiple notices and communications to borrowers to help them complete re-enrollment on time, meeting or exceeding all federal requirements.

Navient services private and federal loans worth more than $300 billion for more than 12 million borrowers, according to the agency.

The bureau also alleged that Navient reported to credit reporting agencies that severely disabled Americans, including veterans, had defaulted on their loans, when in fact their loans were discharged under a program for such borrowers.

andrew.khouri@latimes.com

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

Click here for a Spanish version of this story

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UPDATES:

6 p.m.: This article was updated with an email comment from a Navient spokeswoman.

1:10 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the allegations against Navient, a comment from the National Consumer Law Center and background on the CFPBs crackdown on for-profit colleges and the Obama administrations last-minute flurry of new regulations.

4:00 p.m.: This arictle was updated with comment from a student borrower and background on problems with loan servicers.

This article was originally published at 11:15 a.m.
A U.S. regulator has sued Qualcomm over the way that it licenses cellular patents to smartphone makers  joining South Korea and potentially other governments in seeking to upend the San Diegos companys patent royalty practices.

The Federal Trade Commission filed the civil lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Northern California. The company also faces investigations in Europe, Japan and Taiwan.

The FTC lawsuit comes a month after the Korea Fair Trade Commission fined Qualcomm $865 million over patent royalties. The company vowed to fight in South Koreas courts, calling the regulators action inconsistent with the facts and a misapplication of fundamental tenets of competition law.

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The FTC alleges that Qualcomm used its dominant market share in wireless chips to get excessive royalties on key, standard essential patents, which are supposed to be made available at reasonable rates under law.

The agency also says Qualcomm gave Apple rebates in exchange for being the exclusive supplier of cellular modems in iPhones from 2011 through 2015  hurting competitors.

The FTC isnt seeking specific damages but asked the court to take steps to prevent Qualcomms alleged anti-competitive practices from happening again.

The agencys governing board voted 2-1 to bring the lawsuit. Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen objected on the grounds that the court action is based on a flawed legal theory, that it will undermine U.S. intellectual property rights worldwide and that it comes on the eve of a new presidential administration.

Qualcomm echoed those concerns, calling the FTCs lawsuit midnight litigation brought as Chairwoman Edith Ramirez leaves the agency and President-Elect Donald Trump takes over the White House.

We have grave concerns about the two commissioners decision to bring this case despite a lack of evidence supporting the allegations and theories in the complaint, Qualcomm General Counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement.

Qualcomm makes money not only by designing mobile semiconductors but also by licensing its vast portfolio of wireless patents on key cellular technology.

In its complaint Tuesday, the FTC singled out Qualcomms no license, no chips policy, which requires smartphone makers that buy the companys wireless semiconductors to also license its patents.

The FTC contends that the tactic forces cellphone manufacturers to pay higher royalties regardless of whether they buy chips from Qualcomm or rivals such Intel or MediaTek.

Because of its dominant market position, the risk of losing access to Qualcomms cellular modems is too great for smartphone makers to not take a license, according to the complaint.

In addition, the complaint says Qualcomm gave Apple rebates to make sure it was the exclusive supplier of cellular modems in iPhones from 2011 through 2015.

Qualcomm recognized that any competitor that won Apples business would become stronger, and used exclusivity to prevent Apple from working with and improving the effectiveness of Qualcomms competitors, the FTC said.

mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com

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There was, maybe, one minor thing wrong with the LA Phil New Music Groups all-Steve Reich program, a celebration of the composers 80th birthday, at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday night. Some of the percussion a small some of the time was a tad over-amplified.

Everything else, everything that mattered in a concert that mattered more than even longtime Reich fanatics might have anticipated, was right. All was right in that the performances were excellent. All was right in that the new piece, Pulse, a co-commission by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and given its West Coast premiere, is a keeper.

But the real rightness was something more important. It came in the slow section of Tehillim, Reichs joyous 1981 setting of Hebrew Psalm texts for four solo, angelically high and pure-voiced womens voices and a small instrumental ensemble with plenty of percussion.

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The text here is tweet-length stanza from Psalm 18 that could well serve as a manual for how to serve a bewildered country as it turns, turns, turns during inauguration week to the avidity of pundits or the perversions of rash discourse rather than the wider vision of artists.

The English translation reads:

With the merciful You are merciful, with the upright You are upright. / With the pure You are pure, and with the perverse You are subtle.

Reich, who turned 80 in October, is a grand old man of Minimalism, but not the only one. America happens to be a great country of old Minimalists: Terry Riley is 81, and Philip Glass turns 80 at the end of this month. In the 1960s, the movements radical use of repetition, along with basic harmonies and melodies, was received as a perversion of progressive musical discourse. Subtleties, always there, took time to be appreciated and developed.

Tehillim was a key work for Reich and for Minimalism. His model was early Renaissance polyphony, in which musical lines formed interlocking patterns and canons (the technique of overlapping voices found, in simple form, in Row, Row, Row Your Boat) and harmonies were pure, open intervals that felt as though they represented the spiritual vastness of the universe.

The pulse is there in Tehillim, and Reich, running the amplification mixing board as he loves to do, made sure you head the percussionists beating it out with sticks or clapping hands, to the point of initially drowning out the superb Synergy Vocals, a British ensemble.

That pulse, however, had its purpose. It got the heartbeat where Reich wanted it, helping Psalm texts enter not just the consciousness but also bloodstream of the listener. With bouncing beat and enthusiastic melodic repetitions, always subtly varied, Reich, in the second part, drives in the line, Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

But it is the nobility of the slow movements three-note pattern, which expands and contracts as necessary, where Reich reaches a quiet yet climactic sublimity. The path suggested by the Psalms, when subtly deployed by ancient musical arts decanted in new bottles, becomes a prudent device for disrupting perversion.

Jeffrey Milarsky was the evenings thorough conductor, maintaining order and enthusiasm.

Tehillim is not new to the L.A. Phil. A full-orchestra version was a highlight of the orchestras first Minimalist Jukebox Festival 11 years ago. But there is a bite and vitality in the original that makes the texts point and the delight of the celebratory final movement all the more immediate.

Jeffrey Milarsky conducts Pulse during the Steve Reich program at Walt Disney Concert Hall. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

Pulse, which had its premiere at Carnegie Hall in October, is, on the other hand, unusually quiet and understated Reich. One can talk about a late style here, but with caution, since he has another new piece, Runner, intended for dance, that is as lively as ever. (It will have its U.S. premiere in Berkeley this month.)

But in Pulse, written for a chamber orchestra of woodwinds and strings with a piano and electric bass playing a continual pulse for 15 minutes, the mood remains reflective. It is based on a single, quirky melody in constant, telling transformation that is as close to a Beethoven late slow quartet movement that Reich is ever likely to get.

As with Tehillim, the melody flows in ever changing canon. Each repetition feels in retrospect as if it were predictable. The lyricism, gorgeous instrumental textures and affecting harmonies are not exactly easy listening but genially and spiritually alluring. The genius of Pulse is that you never really know where the score is going, just why it is going there.

The concert began with Mallet Quartet, another recent work and echt Reich. A pair of vibraphones and two long marimbas clatter away in rhythmic patterns that go in and out of phase, creating a rush of ringing sound that takes away all possible thought of anything else.

A few moments of hypnotic escape from the 24/7 news feed isnt such a bad thing either on inauguration week, and kudos to the players  Matthew Howard, James Babor, Jeffrey Grant and Nick Terry  for nailing it.

mark.swed@latimes.com

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Tehran, Iran, January 18

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

Due to Irans objection to the US attending the upcoming Astana talks about Syria, no invitation to the US has been issued by the three countries that proposed the talks, Irans Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Khamkhani said.

There is no reason why the US should partake in efforts to lead the ongoing political initiatives about Syria, Shamkahni said, Because of (the US) record of incompetence in establishing ceasefire or leading the conflicting sides to negotiations, ISNA news agency reported January 18.

Meanwhile, the Iranian official said the Islamic Republic will play a key role in the Astana talks since Iran has had the most prominent role in backing the legal Syrian government in its fight against terrorism.

Proposed by Russia, Iran, and Turkey, the Astana meeting is going to be held on January 23 and 24 between the Syrian government and opposing forces, excluding terrorist groups, with the hope to find a peaceful way to six years of bloodshed in Syria.

A ceasefire came into effect across Syria in late December after the Syrian government and the opposition agreed to a nationwide deal brokered by Turkey and Russia. The ceasefire was proposed after government forces retook the strategic city of Aleppo from terrorists. The opposition has said it will attend peace talks.
The secular filmmaker Joshua Weinstein stood on a helter-skelter corner in this ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood next to shops selling conservative fashions and Internet-disabled smartphones, and pondered his recent guerrilla shoot.

The strangest casting moment, let me think about that, the director said, tilting back his head. It might be all the times I sat through an hour of evening prayers because I happened to be talking to a potential actor and they needed a 10th man for a minyan [a prayer quorum]. Or maybe it was when I accompanied the rabbi to the mikveh [Jewish ritual bath].

He paused thoughtfully. Its hard enough to cast your independent film when youre not submerged without clothes in steamy waters.

FULL COVERAGE: 2017 Sundance Film Festival 

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Weinstein experienced a series of colorful moments to craft the low-key authenticity of Menashe, his heartfelt gem of a scripted drama that will premiere Monday at the Sundance Film Festival in the upstart Next section. At a time when television series such as Breaking Amish aim to shed light on cloistered religious communities, Menashe harbors similar goals in a fresh context: It seeks to get behind the veil of New Yorks Hasidim, people generally depicted in pop culture as enigmatic props, when theyre even seen at all.

To make the all-Yiddish-language film, the director used the kind of shoe-leather techniques and subcultural curiosity that has given Sundance its unique reputation. Shot entirely on location and almost entirely with Hasidic (non)actors, Menashe represents a feat of logistical and conceptual prowess, telling a story about people in the very medium theyre skeptical of. Forget whether Weinsteins actors had ever been in a professional movie  many of them had never even seen one.

They made up with enthusiasm and authenticity, Weinstein said dryly, what they lacked in formal training.

Inspired loosely by real events, Weinsteins film tells of Menashe (Menashe Lustig), a schlumpy thirtysomething widower who cant find peace either at his blue-collar supermarket job or in his personal life, where his brother-in-law (with the approval of the rabbi) has taken custody of Menashes pre-adolescent son. As they constantly tell him, a boy cannot be raised by a single father, and certainly not an underachieving one.

But though resisting remarriage for its own sake, Menashe deeply wishes to live and bond with his son  a goal that leads to a series of sweet, sometimes funny but often heartbreaking turns. Menashe is proof of that arts adage that one can achieve universality through specificity: While the Hasidic world that Weinstein portrays is arcane and exotic, the sentiments are instantly recognizable.

I think a lot of movies about this world show the social problems. But all those problems are known. What I want to show is all the life, all the joy, said Weinstein, 33. Yes, being a Hasid can be about a certain seriousness and quiet. But theres also a lot of fun and a lot of camaraderie, the kinds of things we all long for.

While sometimes confused with other forms of ultra-Orthodoxy, Hasidism is a very particular strain of Judaism. It derives from an 18th-century grassroots moment that sought to make religion more accessible to the masses via music and a kind of spirituality of feeling over scholarship. Today, different groups  they include the outward-looking Chabad as well as the more insular Ger, Satmar and Skver  carry out those traditions with sect-specific garb, Yiddish-language usage, devotion to a particular rabbi, and an aggressive anti-modernity that can include skepticism of technology (let alone film acting).

Weinstein, who attended a Conservative Jewish day school in suburban New Jersey, knew little of these groups growing up. He makes his living as a cinematographer, often on far-flung documentaries. But as he walked through the Hasid-rich Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park earlier this week, he spoke of his inspiration for the movie. In 2014 he had just completed a series of difficult shoots involving subjects such as poor villages in India and end-of-life care in the U.S. A more humanist story, in his own backyard, seemed appealing.

Without even knowing what story he wanted to tell, he began hanging out in Borough Park, bringing his notepad to the streets, stores and synagogues of this bustling neighborhood, often wearing a large black yarmulke to blend in. (Thank God for hipster filmmaker beards.) He also connected with several members of different Hasidic communities whod left but retained roots in it, and linked up with a Chabad-affiliated casting agent who could bridge two worlds.

Matters would soon go awry. Would-be performers would sign on and drop out, realizing that it wasnt worth the fallout at their synagogue or childrens school. Even now, Weinstein has declined to reveal the names of nearly all the actors apart from Lustig, knowing they could face blowback from the tight-knit community.

Financing was tricky too  money came from sources in the larger Jewish community, but in dribs and drabs. Weinstein would shoot for a few days or weeks at a time, put down his camera, go back to his day job, raise money, and then return to production. (The film was shot over a period of nearly two years.)

Locations would also fall through, as some store owners would get cold feet, fearing negative communal publicity.

Thats the supermarket we shot in, Weinstein said, as he gestured to a large store on a major thoroughfare. Well, one of them. We got kicked out of four supermarkets, I think. They all form one supermarket in the movie.

Meanwhile, only a small percentage of the people who came in to read for parts had even seen movies  and even then they tend to be locally sourced kosher recordings, low-budget productions with spiritual messages. Some had honed their chops at so-called Purim Spiels, a kind of Hasidic Chitlin Circuit of seasonal skits centered on the springtime masquerade holiday. Still, those were big, broad comedies  not exactly useful for a lo-fi drama. Weinstein asked performers to enact stories or behaviors from their own lives, wrote scenes around them, then fit them into the script.

Key to the film was Lustig. A member of the Skver sect, the 38-year-old had stirred up minor celebrity  and controversy  in his community after posting a series of slapsticky home videos on YouTube. Weinstein met Lustig and was struck by his talent and back story. Lustig had moved to London when he married his wife, a Hasidic Brit, around 2000. His wife would die several years later, and Lustig returned to New York with his then-4-year-old son. Like the widower character he plays, a family member had sought to keep custody of his son. Weinstein heard the tale and built his movie around it. Then he convinced the Hasid to take a starring role.

I dont feel Im being rebellious, said Lustig, as he waited in the lobby at a pre-festival reception in Manhattan that evening, in his trademark beard and conservative garb. I just think if someone has talent  if God gives you talent  because youre a Jew youre not allowed to use it? It doesnt make sense.

Lustig speaks with a mixture of sincerity, reasonableness, folk wisdom and jokiness, and he employed all these traits to explain how he came to take the part. We say in Chasidut: More than the calf wants to drink, the mother cow wants to give. I feel I have to give.

Lustig said the character is based on him  sort of. Unlike Menashe in the film, Im not a schlimazel by nature. Maybe just a schlimazel by situation.

(One art-imitating life touch: Lustig himself also worked at a supermarket. At times during the shoot he would be getting yelled at in-scene by his supermarket manager--then, during breaks, took impatient calls from his real-life supermarket manager.)

Though most of the shots in Menashe, through the use of street-sign disclaimers, were at least nominally sanctioned, the film at Sundance may conjure associations to Escape From Tomorrow, the 2013 festival phenomenon that was shot on the sly at Disney theme parks. Like that films director, Weinstein would often stand far from the location so as not to attract attention, conveying direction to actors through earpieces.

Maybe chief among his difficulties was the language. Weinstein doesnt speak Yiddish, so he had people translate the script. Then, during shooting, hed have a bilingual production assistant read the actors lines to him, in English, via the earpiece.

As he climbed the stairs of an elevated train to show where he had shot a scene, Weinstein reflected on the unusual production.

I think shooting a movie this way, you have to be OK with organized chaos, he said. Or with creating a lot of chaos to make everything seem like ordinary life.
Poetry flows through Jim Jarmuschs latest film, Paterson, in much the same way that the Passaic River winds through the titular New Jersey city, before gracefully dropping over the Great Falls. The initial effect is subtle, but the lasting impression is sublime.

The films protagonist, a self-effacing bus driver also named Paterson, played by Adam Driver, scribbles poetry during his lunch breaks and free time, much of it spent admiring the falls. There are parts of at least 10 poems featured in the film, as well as four characters who are poets of one form or another.

 Adam Driver and Golshifteh Farahani star in Paterson.

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The world we see and experience in Paterson feels like a poem, from the natural beauty of the Great Falls to the industrial grit of the city streets where Paterson drives his bus. As he fills his secret notebook, the words appear on the screen, lingering, allowing the audience to absorb the implied imagery and emotions.

Even the seemingly mundane interactions of bus riders or Patersons walks to and from work take on the visual equivalent of rhythms, repetition and rhymes. The sounds and images of Jarmuschs poetic cinema were created through the deft work of film editor Affonso Goncalves, cinematographer Frederick Elmes and production designer Mark Friedberg.

Real-life poets provide the movies linguistic infrastructure. Patersons poems were written by Ron Padgett, whose Collected Poems won a 2013 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The noted author William Carlos Williams (1883-1963), a practicing New Jersey physician who once wrote an epic five-volume poem called Paterson, also looms large in the film. Concepts from that poem (a man and a city entwined and no ideas but in things) along with a visit to Paterson (the city) in the 1990s gave Jarmusch his initial inspiration for the film. Paterson (the character) reads Williams short verse This Is Just to Say to his wife Laura.

Throughout the movie, the habitual Paterson meets other poets: an evening walk with his bulldog Marvin yields overheard verse from a laundromat rapper played by Cliff Smith (aka Method Man); a 10-year-old girl shares a poem with him one day after work; and a Japanese poet on a pilgrimage to see the land of Williams approaches Paterson as he sits at a favorite spot near the falls.

 Adam Driver talks about visiting Paterson, N.J. - and driving a bus - to make Paterson.

Jarmusch wrote the girls poem, Water Falls, and his screenplay has a poetic quality in the way it structures a week in the lives of Paterson and Laura, as though the days were stanzas. The film opened in late December to strong reviews, many of which mentioned the lyrical screenplay.

Initially, Jarmusch asked Padgett, a friend, to be a poetry advisor on the film (without explaining precisely what that entailed) and the poet agreed. Later, Jarmusch asked if he could use four of Padgetts poems in the film.

The filmmaker eventually inquired if Padgett might feel like writing some new poems. No pressure, only if he felt like it. The poet told Jarmusch, No, Jim. I cant handle the pressure. The idea  write poems for a film? Dont expect anything. Jarmusch told him not to worry, he had plenty to work with.

But Jarmuschs low-key approach kept Padgett thinking. Jim took the pressure off and I found that I could drift into what I imagined to be the mind of this protagonist. The first few lines of a poem started in my head and I wrote them down and the rest of the poem rolled right out. I dont think I even revised it. Three more poems quickly followed and Jarmusch ended up using seven by Padgett.

When I read the script, I had a kind of fantasy of how [the character Paterson] would be, Padgett continued. I didnt feel constrained to be realistic because Jim doesnt make realistic films. Theyre like fables or dreams.

Still, theres a credibility to Padgetts words emerging from the bus drivers pen. I grew up in a distinctly blue-collar milieu, said the Tulsa, Okla.-born Padgett. My father and mothers friends were welders, stock car drivers, bootleggers and grease monkeys. I think that helped me imagine the character of Paterson.

Many other poets are name-checked in the film or make cameos on Patersons bookshelf. Frank OHara, a central member of the New York School, helps Paterson and the Japanese poet form a connection. Laura and Paterson discuss the 14th century Italian scholar Petrarch, who wrote love sonnets to another woman named Laura.

Jarmusch and Padgett were both students, more than a decade apart, of the poet Kenneth Koch at Columbia University. The connections between the New York School poets, including Koch and Padgett, and Williams go back decades. Koch once wrote a satirical response poem to This Is Just to Say, called Variations on a Theme by William Carlos Williams.

In 1964, Padgett and fellow poet Ted Berrigan visited the Bloomfield, N.J., home of poet Joseph Ceravolo for dinner. Ceravolo suggested they visit Paterson and see the falls, which was Padgetts only experience of the city until a recent local premiere of the film. Later, the three poets and their wives went to nearby Rutherford to see the longtime home of Williams, who had died the previous year.

One salient characteristic of some of Williams work is that its clear, direct, conversational language, said Padgett. That is something that was not only an influence on the New York School, but on other poets as well.

Jarmuschs suggestion that audiences should just allow the film to float past them -- like images seen from the window of a public bus, are echoed by Padgetts recommendation for enjoying poetry.

Just read it and have an experience, said the poet. You dont have to be able to articulate and understand what that experience is. Just read it. Open yourself up, read the words, let them happen to you and see what happens.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

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kevin.crust@latimes.com

@storyspheare
The intersections of the personal and professional lives of young people in the creative enclaves of New York and Los Angeles have become a recent Sundance staple. Yet no one assays this territory quite like Alex Ross Perry. The Brooklyn-based writer-director steps into the spotlight of the festivals U.S. Dramatic Competition for the first time this year with Golden Exits, with a cast that includes Jason Schwartzman, Chloe Sevigny, Mary-Louise Parker, Analeigh Tipton and Lily Rabe. Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz also stars, continuing his recent return to movie acting after his appearance in Noah Baumbachs While Were Young.

After Perrys early features Impolex and The Color Wheel, it was his 2014 movie Listen Up Philip, which starred Schwartzman as a young novelist and premiered in Sundances Next section, that firmly established him as one of the most original voices on todays independent filmmaking scene. His acerbic insights into contemporary communication and culture, alongside a literary sensibility and tremendous formal control as a filmmaker, set him apart from the looser style of many of his generational contemporaries. That he was also hired to write a live-action adaptation of Winnie the Pooh is at once both a surprise and completely in line with his sensibility. His take on Eeyore should be something else.



For the record: The headline with an earlier version of this article misspelled Chloe Sevignys last name as Sevingy.

Below is a series of stills from Golden Exits, seen here for the first time, with extended captions written by Perry.

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FULL COVERAGE: 2017 Sundance Film Festival 

Alex Ross Perry: Nick (played by Adam Horovitz) is an archivist and appraiser, a profession that fascinates me thanks to my friend Michael Chaiken, who has worked on the archives of Nicholas Ray and Norman Mailer. Much of this film is about finding acceptance with your work, even when it fails to excite and inspire you. That office, that chair, that desk: That is who Nick is as a character. He is often asked if the repetition gets to him. Watching him justify his way around that question is something I struggle with myself and is a deeply personal aspect of the film.

Perry: Emily Browning plays Naomi, who comes to New York to assist Nick in the completion of Gwendolyn and Alyssas fathers archive. We thought about some of Eric Rohme's female characters. I especially looked at Boyfriends and Girlfriends and Rendezvous in Paris. Naomi feels like she comes from the Rohmer world: Just passing through some place for some time, and the movie is about observing these little moments and connections that happen or nearly happen.

Perry: We wanted to play with colors in this movie in a way that hadnt happened in Listen Up Philip or Queen of Earth. Its an interesting challenge to set for a DP and a gaffer because you are constantly looking for ways to justify it, narratively and logistically, in each location. Jason Schwartzmans character, Buddy, has a local watering hole that he ends up in most nights. We decided it compensated for its dinginess by blasting colors and hoping customers wouldnt notice.

Perry: Ive wanted to work with Chloe for some time. She was a very notable and preferred customer at Kims Video, the store where my cinematographer, Sean Price Williams, and I met. He had known her for 10 years and was deeply humiliated to shoot her, comparing it to having your friends watching you sing and dance alone in a room. Chloe plays Alyssa, Nicks wife.

Perry: I wanted this film to have a sense of theatricality to it, and in Mary-Louise Parker (and Lily Rabe) I was lucky to get actresses with as much theater background as film or television. Chloe told me that she is terrified of improv so I decided that the movie wouldnt have any. It was a new experience to rely only on the written words rather than remain open to the possibility of changing them day by day. Mary-Louise and Chloe both live in the parts of Brookyln where we shot the entire film and were deeply in touch with the sensibility and tone of these characters. Mary-Louise plays Gwendolyn, Alyssas sister and Nicks sister-in-law.

Perry: Theres a slippery aspect in this film of domestic stability. Often this means watching characters attempt to maintain equilibrium at home while we, the audience, see them in situations their spouses never would is part of the attempt to heighten and question the moments where it seems people are complacent to a fault with their loved ones. Analeigh Tipton plays Jess, Buddys wife.

Perry: Lily Rabe plays Sam, Jess sister and Buddys sister-in-law. You can see Adam Horovitz as Nick in the background there. These sisters meet for happy hour at the same bar where Nick stops every day for a beer and some reading time on his way home. Creating some sense of believable logic about where these characters live, eat, drink and eventually overlap was fun because we shot the whole film in my neighborhood or the one next to it.

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Mark.Olsen@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter: @IndieFocus

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A weekly roundup of must-hear music from The Times staff.

This weeks picks include a heartbreaking, disco-inspired song from Chicago artist the Black Madonna, as well as Celtic-punk veterans the Dropkick Murphys. Also, catch a bit of Allison Crutchfields winning debut.

And if you want to dig into history a little deeper, Randy Lewis takes a spin with a recent Bob Dylan reissue.

The Black Madonna, He Is the Voice I Hear (We Still Believe).

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From Decembers Ghost Ship fire to last weekends shootings at the BPM Festival in Mexico (and now, word of William Onyeabors death), dance music has seen almost too many funerals to bear. The Chicago producer the Black Madonna  who performed with Robyn at FYF Fest  acknowledges this streak of loss on her sprawling new single, with melancholy disco strings and hymnal piano lines.

But just under the surface, theres a still a beating kick and buoyant synthesizers to remind listeners of a hope in something more graceful. Faith has always had a place on the club floor, and perhaps its more needed now than ever.  August Brown

Dropkick Murphys, 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory (Born & Bred)

This rowdy Boston band hasnt managed to duplicate the mainstream bump it got in 2006 when Martin Scorsese prominently featured its song Im Shipping Up to Boston in his Oscar-winning The Departed. (Well, there was that time a few years ago when New Kids on the Block mashed up Shipping with Hangin Tough)

But toiling in relative obscurity has hardly led the Dropkick Murphys to go slack: On its ninth full-length, these Celtic-punk bruisers keep their guitars sharp and tempos revved for songs the bands members have said were inspired in large part by the opioid crisis thats resulted in the deaths of dozens of their friends. The act even makes a hard-stomping anthem of Youll Never Walk Alone, the Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune taken up recently by the likes of Josh Groban and Susan Boyle.  Mikael Wood

Bob Dylan The Real Royal Albert Hall 1966 Concert! (Sony Legacy).

Dylans world tour in 1966 was a bona fide game-changer, catching him in the midst of marrying complex, intensely literary lyrics with the power of electrified rock n roll as laid down by the Hawks, the group that would soon evolve into the Band. For decades, recordings of what was purported to be the Royal Albert Hall performance in London were bootlegged and circulated among Dylan aficionados, until 1998, when Columbia Records issued it in official form. Or so everyone thought.

More recently, tapes from the May 26, 1966 Royal Albert Hall performance were discovered, after musicologists determined that the old bootleg and the 1998 official release actually documented his concert nine days earlier in Manchester, England (at which a disgruntled folk music fan is heard shouting Judas!) The set list is the same, but the idiosyncratic performances  the shows first half solo acoustic, the second half with Hawks blazing and more heckling  differs enough to make this well worth hearing.  Randy Lewis

Allison Crutchfield, I Dont Ever Wanna Leave California. (Merge Records).

This single, from Crutchfields upcoming debut for Merge Records, contains one winning line after another: Darling, youre too mid-Atlantic, she sings at the start, and though only Crutchfield likely knows what that means, it sounds like the sort of sharp put-down that would really offend someone. And later, she confesses, I keep confusing love and nostalgia, a common fallacy of modern romance. Both lines are delivered with a casual effervescence, as the Alabama native has perfected the art of singing conversationally.

This is lightly strummed folksy rock, sure, and it feels as genial as tea-time  synths lay low, buzzing along for the ride, and a plucky bass carries the melody. I aspire to live in the present, Crutchfield sings in the songs final moments, just before some swooning harmonies recall the pop songs of yore. It conveys a sense of homesickness, while holding fast to the belief that whats ahead will be better than whats come before.  Todd Martens

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Its been just over a year since Eggslut chef Alvin Cailan launched his culinary incubator Unit 120 in Chinatowns Far East Plaza as a place for up-and-coming chefs to test their hand at a restaurant concept of their own. But following Unit 120s one-year anniversary, Cailan has decided to move on and leave the space to Lasa, the Filipino pop-up restaurant.

Lasa, whose Filipino-inspired tasting menu received a glowing review from Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold, was one of the first and longest residencies at Unit 120. It started as a casual backyard dinner party concept between brothers Chase and Chad Valencia. The two have been serving dinner at the Unit 120 space every weekend for a year.

Alvin saw our potential with the success of our prior dinners and felt all we needed was the platform to truly test our concept, said Chase. Now, we get to take these real life restaurant experiences from our residency and apply what we learned towards our own brick and mortar.

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Lasa officially took over the Unit 120 space Jan. 15, and serves dinner Thursday through Sunday. Lasa will close in early February for remodels, then plans to reopen in early March.

He [Cailan] didnt have to offer us this space but he felt it would be a good move for all of us and so he just did it, said Chase.

The new Lasa will feature a takeout window for lunch offerings Tuesday through Sunday and a slightly larger dinner menu with both a la carte items and prix-fixe menus Wednesday through Sunday.

But the beginning of Lasas brick and mortar isnt the end of Unit 120. The culinary incubator is moving directly next door, into the space that was previously occupied by Wing Hop Fung, and is scheduled to open in May.

Cailan has described the new Unit 120, which will keeps its name, as having a mahjong den vibe. It will feature a smaller, more intimate dining room to provide more focus on each menu and chef. Reservations will be made via email list and in person.

Cailan has yet to release any news about upcoming chefs at the new location.

I think Unit 120 is a beacon of hope for people looking to make their dreams come true, said Cailan. Chinatown and its history proves that small business can last decades, were just happy to keep that going.

727 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, (213) 443-6163, www.lasa-la.com.
It was a little like being in an alternate reality Tuesday morning, as dozens of parents and children gathered on the state Capitol steps to protest a bill aimed at improving the lives of Californias 9 million children.

Last year, a coalition of businesses, civic, education and political leaders came together as the Right Start Commission to push for a more child-centered approach to life in the Golden State. The project was conceived by Common Sense Kids Action, the advocacy arm of Common Sense Media, an online pop culture guide for parents that has about 65 million users.

The commission came up with broad goals that the state could commit to  a Childrens Bill of Rights  affirming the importance of things like high-quality, affordable child care, universal preschool, preventive healthcare, parent education, and family-friendly business policies. They asked state Sen. Richard Pan, a pediatrician who was vilified and threatened when he authored the states mandatory vaccine law in 2015, to introduce a bill that would become the framework for this effort.

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Who could oppose that?

The same people, it turns out, who opposed the states mandatory childhood vaccine law. They are folks like Rod Johnson, a San Jose engineer, who told me he resents the idea that government wants to put itself in the position of telling him what is in the best interest of his 4-year-old daughter.

But lets face it. Something big needs to happen. California has the sixth-largest economy in the world, but its children rank 47th in economic well-being. Californias child poverty rate  27%  is the worst in the nation (5 points higher than the next-worst states, Arizona and Nevada, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation). Most families cannot afford quality day care.

I told Craig Cheslog, the Common Sense Kids Action vice president who is spearheading the bill of rights campaign, that I feel like Ive been writing about these problems my whole career. Nothing ever seems to change.

We get that reaction a lot from people, he said. These things are intractable, stuck in the mud. What we heard was, Wouldnt it be great if someone put together a group of political, business and early childhood experts and tried to lay out a vision? So thats what we did.

The resulting bill, SB 18, is only a vague blueprint at this point. It is meant to be the starting point for conversations with parents all over the state, to get a sense of their dreams, their hopes, their aspirations, and how we can help them meet their goals, Cheslog said. It proposes that children have the right to parents and caregivers who act in their best interest, the right to live in a safe and healthy environment and so on.

The details will be filled out over time, then presented to the Legislature by January 2022, but that has not stopped a group of over-vigilant parents from joining forces to warn about dark things that might happen when the government dares to put children  as opposed to parents  first.

At Tuesdays rally, state Sen. Joel Anderson, a Republican from Alpine, in the foothills east of San Diego, warned that if this bill passes, Trump-supporting parents might have their kids yanked away.

Denise Aguilar or Stockton, with daughter Angelique, 18, protesting a bill dubbed the Childrens Bill of Rights. (Robin Abcarian / Los Angeles Times )

What happens if you have the misfortune of having a Trump campaign sign in your front yard? he said. Oh, you must not be a good parent because you are one of those. You have crazy ideas. So now were going to make political judgments about whether you should raise your children or not because you didnt support the vast majority of the legislators who are in here who want to steal your parental rights? This is crazy stuff.

Oh come now, Sen. Anderson. I know Alpine is at an elevation, but surely the air is not that thin.

::

Like a virus, the paranoid strain that runs through the our political discourse, as embodied in the vaccine debate, lies dormant until people feel threatened, for real or imagined reasons.

In the case of vaccines, you cannot disabuse an opponent of the notion that pharmaceutical companies are calling the shots, that the Centers for Disease Control colludes with them, that any lawmaker who supports mandatory vaccines is in the pocket of Big Pharma.

Its no accident that Sen. Anderson, a foe of mandatory childhood vaccines, brought up Trumps name.

Last week, Trump met with notorious anti-vaccine crank Robert Kennedy Jr. to discuss creating a commission that would investigate the scientifically discredited link between vaccines and autism. (Hold onto your keyboards, vaccine skeptics. I know that some children cannot tolerate vaccines, and that some have had terrible reactions, but those cases are vanishingly rare compared with the millions whose lives have been saved by childhood immunizations.)

Whenever I hear people saying the science is settled, I know theyre selling something, said Johnson, who told me his daughter developed a terrible rash after her first immunizations.

::

Most of the parents who showed up for the anti-Bill of Rights rally were anti-vaccine activists who were energized in 2015 and 2016 when the debate over Pans mandatory vaccine bill was raging. They include Christina Hildebrand, a 42-year-old Silicon Valley mother of two, who organized the event.

On its face, she said, the Childrens Bill of Rights is benign. We agree that the children of California should be a priority. Their health, their safety  everything  is paramount.

But, she said, the piece we dont agree with is the fact that the government wants to come up with research-based policy to determine what is in the best interest of children. It shouldnt be the children getting the rights, it should be California supporting the parents so that parents can give their children those things. SB 18 is taking away those parental rights.

Christina Hildebrand organized a sparsely attended rally opposing SB 18, a bill aimed at improving the lives of California's children. (Robin Abcarian / Los Angeles Times )

She told me she could imagine a scenario in which researchers learn that co-sleeping is not good for babies, and have them removed them from parents who believe in the family bed. If I choose to take my children to the church or the synagogue or to the mosque every single day and the government decides that amount of religion is not in the best interest of children, she said, what happens if I do that?

I felt for Cheslog, who was standing at the edge of the protest, taking notes. He later met with Hildebrand and other speakers, because he thinks they are sowing fear and misinformation as a kind of payback to Pan for the vaccine bill.

Clearly, there is some work to do to overcome some of the trust issues at play, he said. But that is work we are willing to do.

He deserves credit for trying. The arguments against this bill are ridiculous. Our children deserve better. Parents simply cannot do it alone.

robin.abcarian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AbcarianLAT

More from Robin Abcarian
The Iowa farmer got the first call from his wife about 4:45 a.m., reporting that their mink were running all over the highway.

Keith Conrad got into his truck and couldnt comprehend the carnage he found  dozens of mink turned into road kill, some with their backs broken but still alive. Hundreds more were running amok.

The 500 mink hadnt escaped but had been freed by a pair of animal rights activists during a months-long, multistate campaign against the fur industry. By the days end, about 130 had died either on the highway or from heatstroke.

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Other farms have similar stories of the death and loss caused by the scheme in 2013.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns sentenced one of the vandals, Nicole Kissane, to 21 months in prison  three months longer than what prosecutors had recommended.

The San Diego federal judge months earlier had rejected a plea deal that would have obligated him to sentence her to six months, a term he said was unjust considering the crime was a calculated, premeditated campaign of terror.

Her boyfriend and co-defendant, Joseph Buddenberg, was sentenced last year to 24 months in a plea deal.

The crimes began July 15, 2013, when the Oakland pair vandalized Furs by Graf, a store in the Kearny Mesa community of San Diego. They painted words such as murderer on the store, destroyed the windows with etching chemicals, sprayed acid into the shop and put glue in the door locks.

They also went to the Graf family homes in La Mesa and Spring Valley, spraying similar phrases on their houses and vehicles and damaging the properties with paint stripper and acid.

From there Kissane and Buddenberg went to several states and wreaked havoc where they went: releasing a bobcat from a farm and vandalizing a Montana police chiefs vehicle; releasing mink from farms in Idaho, Minnesota, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin; and vandalizing animal-related businesses in the Bay Area, according to the complaint.

In all, the pair was accused of releasing some 5,700 mink  many of which were killed as they ran toward nearby roads, apparently drawn to the vehicle lights and traffic sounds because of similarities to how mink are fed in captivity.

They didnt have a chance, Cindy Moyle of the Moyle Mink Ranch in Burley, Idaho, wrote in a letter to the judge. She said her familys farm has been on the forefront of raising mink in a humane way.

The pair publicized their exploits on animal extremist websites, using public computers so as not to leave a trace. They also took care to avoid using phones and to use only cash to make it harder for law enforcement to track them, authorities said.

Kissane and Buddenberg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act in February. In addition to their prison sentences, the pair must pay $423,477 in restitution.

Kissane declined to make a statement at Tuesdays hearing.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Davis writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune

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Searchers discovered a body amid the wreckage of a small aircraft that was found Wednesday on a snowcapped slope in the Angeles National Forest near Lake Hughes, authorities said.

The Mooney M20J airplane was flying from Tehachapi to Torrance on Thursday when it disappeared, according to Allen Kenitzer, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Los Angeles. Authorities presumed the plane had crashed and search crews had been looking for signs of wreckage ever since.

Local authorities say that only the pilot was on board, Kenitzer said.

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At about 10 a.m. Wednesday, members of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Special Enforcement Bureau spotted the aircraft and notified deputies in the area, said Shirley Miller, a spokeswoman for the sheriffs Santa Clarita Valley Station.

The downed aircraft was discovered in the vicinity of Forest Route 7N23 and Pine Canyon Road, she said. At least one person was found dead, Miller said.

The bureau later tweeted photographs on the planes wreckage.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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A Jewish community center in Marin County was one of several centers across the nation to receive bomb threats Wednesday.

Staffers at Osher Marin Jewish Community Center received the threatening call at 8:45 a.m., according to the Marin County Sheriffs Office.

Sheriffs deputies quickly responded and evacuated the facility in the 200 block of North San Pedro Road in San Rafael. Surrounding schools were placed on lockdown as deputies searched the center and investigated the threat, authorities said.

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On Wednesday morning, a message on the nonprofit centers website advised visitors that its facility was closed due to unforeseen circumstances.

By 11:32 a.m., sheriffs officials said they had not found a suspicious device and that the search had ended.

Jeremy Russell, a spokesman for Jewish Community Relations Council in San Francisco, said his organization was urging caution, calm and full cooperation with authorities.

Similar threats, which did not appear to be credible, were also made Wednesday at Jewish community centers in more than a dozen states, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

ADL is closely monitoring the situation and has been in touch with federal and local law enforcement across the country, the organization said in a statement.

In addition to California, threats were reported in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Delaware, Connecticut, Alabama, Maine, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri and Texas, the ADL said.

Following the series of bomb threats, the organization issued an advisory to Jewish institutions throughout the U.S. and recommended that they review their security procedures.

While each incident needs to be taken seriously and investigated closely, thus far we are not aware of any of these threats being substantiated, ADL Chief Executive Jonathan A. Greenblatt said in a statement.

The Albany Times Union in New York reported the FBI was investigating a bomb threat made at the Albany Jewish Community Center.

A string of threats were made last week to more than a dozen Jewish community centers throughout the U.S.

At the time, the ADL said some of those threats had been made from the same phone number.

Unfortunately, such threats are not new to the Jewish community, Greenblatt said in a statement.

Bomb threats, he said, are used as scare tactics in order to disrupt an institutions operations, and to cause fear and panic.

The ADL in Los Angeles also sent security advisories to Jewish institutions in L.A., Kern, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The FBI and U.S. Justice Departments Civil Rights Bureau are investigating possible civil rights violations in connection with the threats across the U.S.

The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence, and will ensure this matter is investigated in a fair, thorough and impartial manner, the FBI in a statement to The Times.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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UPDATES:

2:40 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the FBI.

1:05 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the Anti-Defamation League.

11:50 a.m.: This article was updated with Marin County sheriffs officials saying no suspicious device was found.

This article was originally published at 10:45 a.m.
A Contra Costa County sheriffs deputy is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder after he fired shots at several people following a dispute at a house party in Sacramento, police said.

The deputy, Kyle Rowland, was one of several people attending the house party on Friday in the 1100 block of G Street, according to the Sacramento Police Department.

Rowland started acting aggressive and strange, so partygoers asked him to leave, KCRA reported.

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But the 23-year-old Sacramento resident returned to the home just before 2 a.m. with a firearm, police said. Rowland confronted several partygoers and opened fire on them, the police department said.

Several people tackled Rowland and restrained him until police arrived. No one was injured in the shooting.

Rowland was taken into custody and booked into a Sacramento County jail.

Two firearms were found at the scene.

After the news of his arrest, Rowland was fired from the sheriffs office. He joined the office in October 2016 and was on probation.

The office of the sheriff was made aware of this incident Friday morning, sheriffs spokesman Jimmy Lee said. We take this matter seriously.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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Details added (first version posted 15:49)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18

By Emil Ilgar  Trend:

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his people have never considered the US policies as positive, but coming to President-elect Donald Trumps administration, he prefers to wait and see.

I believe we need for the administration to take office before we start passing judgments. Of course we have very fundamental differences with the US. We tried to resolve one issue [nuclear deal] and that was not just with the US but with five other countries and the EU. That has been working at least from our side [Iran] pretty well..., he said.

Zarif was responding to a question on his judgment on the incoming Trump administration at a World Economic Forum conference in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 18, which was aired live by the WEF website.

So, we will have to wait and see what President-elect Trump, once inaugurated, will try to pursue as his policies. So, I reserve my judgment as under positive and negative sides, Zarif added.

From the perspective of the Iranian people the policies of the US have never been positive, he concluded.

Earlier during the day, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met in Davos to discuss regional and international issues.

Zarif has conferred with Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter on the sidelines of WEF as well.

Iranian and Swiss foreign ministers discussed mutual issues, regional and international developments, IRNA reported.
Soon after Donna Wheeler became a detective at the Southeast Community Police Station, which serves Watts and surrounding areas, she started having trouble breathing.

Her respiratory problems were worse at the end of a workday, she said. When she was on vacation, her symptoms improved. Her doctor diagnosed her with asthma caused by irritants in her environment.

Wheeler is one of about 115 LAPD officers and civilian employees who have filed worker compensation claims alleging that their respiratory issues are caused by unsanitary conditions at Southeast Community Police Station, including mold and bird feathers in the ceiling vents, that have existed since 2008.

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The city of Los Angeles recently commissioned a report from mold consultants, who inspected vents in the stations detective area. The report, completed in November, did not find a microbial health hazard but recommended that the city should try to reduce the mold.

We can accept our jobs being dangerous on the streets, but it shouldnt be dangerous at the police station, said Jerretta Sandoz, vice president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank-and-file officers, at a news conference outside the station Wednesday.

Sandoz said that LAPD commanders have tried to remedy the situation. Rather than the Police Department, she said, the city of Los Angeles is to blame.

LAPD officers answer phones in the lobby of the Southeast Community Police Station, which has been found to have black mold on the ceiling HVAC vents. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times )

On Dec. 23, attorneys for the union sent a letter to the LAPDs facilities management division asking that the city take immediate action to remove the mold and inspect the entire station.

It always comes down to money, Sandoz said. Replacing the air conditioning, cleaning the drains  its money, is my thought.

Tony Royster, general manager of the citys General Services Department, said in a written statement that the city will begin ridding the station of mold later this month.

Based on an inspection of the heating and air conditioning system requested by LAPD in a portion of Southeast Area Community Police Station, the Citys General Services Division on Dec. 15 ordered cleaning to eradicate mold found in the systems ductwork and registers, said the statement from Royster, who oversees building maintenance. Work will begin the week of Jan. 30 and is expected to be completed by Feb 10, 2017. In addition, GSD will conduct a full inspection of the station, and eradicate any mold found elsewhere in the building.

LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein said in a written statement that the department has acted quickly to develop a plan for addressing the mold problem.

While we understand the mold spore levels do not pose a serious health risk, we are working with the Los Angeles General Services Department to remove it from the building, the statement said. It is our priority to ensure that LAPD employees and the community feel safe in our stations.

Elizabeth Silver, general counsel for the union, said the cluster of respiratory illnesses among Southeast Community Police Station employees is unusual and has not occurred at other stations.

The entire station needs to be examined and cleaned up the same way they would clean their own home, Silver said.

In the stations lobby on Wednesday, a police officers first response when a reporter asked for a tour was to point to the ceiling.

You can see it right here, he said.

The lobbys ceiling vents were streaked with a black substance. The same was true of vents in the watch commanders office, the records room and the detective room. In the mens showers, the wooden benches were mottled with a black substance, and the air vent was covered in a gray, dusty substance.

On the roof, two dead pigeons lay next to a ventilation unit that circulates air through the building. The nearby concrete was covered in dirt and bird droppings.

In front of the station, a flagpole teetered at an angle, its base nearly severed by an intoxicated driver who rammed into it on Jan. 2.

Wheeler, the detective, said she remains at Southeast because there are not many equivalent jobs at other stations.

Pretty much, we just want the city to clean it up, said Wheeler, 56, who investigates auto thefts. Its disgusting that we have to work in an environment like this every day.

cindy.chang@latimes.com

For more news on the Los Angeles Police Department, follow me on Twitter: @cindychangLA

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UPDATES:

5:50 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from a city official indicating that the city will begin mold cleanup at the station later this month

4:50 p.m.: This article was updated with an additional quote from Wheeler and more description of the police station.

This article was originally published at 2:35 p.m.
A Los Angeles police officer who worked in an LAPD youth program was convicted Tuesday of distributing harmful matter to a teenage girl, authorities said.

After a five-day trial, a downtown L.A. jury convicted Abel Montes De Oca of two misdemeanor counts: destroying evidence and distributing harmful matter to a juvenile, according to the L.A. city attorneys office.

Montes De Oca, 32, was acquitted of two counts of child annoyance.

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After the verdict was read, the judge remanded Montes De Oca into custody, and he is being held on $100,000 bail, prosecutors said.

He faces up to 18 months in jail at his sentencing, scheduled for Friday.

Prosecutors say that in September 2015, the officer met a then-16-year-old girl who was a cadet in the L.A. Police Departments Community Youth Program. The program runs 18 weeks and provides physical training and criminal-justice education to students ages 13 to 20, according to the programs website.

Through October 2015, prosecutors alleged that Montes De Oca sought an inappropriate relationship with the girl, sending her text messages and other missives via social media.

Once the officers mistreatment of the girl was disclosed, prosecutors alleged, he tried to delete photos and messages from his phone and computer. He also told the girl to wipe out any evidence of his correspondence, according to the city attorneys office.

Police arrested Montes De Oca in August at the LAPDs downtown headquarters.

Montes De Ocas defense attorney, Lou Shapiro, said his client did not dispute that he inappropriately texted with the girl or destroyed evidence. Shapiro said the key issue was whether Montes De Oca was guilty of two counts of child annoyance  graver charges that carry stiffer penalties. The jury ultimately acquitted him of both counts.

Defense expert Dr. Sanjay Sahgal testified that for a 31-year-old male to be sexually attracted to a 16-year-old post-pubescent female was not abnormal or unnatural from a clinical point of view, Shapiro said. [Sahgal] conceded that it was not normal from a moral point of view.

Shapiro thanked the jurors for being able to set aside the fact that he was a police officer and simply judge him based on the facts and evidence.

Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer had harsher words for Montes De Oca after the verdict was announced.

This was an egregious breach of trust by an LAPD officer responsible for supervising student cadets, Feuer said in a statement. It is essential to hold the officer accountable for taking advantage of his position to victimize a minor. Our cadets commit to public service. They deserve our respect and our protection.

Montes De Oca was required to stay at home during the months-long investigation into his conduct by the internal affairs division.

The officer has been with the department for about nine years. Its unclear how long he was assigned to be a youth-services officer, the position in which he encountered the teenage girl.

In a statement, the LAPD said it treats allegations of misconduct seriously, especially those involving youth programs.

When we learned about Montes De Ocas actions, he was immediately relieved of duty and the LAPDs criminal investigation led to todays conviction, the LAPD statement said.

Its unclear whether Montes De Oca is still employed by the LAPD or faced any disciplinary action. Under state law, officers personnel records and disciplinary history are kept private.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno

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UPDATES:

Jan. 18, 2017, 3:50 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the police officers defense attorney and clarifies that the officers surname is Montes De Oca.

Jan. 17, 2017, 6:55 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from the LAPD.

This article was originally published at Jan. 17, 2017, at 6:05 p.m.
A Lucerne Valley man was charged with murder Wednesday, months after his bed-ridden wife died in a fire that engulfed their home.

Donald Wayne Jenman, 68, faces one count of murder in the death of his wife, Lynda Cestone, according to a San Bernardino County Superior Court complaint. Cestone, 56, had suffered a stroke in 2010 and had been confined to her bed ever since, according to authorities.

Authorities said he set the blaze that killed his wife and at least a dozen cats.

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Jenman was arrested Friday following a nearly eight-month long probe into the mysterious fire that swept through the couples home in the 9800 block of Mesa Road on April 19.

Witnesses had called authorities about 4:30 a.m. to report elderly residents possibly unable to evacuate from the home, according to a San Bernadino County Fire Department statement. Half of the 1,400-foot-home was engulfed by flames, fire officials said.

When firefighters arrived, they found Jenman outside the single-story structure, suffering from smoke inhalation and burns. He was taken to a regional burn center.

Firefighters entered the home and found hoarder conditions, according to the department. The clutter allowed the blaze to spread rapidly and complicated efforts to fight the flames.

As firefighters battled the blaze, a portion of the homes roof collapsed over a bedroom. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters found Cestones body.

Firefighters also discovered at least a dozen dead cats inside the home.

Arson investigators discovered a gas supply line had been disconnected, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department.

Suspicious of the fires origin, arson investigators called homicide detectives to the scene.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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Starting Wednesday night, and for the next three weeks, the Federal Aviation Administration will hold 14 public webinars and workshops to discuss airspace and air traffic control changes across Southern California.

The changes are part of the Southern California Metroplex project, which will revise flight paths and replace radar-based air traffic control with sophisticated automation and global positioning satellites.

FAA officials say the Metroplex program  one of 14 in the nation  is the regional application of procedures and technology from the agencys sweeping NextGen project. It is designed to improve aviation safety as well as the efficiency of air travel and airports.

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Plans call for the local changes to be phased in from November 2016 to April. The upcoming webinars and briefings will address only the procedures that will be put into effect in March and April.

The FAA held similar webinars and public workshops in the fall for the Metroplex procedures that were implemented in November. Power Point presentations from those public workshops and the webinars can be viewed here.

All upcoming workshops, except for the Monday briefing in Culver City, will run from 5 to 8 p.m. The Culver City workshop will run from 3 to 8 p.m. due to a conflict with a City Council meeting.

The workshops will have an open-house format and people can attend anytime during the posted times. FAA representatives will provide information on the project and answer questions.

Free parking, as well as street parking, will be available at all locations. Spanish interpreters also will be present.

Webinars

Access links and dial-in information for all the webinars are available here.

Wednesday, 6 to 7:15 p.m. Airports involved: Los Angeles International and Santa Monica.

Wednesday, 8 to 9:15 p.m. Airports involved: Los Angeles International, Bob Hope, Van Nuys, Santa Barbara, Camarillo and Pt. Mugu.

Thursday, 6 to 7:15 p.m. Airports involved: John Wayne, Long Beach, Fullerton, Torrance, and Los Alamitos.

Thursday, 8 to 9:15 p.m. Airports involved: Lindbergh Field, San Diego; McClellan-Palomar; Brown; Navy North Island; Montgomery; Gillespie; Ontario; and Palm Springs.

Workshops

Monday: Veterans Memorial Building, Multipurpose Room, 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City. Airports involved: Los Angeles International and Santa Monica.

Tuesday: Langley Senior Center, 400 W. Emerson Ave., Monterey Park. Airports involved: Los Angeles International and Santa Monica.

Jan. 25: Palisades Charter High School, Mercer Hall, 15777 Bowdoin St., Pacific Palisades. Airports involved: Los Angeles International and Santa Monica.

Jan. 26: Toyota Meeting Hall, Torrance Cultural Art Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Airports involved: Los Angeles International, Long Beach, Torrance, Fullerton and Los Alamitos.

Jan. 30: Burbank Community Services Building, 150 North 3rd St., Burbank. Airports involved: Bob Hope and Van Nuys.

Jan. 31: City of La Habra Community Center Grand Ballroom, 101 West La Habra Blvd. La Habra. Airports involved: Los Angeles International and Santa Monica.

Feb. 1: Oasis Senior Center, Evelyn Hart Event Center, 801 Narcissus Ave., Corona Del Mar. Airports involved: John Wayne and Long Beach.

Feb. 2: Solana Vista Elementary School, 780 Santa Victoria, Solana Beach. Airports involved: Lindbergh Field, McClellan-Palomar, Brown, Navy North Island, Montgomery and Gillespie.

Feb. 7: Ontario Airport, Ontario International Airport Administrative Building, 1923 East Avion St., Ontario. Airports involved: Ontario International and Palm Springs.

Feb. 8: Long Beach School for Adults, 3701 East Willow St., Long Beach. Airports involved: Long Beach and Los Angeles International.

To learn more about the Metroplex project, visit here.

dan.weikel@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @LADeadline16

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The widow of a terrorist who killed 49 patrons of an Orlando, Fla., nightclub in June pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that she knew of her husbands attack in advance and lied about her involvement.

During a federal court hearing in Oakland, Noor Zahi Salman, 30, entered her plea before U.S. District Judge Donna Ryu. Charles Swift, a Texas-based lawyer who directs the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, was in the courtroom but cannot actively represent Salman until he receives court permission to practice in California.

Swift, a former naval officer, is not a member of the California bar, but courts routinely give out-of-state lawyers the right to practice in such cases. A bail hearing was set for Feb. 1.

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Salman, wearing a red jail jumpsuit, did not speak but turned toward her uncle in the audience and blew him a kiss.

Al Salman, the uncle, said she called him the night before and asked for clothing. She is cold, he said.

Noor Salman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges connected to her husbands attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people. Above, Salmans uncle, Al Salman, talks to reporters Tuesday outside Oakland federal court. (John G. Mabanglo / EPA)

Omar Mateen, Salmans husband, gunned down patrons of the Pulse nightclub in a terrorist attack and then died in a shootout with police.

Salman denied involvement and moved with her 4-year-old son to California to live with her mother in a small community about 27 miles northeast of San Francisco. FBI agents arrested her Monday.

A federal grand jury in central Florida indicted her, determining that as early as April she knowingly aided Mateens efforts to provide material support or resources to Islamic State in the Middle East. The indictment did not provide more details.

A second count accused her of obstructing justice by lying to FBI investigators and the Police Department in Fort Pierce, Fla.

maura.dolan@latimes.com

Twitter: @mauradolan

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A trio of storms now headed for Southern California will bring dangerous surf, strong winds and up to 6 inches of rain by early next week, according to the National Weather Service.

The storms are similar to those that rocked Northern California recently by flooding rivers, blocking mountain passes and causing several deaths. This latest round, however, is expected to pack less of a wallop, forecasters say.

The first storm should arrive Wednesday night and is expected to drop between 0.75 and 1.25 inches of rain in the foothills and valleys through Thursday, said Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

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The second storm will arrive later Thursday night and could drop another 2 inches of rain and up to 3 inches in the San Gabriel Valley foothills by Saturday, Seto said.

The third storm is is predicted to be the strongest and will arrive Sunday, Seto said. Fueled by warmer moist air, the storm could dump up to 3 inches of rain in the valleys and foothills, and up to 5 inches of rain in the mountains, he said.

The storms will also create windy and dangerous surf conditions along the coast. Waves along the beaches Los Angeles and Ventura counties could hit 15 feet this weekend while the Orange County and San Diego County coastlines could be slammed with 16-foot waves, forecasters said.

People should stay off rocks and jetties, Seto said. The waves could damage piers as a powerful winter storm did in December 2015.

The storms are part of a banner water year for California.

Several months into its sixth year of drought, California is now on pace to mark its wettest year in recorded history. Recent storms have created deep piles of snow in the Sierra Nevada and sent hundreds of billions of gallons of water coursing into lakes and reservoirs.

More than 40% of the state  all of it in the north  is no longer considered to be in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Although recent rains have improved conditions in the southern part of the state, drought conditions persist.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

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Nicodemo Little Nicky Scarfo, whose bloody reign over the Philadelphia Mafia in the 1980s triggered a years-long mob war that left at least two dozen fellow gangsters dead, has died at a federal medical center in North Carolina, a prison spokeswoman said Tuesday. He was 87.

Scarfo died Saturday while in custody at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, N.C., said Nancy Ayers, a Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman. No cause of death was released.

Scarfo led the Philadelphia-southern New Jersey mob from 1981, when then-boss Philip Chicken Man Testa was killed by a nail-bomb outside his home, until he and more than a dozen associates were arrested and convicted of racketeering charges in 1988.

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Described as 5-foot-5 with a high-pitched voice, Scarfo was a greedy, ruthless despot who reveled in wanton, ruthless and senseless violence, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter George Anastasia wrote in his book, Blood and Honor. The Philadelphia Daily News once called him the undersized Atlantic City man with the oversized temper.

Ultimately, Scarfos vengeance and mismanagement prompted several of his associates to become witnesses for the state and testify against him. One of the men, Nicholas Nicky Crow Caramandi, said his hand was forced because he believed Scarfo, widely described as paranoid and egotistical, was ready to kill him.

Scarfo, a longtime soldier, rose to prominence soon after the assassination of mob boss Angelo Bruno in 1980. Bruno, known as the Docile Don, kept a tight rein on his associates illegal activities and led a Mafia that made money without a hint of flamboyance.

But Brunos killing set in motion a war that lasted more than half a decade and left more than two dozen mobsters dead.

Mr. Scarfo is prone to violence, is unpredictable, and the people he surrounds himself with are equally prone to violence and are unpredictable, FBI agent James Maher testified in a 1981 court hearing.

Federal prosecutors said Scarfos crews made money the same way La Cosa Nostra always has  through extortion, gambling and loan sharking. But they also accused Scarfo of embracing the drug trade and said he frequently resorted to murder.

Scarfos undoing began in 1986, when he was indicted for trying to shake down a developer who wanted to build a project on the Delaware River waterfront. Scarfo was convicted of conspiracy to commit extortion in the case, which also brought down a corrupt city councilman.

His reign finally ended in 1988 when he and 16 others were convicted of racketeering. The federal indictment had accused the men of participating in a criminal enterprise that killed nine people, tried to kill four others and participated in extortion, gambling, loan sharking and drug trafficking.

Prosecutors relied on FBI wiretaps of mob meetings and the testimony of two reputed mobsters-turned-informants, Caramandi and Thomas Tommy Del DelGiorno, who detailed killings, extortions and other deals.

Scarfo and seven others were convicted in state court of murdering mob associate Frank Frankie Flowers DAlfonso in 1985. The 1989 convictions were later overturned and all eight were acquitted at a second trial.

The various trials painted Scarfo as a greedy, small-minded and violent terrorist who climbed to the top over the dead bodies of onetime associates, Anastasia wrote. There was no sense of charisma; not even a hint of the old Mafia mystique. Scarfo was a bully with a gun.

Organized crime investigators said Scarfos concrete company, Scarf Inc., laid the foundations for many of the casinos erected in Atlantic City, N.J., in the years after gambling was legalized there. It was an arrangement he enforced through his associations with local unions, authorities said.

Scarfo graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1947, where classmates voted him loudest, 'most talkative and best cutter.

Scarfo was reputed to be a numbers runner when, in 1963, he and two companions got into an argument with a longshoreman at a South Philadelphia diner over who would sit in a booth. The longshoreman was stabbed to death; Scarfo pleaded guilty to manslaughter and served six months in prison.

The violence reportedly angered Bruno, who banished Scarfo to Atlantic City to run the familys outpost there.

Scarfo served time for refusing to testify about organized crime before a New Jersey commission in 1971, a prison stint that reportedly raised his profile in the organization. He later served two years in federal prison for illegally possessing a gun.

Scarfos son was shot in 1989 in one of Philadelphias most notorious attempted mob hits. Nicodemo Scarfo Jr. was dining at a crowded Italian restaurant on Halloween night when a masked man shot him several times. He survived. In July 2015, the younger Scarfo was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a scheme to take over a financial company.

MORE OBITUARIES

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President Obama on Tuesday reduced the 35-year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the Army private convicted of leaking thousands of classified reports to WikiLeaks, to the nearly seven years she has served.

The president also pardoned retired Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, who pleaded guilty in October to lying to FBI agents after he disclosed classified information to a reporter about a covert U.S. cyberattack that targeted Irans nuclear program.

In a last-minute flurry of orders, Obama commuted sentences for 209 people and issued 64 pardons. Aides said he will commute substantially more on Thursday, the day before he leaves office and Donald Trump is inaugurated.

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The most notable omission on the list was former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who fled to Russia after he leaked a vast trove of highly classified documents about U.S. surveillance systems at home and abroad in 2013.

Snowden has been charged with espionage and is considered a fugitive. Supporters have launched a major effort to get the Justice Department to drop charges, but White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday that Snowden has not filed paperwork to seek clemency.

Since taking office, Obama has commuted prison sentences for 1,385 people, more than any other president and more than the last 12 presidents combined, according to the White House.

Manning, a transgender woman formerly known as Pfc. Bradley Manning, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in August 2013 after a military court convicted her of leaking hundreds of thousands of classified military and diplomatic records, cables and videos to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks in 2010. She was arrested and jailed in May of that year. Her sentence included a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank.

The harsh sentence, plus her highly publicized gender-identity change and suicide attempts in the all-male prison wing, drew considerable sympathy to her case. She will be released on May 17; similar delays were included in all the commutation orders.

A senior administration official said that the intelligence community still had deep concerns about Mannings disclosures, but that did not have any bearing on Obamas decision.

Chelsea Manning accepted responsibility for crimes she committed, expressed remorse for committing these crimes, the official said, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

The president continues to believe her actions were criminal and ... harmed our national security, the official said.

By May she will have served nearly seven years in prison, and Obama believes that is sufficient and has decided to commute her sentence, the official said.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter did not support the commutation of Mannings sentence, according to U.S. officials who wouldnt comment on the matter publicly.

As always when presidents come to these decisions, there are some human issues that are part of the equation, and I suspect the transgender issue was part of [Obamas] consideration, former CIA head and Pentagon chief Leon E. Panetta said. It would be more understandable if the presidents decision related to that issue.

Mannings lawyers applauded the decision to cut her sentence short.

Since she was first taken into custody, Chelsea has been subjected to long stretches of solitary confinement  including for attempting suicide  and has been denied access to medically necessary healthcare, said Chase Strangio, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who has represented Manning. This move could literally save Chelseas life.

Manning has been incarcerated at the military prison at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. She twice attempted suicide last year.

She was one of only two people ever convicted under the Espionage Act for making classified data available to the public. The other, Samuel L. Morison, a government security analyst convicted in 1985, was pardoned by President Clinton on his final day in office.

Mannings release of information to WikiLeaks marked one of the largest breaches of U.S. classified documents, although Snowdens subsequent release of far more sensitive NSA digital files to news organizations was much larger and more damaging to national security, according to U.S. officials.

Among the material Manning released was a now-infamous 2007 video of an Apache combat helicopter firing on civilians in Iraq and killing 12 people, including two Reuters employees. The military said the helicopter crew mistook a camera lens for a weapon.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trumps incoming national security advisor and former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said at the time that Mannings disclosures had endangered the lives of intelligence operatives and troops.

Republican lawmakers condemned Obamas decision to commute Mannings sentence.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) called her release outrageous and said it set a precedent so those who compromise our national security can evade accountability.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the decision a grave mistake that I fear will encourage further acts of espionage and undermine military discipline.

The GOP-led Congress was largely silent on the decision to pardon Cartwright, a decorated officer who had served 40 years in the military and was former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.

After pleading guilty to lying in a leak investigation, he was due to be sentenced Jan. 31. Federal prosecutors sought a two-year prison sentence for the retired four-star general.

Cartwright disclosed classified information when he confirmed to a New York Times reporter that a U.S. operation launched under the George W. Bush administration had used a computer worm known as Stuxnet to temporarily cripple Irans uranium-enriching centrifuges, a sharp setback to its nuclear program at the time.

The U.S. government has never formally acknowledged launching the cyberattack on Iran.

The presidents decision is wise and just, and it achieves the right result, said Gregory Craig, Cartwrights attorney. It allows Gen. Cartwright to continue his lifes work  to serve, protect and defend the nation he loves.

In a statement, Cartwright thanked Obama. I love this country and believe it to be the greatest nation on earth, he said. I have never lost faith in that belief.

Cartwrights service to his country weighed heavily in the presidents decision, the senior administration official said.

Obama was persuaded by statements in Cartwrights court proceedings that he had sought to prevent release of information that might be more dangerous to national security than disclosure of the Stuxnet worm, the official added.

Most of the commutations and pardons were for inmates held for decades.

Among them was Oscar Lopez of Chicago, a member of a Puerto Rican pro-independence group sentenced to 70 years in prison for bombings and bank robberies in the 1970s and 1980s. He has served 35 years in prison.

Obama also pardoned Ian Schrager, a New York hotel operator who founded Studio 54, the late-1970s Manhattan disco club known for attracting celebrities and its lavish parties.

Convicted of income tax evasion in 1980, Schrager served 20 months in prison and was released in 1981. He later founded a string of successful boutique hotels.

Obama also pardoned Willie McCovey, the Hall of Fame first baseman for the San Francisco Giants, who pleaded guilty in 1995 to tax evasion. He was sentenced to two years probation and a $5,000 fine in 1996.

Obama also commuted the death sentence of Dwight J. Loving, a former Army private convicted of murdering two taxicab drivers in 1988, to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Loving is one of six military inmates on death row at Ft. Leavenworth. The military carried out its last execution in 1961.

Times staff writers Del Quentin Wilber, Brian Bennett, Tracy Wilkinson and Joseph Tanfani contributed to this report.

william.hennigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @wjhenn

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A suspect in the killing of an Orlando, Fla., police officer has been captured after a nine-day manhunt.

Markeith Loyd, 41, was taken into custody Tuesday shortly after his name was added to the U.S. Marshals Services most-wanted fugitives list, said Orlando Police Chief John Mina.

Weve got him! Markeith Loyd in OPD custody, the Orlando Police Department tweeted. Details to come.

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Loyd has been wanted since Dec. 13, when investigators say he fatally shot his pregnant former girlfriend, Sade Dixon, 24, and injured her brother when he rushed to help her.

Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton was in pursuit of a suspect when she was slain on Jan. 9.

Mina said Loyd was in custody and wearing Claytons handcuffs.

Video showed Loyd, in red pants, a gray shirt and his hands cuffed behind his back, being pulled from an Orange County Sheriffs Office vehicle. He was then pushed into law enforcement headquarters by more than half a dozen law enforcement officers, some of them deputies in green uniforms, others in plain clothes with masks over their faces.

Loyd exclaimed, They beat me up! They beat me up! to nearby cameras as law enforcement took him into the building for questioning Tuesday night.

His bloodied face appeared badly beaten with two swollen eyes.

Mina flashed a wide smile to journalists.

This is a man who gunned down a pregnant woman and a police officer who was doing her job to protect our community, Mina said.

Sheriffs Deputy 1st Class Norman Lewis was killed in a traffic accident Jan. 9 during the search.

There was a $125,000 reward for information leading to Loyds arrest. The Marshals Service added another $25,000 Tuesday.

The Orange County Sheriffs Office thanked citizens on Twitter for their care and concern.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer thanked law enforcement on Twitter for capturing the accused killer.

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs also expressed pride and excitement.

Manhunt has ended! Continued prayers for the families of Lt Debra Clayton and DFC Norm Lewis, Jacobs tweeted. Great work by our heroes in law enforcement!

Doornbos writes for the Orlando Sentinel.

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Donald Trumps pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency cast doubt on whether California should continue to have power to impose its own emission rules for cars and trucks, an authority the state has enjoyed for decades that is also the cornerstone of its efforts to fight global warming.

Oklahoma Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt said at a contentious confirmation hearing Wednesday that he cannot commit to keeping in place the current version of a decades-old federal waiver that allows California to set emissions standards stricter than elsewhere in the United States.

In recent years, California regulators have used the waiver to force automakers to build more efficient vehicles, which has helped the state cut its greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks by nearly a third since 2009.

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More than a dozen other states have adopted the California standard as part of their own efforts both to clean their air and fight global warming.

Pruitt held out the possibility that he might take that power away during a hearing in which he also battled Democrats over his skepticism about aspects of climate science, his financial relationship with oil and gas companies, and his plans to substantially curb the EPAs role in fighting pollution.

Although Pruitt said he accepts that human activity is affecting the climate, he expressed doubt over the mainstream scientific consensus that the warming is happening at a catastrophic pace that must be confronted with aggressive actions.

The ability to measure with precision the extent of [human] impact and what to do about it are subject to continued debate and dialogue, Pruitt said.

Pressed by Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) about whether he intends to leave Californias authority in place, Pruitt would only say, I dont know without going through the process to determine that. One would not want to presume the outcome.

His comments were met with strong protests by Democratic lawmakers in Washington and Sacramento. They charged that Pruitt, a self-styled crusader for states rights, is less committed to the principle when states pursue policies that reduce the profits of big corporations.

If the Trump administration did succeed in eliminating Californias waiver authority, the loss would be a major setback for the states environmental policies.

The waiver was initially granted decades ago as the state grappled with an air quality crisis triggered by the traffic-induced smog that settled over Los Angeles and other cities.

The state expanded its use of that power in 2009, when, after years of fighting with federal regulators and car manufacturers, California officials and the then-new Obama administration agreed to expand the waiver to incorporate Californias landmark effort to fight climate change. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has been a key function of the waiver since that agreement was struck.

Pruitts hedging on the issue comes as California regulators have expressed confidence that the new administration would not interfere with homegrown efforts to shift the state economy away from fossil fuels. But their confidence has been based on the assumption that certain federal environmental policies, like the waiver and tax credits for wind and solar energy, would endure.

When you say review, I hear undo the rights of the states, Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, which has adopted many of Californias standards, told Pruitt.

Its troublesome because obviously what weve heard all day is how much you support states rights when it comes to these issues. But, now when it comes to the right of California or Massachusetts or other states right to be able to reduce carbon pollution, you say you are going to review that.

We are fearful what review would actually result in, Markey said. I think it is going to lead to you undoing that right of states to be able to provide that protection.

Pruitt would say only that he could make no promise that California and other states will keep their waiver.

As Pruitt sparred with committee Democrats, Californias chief regulator of air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, Mary Nichols, was testifying in Sacramento about the importance of the waiver to her agency, the California Air Resources Board.

Any failure to renew the waiver, state Senate Leader Kevin de Leon said in an email, will be met with full resistance up and down the state.

Pruitt is among the more controversial of Trumps Cabinet picks, a longtime ally of the oil and gas industry who has built his career around fighting the agency he now seeks to run. He has sued the EPA 14 times since becoming his states attorney general  often alongside oil and gas companies. He argues the agency has acted inappropriately in its robust enforcement of clean air and clean water rules that he says should be left to state discretion.

As head of the EPA, he would be empowered to undermine the signature Obama administration effort to combat global warming  a policy he has crusaded against.

Regulators are supposed to make things regular, Pruitt said at his hearing, to fairly and equitably enforce the rules and not pick winners and losers.

He charged that the issue of climate change had been overtaken by emotion and incivility. We should not succumb to personalizing matters, he said.

The hearing follows a weeks-long assault by environmental groups against Pruitt that began the day Trump named him to lead the agency. One of the groups, the Environmental Defense Fund, said it had never lobbied against an EPA selection until now.

Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee took up the fight on Wednesday, accusing Pruitt of ignorance of climate science, a disregard for millions of Americans whose health is being harmed by air pollution and an inappropriately cozy relationship with big energy companies.

Pruitts close ties with energy companies were repeatedly brought up by Democrats as the hearing got underway. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon presented a letter Pruitt sent to the EPA protesting its enforcement of methane rules.

The letter was written almost entirely by Devon Energy. Pruitt had changed just a few words.

A public office is about serving the public, Merkley said. You used your office as a direct extension of an oil company rather than a direct extension of the public health of the people of Oklahoma.

Pruitt said sending the letter written almost entirely by an oil firm was appropriate.

The letter sent to the EPA was not sent on behalf of any one company; it was particular to an industry, he said. There was concern expressed by many in the industry about the overestimating that occurred in relation to that methane rule.

Times staff writer Chris Megerian in Sacramento contributed to this report.

evan.halper@latimes.com

Twitter: @evanhalper

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UPDATES:

3:45 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information throughout.

9:50 a.m.: This story was updated with the start of the hearing.

This story was originally published at 3 a.m.
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atchmakers have a sense of humour. Their clients do, too. Laurent Ferrier, the man behind the brand, has always been a stickler for technical coherence where his watches are concerned. Raised in the Patek Philippe tradition, he has always made his tourbillons visible on the back of the watch. Its a purist approach: the tourbillon is a regulating organ, and consequently has no place on the dial, which is the domain of the time display and associated complications.

Back to front, front to back

But this approach doesnt take clients wishes into account. They like to watch a beautiful escapement doing its work on the dial side. Laurent Ferrier gave them what they wanted, but stuck to his guns. He opened up the dial to give a view of the tourbillons backside.

This purely aesthetic, but whimsical and highly original move, was not without its share of technical challenges. A special two-armed bridge had to be created. While primarily functional, it was also vexatious to finish, with around 30 internal angles and multiple edges and curves. More than 30 hours hand-finishing is required to perfect the presentation of this rear-mounted tourbillon, visible through the dial  a watchmaking first!

The Galet Classic Tourbillon Dual will be offered in a 41 mm white gold case, with all the usual distinctive features: spear-shaped hands, Roman numeral XII at 12 oclock, grey satin-brushed dial and a navy blue alligator strap lined with Alcantara.

Back to school

In parallel, Laurent Ferrier is making a completely new departure, the Galet Micro Rotor Montre Ecole. This name, familiar to all watchmakers who have been through watchmaking school, refers to the piece they make and finish themselves, entirely from scratch, and submit as their final exam.

The one Laurent Ferrier (and most of his colleagues) made was round  a classical shape that the watchmaker, now an established brand 40 years on, has largely eschewed in favour of his famous pebble case. Now, he has made up his mind to return to his roots with a new  round  Galet.

But this shouldnt be taken too literally. The round of the Galet doesnt necessarily refer to the shape of the case, its more about the opulent curve of its crystals. These cambered contours are essential elements of Laurent Ferriers style, but this is the first time the watchmaker has incorporated them into both sapphire crystals. And so we have the Montre Ecole, the school watch, a rotund tribute to the first pocket watches that were converted into wrist watches, and which were also curved on the back as well as on the front.

The Galet Micro Rotor Montre Ecole comes in a 40 mm case, in red gold, white gold or steel.
Rep. Ryan Zinke, the Montana Republican nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be the next Interior secretary, said Tuesday that his No. 1 job is to restore trust between Americans and the federal agencies that manage land and water across the West.

Referring to what he called the top-down policymaking methods of the Obama administration, Zinke in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said states should have more say in policies that affect land and water within their boundaries.

He also said he was willing to revisit decisions by the Obama administration, including recent moves to halt coal leasing, ban oil and gas drilling in most of the Arctic and set aside parts of the West as national monuments under the Antiquities Act.

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But Zinke also said that he absolutely opposed the sale or transfer of public land, and he rejected the idea, which Trump has asserted, that climate change is a hoax. He was less than emphatic in embracing the broad scientific consensus that human activity is the dominant cause of climate change.

Asked by Sen. Bernie Sanders, a member of the committee, whether he agreed with Trump that climate change is a hoax, Zinke began to respond indirectly.

First of all, the climate is changing, thats undisputable, Zinke said, adding that he and his wife had seen evidence of glaciers retreating during a visit to Glacier National Park in Montana.

Sanders cut in, repeating his question: Is the president-elect right? Is climate change a hoax?

Zinke asked to finish his initial response.

The second thing is man has had an influence, Zinke said. I think thats undisputable as well. So, climate is changing, man is an influence. I think where theres debate on it is what that influence is and what can we do about it.

Zinke promised to listen to the great scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, which is part of the Interior Department.

Im not a climate science expert, but I can tell you I will become a lot more familiar with it and it will be based on objective science, he said. I dont believe its a hoax. I believe we should be prudent. That means I dont know definitively. Theres a lot of debate on both sides of the aisle.

Sanders interrupted him again, saying, Well, actually, theres not a whole lot of debate now. The scientific community is virtually unanimous that climate change is real.

Climate change has been a central issue at the Interior Department under President Obama, which has sought to limit fossil fuel production on public land, manage forests to be more resilient, urge water conservation and protect vulnerable species.

The department helps oversee the governments vast holdings of land, most of it in the West, and includes the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and agencies that regulate mining, logging, oil and gas development, hydroelectric power and water management in the often drought-stricken region.

Conservation groups have largely condemned Zinkes nomination, pointing to his support for fossil fuel development, his efforts to limit the use of the Endangered Species Act and his sometimes contradictory statements on climate change.

Zinke received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry. He has also faced questions about his use of government money for personal travel when he was a Navy SEAL, which prompted discipline that slowed his advancement in the Navy.

In the hearing, Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota noted that, in 2010, Zinke, then a Montana state legislator, was among hundreds of state lawmakers who signed a letter to President Obama and congressional leaders saying that climate change was a dangerous threat that needed to be addressed with a new energy policy focused on renewables.

Do you still feel that climate change is a significant national security threat and one that requires immediate attention? Franken asked Zinke.

When Zinke demurred, saying he is not an expert in this field, Franken, a Democrat, called the answer a cop out, adding, Im not a doctor, but I have to make healthcare decisions.

But those were among the few modestly confrontational exchanges Zinke had with the committee, which is dominated by Western lawmakers and led by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska who has been deeply critical of efforts by the Obama administration to limit oil and gas production in the Arctic and other parts of Alaska.

Zinke has cast himself as a Teddy Roosevelt Republican, an avid outdoorsman who believes public land should be preserved for multiple uses, including hunting, recreation and energy development. He said on Tuesday that fossil fuel development could be expanded on public land without damaging the environment, but also said he supported wind and solar power. More than once he called his energy policy all of the above, borrowing language Obama used regularly before strengthening his fight against climate change at the end of his administration.

He promised to respect tribal sovereignty and look for ways to improve Native American education and healthcare. He also said he would address what he called a $12-billion maintenance backlog in national parks.

Facing few tough questions from the Republican-led panel, he promised to visit many lawmakers home states, build collaborative relationships and restore confidence in the front line, his term for on-the-ground employees of the many agencies. In response to questions about a sexual harassment scandal that has plagued the park service, he said he would have zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Zinke frequently used military terminology to describe how he would approach the job. He said centralized direction, decentralized execution would be his preferred way of dealing with states, suggesting they should have leeway in how they implement federal policies.

Im going to be remote, he said at one point, referring to what he said would be frequent travel as he learns the job. Its going to be a deployment, but Ive apologized to my wife in advance.

william.yardley@latimes.com

@yardleyLAT
From the packed hallways of Atlantas massive county hospital to the thousands of patients who line up around the state every year to get Obamacare, yawning gaps in Georgias overburdened healthcare system arent hard to find.

The need for care is just tremendous, said Dr. Charles Moore, a Harvard-trained ear, nose and throat specialist who runs an Atlanta clinic for poor patients.

SENATE HEARINGS: Live coverage

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Georgia has some of the worst health outcomes in the country, with high rates of untreated illness and death from preventable diseases.

The state is also home to Dr. Tom Price, the 62-year-old Republican congressman whom President-elect Donald Trump has tapped to be the next Health and Human Services secretary. Trump has charged Price with repealing the Affordable Care Act and developing a replacement that Trump promised will protect millions of Americans whove gained coverage through the law.

He is an unorthodox choice for the task.

As a physician in Georgia and a lawmaker for 20 years, first in the state Legislature and then as a member of Georgias congressional delegation, Price has relentlessly fought to limit healthcare safety net programs, even as nearly 1 in 5 of his fellow Georgians were locked out of health coverage.

Prices efforts to cut healthcare programs have stoked opposition to his nomination from congressional Democrats.

His critics are also eyeing his extensive trading in healthcare stocks, including revelations reported by CNN that he bought stock in a medical device maker just days before introducing legislation that would have benefited the company.

The Trump transition team disputes the report, saying the stock purchase was initiated by Prices broker and the congressman was unaware of it. The issue is expected to feature prominently when Price appears Wednesday before the Senate Health Committee.

Price declined through a spokesman to be interviewed.

Throughout his political career, he has grounded his opposition to safety net programs in his medical experience. Price, whose father and grandfather were doctors, is an orthopedic surgeon who came to Georgia more than 30 years ago from his native Michigan and later opened a solo practice outside Atlanta.

Healthcare decisions should be made by patients and their doctors, not bureaucrats or insurance companies, he said in 2007, explaining his votes against expanding the Childrens Health Insurance Program, which now provides coverage to more than 8 million low-income children every year.

According to several of Prices former medical colleagues, his view reflects a long-standing frustration with limits that insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid put on doctors.

He values physician autonomy and having the patient at the center of care, said Dr. Steven Walsh, an anesthesiologist who began practicing alongside Price more than 30 years ago at North Fulton Hospital, a quiet, neatly manicured community hospital in Roswell, Ga., where Price still lives.

Many of Prices former colleagues, including Walsh, recalled Prices extensive efforts to help doctors by limiting malpractice awards, requiring that they are promptly paid and restricting what medical services can be performed by nurses and others without a medical degree.

Many physicians are frustrated by the growing list of requirements from insurance programs, including that they report patient outcomes, track costs and use approved electronic record systems.

Prices reaction has been to consistently try to scale back the programs.

While in the state Legislature, he was one of only four senators who opposed the creation in 1998 of PeachCare, Georgias version of the Childrens Health Insurance Program, a federal initiative to expand coverage for children from low- and moderate-income families. Price said such children could already get care. At the time, more than 300,000 Georgia children lacked coverage.

After being elected to Congress in 2004, Price continued his fight against the federal program, voting six times in 2007 and 2009 to oppose legislation to expand CHIP to reach more uninsured children, even as dozens of Republicans, including Georgias governor, backed the expansions.

Research has shown that CHIP and Medicaid, which also serves poor children, improve childrens access to care, and there are even indications that poor kids who have coverage are healthier as adults.

Price also supported GOP budget blueprints developed by now-House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) to scale back health protections for seniors by increasing the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 and by shifting more costs to patients by converting Medicare into a voucher system that would give beneficiaries a limited amount of money to shop for private health plans.

And when Price took the helm of the House Budget Committee two years ago, he developed his own budget plans to slash trillions of dollars from federal healthcare programs.

Among the biggest targets was Medicaid, a state and federally funded program that today provides coverage to more than 70 million Americans, including poor children, seniors and the disabled. Medicaid is the largest payer for nursing home care in the country.

Prices 2017 budget plan, if enacted, would have cut more than $2 trillion in Medicaid spending over the next decade, reducing federal aid to states by close to 40% and probably forcing many to place significant restrictions on who got coverage and which medical services they could get.

Price has argued the cuts are necessary to control skyrocketing federal healthcare spending and balance the budget. For too many Americans, this world-class level of healthcare is beyond reach  because policies coming out of Washington are driving up the cost of care and preventing Americans from accessing the care they need, he wrote in his 2017 plan.

Prices top priority has always been patients, said Dr. William Clark, who has worked closely with Price at the Medical Assn. of Georgia. He wants patients to be able to have access to their physicians, Clark said.

But in medical offices, clinics and hospitals that see Georgias neediest patients, there are few indications that limiting coverage helps patients health.

The fact is, patients will avoid seeing the doctor if they cant pay, said Dr. Evan Weisman, a retired Atlanta cardiologist and longtime advocate for expanding health insurance. These patients simply never get to your office.

Indeed, in 2013, 19% of Georgia adults reported skipping needed medical care because of cost. That was the highest rate in the nation, according to state data collected by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonpartisan research foundation that analyzes healthcare systems.

At the same time, the persistent gaps in coverage are putting a growing strain on many hospitals, particularly in rural parts of the state. Half a dozen have closed in recent years, further exacerbating patients difficulties getting care.

In Atlanta, Moore, the ear, nose and throat specialist, decided to open his clinic after seeing many uninsured patients with head and neck cancers who only came to Grady Memorial Hospital, the states largest safety net hospital, when the cancers were very advanced.

As a result, physicians often could do little for these patients, except relieve suffering. Most died quickly.

Its not uncommon for people to have to decide if they can feed their kids or take care of their own health, said Moore, whose clinic aims to get needed care to patients before their diseases are untreatable.

Georgia has begun to see some improvements since Obamacares coverage expansion began. About half a million Georgians have gained health insurance in the last three years, though the state has refused federal aid made available by the law to expand Medicaid coverage.

But the talk of repealing the health law has many Georgians concerned, said Sheila Carter, who helps direct enrollment efforts for InsureGA, a nonprofit thats been signing people up for coverage.

People are very, very worried, Carter said. They need the insurance.

noam.levey@latimes.com

Twitter: @noamlevey

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Neil Gorsuch could fall somewhere between his hero, Justice Scalia, and former boss, centrist Justice Kennedy By David Savage Judge Neil M. Gorsuch was resting midway down a Colorado ski slope last year when his cellphone rang with the news that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia had died. I immediately lost what breath I had left, Gorsuch recalled in an April speech, and I am not embarrassed to admit that I couldnt see the rest of the way down the mountain for the tears. Now, as President Trumps pick to replace Scalia on the high court, Gorsuch is seen by many on the right as a fitting replacement for the iconic jurist that Gorsuch considered a lion of the law. Like Scalia, Gorsuch, 49, who serves on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, is a well-respected conservative who believes judges should decide cases based on the law as it was understood when passed, not on how they think it should be. Hes a clear, impassioned writer, albeit without Scalias flare for biting sarcasm. But Gorsuch also evokes the qualities of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, for whom Gorsuch worked as a law clerk. (If confirmed, Gorsuch would join three justices who previously clerked on the high court, but he would be the first ever to serve alongside the justice he or she worked for.) Like Kennedy, 80, Gorsuch is a Westerner with a polite, congenial manner who at times has won praise from liberals. He may be more conservative than Kennedy when it comes to expanding individual rights, but he seems to lack Scalias fervor for overturning liberal precedents from decades past. Which way Gorsuch skews could be pivotal for the future of the court. Conservatives clearly hope hell be more like Scalia than Kennedy, a centrist swing vote who has often joined liberals on issues such as gay marriage and abortion. Some conservatives have even expressed hope that Gorsuchs personal history with Kennedy might enable him to draw the Reagan-appointee back toward the right. Read More Facebook

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Trump chooses Neil Gorsuch, a conservative seen as likely to be confirmed, for Supreme Court By Michael A. Memoli President Trump nominated federal Judge Neil M. Gorsuch on Tuesday to the Supreme Court to fill the seat of the late Antonin Scalia, choosing from his short list an appeals court judge from Denver seen as most likely to win Senate confirmation. Because Scalia was a stalwart conservative, Trumps choice is not likely to change the balance of the court. But it does set the stage for a bruising partisan fight over a man who could help determine law on gun rights, immigration, police use of force and transgender rights. Read More Facebook

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Trump administration is radicalizing Democratic voters, creating a challenge for the party, Rep. Adam Schiff says By Sarah D. Wire (Mark Wilson / Getty Images) As protests spread over policy announcements from the Trump administration, Democrats must work to encourage participation in politics, but face a danger of the party becoming too radicalized, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said Tuesday. The radical nature of this government is radicalizing Democrats, and thats going to pose a real challenge to the Democratic Party, which is to draw on the energy and the activism and the passion that is out there, but not let it turn us into what we despised about the tea party, Schiff said. During a meeting with reporters and editors in the Los Angeles Times Washington bureau, Schiff also discussed his role as the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Select Intelligence Committee under a Trump administration and how Democrats will manage in the minority. Ever since the election, party leaders have been debating: Did we lose because we were too far to the left and we had too small a tent, or did we lose because we are too mainstream and didnt energize the base? Schiff asked. We are obviously having that debate, but theres a whole new element, which is the reaction to the Trump administration that makes this different in kind, certainly different in intensity, than I think weve ever seen after an election, he said. The more radical the administration is, the more radicalized our base becomes, which just feeds the Breitbart crowd, and who knows where that ends. Democratic leaders have to channel public reaction to Trumps actions into progress, rather than deadlock, Schiff said. Reaction to Democrats seen as working with the Trump administration has been strong. Monday night, for example, protesters marched on Sen. Dianne Feinsteins home and office voicing fears she would back Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general. The senator from California announced Tuesday that she would oppose Sessions. Several groups calling themselves indivisible have popped up in cities across the country as focal points for efforts to organize. We have two of the most capable strategists as the head of our House and Senate Democrats, Schiff added, referring to House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Senate Democratic leader Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York. If anybody can grapple with this, they can, but its going to be a challenging and moving target day to day. I just hope that we can channel that energy in a way where we can provide a check on this administration because Ive never been more worried about the countrys future than I am right now, he said. Schiff said part of his role as the ranking Democrat on the House Select Intelligence Committee will be pushing back when the Trump administration puts out inaccurate information about the intelligence community and its findings. Trump has repeatedly dismissed or sought to minimize the intelligence communitys findings that Russia sought to intervene in the 2016 election to benefit him. Schiff said hes concerned about what else the administration might be willing to dismiss. I think that will be kind of a new frontier, he said. How do we contradict a president making representations about what the intelligence community has to say when the information is classified? Facebook

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Trump administration signals that some temporary bans on entry into the U.S. could become permanent By Brian Bennett  Trumps orders put a greater emphasis on deporting those convicted of crimes and those in the country illegally who were charged with crimes not yet adjudicated The Trump administration doubled down Tuesday on its commitment to transforming the nations border law enforcement, signaling that some of the temporary bans on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries are likely to be made permanent and elevating a deportations official to run the top immigration enforcement agency. Administration officials, led by newly sworn-in Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, moved to allay the havoc that marked the roll-out of the ban and another on refugees. They briefed reporters and planned to head to Capitol Hill later today in an apparent effort to smooth relations after reports that lawmakers and other stakeholders were left out of the crafting of the executive order on toughened vetting at border entry points. In a news conference, Kelly and other top Homeland Security officials conceded some problems, including poor communication. But they insisted that all court orders were followed over the weekend, rebutted reports that some legal residents were denied access to attorneys at airports and said they everyone detained by border agents was treated with dignity and respect. The vast majority of the 1.7 billion Muslims that live on this planet, the vast majority of them have, all other things being equal, have access to the United States, Kelly told reporters. And a relatively small number right now are being held up for a period of time until we can take a look at what their procedures are, he said, seeming to acknowledge that mostly Muslims have been affected by the ban. The moves signaled that the White House remained committed to remaking border law enforcement even in the face of widespread confusion and condemnation of President Trumps order. Kelly said for the first time that the some of the restrictions that caused confusion and sparked protests over the weekend could be extended well into the future. Some of those countries that are currently on the list may not be taken off the list anytime soon, he said. Trump also named a longtime deportation officer, Thomas D. Homan, as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homan, who will oversee the execution of Trumps immigration enforcement order, was most recently in charge of the agencys 5,000 deportation officers, a force Trump said he would triple to 15,000. Trumps orders put a greater emphasis on deporting not only those convicted of crimes, but also people in the country illegally who were charged with crimes not yet adjudicated, those who receive an improper welfare benefit and even those who have not been charged but are believed to have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense. Facebook

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White House tries to ban the word ban, hours after president uses it himself By Noah Bierman This is not a ban, spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters in a fiery news briefing. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) President Trump used the word ban in a tweet as recently as Monday to describe his new executive order suspending travel from seven Muslim-majority countries and halting the refugee program for several months. But facing backlash from many directions, the White House adamantly insisted Tuesday that the word is verboten. This is not a ban, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters in a fiery news briefing. When we use words like travel ban, he said later, that misrepresents what it is. Its seven countries previously identified by the Obama administration, where, frankly, we dont get the information that we need for people coming into this country. In fact, people from the seven banned countries  Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Libya  cannot enter the United States under the order. Spicer appeared to be making a renewed effort to distinguish the order from the all-out ban on Muslims entering the country that Trump proposed during the campaign. Many around the world see the newest policy as an outgrowth of that proposal. Trump himself conceded a religious connection when he said in an interview on Friday that he wanted to make it easier for Syrian Christians to enter the country. And former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani told Fox News that the order sprang from a group he formed at Trumps request to create a legal framework that would accomplish the campaign goal of a Muslim ban. But amid confusion and worldwide criticism in recent days, the Trump administration has tried to temper some of the more incendiary rhetoric around the proposal. Even the words extreme vetting, a favorite Trump slogan, were called into question by Spicer on Tuesday. Calling for tougher vetting [of] individual travelers from seven nations is not extreme, he said. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country. But changing the ban branding around the program at this point will be difficult. Heres Trumps tweet from Monday: If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the "bad" would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad "dudes" out there!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017 And Spicer himself used the term ban as recently as Sunday: Sean Spiceer today: This is not a Muslim ban. It is not a travel ban.



Sean Spicer in White House press release, Jan. 29: pic.twitter.com/axTM1m66nM  Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) January 31, 2017 Facebook

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Senate confirms Elaine Chao as secretary of Transportation By Associated Press Elaine Chao testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on Jan. 11, 2017. (Zach Gibson / AP) The Senate has confirmed Elaine Chao to serve as Transportation secretary in the Trump administration. The vote was 93 to 6 on Tuesday. Chao is an experienced Washington hand. She was Labor secretary under President George W. Bush and is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Chao would be a lead actor in pursuing Trumps promise to invest $1 trillion to improve highways, rail service and other infrastructure projects. Facebook

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Speaker Paul Ryan defends Trumps immigrant and refugee ban, as Congress grumbles about being left out By Lisa Mascaro "What is happening is something we support... we need to make sure that the vetting standards are up to snuff," Paul Ryan says of travel ban pic.twitter.com/iX6YkOLkLl  CBS News (@CBSNews) January 31, 2017 House Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Tuesday stood by President Trumps temporary ban on refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations and indicated that he was confident the administration could fix the confusing rollout without action from Congress. What is happening is something we support, said Ryan, whose office was the target of a sit-in by protesters opposed to Trumps order. We need to pause and we need to make sure that the vetting standards are up to snuff so we can guarantee the safety and security of our country. Congress was blindsided by Trumps executive action -- Ryan learned about it as the public did when the White House announced it Friday afternoon. Many GOP lawmakers have raised concerns. During a private meeting in the Capitol basement Tuesday, Republican lawmakers were counseled on how to handle protesters and office sit-ins happening across the country. Its regrettable that there was some confusion on the rollout of this, Ryan said. No one wanted to see people with green cards or special immigrant visas, like translators, get caught up in all of this. Ryan also said he was concerned the ban could be used as propaganda by terrorist groups. The rhetoric surrounding this could be used as a recruiting tool, and I think thats dangerous, he said. Still, Republicans leaders as well as rank-and-file GOP lawmakers largely agreed with the presidents move to halt refugee admissions for 120 days, and to temporarily ban citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries, unless they are Christians or other religious minorities. The president was well within his right to issue an executive order, said Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), chairman of the House Rules Committee. Do I feel let out? I feel like everybody was left out, he said. I wish they communicated it. I wish they had gotten more information to people. I wish they had measured three times and sawed once. Lawmakers have shown little appetite for Congress to get involved, and suggested the chaos that erupted at airports over the weekend was just part of a learning curve at the White House. I support the thrust of the executive order, said Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.), who nevertheless said the administration should have been better prepared and will need to get your act together. Last year, Ryan had strongly condemned Trumps campaign-trail call for a Muslim ban. In recent days, Ryan, like other congressional leaders, was forced to dial up the administration with his questions and concerns about the order, conferring Monday with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. I am very pleased and confident that he is, on a going-forward basis, going to make sure that things are done correctly, Ryan said. Pressed on whether Congress would have a role, Ryan did not indicate any immediate legislative action. Facebook

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Democrats boycott Senate committee votes on Price, Mnuchin By Jim Puzzanghera Senate Democrats speak with reporters after boycotting Finance Committee confirmation votes. (JIM WATSON / AFP/Getty Images) Senate Democrats on Tuesday boycotted a committee vote on two of President Trumps top Cabinet nominees -- Tom Price to lead Health and Human Services and Steve Mnuchin to be Treasury secretary. Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) blasted the Democratic move as he sat in a hearing room with only Republicans on the dais. They ought to be embarrassed. Its the most pathetic treatment Ive seen in my 40 years in the United States Senate, Hatch said. I think they should stop posturing and acting like idiots, he said. At least one Democrat needs to be present for the committee to vote on the nominations, Hatch said. He recessed the hearing until further notice, saying he hoped a vote could take place later Tuesday. But asked mid-afternoon if he thought the committee would be able to meet Tuesday, Hatch said it doesnt look like it. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the committees top Democrat, said Price and Mnuchin have misled the public and held back important information about their backgrounds. Until questions are answered, Democrats believe the committee should not move forward with either nomination, Wyden said. This is about getting answers to questions, plain and simple, he said. Ethics laws are not optional, and nominees do not have a right to treat disclosure like a shell game. Today @SenateFinance Democrats refused to move forward with nominations of Mnuchin & Price.  Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 31, 2017 The litany of ethics revelations regarding @RepTomPrice are strong evidence that he cannot be allowed to have control of #Medicare.  Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 31, 2017 Mr. Mnuchin continued to fail to come clean on shady foreclosure practices that hurt Americans.  Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 31, 2017 Liberal groups cheered the boycott while Senate Republican leaders decried it as Democratic obstructionism. They are manufacturing issues on a daily basis to drag this process out, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kent.) said of the confirmations of Trumps nominees. I dont see how they can explain to the American people how it is appropriate to prevent the administration from getting up and getting started, he said. Democrats have said Mnuchin, a wealthy Wall Street executive, misled the committee in his response to a written question about foreclosures at Pasadenas OneWest Bank while he ran it from 2009-15. Democrats pointed to a report Sunday by the Columbus Dispatch that Mnuchin denied that OneWest engaged in so-called robo-signing of mortgage documents. The paper said its analysis of nearly four dozen foreclosure cases in Ohios Franklin County in 2010 showed that the bank frequently used robo-signers. The Columbus Dispatch cited a foreclosure involving a mortgage signed by Erica Johnson-Seck, a OneWest vice president who said in a deposition in a 2009 Florida case that she signed an average of 750 documents a week. Barney Keller, a spokesman for Mnuchin, said Monday that several courts had dismissed cases involving allegations of robo-signing by Johnson-Seck. The media is picking on a hardworking bank employee whose reputation has been maligned but whose work has been upheld by numerous courts all around the country in the face of scurrilous and false allegations, Keller said. Democrats also have problems with Price, a six-term congressman and former orthopedic surgeon who has distinguished himself in conservative circles for his staunch opposition to the Affordable Care Act and his plans to slash federal healthcare spending. His nomination has become among Trumps most controversial, in part because of his hostility to government safety net programs, including Medicaid and Medicare. Democrats have also been increasingly critical of Prices extensive trading in healthcare stocks while he has been in Congress, and in some cases while he has pushed legislation that would benefit his portfolio. Price has denied any wrongdoing. Also drawing criticism is Prices purchase of discounted shares in an Australian biotech firm, Innate Immunotherapeutics, which he was offered through a private deal not available to general shareholders. Price also denied that this was improper, and Senate Republicans have rallied to his side, saying he did not violate any ethics rules. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said he and the other Democrats on the committee want Mnuchin and Price to explain their lies either in person before the committee or in new written answers. I want them to disclose this information that they seem not to want to disclose, Brown said. 12:10 p.m.: This post was updated with additional comments from Hatch as well as from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Sherrod Brown. 8:00 a.m.: This post has been updated with additional information and background. 8:07 a.m.: This post has been updated with additional information. Facebook

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White House aides who wrote Trumps travel ban see it as just the start By Brian Bennett (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Even as confusion, internal dissent and widespread condemnation greeted President Trumps travel ban and crackdown on refugees this weekend, senior White House aides say they are only getting started. Trump and his aides justified Fridays executive order, which blocked travel from seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days and halted refugees from around the world for 120, on security grounds  an issue that they say they take seriously. But their ultimate goal is far broader. Trumps top advisors on immigration, including chief strategist Steve Bannon and senior advisor Stephen Miller, see themselves as launching a radical experiment to fundamentally transform how the U.S. decides who is allowed into the country and to block a generation of people who, in their view, wont assimilate into American society. That project may live or die in the next three months, as the Trump administration reviews whether and how to expand the visa ban and alter vetting procedures. White House aides are considering new, onerous security checks that could effectively limit travel into the U.S. by people from majority-Muslim countries to a trickle. Read More Facebook

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Why corporations cant risk keeping silent about Trumps immigration ban By David Pierson Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz said the Seattle coffee company is developing plans to hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years. (Richard Drew / Associated Press) Corporate America generally prefers to stay quiet about partisan politics. Pick one side of a hot-button issue, the thinking goes, and youll risk losing customers on the other side. But like so many norms before it, President Trump has turned this one on its head. A growing number of companies are deciding its a bigger risk to their investors and bottom line to stay quiet than it is to protest Trumps ban on refugees and travel from seven Muslim-majority nations, betting vocal opposition to the executive order scores them a moral and fiscal victory. While it was possible for companies to take a wait-and-see approach leading up to Trumps inauguration, many firms can no longer ignore the White Houses policy given the effect the order is already having on employees either stranded or fearful of traveling. Only a week ago it seemed foolish to speak out against a president who has admonished individual companies on social media such as Carrier, Boeing and General Motors. Now the pendulum has swung the other way. Companies, mostly in technology but increasingly in other sectors, have decided that its not enough just to speak out against the immigration order. They believe that they must also take headline-grabbing action. Read More Facebook

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Op-Ed: Trump is taking the Bannon Way, and it will end in disaster By Jonah Goldberg Bannon has said hes a Leninist' but hes really more of a Trotskyist because he fancies himself the leader of an international populist-nationalist right wing movement, exporting anti-'globalist' revolution. In that role, his status as an enabler of Trumps instinct to shoot  or tweet  from the hip seems especially ominous. The Bannon way might work on the campaign trail, but it doesnt translate into good governance. Its possible  and one must hope  that Trump can learn this fact on the job. But what if he doesnt? He could put the country in serious peril.  Jonah Goldberg Read More Facebook

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Trump will leave LGBTQ protections in place By Associated Press (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The White House says President Trump will leave intact a 2014 executive order that protects federal workers from anti-LGBTQ discrimination. In a statement released early Tuesday, the White House said Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community and that he continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election. The Trump administration has vowed to roll back much of President Obamas work from the last eight years and had been scrutinizing the 2014 order. The directive protects people from LGBTQ discrimination while working for federal contractors. The recent statement says the protections will remain intact at the direction of Trump. Here is the text of Obamas executive order, signed on July 21, 2014: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including 40 U.S.C. 121, and in order to provide for a uniform policy for the Federal Government to prohibit discrimination and take further steps to promote economy and efficiency in Federal Government procurement by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Amending Executive Order 11478 . The first sentence of section 1 of Executive Order 11478 of August 8, 1969, as amended, is revised by substituting sexual orientation, gender identity for sexual orientation. Sec. 2. Amending Executive Order 11246 . Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended, is hereby further amended as follows: (a) The first sentence of numbered paragraph (1) of section 202 is revised by substituting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin for sex, or national origin. (b) The second sentence of numbered paragraph (1) of section 202 is revised by substituting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin for sex or national origin. (c) Numbered paragraph (2) of section 202 is revised by substituting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin for sex or national origin. (d) Paragraph (d) of section 203 is revised by substituting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin for sex or national origin. Sec. 3. Regulations . Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Labor shall prepare regulations to implement the requirements of section 2 of this order. Sec. 4. General Provisions . (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an agency or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. Sec. 5. Effective Date . This order shall become effective immediately, and section 2 of this order shall apply to contracts entered into on or after the effective date of the rules promulgated by the Department of Labor under section 3 of this order. Update 6:45 a.m.: This article was updated with the text of the 2014 executive order. Facebook

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Trump fires Justice Departments top official after she refuses to defend his refugee ban By David Lauter Sally Yates. (J. David Ake / Associated Press) President Trump fired acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates on Monday, just hours after she announced that the department would not defend his controversial executive order banning refugees and travelers from certain countries. Yates has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States, the White House said in a statement. It is time to get serious about protecting our country. The move came after Yates sent a letter to Justice Department lawyers saying that she questioned the lawfulness of Trumps executive order. My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts, Yates wrote. At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities, nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful, she wrote. Consequently, for as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so. Yates was a holdover from the Obama administration. But because Trumps nominee for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, has not been confirmed and no other senior Justice Department officials have been appointed, firing her was expected to cause significant problems within the department. Among other issues, Yates is the only person in the department currently authorized to sign warrants for wiretapping in foreign espionage cases involving the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Trump replaced Yates with Dana J. Boente, a three-decade veteran of the Justice Department who was appointed in 2015 by former President Obama as U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Virginia. 6:37 p.m.: The story was updated with Trumps decision to fire Yates. Read More Facebook

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U.S. service member killed in Yemen identified as Navy SEAL from Illinois By Jeanette Steele The Pentagon on Sunday confirmed the death of a U.S. servicemember in a raid in Yemen targeting al-Qaeda, marking the first American combat death under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. A Navy SEAL from the Virginia-based elite unit known as SEAL Team 6 was killed Sunday during an unusual nighttime raid that put U.S. troops on the ground against Al Qaeda leaders in the middle of war-torn Yemen. The fallen sailor was identified Monday as Chief Special Warfare Operator William Ryan Owens, 36, of Peoria, Ill.. Three other Americans were wounded in the raid and an MV-22 Osprey had to be destroyed after the aircraft suffered a hard landing and couldnt fly. Another U.S. service member was injured in that crash. The raid marked the first known counter-terrorism operation and first confirmed combat fatality under President Trump. Steele writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Facebook

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Protests against Trumps ban on certain immigrants continue across the country By Ann M. Simmons Protesters rally at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 29, demonstrating against the immigration ban imposed by President Trump. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) After a weekend of turmoil at many of the nations airports following President Trumps executive order to suspend the U.S. refugee program and temporarily prohibit entry to citizens of seven predominantly Muslim nations, federal officials said all people being detained on arrival to the U.S. had been released. But that hasnt put a stop to demands to lift the travel ban. Protests continued to be held and organized throughout the country  incluidng in New York, New Orleans, Colorado and Connecticut. According to Ground Game, an online platform for organizing, at least a dozen demonstrations were planned for this week in what the group described as a fight against Islamophobia and Fascism. Calls to rally, demonstrate and protest swept social media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook. In Louisville, Ky., a rally was planned for Monday evening at the Muhammad Ali Center, in what organizers said would be a gathering for American values and to voice support for our nation and our city, which was founded and is strengthened by immigrants. In Hattiesburg, Miss., there was call to join a peaceful vigil in solidarity with refugees, immigrants, and Muslims on the University of Southern Mississippi campus on Monday evening. Declaring that Jersey City stands with our Muslim and immigrant community, organizers in that New Jersey city called on people to come to a pedestrian mall on Monday to stand in solidarity and peace as we show our strength in diversity as one of the most diverse cities in the nation. Other demonstrations were planned for later in the week in cities nationwide, including Tuesday in Tuscon, where organizers encouraged people to stand in solidarity with Senator (John) McCains strong public statement opposing the executive order banning refugees and Legal Permanent Residents from Muslim countries! Similar actions were planned on Tuesday at the South Carolina State House in Columbia and at the Worchester City Hall and Common in Massachusetts, while organizers in San Francisco, under the banner #NoBanNoWallSF, urged residents to join the resistance against Donald Trumps racist and exclusionary Executive Orders on Saturday. We will not allow our country to be divided by hate and religious persecution, read a statement from #NoBanNoWallSF posted on Facebook. Facebook

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Obama carefully weighs in on refugee ban, says he is heartened by public response By Michael A. Memoli (Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Images) Former President Obama has offered his first public comment on the conduct of his successor, saying through a spokesman that he is heartened by public demonstrations against the Trump administrations controversial move to temporarily ban refugees and block all admissions from seven countries. President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country, Kevin Lewis, a spokesperson for the former president, said in a statement emailed to reporters Monday. In his final official speech as President, he spoke about the important role of citizen and how all Americans have a responsibility to be the guardians of our democracy--not just during an election but every day. Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake. Lewis also said in the statement that Obama fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion. Trump aides deny that his executive order, released Friday, involves religious discrimination. The order temporarily blocked travel to the U.S. by residents of seven predominantly Muslim nations, but left many of the Islamic worlds largest population centers unaffected, they note. The order also included an exception for believers of minority religions in those countries, a provision that Trump explicitly said would help Christians. Obamas statement is notable less for its content than for the fact that it was issued at all. It reflected the delicate balance he feels he must strike between showing a degree of deference to the new president and speaking out on issues he sees as critically important. The statement tiptoed around the content of the order, focusing more on the former presidents interest in citizen engagement. Obama said before leaving office that he expected to choose carefully when to comment on the actions of his successor and would focus less on normal functioning of politics and more on certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake, as he put it in his final news conference. Mondays statement did point, though, to comments Obama made at a news conference in November 2015, when he called the idea of a religious test for immigration policy shameful and not American. We dont have religious tests to our compassion, he said at the time. Facebook

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GOP-led Congress worries about its role in the Trump era By Lisa Mascaro Its what congressional Republicans had long dreamed about: a majority in both chambers to advance conservative policies and a president from the same party to sign them into law. But the Trump White House isnt turning out exactly the way they envisioned. The GOP establishment is experiencing whiplash after a week of President Trump bulldozing through the norms of policy and protocol  dashing off executive orders without warning, escalating a diplomatic crisis with the countrys closest southern neighbor, triggering global confusion with a new refugee policy and generally hijacking party leaders agenda and replacing it with his own. Rather than the hoped-for collaborative new relationship between the White House and Congress, GOP officials complain that Trump is brushing aside their advice, failing to fully engage on drafting tough legislative packages like tax reform and Obamacare, and bypassing Congress by relying on executive actions, something they frequently complained about under President Obama. At the same time, Trumps unilateral moves continue to blindside Republicans and direct the national focus toward topics many in the party would rather avoid, whether thats how to pay for building the border wall with Mexico, warming ties with Russia, investigating false claims about voter fraud or, most recently, implementing sweeping new policies on refugees and visas. In the name of party unity, many Republicans so far have refrained from publicly attacking the new president. But for some, the new refugee policy crossed the line, signaling the first major rift in their already fraught partnership. Read More Facebook

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Washington state sues Trump over immigration order By Mark Z. Barabak President Trump signed an executive order Friday that suspends all immigration for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Opening a new legal front, lawyers for the state of Washington filed suit Monday seeking to block President Trumps executive order temporarily banning foreign refugees from entering the United States. No one is above the law, not even the president, Atty. Gen. Bob Ferguson said in announcing the federal lawsuit. And in the courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. Its the Constitution. Over the weekend, a federal judge in Brooklyn issued an order curtailing portions of Trumps executive order, issued Friday, which temporary halts migration from seven predominantly Muslim countries for at least 90 days and also closed the nation to refugees for at least the next four months. Other challenges are pending. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Seattle was the first taken by a state attorney general, and its provenance was no surprise. Washington state and others along the West Coast voted overwhelmingly for Democrat Hillary Clinton in November and have emerged as a hotbed of anti-Trump sentiment. We will not yield, said Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who joined Ferguson at a Seattle news conference. We will not be leveraged. We will not be threatened. We will not be intimidated. We will not be bullied by this. Trumps order, which has sparked demonstrations across the country, brought an outpouring of objection from Insleys Democratic colleagues around the country. President Trumps recent executive orders that divide and discriminate do not reflect the values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution or the principles we stand for as Oregonians, said Gov. Kate Brown. A single executive order does not define who we are as a country, said Connecticut Gov. Daniel P. Malloy. We are a nation of immigrants and must continue to fight for the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to breath free. In Massachusetts, another state that voted overwhelmingly for Clinton, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker joined the chorus of Democratic criticism, saying the travel ban would undermine the international relations forged by the states business, academic and healthcare communities. The confusion for families is real. The unexpected disruption for law-abiding people is real, Baker said. Thankfully, the federal courts will have an opportunity to straighten this out and it is my hope they do so, and do so quickly. Facebook

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How a top conservative radio host took on Trump, lost his audience and faith, but gained a new perspective By Mark Z. Barabak Charlie Sykes, right, interviews Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) before Wisconsins 2016 primary (Morry Gash/Associated Press) For nearly 25 years, Charlie Sykes was one of the most powerful and influential voices in Wisconsin. He cheer-led policies that turned this historically progressive state into a model of conservative governance. He made and destroyed political careers, using his perch on Milwaukee talk radio to help vault figures such as House Speaker Paul Ryan and Gov. Scott Walker to national prominence. But for the moment Sykes was speechless. He sank into the brown leather banquette of a suburban steakhouse. He stammered. He sighed. When youve devoted your whole life to certain beliefs and you think now they have been undermined and that you might have been deluded about things, he began. So. So. Um... In 2016 Sykes emerged as one of Donald Trumps most prominent critics, a stance that outraged listeners, strained longstanding friendships and left him questioning much of what he once held true. Read More Facebook

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Pentagon compiling a list of Iraqis who aided the U.S. military and wants them shielded from Trumps travel ban By W.J. Hennigan The Pentagon is compiling a list of Iraqi citizens who have worked with the U.S. military and is recommending that they be exempt from President Trumps temporary ban on entry to the U.S. by people from Iraq and six other predominantly Muslim countries, according to the U.S. military. The move could potentially shield tens of thousands of Iraqi interpreters, advisors, and others who have assisted the American military from the presidents controversial executive action that blocked visitors from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen. Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Monday that the list will include names of individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to helping the United States. Even people that are doing seemingly benign things in support of us  whether as a linguist, a driver, anything else  they often do that at great personal risk, he said. So people who take these risks are really making a tangible signal of support to the United States, and thats something that will, and should be, recognized. The list would not require any changes to the presidents order, but rather serve as guidance to the Department of Homeland Security and the White House in implementing the new policy. White House spokesman Sean Spicer later pushed back against blanket exemptions. We recognize that people have served this country, we should make sure that in those cases theyre helped out, he said. But that doesnt mean that we just give them a pass. Trump, who signed the order at the Pentagon on Friday, did not consult Defense Secretary James N. Mattis or Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the temporary suspensions of entry to visitors from the seven nations, according to U.S. officials. The executive action put the U.S. military in a difficult position because it works closely with the Iraqi government on a range of issues, including the fight against Islamic State, which necessitates travel between the two countries. For instance, Iraqi military pilots train to fly F-16 fighter jets at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Its not clear those pilots, who are active in the fight against Islamic State, could arrive in the U.S. for the training. 1:10 p.m.: This post was updated with White House response. Facebook

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Trump signs order on rulemaking: For every regulation added, agencies have to cut 2 others By Noah Bierman (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump signed an executive order Monday designed to fulfill his campaign pledge reduce red tape for businesses. The two-page order requires that when a federal agency proposes new regulations, it shall identify at least two existing regulations to be repealed. We want to make the life easier for small businesses and big business, Trump said Monday from the Roosevelt Room of the White House, where he met with nine representatives of the small-business sector. Trump said he hoped to see up to 75% of federal regulations eliminated during his presidency. Regulation has been horrible for big business, but its been worse for small business, Trump said. He also reiterated his promise to gut the Dodd-Frank Act, the financial regulatory overhaul that was passed after the financial crisis. Dodd-Frank is a disaster, he said. Were going to be doing a big number on Dodd-Frank. Consumer advocates who backed the law say that eliminating it would help Wall Street and other players in the financial sector at the expense of consumers. Facebook

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U.S. diplomats to protest Trumps travel ban order By Tracy Wilkinson Protesters of President Trumps immigration order block traffic at LAX. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) A number of U.S. diplomats are condemning President Trumps ban on some Muslim immigrants and visitors, saying the abrupt order does not make the U.S. safer and will only stoke anti-American fervor overseas. The complaint, being made through the State Departments so-called dissent channel, echoes criticism coming from human rights attorneys, legal experts and lawmakers from both political parties, as well as world leaders. It is significant because it represents the viewpoint of the men and women who must carry out Trumps unconventional and often provocative foreign policy. A policy which closes our doors to over 200-million legitimate travelers in the hopes of preventing a small number of travelers who intend to harm Americans ... will not achieve its aim of making our country safer, said a draft version of the memo that was circulating Monday and was reviewed by the Los Angeles Times. It was first reported by ABC News. Moreover, such a policy runs counter to core American values of non-discrimination, fair play and extending a warm welcome to foreign visitors and immigrants. The White House was quickly dismissive of the dissent and seemed to suggest the diplomats should quit if they disagree with a policy. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the diplomats raising of opposition does call into question whether or not they should continue to work in the State Department. It was not clear how many officials would sign the memo. Dissent channel memos are in theory not made public. The mechanism is designed to allow diplomats to offer an alternative policy without fear of retaliation. Acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner confirmed the existence of the memo but declined to comment on its contents. The dissent channel is a longstanding official vehicle for State Department employees to convey alternative views and perspectives on policy issues, he said. "... It allows State employees to express divergent policy views candidly and privately to senior leadership. The agency is still waiting for a boss. Trumps pick for secretary of State, former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, is expected to be confirmed by the Senate this week. The last time a dissent-channel memo was reported publicly was last year, when about 50 diplomats protested Obama administration policy in Syria, which they described as inaction. 12:20 p.m.: This story was updated with White House comment. 8:40 a.m.: This story was updated with comment from a State Department spokesman. Facebook

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Trump to announce his Supreme Court choice Tuesday -- in prime time By Michael A. Memoli (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump will announce his first Supreme Court nomination in prime time on Tuesday, he tweeted this morning. I have made my decision on who I will nominate for The United States Supreme Court. It will be announced live on Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. (W.H.)  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2017 The announcement was moved up two days amid the continued fallout from the executive action Trump signed temporarily banning refugee admissions from some countries. Trump had tweeted last week that he would announce his high-court decision Thursday. In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network on Friday, Trump said his administration was doing some final vetting of his choice to replace the late Antonin Scalia, and that the pick would be from among the list of 20 names he issued during the election campaign. I think the person I pick will be big, big, he said. I think people are going to love it. I think evangelicals, Christians will love my pick. And will be represented very fairly. Times Supreme Court reporter David Savage profiled each of the leading contenders: Judge Thomas Hardiman of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and Judge William H. Pryor Jr. from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The move could prompt a major clash with Senate Democrats, who have warned the president against a choice outside what they consider the mainstream. Some are threatening to block any choice in retaliation for Senate Republicans refusal to even hold hearings on President Obamas choice to replace Scalia, Merrick Garland. Democrats 2013 change to Senate rules that allowed most nominations to advance with a simple majority vote exempted Supreme Court nominations, meaning that Democrats could potentially filibuster the choice. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) appeared to rule out any further rule change in an interview last week, though Trump urged him to consider doing so. Facebook

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As Hollywood gathered at the SAG Awards, some entertainers joined LAX protest Facebook

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This New York doctor went to visit family in Sudan, and now hes stuck By Molly Hennessy-Fiske Dr. Kamal Fadlalla (Dr. Kamal Fadlalla / For The Times) Dr. Kamal Fadlalla, a hospital resident who has been working in New York for the last 20 months, was stuck in Sudan on Sunday, having gone there to see his family earlier this month. He had left Jan. 13, was due to return Feb. 4 but tried to return on Friday after hearing about President Trumps executive order on immigration, which suspended entry for people from seven countries, including Sudan. He made it past passport control, all the way to the gate at the airport in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. One hour before departure they called my name, he said, and summoned him to the ticket counter, along with other New York-bound Sudanese passengers. When I got to the counter, they said there was a notice from Customs and Border Protection that ... they had to offload us from the flight. I was shocked. Fadlalla, 33, hoped for a reprieve as other passengers gathered, all stuck. One family, they came back from Dubai, she was a mother of three or four kids. She was waiting overnight at the Dubai airport. There were also two passengers turned back from New York, he said. It was a very tough night on me, He stayed for several hours, then returned to his mothers home in Madani, two hours south. Fadlalla is a second-year resident in internal medicine at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn. He is hoping to specialize in hematology and oncology. The Committee for Interns and Residents found an attorney to represent him, he said, but he had not received any news about how a New York federal judges ruling late Saturday, which halted the deportations of people who had arrived in the U.S. with valid visas, could affect him. I dont know what Im going to do. My vacation is going to end and I have to join the hospital next week. Its going to be tough on me, Fadlalla said. I dont know for how long Im going to stay here. I dont know what Im going to do. My visa is valid for three months. Im really stuck. I have my house there, my utilities, my work, my patients, my colleagues. It was my life for the past 20 months. And Im stuck here. Fadlalla is from northern Sudan, and describes himself as a moderate Muslim. He said the executive order wont make the U.S. safer by barring valid visa holders like him because, Ive been through the whole process of visa interviews. He had planned to take board exams next year, and if he misses them, his schooling will be delayed. He had wanted to stay and work in New York, too. All my life is there. Now Im stuck here. I dont know what to do, he said. Its going to really affect my life, my patients, my colleagues and their work schedule. He said the executive order has shocked others in Sudan, too. Theyre talking about human rights. Everybody knows the United States is about freedom, he said. Everybody knows America is a free country, a country of chances for everybody. Still, people have hope in those protesting at airports all over the United States and attorneys who have volunteered to help immigrants and refugees, he said. He said the order is especially worrying for aspiring Sudanese medical residents who have been preparing to match with a hospital in March to study in the United States. A lot of my colleagues who are preparing for exams are really, really worried about this, Fadlalla said. Im really worried about the future of these young people. They study a lot and spend a lot of money, a lot of effort to enter the United States. Im concerned about my future and my colleagues future. Facebook

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Californias congressional Republicans hold their fire on Trumps refugee order By Sarah D. Wire Only a few of the states 14 Republican representatives have publicly commented on an executive order signed by President Trump on Friday that barred refugees and green card holders from seven countries from entering the country. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) released a statement Sunday night saying that some tweaks are needed, but that his background as chairman of the House Select Intelligence Committee leads him to support the executive order. In light of attempts by jihadist groups to infiltrate fighters into refugee flows to the West, along with Europes tragic experience coping with this problem, the Trump administrations executive order on refugees is a common-sense security measure to prevent terror attacks on the homeland, Nunes said. While accommodations should be made for green card holders and those whove assisted the U.S. armed forces, this is a useful temporary measure on seven nations of concern until we can verify who is entering the United States. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) told the Washington Post that the executive order is the right call to keep America safe, but he hopes the cases of people traveling on visas who were prevented from reentering the country are resolved quickly. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) said Sunday on Twitter that the rollout has created confusion, and that executive orders arent the way to fix the countrys long-term problems. View Twitter post View Twitter post Several of Californias 38 Democratic congressional representatives and the states two senators were out in force over the weekend demanding the release of refugees and green card holders as well as an end to the executive order. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced she would file two pieces of legislation in response. One would immediately rescind the presidents order. The second would limit executive authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to prevent a president from unilaterally banning groups of immigrants. Its clear that the president gave little consideration to the chaos and heartbreak that would result from this order, she said in a statement. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) joined protesters outside the White House on Sunday afternoon. We will fight against racism. We will fight against anti-Muslim rhetoric. We will fight against those who will marginalize who we are. pic.twitter.com/R54f3MDhvo  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 29, 2017 In Los Angeles, Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) joined protesters at Los Angeles International Airport. On Saturday, Reps. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), Nanette Barragan (D-San Pedro) and Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) joined the initial protests at the airport, and worked to get some of those being held released. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) accompanied protesters at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday. Congresswoman @MaxineWaters is here at LAX protest leading the crowd in the chant "no ban, no wall, you build it up we'll tear it down" pic.twitter.com/iNEmkVVkmW  Javier Panzar  (@jpanzar) January 29, 2017 Facebook

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Legal moves come too late for Iranian man who arrived at LAX after Trumps order By Matt Hamilton Ali Vayeghan arrived at 7:15 p.m. Friday from Tehran. He was going to stay with relatives, then go to Indiana, to join his wife, who arrived in the U.S. four months ahead of him, and his son. But he never emerged from customs. His niece said he was put on a plane to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. The ACLU was trying to prevent his deportation but arrived with paperwork 45 minutes too late. The family spoke to him by phone after he landed in Dubai, where he was waiting to be put on a flight to Tehran. Hes literally crying in the airport in Dubai, Ali Vayeghans niece, Marjan Vayghan, said. On Sunday afternoon, a federal judge in Los Angeles ordered authorities to transport Vayeghan back to the U.S. and admit him under the terms of his visa, which is set to expire Feb. 14. U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee said in her order that Vayeghan had demonstrated a strong likelihood of success in establishing that removal violates the Establishment Clause, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and his rights to Equal Protection guaranteed by the United States Constitution. But by the time the order came down, Vayeghan was on a plane bound for Tehran. Federal judge in LA has issued order allowing Iranian man deported from LAX yesterday to be admitted to US pic.twitter.com/yPth0xEQpv  Matt Hamilton (@MattHjourno) January 29, 2017 Facebook

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The political climate is a hot topic at the Screen Actors Guild awards The Actor statue watches over the red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium. (Matt Sayles / Invision / Associated Press) Stars on the red carpet and at the winners podium tonight in Los Angeles are not keeping their mouths shut on current affairs. The 23rd Screen Actors Guild awards are being held at the Shrine Auditorium. Heres what they have had to say so far: I want you all to know that I am the daughter of an immigrant. My father fled religious persecution in Nazi-occupied France, and Im an American patriot, and I love this country, and because I love this country, I am horrified by its blemishes and this immigrant ban is a blemish and it is un-American.  Julia Louis-Dreyfus, accepting her award for her role in Veep We need to vote. Had we all voted, we wouldnt be here. You dont like it, you dont have nothing to say if you didnt vote. Get a clipboard, get organized and get in it. Dont sit back on the sidelines. Get in it. This is a fight for the country right now. Its worth fighting for.  Courtney B. Vance, nominated for his performance in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story For the first time ever in my lifetime, Ive been concerned about where its going to go. It doesnt seem to be that its going to go in a very positive direction.  Claire Foy, nominated for her role as Queen Elizabeth in the Netflix series The Crown Read More Facebook

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Green card holders will not be blocked by Trumps order, Homeland Security says By David Lauter (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) The Trump administration backed away from one of the most controversial parts of its new executive order on immigration Sunday evening, saying that permanent U.S. residents in most cases will not be affected by the new rules. Since the president issued the order Friday, confusion has been rampant over the effects on permanent residents, noncitizens who hold so-called green cards that allow them to live and work legally in the U.S. Many were stopped and detained at airports for many hours on Friday and Saturday and, in some cases, reported that they had been threatened with being returned to their home countries. An undetermined number of other green card holders were stopped from boarding U.S.-bound planes. Late Sunday, however, the secretary of Homeland Security, retired Gen. John Kelly, issued a statement changing the policy. Statement By Secretary John Kelly On The Entry Of Lawful Permanent Residents Into The United States  https://t.co/Es1qivoR3J pic.twitter.com/hffMK2MOQC  Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 29, 2017 I hereby deem the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interest, Kelly wrote. Green card holders from one of the seven countries covered by the 90-day ban will still need to request a waiver to gain reentry to the U.S. if they have traveled abroad. But unless officials have significant derogatory information about a green card holder that indicates a serious threat to public safety and welfare, lawful permanent resident status will be a dispositive factor in deciding the case, Kellys statement said. A White House official, briefing reporters about the change in policy, said that about 170 people have applied for a waiver to the ban so far, and all 170 have received a waiver and have been allowed to enter the U.S. The seven countries affected by the ban are Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Facebook

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Uber fights immigration order -- and #DeleteUber hashtag -- with $3-million legal fund for drivers By Tracey Lien Hours after Lyfts co-founders announced a $1-million donation to the American Civil Liberties Union to defend the

Constitution, Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick pulled out his pocket book as well. Kalanick promised in a Facebook post that the company would create a $3-million legal defense fund to help drivers affected by the Trump administrations move to restrict immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries. The fund will help drivers with immigration and translation services. Kalanick also said the San Francisco ride-hailing company will provide 24/7 legal support to drivers stuck outside the country and compensate them for lost earnings. Drivers eligible for assistance were directed to contact the company via an online form. Although the announcement was greeted with some support on Facebook and Twitter, many saw it as too little too late. The company had come under fire a day earlier for advertising on Twitter that it was operating at New Yorks Kennedy International Airport during a taxi strike protesting the executive order. That gaffe, coupled with Kalanicks involvement in a panel advising President Trump on economic issues, helped spawn the Twitter hashtag #DeleteUber, which encouraged customers to delete the app from their phones in protest. You are 20 hours too late, one person wrote in response to Kalanicks Facebook post. Still deleted my account today, wrote another. Though Kalanick issued a statement on Saturday opposing the executive order, it didnt stop thousands of Twitter users from adopting the trending the #DeleteUber hashtag to decry Ubers actions. They accused the company of attempting to profit from the strike and prioritizing business interests over a moral imperative. Celebrities also jumped on the bandwagon, with actor and activist George Takei on Sunday tweeting to his 2.9 million followers: Lyft donates $1mil to ACLU while Uber doubles down on its support for Trump. #DeleteUber. Facebook

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75-year-old grandmother from Iran tells the story of her detention at LAX By Alene Tchekmedyian Siavosh Naji-Talakar of Phoenix hugs his grandmother Marzieh Moosavizadeh after she was released from detention at LAX early Sunday morning. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Marzieh Moosavizadeh and her grandson follow a routine when she visits almost every year from Iran. The 75-year-old, who travels in a wheelchair and speaks little English, struggles to find direct flights to Phoenix, where he and his family live. So they meet in Los Angeles and he escorts her on the last leg of her trip. This time was different. Moosavizadeh landed at Los Angeles International Airport a day after President Trump signed an executive order banning citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, from entering the United States. Read More Facebook

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GOP senators call executive order a self-inflicted wound. Trump calls them wrong and weak By Matt Ballinger McCain and Graham in 2013. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John McCain of Arizona released a statement Sunday saying that confusion at U.S. airports shows that President Trumps executive order on immigration was not properly vetted. Such a hasty process risks harmful results, the Republicans statement read. We should not stop green-card holders from returning to the country they call home. We should not stop those who have served as interpreters for our military and diplomats from seeking refuge in the country they risked their lives to help. And we should not turn our backs on those refugees who have been shown through extensive vetting to pose no demonstrable threat to our nation. It went on: Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism. The president responded on Twitter: The joint statement of former presidential candidates John McCain & Lindsey Graham is wrong - they are sadly weak on immigration. The two...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017 ...Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017 Facebook

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At least 600 people wait to greet Syrians arriving in Phoenix By Nigel Duara Elijah Chavez and Brandi Hernandez protest in Phoenix (Nigel Duara/Los Angeles Times) A Phoenix-bound British Airways flight was scheduled to arrive from London at Sunday evening carrying several Syrians. A protest of about 600 people was waiting at a Phoenix international airport terminal for the flight to arrive. The outcome when these people arrive is uncertain at best, said Tanveer Shah, an Arizona attorney in private practice who volunteers with the ACLU. Shah said Syrians on board the flight would, in the best case, walk off the plane without a problem. But given the outcomes in other cities on Saturday and Sunday, Shah said it was incumbent on civil liberties attorneys to be there when the plane arrives. We have staff attorneys here ... who are prepared to file emergency pleadings, Shah said. Facebook

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When Muslims got blocked at American airports, U.S. veterans rushed to help By Matt Pearce (G. Morty Ortega / Getty Images) Jeffrey Buchalter was reflooring his foyer in Chesapeake Beach, Md., and listening to MSNBC over the weekend when he heard the news: An Iraqi who had worked with American forces as an interpreter had been stopped from entering the U.S. under a new executive order on immigration from President Trump. The story stopped him cold. Buchalter, an Army veteran who works as a law-enforcement instructor at the Department of Homeland Security, had served multiple tours of duty as a military policeman in Iraq, service that cost him dearly. He was decorated for injuries sustained from gunfire and improvised explosive devices. Exams revealed hed suffered herniated discs, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, and he spent 2  years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center trying to get right. But he was still alive, and now the married father of two children. And he believes thats thanks in part to the work of Iraqi interpreters who acted as guides during his work in their country. So he told his younger daughter and son they were going to take a trip: a two-hour drive to Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., where, for the first time in his life, Buchalter would join a protest. Read More Facebook

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Demonstrators against Trumps immigration limits  and a few who like them  surge through LAX By Javier Panzar The crowd at LAX is getting bigger and bigger. pic.twitter.com/dJ281TETXj  Javier Panzar  (@jpanzar) January 29, 2017 Thousands of people filled the international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday afternoon to call for the release of an unknown number of people being detained by immigration authorities. Filling the arrivals section of the terminal and spilling into the street outside, the throng chanted, Let them in, and Love, not hate, makes America great. Jacob Kemper, a 35-year-old Army veteran who fought two tours in Iraq, said he was infuriated to think soldiers he fought alongside might be denied entry to the country. I really dont care about religion, but I really hate oppression, he said, holding a sign that read, I Fought Next To Muslims. Shay Soltani, a network engineer, fled the Iranian revolution 40 years ago and still has family members in Iran. She doesnt know if she will be able to see them again. As she and hundreds of others marched through the airport, she said she was horrified by Trumps order. I am so hurt by this, she said. He is against freedom of speech and the constitution and everything I believe in as an American. Meanwhile, about a dozen counter-protesters popped up on the other side of the street, holding signs that said X-treme vetting and Keep Refugees Out. They said they were tired of immigrants entering the U.S. illegally, which they said jeopardizes the safety of American citizens. Chanell Temple, 63, of Los Angeles said she was sick of watching immigrants here illegally steal benefits and services from American citizens, specifically veterans and homeless people who need aid. I worked out here for 40 years and they are coming here and taking everything away, said Temple, a former bookkeeper who said she lost her job and healthcare after she was fired for an inability to speak Spanish. Raul Rodriguez Jr., coordinator of a group called America First Latinos, said he was concerned about what he considers a surge in crimes committed against Americans by those who are in the country illegally. They are lawbreakers. They have violated federal law and they need to be deported, he said. Facebook

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Silicon Valley execs speak out against immigration ban By Tracey Lien Technology executives are speaking out against President Trumps executive order on immigration, highlighting how the ban hurts their businesses. Leaders of companies that include Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Dropbox and Twitter denounced it over the weekend. Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do, said Apple chief executive Tim Cook in a memo to employees. In my conversations with officials here in Washington this week, Ive made it clear that Apple believes deeply in the importance of immigration  both to our company and to our nations future. General Electric Co. chief executive Jeff Immelt said Sunday that businesses with global operations must balance working with the new administration while also supporting their workers and partners. We have many employees from the named countries and we do business all over the region, Immelt said in a statement. These employees and customers are critical to our success and they are our friends and partners. We stand with them and will work with the U.S. administration to strive to find the balance between the need for security and the movement of law abiding people. Facebook

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LAX protest grows as families wait Meg Heatherly, 27, of Los Angeles holds a Shame sign during a protest at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Facebook

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L.A. city attorney barred from seeing detainees at LAX By James Queally Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer said he was repeatedly denied access to federal detainees or an attorney who could discuss the situation with him at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Federal officials have declined to discuss the LAX detentions or respond to Feuers criticisms. While he was at the airport, Feuer said he was approached by a woman who claimed her father, suffering from Parkinsons disease, was among the detainees. It is those kind of real stories that are at stake because of this outrageous action by the feds. It is time not only for officials in my position, but all Americans, should find this a breathtaking violation of rights.  Mike Feuer Read More Facebook

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Democratic attorneys general from 15 states condemn Trump immigration order By Ann M. Simmons California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) More than a dozen Democratic attorneys general from states across the country have condemned the Trump administrations executive order suspending acceptance of refugees and have vowed to oppose it to ensure that as few people as possible suffer from the chaotic situation that it has created. In a communique Sunday, the group said: As the chief legal officers for over 130 million Americans and foreign residents of our states, we condemn President Trumps unconstitutional, un-American and unlawful Executive Order and will work together to ensure the federal government obeys the Constitution, respects our history as a nation of immigrants, and does not unlawfully target anyone because of their national origin or faith. The executive order places an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and prohibits citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering as refugees for four months. It also places a suspension on admissions of other citizens of those countries. The legal officials represent 15 states. They include California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and his contemporaries in Washington, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia. Religious liberty has been, and always will be, a bedrock principle of our country, and no president can change that truth, the attorneys general said in the statement. They praised the decision of multiple federal courts to order a stay on some aspects of the order. We are confident that the Executive Order will ultimately be struck down by the courts, the statement said. Facebook

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13 people who had been detained at LAX have been released, source says By James Queally Protesters at LAX on Sunday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Thirteen people who were detained Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airports Terminal 2 were eventually released, a law enforcement source told The Times. Each of them held green cards, which grant permanent residency in the U.S. The source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation at the airport, could not provide detention figures for the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which has been the center of protest activity. Thats where protesters were gathering Sunday. Nurse Jamie Shoemaker, 51, of Los Angeles held an American flag in one hand and carried a sign that read, Muslims are welcome here, racists and fascists are not. She called Trumps order un-American. This is not the country I want, she said. This is not the country I grew up in. Read More Facebook

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Democrats in Congress drafting legislation to repeal Trumps refugee ban, pressuring GOP for support By Lisa Mascaro Sen. Chuck Schumer becomes emotional speaking against Pres. Trump's immigration order, calling it "mean-spirited and un-American." pic.twitter.com/NkhUdpaNyV  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 29, 2017 Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Democrats will introduce legislation as soon as Monday to stop President Trumps actions temporarily banning refugees and arrivals from certain Muslim countries. House Democrats are taking similar legislative action, and lawmakers from both chambers will rally Monday evening at the Supreme Court to protest Trumps orders. This executive order was mean-spirited and un-American, said Schumer, the New York Democrat, choking up as he stood with immigrants and refugees at a press conference Sunday. It must be reversed immediately. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said House Democrats are exploring legal options, including an amicus brief in support of the ACLU lawsuit against the actions. The chances of passing a bill through the Republican-controlled Congress are slim, as most GOP leaders and lawmakers have not objected to Trumps ban. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday that while he was personally opposed to a religious test on admissions, it was best left to the courts to resolve the issue. Its hopefully going to be decided in the courts as to whether or not this has gone too far, McConnell said on ABCs This Week. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) expressed his support Friday for Trumps action. A handful of Republicans, though, are uneasy with Trumps orders, and have spoken against them. Schumer noted that just few more Republicans would be needed to reach the 60-vote threshold for advancing Senate legislation. Maybe we can pass something in Congress, Schumer said. Its up to Republicans. Facebook

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Emotional reunion at JFK airport after release of elderly Sudanese man from immigration detention By Barbara Demick Tears and hugs at JFK's international arrivals as a detainee is released, reuniting father with son. More families wait, cheering. pic.twitter.com/WrVpoocWjY  Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) January 29, 2017 For those immigrants temporarily detained under a new Trump administration executive order at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport, attorneys have put a priority on getting some of the older detainees released to their families. One small victory for the lawyers was the case of Yassin Abdelrhman, a 76-year-old green card holder from Sudan who had been detained after a trip home to visit family. He was released about noon on Sunday after being detained for 30 hours. Soon, he was reunited with his sons. He is a strong individual, but he has some health challenges, said U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who had been working on their case. Facebook

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Iranian director Asghar Farhadi will not attend Oscars Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi after winning an Oscar in 2012. ((Allen J. Schaben/ Los Angeles Times) ) In a statement to the New York Times today, Oscar-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi said he no longer planned to attend this years ceremony. Farhadis film The Salesman is nominated in the foreign language film category. Farhadi had initially hoped to attend despite the prohibition on visitors from Iran. But he said he had decided the possibility of this presence is being accompanied by ifs and buts which are in no way acceptable to me even if exceptions were to be made for my trip. Read More Facebook

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How an Iranian Fulbright scholar got into the U.S.: We found a lawyer who found a lawyer who found a lawyer By Barbara Demick Iranian students in front of a makeshift law office in JFKs Terminal 4. (Barbara Demick / Los Angeles Times) Perhaps nothing encapsulates the chaos emanating from President Trumps executive order better than what happened with Ukrainian Airlines Flight 232. The regularly scheduled flight to Kiev had to turn around on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy Airport early Sunday after a federal judge issued a stay of a deportation order of dozens of foreigners, including a 32-year-old Iranian linguist who is a doctoral candidate and former Fulbright scholar. With just minutes to spare, Vahideh Rasekhi -- helped by volunteer lawyers and her smart phone  managed to prevent the flight from taking off. She had arrived Saturday afternoon, but was blocked from entering the United States by the executive order barring arrivals of citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia and Libya. Around midnight, she was put on the Ukrainian Air flight to return to Tehran, via Kiev. We found a lawyer who found a lawyer who found a lawyer, said Mehdi Namazi, 29, a friend who has been waiting for her at the airport. The lawyers were showing officials a copy of the order issued a few hours earlier by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly in Brooklyn. It was all very confusing. They were arguing as the plane was taxiing, Namazi said. According to one lawyer, Melissa Trent, Rasekhi herself was walking up and down the aisles arguing for the plane not to take off. She knew that if the plane left she would never get back to the United States again, Trent said. Rasekhi spent most of Sunday in detention with other Iranians, but was released into the United States at around 3 p.m.. A dozen Iranian friends had been waiting inside the airports Terminal 4 amid a clutter of discarded coffee cups and half-eaten donuts in front of a diner that had been turned into a makeshift law office. Another Iranian student was waiting for her parents, who were taken into detention after arriving on another flight I havent seen them in 3-1/2 years. They dont speak English. But Im hopeful, said the student, who gave her name as Sahar. The students were both furious at the way their country had been targeted by Trumps order and touched by the outpouring of support from the volunteer lawyers. We see two different Americas here. There is this order banning us, and than there are all these people here who came to the airport. If it werent for these volunteers, she would have been deported, said Namazi. Im very depressed. We feel betrayed by this country that we invested so much energy and hope into. We are all graduate students, professors, PhDs, engineers. To say this is for national security, it doesnt add up, said Tahmineh Tabrizian, 33, another friend of Rasekhis. She said her own parents had planned to come to the United States and had spent $14,000 on tickets and visas and would now have to cancel their trip. Rasekhi, who has lived in the United States for a decade, was a Fulbright scholar at UC Santa Barbara and received a masters degree at Fresno State University, according to a resume supplied by one of her friends. She had been studying for a PhD at Stony Brook University on Long Island. She had gone to Tehran over the Christmas break to visit her parents and was on her way back to resume her studies when she was detained. Facebook

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Protests begin again at LAX on Sunday morning By Genaro Molina Facebook

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Protesters in Tel Aviv compare Trump immigration order to Israeli refugee policies By Joshua Mitnick Demonstrators in Tel Aviv protest U.S. President Trumps new immigration order. (Joshua Mitnick / Los Angeles Times) Holding signs reading Refugees Welcome and chanting No Ban, No Wall, Sanctuary for All, several dozen demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv on Sunday to join protests in the U.S. against President Trumps new immigration policy. Mia Zur Szpiro, a 36-year-old filmmaker, said she felt compelled to demonstrate because her parents survived the Holocaust. We are a country of immigrants, and to me it was astounding that this [order] was passed on Holocaust Memorial Day, she said. Its wrong to stereotype, and its wrong to send people who are in need back into the face of danger and the risk of death. Elliot Vaisbrub Glassenberg, a protest organizer and migrant rights activist, compared the new U.S. policy to Israeli policies toward tens of thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese migrants who crossed into the country illegally from Egypts Sinai desert. The policies that Trump has enacted are no worse than the policies that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu has enacted for years here  such as not allowing any non-Jews to be given refugee status in Israel, except for a select few. Togod Omar, a native of Sudan who was at the protest, said he applied for political asylum in Israel three years ago, and is still waiting. He said Sudanese friends hoping to be resettled in the U.S. were upset by the new executive order. Trump doesnt understand whats going on in Sudan, Omar said. You cant punish the Sudanese people for what the Islamic government is doing. You cant banish someone because of their religion. Facebook

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President Trump hits majority disapproval in record time, Gallup finds By David Lauter Days until achieving MAJORITY disapproval from @Gallup



Reagan: 727

Bush I: 1336

Clinton: 573

Bush II: 1205

Obama: 936



Trump: 8. days. pic.twitter.com/kv2fy0Qsbp  Will Jordan (@williamjordann) January 29, 2017 President Trumps actions during his first week in office have appeared to be aimed at the voters who already supported him, not at reaching out to the rest, and thats taken a rapid toll on his support, which was already historically low. Gallup, which has measured job approval for presidents for decades, shows Trumps approval so far at 45%, with 48% disapproving. Thats an average of several days polling. The daily trend lines are not kind to the new administration. As of Saturday, 51% of Americans disapproved of Trumps performance. Thats a record for the speed of getting to majority disapproval. By comparison, President George W. Bush hit majority disapproval six months into his second term, in June 2005, and remained in negative territory for the rest of his tenure. President Obama did not hit 51% disapproval until August of 2011, during the crisis over the federal debt ceiling that summer. His approval rebounded later that year, but he had a second period of majority disapproval during late 2013 and much of 2014. He ended his term with widespread approval and 37% of Americans disapproving. Trump Job Approval: Approve 45% (-1); Disapprove 48% (+3). Get the full trend https://t.co/BjTUhf0NAM.  GallupNews (@GallupNews) January 27, 2017 Facebook

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Hundreds of travelers were caught in limbo over rushed visa ban By Brian Bennett (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Hundreds of travelers were blocked from entering the U.S. or prevented from boarding flights in the hours after President Trump signed his order banning arrivals from seven predominantly Muslim countries, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In the order, Trump temporarily suspended refugee admissions and banned travelers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Scores of people from those countries were aboard airplanes flying toward the U.S. when Trump signed his executive order on Friday afternoon, setting off waves of confusion among border officials and the traveling public. Upon landing at U.S. airports, 109 people from the listed countries were detained by immigration officials and prevented from entering the U.S., officials said. The department had approved 81 waivers to the new travel ban by Saturday afternoon, the official said, but at least some of the people detained on arrival were sent back to their countries of origin. Court orders issued Saturday evening required U.S. border officials to stop returning people who had already arrived with valid visas. It is unclear how many people were deported before the orders were issued. It is also unclear if the Trump administration has fully complied with those orders. In addition to the people who arrived in the U.S. and were detained, as of 3 p.m. on Saturday, an additional 173 travelers from the listed countries had been stopped from boarding flights to the U.S., a Homeland Security official said in a statement. The department did not make an official available to describe the actions and the agencys response. As many as 3,250 travelers may have been inconvenienced by the new visa restrictions, officials for the department said in a statement Sunday. Yesterday, less than 1% of the more than 325,000 international air travelers who arrive every day were inconvenienced while enhanced security measures were implemented, the statement read. The department will comply with court orders, the statement said. But no evidence was given to confirm this. Lawyers seeking to meet with detainees at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington and at San Francisco have said that they were blocked by officials on Sunday. The Department of Homeland Security will comply with judicial orders, faithfully enforce our immigration laws, and implement President Trumps executive orders to ensure that those entering the United States do not pose a threat to our country or the American people, according to the departments statement. All of the visa holders and travelers from the listed countries blocked from entering the U.S. since Friday already had gone through multiple steps of security screening that checked their biographical information and travel history against U.S. terrorism databases. Facebook

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White House seems to back down on part of new vetting policy By Christi Parsons The White House on Sunday appeared to back down on a key part of President Trumps tough new immigration order, signaling that travelers trying to enter the country from seven banned countries will be allowed in if they hold green cards. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said that these legal permanent residents are exempt from the travel ban moving forward, even though over the weekend other administration officials said the rule did apply to them. The apparent reversal came amid a national controversy over the new Trump order that temporarily halts the entry of all refugees to the U.S. and any traveler from seven majority Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Federal judges across the country have blocked parts of the presidents executive actions since they came down on Friday, mostly preventing the deportation of some travelers who ran into the first wave of implementation over the weekend. The back-and-forth over the green-card holders reflected a generalized confusion about the new order, which also bars Syrian refugees from entering the United States indefinitely. Lawyers for some of the affected immigrants said border agents seemed uncertain about the new rules and were disagreeing with one another about which travelers were affected and which were not. Further complicating the picture was a statement from the Department of Homeland Security asserting that its agents would enforce all of Trumps orders while also complying with judicial orders. As some of the orders block deportation, that left individual officers to try to figure out which priorities to honor. Facebook

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Op-Ed: Trumps cruel, illegal refugee executive order By Erwin Chemerinsky Protesters demonstrate at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on Saturday. (Stephanie Keith / Getty Images) Barring individuals fleeing persecution from entering the United States is simply inhumane. Adding irony to injury, Trumps executive order was issued on Holocaust Remembrance Day, which should have been an occasion to atone for turning away refugees during the 1930ssome of whom then died in concentration camps. For example, in 1939, the United States turned away the St. Louis, a boat filled with refugees, many of them German Jews. According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 254 passengers from the St. Louis died in the Holocaust.  Erwin Chemerinsky Read More Facebook

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Lyft pledges to donate $1 million to ACLU following Trumps immigration order By Tracey Lien (Richard Vogel / Associated Press) Tech executives had been mostly quiet for the first week of Donald Trumps presidency  but that changed after his controversial executive order restricting refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries. Executive after executive spent Saturday tweeting and posting messages to Facebook decrying the administrations actions. Lyft co-founders John Zimmer and Logan Green went a step further: On Sunday, they announced they would donate $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union over the next four years. Banning people of a particular faith or creed, race or identity, sexuality or ethnicity, from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft and our nations core values, the co-founders wrote in an email to Lyft customers. We stand firmly against the actions, and will no
Good morning. Its Wednesday, Jan. 18, and heres whats happening across California:

TOP STORIES

Gas facility battle

The troubled Aliso Canyon underground natural gas storage field is safe to reopen at a third of its original size, state regulators announced Tuesday, even though the cause of a massive leak that forced thousands to flee their homes has not been determined. The finding sets up an all-out battle over the future of the site near Porter Ranch, the scene of the largest methane gas leak in United States history. Los Angeles Times

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Neighborhood watch

Snapchats growth in the Venice area has crowded out other businesses. Now, there is word the tech giant is moving some operations to Santa Monica Business Park. The strategy could reflect Snaps acknowledgement that additional Venice development would blunt the creative diversity and bohemian vibrancy that drew it to the locale five years ago. But some residents feel the damage is already done. Los Angeles Times

Rail fight

A confidential estimate by federal regulators that the cost of Californias bullet train project could jump significantly has prompted critics of the $64-billion Los Angeles-to-San Francisco rail effort to call for new investigations and proponents to disclaim reports that project costs are growing. Los Angeles Times

Plus: Can Donald Trump pull the plug on high-speed rail? Wall Street Journal

L.A. STORIES

On the coast: On the Palos Verdes Peninsula, there was an unlikely declaration of independence for outsider surfers  including nonwhites  that it was safe to hit the waves after years of intimidation. Los Angeles Times

Beer here: More evidence West Adams is rapidly becoming one of L.A.s gentrification powerhouses. Eater Los Angeles

Thinking green: Santa Monica is getting a new park. Santa Monica Mirror

Transparent justice: The new glass-house federal courthouse in downtown L.A. makes such good use of natural light that it needs very little artificial light during the day. The Architects Newspaper

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Politicians rise: How Jason Frierson went from growing up on the streets of Compton to the incoming speaker of the Nevada assembly, one of that states most powerful political leaders. The Nevada Independent

Reform idea: A Los Angeles lawmaker has called for the city to move to a public financing system for local elections, saying it would help address fears that wealthy donors buy influence at City Hall. Los Angeles Times

Ailing leader: UC President Janet Napolitano was hospitalized in what officials described as complications from cancer treatment. East Bay Times

Moving on: After months of speculation, San Diego County Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis has now confirmed she will not seek reelection in 2018. And its possible shell step down early. San Diego Union-Tribune

CRIME AND COURTS

Ruling: A San Bernardino County judge on Tuesday ruled that prosecutors could call numerous journalists to testify in the ongoing public corruption trial of a former county supervisor and others. Los Angeles Times

Eyes in the sky: The L.A. Sheriffs Department plans to use drones, and that is generating protests. Los Angeles Times

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

The big picture: The snowpack is back, but the groundwater crisis in California continues. Bloomberg

Deadly storms: The death toll continued to rise from last weeks epic storms. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

They wear it well: In San Francisco, keeping the art of the old-fashioned costume gown alive. San Francisco Chronicle

Milk money: If you bought California milk in the last decade, you could be due a refund. SFGate

Gruesome find: A zebra that once belonged to a collection of wild animals at Hearst Ranch was found dead and skinned on a San Simeon beach Saturday after heavy rains carried it down a creek and into the sea. Los Angeles Times

How much? The average 20% down payment for a house in Silicon Valley? $192,320  the price of a whole house in many parts of the country. Mercury News

Sage advice: Betty White at 95. Yahoo News

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area and San Diego: Cloudy with rain in the evening; highs in the low 60s. San Francisco area: Rainy with highs in the mid-50s. Sacramento: Rainy with highs in the low 50s. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

Todays California memory comes from John Whitaker:

My family moved to La Crescenta when I was in second grade and my sister was in first grade. Our house was located one half block from our grammar school. With Inauguration Day happening this Friday, I am reminded of that special day in January 1953 when my mother invited my fourth-grade class and my sisters third-grade class to walk to our house from school to sit on the floor and watch the inauguration ceremony for President Eisenhower on our small television set. Both teachers were excited that their students could watch history being made.

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.
Today the Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether the federal government can refuse to register a trademark because it contains an ethnic slur. If the court remains true to the 1st Amendment and its own precedents, it will answer no.

The case involves not the Washington Redskins  although the team has been involved in similar litigation in a lower court  but an Asian American rock band from Portland called the Slants. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied it trademark protection, citing a law that prohibits registration for names that may disparage ... persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt or disrepute.

The government insists that the laws so-called disparagement clause isnt a violation of the 1st Amendment because the band is free to use the name  it just wont have the exclusive right to profit off its celebrity through the sale of Slants-emblazoned T-shirts, guitar picks and other trademarked merchandise. Thats not the point. Denying the Slants trademark registration withholds a generally available benefit (protection against infringement) based on the content of their speech. That punishes speech.

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The government is also citing a 2015 Supreme Court decision that upheld Texas refusal to issue specialty license plates for a group that incorporated the Confederate battle flag in its logo. The court unconvincingly held that such plates, which were issued for a fee to an array of groups that customized them with their own messages, constituted government speech.

Just as a state is not required to place racist, misogynistic, or bigoted terms on license plates issued by the state, the government says in one of its briefs, the PTO is not required to use its resources to issue certificates of registration for marks containing disparaging terms, publish them in the PTOs Official Gazette and record them on the Principal Register.

The court should reject any suggestion that the patent office is engaging in government speech simply by publishing the names of registered trademarks in a directory.

The federal appeals court that ruled for the Slants offered a much better description of the situation than the one offered by the patent office. The government regulation at issue amounts to viewpoint discrimination, and thus was unconstitutional, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said.

We find the name Redskins objectionable and wish the team would change it. Were less offended by the Slants, but recognize that some might object to the name despite the fact that its Asian American members see it as reappropriating a racial slur.

Private individuals, and newspaper editorial boards, are free to express such opinions. But under the 1st Amendment, the government cant pick and choose which speech will be protected and which will be penalized. A trademark amounts to no more of a government endorsement of a point of view than a patent for an invention, a copyright for a book or a permit to hold a rally. The court should remind the patent office that its proper role is to protect intellectual property rights; its not a censor.

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As the oil market ended the week with prices lower by 3 percent, the world looks to the Chinese economy for signs of underlying problems, being the second largest oil consumer in the world. (Photo : Twitter)

As the oil market ended the week with prices lower by 3 percent, the world looks to the Chinese economy for signs of underlying problems, being the second largest oil consumer in the world. This is despite the performance of Chinese crude imports last December, which was recorded at 8.6 million barrels per day.



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Brent and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures both suffered a three percent decreased. The former closed the week with oil prices at $55.45, while the latter fell to $52.37, according to an article by news.com.au.



"China right now seems more interested in keeping capital in the country than focusing on growth overall," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Chicago-based Price Futures Group, in an interview with Reuters.



"We have to watch this situation develop because this is one threat to what is otherwise wildly bullish scenario for oil in the coming year."



Production Cuts Lead to Supply Issue



Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia continues to support the market supplies despite lower production levels. Compared to recorded figures in February 2015, Saudi Arabia was only able to produce results of below 10 million barrels per day. The top oil producer expects lesser output on the following weeks due to deeper cuts.



According to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), however, there has been no evidence of export reductions since the year started.



"Compliance won't be 100 percent; it never is," said an OPEC source to Reuters. Based on past compliance levels, an overall compliance rate of 50 to 60 percent would suffice.



Libya has stepped up its oil production efforts, producing up to 750,000 barrels per day.



"I think the bigger issues for oil are less about demand right now and a lot more about the supply condition," said Rob Haworth, a senior investment strategist in Seattle-based U.S. Bank Wealth Management.



"EIA data and our government policies have to leave you thinking that a U.S. production response may unwind all the production cuts Saudi Arabia and others are planning," Haworth told Reuters.


Donald Trump will not be the first president upstaged by a mass demonstration of women. The consequences depend on whether both he and modern-day feminists learn from their predecessors experience.

When Woodrow Wilson pulled into Washingtons Union Station the day before his inauguration 104 years ago, the massive hall echoed emptily, as did streets outside the ornate railway stop.

Where are all the people? the dismayed president-elect asked.

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Watching the suffrage parade, the police replied.

Half a mile away, thousands of spectators mobbed sidewalks to witness the first peaceful civil rights demonstration in American history. Approximately 8,000 women, dressed mostly in white, paraded from the Capitol to the Treasury Department to put Wilson on notice that they expected him to change.

The most overtly anti-feminist president became the foremost proponent of universal suffrage.

A progressive supporter of labor and banking reform, Wilson nonetheless opposed womens suffrage. Women who spoke in public gave him a chilled, scandalized feeling, Wilson informed his fiancee. In the 1912 presidential campaign, the Democrat told his staff that he was definitely and irreconcilably opposed to woman suffrage, that a womans place was in the home, and the type of woman who took an active part in the suffrage agitation was totally abhorrent to him.

Feminists despised him in return. They supported Teddy Roosevelts Bull Moose Party, the first to formally endorse womens right to vote. When World War I erupted, suffragists picketed the White House with placards comparing Wilson to the hated German kaiser. The president initially tipped his hat to the protesters he found ridiculous, but eventually had them arrested and jailed.

Wilsons reeducation began with the womens suffrage march that preceded his inauguration. The 1913 parade featured nine bands, four mounted brigades, 20 floats, phalanxes of marchers carrying roses, a dozen foreign delegations and a climactic street performance.

For the next five years, suffrage leaders tirelessly petitioned the president, hewing strictly to a single bold demand to keep their otherwise diverse coalition intact: the vote. As president, Wilson found himself forced to meet routinely with both men and women whose views on gender equality opposed his. Feminist activism gradually changed Wilsons thinking. In 1915, he cast his vote in New Jersey to give women the vote there, though he continued to resist a federal amendment  partly for fear of alienating Southern Democrats who did not wish to augment the pool of black voters.

World War I provided the final push. Suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt organized women to support the American war effort, for which Wilson was profoundly grateful. The Navy and Marines broke with tradition and enlisted more than 13,000 women, whose domestic military service freed men to go abroad. Thousands more volunteered with the Salvation Army, Red Cross and YWCA. In addition to nurses, the Army recruited 223 women who sailed to France with the U.S. Signal Corps and braved bombardment to handle telecommunications.

Wilson did an about-face. In October 1918, he asked the U.S. Senate to honor those who had served upon the very skirts and edges of the battle itself by ratifying the 19th Amendment. The most overtly anti-feminist president became the foremost proponent of universal suffrage.

Much as it was a century ago, the United States is at a flex point in relations between the sexes. The first woman nominated by a major party for the nations highest office was defeated by a man notorious for disparaging and even assaulting women.

During his campaign, Trump called female reporters pigs and dogs, downplayed sexual harassment in the workplace, suggested women be jailed for abortions, and mocked the only woman to run in the Republican primaries, Carly Fiorina. Look at that face! the former beauty pageant owner exclaimed. Would anyone vote for that? Trumps attitude is crasser than Wilsons, but so is our era. Likewise, Saturdays Womens March on Washington will no doubt be a less decorous affair than the 1913 parade.

Can Trump redeem himself? That depends on him pressuring members of his own party to support measures aimed at gender equality, as Wilson did. Can feminists help the new president? That depends on their willingness to minimize other differences and articulate a specific demand, as their predecessors did  something foundational for all women, as women, that establishes a moral and legal principle against which other laws may be measured.

Theres already infighting among march organizers over reproductive rights and identity politics. But, as it happens, theres unifying legislation available for the taking: the Equal Rights Amendment, first introduced in 1923, to guarantee that equality of rights under the law shall not be abridged on the basis of sex. Congress passed the ERA in 1972, but it was never ratified by the states. Perhaps this is the time to revisit it. Earlier feminists fought 71 years to obtain the vote. The wait proved worthwhile.

Trump says his administration will be great for women. Let him find a suitably audacious way to show it.

Elizabeth Cobbs is the Melbern Glasscock Professor of American History at Texas A&M and the author of The Hello Girls: Americas First Women Soldiers.

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To the extent that President-elect Donald Trump has articulated a coherent view of foreign affairs, it appears to be that the United States needs to reject most policies of the post-1945 period. NATO is a bad bargain; nuclear proliferation is a good thing; Russian President Vladimir Putin is an admirable fellow; great deals that advantage only us should replace free trade.

In his unique way, Trump is forcing a question that probably should have been up for debate 25 years ago: Should the United States stay a global power that maintains world order  including by force of arms, what Theodore Roosevelt famously called the big stick?

Curiously, the death of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War did not immediately occasion that debate. In the 1990s, keeping a global leadership role for the United States looked cheap  other nations, after all, paid for the 1991 Persian Gulf War. In that conflict and Americas succeeding interventions in the former Yugoslavia, costs and casualties were low. Then in the early 2000s, Americans were understandably absorbed by the consequences of 9/11 and the ensuing wars and terror attacks. Now, for better or worse, the debate is upon us.

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It is worth keeping some history in mind as we decide whether to reject the posture that the United States has maintained abroad for more than half a century.

Stepping away from global leadership will not be as easy as some Americans and our new president think.

In a prescient 1901 speech, Roosevelt called on his fellow Americans to understand that henceforth the United States had to accept responsibilities abroad as well as at home. We can be certain of one thing, he said. Whether we wish it or not, we cannot avoid hereafter having duties to do in the face of other nations. All that we can do is to settle whether we shall perform these duties well or ill. He acted accordingly as president by brokering a peace treaty between Russia and Japan, but also by building up and conspicuously deploying the American military.

After his presidency, Roosevelt urged the nation to promptly enter into World War I because he knew a German conquest of Europe would have terrible consequences. We delayed, and the result in Europe was chaos and revolution in the wake of protracted bloodletting. Following the inevitable disappointments of an imperfect peace, the United States withdrew from global responsibilities, walking away from the settlement it had helped to create.

During and after World War II, presidents such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman understood just how ruinous that mistake had been. They created, in reaction, a system of alliances and institutions and commitments  including NATO, the International Monetary Fund and the Marshall Plan  backed by armed force that the president-elect seems to view as outmoded, superfluous or simply crummy deals.

Before abandoning Americas leadership role, we should remember that in the 20th century it helped give birth to the greatest prosperity and the most extensive scientific, economic and social progress humanity has ever known. None of this would have been possible in a world racked by conflict on the scale of the world wars. None of this would have happened without U.S.-led efforts to build organizations and practices that we all take for granted.

The Pax Americana allows goods and information to flow freely around the world. It means that the satellites upon which pilots, meteorologists and even our mobile phones rely can operate without interference. It has created norms  increasingly under assault  of free governance. We must recognize that all of that is a product of human effort and considerable military power, not just the natural way of the world.

Generations of American diplomats and generals were convinced that this outcome was worth the commitment in treasure and blood this country has made. The overwhelming majority still are.

American statesmen in the last century rejected the selfish and shortsighted isolationist creed of America First. The United States was not a hegemon, and our statesmen worked with their counterparts to achieve the postwar order. But today, as in 1919, as in 1946, as in 1990, other countries look to the United States to take the lead. When it chooses not to, consequences follow. The ruins of Aleppo and near half a million dead in Syria testify to that fact.

Moreover, stepping away from global leadership will not be as easy as some Americans and our new president think.

President Obama hoped to end the wars he had inherited in 2008. Instead, he launched Americas third war in Iraq, ramped up our deployments in Afghanistan, expanded by an order of magnitude our campaign of counter-terrorist assassination and ordered an air campaign against the Libyan government. He deployed warships near Chinas man-made islands and began redeploying American forces to a frightened Eastern Europe. Reality, not ideology, overcame his principled reluctance to exerting American power.

The choice between global engagement and America First is bogus. As in the last century, our choice is whether to lead wisely, firmly and usually peacefully while we can, or to send men and women into harms way belatedly and bloodily when we must. Let us hope that the new president comes to understand that we need the big stick not to make America great again, but to keep a peace that is precious, fragile and worth protecting.

Eliot A. Cohen is the author of The Big Stick: The Limits of Soft Power and the Necessity of Military Force. He teaches strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University. In 2007-2008, he served as counselor of the Department of State.

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Even before his inauguration, Donald Trump has notched up at least one dubious achievement: Hell be the first modern president to enter the White House without a honeymoon.

Most Americans give new presidents the benefit of the doubt. In 2001, for example, a solid majority rallied behind George W. Bush despite the fact that he lost the popular vote.

Not Trump. On Tuesday, a CNN poll found that only 40% of Americans think hes done a good job as president-elect  well below the 61% who backed Bush in 2001, and far below the 84% who approved of Barack Obama in 2009.

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Indeed, the new poll showed that Trump has actually lost ground during his transition, normally a time when a new presidents stature improves. In November, CNN reported, 46% of the public thought Trump was doing a good job; some of those supporters have already drifted away.

We are already seeing Trump struggle between two instincts: the yearning to unite all Americans behind him, and the urge to attack every critic.

Trumps reaction to the survey, and others with similar results, was predictable. The polls are rigged just like before, he tweeted.

But the erosion of his support was predictable too. Trumps standing bounced up at first, after he promised on election night to bind the wounds of division, and after he helped negotiate a deal saving some 800 jobs at an Indiana manufacturing plant.

Since then, the president-elect has reverted to the truculent style of his campaign, tweeting complaints at critics from John Lewis to Meryl Streep. The news about his transition has focused on the controversy over his chumminess toward Russias Vladimir Putin, not his promises to create jobs.

That makes Trumps inaugural address on Friday an event with unusually high political stakes. Its not only an opportunity for the new president to set out his goals in office; its also a chance to appeal to skeptical voters  and to renew the unifying tone of his election night remarks.

There are signs that Trump wants to do just that. His instruction to me was: The campaign is over. I am now president for all the people, inaugural chair Tom Barrack told reporters. I want you to build a bridge and tie them back in. I want to heal the wounds and I want to get back to work.

And a few weeks ago, Trump told historian Douglas Brinkley that he was studying the inaugural speeches of John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Richard M. Nixon to prepare.

The Kennedy and Reagan speeches are acknowledged as classics. But Nixon?

Actually, Nixons 1969 speech is the one most likely to be useful to Trump, because Nixons circumstances were most similar to his.

Nixon won a three-way race with only 43% of the popular vote (less than Trumps 46%), and was seeking to lead a country bitterly divided over racial tension and the Vietnam War. He decided that what the country wanted was fellowship, not division, and on Inauguration Day in 1969, he delivered a speech that was both generous and graceful  words not often attached to the 37th president.

When we listen to the better angels of our nature, we find that they celebrate the simple things, the basic things, such as goodness, decency, love, kindness, Nixon said that day. To lower our voices would be a simple thing. In these difficult years, America has suffered from a fever of words; from inflated rhetoric that promises more than it can deliver; from angry rhetoric that fans discontents into hatreds; from bombastic rhetoric that postures instead of persuading. We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another.

The speech, and Nixons early efforts to govern from the center, launched his presidency on a wave of relative good feelings, according to John A. Farrell, author of a forthcoming biography, Nixon: The Life.

He made a serious attempt to cast himself as a unifier, Farrell told me. It did bring him a honeymoon.

That was all the more striking because Nixon, like Trump, had always been a brawler.

Nixon spent his entire career as a champion of the politics of grievance, and aimed it at working-class and middle-class Americans  the people he called the forgotten man, Farrell said. Theres at least a distant parallel with Trump there.

If Trump follows Nixons example, he may sound like a new man on Friday, a president bent on reinstalling a measure of civility in public life.

Even so, that New Trump may not last. The New Nixon didnt.

The Vietnam War got in the way, Farrell said. Nixon couldnt resist going after his enemies. The Old Nixon came back.

We are already seeing Trump struggle between two instincts: the yearning to unite all Americans behind him, and the urge to attack every critic. That battle wont be resolved on Inauguration Day, no matter what tone he strikes.

doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com

Twitter: @DoyleMcManus

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The White House press room evidently wont be in the White House any more, but in a building next door. On national television, President-elect Donald Trump insulted CNN as a purveyor of fake news. He pledged to sue the liars  the women who have accused him of unwelcome sexual behavior toward them. The Trump administration will be entering uncharted territory for news and free speech, which is why Los Angeles 1st Amendment attorney Ted Boutrous Jr., on Twitter, offered to defend, for free, anyone Trump sues for exercising their free speech rights.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS INTERVIEW ON THE PATT MORRISON ASKS PODCAST 

Why did you make that offer?

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I was sitting at home watching the news, and Mr. Trump was giving his speech at Gettysburg, of all places, and he announced that he was going to sue every woman who had publicly accused him of sexual misconduct. And it struck me that I had never really seen something so outrageous during a presidential campaign, where someone running for the highest office in the land was threatening to sue individual citizens who simply were speaking out as part of the democratic process during the election.

It just seemed to me to be such an egregious 1st Amendment affront that someone had to do something. Part of the danger in the 1st Amendment area  threats of lawsuits, threats to try to squelch speech  can chill speech. And this all came on top of his earlier threats to sue the New York Times and others. So I really felt it was important to let the world know there were lawyers who would defend them.

Among the lawyers who said they would join you in this are Laurence Tribe at Harvard and Erwin Chemerinsky at UC Irvine. What about conservative lawyers?

There have been other lawyers on the more conservative side  some partners at my law firm, lawyers from around the country who have said this isnt a partisan issue. The 1st Amendment cuts both ways.

Have you had anyone contact you to say, I may have to take you up on this?

I have indeed. A number of individuals, including some of the women who had spoken out during the campaign about their experiences with Mr. Trump, several organizations that had issues they were confronting. We have been helping them out More broadly, I think there are going to be 1st Amendment issues going forward, once Mr. Trump is the president, that were going to need to confront.

Does Trump understand libel law?

I think he clearly knows about the libel laws because he declared that he wanted to open them up to make it easier to sue news organizations. He knows that theyre out there but he does not seem to have any understanding of how important 1st Amendment values are to our democracy and to our country, and he doesnt have respect for those values. Thats whats very troubling, that he uses his 1st Amendment rights, he uses Twitter, he uses his ability to get cameras to focus on him to threaten and demean the press and individual citizens, but doesnt understand that its a two-way street, that people get to comment on him and criticize him. New York Times vs. Sullivan, the famous 1st Amendment libel case, said that our country is built on the freedom to engage in caustic, vicious debate to get to the right place. But Mr. Trump thinks its a one-way street where he has all the power.

Do you think he intends to follow through on his threats to sue?

It seems to me that at this point hes highly unlikely to bring any lawsuits but he will keep threatening people. You saw he immediately demeaned and denigrated on Twitter the [Indiana] union official who was critiquing the Carrier job deal that Mr. Trump claimed to have struck; he immediately attacked this individual not for the facts but for who he was.

So I think hes more likely to use the threats to chill speech and intimidate people who speak out, because lawsuits would be so difficult for him to prevail in. He would have to meet the actual malice standard of New York Times vs. Sullivan, which is an extraordinarily high standard. Hed be subject to discovery and deposition where hed be questioned under oath, and then subject to potential perjury charges if he didnt tell the truth. Weve seen how that can spiral out of control when a president testifies in a civil case, back during the [Bill] Clinton years. I think hes more likely to just keep using threats and intimidation tactics rather than lawsuits.

Every president to a greater or lesser degree has an adversarial relationship with the press, and almost every president wants to have it his way and for his side to be heard and not criticized. Whats different about Donald Trump?

Its not unusual for politicians, presidents, presidential candidates to feel that theyre being treated unfairly, particularly when the duty, the obligation of the press is to examine the pluses and minuses of the candidate, of the president, and to be a watchdog. Theres always a tension, theres always a degree of hostility, whether its a Democratic president or a Republican president.

But there are so many differences here. Never has a candidate threatened to sue news organizations during the campaign. And never has a presidential candidate threatened to sue individual citizens for libel for speaking out during a campaign. Never has a president used social media to demean and denigrate individual citizens or news organizations. Never has a presidential candidate at rallies incited hostility toward members of the press who were there covering him. So hes another league than anybody else on this and thats why I think were in such a precarious moment for the 1st Amendment.

There are tremendous journalists in this country who have been doing amazing work reporting on the facts, and thats the kind of thing that has really driven Mr. Trump crazy, when there are absolutely truthful reports on the facts.

A new feature on the social media landscape is deliberate disinformation  I wont call it fake news because The Onion is fake news  but deliberate, provocative disinformation. How does that figure into 1st Amendment issues?

It complicates things enormously, and I think thats part of the reason its being done. Its basically a disinformation campaign for some thats meant to undermine truthful actual news reporting. Mr. Trump kick-started his political life by engaging in a form of that with the birther conspiracy that he helped to amplify and spread.

Its something we have to come to grips with, but the 1st Amendment only goes so far. Knowingly false things that are damaging to peoples reputation or their lives in some way are actionable. Its the last resort, bringing a libel suit, but there are restrictions.

I think the real threat is to news organizations that are covering important stories, gathering the facts piece by piece and then reporting stories. Then you have people say, well thats fake too. Ive heard that a few times in the last week or so, that this story on CNN  thats fake news too.

Were talking about the difference between deliberate disinformation, and reporting as much as you can based on the facts you know in an accurate way  those two categories are light years away from each other.

A year ago the big 1st Amendment issue you were dealing with was the question of the contents of the cellphone of terrorists in San Bernardino who murdered people there. You were representing Apple, and it came down to a question of encryption. The FBI argued national security was the trump card in this.

I cant get into the specifics of that particular case but what I can say is  this is public knowledge  that the FBI was arguing that the courts should have the power to order companies that make cellphones and other devices to create software that would ruin or at least cripple the encryption in a data encryption and the tools that could then be used to get into devices like phones.

The danger of that as we now see is its a weakening of data safety, and if ever there were a time when the last thing in the world the government should be doing, including the FBI, is arguing that we should create more tools to make our data more vulnerable in the midst of this Russian hacking-slash-espionage scandal were seeing unfold, which I think could not be a more important issue for our nation and the world that we need to be focusing on. The government and I think the national security and defense parts of the government strongly support the notion that encryption is crucial, and that government should not be asking courts to degrade encryption.

Even though law enforcement is important and we need to be able to do as much as we can to pursue wrongdoers and terrorists, data encryption is a national security  is a safety issue, and now were seeing its an issue that cuts right to our democracy.

Isnt it interesting that there was in a sense a market solution to this, that the FBI said well pay you if you can find this out for us.

Its very interesting in the sense that, in the world out here there are contests that people have to hack into different devices. I think the government needs to improve its technical abilities  and Im not suggesting they dont have people who are brilliant and know what theyre doing  but whatever they have, they need more. The government, in terms of its own law enforcement needs but also national security needs, needs to be out ahead of everybody as far as they can be.

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The White House press room evidently wont be in the White House any more, but in a building next door. On national television, president-elect Donald Trump insulted CNN as a purveyor of fake news. He pledged to sue the liars  the women who have accused him of unwelcome sexual behavior toward them. The Trump administration will be entering uncharted territory for news and free speech, which is why Los Angeles 1st Amendment attorney Ted Boutrous Jr., on Twitter, offered to defend, for free, anyone Trump sues for exercising their free speech rights.

Find the full archive of "Patt Morrison Asks" podcasts here or search for "Patt Morrison Asks" on iTunes.

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Nearly 50 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, or about a quarter of the minority partys caucus, plan to skip Fridays inauguration of the 45th U.S. president. Their ranks include at least 15 members from California, whose districts voted overwhelmingly for the candidate who wont be taking the oath of office that day.

Its more subtle than showing up in pink pussy hats, unquestionably. But no less inappropriate.

For the record: The original version of this post incorrectly identified Rep. Adam Schiff as a Democrat from Glendale. Hes from Burbank.

Bear in mind that these lawmakers chosen candidate  Hillary Clinton  will be in attendance when Donald Trump is sworn in because shes a former first lady, and by tradition former presidents and their spouses are included in the countrys ritual transfer of power. So are members of Congress, whether their party won or lost.

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Just because Trump was wrong about so many things, that doesnt mean Democrats should go about trashing the rituals of the federal government too.

Many of the boycott-minded Democrats say they cant bring themselves to celebrate the elevation of a man whos disparaged so many of the people he will be leading. Some others cite things that Trump has done or failed to do during the transition, and others  most notably Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)  have questioned the legitimacy of his election.

I suspect that if you asked each of these members what the Houses biggest problem over the past eight years, they would all say something along the lines of Republican intransigence. And if you asked them why they were seemingly engaged in total war against the new president, they would all argue that the GOP did that to President Obama first.

Perhaps Jared Kushner can stop this cycle of retributive political violence after he ends the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Admittedly, its ironic to complain about decorum and convention being flouted by Democrats, given that Trump, the least decorous candidate of the modern era, derided convention as a tool of corrupt Washingtons status quo. But just because Trump was wrong about so many things, that doesnt mean Democrats should go about trashing the rituals and institutions of the federal government too.

The inauguration ceremony sends an important message to the world about the durability of the American democracy. Thats even more true after a close and bitterly contested campaign such as the last one, whose results still sting great swaths of the countrys voters.

With this ritual, we say that we unite as a country behind the Constitution and the institutions it created. Its not about the results so much as the process; even when the Oval Office is handed to the candidate we didnt support, we have faith in the checks and balances that the founders designed.

A number of the boycotting Democrats say they respect the ceremonys symbolism and the importance of the peaceful transition of power. But theyre trying to have it both ways. And the symbolism of their own actions is unmistakable: By turning their backs on Trumps swearing-in, they are rejecting the choice of the voters who made Trump president.

Heres where I insert the obligatory but probably unnecessary disclaimer, given the fact that Im a member of the editorial board at the Los Angeles Times: I am decidedly not a fan of The Donald. We wrote in early March that Trump was unfit for the presidency, and hes done nothing since then to change my mind.

And I recognize that, to some people, Trump is such a threat to so many Americans, the only proper course of action is unrelenting resistance  to pull a Mitch McConnell, as it were. Yet the inauguration is exactly the wrong forum for that kind of partisanship.

Theres one other irony to acknowledge here. Im many of the things Trump railed against  not just a member of the media elite, but also a defender of the ingrained ways of Washington. And my colleagues on the board and I are pushing back hard against Trumps many departures from those ways, such as his refusal to remove fundamental conflicts of interest and his Cabinet nominees who seem to hate the departments they were chosen to lead.

But I recognize the difference between an institution and the people who happen to occupy it at any given moment. Trumps opponents need to pick their battles better.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) just announced that he would attend the inauguration, and he offered a lengthy explanation on Facebook. Heres the money paragraph:

Like many of you, I was appalled when candidate Trump wouldnt commit to respecting the result of the election if he lost. I feel I would be doing the same thing if I boycotted the ceremony in which the office of the Presidency is passed from one occupant of the office to the next. Theres a reason why Senators Feinstein, Harris, Sanders and others are attending the Inauguration, and it is out of respect for the office, even if the man who is taking the oath has demonstrated little understanding of what that means. If former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton can demonstrate the grit to attend the Inauguration after Trumps slanderous attacks on her, then so can I.

jon.healey@latimes.com

Twitter: @jcahealey
My father died in the fall of 2002, after a long battle with Alzheimers disease. In the spring of 2003, I was home in Chicago visiting my mother when a good friend invited me to go with him to a big, lavish dinner at a downtown hotel for a group he had represented as a lawyer. It would be a fun night out, a respite from dealing with my dads death and my moms loneliness.

When I arrived at the hotel ballroom, guests were buzzing. Youve got to see this guy whos speaking tonight  Barack Obama, said my friend. Hes someone to watch. Obama was a Democrat running for the Senate from Illinois, as I learned that very minute. Soon my friend had run into Obamas campaign aide and introduced him to me, noting that I was an L.A. Times reporter. The next thing I knew, the aide had commandeered Obama and sat us both down at a cocktail table.

I was unprepared to shift suddenly into reporter mode and knew nothing about him beyond the fact that everyone in this room thought he was the hottest thing in Chicago. So we sat there and  as we all now know  Obama was not great at small talk and I was scrambling to think of questions, but somehow we cordially chatted for about 10 minutes before he was whisked away.

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But he was on my radar  and in my email, since the aide took my email address and barraged me with constant updates on his campaign  and hes never been off it since.

I watched him deliver the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention, and my heart leapt when he said, There is not a liberal America and a conservative America. There is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America. Theres the United States of America.

In 2006, I covered then-Sen. Obama when he came to L.A. to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides. He was already the budding rock star. He signed copies of his book The Audacity of Hope at the California African American Museum, which was packed with 800 people. With some help, I managed to maneuver past a passel of self-appointed security people to the front of the auditorium where I could stand 10 feet away from Obama and watch him sign books with that hard core left-handed curl around the pen.

When he ran for president in 2008, I took my wheelchair-bound mother to the polls, and I snapped a picture of her inking in his name on her ballot. It would be the first time my mother, a black woman, voted for a black man for president. It would be the last time she ever voted; she died in March 2012.

On election night in 2008, I was covering a South L.A. voting location when polls closed. I stayed to interview some of the last voters. The workers were breaking down the polling place when a young woman, who had come by to wait for a friend working the polling place, got news from her cellphone or maybe a radio. All I remember was hearing her suddenly shriek, Barack Obama is the president!

I found out about a post-election party in West Adams and went there to report more. The party was practically a poster for diversity. White, black, Latino. Everyone was heady with excitement about nothing less than a new era in politics and society.

While covering his first inauguration in Washington, D.C., I walked that cold, hazy morning with throngs of others to the National Mall. I talked to an older black woman maneuvering a walker slowly toward the site of the inauguration. I asked her if it was difficult to make this trip. She told me calmly that she had lived through segregation and civil rights marches and riots, so taking a stroll toward the Capitol with this walker was hardly an ordeal.

My father was an emotional man. He cried when he watched John F. Kennedys funeral, he cried when we learned that Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated. He cried at a Mass that he attended with my mother for couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversaries. I thought that week that, if my father, who successfully hurdled racial barriers to become a statistician and a professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago, had lived to see Obama inaugurated, well, he would have been weeping the whole week.

To understand the profound sadness that so many of us, now, feel as the Obamas exit the White House, you have to think back to the giddy dinner guests at that Chicago hotel in 2003 and the woman with the walker and the people in the house in West Adams and the young woman shrieking in South L.A. and my mom  and where we all started out.

Theres no denying that Obamas two-term election and tenure have been historic. You can (foolishly) dismantle Obamacare but you cannot dismantle history. No one can take away from him or from his supporters or from history that he became the first black president of the United States and stayed there for two terms and did it with an extraordinary grace and dignity and intellectual fortitude.

But I think many of us felt that Obamas presidency would be epochal, that it would, truly, usher in a post-racial society. Much of that was because Obama, himself, seemed so post-racial  a man with biracial parents, a man whose career-catapulting speech was all about dismissing the divisiveness of race and politics for a common humanity that unites us all.

I wrote a story right after the election about whether seeing a black man walking on the street would no longer instill some amorphous fear, because, hey, the president of the United States is a black man. But a dozen or so dead black men in hoodies and track suits later, the answer is pretty obvious. Obamas tenure in the White House was as divided on partisan lines as it could get. We were, indeed, the red states and the blue states of America.

Will Obama be the first and last black president? Is he a unicorn? Was this just some brief shining Camelot-like moment?

Of course, his critics will argue there was never a Camelot here and, on that, I can possibly concur. He had an intractable Republican-controlled Congress that made it its business to thwart him as much as it could.

Of course, the sadness at seeing him leave is only exacerbated by his successor being a man who, so far, has shown himself to be intellectually and temperamental unfit for the presidency, a man who is dedicating himself to wrongly undoing every right thing that Obama has done.

As melancholy as I am to see all of Obamas lasts  his last state dinner, his last speech, his last press briefing  I truly believe that there will be another black president. And a female president and a Latino president and an openly gay president and various combinations of all those. Still, if my father were alive, he would be crying all this week.

carla.hall@latimes.com

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By definition, the exercise of clemency is an act of mercy, not the meting out of mathematical justice. President Obamas decision to commute the sentence of Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning is a defensible use of that power.

The obvious argument for mercy is Mannings recent ordeal as a transgender woman in a mens military prison. But another factor is the harsh treatment Manning has received virtually from the time the young Army private was identified as the source of classified information supplied to WikiLeaks.



For the record: An earlier headline said Manning received a pardon from President Obama. Her sentence was commuted.

After being arrested in 2010, Manning was held in virtual solitary confinement for 23 hours a day at a Marine Corps brig and sometimes stripped naked. Even after Manning pleaded guilty to offenses that could have led to a 20-year sentence, the Army insisted on a trial on more serious charges, including aiding the enemy, which could have led to a sentence of life in prison. (Manning was acquitted of that charge by a military judge.)

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In 2013, when Manning was sentenced, the Los Angeles Times said this in an editorial:

In sentencing Army Pfc. Bradley Manning to 35 years in prison, a military judge disappointed both the prosecution, which had sought a 60-year term, and Mannings most ardent supporters, who believe he should serve no time at all. Assuming that Manning is released on parole after a reasonable time, the sentence imposed by Col. Denise Lind strikes a reasonable balance between the damage Manning did to national security and the service he performed by exposing certain matters to public attention.

The editorial concluded: Mannings supporters are urging President Obama to pardon him or commute his sentence to time served. That is both unlikely and unjustified; even if he was engaging in principled civil disobedience, Manning should face some consequences for violating the law. But if Manning is denied parole after serving several years in prison, a future president should be willing to consider clemency.

As a result of Obamas action, Manning will be free in May, which isnt that much earlier than in the scenario sketched out in the editorial. The earlier release is more than justified by sympathy for Mannings medical issues and the difficulty the military is having addressing them as long as she is a prisoner.

Those who would oppose Obamas act of clemency are straining the quality of mercy.

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Fridays inauguration of Donald J. Trump as president is, as many have noted, remarkable in a historical context. Ever since George Washington turned the presidency over to John Adams more than 200 years ago, the reins of power have changed hands in this country peacefully. Thats a testimony to the resilience of the democracy (even if flawed), and Americans faith in the political process.

But an inauguration is not beyond protest, and the more than 50 members of Congress who have decided to skip it are entirely within their rights to do so. As Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) explained, There is nothing ordinary about this inauguration or the man that will be sworn-in as our next President.

For the record: An earlier version of this post misidentified the successor to George Washington as Thomas Jefferson. It was John Adams.

In reality, about the only people whose presence is required at the oath-taking are the president-elect and someone to swear him in. The rest is pageantry, though the quadrennial inauguration has taken on a significant traditional heft.

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But I dont buy the argument that elected members of Congress who want to symbolically boycott an event at which their presence is symbolic are somehow behaving badly.

About the only people whose presence is required at the oath-taking are the president-elect and someone to swear him in.

Rep. John Lewis became the focal point of the controversy after Trumps ahistorical tweet about the civil rights movement leader being talk  no action or results. Lewis had said hes boycotting because he believes Trumps election was not legitimate.

But Lewis and others on the left who argue that Trump was somehow not lawfully elected are wrong. Trump won by the rules weve established for presidential elections, and even if dirty politics and disinformation from Russia affected how people viewed the candidates, they still voted  or chose not to vote  freely.

There are persuasive arguments to be made that Republican voter-suppression efforts affected the outcome of the election, but that doesnt de-legitimize Trumps win. The election system has long suffered from inadequacies, and the nation has elected presidents in even more trying circumstances. Abraham Lincolns 1864 reelection came without voting in the secessionist states (and he lost New Jersey, Delaware and Kentucky to George McClellan, whom Lincoln had removed as the Unions top general).

Still, contemporary Republican efforts to chill turnout or deny access to the polls should be a call to action by Democrats and voting-rights advocates to fight even harder against such blatantly anti-democratic manipulations.

But where the boycotting members of Congress are right is in their protest against Trump as a person. Trumps campaign was defined by divisiveness: He insulted Mexican Americans and African Americans, women (and, in a video recorded before his run for office, seemed to confess to committing sexual assault) and the disabled, to cite just a few.

Those who are offended by Trumps views are not doing anything untoward by saying they will not sit as symbolic witnesses to his taking the oath (and listening to whatever Trump spews in his inaugural address).

Key here is that one can be repulsed by Trump on grounds other than partisan differences. This isnt about policy. Its about refusing to serve as window-dressing for the inauguration of a president who reflects the worst of American society, not the best. Theres nothing wrong with elected representatives  and musicians, for that matter  spotlighting that by staying away.

Scott.Martelle@LATimes.com

Follow my posts and re-tweets at @smartelle on Twitter
In the 2018 governors race, Gavin Newsom leads the pack in fundraising Gavin Newsom, the first major candidate to jump into CA's 2018 governor's race, narrowly lead the pack in 2016 fundraising w/ $4.27 million  Phil Willon (@philwillon) February 1, 2017 Facebook

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Schwarzenegger: Were going through some difficult moments ... but I guarantee we will work our way out of this By Seema Mehta (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that the United States had faced trying times and political crises before, and has always persevered. Yes, were going through some difficult moments right now, as we have in the past, but I guarantee we will work our way out of this, Schwarzenegger said, speaking at an electoral reform event at the University of Southern California. He recalled immigrating to the United States and seeing the violent protests at the Democratic National Convention in 1968, Watergate and the economic troubles during President Jimmy Carters tenure. One thing you can count on in America is even though it falls every so often  as we all do  it dusts itself off, gets up and gets going again, Schwarzenegger said. That is why  its the number one country in the world. Although Schwarzenegger did not mention President Donald Trump by name during his remarks, the comments appeared to be a reference to the turbulence since Trump took office less than two weeks ago. Tensions between Schwarzenegger, who replaced Trump as the host of Celebrity Apprentice, and the new president and fellow Republican have been escalating. On Monday, Schwarzenegger called the implementation of Trumps temporary ban on immigration from several Muslim-majority countries crazy. The previous week, Schwarzenegger slammed Trumps pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt, as a hypocrite. Earlier in January, Trump mocked Schwarzenegger for the first ratings of Celebrity Apprentice after the former governor took over as the host. During the presidential campaign, Schwarzenegger repeatedly made clear his disdain for Trump, pointedly casting his ballot in the California primary for Ohio Gov. John Kasich after he had dropped out. On Tuesday, Schwarzenegger was headlining an event about redistricting reform at his namesake institute at USC. He did not respond to reporters questions after the event. While governor, Schwarzenegger championed electoral reform, including an ultimately successful effort to take the redrawing of congressional and legislative districts away from politicians and give them instead to an independent commission. Both political parties have long tried to use gerrymandering to create districts that favor their politicians. But David Daley, author of The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal Americas Democracy, argued that Republicans were able to make unprecedented changes in the 2010 redistricting that will have long-lasting effects on this nations politics because of a confluence of factors, including unprecedented technology such as mapping software, and a flood of anonymous money due to the Citizens United ruling. In 2010, gerrymandering enters its steroid era, Daley said. The end result, he said, was that while the nation remained relatively closely divided between the two parties, the GOP was able to exponentially expand its hold of statehouses, governors mansions and congressional seats. Speakers urged Californians to take the lessons they had learned through the states redistricting reform and try to help voters apply them in other states, through the initiative, or legislative or legal systems. We are the model for the rest of the nation and that is why we in California have to do everything we can to pull together all the things that happen successfully in California and nationwide, Schwarzenegger said. Because the rest of the states are waiting for us. Facebook

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Top Democratic donor Tom Steyer is planning a larger role opposing President Trump By Chris Megerian On Sunday, Tom Steyer was holding a cardboard sign saying not on my watch at San Franciscos airport, one of thousands protesting President Trumps order preventing visitors from several predominantly Muslim countries. I went out there to participate, but also to listen, he said. Like other liberal leaders, hes been hunting for the right approach to counter Trump. Now the deep-pocketed Democratic donor is launching a new effort that could expand the scope of NextGen Climate, the San Francisco-based organization he created and funded. Although Steyer expects to stay active on environmental issues  the onetime hedge fund manager is best known for advocating stronger steps to fight climate change and support clean energy  hes looking to play a more expansive role in opposing Trump. The number of issues that have to be addressed are broader, he said in an interview, pointing to Trumps statements on issues such as voting that he considers to be a broader attack on fundamental American rights. In a video posted on Tuesday night, Steyer says, I promise to do everything in my power to stand up to Trump and asks for the publics thoughts on what next steps should be taken. Steyer spent $74 million in the 2014 midterm election, and then millions more last year to support Hillary Clinton and other Democrats. Although results have been mixed  Republicans gained ground in both years  Steyer said the experiences have positioned NextGen to educate and mobilize voters across the country. There are very few people who are set up organizationally to do what were trying to do, he said. Steyer has already played a role in opposing Trumps nominees, running advertisements criticizing his choice for secretary of State, former Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson. Besides simply fighting Trump, Steyer also hopes to project an alternative view of the country  one that comes with a dose of California sunshine. America can pursue a much more optimistic, a much more prosperous, a much more equitable and a much healthier future, he said. Facebook

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Former aide is preparing to run for Rep. Grace Napolitanos seat if she retires By Javier Panzar Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk), who turned 80 last year, has not made plans to retire. But one San Gabriel Valley politician is raising funds to run in case Napolitano does decide to bow out after 10 terms in Congress. Mary Ann Lutz, the former mayor of Monrovia and a former aide to Napolitano, reported having $101,000 in the bank to run for Napolitanos 32nd Congressional District seat, according to a new filing with the Federal Election Commission. But Lutz says she will run only if Napolitano retires. I have enormous respect for my former boss, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, and would never run against her for any office, Lutz said in a statement. In the event that the 32nd Congressional District seat eventually opens up, I plan to run, and run aggressively. Napolitano suffered a minor stroke last February that affected her ability to write and slightly slowed her walk. She continued her reelection campaign and beat state Assemblyman Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina), who effectively ended his campaign in August after a judge granted his ex-wifes request for a domestic violence restraining order against him. During an interview with The Times a day before the November election, Napolitano said the health of her 90-year-old husband would be a key factor in her decision on whether to run for an 11th term in 2018. I would love to stay but it depends, she said. I will be ready to hang it up when I am ready. Lutz was elected in 2003 to the City Council in Monrovia, a city of 36,000 in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, and was elected mayor in 2009. She lost her reelection bid in 2015 and went on to work for Napolitano as an advisor on water issues. Lutz raised $26,000 and loaned her campaign committee an additional $75,000. Napolitano has $144,692 in the bank if she wants to run again. Facebook

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State Senate committee votes in favor of funding legal aid for immigrants in California facing deportation By Jazmine Ulloa (John Moore / Getty Images) A state legislative bill seeking to expand legal services for immigrants in the U.S. illegally moved out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday on a 5-2 vote. The bill, introduced by state Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), would create a legal defense program funded with state money that would provide lawyers for immigrants caught in deportation or removal proceedings. It comes roughly three years after the Unaccompanied Undocumented Minors program began providing state-funded legal services for young refugees fleeing gang violence in Central America. Hueso said the measure faced new urgency given President Trumps executive orders last week on immigration. This is a bill protecting Californians, protecting their families, but also protecting Californias economic prominence, Hueso said. I hope we can all stand united on this and say, Yes, we stand by our immigrant community in California. Members of the committee raised concerns about whether it whittled away at defense services available for detainees convicted of certain crimes  and over how the state would be able to afford it amid a looming deficit and budget cuts from the federal government. It is well-meaning, but it is a whole different agency that we are setting up in an expedited way, Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) said. Read More Facebook

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California assemblyman wants state to make cleaner purchases By Chris Megerian (Alexis Cuarezma / For The Times) A California lawmaker wants state officials to consider greenhouse gas emissions when making new purchases, a proposal that would add a new wrinkle to the bidding process for government contracts. Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) said the legislation (AB 262) would harness the states enormous buying power to support clean manufacturing. The measure, which includes state agencies and university systems, would affect the purchase of materials such as asphalt, cement, steel and glass for projects such as hospitals, dormitories and roads. Companies bidding on state contracts would be required to report greenhouse gas emissions generated by the manufacturing and transportation of supplies. Officials would then factor that information into their decision. Given Californias goal of slashing emissions, Bonta said he hopes that the legislation puts the states money where its values are. He doesnt expect the requirement to report more information would be a significant burden on companies seeking contracts. This will just be one more piece of information that will need to be added, he said. Facebook

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First of several immigrant protection bills clears state Senate Public Safety Committee By Jazmine Ulloa (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) As national debate and protests have taken place over President Donald Trumps executive actions on immigration and refugees, the state Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday passed the first of several bills aimed at protecting immigrants in California. Senate Bill 54, introduced by Senate President pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources to investigate, detain, report or arrest persons for the purposes of immigration enforcement. The proposal, dubbed the California Values Act, also aims to protect immigrants personal data, requiring state agencies to review their confidentiality policies and to ensure that they are only collecting information necessary to their departments. It moved out of committee with a 5-2 vote. Long line of advocates, lawyers in support SB 54, prohibiting law enforcement agencies from using resources for immigrants enforcement. pic.twitter.com/G0IV9ihRjE  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) January 31, 2017 The bill seeks to strengthen immigrant protections threatened under Trumps executive actions. In orders signed last week, the president pledged to cut federal dollars from so-called sanctuary cities, which have policies limiting the cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. At a committee hearing Tuesday, De Leon said the proposal builds on the California Trust Act, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed in October 2013. The state law prevents law enforcement agencies from detaining immigrants longer than necessary for minor crimes so that federal immigration authorities can take them into custody. A long line of immigrant advocates, lawyers and lobbyists rose in support of the bill, saying it would continue to help law enforcement officials build trust within immigrant communities and allow more victims and witnesses to report crime. Democratic members in the committee urged their Republican colleagues to vote for the legislation and move away from Trumps rhetoric, which they said stereotyped immigrants as criminals. They pointed to low crime rates in immigrant communities and stressed that many police chiefs do not want to enforce immigration laws. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), chair of the committee, said people across California were under economic stress that could be manipulated into fear. All of us want hardened criminals prosecuted under the law, she said. All of us. But what we are watching now is a pitting of people against each other, a targeting of immigrants. Opponents were not swayed. They said the bills language was too broad and could prevent communication among police agencies at different levels of government, allowing dangerous criminals to escape prosecution. Im concerned that you are basically making the state of California a de facto sanctuary state, Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Murrieta) told De Leon. Facebook

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California lawmakers seek stricter enforcement, more transparency at state toxics control agency By Melanie Mason Jose Gomez, at his home on South Hicks Avenue in East Los Angeles, is among thousands whose yards have been tested for contamination from the former Exide plant. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Assembly Democrats unveiled a package of five bills Tuesday aimed at reforming the state agency tasked with regulating toxic substances. The Department of Toxic Substances Control has been roundly criticized for its flat-footed response in regulating and cleaning up pollution from the now-closed Exide battery recycling plant in Vernon. A Los Angeles Times review in 2015 found the department knew for years that the plant was violating environmental regulations but was slow to act on it. Too many communities, including communities I represent, have been harmed by toxic emissions that were released into their neighborhoods  emissions that could and should have been stopped, Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) said in a statement. The goal of this legislative package is a more transparent, accountable, and responsive Department of Toxic Substances Control  and safer and healthier communities throughout California. The proposed legislation includes: AB 245 by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), which would require hazardous waste facilities to comply with higher financial assurance requirements to make sure there are adequate funds for contamination cleanup.

AB 249 (Gomez), which would increase maximum penalties the department can assess to match what the federal government can assess in similar situations.

AB 248 by Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-San Bernardino), which would require hazardous waste facilities to submit permit renewals two years prior to the current permits expiration to avoid lapses.

AB 246 by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), which would promote the use of fence line monitoring by facilities to better detect leaks.

AB 247 by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), which would create a statewide task force focused on reducing lead poisoning in the state. Facebook

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein says she will vote no on Jeff Sessions nomination for U.S. attorney general By Sarah D. Wire California Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced this morning that she will vote no on the nomination of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for U.S. attorney general. The statement comes after protestors visited Feinsteins home and office out of concern that she may vote in favor of the nomination. Protesters marched on her home and California offices last night. #CASen https://t.co/U0HhsJxwTB  Sarah D. Wire (@sarahdwire) January 31, 2017 JUST NOW: On Sessions attorney general nomination: I must vote no. pic.twitter.com/lfQnX5Khug  Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) January 31, 2017 It is very difficult to reconcile for me the independence and objectivity necessary for the position of attorney general with the partisanship this nominee has demonstrated, Feinstein said Tuesday. We are being asked to determine whether this nominees record demonstrates that he will have the objectivity to enforce the law for all Americans and be an independent attorney general and not an arm of the White House. Feinstein is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which votes today on the confirmation of Sessions to be President Trumps attorney general. Feinstein pointed to former acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Sally Yates as an example of what she is looking for. Yates was fired Monday, just hours after she announced that the Justice Department would not defend Trumps controversial executive order banning refugees and travelers from certain countries. Yesterday, early in the evening, we clearly saw what a truly independent attorney general doesI have no confidence that Senator Sessions will do that, Feinstein said. Instead, he has been the fiercest, most dedicated, and most loyal promoter in Congress of the Trump agenda, and has played a critical role as the clearinghouse for policy and philosophy to undergird the implementation of that agenda. Facebook

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Where do Californias members of Congress stand on President Trumps refugee order? By Sarah D. Wire Noor Hindi, left, and Shah Najjar, middle, join the protest at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) President Trumps executive order Friday, which blocked U.S. entry to refugees and nationals of seven Muslim-majority nations, brought thousands of Americans to the nations airports in protest over the weekend. Several Democrats from Californias 54-member congressional delegation joined constituents at airports, and lobbied customs and Border Patrol officials to release the detained visa holders. Many of the states 14 Republican representatives were initially silent on the executive order. Several have since voiced their support, while others were critical of the orders rollout. Heres a look at what each member of the California congressional delegation has said about the executive order: Read More Facebook

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California state Senate passes resolution condemning President Trumps refugee ban By Jazmine Ulloa Protesters are held back by airport police on Sunday at LAX. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) After nearly two hours of debate, the state Senate on Monday passed a resolution that condemned President Trumps executive order banning immigrants and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries, calling it discriminatory overreach. Democrats introduced the resolution after the presidents order Friday spurred a weekend of protests and chaos at airports across the country. The resolution denounces Trumps actions and urges the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to comply with federal court orders permitting detainees to have timely access to counsel. It cleared the Senate floor with a 26-11 vote largely along party lines, reflecting the national rift over Trumps immigration order. Two Republican members abstained. On the Senate floor, Democrats called the executive order an affront on religious freedom that panders to fear and foments discrimination, and said it would not further public safety. Reaching to members across the aisle, they said the resolution was not about partisanship or opposing Trump, but about protecting American institutions. In a fiery speech, state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) said the order is unconstitutional and violates fundamental rights. You see this is how we end up with fascism and totalitarianism, she said. Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said she did not want four more years of executive orders crafted in the cover of darkness. But Republican members said that President Obama had taken similar actions and that they had a duty to their constituents, who were worried about national security and a vetting process they said did not stop terrorists from entering the nations borders. Obama has rejected comparisons of his policy to Trumps. We do not welcome those who have come here to harm us, Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) said, urging a no vote. We cannot ignore contemporary reality. Our enemies do not reside beyond our shores. They are within. The resolution states that 134 million people are temporarily barred from entering or reentering the United States, including nationals with dual citizenship. Hundreds of thousands with visas are also blocked, it says. The resolution also denounces the manner in which the executive order was executed, saying it was not fully vetted by the departments tasked with protecting the nations national security interests. Facebook

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State attorneys general met in Florida to strategize on how to counter Trump, Becerra says By Patrick McGreevy California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra. ((Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) ) A joint statement by 15 attorneys general over the weekend condemning President Trumps refugee order grew out of a meeting in Florida between California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and some of his concerned counterparts, Becerra said Monday. Becerra gathered Thursday in Fort Lauderdale with other attorneys general, including Washington Atty. Gen. Bob Ferguson, to strategize about responding to the Trump administration on various issues. The meeting took place at the annual winter conference of the Democratic Attorneys General Assn. Several of the AGs have been in communication, Becerra said in an interview with The Times. We made it very clear in our joint statement that we are going to do everything we can to make sure that the unlawful, unconstitutional executive orders by the Trump administration dont see the light of day. Officials who signed the joint statement included legal representatives from Washington, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia. On Monday, Ferguson announced he was suing Trump over the executive order that suspended refugee entries for 120 days and barred entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Becerra said that he had been in contact with Ferguson and that the option to pursue legal action is under consideration for California. Thats one of many avenues of how we are looking to approach this, Becerra said. As a result of the Florida meeting, Becerra said, the top lawyers from the 15 states are collaborating on how to address various Trump directives. Everyone is doing a little bit of something, he said. Everyones trying to figure out how best to address this. Florida Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, a Republican, did not attend the meeting, Becerra said. Facebook

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California warily watches President Trump while pushing forward on climate change By Chris Megerian (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Its been a decade since California set its first target for slashing greenhouse gas emissions, one of several policies that has made the state an international leader in the fight against global warming. So while President Trump suggests hes going to roll back the countrys environmental regulations, state leaders insist they wont be knocked off track here. This is when you do your best work, said John Laird, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. We cant worry about pulling back just to sink with everyone else who isnt moving at all. Read More Facebook

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Rep. Duncan Hunter urges Trump to make an executive order exemption for Iraqis who aided U.S. military By Sarah D. Wire Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) are asking President Trump to approve waivers to his executive order for Iraqis who helped the American military. Hunter and Kinzinger, who both served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said in the letter to Trump that they supported a request from Defense Secretary James N. Mattis that visa reviews for some Iraqis be fast-tracked. For the safety of these courageous individuals and their families, and in the interest of our national security, its critical that we make this exception and do so swiftly, the congressmen said in a statement. The executive order Trump signed Friday bars all refugee entries for 120 days, blocks Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars for 90 days the entry of citizens from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia. Some of the earliest stories of people caught up in the ban included military interpreters from Iraq who had visas. We respectfully ask that you take this action to ensure these individuals are not put in any further danger. Doing so would send a strong signal to those who show such immense courage to advance U.S. security interests at a risk to their own safety, as well as the many veterans and warfighters whove relied on the service of these individuals for their own protection and to accomplish their objectives, their letter states. Facebook

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Democrats in the California Legislature move to condemn President Trumps immigration orders Facebook

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Assembly Republican leader Chad Mayes voices his misgivings about refugee order By Patrick McGreevy Assembly Minority Leader Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley) speaks in the Capitol on Jan. 11. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP) Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes of Yucca Valley on Monday joined a number of GOP politicians who are voicing misgivings about President Trumps order temporarily barring refugees from some majority-Muslim countries from entering the country. Religious liberty is a core value of our nation. My ancestors immigrated to America to flee religious persecution, Mayes said in a statement. While bolstering our national security is important, when forced to decide between security and liberty, I will always side with liberty. He is concerned about them [the orders], said Matt Mahon, a spokesman for the assemblyman. Trumps directives suspended refugee entries for 120 days and barred entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Facebook

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Rep. Zoe Lofgren and other ranking Democrats demand emergency meeting on refugee ban By Sarah D. Wire After two days of protests across the country over President Trumps order Friday banning refugees from seven countries, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) and the ranking Democrats of three committees that oversee immigration issues are demanding a meeting with President Trumps new Homeland Security secretary, John F. Kelly. The move by Trump prevented green card and visa holders from reentering the country, and led to the detention of more than a hundred people landing at U.S. airports with valid entry documents. Late Saturday, a federal judge in New York issued a temporary stay against the deportation of anyone who had arrived with a valid visa. The letter demanding the meeting, signed by Lofgren, Judiciary Committee ranking member John Conyers (D-Mich.), Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Elliot Engel (D-N.Y.), calls for it be scheduled by the close of business Wednesday. The Democrats also ask for more information about how the order is being implemented, whether the stays placed by federal judges over the weekend are being followed and whether green card holders are affected. Only two days after the order was signed it is clear that it has already led to panic and disorder, not to mention protests, the letter states. This is apparently due in part to the lack of internal administration review prior to its issuance as well as a lack of clarity and guidance provided thereafter. Lofgren, a former immigration attorney and the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committees Immigration Subcommittee, also plans to file legislation today to rescind the executive order. Getting such legislation through the House could be difficult with Speaker Paul Ryan supporting the executive order. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is proposing similar legislation in the Senate. House and Senate Democrats plan to hold a rally against the order outside the Supreme Court Monday evening. Facebook

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As California Democrats blast Trumps refugee order, Republicans in the congressional delegation hold their fire By Sarah D. Wire Only a few of the states 14 Republican representatives have publicly commented on an executive order signed by President Trump on Friday that barred refugees and green card holders from seven countries from entering the U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) released a statement Sunday night saying some tweaks are needed, but his background as chairman of the House Select Intelligence Committee leads him to support the executive order. In light of attempts by jihadist groups to infiltrate fighters into refugee flows to the West, along with Europes tragic experience coping with this problem, the Trump administrations executive order on refugees is a common-sense security measure to prevent terror attacks on the homeland. While accommodations should be made for green card holders and those whove assisted the U.S. armed forces, this is a useful temporary measure on seven nations of concern until we can verify who is entering the United States, he said. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) told the Washington Post that pausing the intake of refugees from terror hotspots is the right call to keep America safe, but he hopes the cases of people traveling on visas who were prevented from reentering the country are resolved quickly. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) said on Twitter on Sunday that the rollout has created confusion, and that executive orders arent the way to fix the countrys long-term problems. View Twitter post View Twitter post Several of Californias 38 Democratic congressional representatives and the states two senators were out in force over the weekend demanding the release of refugees and green card holders, and an end to the executive order. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced two pieces of legislation shell file in response. One would immediately rescind the presidents order. The second would limit executive authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to prevent a president from unilaterally banning groups of immigrants. Its clear that the president gave little consideration to the chaos and heartbreak that would result from this order, she said in a statement. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) joined protesters outside the White House Sunday afternoon. We will fight against racism. We will fight against anti-Muslim rhetoric. We will fight against those who will marginalize who we are. pic.twitter.com/R54f3MDhvo  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 29, 2017 In Los Angeles, Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) joined protesters at Los Angeles International Airport. On Saturday, Reps. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), Nanette Barragan (D-San Pedro) and Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) joined the initial protests at the airport, and worked to get some of those being held released. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) accompanied protesters at San Francisco International Airport Sunday. Congresswoman @MaxineWaters is here at LAX protest leading the crowd in the chant "no ban, no wall, you build it up we'll tear it down" pic.twitter.com/iNEmkVVkmW  Javier Panzar  (@jpanzar) January 29, 2017 2:31 p.m. Jan. 30: This post was updated to clarify Rep. Ed Royces statement about the executive order. It was originally published Jan. 29. Facebook

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State Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra condemns Trumps refugee order and explores challenge By Patrick McGreevy Assyrian Christians, who fled unrest in Syria and Iraq, attend Mass at St. Georges Assyrian Church in Jdeideh, Lebanon. Trumps directive provides an exception for religious minorities. ( (AFP/Getty Images)) California state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Saturday condemned an executive order by President Donald Trump barring people from some Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. and said he is consulting with legal advisors over a way to challenge the directive. Trump has suspended all refugee entries for 120 days and barred entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Justice in America doesnt live or die on the stroke of one mans pen regardless of how high his office, Becerra said in a statement late Saturday, less than a week after taking office. The Trump Administrations anti-religion, anti-refugee executive order is in so many ways unjust and anti-American He said the order discriminates against people based on their faith and denies entry to those with fears of death and persecution. I have conferred with my team, and we are reaching out to others as well, to find every avenue possible to defend our family members and those who live permanently in our communities who may be barred from re-entry into America, Becerra said. The Trump executive order should not stand and must be confronted as a constitutional overreach, he added. Facebook

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California Politics Podcast: Reactions to President Trumps first week By John Myers Even before the weekend controversy and protests, Californias top elected officials spent much of the last week reacting to the first moves by President Donald Trump. On this weeks California Politics Podcast, we take a closer look at the sharp words offered by Gov. Jerry Brown in his State of the State speech when it comes to the new politics of Washington. We also focus much of this weeks discussion around three big topics that caught the attention of a number of California lawmakers: immigration moves by Trump; the rough week that was for the nations environmental protection enforcers; and rekindled but unproven allegations of widespread voter fraud. Im joined by Marisa Lagos of KQED News and Anthony York of the Grizzly Bear Project. Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown will undergo new round of treatment for prostate cancer, but wont miss any work By John Myers Gov. Jerry Brown, who first was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012, will begin a new round of treatment for the disease, his office reported on Saturday. Brown, 78, will maintain his duties as governor during the treatment, according to his staff. No additional details were provided about how long the treatment will take, or what prompted its timing. Fortunately this is not extensive disease, can be readily treated with a short course of radiotherapy, and there are not expected to be any significant side effects, said Dr. Eric Small, a UC San Francisco oncologist, in an emailed statement provided to reporters. The prognosis for Gov. Brown is excellent. Brown initially learned he had prostate cancer in late 2012 and underwent similar treatment for several weeks. The governor has also been treated for basal cell carcinoma  a type of skin cancer  twice in the past nine years, with reconstructive surgery on the right side of his nose in 2011. With almost two years remaining on his final term in office, Brown is already the oldest governor in California history. He often made a point of pointing out his physical fitness in his return to the job in 2011, including a 2012 challenge to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie of a 3-mile race, a push-up contest and a chin-up contest. Though hes been treated in San Francisco, the governor and First Lady Anne Gust Brown now live full-time in the historic governors mansion in Sacramento after moving out of Oakland last year. Facebook

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Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra takes a jab at the Trump administration when asked about the battles to come Facebook

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Proposed law would make penalties for using fake immigration papers the same as those for using fake drivers license By Jazmine Ulloa A proposed California law seeks to ensure that a person who uses false documents to conceal their citizenship status faces the same punishment as a person who uses a fake drivers license. The legislation by Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) would amend the penal code to make both crimes wobblers,

meaning prosecutors would have the discretion to charge suspects in such cases with either felony offenses or lower-level misdemeanors. Under the proposal, the repercussions for defendants would be the same: If convicted of a misdemeanor, offenders would have to serve up to one year in county jail, while a felony conviction would mean up to 16 months in county jail, or two or three years in prison. A spokesman for Bocangera said the measure was introduced as a proactive response to President Trumps hard-line stance on immigration and would reverse part of Proposition 187, a controversial ballot measure to deny public services, such as education and healthcare, to immigrants in the country illegally. The proposition, approved by voters in 1994, requires any person who uses false immigration records to face felony charges. Bocangeras bill amending those provisions would need a two-thirds vote in the Assembly and the state Senate to pass. Today, if an underage college student uses a fake ID to purchase a six-pack of beer, he or she can be charged with a misdemeanor, Bocanegra said in a statement. However, if an immigrant is caught using that same fake ID, he or she is automatically charged with a felony and is subject to five years in prison. This is fundamentally unfair. Facebook

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Fearing catastrophe, Californias Gov. Jerry Brown wants the worlds leaders to stop goofing off By Chris Megerian Gov. Jerry Brown pointedly criticized world leaders for goofing off instead of addressing looming problems with climate change and nuclear weapons during a radio interview on Friday. Theyre really averting their gaze, he said. And that is dangerous, very dangerous. Brown has become increasingly outspoken about issues he describes as existential threats to humanity, and the election of Donald Trump has only made him more concerned. During the interview, he spoke in sweeping terms about the need to support scientific research in the face of political denial. Darkness cannot totally extinguish the light, Brown said while criticizing Republicans for refusing to accept the scientific consensus around climate change and the need for dramatic changes to confront global warming. @JerryBrownGov in our studio (in fact, in my chair!) as he chats w/ Ira Flatow on @scifri pic.twitter.com/kIyGBFQW9X  Beth Ruyak (@CapRadioRuyak) January 27, 2017 At another point, Brown mused that humans have accumulated vast power without a corresponding increase in wisdom. That creates a gap between the power to destroy and the wisdom to control those destructive forces. Brown reiterated his plan to push forward Californias policies on climate change even if Trump follows through on the federal governments plans. Were going to do everything we can to stay on track, he said. Facebook

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Some California lawmakers say its time to expand how the state defines violent crime By Jazmine Ulloa As California undergoes the largest overhaul of prison parole in a generation, some lawmakers and law enforcement officials say its time to revisit how the state legally defines a violent crime. Gov. Jerry Browns Proposition 57, which voters overwhelmingly approved in November, continues a statewide effort to increase rehabilitation services and decrease the prison population. Among its provisions, the initiative gives the state parole board greater latitude to consider the early release of prisoners who have served their primary sentences, and whose crimes are not designated as violent under the California penal code. But since the early days of the ballot measure campaign, debate has brewed over just who the law will benefit, with prosecutors saying that short and porous list excludes certain rape crimes and other dangerous offenses. This legislative session, the discussion moves to the Capitol. Read More Facebook

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Fearing deletion, Tom Steyer copies Environmental Protection Agency website on climate change By Chris Megerian (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) With President Trump in the White House, information about climate change has been disappearing from government websites. Some fear the same thing could happen with the Environmental Protection Agency. Now the advocacy organization run by environmentalist and political donor Tom Steyer is taking steps to preserve the information. We will not allow Trump and the oil corporations to push us towards an Orwellian world full of official lies and misinformation.  Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) January 27, 2017 NextGen Climate copied the website and made it available at SaveOurEPA.com. As Americans, we will not allow Donald Trump to erase the truth or rewrite history, Steyer said in a statement. This information belongs to the people, and the public has a right to know the truth. Trump has taken other steps that have alarmed environmentalists. For example, he greenlighted two oil pipelines that had been stopped by former President Obama. Facebook

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For California, a return to center stage in the 2020 presidential contest By Mark Z. Barabak (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) Kamala Harris hadnt even arrived in Washington to take up her job as Californias spanking-new U.S. senator when the chatter began: Kamala for president! Never mind her disavowals  Seriously?  or the fact that the first balloting of the 2020 race is, at a minimum, 1,000-plus days away. The soul-sapping election of Donald Trump has Democrats desperately looking far, far down the road. Usually the candidates start sending signals, said Jim Demers, a longtime party strategist in New Hampshire, the state that traditionally holds the first presidential primary. This time Im hearing activists begging for the race to begin. With a wide-open contest (read: not a Clinton or Obama in sight), the list of would-be contenders, real and imagined, is lengthy, even by the prodigious standards of this early stage. Whats different in 2020 is that California  huge in population, mighty in economic power, desperate to matter in presidential politics  figures to be at the center of speculation in a way it hasnt for a generation. Read More Facebook

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Theres a major fight on the way over Trumps plans for sanctuary cities By Liam Dillon Immigrant workers marching in Los Angeles in 2014. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times) Cities in California are gearing up for a legal fight against President Trumps plans to take away federal dollars from so-called sanctuary cities. These cities typically are defined as those that dont cooperate with federal immigration officials for deportation purposes, and the new president wants to strip them of funding unless they start doing so. But the language in Trumps executive order on the issue is vague, and San Francisco officials believe their city is already exempt from the mandate. Read More Facebook

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Fighting Trumps border wall on environmental grounds probably wont win in court By Liam Dillon A pair of fences separates Mexico, left, and the U.S. south of San Diego. (Bill Wechter / AFP) California political leaders are seeking all sorts of strategies to fight President Trumps plans to build a wall along the border with Mexico. One strategy thats likely to fail is a lawsuit based on state and federal environmental laws, legal experts said. Congress already has given the federal government broad authority to waive environmental laws to build a border fence and the courts have upheld that power. Read More Facebook

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Calexit organizers can now start collecting signatures to get California secession on the ballot By Christine Mai-Duc Supporters of the campaign for California to secede from the United States can now begin collecting the hundreds of thousands of signatures they need to get a proposed Calexit initiative on the ballot. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla cleared the proposed initiative to begin collecting signatures on Thursday. If the measure gets on the ballot and gains approval by a majority of voters, it would repeal clauses in the California Constitution stating that the state is an inseparable part of the United States and that the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, according to the title and summary prepared by the state attorney generals office. The measure would place another question on the ballot in 2019, asking whether California should become a separate country. If at least half of registered voters participate in that vote, with at least 55% of those voting to approve, the results would be treated as Californias declaration of independence. The current measures fiscal effect is dependent on various factors, writes the states nonpartisan legislative analyst, and if it succeeds would result in major, but unknown budgetary impacts. The proposals backers, known as Yes California, have argued that the state is culturally out of step with the rest of the U.S. and that California pays more money to the federal government than it receives in spending. The election of President Trump has only strengthened their argument, they say. California loses [by] being a part of America culturally and financially, said Marcus Ruiz Evans, one of the groups founders. It could be a nation all its own, everybody knows that. The only question is if they want to break off. Its unclear how the group will collect the required 585,407 valid signatures from registered voters over the next 180 days to qualify for the ballot. A campaign committee, Yes California Independence Committee, has raised no funds so far, according to records from the secretary of state. But Evans says that his group has more than 7,000 volunteers (significantly down from a 13,000 estimate in December) ready to gather signatures and that voters can expect to see signature gatherers on the streets in the next couple of days. Yes California says that even if the proposed initiative does land on the ballot and voters approve it, such an unprecedented move to secede would need to receive approval of at least a majority of the states in the union, among other legal hurdles. Evans says hes not fazed. America already hates California, and America votes on emotions, he said. I think wed have the votes today if we held it. UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: This post has been updated to clarify that the proposed initiative would place a future vote on Californias secession on the ballot in 2019. Facebook

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Rep. Ted Lieu is trolling Donald Trump, and he hopes youre watching By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Ted Lieu is now placing an asterisk next to President Trumps name in news releases. Its the Torrance Democrats way of drawing attention to his concerns about the new administration, he said. Sometimes the best way to respond to crazy is with satire, Lieu said. Never before have I had this feeling where our leader is potentially unhinged and has a problem with the truth, and that is highly disturbing for the leader of the free world. So Ive decided Im just going to point that out as much as I can. The asterisk leads readers to the bottom of the email, where a postscript says:  ***In addition to losing the popular vote, Trump  as of January 20, 2017  is in violation of the Emoluments Clause set forth in Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution due to massive conflicts of interests and his refusal to put his global business holdings in blind trusts. Trump also benefitted from Vladimir Putin ordering a multifaceted and brazen Russian influence and cyber hacking campaign with the goals of undermining faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrating Secretary Clintons electability, and helping Trumps election chances. Trump and his press secretary also routinely make stuff up. The sophomore congressman said he initially planned to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, hoping his rhetoric was a campaign tactic and that he would pivot to uniting the country following the election. Then Lieu listened to the presidents inaugural speech. I was hoping he would govern different than how he campaigned, he said. I came to the conclusion that it would be worse for America to normalize him. Lieu followed the addition to his news releases with a Cloud of Illegitimacy Clock that counts the time since Trumps swearing-in, which is how long Lieu says Trump has been in violation of the Constitution by not divesting from his businesses or putting them in a blind trust. The Constitution bans government officials from receiving gifts or payments from foreign governments. Next he posted a series of tweets mocking White House spokesman Sean Spicer for giving incorrect figures on how many people attended the inauguration, and top Trump aide Kellyanne Conway for using the term alternative facts. Was charged $2.99 for coffee listed at $2.59. That's why I have trust issues. Oh, and the fact that @seanspicer at #WhiteHouse makes shit up  Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 23, 2017 Ive decided that the administration using alternative facts is more profane than anything that I could say, he said. When the administration lies, they just need to be called out on that. If they are going to lie about stupid little things, like crowd size, imagine what theyre going to say when they roll out their healthcare plan, whenever that might be. Lieu has needled Trump in responses to several executive orders this week, including by saying he would bet a nice bottle of California wine that the Administration will be unable to find a credible witness to testify under oath to the allegation that 3-5 million people illegally cast votes in 2016, and by mentioning the inauguration crowd while talking about Trumps proposed border wall. Lieu said hes absolutely hoping Trump will respond. I think satire is an effective way to highlight issues, and I want the American people to see who this president really is, because in 22 months they get to vote again on every member of Congress, and that will be a referendum on Donald Trump, Lieu said. Facebook

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California Democrats propose adding third, nonbinary gender option for drivers licenses and other official documents By Melanie Mason View Twitter post California drivers licenses and birth certificates could have a third option for gender in addition to male or female under legislation unveiled Thursday by Democratic lawmakers. The bill by state Sens. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would establish a new nonbinary gender marker for official state documents. Lawmakers framed the measure as an expansion of rights for transgender, intersex and other people who do not identify as male or female. It will keep California at the forefront of LGBTQ civil rights, Atkins said at a Capitol news conference. The bill, SB 179, also would streamline the process for people to change their gender on such documents. It would remove the requirement that an individual obtain a sworn statement from a physician certifying medical treatment for gender transition. It also would create a process for people younger than 18 to apply for a change of gender on their birth certificate. Jo Michael, of Equality California, a gay rights advocacy group, said the bill had personal resonance. Michael identifies as transgender and nonbinary. For the first time, Californians like me could have accurate gender markers that truly reflect who we are, Michael said. Wiener said the proposal places California in stark relief to other states in the country, including North Carolina, where a high-profile law regulating transgender peoples use of public bathrooms roiled the state. As the LGBT community  but especially the trans community  is under assault in this country, California needs to go in the opposite direction and embrace the trans community and support the trans community and modernize these laws, he said. The legislation does not specify what the alternate gender marker would be, but other countries that have implemented such a policy, such as Australia and New Zealand, have used the letter X alongside M for male and F for female, according to Sasha Buchert of the Transgender Law Center. Atkins, who is a lesbian and a member of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, said this proposal marks an evolution for her in better understanding the concerns of the transgender and intersex community. She authored a law in 2014 that ensures death certificates reflect a persons gender identity, an experience she said made her more aware of the bureaucratic hurdles that transgender people often face. This years bill, she said, is moving us forward into a new world, where acceptance is ... letting people be who they tell you they are. Facebook

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Former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder will visit Sacramento to meet with Democratic legislators next month By Melanie Mason (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press) California lawmakers will have a chance to meet the Legislatures new outside counsel on Feb. 7, when former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. travels to the state to address Senate and Assembly Democrats. Holder, leading a team of attorneys from the firm Covington & Burling, has been hired by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) to serve as outside counsel as the state prepares a legal strategy to deal with the administration of President Trump. But Senate and Assembly staff officials said his invitation to meet with lawmakers was extended prior to the contract, which begins in February, and that Holder is making the trip on his own personal time. His travel and accommodations expenses will not be paid with state funds, and his appearances will not be part of his billable hours, they said. Holder will address Senate Democrats at their annual policy retreat, and will speak to the Assembly Democratic caucus. His visit comes soon after state Democratic leaders this week denounced Trumps executive orders on immigration and pledged to take his administration to court should other legislative means of resistance fail. Facebook

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A guide to the guessing game that is the 2018 California governors race By Phil Willon While the race to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown already has attracted a small cadre of well-known Democrats, the behind-the-scenes strategizing, cajoling and guessing games surrounding a handful of other potential contenders could create havoc in whats expected to be Californias biggest political showdown since 2010. Among those watching closely are the candidates already definitely in the running, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Treasurer John Chiang. Delaine Eastin, who spent eight years as Californias top education official, announced she was running in November and officially launched her campaign  and fundraising operation  on Thursday. Read More Facebook

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This is not a monarchy: California Senate leader Kevin de Leon bashes Trumps immigration orders By Jazmine Ulloa (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) California Senate leader Kevin de Leon took another shot at President Trump and his executive orders on immigration Wednesday night, calling his threat to withhold federal dollars from so-called sanctuary cities political blackmail and political vengeance. In an interview on the MSNBC show The Last Word with Lawrence ODonnell, De Leon said California was working with former U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. to study all of its legal options to oppose the directives. Under the 10th Amendment, the state Senate leader said, the federal government cannot commandeer and force local municipalities and police agencies from carrying out their work. The appearance came hours after Trump signed orders to temporarily halt the U.S. refugee program, cut funding for cities that offer immigrants protections and order federal officials to construct a U.S.-Mexico border wall. California will not become a cog in the Trump deportation machine, De Leon said. This is not a monarchy, and I know he fancies himself as a king, but this is a republic. Read More Facebook

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President Trumps voter fraud allegation is a lie, says Californias top elections officer By John Myers Secretary of State Alex Padilla. (Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press) With President Donald Trump rehashing last years accusation of widespread voter fraud in California and elsewhere, the states top elections official is also restating his take: Its not true. When the president says millions of illegal ballots are cast, thats simply not the case, said Secretary of State Alex Padilla in an interview on CNN Wednesday. Its a lie. As was the case when Trump made the accusation in November, theres no evidence of such a broad attempt to sway the outcome in California. The president lost the Golden State to Democrat Hillary Clinton by almost 4.3 million votes. Trumps announcement on Wednesday of a major investigation into voter fraud reignited the issue, even though there was also Republican skepticism in the wake of the new round of accusations. Is it a question of millions of people? Thats a pretty steep hill to climb, said Assemblyman Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach), the vice chairman of the Assemblys elections committee. Youd have to have a very strong coordinated effort across California to pull that off. Harper said he believes the better discussion is whether new, independent audit capabilities need to be in place to examine election results. Others, though, were sharply critical of the presidents motives. Allegations of widespread voter fraud are not just alternative facts, they are a calculated and sinister attempt at voter suppression that takes a page from this nations bleak history of segregation, said Laphonza Butler, president of the state council of the Service Employees International Union. In the CNN interview, Padilla said he worried the president was sowing doubt in an effort to legitimize efforts such as a purging of voter rolls. I hope that its not a sign of things to come, he said. Facebook

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Intelligence committee led by Californians investigating Russian influence in 2016 election By Sarah D. Wire The House Select Intelligence Committee is examining allegations that the Russian government tried to influence the 2016 election, Republican Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes and ranking Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff said in a statement Wednesday. The two Californians said the committee is looking at Russian cyber activity and other active measures directed against the U.S. It also will examine links between Russia and people working for political campaigns as well as the federal response to Russia, including leaks of classified assessments from the intelligence community. The statement does not specifically mention President Trump, the assessment of the U.S. intelligence community that Russia attempted to intervene in the presidential election to ensure he would win or news that Trumps national security advisor was in frequent contact with the Russian ambassador as President Obama was considering sanctions against Russia. This issue is not about party, but about country. The Committee will continue to follow the facts wherever they may lead, the statement said. The Senate Intelligence Committee, on which Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) serves, also is investigating Russian interference in the election, and the U.S. response. Two Republican senators have joined a number of House and Senate Democrats, including House Select Intelligence Committee member Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) in pushing for a nonpartisan independent commission to examine the issue. Nunes, who served on Trumps transition committee, has previously said he doesnt think an independent commission is necessary. The statement also asked the new, Trump-appointed heads of intelligence agencies to bring documents requested by the committee directly to committee members. It will not be adequate to review these documents, expected to be in the thousands of pages, at the agencies. They should be delivered to the House Intelligence Committee to provide members adequate time to examine their content, it states. Facebook

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No stamp, no problem: Lawmaker says postage-paid ballots should be available to all Californians By John Myers (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) California voters would no longer have to scrounge around in search of a stamp to mail in their ballot under new legislation introduced this week at the state Capitol. We want to make sure voters dont have any barriers, said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego), the bills author. Ballot envelopes sent by elections officials would be marked as prepaid postage and the postage costs would be paid for by individual counties. A key question will be the cost for mailing in as many as 10 million ballots statewide. Not all ballots will weigh the same, given the numerous city and county measures that also are considered in regularly scheduled elections. The initial language of Assembly Bill 216 doesnt offer specifics on reimbursing counties, though Gonzalez Fletcher said she expects the proposals ultimate cost could be under $2 million, if the law also makes clear that voters can still place a stamp on their ballot. Regardless, postage fees are likely to be deemed a mandated cost that state government must cover. Gonzalez Fletcher said the advent of email and online bill-paying services have meant that fewer voters have stamps readily available, with busy working Californians scrambling just to find the time to exercise their right to vote. It starts to feel like a very small poll tax, she said. The proposal is another example of the steady evolution of elections conducted less by the ballot box than the mailbox in California, as more than half of all registered voters now permanently receive absentee ballots. A number of the states most populous counties are expected to soon embrace a sweeping new law shifting elections away from neighborhood polling places and toward a substantial number of votes being cast by mail. This is welcome legislation, said Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation. Requiring voters to pay for ballot postage sends a message that the government is putting up obstacles to make it more difficult to vote. In many cases, ballots placed in the mail without proper postage are already being delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Some counties in California have offered prepaid postage in the past, but the vast majority have not. Facebook

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California improves grades from anti-smoking group with barrage of anti-tobacco laws By Patrick McGreevy California led other states in adopting a flurry of new laws restricting tobacco products last year, resulting in a big improvement in the states grades from the American Lung Assn. In a report released Wednesday, the health group boosted the states grade for the level of tobacco taxes from an F last year to a B, in recognition that California voters in November approved a $2-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax. The Legislature last year also adopted a half-dozen new laws, including an increase in the minimum age for smoking from 18 to 21 and an expansion of a smoking ban in public places, including restaurants and theaters, to also include use of electronic cigarettes. The states grade for smoke-free air policies rose from a B to an A, while California received a B for restricting tobacco to young people. The group gave the state an incomplete for funding of tobacco prevention programs because officials have not yet started collecting money from the tobacco tax increase in Proposition 56. In 2016, Californians fought back against Big Tobaccos grip on our state, said David Pogue, chairman of the American Lung Assn. in Californias governing board. Tobacco-related illnesses remain the single most preventable cause of disease and death in California, and were proud to reaffirm ourselves as a national leader in the effort to reduce smoking rates and exposure to secondhand smoke and to protect our children from a lifetime of addiction. The group cited the lack of significant new tobacco laws passed in Los Angeles for its decision to leave the citys C grade unchanged. El Monte and West Hollywood passed some new tobacco policies and raised their grades. Santa Ana earned a C, but was at top of the list in Orange County, where almost all the other cities received Fs, officials said. Facebook

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Sen. Kamala Harris pushes Trumps budget director pick on timely disaster relief By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) pushed President Trumps budget chief pick Tuesday on whether hed advise the new Republican leader to offer timely disaster relief, especially to states like California that face earthquakes, fires, floods and other natural disasters. Can you assure me that when natural disasters hit various parts of the country like California, that you will be willing to put the immediate interests of people in need as the first priority for you, or will you insist that the budget cuts be made before agreeing to provide critical assistance to those victims? Harris asked Rep. Mick Mulvaney during a confirmation hearing Tuesday. The South Carolina Republican asked for spending cuts to offset billions in relief funding after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. There is a proper federal role in dealing with natural disaster relief, Mulvaney said in response to Harris questioning. Sandy is a tremendous example of something so large, its simply too large for one state or local government to deal with, it is an appropriate function of the federal government. Harris pushed a second time, So can you assure me that if a natural disaster hits other states, like California for example, that you will not hold up relief for the state, waiting to determine whether there are going to be budget cuts or cuts in order to provide that relief? Or are you going to sit back and crunch the numbers while people are waiting for help? Mulvaney replied, No, I see my role in that particular circumstance as advising the president. Mr. President, heres what weve done it in the past, heres how it worked out, heres how I think we should proceed in this circumstance and heres why. And then whatever the president says to do, I will enforce. Harris is still weighing how to vote on Mulvaneys confirmation, her staff said. Facebook

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Trump is a hot topic in Californias race for governor, but not in a good way By Phil Willon Donald Trump at the California Republican Party convention in Burlingame in April. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) One of the most talked about politicians in Californias 2018 governors campaign isnt even running. Rarely does a day go by when Republican President Donald Trump isnt used as a political pinata by one of the top Democrats in the race. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom took some jabs Tuesday when he addressed the California Legislature before Gov. Jerry Browns annual State of the State speech. Newsom mocked the Trump administration for its reliance on alternative facts  a phrase used by a Trump senior advisor when defending inflated inauguration crowd figures  and took a subtle shot at the presidents comment about American carnage in the nations cities. The insecurity of this man is near incomprehensible. These lies damage our democracy & country's reputation-Shameful https://t.co/ib7i6DqfH8  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 24, 2017 On Monday, state Treasurer John Chiang criticized Trump for doubting the scientific evidence of climate change. President Trump may believe global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing noncompetitive, Chiang said. We Californians stand with the scientific community and the 195 nations that have declared climate change is an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet. When Antonio Villaraigosa announced his bid for governor right after the general election, the former Los Angeles mayor was sure to include a dig at Trump. Im running because I think the answer to the divisiveness we see in the country right now is unity, and the answer to fear is hope, he said. Last May, Villaraigosa compared Trump to segregationist George Wallace. Californias former superintendent of public instruction, Delaine Eastin, last week ripped Trump for nominating Betsy DeVos for Education secretary. Eastin said DeVos, a charter school advocate and Republican fundraiser from Michigan, was a threat to public education in the country. In speeches, in fundraising emails, in tweets and Facebook posts, the Democrats have liberally excoriated Trump while largely avoiding lobbing any criticism at one another. Its a safe and easy tactic that appeals to a sizeable majority of voters in left-leaning California. In the November election, Trump was trounced by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in California  losing to her by more than 4.2 million votes. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican being urged to run by fellow party members, has also rebuked Trump in the past. In May, Faulconer said he rejected Trumps divisive rhetoric about women and immigrants. Faulconer was absent at Trumps inauguration and skipped a Trump campaign rally in San Diego last spring. For any Republican to have a legitimate shot in the governors race, or any statewide election, the more distance they put between themselves and Trump the better, said GOP political consultant Rob Stutzman. Its important that youre not on the record gushing about Trump, Stutzman said. 3:30 p.m.: This story was updated to correct the title of Delaine Eastin. She is a former state superintendent of public instruction. Facebook

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Californias House members vote along party lines on permanently banning federal funds for abortion By Sarah D. Wire Californias House delegation split along party lines Tuesday on a bill to permanently prohibit the use of certain federal funds for abortions. President Trump promised the anti-abortion community during the campaign that he would make the funding ban  commonly called the Hyde Amendment  permanent. It passed the House 238-183 and goes next to the Senate. The 52 members who represent California in the House split along party lines, with 36 Democrats against for it, and 14 Republicans voting for it. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Jim Costa (D-Lieu) did not vote. Their staffs each said the member would have joined Democrats in voting against the measure. If passed by the Senate, it would permanently prohibit federal funding from being used to cover abortion costs except in cases of rape, incest or if the mothers life is in danger. It effects government employees health plans, Medicaid and health insurance plans offered under the Affordable Care Act. The amendment has been added to the annual appropriations bill for the past 40 years and the bill approved by the House Tuesday would make it permanent. During debate on the House floor Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) called the bill a womens health catastrophe that will keep poor women on Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act from having access to insurance. In effect it makes abortion only an option for the wealthy, she said. Previous versions of the bill twice passed the House but were not considered by the Senate while President Obama was in office. 11:09 a.m. Jan. 25: An earlier version of this article reported that Democrats voted for the bill and Republicans voted against the bill. It was the opposite. Facebook

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California lawmakers to weigh whether younger children should be allowed to testify in custody cases By Jazmine Ulloa California lawmakers will weigh whether family courts should allow children as young as 10 to testify before judges regarding parent custody or visitation rights. A bill filed by state Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino) would lower the current threshold from age 14 to enable more children to express their wishes in court, some of whom she said could find themselves in life-threatening situations. The legislation was co-sponsored by the California Protective Parents Assn. and the Center for Judicial Excellence. Neither current law nor the bill would require children to testify in family cases unless they choose to. In a statement, Levya called the proposal an important child safety measure. As a family court makes critical life decisions for children, it makes sense for them to be granted a greater voice in court proceedings since they can contribute essential information before final decisions are made, she said. Facebook

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Support for California secession is up, one poll says By Phil Willon Students from several high schools rally at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 14 after walking out of class to protest the election of Donald Trump. (Reed Saxon / Associated Press) Californians support for a breakaway California republic has increased, one poll has found. One-third of state residents support peacefully seceding from the United States, up from 20% since Californians were last asked the same question in 2014, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll. The polls margin of error for the California answers was plus or minus 5 percentage points. Still, half of Californians opposed the idea of succession, though Democrats were more inclined to support it than Republicans. The survey found that 60% of Republicans gave the idea of peacefully seceding a thumbs down compared with 48% of Democrats and 50% of independents. Nationally, 22% of those polled supported having their state break away from the U.S., according to the survey. A Calexit campaign already is underway to make California an independent nation. The effort faces extremely long odds. The poll surveyed 14,000 adults nationwide, and 500 in California, from Dec. 6 to Jan. 19. Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown defiantly tells lawmakers California is not turning back in face of Trump and GOP proposals By John Myers Gov. Jerry Brown used his State of the State speech on Tuesday to promise a forceful defense of Californias efforts on climate change, healthcare and assistance to those in the country illegally against new proposals by President Donald Trump and national Republican leadership. California is not turning back, Brown said to applause. Not now, not ever. The governors remarks, delivered in front of lawmakers and state elected officials in the Assembly chambers, came just four days after President Trumps forceful inaugural address that signaled a dramatic new course for the federal government. While he never mentioned the president by name during the 16-minute speech, Brown said there are disturbing signs as to whats on the horizon. We have seen the bald assertion of alternative facts, whatever those are, he said, a reference to top Trump advisor Kellyanne Conways weekend comments on NBCs Meet the Press. We have heard the blatant attacks on science. Familiar signposts of our democracy  truth, civility, working together  have been obscured or swept aside. The annual event in the chamber of the state Assembly was unusual from the outset. Just minutes before beginning his speech, Brown gave the oath of office to Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, the former Los Angeles congressman confirmed to the post on Monday afternoon by the state Senate. Legislators have had a decidedly unusual start to their new two-year session. After a raucous opening day in December that laid bare wounds from the presidential race, lawmakers were presented two weeks ago with Browns projection of a $1.6-billion budget deficit looming on the states fiscal horizon. But the sea change in national politics has been a persistent buzz in the state Capitol, and Brown promised a strong defense of Californias unique view on major policy issues. The governor made a special mention of the issue of illegal immigration, offering perhaps his strongest words to date. Let me be clear, the governor said, his voice rising. We will defend everybody  every man, woman and child who has come here for a better life and has contributed to the well-being of our state. Even with those critiques, the governor veered from his prepared remarks to praise Trumps call for a new focus on infrastructure projects. I say, Amen to that, man!  he said. And Brown urged members of the Legislature to reject the bitter partisan divisions of this moment in the nations history. Democrats are in the majority, but Republicans represent real Californians, too, he said to bipartisan applause. We have generally been civil to one another and avoided the rancor of Washington. I urge you to go even further and look for new ways to work beyond party and act as Californians first. Facebook

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Xavier Becerra takes oath of office, is first Latino to become California attorney general By Patrick McGreevy Xavier Becerra ((Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) ) Minutes after resigning his seat in Congress on Tuesday, Xavier Becerra took the oath of office as Californias new attorney general, and he immediately made plans for a sit-down with sheriffs from throughout the state to talk about law enforcement issues. Becerra, 58, was given the oath of office at the Capitol by Gov. Jerry Brown, who predicted earlier that Xavier will be a champion for all Californians. The ceremony was held before Brown was scheduled to deliver his annual State of the State address, and a day after Becerra received final confirmation by the state Senate. I will do my utmost to uphold your faith in me to serve as our great states next chief law enforcement officer and legal advocate, Becerra said in a letter to Brown on Tuesday, letting him know he had resigned from Congress. And while I leave Congress with mixed emotions, I am ready to begin my work as Attorney General. Californias hard-working families are counting on us, and we wont let them down, Becerra said. Becerra was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, physician Carolina Reyes, two of his three daughters, and his parents, both immigrants from Mexico. Brown appointed Becerra to fill a vacancy after former Atty. Gen.l Kamala Harris won election to a seat in the U.S. Senate. Becerra has pledged to challenge any attempts by the new administration of President Trump to roll back state policies on immigration, civil rights and the environment. Brown noted his appointees background during his speech. Like so many others, he is the son of immigrants who saw California as a place where, through grit and determination, they could realize their dreams, Brown said. And they are not alone, millions of Californians have come here from Mexico and a hundred other countries, making our state what it is today: vibrant, even turbulent, and a beacon of hope to the rest of the world. The first Latino to become state attorney general in California spent the last two weeks meeting with dozens of legislators as he went through confirmation hearings in both houses. Governor Brown and state legislators have already shared valuable ideas on our path forward, Becerra said in a statement after his confirmation. And next week I hope to sit down with sheriffs from across our state to begin our work together keeping our families safe and enforcing our laws fairly. The first focus on local law enforcement was welcomed by Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, president of the California State Sheriffs Assn. He wants to start with law enforcement in the San Joaquin Valley, and I think thats a really positive step, Youngblood said. Im impressed with his credentials. Im impressed with his background, and I think hes going to be a good attorney general. Facebook

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Watch: Gov. Jerry Brown delivers his State of the State address Gov. Jerry Brown will deliver his State of the State address at 10 a.m. PST. Watch live here: Facebook

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Xavier Becerras resignation from Congress took effect at 9:15 a.m.; he calls serving a distinct honor Xavier Becerra has submitted letter of resignation from Congress ahead of swearing in for California attorney general today  Patrick McGreevy (@mcgreevy99) January 24, 2017 Facebook

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Californias senators split on CIA director confirmation By Sarah D. Wire Californias senators split Monday night on the confirmation of Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), President Trumps pick to lead the CIA. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who serves on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee and backed Pompeo, said in a statement that Pompeo gave straightforward answers to her questions, and that House colleagues called him smart, hardworking and devoted to protecting our country. Congressman Pompeo has committed to following the law regarding torture, promised to provide objective analysis of Irans compliance with the nuclear agreement and insisted that he would continue to keep the Senate Intelligence Committee fully informed of CIA activities, Feinstein said. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said in a statement that she appreciated that Pompeo was responsive, engaging, and has made a number of positive commitments during the confirmation process, but said she couldnt vote for him after looking at his entire record on issues such as torture, surveillance, and the collection and use of metadata. Pompeo was confirmed 66 to 32 Monday evening. Thirteen Democrats joined Feinstein in voting for him. While House members dont get to vote for confirmation, the leaders of the House Select Intelligence Committee, Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) and ranking Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) joined Feinstein in congratulating Pompeo for his confirmation. Facebook

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Sen. Kamala Harris moves into some familiar digs on Capitol Hill By Sarah D. Wire (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and her staff can begin moving today into her official Senate office, the same space she interned in as a college student. Few offices can hold a staff as large as the ones allocated to the California members and as expected, Harris was assigned an office in the Hart Senate Office Building, the same space occupied by former Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). Harris can start moving in this morning, her staff said. Back home, Harris plans to have state offices in Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco, her staff said. It is a bit of a change from Boxer, who had additional offices in Oakland and Riverside, but did not have an office in San Francisco. The space in Washington should feel familiar. It was occupied by Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.) when Harris interned for him as a mailroom clerk for a summer when she was a Howard University student in the 1980s. Two floors up in the same building is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Except for states where staff size is a consideration, Senate offices are assigned based on seniority and sitting senators have months to decide if they want to move offices. That means some new senators could spend months working out of temporary space. Facebook

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Assembly speaker taps former Obama spokesman for communications strategy By Melanie Mason Bill Burton (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) With Californias face-off against Washington, D.C., getting widespread attention, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon has turned to a veteran of national politics to help shape his public image: White House veteran Bill Burton. Burton, who once worked as deputy press secretary in the Obama administration, was hired this month by Rendon, a Democrat from Paramount, for communications strategy. Now a managing partner in the Los Angeles office for SKDKnickerbocker, a prominent liberal public affairs firm, Burton said he relished being involved in California politics, which he said sets a model for liberals nationwide. With President Trump and congressional Republicans controlling the national agenda, Speaker Rendon and his incredible staff are at the center of some of the most important progressive fights in the country and we couldnt be more excited to be helping any way we can, he said. Burton said his services, paid for out of Rendons campaign account, are meant to offer a more intentional approach to how hes been dealing with media  a recognition, he said, of Rendons and Californias elevated role in national politics. Rendon is not the only legislative Democrat to be represented by SKDKnickerbocker. Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia of Bell Gardens also is a client. The firm also worked with Democratic Reps. Grace Napolitano and Linda Sanchez in their reelection bids, as well as freshman Rep. Nanette Barragan in her heated congressional race against fellow Democrat, former state Sen. Isadore Hall. Facebook

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State Senate votes for final confirmation of Xavier Becerra as state attorney general By Patrick McGreevy Gov. Jerry Brown, left, appointed Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) as state attorney general. ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The state Senate on Monday voted 26-9 in favor of final confirmation of Rep. Xavier Becerra as Californias attorney general, putting on watch a veteran politician who has promised to block efforts by President Trump to roll back state policies on immigration, civil rights and the environment. Becerra, a Los Angeles Democrat and 12-term congressman, is set to take the oath of office on Tuesday before Gov. Jerry Browns State of the State address. As Attorney General, Xavier will be a champion for all Californians, Brown said in a statement after the party-line vote. Brown appointed Becerra as the states first Latino attorney general to fill the vacancy left when former state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon said Becerra will be an effective counter force to Trump, who has threatened mass deportations and the repeal of some environmental laws. Many of us know him personally and can attest to his character, to his integrity and to his qualifications, De Leon said of Becerra. He will be a strong partner for our state to help us work with the federal government when we can and to resist when we must. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) said Becerra understands the challenges ahead. He will indeed vigorously defend the values of our state by taking the fight to the federal government when necessary, said Jackson, who chairs the state Senate Judiciary Committee. Becerra, 58, said during two weeks of confirmation hearings that he would also fight any attempt to weaken environmental protections or adopt stop-and-frisk police policies that allow officers to search anyone on the street. All Republican senators voted against Becerra or withheld their vote. I think when you are the top cop you have to enforce the law to the fullest extent, said state Sen. Joel Anderson (R-San Diego) before he voted against Becerra. Opponents cited Becerras support for sanctuary cities that refuse to have their officers help enforce immigration laws. San Francisco prohibits local authorities from holding immigrants for immigration officials if they have no violent felonies on their records and do not currently face charges. Trump has threatened to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) also opposed Becerra, saying he is worried that the antagonistic tone being set by Democratic lawmakers with Becerra could put at risk the $86 billion the state and its cities gets annually from the federal government. I dont want to jeopardize those funds, Moorlach said. Becerra said he was humbled by the vote and ready to get working.He plans to meet soon with county sheriffs to discuss local law enforcement issues. As I embark on this new journey, my compass will be the experiences of hard-working families like the one I grew up in, Becerra said. As the son of immigrants, I know how important it is to protect the rights and dreams of every aspiring American. I will make sure no headwinds from outside our state can knock us down. Facebook

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Attorney general nominee Becerra questioned on guns, death penalty and pot during confirmation hearings By Patrick McGreevy Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), shown at a gun violence event in June, was selected by Gov. Jerry Brown to be Californias next attorney general. ((Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) ) In two weeks of confirmation hearings, state attorney general nominee Xavier Becerra has been asked for his position on many issues, including new gun control laws, the states death penalty policy and the recent voter approval of an initiative that legalized recreational marijuana use. The 12-term congressman is up for a possible final confirmation vote Monday in the state Senate. Read More Facebook

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California attorney general nominee Xavier Becerra is warned against suing Trump early and often By Patrick McGreevy Rep. Xavier Becerra (Rich Pedroncelli / AP) With Xavier Becerra facing a final confirmation vote Monday for state attorney general, two former high-level officials in the office are warning against drowning President Trump in lawsuits. The pressure to sue Trump early and often is a trap, according to Michael Troncos, former chief counsel in the California attorney generals office, and Debbie Mesloh, a former senior advisor to the California attorney general, writing in an op-ed piece published by the Los Angeles Times. In this right-wing political moment, a major legal case on our climate change laws or our policies benefiting (young immigrant) Dreamers may well lead to a Trump White House victory, establishing precedents that far outlast this presidency, the two write. In fact, the cases Becerra chooses not to bring may be among his most important achievements. Courts cant rule on whats not before them. Troncos and Mesloh said California will be up against a U.S. Supreme Court remade in Trumps image, and that [a]sking a federal court to overturn federal immigration policies could be a fools errand. Read More Facebook

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California cities would have to make it easier to build houses under new legislation By Liam Dillon California cities that are falling behind on housing production goals set by the state would be forced to remove some of their development restrictions under legislation from a Bay Area state senator. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released new details in his bill, SB 35, Monday morning that would require cities to approve new housing in areas already zoned for high-density development provided developers set aside some units for low-income residents. The bills provisions would only apply in cities where growth isnt keeping pace with housing production targets developed by the state every eight years that are designed to ensure California has enough homes for its growing population to live affordably. Right now, thats not happening. The states median home price of $485,800 is more than 2 1/2 times the national average, with the states poorest residents the hardest hit. And in the most recent eight-year housing cycle ending in 2014, production was less than half of the state target. Wiener, a former San Francisco supervisor, said Californias affordability crisis requires the state to involve its
Kim Kardashian attends the Givenchy show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2017. (Photo : Getty Images/Pascal Le Segretain)

More details about Kim Kardashian's traumatic experience in Paris last year has emerged online. News outlets have picked up an article by French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche on Sunday which detailed the reality star's verbal statement about her robbery incident to the French police last October.



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According to E! News, NBC News has confirmed the accuracy of the report by the French newspaper and pointed out that the local police have yet to release a report. Moreover, Kardashian has not commented on the said publication.



People learned she gave her first account of the robbery incident to the French police last Oct. 3 at 4:30 a.m., "hours after she escaped from her restraints and called for help".



As various reports revealed, Kardashian was at the City of Lights for the Fashion Week. She was robbed at gunpoint by masked men inside her room at No Address Hotel and reportedly lost $10 million worth of jewelry including her massive engagement ring from rapper husband Kanye West.



On the night she was robbed, her sister Kourtney and assistant Stephanie Sheppard changed clothes to prepare for a night out. The reality star explained she was not joining them so she went to her room to work on her computer.



Kardashian, who heard a noise at the door, shouted, asking if someone was there. When no one responded to her call, she contacted her bodyguard at 2:56 a.m. She then saw two people arrive including the man at the reception who was tied up.



The report which was translated to English by People also revealed Kardashian's description of the men who robbed her. According to her, "It's the one with the ski goggles who stayed with me. He demanded with a strong French accent, my ring. I told him that I didn't know, he took out a gun and I showed him the ring."



Aside from her $4 million dollar ring, Kardashian disclosed other jewelry taken from her. Among these were two diamond Cartier bracelets, a gold and diamond Jacob necklace, Lorraine Schwartz diamond earring and a gold Rolex.



In a report by US Weekly last Friday, six out of the 17 suspects in the Kardashian robbing incident in Paris had been charged. The article also revealed that one of the first four suspects include the brother of her limo chauffeur, who drove while in the French city.



The identified suspects were charged with "armed robbery within a gang", "kidnapping" and "criminal association" and may face up to 30 years in prison. Some of them were also "accused of possession of ammunition", "impersonation" and "holding false administrative documents".



Watch the preview of "Keeping up with the Kardashians'" new season where Kim narrates her traumatic experience in Paris to her sisters Kourtney and Khloe.








Former President George H.W. Bush was admitted to an intensive care unit on Wednesday, and his wife, Barbara, was also hospitalized as a precaution, according to his spokesman.

The 92-year-old former chief executive was admitted to the ICU at Houston Methodist Hospital to address an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia, family spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement. McGrath said the former first lady was hospitalized as a precautionary measure after she experienced fatigue and coughing.

Doctors performed a procedure to protect and clear his airway that required sedation. President Bush is stable and resting comfortably in the ICU, where he will remain for observation, McGrath said in the statement.

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Doctors were monitoring him to see how he responds. But McGrath said he doesnt think theres a whole lot of money to be gained betting against George Bush.

He has been in the hospital since Saturday.

Barbara Bush is 91. The couple marked their 72nd wedding anniversary on Jan. 6.

Bush, who served as president from 1989 to 1993, has a form of Parkinsons disease and uses a motorized scooter or a wheelchair for mobility. He was hospitalized in Maine in 2015 after falling at his summer home and breaking a bone in his neck, and was hospitalized in Houston the previous December for about a week for shortness of breath. He spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues.

Despite his loss of mobility, Bush celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump in Kennebunkport, Maine. Last summer, Bush led a group of 40 wounded warriors on a fishing trip at the helm of his speedboat, three days after his 92nd birthday.

Bushs office announced earlier this month that he and the former first lady would not attend Donald Trumps inauguration this week due to his age and health.

George Herbert Walker Bush, born June 12, 1924, in Milton, Mass., also served as a congressman, CIA director and Ronald Reagans vice president.

His son, George W. Bush, was elected president in 2000 and served two terms. Another son, Jeb  a former Florida governor  made an unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination in 2016. Only one other U.S. president, John Adams, had a son who also became president.

ALSO

Donald Trumps transition has hurt his popularity, not helped

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The Chinese zodiac says Jan. 20 is not an auspicious day to inaugurate anything

UPDATES:

12:40 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement by a family spokesman that a procedure was performed to clear George H.W. Bushs airway.

10:35 a.m.: This article was updated with a statement that George H.W. Bush is in intensive care and that Barbara Bush was also hospitalized.

This article was originally published at 4:25 a.m.
Donald Trumps transition to the presidency has seen his popularity decline, not expand, and he will enter the White House on Friday far weaker in that regard than any president in decades.

Trump is unique among the last seven presidents-elect: He is the only one whose popularity dropped between election day and his swearing-in, according to several new polls.

In surveys released Tuesday, Trumps popularity was half that of President Obamas as he was sworn in in 2009, and far below even that of George W. Bush, who took office in 2001 after a Supreme Court battle that ended with a partisan split on the high court just weeks before Inauguration Day.

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Trump does retain the confidence of a majority of Americans polled when it comes to fiscal issues  improving the economy, creating jobs, and dealing with the budget deficit. But they do not approve of how he has handled accusations that Russia tried to interfere in the election, and that appears to be among the things that have hurt him.

More Americans side with the intelligence community, which agrees that Russia did try to boost Trumps chances, than with Trump, who has spent much of the new year in a dramatic public spat with the nations spy agencies.

The narrow focus of Trumps transition  appealing to those who already supported him while ignoring those who did not  has cost him. Partisans have hardened their views, denying Trump the chance to make inroads among Democrats.

Independent voters likewise seem skeptical of the president-elect.

Trump on Tuesday continued what has been routine for him: to praise polls when they show him ahead, as they did for much of the primary season, and dismiss them as biased when their results are not kind to him.The same people who did the phony election polls, and were so wrong, are now doing approval rating polls, he tweeted early Tuesday. They are rigged just like before.

In fact, national presidential polls done by the same groups measuring Trump now were largely accurate, diverging only slightly from Hillary Clintons 2.1 percentage-point popular vote victory.

Poll ratings matter for a president. Weak popularity at the beginning of a presidency doesnt necessarily doom it. But the ability to come into office with the backing of a huge swath of Americans can help keep members of Congress and others in the political establishment in line.

Trump can call Republicans to his aid  a not-insignificant power when the party controls both sides of Capitol Hill. In a Washington Post-ABC News poll, 76% of Republican respondents had a favorable view of Trump, and 44% of his party members strongly supported him.

Still, almost 1 in 5 Republicans had an unfavorable view of the man whose victory gave the party unified control of Washington. And he has not appealed to enough other voters to make up for that: Only 10% of Democratic respondents gave him positive marks, as did 43% of independents, the Post/ABC poll found.

Three polls released Tuesday  from the Washington Post/ABC, CNN/ORC and NBC/Wall Street Journal  each found about 4 in 10 Americans surveyed approved of Trump. That compared with 79% approval for Obama, 48% for Bush, 68% for Bill Clinton, 65% for George H.W. Bush, 58% for Ronald Reagan and 78% for Carter in Post/ABC polls taken at equivalent times.

All of the previous presidents except Reagan saw double-digit jumps between the percentage of Americans who voted for them in November and the percentage with a positive view of them just before they were sworn in. In Reagans case, the increase was 7 points.

For more on politics 

Trump, however, has fallen somewhat from the 46% of the electorate that he won two months ago. His standing as he starts his presidency, according to the Post/ABC poll, is slightly lower than the worst ratings ever given to Obama  42% at two rocky points in his presidency.

The contrast between Trumps decline and the increase the other presidents-elect enjoyed suggests that a more graceful and embracing transition period better fits the desires of Americans when the job turns from winning a campaign to governing a nation.

Yet in crafting the tone of his transition, the president-elect has stuck to the pattern of his campaign  reveling in the embrace of his loyalists and forcefully returning any criticism, even if it comes from a civil rights hero, as demonstrated by his weekend feud with Rep. John Lewis, the Georgia Democrat.In the CNN/ORC poll, 53% of Americans surveyed said Trumps statements since the election had given them less confidence in his presidency, compared with 37% who said they now had more confidence in Trump.

In the Post/ABC poll, 40% of respondents said they approved of how Trump had handled his transition, the same percentage as approved of him personally. In the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, a similar 44% approved of Trumps transition.

The figures were sharply polarized this year  Trump won only 11% of Democrats and 77% of Republicans  in a way they were not in 2009, when Obamas transition was praised by 94% of his own party and 62% of Republicans. Among independents polled, 80% of whom favored Obamas transition, only 42% said the same about Trumps.

A central feature of the final weeks of Trumps transition, and perhaps central to its difficulties, has been his battle with the intelligence community.

In responding to allegations of Russian efforts to influence the election, Trump has never utilized what might have been a middle-ground approach  condemning foreign interference while contending that it did not cost Hillary Clinton the election. Instead, apparently seeing the issue as an insult to his legitimacy, he cast doubt on the intelligence communitys verdict.

His war with them reached an unheard-of level last week when Trump, without proof, blamed the release of salacious allegations against him on the intelligence agencies and equated their behavior to Nazi Germanys. CIA Director John Brennan, in a weekend interview, called Trumps remarks repugnant.

Trumps arguments have not swayed Americans, according to the CNN/ORC poll. Almost 2 in 3 respondents said they believed the Russians interfered in the election and called those actions a crisis or a major problem. More than half polled said they disapproved of how Trump had handled the matter; only 35% backed him.

A more profitable transition path for the president-elect would have been to emphasize the issues that propelled his candidacy. He has received praise for boosting U.S. jobs, even if critics say some of his claims are exaggerated. Jobs, Americans have indicated, is what they want him to focus on.

Six in 10 Americans  and almost 3 in 10 Democrats  in the Post/ABC poll said they expected Trump would be good or excellent at managing the economy. About the same number said they believed he could be good or excellent when it comes to creating jobs. And 56% believed he could properly command the war on terrorism.

Those views derive from the vision that Trump put forward in the campaign: that he was a leader tough enough to stand up for the nation. The Russia matter, and Trumps other Twitter-driven controversies, present an image of Trump fighting with his nation, not for it. The success of his presidency may well rest on whether he plays to his strengths, or indulges his weaknesses.

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

Twitter: @cathleendecker

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Updates on California politics

Live coverage of the Trump transition
Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) told the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday that he would protect vulnerable Americans if he is confirmed as President-elect Donald Trumps Health and Human Services secretary.

But the six-term congressman did not detail how he would fulfill that pledge, including how he would replace the Affordable Care Act and how he would preserve coverage for the more than 100 million Americans who rely on Medicare, Medicaid and the healthcare law, commonly called Obamacare. Price has worked for years to roll back all three.

During a testy four-hour hearing on Capitol Hill  which also featured several heated exchanges about Prices ethics  Price also repeatedly dodged questions from Democrats seeking assurance that he would preserve basic protections required by law.

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Among other things, Obamacare bans lifetime limits on coverage, requires that health plans offer basic benefits such as substance abuse treatment and mandates that plans allow parents to keep their children on their insurance until they are 26.

My constituents are coming up to me with tears in their eyes wondering what the future holds for their healthcare, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the senior Democrat on the Health Committee, told Price.

Price, whom Trump has said is helping develop the new administrations proposed Obamacare replacement, repeatedly assured lawmakers that Americans would be able to get the health insurance they want.

Its absolutely imperative that individuals that have health coverage be able to keep health coverage and move hopefully to greater choices and opportunities for them, Price told the committee.

At one point, he even said he hopes the Obamacare replacement will cover more people than the current law.

Obamacare has helped more than 20 million previously uninsured Americans gain coverage in the last three years. Repealing it would immediately result in 18 million people losing coverage, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Price has been among the laws most ardent critics and has pushed budget plans that would cut trillions of dollars from Medicare and Medicaid.

Like Trump, Price offered no indication how it will be possible to cover more people, preserve consumer protections and make health insurance cheaper all at the same time.

He appeared to support Trumps repeated assurance that major changes for Medicare are not under consideration.

In the past, Price has been a strong proponent of increasing the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 and shifting more costs to patients by converting Medicare into a voucher system that would give beneficiaries a limited amount of money to shop for private health plans.

However, Price refused to say Wednesday whether he would back efforts to expand the governments authority to negotiate lower prices from drug makers, despite Trumps recent calls to do so. Price made only a general commitment to help make drugs prices more reasonable.

Trump once made the cost of pharmaceuticals a central part of his campaign healthcare pitch. And at his first news conference last week, the president-elect said drug makers were getting away with murder.

Were the largest buyer of drugs in the world, and yet we dont bid properly, Trump said. And were going to start bidding and were going to save billions of dollars over a period of time.

Republicans have long opposed allowing Medicare to use its market power to negotiate lower prices for seniors.

And the pharmaceutical industry, which also opposes price negotiation, has protected its interests by lavishing political contributions on members of Congress. Price himself has received tens of thousands of dollars from drug makers and has also invested heavily in industry stocks, records show.

Those ties featured prominently in Wednesdays hearing, as Democrats pounded Price for repeatedly trading stocks in healthcare companies that were affected by his work in Congress.

As the hearing grew increasingly tense, several lawmakers reiterated calls for an independent investigation of Price for pushing legislation that increased the value of several stocks shortly after he bought them.

These Republicans hate Obamacare, but arent ready to give it up just yet 

This whole administration is starting to look like a bit of a get-rich-quick scheme, Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.) told Price, linking the congressmans stock trading to Trumps refusal to divest his business holdings.

Last year, Price bought up to $15,000 worth of stock in medical device maker Zimmer Biomet just a week before introducing legislation that would have delayed a new regulation that threatened the companys bottom line, according to CNN.

Also last year, Price invested as much as $90,000 in six drug makers shortly before leading a legislative effort to derail an Obama administration proposal to control Medicare spending on cancer drugs, Time magazine reported.

All six companies make cancer drugs that could have been affected by the regulation. And they all benefited when Prices effort was successful.

Price repeatedly told senators that his stock purchases were initiated by his broker and that he was unaware of them.

I am offended by the insinuation, he told Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) after she outlined his extensive work to derail a proposed regulation even after he had been notified that his broker had bought stock in one of the healthcare companies that stood to benefit.

Several Democratic senators incredulously asked why Price had not directed his broker to avoid investing in companies that would be affected by his work. Price said he complied with congressional ethics rules.

In one of the oddest exchanges of the day, Price refused to acknowledge that human activity is responsible for climate change, despite widespread scientific consensus that this is the case.

The climate is obviously changing, Price told Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I). The question from a scientific standpoint is what effect does human behavior and human activity have on that, and what we can do to mitigate that, Price said. And I believe thats a question that needs to be studied and evaluated.

A growing number of public health and physician groups are raising concerns about climate changes impact on peoples health.

And at almost the same time as Prices hearing, Trumps pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged to another Senate committee that human activity is, in fact, changing the climate.

noam.levey@latimes.com

Twitter: @noamlevey

ALSO:

Trump and the GOP are charging forward with Obamacare repeal, but few are eager to follow

Rolling out Obamacare was chaotic, but a repeal could be much worse

Trump pledged to protect Medicare. His choice for health secretary has other ideas

UPDATES:

2:10 p.m.: This article was updated with details and comments from the hearing.

8:35 a.m.: This article was updated with the start of the hearing.

This article was originally published at 3 a.m.
Hollywood Burbank Airport will soon be gearing up to take its rebranding efforts to the next level.

David Freedman, the airports director of business, property and administrative services, told commissioners in the operations and development committee on Tuesday that he and his staff are finalizing a few key elements for the second phase of the rebranding project.

During their Feb. 6 meeting, committee members will be reviewing the next steps of getting the airports new name out to the public. Caltrans, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and the city of Burbank have all been contacted to change the signage on the freeways and streets to reflect Hollywood Burbank Airport instead of Bob Hope Airport, Freedman said.

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This past May, the Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena Airport Authority voted to change the airfields branding name from Bob Hope Airport to Hollywood Burbank Airport as a way to attract more travelers east of the Colorado Rockies. However, the legal name of the facility remains Bob Hope Airport.

For about two years, the airport authority has been working with South Pasadena branding firm Anyone Collective to give the airport a new identity.

Michael Fiore, one of the co-founders of Anyone Collective, was unavailable for comment on Tuesday.

Along with changing the signs to have the new name, Freedman said airport officials will be working with a website design firm to update the airfields site with a new logo, fonts and colorways that Anyone Collective has developed for them.

Freedman added that the airport will changing all of its signs once the airport authority gives the green light for the switch.

--

Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpio
Newport Beach native Nicholas Kerr will ride in the presidential inauguration parade Friday in Washington, D.C., as a member of the Black Horse Troop of the Culver Military Academy in Indiana, where he is a junior.

Nicholas, the son of Robert and Manuela Kerr of Newport Beach, attended the citys Newport Heights Elementary and Ensign Intermediate schools.

The 56-member Black Horse Troop mounted unit, which dates to 1913, will be participating in the inaugural parade for the 17th time, the school said in a news release.

While in Washington, the students will tour the citys monuments and memorials and the Smithsonian museums, the school said.

Laguna Recreation Committee seeks student members

Two Laguna Beach High School students are being sought to serve as non-voting members of the committee that advises the City Council on parks and recreation issues.

The Laguna Beach Recreation Committee is looking for students who have an interest in city government, recreation or other community matters. Applications are due to the Community Services Department by Feb. 6.

For more information, visit bit.ly/rec-committee.

Artists wanting to display at Art-A-Fair invited to submit artwork

A jury day will be held Feb. 12 for artists who would like to participate in the Laguna Beach Art-A-Fair, one of Californias premier summer fine art festivals.

Artists and artisans may enter three pieces of their original artwork and pay a $40 jury fee from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Boys and Girls Club, 1085 Laguna Canyon Road. They may then pick up their artwork and jury scores from 4 to 4:30 p.m.

Submissions may also be mailed in by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to P.O. Box 547, Laguna Beach, CA 92652. The mail-in deadline is Jan. 27.

For more than 50 years the Laguna Art-A-Fair has enabled artists to display and sell their best creations. This years festival runs from June 30 to Sept. 3. Visitors can choose from a broad spectrum of affordable original fine art, crafts, and reproductions.

For more information, go to art-a-fair.com/call-for-artists-2.

Need financial support for your community group?

Laguna Beach is accepting applications for the Community Assistance Grant Program for fiscal year 2017-2018, according to a city news release.

The programs objective is to help local nonprofit organizations fund new projects or expand services within the community.

Grant recipients in the past have included social service, cultural, sports, senior and youth organizations, City Manager John Pietig said in the release.

Grant applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24.

For further information, call (949) 497-0779 or go to bit.ly/laguna-cagp.

Applications accepted for Laguna poet laureate post

The Laguna Beach Arts Commission is accepting applications for poet laureate.

The selected poet will be appointed to a yearlong position starting May 1 with an honorarium of $10,000.

Responsibilities will include conducting workshops, coordinating a celebration of National Poetry Month, maintaining a social media presence and creating commemorative poems.

Laguna Beach residents are eligible. For application information, visit lagunabeachcity.slideroom.com.

Kids can chat with writers at H.B. Authors Festival

Several local writers will be part of the annual Authors Festival on Jan. 31 at the Huntington Beach Central Library.

The free event will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the childrens section of the library, 7111 Talbert Ave.

The public will have the opportunity to talk with the authors and buy an autographed book.

The festival is being sponsored by the Friends of the Huntington Beach Childrens Library.

For more information, visit hbpl.org.

Auction at Laguna museum will focus on California art

Works from more than 100 California artists  including Peter Alexander, Helen Lundeberg and Ed Ruscha  will be for sale during the Laguna Art Museums 35th annual art auction Feb. 4.

The museum-curated auction, dubbed California Cool, will begin at 6 p.m. and features original art, food and cocktails, according to a news release.

The works range in price from $250 to $50,000, with bidding starting at 50% of the stated value. Proceeds from the event will support the museum, which is dedicated to collecting and preserving California art.

Tickets are $125 for museum members and $150 for all others. Tickets include auction admission, complimentary parking, food and drinks.

For more information, visit lagunaartmuseum.org.

H.B. to host parent-child dance Feb. 18

Kids can test their dance moves at a city-sponsored parent-child dance in Huntington Beach on Feb. 18.

The Boutonnieres and Bows Dance will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the City Gym and Pool building, 1600 Palm Ave.

The event is for children from kindergarten to fifth grade.

The event will also include a dinner, dessert, arts and crafts and a photo booth. The cost is $15 for each child-parent team, plus $5 for an additional child. Register at hbsands.org.

For more information, call (714) 960-8884.
The Federal Aviation Administration will present an online and phone seminar Thursday and an in-person public workshop Feb. 1 to help educate the public about its new nationwide air traffic control procedures and how they may affect John Wayne Airport.

Much to the concern of Newport Beach residents and city officials, the procedures  known as NextGen, or Next Generation Air Transportation System  are expected to exacerbate aircraft noise from flights leaving JWA as they pass over certain neighborhoods, namely Newport Heights, Balboa Island and Peninsula Point.

FAA officials contend, however, that NextGen will provide a variety of public benefits  fuel savings, reduced carbon emissions and fewer flight delays  to the busy Southern California airspace, which the FAA refers to as a metroplex. NextGen will use satellite technology thats more precise than the current radar technology, thus freeing up airway corridors, according to FAA documents.

Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Orange County, among others, have sued the FAA over NextGen, calling the projects environmental review inadequate. Those cases are pending in federal court.

Lagunas City Council has urged residents to complain directly to the FAA and log their complaints.

Thursdays seminar, from 6 to 7:15 p.m., will be accessible online and by phone. The web address is global.gotomeeting.com/join/441685901. The phone number is (872) 240-3212, with an access code and meeting ID of 441-685-901.

The Feb. 1 in-person seminar is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Oasis Senior Center, 801 Narcissus Ave., Corona del Mar.

JWA will be discussed at both meetings, as will Long Beach Airport.

bradley.zint@latimes.com

Twitter: @BradleyZint
A former volunteer campaign treasurer for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher pleaded guilty Tuesday to two dozen felony counts in connection with the embezzlement of more than $300,000 from the congressmans reelection committee.

Jack Wenpo Wu, 46, of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to three felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement, 21 felony counts of forgery with sentencing enhancements for theft exceeding $100,000, aggravated white-collar crime over $100,000 and property loss over $200,000, according to Orange County Superior Court records.

The plea was part of an offer from prosecutors that reduced the maximum amount of prison time Wu could face from 20 years and four months to four years and four months. Wu is scheduled to be sentenced March 13, according to court records.

Prosecutors said Wu stole from the campaign partly to help repay a former employer that fired him on allegations of stealing money.

In 2004, Wu began working as an unpaid treasurer for the reelection committee for Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa). Wus duties included paying taxes owed by the committee, filing Federal Election Committee reports, acting as the custodian of records and running the committees bank accounts.

From 2008 to 2013, Wu was a controller for Russell Fischer Inc., where he handled accounts receivable, accounts payable and some payroll duties, according to the Orange County district attorneys office.

Wu was paid a $70,000 salary at Russell Fischer until March 2012, when he became an independent contractor for the company while running his own accounting business, Wubell Services, prosecutors said.

At that point, Wu started receiving $2,000 every two weeks for his work at Russell Fischer but also kept taking his original salary, prosecutors said. In all, authorities said, Wu collected more than $71,000 in unauthorized pay between June 2012 and September 2013.

According to prosecutors, Wu also issued an extra $12,000 in unauthorized payments to his company from Russell Fischer in 2013.

Russell Fischer fired Wu in September 2013 after discovering the $83,000 in unauthorized outlays. Wu agreed to and made restitution payments to Russell Fischer in late 2013 and 2014.

According to authorities, Wu tried to repay at least some of the amount he owed with money from Rohrabachers campaign fund.

The campaign committee discovered in May 2015 that $170,000 was missing from the account when a manager tried to use one of the committees debit cards and the transaction was denied.

Wu was fired from the campaign and Rohrabachers office released a statement saying Wu had admitted to embezzlement.

Wu has run unsuccessfully for several public offices, including the Irvine City Council in 1998, the Irvine Ranch Water District board in 2002 and the Newport Beach City Council in 2006.

Most recently, he was appointed in January 2015 to the Newport Beach Finance Committee, an advisory body to the City Council on budget issues. He resigned from the committee in July that year on the heels of the allegations by Rohrabacher.

Wu also has written freelance political columns for the Daily Pilot, Newport Beach Independent and Orange County Register.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
Ten Years Ago

The La Canada High School Music Parents Assn. announced its eighth annual dinner show in support of the schools instrumental department would be held Feb. 10 and had been given a California Dreamin theme. The association had previously staged two major fundraisers a year, the dinner show and an on-campus carnival, but had recently dropped the carnival.

Twenty Years Ago

The Lanterman Historical Museum Foundation and Walt Disney Pictures announced there would be a one-time La Canada Flintridge showing of the documentary that depicted the 60-year friendship of local residents Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston and their collaboration as Disney animators. For the event, the Theodore Thomas Production film would be screened at the UA Theater on Verdugo Boulevard, followed by an ice cream and cake social. In addition to their shared Disney workplace, Thomas and Johnston were next-door neighbors on Flintridge Avenue.

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Thirty Years Ago

Chris Valente, then executive director of the La Canada Youth House and part-time instructor at St. Francis High School, was reelected to a sixth term as chairman of the Los Angeles County Youth Commission.

Forty Years Ago

A team of thieves dropped into the Sport Chalet ski shop through its roof and attic on a Friday night in January 1977, ransacked offices and the sales floor and scooped up approximately $34,000 worth of ski equipment and apparel. The store, located in the 900 block of Foothill Boulevard, had an armed burglar alarm that was not triggered during the crime. But it was apparent to investigating deputies that the suspects realized they could not exit from one of the stores doors, so they carried all their loot  including 43 pairs of skis and 38 pairs of ski poles  back up through the attic and the roof to escape.

Fifty Years Ago

An 11-year-old La Canada boy who dashed into the street while playing in his frontyard on Verdugo Boulevard was struck by a passing car and was pronounced dead from his injuries 30 minutes later at Glendale Adventist Hospital. At that time, Verdugo Hills Hospital had not yet been built. The cars driver was not cited in the incident.

Sixty Years Ago

A La Canada engineer, Robert F. Hurt, was appointed to serve as one of 25 official timers for national and international aircraft record attempts along the Pacific Coast for the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. Hurt, who lived on Hampstead Road, was chief tool engineer for Lockheed Aircrafts California division.

Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci.
Here we are  it is the beginning of a new year and the start of the 2017-18 Legislative Session. I want to formally introduce our team and myself as well as give you a few updates on my progress as your new member of the state Assembly.

Thank you so much for allowing me this great opportunity to serve as your representative.

Since taking the oath of office at the beginning of December, I have set up both my Capitol and District offices and am ready to represent you at the state level. I have pulled together a strong team in Sacramento and here at home that is ready to turn our ideas into action.

At the district level, I have built a team that reflects the diversity of our community with a focus on outreach so that every neighborhood has a voice. I want you to know that it will be through your voice and your ideas that our policies will be shaped  and for that reason we have assembled a district team ready to work with you.

My goals remain the same. I want every resident of the 43rd Assembly District to have access to excellent public schools, quality healthcare, safe and reliable housing, transportation and sustainable economic growth.

There are no shortage of challenges facing our district and our state. We have critical services that still havent recovered from the Great Recession. Our economy and jobs depend on a reliable public transportation infrastructure and yet it remains underfunded and underdeveloped.

Families across the region are still struggling with a lack of affordable housing. We remain in the grips of an epic drought.

Just last week, Gov. Jerry Brown released his budget proposal. True to form, hes cautious about declining revenues and any expansion of state programs. I agree that we are stewards of Californias resources, and that our goal should be to avoid the boom and bust cycles that have led to devastating cuts to the safety-net services that thousands rely upon.

However, I also firmly believe that we have to acknowledge successful programs; especially those that help families build a better tomorrow. Our support of higher education, and particularly the landmark Middle Class Scholarship program, which has opened the door to opportunity for thousands of students and their families. Were lucky to have some of the leading universities and colleges here in California, but lets face it, affordability is a problem. If we can help students earn the degree they need for a promising career, and do it without piling debt upon them, it doesnt just benefit that student  it boosts our overall economy.

Whether its balancing the state budget or considering the hundreds of bills that will come before the Legislature, complex challenges require thoughtful solutions. Im ready to get to work in Sacramento on all of the issues you care about. As Californians weve long been the pioneers and have led the nation in innovation; weve weathered adversity and grown only stronger. Its time again for us to show the nation and the world all of the good that comes out of embracing our diversity of identities, perspectives and ideas.

We have only a few more weeks to propose new legislation for this session; so if you have any ideas or concerns that you would like to see addressed by the legislature we welcome you to share them with us.

If we work together we have the best chance at the brightest future, and only together can we stand strong against the challenges we face now and down the road. Im ready to work with you to protect the California Dream for all.

You can reach us at our website to share your ideas, thoughts or concerns at the following address: https://a43.asmdc.org.

--

LAURA FRIEDMAN (D-Glendale) represents La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, Glendale, Burbank and neighboring communities in the the 43rd Assembly District.
Immerse yourself in the wilderness on a 12-day Holden Safaris tour designed for travelers who want to combine wildlife viewing with insights into the issues facing eastern Africas rhino, elephant, lion and chimpanzee populations.

Participants will visit an elephant orphanage in Kenya, a sanctuary for young elephants at Ithumba in Tsavo East National Park and learn about elephant behavior at Amboseli.

The trip features game drives, visits to a sanctuary for orphaned chimps and an opportunity to see the worlds three remaining northern white rhinos at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The safari will be guided by Pat Awori, a lifelong conservation advocate who was born in Kenya and educated in the United States.

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Dates: June 10-21

Price: $11,995 per person, double occupancy. Includes accommodations in tented camps and lodges, air and ground transportation within Kenya, meals, game drives, guided tours and park fees. International airfare not included.

Info: Holden Safaris, (877) 422-1350, (949) 873-6278

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travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
Snow is seen on the Great Wall after a snowfall on Nov. 23, 2015, near Beijing, China. (Photo : Getty Images)

China has vowed to wage a revolution against unsightly toilets to boost the country's tourism sector. The plan is in response to the complaints regarding toilet hygiene at the country's various tourist spots.



Second only to the United States, China's tourism industry rakes in a lot of profit from international visitors. According to the United Nations, the industry earned an estimated $114 billion in 2015. But one of the major threats faced by the industry are the country's unsightly toilets.



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"The country's tourism industry is at risk of damaging its reputation and losing billions of dollars in revenue if they fail to improve the country's toilets," said Tourism Chairman Li Jinzao.



China is aiming to invest 2 trillion yuan ($290 billion) in between 2016 to 2020, an annual growth of more than 14 percent in direct investment for the industry. And as part of the China National Tourism Administration's five-year plan, the country will be waging a 'toilet revolution'.



Under this revolution, over 100,000 toilets will be renovated in scenic areas and along tourist routes. The plan complements another government campaign that aims to add 57,000 modern public toilets nationwide which will be completed later this year. China's national standard requirements are basic, requiring sanitary toilets to have at least walls, roofs, doors, windows and to be at least two square meters in size.



Last year, the tourism authority conducted an inspection and found that around 367 A-rated tourist destinations have outdated or unsanitary restrooms. These sites were either delisted, downgraded or warned.



Meanwhile, those with exemplary restrooms were lauded by the agency, publishing a list of the top ten scenic sites that had such restrooms. Topping the list was Gubei Water Town, which is located at the foot of the Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing.



Despite the various problems that the tourism industry might encounter, starting with the most basic problem is one great leap forward for China.


Yahya Jammeh has ruled a tiny slice of West Africa for 22 years, but his refusal to step down Wednesday after his defeat in last months elections in Gambia has created an outsized headache for regional leaders.

Jammeh was supposed to leave office to pave the way for Thursdays inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow, but parliament voted to extend his term for 90 days, testing the resolve of West African leaders who have threatened to send in a military force to oust him if he doesnt go.

For the record: An earlier version of this article said that Africa has seen a string of failed power-sharing deals, including in Zimbabwe after disputed elections in 2009 and in Kenya after disputed elections in 2007-2008. The disputed elections in Zimbabwe and Kenya were in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Jammeh declared a state of emergency late Tuesday, enabling him to rule by decree and detain people without charge, but Barrow has vowed that he will be inaugurated Thursday, setting the scene for a tense standoff.

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Democracy has taken root in West Africa more deeply than anywhere else on the continent, making the crisis in Gambia all the more troubling.

Jammeh, so enamored of his own powers that he claimed to be able to cure people of AIDS and other ailments with an herbal concoction of his own creation, initially accepted defeat in the Dec. 1 elections. After a few nights sleep, he changed his mind, backed by the commander of the army.

He mounted a legal challenge against the results and sought an injunction preventing the inauguration from taking place Thursday. He also has shut down several media outlets in recent weeks.

Barrow is in neighboring Senegal, due to return for the ceremony. The chief electoral officer, Alieu Momarr Njai, fled to Senegal.

Barrow portrayed confidence Wednesday tweeting, Our future starts tomorrow, but international tour agencies evacuated British and other European tourists as tensions rose in the capital, Banjul.

The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have warned that they will not recognize Jammeh as president after Thursday.

ECOWAS leaders have been trying to persuade Jammeh to step down, offering him immunity from prosecution for human rights abuses and asylum in Nigeria or Morocco.

ECOWAS is strong on defending democratic transitions of power in comparison with other African leadership bodies, because many West African leaders are former opposition figures who came to power through democratic votes.

The big question is whether ECOWAS is willing to invade Gambia to remove Jammeh from power. Nigerian officials confirmed that they have contributed 200 troops to a standby force, with Senegal and Ghana also sending troops, the Associated Press reported.

About 26,000 people have fled the country, fearing violence, Reuters reported.

Gambia, a narrow country about three-quarters the size of Connecticut, is a former British colony situated on the Gambia River delta. Jammeh seized power in a 1994 coup and once said he would rule for a billion years. Always clad in white, he is accused by human rights organizations of persecuting and jailing his opponents and critics. Before last year, he had won a series of elections that was not regarded as free or fair by international observers.

Barrow ran for office in last months election vowing to respect human rights and to end disappearances and imprisonment without trial.

Jammehs attempts to use the courts to hang on to power ran into trouble because of the lack of judicial expertise in Gambia. Nigerian judges were to hear his case, but none were available until May.

He insists that the inauguration cannot proceed until his court action is heard.

On Sunday, Jammeh telephoned the chairwoman of ECOWAS, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to say the Jan. 19 inauguration was not set in stone, and that the only way to settle the crisis peacefully was to allow his court challenge to be heard.

Without telling her, Jammeh televised the conversation on Gambias state station. An infuriated Johnson Sirleaf said Monday that ECOWAS had not changed its position.

The constitution of the Gambia must be respected, she said in a radio interview. There was an election. That election was won by the head of the opposition team and he [Jammeh] needs to respect that. Thats the position of ECOWAS.

The regional group has opposed the negotiated power-sharing agreements that the continent-wide body, the African Union, often endorses to settle disputed elections. The presidents of members Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, Senegal and Ivory Coast rose to power through democratic elections.

Power-sharing agreements are sometimes seen as a way to prevent violent conflict, but critics see the deals as an incentive for leaders who lose to dispute the results, play for time and ultimately cling to power. Africa has seen a string of failed power-sharing deals, including after disputed elections in Zimbabwe in 2008 and in Kenya in 2007 and after a leadership struggle in South Sudan that led to civil war in 2013.

robyn.dixon@latimes.com

Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT

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On a shady street just inside the former city walls of old Beijing, Chen Yi predicts the destinies of conflicted souls.

He also welcomes visitors inside his one-room shop to gauge the auspiciousness of a day many in China have begun to dread: the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

The Chinese astrological calendar, which dispenses daily life guidance, warns against starting a business or launching a maiden voyage on this Jan. 20, when Trump embarks on his new job.

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Theres danger in the beginning. But there will be luck later.  Fortuneteller Chen Yi

But its a little more complicated than that. The oath in Washington falls at 1 a.m. the following day in China, which has a much better outlook. So the superstitious  or highly curious  must turn to the experts, a row of bearded fortunetellers surrounding the multicolored gates of Lama Temple, Beijings most famous Buddhist relic. Their tiny shops  past the rotund Buddha knickknacks, egg pancake stalls, signs that warn of lying mystics  smell strongly of incense and require the warmth of a coat.

Fortuneteller Chen Yi practices his craft. (Jessica Meyers / For The Times )

Several soothsayers waved my colleague and me away, calling our request for an inaugural forecast too political. But then we found Chen, a middle-aged man with glasses and a soft, peppered beard. His shop looked out at flag-waving guides and dutiful tourists marching toward the Imperial College, where top scholars studied for three dynasties. Cars inched past, honking as if noise would dissolve a perpetual traffic jam.

The veteran predictor plopped us on two stools. We asked about the success of the inauguration and what that meant for the new world leader. Chen suggested we draw a wood stick from a stuffed container. He interpreted the writing etched on its side using a thick reference book. We waited. Small glass balls shimmered in shelves on the wall. We waited some more.

Theres danger in the beginning, he said, his eyes scanning the guide. But there will be luck later.

Chinese take their superstitions seriously. This is the country that came up with feng shui. Buildings often face a certain direction to ensure the flow of positive energy. Elevator buttons sometimes skip a fourth floor because the word for four sounds like the one for death. Houses stay dirty on Lunar New Year as cleaning could sweep away good luck.

Such beliefs are wrapped in tradition passed down for centuries, a spiritual remnant of the past reworked for the present. They extend from palm reading to determining a persons destiny based on components of time, including the hour of birth, and are most prevalent in smaller towns. Fortunetelling, or suan ming, translates to fate calculating.

These diviners serve as business consultants and therapists, though loudspeakers near Lama Temple blare weekend warnings about fraud. Chinese pay fortunetellers to pick lucky names for their babies or propitious dates for weddings and funerals. Some base relationships off the Chinese zodiac, a classification system also calculated according to the lunar calendar, which assigns each year one of 12 spirit animals. Trump, born in 1946, is a dog.

Fortunetellers ply their trade along the street opposite Lama Temple, known as Guozijian. (Jessica Meyers / For The Times )

When it comes to the incoming president, Chinas leaders could use the guidance. Trump has accused the nation of making up climate change, stealing U.S. jobs, manipulating its currency, raping America and becoming our enemy. He recently threatened to disregard the principle that Taiwan is part of one united China, the foundation of diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing.

A Communist Party-run newspaper has warned of more thorny issues for China after Trump takes power; his new administration is stacked with China trade skeptics. His nominee for secretary of State just compared the countrys island building in the South China Sea to Russias taking of Crimea and warned that the U.S. would ban China from accessing them.

Trump needs to watch out for the little man, Chen said in a sober tone. In this case, the little man is Obama.

He said the incoming president might divorce and remarry  perhaps not the most audacious prediction for a man who is on his third marriage.

People will talk about this presidency in the future, Chen said  again, not exactly going out on a limb. What would they say? That would cost more than the 100 yuan, or $14, we had paid.

A fortuneteller across the street sat in a back room, framed by Buddha statues of various sizes. For twice as much, he scribbled a few characters and examined a tiny leather-bound book.

He stroked the hair on his chin. He stared at the paper. He shrugged.

Youre not attending the inauguration, so leave the day alone, he said. And with that, he dug into a lunch of steamed dumplings.

Meyers is a special correspondent. Yingzhi Yang in the Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report.

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Dudhabhai Kalabhai knew the rules: He could stand outside the village temple and join his hands in a quick, whispered prayer. He was not to linger or attempt to climb the steps.

As a Dalit, part of the lowest rung of Hinduisms ancient caste system, his mere touch, to some, would render the shrine unclean.

But one morning in March 2015, two upper-caste villagers thought Dudhabhai ventured too close to the temple entrance. They thrashed the 70-year-old farmer with sticks, hospitalizing him with arm and leg injuries.

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Family members said police in the western Indian state of Gujarat at first refused to take the case seriously. It wasnt until the human rights group Navsarjan deployed representatives and a lawyer that the assailants were arrested, tried and sentenced to two-year prison terms.

It was one of thousands of cases that Navsarjan has fought since 1988 on behalf of Dalits, formerly known as untouchables, who continue to endure social stigma and economic marginalization 70 years after Indias constitution outlawed caste-based discrimination.

Now the nonprofit group finds itself under attack, accused by Indias government of harming the national interest.

In December, Indias Ministry of Home Affairs blocked Navsarjan from receiving funding from overseas, which accounts for almost all of its $400,000 annual budget. The group said it would have to lay off its 80 staff members and suspend its charitable work  including three schools educating 102 Dalit children  if the decision isnt reversed.

The action is part of a widening Indian government crackdown against civil society organizations that critics say is politically motivated.

Officials last month canceled the foreign funding licenses of at least two dozen nonprofit groups for alleged anti-national activities. Besides Navsarjan, they include the Indian branch of Compassion International, which intelligence agencies accuse of secretly converting children to Christianity; a trust run by high-profile activist Teesta Setalvad, who has led court cases against Prime Minister Narendra Modi; and a legal aid office whose attorneys have represented Setalvad and other vocal government opponents.

There are few domestic funding sources for human rights organizations in India, where philanthropy outside the corporate sector is limited, meaning most rely on foreign donors. A law called the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, or FCRA, effectively gives the government control of nonprofit groups purse strings  and can be used to stifle dissent.

Navsarjan staff members believe their group was stripped of its FCRA license for organizing protests last summer after seven Dalits were publicly flogged in Una, a town in southern Gujarat, for skinning a cow that had been mauled to death by a lion. Handling cow carcasses is one of many lowly occupations assigned to Dalits by upper-caste Hindus, who regard the animal as sacred. The attackers were a group of self-styled cow vigilantes who wrongly accused the Dalits of killing the animal.

The group also helped lead a campaign that forced investigators in August to reopen an inquiry into a 2012 police shooting that killed three young Dalit men. Four officers suspected in the case have not been charged.

Martin Macwan, founder of Navsarjan, says the Indian government is punishing his organization for its activism on behalf of Dalits. (Shashank Bengali / Los Angeles Times )

Navsarjan put a lot of pressure, and the government didnt like it very much, Martin Macwan, a Gujarati-born Dalit who founded the organization, said in an interview. They decided to hit us where it hurts.

A spokesman for Indias home ministry, Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia, said that no cancellations of licenses [were] politically motivated and the decisions were made according to the law.

Nearly half of Navsarjans financing comes from U.S. sources, including the Unitarian Church and Asha for Education, a volunteer group, Macwan said. Its funding certificate was renewed as recently as August, just as the Una controversy was heating up.

On Dec. 15, the home ministry abruptly canceled the renewal, saying it had been granted inadvertently. In a letter, it accused Navsarjan of carrying out activities detrimental to national interest and aiming to upset religious and caste harmony. It offered no further explanation.

The government is particularly sensitive to social unrest in Gujarat, a prosperous coastal state that Modi led until 2014, and is still run by his party. The powerful prime minister has held up Gujarat as a model of economic development, but recent protests by Dalits and other marginalized groups have chipped away at that carefully constructed image.

In parliamentary debates following the Una beatings, opposition lawmakers referred to a landmark 2010 survey that researchers from Navsarjan and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights carried out in 1,589 Gujarat villages. The findings laid bare how many Dalits, who make up 16% of Indias 1.25 billion people, are still treated as subhuman.

Outwardly, nothing sets Dalits apart from other Indians. But caste is hereditary, and in places where the premodern hierarchy is still observed, people born as Dalits are seen as intrinsically impure, able to defile something merely by touching it.

In 90% of villages, Dalits were not allowed to enter temples, the survey found. In 53% of villages, Dalit children were seated separately from others during school lunches.

In roughly half the villages, Dalits were forced to use separate cups at tea stalls and barred from entering shops.

This report took all the air out of the so-called Gujarat model of development, Macwan said. It showed that development and inequality can coexist.

In Khetatimbi, a hamlet reached by dirt roads three hours from the state capital, Dalits are now allowed inside the temple. But after Dudhabhais family complained to police about the beating, upper-caste families retaliated by refusing to serve Dalits at village shops for several months.

The harsh rural practice  known in India as a social boycott  persisted for months, until Navsarjan staff got the police to intervene.

Before Navsarjan came, we had no awareness of our rights, said Punnabhai, the son of the farmer who was beaten outside the temple in March 2015.

Still, there have been setbacks. The assailants appealed their convictions and were freed on bail. Last year, Dudhabhai died from an unrelated illness.

Niruben Chorsiya, a Navsarjan employee in the district, said she was working on 40 cases of anti-Dalit discrimination, including sexual violence against women. In neighboring villages, dairies regularly refuse to buy milk from Dalit cattle herders. Dalit women and girls are often barred from dances marking the annual Navratri festival, a highlight of the Gujarati calendar.

Our work is ongoing, but how long can we continue? said Chorsiya, who, like other staff members has been told she will not be paid after March. It costs money to travel to villages and chase after police officers.

India bills itself as the worlds largest democracy, but it has long nursed a deep-seated distrust of civil society groups, particularly those backed by Western countries. The previous government, led by Modis arch-rival Congress party, denied foreign funding to church-based groups and those that protested Indias development of nuclear energy.

The contributions law is a sword dangling over the head of every NGO who receives foreign funding, said Indira Jaising, a former solicitor for the Indian government whose legal aid group, Lawyers Collective, had its license canceled last year.

Jaisings clients have included Setalvad, who has led the legal battle to have Modi convicted of complicity in deadly 2002 religious riots in Gujarat, a former police official who has offered testimony in the case, and a Greenpeace employee who was barred from traveling to Britain to speak out against the countrys use of coal-based energy.

Greenpeace had its license revoked, too, until a court intervened last month and stopped the move.

The environmental group said the law had turned into an instrument of repression, one that the government has used to cut off vital funding to groups that may hold positions contrary to the governments own.

Meanwhile, Modis government quietly amended the funding law last year to exempt political parties, making it easier for foreign companies to contribute to Indian politicians.

Navsarjan has filed a lawsuit challenging the governments action against it, though it could be months before the case is heard. Without an infusion of funds, its three schools will likely close when money for teacher salaries runs out in March.

At the village school in Rayka, a low concrete block building set amid budding cotton fields, 26 boys sat cross-legged on the floor, politely listening to teacher Jignesh Makwana. Several boys said they had been mistreated at government schools, forced to sit separately from other children, eat their leftovers or clean toilets.

Makwana said the students complete eighth grade at Rayka with more self-confidence and an understanding of their rights.

We are working for the development of our community, he said. If the government shows us that we are somehow working against the nation, we are prepared to go to jail.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

Follow @SBengali on Twitter for more news from South Asia

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Dozens of ethnic minority groups called on Wednesday for an independent international investigation in western Myanmar, adding to pressure on the government to account for alleged human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims.

A statement signed by 41 civil society organizations was a show of broad-based concern inside Myanmar about the ongoing crackdown in Rakhine state, where security forces have been accused of razing Muslim villages and torturing and killing civilians.

The groups called for an international and truly independent investigation  to fully assess the totality of the situation in Rakhine state and provide clear recommendations for the current government to effectively address and prevent further problems.

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Human rights groups said the statement was significant because the Myanmar government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has rejected calls for an international inquiry in Rakhine in part because it would face opposition from local people.

The signatories include Buddhist and ethnic Burman groups, which make up the majority of Myanmars 53 million people. Hard-line Buddhist monks have been widely accused of leading 2012 pogroms in Rakhine that killed hundreds of Rohingya Muslims.

The estimated 1 million Rohingya in Myanmar are one of the worlds most persecuted people, denied citizenship and basic rights by the government, which regards them as interlopers from neighboring Bangladesh.

Since Rohingya militants were blamed for attacks against Myanmar security forces in October, at least 86 civilians have been killed and an estimated 66,000 people have fled into Bangladesh to escape a military crackdown.

Preliminary results of a government investigation released this month found no human rights violations and described media reports as fake news and an attempt to cause misunderstandings about Myanmar. It also denied reports of a humanitarian crisis in Rakhine, despite United Nations data showing that the military operation was causing widespread hunger and malnutrition in the coastal state.

Last month, a group of Nobel laureates called on the government to open an international inquiry. The message underscored how Suu Kyi, an icon for her decades-long opposition to Myanmars former military junta, is growing isolated internationally for her refusal to account for abuses against the Rohingya.

The statement Wednesday by womens groups, academic institutions and advocacy organizations working with ethnic minority communities came on the eve of a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, an international body of 57 member states, to discuss the Rohingya issue. The groups envoy to Myanmar has called for a U.N. intervention in Myanmar to stop what he termed genocide.

The statement is important for the entire country, said Matthew Smith, chief executive of Fortify Rights, a human rights group working in Southeast Asia. Its time for the government to get on board and support the establishment of an impartial and independent inquiry.

shashank.bengali@latimes.com

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Imagine a spelling bee where the contestant is asked to spell the South American country Colombia and he or she spells "C-O-L-U-M-B-I-A." If you're not Colombian, it may seem like just a harmless mistake from a middle schooler.

Now imagine a top executive at a major company or an A-list celebrity or professional athlete with millions of followers on social media who tweets about Colombia with a "u." How do Colombian affiliates, investors, Latino audience or fan base feel about that?

As someone who works in media and is half Colombian, the misspelling of the country of Colombia using a "u" may be on my radar more than the average American. Having worked for a major network, I have called out the mistake several times to some of the best editors I know.

To be clear, Columbia is the university, the sportswear company, and the capital city of the United States, Washington, D.C., the District of Columbia, not the beautiful, evolving South American country known for its incredible coffee and flowers, innovative businesses, green initiatives and agriculture, high literacy rate and high life expectancy -- not just its drug-ridden, tumultuous past.

If a half-Colombian is irked at the misspelling, I can only imagine how someone who is from Colombia feels. It may sound trivial to some, but it's legit -- so much so that a social media movement was launched last year when Carlos Pardo, a digital-media executive at Zemoga, a Bogota-based digital agency, and Compass Porter Novelli, a public relations firm, partnered to launch Social Media Week Bogota.

It was then that "It's Colombia, NOT Columbia" was born -- a social media movement where Facebook, Twitter and Instagram users correct big companies, celebrities and athletes using the hashtag #itscolombianotcolumbia, encouraging them to fix the mistake. It's not meant to be malicious but to prove a point that public figures should be more aware of the difference.

"'It's Colombia, NOT Columbia' is a social movement that promotes the beginning of a change on the perception held abroad on Colombia. Our main goal is to share the current positive features and qualities of our country and let everyone know that today we are in the spotlight of big investors from around the globe, thanks to the economic, social and cultural growth we have had in the past 15 years," according to its official Facebook page.

"The image that people had of the country was mostly because of what was seen in traditional media and in Hollywood. We don't want to deny Colombia's reality or its past, but we do want to concentrate on the good things. We think that social networks today have what traditional media had in the past to communicate these messages to people," Pardo told the Huffington Post in an earlier interview.

Who else has made the "Columbia" error?

According to the Wall Street Journal, this past year Virgin Mobile, P.F. Chang's and Lufthansa, socialite Paris Hilton (who opened a handbag store in Bogota), and musicians Justin Bieber and Ozzy Osbourne have all misspelled the country.

The common misspelling has even bothered actor Antonio Banderas, who hails from Spain and was spotted with the "It's Colombia, NOT Columbia!" T-shirt. Colombian racing driver Gustavo Yacaman Aristizabal isn't fond of the error either and also sported the T-shirt to make a statement.

With top Colombian celebrities, such as Shakira, Juanes and Sofia Vergara, being featured on every major American network, more people are getting on the Colombian bandwagon and recognizing that the country and its people have a lot to offer and contribute to American society as well as its international scale.

"Pardo says Colombia is being written about so often in social media because celebrities as well as investors are finally interested in the country, and that thrills Colombians. Last year, Colombia attracted a record $16 billion in foreign investment," the WSJ added.
The wait is finally over. The brand new trailer of Resident Evil: Vendetta has arrived and that too with strong English dialogues.

The film, also known as Biohazard: Vendetta, was announced in 2015. It will finally see the light of the day on May 27, 2017, reports, releases.com.

The Japanese 3D animated horror film, written by Makoto Fukami reports,blu-ray.com. The movie also marks the return of Rebecca Chambers. Well, that is surely a bonus for the fans of the Resident Evil franchise, since she has been absent for too long from the series.

The trailer of Resident Evil: Vendetta also stars Leon S Kennedy and Chris Redfield and that too is a good news for the fans. A trailer of a film in the Resident Evil franchise never disappoints. So, you can expect a lot of blood and gun firing in the blazing new trailer too. The trademark RE horror also makes a comeback with this film.

The new trailer is replete with horror, eye-opening action sequences, deadly zombies, mind-boggling explosions and chase sequences.

The story, written by Makoto Fukami, takes place after the Resident Evil 6 events and before the events of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Glenn Arias is the main antagonist and he is often referred to as the 'merchant of death' in the franchise. His character plans a major terrorist attack in New York.

The survival horror game series by Capcom is hugely popular among the video-game lovers. The trailer too promises special graphics and modern technologies. Animation movies are a rage among the youngsters these days and a time will come when audience will find in fact no difference between real and animated films.

Interestingly, this will be the third CG movie in the franchise after Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008) and Resident Evil: Damnation (2012). Also, this is the third film with Leon as the pivotal character.

Given it's made in Japan the film will hit the screens in Japan sometime in the spring of 2017. It will then eventually release in the US. In this case, it's important to know that RE: Degeneration had also first released in Japan and then in the US.
Scientific reports suggest that humans might have likely reached the North American continent 24,000 years ago. These humans originate from Russia and cross the Bering Strait thanks to the land bridge which was then existent during that time.

The first human settlement in North America

This all happened just years after the end of the planet's last Ice Age. With this said, scientists are baffled after new evidences suggest that the first humans set foot in America 10,000 years earlier.

This surely has its own set of effects in the scientific community, changing some fundamental beliefs about the origin of the human race. According to Yahoo.com, Jacques Cinq-Mars, an archeologist, was the first to point out this possibility 30 years ago.

This is after excavating was done in the Bluefish Caves located in the Canadian Yukon province. According to New Historian, the team discovered ancient animal bones in the area, which then led to them concluding that the first humans settled there, way earlier than previously thought.

24,000-year-old human settlement proven

Now that further scientific and genetic studies have been made to prove the possibility laid out by Cinq-Mars, it has then been proven that the radiocarbon dating were indeed plausible. This then means that the people who arrived in North America during those times were then isolated from the rest of the world after the last of the land bridges melted away soon after the last Ice Age.

This means that the gene pool of the original inhabitants of North America was indeed isolated, thus pure in all cases. With all of these being said, there are truly more things left to discover in this planet of ours.

With recent discoveries like this, our collective knowledge regarding the origin and history of our species improves.
Nestle SA Maggi seasoning is displayed on a shelf in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China. (Photo : Getty Images)

According to a report, Manufacturers at a township in North China's Tianjin Municipality were allegedly found to be counterfeiting more than 1-billion-yuan worth of food seasoning from famous brands like Nestle and Totole.



At least 50 plants were alleged counterfeiting the goods in the township of Duliu, which is known for one of the main producers of vinegar in Northern China. It is reported that 500,000 yuan worth of goods are manufactured every day in Duliu.



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A manufacturer surnamed Liu admitted that they have all the popular seasoning brands, which includes Nestle's Maggi cooking sauce, Totole's granulated chicken flavor and Wang Shouyi Shi San Xiang's multi-flavored spice.



The report also indicated that leftover star anise, Sichuan pepper and fennel that are already been used by nearby factories, are dried, ground, processed and labeled as Wang Shouyi Shi San Xiang's multi-flavored spice.



The packaging and the labelling of the fake products is the same as the authentic ones. Font Size, Font Color and even the QR codes are spot on.



Workers for these fake food seasoning often manufacture the goods either in the afternoon or at night, and were being dispatched quickly. This made it difficult for food supervisors to conduct raids.



Liu Shaowei, a food safety professor at the East China University of Science and Technology, said, "Industrial salt is considered dangerous. It contains hazardous chemicals like nitrite--a carcinogen--and heavy metals, which harm the liver and kidney."



A poll that involved 4,258 people from 59 cities showed that Chinese people are getting less satisfied with food safety in the country.



President Xi Jinping has called for greater efforts for ensuring food safety. He noted that there are still many problems and concerns despite the improved food safety.



He also called for the most stringent regulation, the most rigorous standards, the most severe punishment as well as the most serious accountability for improving food safety controls.


A new miniscule moth with a wingspan of 0.4 inches is the first species that is named after Donald Trump called Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, that has a yellow and white scales that resembles Mr. Trump's signature hairstyle. The purpose behind of this decision of the name is to convey more extensive public attention regardless the need to keep protecting delicate habitats in the US that is still contain various undescribed species.

According to LiveScience, the moth's territory reaches out from the Southern California in the U.S. through Baja California in Mexico, which the president-elect proposed a wall along the border between the two nations. Vazrick Nazari stated in an email with high hopes that Donald Trump will take it with a good spirit as it is proposed, as it needs the next administration to keep ensuring vulnerable and fragile habitat over the United States. This is the first species to hold up under the president-elect's name, Trump's haircut likewise inspired the casual moniker "Trumpapillar".

However, the president-elect's team did not instantly answer to a requested compliment about the said moth, according to The Washington Post report. Nazari found the new species while examining moth specimens from the Bohart Museum of Entomology in California during an investigation of the North American moth family Gelechiidae, also called twirler moths. The moth has its distinctive wing example and its unique DNA barcode that quickly flagged it as a new and undescribed species.

Nazari wrote in his published journal that the insects are among the biggest group of creatures on this planet, however, the quantity of the individuals studying them becomes small. The universe of insects is fascinating and there is a great deal to find, as evident by this new species that comes from California. Nazari added that lending a recognizable name to another species can help encourage the public, not only for the new found creature but as well as for the biological community that inhabits and the dangers it might face.

Nazari was still hoping that the president will make a preservation of such delicate biological systems in the U.S. as his top priority. Considering that their biological systems still contain numerous unfamiliar and undescribed species, and should be ensured for future generations.
After almost three years since the Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 went missing, the China, Australia, and Malaysia just ended the search for the lost jet on Tuesday. The Australia's transport minister defended the decision of suspension of the undersea hunt after several relatives of the passengers knock off the decision. But according to officials, the search will recommence if there will be new and credible evidence will show.

Malaysia, Australia, and China - the three countries where most of the passengers came from are on board just pulled out the operating in Southern Indian Ocean wherein it was almost three years ago since the plane just vanished in the air on March 8, 2014, from Kuala Lumpur to China, Beijing. On Wednesday, Darren Chester stated that Australia did not want to give up for another search, but the government also don't want to give a false hope on finding the missing jet, BBC has reported.

Darren Chester, the transport minister further of Australia claimed that the cost of the investigation has now reached over Aus $200 million or 150 million USD already. But stating the cost wasn't the factor in the decision of pulling out the search but it came after the designated search zone of more than 120,000 square kilometers or 46sqm were already completed but isn't successful.

"I don't rule out a future underwater search by any stretch but it was not a closed book." He further added that they don't want to provide any false hope to the families, relatives, and friends of the victims. He exclaimed that they still need to have strong evidence that leads to a specific location before they consider a future search effort, CNN reports.

There are other items that recovered mostly on the shoreline of western Indian Ocean identified as likely but not definitely from the missing plane, MH370. The decision of the transport minister was criticized even more after having new analysis released in December by Australian and international experts concluded that MH370 wasn't in the area and that it might be further north.

Several families and relatives were not really convinced that their loved ones were already dead.
In previous weeks, WHO warned Brazil to have a possible huge epidemic of yellow fever after many of speculated deaths from the diseases that were accounted in an area with a low coverage of vaccination. Brazil's Ministry of Health is likewise speculated that the illness has already claimed 38 lives since the 1st of January in Minas Gerais. However, there are still 133 speculated cases that are infected with yellow fever.

According to plus55, the state government declared a state of emergency in 152 urban communities. Governor Fernando Pimentel launched an $8-million vaccination venture to counter-attack and 735,00 dosages of vaccine from the MOH which was sent to Mina Gerais a week ago. The ministry prescribed that the individuals living in rural areas of the 24 affected districts in Minas Gerais get vaccinated, which will be administered in seven days a week.

In addition, Healio reported that as indicated by WHO, one dose of yellow fever vaccine offers a lifetime assurance. But still, MOH prescribes two doses for individuals in Brazil: one dose for 9 months and another one dose for 4 years old. For the travelers who is wishing to protect themselves from yellow fever, they should be immunized for at least 10 days before their trip. Because of the low vaccine coverage, the spread of yellow fever had gone rapidly in Minas Gerais, and there is a worry when the outbreak will cross the border to neighbor state that likewise has a low vaccine coverage.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is similar that transmits Dengue fever and the Zika Virus, likewise, it transmits yellow fever. This mosquito's population develops during summer months because of the serious rainfall. However, the Biologists bring up that the yellow fever outbreak may have a connection with the 2015 Mariana catastrophe that destroyed the entire towns and brought about 19 deaths because of a crumple of iron pole-residue which spilled with the equivalent of 21,000 Olympic-sized pools of mud, and it was the most exceedingly environmental disaster in Brazilian history.
Yahya Jammeh, the longtime leader of Gambia, has lost four more members of his ministry. The ministers resigned and fled the country promptly to the neighboring Senegal.

The ministers' fleeing was announced only two days prior to Adama Barrow's bow to reign over the country despite Jammeh's staunch refusal to bow down. Barrow is none other than the man who ousted Jammeh in the elections of December.

According to Associated Press, amongst the people who have left the Jammeh administration are the foreign affairs minister and ministers of environment, trade and finance. The reporting political official refused to give his name and spoke on grounds of anonymity for fear of reprisal. The Gambian information minister went into Senegal on exile earlier, too.

Jammeh says that the country needs to wait for the Gambian Supreme Court decision regarding Barrow's challenge of the election results. As this delay could take weeks if not months, Barrow vows to move ahead with his own inauguration. Jammeh requested an injunction in order to block the inauguration, but the chief justice recused himself in this regard on Monday.

Gambia has been under the rule of Jammeh for more than 22 years now. At the beginning, Jammeh took to state television to concede his defeat in the election but later made a dramatic about-face just one week after.

Jammeh's mandate will end this week and in the case where he refuses to step down, the West African regional bloc has readied a standby force in case of any necessary military intervention. Jammeh has declared a state of emergency in the country for 90-days only two days prior to his resignation date.

ECOWAS, the regional bloc, is said to have urged Barrow to remain in Dakar, Senegal until the inauguration ceremony on Thursday, for his own safety. Barrow failed to be able to depart Senegal on Monday as he was attending his 7-year-old son's funeral. The child has severely mauled by a dog just a day ago.
Angelina Jolie is faced with more than one familial issue after the birth mother of her and Brad Pitts adopted daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt is making a plea to the actress, asking that she be allowed to speak with her daughter.

According to the Daily Mail, Zaharas Ethiopian Mentewab Dawit Lebiso is making a plea for her to play a part in her daughters life, although she does not necessarily want her back home. Rather, Mentewab prefers Jolie and not Pitt to take custody of her girl.

Mentewab already opened up to the online news outlet that she looks forward to the day when she finally meets Zahara as a grown girl, although she does not mind an interaction over the phone for the meantime.

I just want her to know that I am alive and here and long to be able to speak with her, Mentewab said.

The Ethiopian native is appreciative for Jolie and Pitt's efforts over her daughter, including special privileges and opportunities, but she cant help but miss her little girl.

I miss her all the time. I think about her every day and long to hear her voice or see her face.I know when she has a birthday but I am sad because I cant celebrate it with her, Mentewab explained.

Mentewab was tracked down in central Ethiopia by Daily Mail Online. According to her story, she got pregnant with Zahara after she was raped. When her family learned that she was conceiving, they eventually refused to acknowledge her or the baby. Although she attempted to keep her girl, Mentewab had to give her up for adoption due to poverty.

Zahara was initially named Yemasrech, which can be translated to good news. She was adopted by Jolie when she was merely six months old back in 2005.
While Chile remains as one of the few nations left that refuse abortions regardless of circumstances, the country is reportedly on its way to changing such restrictive laws.

President Michelle Bachelet initially put forward a proposal to get rid of punitive action for abortion two years ago, and this year, she needs the Senates full approval for it to become a law.

On Monday, the measure passed the Senate panel with a 3-2 vote. This new law is expected to remove criminal charges relating to abortion for up to 12 weeks of pregnancy under three conditions- if the pregnancy puts the womans health at risk, if the fetus is deemed as incapable of surviving the pregnancy, and if the pregnancy is the outcome of a rape incident. Moreover, in case the mother is 14 years old or younger, the 12-week maximum limit can be extended to 12 weeks.

"I believe that women should have legally the possibility of making their own choices. In this country until now this is criminalized - if you interrupt your pregnancy, you will go to jail. And I believe this is not fair," Bachelet said in a previous interview with BBC News.

"Women could be in an unhealthy situation because of rape, et cetera, and there might be women who don't want babies in that situation, she added.

However, abortion continues to be an unlawful act in the Vatican, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Malta, and the Dominican Republic. Still, pro-choice advocates continue to express their views on the adverse effects of not being able to have an abortion as a choice during pregnancy.

According to the Chilean Ministry of Health, approximately 200,000 unsafe abortions are reported annually in the country. Over 33,000 women were admitted to hospitals due to complications brought on by unsafe abortions.

However, numerous politicians and groups in Chile continue to remain in opposition to the new law; last year, the countrys Catholic Church released an official statement, comprised of 18 pages, against decriminalizing abortion. It stated that the proposals approval means the country supports a culture of death.
ORGANISERS of Speen's Magical Millennium Fete are delighted after smashing their target to raise 2,000 for two local charities.

Planning for the event started at the beginning of this year but a last minute hitch meant a marquee was hired just days before the event.

But according to one Speen fete committee member, Suzi Rose, it was all worth it as the big day, held on the Speen playing fields, Hampden Road, raised an impressive 3,000. She said: "As any fete organiser knows, much debate, planning, further discussion and hard work goes into a successful day and the Speen team put its heart and soul into this year's event.

"Friends, neighbours, relatives and work colleagues found themselves caught up in the enthusiasm to raise money so that the grand draw, tickets and programmes sold like hot cakes prior to the big day."

But hardy revellers had to brave an early July downpour that left many attractions temporarily washed-out.

The skies, however, cleared for a successful run of classic cars. The two charities to benefit from the cash are The South Bucks Hospice and Wycombe General Hospital's Paediatric Ward.
Published by the Shanghai Educational Publishing House on Wednesday, Jan. 11, "Little Men" contains six chapters that encourage boys to be in touch with their masculinity. (Photo : Getty Images)

To fight the growing "gender crisis" in the country, a Shanghai-based publisher has released China's first textbook for boys. Called "Little Men," the textbook aims to strengthen masculinity and other related ideals among Chinese kids in the 4th and 5th grades.



Published by the Shanghai Educational Publishing House on Wednesday, Jan. 11, "Little Men" contains six chapters that teach boys about courage, encouraging them to tap into their masculine side and become more outgoing young men.



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According to China News Service, the textbook will help solve the "gender crisis" brought about by the increasing popularity of Japanese and Korean fashion and pop music among Chinese teenagers. Korean and Japanese culture often depict and normalize young men in touch with their feminine side.



The textbook will be used by some schools in China, with classes conducted without female students. Instead, girls will attend other courses, the South China Morning Post reported.



Critics Lash at "Little Men" Textbook



You Rui, the chief editor of "Little Men," hopes the book will help boys overcome problems common during adolescence. Since its publication, however, the book has met backlash, with critics taking aim at China's male-dominated society.



Instead of cultivating masculinity among boys, Zhang Meimei, an education expert, told China News Service that the people should focus on raising morally sound and responsible young men.



Meanwhile, Fang Gang, a gender studies specialist, emphasizes that placing pressure on masculinity is wrong as it cultivates male dominance instead of gender equality in a society.



Fang told China News Service that schools should also make sex education classes more accessible and easy to understand, contrary to the practice of conducting sex education classes for boys and girls separately.



In a report by China News Service, it was stated that boys are lagging behind their female classmates in academics and social skills. More and more Chinese boys are also becoming effeminate in the recent years.


Tsingtao has been around since the early 1900s, founded by German and British merchants based in China. As of date, the brand is sold in 94 countries across the globe. (Photo : Getty Images)

Tsingtao is a household name in China, but it's only recently that the Chinese beer has been making waves in the international market.



According to a report by China Daily, overseas sales of the brand grew by 12 percent in 2016, with increases in the Latin America, western Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions.



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In addition, year-on-year sales of the brand in South Korea, Russia, and Costa Rica experienced significant raises, with sales inked at 80 percent, 55 percent, and 97 percent, respectively. The brand is also slowly gaining attention in United States.



"We have seen double-digit sales volume increases for the past few months in key markets in the United States," Kammy Chahal, Pabst's Tsingtao U.S. brand director, confirmed to the media.



It's about time. Tsingtao has been around since the early 1900s, founded by German and British merchants based in China. As of date, the brand is currently sold in 94 countries across the globe. It has also played an active role in Chinese culture, having hosted one of the largest beer festivals in the world for 26 years.



Increased Overseas Sales Eyed by Tsingtao Executives



Tsingtao has already expressed its interest in expanding overseas operations and sales.



"We want to actively explore overseas markets. There is consensus in China's liquor industry that we need to build brands with international reputation," Sun Mingbo, chairman of Tsingtao Brewery, recently told the media.



"Tsingtao does not intend to produce low-end products just to improve sales in the international market. Our products aim at global middle and high-end market," added Sun.



One of the markets Tsingtao aims to target is United Kingdom, where pub culture is alive and thriving. Tsingtao has already displayed resilience in the U.K. market as sales have increased 10 percent year-on-year recently--a tough feat, since the British are known for being discerning beer drinkers.



"Tsingtao has actually been one of the stand-out brands. The Chinese brand's market share kept growing in the U.K.'s imported beer sales," said James Wright, a Tsingtao dealer based in the U.K., in an interview with China Daily.


'Running Man' is a South Korean variety program that airs on SBS. (Photo : YouTube/SBS Running Man)

With the impending end of "Running Man," viewers will soon see a familiar face appearing the SBS variety show. Former member Gary is set to rejoin Song Ji Hyo and other cast members in upcoming episodes.



Gary was one of the original members of the SBS' long-running variety program "Running Man." However, the South Korean rapper decided to leave the show in November 2016 to focus on his music career.



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Despite Gary's exit from the program, showrunners already featured the rapper as a guest in an episode where cast members were tasked to complete a challenge with him. It appears that the "Running Man" alum will again rejoin his former cast members.



Variety show sources told local reporters that Gary already completed filming activities for the SBS program, All Kpop quoted the insiders as saying. Viewers can look forward to seeing the musician bond with his long-time celebrity friends, as well as his variety show partner Song in the upcoming Jan. 29 episode.



Dubbed as the "Monday Couple," avid fans of the SBS show can expect to see Gary and Song's exceptional teamwork, along with the musician's camaraderie with other cast members. However, the rapper's appearance in the said variety program would only be for one to two episodes.



Meanwhile, "Running Man" cast members are set to embark on an Asian fan meeting tour beginning February until March. Song, as well as Lee Kwang Soo, Kim Jong Kook, Ji Suk Jin and Haha are set to visit Taiwan, Macau, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, according to local news outlets, as cited by Korea Herald.



However, Asian fans hoping to see Yoo Jae Suk and "Running Man" alum Gary during the said tour will be disappointed. Gary will not be able to take part in the fan meeting tour given his departure from the show, while scheduling conflicts prevented Yoo from participating in the said activity.



"Running Man" is set to air its final episode in February on SBS. Watch a clip from the show below:






Jan 18, 2017, 2:58pm ET

Report: Trump administration notifies Canada of NAFTA renegotiation

Trump hasn\'t officially entered the White House yet, but his nominee for commerce secretary is already preparing for trade talks with Mexico and Canada.

President-elect Donald Trump hasn't entered the White House yet, but his nominee for commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, has reportedly sent a formal notification to Canadian officials that he wants to immediately engage in talks about the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Ross's correspondence suggests he plans to initially focus on two specific provisions, including rules of origin and dispute tribunals, according to The Globe and Mail.

The origin rules dictate thresholds for non-NAFTA components contained in products that are assembled in the US, Canada or Mexico. If certain goods exceed the allowances, they may be disqualified from duty-free trade between the NAFTA signatories.

The trade pact attempts to handle disagreements or challenges via independent tripartite panels with the power to arbitrate disputes. Like the origin rules, the panels are steeped in fine print and could provide a legal gray area for Trump's administration to apply pressure or extract concessions without repealing the broader trade agreement.

Speaking in an earlier interview with BNN, Ross hinted that any renegotiations would be focused on trade between the US and Mexico -- not with Canada.

"In the case of the trade between the U.S. and Canada, it is relatively much better-balanced than is the trade between the U.S. and Mexico," he said.
Jan 17, 2017, 5:45pm ET

Toyota heads to Davos to lobby for hydrogen

The Hydrogen Council also lists BMW, Daimler, Honda and Hyundai on its membership list.

Five automakers and eight other companies have formed the Hydrogen Council, a lobbying group heading to Davos, Switzerland.

A top Toyota executive co-chairs the initiative alongside a colleague from French gas supplier Air Liquide. BMW Group, Daimler, Honda and Hyundai are also involved.

"We need governments to back hydrogen with actions of their own, for example through large-scale infrastructure investment schemes," says Air Liquide chief Benoit Potier. "Our call today to world leaders is to commit to hydrogen so that together we can meet our shared climate ambitions and give further traction to the emerging Hydrogen ecosystem."

Hydrogen has struggled to gain traction as an alternative automobile fuel in the US market. Sparse infrastructure is perhaps the biggest hurdle, with just 25 refueling stations currently open in California and far fewer in the rest of the US.

Toyota Mirai sales barely inched past 1,000 units last year, despite a deeply discounted lease for just $349 per month. Honda is following a similar pricing strategy with the forthcoming Clarity Fuel Cell sedan, which will be available for just $369 per month. Both vehicles are believed to cost more than $50,000 to build.

The Hydrogen Council will undoubtedly focus on government subsidization to help invigorate infrastructure expansion. Such pleas will likely be heard alongside a competing push for electric vehicles, which already benefit from an extensive recharging network and significantly cheaper construction costs for new charging stations.
Dieng Cultural Festival 2014 (Photo : Getty Images)

As the worlds factory, China churns out a variety of products from Donald Trump face masks to sex toys, electric cars and cattle embryo. The human rights abuses in Chinas millions of factories, many of which have sweatshop conditions, are one of the two objects of commentary by an ongoing stage show in New York.



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Middle-Age Romance



Aptly titled Made in China, the puppet show features a romance between two middle-aged people, while tackling Chinas human rights violations and American consumerism, according to a New York Times review. The play is written and directed by Gwendolyn Warnock and Kirjan Waage. It runs from Jan. 11 through Feb. 19.



A presentation of the Wakka company at 59E59 Theaters, the puppet play has two key characters: Mary, a divorced grandmother who loves junk food, and Eddie, who was born in China but is neighbor of Mary who spends her time in shopping sprees. A Christmas tree ornament she purchased contains a note from a Chinese factory worker who seeks help in exposing to international human rights organizations the abuses they suffer.



Chinese Child Labor



Mary, voiced by Peter Russo, seeks the advice of Eddie, voiced by Ariel Estrada, who shows her that a lot of household products in the U.S. are actually manufactured in China, with labor provided by children in some factories. The two eventually end up in China as factory workers.



The review gave thumbs up to the songs by Yan Li which are mostly what theater goers would hear in a traditional American musical comedy, but with Chinese flavorings infused. The songs were performed by Miesemblet, a Norwegian chamber music group made up of four members, plus Max Mamon and Yan Li. Some of the songs are about the loneliness that the two characters go through and their growing affection for each other.



Timeout, which also reviewed Made in China, described the puppet show as defying labels. It noted that the production has elements of a ghost story, issue play, kung fu movie and porno. Although the reviewer finds the play a bit messy, he nevertheless is satisfied with its being packed with happy surprises and noted that its personal plot is more sharply defined than the political one.






The Bethlehem Area School District is starting its 2017-18 budget process with a $12.5 million budget deficit.

Superintendent Joseph Roy (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

The administration wants the district to apply to the state for permission to potentially exceed its 3.1 percent cap on annual property tax increases.

Superintendent Joseph Roy cautioned that does not mean the district will hike taxes the max it can. Exceptions keep options open, he said.

"We don't want to handcuff ourselves at the very beginning of the process," Roy explained.

The 2017-18 budget's top cost drivers are: a $3.8 million increase in mandated employee pension payments; $2.7 million for salaries; $2.6 million for academic initiatives; $1.5 million for general operations; $1.2 student tuition and $704,056 in charter school payments.

Roy also offered up policy solutions for Harrisburg lawmakers to reduce the burden on local taxpayers after last week railing against HB/SB 76 -- a law aimed at killing the school property tax. He's advocating for a mix of changes that lowers the tax burden on senior citizens and homeowners while fixing state school funding policies.

HB/SB 76's growing traction in Harrisburg adds a lot of uncertainty to the budget process, district officials said.

The administration already has cut $5 million from the preliminary budget, including $2 million of educational programming, like new curriculum and professional development, Roy said.

The budget continues to prioritize the district's efforts to get all students reading on grade level by third grade, revising the algebra/math curriculum, implementing Spanish in the elementary schools and continues rolling out the Project Lead the Way high school curriculum, Assistant Superintendent Jack Silva said.

But it doesn't invest in curriculum revisions anywhere other than reading or math or into after-school programs and summer activities or the district's equity initiatives.

Bethlehem expects to again use at least $2 million of its savings to help balance the 2017-18 budget. Roy said that figure may need to be higher this year, but he noted that money will have to be made up somewhere the following year.

The school board learned from its auditor Tuesday night that the district ended the 2015-16 budget with a $3.7 million surplus due to unexpected real estate transfer taxes from some major property sales. That money went into district savings.

Chief Financial Officer Stacy M. Gober said all Pennsylvania school districts continue the upward climb of increased employer pension contribution payments, which will rise 8.46 percent to hit 32.57 percent in 2017-18.

The district began the 2016-17 budget process with a $15.2 million deficit, which by June was closed through spending cuts, $2.9 million in district savings and a 3.2 percent tax hike.

The administration continued to hammer home the financial impact of pension payments and charter school tuition payments.

Bethlehem has seen its pension and charter school costs rise $50.5 million over the last 12 years to a projected $60.4 million in 2017-18.

The district has lost out on about $26.2 million in state charter school tuition reimbursements since the Corbett administration axed the payments in 2011-12. And that hits certain districts much harder, Roy said.

"The state policy makes an enormous difference at the local level," Roy said.

Seventy-five percent of the state's 130,000 charter and cyber school students come from just 25 school districts, Roy said. There are 500 districts in Pennsylvania.

School board President Michael Faccinetto noted that the tax increases over the past five years practically equal that lost reimbursement.

The board's preliminary budget adoption is scheduled for Feb. 13. Budget workshops are scheduled for March 29 and April 26. The final tentative budget adoption is scheduled for May 15 and the final vote is set for June 19.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Judge ignored warnings about cursing, misconduct, clerk testifies

A former Lehigh Valley district judge is ready for his day in court on numerous allegations of misconduct in his Hellertown court.

David Tidd

David Tidd's trial before the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline began Wednesday morning in Harrisburg and is expected to continue Thursday.

Tidd resigned from the seat last July 25, less than seven months into his second six-year term. The following month, the Judicial Conduct Board filed a scathing, 96-page complaint against Tidd.

Attorney Elizabeth Flaherty, representing the Judicial Conduct Board, said Tidd's case was about "disrespect, disregard and disrepute" at his former court, and Tidd's ignoring of advice to change his conduct.

In the complaint, Tidd is accused of sleeping in his robes on his office floor, using excessive profanity, bullying his staff when they complained and running a "fast food" court by settling cases at his counter rather than from the bench.

From 2011 until his resignation last year, Tidd had an "undignified, disrespectful" attitude toward people he encountered in his court, Flaherty said.

"His court clerks took the brunt of it," Flaherty said, claiming Tidd bullied his employees.

Flaherty said Wednesday's testimony will include six clerks who worked under Tidd -- two with decades of experience before Tidd took the bench, and four new clerks who joined the court under Tidd. She also plans to call local police officers familiar with the court to corroborate some of the clerks' testimony.

Tidd's attorney said he plans to call a number of character witnesses in Tidd's defense -- local police officers and attorneys -- in addition to Tidd taking the witness stand.

"In reality, this case really comes down to Judge Tidd's testimony," said his attorney Samuel Stretton.

Stretton previously said the witnesses will testify it was "a runaway office where secretaries don't work for the judge," and he called the former judge's staff "the Benedict Arnolds of Northampton County."

On Wednesday, Stretton elaborated, saying the clerks "weren't loyal" to Tidd, and they kept weekly records of his conduct. Stretton asked the three-judge panel presiding over the proceeding how it would feel if a law clerk or secretary worked against them, "reporting every time you had a bad day."

Flaherty also plans to show three video recordings of Tidd's behavior in his offices, including what she said was Tidd raging at his staff on primary election day in 2015 after being told he had hearings scheduled. Tidd was in a contested race at the time.

After an anonymous complaint was filed about Tidd, he confronted staff members and police and demanded to know whether they cooperated with the investigation. Flaherty said Wednesday that Tidd's actions after receiving notice of the investigation led to a retaliation charge being added in his case.

Tidd was admonished more than once by Northampton County President Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden, but the warnings apparently had little effect, the report says. McFadden is also expected to testify.

Stretton did mention a prior misconduct case involving a local district judge -- former Allentown jurist Maryesther Merlo.

Merlo was permanently removed from the bench due to misconduct, including improper behavior, excessive tardiness and absences, and disrespect for attorneys and litigants that complainants called "nasty," "irrational" and "demeaning."

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Bethlehem Area School District officials say they don't want to just lobby against a proposal to ax school property taxes, they want to offer solutions.

Tuesday night Superintendent Joseph Roy outlined ideas to give property tax relief to Pennsylvania homeowners without letting businesses off the hook.

The district advocates for a significant increase in the state's senior citizen property tax rebate program and the homestead tax credit amongst other ideas.

"You don't need to throw the whole property tax out to give significant relief to senior citizens," Roy said.

A proposed law -- HB/SB 76 -- would replace school district real estate taxes with an increased personal income tax and a higher, expanded sales tax, which would apply to things like day care and clothes over $50. The state would be responsible for doling out school funding.

Bethlehem's top 20 commercial properties pay $18.2 million in annual school property taxes, said Stacy M. Gober, district chief financial officer. And 51 percent of the district's entire tax base, which amounts of $82.1 million, comes from commercial properties.

Here's a look at the Bethlehem Area School District's top taxpayers.

That money would all disappear under HB/SB 76 and the burden would be shifted to citizens, Gober said. The income tax would rise from 3.07 percent to 4.95 percent and the sales tax would jump from 6 percent to 7 percent and cover core things.

The question becomes: will your tax bill drop enough to offset the increase in your other taxes, she said.

School board President Michael Faccinetto said public schools are supposed to be supported by the community as a whole. He'd love to not pay property taxes himself.

"But (with HB/SB-76) there are large parcels in the district that will be completely off the hook in supporting education," Faccinetto said

Known as the Property Tax Independence Act, the proposal is supported by folks that say out of control property taxes are driving Pennsylvanians, especially senior citizens, out of their homes.

In 2015, a Senate effort to insert SB 76 into another bill died. This year, larger GOP majorities in each house could make it a reality.

Property taxes would not totally go away under the law. Districts could still be able to bill property owners for any existing debt service until it is paid off.

That means Bethlehem's average homeowner with a school tax bill of $3,240 would still pay $524 in school taxes along with their county and municipal tax bill. Although, school taxes make up the biggest chunk of most real estate taxes.

Bethlehem officials argue that income and sales taxes are more volatile forms of funding and that funneling the money through the state would be unreliable. Supporters of the bill say school spending is out of control and needs to be reined in.

The state's senior citizen property tax rebate maxes out at $600, which Roy says is not high enough. He'd be happy to see it quadrupled for qualifying senior citizens.

He suggests paying for this by eliminating the state's opportunity scholarship program (EITC), which allows businesses to donate money to private and parochial schools for scholarships instead of paying state taxes. That $85 million could be put towards senior citizen tax rebates, Roy said.

To help homeowners, the state should make a major increase to the homestead tax credit, which is funded through casino money. This expansion could be paid for with the diverted EITC money or expanded statewide taxes.

If that relief to homeowners was offered, Bethlehem would support eliminating the exceptions to the Act 1 index that allow districts to regularly exceed their cap on annual tax increases without voter approval, Roy said.

Bethlehem proposed reinstating the district's charter school tuition reimbursement to districts where 10 percent of their general fund is paid out to charters, he said. Seventy-five percent of all charter school students come from 25 of the state's 500 school districts.

The district estimates it has lost out on $26.2 million of state charter subsidy in the last five years, which would have eliminated the need to raise taxes.

Bethlehem Area also supports fixing the charter school funding formula to eliminate the pension double dip, special education overpayments and setting a different cyber charter school tuition rate.

Funding the state's basic education fair funding formula over five years rather than 20 or more would be a major help as well, Roy said.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Chrin Brothers tout $290M benefit of landfill expansion

Williams Township residents opposed to the expansion of Chrin Brothers Sanitary Landfill aired fears Tuesday night that the plan would lower property values, worsen odors in the area and harm the environment.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection held a public hearing at Wilson Area High School as it reviews Chrin's application to increase the landfill's disposal area by about 45 percent.

About 75 people attended the hearing. Of the more than dozen people who spoke, only one -- a sanitation company president -- was in support of the proposal to expand the landfill.

"This expansion plan stinks and it should be denied," said Josh Weinstein, who lives in the Country Classics at Morgan Hill community adjacent to the landfill.

Chrin is requesting an expansion of the landfill permit area by about 30 acres, to 130 acres, and of the area approved for disposal by about 33 acres, to 106 acres. The expansion is proposed east of the existing disposal area at the Industrial Drive landfill, DEP spokeswoman Colleen Connolly said.

The landfill is permitted now to accept up to 8.6 million cubic yards of waste. Chrin wants permission to add another 6.15 million cubic yards. The new permit would allow operation of the landfill for 10 more years beyond the current expiration in January 2020.

Several residents who spoke out Tuesday night said they moved to the township aware that the landfill was there, but that they were counting on its years being numbered. They addressed aesthetic issues affecting both their quality of life and visitors to Pennsylvania passing by the landfill as they head west on Interstate 78.

"This expansion is so obviously trying to put 10 pounds in a five-pound sack, and (given) its proximity to the township and its implication to the state, it's just mind-blowing that this could even be considered," said resident Betsy Dziedzic.

Tom Hellman, a lifelong Easton area resident, recalled the landfill resembling a "big pyramid" during his days as a student at Lafayette College, years before buying a home in the township. He now looks back on it as a "baby pyramid," compared to the current landfill.

"There is in essence now just so much landfill that it's a significant contributor to pollution," said Hellman, who is retired as a science teacher in Hunterdon County.

Ellen Cwynar told the DEP officials she keeps their number programmed in her cellphone to report odors wafting offsite from the landfill, despite Chrin's attempts at mitigating them.

"It's the impact that living with it every day has on the residents, not just the adults but certainly on the children, and I really hope that you folks understand that it impacts your life in such a way that you will never know because you don't live there," said Elisa Baratta, who lives along a dead-end drive up Morgan Hill Road from the landfill.

Questions arose Tuesday about the suitability of the land to expand, and whether limestone underground makes it prone to sinkholes. Opponents pointed to the failure of a slope at the landfill in March 2013 that led to a lengthy closure of Industrial Drive.

Cleanup of that incident is expected to continue into 2018. Officials blamed the failure on an August 2011 earthquake in Virginia that could be felt in the Lehigh Valley.

Residents were also critical of the Industrial Lane Superfund site adjacent to Chrin Brothers Sanitary Landfill that requires ongoing treatment of contaminated groundwater.

Rob Berger, of Berger Sanitation, offered the evening's lone comment in support of the expansion, arguing that the economic benefits to township taxpayers, Northampton County and Pennsylvania support the proposal.

Tuesday's hearing was part of the DEP's environmental assessment process in its review of Chrin Brothers' expansion proposal. Officials with the department will prepare a document in response to the comments and provide that to the township as part of the ongoing review of Chrin's application.

A final decision on permitting the expansion could come as early as late 2017.

Written comments on the expansion will continue to be accepted until 4 p.m. Jan. 27 to Colleen Connolly, community relations coordinator for the DEP, at coconnolly@pa.gov.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Samsung Galaxy S7 is seen during its worldwide unveiling on February 21, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo : Getty Images/David Ramos)

The Android Nougat update rollout continues but not without glitches, which specifically affected owners of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge and those using the HTC 10. But getting the latest Google mobile OS appears to be a smooth sailing for the Sony Xperia Z5 series, so far.



It looks like the general deployment of the Android Nougat update is off to a rough start, at least for the 2016 flagships issued by Samsung, HTC and OnePlus. According to WCCFTech, the supposed January 17 Nougat rollout for the S7 and S7 Edge in China turned out a huge disappointment for millions of users.



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Reports indicated that shortly after the update went live, Samsung was forced to halt the delivery of the Nougat update. The move led to Chinese users turning to social media to post their gripes that downloading the latest OS build was proving to be impossible.



WCCFTech said the OTA update rollout was plagued by bugs and as a result "Samsung had to pause the rollout for some time." The deployment resumed shortly but the same report noted Samsung decided to replace the official version of the OS with a beta build, indicating that fixes will need to be applied before the update is redeployed.



When Samsung plans to send out the final Nougat build for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge the report did not mention. But WCCFTech noted that what happened seems to be identical with the botched Nougat jump for the HTC 10 and OnePlus 3 and 3T. The OS upgrade was rushed so problems inevitably came up.



Thankfully, Nougat 7.0 for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge in UK is not afflicted by the same problems. "The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge users in UK are not reporting any issue with the update, which is 1.2GB in size," the same report indicated.



And it's the same scene that is playing out for many Xperia Z5 users so far, GSM Arena reported. Android 7.0 Nougat is now a go for the models belonging to the Android flagship and no issues have emerged to date.



That's like saying the changes - among them split-screen multitasking, improved battery life and Google Now integration on the home screen - to be delivered Z5 users will surely get minus any major worries. But the Android Nougat update is 1.3GB-heavy, the same report recommended getting the file over Wi-Fi and preferably with a fully-charged battery.


Charges against an Easton woman accused of running an online prostitution business out of her South Side apartment were forwarded Tuesday to Northampton County Court.

Dressed in a black shirt with an open denim jacket, ripped denim jeans and tall black boots, 43-year-old Jodi Cronce appeared before District Judge Daniel Corpora and gave up her right to a preliminary hearing.

"We're just going to waive it as is," defense attorney Mark Minotti said.

Cronce didn't speak during the appearance with the exception of answering "yes" when the judge asked if she understood her rights and that she currently was enrolled in Pretrial Services for a separate crime.

Corpora then sent charges of heroin possession, prostitution and related offenses on to Northampton County, where Cronce will face trial unless an alternative disposition occurs in the case. A formal arraignment is scheduled March 30.

Cronce was arrested Sept. 16 following neighbor complaints that prompted an investigation. Someone alerted police to men going into the residence at all hours, authorities said.

Cronce allegedly went by the name "Tawny Tompkins" and had a website listing a menu of services and rates, ranging from $150 to $1,500. Easton police armed with a search warrant on Sept. 16, 2016, raided Cronce's apartment in the Canal Park Apartmentst. Seized were an iPad, an external hard drive, two cellphones, a laptop, a notebook and heroin, police said.

Banking records and forensic evidence -- possibly leading to names of johns -- also were gathered from electronic devices that were in the apartment, police said. Cronce's arrest also followed a two-week Vice Unit investigation into the identity of her customers and the business itself, Lt. Matthew Gerould previously said.

Cronce faced more trouble in an October shoplifting incident when she was caught allegedly stealing items at CVS Pharmacy, 1520 Northampton St., Wilson Borough.

In that case, Cronce on Oct. 27 allegedly stole nearly $53 worth of eyeglasses, over-the-counter medication and a body sponge. She was stopped by an officer in a nearby parking lot with the concealed items in her purse, borough police said.

Wilson police charged Cronce with felony theft given her past several theft convictions. She pleaded guilty to theft counts in October 1996, January 2003 and September 2006, according to court records.

Corpora on Tuesday reminded Cronce of her bail conditions, noting they would be the same in both cases. He then set bail at $1,000 unsecured in the prostitution case.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright is Pennsylvania's lone Democratic representative in Congress, as of Tuesday, who is planning to be in the audience Friday morning at the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration and swearing-in of President-elect Donald Trump.

Cartwright said he's taking his seat for the ceremony out of respect for the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power, because he's open to giving the new administration a chance and not least of all because he's not afraid to buck expectations.

"I never faulted a guy for going against the grain. I've done that for most of my life," said Cartwright, whose 17th Congressional District in Pennsylvania covers parts of Northampton County.

The Lehigh Valley and Warren County will be well-represented at the inauguration, which gets underway at 11:30 a.m., as well as related festivities.

Douglas Steinhardt, chairman of the Warren County Republican Committee, is taking with him Land of Make Believe owner Chris Maier and his wife, Maria, and secured tickets for several others, including committee Vice Chairwoman Nancy Brown and newly sworn-in Washington Mayor David Higgins and his wife, Dawn.

"I think so far he's doing what he said he was going to do, is try to make a difference," Steinhardt said Tuesday of Trump. "I think he's trying to surround himself with like-minded people who are committed to making positive changes."

Also going is New Jersey state Sen. Mike Doherty, who remains impressed by the president-elect despite concerns voiced in the U.S. intelligence and the international communities about some of the rhetoric coming out of the nascent administration.

"The thing that attracted me to Donald Trump is his idea that we did not have to get involved in every military dispute around the world," said Doherty, a Republican whose 23rd Legislative District covers parts of Warren and Hunterdon counties. "He is taking a more reserved tone vis-a-vis Syria and our involvement there. And I agree with the president-elect, Trump, that we should if possible work with Russia to defeat ISIS."

"Donald Trump is a nationalist," Doherty continued later. "That's what we need, a president that's going to look out for the interests of the American people.

We've had it with this globalization that's been advocated by Barack Obama."

Keeping an open mind

For Cartwright, who supported fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton to succeed Obama, most of what he's seen from Trump and his cabinet picks has been encouraging, he said.

"He has said some things that I do like," Cartwright said. "He has promised to defend Social Security and Medicare. I will be fighting shoulder to shoulder with him if that's what he does. He has promised to spend a trillion dollars on rebuilding and reinforcing America's infrastructure. Again, I'm all in."

Now 4 of 5 Pa Democratic Congressman won't make the inauguration. The latest is Allegheny Co-based Mike Doyle-only Matt Cartwright remains.  Terry Madonna (@terrymadonna) January 17, 2017

On Republicans' push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Cartwright said he has yet to see a "sensible replacement" plan. But he doesn't delude himself that Obamacare is the end-all solution to health care in the United States.

Cartwright said he's not put off by Trump's seemingly stream-of-consciousness public statements, delivered directly to constituents via Twitter.

"It's also hard to separate Trump the showman from Trump the executive," he said. "He will freely admit and has done so on many occasions that a lot of the things that he says are for effect. It's to get a headline and that's why I say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and let's see what he does."

Joining Cartwright in representing the Lehigh Valley at the inauguration is Gloria Lee Snover, chairwoman of the Northampton County Republican Committee, who described her seats as "seated center." A supporter of Trump's 2016 run from well before the primary was decided, Snover admits she would have liked to see Mitt Romney for secretary of state over Rex Tillerson.

But she still sees the Trump she wanted for the Oval Office.

"Sometimes he frustrates me, like a family member. You're like, 'Oh my god, I could just shake you,'" she said. "That's actually what people like about him. He's real, he speaks directly to the American people. It's like something I've never seen before."

Snover is attending with Nazareth resident Mary Barket, who is president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Republican Women. The backlash against Trump, including planned protests in Washington, D.C., isn't sitting well with Snover, but she's excited to go, nonetheless.

"I will say I'm very disappointed with all the hoopla from all the protesters and Democrats," she said. "I didn't do any of this under Barack Obama."

Peaceful transfer of power

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, a Republican whose 15th Congressional District in Pennsylvania covers Lehigh and part of Northampton counties, said this will be his fifth presidential inauguration, following two for the 43rd president, George W. Bush, and two for Obama.

"Inauguration Day is always an exciting day, where we all bear witness to the peaceful transfer of power, and that is something no American should ever take lightly," Dent said.

Dent did not support Trump for president, and voted instead for Evan McMullin, a former CIA operations officer who ran as an independent.

"My goal here is to help the president-elect," Dent said. "When I agree with him, I'm going to support him. I want to help the president-elect when he's on the right track and doing things that I feel are in the best interests of the nation."

Also committed to going, according to their offices, are U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance, whose 7th Congressional District in New Jersey covers Hunterdon and southern Warren counties; newly sworn-in U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat whose 5th Congressional District in New Jersey covers the rest of Warren County; and U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Bob Casey, D-Pa.

Casey is coming in fighting to the 115th Congress with new White House occupants. He met Tuesday with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, and stressed his "desire to work in a bipartisan fashion with the incoming administration on a plan to make a substantial, new investment in our nation's infrastructure in order to rebuild roads, bridges and expand broadband in rural Pennsylvania," according to a statement from Casey's office.

"I also expressed to Vice President-elect Pence my significant concerns with any plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act," Casey stated, continuing later: "Furthermore, I discussed with the vice president-elect my deep concern about President-elect Trump's refusal to remove himself from financial conflicts of interest."

Pence, who visited Bethlehem late in the campaign in October, will also be sworn-in Friday, on the western front of the Capitol, joined by "their families, members of Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court, Diplomatic Corps and other distinguished invited guests," according to the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee.

More than 8,000 people are expected to follow the new president and vice president as they proceed 1 1/2 miles from the ceremony to the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, continuing a tradition that began with Thomas Jefferson in 1801, The Associated Press reports.

"I was a huge backer of Donald Trump going all the way back to 2015," said Warren County's Doherty. "It's fantastic that he first won the Republican nomination and then was able to defeat Hillary Clinton. It's an historic event and it's going to be a great honor."

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Folks looking to say farewell to Diocese of Allentown Bishop John O. Barres can do so Sunday at a special Mass in Allentown.

Barres, who is leaving Allentown to become bishop of Rockville Centre on Long Island, N.Y., will be the main celebrant at a Mass of Thanksgiving and Farewell at noon Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Siena, 1825 W. Turner St.

A reception with light refreshments will follow.

Pope Francis appointed the 56-year-old Barres to his new assignment on Dec. 9. The leader of Allentown-area Catholics for more than seven years, he becomes the first Allentown bishop ever to be transferred.

He goes from leader of a five-county region that administers to about 265,000 Catholics to one that shepherds 1.5 million faithful. He will succeed Bishop William Murphy, 76.

Barres will be installed as Rockville Centre bishop Jan. 31 at the Cathedral of Saint Agnes.

At Sunday's Mass in Allentown, a special second collection in honor of Barres will be taken up to benefit the Hispanic Scholarship Endowment Fund of the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.
Chrin Landfill

The Chrin Landfill in Williams Township.

(Express-Times File Photo)

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is weighing a request by the Chrin Brothers Sanitary Landfill for an expansion of its landfill along Morgan Hill in Williams Township. Several residents rose at a public hearing at Wilson Area High School Tuesday night to comment on the plan -- all but one of them urging the state to reject the expansion.

Many township residents have sought to block landfill expansions in the past, and they renewed concerns about odors, the proximity of expansion to homes, degraded property values and the possibility of sinkholes in the limestone geology beneath the landfill. Some cited the massive shift of a closed area of the landfill in 2013, which forced the closing of Industrial Drive. The owners attributed that failure to an earthquake centered in Virginia.

Chrin wants to accept an additional 6.15 million cubic yards of refuse by adding 33 acres to the dumping area, which would bring it to 106 acres. The expansion is proposed east of the current disposal area.

Those wishing to comment may submit written comments until 4 p.m. Jan. 27 to Colleen Connolly, community relations coordinator for the DEP, at coconnolly@pa.gov. The DEP could make a decision later this year.

What do you think? Should the Chrin Landfill be allowed to grow -- or should it be retired when it reaches the end of its current permit limitations? Have a say in our informal poll, and feel free to add to the discussion in the comments section.
A local youngster's efforts to help children has garnered the attention of a nationally syndicated talk show.

Bethany Kuster, a 10-year-old from Pen Argyl, will appear on the "Steve Harvey" show on Thursday.

Bethany was a fourth-grader in 2015 when she started a program called Color For Kids, which ships crayons and other art supplies to children and classes around the nation that struggle financially to provide those materials to students.

With donations and help from her classmates, Bethany has helped over 3,600 children and distributed 123,000 crayons and thousands of other supplies to schools nationwide, organizers say.

"It makes me happy to feel I can make a difference in kids' lives," Bethany said to Harvey.

Kuster said she has visited some of the children she has helped and she receives thank-you letters and cards that are made with the supplies her charity has donated.

Last summer, Kuster was one of 12 youths selected to receive the 2016 TD Bank Young Heroes Award, which honors young people from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

Bethany Kuster, 10, left, is interviewed by Steve Harvey on his TV show. (Courtesy photo)

Bethany said she was inspired to start the program when a pen pal informed her that students in parts of Alabama did not have access to basic art supplies.

Teachers and students at Wind Gap Middle School have helped the effort, which has shipped supplies as far as Nepal.

Check your local listings for channel and air time Thursday.

Bethany is one of four young people featured on the show.

For more information on how to donate supplies or donate money for supplies and to cover shipping costs, contact Color For Kids at bethany@colorforkids.net.

John Best is a freelance writer. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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A gang of men who charged through the city's streets armed with poles, bottles and sticks intent on carrying out a revenge attack have been banned from the area where the incident took place.

The 12 men went on the rampage in Spinney Hill in July, 2015.

It was the culmination of a series of incidents in the neighbourhood, which raised tensions in the community.

An assault on Spinney Hill Park on Friday, July 3, 2015, led to the men arming themselves to seek revenge.

In June last year, the men were jailed for conspiring to commit violent disorder during the disturbances.

Now the men, who are all from Leicester, have been handed Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) prohibiting them from entering certain areas of Spinney Hill.

The order is in force now for 10 of the 12, as they have been released from prison.

The ban will apply to the other two when they are released from prison, which is due to be in August.

Sergeant Nigel Baraclough, of the East Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area, said: "We are pleased that the courts have supported our applications to issue Criminal Behaviour Orders and we hope that this reassures the community."

The ten men who have been released from prison and are now subject to the order are:

Bilal Khan (21), of London Road

Hamza Khan (19) and Zakir Brant (21), both of Jellicoe Road, Evington

Juraat Khan (21), of Wakerley Road, Crown Hills

Ejaz Gul (25), of Beaconsfield Road, Westcotes

Mohammed Gul (22), St Saviours Road, Evington

Talha Ingar (20) and Suhail Ingar (21), of Prestwold Road, Northfields

Yassin Adam (23), of St Peters Road, Highfields

Mohammed Hansrod (24), formerly of Abbey Street, Leicester but now of no fixed abode

The order prohibits the men from entering an area of Spinney Hill bordered by East Park Road, Park Vale Road, St Saviour's Road, Sparkenhoe Street, Vulcan Road, and the railway tracks.

Talha Sarfudin (20), of Mere Road, Spinney Hill, and Mohammed Taib (21), of Mercury Close, Highfields, will be subject to the order when they are released from prison

Sergeant Baraclough said: "These individuals caused unrest within the local community. The fact that they and their families lived in the area meant nothing to them."

Photographs of the offenders have been reissued and members of the public are asked to help enforce the orders.

Sgt Baraclough said: "Those living and working in the area can help us enforce these CBOs by reporting any breaches to the police.

"If you believe that these individuals have entered the area in which they are prohibited, then get in touch."

To report a breach, or for help with any other concerns about crime or anti-social behaviour in the Spinney Hill, call the police on the 101 number.

Spinney Hill exclusion zone includes...
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Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the opening keynote address at the f8 Developer Conference April 21, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

Facebook is taking their online tools to tackle fake news in Germany as the country's government warns people of the fabricated stories spreading around social media. The same tools are available in the United States.



Fake news has become common in Facebook and other social networks. Since it is easy to setup a website or a blog, many have tried their hand at manipulating the users' perspective about current events.



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One of the turning points for Facebook regarding fake news was when Mark Zuckerberg was pressured into doing something about the problem. Many users believe that the plethora of fake news managed to affect the outcome of the election in the U.S.



Facebook said in an official statement in German language that they will be putting the tools against fake news in Germany in the following weeks. One reason for the rollout of the tool is that German government officials have growing concerns that the fake news might infulenece their parliamentary election this year.



Many Facebook users instantly believe everything they read on the social media network. Besides fake news, there are even other misleading scientific facts and stories shared through photos.



Just like in the U.S. and other countries where the tool is available, Facebook users in Germany will be able to flag a link as a fake news. The report of the fake news will then be sent to the non-profit Correctiv for verification, BBC News reported.



What is disturbing is that the link or fake news article will not be banned from appearing in Facebook even after the third-party organization marks it as disputed. It will just appear lower in the News Feed.



People will still be able to share the fake news article or link even if it is mark as disputed but they will get a warning. Facebook's fake news tool in Germany may prove to be useful in fighting misinformation in the country.



Learn more about the Facebook fake news policy below:






Eddie Rockets, the popular American styled diner, has confirmed the opening date of its new branch in Portlaoise.

The restaurant, which will employ 25 new jobs, will open on schedule in the Laois Shopping Centre on Tuesday, January 24.

Laois native Catherine Wilson will open Eddie Rockets Portlaoise, making it the chain's 38th branch in Ireland. The Durrow woman also runs diners in Kilkenny and Carlow.

Located in the busy shopping centre, the new diner will accommodate up to 130 people, with seating for 95 inside and an outdoor seating area to accommodate 35 people.

Niall Fortune, owner of Eddie Rockets Ireland expects the Portlaoise branch to be a big success.

We are very excited to open the doors of our newest Eddie Rockets restaurant in this vibrant spot in Portlaoise. Catherine Wilson has proven to be a very successful franchisee and I know she will make every success of her latest venture in her home county, she said.

Laois Shopping Centre customers are looking forward to the opening said its manager of Laois Shopping Centre Kevin Doyle.

This is a fantastic addition to Laois Shopping Centre and for Portlaoise itself. Eddie Rockets is a major national brand name and brings great service as well as employment to Portlaoise. We are delighted to welcome Eddie Rockets to our Centre, he said.

The latest Eddie Rockets Diner in Portlaoise marks the 38th Eddie Rockets diner in operation, in addition to five ROCKETS, two The Counter restaurants and one Flash Harrys  all owned by the Rocket Restaurants Group. By 2019, its expected that there will be 100 Eddie Rockets and Rockets throughout the country and Europe.

 In 2016, Eddie Rockets sold 2.5 million hamburgers, 2 million handmade milkshakes and over 1,500 tonnes of French Fries

 Did you know? Eddie Rockets have used the same butcher for 25 years and the Irish beef is delivered fresh (never frozen!) every day. The primary function of a manager each morning is to eat a hamburger for monitoring purposesnice work!

 Eddie Rockets ice cream is made in Ireland and created especially for Eddie Rockets famous milkshakes

 Eddie Rockets chicken tenders, the classic hamburger, Buffalo Wings, sweet potato fries and milkshakes are the most popular items on the menu with its innovative Chicken Truffle Mushroom Swiss, served in a bun with truffle spiked mushrooms, red onions, Swiss cheese and truffle mayo selling like wild-fire! Its definitely a must-try in Portlaoise!

For more information visit www.eddierockets.ie | @eddirocketsirl|www.facebook.com/eddierockets
Two years ago in March I made a bold prediction in this column  with bold prediction meaning my colleagues thought I was stark crazy.

The exact quote was: My own theory on Martin Heydon (which not a lot of people agree with) is that he will one one day be Taoiseach. Not any time soon mind you - somewhere around the early 2040s when Messrs Varadkar and Harris et al have punched themselves out, Heydon will will still be moving slowly towards the top of the field, en route to the parade ring.

Why would I drag this out now? Is the the former Larries delegate to the County Board on the brink of the ultimate elevation?

Well, no, and the only reason I remember this column is that it has become a joke in here. Any time Heydon has a bit of a result somebody will say you could be right yet in a tone which is at best indulgent.

And the ribbing has been ratcheted up seeing as the national media is now recognising the hitherto unforeseen potential of the Colbinstown emissary.

In a recent feature in the Irish Independent, flagged by Heydon himself on Facebook, he was highlighted as one to watch and the piece concluded, Kenny or his successor will find it hard to overlook him next time there are ministerial posts up for grabs.

A reason given was that Heydon is now the chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party and therefore closer to the inner circle and playing a role in strategy. This is a valid point.

But it was in the following statements where things went a little awry.

In his new role he is not afraid to be controversial. This was breaking news to me. Heydon makes divisive statement as often as Donald Trump makes even-handed ones. What had he said?

He criticised the party leadership for failing to heed the concerns of TDs in the run up to the election and the party should have a succession plan in place for when Enda Kenny steps down.

Those are two of the least controversial controversial statements I have ever seen.

Everyone in Fine Gael said the TDs should have been listened to more after they lost lots of seats in the election.

It would have been controversial if in the run up to the election Heydon said, You guys arent listening to us . . . But of course he didnt do that.

And it would have actually been more controversial if after the election hed said the opposite of his controversial statement  something like we were listened to and anybody who lost their seat, well thats their own fault . . . But of course he didnt say that either.

Same goes for stating that they should have a plan for when Enda, finally, decides he has strummed his last air guitar as Taoiseach.

If Heydon said they should not have a plan and instead let the great man do an Alex Ferguson and leave when it suits him, and then elect a new leader  that would have gone against the grain in his party and by consequence have been controversial . . . But of course he didnt do that.

So just in case Heydon starts to believe this publicity and sees himself as a born-again, lay-it-on-the-line, straight talker we are here to to offer some free advice that he is unlikely to post on Facebook.

Heydon should never attempt controversy. It's not in him. His success locally depends on being not too racy but likeable; a steady guy who will help a constituent with a problem. And in Dublin hes on the slow track to being labelled a safe pair of hands.

. . . No tub-thumping speeches at the Ard Fheis, no rebellions, no withering put-downs across the Dail chamber, no nine oclock news sound bites that enter the lexicon. None of that. Just a safe pair of hands. Its the John Major route to the top - one that has been travelled by the current Taoiseach among others.

I remember my dad giving me similar decades ago. "If you keep your nose clean," he said, "don't p*** anybody off and learn how to speak well in public you'll do well."

He should know. He wasn't able to do either and, incidentally, neither can I - but the Martin Heydons of this planet ... yes they can.

And as a consequence, Heydon wont be far off the party leadership in a little over two decades' times.

Indeed, the last man standing's main obstacle to high office then may well be the proclivity of the Irish electorate to choose Fianna Fail over Fine Gael most of the time. But perhaps by then the Civil War parties will, as the Spice Girls urged, have reached the point in their relationship where two become one.

And who better to steer the ship than a safe pair of hands?
A 66-year-old west Kildare man has been banned from keeping animals for life after he was convicted for breaches of the animal welfare regulations.

At the Kilcock District Court sitting, held in Naas Courthouse yesterday, Tuesday January 17, Seamus Duffy, with an address at Clonkeen, Carbury, was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a sow pig on November 14, 2015.

Gardai and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Animals called to Mr Duffys rural home, which lies on one acre, following a report, and initially could not gain access because of two large dogs which were vicious.

When they did access the property, they found that a sows ears had been basically eaten by dogs and seven to eight piglets which were alive had to be later put down, as were the dogs which had to doped to quieten them.

Mr Duffy, who pleaded guilty to the charge, had a previous conviction for not keeping an animal under control as well as criminal damage to property.

Gardai said he had been breeding and selling piglets but raised concerns over his ability to keep animals properly in the future.

It was stated in Mr Duffys defence that he had nothing to gain from letting the sow get into poor conditions and that it had jumped over a fence.

Judge Desmond Zaidan was told Mr Duffy had been treated for depression and had medical difficulties.

The judge said that due to the background to the case, he would bar the defendant from keeping any animal. He fined him 2,500 and ordered him to pay 60 in veterinary costs.

See next Tuesday edition of the Leinster Leader for full report.
Speaking in the Dail yesterday, Sinn Fein TD for Sligo-Leitrim, West Cavan and South Donegal Martin Kenny raised the issue of ambulance response times in his constituency.

Deputy Kenny raised the issue on the floor of the Dail, despite being challenged by the Ceann Comhairle, who asked if the issue was relevant to the item on the order paper: promised legislation.

Deputy Kenny replied, It is relevant because the programme (for government) states that the government will increase the level of services in rural areas, particularly blue light services.

We have a crisis across rural Ireland because dynamic deployment, a management process that has been put in place, means that ambulances are travelling up and down the country rather than being stationed in their own areas.

It is not new management that is needed to solve this crisis but more ambulances and staff. The Programme for Government commits to doing something about this issue. When will the government buy more ambulances and employ more staff to ensure that an adequate service is provided?

The Taoiseach responded that the government was providing primary care centres but did not address the issue of ambulance services, saying that he would ask the Minister for Health, Simon Harris to respond directly to Martin Kenny.

Martin Kenny said, I hoped that the Taoiseach would answer the point, but as usual he fudged the issue and then passed the buck. However, I look forward to hearing the response of the minister to the incident in Killeshandra and I will keep my constituents informed.
Paddy Ashdown set out his view of Theresa Mays Brexit speech in a typically blistering article in the Independent:

Nobody voted, he says, for the Britain the Tories have planned, as revealed by Phlilip Hammond over the weekend:

Last weekend in Germany, Chancellor Philip Hammond blurted out the truth about the course May has chosen. Retain the closest economic links with the EU, he said, and Britain will remain a broadly European-style nation. If we cast off all our European moorings and head for the open sea, we risk having to turn ourselves into a low-tax, no-regulation, cheap-labour equivalent of Singapore. Then, among other things we have come to take for granted and enjoy in our country, we would say goodbye to workplace rights, the welfare state as we know it, policies to protect our environment and European style protections for our civil liberties.

The people should have their say on this, he says (unsurprisingly)

Surely, before this Government is allowed turn a narrow majority for leave into a swingeing mandate to rename our country Britapore and paddle it out into the mid-Atlantic, we its poor benighted passengers should be allowed a say? Such a vote would not be to re-fight the in/out referendum. Those, like me, who campaigned for Remain must accept as gracefully as we can, that we lost. What we now have to decide, as a country is what kind of relationship a Brexit Britain should retain with the European Union  in short, what kind of country we should now become. May has told us her vision. The question is do the people of Britain agree? Given the stark choices she has proposed at what she concedes is a moment of great national change, do they too not get the right to speak? Brexiteers claim that Leave was a vote against an arrogant political elite. How ironic, then, that our countrys course is now to be determined by a leader who has not faced an election even in her own party, let alone the country. There will be no second vote, no consultation, no detailed plan and no chance for Parliament amend or scrutinise (unless the blessed Supreme Court Judges instruct otherwise). The people have spoken and are now to be dispensed with as not wanted for the remainder of the voyage  Conservative voters, along with the rest of us. What happened to the Tory manifesto promise of little more than 18 months ago: yes to the single market?

You can read the whole thing here.

* Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem commentary in print, on air or online.
Tim Farron wrote a long response to Theresa Mays speech yesterday for the Guardian. Here are some of the highlights;

The new Ukip leader, Paul Nuttall, himself commented that Mays words could have come straight from a Ukip party conference speech. Farage and Nuttall might like to convince themselves that the referendum was an endorsement of their nationalist, populist politics, but that is an injustice to most of the British people who voted leave. Pursuing Ukips warped vision will not only have severe consequences on our economy, it will also severely damage our standing in the world. A reckless exit from the single market was not on the ballot paper last June, yet the prime minister has made it clear that she will deny the people a vote on the final deal. This is incredibly disappointing for anybody who believes that democracy matters. Rather than a democratic decision by the people of the country, what she wants instead is a stitch-up by politicians in Westminster. The public voted for departure, and they should therefore be given a vote on the destination. This is a theft of democracy, to take Britain out of the worlds most lucrative market against the wishes of the electorate.

Taken hostage by Tory equivalent of Momentum

May has decided  before she has even entered into negotiations with the EU  that the only decisive act of her premiership will be to tear the UK out of the single market. She has given up on the most important part of the Brexit negotiations at the first hurdle, allowing herself to be taken hostage by those in her party who are the Tory equivalent of Momentum  fundamentalists hell bent on taking their party away from the mainstream. When it comes to British prosperity and British democracy, she is waving the white flag from the White cliffs of Dover.

Why this matters

What is certain is that a hard Brexit will leave the UK less socially and economically well-off. Though the pound rallied today, it had earlier slumped to a fresh 31-year low in glum anticipation of the prime ministers speech  begging the question once again of where the government will find the money to fund the extra 350m to the NHS that we were promised as part of the Brexit package.

You can read the whole article here.

* Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem commentary in print, on air or online.
Peter Grender, Dad, showed tactical genius from an early age. So determined was he to win the heart of my Mum  Iris, the girl he met at the school dance, that he offered to memorise her phone number for his mate who had spent the evening dancing with her and promptly pretended to forget it. When Iris went out with another boyfriend, Peter would pop round for a regular cuppa with Iriss Mum, his innate charm won the day!

He was a mix of generosity, wit, creativity, relentless attention to detail but most of all a loyalty and warmth that won and kept him friendships of all ages.

At school, St. Dunstans College Catford, he formed strong friendships that lasted his whole life. After national service he went into sales and advertising joking that he started at the bottom with sales of laxatives and condoms, so the only way was up.

He always advised to do a job that is your hobby, and he loved the work he did. He rose rapidly and was the youngest Director of S H Benson one of the largest British-owned ad agencies in the world. He explained away a rugby-induced black eye at his first board meeting: clearly I have fought hard to get here.

As a Marketing Director he forged innovative approaches to bringing new products to the market. Monster Munch, and round tea-bags are just two examples. He formed one of the first agencies in the UK to specialise in development of new products and was one of the first in his field to recognise the role of brand not only as a value for business, but as the property of the consumer.

He was always supportive of his wifes career and was the inspiration behind a highly successful monthly nursery course and her books for children.

As a General Manager running seven factories he had a strong sense of the ethics of doing right by the workforce. He didnt just talk about worker participation  he made it happen.

He brought that industry know-how into politics when he followed his wife into the Liberals. He brought capability and wisdom with little ego.

He advised Paddy Ashdown as leader of the Liberal Democrats on branding and messaging and wrote the brief for the bird logo the Party still has today. As an activist from Kingston he understood the Party.

As President and Chair of Kingston Lib Dems for over 30 years his advice was sought by 3 MPs he helped to elect. They could rely on him to do the most complex tasks such as the setting up and chairing the company board that ran Ed Daveys office.

But it was his work with, and mentoring of, younger people which gave him great joy including Young Enterprise voluntary work at Tiffin Girls.

A bad fall, followed by major back surgery and a stroke made the last three years a challenge for him, and for those who loved and supported him.

A month ago Peter celebrated his 80th birthday. Thats where we should see him now. Amongst friends, surrounded by family especially grandsons Toby and Ewan of whom he was so proud. He will be telling jokes, making speeches, talking with passion about politics, drinking wine. Sinatra will be playing in the background and everyone will have to join in with the occasional cockney sing-song.

* Olly Grender is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords
We brought you Tim Farrons response to Theresa Mays announcement that Britain is seeking reckless isolation, but what have other Liberal Democrats been saying about it.

Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder:

This governments pursuit of a hard Brexit and pulling Britain out of the Single Market will mean losing so much more than just free trading arrangements. Theresa Mays hard Brexit will strip future generations of the life-changing opportunities to travel, work and study across Europe. Millions who voted both Remain and Leave on 23rd June dont endorse this extreme version of Brexit. It must be the people who have a say on any final Brexit deal. The EU referendum left Britain deeply divided and it seems Theresa May is intent on stoking further discord and division. Sooner or later this Conservative Brexit government will realise that it cannot govern for only those who endorse Nigel Farages vision for Europe.

Paddy Ashdown:

Mays speech: These are the words of someone who has always been a Brexiteer  whatever she claimed to the contrary  Paddy Ashdown (@paddyashdown) January 17, 2017

Willie Rennie: The Conservatives are hell bent on a hard Brexit that nobody voted for

Nick Clegg:

On the same day that the leader of the worlds largest communist party publicly lectures the world on the virtues of free trade, Theresa May has finally turned her back on Margaret Thatchers greatest economic achievement, the worlds largest borderless single market. Its an astonishing mutation from Conservative into UKIP-light. By siding with Donald Trump and against Angela Merkel, Theresa May has made it inevitable that the rest of the EU will react by safeguarding the integrity of the EU itself. Throwing the gauntlet down against the rest of Europe, the PM is virtually guaranteeing that acrimony rather than compromise will prevail. The Prime Minister has pledged to act in the interests of the young and future generations. Yet she has now set herself on a course which emphatically rejects what the overwhelming majority of young voters said they wanted in the Brexit referendum. Claiming to represent the interests of the young whilst pursuing a hard Brexit which will damage their interests will only deepen the generational divide highlighted by the Brexit referendum. This speech is a kick in the teeth for the youth of Britain.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
Theresa Mays speech today was a mixture of vacuous soundbites and ominous indicators of the direction of travel. Shorn of the window-dressing, it is clear that she leads a government of the Hard Brexit. She concluded with a nauseous section suggesting that the country is coming together after Junes referendum. As one wag put it on Twitter, that is like setting a fire, burning the house down and expecting those who queried what you were doing to come together in the rebuilding project. More seriously, by opting for a Hard Brexit, exiting the single market (ironically, an achievement of Margaret Thatcher) and almost certainly the customs union, she is demonstrating no respect for the 16 million people who voted Remain.

So, why do I think the speech is good news? The clue is todays YouGov poll. This shows that the population currently splits as follows:

39%  Hard Brexit

25%  Soft Brexit

23%  Remain in the EU after all

13%  Not sure

Pursuing a Soft Brexit would have been risky for May but not as risky as Hard Brexit. For the first time, she has clearly put herself in backing a position supported only by a minority of voters. This allows the divided Remain side to unite around opposition to the UK coming out of the single market (with much historic material from Dan Hannan and Boris Johnson to support them!). It also allows them to peel off those Leavers who wanted to maintain single market access.

Furthermore, it is clear that there is no majority in the House of Commons to support exit from the single market. It is also expressly contrary to the Conservatives manifesto commitment which will allow the Lords full rein to oppose it.

The first opportunity will likely come with the bill to trigger Article 50. It now seems inevitable that there will be a parliamentary tussle to attach restrictive wording to it. This may lead to an immediate general election but even if it does not, there will be further chances.

But the better chance comes with the only real surprise in the speech  an express confirmation that the final deal would be put to Parliament for a vote. The pound immediately spiked upwards. That is because there is every chance that Parliament will vote it down  a likelihood that increases with every parliamentary by-election that the Liberal Democrats win. Hard Brexit can be defeated and that is the chance that May has delivered to us.

Of course, we have ranged against us powerful forces  the Conservative Party, UKIP and most of the mainstream press. But we have our supporters  business, trade unions, most political parties, experts and pressure groups. And what a chance for the Liberal Democrats  with the Labour Party hopelessly confused and divided and incapable of opposing. Can we seize it?

* Mark Goodrich is a former vice-chair of Richmond & Twickenham Liberal Democrats, a former expat who saw Brexit unfold from the other side of the world and now lives in Sevenoaks, Kent
Actor Chris O'Donnell discusses 'NCIS: Los Angeles' at AOL Studios In New York on April 11, 2016 in New York City. (Photo : Getty Images/ Adela Loconte)

One member of the NCIS crew will suddenly go rogue in the upcoming episode of "NCIS: Los Angeles" Season 8. When it comes to the story of the mole that viewers have been clamoring to have even more answers on, the synopsis for the episode hints that things are going to be a lot clearer soon.



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Titled "Under Siege," episode 14 will find the entire crew completely left in the dark as Hetty goes rogue on them all of a sudden. While being in a major trouble has always been a part of their job, the one that they will face in the new episode is a different kind of trouble, according to Blasting News. Hetty will totally go into rogue mode and abandon the NCIS team, leaving them clueless as to what step they should take next.



With Hetty suddenly turning into a reprobate, the NCIS team members have to be self-sufficient and figure out what to do by themselves. Whether or not Hetty will return remains to be seen, but the crew has to learn not to be unflustered despite her absence.



Aside from Hetty running off, spoilers reveal that another unexpected event that will make things get even worse is the return of the vicious mole and the abduction of one of the NCIS agents. While the synopsis for the episode does not reveal which among the agents is going to be kidnapped, it teases that the team will definitely be not in a good situation at all.



The identity of the agent is not the only one in question, as another obvious question given the situation is whether or not the crew will succeed in reclaiming their abducted member from the mole. The synopsis on Cartermatt reads, "Hetty goes rogue, leaving the NCIS team completely in the dark, and the mole kidnaps one of the agents."



In other news, CBS announced that viewers will have to wait for two weeks before seeing episode 14. The network did not reveal the reason for the skip, but the new episode is set to hit the airwaves on Jan. 29.



Watch the promo for "NCIS: Los Angeles" Season 8 episode 14 here:






THE trial has opened of a Limerick man who is accused of multiple counts of indecently assaulting a young boy almost 40 years ago.

The 62-year-old, who has an address in the city, faces a total of 13 charges relating to offences which allegedly happened at locations in Limerick city and County Kerry on various dates during 1979, 1980 and 1981.

When arraigned at Limerick Circuit Court this Tuesday, he replied not guilty when each of the charges were put to him.

Nine of the offences are alleged to have happened at the defendants home address while three are alleged to have happened at another location in the city.

A single offence is alleged to have happened at a popular tourist destination in North Kerry.

Opening the trial before a jury of seven men and five women, Lorcan Connolly BL, said it is the State case the defendant engaged in various sexual acts with the alleged party over a sustained period of time.

He said evidence will heard during the trial that there were goings on of a sexual nature on various dates between January 1, 1979 and December 31, 1981.

Mr Connolly advised the jurors that some of the evidence they will hear during the trial will be unpleasant and he told them they must put aside any sympathies they might have for the alleged injured party or the accused man.

Yesterday afternoon, the jury was shown a booklet of photographs of both the outside and inside of the defendants home.

They were also shown maps of certain locations in the city where its alleged the offences took place.

The jurors have been told they are likely to hear evidence from a number of civilian witnesses including the alleged injured party who is expected to give evidence this Wednesday.

Several gardai are also likely to give evidence.

The presiding judge, Tom ODonnell, has told the jurors not to talk about the case with anybody else pending the conclusion of the proceedings.

They have been told the defendant enjoys the presumption of innocence and that the onus is on the State to prove each of the 13 charges beyond a reasonable doubt  the highest standard in law.
'WORRYING about being 70 in my class, and nearly 50 years older than my peers, was totally irrelevant,' said Ainna Fawcett-Henesy, who this Wednesday was the most senior graduate of the University of Limerick's Master of Arts in creative writing.

Her graduation, she said, marked the achievement of a life-long ambition.

It was a dream come through," she told the Limerick Leader upon completion of the nine-month programme, carried out under teachers that included acclaimed authors Joseph O'Connor and Donal Ryan.

While Ainna was the oldest graduate from the MA in creative writing, a spokesperson for UL said that she was not their oldest graduate overall in their winter ceremonies, with 1,544 people graduating in four faculties this week.

Ninety-two people conferred this week are aged 50 or over, 13 of whom are over 60 years of age.

I'm really, really happy," said Ainna, from the South Circular Road. "But it was a tough year, and there were times when I said 'I can't do this anymore'. And then you'd get a burst of energy again, and get re-motivated.

The workload was phenomenal. You had to read a couple of books a week, and then go in and be able to discuss it and analyse it. It was full on. But I loved it. The camaraderie of the group, and being worried about being 70 was totally irrelevant. Age didn't even come into it.

You were just part of a fabulous group of 12. It was just magical. I loved student life and going to The Stables bar.

Most students were 25 or 30, and there was one who was 40, so I was nearly 50 years older than most of them, but they told me that they never saw me as anything more than a 30 year-old, she said.

Maybe I brought some life experiences to the class that 20-somethings wouldn't have had, and there was three Americans and one Australian in the class who added a whole other dimension.

The All We Shall Know author Donal Ryan was, she said, a great ally to us, and he, in turn praised her as brilliant.

We were really lucky to have him. He was just such a relaxed guy, and had a completely different approach to Joseph O'Connor. You could go in to his [Ryans] office and scream to him about your work.

Some who critiqued their works were brutal in their appraisal, while she said Ryan's experience in getting published - after receiving 47 rejections for his first work - has helped build their knowledge of the world of publishing.

I would recommend it to others, but there's no point thinking it's not hard work. It was much harder than I thought it would be. I was often up til 3am trying to get the work done, and weekends didn't exist for me.

The former nursing advisor for Europe with the World Health Organisation (WHO) has written some of her memoirs as part of her 18,000 word dissertation, and is already in talks with a prospective publisher.

After completing a number of online writing courses, last year Ainna won the Bealtaine/Age & Opportunity creative writing bursary at UL.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary last year, Bealtaine, which supports creativity in older people, in association with the Creative Writing programme at UL and Listowel Writers Week, made available a scholarship worth 3,000 to applicants aged 60 plus.

She submitted some 3,000 words and was thrilled that Frank McCourt chair in creative writing at UL, Professor OConnor, liked her writing. Hes my inspiration really as a writer, she said.

Writing is in my bones now and its a completely different world to what Ive been used to for the past 40 years, so its very exciting.

Ive always been an avid reader and vowed that when I retired I wanted to spend every single day, just reading, catching up on all the books I never got time to read when I was working.

The world has been my oyster and Ive loved every minute of it.

She said when she announced to friends to she was embarking on the course people thought she was crazy and said At your age!

I said to Joseph OConnor Will I be the oldest person doing the course?

He said Youll be the most experienced.
A GAY graduate of the University of Limerick, who maintained a period of abstinence from sex for 23 months in his long-running battle to be able to give blood, achieved his objective this week.

But Tomas Heneghan, 25, who took his case to the High Court in 2015, believes that the fight for gay men is not over yet.

The ban was introduced after Aids emerged as a substantial health risk in the 1980s and, while the Government announced in July last year that it was ending its lifetime ban, it actually only came into affect this week.

Mr Heneghan has now given blood for the 11th time in his life, but if he wants to donate blood again he will have to obey another 12-month period of abstinence  a policy he feels also needs to be reformed.

The new blood donation policy for men who have sex with men was brought into effect this Monday, and Mr Heneghan presented at the IBTS offices on DOlier Street in Dublin to give blood  the same premises from which he was previously turned away.

It has been over four years since Thomas was previously allowed to give blood. There, he again answered more than 30 questions addressing his eligibility to give blood, though not all relating to his sexuality  all relying on his own honesty, excluding the follow-up sample tests.

He began his period of abstinence since initiating High Court proceedings and vowed to continue it until the policy was changed.

I am here as the first open man who has had sex with another man to donate blood in the Republic of Ireland in over 30 years. I am here after fighting tooth and nail to push the Irish State on this important change.

Blood donation is about giving an extraordinary gift to a stranger. Blood donations save lives and secure the health of thousands each year in this country. It may feel like the smallest of acts but it's an act which can change the lives of so many for the better.

I've been an active donor since I was 18 and never imagined I would abruptly stop, especially when my blood was not only healthy and safe, but also in such consistently high demand from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, he said.

In 2014, he wrote to the IBTS, the Taoiseach, TDs, senators, and ministers, urging a change in the policy.

I found myself in the High Court as a 23-year-old, fighting the State simply to be able to perform my civic duty and engage in this extremely important act to help improve and save lives, said the criminal justice and sociology graduate.

Mr Heneghan, who also holds a graduate diploma in journalism, said he does not believe that this weeks change has gone far enough.

He is urging the State that the 12-month deferral is discriminatory and disproportionate.

Alternatively, he argued, the only other scientific option would be to implement a donation ban on any donor who has had sex in the previous three months. This is due to a window period in which the IBTS argues HIV can be undetectable through current testing methods.

Irelands rules on gay blood donors were in line with the most current scientific evidence and the practice in the UK, the HSE said.

About one in 10 people are stopped from giving blood by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) for a variety of reasons.
LERO, the software research centre based at the University of Limerick, has announced the appointment of a new director.

Professor Brian Fitzgerald takes over from Professor Mike Hinchey, who leaves the Irish Software Research Centre after an eight year term of office.

Roscommon born Fitzgerald was formerly chief scientist at Lero and has been involved with the Science Foundation Ireland supported national research centre since its inception in 2005, apart from a spell as vice-president research at UL from 2008 to 2011.

UL president Professor Don Barry said that the new director brings to the role valuable industry as well as academic experience.

He is a pioneer in research into open source software and is widely recognised as a global leader in the study of software development processes and methods.

The new Lero director has worked in the software industry for over a decade in a variety of sectors including finance, telecommunications, manufacturing and bespoke software development in Ireland, Belgium and Germany.

Meanwhile, Mike Hinchey will retain his role as professor of software engineering at UL and will continue to be involved in Lero as a co-principal investigator and leader of research in autonomous and adaptive systems.

Prof Barry said he had played a central role in developing and leading Lero and leaves it well placed to advance its position as one of the leading software research centres in the world.
GARDAI have confirmed that a man who sustained gunshot wounds during an incident on the grounds of University Hospital Limerick (UHL) this Wednesday afternoon has died.

The alarm was raised shortly before 3pm and emergency services remain at the scene.

A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office has confirmed the man, who was aged in his early 60s, died at the church which is located on the hospital campus.

The scene has been preserved and a post-mortem examination is to be carried out on the man's body.

While investigations are continuing, it is understood gardai do not suspect foul play.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please contact Aware on 1800 80 48 48 or the Samaritans (116 123). In addition, the website yourmentalhealth.ie lists mental health supports and services by county.

#BREAKING: Reports a man has shot himself in church in University Hospital Limerick. More to follow @Limerick_Leader pic.twitter.com/iOSYCF5yDR

 Anne Sheridan (@annesheridan1) January 18, 2017

More than 20 gardai remain at scene of University Hospital Limerick. Official comment awaited from gardai. More later via @Limerick_Leader pic.twitter.com/mCwk11JFN0  Anne Sheridan (@annesheridan1) January 18, 2017

For updates, stay with limerickleader.ie or follow the Limerick Leader on our social media platforms - Twitter, Instagram & Facebook.
Xi Jinping. (Photo : Getty Images)

President Xi Jinping is the first Chinese president who attended and addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His speech was closely anticipated by the global leaders and is expected to set the direction for the world's policy on trade.



Xi said, "Practicing trade protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. It seems to have screened wind and rain, but it also isolates one from the sunshine and air."



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"Staging a trade war will only hurt both sides," he added.



Xi also said that globalization is not to blame for the sluggish world economy. The president said that it is caused by the appetite to accumulate large profits.



He added that regional conflicts that resulted in the refugee crisis in the Middle East and North Africa are not caused by open economies and looser trade policies.



"Of course, we also admit that economic globalization is a double-edged sword," Xi said. He added that countries should "make the cake of global economy bigger at a time when the traditional economic engine is losing power."



The world leader said that China has contributed 30 percent to the growth of the world's economy and his government is committed to environmental responsibility as it continues to develop.



"China will not envy others, nor will it complain if others benefit from China's development," he said.



The senior global policy adviser at Greenpeace East Asia, Li Shuo, praised Xi and his commitment to ending global warming.



He said: "As Trump drops Obama's climate legacy, Xi might well establish one of his own. 2017 presents a real opportunity for China to rise to the challenge of responsible climate leadership. Having moved from climate villain to a reluctant leader in five short years over the first half of this decade, it's reasonable to expect China to become a true leader by its end."


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Yellowbellies have rallied to defend Skegness after it was ranked as nine out of the 11 for the worst travel destinations in the world that you should skip.

The list posted by website Destination Tips includes Damascus in Syria, due to it's threat of terrorism and kidnap, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which the website names as one of the murder capitals of the world.

The article denigrating the Lincolnshire town was the debate on the 'You're Probably From Lincoln If...' facebook page when a user posted this: "Just skipping through some posts and came across this The Worst Holiday Destinations in the World. Skegvegas was listed along side, Pyongyang, Mogadishu, Bogata, Damacus, all places where you will either get shot, get kidnapped, put into prison, murdered or just vanish from the face of the earth."

The website states that Skegness is stuck in the past.

It says "Once thought of as quaint seaside town in northern England, Skegness is now a pile of dirt bordering the North Sea with a run-down amusement park idly resting on the land.

"Brits frequent this disappointing town hoping to spend some time at the beach, but traveling to Skegness has become a joke.

"The town, which appears to be stuck in the past, offers very few attractions for tourists to enjoy and is overpriced.

"This is one of the worst travel destinations in the world not from a safety standpoint, but you will be let down if you visit."

Here's the full list:

Kiev, Ukraine Port au Prince, Haiti Damascus, Syria Mogadishu, Somalia Pyongyang, North Korea Ciudad Juarez, Mexico Bogota, Colombia Dhaka, Bangladesh Skegness, Lincolnshire Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Moscow, Russia

One Facebook user was quick to defend the town.

They wrote: "I have traveled afar and seen some wonderful sights but I love my Lincolnshire Skegness."

Another user wrote: "Spent a glorious week in Skeggy last year - no one bothered me and I had a lovely time."

And one other wrote: "I love Skegness, always had a good time."

But not everyone came to the town's defence.

One person wrote: "Brilliant brown sea with dog muck and rubbish included that's Skegness."

Another wrote: "Used [it] as a threat to my children, if they didn't behave, the holiday would be at Skegness."

And another added: "Compared to most seaside resorts Skegness is a disappointment."
Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, met with President Xi Jinping to talk about the future of the world's economy. (Photo : Getty Images)

President Xi Jinping is in Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum. For the first time, the Chinese president addressed the forum and considered the event as a "weather vane" for the world's economy.



In a meeting with WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab, the Chinese president said that the forum's theme is key to working out the issues of the world's economy.



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This year's forum has the theme "Responsive and Responsible Leadership."



"The theme sticks to the current global situation and identifies the key to getting out of troubles," Xi said.



Xi also said that China and the leaders of the world should "send positive signals together and boost confidence in the process of economic globalization."



Both world leaders are optimistic that the results of the forum will be "rosy," and this is proven by the increasing membership of the forum.



Xi and Schwab signed a memorandum of understanding between China's National Reform and Development Commission and the WEF after their meeting.



After the president's attendance at the forum, he will also travel to Lausanne and Geneva to visit the International Olympic Committee, the World Health Organization, and the UN Office at Geneva.



In his speech delivered to mark the opening of the forum, Xi's thought-provoking remarks received international acclaim. He called for cooperation and for making history as a shared vision.



He said, "World history shows that the road of human civilization has never been a smooth one and that mankind has made progress by surmounting difficulties."



The Chinese president was direct in pointing out "when encountering difficulties, we should not complain about ourselves, blame others, lose confidence or run away from responsibilities."



"History is created by the brave. Let us boost confidence, take actions and march arm-in-arm toward a bright future," he added.


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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko meets President Xi Jinping in Davos. (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met in Davos before the start of the 47th World Economic Forum.



"We genuinely hope that Ukraine maintains social stability and economic development, and are willing to play a constructive role in promoting a political resolution to the crisis," Xi said.



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Experts said that the meeting is set to set a new wave of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. President Xi regarded Ukraine as a friend and had intentions of developing mutual trust.



The head of Ukrainian Association of Sinologists, Viktor Kiktenko, said that the meeting of the two presidents was a sign of friendship and trust.

"Over the past several years, after the shift of power in Ukraine, many experts have repeatedly stated that it is very important for the Sino-Ukrainian relations to revive the political dialogue at the highest level. That's why this meeting is vitally important in terms of political decisions," Kiktenko said.



"The talks, at which the two leaders have agreed to strengthen exchanges between governments, could lay a solid groundwork for the high-level visits between the states," the expert added.



China had towed a fine line with its relations with the Ukraine and a critical point in the partnership of China and Russia. However, China is willing to help in Ukraine's nuclear crisis.



"I believe this meeting is a preparation for the next, more important step--for an official visit. Most likely, it will be a visit of Ukrainian president to China. I personally and many Ukrainian experts hope that such visit would take place this year," Kiktenko said.



The expert also agreed that the meeting between Xi and Poroshenko will be a good start in developing investments between the two countries.



"It is important not only for politics but also for business. Holding the meeting between the two leaders at the highest level would be a signal for the business community that the Ukrainian-Chinese business relations should further develop, should receive a new impetus," he emphasized.


China issues another threat at Trump and is ready to "take off the gloves." (Photo : Getty Images)

With the inauguration of Donald Trump just a few days away, U.S. companies have warned the incoming President against starting a trade war with China. They said that China will be prepared to retaliate if Trump were to implement excessive U.S. import tariffs.



According to the annual survey of members of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, the percentage of companies that rate China among their top three investment targets fell to 56 percent--the lowest in eight years.



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It also showed that four out of five companies felt less welcome in China than before--almost double compared to the figure in 2014.



Meanwhile, one in four companies is considering shifting to other countries because of concerns about the regulatory environment, higher costs and other reasons.



"China has threatened to and is preparing to take steps in retaliation if such actions take place," said Lester Ross, a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce.



Just recently, China ordered unusually high anti-dumping penalties against a U.S.-made agricultural chemical. Such move might be taken as a warning to the incoming administration at The White House.



But U.S. companies are going to do whatever they can to prevent the trade war. William Zarit, who chairs the American Chamber of Commerce, plans to send a group of business people to meet lawmakers and Trump administration officials next month.



"We certainly are not going to lecture the administration, but will share our ideas on a win-win path forward," he said. Zarit added that he and the rest of the Chamber don't see that a trade war would benefit anyone.



It seems that the Chamber's sentiments reflect what is everyone's mind on China and Trump right now--worried over a possible trade war between two of the most powerful economies in the world which will affect the most of us.


How to get rid of your old gadgets safely Dumping old electronics such as phones and computers, in a careful manner, can help minimize e-waste /smart-living/innovation/how-to-get-rid-of-your-old-gadgets-safely-111646911398353.html 111646911398353 story

Users should discard their old gadgets through authorized electronic waste recyclers who are registered and authorised by state pollution control boards.

The amount of e-waste generated by Asian countries has gone up by 63% in the last five years, according to a United Nations University report, which attributes this to growing income levels and the availability of low-cost electronics, especially smartphones, tablets, laptops and TVs. The study points that the situation is worse in countries which lack an environment-friendly infrastructure for disposing old electronics.

In a country like India, a local electronic repair store or a scrap dealer is always ready to buy them. How they dump or store these gadgets afterwards is still a grey area and a source of concern. Users can help minimize the risk this poses to the environment by getting rid of their old gadgets with people who have the infrastructure to store and dismantle these in an eco-friendly manner. Here are some tips which may come in handy.

Sell to right authorities

According to Electronic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, users should discard their old gadgets through authorized electronic waste recyclers who are registered and authorised by state pollution control boards. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), there are 138 such authorised recyclers in the country right now. You can check the names and location of these on CPCBs website.

Delhi-based Attero is one of the biggest e-waste management companies with a pan-India presence and the license and the facilities to dismantle old electronics. It uses a cost-efficient metal extraction technology that allows extraction of metals from old gadgets so they can be re-used for manufacturing electronics.

Why selling at scrap shops is a bad idea

Electronics sold at local scrap shops end up at the many informal open air e-waste dump yards which lack the technology and infrastructure to process e-waste safely. A harmless looking electronic gadget carries hazardous metals and chemicals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury and beryllium. Improper dismantling releases these chemicals in the ecosystem and can pollute water or contaminate the soil. People working or living around these dump yards face an even greater risk of developing respiratory problems, heart diseases and even cancer, due to regular exposure.

Pass it on to someone else

Many of the old gadgets are not necessarily useless. One can always get rid of them by selling them to stores that deal in second and refurbished products. Companies such as ReGlobe and Cashify buy and sell old gadgets. They send their representatives to determine the condition of a device and then pay sellers in cash.

The other way to discard an old smartphone or a laptop is putting them out for exchange for a new gadget. Exchange offers are limited to fewer gadget categories but are available with some of the leading e-commerce stores such as Amazon.in and Flipkart.com from time to time. These old devices are then sanitised and resold at lower prices.

Delete data properly

Selling of your old gadgets such as smartphone, old hard drive, smart TV or computer to a local dealer can be dangerous. The risk of your personal data falling into wrong hands is a bit higher in such devices as anyone with the technical skills and malicious intention can always recover the deleted data. Removing data selectively, running multiple formats and giving away devices only to authorised e-waste management companies can minimize this risk.
Related Fog disturbs traffic on Cairo entry roads

Two of Egypts main highways, Cairo-Alexandria and Wadi Al-Natrun- Al-Alamein roads, were closed Wednesday morning due to heavy fog, Al-Ahram Arabic Website reported.

Moderate weather is expected today all over Egypt, with mild temperatures in Cairo and Upper Egypt (21 and 27 degrees Celsius respectively) during the day, cooling off to the low teens at night, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) said on Tuesday.

In an official statement reported by state news agency MENA, the EMA warned that heavy mist will affect visibility in the morning in Cairo, northern coast and Suez Canal cities, and northern Upper Egypt.

Earlier this week, fog disturbed traffic on Cairo entry roads including the Shubra, 6th of October and 15th of May bridges.

Egypt has been experiencing a wave of cold weather, with moderate rains in some parts of the country and fog in the early mornings.

In October, severe rain led to floods that left 15 dead and 47 injured nationwide.

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Egypts Ministry of Interior announced in a statement Wednesday that it had arrested eight leaders of the banned Muslim Brotherhood at a meeting of the group in Cairo, in which the leaders were planning to incite public opinion" against the government.

State Security intelligence revealed the leaders were planning, in collaboration with other extremist elements, to use Egypt's economic troubles to foment violence and disorder, especially in the labour sector and among public employees, according to the interior ministry.

The arrested leaders included members of the Brotherhood wanted in other criminal cases.

Among the arrested members were an ex-member of parliament and a Ministry of Supply counselor who served under Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi.

The Muslim Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organisation by the Egyptian government in December 2013, after Morsi's ouster.

Most of the organisation's prominent leaders, including supreme guide Mohamed Badei, former president Morsi, almost every member of its guidance office and other top-tier members, have since been tried, convicted and imprisoned.
As the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States approaches, actor Alec Baldwin said he plans to spoof the incoming president as much as he can.

"I'm gonna do ['Saturday Night Live'] as much as I can," Baldwin told ABC News, "and there's discussions about other venues we might pursue to further express our gratitude and admiration for the Trump administration."

Meanwhile, Trump himself has been regularly railing against Baldwin's performances on Twitter.

"@NBCNews is bad but Saturday Night Live is the worst of NBC. Not funny, cast is terrible, always a complete hit job. Really bad television!" the president-elect tweeted on Jan. 15.

Impersonations of politicians are now as de rigueur in politics as talking-head pundits and Gallup polling. Comic Tina Fey won an Emmy for her portrayal of then vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live." And Palin, for her part, actually appeared alongside Fey in one episode, and presidential candidate John McCain appeared alongside his impersonator.)

Because the "SNL" impressions are so common, they're easy to take for granted. But impersonations are an understudied phenomenon, researchers have said  both in terms of how humans pull them off and how they're interpreted in the end.

"I haven't tested it, and I don't think anyone has," said Erik Bucy, a communications researcher at Texas Tech University who has studied political body language. "But I think there's a good case to be made that at least in the American television context, this really does improve the image of these public figures much more than it hurts them." [The 6 Strangest Presidential Elections in US History]

How humans imitate

Humans are naturals at mimicry. Even in their first days of life, newborns cry in patterns that match the melodies of their native tongues, according to 2009 research. People couldn't learn language without the ability to listen to other people speaking and then contorting their own vocal tracts to make those same sounds, said Carolyn McGettigan, a neuroscientist who studies vocal learning at Royal Holloway, University of London.

McGettigan is one of the few researchers who has examined how people manage, on a neurological level, to do impersonations. She and her colleagues asked participants to either put on fake accents or to impersonate a specific person, like a celebrity or a friend. As the participants did these voluntary alterations in their voices, the researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine which areas of their brains became more active.

Compared to speaking in a regular voice, altering one's voice was linked to more activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus and the insula, two brain regions known to be involved in speech production. Trying to imitate a specific person versus doing a more general fake accent lit up part of the temporal lobe in the right hemisphere of the brain, McGettigan and her colleagues reported in the Journal of Cognition in 2013.

This region, McGettigan said, has been previously reported to be active when people are listening to voices.

"It may reflect, to some extent, them imagining that specific vocal target to generate that impression," McGettigan told Live Science. In other words, a person trying to imitate Sean Connery first has to imagine the actor's gravelly brogue.

Do impressions hurt?

McGettigan's study suggests that perhaps Baldwin has Trump in his head while performing his sketches skewering the president-elect. What isn't clear is whether Baldwin, as an experienced actor, operates any differently than anyone trying on a Trump impression at a bar.

In another study, McGettigan and her colleagues scanned the brains of a few professional impersonators, but the researchers haven't been able to test enough experts to determine if people who are good at impressions are different, neurally speaking, than those who aren't as convincing. [Top 10 Mysteries of the Mind]

There's more to an impression than vocal mimicry, of course. Trump, like any politician, has a repertoire of gestural tics that Baldwin draws on, Bucy said. One, a pinched-finger hand gesture was dubbed "The Cobra" by some observers. Trump also extends a pointed index finger quite frequently, a gesture Baldwin deploys, along with protruding lips and squinted eyes.

"We recognize the mannerism. We recognize the gesture, and the impersonator only has to look a little bit like the person to pull it off," Bucy said.

But what's the ultimate effect of pulling it off? Bucy said he isn't convinced that a satirical impersonation is as devastating as political opponents of the target might hope. Impressions by a charming celebrity might pass on some of that charm to the politician, Bucy said.

"When Alec Baldwin cruises around stage in a mockery of that second presidential debate and they play the 'Jaws' music, suddenly it's fun to think of Trump's intimidation tactics," he said.

In a recent podcast, science communicator Malcolm Gladwell made a similar point, calling SNL's parody of Sarah Palin "comedy done without any courage at all." Gladwell pointed to research by Heather LaMarre of Temple University in Philadelphia that showed that conservatives found the over-the-top rightwing persona of comedian Stephen Colbert as just as funny as liberals did  but while liberals thought Colbert was skewering conservatives, conservatives thought the comedian was skewering liberals. The natural ambiguity of comedy, LaMarre told Gladwell, allowed people to see what they wanted to see in Colbert's character.

No one's studied whether that's true of impersonations like Baldwin's of Trump or Fey's of Palin, Bucy said. However, he said, humorous takes on a politician may indeed soften public opinion.

"I think it would be pretty easy to show that it helps with Trump's public image," Bucy said.

Original article on Live Science.
Recipes for invisible ink are now available online as part of the CIA's CREST database.

The phrase "magician walks into the laboratory" sounds like the start of a groan-inducing joke. But it's actually the title of a once-confidential document recently released online by the CIA as part of a new initiative to share about 930,000 declassified files  more than 12 million pages  on the internet for the first time.

This collection of historical declassified documents represents a database known as the CIA Records Search Tool (CREST), a system installed in 2000 at the National Archives Records Administration (NARA) in Maryland and formerly searchable only in person, according to a statement published Jan. 17 by the CIA.

The files were released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)  a law that provides people with the right to request access to information from any federal government agency  and they are currently available to view and download via the CIA website. [Flying Saucers to Mind Control: 22 Declassified Military & CIA Secrets]

"Access to this historically significant collection is no longer limited by geography," Joseph Lambert, the CIA's director of information management, said in the statement.

CREST holds archived documents dating back to the 1940s  materials are declassified when they are 25 years or older  and is the largest file archive that the CIA has released to date. It covers a wide range of topics, from general CIA records and Cold War dispatches to captions for satellite photos and instructions for mixing invisible ink.

The records also include a special collection of documents related to STARGATE, the code name for a U.S. Army unit that spent decades exploring whether psychic phenomena could be harnessed by the military.

Secret writing and remote viewers

CREST's "Secret Writing" collection is a treasure trove of how-to instructions for sending and reading covert handwritten messages. One file describes an ink recipe made of "a solution of nitrate of soda and starch in water" that "may be carried for example in handkerchiefs or starched collars, starched shirts or anything else starched."

Additional options for secret writing included lemon juice or iron sulfate "developed preferably with ferro cyanite of potassium." Another document provides 12 methods for opening a sealed envelope and detecting chemical traces on the paper.

But arguably one of the more intriguing CREST file categories is "STARGATE," a project that ran from 1978 through 1995. STARGATE compiled reports of psychic powers used behind the Iron Curtain, and investigated whether such dubious talents could be developed and deployed by the U.S. government.

In the 1969 file "'Magician' Walks Into the Laboratory," a Russian construction engineer shares a series of stories about a local psychic who supposedly had "miracle-working" hands that he used to heal people.

CREST's database includes experiments to test the psychic abilities of Uri Geller. Geller drew a horse based on "impressions" he received from a hidden drawing of camels. (Image credit: PD-US)

A file from 1973 describes a series of experiments conducted with the performer Uri Geller, an alleged psychic who claimed that he could read minds and manipulate objects with his thoughts. Over eight days, Geller was placed in isolated rooms and tasked with drawing pictures mirroring other pictures that he knew nothing about. Based on his performance, observers concluded that "he has demonstrated his paranormal perceptual ability in a convincing and unambiguous manner."

"Unexpected benefits"

Before CREST was published online, the only way for people to access its documents was with one of four computers at NARA, and these documents were only available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time, according to Michael Best, who analyzes and writes about government document accessibility on his blog Glomar Disclosure.

In 2015, after several FOIA requests for CREST and one lawsuit against the CIA had been filed to gain access to the database, the CIA estimated it would take six years to process all of the files, MuckRock reported. Best began printing out and manually scanning CREST documents at NARA, which eventually prompted the CIA to release the entire archive online in January 2017, he wrote.

With more than 12 million pages of documents, the CREST database brings to light many long-hidden historical activities of the CIA  and the people and related agencies that shaped American intelligence policies and initiatives. In a Jan. 18 tweet, Best referred to the "unexpected benefits" that arise from having this archive readily accessible, calling CREST "a window into human history."

See more

Original article on Live Science.
Related Militants kill 8 Egyptian policemen in attack on New Valley checkpoint

The perpetrators of an attack on a New Valley security checkpoint that killed eight policemen on Monday were members of Sinai-based militant group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, state-owned Al-Ahram daily newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing preliminary police investigations.

The 12 militants who executed the attack received training in North Sinai, according to investigators.

Shortly after the Monday evening assault, Egypt's interior ministry issued a statement saying that two of the "terrorist assailants" were killed by police in the attack.

The militants escaped into the Western Desert using off-road vehicles, with security forces currently conducting security sweeps of the area.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

This is not the first time the New Valley governorate has been the site of a militant attack.

In 2014, 21 army soldiers were killed in an attack claimed by Ansar Beir Al-Maqdis militants, who fired machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades on a border checkpoint in the Farafra Oasis.

The attack came one day after the interior ministry said police killed leading Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis figure Hamdan Hussein during a raid on a house in North Sinai's El-Arish.

Egypts army and police forces have been waging a war over the past three years against an Islamist militant insurgency in North Sinai that has seen hundreds of security personnel killed, as well as hundreds of terrorists killed in security campaigns.

Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis has claimed responsibility for the majority of attacks against security personnel and installations in the restive North Sinai.

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Former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush in Houston on March 29, 2015.

Former President George H.W. Bush was hospitalized on Jan. 14 following a bout of pneumonia, CNN reported today (Jan. 18).

In addition, Bush's wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, was admitted to the hospital today as a precaution because she was experiencing "fatigue and coughing," according to CNN.

The 41st president turned 92 last summer, and Barbara Bush is 91. Why does pneumonia often strike older adults? [27 Devastating Infectious Diseases]

One reason is that a person's immunity declines after age 50, "so it wouldn't be surprising if someone who's over 90 would have a reduced immunity," said Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City who has not treated either of the Bushes.

Pneumonia, which is characterized by inflammation of the lungs, is more common in the winter, Horovitz told Live Science. And, there are also many other respiratory illnesses, including the flu and common cold viruses, that are circulating at this time of year, he said.

Doctors "always hospitalize" elderly individuals if they get pneumonia, and hospitalization is particularly important if the person also has other medical problems, Horovitz said.

Although he isn't familiar with Bush's specific health conditions, Horovitz noted that the former president uses a wheelchair. This could mean that Bush also has neurological health problems, which could in turn mean that his cough may not be as effective at clearing mucus or secretions from the lungs as someone who is stronger, he said. (In fact, Bush does have a type of Parkinson's disease, according to CNN.)

Exactly what treatment is used for someone with pneumonia depends on whether that person's disease is caused by a virus or bacterium, Horovitz said. Viral pneumonia tends to be more contagious, but also typically causes a less severe infection than bacterial pneumonia, he said. Oftentimes, doctors will give a patient an antibiotic  even before test results come back to determine if the cause is viral or bacterial  "to cover, just in case it does turn out to bacterial," he said.

For older adults with pneumonia, doctors "have to be a little guarded" about giving a definitive prognosis, Horovitz said. "Pneumonia is not always straightforward, and in someone who's fragile with a compromised immune system because [he or she is] elderly, there's always a worry" that the individual may develop complications, he said.

Bacterial pneumonia, for example, can get into a person's bloodstream and spread through the body, Horovitz said. Complications can include kidney failure and abscess formation, he said.

The disease can trigger a cascade of events that lead to "a multipronged assault" on the body, he said.

For older adults, however, vaccines are available that protect against certain types of bacterial pneumonia, he said. All adults over age 65 should get the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Originally published on Live Science.
The CairoAlexandria and Wadi Al-NatrunAl-Alamein roads, two of Egypts main highways, were reopened on Wednesday midday after closing for two hours due to heavy fog, Al-Ahram Arabic Website reported.

Egyptian authorities closed the highways Wednesday morning to avoid accidents caused by poor-visibility.

Moderate weather is expected Wednesday all over Egypt, with temperatures in the 20s in Cairo and Upper Egypt during the day, cooling off to the low teens at night, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority forecasted on Tuesday.

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The AEP Foundation awarded a $1.6 million grant to LCC on Tuesday morning to fund a three-tiered STEM initiative.

The AEP Foundation focuses on improving lives through higher education in the areas of STEM.

The foundation is funded by AEP and its utility operating units.

The Credits Count grant will be distributed over five years and will assist students from Laredo Independent School District.

The initiative will launch fall 2017.

The American Electric Power Foundation introduced Credits Count in partnership with local community colleges.

The program helps students fill in learning gaps so they are prepared to study college-level courses while still in high school.

Upon graduating, students will have earned credits toward certificate in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics career or a college degree in fields that include engineering, biotechnology and information technology.

The grant will help Laredo Community College accommodate 400 LISD dual-enrolled students and year-round early Texas Success Initiative college assessment preparation.

It will also include tutoring for 200 ninth-grade students at Cigarroa and Martin high schools.

Over a three-year period, the grant will fund 135 scholarships for LISD dual-enrolled graduates.

LISD middle schools will continue to access the Trailblazer curriculum. The classes are offered to students in grades three to eight.

Courses include robotics lessons and field trips to STEM-related events.

The $1.6 million will also facilitate a year-round early Texas Success Initiative Trailblazer College Assessment Testing preparation that includes tutoring for 200 eighth graders from three LISD campuses and 200 students from Cigarroa and Martin high schools.

About 14 high school dual-enrolled LISD STEM teachers will be given the opportunity to receive a $1,000 tuition reimbursement for professional development.

Angela Garza, a junior at the Martin High School health science magnet, said the grant was a great opportunity for students to experience different career opportunities.

She encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunity to guide them in their educational career.
The 73-year-old was convicted with three other group leaders over a 2013 attack on a police station in North Sinai

An Egyptian military court has sentenced Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie and three of the group's other top leaders to 10 years in jail  the latest verdict in a series of trials the Islamist is facing in various criminal cases.

The four were convicted of violence-related charges in connection with an attack on a police station in north Sinai following the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in the summer of 2013.

The court sentenced on Wednesday 48 other co-defendants in the case to life in jail. Ten other defendants were cleared.

The case dates back to a series of violent attacks on security forces after the forced dispersal of two pro-Morsi protest camps in August 2013, weeks after his ouster.

Mohamed Badie, the Brotherhood's supreme guide, has already been sentenced to death and prison terms in other trials.

In October, a senior appeals court upheld a life sentence for Badie on incitement of deadly violence, in a first final ruling against the 73-year old.

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A Cairo appeals court ordered on Wednesday the release pending investigation of 12 protesters arrested over illegally demonstrating last week in front of Cairo's Journalists Syndicate against the cabinet's referral of the Egyptian-Saudi Red Sea island while the matter was still in court.

The court has set EGP 20,000 bail for each defendant.

The defence is considering appealing the bail amount, according to lawyer Tamer Gomaa.

The protesters were arrested on 2 January after assembling at the steps of the syndivate in downtown Cairo to protest against the cabinet's decision to refer the contoversial island deal to parliament for discussions even though the matter was still awaiting a court ruling.

On 16 January, Egypts High Administrative Court rejected a government appeal against a June decision by an administrative court that affirmed Egyptian sovereignty over the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir.

The deal sparked widespread public outcry and a number of street protests after it was initially announced in April 2016.

Dozens of protesters have been arrested for demonstrating without permits, most of whom have been released after paying hefty fines.

The High Administrative Courts verdict cannot be appealed.

However, Parliament is still considering whether to discuss and vote on the agreement or not.

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Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: January 18 2017

Employment open houses scheduled for January 2017.

Old Bethpage, NY - January 17, 2017 - On Wednesday, January 25th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), in partnership with East End Disabilities, will be holding an Employment Open House at George Young Community Center in Riverhead. FREE will also be holding an Open House at its Old Bethpage headquarters on Thursday, January 26.



When:

Wednesday & Thursday January 25 & 26

Where:

January 25th

George Young Community Center

446 S. Jamesport Avenue

Riverhead, NY

11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.



January 26th

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises

Multi-Purpose Room

191 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Road

Old Bethpage, NY 11804

4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.



The organizations are looking to recruit:

Direct Support Professionals

Residential Management

Opportunities available

Full-time/part-time/per diem

Nassau/Suffolk/Queens/Brooklyn/Bronx

For information please call, 516-870-1670 extension 1.



Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), founded in 1977, benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to assist individuals of all abilities realize their full potential. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.



FREE also collaborates with a variety of diverse 501(c)(3) nonprofit partners on educational, vocational, rehabilitative and a myriad of other creative initiatives to enhance the local communities and the lives of more than 25,000 people that reside within them. Each of the valued partners of the Family of FREE Network have a unique mission, vision and strategic goals that are aligned in purpose, and embody the spirit of the meaningful work we do every day.



EEDA

EEDA is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. EEDA, a grassroots agency, was organized in 1992 by a small group of parents who were active advocates for their children and believed that everyone has the right to fully participate in quality education, medical, habilitation and recreational services. To that end, EEDA secured funding to create programs of excellence that promote life enhancement for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages.



Today, EEDA provides services to over 700 individuals and continues to be managed by the same group of parents who started the organization.
Family & Parenting, Nature & Weather, Local News, Weddings, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events

By Long Island News & PR Published: January 18 2017

If you are interested in renting one of the 12 reservable picnic pavilions on a weekend or holiday, registration will be held on a first come, first serve basis on March 4, 2017.

Babylon, NY - January 17, 2017 - Are you planning a family reunion, corporate party or large picnic this summer at one of your Long Island State Parks? If you are interested in renting one of the 12 reservable picnic pavilions on a weekend or holiday, registration will be held on a first come, first serve basis on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 8:00AM to 12:00 PM at the Bethpage State Park Clubhouse  Tillinghast Room.



The Tillinghast Room will open to the public at 6:30 AM.



The public must continuously remain on a first come, first served line from the moment they take their line position, until they enter the Tillinghast Room.



Reservable picnic pavilions are located at the following State Parks:



Belmont Lake State Park, North Babylon

Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale

Heckscher State Park, East Islip

Hempstead Lake State Park, Hempstead

Gov. Alfred E. Smith Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park (Field # 4)

Valley Stream State Park, Valley Stream



Applications can be obtained in person at the Long Island State Park Regional Permit Department in Babylon, Monday through Friday, from 9:00AM-4:45PM. Applications can also be obtained by visiting www.nysparks.com, clicking on Regions, clicking on Long Island, and then choosing the 2017 Group Use Permit Application. You may also obtain an application by sending a business size self-addressed stamped envelope to:



Group Outings

P.O Box 247

Babylon, NY 11702



After March 5th, all applications will be issued on a first come, first serve basis at Long Island State Park Headquarters in Babylon.



For additional information, please call the Regional Permit Office at 631-321-3515.



The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 60 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com.
Local News, National & World News, Travel & Local Attractions, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: January 18 2017

U.S. carriers report mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 2.02 reports per 1,000 passengers in Nov., the lowest rate since mishandled baggage reporting started in 1987.

Washington, DC - January 17, 2017 - The reporting carriers canceled 0.29 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in November 2016, the lowest for any of the 263 months with comparable records beginning in January 1995, and below the previous low of 0.33 percent in September 2016, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) released today. The reporting carriers canceled 1.0 percent of their flights in both November 2015 and October 2016.

In addition, the U.S. carriers reporting mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 2.02 reports per 1,000 passengers in November, the lowest rate since mishandled baggage reporting started in 1987. The previous low rate was 2.06 in October 2016. The November 2015 rate was 2.53.

The reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 86.5 percent in November 2016, an improvement over both the 83.7 percent mark in November 2015 and the 85.5 percent on-time rate in October 2016.

The consumer report also includes data on tarmac delays, chronically delayed flights, and the causes of flight delays filed with the Departments Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by the reporting carriers. In addition, the consumer report contains a tally of aviation service complaints filed with DOTs Aviation Consumer Protection Division by consumers regarding a range of issues such as flight problems, baggage, reservation and ticketing, refunds, customer service, and disability. The report also includes data on oversales and information about the total number of animals that died, were injured, or were lost during air transport in November, as filed by the air carriers with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division.

Consumers may file air travel consumer or civil rights complaints on the web here. This news release is available online. The full consumer report is available at here. Detailed information on flight delays is available at www.bts.gov.
The Defense Department has released a list of ten now former Guantanamo detainees who were transferred to Oman earlier this week. One of them is Mohammed Al Ansi, a Yemeni who was captured in northern Pakistan in late 2001 and transferred to the detention facility in Cuba in Jan. 2002.

US authorities repeatedly found that Ansi (seen on the right) may have been selected to take part in an aborted part of the 9/11 hijackings.

Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) concluded in a leaked threat assessment, dated May 17, 2008, that Ansi swore bayat (oath of allegiance) to Osama bin Laden and received specialized close combat training for his role as a suicide operative in an aborted component of the 11 September 2001 al Qaeda attacks.

Another version of the allegation was included in a summary prepared by the Obama administration for the Periodic Review Board (PRB) process at Guantanamo.

Judging from other detainee statements and corroborating information, the Oct. 14, 2015 summary reads, Ansi participated in advanced combat training and may have met with al Qaeda external operations chief Khalid Shaykh Mohammed  in Karachi and been considered for participation in a suicide attack or deployment in the West.

Al Qaeda originally considered hijacking US airliners leaving from airports in Southeast Asia as part of the 9/11 plot. But bin Laden reportedly canceled this part of the operation because he thought it would be difficult to coordinate the additional hijackings.

According to the US governments files, one of the ringleaders for the canceled 9/11 hijackings was Walid Bin Attash, a senior al Qaeda operative who helped plot the Oct. 2000 USS Cole bombing. Bin Attash allegedly performed surveillance on American airliners operating in Southeast Asia. After his part of the plot was called off, Bin Attash turned his attention to other al Qaeda plans.

Bin Attash, who is currently held at Guantanamo, fingered Ansi and three other detainees as would-be participants in the airliner plot. Leaked threat assessments prepared by JTF-GTMO, as well as files prepared for the detainees PRB hearings, link all four of them to the initial plan. Two of them were previously transferred by the Obama administration. Abdul Rahman Shalabi, a Saudi, was transferred to his home country on Sept. 22, 2015. Abd al Malik Abd al Wahab, a Yemeni, was transferred to Montenegro on June 22, 2016.

Only the fourth detainee identified by Bin Attash as being part of the plot, a Yemeni named Zuhail Abdo Anam Said al Sharabi, remains in US custody at Guantanamo. A summary prepared for Sharabis PRB hearing notes that he traveled to Malaysia, where he stayed with Bin Attash and two of the 9/11 hijackers. Sharabi apparently denied this allegation during questioning, but also described the pair of 9/11 hijackers as martyrs. JTF-GTMOs analysts found that Sharabis trip to Malaysia with Bin Attash was ordered by Osama bin Laden himself as part of the pre-planning for the hijacking plot. The pair stayed at the home of Hambali, a notorious al Qaeda leader in Southeast Asia who is also still detained at Guantanamo.

Bin Attash told authorities that, just two months prior to 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) took the four (including Ansi), as well as two others, to Karachi to teach them English language and American culture.

Bodyguards for Osama bin Laden

Ansi, Shalabi, and Wahab were all captured on Dec. 15, 2001, as they crossed the Afghan border into Pakistan. All three were assessed to be bodyguards for Osama bin Laden. They were captured after allegedly fleeing the Battle of Tora Bora. The group they belonged to was dubbed the Dirty 30 by US intelligence. Its most infamous member is Mohammed al Qahtani, who was slated to take part in the 9/11 hijackings, but was denied entry into the US in the summer of 2001.

JTF-GTMO found that Sharabi was also a bodyguard for bin Laden, but he was detained separately during a raid in Karachi in Feb. 2002. A senior al Qaeda facilitator and more than one dozen other al Qaeda fighters were captured alongside him.

Deemed high risks and denied transfer for years

JTF-GTMO deemed all four of the conspirators, including Ansi, high risks to the US, its interests and allies. As of 2008, JTF-GTMO also recommended that they remain in continued detention.

President Obamas Guantanamo Review Task Force, which finished its work in Jan. 2010, agreed with JTF-GTMOs recommendations. The task force concluded that Ansi, Shalabi, and Wahab should remain in US custody under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), because they were too dangerous to transfer but prosecution was considered infeasible. Sharabi was referred for prosecution, but he still hasnt been tried seven years later.

Ansi, Shalabi, and Wahab were eventually approved for transfer during the PRB process, which was established by President Obama in 2011. But the decision to transfer them does not mean that they were suddenly deemed innocent, or that the PRB considered them to be risk-free.

In fact, the PRB even ruled against Ansi less than one year ago.

In its Mar. 23, 2016 decision, the PRB determined that continued law of war detention of the detainee [Ansi] remains necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States.

In making this determination, the decision continued, the Board considered the significant derogatory information regarding the detainees past activities in Afghanistan. The PRB noted Ansis lack of candor resulting in an inability to assess the detainees credibility and therefore his further intentions.

The PRB left the door open for Ansi to win approval for transfer just several months later. The Board looks forward to reviewing the detainees file in six months and encourages the detainee to continue to be compliant, continue taking advantage of educational opportunities and continue working with the doctors to maintain his health, the PRB wrote. The Board encourages the detainee to be increasingly forthcoming in communications with the Board.

Less than nine months later, on Dec. 9. 2016, the PRB reversed its previous decision, finding that Ansis detention is no longer necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States. In March, Ansi lacked candor. But by December Ansi had suddenly demonstrated candor and provided details of his pre-detention activities and mindset. He also supposedly did not appear to be driven to reengage by extremist ideology, the PRB wrote.

The PRB still did not say that Ansi could be outright released. Instead, the board stated that the threat Ansi presents can be adequately mitigated, as long as he was transferred to a country with a strong rehabilitation and reintegration program and appropriate security assurances were put in place. The PRB previously issued similar rulings for both Shalabi and Wahab.

Just over one month after the PRBs revised decision, Ansi was transferred along with nine others to Oman.

Of the four detainees identified by Bin Attash as participants in the aborted 9/11 plot, only Sharabi has been denied transfer by the PRB. The review board cited Sharabis possible participation in KSMs plot to conduct 9/11-style attacks in Southeast Asia.

Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal.

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Reported perpetrator of todays attack.

A suicide bombing claimed by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in the northern Malian city of Gao has left at least 50 people dead and nearly 100 others wounded. The bombing is one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Malis history.

AQIM said in a statement that the groups Murabitoon battalion, which is led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, executed the attack. Their claim said that a suicide bomber, identified as Abdul Hadi al Fulani, detonated within a joint French-UN military base killing 80. Reuters also reported that the bomber ran over several people before detonating his vehicle. It has been difficult to verify details following the attack, including casualty numbers. Malian media reported that five suicide bombers were involved, but AQIM claimed their so-called martyr acted alone. Reports have varied from 40-70 deaths.

The individual that AQIM claims carried out the attack was also reportedly involved in an earlier suicide assault in Gao on Nov. 29, 2016. If AQIMs statement is accurate, that means the perpetrator survived the prior assault and returned to conduct another  or he was not involved in the first attack.

AQIM also warned the French and Malian militaries, as well as pro-government militias, in the statement.

We will not allow the establishment of barracks and headquarters, or the conducting of patrols and convoys belonging to the French occupiers, the statement read. This is a reference to the target of todays attack, which was the garrison of the Operational Coordination Mechanism (Mecanisme Operationnel de Coordination, MOC).

The MOC is the result of a UN peace deal in which former Tuareg rebels are to conduct joint patrols with pro-government militias in order to reduce local tensions in northern Mali. The MOC forces, which have yet to conduct these patrols, are based in Gao and are trained by French and UN forces. Hundreds of these fighters were reportedly present in the base at the time of the attack, which explains the high casualty number.

Last year, the country saw six suicide bombings, with most occurring in Gao. The commercial hub of Gao  with a population of nearly 90,000  was captured by Ansar Dine, an AQIM front group, in 2012 and held for nearly 10 months before it was reclaimed by French military forces in Jan. 2013.

Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

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Wallace's comments came at the conclusion of a two-day visit to Cairo to discuss security issues with Egyptian officials

UK Minister of State for Security Ben Wallace discussed with Egyptian officials means of bolstering security cooperation with Egypt and the resumption of direct flight from the UK to Sharm El-Sharm during his two-day visit to Cairo, which concluded on Tuesday, the UK embassy said.

Wallace visited Cairo International Airport to inspect new security measures put in place by Egyptian authorities, the UK embassy told Ahram Online.

In late 2015, the UK, along with a number of other European countries, suspended passenger flights to Sharm El-Sheikh over security concerns shortly following the deadly crash of a Russian passenger plane after taking off from Sharm El-Sheikh airport.

The resumption of flights between the UK and Sharm El-Sheikh is a priority to both countries, Wallace said, adding that the UK is keen on boosting security and counter-terrorism cooperation.

Wallace's trip is the first in series of planned visits by UK ministers in 2017.

Egypt has implemented steps to tighten security at its airports in the last several months.

A number of European countries, including Germany, Turkey and Belgium, have recently resumed direct flights to the popular South Sinai tourist destination.

Meanwhile, Russian officials have said Moscow would resume its flights to Egypt some time soon.

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A visit to the US by a delegation of Egyptian government officials and civil society members set for 21 January has been postponed as a number of top US officials will not be available to meet over the week of inauguration of Presient-elect Trump.

Alaa Abed, the head of the Egyptian parliament's Human Rights Committee, said We want to discuss a wide range of issues regarding terrorism and human rights with a large number of American decision-makers and research centres, and this will be difficult to have happen next week."

The 15-member Egyptian delegation, comprising MPs and civil society representatives, was scheduled to arrive in Washington on 21 January, one day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as the new US president.

The delegation also aims to discuss political Islam and democratisation in Egypt with the new US administration and Congress, as well as lobby the new administration and Republican MPs to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation.

Abed also said that the visit was delayed so that the delegation can be expanded and better prepare for the visit.

We want the scope of the delegation to be widened to include more high-profile Egyptian figures, said Abed.

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The State Security Prosecution said the case is 'one of the largest' to be referred to military prosecution

Egypt's High State Security prosecution referred on Wednesday 304 people to military prosecution for membership in the Islamist militant group Hasm, which has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks on security forces and assassinations of public figures over the past six months.

According to a statement by the High State Security prosecution, 144 people have been arrested and are currently detained pending investigations, including leading Muslim Brotherhood member Mohamed Ali Beshr.

The prosecution said the case is one of the largest to be referred recently to military prosecution.

The prosecution added that the defendants are responsible for a number of attacks against security forces and public figures, including the attempt to assassinate former Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa and the assassination of high ranking army officer Adel Ragaei.

The prosecution also said that Hasm, along with militant group Lewaa Al-Thawra, was formed by leading figures in the banned Muslim Brotherhood in an attempt to revive its militant wing.

The prosecution also said that the security forces raided 41 militant hideouts.

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More than six months after Iraqi forces retook Fallujah from the Islamic State (IS) militant group, reconstruction is slow and the government risks alienating those residents who have returned to the city.

"There are no members of the Daesh terrorist organisation left in Fallujah," the police chief, Colonel Jamal al-Jumaili, told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

"Fallujah is a safe city," he insisted.

Iraqi forces retook Fallujah, an emblematic Islamist militant bastion just 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad, in June 2016 with relative ease but that victory came at a hefty price.

A large number of homes were destroyed by the fighting and several neighbourhoods are still off-limits to civilians due to the possible presence of booby-traps planted by IS in their retreat.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said last month that only about 10 percent of homes in Fallujah were inhabitable.

"Nothing works here, there's no water, no electricity and houses have been destroyed," said Firas Mahmud, a 25-year-old who returned to Fallujah after IS was defeated and is currently unemployed.

Another man met on the street in Fallujah had the same grievances and complained of the lack of services and jobs.

"The authorities must do something," said the young man, who gave his name as Mustafa.

The Fallujah municipality defended its record but Mayor Issa al-Sayer mostly called for "the help of the international community to allow Fallujah residents to live in stability.

Baghdad has promised to enable the speedy return of Fallujah residents, who were all displaced during the reconquest of their city, but the government is cash-strapped.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's government "lacks or may lack the focus and resources to adequately budget for an adequate reconstruction effort," said Omar Lamrani, an analyst with the Stratfor think tank.

"Baghdad's finances are already stretched with low energy prices and the costly demands of war, and corruption and cronyism affect the direction of the limited funds available," he said.

The risk that observers were warning against before the operation to retake Fallujah even started is that unkept promises will fuel a sense among its Sunni residents that they are being marginalised by the government, which is dominated by Shia parties.

Fallujah has long been known as a rebel city and over the past decade and a half been a hub of opposition, first to occupying US-led forces and then to the Iraqi government.

In the winter of 2012-2013, protests spread across Anbar province, in which Fallujah lies, complaining that Iraq's Sunni minority was being stigmatised by then prime minister Nuri al-Maliki.

In January 2014, rebels took control of the city, which was eventually overrun by Islamist militants from what became known as the IS militant group.

To retake Fallujah, Baghdad relied on its regular forces but also on the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation), a paramilitary organisation dominated by Shia militia groups with close ties to Iran.

The police chief insisted that "only the army and the police are present" inside the city. Hashed al-Shaabi forces hold positions in towns and rural areas around the city, he said.

Some residents of the overwhelmingly Sunni area continue to be afraid of the Hashed al-Shaabi, some of whose components have been accused of sectarian-motivated abuses against civilians.

United Nations human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in July that there was strong evidence that Ketaeb Hezbollah, one of the main militias that fought alongside security forces in the operation, carried out atrocities.

Such allegations complicate the government's efforts to win over the population, "a critical step if it wishes to maintain a secure control over the city in the long run," Lamrani said.

Hashed "leadership has increasingly exerted efforts recently to crack down on negative sectarianism, though such behaviour unfortunately continues to exist at some level in the lower ranks," he said.

The analyst warned the same concern applied to Mosul, IS's last major stronghold in Iraq.

Three months into a huge operation, the head of Iraq's special forces announced that the eastern side of the city had been "liberated" but the other half is still fully under IS control.

Hashed forces have cleared vast, mostly desert areas southwest of Mosul but not entered the city.

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If the Republicans get a majority in the US House of Representatives, as is expected, theyll focus on lawsuit investment transparency and Chinas IP practices
Sifting through ripped up textbooks and writing on broken whiteboards, Syrian children returned this week to a dilapidated small-town school that was used by Islamic State (IS) militants as a prison for more than two years.

With no chairs or desks, around 250 children huddled in classrooms on mats to stay off the cold concrete at the Aisha Mother of the Believers school in al-Rai, in the northern Aleppo hinterland near the Turkish border.

The students, aged 5-15, were given notebooks and pens on their first day back on Monday by seven volunteers who teach reading, writing and maths and helped get the school habitable again over the past six weeks.

"(I feel) joy, because I was able to bring back to school this number of students in a short period," said volunteer Khalil al-Fayad. "(But also) heartbreak because of the bad condition (of the school)."

The school previously taught 500 students before being seized 2 1/2 years ago by IS militants, who slapped logos on school bags bearing the slogan "Cubs of the Caliphate", residents said.

The principal and teachers fled the area when IS took over and parents stopped sending their children to the school, which closed after two months and was used to house prisoners of the ultra-hardline Islamist militants.

Volunteers set about trying to return the school to its previous standards last month in al-Rai after Syrian Free Army rebels backed by the Turkish military ousted IS from the area.

With shattered windows, bullet strewn walls, debris and broken equipment still present, there is plenty left to do for the team of volunteers, who say they are seeking funding from local and Turkish authorities.

"(I) fear not being able to continue what we are doing if the situation remains the same and the lack of support continues," Al-Fayad said.

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How To Read Trump

As President, Trump has pledged to reset the White House policies on America First basis. But will he deliver?



Around the world, there is great apprehension and much speculation about potential Trump scenarios. Nevertheless, not everything that is possible will happen, even with Trump in the White House.



For all practical purposes, the Trump administrations ability and willingness to achieve its stated objectives can be illustrated with three probable scenarios.

Walking the talk scenario



The first scenario is that Trump will walk the talk. This is what his constituencies expect. Consequently, any moderation risks being seen as a betrayal.



In this scenario, Trump is more likely to walk the talk than not, as evidenced by his new trade policy appointments. He chose Peter Navarro  the author of The Coming China Wars (2005) and Death by China (2011) and What Chinas Militarism Means for the World (2015) - to head the new National Trade Council (NTC), which will oversee industrial policy in the White House. In turn, Navarro's friend, former CEO of Americas largest steel company Nucor, Dan DiMicco, is now Trumps trade advisor, while former Reagan administration official and vocal China critic Robert Lighthizer will be the new US Trade Representative.



In this view, Trump administration is set to reverse 70 years of US-led free trade regimes.

Sober realism scenario



The second scenario is that, as candidates, American presidents say one thing, but, as president, they do something else. President George W. Bush promised passionate conservatism, but achieved war and deficits. President Obama pledged massive changes but ended up fostering the military-industrial complex, which led to Eisenhowers warnings already in his Farewell Address in 1961.



In this view, Trump will adjust to realities. In China, some observers expected Trump to be a pragmatic businessman who will talk tough but only to deal from a better position. Yet, Trump is not a typical conservative, cautious, bland-speaking CEO.



While Trump will have to adjust his stated objectives in an unpredictable global landscape, he will enjoy extraordinary execution power. Today, Republicans control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Consequently, whatever the administration will decide to do is likely to be bigger and bolder, move ahead faster and have greater consequences.



In this status quo, sober realism may not be as likely as with Obama or Bush who faced a hostile opposition in the Capitol Hill. Political power favors unrestrained governance.

White black swans scenario



The most unpredictable, yet potentially most devastating scenario is the white black swans scenario. In this view, Trump administration may make policy mistakes, which can result in low probability but highly consequential adverse consequences.



Thats what happened in the 1930s with the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which initially seemed to work quite well but soon caused other nations to retaliate with even higher tariffs and barriers, which ultimately paved the way to a world war.



Today, the Trump administrations protectionist initiatives may at first strengthen the US dollar and even markets. But over time, a stronger dollar will make US exports less competitive and defuse exuberance in markets. More importantly, unilateral tariffs tend to result in tit-for-tat unilateral retaliation, which will mitigate the benefits of the original tariff and compound costs over time.



In the coming months, all Trump initiatives  including the administrations proposed tax cuts, trade policy, manufacturing plans, infrastructure investment, stricter immigration, climate change reversals, balancing power games, military spending and so on  should be seen in light of these three scenarios.



Nevertheless, the early signs suggest that the Trump administration will, at least initially, shun sober realism and walk the talk. And that, unfortunately, translates to greater potential of white black swans over time.

Dr. Dan Steinbock is an internationally recognised expert of the nascent multipolar world. He is the CEO of Difference Group and has served as Research Director at the India, China and America Institute (USA) and visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Centre (Singapore). For more, see www.differencegroup.net

 2016 Copyright Dan Steinbock - All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




The Hunt for Russia's Next Enemy

By Ksenia Semenova : Alexander III, the conservative Russian emperor who ruled from 1881 to 1894, once famously remarked to his ministers that Russia has only two allies: its army and its navy. "The others," he said, "will go against us at the first opportunity."

Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled these words in a 2015 speech, adding that he quite agreed with them. At the time, Putin held every card he needed to point to the West and proclaim that the world stood against Russia, leaving it with only its forces for protection. But as the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump moves to embrace Russia and question the West's assumptions about NATO  just as the Europeans have begun to look for warmer ties to the east  Russia's diplomatic environment has started to change. And one thing Putin certainly understands, as Alexander III did, is the Russian government's need for an external enemy. This raises the question: In the new strategic environment that is emerging, who will that enemy be?

Replacing a Longtime Rival

For a century, with the exception of a few brief moments, the United States has been Russia's main adversary. After all, blaming the Americans for all of Russia's woes was a matter of convenience: The Kremlin simply fanned the flames of hatred, keeping its population's attention fixed far from the problems unfolding inside its borders.

But for the most part, Russia considers Trump a friend  at least from my vantage point in Moscow. During the presidential primaries, Russia's state-run television stations enthusiastically praised him, almost as if we Russians were preparing to vote for him, rather than the Americans. Many parts of the country  including the Kremlin, judging by its forgiving response to Washington's recent expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats  have since celebrated his victory.

In losing an enemy, though, Russia seems to have gained a new problem. The country's enmity toward America has long been the lifeblood of Russian politics, and without it, Moscow seems bent on finding a replacement  perhaps even one inside Russia.

Enemy of the State

In 2011, then-President Dmitri Medvedev called on the ruling United Russia party to endorse Putin's decision to run for the presidency in 2012. He went so far as to declare that,

"By our common efforts we've managed to preserve and restore our beloved fatherland, our Russia. And we will not give it back to anyone. We will not give it back to those who want to destroy it, to those who deceive people by giving them empty and unfeasible slogans and promises."

This blatant attempt to preserve the party's grip on power through unconstitutional means triggered massive protests. Unrest periodically flared from December 2011 to July 2013, leading to the arrests of more than 5,000 people in Moscow and its outskirts alone. Some of those protesters remain in prison today.

It is no surprise that Putin quickly criminalized protests, even those that were peaceful, after taking office. By July 2014, the Kremlin had instated a law that automatically slapped jail sentences of up to five years on anyone detained at unsanctioned demonstrations more than once in a 180-day span. (And of course, nearly all demonstrations with the exception of pro-government ones are unsanctioned.) Now even a single demonstrator can be considered a threat to the state. The Russian government has also taken to targeting the friends and families of prominent activists, an effort no doubt intended to avoid opposition figures making martyrs of themselves.

Even so, the Kremlin's crackdown was intended to cow a fairly small audience  the "liberal opposition"  that historically has had little influence on the majority of Russian citizens. In fact, most of the population already supports Putin. But to ensure its continued loyalty, the president has traditionally relied on propaganda and foreign scapegoats.

Shifting the Blame

This is by no means a new approach. The Soviet Union made generous use of propaganda  particularly against the United States  in the decades following the 1917 October Revolution. U.S. government hostility to the Soviet Union since its inception greatly aided Moscow's efforts. Washington, for example, backed small anti-Bolshevik groups like the White Army while Vladimir Lenin and his successors denounced the evils of American capitalism. Though the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1933, the acrimony between them remained.

World War II pulled the United States and Soviet Union into a marriage of convenience. But it did not last long, and when the war came to an end, it was clear that their ideological differences had not been resolved. By 1945, mutual distrust and the fear of Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe had laid the groundwork for the Cold War. The decadeslong struggle between two superpowers began, and a clash of ideological, economic, technological and geopolitical principles engulfed the world. From Moscow's point of view, America  the epitome of the decaying West  was inimical to the socialist paradise that awaited the Soviet empire.

When Russia undertook its brief, albeit volatile, democratic experiment in the 1990s, hope that the two states could get along was rekindled. Shortly after Putin rose to power in 2000, however, he began to rebuild the wall between them. Throughout his time in office, Putin has consistently stuck to a single message: When Russia tries to rise from its knees, the United States seeks to knock it back down.

And for the most part this approach worked well for Putin, aided in no small part by some U.S. policies, including NATO's expansion eastward. No matter how bad things got inside Russia, there was always someone else to pin it on. It wasn't always Washington, either. Europe was occasionally portrayed as Moscow's enemy, especially during Ukraine's Euromaidan uprising in 2014. Nevertheless, no country was as useful a scapegoat as the United States.

Opinion polls show just how successful Putin's strategy has been. While 73 percent of Russians think their economy has stagnated, 88 percent are confident in Putin's ability to handle international affairs. Thanks to the Kremlin's propaganda efforts, citizens have also grown nostalgic for their Soviet past; 69 percent believe the dissolution of the Soviet Union hurt Russia. Their views of the West, meanwhile, are at an all-time low: Only 15 percent of Russians see the United States in a positive light, and only 31 percent have a favorable opinion of the European Union. That's the result of a targeted media strategy. That's the result of having an enemy to blame.

Big Shoes to Fill

The outcome of the United States' Nov. 9 election may have thrown out Putin's entire playbook. Trump is well-known among the Russian oligarchs: He has business ties with some, and once lived in the same building (the Miami Trump Tower) as others. By all appearances, the relationship between Washington and Moscow seems destined to get much friendlier once Trump takes office. Who, then, will Russian citizens hold accountable for their country's problems?

Russia's new nemesis should match its ambitions, which are neither small nor insignificant. Europe might fit the bill, but at the moment it has been swept up in a wave of nationalism, a sentiment near and dear to Putin's heart. Europe's far-right political parties espouse socially conservative beliefs that the Russian president has advocated as well, and National Front leader Marine Le Pen has declared Putin a defender of European values. As these far-right parties gain momentum across the Continent, Europe's moderates may be loath to openly oppose Russia as they compete for re-election.

Perhaps China, then. But alienating the second-largest economy in the world, and a significant source of investment in Russian energy, transport and infrastructure projects, is not a good idea for a country already staggering under the weight of sanctions. Who else? Ukraine? Too small. Africa? Too poor. Australia or New Zealand? Too peaceful, and too distant. Clearly, finding a replacement for the United States is not so simple a task. Even terrorist groups like the Islamic State  a natural enemy to many countries  would not work, because the shared threat they pose encourages more cooperation than antagonism.

The Threat From Within

So, Russia will be forced to look inward, searching among its own for a political patsy. In many ways the hunt has already begun: Putin has labeled human rights activists "national traitors," while residents with dual passports or citizenship elsewhere can be fined and possibly deported as spies. Nonprofits, charities and independent polling companies are required to register as "foreign agents" if they receive funding from abroad and are said to be engaged in "political activity" (a term so vague it can be applied to nearly anyone). These institutions are then barred from working with state organizations, and the financial reports they must submit are so complicated that they often get in the way of day-to-day operations. Although there are still a handful of independent media outlets in Russia, they are struggling to survive, and many have had to resort to self-censorship in an effort to avoid exorbitant fines, firings or closure.

The state has also found an ally in its crackdown: the Russian Orthodox Church. Several extremist groups belonging to the church have earned a reputation for trashing company offices, destroying books deemed heretical, vandalizing artwork and leveling accusations against atheist or opposition bloggers. This, coupled with the Kremlin's own measures, has woven an oppressive blanket over Russian society intended to stifle any voice of dissent. A student who attends his first protest, a man who plays Pokemon Go in a temple, a woman who texts her friend about military tanks passing by  all could be deemed enemies of the state and imprisoned. As it currently stands in Russia, freedoms of speech and expression end the moment they are found to be slanderous to the country or its history, values and way of life.

Under these circumstances every Russian is vulnerable, and it is only a matter of time until people start asking themselves why. In 2012 they did just that, and Putin told protesters that the United States was the cause of their troubles. Now, with no foreign target at the ready, Russia itself could become Putin's worst enemy. If the past five years are any indication, Russians have learned how to organize themselves into groups, whether small gatherings that help the elderly or large volunteer organizations that provide services more effectively than the state. And maybe, if Russians are given the chance to see how broken their country's institutions truly are after decades of government mismanagement, they can take the steps needed to fix them.

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The Russian General Staff said that Russian and Turkish military aircraft have conducted their first joint operation in Syria.

The Turkish Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Forces have carried out their joint operation against the Islamic State group (Daesh) near Al-Bab in the Aleppo province.

"Nine strike aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, including four Su-24M, four Su-25 and one Su-34 bomber, as well as eight Turkish Air Force's jets  four F-16 and four F-4 aircraft  are involved in the aerial campaign agreed with Syrian authorities," Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, the chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate, said at a news briefing in Moscow.

A total of 36 targets have been destroyed by Russian and Turkish military jets, Rudskoy said.

"A total of 36 targets have been struck. I want to emphasize that they have been agreed in advance through General Staffs and commands of aviation groups of the two countries."

According to the first estimates of the results of the Russia-Turkey joint airstrikes in Syria, they have been highly effective, he said.

The news comes amid a nationwide ceasefire in Syria backed by Russia and Turkey which came into effect on December 30 and was later supported by a UN Security Council resolution.

Turkey is currently conducting an operation in Syria dubbed Euphrates Shield.

On August 24, Turkish forces, supported by Free Syrian Army rebels and US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed the Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area from Daesh terrorist group. As Jarabulus was retaken, the joint forces of Ankara, the coalition and Syrian rebels continued the operation to gain control over Al-Bab in the Aleppo province.

Al-Bab is one of Daeshs last remaining strongholds near the Turkish border. Capturing the city is of strategic importance to Turkey in order to prevent the Syrian Kurds taking it and unifying their own territories.

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COLLINSVILLE-A local automotive parts firm has seen tremendous growth since it opened two years ago.

A2Speed opened in 2015 as a home-based business. It moved into the West Piedmont Business Development Center, a small business incubator uptown, last May. Having outgrown its space there, it moved into a much larger facility, the former Williams Supply Co. building at 4173 Virginia Ave. in Collinsville, in December.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new location Tuesday morning.

The move will enable the firm to expand its services to include the installation of parts along with vehicle repairs and maintenance.

According to its website, A2Speed is an employee-owned automotive performance parts company specializing in the Gen III HEMI engine. Parts are made by partner companies, including ones that supply U.S. Department of Defense and major aerospace firms, and then tested before being sold to customers.

HEMI engines have combustion chambers with hemisphere- or dome-shaped cylinder heads which help boost the performance of sportscars by creating a better air-fuel mix, said A2Speed managing member Eric Hruza.

The third-generation HEMI likes to rev higher than other engines, he said, adding that 7,500 rpm is not unusual. That will get you off the line (in a race) very well.

A2Speeds main source of customers so far has been the Internet, Hruza said.

Were drawing business from across the country and around the world, he added.

In the past year, sales have increased by about 3,000 percent, said his son, Stuart, who oversees the firms finances and website.

The Hruzas believe their business has grown largely due to providing quality customer service.

Were passionate not only about speed, but also about how the car looks and how it drives, said Eric Hruza, a member of the Martinsville School Board.

Many customers wanted A2Speed to be able to install parts as well as acquire and sell them, he said, which prompted the firm to look for a larger location where it could do so.

However, its not going to limit itself to installations. Hruza said A2Speed plans to become a high-quality automotive service center providing any dealership type of service you need, without the discomfort some people feel when taking their vehicles to dealers garages for maintenance and repairs.

Some vehicle owners  especially those with little to no understanding of how their cars and trucks run  get antsy when visiting a dealership because they wonder whether the service department is trying to push on them parts and labor that their vehicles dont need just to run up a high bill, according to A2Speed employees.

We want our customers to have a full understanding of whats being done to their cars and why the work is needed, said employee David Kasper.

A2Speed plans to do all types of automotive work, from oil changes to air-conditioning repairs to alignments and more, at prices that are competitive with other area repair shops, if not less costly, employees said.

Financing will be available, with 180 days same as cash, Hruza said.

The firm currently is not equipped and registered to do state inspections, but it plans to be in the future, he said.

A2Speed has the most advanced equipment available to automotive service providers, he said.

An example he mentioned is a road force balancing machine with a drum that puts pressure on a tire just like the pressure it undergoes when a car is driven. That enables mechanics to figure out how to fix problems such as a car pulling in one direction as it travels, he said.

Each of A2Speeds five employees is a part-owner. Hruza said that with increased business and by providing more services, he anticipates hiring about five more by the end of this year. They will not necessarily become part-owners, but they may have the opportunity, he said.

Last year, A2Speed participated in Startup Martinsville, Virginia, an intensive boot camp-style entrepreneurial development program. The firm was one of six winners of a business plan competition held among participants, receiving $10,090 toward startup costs.

The Chambers Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG), an independent affiliate of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, operates the WPBDC on behalf of the city, which owns it, and oversees Startup Martinsville, which is being expanded to the county this year.

Chamber President and C-PEG Executive Director Amanda Witt said it usually takes a business three or four years to reach the point in which it can move out of the incubator and succeed entirely with its own resources.

A2Speed was able to go out on its own in less than a year, Witt noted, adding she is pleased that the automotive firm now is occupying a vacated building, creating jobs and  no pun intended  helping to drive the economy of Martinsville and Henry County.

Stuart Hruza said his father cares deeply about the community and wants to see it grow and prosper.

A2Speed will refer customers to other local businesses if necessary.

For instance, after Tuesdays ribbon-cutting, Eric Hruza told Joe Bryant, the Collinsville District representative on the Henry County Board of Supervisors who runs Bryant Radio Supply, that if he finds out that a customer aims to have a new stereo system installed in a car, he will refer the customer to Bryant.
MARTINSVILLE  Deep in the waters surrounding the Bahamas, a group including Dr. Alex Hastings, a paleontologist at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, discovered a tortoise that went extinct 1,000 years ago.

While Dr. Hastings stayed close to the surface of the water, an ex-Navy SEAL leading the expedition used special equipment to dive into a blue hole, or water-filled sinkhole to bring back the fossil.

It was deep enough that you need a lot of underwater caving experience to not die, Dr. Hastings said.

The individual trained in sea, air and land survival skills used double tanks and a special re-breather system as he scoured the depths for never-before-seen species.

With visibility no better than the end of ones hand, finding bones and fossils was not a simple feat. However, by the end of the search, the SEAL brought more to the surface than just bones  he uncovered secrets of the past.

Among large crocodile bones, a host of birds, a few iguanas and even traces of humans, Dr. Hastingss group discovered a tortoise that they previously did not know existed.

While discovering a new type of tortoise was exciting, the finding didnt touch the thrill the group felt when they realized nearly the tortoises entire genome was intact.

A genome is a blueprint of an individual, Dr. Hastings explained. If we have the whole thing, we could hypothetically make a clone.

Genomes are specifically the set of chromosomes in an organism. It includes the complete set of DNA and all the genetic instructions on how to build it. Having an animals genome helps scientists reconstruct things from the past. It tells them where animals came from and also about adaptations they experienced.

Weve got genomes for a handful of extinct species, Dr. Hastings said, revealing the rarity of the find.

According to the Virginia Museum of Natural History, fossils found in the tropics normally have little to no DNA left in them, as the thriving bacterial communities break down any strands of genetic information. However, divers found the tortoise bones below a layer of hydrogen sulfide, which prevented bacteria from developing and allowed the DNA to remain intact.

The tortoises genome revealed that it was smaller than the Galapagos tortoise, but larger than others. It also had a tall dome in the middle of its shell. While the vast majority of the tortoises discovered were herbivores, scientists found one example of a carnivorous tortoise.

One oddball was clearly scavenging for meat, Dr. Hastings said. Thats kind of unusual to see in a fossil record.

Overall, the tortoise displayed the most similarities to the Galapagos species  even more so than to relatives closer in distance.

Its a counterintuitive thing. Youd think it would be related to ones its closer to, Dr. Hastings said.

Given the Caribbean tortoises similarities to tortoises of the Pacific, the discovery revealed a missing link in the tortoise family.

Theres an unrecognized ancestor, Dr. Hastings said. Every time you answer a question, you come up with two more questions.

While relatives of the tortoise are still around today, the specific reptile discovered in the depths of the blue hole is extinct.

As soon as people showed up, everything died, Dr. Hastings said about the teams discovery in the underwater sinkhole.

Long before the first Europeans inhabited the Bahamas, Native Americans likely made their way from Florida to the islands. Looking for food, people sought large meat that was easy to catch.

Anything that provides a good food source just gets decimated, Dr. Hastings said.

While the tortoises shells protected them from their archenemy, the crocodile, one hard clunk on the head provided humans with a sizeable meal.

They got cleaned out, Dr. Hastings said about the Bahamian tortoises.

While most of the bones are housed at the National Museum of the Bahamas, some are being studied at colleges in Florida. Even though the Bahamian tortoise is no more, the species still speaks to scientists willing to listen and ready to understand.
Related UAE jails Emiratis up to 10 years for Islamist links

A UAE court on Wednesday sentenced three people to up to five years in prison after convicting them of belonging to a "terrorist organisation," state media said.

The Abu Dhabi-based Federal Supreme Court handed two Emiratis jail terms ranging from one to five years, the official news agency WAM said.

A third defendant from an unnamed Arab country was sentenced to three years, after which he will be deported, it said, without giving details of the organisation to which they were alleged to belong.

News website 24.ae said the trio formed a "terror cell for Al-Nusra Front," the former Syrian affiliate of Al-Qaeda that renamed itself Fateh al-Sham Front last year.

The website said the Arab defendant was Palestinian.

The United Arab Emirates is a member of the US-led coalition that has been bombing IS militants in Iraq and Syria since September 2014.

Authorities in the Gulf state have enacted anti-terror legislation, including the death penalty and harsher jail terms for crimes linked to religious hatred and extremist groups.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government on Wednesday set September 24 as the date for a general election, as she seeks a fourth term facing populist headwinds over a record migrant influx.

The decision, adopted by Merkel's right-left coalition cabinet, must still be formally approved by President Joachim Gauck.

But the announcement fires the starting gun for an election campaign that Merkel has said will be her toughest yet due to opposition to her liberal asylum policy.

Merkel, 62, is nevertheless the clear frontrunner in the race and enjoys solid popularity in Europe's top economy.

A poll released Wednesday showed her conservative Christian Union bloc (CDU/CSU) as the strongest political force in the country with 38 percent.

It was followed in distant second by the Social Democrats (SPD), the current junior partners in Merkel's "grand coalition" government, which polled at 21 percent.

The right-wing anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has railed against Merkel's decision to let in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015, lost one percentage point compared to last week to reach 11 percent.

The head of the Forsa opinion research institute which conducted the poll, Manfred Guellner, said a jihadist attack on a Berlin Christmas market last month that killed 12 people and was committed by a rejected asylum seeker had failed to boost support for the AfD.

"Although the security debate after the Berlin terror attack is running high, the AfD is unable to capitalise on it," Guellner said in a statement.

"It is actually losing support while the CDU/CSU and the SPD are stabilising."

The AfD, born as a eurosceptic party in 2013, has attempted to harness public unease with migration and asylum and, due to its relative strength, threatens to scramble the potentially complicated arithmetic of coalition building after the election.

It hopes to become the first populist party to gain seats in the Bundestag lower house of parliament in post-war Germany.

The AfD, seeking to gain momentum from a surge of European radical parties, will host a meeting of far-right leaders in the western city of Koblenz on Saturday.

Leaders expected to attend include Marine Le Pen, the presidential candidate for France's National Front; Harald Vilimsky of Austria's nationalist FPOe party; and Dutch MP Geert Wilders of the anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV).

The Forsa poll, conducted January 9 to 13 among a representative sample of 2,053 eligible voters, showed the ecologist Greens and the far-left Linke each at nine percent and the pro-business Free Democrats at six percent.

The Greens, who have been mentioned as potential partners in government for Merkel after the election, on Monday chose two members of their pragmatist wing, Cem Ozdemir and Katrin Goering-Eckardt, to lead the party into the general election.

Both have praised Merkel's stance on refugees.

However, Merkel has faced blowback from within her own conservative bloc, with the Christian Social Union in the southern state of Bavaria agitating for an upper limit on new asylum seekers -- a bid Merkel has repeatedly rejected.

US President-elect Donald Trump said in a newspaper interview Monday that Merkel had made a "catastrophic mistake" in letting migrants flood into Germany.

Yet some analysts say German uncertainty over the future of the post-war order with Trump at the helm in Washington and Britain leaving the European Union could help Merkel's campaign as voters long for stability.

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Brandon Carlo

Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (25) waits for a face off against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Bruins defeated the Coyotes 2-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(Ross D. Franklin)

The Boston Bruins are in need of some additional scoring on the wing and reportedly are willing to pay a big price for it.

While the Bruins have been linked in trade discussions with the Colorado Avalanche for captain Gabriel Landeskog, any potential deals have been halted by Boston's reluctance to part with 20-year-old defenseman Brandon Carlo.

However, those discussions have reportedly taken a turn, as Bleacher Report's Adrian Dater tweeted Tuesday that Carlo might be "back in play" when it comes to a potential trade.

While the Bruins have a solid pipeline of prospects on the blue line in Charlie McAvoy, Jeremy Lauzon and Jakub Zboril, trading Carlo would be a steep cost for Don Sweeney and the B's.

While he has slowed down in recent weeks, Carlo has more than held his own in his first season in the NHL, logging an average of 21:36 of ice time with a plus-four rating.

Carlo's offensive ceiling might be a bit limited when compared to other prospects like McAvoy, but with a 6-foot-5 frame and already strong poise out on the ice, the 20-year-old defenseman projects as a physical, shutdown presence that Boston can pencil into its top pairing for years to come.

Landeskog is in the midst of a down year (eight goals, seven assists, minus-10), but the 24-year-old winger has been a consistent scorer in his career -- tallying at least 20 goals in four of his first five seasons in the NHL.
Rock band Third Eye Blind has outlined plans for a summer tour that includes stops in Boston and Connecticut.

The band will play the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion on June 21 and the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, CT on July 2.

Tickets for both shows will go on sale beginning Jan. 26 and will be available through Live Nation.

On the tour, Third Eye Blind will perform its 1997 self-titled debut in its entirety. The recording includes hits "Semi-Charmed Life," "How's It Going To Be" and "Jumper."
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.jpg

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh spoke to reporters after his 2017 State of the City address.

(Gintautas Dumcius/MassLive.com)

Touting population growth and initiatives like early voting as he faces re-election, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh used his "State of the City" address to efforts underway to upgrade traffic light tech and fund free pre-kindergarten for every four-year-old in Boston.

Walsh is up for re-election this year and appears likely to face several challengers, including Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, a former aide to Gov. Deval Patrick. Walsh's campaign war chest outstrips Jackson's kitty, and Boston voters rarely seek to toss incumbents.

Walsh spoke Tuesday night at Symphony Hall, with Gov. Charlie Baker, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo in attendance. Here are some highlights.

1. Adding "cutting-edge traffic-light" tech to the city's busiest streets. The move will lead to fewer stops at red light and reduced congestion, according to Walsh.

"We've all been there: you hit one red light, it just seems like you hit them all," Walsh said. "New signals will adapt to traffic in real time and willwork together to keep it flowing."

2. Mounting new push for free pre-kindergarten for every 4-year-old in Boston.

Walsh said he is filing a bill at the Mass. State House that would fund the proposal with tourism taxes that already exist and currently create a surplus in the Convention Center Fund. The proposal received a standing ovation inside Symphony Hall.

"It's only fair that Boston's success benefits all of Boston's children," Walsh said.

He also said he plans to invest $1 billion in the city's school buildings.

But any proposal, like the pre-k plan, needing sign-off from Beacon Hill faces a lengthy trip to the governor's office, if it ever gets there.

3. Focusing on a high-tech manufacturing sector. Walsh name-checked General Electric, which is moving its headquarters from Connecticut to Boston's Seaport District and plans to put up a brightly lit sign to signify its presence.

"Our goal is more than new logos in the skyline," Walsh said, pointing to employers in the field of robotics, 3-D printing, and medical devices coming to Boston.

In an apparent reference to President-elect Donald Trump, who clashed with Walsh, a Clinton supporter, during the 2016 presidential campaign, the mayor said, "People talk about bringing back manufacturing. We're doing it, and we're doing it the right way, with the jobs of the future and the preparation our young people need to build it."

Boston 'flourishing' but Mayor Walsh sees challenges



4. Creating "Neighborhood trauma teams" in five neighborhoods, including Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, East Boston and Mattapan. Boston saw 45 murders last year, though shootings are down six percent, according to Walsh. Since 2014, arrests are down 25 percent.



"In the aftermath of violence, health centers, hospitals, and community groups will coordinate immediate response and sustained recovery for all those affected," Walsh said. "Together we will break the cycle of suffering and violence and bring healing to our city."



5. Ending chronic homelessness by 2018. "Tonight, 1,052 Bostonians who used to live on the streets are in their own homes with the services they need to succeed. We ended chronic veterans' homelessness," Walsh said before pledging to end all chronic homelessness by next year.
A Longmeadow native suffered fatal injuries in a car crash on Interstate 89 in Vermont Tuesday night.

Three young men from Longmeadow were traveling north on Interstate 89 in Montpelier, Vermont when their vehicle, a 2000 Volkswagon Passat, hit a guardrail on the passenger side of the vehicle.

When Vermont State Police arrived on scene, all of the occupants were out of the car and being transported to Central Vermont Medical Center via ambulance.

The operator of the vehicle, 21-year-old Michael Sullivan, suffered a broken arm and minor lacerations.

Sean Byrne, 21, who was the front seat passenger, suffered fatal injuries sustained in the collision. He was pronounced dead at Central Vermont Medical Center.

Dan Cardella, 20, was in the back seat of the vehicle. He suffered no injuries.

All three were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Byrne is a graduate of Longmeadow High School. He worked as both a music producer and a rapper, performing solo and as a part of a group. Byrne recently returned to Western Massachusetts following a multi-state tour.

The video below was shot when he performed in Eugene, Oregon this past November with musician Honeycomb.
Three earthquakes hit central Italy Wednesday in a stinging triple-punch that brought fresh terror to an area still reeling from deadly quakes last year and struggling to cope with heavy snowfall.

Monitors said the first quake, which struck at 10:25 am (0925 GMT) was around 5.3 magnitude. A second, some 50 minutes later, was put at 5.7 magnitude by the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and was quickly followed by a third, measured at 5.5.

The tremors were felt across the Abruzzo, Lazio and Marche regions and also in Rome, over 100 kilometres (60 miles) away.

Train services on some mainlines and the Rome underground were suspended on safety grounds. The Italian foreign ministry building and some schools in the capital were evacuated.

Those schools that were not already closed due to snow in towns and villages closer to the affected area were also evacuated.

Emergency services mobilised helicopters to check the impact of the quakes and the national civil protection agency was assessing the damage in villages closest to the epicentre.

There were no immediate reports of building collapses but residents of the city of Aquila, where over 300 people died in a 2009 earthquake, rushed into the snow-covered streets in scenes of panic.

The epicentres of the quakes were pinpointed in an area close to Amatrice, the mountain town devastated by the first of the earthquakes which struck the mountainous centre of the country between August and October last year.

Nearly 300 people died in that 6.0 magnitude quake, most of them in or close to Amatrice, a beauty spot which was packed with holiday makers at the height of the summer season.

Two further quakes rattled the region in October, with the most powerful measuring 6.5 magnitude.

The latest quake came in the wake of 36 hours of continuous snowfall in areas close to Amatrice and another badly-hit mountain town, Norcia.

Amatrice mayor Sergio Pirozzi cursed his town's bad luck.

"I don't know if we did something bad. That's what I have been asking since yesterday. We have got up to two metres of snow and now another earthquake. What can I say? I have no words."

Stefano Petrucci, mayor of nearby Accumoli, described the situation as "dramatic."

"The roads are unpassable because of the snow and we have hardly any trucks available to clear them, some of them are broken down. We can't fight a war with bows and arrows."

As a result of last year's quakes many residents have been evacuated to temporary accommodation outside the earthquake-prone zone.

The last of 2016's major quakes, which struck on October 30, was the most powerful since a 6.9 magnitude one struck near Naples in southern Italy in 1980, leaving 3,000 people dead.

The October quakes did not directly result in any deaths but thousands were left homeless and scores of historic buildings suffered serious damage, much of it irreperable.

Italy has long been accustomed to dealing with earthquakes and the Amatrice disaster in particular led to questions being asked as to why so many buildings had not been upgraded to ensure they did not pose a threat to life in the event of predictable tremors.

Much of Italy's land mass and some of its surrounding waters are prone to seismic activity with the highest risk concentrated along its mountainous central spine.

Italy straddles the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, making it vulnerable to seismic activity when they move.

The worst disaster of recent times was the 1980 one near Naples. The worst of the 20th Century was in 1908 when an estimated 95,000 died in tidal waves following a quake centred in the waters between mainland Italy and Sicily.

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A fired IT employee took his revenge on a for-profit online college before he left, changing a password on an account that stored email and course material for 2,000 students, the Indianapolis-based online school has alleged in a lawsuit.

In his own lawsuit, the employee contends that the administrators password was autosaved on his company laptop that was returned to the college and his firing was racial discrimination.

USA Today Network Vic Ryckaert, The Indianapolis Star

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2017/01/17/password-lawsuit/96667974/
As Donald Trump prepares to take office and cabinet members are confirmed, there are other positions around the world affected by the Presidential transition.

One Montanan will no longer serve as Ambassador to China.

For the last two years, Max Baucus and his wife, Melodee, have served our country in China. With the Trump transition, Baucus will no longer serve as ambassador.

By Tanya Modersitzki, KULR

Full Story: http://www.kulr8.com/story/34281142/ambassador-max-baucus-says-good-bye-to-china
Lily Drone certainly had some buzz not such a long time ago. Founded in 2013, the venture capital-backed start-up created a really cool, first-of-its-kind "throw and shoot" camera drone. What the heck is that, you ask?

Its a cute little drone about the size of your hand. Its lightweight, has a high-resolution HD camera and is launched just by throwing it in the air. The really cool thing (in my view) is that it uses sensors to follow you around-so it can take video selfies while you ride your bike or ski down a black diamond trail, all on its own. And best of allit worked!

By Gene Marks

Full Story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2017/01/17/how-does-a-start-up-with-34-million-in-orders-go-out-of-business/?utm_term=.95d50849652a
Through partnership with EducationSuperHighway, 90 percent of Montana School Districts now meet minimum connectivity goal; up from 77 percent in 2015

Governor Steve Bullock today announced that Montana has made significant progress to bring high-speed Internet to more schools and students statewide, according to EducationSuperHighways annual "State of the States" report [LINK] on K-12 broadband connectivity.

"In September of 2015 we announced a bold, proactive plan for how we could bring high-speed Internet to every school and student in our state," said Governor Bullock. "Just over a year later, we are clearly on our way to making that happen and ensuring that every Montana student receives the world-class educational experience they need and deserve."

EducationSuperHighway is the leading national non-profit focused on upgrading the Internet access in every public school classroom in America. This years report, issued today, finds that:

90 percent of Montana school districts meet the minimum connectivity goal of 100 kbps per student, a significant jump from 77 percent at this time last year.

60,729 Montana students gained access to more bandwidth in their classrooms.

118 Montana school districts upgraded their broadband connections.

Full Story: https://governor.mt.gov/Newsroom/ArtMID/28487/ArticleID/5548
Germany wants to reach out to the future U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump to safeguard essential trans-Atlantic relations, Chancellor Angela Merkel's foreign policy advisor Christoph Heusgen said on Wednesday.

Speaking to lawmakers in Merkel's conservative party, Heusgen also said Germany would have to shoulder more international responsibilities in future.

He said Germany would steadily increase military spending towards the NATO goal of 2 percent of gross domestic product.

Earlier, Merkel said there would be contacts at all levels with the United States in the run up to meetings of the Group of 20 this year of which Germany is the chair.

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Senegal's forces are at the Gambian border and will enter at midnight if veteran Gambian President Yahya Jammeh refuses to leave power, Colonel Abdou Ndiaye, a spokesman for the Senegalese army, told Reuters on Wednesday.

Jammeh, who lost a Dec. 1 election to opposition leader Adama Barrow, said he would not step down, citing irregularities in the vote. His official mandate was due to end at midnight GMT.

"We are ready and are awaiting the deadline at midnight. If no political solution is found, we will step in," Ndiaye said.

The Nigerian Air Force said it had deployed to Senegal in case of need. Nigeria is part of the West African bloc ECOWAS, which has threatened Jammeh with sanctions or intervention if he does not step down.

Senegal's statement raises the prospect of armed confrontation between forces loyal to the president who has ruled Gambia for 22 years and Senegal, which surrounds the tiny country on three sides.

Authorities took steps to shore up Jammeh's authority this week. Jammeh declared a state of emergency on Monday, while on Tuesday the National Assembly passed a resolution to enable him to remain in office for three months.

Gambia has had only two rulers since independence in 1965. Jammeh seized power in a coup and his government has gained a reputation among ordinary Gambians and human rights activists for torturing and killing opponents.

Senegal circulated a draft resolution to the 15-member U.N. Security Council that would give "full support to the ECOWAS in its commitment to take all necessary measures to ensure the respect of the will of the people of The Gambia".

The draft, seen by Reuters, would endorse the decision of ECOWAS and the African Union to recognise Barrow. It also called on Gambia's security forces to protect lives and property and serve the elected authorities.

It was not immediately clear when Senegal planned to put the draft resolution to a vote. U.N. Security Council approval is not needed for an ECOWAS military intervention in Gambia if Barrow requests help, some diplomats said.

Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz arrived in Gambia for last-minute talks ahead of the deadline, Gambian state television said.

Refugees Flee Gambia

Few people expected Jammeh to lose the election and the result was greeted with joy by many in the country and by democracy advocates across the continent, particularly when Jammeh initially said he would accept the result and step down.

Barrow, who is in Senegal, was examining the implications of the assembly's resolution and the state of emergency, given the constitutional requirement for a handover and the need to maintain peace, his spokesman Halifa Sallah told Reuters.

Barrow could be sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Senegal, which is technically part of Gambian territory, diplomats said.

Jammeh's decision to backtrack has unleashed turmoil. At least eight ministers have also resigned from his government.

At least 26,000 people have fled Gambia to Senegal fearing unrest, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday, citing Senegalese government figures.

"Up until the night of the 16th there were 26,000 people ... The flow has increased sharply since then," said Helene Caux, regional information officer for the UNHCR. She said up to 80 percent were children accompanied by women.

"Senegal has informed us that they have the capacity to take in 50,000 refugees in the short term and is making plans to accept up to 100,000," Caux said.

"People are afraid, we don't know what's going to happen," said a restaurant worker who gave only his first name, Musa, at an eatery in the capital Banjul normally buzzing but now empty of tourists.

"We hope he (Jammeh) will leave so this will be over quickly and things can get back to normal," he said.

Tour operator Thomas Cook started flying nearly 1,000 holidaymakers home on Wednesday. It said on its website it was laying on extra flights in the next 48 hours to remove 985 package tour customers.

It was also trying to contact a further 2,500 "flight only" tourists in Gambia to arrange for their departure on the earliest available flight, it said in a statement.

Gambia's economy relies on one main crop, peanuts, and tourism. Its beaches are popular with European holidaymakers seeking a winter break.

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Senegal's forces are at the Gambian border and will enter at midnight if veteran Gambian President Yahya Jammeh refuses to leave power, Colonel Abdou Ndiaye, a spokesman for the Senegalese army, told Reuters.

Jammeh, who lost a Dec. 1 election to coalition leader Adama Barrow, said he will not step down, citing irregularities in the vote. His official mandate ends at midnight.

"We are ready and are awaiting the deadline at midnight. If no political solution is found, we will step in," Ndiaye said

The statement raises the prospect of armed confrontation between forces loyal to the president who has ruled Gambia for 22 years and Senegal, which is the only neighbour of the tiny country. Gambia is a territorial prominentary leading out from the west African coast and surrounded by Senegal.

Authorities took steps to shore up Jammeh's authority this week. Jammeh declared a state of emergency on Monday, while on Tuesday the National Assembly passed a resolution to enable him to remain in office for three months.

Gambia has had just two rulers since independence in 1965. Jammeh seized power in a coup and his government has gained a reputation among ordinary Gambians and human rights activists for torturing and killing opponents.

Few people expected him to lose the election and the result was greeted with joy by many in the country and by democracy advocates across the continent, particularly when Jammeh initially said he would accept the result and step down.

Barrow, who is in Senegal, was examining the implications of the assembly's resolution and the state of emergency, given the constitutional requirement for a handover and the need to maintain peace, his spokesman Halifa Sallah told Reuters.

Refugees Flee Gambia

Jammeh's decision to backtrack has unleashed turmoil in the riverine country. At least eight ministers have also resigned from his government.

At least 26,000 people have fled Gambia to Senegal fearing unrest, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday, citing Senegalese government figures.

"Up until the night of the 16th there were 26,000 people .... The flow has increased sharply since then," said Helene Caux, regional information officer for the UNHCR. She said up to 80 percent were children accompanied by women.

"Senegal has informed us that they have the capacity to take in 50,000 refugees in the short term and is making plans to accept up to 100,000," Caux said.

"People are afraid, we don't know what's going to happen," said a restaurant worker who gave only his first name, Musa, at an eatery in the capital Banjul normally buzzing but now empty of tourists.

"We hope he (Jammeh) will leave so this will be over quickly and things can get back to normal," he said.

Tour operator Thomas Cook started flying nearly 1,000 holidaymakers home on Wednesday. It said on its website it was laying on extra flights in the next 48 hours to remove 985 package tour customers.

It was also trying to contact a further 2,500 'flight only' tourists in Gambia to arrange for their departure on the earliest available flight, it said in a statement.

Gambia's economy relies on one main crop, peanuts, and tourism. Its beaches are popular with European holidaymakers seeking a winter break.

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Two Arab films will be taking part in this years Berlinale Panorama Dokumente subsection, set to open 10 February, in which several films revolve around theme, Authoritarian Regimes Under Surveillance.

The Panorama section of the Berlinale Film Festival is comprised of 18 feature films (the Main Programme), 16 documentaries from around the world (Dokumente) and 14 independent films from the United States (Special). All films in the Panorama celebrate their world or European premieres. The audience explicitly includes film buyers; thus the aim is to find the balance between artistic vision and commercial interests.

This year, two Arab films are taking part in the Dokumente subsection, both denouncing social problems and authoritarianism.

The first is the French-Algerian production Tahqiq fel djenna (Investigating Paradise), directed by Merzak Allouache. The film tackles the subject of Algerian suicide bombers and follows young Algerian journalist Nedjma and her colleague Mustapha as they attempt to research the problem. Tahqiq fel djenna provides a glimpse into this terrifying phenomenon, and insight as to how young suicide bombers are manipulated by their spiritual leaders into committing such actions.

Allouache has previously tackled the subject of terrorism in his 2012 drama film El-Taaib (The Repentant), which was screened in the Directors Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival. He has also brought light to various social issues through his work, such as illegal immigration with Harragas in 2009, as well as violence and turmoil in Algiers working class districts, with Bab El-Oued (1994).

The second film is the French-Swiss-Palestinian co-production, Istiyad Ashbah (Ghost Hunting), directed by Raed Andoni. The film follows a group of ex-prisoners from Israeli detention centres shooting a film within the film, in which they re-enact some of their experiences. Istiyad Ashbah sheds light on the suffering hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have experienced.

Film director and producer Raed Andoni previously used his work to address important issues, such as in Summer 2006, Palestine a compilation of scenes shot by several Palestinian filmmakers, showing multiple aspects of life in the occupied Palestinian territories.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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It is worthy to recall a well known story. During the first third of the 20th century, prominent liberal intellectual Ahmad Lutfi El-Sayyed was running for a parliamentary seat and was a candidate in a rural area where he had strong family ties. His competitor, facing this formidable opponent, tried to discredit him and said he was a democrat, believing in democracy, a new anti-religion doctrine inherently atheist.

During his electoral meetings  a key event in the pre-television era  people asked him: Are you a democrat? He kept on replying, Yes, and Im proud of it. He lost the election as people were shocked at a prestigious public figure who acknowledged being an atheist.

This story, real or apocryphal, is often used for different sakes. You either mock the peasantrys ignorance, or the intelligentsias lack of political flair and inability to communicate with the crowd. More often than not, this story is used to tell us these Western concepts are imported by a Westernised elite that scorns its people. Ordinary people do not understand them and are accustomed to the Islamic idiom, which is deemed legitimate (unlike the secular one).

Commentators tend to forget this story occurred at the beginning of the so-called "liberal experience." Yes, in some illiterate rural areas, 90 years ago, democracy may have been a strange and new concept. But this is no longer the case.

Moreover, you should not forget that Ahmad Lutfi El-Sayyed was the son of a wealthy peasant and self-made man; he understood and knew quite well the countryside and rural life. The main argument of his campaign against the Islamic veil was: the veil is an urban custom, not an Islamic one, and in rural Egypt no woman wears the veil.

His pleading for democracy also used a lot of Islamic arguments. For instance, he said autocracy was like erecting a new Allmighty God, a most un-Islamic way of doing things.

Ill deal with issues related to this point in a subsequent article. I just want to say here that the two accusations  a) liberal or democratic concepts are a Western alien product; and b) they are not even understood by their proponents  are potentially contradictory. These alien concepts were Egyptianised and were an answer to specific Egyptian needs.

In this Egyptianisation process, their meaning evolved and sometimes became different from the original Western one. This does not mean Lutfi El-Sayyed and his heirs did not understand them; it means they used them in a different context with different aims and different results. Nevertheless, these concepts still belong to their origin. It is obvious, of course, many writers use concepts they do not understand, but this is another story.

Last, but not least, it might be argued that some Islamic concepts are at least as obscure for the average Egyptian as Western notions.

I would argue that liberalism is now a homegrown product, adopted by persons and actors who are not necessarily Westernised. They do not master foreign languages, have not travelled abroad before their conversion; they do not know the classical books exposing liberalisms view of the world. Of course in our globalised world they have access, through movies and television, to "liberal society." But I bet this plays a marginal role.

Egyptian political liberalism is not only the mantra of some Westernised elite. Egyptian political liberalism is a reaction to the oppression or to the pressure exerted by the custodians of nationalist and religious orthodoxies, by the civil, religious and parental authorities, by the overwhelming weight of customs telling you the proper thing to say while you keep to yourself what you want to say, how you feel, etc.

This is especially clear in Naguib Mahfouz and Farag Foudas cases. The first was a Cairene who never traveled abroad, and the second was a countryside nationalist intellectual who did not like the fundamentalist project. Both were attacked by extremists who tried to kill them.

Egyptian political liberalism is also an Egyptian answer to the creeping and threatening confessional divide, or religious strife. It is also a way, a discourse to protect ways of life threatened by one of the many monist agendas competing for supremacy.

My colleague Viviane Fouad told me last week, with a wry smile, the secular parties were terribly weakened by the disappearance of the Muslim Brotherhoods project. The secular parties were popular as long as the Muslim Brotherhood was in power, because a lot of people felt threatened by the Islamist agenda. As the threat receded, people ceased to feel the need for organised and institutionalised secularism."

Can we transpose this to liberalism? Yes, secularism and liberalism are different things, but both are exposed to attacks claiming they are anti-religious and Western ideas. But liberalism has a decisive advantage over secularism: it is easily and obviously associated with pluralism and its virtues. The ties between secularism and pluralism are less obvious for the crowd, except when monist forces become too threatening.

Of course, you can formulate the objection: if all this is true, it means that the stronger the monist agenda is, the more it is oppressive, the more youll find liberals. And this is not the case. Suffice to compare with other Arab countries. This needs a detailed and thorough discussion I must postpone.

For now, I want to evoke another point. Nasser, in his celebrated philosophy of the revolution, had an interesting thought. He said all Egyptians have the same (nationalistic) instincts, so the easy way to gain credit and to achieve unity is to stimulate these instincts, to talk to them, whatever the costs, and this way is at best sterile, as it leads to maximalist and demagogic attitudes. The only way to achieve substantial progress is to talk to reason, to pay tribute to realities, but this is divisive. When you use rational arguments, people never agree, as they do not define possible and impossible in the same way, while selling a compromise is always difficult.

The sentence, written by a towering nationalist figure, Egyptians have the same nationalistic instincts, needs a thorough discussion, which will follow in my next article.

To be continued.

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Northwestern Engineering will send its second round of students to Germany this summer.

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Nanomaterials Undergraduate Research in Germany (NanoRING) is a 10-week intensive program that provides research experience in nanomaterials, including nanoelectronics, nanophotonics, and nanobiomaterials, at the Technical University of Munich. Students also learn basic German language skills and participate in science and technology workshops and cultural and social outings.

Matthew Grayson, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science and co-director of Global McCormick, serves as faculty director of the program. Before joining Northwestern, Grayson spent six years conducting semiconductor physics research at the Technical University of Munich, where he continues to maintain close ties.

Interested undergraduates must complete an online application by February 1, 2017 for this summers session. Students should be majors in engineering, physical sciences, or life sciences and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The program is intended for students who are completing their junior year or students who are completing their senior year and plan to continue on to a masters or PhD program in the United States.

In a partnership between Northwestern and the University of Texas at San Antonio, the grant provides selected students with weekly living stipends, a lump sum for international travel, public transportation tickets, and housing. The partner at the Technical University of Munich is the International Graduate School for Science and Engineering, which has a mission to work with visiting international student researchers.

To apply, please visit nanoring.mrsec.northwestern.edu.
Artwork from five Old Fort Elementary students is now on display at the Asheville Regional Airport.

Their website states the Student Artwork Showcase at Asheville Regional Airport is an outlet for students across the western North Carolina region to show off their talents and creativity.

Students from fourth and fifth grade submitted their works to Old Forts art instructor Stephanie Lindley who applied for the showcase.

They are really proud of their work, and I am proud of them too, she said. All of the students are very talented.

Art work from students Autumn Anderson, Emma McPeters, Karlie Kemper, Sophie Pittman and Cailyn Tilley can be viewed at the airport in their art gallery until March 5.

Andersons work is called Floral Watercolor.

Its pretty cool, she said about her art being on display.

McPeters did two pieces for the show called, Vans Abstract, and Andersons piece is called Floral Watercolor.

I painted the background using oil pastels and blending them. I like using acrylic paint mostly, said McPeters. (With the other project) I took an old shoe and painted it, then pressed it down on paper.

Pittmans piece is called Dogwood Tree.

I actually painted it last year, but I saw a photograph of a tree with pink leaves and the sun shining through it so I thought it would be cool to paint, she said. I drew it first and then went back and did the highlights and the flower.

Kemper created her own version of Minnie Mouse.

My friend was going to do Mickey Mouse so I thought I would do Minnie, said Kemper. I used colored pencils and outlined it. It took me a long time because I kept messing up.

Tilleys project is called Car Sunset.

I outlined it first then went over it with markersred, white, blue and black. Then I thought it needed a really pretty sunset in the background, said Tilley. I like art because it keeps me entertained and keeps me calm. It takes everything off my mind that makes me nervous.

For more information on visiting the art gallery at the Asheville Regional Airport, visit www.flyavl.com.
Electric stimulation of the vagus nerve stimulation is a powerful emerging technique for managing a number of conditions, including chronic inflammatory diseases. Yet, while targeting biophysical mechanisms involved in inflammation, one can stimulate others that manifest in unpredictable side effects.

Researchers at Georgia Tech have invented a way of delivering electrical stimulation in a more targeted way, using an additional electrode that prevents some nerve activity while letting the stimulating electrode do its thing. The result is few side effects while achieving maximum therapy.

We use an electrode with a kilohertz frequency that blocks unwanted nerve conduction in addition to the electrode that stimulates nerve activity, explained study lead Robert Butera, a professor at Georgia Techs School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, in a press release. Weve arranged the two near each other, so the blocking electrode forces the stimulation from the stimulating electrode to only go in one direction.

The technique doesnt require much additional technology nor subjects the patient to more trauma, and the researchers believe can be easily integrated into existing surgical procedures. It has so far been tested on lab mice with positive results and due to its limited risk may soon be trialed on human patients.

Study in Scientific Reports: Kilohertz frequency nerve block enhances anti-inflammatory effects of vagus nerve stimulation

Via: Georgia Tech
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by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, January 18, 2017

In the lat est evolution of its Be More Human campaign, Reebok is counting on actual handshakes as a way to build more empathy, rewarding every shake with a free workout.

In a four-day promotion called Show of Hands, the brand is deploying thousands of its ReebokONE trainers. People in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Miami can arrange free workouts -- good through the end of the month -- using Handstand, an app that connects trainers with potential clients.

People book their session and then at the start or end of the workout, they shake hands, says a spokesperson for Reebok. The idea is that exercise, besides promoting health, is a primary way to connect with other humans.

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The Canton, Massachusetts-based company is introducing three new brand videos to support Be More Human. In Hands, it shows many ways that hand-battering hardships build compassion; Mom shows a little girls admiration for her CrossFit mother switching from high heels to gym shoes, and Slide tells the story of a painful breakup. As our bodies change, so do we, says the voiceover. We become braver. Kinder. Closer. We become more human.

Noticeably absent from the films are model Gigi Hadid, who fronted the fall campaign, and Ronda Rousey, the UFC fighter who celebrated her own shortcomings in last summers version of the Be More Human effort. (But when the UFC fighter lost her comeback in less than a minute last month, Reebok tweeted its support: Failure doesn't come from loss. Failure comes from refusing to try. Always in your corner.

The spokesperson tells Marketing Daily that Reebok is still working with both Ronda and Gigi, and they will continue to support the Be More Human message.

The Canton, Massachusetts-based company owned by Adidas says the message at the heart of the series is that as our bodies, and gear, change, so do we, becoming braver, kinder, more confident and ultimately more connected human beings, to ourselves and to others.

The ads, directed by Diego Contreras, are from Venables Bell & Partners in San Francisco.

ReebokONEs network includes more than 100,000 trainers, and with the price of a personal one-hour session averaging $50, it says it anticipates providing $250,000 during the four-day promotion.

In its most recent quarterly results, Adidas says

Reebok is extending its sales streak, describing its revenues as robust, up 7%, with gains in all regions. It also says Reeboks running shoes are up in the double digits, as are its classics.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, January 17, 2017

Wix.com on Tuesday took to Facebook Live and YouTube Live to launch the first spot of its Super Bowl LI campaign.

This is the company's third time participating in the Super Bowl ad lineup, but the first time it will roll out the campaign live online.

This year, the theme focuses on Wix and its 98 million registered users, as the company tells its story through well-recognized names and faces, such as action stars Jason Statham and Gal Gadot.

Felix, the chief and Wix customer in the campaign spot, is really the superhero. After his fancy restaurant explodes in flames, he starts over, but this time the restaurant is a food truck. The voiceover announcer explains that in order to "succeed in a disruptive world, Wix makes it easy to create your own stunning Web site."

"Enable is the keyword that embodies the company's philosophy," said Omer Shai, CMO of Wix. "There are two super celebrities in the spot, but the real hero is Felix, the user," he said.

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This campaign speaks to a disruptive world and how Wix supports users. The company describes it as "choreographed chaos."

Shai declined to provide details on the investment or the returns from Super Bowl campaign running in 2015 and 2016, but said the cross-channel campaign increases searches and video views on sites like YouTube.

The 2017 campaign features a series of short films including the 30-second commercials for Super Bowl LI, directed by Louis Leterrier. He is known for his work on the Transporter films "Unleashed," "The Incredible Hulk," "Clash of the Titans" and "Now You See Me."

Wix called on the San Francisco creative team of Jeff Huggins and Andrea Janetos to produce this year's multichannel series.

It came as no surprise that Wix returns to the Super Bowl in 2017 after having stellar success in 2015 and 2016. Last year, Wix ran a series of four clips centered on Kung Fu panda's Po or one of his fighting friends. Each started with a message that businesses should start with building a Web site to get more customers.

In 2015, the series of 30-second spots for Super Bowl XLIX had a star-studded cast, featuring NRL legends Brett Favre, Terrell Owen, Larry Allen and Franco Harris. This year the #ItsThatEasy campaign promoted ways to start businesses and build Web sites.
by Chase Martin , January 18, 2017

Augmented reality can ultimately create valuable experiences for consumers, but the current state of the capability also has its limitations.

This was the main takeaway from a panel discussion between agency executives at AR in Action, a two-day summit at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge.

Isobar U.S. Dave Meeker, Almightys Rob Griffin and BEAMs Dave Batista weighed in on using AR for clients and the three generally agreed that a current limitation of using AR is frictional user experience.

Batista, who is the co-founder and chief creative officer of BEAM, said that using a smartphone-based AR app creates additional levels of friction to the user experience. With this approach, a brands app needs to be installed on the consumers smartphone and the consumer needs to launch and scan a QR code or similar action before the value of AR can be realized.

This can limit the overall scalability of AR projects, the panel agreed.

Meeker, who is the VP of Isobar U.S. and heads the agencys NowLab innovation arm, said the same frictional experience carries over to using beacons to trigger messaging since a similar level of actions are required before brand experiences can be initiated with a consumer.

The addition of voice interaction to the mix could ultimately solve for some of the current friction imposed in AR implementations and general smartphone use, according to Griffin, chief innovation officer at Almighty. Griffin discussed the idea of designing the user experience around voice so the step of removing a smartphone from a pocket is no longer needed.

This would likely then require some sort of head-mounted display for AR, but the overall engagement would be done through voice. The market would need to catch up, in terms of user behaviors adopting voice-first interaction, but Griffin says this is a logical next step.

On the agency side, cost seems to be a pain point. One of the driving factors for high cost in AR is that everything typically needs be built from scratch and as a custom platform, according to Griffin.

Isobars Meeker also discussed the cost in creating the experiences, which tends to start higher than more traditional mediums and increases substantially with added complexity.

In a separate presentation, Meeker discussed the paradox of clients seeing top-level examples of AR and MR (mixed reality) in proof-of-concept examples from Microsoft and Magic Leap and expecting those results. In that presentation, Meeker asked if the industry as a whole is over-promising the possibilities, within reasonable budgets, of the platform.
by Larissa Faw , January 18, 2017

Tammy Soares is departing Rosetta to become managing director, Accenture Interactive's west region. In her new role, she will be responsible for overseeing Accenture Interactives business in eight states: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Based in San Francisco, she will focus on driving growth, bringing innovation to clients and strengthening the digital agencys impact in the region.

Accenture Interactive has attracted clients in more than 20 industries, serves 70 of the top 100 Fortune Global 500 companies.

Soares is a recognizable leader in the industry and brings more than 20 years of experience in digital marketing. She rapidly rose through Publicis Groupe's Rosetta after joining in 2008.

After spending time as EVP and leading its West region  an experience that makes her well suited to her new role at Accenture  she was elevated to president and CEO, responsible for defining and executing the strategic vision for the agency, as well as providing oversight of its North American business.

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Soares was honored among Ad Ages Women to Watch in 2016, as well as the recipient of a Silver Cannes Lion award for her creative work with Samsung. She is a fixture on the industry circuit and is an active member of the 3% Conference, which celebrates female creative talent and leadership.

Tammy brings the experience and passion to ignite innovation and growth for Accenture Interactive in the West, stated Glen Hartman, head of Accenture Interactive, North America. We are laser focused on helping our clients create the best customer experiences on the planet, and Im confident Tammy will be able to help Tammy will also bring a fresh perspective to continue to differentiate Accenture Interactive as a new breed of agency.
by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, January 18, 2017

MediaPost had its own political postmortem yesterday in Washington, D.C., bringing together top strategists and vendors from both sides of the aisle to discuss what worked and what didnt in the 2016 campaign season.

Panels covered topics ranging from questions surrounding the misguided focus on data and analytics, to the emergence of earned media as a major pillar in political media strategies.

We over-learned what worked in 2012, explained Jen OMalley Dillon, partner at Precision Strategies, and general election strategist and senior advisor to the DNC in 2016. We didnt fully understand the conversation going on in many communities, despite having troves of data points on those voters.

Dillon described a fatal disconnect between the data teams and what was happening in the field. The data people were speaking Greek, and the field organizers were speaking French.

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Many have suggested a failure of data in 2016. Trump himself, before investing heavily in a data operation, continually blasted data strategy as a waste of time and money. (At the same time, the RNC took over for him on that front.)

It is not that data failed in 2016. Rather, many, including the Hillary Clinton campaign, relied too heavily on the analytics side of the equation, rather than understanding the vast anti-Washington sentiment on the ground. In many ways, it played the central role in electing Donald Trump.

As for the Trump campaign, Facebook was central to their success.

Facebook was directly appropriate for our operation, said Gerrit Lansing, chief digital officer at the RNC. On average, the RNC would upload 40,000 to 60,000 ad variations on the platform, per day.

Pairing a deeply sophisticated Facebook campaign with a let-it-ride attitude that highlighted Trumps "authenticity," proved a smart alliance in 2016. Trumps earned media, considerably larger than any other candidate, propelled him through the primaries, appealing to staunch Republican voters disaffected by the federal government.

Facebooks unrivaled reach and targeting capabilities bolstered GOP turnout and allowed a largely unsophisticated and nimble campaign to up fund raising and voter turnout in the last few months of the election.
by Sara Guaglione , January 18, 2017

Founded in 1978 by a group that included actor Michael Douglas, LA Weekly is known for its cultural coverage of Los Angeles and has won more awards from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia than any other publication in the country.



Voice Media Group (VMG) is putting the alt-weekly, which has more than 3 million monthly users visiting its site, up for sale.

The LAWeekly is profitable, but the company says it wants to focus more on its digital agency business. It will reduce its print newspaper holdings as a result.

In January 2013, VMG sold the SF Weekly to the San Francisco Newspaper Company. Since then, the company has also sold the Seattle Weekly, Riverfront Times of St. Louis, City Pages of Minneapolis, OC Weekly in Orange County and The Village Voice in New York City.

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"Just as motivated buyers stepped forward in other cities, we expect to see a great level of interest in the Weekly," stated VMG CEO Scott Tobias.

Tobias also offered to sell digital advertising and national ads to the new owner of LA Weekly, as well as offering Web and digital support through V Digital Services. VMG currently provides these services for the owners of City Pages, OC Weekly and Riverfront Times.

The LA Weekly hosts numerous events as well. Its June "Tacolandia" event draws thousands to sample tacos from taquerias worldwide. In March, consumers can try the most popular dishes at L.A.'s top restaurants at "The Essentials" event.

VMG currently owns Phoenix New Times, Miami New Times, Denver Westword, Dallas Observer and Houston Press.
Clarion Ledger, Wednesday, January 18, 2017 1:04 PM

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has plans to sue Google for allegedly mining student data through G Suite for Education accounts. While Google has agreed to respect the privacy of the data, the suit alleges that Google has not complied. According to the complaint, Google tracks, records and uses the data to build profiles on individual students in order to use this data for Google ads.

Read the whole story at Clarion Ledger 
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, January 18, 2017

Google has acquired Fabric, one of Twitters assets that provides software for developers to build mobile apps.

Francis Ma, Firebase product manager at Google, and Rich Paret, VP of engineering and GM at Fabric, jointly made the news public in separate blogs posted on their respective company's Web sites. Neither have disclosed the financial terms of the deal.

Twitter acquired the company in 2014. Fabric's reach has grown to 2.5 billion active mobile devices in the past two years since Twitter acquired the company, according to a Paret.

"Today, we enter the next chapter for Fabric and are pleased to announce that we've signed an agreement for Fabric to be acquired by Google and for our team to join Google's Developer Products Group," Paret wrote.

Crashlytics, which tracks software failures, and Answers, which supports mobile app analytics, also comes along as part of the deal. Digits, which will be maintained by Twitter through the transition period, under its existing terms.

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As an add-on to Google Firebase business, the apps aim to help developers earn higher returns from iOS, Android and Web products. And with the acquisition, the focus turns to cloud computing and mobile advertising.

Firebase, a cloud-based mobile software tool Google acquired in 2014, will become a broader developer platform. Firebase also gives mobile app creators tools to build and monitor their apps.

The goal is to free developers from the complexity associated with software development, Ma wrote in a blog post. With this integration, Fabric becomes part of Google's long-term effort of delivering a comprehensive suite of features for iOS, Android and mobile Web app development.

This move could also give Google a firm step to move into China. While Twitter isn't in China, reports suggest that both Alibaba and Baidu are both users of the software.
by Gavin O'Malley , Staff Writer @mp_gavin, January 18, 2017

Threatening to upset the domestic smartphone market, Google reportedly plans to bring its Android One phones to the U.S. Launched in India in late 2014, Android One originally sold for $105 and included a pared-down selection of software and features.

Now -- as sources tellThe Information -- Google thinks U.S. consumers would be receptive to such an offering. The search giant is so confident in the move that it reportedly plans to put big marketing bucks behind the launch.

Android One phones are expected to hit U.S. shelves by mid-year, but the makers of the first phones are not yet known.

In 2014, the first Android One phones launched in partnership with Micromax, Karbonn and Spice. Each phone maker was given the same specifications, which they incorporated into modestly different designs.

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As part of the original effort, Google assumed control over the phones software updates, rather than let wireless operators release new versions. Considering that smartphone sales dropped to a three-year low, last year, its no surprise Google is thinking outside the box.

That said, global smartphone sales are expected to bounce back, this year, according to a recent forecast from Accenture.

Among other factors, the research firm credited falling prices for the more positive outlook.

Improved features and falling prices are key reasons consumers around the world are signaling a desire to buy new smartphones, David Sovie, global managing director for Accentures Electronics and High-Tech business, noted in the new report.

Overall, more than half (54%) of consumers surveyed said they planned to buy a smartphone in the next year -- up from 48% in last years survey. The number of U.S. respondents who said they planned to buy a smartphone in the coming 12 months increased by double digits over last year -- up from 38% to 52%, year-over-year.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, January 18, 2017

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, who previously battled Google over piracy allegations, is now suing the company for allegedly violating its privacy promises by collecting data about students who use its educational apps.

"Google tracks, records, uses, and saves the online activity of Mississippi's children, all for the purpose of processing student data to build a profile, which in turn aids its advertising business," Hood alleges in a lawsuit filed last week in Lowndes County, Mississippi.

Through this lawsuit, we want to know the extent of Googles data mining and marketing of student information to third parties, he said Tuesday in a statement. "I dont think there could be any motivation other than greed for a company to deliberately keep secret how it collects and uses student information.

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Hood accuses Google of running afoul of the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act by "failing to disclose its secret acts of data mining."

His theory is that Google unfairly secured contracts with Mississippi's public schools, and wrongly gained an advantage over competitors who "offered similar services without data mining."

He also alleges that Google is violating a promise the company made in January 2015, when it signed the student privacy pledge. That pledge, developed by the industry-funded think tank Future of Privacy Forum, prohibits "school service providers" from collecting data from students except for authorized educational purposes, or as permitted by parents and students; the pledge also requires companies to destroy students' personal data after it's no longer needed for authorized purposes.

Despite the lawsuit's allegations about data mining, Hood acknowledges in an online FAQ that he doesn't yet know what data Google is collecting, or how the company uses it.

Hood's complaint repeats some of allegations initially made in late 2015 by the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation. That organization said in a Federal Trade Commission complaint that Google gathers data from Chromebooks, and also amasses data from students who are logged in to their Google for Education accounts, even when students surf the Web for non-academic purposes. The result, according to the EFF, is that Google "invariably collects, maintains, and uses for its own benefit" a host of private information from students.

After the EFF unveiled the complaint, Google updated its privacy policy to clarify that it doesn't use any information associated with users' Apps for Education Account for ad targeting.

But according to the EFF, Google's policies remain problematic. The company still collects data about students who are using non-Apps for Education services, the EFF said in October. "Google is also still collecting a huge amount of information from students for other purposes, including device information (such as hardware models, operating system versions, and unique device identifiers) and log information (such as queries, system activity, and hardware settings). Even if its not using that data to target ads, its not clear why Google thinks it should be allowed to keep and retain that data for anything other than directly providing a service to the [Google Apps for Education] user."

Hood and Google previously fought each other in court over "illegal" content in the search results and on YouTube. In late 2014, Google asked a federal judge to issue a restraining order barring Hood from following through on a threat to sue the company over unlawful content, included material that infringes copyright. Google also sought a restraining order barring Hood from attempting to enforce a subpoena seeking millions of documents relating to piracy in the search results and on YouTube, among other material.

Last July, Google agreed to dismiss the lawsuit. The company said at the time that it would work together with Hood to address unlawful content.
Trying to maintain its position as a go-to messaging app media and business types, Slack is rolling out threaded replies. With the new feature, the productivity app can more directly take on Facebook and similarly robust messaging services.

Standing apart from the pack, however, Slack will sideline threads in a sidebar.

Messages with threaded replies will show thumbnails of discussion participants directly in the channel, as well as the number of replies posted.

Users can simply click through to view the threaded conversation in the right sidebar. Other users can chime in, add reactions, or select to follow along. Unlike a regular message posted in channel, replies to a thread wont automatically mark the channel as unread or notify users -- unless theyre directly mentioned.

Rather, the All Threads view in a users sidebar will be highlighted, so they know there are new messages in one of their threads.

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This way, you and a subset of your team can riff on ideas, triage problems or clarify feedback in a focused space, the company notes in a new blog post.

Although theyre tucked away, threaded conversations are archived and searchable, so anyone can access the information and context they need without joining every discussion, it adds.

Last year, Slack established itself as a company to watch in the white-hot mobile messaging space.

Standing apart from rival messaging services -- namely Facebook -- Slack has convinced subscribers to fork over monthly fees for premium features.

Like other mobile platforms, Slack has also aggressively courted the developer community. In late 2015, for example, it started an $80 million venture fund to support the creation of apps and add-ons that complement its business-focused group-messaging service.

The fund has since invested in Awesome -- a tool that organizes Slack activity -- along with a productivity software maker and a toolkit for building chat bots.
Aaron and team re-evaluated the participants to see if they could confirm current asthma. They used a home peak flow meter, spirometry, and serial bronchial challenge tests to monitor the symptoms.

The researchers recruited adults who reported being diagnosed with asthma in the 5 years leading up to the study.

Researchers  led by Dr. Shawn Aaron, respirologist at The Ottawa Hospital and a professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada  examined 613 patients selected randomly from 10 Canadian cities between January 2012 and February 2016.

However, a new study, published in JAMA, suggests that the condition may be overdiagnosed.

Worldwide, the condition affects approximately 300 million people. In the U.S., it is estimated that 1 in 12 people, or around 25 million individuals, live with the condition.

Asthma is a chronic illness affecting the bronchial tubes, which normally allow air to come in and out of the lungs.

Asthma affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and tens of millions of people in the United States alone. However, new Canadian research suggests that a significant number of asthma cases may be falsely diagnosed.

The study found that a large number of the participants might have initially received a false diagnosis. Furthermore, the vast majority of those whose asthma was not confirmed by the new study stopped taking their medication and were able to live safely without it for a year.

Researchers ruled out asthma in 203 of the 613 patients, which makes up 33.1 percent of the entire sample.

Of these, 12 study participants had other serious cardiorespiratory illnesses that might have been incorrectly diagnosed as asthma.

Additionally, 80 percent of the misdiagnosed patients had been taking asthma medication, and 35 percent of them had been doing so daily.

Patients who were deemed to be asthma-free showed no signs of acute worsening of asthma symptoms and no evidence of reversible airflow obstruction or bronchial hyperresponsiveness, even after they stopped taking the medication. The participants were examined by a study pulmonologist.

Of the participants whose asthma was not confirmed, 28 percent had no respiratory condition whatsoever, while the majority had minor issues, such as allergies or heartburn.

Aaron and team followed up on the 203 patients for 12 months. During this time, they gradually reduced the medication of the patients who were taking it daily over four study visits.

Over 90 percent of the misdiagnosed patients were able to safely stop taking the medications for a year.

It is impossible to say how many of these patients were originally misdiagnosed with asthma, and how many have asthma that is no longer active. What we do know is that they were all able to stop taking medication that they did not need  medication that is expensive and can have side effects. Dr. Shawn Aaron

The authors acknowledge two possible causes for the inability to confirm the asthma diagnosis in over 33 percent of the participants. One potential cause is the fact that asthma tends to clear itself up spontaneously  which the authors suggest might have occurred in 11.8 percent of the cases  while the other reason could simply be an initial misdiagnosis.

The study also revealed that upon the first diagnosis, over 49 percent of the patients were not subjected to objective testing procedures, such as serial peak flow testing, bronchial challenge testing, or spirometry.

Doctors would not diagnose diabetes without checking blood sugar levels, or a broken bone without ordering an X-ray, says Dr. Aaron. But for some reason, many doctors are not ordering the spirometry tests that can definitely diagnose asthma.

Dr. Aaron goes on to emphasize the need for public health education on how to properly diagnose asthma.

We need to educate physicians and the public to get the diagnosis right in the first place. Patients who have difficulty breathing should ask their doctor to order a breathing test  spirometry  to determine if they might have asthma or even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Similarly, he add, if patients think they may have been misdiagnosed with asthma or that they no longer have asthma, they should ask their doctor for a spirometry test. Asthma can be deadly, so patients should never go off their medication without speaking to a doctor first.

Learn how cured meats can worsen asthma symptoms.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common form of childhood leukemia, accounting for around 3 in 4 cases in the United States. In a new study, researchers reveal how a compound isolated from bakers yeast can help to treat the disease. Share on Pinterest Researchers suggest that an enzyme found in bakers yeast has the potential to kill leukemia cells without harming healthy cells. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), also known as acute lymphocytic leukemia, is a cancer that begins in lymphoblasts, which are immature white blood cells in bone marrow. Individuals with ALL make too many lymphoblasts, leaving little room for mature, healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. As a result, people with ALL are prone to developing anemia and infections. While children under the age of 5 years old have the greatest risk of ALL, the vast majority of deaths from the disease occur in adults. In 2017, there are expected to be approximately 5,970 new cases of ALL diagnosed in children and adults in the U.S., and around 1,440 deaths from the disease. When it comes to treating ALL, chemotherapy is often the first port of call. Other treatments, such as stem cell transplantation, radiation therapy, surgery, and targeted drugs, may also be an option.

Identifying a safer treatment for ALL According to study co-author Gisele Monteiro, of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, an enzyme isolated from the bacteria Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi (called L-asparaginase) has been used in the treatment of ALL for decades. While treatment with this bacterial enzyme can lead to high remission rates, Monteiro notes that it can trigger mild to severe immune responses in around 25 percent of patients. As such, a less toxic biopharmaceutical for the treatment of ALL is required. In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, Monteiro and team reveal how they isolated an L-asparaginase-like enzyme from the non-bacterial source Saccharomyces cerevisiae, more commonly known as bakers yeast or brewers yeast. Our goal in this project wasnt to produce the enzyme, but rather to find a new source of the biodrug in microorganisms for use in patients who develop resistance to the bacterial enzyme, says study co-author Marcos Antonio de Oliveira, of the Biosciences Institute at Sao Paulo State University in Brazil.

Isolating an L-asparaginase-like enzyme from yeast To reach their findings , the researchers used bioinformatics tools in order to analyze the genomes of several fungi known to secrete asparaginase. From this, the team identified a gene in S. cerevisiae called ASP1 that encodes an enzyme similar to L-asparaginase. First study author Iris Munhoz Costa, also of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Sao Paulo, explains that unlike bacteria, yeast is eukaryotic. This means that it contains a membrane-covered nucleus consisting of genetic material, as is the case with human cells. As such, it is hypothesized that yeast-derived enzymes are less likely than bacterial enzymes to trigger severe immune responses. With this in mind, the researchers cloned the ASP1 gene, and with the help of genetic engineering, they were able to prompt E. coli to produce a purified form of yeast-derived L-asparaginase. We were able to obtain the recombinant protein, notes Costa. We then performed studies to characterize its secondary structure and identify important regions called catalytic sites. Finally, we evaluated its efficacy in vitro.
New guidelines have been developed that it is hoped will help to progress research into vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) following a study led by academics at the University of Bristol that brought together the views of over 150 researchers in 27 countries.

VCI refers to a decline in mental abilities, such as memory, thinking and planning, caused by problems with the blood supply to the brain. Vascular dementia, which is perhaps a more familiar term to most people, is recognised as a severe form of VCI. VCI is the second most common cause of dementia and gradual memory loss after Alzheimer's disease. Like Alzheimer's disease it does not have a cure and together both conditions contribute to the largest cause of death in England and Wales according to recent reports.

The Bristol team, led by Pat Kehoe, Gestetner Professor of Translational Dementia Research and Joint Head of the Dementia Research Group in the School of Clinical Sciences, invited researchers from around the world to participate in a project called the Vascular Impairment of Cognition Classification Consensus Study (VICCCS), which is funded by the Alzheimer's Society.

The international consortium has published their findings on what was agreed as a revised conceptual model of VCI and what should be considered to be its various subtypes. This new concept has built upon some key elements from sets of criteria that have been previously proposed but adopted to varying degrees. This lack of widespread adoption of any single criteria before now has proved to be a major stumbling block towards any progress in VCI research.

Professor Pat Kehoe, Chief Investigator for the study, said: "It may seem somewhat simplistic to some people that this study has been to get people to agree on how to view and name conditions that affects as many as 100,000 people in the UK alone.

"However, more than 20 years of research has been significantly hampered because numerous studies looked at this complicated group of related conditions in a large number of ways and under numerous different names. This has made the interpretation of any findings with other studies extremely difficult. For the field to move forward, and for us to successfully test potential therapies, there is a need for much greater clarity so that studies can be designed appropriately and meet with the latest requirements from regulatory bodies."

The project made use of an online consensus-building technique that uses recurring surveys, known as the Delphi method. The study was conducted in two parts and identified and addressed issues from the last two decades that have obstructed the progression of VCI research, which lags noticeably behind that of Alzheimer's disease.

Firstly, the surveys addressed what should be the guiding principles in defining a modern and workable concept of VCI and secondly, how the diagnosis of these conditions can be made in a more standardised way across the world. These surveys addressed issues and came up with consensus agreements in a step-by-step repetitive method that involved six phases of surveys over approximately two years.

Dr Olivia Skrobot, Research Associate in the School of Clinical Sciences, who coordinated the study, added: "This study was designed as a means to overcome the historical barriers to advance this area of research. The involvement of so many international researchers will, we hope, promote a new level of collaboration and togetherness and encourage significant progress for VCI research."

Dr Doug Brown, Director of Research and Development at Alzheimer's Society said: "Alzheimer's Society is thrilled to have funded this research as these guidelines will provide essential help to streamline research into vascular dementia. Historically, research in this area has lagged behind researchers' knowledge of Alzheimer's disease, despite vascular dementia being the second most common cause of the condition."

"Research relies on collaboration between experts in order to pool knowledge to further our understanding of the causes of health conditions and how to treat them. This research will allow us to work from the same understanding and criteria which will significantly speed up research in this vital area. As dementia is now the biggest killer in the UK, we need to bring researchers closer together to bring much-needed help to people with this condition as quickly as possible."

The paper, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, describes the results of the first part of VICCCS, and the researchers hope the revised model of VCI will be widely adopted by the field. The team is currently preparing the second part of their findings from the study for publication, where challenges around diagnostic approaches and lack of standardisation have been addressed.

The aim of this part of the study is to provide guidelines to enable clearer diagnosis and also to simplify the eligibility for people to take part in specific research studies on VCI that have been relatively less common than other types of dementia and cognitive impairment.

Article: The Vascular Impairment of Cognition Classification Consensus Study, Olivia A Skrobot et al., Alzheimer's & Dementia, doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2016.10.007, published online 10 December 2016.
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Andersson, O. et al, Can Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping Reduce Infant Anaemia at Age 8, 12 Months?, JAMA Pediatrics (2017) doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.3971.

In the study, the researchers randomised 540 children born at a large obstetrical hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, to early (less than 60 seconds) or delayed (more than 180 seconds) cord clamping.In Nepal, approximately 70 percent of infants up to one year of age have anaemia. Follow-up included blood samples at eight and twelve months of age, to evaluate anaemia (haemoglobin) and iron deficiency (ferritin).At the age of eight months, the incidence of anaemia was reduced by nine percent among the Nepalese infants and even at twelve months of age, eight percent fewer infants were anaemic.The children in the delayed cord clamping group generally had higher haemoglobin values, and the percentage of children who had iron deficiency at eight months of age decreased significantly, by more than 40 percent.At birth, approximately one third of the child's blood is in the placenta. If clamping of the umbilical cord is done immediately (early cord clamping), the blood will remain in the placenta and go to waste (or can be stored in stem cell banks).If instead clamping is postponed for three minutes, most of the blood can flow back to the child as an extra blood transfusion, consisting of about one decilitre (half a cup) of blood, which is equivalent to about two litres (half a US gallon) for an adult. A blood donor gives 0.4-0.5 litres of blood.Blood contains red blood cells that contain haemoglobin. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to the tissues of the body. Haemoglobin contains a lot of iron, and the extra decilitre of blood may contain iron that corresponds to three to four months of an infant's needs.The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends umbilical cord clamping at one minute or later, while the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) recommends umbilical cord clamping at 30-60 seconds or later.The study was done previously in Sweden and it was found that after delayed clamping children had more iron in the body at four months of age and that the proportion of children with iron deficiency decreased by 90 percent, from 5.7 percent to 0.6 percent.The children's general intelligence and development did not differ at four years of age, but after delayed clamping the children had improved fine motor and social skills.This study implies that waiting to clamp the umbilical cord for more than three minutes is important in communities where it is common for infants to have anaemia and iron deficiency.Delaying cord clamping for more than three minutes is an action with no cost and without any side effects.Source: Medindia
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Initial treatment of glioblastoma consists of surgical removal of the tumor, radiation and chemotherapy using the drug temozolomide (TMZ). However, the proclivity of glioblastoma to invade adjacent brain tissue prevents the surgical removal of all tumor cells. Plus, invasive glioblastoma cells show resistance to TMZ, resulting in the cancer's eventual return and the patient's death, often within a year.Despite recent advances, the median survival of glioblastoma patients is only 15 months, and survival statistics have not significantly improved over the past three decades. More than 16,000 Americans die each year of brain and other nervous system cancers."We simply must find a better way of treating patients with glioblastoma," said Dr. Michael Berens, TGen Deputy Director and one of the study co-authors. "Identifying ATA could bring real hope to these patients by disrupting the cellular pathways that drive glioblastoma and make it such a formidable threat."Previous TGen-led studies have identified how the binding of molecules TWEAK and Fn14 stimulate glioblastoma cells to migrate, invade and survive in healthy brain tissue. The study published today shows that ATA is an agent that suppresses the TWEAK-Fn14 cellular pathway. In doing so, ATA makes the cancer more vulnerable to drug and radiation therapies.Importantly, ATA was identified by screening pharmacologically active compounds for their ability to suppress TWEAK-Fn14 signaling. And ATA provides a great starting point to develop a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of GBM."These data demonstrate that ATA presents a scaffold structure that could be modified in ways to improve its properties and to develop as a potential therapeutic agent to limit invasion and enhance chemotherapeutic drug efficacy in GBM," said Dr. Nhan Tran, the senior and corresponding author of the study.St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine also contributed to this study.The scientific paper, Identification of aurintricarboxylic acid as a selective inhibitor of the TWEAK-Fn14 signaling pathway in glioblastoma cells, was funded by The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation, and by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)."Step-by-step, TGen studies are drawing every closer to substantial improvements in how we treat glioblastoma," said Catherine (Bracken) Ivy, founder and president of the Arizona-based Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation. "Our aim is to help patients survive longer, and eventually find a cure."The study outlines goals for future investigations that will focus on identifying specific cellular signatures that indicate vulnerability to ATA, and using the ATA chemical structure to try modifications, which would become drugs to improve GBM therapy.Source: Eurekalert
The last time India went to war with China, it was the year 1962. Its been 55 years and it looks like the two countries are far from being cordial. The last few years have only made the relations worse. China seems more than prepared to go at war against us but thanks to Twitter, India has already destroyed them. All we needed were a bunch of internet trolls!

Heres how it all started. A Chinese media channel Spectator Index put out a tweet claiming that it would take Chinese motorized troops only 48 hours and paratroops just 10 hours to reach new Delhi if a war broke out.

CHINA: State TV says it would take country's motorised troops 48 hours and its paratroops 10 hours to reach India's capital if war broke out  The Int'l Spectator (@spectatorindex) January 14, 2017

Indians of course, gave them a much needed reality check.

@spectatorindex China does not know that India's capital is protected on all sides by massive tactical traffic jams. @Asif_AAP    Anugrah (@BreakiNews) January 15, 2017

There were definitely some warnings fired.

@spectatorindex hey china this is not the india of 1962,v have made agni 5 & 4 especially for u!V shall use our nuclear weapons in that case  voice of truth (@namo_namah23) January 15, 2017

But mostly trolling.

Dear China, Delhi is well protected by Somnath Bharti's dogs, Kejriwal's tweets and Ashutosh's English. Think twice before taking any step.  Arnab Ray (@greatbong) January 15, 2017

Massive trolling.

Rao Tula Ram Flyover dekha hai? Aur Outer Ring Road? Hahaha. 48 hours, in your dreams. https://t.co/AZVqA5AXEK  Raheel Khursheed (@Raheelk) January 15, 2017

This guy made a valid point.

Crucially, depends on fog situation in Delhi https://t.co/XB0Ds3WzFT  Mihir Sharma (@mihirssharma) January 15, 2017

Burn!

@spectatorindex Hope China has not used "Made In China" parts to motorise their troops because it wil surely fail them in Himalayas. ?  Kiran Patil (@kiranppat) January 15, 2017

Destroyed them with zero arms and ammunition, we repeat.
Innovation

Humans, animals and the environment  our health is all connected

Why the One Health approach is important now more than ever
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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...
May's government is due to trigger the formal, two-year process in March, and begin negotiations to disengage and dissolve arrangements covering everything from trade to immigration and travel.

May said a final deal will be put to parliament for a vote. If approved, the deal would call for a phased implementation.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister May laid out the objectives of what is now clearly going to be a hard Brexit, or clean break that means leaving the single EU market and breaking with the European Court of Justice, as well as assuming control of borders to address the immigration concerns underpinning support for the move.

For months, detractors and opponents of Brexit, Britain's pending departure from the European Union, had accused Prime Minister Theresa May of not having a plan to leave the regional bloc.

 May's Commitment

The speech put an end to months of speculation on whether the prime minister would go ahead with a hard Brexit or opt for what observers termed a "one-foot-in, one-foot-out" arrangement.

May said Britain will want to pursue a free-trade agreement with the European Union.

"This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EU's member states. It should give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets, and let European businesses do the same in Britain," said May.

"But I want to be clear: What I am proposing cannot mean membership of a single market," she said.

May also said Britain will propose an arrangement allowing for freedom of travel between its territory and the remaining 27 EU member states.

 'Truly Global Britain'

"I want us to be a secure, prosperous, tolerant country, a magnet for international talent," May said, adding that Britain would pursue an arrangement in which its nationals could travel freely to the EU as they do now. "You will still be welcome in this country as we hope our citizens will be in yours."

May said any deal, though, must ensure that Britain can control the number of people who travel there from Europe, a key issue among many of those who voted back in June in favor of Brexit.

The British pound tumbled Monday to a new 31-year low in anticipation of May's announcement of a break with the European single market, but rose again on Tuesday after the prime minister's speech.


Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James came into the Pentagon three years ago as a businesswoman with years of experience, but she was also once an aspiring diplomat.

The service's top civilian seat sat vacant for months, filled in the interim by acting undersecretary Eric Fanning, who's now about to step down as Army secretary. When James finally filled the post, she became just the second woman in history to serve as Air Force secretary. She soon found herself in regular meetings with then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and later his successor Ash Carter.

A former staffer on the House Armed Services Committee who went on to hold senior jobs at the Defense Department during the Clinton administration before taking executive jobs at defense contractors including SAIC and United Technologies Corp., James had roughly 30 years of political, management and national security experience on her resume before serving as Air Force secretary.

James, who was clearing off her walls and stowing personal memorabilia into boxes on Tuesday, will officially depart the Pentagon this week. She said she will make herself "available" in an on-call position should President-elect Donald Trump's transition team need guidance, but plans nothing permanent.

To civilian audiences unfamiliar with her job, she once said to think of her as the "CEO of the U.S. Air Force." And as with running any company, she faced both positive and negative challenges -- tasks James says she hopes she handled to the best of her ability and with due diligence.

"I hope I'll be remembered first and foremost for the people [initiative]," James said in an interview with Military.com. She repeatedly has said her priorities for the service to succeed are people, readiness, modernization and making every dollar count.

"All these modernization things are also important, but I hope I'll be remembered [for] stopping the downsizing and starting us on a path of growth again," she said, with special emphasis on expanding the service's arsenal of nuclear weapons and remotely piloted aircraft pilot ranks.

Her list of accomplishments includes "expanding opportunities for women, advocating for a more diverse and inclusive Air Force" from a family focus -- "everything from maternity leave, spouse employment, the [exceptional family member special needs] program -- to the quality of service, [removing] additional duties for airmen, and the focus on sexual assault."

"All of these things go to quality of life, quality of service, so I would hope those would be the top elements of my legacy," she said.

In the interview, James warned the service must continue to focus on countering a rising number of global threats. She talked at length about a number of other topics, from surprises and disappointments in her Air Force career to women in combat to personnel changes and weapons systems. Her comments have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Q: What's been the most surprising and disappointing element of this job?

A: Surprises? It shouldn't have surprised me but I was surprised just how divisive it is on Capitol Hill. How difficult it could be to get point across -- budget I think has driven some of that. But it's also just divisions between the House [of Representatives] and Senate, Republicans and Democrats, the White House  and there's just all of these divisions, which of course we get caught up in. A regret, if I could go back and do something better, or  differently, I wish I could have done more to speed up the acquisition process because despite [programs] that have been started and requests for proposal, they take still, in my opinion, too long. And I promise you, I've been beating the drum and beating the drum and beating the drum, but it's still not to my liking.

Q: Do you think there's a threat to women in combat, and the Air Force's work for integration, with the incoming administration?

A: No. I was very encouraged with what Gen. [James] Mattis said in his confirmation hearing, and after all, he said what we've always said: The standard is the standard. If people can meet the standard, then they ought to have the opportunity to compete. We'll probably have small numbers [of women in combat positions]  across the military services, but if the standard can be met, we will all be stronger for having the best people in these jobs.

Q: You came into this position when the Air Force was drawing down its forces significantly -- some of the smallest numbers since the service's inception -- to ramping up the ranks shortly thereafter. What's the big takeaway there, and looking ahead?

A: My takeaway: Don't take at face value alone PowerPoint presentations that you get in Washington. Take that as a datapoint, but then bounce it off what you see actually happening on the flightline, in the field. Because for me, when I was brand new and got briefed on the budget as it had already been baked, it all made pretty good sense.  Given it was predicted the world conditions were going to go, and given the number of squadrons, and so on, that we said we needed. Then  going out from base to base, it already seemed we were undermanned. Everywhere. So for me, that was the gradual process. It took months to finally gel in my mind that we had already gone too far [cutting the force]. The [latest drawdown] was a substantial downsize. The first year [I was on the job], we had gone through voluntary and one round of involuntary downsizing [in 2014]. After that, we kind of collectively said, no  enough is enough. That next year onward, it's been growth.

RELATED: Air Force Wants 350K Airmen by 2024

Q: Modernizing and tending to the nuclear career field airmen was something you felt really needed nurturing, especially given the corruption and scandals that plagued their ranks before your tenure. What was your goal for this career field?

A: The immediate goal  was to make sure that no matter what the circumstances, that there was safety and security within the nuclear forces in the United States. After convincing myself that the safety and security of the weapons was without question, the next thing was to go public: Tell the Congress, tell the press, the American people, including our own airmen -- we've got a problem here. Third element was let's go out and figure out what we're going to do about this. What became pretty apparent was that it was more than just cheating [on exams]. It was systemic. It had people aspects, readiness aspects, we needed to modernize  and a lot of those things have now been put in place, and I'm pretty comfortable we're on a good path forward. I hope that my successor will take a special interest in this as well, because this is an area, which in the past there have been scandals, and I think people rushed to the scandal. Then changes are made and then [the scandals] go away, and they perhaps don't follow up and check repeatedly. And somehow things seem to slip backward. It's important we not let that happen. And it's why I made such a point of going back myself to these bases. Once again, I can get any presentation I ask for here in Washington  but it's really important to  double check yourself by looking in the field.

Q: What does that mean for nuclear airmen as the U.S. aims to update its nuclear weapons stock?

A: We're on a path to do that .  I think Sen. [John] McCain [R-Arizona] is rolling out a new proposal -- he's got the modernization of the nuclear enterprise in there -- so I think the momentum is there to keep moving forward, and I think that's very important.

Q: Are you concerned for other strained career fields, or believe other fields could whittle away as time goes on?

A: The ones that sometimes backtrack are the areas that don't get a lot of focus just naturally. What does get a lot of focus in the Air Force is the fighter [pilot] community, the combat air forces -- that tends to be where we focus an awful lot of our time and attention. That's where the biggest modernization program of all -- the F-35 [Joint Strike Fighter] -- is. We still need to focus on that, but I'm not so worried we will slip on the focus there. It's the other side of the spectrum, and nuclear [forces] fit on that other side of the spectrum.

Q: Where do "up-and-coming" jobs such as cyber, space and ISR fit on that spectrum?

A: They're very much on the upswing. But in cyber, the world changes annually. You've got to keep up to speed with the newest technologies, threats, so that requires continual focus. You might slip backward because the world might advance and leave you behind because it's constantly changing. I would say the same thing in the space arena. There, we are focused very heavily on a number of things, but most importantly is changing tactics, techniques, procedures to wrap our heads around [the idea] space could end up being a warfighting domain -- where a conflict on Earth extends into space. And we better be ready for that, we better understand how we would operate and how we would defend our assets  whether it's mobility, cyber, fighter pilot, or RPA, all of them ought to have familiarity with what space provides to the enterprise. We need to continue to raise the visibility of space, and raise the funding.

Q: Any concerns for the Air Force partnering on future space programs -- for example, with SpaceX, which had the mishap in September?

A: We have an excellent relationship with SpaceX, and that was not the case earlier on.  The teams have been working very, very well together, and of course we had a lawsuit early on [in 2014], which eventually got settled, and SpaceX has been certified. So we now have a very close, working relationship with them. I don't have any concerns with partnerships, per se. Partnerships have been very important to us. The one program [still incomplete] for me, is OCX [ground control station for the GPS-III satellites], which is still not out of the woods. It's better than it was  but that's another one where the focus needs to stay strong.

Q: The Air Force has put forth a lot of recent initiatives -- aviator bonus hike, transgender airmen integration, relaxation in tattoos and medical waivers. Do you think it's going to be enough to retain and recruit airmen?

A: This is the kind of thing that needs to be monitored year after year. We are still, despite all of our challenges, the highest retention service  than the Army has, than the Navy has, and that's good, because we are a high-tech Air Force. We want a higher skill level. We need to keep those higher ranks. I would say in the next few years, we really have to focus on maintaining our maintainers -- we have a shortage overall -- and many of the maintainers we do have are younger airmen who aren't seasoned. So it's crucial as those [airmen] become seasoned, that we hold onto them.  Sometimes it's a monetary technique, a re-enlistment bonus, but then it's the quality of service, the quality of life.  The better the experience, the more we'll retain.

Q: The Air Force recently released requests for proposals for big programs such as JSTARS, T-X trainers, and in your time, awarded contracts for programs such as the B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber. With an aging fleet, what program needs the most attention?

A: Over the last few years, we've reached [initial operating capability] for the F-35 ...and pilots will sell that program. To a man and to a woman, they say [the stealth jet] is a cut above. So we have to continue to drive the price down, the price for the taxpayer, and all of that is in motion. The KC-46 [refueling tanker] is a little bit farther off, but it's really just around the corner and that too is coming. B-21 was launched over the last year and a half, and is making steady progress, still in early stages of development. The new combat rescue helicopter [HH-60W], that was launched maybe two or three months of me coming on board, and that's going to be a much needed upgrade and modernization for our pararescuemen and helicopter fleet. Then, the nuclear [modernization], the GBSD (Ground Based Strategic Deterrent intercontinental ballistic missile), and LRSO (long range standoff cruise missile). The draft for the UH-1N [Huey] helicopters, the [Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System], T-X -- hopefully EC-130 can get going once we get past the [continuing resolution] -- so a lot of irons in the fire all at once. But they are all needed. Which comes back to, we've got to stop talking and start doing when it comes to lifting sequestration, making sure there's enough topline, modernizing both conventional and nuclear, which is unusual at a point in time to be doing both  but we have to do both. But we can't lose sight on our people and readiness issues either. The reason why we got ourselves into increasing levels of downsizing of people over the course of 20 years is because even when the money was more plentiful, we had burgeoning modernization costs, and we had to pay for it somehow.  We can't do that again.

Q: From a rapid-deployment, operations and training standpoint, how do you perceive global threats as you leave this position?

A: Russia, China, we have to conclude this military fight against [the Islamic State]. Even when we do, it won't be over over because there need to be political solutions. Ideology has to be dealt with. [The Air Force's] piece is military, so that needs to be wrapped up. We need to keep our eye on North Korea. Iran. The "four-plus-one" threat, as you've heard it referred to, is going to remain top of mind, for the next team as well.

RELATED: Russia Keeps Provoking NATO Planes: SecAF

Q: We've devoted 15 years to Afghanistan. Some members of Congress and the American public feel like it's a lost cause. From an air campaign standpoint, it's still very much ongoing. What does that mean for the Air Force?

A: Based on everything I have learned recently about Afghanistan, unlike the fight against [the Islamic State] where there is steady progress, Afghanistan is much more of a standoff. We make gains, the [Taliban or ISIS] makes gains. It goes back and forth. It comes back to the importance of political solutions. Somehow, there is a military solution to [ISIS] to then be followed by political solutions. But when it comes to Afghanistan, my sense is, the political is even more important.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
The Air Force has quietly carried out politically sensitive airdrops of supplies, reportedly including weapons and ammunition, to Syrian rebels that have been vital to the drive against the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa.

The airdrops to the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which have been opposed by NATO ally Turkey, were first reported by USA Today. The main force in the SDF is the Syrian Kurdish YPG, or People's Protection Units, which has been labeled a terrorist group by Turkey.

"Our expanded precision airdrop capability is helping ground forces take the offensive to [the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] and efforts to retake Raqqa," Air Force Gen. Carlton Everhart, commander of Air Mobility Command, told USA Today. He said that the Air Force conducted 16 airdrops last year, including six in December.

The disclosure of the airdrops came as the U.S. conducts airstrikes in support of Turkish troops involved in Operation Euphrates Shield inside Syria in the months-long siege of the ISIS-held town of al-Bab, near the Turkish border.

The U.S. in recent weeks has flown reconnaissance missions for the Turkish troops. "We've also begun conducting strikes against those targets in the vicinity of al-Bab," Air Force Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a briefing from Baghdad to the Pentagon.

In an interview with Military.com on Tuesday, outgoing Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said that airdrops are difficult and complex missions with inherent risks when ammunition and weapons are involved.

"Whenever we airdrop anything, of course, we go for precision; we want it to hit the target," James said. "But doubly important when its ammunition is that it hit the area we want and not stray into enemy lines so that [the] enemy could get it.

"I would say it has to do with the way we package it -- sort of the intricacies of how technically it's dropped so as not to have explosions, not to have damage, and also the degree of precision becomes even more important when you're talking about lethal types of equipment," she said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials have repeatedly called on the U.S. to stop supporting "terrorists" by backing the YPG while railing against the previous refusal of the U.S. to conduct airstrikes around al-Bab.

In a speech last month, Erdogan said, "We are your NATO ally. How on Earth can you support terrorist organizations and not us? Are these terrorist organizations your NATO allies?"

The State Department has called the Turkish charges "ludicrous."

In a sign that tensions with Turkey could be easing, Dorrian said in his briefing that the U.S. airstrikes around al-Bab are "in our mutual interest. This is something we expect to continue doing."

In talks in Moscow earlier this month, Turkey joined with Russia and Iran to announce a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria aimed at a peace conference in Kazakhstan later this month to end Syria's more than five-year-old civil war.

The U.S. was excluded from the Moscow talks, but Russia and Turkey have since indicated that the U.S. might be invited to the Kazakhstan peace conference, tentatively set for next week.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday trumpeted the need for free trade and urged the world to "say no to protectionism," delivering a strong rebuke to isolationist tendencies that helped fuel Donald Trump's presidential election victory.

Focusing on the "double-edged" impact of economic globalization in a speech that alluded variously to Charles Dickens, Greek mythology and Chinese proverbs, the leader of the world's No. 2 economy stressed the need for stability, new vision and perspective that has left many citizens disenfranchised and worried about the future.

His visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is the first by a Chinese president and appears timed to position the country as a leader on the global stage as Western countries increasingly look inward.

"We must remain committed to promoting free trade and investment through opening up and say no to protectionism," Xi told an opening meeting of the WEF. "Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. While wind and rain may be kept outside, so are light and air."

"No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war," he said.

During his campaign, Trump promised to raise tariffs on Chinese goods and declare Beijing guilty of keeping its currency artificially low. That would be a first step toward imposing sanctions. But in fact, for the past couple of years China has been intervening in markets to prop up its currency, not push it lower.

"China has no intention to boost its trade competitiveness by devaluing the renminbi, still less will it launch a currency war," Xi said Tuesday.

Xi made no direct reference to Trump, but his vocal support for free trade and bashing of protectionism could appear rich to other Western countries who have grumbled about commercial restrictions in China that clash with the public assertions from officials.
We at MLBTR would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Marlins right-hander Edinson Volquez, whose 25-year-old brother, Brandy, was stabbed and killed earlier today in Volquezs native Dominican Republic, per a report from Emmanuel Rosario of QuisqueyanoSports.com and this one from ESPN. A suspect is reportedly in custody. Its been a rough couple of years for Volquez and his family, as Volquezs father passed away just prior to his sons start for the Royals in Game 1 of the 2015 World Series.

As we keep Volquez and his family in our thoughts, here are a few more notes from the NL East
The underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has been suspended, with crews completing their deep-sea search of the Indian Ocean without finding a trace of the airliner.

"Today the last search vessel has left the underwater search area. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has not been located in the 120,000 sq.m underwater search area in the southern Indian Ocean," said a statement from the Joint Agency Coordination Center in Australia, which has helped lead the $160 million hunt for the Boeing 777 in remote waters west of Australia.

"Despite every effort using the best science available, cutting-edge technology, as well as modelling and advice from highly skilled professionals who are the best in their field, unfortunately, the search has not been able to locate the aircraft."


Western Michigan Broncos (13-3, 4-1 MAC)

vs. Kent State Golden Flashes (8-9, 2-3 MAC)

Jan. 18, 2017, 7 p.m., Kalamazoo, Mich. (University Arena)



TV - ESPN3

Radio - 1660 AM The Fan with Garrison Diehl

Live Stats - wmu.statbroadcast.com

Twitter - @WMU_WBB

For full release CLICK HERE.
Give Back Thursdays at The Alley Bar

The Alley Bar, 112 W. Liberty, hosts Give Back Thursdays through partnerships with local nonprofits. The business donates 10 percent of its Thursday sales each month to one organization.

(Courtesy photo )

ANN ARBOR, MI - What started as a way for a local business to connect with the community has grown into a program that has donated more than $8,000 to Ann Arbor nonprofits.

Robben Schulz is a managing partner of The Alley Bar, located at 112 W. Liberty, which hosts Give Back Thursdays through partnerships with local nonprofits. The Alley Bar donates 10 percent of its Thursday sales each month to one organization, which is encouraged to attend and publicize the event.

Give Back Thursdays started as a way to get involved in what is happening in the community and to give back to those who had supported the business over the years, Schulz said.

Schulz grew up in Ann Arbor and sees the Alley as a "townie bar, a bar that goes with the tide of the town."

"It really mirrors what's going on in the community so this gives us a chance to give back," Schulz said.

It started in November 2015 and the bar has partnered with more than 10 local nonprofits, including the Autism Alliance of Michigan and this month's Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley. Give Back Thursdays has raised more than $8,000 since its inception, with an average of $600 going back to organizations on a monthly basis.

In December, the program reached its highest donation level of $971.80.

Bilal Saeed is the marketing manager for The Alley Bar and has worked with the local nonprofits since 2015, establishing a schedule for Give Back Thursdays. The program has "really evolved into something bigger," he said.

"Everyone's always willing to give back and help out each other's causes," Saeed said. "It's such a great feeling to see people support one another."

The program is a platform for nonprofits to generate not only revenue but awareness of their mission, and future volunteers and board members, he added.

"At the end of the day, we're not helping someone's annual budget be plush with cash," Saeed said. "It's a lot about that back end of generating exposure."

Give Back Thursdays is almost completely booked through 2017, but organizations can still contact Saeed to be put on the list.

"Now the hard part is trying to help our current players grow and try and find space for everyone," Saeed said. "We wish there were more months in the year."

It may be the second year of the fundraiser, but Schulz believes there is room for it to grow.

"I don't think we've hit the top yet, but it is exciting," Schulz said. "It feels good to give and to do something for people. We knew it could be successful and I'm really very happy with how it's turned out."

The Alley Bar is open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week. For more information, contact Saeed at bilal@pakmode.com.
Blockbuster announcements from the so-called "Detroit Three" automakers so far this year total $2.7 billion in new U.S. automotive investment and thousands of jobs.

Those investments - $1 billion at General Motors, which was announced Jan. 16; $1 billion at Fiat Chrysler; and $700 million at Ford - will support expanding factories, creating new production facilities and establishing cutting-edge manufacturing capability for high-tech automotive advancements.

And Michigan stands to benefit.

The state will see a wave of high-tech manufacturing jobs in the next two years; it also will gain still more technology and engineering jobs created by the automakers, which already make Michigan their R&D home.

Those jobs will join the 200,000 automotive jobs added in Michigan from 2009 through March 2016 - a time when Michigan ranked first in the U.S. for creation of those positions.

"(The announcements are) a vote of confidence in Michigan as a global center of mobility," said Doug Rothwell, president & CEO, Business Leaders for Michigan.

"Investments of this magnitude have to make business sense," he said. "These tell us the auto industry believes Michigan is a place where they can build their future."

The investments include:

General Motors will launch several new vehicle, advanced technology and component projects in the U.S., including at its Warren engineering center. It will result in 1,500 new or retained jobs, bring 550 jobs from Mexico to Michigan with a supplier switch, with another 5,000 estimated jobs to be created in coming years.

FCA plans retooling and modernization of the Warren Truck Assembly Plant and Toledo Assembly in Ohio to produce the all-new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer by 2020, creating 2,000 jobs.

And Ford is adding production of a new electric small SUV and a self-driving hybrid vehicle at its Flat Rock Assembly plant, investing $700 million as it plans to cancel building a new plant in Mexico - and adding 700 jobs in Michigan. It also has a $4.5 billion plan for 11 new electric vehicles over several years, including a hybrid Ford F-150, which will be built in Dearborn.

The announcements, unveiled over the first two weeks of January, are not the only investments planned by the three automakers.

Other plans include one announced in summer: FCA will invest $1.5 billion in its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant to build the next generation Ram 1500, with 700 new jobs to support production.

Ford, meanwhile, is launching its 10-year remaking of its Dearborn campus and a $60 million redevelopment in that city's downtown.

GM has been actively working on its production capacity, adding self-driving auto production to its Lake Orion facility while it ends 2nd shift production in Hamtramck, with a loss of 1,200 jobs.

The timing of the Detroit Three announcements precede the inauguration of Donald Trump, who takes office on Friday, January 20. And they follow the weeks of uncertainty between the November election and Trump taking office, when he indicated displeasure at international production and potential border tax for products made in Mexico.

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell toured the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last week with other Michigan Congressional leaders.

Dingell said that automakers are telling her they want to find a way to work within the Trump administration's approach to job creation and trade.

"They want to figure out how to work with him," she said last week.

She also said on Tuesday that Michigan's workforce and know-how will continue to keep it a leader in transportation and mobility.

"We are all committed at the federal, state and local levels to working with manufacturers, labor and all stakeholders to do everything we can to keep Michigan at the forefront of innovation and technology and keep jobs in this country," Dingell said.

University of Michigan economists forecast an additional 91,600 jobs added to the state by 2018, according to research last fall. Automotive jobs - within professional services and trade-transportation-utilities categories - were targeted to be among the top 4 categories, along with construction and leisure & hospitality.

That growth would take Michigan to the job levels of 2003, according to researchers. It also would mean the state will replace 7 of 10 jobs lost from 2000-2009 by the end of 2018.

Macomb County Administrator Mark Hackel, speaking Tuesday at the Detroit Economic Club, said the investment of the Detroit Three remains a big deal in Southeast Michigan, affecting employees, suppliers and communities.

"What we do in this region, from concept to consumer, can't be replicated anywhere else in the world," Hackel said.
FZimpact.JPG

Nate Koetje, CEO of Feyen Zylstra, explains the FZimpact program to employees on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

(Jim Harger | Mlive Media Group)

WALKER, MI - Feyen Zylstra, a West Michigan-based electrical contractor, announced it will pay its 450 employees to take up to eight hours of paid time off to volunteer in their communities.

Dubbed FZimpact, the program is designed to push the company's mission of having a positive effect on the lives of people, said CEO Nate Koetje at a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

The program is available to all employees at the company's Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Detroit, South Carolina, and Nashville locations. Company employees can offer their volunteer hours to the charity of their choice.

"Feyen Zylstra has a long-history of being a good corporate neighbor, but the launch of FZimpact allows our team members to volunteer at organizations that are of personal interest to them," Koetje said.

"We are committed to building healthy, energizing work environments which then flows through to our customers and passion for helping them solve their problems. If we do that well then we will have an opportunity to impact the communities we live and work in," Koetje said.

"We've seen the impact that our corporate involvement has had in the communities we serve," said E.B. Sonheim, community relations manager at Feyen Zylstra and coordinator of the FZimpact program.

"We felt with FZimpact, our employees could expand on our corporate giving and contribute to organizations and events that are near and dear to them."

Headquartered in a former elementary school in Walker, the 36-year-old company has enjoyed strong growth in the past several years.

"Our growth has come by differentiating ourselves through people and partnerships, as well as the innovative solutions we provide," Koetje said. "We believe we are responsible for our own outcomes.
Opening Downtown

"Seasons" is the awe-inspiring and thought-provoking tale of the long and tumultuous shared history that binds humankind with the natural world. After traveling the world alongside migrating birds ("Winged Migration") and diving the oceans with whales and manta rays ("Oceans"), filmmaking team Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud explore the lush green forests and megafauna that emerged across Europe following the last Ice Age. Featuring exceptional footage of animals in the wild, "Seasons" opens Friday.

In "The Brand New Testament," God exists, and He's a jerk. Living in a high-rise apartment in Brussels, He takes sadistic delight in dreaming up new "laws" to torment humanity and He's a petty tyrant to His ten year-old daughter, Ea. Ea has had enough of her Father's abuse, so she hacks into His computer and leaks to the entire world - by text message - the only thing He has over them: their inevitable death date. With her Father in pursuit, Ea writes her own New Testament to try to fix the mess her Father has made of humanity. "The Brand New Testament" opens Friday.

Special Screenings Downtown

"Fire at Sea" takes place in Lampedusa, a once peaceful Mediterranean island that has become a major entry point for African refugees into Europe. We meet Samuele, a boy who lives simply, climbing rocks and playing with his slingshot. Yet nearby we also witness thousands of men, women and children trying to survive the crossing from Africa in boats that are too small for such a journey!. "Fire at Sea" plays Thursday January 19.

The Korean Cinema Now film series premieres with "The Age of Shadows." A Korean police captain in the Japanese police force, is given a special mission to infiltrate the armed resistance fighting for Korean independence. He approaches a leader of the resistance, and soon these two men who stand on opposite sides become close without revealing their inner thoughts. Presented by the Nam Center for Korean Studies at U-M "The Age of Shadows" plays Saturday January 21 at 1 PM. Admission is free!

The "KURO: The Dark Edge of Japanese Filmmaking" film series continues with two great films. In "Tokyo Drifter," Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo is looking forward to his forced retirement after his gang is disbanded. But when he refuses an offer he shouldn't, what follows is a blood-soaked take on the wandering Samurai. In "Branded to Kill," Hanada, a.k.a. "No. 3 Killer," the third-best hit man in Japanese organized crime has got a problem: the hunter has become the hunted thanks to a single missed shot. "Tokyo Drifter" plays Monday January 23 at 7 PM; "Branded to Kill" follows at 9:30 PM.

The Science on Screen series is back with "I Voted?" An unknown South Carolina candidate inexplicably wins his U.S. Senate primary in a landslide, despite never having campaigned. Filmmaker Jason Grant Smith sets out on a personal odyssey to expose the loopholes and pitfalls of our electoral system. The screening features a special post-screening presentation by J. Alex Halderman, PhD., Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Director of the Center for Computer Security and Society at the University of Michigan (he's featured in the film). "I Voted?" plays Wednesday January 25 at 7 PM.

One of the truly legendary musicals in the history of Broadway, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG opened to enormous fanfare in 1981, and closed after sixteen performances. The film "Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened" draws back the curtain on the extraordinary drama of that show's creation - and tells the stories of the hopeful young performers whose lives were transformed by it. Directed by Lonny Price, a member of the original cast, "Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened" plays Thursday and Friday, January 26-27.

Opening at the Multiplex

In "20th Century Women," during the summer of 1979, a Santa Barbara single mom and boardinghouse landlord (Annette Bening) decides the best way she can parent her teenage son (Lucas Jade Zumann) is to enlist her young tenants - a quirky punk photographer (Greta Gerwig), a mellow handyman (Billy Crudup) and her son's shrewd best friend (Elle Fanning) - to serve as role models in a changing world. "20th Century Women" opens Friday.

"The Founder" tells the true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. The film details how Kroc maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire. "The Founder" opens Friday.

"Split" is the latest film from plot-twist master M. Night Shyamalan. Even though Kevin (James McAvoy) has evidenced 23 personalities to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher, there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. When he is compelled to abduct three teenage girls, Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him - as well as everyone around him. "Split" opens Friday.

In "xXx: Return of Xander Cage," extreme athlete turned government operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) comes out of self-imposed exile and finds himself on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon. "xXx: Return of Xander Cage" opens Friday.

In "The Resurrection of Gavin Stone," a washed-up former child star is forced to do community service at a local megachurch and pretends to be Christian to land the part of Jesus in their annual Passion Play, only to discover that the most important role of his life is far from Hollywood. "The Resurrection of Gavin Stone" opens Friday.

See you at the movies!



From Russell B. Collins

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Director, State & Michigan Theaters - Ann Arbor

Founder/Director, Art House Convergence - Utah

Artistic Dir./Founder, Cinetopia Festival Detroit/A2

Strengthening communities with persistent creativity


ANN ARBOR, MI - The city of Ann Arbor could have a preliminary design for a new Amtrak station in hand by this summer.

The City Council voted 8-3 Tuesday night, Jan. 17, to approve a $2.14 million contract with Neumann/Smith Architecture for preliminary design and engineering services, as well as continuation of public engagement efforts.

Rita Mitchell, a member of Protect A2 Parks, a citizens group making the case for an Amtrak station on Depot Street instead of Fuller Park, speaks out at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on Jan. 17, 2017.

City officials want Neumann/Smith to be ready to go as soon as the Federal Railroad Administration signs off on a location for a new station.

Options on Depot Street, where the existing station is located, and in Fuller Park, on a parking lot in front of the University of Michigan Hospital, remain under consideration, said Eli Cooper, the city's transportation program manager.

There already are conceptual layout options for both sites. Neumann/Smith will be tasked with drafting more detailed plans for the site that is chosen.

That includes a preliminary site design and layout, with architectural and engineering design for both internal and external components of a new station, including onsite utility design, traffic engineering and analysis, coordination of private utility relocation work, landscape architecture and land surveying.

The city submitted a draft environmental assessment to the FRA in December and the city and FRA are now going back and forth on revisions before a final report is released, identifying a preferring location. Once that process is done, which could be soon, there will be a 30-day public review period.

Council members who voted to approve the contract for the next phase include Mayor Christopher Taylor, Zachary Ackerman, Jason Frenzel, Julie Grand, Graydon Krapohl, Chip Smith, Chuck Warpehoski and Kirk Westphal.

Those who voted against the contract, arguing the project should be put on hold, were Jack Eaton, Sumi Kailasapathy and Jane Lumm.

The estimated total cost for the preliminary design and engineering is $2.37 million, including the $2.14 million contract with Neumann/Smith and a city staff budget of $234,884. An unallocated contingency of $101,131 is expected to remain in the project budget for use if necessary.

If the entire amount of the Neumann/Smith contract and the contingency is used, the total cost would be nearly $2.5 million.

Of that amount, the city expects 80 percent -- or nearly $2 million -- to be covered by federal grant funds, with $494,265 coming from the city.

Cooper said $342,665 worth of city funds already are available in the project budget previously established by council, so an additional $151,600 is what's coming from the general fund cash reserves at this time.

Once the FRA gives the OK to proceed into the next phase, Neumann/Smith is expected to move swiftly to complete preliminary engineering documents, resulting in what Cooper describes as "30% design drawings." After that, the city plans to seek additional federal funds to complete a final station design.

The city's Capital Improvements Plan shows $2.6 million in planned expenses for completion of a final design, plus $44.5 million for station construction. After the design is done, the project goes to voters for approval, possibly in 2018.

The city is counting on a significant portion of the funding, potentially 80 percent, to come from the federal government.

The city has a May 31 deadline to submit invoices for the preliminary design work under the current federal grant.

Cooper said the city is coordinating with the FRA and the Michigan Department of Transportation to explore options to continue the work past May, and it's possible the federally funded portion could be done by May 31, after which Neumann/Smith will use the city funds to finish the work. A city staff memo provided to council suggests the work could be completed in July.

Amtrak ridership in Ann Arbor from 1994 to 2016.

Council members discussed the fact that Amtrak ridership has been decreasing in the last few years, though there were different takes on that.

Cooper and some council members argued the existing station already is inadequate and doesn't meet today's passenger needs from a functionality standpoint, with inadequate parking and accessibility for people with disabilities, and they believe it's also important to plan for the future.

Ackerman, D-3rd Ward, said it's clear fluctuations in oil and gas prices correlate strongly with Amtrak ridership.

"And in the last three, four years, we have seen gas prices at the pump reach, in the near term, extreme lows," he said, arguing gas prices will go up again and so will Amtrak ridership in Ann Arbor.

"When you're negotiating whether or not to make the 140-mile drive to Chicago or take the train, gas prices increasing will obviously make rail a cheaper option in the future," Ackerman said, identifying speed and service reliability as two other factors he believes will lead to future ridership increases.

"Over the last decade, MDOT has purchased a passenger priority along the rail line between Detroit and Chicago, meaning passenger trains no longer have to sit by the side of the track in order to wait for freight trains to go by, which also means that you can get to Chicago from Ann Arbor in five hours flat, or vice versa. That is reliable and you can usually take that to the bank," Ackerman said.

"And by the end of this year, there will be a significant portion of the track between Dearborn and Chicago that, through incremental improvements, will allow trains to reach maximum speeds of 110 mph, up from the current 80 mph, which will from Kalamazoo to Dearborn shave off 30 minutes of travel time."

As for a new station, Ackerman said, it's not a matter of "build it and they will come," but more so "they will come and we will need it."

Lumm, an independent from the 2nd Ward, argued this was a natural break point to pause the train station project, which she has questioned for years.

"We've been at this for a decade now," she said, arguing a significant amount of money has been spent planning for a new station.

She said the underlying premise for a new station seemed to be that the existing station is too small to accommodate huge increases in ridership, and she questions the projections that ridership will increase dramatically.

She said the history of the project reads like a sad novel with numerous setbacks and delays and she's concerned taxpayer money is being wasted.

Eaton, D-4th Ward, suggested the city needs to think hard about how much farther down the road it's willing to go. Even if the city gets federal funds to cover 60-80 percent of the cost of constructing a $40 million station, he said, that's $8-$16 million that might have to come from the city.

Eaton said the southeast Michigan regional transit tax failed in November, so commuter rail between Ann Arbor and Detroit is not happening anytime soon. He said it will be at least a couple years before that goes back to voters for a second try, and in the meantime the city could get a better sense of what the new administration in Washington is going to do with rail funding.

Taylor echoed other council members in saying it has been a long and frustrating process to get the project off the ground, but he believes it's necessary to keep moving forward. He said it's important for the city to offer residents different transportation options and one of them is rail service.

Though the regional transit tax failed to win support from voters across southeast Michigan, it had support in Wayne and Washtenaw counties.

"I don't have the exact figures here for Ann Arbor, but I've been looking over the precinct-by-precinct figures, and you're hard pressed to find one where it doesn't win 2 to 1," Taylor said, arguing that shows Ann Arbor residents are interested in improved transit services, including rail service.

Taylor said he doesn't think a new train station will automatically mean increased ridership. He said the long-term projections are based on structural changes in society and the region, and he argued it's prudent and wise for the city to make sure its transportation infrastructure satisfies all users, a major component of which in the future, he believes, will be rail users.

Smith, D-5th Ward, said the region is growing and there's going to be great future demand for ways to commute between Ann Arbor and Detroit without a car, so he thinks building a new train station is a valuable infrastructure investment.

Krapohl, D-4th Ward, agreed, saying the transportation system of the future is not going to be as car-centric.
CHELSEA, MI - A row of portraits of every Chelsea High School student and staff member runs through the halls of the school, serving as a visual reminder that all 958 of them matter.

The project, unveiled Tuesday, Jan. 17, was born from a desire to bring the school community together following the deaths of three CHS students since October 2015, including two by suicide.

Led by students, the CHS art and counseling departments developed the concept of a #WhyYouMatter campaign to emphasize each person's unique contributions to their community. Art allowed students and staff alike to channel their emotions into action.

"We're just trying to get people to express their emotions, because it's a small community and it's hurting and nobody really knew what to do," said Laura Naar, an art teacher who helped coordinate the project with art teacher Geo Rutherford.

Students spent months working on the #WhyYouMatter campaign, which came to fruition Monday when teachers had the chance to see the portraits all hung for the first time on their in-service day.

Having school canceled due to the icy conditions Tuesday meant the high schoolers didn't get to see the finished product before the public unveiling planned for that evening. But Naar said the process of creating the project already has been a meaningful experience.

"Every photo you're going to see is a discussion," she said. "There was a discussion leading up to that about something important."

In conjunction with conversations and events planned by the counseling department related to mental health and suicide prevention, English teachers helped students prepare for their participation in the #WhyYouMatter campaign. They had class discussions or wrote essays about their identities, Naar said.

When the students were ready for their portraits, they wrote their #WhyYouMatter statement on a whiteboard and student photographers captured the image. Students also edited the black-and-white photos, printed them and coordinated volunteers to hang them in the school on Sunday.

Rutherford and Naar documented the process and set up a website as a guide to other schools that may want to replicate the project.

"We decided to do it as a public art project because when artists are sad or upset or they've had something that they've struggled through, then their response is to make art," Rutherford said.

Some students were unsure about the project at first or didn't know what to write for their #WhyYouMatter statement, said senior Nora Krusinski, 17, who helped her peers work through that process.

"I would talk about what this project meant to me and what it meant to the art teachers," said Krusinski, who estimated she personally took more than 100 portraits and edited about 200 of them. "Everyone approaches this so differently. It's been like an eye-opener for me to see how other people view suicide and depression and anxiety, because I've always had my viewpoint and so it's kind of interesting to learn what they think too."

Senior Meagan O'Hara, 18, said CHS students seem more comfortable expressing themselves and checking in with each other since they launched the #WhyYouMatter campaign. A presentation at the school by former Detroit Lion Eric Hipple, who now is an outreach coordinator at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center, was helpful, O'Hara added.

"People are coming out, coming forward and being like, 'I'm not doing so well, can you help me? Or are there any resources that I can use?'" she said. "It's just made the whole atmosphere of Chelsea High School very much more understanding, much more empathetic toward each other in that we're all going through something and we all don't know what the other person's story is.

"This is a really good way to just get a little insight on somebody's life and how they're feeling," O'Hara added, pointing to the row of portraits behind her.

Senior Michaela Maynard, sophomore Jacqueline Taylor and senior Alannah Saxton - who all helped with the portrait project - said working on the #WhyYouMatter campaign helped them get to know their classmates better. Taylor said she realized she had more in common with some people than she initially thought.

In addition to the portraits, students also were encouraged to tweet to their peers or school staff telling them #WhyYouMatter to the community. The tweets are written on a bulletin board in the school, and there's another board where members of the community will be encouraged to write their own #WhyYouMatter statements.

One hallway is designated as a place for reflection, where people will have the chance to write an anonymous comment about what they thought of the portraits and tape it to the wall. The portraits will be displayed for about three weeks, said Jason Murphy, a school counselor who worked on the #WhyYouMatter campaign.

"They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and this is a thousand pictures speaking a thousand words of us coming together," Murphy said. "We're going to be strong and we're in this together."

Anyone in crisis can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Washtenaw Alive - Suicide Prevention Coalition has information on other local resources.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Even before considering possible ridership increases, Ann Arbor's Amtrak station already is inadequate and doesn't meet today's passenger needs, argues Eli Cooper, the city's transportation program manager.

"I would invite council members, members of the community, to come out and experience the existing Ann Arbor Amtrak station during periods of heavy use," Cooper told the City Council on Tuesday night, Jan. 17.

Eli Cooper, Ann Arbor transportation program manager.

"The waiting room is substandard for the complement of passengers boarding trains today. This is based on the current ridership."

Cooper's remarks came just before the council voted 8-3 to approve a contract for preliminary design and engineering for a new station.

Responding to a question about how much the need for a new station hinges on the realization of ambitious future ridership projections showing more than 12 times the amount of people using Ann Arbor's Amtrak station, Cooper seemed to acknowledge the projections might be overly optimistic.

"The anticipated commuter service and the forecast and projection for future growth in both rail ridership and use at this station are, if you will, perhaps not well founded, but the need for the initial investment is in order to remedy the defects of the current station," Cooper told council members.

"About a week or so ago, I happened to pass the parking lot. It was full. As a matter of fact, it was overfull with cars parked haphazardly on lawn areas and the like, so the purpose and need for the project was well established several years ago based on the conditions existent at the existing station."

There were 122,534 boardings and deboardings at the Amtrak station on Depot Street in 2016, down 18 percent from three years earlier.

Future projections the city has been citing suggest that could climb to 969,000 by 2035, assuming the number of Amtrak daily roundtrips along the Detroit-Chicago line increases from three to 10, with potentially 516,000 additional boardings/deboardings in Ann Arbor from regional commuter rail.

The long-term Amtrak ridership projections are derived from a June 2014 report prepared for the Michigan Department of Transportation by Transportation Economics & Management Systems Inc. City officials maintain the Federal Rail Administration has required the city to use that report's ridership forecasts for the planning for the station in Ann Arbor.

Officials have cited various reasons for the recent ridership declines, including low gas prices that have more people hopping in their cars.

There also were disruptions to Amtrak schedules through much of 2016 that are believed to have impacted ridership as improvements to state-owned railroad infrastructure between Battle Creek and Jackson were completed.

Michigan Department of Transportation contractors, including Amtrak, completed construction in Calhoun and Jackson counties on 41 miles of track last year.

That included replacing 26,000 railroad ties, repairing or installing 15 track switches, realigning or modifying 29 railroad curves, repairing 23 railroad grade crossings and improving road profiles at crossings.

Amtrak also continued to improve the signal system controlling rail traffic on MDOT's rail segment east of Kalamazoo.

Amtrak announced modified service schedules last April, saying work would continue through September. The agency announced the completion of the year's construction activities in November, saying full service was restored.

Amtrak says the work done last year continues the improvement of state-owned railroad infrastructure as part of Michigan's Accelerated Rail Program, with the result being improved reliability and a smoother ride for customers, along with an expansion of the Midwest's first 110-mph Amtrak service.

It's those high-speed rail improvements along the Detroit-Chicago line, combined with the possibility of commuter rail between Ann Arbor and Detroit eventually at some point in the future, and the possibility of rising gas prices and increasing traffic congestion forcing more people to look at transit options, that have Ann Arbor officials betting on a future in which rail service grows.

But according to Cooper, whether or not that growth is realized, Ann Arbor needs an improved train station.

Council Members Jack Eaton, Sumi Kailasapathy and Jane Lumm voted against moving forward into the next phase of design.

"This is a project that's been consistently behind schedule and over budget," Lumm argued. "I'm not sure what makes us think that won't continue. A good portion of the local dollars already invested are gone, and I fear, wasted. And we sit here tonight being asked to commit another $500,000 of taxpayer money."

Lumm noted the environmental review phase hasn't been completed yet, and a site for a new station hasn't been chosen yet.

"But because of the delays along the way, the clock is running out on the grant funding, so we're now being asked to scramble and dive in to the next phase immediately," she said. "That's just not how we should be doing things."

The existing Amtrak station next to the Broadway Street bridges over Depot Street and the railroad first opened in early 1983.

Possible locations for a new station include Depot Street, where the existing station is located, and in Fuller Park, on a parking lot in front of the University of Michigan Hospital. The city also has looked at the possibility of returning the historic Michigan Central Railroad Depot on Depot Street, which has been the home of the Gandy Dancer restaurant since the 1970s, to use as a train station.

DTE Energy wants to partner with the city on a riverfront redevelopment that would have a new train station integrate with a new mixed-use development on a 14-acre, DTE-owned property across the tracks from the existing station on Depot Street. Some see the potential synergy there, in a location that's walkable to downtown, as preferable, though others like the idea of a station on Fuller Road in front of University of Michigan Hospital, which could attract U-M commuters.

Riverfront redevelopment in Ann Arbor could incorporate new train station

Ann Arbor releases report showing 4 options for new Amtrak train station
womensmarchannarbor

Co-hosted by Michigan to Believe In and Progressives at the University of Michigan, the Women's March Ann Arbor event is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, in conjunction with thousands of other marches taking place throughout the country.

(Photo provided l Women's March Ann Arbor)

ANN ARBOR, MI - In solidarity with a march expected to draw hundreds of thousands to Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Jan. 21, organizations are planning a march in Ann Arbor as part of a national effort advocating for women's rights.

Co-hosted by Michigan to Believe In and Progressives at the University of Michigan, the Women's March Ann Arbor event is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday in conjunction with other marches taking place throughout the country.

The Ann Arbor event begins in downtown outside the federal building at 200 E. Liberty St. Participants are asked to arrive beginning at 1:30 p.m., with the march starting at 2 p.m., ending at the U-M Diag around 3 p.m. Live music and guest speakers are on tap for the event.

In addition to women's rights, the march is intended to highlight upholding the rights of all, including the LGBTQ community, immigrant and people of color, as well as religious freedom.

Among those expected to speak at the march are U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell; UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada; community and civil rights activist Michelle Elizabeth Brown; Ashley Wilson of U-M Students for Choice; racial justice and immigration rights activist Maria Ibarra-Frayre; Claire Cepuran and Robert Joseph, co-founders of Progressives at the University of Michigan; Michelle Regalado Deatrick, founder of the progressive group Michigan to Believe In and vice chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.

"We will march to uphold and protect the rights of all in a time when those rights are being called into question," Cepuran said in an email. "We stand in solidarity with women, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, people of color and people of all religions. As the marchers come together for our rally on the Diag, we're looking forward to hearing our inspiring lineup of speakers discuss these important issues."

The march is modeled after the Women's March on Washington event that is scheduled on Saturday -- the day after the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.

According to the Associated Press, city planners in Washington, D.C., are anticipating Trump's presidential inauguration will draw numbers similar to President Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013, which drew more than 800,000.

Women's March on Washington organizers said in applying for a demonstration permit that they expected 200,000 people.

The Facebook group for Women's March Ann Arbor currently anticipates at least 1,600 people for Saturday's march in Ann Arbor, with another 1,900 considering attending as of 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Joseph, the president of Progressives for the University of Michigan, said the event in Ann Arbor gives those in the community who are unable to attend the march in Washington an opportunity to join a like-minded march close to home.

"Given how closely the inclusive and intersectional mission of the Women's March in (Washington) mirrors that of Progressives at the University of Michigan, we're very excited to co-organize a sister march ending with a rally right here on campus," Joseph said in an email. "It's especially important considering that many students cannot afford the time or expense to travel all the way to DC for the weekend -- our march will make their voices heard from their own community, Ann Arbor."

Michigan to Believe In founder Michelle Regalado Deatrick said the march comes at a time when she believes the march serves as a vehicle to speak out against the potential cuts to vital government services, making it important to advocate for the rights of all citizens.

"We face the prospect of a government that has vague rhetoric--but no real plan to improve the lives of working Americans," Deatrick said in an email. "And we face the reality of a new leader of our country who rejects fundamental principles of both equality and justice. We must stand together--because if not now, then when will we?"

In Ypsilanti, there also is a march for "Love, Resilience & Action," offering "a positive outlet for local citizens concerned about the implications of the new presidential administration and its policies."

The post-inaugural march begins at noon at Bona Sera, 200 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti. A preparation for the march is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, in the downstairs area of Bona Sera, to gather and make banners and signs, in addition to performance with an open microphone.

"We wanted to offer a positive alternative to the sadness that many of us are going to feel on Inauguration Day," said Mariah Zeisberg, a steering committee member of Love, Resilience, Action Ypsi, the group organizing the march, in a news release. " We want to inaugurate our own vision of an interconnected future. We are gathering with our neighbors so that we can know each other across some of the divisions that separate us; gathering together as specific people so that we can support each other better in our own neighborhoods for the challenges heading our way."
Michigan Daily Life 03

Fines Younger, 5, learns how to turn the lights and sound the siren from Flint Police Officer Nelson Hadley while sitting in the driver's seat of police car while law enforcement agencies gather for Light Up the City on Thursday, June 9, 2016, at Cook Park on the city's east side. More than 70 Flint residents participated in an effort to form bonds and build trust with police officers in the community.

(Jake May | MLive.com)

Michigan State Police Tpr. Travis Pohl looks to the net as Dejuan Jones, 14, reaches up his hand to guard him during a game of basketball at Stone Elementary on Thursday, August 25, 2016. Michigan State Police Tpr. Smith and Pohl saw a group of teens playing basketball and joined in. "The trust we build and the relationship that we have with the youth in the city of Saginaw is very important to us," he said.

BAY CITY, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder is seeking citizens' feedback on their level of trust in Michigan's police officers.

To that end, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (or MCOLES) has released an online survey. The survey is designed to help MCOLES "gauge public trust as it works to complete a study" for the governor.

"The goal is to determine how residents and law enforcement can work together to make local communities safe and secure," according to an MCOLES press release.

The survey remains open until March 20.

In October, Snyder issued a directive ordering MCOLES to "undertake a study and produce by May 1, 2017, a public report addressing the topic of fostering public trust in law enforcement."

There are 14 prompts in the anonymous survey. Among them are requests for citizens to share their opinions on how communities and police can work together to build stronger relationships. The survey also asks civilians to offer their opinions on the degree of satisfaction they have in their interactions with police, what qualities police agencies should look for in hiring new officers, and how much dignity and respect they feel officers show them.

MCOLES is a state commission that sets standards for the law enforcement profession in Michigan, including recruiting, training, and professional licensing.

"Community engagement and community policing activities can advance the legitimacy of law enforcement across the state," said Commission Chair and Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton. "Only through community partnerships can law enforcement reduce crime and disorder at the local level. The report will offer practical steps that can be taken to strengthen police community relations and enhance the legitimacy of law enforcement in Michigan."

Once the survey is complete, its findings will offer a set of recommendations to strengthen public trust and confidence in law enforcement in communities across Michigan. Snyder also directed MCOLES to "consider the status of community relationships and what factors can impact the public's trust."

As all communities are not the same and local residents have unique issues and concerns that need to be addressed, responses will be organized and evaluated by MCOLES workgroups and the comments will form the basis for the final recommendations of the report.

MCOLES also has established a special e-mail box so citizens can freely share general ideas. All comments will be considered, but MCOLES wants respondents to focus on police community relations in their area. To submit general comments, or submit documents for consideration, residents should send an email to MCOLES-ExecDir2016-2@michigan.gov.

Those responding to the survey or e-mail box will not be identified personally. MCOLES asks for a zip code to ensure all areas of Michigan are surveyed and there are three questions that ask for gender, race, and age. The survey does not ask for names or other personal information.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday told reporters that Dokdo is Japanese territory, adding he "cannot accept" a decision by Gyeonggi Province the previous day to set up a statue symbolizing the victims of sexual slavery by imperial Japan during World War II on the islets.

Tokyo appears to be launching a fresh campaign to assert its flimsy colonial-era claim to Korea's Dokdo Islets.

Seoul condemned the statements. "It's deplorable that Tokyo has reasserted this unreasonable claim," Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck told reporters. "We urge Japan to give up asserting its vain claim to Dokdo."

In the absence of the Japanese ambassador, who has been recalled over a similar statue in Busan, the ministry called in the charge d'affaires at the Japanese Embassy to protest.

Kishida added he will "take all things into consideration," hinting that Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine may delay his return to Seoul. Nagamine was expected to return this week.

Tokyo's grandstanding is largely aimed at shoring up domestic support, which has duly risen since the envoy was recalled.

The Abe administration in an Asahi Shimbun poll this weekend scored a 54 percent approval rating, up four percentage points from a month earlier and a 39-month high. A whopping 75 percent of respondents supported Tokyo's response to the statue in Busan.


Hyundai on Tuesday announced plans to invest US$3.1 billion in the U.S. over the next five years. The announcement follows U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threat to slap a 35 percent tax on car imports from Mexico, where Hyundai makes cars for the American market.

"We have to be committed to the U.S. market -- a strategically important market which can make or break our global success," Hyundai Motor president Chung Jin-haeng told reporters.

The planned investment is more than 50 percent higher than the $2.1 billion Hyundai spent in the U.S. over the last five years.

Hyundai has a car plant in Alabama, while affiliate Kia owns a factory in Georgia capable of producing 710,000 vehicles a year.

Chung said the plans have nothing to do with Trump's threat. "The amount is just 30 percent of the W12.5 trillion we invested in Korea last year (US$1=W1,171)," a Hyundai staffer said. But industry watchers note that the announcement is closely timed with Trump's inauguration on Friday.

Toyota has already announced plans to invest $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years but also said this has nothing to do with Trump's threat.

The U.S. is a key market for Hyundai and Kia. The world's second largest market after China, it accounted for 17 percent of their global sales last year.

Kia spent W1 trillion building a factory in Mexico last year capable of producing 400,000 cars a year, which is going to cost Hyundai dearly if it has to move its whole manufacturing base to the U.S.


LANSING, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder delivered his annual State of the State address last night, focusing on the state's successes and in some cases, successful individuals.

He mentioned a lot of folks during the hour-long address, but here are some of the highlights:

Four female students interested in STEM careers met the governor for what he thought was a photo op last year, but ended up giving him their elevator pitches on including more females in those industries. Samantha White, Taylor Murray, Sophie Steiner and Katie Knox started the "Students for Females In STEM" group at East Lansing High School.

The governor invited them to attend his State of the State address, where he mentioned their efforts and talked about the importance of education, skilled trades and high-tech careers in Michigan.

The dairy industry got a shout-out from the governor, who has met with wide approval in the state's agricultural community. Michigan's cows are the second-most productive in the nation in milk production per capita, the Governor said, joking that the number one state would have to "Moooove on over."

He also mentioned Steve Cooper of Continental Dairy Facilities, Inc., who helped design a new processing plant in Cooperville.

Sgt. Nicholas Mitchell and Sgt. Saykham Keophalychanh won sniper competitions and a mention from Snyder, who joked that Michigan's deer had better watch out. Both are members of the Michigan National Guard.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has partnered with the governor on a number of issues post-bankruptcy. He was in the audience and earned a shout-out from the governor for the Detroit Promise program, which helps the city's K-12 students pay for college once they leave the school system.

Lawmakers got mentions for some of their work around the Capitol. Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing, was mentioned for his work on the Michigan Task Force on Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse.

Congressional members were also in the audience, and Snyder acknowledged their attendance.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver and Gov. Rick Snyder have had their differences as they work to help the city recover from its water crisis, but also moments of working together. Snyder mentioned her during the speech and talked about accelerating pipe replacement.

In a statement released afterward, Weaver thanked the governor for his pledge for continued help, but said the city still lacked resources for pipe replacement.

"Although we've replaced pipes leading to nearly 800 homes, we still don't have enough money from the state and federal governments to fulfill my pledge to replace all the lead-tainted service lines leading to nearly 20,000 homes over the next three years through my FAST Start program. That needs to change," Weaver said.

Earnie Meily

is the vice president of community development at Clemens Food Group, which announced a huge new pork processing plant in Michigan. The Governor mentioned that success in his speech.
One intelligence source said, "The number of North Korean diplomats who defected to South Korea last year stands in the double digits." The source added that includes not just diplomats but also high-ranking officials from Room 39, the Workers Party office that manages leader Kim Jong-un's private coffers, and military officers.

Thae was speaking at a conference hosted by conservatives who defected from the Saenuri Party to launch their own. Intelligence sources say there has been a marked increase in defections among the North Korean elite since last July, when Thae fled to the South with his family.

"A significant number of diplomats came to South Korea," Thae Yong-ho said. "Even now, there are a number waiting to head to the South."

Several North Korean diplomats have recently defected to South Korea but the news has been kept quiet, the former No. 2 in the North Korean Embassy in London said Tuesday.

One former government official who had access to debriefings of mid- and high-ranking defectors, said, "The biggest reason for the surge was intense pressure to send money back to the North in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Workers Party and the seventh Workers Party congress.

"If they failed to raise dollars, they fled for fear of punishment, and if they did meet the quota, they still defected because they realized that there is no future for them in the North."

A Unification Ministry official said there are 15 red-letter days this year alone, including the 75th birthday of former leader Kim Jong-il, the 105th birthday of nation founder Kim Il-sung and the 85th anniversary of the military, and the festivities all have to be paid for. "This is going to be one exhausting year for North Korean diplomats," he added.

Thae said the Achilles heel of Kim Jong-un is his birth to a mistress of his father's who was born in Japan, which is regarded as tainted blood in North Korea's purity-obsessed ideology. "Kim Jong-un faces many obstacles if he is to follow in his father's footsteps and publicize who his mother is," he said.

"Kim has been ruling for six years now but still can't declare his birthday an official holiday because hes still having problems legitimizing his lineage," a source said.

Thae said South Korea should try to bring about the collapse of the North Korean regime through the influx of outside information. "We need to maintain international cooperation and sanctions against the North and pursue human rights reforms," he said.

He said only 10 to 20 percent of international food aid shipments actually end up with people, the rest is stolen by the military. "What is more important is the fact that we need to let North Koreans know that South Korea sent rice. Otherwise all aid would just be used to help the regime develop nuclear weapons."
U.S. Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos was pressed Tuesday night on her view of school choice, college affordability, fighting campus sexual assault and federal government's role in education.

Here's a look at what DeVos - and the senators questioning her - had to say about the topics

during her confirmation hearing

.



Devoted to public schools?

DeVos, a West Michigan native and Republican activist, has spent much of her career in education with a near singular focus on school choice, leading some of her critics to question her dedication to public schools.

She kicked-off her public remarks by touching on this criticism, saying her mother, Elsa Prince, was a public school teacher and the "greatest educational influence" in her life. She later said she supports all high-quality educational options.

Many Republican senators praised DeVos' work surrounding school choice, saying her efforts have helped children, regardless of where they live, access a quality education.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, called her a "champion of education for poor kids" who's motivated by "making sure children go to a safe high performing school," whether that be a charter school, traditional public school or private school.

However, Democrats didn't waste time questioning DeVos' support of public education.

"Can you commit to us tonight that you will not work to privatize public schools or cut a single penny from public education," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, asked DeVos.

DeVos dodged the question, telling Murray that she "looked forward" to working with her to figure out how "to address the needs of all parents and all students, and we acknowledged today that not all schools are working for the students that are assigned to them."

To which Murray responded, "I take that as not being willing" to "commit to not privatizing public schools or cutting money from education."



Charter schools, Detroit

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, questioned DeVos about what he deemed the poor performance of charter schools in Detroit. He said traditional public schools had an average proficiency rate of 9 percent, compared with 14 percent for charter schools.

"I'll stipulate that charter schools are doing better, but that's a horrible outcome for everybody," he told DeVos.

DeVos defended charter schools in Michigan, saying 122 charter schools - since they were first established in Michigan - have been closed. She said the schools are held accountable by "their overseeing bodies and the state."

On the other hand, she said "there's never been a traditional public school that has closed due to performance" in Michigan.

"Students attending charter schools in the city of Detroit are getting three months on average more learning than their counterparts in the traditional public schools," she said.

DeVos added that new legislation signed in Michigan as part of the $617 million Detroit schools rescue package places all schools in the city - public and charter - under the same accountability system. Under the legislation, schools face closure if they place among the bottom 5 percent of schools statewide for three consecutive years.

College affordability

Having spent much of her career focused on school choice, little was known prior to Tuesday night about where DeVos stood on higher education. During the hearing, she weighed in on college affordability, student debt and campus sexual assaults.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, asked DeVos whether she supports making "colleges and universities tuition free, so that every young person in this country, regardless of income" has the opportunity to earn a degree.

DeVos said she would work with Sanders to ensure that college is affordable. But, she said, "I think we also have to consider the fact that there's nothing in life that's truly free. Somebody is going to have to pay for it."

The value of bachelor's degrees was also discussed.

Scott, the Republican from South Carolina, said America seems to have an "addiction" to the traditional bachelor's degree. Such a credential, he said, might not be the best option for all students, because there's many unfilled jobs that don't require a four-year degree.

He asked DeVos her thoughts on career and technical colleges.

"I think students, as they anticipate higher education, need to have a full menu of options shared with them," DeVos said. "They need to know and understand where the opportunities are, where the options are."

Campus sexual assault



Significant attention was also paid to campus sexual assault.

Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, asked DeVos whether she would uphold guidance from President Barack Obama's administration - issued in 2011 - that urged colleges and universities to improve their handling of campus sexual assault.

DeVos said it would be "premature" to provide a yes or no answer. She said there's "been a lot of conflicting ideas and opinions around that guidance, and if confirmed I would look forward to working with you and your colleagues to understand the range of opinions and understand the issues from the higher ed institutions that are charged with resolving these and addressing them."

Federal compliance

One major question DeVos faces is how the education department, under her leadership, would implement the new federal K-12 education law, known as the Every Student Succeeds Act.

The law, signed in 2015 and replacing the No Child Left Behind Act, aims to shift power back to the states over areas such as standardized testing and how to turn around failing schools. In the lead-up to Tuesday's hearing, many questioned whether DeVos would stay true to the law's intentions or take an activist approach that favored her personal stance on education.

During the hearing, DeVos told Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, an architect of ESSA, that she intends to "implement laws as you intended them."

The Michigan Department of Education is working on its ESSA compliance plan, which it intends to submit to the education department for approval by April.
Betsy DeVos

Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

(Carolyn Kaster | AP)

U.S. Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos spent three hours answering questions from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Tuesday evening.

In a generally partisan split, most of the Republican senators on the committee were favorable towards the former Michigan Republican Party chair and mega donor, while Senate Democrats raised concerns about several of her policies and financial interests.

That divide mirrors much of the reaction to DeVos' hearing on social media and elsewhere.

Here's some of the reactions from various Michigan officials in the education and political spheres to DeVos' hearing in Washington, D.C.

Great Lakes Education Project

Very proud of @BetsyDeVos during her confirmation hearing tonight. Standing up for kids is always the right thing!! #StandingWithBetsy  GLEP (@GLEP_MI) January 18, 2017

Michigan Education Association

Michigan Association of Public School Academies President Dan Quisenberry

"Betsy DeVos clearly outlined an agenda that puts students first. She articulated her belief that every child deserves a quality education in a quality school, and that parents need to have a choice in making that goal a reality. It was disheartening to hear some of the false narrative repeated in regards to charter school oversight and performance in Michigan and Detroit, but Mrs. DeVos did an excellent job of clarifying the facts.

"We know that educational outcomes need to be improved across the board, and we heard Betsy DeVos say she believes the same thing."

Michigan Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint

"In Michigan, we've seen what happens when Betsy DeVos-influenced policies come alive: public school funding gets diverted away and our kids suffer the consequences. As a former teacher, I understand how badly public schools and their students need an advocate in the education secretary position, not a multi-billionaire who stays relevant by bankrolling Republican campaigns."

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton

"Betsy DeVos' heart for children, reform-minded vision, and deep knowledge of education issues shined through at today's confirmation hearing. The entire country was able to see what those of us who worked with her in Michigan already know: Betsy DeVos will put students first and empower parents to choose the best pathway for their children. Under Betsy's leadership, we can restore decision-making authority to the local level and open the doors of opportunity for every student in America. The Senate should act swiftly to confirm her nomination."

Michigan Republican Party Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel

"It is very clear that Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos is a qualified and a bold choice who puts the needs of students and parents first. DeVos' past support for public education and parental school choice and her record of accomplishment is outstanding. Her career has been spent advocating for putting students first, standing up to the status quo that allows too many kids to fall through the cracks, and advocating for disadvantaged children. I am proud to support Betsy DeVos' confirmation and I hope the Senate will move quickly to fulfill this appointment."

Progress Michigan Executive Director Lonnie Scott

"Betsy DeVos is not qualified to lead the public education system. Her history as a donor to Republicans seems to be the only reason she was picked for this position. DeVos has pushed for disasterous (sic) policies that have led to deplorable conditions in some of Michigan's public schools. Betsy DeVos also has a history of funding anti-LGBTQ initiatives and her confirmation could have long lasting impacts on students negating years of anti-bullying initiatives. Some people would call DeVos a change maker but changing our ideal of quality public schools to a profit-driven exercise is not the change we need. The United States Senate should reject her appointment and send a clear message that our public school system is not for sale to the highest bidder."

Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley

"As Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos will put our kids' needs first while creating an education system that helps all children succeed. The one-size-fits-all approach to education leaves too many children behind and Betsy understands the need to add innovative education solutions into our classrooms. President-elect Trump made the best choice for our children by nominating Betsy DeVos. I'm proud to join with leaders from all across our country to support her nomination and encourage the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to ensure a swift confirmation process."
LANSING, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder fought to expand Medicaid in Michigan under the Affordable Care Act when some Republicans at the state level were opposed to it. Now, it's Republicans at the federal level he might find himself on the opposite side of.

Republicans in the U.S. Senate took a first step toward repealing the Affordable Care Act last week.

Snyder said in his State of the State speech on Tuesday, "we hope for the best, but we can't count on it" when it comes to the federal fate of the act.

Michigan was one of 31 states to take advantage of federal funding available to states that expanded their Medicaid programs to make most people between the ages of 19 and 64 eligible for Medicaid if their income is less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level.

Michigan's Healthy Michigan plan, which Snyder signed into law in 2013, covers 638,845 people, according to statistics maintained by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Snyder said in his speech that Michigan's Medicaid expansion had reduced uncompensated care by an average of 44 percent.

And Michigan in passing its Medicaid expansion put in measures that championed personal responsibility, creating income-based premiums for participants to pay and incentivizing healthy lifestyle changes. The governor is hoping those changes can get the attention of people in Washington.

"We need to let them know that healthy Michigan is a model that can work for the rest of the country," Snyder said.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon echoed that praise in a statement.

"The Healthy Michigan Plan continues to be a unique and strong example nationally of how best to incentivize beneficiaries into taking personal responsibility for their health, while benefiting the state as a whole," he said.

"We are grateful for Governor Snyder's continued support of this important program in significantly improving the lives of Michigan residents while also boosting the state's economy and budget."

Legislative leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach to see if the federal government under newly-elected President Donald Trump repeals and/or replaces the Affordable Care Act -- a talking point of his during the campaign that could have major effects on the state, including on its expanded Medicaid program.

"There's no telling what they're going to do, every day you hear something different out of Washington or a different plan, especially as it relates to the ACA. I think right now we need to take a wait-and-see approach and see what they do," said House Speaker Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt, who didn't personally support Medicaid expansion.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said there was a provision in what Michigan passed that means if federal funding stops, so does the expansion.

"The way the bill passed, if they don't send the money the program ends here in Michigan," Meekhof said.

But he said the personal responsibility measures Michigan had incorporated into its program would stay, and "People that take care of themselves, see their doctor on a regular basis, are healthier and cost the state less."
LANSING, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder pledged more work to fix the Flint water crisis and a look at infrastructure statewide during his seventh annual State of the State address Tuesday night.

"Make no mistake, this was a sad chapter in the history of our state," Snyder said of the Flint water crisis.

He acknowledged Flint Mayor Karen Weaver in the crowd, and said the city and state were working together to fix the pipes, as well as on ways to accelerate that process.

Although the Flint water crisis and Fraser sinkhole highlighted the state's infrastructure woes, the governor said, every corner of the state was at risk. During last year's address, the governor announced the creation of the 21st Century Infrastructure Commission, which brought together experts and produced a report on the state's needed infrastructure improvements in December.

In his 2017 address, Snyder announced the result of that report was a clear need for more investment in state infrastructure. He urged lawmakers to start looking at all sources for that money, including public and private sources, along with grants and fees.

He also highlighted integrated asset management as an immediate opportunity for improvement, calling for coordination between utilities, state and local road agencies to make upgrades more efficient.

The speech was largely a return to Snyder's addresses before 2016, when he made an emotion-filled apology to Flint residents and talked about ways to aid the city.

Ahead of Tuesday's speech, a small group of Flint protesters and U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee were among those urging the governor to focus on the ongoing crisis in Flint.

Snyder also said he wants to look at unfunded legacy liabilities in Michigan cities, he said.

He also announced a continued focus on creating vibrant downtowns in Michigan, which encourage young people to live and work there. He gave nod to the state's Rising Tide program, which gives a boost to rural areas.

And he set a goal of growing the state's population back to 10 million over the next three years, which would require an increase of 71,000 residents.

He ended the speech with a call to action.

"Let's go get this done."

Here are some other areas the Governor touched on in a broad-ranging, hour-long speech:

Snyder hinted at possible changes to the Affordable Care Act, under which the state expanded its Medicaid program. When it comes to health care at the federal level he said, "we hope for the best, but we can't count on it." He took the opportunity to tout the expanded Medicaid program's success, saying it now covered 610,000 Michiganders.

The governor also touted state successes, including job creation. Since 2010 Michigan has added 500,000 jobs, Snyder said, the sixth most of any state nationally. He also said building permits were at their highest since 2006, and personal per capita income was growing at a pace faster than the national average.

The governor reiterated his support for programs like FIRST Robotics and others that teach Michigan students technical or vocational skills.
The Michigan State Police Jackson post provided the following log of activities for Tuesday, Jan. 17 with troopers investigating 26 incidents and calls for service.

Operating While Intoxicated (Third Offense)/Hit and Run Traffic Crash:

Jackson County, Grass Lake Township: Troopers were dispatched to a hit and run traffic crash where the suspect vehicle had attempted to flee the scene, but ended up running into a ditch. Upon contact with the driver of the suspect vehicle, a 47-year-old Michigan Center woman, it was determined that she was driving without a license and operating while intoxicated. She was transported to Henry Ford Allegiance Health for treatment of the injuries which she sustained in the crash. A report will be sent to the prosecutor for further review.

Fugitive:

Jackson County, Napoleon Township: Troopers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle. Upon contact with the driver, a 51-year-old Jackson man, it was determined that he had a felony warrant for his arrest for malicious destruction of property out of the Napoleon Township Police Department. He was taken into custody on the warrant and was lodged at the Jackson County Jail.

Possession of Schedule II and Schedule IV Drugs/Parole Violation:

Jackson County, City of Jackson: While conducting Operation Nighthawk in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Corrections Jackson Parole Office, troopers performed a parole check at a residence. Contact with a parolee, a 37-year-old Jackson man, revealed that he was in possession of Schedule II and Schedule IV drugs. He was also found to have a blood alcohol content, a violation of his parole conditions. He was arrested for possession of the drugs as well as violating his parole, and he was lodged at the Jackson County Jail.

Additional activities:

Troopers are investigating a fraud report in the city of Jackson.

Troopers are investigating an attempted breaking and entering complaint in the village of Grass Lake, Jackson County.

Troopers were dispatched to two additional traffic crashes in both Jackson and Hillsdale counties.

Troopers were dispatched to a natural death in the city of Litchfield, Hillsdale County.

Troopers are investigating a larceny of liquefied propane tanks in the city of Jonesville, Hillsdale County.

Two motorists were cited for driving on suspended licenses in Hillsdale County.
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday decided not to admit a tablet PC allegedly used by President Park Geun-hye's longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil as evidence in the impeachment trial. The tablet PC allegedly contains crucial evidence tying Choi and Park to rampant corruption, but the court accepted argument from Park's lawyers that its provenance is dubious. But the court admitted the diaries of former presidential secretary An Chong-bum recording detailed instructions from Park. The court is not tasked with establishing Park's criminal guilt or innocence beyond reasonable doubt but merely to judge whether the National Assembly's impeachment motion is constitutional.



Suspects and their lawyers attend President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial on Tuesday. /Newsis

Constitutional Court justice Kang Il-won said, "Choi's attorneys have objected to evidence presented by prosecutors so it was excluded." Choi's lawyers have argued that her testimony was coerced and that the tablet PC was obtained illegally. The tablet was found by a reporter under circumstances that remain unclear, and rather than settling the question whether that constituted theft the court decided to set it aside. Lawyers for Park also argued that An's diaries are inadmissible, but the court dismissed their reasoning.

Choi Soon-sil (left) and her niece Jang Si-ho attend President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial on Tuesday. /Newsis

The court will also review testimony from 46 suspects and witnesses to prosecutors earlier. All were questioned with a lawyer present and raised no objections. They include An and fellow former Cheong Wa Dae secretary Jeong Ho-seong, and ex-vice culture minister Kim Jong and Cha Eun-taek, a promo director and drinking buddy of Choi's who came to baffling prominence in the Park years. Both An and Jeong have told prosecutors that Park instructed them to squeeze conglomerates for donations to two dodgy foundations controlled by Choi, and that she repeatedly told them to send classified documents to Choi and pressed them for her feedback. Other witnesses include Korea's leading tycoons, who all donated money to the two nonprofits and told prosecutors that it was Cheong Wa Dae that solicited donations either to the foundations or to Choi directly. One lawyer and former researcher at the Constitutional Court said, "The decision not to admit the tablet PC as evidence may seem advantageous to Park, but the selection of testimony will work against her." Park's attorneys also argued that prosecutors subjected some of the witnesses to undue duress by questioning them all night, but Kang said they all signed waivers.

Read this article in Korean
[January 18, 2017] Neurala Announces $14 Million Series A to Bring Deep Learning Neural Network AI Software to Drones, Self-Driving Cars, Toys and Cameras

Neurala, the software company that has invented The Neurala Brain, a deep learning neural networks platform that is making smart products like toys, cameras and self-driving cars more autonomous, interactive and useful, today announced the closing of a $14 million series A funding round. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005301/en/ Car on Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts automatically identifies pedestrians, cars, cyclists and trucks in the scene. Recognition is done in real-time. This is how a self-driving car can see the world. (Photo: Business Wire) The round was led by Pelion Venture Partners, with participation from Sherpa Capital, Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, 360 Capital Partners, Draper Associates Investments, SK Ventures, and Idinvest Partners through its Electranova Capital II Fund and in partnership with Ecomobility Ventures. Both 360 Capital Partners and Draper Associates also provided seed funding. Neurala will use the capital to accelerate servicing of its rapidly increasing customer demand, as well as to revolutionize additional application areas by adding built-in intelligence and autonomous behavior. "The Neurala Brain was designed from the beginning to transform industries," said Massimiliano "Max" Versace, co-founder and CEO of Neurala. "Bio-inspired brainpower can be built right into drones, cars, toys, cameras, and other devices found in the home so that they can learn, see and act. This is essential for applications like drones and self-driving cars, where reaction time is critical and where you can't always get fast network access. It's also an endearing capability when built into toys that recognize their young owners by sight and give them a smile without communicating with a server." Neurala pioneered the development of deep learning neural network software for NASA to use in planetary exploration, where processing power, battery life and communications are limited. Instead of designing deep learning neural networks for super computers, as other companies do, The Neurala Brain was designed to work where the decisions need to be made. Today, Neurala has customers deploying a broad range of applications, including autonomous drones and cars. Customers include Teal Drones, Parrot and multiple members of the Fortune Global 500. Neurala is currently working with Motorola Solutions on new applications of video, image and audio analytics for public safety. Neurala's neural network software uses a bio-inspired approach to mimic the way the human brain learns and analyzes its environment. This software enables a variety of smart products-from self-driving cars and industrial drones to toys, consumer electronics and smart cameras-to learn, adapt and interact in real time. With The Neurala Brain, toys can learn to identify their owners, security cameras can identify specific threats, drones can "learn" how to diagnose problems at the tops of cell towers, saving humans considerable danger and drudgery, and self-driving cars can be safer and learn to avoid obstacles. One significant differentiator of Neurala's deep learning software is that it scales from embedded hardware to powerful servers. Neurala calls this an "Anywhere Brain." By operating "on the edge" and locally on the device, toys can entertain without communicating personal information to a third party, and applications like self-driving cars need not rely on the internet-which can be slow or unavailable-to avoid accidents.



Neurala's software development kit (SDK) supports industry-standard NVIDIA, ARM (News - Alert) and Intel processors, so teams can develop for the processor that is best for their product instead of being forced to select a high-priced proprietary processor. "Motorola Solutions is constantly seeking ways to accelerate technology innovation for our public safety and commercial customers, who work in demanding and often dangerous environments," said Paul Steinberg, Chief Technology Officer, Motorola Solutions. "Neurala brings advanced deep learning capabilities that will enable us to further explore the potential of artificial intelligence to augment our customers' experiences 'at the edge.' This has the power to do things like help police find a missing person faster or guide a field worker's maintenance activities by turning their body -worn camera into a sensor that can recognize actionable information in video and images-in real time at the edge."

"Almost every application on earth can benefit from becoming smarter," said Tim Draper, well-known venture capitalist and founder of Draper Associates. "Neurala is the only platform that enables products to see and react in their worlds, with fast, local, real-time learning. It's already driving innovative new intelligent hardware applications even as it makes current ones more efficient, with greater financial feasibility." "Pelion is a firm that believes in a future in which automobiles, robots, drones and other mobile hardware devices will need to navigate the world autonomously and safely, and we believe that Neurala has the right solution to enable that future," said Senior Associate Ben Lambert of Pelion Venture Partners. "Neurala's executives have a deep technology background and have been leading development efforts in this industry since 2006. As a result, the company is far ahead of its competitors and is at the forefront of the deep learning and computer vision space." "Neurala technology is already achieving great traction in Europe. We will be able to help the company's founders build upon that momentum to accelerate growth," said Idinvest Director Julien Mialaret. "Our fund sponsors have ideas for ways to deploy Neurala's exciting technology." About Neurala Neurala, Inc. (http://www.neurala.com) is a software company that developed The Neurala Brain- deep learning neural network software that makes smart products like inspection cameras, robots, drones, toys, consumer electronics and self-driving cars more autonomous, engaging and useful. Neurala provides off-the-shelf and customized solutions spanning the world's highest-end applications to inexpensive everyday consumer products. With the Neurala Brains for Bots Software Development Kit (SDK) and an ordinary camera, products can learn people and objects, recognize them in a video stream, locate them in the video and follow them as they move. The company has raised a total of $16 million in funding from Pelion Venture Partners, Sherpa Capital, Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, 360 Capital Partners, Draper Associates Investments, SK Ventures, TechStars and Idinvest Partners. The Neurala Brain technology is based on technology originally developed for NASA and the U.S. Air Force. Follow Neurala on Twitter at @Neurala, on Facebook (News - Alert) at www.facebook.com/neurala, on YouTube (News - Alert) at www.youtube.com/c/NeuralaTV or LinkedIn (News - Alert) at https://www.linkedin.com/company/neurala. About Pelion Venture Partners Pelion Venture Partners is an early stage technology venture capital firm with a national track record of investing in software-based businesses that manage the exponential growth in the movement of information, or "bits," across wired and wireless networks. Founded in 1986, Pelion has been a partner to leading technology innovators CloudFlare, Fusion-io, Integral Ad Science, Dino, RedHat, and Riverbed (News - Alert). For more information, visit www.pelionvp.com. About Idinvest Partners, Electranova Capital II Fund and Ecomobility Ventures Idinvest Partners, with assets under management of over 7 billion, is the largest venture capital investor in continental Europe and one of the most active investors in the European mid-market segment. Idinvest has supported over 160 high-tech companies to date and has specific expertise in information technologies (internet/media, software and telecommunications), new energy and environmental technologies, mobility and healthcare (biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical instruments). Electranova Capital II Fund works with entrepreneurs in new energy, smart city and mobility. The fund helps accelerate the growth of high-tech companies to reach markets worldwide. Electranova II was created in February 2016 through a partnership between Idinvest Partners, EDF Group and Allianz - the financial and insurance group. Electranova Capital II, which is independently managed by Idinvest Partners, leverages the business partnerships, technical collaboration and sales references provided by its corporate sponsors. Electranova invests in Europe, North America and Northeast Asia. Ecomobility Ventures is an investment fund dedicated to sustainable mobility sponsored by SNCF, Total, Orange, Air Liquide and Michelin. Ecomobility Ventures is positioned as a long-term partner for pioneering young companies. Its objective is to support a dozen start-ups aspiring to become the leaders of tomorrow. To know more, visit www.idinvest.com and www.em-v.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005301/en/

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Vietnam shows signs of softening its approach toward China over their bitter maritime dispute, a move welcomed by nervous leaders in Beijing as it could rebalance Hanoi's foreign policy away from Washington while cooling decades of strife.

Beijing and Hanoi issued a communique Saturday proposing negotiations on their conflicting claims in the South China Sea, state-run media from both sides report. The two sides will also look for shorter-term solutions that avoid slighting either country's political position, the reports say.

Cooperation with China would remove the thorniest opponent to Beijing's expansion in the sea. Four other governments claim the ocean, which is rich in fishery stocks and possible fuel reserves. They normally keep quiet about Beijing's military maneuvers and reclamation of small, disputed islets.

Friendlier Sino-Vietnamese ties also would help protect marine shipping lanes that bring exports from Asia to markets in the West and make the commercial fishing industry safer for the millions who depend on it, said Frederick Burke, a partner with the multinational law firm Baker & McKenzie in Ho Chi Minh City.

"There was a concern about instability, and that this might be a flashpoint for conflicts as Chinas military capacity continues to grow," Burke said. "I think those concerns wont disappear overnight, but this is a very strong positive message that the parties will work things out."

Vietnam is often described as the most assertive opponent of China's expansion into the 3.5 million-square-km sea since around 2010. It competes with China to reclaim land in the Spratly chain and has criticized Beijing's control of the Paracel Islands, which lie east of Vietnam and southwest of Hong Kong.

In 1974, China seized Paracel islets occupied then by South Vietnamese troops and 70 Vietnamese sailors died in a naval battle with China in 1988. In 2014, the two sides got into a boat ramming clash that set off deadly anti-China riots in Vietnam.

Relations showed initial signs of a thaw in September when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to manage maritime differences and improve cooperation.

Stung by a world arbitration court ruling against the basis for its claim to 95 percent of the sea, China was keen then to negotiate differences with other countries.
[January 18, 2017] Geoswift Announces FCA License and Plans to Expand in Europe

Geoswift, a leading provider of cross-border payment solutions between China and the rest of the world, announced today that its UK entity, Geoswift UK, has received authorisation as a Payment Institution from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to conduct a more efficient end to end cross-border collection and settlement services to and from China. Geoswift presently partners with major global banks, financial service providers, payment solutions providers and merchants. The FCA is the conduct regulator for 56,000 financial services firms in the UK. Geoswift is the leading China cross-border collection and settlement service to have received FCA approval. In addition to providing business to business cross border collection and settlement services across the education, eCommerce and travel sectors, Geoswift UK using the approval will be able to deepen its direct relationship with partners across the tax return, banking, education and travel sectors. Geoswift remains committed to being a market leader in enhancing the accessibility, efficiency, transparency and security of cross-border transactions between UK and China. Robert Miskin, Managing Director of Geoswift Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) said, "We are delighted to receive the FCA approval for our operations in the United Kingdom. In a market landscape that is vastly robust and continually evolving, it is important to ensure our operations are fully-regulated, transparent and secure to meet international standards and to provide assurance to our partners and merchants. The FCA regulatory approval will enable us to meet the growing demands of our global partners and clients who require accessibility to efficient fund flows and secure cross-border payments between the UK and China. We are also preparing to futureproof our European expansion plans in due course and embrace the growing demand for China, throughout Europe. We hold a positive outlook for the B2B cross-border potential between Europe and China in 2017 and look forward to establishing deeper partnerships with the FCA license."



Geoswift is headquartered in Hong Kong with operating offices in Shanghai, London, Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco for strategic and regulatory functions. About Geoswift

Geoswift is an innovative payment technology company connecting China and the rest of the world. The company comprises the world's leading payment technology experts that have a deep understanding of the industry, technology, and global and China monetary policy. Geoswift provides clients with customised one-stop cross-border payment solutions to and from China. Geoswift is relied upon by the world's leading e-commerce companies, most prestigious universities and the largest brands in the travel industry to grow their businesses. Geoswift is an acquirer of UnionPay International in North America, and a long-term partner of many other leading financial institutions. It also maintains 19 currency exchange outlets throughout China. Geoswift is headquartered in Hong Kong with operating offices in Shanghai, London, Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco for strategic and regulatory functions. For more information visit, please visit www.geoswift.com or send in your queries to [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005489/en/

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business Expect realty sector to rebound in 3-6 months: Morgan Stanley Speaking to CNBC-TV18. Baisiwala said realty prices had remained more intact in Tier-1 cities and it would be advisable to bank on established names in the sector.
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
PHILADELPHIA  Among the many soft skills that have made Rob Thomson the right manager for the Phillies in 2022 is a knack for understatement. So Thursday, in assessing his teams 3-2 loss in Game 5 of the World Series,...
Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity
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The History Museum of Burke County will welcome LaDonna Browning, superintendent of Foothills Correctional Institution, to speak at 10 a.m. on Thursday as part of its Coffee at the Museum series. The presentation is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

She will speak about the facility she has run since 2012, including what the future may hold as local officials continue their discussion about plans for a new jail.

The Foothills Correctional Institution is located on 180 acres about 3 miles south of Morganton, according to information provided by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. It has the capacity to house 858 male inmates and has been in operation since 1994. It has a staff of 440.

Browning is a Morganton native and Freedom High School alumna. She has dedicated her life to serving in the criminal justice field, starting in college. She earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology.

She began her lifelong career with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety as a program assistant at the Marion Correctional Institution. She worked for seven years there in various programs and supervisory positions.

In 2002, Browning accepted a position as a unit manager for the residential health unit at Foothills Correctional Institution, where she moved up the ranks in part due to helping develop and open the first and only Security Threat Group Management Unit. It is described as intensive program of treatment dedicated to providing a controlled environment for disruptive inmates associated with validated gangs in North Carolina and breaking gang affiliation through renunciation and specialized programming.

She was promoted first to assistant superintendent for programs, then to assistant superintendent for custody and operations before becoming superintendent of the entire facility.

She is an active member of Burkemont Baptist Church and has been a Girl Scout troop leader for the past 12 years.

The museum has been offering the monthly speaker series to inform area residents on various topics of interest in the community. For more information, contact the museum at 828-437-1777.
The building housing Options is looking a little more colorful these days.

Students from the North Carolina School for the Deaf, under the direction of art teacher and Art 4 a Purpose founder Kimberly Lajzer, created six large mosaic tiles for the side of the building for clients staying there to enjoy.

Options is a shelter for victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault. Lajzer, an Options board member, recalls brainstorming ways to be of service to the women and children in crisis there.

I wanted to do something that would make a difference to them, Lajzer said. I wanted to use my gifts to inspire them and let them know theyre not alone and that there is help. Then it hit me  I wanted to use my art for a purpose.

Lajzers organization uses art to address the issue of child abuse, something she started doing as a teenager in her own family.

I made a proposal to the board that the stark brick wall (facing) the outside entryway be transformed into an inspirational, welcoming entryway, because people need to be inspired and feel confident to hold their heads up high, Lajzer said. This is the gift I wanted to give.

The proposal, which her students helped to draft, was for a community service art project that would involve Art 4 a Purpose, NCSD and some local businesses. She started by taking her students on a tour of the Options facility, which was a learning experience in itself.

We had a few students who had never heard of such a thing as domestic violence, Lajzer said. But we had one student in particular who understood first-hand what battered really meant, because she grew up with it in her home. She was thankful to know there were places women could go, places she could go, if she ever needed to. She also got interested in volunteering in the shelter near her hometown.

It was that particular concept of community service that Lajzer was hoping students would take away from the project.

I have always tried to center my professional development plan goals on community outreach and service, Lajzer said. I wanted to build a bridge between our deaf students at NCSD and the hearing world that surrounds the school and the hometowns in which our students live. It has been so important for me to try and get the students to realize and recognize they are a part of something so much bigger than themselves, and show them they can make a great, positive impact in that world and on the people in their community.

Once Lajzer decided she wanted to do a mosaic tile installation, she received help from three companies.

Oak Hill Iron welded and donated all the frames for the pieces, Lajzer said. They have been a support to Options for a very long time. Lowes cut and donated all of the backer-boards and Ace (Hardware) donated a bag of thin-set to adhere the pieces.

Lajzer held a design contest for her students to choose which designs to use in the mosaics. She explained that each mosaic features a flower that symbolizes concepts such as peace, love and hope, and ribbons that symbolize different types of abuse. Over a two-year period, more than 100 students and staff at NCSD helped to inlay the glass tiles to create each design.

Each piece was put in place with thought and meaning, so anyone walking up to those doors could see their reflection and be inspired they were on their way to something that didnt have to hurt anymore, Lajzer said. Everyone was invited to bring something special to add, (such as) pottery from an abusive marriage, chipped china from a beloved set that could never be used again and stained glass from the old windows at Grace Episcopal Church.

She recognized Cherie and Bethanie Chiles as vital to the completion of the project. She said Bethanie, a home-school student interested in a possible career working with the deaf, traveled with her mother, Cherie, from Charlotte once every other week to work on the mosaics, and that Cherie designed the letters for the words on the ribbons. NCSD staff member Carol Michaels and her friend, Beckie Gwynn, spent a great deal of time on the project as well.

Right before Christmas last year, Lajzer recruited maintenance staff members Wade Vance, Wayne Whisnant and Dennis Smith to install the mosaic tiles on the Options building. When her students returned from Christmas break, she took them there to see the result of their hard work.

Watching the students walk the path up to the Options doors brought goose-bumps to my arms and a flutter to my heart, Lajzer said. They are typical teenagers  their hands are their voices and usually fling a mile a minute, but not on that day. They just looked at what they created. The comments started as they pointed: This is the one I worked on, They were just starting that one when I left class last year, Im glad we made the decision to change the grout color on this one. The students had taken their art to heart. There was no better gift to my 25-year career in art education.

NCSD Director Audrey Garvin said she appreciated the rich experience students got from participating in the project.

The staff members are always collaborating with students as a method of teaching, modeling and leading, Garvin said. The project for Options is one example of students and staff working together to create a symbol of beauty for others to enjoy. The project also prepares students for understanding the needs of others and recognizing and responding with empathy.

Options Director Kristy Graf expressed her gratitude for the thoughtful effort.

I am thrilled and humbled by the time and care put into this project, Graf said. It has made our home so much more welcoming and beautiful for the families we serve. Burke County lifts us up daily with their love and support, and the mosaics are a reminder of that support. We cannot thank Kimberly, NCSD, Oak Hill Ironworks and so many more enough for this gift.

Tammie Gercken can be reached at tgercken@morganton.com.
The Morganton Humanist Alliance is honoring the life of local educator Ronno Cooke through the newly created MHA Ronno Cooke Memorial Scholarship.

Cooke died Jan. 4 at the age of 57 following a three-and-a-half year battle with cancer. He was an OSHA Safety Instructor for several community colleges in western North Carolina, including Western Piedmont, which is the designated school for the scholarship. Aside from teaching, Cooke was a master craftsman in woodworking who built custom furniture and cabinets. He was known as an advocate for the environment and social justice. His passions included hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, music and socializing, according to his obituary.

It seems that everywhere Ronno went people knew him, no matter how distant, his obituary read. Ronno was loved by so many and it seems he made them all feel special because he really thought we are all so special and he genuinely wanted to know people. He loved so large and it was a real and reciprocal love we experienced with and from him.

Rusty Harrison, who is a member of Morganton Humanist Alliance and taught with Cooke at Western Piedmont, spoke to The News Herald about Cooke and the scholarship.

I started following him on Facebook when he got sick  and he started chronicling his experience with cancer and it was so damn beautiful and uplifting and moving, Harrison said. By the time of his death, he had over 500 people following his posts on Facebook.

Harrison attributed Cookes benevolent nature and love of others as reasons he is being honored by MHA.

His irrepressible optimism and boundless love and appreciation for life and all living things inspired literally hundreds of readers who followed his posts, Harrison wrote in a press release. Mr. Cooke was a humanist in the truest sense of the word and he touched everyone who he came in contact with.

The initial fundraiser for Cookes Scholarship took place in October of 2016 when Brown Mountain Bottleworks agreed to donate $1 for every pint of beer they sold in a day to the fund. In addition to proceeds from sales, Brown Mountain had a bucket for direct donations.

I really wanted to expedite the scholarship fund so that Ronno would be alive and know that he was being honored, Harrison said. It was profound. Tracy (Cookes wife) said it moved him to tears.

Brown Mountain will hold a second event, Pints for Peoples Fundraiser, Feb. 13 from 2-10 p.m. where they will donate $1 for every pint sold to the scholarship fund. A representative from MHA will be at the event to provide information about the group.

Every penny that is raised goes to the fund, Erica Schwarting with the MHA said. So, its nice pairing that with Brown Mountain because there is no overhead for us. There are no marketing costs, so that way, all of what you give goes into the pot and the more we get, the more we can give.

Donations may be mailed directly to the Morganton Humanist Alliance for Cookes Scholarship, and Harrison asks that contributions made in that manner be noted that it should be earmarked for the scholarship fund.

The amount of money raised will determine how many scholarships are awarded in a given year, with the first scholarships being awarded in the 2018-19 school year.

The amount is set tentatively at $500 apiece so if we have $1,000, then we will award two scholarships, Harrison said. That money will go directly to Western Piedmont in the name of students awarded.

A committee comprised of five volunteers from members of the MHA will award scholarships after reviewing applications. The scoring process will be single blind so we wont know who we will be scoring for, Harrison said.

The committee will award scholarships based on financial need, employment status, academic performance, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, reference letters, and an essay addressing how humanism relates to the applicants future goals.

The MHA will distribute scholarship applications to Burke County High School Guidance Counselors in April of 2017. Those applications are to be returned beginning in August of 2017 and the first scholarships will be awarded July of 2018.

The Ronno Cooke Memorial Scholarship will continue Cookes passion for giving back to the community.

We never had a lot of extra money but, even then, he tried to create with his woodworking talents pieces that could help the causes he believed in, Tracy Moss, Cookes wife, said. His biggest contributions were to the Foothills Conservancy. He also regularly bought food and brought it to the House of Refuge, which is a mens homeless shelter in Morganton.

Cooke donated fine woodworking pieces, including tables and a unique chair, to the Foothills Conservancys Flavors of the Foothills, a fundraiser and auction.

Because he cared so much for forests and lands and waters and the Blue Ridge Mountains and the South Mountains, he wanted to support Foothills Conservancy and the work we do to protect the places that so many people love around here like the South Mountains and Lake James, said Susie Hamrick Jones, Foothills Conservancys executive director. What is really striking about Ronno is how many lives he touched in all of the things he did. Because he loved so deeply the area that we live in, he used his talents to help the Foothills Conservancy protect more of the things that he loved by donating these gifts to the Foothills Conservancy auction.

Cooke was known to consider others even before himself. His giving was often reflected by educating himself and in turn educating others through discussion.

He was highly motivated to help create a more educated society and to be educated himself in that teaching, Moss said.

Memories of Cookes seemingly ethereal nature continue to circulate among family and friends and throughout social media.

I went to see him about three days before he passed away at Ronnos request, Harrison said. We had this real kind of philosophical discussion. He never talked about his illness at all. All he cared about was other people. (He was) just a sweetheart of a man.

The Morganton Humanist Alliance is a certified nonprofit agency formed in March 2016. To date, they have organized a supply drive for the homeless, donated and planted trees in the city, adopted a stretch of Sanford Drive through Adopt-A-Highway, donated funds to the local LGBT group, donated to veteran Joseph Pritchard for his journey to Standing Rock, North Dakota, and created the MHA Ronno Cooke Memorial Scholarship.

We never want to hold onto any money, Harrison said. We want to get rid of it as soon as we can. So our goal in all of our fundraisers is to disperse the money out to people who need it.

To learn more about the Morganton Humanist Alliance, visit their Facebook page. They can also be reached at morgantonhumanistalliance@gmail.com. Donations to the MHA Ronno Cooke Memorial Scholarship fund can be mailed to Morganton Humanist Alliance, PO Box 321, Morganton, N.C. 28655.

Staff Writer Christy Traylor can be reached at ctraylor@morganton.com or 828-432-8939.
A registered sex offender has been accused of assaulting a child.

Mark David Smith Jr., 32, of 225 Shuffler Road, Lot No. 1, Morganton, was charged with indecent liberties with a child.

The Burke County Sheriffs Office says on Tuesday, a 6-year-old child disclosed at the Child Advocacy Center: The Gingerbread House that Smith Jr. had engaged in inappropriate sexualized behaviors.

The inappropriate behaviors were described as, but were not limited to, exposing himself to the child and the forcing of the victim to sit on his lap. The activities were described in detail by the child, according to a release from the sheriffs office.

Sheriffs office detectives, in conjunction with the Department of Social Services: Child Protective Services, investigated and substantiated the allegations, according to the release.

According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Smith Jr. was registered as a sex offender in the state due to a 2010 out-of-state conviction. He registered with the state in August 2013.

Smith was taken into custody without incident and confined at the Burke-Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $25,000 secured bond.
I am 72 years old. Before filling a new prescription for a chronic condition, I contacted the pharmaceutical company to see if I could afford it. They told me it was $439 per month wholesale, but my cost would depend on my insurance. At the pharmacy, the retail cost was $614 or $7,368 per year (70 percent of my Social Security).

Thank goodness we have Medicare and supplemental health insurance. Many people do not. In fact, a customer before me refused her medication because she could not afford it. My condition is not life threatening, but her diabetes is. Why didnt the Medicare Part D bill passed by Congress in 2003 allow our government to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies? Who benefits? Obviously not lower income Americans without health insurance.

Heres the math (assuming full-time employment): Minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is about $14,500 per year. Raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour provides about $30,000 per year. How do families, living on minimum wage or minimum Social Security survive if one medicine costs them more than $7,000/year? What if they have more than one med, need to see the doctor or have a hospital emergency? Health Savings Accounts wont solve the problem. How many families can save $600 per month to pay for one medication. People still need to eat, pay rent and utilities, buy gas to get to work and save toward retirement.

We are the richest country in the world. If Obamacare cannot be improved, how about Medicare for all. It is a government program that really does work.
Pressure from mayors across Canada is mounting on the federal government to accelerate the release of its promised billions in infrastructure funding.



In its latest statement, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities called on the federal government to push through with its pledge to cover at least half of the cost of new housing and transit projects. The mayors will be gathering at Parliament Hill later this week to lobby ahead of the release of Finance Minister Bill Morneaus second budget, The Globe and Mail reported.



Weve had very substantive discussions for a good year and half now, and we saw real progress in the last budget and fall update. Now I feel that weve made an incredibly strong case for this next budget, FCM president Clark Somerville stated. Seizing the moment here will mean more affordable housing, shorter commutes, less pollution and stronger economic growth.



Back in September, the FCM argued that $12.6-billion of an initially promised $20-billion tranche for social infrastructure should be dedicated to the construction of affordable housing throughout Canada.



Around two months later, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. president and CEO Evan Siddall castigated the Vancouver local government for not acting decisively regarding the runaway home price increases in the city.



Municipal leaders talk of a housing crisis and their primary solution is to demand $12.6-billion in urgent funding from the federal government, he said. If theres a crisis, we should all act like it.



Siddall noted that Canadas mayors should consider strategies such as density limits, development fees, zoning restrictions, and swift approval of new housing.



Brook Simpson, a spokesperson for Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi, remained mum on the details of the federal governments plans.



Its a conversation thats ongoing, Simpson said on Monday (January 16).


Berkshire Hathaway, the countrys fastest-growing network of real estate brokers, is expanding yet again with Today Realty of Gunnison joining its brokerage nexus, according to a news release.A Colorado-based company, Today Realty is owned by broker Jason Lain. It caters to Gunnison, Crested Butte, Lake City and surrounding areas and focuses on real estate sales, rentals and caretaking needs.Today we step forward to a whole new era at our brokerage, said Lain. In Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, we join a prestigious brand with a deep array of tools, resources and services my agents can use right away. We are a strong, local agency that just grew stronger.Lain added that the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices name will draw clients from entry-level homes to the finest of resort properties in Crested Butte.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Global Network Platform will be accessible to Today Realty agents.The tool suite focuses on on lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production/distribution and more. It will also provide local and worldwide marketing support, professional education and the Luxury Collection, Berkshires marketing program for high-end and resort listings.Today Realty & Associates is well-respected in the marketplace and will be a strong ambassador of our brand, said Gino Belfari, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CEO. We welcome Jason and his hard-working team to the network.
Jeremy Bos is a 2016 recipient of the Young Investigator Program (YIP) through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Bos, an assistant professor of electrical engineering studying atmospheric optics at Michigan Technological University, wants to help the Air Force see better. The problem is turbulence.

Twinkling stars and mirages over hot roads are examples of atmospheric turbulence we see every day; the distortion comes from the way light interacts with shifting air. Sometimes turbulence causes the image to appear blurred. Other times it can be like looking at your reflection in rippling water. Scientists and engineers describe these effects mathematically using what they call blurring functions. When every pixel in an image has the same blurring function, the distortion is said to be isoplanatic. In this case the image is just blurred. In the case of the rippling water, different parts of the image are distorted differently. In this case it is anisoplanatic

"In my work, I'm looking at the case where every single pixel in an image has a different blurring function," Bos says. Bos calls this extreme anisoplanatism.

Distortion takes many forms: the turbulence in the second logo is ten times greater than the rest but is isoplanatic; the rest of the blurred logos show anisoplanatism shifting from low to high to extreme levels.

Line of Sight and Lasers

With his YIP award, a highly competitive program for early career scientists and engineers through the Air Force, Bos is piecing together images affected by anisoplanatism over long distances.

"The objective is to see better and farther," Bos says, adding that imaging isnt the only application; his work will also improve long-range optical communication systems. Yet another application " defending against threats using laser light."

Whether as a shield around an aircraft or a Star Wars-style laser beam, the technology comes down to manipulating light.

"But in order to do these things, you have to account for the atmosphere," Bos says. "and when youre dealing with anisoplanatism that's a wicked, hard problem."

Light and Air

The problem is a classic signal-to-noise issue. If the signal is an accurate image, then the distortion caused by turbulence is noise. With enough signal, the image can be recreated: each tipped or tilted pixel in a distorted image can be put back. Bos likens his work to the inverse of the technology used to stream videos online, "Video encoding technology tries to predict how portions of an image frame change from one frame to another. In my work, I look at many distorted images of the same scene and try and match each pixel to its true location.

He adds that clearing up the noise from turbulence will do more than resolve two-dimensional images. It also provides information about the atmosphere as a three-dimensional space.

"If I can characterize the atmosphere tomographicallylike doctors do with CT scansthen I can use other techniques to back out the turbulence, he explains. With this information, Bos says he can "send laser beams farther and data faster."

Atmospheric Optics

Receiving the YIP is a great honor and underscores the importance of basic imaging research in the area of extreme anisoplanatism, Bos says. Daniel Fuhrmann, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, says he's delighted but not surprised about Bos' award.

"Jeremy's contributions to the department are key to our long-term strategies for achieving success in research and teaching," Fuhrmann says. "He is already making his presence known at Michigan Tech in significant ways, in both applied optics and robotics."

Mike Roggeman, a professor of electrical engineering at Michigan Tech and Bos' mentor in optical engineering, agrees that Bos' work studying turbulence is crucial.

"The optical effects of ever-present atmospheric turbulence limit the performance of imaging and laser beam projection systems that must work in its presence," Roggeman says. "Even after decades of study, there are still unanswered questions about the underlying statistical nature of the turbulence."

Bos' work in mitigating extreme anisoplanatism will help clear the air.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigans flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
"After I left the last treatment center, I knew what made me happy," Selena explains, "and it was a connection." But on the advice of her doctor, Selena's planned philanthropic visit to Kenya to see the schools she was helping to raise
New members inducted into Institute of ...
Xi tells Swiss: lets work together

From:Agencies | 2017-01-17 11:49

China's economy will remain stable and keep growing steadily while resisting protectionism, President Xi Jinping told Swiss executives yesterday.



We are confident, Xi said, adding that there were headwinds facing the global economy, which is still weak.

Overall Chinas economy is performing steadily. In 2016, last year, GDP is expected to grow by 6.7 percent on a year-on-year basis, and that means we missed our set target, but that expectation according to some international institutions will be among the highest among major economies.

Protectionism, populism and de-globalization are on the rise. Its not good for closer economic cooperation globally, he said.

Xi, on a state visit to Switzerland before a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said Chinas economy was entering a new normal, and Swiss firms could help it improve quality, and become more efficient, equitable and sustainable.

The restructuring of Chinas economy and the upgrading of our industries will generate huge new demand, Xi said.

In terms of intellectual manufacturing, finance, insurance, energy conservation, environmental protection, energy generation, electricity, food and medicine, Switzerland has advanced technology and ... expertise and could be a new partner for innovation for China.

China owed its economic development to opening up, and Switzerland and China would work together to reject all forms of protectionism, he said.

We will expand the openness of our service sector and general manufacturing industry to provide more investment opportunities for foreign businesses and create a sound legal and policy environment a legal playing field.

China has become Swiss engineering company ABBs second biggest single market, behind the US.

Elevator maker Schindler has designs on rivaling bigger Kone and Otis in China, the worlds biggest elevator market.

Swiss drug and chemical makers are also fanning out in China. Novartis has completed a US$1 billion research campus in Shanghai, while Clariant is pinning its hopes on rising Chinese consumer demand.
Housing sales stay soft ahead of Festival

From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-01-17 11:45

Seven-day sales of new homes remained below the 100,000-square-meter threshold for the second straight week in Shanghai, further evidence of extended weakness in the traditional low season heading into the Spring Festival.



The area of new residential properties sold, excluding government-subsidized affordable housing, climbed 5 percent to 98,000 square meters last week, Shanghai Centaline Property Consultants Co said in a report yesterday.

Houses sold for an average 47,119 yuan (US$6,830) per square meter, a week-on-week increase of 16.3 percent.

Extremely sluggish momentum among both home buyers and developers was registered across the city with the latter not launching a single unit of new house in the local market during the whole week, said Lu Wenxi, senior manager of research at Centaline.

As rein-in measures remained implemented and the approach of the Spring Festival holiday, the monthly transaction volume in January would not exceed 400,000 square meters if this pace of sales is maintained, which will probably be the lowest for the same period in about five years.

An apartment project in Xuhui District sold 41 units last week for an average price of 81,481 yuan per square meter, making it the most popular development.
It's a common sight along Florida's highways and byways: dogs riding unrestrained in the back of pickup trucks.

Florida Senate bill SB 320 would address dogs in vehicles

Legislation would require dogs in truck beds to be tethered or crated

READ: Full text of Florida Senate bill SB 320 (PDF)



But under new Florida legislation, that practice would be banned.

A video that went viral on Facebook a week ago shows a somber-looking dog chained to the top of a cage in a trailer being towed on Interstate 95 in Flagler County (link to Facebook video  warning: includes profanity). The dog in the video was "tethered," but it raised awareness of the safety of dogs being transported in vehicles.



The measure, SB 320 by Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota), comes amid a steady stream of preventable deaths. The Humane Society estimates 100,000 dogs die every year as a result of being thrown from the back of pickup trucks.

If the legislation becomes law, pickup drivers who fail to crate or tether dogs riding in their truck's bed could be cited for a nonmoving violation, which carries a fine of $30. But the penalty, some animal rights activists say, is less important than the norm the crackdown would set.

"Even if a car or truck goes to an emergency stop, like hard brake, I'm throwing him in the floorboard a lot," Denise Nuckles said of her dog. "Think about it: If he were in the back of the truck, he could go over the side so easily."

The bill, however, would override scores of local ordinances that take a tougher line by outlawing even the tethering of dogs in the back of pickups and trailers, the result of a "pre-emption" clause in the legislation.

The Republican-controlled legislature's efforts to invalidate local regulations are currently being challenged in court.

"When the state overreaches and takes away our ability to make decisions that we believe are in the best interests of the people who elect us, that's bad for democracy," said Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a party to a lawsuit concerning the state's pre-emption of local gun ordinances.

But in areas that aren't currently subject to a ban on transporting unsecured dogs by pickup, the legislation's supporters point to its potential to save lives.

"I treat my dog like it's my kid," Nuckles said. "I would never put my children back there without restraints or a seat or something like that, so I think they need restraints, at the least."
The Flagler County school district is trying to make it safer for students to travel to and from school, and education officials are asking parents to participate in a bicycle and pedestrian safety study review.

Flagler Schools offering survey to increase bicycle, walker safety

Go to the Flagler Schools' website to take the survey

Queenie McCray remembers the horror stories of students who were hit by cars last year in Flagler County. She thinks a survey could possibly explain why it seems to be a recurring problem in the area.

"With all of these kids are getting hit by cars, it really was a shock to me," McCray said.

One of the five reported accidents during the 2015-2016 school year was fatal. Flagler County Public Schools is now working with the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization on a new study to improve safety while biking or walking to school.

The study's survey is open to the seven elementary and middle schools in the county.

"We can look at those routes and try to tailor recommendations that are specific to those routes and the students that are using them," said Stephan Harris, project manager of the transportation planning organization.

Harris said the same study was done in Volusia County about 60 times between 2005 and 2011 and has been effective there. It's the first time it is being done in Flagler.

The study allows the organization to develop procedures and programs to improve safety and to review sidewalk gaps, traffic patterns and light timing.

After officials receive the results from the study, the organization is able to make recommendations to the district and to the Florida Department of Transportation with the findings.

"If we can reduce injuries, reduce fatalities with pedestrians and bicyclist along the way, then that's a win-win," Harris said.

There are two surveys available.

Teachers are asking questions to their students like how they get to school and how they get home from school. Parents are asked to take the survey online on the district's website. The survey includes 16 questions.

"These kids, you know, how they just go in front of cars  they're not thinking either," McCray said. "But that's our job to keep them safe."

Harris said the ultimate goal of the survey is to keep the children safe and find out where improvements are needed. McCray said she'll do the survey with the hope that it can save lives.

"I do not want no other kids to be getting hit," McCray said.



The planning organization plans to report its findings to the district within a couple months and have a final report completed by June.

Go here to take the survey.
This story was posted on: 10:06 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017.

The capture of Markeith Loyd, who is accused in the slayings of ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon and Orlando Police officer Master Lt. Debra Clayton, has created an outpouring of gratitude towards law enforcement.

Family, community leaders and people express their feelings about Markeith Loyd's capture

RELATED story: Find out how Markeith Loyd was captured



After the capture of 41-year-old Loyd on Tuesday night, many throughout the community have been praising Orlando police officers for their arrest of the man accused in the shooting deaths of Dixon, who was pregnant with his child, and Clayton.

News 13's Facebook users took to an updated story post's comment sections to show their appreciation for law enforcement and the relief they have felt now that Loyd has been captured.

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Valerie Vitiello was overjoyed with the news of Loyd's capture.

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Dixon's family also expressed their emotions when they heard that Loyd was caught by law enforcement.

"It's a relief. It's a burden off our family," said Dixon's parents, Stephanie Dixon-Daniels and Ron Daniels. "We don't have to worry if this guy is going to show back up."

The family says it will return to the home along Long Peak Drive now that Loyd is caught. They also say Sade's surviving children are doing well.

District 5 Commissioner Regina Hill said she had full faith that law enforcement was "working around the clock" to bring Loyd to justice.

"I'm forever grateful that this cold-blooded killer is going to be brought to justice," said Hill.

Patty Sheehan, Orlando City commissioner for District 4, spoke about Clayton's just starting her life.

"Debra has just gotten married. And this family has had a tremendous loss. She was a good, spirited human being. She did so much for children. This is an unspeakable loss to this community. But justice is now served," Sheehan said.

Loyd's Facebook page, which is open to the public, exploded when news broke of his capture.

Another person on Loyd's page posted this message to law enforcement.

Citizens were not the only ones expressing thanks to law enforcement, as Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer tweeted this out:

Thank you @OrlandoPolice &partners for capturing this fugitive. Prayers continue for families of fallen officers. https://t.co/vgDbIggWFB  Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) January 18, 2017

The Orlando Police Department tweeted this message to the late Clayton.
The widow of Pulse gunman Omar Mateen pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday to charges she helped her husband and hindered the investigation into the massacre.

Noor Salman is charged with aiding and abetting Mateen's support of the Islamic State group. She faces up to life in prison if convicted.

"On June 12, 2016, Salman obstructed justice by engaging in misleading conduct towards officers of the Fort Pierce Police Department and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in order to prevent them from communicating to agents, the U.S. Department of Justice, and judges of the United States of America information relating to the attack at the Pulse Night Club in Orlando," the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida said in a statement.

Salman's plea comes two days after she was arrested at her Oakland, California home. She and Mateen had been living in Fort Pierce before the attack.

Prosecutors say Salman knew about Mateen's plans to attack Orlando's Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were killed and more than 50 others were hurt June 12, 2016 in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Salman is expected back in court Feb. 1 for a detention hearing.

Information from the Associated Press is used in this report.


Tim Hardage, presiding Tuesday over his first Plainview Chamber of Commerce board meeting as president, welcomed five directors to the board  Covenant Plainviews CEO Bob Copeland, Amegos Manager Rebekah Bernal, Rosa Padilla of Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Kevin Walker of Mouser Agency and Debbi Wilkins of Roberts & Wilkins ERA Realtors.

In addition to Hardage, the 2017 Chamber Executive Committee includes Brandon Ahrens, first vice president; Lezlie Hukill, second vice president; Andrea Glenn, secretary/treasurer; Dr. Bobby Hall, immediate past president; Wendell Dunlap, Plainview mayor; and Linda Morris, Chamber executive director.

Hardage reminded directors of two upcoming events, the annual Chamber Banquet and the Farmers Appreciation Breakfast.

The banquet, where Plainviews 2016 Man and Woman of the Year will be introduced, is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Laney Center on the Wayland Baptist University campus. Tickets are $25 per person and available at the Chamber. Keynote speaker is Cece Smith, president/owner of Toolbox Studios in San Antonio.

In connection with the banquet, Hardage said the deadline for nominations for Man and Woman of the Year is Jan. 30, with recipients selected during a luncheon that day by secret ballot by past recipients. They wont know who won until the names are announce at the banquet.

Nomination forms are available at the Chamber, and several have already been returned.

Local and area agricultural producers will be recognized for their contribution to the local economy at the Second Annual Farmer Appreciation Breakfast 8-9 a.m. Friday, March 24, at the Ollie Liner Center. The free breakfast is sponsored by local farm implement dealers.

Chamber directors on Tuesday voted to host a Business Success Luncheon to introduce South Plains College-Plainviews certification program in customer service. Morris explained that SPC can bring its innovative program onsite to individual businesses to train employees on improved customer service.

Directors also voted to award two $500 Raymond Akin Memorial Scholarships this year for graduating high school seniors. The annual scholarship memorializes Akin, a local auctioneer and longtime Chamber member.

Hari Kotaiya, Chamber Ambassadors Committee chair, reported on the groups recent activities including ribbon cuttings at Harvest Church, CPR Cellphone Repair, Texas Car Worx and Plainview Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. He anticipates a busy 2017 with a number of new businesses expected to open related to wind energy and other industries.

Morris reported the availability of several Business After Hours opportunities during the coming year. Cost to sponsor a Business After Hours mixer is $350, which covers printing and mailing postcard invitations and newspaper and radio advertising. Businesses are asked to provide light refreshments while the Chamber provided door prizes. The Chamber is now seeking someone to chair the committee to replace retiring Chairman Danny Andrews.

Andrea Glenn, reporting on Main Street for Director Melinda Brown, said the free downtown carriage rides canceled prior to Christmas due to inclement weather, have been rescheduled for Feb. 11 Saturday prior to Valentines Day, with the Chamber providing free hot chocolate. Glenn added that the stage at the Fair Theatre has been repaired. Among upcoming events is Ash School Open House Jan. 19.

Mike Fox, executive director of the Plainview/Hale County Economic Development Corp., reported that the Hale Community Wind Project is on schedule with construction on the first of four phases to begin during the first quarter of 2017. Starting area Petersburg before continuing northward, the wind project will eventually include 1,200 megawatts of capacity.

Once work on the project begins, Fox anticipates activity at the BNSF Logistics rail facility in east Plainview will pick up significantly.

He noted that both the City of Plainview and Hale County have approved economic development agreements with General Electric in connection with turbine components moving through the logistics terminal. That agreement to reduce property taxes on those components should help stimulate activity. Getting that rail center busy again is good for sales in our restaurants, convenience stores and motels, and will drive local sales tax activity. Getting the pilot cars and truck drivers back in here will be a great economic boost.

Fox reported that unemployment is 5 percent, which is lower than when Cargill was in operation. He noted that sales tax receipts in recent months have fallen behind the torrid pace set in 2015, but are still showing growth over a five-year period.

Eighteen industrial leads were generated at the FabTech conference in Las Vegas, and the former Jimmy Dean and Cargill facilities are shown on a regular basis to site selectors. I feel like we are one day closer to a major announcement, Fox said.

The EDCs annual meeting is at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 26 at the Plainview Country Club, with V.O. Ortega presiding as new president. During that meeting, EDC will award Norman Wright its Jack Morris Leadership Award.
LOCKNEY  After 35 years with Lockney Independent School District, the past 10 as superintendent, Phil Cotham will be retiring later this year.

According to the Floyd County Hesperian-Beacon, Cotham announced his retirement plans to the Lockney School Board at the trustees regular January board meeting Jan. 12.

His final day, the Hesperian reports in its Jan. 19 edition, will be June 30.

In a statement to the Lockney ISD staff, Cotham said, My heart will always belong to this school. I have spent 35 years surrounded by great friends and wonderful people. It is time for me to leave the realm of public education for employment in the private sector.

According to a notice on Lockney ISDs website, the district will be accepting resumes of superintendent candidates until noon March 3. The anticipated first round of interviews are planned for the week of March 20, with a second round of interviews during the week of April 3. A lone finalist is scheduled to be named on April 13.

Qualifications include:

--Minimum of four years of successful teaching experience

--Successful experience as a principal or other school administrator

--Hold a Texas Superintendent Certificate or be able to obtain temporary certification

--Must live in or move within the boundaries of Lockney ISD.

Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience and capability of the candidate.

Lockney ISD is described as a 2A district in Floyd County with approximately 465 students on three campuses  elementary, junior high and high school.

Resumes and transcripts can be sent to Cotham at P.O. Box 428, Lockney, TX 79241, or by email to cotham.phil@lockneyisd.net

The school board completed a required annual evaluation of the superintendents performance during the January board meeting. However, since Cotham had announced plans to retire trustees did not extend his current contract nor adjust his salary for the 2017-18 school year.
MERIDEN  No injuries were reported after a car backed up into a school bus carrying students Wednesday morning on Evansville Avenue.



The accident was reported about 7 a.m. in the area of 106 Evansville Ave. , just south of Baker Avenue. The bus had minor damage. Police said there were students on the bus, but there were no injuries.



Police left the scene shortly after 8 a.m.










HARTFORD  The General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the renomination of a Meriden man as a state referee, but not without harsh criticism from some lawmakers about his tenure as a family court judge.



Gerard I. Adelmans nomination easily passed each chamber  25-7 in the Senate, 117-28 in the House  but opponents said the legislature needs to do more to protect litigants who feel aggrieved by the family court. Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, D-Hartford, even called him a horrible and terrible, terrible judge, prompting members of Meridens legislative contingent to defend Adelman, citing his work as a judge and public service prior to his 2009 appointment.



Yes, this is a tough individual, but this is an individual who is fair and consistent, said Rep. Cathy Abercrombie, D-Meriden. Several lawmakers also commended Adelman for volunteering to take on lengthier family cases in Hartford, which Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, said are some of the most difficult and contentious cases.



Meriden resident Corrine L. Klatts reappointment was also approved Wednesday, garnering a 129-16 vote in the House and unanimously approval in the Senate. Lawmakers offered little criticism of Klatt, who was also first appointed in 2009 and presides in Meriden Superior Court, before approving her second term.



Adelmans nomination as a state referee  judges must retire at age of 70 under state law, but can continue serve in restricted roles with smaller caseloads  was one of several that sparked concerns about family court. Critics in both chambers said the legislature needs to be more attentive to the complaints of litigants in family matters, and identified Adelman as being among the judges to draw the most, and harshest complaints.



They also raised concerns about his courtroom management and demeanor. Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, referenced Adelmans comments during testimony before a legislative committee that someones ability to follow accepted decorum is a factor when considering whether he thinks a litigant will follow court orders.



Coleman, who is black, said judges should also be understanding when people of certain social classes are leery, based on history, that courts or other institutions will impose just decisions.



Gonzalez, meanwhile, characterized Adelman as a harsh and ill-tempered judge, saying she has sat in his courtroom multiple times. Her criticism also prompted others to urge fellow lawmakers to send a statement to judges.



If we dont stand up to one judge in this chamber, I think were sending the wrong message that this whole reappointment process is just a rubber stamp, said Rep. Edwin Vargas.



The criticism elicited a show of strong support from others, including Meriden legislators, members of the legislatures Judiciary Committee, and attorneys who have dealt with Adelman. Along with Abercrombie, Rep. Hilda Santiago, D-Meriden, and Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, came to Adelmans defense, describing him as fair minded and a devoted public servant, going back to his time as a member of the citys school board in the 1990s.



Santiago also defended Adelmans record, commending him for volunteering to take cases that can be emotional. Judges often try to avoid assignments to family court, but Adelman, as a state referee, sought one.



Youre not going to make everybody happy, and judges have to make those rulings each and every day, she said.



Rep. Craig Fishbein, R-Wallingford, a lawyer who predominantly handles family cases, also characterized Adelman as being fair-minded in matters that can be volatile. He said one of his first cases involved a contentious family dispute, but Adelman was the rudder in the whole case.



The debate prompted Tong, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, to also defended the entire judicial nomination process, saying applicants must go through multiple screenings before reaching chamber floors for votes. Additionally, he said lawmakers should consider whether judges act appropriately and make decisions within the confines of the law and not whether they agree with specific rulings, as the Judicial Branch is equal to the General Assembly under the states constitution.



msavino@record-journal.com 203-317-2266 Twitter: @reporter_savino






Fajita Pete's will open a new restaurant this month in Katy.

The Mexican restaurant chain will celebrate its newest metro Houston location, 1590 S. Mason Road, with festivities on Jan. 29.

RELATED: Fajita Pete's keeps eye on expansion as Tomball restaurant opens

"Opening our doors in Katy is extremely exciting for the team," franchisee Evan Tierce said in a statement. "As longtime customers of Fajita Pete's ourselves, our family viewed Katy as a perfect fit for the quality and delivery conveniences Fajita Pete's provides, and we're thrilled to be able to introduce the community to the brand."

The Katy restaurant is Fajita Pete's sixth in metro Houston. A Tomball restaurant opened in November.
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Fitness Connection on Saturday will mark the grand opening of its Humble location.

The gym, at 9669 FM 1960 Bypass Road West, is Fitness Connection's 13th in the Houston area.

The 52,000-square-foot facility features 100 pieces of cardio equipment, a kids' area with a movie theater and a women's only workout area.

RELATED: Workplace wellness programs keep employees fit while cutting health costs

The Houston Texans cheerleaders and Debbie the Texan along with city and community leaders will attend Saturday's grand opening.

Fitness Connection has grown to more than 30 locations across Nevada, North Carolina and Texas.
Tom Lutz has a project  he wants to visit every country on Earth.

The project began when Lutz was a teenager and his girlfriends parents took her to Switzerland. Lutz, the story goes, saved up the money to fly to Europe and take her away on a motorcycle. Hes been traveling ever since. Whether for a day or a week, as of August, Lutz claims to have gone to no less than 117 countries. And wherever he goes, he writes.

Dispatches from Lutzs comprehensive travel project form the 70 anecdotes in And the Monkey Learned Nothing.

Lutz listens to jazz in Chile. He rides a boat across the porous Botswanan border. Outside the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Cambodia, maimed beggars ask for money; Lutz complies, but when he wont give a local con man money, the con man tucks up his leg and pretends to be dismembered. Give me money too! The locals, including the amputee beggars, laugh.

Wherever he goes, Lutz talks to the locals. On the subway in Seoul, a woman wearing black finds out that Lutz writes books and proceeds to follow him in a perplexing state of near-silence that begins, Lutz writes, funny, like a Mr. Bean episode, and grows increasingly strange as the woman eats with him at a restaurant and follows him home to the lobby of his hotel.

Lutz exits the scene in an elevator and the woman is gone as silently as she appeared. Not one of these anecdotes, Lutz says, has an argument; theyre closer to koans than essays.

A structural metaphor throughout And the Monkey Learned Nothing comes from the titular piece, set in Indonesia. In Bali, at the top of the Ulawatu sea temple, Lutz observes a German tourist in round red glasses taunting nearby monkeys with bananas.

More Information And the Monkey Learned Nothing: Dispatches From a Life in Transit By Tom Lutz University of Iowa Press, $16 See More Collapse

One particular monkey understands the Germans game, and instead of hopelessly reaching for a banana, steals the mans glasses. The German freaks out and proffers the whole bunch. In response, the monkey throws the glasses off the sea temple cliff and swings away with the bunch of bananas.

Triangulated in the monkey/German/Lutz interaction is assumed knowledge, or the guise of understanding. The German assumes he can outsmart the primate, but when the primate breaks the rules and takes his glasses, Lutz pulls back the curtain to reveal a more complicated situation.

This motif repeats in many pieces: When assumed knowledge falls away, a mystery is revealed. On the Great Wall in Mutianyu, China, a man dressed like Genghis Khan growls to tourists that they should get their picture taken with him or die. Lutz, understanding the Disneyland-esqe-Khan through his own experience of the Chinese-tourism industry (loud, bartering hawkers), says, No thank you.

Khan does not budge. His sword is real, Lutz realizes. And sharp. Lutz isnt sure where the act ends and the person begins. Through specific detail, Lutz renders the world in a guise of understanding that, once undermined, reveals greater complexity.

When Lutz says the monkey learned nothing, its no knock on a primates cognitive potential. A more compelling read on the monkeys take-away from its spectacles-shattering romp concerns Lutzs own shortcomings as observer of other people and cultures that he can see but will never fully understand. Lutz is happiest at the end of an actual road, he says, and again and again he arrives at a place where the road ends not only actually, but also in metaphor.
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A little over 20 years ago, officers of the San Antonio Conservation Society invited local journalist and historian Lewis F. Fisher to write a book-length account of the accomplishments of that remarkable organization.

The rest is history, and it is quite a good one.

To be specific, that history is Fishers exhaustively researched, extensively illustrated, and excellently written Saving San Antonio.

In writing its first edition, Fisher chronicled the manifold ways in which the San Antonio Conservation Society  through its preservation of so many buildings and historic sites  has helped to tell the stories of the people who built this city over the course of almost three centuries.

He also told in fascinating detail the story of San Antonios evolution from a town of odd and antiquated foreignness to a thriving metropolis struggling to balance preservation and progress.

Now released in a beautifully designed second edition by Trinity University Press, with four chapters covering 1996 to the present, Saving San Antonio should be required reading for anyone who cares about both our citys past and future.

It shows how preservation has grown from the efforts of a few inspired individuals to what is now a dynamic collaboration among many conservation-minded groups, including the City of San Antonios Office of Historic Preservation, the Power of Preservation Foundation and many others in business and education, with benefits for tourism, art, culture and every facet of our local economy.

Fisher begins the book with a story every local schoolchild should know.

More Information Saving San Antonio: The Preservation of a Heritage By Lewis F. Fisher Trinity University Press, $27.50 See More Collapse

As he recounts the tale, the San Antonio Conservation Society sprang from a chance meeting in 1924 between local artists Emily Edwards and Rena Maverick Green near the old Market House, then slated for demolition.

Their resolve to create a society to preserve San Antonios heritage came at a time when, Fisher tells us, local business leaders were prepared to demolish whatever stood in the way of growth.

Edwards, Green and others joined forces to dramatize their concerns about the future of San Antonio by, of all things, staging a puppet play entitled The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg at City Hall.

The play temporarily swayed the hearts and minds of the city fathers in favor of saving some of the historic features of our city.

Fishers telling of that story, complete with photos of the puppets and quotes from Edwards script in iambic pentameter, is an excellent example of the power of art  and a fitting introduction to more than 500 pages of similarly great stories.

Readers will find Fishers narrative talents shine throughout the many other tales that fill this book.

Among the many stories Fisher details, some of the most fascinating are the earliest efforts to preserve the Alamo and the Spanish Missions, showdowns over the Riverwalk, the crossroads that was HemisFair, the preservation of the Arsenal and the old Ursuline Convent and Academy (now the Southwest School of Art), the moving of the Fairmount Hotel, the extension of the Riverwalk and the redevelopment of the old Pearl Brewery.

Fisher skillfully illuminates the political and economic interests that often clashed in the midst of preservation efforts and profiles the main players with style and panache.

His new chapters highlight preservation progress in some novel ways.

For example, he relates how the citys Office of Historic Preservation has created an unparalleled digital database of historic structures by enlisting the help of residents and their smart phones.

At the same time, he candidly relates stories of conflict that show how difficult it can be to create civic consensus about the creation of some new historic districts, and to preserve landmarks that relate to our Latino and African American communities heritages, such as the ill-fated La Gloria gas station or the Ellis Alley Enclave on the near East Side.

Fishers culminating account of San Antonios successful efforts to win UNESO World Heritage Site status for the Spanish Missions is an inspiring story of people from many backgrounds working together to put San Antonio into a new echelon of the globes culturally significant cities.

Extensively annotated with a richly detailed bibliography and timeline of historic preservation milestones  in addition to an amazing array of contemporary and archival photos  Saving San Antonio hopefully will inspire a new generation of civic leaders and activists to follow in the footsteps of Emily Edwards and Rena Maverick Green.

Ed Conroy is a San Antonio writer. Twenty years ago, he also was asked to submit a proposal for a history of the San Antonio Conservation Society. Fisher got the job. Reach him at econroy53@gmail.com
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People perhaps best know Sebastian Junger as author of the book The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea, a tale that led to the blockbuster Hollywood movie starring George Clooney that netted $329 million worldwide.

They know him also for the documentary films Restrepo and Korengal.

A longtime combat correspondent who reported on the Bosnian war, hes blended his experiences as a journalist embedded with soldiers and civilians in conflict with a long-held interest in cultural anthropology to tackle the signature issue of Americas long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder  as well as the larger problem of people desperate for healing in a bitterly divided country.

The result was the 2016 book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, which sheds light on why some veterans find war easier to endure than peace.

A big key for those traumatized by war, and quickly alienated by the very people they defended back home, is how they parachute right out of battle zones and into a society drowning in a toxic cocktail of alcohol, drugs, suicide, depression and schizophrenia.

Youre asking soldiers to transition from a close communal experience in a platoon, even if they werent (in) combat  and most soldiers dont experience combat, Junger said in an interview, adding that while only 10 percent of troops fight, it doesnt matter because they live and work in small groups.

So youre asking soldiers who have enjoyed the emotional comfort and safety of that to successfully adjust to an individualized and largely alienated modern society, he added. Youre asking them to transition successfully to a less psychologically healthy environment. So the request in itself is not a healthy one.

The disconnect is reflected in a single, terrible statistic. The San Antonio Express-News last spring reported that the number of suicides reported from 2003-15 for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, 4,839, exceeded the number of troops lost fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan in the same period. Psychiatric diagnoses, in turn, have risen more than 60 percent since both wars began.

Suicides among troops have remained stubbornly high despite scores of programs instituted across the services.

Junger takes a largely anthropological view to explain the problem, contrasting modern and tribal societies.

He notes that while suicide is common in Western industrialized nations, it was rare among American Indians, with one study finding no examples of suicide that were rooted in psychological causes.

He contends that Americas preoccupation with affluence is part of the problem because it leads to isolation, which can put people at a greatly increased risk of depression and suicide.

On the other hand, war with all its horrors is also a bonding and, ironically, psychologically healing experience.

Junger, 54, recalls in the book his reporting from Sarajevo, where a three-year siege left 70,000 dead  about one in every five people living there. When it was over, one survivor, Nidzara Ahmetasevic, conceded to missing the war, and said people were actually happier when it raged.

And, she added, we laughed more.

Studies of those who survived the 1940 London Blitz found a drop in psychiatric admissions.

Junger cited sociologist Emile Durkheims path-breaking study that also showed a reduction in suicide rates in European countries that went to war, even as Paris fell to the Nazis. Irish psychologist H.A. Lyons discovered suicide rates fell 50 percent in Belfast during riots there in 1969-70.

People might expect more suicides and psychological problems in a war zone, but Junger believes humans are psychologically wired to help each other. Phrases that help describe our earliest ancestors and, by implication, modern people in the midst of crisis, he writes in the book, include community of sufferers and a brotherhood of pain.

Americans had that brotherhood right after 9/11.

The sense of unity dissipated, he said, and has been replaced by discord that magnifies suffering and lessens hope for healing.

Im examining whats hard about living in this society, said Junger, who grew up near Gloucester, the Massachusetts town that was the setting for The Perfect Storm.

And I think in this time right now, whether youre a conservative or a progressive, or I dont care what you are, its a frightening time in America, I think, for a lot of people. And I think the thing that will help us, if not save us from ourselves, is this instinct that we have  that every people have, that every nation has  to turn inwards and act with benevolence and concern when theres a crisis.

sigc@express-news.net
Ten years ago the Big Thicket Association's Thicket of Diversity was established to implement vital species monitoring and to promote scientific research on the biodiversity of the Big Thicket.

The program successfully collected environmental data that's used by resource managers in critical decision-making. Non-native species are identified so plans can be developed to manage those that serve as the greatest threats to Big Thicket resources. Rare species are monitored with the hopes of expanding recovery efforts in protected areas. All information collected helps to determine the effects of climate change, a major threat identified by the National Park Service in their 2010 Climate Change Response Strategy.

As of April 2016, the Thicket of Diversity project inventoried 2,914 species in an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. These include 378 new to the preserve, 133 new to the state and 14 new to science.

In 2016, extensive Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) data listing 1,326 species was added.

Partial nematode (worm) data was submitted and mussel data finalized. From a multiyear project by Dr. Neil Ford 861 mussel specimens were collected of which 6 of the 23 species are considered threatened in Texas.

Information is cataloged in Integration of Resource Management Applications, a portfolio of tools and applications where one can search for, view, and download documents, reports, publications, data sets, and park species lists. One can also get information on park visitor numbers, park projects, and apply for a park research permit.

The Thicket of Diversity, a labor intensive effort, is accomplished by national and international researchers and service volunteers who are accommodated for overnight stays at the Big Thicket National Preserve's Field Research Station in Saratoga. The facility, with its dormitory, kitchen, lab and classroom, offers comfortable housing and study space. The FRS serves as a home base for visiting scientists and as a meeting place for educational activities for the public and partner organizations.

Among the activities, the Thicket of Diversity also partnered with Kountze High School. Building trade students constructed a bat house and presented it to the Park Service as part of Bat Conservation International's Bat Awareness Week.

Kountze ISD provided a school bus to enable 23 middle and high school students to assist in the Centennial tree planting in partnership with chaperones from the Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust. In a single day, 103 volunteers 11,000 long leaf pine seedlings were planted.

At the high school, Dr. Jonathan Hook, a keynote speaker at the 2016 Paris Climate Change Conference and author of "The Alabama Coushatta Indians," made five presentations to approximately 250 students. He shared a strong message about the importance of community and relationships and a holistic approach to understanding the Earth from a native American's perspective.

The 2016 funding for the Thicket of Diversity was made possible by the Brown Foundation, Dr. Carl Knight, Carol Pierce and individual donations. It was performed in part with penalty monies from a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality enforcement action. The Field Research Station is managed by the Thicket of Diversity under an agreement between the Big Thicket Association and the Big Thicket National Preserve. The in kind value of the National Park Service contribution for FRS operations is $13,558 annually. The Big Thicket National Preserve also provided financial support to Rice University for the mini-bioblitz and for the cataloging of historical aquatic data produced under Dr. Richard Harrel of Lamar University.

Research projects completed in 2016 include:

Dr. Scott Solomon, Rice University, Student Investigations of Biological Diversity in the Big Thicket

Dr. Neil Ford, University of Texas at Tyler, Surveys of freshwater mussels in 9 units of the Big Thicket Preserve

Dr. Paul Tinerella, Research Entomologist MN, Continued Biotic Survey: Aquatic True Bugs (Insecta: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha, Leptopodomorpha) and Aquatic Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) of Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas, USA

Dr. Bart Buyck, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, Root symbiotic fungi : key players in the forest ecosystems of the Big Thicket.

Dr. Thomas Powers, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Baseline Inventory of Freeliving and Plant-Parasitic Nematodes of the Big Thicket National Preserve

Active projects financed by Texas En:

Eddie Realzola, Sam Houston State University, Survey and Inventory of Gyrinids in Big Thicket Wetlands (Continued Survey)

Dr. Zachary Loughman, West Virginia University, Crayfish Surveys of Big Thicket National Preserve

Dr. Thomas Powers, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, New Species Descriptions from Big Thicket National Preserve

Dr. Scott Solomon, Rice University, Ant Community Dynamics in the Big Thicket National Preserve

Dr. Daniel J. Bennett & Dr. John Pascarella, Stephen F. Austin State University, Bees of the Big Thicket National Preserve (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

The Big Thicket Association has TCEQ funds available for new research projects. The Request for Proposals can be found at www.thicketofdiversity.org/science/information-for-scientists/.

The Thicket of Diversity wishes to express appreciation to outgoing President Dr. Paul Tinerella, outgoing Science Chair Dr. Katie Winsett and the services of Big Thicket National Preserve's Ken Hyde, Herbert Young and Mary Kay Manning.

Among the activities:

In January 2016 Texas State University-San Marcos conducted mist netting of birds to look for ticks, ectoparasite loads and trapping of small mammals for research.

Volunteers from St. Michael's College and The Nature Conservancy's fire team used the facility as did Dallas Zoo volunteers who contributed time planting trees in the Big Thicket National Preserve's Centennial Forest.

In February/March research station was used for single-day projects. An ecology class was conducted for University of Central Oklahoma students. Houston Zoo volunteers planted trees. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center inventoried invasive plants. The University of Texas conducted air quality monitoring.

In April/May a graduate level field trip to study wetlands was hosted by Tarleton State University. Sam Houston State University offered a herpetology field trip. Members of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory counted birds.

In the summer months, the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and Sam Houston State University continued research. The Wetlands and Aquatic Research Center of the U.S. Geological Survey studied cypress trees in swamp lands. Colorado State University students booked an extended stay at the research station to perform service in the preserve and conduct a vegetation inventory. The facility was also used by the Big Thicket National Preserve and the Big Thicket Association for day meetings.

In August the director of Thicket of Diversity submitted a request for a funding extension to Texas Parks and Wildlife earmarked for publication of the proceedings of the 2015 Big Thicket Science Conference: Biodiversity and Ecology of the West Gulf Coastal Plain Landscape. It was accepted and selected papers on Big Thicket research will be available for viewing online.

In September/October U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Big Thicket National Preserve staff and Thicket of Diversity researchers assisted Rice University students in a mini-bioblitz.

The Big Thicket Association moved its office location from Saratoga to Beaumont and the Thicket of Director moved her office into the research station to be closer to the scientists.

In November/December Texas A& M Corpus Christi stayed at the research station and volunteered their services in the preserve. Some FRS reservations were cancelled due to heavy rains.

The Thicket of Diversity is committed to complementing the National Park Service's goal to promote the preserve as a learning laboratory and to develop greater public commitment to the preservation and restoration of the Big Thicket National Preserve and the larger environment on which it depends. The Thicket of Diversity offered numerous interpretive programs for the public and through partnership approaches.

The Thicket of Diversity annually sponsors science cafes.

"Science Cafes were fashioned after international science cafes," explained Leta Parker, a retired Big Thicket National Preserve employee. "It was to make science available in a casual environment and to make science available to more people."

In March a science cafe on crawfish by Dr. Zachary Loughman of West Virginia University was hosted at the Logon Cafe in Beaumont.

The Gulf States Mycological Society participated with the Thicket of Diversity to offer two mushroom forays led by their president, David Lewis, who also guided a walk on the Watson Rare Plant Reserve.

Lewis facilitated involvement by international researcher Dr. Bart Buyck of Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle whose inventory project on mushrooms was completed in 2016.

Buyck is a world authority on the genus Cantharellus and described 5 new species of chanterelles from East Texas, including Cantharellus texensis, a species that was originally described from the Lance Rosier Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve. Cantharellus genus mushrooms are worldwide and edibile.

An informative invasive plant walk led by Eddie Realzola of Sam Houston University was hosted for the public on the Kirby Nature Trail. It attracted 12-15 hikers.

In October a mini-bioblitz was jointly conducted by Dr. Scott Solomon's Rice University students as part of his Biological Diversity course and inaturalists trekked from all over to participate in species identification primarily capturing observations using cell phones. Says an epost, "I don't know what was mini about it! Making the observations and hanging out with all our inat friends is the equisite fun of a bioblitz. Now comes the hard part, the uploads and identification and corrections and discussion and cussin'. It's fun in its own way- what a tremendous learning experience even well after the field effort- but we all know it can be an intellectual, mental and physical challenge." Using the app inaturalist, approximately 32 volunteer citizen scientists connected with experts and collected data. They snapped pictures, took sound recordings and uploaded them to the cloud. The mini-bioblitz resulted in 3839 observations and the identification of 846 species. (http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2016-national-parks-bioblitz-big-thicket-mini-bioblitz)

The Thicket of Diversity also partnered with Kountze High School. Building trade students constructed a bat house and presented it to the Park Service as part of Bat Conservation International's Bat Awareness Week. Kountze ISD provided a school bus to enable 23 middle and high school students to assist in the Centennial tree planting in partnership with chaperones from the Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust. 11,000 long leaf pine seedlings were planted in a single day by a total of 103 volunteers. At the high school, Dr. Jonathan Hook, a keynote speaker at the 2016 Paris Climate Change Conference and author of The Alabama Coushatta Indians, made 5 presentations to approximately 250 students. He shared a strong message about the importance of community and relationships and a holistic approach to understanding the needs of Mother Earth from an Indian perspective.

The following day, Dr. Hook presented another program and participated in a book signing at the Big Thicket Association's Big Thicket Day, National Park Service Centennial Celebration at the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center. The event included the sharing of awards and a wide variety of activities by authors, exhibitors, musicians and dancing by the Alabama Coushatta Indians. The Thicket of Diversity developed an informative booth with a new canopy and banner manned by ToD Director Mona Halvorsen to enlighten the public on the ToD's goals and accomplishments. Big Thicket Day had an outreach of approximately 350.

The 2016 funding for the Thicket of Diversity was made possible by the Brown Foundation, Dr. Carl Knight, Carol Pierce and individual donations. It was performed in part with penalty monies from a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) enforcement action. The FRS is managed by the ToD under an agreement between the Big Thicket Association and the Big Thicket National Preserve. The inkind value of the NPS contribution for FRS operations is $13,558 annually. The BTNP also provided financial support to Rice University for the mini-bioblitz and for the cataloging of historical aquatic data produced under Dr. Richard Harrel of Lamar University.

Active TCEQ projects in 2016 are:

Eddie Realzola, Sam Houston State University, Survey and Inventory of Gyrinids in Big Thicket Wetlands (Continued Survey)

Dr. Zachary Loughman, West Virginia University, Crayfish Surveys of Big Thicket National Preserve

Dr. Thomas Powers, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, New Species Descriptions from Big Thicket National Preserve

Dr. Scott Solomon, Rice University, Ant Community Dynamics in the Big Thicket National Preserve

Dr. Daniel J. Bennett & Dr. John Pascarella, Stephen F. Austin State University, Bees of the Big Thicket National Preserve (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

The Big Thicket Association has TCEQ funds available for new research projects. The Request for Proposals can be found at http://www.thicketofdiversity.org/science/information-for-scientists/.

The Thicket of Diversity wishes to express appreciation to outgoing President Dr. Paul Tinerella, outgoing Science Chair Dr. Katie Winsett and the services of BTNP's Ken Hyde, Herbert Young and Mary Kay Manning.

The Thicket of Diversity project is a partnership that develops avenues for knowledge sharing, research and monitoring, education and training and participatory decision-making. To ensure the sustainability of the Big Thicket's biodiversity, biological inventories will continue to be a vital tool worthy of extended support.
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A chance encounter last year between two former Silsbee High School classmates led to the recent expansion of Big Thicket National Preserve by more than 68 acres.

Earl Stover III, a state district judge in Hardin County, said when he ran into Ellen Buchanan, the president of the Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust, they started talking about a piece of land that Stover's parents owned in Hardin County next to the preserve.

Earl "Smokey" Stover, a former judge on the Texas 9th Court of Appeals who died in 2000, and his wife, Juanita Stover, bought the 68.4-acre plot in the 1960s as an investment with the intention of donating it to the preserve after it was established, Stover said.

Stover said that after his meeting with Buchanan, the family decided it was time to donate the land.

"My mother's getting older, and it seemed like it was a good time to get the process finished," Stover said.

The family finalized the transfer of the land on Big Sandy Creek to the conservation group The Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust on Dec. 21.

The land, which includes hardwoods, pines and cypress-lined creeks, will join the more than 112,000 acres that make up the national wildlife preserve established in 1974.

Buchanan said the organization is "very pleased" with the donation.

The new addition will be beneficial it has bodies of water that can act as a buffer during heavy rains and prevent flooding in the preserve, Buchanan said.

The donation ensures the land will remain undeveloped, preserving the beauty of the Big Thicket, she said.

"If you don't have development and don't have runoff from oil and concrete, you don't have runoff into the water," Buchanan said.

"The people of Hardin and Tyler counties have been good to the Stover family," Stover said. "We are pleased to be able to give back to the people of Southeast Texas."

NKrebs@BeaumontEnterprise.comTwitter.com/natalie_krebs
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Joint one of a few notable locations still offering classic menu combination with ribs, Beaumont-style links.

Arthur Yarbough stands at a trailer-mounted barrel smoker, overseeing the cooking of 80 whole chickens at Caroline's Quality & Quantity, the barbecue joint he operates with his wife, Caroline, in Kountze, a tiny town 30 minutes north of Beaumont in the East Texas Piney Woods.

That's a lot of chicken for a barbecue joint that's open only on Fridays and Saturdays, I point out to him.

"When there's a funeral in Kountze for folks we know, we cook barbecue chicken for the repast," he says, referring to the post-funeral gathering where friends and family bring food.

Yarbough, 62, who has lived in Kountze his whole life, knows a lot of people and, regrettably, cooks a lot of chicken.

"There were five funerals this weekend," he says.

It's a tradition that reflects the best and worst of small-town life in Southeast Texas. Admirably, there's still a sense of community and a sense of obligation to take care of one's fellow citizens.

And yet many of these towns reflect hard economic times. Jobs in industries such as timber have gone elsewhere. Many young people eventually move to Beaumont or Houston, following better opportunities.

Similarly, the native East Texas style of barbecue found here is also showing strains from contemporary cultural trends.

Virtually every new barbecue joint that opens nowadays is Central Texas style - the beef-centric, Austin-based style that commands nearly all the media coverage that Texas barbecue attracts worldwide.

Only a few notable East Texas-style joints are still going strong, including Caroline's, as well as New Zion Missionary Baptist Church Barbeque in Huntsville and a handful of places in Beaumont and Port Arthur.

Yarbough isn't sure if his son, Arthur Jr., will take over the business. For now, Arthur Sr. still runs the pits every weekend.

Yarbough is no stranger to hard work. Even during boom times, life in Kountze was hardscrabble.

"I bought my first lawnmower in third grade," he says, adding that he later worked in the sawmill throughout his school years. He grew up in a family with a single mother and had to buy his own clothes.

"I had brothers and sisters, but they were a lot older than me and interested in other things," Yarbough says. "So I had to take care of myself."

After high school, he worked for Santa Fe Railway as a maintenance worker. Twenty-three years later, he retired from the railroad and was looking for something he and Caroline could do to supplement their income.

"As a kid, my friends and I would buy Cokes and some meat, and we'd go down to the creek and I'd cook for them," Yarbough says. That was a starting point. Then he remembered the spicy, garlicky all-beef sausages, known as "homemade links" or "Beaumont-style links," he grew up eating in Kountze. He developed his own recipe and opened Caroline's with his wife in 2001.

It was and still is a "ribs and links" joint, a classic East Texas-style barbecue-menu combination.

Yarbough smokes his handmade links in a remarkable, one-of-a-kind custom smoker made entirely of plywood. The size and shape of a large closet, the plywood box features walls that he "cured" by burning a fire inside until they became charred and no longer catch fire. He hangs the links at the very top and starts a small fire using oak at the bottom and smokes the links for up to 24 hours.

Yarbough cooks about 60 to 70 links every weekend, which is enough to satisfy the old-school barbecue fans who seek out this time-honored East Texas-style delicacy.

Much like the small towns of Southeast Texas, East Texas-style barbecue continues to hang on, even though the number of joints serving it is dwindling. I hope more people like Arthur and Caroline Yarbough keep the tradition alive.

A native of Beaumont, J.C. Reid graduated from the University of Southern California after studying architecture and spent his early career as an architect in New York City. He returned to Texas in 1995, retiring from architecture but creating his own Internet business in Houston. As his business became self-sustaining, he began traveling Houston and the world to pursue his passion: eating barbecue. He began blogging about food and barbecue for the Houston Chronicle in 2010 and founded the Houston Barbecue Project in 2011 to document barbecue eateries.

JCReid@JCReidTX.com Twitter.com/jcreidtx
The San Antonio Cocktail Conference wrapped up Sunday after five days of downtown San Antonio spilling over with classic and new cocktails being shaken, stirred and sipped.

I attended a couple of events and came away with wonderful ideas I cant wait to put in action at my next cocktail party, and no doubt other attendees feel the same way. But however important good cocktails and good food are  and they are very important  more important is the overall party, the mood and the scene.

Think about it. When was the last time you left a friends party complaining because your Moscow mule had too much lime juice or because you wish she would start serving goat cheese in addition to the baked brie and cheddar?

But I have left some parties thinking the lights were too bright, wondered why there was no music and wished it had been easier to get a drink. (To my friends reading this, I assure you none of these complaints came from your house. Smiley face.)

Georgette Moger-Petraske, who led a seminar Saturday at the conference about how to throw a home cocktail party, and I agree on much about entertaining.

Courtesy Georgette Moger-Petraske

Moger-Petraske is a travel writer focusing on spirits and cocktails and the widow of Sasha Petraske, founder of the influential New York cocktail bar Milk & Honey and many other polished drinking spots across the world. His role in the modern cocktail revival is difficult to overestimate, and he was one of the founders of the San Antonio Cocktail Conference.

Moger-Petraske recently finished and published a book started by her late husband, Regarding Cocktails (Phaidon), which she referenced heavily in the tips she presented at the conference and which was written as a minimalist guide to creating Milk & Honey-worthy cocktails at home and for parties.

We loved entertaining, Moger-Petraske said by phone after the conference.

Courtesy Georgette Moger-Petraske

She says they entertained three to five times a month, counting small occasions with just another couple. But their actual cocktail parties were something special: dressy, adult, classy, often themed, and one suspects there was more than a splash of mischievousness at play.

Still, Petraskes seriousness for the art and technique of a good cocktail and party comes through in the book with such meticulous instructions as, One bartender working with batched cocktails and punch, in a well-set-up bar with a clearly visible menu, can serve up to forty guests, maximum. If you make beer and wine a separate self-serve station, that can up the capacity to fifty. And if you add a self-serve punch station you can serve up to sixty people.

This was a guy who took his fun seriously. Here are more of the couples tips, with my 2 cents worth:

Darken your rooms with dimmers or by installing lower-wattage bulbs. Seriously, yall, fluorescent brightness gives your party all the charm of a doctors office. A darker room adds intimacy and coziness and inspires conversation.

Candles are great, but only in places where they wont get knocked over or set a curtain on fire. For those areas, newer LED flameless candles that actually flicker and look like a real, moving flame, are a much safer choice.

Youre the host, and responsible for the safety and the enjoyment of your guests. Dont get drunk. Its fine to enjoy a drink at your own party, but you need to remain coherent enough to judge a guests sobriety and to be able to call a cab or an ambulance if needed.

Dont invite more people than your home can handle. Cramming 100 people into a studio apartment and hallway was great in college, but only then. Invite what your home can really handle, allotting 8 to 10 square feet per person, Petraske suggests. And one bathroom can handle 40 people max.

On the flip side, if you have a large home and just a handful of guests, pick a more defined area where guests can feel cozier and like a group.

Courtesy Georgette Moger-Petraske

Include clear instructions in your invite. Moger-Petraske said she loves themed parties because they help guests figure out the right attire and what kind of party vibe to expect. If theres no theme, write something like, Come dressed for cocktails, she suggests, so your guests dont show up in jeans and flip-flops. Six to 8 (p.m.) is a dressy time of day, she said. We loved to dress up. We were very simpatico.

Divide and conquer as a couple. Moger-Petraske said that at her and her husbands parties, she would handle the canapes and Petraske would be in charge of cocktails. It was natural for them.

I can say from experience that having defined roles and duties clearly laid out from the beginning is so important  SO important  when hosting as a couple. Well, do that, and then stick to the plan and let the other person do his or her thing. Chaos, anger and tears are likely to ensue otherwise (for reals, yall), and that is hardly conducive to merriment later.

Emily Spicer / San Antonio Express-News

Pre-batch it. Pre-make it. Pre-set it. No one expects your home to be a full bar. So pick a small, limited menu of cocktails to serve, and then make those in large quantities in advance. Make the menu visible so guests dont have to guess what you have available or drive you crazy with special requests. This way, all you have to do is shake or stir to chill and serve in a great glass with a garnish.

(This clip from Father of the Bride of Spencer Tracy stuck in the kitchen making cocktails illustrates perfectly what happens when these suggestions are not followed. Moger-Petraske showed this at her seminar, and the laughter and many nodding heads spoke volumes about how common a pitfall this is.)

In addition, make a big, strong punch to welcome guests when they arrive. Punch bowls are great, but be creative. You can serve this in a pitcher, vase or any big bowl (even a well-washed fishbowl will work) and have fun with teacups or other glassware for drinking it.

And if your party is more in the 60-person range, adding a lighter, less boozy punch near the bar area can help take the pressure off your cocktail making while guests serve themselves.

Now on this point, I differ a bit from Moger-Petraske. If you are hosting alone, serving cocktail a la minute (even with pre-batching) can be hard to achieve without investing in a bartender or finding a volunteer, and it might be too expensive for some hosts. If youre shaking a cocktail, youre not mingling with guests and making them feel welcome. I would rather have more time with the host than a French 75. (Well, most hosts. Smiley face. I do love a French 75.)

Emily Spicer /San Antonio Express-News

I see nothing wrong in having one big punch and a self-serve wine and beer bar set up next to it with a large, iced wine tub for chilling and room on the table for the red wine bottles guests will always bring. But then, my crowd on average has a cocktail or two at most before switching to mostly wine the rest of the evening. Deciding what to serve is all about knowing your guests.

As much as you can, choose glass over plastic. Budgets dont budge, and renting glassware or buying enough for a party can be expensive. But you lose the sense of fancy cocktail party with plastic, which Petraske believed only appropriate for serving cats. Meow.

Emily Spicer / San Antonio Express-News

If you booze, you must serve food. Even a two-hour cocktail party needs something for guests for nibble on. Moger-Petraske served the prettiest canapes at her seminar to go with the classic, simple cocktails. There were tea sandwiches (small white bread sandwiches served crustless and cut into triangles) of salmon and cream cheese and of cucumber and microgreens. She also served the most divine cardamom-poached apricots filled with mascarpone and dusted with chopped pistachios, as well as goat cheese rolled into small, truffle-size balls and rolled in a variety of herbs and spices.

These are perfect for a classic cocktail party of the Mad Men-type with plenty of gin and rye drinks, but there are plenty of other recipes all over the internet, so have fun exploring for bites that match what youre serving  and make sure these can be made ahead. Ideally, you should be able to just pull already-assembled plates out of the fridge and set them out just before guests arrive.

Entertaining well is an art. And as in art, say, painting, its helpful to learn the basics before you find what works best for you and your voice. It also gets easier the more you do it.

So as your 2017 new year, new me resolutions start to fade, maybe its time to consider throw more parties as a viable goal for the year. You know, because art.

Readers, what are your favorite cocktails and hors doeuvres to serve at a party? Email me the details and recipes with photos if you have them, along with your name and daytime number, and you could be in my column.

espicer@express-news.net

Twitter: @Spiced1

Instagram: @spiceoflife_en
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GLENVILLE - A weekend getaway to Lake Placid, a 12-gauge shotgun, and assorted firefighting gear will be among the items raffled off Wednesday evening as part of a fund-raiser for town couple who lost their home in a fire.

Firefighters were able to save Daniel and Kate Marchand's cat but the couple's dog and puppy died in the blazeat their Sacandaga Road home. Daniel Marchand, 26, is a paid Scotia fireman and an aircraft rescue firefighter with the Air National Guard.

He was supposed to ship out to Kuwait about two weeks after the fire but a fellow guardsman took his place, Scotia fire officials said.

Kate Marchand also works in emergency services, Scotia Fire Capt. James Jones said.

Jones said organizers are expecting more than 350 people to attend the benefit at the River Stone Manor on Route 5.

The young couple, who are expecting twin girls in April, will be there too.

Right after the fire, the Marchands were staying with friends, but had offers of temporary apartments to live in for free.

A GoFundMe page has raised $43,240 in donations.

Besides the raffle, the event, which is being put on by the Scotia Permanent Fireman's Association IAFF, Local #842, will feature other prizes, live music, food, and a cash bar. All the proceeds from the fund-raiser will go to the Marchands.

More Information If you go to the fundraiser for Daniel and Kate Marchand: 6 p.m. Wednesday River Stone Manor 1437 Amsterdam Road Scotia, NY $20 entry fee Anyone who cannot make it to the fundraiser but would like to donate should make checks payable to the "Marchand Fire Recovery Fund." Checks can be mailed to: Scotia Permanent Firemen's Association 148 Mohawk Ave. Scotia, NY 12302 See More Collapse

Jones said the department is "pleased, humbled and overwhelmed," by the wellspring of support and love shown to the Marchands.

"The fire department community is a tight-knit community so we've had offers and we expect guests coming in from other fire departments from throughout the state and possibly some neighboring states."

Anyone who wants to attend the fund-raiser can RSVP through the Scotia Fire Department's Facebook page.

pnelson@timesunion.com  518-454-5347  @apaulnelson
GREENWICH  Stanwich School students and faculty will take to the catwalk Friday to raise money for Project Blessing, a nonprofit group building a school in Rwanda.

More than 50 models, ages 4 and older, will walk the runway in the schools Fashion for Change event at 6 p.m. Jan. 20. They will wear clothes from Jolie Gotique, Stella M'Lia, Winged Monkey and Vineyard Vines that will be available for purchase after the show, with a portion of proceeds going to Project Blessing.

Its going to be quite a vibrant, fast-moving show, said event coordinator Janine Kennedy.

The Loft in Stamford will do hair and makeup for the models, and Dexter Fisch from Arch Street Teen Center will be the DJ for the shows music. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Tickets  $20 for general admission and $40 for VIP seating  can be bought online.

Last year, Stanwich raised $2,269 for Project Blessing through the fashion show fundraiser. This year, the school hopes to raise more than $5,000, money which will be put toward constructing fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms at the Blessing School in Rwanda.

Project Blessing is an nonprofit started by Stanwich upper school science teacher Shaun Fletcher.

Fletcher started Project Blessing after a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide spoke at Stanwich during the 2006-07 school year. Fletcher used a school grant to travel to Rwanda the next year to learn more about the country. He visited about 20 communities, but Cybatanzit, a village where the closest school was two hours away by foot, stood out.

Fletcher said he was impressed by the villagers interest in education and their selfless attitude. All of the children who were orphaned in the genocide were adopted by other village members.

When youre there, youre just listening; youre a sponge, Fletcher said. I just kept hearing Were not educated, but our gift to our children must be education.

Since then, Fletcher has returned every year with students to help build the Blessing School and the villages infrastructure.

So far, Project Blessing has spent $98,000 building the school in Rwanda. In 2016, the nonprofit raised $29,905.27 for the school, more than $23,000 of which came from parents of Stanwich School students.

Project Blessing needs to raise at least $65,000 more in funds for construction of the Grades 4-6 classrooms, administrative and faculty offices, school kitchen and health clinic, according to Fletcher. The aim is to complete the Blessing School in 2018.

emunson@hearstmediact.com; @emiliemunson
BRIDGEPORT  Sacred Heart University officials have turned over the school records of a former student who claims she was raped last year after attending college night at a local bar, but the university plans to appeal the judges demand for those documents.

Although Superior Court Judge Robin Pavia earlier stated she would consider sanctions against university officials, she instead gave them time to file an appeal with the state Supreme Court.

The universitys lawyer, John Pitblado, has maintained it would be a violation of federal privacy laws for the school to turn over the records.

Our concern was for student privacy and our obligation to comply with federal law, said university spokeswoman Deborah Noack. We disagree with the judge in this case over the interpretation of the law, and have appealed the legal issues to the appellate court.

Alfonso Reid, 39, is facing a six-member Superior Court jury, and is charged with first-degree sexual assault and first-degree unlawful restraint. He is accused of raping the 19-year-old Sacred Heart University student last year on March 30, after culling her from a crowd of students at the Golden Star Cafe on Main Street in Bridgeport.

More for you Student testifies about alleged rape

Last week, at the request of Reids lawyer, Assistant Public Defender James Pastore, Pavia ordered university officials to turn over the young womans school records. The judge has not decided whether the defense lawyer will be able to use them in his clients defense.

The young woman is no longer a student at Sacred Heart, and she and her parents said they authorized the university to turn over the records. But Pitblado refused. The state Appellate Court subsequently turned down an emergency appeal of Pavias order.

In the meantime, the womans family turned over the records they had received from the university, allowing the trial to continue.

On Tuesday morning, Pitblado erroneously claimed the appeals court stayed Pavias order to turn over the records. He then claimed the womans family had been pressured by Pastore to turn over the documents.

Thats what I was told by a Sacred Heart representative, Pitblado told the judge.

But the young womans father told the judge he had no contact with the defense until after they had turned over the documents.

I put pressure on Sacred Heart to release the documents because we wanted to make sure the trial got off, the father said.

Later Tuesday, facing possible sanctions, Pitblado returned to the court with the documents in a sealed envelope and university administrator Jeff Barrett by his side.

Barrett told the judge he spoke to someone at the state Department of Education and was told there was no rush to turn over the documents if there is no imminent danger to the university.

You mean you are putting more importance on the universitys interests than a students? the judge asked. I have very grave concerns with the way Sacred Heart is interpreting the law.

Pitblado then turned over the documents, with the caveat that the school intends to appeal the

judges order.
Ella Grace Hurlbut may have been in the world for only 50 days, but her family is working to create a lasting legacy for her.

Through fundraising efforts to construct a Butterfly Bereavement Room in the Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, Katie and Phillip Hurlbut hope to help provide comfort to families for years to come.

Katie and Phillip live in Eagle Springs in Atascocita with their three-year-old son Luke and daughter, Anna, who is nearly 18 months old.

Katie was 27 weeks into her pregnancy with Anna and Ella when doctors determined the twins would need to be delivered early due to complications.

Anna and Ella were born July 19, 2015, at 27 weeks, each weighing approximately one pound, 15 ounces.

At first, both Anna and Ella were receiving care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Texas Children's Pavilion for Women; however, when Ella developed a bacterial infection, she was transferred to the NICU in the Texas Children's Hospital's West Tower for more specialized care.

After two weeks of traversing the walkway bridging the Pavilion and West Tower to visit their two newborns, the couple was told Ella's health was declining. Katie and Phillip went to the West Tower to say goodbye to Ella. However, the NICU lacked the privacy they felt parents should have with their babies during these final moments.

"The night that we knew she wasn't doing well, they called us to come up to the hospital and we knew it was close to the end, so we asked if there was anywhere she can be transferred just so that we have more privacy to say goodbye to her," Katie said. "They were able to put us in an isolation room, which we're incredibly thankful for. But, even so, it was still a cold, sterile hospital room. When we said goodbye to her, she was still hooked up to all sorts of machines, cords and wires with the monitors beeping."

Ella passed away Sept. 7, 2015.

"It's so hard," Katie said. "You imagine getting to do all of these things for your baby, but when they're gone, you realize, 'I'm never going to get to bathe them,' 'I'm never going to get to change their diaper,' 'I'm never going to get to do all these things that I imagined doing with them.' That was one of the hardest things when Ella passed. How was I supposed to condense everything I wanted to say to her over her lifetime into a matter of minutes?"

Katie and Phillip expressed their appreciation for the compassionate nurses who helped them through their final moments with Ella. However, they felt there needed to be an environment that could provide the level of privacy and peace that such an emotional and intimate experience deserves.

Aimee Renaudin was one of Ella's nurses during her two weeks in the West Tower NICU. Having witnessed several families go through experiences similar to what the Hurlbut's had endured, she launched an initiative to open a Butterfly Bereavement Room for the West Tower NICU.

The Butterfly Bereavement Room was completed in May 2016 for patients in the West Tower. Designed as a nursery with a crib, bed, chairs, armoire full of baby clothes, bathroom and shower, the Butterfly Bereavement Room provides parents with a private, comforting environment in which to spend the last moments with their baby.

The Hurlbuts saw the West Tower's Butterfly Bereavement Room for the first time on the one-year anniversary of Ella's passing.

"Ever since Ella passed away, to celebrate her life we became more involved in the hospital just by donating items to the hospital and things like that," Katie said. "One of the times we were up at the hospital and one of the ladies said, 'Have you seen this (Butterfly Bereavement) room?' She showed it to us, and I was just brought to tears because I wish that something like this was available when we lost Ella."

When they heard about an initiative to possibly open another Bereavement Room in the Pavilion for Women, Katie and Phillip asked how they could help.

Katie and Phillip launched a fundraising page through the Give to Texas Children's website at http://waystogive.texaschildrens.org/butterfly in December 2016 in hopes of raising money to fund a Butterfly Bereavement Room at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women in Ella's memory.

They are now asking for the community's help in raising $50,000 to cover construction costs, furniture, initial supplies and future supplies. As of Jan. 17, the project has raised $11,140.

Katie, who grew up in the Kingwood area, is a nurse practitioner at Humble Pediatrics and works primarily at the Texas Children's Pediatrics Humble Fall Creek location. With a medical background and the perspective of a parent who has gone through the loss of a child, Katie feels she and Phillip were meant to take-on this fundraising project.

"Right now, there's nothing like this available for families in the Pavilion," Katie said. "It's never easy to lose a child, but we just don't want anyone else to go through it in the circumstances we went through. So, if there's an opportunity for us to make that a little easier for other families when they're going through that type of loss, that's what we hope to accomplish."

In addition to the Butterfly Bereavement Room project, Katie learned of an initiative launched by the Skye High Foundation in which purple butterfly stickers or cut-outs are placed on the door or isolette of a baby, indicating the baby has a sibling who has passed away.

Katie's mother, Linda Harshbarger, is a member of the Mission Sewing Circle through her church, the First Presbyterian Church of Conroe. The sewing group created 30 purple butterfly blankets, which were donated along with purple butterfly stickers to Texas Children's Hospital on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

"The blankets are meant to give the family something tangible to remember the baby that passed away," Katie said. "We have one for Anna. She sleeps with it every night. It's another way to keep Ella with us. We're planning on continuing that project in the long-run as well. When Ella passed away, some staff didn't know, so we had to explain what happened a lot. It was hard. The purple butterfly is a way the staff can immediately recognize that a baby is a survivor of a multiple pregnancy in which one or more of their siblings passed away. It removes the burden of the family having to tell their story repeatedly."

For Katie and Phillip, the symbol of a butterfly represents hope, a message that they intend to continue promoting through the Butterfly Bereavement Room project and other initiatives to help families through the hardship of losing a child.

"When Ella passed away, our main prayer was that her life would have meaning and that it would have a positive impact on people," Katie said. "I think this has been kind of a healing process for us too. We feel like this Butterfly Bereavement Room is a legacy we can leave behind for her and hopefully something that will continue to be here long after we're gone."

To learn more about the Texas Children's Pavilion for Women Butterfly Bereavement Room project or to make a donation, visit http://waystogive.texaschildrens.org/butterfly.
Toni:

Last week you opened my eyes to Medicare's Donut Hole. I retired from company benefits and began my Medicare Jan. 1. I am concerned about what changes will happen if Trump repeals Obamacare. I would like to know what my out of pocket will be.

My wife and I chose a Medicare Supplement Plan G that has a small deductible, but I'm concerned there may serious changes to Medicare that I am not aware of.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this important issue.

Ronnie from the Woodlands

No RonnieTrump repealing Obamacare will not affect the 2017 Medicare costs. Currently there are rumors circulating about what will happen to Medicare when Trump repeals Obamacare, but those are only rumors. Nothing definitive has been released.

With 58 million on Medicare today and 10,000 turning 65 every day for the next 18 years, it would not surprise me if there are changes in the future, but right now things are remaining the same.

What I have seen is a change in the Medicare Part D in regard to prescription drug plans and brand name drugs. This change is because of Obamacare. When you get in the Donut Hole, you must pay 40 percent of the brand name cost, the prescription drug manufacturer must pay 50 percent and now the Part D prescription drug plan must pay the remaining 10 percent. We advise those we see for a Medicare consultation at the Toni Says office to ask their doctor which generic prescription drug can replace the expensive brand name drug.

If you choose a Part C Medicare Advantage plan, you still should do prescription drug planning.

No one ever wants to get in the Donut Hole! One must do proper Medicare planning to be sure they are receiving all they can from Medicare.

The 2017 Medicare Parts A and B costs are below:

Part A Costs (Inpatient Hospital): The 2017 Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,316.00 which starts over every 60 days. Part A is not a once a year deductible. Part A includes Medicare Skilled Nursing with the 2017 costs being days 1-20 $0 co pay per day and days 21- 100 $164.50 per day.

Part B Costs (Medical): The 2017 Part B medical/doctor deductible will be $183.00 for 2017. There are 2 Part B premiums for 2017: 1) Is $109 monthly Part B 2017 premium for most enrolled in Medicare in 2016 and who were paying $104.90. 2) Those that paid $121.80 in 2016 premium and are receiving their Social Security check will have a 4 percent increase to $134. Those who are new to Medicare will pay the 2017 Part B premium of $134.00. About 30 percent of those receiving Medicare and whose income is more than $85,001.00 for an individual or $170,001.00 for a couple will pay more than $134.00.

Part D Costs (Prescription Drug Plan): With Obamacare on the chopping block to be repealed there will not be any changes to Medicare Part D, and yes there is still a Part D Donut hole. Visit Tonisays.com and download Toni's Medicare Prescription Drug Survival Guide to view costs.

Visit Tonisays.com to receive your copy of the 2017 Medicare costs and to sign up for the latest Toni Says newsletter.

Toni's Confused about Medicare Workshop returns in February - Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. at the new Toni Says Sugar Land office. 77 Sugar Creek Center Blvd, 5th floor conference room, Sugar Land, TX 77489. Seating is limited. Please RSVP 832-519-8664.

Toni King, author of the new Medicare Survival Guide offers a "Thank You, Houston" $5 discount available for Houston Chronicle/HCN readers at http://tonisays.com/reader-special Medicare consultations are available at the Toni Says office or email questions to info@tonisays.com or call 832/519-TONI (8664).
PETERSBURG -- Petersburg Senior Citizens will host a guest speaker on Friday, Jan. 20. Cassie Pheiffer is the area specialist for rural development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Pheiffer, of Lubbock, will bring a program on the various means available at USDA to assist rural communities for local improvements. She is an area specialist for 26 counties on the South Plains and beyond.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Transportation Manager Jeff Johnson with the County Engineer's Office sent the following email to a resident and The Courier Wednesday morning regarding the Woodlands Parkway Extension.

"Let me clarify my previous email response sent on Jan. 4th, my earlier response was not completely accurate. The location of the radio towers do not absolutely prevent the extension of the parkway. To control costs, two tight curves would be necessary to avoid the towers. These curves would require a reduction of speed. As a result, the alignment at the Woodlands Parkway intersection is not ideal, however it is not insurmountable.

In my original response, I was trying to quickly let you know the Woodlands Parkway extension was no longer being considered by Montgomery County. My original response was merely my personal opinion. I did not mean to leave you with an incomplete or incorrect impression."

-------------------------

Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley is debunking an email from the Montgomery County Engineer's Office claiming the Woodlands Parkway extension from FM 2978 to Dobbin-Huffsmith Road was of off the table due to radio towers in the area.

According to Riley, the radio towers near Woodlands Parkway and FM 2978 were never a factor in the construction of the proposed extension that would have connected FM 2978 to Dobbin-Huffsmith and eventually through to Texas 249. He said the road would have simply gone around the towers.

In an email obtained by The Courier, Transportation Manager Jeff Johnson, with the Engineer's Office, responded to a Freedom of Information Act request from a resident regarding several road projects.

The resident asked about information regarding the Woodlands Parkway extension westward from FM 2978 to Texas 249, Branch Crossing Drive extension from north of Research Forest to FM 1488 and Gosling Road extension north of Texas 242 to Texas 105.

"I have forwarded your request to the County Attorney's office for processing," Johnson stated in his response. "In regards to the projects you have listed, the first project (the Woodlands Parkway extension) is no longer under consideration because the existing radio towers just west of FM 2978 prevent the parkway from being extended. The last two projects you mention only exist on the major thoroughfare map and no preliminary engineering has been done."

Johnson and others in the county Engineer's Office, could not be reached for comment.

"I was confused by (the email)," Riley said. "Never, ever have I said that. There is an alignment that was once the Woodlands Parkway extension going around the towers  and whenever The Woodlands Development Corporation wants to build that road they will and it will go around the towers.

"It has always been that way, and why (Johnson) would say (the towers are a factor) is beyond me."

TWDC owns the property at FM 2978 and Woodlands Parkway. The county has purchased right of way from that area to Dobbin-Huffsmith in anticipation of a connector. Developers who own property between Dobbin-Huffsmith and Texas 249 have committed to building the rest of the connector through to Texas 249.

However, Riley is no longer considering the Woodlands Parkway extension and is now pursuing the engineering and environmental study to connect FM 2978 and Dobbin-Huffsmith via Mansions Way, which is a quarter-mile south of Woodlands Parkway off of FM 2978.

Montgomery County commissioners unanimously approved awarding land surveying services to Tomball-based Arborleaf Engineering and Surveying Inc. for $264,855 and engineering services for the project to Houston-based R. G. Miller Engineers Inc. in the amount of $264,477 during their Jan. 10 meeting. The $530,000 in contracts is being funded through Riley's budget. There is currently no funding or timeline for the construction of the connector.

Riley said the new connector will use the previously purchased rights of way in the area but will require the county to purchase a small portion near FM 2978.

When County Judge Craig Doyal was Precinct 2 commissioner, the county purchased the rights of way between the TWDC property and other private developer land near Dobbin-Huffsmith for the connector, with the plans that it go all the way to FM 249. That involved 38 purchases of varying-sized parcels for a total cost of $1.657 million.

Riley, frustrated with the continued backlash, said he listened to the opposition who did not want a connector directly into The Woodlands community.

"When I see Mansions Way is a new intersection on Mansions Way on FM 2978 with a traffic signal already built, that is a perfect spot to take this new road," he said. "It ties into an intersection that cannot go into The Woodlands, which is what everyone was telling me."

Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack, who has questioned the project, said Riley should consider using Pine Lane to Oak Lane since those roads currently exist. Pine Lane is south of Mansions way and runs west from FM 2978.

Doyal said that route would not work because Pine Lane dead-ends into a subdivision and the area near Oak Lane is prone to flooding.

The issue arose in early 2015 when residents learned Riley was planning to extend Woodlands Parkway from FM 2978 to Texas 249. The project was part of a $350 million road bond referendum set to go to voters in May of that year.

Concerned about the increase in traffic in the community, residents of The Woodlands urged the court to remove the project from the May bond. But the court, specifically Riley, refused to take the project off his list. And on May 9, 2015, voters rejected the bond, with 57.19 percent of more than 28,300 votes countywide against it.

In August 2015, the court agreed to move forward with another road bond for the Nov. 3 ballot in the amount of $280 million. That referendum excluded several projects, including the Woodlands Parkway extension. Voters passed the $280 million referendum easily, with 63.36 percent of the more than 45,500 votes for it.

The extension of Woodlands Parkway has been part of the thoroughfare plan since the original draft in the late 1980s. However, it wasn't until last year when the project was included on the May $350 million road bond that residents and community leaders divided themselves over the issue. The majority of the opposition came from Precinct 3 in The Woodlands, where residents said they didn't want the project, which is within Precinct 2. There were concerns it would increase traffic through The Woodlands on an already-congested parkway.

"It is alarming that the Transportation Manager for Montgomery County has come to the conclusion that 'the radio towers prevent the Woodlands Parkway from being extended,'" Noack stated in a response to The Courier, saying he believes the independent County Engineer's Office over his two counterparts on Commissioners Court.

"Imagine if this information would have been released sooner. Millions of dollars would have been saved on rights of way. The county would have benefited from saving hundreds of thousands in lower interest costs, a larger bond would have passed and more projects could have been underway, if the hubris parkway extension hadn't doomed the first road bond. ...

"As far as Pine and Oak Lanes. If this is only for local traffic and not a thoroughfare replacement for The Woodland Parkway extension, those roads should be considered. If they are not, we will have major traffic issues with Woodlands Parkway, Mansions Way, Pine Lane, Greenwood Drive and Hardin Store Road within a stone's throw.

"One has to question why is it so important for these two men to open new land for new development. That's not the role of the county."

The Woodlands Township board Chairman Gordy Bunch told The Courier Monday that the Mansions Way issue would be on the Jan. 25 board meeting for discussion.
For the first time since 1988, Republicans carried the state of Michigan in the presidential election. A major part of that victory were the efforts of the Michigan GOP and its chair, Ronna Romney McDaniel.

(President-elect Donald Trump) made Michigan a centerpiece in his campaign. One of the first conversations he and I had, he asked, Can I win Michigan? I said, if you come and you fight for their votes, they will listen. And he did. And Hillary Clinton didnt and that didnt have anything to do with any hackers, Romney McDaniel said as she spoke before a crowd of GOP supporters at the recent 4th Congressional District Roundup in Clare.

For her efforts in helping elect Trump, it is almost a certainty that Romney McDaniel will be rewarded with the position of chair of the Republican National Party as she has already received the endorsement of Trump.

Im excited to have a highly effective leader in Ronna McDaniel as RNC deputy chair and I look forward to her serving as the Partys chairman in 2017, Trump said in a Dec. 12, 2016 article in the Detroit Free Press. Ronna has been extremely loyal to our movement and her efforts were critical to our tremendous victory in Michigan.

Although its not official, a move to Washington is probably in the works for Romney McDaniel when the Republican National Committee gathers in Washington this Tuesday through Saturday, which coincides with Trumps inauguration on Friday.

I havent won yet. There is still an election. That will be January 19, she said.

Romney McDaniel would succeed Reince Priebus, who has held the position since 2011. Priebus will be moving to the White House as Trumps chief of staff.

Many people dont know that when he took over the RNC was bankrupt. He was literally paying the bills on his own personal credit cards. He rebuilt it from scratch, Romney McDaniel stated.

George H.W. Bush was the last Republican to win Michigan. Even though his son, George W. Bush, won two terms in the White House, he wasnt able to carry the state. However, this years path to victory has been in place for well over two years.

It started two years earlier, before we even had a nominee, when there were 17 people in the race. It started with having deputy chairs around the state working with county chairs and people knocking on doors and gathering information about voters, not even knowing who the candidate was going to be, Romney McDaniel said.

The grass roots effort becoming aware of voters likes and dislikes and holding events in the Democratic stronghold of Detroit.

This is a ground game, it is about having a robust operation. It is about knowing your target universe and getting to those voters. You cannot just build up a shop two months before and think you are going to win. You have to use data, you have to be there and you have to have a phenomenal candidate to take you to victory, Romney McDaniel said.

Even though most people forecast a Hillary Clinton victory in Michigan, precise GOP polling saw a different outcome. On election day, Romney McDaniel and (Michigan Democratic Party Chair) Brandon Dillon sat on a panel discussing the election.

He really thought they were going to win and you could tell, Romney McDaniel said. I asked him what their polling showed and he said, Hillarys up by 5, shes winning big. What did the RNC data model showed that day? It showed Donald Trump winning Michigan by 8,000 votes.

The GOP number was pretty close. The Michigan Secretary of State website stated that, on Nov. 28, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers certified that Trump led Clinton by 10,704 votes.

Thats why you have a grassroots campaign. Thats why you have offices open full-time two years before the election, Romney McDaniel said. Everything boring about the state elections is what the state parties do. When an election is on the margins, thats what you need. We need you knocking on doors, having compassion and caring so much.

For Romney McDaniel, it now means continuing up the party ladder and a move to Washington, but remembering her roots.

I am going miss being state party chair. My family will be coming back to Michigan a lot. You are my family forever and forever, she said in conclusion.
BAD AXE  Its unclear if a settlement is near, but according to court records, the trial involving 24 plaintiffs, the city of Bad Axe and Pamar Enterprises is still scheduled to begin at the end of the month.

The Jan. 31 trial will address liability surrounding several basements that were flooded with sewage on streets near West Huron Avenue during the summer of 2013. Pamar was contracted by the Michigan Department of Transportation to reconstruct the streets.
Former President George H.W. Bush, 92, is in the intensive care unit at Houston Methodist Hospital for an acute respiratory problem stemming from pneumonia.

Also, Barbara Bush, 91, was admitted to Methodist Wednesday morning as a precaution after she began experiencing fatigue and coughing.

Methodist released a statement Wednesday that doctors performed a procedure on the former president, which it did not specify, to protect and clear his airway. The procedure required sedation.

"President Bush is stable and resting comfortably," according to the statement, but he will remain in ICU for observation.

DEVELOPING STORY: A week before being hospitalized, Bush 41 sent letter telling Trump he couldn't attend inauguration

President Barack Obama referenced the Bushes' hospitalization in his final news conference Wednesday.

"We have been in touch with the Bush family today after hearing about President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush being admitted to the hospital this morning," said Obama. "They have not only dedicated their lives to this country, they have been a constant source of friendship and support and good counsel for Michelle and me over the years. They are as fine a couple as we know. And so we want to send our prayers and our love to them."



Bush's chief of staff, Jean Becker, had confirmed late Tuesday night that he was admitted to Methodist over the weekend. She said: "He's there. He's fine and he's doing really well."

As is the case with most people his age, the nation's 41st president has had his share of health issues in recent years.

In July 2015, he was taken to a hospital in Portland, Maine, after he fractured a bone in his neck in a fall at the family's summer home in Kennebunkport. He was "up and talking and out of bed" within a day after the fall.

The fall happened about six months after he was taken by ambulance to Houston Methodist for what his spokesman called "shortness of breath." He was released from the hospital about a week later.

In late 2012, Bush was admitted to the hospital for a bronchitis-related cough. He was later released, but returned the day after Thanksgiving because of a persistent cough. Bush was later admitted to intensive care and spent nearly two months at the hospital until his release in mid-January 2013.

Check back later for updates on this developing report.
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Members of a sex-trafficking ring that made nearly $50,000 in just two weeks by prostituting teen girls were sentenced to federal prison Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery gave the most culpable, Melvin Sullivan Jr., also known as Melvin Sullivan Deams, 20, the longest term  60 years.

The judge also gave his father, Melvin Sullivan Sr., 25 years in prison and the most contrite, Michael Antoine McHenry, 20 years. There is no parole in the federal system. All three had faced up to life in prison for pleading guilty to sex-trafficking of children.

The sentences came after Biery heard testimony about how the younger Sullivan and McHenry, also 20, took up to five girls, runaways, and manipulated them into commercial sex work.

The group operated out of the elder Sullivan's home in Converse, and posted the girls on Backpage, the online classified marketplace that shut down its adult section last week in the face of government allegations that it promotes human trafficking.

Combined, the girls had 240 dates  appointments for sex  in a two-week period in early 2015, earning the ring about $48,000, according to the FBI and San Antonio police. The younger Sullivan and McHenry generally kept the money, paying half to the elder Sullivan, 42, as rent.

Biery noted that none of the three defendants fit the profile of pimps. They had good upbringings and lived comfortably.

The girls are currently in the care or oversight of Texas Child Protective Services. One girl, now 16, testified she had had an ongoing consensual relationship with the elder Sullivan and that he paid for her to get tattooed with his name. The FBI called it a form of branding to show he owned her.

He was in love with this girl, and she was in love with him, Sullivan Sr.s lawyer, Bill Reece, told the judge. It was misdirected.

This is the individual who could have said, What in the world are you guys thinking? countered Assistant U.S. Attorney Bettina Richardson.

The younger Sullivan recruited a friend, co-defendant Rashawn Gamble, and gave him a gun so he could act as muscle. Gamble later pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony  knowing of the crimes, but not reporting them. He was sentenced earlier this month to five years of probation after serving a year in jail awaiting trial.

The judge ordered both Sullivans to a lifetime of federal supervision after they get out of prison, and ordered McHenry to serve 20 years of supervision. Each was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution, and $5,000 to a crime-victim fund and to register as sex offenders.

Sullivan Sr. apologized for any role I may have played and any pain and suffering I caused my family.

When supporters of the younger Sullivan heard Biery pronounce his sentence, they gasped, and one stormed out, yelling expletives. Paramedics were summoned to the scene to examine another supporter who appeared to have a medical episode.

The sentencings came the same day that local, state and federal authorities marked National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness month with a press conference to note that the problem isnt limited to big cities.

Theyre moving further away, where you have smaller police forces, said Aristides Harry Jimenez, the deputy special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio.

Traffickers meet teenagers through social media, which gives them greater access to young people they can groom than they might otherwise have, Jimenez said.

Once teens run away, theyre vulnerable because theyre separated from family and friends, said Ray Romo, program director for special investigations at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

The officials asked the public to look for signs of human trafficking, and report it to a federal hotline, 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.

Victims of human trafficking arent always immigrants and dont always fit with the publics preconceived notions of who can be forced into servitude, said Margaret Leachman, the head of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas.

Victims come from every age, every race, every nationality, Leachman said. The victims come from all socioeconomic groups and walks of life.

gcontreras@express-news.net

Twitter: @gmaninfedland
A man who was killed Thursday when his stalled vehicle was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler was identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner.

Thomas James Heinrich, 73, was identified as the victim of the fatal collision that occurred at about 6 p.m. on Interstate 37 South at Salado Creek, according to authorities.
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The Hays County Sheriffs Office needs help finding a suspect who allegedly beat his mother with a hammer and stabbed her with a screwdriver Tuesday before taking her car.

William Michael Bryars is wanted on felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unauthorized use of a vehicle, a news release said Wednesday.

RELATED: Records: 51 arrested on felony drunken driving charges in December 2016

The incident occurred Tuesday morning in the 400 block of Limestone Trail in Dripping Springs, which is just outside Austin. The suspect allegedly beat his mother with a hammer and stabbed her with a screwdriver. He then fled the scene in the victims vehicle, according to the news release.

The woman was transported to an Austin-area hospital for treatment.

Bryars is described as a 17-year-old white male, 145 pounds, 5 feet 9 inches tall, with brown hair and eyes.

RELATED: Report: Father & son from South Texas charged in sexual assault of 14-year-old twins

The stolen vehicle he is reportedly driving is a black 2012 two-door Nissan Altima with the Texas license plate HGB1301. The vehicle has damage to the front passenger quarter panel and rear passenger portions.

Bryars is considered armed and dangerous and police say anyone who sees him should not approach him. If you see him, dial 9-1-1 and contact authorities.

The news release said Bryars may be on his way to Missouri, based on additional threats made to other family members.

RELATED: SAPD sending 45 officers to Trump's inauguration to help with security

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can also contact the Hays County Sheriffs Office at 512-393-7896.

Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
SAN ANTONIO  A man in his 20s was transported in stable condition Wednesday morning after being robbed in his own garage and shot in the buttocks on the Southeast Side, according to police.

The incident occurred shortly before 12:55 a.m. Wednesday in the 5900 block of Cinnabar Cove, where a white Ford Focus with four people inside was reported driving back and forth down the block.
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A serial rapist who pleaded no contest to multiple sexual assault accusations was sentenced to 40 years confinement Friday in the 379th District Court, the Bexar County District Attorneys Office said Tuesday.

Eric Scott Hemphill, 36, was convicted on three charges of aggravated sexual assault  including one of a child and another of elderly  as well as a charge of breaking and entering to commit a felony, according to a press release.

This defendant preyed on the most vulnerable of our community, District Attorney Nico LaHood said in a statement. It is appropriate to cage him away from our community.

Investigators became aware of Hemphills activities during a failed attempt to sexually assault two girls, ages 9 and 11, at a West Side apartment complex in 2015, according to previous reports.

Hemphill was spotted on surveillance footage leaving the apartments after one of the girls escaped the break-in through the back of the apartment, authorities said.

He was arrested after police traced his vehicle to his Northeast Side residence, according to a previous report.

After his arrest, San Antonio Police Department detectives linked him to three other unsolved sexual assault cases when his DNA was entered into a national database, according to the attorneys office.

In November 2013, a 13-year-old girl was walking home when she was hit over the head with a hammer and forced inside a vehicle, authorities said.

She awoke disoriented near Austin Highway and Perrin Beitel after having been sexually assaulted, police said.

Investigators linked DNA recovered from the sexual assault and matched it to Hemphill.

He was then linked to two separate sexual assault cases involving a 63-year-old woman and a 79-year-old woman.

In both cases, Hemphill was posing as an employee with a local cable company, telling them he needed access to fix the modem in their bedrooms.

Once inside their homes, he attacked and sexually assaulted the women.

Hemphill denied any involvement in the crimes upon questioning by detectives.

Experts have said previously that Hemphills methods of assault indicates a more dangerous sex offender.

After his sentencing Friday, officials noted that one of the victims daughters said the assault dramatically impacted her mother.

She stated that her mother would never be the same.

jbeltran@express-news.net
Texas Attorney General's Office

A 28-year-old man accused of prostituting a teenage girl in Texas through Backpage.com was apprehended in the Dominican Republic.

Issac Lynn Williams is currently in custody in Florida and is awaiting transfer to the Bexar County Jail, according to the Texas attorney general's office.
A man in West Texas was arrested on outstanding warrants last weekend after he shot himself in a strip club bathroom then fabricated a story, according to the Ector County Sheriffs Office.

Juan Trevino, 23, initially told authorities that he had been shot in the thigh while in the parking lot of the Jaguars Golden Club in Odessa on Saturday. He initially gave investigators a fake name, according to a news release.
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SAN ANTONIO  After initially posting bond in a trafficking case dating to December 2015, a 23-year-old woman was booked back into jail Monday for her role in the sale of a teenage girl into sex slavery for $4,000, according to court documents.

Rebecca Nicole Alvarez faces a first-degree felony of trafficking a person under the age of 18 for prostitution, a second-degree felony charge of sexual assault of a child, and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and failure to identify by giving false information, according to online jail records.

RELATED: Officials say woman killed in sports bar hit-and-run crash was 56

Alvarez did not show up to her pre-trial session stemming from the 2015 arrest and a warrant was issued. She subsequently turned herself in, according to the San Antonio Police Department.

Alvarez was arrested in December 2015 along with three other suspects in the trafficking case: Christopher Castoreno, 34, Veronica Ann Diaz, 26, and Adrian Colon, 44.

Police officers made contact with the victim, a 16-year-old girl, when responding to a disturbance on Dec. 15, 2015, at the Cash America Pawn Shop in the 300 block of South New Braunfels Street. The victim said Alvarez and Castoreno were following her.

The victim later told investigators she had been sexually assaulted and had been sold to Alvarez and Castoreno for $4,000, according to an arrest affidavit.

"It was after we let them go that the complainant made the outcry that she had been sexually assaulted, and held against her will, and had been basically trafficked and forced into having sex with other people because of this couple," said Sgt. Jesse Salame, an SAPD spokesman, at the time

The girl told police she had been held at several locations in San Antonio and had been drugged, beaten, sexually assaulted and prostituted by several adults, the affidavit said.

RELATED: BCSO searching for gunman who shot homeowner after argument

She told police one of the four people involved in the trafficking, a woman, had sexually assaulted her by forcefully performing oral sex on the teen. Another man walked in on the alleged sexual assault and got mad at the woman before trying to force the teen to perform oral sex, according to the affidavit.

The victim also detailed other incidents of sexual assault involving the four suspects, including Alvarez.

During one incident, Alvarez and another suspect allegedly took the victim to the Sunset Inn on Roosevelt Street and forced her to stay in a motel room by taking away all of her clothes, leaving her naked in the room. The victim said they did this so the girl would not run away from them, the affidavit said.

RELATED: SAPD: Murder suspect drops gun inside H-E-B while fleeing police

Alvarez and another suspect also allegedly forced the girl to smoke an unknown substance that kept her up all night, before being forced to have sex with multiple people inside the motel room all night until early the next morning, according to the affidavit.

Later, the girl was taken to a home in the 1700 block of Dawson Street where she was able to get to a phone and call for help. She then was able to meet up with her sister at the pawn shop on New Braunfels Street, the affidavit said.

If convicted, Alvarez faces five to 99 years or life in prison for the first-degree felony, as well as up to 20 years in prison for the second-degree felony.

Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
An alleged drunk driver totaled his $385,000 Ferrari early Friday after crashing it into a 40-foot ravine at over 100 mph in the affluent Austin community of West Lake Hills, officials said.

According to the Austin Fire Department, the three people inside the car "amazingly" suffered only minor injuries in the crash near the intersection of Red Bud Trail and Westlake Drive around 2:30 a.m.
A South Texas man and his son were arrested last week after twin 14-year-old girls told investigators they had been sexually assaulted by the two men, according to KGBT-TV.

Jail records show Juan Carlos Garcia Sr., 50, and his son, 25-year-old Juan Carlos Garcia Jr., were both booked into the Hidalgo County Jail on Jan. 11.
The former Pakistan PM, who survived an assassination attempt on Thursday, delivered an address from a Lahore hospital on Friday.
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When Mexican drug lords die, their lavish lifestyles endure in the form of tombs fitted with the extravagant comforts of home.

In the ten years since Mexico launched a war on drugs, more than 100,000 people have been killed and another 30,000 are missing.

Elaborate condominium-like mausoleums house some of the fallen, and are festooned with statues, dome ceilings, towering pillars and other lavish embellishments have been built in cemeteries like Jardines del Humaya, seen in a new collection of Getty Images.

RELATED: Mexico's drug war marks a decade amid doubts, changes

The burial site is located outside the city of Culiacan, in Sinaloa, the infamous Mexican state known for drug trafficking and violence.

Jardines del Humaya boasts two "premier" burial sites with "comfort and exclusivity that (customers) deserve and no one else offers." One of the features of the "most privileged area" aside from ornate tombs  are green spaces, as advertised on the 48-year-old cemetery's website.

Two-story tombs with living rooms have an estimated worth of $290,000, according to AFP.

"It's an expression of power that they had in life, as if they would carry with them the same power into eternity," Juan Carlos Ayala of Sinaloa Autonomous University told AFP. "It's also a manifestation of what they lacked when they were young."

The lavish tombs are mixed into a "narco culture" of Mexico, celebrated through music, fashion and religion, AFP reported.

RELATED: Abandoned on U.S-Mexico border: Photos show life, belongings left behind by immigrants

"[...] we almost have a trouble seeing where one ends and the other begins," Ayala added.

See the indulgent burial places in the gallery above.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

mmendoza@mysa.com

Twitter: @MaddySkye
Haskin Park, on the citys Northeast Side, is but an acre in size.

The Google Fiber hut built at the park is only irksome to a handful of homeowners who have to live with it. Arguably, that makes this a small issue for a project that will bring true high speed internet to the entire city.

But the huts construction is emblematic of larger civic and governance principles that need to be made right with residents. The hut is a dull brown, surrounded by a tall wooden fence. It is ugly and best suited for a commercial setting. Its air-conditioning units are said to be loud. The city of San Antonio and Google did an atrocious job of communicating with residents about the hut.

For months, residents who live around Haskin Park have been arguing, among other things, that the hut mars their view of precious open space and has likely hurt their property values. They felt blindsided by its construction  a point city officials acknowledge, although they blame Google for the poor communication.

The hut at Haskin Park is one of two that have been constructed. City Manager Sheryl Sculley recently announced 15 other sites have been placed on hold for review. City staff is recommending no more huts be built on parkland.

Given some of the other issues that have arisen with these huts  one was proposed for a vacant lot between two homes  a pause is warranted, and yet lacking. The city has said the Haskin hut will stay.

Like any NIMBY dispute  Not in my back yard  this one is marked by technicalities. Residents say the huts footprint, 1,600 square feet with fencing, is huge. City officials say it is small. Residents say there should have been public hearings. City officials say the hut qualifies as a utility and is exempt from such hearings.

The citys actions are inconsistent. If its inappropriate to place such a hut between two residences or at other parks, why is it appropriate to keep this hut near residences at Haskin Park?

Ideally, the city and Google should move the Haskin Park hut to a different location. There is an argument that technical reasons might make that harder to do than it sounds. Yet there are potential ways the city and Google could make things as right as possible: Make the hut look like a cottage, add significant landscaping, upgrade fencing at nearby homes so no one sees the hut from their yards, offer the highest level of Google Fiber for free.

Google Fiber is a welcome and exciting development for San Antonio. It is good for consumers and economic development. But small issues like this can also be big headaches for homeowners  and they shouldnt be overlooked or dismissed.
It seems like Sen. Ted Cruz has a one-track mind. His answer to every question, no matter what the subject, is a criticism of President Barack Obama.

I dont recall the president accusing Cruzs father of taking part in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy or making other hateful comments about Sen. Cruz or his family.

Audrey Dlugosz

Swamp still full

The 115th Congress began Jan. 3, and Republicans scheduled Senate confirmation hearings for Trump Cabinet nominees before many of them submitted the required disclosures and had been properly vetted.

Here is a partial list: Sen. Jeff Sessions, nominated as attorney general, was denied confirmation as a federal judge in 1986 due to racist views and comments.

Betsy DeVos, nominated as secretary of education, has no government experience and advocates diverting public school funding to provide vouchers for private schools.

Rex Tillerson, tabbed as secretary of state, is the CEO of Exxon Mobil, a company that withheld information on climate change and has ties to Russia.

U.S. Rep. Tom Price, Health and Human Services, supports repealing Obamacare, which would leave 20 million without insurance, cutting Medicaid and replacing Medicare with vouchers to buy private insurance.

Steve Mnuchin, Treasury, a former Goldman Sachs executive who bought Indy Bank, then foreclosed on 40,000 homeowner mortgages, supports repeal of Dodd-Frank regulations on banks.

Scott Pruitt, Environmental Protection Agency, is the former Oklahoma attorney general who sued EPA over environmental protections; he is also a climate change denier.

With all these billionaires, corporate CEOs and Wall Street bankers in his Cabinet, can Donald Trump really claim he is draining the swamp?

If you oppose such appointees, contact Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.

Brenda Witt, New Braunfels

Put it to a vote

As the leading democracy in the world, the U.S. should decide the fate of the Electoral College by a vote of the people.

Ron Soele
It was in a sack. Residents said the baby was found by someone who was collecting bottles for recycling. The man wanted to use the sack...
Registration is now open for the June 11-16 event taking place in Zurich and London.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  In June, convenience and fuel retailing industry professionals from around the world will gather in Zurich and Londonfor new knowledge, commercial connections, networking and the opportunity to discover and discuss new ideas from retail store toursat the 2017 NACS Insight Convenience Summit  Europe. The event will also feature the popular International Convenience Retail Awards, now in their ninth year, that recognize and promote convenience retailing excellence.

Confirmed event and award sponsors to-date include recognized industry icons Accenture, Coca-Cola, Franke, Mondelez International, Shell and Verifone, with more to come.

Registration is now open for the European-focused summit. Because reservations made before February 28 will benefit from a significant early bird registration discount, now is the best time to register.

The Summit begins in Zurich, Switzerland (June 11-13), where the program will feature high-level European retail thought leadership, strategies, trends and economics. Networking receptions and a group dinner, along with store visits to Migrolino and other retailers, connect attendees and show them what is new in Zurichs dynamic convenience retailing marketplace. The prestigious Robb Report recently included Zurich on its list of the top five cities you should visit in 2017, so its sure to be an impressive travel destination for Summit participants from Europe and abroad.

From there, attendees will travel to Central London at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel (June 14-16). This is the main must attend portion of the event for European and international industry leaders, featuring retailer roundtables, best practice presentations, insights on key global trends/developments, retailer case studies and the famous awards night program. Confirmed presentations for London so far include Freshii CEO Matthew Corrin, Simply Fresh U.K. Managing Director Kash Khera, Bona Design Lab President Joseph Bona and U.K. convenience industry pioneer Mike Greene.

Conference session highlights in Zurich and London will focus on industry growth and innovation opportunities driven by rapid and business-changing pattern shifts in consumer shopping, lifestyle and on-the-go eating habits.

Specific topics include:

Current economic and political trends in Europe.

The state of the European consumer and insights into the Swiss market.

Emerging channel blurring between convenience stores and restaurants.

"Refreshing Convenience in the U.K., a provocative presentation that puts the U.K.s fresh product offer under a microscope and examines both missed opportunities and challenges that the convenience retail sector has in improving fresh distribution and product lines.

Growing consumer demand for fresh and healthy foodservice, and how to succeed in creating a healthy experience with a strong customer service culture.

Retail technology transformations of the future.

An interview with the 2017 Convenience Industry Leader of the Year award winner.

The new direction for digital marketing.

The criticality of employee engagement and what its worth.

On Friday, June 16, attendees may choose to take part in a retail study tour day in London at retailers including Euro Garages, Simply Fresh, Freshii and othersall with the goal of sharing ideas and innovations that event attendees can take home to their own businesses.

The Convenience Summit  Europe is a modular program, meaning attendees can participate in the portions of the event that fit their business needs. In addition to day-by-day event pricing, registration packages combine popular clusters of days, events and activities for optimized pricing. Explore the complete offer and pricing options, then take advantage of early bird pricing going on now and register today.
LONDON  British American Tobacco (BAT) and Reynolds American Inc. have agreed to an offer for BAT to acquire the remaining 57.8% of Reynolds it does not already own. According to a press release, the merger will create a stronger global tobacco and Next Generation Products (NGP) company to deliver sustained long-term profit growth and returns.

"Our combination with Reynolds will benefit from utilizing the best talent from both organizations. It will create a stronger, global tobacco and NGP business with direct access for our products across the most attractive markets in the world, said BATs chief executive, Nicandro Durante.

The two companies will create a balanced presence in high-growth emerging markets and high profitability developed markets, combined with direct access to the U.S. market, and create a pipeline of vapor and tobacco heating products to the fastest growing NGP markets.

Post transaction, the group will be a larger, broader, more geographically diversified business with a unique footprint providing continued exposure to high-growth emerging markets, direct access to the opportunity in the U.S. market, and a broad presence in key developed markets, notes a press statement.

In the U.S. market, Reynolds has three out of the four top-selling cigarette brands, and the benefits from the Lorillard acquisition have given Reynolds a 34% cigarette market share, with Newport as the leading brand in menthol, Pall Mall as the leading value brand and Natural American Spirit as the fastest-growing premium brand. Reynolds American Snuff subsidiary also has a 33% share of the growing moist snuff segment, led by its Grizzly brand.

BAT has a significant presence in emerging markets across South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and emerging markets will account for 60% of volume in the enlarged group. Over the last five years, revenue per pack in these markets has grown at more than twice the rate compared to developed markets. With generally low cigarette pack prices and expectations of continued growth in consumer disposable income over the long term, the future profit growth opportunity remains strong. BAT sees emerging markets as the source of future profit growth for the BAT group and developed markets as the source of current profit growth.

BAT's multi-category strategy in NGPs is aimed at satisfying different consumer moments, with the capability of effectively addressing rapidly developing consumer behaviors. In December 2016, Glo, an innovative tobacco heating product, was launched in Japan with encouraging early results. In addition, Reynolds' Vuse is one of the leading vapor brands sold in retail.

BAT and Reynolds anticipate the transaction to close during the third quarter of 2017.
Yves here. While this post flags a useful data point, it also repeats a widely-believe economic myth, that of the dependency ratio being a Serious Problem so that old people or young people or both cant have nice things.

Now we do have other reasons that that will probably prove to be true, namely, resource constraints. But lets put that aside.

There is tons of labor slack in advanced economies. Lots of people are willing to work, indeed need to work and cant find jobs, or do have work yet are underemployed. Many older people who didnt wreck their bodies during their prime years would also like to work in what what would normally be considered to be their retirement years, both to have a higher living standard and to get out of the house.

Dean Baker has pointed out that fixing Social Security, even using conservative assumptions, would require increasing the expenditure as a percent of GDP from 4% to 5%. The US did just fine going from the initial commitment of 1% of GDP to 4%. We have no trouble finding money for the next bombing run in Iraq. We can but dont choose to prioritize social spending.

By Damien Klassen, a research analyst at Schroders. Originally published at MacroBusiness

The WSJ has a piece out on the demographic effects of the baby boomers retiring:

The largest generation in U.S. history has to start pulling its retirement money this year, kicking off a mandatory movement of cash that could total hundreds of billions in the coming decades. U.S. law requires anyone age 70  or older to begin annual withdrawals from their tax-sheltered retirement accounts and pay taxes on those distributions. The oldest of the nations 75 million baby boomers cross that threshold for the first time this month, according to a U.S. Census Bureau estimate of when that demographic group began. The obligatory outflows from 401(k)s and IRAs are expected to ripple through the U.S. economy, the stock market and a money-management industry that relies heavily on fees from boomers tax-sheltered savings plans and assets.

This is one of our six mega trends, the change in dependency ratios globally:

Not really much here to add from the investment side, but Im sure MBers will understand the pain that the baby boomers feel when they are asked to actually pay tax on investment earnings. I especially love the obligatory quote from a retiree:

Jack Weaver, a retired biopharmaceutical product developer, turned 70 in late 2015 and had to pay taxes on his first required payout of $31,000 last year. Its unwanted income, he said. He reinvested the money, and says his wife plans to do the same when she takes her first distribution this year.

Based on the size of his required payout, he looks to have over a million Aussie dollars in his own name. Im also guessing he has been making contributions for his wife or she has been working and so she might have a similar amount in her name. Plus the family home. Plus any other assets that they have outside of retirement savings.

This sounds awfully like a first world problem
By Gaius Publius, a professional writer living on the West Coast of the United States and frequent contributor to DownWithTyranny, digby, Truthout, and Naked Capitalism. Follow him on Twitter @Gaius_Publius, Tumblr and Facebook. GP article archive here. Originally published at DownWithTyranny

We could make some grand statement about the nature of surveillance in 21st Century America  theres certainly a grand and frightening statement to be made  but that would obscure the detail. (Do note, though, when you watch the videos, how much the American need for extreme Public Safety  Daddy, keep us safe  is invoked in justifying these intrusions.)

That said, from a recent Rolling Stone report on surveillance in Baltimore, here is just the detail, how Americans are being watched by cops of all stripes.

 Large urban areas are constantly photographed from 10,000 feet.Using multiple cameras in a plane flying at 10,000 feet and computer-driven image stitching software, police can photograph all open traffic and human interactions in five-mile square urban area for hours  and archive everything for later use.

This creates a storable, searchable, time-lapse wide-area movie of all street movement. Watch the video above to see it in action. Note that only at the end of the video are privacy issues even mentioned. Note also that the events discussed arent just planned events, like parades and demonstration, but also events not announced ahead of time, like murders. Pre-event forensics assumes constant just in case surveillance.

This kind of surveillance is happening now in at least one American city, Baltimore. Benjamin Powers, writing at Rolling Stone (emphasis mine):

Eyes Over Baltimore: How Police Use Military Technology to Secretly Track You They view people as enemy combatants, says activist, as cops adopt surveillance, tracking, facial recognition programs designed for war zones When protesters took to the street after police shot and killed Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, they were greeted by law enforcement in full body armor, flanked by armored vehicles. In the two and a half years and countless shootings since, militarized police have become an all too familiar sight. In response, citizens have overwhelmingly begun to film these interactions on their smartphones, making the technology the eyes of our nation. But as we watch the police, they also watch us  only they dont use an iPhone. Often, they use military grade surveillance equipment that gives them a much broader view than simple cell phone cameras ever could. The city of Baltimore has, in many ways, become ground zero for the military surveillance technology that is slowly making its way from the battlefields into the hands of police departments across the country. From January to October of last year, police monitored Baltimores citizens using a Cessna airplane outfitted with military grade surveillance technologies multiple times, without their knowledge, that were developed for overseas war zones. The Baltimore Police Department has used surveillance technology such as large-scale aerial surveillance, advanced cell phone tracking and facial recognition technology on Baltimores citizens, yet these technologies have had little to no oversight from city government, and most have a disproportionate impact on communities of color. Examined together, these surveillance technologies demonstrate an extended record of secret surveillance by the Baltimore Police Department. In August of 2016, the Department of Justice reported that the BPD needed greater oversight and transparency. Yet police using military surveillance technology is increasingly common.

Theres much more about these cameras, and who is financing their use, in the article. But cameras are just the start.

 Hardware and software tracks faces and captures cell phone communication. Hardware that mimics cell phone towers and facial recognition software have also been used to oversee Baltimore:

While PSS is the most recent example, Baltimores citizens have also faced police armed with military technology to track cellphones and identify faces that was implemented and honed overseas. Both of these create very real problems for everyday people. Since 2010, and potentially prior, Baltimore has been subjected to a technology developed for overseas battlefields called Stingray, otherwise know as a cell site simulator. The technology mimics a cellphone tower, causing nearby phones to connect to it. In the pinging back and forth once connected, a Stingray knows not only what cell phones are in the area, but also where they are, the calls theyve made, and, importantly, the conversations themselves. This data capture isnt just limited to the individual that police might be looking to track, but also all the other phones on the network.

About facial recognition surveillance, consider this, from the four-year-old NY Times report by Charlie Savage linked above:

Facial Scanning Is Making Gains in Surveillance The federal government is making progress on developing a surveillance system that would pair computers with video cameras to scan crowds and automatically identify people by their faces, according to newly disclosed documents and interviews with researchers working on the project. The Department of Homeland Security tested a crowd-scanning project called the Biometric Optical Surveillance System  or BOSS  last fall after two years of government-financed development. Although the system is not ready for use, researchers say they are making significant advances. That alarms privacy advocates, who say that now is the time for the government to establish oversight rules and limits on how it will someday be used.  The automated matching of close-up photographs has improved greatly in recent years, and companies like Facebook have experimented with it using still pictures. [R]esearchers on the project say they made progress, and independent specialists say it is virtually inevitable that someone will make the broader concept work as camera and computer power continue to improve. I would say were at least five years off, but it all depends on what kind of goals they have in mind for such a system, said Anil Jain, a specialist in computer vision and biometrics engineering at Michigan State University who was not involved in the BOSS project.

Five years off from 2013 is 2018, and who knows how good theyve gotten already? Is it deployed yet. The RS article suggests its already deployed in Baltimore.

 Location-based social media monitoring and tracking has grown frighteningly sophisticated. This one is even scarier. To get a full sense of this systems power, watch the short marketing video below:

Amazingly powerful as a monitoring and tracking tool. But you knew this had to be possible, right? It just needed someone wealthy enough and authoritarian enough to get it implemented (looking at you, Deep State).

Note the stated goal, announced in the first sentence of the video: To uncover actionable social media content. Again, this is a marketing video, selling its features to potential customers.

As the video shows, any content can be tracked using sophisticated filters. And who defines what actionable means? The FBI? Militarized urban cops? Attorney General J. Beauregard Sessions? Donald Trump during one of his night-sweat sessions?

And who defines what actions might follow such tracking? Obviously, the user, depending on their goal. Which opens wide the field of possibilities. Anyone with access to this system can use it for any purpose they wish. This includes hired, or rogue, mercenary forces like Blackwater (or whatever theyre calling themselves these days). This includes anyone who can buy it. I imagine the range of who could do what to who with this stuff is endless.

But dont let your mind wander too far into that field of possibilities; youll scare yourself.

Archived live performance; music credits at the link. Original recorded version here.

And you wouldnt want to do that. The world has already grown scary enough as it is, all on its own.
Yves here. For many, dismissals of the Trump Golden Showers dossier by Democratic-leaning experts like the one below from Lambert in Water Cooler is enough to put the matter to bed:

Bob Woodward on Trump/Russia dossier: "That is a garbage document."  "Trump's right to be upset about that."  on @FoxNewsSunday  Jonathan Allen (@jonallendc) January 15, 2017

Nevertheless, I encourage readers, particularly ones who had a gander through the actual report, to read Helmers analysis. There are enough things that were obviously dodgy, including the former MI6 member Christopher Steele, whod been hawking the dossier for quite some time, as to raise questions as to why the media legitimated it now, when its posture even when the Republican and Dems were looking for Trump oppo that it was too dubious to take up. Do be sure to read the last 1/4 of Helmers story, where he describes important differences between what the dossier claimed about Russian election-related propaganda efforts in the US versus what Clapper has said.

As Lambert has remarked, this is not the behavior of a confident elite.

By John Helmer, the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to direct his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and an advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is the first and only member of a US presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to establish himself in Russia. Originally published at Dances with Bears

Almost everyone goes to bed at night. Some get up to urinate. The older, less continent ones cant get up easily, so they urinate on themselves. If properly cared for, they do so in what is known in the geriatric product market as roll-ups.

A small minority arrange to be urinated upon by others, though not usually on the bed they aim to sleep in. This may be an erotic pleasure for you, a perversion to the next man. The name for it is Golden Showers. If conducted between consenting adults, its not a crime. Paying for it may be a crime, depending on the local law on procuring. In the Russian criminal code its not a felony but a misdemeanour with a fine so small it usually isnt enforced by the police; certainly not in expensive big-city hotels.

A claim is being widely reported in the US media which supported Hillary Clinton for president that President-elect Donald Trump paid for at least two ladies to urinate on the bed in the presidential suite of the Ritz Carlton Hotel of Moscow. A former British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) agent named Christopher Steele has reported the episode in a memorandum dated June 20, 2016, because he was paid by a US client to do it; and also because he was paid to speculate that the Russian Security Service (FSB) filmed it, and has been blackmailing Trump ever since.

Trump has responded that Steele is a failed spy. That is not an impetuous tweet. Its the assessment of both US and British intelligence agencies, including MI6, for which Steele worked undercover in Moscow between 1994 and 1996. His cover was blown; he was evacuated; and as British intelligence sources report this week, Steele has been unable to enter Russia for a decade. No Russian with official links and knowledge would risk communicating with Steele for fear of being detected by Russian counter-intelligence, said an intelligence source in London, Said another: I met [Steele] a couple of times and thought that for a relatively undistinguished man who never made very senior rank he was a smug, arrogant s.o.b. So I dont work with him. The description of his being the top expert on Russia in MI6 is bollocks. 

The story of the Obama-Trump bed, according to Steele, comes from 2013. Another story, the one of the Putin bed on which Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had sex with a prostitute in Rome, dates from 2009. The true part has been verified with a tape the lady made of Berlusconi boasting about the source of the bed as he exercised himself on it. Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Putin then and now, says the Trump-Obama bed story is a complete fake. Its total nonsense. But about the Putin-Berlusconi bed, he said at the time: We reject this information. I am not in a position to explain. In short, that bedtime story may be true.

The Steele dossier contains 35 pages, commencing on June 20, 2016, and ending on December 13, 2016. The published form can be read here. It comprises 17 reports. But the file numbering from 2016/ 080 to 2016/166 implies there were 86 such reports altogether, so only one in five has become public. What was in the remaining 67 reports is unknown. Unknown, too, is whether its possible that over six months Steele was producing reports on Russia at the rate of 11 per month, 3 per week, one every two days.

A London newspaper claims Steele was paid 200,000 for his job. The newspaper also claims that a friend of Steele who does not want to be named, says he sold them in instalments at $15,000 (12,300) a time every three weeks to anti-Trump Republicans looking for dirt on the tycoon in the run-up to the presidential nomination. This means there were no other reports in the series; the numbering was intended to mislead. Thats not all.

The Guardian newspaper, the Financial Times and US newspapers claim the dossier has been circulating for months and acquired a kind of legendary status among journalists, lawmakers, and intelligence officials who have seen them, according to one reporter. According to Financial Times reporter Courtney Weaver, she investigated some of the allegations contained in the report but was unable to confirm them. She has published them, nonetheless. For more on Weavers record for veracity in Moscow, read this.

A source at a London due diligence firm which is larger and better known than Steeles Orbis Business Intelligence Ltd. says standard due diligence means getting to the truth. Its confidential to the client, and not leaked. There are also black jobs, white jobs, and red jobs. Black means the client wants you to dig up dirt on the target, and make it look credible for publishing in the press. White means the client wants you to clear him of the wrongdoing which hes being accused of in the media or the marketplace; its also leaked to the press. A red job is where the client pays the due diligence firm to hire a journalist to find out what he knows and what hes likely to publish, in order to bribe or stop him. The Steele dossier on Trump is an obvious black job. Too obvious.

Steeles career in Russian intelligence at MI6 had hit the rocks in 2006, and never recovered. That was the year in which the Russian Security Service (FSB) publicly exposed an MI6 operation in Moscow. Russian informants recruited by the British were passed messages and money, and dropped their information in containers fabricated to look like fake rocks in a public park. Steele was on the MI6 desk in London when the operation was blown. Although the FSB announcement was denied in London at the time, the British prime ministry confirmed its veracity in 2012. Read more on Steeles fake rock operation here, and the attempt by the Financial Times to cover it up by blaming Putin for fabricating the story.

The wet bed story, as Steele reported it to his client who then leaked it to the media, looks like this:

The bedroom, the bed and a piece of 19th century soft porn on the wall look like this:



Source: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/europe/moscow/rooms-suites/the-ritz-carlton-suite

The June 20, 2016, memo, which started the wet bed story, reports seven sources, identified as Source A through G. No other report in the dossier has as many sources; some of the original seven reappear in the series. Look carefully to detect what the Clinton media have missed.

Source D isnt Russian at all. He is American; Steele reports him as a close associate of Trump who organized and managed his trips to Moscow. D claims to have been present; there is a bedside armchair in the Ritz Carlton photograph, so present is possible.

Source Es identity has been blacked out in the first memo, but he is identified elsewhere in the series as another American  a Russian emigre figure close to Trumps campaign team  not to Trump himself. Within the space of a paragraph, however, he turns into an emigre associate of Trump. Several memos and weeks later, on August 10, this source has become the ethnic Russian associate of Trump.

The others reported by Steele to have been in on the wet bed story include Source F, a female staffer at the hotel when Trump stayed there. From the dossier it appears she told her story to an American who was an ethnic Russian operative of the company run by Source E, the emigre. So Source F isnt a direct or independent source at all. If this is beginning to bewilder you, it should. The only sources for the wet bed story turn out to be Americans, not Russians at all.

Just how difficult it was for Steele to pinpoint Trumps sexual activities in Russia, as well as his business, is indicated by the September 14 memo in the file. This claims to report Trumps visits to St. Petersburg. No dates have been given. One source, termed as a Russian from the local services and tourist industry, reportedly told a trusted Russian compatriot, three years after the event, that Trump had participated in sex parties in the city. How many people make a sex party isnt reported; two may have sufficed. The memo reports no trace because all direct witnesses had recently been silenced, i.e., bribed or coerced to disappear.

Trump posed for this photograph during the Miss Universe pageant, one of his business affairs in Moscow in November 2013. Source: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/donald-trump-russia-moscow-miss-universe-223173 In a European newspaper published on January 15, Trump confirmed this was the occasion for the wet bed story. Trump said: I just got a letter from people that went to Russia with me - did you see that letter - very rich people, they went with me, they said you were with us, I was with them, I wasn't even here when they said such false stuff. I left, I wasn't even there . . . I was there for the Miss Universe contest, got up, got my stuff and I left - I wasn't even there - it's all. .

The same report by Steele admits it was hard to prove what business, if any, Trump had done in St. Petersburg. The allegation that, in order to make no reportable real estate transactions, Trump had paid bribes to further his intereststhrough affiliated companies, is presented in the dossier as evidence of Trumps corruption. Steele was taking 12,000 to portray the businessman as someone so inexperienced as to pay bribes before he had a deal, not during or after completion.

Steeles only Russian sources have no reported knowledge of Trumps sexual conduct. They include two people reported as serving government officials  Source A, a senior Foreign Ministry figure; and Source G, a senior Kremlin official. One is a retiree  a former top level Russian intelligence officer still active inside the Kremlin; and one is an official close to the Presidential Administration head [Sergei] Ivanov. That makes four who British intelligence sources are certain had no contact at all with Steele, his company, or foreigners. A source with direct knowledge of operations says: Basic rule [of MI6] is that you are probably identified after a couple of jobs. Then in any other visit you might infect anyone you associate with. Second rule, according to this source, is that by the time his cover was blown in 1996 Steele had infected everyone he had been associated with in Moscow. Since then all he has been able to collect is hearsay three or four times removed from its origin.

Among Steeles kibitzers, he names a businessman, a senior Russian financial officer; two well-placed and established Kremlin sources, a Kremlin insider, a well-placed Russian figure, and a close associate of Rosneft President and Putin ally Igor Sechin. The duo claims that Peskov, the presidential spokesman, had botched his role in the military coup in Turkey on July 15, 2016, and was in trouble with chief of staff Ivanov, the Russian intelligence agencies and Putin. Steeles sources provided no further details so they didnt know what Peskov had done.

Steele failed to check the record. Had he done so, he would have discovered that Peskov made a public denial of Middle East press reports claiming Russian military intelligence had warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the plot against him, enabling him to survive. I dont have such information and I dont know the sources, to which the news agency Fars is referring, Peskov declared. This was either a less than convincing denial of the truth, or an incredulous falsehood. Either way, no Russian source, civilian or military, has suggested Peskov had done anything remarkable. If Peskov botched that one, said a source in a position to know, he does the same all the time. Whats news about that?

The Kremlin insider  not an official, not a retiree, possibly a journalist  is presented by Steele in a memo of October 19, 2016, as his only source for reporting that Trumps lawyer, Michael Cohen, had met secretly with Kremlin officials in the attempt to prevent the full details of Trumps relationship with Russia being exposed. The insider had revealed what he knew speaking in confidence to a longstanding compatriot friend. However, between the two of them they didnt know which Kremlin officials Cohen had met; where; when; or what had been discussed. The insider did confide that Ivanovs replacement as chief of the presidential staff by his deputy, Anton Vaino, on August 12, 2016, and Sergei Kirienkos transfer from the state nuclear power holding Rosatom to deputy chief of the staff at the Kremlin on October 5 were both connected to the same thing  the need to cover up Kremlins Trump support operation.



Ivanov, extreme left, has remained an active member of the National Security Council, as this council session of January 13 shows. Russian gossip and speculation on the reasons for Ivanovs exit from the chief of staff post were voluminous at the time, including as many personal as policy and political reasons. Steele selected the story his client asked for with a blind attribution in a crowd; added the adjective Kremlin; and submitted a fresh invoice for 12,000.

The source close to Sechin was reported as saying that during a visit to Moscow in July 2016, Carter Page, a sometime advisor to Trump, had met Sechin, and been told that Sechin continued to believe that Trump could win the US presidency. Sechin reportedly also told Page that if Trump lifted US sanctions on Rosneft, he would offer Page/Trumps associates the brokerage [sic] of up to a 19 per cent (privatised) stake in Rosneft in return. This was reported on October 18. On December 12 Carter, back in Moscow, told Russian reporters he had revisited Rosneft: I had the opportunity to meet with some of the top managers of the company Rosneft. The recent Rosneft deal, in which the Qatar Fund and Glencore could take part is unfortunately a good example of how American private companies are limited to a great degree due to the influence of sanctions. Page added: The most classic example [of fake news] was of course the claims of my contacts with Igor Ivanovich [Sechin] which would have been a great honor but nevertheless did not take place.

That Sechin and his associates at Rosneft had been scouring the global markets for a formula to privatize a 19.5% stake in Rosneft had been well-known for months. No news either was Pages personal interest in Russian deal-making to support his one-man business, Global Energy Capital LLC. Steele has run the two stories together for a client who knew neither, and for reporters at the Clinton media who didnt check. Pages comments in Moscow reveal he has failed to understand the privatization Sechin was intending. For details, read this.

If Steeles operations were as well-known to the Russian services as the fake rock caper, the Russians were capable of planting disinformation intended to confuse or mislead Steele and his clientele, as well as the long line of Americans arriving in Moscow to advertise themselves as Trump advisors. Intelligence is not evidence, and Steele would have known, better than anyone, that the information he was gathering was not fact and could be wrong, the Guardian has reported. In Moscow Russian sources say Page has made a record of wishful thinking and hustling for a job in the new administration; in Washington Trumps announcement of one has yet to be made.

Russian and western intelligence sources say there is one point the Steele dossier reports more accurately than the report issued on January 6 by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Thats entitled Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections. Although Air Force Lieutenant-General James Clapper, the departing Director of National Intelligence (below, left), and his subordinates, who authored this paper, refer to Russias intelligence services  plural  they claim the operations against civilian targets were conducted by just one, the military intelligence organization, GRU.

Watch carefully as the Clapper group slips from what it knows about military cyber warfare (signals interception, weapons jamming) into civilian email hacking. We assess with high confidence that the GRU used the Guccifer 2.0 persona, DCLeaks.com, and Wikileaks to release victim data obtained in cyber operations We assess with high confidence that the GRU relayed material it acquired from the DNC [Democratic National Committee] and senior Democratic officials to Wikileaks.

Steeles dossier reports that the Russian information campaign was run very differently, and from several different sources. In overall command, next to Putin, was his chief of staff until August, Ivanov. Surveillance of Americans in Russia, including electronic and photographic, was the responsibility of the FSB. The Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) was in charge of targeting foreign, especially western governments, penetrating leading foreign business corporations, especially banks.

Peskovs role was to arrange for media publication of kompromat on Clinton and black PR, collected by the FSB and SVR. According to a former intelligence officer, the FSB was the lead organization within the Russian state apparatus for cyber operations. Not a word about the GRU.

The FSB, according to Steele, was reportedly in charge of using botnets and porn traffic to transmit viruses, plant bugs, steal data, and conduct altering operations against the Democratic party leadership. There is no mention of GRU. In Clappers version, Romanian hackers were GRU agents. In Steeles version they were paid by both Trumps team and the Kremlin, though their orders and ultimate loyalty lay with Ivanov as Head of the PA [Presidential Administration].

The Steele memo No. 095 of July 2016 even admits there were Trump moles and agents/facilitators within the Democratic Party structure itself who leaked internal Clinton campaign emails. The Trump team, it is also reported, provided the Russians with the information that was their highest priority  the activities of [Russian] business oligarchs and their families activities and assets in the US. Memo no. 097 of July 30 repeats that Putins priority requirement had been for intelligence on the activities, business and otherwise, in the US of leading Russian oligarchs and their families. This didnt come from a Russian source. According to Steele, the source was an American, who was also a Russian emigre, and who was speaking in confidence to a trusted [American] associate.

Both the Clapper and Steele dossiers depend on a great deal of speaking in confidence to trusted associates, but they cant both be right about which Russian agency was in charge of which US operation. A London associate of Steeles, who doesnt trust him, comments: I am sure in this case he left no stone unturned in his search for the truth. Steele and his associates became so fixated on the import of what he had on his hands, he lost track of the fact that these are compelling STORIES. Being plausible is vitally important, but that doesnt make the stories true. And if not true, well they are dust. 

There may have been only one Trump bed, but there are so many fleas.
Yves here. Im a bit thin at launch time. Please tune in later for a fuller ration.

Squirrel threat to critical infrastructure BBC (David L). I can attest to this second-hand. Squirrels took a car out temporarily by chewing on the wiring. Mothballs under the car have proven to be effective.

Calculating the perfect jump Tastefully Offensive

Game Of Thrones Characters Shocking Return May Confirm Huge Leak Huffington Post (furzy). I must be the only person dumb enough to have read the books and avoided following what has happened on the show out of the belief that Martin will get around to finishing the books. And separately, it was getting tired to see how many characters Martin brought back from apparently being dead.

This electric car is the first zero-emissions vehicle to finish the Dakar Rally TreeHugger (resilc)

The Heroism of Incremental Care New Yorker (furzy). Horrible title. The doctors are not heroic. The patients are for not having given up, particularly given the propensity of doctors to be overconfident re their ability to cure a chronic ailment, and then worse, that some blame the patient when their interventions fail (either by suggesting they were non-compliant or that the problem must be in their head if they didnt get better).

China?

Chinas housing boom ends as prices fall in top cities Financial Times

Brexit. I know I should post on the May speech, and hope to soon, but the 50,000 version is she has thrown the steering wheel out the window when the EU is bigger and has made clear it is not going to swerve. She incoherently says she will exit the single market yet expects a deal that will preserve access and let the UK limit immigration. The EU has said repeatedly that is na ga happen and that any new arrangement has to fit in the framework of existing trade pacts, and these features alone dont. In other words, the Brits are accomplishing the difficult feat of making the Germans look reasonable. But the UK press is just as deluded as the Tories are, and that seems to be influencing US coverage. These dynamics are so much like Greece v. the Trokia, in terms of the misreading of the power dynamics and the downside that it is freaky. But the Greeks really were badly downtrodden, the new leaders could be forgiven for naivete and desperation, Varoufakis had the correct economic analysis even if the Eurozone was not going to undo its hopelessly destructive budget rules to end austerity and was therefore invested in the fallacy of punishing borrowers when the bad structure of the Eurozone guaranteed that youd have chronic trade imbalances and Germany was unwilling to do anything to change that. The Greeks in other words were right in a ton of respects but were destined to lose, and their misplaying of the negotiations resulted in Trokia getting punitive and the harm to them thus being even worse than it would have been. The Brits are vastly less sympathetic actors, since the EU knows well that the Brexit vote was the result of a Conservative intra-party power play that spun out of control, and the collateral damage for this stunt will be colossal. They are being obtusely reckless, as opposed to reckless out of desperation and misplaced hope.

Russian sex workers are worlds best, boasts Putin The Times (Dr. Kevin). So he has an extensive enough sample to make a personal recommendation>?

Key NATO Commander Agrees With Trump, NATO Is Obsolete Antiwar (resilc)

Syrqistan

New Cold War

Four Looming Flashpoints Facing President Trump TomDispatch. I was going to cross post this, but it goes overboard on the Putin is an aggressor image the MSM and Beltway have been selling hard (not that Putin does not have interests that are opposed to ours, and that he has been trying to advance Russias interests). For instance, it depicts Putin as having superpower ambitions, when we were the ones who destabilized Ukraine, which is on his doorstep, and supported (arguably helped install) a Russia-hostile government which included about 15% neo-Nazis in key positions who started threatening Ukrainians of Russian descent (one YouTube video has a senior defense official urging ethnic cleansing and saying soldiers should keep what they take). It was no accident that a country where people of European and Russian ancestry had gotten on peacefully suddenly fractured on ethnic lines. Id like to get reader input, but this exaggeration of Russian bad-ness appears designed to justify having the Baltics on the list of flashpoints (as in we are justified in exerting influence there). And pray tell, how would the US react if Montreal succeeded and started making US-hostile noises? Would we sit pat? The piece also weirdly fails to mention that the Chinese have built artificial islands on atolls that were previously submerged part of the day to justify their maritime claims.

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

AMBULANCES IN SWEDEN WILL BE ABLE TO HIJACK CAR RADIOS DURING EMERGENCIES Digital Trends

Imperial Collapse Watch

Trump Transition

When a Foreign Government Interfered in a U.S. Election  to Reelect FDR Politico

2016 Post Mortem

Obamas Unnecessary Wars and Humanitarian Interventionism American Conservative (resilc)

Resignation and divisions at exclusive Maryland golf club over Barack Obama membership  and his Israel policies Telegraph (furzy)

Clintons Shutter Global Initiative as Donations Dry Up New American (Timotheus)

Mark Zuckerberg Spent Martin Luther King Day Building a Community Garden in Oak Cliff Dallas Observer (Joe H). In case you doubted it, Zuckerberg sure looks like he is running for President.

Our First Stand Rally With Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer, Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters YouTube (Kevin C). Chuck Schumer.kill me now.

Obama commutes sentence of Chelsea Manning CNN. Obama occasionally does the right thing, so good for him.

Obamacare

The Deportees Taking Our Calls New Yorker (resilc)

Second Theranos Lab Failed U.S. Inspection Wall Street Journal

Trumps Options for Weakening Dollar Extend Beyond Tweets Bloomberg. This is important. The strong dollar policy was integrally linked to promoting the US financial services industry, which was inaugurated by none other than ex Goldman Treasury Secretary Bob Rubin, who has maintained a stranglehold on the Democratic party through allies and acolytes at Goldman and Citigroup. A strong or at least not weak currency is essential to being a major financial center.

Bank margins to be boosted by labour-saving automation but long term challenges loom Financial Times

Class Warfare

Lagarde Urges Greater Wealth Distribution After Populist Surge Bloomberg. Awfully late to take the other side on this issue, but barbarians at the ramparts do focus the mind.

Antidote du jour. Lambert and I noticed how weve had a big run of beautiful bird pix for months, so I am going to rebalance to mammals for a bit. From Mountain Woman: Young cow elk born Spring 2016 feed on weeds peeking through the snow.

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Researchers produce functional OLED electrodes from graphene (Nanowerk News) For the first time, it has been possible to produce functional OLED electrodes from graphene. The process was developed by Fraunhofer researchers together with partners from industry and research. The OLEDs can, for example, be integrated into touch displays, and the miracle material graphene promises many other applications for the future.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP from Dresden, together with partners, has succeeded for the first time in producing OLED electrodes from graphene. The electrodes have an area of 2  1 square centimeters.

"This was a real breakthrough in research and integration of extremely demanding materials," says FEPs project leader Dr. Beatrice Beyer.

Orange luminous OLED on a graphene electrode. The two-euro coin serves as a comparison of sizes. (Image: Fraunhofer FEP)

The process was developed and optimized in the EU-funded project "Gladiator" (Graphene Layers: Production, Characterization and Integration) together with partners from industry and research.

Graphene is considered a new miracle material. The advantages of the carbon compound are impressive: graphene is light, transparent and extremely hard and has more tensile strength than steel. Moreover, it is flexible and extremely conductive for heat or electricity. Graphene consists of a single layer of carbon atoms which are assembled in a kind of honeycomb pattern. It is only 0.3 nanometers thick, which is about one hundred thousandth of a human hair. Graphene has a variety of applications  for example, as a touchscreen in smartphones.

Chemical reaction of copper, methane and hydrogen

The production of the OLED electrodes takes place in a vacuum. In a steel chamber, a wafer plate of high-purity copper is heated to about 800 degrees. The research team then supplies a mixture of methane and hydrogen and initiates a chemical reaction. The methane dissolves in the copper and forms carbon atoms, which spread on the surface. This process only takes a few minutes. After a cooling phase, a carrier polymer is placed on the graphene and the copper plate is etched away.

Gladiator project was launched in November 2013. The Fraunhofer team is working on the next steps until the conclusion in April 2017. During the remainder of the project, impurities and defects which occur during the transfer of the wafer-thin graphene to another carrier material are to be minimized. The project is supported by the EU Commission with a total of 12.4 million euros. The Fraunhofer Institutes important industrial partners are the Spanish company Graphenea S.A., which is responsible for the production of the graphene electrodes, as well as the British Aixtron Ltd., which is responsible for the construction of the production CVD reactors.

Applications from photovoltaics to medicine

"The first products could already be launched in two to three years", says Beyer with confidence.

Due to their flexibility, the graphene electrodes are ideal for touch screens. They do not break when the device drops to the ground. Instead of glass, one would use a transparent polymer film. Many other applications are also conceivable: in windows, the transparent graphene could regulate the light transmission or serve as an electrode in polarization filters.
Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

Top Democrats vowed Tuesday to defend the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, predicting Director Richard Cordray will file a lawsuit if he were fired by Donald Trump after he is sworn in as president.

Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts  all members of the Banking Committee  told reporters on a conference call that Cordray would legally challenge any attempt to remove him before his term ends in July 2018. The Trump transition team signaled last week that the president-elected is at least considering such a move.

"Do not tell Richard Cordray he's fired," Sen. Schumer said in comments directed at Trump. "We think the odds are high a legal challenge would work, and we are urging the administration to forgo that long process and keep Cordray."

A CFPB spokesman declined to comment Tuesday on Democrats' remarks or Cordray's willingness to file suit if he were forced out. However, the agency has said previously that Cordray has no intention of resigning.

Cordray likely would file a temporary restraining order or an injunction if Trump sought to fire or remove him from office, Schumer and Warren said.

"No agency head has been fired for cause for a century  it is an extreme and unprecedented step," Warren told reporters on the 25-minute conference call. "It would be a real battle."

Committee Democrats also sent a letter Tuesday to Cordray praising his leadership and "tough law enforcement against financial fraud," which they called "the guiding star" of his tenure. Cordray's more than 150 enforcement actions against various companies had returned $12 billion to an estimated 29 million consumers, the Democrats noted.

Last week former Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, met with Trump to interview for the CFPB spot on Wednesday, senior Trump spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters, according to a report by The Huffington Post.

Under the Dodd-Frank Act, Cordray can only be fired "for cause," which is defined as "inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office." Some lawyers have said the Trump administration is building a "for cause" dossier against the CFPB chief.

"There is no conceivable way that Cordray could be fired for cause," Schumer continued. "This would be unprecedented. There is no cause available to go after him [for] other than something that is trumped up, manufactured."

When asked if he would be willing to replace the director with a five-member commission as repeatedly proposed in legislation, Schumer said: "No."

Brown said that even if a commission structure was established for the agency, Republicans could slow-walk potential appointments to hamper the agency. He cited the example of former Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., who refused to hold nomination hearings and created a number of vacancies at agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Export-Import Bank.

"We deal with commissions, we deal with the [Export-Import Bank], we deal with the SEC," Brown said. "These are commissionsShelby would move on none of these so we had an Ex-Im Bank that simply couldn't perform its full duties and that is what will happen here. This whole idea of a commission is to emasculate the agency and slow everything down and take away its power and stop it from acting."

Republicans have urged the president-elect to rely on a recent U.S. appeals court decision that struck down language in Dodd-Frank that said the CFPB's director could only be fired "for cause." That decision has been temporarily stayed pending an appeal.

"Right now that is the law, and it's the only tool available to the president-elect, which is firing for cause, and [that] has not happened in the U.S. in the last 100 years," Warren said.

The CFPB is in the process of issuing rules on arbitration, payday lending and debt collection, issues that Democrats are rallying progressives, consumer advocates and civil rights groups to fight for.

"First, there is the terrible publicity they will get, they will hear from hundreds of thousands of people, and then there are the legal actions" that could come from Cordray, Brown said. "Republican senators and House membersare going to see a huge pushback from the country."
Treasury Secretary-designate Steven Mnuchin's time as OneWest's chief executive  and the bank's controversial foreclosure practices  is expected to draw ample attention at his nomination hearing Thursday, but it will not be the only issue to come up as senators try to gauge how he would lead President-elect Trump's financial policies.

Thanks to Democrats rewriting confirmation rules when they were in control, the Senate's current GOP leaders only need a majority of the chamber to approve Mnuchin. But analysts say how well Mnuchin answers questions will still matter, particularly if some Republicans have reservations about the nominee. The Senate Finance Committee hearing could also provide a window into Mnuchin's views on key financial services issues, such as housing finance reform and the fate of the Financial Stability Oversight Council.

"The base case is he gets confirmed. The president usually gets his or her nominees for top cabinet positions pretty quickly. But Mnuchin is a wild cardIf he performs poorly that is the only point where his confirmation becomes in doubt," said Ed Mills, a managing director and analyst at FBR Capital Markets.

OneWest Bank

At the start of the crisis, Mnuchin led a team of investors to acquire assets of the failed IndyMac Bank in Southern California and formed OneWest. But the new bank garnered a reputation for aggressively foreclosing, and has been at the center of Democrats' efforts to put Mnuchin in a negative light.

"OneWest, I would expect is going to be a centerpiece," of the hearing, said Kurt Walters, spokesman for the progressive group Demand Progress Action.

Demand Progress, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Allied Progress Action are running ads featuring stories of borrowers who were foreclosed on by OneWest in the lead-up to Mnuchin's hearing.

Democrats have gone so far as to call Mnuchin the "Foreclosure king" and launched a web portal for consumers to submit anecdotal complaints about foreclosure experiences with OneWest during the mortgage crisis, in addition to holding events on Capitol Hill with former OneWest borrowers. Consumer groups have particularly focused on how OneWest, which was sold to CIT, foreclosed on seniors with reverse mortgages. (Mnuchin became vice chairman of CIT.)

But with all the attention on the bank's foreclosure practices, Mnuchin is likely preparing his defense for what could be aggressive questioning, observers said.

"He will come with stats on the number of modifications he did and battle numbers with numbers," said Isaac Boltansky, a policy analyst with Compass Point Research & Trading.

Clifford Rossi, an executive-in-residence and Tyser Teaching Fellow at the University of Maryland's business school, said Mnuchin is a "detail-oriented kind of guy."

"If I were in his shoes I would try and have as many facts and figures about the programs that were in place then to try to deflect a lot that is coming at me," Rossi said.

But Democrats are likely also doing their homework. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who is not on the Finance Committee but has been leading the opposition against Mnuchin, sent a letter with other Democrats last week to committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, requesting that former OneWest borrowers be allowed to testify against Mnuchin.

A spokesperson for the Finance Committee said Hatch is not going to fulfill the Democratic Senators requests because "Chairman Hatch is committed to holding nominees to the same, bipartisan vetting and hearing process afforded to [President] Obama's nominees, which has been standard practice at the Senate Finance Committee for years."

Mills said Democrats "want to make [Mnuchin] a bogeyman."

"Policy differences are not going to be the reason a Republican decides to not vote for Mnuchin. It will be the way he defends his background or what they try and make stick to his background," Mills said.

But Boltansky said it is highly unlikely that the foreclosure claims will threaten his appointment.

"I don't think he needs to counter any of the foreclosure claims in order to get confirmed," the analyst said. "If this were a 60 [vote] threshold, my comments would be completely different."

Housing Finance, FSOC

But the hearing will also be the best opportunity to date to hear Mnuchin's thoughts on financial services policy issues he would likely face as Treasury chief. His positions remain largely unknown.

In particular, Mnuchin raised eyebrows last month when he told Fox Business, "We've got to get Fannie [Mae] and Freddie [Mac] out of government ownership." The two government sponsored-enterprises have been in government conservatorship since 2008.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, sent a list of questions to Mnuchin in December asking him a number of policy questions including what he believes the government's role in housing finance should be.

Mnuchin never responded to the letter. But Brown is one of six lawmakers set to question Mnuchin Thursday who also sit on the Senate Banking Committee. They are almost certainly interested in where the nominee comes down on the future of housing finance.

Other policy areas ripe for questioning are tax reform and what Mnuchin believes to be the appropriate role of the Financial Stability Oversight Council.

"I would like to hear what Mnuchin wants to do with FSOC since the Treasury secretary has to be on board with any major action the council takes," said Justin Schardin, director of the financial regulatory reform initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center. "Does he see an active role for FSOC or will he turn it into just a forum for regulators to get together and talk and will he support de-designating [systemically important financial Institutions]?"

Schardin also said we could find out if Mnuchin aligns with Trump's international policy.

"Trump has signaled that he may pull out of certain international agreements," said Schardin. "It would be good to know if Mnuchin would be committed to global efforts like Basel and the global financial stability board."

Conflicts of Interest

Democrats may also question Mnuchin over whether his past business dealings present conflicts of interest that make him ill-suited to be Treasury secretary. One of the questions that Brown asked in his letter to Mnuchin is whether his comments about the GSEs would benefit him or any of his associates.

"How will your past business  and presumably social  connections to hedge fund partners who invested in preferred shares of the government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, inform your views on efforts to reform those enterprises?" Brown asked in the letter.

Mnuchin plans to divest a number of assets and investments if confirmed but one of those investments is in a hedge fund run by Trump adviser John Paulson. The fund is invested in Fannie and Freddie stock and received a boost after Mnuchin's GSE comments.

"The mere fact is that he made all these dramatic market-moving statements right after he was made presumptive nominee back in November and it really benefited the Paulson fund," said Walters.

Some have also pointed just generally to Mnuchin's experience in the financial services sector as a possible conflict. In addition to his time at OneWest, Mnuchin worked on the mortgage trading desk at Goldman Sachs prior to the financial crisis.

Yet others see his business experience as an asset, and Treasury secretaries have often worked in the industry before entering the government. Henry Paulson, the last Treasury secretary under President George W. Bush, had formerly been CEO of Goldman Sachs.

"Mr. Mnuchin is an effective choice to lead our Treasury Department," said Hatch in a statement. "Getting America's economy back on track is a top priority for this new administration and his wealth of private sector experience will serve him well in this new role."
The Department of Housing and Urban Development's proposed guidance has stirred up a debate on elevation standards as flooding occurs more frequently and in more unexpected places.

In its current form, the HUD proposal would impact Federal Housing Administration-insured construction projects in floodplains as well as substantial improvements to existing single-family homes and multifamily buildings. Privately financed projects would not be affected.

But that could still add up to a big impact, industry representatives said.

The higher elevation requirements could impact affordability and "may limit the number of newly constructed homes available to many first-time and low-to-moderate income borrowers," wrote Thomas Kim and Steve O'Connor of the Mortgage Bankers Association in a Dec. 21 comment letter.

Ed Brady, the chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, also warned that the new elevation requirements and flood proofing requirements for multifamily construction would "make many projects infeasible, due to increased construction costs and the inability to offset these cost through higher rents."

HUD issued the proposal in response to an executive order by President Obama directing the department to expand its flood risk management policies.

"Our nation is faced with mounting and compelling evidence that future flooding events will be increasingly costly and frequent," said HUD Secretary Julian Castro in an Oct. 27 press release. "If we're serious about protecting people and property from flooding, we have to think differently than we did 40 years ago. Today we begin the process of aligning our regulations with the evidence to make sure taxpayer dollars are invested in the most responsible and resilient manner possible."

To be sure, the plan could be scrapped or reworked by the incoming Trump administration. But if finalized as proposed, the lowest floor in newly built FHA-insured single-family home would have to be at least two feet above the site's base flood elevation commonly known as the 100-year floodplain.

But Brady said that in addition to that two-foot elevation requirement, multifamily developers would have to adhere to a 100-year floodplain that extends out horizontally.

In low lying areas, the use of the two-foot standard extends horizontally across the floodplain until it is even with the ground.

"It captures the fringe areas outside the 100-year floodplain," said Joel Scata, a project attorney at the Natural Resource Defense Council, in an interview. "A lot of damage occurs outside the 100-year floodplain."

About 20% of National Flood Insurance Program claims come from people living outside the 100-year floodplain. They "receive one-third of disaster assistance for flooding," Scata said.

In its comment letter, the Natural Resource Defense Council points out that Indiana, Montana, New York and Wisconsin have a two-foot elevation requirement for development by both private and public construction occurring in the 100-year floodplain.

"What is interesting is that 60% of the U.S. population lives in localities that require an additional elevation above the 100-year flood level," Scata said. "It is not novel. It is really the federal government catching up to what has become common practice."

Despite the added cost of meeting the new elevation standards, homeowners would benefit from lower flood insurance costs. "If the home is below the 100-year flood level, you are going to pay a lot of money for flood insurance," Scata said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency refers to the elevation requirements above the 100-year flood level as "freeboard." So the first floor of a structure built to freeboard standards must be sited at least one foot or more above the base flood elevation.

The National Association of Realtors contends FHA's two-foot elevation standard would "conflict with 46 state freeboard decisions."

The HUD proposal would "create a particular hardship for homeowners who recently retrofitted to a lower standard" particularly in areas of New Jersey impacted by Hurricane Sandy, wrote William Brown, the president of NAR in its Dec. 7 comment letter. "Alternatively, a one-foot standard would reduce the state conflicts and burden while providing a margin of safety in 30 states that default to a federal standard."

HUD's proposal also would extend to substantial improvements to properties in flood zones. The Realtors want HUD to clarify how FHA would approve 203(K) home improvement loans in special flood hazard areas or SFHAs.

"To our knowledge, this is the first time FHAs new-construction standard would extend to substantial improvements in SFHAs," Brown wrote. "Without clarification on the proposed substantial-improvement component and a more complete cost-benefit analysis, it is difficult to evaluate the two-foot proposal or how it would impact FHA loan products."

The MBA has called on HUD to take a further look at the impact the proposal would have on first-time and low- to moderate-income borrowers living in floodplain areas.

The MBA and other trade groups also want HUD to provide clarity about the effective date of the floodplain management rule. They are also seeking to grandfather projects where the builder or developer has already submitted applications for funding or mortgage insurance.

"Multifamily rental housing development is a long, complex process with many moving pieces," wrote Chris Estes, the president and CEO of the National Housing Council.

"Changing requirements midstream could prevent a development from moving forward if, for instance, financing sources cannot accommodate changes in cost. We therefore recommend that HUD include a 12-month grandfathering period for properties whose applications for funding or mortgage insurance applications are already in process when the rule goes into effect. This would provide for an orderly transition to the new requirements included in the proposed rule."
Just days before President Obama will leave office, the White House released a white paper advocating for the U.S. government to engage in efforts to promote the fintech industry.

In the document titled "A Framework for Fintech," which was published Sunday, the National Economic Council  an arm of the White House  laid out broad objectives and provided a series of recommendations to policymakers and regulators to foster the industry's growth.

"The United States remains the global leader in fintech as measured by total investments," said the white paper. "However, the U.S. leadership position in fintech should not be taken for granted."

The document's release followed a summit the White House hosted for fintech stakeholders in June. The new framework did not offer up any specific policy recommendations, but it outlined 10 guiding principles for policymakers grappling with the fast-growing industry. These included the importance of consumer protection, promoting financial inclusion, overcoming technological bias, protecting financial stability and building cybersecurity measures.

"This administration is proud of the hard work undertaken by federal agencies to support innovation and engage with the fintech industry, while also recognizing that there is more work to do," the white paper said.

"Policymakers and regulators should continue engaging with the private sector to foster innovation in fintech while protecting consumers, businesses, and the financial system."

The paper advocated for a "21st century financial regulatory framework," advising financial regulators to modernize how they engage with the industry. Regulators should rely on "data-driven analysis," be open to using technology themselves and be flexible with how they engage with the industry, the White House said. The paper commended initiatives like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Project Catalyst, and the Office of the Comptroller's "Responsible Innovation" initiative.

The NEC suggested that policymakers also take inspiration from the United Kingdom's efforts to promote financial innovation  which includes a regulatory sandbox option for fintech companies  as well as efforts undertaken by Singapore.

However, the white paper also warned that regulators and fintech companies should be careful to mitigate the risks associated with the fast-growing industry.

"While fintech represents only a small part of the wider financial services sector at present, policymakers, regulators, and industry should collaborate to identify and mitigate potential systemic risks as the industry grows," the NEC said.

The white paper also applauded the development of new technologies in specific areas such as remittances and access to capital for individuals and small businesses.

"Policymakers and regulators must consistently endeavor to understand these new technologies in order to support innovation in furtherance of important policy objectives," the paper said. "They must also work collaboratively with fintech innovators to mitigate potential risks."
(Natural News) CDC Spider Scientists attack the CDC, blow the lid off

They write a letter to the CDC chief of staff

And I write a letter to them

(Article by Jon Rappoport from Jonrappoport.wordpress.com)

There is a group of anonymous scientists at the US Centers for Disease Controlthey call themselves the Spider GroupScientists Preserving Integrity, Diligence and Ethics in Research. They have penned a letter to the CDCs chief of staff, Carmen S. Villar:

Here is the explosive accusation they make:

We are a group of scientists at CDC that are very concerned about the current state of ethics at our agency. It appears that our mission is being influenced and shaped by outside parties and rogue interests. It seems that our mission and Congressional intent for our agency is being circumvented by some of our leaders. What concerns us most, is that it is becoming the norm and not the rare exception.

Some senior management officials at CDC are clearly aware and even condone these behaviors. Others see it and turn the other way. Some staff are intimidated and pressed to do things they know are not right.

We have representatives from across the agency that witness this unacceptable behavior. It occurs at all levels and in all of our respective units. These questionable and unethical practices threaten to undermine our credibility and reputation as a trusted leader in public health.

I have written at length about another whistleblower at the CDC, William Thompson, a long-time researcher who, in August of 2014, confessed in writing to massive fraud (archive here). He admitted that, in a study on the safety of the MMR vaccine, he and his colleagues literally threw vital sheets of data into a garbage can. The study then gave a free pass to the vaccine, claiming it had no connection to autismwhen in fact it did. Thompson is the subject of the film, Vaxxed (trailer).

Now with this letter, we see that other scientists at the CDC are blowing the lid off internal corruption at their Agency.

If, in fact, President-elect Trump gives the green light for an independent investigation of the CDC, as press outlets are now reporting, and if he appoints Robert Kennedy Jr. to head up that panel, as Kennedy claims, we are going to see a large number of hidden facts emerge from the secretive halls of the CDC.

Because this Spider Group is anonymous, I wanted to make sure their letter is real. I contacted reporter Carey Gillam (twitter), who has been covering the story. I received this reply: I was able to authenticate the letter by contacting CDCs public affairs office and asking them directly about it after I received it from internal CDC sources.

You can read the full Spider Groups letter here at US Right To Know. (More on the letter by Carey Gillam here.)

And now I write a letter to them, so they can deepen their investigation.

Dear Spider Group:

I commend you on making an important start. Youre on the right road. As a reporter who has covered the CDC for many years, I offer you three suggestions. This short list is by no means exhaustive. Im just pointing to a few areas where your own research will yield very rich and fertile results.

ONE: SWINE FLU FRAUD.

Let me take you back to the late summer of 2009, and the Swine Flu epidemic, which was hyped to the sky by the CDC. The Agency was calling for all Americans to take the Swine Flu vaccine. Remember?

The problem was, the CDC was concealing a scandal.

At the time, star CBS investigative reporter, Sharyl Attkisson, was working on a Swine Flu story. She discovered that the CDC had secretly stopped counting cases of the illnesswhile, of course, continuing to warn Americans about its unchecked spread.

The CDCs main job is counting cases and reporting the numbers.

What was the Agency up to?

Here is an excerpt from my 2014 interview with Sharyl Attkisson:

Rappoport: In 2009, you spearheaded coverage of the so-called Swine Flu pandemic. You discovered that, in the summer of 2009, the Centers for Disease Control, ignoring their federal mandate, [secretly] stopped counting Swine Flu cases in America. Yet they continued to stir up fear about the pandemic, without having any real measure of its impact. Wasnt that another investigation of yours that was shut down? Wasnt there more to find out?

Attkisson: The implications of the story were even worse than that. We discovered through our FOI efforts that before the CDC mysteriously stopped counting Swine Flu cases, they had learned that almost none of the cases they had counted as Swine Flu was, in fact, Swine Flu or any sort of flu at all! The interest in the story from one [CBS] executive was very enthusiastic. He said it was the most original story hed seen on the whole Swine Flu epidemic. But others pushed to stop it and, in the end, no broadcast wanted to touch it. We aired numerous stories pumping up the idea of an epidemic, but not the one that would shed original, new light on all the hype. It was fair, accurate, legally approved and a heck of a story. With the CDC keeping the true Swine Flu stats secret, it meant that many in the public took and gave their children an experimental vaccine that may not have been necessary.

end of interview excerpt

It was routine for doctors all over America to send blood samples from patients theyd diagnosed with Swine Flu, or the most likely Swine Flu patients, to labs for testing. And overwhelmingly, those samples were coming back with the result: not Swine Flu, not any kind of flu.

That was the big secret. Thats what the CDC was hiding. Thats why they stopped reporting Swine Flu case numbers. Thats what Attkisson had discovered. Thats why she was shut down.

But it gets even worse.

Because about three weeks after Attkissons findings were published on the CBS News website, the CDC, obviously in a panic, decided to double down. If one lie is exposed, tell an even bigger one. A much bigger one.

Here, from a November 12, 2009, WebMD article is the CDCs response: Shockingly, 14 million to 34 million U.S. residents  the CDCs best guess is 22 million  came down with H1N1 swine flu by Oct. 17 [2009]. (22 million cases of Swine Flu in US, by Daniel J. DeNoon).

Are your eyeballs popping? They should be.

In the summer of 2009, the CDC secretly stops counting Swine Flu cases in America, because the overwhelming percentage of lab tests from likely Swine Flu patients shows no sign of Swine Flu or any other kind of flu.

There is no Swine Flu epidemic.

Then, the CDC estimates there are 22 MILLION cases of Swine Flu in the US.

TWO: THE CDC BUYS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF VACCINES AND, AT THE SAME TIME, HEADS UP RESEARCH ON THE SAFETY OF VACCINES. EXPLOSIVE STRUCTURAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

If you wanted to buy a product, and the main source of research on the product was the company selling it, would you automatically assume the product was safe and effective?

But you see, thats the just the beginning of the problem. Suppose the companys research was cited thousands of times in the press, as the authoritative standard of proofand anyone who disputed that research was labeled a conspiracy theorist and a quack and a danger to the community and an anti-science lunatic.

Would you begin to suspect the company had some awesome media connections? Would you suspect some very powerful people were backing the company?

This is exactly the situation that exists at the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Read these two quotes:

The governments Vaccine for Children Program (a CDC organization) purchases vaccines for about 50 percent of children in the U.S. (The Atlantic, February 10, 2015)

The CDC currently spends over $4 billion purchasing vaccines [annually] from drug makers (Health Impact News, October 24, 2016)

However, the CDC is also the gold standard for research on the safety and efficacy of vaccines. It turns out an unending stream of studies on these subjects. And the results of those studies are dutifully reported in the mainstream press.

Do you think, under any circumstances, the CDC would publish data showing vaccines are ineffective and dangerous? Theyd be cutting their own throats.

Well, we spend $4 billion a year buying vaccines from drug companies, but guess what? These vaccines are often dangerous

Every time you read about a CDC study on vaccines, keep this obvious (and clearly illegal) conflict of interest in mind.

THREE: MASSIVE OVERESTIMATE OF FLU DEATHS IN THE US, IN ORDER TO PUSH THE FLU VACCINE.

In December of 2005, the British Medical Journal (online) published a shocking report by Peter Doshi, which created tremors through the halls of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), where the experts used to tell the press that 36,000 people in the US die every year from the flu.

Here is a quote from Doshis report, Are US flu death figures more PR than science? (BMJ 2005; 331:1412):

[According to CDC statistics], influenza and pneumonia took 62,034 lives in 200161,777 of which were attributable to pneumonia and 257 to flu, and in only 18 cases was the flu virus positively identified.

Boom.

You see, the CDC has created one overall category that combines both flu and pneumonia deaths. Why do they do this? Because they disingenuously assume that the pneumonia deaths are complications stemming from the flu.

This is an absurd assumption. Pneumonia has a number of causes.

But even worse, in all the flu and pneumonia deaths, only 18 revealed the presence of an influenza virus.

Therefore, the CDC could not say, with assurance, that more than 18 people died of influenza in 2001. Not 36,000 deaths. 18 deaths.

Doshi continued his assessment of published CDC flu-death statistics: Between 1979 and 2001, [CDC] data show an average of 1348 [flu] deaths per year (range 257 to 3006). These figures refer to flu separated out from pneumonia.

This death toll is obviously far lower than the parroted 36,000 figure.

However, when you add the sensible condition that lab tests have to actually find the flu virus in patients, the numbers of flu deaths plummet even further.

In other words, its all promotion and hype.

Well, uh, we say that 36,000 people die from the flu every year in the US. But actually, its closer to 20. However, we cant admit that, because if we did, wed be exposing our gigantic psyop. The whole campaign to scare people into getting a flu shot would have about the same effect as warning people to carry iron umbrellas, in case toasters fall out of upper-story windowsand, by the way, wed be put in prison for fraud.

The CDC must turn out a steady stream of outrageous lies about the need for vaccines. If they didnt, theyd have no way to justify the billions of dollars they spend every year buying the vaccines from drug companies.

So, Spider Group, dont stop now. Deepen your probe. Become true heroes for honest research, expose the deep roots of corruption in your Agency, and do the right thing for the American people youre sworn to serve.

Read more at: Jonrappoport.wordpress.com

Stay informed about the CDC at CDC.news
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 by: Vicki Batts Tags: Big Pharma , meningitis , pharmacists , TOP PRIORITY This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author

(Natural News) In 2012, over 700 people across 20 different states were diagnosed with fungal meningitis and other infections after being given contaminated medication. This egregious error led to what was the most deadly outbreak of meningitis ever seen in the United States; 64 people died in nine different states.

Now, the trial is finally in motion. The prosecution says that a single pharmacist is responsible for at least 25 of those unfortunate deaths, and jurors will begin to weigh the evidence.

Pharmacist Barry Cadden is the 50-year old owner and head pharmacist of New England Compounding Center, known as NECC. He is being charged with 25 counts of second-degree murder in relation to the 2012 outbreak. These deaths were allegedly caused by contaminated bottles of a steroid known as preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate, which is manufactured by Caddens compounding pharmacy.

A second set of charges also await NECCs supervisory pharmacist, Glenn A. Chin. Chin has been charged with 25 counts of second-degree murder, but his trial date has yet to be determined. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, a maximum sentence of life in prison is on the table for both Cadden and Chin, if they are convicted on all counts.

In 2014, the U.S. Justice Department acknowledged that the charges did not require the government to prove Cadden and Chin had specific intent to kill the 25 patients, but rather that (they) acted with extreme indifference to human life. The contaminated vials of methylprednisolone acetate were used on some 13,000 patients. It is truly a wonder that more people were not harmed by these pharmacists actions.

(Editors note: Isnt it interesting that these same charges are never leveled against big-name pharmaceutical drug manufacturers whose products kill over 100,000 Americans each year? Bayer, Pfizer, Merck, Eli, J&J and other drug companies executives never face such criminal charges, even when caught fraudulently marketing dangerous prescription medications that kill thousands.)

The outbreak and the indictment

There are exactly 751 cases of infection listed on the indictment, after healthcare practitioners unknowingly injected the contaminated medication into thousands of their patients spinal columns.

Meningitis, which is the inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, is a life-threatening condition that was inevitably caused by the compromised medication. Fungal meningitis is considered to be a rare disease by the CDC.

In the fall of 2012, the first cases of infection were reported. That September, NECC voluntarily recalled three lots of the steroid medication. However, that was not the end of the story for the Framingham, Massachusetts-based company. CNN reports:

The next month, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, working with the Food and Drug Administration, reported that it had identified serious deficiencies and significant violations of pharmacy law and regulations that clearly placed the publics health at risk.

And, about a year after the company had filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11, the owners of NECC conceded to creating a $100 million fund for the outbreak victims in late 2013.

In a misguided attempt at spreading the blame, the pharmaceutical company tried to implicate their cleaning company as having shared responsibility for the outbreak. The cleaning company, UniFirst Corp, acknowledged that they provided NECC with once-a-month cleaning services, but maintained that the compounding pharmacys claims were without merit. The contamination error has been consistently blamed solely on NECC and its sale and administration subsidiary, Medical Sales Management, as far as health officials are concerned.

Caddens 2014 indictment reveals charges for multiple counts of racketeering, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and mail fraud. The document also alleges that NECC failed to comply with basic safety regulations regarding sterilization and cleaning, among other things, and that many people who worked there, including the owners and other pharmacists, actively lied about it.

Not the first time NECC was in trouble

The problems with NECC began many years before the fungal meningitis outbreak harmed hundreds of people nationwide. In 2006, NECC reportedly received a warning letter for their wrongdoings from the FDA. In this letter, the FDA notified NECC that there were several violations that needed to be corrected and that the federal agency had the right to seizure and injunction against you and your firm.

Natural News also reports that in 2012, the executive vice president of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists, David Miller, condemned NECC for profiting to the tune of millions of dollars while functioning as a drug manufacturer, and not as a compounding pharmacy on NPRs Diane Rehm Show. Miller also noted that despite several visits to NECC and the issuance of warnings, the FDA failed to shut them down. The negligence of the FDA also played a role in this terrible outbreak, and they too should be held accountable for their failure.

Sources:

NaturalNews.com

Edition.CNN.com

CDC.gov
Fit for the Presidency?: Winners, Losers, What-Ifs, and Also-Rans Seymour Morris Potomac (2017) 9781612348506 | ISBN: 978-1-6123-4850-6

Former pollster Seymour Morris Jr runs a political-science thought experiment by scrutinizing the curricula vitae of 15 US presidential hopefuls from 1789 to 1980. 'Shoo-in' DeWitt Clinton, a naturalist and statesman, lost to James Madison in 1812. Abraham Lincoln looked unqualified, yet unusual work experience (including navigating the treacherous Mississippi River) endowed him with the pragmatism needed to win the American Civil War. Morris reminds that sterling qualities make good presidents, but they must be the right qualities  and voters must be capable of recognizing them.

The Secret State: A History of Intelligence and Espionage John Hughes-Wilson Pegasus (2017) 9781681773025 | ISBN: 978-1-6817-7302-5

From the cursus publicus (imperial communications network) of ancient Rome to cybersurveillance, espionage is as old as war. In this sweeping history, John Hughes-Wilson anatomizes the intelligence process and the evolution of covert methodologies and technologies that maintain (or disrupt) geopolitical balance. Nineteenth-century German spymaster Wilhelm Stieber, for instance, sparked the paranoia that led in part to the First World War. Hughes-Wilson also masterfully summarizes the workings of terrorism and cyberwar. A deft tour of the shadow side of 'speaking truth to power'.

Europe's Last Chance Guy Verhofstadt Basic (2017) 9780465096855 | ISBN: 978-0-4650-9685-5

Terrorist attacks, tangled economics, tsunamis of refugees  the European Union faces a perfect storm, with added turbulence from nationalism. Here, Guy Verhofstadt  leader of the European Parliament's liberal faction  argues that the political solution is a US-style federation of member states. He offers an insider's view, not least of prevailing issues such as Europe's toothless responses to Middle Eastern conflict and Russian belligerence. His hypothetical United States of Europe, predicated on early efforts towards an EU, is both hugely ambitious and highly plausible.

The Cradle of Humanity Mark Maslin Oxford University Press (2017) 9780198704522 | ISBN: 978-0-1987-0452-2

Palaeoclimatologist Mark Maslin delves into deep time to trace humanity's rise to geological hegemony. Examining early hominin finds in East Africa, he spotlights three stages (bipedalism in Australophithecus, a jump in brain size in Homo erectus and Homo sapiens' arrival some 195,000 years ago) and the roles of climate change, celestial mechanics and plate tectonics in their emergence. Ultimately, he theorizes that 'climate pulses' in the Rift Valley, in which hyper-arid conditions alternated with the formation of vast lakes, helped to drive the evolution of the big hominin brain.

New York Scientific: A Culture of Inquiry, Knowledge, and Learning

Istvan Hargittai and Magdolna Hargittai. Oxford University Press (2016)

9780198769873
John Glenn was the first American to orbit Earth, circling our planet three times in the space capsule he named Friendship 7, on 20 February 1962. The early US space programme was not primarily a scientific endeavour, but a military effort to beat the Soviets to the Moon. We early US astronauts who flew in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions were pilots  military men  but we became celebrities. Glenn carried the international media attention with such dignity that he became the iconic All-American Boy. Committed to public service, he later served four terms in the US Senate. He died on 8 December 2016.

Credit: Ralph Morse/LIFE/Getty Born in Cambridge, Ohio, on 18 July 1921, John Herschel Glenn Jr studied engineering at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. After the United States entered the Second World War, he elected not to complete his senior year. Instead, Glenn, already a licensed aviator, left college to become a fighter pilot, earning a commission in the Marine Corps. By the end of his Second World War and Korean War service, he had flown 149 combat missions  he shot down three Soviet-built fighters, and twice landed with more than 250 holes in his own aeroplane.

Captivated by space flight, Glenn volunteered to serve in simulators to test the disorientation and extreme G forces astronauts would encounter. In 1958, when the newly formed NASA recruited its first class of astronauts, Glenn barely met the criteria  he was near the upper age limit, and he lacked a bachelor's degree in science. Nevertheless, he earned a position as one of the Mercury Seven. Like most fighter pilots, he did not doubt his capabilities, did not shrink from taking chances and would not give up.

Glenn's Friendship 7 flight was anything but a solo effort. He relied on some 40,000 collaborators worldwide  from private contractors making components to personnel at remote-tracking stations and sailors aboard ships ready to recover him at splashdown. It was an immense physical, technical, military and scientific achievement. But Glenn alone carried the mission's risk: it was he, a 40-year-old married father of two, who put his life on the line.

For NASA and the United States, Glenn's achievement was dramatic. Millions of people around the world followed the mission live, well aware that things could go wrong. Because Soviet space missions were shrouded in secrecy, with their results revealed only after successful conclusions, Glenn's mission signalled the achievements of free enterprise. Today, it continues to signal the importance of public funding for science, engineering and exploration.

But his mission's real achievement has been philosophical: one of understanding the majesty of our planet. Glenn realized this even before his launch, and fought for special permission to carry a camera that he had bought. On his very first orbit John saw Earth as a magnificent place, and although he was a disciplined test pilot with a rigid flight plan, he elected to deviate and photograph Earth, exclaiming for all the world to hear, Oh that view is tremendous ... Beautiful sight.

Likewise, when I first saw our blue planet coming up from the rugged lunar horizon, I deviated from the Apollo 8 flight plan, grabbed a camera and shot a photograph with a 270-mm lens I had to fight to get aboard, capturing the image now known as 'Earthrise'. Our shared elation at what we saw served not as just another battle in the cold war, but as a beginning for a more global awareness of a borderless planet, finite and shared.

Colonel Glenn left NASA in 1964  President John F. Kennedy had found him too valuable to risk his life again. He worked in private industry before running for the US Senate as a Democratic candidate, only to face narrow defeat. Never one to give up, Glenn ran again and carried all of Ohio's 88 counties in 1974. He served in the Senate until he resigned in 1999, championing science and science education, along with nuclear non-proliferation.

In the 1970s, when I was a member of the US Atomic Energy Commission, I testified several times before Senator Glenn's subcommittee on non-proliferation. Having viewed our beautiful planet from space, we were both motivated to devise practical ways to lessen the chances of spoiling it with mushroom clouds.

Senator Glenn also encouraged study of our ageing population. In 1998 he was selected, at the age of 77, to fly aboard the space shuttle Discovery on a 9-day mission during which biometric measurements would lend insight into how an ageing human body responded to space flight.

Glenn's personal life was itself notable. In 1943, Glenn married Anna 'Annie' Margaret Castor, with whom he had grown up  they had literally played in the same crib together. Glenn remained devoted to his wife to the end. His life, from the moment he became a Mercury astronaut, was lived significantly in the public eye. Glenn's space flight marked the emergence of a new kind of celebrity, but he laboured to limit its intrusion into his private life, shielding his family from the spotlight.

Glenn's iconic flight, and the broader Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programmes with their eventual lunar landings, did accomplish their cold-war missions. Of more lasting significance, they saw lunar explorers who went to study the Moon discover Earth instead, something that led us both to become lifelong supporters of environmental and science education.
Astronomers have spotted a bulge on Venus' atmosphere which might have been caused by the largest gravity wave ever witnessed in the Solar System.

Discover Magazine said gravity waves are upheavals in a planet's atmosphere caused by winds colliding with features on the surface.



But what intrigues the scientists most is not the bow-shaped bulge but how it can withstand the treacherous climactic and atmospheric condition of the planet. More so, how it was able to form high above the surface. Venus' upper atmosphere moves at a staggering 100 meters per second.

According to Science Alert, the bulge, which was discovered by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Akatsuki probe in 2015, stretched from Venus' north to south pole. It remained for four days straight at about 65 km (40 miles) above the surface, withstanding the hot surface of Venus and and 359 km/h (223 mph) winds. An image of the bulge was detected using both infrared and UV imaging.



Similar structure was observed by the team over the succeeding years of their mission. Scientists suspect that what lies below Venus' atmosphere has something to do with it.

Tech Times said that the mountainous characteristics on the surface of Venus are potentially forcing winds into the upper atmosphere, a place where they slow down to form a wave, such as what was seen by the Japan's probe. The bulge is, in fact, located above the continent-sized highland region called Aphrodite Terra.



"Some researchers have imagined that a gravity wave excited in the lower atmosphere may reach the upper cloud deck or higher in the Venus atmosphere, but no direct evidence of that has been found before," Makoto Taguchi of Rikkyo University in Tokyo, a coauthor of the study, writes in an email to Christian Science Monitor.

"This is the first evidence of gravity wave propagation from the lower atmosphere to the middle atmosphere. This means that conditions of the lower atmosphere may affect the dynamics of the higher atmosphere by momentum transfer of the gravity waves."

Evidence of gravity waves has been spotted on Venus before by European Space Agency's Venus Express mission. However, Colin Wilson, an atmospheric scientist at Oxford University who was not involved in the paper told Christian Science Monitor that it did not capture images the way the Japanese spacecraft did.



The researchers discuss their findings in a paper published Monday in Nature Geoscience.
Scientists are petitioning to the European Union regarding an extension for the partial ban on the usage of neonicotinoid pesticides. This is based on the evidence that these chemicals are becoming lethal to partridges and can even stop house sparrows from flying.

New evidence shows that the controversial pesticide is linked to large-scale population extinction of bees. It should apparently be banned, a clamor that has gone stronger since a moratorium on its use has been introduced years ago.

According to the Independent, a paper by scientists at Sussex University as well as a review of the scientific studies since the EU restricted the use of neonicotinoid pesticide on flowering plants in 2013 showed that there's greater evidence that wild plants near fields of crops treated with the chemical are contaminated.

The paper, published by environmental campaign group Greenpeace, concluded that there are great evidence and risk that wild bees suffering from exposure to neonicotinoid may have sublethal but harmful effects. For example, some bees tend to forage less food as a side effect of its exposure to the harmful chemical.

The report also highlighted studies in different countries which reported a decline in the number of birds, butterflies and bees found in fields with neonicotinoid-treated crops. These pesticides, known as neonics, were thought to be safer than normal pesticides because they're usually used as a seed coating rather than being sprayed.

The Independent reported red-legged partridges dying within days after eating seeds coated with neonic. Others observed sparrows becoming "uncoordinated" and unable to fly. Japanese quails also suffered DNA damage after being exposed to pesticides.

Researchers Dave Goulson and Thomas Wood wrote that neonicotinoids have posed a great risk to wild and managed bees since 2013. The European Food Safety Authority is due to publish its own evaluation of the latest evidence on the pesticides this month but has delayed it later this year.

Greenpeace UK's chief scientist, Doug Parr, said the evidence points towards neonic pesticides posing a great danger to bees and other wildlife than when the EU ban was first introduced.
NASA has been active when it comes to missions geared towards understanding asteroids such as the OSIRIS-REx launched last year. But aside from that, a few more is expected to occur including one that will target an asteroid made up of "quadrillion" of metals.

Psyche is the asteroid and the name of the new NASA mission. The asteroid 16 Psyche is found between the planets Jupiter and Mars. Reports say that the mission is a low-cost one and was chosen by NASA to explore bodies within the solar system.

The solar-electric propelled spacecraft is likely to fly by 2023. The spacecraft is expected to reach the target destination by 2030. The mission will observe and map the asteroid.

Psyche will explore a giant metallic asteroid in the asteroid belt. 16 Psyche is about 130 miles (210 kilometers) in diameter. The metallic components could be compared to the Earth's core with nickel and metallic iron. The mission is also expected to give light to the process that is responsible for the separation of layers on asteroids.

"16 Psyche is the only known object of its kind in the solar system, and this is the only way humans will ever visit a core. We learn about inner space by visiting outer space," said Psyche Principal Investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton of Arizona State University in Tempe.

"This is an opportunity to explore a new type of world - not one of rock or ice, but of metal," said Psyche Principal Investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton of Arizona State University in Tempe in a statement.

Psyche will get additional support from the Near-Earth Object Camera (NEOCam) since NASA announced that funding for the project will be extended for another year. The agency is also allegedly looking into the mining of minerals found on the asteroid, a report said.

The asteroid with a said "quadrillion" metals is almost the size of Massachusetts. The metals on the asteroid aren't just NASA's intention to visit the asteroid. Experts say that Psyche could be a "protoplanet" or might be a core of an old one. Some even argue that the asteroid could formerly part of the red planet destroyed by massive collisions.
ASSET ALLOCATION COMMITTEE OUTLOOK 4Q2022

Tighter Conditions Begin to Squeeze the Economy

As the economy slows, an epic climb in short-dated rates and bond yields appears to have shocked investors into accepting the prospect of stickier inflation, but they still seem reluctant to price for substantially lower earnings.
A fifth grader who was initially suspended for drafting a "kill list" made up of classmates names will not return to his elementary school for the remainder of the school year, the district said Wednesday.

After parents in Riverside County found out about the list, many expressed concerns for students' safety and dozens of parents kept their children home from school Wednesday.

Lake Mathews Elementary Principal Pamela Williams wrote a letter to parents Monday saying school officials first learned of the list last Thursday and contacted law enforcement. She says officials investigated and concluded no one at the school was in danger.

"These types of behaviors are ALWAYS taken seriously by RUSD and therefore we immediately began an investigation, convened our site threat assessment team and notified law enforcement," Williams wrote in the statement. "As a result of this comprehensive process, it was determined that there was, and is, no danger to any of Lake Mathews' students."

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office spoke with the child, the child's parents and school officials and determined the child did not have means or access to guns or "weapons of that nature," said Sgt. Chris Durham of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

"We believe that the school is safe, and there's a lot that goes into saying that a school is safe," said Justin Grayson of the Riverside Unified School District. "We wouldn't want to, we would never say that a school is safe when we felt that it wasn't."

The school has about 900 students.

The Riverside Unified School District confirmed to NBC4 the child's suspension would end Wednesday, but could not confirm when the child would return to school.

Some parents said suspending the boy from school for two days was insufficient and wanted him expelled. They sent a petition signed by 86 parents to the district's superintendent saying they won't send their children to school if the boy returns.

"I think that child shouldnt go to that school anymore, maybe be put in, I don't know, some other kind of school that  can take care of somebody," said parent Melanie Reck.

Other parents were upset they found out about the incident on social media, because a letter was not sent from the school until Monday.

"I think the learning experience from this is to get information out sooner to parents to avoid all the hysteria," said Jennifer Stinnett, a parent of a kindergartner and a first grader at the school.

District officials tried to ease parents' worries at a school board meeting Tuesday night. Many parents attended the meeting to voice their concerns about a lack of information from the district, but most were concerned about whether or not the boy would return to the elementary school.

Lake Mathews Elementary school officials told NBC4 Tuesday the child had not been expelled and could come back to school, but noted the district was working with the child's parents to explore other schooling options. The school district said they have procedures in place to monitor the child, and will be giving the child extra attention and care moving forward.

The district says they are barred from talking about the student due to confidentiality laws, but Grayson released the following statement to NBC4 Wednesday morning.

"Right now district officials are at huddled at Lake Mathews Elementary working to determine the course of action for continuing student in question's education," Grayson wrote Wednesday. "Alternative educational opportunities are being discussed, but no final determination had been made yet."

Several parents told NBC4 that school officials said the child was not in school Wednesday morning.

Later on Wednesday, the Riverside Unified School District released a statement and noted they take a "safe schools guarantee" in the California Constitution "very seriously."

"For that reason, the Districts Child Welfare and Attendance Department has determined that the student recently accused of threatening communications will not be returning to Lake Mathews Elementary School for the remainder of the 2016-17 school year," read the statement from the district.

The statement did not mention the child's future schooling plans, or whether or not the child would attend another school in the district.

Jessica Rice and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Bay Area Democrats were united Tuesday at an Oakland event to support local labor unions. When the subject turned to the upcoming presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, some said they're staying away in protest.

"An inauguration is a celebration," Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, said. "I don't believe I can clap and be happy in terms of what's taking place, in terms of the agenda of this next president."

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, of Concord, also said he's passing on attending Friday.

"He said he and his attorney were gonna decide what the ethics rules were," DeSaulnier said. "I thought that was a real message that he continues to think rules don't apply to him."

Other local lawmakers said that going to Trump's inauguration is step one in fighting to make sure their constituents are heard.

"I want the president-elect to know that when it comes to what happened with Russia, it's not going away," Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, said. "I will continue to ask questions about that."

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, is joining Lee and DeSaulnier in skipping Friday's ceremony.

"I know some pretty bad and dangerous things are coming with this man, so I had to think about what kind of message I wanted to send," Huffman said. "I cannot, in good conscience, sit and politely clap and pretend that everything is just fine."

Across the nation, more than 50 Democratic lawmakers have said they are boycotting the inauguration.
President Barack Obama surprised a lot of people with the commutation of Chelsea Manning's 35-year prison sentence. Many in the Bay Area support the move, while others say it's not the way to treat a soldier who betrayed her country.

On Tuesday night, the San Francisco LGBT Center was praising the commutation of the court martialed transgender.

We applaud President Obama for ending Chelsea Manning's torturous incarceration," the center said in a statement. "Unfortunately, there are thousands of transgender people who continue to be imprisoned without dignity and without proper access to services and health care."

"This administration has been aggressive in prosecuting leaks up till now, more so than previous administrations," said Mark Yates, a professor at Golden Gate University law school. "So it didn't seem to fit the mold of what he's done to date."

Manning admitted she sent 700,000 documents and videos to Wikileaks, a move that brought trouble and embarrassment to the Obama administration. She was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 35 years in prison.

One day after the conviction, the transgender woman previously known as Private Bradley Manning announced she was a transgender woman named Chelsea, which she says now puts her life at risk in an all-male prison.

Now, after serving seven years, Manning will be released in May.

That sends the wrong message, according to some high-ranking officials in Washington. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, for one, opposed the commutation, as did many Republican members of Congress.

"I think we ought to set examples and let people know if you're going to do that, you're going to pay a heavy price for it," Sen. Orin Hatch, of Utah, said.

But Manning's attorney says the government has no proof her actions caused loss of life or any specific damage.

"We had secret sessions of the court martial where that would be the place that the government would do that," said attorney David Coombs. "And the answer was no."
At least two Bay Area law enforcement agencies investigated bomb threats made Wednesday at a Jewish Community Center in Marin County and at a Jewish school in Foster City, in a troubling phenomenon that appeared to be happening all over the country.

Marla Cohen, communications manager for the New-York based, JCC Association of North America said that 28 centers in 17 states were threatened in total on Wednesday. That count did not include the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School in San Mateo County, which was deemed safe about lunchtime. Last week, there were 16 JCCs threatened in nine states. She said some of the threats came in as robo-dialers and some were actual people. Last week, the FBI was called in, she said.

The Anti Defamation League said the threats did not appear "credible," and listed the states where the centers were targeted: New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Delaware, Connecticut, Alabama, California, Maine, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Kansas.

The fear in San Rafael, California lasted about two hours at the campus at 200 North San Pedro Road. The property is a hub of Jewish life, and includes Rodef Shalom synagogue, Brandeis Jewish Day School and the JCC, a popular exercise and community center.

Osher Marin JCC spokeswoman Iris Lax told NBC Bay Area the center was given the all-clear about 11:45 a.m. She said this was the first time this JCC had ever received a bomb threat and it's also the first time this JCC ever had to evacuate.

"Thankfully, nothing substantial happened," she said, adding that her staff drove some people home and many others went across the street to a school to stay safe and warm. The JCC's preschool remained closed for the day. "It's unfortunate that JCCs are being targeted. We're a community center that helps so many people. We don't want anyone to be concerned about their safety."

Marin County Sheriff's Lt. Doug Pittman said the first call came in about 8:45 a.m. and deputies are now working to identify where it was made and who made it.

Molly Jo Rosen, who works at Kol Shofar synagogue in nearby Tiburon, said she spoke to the sheriff's department, who told her the threat was an automated call with a generic-sounding computer voice.

In Foster City, police received a call around 8:45 a.m. about a bomb threat targeted at the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School on Foster City Boulevard.

The school was evacuated while police and a San Mateo County bomb squad investigated. Police said nothing suspicious was found after an exhaustive search of the campus. The school was given an all-clear at about 11:30 a.m.

The threats, rippling across the country, all on the same day and following similar threats last week, were certainly not welcome, despite the fact that there have been no reports of injuries. It's unclear if and how the threats are related.

"We dont know whats going on. There are a lot of unknowns," said Jeremy Russell, of the Jewish Community Relations Council in San Francisco. "We are very concerned about the existence of these calls and the literal threat they are imposing on the community. We will be responding appropriately."

NBC stations across the country documented threats made Wednesday at JCCs in New Jersey, Boston, Miami and Connecticut. Some of the specifics include:

In Miami, police responded to reports of a bomb threat at the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center. Threats were called in at the same center a week ago.

Police in Newton, Massachusetts, responded after a suspicious phone call prompted an evacuation Wednesday morning at a local JCC.

Jewish community centers in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and two in Connecticut, one at the JCC of Greater New Haven in Woodbridge and another at The Mandell JCC West Hartford, reported receiving bomb threats. That site was deemed clear later Wednesday morning.

And then last week, threats were made to at least seven JCCs in Florida, New Jersey, Delaware, Tennessee and North Carolina. It's unclear if the threats are connected.

"I think this is the world we now live in," Rosen said. "There will be threats to religious organizations and we'll see it skewed toward certain religions more than others."

NBC Bay Area's John Zuchelli, Gonzo Rojas and Shawn Murphy, along with other NBC Universal stations contributed to this report.
Documents obtained Tuesday by NBC Bay Area show that the developer of the Millennium Tower is balking at turning over any plans of a fix for the sinking and leaning structure, claiming such information is secret as part of ongoing mediation talks with the towers homeowners association.

The city Department of Building Inspection gave Millennium Partners until last Friday to reveal how it plans to stabilize the 58-story building, which is sinking and tilting to the north and west.

But in his two-page response sent last Friday and disclosed Tuesday, Millenniums Sean Jeffries informed the head of Building Inspection, Tom Hui, about its refusal to comply with that request.

These efforts are part of the pending confidential mediation process, Jeffries wrote.

Jeffries told Hui that a three-member expert panel of soil and structural engineers will review the buildings condition as part of the mediation effort with the homeowners association.

The mediation is being overseen by retired Judge Ronald Sabraw. Jeffries cited confidential mediation as well in refusing to turn over any prediction about the continued settlement of the building, calling it information that is subject to a pending confidential mediation process.

But Millenniums response left Supervisor Aaron Peskin fuming.

It is as though 850,000 San Franciscans and their Board of Supervisors dont have a high enough security clearance to know whats happening with what could be an imminent threat to safety in the middle of our downtown core, Peskin said.

This letter, sent under the guise of ongoing litigation, really says nothing about when they are going to attempt to fix it, Peskin concluded.

Peskin says he now intends to get the plans, even if it means meeting in closed session, away from the public.

As a member of the Board of Supervisors, I think we deserve to know what the fixes are going to be and when they are going to be implemented, Peskin said. He added that he hopes to convene the closed-door session on the matter as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Jerry Dodson, a lawyer who lives in the building and is currently suing Millennium, called the developers claim of confidentiality outrageous. He said the city should demand that any planned fix should be turned over to officials, and Millennium should be ordered to carry it out.

Twelve-hundred homeowners live in this building, and we have a right to know what the facts are about the sinking and tilting of the building," he said. "Mediation cant be the excuse to keep that information from homeowners.
"Location, location, location."

It's an age-old maxim in the world of real estate: where a property is can mean everything in terms of value.

That turns out to be the case in the world of dog rescue, as well. At least, that's what Christi Camblor has discovered.

"Where a dog is can dictate it's fate," Camblor said.

With that in mind, Camblor has become an expert in saving dogs simply by changing their zip codes. Over the past three years Camblor's non-profit, Compassion Without Borders, has rescued more than 1,500 chihuahuas from California's Central Valley by flying them half-way across the country.

"A tan Chihuahua in Fresno doesn't have much of a chance, but a tan Chihuahua in Minnesota gets adopted right away," Camblor, a Santa Rosa veterinarian said.

It's all about supply and demand, really.

Chihuahuas are a very popular breed in the Central Valley and shelters there are filled to overflowing with the breed. "Way too many Chihuahuas," Camblor lamented. The chance of finding a new home for a Chihuahua or Chihuahua mix there is slim.

But through one of her board members, Camblor learned that there was a dearth of the breed in the upper Midwest. "She knew firsthand there was a shortage of small dogs," Camblor said. Animals that CWOB sends to a shelter in Minneapolis are usually adopted withing days of arrival.

It's a model that Camblor developed years ago while volunteering at an animal shelter in Mexico City. Camblor said she was saddened by the thousands of dogs there with little chance of adoption locally.

"That's your choice to be overwhelmed or do the one thing you can do. At that place the one thing I could do was to rescue animals out of there," Camblor said.

She arranged for one of the dogs to be transported to northern California. "It all started with a single dog," Camblor said. It was the beginning of CWOB. Camblor has maintained her ties to shelters in Mexico and has since arranged for the adoption of close to 2,000 dogs from there.

The Chihuahua airlift has proven to be just as successful.

Every six weeks or so, Camblor travels with members of her team to shelters in Fresno to find dogs in need of a family. They regularly come up with between 40 and 50 dogs.

The dogs are sent in crates in cargo holds of non-stop, commercial flights from the Bay Area or Sacramento to the Midwest. The costs are covered by donations made to CWOB.

Camblor hopes that in the future the can figure out a way to send more Chihuahua's from the Central Valley but perhaps find other destinations and other breeds that would mean more lives saved.

"I think a lot about the ones I left behind," Camblor said. "Instead of being paralyzed it makes me work harder so that Im not having to leave animals behind."
The widow of the Orlando gunman who killed 49 people in June at a gay nightclub entered a not guilty plea in federal court in Oakland on Wednesday, two days after she was arrested at her Rodeo, California home.

Then, Noor Salman, 30, blew a kiss as she was led away back into custody at Santa Rita Jail.

Her defense team is hoping for her release at a bail hearing scheduled for Feb. 1. Prosecutors hope she will be extradited to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Central District Court in Florida, where the case is being prosecuted. Her late husband, Omar Mateen, was the mastermind behind the June 12 massacre at the Pulse nightclub, Orlando police said.

Speaking on Salman's behalf, defense attorney Sam Amin said his client is innocent until presumed otherwise and he looked forward to her day in court. Her uncle, Al Salman, stressed her innocence again, saying it's not fair for her to be locked up when she is innocent, and it's not fair to her 4-year-old son, who is being cared for by his grandmother in Rodeo, California, where her family lives.

But prosecutors allege that she was involved in the worst mass shooting in US history across the country this summer.

Charging documents made public Tuesday morning allege Salman had been helping her husband since at least April.

In court on Tuesday, federal prosecutor Roger Handberg said Salman knew her husband "was going to conduct an attack."

The first count alleges she "knowingly" aided and abetted her husband by providing him "material support or resources" to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Before he was killed in a shootout, Mateen told a police hostage negotiator that he was a soldier of ISIS and that the United States had to stop its bombing in Syria and Iraq, according to police transcripts.

Salman was also charged with obstructing justice, specifically against the Fort Pierce police and the FBI. The remaining details of the case have been sealed.

In the days after the attack, law enforcement sources told NBC News that Salman told investigators she was with him when he bought ammunition but tried to dissuade him from violence. When asked how Salman couldn't have known about the attack, especially since she knew about the ammunition, her uncle got defensive. He didn't answer the question, and told reporters to "look at the file," meaning the police report on her.

In June, a source close to the family told NBC News that Mateen sent his wife a text message during the rampage, asking her, "Do you see what's happening?" After swapping texts, she allegedly tried to call him.

But on Tuesday her uncle explained his niece's side of it: On the day of the shooting, Noor Salman's mother-in-law called her to say, "Where is Omar?"

Noor Salman replied, "He's not here, let me call him," her uncle recalled.

When she reached him, Mateen asked his wife if she had seen the news.

Noor Salman replied: No.

Mateen replied, "I love you baby," the uncle recalled. "And then he hung up."
A woman accused of abducting a 3-year-old boy from his mother in East Oakland on Friday while briefly watching the child was charged with child abuse and auto theft Tuesday, according to court documents.

Tammy Martin, 28, was a friend of the boy's mother and was helping her go to a methadone clinic in the 10400 block of MacArthur Boulevard for treatment at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, according to police.

The boy's mother gave Martin permission to take her son and her 1999 Honda Odyssey minivan to a grocery store across the street, where they agreed to meet up a short time later.

But when the boy's mother went to the store's parking lot, she saw no sign of her van, her son or Martin. She waited in the parking lot for two hours before calling police.

Martin disappeared overnight, making no attempt to contact the boy's mother. On Saturday, Oakland police issued a public alert looking for Martin that was widely disseminated. A citizen quickly spotted the van and

called police.

Oakland police pulled Martin over in the Grand Lake area and arrested her just before 1 p.m. on Saturday. The boy was in the van with her and was reunited with his mother.

Prosecutors charged Martin with child abuse, auto theft and receiving stolen property. She remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning, according to jail records.

She has prior convictions for forgery, receiving stolen property, identity theft and petty theft dating back to 1997.
The U.S. Secret Service will pay dozens of African-American former agents $24 million in a settlement of a class-action lawsuit accusing the agency of systematic discrimination.

The suit covered nearly 100 former agents who alleged that the Secret Service promoted white agents over more qualified black agents.

The suit also alleged that white agents and supervisors regularly used the "N" word to refer to suspects and black leaders of other countries. The suit also alleged that white agents and supervisors regularly used the "N" word to refer to suspects and black leaders of other countries.

Eight of the 10 original plaintiffs could receive as much as $300,000 under terms of the settlement.

As part of the agreement, the Secret Service admitted no wrongdoing.
A search will be conducted in connection to a 1981 missing person cold case at New Hampshire home by state, local and federal authorities, the state's AG announced Tuesday.

New Hampshire AG Joseph Foster's office said investigators will search a home at 925 Hayward St. in Manchester in connection with the disappearance of Denise Beaudin, who was last seen November 1981.

She and her boyfriend, Robert "Bob" Evans, lived at the home when she went missing.

Officials say the search, which could last for several days, will start Tuesday morning, and will require a section of Hayward Street - from Cyprus Street to Foster Avenue - to be closed to traffic in order to allow equipment and investigators access to the site.

Beaudin's family say they last saw her Thanksgiving day with her boyfriend and her infant daughter. When relatives went to visit her a few days later, the couple was gone, and her family assumed they had left town to avoid financial troubles, investigators said.

Her daughter, now in her 30s, is alive and well, and investigators say they know Evans' whereabouts.
A police officer says a New Hampshire bill that would require corroboration in sexual assault cases in which the defendant has no prior convictions amounts to the nation's "first pedophile protection act."

Concord police Sgt. Sean Ford spoke Tuesday in front of a House committee that's taking testimony on the bill.

Existing law doesn't require corroboration of a sex assault.

Republican Rep. William Marsh says he sponsored the bill after learning about the case of Foad Afshar, a New Hampshire psychotherapist who was convicted last year of molesting an underage client during a session. Afshar denies the allegations. His supporters say the change is key to ensuring innocent people aren't convicted.

Opponents say it will silence victims, particularly children, and allow predators to remain free.
A group of Illinois congressmen have joined the growing list of lawmakers expected to boycott President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration Friday, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

Illinois Reps. Luis Gutierrez, Mike Quigley and Dan Lipinski are among the roughly 60 members of the U.S. House who plan to skip the historic event, according to the report. Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush will reportedly miss the inaugural due to his wifes hospitalization.

Congressional opposition to Trumps swearing-in grew after the divisive Republican attacked Civil Rights icon and Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who questioned the legitimacy of Trumps presidency based on Russian hacking allegations. Lewis is not expected to attend the inaugural.

Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results, Trump tweeted Saturday. All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!

Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to......  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017

Democratic Reps. Robin Kelly, Bill Foster, Jan Schakowsky and Danny Davis are still undecided about the inaugural, according to the Tribune report. Kelly responded Saturday to Trumps attacks against Lewis.

You say talk, talk, talk but all you do is tweet, lie and demean, Kelly shot back on Twitter. Thats bigly unpresidential."

.@realDonaldTrump: you say "talk, talk, talk" but all you do is tweet, lie and demean. That's "bigly" unpresidential. https://t.co/inpAhu1kdy  Robin Kelly (@RepRobinKelly) January 14, 2017

Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos announced Tuesday that she plans to attend the event, despite criticizing Trumps agenda and behavior. During the ceremony, Bustos plans to stand with President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Democratic leaders who are committed to fighting for the values that we believe in.

Bustos will also attend the Womens March on Chicago Saturday.

On the next day, I and thousands of Illinoisans will march in Chicago to send a message that the true majority rejects President-elect Trumps politics of divisiveness, and we will hold him accountable, Bustos said in a statement.

Recently-elected Democratic Reps. Brad Schneider and Raja Krishnamoorthi are also expected to attend the ceremony, the Tribune reports. Krishnamoorthi will reportedly join Bustos at Saturday's Women's March.

All seven Republican lawmakers from the Illinois congressional delegation are expected to be on hand Friday, according to the report. As are both Illinois senators, Democrats Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.

Gov. Bruce Rauner told reporters Tuesday that he's skipping the inaugural because he's "100 percent focused in Illinois." He claimed his choice wouldnt have a negative impact on Illinoisans, citing his close relationship with members of Trumps camp.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is also expected to skip the event, according to the Tribune. A mayoral spokesman wouldnt say whether the move was a protest against Trump.

The mayor spent nearly two decades in Washington, and as a general rule these days he tries to spend as little time as possible in D.C. talking about national politics, Emanuel spokesman Matt McGrath told the Tribune.
Gov. Bruce Rauner told reporters Tuesday that his choice to skip President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration wouldnt have a negative impact on Illinoisans.

People understand in Washington and around the country that Illinois has big challenges and they know, and respect the fact, that I am one hundred percent focused in Illinois, working on getting a balanced budget with structural change to the system, Rauner said. And they respect that and they appreciate it.

The state's most recent stopgap funding plan expired at the start of the year, leaving the state's health and human services and higher education in a precatious place. During Tuesday's press conference, the governor dismissed another stopgap plan, but seemed encouraged by the Illinois Senate's bipartisan push to devise a proposal. However, he wouldn't officially endorse the plan, which is still being negotiated.

Rauner, who spoke to Trump on the phone shortly after the November election, said he already has ties to the President-elects camp Tuesday.

I do have close, good working relationships with a number of incoming members of the Trump administration, as well as members of his transition team, and Ive worked with the Vice President-elect for years, Rauner said. Theres no issue of us not having a good, solid working relationship with the incoming administration.

Rauner noted that he worked hard to form a close relationship with the outgoing Obama administration, including former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. He now hopes to work with the Trump administration on infrastructure and schools in Illinois.

Its in the interest of the people of Illinois that we have a good, positive working relationship with federal administrations, he added.

Additionally, Rauner pointed to the seemingly imminent repeal of the Affordable Care Act, claiming there are big changes coming to the countrys healthcare system. As a result, Rauner told reporters Tuesday that his administration is already talking to the incoming Trump administration about prospective changes.

Nevertheless, Rauner said it was too early to comment on components of the Republican Obamacare repeal effort.
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich requested a presidential commutation last month, but on Tuesday, his name was not found among President Barack Obamas 64 pardons.

Patti Blagojevich, the Rods wife, kept up hope on Facebook after her husband was left off the list.

The White House announced 209 inmates whose sentences Obama is shortening in one of his final acts before leaving office on Jan. 20. Another 64 people also received pardons, including retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during a probe into disclosure of classified information.

We still have time, please keep up the good wishes, Patti Blagojevich posted on Facebook.

Obama could still announce more pardons before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Obama has commuted the most sentences of any other United States president. A White House official said more commutations are expected and will likely happen on Thursday, the Guardian reports.

Just before here hopeful social media post, Blagojevich posted a link to a story on the pardoning of Chelsea Manning.

I just dont know what to say, the post reads.

A petition created over the summer asks Obama to grant executive clemency to Blagojevich after a federal judge declined to lower the embattled politicians sentence.

Blagojevich is serving a 14-year sentence for his attempt to sell then-President-elect Obamas U.S. Senate seat, in addition to other corruption charges. He is being held at a low-security federal prison in Colorado.
The Chicago Police Department's new Community Policing Advisory Panel held its first meeting on Tuesday, just days after the U.S. Department of Justice released its report finding that CPD has violated constitutional rights through a pattern of excessive force.

The panel is dedicated to developing a new strategic plan for community policing, an area in which the DOJ specifically noted that the city is lacking.

Our goal is to make CPD the model law enforcement agency across the country," Supt. Eddie Johnson said during Tuesday's meeting at Chicago police headquarters.

The panel consists of national experts in the field, Chicago community leaders and members of CPD leadership - all determined to make the city safer.

"Community policing, community engagement and an approach to enhancing trust and confidence in policing is really needed in Chicago right now," said panel member Tracey Meares, a law professor at Yale University who served on President Obamas Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

Chicago had a community policing program, known as CAPS, in place long before the panel was formed in 2016, according to Johnson, who said it has seen successes in the past.

"In the 90's, we were the leader in community policing throughout the country and we've kind of lost some of that luster," Johnson said, "but we fully intend on returning back to that number one position."

The formation of the new panel came not just following the DOJ's investigation, but after Chicago saw its deadliest year in two decades with more than 762 homicides - which experts say is a inextricably linked to the lack of trust between police and the communities they serve.

The number one thing we need to understand is that the violence problem that Chicago is experiencing is also a function of the need for police reform," said Meares, adding that engagement key to building trust.

"It has to be infused throughout what the department does, it has to be a way of doing business, not just a tactic," she said.

The panel plans to meet several more times before making recommendations on best practices to Supt. Johnson by March.
Sen. Dick Durbin and Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter Tuesday urging Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for attorney general, to allow Russian hacking investigations to proceed.

The group also pushed Sessions to recuse himself from any future or ongoing FBI or Justice Department investigations into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election.

Sessions appeared before the committee last Tuesday, but was unable to answer questions about a CNN report released the same day that claimed President Barack Obama and President-elect Trump were briefed by intelligence officials on unconfirmed allegations that Russia may have compromising personal and financial information about Mr. Trump.

The briefing also included unconfirmed allegations that Trump surrogates and intermediaries" were in contact with the Russian government throughout the campaign.

These allegations must be fully investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department, especially in light of the recent assessment by the intelligence community that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally ordered a campaign to influence the outcome of our presidential election in Donald Trumps favor, the group wrote.

Trump has denied the allegations, sparring with CNN correspondent Jim Acosta at last Wednesdays press conference and admonishing his organization for publishing the report. Buzzfeed posted the full dossier of unconfirmed allegations later Tuesday, a move that has drawn considerable criticism.

Trump conceded that he thinks Russia was responsible for the hacking at last Wednesdays press conference after repeatedly questioning the intelligence community and their findings.

Nevertheless, Trump told the Wall Street Journal Friday that he would be open to lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia if it assists the U.S. with certain efforts, like counterterrorism. That rollback would likely include President Barack Obamas recently-imposed sanctions for Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

If you get along and if Russia is really helping us, why would anybody have sanctions if somebodys doing some really great things, Trump said in the interview.
Need a cute and quirky reminder of Illinois long history of political corruption? A Chicago-based artist has crafted a new cross-stitch pattern that commemorates the states unscrupulous former governors.

The artist, Meridith Halsey, is selling her "Convicted Governors of Illinois" cross-stitch pattern on Etsy for a $5 download.

Did you know that 4 Illinois governors have gone to jail for corruption? Halsey asks on her Etsy page. Use this cross stitch pattern to create a great conversation-piece in your home or office, or create the perfect gift for the Illinois politician in your life!

The design includes stitched likenesses of former Illinois Govs. Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich, all of whom were convicted on federal criminal charges. [[411118745, C]]

Blagojevich, who is currently serving a 14-year sentence at a low-security federal prison in Colorado, requested a commutation from President Barack Obama last month. Many of Blagojevichs criminal charges are related to his attempts to sell the Senate seat Obama vacated before being sworn-in as president.

On Tuesday, the White House announced 209 inmates whose sentences Obama is shortening in one of his final acts before leaving office on Jan. 20. Another 64 people also received pardons.

Blagojevich was not among the group granted clemency Tuesday. Nevertheless, his wife, Patti Blagojevich, remained hopeful.

We still have time, please keep up the good wishes, the incarcerated former governors wife wrote on Facebook Tuesday.
Donald Trump's choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that climate change is real, breaking with both the president-elect and his own past statements.

In response to questions from Democrats during his Senate confirmation hearing, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said he disagreed with Trump's earlier claims that global warming is a hoax created by the Chinese to harm the economic competitiveness of the United States.

"I do not believe climate change is a hoax," Pruitt said.

The 48-year-old Republican has previously cast doubt on the extensive body of scientific evidence showing that the planet is warming and man-made carbon emissions are to blame. In a 2016 opinion article, Pruitt suggested that the debate over global warming "is far from settled" and he claimed that "scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind."

At the hearing before the Senate Energy and Public Works Committee, Pruitt conceded that human activity contributes "in some manner" to climate change. He continued, however, to question whether the burning of fossil fuels is the primary reason, and refused to say whether sea levels are rising.

Pruitt's testimony came shortly after NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a joint statement affirming that 2016 was officially the hottest year in recorded history. Studies show the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have decreased in mass, while the world's oceans have risen on average nearly 7 inches in the last century.

Pressed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to answer in detail about his beliefs about climate change, Pruitt responded that his personal opinion was "immaterial" to how he would enforce environmental laws.

In his current post, Pruitt joined a multistate lawsuit opposing the Obama administration's plan to limit planet-warming carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Pruitt also sued over the EPA's recent expansion of water bodies regulated under the Clean Water Act. It has been opposed by industries that would be forced to clean up polluted wastewater.

Pruitt said that if were confirmed by the GOP-run Senate, he would work with states and industry to return the federal watchdog to what he described as its proper role.

"Environmental regulations should not occur in an economic vacuum," Pruitt said. "We can simultaneously pursue the mutual goals of environmental protection and economic growth."

Pruitt has a history of criticizing and suing the agency he is in line to lead. Environmentalists opposing his nomination cite his cozy relationships with oil and gas industry executives who have donated to his political campaigns.

As the hearing got underway, shouting could be heard from people who were not allowed in. The room accommodated fewer than 100 people; most seats were taken by congressional staff, reporters and others who were allowed in early. Only a few seats remained for the public.

One woman was quickly wrestled out of the room by three police officers as she pulled out a roll of yellow crime scene tape and shouted "We don't want EPA gutted!"

Later, a group of coal miners wearing hard hats were allowed in to show support for Pruitt. Trump has pledged to bring back tens of thousands of lost coal mining jobs once inaugurated, though he has not yet detailed how. The president-elect has also said he will "renegotiate" the international accord to reduce carbon emissions signed in Paris at the end of 2015.

Senate Republicans uniformly praised Pruitt what they described as his robust record of enforcing environmental laws "when appropriate." Court records show scant evidence of Pruitt acting to protect the environment in years as a state regulator.

Shortly after Pruitt took office in Oklahoma in 2011, he disbanded the unit responsible for protecting the state's natural resources. He reassigned his staff to file more than a dozen lawsuits challenging EPA regulations.

Senate Democrats focused on Pruitt's record of siding with polluters in court as he collected campaign contributions from them.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., pressed Pruitt on money he raised from energy companies such as Exxon Mobil and Devon Energy, as well as the corporate "dark money" raised by groups with which he is involved that are not required to disclose their donors.

Earlier this month, Pruitt resigned from the board of the Rule of Law Defense Fund, a Washington-based group supporting the legal agendas of GOP attorney generals that Whitehouse described as "a complete black hole into which at least $1 million goes." In his response, Pruitt declined to provide details about whether the group's donors included fossil fuel companies or utilities with regulatory issues before EPA.

Though Pruitt ran unopposed for a second term in 2014, public campaign finance reports show he raised more than $700,000, much of it from people in the energy and utility industries.

Pruitt has also faced criticism from environmentalists for failing to take any action to help curb a dramatic spike in earthquake activity in Oklahoma that scientists have linked to the underground disposal of oil and gas wastewater.

Pruitt said his support for legal positions advocated by oil and gas companies was in the best interest of Oklahoma, which is economically dependent on the fossil fuel industry.

Associated Press writer Sean Murphy contributed to this report.
Authorities said a group of scammers based in China stole a $2 million online payment sent to a Torrington company for improvements to a Farmington, Connecticut, sewage treatment plant.

The town sent the payment to C.H. Nickerson & Co. Inc. in September. In October town officials realized the payment was never received by the company and notified the FBI and Webster Bank, the towns banking service.

"Webster was made aware of an alleged fraud perpetrated by someone purportedly posing as a supplierto the Town of Farmington. Webster Bank has worked with the Town of Farmington, other banksand the authorities to assist the Town in the recovery of its funds," a statement from Webster Bank says.

Farmington police Chief Paul Melanson said scammers targeted the company's municipal customers and fraudulently manipulated the Automated Clearing House system to send the funds to a different account.

Webster was made aware of an alleged fraud perpetrated by someone purportedly posing as a supplier

to the Town of Farmington. Webster Bank has worked with the Town of Farmington, other banks

and the authorities to assist the Town in the recovery of its funds.

Local and federal law enforcement officials are investigating. Police suspect other towns and cities were also victimized.

Town officials said more than $860,000 has been recovered, and they are working with their insurer to get most of the money back.

Officials stressed that standard procedure was followed in the case and they do not expect any disciplinary actions.

This incident demonstrates how important it is for all of us, in government, or in our own personal lives, to take extraordinary efforts to protect against cyber-crime. There are criminal enterprises at work constantly seeking ways to penetrate even the most secure systems, Town Manager Kathleen Eagen said in a statement.

Authorities say there are no indications that anyone in the town participated in the scheme.

The town has changed payment procedures to protect against future scams, including putting limits on ACH payments, verifying payment with the vendor using alternate communication, having two people in the towns finance office approve all vendor ACH forms, and verifying vendor banking information on a regular basis.
A former East Hartford, Connecticut man pleaded guilty to robbing a postal worker of more than $21,000 at a Hartford post office in September 2014.

Dion Edward Thompson, 39, formerly of East Hartford, pleaded guilty Tuesday, according to federal officials.

He was charged with one count of robbery of a postal employee and one count of theft of government property.

Federal prosecutors said Thompson and one other man robbed the victim at gunpoint at the Barry Square Post Office on Maple Avenue in Hartford on Sept. 9, 2014 as the postal worker was loading proceeds from the post office into a USPS vehicle.

The robbers got away with $21,817 in cash, checks and money orders, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Thompson, who is detained, will be sentenced in April.
Three Webster Bank branches in Connecticut will be closing, according to a news release from the company.

The branches at 105 Mill Plain Road in Danbury and 320 Middle Turnpike West in Manchester will close on April 10 and the branch at 1160 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, Connecticut will close on May 26.

In all, Webster Bank is closing eight banks in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

In 2016, the company opened 17 new banking centers in greater Boston and Webster Bank said its overall banking center teller transactions declined almost 40 percent from 2010 to 2016.

The company said it is closing branches where there are multiple Webster banking centers.

Forty seven percent of Websters checking account households are now served by mobile banking, and self-service deposits now represent 40 percent of all deposits.

We continue to evaluate our network to ensure that our banking centers efficiently balance our physical and digital banking channels in response to rapidly changing customer expectations, David Miree, executive vice president, consumer deposits and investments, said. At the same time, we concurrently invest in high-opportunity markets and modernize the overall banking experience. Banking centers are, and will continue to be, the cornerstone of our service culture, which is based on relationship development.

The company said employees at centers that are closing will be given an opportunity to be resigned within the company.
Kim Tran is a frequent shopper at BJs Wholesale Club.

In March 2016, she applied for the stores My BJs Perks Elite credit card, which offers 5 percent cash back on most purchases.

According to the program terms, Earnings on Eligible Purchases accumulate to your Program balance when you pay for them with your My BJs Perks credit card so long as your Account is in Good Standing.

Those rewards can be used at the register in $20 increments and expire after six months.

Tran said she paid her monthly credit card bill on time, but her earnings were never applied to her account.

She called customer service multiple times, but said no one was able to pinpoint the problem.

In September 2016, Trans case was forwarded to the IT department. At that point, some of her rewards were about to expire.

When January 2017 rolled around with no solid answers from BJs, Tran asked NBC Connecticut Responds to investigate.

Our consumer team reached out to the company and within a few days, Trans account was credited with all the rewards shed earned since March, totaling $640.

BJs did not provide any additional comment on Trans case.
Jewish community centers around the country were again targeted with bomb threats Wednesday morning, a week after a spate of similar threats against many centers.

Centers in at least 17 states were targeted Wednesday with bomb threats. Centers in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Delaware, Connecticut, Alabama, California, Maine, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas and Kansas all received threats.

We are aware of a number of bomb threats at JCCs. Js are working directly w/local authorities to make sure that people & premises are safe.  JCC Association (@JCCAssociation) January 18, 2017

Threats were made to at least seven JCCs in Florida, New Jersey, Delaware, Tennessee and North Carolina last week.

Marla Cohen, communications manager for the New-York based, JCC Association of North America said that 28 centers in 17 states have been threatened in total on Wednesday. Last week, there were 16 JCCs threatened in nine states. She said some of the threats came in as robo dialers and some were actual people. Last week, the FBI was called in, she said.

"We dont know whats going on. There are a lot of unknowns," Jeremy Russell, of the Jewish Community Relations Council in San Francisco told NBC Bay Area. "We are very concerned about the existence of these calls and the literal threat they are imposing on the community. We will be responding appropriately."

There were no injuries or actual explosives reported found following the earlier bomb threats.

"I think this is the world we now live in," said Molly Jo Rosen, who works at Kol Shofar synagogue in Tiburon, California. "There will be threats to religious organizations and we'll see it skewed toward certain religions more than others."

In response, the Anit-Defamation League issued a security advisory Thursday, urging all Jewish institutions nationwide to review bomb threat guidance provided by the FBI and to refer to the ADL's "18 best practices for Jewish institutional systems."

NBC Bay Area's Lisa Fernandez contributed to this report.
A tour bus belonging to Denton-based country group Eli Young Band was damaged in a fire on the Kansas Turnpike, destroying most of the band's electronic and sound equipment.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the driver was the only person with the bus when the fire started late Tuesday while it was parked at a service area east of downtown Topeka.

He had just filled up the bus and parked it for the night, and escaped.

Rick Deibert, battalion chief with the Shawnee Heights Fire District, said the bus and a trailer were a complete loss.

The fire apparently started in the engine compartment but the cause is under investigation.

The tour bus was en route to Mahnomen, Minnesota, where the band was scheduled to perform Friday night.
Three Democratic U.S. Representatives say they will boycott President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington on Friday.

Reps. Al Green and Joaquin Castro were the first to announce they were skipping the ceremony. Rep. Lloyd Doggett announced Tuesday afternoon he was also planning to skip the event.

They are joining around 50 House Democrats nationwide in skipping Trump's swearing-in. More Texas congressional Democrats may yet follow suit.

Green, who represents much of southwestern Houston, and Castro, of San Antonio, both hail from safely Democratic districts.

In a statement, Castro said Trump "has shown an utter lack of respect for so many Americans."

Castro cited Trump's "attack on civil rights hero John Lewis," a Democratic congressman from Georgia who Trump attacked over the weekend after Lewis questioned Trump's legitimacy as president.

Green also cited Trump's reaction to Lewis in saying he too was planning to skip the inauguration.

Doggett said he was skipping the inauguration to send a message to the president-elect that respect is a two-way street.
Police said a woman is dead after an officer-involved shooting outside a Dallas home Wednesday morning. [[411049695,C]]

Officers responded to a suspicious person call in the 4700 block of Eastside Avenue at 4:56 a.m., police said.

Police said the officers were told a vehicle in front of the home had been reported stolen. As the officers approached the vehicle, the driver reversed and crashed into the squad car.

The driver then went forward, striking a wooden lattice fence and reversed toward the officers a second time. Police said two officers fired at the driver.

Police said the driver was transported to Baylor University Medical Center Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The passenger in the vehicle was not wounded. Police said they transported him to headquarters and interviewed him. He faces potential felony criminal charges.

No officers were injured during this incident.

Police closed the street in front of the home while they investigated.

Check back and refresh this page for the latest update. As this story is developing, elements may change.
Next week's scheduled execution of a North Carolina parolee convicted of killing a suburban Dallas real estate agent more than 10 years ago has been postponed.

The lethal injection of 36-year-old Kosoul Chanthakoummane has been reset for July 19 by State District Judge Ben Smith.

Collin County prosecutors asked the scheduled Jan. 25 date be moved so courts had proper time to review new appeals in his case. The inmate's lawyers had asked the execution date be completely withdrawn.

Chanthakoummane had been paroled to Dallas to live with relatives after serving time for a Charlotte, North Carolina, abduction and robbery when he was arrested two months after the July 2006 slaying of real estate agent Sarah Walker. She was beaten and stabbed at a model home in McKinney.
Slugger Josh Hamilton is getting another shot with the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers said Tuesday they have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training for the oft-injured 2010 AL MVP.

The 35-year-old Hamilton had his best years in Texas as a five-time All-Star, including trips to the World Series in 2010-11.

Hamilton was released in August, closing the books on a $125 million, five-year deal signed with the Los Angeles Angels in free agency after the 2012 season.

The Angels traded Hamilton back to Texas after two injury-plagued years. The outfielder played just 50 games in two more seasons with the Rangers, missing all of last year with a left knee injury that required surgery.

The Rangers also signed right-hander Dillon Gee to a minor league deal. He pitched for Kansas City last season and had thoracic outlet surgery in October
It's not just "3, 2, 1, blastoff" at the Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science, though rocket science is among the school's offerings.

The Abilene Reporter-News reports aerospace engineering, a subspecialty within the engineering track at the specialized high school on East Highway 80, was launched this year. The school is part of the Abilene Independent School District.

Whether it's learning about the force needed to send a rocket into the sky or how an airplane keeps from crashing, students are tackling many real-world problems.

They'll also have the opportunity for deeper-level study. Texas State Technical College and NASA have made programs available to the aerospace engineering students -- or those who simply have an interest in space and science.

"We're taking 30 students to Waco for the Challenger Learning Center," said Tracy Long, an engineering teacher at ATEMS. "They'll actually do a space mission where half of them will be mission control and the other half will be in the shuttle. After it's done, they'll switch roles and do it again."

The Challenger Learning Center, hosted by the TSTC campus in Waco, is part of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, an international not-for-profit education organization founded by the families of the astronauts who died during the Challenger space shuttle mission.

The center also will host students from the Brownwood Independent School District in February, according to a news release from TSTC.

The Waco-based center is the third of its kind in Texas.

Aerospace engineering involves a great deal of preparation. For senior Josh Murphy, this involves learning in a cockpit. But instead of visiting an actual aircraft, Murphy gets to learn sitting at a computer desk.

Another program first at ATEMS is the school's participation in the Texas High School Aerospace Scholars program. Instructional specialist Jennifer Yates has spent the past two years as a technical reviewer with the Johnson Space Center-affiliated program, but she'd never had any students apply to participate.

This year, ATEMS had three juniors accepted: Jaimalee Cordova, Kia Smith and Moise Ngendahayo.

The students work independently on several projects across engineering, technology, math and science modules, Yates said. As a reward for their hard work, the highest-performing participants -- roughly 400 from around the state -- get a one-week, expenses-paid trip to work with interns and engineers to complete a space mission at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

For Smith, the idea of a trip to NASA was a large enough draw to cross over from her studies in ATEMS' information technology track.

She said learning new things is a passion of hers, especially in science.

One of her assignments took her to an online discussion forum, in which program participants were required to research a technology and describe what it is used for. Smith chose the Gecko Gripper. She said her ideas about its use, to safely secure heavier objects to the wall without creating a mess, were accepted by the community.

"They thought it was a very creative idea and that it was very useful," Smith said. "(This program) is a really good opportunity for me to learn about things I normally wouldn't take the time of day to think about. It gives me access to articles I never knew existed and the amount of information is enormous. And it'll also look good on a resume."

Cordova said she also enjoyed taking part in the online discussion about subjects such as technology.

The student, who noted that she's the only female in the school's aerospace engineering program, said she is interested in making it her career.

"I would definitely love working with NASA," Cordova said, "and doing what they do here."
Authorities said they arrested a woman who led officers on a chase in Dallas County early Wednesday morning.

Grand Prairie police said officers tried to stop the woman driving a pickup truck in the Irving area at about 2 a.m.

Officers followed until she finally decided to stop on Interstate 45 in Dallas at about 2:20 a.m. Police said they then took her into custody.

Dallas County Sheriff's deputies assisted in the pursuit.

No further details have been released.
Chelsea Manning Served Tough Prison Sentence': Obama Manning was among 273 people granted clemency Tuesday by Obama
An animal rights activist was sentenced to prison Tuesday for her role in a calculated, premeditated reign of terror against businesses and employees of the fur industry.

Nicole Kissane, 30, was sentenced to 21 month in prison and ordered to pay $423,477 in restitution in federal court after she pleaded guilty last December to Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

As part of her plea agreement, Kissane admitted that she and coconspirator Joseph Buddenberg, 32, caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages during 40,000 miles of cross-country trips over the summer and into the fall of 2013.

The indictment described one instance in July of 2013 where Kissane and Buddenberg traveled from Oregon to San Diego in their 2012 Honda Fit and used paint, stripper, a super glue-type substance, butyric acid, muriatic acid and glass etchant to vandalize San Diego furrier Furs by Graf. The two also vandalized the personal properties of current and former owners of the business in La Mesa and Spring Valley.

Other instances of terror include releasing mink from farms across the midwest, slashing tires of meat distribution trucks in San Francisco, smashing windows and gluing door locks at furrier businesses in Minnesota, and attempting to flood the Wisconsin home of an employee of North American Fur Auctions.

Vandalizing homes and businesses with acid, glue and chemicals in the dark of night is a form of domestic terrorism, said Acting U.S. Attorney Alana W. Robinson. Whatever your feelings about the fur industry, these sentences are a pretty strong signal that this isnt the right way to effect change.

The indictment also detailed Kissane and Buddenbergs attempt to publicize their crusade by posting communiques describing their acts to websites associated with animal rights extremism.

Kissanes conduct was described as a calculated, premeditated reign of terror over those in the fur industry, by U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns during Tuesday's sentencing hearing.

She and Buddenberg were both arrested by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in their hometown of Oakland in July of 2013.

Buddenberg, who pleaded guilty to the same charge last February, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $398,272 in restitution.
The uncle of Noor Salman, who is charged with aiding her husband before he massacred 49 people at an Orlando nightclub, defended her on Tuesday outside a federal court in Oakland.a

"She didn't care about him," Al Salman of Rodeo, California said his niece felt of her late husband, Omar Mateen, who was killed in a police firefight on June 12 after the attack at the Pulse nightclub. "I guarantee it. The evidence will show it. She is an innocent person....That guy, he get what he deserves."

Speaking to a bank of reporters, Al Salman said he believes in her "100 percent." He added he thought his niece was a victim under Mateen's abusive hand, although he didn't provide specifics. "All these years living that kind of life," he said, his voice trailing off. "He asked for her hand once, I met him at the wedding, and twice, all these years." He said he had assumed Mateen was nice because he came from a good family.

Al Salman also told reporters that he felt awful for the family members who lost relatives in Orlando. But he said that his niece, whom he raised, was not to blame. "We believe in her," he said. "When she said she's innocent, 'I have no idea what that crazy guy is doing,' we know that."

He described Noor Salman as a "soft, sweet girl" who "never thinks about herself," he said. She only thinks about her 4-year-old son, who is now being cared for by his grandmother. "What am I going to do for my son? What school am I going to pick for my son?" Al Salman said of his niece.

Last month, Noor Salman petitioned a judge to have her sons name changed because his middle and last name are Omar Mateen, the Contra Costa County Times reported.

For now, Al Salman said the family told the young boy that his mother was off buying him toys.

NBC Bay Area

Instead, Noor Salman was being held without bail in Santa Rita Jail before she is likely extradited to the U.S. Central District Court in Florida where the case is being prosecuted. Without saying anything, Noor Salman did not enter a plea Tuesday. Her arraignment was delayed until Wednesday, when her Florida attorneys were expected to arrive. A provisional federal public defender told U.S. District Court Judge Donna Ryu the defense team was hoping for her release. Noor Salman appeared disheveled in court; her hair unbrushed. She scanned the room looking for supporters.

NBC Bay Area obtained exclusive video of the moments before her arrest at her family's Rodeo, California home at 7:30 a.m. Monday. Her uncle said she was sleeping at the time and had no idea the agents were coming for her.

Linda Moreno, a Tampa, Florida attorney sent a statement to NBC News on Monday, hours after the 30-year-old mother's arrest: "Noor has told her story of abuse at his hands. We believe it is misguided and wrong to prosecute her and that it dishonors the memories of the victims to punish an innocent person."

Charging documents made public Tuesday morning show that Salman was indicted on Jan. 12, four days before her arrest.

In court, away from the cameras, federal prosecutor Roger Handberg said Salman knew her husband "was going to conduct an attack."

Federal prosecutors in Florida allege Salman was helping her husband, the late Omar Mateen, since at least April. That's two months before the June 12 attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, where he killed 49 people and wounded 53.

The first count alleges she "knowingly" aided and abetted her husband by providing him "material support or resources" to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Before he was killed in a shootout, Mateen told a police hostage negotiator that he was a soldier of ISIS and that the United States had to stop its bombing in Syria and Iraq, according to police transcripts.

Salman was also charged with obstructing justice, specifically against the Fort Pierce police and the FBI. The remaining details of the case have been sealed.

Al Salman, the uncle of Noor Salman, who is charged with aiding her husband before he massacred 49 people at an Orlando nightclub, defended her on Tuesday outside a federal court in Oakland.

In the days after the attack, law enforcement sources told NBC News that Noor Salman told investigators she was with him when he bought ammunition but tried to dissuade him from violence. When asked how Noor Salman couldn't have known about the attack, especially since she knew about the ammunition, Al Salman got defensive. He didn't answer the question, and told reporters to "look at the file," meaning the police report on her.

In June, a source close to the family told NBC News that Mateen sent his wife a text message during the rampage, asking her, "Do you see what's happening?" After swapping texts, she allegedly tried to call him.

But on Tuesday her uncle explained his niece's side of it: On the day of the shooting, Noor Salman's mother-in-law called her to say, "Where is Omar?"

Noor Salman replied, "He's not here, let me call him," her uncle recalled.

When she reached him, Mateen asked his wife if she had seen the news.

Noor Salman replied: No.

Mateen replied, "I love you baby," the uncle recalled. "And then he hung up."

NBC News' Andrew Blankstein and NBC Bay Area's Shawn Murphy and Pete Suratos contributed to this report.

[[410962835, c]]


Students and parents are raising concerns after pro-Nazi fliers appeared on printers around UC Berkeley campus that also championed the day that Donald Trump is sworn in as president.

A Jewish mother, who asked to be called Mary for fear of retribution and who lives in the San Fernando Valley, said her daughter is a freshman at UC Berkeley. She obtained one of the fliers through a friend, who works on campus, and who said that they appeared on many, if not all, printers on Tuesday.

She said shes upset because the school did not notify the students about the fliers and dismissed her claims. She provided one of the fliers to NBC Los Angeles, showing swastikas and which say Samiz.datIts almost here, we take power on the 20th. Samizdat was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc, where people produced underground publications to evade censorship.

Jan. 20 is President-Elect Donald Trump's inauguration date.

"I wish the students at least would've had some sort of notice, because without finding out through someone who works there, we wouldn't have known, Mary said on Tuesday.

In an email on Tuesday, UC Berkeley spokesman Roqua Montez said there is no credible threat at this time, and a UC Berkeley police sergeant said detectives are following up on the issue. How many fliers were found and on how many printers has not been revealed. He added that the university does not consider this a case of hacking and there is "no actual crime being committed," as the sender is "exploiting open source printers and fax machines that are being legally access via the Internet." He said the university's IT department is trying to inform employees how to best update the machinery to be better secured.

Nazi fliers were sent to university printers, including ones at UC Berkeley, in March although there is no direct link of evidence between what happened in spring and what was found on Tuesday. However, they appear to look alike.

These fliers look to be very similar, Montez said in an email.

In the spring, the fliers were filled with hate against Jewish people and gays. A man the New York Times identified as Weev was thought to be behind the fliers that were found on seven different printers at UC Berkeley, some of which spewed fliers emblazoned with swastikas, calling on white men to join the "struggle for white supremacy." Similar messages were found at 11 other universities across the country.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has a dossier on Weev, who the center describes as a "notorious neo-Nazi hacker" who blasts printers across the country with swastika-adorned fliers. According to Forbes, anyone who sends unsolicited advertisements on a fax machine could be in violation of the Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005.

Weev told the Times in a previous interview that "white cultures and only white cultures are subject to an invasion of foreigners."

A records search under Weevs real name shows he had not been arrested in the Northern California as of Wednesday morning, according to the federal court system. But the New York Times noted that that he had been convicted of identity fraud to access a computer without authorization in 2010, but his conviction was overturned on appeal in 2014.
Riffing on President-elect Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" theme, his campaign team in Los Angeles has morphed into a new organization called Make California Great Again.

"After the election, everybody asked, 'What can we do now?'" recalled Mike Simpfenderfer, who serves as the new organization's secretary. "How do we help our man be successful?"

He envisions the new non-profit serving as an information corps that will advocate for the incoming President's policies.

"We will EDUCATE and ACTIVATE, TRAIN and DEPLOY...to Make California Great Again -- for All," reads in part the organization's mission statement.

Make California Great Again is operating out of donated office space in the same Long Beach building that served as Los Angeles County headquarters for the Trump campaign.

The new outreach is being modeled after the Citizens for America program launched in the 1980's in support of Reagan Administration initiatives, said Simpfenderfer, who worked for the earlier organization.

It's not a uniquely Republican concept. After President Obama was first elected in 2008, his campaign supporters formed a group called Organizing for America.

Some 500 turned out for MCAGA's kickoff event on January 7, said president Rachel Gunther. "It was rocking. It was Trump rocking!"

In the months before the election, the Long Beach office focused not on California voters, but on calling voters in other states, in all placing more than a million and a half calls, Gunther said.

The regional realities of Election Day -- when California voters favored Hillary Clinton over Trump by nearly two to one, and in Los Angeles County, by three to one -- are not lost on Make California Great Again as it seeks to build support for Trump policies on immigration and other lightning rod issues here.

"It is the toughest place to be an advocate for what Donald Trump stands for," Simpfenderfer acknowledged.

His request?

"Have an open mind. And I know that's hard to do, because he says a lot of things that get people upset."

Funding is a work in progress, but in its first week, in social media, the organization got some 8,000 favorable responses, Gunther said.

After the election, Trump aide Kellyanne Conway -- who will serve as counselor to the President-elect -- spoke of forming a grassroots political group to support the President's policies. However, at this point, Make California Great Again is operating on its own, without specific guidance from the incoming administration, said Gunther.

"We're hopeful to be sanctioned and given direction by the administration," said Gunther, who will be attending the inauguration, along with Simpfender and others from the organization.

"We're going to celebrate and have fun, and when we come back, we'll be even more energized to get the job done."
Embracing his clemency powers like never before, President Barack Obama is planning more commutations in his final days in office after a dramatic move to cut short convicted leaker Chelsea Manning's sentence.

Obama became the president to have granted more commutations than any other when he announced Tuesday that Manning will be freed in May, almost 30 years ahead of schedule. Manning, the transgender Army intelligence officer who leaked more than 700,000 U.S. documents, was one of 273 people receiving clemency on a single day.

Receiving pardons from the president were retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during another leak probe, and San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, sentenced in 1996 on tax evasion charges. Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera's 55-year sentence was commuted.

But Obama is not finished. The White House said Obama would grant more commutations Thursday  the day before his presidency ends  though officials said those would focus on drug offenders and would not likely include any other famous names.

Neil Eggleston, Obama's White House counsel, said the individuals were learning "that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward."

The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama last November to commute her sentence to time served.

Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a men's prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests. The former cheered Obama's move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.

Obama did not grant a pardon to another prominent leaker, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, whom the U.S. has been unable to extradite from Russia. Snowden hasn't formally applied for clemency, though his supporters have called for it. Yet the White House drew a distinction between the unapologetic Snowden and Manning, whom officials noted has expressed remorse and served several years already for her crime.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced. She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.

"We are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman," said Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Manning, adding that Obama's action could "quite literally save Chelsea's life."

House Speaker Paul Ryan called the move "just outrageous," and added, "Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets."

Manning, Lopez and many of the others will be released in May, in line with standard procedure allowing a period for re-entry. Obama also pardoned hotelier Ian Schrager, who was sentenced in 1980 to 20 months for tax evasion.

Commutations reduce sentences being served, but don't erase convictions. Pardons generally restore civil rights, such as voting, often after a sentence has been served.

Cartwright, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger, and said he also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the U.S. government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.

Puerto Ricans had long demanded the release of Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory. Lopez had belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings in U.S. cities during the 1970s and 1980s.

The White House noted that absent a commutation, the 74-year-old Lopez likely would have died in prison.

Obama's commutation for Manning also raised fresh questions about the future of another figure involved in the Army leaker's case: Julian Assange.

WikiLeaks had earlier pledged, via tweet, that its founder would agree to U.S. extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning. Holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Assange has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he's wanted on a rape allegation, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

But the Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange. WikiLeaks lawyer Melinda Taylor said U.S. and British authorities refuse to say whether the U.S. has requested extradition. Though she praised the commutation for Manning, Taylor made no mention of Assange's earlier promise to agree to extradition.

White House officials said neither Assange's fate nor separate concerns about WikiLeaks' role in Russian hacking of the election factored into the decision to commute Manning's sentence. The officials briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.
Offering reassurances, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for health secretary said Wednesday the new administration won't "pull the rug out" from those covered by "Obamacare." Democrats were unimpressed, noting a lack of specifics.

Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., also told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that Trump is "absolutely not" planning to launch an overhaul of Medicare as he tries to revamp coverage under President Barack Obama's signature health care law. He acknowledged that high prescription drug costs are a problem, but did not endorse the idea of government directly negotiating prices.

Throughout the nearly four-hour hearing, Democrats peppered Price with questions about his stock trades. The sometimes confusing exchanges involved different transactions under distinct circumstances. Price, who has signed a government ethics agreement to sell his stock, was clearly annoyed by the suggestion that he profited from his official position. "I'm offended by that insinuation," he told Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., lauded Price's performance, but ranking Democrat Patty Murray of Washington said she remains deeply concerned. No Democrats offered support for the 62-year-old nominee, an orthopedic surgeon-turned-legislator.

Price said he wants to reopen a bipartisan dialogue on health care centered on practical solutions.

"One of my goals in this entire debate is to lower the temperature," said Price, speaking in even, measured tones. "People need to know that no rug is going to be pulled out from under them."

Alexander said he took that to mean that the Trump administration will follow his advice and not attempt to repeal the 2010 health care law without a replacement ready to go. The Affordable Care Act is providing coverage to about 20 million people, and government as well as private experts say repealing without a concrete substitute would throw millions off their coverage and spike premiums.

But Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Hillary Clinton's running mate, said, "I don't think 'lowering the temperature' is consistent with rushing" to repeal and replace. Trump has promised to unveil a plan when Price is confirmed.

With coverage for millions at stake, Price faced pointed questions about Trump's evolving stance on health care. Trump campaigned on repealing Obama's law, but at times he's sounded more like a liberal. For example, he made recent comments about providing insurance for everyone and taking on the drug companies.

In an interview aired Wednesday on Fox News Channel, Trump said his approach would offer coverage through private insurers for people who cannot afford it.

"Nobody is going to be dying on the streets with a President Trump," he said. He said his plan would "probably" turn Medicaid over to the states in the form of block grants to cover low-income people. Democrats reminded Price that approach could lock in big cuts.

Price represents Atlanta's northern suburbs and until recently led the House Budget Committee. A budget hawk and a social conservative, he drafted his own plan to replace Obama's health law. It would have saved taxpayers money but covered fewer people, according to an outside analysis.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., pressed Price on whether Trump intends to keep promises repeatedly made during the presidential campaign not to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

"I have no reason to believe he's changed his position," Price said. He expressed support for some provisions of the Obama health law, including allowing young adults to remain on parental coverage, protecting people with pre-existing medical conditions, and closing the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap.

Questioned by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Price acknowledged there are "certain areas where drug price increases seem to have little basis in rational actions."

But pressed on whether he would support Trump's call for Medicare to negotiate with drug companies, Price tried to sidestep. If confirmed, Trump would be his boss, Price said, but he also suggested the idea of negotiations needs further study. He was supportive of requiring drugmakers to provide more public information about how they set prices.

Democrats also challenged Price on his extensive stock portfolio. His investments have prompted questions about potential conflicts of interest and calls for a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation of possible insider trading.

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., suggested Price got a special deal in the purchase of stock in an Australian drug company, Innate Immunotherapeutics. But Price insisted other investors also had the same option.

"I think our job is to avoid the appearance of conflict," Franken chastised. "And you have not done that."

Republicans bristled at such questions.

"To question whether you are honest is insulting," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Price.

HELP is one of two Senate committees that will hold hearings on Price. The Finance Committee, which actually votes on reporting the nomination to the Senate floor, will conduct a hearing next week.
The Miami Beach Jewish Community Center was evacuated after a bomb threat was called in Wednesday morning, police said.

Miami Beach Police said the JCC at 4221 Pine Tree Drive received the threat by phone shortly before 10 a.m.

Officers responded and the building was evacuated. The incident caused Pine Tree Drive to be closed from 41st Street to 43rd Street as a result.

No threat was found and police cleared the scene shortly before 11 a.m., then reopened all roads.

The latest threat comes just over a week after threats were called in at the same JCC as well as the Alper JCC in Kendall.
Charges have been dropped against the teenager accused of murdering a rabbi during an attempted robbery in North Miami Beach in 2014.

Deandre Edwin Charles, 16, had been charged with murder in the August 2014 shooting death of Rabbi Joseph Raksin.

But the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office dropped all charges against Charles Tuesday after the trial team determined it can't prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, court records showed.

Both Charles and his mother have insisted that he was home at the time of the murder.

At his home Tuesday, Charles said he's happy about the decision and ready to move on with his life.

Miami-Dade Police said Raksin, 60, was walking in the 800 block of Northeast 175th Street and headed to his North Miami Beach temple when he was approached by two young men. Raksin was shot during that encounter, and was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he later died.

The main evidence against Charles was DNA but prosecutors said new reporting methods from the lab cast doubt on whether his DNA was actually on the murder weapon as they originally determined.
Nearly two years after a videotaped incident showing a homeless man being slapped by a Fort Lauderdale police officer, that man is taking both the city and that officer to court.

Bruce LaClair filed a lawsuit in federal court this week, alleging that Officer Victor Ramirez falsely arrested him and violated his civil rights. Ramirez was acquitted of battery charges and filing a false police report by a Broward County jury 10 months ago.

Ramirez was suspended 20 days by the department as a result of violating policy in the case.

The February 2015 incident sent shock waves across the country. It showed the interaction at a downtown bus terminal, where Ramirez tried to remove LaClair after finding the man sleeping there.

After LaClair pulled away, Ramirez could be seen pushing the man to the ground and slapping him when he tried to pull away a second time. Video of the incident was taken by a bystander who later posted it online.
A man is facing charges after police say he brutally attacked a woman in her car in Sunny Isles Beach.

Demetrice Alfonzo Fonville, 27, was arrested Monday on charges of armed sexual battery, armed burglary, kidnapping with a weapon and aggravated battery.

Fonville, who is homeless and an Army veteran, appeared in court Tuesday where he was ordered held without bond.

"He has some significant mental health issues as a result of his service in the United States Army," public defender Elliot Snyder said.

According to an arrest report, the alleged attack happened Jan. 13. The victim said she left work and grabbed dinner on the way then drove to her apartment complex on Kings Point Drive.

Detectives say Fonville got into the victim's car, sat in the passenger seat and pepper sprayed her, then allegedly began beating her with his fists.

She tried getting away from him and finally did by opening one of the car door's, falling to the ground. As she fell Fonville continued attacking her and began to sexually assault her but a passerby heard the screams, the report said.

As he came over to help, Fonville ran off, according to the report.

The victim suffered several head injuries, including two black eyes, a broken nose, severely lacerated lip and missing teeth. She had to undergo surgery as well.

"This is a brutal, violent act committed on an innocent person who was sitting in their car in Sunny Isles Beach," Judge Mindy Glazer said in court.

Detectives say another woman was attacked in almost the same way at nearby Haulover Park in the 1500 block of Collins Avenue just 20 minutes earlier.
A Miami Beach man is behind bars after making an online threat to kill President-elect Donald Trump, authorities said.

Dominic Puopolo, 51, was arrested Tuesday and charged with making the threat on his Twitter account, according to an arrest report.

In a video posted Monday, Puopolo said he would be at the inauguration of Trump on Friday in Washington D.C. and would kill him, the report said.

In the video, Puopolo asks, "What are you going to do about it, Secret Service?"

Miami Beach Police arrested Puopolo after seeing him leaving a fast food restaurant on Washington Avenue Tuesday afternoon, arresting him several blocks away.

Puopolo later confessed to detectives that he did make the threats. He was being held on on $1 million bond Wednesday, jail records showed. No attorney information was available.

Police said Puopolo has made threats in the past against the mayor of Miami Beach and law enforcement.

NBC 6 interviewed the suspect in the past about his mother who was killed in the Sept. 11th terror attacks. His mother was on board one of the hijacked planes flowns into the World Trade Center. Hillary Clinton delivered the eulogy at his mother's funeral.

Miami Beach Police said Puopolo is mentally ill and had been Baker Acted before.
For the sixth time during his time in charge, Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Gimenez delivered his annual state of the county address on Wednesday  with several topics on the agenda.

Mayor Gimenez spoke about the epidemic of opiate abuse in the county and increased staffing in the countys Police and Fire Departments - speaking to the 132 additional officers hired by the county in the last fiscal year. Gimenez said the county will also hire 50 additional firefighters.

Gimenez also was very happy to mention the economic growth in the county, saying 168,000 jobs have been created since he took office in 2011.

One of the biggest topics the mayor touched on is youth violence in the community. Miami-Dade officials say countywide crime rates have come down, but offenders are increasingly becoming younger, especially when it comes to the use of weapons and gun crimes.

A recent example of this came when eight people were shot during Martin Luther King Day at a park in Miami. Five of those shot were teens.

"Later this year, Miami-Dade Police will be rolling out the newly acquired shots spotter technology to narrow in on exactly where gunshots are heard in real time," Gimenez announced.

In 2015 there were 40 shootings involving children - up from 30 the year before and 16 the year before that.
For the third straight time, some of the top members of the Miami-Dade Police Department will be heading to the nations capital to help provide security for the Presidential Inauguration.

Around 40 members of the departments Rapid Deployment Force are leaving South Florida Wednesday morning to get to Washington D.C. in an effort to help with final preps and security checks before Fridays inauguration of Donald Trump.

MDPD officers worked both ceremonies for President Barack Obama.

These officers are part of a very specialized unit who have been training all year long, said MDPD Lt. Maria Robainas. Theyre trained in tactical life saving techniquestheyre prepared to handle any possible civil unrest.

Officers were provided with cold weather gear before boarding buses leaving the department headquarters in Doral for Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport, where they will depart for Washington D.C.
Miami-Dade Police are searching for a man they say allegedly carjacked a woman and her two-month-old baby Wednesday morning.

According to police, the 26-year-old mother and her infant were in their car at a school function at Arcadia Park along Northwest 195th Street and 52nd Avenue when a man came up to her window, held up a gun and forced his way into the car.

He yelled at the woman to drive and after a few frightening blocks they were dropped off near Northwest 171st Street and 38th Avenue, police said.

Police found the car abandoned near Northwest 178th Street and 33rd Court. Officers say the driver attempted to sexually assault the mother at some point following the abduction.

"He then started making demands for sexual favors. Once she refused he then pointed the gun at the two-month-old baby that was still in the car seat while he continued to make those demands and then at that point is when he began to touch her inappropriately," Miami-Dade Police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said.

The child was reportedly unharmed in the incident. Police detained and questioned someone matching the suspect's description. That person was released.

The suspect is considered armed and dangerous and remains at large.
Scott Davis is a busy man, overseeing a major construction project in downtown Miami.

Hes also a father, who wanted to send $700 to his son living in California. On November 12th, Scott went online and initiated a transfer into a joint bank account he has with his son.

Five days later, he took a screen shot showing the funds were available.

"The money was there," Davis said. "Our son said, 'Thank you. Awesome, Dad! Cant wait to get my new TV.'"

What Davis says he didnt know was that the account had been closed for inactivity on November 16th. He found this out after a check his son wrote bounced.

"All of a sudden there was no money," Davis said. "The next morning, he went by a branch and tried to reconcile it and they were basically saying, 'We dont know what happened to the money but theres no record of it ever being there.'"

Davis took the screen shots documenting the transfer and went to a Wells Fargo branch in Miami, but still received no clear answers.

"Their exact words were, 'Its out there somewhere in cyberspace and if you want it, youre going to have to go back to your bank that you took the money from and ask them to recall it,'" he said.

Davis decided to turn to NBC 6 Responds instead. Our team got right to work and later that same day, Davis received the news he had been waiting for.

"Wells Fargo called me and said, Hey, we found your money. Where would you like to have it deposited?'" Davis said he was told. "I was absolutely ecstatic that NBC 6 was able to do for us, to get Wells Fargo to see what apparently I couldnt achieve by sitting at the bank or talking to them online."

A spokesperson for Wells Fargo said she could not give details about Davis account, citing client confidentiality. But, she provided the following statement:

"For the protection of our customers, Wells Fargo may choose to close any account when there are extensive periods of inactivity coupled with a zero account balance. This is a measure put in place to mitigate the potential for fraudulent use of inactive accounts and prevent the charging of monthly fees on accounts customers are no longer using. To prevent accounts from being automatically closed when the balance is zero, customers are encouraged to keep a positive balance or regularly complete transactions on each of their accounts."

Davis, meanwhile, says the bank also issued a refund for a $10 insufficient funds fee his son had to pay when the check bounced. He says hes glad he took the time to screen shot every step of the online banking transaction. He believes it helped prove his case.
A Broward County charity dedicated to rescuing and adopting out abandoned dogs is fighting state charity regulators who claim the group misspent charitable contributions.

The group, 100+ Abandoned Dogs of Everglades Florida, is seeking a formal hearing to contest the investigative findings of the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It's the state agency that oversees charitable organizations.

The state last month found 10 violations, ranging from the group using a mail drop instead of a physical address in state records, up to the alleged use of $98,758 in charity money for what the state said appears to be  for personal use.

But the groups attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, is disputing all of the allegations.

The items flagged as personal use  expenses at such places as Bed Bath & Beyond, TJ Maxx, Best Buy and payoffs to a personal credit card account  were all for charity business, the attorney told the NBC 6 Investigators in a statement.

The monies in question were not used for personal expenses, but rather to pay for dog beds, blankets, leashes, collars, towels, sheets, car washes, cleaning products and dog toys, Neiman wrote.

The state also questioned what it said was $30,000 in loans provided to the groups president, Amy Roman, to help her purchase a vehicle. Roman did put $30,000 down on a 2011 BMW X5 luxury SUV in July 2013, according to records subpoenaed by the state. The charity also paid nearly $6,900 in payments for an auto loan on the vehicle, which was titled in Romans name and not the charitys, according to the state allegations.

In a response to the state, the groups attorney said the loans for the car from the charity totaled $20,000  money repaid by Roman by April 2014  and that the other $10,000 referenced by the state was the amount of a bonus Roman received from the group in 2013, though it was not ratified by the board until February 2014.

The organization felt that purchasing a vehicle to use in rescuing animals and conducting adoption and promotional events was essential to the work of the organization, Neiman wrote to the state, challenging the investigative findings and requesting a formal hearing to resolve the dispute.

The state also questioned money it said was spent on a Key West vacation for Roman, but the groups attorney denies it was indeed a vacation.

The Key West trip was a failed rescue, Neiman said in a statement to NBC 6. The dog in question ended up being a street dog who was unable to be rescued. While down there, some scouting for fundraising and networking was also done. Incidentals that were personal in nature were paid for independent of the charity.

The states proposed settlement  that the group pay a $10,000 fine and relinquish its charitable registration  would be a death sentence for a charity that has done so much good and that has taken extraordinary efforts to comply with all applicable laws, Neiman wrote to the state.

While it seeks further review, the charity is allowed to continue soliciting donations  as it was Saturday at a fundraiser and dog adoption event in Coconut Creek.

Three, board member Tiffany Nesbit told NBC 6 that the state finding are a complaint. They are accusations. Thats all it is. We are in the middle of an investigation we are cooperating with.
Car horns rang out across Puerto Rico on Tuesday after President Barack Obama announced he had commuted the prison sentence of 74-year-old nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera.

Many Puerto Ricans have long demanded his release, and some wept with emotion upon hearing the news while others began preparing for all-night parties announced on social media.

His lawyer, Jan Susler, told The Associated Press that she broke the news of the release to Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory.

"He's very, very grateful," she said in a phone interview. "One of the things he said was: 'Tomorrow's my daughter's birthday. What an amazing present for her.'"

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Lopez belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation, which claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings during the 1970s and '80s in New York, Chicago, Washington and other U.S. cities. He was convicted on one count of seditious conspiracy, and he was later convicted of conspiring to escape from prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. He is currently being held at Terre Haute, Indiana.

The group's most notorious bombing occurred at New York's landmark Fraunces Tavern in 1975 that killed four people and injured more than 60. Lopez was not convicted of any role in that attack, but some still hold him responsible because of his ties to the ultranationalist group.

"I'm willing to forgive, but he never once said he was sorry, showed no remorse at all," said Mary Connor Tully, whose husband, Frank Connor, was killed in the bombing. "He's an old man, and he'll get to live his life free, and hopefully he can live with the sins he committed, and that he'll answer one day to a higher power than us for what he did."

Lopez, whose release also was opposed by several groups including a national police organization, is now scheduled to be freed May 17.

"He wants to live in Puerto Rico, and people there really want him to come home," Susler said.

Lopez was offered clemency by President Bill Clinton in 1999, but he rejected the offer because it excluded two comrades who have since been released. Then in 2011, the U.S. Parole Commission denied his request for an early release.

Among those who publicly supported Lopez's release was Pope Francis, former President Jimmy Carter and several legislators, including U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, award-winning creator of Broadway hit "Hamilton," also publicly voiced his support. Miranda, who is of Puerto Rican descent, even offered to reprise the lead role in the Chicago performance of his musical for Lopez.

Sobbing with gratitude here in London.

OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA IS COMING HOME.

THANK YOU, @POTUS.

 https://t.co/IEdaEvsVcG  Lee Scares-by (@Lin_Manuel) January 17, 2017

Alejandro Molina, coordinator of the National Boricua Human Rights Network, joined about 100 other people in a spontaneous celebration Tuesday at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Chicago, which was founded by Lopez.

"It's wonderful news," he said.

Upon his return to Puerto Rico, Lopez plans to spend time with his daughter and granddaughter and wants to establish a think tank that will work on such problems as climate change, the economy and the island's political status.

"He wants to be actively involved in solving the problems of Puerto Rican society," said Molina, who accompanied Lopez's daughter on a Christmas prison visit.

Susler said the U.S. pardon attorney told her that sometimes inmates first transition to a halfway house after being released. But eventually, Lopez will return to Puerto Rico, she said.

"He's a man who lives with a lot of hope," she said. "That's how I think you survive 35 years in prison. He's never had false hope or illusory hope. He thought he was in prison for a higher cause for his people, and that's something that's very life-giving."
What to Know Gov. Cuomo met with President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday at Trump Tower to discuss infrastructure and other New York issues

Cuomo wants to upgrade and rebuild bridges, train stations and airports across New York; Trump has promised to invest in U.S. infrastructure

Trump was at a black-tie dinner in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night, an event attended by over 150 diplomats, donors and political bigwigs

Gov. Cuomo and Republican President-elect Donald Trump discussed issues including tax policy and GOP plans to repeal the federal health care law during a meeting at Trump Tower on Wednesday, Cuomo said.

Cuomo said he wanted to make Trump aware of the impact some Republican policies would have on the state both men call home.

"There's a proposal that's being discussed that would end the deductibility of state and local taxes, for example, which would be devastating for the state of New York, California, etc.," Cuomo told reporters at Trump's Manhattan high-rise.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, also a Republican, has proposed eliminating the rule that allows individuals to deduct state and local taxes from their federal tax bill. The change would disproportionately affect California and New York because of their high taxes.

Cuomo said he also stressed to Trump that repealing the Affordable Care Act, President Obama's signature legislation, would leave 3 million New Yorkers uninsured.

"It would have a dramatic impact on the state and not just for those 3 million," Cuomo said. "We now live in a community where if you sneeze I get sick."

Cuomo said the meeting was not adversarial.

"He is a New Yorker," Cuomo said. "And my sense was he understood exactly what I was saying and the magnitude of what I was saying. Three million uninsured people would be a problem."
Police are looking for a group of four young men they say attacked a USPS mail carrier as he delivered letters at a Bronx building earlier this month, bashing him in the face and head and demanding money.

Authorities say the 26-year-old mail carrier suffered a broken nose in the Tilden Street attack Jan. 6. The suspects ran off after beating him.

Surveillance video shows the suspects walking down a hallway.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
What to Know The New York senate has voted to repeal a bill placing a 5 cent charge on plastic and paper bags

Opponents of the bill say the charge amounts to a regressive tax; those in support of the bill say bags are an environmental hazard

The repeal still needs the approval of the state Assembly and Gov. Cuomo

The New York state senate on Tuesday voted to repeal New York Citys plan to place a 5-cent fee on plastic bags, dealing a blow to the city.

Lawmakers voted 42-18 to stop the bag fee from going into effect on Feb. 15 as scheduled.

Opponents of the 5-cent-a-bag fee say its a regressive form of taxation because of its potential impact on low-income families and small businesses.

Supporters of the bag fee hope to discourage the use of disposable plastic and paper bags in an effort to help the environment. The city's sanitation department estimates 10 billion bags a year are tossed in the trash  roughly 19,000 per minute.

The repeal still needs the approval of the Democrat-led Assembly and the signature of Gov. Cuomo to block the fee.

The New York City Council passed the bag fee bill last year. It would require most merchants to charge customers at least a nickel for each bag, including those made of paper. Technically, the fee isn't a tax, as stores will get to keep the money they collect.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has a goal of sending zero waste to landfills by 2030, said he would sign the bill.

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg first proposed a charge for bags in 2008, but the idea failed to attract support from the City Council. The current bill was introduced in 2014 and has been amended to slash the per-bag fee from 10 cents to 5 cents.
What to Know Joey Comunale, 26, was stabbed to death at a luxury apartment building in Manhattan, likely the night of Nov. 12 or early Nov. 13

Authorities recovered Comunale's remains Nov. 16; a criminal complaint says he was stabbed more than a dozen times and burned

An attorney for one of the men arrested in his death says charges against his client should be dropped

The lawyer for one of three men arrested in the grisly killing of Hofstra University graduate Joseph Comunale late last year is pointing fingers at the two other suspects, saying that the charges against his client should be dropped.

In court papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday, attorney Mark Bederow says Lawrence Dilione and James Rackover, the adopted son of celebrity jeweler Jeffery Rackover, are solely responsible for Comunale's death, which Bederow claims was the fatal conclusion of a fight over cigarettes.

Prosecutors say Comunale, of Stamford, Connecticut, was stabbed more than a dozen times in a luxury Manhattan apartment building after partying with the suspects. His body was found buried in a shallow grave in New Jersey on Nov. 16.

Bederows 29-year-old client, Max Gemma, of Oceanport, was arrested in connection with the case. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence. Bederow says the case against Gemma should be tossed.

Gemma, the son of former Oceanport mayor Gordon Gemma, turned himself in to police in December. Prosecutors said they believe Gemma was in the apartment where 26-year-old Comunale died and that he changed his clothing and hid evidence.

We dont think there is any basis to charge him with any crimes simply because they alleged at some point he changed his clothes, Bederow told NBC 4 New York.

In the motion, Bederow says prosecutors have no evidence Gemma took part in Comunales murder, claiming instead that Dilione admitted to assaulting Mr. Comunale to the point of unconsciousness after an argument over cigarettes.

The motion states that Rackover, who lived at the 59th Street luxury apartment where authorities say Comunale was killed, was afraid of being arrested and said, We have to kill him.

Bederow contends that Rackover choked Mr. Comunale before stabbing him in the head with a knife.

Rackover, of Manhattan, and Dilione, of Jersey City, both pleaded not guilty late last year to concealment of a human body, hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.

All three men are charged with evidence tampering but not murder because investigators are still working to determine who actually killed Comunale, sources said.

Gemma and Dilione are both out on bail. Rackover remains behind bars.
He wasn't paid to be there, but a hobby photographer from New Jersey may have accidentally captured the perfect New York marriage proposal photograph.

James Tran took a trip into Brooklyn on Saturday to take pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge Park on a snowy day.

Instead of capturing the cold, he stumbled upon a romantic marriage proposal.

"As I was walking around, I noticed a bunch of people gathered," he said.

"As I got a bit closer to investigate, I saw an aisle assembled from candles and rose petals, with people standing on each side with roses. Immediately, I knew there was about to be a proposal."

He said he stuck around for the next few minutes as the woman was led by a friend down the makeshift aisle, being handed a rose by each person.

Tran said he snapped a photo as the woman reached the love heart made from flowers on the icy ground. The beautiful image shows the happy couple inside the heart, with the Brooklyn Bridge wreathed in mist behind.

"She said yes, and cheers ensued," Tran recalled.

"But afterwards they seemed busy receiving hugs and kisses, so I didn't get their contact information."

Keen to send the couple his accidental engagement photographs, he went to the web.

Tran posted one of the photos he captured to community discussion website Reddit, asking for help finding the lovebirds.

By Wednesday morning, a man on the site had come forward to say he was the person in the photograph.

Tran was verifying whether the person was the subject of his photo, and planned to send the couple a range of photographs to remember the special day by.
A man was injured outside Trump International Hotel in Washington Tuesday night after he said he tried to set himself on fire to protest the election of Donald Trump.

Police said they were called to the Pennsylvania Avenue hotel for a report of a person "in distress."

The man told News4's Shomari Stone he was trying to set himself ablaze as an act of protest over the election of Donald Trump.

"I was trying to light myself on fire as an act of protest," the man said. " Protesting the fact that we've elected someone who is completely incapable of respecting the Constitution of the United States."

The man did not identify himself, and police did not give his name.

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He was taken to a hospital with burns. No information on his condition was available.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the award-winning creator of Broadway hit Hamilton, tweeted Tuesday that hed play the lead role in a Chicago show for Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Riverawho is set to be released from prison after a presidential commutation.

President Barack Obama announced the commutation of the 74-year-old's sentence the same day. Lopez Rivera belonged to the ultranationalist Armed Forces of National Liberation. The group has claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings at public and commercial buildings during the 1970s and '80s in U.S. cities including New York, Chicago and Washington.

Y @MMViverito, when you talk to Don Oscar, dile I've got a show for him in Chicago. It'll be my honor to play Hamilton the night he goes.

  Lee Scares-by (@Lin_Manuel) January 17, 2017

Sobbing with gratitude here in London, Miranda tweeted. Oscar Lopez Rivera is coming home. Thank you, [President Barack Obama].

The string of tweets was sent to New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. Mark-Viverito tweeted back that she had told Lopez Rivera about the invite.

"What a treat!" she tweeted. "But he deserves it!"

Lopez Rivera, who grew up in Chicago, was convicted of seditious conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government in 1981, the Chicago Tribune reports. He is set to be released May 17.

Lopez Rivera attorney Jan Susler told The Associated Press she broke the news to him Tuesday and he was extremely grateful he'll be released May 17.

"I wish I was with every Puerto Rican in Chicago right now," Miranda tweeted.

Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.), a Puerto Rican born in Chicago, noted in a statement Tuesday that Rivera Lopez was never charged with or convicted of harming anyone. He said he has been fighting for Rivera Lopezs release since he was elected to Congress in 1992.

Releasing Oscar Lopez Rivera back to his homeland and his people is a step towards peace and reconciliation and is being celebrated by Puerto Ricans of all political stripes, classes, colors and geographies, the statement reads. He is a national hero no less significant than Roberto Clemente or any leader we have ever had. It will be a blessed day when I can walk and talk with my friend in the fresh air, far from prison walls, and I am so looking forward to that day.

Gutierrez also called Lopez Rivera a friend and mentor in the statement.

Upon his return to Puerto Rico, the AP reports, Lopez Rivera plans to spend time with his daughter and granddaughter and wants to establish a think tank that will work on such problems as climate change, the economy and the island's political status.
Philadelphia will reportedly be the only major city in the United States without representation in Washington during President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration later this week.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports all three of the city's U.S. representatives on Monday pledged their intention to boycott Trump's upcoming inauguration this Friday.

Rep. Bob Brady, Rep. Dwight Evans and Rep. Brendan Boyle have joined the growing list of Democrats who won't be there to witness the peaceful transfer of power from President Obama to Trump. [[411067375, C]] [[411066915, C]]

Brady says the Republican's derogatory comments toward famed civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis, of Georgia -- the "classiest person I know" -- made his decision to skip the inauguration easier. [[410950555, C]]

As Americans, Mayor Jim Kenney says the congressmen are free to express their First Amendment rights. [[410976805, C]]
A state appeals court has ruled that a suburban Pennsylvania man accused of driving under the influence was improperly penalized during sentencing for refusing to submit to a blood test.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Superior Court ruling came in the Chester County case of Hemant Kohli, who twice refused to have his blood drawn for testing after he was arrested in Caln Township in 2013.

Senior Judge John Musmanno, writing for the unanimous three-judge panel, cited a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that warrantless blood tests are an unconstitutional invasion of privacy.

The non-precedential decision can't be cited by parties in future cases.
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The underground world of sex trafficking is one of the countrys fastest growing crimes. Now police in the Philadelphia area are joining forces with other local agencies to take on the fight. NBC10s Denise Nakano gives us an exclusive look at the front lines of this battle.

There's support to help survivors escape sex and labor trafficking and provide them resources to go on from there.

RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING

Joseph Kaczmarek

Joseph Kaczmarek

A new taskforce has been created in Philadelphia to prevent human trafficking. NBC10 reporter Denise Nakano speaks with experts about how to raise awareness.
The United States Mint recently released a coin that should excite local numismatists  also known as coin collectors  with its nod to Philadelphia.

Employees at the Philadelphia Mint, located in Old City, suggested the 2017 release of the Lincoln-emblazoned cent should include the letter "P" beneath the year, according to CoinWeek.com.

Only to be released this year, the pennies mark the first time the one-cent coin has had the city's "P" mint mark, the outlet said.

The first known individual to publicly inquire about the 2017-P Lincoln cent is Terry Granstaff, a collector who found a 2017-P Lincoln cent during a transaction at a Black Mountain, North Carolina, gas station. Granstaff posted images of the coin the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) online discussion board, causing a numismatic stir on the PCGS message forum before the authenticity of the coin was finally verified.

To read the full article, click here.

For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal.
A Chinese factory has been doing brisk business selling giant inflatable roosters, some as tall as 16 feet, based on a design widely perceived in China to resemble President-elect Donald Trump.

Yifang Inflatables, a factory in the city of Jiaxing, near Shanghai, began selling the inflatables after images of a large sculpture of a similar design outside a shopping center in the northern city of Taiyuan went viral on social media last month.

The original statue was designed by U.S.-based artist Casey Latiolais, whose website displays the rooster next to a similar design that borrows elements of a Trump election slogan. Chinese state media have described the rooster as "sporting the President-elect's signature hairdo and hand gestures."

Wei Qing, owner of the factory in Jiaxing, said they have sold around 100 of the roosters, in sizes from 2 to 5 meters (7 to 16 feet) tall, to shopping centers in mainland China and Taiwan. Wei said some customers think the rooster resembles Trump but that the manufacturers had no say over that.

The social media sensation comes as China prepares to celebrate the lunar Year of the Rooster starting Jan. 28, the country's most important traditional holiday.

"It does seem like it's got a personality, more so than chickens in previous years" in the Chinese zodiac, Wei said. "But because this is China's Year of the Rooster, it has gone viral on the internet."

"I think this chicken is really special, so I decided to manufacture it," Wei added.
INAUGURATION: WET, BUT NOT COLD

It wont be the warmest inauguration day in history, but it will be one of the warmest. Compare the predicted 49 degrees to the SEVEN degrees for President Reagans 2nd inauguration, with reported wind chills down to 20 degrees below zero! Curiously enough, President Reagans first inauguration was the warmest in history, at 55 degrees.

There have been quite a few inauguration days when it rained or snowed-in some cases, a lot. President Kennedy took the oath with 8 inches of fresh snow on the ground, which had fallen overnight and into the morning. William H. Taft suffered through a 10 inch snowstorm and strong winds. Grover Cleveland in 1893 took the oath under a frigid wind and snow.

And as for rain, one time it was even so bad it might have led to the death of the new President. In 1841, William Henry Harrison did more than make the mistake of taking the oath in the pouring rain WITHOUT A COAT OR HAT. He also spoke for nearly two hours, ending up with pneumonia and then died about a month later.

SO HOW DOES FRIDAY LOOK?

Wet. Heres the predicted map for 1 p.m. Friday from the Canadian model:

The European model is a little slower, with rain holding off until after 2pm. A compromise forecast brings the rain in shortly before noon and becoming steady in the afternoon. But it also looks to be on the light side. Not much wind is expected, so it wont be too uncomfortable. But if youre headed there, take the rain gear. If you dont need it in the morning, its pretty clear youll need it before the end of the day.

MAJOR CHANGES FOR FEBRUARY?

Its clear that much of the second half of January is going to feature very mild weather compared to normal over much of the country, and even much of Canada. Here is the current map of temperatures around 5000 feet. Central and Southern Canada are nearly off the charts with above normal temps. And the entire eastern half of the U.S. is WAAAAY above normal. On the other hand, incredible cold is over Alaska.

That is clearly an extreme pattern, but its going to change. Look at the same type of map about ten days from now. The tremendous warmth continues in Southern and Central Canada. But a big piece of the Alaska bitter cold has dropped down into the western half of the U.S. and is still spreading eastward:

Only a few days later, the cold is now covering nearly the ENTIRE U.S.!

So, by the start of February, the colder pattern will have settled in. Will any storms track that lead to snow? More on that later in the week.




I cannot pretend to be aware of every band playing in San Diego at all times, but the diversity of shows we get to see on any given night is always pretty impressive. For example, tonight at the Casbah, you can catch New York instrumental trio Consider the Source, who play "Sci-Fi Middle Eastern Fusion," which, if you do a quick YouTube search, sounds pretty damn awesome and like you have a really fun night in store. Meanwhile, things were looking iffy on tonight's Tower of Power show after two members were hit by a train last week in Oakland, but it appears the tour carries on tonight at Belly Up. Lastly, describing a band as "SoCal punk" can really carry a lot of different meaning to a lot of people, but Wanted Noise at Soda Bar is doing it right and take me back to my younger days of hanging out with friends, watching skate videos, then rummaging record stores to find all the bands that were played in those videos. Seems to me you can't go wrong with any of your choices tonight.

Wednesday, Jan. 18:

Consider the Source, Thank You Scientist @ Casbah

Tower of Power: An Evening With @ Belly Up

Wanted Noise, Deep Yogurt, Bearwulf @ Soda Bar

Temple Party @ Bar Pink

Gilbert Castellanos Young Lions Series & Jazz Jam @ Panama 66

Too Sad to Be Mad! EMO Night with Live Band: Short Stories @ The Office

Open Oscillator 2nd Anniversary @ Whistle Stop

Dance Klassique at Blonde ft. DJ Craig Mac (Chi-SD) @ Blonde

Amanda Cogan & the Night Shift Band, Devan Moncrief, Gabriela & La Buena Onda @ The Holding Company 1502

Shen Yun 2017 @ California Center for the Arts, Escondido

Club Kingston Presents: Bodhi Rock with DJ Carlos Culture @ Winston's

ASCE Presents: You at the Loft @ The Loft, UCSD

Fake Tides, Beach Goons, On Drugs, Cheeks, Horse Movies, Spooky Cigarette @ Che Cafe

Grant Austin Taylor @ Lestat's

Karaoke @ The Bancroft

Karaoke/Open Mic @ The Merrow (8 p.m.)

Happy Hour DJ Mike White @ Crossroads, House of Blues (FREE)

Tropical Wednesday with DJ Mo Lyon @ U-31

Open Mic with Jefferson Jay @ Winston's (6-9 p.m.)

Blue Largo @ Humphreys Backstage Live

WTF Wednesday @ El Dorado

Band Night @ Kava Lounge

Open Mic/Open Jam @ 710 Beach Club

Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah and writes about the San Diego music scene, events and general musings about life in San Diego on San Diego: Dialed In. Follow her updates on Twitter or contact her directly.
A suspect in connection to the death of a 23-year old San Diego woman is still on the loose.

Antonia Herrera's body was found last Thursday, dumped on the side of a road in unincorporated Escondido, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO).

Friends and family are now scouring social media for any clues and trying to figure out who was the last person to see Antonia alive.

Family members told NBC 7, the victim had been scared for her life. So much that she had taken out a life insurance policy on herself just a couple of months ago.

A memorial filled with balloons, flowers and candles was set up in her honor on Champagne Boulevard where her body was found.

"Someone has to know something," said Antonias sister, Tinamarie Herrera.

Eliza King, Antonia's roommate at San Pasqual Academy told NBC 7 that the news hit her hard.

It's definitely impacted me. We were really close, and I really cared about her," King said, holding back tears.

King told NBC 7 that she saw Antonia just the week before her body was found, during classes for an internship program.

"She was working on getting her life together," she said.

King said Antonia told her she was staying with a male friend for the week.

"She mentioned that she went to stay with a guy so that she could have a way to get to the training," King said.

She added that Antonia told her she felt uncomfortable staying with the male friend, but it was only for a short time and then she would be back at her apartment in San Marcos.

Now, friends and family are left with many unanswered questions about her tragic death.

She was valued. We valued her, people love her and it's just not fair," King said.

As of Tuesday night, homicide detectives said there are no suspects or persons of interest in this case.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.
Authorities have arrested a man in connection with the shooting death of a mother on the Pala Indian Reservation, San Diego County Sheriff's deputies said.

Carolyn Cagey, 43, was found dead on the 2900 block of W. Pala Mission Road on the reservation early Monday after deputies responded to a call for an assault with a deadly weapon, deputies said.

The Native American woman suffered signs of trauma to her upper body; deputies later said she had been shot multiple times. Her death was ruled a homicide.

The victim had another son who died four years ago, and the family had also buried a relative recently.

On Tuesday morning, Sheriff's homicide investigators and the San Diego County regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Milton Trujillo in connection with Cagey's death. He was arrested on the 44200 block of Margarita Road in the City of Temecula.

He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility and charged with a single count of murder.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321 or after hours at (858) 565-5200. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

No other information was immediately available.
A Vista woman and her mother called NBC 7 Responds after they said they paid half of a sliding door projects cost upfront and then didnt hear from the contractor for months.

It will not budge, its real heavy and rusted, Denise Foster said while showing us the sliding door in her home.

Denises mother, Rose Marie Bates, asked her daughter to find a company that would replace the sliding door for the best price possible. Denise said, while she was at the San Diego County Fair, she discovered The Window and Door Factory at a booth and asked for an estimate.

It was great, they were real nice, she said. They said they did all the windows in-house.

The company came out to Denises mothers home and measured the area. Once provided with a cost estimate, Denise said they were asked to pay half of the cost of the project upfront. According to Denise, a project that was supposed to take six weeks dragged on for more than two months. She said, she decided to call the companys owner Dan Jaoudi.

Please give me until tomorrow to go over this and Ill get back to you, Denise said she was told. Of course, the next day nothing. Nothing on Monday and thats when I contacted you, Denise said.

At this point, Denise and her mother said they no longer wanted The Window and Door Factory to replace the sliding glass door.

Id rather get my money back at this point, Rose Marie said.

NBC 7 Responds spoke with Dan Jaoudi and he apologized for the delay, saying he had only taken over the company ten months earlier. Jaoudi told NBC 7 Responds the company was having supplier issues and couldnt keep up with the demand.

Jaoudi promised to refund the money and four days later, Denise and her mother received a check in the mail.

In an email, Jaoudi sent NBC 7 Responds this statement, We regret and sincerely apologize for the negative experience Denise Foster had. The Window and Door Factory is a small business, we are focusing on improving our communication and customer experience. Ive only been in operational control of the company for the past 10 months...We have worked to be fair with customers including offering discounts and refunds when requested. Again, I apologize for any inconvenience Denise Foster may have experienced. The Window & Door Factory has tremendous potential, it has long history in San Diego. My goal is to continue to improve our processes and be responsive to customer issues.

According to the Contractors State Licensing Board, consumers are only required to pay 10% of the whole project cost or $1,000, whichever is less, to get a project started. The CSLB states consumers should never be required to put down half of the entire cost of the project before the work is completed.
Southwest Airlines is adding a new nonstop international destination for travelers coming from San Diego International Airport, a spokesperson confirmed to NBC 7 San Diego.

The newly added flight will depart from Lindbergh Field and fly direct to Los Cabos, Mexico. The service begins in April.

According to the spokesperson, more information regarding the new service will be released Wednesday.

Last week, Southwest Airlines announced it will add new nonstop service from San Diego to domestic destinatons beginning June 4: Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah year-round from San Diego International Airport. The airline will also add seasonal nonstop flights from San Diego to Newark, Spokane and Indianapolis.
President-elect Donald Trumps pick to lead the Department of Education is re-igniting an old debate about choice of schools.

Betsy DeVos has been a champion of vouchers and charter schools in her home state of Michigan.

She spent the past two decades working to dismantle the public education system, especially in Michigan where she has pushed voucher programs. said Lindsay Burningham, President of the San Diego Teachers Association.

Critics, like Burningham, claim vouchers would drain money from public schools, as charter schools already do. They also said charters are not held to the same standards as public schools that must educate all students.

Even in San Diego, there are concerns over discriminatory admissions and expulsion practices, Burningham said.

I think it's a fabulously positive movement and idea that should be implemented throughout America, said Sam Hardage, former chairman of the San Diego County Republican Party. The unions don't like it because they lose their mandatory union representation.

Hardage said school choice creates competition and gives students stuck in failing schools a way out. He added that it does not drain money from public schools.

If you have a really good public school, you're going to have a full school, but you give the choice to the parent, to the kid," he said. "Whats wrong with competition?

But Burningham said parents in the San Diego Unified School District already have a choice.

Parents can come in and have access to bilingual programs and many magnate schools, she said.

Burningham told NBC 7, she is worried that with DeVos at the helm, federal money could be redirected toward vouchers and away from schools such as Hoover High. It's one of many schools in San Diego that receives Title I money, to provide programs for needy students.

We're going to do everything in our power not to let her harm our students, she said.

In response, Hardage said: Betsy DeVos has been a real leader in advocating for kids throughout the United States to have the opportunity to go to good schools even though they dont have the financial resources."
Using a mix of math, science and precision, a spirited University of San Diego (USD) graduate is gearing up to open her own local distillery in an industry historically dominated by men.

Laura Johnson graduated from USD in 2014. For the past few years, she has been working on conceptualizing and launching You & Yours Distilling Co., an urban distillery and tasting room located at 1495 G St. in downtown San Diegos East Village.

After many hurdles, the business is set to open its doors on Thursday. It will be among the countrys few female-led distilleries -- the first in Southern California -- and Johnson is completely comfortable with that. In fact, she welcomes the challenge.

[G] Female-Led Distillery Opens in East Village

Historically, the distilling industry has been a Boys Club, she told NBC 7 on Tuesday. Im excited to teach people about distilling and bring people into this world."

At the end of the day, Im a distiller with a passion, who just happens to be a female. There are several of us around the country already distilling. We are the minority but already, Im seeing a lot of women pop up in the industry.

Growing up in North Texas, Johnson said she developed an appreciation for spirits early on  more specifically, the science of what makes a good drink. In college, she took a road trip and made a pit stop at a distillery. From that point on, she felt she had found her calling.

I was fascinated by the care, art and process of distilling  enthralled by how spirits are made, she recalled. It is difficult  nitty-gritty  the math, science and precision of it all."

After college, Johnson took a few master distilling classes and tried to get a job at several distilleries across California. No one was hiring, so she set her sights higher and began to formulate plans to open her very own distillery.

Her vision came at a good time, just as the craft cocktail trend swept the restaurant and bar industry, including San Diegos dining scene.

I think craft spirits are the final frontier in the craft cocktails trend, she explained, adding that craft spirits have craft brewers to thank for paving the way, especially in San Diego.

When You & Yours Distilling Co. opens, the cozy 2,300-square-foot space will feature a production area in the back, where she will do the distilling, and a bar and tasting room area in the front, where patrons can order cocktails and taster flights of her concoctions.

Bryan Miller Photography

To start, Johnson said her distillery will serve one type of craft vodka and one type of craft gin  and a variety of cocktails featuring the spirits.

She described the vodka as 100 percent grape-based  distilled from fermented grapes  featuring fruity, floral and vanilla notes with a smooth finish. The gin, called "Sunday Gin," which Johnson hopes will become You & Yours flagship spirit, is also 100 percent grape-based and citrus-forward and fresh, while also keeping in line with the traditional qualities of gin.

Its my baby  my passion project, she explained. I want [You & Yours] to be known for gins.

Johnson said it took her just under a year to develop the recipe for each spirit. A batch of each  which makes about 4,000 bottles  takes about 10 days to make.

Her process includes starting with what those in the industry refer to as a distillers beer  fermented fruit wine or beer  and putting that into a still for stripping runs, which removes the organic material and heightens the alcohol content. The number of stripping runs depends on the type of spirit shes distilling. After that, she adds water.

Its a very detail-oriented job, Johnson added. I love it.

When the distillery opens, patrons will have a chance to quench their curiosity about the spirits-making process with tours of the back room. Johnson said she plans to offer tours on the weekends that, of course, end with a tasting.

"Come on in, grab a cocktail, well bring you back through to the distillery floor, kind of give you a mini distilling 101  tell you about the story, the products, the process," she told NBC 7. "Well come back to the tasting room and I will lead you through a guided tasting of our current offerings."

Patrons will also be able to buy bottles of spirits on site that they can take home and mix up however they so choose. For now, the distillery will be open Thursday through Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Johnson hopes the warm, living room-inspired space quickly becomes a place for people to gather, laugh, learn and share a toast.

A place and experience  a moment  where people can come together and enjoy and elevated, inviting experience, get to know one another.

Her team has poured their hearts and souls into the products, and she said they will do the same on the hospitality side.

To learn more about You & Yours Distilling Co., click here. Johnson also runs the Distillerista, a blog about craft spirits, cocktails and entertaining.
A day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, hundreds of thousands of people will converge on the National Mall for the Women's March on Washington.

Here's everything you need to know if you're attending -- or want to avoid the area:

When and Where Is the Women's March?

The event Saturday, Jan. 21 began with a rally from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. near the Capitol, at Independence Avenue and 3rd Street SW.

Participants then will march toward the White House.

What's the Purpose of the March?

March organizers said in a mission statement posted to their website that participants will unite to end violence and promote rights for women, LGBT people, workers, people of color, people with disabilities and immigrants.

"The Women's March on Washington will send a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us," the site says.

A pop-up shop called The Outrage, on 18th Street in Adams Morgan, is outfitting people in town for the Womens March on Washington with feminist apparel. Its your source for everything from Nasty Women Unite sweatshirts to The Future is Female t-shirts. And the line Thursday afternoon stretched around the block. News4s Aimee Cho reports.

While's Trump name does not appear in the group's mission statement, opposition to the president-elect appears to be what unites participants.

Go here to read why several women said they would march.

Here's a recap of what's happened since President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey.

Who Is Organizing the March?

After Trump won the presidency, a retired attorney in Hawaii posted to Facebook about marching in Washington, The Washington Post reported. By the time Teresa Shook went to sleep, 40 women said they wanted to march. By the time she woke up, that number had ballooned to 10,000, the Post reported.

The idea for the march took off, and Shook and the initial organizers handed the reins to a group of experienced activists: Bob Bland, a fashion industry entrepreneur; Tamika Mallory, an organizer and gun-control advocate; Carmen Perez, executive director of the Gathering for Justice, a criminal-justice-reform group; and Linda Sarsour, executive director of the Arab American Association of New York.

How Many People Are Expected to Attend?

The deputy mayor of D.C. said 500,000 people were expected in the National Mall area for the march.

Christopher Geldart, the director of D.C.'s homeland security agency, said he expects that even more people will attend, based on bus registrations and train bookings.

As of Jan. 13, D.C. had received about 1,800 requests for permits to park tour buses on Jan. 21, Councilmember Charles Allen told News4. Just about 200 permits had been requested for Inauguration Day itself.

As of 1 p.m. Jan. 17, more than 203,000 Facebook users indicated on the Facebook page for the march that they would attend.

How Can I Get There?

The Metrorail system opened early and ran additional trains on Saturday. The system opened at 5 a.m., instead of the usual 7 a.m. Riders can expect trains every 4 to 6 minutes on every line.

Anyone taking Metrorail to the march is advised to use the L'Enfant Plaza or Capitol South stations, to avoid crowding.

See Metro's website for full details on how to use the system. Anyone who needs a Metro card is advised to buy it in advance to avoid long lines.

Metrobus will run on its regular Saturday schedule. Buses will detour around road closures on Independence Avenue between 2nd and 14th streets NW.

The D.C. Streetcar system will run from 5 a.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday.

The D.C. Circulator won't be running its National Mall route. All other routes will operate on their normal weekend schedules. (Note: The Union Station-Navy Yard and Potomac Avenue-Skyland routes don't run on the weekends during winter.)

Capital Bikeshare, which had closed its stations within the security perimeter for Trump's inauguration, will reopen those stations on a rolling basis Saturday. Check Capital Bikeshare's website or the SpotCycle app beforehand to see which stations are available, D.C. officials said.

Capital Bikeshare will have a bike corral at 4th and E streets SW Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. A bike valet will be available at 10th Street and Independence Avenue SW. Find more information online here.

People from many states are planning to get to the march by bus. March organizers have a bus finder webpage to help people find buses to take them to Washington.

Anyone who plans to drive to the march is advised to expect heavy traffic and extremely limited parking.

Will Any Roads Be Closed?

Several roads near the National Mall will be closed from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, including 3rd Street NW from Constitution Avenue NW to C Street SW, and Independence Avenue SW from 1st Street to 6th Street SW.

Go here to see the full list of street closures.

As D.C.s homeland security office prepares for the safety of the Inauguration Day crowd, protesters are practicing tactics they hope will be disruptive. News4s Tom Sherwood reports.

Is the March Free? Do I Need to Register?

The march is free. Organizers are asking people who expect to attend to fill out a brief online registration form to help the hosts plan the event.

Will the March Be Safe?

D.C. police and the National Park Service have been in communication with march organizers about the planning of the event.

Organizers say they have hired a private security firm and will have "numerous professional security workers" at the event.

What's the Weather Forecast?

Saturday is expected to be mild and partly sunny, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

NBC Washington

Where Can I Stay?

Some hotel rooms and Airbnb rooms in the region are still available, just don't expect a bargain.

Some groups, such as MarchBNB, are organizing to help march attendees find lodging. The list of those resources can be found on the march's FAQ page.

A gym in the Cleveland Park neighborhood is opening its doors to host a sleepover.

Can I Participate If I Use a Wheelchair or Have Mobility Issues?

March organizers say there will be a limited seated section and that more information will be available soon.

The ADA-accessible route will be 4th Street SW from C Street to Independence Avenue.

"It is our mission to make sure that this march is as accessible as possible," Sarsour said in a Facebook video.

What Am I Allowed to Bring?

All bags will be subject to search, and size restrictions will be in place. Folding chairs will not be allowed, nor will anything that could be construed as a weapon, including signs with sharp wooden handles. See the march website for full details.

It started as one womans angry Facebook post in the hours after the 2016 presidential election. Now, her idea has mushroomed into the Womens March on Washington, which is expected to draw 200,000 demonstrators to the national mall on Saturday, the day after the inauguration. News 4s Julie Carey reports.

Are Men Allowed?

March organizers say the march "is for any person, regardless of gender or gender identity, who believes womens rights are human rights."

Which Celebrities and Public Figures Will Be There?

A long list of stars are expected to attend the march, including America Ferrera, Katy Perry, Cher, Scarlett Johansson, Zendaya and Julianne Moore.

The organizers of the event announced its performance lineup Wednesday. The list of performers includes Janelle Monae, Maxwell, The Indigo Girls and Angelique Kidjo.
President Barack Obama on Tuesday commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified material. Her sentence is now set to expire May 17.

Manning  then known as Bradley  was locked up in 2010 after swiping more than 700,000 military files and diplomatic cables and giving them to Wikileaks.

Manning was born male but revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. She is being held at the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, military prison and attempted suicide twice last year.

Last week, Wikileaks pledged that if Obama granted Manning clemency, the group's founder Julian Assange would agree to be extradited to the United States.

If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case https://t.co/MZU30SlfGK  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 12, 2017

Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 2012, and if extradited to the U.S., would likely be prosecuted for his involvement in the publication of a trove of secret diplomatic cables. Wikileaks tweeted Tuesday that Assange is "confident of winning any fair trial in the U.S. Obama's DoJ prevented public interest defense & fair jury."

The White House says Manning is one of 209 inmates whose sentence Obama is shortening in one of his final acts before leaving office on Jan. 20. Another 64 people also received pardons, including retired Gen. James Cartwright, who was charged with making false statements during a probe into disclosure of classified information.

News of Manning's commutation was criticized by many on Capitol Hill. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and House Speaker Paul Ryan called Obama's action "outrageous."

"Chelsea Mannings treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nations most sensitive secrets," Ryan said in statement. "President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security wont be held accountable for their crimes.

Sen. John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also condemned the commutation of Manning's sentence.

"I think it's so inappropriate to pardon someone who put the lives of other men and women in uniform in danger," McCain said. "I'm stunned."

A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, tells NBC News that Secretary of Defense Ash Carter did not support the commutation of Manning in his recommendation to the president.

All told, Obama has granted 1,385 commutations  which includes 504 life sentences  and 212 pardons. It is fewer pardons than some presidents, but more commutations than the past 12 presidents combined, the White House said.

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Presidents have two clemency options: commutations, which reduce sentences being served but don't erase convictions, and pardons, which generally restore civil rights  like voting  often after a sentence has been served.

In the past, presidents have made a splash with clemency on their way out. Former President Bill Clinton ignited a major controversy with a last-minute pardon for fugitive financier Marc Rich, the ex-husband of a major Democratic fundraiser. But Obama has viewed clemency as a tool to promote policy goals, not to "clean out the barn" on his way out, a White House official told The Associated Press.

Earlier in his presidency, Obama was unsatisfied with the cases he was receiving, officials said, and so in a 2014 initiative the Justice Department created specific criteria focusing on nonviolent individuals like drug offenders who have served 10 years and, if convicted under today's more lenient sentencing guidelines, would have received shorter sentences.

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Obama's goal in taking on the commutations project was to spur action in Congress on a criminal justice overhaul. That seemed initially promising, but the momentum petered out.

Most of the people receiving commutations Tuesday were serving sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.
Four people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a local rapper in Prince George's County.

Michael Stevenson III, 22, of Southeast Washington; Quran Middleton-Bey, 22, of Cheltenham; Kierra Williams, 23, of Alexandria; and Damond Foster, 23, of Alexandria admitted their involvement in the murder of Khalil Wiggins, Prince George's County police said Tuesday.

Police say three masked suspects broke into Wiggins' Capitol Heights home on Dec. 29 and shot him multiple times.

Wiggins, who performed as Big Lyl, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

All four suspects have been charged with first- and second-degree murder and are being held on a no-bond status.

Wiggins' rap group, Section 8 Mob, signed to a major label record deal in the late 1990s and appeared in the 2003 movie "Guilty by Association," starring Morgan Freeman.

"This was in the '90s, so I was away at school in Michigan and I remember one day sitting in my dorm watching BET and their video came on," friend Gerald McNeal said.

Wiggins also worked with children, teaching them music, production and writing.

"His spirit was so uplifting that he would make you feel like you could conquer the world," his brother said. "So this is a terrible situation. This is senseless, and my family is really feeling the brunt of it."
A Virginia woman preordered a drone from a crowdfunded startup with the promise it would be delivered in a few months, but it never came.

Lily, an autonomous, waterproof camera that can follow you intrigued Annie Rosello of Alexandria.

I thought it would be a great birthday present, she said.

She preordered one for $500 in June 2015 a month after the company launched its crowdfunding campaign to the public, asking drone enthusiasts to preorder the product still under development.

I knew from their materials that it was going to take a little while, maybe six months, they were doing some testing, but I never expected it was going to take 18 months, Rosello said.

According to the companys social media, it raised $34 million for 60,000 units by the end of 2016, but delivery kept getting pushed back.

Now we want your shipping address, now its coming in December, now its coming in January, Rosello said. I mean its just like little carrots all along the way.

Customers voiced frustration on the companys Facebook page.

With no contact information available for Rosello to reach out to the company, she reached out to NBC4 Responds.

NBC4 Responds reached out to Lily Robotics by email, Twitter, Facebook and the CEOs LinkedIn account without receiving a response, but 12 hours later, Rosello received an email from Lily to its customers expressing sadness in ever-diminishing funds and failed attempts to secure finance. The email promised refunds, and a follow up email confirmed Rosellos refund was on its way.

The Federal Trade Commission warns before investing money into a crowdfunding site, check to see if the creator has successfully launched other products, and check the creator's background and reviews to see whether it delivered what it promised.
Police in Frederick, Maryland, are searching for a woman who has been missing for two months.

Dorothy Leigh Simms, 64, was last seen in November 2016. Police say Simms lived in the 700 block of Heather Ridge Drive, but they did not say whether that was the location where she was last seen.

Her family told police she was wearing a black hoodie, black yoga pants and black boots when they last saw her.

No additional information about Simms' was released.

Anyone with information that can help police is asked to call 301-600-8477.
D.C. police pursued a vehicle after shots were fired at an off-duty officer Wednesday morning.

The off-duty officer in a private car saw a Mercedes being driven erratically in the Eckington neighborhood of northeast D.C., before 10 a.m. He called it in and started to follow the Mercedes.

The Mercedes stopped, and someone got out and fired about a half dozen shots before the car sped away.

A police helicopter tracked the Mercedes to the Bloomingdale neighborhood in Northwest, where on W Street the passenger got out of the Mercedes in an alley, police said. An officer fired his weapon as police approached the vehicle. No one was hit, but police took a man into custody.

Police said they recovered a gun from the path of the car.

The helicopter then tracked the Mercedes to LeDroit Park in Northwest, where on Fifth Street the driver tried to elude police but crashed into a parked car. The driver tried to run away but didn't get far. A witness told News4 the driver tried to get inside a pest control truck but was apprehended.

Edward Darnell Bolling Jr. of Sacramento, California, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession with intent to distribute, fleeing and eluding, and leaving after colliding, police said.

No injuries were reported.
Visitors to the Reston Town Center, in Reston, Virginia, are complaining that parking fees are too high, but they could face the Barnacle if they run up too many unpaid parking violations.

The Barnacle, also known as the Bumble Bee, is an immobilization device that attached to the windshield of a vehicle with suction cups, preventing the driver from leaving the scene. If a car gets a Barnacle on it, the driver will have to call security and pay a fine for the device to be removed.

Rob Weinhold, with the Fallston Group, said, "It is a means of last resort for the most egregious habitual violators" and has not been used at the location yet.

On Jan. 3, the Reston Town Center began charging for parking 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Garage parking is $2 for the first hour, increasing incrementally as time progresses, up to 24 hours. Street parking is $3 per hour for the 2 hour maximum.

Garage parking on weekends (from 12:00 a.m. Saturday through 12:00 a.m. Monday) is free, as are major holidays and premier events at the town center. Street parking is free on Sundays.

Some visitors to the complex said the pricing is too high. Stores and restaurants said paid parking is hurting their business.

I'm actually going to a bible study, and I don't particularly want to pay $4 to go to an hour bible study, said Karen Dorbayan, a Reston Town Center visitor.

Stores and restaurants said paid parking is hurting their business. Some offer to subsidize parking for visitors.

The traffic has been way down, said Aaron Mervis, a partner with Big Bowl restaurant. People are upset, and they are boycotting the center as a whole.

Many workers at the complex have to pay for their own parking.

That could be really high for someone who gets a basic wage, said Charan Puladas, a visitor at the Reston Town Center.

Some businesses subsidizes parking.

"Because I'm here and an employee, no impact," Rebecca Holderness, with the Reston Town Center. When asked about whether her clients pay for parking, she said, "We would give them a code."

A spokesman said the ParkRTC app has been downloaded more than 55,000 times, and 95 percent of people use technology to pay. Some visitors would rather use meters than their smartphones.

It's not easy. Why can't they just put a meter in there like everyone else does? said Al Jablonski, a visitor to the Reston Town Center. It is the only place in the county where it's done like this that I know of.

A spokesman said once Metro opens in the area, they didn't want Reston Town Center to become a free commuter parking lot.
Update: In May, the Fairfax Co. commonwealth's attorney said there would be no charges filed against the officer.

The man shot and killed Monday by a police officer in Fairfax County, Virginia, shot his own brothers and held his roommate hostage, police say.

Mohammad Azim Doudzai, 32, died Monday after a police officer shot him outside his home. Police say Doudzai shot two of his brothers, set his home on fire with his roommate still inside and then lunged at police with a knife.

The police department released new details Tuesday on the mayhem they say began with an argument between Doudzai and his girlfriend. Police say Doudzai and the 28-year-old woman fought at his home on the 13300 block of Covered Wagon Lane.

Doudzai's girlfriend called two of his brothers, and they went to the house to talk with him. Doudzai then shot his brothers, who are 23 and 37, police said.

The girlfriend and Doudzai's two brothers fled the townhouse, headed to a hospital and called police about 2:40 p.m.

As officers responded to the townhouse, they heard gunshots coming from inside. Then, they saw smoke coming from the third floor.

Doudzai's roommate, a 29-year-old man, hid in a room upstairs and called 911. He said he could not escape.

Police negotiators talked with Doudzai by phone, but he refused to cooperate, police said.

"The fire meanwhile is growing more intense, but keep in mind that the fire department cannot make entry when there is someone inside shooting, and now there have been multiple gunshots from inside this house," police spokeswoman Julie Parker said on the scene Monday evening.

Video shot from Chopper4 appeared to show police throw a flash grenade into the home. The devices are used to stun the targets.

The aerial video then showed a man step out of the home. Then, he went back inside. Moments later, he stepped outside a second time.

Police say he was holding a knife and lunged toward the officers.

That's when an officer shot him.

Officers helped the man who was being held hostage and took Doudzai to a hospital, where he died.

A woman who said she was a close friend of Doudzai's wept as she described her shock at what police say he did.

"He really, really cared. And he cared so much about his brothers. He didn't mean to do that," the woman said. She asked News4 not to identify her.

Doudzai was a Woodbridge High School graduate who worked as a mechanic, she said. His friend said she often called him "Azim the Dream." She said Doudzai was engaged to the woman police described as his girlfriend.

Neighbor Monique Tran, who was ordered to leave her home as police and fire fighters responded, described Doudzai as friendly. He often helped neighbors who had car trouble.

"He very nice. He said, 'Hi, I can help you,'" she said.

No information on Doudzai's brothers' condition was available.

The gun and knife police believe Doudzai used were found at the home.

The officer who shot Doudzai is a 16-year veteran of the department. He was placed on routine administrative leave during the investigation.

Anyone with information for police is asked to call 703-691-2131, send a text message with TIP187 to CRIMES or visit www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org.
No one really knows how many people are coming to Washington to celebrate Inauguration Day on Friday or to participate in assorted protests.

But there will be a lot.

The security clampdown of the capital of the free world is ratcheting up quickly. At the beginning of the week, the heavily fenced-in National Mall looked like an encampment.

What are authorities most worried about?

There have been no "specific, credible" terrorism threats. But its routine now to plan for some type of organized terrorism  domestic or foreign. Thats taken for granted.

There also now-routine worries about "the lone wolf. Thats a single individual, either domestic or foreign, who either purposefully or insanely decides to take action. This type of person is much harder to detect. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham told us that law enforcement is scouring social media for hints of any such persons. Domestic militia extremists who oppose the federal government and have suggested or engaged in violence are on the watch lists, too.

With all of this preparation, its important that law enforcement documents note the right to peaceably gather and protest. You may agree or disagree with protesters, but they have a right to assemble.

The inauguration of Donald J. Trump has yet another level for potential violence  a clash between protesters and Trumps most aggressive defenders and supporters.

Nearly two dozen protest groups were seeking sites to stage their events. A handful sought permits to celebrate the new president.

Law enforcement officials are aware some protesters publicly have said they illegally intend to shut down the inaugural or parade or create chaos. Other protesters intend to have such numbers that they easily distract and overwhelm the official event.

The unknown is, What response will come from those ardent Trump supporters who will be offended by the protesters?

There is a concern among law enforcement that some Trump supporters could clash with protesters. The worst fear is a vigilante-like response, as well as fistfights or other incidents.

We saw some of this at Trump political rallies during the campaign. But none of those campaign events match the hundreds of thousands who will be on the streets of Washington.

What will they do? What will they do? That's the added worry this week.

 Police advice. The advice is simple for anyone who just wants to attend the inaugural as a historic moment in our history: Pay attention to your surroundings and be alert to the mood of the crowd. Be aware of places where you can withdraw from the crowds.

Sad to say, that is advice you might consider in any public place, not just Inauguration Day. The important point is for Americans to live their lives as openly as possible and not cower in fear or withdraw from public events.

 If you don't go: NBC4 will have full coverage of the inaugural on Friday, beginning with our early shows before NBC network coverage takes over. Your Notebook will join anchors Jim Vance and Doreen Gentzler to cover the inaugural parade in the afternoon.

You may have heard that Charlie Brotman will join us, too. Since 1957, Brotman had officially announced parade participants for the new president as they passed the presidential reviewing stand. The 89-year-old Brotman was raring to go one more time until the Trump inaugural committee dumped him. NBC4 invited him to join us, and he accepted. Tune in.

NBC4 also is doing something different on the web and in our app: We are going to "broadcast" all morning live online from a Capitol Hill coffeehouse. Anchors Wendy Rieger and David Culver will host a broad series of guests and invite your questions as they talk about our city, the people who live here and how local Washington fits into this big day. Download the NBC4 app to participate.

Tom Sherwood, a Southwest resident, is a political reporter for News 4.
Commuters who use D.C.'s Union Station on Wednesday and Thursday will find the main entrance and part of the station closed.

Union Station's main hall, west hall and main entrance near Massachusetts Avenue NE will be closed starting at 10 p.m. Tuesday for an event related to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, according to information from the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC), Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE).

On Wednesday and Thursday, VRE, MARC and Amtrak passengers can enter Union Station at the West Portico entrance/Metro entrance, near the outdoor bike racks. Inside the station, it is the entrance near Le Pain Quotidien restaurant and the H&M clothing store.

Taxis will not pick up or drop off passengers at the station's main entrance until Tuesday, Jan. 24.

On Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, taxis will use the west entrance, on the southwest side of the station.

On Thursday and Friday, taxis will use the H Street NE entrance, on the north side of the station.

Go here to see a map of Union Station.

Passengers should follow the special signage and the instructions of station personnel and law enforcement for exiting and entering the station.

Starting Friday, the main hall and all normal entrances will be open. VRE will operate on an S schedule.

The presidential inaugural committee did not respond to an inquiry about the event, which is not listed on the inauguration website.

Federal and business officials said the busy transit station will be the site of a candlelit, invitation-only event in Trump's honor.

The event is a dinner that will be attended by donors who give at least $1 million to the inaugural committee, The Washington Post reported.

Earlier in the day, Trump will attend the "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" and "Voices of the People" concert from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Lincoln Memorial.
A 16-year-old Massachusetts boy has pleaded not guilty to fatally stabbing his mother's ex-husband.

The Cape Cod Times reports that Cole Martin was sent for a competency evaluation after his arraignment Tuesday in Barnstable District Court on murder and other charges.

Martin is being tried in adult court because of the seriousness of the charges.

Prosecutors say Martin stabbed James Dean multiple times in the chest at a Yarmouth motel on Jan. 6.

Martin and his mother live in Harwich, but his mother had gone to the motel to visit her ex-husband.

The teen's attorney, Drew Segadelli, says Dean had a history of abusing the boy and his mother.
An alert business employee helped tip off police to the location of two people suspected in an armed carjacking in Boston on Wednesday.

Around 12:40 p.m., Boston police said they responded to a report of an armed carjacking in the area of Brook Avenue and Dudley Street in the city's Roxbury neighborhood. The carjacked vehicle, a white Jeep, was last seen headed toward Upham's Corner.

A short time later, Boston police notified Milton police that they had an officer following a car toward East Milton that was wanted in connection with the carjacking.

Milton, Boston and Massachusetts State Police officers converged on the area in an attempt to apprehend the suspects.

Around that same time, an alert business employee called 911 to alert Milton police dispatchers of some suspicious activity.

Based on that information and the details provided by Boston police, officers were able to locate the vehicle abandoned in East Milton and detain two suspects who were attempting to flee the area on foot into nearby neighborhoods.

Parents like Kelly Ross said they are relieved that none of their kids were harmed or saw what happened outside the nearby Adams Street Preschool.

"I didnt actually know about it until I came here now," she said. "Im glad they were locked in school and safe."

No information on the names of the suspects or the charges they are facing was immediately available.

Boston police said no one was injured in the armed carjacking.
Two people were shot in two separate shootings early Wednesday morning in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Manchester police say the first shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. at the 300 block of Spruce Street.

Responding officers found a 43-year-old man suffering a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police say the victim is uncooperative.

The second shooting happened around 8:30 a.m. at a Dubuque Street address. Responding officers found one victim.

Details of the second shooting are limited.

Both incidents remain under investigation.
Officials in the town of Winthrop, Massachusetts, are cracking down on boat owners who are allegedly dumping human waste and sewage into Boston Harbor.

The board of health is investigating reports of people living on their boats and dumping waste from on board showers and toilets.

Winthrop Town Manager James McKenna says the issue is not a laughing manner.

Last summer, inspectors cited boat owners doing the same thing, causing bacteria levels to rise, especially near Donovan Beach.

Since then, the town has created a new ordinance that requires people living on their boats to get a permit showing they can properly get rid of waste.

Most of the boats docked have a valve for waste. All the owners have to do is call the harbor master to empty them out for free.

"You just have to take time and do it the right way," said McKenna.

The service however, isn't available during the winter season and it will coast boat owners money. Wakman said that is not a good excuse to not have the waste removed properly.

Boat owner Rick Wakeman told NBC Boston that he's concerned about the mess the waste is causing.

"Its also so unfair to everybody else that wants to keep everything pristine and nice," Wakeman said.

While inspectors have yet to fine anyone this winter, warning letters are being sent out to all the marinas and yacht clubs in the area to be on the look out for illegal dumping.
A new partnership is giving some trained sheriffs deputies in Massachusetts the power to handle federal immigration enforcement duties.

The Bristol County Sheriff and the assistant director of enforcement for ICE signed the partnership, called 287 G, Wednesday morning.

The partnership, which allows the sheriff deputies to interview and have some processing functions, will help ICE save time when it comes to investigating cases involving undocumented immigrants who are accused of crimes, proponents claim.

Previously, ICE agents from Boston would do interviews and processing.

However, the partnership isn't sitting well with everyone.

A group of protesters gathered outside of the meeting and voiced concerns about how this partnership could lead to general immigrant targeting.

Sheriff Thomas Hodgson and ICE official Matt Albence say this applies to people who commit serious crimes.

"We certainly wouldn't want those people in our custody to be released back into the community to carry out problems for our country," Sheriff Hodgson said.

"These individuals are being arrested independently by a state or local agency for a violation of some criminal code - fed, state or local - and only after that point are they booked in the facility, do the officers step in to make the determination, 'Is he an alien, is he removable, does he fall within our enforcement priorities,'" Albance, assistant director of enforcement for ICE, said.

Sheriff Hodgson said he hopes to have eight to 12 of his deputies trained for this partnership in four to six months. ICE will pay for the necessary out-of-state training and added infrastructure, which includes computer software.
A New Hampshire man is lucky to be alive after his car was pinned almost entirely underneath a tanker truck following a crash on Wednesday.

New Hampshire State Police said they responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident on Route 101 east in Hampton shortly after 2 p.m. Police said a 2004 Honda Civic was traveling eastbound on Route 101 in the left lane when the driver lost control and slid into the tanker portion of a 1999 Peterbilt tractor-tanker combination that was in the right lane.

Both vehicles then slid into the concrete jersey barrier on the left side of the highway, pinning the Honda underneath the tanker and against the barrier.

The Honda's driver, 34-year-old Daniel Decoteau of Milford, escaped unharmed. He was able to climb out of his vehicle through the passenger window and then underneath the tanker.

The driver of the truck, Aquiles Martinez, 53, of Somerville, Massachusetts, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Exeter Hospital for treatment.

There were no passengers in either vehicle.

The accident remains under investigation, but police said it appears excessive speed during the icy weather may have been a contributing factor.

No charges have been filed at this time.

The left lane of Route 101 was closed for over an hour as the vehicles were separated and removed from the roadway.
A Maine man died in the states fourth snowmobile-related fatality Tuesday night.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said Jeffrey Fisher, 32, of Sidney, was found dead along the shoreline of Messalonskee Lake after becoming separated from his friend.

Investigation showed Fisher crashed and was ejected onto the rocks. Speed appeared to be a factor. Fisher was wearing a helmet.

An autopsy will be performed by the Office of the Medical Examiner.

The incident remains under investigation.
Police in Massachusetts believe they have caught the man behind a vandalism spree that put an Attleboro neighborhood on edge for weeks

Tushar Patel, 22, of Meadowsweet Trail in Attleboro was arrested after police say he was caught on camera throwing a brick through the window of a home on Richie Road.

Police said there have been several incidents of vandalism in the neighborhood over the last few weeks, including homes that have been egged and tires that have been slashed.

When the police officer came here he said theres been four incidents in the past two weeks, homeowner Dennis Sheridan said.

Sheridans car windows were smashed earlier this month. He was shocked to hear the man who was arrested lives just around the corner.

Its amazing, Sheridan said. I really never expected. Its good for the neighborhood that he was caught.

Patel was charged with breaking and entering, defacing property and assault with a deadly weapon.

It starts off as an egg, it goes to a brick, what will it go to from there, Captain James Macdonald of the Attleboro Police Department said. Thats what we have to worry about.

Patels family had no comment Wednesday afternoon.

Police have yet to charge him with the other vandalism in the area, but are currently looking at evidence including footprints he may have left in the snow before the crimes were committed.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh delivered his third "State of the City" address Tuesday at Symphony Hall.

During his address, Walsh said he'll file legislation this week to offer free pre-kindergarten to every 4-year-old for the first time, funded by tourism taxes. He said an upcoming 10-year school plan contains a $1 billion investment in school buildings.

Walsh says these initiatives will ensure Boston "lifts everyone up as it rises."

Weve made historic progress and were just getting started. Together, weve built a foundation. Now were ready to soar. For the first time in half a century, Boston is a city with a plan, Walsh said.

The mayor said that schools are the foundation of equal opportunity and recalled barriers that faced students as recently as three years ago, including lack of pre-kindergarten seats, the shortest school day in the country and aging school facilities.

Walsh also announced Boston is bringing cutting-edge traffic light technology to its busiest streets and library services are returning to the Chinatown neighborhood.

He said in over three years, Boston added 60,000 jobs, cut unemployment and tackled a housing shortage by building 19,000 homes.

Were making great progress, but theres plenty of room to improve. The gaps that remain come in the shapes of race, language and need, he said

Walsh, 49, a Dorchester native, is running for re-election this fall. He was first elected mayor back in 2014, after long-time Mayor Thomas Menino chose not to seek re-election after two decades in office due ongoing to health problems.

Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, 41, announced last week the he will challenge Walsh in this year's mayoral election. A lifelong resident of Roxbury, his campaign recently brought on board Bill Hyers, the campaign manager for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

In last year's address, Walsh touched on some of his accomplishments from 2015, including improvements to city schools, parks and playgrounds, and a greater focus on affordable housing and arts and culture.

You can watch a portion of last year's "State of the City" address and read the text of Walsh's 2016 and 2015 speeches here.
Police in Somersworth, New Hampshire are investigating after an 11-year-old brought a gun to school on Wednesday.

Around 11:15 a.m., police were called to Somersworth Middle School for a report of a student who had brought a firearm to the school. The school resource officer was also on scene and assisted in the investigation.

It was determined that an 11-year-old student had brought a loaded handgun to school. There was no evidence to indicated that the weapon was used or that the student intended to use it in a threatening manner.

The firearm was safely retrieved by police and no one was injured.

Police said they are still investigating to find out where the firearm came from.

The students name or what charges they might face were not released. Any court action will be in juvenile court.
Police say someone walking on a town-owned beach in Cape Elizabeth, Maine stumbled upon a severely decomposed body.

Police Chief Neil Williams says they were notified of a suspicious object spotted on Cliff House Beach Tuesday night.

Investigators determined it was the body of a Caucasian person.

Officials say they weren't immediately able to determine the gender of the body due to its decomposed state.

The state medical examiner's office in Augusta will perform an autopsy.

State police have been notified of the discovery. An investigation remains ongoing.

Officials say neither Cape Elizabeth nor South Portland have any active missing person cases.
A man charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder will remain jailed while a Vermont judge awaits more evidence to consider defense lawyers' requests that their client be released on bail and conditions.

Ethan Gratton, 26, allegedly shot two men on Jan. 2 outside his family's home in the Franklin County town of Georgia following a dispute over driveway access.

David Hill, 57, of Fairfax, died in the road from multiple gunshot wounds, according to investigators. Mark Brito, 27, also of Fairfax, remains hospitalized following a life-threatening gunshot wound to the face.

"He would give you the shirt off his back," said Steve Brito of Barnstable, Massachusetts, talking about his son, Mark. "He's the kindest kid you could meet and the hardest-working kid you could come across."

Brito said his son, who grew up on Cape Cod but had been working in Vermont for the town of Westford's highway department, initially had a very grim medical prognosis, with bullet fragments lodged in his brain.

However, Brito told necn his son has been making encouraging progress. While the patient can't speak, and the status of his eyesight is uncertain, he has responded to some doctors' commands, Steve Brito explained.

"Every day is a great day, for us to come here and see Mark doing what hes doing," the father said of his son's medical progress.

Brito also praised staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center for their care of his son and compassion to his family.

Gratton has been in jail after pleading not guilty earlier this month to shooting Brito. He also denied a murder charge for allegedly shooting and killing Brito's friend and mentor, David Hill.

Hill's obituary said he enjoyed spending time with his many family and friends, as well as his beloved dog, Sam, watching western movies, and listening to bluegrass music.

Hill had been teaching Brito proper usage of tractor trailers and other heavy equipment, Steve Brito said.

Police said the gunfire followed a dispute over driveway access, with Gratton angry that Hill and Brito wanted to use his family's property to turn around a big rig loaded with logging equipment.

Gratton claimed self-defense, saying those loggers punched him a few times during the roadside argument, breaking his nose and knocking out a tooth.

Wednesday, Gratton's attorneys asked Judge Gregory Rainville to okay their client's release from jail on conditions pending trial.

Judge Rainville noted this is a very unusual case, because Gratton had no prior criminal history, and the fight appeared to have been over something rather trivial.

However, Rainville cautioned all sides against jumping to conclusions because a lot more evidence will be introduced, and a lack of witnesses in the case complicates the investigation.

Prosecutors played a 911 recording of Pam Gratton calling for help for the men suffering in the road outside her home.

Franklin County State's Attorney Jim Hughes pointed out the 911 recording also contained audio of Ethan Gratton in the background saying he shot the loggers because they punched him.

Hughes argued Gratton should stay in jail in order to protect public safety and to protect Gratton from himself, because Hughes said the suspect made suicidal statements after the shooting.

Ethan Gratton's mother, Pam, testified that her son is an educated, hard-working young man. She said she saw her son the day of the tragedy with a bloodied face, which he told her was from punches thrown by one or both of the men in the truck.

Pam Gratton told the court she took a handgun away from her son after the shooting and put it out of his reach until the police arrived.

"I was afraid the trooper would come and shoot Ethan," Pam Gratton testified, choking back tears as she described her worry about what she imagined could happen if an officer saw a bloodied man holding a gun.

Pam Gratton told Judge Rainville she would care for her son and ensure a gun-free home if the court okayed his release from jail on conditions while awaiting trial.

Rainville declined to issue a ruling on the defense attorneys' bail request Wednesday.

The judge said there are still many unknowns in the case, and said before he rules on allowing Gratton's release from jail on conditions, he would first want to review several pieces of pending evidence, including a mental health evaluation of the suspect.
Police are on the hunt for an unknown male who broke into a Union Bank location and stole an undisclosed amount of change.

Police said the unknown male broke a rear window in the banks building, located on Maine Street in Johnson, Vermont, on Monday, January 16 around 1:57 a.m.

He stole an undisclosed amount of rolled change from the bank.

He was wearing a dark colored hoodie with "Red Bull Logo on the front and Fox Racing Logo" on the lower right sleeve. Including a green hoodie underneath the dark colored hoodie covering most of his face, gray pants, possible hiking boot, and black gloves.

The Lamoille County Sheriffs Department is looking for information from the public into the unknown males identity. If you have seen any suspicious activity involving a male matching the description please call the Lamoille County Sheriffs Department at 802-888-3502.
A worker was killed on Tuesday after fallen off a roof at a movie theater in Millbury, Massachusetts.

Police said an employee of Medford-Wellington Service Company had called 911 to report that his co-worker had fallen off the roof at the Blackstone Valley Cinema De Lux on Worcester-Providence Turnpike at 12:22 p.m.

When first responders arrived, the victim was unresponsive. His co-worker had tried to perform CPR.

The victim, a contracted HVAC vendor, was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester where he was pronounced dead.

Police said the man, who has not yet been identified, had been alone on the roof handling a large aluminum heat exchanger when he somehow fell approximately 30-35 feet to the ground.

Authorities said the fall appears to be accidental.

An MPD Detective, the Worcester County State Police Detective Unit and an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) representative are conducting concurrent investigations.
Businesses could lose their choice of cloud services and applications if the incoming administration or the new congress rolls back net neutrality rules, Tom Wheeler, the outgoing chair of the Federal Communications Commission, warned in his final planned speech before stepping down.

Identifying the 2015 open Internet order as one of his signature policy achievements, Wheeler positioned the FCC's net neutrality regulation, which bars ISPs from blocking or slowing transmissions on their networks, as a needed protection for consumers and businesses alike.

"As everything goes into the cloud, the ability to access the cloud free of gatekeepers is essential. If ISPs get to choose which applications and clouds work better than others in terms of access, speed and latency, they will control the cloud future," Wheeler said.

"Whether it's Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure or Salesforce.com's integrated cloud-based activities, ISPs free from open access obligations and behavioral oversight can choke growth and innovation, or, at least, demand tribute for passing over their network," he said.

He offered a similar warning on the internet of things, an area of increasing interest in Washington as policymakers warm to the economic, social and environmental potential that could arise from billions of networked devices coming online.

"[T]he growth of the internet of things is another area that depends on the open connectivity of those things," Wheeler said. "If ISPs can decide arbitrarily which IoT device can be connected, or favor their own IoT activity over their competitors, the bright future of IoT dims."

[ Related: Why the FCC's latest net neutrality defense is hollow ]

Wheeler, a former lobbyist for the cable and wireless sectors who surprised many FCC observers with his regulatory agenda, gave his address at the Aspen Institute, a think tank where he will sign on as a fellow after leaving the government, making him the sixth outgoing chairman to do so.

Will Trump undo solutions that are working?

Wheeler's remarks could be seen as something of a rear-guard action ahead of the transition to the new administration, when FCC control will pass into the hands of republicans who are opposed to net neutrality regulations.

In stressing the business implications of the open internet order, Wheeler seemed to broaden the scope of the net neutrality debate, which has typically focused on the consumer implications of an ISP slowing the transmission of a popular application, or entering into paid prioritization arrangements with content providers to deliver their traffic on a fast lane. Both scenarios are prohibited under the FCC's rule.

And Wheeler did call out AT&T and Verizon for their so-called "zero-rating" policies, where they exempt favored content and services from customers' data caps.

[ Related: Trump appoints critics of net neutrality rules to FCC transition team ]

But he made the broader point that unraveling the open internet order could undermine the commission's other work in regulating broadband providers, such as the privacy regulations it advanced under Wheeler's tenure as chairman.

And he noted that, in all likelihood, there will be efforts in the new congress to roll back recent FCC regulations, which could be a more effective avenue for net neutrality critics than trying to undo the rules within the commission, where procedural hurdles loom.

Wheeler pointed to industry figures reporting substantial investment in broadband infrastructure before and since the enactment of the open internet order as evidence that the regulation had not chilled capital expenditures in network infrastructure as opponents had warned.

"Where's the fire?" he asked, painting a binary choice for policymakers going forward.

"It now falls to a new set of regulators, to a new FCC and to those who advocate before it and the Congress to determine the road that they want to take from here," Wheeler said. "We are at a fork in that road. One path leads forward and the other leads back to relitigating solutions that are demonstrably working."

This story, "Trump administration threatens net neutrality, cloud and IoT" was originally published by CIO .
Eight years is but a blink in the grand scheme, yet so much will have changed on the technology and social-media landscape between when Barack Obama took the oath on Jan. 20, 2009 and Donald Trump does so Friday.

Before he got started, Obama needed to plead and perhaps pull rank to keep his beloved BlackBerry, a gadget preference which at the time did not seem all that odd. Obama would remain loyal to the device, too, even as its popularity diminished, only relinquishing it last year in exchange for a customized smartphone that he mocked as more suitable for a toddler than a commander in chief.

REUTERS/Larry Downing

If you carried the latest iPhone when George W. Bush and family moved out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., that meant you had the second generation, the iPhone 3G; the 3Gs would be introduced later that year. The iPhone 3G was the first to include integrated access to Apples then-new App Store, which had launched during the summer of 2008. Today the store holds 2.2 million apps and has dished out a total of 140 billion.

The iPad was .

Taken for granted today, GPS apps providing turn-by-turn driving directions on iOS and Android were brand new in 2009.

Trump today reportedly uses a Samsung Galaxy to send his now infamous tweets, while his staff tweets from the president-elects account using an iPhone, according to various press reports. In either case, the Twitter that Trump is so identified with bears little resemblance to the company that had just begun making headlines eight years ago.

At that juncture, Twitter was not yet three years old  only five younger than Obamas daughter Sasha  and had only about 5 million regular users. As of last fall, Twitters flock had ballooned to 316 million, including the omnipresent Trump. Heck, in January 2009, MySpace was still kind of a big deal, having peaked the prior year at roughly 76 million visitors per month.

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Twitter had yet to establish itself as a go-to destination for consuming or making news. However, both began to change just a few days before Obama first boarded Air Force One when Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River and a ferryboat passengers picture of the scene posted to Twitter and went viral. (That's a different picture above.)

Facebook had 150 million users in January 2009; two presidential terms later it has north of a billion. And Mark Zuckerberg has a lot more money than even the billionaire incoming president.

Angry Birds had yet to flap wings, Alec Baldwin had yet to be kicked off a plane for playing Words With Friends, and no one had playing Pokemon Go. Minecraft was four months from its initial release and an eventual vice grip on two of my children.

XYZprinting

Machines called 3D printers had been around for a while by 2009 but were little noticed outside of manufacturing and academic circles. Today my kids high school has three of them.

Wearables were called clothes (with all due respect to Dick Tracy and hearing aids). Google Glass hadnt yet created a round of spectacularly unwarranted hype. Mass-market virtual reality was not yet ready for the mass market  or reality.

Instagram and Pinterest were still a year away; Snapchat two. Google+? Well, enough said.

Creative Commons Lic.

Self-driving cars were not yet doing any self-driving on public roadways. Google didnt even begin its autonomous car program until later in 2009.

Speaking of Google, its flagship search engine in year one of the Obama Administration would see two new competitors emerge: Microsoft Bing and Wolfram Alpha.

Some television stations in the United States were still broadcasting analog signals. TV cord-cutters were an oddball fringe; today theyre a quarter of the population and rapidly growing.

Only 10 percent of Americans had smartphones when the throngs gathered for Obamas first inauguration. Eight years later, 88 percent carry them, according to Verizon. The number of households without a landline has doubled from a quarter to a half.

The worlds fastest supercomputer was the Cray Jaguar, located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and clocking in at 1.759 PFLOPS. Todays champ is Chinas Sunway TaihuLight and its 93 PFLOPS.

Finally, on Inauguration Day 2009, Steve Jobs was still CEO of Apple.

Welcome regulars and passersby. Here are a few more recent buzzblog items. And, if youd like to receive Buzzblog via e-mail newsletter, heres where to sign up. You can follow me on Twitter here and on Google+ here.
Josh Cingranelli has joined WVIT NBC 30 (NBC Connecticut) in Hartford as a meteorologist.

"Im very excited to announce that I have joined the NBC Connecticut First Alert Weather team" Josh said on his Facebook page. "Ive had a fascination with weather since I was a young boy. I started communicating and sending in weather reports to Brad Field and Bob Maxon when I was eight years old. Brad was and continues to be an excellent mentor."

"Its a dream come true to be working with such great people and working in my home state. I couldnt be happier" he continued.

Josh joins NBC Connecticut after taking a 18 month break from television news to pursue a Master's degree in secondary education at Sacred Heart University.

Prior to that, he had been the weekend morning meteorologist at WVNY ABC 22 and WFFF FOX 44 in Burlington, Vermont, and also reported on environmental stories during the week since 2014.

A native of Rome, NY, Josh grew up in Lisbon, CT and is a 2015 graduate of Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, VT where he studied meteorology. A National Weather Service and NBC Connecticut weather observer since he was 8, Josh later interned at NBC Connecticut during college. He also provided forecasts for News 7, Lyndon State's student run television news station.

Josh's first day on-air at NBC Connecticut is January 21.

Follow Josh on Social Media:
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Robust interest was observed in the second tranche sale of the exchange traded fund comprising the top 10 state-owned companies. On Tuesday, the portion reserved for anchor investors was oversubscribed three-fold to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore on the opening day.

Managed by Reliance Mutual Fund, the Central Public Sector Enterprises - Exchange Traded Fund (CPSE ETF) has a Further Fund Offer (FFO) size of Rs 4,500 crore, with an option to retain another Rs 1,500 crore in case of over-subscription.

Caption

According to officials familiar with the issue, as much as 30 per cent of total issue size, or Rs 1,800 crore, was reserved for anchor investors who put in bids worth about Rs 6,000 crore on Tuesday. Among investors who placed bids were global financial giants like Nomura and Morgan Stanley, while domestic players like SBI, LIC, Axis Bank and Birla MF also placed bids. According to officials, the issue received all round participation from all categories of investors - banks, insurance companies, FIIs and MFs - both domestic and foreign.

The ETF launched in March 2014 by Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The inaugural issue had raised Rs 4,300 crore against a target of Rs 3,000 crore. However, the ETF is now managed by Reliance Mutual Fund after it bought out Goldmans mutual fund business in India in 2015. The issue saw very strong participation from the private sector, in addition to government participation, on the first day itself and we are hopeful of strong momentum in the retail category that opens tomorrow, Reliance Mutual Fund CEO Sundeep Sikka said.

The target of Rs 6,000 crore in the second tranche is part of the governments disinvestment plan aimed at narrowing fiscal deficit. If achieved, this will be the single biggest disinvestment proceed this fiscal. The issue will open for subscription for retail investors and qualified institutional buyers on Wednesday and will remain open till January 20. Retail investors will get 5 per cent discount.

NEW DELHI: Robust interest was observed in the second tranche sale of the exchange traded fund comprising the top 10 state-owned companies. On Tuesday, the portion reserved for anchor investors was oversubscribed three-fold to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore on the opening day. Managed by Reliance Mutual Fund, the Central Public Sector Enterprises - Exchange Traded Fund (CPSE ETF) has a Further Fund Offer (FFO) size of Rs 4,500 crore, with an option to retain another Rs 1,500 crore in case of over-subscription. CaptionAccording to officials familiar with the issue, as much as 30 per cent of total issue size, or Rs 1,800 crore, was reserved for anchor investors who put in bids worth about Rs 6,000 crore on Tuesday. Among investors who placed bids were global financial giants like Nomura and Morgan Stanley, while domestic players like SBI, LIC, Axis Bank and Birla MF also placed bids. According to officials, the issue received all round participation from all categories of investors - banks, insurance companies, FIIs and MFs - both domestic and foreign. The ETF launched in March 2014 by Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The inaugural issue had raised Rs 4,300 crore against a target of Rs 3,000 crore. However, the ETF is now managed by Reliance Mutual Fund after it bought out Goldmans mutual fund business in India in 2015. The issue saw very strong participation from the private sector, in addition to government participation, on the first day itself and we are hopeful of strong momentum in the retail category that opens tomorrow, Reliance Mutual Fund CEO Sundeep Sikka said. The target of Rs 6,000 crore in the second tranche is part of the governments disinvestment plan aimed at narrowing fiscal deficit. If achieved, this will be the single biggest disinvestment proceed this fiscal. The issue will open for subscription for retail investors and qualified institutional buyers on Wednesday and will remain open till January 20. Retail investors will get 5 per cent discount.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The continuing accumulation of bad loans, combined with the hit to credit offtake due to the fallout of demonetisation in November, might result in several public-sector banks (PSB) skipping the payout of dividends for the current financial year, according to sources. If many banks skip paying dividends, officials say this could affect the governments receipts for the year.

According to a senior finance ministry official, some public-sector banks have already informed the ministry that profits are likely to remain subdued, due to low credit offtake and rising non-performing assets and it may not be possible for them to pay dividends this year. The official added that as a result, it is expected that revenue from dividend from PSBs is likely to be less than Rs 1,000 crore.

The scenario is not new. For the previous financial year (2015-16), several banks had been unable to pay dividends. Sixteen PSBs, including Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Allahabad Bank, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Dena Bank and Syndicate Bank, had skipped paying any dividend in 2015-16, which led to a three-fold decline in government receipts to ~1,444.6 crore.

Only six PSBs, including State Bank of India, declared dividend for the financial year ended March 2016, though at a lower rate. According to finance ministry data, the highest dividend was paid by SBI at Rs 1,214.6 crore, 22 per cent lower than the previous financial year. The government, the majority shareholder in all the public-sector banks, saw a 67 per cent decline in dividend receipts from PSU banks at Rs 1,444.6 crore in 2015-16 against Rs 4,336.22 crore in the previous year.

With gross NPAs of PSBs rising to Rs 6,30,323 crore as on September 30 against Rs 5,50,346 crore in June 2016 and normal banking operations and credit offtake hit hard due to the chaos resulting from demonetisation, PTI quoted analysts as saying that the situation for banks might be worse this year. The deposits currently with banks might cost them money if credit offtake, hit by a fall in consumption, doesnt recover.

The Reserve Bank of Indias Financial Stability Report in December 2016 recognised this strain, saying: The GNPA (gross non-performing advances) ratio of scheduled commercial banks increased to 9.1 per cent in September 2016 from 7.8 per cent in March, pushing the overall stressed advances ratio to 12.3 per cent from 11.5 per cent. Existing guidelines state that profit-making banks have to pay a minimum dividend of 20 per cent of equity or 20 per cent of their post-tax profit, whichever is higher.

NEW DELHI: The continuing accumulation of bad loans, combined with the hit to credit offtake due to the fallout of demonetisation in November, might result in several public-sector banks (PSB) skipping the payout of dividends for the current financial year, according to sources. If many banks skip paying dividends, officials say this could affect the governments receipts for the year. According to a senior finance ministry official, some public-sector banks have already informed the ministry that profits are likely to remain subdued, due to low credit offtake and rising non-performing assets and it may not be possible for them to pay dividends this year. The official added that as a result, it is expected that revenue from dividend from PSBs is likely to be less than Rs 1,000 crore. The scenario is not new. For the previous financial year (2015-16), several banks had been unable to pay dividends. Sixteen PSBs, including Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Allahabad Bank, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Dena Bank and Syndicate Bank, had skipped paying any dividend in 2015-16, which led to a three-fold decline in government receipts to ~1,444.6 crore. Only six PSBs, including State Bank of India, declared dividend for the financial year ended March 2016, though at a lower rate. According to finance ministry data, the highest dividend was paid by SBI at Rs 1,214.6 crore, 22 per cent lower than the previous financial year. The government, the majority shareholder in all the public-sector banks, saw a 67 per cent decline in dividend receipts from PSU banks at Rs 1,444.6 crore in 2015-16 against Rs 4,336.22 crore in the previous year. With gross NPAs of PSBs rising to Rs 6,30,323 crore as on September 30 against Rs 5,50,346 crore in June 2016 and normal banking operations and credit offtake hit hard due to the chaos resulting from demonetisation, PTI quoted analysts as saying that the situation for banks might be worse this year. The deposits currently with banks might cost them money if credit offtake, hit by a fall in consumption, doesnt recover. The Reserve Bank of Indias Financial Stability Report in December 2016 recognised this strain, saying: The GNPA (gross non-performing advances) ratio of scheduled commercial banks increased to 9.1 per cent in September 2016 from 7.8 per cent in March, pushing the overall stressed advances ratio to 12.3 per cent from 11.5 per cent. Existing guidelines state that profit-making banks have to pay a minimum dividend of 20 per cent of equity or 20 per cent of their post-tax profit, whichever is higher.
Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave in-principle approval to divesting 25 per cent stake in each of five fully-owned public sector general insurance firms. The companies will be listed on the stock exchanges soon, which will result in arriving at a true valuation of the companies. This move could also excite private sector insurers to issue fresh public stocks or fresh shares.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley, speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting today, said the five state-owned general insurance companies -- New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance, National Insurance, United India Insurance and national reinsurer General Insurance Company -- will be listed on the stock exchanges by way of issue of fresh shares or offer for sale (OFS).

The finance minister had in his Budget speech for 2016-17 announced that public shareholding in government-owned companies was a means of ensuring transparency and accountability; to promote this objective, general insurance companies owned by the government will be listed on the stock exchanges.

Trade unions cry foul

However, trade unions have some issues with the governments decision. This is not acceptable since these firms have been making profits and divestment is not going to help the government, the people or the market, said G Sanjeeva Reddy, secretary-general of the Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).

We are opposed to it and a majority of the unions are against the decision, said Gurudas Das Gupta, CPI leader and member of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

The Committee of Central Trade Unions is scheduled to meet next week in Delhi to decide the future course of action. We will discuss this with all the trade unions, irrespective of their affiliations, said Sanjeeva Reddy.

Analysts give a thumbs-up

Analysts were gung-ho with the decision. This will not have any direct impact on individual customers, but it will give them more information about the financial health and clarity about the company, said Sandip Khetan, a partner in an Indian firm of EY Global..

Listing of public sector general insurance companies will help the market in discovering the value of the general insurance business in India since there are no listed players currently, said Shashwat Sharma, partner and head of insurance, KPMG India

It is also expected to also pave the way for the listing of private-sector general insurance companies in the next couple of years.

The OFS will directly help the government to meets its disinvestment targets since OFS will go to the government, says Khetan.

It could also increase investor appetite for private sector insurer IPOs. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA), has already issued listing norms. It suggested that all general insurance companies with operations for eight years or more and life insurance companies with 10 years in service should take steps to get their shares listed.

Listing on the stock exchanges would also enable public sector players to raise additional capital from the market to fund future distribution expansion, technology enhancement, said Shashwat Sharma.

Currently, amongst the private insurers, Prudential and ICICI are listed in the Indian equity market. Already M&A of private insurance firms are in progress. Once that happens they will also get listed.

As an investor today one can invest in a bank or financial services company or in an NBFC or in a bank that has an insurance vertical like SBI and ICICI. Investors will have a direct exposure for long-term equity, since the insurance companies funds are stable, says Khetan.

This will also attract more foreign capital and long term capital will come into India.

Precursor to LIC Listing?

The markets were agog that the governments decision is a precursor to the listing of Life Insurance Corporation. But the government, analysts say, will not touch LIC for the next few years. It is difficult to value such a company. The government may have to go through the same struggle as they faced while listing Coal India

It is like listing the Indian Railways. Look at what happened to the attempt to divest Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. These companies are so entrenched across India.

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave in-principle approval to divesting 25 per cent stake in each of five fully-owned public sector general insurance firms. The companies will be listed on the stock exchanges soon, which will result in arriving at a true valuation of the companies. This move could also excite private sector insurers to issue fresh public stocks or fresh shares. Finance minister Arun Jaitley, speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting today, said the five state-owned general insurance companies -- New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance, National Insurance, United India Insurance and national reinsurer General Insurance Company -- will be listed on the stock exchanges by way of issue of fresh shares or offer for sale (OFS). The finance minister had in his Budget speech for 2016-17 announced that public shareholding in government-owned companies was a means of ensuring transparency and accountability; to promote this objective, general insurance companies owned by the government will be listed on the stock exchanges. Trade unions cry foul However, trade unions have some issues with the governments decision. This is not acceptable since these firms have been making profits and divestment is not going to help the government, the people or the market, said G Sanjeeva Reddy, secretary-general of the Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC). We are opposed to it and a majority of the unions are against the decision, said Gurudas Das Gupta, CPI leader and member of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC). The Committee of Central Trade Unions is scheduled to meet next week in Delhi to decide the future course of action. We will discuss this with all the trade unions, irrespective of their affiliations, said Sanjeeva Reddy. Analysts give a thumbs-up Analysts were gung-ho with the decision. This will not have any direct impact on individual customers, but it will give them more information about the financial health and clarity about the company, said Sandip Khetan, a partner in an Indian firm of EY Global.. Listing of public sector general insurance companies will help the market in discovering the value of the general insurance business in India since there are no listed players currently, said Shashwat Sharma, partner and head of insurance, KPMG India It is also expected to also pave the way for the listing of private-sector general insurance companies in the next couple of years. The OFS will directly help the government to meets its disinvestment targets since OFS will go to the government, says Khetan. It could also increase investor appetite for private sector insurer IPOs. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA), has already issued listing norms. It suggested that all general insurance companies with operations for eight years or more and life insurance companies with 10 years in service should take steps to get their shares listed. Listing on the stock exchanges would also enable public sector players to raise additional capital from the market to fund future distribution expansion, technology enhancement, said Shashwat Sharma. Currently, amongst the private insurers, Prudential and ICICI are listed in the Indian equity market. Already M&A of private insurance firms are in progress. Once that happens they will also get listed. As an investor today one can invest in a bank or financial services company or in an NBFC or in a bank that has an insurance vertical like SBI and ICICI. Investors will have a direct exposure for long-term equity, since the insurance companies funds are stable, says Khetan. This will also attract more foreign capital and long term capital will come into India. Precursor to LIC Listing? The markets were agog that the governments decision is a precursor to the listing of Life Insurance Corporation. But the government, analysts say, will not touch LIC for the next few years. It is difficult to value such a company. The government may have to go through the same struggle as they faced while listing Coal India It is like listing the Indian Railways. Look at what happened to the attempt to divest Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. These companies are so entrenched across India.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: THE steel Ministry clarified on Tuesday that the government will not go in for any distress sale of three SAIL subsidiaries as some reports had stated. According to Steel secretary Aruna Sharma, the Salem Steel Plant, Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel and Chandrapur Ferro-Alloy will see the government look for a management that can turn these units around.

We would like to put up none of these plants for a distress sale. We would like them to come back into profit making and... under a better management, Sharma said. Earlier, the government had in-principle approved strategic disinvestment of SAILs Bhadrawati, Salem and Durgapur (alloy steel plants).

When I am talking of making the share of the government 49 per cent, (it) is only when we get a good management... If not, there is no point.., she added, stating that as of now, there is no proposal of strategic disinvestment for more units of SAIL.

This announcement of strategic disinvestment means a minimum of 51 per cent. So, it depends on efficiency and it is subject to many things. It is in the initial stages... Now, as guided by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, we will appoint somebody to do the evaluations... There are still a lot of processes it has to undergo, she added.

SAIL had earlier said the government will hold auction an to identify strategic buyers for SAIL subsidiaries -- Bhadrawati, Salem and Durgapur.

NEW DELHI: THE steel Ministry clarified on Tuesday that the government will not go in for any distress sale of three SAIL subsidiaries as some reports had stated. According to Steel secretary Aruna Sharma, the Salem Steel Plant, Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel and Chandrapur Ferro-Alloy will see the government look for a management that can turn these units around. We would like to put up none of these plants for a distress sale. We would like them to come back into profit making and... under a better management, Sharma said. Earlier, the government had in-principle approved strategic disinvestment of SAILs Bhadrawati, Salem and Durgapur (alloy steel plants). When I am talking of making the share of the government 49 per cent, (it) is only when we get a good management... If not, there is no point.., she added, stating that as of now, there is no proposal of strategic disinvestment for more units of SAIL. This announcement of strategic disinvestment means a minimum of 51 per cent. So, it depends on efficiency and it is subject to many things. It is in the initial stages... Now, as guided by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, we will appoint somebody to do the evaluations... There are still a lot of processes it has to undergo, she added. SAIL had earlier said the government will hold auction an to identify strategic buyers for SAIL subsidiaries -- Bhadrawati, Salem and Durgapur.
Oindrila Sarkar By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Expressing concern over the wages to be paid under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) remaining unpaid, the Supreme Court, in a letter addressed to states, highlighted the need to clear such payments on priority.

Stating that MGNREGA workers are not being paid on time, the SC has highlighted Writ Petition (C) No.857 of 2015 Swaraj Abhiyan versus Union of India and others.

You are aware of the fact that the ministry has been harping on the need to clear all wage liabilities on priority. In fact, it has been clearly stated that the payment of wages ought to be the first charge on the funds released to states/Union Territories from time to time, SC said in a letter addressed to Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj secretaries of all states.

West Bengal leads the pack with un-paid payments worth a whopping Rs 15,783.38 lakh, pending since July 2016. Jammu & Kashmir has a backlog of Rs 13,950.93 lakh pending as payments to workers.

The heartland states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar need to pay Rs 7,299.39 lakh and Rs 9,873.27 lakh, respectively. In the northeast, Arunachal Pradesh is still to disburse Rs 5,460.11 lakh while Assam has Rs 3,874.69 lakh to disburse.

Among the southern states, Tamil Nadu has to disburse Rs 1,471.16 lakh to its contract labourers, Telangana Rs 233.64 lakh, Karnataka Rs 1,106.76 lakh, Kerala Rs 281.95 lakh and Andhra Pradesh Rs 587.25 lakh.

According to rural economist Vijay Sardana, the scheme has been plagued with unfair practices with contractors siphoning off funds in collusion with officials. He also adds that with the government tightening the screws on such malpractices, such incidents have come down.

MNREGA is functioning at the whims and fancies of the local contractors and local officials. Now there is a concept of social audit, but who is doing, how it is to be done etc are gaining ground now. This is causing a delay in the payment of compensation as you have to go through an auditing system, Sardana added.

Now if you look at the amount which is payable and approved, after that there is the procedure of verification of the amount. Every state technically is sitting on verification. There can be two reasons for this  there is no interest or there are no proper documents. The state governments also do not have proper machinery for this, he added.

BENGALURU: Expressing concern over the wages to be paid under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) remaining unpaid, the Supreme Court, in a letter addressed to states, highlighted the need to clear such payments on priority. Stating that MGNREGA workers are not being paid on time, the SC has highlighted Writ Petition (C) No.857 of 2015 Swaraj Abhiyan versus Union of India and others. You are aware of the fact that the ministry has been harping on the need to clear all wage liabilities on priority. In fact, it has been clearly stated that the payment of wages ought to be the first charge on the funds released to states/Union Territories from time to time, SC said in a letter addressed to Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj secretaries of all states. West Bengal leads the pack with un-paid payments worth a whopping Rs 15,783.38 lakh, pending since July 2016. Jammu & Kashmir has a backlog of Rs 13,950.93 lakh pending as payments to workers. The heartland states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar need to pay Rs 7,299.39 lakh and Rs 9,873.27 lakh, respectively. In the northeast, Arunachal Pradesh is still to disburse Rs 5,460.11 lakh while Assam has Rs 3,874.69 lakh to disburse. Among the southern states, Tamil Nadu has to disburse Rs 1,471.16 lakh to its contract labourers, Telangana Rs 233.64 lakh, Karnataka Rs 1,106.76 lakh, Kerala Rs 281.95 lakh and Andhra Pradesh Rs 587.25 lakh. According to rural economist Vijay Sardana, the scheme has been plagued with unfair practices with contractors siphoning off funds in collusion with officials. He also adds that with the government tightening the screws on such malpractices, such incidents have come down. MNREGA is functioning at the whims and fancies of the local contractors and local officials. Now there is a concept of social audit, but who is doing, how it is to be done etc are gaining ground now. This is causing a delay in the payment of compensation as you have to go through an auditing system, Sardana added. Now if you look at the amount which is payable and approved, after that there is the procedure of verification of the amount. Every state technically is sitting on verification. There can be two reasons for this  there is no interest or there are no proper documents. The state governments also do not have proper machinery for this, he added.
Pramod Thomas By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Sijo Yohannan is a small businessman in Thrissur, Kerala. While most others are looking toward the Budget for tax sops, Yohannan is keenly watching the direction of gold prices. He intends to invest in gold but is waiting for the prices to come down.

And, prices could indeed come down if the government accepts jewellers demand to cut import duty on gold, points out M P Ahammed, Chairman, Malabar Gold and Diamonds.

The reduction of gold import duty from 10 per cent to 6 per cent has been a long-pending demand from the industry. Lowering the duty structure will not only revive sagging customer demand, it will also uplift business sentiments. We hope that the upcoming Budget respects the sentiments of the sector and a policy decision is made accordingly, Ahammed adds.

But how will this benefit the common man? If the duty is reduced to six per cent, the four per cent benefit will be directly passed on to customers. Also, gold smuggling will automatically come down as the rate of smuggling is usually two per cent lesser than the official duty, explains Daman Prakash Rathod, a director at MNC Bullion.

Echoing the same sentiments, T S Geena, a home maker in Kochi, says it is the duty of the finance minister to offer some relief after the demonetisation pain. She hopes the Budget will have some measures to encourage spending on gold. According to her, the Budget should also offer some clarity on how much gold she can possess.

Nitin Khandelwal, chairman of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, wants the goods and services tax (GST) rate to be 1.25 per cent for the gems and jewellery sector. Also, gold purchase up to `5 lakh should not require PAN, he says.

Import of gold is now confined to banks and nominated agencies. Khandelwal says more agencies should be given the opportunity to be enlisted to allow good competition and easy availability of gold across the country.

Hareesh V, research head at Geofin Comtrade, says that there are two options available now  gold exchange traded fund and sovereign gold bonds.

People are now moving towards gold bonds, which give 2.5 per cent return, exemption from tax and can be traded on the exchanges. Gold ETF gives good returns. The Budget is likely to provide measures to encourage these instruments.

KOCHI: Sijo Yohannan is a small businessman in Thrissur, Kerala. While most others are looking toward the Budget for tax sops, Yohannan is keenly watching the direction of gold prices. He intends to invest in gold but is waiting for the prices to come down. And, prices could indeed come down if the government accepts jewellers demand to cut import duty on gold, points out M P Ahammed, Chairman, Malabar Gold and Diamonds. The reduction of gold import duty from 10 per cent to 6 per cent has been a long-pending demand from the industry. Lowering the duty structure will not only revive sagging customer demand, it will also uplift business sentiments. We hope that the upcoming Budget respects the sentiments of the sector and a policy decision is made accordingly, Ahammed adds. But how will this benefit the common man? If the duty is reduced to six per cent, the four per cent benefit will be directly passed on to customers. Also, gold smuggling will automatically come down as the rate of smuggling is usually two per cent lesser than the official duty, explains Daman Prakash Rathod, a director at MNC Bullion. Echoing the same sentiments, T S Geena, a home maker in Kochi, says it is the duty of the finance minister to offer some relief after the demonetisation pain. She hopes the Budget will have some measures to encourage spending on gold. According to her, the Budget should also offer some clarity on how much gold she can possess. Nitin Khandelwal, chairman of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, wants the goods and services tax (GST) rate to be 1.25 per cent for the gems and jewellery sector. Also, gold purchase up to `5 lakh should not require PAN, he says. Import of gold is now confined to banks and nominated agencies. Khandelwal says more agencies should be given the opportunity to be enlisted to allow good competition and easy availability of gold across the country. Hareesh V, research head at Geofin Comtrade, says that there are two options available now  gold exchange traded fund and sovereign gold bonds. People are now moving towards gold bonds, which give 2.5 per cent return, exemption from tax and can be traded on the exchanges. Gold ETF gives good returns. The Budget is likely to provide measures to encourage these instruments.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Bringing another feather in the cap of IT and start-up hub Bengaluru, it has been rated as the world's most dynamic city in the annual JLL City Momentum Index (CMI). By doing so, it outranked US cities such as Silicon City (3), Austin (7) and Boston (9). Apart from Bengaluru, Hyderabad (5), Pune (13), Chennai (17), Mumbai (25) and Delhi (23) feature in the top 30 most dynamic cities list.

The ratings were released during the ongoing World Economic Forum meet at Davos, recently. The brand name of Bengaluru was hit; it can be recalled, due to alleged mass molestation incident recently. According to a release by JLL, the index "tracks the speed of change of a city's economy and commercial real estate market". It covers 134 major business hubs and "identifies cities that have the potential to maintain the greatest dynamism over the short and long term."

Apart from India, cities from China, Vietnam and USA dominate the list of countries with most dynamic cities.

"CMI highlights that, despite various political upheavals and ongoing economic uncertainties, many cities continue to show impressive dynamism. Keys to their success are the agility and openness that enable them to adapt quickly to each new wave of global change," said Jeremy Kelly, JLL Director of Global Research.

CMI Highlights

Asia Pacific cities comprise half of the top 30 fastest-changing cities. India has taken over China as home to some of the world's most dynamic cities.

The 134 cities covered by the CMI were assessed using 42 variables including recent and projected changes in city gross domestic product, population, corporate headquarter presence, commercial real estate construction and rents. Other factors included education, innovation and environment.

BENGALURU: Bringing another feather in the cap of IT and start-up hub Bengaluru, it has been rated as the world's most dynamic city in the annual JLL City Momentum Index (CMI). By doing so, it outranked US cities such as Silicon City (3), Austin (7) and Boston (9). Apart from Bengaluru, Hyderabad (5), Pune (13), Chennai (17), Mumbai (25) and Delhi (23) feature in the top 30 most dynamic cities list. The ratings were released during the ongoing World Economic Forum meet at Davos, recently. The brand name of Bengaluru was hit; it can be recalled, due to alleged mass molestation incident recently. According to a release by JLL, the index "tracks the speed of change of a city's economy and commercial real estate market". It covers 134 major business hubs and "identifies cities that have the potential to maintain the greatest dynamism over the short and long term." Apart from India, cities from China, Vietnam and USA dominate the list of countries with most dynamic cities. "CMI highlights that, despite various political upheavals and ongoing economic uncertainties, many cities continue to show impressive dynamism. Keys to their success are the agility and openness that enable them to adapt quickly to each new wave of global change," said Jeremy Kelly, JLL Director of Global Research. CMI Highlights Asia Pacific cities comprise half of the top 30 fastest-changing cities. India has taken over China as home to some of the world's most dynamic cities. The 134 cities covered by the CMI were assessed using 42 variables including recent and projected changes in city gross domestic product, population, corporate headquarter presence, commercial real estate construction and rents. Other factors included education, innovation and environment.
Ramzauva Chhakchhuak By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Every year, thousands of Indians who can afford to study abroad usually flock to the UK and the US. The past year has seen a number of political shifts in these two countries that has made many students from the city and across the country anxious about going to these destinations.

Declining Numbers

As it is the number of Indian students going to the UK was declining over the past few years and the Brexit and subsequent plans to make the visa and immigration rules more stringent, seems like the last nail in the coffin. City residents like Joe Benjamin from the city whose original plan was to go, changed his mind. I was looking at the UK to do a masters course. My college had a tie-up with a few institutions there.

However I realized that the situation would not be good. There are other countries like Canada, New Zealand that offer better provisions like a longer staying period after passing out, he says. Joe has got admissions to a college in New Zealand and will be going there in a months time. As per figures of the UKs Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), a government agency, there was a 9 per cent decline in the number of students going to UK in 2015-16. Between 2010 and last year there was a decline of a whopping 44 percent in the number of students which as the report states is 13,150 less enrolments than in 2011-12. The fact that the pound sterling declined leading to cheaper tuition fees for Indians has also not encouraged Indian students enough. Fees declined by around 10 to 15 percent soon after the Brexit for Indian students.

Greener Pastures

Poornima Swami, a senior counselor with Newstrides, an overseas education consultant agency in the citysays that the number of students she is sending to places like Ireland has increased dramatically. The number of students we have sent to the UK is hardly around 10 in recent memory. The numbers are however increasing for Ireland. Just last year we sent as many as 120 to 130 students. This has been steadily increasing over the years and the Brexit has made things worse for the UK. More student friendly policies like more working hours during the studying period, one year period to find a job after passing out have further spurred the students to choose Ireland, she says.

Land of Dreams

With regards to the US, it seems people are more worried about the uncertainty on various policies such as immigration after Donald Trumps victory. The Open Doors Report, published annually by the Institute of International Education, says that there were 1.65 lakh Indian students studying in the US in 2015-16 and this was 24.9 per cent higher than the year before. This however does not mean that students are not skeptical.

ww Uncertain Air

Arjun Padmakumar, completed his bachelors and masters degree in the city and is looking to study and settle abroad. He wants to do a management course in the US. Studying in the USA is a big investment. I feel there is a lot of speculation and a lack of clarity at the moment on many issues and therefore do not want to risk anything by going there, he says. He is also simultaneously looking at options in New Zealand, Canada and Singapore. A Times Higher Education report published last year in November expressed concerns wwwof aspirants like Arjun. The report speculated a a decline (in students) in the wake of Donald Trump being elected as president.

Chandni Doulatramani is a former media professional who has applied to a number of Ivy League universities in the US like Cornell, Brown and Columbia says that she was definitely concerned about the prevalent situation in the US. However it would not deter her from applying there.The head of a well known education consultancy that has sent many students to the US says: It is too early to know what impact Trump and his policies will have on Indian students.

BENGALURU: Every year, thousands of Indians who can afford to study abroad usually flock to the UK and the US. The past year has seen a number of political shifts in these two countries that has made many students from the city and across the country anxious about going to these destinations. Declining Numbers As it is the number of Indian students going to the UK was declining over the past few years and the Brexit and subsequent plans to make the visa and immigration rules more stringent, seems like the last nail in the coffin. City residents like Joe Benjamin from the city whose original plan was to go, changed his mind. I was looking at the UK to do a masters course. My college had a tie-up with a few institutions there. However I realized that the situation would not be good. There are other countries like Canada, New Zealand that offer better provisions like a longer staying period after passing out, he says. Joe has got admissions to a college in New Zealand and will be going there in a months time. As per figures of the UKs Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), a government agency, there was a 9 per cent decline in the number of students going to UK in 2015-16. Between 2010 and last year there was a decline of a whopping 44 percent in the number of students which as the report states is 13,150 less enrolments than in 2011-12. The fact that the pound sterling declined leading to cheaper tuition fees for Indians has also not encouraged Indian students enough. Fees declined by around 10 to 15 percent soon after the Brexit for Indian students. Greener Pastures Poornima Swami, a senior counselor with Newstrides, an overseas education consultant agency in the citysays that the number of students she is sending to places like Ireland has increased dramatically. The number of students we have sent to the UK is hardly around 10 in recent memory. The numbers are however increasing for Ireland. Just last year we sent as many as 120 to 130 students. This has been steadily increasing over the years and the Brexit has made things worse for the UK. More student friendly policies like more working hours during the studying period, one year period to find a job after passing out have further spurred the students to choose Ireland, she says. Land of Dreams With regards to the US, it seems people are more worried about the uncertainty on various policies such as immigration after Donald Trumps victory. The Open Doors Report, published annually by the Institute of International Education, says that there were 1.65 lakh Indian students studying in the US in 2015-16 and this was 24.9 per cent higher than the year before. This however does not mean that students are not skeptical. ww Uncertain Air Arjun Padmakumar, completed his bachelors and masters degree in the city and is looking to study and settle abroad. He wants to do a management course in the US. Studying in the USA is a big investment. I feel there is a lot of speculation and a lack of clarity at the moment on many issues and therefore do not want to risk anything by going there, he says. He is also simultaneously looking at options in New Zealand, Canada and Singapore. A Times Higher Education report published last year in November expressed concerns wwwof aspirants like Arjun. The report speculated a a decline (in students) in the wake of Donald Trump being elected as president. Chandni Doulatramani is a former media professional who has applied to a number of Ivy League universities in the US like Cornell, Brown and Columbia says that she was definitely concerned about the prevalent situation in the US. However it would not deter her from applying there.The head of a well known education consultancy that has sent many students to the US says: It is too early to know what impact Trump and his policies will have on Indian students.
Vandhana Srinivasan By

Online Desk

Chennais Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), which is an IT hub, saw techies stroll out on to the roads and join the protest in large numbers against the ban on Jallikattu. The protest which started at the Marina beach yesterday found its way into various areas of the city today, starting with IT parks on OMR.

The protest started around 8 am in the morning on Wednesday outside these IT parks, following the circulation of a poster invite via WhatsApp and Facebook.

According to sources, employees were called out to join the protests through a message circulation via WhatsApp and facebook that had details of the venue, date, time, dress code (black-colour clothes) and a note, saying no political interference would be appreciated.

A few youngsters in black shirts were seen starting off the protest outside the ELCOT IT park, which hosts three major companies, namely Wipro, Cognizant and HCL. They were well prepared and seemingly well-funded, having ready printed vinyl posters for the event.

Later the crowd started swarming in and the number of protestors grew close to a thousand outside the main entrance. Colleagues across designations, including team leaders, and other management-level staff were seen among the protestors.

The protestors, who were mainly against the ban on Jallikatu and the animal rights organisation PETA, even vented their ire against foreign organisations by buying a large number of bottles of Pepsi and Coca Cola and breaking them by smashing them on the ground during the protest outside ELCOT.

Their reasoning was that they were expressing support and solidarity towards Tamil Nadus farmers who they say are affected by such foreign organisations like PETA, and by extension to like Pepsi and Coca Cola, which are also headquartered abroad.

At Kandanchavadi, RMZ IT parks two main entry and exit gates were flooded with more than 500-1,000 people protesting with banners, hoardings and posters. They were shouting slogans in a chorus saying, Ban PETA. Jallikattu is our right and our culture. One of the protestors, speaking for a group of them, said, We support farmers; this ban indirectly affects the agricultural sector and the farmers.

Sources said that AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam were major targets of the protestors ire. The crowd called out to Sasikala, questioning her on the Tamil Nadu CMs tight-lipped status on the issue.

Several IT parks across Chennai  from Tidel Park in Taramani and ELCOT in Medavakkam to Accenture CDC 3 on Old Mahabalipuram Road, Karapakkam IT park, TCS in Velachery and DLF IT park near Porur, and Ambit IT park in Ambattur Industrial Estate witnessed similar protests outside their premises. The employees and outsiders were seen peacefully protesting on the pavements.

The protests, which were continuing in full swing outside the IT parks, are expected to last till the night, with some protesters planning to join the Marina crowd later.

The ongoing Jallikattu protests that spread like wildfire engulfing the whole of Tamil Nadu, started a few days ago in a small manner in some parts and bourgeoned yesterday evening at the Marina, with the army of youngsters swelling as more continue to join the protest.

Chennais Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), which is an IT hub, saw techies stroll out on to the roads and join the protest in large numbers against the ban on Jallikattu. The protest which started at the Marina beach yesterday found its way into various areas of the city today, starting with IT parks on OMR. The protest started around 8 am in the morning on Wednesday outside these IT parks, following the circulation of a poster invite via WhatsApp and Facebook. According to sources, employees were called out to join the protests through a message circulation via WhatsApp and facebook that had details of the venue, date, time, dress code (black-colour clothes) and a note, saying no political interference would be appreciated. A few youngsters in black shirts were seen starting off the protest outside the ELCOT IT park, which hosts three major companies, namely Wipro, Cognizant and HCL. They were well prepared and seemingly well-funded, having ready printed vinyl posters for the event. Later the crowd started swarming in and the number of protestors grew close to a thousand outside the main entrance. Colleagues across designations, including team leaders, and other management-level staff were seen among the protestors. The protestors, who were mainly against the ban on Jallikatu and the animal rights organisation PETA, even vented their ire against foreign organisations by buying a large number of bottles of Pepsi and Coca Cola and breaking them by smashing them on the ground during the protest outside ELCOT. Their reasoning was that they were expressing support and solidarity towards Tamil Nadus farmers who they say are affected by such foreign organisations like PETA, and by extension to like Pepsi and Coca Cola, which are also headquartered abroad. At Kandanchavadi, RMZ IT parks two main entry and exit gates were flooded with more than 500-1,000 people protesting with banners, hoardings and posters. They were shouting slogans in a chorus saying, Ban PETA. Jallikattu is our right and our culture. One of the protestors, speaking for a group of them, said, We support farmers; this ban indirectly affects the agricultural sector and the farmers. Sources said that AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam were major targets of the protestors ire. The crowd called out to Sasikala, questioning her on the Tamil Nadu CMs tight-lipped status on the issue. Several IT parks across Chennai  from Tidel Park in Taramani and ELCOT in Medavakkam to Accenture CDC 3 on Old Mahabalipuram Road, Karapakkam IT park, TCS in Velachery and DLF IT park near Porur, and Ambit IT park in Ambattur Industrial Estate witnessed similar protests outside their premises. The employees and outsiders were seen peacefully protesting on the pavements. The protests, which were continuing in full swing outside the IT parks, are expected to last till the night, with some protesters planning to join the Marina crowd later. The ongoing Jallikattu protests that spread like wildfire engulfing the whole of Tamil Nadu, started a few days ago in a small manner in some parts and bourgeoned yesterday evening at the Marina, with the army of youngsters swelling as more continue to join the protest.
By Express News Service

The mass gathering of a near-thousand people in support of Jallikattu at the Marina beach in Chennai has been continuing now for more than 24 hours. Contrary to expectation, the crowd managed to stay put on the beach overnight. Here are six reasons why this protest is unique:

1. No visible single organiser for the protest. Most of them assembled there don't even know each other.

2. It is perhaps the first such mass protest organised through social media in Tamil Nadu. Most of those who arrived at Marina had simply seen messages on social media and volunteered to join the protest at the beach.

3. There is no political party backing for the protest. In fact, when a few politicians visited the spot, they were told to keep their party flags away.

4. No particular demography, though most are youngsters. People from different walks of life have joined.

5. Food and water are being supplied to the protestors by volunteers who widely circulated their numbers on social media.

6. They did not welcome media support. In fact, many of them were seen displaying contempt for the media. A few of them even threw water bottles at cameramen and asked people not to give any interviews to the press.

The mass gathering of a near-thousand people in support of Jallikattu at the Marina beach in Chennai has been continuing now for more than 24 hours. Contrary to expectation, the crowd managed to stay put on the beach overnight. Here are six reasons why this protest is unique: 1. No visible single organiser for the protest. Most of them assembled there don't even know each other. 2. It is perhaps the first such mass protest organised through social media in Tamil Nadu. Most of those who arrived at Marina had simply seen messages on social media and volunteered to join the protest at the beach. 3. There is no political party backing for the protest. In fact, when a few politicians visited the spot, they were told to keep their party flags away. 4. No particular demography, though most are youngsters. People from different walks of life have joined. 5. Food and water are being supplied to the protestors by volunteers who widely circulated their numbers on social media. 6. They did not welcome media support. In fact, many of them were seen displaying contempt for the media. A few of them even threw water bottles at cameramen and asked people not to give any interviews to the press.
By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: In yet another daring incident of breaking into a bank, an unidentified three-member gang entered into the safe vault of a nationalised bank by using a gas welding machine to cut the iron grills and also the lockers and decamped valuables from the bank situated on R K Mutt Road in Mylapore.

We suspect around 130 sovereigns of valuables stolen but the bank has not mentioned any specific amount that has been decamped, said a senior police officer

The incident came to light on Wednesday morning, when the staff of the United Bank of India in charge of the vault entered the room to check the lockers, when he found the doors of two cupboards tampered with and the front grill damaged.

Police suspect that the incident happened in the last four days when the bank was closed for Pongal holidays and the burglars gained access through a school ground to which the iron grill is facing.

Burglars have entered the ground floor of the two-storey building through the window by breaking the glass panel and cut the grill and the locker doors with the gas welding machine and they had left back all the three machines they had used, pointed the source.

The trio broke around two lockers and decamped valuables and fled the scene the same way, said a senior police officer.

The bank has minimum of 300 small lockers at the safe vault, where customers have deposited their valuables and jewels. As soon as the bank manager learnt about the incident, he informed the police who rushed to the spot. A board, branch closed due to technical problem, was displayed on the gate.

COIMBATORE: In yet another daring incident of breaking into a bank, an unidentified three-member gang entered into the safe vault of a nationalised bank by using a gas welding machine to cut the iron grills and also the lockers and decamped valuables from the bank situated on R K Mutt Road in Mylapore. We suspect around 130 sovereigns of valuables stolen but the bank has not mentioned any specific amount that has been decamped, said a senior police officer The incident came to light on Wednesday morning, when the staff of the United Bank of India in charge of the vault entered the room to check the lockers, when he found the doors of two cupboards tampered with and the front grill damaged. Police suspect that the incident happened in the last four days when the bank was closed for Pongal holidays and the burglars gained access through a school ground to which the iron grill is facing. Burglars have entered the ground floor of the two-storey building through the window by breaking the glass panel and cut the grill and the locker doors with the gas welding machine and they had left back all the three machines they had used, pointed the source. The trio broke around two lockers and decamped valuables and fled the scene the same way, said a senior police officer. The bank has minimum of 300 small lockers at the safe vault, where customers have deposited their valuables and jewels. As soon as the bank manager learnt about the incident, he informed the police who rushed to the spot. A board, branch closed due to technical problem, was displayed on the gate.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In an unusual move, the Centre has in public interest compulsorily retired two senior IPS officers from service for non performance. The officers relieved from service include Rajkumar Dewangan (1992-batch, Chhattisgarh cadre) and Mayank Sheel Chohan (1998-batch, AGMU cadre).

The move came after routine review of performance that is conducted at the end of 15 years and 25 years of service under the service rules governing the All-India services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS). During review by the state cadres and on the basis of service records and Annual Confidential Reports, the two officers were found to have been performing sub-optimally after which the state Governments recommended their compulsory retirement to the Centre.

The Union Home Ministry (the cadre-controlling authority of IPS officers) approved the respective recommendation of the related state cadres to compulsorily retire them from service, official sources said.

Chohan, a Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officer is alleged to be in possession of disproportionate assets and remained absent from service without due authorisation during his tenure in Arunachal Pradesh.

Dewangana is an Inspector General of Police (IGP) rank officer who was facing a Departmental Enquiry (DE) in connection with a 1998 case relating to an incident of loot that occurred during his tenure as SP in Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh.

Premature retirement of IPS officers comes after almost two decades. The last time such an action was taken related to two officers of Maharashhtra cadre about 20 years back.

According to the rules for compulsory retirement, the officers were served notices, were given three months salary and compulsory retirement orders duly approved by the ACC (Appointments Committee of the Cabinet).

Compulsory retirement is not considered a punishment as per the rules and the affected officers will be entitled to post-retirement benefits including pension. According to the rules, when the Centre in consultation with the State Government decides to compulsorily retire an officer, he or she is either given at least three months notice in writing or three month's pay and allowances in lieu of such notice. In the case of Chohan and Dewangan, the Centre decided to pay them three months salary.

The compulsory retirement provision is mentioned under Rule 16 (3) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement) Benefits Rules, 1958. The performance of an officer is reviewed after he or she completes 15 years of qualifying service or attains 25 years of service or attains 50 years of age. In the absence of such a review after 15 or 25 years or upon attainment of 50 years of service, the Centre may ask the State Government to conduct such a review of an officer at any time it deems fit.

NEW DELHI: In an unusual move, the Centre has in public interest compulsorily retired two senior IPS officers from service for non performance. The officers relieved from service include Rajkumar Dewangan (1992-batch, Chhattisgarh cadre) and Mayank Sheel Chohan (1998-batch, AGMU cadre). The move came after routine review of performance that is conducted at the end of 15 years and 25 years of service under the service rules governing the All-India services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS). During review by the state cadres and on the basis of service records and Annual Confidential Reports, the two officers were found to have been performing sub-optimally after which the state Governments recommended their compulsory retirement to the Centre. The Union Home Ministry (the cadre-controlling authority of IPS officers) approved the respective recommendation of the related state cadres to compulsorily retire them from service, official sources said. Chohan, a Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officer is alleged to be in possession of disproportionate assets and remained absent from service without due authorisation during his tenure in Arunachal Pradesh. Dewangana is an Inspector General of Police (IGP) rank officer who was facing a Departmental Enquiry (DE) in connection with a 1998 case relating to an incident of loot that occurred during his tenure as SP in Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh. Premature retirement of IPS officers comes after almost two decades. The last time such an action was taken related to two officers of Maharashhtra cadre about 20 years back. According to the rules for compulsory retirement, the officers were served notices, were given three months salary and compulsory retirement orders duly approved by the ACC (Appointments Committee of the Cabinet). Compulsory retirement is not considered a punishment as per the rules and the affected officers will be entitled to post-retirement benefits including pension. According to the rules, when the Centre in consultation with the State Government decides to compulsorily retire an officer, he or she is either given at least three months notice in writing or three month's pay and allowances in lieu of such notice. In the case of Chohan and Dewangan, the Centre decided to pay them three months salary. The compulsory retirement provision is mentioned under Rule 16 (3) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement) Benefits Rules, 1958. The performance of an officer is reviewed after he or she completes 15 years of qualifying service or attains 25 years of service or attains 50 years of age. In the absence of such a review after 15 or 25 years or upon attainment of 50 years of service, the Centre may ask the State Government to conduct such a review of an officer at any time it deems fit.
By ANI

KOLKATA: In what can spark a fresh controversy, Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid in Kolkata, Syed Mohammad Nurur R Barkati has said that girls should avoid wearing short clothes if they want to protect themselves from getting raped or murdered.

Asserting that boys get excited on seeing girls in short dresses, he added that girls should dress up decently to save themselves from the lust of men.

Girls these days wear too short dresses and very revealing shirts. We are not stopping them from wearing dresses but, they should avoid wearing short clothes to save themselves from the lust of men, Barkati told ANI.

He also said that short dresses result into rape and murder.

Earlier on January 13, he had dictated dress code for women, saying Hindu or Muslim, Indian women should veil themselves, ascribing to Hindustani culture.

Barkatis remark comes days after Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi drew huge flak for his obnoxious statement on girls dressing style.

Azmi had said that nudity has become a new fashion in India, adding that women need to be cautious and should take care of their own security.

KOLKATA: In what can spark a fresh controversy, Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid in Kolkata, Syed Mohammad Nurur R Barkati has said that girls should avoid wearing short clothes if they want to protect themselves from getting raped or murdered. Asserting that boys get excited on seeing girls in short dresses, he added that girls should dress up decently to save themselves from the lust of men. Girls these days wear too short dresses and very revealing shirts. We are not stopping them from wearing dresses but, they should avoid wearing short clothes to save themselves from the lust of men, Barkati told ANI. He also said that short dresses result into rape and murder. Earlier on January 13, he had dictated dress code for women, saying Hindu or Muslim, Indian women should veil themselves, ascribing to Hindustani culture. Barkatis remark comes days after Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi drew huge flak for his obnoxious statement on girls dressing style. Azmi had said that nudity has become a new fashion in India, adding that women need to be cautious and should take care of their own security.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Fortune smiled on some ATM goers in an Assam town on Tuesday evening, for they went home with four times the money they had sought.

It was a United Bank of India (UBI) ATM in central Assams Jamunamukh that rained cash due to a system error.

According to UBI authorities, nearly Rs.7 lakh had been withdrawn by the time they realized the machine was malfunctioning.

The machine malfunctioned due to a system error. The ATM slots had banknotes of Rs.2000 and Rs.500 but when a customer sought Rs.1000, he received two notes of Rs.2000, Krishna Bhowmick, UBIs Jamunamukh branch manager, told Express.

He is optimistic about getting back the extra money.

We are hoping that we will be able to trace the transactions to people and make them return what doesnt belong to them, he said.

By the time the police were informed, dozens of people had returned home, unexpectedly richer.

When we reached the ATM kiosk, we noticed a mad rush of the customers. Eventually, we managed to disperse them, a police inspector said.

GUWAHATI: Fortune smiled on some ATM goers in an Assam town on Tuesday evening, for they went home with four times the money they had sought. It was a United Bank of India (UBI) ATM in central Assams Jamunamukh that rained cash due to a system error. According to UBI authorities, nearly Rs.7 lakh had been withdrawn by the time they realized the machine was malfunctioning. The machine malfunctioned due to a system error. The ATM slots had banknotes of Rs.2000 and Rs.500 but when a customer sought Rs.1000, he received two notes of Rs.2000, Krishna Bhowmick, UBIs Jamunamukh branch manager, told Express. He is optimistic about getting back the extra money. We are hoping that we will be able to trace the transactions to people and make them return what doesnt belong to them, he said. By the time the police were informed, dozens of people had returned home, unexpectedly richer. When we reached the ATM kiosk, we noticed a mad rush of the customers. Eventually, we managed to disperse them, a police inspector said.
Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: In a shocking incident, a woman in Bihar so vehemently hated the idea of having to raise a second daughter that she killed the six-day-old infant girl by dumping her in the safety tank of her toilet.

The incident in the central Bihar district of Samastipur heightened worries for the state as it faces a rapidly declining sex ratio. Police took the woman, Pinky Devi, into custody and said though she denied that she killed her six-day-old second daughter, there is enough circumstantial evidence to prove it she did so.

She was very unhappy when a second daughter was born to her. So on the day of the newborns Chhathi (traditional sixth-day ritual), she killed her brutally, said Samastipur SP Nawal Kishore Singh, describing the incident that took place on Saturday.

When Pinky Devis family was engaged in planning to celebrate the newborn girls Chhathi rituals in the night, the womans mother-in-law was astonished to find the newborn nowhere in the house, said police. When the old woman asked Pinky Devi where the new girl is, she casually said she must be somewhere in the house. But when a search around the house did not lead to the infants finding and the old woman insisted for an answer, Pinky Devi reportedly said that some animal light have taken her away.

The family then looked for the infant everywhere in the village, Ranitol under Mufassil police station, but failed to trace her. Meanwhile, the mother-in-law got suspicious by seeing Pinky Devi visiting the toilet in the house unusually frequently. Seeing the lid of the toilet tank kept out of its normal manner raised her suspicion and a look at the tank led to the finding of the infants body there.

Pinky Devi seems to have first killed the infant and then dumped the body in the toilet tank to avert attention. She did it when the entire family had gone out to the local marketplace to buy necessities for the Chhathi ritual, said the SP.

The accused has denied that she killed the infant. If her mother-in-law also denies the charge, we will ensure that a case is made out on the basis of circumstantial evidence, he added.

Bihars sex ratio fell from 924 in 2013 to 868 in 2014, according to figures released recently by Civil Registration System (CRS). The sex ratio in the states urban areas, assumed to be more literate, remains poorer than that in the rural belt. Capital Patna figures among the top five poorly performing districts in the state.

PATNA: In a shocking incident, a woman in Bihar so vehemently hated the idea of having to raise a second daughter that she killed the six-day-old infant girl by dumping her in the safety tank of her toilet. The incident in the central Bihar district of Samastipur heightened worries for the state as it faces a rapidly declining sex ratio. Police took the woman, Pinky Devi, into custody and said though she denied that she killed her six-day-old second daughter, there is enough circumstantial evidence to prove it she did so. She was very unhappy when a second daughter was born to her. So on the day of the newborns Chhathi (traditional sixth-day ritual), she killed her brutally, said Samastipur SP Nawal Kishore Singh, describing the incident that took place on Saturday. When Pinky Devis family was engaged in planning to celebrate the newborn girls Chhathi rituals in the night, the womans mother-in-law was astonished to find the newborn nowhere in the house, said police. When the old woman asked Pinky Devi where the new girl is, she casually said she must be somewhere in the house. But when a search around the house did not lead to the infants finding and the old woman insisted for an answer, Pinky Devi reportedly said that some animal light have taken her away. The family then looked for the infant everywhere in the village, Ranitol under Mufassil police station, but failed to trace her. Meanwhile, the mother-in-law got suspicious by seeing Pinky Devi visiting the toilet in the house unusually frequently. Seeing the lid of the toilet tank kept out of its normal manner raised her suspicion and a look at the tank led to the finding of the infants body there. Pinky Devi seems to have first killed the infant and then dumped the body in the toilet tank to avert attention. She did it when the entire family had gone out to the local marketplace to buy necessities for the Chhathi ritual, said the SP. The accused has denied that she killed the infant. If her mother-in-law also denies the charge, we will ensure that a case is made out on the basis of circumstantial evidence, he added. Bihars sex ratio fell from 924 in 2013 to 868 in 2014, according to figures released recently by Civil Registration System (CRS). The sex ratio in the states urban areas, assumed to be more literate, remains poorer than that in the rural belt. Capital Patna figures among the top five poorly performing districts in the state.
Rakesh K Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The security and Intelligence agencies are baffled over the revelation by the three persons arrested by Bihar police that the derailment of Indore-Patna Express was the handiwork of Pakistans covert agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and have rushed their sleuths to the State to quiz the accused persons.



While the Union Home Ministry has rushed a two-member team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to Bihar, officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) have also joined the interrogation of the accused persons in order to unravel the larger conspiracy involving ISI agents operating out of Nepal and United Arab Emirates (UAE).



The Union Home Ministry has also sought reports from the Bihar Government and the IB in connection with the arrest of Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar and Mukesh Yadav and their disclosures to Bihar Police. The Centre has also sought a report from RAW about ISI activities in Nepal and India besides UAE. Both the Patna desk and Nepal mission of RAW have been asked to closely track the issue, top Government sources said.



The role of the ISI and their agents is being probed by the agencies even as the sleuths are verifying the claims of the arrested persons. If the trios claim is confirmed, the train derailment would be the first case wherein the ISI agents have directly acted to carry out a terror plot within the Indian territory, a senior Union Home Ministry official said, adding in earlier cases the ISI used to use its proxies like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad to hit targets in the hinterland.



This could also be the first of its kind case in which Hindus have been directly used by the ISI to carry out terror attacks and that too on railway infrastructure, the official further said.



An Intelligence source said the linkages between the ISI and international terror group Street Daawah is also being probed. Street Daawah is active in the Terai region of Nepal and recruits non-Muslims for its terror agenda including suicide bombings.



The Bihar police had arrested Paswan, Shankar and Yadav on Tuesday from East Champaran district and the trio told the district police that it was paid Rs 3 lakh to plant explosives at Ghorasahan in the district on October 1, 2016.



They also told the police that ISI agents had paid Rs 30 lakh to its agent Brajesh Giri for triggering blasts on rail tracks targeting popular trains in Bihar, the official said.



The Intelligence agencies are now in the lookout for two more suspects Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav hailing from the district for their alleged links with the arrested accused.



Following the revelations by the Bihar Police, the role of ISI in recent train derailments in Kanpur is also being suspected. The Bihar police had on Tuesday claimed that the ISI link to the November 20 train derailment in Kanpur is being suspected after questioning of the trio. As many as 150 passengers were killed in the Indore-Patna Express train disaster.

NEW DELHI: The security and Intelligence agencies are baffled over the revelation by the three persons arrested by Bihar police that the derailment of Indore-Patna Express was the handiwork of Pakistans covert agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and have rushed their sleuths to the State to quiz the accused persons. While the Union Home Ministry has rushed a two-member team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to Bihar, officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) have also joined the interrogation of the accused persons in order to unravel the larger conspiracy involving ISI agents operating out of Nepal and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Union Home Ministry has also sought reports from the Bihar Government and the IB in connection with the arrest of Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar and Mukesh Yadav and their disclosures to Bihar Police. The Centre has also sought a report from RAW about ISI activities in Nepal and India besides UAE. Both the Patna desk and Nepal mission of RAW have been asked to closely track the issue, top Government sources said. The role of the ISI and their agents is being probed by the agencies even as the sleuths are verifying the claims of the arrested persons. If the trios claim is confirmed, the train derailment would be the first case wherein the ISI agents have directly acted to carry out a terror plot within the Indian territory, a senior Union Home Ministry official said, adding in earlier cases the ISI used to use its proxies like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad to hit targets in the hinterland. This could also be the first of its kind case in which Hindus have been directly used by the ISI to carry out terror attacks and that too on railway infrastructure, the official further said. An Intelligence source said the linkages between the ISI and international terror group Street Daawah is also being probed. Street Daawah is active in the Terai region of Nepal and recruits non-Muslims for its terror agenda including suicide bombings. The Bihar police had arrested Paswan, Shankar and Yadav on Tuesday from East Champaran district and the trio told the district police that it was paid Rs 3 lakh to plant explosives at Ghorasahan in the district on October 1, 2016. They also told the police that ISI agents had paid Rs 30 lakh to its agent Brajesh Giri for triggering blasts on rail tracks targeting popular trains in Bihar, the official said. The Intelligence agencies are now in the lookout for two more suspects Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav hailing from the district for their alleged links with the arrested accused. Following the revelations by the Bihar Police, the role of ISI in recent train derailments in Kanpur is also being suspected. The Bihar police had on Tuesday claimed that the ISI link to the November 20 train derailment in Kanpur is being suspected after questioning of the trio. As many as 150 passengers were killed in the Indore-Patna Express train disaster.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Weeks before the Assembly elections, the Centre on Wednesday asked Manipur government to end the ongoing logjam in the State to ensure peaceful polls and also offered to rush more paramilitary forces to remove the blockade on the states supply lines.



We have asked Manipur CM to ensure the normalcy is restored immediately as the state is going to polls in two phases. The Centre will send more paramilitary forces if required, a senior official of the Union Home Ministry said.



Last week, the Centre had rushed 40 companies of the central paramilitary forces Manipur in addition to the 135 companies that are already stationed there.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh met the Union home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Wednesday evening and apprised him of the prevailing situation in the State where the United Naga Council (UNC) had imposed an economic blockade on the states two supply lines, National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur road) and National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam road).

The Centre cannot directly intervene in lifting the blockade as it was a law and order problem which is the domain of the State government.

We can take over the National Highway which is our property but the removal of the blockade and people from NH-2 is the state governments responsibility, the official elaborated.

The UNC had imposed an economic blockade since November against the Okram Ibobi Singh governments plan to create new districts by bifurcating the state's Naga-inhabited areas.

On January 4, the Manipur CM had rushed to Delhi and met the President Pranab Mukherjee and Election Commission (EC) officials following speculation that Presidents rule could be imposed in the State.

The state government is now under EC control and the Centre has no direct role to play. We can only assist the state government in lifting the blockade, the official further said.

The Union Home Ministry is closely monitoring the law and order situation in Manipur and the Centre was not in a hurry to clamp Presidents rule.

Imposing Presidents rule is an extreme step and it is resorted to when all the state machinery collapses. We are helping the state government to restore normalcy there and sent a report to the EC about the prevailing hostile situation. Now the EC has to take a call.

NEW DELHI: Weeks before the Assembly elections, the Centre on Wednesday asked Manipur government to end the ongoing logjam in the State to ensure peaceful polls and also offered to rush more paramilitary forces to remove the blockade on the states supply lines. We have asked Manipur CM to ensure the normalcy is restored immediately as the state is going to polls in two phases. The Centre will send more paramilitary forces if required, a senior official of the Union Home Ministry said. Last week, the Centre had rushed 40 companies of the central paramilitary forces Manipur in addition to the 135 companies that are already stationed there. Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh met the Union home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Wednesday evening and apprised him of the prevailing situation in the State where the United Naga Council (UNC) had imposed an economic blockade on the states two supply lines, National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur road) and National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam road). The Centre cannot directly intervene in lifting the blockade as it was a law and order problem which is the domain of the State government. We can take over the National Highway which is our property but the removal of the blockade and people from NH-2 is the state governments responsibility, the official elaborated. The UNC had imposed an economic blockade since November against the Okram Ibobi Singh governments plan to create new districts by bifurcating the state's Naga-inhabited areas. On January 4, the Manipur CM had rushed to Delhi and met the President Pranab Mukherjee and Election Commission (EC) officials following speculation that Presidents rule could be imposed in the State. The state government is now under EC control and the Centre has no direct role to play. We can only assist the state government in lifting the blockade, the official further said. The Union Home Ministry is closely monitoring the law and order situation in Manipur and the Centre was not in a hurry to clamp Presidents rule. Imposing Presidents rule is an extreme step and it is resorted to when all the state machinery collapses. We are helping the state government to restore normalcy there and sent a report to the EC about the prevailing hostile situation. Now the EC has to take a call.
Santwana Bhattacharya By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Ownership over the cycle established, the heirs of the two most powerful political families of Uttar Pradesh  Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi  are all set to tie their parties in an electoral alliance for the coming Assembly polls, in a day or two. Whether it will be a Bihar-like grand alliance or just a three party tie-up, inclusive of Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal playing the junior partner, will depend on how fast Akhilesh can ride his cycle into the fray to clinch the seat-sharing talks.

If sources are to be believed, apart from the Congress, hectic talks are on with smaller outfits in the State, like the Apna Dal faction led by Union Minister Anupriya Patels mother Krishna Patel, the Peace Party chief Mohamed Ayub and a few others; as well as Nitish Kumars JD-U and Sharad Pawars NCP. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, have both volunteered to campaign for Akhileshs grand-alliance to keep the BJP at bay. In exchange, one or two seats may be given their parties, TMC and RJD, though they have apparently not made any demands.

As for the Congress, the seat-sharing talks have been held by Ghulam Nabi Azad and Priyanka Gandhi, with Prashant Kishor giving constituency-wise inputs, and Akhilesh and Ram Gopal Yadav on the other side. The Congress is likely to contest around 103 seats, the SP around 270-275 seats. Anything less than 100, Azad seems to have said during the negotiations, would be infra-dig for the GOP.

Particularly, since it had planned to contest all the 403 seats on its own and had even projected former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit as the Chief Ministerial hopeful. (Dikshit has since rather gracefully bowed out, allowing the alliance to happen). As part of the strategy, SP may get to suggest candidates for 14 of the Congress 103 seats. What has really worked for the GOP is the informal agreement that 9-11 seats in the Amethi-Rae Bareli-Sultanpur belt would go to the Congress kitty.

NEW DELHI: Ownership over the cycle established, the heirs of the two most powerful political families of Uttar Pradesh  Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi  are all set to tie their parties in an electoral alliance for the coming Assembly polls, in a day or two. Whether it will be a Bihar-like grand alliance or just a three party tie-up, inclusive of Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal playing the junior partner, will depend on how fast Akhilesh can ride his cycle into the fray to clinch the seat-sharing talks. If sources are to be believed, apart from the Congress, hectic talks are on with smaller outfits in the State, like the Apna Dal faction led by Union Minister Anupriya Patels mother Krishna Patel, the Peace Party chief Mohamed Ayub and a few others; as well as Nitish Kumars JD-U and Sharad Pawars NCP. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, have both volunteered to campaign for Akhileshs grand-alliance to keep the BJP at bay. In exchange, one or two seats may be given their parties, TMC and RJD, though they have apparently not made any demands. As for the Congress, the seat-sharing talks have been held by Ghulam Nabi Azad and Priyanka Gandhi, with Prashant Kishor giving constituency-wise inputs, and Akhilesh and Ram Gopal Yadav on the other side. The Congress is likely to contest around 103 seats, the SP around 270-275 seats. Anything less than 100, Azad seems to have said during the negotiations, would be infra-dig for the GOP. Particularly, since it had planned to contest all the 403 seats on its own and had even projected former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit as the Chief Ministerial hopeful. (Dikshit has since rather gracefully bowed out, allowing the alliance to happen). As part of the strategy, SP may get to suggest candidates for 14 of the Congress 103 seats. What has really worked for the GOP is the informal agreement that 9-11 seats in the Amethi-Rae Bareli-Sultanpur belt would go to the Congress kitty.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Ending wait for nearly two decades, Indian army will finally get modern ballistic helmets to all its jawans fighting terrorism in J&K and Northeast.

Ministry of defence, in December, cleared Indian armys proposal to procure 1. 58 lakh ballistic helmets to an Indian firm worth Rs. 170-180 crore and delivery can be expected from August, said a senior ministry official.

Sources said that the new helmets are designed to bear the impact of 9 mm ammunition fired from a short range, meeting the global standard for protection among leading armed forces.

Indian army soldiers, only wear bulletproof patka and that can only give protection on forehead and back of the head. But is quite heavy weight around 2. 5 kilograms.

We want to provide them personal armour including latest ballistic helmets, bulletproof jackets and weapons. The aim is to give out soldiers not only lethality but survivability, army chief gen Bipin Rawat has said.

A Kanpur-based Indian company, MKU Industries, has been given the contract to manufacture within a span of three years. Indian jawans earlier used to get Israel made OR-201 helmet made of Glass Reinforced Plastic, but that was also for Army's elite para special forces.

The new modern helmet which will be provided to the army will be lighter to reduce the hurdle faced by the army during situations of combat.

NEW DELHI: Ending wait for nearly two decades, Indian army will finally get modern ballistic helmets to all its jawans fighting terrorism in J&K and Northeast. Ministry of defence, in December, cleared Indian armys proposal to procure 1. 58 lakh ballistic helmets to an Indian firm worth Rs. 170-180 crore and delivery can be expected from August, said a senior ministry official. Sources said that the new helmets are designed to bear the impact of 9 mm ammunition fired from a short range, meeting the global standard for protection among leading armed forces. Indian army soldiers, only wear bulletproof patka and that can only give protection on forehead and back of the head. But is quite heavy weight around 2. 5 kilograms. We want to provide them personal armour including latest ballistic helmets, bulletproof jackets and weapons. The aim is to give out soldiers not only lethality but survivability, army chief gen Bipin Rawat has said. A Kanpur-based Indian company, MKU Industries, has been given the contract to manufacture within a span of three years. Indian jawans earlier used to get Israel made OR-201 helmet made of Glass Reinforced Plastic, but that was also for Army's elite para special forces. The new modern helmet which will be provided to the army will be lighter to reduce the hurdle faced by the army during situations of combat.
Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: Three days before the proposed statewide human chain in support of prohibition being organised by Bihars Nitish Kumar-led government, Patna High Court on Wednesday questioned the rationale behind the grand programme and the way it is planned to be held.

Acting on a PIL filed by non-governmental organisation Forum for Public Interest Litigation (FPIL), a division bench of acting Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh issued notice to the state government and asked it to file its response on Thursday.

The top court wanted to know why the proposed human chain on January 21, which would be spread along more than 11,000 km across the state, has involved schoolchildren and why all national and state highways in Bihar would remain closed for traffic for five hours during the programme. The state government has planned the event as a historic show of the peoples support for the total prohibition implemented by Nitish Kumars government nine months ago.

The human chain, which would cover all panchayats, blocks and districts of Bihar, will set a world record for being the worlds longest human chain, the government has said earlier. More than two crore people, including government employees and workers of political parties, will stand in line holding hands on the left side of all major roads during the event, for which the government has sanctioned Rs 10 crore. ISRO satellites, helicopters and camera-fitted drones are being kept ready to photograph the entire event.

The high court directed the Bihar government to respond by Thursday on why schoolchildren are being used in the proposed human chain programme and under what provision the government has decided to restrict traffic on national and state highways for it, said Shashi Bhusan Kumar, the advocate for FPIL.

Lalit Kishore, principal additional advocate general of the state government who appeared for it at the HC, said a response would be filed Thursday.

The government will file a suitable reply on Thursday and convince the honourable court, which has sought response. This is not going to pose a roadblock for this historic event, said the ruling JD(U)s national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member KC Tyagi.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has been keen on making the human chain programme a spectacular success, has been personally urging people through television advertisements and speeches in his ongoing Nischay Yatra rallies to participate in it. The government has asked both state-run and private schools to send their teachers and students above class V to participate in the event. Rehearsals for the event have been going on in every district for the past one week with the district magistrates monitoring them.

PATNA: Three days before the proposed statewide human chain in support of prohibition being organised by Bihars Nitish Kumar-led government, Patna High Court on Wednesday questioned the rationale behind the grand programme and the way it is planned to be held. Acting on a PIL filed by non-governmental organisation Forum for Public Interest Litigation (FPIL), a division bench of acting Chief Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh issued notice to the state government and asked it to file its response on Thursday. The top court wanted to know why the proposed human chain on January 21, which would be spread along more than 11,000 km across the state, has involved schoolchildren and why all national and state highways in Bihar would remain closed for traffic for five hours during the programme. The state government has planned the event as a historic show of the peoples support for the total prohibition implemented by Nitish Kumars government nine months ago. The human chain, which would cover all panchayats, blocks and districts of Bihar, will set a world record for being the worlds longest human chain, the government has said earlier. More than two crore people, including government employees and workers of political parties, will stand in line holding hands on the left side of all major roads during the event, for which the government has sanctioned Rs 10 crore. ISRO satellites, helicopters and camera-fitted drones are being kept ready to photograph the entire event. The high court directed the Bihar government to respond by Thursday on why schoolchildren are being used in the proposed human chain programme and under what provision the government has decided to restrict traffic on national and state highways for it, said Shashi Bhusan Kumar, the advocate for FPIL. Lalit Kishore, principal additional advocate general of the state government who appeared for it at the HC, said a response would be filed Thursday. The government will file a suitable reply on Thursday and convince the honourable court, which has sought response. This is not going to pose a roadblock for this historic event, said the ruling JD(U)s national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member KC Tyagi. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has been keen on making the human chain programme a spectacular success, has been personally urging people through television advertisements and speeches in his ongoing Nischay Yatra rallies to participate in it. The government has asked both state-run and private schools to send their teachers and students above class V to participate in the event. Rehearsals for the event have been going on in every district for the past one week with the district magistrates monitoring them.
By IANS

IMPHAL: Home Minister Rajnath Singh will meet Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Wednesday to discuss the protracted economic blockade along the two national highways in the state.



The meeting in New Delhi is being held in the wake of Manipur High Court observation on Monday that efforts to bring essential commodities through the NH 2 and 37 are "not satisfactory".



While a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party on Tuesday told Ibobi to put all his cards on the table.



Besides, a 17-member team of the Joint Forum of Peace formed by 64 civil society organisations, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Home Minister and others to demand lifting of the blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) on November 1.



Rajnath Singh has expressed surprise that the UNC has not lifted the blockade as some scribes from Manipur met the minister recently.



Minister of States for Home Kiren Rijiju recently said the blockade in any form was "totally unacceptable" and "additional central paramilitary forces will be rushed to Manipur to cope with the situation".



Hundreds of loaded trucks and oil tankers bring various items from Assam through NH 37.



However, the NH 2 that snakes through Nagaland is impassable as activists have blocked the highway. Even military convoys are stopped and checked.



The Naga Students' Federation, a Nagaland based group, had banned all vehicles from Manipur on NH2. The group is reluctant to ply along the highway as it feels there is not enough security cover.



The UNC demands that council President Gaidon Kamei and Publicity Secretary Stephen Lamkang, who are in police custody, be released and talks be held in Senapati district of the state, where its office is located.



However, Ibobi has said: "First, the UNC should lift the blockade and ensure to never repeat it again. Talks can be held either here or Delhi."



"The UNC cannot choose the venue since other clubs and organisations shall emulate it in future and the government will be reduced to a farce."



Meanwhile, over 1,500 loaded trucks and oil tankers wait for security cover at Jiribam, a town in Manipur which is adjacent to Assam.

IMPHAL: Home Minister Rajnath Singh will meet Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Wednesday to discuss the protracted economic blockade along the two national highways in the state. The meeting in New Delhi is being held in the wake of Manipur High Court observation on Monday that efforts to bring essential commodities through the NH 2 and 37 are "not satisfactory". While a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party on Tuesday told Ibobi to put all his cards on the table. Besides, a 17-member team of the Joint Forum of Peace formed by 64 civil society organisations, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Home Minister and others to demand lifting of the blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) on November 1. Rajnath Singh has expressed surprise that the UNC has not lifted the blockade as some scribes from Manipur met the minister recently. Minister of States for Home Kiren Rijiju recently said the blockade in any form was "totally unacceptable" and "additional central paramilitary forces will be rushed to Manipur to cope with the situation". Hundreds of loaded trucks and oil tankers bring various items from Assam through NH 37. However, the NH 2 that snakes through Nagaland is impassable as activists have blocked the highway. Even military convoys are stopped and checked. The Naga Students' Federation, a Nagaland based group, had banned all vehicles from Manipur on NH2. The group is reluctant to ply along the highway as it feels there is not enough security cover. The UNC demands that council President Gaidon Kamei and Publicity Secretary Stephen Lamkang, who are in police custody, be released and talks be held in Senapati district of the state, where its office is located. However, Ibobi has said: "First, the UNC should lift the blockade and ensure to never repeat it again. Talks can be held either here or Delhi." "The UNC cannot choose the venue since other clubs and organisations shall emulate it in future and the government will be reduced to a farce." Meanwhile, over 1,500 loaded trucks and oil tankers wait for security cover at Jiribam, a town in Manipur which is adjacent to Assam.
By Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: Delhi CM and national convener of Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal preferred to stay noncommittal on the controversial Satluj-Yamuna Canal issue, saying it was political, while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday.

He said the BJP was in power in Punjab, Haryana and the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi could resolve the river waters dispute within five minutes if he wanted to. He said Punjab revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia will be behind bars by April 15. By March 20, the government will be formed and then investigation will begin as until now he has not been called by the investigation agencies and no proper investigation has been done on his involvement in the drug mafia, he said. Majithia has been repeatedly accused by the AAP of having links with drug smugglers.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday filed his nomination from the Patiala Assembly constituency. Amarinder will file his papers from Lambi, the other seat from where he is contesting, on Wednesday.

From the time demonetisation took effect, the investigation wing of the Income Tax (north west region), Punjab, has seized Rs 11 crore in cash suspected to be a part of money laundering activities related to the upcoming polls. According to sources, black money of over Rs 200 crore has also been detected in the last one-and-a-half months in the State.

The investigation wing has also unearthed a hawala racket of more than Rs 1,000 crore so far in the small town of Charkhi Dadri in Haryana.

CHANDIGARH: Delhi CM and national convener of Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal preferred to stay noncommittal on the controversial Satluj-Yamuna Canal issue, saying it was political, while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. He said the BJP was in power in Punjab, Haryana and the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi could resolve the river waters dispute within five minutes if he wanted to. He said Punjab revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia will be behind bars by April 15. By March 20, the government will be formed and then investigation will begin as until now he has not been called by the investigation agencies and no proper investigation has been done on his involvement in the drug mafia, he said. Majithia has been repeatedly accused by the AAP of having links with drug smugglers. Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday filed his nomination from the Patiala Assembly constituency. Amarinder will file his papers from Lambi, the other seat from where he is contesting, on Wednesday. From the time demonetisation took effect, the investigation wing of the Income Tax (north west region), Punjab, has seized Rs 11 crore in cash suspected to be a part of money laundering activities related to the upcoming polls. According to sources, black money of over Rs 200 crore has also been detected in the last one-and-a-half months in the State. The investigation wing has also unearthed a hawala racket of more than Rs 1,000 crore so far in the small town of Charkhi Dadri in Haryana.
By Online Desk

NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India governor Urjit Patel on Wednesday is set to brief a Parliamentary standing committee on finance over the impact of demonetisation on the economy.



Senior bureaucrats, including Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Banking Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal and Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, and top bank honchos like Chanda Kochhar of ICICI Bank and Usha Ananthasubramanian of Punjab National Bank are also set to appear before the committee headed by Congress leader Veerappa Moily.



Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is one of its members. Apart from the impact of demonetisation, Patel will brief the parliamentary panel about the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch post withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.



The meeting will discuss the "demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and the impact thereof".



The RBI Governor is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.



Meanwhile, protests have erupted across the country at various offices of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by members of the Congress party against demonetisation.



Assam Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday demonstrated in front of the Reserve Bank of India office here as part of its nationwide RBI Gherao programme. Led by APCC president Ripun Bora, AICC general secretary C P Joshi and other party leaders, slogan shouting Congress members and supporters attempted to break the security barricade to enter inside the RBI gate.



Mizoram Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (MPYCC) workers also took out a protest rally in front of the sub-office of the RBI.

NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India governor Urjit Patel on Wednesday is set to brief a Parliamentary standing committee on finance over the impact of demonetisation on the economy. Senior bureaucrats, including Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Banking Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal and Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, and top bank honchos like Chanda Kochhar of ICICI Bank and Usha Ananthasubramanian of Punjab National Bank are also set to appear before the committee headed by Congress leader Veerappa Moily. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is one of its members. Apart from the impact of demonetisation, Patel will brief the parliamentary panel about the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch post withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The meeting will discuss the "demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and the impact thereof". The RBI Governor is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20. Meanwhile, protests have erupted across the country at various offices of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by members of the Congress party against demonetisation. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday demonstrated in front of the Reserve Bank of India office here as part of its nationwide RBI Gherao programme. Led by APCC president Ripun Bora, AICC general secretary C P Joshi and other party leaders, slogan shouting Congress members and supporters attempted to break the security barricade to enter inside the RBI gate. Mizoram Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (MPYCC) workers also took out a protest rally in front of the sub-office of the RBI.
By PTI

INDORE: A court here today handed over Kulpreet Singh alias Neeta Deol, a gangster who escaped from Nabha jail in Patiala, to Punjab Police on a transit remand till January 20.



Neeta along with his associate Sunil Kalra alias Shella were arrested here yesterday from a flat in Khajrana area of the city.



The jailbreak accused and his associate were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate Dharmendra Tada, who ordered handing over these criminals on transit remand to Punjab Police till January 20.



Meanwhile, police said the culprits took a flat on rent about 10 days back through an online classified advertisement on a website.



"Jailbreak accused and his associate were caught yesterday while a search operation was being conducted to collect information of tenants with dubious activities. This operation was a part of enhanced security in view of coming Republic Day," Indore Police DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra told reporters today.



Mishra informed that Neeta had taken this flat on rent about 10-days back.



"Neeta and Kalra had contacted the flat owner after seeing the advertisement on a website. They provided fake documents to the owner, posing as truck drivers," he added.



DIG said the neighbours suspected their activities as they used to spend most of their time inside the flat.

"Neeta and his associate had reached Indore after staying in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. We have recovered eight mobile phones, a laptop and Rs 92,000 in cash from them," he said.



Mishra said Punjab Police team officers led by a DSP had arrived here to take the transit remand of both the accused. They would be produced in the district court in

Patiala.



Six inmates - Khalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder Singh Mintoo, Kashmeer Singh, Gurpreet Singh Shekhon, Vicky Gonder, Kulpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh- had escaped from Punjab's Nabha jail in November last year.

INDORE: A court here today handed over Kulpreet Singh alias Neeta Deol, a gangster who escaped from Nabha jail in Patiala, to Punjab Police on a transit remand till January 20. Neeta along with his associate Sunil Kalra alias Shella were arrested here yesterday from a flat in Khajrana area of the city. The jailbreak accused and his associate were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate Dharmendra Tada, who ordered handing over these criminals on transit remand to Punjab Police till January 20. Meanwhile, police said the culprits took a flat on rent about 10 days back through an online classified advertisement on a website. "Jailbreak accused and his associate were caught yesterday while a search operation was being conducted to collect information of tenants with dubious activities. This operation was a part of enhanced security in view of coming Republic Day," Indore Police DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra told reporters today. Mishra informed that Neeta had taken this flat on rent about 10-days back. "Neeta and Kalra had contacted the flat owner after seeing the advertisement on a website. They provided fake documents to the owner, posing as truck drivers," he added. DIG said the neighbours suspected their activities as they used to spend most of their time inside the flat. "Neeta and his associate had reached Indore after staying in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. We have recovered eight mobile phones, a laptop and Rs 92,000 in cash from them," he said. Mishra said Punjab Police team officers led by a DSP had arrived here to take the transit remand of both the accused. They would be produced in the district court in Patiala. Six inmates - Khalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder Singh Mintoo, Kashmeer Singh, Gurpreet Singh Shekhon, Vicky Gonder, Kulpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh- had escaped from Punjab's Nabha jail in November last year.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa is bullish on getting the support of the party leadership to Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. The brigade has come under fire from the state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa and his supporters within the party.

The party central leaders, including national president Amit Shah, have been apprised of the activities of the brigade.

Eshwarappa told reporters here on Tuesday, If at all they wanted me to put an end to the brigade activities, they would have told me to do so.

He said that during his meeting with the central leaders, he explained the reasons for being part of the brigade and how it can help the party. During my meeting with the party president (Amit Shah), he told me that he would meet me and Yeddyurappa in Delhi to resolve the issue. But I requested him to get the views of various people in BJP and RSS before meeting us. He agreed and informed me that he would be coming to Bengaluru to discuss the issue, he said.

Amit Shah is likely to take up the issue only after assembly elections in UP and other states.

Divided over brigade

Yeddyurappa says the brigade is creating confusion and wants the BJP leaders to work under the party banner. Eshwarappa, however, feels the brigade is getting support from communities that had earlier not backed the party and it would help BJP.

Eshwarappas follower and Bengaluru city former Mayor Venkatesh Murthy, who is taking active part in the brigade activities, was suspended from the party recently on charges of anti-party activities. The disciplinary action was seen as a message to others involved in the brigade. That, however, has failed to make any difference and they are going ahead with the next rally at Kudalasangama in North Karnataka on January 26.

I am willing to meet Yeddyurappa any time and discuss the issues. We are talking about two issues: appointment of office bearers and giving prominence to those who worked for the party, and the brigade activities. I am always open to talks with Yeddyurappa, who is our leader, Eshwarappa added.

Sources in the BJP said Yedduyurappa did make an effort to reach out to Eshwarappa. Yeddyurappa went to Shivamogga to attend a meeting convened to discuss all issues during last week of December. Eshwarappa did not attend that meeting, said a party source.

BENGALURU: Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa is bullish on getting the support of the party leadership to Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. The brigade has come under fire from the state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa and his supporters within the party. The party central leaders, including national president Amit Shah, have been apprised of the activities of the brigade. Eshwarappa told reporters here on Tuesday, If at all they wanted me to put an end to the brigade activities, they would have told me to do so. He said that during his meeting with the central leaders, he explained the reasons for being part of the brigade and how it can help the party. During my meeting with the party president (Amit Shah), he told me that he would meet me and Yeddyurappa in Delhi to resolve the issue. But I requested him to get the views of various people in BJP and RSS before meeting us. He agreed and informed me that he would be coming to Bengaluru to discuss the issue, he said. Amit Shah is likely to take up the issue only after assembly elections in UP and other states. Divided over brigade Yeddyurappa says the brigade is creating confusion and wants the BJP leaders to work under the party banner. Eshwarappa, however, feels the brigade is getting support from communities that had earlier not backed the party and it would help BJP. Eshwarappas follower and Bengaluru city former Mayor Venkatesh Murthy, who is taking active part in the brigade activities, was suspended from the party recently on charges of anti-party activities. The disciplinary action was seen as a message to others involved in the brigade. That, however, has failed to make any difference and they are going ahead with the next rally at Kudalasangama in North Karnataka on January 26. I am willing to meet Yeddyurappa any time and discuss the issues. We are talking about two issues: appointment of office bearers and giving prominence to those who worked for the party, and the brigade activities. I am always open to talks with Yeddyurappa, who is our leader, Eshwarappa added. Sources in the BJP said Yedduyurappa did make an effort to reach out to Eshwarappa. Yeddyurappa went to Shivamogga to attend a meeting convened to discuss all issues during last week of December. Eshwarappa did not attend that meeting, said a party source.
V Vignesh By

Express News Service

MADURAI: Following the detention of persons who staged a day-and-night protest at Alanganallur, demanding Jallikattu, lovers of the bull-taming sport across the district stepped up the protest in various places on Tuesday.

Though most of 237 detainees were released, they refused to come out of a conventional hall in Vadipatti, where they went on a hunger strike.

When we were staying overnight in Alanganallur, the police forcibly removed us from the ground near the vadi vaasal (entry point for bulls into the ring) at the break of dawn on Tuesday. Many of us were sleeping when they took us away and detained us at the Kalyana Mandapam, said K Aditya Lakshmanan (18), one of the detainees.

Hearing about the detention, more than 3000 persons gathered on Thanichiyam Main Road, near the vadi vaasal within a few hours. Hundreds of people took the protest to the streets in Palamedu, Puthupatti, Mattuthavani, Kalavasal, Koodal Nagar and other places in the temple city limits, where they formed a human chain and staged a road roko.

Despite the soaring mercury levels, the people did not refrain from continuously raising slogans against the central government and the Supreme Court for banning Jallikattu. Women and children formed a large number of the crowd which was led by youths and students.

Apart from demanding a Special Ordinance for Jallikattu, the protestors also cried for a ban on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and pressed for the release all the protestors. It was reported that the police strength deployed at Alanganallur was brought down after the detention.

After facing opposition from various sides, the police promised not to book any of the protestors.

Social media played a big part in uniting the protestors. The intense reaction to the arrest of protestors kept the police on the back foot. Unlike the last few days, when they allegedly stopped the local villagers from giving food to the protestors and caused disruption in the electricity supply in the region (on Monday night), the police had to ease the situation.

Commenting on this, the District Superintendent of Police, Vijayendra S Bidari, told media persons that a close watch was being kept on the social media. We have booked cases for sending provocative or inciting messages on social media. Action will be taken on the originators, he said.

Please do not be misguided and become the subject of legal action. Kindly adhere to the Supreme Court guidelines and cooperate with police, Bidari added.

Madurai Collector K Veera Raghava Rao said the administration was monitoring the situation and that adequate police force was in action to ensure that no untoward incident occurs during the protests, which were continuing even after dusk.

MADURAI: Following the detention of persons who staged a day-and-night protest at Alanganallur, demanding Jallikattu, lovers of the bull-taming sport across the district stepped up the protest in various places on Tuesday. Though most of 237 detainees were released, they refused to come out of a conventional hall in Vadipatti, where they went on a hunger strike. When we were staying overnight in Alanganallur, the police forcibly removed us from the ground near the vadi vaasal (entry point for bulls into the ring) at the break of dawn on Tuesday. Many of us were sleeping when they took us away and detained us at the Kalyana Mandapam, said K Aditya Lakshmanan (18), one of the detainees. Hearing about the detention, more than 3000 persons gathered on Thanichiyam Main Road, near the vadi vaasal within a few hours. Hundreds of people took the protest to the streets in Palamedu, Puthupatti, Mattuthavani, Kalavasal, Koodal Nagar and other places in the temple city limits, where they formed a human chain and staged a road roko. Despite the soaring mercury levels, the people did not refrain from continuously raising slogans against the central government and the Supreme Court for banning Jallikattu. Women and children formed a large number of the crowd which was led by youths and students. Apart from demanding a Special Ordinance for Jallikattu, the protestors also cried for a ban on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and pressed for the release all the protestors. It was reported that the police strength deployed at Alanganallur was brought down after the detention. After facing opposition from various sides, the police promised not to book any of the protestors. Social media played a big part in uniting the protestors. The intense reaction to the arrest of protestors kept the police on the back foot. Unlike the last few days, when they allegedly stopped the local villagers from giving food to the protestors and caused disruption in the electricity supply in the region (on Monday night), the police had to ease the situation. Commenting on this, the District Superintendent of Police, Vijayendra S Bidari, told media persons that a close watch was being kept on the social media. We have booked cases for sending provocative or inciting messages on social media. Action will be taken on the originators, he said. Please do not be misguided and become the subject of legal action. Kindly adhere to the Supreme Court guidelines and cooperate with police, Bidari added. Madurai Collector K Veera Raghava Rao said the administration was monitoring the situation and that adequate police force was in action to ensure that no untoward incident occurs during the protests, which were continuing even after dusk.
Express News Service

COLOMBO: Apart from Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in other countries, domestic trade barriers of various kinds also hamper Sri Lankas agricultural exports, reveals a recent study done by Verite Research (VR), a Colombo-based think tank.

Briefing the media on the findings of the study here on Wednesday, economists Nishan de Mel and Subhashini Abeysinghe said that it would be wrong to point an accusing finger only at the NTBs in other countries for Sri Lankas poor performance in agricultural exports. A look at the role played by domestic barriers would show that they have contributed significantly to the decline in agricultural exports as a percentage of the GDP and the poor export performance of Sri Lanka in relation to other countries in South Asia and the Far East.

Countries like Bangladesh Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand are doing better than Sri Lanka, they pointed out.

They classified the domestic barriers into three categories: 1.Regulatory 2) Administrative 3) Information

Taking the Regulatory Barriers first, the study found that while parliament had passed a Plant Protection Act in 1999, no regulations have been made under it. With the result, the import of plants and plant materials is still taking place under the regulations found in Gazette 165/2 of 1981.

A Seed Act was passed in 2003 under which a Seed Council was to have been set up. But till date, there is no Seed Council.

As regards Administrative Barriers, there are a number of checks an agricultural exporter has to go through at the border (airport), and each of them takes valuable time, which can prove to be costly and ruinous if the product being exported is perishable. Even eight years after the war, there is a Air Force check which, according to Zuraish Hashim, Chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, is useless and redundant. Perishable products which have to be kept under certain conditions are opened four times by four different agencies at the airport, adversely affecting the quality of the product exported.

The Sri Lankan Airlines is too slow compared to airlines in other countries .It seeks a six hour lead time to load goods while the same thing can be done in Thailand in an hour and a half and in China in three hours.

In addition there are information barriers too. Websites are not updated with the result the exporter is confronted by surprise demands at the border. Rules framed are not publicized so that the exporter is forewarned as regards the procedure.

The researchers pointed out that domestic barriers have led to many exporters quitting the field and have stopped new ones from entering it. The net result of all these barriers is that Sri Lanka has not been able to realize the full potential of its agricultural exports.

Agriculture accounts for 10 per cent to the GDP; 30 percent of the employment; and 23 percent of exports. Exports could be much higher and the on-going decline in the ratio of exports to GDP could to be arrested, if the domestic barriers are re-oriented conceptually and are implemented to aid rather than retard exports.

The ratio of exports to GDP has declined from 33 percent in 2000 to 12.7 percent now. In terms of efficiency and transparency at the border, Sri Lankas position had declined from the 87 in 2014 to 97 in 2016. Thailand is in the 44 th position; India in the 75 th; and Vietnam in the 86 th.

As per the latest Doing Business Index prepared by the World Bank, it takes 76 hours for an exporter to comply with documentary requirements in Sri Lanka, compared to 38 hours in India, 11 hours in Thailand and 50 hours in Vietnam.

The multiplicity of ministries and agencies which an exporter has to contend with needlessly delays and complicates matters. The problem is further complicated by a lack of coordination between these various agencies.

According to Dr.de Mel, it is time the Sri Lankan bureaucracy learnt to perform better as many of the problems of the exporters are administrative. There is no point in having legislations if the officials do not frame the required rules under the them and implement them. The Sri Lankan bureaucracy needs better qualified and motivated personnel and not rejects of the university educational system such as holders of external degree, Dr. de Mel said.

COLOMBO: Apart from Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in other countries, domestic trade barriers of various kinds also hamper Sri Lankas agricultural exports, reveals a recent study done by Verite Research (VR), a Colombo-based think tank. Briefing the media on the findings of the study here on Wednesday, economists Nishan de Mel and Subhashini Abeysinghe said that it would be wrong to point an accusing finger only at the NTBs in other countries for Sri Lankas poor performance in agricultural exports. A look at the role played by domestic barriers would show that they have contributed significantly to the decline in agricultural exports as a percentage of the GDP and the poor export performance of Sri Lanka in relation to other countries in South Asia and the Far East. Countries like Bangladesh Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand are doing better than Sri Lanka, they pointed out. They classified the domestic barriers into three categories: 1.Regulatory 2) Administrative 3) Information Taking the Regulatory Barriers first, the study found that while parliament had passed a Plant Protection Act in 1999, no regulations have been made under it. With the result, the import of plants and plant materials is still taking place under the regulations found in Gazette 165/2 of 1981. A Seed Act was passed in 2003 under which a Seed Council was to have been set up. But till date, there is no Seed Council. As regards Administrative Barriers, there are a number of checks an agricultural exporter has to go through at the border (airport), and each of them takes valuable time, which can prove to be costly and ruinous if the product being exported is perishable. Even eight years after the war, there is a Air Force check which, according to Zuraish Hashim, Chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, is useless and redundant. Perishable products which have to be kept under certain conditions are opened four times by four different agencies at the airport, adversely affecting the quality of the product exported. The Sri Lankan Airlines is too slow compared to airlines in other countries .It seeks a six hour lead time to load goods while the same thing can be done in Thailand in an hour and a half and in China in three hours. In addition there are information barriers too. Websites are not updated with the result the exporter is confronted by surprise demands at the border. Rules framed are not publicized so that the exporter is forewarned as regards the procedure. The researchers pointed out that domestic barriers have led to many exporters quitting the field and have stopped new ones from entering it. The net result of all these barriers is that Sri Lanka has not been able to realize the full potential of its agricultural exports. Agriculture accounts for 10 per cent to the GDP; 30 percent of the employment; and 23 percent of exports. Exports could be much higher and the on-going decline in the ratio of exports to GDP could to be arrested, if the domestic barriers are re-oriented conceptually and are implemented to aid rather than retard exports. The ratio of exports to GDP has declined from 33 percent in 2000 to 12.7 percent now. In terms of efficiency and transparency at the border, Sri Lankas position had declined from the 87 in 2014 to 97 in 2016. Thailand is in the 44 th position; India in the 75 th; and Vietnam in the 86 th. As per the latest Doing Business Index prepared by the World Bank, it takes 76 hours for an exporter to comply with documentary requirements in Sri Lanka, compared to 38 hours in India, 11 hours in Thailand and 50 hours in Vietnam. The multiplicity of ministries and agencies which an exporter has to contend with needlessly delays and complicates matters. The problem is further complicated by a lack of coordination between these various agencies. According to Dr.de Mel, it is time the Sri Lankan bureaucracy learnt to perform better as many of the problems of the exporters are administrative. There is no point in having legislations if the officials do not frame the required rules under the them and implement them. The Sri Lankan bureaucracy needs better qualified and motivated personnel and not rejects of the university educational system such as holders of external degree, Dr. de Mel said.
By AFP

MELBOURNE: Australia's transport minister Wednesday defended the suspension of the undersea search for MH370, after relatives of passengers slammed the decision, and added that it could resume if "credible new evidence" emerges.

Australia, Malaysia and China -- where most of the 239 on board the missing Malaysia Airlines jet lived -- on Tuesday pulled the plug on the massive operation in the southern Indian Ocean almost three years since the plane vanished on March 8, 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Transport Minister Darren Chester said the investigation's high cost -- about Aus$200 million (US$150 million) -- was not a factor in the decision. It came after the search of the remote 120,000 square-kilometre zone (46,000 square miles) was completed without success.

"I don't rule out a future underwater search by any stretch," Chester told reporters in Melbourne, stressing that the hunt was "not a closed book".

But he added, "No-one is coming to me as minister and saying 'We know where MH370 is'.

"We don't want to provide false hope to the families and friends. We need to have credible new evidence leading to a specific location before we would be reasonably considering future search efforts."

Chester said a future hunt would be primarily a matter for the Malaysian government.

"But given the close relationship we have had with Malaysia during this project, I would suspect further conversations would occur between Australia, Malaysia and China at the time."

Chester defended the choice of the search zone, which was questioned after analysis by Australian and international experts released in December concluded MH370 was not in that area and might be further north.

"We need to understand the very limited amount of actual data our experts were dealing with... it has been the edge of science and technological endeavour in terms of pursuing this search effort," he said.

"In future, whether through better analysis of data, if new technology becomes available or through improved equipment or something of that nature, we may have a breakthrough."

- Call to extend hunt -

The minister said analysis of satellite imagery and the drifting of plane debris in the ocean would continue into February while Australia remained open to help Malaysia, including the examination of other aircraft fragments that may be found.

Investigators have so far confirmed that three bits of debris washed up and recovered on western Indian Ocean shorelines came from MH370.

Other items recovered mostly on western Indian Ocean shorelines have been identified as likely, though not definitely, from MH370.

Relatives of passengers on Tuesday criticised the governments' decision, with some saying they were not convinced their missing loved ones were dead.

They called on investigators to extend the hunt into the more more northern 25,000 square kilometre area identified by experts as having the highest probability of containing wreckage.

Family members also remain deeply suspicious of Malaysia's handling of the disappearance -- which has become one of aviation's great mysteries -- saying the government and airline have routinely stonewalled requests for more information, a charge they deny.

Many next-of-kin have been unhappy about the lack of a coordinated search in the western Indian Ocean and along the African coast, with some of them travelling to Madagascar late last year to comb beaches in search for clues about the lost plane.

MELBOURNE: Australia's transport minister Wednesday defended the suspension of the undersea search for MH370, after relatives of passengers slammed the decision, and added that it could resume if "credible new evidence" emerges. Australia, Malaysia and China -- where most of the 239 on board the missing Malaysia Airlines jet lived -- on Tuesday pulled the plug on the massive operation in the southern Indian Ocean almost three years since the plane vanished on March 8, 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Transport Minister Darren Chester said the investigation's high cost -- about Aus$200 million (US$150 million) -- was not a factor in the decision. It came after the search of the remote 120,000 square-kilometre zone (46,000 square miles) was completed without success. "I don't rule out a future underwater search by any stretch," Chester told reporters in Melbourne, stressing that the hunt was "not a closed book". But he added, "No-one is coming to me as minister and saying 'We know where MH370 is'. "We don't want to provide false hope to the families and friends. We need to have credible new evidence leading to a specific location before we would be reasonably considering future search efforts." Chester said a future hunt would be primarily a matter for the Malaysian government. "But given the close relationship we have had with Malaysia during this project, I would suspect further conversations would occur between Australia, Malaysia and China at the time." Chester defended the choice of the search zone, which was questioned after analysis by Australian and international experts released in December concluded MH370 was not in that area and might be further north. "We need to understand the very limited amount of actual data our experts were dealing with... it has been the edge of science and technological endeavour in terms of pursuing this search effort," he said. "In future, whether through better analysis of data, if new technology becomes available or through improved equipment or something of that nature, we may have a breakthrough." - Call to extend hunt - The minister said analysis of satellite imagery and the drifting of plane debris in the ocean would continue into February while Australia remained open to help Malaysia, including the examination of other aircraft fragments that may be found. Investigators have so far confirmed that three bits of debris washed up and recovered on western Indian Ocean shorelines came from MH370. Other items recovered mostly on western Indian Ocean shorelines have been identified as likely, though not definitely, from MH370. Relatives of passengers on Tuesday criticised the governments' decision, with some saying they were not convinced their missing loved ones were dead. They called on investigators to extend the hunt into the more more northern 25,000 square kilometre area identified by experts as having the highest probability of containing wreckage. Family members also remain deeply suspicious of Malaysia's handling of the disappearance -- which has become one of aviation's great mysteries -- saying the government and airline have routinely stonewalled requests for more information, a charge they deny. Many next-of-kin have been unhappy about the lack of a coordinated search in the western Indian Ocean and along the African coast, with some of them travelling to Madagascar late last year to comb beaches in search for clues about the lost plane.
By Associated Press

DAKAR: Gambia said Wednesday its legislators have voted to extend President Yahya Jammeh's term by three months, just hours before his mandate was set to expire. But the president-elect has vowed to take office regardless of whether Jammeh leaves. Amid the uncertainty, tourists began to evacuate the country.

"Our future starts tomorrow," president-elect Adama Barrow tweeted Wednesday, saying that his supporters made history when they elected him in December. Barrow, who is currently in neighboring Senegal for his safety, insists that he will be inaugurated Thursday. However, Jammeh is adamant he will not step down.

In a sign of mounting international pressure, Nigeria confirmed a warship is heading toward Gambia for "training" as regional countries prepare a possible military intervention.

As the crisis deepened, more than 1,000 mainly British and Dutch tourists began leaving the tiny West African nation on specially chartered flights. Hundreds were streaming into the airport, seeking information on departures.

On Tuesday, Jammeh declared a three-month state of emergency as he seeks to stay in power despite losing elections in December.

President-elect Adama Barrow has vowed to be sworn in Thursday, with the backing of the international community. Barrow was in neighboring Senegal for his safety and it was not clear how or where the inauguration would take place.

Jammeh has challenged the election results, citing voting irregularities, and the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has threatened to send in troops to make him leave.

Nigerian Navy spokesman Capt. Dahun Jahun said his country's air force was contributing 200 supporting troops to the standby force for Gambia. He said 11 pilots, 11 crew members and 80 "supporting troops" already had deployed. Senegal and Ghana also are contributing to the force.

Gambia, a country of 1.9 million people, is estimated to have just 900 troops.

Thousands of people have been fleeing to Senegal, including a number of Jammeh's former government ministers, who resigned this week.

Travel group Thomas Cook said it plans to bring home nearly 1,000 vacationers and has added four flights Wednesday. The evacuation is not mandatory but is offered to those who want to leave the option.

However many tourists continued to enjoy lying on the beach. While Jammeh's government has been accused by human rights groups of arbitrary detentions and torture of opponents during his 22-year rule, the government has promoted Gambia as "the smiling coast of Africa."

In the Netherlands, travel company Corendon said it is sending planes to Gambia to bring home tourists. The company said 831 Dutch tourists were on Corendon vacations there.

Another Dutch tour operator, Tui, was sending five aircraft to repatriate Dutch and Belgian tourists. Tui said it had 815 Dutch tourists and 228 Belgians in the country.

Tui spokeswoman Petra Kok said the company was making it clear to tourists that if they decide to stay, it is their own responsibility. The Dutch government has a negative travel advisory in place for tourists wanting to visit the country.

Gambia's new state of emergency bans people from "any acts of disobedience" or violence, and it tells security forces to maintain order.

DAKAR: Gambia said Wednesday its legislators have voted to extend President Yahya Jammeh's term by three months, just hours before his mandate was set to expire. But the president-elect has vowed to take office regardless of whether Jammeh leaves. Amid the uncertainty, tourists began to evacuate the country. "Our future starts tomorrow," president-elect Adama Barrow tweeted Wednesday, saying that his supporters made history when they elected him in December. Barrow, who is currently in neighboring Senegal for his safety, insists that he will be inaugurated Thursday. However, Jammeh is adamant he will not step down. In a sign of mounting international pressure, Nigeria confirmed a warship is heading toward Gambia for "training" as regional countries prepare a possible military intervention. As the crisis deepened, more than 1,000 mainly British and Dutch tourists began leaving the tiny West African nation on specially chartered flights. Hundreds were streaming into the airport, seeking information on departures. On Tuesday, Jammeh declared a three-month state of emergency as he seeks to stay in power despite losing elections in December. President-elect Adama Barrow has vowed to be sworn in Thursday, with the backing of the international community. Barrow was in neighboring Senegal for his safety and it was not clear how or where the inauguration would take place. Jammeh has challenged the election results, citing voting irregularities, and the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has threatened to send in troops to make him leave. Nigerian Navy spokesman Capt. Dahun Jahun said his country's air force was contributing 200 supporting troops to the standby force for Gambia. He said 11 pilots, 11 crew members and 80 "supporting troops" already had deployed. Senegal and Ghana also are contributing to the force. Gambia, a country of 1.9 million people, is estimated to have just 900 troops. Thousands of people have been fleeing to Senegal, including a number of Jammeh's former government ministers, who resigned this week. Travel group Thomas Cook said it plans to bring home nearly 1,000 vacationers and has added four flights Wednesday. The evacuation is not mandatory but is offered to those who want to leave the option. However many tourists continued to enjoy lying on the beach. While Jammeh's government has been accused by human rights groups of arbitrary detentions and torture of opponents during his 22-year rule, the government has promoted Gambia as "the smiling coast of Africa." In the Netherlands, travel company Corendon said it is sending planes to Gambia to bring home tourists. The company said 831 Dutch tourists were on Corendon vacations there. Another Dutch tour operator, Tui, was sending five aircraft to repatriate Dutch and Belgian tourists. Tui said it had 815 Dutch tourists and 228 Belgians in the country. Tui spokeswoman Petra Kok said the company was making it clear to tourists that if they decide to stay, it is their own responsibility. The Dutch government has a negative travel advisory in place for tourists wanting to visit the country. Gambia's new state of emergency bans people from "any acts of disobedience" or violence, and it tells security forces to maintain order.
By AFP

BANJUL,GAMBIA: Gambia's Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency just days before he was due to step down, with British and Dutch travel agencies scrambling to evacuate thousands of tourists Wednesday.

Jammeh, who has ruled Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years, initially acknowledged opponent Adama Barrow as the victor in December elections, but later rejected the ballot count as flawed and lodged a complaint with the country's Supreme Court.

He declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to the "unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference in the December 1 presidential elections and also in the internal affairs of The Gambia," Jammeh announced on state TV.

Citizens were henceforth "banned from any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement to violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace," Jammeh said, asking security forces to maintain law and order.

Under the Gambian constitution a state of emergency lasts up to 90 days if the national assembly confirms it -- which the legislature did late Tuesday, a parliamentary source told AFP.

In Washington, the US State Department urged Jammeh to "peacefully hand over power" to Barrow -- who is in Senegal, where he plans to remain until his planned inauguration Thursday.

"Doing so would allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect the Gambian people from potential chaos," spokesman John Kirby said. "Failure to do so will put his legacy, and more importantly The Gambia, in peril."

The 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has also repeatedly urged Jammeh to respect the outcome of the vote and step aside, a call backed by the UN Security Council, African Union and others.

Jammeh has rebuffed two high-level delegations by west African leaders pleading with him to go.

"The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high," the British foreign ministry said on its website, a warning echoed on social media by its Dutch counterpart, who both urged citizens to avoid all but essential travel.

British travel agency Thomas Cook said it had "implemented our contingency plans to bring all our UK customers home," and was trying to arrange evacuation of up to 3,500 tourists from Banjul airport as soon as possible.

"We will operate a programme of additional flights into Banjul airport over the next 48 hours," the company said in a statement, adding this included four extra flights on Wednesday.

The Dutch travel firm TUI Nederland told AFP it would repatriate "about 800" clients.

- String of resignations -

Four more cabinet ministers in Jammeh's government defected, a source close to the regime told AFP on Tuesday.

Foreign minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, finance minister Abdou Kolley, trade minister Abdou Jobe and tourism minister Benjamin Roberts all resigned, the source said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

They follow the high-profile defection last week of information minister Sheriff Bojang, who is now in neighbouring Senegal.

Citizens continued to pack their bags and stream out of Gambia -- a small, narrow enclave of Senegal except for its coast -- by road and ferry heading for Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, taking as many possessions as they could carry.

One traveller told AFP that those arriving at 10:00 am would have to wait until the following day to board a ferry at Banjul port to cross the river headed for Senegal, unless they bribed officials, due to huge numbers exiting the city.

- Military deployment? -

Military intervention in The Gambia seems closer than ever, following declarations by the UN and African Union that boots on the ground could get the green light without a rapid resolution to the crisis.

In Nigeria -- the regional power of west Africa -- a source at the country's military HQ said, "We are deploying to Dakar, Senegal, very soon."

"We are deploying platforms, a few personnel, pilots, technicians and the maintenance crew," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"You already know that this deployment is in connection with the unfolding development in The Gambia."

In Rabat, it was reported that Morocco had offered Jammeh asylum for accepting the election defeat and stepping down "in return for a golden retirement", but Banjul sources were reluctant to confirm the claim.

Seven journalists -- from Sweden and Senegal, plus four from Kenya and South Africa who were working for a Chinese TV channel -- were expelled late Monday soon after they arrived at Banjul airport to cover the ongoing crisis.

BANJUL,GAMBIA: Gambia's Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency just days before he was due to step down, with British and Dutch travel agencies scrambling to evacuate thousands of tourists Wednesday. Jammeh, who has ruled Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years, initially acknowledged opponent Adama Barrow as the victor in December elections, but later rejected the ballot count as flawed and lodged a complaint with the country's Supreme Court. He declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to the "unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference in the December 1 presidential elections and also in the internal affairs of The Gambia," Jammeh announced on state TV. Citizens were henceforth "banned from any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement to violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace," Jammeh said, asking security forces to maintain law and order. Under the Gambian constitution a state of emergency lasts up to 90 days if the national assembly confirms it -- which the legislature did late Tuesday, a parliamentary source told AFP. In Washington, the US State Department urged Jammeh to "peacefully hand over power" to Barrow -- who is in Senegal, where he plans to remain until his planned inauguration Thursday. "Doing so would allow him to leave office with his head held high and to protect the Gambian people from potential chaos," spokesman John Kirby said. "Failure to do so will put his legacy, and more importantly The Gambia, in peril." The 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has also repeatedly urged Jammeh to respect the outcome of the vote and step aside, a call backed by the UN Security Council, African Union and others. Jammeh has rebuffed two high-level delegations by west African leaders pleading with him to go. "The potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high," the British foreign ministry said on its website, a warning echoed on social media by its Dutch counterpart, who both urged citizens to avoid all but essential travel. British travel agency Thomas Cook said it had "implemented our contingency plans to bring all our UK customers home," and was trying to arrange evacuation of up to 3,500 tourists from Banjul airport as soon as possible. "We will operate a programme of additional flights into Banjul airport over the next 48 hours," the company said in a statement, adding this included four extra flights on Wednesday. The Dutch travel firm TUI Nederland told AFP it would repatriate "about 800" clients. - String of resignations - Four more cabinet ministers in Jammeh's government defected, a source close to the regime told AFP on Tuesday. Foreign minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, finance minister Abdou Kolley, trade minister Abdou Jobe and tourism minister Benjamin Roberts all resigned, the source said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons. They follow the high-profile defection last week of information minister Sheriff Bojang, who is now in neighbouring Senegal. Citizens continued to pack their bags and stream out of Gambia -- a small, narrow enclave of Senegal except for its coast -- by road and ferry heading for Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea, taking as many possessions as they could carry. One traveller told AFP that those arriving at 10:00 am would have to wait until the following day to board a ferry at Banjul port to cross the river headed for Senegal, unless they bribed officials, due to huge numbers exiting the city. - Military deployment? - Military intervention in The Gambia seems closer than ever, following declarations by the UN and African Union that boots on the ground could get the green light without a rapid resolution to the crisis. In Nigeria -- the regional power of west Africa -- a source at the country's military HQ said, "We are deploying to Dakar, Senegal, very soon." "We are deploying platforms, a few personnel, pilots, technicians and the maintenance crew," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. "You already know that this deployment is in connection with the unfolding development in The Gambia." In Rabat, it was reported that Morocco had offered Jammeh asylum for accepting the election defeat and stepping down "in return for a golden retirement", but Banjul sources were reluctant to confirm the claim. Seven journalists -- from Sweden and Senegal, plus four from Kenya and South Africa who were working for a Chinese TV channel -- were expelled late Monday soon after they arrived at Banjul airport to cover the ongoing crisis.
By AFP

TEHRAN: Iranian officials said Wednesday they were strongly opposed to the United States joining Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan next week, local media reported.

"We are hostile to their presence and we have not invited them," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said late Tuesday, according to the Tasnim news agency.

That goes against the position of the other two organisers of the talks -- Russia and Turkey -- which have said the new US administration of Donald Trump should be represented in Astana on Monday.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council which oversees international coordination on the Syrian war, confirmed on Wednesday that Iran had refused to invite the US.

"There is no reason for the United States to participate in the organising of political initiatives in the Syrian crisis and it is out of the question that they should have a role in the Astana negotiations," he said, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Next week's talks, which aim to bring together representatives of the Syrian government and rebel groups, mark the first time since the conflict began in 2011 that the US has not been at the centre of peace negotiations.

Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told AFP that any expansion of participants "could increase the risk of failure".

"Our policy is to not add other countries at this stage," he said.

The talks come in the wake of President Bashar al-Assad's symbolic victory last month in retaking Aleppo, Syria's second city and a key rebel stronghold through much of the war.

Iran and Russia have been the key diplomatic and military backers of Syria in the war, while Turkey has supported rebel groups.

The three countries are still discussing which officials will travel to Astana, Ghasemi said, adding that other countries could be included in later stages if the "first steps" are successful.

"The meeting will not be at the ministerial level. It will probably be at the deputy minister level," he said.

TEHRAN: Iranian officials said Wednesday they were strongly opposed to the United States joining Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan next week, local media reported. "We are hostile to their presence and we have not invited them," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said late Tuesday, according to the Tasnim news agency. That goes against the position of the other two organisers of the talks -- Russia and Turkey -- which have said the new US administration of Donald Trump should be represented in Astana on Monday. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council which oversees international coordination on the Syrian war, confirmed on Wednesday that Iran had refused to invite the US. "There is no reason for the United States to participate in the organising of political initiatives in the Syrian crisis and it is out of the question that they should have a role in the Astana negotiations," he said, according to the official IRNA news agency. Next week's talks, which aim to bring together representatives of the Syrian government and rebel groups, mark the first time since the conflict began in 2011 that the US has not been at the centre of peace negotiations. Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told AFP that any expansion of participants "could increase the risk of failure". "Our policy is to not add other countries at this stage," he said. The talks come in the wake of President Bashar al-Assad's symbolic victory last month in retaking Aleppo, Syria's second city and a key rebel stronghold through much of the war. Iran and Russia have been the key diplomatic and military backers of Syria in the war, while Turkey has supported rebel groups. The three countries are still discussing which officials will travel to Astana, Ghasemi said, adding that other countries could be included in later stages if the "first steps" are successful. "The meeting will not be at the ministerial level. It will probably be at the deputy minister level," he said.
By Associated Press

BAGHDAD: U.S.-backed Iraqi government troops announced on Wednesday they were in "full control" of eastern Mosul, after routing Islamic State militants from that part of the northern city almost exactly three months since the major operation started.

The achievement was a "big victory," said Iraqi Army Lt. Gen. Talib Shaghati, who commands the counter-terrorism forces, describing the success of the Iraqi forces as "unprecedented."

Shaghatai, who spoke to reporters in the town of Bartella, just east of Mosul, said plans were now being drawn up to retake the western part of the city. He did not elaborate on when that part of the operation would begin.

Wednesday's advance came after Iraqi troops over the past days intensified their push into the last IS-held neighborhoods in Mosul's eastern sector, closing in on the Tigris River, which roughly divides the city. Stiff resistance by the militants, thousands of civilians being trapped in their houses by the fighting and bad weather had in the past slowed the advances of the troops.

However, skirmishes and clashes continued in some pockets along the Tigris in eastern Mosul, according to Iraqi special forces Maj. Ali Hussein who said his unit was still pushing into the Ghabat area along the river bank. Small arms fire could be heard and at least one civilian was wounded by mortar fire.

Also, some commanders on the ground disputed Shaghati's claim of "full control" of eastern Mosul, with Lt. Gen. Abdul-Amir Raheed Yar Allah saying the eastern side "has not been fully liberated ... and the advance is still continuing."

Yar Allah, who commands army operations in Ninevah, where Mosul is the provincial capital, said the special forces "have done their duty" in eastern Mosul.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued a statement, posted on his website, saying that "work is underway to liberate" Ghabat and the area housing Saddam Hussein's former presidential palaces in eastern Mosul. He also vowed to liberate the western side of the city.

But the prospect of retaking western Mosul looms heavy on Iraqi forces, despite all the support they have by the U.S.-led coalition, as well as Sunni and Shiite volunteer militias. The western half of the city is home to some of Mosul's oldest neighborhoods, with narrow streets packed with buildings that will further complicate the urban fight.

So far in the Mosul offensive, Iraq's counterterrorism forces, which are by far the military's most battle seasoned unit, have done most of the fighting, advancing from east of the city.

Regular Iraqi army troops are pushing from the city's southeast and northern edges, and the federal security forces from farther to the west.

Mosul  Iraq's second-largest city and the Islamic State group's last urban stronghold in the country  fell to IS in the summer of 2014, when the militant group captures large swaths of northern and western Iraq.

The operation has also left more than 148,000 people homeless, according to the United Nations. Nearly 12,500 people have been forced to flee their homes just over the past week, the U.N. said.

More than 1 million people were estimated to still be living in Mosul in October, when Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the city.

BAGHDAD: U.S.-backed Iraqi government troops announced on Wednesday they were in "full control" of eastern Mosul, after routing Islamic State militants from that part of the northern city almost exactly three months since the major operation started. The achievement was a "big victory," said Iraqi Army Lt. Gen. Talib Shaghati, who commands the counter-terrorism forces, describing the success of the Iraqi forces as "unprecedented." Shaghatai, who spoke to reporters in the town of Bartella, just east of Mosul, said plans were now being drawn up to retake the western part of the city. He did not elaborate on when that part of the operation would begin. Wednesday's advance came after Iraqi troops over the past days intensified their push into the last IS-held neighborhoods in Mosul's eastern sector, closing in on the Tigris River, which roughly divides the city. Stiff resistance by the militants, thousands of civilians being trapped in their houses by the fighting and bad weather had in the past slowed the advances of the troops. However, skirmishes and clashes continued in some pockets along the Tigris in eastern Mosul, according to Iraqi special forces Maj. Ali Hussein who said his unit was still pushing into the Ghabat area along the river bank. Small arms fire could be heard and at least one civilian was wounded by mortar fire. Also, some commanders on the ground disputed Shaghati's claim of "full control" of eastern Mosul, with Lt. Gen. Abdul-Amir Raheed Yar Allah saying the eastern side "has not been fully liberated ... and the advance is still continuing." Yar Allah, who commands army operations in Ninevah, where Mosul is the provincial capital, said the special forces "have done their duty" in eastern Mosul. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued a statement, posted on his website, saying that "work is underway to liberate" Ghabat and the area housing Saddam Hussein's former presidential palaces in eastern Mosul. He also vowed to liberate the western side of the city. But the prospect of retaking western Mosul looms heavy on Iraqi forces, despite all the support they have by the U.S.-led coalition, as well as Sunni and Shiite volunteer militias. The western half of the city is home to some of Mosul's oldest neighborhoods, with narrow streets packed with buildings that will further complicate the urban fight. So far in the Mosul offensive, Iraq's counterterrorism forces, which are by far the military's most battle seasoned unit, have done most of the fighting, advancing from east of the city. Regular Iraqi army troops are pushing from the city's southeast and northern edges, and the federal security forces from farther to the west. Mosul  Iraq's second-largest city and the Islamic State group's last urban stronghold in the country  fell to IS in the summer of 2014, when the militant group captures large swaths of northern and western Iraq. The operation has also left more than 148,000 people homeless, according to the United Nations. Nearly 12,500 people have been forced to flee their homes just over the past week, the U.N. said. More than 1 million people were estimated to still be living in Mosul in October, when Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the city.
By AFP

MEXICO: Mexico's Mayan Riviera was rocked by another shootout on Tuesday as an attack on the prosecutor's office left three people dead, a day after five died in a nightclub shooting.

A gunman and two staffers from the Quintana Roo state prosecutor's office died in Cancun after the building came under fire in broad daylight and police shot back, said state public security chief Rodolfo del Angel.

The gunfight caused panic in the Caribbean coast city, a day after three foreigners and two Mexicans died in a shooting at an electronic music festival in the nearby seaside resort of Playa del Carmen.

While it was not known whether the two shootings were linked, the back-to-back attacks broke the peace in a region that is popular among American, Canadian and European tourists and has avoided the sort of drug-related violence that has plagued other parts of Mexico.

Angel said in a video message on Twitter that authorities activated "code red" after the shooting but that the situation was under control.

The clash took place seven kilometers (four miles) away from the hotel area. Local media said authorities set up three checkpoints near the tourist zone.

"At the moment the state is peaceful, the citizens can remain calm, Cancun is doing well at this moment," he said.

The motive for the attack was not immediately known and Angel did not provide any other details.

- Streets deserted -

"The attack against the state prosecutor's office is unacceptable. We ask the population to remain calm," Mayor Remberto Estrada wrote on Twitter.

Mexican television showed footage in which intense gunfire could be heard. Soldiers and police guarded the building after the shooting.

State attorney general Miguel Angel Pech was not in the building at the time.

Sandra Ramirez, a 33-year-old maid who lives seven streets away from the prosecutor's office, said she could hear the gunfire and "explosions."

"I was having a siesta and the noise woke me up," Ramirez told AFP by telephone. "I went out later and police were reviewing every car that was going by."

Several stores were closed and the streets were deserted, she said.

In the past, she said, "things have happened, a dead person has appeared here or there, but never something like this."

- Nightclub attack, drug link? -

While Cancun was shaken, authorities were investigating the motive behind Monday's pre-dawn shooting at the Blue Parrot club during the BPM music festival in Playa del Carmen, 68 kilometers (42 miles) to the south.

Drug cartels have not perpetrated the same brutal violence seen in other states, but dealers often offer narcotics to tourists in the town.

The shooting "could be a case of small-time drug dealers fighting for control" of turf, Pech told the Televisa network.

Pech said a gunman fired five times at a Mexican man at the club and the victim's bodyguards or other people fired back.

When the shooter fled the club, he hit another person who was also armed and whose gun went off when he fell, wounding other people, Pech said.

A Canadian man and an Italian man, both of whom worked for the BPM electronic music festival, and the Mexican man, died from bullet wounds.

An American woman was trampled to death in a stampede as people fled the club in panic. Fifteen other people were wounded by bullets or hurt in the stampede.

Four people were detained near the scene of the crime but officials have not said if the shooter was among them.

Officials are also investigating whether the shooter showed up to kill the Mexican man, or whether the incident was linked to a dispute over an extortion racket against the club, or the dealers were not allowed to sell drugs inside the club.

Authorities are probing the background of the Mexican victim, who is originally from the eastern state of Veracruz. His family said he worked for a phone company and that he was related to a Veracruz state government official.

While authorities have surveillance camera footage, it is insufficient to identify the shooter, Pech said.

MEXICO: Mexico's Mayan Riviera was rocked by another shootout on Tuesday as an attack on the prosecutor's office left three people dead, a day after five died in a nightclub shooting. A gunman and two staffers from the Quintana Roo state prosecutor's office died in Cancun after the building came under fire in broad daylight and police shot back, said state public security chief Rodolfo del Angel. The gunfight caused panic in the Caribbean coast city, a day after three foreigners and two Mexicans died in a shooting at an electronic music festival in the nearby seaside resort of Playa del Carmen. While it was not known whether the two shootings were linked, the back-to-back attacks broke the peace in a region that is popular among American, Canadian and European tourists and has avoided the sort of drug-related violence that has plagued other parts of Mexico. Angel said in a video message on Twitter that authorities activated "code red" after the shooting but that the situation was under control. The clash took place seven kilometers (four miles) away from the hotel area. Local media said authorities set up three checkpoints near the tourist zone. "At the moment the state is peaceful, the citizens can remain calm, Cancun is doing well at this moment," he said. The motive for the attack was not immediately known and Angel did not provide any other details. - Streets deserted - "The attack against the state prosecutor's office is unacceptable. We ask the population to remain calm," Mayor Remberto Estrada wrote on Twitter. Mexican television showed footage in which intense gunfire could be heard. Soldiers and police guarded the building after the shooting. State attorney general Miguel Angel Pech was not in the building at the time. Sandra Ramirez, a 33-year-old maid who lives seven streets away from the prosecutor's office, said she could hear the gunfire and "explosions." "I was having a siesta and the noise woke me up," Ramirez told AFP by telephone. "I went out later and police were reviewing every car that was going by." Several stores were closed and the streets were deserted, she said. In the past, she said, "things have happened, a dead person has appeared here or there, but never something like this." - Nightclub attack, drug link? - While Cancun was shaken, authorities were investigating the motive behind Monday's pre-dawn shooting at the Blue Parrot club during the BPM music festival in Playa del Carmen, 68 kilometers (42 miles) to the south. Drug cartels have not perpetrated the same brutal violence seen in other states, but dealers often offer narcotics to tourists in the town. The shooting "could be a case of small-time drug dealers fighting for control" of turf, Pech told the Televisa network. Pech said a gunman fired five times at a Mexican man at the club and the victim's bodyguards or other people fired back. When the shooter fled the club, he hit another person who was also armed and whose gun went off when he fell, wounding other people, Pech said. A Canadian man and an Italian man, both of whom worked for the BPM electronic music festival, and the Mexican man, died from bullet wounds. An American woman was trampled to death in a stampede as people fled the club in panic. Fifteen other people were wounded by bullets or hurt in the stampede. Four people were detained near the scene of the crime but officials have not said if the shooter was among them. Officials are also investigating whether the shooter showed up to kill the Mexican man, or whether the incident was linked to a dispute over an extortion racket against the club, or the dealers were not allowed to sell drugs inside the club. Authorities are probing the background of the Mexican victim, who is originally from the eastern state of Veracruz. His family said he worked for a phone company and that he was related to a Veracruz state government official. While authorities have surveillance camera footage, it is insufficient to identify the shooter, Pech said.
By PTI

LOS ANGELES: Ahead of his swearing-in as the 45th President of US, a new endangered species of moth has been named in honour of Donald Trump by scientists because the insect shares his hairstyle. The new moth, officially described as Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, stands out with yellowish-white scales present on the head in adults. It was in these scales that evolutionary biologist Vazrick Nazari from Ottawa, Canada found an amusing reference to Trump's hairstyle and turned it into an additional justification for its name.

The fame around the new moth will successfully point to the critical need for further conservation efforts for fragile areas such as the habitat of the new species, said Nazari. While going through material borrowed from the Bohart Museum of Entomology at University of California, Davis in the US, Nazari stumbled across a few specimens that did not match any previously known species. Following thorough analysis of these moths, as well as material from other institutions, the scientist confirmed he had discovered the second species of a genus of twirler moths. While both species in the genus share a habitat, stretching across the states of California in US, and Baja California in Mexico, one can easily tell them apart.

Trump, 70, will be sworn-in as the 45th US President on January 20. Trump's flying namesake has been announced only a month following the recently described species of basslet named after Barack Obama. The fish is only known from coral reefs in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Northwestern Hawaii, a nature reserve which the 44th President of the US expanded to become the largest protected marine area in the world. Being a substantially urbanised and populated area, the habitat of N donaldtrumpi is also under serious threat.

"The discovery of this distinct micro-moth in the densely populated and otherwise zoologically well-studied southern California underscores the importance of conservation of the fragile habitats that still contain undescribed and threatened species, and highlights the paucity of interest in species-level taxonomy of smaller faunal elements in North America," said Nazari. "By naming this species after the 45th President of the US, I hope to bring some public attention to, and interest in, the importance of alpha-taxonomy in better understanding the neglected micro-fauna component of the North American biodiversity," Nazari added. The research was published in the journal ZooKeys.

LOS ANGELES: Ahead of his swearing-in as the 45th President of US, a new endangered species of moth has been named in honour of Donald Trump by scientists because the insect shares his hairstyle. The new moth, officially described as Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, stands out with yellowish-white scales present on the head in adults. It was in these scales that evolutionary biologist Vazrick Nazari from Ottawa, Canada found an amusing reference to Trump's hairstyle and turned it into an additional justification for its name. The fame around the new moth will successfully point to the critical need for further conservation efforts for fragile areas such as the habitat of the new species, said Nazari. While going through material borrowed from the Bohart Museum of Entomology at University of California, Davis in the US, Nazari stumbled across a few specimens that did not match any previously known species. Following thorough analysis of these moths, as well as material from other institutions, the scientist confirmed he had discovered the second species of a genus of twirler moths. While both species in the genus share a habitat, stretching across the states of California in US, and Baja California in Mexico, one can easily tell them apart. Trump, 70, will be sworn-in as the 45th US President on January 20. Trump's flying namesake has been announced only a month following the recently described species of basslet named after Barack Obama. The fish is only known from coral reefs in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Northwestern Hawaii, a nature reserve which the 44th President of the US expanded to become the largest protected marine area in the world. Being a substantially urbanised and populated area, the habitat of N donaldtrumpi is also under serious threat. "The discovery of this distinct micro-moth in the densely populated and otherwise zoologically well-studied southern California underscores the importance of conservation of the fragile habitats that still contain undescribed and threatened species, and highlights the paucity of interest in species-level taxonomy of smaller faunal elements in North America," said Nazari. "By naming this species after the 45th President of the US, I hope to bring some public attention to, and interest in, the importance of alpha-taxonomy in better understanding the neglected micro-fauna component of the North American biodiversity," Nazari added. The research was published in the journal ZooKeys.
By Express News Service

With right wing leaders of the capitalist Western world increasingly discussing protectionist policies, alarming businesses across the globe, the task of defending globalisation and free trade at the World Economic Forum was left to the head of Communist China - Xi Jinping. Pushing back the criticism of globalisation by US President-elect Donald Trump and other Western populists, Xi warned the world against protectionist sentiments. Protectionism is like locking yourself in a dark room, which would seem to escape wind and rain, but also block out the sunshine, Xi said, adding that No one is a winner in a trade war. There is no point in blaming globalisation for worlds problems, because that is simply not the case and doing do will not solve the problems.

The role reversal of nations sparked sharp comments from experts. This speech by Xi Jinping in praise of globalisation, while the US and UK retreat from it, sounds like a real juncture in history, said Ferdinando Giugliano, commentator on economic affairs

. The leaders of the free world just allowed the head of China, one of the least democratic states, to lecture them in a convincing way, he tweeted. The end of globalisation and dawn of a protectionist world is one of the biggest threats to Asia Pacific, warned several studies released on the sidelines of the WEF, adding that local factors may worsen the situation in countries like India. The Modi government will intersperse hard choices with appeals to Hindu nationalism, claimed a report by Control Risks, warning that it could dent Indias growth and image.

While this surge in protectionist sentiments threatens to upset global growth, it also offers China a chance to advance its goal  shaping the new global economic order. Ready or not, China has become the de facto world leader seeking to maintain an open global economy. In effect, President Xi has become the general secretary of globalisation, the Chinese State media claimed.

With right wing leaders of the capitalist Western world increasingly discussing protectionist policies, alarming businesses across the globe, the task of defending globalisation and free trade at the World Economic Forum was left to the head of Communist China - Xi Jinping. Pushing back the criticism of globalisation by US President-elect Donald Trump and other Western populists, Xi warned the world against protectionist sentiments. Protectionism is like locking yourself in a dark room, which would seem to escape wind and rain, but also block out the sunshine, Xi said, adding that No one is a winner in a trade war. There is no point in blaming globalisation for worlds problems, because that is simply not the case and doing do will not solve the problems. The role reversal of nations sparked sharp comments from experts. This speech by Xi Jinping in praise of globalisation, while the US and UK retreat from it, sounds like a real juncture in history, said Ferdinando Giugliano, commentator on economic affairs . The leaders of the free world just allowed the head of China, one of the least democratic states, to lecture them in a convincing way, he tweeted. The end of globalisation and dawn of a protectionist world is one of the biggest threats to Asia Pacific, warned several studies released on the sidelines of the WEF, adding that local factors may worsen the situation in countries like India. The Modi government will intersperse hard choices with appeals to Hindu nationalism, claimed a report by Control Risks, warning that it could dent Indias growth and image. While this surge in protectionist sentiments threatens to upset global growth, it also offers China a chance to advance its goal  shaping the new global economic order. Ready or not, China has become the de facto world leader seeking to maintain an open global economy. In effect, President Xi has become the general secretary of globalisation, the Chinese State media claimed.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Barack Obama's decision Tuesday to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence brought fresh attention to another figure involved in the Army leaker's case: Julian Assange.

On Twitter last week, Assange's anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks posted, "If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case."

Obama's move will test the promise. The president commuted Manning's 35-year sentence, freeing her in May, nearly three decades early. Manning has acknowledged leaking a trove of diplomatic cables and national security documents to WikiLeaks in 2010.

In a statement, Assange called Manning "a hero, whose bravery should be applauded."

Assange went on to demand that the U.S. government "should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers, such as WikiLeaks and myself," but he made no mention of the Twitter pledge. His lawyer said he has been pressing the Justice Department for updates on an investigation concerning WikiLeaks.

Assange has been holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he remains wanted on an allegation of rape, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy.

The Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange, and it's not clear that any charges have been brought under seal.

The department, in refusing to turn over investigative documents sought by Manning under the Freedom of Information Act, has acknowledged that the FBI is continuing to investigate the publication of national security information on WikiLeaks arising from Manning's disclosures.

"That investigation concerns potential violations of federal criminal laws, in the form of serious threats to the national security, and the investigation continues today," Justice Department lawyers wrote in a court filing last year. "From the terms of her request, it is clear that Manning seeks to obtain documents concerning that investigation.

Separately, the FBI is also investigating Russian meddling through hacking in the U.S. presidential election. Hacked emails from top Democratic officials and Hillary Clinton campaign officials were posted on WikiLeaks in the final weeks of the presidential race.

With the commutation coming just days before Obama leaves office, any decision on whether to charge or seek to extradite Assange will now fall to the Trump administration.

In a statement Tuesday, a lawyer for Assange did not address whether Assange intended to come to the U.S.

"For many months, I have asked the DOJ to clarify Mr. Assange's status. I hope it will soon," Assange's lawyer, Barry Pollack, said in the statement. "The Department of Justice should not pursue any charges against Mr. Assange based on his publication of truthful information and should close its criminal investigation of him immediately."

Another Assange lawyer, Melinda Taylor, suggested he wouldn't go back on his word. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," she said in a brief telephone conversation with The Associated Press.

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Barack Obama's decision Tuesday to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence brought fresh attention to another figure involved in the Army leaker's case: Julian Assange. On Twitter last week, Assange's anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks posted, "If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case." Obama's move will test the promise. The president commuted Manning's 35-year sentence, freeing her in May, nearly three decades early. Manning has acknowledged leaking a trove of diplomatic cables and national security documents to WikiLeaks in 2010. In a statement, Assange called Manning "a hero, whose bravery should be applauded." Assange went on to demand that the U.S. government "should immediately end its war on whistleblowers and publishers, such as WikiLeaks and myself," but he made no mention of the Twitter pledge. His lawyer said he has been pressing the Justice Department for updates on an investigation concerning WikiLeaks. Assange has been holed up for more than four years at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He has refused to meet prosecutors in Sweden, where he remains wanted on an allegation of rape, fearing he would be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges if he leaves the embassy. The Justice Department has never announced any indictment of Assange, and it's not clear that any charges have been brought under seal. The department, in refusing to turn over investigative documents sought by Manning under the Freedom of Information Act, has acknowledged that the FBI is continuing to investigate the publication of national security information on WikiLeaks arising from Manning's disclosures. "That investigation concerns potential violations of federal criminal laws, in the form of serious threats to the national security, and the investigation continues today," Justice Department lawyers wrote in a court filing last year. "From the terms of her request, it is clear that Manning seeks to obtain documents concerning that investigation. Separately, the FBI is also investigating Russian meddling through hacking in the U.S. presidential election. Hacked emails from top Democratic officials and Hillary Clinton campaign officials were posted on WikiLeaks in the final weeks of the presidential race. With the commutation coming just days before Obama leaves office, any decision on whether to charge or seek to extradite Assange will now fall to the Trump administration. In a statement Tuesday, a lawyer for Assange did not address whether Assange intended to come to the U.S. "For many months, I have asked the DOJ to clarify Mr. Assange's status. I hope it will soon," Assange's lawyer, Barry Pollack, said in the statement. "The Department of Justice should not pursue any charges against Mr. Assange based on his publication of truthful information and should close its criminal investigation of him immediately." Another Assange lawyer, Melinda Taylor, suggested he wouldn't go back on his word. "Everything that he has said he's standing by," she said in a brief telephone conversation with The Associated Press.
PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Raisina Dialogue 2017

New Delhi, Jan 16 : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the inaugural address at the opening session of the second edition of the Raisina Dialogue to begin on Tuesday at Taj Palace in New Delhi.





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The Raisina Dialogue, which is being held from Jan 1719, 2017, is Indias flagship geo-political conference organized by Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation.The theme of the Dialogue, this year, is The New Normal: Multilateralism with Multi-Polarity.M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Foreign Minister of Nepal, Hamid Karzai, former President of Afghanistan, Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia and Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister of Bangladesh are expected to be part of the inaugural panel.A video message from the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres will also be played before the inaugural panel.Foreign Secretary Dr. S. Jaishankar is expected to deliver the theme address.Among the foreign dignitaries who will be addressing the Dialogue are Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, UK, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Minister for Regional Development, Sri Lanka, Stephen Harper, former Prime Minister of Canada, Jacques Audibert, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of France, Shunsuke Takei, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr, Commander, Pacific Command and Admiral Michelle Howard, Commander, US Naval Forces, Europe and Africa.On the concluding day, a one-to-one conversation will be held between Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar and Hamid Karzai, former President of Afghanistan.The first Raisina Dialogue was held in March 2016, which was attended by 120 foreign participant from nearly 40 countries..The second edition of the Dialogue is expected to see participation from about 65 countries and more than 250 foreign participants.Image: ORFOnline Twitter
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Bihar : Cabinet meeting in Nitish Kumar's home district clears 32 proposals

Patna, Jan 17 (TheBiharPost/IBNS): A Cabinet meeting held in the cool and calm surroundings of Rajgir on Tuesday cleared 32 proposals, including setting up of an IT park near Dak Bungalow in Patna, as per media reports.





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The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also decided not to renew licene of liquor factories and allotted funds for paying salary to teachers and health staffs.The meeting was held at the International Convention Centre at Rajgir in Nalanda which is the home district of the Chief Minister.Massive security arrangements were made for the meeting which began at around 11.30 in the morning. All the ministers were ferried to the venue in a luxury bus.This is the fourth time that the Cabinet meeting was held outside the state capital.Earlier such meetings were held in a mustard field in Begusarai district, atop Ratnagiri hills in Rajgir in 2009 and on a floating restaurant in 2010 in Patna.http://thebiharpost.com
NBCC signs MoU with AIIMS for redevelopment of residential quarters at West Ansari Nagar campus and Ayur Vigyan Nagar campus

New Delhi, Jan 17 : The NBCC (India) Limited, under the Ministry of Urban Development, signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Tuesday, for redevelopment of residential quarters at West Ansari Nagar campus and Ayur Vigyan Nagar campus at a total cost of Rs. 4,698 crores.





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The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda.During the occasion, Union Minister for Urban Development, M. Venkaiah Naidu said that the MoU between the NBCC and AIIMS will change the face of expansion of the institute, as well as the residential accommodation provided to the professor and other staff members of the institute.He said that health and education are two areas, which needs to be focused and thus, both the central and state Governments are increasing the budget allocation in these sectors.He said that India has inherent strength of knowledge and intelligence but at the same time, we need to upgrade it further and make it affordable to the people.
Finance Ministry denies collaborating with 'tainted' UK-based company

New Delhi , Jan. 17 : The department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance released a press statement on Tuesday and came clear on the allegations of 'compromising national interest by collaborating with a tainted UK-based Note Printing Company'.





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"No fresh contract has been given to this company by the Government during the last three years. The Security Clearance for this company has been withheld by the Ministry of Finance and hence no fresh orders have been placed with the said company since 2014. The company has applied for setting up a factory in India. No action has been taken on their application," the statement said.The said company had been supplying bank note paper till 2010. Further as per the decision taken in 2013, the company was permitted to supply a security feature for bank notes till December 2015.Earlier in the day, the Congress had charged the Government with compromising with national interest by shortlisting a tainted UK-based Note Printing Company for printing of plastic notes in India."A tainted UK-based note printing company De La Rue has been shortlisted for printing of plastic notes in India despite it being blacklisted. It shows complicity at the highest level," former Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy had told reporters at AICC headquarters.
There was no hindrance before Congress to form alliance with SP: NCP

New Delhi , Jan. 18 : The National Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday welcomed the Congress' decision to form an alliance with the Samajwadi Party, and added that there was no hindrance before the grand old party to form an alliance with ruling party in Uttar Pradesh.





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"Since Congress is now sure about the face of Samajwadi Party, that is Akhilesh Yadav, therefore there was no hindrance in forming alliance," NCP leader Majid Memon told ANI.Commenting on Sheila Dikshit's decision to withdraw her name as Uttar Pradesh chief ministerial candidate, Memon said that as far as Uttar Pradesh chief minister's face is concerned, Dikshit was not left with any other option because if Congress is forming an alliance with Samjawadi Party then Akhilesh will only be the chief ministerial candidate.Putting all the speculations to an end, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad yesterday said that his party would enter into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav.Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav also confirmed that the party will lock itself in a pre-poll alliance with the Congress.Meanwhile, Sheila Dikshit, who was named as the chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh polls, withdrew her name stating that there cannot be two chief ministerial faces in case of an alliance in the politically crucial state.
Congress hails PM's Raisina dialogue, welcomes his foreign policy

NewDelhi , Jan. 18 : Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the second Raisina dialogue, India's flagship geo-political conference, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said that he has no ideological disagreement with the former on foreign policy, adding that hosting delegates from 65 countries is healthy affair from national point of view.





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"On foreign policy, we believe in speaking for the nation rather than on any party. I even tweeted during the speech that I agreed with Modi's avocation of Buddhism, Ayurveda and yoga as part of India's offerings to the world. I am very glad that this is part of doctrine of the country. I honestly don't think it is such a departure for the past, if you compare the Modi doctrine and Manmohan doctrine, they are the same, which is that the foreign policy must serve the India's development and transformation. So I have no real ideological disagreement with the statement," Tharoor told ANI.The Congress leader further said that such international initiatives and conferences should be conducted more in India."I think this was a very welcome initiative. I have long been an advocate of more international events that place India very visibly on the world map. It is very healthy thing from national point of view that we are able to host delegates from 65 countries in Delhi and open a perspective on the world, which of course is the perspective of the current government," he added.Prime Minister Modi yesterday in the second edition of the Raisina dialogue said that USA and India will be keep on building the relationship further in regard to the strategic partnership and also pointed out that Russia is an abiding friend and the partnership between the old allies has deepened."In my conversation with President elect Donald Trump, we agreed to keep building on these gains in our strategic partnership and Russia is an abiding friend. ( Russian President Vladimir) Putin and I have held long talks on the challenges that confront the world today. Our partnership in defence has deepened. The emphasis on energy and trade has shown results," he said.Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the relations between India and China, saying that it is not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences."In the management of our relationship and for peace and progress, we need to show sensitivity and respect for our core concerns. I see the development of India and China as an unprecedented opportunity, for our two countries and for the whole world," he added.Prime Minister Modi told the 69 nations participating in the three-day dialogue that reforms would not be enough "unless it transforms economy and society".He said for his government, this means a "path of international engagement" -- focussed on "restoring bridges, shaping relationships, making India human resource to be reckoned with".More than 250 representatives of 65 nations are participated in the second Raisina dialogue.With a theme of "New Normal: Multi-lateralism with Multi-Polarity", the meet organised annually by the Observer Research Foundation(ORF) in association with the Ministry of External Affairs, is focusing on deliberate on strategic issues including new challenges and cyber security.
Mahira Khan 'feels bad' on not being able to promote 'Raees'

Karachi [Pakistan], Jan. 18 : Following the ban on Pakistani artists in India, actress Mahira Khan recently expressed her displeasure on not being able to promote her debut Bollywood film 'Raees'.





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"Of course, I feel bad," replied Mahira, when asked if she was dejected about not promoting the film, and added, "When you put so much effort and hard work in a project, you wish to see the results," The Express Tribune quoted her as saying in an interview.Touting the SRK starrer flick a 'special' one, the Pakistani starlet said, "I work with same dedication and zeal in all my projects, but 'Raees' is very special."Talking about how Fawad Khan's role in 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' was reportedly cut short due to India-Pakistan tension, the Pakistani star said, "I'm not privy to that but I am content with my part in the Rahul Dholakia directorial."In December last year, Shah Rukh Khan, along with producer Ritesh Sadhwani, met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray to ensure a smooth release of the film.The flick is slated to release on January 25.
Agriculture Minister to lead 5-member delegation to Germany; to attend G-20 Meet

New Delhi , Jan. 18 : Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh will lead a five member Indian delegation to Germany for participation in the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture from 19-21 January and G-20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting on January 22 in Berlin.





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Singh will depart for Berlin on Wednesday night.During the visit, he will address the participants of the 9th Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Conference under the aegis of GFFA as well as the G-20 Agriculture Ministers meeting.The Minister will also deliver the inaugural address at the Expert Panel convened as part of the GFFA meeting, apart from bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries including Germany, Mexico and Lithuania.Singh will highlight India's initiatives in the areas of Agriculture and Water including such flagship programme as Soil Health Card scheme and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for improving soil fertility and water use efficiency to achieve 'more crop per drop' in a focused manner and extending the coverage of precision irrigation 'Har Khet Ko Pani.He will also showcase India's initiatives in the use of digital technology for the benefit of our farmers including the e-NAM scheme, the Kisan Call Centre, digital payment initiatives and other measures to bridge the digital divide in India's rural and agricultural sectors.The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture is an International Conference organized by Germany on the subject "Agriculture and Water - Key to Feeding the World" which is to be attended by Agriculture Ministers of 65 countries.G-20 Agriculture Ministers meeting, scheduled for January 22, would focus on the theme of "Agriculture & Water - Digitalization in the Agriculture Sector" and bring together Ministers from the world's twenty biggest economies to discuss the way ahead for the global agricultural sector.
Ryan Reynolds could be hinting Pierce Brosnan's role in 'Deadpool 2'

Washington D.C. [USA], Jan. 18 : Judging from Ryan Reynolds' most recent social media post, it is highly likely that James Bond is soon sharing screen space with Wolverine and Deadpool.





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In an Instagram picture, the 40-year-old star is seen posing for the lens along with Pierce Brosnan, who plays the British agent, and 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' co-star Hugh Jackman, leading fans to speculate that Brosnan might be involved in the Deadpool sequel, which is set for release in 2018.The trio struck a 'hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil' pose probably implying that they will not be sharing updates in the near future."Wolvie. Bond. Wade," read the caption.Jackman also shared a similar shot on his Instagram handle, captioning, "#wolverinebonddeadpool."Reynolds' 'Deadpool' recently yielded two Golden Globe nominations, and is also up for 'Best Theatrical Motion Picture' at the Producers Guild of America Awards and 'Best Adapted Screenplay' at the Writers Guild of America Awards.
Kunal Kapoor partners with WATConsult for 'That'sMyGirl' campaign

New Delhi , Jan. 18 : Social Entrepreneur and actor Kunal Kapoor recently partnered with digital social media agency 'WATConsult' for a CSR activity called 'That'sMyGirl'.





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The initiative will donate around 10 lakh rupees to the NGO Nanhi Kali through crowdfunding platform Ketto, which the 39-year-old actor co-founded.The campaign will use its microsite to highlight and share the "current insights" on the state of girl education in India, and also showcase video bytes from established women leaders across various fields.The activity will be concluded on January 24, National Girl Child Day, wherein they will raise funds via a Twitter campaign, using the #ThatsMyGirl and cite opportunities and accomplishments of a girl child.For each 'hashtag mention', WATConsult will donate 10 rupees to Nanhi Kali.Sharing his views Kapoor commented, "We at Ketto are glad to partner with WATConsult on their initiative #That'sMyGirl. Being a crowdfunding platform, we hope to raise maximum funds for this step and donate to Nanhi Kali."In a statement, Founder and CEO of WATConsult Rajiv Dingra said, "In many parts of India, the arrival of a baby girl still calls for mourning rather than celebration and that's indeed sad. We would like to build awareness around this cause and support girl child education via our initiative.""We look forward to achieve atleast 1,00,000 mentions and contribute 10 lakhs to Nanhi Kali," Dingra added.
Chief Election Commissioner to review poll preparedness in Uttarakhand

Nainital (Uttarakhand) , Jan. 18 : Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and his fellow commissioners will be in Dehradun today to review the poll preparedness in Uttarakhand.





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The team will meet the administrative and security officials during the two-day visit.It will also meet the representatives of various political parties.The state will have single phase polling on February 15.The notification will be issued on January 20.
Centre ready to provide security to Zaira Wasim: Rijiju

New Delhi , Jan. 18 : Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that the Centre is ready to provide security to 'Dangal' child actor Zaira Wasim if the Jammu and Kashmir State government recommends it.





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"We don't decide to provide security on our own. If the state government recommends or if it is so desired, we will support," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told media here.Zaira, who portrayed the young Geeta Phogat in the recently released movie 'Dangal', issued an apology for 'offending' and 'unintentionally hurting' the people after she met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, and was subsequently trolled on Twitter. She later deleted her post.Since then, many celebrities including Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, who essayed the role of Zaira's father in the movie, and political leaders, like Omar Abdullah, have come out in her support.The BJP-PDP government in Kashmir has also come out in support of the actor, warning extremists not to threaten or blackmail any Kashmiri.
India, China should not lose sight of business in wake of political differences: Foreign Secretary

New Delhi , Jan 18 : Asserting that New Delhi will invest more energy to boost Indo-China ties, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said the two nations should not lose sight of the strategic nature of their engagement in the wake of differences on certain political issues.





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Addressing the second day of the Raisina Dialogue here, Jaishankar said though ties between New Delhi and Beijing have suffered pain in the past, India in the coming year will make fresh endeavours to strengthen ties with China."With China, the overall broadening of ties, especially in business and people-to-people contacts, has been overshadowed by differences on certain political issues. But it is important for the two countries not to lose sight of the strategic nature of their engagement, or falter in their conviction that their rise can be mutually supportive. We will continue to invest more energy into this account in 2017," Jaishankar said.Addressing the inaugural session of the second edition of Raisina Dialogue yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a strategic stand on China and said ties between the two Asian giants have immense economic opportunities."I see the rise of India and China as an unprecedented economic opportunity for our two countries, and for the whole world. At the same time, it is not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have some difference," he said.
Cabinet approves Trade Agreement negotiations with Peru

New Delhi , Jan. 18 : The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave its approval for amendment in the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) to further incentivize investments in the electronic Sector and moving towards the goal of ' Net Zero imports' in electronics by 2020.





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Besides expediting investments into the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in India, the amendments in M-SIPS are expected to create employment opportunities and reduce dependence on imports. The projects already received under the scheme have the potential to generate employment to the extent of up to one million persons.The policy covers all states and districts and provides them an opportunity to attract investments in electronics manufacturing. So far, 243 applications have been received under the scheme, out of which 75 applications have been approved involving investment proposals of Rs. 17,997 crore.Under the policy, the applications will receive an incentive commitment of Rs 10,000 crore up to 31st December 2018 or till such time that is reached, whichever is earlier. In case the incentive commitment of Rs 10,000 crore is reached, a review will be held to decide further financial commitments.For new approvals, the incentive under the scheme will be available from the date of approval of a project and not from the date of receipt of application; The incentives will be available for investments made within five years from the date of approval of the project; Approvals will normally be accorded to eligible applications within 120 days of submission of the complete application.A unit receiving incentives under the scheme, will provide an undertaking to remain in commercial production for a period of at least three years; The Appraisal Committee recommending approval of project will be chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT.A separate Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary and comprising of CEO, NITI Aayog, Secretary Expenditure and Secretary, MeitY will be set up in respect of mega projects, envisaging more than Rs. 6850 crore (approx. USD 1 Billion) investments.The Cabinet had, in July, 2012 approved the M-SIPS to provide a special incentive package to promote large scale manufacturing in the Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector.The scheme provides subsidy for capital expenditure - 20 percent for investments in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 25 percent in non-SEZs.The Scheme was amended in August, 2015 for scope enhancement and simplification of procedure. The Scheme has attracted investments in the ESDM sector to the tune of Rs. 1,26,838 crore, of which investments of around Rs. 17,997 crore have been approved by the MeitY.The M-SIPS has been able to create positive impact on investment in electronics sector.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Vietnam In the field of cyber security

New Delhi, Jan 18 : Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam in the field of Cyber Security.





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It was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), India and the Cyber Security Department, Ministry of Public Security, Vietnam on Sept 3, 2016 at Hanoi, read a government statement.The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution and prevention of cyber security-related incidents between India and Vietnam.Implementation of the MoU will result in significant mutual benefits in the cyber security sector, through institutional and capacity-building in the field of cyber security in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Parliamentary committee criticizes RBI Governor for inability to answer questions on demonetization

New Delhi , Jan. 18 : Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday criticized Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel for his inability to answer queries related to demonetisation.





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Patel was unable to tell us how much money has come back to the banks," said Saugata Roy, TMC MP."The governor was unable to tell us that how much old currency has come into the banks," added Saugata Roy.Sources also quoted the RBI governor, as telling the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance that Rs.9.2 lakh crore in new currency has been introduced into the system.Patel briefed the parliamentary panel about demonetisation and its impact on the economy and the steps taken by the central bank to deal with the cash crunch.Besides, representatives of the Finance Ministry, including from the Department of Economic Affairs, Financial Services and Revenue, briefed the Standing Committee on Finance headed by former Union Minister and senior Congress leader M. Veerappa Moily.Representatives of Indian Banks Association (IBA), State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) were also present in the meeting.It maybe recalled that the RBI had earlier given a seven-page reply to the questions raised by the committee. It had then said that it had received advisory instructions from the government to consider the demonetisation of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes.According to the RBI, the government wanted it to consider demonetisation of high value currencies "to mitigate the triple problems of counterfeiting, terrorist financing and black money" on 7 November. The central board took a decision on this and the government announced the demonetisation on 8 November.The RBI had cleared the introduction of new Rs. 2,000 notes in May 2016 and that the central board had not discussed the ban of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes in its meetings in May, July or August.The entire exercise of demonetisation has been mired in secrecy as neither the RBI and the government has given any details on when the decision was taken and who were involved in the process. The briefing by Patel and other bureaucrats before the Parliamentary panel assumes significance in this context.The RBI Governor is also scheduled to appear before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on the same issue on January 20.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the demonetisation of old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes on November 8 last year.Following the decision, the RBI had put restrictions on withdrawal of cash from ATMs as well as from banks to deal with shortage of new high denomination currency notes. This led to long queues at ATMs and bank branches.The cash situation has improved gradually with supply of new Rs.500 and Rs.2,000 notes. On Monday, the RBI increased the daily withdrawal limit from ATMs to Rs.10,000, though it kept the weekly ceiling at Rs.24,000.All over the country, banks had to deal with huge rush of people who thronged their branches to deposit the junked notes. The deadline for depositing old notes with banks ended on December 30.Finance ministry officials informed the committee about the pros and cons of demonetisation, starting early 2016.The meeting discussed issues about demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 and the impact thereafter.
Red Hat brings the 'Power' of open source to Sri Lanka

New Delhi , Jan. 18 : Red Hat, a provider of open source solutions, hosted a half-day technology event in Colombo at Hotel Cinnamon Lakeside on Wednesday. Under the theme of 'Power of Participation', the event discussed how enterprises can transform and innovate by learning, networking, and collaborating via open source technology.





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The keynote address was delivered by Amarjeet Manchanda, Director, Presales, Red Hat India, who spoke about the potential of open source to influence change and enable innovation. He emphasised that open source is now at the forefront of every major breakthrough. According to him, Sri Lanka is an exciting market that's primed for disruption and Red Hat is geared to play an important part in this transformation journey.Through this event Red Hat hopes to connect and educate potential customers, clients, influencers and policy makers of its services and unique offerings in open source. The event gathered some of the brightest minds in the country to discuss the power of open source and best practices that can help accelerate innovation in Sri Lanka's digital economy.Red Hat's primary focus will be to help businesses accelerate digital transformation in the areas of BFSI, telecommunications and government In Sri Lanka. With the government's big push in critical infrastructure to enable digital technologies, Red Hat's innovative offerings are well positioned to help its expansion plans in Sri Lanka.Red Hat will also focus on developing an ecosystem of partners to empower a framework for open source technologies in Sri Lanka. Industry interactions will also be held in academic institutions to help students understand careers in IT and open source.Discussing about the event, Amarjeet further shared, "Red Hat is optimistic about the opportunities in Sri Lanka and has received a very positive interest from existing customers and new ones to extend Red Hat's services in this region."He further highlighted that during their initial conversations with policymakers, partners and customers there has been a strong willingness to embrace open source technology.During his session, Neeraj Bhatia, Director, Partner, Alliances and Commercial Sales, Red Hat India, said, "Red Hat is one of the most engaged and collaborative partners in the ecosystem that is driving innovation and enabling businesses to benefit from the digital technologies. Partners lead and deliver a high share of Red Hat's business in the region and the company is keen to invest in strengthen its existing partner relations while also forging new ones in a nascent market like Sri Lanka.
Boris Johnson calls on Prime Minister Modi

New Delhi, Jan 18 : Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of UK, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Wednesday.





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The Prime Minister recalled their earlier meeting during his visit to UK in November 2015, when Johnson was the Mayor of London, and congratulated him on his appointment as the Foreign Secretary.The Prime Minister said that the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November 2016 has put in place the framework necessary to guide India-UK relations in the days to come.{image_1}The Prime Minister appreciated the progress achieved in strengthening the bilateral partnership in various sectors, especially Science Technology, Finance, and Defence and Security.The Prime Minister noted that the Indian diaspora in UK acts as a living bridge between the two countries, and is a key driver of close people-to-people relations, and hoped that both sides would continue to work together to enhance these ties.
Diplomatic Adviser to the French President calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi, Jan 18 : Jacques Audibert, Diplomatic Adviser to the French President, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.





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The Prime Minister recalled his visit to France in 2015, and the visit of President Hollande as Chief Guest at the Republic Day on 2016, and said that the exchange of visits had laid the foundation for strengthening bilateral ties for years to come.The Prime Minister said that bilateral relations between India and France have expanded from the triad of Defence, Space and Civil Nuclear cooperation to encompass a broad range of sectors, especially counter-terrorism, maritime security, and renewable energy.The Prime Minister recalled the establishment of International Solar Alliance as a landmark achievement in global efforts against Climate Change, and conveyed his appreciation for French support to this initiative.The Prime Minister called for greater bilateral cooperation in Smart Cities, Urban Transport, and Infrastructure Development.
3 Newport County teams are one win from playing for a title

The playoffs are underway, and there are teams still alive, while others have been eliminated.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Windy. Thunderstorms becoming likely late. Low 59F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Windy. Thunderstorms becoming likely late. Low 59F. Winds SSE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Higher wind gusts possible.
When a male is stimulated in a sexual manner, a signal travels from the brain to the genital area via nerves through the spinal cord. The signal is responsible for making the pelvic muscles contract rhythmically, which is how sperm is transported from the testes to the vas deferens. Extra fluid is added by the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland to protect the sperm.

The mixture of sperm and this extra fluid is called semen. The semen travels from the urethra to the tip of the penis where it is expelled. The act of the male expelling semen during sexual intercourse is known as ejaculation. The time taken from initiating sexual contact until the point of orgasm is known as the ejaculatory latency.

If the male is unable to control the urge to ejaculate and finds his release before he and his partner are ready for it to happen, it is termed as premature ejaculation. The World Health Organization termed the condition early ejaculation. With 75% of the male population reporting it, premature ejaculation is the most commonly seen male sexual problem, and it is also considered the most stressful.

Types of Premature Ejaculation

Lifelong (Primary)

In this case, the male has had the problem of premature ejaculation since first attaining sexual maturity. He has not had control over ejaculation during any incident of sexual intercourse he has ever undertaken. The condition may most likely be caused by some chemical imbalance in the brain center and will remain until treated.

Acquired (Secondary)

Here the male had been functionally normally in his sexual encounters in the past before a form of disruption, due to which he now suffers from premature ejaculation. It is usually caused by a psychological issue and this male may also suffer from erectile dysfunction.

What Causes Premature Ejaculation?

Both physical and psychological factors can cause premature ejaculation. Should the condition be affect the life of the male and his significant relationships, it is advisable to get a healthcare provider to rule out any physical health issues.

The condition can be caused by prostate problems, thyroid problems, the use of certain medication, and other health issues like obesity, high blood pressure, and addictions. In some cases, this can result when the male is just very sensitive. Diagnostic tests allow the healthcare provider to determine the precise problem so that treatment can be recommended accordingly.

In case the reasons are psychological, such as depression, stress, performance anxiety, a strict upbringing, childhood abuse, or fear related to forging or maintaining relationships, therapy will be required.

Treating Premature Ejaculation

The diagnosis of the condition is made after a physical examination. The healthcare practitioner may suggest blood or urine tests in order to exclude underlying medical issues as responsible. Should a physical condition be found responsible for the disorder, appropriate medication will be prescribed.

For psychological issues, a combination of sexual counselling and learning some techniques to handle the physical ejaculation will be considered. The counselling allows the male to overcome the feeling of shame and guilt that may be resulting in the disorder.

Such feelings often stem from a strict upbringing wherein anything related to sex is considered taboo and not openly discussed. If the male has been caught masturbating when young, and made to feel unclean and guilty, this early sexual conditioning can result in performance anxiety as an adult.

Should the male have undergone sexual trauma as a victim of child abuse, there may be a feeling of loathing with respect to the sexual act. The negative emotions associated with the traumatic childhood sexual experiences need to be addressed so that the adult can have a normal sexual relationship. Speaking with a professional can help the male overcome the trauma more easily. A partners support can go a long way in helping the patient.

If the problem lies with hypersensitivity of the penis, there are physical techniques taught to the male to help avoid premature ejaculation. It has been suggested that the male masturbate a couple of hours before sex with a partner, or use of a thick condom to reduce the sensitivity. Focus on breathing deeply to control the ejaculatory reflex and thinking of something that does not increase the sexual excitement, may be effective strategies.

If the partner is willing to help, there are two popular behavioural therapy methods called the stop and start and squeeze which can help the male control the urge to ejaculate prematurely. In the stop and start method, the partner stimulates the penis until the male is ready to ejaculate and then stops the stimulation. This is repeated three times and the fourth time the male is allowed to ejaculate.

In the squeeze method, the partner again does the same as before by stimulating the penis, but as the male nears climax, the partner squeezes the penis firmly until the erection begins to fade. This teaches the male to distinguish between the different sensations that lead to ejaculation, giving the male better control over his bodys reflexes, eventually allowing him to control his own climax.

References

Further Reading
In the first study of its kind, University of Colorado School of Medicine students expressed support for the legal use of marijuana, including for physical and mental health reasons. They also believe more research is needed to ascertain what risk could be involved in using the drug. These were some of the findings of a study led by Michael Chan, a recent graduate of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

Colorado students viewed the legalization of marijuana favorably, medicinal or otherwise, and generally felt that the medical use of marijuana is acceptable in the treatment of conditions approved by the Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry. Nearly half (49 percent) felt that it had significant physical health benefits and 37 percent believed it had mental health benefits. This contrasts with other studies, which found that most Colorado family physicians would only recommend marijuana for patients who suffer from pain or cancer and that only 27 percent of physicians thought it had significant physical health benefits.

The study, "Colorado Medical Students' Attitudes and Beliefs about Marijuana," was published today in the Journal of General Internal Medicine by Springer. It investigated the attitudes of medical students in Colorado, a state that has long been at the forefront of marijuana legal reforms.

"Despite strong support for marijuana legal reform, students expressed hesitancy to recommend it themselves, suggesting that medical students may not believe that there is enough data to safely recommend its use to patients and/or may not feel sufficiently trained to prescribe it," said Chan, now a resident at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

These reforms have seen the decriminalization of marijuana on many fronts in recent years. In Colorado, it is legal for adults to use it for medicinal and recreational purposes.

Previous studies have shown that opinions vary among physicians about the value of prescribing marijuana. To add further insights into the matter, Chan's team set out to find out what medical students at the CU School of Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus thought about the drug's use. In all, 236 of the 624 students contacted by e-mail completed the survey.

Students who grew up in Colorado were more in favor of medical marijuana than those who did not grow up there. This was also true for the 127 students who reported having used marijuana before. This finding is in line with previous studies showing that people with histories of substance use, including marijuana, believe the risk of adverse effects is relatively low.

The students were nearly unanimous (97 percent) in calling for further research into the medical usefulness of marijuana. Most expressed concern about possible physical (68 percent) and mental (77 percent) consequences, while 88 percent thought it could be addictive.

Chan and co-author Dan Matlock are now working to study how students are being educated about medical marijuana and its potential for health or harm.

"Clearly, medical students have a need for excellent education on marijuana," said Matlock, MD, MPH, and associate professor of geriatrics at the CU School of Medicine. "There's a lot we don't know and, medically, there is so little data."

Although legal under state law, marijuana is still a schedule 1 substance that is illegal under federal law.
Medasense Biometrics Ltd. announced today that it has received CE mark approval for its novel Pain Monitoring Device, PMD200. This new technology is now available to help physicians objectively assess a patients pain in critical care situations, where patients are unable to communicate. This allows physicians to ensure pain is properly managed.

Objectively assessing how much pain an individual person is in has long been a challenge. When a patient is unable to describe their pain, it is even more of a problem. There are currently no validated objective markers of pain that are recommended for clinical use1 and this can make it difficult, especially for anaesthesia teams, to provide the right amount of pain-relief medication.

To address these challenges Medasense has developed PMD200, a pain monitoring device based on the patented NOL technology that quantifies patients physiological response to pain. The easy-to-use system consists of a non-invasive finger probe which acquires physiological signals from four different sensors and calculates dozens of pain-related physiological parameters. This data is then analysed by artificial intelligence algorithms and converted into a single pain index, the Nociception Level (NOL) index, where 0 = no pain and 100 = extreme pain.

Using the system will enable physicians, in particular critical care teams, to optimise and personalise pain treatment avoiding over or under use of pain medication that can result in significant complications2,3. On regaining consciousness after surgery, common complications resulting from opioid administration include nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, constipation4 and hyperalgesia5.

Successful clinical validation studies in world-class European and Canadian hospitals support its use in these settings, with the NOL Index demonstrating superior intraoperative pain assessment over currently used methods6,7.

We have been studying the PMD device for a number of years now, and I believe that the NOL index may allow for more balanced anesthesia, as for the first time we are able to titrate analgesic medication to patients' needs. In the upcoming weeks the LUMC will be adding PMD200 devices into the operating rooms, in the future I hope to see the NOL index integrated into other monitors as it provides significant decision support information and can potentially positively impact patient outcomes". Professor Albert Dahan, MD. PhD. from the Department of Anaesthesiology at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands

The European launch of PMD200 marks a significant milestone for Medasenses breakthrough pain assessment technology, said Galit Zuckerman, Medasenses CEO and founder, With future products and applications in development, our technology has the potential to dramatically change pain care, pain research and the industry as a whole.

The company is setting up distribution networks to make the system available in operating rooms and critical care units across Europe. The company is also conducting research in other forms of pain, for example chronic pain including long-term back pain, with the aim of broadening the situations where the NOL Index could help with pain management.
The Georgia State University Research Foundation has entered into a research collaboration agreement with GeoVax Labs, Inc., a Georgia-based biotechnology company developing human vaccines, to advance development of a therapeutic vaccine for treatment of chronic Hepatitis B infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates between 700,000 to 1.4 million people in the United States have chronic Hepatitis B virus infections, with an estimated 20,000 new infections every year.

The research collaboration will include the design, construction and characterization of multiple vaccine candidates by combining the preS VLP technology from Georgia State and GeoVax's MVA-VLP vaccine platform. Unique VLP design and functional assays developed by Dr. Ming Luo, professor in the Department of Chemistry at Georgia State, and performed in collaboration with Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, will provide key information on vaccine effectiveness.

"My team's efforts continue to unveil the molecular mechanism of immune responses to HBV infection and we are excited to partner with GeoVax to further the development of a Hepatitis B therapeutic vaccine," said Dr. Luo. "Globally, chronic Hepatitis B affects more than 240 million people and contributes to nearly 686,000 deaths worldwide each year. By joining forces with GeoVax, we will apply our highly complementary sets of expertise in an effort to address the problem."

The vaccine will be based upon generating the preS VLP using the GeoVax's novel MVA-VLP vector platform, which has been proven safe in multiple human clinical trials of the company's preventive HIV vaccine. This platform is also being used to develop preventive vaccines against Zika virus and hemorrhagic fever viruses, such as Ebola, Sudan, Marburg and Lassa.

"We are fortunate to have the collaboration with nearby Georgia State University and Dr. Ming Luo," said Farshad Guirakhoo, chief scientific officer at GeoVax. "The combined technologies and already defined functional assays will serve to rapidly test this innovative concept."
Ignorance of fungal disease and lack of diagnostics across the world is causing doctors to unknowingly overprescribe antibiotics a new report warns.

Experts from GAFFI (the Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections) caution that we will lose the battle against antibiotic resistance unless doctors better understand how to suspect fungal disease and have proper access to the appropriate testing for it.

In a paper published today in the cutting edge US journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, several leading authors from GAFFI warn of the gross misuse of antibacterial antibiotics, because doctors treat without knowing what is wrong with their patients. The authors focus on scenarios, all common, where the lack of the best diagnostic tests prevent the correct antimicrobial being given.

Lord Jim ONeill of Gatley, lately Chairman of the UKs Review on Antimicrobial Resistance declared:

Improving diagnostic capability and responsiveness is at the heart of better antimicrobial prescribing, everywhere. Major efforts to improve fungal disease diagnostics are obviously necessary to optimise and minimise the use of both antibiotics and antifungals.

Dr David Denning, President of GAAFI and also of The University of Manchester, decried the lack of fungal diagnostics in most of the world. He said:

Solving AMR is not possible without accurate and timely diagnosis. Fungal disease diagnostics are critical in the AMR fight, and will improve survival from fungal disease across the world. The close link between fungal diagnostics and antibacterial prescribing needs a great deal more attention.

The GAFFI team report some people diagnosed with TB of the lungs, dont actually have TB (smear negative) but a fungal infection instead. A simple antibody test can pick up the fungus Aspergillus, and unnecessary anti-TB antibiotics stopped and antifungal drugs given. In 2013, over 2.7 million smear negative TB cases were notified to the World Health Organization.

In intensive care units Candida yeast bloodstream and tissue infections are common, yet only 40 per cent of patient have blood growing the organism. In many cases after antibacterial is given, without success. There are over 750,000 such cases worldwide.

Many asthma and patients with emphysema (COPD) get exacerbations, which are treated with antibacterials and steroids. Some have fungal asthma or are admitted to hospital with COPD. There are over 200 million asthmatics and an estimated 6-15 million have fungal asthma, which is diagnosable with skin testing or blood tests, which would respond to antifungal agents, minimizing antibacterial use. COPD is common in the over 40s, and in China alone nearly 12 million were hospitalized. A study there showed the severe fungal infection aspergillosis developed in 3.9% (`462,000), and 43% died (`200,000). Almost all will have been give antibacterials to no avail.

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a common problem in AIDS. Molecular testing is best for diagnosis, but not available outside most of Europe. The only way of diagnosing Pneumocystis before death in children, without putting them to sleep for a bronchoscopy, is with the molecular test. So many of the 400,000 with PCP are not diagnosed and even more without PCP are treated unnecessarily. Probably over two million get noxious PCP therapy for no reason each year.
Significantly more people with mental illness and substance use disorders had insurance coverage in 2014 due to the expansion of health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but many barriers to treatment remain, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.

The findings, published Jan. 17 in the journal Psychiatric Services, come just as Congressional leaders and the president-elect vow to repeal the ACA. A rollback of the law, which included an expansion of Medicaid in 31 states and the District of Columbia, would likely eliminate the gains in insurance among this group. Medicaid expansion under the ACA covers individuals with incomes below 138 percent of the federal poverty line in participating states and the law also provides subsidies for individuals with moderate incomes to purchase insurance plans.

"The Affordable Care Act has been very effective in reducing the uninsured rate in this vulnerable population where there is a real need to get people into services," says study leader Brendan Saloner, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Bloomberg School. "But having insurance is just the first step. We need to find ways to get this population treated, whether that means prescriptions for psychotropic drugs, counseling or placements in drug treatment programs."

Saloner says that repealing funding for the ACA, and Medicaid expansion in particular, would leave many people without access to services and add a burden to state and local budgets. "Amidst a national crisis in opioid overdoses, now is a particularly critical moment to extend services to people with mental health and substance use disorders," Saloner says.

Overall, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that provisions of the Affordable Care Act have resulted in an estimated 20 million people gaining health insurance between the passage of the law in 2010 and early 2016. An Urban Institute report estimates that as many as 30 million people could lose their insurance should the ACA be repealed.

Aside from expanding Medicaid and providing subsidies to make it more affordable to buy insurance, the ACA required insurers to cover people with pre-existing medical condition and allowed parents to keep their children on their policies until the age of 26.

For the new study, Saloner and his colleagues analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, identifying 29,962 adults ages 18 to 64 with mental illness and 19,243 with substance use disorders for two periods: 2011-2013, before the ACA was implemented, and 2014, the first year it was in place.

While the researchers found increases in the number of people with mental illness and substance use disorder obtaining insurance coverage, these changes did not lead to dramatic increases in use of services to treat these conditions. Use of mental health treatment increased by 2.2 percentage points and the number of people in substance use treatment did not change. The researchers did find, however, that Medicaid payment for substance use treatment increased by 7.7 percentage points, suggesting that people who had been paying out-of-pocket for services were uninsurable or who had another form of insurance switched to the newly expanded Medicaid program when it became available. Most of the increased coverage for people with mental illness and substance use disorders came from increased access to Medicaid for poor people who previously were not eligible for the program.

Insurance isn't the only barrier to getting treatment for these disorders. In 2014, less than half of people with mental illness in the United States and fewer than one in 10 people with a substance use disorder received treatment, the researchers found.

"We got more people covered, but we didn't make dramatic progress in closing the under-treatment gap," Saloner says. "We need to find ways to take the next step and ensure people are seeing the providers who can help them."

Among the barriers to treatment are that psychiatrists have the lowest Medicaid acceptance rate of any medical specialty, Saloner says. He says that while newly insured people may visit a primary care provider, those physicians may be better equipped to manage diseases like diabetes and hypertension than depression and drug addiction. Primary care providers may fail to refer their patients for appropriate treatment for mental illness and substance use disorders. Meanwhile, there continues to be a shortage of evidence-based treatment options for drug addiction in many communities, a problem that has been made worse in the context of the crippling opioid crisis in the United States. The recently passed 21st Century Cares Act that provides funding for opioid use disorder though building an addiction treatment workforce won't happen overnight, he says.

Federal law requires that insurance coverage for mental health and addiction treatment be offered on an equal basis with coverage for other medical care. Saloner says that before the recent election, many were hoping that one way to get closer to that goal would be to expand Medicaid to more states. After the November election, that seems unlikely.

"2017 is not likely to be a year when additional states opt to expand their Medicaid programs," Saloner says. "Instead, it could be a year of massive retraction. Loss of insurance would surely be a step backward for people with mental illness and substance use disorders."
The state of treatment options for a disease that can blind premature infants, reported in the Journal of AAPOS

A mini-symposium published in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) provides important insights into new techniques and treatments that show promise for eliminating retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) throughout the world.

ROP is an eye disorder that potentially results in blindness primarily affecting premature infants. This disorder, which usually develops in both eyes, is one of the most common causes of visual loss in childhood and can lead to lifelong vision impairment and blindness. ROP occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow and spread through the retina, potentially leading to retinal detachment and blindness. A revolution in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of ROP has begun contributing to improving the lives of patients suffering from this devastating condition.

In Western countries, more than 90% of premature infants even with severe ROP can expect a favorable outcome, while under-resourced areas lack trained staffing, functional equipment, and even a rudimentary understanding of ROP in its myriad forms. Without less expensive and more accessible treatments, ROP will continue to condemn too many infants to a life of severe visual impairment or blindness.

One proposed solution is the use of telemedicine in areas in which trained examiners are not available. Dr. Michael F. Chiang, MD, of the Departments of Ophthalmology & Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, notes that recent developments in wide-angle retinal imaging, computing, and information technology have facilitated the implementation of major real-world ROP telemedicine programs in the United States and throughout the world.

According to Dr. Chiang, "The nature of ROP care is now being gradually transformed by some of these technologies. By evaluating other emerging imaging technologies, understanding their benefits and limitations, and gradually implementing them into practice when warranted, pediatric ophthalmologists will be able to enhance the care they provide to patients for a broader range of problems in the future."

ROP is traditionally treated using laser ablation of the abnormal blood vessels, but advancements have been made using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. Helen A. Mintz-Hittner, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, shares her unique, sometimes controversial work on bevacizumab that has swept the country and changed the way many physicians treat advanced ROP. The treatment shows promise, however, delayed recurrence of ROP after bevacizumab treatments does occur (usually 5-10%). Dr. Mintz-Hittner emphasizes "the need for proper case selection (timing), careful injection (technique), and appropriate long-term follow-up (at least 65 weeks adjusted age) for parameters (outcomes)" to properly manage an ROP infant.

David K. Wallace, MD, MPH, of the Departments of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, contributes a balanced review of several anti-VEGF drugs. He cautions, "we have a long way to go to have an evidence-based paradigm for anti-VEGF treatment. There are many unanswered questions about which drug, what dose, relative benefits, and possible side effects. Consequently, there are many opportunities for high-quality comparative studies that will shape our future treatment of premature infants and aid in reducing the burden of blindness from ROP."

"We are fortunate to have a community of scientists devoted to working on a leading cause of blindness in children," commented Journal of AAPOS Editor-in-Chief William V. Good, MD, The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, CA. "Look how far we have come, thanks to the hard work of so many. It's time to consider the real possibility that this condition can be eliminated. When that happens, we will have achieved nothing short of a miracle."
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have made exciting new findings that could offer a means of fighting resistance to treatment for people with oesophageal cancer. Resistance to radiotherapy is a major stumbling block in the treatment of this cancer.

For the first time, the research team led by Dr Stephen Maher, Ussher Assistant Professor in Translational Oncology at Trinity, have discovered that a molecule lost from cancer stem cells, called miR-17, is important in driving oesophageal tumour resistance to radiotherapy.

The team of scientists, which incorporated specialists from Trinity, St. James's Hospital Dublin, the Coombe Women and Infant's University Hospital and the University of Hull in the UK, demonstrated that populations of tumour cells that had higher numbers of cancer stem cells formed larger, more aggressive tumours. They also demonstrated that the cancer stem cells were more resistant to radiation-induced cell death.

The findings from this ground breaking research were recently published in the international peer-reviewed journal Oncotarget.

Many oesophageal cancer patients receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy to shrink their tumour prior to surgery and this forms a key part of their treatment. Unfortunately, while a subset of patients have excellent responses to treatment, the majority of patients are actually resistant to various degrees, and are subjected to treatment side effects and an unnecessary delay to surgery, which can worsen their overall prognosis. To date there hasn't been a way to test which patients will respond well to radiotherapy or to reduce resistance to radiotherapy.

Cancer stem cells are a tiny population of tumour cells that exist inside most tumours, and acquire some of the features of normal stem cells. Normal stem cells are unspecialised cells that can be characterised by the ability to change into mature, specialised cells, like the normal cells that make up the normal oesophagus. When normal tissues are damaged, through injury for example, stem cells in the local environment, help to repopulate and rebuild the normal tissue. However, in a tumour, cancer stem-like cells, the tumour cells that have acquired stem cell-like abilities, are able to drive and maintain the growth of tumours and repopulate the tumours following the damage caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

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"This work is extremely important in understanding why tumours are inherently resistant to radiotherapy, and how they can acquire resistance. Our findings strongly suggest that it is the cancer stem cell population that we need to destroy if treatment is going to be effective in our oesophageal cancer patients", said Dr Maher.

"Up until recently cancer stem cells were largely considered hypothetical, as there were no clear ways to identify and isolate them. In this study we spent a tremendous effort in identifying tumour cells that had biological markers normally characteristic of stem cells. Once we had identified these stem-like tumour cells, we isolated them and started to pick apart their biology", continued Dr Maher.

The work, predominantly performed by Dr Niamh Lynam-Lennon, an Irish Research Council-funded Senior Research Fellow with Trinity's Department of Surgery, showed that the population of cancer stem cells could be further broken down into smaller groups, which had distinct radiation sensitivity profiles. Further genetic analysis revealed that the levels of a powerful gene-regulating molecule, called miR-17, were particularly low in the cancer stem cells that were most resistant to radiation. In patient samples, miR-17 was found to be much lower in the tumours of patients who did not respond to treatment.

"Interestingly, in the lab we found that if we put a synthetic version of miR-17 into the resistant cells they became more sensitive to radiation. Going forward, we could use synthetic miR-17 as an addition to radiotherapy to enhance its effectiveness in patients - this is a real possibility as a number of other synthetic miR-molecules are currently in clinical trials for treating other diseases", said Dr Lynam-Lennon.
A study led by scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has identified "a potent inhibitory compound" in the elusive hunt for an improved treatment against glioblastoma, the most common and deadly type of adult brain cancer.

Aurintricarboxylic Acid (ATA) is a chemical compound that in laboratory tests was shown to block the chemical cascade that otherwise allows glioblastoma cells to invade normal brain tissue and resist both chemo and radiation therapy, according to a TGen-led report published today in the scientific journal Oncotarget.

"The findings of this study could represent a breakthrough in our efforts to find an effective long-term treatment against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)," said Dr. Harshil Dhruv, an Assistant Professor in TGen's Cancer and Cell Biology Division, and a lead author of the study.

Initial treatment of glioblastoma consists of surgical removal of the tumor, radiation and chemotherapy using the drug temozolomide (TMZ). However, the proclivity of glioblastoma to invade adjacent brain tissue prevents the surgical removal of all tumor cells. Plus, invasive glioblastoma cells show resistance to TMZ, resulting in the cancer's eventual return and the patient's death, often within a year.

Despite recent advances, the median survival of glioblastoma patients is only 15 months, and survival statistics have not significantly improved over the past three decades. More than 16,000 Americans die each year of brain and other nervous system cancers.

"We simply must find a better way of treating patients with glioblastoma," said Dr. Michael Berens, TGen Deputy Director and one of the study co-authors. "Identifying ATA could bring real hope to these patients by disrupting the cellular pathways that drive glioblastoma and make it such a formidable threat."

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Previous TGen-led studies have identified how the binding of molecules TWEAK and Fn14 stimulate glioblastoma cells to migrate, invade and survive in healthy brain tissue. The study published today shows that ATA is an agent that suppresses the TWEAK-Fn14 cellular pathway. In doing so, ATA makes the cancer more vulnerable to drug and radiation therapies.

Importantly, ATA was identified by screening pharmacologically active compounds for their ability to suppress TWEAK-Fn14 signaling. And ATA provides a great starting point to develop a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of GBM.

"These data demonstrate that ATA presents a scaffold structure that could be modified in ways to improve its properties and to develop as a potential therapeutic agent to limit invasion and enhance chemotherapeutic drug efficacy in GBM," said Dr. Nhan Tran, the senior and corresponding author of the study.

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine also contributed to this study.

The scientific paper, Identification of aurintricarboxylic acid as a selective inhibitor of the TWEAK-Fn14 signaling pathway in glioblastoma cells, was funded by The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation, and by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

"Step-by-step, TGen studies are drawing every closer to substantial improvements in how we treat glioblastoma," said Catherine (Bracken) Ivy, founder and president of the Arizona-based Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation. "Our aim is to help patients survive longer, and eventually find a cure."

The study outlines goals for future investigations that will focus on identifying specific cellular signatures that indicate vulnerability to ATA, and using the ATA chemical structure to try modifications, which would become drugs to improve GBM therapy.
The Swedish Research Council supports a unique project

Sangeeta Bagga-Gupta, professor of education at the School of Education and Communication, Jonkoping University, has been awarded nearly 8 million from the Swedish Research Council for the project PAL. The project aims to identify educational and other opportunities and success factors for adolescents and young adults in school, at university and in the employment sector from an intersectional perspective.

PAL - Participation for All (PAL) School and post-school pathways of Young People with Functional Disabilities - is a unique collaboration between leading Swedish researchers. The project is led by Professor Sangeeta Bagga-Gupta at Jonkoping University and the research team includes Associate professor Johan Malmqvist from Jonkoping University, Professor Eva Hjorne and senior lecturer Shruti Taneja Johnson, University of Gothenburg, senior lecturer Ingela Holmstrom, Stockholm University, senior lecturer Giulia Messina Dahlberg, University of Skovde and representatives from the Foundation Mo Gard.

Project PAL aims to generate knowledge that can contribute to improved life opportunities and increased participation in society for people whose functionality varies and where gender and ethnicity are also in focus. The project is currently undergoing an ethical review and will run across four years. It will primarily focus on the situation of the deaf and of individuals diagnosed with ADHD - two groups whose demographics have changed dramatically in the new millennium. Today, almost all deaf infants get a high-tech hearing aid implanted in the head and an increasing number of children are diagnosed with ADHD.

"We already know that young people with disabilities do not participate in higher education or receive employment opportunities to the same extent as other groups in Sweden. Unemployment among the disabled has quickly risen by 80 per cent and the suicide rate by 100 per cent. The two groups that we especially focus on in this large project are receiving extensive technical and medical support, but their situation has not been mapped from a holistic perspective", says Sangeeta Bagga-Gupta.

"We'd like to create a nuanced picture of how the Swedish community at large, schools, and social networks affect young people with disabilities and how their pathways into adulthood develop. What is the situation like and why is it developing in a specific manner? What are success factors in the journey to adulthood?"

The project has three parts. It begins with a comprehensive national survey of children and young people in Sweden who are deaf or diagnosed with ADHD. How many are pupils in the school system and what type of school are they currently enrolled in? Part two consists of detailed ethnographic case studies where 30 young adults from the two different groups will be studied with a focus partly on their current situation, and partly based on their historic records (from school, rehabilitation, etc.). The aim is to analyse what has shaped their lives and how they have been prepared for adulthood. Part three will identify factors for a successful transition to adulthood through the analyses of Swedish and international studies conducted in various research databases.
Vision deterioration in astronauts who spend a long time in space is likely due to the lack of a day-night cycle in intracranial pressure. But using a vacuum device to lower pressure for part of each day might prevent the problem, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers said. Their study appears in the Journal of Physiology.

A change in vision is the No. 1 health risk for astronauts who spend extended periods of time on the International Space Station. The new research showed that intracranial pressure in zero-gravity conditions, such as exists in space, is higher than when people are standing or sitting on Earth, but lower than when people are sleeping on Earth. The researcher's finding suggests that the constancy of pressure on the back of the eye causes the vision problems astronauts experience over time.

To study how zero-gravity conditions affect intracranial pressure, UT Southwestern researchers recruited volunteer patients who had had a port (called an Ommaya reservoir) permanently placed in their head as part of treatment for cancer. The ports provided a way for researchers to measure intracranial pressure. NASA flights then flew the eight volunteers one by one on steep up-and-down maneuvers (parabolic flights) that created 20-second intervals of weightlessness. The researchers measured intracranial pressure during the zero-gravity intervals and compared these with intracranial pressure during standard times of sitting, lying face upward (supine), and lying with head inclined downward.

"These challenging experiments were among the most ambitious human studies ever attempted as part of the Flight Operations parabolic flight program, and changed the way we think about the effect of gravity - and its absence - on pressure inside the brain," said senior author Dr. Benjamin Levine, Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Director of the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine (IEEM), jointly run by UT Southwestern and Texas Health Resources.

"The information from these studies is already leading to novel partnerships with companies to develop tools to simulate the upright posture in space while astronauts sleep, thereby normalizing the circadian variability in intracranial pressure, and hopefully eliminating the remodeling behind the eye," said Dr. Levine, who holds the Distinguished Professorship in Exercise Sciences.

The researchers have continued studying whether it is possible to lower intracranial pressure by means of a vacuum device that pulls blood away from the head. They previously showed that a negative pressure box that snuggly fits the lower body can lower intracranial pressure when applied for 20-minute periods. They will soon be testing the effect of the lower body negative pressure device on eye remodeling when negative pressure is applied for eight-hour periods.

"Astronauts are basically supine the entire time they are in space. The idea is that the astronauts would wear negative pressure clothing or a negative pressure device while they sleep, creating lower intracranial pressure for part of each 24 hours," said first author Dr. Justin Lawley, Instructor in Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern and a researcher at the IEEM.

The negative pressure device research was also used with patients with Ommaya ports.

"We are extremely grateful to these brave men and women from around the country who volunteered to let us make these critical measurements on them during parabolic flight. They have been through a lot of medical procedures in their lives, and were nonetheless extremely altruistic, desiring to give something back to medical science," Dr. Levine said of the cancer patient volunteers.
New Delhi: The government won't offer any special concessions to Apple, the maker of the iPhone, but is reviewing its entire policy on mobile phone manufacturing as part of an effort to promote 'Make in India', Economic Times reported quoting officials. This could meet some of the demands that Apple has made apart from benefitting other mobile companies.



Apple had sought the concessions to set up plants in India. The issue will be examined in depth at a high-level meeting with Apple executives next week. On Apple's wish list is said to be a 15-year customs duty holiday on the import of iPhone kits, new and used capital equipment, and consumables. Apple's requests are being considered by three government departments  revenue, industry and information technology.



India needs to support an iconic brand like Apple for the success of the Make in India campaign, officials said. "Our import duty is high," an official told ET. "As long as they are getting into exports, our objective should be to give them lowest duty so as to ensure that their product is competitive.
New Delhi: Delhi Development Authority's new Housing Scheme with 12,000 flats on offer is now likely to be launched next month, with the delay being blamed on "lack" of basic infrastructure in "few pockets" falling under the scheme.



The scheme was earlier expected to be launched around January 26.



"We had a January target but people were reeling under the immediate impact of demonetisation and so bank transactions were getting difficult to come buy," a source said.



A senior DDA official, when contacted said, "Certain pockets of areas falling under the scheme lack basic infrastructure around flats like link roads, street lights, and so we will address these issues. The new scheme should be out sometime in February."



Out of the total number of flats, most of them in Rohini, Dwarka, Narela, Vasant Kunj and Jasola, 10,000 unoccupied flats are from the 2014 scheme, while 2,000 are other flats which have been lying vacant," a senior DDA official said.



Sources said most of the flats are one-bedroom LIG flats from the last housing scheme and no new flat is on offer this time.



"About 10,000 are LIG flats from 2014 DDA scheme. Unlike EWS (Economically Weaker Section) last time, in this scheme there would be no such category," the official said.



"For LIG category the registration fee would be Rs 1 lakh while for MIG and HIG it would be Rs 2 lakh," he said.



"Application forms would be available both online and off line," he said.



From application to refund, the DDA this time had planned to make the scheme an online affair to reduce the long queues of flat buyers at its headquarters.



"A big number of citizens either still do not have access to technology or are not tech-savvy. So, we decided to keep both the options," he added.



Scheme 2014 offered 25,040 flats across categories, with prices ranging between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 1.2 crore.



The online response was so massive that DDA's official website had crashed soon after the launch. The one-bedroom flats were offered in Dwarka, Rohini, Narela and Siraspur areas.
: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday that the request for considering demonetisation came from the central government on November 7 and that the RBI board gave its recommendation the next day.News agency ANI quoted sources as saying that the RBI Governor said that Rs 9.2 lakh crore of new currency has been introduced into the banking system since November 8.Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, a member of the panel, told News18 that Patel didnt give a definite answer to the query when will the banking system come back to normal.When asked how much of the invalidated money had come back into the banking system as of December 31, the RBI governor said that since the physical counting and verification of the currency is still on, that answer was not available.Roy said members of the committee asked the Governor if the autonomy of the RBI had been curbed, to which Urjit Patel said he didnt think that was the case.The central bank board recommended the move to invalidate 500 and 1,000-rupee notes on November 8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the move the same evening in a nationally televised speech.The Committee had a meeting with RBI and Finance Ministry officials on Demonetisation that was attended by Patel, officials from the Department of Economic Affairs, Financial Services and Revenue Department as well as bank officials.The Governor made a presentation on Demonetisation followed by questions from Committee members on the move that invalidated 86% of currency in circulation.
Mumbai: The National Company Law Tribunal on Wednesday dismissed a contempt petition filed by two Cyrus Mistry family companies against Tata Sons and its directors, alleging violation of NCLT directives in taking steps to remove him from the board of Tata Sons.



The bench, however, gave liberty to the Mistry family companies to file an affidavit within three days on the issue of Tata Sons holding EGM on February 6.



Pronouncing the operative part of the order, a division bench of NCLT said, "the contempt petition is dismissed."



The bench was of the view that the action of Tata Sons did not amount to contempt of court.



In their petition, Cyrus Investments Ltd and Sterling Investment had also sought injunction against the Tata Sons barring them from "convening or holding of the EGM scheduled for February 6, 2017 or any other date or from transacting any business thereat."



Though the contempt plea was dismissed, the bench gave liberty to Mistry family companies to file an affidavit within three days on the issue of Tata Sons holding EGM on February 6.



Tata Sons was also asked to file a rejoinder, if any, three days thereafter.



NCLT kept this matter for hearing on January 31 and February 1 when the main petition filed earlier by the two Mistry companies against Tata Sons would be heard.



The earlier petition had challenged Mistry's removal as the chairman of Tata Sons alleging bad practices, oppression and mismanagement in the holding company.



NCLT, on December 22 last year had refused interim relief and posted the main petition for hearing on January 31 and February 1. On Wednesday, the tribunal clubbed the issue of holding EGM of February 6 along with the hearing of the main petition.



Meanwhile, the Mistry companies filed a contempt plea with NCLT against Tata Sons alleging that the respondents "committed a breach" of an NCLT order of December 22 by giving a special notice on January 3, 2017, for removal of Mistry as a director of the board of Tata Sons, "in the clear violation of the order".



It sought punishment for Ratan Tata, other directors of Tata Sons and trustees of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabjee Trust  NA Soonawala, RK Krishnakumar and R Venkatramana -- under the Contempt of Court Act which provides for simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine of Rs 2,000 or both.



Last October, Tata Sons removed Mistry as its Chairman, nearly four years after he took over the reins of the over $100 billion salt-to-software conglomerate.



A Sundaram, counsel for Mistry's family companies, had argued that removal of Mistry as a director of Tata Sons could have waited.



He contended that by calling an EGM to remove Mistry as a director of the company, Tata Sons and others had committed direct violation of the December 22 Tribunal order and its action amounted to "wilful disobedience" of NCLT's order in an earlier petition filed by Mistry's family owned companies against Tata Sons.



Sundaram further argued that the move to remove Mistry was against the spirit of the NCLT order which had earlier stated that the respondents will not "initiate any action or proceedings over this subject matter pending disposal of the company petition.



The contempt petition contended that the move of Tata Sons to call an extraordinary general meeting on February 6 to remove Mistry as a director violates the undertaking given by its lawyers to NCLT which heard an earlier petition filed by the investment firms on December 22.



The lawyers had assured the Tribunal that no further action would be taken in this matter until the petition was finally heard and disposed of, said the contempt petition.



Abhishek Manu Singhvi, counsel for Tata Sons, said the respondents  Tata Sons and its Directors  had not committed any contempt of NCLT by calling an EGM to remove Mistry.



Singhvi had argued that Tata Sons had not given any specific undertaking to the Tribunal earlier that Mistry would not be removed as director from the company. Hence, there was no contempt committed by Tata Sons and others.



The Tata Sons' lawyer further argued that there was nothing implicit in the order of NCLT of December 22 that Mistry would not be removed.



He had said that Tata Sons had no option but to remove Mistry from the board because he violated his fiduciary duty to the share-holders by leaking confidential information which was damaging to Tata companies.



He argued that Tata Sons was seeking Mistry's removal as a director as he was acting in a manner detrimental to the company.



However, the NCLT dismissed the contempt petition of Mistry's family owned companies, saying it does not amount to contempt of court.
Happy to hear...Relief for @BeingSalmanKhan.Acquitted in #Armscase. Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate #Jodhpur district pronounces verdict  Jodhpuri JOY (@manit_choudhary) January 18, 2017

Aaj ki party meree taraf se! #SalmanKhan acquitted  Abhishek (@Abhi_ggmu) January 18, 2017

#SalmanKhan acquitted in 1998 Arms Act case by Jodhpur court. Vaah maja aa gaya  Hiten (@HitenChandarana) January 18, 2017

Bigg Boss #SalmanKhan ko ab pata chalega ki aslo Sultan kaun hai  No one killed Blackbuck  Aditya Trivedi (@AdityaTrivedi_) January 18, 2017

#SalmanKhan awesome news .... He has proved that money controls the law. He is definitely being human.  Narendra Modi Fan (@RISHABH14866901) January 18, 2017

Jodhpur sessions court on Wednesday acquitted Bollywood actor Salman Khan in an over 18-year-old Arms Act case.Chief Judicial Mesgsitrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit, after completing the hearing on January 9 in a case registered in 1999, had reserved judgement for Wednesday.Soon after the actor's acquittal, his fans took to social media to express their joy. While his followers were happy with Salman's acquittal, others seemed to believe that this was nothing less than a mockery of the judicial system in India.Here's what people said on Twitter:A case against Khan was registered under the Arms Act by Rajasthan police in October, 1998 for alleged use and possession of arms with expired license. The guns were allegedly used for poaching the two blackbucks in Kankani village. The case was filed by the forest department.
Bengaluru: In the roller-coaster that life is, India's IT capital Bengaluru zoomed from being 'unsafe' to being 'the most dynamic city in the world' in the first three weeks of this year.



And in doing so, Bengaluru has beaten the original Silicon Valley, not to mention China's Shanghai and even Boston. Closely competing in the world's top ten dynamic cities is Hyderabad, at spot 5: The decade-old rivalry between the two IT capitals in the country seems to have revived all over again. And while Delhi figures in the top 30 cities, smog seems to have bogged down the citys reputation.



The rankings are based on parameters such as population, technology and R&D, connectivity, output and corporate activity, education, and real estate investment. These are rankings released by real estate consultancy firm James Lang Laselle at the World Economic Forum in Davos and as the firm rightly says, "They are not what you'd expect."



To the Karnataka government that's been battling for brand Bengaluru on different fronts, it has come as a pleasant surprise. "This gives us a boost at the global level  whether it be with collaboration or investments. The pace at which Bengaluru is growing is perhaps responsible for this tag," IT Minister Priyank Kharge told News18.



JLL says in its report that these cities "integrated change and technology into their DNA."



Pune, Chennai and Mumbai are other cities in the country to make it to the top 30, in that order. Among the top 30 are also New York San Francisco, Melbourne, Los Angeles and Stockholm.



Liveability is surfacing as an increasingly important driver, as it is key to attracting talent, the report points out. "For example, affordability and space constraints in San Francisco (No. 21) contributed to knocking that city out of the top 20 for the first time and Hong Kong out of the top 30. The environment is also becoming a more critically determining factor in the index. Although in the top 30, Delhi (No. 23) and Beijing (No. 15) were hindered by poor environmental scores," the report notes.
Ahmedabad: Former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki along with nearly 130 party workers were detained by police for trying to lock down the RBI's regional headquarters in Ahmedabad while protesting against demonetisation.



The Congressmen were detained by police when they tried to gherao the RBI and lock it down, alleging that the bank has failed on all fronts to address the woes of common man after the Centre announced demonetisation of high value notes in November last year.



While Shinde, Solanki, and 90 others were detained by Madhavpura police on the eastern end of Gandhi Bridge, around 40 Congress workers were detained by Vadaj police from outside the main gate of RBI on the western end.



"We gave them permission for their gathering only, not for holding rally till RBI on the other side of the bridge.



Madhavpura police have detained Shinde, Solanki and 90 others while trying to take out the rally. They will be released later," Assistant Commissioner of Police Arpita Patel said.



Besides, nearly 40 others, who were successful in crossing the bridge, were detained by Vadaj police from outside the RBI gate, a police control room official said.



Ahead of his detention, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi told mediapersons that the protests were organised by the party to highlight the plight of the people.



"Even after all these days of the note ban announcement, there is no respite for the common man. People are still reeling under acute cash crunch. Demonetisation has ruined our economy and millions were rendered jobless," Doshi alleged.



"This protest is our attempt to highlight the plight of citizens and also to highlight the mismanagement of RBI and the central government in handling such a delicate issue," he added.


Mostly a judge tries to go by law, but there are times when public opinion does play a role in interpreting provisions of the law, said Justice Khare.

Echoing Justice Khares observation, Justice Hosbet Suresh, former judge of the Bombay High Court who also led commissions that investigated human rights violations, told News18 that generally such opinion should not matter but there are times when it does".



The ongoing protests in Tamil Nadu against the ban on Jallikattu could have a bearing on the Supreme Court verdict on the fate of the bull-taming sport, three eminent former judges have told News18.Justice Vishweshwar Nath Khare, who served as the Chief Justice of India from December 2002 to May 2004, told News18 that public opinion sometimes influences court's verdict'.Justice Khares statement comes days after a two-judge SC bench declined to pass an interim order allowing Jallikattu this Pongal as the court verdict was pending in a few days".The pending verdict relates to a fresh appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the Jallikattu ban.There is a precedent - the death sentence for Afzal Guru in the Parliament attack case.The incident, which resulted in heavy casualties, had shaken the entire nation and the collective conscience of the society will only be satisfied if the capital punishment is awarded to the offender, read the court verdict.Even judges are humans and humans are bound to be influenced by their surroundings, hence there are times when verdicts are influenced by public opinion or public interest, said Justice Suresh, who also added that such public interest must be in consonance with the provisions of the Constitution.The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Banumathi while declining to pass an interim order allowing Jallikattu mentioned that a draft judgment was ready and it was unfair for the petitioners to hasten for a verdict in their favour.Justice Jaspal Singh, a former judge of the Delhi High Court believes that the 2014 verdict banning Jallikattu is a verdict which cannot be implemented because there are public sentiments and public interest at stake.There are high chances that the massive protest in Tamil Nadu may influence the pending verdict in the SC. This is not the first time that public opinion will influence the apex court. Not only Afzal Gurus death sentence but also Yakub Memons hanging was also conducted to satiate public sentiments. Even in Punjab, during the dark days of militancy, hundreds of habeas corpus petitions used to be dismissed citing public interest, said Justice Singh.
"The world we enter in 2017, is marked by unevenness, possibilities, uncertainties, known and unknowns", said India's Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar as he outlined India's foreign policy in his first address of 2017. The impact of the American election on world politics was a focal point in the foreign secretary's speech.



Soon after Donald Trump's election Jaishankar had flown to the US to meet "the highest levels of the Trump transition team" according to the Ministry of External Affairs.



Speaking about Americas changing engagement with the world the foreign secretary said, "Relations between US and Russia could undergo a transformation that we may not have seen since 1945, its dimensions, leave alone implications are hard to predict". Despite the changing dynamics he said, "India remains well placed, an improvement in US Russia relations is not against Indian interests"



2016 saw several roadblock in India's relationship with China. Sanctioning Maulana Masood Azhar, India's entry into the NSG and the CPEC remain sticking points in our relationship. The Foreign Secretary said, "With china, the overall broadening of ties, especially in business and people-to-people contact has been overshadowed by differences on certain political issues". While saying that India would invest more in the relationship with China in 2017 Jaishankar said, "Our hope is that they would approach international relations with a view that the growth of India is not harmful to their interests".



Jaishankar minced no words while countering China on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which it has developed despite strong reservations from India. He said, "China is very sensitive on matters concerning its sovereignty but we hope they respect our sovereignty as well. CPEC which passes through PoK was initiated without consulting India. There should be a reflection on how CPEC would affect India but we don't see that".



He also confirmed India's strategy to strengthen regional groupings like BBIN and BIMSTEC which do not include Pakistan. Talking about SAARC he said, "It is an organization which has been made ineffective due to insecurity of one member"



India's top diplomat also warned Pakistan saying, "Terror is the snake that bites the hands that feeds it and terror will remain a power theme on Indian democracy."



A large part of the foreign secretary's speech was also focused on explaining how the world in 2017 will become a more difficult place for negotiations with superpowers looking inward and focusing on domestic interests.



He was speaking at the Raisina Dialogues organised by the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
New Delhi: Israel's envoy to India has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the 26/11 trial in Pakistan. Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Daniel Carmon said, "Bringing perpetrators of terror to justice is part of the global fight against terror. No one around the world can be satisfied till perpetrators of terror are brought to justice and sentenced. Therefore we are not satisfied and cannot be."



Six Israeli citizens were among the 160 people killed in simultaneous attacks launched by Lashkar terrorists at various locations in Mumbai. India has always maintained that Pakistan based state and non state actors orchestrated the terror plot. The masterminds of the attack including Hafiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi continue to move freely in Pakistan despite several dossiers provided by India.



When asked whether Pakistan needs to do more to bring perpetrators of 26/11 to book, Carmon said, "I don't want to mention specific events. Terror as a plague is something we all have to confront. The more we stand united the more successful we will be in fighting terror" and "those who support terror will realize they cannot win."







The Israel envoy said his country was looking forward to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this year when the two countries are celebrating 25 years of diplomatic relations. While the dates are still being worked out, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the visit should happen this year.



Carmon said, "PM Narendra Modi's visit will not be a symbolic one. It will be an operative visit and the entire gamut of diplomatic relations covering areas from defence, agriculture, water and innovation would be discussed".



Speaking about the new administration in US, the Israeli diplomat said,"US-Israel relations have always been strong and will continue to be strong under the new president."
Smartphones are being seen as new evil for the otherwise disciplined Armed Forces. In the wake of several complaint videos from Jawans going viral on social media, the India Army called for a review and strict implementation of the guidelines regarding the use of smartphones and other information sharing devices by Army officers.



However, in a recently conducted surprise check at Army Head Quarters, more than 80 Officers of Indian Army were caught for unauthorized possession of smartphones. Several devices were confiscated from various ranks including Brigadier and Colonel rank officers during this exercise ordered by none other than Gen Bipin Rawat when he was Vice Chief of Army Staff.





Sources told News18 that surprise checks were conducted at various office premises under Army Head Quarters, including South Block, Kashmir House, L & M Block, Sena Bhawan and R K Puram. Several flying squad teams were deployed for this surprise inspection aimed to check the military information leak and misuse of smartphones.



According to sources, the data is being analysed. Also the concerned officers have been warned. The operation was ordered by Gen.Rawat in early December, only a week before his appointment as Army Chief was announced. Source privy to this operation confirms that only officers were profiled for the check.



It may be noted that under Army HQ guidelines, only senior officers ranks as Major Generals and above are authorized to possess and use smartphones within the Army HQ and affiliated institutions.



However, 'willfully ignoring' and defying all the restrictions junior officers carry smartphones and laptops to their offices. Sources say that in the last few years this lax attitude has led to various cases of secret information pilferage. According to sources privy to this exercise, only officers were profiled to check the misuse of smartphones in the case.



It is being learnt that in coming days, new directives for the strict adherence to smartphone usage could be issued.



Responding to controversy over a video posted by Army Jawan complaining against Sahayak system in Army, Generel Rawat said that Social Media is a two sided weapon. During his Army Day address, he added, Indian Army have the capacity to tackle cyber attacks, yet, we have to be careful against the enemy elements on social media, and also ask our families to be alert about it.



It may be recalled that a few months ago, News18 Expose had revealed how Pak ISI was snooping over Army and Paramilitary Officers through a malicious android App, SmeshApp. A detailed news investigation revealed that Officers were honey-trapped through social media and persuaded to install the malicious app.



SmeshApp was designed to steal vital information including contacts, messages, pictures and videos stored on the smartphones of these officers. Surprisingly, the app also had a feature to enable camera and audio/video recorders of the devices without its user being aware of it. All the data collected through this app was stored on a German server and was being accessed in Karachi, Pakistan.


Chennai: As pro-Jallikattu protests across Tamil Nadu continued to gain steam with a group of youngsters continuing their agitation through the night, the state government on Tuesday held talks with agitators and assured its commitment to hold the bull taming sport in the state.



The government has also told the youths that it would even approach the President seeking an ordinance on the matter.



State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar along with his cabinet colleague K Pandiarajan held talks with representatives of the protesting youth here in the wee hours, said the 50 AIADMK Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs will exert required pressure on the Centre for conduct of Jallikattu.



Not just that, the government will also take steps to meet the President to seek an ordinance, Jayakumar said.



Tamil Nadu has been urging the Centre repeatedly to issue an ordinance for the conduct of Jallikattu, held during the Tamil harvest festival Pongal in midJanuary.



More than 200 youths were taken into custody on Monday night after they held protests at Alanganallur village demanding lifting of the ban on Jallikattu.



Responding to the protestors demands for an assurance from Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for conducting Jallikattu, School Education Minister Pandiarajan said the government cannot give any oral assurance and indicated that the chief minister could issue a statement later in the day on the matter.



The ministers urged the protestors to withdraw their agitation.



Chandramohan, one of the representatives who held talks with the ministers on behalf of the protestors, insisted that the chief minister support the bull taming sport.



The government should understand the sentiments of the people and exert pressure on the Centre. They (ministers) have assured to find a solution, he said.



Meanwhile, the protestors at Marina, who converged yesterday following an agitation at Alanganallur in Madurai, were unrelenting in their demand for conducting Jallikattu and continued to stay put at the protest site and sat through the night.



The agitators claimed that more volunteers had either joined them or were on their way to join the protests.
New Delhi: An IndiGo plane, carrying 186 passengers and crew including two infants onboard, from here to Dibrugarh was diverted to Kolkata due to a technical snag, where it made an emergency landing.



The no-frill carrier, however, claimed that the commander of its flight 6E-3645 decided to divert the aircraft as a "precautionary" measure and did not seek any emergency landing from Kolkata air traffic control (ATC).



IndiGo has reported the matter to the civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), besides setting up an internal probe to ascertain facts, the airline said in a statement.



"IndiGo's Captain-in-command operating Delhi-Dibrugarh flight 6E-3645, decided to divert aircraft to Kolkata due a technical snag as a precautionary measure.



"Despite that cockpit crew did not declare any emergency, ATC (Kolkata) declared full emergency on its own. The aircraft landed safely," IndiGo said in the statement.



There were 178 passengers and two infants onboard besides six crew onboard its Delhi-Dibrugarh flight, an IndiGo spokesperson said.
Chennai's famed Marina beach had seen thousands thronging in in grief when J Jayalalithaa passed away over a month ago. The crowds are back, but this time in support of Jallikattu, a bull-taming sport that many in the state consider essential part of their culture. The protestors, who have been camping overnight, want removal of the ban on the sport.'s Debayan Roy dissects the origin of the controversy, the present legal status and the road ahead:In Tamil Nadu, Jallikattu is Veera Vilayattu or warrior sport, where a man matches wit and sinew with a raging bull and grabs a small bag of coins or Jalli, tied to its horns. The most daring among them twitches through the flaying horns and threshing hooves and hangs on to its hump as the animal completes a short lap of 50 metres. In the days gone, he would also win the daughter of the owner of the bull in marriage. It is about courage, masculinity, and above all, cultural ethos.Jallikattu faced its first hurdle in 2004 when PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) came together against it. On November 27, 2010, the Supreme Court allowed the sport to be played for a period of five months in a year under controlled conditions and in accordance with the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act passed in 2009. Five years later it was completely banned by a judgment delivered by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court.AWBI had stated that it is nothing but animal cruelty on the bulls. An AWBI report in this regrd mentions ear cutting/mutilation, fracture, dislocation of tail bones, frequent defecation, urination, injuries leading to death, biting or twisting a bull's tail, poking bulls with knives and sticks, using irritants, using nose ropes, cramped conditions, spectators beating and agitating bulls, and other cruelties meted out to the bulls within the arena including mental torture.On May 7, 2014, a two-judge bench comprising of Justice KS Radhakrishnan and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose banned Jallikattu. The bench said, International community should hang their head in shame, for not recognising their rights all these ages, a species which served the humanity from the time of Adam and Eve. The court stressed on the fundamental duty of every citizen to show compassion to every living creature as a central theme of the verdict.The Court further categorised bulls as not being performing animals, anatomically not designed for that, but are forced to perform, inflicting pain and suffering, in total violation of Sections 3 and Section 11(1) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act. PETA later on selected Justice Radhakrishnan for its Man of the Year Award.To answer this one must observe the legal journey of Jallikattu till now. After the two-judge bench verdict, this issue came up again in front of the apex court in June, 2016, when a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra issued an order warning the Tamil Nadu government from carrying on the bull taming sport. "Jallikattu cannot be merely allowed just because it was a century-old tradition. Whether it shall be continued will be decided legally," Justice Mishra said.In November, 2016, a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman dismissed the review petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government to lift the ban imposed on Jallikattu in 2014. The bench remarked: "Animals may not have rights but humans cannot negate their obligation enshrined under the Constitution. We cannot import Roman Gladiator type sport here. One can use computer for indulging in bull fighting. Why tame bulls for it?"But after O Panneerselvam took over as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, he had vowed to start Jallikattu again on the auspicious day of Pongal. Hence a fresh appeal was filed by the state to allow Tamilians organize Jallikattu.But the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Banumathi on January 12, 2017, declined to issue an interim order to allow Jallikattu just before Pongal even as the final judgment was ready with the court. The bench had remarked, Though the draft of the judgment is ready, it's not possible to pass the verdict before Saturday when it is to be held. We also want to say that it is unfair of the petitioner to ask the bench to pass an order."On Wednesday, the Madras High Court said that it will not interfere on the issue of protests in the city."First of all, the apex court is seized of the matter. When it is so, even the High Court and the Tamil Nadu government cannot do anything and moreover, Marina Road is not a place for any demonstrations. The court does not want to interfere at this stage," said a bench, comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice M. Sundar.If Jallikattu stays banned in the forthcoming Supreme Court verdict, the state can still go for a review petition challenging this particular verdict.But on recommendations from council of ministers and the prime minister, the President of India can issue an Ordinance amending PCA Act to permit Jallikattu with regulations. This would reinstate Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Regulation Act 2009. President can also issue an ordinance to amend PCA Act itself which will legalise Jallikattu and will be binding on judiciary. It will be valid once enacted in Parliament.AIADMK MPs are scheduled to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi on Thursday to submit a memorandum on Jallikattu.No, Marina protestors don't come under contempt because they are only protesting. But there has been reports that Jallikattu was conducted despite the Supreme Court orders at many places during Pongal last weekend. Contempt can be charged on those arrested if someone takes them to court.But with a massive protest erupting in Marina, the government may impose Section 151 of IPC which gives the police authority to disperse unlawful assemblies. This may also result in the alteration of the pending verdict of the SC in the fresh appeal filed by the State government.
New Delhi: Nepals Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat on Tuesday said that Nepalese people have been suffering ever since demonetisation was announced.



Speaking to CNN-News18 Mahat said, Of course people in Nepal are feeling the pinch. They are holding legally earned Indian currency which they cannot use for businesses or anything else and they would like to get it exchanged.



Indian currency is widely accepted in Nepal and post-demonetisation Nepali citizens have been left in the lurch with old 500 and 1000 rupee notes which are no longer legal tender. In addition to that, India and Nepal share a porous border as a result of which many Nepalese residents regularly travel to India for medical care, education and business.







Mahat confirmed that he had taken up the matter with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley whom he met on Tuesday. When asked whether this had become a point of discord between the two neighbors he said, It is not a point of discord but we want the problem to be resolved at the earliest otherwise people will not be able to use their money.



Nepal wants the Reserve Bank of India to exchange the entire demonetised currency held by Nepals Central Bank. In his meetings Mahat is believed to have told the Indian government that Nepals Central Bank can ask people to deposit old notes and once that is done the RBI can exchange the total demonetised currency held with it. The new notes can then be distributed among depositors.



Mahat also said that it was sad that the SAARC summit has been held up because of tension between India and Pakistan. He said, We hope relations between India and Nepal will normalize soon so that SAARC can happen. We dont want the process to die.



Nepal is the chair for SAARC and following the Uri attacks India and several other member states had written to it expressing their inability to attend this years SAARC summit which was supposed to be held in Islamabad.








Days after China put a permanent hold on India's proposal to impose sanctions on Pathankot mastermind and JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, the French Presidents Diplomatic Advisor, Jacques Audibert, told CNN-News18 that France has not given up on the proposal and is still hopeful that the UN will designate Azhar as a terrorist soon.



"There is still hope to get Azhar designated at the 1267 committee. We have not given up," he said.



France is a member of the 15 member 1267 committee which is dealing with India's proposal to designate Maulana Masood Azhar as a terrorist. Audibert said that France, as a co-sponsor of the move, was totally convinced about India's demands and will continue to work towards fulfilling the same with the help of other partners.



The Presidents diplomatic advisor also said:"France remains supportive of India's aspirations to be a member of the nuclear suppliers group," he said, "We feel India is totally justified in its demand to enter NSG. We are supporters of India's entry into NSG and its credentials."



Speaking about the Scorpene submarine deal with India, which was recently in the news due to an alleged leak of secret documents, Audibert made it clear that the French government doesn't think the program has been compromised. He said, "There has been a very in-depth cooperation with the Indian government to make sure that the leaks don't challenge the security of the program or the operational ability of the equipment."




Abu Dhabi: Not everyone can afford creations by top fashion designers. So, designers must come up with affordable lines as well, says Manish Malhotra, who has draped the global creme de la creme and is one of the most celebrated names in the Indian fashion world.



Malhotra, who has an eponymous label which he launched 11 years ago, says that for more people to be able to wear and buy creations by designers, it is important to create a line which is "a little more reachable".



"For more people to be able to buy... And if designers want to expand their business, they must come up with a line which is affordable, which is a little more reachable. That is the future," Malhotra, who was here to launch his virtual reality (VR) fashion show in collaboration with Etihad Airways, told IANS in an exclusive interview.



The 50-year-old says he too is considering the idea and says that it will happen "soon".



Talking about VR fashion shows as a platform, Malhotra says that it could "definitely" be "something for the future".



"VR is for people who are not there at a fashion week or at the show to not only view the show but to feel that they are a part of it. It could be a very good step for a designer or for a fashion house to send it to their esteemed clients and for them to feel that they were a part of it," Malhotra added.



In this UAE city, it is the abayas -- the loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, worn by women -- that caught Malhotra's fancy here. He said he would like to pursue designing the garment seriously and give it a more innovative twist.



"I would really like to take designing abayas seriously, although I have designed them in the past. I'd like to design them more innovatively. They look beautiful and trendy now.



"They are keeping the culture here intact and yet getting so modern with fashion... That is fascinating. I love it when tradition and culture are intact and respected, and yet there is a new innovation to it," said Malhotra, who has designed ensembles for celebrities like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Reese Witherspoon.



With Banarasi weaves and Chanderi being fabrics highly promoted by the fashion industry in India, Malhotra says that he would like to promote quality cotton more with the summer season approaching.



"I would like to promote quality woven cotton, and try to make them more luxurious and softer. We are approaching summer and we would really like to work on it," he said.



Although Banarasi weaves have been heavily promoted in numerous fashion shows across India, there have been reports recently that Banarasi weavers have been committing suicide, going jobless due to shortage of work - a complete contrast to what is being portrayed.



"This goes to show the disparity between what is shown and what is there. There are a lot of designers who make a lot of noise about Banarasi weaves... Something that becomes a fad and doesn't have depth. I was recently there in December, meeting up the weavers and churning out more work.



"In fact, I am going to Varanasi again now... I think that it is very important to give them a lot more work and get a lot more fabric (from there)," Malhotra said, and urged designers to not just talk about providing work for the weavers, but to act upon their words.
Mumbai: Actor Hrithik Roshan says the level of competition in Bollywood is great, and he feels it motivates one to push the envelope.



The actor, who is awaiting the release of Kaabil, also lauded actor Ranveer Singh, especially for his performance in Bajirao Mastani.



"When I saw Ranveer Singh in 'Bajirao Mastani', it really stirred me. I felt inspired after a very very long time. It starts off as a push and then it pulls you. Competition is great because it's the only way you can get others to push you to excel," Hrithik said in an interview to digital show Film Companion, hosted by movie critic Anupama Chopra.



Sharing his experience of watching other great performances in the industry, Hrithik said: "If I'm feeling a little vulnerable, I will avoid a movie where I've heard the performances are incredible. But the idea is to go ahead and watch it."



On the film front, he will be seen in Kaabil, which has been produced by Rakesh Roshan under his banner FilmKraft Productions, The film also starring Yami Gautam is set to release on January 25.




Salman Khan's fans have gathered outside the court to hear the verdict on the actor's impending Arms Act case. Some fans have even lined up outside the actor's residence in Bandra, Mumbai. Through his Being Human foundation, Salman has been helping the ones seeking financial help for various medial purposes. It's a big day for the actor, who has been accused of possession and usage of illegal arms.







The Jodhpur Sessions Court will today pronounce the verdict in the case was registered against the star under the Arms Act for alleged possession and use of arms with expired license during poaching of two blackbucks, a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act, at village Kankani near Jodhpur in October, 1998.




#PM-trapped miners PM urges utmost efforts to rescue 2 trapped miners Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday called for utmost efforts to rescue two miners trapped underground for 10 days. They have been isolated in a vertical shaft about 190 mete...
A Jodhpur court will today pronounce its judgement in an arms act case involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan. While there is still some time for Chief judicial magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit to give his verdict, we get you a quick lowdown on what defence and prosecution had to say.No arms were found when the actors hotel room was raided.The actor sent away the weapons to Mumbai after the poaching incidents came to light.Police officer Satyamani Tiwari had searched his hotel room and found the revolver in the room.Khan was in possession of just airguns which could not be used for hunting an animalTiwari was a planted witness in the case with a view to implicate the actor.Licenses of the weapons used by Salman Khan had expired and thereby its use was illegal.Had applied for a renewal of licence for the weapons soon after it expired and hence was not using them illegally.Since the licence of the arms were renewed a few days after expiry, they could not be treated as arms with expired licence.Once licence of an arm expires, it is treated as expired for the period.-Section 2(A) of CRPC defines bailable offences as the offence that has been shown in the first schedule as bailable or which is made bailable by any other law for the time being in force.-An offence in order to be bailable would have to be an offence which is punishable with imprisonment for less than three years or with fine only.29 (27). Punishment for using arms, etc.(1) Whoever uses any arms or ammunition in contravention of section 5 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.
Salman Khan has been controversy's favourite child. The actor may have a huge fan following for his popular cinema and do-gooder image but the actors controversial past refuses to leave him and pending legal cases continue to haunt the actor.As the nation awaits Jodhpur Courts verdict in a case of possession and use of illegal arms by Bollywood actor Salman Khan, heres a look back at all the controversies around the actor that made headlines over the years.While shooting for Sooraj Barjatyas Hum Saath Saath Hai in Jodhpur, the actor and few of his co-stars were accused of hunting endangered chinkara and blackbuck deer. The actor was also accused of illegally possessing and using fire arms with expired license during the same case. Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam are the other actors accused in the case.Salman Khans car ran into a bakery and killed one person and injured three who were sleeping on the pavement outside the bakery. The case ran for 13 years and while the lower court had convicted the actor in the case, the Bombay High Court quashed the verdict and acquitted the actor in the case.(Also read: Salman Khan Arms Act Case: The Chronology Of Events In the same year, Khan was accused to physically hurting his then girlfriend, actress Aishwarya Rai.Vivek Oberoi, who was then dating Aishwarya, accused Salman Khan of calling him one night 47 times and ill treating Aishwarya Rai. The actor held a press conference the morning after and accused Salman of being a bully. Years later, Vivek Oberoi sought an apology from the actor but the superstar is yet to forgive him.Salman and Shah Rukh Khan fought at Salmans then girlfriend Katrina Kaifs birthday party which led to a five years long cold war between the two superstars. The actors only buried their differences at Salmans sister Arpitas wedding in 2015. They are set to make an appearance together in Kabir Khans Tubelight this year.The actor faced severe criticism when he, while speaking to a Pakistani channel, stated 26/11 Mumbai attacks were hyped because 'elite people' were targeted. The actor has later apologized for the comment.He was criticised for performing at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's Saifai Mahotsav while as children died in relief camps in Muzaffarnagar due to lack of rehabilitation. The actor was asked to not perform along with other stars but Salman refused to back down.(Also read: Salman Khan Arms Act Case: What Defence, Prosecution Said So Far The actor drew a lot of criticism for his insensitive remark during Sultan promotions. The actor, who played a wrestler in the film, stated, "When I used to walk out of the ring, after the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn't walk straight."
New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party is not inclined to directly deal with Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) for seat negotiations to stitch a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh. The lead player in the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) may leave it to the Congress to clinch a deal with RLD, which has pockets of influence in western UP and has been demanding close to 30 seats in the alliance.



"We are willing to allocate about 100 seats for the Congress. And leave it to the Congress to accommodate RLD from this quota, told a source involved in the negotiations.



The Samajwadi Party, however, is willing to leave a few seats for smaller parties like the Krishna Patel-led Apna Dal, the Peace Party and even the JD(U). Though these outfits have limited influence in Uttar Pradesh, their leaders campaigning for the alliance in the state would be high on optics. Lalu Prasad and Mamata Banerjee have already pledged support to the alliance.



But the bone of contention remains Ajit Singh's party. Both the SP and the Congress realise that the RLD on its own has a limited capacity to disrupt the equation. But left alone, Ajit Singh can join ranks with others, especially the BJP, giving a fillip to the party's prospects in the first two phases. Though the BJP has announced candidates for most of the seats in western UP, there is ample time left for nominations and withdrawal.



On the other hand, the SP is in the process of finalising its own candidates at the earliest. Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday had sent in a list of 45 names to Akhilesh Yadav.



Of these, sources tell CNN-News 18, the party is willing to give tickets to about a dozen winnable candidates. However, some who worked "overtime against the CM in cahoots with Shivpal Yadav" may be ignored.



Mulayam had proposed Aditya, Shivpal Yadav's son, as candidate from Jaswantnagar, from where Mulayam Singh won his first election. This seat has subsequently been represented by Shivpal.



Sources tell CNN-News 18 that the SP may even consider fielding Shivpal from the seat. The final decision, though, is yet to be taken on this issue.



The other constituency being keenly watched in these negotiations is Lucknow Cantt, which was earlier allocated to Aparna Yadav. Aparna is the wife of Mulayams second son Prateek Yadav.




Mumbai/Nagpur: Congress in Maharashtra on Wednesday protested outside the Reserve Bank offices in Mumbai and Nagpur as part of its anti-demonetisation agitation, with its leader Ashok Chavan accusing the Narendra Modi government of converting the central bank into an "RSS shakha".



Demanding resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel for throwing the lives of 125 crore Indians into a disarray with demonetisation, state Congress president Ashok Chavan in Mumbai accused the Narendra Modi government of converting the



Reserve Bank into an "RSS shakha" (branch).



In Nagpur, Congress workers were lathi-charged by police during their demonstration in front of the Reserve Bank office even as a march led by former chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, state Legislative Council's Deputy

Chairman Manikrao Thakre, AICC member Bhakta Charan Das and other party workers sought resignation of RBI Governor.



While a delegation led by Prithviraj Chavhan went in the RBI to submit a memorandum, some Congress workers outside the office raised slogans and the situation became tense. Some party workers alleged that the police lathi-charged them.



A few Congress workers were also detained and to protest the police lathi-charge, some party leaders later staged a sit-in in front of the RBI office.



The leaders demanded an inquiry and suspension of the concerned police official who ordered the lathi-charge and release of the detained workers. The situation eased when the detained Congress workers were released.



Meanwhile, addressing a protest meet in Mumbai, Ashok Chavan said people of the country were held to ransom with the sudden decision to ban high-value currency notes.



"The RBI autonomy has been eroded and the apex bank has been converted into an RSS shakha by the Modi government," he alleged, adding that the sudden decision had an adverse impact on the economy.



The Congress, while in power, never compromised with the autonomy of RBI.



"Congress will continue to raise the issue of hardships faced by the people in the state Legislatures and Parliament," Ashok Chavan said.


Shillong: The Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP-led NDA government at Centre of "diluting the integrity of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)" and making it vulnerable to corruption due to the demonetisation drive.



"Is the RBI Governor taking the decision or Prime Minister Narendra Modi? The manner in which RBI's Governor is acting poses a threat to the nation," Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said.



Speaking to newsmen after a meeting of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Party (MPCC) chaired by AICC coordinator-in-charge Meghalaya Takam Sanjoy, Sangma said, "The integrity of RBI, which is crucial, has been diluted (by Modi)."



Sanjoy announced protest to gherao the RBI office here by Congress on Wednesday as a mark of voicing resentment against the "grossly mishandled" demonetisation move.



"The RBI is becoming more vulnerable to corruption, otherwise why would its officials be arrested?" he asked while referring to the recent arrest of RBI officials for their alleged involvement in the conversion of demonetised currency.



Apart from RBI, the leaders commented that institutions like Income Tax department, banks and others will be more corrupted.



Institutions which were insulated earlier have also become vulnerable to corruption due to the demonetisation, Sangma alleged, adding, "It is a dangerous thing for the nation as there will be more corruption in the days to come."



"Where is the question of fighting against corruption? The nation will only be in dangerous economic crisis," he asked.



Further accusing the Prime Minister of taking advantage of the innocence, honesty and simplicity of the people of the nation, the CM said, "Because if we analyse his (Modi) whole rhetoric (then it becomes clear) that this measure (demonetisation) to fight corruption is not correct."



He added that the objective (of demonetisation) was not at all to fight against black money, corruption, terrorism and fake notes in circulation.



The Congress leader said the real question was how much fake money was deposited after November 8, 2016, into the banking system and were the banks equipped with the required wherewithal to segregate the genuine notes from the fake notes.



Sanjoy further said the people of the North East region have been worst hit by the "illogical" decision of the Prime Minister.



"Modi after assuming the office of the Prime Minister two and a half year is still thinking that he is the chief minister of Gujarat and also India," the former MP said while also accusing the PM of trying to divide the country.



He claimed only the Congress party could unite the people of the nation, adding it will go to the people of the North East, including Meghalaya, and urge them to have a second thought.



Stating that the economy of the country has slowed down due to demonetisation, he said, "Prior to November 8, 2016, the GDP was anticipated to be at 8 percent and on Tuesday it has come down to 6.6 percent after demonetisation. We are afraid that the GDP will further go down to not less than 5 percent by end of this month,"



Apart from Meghalaya, the nationwide protest will be held at 33 RBI offices across the country.
New Delhi: Regional political parties received nearly Rs 108 crore in 2015-16 in donations in excess of Rs 20,000, the limit above which funding sources have to be disclosed, says a report.



Shiv Sena tops the list with a total Rs 86.84 crore collected in donation during 2015-16, while AAP received Rs 6.605 crore during the same period, Delhi-based think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said in a report released on Wednesday.



"The total amount of donations declared by Shiv Sena is about 81 per cent of the total donations received by all the regional parties together which have been considered for the report during the same period," it said.



With regard to the total number of donations, AAP leads with 1,187 donations from individuals and corporates, while Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) declared a total 571 contributions followed by Shiv Sena with 143 and TDP 75.



Section 29C of the Representation of People Act, 1951 mandates that political parties submit their contribution details in excess of Rs 20,000 received from any person or company to the Election Commission of India (ECI) annually, in order to enjoy 100 per cent tax exemption.



"The total amount of donations above Rs 20,000 declared by the Regional Parties was Rs 107.62 crore, from 2,249 donations which amounts to an average of Rs 4.79 lakh per donation," it said.



The report, jointly prepared by ADR and National Election Watch (NEW), said that no donations have been declared by AIADMK, BJD, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Naga People's Front (NPF) and RLD during 2015-16.



A total of 26 regional parties have defaulted in the submission of their donations report to the ECI during 2014-15 and 2015-16.



Out of the 26 parties, 21 parties have not filed their reports for both the financial years while 5 parties had filed for 2014-15 but failed to submit for 2015-16.



A comparison of donations received by regional parties between 2014-15 and 2015-16 shows that the overall donations of the 21 regional parties decreased by Rs 27.24 crore or 20.20 per cent.



"AIUDF, DMDK, JDS, PMK and Shiv Sena are the five regional parties which have declared increase in the amount of donations received between 2014-15 and 2015-16," it said.



PMK, AAP, Shivsena, IUML, DMDK and AIUDF were the only regional parties which declared collecting donations in cash.



"Rs 3.326 crore in cash donations formed 3.08 per cent of the total contributions declared by the regional parties from 784 donations," the report said.



"Out of 16 regional parties which had declared receiving donations above Rs 20,000, 9 parties; Shiv Sena, AAP, PMK, YSR-Congress, AIUDF, IUML, MNS, SAD and DMDK have not declared PAN details of 1,567 donations through which the parties collected a total of Rs 6.79 crore," it added.


New Delhi: Veteran Congressman and former Uttarakhand chief minister ND Tiwari may join BJP after failing to secure election ticket for his son Rohit from Samajwadi Party, says a report in Navbharat Times.



The report suggests that Tiwari wants to establish his son in politics.



Earlier, ND Tiwari has attempted a ticket for his son from SP in Uttar Pradesh but when he failed in his efforts he turned his focus to BJP.



It is said that Tiwari is now seeking a ticket for Rohit from a seat in Uttarakhand where BJP hasn't yet declared a candidate.




Going forward in 2017, smartphone makers will push the hardware boundary to greater heights and will introduce powerful chipsets along with bigger memory capacities. With 6GB RAM soon becoming the new norm in the industry, players like Samsung, HTC, OnePlus among others will aim to provide more. Asus has already introduced the worlds first smartphone with 8GB RAM at the recently held CES 2017.Here are five upcoming smartphones expected to house massive 8GB of RAM.The Asus ZenFone AR smartphone with 8GB RAM was launched at CES 2017 with support for Google Tango AR and DayDream VR platforms. While there is no official word, Asus is expected to introduce the smartphone in India as well at a later date. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and comes with a 23MP camera along with an 8MP front camera and runs Android Nougat.Samsung Galaxy S8 will be reportedly launched at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2017 on March 29. The device is expected to be start at a price of $849, which roughly translates to Rs 59,430. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to come with 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy S8 will also be IP68 certified - dust proof and water resistant over 1.5 metres and 30 minutes.The device will run on Android Nougat operating system and sport a 3000 mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery.The camera on the Galaxy S8 will be a similar to what we saw on the Note 7. The primary camera will be 12-megapixel with phase detection autofocus, OIS and dual-LED flash. The selfie camera will be an 8-megapixel camera.HTC will launch their next flagship smartphone at MWC 2017 this year. It will be the HTC 11 and will come with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset that will be backed by 8GB RAM and a Quad HD display.Oppo will reportedly launch a new smartphone with borderless display in the form of Oppo Find 9. The smartphone is expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and will reportedly house 8GB of RAM.After the OnePlus 3T, the Chinese start-up will reportedly ditch the OnePlus 4 in favour of OnePlus 5, as the number four is considered unlucky in China. With the OnePlus 3T already having 6GB of RAM, the next flagship is expected to come with 8GB of RAM.
Vodafone has announced as much as four times more data for prepaid Vodafone Supernet 4G customers, however, the prices of data packs would vary from circle to circle.According to Vodafone's new offer, a Rs 150 data pack will offer 1GB of data with a validity of a month, Rs 250 pack will provide 4GB data while Rs 1,500 data pack will give 35GB of data in a month.This move is seen as Vodafone's stance in the highly-competitive tariff war that has seen an even tougher competition since the entry of Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Jio.Apparently, Vodafone has announced the new data packs to celebrate its reaching 200 million customer base in the country.Also, Vodafone will give its users 22GB data when you recharge your prepaid number with Rs 999. Earlier, for this price, customers could get only 10GB of 4G data.Vodafone is now offering 1GB data pack for Rs 150 while the 4GB data pack now costs Rs 250. The 6GB data pack now costs Rs 350, the 9GB data pack now costs Rs 450, the 13GB data pack now costs Rs 650, and the 22GB data pack now costs Rs 999, while the 35GB data pack now costs Rs 1,500.
Havana and Reykjavik are in. Osaka is out.



According to travel search engine Kayak, the Cuban and Icelandic capitals are the top trending destinations among Canadian travellers.



Between September 2015 and December 2016, Canadians drove up searches for Havana by 230 percent compared to the previous period, following news that US-Cuban relations had been restored, opening up travel between the two countries.



Likewise, Canadian travellers expressed a keen interest in Iceland's capital, with searches for Reykjavik spiking 116 percent compared to 2015, and placing the city second on the list of top trending destinations.



Destinations like Casablanca, Manila and Auckland also cracked the top 10 list for the first time this year.



Here are the top 10 trending destinations:



1. Havana



2. Reykjavik



3. Rio de Janeiro



4. Casablanca



5. Auckland



6. Manila



7. Nashville



8. New Delhi



9. Guatemala



10. Bogota
Miami: In 2016, the Earth sweltered under the hottest temperatures in modern times for the third year in a row, US scientists said on Wednesday, raising new concerns about the quickening pace of climate change.



Temperatures spiked to new national highs in parts of India, Kuwait and Iran, while sea ice melted faster than ever in the fragile Arctic, said the report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.



Taking a global average of the land and sea surface temperatures for the entire year, NOAA found the data for "2016 was the highest since record keeping began in 1880," said the announcement.



A separate analysis by the US space agency NASA also found that 2016 was the hottest on record.



The global average temperature last year was 1.69 Fahrenheit (0.94 Celsius) above the 20th century average, and 0.07 degrees F (0.04 C) warmer than in 2015, the last

record-setting year.



Each of the first eight months of the year "had record high temperatures for their respective months," NOAA said. The main reason for the rise is the burning of fossil fuels like oil and gas, which send carbon dioxide, methane and other pollutants known as greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and warm the planet.



The mounting toll of industrialization on the Earth's natural balance is increasingly apparent in the record books.



"Since the start of the 21st century, the annual global temperature record has been broken five times (2005, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016)," said NOAA.



Another factor has been the Pacific Ocean warming trend of El Nino, which experts say exacerbates the planet's already rising warmth.



El Nino comes and goes. The latest episode became particularly strong in 2015, and subsided about halfway through 2016.



But El Nino was responsible for just a small fraction of last year's warmth, according to Peter Stott, acting director of Britain's Met Office Hadley Center.



"The main contributor to warming over the last 150 years is human influence on climate from increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," he said.



Piers Forster, director of the Priestley International Center for Climate at the University of Leeds, agreed.



"Even if you remove the extra warming due to El Nino, 2016 was the warmest year ever recorded," Forster said.



"2017 will likely be cooler. However, unless we have a major volcanic eruption, I expect the record to be broken again within a few years."



All of North America was the warmest since records began in 1910, breaking that region's last record set in 1998. Europe and Asia each saw their third hottest years on

record, while Australia marked its fourth warmest year since records began more than a century ago.



Unusual spikes in temperature were seen in Phalodi, India, which reached 124 F (51 C) on May 19 -- marking India's hottest temperature ever.


Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the UN envoy Indian-American Nikki Haley on Wednesday said her job in this diplomatic position would be to

rebuild confidence of Americans in the world body as many of them believe that actions of the UN does more harm than good.



Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for her confirmation hearing, 44-year-old Haley said that any honest assessment finds it as an institution that is often at odds with American national interests and American taxpayers.



"Nowhere has the UN's failure been more consistent and more outrageous than in its bias against our close ally Israel," the South Carolina Governor alleged, adding that in the UN General Assembly session just completed, the UN adopted 20 resolutions against Israel and only six targeting the rest of the world's countries combined.



In the past 10 years, the Human Rights Council has passed 62 resolutions condemning the reasonable actions Israel takes to defend its security.



Meanwhile, the worlds worst human rights abusers in Syria, Iran and North Korea received far fewer condemnations, she rued. "That cannot continue," Haley asserted.



Referring to UN Security Council resolution against Israel, she described this as damaging.



"Last month's passage of UN Resolution 2334 was a terrible mistake, making a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians harder to achieve," she said.



The mistake was compounded by the location in which it took place, in light of the UNs long history of anti-Israel bias, she added.



Haley told lawmakers that as the top American diplomat at the UN, she will not abstain when the UN seeks to create an international environment that encourages boycotts of Israel.



"In fact, I pledge to you this: I will never abstain when the United Nations takes any action that comes in direct conflict with the interests and values of the US," she said.



Without "fundamental changes" at the UN, Haley said she cannot envision making the same kind of report to the American people as their Ambassador. "We contribute 22 per cent of the UNs budget, far more than any other country," she said.



"We are a generous nation. But we must ask ourselves what good is being accomplished by this disproportionate contribution. Are we getting what we pay for?" she asked.



She applauded the efforts of the Congress to explore ways the United States can use its leverage to make the United Nations a better investment for the American people.



"My goal for the United Nations will be to create an international body that better serves the interests of the American people," she said.



Today, she argued, more and more Americans are becoming convinced by actions like the passage of Resolution 2334 that the United Nations does more harm than good.



"The American people see the UN's mistreatment of Israel, its failure to prevent the North Korean nuclear threat, its waste and corruption, and they are fed up," she said.



"My job our job is to reform the UN in ways that rebuild the confidence of the American people. We must build an international institution that honours Americas commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights," Haley said.
AMHERST  A Nelson County judge overruled a motion Tuesday from 35 Nelson County landowners seeking to dismiss a surveying lawsuit from Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC.

The landowners motion was on the grounds an amended notice of intent to enter property to survey for the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline was legally insufficient. At a hearing Tuesday, Judge Michael Garrett disagreed. In his ruling, Garrett said the notices now are legally sufficient, and the revised notices issued to landowners now comply with a Virginia state statute outlining the requirements for a natural gas company to enter properties for surveying.

The case will move on as previously scheduled. An evidentiary hearing in the surveying case is set for Feb. 6 in Nelson County Circuit Court.

Were pleased with the courts ruling today, said Aaron Ruby, spokesman for Dominion Resources, which is heading the proposed 600-mile pipeline project. Judge Garrett found that our revised landowner notifications are compliant with the statute and his previous ruling, and that they provide reasonable notice to the landowners. We look forward to the final step in this process and hopefully receiving access to survey these properties next month.

According to Rick Holzheimer, an attorney representing ACP, revised notices of intent were sent to landowners following a May 2016 ruling by Garrett that said notices issued at the time were not legally sufficient because they used language indicating intent to begin surveying on or after a specified date.

Since then, ACP has sent out revised notices with timeframes that explain when the company intends to conduct specific surveys.

During the hearing Tuesday, four attorneys representing the 35 landowners argued the facts  are changing and argued ACP is playing games with landowners.

The attorneys argued ACPs new notices, which have been amended for the second time, bring up new requests and new dates for surveying. Holzheimer argued the amended notices instead just give more detail on required surveying activity.

The landowners attorneys also argued the notices dont comply with the Virginia statute because they do not set the day ACP intends to enter, rather offering dates. Garrett, however, said ACP complied with his May ruling, and the notices offer a date when ACP intends to begin different types of surveys, thereby complying with the statue.

Until you get on the property, you dont know how long its going to take, Garrett said.

Lorri Stone and Stuart Allen, whose property in Shipman off Virginia 6 would be affected by the pipeline, are among the defendants named in the lawsuit. Stone said after the hearing they were troubled by Garretts ruling.

Obviously, were disappointed. The more we can push and delay the happier we are.  It is what it is, so I guess well see them on our land in February, Stone said.  I think we fundamentally believe that if you have property that you own, its inviolate other than if theres a fire or theres an emergency, you should need to give permission to come onto your property.

Chuck Lollar, one of the four landowners attorneys, said he had hoped Garrett would rule in their favor and end the fight that has been a cloud over [the property owners] heads.

I think we all disagree with the judges ruling, said Mike Derdeyn, another attorney representing a portion of the landowners involved. We respect where hes coming from and appreciate the amount of attention hes given to the matter and the thoughtfulness hes given, but we disagree.

Three other surveying lawsuits between ACP and landowners are being processed separately.

According to Holzheimer, the 38 cases are among ACPs last open suits in the state on attempts to enter property for surveying purposes. More than 150 other cases have resulted in consent orders between property owners and ACP allowing surveyors to come on land that would be affected by the pipeline.
PETERSBURG  After her sons transport to a Petersburg state nursing facility Tuesday, Martha Bryant received paperwork saying she agreed to their transfer.

She refused to sign it.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services transferred Taylor and Tyler Bryant, both 23, from Central Virginia Training Center to Hiram W. Davis Medical Center on Tuesday as the state ends skilled nursing care at the Madison Heights facility sooner than planned because of a staffing shortage on the way to shuttering CVTC by 2020.

It is clearly not my choice, and it is not comparable care, said Martha Bryant, one of many guardians who have fought CVTCs looming closure for years.  Ive never wanted for them to come here.

Taylor and Tyler Bryant have severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. They have lived at CVTC since October 1996, sharing a room most recently in whats known as Building 31, reserved for skilled nursing care given to residents with the most severe disabilities. With the Bryants now moved out, only two residents remain in skilled nursing care. They will be transferred by the end of the month, when the buildings skilled nursing beds are set to be decertified and that level of care will cease at the Madison Heights facility. The building is scheduled for closure at the end of the year.

Although the Bryants are unlikely to return to the training center, their mother plans to continue a court fight meant to stop the transfer to Hiram Davis while searching for a new home for her sons closer to where she lives and works in Amherst County.

Delta Response Team out of Appomattox County transported the Bryants, who are quadriplegic and cannot talk, by individual ambulances Tuesday, she said. The caravan included two trucks full of equipment and personal effects, a small bus, and family and staff cars, Bryant said.

At Hiram Davis on Tuesday afternoon, the Bryants new-to-them, second-story room hummed with activity. While about 10 nurses and staff entered and left, unpacked boxes, arranged the room and cared for her sons, Bryant spoke to Taylor about the move.

Hes trying to get some sense of home, some sense of familiar, Bryant said. She plans to add the sense of home with patterned ceiling light covers like theyre used to seeing above their beds.

Bryant is worried about new caregivers ability to translate subtle changes in her sons because they cannot communicate overtly. Some of their CVTC nurses have cared for them for years and will work at Hiram Davis for the next couple days to assist with the transfer, Bryant said. Hiram Davis nurses also trained with Taylor and Tyler at CVTC, she said.

These are kind people. This is not about these individuals. This is about policy, Bryant said after Facility Director Brenda Buenvenida met her at the front door.  I know there are a lot of people caught up with this, that a decision was made in Richmond that everybodys just trying to work through.

CVTC is one of four Virginia training centers targeted for closure stemming from a settlement agreement that arose from a Department of Justice investigation into CVTC. The agreement says Virginia must serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as integrated into the community as possible. Southside Training Center was the first to close in 2014 followed by Northern Virginia last year. Southwestern is slated to shutter in 2018 while Southeastern remains open with only 75 beds.

While the DOJ agreement does not require the training centers be shuttered, closing four of the states five centers was meant to help pay for new community services, Secretary of Health and Human Resources William Hazel said in a Senate Finance subcommittee meeting Monday.

A nursing facility of some kind may be the only appropriate place for a few individuals, leaving options in Virginia limited to Hiram Davis or a private nursing facility, according to DBHDS Director of Community Integration Debra Smith.

I believe that any individual can have supports built around them. I dont always think that those supports are immediately available, Smith said, referring to DBHDS attempts since the DOJ agreement was made to work with private businesses to build our infrastructure and create homes that can support the individuals needs.

One of Bryants main complaints  and that of several families with relatives at CVTC  is that anywhere else is of lower quality.

In response to questions about Hiram Davis compared to CVTC during the Senate Finance subcommittee meeting, Interim Commissioner Jack Barber said, I dont think its a less good place, actually and that he wishes families had worked with us to find somewhere they were happy with.

Im sorry it has to be disrupted, but I cant leave a facility open when they wont have enough people for the kind of care they would have, Barber said, describing CVTCs staffing shortages as dangerous.

Rather than her sons living a 20-minute drive from work where she can stop in the afternoon, theyre now at least two hours away. Martha Bryant and her mother, Esther Stinnett, visit Taylor and Tyler four or five times per week combined, she said.

Bryant is taking leave from teaching at Amherst County High School while they get settled. She isnt sure how long shell be out, but she wants to find somewhere else for her sons within 30 days. She hopes for closer to home.

Bryant considered about 17 facilities and believes they didnt meet her sons needs or turned them down, she said.

This is not where I want them to be, Bryant said, but we are stuck.
BEDFORD  When Bedford Police Officer Josh Peltier responded to 708 Grove St. early Tuesday morning for reports of a fire, he saw smoke flooding the road and pouring out of the two-story house there.

Peltier was first on the scene of a blaze that would put three people in the hospital and prove fatal for a 4-year-old girl. Bedford Fire Department personnel also responded within minutes of the call.

Arriving at the house, Peltier described seeing some people in the yard, some across the street and a woman screaming, My babies, my babies!

Running into the house, he said he spotted feet at the top of the stairs. He took a young girl from a man at the top of the stairs and ran her outside to clean air, noting she was breathing and awake. Peltier said he also managed to get to the man, now unconscious at the top of the stairs, and bring him out to the porch, where he came to.

But there still were more children in the burning house.

I went back up the stairs, and at the top of the stairs, the smoke was just so thick and heavy, and the heat was so intense. I knew I couldnt go any further, Peltier said.

Having heard Peltier mention heavy smoke inhalation, Sgt. Levi Poole drove to the scene following Peltier and arrived at about the same time as Bedford Fire Department vehicles.

He worked together with firefighters to recover a young girl, who he said was limp when they carried her outside, her nose dark from smoke or possibly blood.

We didnt know whether she was alive or not  there was no EMS personnel there, he said.

Poole said he started chest compression, and the girl started breathing on her own.

Still, there was yet another child in the house. Both parents had started trying to re-enter the house to help save their children, and conditions upstairs were getting hotter and smokier  Poole described trying to take a breath outside and diving back into the smoky house but said it was becoming too dangerous. He said it seemed even the equipped firefighters were struggling inside the house.

Trying to find the last child in the house and tend to those whod been rescued, Poole said the blaze was engulfing the whole back side of the house. When firefighters recovered the girl, Peltier raced the 4-year-old to a stretcher, Poole said.

For Peltier, this was the first fire he responded to, having been with the department for just more than two years. Poole said it was his first time rushing in to aid victims of a fire in such a situation.

It was kind of a first for both of us, but I think we did everything in our power, he said.

The 4-year-old girl died on the way to the hospital, according to Lt. Shannon Walker, of the Bedford Police Department.

Investigators from the Bedford County Fire Marshals Office and the Bedford Police Department are looking into the cause of the fire, where two adults, Michael and Tahlia Brooks, and six children were residing.

Michael Brooks and a 6-year-old girl initially were taken to Bedford Memorial Hospital, while an 11-year-old girl was taken directly to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Brooks later was flown to Wake Forest Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the 6-year-old to Carilion Roanoke.

Bedford Fire Chief Brad Creasy stated in a release that the Bedford Fire Department dispatched to the house at about 4:53 a.m. and arrived four minutes later. Several occupants had left the house safely but two unconscious victims had to be taken outside, he stated.

A third victim was located in a second-story bedroom and was brought down via ground ladder and handed off to awaiting EMS, he wrote.

Firefighters were extinguishing the last of the fire around the back side of the house at about 9 a.m. so investigators could enter the building safely, and crews were leaving the scene by about 9:30 a.m.

Bedford County Fire Marshal Jeff Pauley said Tuesday evening the investigation at the house is finished, but details of the cause and location still are being worked out.

Theres no indication at this point in time to say it was anything other than an accidental fire, he said.

Having spoken with members of the family, Pauley relayed the two girls were in the pediatric intensive care unit in Roanoke, and Brooks still was at Wake Forest Medical Center. All three were intubated, he said, likely with injuries from inhaling smoke and hot gases. Other children at the house were a 5-month-old boy, 17-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy, he said.

Pauley said the residents were asleep when the fire broke out and were alerted by their dog barking. Smoke and hot gases caused some of the family to lose consciousness.

We did not see any evidence of smoke detectors  anywhere in the house, he said.

The fire was confined to the back part of the house, Pauley said.

With several power lines and trees lining the street, Walker said responders had to trim a tree in order to raise a ladder to the house. A few firefighters used the ladder to reach the roof.

Responders came from Bedford County Department of Fire and Rescue, the Forest Volunteer Fire Company and the Stewartsville-Chamblissburg Fire Department to assist in the incident.

Bedrock Community Church posted on its Facebook page Tuesday that a church office would be open from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday for those offering prayers for the Brooks family. The church has designated a relief effort coordinator and is working on setting up a donation fund.

Poole and Peltier sustained a few marks and singed hairs from the incident, but they said theyre keeping the Brooks family in their prayers.

Were so glad that we could help get the ones out that we could, Poole said.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam kept up his fundraising lead over Republican Ed Gillespie in the second half of 2016, but Gillespie still has a wide lead over his three GOP competitors in the race for governor.

Northam's campaign and PAC raised a combined $1.64 million between July and December, according to new campaign finance reports due this week. In the same period, Gillespie's campaign and PAC raised $1.48 million.

Northam, who started raising money before Gillespie, reporting having a total of $2.46 million on hand as of Dec. 31, compared with $1.95 million for Gillespie, the leading Republican in the race who continues to pick up endorsements from GOP office-holders.

The newest entrant into the race - Democrat Tom Perriello, a former 5th District congressman - hasn't filed a campaign finance report because he announced early this month, after the last reporting period concluded.

Northam is the favorite of the state's Democratic establishment, but Perriello's unexpected entry into the race means Northam will have to spend more in a competitive June primary.

Rounding out the Republican primary field, Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and the former chairman of President-elect Donald Trump's Virginia campaign. making similarly brash appeals to the grass roots, reported raising a little more than $500,000 in the second half of 2016 and had $402,000 on hand. Stewart transferred $378,000 from his supervisor account, Corey Stewart for Chairman.

State Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, reported raising $450,979 for his gubernatorial bid and had $372,043 on hand. Those totals don't include any funds raised for Wagner's Senate re-election committee. Wagner, who is stressing his experience in a Republican field with little background in state government, transferred $200,000 from his Senate account to his campaign for governor.

Denver Riggleman, a Nelson County distillery owner who announced his insurgent campaign for the GOP nomination late last year, reporting having $26,657 on hand between his campaign and PAC. Most of Riggleman's fundraising occurred through the PAC, which raised a total of $48,225 last year.

The nominees for both parties will be decided in June 13 primaries.

In the GOP primary for lieutenant governor, state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel of Fauquier County is outraising Sen. Bryce E. Reeves of Spotsylvania and Del. Glenn R. Davis Jr. of Virginia Beach  thanks in good part to money from her family.

Vogel reported receipts for the July to December period of $441,664. Of that, $180,000 came from her parents. She reported a balance of $586,104.

Reeves reported receipts of $231,206 in his committee for lieutenant governor. Of that, $189,075 was transferred from his political action committee, Revitalize Virginia. His ending balance was $223,862.

Revitalize Virginia took in $77,561 and had a balance of $39,107.

Reeves also reported a balance of $267,707 in his Senate campaign committee, which can be transferred for use in his run for lieutenant governor.

Combined, Reeves three committees come close to Vogels ending balance.

Davis reported $49,900 in cash receipts and gave himself $119,950 in loans. His ending balance was $32,271.

On the Democratic side in the race for lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax, a former federal prosecutor who ran for attorney general in 2013, far outpaced Gene Rossi, a former career federal prosecutor. Another candidate, Susan Platt, a political consultant and former chief of staff to then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, only recently announced her run and did not need to file a report.

And in the race for Attorney General, Democratic incumbent Mark Herring raised $455,210 in the period between his PAC, called One Commonwealth, and his campaign committee. He reported a total balance of over $1 million.

Republican John Adams, a partner at McGuireWoods and a former federal prosecutor, raised $269,944 and reported an ending balance of $277,358.

Republican Chuck Smith, a lawyer in Virginia Beach who is a retired U.S. Navy JAG commander, reported $6,297 in receipts from July 1 to Dec. 31, including $3,500 he loaned to his campaign.
In blaze-orange hats and camo jackets, they fanned out across the Capitol, hunting for lawmakers they feel are coming after their dogs.

The Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance turned out in force Tuesday at the General Assembly to oppose a bill that would authorize localities to create a $100 civil penalty for dogs "running at large" on other people's property, legislation the group sees as taking aim at Virginia's hunting traditions. Hounds are used to track deer, bear and other wildlife, and long chases can occur with dogs paying little mind to property lines.

"The vast, vast, vast majority of people who live in the rural sections understand this is part of rural Virginia," said John Morse, a Chesapeake resident who serves as VHDA's chairman. "They may not be pro-hunting. But they understand that occasionally you may have a dog on the property. You may hear a gunshot in the distance. It's just part of the living in the country."

The issue has potential to divide the Republican-controlled House of Delegates along rural and urban/suburban lines. For Republicans, the calculation is complicated further because the bill's sponsor is House Speaker William J. Howell, R-Stafford, who wields considerable power over what moves in the House and what doesn't.

In an interview, Howell said the bill is not meant to punish the owners of dogs who venture onto land where they're not wanted just once. What it would do, Howell said, is provide relief to property owners dealing with a pack of dogs on their land "for the umpteenth time."

"The bottom line is: This is about property rights," Howell said in an interview.

The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee. Howell said he plans to amend it to specify that landowners will have to go to the courthouse and pay filing fees in order to seek relief under the law.

"That's a pretty big deal for somebody who's the victim of a dog accidentally running across his yard one time," Howell said. "But the guy who's got 20 hounds every Saturday, he's talked to the people in the hunt club and they ignore him, it gives him a remedy."

Under Howell's bill, House Bill 1900, dog owners would have to pay $100 for each dog and each occurrence of trespassing. Penalties would only apply in situations where a landowner has given notice verbally, in writing, through posted signs or by painting blue marks on trees near roads and entrances to the property.

The bill would not set a statewide penalty. It would authorize localities to pass ordinances with the penalty.

One rural lawmaker enlisted two four-legged lobbyists - Big Money and Big Puppy - to stand by the George Washington equestrian statue as legislators made the walk to the Capitol for the mid-day session.

"I just want people to see that these are not really bad dogs," said Del. C. Matt Fariss, R-Campbell, who held one dog's leash while his son, Hunter, held the other.

When Howell approached, Hunter Fariss sensed opportunity.

"Mr. Speaker, you want to see my hunting dog,?" he asked.

"All numbered and everything," Howell replied. "That's good."

Last year, with the support of the dog hunting community, Fariss passed a bill establishing trespassing penalties for hunters who "intentionally" release dogs onto land where no-trespassing notices are posted.

Hunting dog enthusiasts argue that law should be given more time to work before considering more legal avenues to escalate disputes that hunters could resolve privately with landowners.

"Instead of working out their issues, they're going to go to law enforcement or whatever and make this a much bigger deal than it needs to be," Morse said.

Kirby Burch, a Powhatan County resident and CEO of the hunting-dog association, said hunt clubs help preserve open space in Virginia by providing extra revenue to farmers and timberland owners.

"We're not here looking to get advantage, to grow our sport at the expense of other people," Burch said. "We're simply here saying this has value. We are not a problem to society. To our communities. We are the community in rural Virginia."

Howell insisted his bill won't affect the "good hunt clubs" who occasionally have to retrieve an intruding dog, but he feels the problems are widespread enough to require action.

"They always say 'Well it's just for rogue groups,'" Howell said. "There must be a lot of rogue groups out there."
CHRISTIANSBURG  Natalie Marie Keepers said that she recommended a spot where Nicole Lovell could be killed.

That detail and more emerged Wednesday in Montgomery County Circuit Court as additional excerpts were played from the hours of recordings of Keepers questioning last year by investigators, and attorneys sparred over the relevance of what a psychologist described as her significant mental illness.

Wednesday was the second day of a hearing to decide whether a jury will hear Keepers confession, which her attorneys argue was improperly coerced from her, when she stands trial for her role in the death of Lovell, a Blacksburg 13-year-old.

Judge Robert Turk ended the hearing saying that he needed time to go through lawyers briefs, including more that each side plans to turn in soon. Turk said he also plans to wade through more of the audio and video from the 27 hours that Keepers was with investigators. The judge said that he will schedule a hearing in about a month to hear closing arguments about barring the confession. Turk said he will make a decision about the confession before a jury trial for Keepers begins on March 27.

Keepers, from Laurel, Maryland, and a freshman engineering major at Virginia Tech when arrested, is charged with being an accessory before the fact to first-degree murder and concealing a dead body. Both charges result from the Jan. 27, 2016, killing of Lovell, whod struck up a relationship with Keepers friend David Edmond Eisenhauer.

Eisenhauer, 19, from Columbia, Maryland, also was a freshman in Techs engineering program. He is charged with first-degree murder, abduction and concealing a body. His jury trial is scheduled to start March 6.

Wednesday was Keepers 20th birthday, and she spent much of it chained at the wrists and ankles at the defense table. As she had Tuesday, Keepers listened with everyone else in the courtroom to recordings of her voice made Jan. 30 and 31 last year. She often sounded incongruously cheery, making small talk with investigators between discussions of Lovells death.

A clip that was played repeatedly centered on Keepers signing a form saying that she had not wanted to speak to an attorney before being questioned  but also contained her abrupt reminisce about an internship shed had at NASA, and a supervisor who could not get a copy of a computer program because of red tape.

On another recording, Keepers breezily said, I understand if Im given community service for her part in Lovells killing.

The atmosphere was far heavier in another recording, made near the end of Keepers two long sessions with investigators. She had already been charged with concealing a body and being an accessory after the fact to murder  a charge that would later be changed to accessory before the fact. But until that point in the questioning, Keepers had insisted that she didnt know Eisenhauers plans for Lovell.

That suddenly changed as investigators asked yet again if she was present when Lovell was killed.

No, Keepers answered  then said that shed helped pick a place where the teen could be slain, along Craig Creek Road in Montgomery County.

He said he was looking for a good spot to talk to her so that it was alone and out of the public eye. I helped him choose that spot, Keepers said.

Pressed by investigators, she quickly admitted that she knew Eisenhauer had more sinister plans than talking to Lovell.

She and Eisenhauer had discussed various ways to kill Lovell, with Eisenhauer researching the effects of pills and ways to make Lovells death look like suicide, Keepers said.

He would say, Off her, kill the b----, kill her,  Keepers said.

When Eisenhauer allegedly took Lovell to Craig Creek Road on Jan. 27, he ended up disregarding Keepers suggested location, instead stabbing Lovell in a nearby location along the same road, according to Wednesdays presentation.

Eisenhauer met Lovell at a party and communicated with her through the Kik app, according to testimony and recordings. Eisenhauer was freaked out when he learned the girl was 13, Keepers said on a recording.

Keepers said that Eisenhauer asked her to accompany him when he lured Lovell out of her home in the Lantern Ridge apartment complex and took her to the woods. He wanted me to help him kill her and suggested Keepers could help knock Lovell out and assist with any damage control, she said.

But Keepers said she refused.

I took a step back even though I was still being manipulated by Eisenhauer, she said.  I had a comfort zone I wasnt willing to cross.

The recordings of Keepers and investigators were played throughout Wednesdays testimony.

First on the stand was Blacksburg police Detective Ryan Hite, who was one of Keepers primary questioners. He had begun describing his part in the investigation Tuesday, and on Wednesday finished answering cross-examination questions from defense attorney Kris Olin of Blacksburg. Olin focused on when Hite switched from seeing Keepers as an alibi witness for Eisenhauer to viewing her as a suspect, a distinction that could have bearing on officers decision not to read Keepers her Miranda rights until the second day of questioning, after she had been charged.

Miranda rights include not having to answer police questions, being able to leave an interview and having an attorney present. Olin and his fellow defense attorney John Robertson argue that Keepers constitutional rights were violated because the Miranda reading was not presented earlier in the questioning process, and that her confession should be disregarded.

Part of the Miranda requirement revolves around when a suspect is taken into custody. Keepers was definitely in custody during her second day with investigators but that status was less clear during the first day.

Olin and Robertson, also of Blacksburg, have argued that even if Keepers was not officially in custody, she thought she was after hours in the Blacksburg Police Department interview room.

Yet in a recording played Tuesday, investigators asked Keepers if she realized that she was not in custody. Yes, Keepers replied. I have food, Im not handcuffed to a chair.

Keepers apparent determination to assist police was due to mental illness, testified Jonathan Mack, a psychologist from New Jersey who the defense hired to evaluate Keepers.

Mack said that he made an array of diagnoses after administering tests and interviewing Keepers and her parents, and reviewing records of treatment she received at Techs Cook Counseling Center and elsewhere.

This person is borderline psychotic and is at times psychotic, Mack said.

Keepers has persistent depressive disorder, panic disorder, borderline and avoidant depressive disorder and more, he testified. She sometimes experiences hallucinations and has a history of cutting herself to try to relieve tension, he said. She adopts personas to try to deal with everyday reality and emotionally seems much younger than her age, Mack said.

Questioned by Turk about the relevance of the diagnoses to the confession, Mack said that Keepers mental illness made her susceptible to being influenced by others, especially male authority figures.

Turk asked if Keepers illness made her want to please others. Sort of like a puppy, Mack said, adding Keepers would be a good hypnotic subject.

But when asked by Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt if he had evaluated Keepers competency to stand trial, Mack said he did not have concerns about that. Later Turk asked about Keepers competency and Mack said that he was still working on a report that would address her mental state at the time Lovell was killed.

Also testifying Wednesday was James Trainum, a retired Washington, D.C., detective who has written a book about police gaining false confessions from suspects. Trainum said that police often try to isolate a suspect and use an array of interrogation techniques to extract a confession. But on cross-examination from Pettitt, he agreed that many of the tactics used by Hite and other investigators were actually best practices.

Still, Trainum criticized the officers for not reading Keepers her rights earlier  and for seeming to promise her leniency, or at least to help her escape more serious charges and punishment. Officers should not lie when questioning suspects, especially if the lie is about potential penalties for not answering questions or an easier time in exchange for answers.

Turk sounded skeptical. Thats done every single day, the judge said.
Considering the vast uncertainty hovering over the future of health care at the federal level, Virginia's hospitals are asking the state's lawmakers to take a "do no harm" stance on state health policies.

During a news conference at the General Assembly building Wednesday, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association encouraged legislators to restrain themselves during this year's session, particularly regarding Certificate of Public Need, or COPN, reform.

Congress' repeal and possible replacement of the Affordable Care Act would have a major impact on hospitals all over the country, the association contends, including in Virginia.

"Health care providers and patients have been through considerable transformation and upheaval over the last years, and it appears we will be in store for even more dramatic changes in the future," said Toni Ardabell, CEO of Bon Secours Virginia Health System and a member of the association's board of directors. "That change could fundamentally alter our health care system and our patients' access to our care."

A contested issue between hospitals and physician groups, Virginia's COPN program requires anyone who wishes to build a new hospital or imaging facility go through an application process with the state.

Hospitals claim COPN protects them in light of the billions they spend every year providing charity care to state residents. Opponents of the program claim it stifles competition and limits access.

"As a business leader, I believe in a free market," said Bryan Stephens, president of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. "But an honest discussion of COPN requires an open acknowledgement that health care simply is not a free market.

"A free market system requires a level playing field - we don't have a level playing field. Repealing COPN would make an already uneven playing field even more slanted. And that concerns the business community."
GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us.
Home News Sports Social Obituaries Events Letters Superintendent's Scoop Attendance vital to student performance January 17, 2017 By Superintendent Gary Pflueger



Are you looking for a New Years Resolution that will help your children succeed? I have an easy plan. The business of education is to help people make informed decisions. The only way to do this is to teach the facts, increase communication and share knowledge. Such is the nature of this edition of the Superintendent's Scoop.



Over the years, the Boundary County School Board of Trustees have struggled with financing our school program. Our community generously stepped up two years ago by supporting a $2.4 million supplemental Maintenance and Operations Levy.



In March of this year we will ask for the same support; you will learn more about this in the months to come. This article will explain something the schools have little control over: student attendance.



Recently I contacted Tim Hill, the Deputy Superintendent of Public School Finance for the State Department of Education.



He explains, State funding is based on groups of students average daily attendance (ADA). These groups are called support units. Using the midterm reporting period, we take the aggregate attendance from this time period and divide it by days in the session. This ADA is used to determine salary apportionment which is approximately 85% of our state funding. Anything that brings down the average daily attendance in this time frame will affect the biggest piece of funding for the district.



Children miss school for a variety of reasons: illness, family emergencies, celebrations, sports, etc. Many absences can be considered excused if parents let us know where the student is, but the district is not funded for those days.



I hate to bring up this next note as I value family loyalty, but even when younger siblings travel to watch their older brother or sister represent BFHS, we not reimbursed.



More than 14 absences per year for a student surpasses the district policy (#3051) requiring 90% attendance. Excessive absence affects skill development and student achievement, credit retention, participation in extra-curricular events, and possible promotion to the next grade level.



The financing of public education is a complicated process. Student support units are different for elementary and secondary school students. Statewide average per unit is $94,100 in the fiscal year 2017.



An elementary school support unit for grades 1-3 is 20 students. $94,100 divided into 20 equals $4,705 per year. Divided into 141 school days, this equals $33.37 per day per student. When a student is absent, even if excused, we lose this money.



Another factor which plays into the importance of attendance is our four day school week. Our school days are longer to accommodate for this. It becomes a simple math problem. When a BCSD student misses one day per week, they miss 25% of instructional time for the week. In a traditional five day school district missing one day accounts for 20% of the instructional time.



I know there are some who will say, The schools just want kids to attend for funding.



Get to know our staff and you will learn this is not true. We want students at school so we can do our jobs! School attendance is much more important than money.



The biggest toll is paid in the students educational development. The research that compares testing to attendance has shown those students with higher attendance rates do better on standardized testing and better in school overall.



Many of our students cannot master concepts without the benefits of the instruction given in the classroom. Many parents voice concerns they are unable to help their kids with homework in classes like math and science. Being in class is vital for these students.



Of course, we do not want students to attend school if they are ill and/or contagious. In addition, we will continue to send students home if they have head lice; we have a no-nit policy. I just ask parents to carefully consider the reason to keep your child home from school.



We will continue to offer incentives for perfect or faithful attendance. We will continue to work on ways to improve our program and increase our graduation rates. We will continue to proudly serve the children of Boundary County! Questions or comments about this article? Click here to e-mail!
Trump: 'I'll Very, Very, Very

Probably Do It Again'
Due to political turmoil in his country, the president-elect of Gambia was unable to attend his young son's funeral, the BBC reports. Eight-year-old Habibu Barrow was bitten by a dog Sunday and died on the way to the hospital. According to SMBC News, Habibu's death led to an "outpouring of sorrow" in Gambia. But Adama Barrow, who is currently in Senegal, couldn't return to Gambia for the funeral over concerns for his safety.

Barrow was elected president last year, ending Yahya Jammeh's 22 years of rule, International Business Times reports. But Jammeh is refusing to accept the result of the election. He's asked the Gambian supreme court to stop Barrow's inauguration, scheduled for Thursday, and military and security officers have been arrested, according to the Guardian. Military action in the country is possible, and thousands of citizens are fleeing the country, fearing war is imminent. Regardless, Barrow says Thursday's inauguration will go on as scheduled. (Read more Gambia stories.)
During the election, eleven women accused Donald Trump of inappropriate touching or kissing, the Washington Post reports. Now one of them has sued him. According to NBC News, Summer Zervos filed a defamation lawsuit against the president-elect on Tuesday. Zervos, a former contestant on The Apprentice, claims Trump kissed her on the lips, pressed himself against her, and groped her breast without her permission during a 2007 meeting about a job with the Trump Organization. In response to the accusations, Trump called Zervos and the other women liars in search of their "ten minutes of fame." "All of these liars will be sued after the election is over," the Hollywood Reporter quotes Trump as saying during a rally in the fall.

Now Zervos' lawyer, Gloria Allred, says Trump knew his comments would open the women up to "threats of violence, economic harm, and reputational damage." She's seeking to depose Trump under oath and seek recordings made during filming of The Apprentice. However, Allred says Zervos will dismiss her defamation suit if Trump admits her accusations about him are true. "Truth matters," the Post quotes Allred as saying. "Women matter." Allred says Zervos told her family and friends about the alleged assault when it happened and has passed a lie-detector test. Zervos says she decided to come forward after Trump was caught on tape bragging about grabbing women's genitals. Trump spokesperson Hope Hicks calls the allegations "absurd." (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
The founder of a neo-Nazi blog and major figure in the alt-right movement has resigned after he was revealed to have a Jewish wife. A post published on Medium over the weekend claimed Mike Enoch of The Right Stuffwhose Daily Shoah podcast has 100,000 subscribersis actually Mike Peinovich, a New York City web developer with a "liberal family" and a Jewish wife. Peinovich, who often discussed killing Jewish people, denied the report to Salon before confirming it on the TRS forum. He then resigned. As several others involved in TRS were outed recently, Mic reports its future is now unclear, though National Policy Institute head Richard Spencer says Peinovich "will continue to be a force on the alt-right in the future," per the Guardian.

The revelation came less than a month after a former alt-right vlogger described a major alt-right player as "married to a Jewish woman," without naming names. Peinovich's wife appeared on the Daily Shoah podcast numerous times. In one 2015 episode, she read a neo-Nazi parody of The Night Before Christmas of which she was "very proud," Peinovich said at the time. If her Jewish heritage "makes you want to leave the movement, or to have nothing to do with TRS, then I understand," Peinovich wrote on the TRS forum this week. The response from the movement was less than understanding, with one user suggesting the pair were "actors in the same play being orchestrated by the Jews," while other memes showed Peinovich and his wife in gas chambers. (Read more alt-right stories.)
Education Secretary hopeful Betsy DeVos was peppered with questions from time-limited Democrats during a testy Senate hearing Tuesday, and the exchange getting the most attention involves bears. When Sen. Chris Murphy asked if she believes that there's no place for guns in school, she referred to a school in Wyoming and told the Democrat: "I would imagine that there is probably a gun in the schools to protect from potential grizzlies," CNN reports. She also defended steering money away from public schools with the expansion of charter schools and private school vouchers, reports the New York Times, which notes that the billionaire did not attend public schools or send her children to public schools.

"Parents no longer believe that a one-size-fits-all model of learning meets the needs of every child," DeVos said in her opening remarks, per NPR. "And they know other options exist, whether magnet, virtual, charter, home, faith-based, or any other combination." Democrats complained that the hearing was a "rush job" because the committee's Republican chairman, Sen. Lamar Alexander, limited senators to five minutes each. The Washington Post reports that DeVos seemed flummoxed several times, including when Sen. Al Franken asked about the "accountability debate" on how to use test scores. In response to a question from Bernie Sanders, DeVos said it was a "possibility" she would still be there even if her family hadn't made large donations to the Republican Party. (Read more Betsy DeVos stories.)
The suspect in the fatal shooting of an Orlando police officer was captured Tuesday night after eluding a massive manhunt for more than a week, authorities say. Orlando Police Chief John Mina says Markeith Loyd, 41, was flushed out of an abandoned house and taken into custody, ending a manhunt that began with the Jan. 9 killing of Lt. Debra Clayton outside a Walmart store. Local television stations showed Loyd with a bloodied face as a half-dozen officers and deputies took him into police headquarters. Mina tweeted, "Captured and wearing Lt. Debra Clayton's handcuffs," the AP reports. Loyd was wearing body armor and carrying two handguns, one with a 100-round magazine, when he surrendered after a SWAT team surrounded the house in western Orlando, Mina said at a news conference.

Mina denied rumors that the arrest was the result of an anonymous tip, saying that Loyd was captured by the tireless efforts of law enforcement. Before the officer's shooting, authorities had been looking for Loyd for questioning in the death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon. Clayton had been tipped off that he was in the area while she was at the store and was shot when she approached Loyd, who then fled. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at the news conference that the arrest is bittersweet, noting that in addition to Clayton, a deputy in his agency, Norman Lewis, died in a traffic crash during the manhunt for Loyd. "I believe that our entire community is going to breathe a sigh of relief at this point," Demings said. "They will sleep better knowing tonight that... this maniac is off the streets." (Read more Florida stories.)
It would be an insult to the bottom-feeders of the animal kingdom to compare them to burglars police are seeking in Humboldt County, Calif. Police say they're investigating the theft of an urn containing the ashes of Ryan Wagner, a 6-year-old boy who died from cancer in 2011, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Ryan's parents say that after the urn and other items, including the "courage beads" the boy was given during his treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, were stolen from a safe during a December burglary, the $5,000 reward they offered became a ransom when they were told of a threat to dump out the ashes.

On the Bring Ryan Home Facebook page, mom Anita Wagner says they handed $5,000 in small bills to local lawyer Kathleen Bryson last Friday and she returned 45 minutes later with the ashes and other belongings. Bryson tells the Lost Coast Outpost that her client contacted her after learning that people he knew had the ashes and planned to dump them out. Bryson says she gave the family her $500 fee and doesn't believe her client had any share of the reward. "The burglarsI don't know how they sleep at night," she says. Ryan's dad, Joshua Wagner, says he suspects Bryson's client is the real thief and is disgusted that the person appears to have gotten away with it. He says the family now plans to scatter Ryan's ashes and "set [him] free." (These thieves mistook a man's ashes for cocaine.)
Searchers spent hours looking for a missing hunter in north Alabama until officers realized he was actually in jail. Relatives of 50-year-old Randy Keith Holt of Hartselle reported the man missing Monday afternoon after he failed to return from a hunting trip, the AP reports. Holt didn't have a cellphone with him, so no one could contact him or track him. The Limestone County Sheriff's Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, firefighters, dog handlers, a helicopter, and others joined in a search. But officers realized Holt was in the Limestone County Jail once they heard his last name. He had been arrested for public intoxication near the search site before the manhunt began.

Police say they found Holt sitting on a rock by the side of the road around 2pm Monday when they responded to a call about a man wandering around with his pants down. "Holt told the deputy he was waiting for a friend who was hunting," a sheriff's spokesman tells AL.com. "The deputy observed that Holt appeared intoxicated as he had difficulty standing and speaking clearly." (Read more Alabama stories.)
Donald Trump's plan to cozy up to Russia is "backwards" and all politicians should stand against it, says the current US ambassador to the UN. In her last major speech on the job Tuesday, Samantha Power urged politicians to prevent the Kremlin from "tearing down" a "rules-based" world order and keep Trump from excusing Russia's crimes, including the annexation of Crimea, the hacking of the US election, and its role in a Syrian bombing campaign, per Quartz. She even went as far as to accuse Vladimir Putin of killing his opponents. "Having defeated the forces of fascism and communism, we now confront the forces of authoritarianism and nihilism," she said at the Atlantic Council.

Reversing sanctions against Russia "will only embolden Russia" and encourage North Korea and Iran, "which are constantly testing how far they can move the line without triggering a response," Power continued, per Politico. Her sentiments were echoed by Joe Biden at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday. Biden referred to Russia's escalating efforts to "undermine the US-led liberal democratic order," promising the Kremlin will interfere in upcoming elections in Europe, reports the Huffington Post. He also noted a general "willingness to revert to  the same nationalist, protectionist, and isolationist agendas that led the world to consume itself in war," adding a "hands off" approach to foreign policy "could be very ugly," per USA Today. (Read more Russia stories.)
A tense political triangle just got even stickier in advance of Donald Trump's inauguration. China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday the US shouldn't allow a Taiwanese delegation to attend Friday's ceremony, Reuters reports. This request was passed to both the Trump transition team and to President Obama's people, a Foreign Ministry rep said, per the AP. Taiwan's own Foreign Ministry announced earlier this week that, as per usual protocol during US presidential inaugurations, it would be sending a delegation, including ex-Premier Yu Shyi-kun, a national security adviser, and a sprinkling of legislators. China hasn't been happy with the incoming administration since Trump spoke on the phone with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in early December. A Tsai rep tells Reuters no delegation members are scheduled to meet in any official capacity with members of the Trump administration during their trip. (Read more China stories.)
Another reported first in the nascent world of three-parent babies: an infant born to a previously infertile couple, the BBC reports. The baby born Jan. 5 in Ukraine was created via pronuclear transfer, explained in more detail by New Scientist: The mother's egg and a donor's egg are both fertilized by the father's sperm. The nucleus from the mother's egg is then extracted and replaces the nucleus in the donor's egg, meaning the resulting child would have DNA from three different parents. A baby boy born in April 2016 in Mexico also boasted DNA from three parents, but for religious reasons, his Jordanian mom and dad didn't want to destroy one of the fertilized eggsso he was created using a slightly different method called spindle nuclear transfer, in which the nucleus from the mother's egg replaced that in the donor's egg before the donor's egg was fertilized (the mother's egg was left unfertilized).

One other major difference between these two groundbreaking babies: The three-parent IVF procedure for the baby born in Mexico was used because the mom was a carrier for Leigh syndrome, a serious neurological disorder, the Telegraph reported at the time. By moving the nucleus from the mother's egg into the donor's egg, it could ostensibly avoid the disease thanks to the donor egg's healthy mitochondrial lining. In the Ukraine baby's case, however, the IVF treatment was used to combat infertility; a second baby created via pronuclear transfer is due any day now in Ukraine. "It's like the opening of a new era," the head doctor of the Kiev clinic where the procedures took place tells the London Times, via the Telegraph. Scientific American, meanwhile, outlines some issues that have cropped up with three-parent IVF methods. (Here's how to get pregnant at 50 without IVF.)
Family members fear a missing student was abducted after she vanished in Missouri early Sunday. Toni Anderson, 20, a student at University of Missouri-Kansas City, was last seen leaving the Kansas City bar where she worked around 4am after telling coworkers she was going to a gas station. She never got there but sent a text to a friend 30 minutes later saying she had been pulled over by police, reports WDAF. Authorities initially said there was no record that Anderson had been stopped, which raised fears that she had met someone impersonating an officer. Late Tuesday, however, police said Anderson had in fact been pulled over by a North Kansas City officer, per KSHB.

Officers have offered no details about the traffic stop but say they are trying to determine where Anderson went afterward. Anderson's cell phone hasn't been turned on since her disappearance, reports the Kansas City Star, and family members fear she may have been abducted. "Let her go. Let her be with us. Let her go have her wonderful life," Anderson's mom tells WDAF, adding that it's not like her daughter to remain out of touch with family. "She's social. You pretty much always know where she's at." Anderson, a music blogger originally from Wichita, is described as 5-foot-5 with blond hair and green eyes. The place she works, Chrome, calls itself "Kansas City's premier strip club." (Read more missing person stories.)
James Bond may have given up smoking, but his healthand high fitness level needed to evade nemesesis at risk thanks to secondhand smoke. Concerned about 007's overall health, a team led by medical doctor Nick Wilson at the University of Otago reviewed all 24 Bond films (apparently the patient was unavailable) to find that the super spy has been exposed to considerable amounts of secondhand cigarette smoke, per a tongue-in-cheek Tobacco Control study. While Wilson gives Bond credit for giving up smoking in 2002he lit up within the first 20 minutes of a film on average before thenhe says Bond's sexual partners who smoke still present a risk, and not just because 15% have tried to harm or kill him, per Popular Science.

By keeping his relationships short-lived, Bond is limiting some of the impact from secondhand smoke, Wilson quips, per the Sydney Morning Herald. But there are real-life implications as a 2016 report notes youths who view smoking on screen are twice as likely to smoke as others. Bond himself smoked in 83% of films in the 1960s and 40% in the 1980s, though not in any in the 1990s. Only one Bond film2006's Casino Royalehad no smoking imagery. "The persisting smoking content remains problematic," the team says in a release, noting 2015's Spectrein which only minor characters smokedresulted in 261 million "tobacco impressions" among Americans aged 10 to 29. Says Wilson, it's time for Bond to smarten up. (Bond's drinking is also a problem.)
She was born Kamiyah Mobley and snatched from her then-16-year-old mother out of a Florida hospital room when she was just hours oldbut for the next 18 years, she was raised as Alexis Manigo, and she loved that life. "From that one mistake I was given the best life," Manigowhich is how she identified herselftold Good Morning America on Wednesday. "I had love." She says that, though she understands what Gloria Williams allegedly did was wrong, she "will always be 'Mom'" and the two talk on the phone every day. Manigo does not have kind words, however, for Williams' ex-boyfriend, Charles Manigo, who recently called the teen "the love of my life" and said he still considered her his daughter. "You were nothing to me," Manigo wrote on Facebook in response to those headlines, according to First Coast News.

She said Charles Manigo wasn't there for her during important moments, but Williams was. (The pair split in 2003 but shared custody of the girl after that.) According to Arika Williams, who believed herself to be Alexis Manigo's half-sister, Manigo first discovered that wasn't her true identity two years ago when she applied for a job and needed her birth certificate and Social Security card. "Then Miss Gloria just broke down and told her ... I kidnapped you," Arika Williams tells People, adding that Manigo was "upset" at the revelation, but ultimately decided to "let it go." Arika Williams says Gloria Williams told Manigo that she was pregnant, and when she lost the baby, she "went and got Kamiyah." News4Jax reports that Gloria Williams' baby was stillborn at nine months' gestation, which is why her family didn't question the situation. (Read more kidnapping stories.)
Everyone kind of knew this was coming, but many are still sweating at the news. Data for 2016 has been released, and it's official that last year was the hottest year on record, following 2014 and 2015 in holding this status, the Guardian reports. NASA and NOAA released their year-end stats along with the UK's Met Office, and 2016 narrowly edged out 2015 as the year with the highest globally averaged temperature since such measurements began in 1880. The average temperature across the planet's land masses and oceans came in at 58.69 degrees Fahrenheit, which was what USA Today calls a "whopping 1.69 degrees above average"and the paper notes that while an almost-2-degree difference sounds small, records in climate science are often surpassed in tenths or hundredths of degrees. "Nature is sending a distress call," a World Wildlife Fund spokesman says.

Sixteen of the past 17 hottest years have been since the turn of this century, and Penn State climate scientist Michael Mann stresses that humans are indeed to blame, telling the Guardian "the effect of human activity on our climate is no longer subtle." Mann says "about 75% of the warmth" last year was people-driven, per the New York Times, and that its impactsincluding droughts, wildfires, floods, and other extreme-weather phenomenaare obvious. Some scientists are also turning a wary eye to the incoming Trump administration in the wake of this news, with the policy director of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment noting that climate change-denying politicians "will be willfully turning a blind eye to rising risks" for everyone. (Read more global warming stories.)
On second thought, Julian Assange won't be traveling to the US after all. Back in September, the WikiLeaks founder had said he would agree to extradition to the US if Chelsea Manning was pardoned, the Hill reports. Well, on Tuesday President Obama commuted the majority of Manning's 35-year sentence, and she'll be released in May. According to the Huffington Post, Assange lawyer Melinda Taylor originally said Assange would stand by his word and open himself up to extradition, but that no longer appears to be the case. A different lawyer, Barry Pollack, tells the Hill that commuting Manning's sentence isn't the same as a pardon. Pollack says Assange had wanted clemency and an immediate release for Manning, calling the commutation "well short of what he sought."

At any rate, the White House says the possibility of extraditing Assange, who's holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London while facing sexual assault charges in Sweden, played no part in the decision to commute Manning's sentence. In fact, the US hasn't requested extradition, nor had it charged Assange with any crime (though Assange's lawyers believe charges may be being kept secret). Manning was arrested in 2010 after giving hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks, the International Business Times reports. (Read more Julian Assange stories.)
Charity Woodrum was just an arm's length away when her husband and 3-year-old son were hit by a wave and carried out to sea Sunday on the Oregon Coast, the AP reports. They haven't been found. Officials tell the Statesman Journal the beach where the family was walking was steep and the water was rough at the time. The Coast Guard and Oregon State Police used ATVs, helicopters, and a boat to search for 31-year-old Jayson Thomas and his son, but the search was called off after more than 22 hours, KOIN reports. Police Capt. Bill Fugate tells KOBI it's "pretty doubtful" anyone could survive in the frigid water even with survival gear, adding that the Oregon coast is "dangerous, as beautiful as it is."

The likely deaths of Thomas and his son are yet another reminder of the dangers of "sneaker waves," Tuba Ozkan-Haller says. Contradicting officials, the wave expert says the water off the coast wasn't exceptionally rough Sunday, and it wouldn't have mattered. Sneaker waves are common during winter in the Pacific Northwest and can be caused by storms on the other side of the ocean. They can appear suddenly even amid apparently calm waters. Ozkan-Haller says Thomas and his son wouldn't have had "much space to run away" due to high tide and may have been weighed down by heavy winter clothing. She says beach-goers need to pay attention and show "respect for the ocean." (A buoy noticed a wave that was "remarkable.")
Fox News host Tucker Carlson calls out an apparent hoaxer, live on-air, in a must-see interview that aired Tuesday night on Fox. Jezebel has the backstory: A company called Demand Protest recently started claiming it was actually behind large protests in the US and had staged those protests. Its website offered to pay $50 per hour, plus a retainer and health benefits, to people willing to protest the Trump inauguration. While some right-wing media outlets were suspicious (InfoWars noted it wasn't clear whether the company was legitimate), others were gleeful, per Jezebel. Washington Times, for example, originally led its article on the company with, "There may really be such a thing as a professional protester." Fox, however, was skeptical.

As Jezebel points out, Demand Protest's website was created Dec. 2, well after the 2016 election was overdespite the fact that the website claimed the company had worked on behalf of "2016 presidential campaigns." There was also the fact that a San Francisco phone number listed for the company did not work. Finally, Carlson had the supposed Director of Operations for the company, Dom Tullipso, on for an interview. "So, this is a sham," Carlson started things off. He went on to add that the name "Dom Tullipso" does not exist, to which the supposed Tullipso responded that his real name is Dominic Tullipso. The entire, bizarre interview is absolutely worth a watch; it ends with Tullipso coming this close to a confession: "It's pretty darn easy these days to just say whatever the heck you want on national TV and have it passed off as truth, and it's pretty incredible to me how easy it was to get the coverage we got." (Read more Tucker Carlson stories.)
After opening with a joke about his infamous tan suit, Barack Obama delved into a wide array of issues during the final press conference of his presidency Wednesday, the AP reports. He said he expects to see a woman president, a Latino president, a Jewish president, a Hindu president, and "a whole bunch of mixed up presidents ... that nobody really knows what to call" in the future. The president touched on the expansion of LGBT rights, which he doesn't think are reversible and of which he "could not be prouder." But he warned that the "moment may be passing" for a two-state solution to the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, which he characterizes as a "volatile environment."

Obama said that after he leaves office on Friday he wants to take time to process the "amazing experience" his family has gone through, taking time to write and spend time with his wife and daughters. He said he has had "cordial" talks with Donald Trump, but he's under no illusions that they share many policy goals. He did call on Trump's administration to stop big countries from "bullying" smaller countries, using sanctions on Russia over its incursion of Ukraine as an example. Addressing the Chelsea Manning situation, Obama said commuting her sentence was "entirely appropriate" and that "justice has been served." Finally, Obama thanked the press and encouraged them to continue asking "tough questions." (Read more Barack Obama stories.)
New Delhi:

2017 may witness one of the biggest merger in airlines sector. The two global airlines that once have fought over Air Berlin codesharing rights and subsidy allegations, are possible looking for options of merger, a Italian newspaper reported.

According to an Italian newspaper II Messaggero report, Deutsche Lufthansa and UAE's Etihad are looking at options to merge. However, according to Reuters, sources in Etihad have denied the claims of a possible merger between the two.

According to reports, Frankfurt-listed Lufthansa, Europes largest airline by revenue, said the report was speculation and declined further comment. the report further adds, that managers from both companies have for weeks are analysing the options of Etihad taking 30-40 per cent stake in Lufthansa through capital increase.

The newspaper report claimed that at the second stage. the two companies would examine a full-blown merger.

The relationship between both the global carriers has always been on rollercoster ride. the airlines have fought over Air Berlin in codeshare rights and subsidy allegations. Later, the two became business partner, completing a codeshare and wet-lease agreement, ironically with airberlin aircraft at the center of the deal.
New Delhi:

Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel on Wednesday told a Parliamentary panel that Rs. 9.2 lakh crore has been introduced in new currency so far.

The value of high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 demonetised on November 8 was estimated to be Rs 15.44 lakh crore. Patel refused to disclose how much of the demonetised currency has been deposited into banks.

Patel briefed a Standing Committee on Finance panel on Wednesday about demonetisation and its impact on the economy.
New Delhi:

In order to make the case foolproof against the serial Delhi rapist Sunil Rastogi who sexually assaulted several minor girls in east Delhi, the Delhi police is planning to conduct DNA and brain-mapping tests on him.

The accused has told police he had sexually assaulted many minor girls in Uttarakhands Rudrapur, where he currently stays, Ghaziabad and New Ashok Nagar in east Delhi.

Police have been able to identify 58 girls who allegedly had been his victims.

Police said the girls who participated in the test identification parade broke down during the exercise as they were reminded of the incident when he had tried to sexually assault them.

Three other girls also came forward along with their families alleging Rastogi had sexually assaulted them.

The Delhi Police is providing counselling to all the three victims, who came forward after he was arrested.

With the help of an NGO, we are providing counselling to them and requesting them to file an FIR against him, but they have not given any complaint as of now, said a senior police officer.
Hyderabad:

A rape case has been registered against Bollywood film producer Karim Morani for allegedly raping a Delhi-based woman on promise of marriage, police said today.

Karim has produced several movies including Shah Rukh Khan's 2013 release 'Chennai Express'

The woman, aged around 25, lodged a complaint with Hayathnagar Police under Rachakonda police commissionerate last week alleging that Morani had "raped" her in Mumbai and at a film studio here in 2015, DCP (LB Nagar Zone) Tafseer Iqubal told PTI.

"She accused Morani of raping her on different occasions in Mumbai and here by promising to marry her. The alleged incident took place during 2015," the senior police officer said, adding "We have taken up the investigation."

Following the complaint a case under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation), 493 (cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage) and other relevant sections of IPC has been filed, the DCP said.

Further probe is on, said the officer. Morani could not be reached for comments.

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New Delhi:

Actor Salman Khan on Wednesday was given relief from the Arms Act case by a court in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The court said that the evidences against him were not strong enough. Well the case was regarding the killing of a dear during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain, in the year 1998. The act involved using unlicensed weapon. The arms act linked the other cases linked to poaching of black buck.

Blackbuck hunting case

On February 17, 2016, Salman Khan was sentenced one year prison for hunting Chinkara. The sentence was stayed by a higher court. On April 10, 2006, with a five-year jail term he was remanded to Jodhpur jail and on April 13, he was given bail. Salman khan was acquitted in blackbuck and chinkara case by Rajasthan High Court on July 24, 2016. On October 18, 2016, Rajasthan Government turned to approach Supreme Court against khans acquittal in chinkara and black buck poaching case.

Hit and Run Case

In September 2002, Salman Khan was convicted for killing a homeless man with his SUV when he had been driving after drinking. Five year prison was sentenced for him which was suspended by the Bombay High Court.

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Davos:

Ace filmmaker Karan Johar, who recently created a buzz with his autobiography 'An Unsuitable Boy', is over the moon these days.

KJo, is currently attendingA World Economic Forum's five day conference in Switzerland, where he is represtingA India on the cultural diversity panel.

Adding to his excitement was his unexpected meeting with Hollywood actor George Clooney.

Clooney, 55, was in Davos with his wife Amal, who was felicitated for her extrordinary contribution in the field of global human rights.

It was indeed an overwhelming moment for Johar, who tool it to micro-blogging site Twitter to share it with his fans.

Karan shared a picture of himself with Clooney and captioned the image as "Totally Clooed into #Davos".





A

Karan had said earlier that he was looking forward to this novel experience on being invited as a cultural leader at WEF this year.A

"I am honoured to be invited as one of the cultural leaders on this prolific platform. Representing my country and reflecting my ethos and the sentiments of my land on a global level is always exhilarating and empowering," Karan had said.

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New Delhi:

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday held a Cabinet briefing in Delhi.

Here are the highlights:

#Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval to MoU signed between India and Serbia in field of IT & Electronics

#Cabinet has cleared proposal for Indias taking full membership of International Vaccine Institute Governing Council



#Cabinet has given its approval for amendment in Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme to further incentivize Electronic Sector



#Shareholding of these Cos to be divested from 100 % to 75 %. Listing to open way for cos to raise resources from cap market to meet fund req



#Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval to package for supporting Micro & Small Enterprises



#Cabinet has given its approval for introduction of Repealing & Amending Bill, 2017 to repeal 105 Acts



#Cabinet has given approval for establishment of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (lARI) in Jharkhand, outlay Rs. 200 cr



#Out of 1824 redundant laws till now 1175 have been repealed. Today we've decided to repeal 105 more old laws: Union Min RS Prasad



#The credit guarantee trusts assets will be increased to Rs 7500 crores by government: Arun Jaitley

#Companies are - New India Assurance, United India Insurance, Oriental Insurance , National Insurance & General Insurance: FM

#CCEA has given in-principle approval for listing 5 Government owned General Insurance Companies in stock exchanges: Arun Jaitley

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Vadodara:

A six-month-old infant died while her minor sibling sustained burns when their mother allegedly set them a fire before trying to commit suicide at a village in Gujarats Chhota Udaipur district, police said.

Uthaliben Dhanuk (25) wrapped her two daughters Anti (6 months old) and Sanni (4) -- in a blanket, sprinkled kerosene over them and set them ablaze last evening at their home in Koliyathar village under Rangpur police station limits of Chhota Udaipur, about 100 kms from here, police inspector S L Gamethi said.

After setting her children on fire, Dhanuk also tried to commit suicide, but later ran away from the place, he said.

Her husband Dhokaliya Dhanuk and other locals rushed to the house after seeing smoke emanating from it.

They brought out both the children from the house and rushed them to a hospital where the infant succumbed to her burns this morning, Gamethi said.

Police have launched a search for the woman, he said, adding that a case under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) has been registered against her.

According to police, the womans husband said his wife was mentally disturbed for last six months.

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Motihari (Bihar):

Giving a shocking twist to the recent train derailments in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Police on Monday arrested three suspects for terror funding. The Police also suspect the hands of Pakistan's spy intelligence ISI behind the two train derailment incidents. The trio arrested have allegedly confessed the role of Nepalese national, who has links with ISI to target Indian railway.

Bihar police arrested three people who they claimed were working for the Pakistani intelligence agency to target Indian railways.

The ISI link to the train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police said.

During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some "positive lead" about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana said.

Also Read: Saeldah-Ajmer express derails: Several trains diverted after the accident in Kanpur

He said ATS and central agencies have been apprised of it for comprehensive investigation. Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav were arrested from Adapur police station area and they allegedly confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to ISI to target the railways, Rana said.

The three are "professional criminals" involved in more than a dozen criminal cases. The three were paid Rs three lakh by a Nepali man Brajesh Giri, who allegedly has connections with Shamsul Hoda of Dubai who has links with ISI, the SP said.

The money was paid to them to plant a bomb on railway tracks at Ghorasan in East Champaran district, bordering Nepal, in last year, Rana said. "Fortunately, the bomb was detected with the help of villagers at Ghorasan and defused which prevented the sinister designs of the terror elements," Rana said.

The arrest of the trio came in course of investigation in the murder of two persons of East Champaran district in Nepal on last year for failing to successfully blast bomb on track in Ghorasan, he said. Efforts are on to arrest, in this connection, two others identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav, who are "hiding" in East Champaran, he said.

While three persons were arrested from East Champaran district, three others have been captured earlier at Tailaya in Nepal for targeting railways on behalf of suspected terror elements in India, the SP said. East Champaran is a district bordering Nepal. Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal was arrested from Raxaul in the district in .

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New Delhi:

A two-member team of NIA has been dispatched to Bihar by the Home Ministry for investigation into the claims of three arrested persons that the derailment of Indore-Patna Express was carried out at the behest of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.



The Home Ministry has also sought reports from the Bihar government and central security agencies regarding the arrest of Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar and Mukesh Yadav and their disclosures to Bihar Police.



Official sources said the role of ISI will be probed by the NIA and find out whether there was a larger conspiracy involving ISI agents based in Nepal and Dubai.



Central intelligence agencies are now questioning the three accused.



If the claim of the three accused turns out to be true, it would be the first such case of train derailment in India carried out at the behest of the Pakistani agency, the sources said.



A report is also being sought from RAW about ISI activities in Nepal and India.



The three persons arrested yesterday in East Champaran district in Bihar had told police that they were paid Rs 3 lakh to plant explosives at Ghorasahan in the district on October 1, 2016.



A report is said to have come from Nepal confirming the Bihar Polices claim that Pakistans ISI had paid Rs 30 lakh to its agent Brajesh Giri for triggering blasts on rail tracks targeting popular trains in Bihar, the sources said.



Central security agencies were now looking for two more persons identified as Gajendra Sharma and Rakesh Yadav in East Champaran area for their suspected links with the accused.



The role of ISI in the recent train disaster in Kanpur was being suspected after Bihar Police had yesterday arrested three persons who they claimed were working for the Pakistani spy agency to target Indian railways.



The ISI link to the November 20 train disaster, in which 150 people were killed, was being suspected after the interrogation of the trio, police had said.



During interrogation, the three arrested persons provided some positive lead about the Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur, District Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana had said.

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Mathura:

The DNA sample of Raj Narayan, son of the alleged mastermind of the Jawahar Bagh incident, which left 29 persons dead, was on Wednesday sent for forensic examination, police said.

"The blood and hair sample of Raj Narayan, son of RamVriksha, has been sent to forensic lab," SP Crime Rajesh Sonkar said. M Bansal, CMS of district hospital said that the result may take a few days to arrive at the Lucknow-based forensic lab was the only lab of this kind in the state.

The single-member judicial commission investigating theJawahar Bagh episode will hold a fresh hearing from 16 to 24 January. The commission's chief and former Allahabad High Court judge Mirza Imtiaz, and secretary Pramod Kumar Goyal will arrive in Mathura on January 16.

Also Read: Probe into Jawahar Bagh violence begins today

The commission has to submit a report in this connection to the Uttar Pradesh government on March 31. Twenty-nine people - including then SP (City) Mukul Dwivedi and Station House Officer (Farah) Santosh Yadav - were killed during clashes on June 2, 2016 between police and the supporters of cult leader Ram Vriksh Yadav who had encroached upon the 270-acre Jawahar Bagh, a government land.

The police had requested the Additional District JudgeSaran Tripathi to drop the proceedings against Ram Vriksha as he was one among those killed in the incident. The judge, however, had demanded submission of DNA samples to prove Vriksha's death.

Also Read: Mathura violence: No bullet found in post-mortem of 19 bodies

"Raj Narayan was finally presented before CJM Kalpana Sharma on Monday and ordered him to undergo DNA test," police said.

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Indore :

One of the six inmates who had escaped from Punjabs Nabha jail and carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh has been arrested along with another person, who is accused of heinous crimes in Punjab, from the Indore on Tuesday night, a senior police officer said.

Kulpreet Singh Deol alias Neeta (the inmates who had escaped from the Nabha jail) and Sunil Kalra alias Shailla (a dreaded criminal in Punjab) were apprehended from Khajrana area in the city from a residential flat, DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra told.

He said, the duo were arrested after interrogation of some suspected persons in the area. Police also recovered eight mobile phones, laptop and Rs 92,000 cash from them.

Punjab police have been informed of the arrest of the prisoner, the DIG said.

The accused had reached Indore a few days ago and had rented a flat, he said.

Six inmatesKhalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder Singh Mintoo, Kashmeer Singh, Gurpreet Singh Shekhon, Vicky Gonder, Kulpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh- had escaped from the Nabha jail in November.

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New Delhi:

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and Diplomatic Advisor to French President Jacques Audibert on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi who pitched for enhancing of ties with these countries.

During the call on by Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of UK, Modi appreciated the progress achieved in strengthening the bilateral partnership in various sectors, especially Science and Technology, Finance, and Defence and Security, a PMO statement said.

He hoped that both sides would continue to work together to enhance these ties, the statement said. The Prime Minister noted that the Indian diaspora in UK acts as a living bridge between the two countries, and is a key driver of close people-to-people relations.

He recalled his earlier meeting with Johnson during his visit to Britain in November 2015 when the latter was the Mayor of London. Modi said the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November 2016 had put in place the framework necessary to guide India-UK relations in the days to come, the statement said.

During the call on by Audibert, the Prime Minister said relations between India and France have expanded from the triad of Defence, Space and Civil Nuclear cooperation to encompass a broad range of sectors, especially counter-terrorism, maritime security and renewable energy.

He called for greater bilateral cooperation in Smart Cities, Urban Transport, and Infrastructure Development, the PMO said. The Prime Minister recalled his visit to France in 2015, and the visit of President Hollande as Chief Guest at the Republic Day on 2016, and said that the exchange of visits had laid the foundation for strengthening bilateral ties for years to come.

Modi also recalled the establishment of International Solar Alliance as a landmark achievement in global efforts against Climate Change, and conveyed his appreciation for French support to this initiative.

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Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday assured that all possible legal means would be taken to ensure justice for the state in the Jallikattu issue even as he said it should not be construed that the Centre was aignoringa the state on the matter.

aWe should not construe that the Centre is ignoring Tamil Nadu on this issue,a he said when asked if the Union government was aignoringa the state on the issue despite repeated pleas for an ordinance.

Panneerselvam was speaking to reporters at the airport prior to his departure to New Delhi, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tosto press for an ordinance for the conduct of the bull-taming sport.

Chennai: People in large numbers gathered at Marina Beach last night in support of the bull taming sport #Jalikattu pic.twitter.com/cAqYj3nEKJ a ANI (@ANI_news) January 19, 2017

A

He recalled that his predecessor and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had advocated cordial ties between the Centre and the state government even while battling and ensuring Tamil Naduas rights were upheld on many issues.

aThe (state) government is walking the path of Amma (Jayalalithaa). We will take all legal measures till we get justice in the Jallikattu issue,a he said.

He said he had earlier held talks with protestors who are agitating here demanding conduct of Jallikattu and they were asatisfieda with his explanation.

They discussed with him their ajusta demand of holding the sport in the state, the Chief Minister said, adding he would apprise Modi of the asentiments and aspirationsa of people of the state tomorrow during their meeting.

Panneerselvam said he will also take up with the Prime Minister the issue of Vardah cyclone relief funds and expressed confidence that Modi will oblige.

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New Delhi:

About 4,000 protesters gathered at Chennais Marina Beach on Wednesday to protest the removal of ban on bill-taming sport Jallikattu.

Demanding to lift the ban on Jallikattu, the protesters also sought a ban on animal rights body People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Unabated protests continued at several places in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. The agitated protesters even defied the Supreme Courts ban on the sport.

The protesters stick to common demand that both Centre and State governments work out a formula to enable holding of Jallikattu within this month.

Students of various educational institutions including professional colleges in Puducherry abstained from classes protesting the ban on the bull taming sport.

Holding placards and banners in support of Jallikattu, students formed a human chain and raised slogans condemning the ban. They also insisted that the ban should be lifted without any delay.

Police were deployed in strength to ensure that there was no disruption of traffic at the venue of agitation.

ALSO READ | DMKs MK Stalin, PETA lock horns over Jallikattu row

DMK working president MK Stalin joined the protests from day one, he also exchanged barbs with PETA over the issue of Jallikattu.

The apex court had banned Jallikattu on grounds of animal cruelty in 2014. In November last year, SC dismissed the state governments plea for a review of its judgment. Regarding the same AIADMK chief Sasikala had written a letter to PM Modi to promulgate ordinance for Jallikattu.

ALSO READ | Police detains over 500 people for protesting in support of Jallikattu in Madurai

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Jammu:

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said the Jammu and Kashmir government is keeping an eye on all the developments related to Zaira Wasim, and if needed, security will be provided to the teenage actress.

...information we have got from the state government is that they are keeping an eye on the entire episode and whatever necessary step needs to be taken it (state government) will take...and if security is needed, it will provide that security, Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Jammu on Tuesday evening.

He said the youths of the country who bring laurels through their talent must be appreciated and encouraged.

Youngsters in any part of the country, and especially in Jammu and Kashmir who have grown under shadow of terrorism, and if the youngsters express their talent it becomes the duty of the society to encourage and appreciate them, he said.

Zaira shot to fame after she played young Geeta Phogat in Dangal movie but was trolled online for meeting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

The 16-year-old first posted an apology for offending and unintentionally hurting people after her meeting with Mehbooba kicked up a row but later deleted the post. She then posted again, asking everyone not to blow the issue out of proportion but deleted that post too.

On Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Minister of State in the PMO expressed hope BJP would form the government in the state coalition or no coalition.

The BJP is ahead of other political parties. BJP is the only party which can fulfill the developmental aspirations of the countrymen, Singh said.

On Punjab elections, he said his party will win as people will join hands with Prime Minister.

Asked to comment on Mehboobas statement in the legislative council that she will go ahead with the proposal to provide compensation to the next of the kin of those killed in the last years unrest in the Valley, he expressed hope that the coalition government would follow Raj Dharama.

I am hopeful that the coalition government has the maturity to follow Raj Dharam, Singh said.

On the West Pakistan refugees issue, Singh said the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was serious to provide avenues of livelihood to these people.

For the past 60 to 70 years they have faced injustice and have faced discrimination in terms of jobs and citizenship, they have faced lots of injustice, the present central government is committed to provide avenues of livelihood to them, he said.

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Hyderabad :

A US citizen working with a multi-national law firm in Hyderabad has been arrested by the Cyber Crime Wing of Telangana Police, for allegedly downloading and uploading child pornography in the form of videos and images.

The accused has been identified as James Kirk Jones, a release issued by the CID said.

The action was taken after police received Interpol input of an IP address from which child pornography was being shared. The accused was arrested on Tuesday, said the release.

A case under relevant section of Information Technology Act, 2000, was registered and the investigation was taken up, it said.

During the course of the investigation, the IP address was traced to the address of accused at Madhapur. Immediately his premises were searched and police seized a laptop containing 29,288 items of child pornographic videos and images among others, said the release.

Jones has confessed that from childhood he developed the habit of watching child pornography and has been downloading, watching and sharing such material ever since it said.

Further investigation about his activities in India is going on, the police said.

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New Delhi:

The last US astronaut Eufene CeranA to set his foot on the moon died on Monday at the age of 82. Cernan's third space flight and the last U. S manned mission to the moon in Dec 1972. He was also the spacecraft commander of Apollo 17.

The announcement was made by his family members and NASA.

Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, passed away today. We reflect on his life and legacy: https://t.co/U0HrTZo0iX pic.twitter.com/JtgCCQImrM a NASA (@NASA) January 17, 2017

aEven at the age of 82, Gene was passionate about sharing his desire to see the continued human exploration of space and encouraged our nationas leaders and young people to not let him remain the last man to walk on the moon.a

aHe would not like to be, forever, the last man to walk on the moona. aNASA Admin Bolden on passing of Gene Cernan: https://t.co/quPd7a57VK pic.twitter.com/PPUBaomJkA a NASA (@NASA) January 18, 2017

Cernan has launched three times to space and he was the only astronaut who flew to the moon twice.A



Cernan became only the second American to walk in space during the Gemini 9 mission in 1966, and was lunar module pilot on Apollo 10, the "dress rehearsal" for the first moon landing, in 1969.







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Washington :

Following tradition, outgoing US President Barack Obama and his family would board the Air Force One for the final time as they fly to Palm Springs in California for a vacation after Donald Trumps inauguration on January 20.

The first family is looking forward to flying to Palm Springs, California on Friday. The President vowed to take his family to a destination that is warmer than Washington DC on Friday and Palm Springs fits the bill, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Tuesday.

This is a community that the president has visited on a number of occasions as President of the United States. He and his family have enjoyed the time theyve spent there in the past, he said.

The Obamas are looking forward to travelling there on Friday and would return to Washington DC after concluding their vacation, Earnest said, adding he did not have details about the how long the vacation will be.

Also read: US relationship with Pakistan extraordinarily complicated: Obama administration

I did not say how long theyre gonna stay. They will arrive on Friday afternoon in Palm Springs, but I dont anticipate having any updates on their travel schedule beyond that, he said.

The President and his family have rented an eight-bed room house in the upscale residential neighbourhood of Kalorama here. The family would live there for at least next two years.

Its a tradition for the outgoing president to fly out of Washington DC for the final time after being succeeded by a new president.

Before he boards the Air Force One, Obama would give final remarks to the press at the tarmac of Andrews Air Force Base.

Obama is scheduled to address his final press conference at the White House on Wednesday.

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Islamabad:

Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said that his forces are fully prepared and capable to respond to any threat from across the border.

Gen Bajwa made the remarks during his meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan in Rawalpindi, according to a statement issued by the army.

Army is fully prepared and capable to respond to any threat from across the border, General Bajwa said.

The statement said the security situation on the Line of Control and other matters of mutual interest figured during their meeting.

Earlier this month, Bajwa had said his forces are fully geared to respond to any aggression by India and rejected the self defeating claims of Indian Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat about so called surgical strikes.

India maintains that its forces in September last year conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targetting terrorists and destroying their training camps.

Separately, Gen Bajwa also met UAE Ambassador Essa Abdullah Albasha Alnoaimi in Rawalpindi and discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest. The Army Chief appreciated UAEs role in development projects in tribal areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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New Delhi:

Outgoing US President Barack Obama commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, an army soldier who was convicted by court-martial in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses after disclosing to WikiLeaks. Manning had stolen and disseminated 750,000 pages of sensitive diplomatic documents and videos to whistle-blower WikiLeaks.

The sentence of 29-year-old American military analyst will now end on May 17 instead of her scheduled 2045 release, the White House announced.

The leak being one of the largest breaches of classified material in US history, Manning was sentenced to 35 years in 2013 for her role.

While commuting the sentence, President Obama overruled his Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter's objections and immediately touched off a controversy in the closing days of the Obama administration, US media reported.

Manning has been imprisoned since August 2013. She also attempted suicide twice last year.

According to the White House, Manning's offences included one specification of wrongful and wanton publication to the internet intelligence belonging to the US, five specifications of stealing, purloining or knowingly converting US government records.

Manning was convicted of passing on sensitive information pertaining to messages between US diplomats, intelligence assessments of Guantanamo detainees being held without trial and military records from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

With PTI Inputs

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Michael Moore continues liberal cries; calls on Americans to protest and stage 100 days of resistance

Michael Moore has expanded  both in poundage and misled ideology  since the late 1980s, when he filmed his debut documentary, Roger & Me, which chronicled the aftermath in Flint, Michigan, when Roger Smith, the Chairman and CEO of General Motors, decided to close a production plant there. Thousands of hard working Americans, all of whom probably voted for Trump, were laid off during those first globalist waves that sucked automotive jobs out of Michigan and into Mexico.

You might think Michael Moore would appreciate Trumps anti-globalist stance, but that isnt the case. Hes using his liberal platform and notoriety to mock and disrespect the man who began saving jobs even before taking office.

Mr. Moore is fired up, reports Breitbart. He is calling for Trumpss first 100 days in office to be filled with protests and resistance actions. And he and many other groups that are forming around the nation will be relentless and stay busy, busy, busy, attempting to do just that.

Speaking on lame stream medias MSNBC, Moore appears almost giddy as he anticipates wide participation in the Womens March on Washington, which takes place in the nations capital one day after the inauguration. Moore declares that the incoming president is unhinged, and hopes his administrations time and season will be potentially short lived. He doesnt elaborate on exactly what he means by that statement. Moore also declares that he, along with hundreds of other activist groups have to throw everything at [stopping Trump]  .

Before the election, Moore was interviewed by Rolling Stone. The conversation took place shortly after he had completed a couple of one man shows in Wilmington, Ohio, that became a quickly edited project entitled Michael Moore in Trumpland. The film showcases Moores support for Clinton, but as EW.com concludes, some of the movies dialogue actually explains why Donald Trump won. Heres an excerpt:

So on Nov. 8, the dispossessed will walk into the voting booth, be handed a ballot, close the curtain, and take that lever or felt pen or touch screen and put a big fing X in the box by the name of the man who has threatened to upend and overturn the very system that has ruined their lives: Donald J. Trump.

In that same Rolling Stone interview, Moore explained that any person that marks that X for Donald Trump is a legal terrorist. I wonder if thats in the same category as a deplorable. If Michael Moore really gave that legal terrorist a bit more concrete thought, he would probably come up with a few other folks who would qualify as terrorists.

As reported by New Eastern Outlook, during President Obamas two terms in office, there were 26,000 pounds of bombs dropped on Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia, and thousands of innocent civilians were murdered. George W. Bushs lies about weapons of mass destruction killed a million innocent civilians in Iraq. Hillary and Bills complete body count is likely unknown, but the men in Benghazi who cried out for help from the Clinton State Department sure didnt get any.

Its quite doubtful that all those women who Michael Moore will be marching with will give any thought to the nearly 60 million innocent unborn who were terrorized by abortion saline injections, suction tubes and other invasive devices. But, thats still legal too, isnt it?

Sources:

Breitbart.com

YouTube.com

RollingStone.com

EW.com

Journal-Neo.org

Submit a correction >>
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BETHELMoulton Pete Marston, a retired real estate broker who turned his collection of Wonder Woman memorabilia into a world-renowned museum, died Wednesday at 87.

The DC Comics superhero was created by Martons father, William Moulton Marston, in the early 1940s, when Pete Marston was a teenager.

Petes daughter, Christine Holland, said he always loved the character and collected Wonder Woman memorabilia, but not until the advent of the internet did the collection really begin to grow.

In 1999, Dad discovered eBay, Holland said. There were always little odds and ends, but the hardcore collection really began there.

Eventually the collection, housed in the familys Bethel home, included nearly 4,000 items: dolls, plaques, pennants, pillows, lamps, coffee mugs and so on. Holland oversaw the collection and ran a Wonder Woman website.

But the internet didnt just help Marston build his collection; it also connected him with Wonder Woman fans around the world. Soon, fans and collectors Holland talked to online were flying in from all over to visit the museum and talk to Marston.

He really enjoyed meeting people and talking to them, said another daughter, Carolyn Marston. He enjoyed sharing the story of it with others.

Marstons museum has had visitors from Australia, Britain, the Philippines, Spain and all over the United States. Holland says many visitors came bearing gifts from their own collections, and still others sent items to add to Marstons.

What kept Marston interested in the comic book heroine was the connection to his parents, Carolyn Marston said.

My grandmother, his mother, was the model for the character, Carolyn said. I really think that had a lot to do with his attraction [to Wonder Woman]who it represented to him.

Bethel Funeral Home will receive friends of the family from 12 p.m.to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at 215 Greenwood Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations in his memory be sent to the Bethel Police Benevolent Association (PBA), P.O. Box 169, Bethel CT 06801.
Children do it. Adults do it. Even the President of the United States does it.

President Barack Obama wiped his weepy eyes as he lovingly addressed his wife Michelle in his emotional farewell address in Chicago recently.

Joe Biden burst into tears as President Obama awarded him with the nations highest civilian honor during a surprise ceremony last Tuesday. Biden turned his back to cameras and those in the crowd to wipe away tears of happiness seconds after Obama bestowed the vice president with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

At one time or another, we all have had a bad day at work or have received some emotional news and cried about it. Both women and men cry when feeling happy, frustrated, sad, angry or helpless in a situation. Crying is a natural part of life. And although some people frown upon it in work situations, it can, and most likely will happen. And thats okay.

Here are some benefits to crying at work, or anywhere else.

Crying alleviates anxiety.

Its been said that anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems and crying is a common and useful response to dealing with it. However, when a situation becomes tense and emotions flare, most of us would rather get angry rather than cry in public. When you feel yourself on the brink of tears, excuse yourself and take five. Or table the discussion for a later time. Simply ask for some time to pull yourself together. If you work in a traditional office environment, retreat to a private area -- your office, the bathroom, or even your car. Let yourself release that pent-up emotion, then return to work without mentioning it. Its best not to apologize for your tears. When you start apologizing, it makes everyone uncomfortable. Try to move forward the best you can.

Related: Crying at Work: Human or Humiliating?

Crying can build camaraderie.

While no expert would recommend crying as a strategy for career success, tears can be a means for communicating and showing empathy. People tend to connect with what they view as an authentic display of emotion. Often, crying invokes in co-workers and employees a natural empathy and a desire to help. One time a colleague started telling me about how her bi-polar son had tried to end his life. The memory was obviously still raw as I could clearly see the emotion on her face as her eyes started to well up with tears. When I saw her getting upset, I felt myself getting choked up too. This brief, but intimate, conversation connected us and brought us closer.

Related: Richard Branson: I Cried When I Sold Virgin Records

Crying can happen at any hour of the day.

In Sheryl Sandbergs book, Lean In, she believes its okay to cry at work. Crying happens," says Sandburg. "Emotions, after all, were developed as survival mechanisms; theyre hardwired into our biology. Rather than spending time beating ourselves up for crying, we should accept the act as a part of what it means to be a human, emotional being who, by the way, doesnt shut off at 9 a.m. when the clock starts. I agree. If something or someone makes you cry at work, do not feel as if you are weak or giving away your power. The key is to acknowledge the emotion or the circumstances, then, if you have to, take a break and get some fresh air and a drink of water.

Related: How to Handle Emotional Outbursts at Work

Crying is not just a womans emotion.

Crying is simply an emotional reaction and most emotion at work stems from frustration, and not sadness. Research conducted by Anne Kreamer for her 2011 book, Its Always Personal: Emotion in the New Workplace, found that men and women at all levels of management reported crying on the job: 41 percent of women and 9 percent of men said theyd cried at work during the previous year and that it had made no difference in terms of their success. If someone begins to cry in your presence, dont get embarrassed or make a big deal of it. Allow the person some time to gather his or her thoughts and regain their composure. If you become uncomfortable, offer the person some privacy, and perhaps a tissue.

Crying can improve your health.

Tears are not necessarily a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength, courage and authenticity. According to Judith Orloff, MD, there are numerous health benefits of tears. They lubricate your eyes, remove irritants, reduce stress hormones, and contain antibodies that fight pathogenic microbes. Crying can make you feel better, even when a problem persists. In addition to physical detoxification, emotional tears heal the heart and combat stress and negativity.

Crying can boost productivity.

If something is bubbling beneath the surface, it helps to tap into your emotions and clear the air. Shedding some tears can relieve pent-up frustration that has been festering for a period of time. Its not uncommon for friends and spouses to get closer when one person has the courage to reveal his or her feelings and emotions, which, in turn, can bring a problem to the forefront, initiate a productive conversation, and may help foster a stronger, more successful relationship.

So let go of the outmoded, misconceptions about crying. To stay healthy and release stress, go ahead and have a good cry.

Related:

The Benefits of Crying at Work

We're Trusting Each Other Both More and Less Every Day

Stop Avoiding It: 4 Tips for Delivering Tough Feedback



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Focusing on patient-centred care to improve health system outcomes

OTTAWA, Jan. 17, 2017 /CNW/ - Countries around the world are facing complex health challenges that stem from new pressures, such as the changing needs of an ageing population, rising rates of chronic diseases, the need to effectively manage new health technologies, and the need to tackle global threats to health. Canada recognizes these challenges and remains committed in the global effort to improve health system outcomes.

Today, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, concluded a successful visit to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France, where she took part in the Health Policy Forum and Health Ministerial meeting. The OECD Health Policy Forum on the Future of Health brought together health ministers, senior policy makers, health system experts, and stakeholders from around the world to discuss how health systems can support patient-centred care.

During the Forum on January 16, Minister Philpott took part in a panel session with health ministers from Costa Rica, Japan, Norway, Turkey and the European Commission to discuss the policies decision-makers can and should implement to make health systems more patient-centred. Minister Philpott highlighted the role of social determinants of health in keeping people healthy, the need to consider care that is meaningful and valuable to the patient, as well as embracing new technology to guide those efforts in a sustainable way.

The OECD Health Ministers Meeting on January 17 focused on the topic of "The Next Generation of Healthcare Reforms". During this meeting, Minister Philpott and her OECD colleagues explored the shared challenges of incorporating big data into health policy decisions and how to improve patient outcomes through better data. They also discussed how countries can work together to tackle the issue of excessive drug prices, the importance of addressing mental health in health systems and the need for a set of international indicators on mental health.

While at the OECD, Minister Philpott also took the opportunity to meet with her counterparts from other countries and international organizations  including the UK, Switzerland and the World Bank  to discuss topics of shared interest, in particular mental health and problematic opioid use.

Quotes

"With persisting health inequalities and emerging health threats, countries around the world, including Canada, need to find ways to make the delivery of high-quality health care more efficient and ensure that our investments in health systems improve patient health. Through the OECD Health Policy Forum and Ministerial Meeting, health ministers are working together to improve knowledge, share experiences and reduce inefficiencies as we strive to develop patient-centred systems."

The Honourable Jane Philpott

Minister of Health

Associated Links

Ministerial Statement: The Next Generation of Healthcare Reforms

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Policy Forum and Health Ministers Meeting

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

For further information: Andrew MacKendrick, Office of Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, (613) 957-2983
Competition seeking applications from start-ups shaking up evolving retail industry

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2017 /CNW/ - Dx3 Canada is recruiting Canadian start-ups for its inaugural Retail Innovation Challenge. Launched in partnership with a slate of major retail industry players, the competition aims to find the best new companies working to improve the retail merchant and retail technology sectors. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present their innovative retail-related idea to win a temporary spot in an Oxford Shopping Centre.

As technology evolves and reshapes daily interactions in all aspects of day-to-day life, this competition aims to demonstrate how the retail space can -- and will -- progress in the coming years. Created by Dx3, Oxford Properties Group, Retail Prophet, and the Retail Council of Canada, this competition gives winning applicants the chance to:





Demonstrate their concept in Yorkdale Shopping Centre or another Oxford Properties Shopping Centre

Pitch to the Retail Council of Canada's Board of Directors

Board of Directors Have their product or service featured in Canadian Retailer Magazine

Participate at Store 2017

Participate as an exhibitor at Dx3 2017  Canada's largest and leading digital marketing, advertising and retail event

largest and leading digital marketing, advertising and retail event Garner media coverage

Now in its sixth year, Dx3 2017 is slated to be the conference's most interactive year yet. The wide range of exhibits  from new forms of payment technology to the latest applications of virtual reality  have been designed to emulate how new technology can evolve the future of retail.

With sample stores and interactive research exhibits, attendees can expect to see how some of the world's leading companies are using technology to redefine the future of marketing & retail. Some of these experiences include:





Innovative business applications of virtual and mixed reality

The latest alternative payment methods at the storefront

Real-time consumer feedback systems

Eye-tracking software to measure buying behaviour

In-store technology installments to improve product discovery

To learn more about the Retail Innovation Challenge's guidelines and application process, please visit: http://dx3canada.com/canadian-retail-innovation-challenge/

About Dx3 Canada

Dx3 is Canada's largest conference and trade show focused on digital marketing, advertising and retail. It brings agencies, brands, publishers and retailers together for two days of networking and education.

Dx3 2017 is taking place March 8-9, 2017 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, featuring more than 40 educational sessions, 100 exhibitors and 4,000 attendees from Canada's leading retailers, brands, agencies and technology companies.

SOURCE Dx3 Canada

For further information: Media Contact: Madeleine Stoesser, Herscu & Goldsilver, [email protected]

Related Links

www.dx3canada.com


China is planning to develop a prototype of an exascale computer, considered the next frontier of supercomputers, by the end of 2017, according to a developer Tuesday.

EArly in 2016, China had announced plans to build three different pre-exascale systems with three very different architectures, according to some Tweets put out by James Lin, vice director for the Center of HPC at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

The three-way horse race for exascale machines in China will set up a horse race between three different organizations to build pre-exascale clusters based on ARM, Shenwei, and AMD (presumably Opteron) technologies. The first pre-exascale machine is being created by NUDT and will use ARM-based processors and will be deployed at the national supercomputer center in Tianjin where the Tianhe-1A CPU-GPU hybrid was deployed in 2010 and gave China its first top spot on the Top 500 rankings of supercomputers. There is no mention of using the Matrix2000 DSP accelerator with this system, but unless NUDT plans to create its own ARM chip with a homegrown floating point accelerator and embed it on the die, it stands to reason that this first pre-exascale machine will be an ARM-DSP hybrid.

The second pre-exascale machine is being developed by the same people who put together the Sunway TaihuLight system, and it will be deployed in the national supercomputing center in Jinan, where its predecessor, the Sunway Bluelight system, currently runs.

The third pre-exascale machine, and perhaps equally interesting, will be built by Chinese system maker Sugon and will employ an X86 processor licensed from AMD. We presume this is a licensed variant of the future Zen Opteron chip, due in 2017 for servers. It is not clear who is doing the licensing of the X86 technology from AMD, but back in April, AMD announced that it had inked a deal worth $293 million to license X86 chip technology to Tianjin Haiguang Advanced Technology Investment Co, which is itself an investment consortium that is guided by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In May, China committed to delivering an exascale-class machine by 2020 with 10 PB of memory, exabytes of storage, and 30 gigaflops per watt efficiency (about five times better than the new Sunway TaihuLight system), and greater than 60 percent efficiency on the Linpack Fortran benchmark test.

Shenway supercomputer

See more 3 prototype systems for exascale will be ready by end of 2017 in China. Each has ~2.5PF in Peak and ~500-600 nodes.  James Lin@SJTU (@jameslinsjtu) July 11, 2016

See more The winner will be chosen to build the exascale system in peak performance by 2020.  James Lin@SJTU (@jameslinsjtu) July 11, 2016

See more One is by NUDT with ARM approach to be deployed in Tianjing national center, where hosts Tianhe-1A.  James Lin@SJTU (@jameslinsjtu) July 11, 2016

See more Another is by Taihulight team with the next generation SW CPU to be deployed on Jinan national center, where hosts Sunway bluelight.  James Lin@SJTU (@jameslinsjtu) July 11, 2016

See more The third is by Sugon with AMD licenced x86 CPU to be deployed in both Shanghai supercomputer center and Shenzhen national center.  James Lin@SJTU (@jameslinsjtu) July 11, 2016

A complete [exaFLOP] computing system of the exascale supercomputer and its applications can only be expected in 2020, and will be 200 times more powerful than the countrys first petaflop computer Tianhe-1, recognized as the worlds fastest in 2010, said Zhang Ting , Application engineer with the Tianjin-based National Supercomputer Center, when attending the sixth session of the 16th Tianjin Municipal Peoples Congress Tuesday.

Exascale computers are capable of at least 1 quintillion (a billion billion) calculations per second.

Zhang said that using the exascale computer for cloud computing and big data applications, China could spur ahead with many key innovation and high-tech programs.

In June 2016, China revealed its fastest new supercomputer  the Sunway TaihuLight  with a peak performance of 124.5 petaflops, the worlds first system to exceed 100 petaflops.

China has been steadily building its supercomputing capacity, and independently developed all key technology including microprocessors.

Zhang said the next-generation exascale computer will not only lead in calculation speed, but also in data transmission efficiency.

Previously China had targeted 2018 for the exascale prototype. So developments are tracking a few months ahead of schedule.

The US the Department of Energy is running the Exascale Computing Project, which is looking to increase on the petascale level computers that exist now. The project awarded $39.8 million of grants to partners developing the technology necessary to build an exascale computer by 2023.

Chinas Sunway TaihuLight is the current worlds fastest supercomputer which has a processing speed of 93 petaflops. At its peak, the computer can perform 93,000 trillion calculations per second. In total, 167 of the most powerful 500 computers in the world reside in China.

The US is developing a number of supercomputers that would be capable of beating the Sunway TaihuLight  a 200 petaflop machine called Summit is being developed at the Oak Ridge National Lab and is due to arrive in 2018. Japan is also heavily investing in supercomputing technology and has said it will spend 19.5 billion yen (139 million) on a 130 petaflop computer.

SOURCES  Xinhau, Wired UK
Peter Diamandis, Xprize and Singularity University, indicates that we are at the cusp of a stem cell revolution. Understanding and harnessing these unique cells may unlock breakthroughs in longevity and therapeutic solutions to all kinds of chronic diseases and regenerative opportunities.

Recent Stem Cell Success Stories

Here are the top three stories over the past 12 months which demonstrate the potential stem cells :

a) Stem Cells Able to Grow New Human Eyes: Biologists led by Kohji Nishida at Osaka University in Japan have discovered a new way to nurture and grow the tissues that make up the human eyeball. The scientists are able to grow retinas, corneas, the eyes lens, and more using only a small sample of adult skin.

b) Stem Cell Injections Help Stroke Victims Walk Again: In a study out of Stanford, of 18 stroke victims who agreed to stem cells treatments, seven of them showed remarkable motor function improvements. This treatment could work for other neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons and Lou Gehrigs Disease.

c) Stem Cells Help Paralyzed Victim Gain Use of Arms: Doctors from the USC Neurorestoration Center and Keck Medicine of USC injected stem cells into the damaged cervical spine of a recently paralyzed 21-year-old man. Three months later, he showed dramatic improvement in sensation and movement of both arms.

Stem Cell Background

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can transform into specialized cells such as heart, neurons, liver, lung, skin and so on, and can also divide to produce more stem cells.

In a child or young adult, these stem cells are in large supply, acting as a built-in repair system.

They are often summoned to the site of damage or inflammation to repair and restore normal function.

But as we age, our supply of stem cells begins to diminish as much as 100- to 10,000-fold in different tissues and organs.

Future of Stem Cell Therapeutics

Over the last decade, the number of publications per year on stem cell-related research has increased 40x. The size of the stem cell market size is expected to reach $170 billion by 2020.

Here are the top four areas in the space to watch out for:

1. Tissue engineering: Tissue engineering using the bodys own stem cells to repair, replace or augment diseased tissue is a rapidly evolving field. Patients with a variety of diseases may be treated with transplanted tissues and organs. However, we face a shortage of donor tissues and organs, which is worsening yearly because of the aging population. Scientists in the field of tissue engineering are applying the principles of cell transplantation, material science, and bioengineering to construct biological substitutes that will restore and maintain normal function in diseased and injured tissues. The stem cell field is also advancing rapidly, opening new options for cellular therapy and tissue engineering. Use of postnatal stem cells has the potential to significantly alter the perspective of tissue engineering.

2. Stem cell banking: At your moment of birth, you are probably at the point of biological perfection, says Dr. Bob Hariri. Your system hasnt been exposed to all of those injurious stimuli, like electromagnetic radiation, chemicals, etc., and your biological software is uncorrupted. Stem cell banking allows us to capture stem cells with your original, uncorrupted DNA at birth, replicate them into a large number of future dosages and then freeze those doses. Hariri discovered that in addition to cord blood (the blood found in the umbilical cord of a newborn), the placenta of a newborn is an organ very rich in stem cells. Rather than discard the leftovers of birth, placentas, if saved, may hold the key to a longer and healthier life. Hariri created a business called LifebankUSA, which provides private cell banking (FYI, this is where we banked our childrens stem cells). Lifebank isolates, processes and cryopreserves cells (putting them into a deep freeze, about minus 180 degrees Celsius), keeping them in suspended animation at the most pristine state of their existence.

3. Clinical applications of MSCs: Mesenchymal stem cells, the major stem cells for cell therapy, have been used in the clinic for approximately 10 years. Currently, 344 registered clinical trials in different clinical trial phases are aimed at evaluating the potential of MSC-based cell therapy worldwide. From animal models to clinical trials, MSCs have afforded promise in the treatment of numerous diseases. The ability of MSCs to differentiate into osteoblasts, tenocytes and chondrocytes has attracted interest for their use in orthopedic settings. First, MSCs have been shown to be beneficial in treating bone disorders, such as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and hypophosphatasia. Other promising therapeutic avenues for MSCs include the treatment of autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and cancer.

4. Parabiosis: A San Francisco-based startup called Ambrosia recently commenced one of the trials on parabiosis. Their protocol is simple: Healthy participants aged 35 and older get a transfusion of blood plasma from donors under 25, and researchers monitor their blood over the next two years for molecular indicators of health and aging. The study is patient-funded; participants, who range in age from late 30s through 80s, must pay $8,000 to take part, and live in or travel to Monterey for treatments and follow-up assessments. Ambrosias founder Jesse Karmazin became interested in launching a company around parabiosis after seeing impressive data from animals and studies conducted abroad in humans: In one trial after another, subjects experience a reversal of aging symptoms across every major organ system. The effects seem to be almost permanent, he says. Its almost like theres a resetting of gene expression. This company has recently received funding from Peter Thiel. Infusing your own cord blood stem cells as you age may have tremendous longevity benefits.
Nigerias newest warship, the NNS Unity, is sailing towards The Gambia ahead of possible military intervention over President Yahya Jammeh's refusal to accept election defeat and step down when his term expires on Thursday.A Nigerian military source tells the BBC that the patrol vessel is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana after leaving from the commercial caital, Lagos.The initial aim is to put on a show of force rather than to launch an attack.Senegal is preparing ground troops ahead of Thursdays deadline.The Gambias tiny army is no match for the regional powers. In recent years, President Jammeh has been promoting his loyalists, including army chief Ousman Badjie, to ranks beyond their competence.This has further downgraded its military capabilities.The regional body, Ecowas, has sad that military intervention will be a last resort to bring an end to the political deadlock in The Gambia.Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has been leading mediation efforts to persuade Mr Jammeh to hand power to former estate agent Adama Barrow, who won the 1 December election.Also,Outgoing Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declares 90-day state of emergency two days before expected handover
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has commiserated with families of the victims of Tuesdays accidental air strike by men of the Nig...

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has commiserated with families of the victims of Tuesdays accidental air strike by men of the Nigerian Air Force of Operation Lafiya Dole in the Internally Displaced People camp in Borno State.The governor, who said it was strange that the military could mistakenly bomb an IDP camp that it created and aware of the location, called for thorough investigation by both the military authority and the international community to ascertain what actually happened.Criticising President Muhammadu Buhari for jumping into conclusion that the air strike was a mistake, the governor averred that by making that statement, the president had already foreclosed investigation, which he ought to have ordered before jumping into conclusion.Fayose, in a release issued on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, maintained that it is obvious that the Federal Government is still deceiving Nigerians on its handling of the Boko Haram insurgency because it is strange that the same Boko Haram that they said had been defeated were the ones they claimed the military wanted to attack with fighter jet.I sympathise with those hapless Nigerians who escaped death from the hands of Boko Haram insurgents only to be killed by the same authority that should be protecting them. May Allah (SWT) forgive their sins and grant them Al Jannah Fidau.It is also my prayers that the Almighty Allah (SWT) will console their families and grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.I also call on all necessary authorities in Nigeria as well as the international community to investigate the incident with a view to unravelling whether or not the air strike was a mistake. And if it was indeed a mistake, what led to it must be unravelled, the governor said.While maintaining that Nigerians were not being told the truth about the Boko Haram insurgency, Fayose asked what was the need for the air strike that led to the killing of those Nigerians in the IDP camp, If indeed Boko Haram had been defeated,I cant join them to lie. I say the truth and stand by it. Over 800 people were killed in Southern Kaduna, but what are they telling Nigerians? They are even saying it with glee that just 204 people were killed and not over 800 as claimed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan. Even if those killed in Southern Kaduna were 204, is that not enough a tragedy that should bother the federal government?At this period, what Nigerians deserve from government at all levels is the truth and it is only the truth the can set the Nigeria and its people free from all these calamities.
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has condoled with the Government and People of Borno over the loss of lives and injuries result...

The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has condoled with the Government and People of Borno over the loss of lives and injuries resulting from rockets mistakenly deployed by the Nigerian Airforce.A mistaken attack affected an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Rann village of Kala-Balge Local Government Area of the state.The minister in a statement by his Public Relations Officer, Col. Tukur Gusau, on Wednesday described the incidence as highly regrettable and could have been avoided.However, this is an isolated case which happens rarely in a theatre of battle, Dan-Ali added.He prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the souls of those lost in the incidence perfect peace and also gives the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the lost.Dan Ali also prayed for the quick recovery of those injured, and assure the nation that the Armed Forces would apply extra caution in the conduct of its operations across the country.The minister said that he had already directed the military to carry out speedy evacuation of the casualties and render all necessary medical care to the wounded.He added: The Defence Headquarters is already directed to conduct a detailed investigation with a view of making sure such ugly situation never happen in future operations.
Diego Costa has returned to Chelsea first-team training on Tuesday and could even be picked for the Hull City game this Sunday, sources at the club have told ESPN FC.The Spain international trained alone on Monday, with manager Antonio Conte giving his squad two days off, after their 3-0 win over Leicester City last Saturday.The sources claim Costa was simply working on his fitness and not serving punishment for his bust-up with Conte last week, which led to him being dropped for the trip to Leicester.Conte and Costa however did not have any personal discussions on Tuesday, as the striker was deemed ready to rejoin the team.This comes after Shu Yuhui, the owner of Chinese Super League outfit, Tianjin Quanjin, claimed they called off their pursuit of Costa, because of the new Chinese league rules.Costa has scored 14 goals, assisted five in 19 appearances.
No less than 45 African countries had indicated their interests to participate in the forthcoming celebration of Festac77 @ 40 that would st...
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asked the Nigerian Government to compensate victims of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in t...

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asked the Nigerian Government to compensate victims of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in the northeast who were mistakenly bombed by military jets.The attack took place on Tuesday near the border with Cameroon, where the military engaged in what it called its final push against Boko Haram.A senior researcher at the HRW in Nigeria, Mausi Segun, said that prompt, adequate and effective compensation was needed, even though there was no evidence of a willful attack on the camp.She added that the Victims should not be denied redress merely because the government decided the bombing was accidental.The military had insisted that the incident did not occur in an IDPs camp as reported in some quarters, but a settlement said to be occupied by civilians.The spokesman for the military, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, who confirmed the incident to Channels Television, admitted that it was an error deeply regretted by the military.He explained that soldiers got information of movement of Boko Haram members and deployed ground troops and air cover to tackle the terrorists before the unfortunate occurrence took place.
Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court on Wednesday adjourned the sentencing of Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha U...

Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court on Wednesday adjourned the sentencing of Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Nnadi, and Ontario Oil and Gas till January 26.The sentencing was initially rescheduled to last Monday after Mrs. Ugo-Nnadi fainted in the dock when the judge who had pronounced their conviction was about to pronounce their sentence.On Monday, Mrs. Ugo-Nnadis lawyer said she was in a very precarious health condition at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.In her ruling, the judge said the medical reports from Havana Specialist Hospital and LUTH, where the convict had been taken to, should be accompanied by an affidavit to be sworn to by the medical director and attending doctor respectively within 24 hours.The commissioner of police in Lagos is hereby directed to keep the second defendant under watch at whichever hospital she is taken to, Mrs. Okunnu had said.E.D Onyeke, counsel to the Mrs. Ugo-Nnadi, told the judge on Monday that they had submitted the medical reports and sworn affidavits from the doctors.He urged the court to give a new date that would enable the doctors have adequate time for his clients treatment.What is not in doubt is that theres a medical report that says shes not well, Mr. Onyeke said.The convicts were found guilty on eight counts of fuel subsidy fraud last Friday but Mrs. Ugo-Nnadi, the managing director of Ontario Oil and Gas, fainted in the dock just before her sentencing forcing the judge to adjourn.
A former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has insisted that oil well in the Niger Delta will not dry up in the nex...





A former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has insisted that oil well in the Niger Delta will not dry up in the next 100 years.He made the remark in response to Osinbajos call for diversification of the nations economy because the value of oil would drop in the next 20 to 30 years.In his reaction, the former Minister described Osinbajos comment as political without foundation, stressing that those in government must seek information where they do not have such.Addressing reporters in Abuja, Gbagi also frowned at Osinbajos visit to Olu of Warrior, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli and not going to Urhobo land.He claimed that the federal government took the people of Urhobo for granted for not visiting the area which was the hub of gas production.According to Gbagi, While we are looking for peace, the sensibility of Urhobo people should not be taken for granted, the Urhobo people have been taken for granted for too long in the scheme of things.Quoting the Vice President, at least 97% of the economy today is rested on oil and gas his claim that oil will soon finish or dry up is a political statement without foundation, the gas situated on Otolobo at least will last for another 100 years, taxpayers money earners like the Vice President and persons in government must seek information where they dont have them and stop heating the polity.The visit of the Vice President is meaningless, made no statement; it is akin to a personal visit to the Olu of Warri as there is no policy statement from the government addressing the issues at hand.
Nigeria soldiers will, on Wednesday (today), arrive at a base of the Economic Community of West African States troops in Senegal to e...





Nigerian warship, NNS UNITY, is also heading for the coast of The Gambia to join the operation.NE learnt from a top military source in the Nigerian Air Force that the troops would be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, before leaving for Senegal.It was gathered that apart from the NAF and the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army would also contribute troops, although the number of deployment could not yet be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.The source said some of the NAF fighter jets were expected to airlift the troops.He said, I can confirm to you that men of the Air Force will leave for Senegal tomorrow (Wednesday). They will be briefed by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Kainji base in Niger State.That Nigeria is deploying troops is now a certainty after several meetings with The Gambian president yielded no result. The Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries came to Abuja on Saturday, where they discussed what components each member state is expected to contribute to the troops that will force Yahya Jammeh out.The troops are expected to stay for two weeks and they will be received at a base in Senegal.Another military source added, The NNS Unity is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana, after leaving from Lagos. It is not only Nigeria. Senegal is the host country for the troops, as it would be easy to launch an attack from there.The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, however, said it could not confirm the deployments, adding that it was a matter being coordinated by political leaders.The Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said, We should not drag the Nigerian military into a political issue. What is happening is a political discussion between the ECOWAS leaders, aimed at solving a political impasse in one of its member states.Whatever they agreed to do is what will happen. Therefore, the military is not for any engagement regarding Jammeh or any other person for that matter.Adama Barrow of the opposition party won the December 1, 2016, presidential election but Jammeh, who initially conceded defeat by congratulating Barrow, made a U-turn a week later, saying he would challenge the results.Despite interventions by the African Union and ECOWAS, Jammeh insisted he would not hand over power to Barrow.This stance informed the decision of the leaders to withdraw their recognition for Jammeh as the Gambian president after Thursday.Meanwhile, Jammeh, on Tuesday, declared a 90-day state of emergency 24 hours to the end of his tenure.He warned security forces against violating the order or engaging in acts likely to cause a breach of the peace, and denounced foreign interference in The Gambias election.The declaration of a state of emergency by the embattled President followed a rejection of his injunction to stop Barrows inauguration by the Gambian Chief Justice, Emmanuel Fagbenle, on Monday.In a televised announcement on Tuesday, Jammeh said, Any acts of disobedience to the laws of the Gambia, incitement of violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace are banned under the state of emergency.He directed security forces to maintain absolute peace, law and order.Barrow is currently in Senegal and due to security fears, he was unable to attend the funeral of his eight-year-old son, who died on Monday after a dog bite.
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday adopted the exchange rate of N305 for a US dollar, as proposed by the executive arm of government, for th...

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday adopted the exchange rate of N305 for a US dollar, as proposed by the executive arm of government, for the 2017 fiscal year.This is even as the Senate was worried about the gap between the parallel market and the official exchange rate, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to initiate measures to close the gap.The Lawmakers also adopted the oil benchmark production of 2.2m barrel per day and $44.5 per barrel as benchmark price for 2017 budget, as recommended by the executive.It could be recalled that the Senate had on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2016, considered the request of President Muhammadu Buhari on the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) and referred same to the committees on Finance; Appropriation; and National Planning, for further legislative action.
FORT LEE -- A New York man was arrested by the FBI after he allegedly robbed a Fort Lee bank with a large kitchen knife last week, officials said.

Andres Dominguez, 38, from the Bronx, N.Y. was arrested following a robbery at the Bank of New Jersey last week, Michael Whitaker from the FBI's Newark office said.

Dominguez allegedly entered the bank wearing a hooded sweatshirt, blue rubber gloves and a wool hat, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman said. While holding a large kitchen knife in his hand, he jumped on the counter separating a teller from customers and demanded all the money in the drawer, Fishman said.

Dominguez threatened to kill the teller if the teller did not comply, Fishman said. Dominguez fled on foot with more than $44,000, Fishman said.

Police later found the knife behind a dumpster and nearby found what he was wearing, Fishman said.

Dominguez was arrested in the Bronx and charged with one count of bank robbery. He faces a maximum of 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
CAMDEN-- A 36-year-old city man pleaded guilty Tuesday to drug and weapons charges stemming from his role in a crack ring, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman said.

Jason Boyd, who also went by the aliases "Teddy Reek" and "Fatboy," admitted he ran an operation centered on the 1100 block of Landsdowne Avenue.

He was one of seven others charged in the conspiracy in September following an investigation by the FBI's South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force.

Boyd, who is scheduled to be sentenced in April, faces up to 25 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Another man charged alongside Boyd, 20-year-old Derek Stallworth, pleaded guilty in December. He is scheduled to be sentenced in March.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
CAMDEN -- A Muslim woman who said she was wrongfully fired from the Camden County Correctional Facility for refusing to take off her headscarf lost her appeal Wednesday, but her attorneys are pledging to take her case to the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

The state appellate court ruled that a lower court was right to dismiss two suits filed by Linda Tisby in the summer of 2015 against her former employer. She became a Sunni Muslim earlier that year and was ordered to remove the headscarf, also called a khimar or hijab, because it violated the uniform policy.

The decision Wednesday said the Camden County Superior Court was right to rule that it would have been an "undue hardship" for the county's Department of Corrections to accommodate her religious beliefs "because of overriding safety concerns, the potential for concealment of contraband, and the importance of uniform neutrality."

Camden County spokesman Dan Keashen said the county was pleased with the decision.

"We believe, and the court was clear in its ruling, that this case would have compromised the health and welfare of all who work and stay in the facility," he said.

The attorneys representing Tisby, Deborah Mains, Kevin Costello and Daniel Silverman of the Mount Laurel firm of Costello & Mains, said they "respectfully disagree" with the decision and plan to appeal it to the state Supreme Court.

"She's of course disappointed, as are we," they said of Tisby.

"She had the opportunity to keep her job as long as she caved in" and removed her scarf, the attorneys said. "She refused and took a stance on the religious issue."

According to the decision, written by Judge Mary Gibbons Whipple, Tisby had worked at the Camden County Correctional Facility since 2002. On May 1, 2015, after becoming a practicing Sunni Muslim, she wore a khimar to work. For the next four days, she was told she was violating the uniform policy, and when she refused to remove the headscarf, was sent home.

She was fired May 11, the same day the warden informed her that though it was a religious garment, the jail did not have to allow the headscarf because it would "constitute an undue hardship."

She filed suit in June, seeking damages and relief, arguing that allowing the garment did not constitute a hardship to the department. Her second suit in July sought reinstatement and backpay.

In the appeal, her attorneys argued that the lower court was wrong to dismiss the suits because Tisby had stated a legitimate claim and because the attorneys had not even had a chance to complete discovery yet.

She had alleged that other jail employees had been allowed to wear the garments in the past either for religious or medical reasons, but the Superior Court judge found that she had provided no evidence of that.

Her attorneys argued that she was never able to back it up with proof because the case was dismissed before they could investigate how the department had handled the headscarf issue in the past.

"We were deprived of the opportunity to conduct full discovery," Tisby's attorneys said.

In her decision, Whipple also cited two earlier cases in which courts found that the Philadelphia Police Department and a private company contracted to run a correctional facility had refused to allow staff to wear headscarves and had successfully proven that it would be a hardship to allow it.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
CAMDEN -- Camden County Police Department (CCPD) Chief Scott Thomson's meeting Monday with House Speaker Paul Ryan was a "thoughtful" and "straightforward" session tasked with talking modern policing techniques.

Thomson, who alongside other top law enforcement officials from across the country, met with Ryan in Wisconsin and discussed de-escalation and other decision-making techniques as part of the national Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) guidelines.

"The dialogue we had on de-escalation, community policing and guardian training was thoughtful, deliberate and straightforward which we appreciated and expect to continue into the future," Thomson said.

The chief added that he was grateful for Ryan taking time out to talk about the work PERF and his police department are doing "to make policing safer for officers and the community while strengthening relationships."

Thomson leads PERF's board of directors. Camden's police officers are already being trained under the new PERF guidelines, which instructs officers to enter every use-of-force situation with a focus on the "sanctity of life."

On the same day Thomson met with Ryan, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office revealed that a domestic violence suspect shot last week by a CCPD officer had died. The prosecutor's office continues to investigate and the officer who fired the fatal rounds has been placed on leave for now.

Other chiefs and law enforcement personnel who attended Monday's meeting include New Orleans, Louisiana Chief Michael Harrison; Janesville, Wisconsin Police Chief David Moore; Burlington, Vermont Police Chief Brandon del Pozo; Tucson, Arizona Police Chief Chris Magnus; Volusia County Florida Sheriff Mike Chitwood and PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler.

"The desire for safer cities, less violence and better relationships between the police and the people transcends politics and clearly was a matter that Speaker Ryan also believes to be of significant importance in our country at this time," Thomson said.

Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Andrew Davis (left) allegedly attacked South Woods State Prison correctional officer Victor Tapia (right) on July 26, 2016. A Cumberland County Grand Jury indicted Davis for the alleged assault on Jan. 11, 2017. (Submitted photos)

BRIDGETON -- A Jamaican dancehall DJ sentenced to prison for his role in an international cocaine ring was indicted last week for allegedly assaulting a corrections officer.

Andrew Davis, 38, is serving a 25-year sentence in South Woods State Prison for charges of cocaine distribution, money laundering and conspiracy. He allegedly assaulted corrections officer Victor Tapia on July 26.

A Cumberland County Grand Jury indicted Davis on Jan. 11 for a charge of aggravated assault against a corrections officer.

Tapia was in the medium-security section of the prison around 8 p.m. on July 26 when Davis allegedly began punching the officer. Tapia has since returned back to work, according to the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

Davis, who performed under the names "Flippa Mafia" and "Flippa Moggela," is a former resident of Swedesboro, Gloucester County, but eventually moved to Kingston, Jamaica. He conspired to ship multiple kilograms of cocaine from California to New Jersey, using the United States Postal Service and other delivery services to traffic the drugs.

Authorities first uncovered the ring in March 2011 when authorities from Camden and Burlington counties seized a shipment. New Jersey State Police worked with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Operation Next Day Air, to investigate the ring. Authorities arrested nine people, including six New Jersey residents, in 2013.

Davis was convicted in 2015 and sentenced to 25 years in prison on June 3, 2016. In addition to the sentence, he was ordered to pay $250,000 for an anti-money laundering profiteering penalty.

Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Juan Hernandez, 40, of New Brunswick, was arraigned in Cumberland County Courthouse on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, for two Bridgeton murders last August. The murders are connected with a statewide human-trafficking and brothel ring. (Don E. Woods | For NJ.com)

BRIDGETON -- Following a three-week trial, a Cumberland County jury convicted a Middlesex man for his role in the murder of two possible competitors to his alleged brothel business, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

Juan Hernandez, 42, of New Brunswick, was convicted of two counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, one count of second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of first-degree promoting organized street crime. The guilty verdict was decided Wednesday.

Hernandez was allegedly one of the leaders of a statewide human trafficking and prostitution ring

The conviction came from the investigation of two killings in Bridgeton. Jose Ortiz, 24, was shot and killed in the roadway on Bank Street on Aug. 16, 2014. Eduardo Bernal, 32, was stabbed in an apartment being used as a brothel near the intersection of Washington and North Pearl streets on Aug. 30, 2014.

According to the prosecutor's office, Ortiz and Bernal are believed to have been competitors of Hernandez.

Hernandez faces a minimum sentence of 75 years in a state prison for the murder and organized crime charges. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Robert Malestein for sentencing on April 28.

Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
TRENTON -- State Senate President Stephen Sweeney says New Jersey's current school funding formula has "fatal flaws," and he wants to fix it.

State Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto says that same formula is "unfair and unacceptable," and he, too, wants to fix it.

But with time running out before Republican Gov. Chris Christie's budget proposal next month, the leaders of the state's Democratic-controlled Legislature remain stuck in a tug-of-war over how to get started.

That delay, Sweeney worries, could leave the Legislature without a solid alternative if Christie tries to push through the drastic school funding overhaul he pitched in town hall meetings across the state last year, Sweeney said.

"You can't beat something with nothing," Sweeney (D-Gloucester) told NJ Advance Media. "Everyone knows where he stands. Nobody knows where we stand."

New Jersey spends more than $9 billion a year on public schools using a formula that considers each community's ability to raise revenue through property taxes.

It expects wealthier communities to pay a higher percentage of school costs with their own tax dollars and gives school districts extra money for students who traditionally need more support, including those from low-income families.

The state, however, has been unable to fully fund its formula as it grapples with rising pensions costs and a dwindling transportation fund. Rather than following the school aid formula, Christie's administration has mostly kept direct support to schools flat or funded small across-the-board increases.

Districts with major changes in enrollment or community demographics have yet to see their state aid adjusted to reflect their needs -- to the benefit of some and the detriment of others.

"Concerns about school funding in communities across the state have gone on far too long without being resolved," Prieto (D-Hudson) said last week. 'It's unacceptable."

Christie last year called for a dramatic restructuring: Give every school district the same amount of state aid per pupil, effectively gutting state funding to urban districts in exchange for tax relief for wealthier suburban towns.

But that proposal, which flies in the face of prior state Supreme Court rulings and would likely face legal challenges if enacted, was roundly rejected by Democrats, led by Sweeney and Prieto.

Now, Sweeney wants to fast track his own plan through the state Legislature before Christie's Feb. 28 address. He's mobilized bipartisan support for a "select committee" of four Democratic and four Republican state senators to finalize his proposed changes.

First, he wants to reallocate much of more than $500 million in so-called "hold harmless" aid, money doled out to the districts like Jersey City and Hoboken solely so they don't lose any state aid from previous years.

Second, he wants to eliminate caps on how large of a state funding increase a district can receive in a given year, a move which would help growing districts, such as Freehold Borough.

Both elements were politically motivated additions to the school funding formula, Sweeney said, and retracting them would put each district at about 88 percent of the state aid they are owed, according to his office's projections.

Sweeney last week challenged Prieto to join him in making "obvious reforms."

"We could resolve this tomorrow," he said.

Prieto, though, has taken a more cautious approach while maintaining that he can arrive at a solution in time for the 2017-18 school year.

Rather than focus on specific aspects of the funding formula, he's called on the Assembly Education Committee to take testimony from state education groups and consider any and all necessary changes.

"If this was an easy fix, it would have been done a long time ago," Prieto said, adding that he's not predetermining any outcomes or targeting any districts.

Prieto then matched Sweeney's challenge with one of his own, asking the Senate leader to join him "cooperatively in an unbiased examination of school funding."

The Assembly Education Committee will begin hearing testimony on school funding on Wednesday.

Sweeney's select committee begins its sessions on Jan. 27.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- After years of anticipation, the rebirth of one of Newark's most historic buildings has started.

Express Newark - the 50,000 square foot arts incubator that Rutgers-Newark officials say will connect the school with the greater community - opened quietly Monday, in conjunction with the start of the school's spring semester.

It is the first major tenant to open inside the renovated Hahne's building, which once housed the department store but has been empty since the 1980s. Plans for the major ongoing renovation include Newark's first Whole Foods, 160 apartments, and other retail and commercial spaces, all set to open this year.

With Express Newark, Rutgers officials have said the school hopes to build on the other institutions in the area, like NJPAC and the Newark Museum, to grow the city's arts hub.

Facility co-director Victor Davson said the key is a collaboration between students and residents. Its aim is to show the college is "of Newark, and not simply in Newark," he said in a statement.

The facility includes spaces for artists in residence, a print shop, a 3D printing studio, video production and portrait studios, smart classrooms, and more. The school has been working on the project since its Board of Governors approved a $33 million plan to lease three floors of the building in 2014.

In addition to classes beginning there, the first exhibition in the space's new public art gallery, showcasing Rutgers' jazz archive, opened Monday. Organizers said they hope the public arts spaces will draw residents in.

"We want people who walk past the building to feel included, to feel, 'That place is for me,'" said Express Newark co-director Anne Schaper Englot.

L+M Development, the company behind the $174 million renovation of the 500,000 square foot Hahne's building, plans a ribbon cutting at the building next week.

In addition to the highly anticipated 30,000 square foot Whole Foods, which is slated to open this winter, the building will also include City National Bank's headquarters and a new restaurant concept from celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, among others.

See a full list of the facilities inside Express Newark here.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at

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ORANGE-- City residents have been asked by the Suez water company to take shorter showers, turn off the taps while shaving and other measures to conserve following "seasonal" problems with the supply system.

In an alert Tuesday, the company said the city's water supply is low due to leaks and water main breaks likely related to abrupt changes in temperature. In the alert, the company said it was working "as quickly as possible" to restore full service but did not provide a precise time frame.

The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking additional information.

Residents with questions were urged to contact the company or the city's MyOrange hotline at 973-280-1621.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
TRENTON -- A Middlesex County neurologist has lost his medical license for at least five years following his conviction of having criminal sexual contact with a patient, Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced Wednesday.

The state Board of Medical Examiners suspended the license of Farooq Rehman of Colts Neck in November 2015, after his first arrest in September of that year. He ran Neurology Consultants of Central Jersey in Old Bridge.

Rehman was treating a 37-year-old woman for "weakness in her hand," according to the attorney general's office. He touched her breasts, buttocks and genitals on Aug. 26, 2015, and again on Sept. 9 when she surreptitiously recorded the encounter, according to the criminal complaint and the board's suspension order.

The patient is heard on the video recording asking repeatedly "why this kind of touching was necessary for the treatment of her hand," according to the attorney general's office.

He was arrested in November 2015 on similar charges involving another patient, Porrino's announcement said.

He pleaded guilty in June to one count of criminal sexual contact for his conduct with the first patient and one harassment count for his behavior with the second patient, and was sentenced to a one year of probation.

"Patients deserve quality care, not exploitation and abuse," Steve Lee said, the director for the Division of Consumer Affairs. "By removing Dr. Rehman and doctors like him from practice, the board fulfills its responsibility to protect patients from doctors who use their position to take advantage of vulnerable patients."

The physician's attorneys, Michael Critchley and Amy Luria, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Rehman may apply for his license in November 2020 -- five years from his suspension, Porrino said. But first he must reimburse the the board $35,738 for investigative costs and pay a $10,000 fine. He also complete an ethics course, undergo a "psycho-sexual evaluation" and finish any treatment that is recommended before he may seek to practice again, Porrino's statement said.

Patients who wish to file a complaint against a doctor for inappropriate conduct may do so by visiting the consumer affairs website or by calling 800-242-5846.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
A national prescription drug company with a warehouse in South Jersey has agreed to pay a $150 million fine for failing to report suspicious orders of addictive pain pills, authorities said.

McKesson Corporation, one of the nation's largest distributors of pharmaceutical drugs, agreed to pay the civil penalty for alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Special Agent in Charge for the DEA New Jersey's office.

The nationwide settlement, announced late Tuesday, requires McKesson to suspend sales of controlled substances from its distribution centers in Colorado, Ohio, Michigan and Florida for several years.

The settlement does not impact the distribution warehouse McKesson operates in Delran Township, in Burlington County.

"Pharmaceutical companies are our first line of defense in the fight against prescription opioid abuse," said Karl J. Kotowski,of the DEA's New Jersey office. "If they turn a blind eye to suspicious orders of pharmaceutical controlled substances, they are contributing to this epidemic."

One source of the highly addictive opioid medication has been unscrupulous pharmacies that fill multiple prescriptions from the same doctors of patients, investigations have found.

This is the second time McKesson has gotten into trouble for failing to notice suspicious patterns of pill-ordering. In 2008, it agreed to pay a $13.25 million civil penalty for similar violations.

In this latest case, the government once more alleged that the company continued to fail to have an effective system for detecting "suspicious orders." A suspicious order would be one coming from an independent or small chain pharmacy that was unusual in its frequency, size, or other pattern.

In Colorado, for example, the company processed 1.6 million orders for controlled substances from 2008 through 2013, yet reported just six of those orders as suspicious, the DEA reported.

The settlement includes the requirement McKesson hire an outside monitor - the first such requirement including in a drug-related civil penalty settlement, the DEA said.

"Pharmaceutical distributors play an important role in identifying and combating prescription drug diversion and abuse. McKesson, as one of the nation's largest distributors, takes our role seriously," the company's CEO, John H. Hammergren, said in a statement. "We continue to significantly enhance the procedures and safeguards across our distribution network to help curtail prescription drug diversion while ensuring patient access to needed medications."

Kathleen O'Brien may be reached at kobrien@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBrienLedger. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Celebrities from across Pennsylvania took the reins as they maneuvered their way to the finish line at the Mike Waugh Celebrity Draft Horse Team Driving Event on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the 101st Pennsylvania Farm Show.

With help, the celebrities had to take control of their assigned team hitches, lead them through a pattern of cones, and race back to the line to beat the clock. Whoever had the fastest time was crowned the winner of the competition. If a cone was knocked over, or if the hitch went out of its lane, a time penalty was added to the celebrity's original time.

Rep. Mike Tobash, sponsored by Yuengling Brewery, brought home the gold for the second year in a row, edging out friend and team hitch competitor Rep. Dan Moul, sponsored by Hanover Show Farms. With some friendly competition, Rep. Mike Tobash and Rep. Dan Moul joined together to contribute to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation with a cash donation during the event.

The overall placing of the celebrities and their sponsors were as followed:

1. Rep. Mike Tobash, sponsored by Yuengling Brewery

2. Rep. Dan Moul, sponsored by Hanover Shoe Farm

3. Rep. Chris Dush, sponsored by PA Draft Horse Sale LLC

4. Rep. Bryan Cutler, sponsored by PA Farm Bureau

5. Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, sponsored by T.A. Seeds

6. Sen. Patrick J. Stefano, sponsored by Hudson Companies

7. Rep. Mark Keller, sponsored by Orrstown Bank

8. Rep. David Zimmerman, sponsored by Mark Hershey Farms

9. Sec. of Agriculture Russell C. Redding, sponsored by Fulton Bank

10. Sen. John DeSanto, sponsored by PA Milk Dealers Association

11. Matt Barcaro of WGAL News 8, sponsored by Williams Companies

12. Rep. Barry Jozwiak, sponsored by Penn Waste Inc.

13. Valerie Pritchett of ABC27, sponsored by Williams Companies

14. PA State Fair Queen Darby Kasper, sponsored by PA State Association of County Fairs

15. Rep. Tom Murt, sponsored by People's Bank

16. Sen. Camera Bartolotta, sponsored by PennAg Industries Association

17. Rep. Paul Schemel, sponsored by PA Livestock Association

18. Rep. Brian Ellis, sponsored by EMM Sales and Service Inc.

19. Jeff Cohick, sponsored by Cohick & Associates

20. Rep. Kate Klunk, sponsored by PA Equine Council

21. Sec. of State Pedro Cortes, sponsored by Adams Electric Cooperative

22. Rep. Paul Costa, sponsored by Williams Companies

23. Rep. Mindy Fee, sponsored by Kreider Farms

24. Rep. Will Tallman, sponsored by Bell & Evans

Proceeds of the event benefit the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation. In addition, the event was coordinated and supplied by Susie and Dave Rohrbach of Bee Tree Trails, Shartlesville, Berks County.

Shoemakers Pull to Farm Class First

Dwight and Kris Shoemaker from Columbia Crossroads, Bradford Co., completed each weight with a full pull to drive themselves to first place during the Farm Class Horse Pulling event at the 101st Pennsylvania Farm Show. Their final pull was at 7,850 lbs., while their horses, Chubb and Barney, weighed in at 4,600 lbs.

Farm class horse pulling is nearly identical to the draft horse pulling seen earlier in the Farm Show week, except instead of using the more heavily-padded harnesses designed for pulling competitions, horses in the farm class used the work-style harness typical of on-farm field work.

Two horses are hooked to a sled and attempt to pull the sled a distance of 20 feet in a lane that is 25 feet in width. There are three attempts given for each weight. If a team falls short of the full 20 feet, their longest distance is counted towards the final results. The starting weight is 1,850 pounds.

The teamster award is given to the best-appearing team in competition. This was award to the third place team, Marlin Kaufman and Scott Enslin from Newville, Cumberland County.

Youth compete for top honors in Draft Horse Decorating and Showmanship

Youth draft horse showmen competed in classes that demonstrated their grooming and handling skills at they competed in the Draft Horse Youth Decorating and Showmanship classes on Jan. 7, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

The decorating class gave exhibitors 30 minutes to groom and braid their horses to show-ready condition. In the showmanship class, handlers were judged on their ability to effectively lead and present their horses to the judge.

The winners of the decorating class, by age division, are as follows:

Junior Division (ages 8-11) - Sarah Varner

Intermediate Division (ages 12-15) - Anna Ruby

Senior Division (ages 16-19) - Rebecca Clippinger

The winners of the showmanship class, by age division, are as follows:

Junior Division - Sarah Sharp

Intermediate Division - Anna Ruby

Senior Division - Cassidy Roadarmel

Brockwood Belgians Sweep the Draft Horse Hitch Classes

Dale and Tracie Brockhoff and daughter Sarah, of Brockwood Belgians, Dayton, Armstrong County, earned Grand Champion honors at the Draft Horse Hitch competition on Jan. 8.

The hitch competition is just one of the various events that showcase the draft horse breeds throughout the week of the PA Farm Show. This event has exhibitors of all ages participating in multiple classes, including unicorn hitch to six-horse hitch classes.

Judge Kyle Love evaluated each team and its driver for manners, showmanship, performance, and conformation.

Brockwood Belgians placed first in six-horse hitch, four-horse hitch, unicorn hitch, and team hitch, tallying enough wins to receive the purple banner. The Reserve Grand Champion was Lew Biddle and Rachel Gruber of Oak Hall Farm, Boalsburg, Centre County,. and Gerald Allebach and Melissa Allebach of Windermere Farms, Spring Mills, Centre County.

In addition to the show, the Pennsylvania Draft Horse and Mule Association inducted John M. Cole, Centre Hall, Centre County, into the Pennsylvania Draft Horse Hall of Fame. Though a horse lover all his life, Cole bought his first registered Percheron in 1970. Since then, he has become an important figure in the draft horse industry. In 1985, Cole founded Pennwoods Equine Products, Inc. In addition, he has served on multiple committees to promote the Keystone International Livestock Exposition as well as the Percheron Horse Association of America. Cole has also been inducted into the PA Livestock Association Hall of Fame and the Percheron Horse Association of America Hall of Fame.

Also, Ben Miskin, Hampden Township, Cumberland Co., was crowned the 2017 Pennsylvania Draft Horse and Mule Association Youth Representative. Miskin is a sophomore at Cumberland Valley High School and is a member of the FFA.

First-place winners for the Draft Horse Hitch Competition:

Six-Horse Hitch - Dale and Tracie Brockhoff of Brockwood Belgians, Dayton, Armstrong Co.

Four-Horse Hitch - Dale and Tracie Brockhoff of Brockwood Belgians, Dayton, Armstrong Co.

Unicorn Hitch - Sarah Brockhoff of Brockwood Belgians, Dayton, Armstrong Co.

Team Hitch - Sarah Brockhoff of Brockwood Belgians, Dayton, Armstrong Co.

Junior Youth Team - Sarah Varner of Spring Meadow Belgians, Collegeville, Montgomery Co.

Intermediate Youth Team - Aidan Seward of Spring Meadow Belgians, Collegeville, Montgomery Co.

Senior Youth Team - Cassidy Roardamel, Elysburg, Northumberland Co.

Farm Class Horse Pulling Contest Results:

First - Dwight and Kris Shoemaker from Columbia Crossroads, Bradford Co., with a full pull of 7,850 lbs. Their horses, Chubb and Barney, had a combined weight of 4,600 lbs.

Second - Rob Varner's team from Collegeville, Montgomery Co., with a pull of 7,850 lbs. Their horses were Aaron and Buddy.

Third and Teamster Award - Marlin Kaufman & Scott Enslin's team from Newville, Cumberland Co., with a pull of 7,250 lbs. Their horses, Buck and Barney, had a combined weight of 3,400 lbs.

Fourth - Don Sherwood from Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., with a pull of 7,250 lbs. Their horses, Pete and Reggie, had a combined weight of 4,000 lbs.

Fifth - Delmar Zinn & Linda Bunning's team from Newville, Cumberland Co., with a pull of 6,650 lbs. Their horses were Jill and Gracie.

Sixth - Jacob Carbaugh's team from Greencastle, Franklin Co., with a pull of 6,650 lbs. Their horses, Belle and Patsy, had a combined weight of 3,775 lbs.

Seventh - Jake Varner's team from Collegeville, Montgomery Co., with a pull on 6,650 lbs. Their horses were Fire and Chief.

Eighth - Laurie Naugle's team from Glen Rock, York Co., with a pull of 5,450 lbs. Their horses were Austin and Duke.

Ninth - Jarrett Morrison & Linda Bunning from Newville, Cumberland Co., with a pull of 4,250 lbs. Their horses were Faith and Hope.

10th - Sam and Danna Howell from Newville, Cumberland Co., with a pull of 4,250 lbs. Their horses were Carmie and Apollo.

For more equestrian news see Horse News

Horse News covers everything equestrian in the mid-Atlantic area and can be reached at horsenews@hcdemocrat.com

Find Horse News on Facebook

For more racing and steeplechasing news see http://connect.nj.com/user/aorrjr/posts.html
The way we talk about rape is failing victims of sexual assault
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.
To get workers' comp benefits for an on-the-job injury or illness, you need to follow your state's rules for reporting the injury and filing a claim. Learn how to file a claim and where to get more information and help.

If you've suffered a work-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to workers' comp benefits, including medical care, part of your lost wages while you're off work during your recovery, and permanent disability benefits if the injury left you with long-lasting limitations.

To get these benefits, you must report your injury and file a claim according to your state's procedures. While each state has its own workers' comp system, the procedures for filing a claim are generally similar. Below we'll discuss the workers' comp claims procedures that all states share.

Report Work Injury to Employer

In nearly all states, the first step to getting workers' compensation benefits is to report your injury or occupational illness to your employer. States have very different time limits for notifying an employer of a work injury or illness. The deadline is often 30 days or so, but it can be as short as a few days and as long as a year.

Regardless of how much time you have, you should inform your employer of your injury as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more skeptical your employer or its insurance company will be of your claim. And, the sooner you file your claim, the sooner you can receive benefits.

You should also get immediate medical attention if your injury requires it. For emergency treatment, you can go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care. For all other treatment, you will need to follow your state's rules for seeking medical treatment.

File a Workers' Comp Claim

Once you report your injury, your employer should give you any necessary forms to fill out. Typically, the employer will submit these forms to its insurance company and the state workers' compensation agency. In some states, this will be the official start to your workers' compensation claim. In these states, you will need to file official paperwork with the state workers' comp agency only if your benefits are denied and you want to appeal the decision.

In other states, you will also need to file an official workers' comp claim form with the state workers' compensation agency at the start of your case. The deadline for this step also varies from state to state. While workers often have a year to file the claim, the timeline could be significantly shorter in some states. (Learn more about the various time limits in workers' comp cases and details on the filing procedures for workers' comp claims in certain states.)

You can get information, forms, and assistance from your state's workers' compensation agency. In the unlikely event that your employer refuses to cooperate with you in filing a claim, a call to your local workers' comp office will usually remedy the situation.

Federal employees are subject to a completely different workers' compensation system. You can find forms and instructions for filing claims at the website of the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation.

What Happens After You File a Workers' Comp Claim

The insurance company will conduct an investigation before approving or denying your claim. The insurer must tell you what it decided, usually within two to four weeks. In some states, if your claim isn't denied by the deadline, it will automatically be considered approved.

If the claim is approved, you'll start receiving benefits. If your claim is deniedwhich often happensyou have the right to appeal.

When to Contact a Workers' Comp Attorney

If your claim has been denied, you should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. There are many reasons for denials, from missed deadlines to disputes over whether your medical condition is related to work.

The appeals process is complicated, with strict deadlines. An experienced workers' comp attorney can help your case in many ways, from gathering evidence that bolsters your claim to negotiating with the insurance company or representing you in hearings.

And a lawyer usually won't cost you anything up front. In almost all states, workers' comp attorneys charge a percentage of your benefits if you winand nothing if you lose.
The listing real estate broker might have inside access to key facts, either from talking to the seller or walking around the house and property. Exactly how much of this information must the broker pass on to prospective home buyers?

As a home seller, one of your important obligations is (according to the law of most states) to advise buyers concerning the physical condition of the property and related concerns (such as environmental hazards or neighborhood nuisances). You might be legally required to fill out a disclosure form concerning the property, which will in all likelihood be created by your state's real estate commission.

Some sellers mistakenly try to hide issues in an effort to keep the home price up, like a foundation that's crumbling, walls full of dry rot, or neighbors whose goats regularly leap the fence and destroy the landscaping. There are many reasons not to hide such things, however: You risk buyers becoming angry. If they discover the problems during a preclosing inspection, they might push back hard, and negotiate the price down. If they discover the problems after closing, they could sue you.

Consider also that you, as the seller, are not the sole source of information for prospective home buyers. The broker might have inside access to key facts as well, either from talking to you, from historical experience of your house's transfer between owners, or from walking around the house and property, observing with expert eyes. Exactly how much of this information must the broker pass on to prospective buyers? And will the broker need to fill out a separate form for this?

What Law Governs Real Estate Brokers' Disclosure Obligations

Just as state law sets forth your disclosure obligations as a home seller, it might also address the issue of what brokers know (or have learned and observed) and should pass on to buyers. The relevant rules are typically found in state statutes or administrative regulations governing real estate transactions or real estate agents' professional conduct. Separate fraud statutes might also prohibit brokers from lying or making misrepresentations to buyers in the course of a home sale.

In no state are disclosure expectations of brokers as high as those upon sellers. In particular, the broker is never required to independently investigate and determine whether a seller's disclosures are accurate, or to perform separate investigations of the property. And brokers rarely have to fill out a standard, comprehensive form. After all, they haven't lived in the home.

(California is a notable exception. Real estate brokers there must fill out an Agent Inspection Disclosure form.)

What Most States' Laws Require of Real Estate Brokers Regarding Home Disclosures

Despite the fact that they aren't usually given a detailed form to fill out, expectations placed upon real estate brokers can be quite broad.

In Arizona, for example, the state Real Estate Department requires brokers to "disclose in writing to all other parties any information ... that materially or adversely affects the consideration to be paid by any party to the transaction, including: ... Any material defect existing in the property being transferred" or the "existence of a lien or encumbrance on the property...." (See  R4-28-1101 of the Arizona Administrative Code.)

An Oklahoma listing broker must make sure the home seller's disclosure statement and any amendments to it are available to any potential homebuyer before the seller accepts the buyer's offer to purchase, as well as disclose to the purchaser any known defects in the property that were not mentioned in the disclosure statement. (See 60 Okla. Stat.  836(A-B).)

In Washington State, the broker must disclose "material" physical defects of a property, but only those that the broker actually knows about and that would not be apparent or readily ascertainable to the buyer. (See Revised Code of Washington, 18.86.010, 18.86.030.)

As you can see from these examples, state laws tend to regard brokers disclosures as a backup for what the home seller might have forgotten, failed to mention, or become blind to after years of living in the house.

Remember that not every state requires seller disclosures, however. Your broker or state real estate commission should be able to tell you more about specific disclosure obligations where your home is.

Are There Limits on What a Real Estate Broker Will Disclose to Buyers?

Your listing agent has a fiduciary duty to protect your interests, and the laws do not seek to interfere with that. So, for example, if you were to tell your broker that you were willing to lower your price if pushed, the broker should not reveal that to the buyer.

Also, some states laws expressly exclude certain information from broker disclosure requirements.

In Illinois, for instance, the listing broker need not convey information about:

an occupant of the property who is infected with HIV or any other medical condition

an occurrence on the property that did not affect its physical condition

an occurrence on neighboring property that does not affect the physical condition of the property to be sold, and

a physical condition on neighboring property that does not reduce the value of the property to be sold. (See 225 ILCS 454/15-20.)

And in Colorado, the seller's broker need not tell buyers about deaths that occurred on the property, nor about any facts or suspicions regarding circumstances that might psychologically impact or stigmatize the property. (See C.R.S.  12-61-804 (2)).

Again, check with your real estate broker or state commission on real estate for details. As a seller, it is important to know what your broker must tell buyers, so that you can properly advise the broker and avoid liability for misrepresentation or failure to disclose.
Cellar 19 Wine and Deli will hold a benefit Saturday for employees for Salty Dog Bar & Grill, which was damaged in a fire on Jan. 6.

No one was injured in the fire, but there was extensive damage to the roof, so the tavern is closed for repairs.

The benefit will run from 11 a.m. to close Saturday, according to manager Jenny Sims-Guill.

Were having a special pasta entree, which comes with a salad and garlic bread, Sims-Guill said.

All of the proceeds from the special meal, as well as a percentage of the bar take that night, will go to help Salty Dog employees.

We are very excited that Jim (Smart, owner) and his staff are throwing the benefit for our employees that have been displaced, said Brian Cadwallader, who owns both the Salty Dog and Caddys Riverside Grille.

Cellar 19 staff felt bad for the Salty Dog crew, Sims-Guill said.

If something like this happened at our restaurant, wed be in the same boat, she said. The Salty owners are regulars here, and my owner is friends with them.

Cadwallader is giving Salty Dog employees some work at Riverside  but not as many hours as they are used to working.

Work on Salty Dog is just getting started, Cadwallader said.

So far, we are still working on cleanup and tear out but have to wait on the OK from the insurance companies to really get moving, he said. We are looking to reopen in the early spring, if things go as planned. We are heartbroken about Salty Dog Bar & Grill and hope Council Bluffs will support us at Caddys Riverside Grille while we rebuild.

Fire leaves tavern employees with little or no work
The former city clerk of Neola has pleaded guilty in connection to money misspent and misappropriated during her time in the role.

Deb Schierbrock, 56, pleaded guilty to three counts of non-felonious misconduct in office Tuesday in Pottawattamie County court.

An audit released in October of 2015 showed Schierbrock had misspent more than $230,000 in city funds over a five-year period. State Auditor Mary Mosimans report showed that from Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2013, which found $230,795.55 of improper and unsupported disbursements and undeposited utility collections.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Pottawattamie County Attorneys Office opened an investigation into the malfeasance. Schierbrock was originally charged with ongoing criminal conduct, two counts of felonious misconduct in office, six counts of non-felonious misconduct in office, falsifying public documents and first-degree theft.

Kerrie Snyder with the Pottawattamie County Attorneys Office said much of Schierbrocks misconduct stemmed from overstepping her bounds as city clerk, including approving overtime for herself and cashing out a certificate of deposit to cover a debt she created while purchasing the fire department a new fire truck.

Snyder said that the $230,795.55 figure is somewhat misleading and said only about $10,000 of it directly benefited Schierbrock.

She didnt walk away with that sum of money, Snyder said of the $230,000. She was doing some things without authorization, commingling accounts. Things a person well suited for their position would know not to do. There was a lot of coloring outside the lines.

Fourth District Court Judge Jeffrey Larson sentenced Schierbrock to a suspended year-long term in the Pottawattamie County Jail. Schierbrock will be on three years of supervised probation, one for each count.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said the City of Neola received a payment from its insurer after a claim about Schierbrocks mishandling of city dollars. Schierbrock could be ordered to pay restitution to the city as well. Snyder said its possible Schierbrock would have to pay the city back for the cost of the audit, around $16,000.

A message left with Schierbrocks attorney, William Bracker of Council Bluffs, was not immediately returned.
Pottawattamie County did the right thing in approving a contract with Midlands Humane Society for sheltering county dogs found at large, a county supervisor said.

But supporters of the countys current shelter were hugely disappointed by that decision.

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-1 to work up a three-year contract with Midlands with the condition that a $100,000 check from the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy Co., or SIRE, be used only for building improvements.

Currently, the county houses at-large dogs at a building, located along the line between Pottawattamie and Mills counties at 18670 Applewood Road, that it rents from SIRE. That company recently gave the county a $100,000 check for relocation purposes.

This new contract, pending approval by the Midlands Humane Society, would house these dogs at the groups shelter, 1020 Railroad Ave.

The access to the Midlands Humane Society is easier than the county shelter, said Matt Wyant, the county Programming Departments director.

During the discussion on animal control expenses, Wyant told the board the county currently spends $87,000 yearly to operates its county shelter, while, under this new contract, the county will contribute $72,330 a year to Midlands for housing the dogs the county catches.

This years total expenses has been budgeted at $154,240. This includes staff salaries and benefits, operational costs for running the animal control office, besides the operational costs for housing dogs at the shelter, Wyant said. Next years proposed budget is $121,108, a reduced figure because of the elimination of shelter operating costs, he said.

While this comes out to a $33,000 savings, more savings are possible elsewhere  all of which could add up to about $40,000 in total savings, Wyant told the board.

But, thats not the real issue, supporters of the current shelter told the board.

This should be about animal welfare, said Lee Ann Walker, a county shelter volunteer. Were taking steps backward. Why are we getting rid of a model shelter?

Another volunteer, Linda Durick, said that in her opinion the Midlands shelter was not designed or built to accommodate county animals.

How can it be responsible and compassionate to animals and the people who care for them to merge with a facility that (at) over-capacity could easily become a sad and stressful decision for space? she asked the board.

In response, Wyant said that Midlands handled more than 900 dogs last year and didnt believe that shelter would be overwhelmed by the additional county dogs. In comparison, the Pottawattamie County shelter took in 115 dogs in 2016, an average of a little more than nine per month.

Its about getting good service at a great price, he said.

Board Chairman Justin Schultz had similar thoughts.

I dont believe (Midlands) level of care is subpar to the county, he said.

Following lengthy discussion, including the duration of the contract, Supervisor Tom Hanafan said: Weve got to make a decision. We need to get this under control.

He made a motion for a three-year contract, which the board approved except for Scott Belt, who later said more due diligence was needed and that he preferred a five-year contract.

Not surprisingly, the current shelter volunteers were not happy with the vote.

Im hugely disappointed, Walker said.

The current shelter is more than just good, according to Durick.

Our building is superior, she said.

Schultz, however, said the board made the right move.

Its a step in the right direction, he said.

Midlands was not represented at the Tuesday meeting, but its executive director, Nikki Cruickshank, recently said her board has already approved the agreement to house county animals.
Will our government remain a democracy when Trump takes power?

The day after the election, I flew to Germany, after my campaign for the U.S. Senate seat from Iowa. I didnt dislodge Charles Grassley, but did make a dent in a system that is corrupt and rigged by media invested in perpetuating the big-budgets two-party system.

I ran an honorable campaign. Unlike another candidate for federal office, I didnt denigrate minorities, promise to build walls, peddle lies, throw temper tantrums, summon supporters to violence or threaten to jail opponents  nor did a video surface in which I boasted about groping citizens genitals. Trump  and his video  did.

When I returned to Germany (where Ive lived 13 years and earned a Ph.D. in history, focusing on Midwest ties to Nazi Germany, results seen at TRACES.org), friends asked how Trump could seize power. I lied: I dunno.

I do know that in a democracy, citizens discuss problems and projects, then act based on consensus. In a dictatorship, someone dictates what to do. Except for the Amish, all Americans have seen in The Apprentice how The Donald structures his inner universe and outer conquests. He tolerates no critique and avenges all who dare cross him.

I also know that in this age of instantaneous information and change, more and more peoples around the world not only tolerate but support anti-democratic regimes. A majority of Poles, e.g., elected right-wing zealots who shredded the Polish constitution and tried to ban the press access to legislative sessions.

Hungarian dictator Viktor Orban continues to spout tirades in Budapest, having closed opposing newspapers, legislated social corsets and treated refugees like scum. A paper-thin majority in Great Britain voted to exit the EU, though doing so will cost their country billions. Too many still listen to arrogant, idiotic Nigel Farage  its main cheerleader and a Trump pal.

In the main, the Russians still follow their hero, killer Vladimir Putin. Even compatriots living in Germany seem unable to separate themselves from a patriotism that allows him to act out his farce as an elected despot.

Next door, Turkey continues to bleed. Since his self-orchestrated coup last July, Erdogan has removed more than 125,000 soldiers, judges, police, teachers, plus tortured or murdered thousands. Tis a modern, Islamic version of the Nazis seizure of power in 1933  but we do nothing.

Yes, Trump soon will be in power in what has long been a democracy. Question is: Will it remain one?

Michael Luick-Thrams, Mason City
In 1960, an Air Force family stationed in England had twins, but one soon died and was buried in a church cemetery.

The father later returned to the U.S. to complete his 20-year military career and became an electrician in Glenwood, where Dallas and Faye Alley raised three children. The couple didnt talk much about their lost infant, Debra, but, in time, the lost location of her grave became a family mystery.

After Mom died in 2000, said son Steve Alley of Tabor, Dad made a couple of trips back to England, but he couldnt find the grave.

Dallas died in 2007. Steves older sister, Michelle, who lives in Florida, had a photo of their parents standing over the gravestone, but the family kept no record of the exact location.

At about age 50, the twin who survived, Traca, was in failing health because of multiple system atrophy, a rare neurological disease of unknown origin. Her illness was terminal.

If we could find Debra, Steve asked Traca, would you like us to rebury her remains next to your grave?

Not necessary, Traca replied, because she would soon be next to her in heaven.

Traca (pronounced TRAY-suh) Alley died in 2012 and was buried near her parents graves in West Liberty Cemetery, just north of Glenwood. The other side of Tracas tombstone shows the name of Debra, who died two days after their births in 1960.

The cause of Debras death is unclear, but Faye spent two months in a hospital afterward and nearly died herself. She also had polio and Type 1 diabetes.

Steve, born in 1963, didnt know the infant sister who died, but never let go of the idea of finding her grave.

Meanwhile his son, Staff Sgt. Drew Alley, joined the Air Force seven years ago. He later married, and was assigned to Royal Lakenheath Air Force Base in England  by coincidence, the base where his grandfather had been stationed long ago.

Drew and his wife, Jessica, searched nearly 20 cemeteries without finding the grave.

Last year, the couple had a baby daughter, Everly. Steve and his wife, Angie, decided to visit their healthy granddaughter  and to look for the forgotten grave of a baby that was too weak to survive.

When they arrived last June they carried the photo of his parents at the grave, with a church in the background.

Five miles from Lakenheath sits RAF Mildenhall, another British base with U.S. operations  though plans are to move 3,200 U.S. personnel out as part of a cost-saving consolidation announced two years ago.

The Alleys checked out Mildenhall, and near the entrance saw a church that looked like the one in the photo. They entered a small adjoining cemetery, which was in disarray  headstones had been moved off to the side against a hedgerow for easier mowing.

As Steve walked around, Angie peered at the headstones, one by one. Steve, she eventually called out, Come here! Come here!

Her eyes were big, he said, and he got down on his hands and knees, pulling grass away from the stone. And then, line by line, it came into view:

In loving memory of DEBORAH GAIL ALLEY.

I had gotten on my belly to see it, Steve said. It was pretty emotional. I just lay there for a while. And when I got up, I was pretty excited.

He and Angie embraced, and then posed for a photo over the gravestone, mimicking the pose of his parents 56 years earlier.

What different emotions Mom and Dad must have had compared to mine, he said. I was finding a sister. But they had buried a daughter.

The name on the tombstone, Deborah, was different from Debra, the way his parents always spelled it. (And Traca was misspelled Traci.) But what was important to Steve Alley was that he had found the weather-worn, broken monument.

With help from a caretaker, he determined the approximate location of the grave, about 15 feet from where the tombstone was found: row 10, grave 1. No, the grave would not be disturbed.

England is where the baby was born and where she died. Said Steve: She belongs here.

Great Britain also was the home of many of his ancestors, he noted, and he and Angie met English cousins while on their 11-day 2016 trip.

Future generations of the Alley family, Steve said, now can visit the grave in England and feel the same exhilarating experience I did when I found it.

Theres one more step, which he hopes to complete this winter: in the West Liberty Cemetery north of Glenwood, having the exact location of Debras grave in England added to the other side of Tracas tombstone.

Something missing has been found, and the family has come full circle.

We had a sister, but we didnt know where she was, Steve said. Now we know where everyone is. The family has always been close, but now weve closed that loop.
Positivity, usually a word that exudes from my spirit as though it were limitless. I have been through trauma before, through times that are more d...

8 years ago
The new acquisition is a developer of automatic 3D data optimization solutions headquartered in Sweden that has been founded back in 2006. Microsoft aims to accelerate its 3D For Everyone vision and strategy with the help of the Simplygon team.

According to Kudo Tsunoda, Simplygon "builds on and extends our aspirations to empower a new wave of creativity with the Windows 10 Creators Update, Paint 3D and our online creator community at Remix3D.com." The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but it is known that, as it usually happens in such cases, the team behind Simplygon will become a part of the Redmond giant.

Simplygon uses proprietary methods for creating Level of detail LODs, employing Polygon mesh reduction and various other optimization techniques. Since its launch, it has been used by some AAA game studios, but it also helped developers of solutions for architecture, 3D CAM, 3D scan, 3D printing, and 3D web. Even more, a license comes with the Unreal Engine 4 installer.

Microsoft continues its acquisition spree by adding the power of a new Swedish team of developers to its current forces. Donya Labs, the company behind Simplygon, has been around for more than a decade and, as described by Microsoft's Kudo Tsunoda, the brand is "a premier developer of automatic 3D data-optimization solutions."

- 5678 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2013 Codrut Nistor - Senior Tech Writersince 2013

In my early school days, I hated writing and having to make up stories. A decade later, I started to enjoy it. Since then, I published a few offline articles and then I moved to the online space, where I contributed to major websites that are still present online as of 2021 such as Softpedia, Brothersoft, Download3000, but I also wrote for multiple blogs that have disappeared over the years. I've been riding with the Notebookcheck crew since 2013 and I am not planning to leave it anytime soon. In love with good mechanical keyboards, vinyl and tape sound, but also smartphones, streaming services, and digital art.
The North Platte Public Librarys first Celebrate Nebraska 150 program, Iron Horse Stables: The History of the North Platte Railroad Roundhouses, was given to a packed room at noon on Jan. 12. As a result, this program will be repeated as an evening program at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the librarys meeting room. Kaycee, a library staff member, will share the history of the Union Pacific roundhouses in North Platte, illustrating her talk with historical photos, which she has found through extensive research.

This program is free to the public, but the library requests seat reservations to help set up the room. Please call the library at 308-535-8036, ext. 3310, to reserve seats.

The history of the roundhouses began when Union Pacific reached the confluence of the North and South Platte rivers 150 years ago. General Grenville Dodge, the chief engineer, platted the city for the coming of the railroad, initially ordering a bridge to be built across the North Platte River.

The first buildings to go up were temporary  a warehouse, bunkhouses, a wash house and mess hall. Wells were dug and a large windmill and water tank were built for the railroad crews. The first permanent, and most important, building to be constructed in town was the roundhouse, which could turn locomotive engines around, so they could go back east.

That roundhouse, located near the middle of town, served Union Pacific for 50 years. It was also used at times as a shelter for the towns residents when a catastrophic storm or fire threatened. Ironically, that first building blew down in a wind storm in 1885 and had to be rebuilt. A final roundhouse was built and put in service 1913, relegating the former roundhouse to a storage building. This building was used through the 1960s.

The massive roundhouses were integral features of North Platte for nearly 100 years.
Hundreds granted clemency in last days before Trump takes Oval Office

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Barack Obama granted clemency to Chelsea Manning on Tuesday, allowing the transgender Army intelligence officer convicted of leaking more than 700,000 U.S. documents to go free nearly three decades early.

Embracing his clemency powers days before leaving office, Obama also pardoned 64 individuals including retired Gen. James Cartwright, charged with making false statements during another leak probe. Manning was one of 209 inmates with sentences commuted by Obama, who has now granted more commutations than any other president in history.

Neil Eggleston, Obamas White House counsel, said the individuals would learn that our nation is a forgiving nation, where hard work and a commitment to rehabilitation can lead to a second chance, and where wrongs from the past will not deprive an individual of the opportunity to move forward.

Manning, Cartwright and Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera were the more prominent names on a list otherwise made up mostly of nonviolent drug offenders. The actions are permanent, and cannot be undone by President-elect Donald Trump.

With his last-minute clemency for Manning and Cartwright, Obama appeared to be softening what has been a hard-line approach to prosecuting leakers.

Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence for leaking classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks, along with some battlefield video. She was convicted in military court of violating the Espionage Act and other offenses and spent more than six years behind bars. She asked Obama last November to commute her sentence to time served.

Her case has pitted LGBT rights activists, who warned about her mental health and treatment as a transgender woman living in a mens prison, against national security hawks who said she did devastating damage to U.S. interests. The former cheered Obamas move, while the latter called it an outrageous act that set a dangerous precedent.

Yet Obama did not grant a pardon to another prominent leaker, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, whom the U.S. has been unable to extradite from Russia. Snowden hasnt formally applied for clemency, though his supporters have called for it. Yet the White House drew a distinction between the unapologetic Snowden and Manning, whom officials noted has expressed remorse and served several years already for her crime.

Known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, Manning came out as transgender after being sentenced. She was held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she attempted suicide twice last year, according to her lawyers. Manning has acknowledged leaking the documents, but has said she did it to raise public awareness about the effects of war on civilians.
SCITUATE, R.I. (AP)  Two sisters who disappeared from Rhode Island with their mother in 1985 have been located in the Houston area, and their mother was charged with snatching them, police announced Tuesday.

An anonymous tip two days before Christmas led police to Kimberly and Kelly Yates and their mother, Elaine Yates, state police Lt. Col. Joseph Philbin said. Elaine Yates, who had been living in Houston under the name Liana Lynn Waldberg, was arrested Monday and faces arraignment Wednesday in Rhode Island.

Kelly Yates was 10 months old and her sister was 3 years old when they disappeared. Kelly Yates, now 32, and Kimberly Yates, now 35, weren't living with their mother, who's 69, but are in the Houston area and are in good health, Philbin said.

The girls' father, Russell Yates, was told of the arrest immediately after it happened and is relieved, Philbin said. His contact information was given to his daughters.

"I've always been trying to find my children," the father said. "Now at least, it's up to them to get in touch with me."

Russell Yates told The Providence Journal in a 1988 magazine story his wife had discovered he had been unfaithful to her and had threatened to move out in the middle of the night with the children. He acknowledged punching her while they argued. A few weeks later, on Aug. 27, 1985, he came home after work around 2 a.m. and found them gone.

The case was featured on "America's Most Wanted," and police received tips from all over the country. Investigators reviewed the case and spoke with Russell Yates at least once a year, Philbin said. But it wasn't until they received the anonymous tip that they cracked the case.

Authorities said they used court databases, Facebook and driver's license photos to identify the mother and daughters. He said they compared their photos with baby photos to help identify them.

Court records show Elaine Yates legally changed her name in Texas seven years ago. The judge's order includes her correct birthdate and maiden and married names.

It says the Texas Department of Public Safety had examined the petition and found she had no recorded criminal history. At the time, a felony warrant for child snatching issued in 1988 was outstanding in Rhode Island.

The name change order was filed Aug. 26, 2009, 24 years to the day after she disappeared with her children.

Neighbors Jesse and Fran Vaughan, who live in the same condominium development as Elaine Yates in affluent West Houston, said she seemed like a nice person.

The Vaughans, who have lived at the complex for 17 years, said Yates was in charge of putting together the newsletter for the homeowner's association but they weren't aware she even had daughters.

"Come to think of it, I don't know if anyone knew her that well," Fran Vaughan said.

No one answered knocks on the doors of three addresses listed in records for Yates in West Houston and her daughters in Deer Park and Baytown.

Philbin wouldn't comment on where Yates and her daughters had been since 1985 and said he didn't know when they got to Houston. He said he couldn't comment on whether the daughters knew they had been taken or whether they knew their father was alive.

Can't see the gallery? Click here for an updated list of Nebraska's missing children.

As for the mother, Philbin said she had been successful in getting away with her crime for 31 years. He described her as being very cooperative with investigators since police knocked on her door Monday. She was arraigned in Houston, waived extradition and was being transported to Rhode Island.

Russell Yates, asked if Elaine Yates should be prosecuted, said: "That isn't going to help me, her or anybody else at this point. I just want to see my kids."

It's the second time in less than a week police announced they had solved an old child disappearance. On Friday, authorities in Florida charged a woman with kidnapping a newborn from a hospital 18 years ago and raising the child as her own. The 18-year-old, Kamiyah Mobley, met her biological parents Saturday in Walterboro, South Carolina, where she was raised under a false name.
DYER  Residents at a Tuesday evening open house on the proposed West Lake Corridor commuter rail project expressed opinions ranging from "the sooner the better" to "never."

An orderly crowd filed past poster boards detailing the proposed project and various alignment options. The South Shore's preferred option would extend the railroad nine miles south from a new Gateway station in Hammond to Main Street on the Munster-Dyer border.

"I work in the city," said Mark Sikorsky. "I go to East Chicago (to catch the train); I live in Dyer."

The Munster-Dyer station "would save me 30 minutes on the commute. I'd like it to happen sooner rather than later."

Tony Plutz moved to Dyer from Illinois more than two years ago.

"I think it's long needed," he said of the project. "I moved out of Illinois, and that's the one thing I think Indiana is missing. Access to downtown is sorely lacking."

The preferred alternative includes a layover yard that would stretch south into a triangle of land defined by Main Street, Sheffield Avenue and the new rail line. Joseph Zeiler owns one of the 11 homes in the triangle and opposes the project.

He said he'd like a new roof and furnace, but doesn't want to make the investment. He said he can't sell the property, and isn't sure what comes next.

"How long am I going to be stuck in limbo?" Zeiler wondered.

Other opinions fell between full support and outright opposition. Traffic, noise and sympathy for people in Zeiler's position were common comments.

Barb Smith, a Dyer resident for 27 years, said she'd feel favorably if the line's performance is up to Metra's on-time standard. She said she uses Metra now when taking the train to the city.

"Will this perform like Metra? We'll see what happens," she said.

The preferred plan for the Munster-Dyer station area includes a station on the east side of the tracks, with parking on the west side, on land currently vacant. That will entail extending Main Street under the commuter and CSX freight tracks, with a walkway along Main Street to access the station.

James and Cindy Tarin live in The Meadows subdivision west of the tracks. Cindy Tarin works in Chicago, but the Tarins are concerned about the impact of the station and an extended Main Street.

"It would be great to have train service," Tarin said, noting she'd be within walking distance of a new station. "I'm just concerned about how it's going to affect the area, especially with traffic."

The Tarins said their home could be in the path of Main Street if local officials decide to extend it into Illinois.

The official subject of Tuesday's hearing was the federally mandated environmental impact statement for the project. A draft EIS was published last month, and public input will be considered in preparation of a final EIS, expected to be completed this summer.

"We will respond to each of those comments," South Shore President Michael Noland told the approximately 100 residents present at the start of the open house.

"It is not written in stone," he said of the West Lake plan.

A record of decision from the Federal Transit Authority will accompany publication of the final EIS. That document will officially designate the preferred alternative for the West Lake line.

The project will be submitted to the federal government for consideration for a 50 percent matching grant in late summer.

The engineering and construction cost is estimated at $603 million. Construction is planned for 2019 through 2022.
WASHINGTON  President-elect Donald Trump's pick for commerce secretary said Wednesday that he favors "sensible trade," is pro-union and believes his vast business dealings have given him experience fighting other countries' unfair trade practices.

Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross cited his relationship with the United Steelworkers Union, which has endorsed him for the Cabinet post, as proof that he will work to protect American jobs.

"I'm pro-trade. But I'm pro-sensible trade, not trade that is detrimental to the American worker and to the domestic manufacturing base," Ross told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

"I think I've probably had more direct experience than any prior cabinet nominee has had with unfair trade in the steel business, in the textile business, in the auto parts business and other sectors," Ross said.

Ross has an extensive history in Northwest Indiana. He formed International Steel Group by snapping up distressed steelmakers in the early 2000s, when more than 30 steel companies went bankrupt. He acquired Acme Steel, LTV Steel Corp., Bethlehem Steel and the Gary Plate Mill of U.S. Steel, restarting idled mills in East Chicago, Burns Harbor and Riverdale.

He cut employment, wages and benefits, for instance eliminating about half the jobs at LTV Steel and Bethlehem Steel. Ross also dumped pensions and slashed retiree benefits for more than 190,000 retirees. After getting the companies back in better fiscal shape, he sold the mills to ArcelorMittal precursor Mittal Steel for $4.5 billion, pocketing $300 million in the process.

Nevertheless, Gerard and other USW officials credit Ross with being a square shooter in negotiations to revive the steel mills, which entailed painful concessions, but eventually allowed them to emerge from bankruptcy.

Now worth an estimated $2.9 billion, Ross has extensive business ties around the globe. Supporters say that makes him ideal to represent American business interests abroad.

"I believe his extensive management experience in the private sector, and his understanding of the challenges faced by workers and businesses alike, will equip him well for the job of leading the Department of Commerce," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the committee chairman.

Trump has said Ross will play a big role in American trade policy. Trump's views on trade are at odds with many congressional Republicans. He has pledged to re-negotiate existing trade deals and scrap a pending one with Asian countries.

Ross said the North American Free Trade Agreement, involving the U.S., Canada and Mexico, "is logically the first thing for us to deal with."

"That will be a very, very early topic in this administration," Ross added.

The commerce secretary has several roles in promoting American business interests in the U.S. and abroad. The department works on trade issues, working to attract foreign investment in the U.S. The department also oversees agencies that manage fisheries, weather forecasting and the Census Bureau, which will conduct a census in 2020.

Ross said he has unique experience at that agency; he was a census-taker while he attended business school.

Unlike the president-elect, Ross has agreed to divorce himself from a vast financial empire.

Ross has signed an ethics agreement with the Office of Government Ethics. In it, he agrees to divest from 40 different businesses and investments within 90 days of being confirmed. He agreed to divest from 40 more within 180 days.

Among the businesses he will separate himself from is WL Ross & Co., the private equity firm he founded in 2000.

Trump has had a run-in with the head of the ethics agency because he says he won't completely divest himself from his business empire. Instead, Trump says he will turn control of his business over to his sons.

Walter Shaub Jr., who directs the office, said Trump's plan is insufficient to avoid conflicts of interest.

Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, the top Democrat on the Senate committee, praised Ross for divesting from most of his personal holdings.

"I believe that's the right thing to do and it tells me you're committed to doing the job the right way by placing the public's interests ahead of your own," Nelson said. "It's my hope that President-elect Trump will follow your lead and the example you set."

Ross' private equity firm buys failing companies and repairs them to make them presentable to investors. The firm then sells the investment through a sale or public offering.

Much of the firm's work is in struggling industries, including textiles, subprime mortgage servicing, steel and coal.

Times reporter Joseph S. Pete contributed to this report.
Though students at The Culinary Institute of America face a seemingly endless to-do list, central to their course work is recipe and menu development. At the CIA, food is life, and even the best-managed restaurant is nothing without flavorful, exciting, and innovative recipes.

A recent standout is this recipe for Hanoi Pork Meatballs with Hoisin-Peanut Dipping Sauce, which is ideal if you're hosting friends and family for the big game.

Bursting with the flavors of Southeast Asia, like garlic, ginger and bright herbs, these meatballs are an easy make-ahead option that will stand out against the usual party favorites. The sweet hoisin-peanut dipping sauce will remind you of those other meatballs you may have simmered in your slow cooker, but with a little something special and unexpected.

If you love the flavors in these meatballs, why not put your own spin on the recipe? You can replace the pork with turkey for a leaner appetizer to balance out those beers. Or, if you want to serve a more substantial dinner, form the mixture into burger-sized patties and serve them on buns. You can top them with the dipping sauce, some more fresh herbs, and pickled onions for some zing.

This year's big game is being held in Houston. And even though you might think of Houston as BBQ central, it's actually known to have some of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the country  so this recipe will help your guests feel like they are right in the middle of the action.

HANOI PORK MEATBALLS WITH HOISIN-PEANUT DIPPING SAUCE

Start to finish: 55 minutes (Active time: 40 minutes)

Servings: 5 (Makes 15 meatballs, 3 per serving)

Non-stick cooking spray, as needed

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon canola oil

5 cloves minced garlic

2 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

3 minced scallions

2 teaspoons chopped parsley

1 1/2 tablespoons chopped Thai basil

1 1/2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 teaspoon sriracha

1/8 cup whole milk cottage cheese

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

1 teaspoon lime zest

1 pound ground pork

Hoisin-Peanut Dipping Sauce (recipe follows)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Oil a rack for a sheet tray with non-stick cooking spray. Place rack in sheet tray and set aside.

In a medium-size saute pan, heat both oils over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add the garlic, ginger, and scallions.

Sweat until aromatic and soft (about 5 minutes). Remove from pan, and allow to cool.

In a mixing bowl, add and combine all remaining ingredients except for the ground pork and dipping sauce. Mix all of these ingredients together thoroughly until completely combined.

Add the ground pork and mix lightly until all the ingredients are lightly incorporated. Be careful not to over mix the meat, as it will result in tough meatballs.

Scoop or form mixture in 15 1 1/2-ounce balls and place them onto the oiled rack.

Cook the meatballs in the preheated oven for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature has reached 155 degrees F and the exterior is golden brown.

Serve meatballs hot, with toothpicks and a bowl of the Hoisin-Peanut Dipping Sauce to dip!

Hoisin-Peanut Dipping Sauce

Serves 5

3/4 cup hoisin sauce

3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Nutrition information per serving of the meatballs: 309 calories; 199 calories from fat; 22 g fat (8 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 66 mg cholesterol; 527 mg sodium; 9 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 17 g protein.

Nutrition information per serving of the sauce: 144 calories; 56 calories from fat; 5 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 1 mg cholesterol; 776 mg sodium; 19 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 12 g sugar; 4 g protein.

___

This article was provided to The Associated Press by The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.
EAST CHICAGO  The Lake County coroner's office has ruled the death of a man found Thursday near the train tracks along Chicago and Euclid avenues as suicide, according to a coroner's office news release.

The 41-year-old Harvey man's body was first spotted by a train employee traveling west on the CSX tracks, East Chicago police Lt. Marguerite Wilder said.

When police arrived at 11:30 a.m., they found the body in a sitting position near the train tracks with facial trauma, Wilder said.

Police said at that time it was unknown if the man's injuries were from blunt force or some other cause. The Lake County coroner's office later determined the man died from a gunshot wound, according to a news release.*

The coroner's office was dispatched to the 4600 block of Euclid Avenue just before noon Thursday. The man was pronounced dead at 12:53 p.m.

According to the coroner's office, family has been notified.

* Editor's note: This story has been updated from a previous version.

Clarification: A story Wednesday about a man found dead in East Chicago did not include all information available. Police initially said the man suffered facial injuries, but it was unclear if they were a result of blunt force of some other cause. The Lake County coroner's office later determined the man died from a gunshot wound in a suicide, according to a news release.
CROWN POINT  A 26-year-old Hammond man charged last year in a killing at a card game has been extradited from Illinois.

Searcy T. Boyd Jr. was extradited Jan. 8 to Lake County from the Menard Correctional Center in Illinois, according to court records.

Boyd made a formal appearance Tuesday in Lake Criminal Court, where he told Judge Diane Boswell he needed more time to obtain private legal representation.

Boswell temporarily assigned Boyd a public defender and set a new court date for Jan. 27.

Boyd was charged in June with murder in the fatal shooting March 14 of Craig Hatten Jr., 25, of Riverdale, Illinois.

Witnesses told police Boyd shot Hatten from the front porch of his residence in the 5500 block of Claude Avenue in Hammond after an argument erupted over a spilled drink.

Hatten was transported to Franciscan St. Margaret Health hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Boyd was initially arrested at the scene, but he was not charged in the murder until June 24.

Boyd was instead arrested on a parole violation in Illinois, where he had spent time in prison for a 2012 conviction for armed robbery in Knox County.
CROWN POINT  A 65-year-old Merrillville man remained charged Wednesday with attempted murder, despite a doctor's determination 10 years ago he was mentally incompetent.

Craig M. Russell was charged Aug. 31, 2006, in Lake Criminal Court with attempted murder, aggravated battery and battery on allegations he shot a home health care worker in the 5800 block of Massachusetts Street in Merrillville.

Judge Clarence Murray ordered that Russell be transferred to Logansport State Hospital for mental health treatment in March 2007 after doctors determined he was not competent to stand trial.

Defense attorney James M. Woods said at Wednesday's court hearing Russell suffered delusions and he remained hospitalized in Logansport.

Woods requested Murray order the hospital to make a determination on whether there was a substantial likelihood Russell would regain competency in the future.

Prosecutor Aleksandra Dimitrijevic said she did not believe the court needs to involve itself yet in the matter.

Murray informed the parties in the case in March there may be grounds for dismissal if Russell does not regain competency.

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled in December 2008 in State v. Davis that a defendant could not be held in civil confinement for longer than the maximum sentence the defendant would face if convicted at trial.
Tu Youyou, a Nobel laureate. [Photo Zhu Xingxin/China Daily]

China's first Nobel Prize winner in physiology or medicine, Tu Youyou, celebrated her 86th birthday by signing an official agreement to donate 1 million yuan ($144,900) to establish the Peking University Tu Youyou Talent Award Foundation.

The initiative will provide financial support and incentives to the university's students and young teachers of medicine.

Han Qide, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conferencea legislative bodyand Hao Ping, China's vice-minister of education, also Party secretary of Peking University, witnessed the signing at Tu's residence on Dec 25, a few days before her birthday on Dec 30.

"I've gotten to where I am now thanks to the university's medicine program," Tu says.

"I hope the younger generation can achieve even more."

Young researchers enjoy a favorable environment compared with the past, as the country is now very supportive of science and innovation, she says.

Tu is best-known for discovering the use of artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin to treat malaria.

She shared the Nobel Prize in 2015 with Irishman William Campbell and Japanese Satoshi Omura for developing therapies against malaria and infections caused by roundworm parasites.

That made her the first Chinese Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, and the first Nobel winner whose education and research was completed exclusively in China.

Tu enrolled in Peking University's medicine school (now the Peking University Health Science Center) in 1951.

After graduation, she continued her studies and research of fusing traditional Chinese and modern Western medicines at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, where she still works.

She won the top medical-science prize, the Lasker Award, in 2011. She was the first Chinese to claim the honor.

Her foundation will award 5,000 yuan per student and 25,000 yuan per teacher. The foundation's annual earnings will determine the number of recipients.

The PKU Health Science Center, founded in 1912, ranks among China's most prestigious medical schools.

It has earned international prominence for its researchers' achievements.

For instance, in a proof-of-principle study, its researchers expanded the genetic code of the influenza A virus' genome and generated viruses that remained fully capable of activating the immune system but were unable to replicate in conventional cells.

The research was published in the journal Science last month.
GARY  A suspect suffered life-threatening injuries after exchanging gunfire with a Lake County sheriff's officer following a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon in Gary.

A Lake County officer was making a traffic stop shortly before 3 p.m. in the 700 block of 42nd Street when a passenger fled from the vehicle and the driver fled west in the vehicle, according to state police.

The officer and his K-9 partner pursued the passenger, who ran down an alley toward nearby railroad tracks north of the traffic stop, according to Indiana State Police. At some point, the passenger shot at the officer, striking his K-9 partner, Blade, police said.

Another Lake County officer arrived on scene after the exchange of gunfire and disarmed the suspect, state police said.

The suspect was taken to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus with injuries that were life threatening.

Blade, a K-9 Dutch Shepherd and four-year veteran of the department, was taken to a local animal hospital for treatment and then transported by police car to Purdue Veterinary Hospital in West Lafayette. The dog was in stable condition but still undergoing tests Wednesday night, said Mark Back, spokesman for the sheriff's department.

A second suspect was still at large Wednesday night, Back said the department does not believe there is a significant risk to public safety at this time.

State police are handing the officer-involved shooting investigation, per normal protocol, Back said.

Any inquiries regarding the investigation should be directed to the Indiana State Police's Lowell post, he said.
MICHIGAN CITY  Police are warning residents of a company illegally soliciting neighborhoods to buy home security alarm systems.

The company, known as AMP Security, is not registered with the city of Michigan City, according to Michigan City police Sgt. Chris Yagelski.

City ordinance requires anyone who sells services or goods by going door-to-door to be licensed with the city, Yagelski said. Applicants are approved through the city's Board of Public Works & Safety.

Yagelski said residents should always ask for credentials from solicitors. If in doubt, residents are asked to contact the Michigan City Police Department at 219-874-3221.
2017 State of the State Address

Elevating Indiana to the Next Level in its Third Century

Eric J. Holcomb

Governor of Indiana

Speaker Bosma, President Pro Tem Long, Lieutenant Governor Crouch, Senator Lanane, Representative Pelath, Members of the Assembly and of the Judiciary, my fellow Hoosiers: Its an honor to stand before you all today to discuss the state of our State and the work we will do this session to make life better for all our citizens.

While youve given me the privilege of this podium, I applaud all of you for the work youve done to help Indiana grow and prosper all while minding the store and ensuring our fiscal house is in order.Thanks to the collective talent and energy of our fellow Hoosiers  along with your dedication and that of my two predecessors in this office  I can say unequivocally that the state of our State is sound!

As I said last week at my inauguration, together we have the special charge of leading Indiana into our third century.That means we need to think not just about today but about the years to come, and we need to act with boldness and courage to solve our current issues and prepare Indiana for the ever-changing future.

As we undertake this journey, our secret weapon is the Hoosier pioneering spirit itself, proven over the last 200 years: the ingenuity, determination and common sense that enables us not only to overcome any challenge, but also to continually find better ways of doing things. Thanks to that spirit, Indiana today stands as one of the top five states in the country for doing business and there are more Hoosiers working today than at any other time in our history.

These facts are not ends in and of themselves, rather, they tell a compelling story about potential, more possibilities, and growing opportunities for every Hoosier citizen.Because weve created one of the best business climates in the country, weve become national leaders in business growth.

Businesses and jobs that a dozen years ago were going to Austin or Boston or the Silicon Valley are now coming to Indiana.Because we saw that innovation and high-tech were keys to unlocking the 21st century economy, we aggressively pursued them. And today, those investments have ignited new high-tech jobs all across our state.

Businesses from around the world are coming to Indiana now because our costs of living and doing business are low and the quality of our workforce is high. This is great news for Hoosier workers. But to paraphrase Apollo Mission Director Gene Krantz: Complacency is not an option. Leadership is all about continually moving forward, relentlessly looking for ways to improve.We know the world will not stand still, and those who dont keep up will be left behind.

For all our growing strength in high tech too many Hoosier businesses are having trouble finding the skilled workers they need to grow. With our 21st century economy increasingly driven by knowledge and advanced skills, too many Hoosiers are not properly prepared for the jobs of the future  not just potential scientists and engineers but also coders,machinists, mechanics and welders.

In addition, as I said last week, over the next 10 years well need to find 1 million new skilled workers to replace the 700,000 baby boomers who will retire plus the 300,000 new jobs well need to create. While we can take genuine pride in being The Crossroads of America, roads need upkeep, and Hoosiers and Hoosier businesses require stronger connections than ever before.

And at the exact time when we cant afford to lose the talents of a single citizen, too many Hoosiers are caught in the strangling grip of drugs.To ensure that every Hoosier has the opportunity to live up to their potential, right here in Indiana, our challenge is clear: we need to sustain our momentum in economic development, and at the same time build on it.

This is our task: to take Indiana to the next level.

So I am proposing a set of transformational priorities  my five pillars  aimed at doing exactly that.Most will require long-term commitment and focus. Some will require new resources and new ways of doing business. But all of them must begin today.For 2017, we must:

ONE: Cultivate a strong and diverse economy to ensure that Indiana remains a magnet for jobs

TWO: Fund a long-term roads and bridges plan that takes the greatest advantage of our location

THREE: Develop a 21st century skilled and ready workforce

FOUR: Attack the drug epidemic, and

FIVE: Provide great government service at a great value to taxpayers.

Lets start with strengthening and diversifying our economy because I believe that is the linchpin to improving Hoosier lives. Everything is easier if you have a job. As we begin our third century, we see jobs and entire industries based on knowledge, technology and innovation. And were as likely to be trading with Germany and South Korea as we are with Georgia and South Dakota.

This really hit home to me again on a recent trade relations mission to London. I visited with the CEOs of three major global companies based there:Tate & Lyle  the biggest user of Indiana corn, AcelorMittal  whose Indiana Harbor complex is the largest integrated steelmaking facility in North America, and Rolls-Royce  which makes more of its products here in Indianapolis than anywhere else in the world  and by the way just invested another 600 million dollars here.

These three CEOs all separately shared the same theme with me. Each day they wake with a world view. They must grow their business or die. Which means they have to decide which markets to grow and invest in. Our job is to make sure that when theyre making those decisions they see Indiana as their sweet spot. That said, the heart and soul of our economy is still small business.

Lucas Oil didnt start as a stadium. Forrest Lucas was a truck driver from Ramsey whose trucks kept breaking down  so he created a better oil, which he sold from the trunk of his car. Representative Sharon Negeles candy and custard shops have doubled their revenue and employment over the past 20 years, over in Attica.

Reggie Jones started out working in a McDonalds and now owns seven of them.Sonny Beck started driving a tractor in his dads business in 1940 when he was 5, went all in on a then new technology called hybrid seeds, and last year was chosen as Business Leader of the Year by the Indiana Chamber.

So the question is, what will it take to make Indiana even more of a jobs magnet? A bedrock is to continue to manage our finances with the discipline weve shown over the past 12 years. That means passing another honestly balanced budget and maintaining the Rainy Day Funds at a prudent level with no gimmicks, spending less than we take in, and protecting our future. Thats why I support a balanced budget amendment! This sets us apart from many other states, keeps us in a good position to withstand a future economic downturn, and encourages businesses to locate and stay in Indiana.

Another thing that sets our state apart is our low cost of energy. Indiana runs on coal. Lets apply technology and innovation to find new ways to unleash this abundant source of power by burning coal cleanly while keeping Hoosiers employed and factories humming. At the same time, well grow our 21st century economy by investing in and nurturing entrepreneurship, innovation and technology pursuits.

I propose a plan to make available 1 billion dollars over the next 10 years to make Indiana the capital of innovation and entrepreneurship. This will include: the Next Level Indiana Fund, the 21st Century Fund, and a new grant program to support innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives among higher education and in our local communities.

I will ask you to continue to support the Regional Cities initiative by investing 4 million dollars more in this budget. This will keep the planning and momentum going in other regions of the state that did not receive funding in the programs first round. Ive talked with leaders in the three regions weve funded so far  including Mayors Buttigieg of South Bend, Henry of Ft. Wayne, and Winnecke of Evansville  and theyre all huge believers. Its bringing local officials together, regardless of political persuasion, to coordinate and align their planning efforts as theyve never done before, and every dollar of public funds has generated 14 dollars more in the private, philanthropic, and local communities!

My second pillar is a sustainable plan to fund our roads and bridges for the next 20 years. Were able to drive the goods we produce and grow to 80 percent of the nations population within 24 hours. For Indiana, The Crossroads of America is more than a motto. Its a mission.

I will work with you to establish a plan that preserves what we have, finishes commitments we have made, and invests in the new projects for the future that ensures Indiana remains The Crossroads of America. These include projects in every quadrant of our state: upgrades of US 30 from Ft. Wayne to Valparaiso, and 31 to South Bend, additional lanes on I-70 and I-65 from Jeffersonville to Crown Point, and completing I-69 from Evansville to Ft. Wayne. When it comes to paying for these projects, Im open to a menu of options. The fact is, existing sources of revenue are just not keeping up.

Now, Im a believer that every time you ask a taxpayer for a dollar, you better be darn sure you need it and are going to use it effectively for its intended purpose. And heres a case that if we ask Hoosiers to invest a little more, to meet the need, the return is going to be well worth it  for them, for our communities, and for our economy. In addition to investments in roads and bridges, we must invest in other infrastructure projects that will further separate us from our competition.

Thats why Im asking you to authorize funding to strengthen our connection to our country and the world. This includes double tracking the South Shore Line to improve access for Hoosiers who travel between Northwest Indiana and Chicago and incentives for more direct flights to better connect Hoosiers to national and international markets.These will save us both time and money  but theyre also a critical part of our efforts to attract talent and business to mutually grow.

As I think about the future, it also includes adding a fourth water port in Southeastern Indiana, which will help accelerate economic development and play to our strength in that beautiful part of our state. We also have the responsibility to maintain and strengthen our basic infrastructure that is critical to our communities and our people and yet is showing the strain of age. This may not be sexy but it has to be done. We will pay special attention to our water needs and ensure we have a plan thats efficient, sustainable, and affordable as we move forward.

My third pillar is to develop a 21st century skilled and ready workforce.Our plans need to be comprehensive  beginning with an education system that gives every child a strong start all the way through the training programs that ensure our citizens have the skills they need. Therefore we must make sure that our resources are properly aligned to produce the skill sets our businesses crave and I look forward to working with Representative Huston to develop a plan to create, reconfigure and align workforce development programs and funding so that those needs  of today and tomorrow  are met.But it all starts way before ones first interview, of course. Our most vulnerable children deserve a fair start, too, so Ive called for us to double the states investment in pre-kindergarten to 20 million dollars annually.

We also know that science, technology, engineering and math  the STEM subjects  are critical for 21st century jobs  not just Ph.Ds but a growing number of jobs in all the key sectors of our economy, yet the many statewide efforts to boost STEM education are often independent of each other .So we will invest 1 million dollars each year to lead a statewide effort to better coordinate K-12 STEM education throughout Indiana and tap into the synergy that is within our grasp.At the same time, more than half of Hoosier schools lack wi-fi in their classrooms.

To improve digital connectivity, well increase state funding by 1 million dollars annually to enable more schools to participate in the federal E-rate matching program. Our needs extend well beyond the classroom. Right now there are 30,000 unfilled jobs in Indiana, and some 2 million Hoosiers do not have the education and skills needed for todays jobs.

So well invest some 2 million dollars in this budget to create regional Jobs Ready Grants to help current workers complete credentials or certificates in high-demand, high-wage fields, so they can enter the workforce in more skilled and highly-paid positions. Finally, I propose that the Superintendent of Public Instruction become a position appointed by the Governor  beginning in 2021.

Education is a key to our states future. And Ive long been committed to the notion that, as the states chief executive, the Governor should set education priorities and be held accountable for the results. I have great respect for our new superintendent, Dr. Jennifer McCormick, and look forward to working with her closely over the next four years.But, regardless of party, the Governor should be able to choose his or her key education partner.

My fourth pillar is to attack the drug epidemic.This is a problem that is taking an enormous toll across the country, and Indiana has not escaped the pain. Since the year 2000, deaths from drug overdoses have increased 500 percent, and we are 15th in the country in overdose fatalities. This epidemic causes ripple effects with devastating impacts on our children and families, our cities and towns, our schools and government agencies, our health care system and health care costs for each of us, and our economy.

In typical Hoosier fashion, we have heroes on the front lines saving lives every day. They include the public health nurses who run syringe exchange programs in 9 Indiana counties. Paula Maupin from Fayette County is here with us tonight. Thank you, Paula, for your unwavering service to those who are battling addiction. And thats why we will give county officials authority to establish syringe exchange programs  to ensure that the people making decisions are those closest to the problem.

But we need to do more, much more. So were going to attack this problem on all fronts: prevention, treatment and enforcement. Earlier this month, I announced the creation of a senior executive reporting directly to me to oversee our efforts to deal with this epidemic and Im pleased that Jim McClelland, the former long-time CEO of Goodwill Industries, has agreed to join our team. I cant think of anyone who has a better mix of skills and experience to fill this critical role.We also plan tolimit the amount of controlled substances, prescriptions and refills, enhance penalties for those who commit pharmacy robberies, and upgrade the Indiana State Police labs to fight the drug epidemic. This is a fight we can and we must win if were going to take Indiana to the next level.

My fifth and final pillar is to provide great government service at a great value to taxpayers.Hoosiers deserve to know that their tax dollars are being used responsibly and efficiently. Im going to insist that all of our agency heads be accountable for the programs and services theyre providing. Well measure our progress so that we know if we are providing the service that Hoosiers expect and deserve. One fundamental obligation of government is to take care of those who serve and protect us.

So were going to give a well-deserved pay raise to the Indiana State Police!And every Hoosier understands the special place that veterans have in Indiana. Our state has sent more than our fair share of National Guard troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. Were so honored to have the leader of our Indiana Guard  Indianas Adjutant General, Corey Carr  with us here today. And well honor our veterans and their service by exempting their pensions from state income tax, which will make it easier for them to stay here and attract other Patriots to our great state in their post-military careers.

These five pillars are where our team will focus every day: on ways to take our state to the next level, to make Indiana the very best place to live, work, play and stay. And I invite all of you  and I mean all of you  to join me on this mission.My time in the Navy taught me that each person is vitally important. That you can only fulfill the mission if you know you can count on the people to your left and to your right.

I will continue to reach out to everyone with ideas that can lift all Hoosiers, including those who may not always agree on everything but are willing to find opportunities to solve problems and move our state forward.I will leave you with two quotes from one of the greatest Hoosiers and greatest Americans who ever was, Abraham Lincoln  a man I have studied for many years and who is one of my true heroes.

It was Lincoln who said, The best way to predict your future is to create it.As we lead Indiana into our third century, even as we sustain those many things were doing well, lets not be afraid to think big, be bold, and act with courage.Lincoln also said, Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. Colleagues, you have long shown your commitment to the state we all love. To you, and my fellow Hoosiers, I pledge my full commitment to the work of transforming these promises into reality, and taking Indiana to the next level. God Bless you all and our great state.
CROWN POINT  Democratic election officials hope to do a tummy tuck on their flabby precinct organization to avoid even more radical surgery proposed by Republican legislators.

The bipartisan Lake County Elections Board debated Tuesday a response to House Bill 1147, which Democrats say could eliminate about 290 of the county's 523 voting precincts.

Both Democrats and Republicans agreed Tuesday there needs to be a reduction, but differ on the number of small precincts to be eliminated.

The board also agreed to send downstate its most recent count of active voters in all precincts so the General Assembly can be better guided about the proposed legislation.

However, Michelle Fajman, the county elections director and ranking Democrat on the election board staff, said there were still thousands of voters to be added to the rolls.

Republicans are calling the bill a cost-saving measure to reduce the number of poll workers needed to staff spring primary and fall general elections.

Lake County Councilman Jamal Washington, D-Merrillville, opposes the bill saying it would amount to voter suppression, since it would require more travel for elderly and disabled voters, particularly in minority and low-income neighborhoods of Gary, Hammond and East Chicago.

Pat Gabrione, the ranking Republican for the elections board staff, said the bill will likely eliminate only 140-150 precincts and the county could mitigate travel by relocating new polling places equidistant to all voters in the new system.

House Bill 1147 is sponsored by state Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville. It would define a precinct having fewer than 600 active voters as a candidate for consolidation.

Slager believes Lake County could save up to $200,000 every election year, by matching the 1,200 voters-per-precinct standard generally used throughout the state.

Fajman and other Democratic board members said many precincts around the state are below the 600 voter figure, but the bill only affects Lake County. They say the cost savings would be less than Slager predicts and shouldn't be undertaken without more public input.

Gabrione and Republican board members argue Democrats have been postponing action on precinct reduction for years and only are requesting bi-partisan action now that the Republican-controlled state legislature is forcing their hand.
INDIANAPOLIS  Gov. Eric Holcomb dared state lawmakers Tuesday to create the future by adopting policies, in the spirit of Hoosier pioneers, that continue the task of transforming the promise of Indiana into reality.

In his first State of the State address to the General Assembly, the new Republican chief executive laid out his vision "to take Indiana to the next level," while unequivocally declaring the current condition of the state is "sound."

"As we lead Indiana into our third century, even as we sustain those many things we are doing well, let's not be afraid to think big, be bold and act with courage," Holcomb said.

Leading his agenda is maintaining Indiana's top-ranked business climate through continued responsible budgeting, low-cost energy and state support for entrepreneurship and local quality-of-place investments.

To that end, the governor announced he's backing a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced state budget, as well as committing to promote the use of Indiana's abundant coal reserves even as Hoosier utilities retrofit their power plants to burn cheaper natural gas.

"Leadership is all about continually moving forward, relentlessly looking for ways to improve. We know the world won't stand still, and those who don't keep up will be left behind," Holcomb said.

He endorsed the call for sustainable transportation infrastructure funding, albeit with few details about his support for possible tax increases, to ensure Indiana's roads and bridges remain the "Crossroads of America."

"If we ask Hoosiers to invest a little more, to meet the need, the return is going to be well worth it  for them, for our communities and for the economy," Holcomb said.

In addition, Holcomb reiterated his support for spending $10 million in 2019, and similar amounts in future years, to help pay to double-track the South Shore commuter rail line between Gary and Michigan City to better connect Northwest Indiana residents to high-paying jobs in Chicago, the nation's third-largest economic center.

At the same time, the governor said he wants to develop more quality jobs in Indiana, in part by improving the state's workforce.

He said that means doubling to $20 million a year state spending for a pre-kindergarten program operating in Lake and four other counties, appropriating $2 million for grants to help older workers retrain for new jobs, promoting science education in elementary and high schools and expanding broadband internet access to more rural areas.

Holcomb also said he'd like the post of state superintendent of public instruction to be appointed by the governor, instead of elected by the people, starting in 2021.

To combat Indiana's drug epidemic, Holcomb vowed to focus on prevention, treatment and enforcement, while repeating his intention to make it easier for counties to establish needle-exchange programs.

He also promised to deliver Hoosiers "great government service at a great value" by measuring the outcomes of every state program and making appropriate adjustments, so Hoosiers know their tax dollars "are being used responsibly and efficiently."

"I will continue to reach out to everyone with ideas that can lift all Hoosiers, including those who may not always agree on everything but are willing to find opportunities to solve problems and move our state forward," Holcomb said.

State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, said afterward that Holcomb, who helped many legislators win their seats when he was Indiana Republican Party chairman, struck exactly the right tone.

"He's going to be oriented toward the Legislature and working with us," Slager said. "I think we're going have a very successful session because we're going to be working much closer (with the governor) than we have in the past."

House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, admitted it will be difficult to oppose what he described as Holcomb's nonspecific agenda.

But Pelath believes the governor needs to lead in selling Hoosiers on tax hikes to fund road improvements and not just leave legislative Republicans to "take shrapnel."

"It appears to me that he is not willing to do that," Pelath said.
INDIANAPOLIS  Justice Robert Rucker, a Gary native who has served on the Indiana Supreme Court since 1999, will close the books later this year on a legal career spanning five decades.

Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush announced Wednesday in her annual State of the Judiciary address to the General Assembly that Rucker, who turns 70 on Thursday, will retire soon after participating in oral arguments March 9 at Gary Roosevelt High School.

"Justice Rucker has written 1,235 legal opinions  opinions that are being read in courthouses across the country, including one special courthouse in Lake County, named in his honor," said Rush, who lived in Munster as a child.

"His body of work stands as a powerful illustration of the guidance courts provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes encompassing nearly every facet of Hoosier life."

In particular, Rush identified Rucker's 2007 ruling in Anglemeyer v. State, which clarified the duties of courts in criminal sentencing and has been cited more than 7,000 times by judges throughout the country, as an example of Rucker's ability to put himself in another person's shoes.

"Justice Robert Rucker has always had the courage and fortitude to protect the rights of all, regardless of their state in life," Rush said. "In a word, he has a tremendous sense of humanity."

State Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, who joined his legislative colleagues, members of the judiciary as well as Gov. Eric Holcomb and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch in a sustained standing ovation for Rucker, said the justice's retirement will be a real loss for the Region and the state.

"I've known Bob a long, long, long time," Brown said. "Bob's been good. He's been a classic example of what Lake County represents."

Rucker is the longest-serving current Supreme Court justice, the sole African-American member of the high court and the only remaining justice appointed by a Democratic governor.

He previously was an Indiana Court of Appeals judge from 1991-99, and worked as a deputy Lake County prosecutor, deputy Gary city attorney and in private practice after graduating from Indiana University Northwest and Valparaiso University School of Law following military service in Vietnam.

Rucker did not speak with reporters after Rush confirmed his intent to retire.

Brown said it's unfortunate that Rucker's replacement likely will not be a person of color.

"That is sorely needed on the highest court in the state of Indiana," he said.

Once Rucker's resignation date is set, the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission will solicit applications for the vacancy, interview the candidates and ultimately recommend three potential justices to the governor.

Holcomb, a Republican, then appoints a new justice from the list of three finalists who serves for two years before Hoosier voters decide whether to retain the justice for a renewable 10-year term.
Ogden Dunes resident Joan Machuca is encouraging Hoosiers who cant make it to Saturday's Women's March on Washington to check out Chicago's sister march.

The Womens March on Chicago begins at 10 a.m. along Columbus Drive adjacent to Grant Park and north of Jackson Drive. The march will then proceed west from Columbus onto Jackson Boulevard at 11:30 a.m. and conclude as marchers arrive at Federal Plaza.

It's one of hundreds across the country that coincide with the big event in D.C., she said.

A sister march also is planned from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday in Valparaiso outside the Porter County Courthouse, 16 E. Lincolnway Highway.

"We want to have a presence and make our concerns heard about many issues that affect people in Northwest Indiana," Machuca said. "Immigration, ethnicity, labor rights, education, poverty, and, certainly, womens rights."

A group going to the Chicago march is meeting at the Ogden Dunes South Shore station, 5939 Dunes Highway, in Portage, and traveling via train before gathering at 9:15 a.m. at the Petrillo Bandshell near Monroe Street.

Northwest Indiana attendees are encouraged to wear pink or white hats and scarves to show solidarity, she said. Machuca encouraged other Hoosier men and women to join her group, which will showcase a banner that reads "Northwest Indiana  Women's Issues Matter!"

The more people from Northwest Indiana who rally, the better, she said.

The Chicago march honors but is not directly affiliated with the Women's March on Washington, according to the organizers' website. About 50,000 people are slated to attend.

Editor's note: Organizers for the Chicago march on Thursday changed the starting location due to expectations for a much larger crowd. The story has been updated to reflect those changes.
CROWN POINT  The site plan for a proposed Casey's gas station and convenience store at Broadway and 101st Avenue has been approved by the city's Plan Commission.

The plan was deferred from last month's meeting because of traffic concerns and a design that didn't meet the city's Williamsburg architectural standards along Broadway.

Patrick Moone, engineering manager for Farnsworth Group, the developer's consultant for the project, said the Indiana Department of Transportation turned down the idea of adding a median along Broadway but did approve a right in and right out only turn design for the station on the Broadway side.

Planning Director Anthony Schlueter said the design will feature a "very pronounced, elongated porkchop" to prevent left turns.

As part of it approving the site plan, the commission asked Moone to request from INDOT traffic delineator posts for the curbs of the porkchop. Moone said that decision is entirely up to INDOT.

Despite developers making changes to meet the Williamsburg design standards for the building, the commission said its approval for the site plan is subject to further improvements to the roof dormers by enlarging them and adding definition, and also adding limestone to the poles on the store's canopy.

Commission member Laura Sauerman said she was not thrilled with the design of Casey's but that it was "better than what we were originally given."

The vote passed 5-1, with commission president John Marshall voting no based on the traffic issue. Commission member Dan Rohaley recused himself because of a conflict.
GRIFFITH  Griffith Neighborhood Crime Watch will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at 349 N. Indiana. The group will discuss the latest crime statistics and residents will have the opportunity to voice any concerns about safety in their neighborhood. Officer Borgetti will be present to distribute information about how you can apply to be part of our next Citizen's Police Academy. There also will be a K-9 presentation/information session with Corporal Gutierrrez and his K-9 partner Gino. Call 219-924-7503.
MUNSTER  The Town Council is looking at an ordinance that would put restrictions on a chain or franchise business looking to move into Munster.

The council passed on first reading the Formula Business ordinance Monday night but plans on further discussions before taking it up again for second reading in February or March.

Town Council President Joseph Simonetto, 3rd Ward, said the ordinance may be sent back to the Plan Commission for further tweaking before the council votes on it again, a maneuver which would fall into the 90-day window in which the ordinance may either be passed or rejected. Both Councilman Andy Koultourides, 5th Ward, and Councilman Dave Nellans, 4th Ward, voiced reservations around the ordinance.

The Formula Business Ordinance, according to the towns description, will apply to businesses which use a logo, trademark, service or any other identifying name or symbol that is shared by 15 or more commercial businesses, and which maintains services, decor, business methods, architecture or any other features that are standardized.

All such business will have to apply and obtain a Special Use permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals. A condition of BZA approval would be that said business, often referred to as a franchise, does not have another branch within 15 miles of the proposed location. Variations of the Formula Business ordinance have been used by communities such as Coronado, California, to help preserve a balanced mix of businesses within.

Such an ordinance, which received a favorable vote by the Munster Plan Commission Dec. 13, might also be seen as a boost for so-called mom-and-pop businesses. But, Nellans said, it might end up hurting such businesses.

Many small business owners buy a franchise because the prospect of success might be greater than if they established an independent store on their own. The proposed ordinance might put unwanted restrictions on them. Im not sure if one size fits all, he said.

Im not sure how itll work, Koultourides said. I think I may need a little more time. If the town passes the ordinance unexamined there may be unforeseen consequences. For example, an existing franchise might want to move to another part of town yet find itself stymied by restrictions. Thats my biggest fear.

The next Town Council meeting is at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall meeting room.
Ancient villages in Anhui province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A Chinese architect returns to her homeland to discover the spirit of its vernacular architecture. Xing Yi reports. Xing Yi When Pu Xiaoyi studied architecture in Canada and the United States, she often encountered a question: What are the most typical examples of Chinese architecture?

This pushed Pu to undertake a yearlong project to investigate in depth the myriad types of Chinese vernacular building styles throughout the country.

Her findings are presented in the book Chinese Vernacular Buildings.

The book was published in November by Foreign Languages Press. An English version is expected later this year.

Pu's mission started in 2015. She visited such structures as yaodong, or cave houses, in Northwest China's Shaanxi province; the Hakka people's tulou, which are typically circular, fortified earthen buildings, in East China's Fujian province; and diaojiaolou, the suspended wooden houses in villages belonging to the Miao ethnic group in Southwest China's Guizhou province.

"Vernacular buildings are prototypes of human architecture," Pu said at a book talk at the Yale Center Beijing on Jan 8.

"They cater to residents' material, social and spiritual needs. They are wondrous creations by ordinary people."

The book describes Pu's theory of the "triple-coupling nature of mankind" that examines vernacular buildings through the lenses of physical, sociological and spiritual natures. She explains how these dimensions influence the way people in particular places construct and occupy buildings.
In the early morning hours following Donald Trumps stunning win on election night, Amy Ortiz found herself comforting her distraught 7-year-old daughter, who is half Puerto Rican.

With Trump having campaigned heavily behind anti-immigration rhetoric on his way to the White House, Ortiz said young Ava asked if she had to fear deportation. People born in Puerto Rico are considered U.S. citizens and not subject to deportation, but the average young child typically wouldnt understand this.

I told her, No. No, you were born here," mother recalled. She was deflated (when Trump won).

This Saturday, Ortiz, of Hobart, will join an estimated 200,000 people, from all walks of life, in Washington, D.C., for the Womens March on Washington  the day after Trumps inauguration.

The best way I could think to build her back up is go show her that thousands of women will always be behind her, Ortiz said. Her daughter, husband and a handful of friends will go to D.C., as well.

Organizers predict the large, historic turnout will unite many at the nations capital  though each say they are going for individual reasons. For Ortiz, its a way to counter and reject Trumps demeaning comments toward women on the campaign trail.

I want him to know that were watching him. We want a presence. We want him to be aware that were here, and were not going anywhere, Ortiz said.

But this isn't an anti-Trump protest, organizers said. Event organizers say the goal of the march is to join in diversity, and to stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.

The rally begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Independence Avenue and Third Street near the U.S. Capitol, according to organizers.

Pay it forward

At last count, more than 300 men, women and children have signed up to take charter buses from Portage to D.C. for the march, said Julie Storbeck, of Valparaiso, one of two volunteers organizing bus transportation for Hoosiers.

She and fellow organizer, Rebecca Reiner, have been working behind the scenes for weeks with the Womens March on Washington Indiana Chapter, she said.

The Womens March on Washington Indiana Chapter is 100 percent grassroots, she said. In many cases, individuals who arent traveling to D.C. are sponsoring bus tickets for people who otherwise could not afford to attend, she said.

Three buses will leave 7 p.m. Friday following a farewell dinner at the Neighbors Educational Opportunities building at 5201 U.S. 6, Portage, she said. Portage was chosen because its a central location between Lake and LaPorte counties, she said.

From there, its an approximately 660-mile trek to D.C.

We have three generations going on the bus. Mothers and daughters, and fathers and sons across multiple generations, Storbeck said. I think in a lot of ways we do this to pay it forward to the next generation. Our society made women the caregivers, and we do tend to think about things in a multigenerational caring sort of way.

Detractors have criticized the Womens March, and its organizers, for having too many causes and not enough unity, she said. People have cited many causes for attending, including reproduction rights, gay rights and environmental justice, she said.

They say we dont know what we are marching for. We all have individual passions, but think about it: Every single person on this planet is related to at least one woman, Storbeck said, joking.

The march is inclusive for men, women and children, of all races and backgrounds, she said. Each is fighting for individual values  womens rights, immigration rights, LGBTQ rights, worker rights, racial, social and environmental justice, and access to health care, to name a few.

I want my granddaughter to have the same opportunity (as men) when she enters the workplace, Storbeck said.

Make a difference

Erika Wagner, of Cedar Lake, said shes going to D.C. to set an example for her three growing children  Gabby, 11, Elijah, 9, and Julian, 6.

I want them to know when there are things happening that you dont agree with, you dont have to agree with them and you can stand up and you can make your voice known, and its OK to try to make a difference, Wagner said.

Wagner, who works in social services and often sees firsthand the struggles of low-income families, said she is rallying in D.C. to stand for reproductive rights, gay rights and domestic violence victims.

I want a world for my daughter and for my boys where they can be who they are, whether theyre straight, gay, she said. As long as they are good people, I want them to be free to be who they are.

Listening to Trump on the campaign trail was rough at times for Wagners family, especially her 11-year-old daughter, when Trump would make crude comments about women.

She picked up on some of the comments Trump has made, Wagner said. And for an 11-year-old girl, that took a lot of damage control.

'It was a heartbreak to me'

Kathryn Horst, 33, quickly jumped at the chance to go to Washington, D.C., when a politically active friend from southwest Michigan suggested she join in.

Taking part of a historic day is a great opportunity, she said, to rally against the incoming administration following what she described as a major upset on election night.

It was a heartbreak to me. Being a mother of two young daughters, just the implications that his future picks on the Supreme Court will have  It took me a couple of days to pull myself together, Horst said.

The expectation was that Trump, with vice president nominee Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on the ticket, would handily win a red state like Indiana, but she didnt think a Trump-wins-all scenario was possible.

She said she lives in Lakes of the Four Seasons  a private, gated community in Crown Point.

There are just so many people in (Indiana) who dont care about injustices unless it affects them. We live in Crown Point, such a secluded, privileged area. But I care about, and I want my kids to care about, everyone  gay, trans, bi, people of all colors, shapes and sizes, she said.
LaPorte County sheriff's police on Wednesday identified the three people killed in a crash on U.S. 20, about 3 miles west of Rolling Prairie.

Jeffery Williams, 33, of Gary; Catrina Bontrager, 30, of Goshen; and Michael Nahhas, 23, of Niles, Illinois, died along with a rottweiler puppy in the three-vehicle crash about 1 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Two other people were taken in critical condition to Memorial Hospital of South Bend, police said.

Williams was driving a tan Buick east on U.S. 20 when the car traveled left of center and struck a westbound Hyundai driven by Issa Sweilem, 27, of Niles, Illinois, police said. The impact caused a chain-reaction crash involving two other westbound vehicles: a gray Infiniti and gray Kenworth semitrailer.

Williams and Bontrager, his passenger, died at the scene from blunt force trauma, police said.

Sweilem's front seat passenger, Nahhas, also died at the scene from blunt force trauma. Sweilem and rear seat passenger Joseph Ghandour, 26, of Niles, Illinois, were hospitalized in critical condition. The puppy that died was in their vehicle.

Mark Moore, 48, of Chicago, the driver of the Infiniti refused medical treatment, police said.

Ronald Rector, 61, of Fair Oaks, the semitruck driver, also refused medical treatment. Police credited Rector with preventing other vehicles from being struck by driving into an embankment on the south side of U.S. 20.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but drugs and alcohol have been ruled out because of test results, police said.

Police shut down U.S. 20 for nearly five hours during the crash investigation and cleanup.
PORTAGE  A man wanted in connection with the shooting of a 20-year-old Portage man Jan. 7 at his home has been arrested.

Portage police on Wednesday also announced that arrest warrants were issued for two more men in connection with the shooting.

Brandon Raynard Crenshaw, 20, of Gary, and Jamel Donjuan Woodley, 19, of South Bend, both have been charged with burglary and robbery.

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams said the men are being sought and should be considered armed and dangerous. He said he does not believe they are in the Portage area.

Isaih Darnell-Lenburg, 19, of Portage, charged last week with aiding an aggravated battery, was arrested in Orland Park, Illinois, at his girlfriend's home. Williams said he was being held at the Cook County Jail awaiting extradition back to Porter County.

According to court documents, Darnell-Lenburg is believed to have driven the getaway car after the shooting.

Police said the victim, who lives in the 1700 block of Lincoln Street, was apparently shot with some type of high-powered rifle. Police believe he was shot in the back and the bullet exited from his lower pelvic region.

Police were called at 12:24 p.m. Jan. 7 to the 1700 block of Lincoln Street for a report of a gunshot in the area.

A witness told police she was inside her home, heard a loud noise outside, and went to her window, where she saw the victim lying on his back in the driveway. She said he struggled to get to his feet, and eventually crawled into his breezeway. She said she saw other men in the breezeway "acting frantic."

According to court documents, an SUV pulled up in front of the house and two of the men in the driveway left with the driver of the SUV. Police said another man at the scene tried to catch up with the vehicle but was left behind. He ran from the area, police said.

The victim told police the three "intruders" broke into his home while he was asleep and beat him up. He told police the driver of the SUV was Darnell-Lenburg, who was described as the victim's friend.

The victim told police the intruders were wearing all black and ski masks and that he did not recognize them.

According to court documents, detectives learned that Darnell-Lenburg's mother owned an SUV that matched the description given by witnesses.

Anyone with information regarding the suspects should contact Capt. Joe Reynolds at 219-764-5704, or leave a message at the Portage Police Department Facebook page.

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Arrest made in Portage shooting
If youre looking to do something special with someone special, here are some places in the Region to plan a memorable night out.
ROME  Three strong earthquakes shook central Italy in the space of an hour Wednesday, striking the same region that suffered a series of deadly quakes last year and further isolating towns that have been buried under more than a meter (3 feet) of snow for days.

Premier Paolo Gentiloni said it appeared no one was killed, but that it was a "difficult day" for Italy.

RELATED | Death Toll Continues to Rise After Central Italy Rocked by 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake

The first tremor, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3, hit Montereale at about 10:25 a.m. (0925 GMT), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A second quake with a magnitude of 5.7 hit the same area about 50 minutes later, and 10 minutes later a third was measured at magnitude 5.3.

Several towns and hamlets in the quake zone had already sounded the alarm in recent days that they were without electricity and were isolated from highways due to the unusually heavy snowfall that has blanketed much of central Italy.

The quakes only made matters worse, knocking out some cell phone service, hampering emergency responses and sending quake-weary residents into panic.

"The situation is really getting extreme," said the mayor of Canzano, Franco Campitelli. "It's snowing hard. We're without electricity. We hope the army gets here soon with snow plows or we risk being completely isolated," he told Sky TG24.

The quakes, which had their epicenters in the L'Aquila region, were felt as far away as Rome, 150 kilometers (100 miles) to the southwest.

In the Italian capital, the subway was closed as a precaution, parents were asked to pick up their children from some schools, and offices, banks and shops were evacuated temporarily.

But elsewhere in Rome at the Vatican, Pope Francis' Wednesday general audience went off without a hitch.

Dozens of aftershocks continued to rock the area. The mountainous region was slammed by three quakes last year, killing nearly 300 people in and around the medieval town of Amatrice and causing significant damage to older buildings. The tower of one of Amatrice's churches toppled in Wednesday's quakes.

L'Aquila itself suffered a devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake in 2009 that killed more than 300 people.

Mayor Maurizio Pelosi of Capitagno, near the epicenter of Wednesday's quakes, said even before the earth shook many roads into and out of the town were blocked due to the snow.

A hotel worker in town, Giuseppe Di Felice, told state-run RAI radio people couldn't get out of their homes. "It's apocalyptic," he said.
The former Democratic leader of the State Senate, John Sampson, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for his alleged theft of money tied to the foreclosure sales of Brooklyn properties he was appointed to oversee. Grace Rauh filed the following report.

A federal judge sentenced former Brooklyn state Senator John Sampson to five years in prison. He's the fifth former legislative leader to be sentenced to time behind bars in the last three and a half years.

"Let me just say this. We started out with 11 counts. Mr. Sampson was sentenced today on three counts. And we look forward to the appeal," said Nick Akerman, a lawyer for John Sampson.

Sampson was convicted in 2015 on one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of lying to federal investigators. He was accused of stealing money from the foreclosure sales of properties he was appointed to oversee. Prosecutors say he used some of the cash to bankroll his failed campaign for Brooklyn district attorney in 2005.

The charges related to the alleged theft were ultimately dropped by the judge, due to the statute of limitations law.

"Mr. Sampson was an attorney in long standing and a former state senator who abused essentially every position that he had of trust for his own good," said Robert Capers, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District.

In Brooklyn federal court Wednesday, Sampson told the judge, "I apologize for my actions, but most of all I apologize for not respecting others."

"We are pleased with what occurred today, and we hope it sends the clear message to those who hold positions of trust to focus on preserving that public trust. Don't use these positions of trust to further your own personal goals," Capers said.

Last year, former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was sentenced to 12 years in prison and former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to five. In 2015, former state Senate Majority leader Malcolm Smith got seven years behind bars, and in 2013, former state Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. was sentenced to five.

Sampson is scheduled to turn himself in on April 21.
COTONOU, Benin  This is not about secretive mutterings in the dead of night or freakish eccentrics, explained Dah Aligbonon Akpochihala, an eminent voodoo priest who has taken to the airwaves to preach the old messages of faith, fidelity and obedience integral to his religion. It is about bringing a younger generation on board.

Voodoo is sabotaged, demonized, as if there was nothing good in it, Mr. Aligbonon said in his austere office  a bare, whitewashed room, with a cracked linoleum floor and disused fan.

A slight, mild-mannered aristocrat in a blue robe, Mr. Aligbonon maintains his modest cinder-block temple on a busy commercial street in this bustling commercial capital, one of the continents major ports. The temple sits between a beauty parlor and a hardware stall, and offers spiritual consultation and ceremonies to Mami Wata (a water divinity)  along with photocopying, binding services and CDs in the Fon language of Mr. Aligbonons broadcasts. Chickens peck in the courtyard  they have multiple uses, food and sacrifice  laundry hangs on the rack and a baby bawls from within.

This mundanity is testimony enough to the integration of voodoo, or vodoun, into daily life in Benin, the country that claims to have given birth to the religion. Underneath the Christian and Muslim surface, the old-time faith persists for many here, experts on voodoo say.
ZINDER, Niger  Wars keep children out of school. So does sickness. But in Niger, a sun-baked land where drought occurs with alarming frequency, a major impediment to education is thirst and the long trek required to quench it.

The school day had already begun on a recent morning as a procession of small children on donkeys, school-age all, made their way over a sandy field, joining other youths gathered with their animals around deep holes in the ground.

As low rainfall has dried up the countryside, the search for water has become ever more difficult. The job of securing water frequently falls to Nigers children, some as young as 10 or 11. They ride donkeyback as much as five miles out of town, with giant plastic jerrycans, half as high as the children themselves, strapped to the animals sides. The more they work, the emptier become the classrooms of eastern Niger.

It is my parents who send me, said Sani Abdu, 11, a boy in a blue T-shirt, squinting through one eye in the bright morning sun. Swelling had closed the other. It would be 10 a.m. before he made it from the muddy wells in Baban Tapki, at the edge of Zinder, to his rural school, two hours late. He envied those not burdened with water duty, or corvee de leau, as it is referred to here  the trek, and then the lowering of bowls or buckets, by rope, into the deep wells. It is laborious and treacherous, with children sometimes losing their footing and falling in.
HOUSTON  The rich oil and gas fields of the Algerian Sahara have always posed a challenge for global oil companies and their field workers. One of the most inhospitable environments on the face of the earth, the stony lands bake at 120 degrees in summer and chill to well below freezing in the winter. In spring and fall they are whipped by vicious sandstorms.

But at least the remote production sites were considered safe  until now.

Protected by crack Algerian security forces, foreign companies have operated for more than a decade in what they thought was a security cocoon, even as the instability of the Arab Spring blossomed all around them. But that image has evaporated, like a fleeting desert mirage.

Taking no chances, the companies evacuated scores of employees from Algeria on Thursday after the attack and hostage-taking at one of those camps, the remote In Amenas natural gas field. Only a handful of companies acknowledged that they were removing personnel, but local oil executives said foreign oil service companies were in the process of quietly removing several hundred workers until they were confident that the security situation was stable.

Statoil, the Norwegian oil company that partnered with BP in the In Amenas field that was attacked by militants, said it would remove 40 nonessential employees working at three gas facilities by Thursday night. BP said it was evacuating an undisclosed number of administrative workers, and Spains Compania Espanola de Petroleos announced that it was removing its field workers from two Algerian facilities in the desert.
If volunteers can find 53 unwrapped syringes along a small stretch of beach in just four hours, how many more are out there?

Thats a question Tony Soriano, chairman of the Surfrider Foundations Huntington Beach/Seal Beach chapter, is asking after volunteers found those at Bolsa Chica State Beach during a Saturday cleanup.

Its unclear whether they were used or unused. Some syringes had needles; others did not. Some had caps; others didnt.

At the same time, across the Santa Ana River mouth at Huntington State Beach, other volunteers with Orange County Coastkeeper scooped up trash and collected another 35 syringes.

A few weeks ago, about 75 syringes were found near the Santa Ana River inlet on the Newport Beach side.

Its not good, Soriano said. Especially when people are walking on the beach, this thing could be sticking up in the sand and the needles can go in their foot. I think people are starting to understand theres a bigger problem out here.

While its not uncommon for a few syringes to pop up during beach cleanups, the number found in recent weeks is unprecedented, the volunteers said.

County officials and lifeguards have warned people to stay away from syringes and contact the local city, the county or its Health Care Agency if they come across them on the sand.

California Department of Parks and Recreation spokesman Kevin Pearsall said the number of syringes found last weekend isnt surprising.

Its almost unfortunate that we expect it every winter. As shocking as it originally was, he said, now, its every winter. If you cant figure out the source, the only thing you can do is educate people to be as cautious as possible.

He said beachgoers should never touch the syringes and that lifeguard vehicles all have biohazard containers for disposal, as does the kiosk at the state beachs entrances.

In December, after beachgoers playing with their dogs reported a large number of them in Newport Beach, the county closed off a stretch of sand to investigate and found 45 more. Lifeguards reported finding a dozen more farther down the beach, and a cleanup a day after produced about another 20.

Its unclear where they are coming from. The homeless encampments that have sprouted up along the riverbeds? Soriano said it might be a case of illegal dumping of medical waste. He plans to inspect the needles for serial numbers to track their origin.

He would like government agencies to post warnings to beachgoers.

Its like a shark sighting or the imperfections of the water quality, he said.

Lauren Smith, volunteer coordinator for Orange County Coastkeeper, said the 35 syringes found Saturday at Huntington State Beach near the Santa Ana River are the most the volunteer group, which meets once a month at the same location, has ever found.

Most of them were in the sand and in the rocks, or around the fire pits, which is kind of scary, she said. A lot of the public walks around there without their shoes on, which is definitely a safety concern.

Volunteers reported the whereabouts to Coastkeeper staffers, who collected the syringes in a bottle and passed on their findings to the parks department.

On Saturday, hundreds of volunteers hit the Orange County coast, combing the sand for trash after recent rains flushed tons of it to the beach.

At Bolsa Chica, Surfrider had 150 volunteers and collected 682 pounds. The Coastkeeper cleanup on the Huntington Beach side of the Santa Ana River had 250-plus volunteers who picked up 550 pounds. And at another cleanup, in Laguna Beach and hosted by the Eco-Warrior Foundation, 344 volunteers picked up 571 pounds of trash.

Volunteers came across tires; a toilet seat cover; metal stakes; diapers; plastic bottles; straws; Christmas ornaments; a few Christmas trees; one big, stuffed Winnie the Pooh bear; and condoms.

A friend of mind took his two young daughters and he came up to me and said, Wow, I came to a beach cleanup and now I have to talk about the birds and the bees. He was shocked, said Eco-Warrior Foundation founder James Pribram. Go to a beach cleanup, you never know whats going to happen.

Contact the writer: lconnelly@scng.com
As tickets quickly sold out to U2s previously announced date on May 20 at the Rose Bowl, the ginormous rock band added a second date to The Joshua Tree tour at the Pasadena stadium on May 21.

Tickets for the second and final show are $35-$280 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday at 800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com.

During this limited run of stadium gigs, U2 will perform its fifth studio album The Joshua Tree in its entirety as 2017 marks the 30th anniversary of the release that spawned hits like With or Without You, Where the Streets Have No Name and I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For.

U2s stadium jaunt follows its highly technical iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE arena tour in 2015 in support of its surprise-drop 13th studio album, Songs of Innocence. The Joshua Tree Tour kicks off on May 12 in Vancouver and then runs across the United States, including U2s first-ever U.S. headlining appearance at a festival as the group is confirmed for the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee this summer. Rock band the Lumineers will serve as the opening act for both shows at Rose Bowl, which is located at 1001 Rose Bowl Drive in Pasadena.

Contact the writer: 714-796-3570 or kfadroski@ocregister.com
Thousands of Covered California enrollees face higher-than-expected bills from their insurers because the exchange sent incorrect tax credit information to the health plans.

The exchange confirmed it gave insurers wrong subsidy information for about 25,000 policy holders, resulting in inaccurate bills. Insurers are now sending out new bills correcting the errors, and in most cases that means higher premiums than consumers had initially anticipated.

It feels like this is a bait-and-switch, said Beth Freeman, 53, of San Bruno. Now what am I going to do? I dont know if I can afford it.

Freeman said she owes about $330 per month more on her premium than she had expected.

Covered California said it doesnt know what caused the problem. We are focused on reaching (enrollees) and making sure they know what to expect, said spokeswoman Lizelda Lopez. We will do an analysis afterward to understand all the details.

Lopez said Covered California originally sent consumers their correct tax credit amounts in notices during the renewal period, but it gave the incorrect amounts to their insurers.

However, Kevin Knauss, an insurance agent in Sacramento, said a Covered California representative told him in a phone conversation that consumers had found incorrect tax credit amounts when they signed onto their online Covered California accounts.

Tax credits are the income-based subsidies that about 90 percent of Covered California enrollees receive to lower their monthly premiums.

In another mistake related to tax credits, Covered California discovered in December that about 24,000 policy holders hadnt provided consent for the agency to verify their income, even though the agency thought they had. Without that consent, thousands of consumers lost their 2017 tax credits, at least temporarily.

I dont know whats going on, Knauss said. 2015 and 2016 went fairly smoothly. Now were starting to see these weird glitches.

Lopez said most consumers affected by the latest mistake will owe more out of pocket than they originally thought, and that health plans are entitled to bill them for the difference.

Some may, she said. Some may not.

The recent tax credit error has left consumers like Freeman feeling shocked and frustrated.

She had struggled through administrative headaches with her Covered California plan last year, so when it came time to renew it  or choose a new one  for 2017, I was very cautious and nervous. I shopped around and got information from the folks at Covered California and Blue Shield, she said.

She said Covered California gave her inconsistent information about the amount of tax credits she would receive. So she called the exchange twice to confirm the number, and was told both times it would be $800 a month. That was more than she expected, and it allowed her to afford a more expensive plan with better coverage, she said.

After receiving an updated bill last week that showed her actual tax credits were hundreds of dollars less than expected, Freeman called Covered California again and was told the problem had been caused by a computer data error, she said. The agent told her there was nothing Covered California could do, and she should try to negotiate directly with Blue Shield, she said.

I subscribed to Blue Shield based on the information given to me and confirmed by Covered California, she said. Its unethical that Covered California is unwilling to accommodate me so I can stay in my contracted plan.

If their updated premiums are unaffordable, theres still time for enrollees to switch health plans before open enrollment ends on Jan. 31, Knauss said.

But Freeman already has seen new doctors with her new plan. Why must the consumer carry the burden of these errors? she asked.

Covered California continues to mismanage and, worse, misinform the public when they make errors. And theres no accountability, no follow up.

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Visiting New York City last week with his family, 11-year-old Orange County middle schooler Carson Kropfl rode his skateboard boldly into Trump Tower.

The San Clemente surfer/skater passed calmly through security, rode around some more, located a Trump Tower napkin at the Trump Bar and scrawled a personal note on it for President-elect Donald Trump. Carsons parents Keith and Carrie Kropfl stood back and recorded his escapade on video.

Dear Mr. President, the note said, your son needs one of my Locker Board skateboards to skate the White House. Can I send him one? Shred hard, Carson.

Kropfl, whose first day of middle school had convinced him last fall that there must be a market for a mini skateboard that can fit into a sixth-graders backpack and locker, has become the inventor of the Locker Board.

Just in case the new leader of the free world hasnt seen one of Carsons YouTube videos, Carson scribbled his website lockerboard.net on the napkin, leaving the note with one of Trumps security personnel.

Carson said this week that he hasnt heard back from the president-elect, yet, but that may be understandable. Hes got a few other things hes working on, Carrie Kropfl said.

Carson, however, has built five Locker Boards with Trumps youngest son Barron  who is about his age  in mind. The Kropfls wonder which color is Barrons favorite. Carson said he is prepared to ship one to the White House.

Visiting Trump Tower wasnt actually the Kropfl familys reason for flying to the Big Apple. Fox TVs Harry Connick Jr. had discovered the Locker Board online and invited Carson and his parents to New York  air and hotel paid  so Carson could appear on the Harry Show as a Biz Kid to Be.

Carson didnt realize it until he got into the studio, but he was in competition that day with two other entrants for a $10,000 prize and a $50,000 branding package. Although his Locker Board sales pitch was trumped by another team, he came home with a $1,000 consolation prize, a Motorola camera phone and newfound reinforcement that he is onto something good.

On the day after the show was taped, Carson was skating through Central Park when he rolled up to a man on a bench holding a big snake  maybe a python. The man wrapped it around Carsons neck. The boy got a little nervous, handing the man his Locker Board. The Central Park personalitys reaction was priceless.

No! he proclaimed. Youre the Locker Board kid thats on the news!

On Monday, Carson was back at home, surrounded by Shorecliffs Middle School classmates in the den to watch his appearance on the Harry Show and share his joy.

His friends own Locker Boards. They remember when Carsons parents had told him he needed to do chores to earn money to pay for his surf contest fees and surf lessons. I hate doing chores, hed said at the time.

That was when he decided to pursue in earnest his idea for a locker-sized skateboard.

He collected used skateboard decks. He experimented shaving them down into various shapes until he found one that proved surprisingly easy to ride. He could even do kick flips on them. With help from Mom, he launched a website. An Orange County Register article generated nationwide responses. Carsons YouTube videos sent the buzz worldwide.

He initially recycled skateboard decks to sell for $20, then began installing trucks and wheels on them so he could sell a complete Locker Board for $99. Biggest challenge was finding enough donated old decks to keep up with demand.

Carson said he has sold about 125 Locker Boards so far, has shipped them nationwide, has donated 30 boards to charities and has netted a profit of $2,700. He is donating 10 percent to the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation run by San Clemente pro surfing brothers Dane, Patrick and Tanner Gudauskas.

Carsons 2017 goal, he said, is to build the brand, partner with a manufacturer to produce a fully fabricated version to sell alongside his recycled decks, and inspire kids to work hard, shred hard, dream hard and play hard.

Oh, and theres the small matter of getting a Locker Board into Barron Trumps hands. Carrie Kropfl thinks it could happen.

I had no idea any of this would happen, she said. I didnt even think he would get into Trump Tower. Who knows? You might as well try, right?

T-SHIRT CONTEST

Carsons invitation: Design Locker Boards next T-shirt

The deal: Winner gets $100, a Locker Board and 10 of the shirts

Contestants: Must be under 18

Artwork is due: Feb. 3

Winner announced: Feb. 14

Details: lockerboard.net

Contact the writer: fswegles@scng.com or 949-492-5127
SANTA ANA  Three days before Donald Trump assumes the presidency, Orange Countys second-largest city has enacted a law making it a sanctuary for all residents, regardless of immigration status.

The Santa Ana City Council, which unanimously approved the sanctuary ordinance on first reading Dec. 20, on Tuesday voted 6-0 to adopt it, with Councilman Vincent Sarmiento absent.

The ordinance requires the city to implement policies that include prohibiting the use of city resources for immigration enforcement, protecting sensitive information, preventing biased-based policing and directing law enforcement officials to exercise discretion to cite and release individuals instead of detaining them at a local facility or county jail based on the nature of the alleged crime.

RELATED: Being a sanctuary city: What it means, what cities can do, and what they cant

It also calls for the city to provide more training for affected employees and establish a task force made up of community members to advise the City Council on policies related to the ordinance.

Heeding pleas from residents during public comment, council members on Dec. 20 removed the exceptions allowing the use of city resources in the cases of criminal defendants.

Councilman David Benavides, the lead author of the ordinance, said Santa Ana police officers were able to exercise discretion and provide sensitive information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but now would be breaking the law if they did so.

Benavides said Santa Ana needs to continue being a haven for immigrants  who make up about 46 percent of the citys population  and that in light of Trumps election, We will continue to look at ramping up our policies, such as the one today.

Trump has expressed opposition to sanctuary policies and in October released his 100-day action plan to Make America Great Again, stating that he will cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities.

Roberto Herrera, community engagement advocate for the immigrants rights activist group Resilience OC, said his organization is proud of this moment.

For us, its about shifting the narrative. Trump is asking to deport the most vulnerable, Herrera said. For us, Santa Ana will stand strong and be there for us, for the most vulnerable.

Last year, Santa Ana received $123 million in federal grants, of which $66.8 million is recurring.

Regarding a potential loss of federal funding, Acting City Manager Gerardo Mouet on Tuesday said: Im not worried about that based on my reading.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7762 or jkwong@ocregister.com or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong
SANTA ANA  City Manager David Cavazos will be relieved of his duties but will receive a severance payout, council members decided Tuesday just a few weeks after he was placed on paid administrative leave by a new council majority.

On a 4-2 vote, the City Council agreed with Cavazos to an immediate separation on amicable terms, City Attorney Sonia Carvalho reported out of closed session that lasted just under two hours. Cavazos supporters Sal Tinajero and David Benavides opposed, while Vincent Sarmiento was absent.

Cavazos had at-will employment subject to termination without cause, Carvalho said, and the separation agreement includes severance consistent with his contract.

RELATED: How a violent month in Santa Ana set the stage for Council infighting, election angst and jobs possibly lost

His severance package is roughly $315,000 with about $3,500 in attorney fees and a payout of his accrued vacation benefit, Councilman Jose Solorio said.

Since Cavazos salary  as well as that of Acting City Manager Gerardo Mouet  were already in the city budget, there will be no significant net increase in cost to the city when it pays the severance to City Manager Cavazos, Solorio said in an email Tuesday.

Solorio said there were concerns about a report from Cavazos and Police Chief Carlos Rojas last fall that said crime in Santa Ana was at a historic low, when it generally failed to include crime statistics from 2013 to 2016.

In addition, Solorio said Cavazos and Rojas recently gave permission to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to add more than 40 detainees from Haiti into Santa Ana City Jail. The City Council recently voted to phase out the contract with ICE.

Last June, Cavazos was publicly censured by the International City/County Management Association for having a relationship with a subordinate Santa Ana employee, an investigation Pulido initiated.

Five votes were needed to terminate the city manager, but four were sufficient for administrative leave.

Council members Mayor Miguel Pulido, Juan Villegas, Solorio and Michele Martinez voted 4-0 on Dec. 28 to place Cavazos on leave as the council reviewed and investigated current and former issues arising from his personal performance evaluations, including but not limited to the impacts of personal workplace relationships and the development of a romantic relationship policy, Carvalho reported after that days closed session meeting.

Cavazos supporters Tinajero and Benavides have alleged that his ouster is payback of a political debt. Tinajero, Benavides and Sarmiento were on vacation when Pulido called the special meeting during a holiday week.

This was a blatant hijacking of the city government, Tinajero said on the dais Tuesday before going into closed session.

Pulido, Villegas and Solorio were backed by the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, which spent hundreds of thousands of dollars leading up to the November election and which has been critical of the police chief.

Tinajero accused Pulido and police union President Gerry Serrano of agreeing to a quid pro quo to replace Cavazos with a city manager who would fire the police chief.

Pulido has not admitted to an alliance with the police union. Pulido deferred questions on the separation agreement to the city attorney.

In his first meeting with newly elected council members on Dec. 20, Villegas, an Orange County sheriffs officer, agendized an evaluation of Cavazos, and no action was taken with all members present.

Cavazos is Santa Anas highest-paid city manager ever, with a salary of $343,225 and $18,485 in benefits per year, according to latest figures from Deputy City Manager Robert Cortez.

The former city manager could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. But based on the separation agreement, he appeared to have had a change of heart over the past weeks on staying with the city.

When reached by phone the afternoon he was placed on leave, Cavazos told the Register: All I can say is, I didnt have a chance to be at the meeting and Im committed to Santa Ana, and Im very grateful for all the people who spoke on my behalf and we made tremendous progress in the last three years.

Four people spoke in support of Cavazos during public comment prior to the closed session convening, fewer than at the Dec. 28 meeting when more than a dozen activists and leaders in the business community praised him for bringing the city back from the brink of bankruptcy to a surplus.

Benavides said before the meeting Tuesday, If Miguel succeeds in running out the city manager, Im hopeful we will have someone who can bring stability, public service to the community.

Right now we have a lot of uncertainty in the federal government with the Trump administration  very similar to what the city of Santa Ana is experiencing now with Miguel and his power grab, Benavides said.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7762 or jkwong@ocregister.com or on Twitter: @JessicaGKwong
c.2017 New York Times News Service

(Web Summary: The president of Iran said the nuclear deal could not be modified, in part because it was also signed by Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.)

TEHRAN, Iran  Even if President-elect Donald Trump would want to, there is no chance of renegotiating the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, the countrys president, Hassan Rouhani, said Tuesday.

Mr. Trump says things like that he is not happy with the nuclear deal, or he calls it the worst agreement, Rouhani said. These are more like slogans. I consider it unlikely that anything will happen in practice.

On numerous occasions Trump has called the nuclear agreement a really, really bad deal, and has said that he may want to renegotiate its terms after he is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on Friday.

His pick for defense secretary, James N. Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general, has been critical of Iran and the deal, but he contradicted Trump during his confirmation hearing last Thursday in Washington. He said the incoming administration should respect the nuclear agreement.

I think this is an imperfect arms control agreement  its not a friendship treaty, Mattis said. But when America gives her word, we have to live up to it and work with our allies.

Irans president said going back on the deal was impossible as it was not a bilateral agreement between Iran and the United States, but a multilateral one, also signed by Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

Renegotiating is like saying that we should turn a shirt back to cotton, Rouhani said during a news conference commemorating the anniversary of the deals implementation.

Under the agreement, Iran suspended and dismantled a large part of its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of many  but not all  sanctions against the country. Hard-liners and a growing group of ordinary Iranian citizens, however, say they are not seeing any benefits from the agreement.

Rouhani, fending off domestic critics, pointed out to his audience that Iran was now able to sell $70 billion worth of oil until the end of the Iranian calendar year, on March 20. Without the deal, that would have been $32 or $33 billion, he said. If not for the deal, where would we have deducted this money from? From nurses, from teachers salary? Put health and treatment projects on hold?

What were we to do? he added.
CHINO  With basically one last appeal to save their top-scoring but embattled charter school, Oxford Preparatory Academy officials have devised a recovery plan.

When the San Bernardino County school board decided not to hear Oxford Preparatory Academys appeal Jan. 3, Oxford Preps options narrowed. If unsuccessful, the school is set to close June 30.

A new plan aims to try to remedy issues cited by auditors and the Chino Valley Unified School Board, which rejected the schools request for a charter extension two different times in 2016.

Founded in 2010 by former Chino Valley Unified principal Sue Roche, the school initially had a warm relationship with the district, with Superintendent Wayne Joseph arguing the school board should approve its initial charter and then its first renewal charter.

But things went downhill in a hurry in 2016, when district officials became concerned about Roche setting up for-profit companies that provided services to Oxford Preparatory, thus turning public school tax dollars into private profit.

An audit released in November by the states Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team  made up of financial staff from school districts across the state  accused Roche of laundering money through one such company, Edlighten Learning Solutions.

A new independent audit commissioned by Oxford, which also has two campuses in Orange County, shows Edlighten still controls $900,000 in Oxford funds, according to Joseph.

After the district denied Oxfords renewal request for the first time, the school appealed the decision to the county school board and severed its relationship with Roche and Edlighten. But since the appeal was based on a now-outdated version of the charter which included the relationship to Edlighten, the county and later state boards opted not to take up the appeal, and Oxford went back to the district with their new and revised charter application, which the board then rejected in November.

Based on the FCMAT audit, the district attorneys of San Bernardino and Orange counties are looking at potential criminal charges. And that scrutiny led the county school board to pass on hearing Oxfords appeal once more.

Oxford Preparatorys recovery plan tackles the criticisms head on, addressing 20 points raised by the two audits as well as other complaints made about the board. The Oxford school boards plan includes better internal financial controls, including:

 Requiring two executives to approve any expenditure of $10,000 or more

 Reviewing agreements with contractors to eliminate any self-dealing or inappropriate relationships between the schools and vendors

 Beginning the legal process to recover funds still controlled by Edlighten

 Replacing the board and ranking school executives with new people unconnected to Roche

 Taking measures to improve transparency

Oxford has historically been one of the top-scoring schools in San Bernardino County, and was both the highest-scoring charter school and top K-8 school overall in the county on last years California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress math and English test scores.

As of mid-December, 393 of the schools 1,100 students have asked to transfer to schools within the Chino Valley Unified School District, according to Joseph.
NEWPORT BEACH  The Federal Aviation Administration is holding virtual and in-person workshops to inform the public about its new nationwide air traffic control procedures and the possible impacts to John Wayne Airport and nearby communities.

Agency representatives are providing information and answering questions Thursday and Feb. 1 about proposed changes that are part of the Metroplex project.

 The first workshop on Thursday, from 6 to 7:15 p.m., will be available via online and by phone. Instructions on how to join the meeting are available at newportbeachca.gov.

 A second meeting is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at the OASIS Senior Center, 801 Narcissus Ave., in Corona del Mar.

The project is an FAA initiative to modernize air traffic control systems by shifting from a ground-based system to a satellite-based one at six major airports and 15 smaller ones in Southern California.

The flight path changes are expected to increase noise from aircraft departing JWA in certain neighborhoods and reduce the noise in others.

The FAAs plan has come under fire from Newport Beach residents and city officials, who claim an environmental impact review was fast-tracked, only vague descriptions of the changes have been released and potential impacts have not been adequately reviewed.

Newport Beach officials have said the changes would result in flights flying down the middle of Upper Newport Bay, over Newport Dunes and across Balboa Island and the Peninsula.

In October, Newport Beach filed a lawsuit against the FAA over the planned changes. Laguna Beach and Orange County have also filed suits against the FAA.

The FAA project will allow air traffic controllers to create more direct routes and reduce the number of miles flown, according to the agency.

Long Beach Airport and JWA will be discussed at both meetings. The first workshop will also discuss the Fullerton Municipal Airport, Torrance Airport and the Los Alamitos Airfield.

The effort will provide savings on fuel, reduce carbon emissions and will lead to fewer flight delays, according to the FAA. The project is being implemented through April.

Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@scng.com
Lake Forest resident Siobahn Hickey thought taking a group of Girl Scouts to the inauguration would be a great way to get them started on their Discover the Nations Capital Patch program.

And while theyre at it, she figured, they would get the chance to meet some of the nations women in politics.

Hickey, leader of Girl Scout Troop 939, along with four other troop leaders, three parent chaperones and 19 Girl Scouts from Orange County troops, are in Washington, D.C. until Sunday, taking in the inauguration and other activities.

Julie Weeks, vice president of marketing and communications for Girl Scouts of Orange County, said the trip is a reflection of the organizations goal of building go-getters, innovaters, risk-takers and leaders.

A trip like this helps our girls to see how democracy works through specific engagements, allows them to see women in leadership positions and learn about the democratic process and civic engagement, Weeks said.

The group of 6th- to 10th-graders, representing 15 troops from as far north as Brea and Yorba Linda and south to Laguna Niguel, is the only registered, organized Girl Scout group from Orange, Los Angeles or San Diego counties to see the inauguration live, Hickey said.

The girls took off from Los Angeles International Airport Wednesday night. But before they left they met with Senator Janet Nguyen, R-Fountain Valley, on Jan. 7.

The Girl Scouts will meet other female politicians Washington, Hickey said.

I am hoping the girls see that we are in control of our future and our own actions are how we direct the path we want to follow, she said.

The trip has been in the works since August, Hickey said. Some of the funding for the trip was paid out of family money, while others used product sales from Girl Scout cookies and fall products.

During their time in Washington, the Girl Scouts will visit and tour the Pentagon and the Smithsonian before taking in the Inauguration and the Inaugural Ball Friday evening, Hickey said.

On Saturday, they will visit the Capitol Building, Mt. Vernon, the U.S. Supreme Court and the Library of Congress.

After a visit to the Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday, the group will return home.

Hopefully its a trip theyll never forget, Weeks said.

Contact the writer: npercy@scng.com
SANTA ANA  Community groups that serve residents who have gained health insurance through Obamacare said Tuesday they will fight Republican efforts to overturn the Affordable Care Act.

In a press conference at the LGBT Center in downtown Santa Ana, representatives said the future of millions of Americans is in jeopardy if they lose coverage that keeps them healthy for work or school. Last week, Congress took the initial steps to roll back the law.

Were mobilizing here, said Jessica Fernandez director of communications for The Childrens Partnership, a California advocacy group. Health access is a right for everyone.

Also Tuesday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported that repealing major provisions of the ACA would result in 18 million people losing their insurance in the first year.

Roughly 142,000 Orange County residents are enrolled in Obamacare health plans sold by Covered California, with 88 percent receiving a subsidy, according to the state exchange. Additionally, about 232,000 low-income residents have coverage through the laws expansion of Medi-Cal, according to recent data from CalOptima, the countys Medi-Cal provider.

The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research said in a report issued Tuesday that a repeal would likely result in Orange County losing about 15,000 jobs in health care and other industries as well a $1.4 billion reduction in the countys gross domestic product.

Aurora Garcia, Southern California organizer for Health Access, a statewide consumer advocacy group, said Tuesday the law should not be repealed without a replacement that lowers costs and offers better consumer protections. She noted the importance of the ACA barring insurers from rejecting patients for pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to remain on their parents plans until age 26.

We are here today to fight for our health and tell our representatives they cant repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement, Garcia said.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants a replacement plan adopted quickly but has not specified what it would contain.

Katelyn Ogawa, health program coordinator for Advancing Justice-OC, said nationally Asian-Americans have seen a 59 percent reduction in uninsured rates since the passage of the law.

The Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land and Covered California is operating the same as it always has, at least for 2017, and hopefully beyond, Ogawa said. We believe the more people who gain coverage, the harder it will be to repeal. Please do not be silent. Share your story of how you or your family have benefited from the ACA.

Dannie Cesena, transgender services coordinator for the LGBT Center, said 80 percent of his clients have coverage through the ACA, providing them with mental health counseling, hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery.

Cesena said transgender residents already face discrimination in housing and employment and should not lose their medical coverage.

The ACA plays a huge part for my community, he said.

Contact the writer: cperkes@scng.com 714-796-3686
As the number of puppy deaths linked to an Orange County woman accused of operating a bogus pet-rescue organization continues to mount, angry customers have come forward to say they unwittingly bought sick dogs from her.

As of Wednesday, 30 puppies believed to have been sold by 42-year-old Megan Ann Hoechstetter have died, said Kim Mohr, a spokeswoman for the Irvine Police Department. Authorities were investigating about 100 sick puppy cases tied to Hoechstetter and believe the number of deaths may rise, Mohr added.

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Hoechstetter is suspected of setting up the fake rescue organization, Pawlosophy Inc. She was arrested last week on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to crimes against animals, police said, and later released on bail.

Hoechstetter, Mohr said, has gone by Megan Ann Choate and Megan Ann Nunez and listed her address as a post office box in Seal Beach. Records show that a Megan Ann Nunez operated Beach Puppy Rescue in Long Beach.

Further, according to Orange County Superior Court records, a Megan Ann Nunez who has also gone by Megan Ann Choate pleaded guilty to grand theft in 2010. She was sentenced to four months in jail and three years probation. The California Birth Index says that Choate has the same birthday as Hoechstetter.

Attempts to contact Hoechstetter were unsuccessful.

When detectives arrested Hoechstetter in Irvine, Mohr said, she had six puppies inside a vehicle in a large case. Thirteen more were recovered from a Cypress motel where she was living, Mohr said. The 19 puppies, of various breeds, were taken to the Irvine Animal Care Center with the goal of eventually adopting them out.

Some victims reported they experienced victim shaming by Hoechstetter.

If they complained about being sold a sick animal, tried to return the animal or sought any type of restitution, Hoechstetter would turn around and blame the victim, claiming it was their fault that the animal became ill, Mohr said. This happened in many cases.

A couple of Hoechstetters customers told the Register they were deceived and had to spend a lot of money to nurse the sick puppies they bought back to health.

We never suspected she was scamming us, said Linda Kass, 55, of Thousand Oaks. She and her husband, Don, a retired assistant city attorney for the city of Los Angeles, bought an 8-week-old puppy from Hoechstetter in June.

Clearly, there was no love for the dogs, Linda Kass now says.

The Kasses were looking for a poodle mix to replace a 14-year-old dog who had died. They connected with Hoechstetter through an online service that allows shelters and rescue organizations to list pets.

The couple filled out an online application with Pawlosophy and agreed to meet Hoechstetter at a park near Seal Beach to finalize the adoption. When the Kasses arrived, Hoechstetter had already set up a portable pen with five puppies. Other customers were also there, including a mother and her daughter.

Hoechstetter seemed friendly and knowledgeable, explaining that the dogs had been found in Tijuana, Linda Kass recalled.

She really made it look like she was taking care of them, she said. Nothing was weird.

The Kasses picked what they described as the runt of the litter, a puppy they named Sadie.

They paid $475 for Sadie, Linda Kass said, and on the drive back to Thousand Oaks the puppy slept in her lap. Hours later, the Kasses rushed to a veterinary office after Sadie became extremely ill.

The veterinarian told them Sadie had been suffering from a virus for at least several weeks. The Kasses spent more than $1,000 on antibiotics and other medicine and nursed the puppy back to health in about three weeks.

Although the Kasses arent in the market for another pet, they will more carefully scrutinize the seller next time. Ive definitely learned a lot, Linda Kass said.

Nancy Hierl, 40, of Mission Viejo said that when she bought a 6-week-old German shepherd-husky mix from Hoechstetter in September for $475, the puppy was infested with fleas.

Despite suspecting the dog had been mistreated, Hierl said, she went ahead with the purchase because she feared the animal might be further harmed.

I was not going to let Hoechstetter take the dog back, Hierl said.

Three days after the purchase, the puppy, Max, was diagnosed by a veterinarian as suffering from parvovirus, a highly contagious viral illness that affects a dogs gastrointestinal tract. Its spread through dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated feces, the American Veterinary Medical Association says.

Hierl estimated that she has spent about $2,000 on medical supplies to get Max healthy. She was upset at the thought that Hoechstetter may have swindled many pet lovers.

Using pets for financial gain is unbelievable, she said.

Staff writer Ian Wheeler contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declared a 90-day state of emergency two days before hes supposed hand over power to the winner of last months election, as West African nations prepared to send a military force to remove him from power.

In a speech on state TV late Tuesday, Jammeh said the measure was necessary because of the unprecedented and extraordinary amount of interference in the Dec. 1 ballot. He also cited the Supreme Courts inability to hear his petition disputing the outcome of the vote.

West African nations plan to send troops to Gambia to force Jammeh from office if he doesnt stand down, a military official said earlier Tuesday. The winner of the vote, Adama Barrow, whos in neighboring Senegal, is preparing for his planned inauguration on Thursday, according to a statement. Regional heads of state have pledged to attend the ceremony.

Under a state of emergency, the constitution is suspended and people can be detained without charge, Adeline Van Houtte, Africa analyst for the Economist Intelligence Unit, said by email.

Jammeh is using all the means he has to block his opponents inauguration, she said. The risk of clashes between the two rival regime supporters is high if Barrow goes ahead with the inauguration.

Jammeh, whos ruled Gambia since a coup in 1994, surprised the nation of fewer than 2 million people by acknowledging he lost the vote to Barrow, only to change his mind a week later and file a petition to challenge the outcome. The Supreme Court has said it wont be able to hear Jammehs petition until May because there arent enough judges to sit on the panel.

The African Union has said it will no longer recognize Jammeh as president as of Thursday. Foreign Minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye resigned Monday, according to Isatou Njie, an official at the Attorney Generals office in the capital, Banjul.
I suppose I was always a libertarian at heart, even as a young child, though I would not learn what a libertarian was until college.

One day, when I was maybe seven years old or so, my parents trotted out my Social Security card, which had been sitting in a file somewhere. I asked what it was and they explained it to me. I felt so disturbed that someone in the government was branding me with a number like cattle that I got upset and threw it in the trash. My parents had to fish it out later.

Also during elementary school, I distinctly remember experiencing an unsettling feeling when the class would stand up and robotically recite the Pledge of Allegiance in a chorus of monotone voices, despite the fact that we did not really know what we were saying and no one had ever tried to explain it to us. I started merely mouthing the words, and sometimes did not say them at all. It was not that I was unpatriotic or ashamed of my country  quite the contrary, I knew I was privileged to grow up in such a free nation, and was proud of that fact  but something about the whole ceremony seemed empty and wrong.

Of course, I had no coherent political philosophy at that age, but I always did have a stubbornly independent-minded notion of what was right and what was wrong, and a strong anti-authoritarian streak when I thought those in power were being unjust.

Though I was an excellent student, I would not have fared so well in school in Mississippi, at least if Republican State Rep. William Shirley had anything to say about it. Shirley has introduced a bill that would fine schools $1,500 for each instance where they fail to ensure that students recite the Pledge to the American flag within the first hour of classes every day.

There is a conscientious objectors clause, which maintains that any student or teacher who objects to reciting the oath of allegiance shall be excused from participating without penalty, and would largely render the rest of the bill moot, but this is overshadowed by foreboding mandates and penalties for violations.

Besides being generally totalitarian and offensive to the notion of a free society, it would also be blatantly unconstitutional to force someone to recite the Pledge against their will. The U.S. Supreme Court addressed the issue in its 1943 West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette decision, in which it found that a state law mandating students and teachers participation in a salute to the flag violated the First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights of Jehovahs Witnesses (and others).

Struggles to coerce uniformity of sentiment in support of some end thought essential to their time and country have been waged by many good, as well as by evil, men, Justice Robert H. Jackson wrote for the court. To believe that patriotism will not flourish if patriotic ceremonies are voluntary and spontaneous, instead of a compulsory routine, is to make an unflattering estimate of the appeal of our institutions to free minds.

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein, the court added.

The right of freedom of thought and of religion, as guaranteed by the Constitution against state action, includes both the right to speak freely and the right to refrain from speaking at all, Justice Frank Murphy asserted in a concurring opinion. It is in that freedom and the example of persuasion, not in force and compulsion, that the real unity of America lies.

The ultimate irony in all this is that the Pledge of Allegiance was created by an avowed socialist, Rev. Francis Bellamy, who sought to inculcate children with mindless devotion to the state. But America is unique in that our nation was established not to centralize the security and administrative affairs of a particular race or religion, or due to the facility of geography. Rather, it was a country based on loyalty to ideals, of devotion to individual liberty, not to any particular king or nation or government.

Instead of confusing nationalism with true patriotism, and using government force to compel children to learn and recite a loyalty oath by rote, Rep. Shirley should focus on helping children learn about our countrys origin, the differences between tyranny and freedom and why they are important.

Adam B. Summers is a columnist with the Southern California News Group.
The Uzbek man who was taken into custody Monday and is believed to be the gunman who carried out an attack at an upscale Istanbul nightclub, killing 39 people early on New Years Day, has confessed, Turkish authorities said Tuesday.

The suspect, identified as Abdulkadir Masharipov, an Uzbek citizen born in 1983, received help in the attack, done in the name of ISIS, Vasip Sahin, the governor of Istanbul, said at a news conference, referring to Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the rampage.

No one will get away with what they have done, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said from his office in Ankara, the capital.

Masharipov, whose arrest was confirmed by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, was detained Monday night after police raided a residence in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul, which is home to a large number of migrants from former Soviet states in Central Asia.

He was arrested with four others, an Iraqi man and three women from countries including Egypt and another country on the African continent, the governor said.

Turkish officials said that the investigation into the New Years attack had uncovered a network of extremists from former Soviet states. And after the attack at Istanbuls main international airport in June, which left scores dead, the three suicide bombers were identified by the Turkish authorities as citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Uzbekistan.

Turkish news organizations released photographs of the nightclub attack suspect, taken while he was in custody and showing bruises and blood on his face. But Sahin said that Masharipov had not opened fire when confronted by the police, and that officers had not used weapons while arresting him.

He admitted his crime, Sahin said, adding that the suspect had been trained in Afghanistan and speaks four languages. His fingerprints matched, the governor said, although he did not elaborate.

Sahin said the interrogation, which he described as very new, was continuing but that more would be learned about who had helped Masharipov and how.

Masharipov, who used the alias Abu Mohammed Khorasani Abdulqavi, entered Turkey illegally in January 2016 from the eastern border, the governor said.

Sahin, who was standing next to the Istanbul police chief, Mustafa Caliskan, in front of police headquarters, said a team of about 2,000 officers and special forces had been called in to capture the assailant.

The police investigation had focused on five addresses, and Masharipov was caught at one of them, Sahin said.

The police examined 7,200 hours of video in their search for the attacker, and they raided 152 addresses, detaining 50 people in the process.

A pistol, an air gun, ammunition, two drones and $197,000 were seized during the raid on the residence where Masharipov was found.

TV footage showed a cluttered apartment with white walls and white furniture. Fingerprint powder was visible on kitchen closets and on tables.

The governor said that Masharipovs 4-year-old son, who had been reported to be with his father during the operation in Esenyurt, had not been present.
Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Facebook, has said virtual reality could be the next big thing in technology. While VR hasnt quite reached the mainstream, it has succeeded in landing Zuckerberg in the middle of a courtroom fight over who owns a crucial piece of the technology.

The dispute started 21/2 years ago when a video game publisher, ZeniMax Media, sued Oculus VR, an Irvine-based startup behind a virtual reality headset, only months after Facebook announced it would acquire Oculus for $2 billion. ZeniMax accused Oculus of stealing important elements of the technology that went into the creation of the headset, eventually including Facebook in its lawsuit.

While fights over ownership of prominent technologies are common, this one defied some predictions by making it to a jury trial, which started in a federal court here in early January. On Tuesday, Zuckerberg made a rare appearance in court and was questioned about the Oculus deal, pushing back on accusations that Oculus took technology it didnt own.

We are highly confident that Oculus products are built on Oculus technology, said Zuckerberg. The idea that Oculus products are based on someone elses technology is just wrong.

The core of ZeniMaxs case is that one of its former employees, John Carmack, shared ZeniMax VR tech with Palmer Luckey, an Oculus co-founder, during its early days. Carmack, a game industry stalwart behind games like Doom, later joined Oculus.

A ZeniMax lawyer questioned whether Zuckerberg and Facebook rushed through its review of Oculus business when it was buying it, overlooking details about its dispute with ZeniMax.
President-elect Donald Trumps cabinet nominees have generally been well received by Republicans  including those whose preference for president wasnt Trump.

And as is customary during years of party turnover in the White House, Democrats have made the effort not to give them all a free pass.

Betsy DeVos, however, has attracted special attention. Trumps pick for secretary of Education has a track record of supporting the kinds of reforms that threaten a powerful constituency for Democrats: teachers unions and their allies.

Their goal, to portray DeVos as someone who wants to destroy public education and can do just that, is a well-timed distraction from the parlous state of American public schools  and the valid alternatives the educational establishment has often driven parents to consider.

To be sure, DeVos has been outspoken in promoting the full spectrum of schooling options, which includes private school, charter school, vouchers, homeschooling and beyond. Like many school choice advocates, she has faced blistering criticism and opposition at every turn from entrenched interests prepared to defend failing public schools and their employees, virtually whatever the sin, and virtually whatever the cost.

And like more than a few advocates, DeVos has been frank about the fact that hostility toward the hopes of religious families has grown over time as public education has become more instinctively secular and driven by a particular ideological vision of social justice.

But the apocalyptic claims now circulating about what could happen to schools under Trump have gone so far as to discredit themselves. The institution of public education is fixed firmly in American life. Its declining prestige in recent years has been largely the fault of the schooling establishment, which has gone to the mat for bad teachers and freely spent union dues on nakedly partisan causes and figures.

As the recent Vergara case made dramatically clear in California, many Americans  whatever their race, creed or color  simply cannot ensure their children an adequate education in their local public school.

The answer to this problem is not to smite public education root and branch. And, sure enough, no one, including DeVos, is making that recommendation, despite the heights of frustration faced by far too many parents. Instead, she would help offer to add to, not take away from, the recognized benefits of a well-functioning school system.

There will always be political room for debate when it comes to the track records of particular schools and programs, public or private. But the relative success of charters and vouchers, to take two examples often talked about most, is a matter of fact and of record. Theres nothing wrong with an Education secretary who accepts that data into a reality-based look at how to reform the current ailing, politicized system. Truth be told, theres a lot right with it.

Americans still do disagree about the speed and scope of change, and old habits, even harmful ones, die hard. It would be understandable for long-struggling school choice advocates to wish for a sudden end to the broken status quo.

For a more prudent and productive approach, putting an experienced voice for reform and choice at the top of the federal education bureaucracy is a good  and needful  place to start.
WASHINGTON  When Speaker Paul Ryan needed to stop rebellious fellow Republicans from defanging a popular congressional ethics watchdog office this month, he called a friend from Wisconsin, Reince Priebus, the incoming White House chief of staff for some stealthy help.

Ryan asked Priebus, the congenial and cunning chairman of the Republican National Committee, for a favor: Could President-elect Donald Trump intervene?

At the urging of Priebus, Trump quickly posted a pair of scolding posts on Twitter: Did Congress really have to make the gutting of the popular Office of Congressional Ethics their number one act and priority? he asked, quickly bringing the insurrection to a messy but welcome end for Ryan.

This is the way that many mainstream Beltway Republicans, and more than a few tremulous Democrats, pray the Trump White House will work. In a city bracing for convulsive change, Priebus has emerged as an unlikely symbol of stability, someone who they hope will domesticate the new president and transform his storm-the-gates campaign into a normal, functional White House that can make America sane again, in a phrase making the rounds this week among congressional Republicans.

That is a lot of responsibility to put on the shoulders of an unflappable political survivor from Kenosha, Wisconsin, who has never held a major government post before. He has instead accrued his power by courting wealthy donors on behalf of Republican candidates, tending to the gripes of the RNCs 168 committee members, closely monitoring his own Wikipedia page and by mostly staying on the good side of the capricious Trump, his ambivalent patron.

Not everyone thinks he is up to it.

Hes going to stand up to Donald Trump? Hes going to be the grown-up in the room? Come on, said John Weaver, the chief strategist on the unsuccessful primary campaign by Gov. John R. Kasich of Ohio against Trump. This is the guy who oversaw the partys 2012 post-mortem that called for comprehensive immigration reform. And now hes the guy who is going to run the White House for Trump. Thats all you need to know about Reince. Hes going to do what Trump wants him to do.

But Haley Barbour, the former Mississippi governor and former chairman of the RNC, said Priebus was the only kind of chief of staff, flexible and opportunistic, who could succeed in a Washington roiled by Trump and rived by partisan conflict.

There is no honeymoon, theres not going to be any honeymoon, and the left has decided theyre going to oppose anything Trump does, Barbour said.

Reince has got to try to help the new president be successful when the new president is really not a lot like previous presidents of either party.

Priebus enters a West Wing loaded with palace intrigue and potential conflict. Trump, who favors a management style that pits top aides against one another so no subordinate gains too much authority, has divided power among no fewer than five top advisers: Priebus; Stephen K. Bannon, his chief strategist, and Kellyanne Conway, Trumps counselor, both of whom were briefly mentioned for the chiefs job; Vice President-elect Mike Pence; and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who occupies a first-among-equals status.

Towering above them all is Trump, who enters office weighed down by controversy over his relationship with Russia, the lowest approval rating of any incoming president in modern history and a propensity for picking spur-of-the-moment fights that Priebus and the communications operation he oversees will have to clean up.

All of this adds up to one of the most daunting and uncertain situations any recent chief of staff has faced.

Reince has quite the challenge ahead of him, said Roger Stone, a longtime Trump political adviser and frequent Priebus critic.

The role of a chief of staff varies widely, depending on each presidents personality, management style and circumstance. President Barack Obama cycled through four in eight years, starting with Rahm Emanuel, a volatile former Democratic congressman who hammered through his legislative program and is now mayor of Chicago.

Ultimately, its a chiefs job to create an orderly process that gives a president the full range of opposing viewpoints so that he can make a decision based on the best information available, said Joshua B. Bolten, who served as George W. Bushs chief of staff.

But even Bolten conceded that nothing mattered if Priebus could not develop a good working relationship with his president. And Trump, who burned through three campaign managers in less than a year and routinely mocks his aides to their faces, is a hard boss to please, demanding not merely loyalty but, at times, subservience.

The two men got off to a rocky start in 2015. As guardian of his partys brand, Priebus called to deliver a stern 40-minute lecture after Trump railed against Mexican rapists at his kickoff rally in early 2015 and objected when Trump refused to honor a pledge to back the eventual Republican nominee a few months later.

Trump later fired back, saying that Priebus knows better than to lecture me, adding, Were not dealing with a five-star Army general.

Those encounters were a tutorial for Priebus, a student of power who believes that proximity to it is the most important step in acquiring it. These days, he is acutely sensitive to Trumps moods and has modeled his West Wing role, people close to the RNC chairman say, on the team of no-nonsense general managers who tend to Trumps business and resort properties. He likes people who get things done, Priebus said about Trump recently. I get things done.

He has also been careful to avoid direct conflicts with other members of Trumps Big Five leadership team, especially the ascendant Kushner, focusing instead on positioning himself as Trumps indispensable organization man.

Still, while Priebus assembled the political machinery that helped secure a Trump win, he has not fully cracked the circle of trust, and the president-elect is not always so glowing about the man he sometimes calls Reincey. He often jokes, in an affectionate but tart way, about the RNC chairmans long-term loyalty, and likes reminding the people around him that Priebus suggested that he consider dropping out after the release of the Access Hollywoodtape of Trumps crude remarks about women were made public in October.

At a recent Trump Tower meeting with staff members, Trump praised his chief of staff as a hard worker  one of his highest accolades  before recalling a sensitive bit of history.

But you know, he wasnt always there with me. He told me to drop out of the race, he told me I was going to bring the House and Senate down with me, Trump said, as Priebus stood near him, absorbing the dig.

Priebus was one of the few Republicans to take Trump seriously as a potential candidate in 2011, when the reality-TV star floated a potential campaign, and he continued to offer advice to Trump throughout the campaign.

Eventually, the wary candidate came to trust the party chairmans advice, and by last summer Priebus began telling people he wanted to be Trumps chief of staff, on the off chance of a victory.

And for all the pressures he faces, Priebus remains upbeat about his new job, if only because he never expected to have it.
WESTMINSTER  The week after Donald Trump was elected president, Dr. Mai-Phuong Nguyen and two dozen other Vietnamese-Americans active in liberal causes gathered in a circle of folding chairs, consoling one another about an America almost beyond comprehension.

Now, days before Trump takes the oath of office, Nguyen sits in a restaurant booth in Orange Countys neon-lit Little Saigon and studies perhaps the most confounding face of the divide exposed by the election  her fathers.

All I know is, if a man makes $100 million he is really something, Son Van Nguyen, 76, says of Trump.

Here in a county transformed by waves of newcomers, the elder Nguyen  a government translator airlifted from South Vietnam with his family in 1975 as Communist forces pressed in on the capital  built a new life as a record-setting life insurance salesman, watching people strive and struggle.

And I know a lot of people out there sit there and wait for welfare, he says, explaining his hopes that Trump will rein in such spending and create jobs.

But he is trying to prevent other people from coming in and enjoying some of the same things you came here for, Dad, says his daughter, a 47-year-old physician who pushed for health care reform and fears Trump will take away the medical coverage it extended to millions of Americans. If he does wrong, are you going to support him?

Their disagreement is a reminder that for Orange County, just as for the rest of the country, there has never been a moment quite like this one.

When Hillary Clinton won this county of 3.2 million in November, it marked the first time the OC had backed a Democrat for president since Franklin Roosevelt. Best known for Disneyland, and long a hothouse of conservatism in a blue state, it was the largest county in the country to flip.

The shift was expected eventually. Orange Countys citrus groves turned to tract housing decades back to welcome a mostly white influx from Los Angeles and Midwestern states. Today, though, Santa Anas quinceanera shops reflect a county that is a third Latino. One in five Orange Countians is Asian.

The hopes and anxieties stirred by Trumps inauguration spotlight even more complicated tensions.

Most Vietnamese traditionally voted for Republicans, viewed as opponents of communism. But many of their adult children, also refugees, see Trump as rejecting American ideals and people like them.

Local Republicans, who once embraced the John Birch Society and recently erected a statue of Ronald Reagan in the park where he launched two White House bids, long espoused a muscular conservatism. Most voted for Trump, but not without soul-searching.

At Jimmy Camps house, a No Trump sign made by Camps son still hangs in the window. Heading out to feed his familys goat and potbellied pig, Camp recalls his start in Republican politics three decades ago  knocking on doors for candidates to earn cash.

Camp played guitar in a rock band then and embraced platforms calling for government to stay out of peoples lives. Hed always loved the outdoors in a county that stretches from the ocean to the Santa Ana Mountains. After meeting county native Richard Nixon, he read up on the disgraced presidents often forgotten chartering of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Camp became one of the states busiest Republican political consultants. Then, last summer he emailed fellow Republicans, renouncing his party membership because of his disgust with Trump.

If you go through and look at everything Jesus said in the Bible, this guy is opposite of it, says Camp, 52, a pastors son.

Camp, who has friends from Iran and Egypt, cringes at a president who would castigate Muslims as supposedly tied to terrorists, though he doubts Trump will fulfill his most extreme rhetoric.

I hope he doesnt drive us off a cliff, Camp says. I hope that we survive the next four years. I think we will.

Others voice confidence in Trump.

Gloria Pruyne says her family had reservations about Trumps morality early on. But the conservative activist ended up knocking on more than 500 doors to get out the vote. Now Pruyne, 78, says she wants Trump to install a conservative Supreme Court justice, revoke an Affordable Care Act she blames for a $500 increase in her familys monthly insurance bill, and back Israel.

Were looking forward to a radical change with this president, she says.

With the inauguration approaching, Ron Brindle has no plans to remove the 5-foot-square portrait of Trump from his oil well fronting a main road in Huntington Beach. Brindle bought this land for his tree nursery business more than 40 years ago. Today, it is surrounded by tract homes, many owned by Asian families.

Now I dont have anything against any of them, but what happened to the country? Brindle says.

The first thing Trump should do, he says, is close the border so Americans no longer have to foot the bill to care for foreigners. But Brindle also hopes that Trump will reach out to skeptics.

Steven Mai is ready to listen. Mai, a 42-year-old registered Republican, rejected Trump for criticizing the Muslim parents of a slain American soldier.

But Trump will be his president, Mai says.

Still, if Trump really wants to lead, he should come to places like Orange County, says Mais wife, Tammy Tran. He could work in a sandwich shop for a few hours, or see what its like to care for an elderly person. Maybe then, the couple say, Trump will understand his responsibility to the many Americas.

I just hope hes going to be the president that my parents were thinking, Mai says. If he can be a good president, then we all benefit.
In the days following the November election, Laureen Muhr and Norma Mendoza scrambled to cancel their Washington travel plans.

The educators from Chino supported Hillary Clinton for president, and Donald Trumps upset win ended, for now, their chance to witness the historic inauguration of the first female president.

But as the initial shock of the election wore off, the two women reconsidered: They would make the trip anyway  not to witness Trumps inauguration, but to protest it.

We decided that were not going to sit around for the next four years, Muhr said. Were going to organize.

About 30 miles west, in Orange County, Alexandria Coronado also made plans to attend the inauguration, albeit for a very different reason.

Im actually hopeful for the first time in 10 years, said Coronado, a lifelong Republican who lives in Cypress. I truly believe that Donald Trump will make Americans feel good about our country again.

Different women, different views of Trump. And as the three Southern Californians join thousands of women making their way to Washington this week, their contrasting expectations for the incoming president will be mirrored across the country.

Following a campaign in which gender played a central role, Trumps victory exposed deep rifts among female voters.

On one side are women who hoped to see a continuation of President Barack Obamas policies and, along with them, the first female U.S. presidency. Many were devastated by Clintons loss.

On the other side are women who supported Trump and want a return to conservative ideas on everything from immigration and foreign affairs to health care. Theyre thrilled that he won and eager to see him sworn in as president Friday.

The divisions arent necessarily new, said Ronnee Schreiber, a political science professor at San Diego State University who studies gender in American politics.

Because of Trumps remarks about women  he was caught on tape bragging that he could grab women by the genitalia whenever he wished because when youre a star, they let you do it  many believed that women voters would keep him out of the White House.

But that didnt happen, Schreiber said.

For Trump opponents such as Muhr and Mendoza, the main event this week is the Womens March on Washington, a mass mobilization scheduled to take place Saturday, the day after Trumps inauguration, on Capitol Hill. An estimated 200,000 demonstrators are expected to show up for the march, and several thousand more have signed up for solidarity marches in more than 100 cities, including Los Angeles, Riverside and Santa Ana.

Organizers insist that the march is not a protest of Trump, per se, but a demonstration of solidarity with women and other groups who feel marginalized by the president-elects rhetoric. Hundreds of groups are involved in planning the rally, representing a range of progressive issues from immigration and reproductive rights to criminal justice and environmental protection.

For me, the march is about not wanting to move backward and lose the equality and rights that women have fought so hard for, said Evvie Harmon, a co-founder of the march who lives in South Carolina.

You cant make a movement about one person, Harmon added. If you build the movement on positive action and fighting for human rights, thats lasting.

To Muhr, the march is an opportunity to channel her anger over Trumps victory into political action. Like many of the marchers, she and Mendoza will don homemade pink knit hats for the rally, part of a viral knitting project that aims to send 1 million cat-eared hats to womens marches Saturday.

Some of it is about catharsis, Muhr said. But its also about being around other women who feel the same way we do.

Of course, many other women feel differently about Trumps election.

Coronado will be in D.C. for a more traditional inaugural experience.

When her liberal counterparts gather in front of the Capitol on Saturday morning, the Orange County Republican will be at a prayer breakfast organized by a fellow conservative activist.

The rest of Coronados Washington itinerary is packed with celebrations, culminating in Fridays swearing-in ceremony and inaugural parade. On Friday night, shell attend the Liberty Ball, an inauguration gala hosted by Southern California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher at the Library of Congress.

Though women may not be featured as prominently on the Republican side, Coronado expects Trumps female supporters to be out in full force to see him take office.

He really pulled a lot of new women into the party, she said.

Though Coronado concedes that we were all shocked by the video of Trumps remarks about grabbing women, she also believes conservative women were willing to overlook those comments if it meant electing a Republican to the White House.

I think part of the appeal is that he wasnt Hillary Clinton, Coronado said. Some conservative women, she added, resented the implication that they should vote for a female candidate simply because they share her gender.

I dont think she represented a lot of womens views, Coronado said.

The election results on that are mixed. Though Clinton overwhelmingly won the female vote, 54 percent to 42 percent, white women helped pushed Trump to victory. The billionaire won more than half of the white female vote, including 62 percent of white women without college degrees. Overall, Clinton won the popular vote, 48.2 percent to Trumps 46.1 percent.

According to Schreiber, who has studied the female conservative movement, the vote breakdown confirmed that, for women, party affiliation is more important than gender.

I think their support for Trump now has more to do with the fact that the Republican Party is now in power, Schreiber said. They have institutional control, so for them, thats the silver lining.

But while American women continue to hold starkly different views on the incoming president, many believe that Trumps ascent to power is sparking a new wave of political interest among female voters and activists.

Certainly this election has woken everybody up, said Missy Shorey, national executive director of Maggies List, which recruits conservative women to run for federal office. Weve seen that women matter more than ever.

The voters spoke, she added, but now the challenge is to lead and to produce results.

For Muhr and Mendoza, this weekends march marks a new level of political involvement. They expect it will continue as Trump sets his first-term agenda.

I will never, ever get over what happened this year, Muhr said. We need to organize. We need to get involved. So when the midterm elections happen in 2018, well be ready.

Contact the writer: gwyler@scng.com
Students of The Academy of Music Tullamore have once again collected a plethora of silverware from this years Sligo Feis Ceoil which was held over the recent Easter holidays.

Students of The Academy of Music Tullamore have once again collected a plethora of silverware from this years Sligo Feis Ceoil which was held over the recent Easter holidays.

In its 112 year illustrious history, Sligo Feis Ceoil has welcomed and rewarded the finest musicians, artists and thespians from the length and breadth of Ireland. Boasting a wide range of categories, often with 20-25 participants per competition, Sligo Feis Ceoil is a renowned platform for budding artists and established talent to compete against like- minded and gifted individuals.

For the past number of years The Academy of Music Tullamore has done remarkably well, with their hardworking students greatly impressing a team of vastly experienced adjudicators. This year was certainly no exception with the following students joining a long list of prominent winners.

The Academy scooped an astounding 5 first place positions.

Junior Violin Solo Cup 1st place went to 10 year old Jennifer Dillon of Athlone, Co Westmeath whose teacher is Jessica Davis.

Junior Flute Solo Cup 1st place went to 9 year old Abbie Keyes of Mucklagh, Co Offaly whose teacher is Kevin Carberry.

Junior Cup for Ensemble Playing 1st place was won by The Academy Junior Flute Ensemble whose members are Joshua Guinan, Kinnity, Co Offaly, Abbie Keyes, Mucklagh, Co Offaly and Emily Dillon, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Junior Singing Solo Cup 1st place was won by Ailbhe OSullivan, Tullamore, Co Offaly whose teacher is Ciaran Brady.

Senior Singing Solo Cup 1st place was won by Deirdre Higgins of Moate, Co Westmeath whose teacher is also Ciaran Brady.

The Academys Success did not stop there however.

Senior Flute Solo Cup 2nd place was won by Eoin Fallon, Mullingar, Co Westmeath

Senior Solo Singing 2nd place was won by Laura Slattery, Tullamore, Co Offaly

Junior Sacred Singing 2nd place was won by Elaina Strolla, Clara, Co Offaly

Junior Musical Singing 2nd place was won by Aoife Digan, Clara, Co Offaly

Junior Musical Singing 3rd place went to Meghan Lynam, Tullamore, Co Offaly

Junior Piano Solo U12 3rd place went to Jennifer Dillon, Athlone, Co Westmeath

Junior Piano Solo U14 3rd place went to Grace Minnock, Athlone, Co Westmeath

This is a marvellous achievement for each and every participant and a clear reflection of their dedication and hours of practicing. As The Academy of Music Tullamore approaches its end of year examinations this is already proving to be a fruitful year for the Academy as it continues to nurture and foster the ever growing talent of midland musicians.
Tricia Kelly votes Democrat but styles hair bipartisan.

The Omaha-trained, Washington, D.C.-based stylist says she happily serves Ds and Rs alike and has taken pride in her reputation for being discreet and for leaving politics out of the chair.

Then came an Inauguration Day request  to do the hair of Tiffany Trump, the 23-year-old daughter of President-elect Donald Trump. And to do hair for Tiffanys mother, actress Marla Maples and Trumps ex-wife. Kelly was truly flattered. She saw this as an honor.

Then came the catch: To do both womens hair for free. In exchange, a Maples aide said through an intermediary, Kelly would get exposure through social media.

Aghast, Kelly said no. She responded that she works for a fee, not for free. Then, still steamed about the request  which she called entitled behavior  she picked up the phone and texted a friend at the Washington Post. The Post published a much talked-about story Tuesday.

Kelly called me Tuesday, between clients. How was her day going?

Insane, she said.

The 28-year-old North Dakota native, who went to beauty school in Omaha about six years ago, said shes received atta-girls from other stylists and an ominous warning from the intermediary, a client and friend who had referred her to Maples in the first place. Reading from text messages, Kelly said her friend told her in text messages that it was very unprofessional of her to go public, that Kelly was messing with the president of the United States, that she shouldnt have said anything and that she doesnt realize the power my clients have, that your reputation could be on the line.

Attempts to reach Maples were unsuccessful.

Kelly said she shrugged off the intermediarys warning as politics and said shes not intimidated. She said that the story has cost her a couple of clients this week who canceled but that she hopes she doesnt lose them for good. She said she didnt regret exposing the offer, saying stylists and anyone else should get paid for what they do.

And she said she was still looking forward to attending the inauguration on Friday. She said she attended both of President Barack Obamas swearings-in and was not going to miss Trumps  though she voted for Hillary Clinton. She said she loves Washington and loves Inauguration Day.

I have no personal vendetta against the Trumps, she said.

She does, however, believe in getting paid. Negotiations for the Maples and Tiffany Trump job occurred in early January and went round and round. She offered her rate: a $150 fee for showing up to where they were staying in D.C. plus $150 apiece for hair. A friend would do makeup for a separate fee.

Then Kelly said she was told that Maples and her daughter had a combined $300 budget for Inauguration Day makeup and hair  and that they wanted hair done twice  Friday morning before the ceremony and again before the Friday evening galas. When Kelly realized that meant more work for less money, she declined. Then Maples assistant came back with a proposal that she do the job for nothing but a social media shout-out. Thats when Kelly gave a firm no.

She told her friend, the intermediary, that she absolutely will not work for free for anyone who can afford services. She told me she gives the same rate to brides and anyone else who wants her to work outside of the salon. She said no one  other than a few charities  has asked for a free deal.

To me, its an insult, she said. Its disrespectful.

Accepting freebies isnt illegal for Maples and Trump, according to ethics experts contacted by the Washington Post. The president must report any gifts over $300 to him, his spouse and his minor children, the Post wrote. But neither Maples nor Tiffany Trump is bound by those rules, says Jan Baran, an attorney who served on President George H.W. Bushs ethics commission.

The Post noted that its typical for Hollywood stars to accept loaned gowns and jewelry and even gifts and free services from people eager to be associated with celebrities (and seen by their millions of Instagram followers). But in official Washington, where lawmakers and other government officials are banned from accepting most giveaways, such arrangements are relatively rare, the newspaper said.

Kelly has lived in Washington, D.C., for the past six or so years.

Before that, she spent a year in Omaha at the Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics. She had a sister living in Omaha at the time and had heard good things about Capitol, which was founded in 1923 and is named for the downtown Omaha street on which it once stood. The Capitol School now sits at 108th and John Galt Boulevard. The school was closed on Tuesday because of the ice storm.

But a longtime associate of the Capitol School, Omaha stylist Stephen Stensrud, vouched for Kelly. Stensrud said Kelly graduated from Capitol and used to spend hours as a student observing him cut and style hair. He described her as a very personable, very interesting girl.

Shes very sharp, he said.

Asked if the Maples request was like anything hed heard, Stensrud, who runs a private hair studio, said he supposed there could be a case for getting a freebie hairstyle.

But not with billionaires, he added.

Kelly said she was born in Fargo but bounced around during childhood. She said she graduated from high school and college in Williston, North Dakota, and toyed with a career in advocacy and politics. In 2010, she had a four-month internship in the Washington, D.C., office of North Dakotas then-congressman, Earl Pomeroy, a Democrat who served from 1993 to 2011.

The internship sparked Kellys love of D.C. But not so much a love of politics.

She went to hair school and then returned to Washington as a stylist. She declined to name her D.C. clients but said she has styled hair for staffers from Obamas outgoing administration and from Trumps new one. She said she counts members of Congress and state legislators among her clients and even travels to New York City monthly to style hair for ex-Beltway types now living there.

The Washington Post story sparked a cascade of media requests on Tuesday. Kelly said she answered mine because she holds a special place in her heart for Omaha. And for Stensrud, the Omaha stylist.

I used to go one night a week, two nights a week. I would sit in his salon and wed talk. Hed show me little tricks, she said. He did my hair.

And naturally, she paid. Right?

I offered! she said. But she said he refused to let her pay.
Conor Oberst's next album, "Salutations," is full-band companion piece to his last record, "Ruminations."

Oberst recorded "Ruminations" entirely solo at ARC recording studio here in Omaha. He then put together a full band featuring The Felice Brothers and legendary drummer Jim Keltner to re-record the entire album at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu.

The album will feature the 10 songs from "Ruminations" plus seven new songs. Listen to the new, full-band version of "A Little Uncanny" below.

Titled "Salutations," the record will be released by major label Nonesuch Records on March 17.

Guest appearances come from the likes of Oberst pals such as Jim James, M. Ward, Nathaniel Walcott, Blake Mills, Maria Taylor, Gillian Welch and others.

Oberst will tour the new record with The Felice Brothers starting with a March 9 concert at The Waiting Room Lounge.Tickets, $26 in advance or $31 day of show, go on sale Saturday at 11 a.m. via onepercentproductions.com.

I heard this was coming, but details were only released today. "Ruminations" was one of my top albums of 2016, and I very much enjoyed the full-band version of "Tachycardia" that was on Oberst's Record Store Day release. So I'm very much interested in hearing this record and seeing it performed full-on with a band.

"Salutations" Track List:

1. Too Late To Fixate

2. Gossamer Thin

3. Overdue

4. Afterthought

5. Next Of Kin

6. Napalm

7. Mamah Borthwick

8. Till Saint Dymphna's Kicks Us Out

9. Barbary Coast

10. Tachycardia

11. Empty Hotel By The Sea

12. Anytime Soon

13. Counting Sheep

14. Rain Follows The Plow

15. You All Loved Him Once

16. A Little Uncanny

17. Salutations
Warren Distributions upcoming move to downtown Omahas 10th Street corridor will stack another century of history on a redevelopment site already steeped in nostalgia.

Founded in 1922, Warren is about the same age as the old postal facility undergoing massive transformation  the top two stories tailored for Warrens corporate offices.

The Omaha-based Warren, known for products such as Polar antifreeze and Mag1 automotive lubricants, will lease its new home, sharing the five-floor historical landmark with tenants including Boyd Jones Construction.

Boyd Jones president, Jon Crane, is the developer for the $25 million renovation project dubbed the Rail and Commerce Building, in recognition of the neighborhood where Omahas railroad and innovative spirit launched.

Indeed, said Warren Senior Vice President Jim Douglas, it was the gritty and sturdy vibe of the place that cinched Warrens decision to relocate to 950 S. 10th St.

Were not a flashy company  no marble entryways or things like that, Douglas said during a tour of his future worksite. The more we talked about it, this started to feel right. It just fit.

Warren has been based at its existing 727 S. 13th St. headquarters near the Old Market since the mid-1960s.

Relocation of its 108-member corporate crew (of executives, accountants, graphic artists and other office staff) is set for summer, when the broader project is to be done. While Boyd Jones previously announced plans to move there with subsidiary Bluestem Energy Solutions, Warren officials hadnt talked publicly about its new headquarters until now.

Douglas said Warren, whose annual sales exceed $450 million, had outgrown its existing base. He said the firm, which manufactures and distributes automotive products, projects aggressive growth over the next five years and anticipates opening another manufacturing plant, as early as later this year, in a city still to be announced. That would add to manufacturing and distribution operations in Guntersville, Alabama; Glen Dale, West Virginia; and Council Bluffs.

Of the companys 618 employees currently spread among four states, most are in Omaha and Council Bluffs.

Options for Warrens new corporate headquarters had included the Bluffs old Playland Park, where a new business and residential park is being created. Council Bluffs is home also to a 255,000-square-foot Warren manufacturing and packaging plant and 165,000-square-foot distribution center.

Redeveloping its existing downtown Omaha site was weighed as well, but that effort threatened to be too disruptive to business.

In the end, Douglas said, Warrens chairman and chief executive, Robert Schlott (grandson of founder James Schlott), resolved to keep the firms home base in downtown Omaha.

Its part of who we are, part of our legacy, Douglas said. Two previous headquarters sites were in downtown Omaha. Douglas said proximity to the airport and Warrens Bluffs facilities also were factors.

Company leaders already were familiar with the 10th Street corridor, having purchased the Burlington Station across from the Rail and Commerce site in 1989. Plans to make a headquarters out of the depot changed with cost projections, Douglas said, and in 1993 Warren put the property back on the market, selling it in 2004.

Revitalization of 10th Street has since accelerated. Properties including the Blue Barn Theatre, row houses and restaurants have been built; KETV has moved its studios to the depot. You cant help but notice whats going on here, Douglas said.

Renovation of the 100,000- square-foot Rail and Commerce structure started in mid-2015. (The triangular-looking terminal was built originally as a mail-sorting facility for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.) Awareness of the project heightened recently as giant windows were replaced on the exterior. A two-floor garage was recently constructed in back.

Built to withstand the rumble of still-active rail lines nearby, the rehabilitated structure will offer modern amenities such as technology-rich conference rooms, open and natural-lighted work areas and a fitness area, said Walt Peffer of P.J. Morgan Real Estate, the leasing agent.

One of the lower floors is being outfitted for a commerce village for dozens of startups and entrepreneurs. A restaurant and lounge, yet to be identified for the ground floor, will open to a 3,200-square-foot outdoor patio that faces 10th Street and wraps onto Mason Street.

A small portion of the second floor is to be subleased by Warren to another tenant.

Rules attached to $4 million in historic tax credits restricts character-altering changes to the overall complex. But Alex Turner of BVH Architecture views the end design as more creative and meaningful because it blends old with new.

Take observation decks where postal supervisors once spied on workers below to make sure mail stayed secure. Those will stay for the most part, but chunks were cut out in strategic locations and lighting features will illuminate the deck interior painted in Warrens yellow logo color.

This design move provides a subtle but powerful metaphor, infusing Warren Distributions culture (and) identity directly into the historic structure, said Turner, the main designer on the project.

Also to be preserved in some fashion are giant chutes through which postal packages dropped between floors. On one floor, a hole was cut out of a chute to create a tunnel through which people can walk (again, a past-present metaphor).

Certain signage that harks back to earlier days is to be restored or replicated. An original vault door that safeguarded postal valuables is to be integrated into the restaurant lounge design.

Contributing to the look of Warrens future headquarters was an employee group that has met for months, traveling at one point to the Silicon Valley to check out creative workplaces.

Michael Leuck, a 31-year-old graphic artist, said the committees overarching mission was to enhance three cs: collaboration, communication and creativity. Out of group discussions came, for example, spots designed to promote chance encounters that could spark idea exchanges.

You meet someone by the water cooler, break room and random spots and start having conversations between departments, Leuck said.

A new interior staircase that will connect Warrens third and second floors also is meant to increase mingling. Seating and a work counter are to be built around the landing platform.

Sunlight will pour in through floor-to-ceiling windows. Douglas said each worker should have access to natural light, compared with the smidgen that workers now have.

Though the size of Warrens current and future homes is nearly equal, about 30,000 square feet, Douglas said the 10th Street layout is more efficient.

The 13th Street site, although dated, remains valuable real estate. The Morgan company is marketing the site for office space rental. Douglas said Warren officials believe there might be a better long-term use.

He said the company might redevelop the site, but any decision on that would come later, after the company is settled in its new headquarters.

Weve got to catch our breath from this first.
The renewable energy arm of conglomerate Koch Industries said Wednesday it has made another multimillion-dollar investment tied to Nebraskas ethanol industry  this time related to fish and chicken farming.

Kansas-based Flint Hills Resources said it plans to invest more than $50 million in the ethanol plant it operates in Fairmont, about halfway between Lincoln and Hastings.

The new equipment will allow the plant to produce a high-protein fish and chicken feed from corn leftovers created by the motor-fuel distillation process. Making ethanol from corn creates such residual grains, mostly used for cattle feed.

But now, scientists with Flint Hills and Fairmont partner Fluid Quip Process Technologies are tweaking the leftover grains to maximize amino acid content to appeal to fish and poultry farmers who need high-protein rations for their operations. Markets will be domestic and export, Flint Hills says.

The export opportunities open up economic development prospects in central Nebraska from lifestyle changes thousands of miles away. In developing countries in the next 15 years or so, according to the United Nations, chicken consumption is forecast to rise more than tenfold. And fish farms  with their voracious appetites for high-protein feed  now account for about half of the seafood processed worldwide.

Ethanol plants are an excellent production platform for a diverse variety of food, feed, fiber and fuel products, said Todd Sneller, administrator of the Nebraska Ethanol Board. The investment in feed product technology and production by Flint Hills Resources is another example of the opportunities for ethanol plants to diversify their product slate in response to growing international markets.

Mark Kruse, general manager of grain and feed ingredients at Flint Hills Resources, said the feed is composed of spent yeast and the protein called corn gluten. It will be sold in the United States and overseas, with Asia getting special mention for its concentration of fish farms.

Protein needs are growing across the globe, he said. This was our vision when we got into the ethanol business six years ago.

The Fairmont investment follows the $100 million spent by Koch on a biodiesel plant in Beatrice. Koch is owned by politically active brothers Charles Koch and David Koch. Flint Hills acquired the plant in disuse some years ago and last year began producing what will eventually be 50 million gallons a year of diesel fuel made from corn oil, another leftover from ethanol production.

The new process at Fairmont will require about a year of construction, including the addition of a new building and two protein dryers. The project is expected to create about 120 construction jobs. The plant will remain in operation during construction.

The Fairmont plant, which employs about 60 people, is in the middle of Americas ethanol belt  Nebraska is the nations second-largest producer, Iowa the first, by dint of the enormous corn crops produced in those states.

Kansas-based Koch Industries is the nations second-largest private company, with about $100 billion in annual revenue from energy, agriculture, manufacturing and other commercial endeavors. It operates five ethanol plants in Iowa.
A man who came to the aid of an Iowa couple at the deadly Florida airport shooting this month said he felt compelled to attend Wednesdays funeral service for the man who was killed.

Theres a lot of different reasons that Im here today, Mark Lea of Elk River, Minnesota, said in an interview. I want to help the family get through this, but I am also looking for closure for myself.

Lea, 53, and his wife, Kari, arrived at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Jan. 6 to head out on a weeklong Caribbean cruise to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Mike and Kari Oehme of Council Bluffs also were going on a cruise and were waiting for their luggage to come off the plane.

Mike Oehme, 57, was one of five people killed in a baggage claim area when a gunman opened fire. Kari Oehme, 55, who was among six others who were injured, is recovering from her wounds.

I was probably 60 yards away when the first shots were fired, Lea said. Everyone started running and taking cover anywhere they could.

Lea, a financial adviser, said he helped his wife and about a half dozen other women get outside the terminal before circling back closer to the gunman. Lea said he is licensed in 46 states to carry a concealed weapon, but he was unarmed.

I was watching him continue to walk down the aisle of baggage claim just randomly shooting here and there to anyone that was in his path, Lea said. I was able to stay out of his line of sight as he fired.

Then he stopped and I could see the slide lock on the (9 mm pistol) was empty. I was wondering how much ammunition he had and if he was going to reload or if there was a second shooter laying in the weeds.

Lea said the gunman put down the pistol, walked a few feet and then lay on the floor with his arms and legs spread out. A Broward County deputy arrived and pounced on the gunman.

Lea said he began checking on the dead and injured. He said he found Kari Oehme and began putting pressure on her shoulder wound while trying to assess who else needed help.

I think she could feel me rising up to look while I was still keeping pressure on the wound, he said. She said, Dont leave me, dont leave me. Stay with me, and I told her I would and kept talking to her.

Lea said his heart sank when Kari Oehme began asking about her husband and described him. He could see a white-haired man in a blue shirt just a few feet away who had a head wound and wasnt moving.

Kari had her left arm over her face and that was good, because it kept her from seeing Mike, Lea said. I didnt want her to know he was dead. I wanted to keep her from going into more shock.

Lea said he stayed with Kari Oehme until emergency medical personnel arrived. Lea assured her that she was in good hands and began looking for his wife.

My wife was frantic, he said. She had been calling me, but I didnt hear my phone. When I found her, I had Karis blood on my hands, and she didnt know if it was my blood.

The Leas went on their cruise after he was interviewed by law enforcement officers, but it was not the celebration they envisioned. He spent a couple of hours a day talking by phone with counselors from law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.

A spokesman for the FBIs Miami office said officials werent in a position to comment on the matter.

It gave my wife and I challenges through the week, Lea said. We were replaying the sights, the sounds and smells of that morning. It was very hard on me. Its still hard.

When the Oehmes daughter, Andrea, called to thank Lea for helping her mother, he asked to be kept informed about her condition and funeral plans for Mike Oehme. He was among the mourners Wednesday morning at Council Bluffs Bayliss Park Chapel.

While talking with Andrea Oehme, Lea learned her family has maintained a cabin near Brainerd, Minnesota, for the past 93 years. The Oehmes drive through Leas home of Elk River, a Minneapolis suburb, to get to the cabin.

There were a lot of little things that connect us, Lea said. My wife and Kari spell their names the same, and I used to come down to Omaha three or four times a year on business.

I feel like I was meant to be there, he said, doing what I could to help people.
An Arlington, Nebraska, woman was sentenced to three months in prison and two years of probation Tuesday in Dodge County Court for her role in the death of a patient at a Fremont assisted living facility.

Dodge County Attorney Oliver Glass had amended the charge against Anne T. Pavlik, 23, from felony abuse of a vulnerable adult to attempt of a felony, a misdemeanor. Judge Kenneth Vampola could have sentenced Pavlik to one year in prison.

We amended the charge after a careful evaluation of the evidence and deliberating with the sons of the deceased, Dodge County Attorney Oliver Glass said. We had a pretty big hurdle proving intent, but we did feel comfortable proving negligence on the part of Anne Pavlik.

Pavlik must undergo moral reconation therapy, complete 240 hours of community service and publish a public apology on Facebook. Vampola also ordered Pavlik not to work in the health care field while on probation.

An investigation by the Fremont Police Department determined that Bernard Batten, 82, woke up early on Feb. 13, 2016, and wandered around the Edgewood Vista Memory Care Facility, eventually sitting in a chair. Pavlik, the only staff member present, went about her duties and failed to notice that Batten later pulled his chair near a burning fireplace before falling asleep.

When Pavlik attempted to wake Batten, she discovered that he had been badly burned and summoned help. Batten died at the Fremont Health Medical Center the next day.

An autopsy showed that Battens death was caused by a combination of natural causes, with second- and third-degree burns he sustained at the facility as a contributing factor.

A member of Battens family who had been in court for the sentencing declined to comment. Leta Fornoff, Pavliks attorney, didnt immediately return a message seeking comment.
The white pickup truck pulled up to the convenience store shortly after midnight on Jan. 7, after the clerk, Seth Hansen, had closed for the night.

Dirk Blume pleaded with Hansen to let him buy a can of chewing tobacco, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation, who spoke to The World-Herald on condition of anonymity. Hansen refused  it was after hours.

Blume allegedly grew enraged. The two men exchanged words. Someone mentioned a gun.

Blume drove off. But as Hansen walked outside to take the garbage out, the source said, the pickup truck circled the parking lot and ran over the 40-year-old clerk.

Blume, 45, was booked Tuesday on suspicion of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit murder. Police said Hansen was killed in an intentional act.

Rachel Tiller, who worked with Blume for two years at NP Dodge Real Estate, said she was surprised to hear about Blumes arrest.

She described him as confident and focused on getting his work done.

He definitely did not seem like someone who would ever murder another person, she said.

But Blume had been involved in at least one previous altercation that ended with security guards intervening.

Nick Rose said he was trying to sell a boat last year, and Blume took it for a test drive that lasted five hours.

He brought liquor and got really drunk and was acting obnoxious, being really degrading to the (women) I had with me, Rose said. He called them awful names  saying he was rude is an understatement.

The next day, Rose said Blume called him again for another test drive on the Missouri River. Rose reluctantly agreed. Again, Blume brought his alcohol.

They were at Cottonwood Marina north of Blair when Rose and several friends took the boat back out for a short ride without Blume. The real estate agent blew up, Rose said.

He came running down the dock, ranting about how it was his boat already and swearing, Rose said. He said he had a pistol and all the cash in the boat.

Thats when security officers at the marina got involved, Rose said. Rose did not end up selling the boat to Blume.

Lisa Victoria said she has known Blume for more than 20 years and considered him an acquaintance. He was nice, she said, but often arrogant.

Several months ago, she ran into him in the late afternoon at a department store.

He reeked of booze, she told The World-Herald via email. (He was) a troubled soul.

Blume had worked in real estate for 16 years, according to the bio on his personal website, which has been taken down since Tuesday. His Facebook page is still active and shows a post from Jan. 8  a day after Hansens death  advertising his work.

He often used his Facebook page for real estate listings  sharing photos of homes with asking prices topping half a million dollars. His bio describes him as representing a premiere custom home builder. On LinkedIn, Blume said he is someone who wants to teach his two daughters that there is no reward without risk.

I also want to help people understand that there may be a down, but dont ever count yourself out! he wrote.

Blume is a defendant in three other recent court cases:

On Nov. 29, a Douglas County District Court judge ordered garnishment of wages Blume had earned as a real estate agent for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate. The court issued the order after Blume failed to pay $42,412 to his ex-wife for spousal and child support.

The Blumes were married in 1993 and divorced in 2015 and have two children.

According to a response from Blumes employer in the court file, he wasnt due any wages because he worked as an independent contractor, receiving pay upon the closing of real estate transactions.

Three weeks later, an Omaha attorney filed a lawsuit seeking $1,008 in legal fees.

Both Blume and his ex-wife, Sheri, were named in a lawsuit filed Dec. 15 by First National Bank. The bank is seeking nearly $91,000 for repayment of a $100,000 equity loan the couple obtained in April 2003.

Blume also had a DUI in 1991.

Vince Leisey, a spokesman for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, said Wednesday that the company is stunned by the arrest of Blume  who was taken into custody Tuesday at the office. We will fully cooperate with the authorities, he said.

Blumes ex-wife declined to comment beyond saying he is a good man.

Other attempts to reach Blumes family were unsuccessful Wednesday.

Deb Nelson, the manager of the Speedee Mart where Hansen worked, said the arrest comes as a relief.

But it cant bring Seth back, she said.

World-Herald staff writers Kevin Cole and Andrew J. Nelson contributed to this report.
A 19-year-old Omaha man accused of critically injuring a Nebraska Furniture Mart worker in a shooting in the stores parking lot had shown interest in mass murderers Jeffrey Dahmer and Charles Starkweather, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

At a hearing in Douglas County Court, a judge told Ryan Blaha that he was facing seven charges: one count of assault, two counts of attempted assault, three counts of use of a deadly weapon in a felony and one count of robbery. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to 290 years in prison.

Blahas bail was set at 10 percent of $1.5 million, meaning he would have to post 10 percent of that, or $150,000, to be released.

Blaha was ordered to have no contact with any victims or witnesses in the case.

Blahas attorney, Steve Delaney, said his client wont be going anywhere soon.

Blaha is charged in the Jan. 11 shooting and robbery of Jared Clawson, 37, a Furniture Mart building engineer who was shot three times in the back.

As I understand it, the victim (Clawson) has had multiple surgeries and is clinging to life, said prosecutor David Wear of the Douglas County Attorneys Office.

Clawson told police he had been shot by a man who, after firing the shots, drove away in a sport utility vehicle. Police searched for a 1995 to 2001 green Ford Explorer.

Police said the assailant used a shotgun in the attack.

Wear said investigators found that Blaha had researched Dahmer, a Milwaukee man who killed 17 boys and men from 1978 to 1991 and cannibalized some of them, and Starkweather, a teenager who killed 11 people in Nebraska and Wyoming in December 1957 and January 1958.

Starkweather died in the Nebraska electric chair in 1959; Dahmer died in prison in 1994 after he was attacked by another inmate.

Wear said Blaha also shot at two other people in the Furniture Mart parking lot. He noted that several weapons were found in a house that Blaha shares with his father.

Wear also said that there is video evidence of the robbery and shooting and that Blaha tried to destroy evidence from the robbery.

A preliminary hearing for Blaha was set for Feb. 6.

Friday, Blaha appeared in court on a misdemeanor charge of shoplifting alcohol a day after the shooting.

In 2015, Blaha was convicted of misdemeanor charges of shoplifting and being a minor in possession of alcohol.
LINCOLN  University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds told the Nebraska Legislatures Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that he feared last fall that a midyear tuition increase might be required.

Bounds said Gov. Pete Ricketts agreed to cut only $13.3 million from the NU systems 2016-17 budget instead of $23 million, and an immediate tuition hike wasnt necessary.

But Bounds and other higher education officials said state funding cuts in the 2017-19 budget cycle would lead to significant tuition hikes over the next couple of years.

The higher education administrators  representing the three state colleges, six community colleges and the NU system  spoke to the Legislatures budget-crafting committee about Ricketts proposals for flat or decreased state allocations for public higher education.

The state colleges in Wayne, Peru and Chadron would see a slight uptick of 0.19 percent over the two years, while NU would face a decrease of 0.93 percent and the community colleges a decline of 3 percent over the two years, according to documents distributed by Ricketts last week.

Bounds said the NU system, which includes universities in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Curtis, will be a good partner and absorb some cuts.

But I think we all have to be clear that there are consequences, he said.

Appropriations Committee Chairman John Stinner of Gering asked Bounds how much money NU has in reserves.

Bounds estimated $300 million, but he said those reserves help NU maintain an Aa1 bond rating. A drop in that rating would increase NUs costs in borrowing money, he said.

I truly get that, Stinner responded.

Bounds said the two-year cut, plus health care costs and salary increases, will put NU $50 million in the hole in 2017-19, and that doesnt include some inflationary costs.

Tuition hikes and program cuts are inevitable in that scenario, Bounds said. The university may not look the same way it looks today, he said.

He also contended that NU has received a progressively smaller portion of the state budget over time. He distributed a chart showing that under the governors proposed budget, NU would receive 13.1 percent of the states budget. That compares to 21.2 percent in 1984. A chart indicated that NU is losing out to Medicaid, corrections and other state agencies.

He said that NU would be less affordable and that enrollment would suffer if the cuts go through. Educating and training Nebraskans as well as recruiting out-of-state and international students are vital to the states long-term economic health, he said.

Is the (NU) foundation at all able to help you weather these cuts? asked Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln.

Bounds said NU has generous alums and donors, but more than 99 percent of their contributions are directed at specific projects and programs and dont provide relief from state cuts.

He also said Ricketts intends to take back $5.1 million in unspent 2015-16 Nebraska Research Initiative money from NU, which Bounds didnt anticipate. Bounds said the money is committed to pay off research equipment and said removing it from NUs budget will be an additional burden.

Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha asked Bounds about the integrity of the budget-cutting proposal so far.

Has this been a fair process? McDonnell asked.

Were really just starting the process, Bounds answered.

The governors proposal hits the community colleges the hardest, targeting them for a 3 percent cut over the two-year cycle.

Greg Adams, head of the Nebraska Community College Association, said his colleges play a key role in providing career and technical education and building the states workforce.

Community colleges are trainers and serve virtually as a human relations department for many businesses, Adams said.

When we dont have the resources, it gets that much tougher to do, he said.

Stan Carpenter, chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, said flat state funding leads to a couple of choices.

We recognize the difficult state financial circumstances, Carpenter said. We will make it work through a combination of tuition increases and budget cuts.

Mike Baumgartner, executive director of the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, said his agency distributes Nebraska Opportunity Grant money to campuses and oversees Access College Early aid.

Less state money, he said, means either fewer students get aid or all students who receive that aid get less of it.
LINCOLN  Prison officials could hide the identities of lethal injection suppliers under a bill introduced Wednesday in the Nebraska Legislature.

Legislative Bill 661 would allow authorities to withhold any information reasonably calculated to lead to the identity of an entity or individual that manufactures, supplies, compounds or prescribes drugs used to carry out an execution.

State Sen. John Kuehn of Heartwell, who submitted the proposal on the final day of bill introduction, said the Legislature should comply with the majority of Nebraska voters who cast ballots in favor of capital punishment in November. Providing confidentiality to drug makers would remove one of the obstacles that makes capital punishment dysfunctional, he added.

Most of the leading death penalty states shield the identities of the lethal drug makers, saying the information is used by capital punishment opponents to pressure suppliers not to provide the drugs for executions.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, who introduced a death penalty repeal bill earlier this week, said he will fight Kuehns measure. He mentioned that Kuehn has recently argued that government transparency demands an end to the Legislatures practice of casting secret ballots in leadership elections.

The most serious thing the state can do is take a life, and he would shroud that in secrecy, he said. The public has the right to know everything and every step the state is taking in the process.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, a strong supporter of the death penalty, is pursuing changes to the states lethal injection protocol that include similar secrecy provisions. The governor also wants to withhold the type of drug the state plans to use until 60 days before the attorney general asks the Nebraska Supreme Court for a death warrant.

Kuehns two-page bill addresses no other issues except for hiding the identity of the drug supplier. He said Wednesday that Ricketts did not ask him to introduce it.

While the senator said he thinks the existing lethal injection law allows prison officials to shield information from public disclosure, he said addressing it specifically in statute would help keep the death penalty viable.

In 2015 the Legislature repealed the death penalty over the governors veto. But in November, 61 percent of voters overturned the repeal and reinstated capital punishment.

Ten men currently sit on Nebraskas death row.

Lawmakers wrapped up bill introduction for the year with a total of 667 bills and four proposed constitutional amendments. The number was similar to two years ago, the last time the Legislature met for a long session.

Among those tossed into the hopper Wednesday:

 Concealed carry. Nebraskans would not have to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun under LB 502, introduced by Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon. He said the constitutional carry proposal respects the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Brewer said he wants discussion about the issue, although he acknowledged the bill carries some risk because it would not require the firearms training that concealed carry permit holders currently must have.

 Property tax. Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse would nearly quadruple the amount of state money earmarked for property tax credits with LB 545.

The measure would ramp up annual transfers to the credit fund until they reached $824 million by tax year 2020. Current law calls for transfers of $224 million annually in the next two years.

The measure is one of several introduced Wednesday to spark discussion about the level of property taxes.

 Assault by ambush. Attacking a law enforcement officer, firefighter or emergency care provider by ambush or by surprise would become a new crime under LB 577, introduced by Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln. The penalty for such an attack would be up to life in prison.

Current penalties for assaulting such first responders range from 50 years in prison for first-degree assault down to three years in prison and 18 months supervised release for a third-degree assault or an assault with a motor vehicle.

 Self-driving cars. Autonomous motor vehicles would be allowed in Nebraska and could be operated by any licensed driver under LB 627, introduced by Sen. Tyson Larson of ONeill.

The bill would require a self-driving vehicle to alert the operator of a technology failure and to have a way for the operator to take control. Operators of self-driving vehicles would be allowed to text or watch TV while on the road.

 Drugs and welfare. Applicants for welfare benefits would have to be drug-tested under LB 537, sponsored by Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango.

Those who test positive would have to complete drug treatment and job skills training to remain on benefits. Those who refuse would be barred from getting benefits for one year.

Parents who test positive could designate a payee to receive benefits on behalf of their children, but the payee would have to pass a drug test first.

 Property valuation. Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha proposed a constitutional amendment that would end the requirement for uniform and proportional valuation of property.

He said Legislative Resolution 17CA would open the door for offering property tax abatements as an economic development incentive.

 Electronic intimidation. Harassment and threats by text or other electronic messages would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in prison and a $500 fine under LB 574, sponsored by Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion.

Such penalties already apply to intimidation via a phone conversation. Kintner brought a similar proposal last year in response to concerns raised by law enforcement.

 A knife as a weapon. A May ruling by the Nebraska Supreme Court said the sole factor defining a knife as a dangerous weapon is a blade longer than 3 inches. That means those transporting knives for legitimate purposes could find themselves charged with crimes. LB 558 by Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus would add to the definition so that intent would be included as a defining factor.

World-Herald staff writer Martha Stoddard contributed to this report.
The City of Ralston will use lottery proceeds to cover its arenas shortfalls, a decision that came after tense discussion and a tied City Council vote.

Council members debated whether using the city's local keno proceeds in such a manner was appropriate and aired grievances about being left out of the loop on the arenas monthly finances.

A 3-3 council tie forced Mayor Don Groesser to cast a deciding vote for the first time in years. Groesser voted in favor of creating an arena cash flow fund, which will start with an initial balance of $500,000.

Several council members noted that lottery funds are earmarked for community betterment. City Attorney Mark Klinker told the council that the arena fund fit this definition because it will prevent taxpayers from needing to foot more of the arenas bills.

Were operating a business down at the arena, and, like businesses, it has times where its flush and times where its income is not quite as flush, Klinker said.

The arena can tap the fund when receipts are low and then pay it back when receipts are stronger, Klinker said. The move also allows the city to avoid going to a bank for a line of credit, Groesser said.

The city hasnt sought a line of credit for the arena in the past, he said. This year, the cash flow isnt as steady as it was in previous years, he said. Were the money not going toward this arena cash flow fund, it would just be sitting in the bank, he said.

Groesser said the lottery fund has about $1.8 million.

All lottery money used for the arena is to be paid back with arena revenues by the end of the fiscal year, the council resolution said. Several council members questioned whether this would happen.

Were going to use this money up, and then well be looking for other money, said council member Craig Alberhasky, who voted against the resolution.

The city has been borrowing and spending money since the arena opened, he said. This is a crutch.

Council members also expressed frustration at not being kept up to date on the arenas detailed monthly finances.

Council member Ben Preis, who voted in favor of creating the cash flow fund, said the council and mayor need to be more direct with arena management.

Were going to start giving directives and getting some answers, Preis said. Somebody needs to put a thumb down. Somebody has to get something moving.

Every report the council gets just says the arena is busy, Preis said.

Busy doesnt pay the bills, he said. We need a report that says were profitable.

Preis voted for the resolution because he said immediate bills need to be paid.

Council member Lee Fideline, who voted against it, said he ran a business for 45 years, and, while he did have a line of credit, he never used it.

I lost a few nights sleep over this (resolution), he said.

Council member Maureen Konwinski, who also voted no, said council members should be provided with profit and loss statements each month.

Michael Sanchez, who voted for the measure, said council members were agonizing over two separate issues: paying current bills versus preventing ending up in this situation again in the future. He said creating a commission to oversee the arenas operating could be a good move in the future.

If we keep doing what were doing, were going to keep getting what were getting, he said.

Council President Jerry Krause said he agreed that council members should be provided with the profit and loss statements and that creating a committee or commission is a good idea. But thats not the matter at hand, he said. He also cautioned council members against speaking too negatively of the citys situation.

The city is whole, he said. We are whole. We are not going broke. We need to separate the two issues a bit.
Former U.S. Strategic Command leader Gen. James Cartwright was among 64 people to receive presidential pardons Tuesday.

Cartwright, 67, took over as the acting commander of the Offutt-based StratCom on July 9, 2004, and was sworn in as commander less than two months later.

He is the only Marine Corps officer to lead the joint command since its creation in 1992.

Cartwright pleaded guilty in October to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Irans nuclear facilities.

Prosecutors said Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger and also misled prosecutors about classified information shared with another journalist, Daniel Klaidman.

The Justice Department sought a sentence of two years, saying employees of the U.S. government are entrusted each day with sensitive classified information.

Cartwright led StratCom for three years. During his tenure, he oversaw the separation of StratComs Space and Global Strike functions into separate units. And in 2006, he helped to open the $35 million 14,000-square-foot Global Operations Center, the nerve center for StratComs worldwide operations, underneath the headquarters building.

After leaving StratCom, Cartwright, a four-star general, was elevated to vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the second-highest military position in the Pentagon. He served a pair of two-year terms before retiring from the Marines in 2011.
LINCOLN  Brownville and Lexington have been awarded state grants to upgrade facilities that attract tourists.

Brownville was given a $350,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Developments block grant program to renovate the Brownville Concert Hall and make it more accessible for the elderly and handicapped.

Lexington is also getting a $350,000 grant, which will be used to make upgrades at the Dawson County Fairgrounds.

The Economic Development department also announced that it has awarded $25,000 each in Community Development Assistance Act tax credits to the communities of Broken Bow, Humboldt, and Lincoln.

Broken Bow is expanding its public library. Humboldt will use its credits to help renovate the historic Humboldt Auditorium, built in 1941 as a Works Progress Administration project. And Lincolns tax credit will be used by the LUX Center for the Arts for its arts campus program.

A 1985 law allows a 40 percent state tax credit to be awarded to community betterment projects in areas identified as economically distressed.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb.  Six Grand Island firefighters and one police officer were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning Tuesday after responding to a medical call at a Grand Island home.

At the home, firefighters found a 38-year-old man and a female. Medical care was given to both, who were taken to St. Francis Medical Center. The man was pronounced dead at the hospital.

In the basement of the home, the man was unresponsive and not breathing, Fire Chief Cory Schmidt said. The female passed out, so a second medical unit was called.

Firefighters are equipped with a carbon monoxide monitor, which is attached to an airway box. That monitor is always on.

The alarm went off as the crews were working with the patients, alerting the responders to high carbon monoxide levels.

Realizing it was a dangerous place to be, the crews loaded up the patients and took them to the hospital, continuing with patient care on the way.

At the hospital, blood and urine samples were taken from the firefighters and police officer to see what their carbon monoxide levels were. Some were complaining of headaches and other problems, Schmidt said.

The carbon monoxide levels were fairly high, so oxygen was given to the firefighters and police officer.

They were in the house long enough, and it was a high enough concentration that they did experience some of the symptoms associated with carbon monoxide exposure, Schmidt said.

But they didnt need specialized care, Schmidt said. They were treated with oxygen and just basic monitoring.

The seven individuals, who arrived about 2:30 p.m., were discharged from the hospital about 5:30 p.m.

While on the medical call, firefighters found what they believed to be stolen property. They relayed that information to the police, who served a search warrant, Police Capt. Jim Duering said.

An autopsy has been ordered for the victim. The mans name was not available.

We dont suspect foul play at this point in time, Duering said.

The possible theft, which is still under investigation, is not related to the death investigation, Duering said.

Its too early to speculate whether the presence of carbon monoxide was a contributing cause of the death, Duering said.

Carbon monoxide is really a silent killer, Schmidt said. The Grand Island Fire and Police Departments are fortunate that none of the emergency responders was lost, Schmidt said.

We let them off duty last night as a precaution, he said.

As far as Im aware, everyones doing well today, Schmidt added. They will all work their next shifts, he said.
WASHINGTON  Legislation now headed for the presidents desk will allow a government watchdog agency to gain access to a key database in order to identify potential fraud in federal programs.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., sponsored the bill, which the Senate approved Tuesday evening on a 99-0 vote. The House already approved it.

Congress is flying blind when it comes to overseeing huge portions of our budget, and therefore we dont have the information we need to fix these problems, Sasse said on the Senate floor prior to the vote.

At issue is the National Directory of New Hires, a federal database that contains personal and financial data on nearly every working American, as well as those receiving unemployment compensation.

It was created in 1996 to help enforce child support payments.

The Government Accountability Office has been trying for years to gain access to the database as part of its work to root out waste, fraud and abuse in programs that provide benefits tied to the recipients income.

But the Department of Health and Human Services, which maintains the directory, took the position that GAO wasnt authorized to see that data.

Sasse ran up against the issue as he was urging the GAO to build on its previous work delving into federal school meal programs.

He wanted the agency to dig deeper but was told that would require access to the directory. Now his legislation will give the GAO that access.

Sasse noted that entitlement programs, including those that are means-tested, contribute to the annual federal budget deficit. He said better oversight would ensure that those programs helped those who were most in need.

In addition, Sasse said he hopes the GAO now will be able to look into programs such as unemployment insurance, various tax credits, food stamps and Medicaid.

Theres never been an ability before for government watchdog agencies to get access to those databases, Sasse told The World-Herald. Over the course of the next few years, I think youll see really substantial numbers of waste, fraud and abuse that will be able to be established.
Donald Trumps foreign policy nominees launched a Reassurance Offensive last week, promising Congress  and the rest of us  that the next president wont be as scary as he sounds.

They almost succeeded.

In their Senate confirmation hearings, Trumps prospective Cabinet members smoothed the rough edges off their new boss with an audacious strategy: They flat-out disagreed with him.

And not on a handful of minor issues; the nominees walked away from the president-elect on some of his most alarming foreign policy positions. Examples:

Trump has talked up the prospects for a strategic partnership with Vladimir Putins Russia, mainly to fight terrorism in the Middle East. But his nominees for secretary of state and defense said thats not likely to succeed.

Were not likely to ever be friends, former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson, the nominee for State, said. We do not hold the same values. He called Russia an unfriendly adversary.

In his campaign, Trump derided the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as obsolete and said he might not defend its members if they dont increase military spending.

Tillerson and retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis, the pick for defense, disagreed. If we did not have NATO today, we would need to create it, Mattis said.

Trump promised to tear up President Barack Obamas nuclear arms deal with Iran; Mattis said the deal was imperfect but should be left in place.

Trump called global warming a Chinese hoax and said hed withdraw from last years Paris climate agreement; Tillerson dissented from both propositions.

Trump said he would allow  indeed, encourage  U.S. interrogators to use torture on suspected terrorists; his nominee as CIA director, Rep. Mike Pompeo, said he would refuse to carry out any such order.

There was more, but you get the point.

Compared with Trumps freewheeling campaign persona, his nominees were soothing and sensible. They wouldnt have been Hillary Clintons choices, but they could have been Mitt Romneys.

Even some Democrats were pleased.

Im puzzled because many of them sound reasonable, said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senates second-ranking Democrat. Far more reasonable than their president.

Democratic firebrand Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts found herself praising Mattis, a hawkish Marine who was dubbed Mad Dog for his ferocity in battle.

Were counting on you, she said.

Trump pronounced himself delighted.

All of my Cabinet nominee are looking good and doing a great job, he tweeted on Friday. I want them to be themselves and express their own thoughts, not mine!

Thats an unusual management doctrine for any chief executive. Previous presidents often said they encouraged robust debate inside the White House  but in front of Congress and the public, they wanted their cabinet secretaries to toe a single, clearly chalked official line.

In Trumps case, though, there is no such line, which is one reason his nominees were allowed to give their thoughts free rein, a person involved in the process told me.

In 2001, George W. Bushs transition team produced a 450-page binder of policy positions to guide his nominees. The Trump team has no comparable manifesto. And Trumps campaign positions arent always a reliable index to his thinking; hes changed course on several issues already.

In effect, Trumps nominees are behaving as if the presidents views on foreign policy are still unformed and up for grabs  as if an appointment to Trumps Cabinet is an invitation to join a battle for his ear.

As in any administration, that there will be rival factions. Judging from the confirmation hearings, Tillerson and Mattis may strike an alliance to try to curb their bosss impetuous side.

We havent heard as much from Trumps closest  and more radical  foreign policy advisers, Michael T. Flynn and Stephen K. Bannon; they dont require confirmation by the Senate. But theyve both been more skeptical about NATO and more enthusiastic about Russia.

The result is likely to be a noisy first year as the new team hashes out exactly what President Trump wants to do.

And thats the problem with the Reassurance Offensive: Its only a set of opening bids. It doesnt tell us where Trump will land. Cabinet officers often get overruled; just ask John Kerry.

At the end of the day, each one of them is going to pursue a Trump agenda and a Trump vision, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said last week.

Still, its good to know that when Trump makes big foreign policy decisions, he will have at least a few cautious advisers in the room. Assuming he lets them into the room, that is. And boy, will their memoirs be worth reading.
A tumultuous situation at the Nebraska Legislature over school aid in 2013 provides an important lesson for the states lawmakers now.

Urban and rural public school groups and senators who support them couldnt agree four years ago on how to carve up the state-aid pie. The various interests locked themselves into rigid positions. A prolonged stalemate resulted, generating uncertainty for overall state budget preparation.

School-aid allocation was finally decided only after months of heated disagreement, with the then-speaker of the Legislature pressing hard for the parties to agree.

Strong jostling among Nebraska school districts over state aid allocation is likely this legislative session. Senators, urban as well as rural, can serve the state best by guiding the process toward a balanced, fair-minded resolution.

As noted here recently, stresses on the agricultural economy involve all of Nebraska. Residents and their elected representatives have a shared interest in the success of all the states communities and regions.

After the Legislature struggled in 2011 in deciding how to redraw rural legislative district boundaries, given negative population trends, we observed the need for the Legislature to make sure that all interests are appreciated:

Although it is understandable that urban lawmakers will be oriented toward the interests of their districts, it will be of growing importance for members of the Legislature to be mindful to show proper respect for rural interests. Regardless of the shifts in population and political boundaries, responsible policy-making in Nebraska will require a sensible balancing of urban and rural interests.

State senators have complex, difficult work ahead this session as they study and debate how to adjust tax policy and distribute school aid. The best approach is a balanced one that respects all interests, urban and rural.
No pardon for Peltier

As the sun sets on the Obama administration, much of its work is now winding down.

But there is one notable exception  the Office of the Pardon Attorney is being deluged with applications for clemency.

One of those applications bears the name of Leonard Peltier.

In 1977, Peltier, a Native American, was convicted of the cold-blooded execution of two FBI agents and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Over the course of subsequent decades he has repeatedly appealed this sentence. After careful consideration, each and every one of those appeals was denied.

Why? Because the evidence of Peltiers guilt is overwhelming.

Nevertheless, uninformed people of good intention, misguided intellectuals, Hollywood personalities and those with an anti-law enforcement agenda persist in portraying Peltier not as a cold-blooded killer, but rather the victim of historical Native American bias.

President Barack Obama has now pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than a thousand individuals. Leonard Peltier is callously attempting to take advantage of that generosity.

It would be an historic miscarriage of justice to allow such a dishonest subterfuge to succeed.

Weysan Dun, Omaha

vice chair, board of trustees,

Former Agents of the FBI Foundation;

retired special agent in charge,

FBI Omaha Field Office

Fischer has already broken her promise

Nebraska U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer wrote in The World-Herald on Jan. 7 regarding a repeal of the Affordable Care Act that I will not leave them out in the cold. I will fight for patients with preexisting conditions. I will fight for all Nebraskans.

Now here we are, less than two weeks later, and our senior senator has gone against her promise to fight for us and voted for a repeal of the most important pieces of the Affordable Care Act. She voted to repeal the amendment that required coverage for patients with preexisting conditions.

She voted to repeal the amendment that allows families to keep children on their health plans until age 26.

She voted to repeal the amendment that protects womens health care.

She voted to repeal the amendment that protects rural hospitals.

She voted to repeal the amendment that protects childrens health insurance under Medicaid.

Nebraska is made up of thousands of people with preexisting conditions, women with no access to health care or family planning resources, families with adult children who need coverage, rural areas with hospital needs and children receiving insurance under Medicaid.

So where exactly is this protection that Fischer promised?

I urge the good people of Nebraska to reach out to Sens. Fischer and Ben Sasse and tell them what the Affordable Care Act means to them.

Kendra Sayler, Omaha

There is no GOP mandate

Using terms like tectonic-like shift, our congressional representatives are promoting the idea that there is an overwhelming mandate for their conservative agenda (Midlands lawmakers eager to get ball rolling, Jan. 15 World-Herald).

We know that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by almost 3 million. Polls consistently show that the majority want to retain or amend the Affordable Care Act, protect Social Security and to raise, not cut, the taxes of the top 1 percent.

This is no mandate. It is exploiting a glitch in the Electoral College to force through their draconian agenda.

Dennis Picken, Omaha

Let us all make America great again

When Donald Trump becomes president, heres hoping that he will allow us, the American people, to help him make America great again.

How? By having him ask us to buy Building American Spirit Bonds and providing the leadership to invest them effectively.

Hundreds of millions of dollars provided by average Americans would help rebuild our country.

Stan Lessmann, Omaha

Teachers need a voice

As a retired teacher in the Omaha Public Schools, I recently attended a meeting of the school board. To me, it appears that the school board has little or no communication with the teachers or their union.

It is also apparent that there is animosity between some members.

The school board serves the public and students of the Omaha Public Schools. We need good teachers in our schools. However, Im not sure that they will want to work in our district if this situation continues to exist.

We need a change. We need someone who will speak to the concerns of the teachers and students, as well as the parents. We need someone who is not afraid to confront issues head on.

Sandra J. Carpenter, Omaha

It should be a South Dakota problem

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota should work with the State of South Dakota and build a licensed beer outlet in South Dakota next to the reservation.

That would be the end of the problems in Whiteclay, Nebraska, and South Dakota could use the tax money to address its problems.

Moving the beer stores farther away from the reservation in Nebraska would only spread the problems over a wider area.

Bill Allen, Blue Springs, Neb.
Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth!

Chennai: Massive protest continues in support of Jallikattu at Marina Beach

Chennai

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Chennai, Jan 18: For the second consecutive day, thousands of enthusiastic supporters of jallikattu protested at Chennai's Marina beach demanding permission to host the banned bull-taming festival Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and a ban on animal rights organisation People for Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA.

Meanwhile, the state government on Wednesday held talks with agitators and assured its commitment to hold the bull taming sport in the state. The government also told the youths that it would even approach the President seeking an ordinance on the matter.

[Also read: Massive protests in support of Jallikattu on Chennai's Marina Beach]

On Tuesday morning, more than 200 youths were taken into custody after they held protests at Alanganallur village.

The Supreme Court in May 2014 banned the conduct of Jallikattu, traditionally held as part of the four-day Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, actors such as Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Simbu have extended their support in favour of the bull-taming sport.

OneIndia News (with inputs from agencies)
A rare victory: 39 human traffickers get 10 years' imprisonment

India

oi-Anusha

In one of the largest convictions for human trafficking in the country, 39 of the total 87 accused, charged with selling girls, were sent to 10 years imprisonment and fined Rs 2.47 lakh by the District and Sessions Court in Ballari. The court that convicted the accused on Tuesday, pronounced the quantum of punishment on Wednesday. The trial in the case extended for three years but ended on a victorious note for the prosecution that was able to establish the guilt of the middlemen, traffickers, transporters and handlers apart from those running the prostitution dens.

The remaining 48 accused, also charged with human trafficking including 21 minor girls, are being tried in three separate cases. "The entire judicial proceeding took over three years of meticulous planning and preparation. At every stage of the trial, which was finally done against 50 accused, all the victims testified bringing out the most important and fundamental details of the criminal network and their modus operandi," said Rathod Ramsingh, Special Public Prosecutor.

Three years wait for justice

In August 2013, the Ballari Police were successful in rescuing 43 victims, of whom 21 were minors, from brothels after being tipped-off by an anti-human trafficking NGO. The police were also successful in arresting 51 of the 87 involved in selling girls for sex. The police conducted several rescue operations in the DC Nagar area of Ballari to carry out these arrests.

During the operations, Rs 4.59 lakh in cash were also seized from the locations. Seven of those rescued were from Bangladesh and the rest were from different parts of the country such Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka and Odisha.

The minors rescued in the operations were shifted to government care homes for girls in Bengaluru. Meena Jain who was the then Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee said, "We need to make sure that traffickers are booked, tried and prosecuted. The convictions should send across a strong message that such criminal activity will not be tolerated. Now that justice is served, lives of these children should also be addressed. They should be allowed to live a normal life."

Ballari additional district and sessions judge, V H Dharwadkar passed an order convicting the accused under Sections 366, 366a, 366b, 368, 370, 370a, 372, 373 of IPC, sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and under sections 3 and 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 18:06 [IST]
Will the General walk the talk: Pak Army Chief wants peaceful resolution to Kashmir issue

Bajwa says Pakistan army ready to respond to any threat

India

oi-PTI

Islamabad, Jan 18: Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa today said that his forces are fully prepared and capable to respond to any threat from across the border.

Gen Bajwa made the remarks during his meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan in Rawalpindi, according to a statement issued by the army. "Army is fully prepared and capable to respond to any threat from across the border," General Bajwa said.

The statement said the security situation on the Line of Control and other matters of mutual interest figured during their meeting. Earlier this month, Bajwa had said his forces are fully geared to respond to "any aggression" by India and rejected the "self defeating claims" of Indian Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat about 'so called surgical strikes'.

India maintains that its forces in September last year conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targetting terrorists and destroying their training camps. Separately, Gen Bajwa also met UAE Ambassador Essa Abdullah Albasha Alnoaimi in Rawalpindi and discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest.

The Army Chief appreciated UAE's role in development projects in tribal areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PTI
Former AAP leader Kumar Vishwas's security to be reviewed after 'Khalistan' claim against Kejriwal

Blow to AAP: Ahead of UP polls, Kumar Vishwas is likely to join BJP

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Lucknow, Jan 18: According to a news report published in The Economic Times, poet-turned-politician Kumar Vishwas is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The report adds that Vishwas, currently a member of the national executive of Aam Aadmi Party, wants to contest the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2017 from Sahibabad constituency.

The formal announcement in this regard is likely to be made by BJP president Amit Shah in Lucknow in a day or two.

Of late, the Hindi poet is maintaining a low-profile in the AAP. Although the AAP has no presence in UP, but Vishwas is popular among youngsters because of his poetry skills. This is likely to help the BJP which is currently under pressure after the Congress and the Samajwadi Party announced their poll alliance.

The upcoming UP assembly elections -- scheduled to start from February 11-- is an elaborate affair. The state will go to elections in seven phases. The polling dates are February 11, February 15, February 19, February 23, February 27, March 4 and March 8, 2017.

The counting of votes in the state Vidhan Sabha, consisting of 403 assembly seats, will take place on March 11.

OneIndia News
What is sexual harassment: What the laws of the land say

Cabinet says yes to scrap 105 redundant laws

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 18: Laws which amended the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the ones dealing with salaries and pensions of the President and the Vice-President are set to be repealed in the coming days.

The Union Cabinet today gave its nod to a Law Ministry proposal to bring the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 to scrap 105 redundant laws which have been clogging the statute books. Out of the 105 laws which would be repealed once the bill is passed Parliament include 2008 amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, The President's Emoluments and Pension Act and the Vice-President's Pension Act.

"The amendments passed by Parliament have since been incorporated in the principal Act. The amendment laws are now like skeletons which are clogging the statute books and are being scrapped," explained a government functionary.

After the meeting of the Cabinet, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters that the two-member committee constituted by the PMO, the Law Commission and the Legislative Department had identified 1824 redundant and obsolete Central Acts for repeal.

Four Acts have so far been enacted to repeal 1175 Central Acts between May, 2014 and August, 2016 by Parliament. He said out of the 1824 Acts, 227 (including Appropriation Acts enacted by Parliament for the states under President's Rule have been identified for repeal by the respective state governments. The various ministries have also "disagreed" to repeal about 139 Acts due to various reasons, a statement issued by the government said.

PTI
Can provide security to Zaira Wasim if J&K govt recommends: Rijiju

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, Jan 18: A day after Bollywood actor Aamir Khan came out in support of Dangal star Zaira Wasim, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that if the Jammu and Kashmir government recommends, security will be provided to her.

Wasim faced severe criticism after she met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday. She had issued an apology stating that she didn't intend to hurt anyone's sentiments. However, she soon deleted the apology from Facebook.

Many criticised the meeting and slammed the J&K CM for not doing anything during the unrest that the valley witnessed recently.

Earlier, Union Minister Jitendra Singh also said that the J&K government was keeping an eye at all the developments relating to Wasim and if needed security will be provided to her. "Society should appreciate the talent of youngsters," he added.

After Wasim issued an apology, several actors, political leaders came out in support of her. Mufti herself called the Kashmiri teenager a role model. Wasim issued an apology on her Facebook but deleted it. Following this she issued a clarification but deleted that too. In her last post, she requested people to not to blow the whole issue out of proportion.

OneIndia News
Curtailment of AFSPA is the culmination of a string of relentless efforts

Naga peace talks to resume: Can we hope for a solution?

AFSPA in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland extended for 6 months from today

DEBATE: Will the next government repeal AFSPA from Manipur?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Imphal, Jan 18: It's Manipur's misery that the northeastern state has been living under the shadow of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) for decades, in spite of several protests, launched by civil society groups, demanding the repeal of the draconian law.

[Also Read: Manipur Assembly elections 2017: All you need to know]

Over the years, the AFSPA has become almost synonymous with the northeastern state. Or, even Jammu and Kashmir for that matter.

AFSPA in a nutshell

The Act was passed by Parliament in 1958 which grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in areas deemed "disturbed" by the Act.

Death due to AFSPA

Because of AFSPA, more than 1,500 alleged extra-judicial killings were reported in the state in the last three decades.

Controversial points of AFSPA

--After giving due warning, officers can fire upon those acting unlawfully, even if it causes death, for the maintenance of public order.

--Destroy any arms dump, or fortified shelters or training camps which are used to attack from.

--To arrest without warrant anyone who has committed cognizable offence or is suspected to have done so.

--To enter and search any premises to make such arrests.

--To stop and search any vehicle reasonably suspected.

--Army officers have legal immunity over their offences. There can be no prosecution, suit or legal action taken against them.

--The government's decision on any area deemed disturbed cannot be brought under judicial review.

Demand to repeal the draconian law

Now, the question is will the next government in the state repeal the controversial law.

The story of Manipuri activist and poet Irom Chanu Sharmila has become a legend across the globe.

The peace activist-turned-politician was on a fast-unto-death since November 4, 2000, demanding the repeal of the AFSPA which gives carte blanche to the security forces while combating the insurgents. She broke her fast last year and announced her entry into politics.

Sharmila is all set to contest the elections against incumbent Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Her party, the People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance, is fighting the elections to help repeal AFSPA from the state.

Polling for the 60 seats Manipur Assembly will be hosted in two phases on March 4 and March 8. Results will be declared on March 11. In the last assembly polls, the Congress won 42 seats and Okram Ibobi Singh was re-elected as the chief minister of the state.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 12:25 [IST]
Even the RSS can't help patch up the Karnataka BJP

India

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The rift in the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party is out in the open and quite embarrassing with supporters of B S Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa fighting it out in public. It is now learnt that even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has failed in its very first attempt at patching up things in the BJP. Both Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa gave the RSS meet on Tuesday a miss. Less than 24 hours later, members of the Sangolli Rayanna brigade held a meet at Tumkur on Wednesday.

Twenty-four leaders of the BJP, who had earlier written to Yeddyurappa expressing disappointment over his unilateral decisions, went into a huddle on Wednesday. The disgruntled leaders met at BJP leader Sogadu Shivanna's house in Tumkur away from media glare. While the BJP vehemently denied any letters, their own MLC Bhanuprakash made it clear that a letter expressing disappointment over Yeddyurappa's functioning was indeed written and submitted.

Why the Rayanna brigade is important

For the BJP that already suffers from an anti-Dalit image, the brigade is the best shot at support from communities that have not been conventional vote banks of the BJP. K S Eshwarappa's brigade movement has become a hit with people in many districts and is inching towards a massive support base of over a lakh people. The same in all likelihood will translate into votes in the upcoming Karnataka assembly polls in 2018.

While Yeddyurappa can take solace in the fact that he is, without a doubt, the senior leadership's choice for the CM candidate, it is the possibility of a dual power centre in the state unit with the rise of the brigade that is bothering the former CM. The threat over his post isn't great but the threat to the command he holds over the state unit is.

While the Congress in Karnataka is looking to exploit this fissure in the BJP, the high command is extra cautious not to rub either of the leaders on the wrong side. Yeddyurappa, with his mass appeal is as important as Eshwarappa with the support his brigade is gathering for the upcoming polls. With Yeddyurappa's return, dissent has returned to the Karnataka BJP forcing the Delhi leadership to walk the tightrope.

Dissent in the BJP is nothing new. During his tenure as the chief minister of Karnataka, B S Yeddyurappa faced massive criticism within the party with Janardhana Reddy even going directly to Delhi to ensure Yeddyurappa was removed from the CM's post. This time around, however, things are different. The otherwise largely loyal leaders with RSS backgrounds are the ones who have raised their concerns over Yeddyurappa's functioning.

The very reason why the RSS stepped in to sort the differences between the leader but the attempt was unsuccessful. With RSS out of the picture, there seems to be no entity, apart from the high command of the BJP, that can forge a truce. The high command has refused to step in and has chosen to wait and watch how the brigade politics in Karnataka pans out.

OneIndia News
Protest at Marina beach

Thousands of people have been gathering at the Marina beach, while protests have also broken out in various districts of Tamil Nadu. Protesters in Coimbatore threatened to boycott the National Anthem in their bid to support Jallikattu.

Students at Rameshwaram

Students have boycotted colleges and are joining protests at various venues across the state. With celebrities and prominent personalities extending their support to the sport, the protests have only grown stronger.

Jallikattu agitators in Madurai

Protesters blocked railway tracks in Rameswaram blocking train services. In Chennai, trains were crowded by students who boycotted classes to protest in support of Jallikattu. Hoards of students made their way to Marina beach in Chennai, where thousands of protestors have been protesting since Tuesday evening.

Protests in Kanchipuram

The arrests of hundreds of people in Alanganallur on Tuesday morning sparked off outrage and has resulted in massive protests across the state. Students of government and private colleges in Ponneri, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Chennai, Tiruvetiyur, Madurai, and Rameswaram took to the streets sporting black clothes and black bands with posters and slogans against PETA, the state and Central government as well as the ban.

Jallikattu protest at Villupuram

Tamil people cutting across age, caste, religion lines came together to express solidarity with the sport and condemning the crackdown on peaceful protesters at Madurai. In a never before seen scenario, people staged all night protests at the Marina beach in Chennai even as hundreds joined in with every passing minute.

Agitators holding banners in Madurai

Agitated protesters even expressed displeasure over the media's reportage of Jallikattu and demanded that journalists leave from the spot. Political leaders cutting across party lines have expressed their support for the sport but the Tamil Nadu government was compelled to stop people from going ahead with the Jallikattu in an attempt to avoid being held in contempt of court.
With Islamic radicalisation running so deep, why an NIA branch in every state matters

Government organisations in Nagaland funded terror groups says NIA

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Kohima, Jan 18: The National Investigation Agency conducted several searches in Nagaland government departments and found numerous documents which showed fund transfers from departments to outfits such as the NSCN(K) and other groups.

On July 31 2016 a senior cadre of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Khaplang a proscribed terrorist organisation, S Khetoshe Sumi, was apprehended by the Assam Rifles in Dimapur, Nagaland.

Sumi was handed over to the Nagaland Police on August 1. Based on the preliminary revelations of Sumi, it was found that he was in charge of the financial wing for the Kohima and Dimapur regions. His main responsibility was the collection of funds for the outfit by way of illegal taxation of various government departments.

The probe also showed that huge amounts of money were being collected through illegal taxation in Kohima and Dimapur by various underground groups including the NSCNK(K).

Based on the revelations of the accused, incriminating documents showing the transfer of funds from some government departments to the NSCN(K) by way of illegal taxation were recovered and seized during October, 2016.

Building further on the leads, searches were conducted by NIA teams in various other government offices in Kohima on 18 January, 2017. During these searches, a large volume of incriminating documents, showing the transfer of funds from various government departments to several underground organisations, including the NSCN (K) were recovered and seized.

These seizures prima-facie indicate the connivance of these government organisations in funding the various underground outfits operating in Nagaland.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 21:03 [IST]
If needed, security will be provided to Zaira: Jitendra Singh

India

oi-PTI

Jammu, Jan 17: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said the Jammu and Kashmir government is keeping an eye on all the developments related to Zaira Wasim, and if needed, security will be provided to the teenage actress. "...information we have got from the state government is that they are keeping an eye on the entire episode and whatever necessary step needs to be taken it (state government) will take...and if security is needed, it will provide that security," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function here this evening. He said the youths of the country who bring laurels through their talent must be appreciated and encouraged.

"Youngsters in any part of the country, and especially in Jammu and Kashmir who have grown under shadow of terrorism, and if the youngsters express their talent it becomes the duty of the society to encourage and appreciate them," he said. Zaira shot to fame after she played young Geeta Phogat in "Dangal" movie but was trolled online for meeting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The 16-year-old first posted an apology for "offending" and "unintentionally hurting" people after her meeting with Mehbooba kicked up a row but later deleted the post. She then posted again, asking everyone not to blow the issue out of proportion but deleted that post too. On Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Minister of State in the PMO expressed hope BJP would form the government in the state "coalition or no coalition". "The BJP is ahead of other political parties.

[Also read: REVEALED: How hawala funds terror in Kashmir]

BJP is the only party which can fulfill the developmental aspirations of the countrymen," Singh said. On Punjab elections, he said his party will win as people will join hands with Prime Minister. Asked to comment on Mehbooba's statement in the legislative council that she will go ahead with the proposal to provide compensation to the next of the kin of those killed in the last year's unrest in the Valley, he expressed hope that the coalition government would follow "Raj Dharama". "I am hopeful that the coalition government has the maturity to follow Raj Dharam," Singh said.

On the West Pakistan refugees issue, Singh said the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was serious to provide avenues of livelihood to these people. "For the past 60 to 70 years they have faced injustice and have faced discrimination in terms of jobs and citizenship, they have faced lots of injustice, the present central government is committed to provide avenues of livelihood to them," he said.

PTI
India to China- Respect our sovereignty

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Jan 18: India on Wednesday said that China, which is "very sensitive" about its territorial sovereignty, had failed to show similar respect for New Delhi's concerns. New Delhi also sought to allay Beijing's apprehension about India's rise.

"China is very sensitive on matters concerning its sovereignty. We expect they respect other peoples sovereignty," Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said at the Raisina Dialogue here.

"The CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) passes through a territory that we see as our territory. Surely, people will understand what the Indian reaction is. There needs to be some reflection, and I am sorry to say we have not seen signs of that," said the Foreign Secretary to a query at the event. India has strongly objected to the $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, claimed by India.

Jaishankar's reference to India's concerns on sovereignty come a day after Pime Minister Narendra Modi had said in his inaugural speech: "Respect for sovereignty is important for regional connectivity to improve."The CPEC is being pushed forward by China and Pakistan, ignoring India's concerns. The issue is one of the irritants between Sino-India ties. India has raised the issue at the highest diplomatic level with China.

"Our rise is not harmful to China's rise just like China's rise is not harmful to us," Jaishankar said. The CPEC is one of the key projects of China's One Belt One Road connectivity programme. The CPEC seeks to link China's Kashgar in restive Xinjian province to Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan, giving Beijing land access to the Arabian Sea.

Bilateral ties with China have been clouded with Beijing repeatedly blocking New Delhi's move to gain membership to the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), and even the move for a UN ban on Jaish-e-Mohamed chief Masood Azhar, who India accuses of being behind the terror attack on the Pathankot air base in January last year.

On the South China Sea dispute, Jaishankar said India's position was "consistent" and "in tune with what international position". China claims almost the entire South China Sea. Last year, an international tribunal rejected Beijing's claims in a case brought by the Philippines. India had asked the parties concerned to show respect to the ruling, denounced as "illegal" by Beijing.

IANS
India's business travel market to triple by 2030

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Jan 18: With business travel rapidly evolving, India is poised to lead this growth and spending in this category is expected to treble to USD 93 billion by 2030 from the present levels.

"India is now a USD 30 billion business travel market and is expected to more than triple to USD 93 billion by 2030," a white paper on 'Business Travel in India Emerging Trends and Opportunities' by FCM Travel Solutions and KPMG released here today.

KPMG India Partner and Head, Transport, Leisure and Sports, Jaideep Ghosh said, despite some recent economic speed bumps, the business travel market remains incredibly robust and dynamic with a number of countries, such as India, China, Germany and Canada, growing at a remarkable rate.

"The report predicts that India will emerge as a leader in business travel spending over the next decade or so. In fact, when one looks at India, one sees one of the highest growth rates in business travel in the world. If India continues on that trend, in 15-20 years, it will surpass the US as well and be second only to China. In fact, India is where China was close to 15 years back. It is clearly a story that no one is talking about yet, but it bears watching," he added.

The report is based on business travel booking and expense reporting data from its database of more than 100 corporates and small businesses and 20 users, representing nearly 5 per cent of business travel spend in India. The report revealed that 13 years from now (by 2030), India will likely to be among the top five in business travel spending.

Business travel spending in Asia Pacific totalled USD 458 billion in 2015, and is expected to grow at 7.8 per cent annually over the next five years, 6.5 per cent of this total spend came from India, while China, Japan and South Korea accounted for nearly 90 per cent of the remaining spends, it said. The report further said, Indian travellers are most likely to be transacting on their smart phones as this region has consistently led the charge with smart phone usage growing at 12 per cent from 2014 to 2015.

PTI
12-year-old Indian in Guinness World Record for identifying most aeroplane tails in UAE

Watch: Four Indian women racially abused in Texas in most horrific manner

Indian national abducted in Malaysia, claims family

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 17: An Indian national on Wednesday sought help from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj through twitter claiming that his father was abducted in Malaysia for ransom.

Yogendra Singh claimed that his father has been kidnapped by someone yesterday and asked for money. Replying to his tweet, Swaraj said, "I share your concern.

[Also read: Swaraj asks embassy in Riyadh to keep her informed on Indian jailed in Saudi]

Our High Commissioner in Malaysia is in touch with the Police. He will keep you informed." The identity of the kidnapped Indian national could not be ascertained.

PT

I
Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth!

Jallikattu protests intensify, colleges declare holiday in TN

India

oi-Anusha

Chennai, Jan 18: With each passing hour protests over Jallikattu are only intensifying in Tamil Nadu. Given the student support that the movement is gathering, about 31 colleges in the state have declared a holiday on Thursday.

Thousands of students boycotted classes on Wednesday to taje part in protests. With protesters declaring that agitation will continue, many colleges have decided to announce holiday in a bid to extend their support to the protest.

Meanwhile, the police lathi charged swelling crowds at the Marina Beach in a bid to disperse agitating citizens. Close to 3000 protesters had decided to stage overnight protest at the marina beach similar to Tuesday's protest. Protests continued despite Chief Minister O Panneerselvam appealing to withdraw protests and assuring to urge the union government to promulgate an ordinance revoking the ban on Jallikattu.

Apart from their open support to the protests across Tamil Nadu in support of Jallikattu, the actors union has decided to stage a protest on January 20.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 21:18 [IST]
Jawans to get upgraded helmets; can withstand short-range gunfire

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

In a bid to provide better protection for their soldiers, the Indian Army has decided to equip its jawans with world-class modern helmets, said reports.

According to reports, the Kanpur-based MKU Industries, which is one of the leading manufacturers of body armour, has been given the contract to manufacture 1.58 lakh helmets. The order, which is said to worth Rs 170-180 crore, is likely to be completed in three years time. MKU Industries exports defence gears to several armed forces around the world.

These new helmets are designed to bear the impact of 9 mm ammunition fired from a short range. These can be integrated with high-end communications devices. The current headgear that the jawans use, known as 'patka', weighs around 2.5 kgs and is very uncomfortable during combat missions.

This upgrade comes nearly a decade after army personnel from the elite para special forces received advanced technology helmets. At the time, the para special forces were given modern Israeli OR-201 helmet made of glass reinforced plastic.

The new helmet will not only provide better protection to the armed forces but will also make them swifter.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 15:35 [IST]
What was the mystery object Modi was carrying while plogging at Mamallapuram beach

Seven initiatives of Brahma Kumaris to be flagged off by PM Modi today

'The nation exists from us and we exist from the nation', says PM Modi

Khargone town in MP shows way in waste disposal

India

oi-PTI

Indore, Jan 18: Amid the Centre's push for making the country clean under 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', Khargone town in Madhya Pradesh has created a record in waste disposal through mass public participation.

As many as 2,576 people, a large number of them children, today took part in a mass waste disposal exercise, helping the municipal body of the neighbouring town earn a place in the Golden Book of World Records', an official said.

As part of the exercise, these Khargone residents stood on roadside with dustbins filled with household waste material and emptied them in garbage collection vehicles. "We have issued a world record certificate to Khargone City Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) for the mass participation in the waste disposal exercise," Golden Book of World Records South East Asia head Manish Vishnoi said.

He said 2,576 people stood up on both sides of roads and emptied their dustbins containing solid and liquid waste onto the garbage collection vehicles. This was largest such gathering of people for a waste disposal exercise, Vishnoi said. Under 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' launched in October 2014, the Centre is encouraging citizens to become active participants in cleanliness activities.

Golden Book of World Record (GBWR), according to its website, aims to give a platform to people who have some hidden or unhidden talent. GWBR is actively functioning to recognise and publish unique achievements of individuals/ organisations all over the world.

PTI
Lok Dal hopeful of truce with Mulayam Singh Yadav

India

oi-PTI

Lucknow, Jan 18: Even though truce appears to be on the cards in Samajwadi Party, Lok Dal is still hopeful of getting Mulayam Singh Yadav by its side, saying it expects "some development" in next two-three days.

"I have met Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has been humiliated by son Akhilesh, who took away the party from him and again offered to use our party's banner. He (Mulayam) is in dilemma after being ditched by son. It's obviously a tough decision to leave his own party," Lok Dal national president Sunil Singh told PTI.

Mulayam has give a list of 38 candidates to Akhilesh for the upcoming Assembly polls, Singh said. "Half of them will not be given tickets. Many SP leaders are in touch with me. I expect some development in next two- three days from their (Mulayam's) side," he added. Lok Dal had earlier offered Mulayam its symbol to contest the Assembly polls amid apprehensions that the Election Commission could freeze Samajwadi Party's sybmol 'cycle' in view of dispute between the factions led by the father and the son Akhilesh.

However, the Election Commission granted the symbol to Akhilesh. "I offer Lok Dal's symbol and national president post to 'netaji' and am ready to contest the polls with him," Singh had said earlier. Mulayam was given an 'option B' by the Lok Dal which offered its symbol and national president post to him.

Lok Dal in EC's records is a registered, unrecognised party that was formed by veteran socialist leader Charan Singh way back in 1980 and Mulayam is its founder member. "With or without him (Mulayam), our party will be contesting the polls and our candidates are working on the ground," the Lok Dal leader said today.

When asked about his party's alliance with any other party in the state, Singh said he has not yet talked to anyone but options are open. Lok Dal, which has the old election symbol of farmer ploughing field, on which Charan Singh had become the Chief Minister of UP, wants to contest Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and has already short-listed names of 100 candidates.

In 2012 elections, Lok Dal had contested 76 seats and its candidate though did not win any seat but received 5,000 to 15,000 votes in most of the constituencies. The state will have a seven-phase polling beginning February 11 and filing of nomination papers has already started. Sunil, who also met Shivpal Yadav, said, "he is ready to be part of the Lok Dal if his brother (Mulayam) come to us."

PTI
New CBI boss: No objection from Congress for Alok Kumar Verma

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Jan 18: The Congress appears to have eased out its opposition to naming Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma as the next chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation. Verma's name was initially opposed by the Congress on the grounds that he did not have experience in the CBI.

[Also Read: Who will be the next chief of the CBI?]

However, those privy to the meeting said that the Congress eased out its opposition after it was pointed out that he had experience serving in the vigilance department.

Verma's appointment as the next CBI chief had become a debating point between the Congress and the government.

The Congress represented by the leader of the opposition, Mallikarjuna Kharge, raised several issues which included the failure on Verma's part to handle missing JNU student case.

However, the main parameter cited was his lack of experience in the CBI. The government was, however, keen on appointing Verma to the post and managed to convince the Congress.

It was stated that Verma always maintained a low profile and has been lauded by his colleagues. Further his experience in the vigilance department would help him in his stint as the CBI boss, it was pointed out.

A collegium comprising of the prime minister, leader of opposition and the Chief Justice of India met on Monday and discussed various names to head the prestigious agency.

The post of the CBI chief has been lying vacant for the past two months. Currently, Rakesh Asthana is holding additional charge of the CBI director. His appointment as interim boss of the CBI is already under challenge before the Supreme Court of India.

OneIndia News
Note ban: Sushilkumar Shinde, 130 Cong workers detained by Ahmedabad police

India

oi-PTI

Ahmedabad, Jan 18: Former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki along with nearly 130 party workers were detained by police for trying to lock down the RBI's regional headquarters here while protesting against demonetisation.

The Congressmen were detained by police when they tried to gherao the RBI and lock it down, alleging that the bank has failed on all fronts to address the woes of common man after the Centre announced demonetisation of high value notes in November last year.

While Shinde, Solanki, and 90 others were detained by Madhavpura police on the eastern end of Gandhi Bridge, around 40 Congress workers were detained by Vadaj police from outside the main gate of RBI on the western end. "We gave them permission for their gathering only, not for holding rally till RBI on the other side of the bridge.

Madhavpura police have detained Shinde, Solanki and 90 others while trying to take out the rally. They will be released later," Assistant Commissioner of Police Arpita Patel said. Besides, nearly 40 others, who were successful in crossing the bridge, were detained by Vadaj police from outside the RBI gate, a police control room official said.

Ahead of his detention, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi told mediapersons that the protests were organised by the party to highlight the plight of the people. "Even after all these days of the note ban announcement, there is no respite for the common man. People are still reeling under acute cash crunch. Demonetisation has ruined our economy and millions were rendered jobless," Doshi alleged. "This protest is our attempt to highlight the plight of citizens and also to highlight the mismanagement of RBI and the central government in handling such a delicate issue," he added.

PTI
Pranab Mukherjee urges students to maintain values of Indian civilisation

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Jhalda, Jan 18: President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday urged students to uplift, upgrade and maintain the values of the Indian civilisation through education.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Exhibition Hall and 100th Year celebration of Jhalda Satyabhama Vidyapith here in Purulia district of West Bengal, Mukherjee appreciated the school's effort to set-up a museum on the freedom struggle on the occasion of its centenary. He paid homage to the five young men of the area, who, being inspired by a revolutionary Satya Kinkar Dutta, laid down their lives during the freedom struggle.

"Let us salute these martyrs who made supreme sacrifices for our independence, but only a few people outside this area know of them," he said. Mukherjee also mentioned the Chuar Uprising which was a glorious chapter in the early struggles against the British Raj and reminded all that Jhalda was the epicentre of the revolt.

He urged the students of the remote area to have a common goal of getting education and also tolerance, determination, character and honesty to keep the flag of India's great civilisation flying.

IANS
Vaishali Takkar suicide: Her e-gadgets to be probed; hunt for the harasser is on

Prisoner who escaped from Punjab's Nabha jail held in Indore

India

oi-PTI

Indore, Jan 17: One of the six inmates who had escaped from Patiala's Nabha jail and carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh was arrested along with another person, who is accused of crimes in Punjab, from the city on Tuesday night, a senior police officer said.

"Kulpreet Singh Deol alias Neeta (the inmates who had escaped from Nabha jail) and Sunil Kalra alias Shailla (a dreaded criminal in Punjab) were apprehended from Khajrana area in the city from a residential flat," DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra told.

[Also read: Flashback 2016: Punjab saw rise in the crime]

He said, the duo were arrested after interrogation of some suspected persons in the area. The police also recovered eight mobile phones, a laptop and Rs 92,000 cash from them. The Punjab police have been informed of the arrest of the prisoner, the DIG said. The accused had reached Indore in Madhya Pradesh a few days ago and had rented a flat, he said.

Six inmates-- Khalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder Singh Mintoo, Kashmeer Singh, Gurpreet Singh Shekhon, Vicky Gonder, Kulpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh -- had escaped from the Nabha jail in November.

PTI
Naxalism is down, but it is still Indias greatest challenge: Rajnath Singh

FIR against Shah mockery of democracy, says HM, accuses Mamata govt of misusing state machinery

No documents will be asked or biometric taken for NPR: Home Ministry

Wonder why home minister chose not to go to AIIMS but to private hospital: Shashi Tharoor

Rajnath set to meet Manipur CM over economic blockade

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Imphal, Jan 18: Home Minister Rajnath Singh will meet Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Wednesday to discuss the protracted economic blockade along the two national highways in the state.

The meeting in New Delhi is being held in the wake of Manipur High Court's observation on Monday that efforts to bring essential commodities through the NH 2 and 37 were 'not satisfactory'.

A meeting of the Congress Legislative Party on Tuesday told Ibobi to put all his cards on the table.

Besides, a 17-member team of the Joint Forum of Peace formed by 64 civil society organisations, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Home Minister and others to demand lifting of the blockade imposed by the United Naga Council on November 1.

Rajnath Singh has expressed surprise that the UNC has not lifted the blockade as some scribes from Manipur met the minister recently.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju recently said the blockade in any form was 'totally unacceptable' and 'additional central paramilitary forces will be rushed to Manipur to cope with the situation'.

Hundreds of loaded trucks and oil tankers bring various items from Assam through NH 37.

However, the NH 2 that snakes through Nagaland is impassable as activists have blocked the highway. Even military convoys are stopped and checked.

The Naga Students' Federation, a Nagaland based group, had banned all vehicles from Manipur on NH2. The UNC demands that council President Gaidon Kamei and Publicity Secretary Stephen Lamkang, who are in police custody, be released and talks be held in Senapati district of the state, where its office is located.

However, Ibobi has said: "First, the UNC should lift the blockade and ensure to never repeat it again. Talks can be held either here or Delhi."

"The UNC cannot choose the venue since other clubs and organisations shall emulate it in future and the government will be reduced to a farce," he said.

Meanwhile, over 1,500 loaded trucks and oil tankers wait for security cover at Jiribam, a town in Manipur which is adjacent to Assam.

IANS
Rohith Vemula death anniversary: Journalist booked for 'trespassing'

India

oi-PTI

Hyderabad, Jan 17: Cyberabad Police on Tuesday booked a journalist for allegedly unauthorisedly entering into the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus on the first death anniversary of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula.

The journalist Kumal S, working with an English magazine, was booked on charge of trespass and other relevant sections of IPC following a complaint by the varsity security officials, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Madhapur Zone) P Vishwa Prasad said.

[Also read: Rohith Vemula's suicide: Discrimination against Dalits is India's reality]

The complainant accused Kunal of clandestinely sneaking into the varsity and covering an event (protest) by a group of students in memory of first death anniversary of research scholar Rohith Vemula. "We are investigating into the matter," the DCP said.

Kunal, however, said he went inside the campus on official duty i.e. for collecting information with regard to the protest after being invited by a university faculty member. "I was accosted by UoH security personnel and later taken to Cyberabad Commissionerate by local police where an ACP rank officer questioned me for hours together before being let off," he said.

Kunal said he had entered the varsity after showing his ID card and that the varsity was 'falsely' claiming that he was not having visitor pass for entering the campus. In view of the programmes planned by JAC for Social Justice at UoH to mark Vemula's death anniversary today, the University had yesterday said that it has not issued any permission to hold such activities.

"The University cannot provide a platform for outsiders to participate in the activities called by insiders or outsiders when there is no permission for the same," a circular from UoH had said. There is a ban on the campus on allowing outsiders into the campus and hence the University will not entertain any outsiders directly or indirectly to enter into the campus, it said.

The High Court has barred entry of all outsiders into the University campus, it added. The University came into light after research scholar Rohith Vemula allegedly committed suicide in a hostel room at its campus on January 17 last year.

PTI
Rs 9.2 lakh crore new notes in system: Urjit Patel to MPs' panel

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Jan 18: Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel on Wednesday told a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance that Rs 9.2 lakh crore of new currency notes have been put in circulation since the high-value currency notes were demonetised on November 8.

"When asked how much had been remonetised, he (Patel) replied that more than nine lakh crore has been remonetised," Trinamool MP and Standing Committee on Finance member Saugata Roy said after panel met with the RBI Governor.

"The Governor explained that the government had advised the RBI to consider demonetising high currency notes. The board had a discussion and took the decision," Roy said. "When asked how much of the total demonetised currency returned to the bank, he said he could not give the figure right now as the process was still on," he added.

According to the opposition member of Parliament, Governor Patel was also "unable to tell us when the system will be normal...the RBI officials were defensive." Secretaries of all departments in the Union Finance Ministry as well as bank associations' representatives were present at the meeting of the committee headed by Congress MP Veerappa Moily.

On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of high-value currency notes, saying the move was aimed against black money, counterfeit currency and terror funding. The RBI has still not declared how much of the Rs 15.44 lakh crore in banned notes has been returned to the banks. Prior to this, an estimate of new notes could only be gleaned from the RBI's weekly figures on "currency in circulation".

The first time the RBI spoke of a break-up of new notes was on December 7 during the monetary policy press conference. Deputy Governor R. Gandhi said that a total of Rs 4 lakh crore in new notes had been circulated till December 6, of which 19.1 billion notes (which amounts to Rs 1.06 lakh crore) were in small denominations of up to Rs 100 and the rest (Rs 2.94 lakh crore) were in high denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000.

On December 19, the RBI again gave a figure of new notes circulated. It said 20.4 billion small denominations (up to Rs 100) and 2.2 billion of high denominations (Rs 500 and Rs 2,000) had been circulated. This was equivalent to a total of Rs 5.93 lakh crore.

IANS
Utilizing Email To Stop Fraud-eCommerce Client Fra...

The need for fraud prevention in the digital world is critical now more than ever. Why? Thinking about your own behavior, consider how you complete t...
Aide of shooter in Moosewala case conducted reconnaissance in Mumbai to kill Salman Khan: Punjab DGP

Salman Khan, Shah Rukh's son take drugs, don't know about Aamir: Ramdev in viral video

Salman didn't kill blackbucks, Katappa didn't kill Bahubali: Twitter on actors acquittal

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Bengaluru, Jan 18: First, Bollywood's enfant-terrible Salman Khan was exonerated in the 2002 hit-run-case case by the Bombay high court in 2015. Now, the actor on Wednesday was acquitted of all charges in the Arms Act case against him in the alleged poaching of two blackbucks by a court in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

"Salman Khan (has been) acquitted in the Arms Act case after the prosecution failed to provide conclusive evidence," the film star's lawyer told ANI.

A case against the film star was registered in October 1998 under the Arms Act for his alleged use and possession of arms with an expired license during the alleged poaching of two blackbucks in Kankani village.

The verdict has definitely come as a shock for the Bishnoi community, committed to the protection of the endangered blackbucks, and animal rights activists. However, the users of the micro-blogging site, Twitter, first came out in the open to slam the judgement with great amount of wit and humour.

Here we bring you few tweets:

Salman Khan didn't kill the black buck. If it were upto Indian Judiciary, they'll say that Katappa didn't kill Bahubali.  Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) January 18, 2017

Invisible man was driving the car, Blackbuck committed suicide & I am sure Bandook plastic ka hoga.Jodhpur Court on Arms Act #SalmanVerdict  tio Singh (@avoidrohit) January 18, 2017

Well #SalmanKhan didn't do anything. It was the driver in #LandCruiser case & #BlackBuck committed suicide on its own..#SalmanVerdict  Kapil Goyal (@Kapy407) January 18, 2017

Indian judiciary in #SalmanKhan cases:



No one killed people sleeping on footpath..



No one killed blackbuck.. pic.twitter.com/7fkgMVC7Hg  Alok Shinde (@AlokSShinde) January 18, 2017

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 13:36 [IST]
Rajasthan: Carcasses of 12 Chinkaras found in Jaisalmer

Blackbuck case: Salman Khan acquitted of submitting fake affidavit in Court

Blackbuck poaching case: Jodhpur court warns Salman, says to reject bail plea if he fails to appear

Blackbuck poaching case: Salman Khan skips court hearing, next hearing on Dec 19

Salman Khan Arms Act case: Timeline since October, 1998

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Jan 18: Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on Wednesday acquitted by a Jodhpur court of charges that he was carrying arms with expired licence.



15 October 1998: Forest department filed a case against Salman for allegedly possessing an arm with expired license and killing two blackbuck in Kankani village in Jodhpur.

12, October, 1998: Khan was arrested for hunting endangered species.

17 October, 1998: Khan was released on bail days after he was arrested.

10 April 2006 Salman Khan was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000.

December, 18, 2014: Court rejected Khan's plea seeking permission to summon Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and District Magistrate(DM) of Mumbai as witnesses in the case.

[Also read: Salman didn't kill blackbucks, Katappa didn't kill Bahubali: Twitter on actor's acquittal]

April 29, 2015: Khan appeared in Jodhpur court to record his statement.

July 25, 2016: Rajasthan High Court acquitted Salman Khan in two cases of poaching saying that there was no enough evidences.

October 19, 2016: Rajasthan government again appeals to the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's decision.

Nov 11, 2016: Khan gets SC notice on Rajasthan's appeal over his acquittal in the Chinkara poaching case.

Jan 18, 2016: Khan was aquitted of all charges by Jodhpur court

OneIndia News (with inputs from agencies)
Salman Khan thanks fans after acquittal in Arms Act case

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Jan 18: Superstar Salman Khan thanked fans for their good wishes and prayers after he was on Wednesday acquitted by Jodhpur court in an Arms Act case related to the alleged poaching of two blackbucks 18 years ago.

Thank you for all the support and good wishes  Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) January 18, 2017

[Also Read: Arms Act Case: Jodhpur court acquits Salman Khan]

Chief Judicial Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpuroti acquitted 51-year-old star, who along with his sister Alvira was present in the court. Besides the cases of poaching of endangered antelopes under Wildlife (Protection) Act, a case under sections 3/25 and 3/27 of the Arms Act was filed against Khan for allegedly keeping and using the fire arms with expired licence in the alleged poaching of blackbucks in Kankani near Jodhpur on October 1-2, 1998.

Taking to Twitter, the star expressed his gratitude to fans for showing their immense support throughout his trial. "Thank you for all the support and good wishes," the actor wrote. The case under the Arms Act is one of the four cases against the actor.

While the Rajasthan High Court has acquitted him in two cases of poaching of chinkara, trial in the third case of alleged poaching of two blackbucks is on. Elaborate security arrangements were made in the court premises in view of Salman's appearance with nearly 150 policemen deployed. A large number of the actor's fans were also present near the court premises.

PTI
Saudi Aramco to explore refinery possibility in Andhra

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Vijayawada, Jan 18: Oil major Saudi Aramco will send a team to Andhra Pradesh in 15 days to explore the possibility of developing a refinery.

After the team's visit, Andhra Pradesh will also send a team to Saudi Arabia for further discussions. This was decided during a meeting Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held on Wednesday with Aramco President and Chief Executive Officer Amin H. Nasser in Davos, Switzerland.

According to a state government release here, Nasser and his team said that they are interested in starting a refinery in India and prefer collaboration with the government. Naidu said the possibility could be explored and informed them that land and water will be provided without any hitches. The Chief Minister also invited them to get involved in setting up a Petroleum University in the state.

He explained Andhra Pradesh's interest in petrochemicals, the potential in Krishna Godavari basin, the idea of Petroleum University, the technology and the skilled man force available in the state. On the third day of his visit to Davos, Naidu also met Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Paytm. Sharma said that he is keen on bringing every latest initiative of the Paytm to Andhra Pradesh.

The Paytm CEO mentioned that, starting a bank, 500 million accounts by 2020 and digital Paytm bank in every village are some of the targets the company has set. He also added that support will be extended to self-employed groups by giving small loans.

The Chief Minister suggested that a digital university should be started in a private-public partnership mode and that Andhra Pradesh will be a best partner to associate with. Naidu also met Shailendra Singh, Managing Director, Sequoia Capital, and discussed ways of collaboration.

Sequoia Capital is an American venture capital firm which mainly focuses on the technology industry. It started investing in India 11 years ago. The Chief Minister invited Sequoia Capital to invest in Andhra Pradesh too.

In a meeting with Fujitsu's Corporate Executive officer Nobuhiko Sasaki, Naidu explained the various technologies being used for development and welfare programmes in the state. He showed the core dashboard to Nobuhiko and explained how everything is monitored real time.

The Chief Minister enquired if they would provide sensors to collect data on soil moisture, and comprehensive devices for water level, pollution, wind speed and soil quality for increasing agricultural productivity. The representatives from Fujitsu said that they would send a team to Amaravati, the state's new capital city, to study Andhra Pradesh's requirements.

IANS
Explained: Why did the ECI freeze the symbol of the Shiv Sena

Not just future of Sena but democracy at stake, says Uddhav

Shiv Sena leaves political rivals behind, gets 4 times the donations

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A report prepared the Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch report, the Shiv Sena has declared four times the donations of all regional parties combined. While the Sena collected Rs 86.84 crore, the Aam Admi Party came a distant second with Rs 6.6 crore.

The report focusses on donations above Rs 20,000, received by regional political parties, during the Financial Year 2015-16.

The MNS has declared a decrease of 95.39%, to Rs 28 lakh from Rs 6.08 cr in FY 2014-15 in FY 2015-16 while donations to the SDF decreased to Rs 25 lakhs from Rs 3.07 crore during FY 2014-15 during FY 2015-16 (91.86% decrease).

The total amount of donations above Rs 20,000 declared by the regional parties was Rs 107.62 cr, from 2,249 donations.

A total of Rs 86.84 crore was declared by the Sena from 143 donations while the AAP declared receiving Rs 6.605 cr from 1187 donations. The donations declared by the Sena is more than four times the total amount of donations declared by 15 other regional parties during the same period.

Of the parties considered, AIADMK, BJD, JMM, NPF and RLD have declared receiving NIL donations above Rs 20,000 during FY 2015-16.

The overall donations of the 21 regional parties considered for this report during FY 2015-16 decreased by Rs 27.24 crore or 20.20% from the previous financial year, 2014-15 when the parties declared receiving Rs 134.86 crore.

The Sena, the PMK, the AIUDF, the DMDK and the JD-S are the five regional parties which have declared increase in the amount of donations received between FY 2014-15 and 2015-16.

The BJD, the JMM, the NPF and the RLD had declared receiving a total of Rs 25.56 crore during FY 2014-15, but declared receiving no donations above Rs 20,000 for FY 2015-16, while the AIADMK declared receiving NIL donations above Rs 20,000 during FY 2014-15 & 2015-16.

Out of the total donations of Rs 107.62 crore declared by the to Rs 25 lakhs, Rs 3.32 crores from 784 donations was received in cash during FY 2015-16. This formed 3.08% of the total donations to the parties.

Maximum donations in cash was declared by the PMK which collected a total of Rs 2.65 cr, followed by AAP with Rs 29.56 lakh and Shivsena with Rs 27.27 lakh.

Among all the states, donors from Tamil Nadu made the highest donations of Rs 2.46 crore in cash followed by donors from Punjab who donated a total of Rs 14.11 lakh in cash.

All donations in cash from Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh and Malaysia were to AAP. A single donor from Malaysia made five donations of Rs 20,000 each in cash to AAP during FY 2015-16.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 17:04 [IST]
Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments

PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP

Shiv Sena likens demonetisation to Hiroshima's 'atom bomb'

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Mumbai, Jan 18: In a scathing attack on the Centre, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday compared the demonetisation with the disaster wreaked by the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"By dropping the atom bomb of demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reduced the Indian economy to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 'All are dead'," the Sena said in its mouthpieces Saamana and Dopahar Ka Saamana.

Accusing Modi of "not heeding anybody", the Sena said the Prime Minister did not listen to the advice of even the Reserve Bank of India before banning Rs 500 and 1,000 notes on November 8 last year.

"Just like the deaf-and-dumb parrots sitting in his Cabinet, (Urjit Patel) was appointed the RBI Governor and the country's economy has been reduced to shambles," the Sena noted.

The party led by Uddhav Thackeray is any ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the Centre and Maharashtra.

IANS

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 13:37 [IST]
Suresh Prabhu to security establishments of Railways: Be "extra vigilant"

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 18: A day after Bihar police claimed to have unearthed a suspected ISI-link to target Indian railways, Union minister Suresh Prabhu has directed all security establishments of Railways to be "extra vigilant".

A press statement issued by the Railways Ministry said, "Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has directed all security establishments in Railways to be extra vigilant and careful in view of the activities of the anti-national elements." "He has asked them to further ensure effective coordination with law & order enforcement agencies of the respective states," it said.

A two-member NIA team has been dispatched to Bihar by the Home Ministry for investigation. Prabhu has also appealed to the citizens to come forward and give any information of suspicious activities to the nearest law-enforcing agencies.

The Bihar police had yesterday arrested three persons for allegedly planting a bomb on railway tracks at Ghorasahan in East Champaran district in October 1 last year. The police claimed the trio had confessed to having worked for a Nepalese contact suspected to be connected to Pakistan's ISI to target the railways.

PTI
Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth!

Tamil Nadu govt pacifies pro-Jallikattu protesters; promises to bring ordinance

India

oi-PTI

Chennai, Jan 18: As pro-Jallikattu protests across Tamil Nadu continued to gain steam with a group of youngsters continuing their agitation here through the night, the state government on Wednesday held talks with agitators and assured its commitment to hold the bull taming sport in the state.

[Also Read: Massive protests in support of Jallikattu on Chennai's Marina Beach]

The government also told the youths that it would even approach the President seeking an ordinance on the matter.

State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, who along with his cabinet colleague K Pandiarajan, held talks with representatives of the protesting youth here in the wee hours, said the 50 All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament will exert required pressure on the Centre for conduct of Jallikattu.

"Not just that, this government will also take steps to meet the President to seek an ordinance," Jayakumar said. Tamil Nadu has been urging the Centre repeatedly to issue an ordinance for the conduct of Jallikattu, held during the Tamil harvest festival Pongal in mid-January.

More than 200 youths were taken into custody on Monday night after they held protests at Alanganallur village demanding lifting of the ban on Jallikattu. Responding to the protestors' demands for an assurance from Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for conducting Jallikattu, School Education Minister Pandiarajan said the government cannot give any oral assurance and indicated that the chief minister could issue a statement later in the day on the matter.

The ministers urged the protestors to withdraw their agitation. Chandramohan, one of the representatives, who held talks with the ministers on behalf of the protestors, insisted that the chief minister support the bull taming sport.

"The government should understand the sentiments of the people and exert pressure on the Centre. They (ministers) have assured to find a solution," he said. Meanwhile, the protestors at Marina, who converged on Tuesday, following an agitation at Alanganallur in Madurai, were unrelenting in their demand for conducting Jallikattu and continued to stay put at the protest site and sat through the night.

The agitators claimed that more volunteers had either joined them or were on their way to join the protests.

PTI
Terror on the tracks: ISI plotted big attacks on vulnerable Indian Railways

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Jan 18: The railways continue to be vulnerable to terror attacks. Going by an analysis conducted by the Intelligence Bureau on the threat perception, the railways are high on this list.

The railways have been a target of terror groups several times in the past. A recent investigation conducted by the Bihar police suggests that there was a plan to blow up a train in East Champaran.

Investigations revealed that two persons were paid off by an Inter-Services Intelligence contact from Nepal to plant a bomb on the railway track at East Champaran on October 1. The bomb was defused after alert villagers spotted it and called the cops in.

This investigation is very crucial as it could give more clues to investigators probing into mystery train accidents. There have been over 11 train accidents in 2016. While the cause of the accident has been ascertained in most cases, the one at Kanpur in November 2016 in which 143 lost their lives continues to be a mystery.

We do not want to add a conspiracy theory to the accident, but there is no harm in probing a terror link in the wake of the revelations made by the Delhi police, an official associated with the Railways informed.

Railways vulnerable to terror:

In this context, one must go back to the 2006 Mumbai train bombings. 180 people died in that deadly blast which ripped through the trains in Mumbai in a span of 11 minutes.

While this was the biggest terror attack on the Indian railways, there have been several other incidents on a smaller scale.

In 2016, there was a mystery bomber who sought to send out a message to the security establishment. The Panipat-Ambala passenger train was attacked twice in 2016.

While the first incident occurred in January, the second one was in May. In both incidents a low intensity bomb was planted in one of the bogeys. The blast was a minor one, but it went on to reveal how poor the security was in the Indian railways.

Terror groups would look to target the railways for a variety of reasons. First, the railway stations are crowded and this makes the impact extremely high. Second, the security is very low and this makes the railways a potential target.

In the past as well, the naxalites have meddled with the railway tracks to cause train accident. It is practically impossible to man the entire railway line which spreads of several lakhs of kilometres.

The Chennai train blast of 2014 is also a classic example of how lax security is. The members of the Students' Islamic Movement of India had boarded the train in Bengaluru with explosives and timed it to go off at the Chennai railway station.

One person died in that incident. The SIMI members assembled the bomb in the wash room of the train. This means that they passed through every possible security check, if any, undetected.

Not a favourable job:

Many in the police force do not prefer being posted in the Railway Protection Force. They feel that it is a punishment posting or the challenge in the job is not good enough. There have also been complaints that members of this force are not professional investigators and this has also caused a lot of problems.

The biggest problem is the lack of personnel in the force which have led to complaints of over load of work. In addition to incidents in railway stations, the Railway Protection Force also has the task of manning and protecting the assets of the railways.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 6:57 [IST]
The rise and spread of dreaded Wahabi culture in Andhra

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

On Tuesday, a note from the National Investigation Agency read, "One Mohammad Irfan has been arrested for actively taking part in the activities of an Islamic State module which was planning a series of attacks in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh."

The mention of Andhra Pradesh coincides with what the state's Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had said recently about a threat from the IS. The threat from the IS to Andhra Pradesh was something that all of us saw coming. The setting up of a university in the state was just the beginning of the dreaded Wahabi culture setting in.

Despite opposition, the state did not do much to stop this university from coming up. It was alleged that this university was getting funds from Saudi Arabia to spread Wahabism in the state.

The Wahabi spread and the birth of IS in AP:

It is a well-known fact that the Saudi-sponsored Wahabis are trying to set up their own education system in Kerala. This is known in Kerala where the Wahabis are trying to take over the mosques and the education system as well. According to an Intelligence Bureau report, the Wahabis have earmarked Rs 1,700 crore to spread this ideology.

[Read more: How Saudi funded Rs 1,700 crore for Wahabi influence in India]

Further, a breakdown of this amount would also show that Rs 800 crore alone was to set up universities that propagate the Wahabi ideology which is followed by the IS and al-Qaeda. There are four such universities that have been planned in South India alone. While one has already come up in AP, attempts would be made to set up the other three in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

In AP and other states in south India, there have been attempts made to take over the administration of the mosques. However, the Wahabis have faced resistance, as a result of which they have decided to set up their own mosques. About 40 such mosques have been planned at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore. Several others would come up in AP as well, the IB report states. Apart from this, a sum of Rs 30 crore has been earmarked to set up madrasas in the southern states.

Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith is born:

The birth of the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith took place in India in Jammu and Kashmir. As a first step they wielded their influence on the various mosques which began preaching the Sharia law as mandated by the Wahabis.

The next stop was Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh following which they began wielding influence heavily in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith was the umbrella body which oversaw the flow of Wahabi scholars into India. The same outfit is also making efforts to spread their ideology into Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and until last year Karantaka.

This umbrella body has come up a strict set of guidelines that have to be followed. They would include:

Shrines shall be forbidden

Every Muslim woman should wear purdah or be subject to severe punishment

Men have to compulsorily grow beards

Women should not be allowed to work. Exception can be made only if the family is in need.

Men and women should not mingle together in public.

No weeping loudly at funerals.

Abide by the Shariat law; every offence committed shall be punishable under this law.

All men should wear trousers which are above their ankles.

No laughing loudly or listening to music; no dancing or watching television.

One India News
UP elections: After announcing alliance, SP, Congress in seat sharing talks

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Jan 18: After announcing the alliance with the Samajwadi Party for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2017, the Congress is finalising the smaller details which includes the number of seats it wants to contest. During a meeting between Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress and Ram Gopal Yadav of the SP, the former sought 89 seats.

[Also Read: Hear us too: Akhilesh faction in SC on symbol row]

While the Samajwadi Party is ready to give the Congress a good number of seats, there are still some issues over a few constituencies. Sources in the Congress tell OneIndia that everything would be finalised by Thursday. Things are moving at a brisk pace as the campaign needs to get underway at the earliest.

The SP too has indicated that the finer details need to be sorted out soon. Thanks to the family feud, the campaign has been delayed and Akhilesh Yadav wants to lose no time now.

Ram Gopal and Azad would continue to hold discussions over seat sharing. They would also keep in mind the Rashtriya Lok Dal which is likely to be part of the alliance. Some seats would have to be allocated to the RLD as well.

In another development, Akhilesh is likely to release a fresh list of candidates. He is likely to give tickets to a majority of the sitting MLAs from the SP. However, the list will not have the name of his uncle Shivpal and the same has been indicated to Mulayam Singh Yadav as well.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 7:42 [IST]
UP leads cash seizures tally ahead of polls: EC

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 18: Election Commission-appointed surveillance and expenditure monitoring teams have recovered over Rs 64 crore in cash, including Rs 56.04 crore from Uttar Pradesh alone, and liquor and drugs worth over Rs 8 crore from the five poll-bound states.

As per official data, Punjab has witnessed the maximum seizure of drugs worth Rs 1.78 crore (heroine and poppy husk) followed by contraband in Goa valued at Rs 16.72 lakh while such seizures in Manipur amounted to Rs 7 lakh. Among other illegal inducements used to bribe voters during the polls, the maximum of 1.98 lakh litres liquor worth Rs 6.06 crore has been seized in Uttar Pradesh while 10,646 litres of spirit has been seized in Punjab, valued at Rs 17.54 lakh.

Officials said a total of "Rs 64.38 crore in cash, Rs 6.23 crore of liquor and over Rs two crore worth narcotics have been seized in the five poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur, till data recorded upto January 17."

UP has led the suspicious cash seizures tally with Rs 56.04 crore (Rs 31.65 lakh in old notes) followed by Punjab at Rs 8.17 crore, Uttarakhand Rs 10 lakh and Manipur Rs 6.95 lakh. There has been no cash and illicit liquor seizure in Goa and Uttarakhand till now while Manipur has had no liquor seizure even as UP saw no drugs seizure till now.

The EC has appointed about 200 election expenditure observers apart from other central observers to keep a check on black money and illegal inducements used to bribe voters at the hustings. Assembly elections in UP, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur will be held between February 4 and March 8. Counting of votes for all states will take place on March 11.

PTI

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 13:19 [IST]
Venkaiah Naidu on prohibiting transaction of benami properties

India

oi-PTI

Kottayam, Jan 18: The Centre will take steps to prohibit transaction of 'benami' properties and unaccounted wealth stored in the form of gold, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said here today.

Vowing to carry forward the war against corruption and black money post-demonetisation, he said the government will soon operationalise a strong law to stop transaction of benami properties.

"The government will strictly implement the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988," Naidu said at the party's state council meeting here. He accused Congress of not implementing the law to prohibit illegal benami transactions during their rule. Naidu dismissed suggestions that the note ban exercise undertaken by the government to deal with black money was a failure.

On the argument that the money returned to the banks post demonetisation was genuine, the minister said it can be ascertained only after a detailed examination. The demonetisation exercise will benefit the country in the long run, he claimed. Naidu also noted that many people have luxury vehicles in the country but only 24 lakh people pay income tax regularly.

PTI
Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth!

Will adopt all measures to ban PETA: Sasikala says as Jallikattu protests intensify

India

oi-Anusha

Following massive protests in support of Jallikattu across the state and the growing public anger against the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, Tamil Nadu is looking at legal action to ban the organisation. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's general secretary Sasikala Natarajan on Wednesday claimed that the government will move towards banning PETA. "We will adopt all legal measures to ban PETA. The Tamil Nadu government has fought tirelessly to end the ban on Jallikattu," a statement released by Sasikala Natarajan said.

Her statement came minutes after Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announced that he would meet Prime Minister Modi on Thursday to urge for an ordinance allowing Jallikattu. The AIADMK general secretary in her statement also reiterated Tamil Nadu's demand to the union government to promulgate an ordinance revoking the ban on Jallikattu.

Chief Minister O Panneerselvam appealed to the protesters to withdraw their agitation. Thousands of people have been gathering at Chennai's Marina Beach since Tuesday evening in massive solidarity to Jallikattu even as student organisations in various districts protested against the ban as well as PETA. Despite a fervent plea by the Tamil Nadu chief minister, protesters refused to budge and declared on Wednesday evening that agitations will continue.

Apart from celebrities supporting the cause, Jallikattu became a students' movement in Tamil Nadu. Employees of IT companies also joined students in their protest in support of the banned sport. The Supreme Court is yet to give its verdict on the Jallikattu issue but Tamil Nadu government and the people have been asking for an ordinance to make Jallikattu legal.

OneIndia News
Fact Check: Is this viral image from the Nepal plane wreckage

32 dead in Turkish cargo plane crash in Kyrgyzstan

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Bishkek, Jan 16 : At least 32 people were killed on Monday when a Turkish cargo plane crashed into a residential area close to the airport in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan.

The crash involved a Boeing 747 cargo plane, which plunged into a residential area close to the airport, destroying at least 15 houses, Efe news reported.

At least eight people have also been injured and taken to hospitals in the capital, said Health Minister Talantbek Batyraliyev.

Reports suggest that four pilots are also dead. The plane crashed while it was trying to land due to poor visibility. So far the bodies of a pilot and 15 villagers have been recovered.

IANS
9 killed in coal mine collapse in China

International

oi-PTI

Beijing, Jan 18: At least nine workers have been killed and another rescued in a coal mine collapse in north China's Shanxi Province, rescuers said on Wednesday.

The collapse occurred at 10:45 AM yesterday at the Danshuigou colliery in Shuozhou City, when workers were doing shaft maintenance work. In total there were ten people present at the time of the accident. The cause of the accident is under investigation, state- run Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier this month, 12 people were killed after a falling roof triggered a gas explosion at a coal mine in central China's Henan Province. The explosion took place at Xingyu Colliery in Xuzhuang Township in the city of Dengfeng. China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal. Its mining industry has long been one of the world's deadliest.

PTI
Endangered species of moth named after Donald Trump

International

oi-PTI

Los Angeles, Jan 18: Ahead of his swearing-in as the 45th President of US, a new endangered species of moth has been named in honour of Donald Trump by scientists because the insect shares his hairstyle.

The new moth, officially described as Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, stands out with yellowish-white scales present on the head in adults. It was in these scales that evolutionary biologist Vazrick Nazari from Ottawa, Canada found an amusing reference to Trump's hairstyle and turned it into an additional justification for its name. The fame around the new moth will successfully point to the critical need for further conservation efforts for fragile areas such as the habitat of the new species, said Nazari.

While going through material borrowed from the Bohart Museum of Entomology at University of California, Davis in the US, Nazari stumbled across a few specimens that did not match any previously known species. Following thorough analysis of these moths, as well as material from other institutions, the scientist confirmed he had discovered the second species of a genus of twirler moths.

While both species in the genus share a habitat, stretching across the states of California in US, and Baja California in Mexico, one can easily tell them apart. Trump, 70, will be sworn-in as the 45th US President on January 20. Trump's flying namesake has been announced only a month following the recently described species of basslet named after Barack Obama. The fish is only known from coral reefs in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Northwestern Hawaii, a nature reserve which the 44th President of the US expanded to become the largest protected marine area in the world.

Being a substantially urbanised and populated area, the habitat of N donaldtrumpi is also under serious threat. "The discovery of this distinct micro-moth in the densely populated and otherwise zoologically well-studied southern California underscores the importance of conservation of the fragile habitats that still contain undescribed and threatened species, and highlights the paucity of interest in species-level taxonomy of smaller faunal elements in North America," said Nazari.

"By naming this species after the 45th President of the US, I hope to bring some public attention to, and interest in, the importance of alpha-taxonomy in better understanding the neglected micro-fauna component of the North American biodiversity," Nazari added. The research was published in the journal ZooKeys.

PTI
Florida airport shooter now mentions ISIS during interrogation

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, Jan 18: Esteban Santiago, who killed five persons at the Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida, US, told FBI agents he carried out the attack on behalf of ISIS, media reports said. Santiago, on January 6, opened fire at the airport, which claimed the lives of five persons and injured six.

Testifying at Santiago's bond hearing on Tuesday, FBI special agent Michael Ferlazzo did not elaborate on whether Santiago was purporting to be linked to ISIS or simply inspired by the terrorist organisation, CNN reported.

Federal authorities in Alaska said Santiago told them prior to the attack that he was hearing voices and that his mind was being controlled by the CIA. Santiago initially made similar claims during an interrogation following the shooting, but once he was transferred to the FBI office in Florida, he introduced the ISIS claim and never again mentioned mind control, Ferlazzo testified.

ISIS has not claimed responsibility for the January 6 attack at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Authorities have said that Santiago confessed to the mass shooting, which they said he perpetrated after disembarking a plane and collecting a checked bag containing a pistol and two magazines.

IANS

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 9:48 [IST]
Blacklisting Mahmood blocked by China: The man who raised funds under garb of religion in India

India terms Syrian peace talks in Astana as 'encouraging'

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New York, Jan 18: India has welcomed the Syrian peace talks scheduled for next week in Astana, the Kazakh capital, calling it an 'encouraging' development.

"We welcome all efforts to end violence in Syria and to jumpstart the political process," Deputy Permanent Representative Tanmaya Lal told the Security Council during a debate on the Middle East on Tuesday.

"It is encouraging that the process is committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and is led and owned by Syria...We look forward to the outcome of the direct talks," he added.

The talks are backed by Russia, Turkey and Iran.

Lal said, "Meaningful involvement of the UN is also essential in the process."

Earlier, the Secretary-General's Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed that the UN had received an invitation to the Astana talks and the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura is sending a team headed by his deputy, Ramzy Ezzeldin.

Lal also welcomed the truce engineered by Russia in Syria, which came into effect on December 30, calling it "a much needed positive development".

IANS

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 10:22 [IST]
12-year-old Indian in Guinness World Record for identifying most aeroplane tails in UAE

Watch: Four Indian women racially abused in Texas in most horrific manner

Indian-American being considered to head US communication commission

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New York, Jan 18: Ajit Pai, a commissioner in the US communications regulatory agency, has met President-elect Donald Trump amid speculation that he could head the body that deals with cellphone spectrum and broadcasting.

Trump's spokesperson Sean Spicer said on Tuesday that the meeting with Pai, who is the Republican nominee on the Federal Communication Commission, took place on Monday.

Currently the FCC is headed by Tom Wheeler, a nominee of the Democratic Party, and a change in leadership is due with the election of Trump. The position of FCC chairman has to be approved by the Senate.

The FCC is the federal authority regulating radio, television, phone, cellphone spectrum and services, internet and satellite and cable.

Pai, whose parents are doctors, is a lawyer and has served with the government, Congress and the private sector.

A free enterprise advocate in the Republican mould, he has been a critic of the functioning of the FCC and has clashed with its leadership in the past.

Recently, he took up the issue of an FCC report that questioned the legality of offerings that are used by people to access online music, videos, and other content free of charge.

Trump has nominated two Indian-Americans to high-level positions: Nikki Haley as the Cabinet-level Ambassador to the United Nations, and Seema Verma as the head of the agency for government health insurance programmes.

In addition, Trump has appointed Raj Shah as his deputy assistant and research director on the White House staff.

Another Indian American, Balaji Srinivasan, met Trump last week and Spicer said that he was under consideration for a role at the the Federal Drug Administration.

Srinivasan is a technology entrepreneur who has founded a biotech company and has been critical of the links between large pharmaceutical companies and the FDA and the agency's reach that he asserted stifles tech innovations. He currently heads a start-up that deals with bitcoin, the internet-based currency.

IANS

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 10:46 [IST]
Ireland prepares for Brexit, organisational changes implemented

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Dublin, Jan 18: Ireland has welcomed the "greater clarity" on Britain's proposed approach to the Brexit negotiation process. In a decisive speech on Tuesday that sets a course for a clean break with the European Union, British Prime Minister Theresa May promised to quit the EU single market and seek a free trade agreement with the EU.

The 12-point blueprint has been dubbed a "hard Brexit", Xinhua news agency reported. May has "made clear that she wishes to secure the closest possible future economic relationship for Britain with the EU, a goal that Ireland shares", the Irish government said on Tuesday.

"For Ireland, the priorities for the negotiation process that lies ahead are unchanged: our economic and trading arrangements, the Northern Ireland peace process including border issues, the common travel area and the future of the EU," a statement said.

"She made clear that her priorities include maintaining the common travel area and avoiding a return to a hard border with Northern Ireland, both of which are welcome," it said. The Irish government said its preparation was extensive, adding that important organisational changes were implemented in government departments and agencies, with additional resources provided in key areas.

Meanwhile, the Irish government said an extensive programme of engagement with all other EU governments and institutions, including the Commission's Brexit Negotiations Task Force, is under way. The Irish Prime Minister will continue to meet and engage with their EU counterparts over coming weeks to emphasise its concerns and ensure that they are fully reflected in the EU position once negotiations commence, the statement said.

"The government is under no illusion about the nature and scale of the Brexit challenge. But it is ready." The statement said economic opportunities for Ireland will be pursued vigorously and that engagement with other member states and EU institutions will intensify.

IANS
Russia extends Edward Snowden's asylum till 2020

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Moscow, Jan 18: Russia on Wednesday extended Edward Snowden's asylum till 2020, a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said. Russia said that the US whistleblower will not be extradited even if relations improved with Donald Trump, who is set to be sworn-in on Friday.

It was said by a former CIA director that Putin might extradite Snowden, even though there is no extradition treaty between Russia and USA.

Snowden sought asylum in 2013 after he leaked information about American intelligence and surviellance operations. He has been living in Russia since 2013 when he got stuck in the transit area at a Moscow airport after the United States cancelled his passport.

Snowde is yet to comment on his extended stay in Russia.

The announcement comes as US President Barack Obama commuted the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, who was convicted for leaking more than 700,000 US documents.

(With PTI inputs)

OneIndia News
Thousands arrive in Washington to attend Trump's swearing-in

International

oi-PTI

Washington, Jan 18: Thousands of people, including many Indian-Americans, are converging in Washington to attend US President-elect Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony themed 'Make America Great Again'.

Trump will be sworn-in as the 45th US President on January 20 using two Bibles: the one that former President Abraham Lincoln used at his first inauguration, and another one his own that dates back to the President-elect's childhood.

Trump's Bible was presented to him by his mother upon his graduation of Sunday church primary school at first presbyterian church, Jamaica, New York, on children's day on June 12, 1955. The celebrations around Trump's inauguration beginning Thursday has been organised around the theme 'Make America Great Again' which not only caught the imagination of the Americans during the grilling election campaign, but also propelled Trump to victory.

An unprecedented security has been put in place to thwart any untoward incident. Outgoing US President Barack Obama on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness.

"We are going to see a just unbelievable tremendous outpouring of support for him," the incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters during a conference call.

"The president-elect has been just overwhelmed by the amount of support and outpouring of people that want to participate in some way with this 'historic inauguration'," Spicer said in response to a question.

While Trump supporters in Washington DC have already started a series of events ahead of the Friday inauguration, official events would kick off from Thursday with the wreath-laying ceremony by Trump and the vice president-elect Mike Pence at the Arlington National Cemetery.

The historic National Mall would also be the venue of celebrations. On the footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial, scores of artists from across the country would perform before thousands of supporters of Trump. Voices of the People will feature groups from the hundreds of applications received by the presidential inaugural committee to take part in inaugural festivities. Prominent among those participating are King's Academy Honor Choir, the Republican Hindu Coalition, Pride of Madawaska, Webelos Troop 177, American Tap and Celtic United Pipes and Drums.

'The Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration' will take place following Voices of the People and will be broadcast live to the nation from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It will feature historic remarks from Trump and special appearances from Toby Keith, Jon Voight, Jennifer Holliday, The Piano Guys, Lee Greenwood, RaviDrums, 3 Doors Down, and The Frontmen of Country.

The celebration will also feature the participation of military bands and a fireworks show by Grucci at the conclusion. "This celebration will combine a diverse group of performers and is the official kick-off to the inaugural events. The concert will include an appearance by the President-elect Trump," a media release said.

PTI
WikiLeaks says Obama clemency may have saved Manning's life

International

oi-PTI

London, Jan 18: WikiLeaks says President Barack Obama may have saved Chelsea Manning's life by granting the former Army intelligence analyst clemency, but adds that the decision doesn't make up for the harm she has suffered.

The statement came after Obama announced yesterday that Manning would be released May 17, cutting her sentence by almost 30 years. In a tweet soon after the announcement, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange thanked "everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency.

[Also read: Fun time: Barack Obama to enjoy vacation with family in Palm Springs]

Your courage & determination made the impossible possible." Assange didn't mention his earlier pledge that he would agree to US extradition if Obama granted clemency to Manning. But, Melinda Taylor, who serves on Assange's legal team, said he would not be going back on his word. She says: "Everything that he has said he's standing by."

PTI
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Rumble 13 Aug 2022

 Documentary by The Epoch Times, reveals the truth that has been hidden from the American people...
By John Feffer*



Caligula was by all accounts a nasty piece of work.



During the nearly four years that he..

Eurasia Review 02 Mar 2021
Washington Post 31 May 2022

Washington made it to the mid-90s about two to three weeks ahead of typical.
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From Mike Malloy Website



Obama commutes sentence of Chelsea Manning

(Image by usatoday.com) Details DMCA



Well it's official, Chelsea Manning will be released from prison this Spring. About time. Today President Obama commuted the sentence of 200 prisoners, including Manning, in what is likely his final act as Commander in Chief. It is a victory for Manning, WikiLeaks, and for lovers of civil liberties everywhere. Justice was delayed, but not ultimately denied.

Manning served seven years, longer than any person convicted for leaking government documents, and many of these years were spent in horrid and shameful conditions. When she was at her breaking point and attempted suicide -- twice -- she was further punished with 14 days of solitary confinement. Shortly after she was taken into custody she was held in solitary confinement 23 hours a day and forced to strip naked at night.

Remember, she was never convicted of any charges. Compare Private Manning's treatment with General Petreaus, who leaked top secret information so his mistress could write his biography. Petreaus didn't spend a second behind bars. Manning was a whistle-blower who acted to inform the public about the dirty underbelly of US diplomacy and suspect military actions.

This is a moment of redemption for President Obama, who has been particularly strident about prosecuting those who leaked government information. In the last eight years, the Obama administration has prosecuted eight individuals under the Espionage Act for leaking secrets to news outlets, essentially charging journalistic sources as spies. That's more than all other presidents in history combined. This commutation will go a long way toward softening that part of his legacy.

As expected, the elephants are rampaging over Manning's release. John McCain in particular said Obama's decision was a grave mistake, and that while Manning's sentence will end shortly, "her dishonor will last forever."

Wow. Guess it's been a long time since John was tortured in solitary confinement.

Today Obama also pardoned retired Marine General James Cartwright, who was serving a two-year sentence for lying to the FBI about leaking government secrets to the press.

Funny, McCain and his fellow Neocons don't seem all up in arms (no pun intended) over that action, proving again the bottomless well of hypocrisy in the GOP.
From Smirking Chimp

Co-written by *Michael Winship



Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin

(Image by abc.net.au) Details DMCA



Over the holidays, John Farrell, author of an upcoming biography of Richard Nixon, wrote an op-ed piece in The New York Times confirming what many of us have known for nearly 50 years: In the fall of 1968, Nixon, the Republican candidate for president, deliberately torpedoed President Lyndon Johnson's efforts to cease the bombing of North Vietnam and begin peace talks to end the Vietnam war.

Johnson was not running for re-election, but his vice president, Hubert Humphrey, was the Democratic candidate for the White House -- and Nixon was determined to keep Humphrey from reaping the benefits of good news from Southeast Asia. In the course of researching his Nixon book, Farrell found a cache of notes from Nixon aide H.R. Haldeman showing "that Nixon directed his campaign's efforts to scuttle the peace talks" On Oct. 22, 1968, he ordered Haldeman to 'monkey wrench' the initiative."

Nixon won the election and until the end of his life denied he had interfered. But, Farrell notes, "Nixon had cause to lie. His actions appear to violate federal law, which prohibits private citizens from trying to 'defeat the measures of the United States.'"

Johnson believed Nixon had committed treason, but at the time he and his aides decided they lacked sufficient proof. History has since provided the evidence.

Now we face another electoral crisis of perhaps even greater significance. As the former diplomat James Bruno sums it up in Washington Monthly, "The United States has just endured a carefully planned, well-orchestrated assault against its democratic form of government in the form of a grand cyber-theft of information and targeted release of that information." More specifically, Bruno quotes from the report in which 17 US intelligence agencies unanimously concluded, "Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election. Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump. We have high confidence in these judgments."

Read that again slowly and carefully: The intelligence community is saying that a foreign country, Russia, deliberately interfered with and corrupted our electoral process to favor the election of Donald Trump. Further, aides to Trump are said to have been in contact with Russian officials throughout the campaign and the presidential transition. (In the Jan. 12 Washington Post, columnist David Ignatius reported, "According to a senior US government official, [national security adviser Michael] Flynn phoned Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak several times on Dec. 29, the day the Obama administration announced the expulsion of 35 Russian officials as well as other measures in retaliation for the hacking. What did Flynn say, and did it undercut the US sanctions?")

Of course, Trump and his allies say the intelligence community not only is wrong but should not be trusted. Nevertheless, the die is cast: Either Trump and friends have engaged in treasonous acts or America's intelligence officials are guilty of a colossal lapse in judgment -- or worse, a conspiracy against Trump. Either way -- whether any of these allegations are true or false -- the entire matter must be investigated thoroughly and immediately. The dark clouds hovering over American politics must be cleared up. Left unresolved, the allegations present a clear and present danger, a ticking time bomb that could explode and bring an end to America's nearly 250-year experiment in self-government.

While there have been plans announced for Senate and House hearings into this constitutional crisis, these easily can be stalled and manipulated for partisan purposes. Given the Republican Party's hardcore will to power and that it will soon exercise monopoly control over all three branches of government -- not to mention their track record over the past eight years -- it is hard to identify which GOP members of Congress are likely to put country ahead of party and let an investigation go where the facts lead. In addition, with some notable exceptions, the minority Democratic Party appears dispirited and disorganized, if not feckless, and unable to thwart Republicans determined to bulldoze a serious investigation.

No, this crisis requires a more thorough, bipartisan and select committee or commission -- not unlike the 9/11 Commission -- that has adequate staff, funding and subpoena power to conduct as thorough a probe as possible.

Perhaps even better, before Friday's inauguration, there is still time for Attorney General Loretta Lynch to appoint a special prosecutor. Fordham legal historian Jed Shugerman notes, "A special prosecutor's term does not end with an administration. It is open-ended, so the special prosecutor would continue to serve during the Trump administration... unless the new Attorney General fired him or her, [but] only for 'good cause.'"

In whatever form it takes, said investigation also must include a careful examination of action -- or inaction -- by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Justice Department's inspector general has begun a probe but it also should be within the purview of a select committee, commission or special prosecutor.

Why did the FBI seem to favor pursuing Hillary Clinton's emails over tracking down whatever could be learned about Russia's involvement in our election? Why did it drag its feet when it had evidence that the Democratic National Committee was being hacked -- was it the agency's fault or the DNC's? How the FBI notified the DNC in the first place -- with a phone call to an outside tech vendor -- is right out of a Marx Brothers comedy. And why did FBI Director Comey fail to take action when he had in his hands the dossier ex-MI6 intelligence operative Christopher Steele had assembled on rumors that Russia possessed incriminating evidence on Trump's business dealings and private life?

If real, they could be used to pressure -- blackmail -- Trump into obeisance. If not real, was Russia deliberately feeding Steele false information -- "a carefully constructed attempt," in the words of conservative journalist and Russia expert David Satter in National Review, "to disrupt American political life for years to come."

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What do you think? How did you react when you found out. This feels like one of those moments, like when Kennedy was shot and the Space Shuttle exploded.

CNN points out that Julian Assange said that if Obama commuted Mannning's sentence, Assange would " agree to US extradition if Manning freed." I wonder, is Obama releasing Manning as a gesture of good will or as a part of a strategy to imprison or cast negative light on Julian Assange and Wikileaks, the kind of thing to be expected from Clinton Democrats.

President Obama has commuted Chelsea Manning's sentence, so she will be released May 17, after serving about seven years in jail. I found out from an email announcement and instantly, tears welled in my eyes.

Rob Kall is an award winning journalist, inventor, software architect, connector and visionary. His work and his writing have been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC, the HuffingtonPost, Success, Discover and other media.

Check out his platform at RobKall.com

He is the author of The Bottom-up Revolution; Mastering the Emerging World of Connectivity

He's given talks and workshops to Fortune 500 execs and national medical and psychological organizations, and pioneered first-of-their-kind conferences in Positive Psychology, Brain Science and Story. He hosts some of the world's smartest, most interesting and powerful people on his Bottom Up Radio Show, and founded and publishes one of the top Google- ranked progressive news and opinion sites, OpEdNews.com

more detailed bio:

Rob Kall has spent his adult life as an awakener and empowerer-- first in the field of biofeedback, inventing products, developing software and a music recording label, MuPsych, within the company he founded in 1978-- Futurehealth, and founding, organizing and running 3 conferences: Winter Brain, on Neurofeedback and consciousness, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology (a pioneer in the field of Positive Psychology, first presenting workshops on it in 1985) and Storycon Summit Meeting on the Art Science and Application of Story-- each the first of their kind. Then, when he found the process of raising people's consciousness and empowering them to take more control of their lives one person at a time was too slow, he founded Opednews.com-- which has been the top search result on Google for the terms liberal news and progressive opinion for several years. Rob began his Bottom-up Radio show, broadcast on WNJC 1360 AM to Metro Philly, also available on iTunes, covering the transition of our culture, business and world from predominantly Top-down (hierarchical, centralized, authoritarian, patriarchal, big) to bottom-up (egalitarian, local, interdependent, grassroots, archetypal feminine and small.) Recent long-term projects include a book, Bottom-up-- The Connection Revolution, debillionairizing the planet (more...)


False and misleading FOIA response by the Central Election Committee states that the Shin-Bet examined and certified "Democracy" - the Committee's IT system. Successive State Ombudsman's reports documented critical security failures in "Democracy"" Shin-Bet Head Nadav Argaman is asked to confirm or refute the Committee's claims regarding Shin-Bet certification of "Democracy".



(Image by Public) Details DMCA



Figure 1: Saturday, September 24, 2016, screen prints from the Central Election Commi ttee's web site, as published by activists, who routinely monitor the site. The election returns shown here are from a single polling station. T he results of the 2013 general election (right) were adulterated, and are patently false, showing a n exact copy of the 2015 general election returns (left) , including parties that did not even exist in 201 3 . The Committee's FOIA response failed to answer: Under whose authority information is published on the Committee's web site?

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(Image by Walla) Details DMCA



Figure 2: Netanyahu, departing Shin-Bet Head Yoram Cohen and incoming Shin-Bet Head Nadav Argaman in May 2016.

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Figure 3:The 2015 general election results, as published by the Central Election Committee. The alleged computer election fraud in 2015 added 4 or more mandates (out of 120) to Netanyahu's Likud party (Blue -- 30 mandate). The Zionist Alliance came in second (brown -- 24 mandates) and the Arab United Front came in third (grey -- 13 mandates). Netanyahu's election win defied all up to the last minute pollsters' predictions. Initial report alleging computer fraud was published by the Daily Kos a few days after the election.

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Figure 4: Attorney Orly Adas, CEO of the Central Election Committee, in a promotional photo towards the 2015 election in front of a room-full of computers. According to CEO Adas and the Committee's FOIA Officer Elad Naveh, the Committee's "Democracy" IT system was examined and certified by the Shin-Bet. In contrast, the State Ombudsman report on the 2015 election documents critical security failures in "Democracy", and further notes that the same critical failures had already been documented in his 2013 report, but had not been fixed...

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(Image by Technion) Details DMCA



Figure 5: July 2016 ceremony, launching of the Technion's new, publicly-funded Cyber Security Research Center. From left: Prof Peretz Lavie -- Technion President, Eviatar Matania, PhD -- Head of the National Cyber Bureau in the Prime Minister office, and Prof Eli Biham -- Head of the new Center. Prof Biham refuses to comment on claims of computer fraud in the 2015 general election.

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OccupyTLV, January 16 -- inquiry has been filed today with Shin-Bet Head Nadav Argaman, asking him to confirm or refute that "Democracy" - IT system of the Central Election Committee - was examined and certified by the Shin-Bet's Information Security Authority (Re'em).

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Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Rob Kall has certainly acquired the firsthand experiences and knowledge gained through interviews to deliver some interesting insights about the "bottom-up" information revolution. Whereas the old 'top-down' systems created stove-pipes and excessive secrecy that blocked information sharing and led to the 'failure to connect the dots' before 9-11, the bottom-up approach should be the main fix. Kall's concept would seem to interface equally well with the founding fathers' idealism in setting forth their democratic theory of governance as with the realism that makes the multi-sourced, bottom-up Wikipedia work. As someone who shares my support of both government and corporate whistleblowing -- which is nothing more than encouraging greater horizontal sharing of information, I commend Rob Kall's important work on this topic."



Coleen Rowley, former FBI special agent and named one of TIME Magazine's "Persons of the Year" in 2002)
It's been over two months since the devastating presidential election; time enough for liberals to ask each other, "What lessons did we learn?" Four come to mind.

1.Initially, Democrats had the right message. Americans of all political persuasion believe "the system is rigged." Democrats started off with this message and then frittered away their advantage.

In her 2012 Democratic Convention speech, Senator Elizabeth Warren said, "People feel like the system is rigged against them. And here's the painful part: They're right." When Warren chose not to run for President in 2016, Bernie Sanders launched his "A future to believe in" campaign. Sanders also argued that the system is rigged: "Enough is enough. This great nation and its government belong to all the people, and not to a handful of billionaires, the super PACs, and their lobbyists."

Relatively late in his campaign, Donald Trump adopted "the system is rigged" message. In his address at the Republican convention, Trump said: "I have joined the political arena so that the powerful can no longer beat up on people that cannot defend themselves. Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it. I have seen firsthand how the system is rigged against our citizens." (Trump used the fact that no charges were brought against Clinton -- over her email scandal -- as evidence the system was rigged in her favor.)

One of the revelations in Arlie Hochschild's "Strangers in Their Own Land" is that some Louisiana Tea Party voters resonated with Bernie Sanders campaign because they believe the system is rigged. However, they differ from liberals because the Tea Party voters feel that government is the sole problem: the system is rigged because the Obama Administration favors women and people-of-color over hard-working white men.

"The system is rigged" message never worked for Hillary Clinton. For conservative voters, she was seen as part of the "big government" problem. For many Sanders supporters, Clinton was seen as inauthentic.

2. Economic Inequality didn't work as a replacement message. Instead of "the system is rigged, Clinton opted for "stronger together."

The economic component of "stronger together" focussed on strengthening the middle class with Clinton's jobs program and emphasis on the value of economic equality. This value resonates with the Democratic base but not voters in general.

Voters believe that the system is rigged but they don't agree on why that is; conservatives and liberals have differing internal stories about why US democracy isn't working. As Arlie Hochschild illustrates, Tea Party voters believe the system is rigged because government has intervened on behalf of "slackers," Americans who receive preferential treatment but don't deserve it. As a consequence, Tea Party voters believe that only big business can fix the broken system. (Typically, these voters admire those who belong to the one percent. They voted for Trump because he was perceived as a successful businessman, who "can fix things.")

Conversely, liberal voters believe the system is rigged because of the influence of big business. They are suspicious of the one percent. (Liberals didn't vote for Trump for many reasons; one of which was that he was perceived to represent the moneyed elite.)

Liberals and conservatives agree that America needs better paying jobs. And, they agree that the system is rigged; that it's not working for the average American. But they disagree on the first step to take; conservatives want to start by dismantling government, liberals want to strengthen it.

Conservatives and liberals live in different media silos. Conservative views of the world are heavily influenced by Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. Liberal views are shaped by Rachel Maddow and The New York Times. Nonetheless, Hochschild suggests that a critical difference is that conservatives don't differentiate between "main-street capitalism" and "wall-street capitalism;" they don't understand the impact of multinational capitalism and monopoly capitalism. Tea Party voters still believe that all capitalism is good.

3. Democrats didn't build the necessary grassroots infrastructure. As the presidential battle raged, Democrats comforted themselves with the (false) belief that their vaunted ground game would secure the Presidency.

Hillary Clinton was the Democratic presidential candidate so it's easy to blame the debacle on her. But the reality is that since Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008, the national Democratic Party has weakened. This has produced a situation where Republicans control Washington as well as a majority of state governments.

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It is known to all that lack of proper guidance in the investment world may lead to huge losses. Thus, if one is not well-prepared, braving the uncertainties in the equity market is no mean feat. However, given the time constraint these days it is near impossible to be thoroughly ready to deal with the volatility associated with the stock market, unless guided by the experts in this field.

The experts are brokers who are equipped with detailed knowledge about the space. Brokers, irrespective of their types (sell-side, buy-side or independent), have at their disposal a lot more information on a company and its prospects than individual investors.

With investors pumping in their hard-earned money into the stock market, naturally they would want to design a portfolio of stocks that would fetch them handsome returns. Therefore, it is in the best interest of investors to seek and pay heed to guidance of experts.

Brokers thoroughly scrutinize the publicly available financial documents apart from attending company conference calls and other presentations. Consequently, opinion of brokers should act as a valuable guide for investors while deciding their course of action (buy, sell or hold) on a particular stock.

Earnings Estimates: An Important Pointer

Broker ratings are by no means arbitrary and are backed by sound logic. The direction of the estimate revisions serve as an important pointer regarding the price of a stock. In fact, a rating upgrade normally leads to stock price appreciation and vice versa.

One of the well-accepted investment strategies is to maintain a diversified portfolio to generate handsome returns irrespective of the market conditions. For instance, in the face of extremely low oil prices, analysts adopt a bullish stance on airline stocks and consequently raise estimates. Naturally, adding such stocks to ones portfolio in such a scenario might prove to be a winning strategy. Similarly, analysts might turn bearish and trim estimates, thereby downgrading a stock following adverse events like lackluster earnings or pipeline failure (for a biotech player). Naturally, investors would look to get rid of such stocks from their portfolio, on the basis of broker advice.

Story continues

To take care of the earnings performance, we have designed a screen based on improving analyst recommendation and upward estimate revisions over the last four weeks.

Count the Top Line

According to many market watchers, a revenue beat is more creditable for a company than a mere earnings outperformance, especially in an environment of revenue weakness due to macroeconomic headwinds like a strong dollar. To take care of the top line, we have considered the price/sales ratio for screening stocks.

Screening Criteria

# (Up- Down Rating)/ Total (4 weeks) =Top #75: This gives the list of top 75 companies that have witnessed net upgrades over the last 4 weeks.

% change in Q (1) est. (4 weeks) = Top #10: This gives the top 10 stocks that have witnessed earnings estimate revisions over the past 4 weeks for the upcoming quarter.

To ensure that the strategy is a full-proof and winning one, we have added the following screening parameters:

Price-to-Sales = Bot%10: The lower the ratio, the better. Companies meeting this criterion are in the bottom 10% of our universe of over 7,700 stocks with respect to this ratio.

Price greater than 5: A stock trading below $5 will not likely create significant interest for most investors.

Average Daily Volume greater than 100,000 shares over the last 20 trading days: Volume has to be significant to ensure that these are easily traded.

Market value ($ mil) = Top #3000: This gives us stocks that are the top 3000 if one judges by market capitalization.

Com/ADR/Canadian= Com: This takes out the ADR and Canadian stocks.

Here are five of the 10 stocks that made it through the screen:

Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Arctic Cat Inc. ACAT manufactures and markets snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles as well as related parts, garments and accessories throughout the contiguous U.S. and Canada, and through distributors representing dealers in Alaska, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other international markets. This Zacks Rank # 3 (Hold) company has an impressive earnings per share growth rate (35 years) of 13%.

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. AXL is a leading supplier of driveline and drivetrain systems, modules and components for the light vehicle market. The company has an impressive track record with respect to earnings, having surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters by an average of 10.7%. The automobile stock carries a Zacks Rank #3.

Delek US Holdings, Inc. DK is a diversified energy business focused on petroleum refining, marketing and supply of refined products, and retail marketing of fuel and general merchandise. This Zacks Rank # 3 company has an impressive earnings per share growth rate (35 years) of 10%.

Basic Energy Services BAS provides a range of services to America's oil and gas producers. Its operations span the heartland of domestic onshore production from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico to the Rocky Mountain states. The company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters by an average of 4.6%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

New York-based Arconic Inc. ARNC, formed through the separation of aluminum giant Alcoa Inc., is a global leader in multi-material, precision engineered products and solutions for a variety of industries. This Zacks Rank #3 company, formerly known as Alcoa Inc., has an impressive track record with respect to earnings, having beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters by an average of 86%.

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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American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL): Free Stock Analysis Report



Arctic Cat Inc. (ACAT): Free Stock Analysis Report



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From Dispatches From The Edge



Towards a stronger European economic governance

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When European Union President Jean-Claude Juncker addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg this past September, he told them the organization was facing an "existential crisis" and "national governments so weakened by the forces of populism and paralyzed by the risk of defeat in the next election."

Indeed it has been a bad year for the huge trading group:

The "Brexit," or the United Kingdom's vote to withdraw.





Rome's referendum to amend the country's constitution was trounced, and several Italian banks are in deep trouble.





The austerity policies of the EU have kept most of its members' economies either anemic or dead in the water. Even those showing growth, like Ireland and Spain, have yet to return to where they were before the 2008 economic melt down. Between 2007 and 2016, purchasing power fell 8 percent in Spain and 11 percent in Italy,

It is also true that number of national governments -- in particular those in Germany and France -- are looking nervously over their shoulders at parties to their right.

But the crisis of the EU does not spring from "populism," a term that many times obscures more than it reveals, lumping together neo-fascist parties, like France's National Front and Germany's Alternative for Germany, with left parties, like Spain's Podemos. Populism, as Juncker uses it, has a vaguely atavistic odor to it: ignorant peasants with torches and pitchforks storming the citadels of civilization.

But the barbarians at the EU's gate did not just appear out of Europe's dark forests like the Goths and Vandals of old. They were raised up by the profoundly flawed way that the Union was established in the first place, flaws that did not reveal themselves until an economic crisis took center stage.

That the crisis is existential, there is little doubt. In fact, the odds are pretty good that the EU will not be here in its current form a decade from now -- and possibly considerably sooner. But Juncker's solutions include a modest spending program aimed at business, closer military ties among the 28 -- soon to be 27 -- members of the organization, and the creation of a "European Solidarity Corps" of young volunteers to help out in cases of disasters, like earthquakes. But there was nothing to address the horrendous unemployment rate among young Europeans. In short, rearranging the Titanic's deck chairs while the ice looms up to starboard.

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From Consortium News



President Barack Obama signing the Affordable Care Act

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All eyes are on the Republicans and Obamacare, as the dominant GOP now proceeds toward dismantling President Barack Obama's signature healthcare policy plan, formally known as the Affordable Care Act. What they plan to replace it with is still anybody's guess.

I spoke recently to public healthcare expert and single-payer advocate Dr. Don McCain about the debate, the negatives and positives of Obamacare, and what kind of healthcare system we need in the U.S. to really attend to the medical needs of all people.

McCain, a senior health policy fellow with the group Physicians for a National Health Program, said recently about the current debate, "President Obama meeting with the Congressional Democrats, and Vice President-elect Pence meeting with the Republicans are being touted as a strategy efforts on the two opposite sides of the healthcare reform debate. But are they really opposites?"

Dennis Bernstein: What do you mean by that? Aren't they opposites? It does seem like the Democrats are on one side, and the Republicans are on the other.

Dr. Don McCain: That's certainly the way they framed it. Of course, they passed Obamacare. The Democrats passed that even though it was a Republican plan. And now the Republicans claim it's a Democrat plan that has to be repealed. Yet, what are they talking about, as far as reform is concerned? They are talking about tweaking our current system. Well, that's all that Obamacare did.

We have a highly dysfunctional system, fragmented, with extreme administrative excesses. And a system that doesn't function very well because it leaves people with insurance in debt. It leaves too many people uninsured and takes away choices for our healthcare providers, through these narrow networks that are increasing in prevalence.

The Democrats did improve that, but the improvements were very small compared to what needs to be done. The Republicans would turn around, and maybe repeal some of those things, and then introduce their own tweaks. But these are all only tweaks to our current, highly dysfunctional, wasteful, fragmented system.

So the opposite would be an integrated, universal system that provides healthcare to everyone, and eliminates this profound administrative waste. And gives people their choice again. Of course, that's a single payer, national health program commonly known as an improved Medicare For All -- fixing Medicare, and providing it to everyone.

DB: Well... the Republicans would say that's a budget buster, that's a big government program, that's socialism, and ultimately it will be a disaster.

DM: Of course, it is paid through taxes but we already... two-thirds of our healthcare is already paid for through the tax system. In fact, we pay more in taxes for healthcare in the United States than other nations pay for their entire healthcare system.

So tax isn't the problem. Getting the tax right is the problem, and we've got to make it much more equitable through progressive taxes where everyone can afford to pay the taxes that we would need to run the system. But it doesn't bust budgets.

In fact, the efficiencies of a single payer system actually slow down the increases in healthcare costs. So we would not be having these high increases every year. Yeah, there's been slowing for a couple of years, but they haven't really fixed the fundamental defects, whereas through a Medicare-like system, they do control healthcare costs, much more effectively. So we would all be ahead and we would all have health care.

DB: ... Let's do a compare and contrast: Under Obamacare, how does the U.S. system compare to, say, Europe?

DM: It is much less efficient [with] extreme administrative waste. We pay about a trillion dollars a year in just administration of our system. It's because it's this fragmented system of multiple programs, and other reasons, for the excesses. We could recover about one-half of that trillion dollars, and redirect it into health care. They don't have that in the European systems. They have much more efficient financing systems. None of them pay near what we do, in administration.

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From Paul Craig Roberts Website

When I read Trump's defenders, such as Daniel Lazare, having to balance their defense with denunciations of Trump, I think the CIA's propaganda is working. In his article, Lazare asks the rhetorical question, "Is a military coup in the works?" He then goes on to describe the CIA and presstitute coup against Trump unfolding before our eyes.

Having described the unprecedented frame-up of the president-elect of the United States by the CIA and the Western media, Lazare has to square himself with those doing the frame-up:



"This is not to say that the so-called President-elect's legitimacy is not open to question. ...Trump is a rightwing blowhard whose absurd babblings about Saudi Arabia, Iran and Yemen reveal a man who is dangerously ignorant about how the world works."

Note that Lazare goes beyond the CIA and the presstitutes by elevating Trump from someone not sufficiently suspicious of Vladimir Putin to "dangerously ignorant." I suppose Lazare means dangerously ignorant like Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama. If this is what Lazare means, why is Trump any less qualified to be president than his three most recent predecessors and his opponent in the election?

Of course, Lazare has no idea what he means. He is simply afraid he will be called a "Trump deplorable," and he stuck in some denunciatory words to ward off his dismissal as just another Russian agent.

At other times I conclude that the CIA is discrediting itself with its fierce and transparently false attack on the president elect. The attack on Trump from the CIA and its media agents at the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, the network TV channels, the BBC, the Guardian, and every other Western print and TV source with the exception of Fox News, is based on no evidence whatsoever. None of the US 16 intelligence agencies can produce a tiny scrap of evidence. The evidence consists of nothing but constant repetitions of blatant lies fed into the presstitute media by the CIA.

We have witnessed this so many times before: "Tonkin Gulf," "Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction," "Iranian nukes," "Assad's use of chemical weapons," "Russian invasion of Ukraine."

General Smedley Butler, the most decorated Marine in the history of the US military said that he and the US Marines spent their lives defending the interests of the United Fruit Company and some lousy investment of the banks in Latin America. That's all the attack on Trump is about. Trump is saying that "America first" doesn't mean a license for America to rape and plunder other countries.

Normalized relations with Russia removes the orchestrated "Russian threat" justification for the $1,000 billion taxpayer dollars taken annually from ordinary Americans and given to the military/security complex via the federal budget.

Trump's question about the relevance of NATO 25 years after the collapse of NATO's purpose -- the Soviet Union -- threatens the power and position not only of the US military/security complex but also of Washington's European vassals who live high in money and prestige as Washington's servants. All European governments consist of Washington's vassals. They are accustomed to supporting Washington's foreign policy, not having had a policy of their own since World War II.

Trump is taking on a policy world long under the influence of the CIA. Little wonder WikiLeaks' Julian Assange and a number of other clued-in people say that the CIA will assassinate Trump if he cannot be brought into line with a Western alliance organized for the power and profit of the few.

So what is Trump to do?

There are various alternatives. Trump could fire CIA director John Brennan, have the Attorney General indict him for treason, have the FBI locate all participants in the intelligence agencies and presstitute media who aided and abetted the attempted frame-up of the president-elect of the United States and put them all on trial. This would be the best and surest way for Trump to clean out the snakepit that is Washington, D.C. To call a snakepit a "swamp" is to use an euphemism.

Another alternative is for Trump to make the obvious point that despite the allegations of the CIA and the presstitutes, any hacking that occurred was not the fault of Trump and Russia, but the fault of the US intelligence agencies who were too incompetent to prevent it. Trump's trump question to the CIA, NSA, FBI is: So, you know the Russians hacked us and you did not prevent it? If you repeat your incompetence, I am going to fire everyone of you incompetents.

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On Friday, a person who has insulted, demeaned, and threatened tens of millions of the countrys citizens will take the oath of office for the presidency of the United States. Thats an extraordinary thing, and the reaction will also be extraordinarya Womens March the following day in Washington, DC expected to draw hundreds of thousands of every gender, race, creed, and orientation. Sister marches and protests will take place in every major city on the East and West Coast and everywhere in-between, as well as internationally in cities like London, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Calgary, Barcelona, Dar es Salaam the list goes on and on and on.

Why Womens Marches if these events are all-inclusive? In addition to responding to the public displays of contempt for women weve witnessed over and over in the past year, the events intend to reaffirm the rights of all people. The organizers succinctly state that womens rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.









A Rawlsian progressive notion, and also a Kingian one, a description the march applies to its nonviolent principles. What they dont say is that there is also significant historical precedent for the action. Over 100 years ago, another womens march coincided with a presidential swearing-in, this time of Woodrow Wilson in March of 1913.

Marching for the cause of suffrage, women from around the country and the world arrived in DC on March 3rd, the day before Wilsons inauguration. Many of those marchers had hiked 234 miles from New York in 17 days, bearing a letter to the President-elect, writes Mashable, demanding that he make suffrage a priority of his administration and warning that the women of the nation would be watching with an intense interest such as has never before been focused upon the administration of any of your predecessors. Organized by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the march promised, in their words, the most conspicuous and important demonstration that has ever been attempted by suffragists in this country.

The parade was filled with pageantry. Clad in a white cape astride a white horse, writes the Library of Congress, lawyer Inez Mulholland led the great woman suffrage parage down Pennsylvania Avenue in the nations capital. Behind her stretched a long line with nine bands, four mounted brigades, three heralds, about twenty-four floats, and more than 5,000 marchers. As you can see in the film footage at the top and the images here from the LoCincluding the drawing of the parade route above by Little Nemo cartoonist Winsor McKaythe parade drew a huge global coalition. It also drew ridicule, harassment, and violence from groups in DC for the following days festivities. As the LoC writes:

[A]ll went well for the first few blocks. Soon, however, the crowds, mostly men in town for the following days inauguration of Woodrow Wilson, surged into the street making it almost impossible for the marchers to pass. Occasionally only a single file could move forward. Women were jeered, tripped, grabbed, shoved, and many heard indecent epithets and barnyard conversation. Instead of protecting the parade, the police seemed to enjoy all the ribald jokes and laughter and in part participated in them. One policeman explained that they should stay at home where they belonged.

Many marchers were injured; two ambulances came and went constantly for six hours, always impeded and at times actually opposed, so that doctor and driver literally had to fight their way to give succor. The event included several prominent figures, including Helen Keller, who was unnerved by the experience. Also present was Jeannette Rankin, who, writes Mashable, would become the first woman elected to the House of Representatives four years later. Nelly Bly marched, as did journalist and anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells, who marched with the Illinois delegation despite the complaints of some segregationist marchers.

In fact, though the selective images suggest otherwise, the march was more inclusive than the suffragist movement is generally given credit for. Over the objections of mostly Southern delegates, many black women joined the ranks. After telegrams and protests poured in protesting segregation, members of the National Association of Colored Women marched according to their State and occupation without let or hindrance, noted the NAACP journal Crisis. And yet, when the womens vote was finally achieved in 1920, that general category still did not include black women. The misogyny on display that day was vicious, but still perhaps not as endemic as the countrys racism, which existed in large degree within suffragist groups as well.



Once the press broadcast news of the marchers mistreatment, there was a massive public outcry that helped reinvigorate the suffrage movement. Several other artists than McKay found inspiration in the march; Cleveland Plain Dealer cartoonist James Donahey, for example, substituted women for men in a cartoon based on the famous painting Washington Crossing the Delaware, writes the Library of Congress. Another cartoonist, George Folsom, documented the stages of the hike from New York, with captions addressed to male readers. The strip above says, they are making history matesbe sure you save it for your descendants. Another strip reads Brave women all, none braver mates. Put this away and look at it when they win.

At the Library of Congresss American Women site, youll find a wealth of resources for researching the history and impact of the 1913 Suffrage Parade. To find out more about the hundreds of contemporary Womens Marchesopen to people of every race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, sexual identity, gender expression, economic status, age or disabilitysee the website here or read this Rolling Stone interview with organizer Linda Sarsour.

via Mashable

Related Content:

Odd Vintage Postcards Document the Propaganda Against Womens Rights 100 Years Ago

Download Images From Rad American Women A-Z: A New Picture Book on the History of Feminism

The First Feminist Film, Germaine Dulacs The Smiling Madame Beudet (1922)

Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness
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According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research Global Market Study on Bulletproof Security Glass Market  Middle East & Africa to Witness Highest Growth by 2021, the global bulletproof security glass market was valued at USD 2,395.7million in 2015 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 8.8% from 2015 to 2021, to reach USD 3972.5 million by 2021.A sample of this report is available upon request:Bulletproof glass also known as bullet-resistant glass, transparent armor, and ballistic glass is made up of transparent materials that can resist any damage from small projectiles and bullets. It is usually made with an arrangement of two or more types of glass, one hard and one soft. The glass product is produced using ballistic materials such as polycarbonate, acrylic, glass-clad polycarbonate, and thermoplastic that can withstand any damage from small projectiles and bullets.Conversely, proposed changes and regulative guidelines by green councils and energy cost involved in manufacturing processes for bulletproof security glass are perceived as minor growth restraints. In addition, rising cost of raw materials such as polycarbonate could pose a challenge to market growth in the near future. The global bulletproof security glass market is anticipated to grow from an estimated USD 2,395.7million in 2015 to USD 3972.5 million by 2021 at a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period.Amongst various security systems, the bulletproof glass is a majorly demanded system in the recent time due to the increasing security concerns following the increasing terror attacks and crime rates. In order to fulfill the increasing security needs the market is expected to witness a significant increase in the next five to six years.Growth of the bulletproof security glass market has been increasingly driven by growing automotive industry globally. Growing automotive industry coupled with increasing demand for value-added automobile products from tech-savvy consumers is expected to further boost the demand for bulletproof security glass in the automotive industry segment. The revenue from expanding financial industry is expected to dominate owing to increasing expansion of financial institutions and services in developing countries due to growing need for capital.North America is expected to represent the largest market in 2015, accounting for 26.66% of the total market share. However, The Middle East & Africa is expected to record the highest growth during the forecast period due to increasing infrastructural development in the Middle East.Request to view Table of Content:Asahi Glass co.Ltd, China Glass Holdings Limited, Nippon Sheet Glass, Saint-Gobain S.A., China Glass Specialty AG, PPG Industries Inc., Taiwan Glass Ind. Corp., Apogee Enterprises Corp., Sisecam, Guardian Industries are some of the leading players in the bulletproof security glass market. Other major players of the market include Qufu Shenglu Bulletproof Glass Engineering, Guangzhou Sky Tiger Tempered Glass, Nanjing Xinfurui Glass Industry, Jiangsu Yongxiang Glass etc.To Buy Full Report for a Single User:About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
NOR Flash Global Market - Forecasts from 2016 to 2021

NOR Flash Market

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COMPLETE REPORT DETAILS @The 'Global and Chinese NOR Flash Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global NOR Flash industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the NOR Flash manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2011-2016 market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of NOR Flash industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates 2016-2021 market development trends of NOR Flash industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of NOR Flash Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2011-2021 global and Chinese NOR Flash industry covering all important parameters.SAMPLE REQUEST@CONTINUEDTable of ContentsChapter One Introduction of NOR Flash Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of NOR Flash1.2 Development of NOR Flash Industry1.3 Status of NOR Flash IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of NOR Flash2.1 Development of NOR Flash Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of NOR Flash Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of NOR Flash Manufacturing TechnologyChapter Three Analysis of Global Key Manufacturers3.1 Company A3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Product Information3.1.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.1.4 Contact Information3.2 Company B3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Product Information3.2.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.2.4 Contact Information......Chapter Five Market Status of NOR Flash Industry5.1 Market Competition of NOR Flash Industry by Company5.2 Market Competition of NOR Flash Industry by Country (USA, EU, Japan, Chinese etc.)5.3 Market Analysis of NOR Flash Consumption by Application/TypeBUY THIS REPORT @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Plate glass Market to 2021: Consumption Volume, Value, Import, Export and Sale Price Analysis

Plate Glass Industry

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WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Plate glass Market to 2021: Consumption Volume, Value, Import, Export and Sale Price AnalysisReport SummaryThe 'Global and Chinese Plate Glass Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Plate Glass industry with a focus on the Chinese market.The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Plate Glass manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Request for Sample Report @The report provides a basic overview including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure and development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.Secondly, the report states the global market size (volume and value), and the segment markets by regions, types, applications and companies are also discussed.Third, the market analysis is provided for major regions including USA, Europe, China and Japan, and other regions can be added. For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. What's more, the industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Check Discount on This Report @# Major Key ManufacturersCompany ACompany BCompnay CCompany D..ContinuedTable of Contents Plate Glass IndustryChapter One Introduction of Plate Glass Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of Plate Glass1.2 Development of Plate Glass Industry1.3 Status of Plate Glass IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Plate Glass2.1 Development of Plate Glass Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of Plate Glass Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of Plate Glass Manufacturing Technology..Chapter Four 2011-2016 Global and Chinese Market of Plate Glass4.1 2011-2016 Global Capacity, Production and Production Value of Plate Glass Industry4.2 2011-2016 Global Cost and Profit of Plate Glass Industry4.3 Market Comparison of Global and Chinese Plate Glass Industry4.4 2011-2016 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Plate Glass4.5 2011-2016 Chinese Import and Export of Plate GlassChapter Five Market Status of Plate Glass Industry5.1 Market Competition of Plate Glass Industry by Company5.2 Market Competition of Plate Glass Industry by Country (USA, EU, Japan, Chinese etc.)5.3 Market Analysis of Plate Glass Consumption by Application/TypeChapter Six 2016-2021 Market Forecast of Global and Chinese Plate Glass Industry6.1 2016-2021 Global and Chinese Capacity, Production, and Production Value of Plate Glass6.2 2016-2021 Plate Glass Industry Cost and Profit Estimation6.3 2016-2021 Global and Chinese Market Share of Plate Glass6.4 2016-2021 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Plate Glass6.5 2016-2021 Chinese Import and Export of Plate GlassChapter Seven Analysis of Plate Glass Industry Chain7.1 Industry Chain Structure7.2 Upstream Raw Materials7.3 Downstream IndustryChapter Eight Global and Chinese Economic Impact on Plate Glass Industry8.1 Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Environment Analysis8.1.1 Global Macroeconomic Analysis8.1.2 Chinese Macroeconomic Analysis8.2 Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Environment Development Trend8.2.1 Global Macroeconomic Outlook8.2.2 Chinese Macroeconomic Outlook8.3 Effects to Plate Glass IndustryContinued.Buy This Report @CONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPh: +91 841 198 5042
Global Metal Grinding Fluid Industry, 2017 Market Research Report

Metal Grinding Fluid Industry

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Metal Grinding Fluid IndustrySummeryThe 'Global and Chinese Metal Grinding Fluid Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Metal Grinding Fluid industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Metal Grinding Fluid manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry..Request for Sample Report @Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2011-2016 market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Metal Grinding Fluid industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export.The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates 2016-2021 market development trends of Metal Grinding Fluid industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Metal Grinding Fluid Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2011-2021 global and Chinese Metal Grinding Fluid industry covering all important parameters.Complete Description of Report @Chapter One Introduction of Metal Grinding Fluid Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of Metal Grinding Fluid1.2 Development of Metal Grinding Fluid Industry1.3 Status of Metal Grinding Fluid IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Metal Grinding Fluid2.1 Development of Metal Grinding Fluid Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of Metal Grinding Fluid Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of Metal Grinding Fluid Manufacturing TechnologyChapter Three Analysis of Global Key Manufacturers3.1 Company A3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Product Information3.1.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.1.4 Contact Information3.2 Company B3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Product Information3.2.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.2.4 Contact Information3.3 Company C3.2.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Product Information3.3.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.3.4 Contact Information3.4 Company D3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Product Information3.4.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.4.4 Contact Information3.5 Company E3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Product Information3.5.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.5.4 Contact Information3.6 Company F3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Product Information3.5.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.6.4 Contact Information3.7 Company G3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Product Information3.7.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.7.4 Contact Information3.8 Company H3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Product Information3.8.3 2011-2016 Production Information3.8.4 Contact InformationChapter Four 2011-2016 Global and Chinese Metal Grinding FluidChapter Five Market Status of Metal Grinding Fluid IndustryChapter Six 2016-2021 Market Forecast of Global and Chinese Metal Grinding Fluid IndustryChapter Seven Analysis of Metal Grinding Fluid Industry ChainChapter Eight Global and Chinese Economic Impact on Metal Grinding Fluid IndustryChapter Nine Market Dynamics of Metal Grinding Fluid IndustryChapter Ten Proposals for New ProjectChapter Eleven Research Conclusions of Global and Chinese Metal Grinding Fluid IndustryBuy now @Tables and FiguresFigure Metal Grinding Fluid Product PictureTable Development of Metal Grinding Fluid Manufacturing TechnologyFigure Manufacturing Process of Metal Grinding FluidTable Trends of Metal Grinding Fluid Manufacturing TechnologyFigure Company A Metal Grinding Fluid Product and SpecificationsTable 2011-2016 Company A Metal Grinding Fluid Product Capacity, Production, and Production Value etc. ListFigure 2011-2016 Company A Metal Grinding Fluid Capacity Production and Growth RateFigure 2011-2016 Company A Metal Grinding Fluid Production Global Market ShareFigure Company B Metal Grinding Fluid Product and SpecificationsContinued...Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories. WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTD Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, India Ph: +91 841 198 5042
Global Bioactive Materials Market 2016, Analysis, Research, Share, Growth, Sales, Trends, Supply, Forecast to 2021

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Advances in materials sciences have led to greater focus on novel materials that are biocompatible in terms of chemical and mechanical reactiveness. Bioactive materials form a class of innovative biomaterials that can react and bind to tissues present in the human body. These materials possess desirable properties such as fracture toughness and elastic modulus, which aid adherence. They are extensively used as tissue replacement and repair materials and are becoming increasingly common in surgical procedures.Check complete report @Technavios analysts forecast the global bioactive materials market to grow at a CAGR of 13.42% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global bioactive materials market for 2016-2020. In addition, it discusses the major drivers influencing market growth and the challenges faced by the vendors and the market as a whole. It also examines key emerging trends.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: APAC Europe North America ROWTechnavio's report, Global Bioactive Materials 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 DePuy Synthes Kyocera Medtronic Stryker Zimmer BiometMarket driver Increased investment in cancer research For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Slow adoption of advanced healthcare in APAC For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Increasing per capita expenditure on healthcare For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.Order a copy of Report @MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated. It curates the list of reports, publishers and studies to ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients.MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand  Supply Gap. We cover more than 15 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Contact us:Mayur S.Sales Manager2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statespr@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343
Security Monitoring System Industry: Global And Chinese Market Trends, Share, Size and 2021 Forecast Report

Security Monitoring System Market

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Security Monitoring System Market 2017The 'Global and Chinese Security Monitoring System Industry, 2011-2021 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Security Monitoring System industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Security Monitoring System manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Request For Sample Report @The report provides a basic overview including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure and development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.Secondly, the report states the global market size (volume and value), and the segment markets by regions, types, applications and companies are also discussed.Third, the market analysis is provided for major regions including USA, Europe, China and Japan, and other regions can be added. For each region, market size and end users are analyzed as well as segment markets by types, applications and companies.Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. What's more, the industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Complete Report Details @# Major Key Manufacturers Company ACompany BCompany CCompany D..ContinuedTable Of ContentsChapter One Introduction of Security Monitoring System Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of Security Monitoring System1.2 Development of Security Monitoring System Industry1.3 Status of Security Monitoring System IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Security Monitoring System2.1 Development of Security Monitoring System Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of Security Monitoring System Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of Security Monitoring System Manufacturing Technology..Chapter Four 2011-2016 Global and Chinese Market of Security Monitoring System4.1 2011-2016 Global Capacity, Production and Production Value of Security Monitoring System Industry4.2 2011-2016 Global Cost and Profit of Security Monitoring System Industry4.3 Market Comparison of Global and Chinese Security Monitoring System Industry4.4 2011-2016 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Security Monitoring System4.5 2011-2016 Chinese Import and Export of Security Monitoring SystemChapter Five Market Status of Security Monitoring System Industry5.1 Market Competition of Security Monitoring System Industry by Company5.2 Market Competition of Security Monitoring System Industry by Country (USA, EU, Japan, Chinese etc.)5.3 Market Analysis of Security Monitoring System Consumption by Application/TypeChapter Six 2016-2021 Market Forecast of Global and Chinese Security Monitoring System Industry6.1 2016-2021 Global and Chinese Capacity, Production, and Production Value of Security Monitoring System6.2 2016-2021 Security Monitoring System Industry Cost and Profit Estimation6.3 2016-2021 Global and Chinese Market Share of Security Monitoring System6.4 2016-2021 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Security Monitoring System6.5 2016-2021 Chinese Import and Export of Security Monitoring SystemChapter Seven Analysis of Security Monitoring System Industry Chain7.1 Industry Chain Structure7.2 Upstream Raw Materials7.3 Downstream IndustryContinued.Buy This Report @CONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Address:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Australia Sanitary Pads - By Market Trends and Forecasts 2020

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SummarySanitary Pads (also sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, menstrual pad, maxi pad or pad) is an absorbent item worn by a woman while she is menstruating, recovering from vaginal surgery, for lochia (post birth bleeding), abortion, or any other situation where it is necessary to absorb a flow of blood. Sanitary Pads (Feminine Hygiene) Market in Australia - Outlook to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics is a broad level market review of Sanitary Pads market of Australia.Request a Sample Report @The research handbook provides the up-to-date market size data for period 2011-2017 and illustrative forecast to 2020 covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Sanitary Pads. Sales Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency of Australia and Volumes are represented in M Units.Furthermore, the research handbook details out Sales Value for top brands for the year 2012 to 2017 and overall market sales by Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Department Stores, Dollar Stores, Variety Store, Cash & Carries and Warehouse clubs, eRetailers, Food & Drinks specialists, Drug stores & Pharmacies, Health & Beauty Stores, Other general retailers and others) where ever applicable.The research handbook acts as an essential tool for companies active or planning to venture in to Australia's Sanitary Pads (Feminine Hygiene) market. The comprehensive statistics within the report provides insight into the operating environment of the market and also ensures right business decision making based on historical trends and industry model based forecasting.Key Findings- Overall Sanitary Pads (Feminine Hygiene) market value and volume analytics with growth analysis from 2011 to 2020.- Value terms for the top brands.- Distribution channel sales analytics from 2012-2017.SynopsisSanitary Pads (Feminine Hygiene) Market in Australia - Outlook to 2020: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics is a broad level market review of Sanitary Pads market of Australia. The research handbook provides the up-to-date market size data for period 2011-2017 and illustrative forecast to 2020 covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Sanitary Pads. The research handbook also provides analytics on Sales by Brands and by Distribution Channel.Reasons to Buy- Get access to authoritative and granular data on the Sanitary Pads (Feminine Hygiene), market and fill in the gaps in understanding of trends and the components of change behind them.- Enhance your understanding of the market to update your strategic and tactical plans based on volume and value changes, brand dynamics and distribution trends.- Analyze the components of change in the market by looking at historic and future growth patterns.- Use the data to understand future patterns of the market trends from winners and losers to category dynamics and thereby quickly and easily identify the key areas in which you want to compete in the future.Buy now @Table of Contents1. Introduction1.1 What is this Report About?1.2 Definitions1.2.1 This report provides 2017 actual sales; while forecasts are provided for 2016  20201.2.2 Category Definitions1.2.3 Distribution Channel Definitions1.2.4 Volume Units and Aggregations1.2.5 CAGR Definition and Calculation1.2.6 Graphical representation of Brands1.2.7 Exchange Rates1.2.8 Methodology Summary2. Australia Sanitary Pads Market Analysis, 2010202.1 Sanitary Pads Value Analysis, 2010202.1.1 Sanitary Pads Market by Value, 2010202.2 Sanitary Pads Volume Analysis, 2010202.2.1 Sanitary Pads Market by Volume, 2010203. Australia Sanitary Pads Brand Analysis, 2012173.1 Sanitary Pads Brand Analysis, 2012174. Australia Sanitary Pads Distribution Channel Analysis, 2012174.1 Sanitary Pads Distribution Channel Analysis, 2012175. Appendix5.1 DisclaimerComplete Report@Contact Us:Norah TrentPartner Relations & Marketing ManagerSales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTD75 Arlington Street, Suite 500,Boston, Massaachusetts - 02116United States of AmericaPh: +1-339-368-6938info@wiseguyreports.com
Global-Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose Market and Forecast by 2021

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Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an important component of modern therapy for diabetes mellitus. SMBG has been recommended for people with diabetes and their health care professionals in order to achieve a specific level of glycemic control and to prevent hypoglycemia. Self-monitoring of blood glucose is a very lucrative business with enormous market opportunity. The primary growth factors for the SMBG market is the increasing global diabetic population; increasing awareness among the diabetes population, increasing spending on healthcare, active reimbursement policies and the technological advancement aimed at minimal and non-invasive testing methods.Request a sample copy of Report @Key HighlightsUnited States, Russia and United Kingdom are the top three leading countries in the Global SMBG market.China is at the fourth spot being closely followed by Italy with XX percent market share of the Global SMBG market.China dominates the self-monitoring of blood glucose users, with XX percent users share in 2015.Test Strips account for maximum share of the SMBG market.Blood glucose test strips market is mainly dominated by developed countries.Blood glucose meter is the second leading product segment while lancet captures the least share of the SMBG market.In 2014, Life Scan became the leading player in SMBG market.Browse Full Report with TOC@The SMBG Market covered in the report is analyzed from 4 viewpoints follows:1. Country Wise Diabetes Population and Forecast (2007 - 2021)I. Type 1 Diabetes PopulationII. Type 2 Diabetes Population2. Country Wise SMBG Users and Forecast (2007 - 2021)3. Country Wise SMBG Market and Forecast (2007 - 2021)I. Blood Glucose Test Strips MarketII. Blood Glucose Lancet MarketIII. Blood Glucose Meter Market4. Company Wise SMBG Revenue and Forecast (2007 - 2021)The 18 Countries analyzed in the reports are as follows:1. United States2. Brazil3. United Kingdom4. Germany5. Spain6. Italy7. Netherlands8. Norway9. Sweden10. Switzerland11. Russia12. India13. China14. Thailand15. Korea16. Malaysia17. Australia18. KuwaitThe 4 Companies analyzed in the reports are as follows:1. Roche Diagnostic2. LifeScan Inc3. Bayer HealthCare4. Abbott LaboratoriesCheck discount available for Report@About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customised reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialisation. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Email ID: sales@orbisresearch.com
Global Carbon Monoxide Alarms Market- Kidde, First Alert, Gentex and Code One

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

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The market research report by QY Research provides detailed study on the overall Carbon Monoxide Alarms market size, its financial positions, its unique selling points, key products, and key developments. This research report has segmented the Carbon Monoxide Alarms market based on the segments covering all the domains in terms of type, country, region, forecasting revenues, and market share, along with analysis of latest trends in every sub-segment.Click Here to Request Sample Report @The qualitative segmentation of Carbon Monoxide Alarms market covered in the report gives in-depth information of the overall market. Furthermore, the market size, share, forecast trends, analysis, sales, supply, production, demand, major manufacturers, end-users, and many other vital factors are comprised in the Market Research Carbon Monoxide Alarms report by QY Research. By these comprehensive data, it is simple to take and make precise and accurate decisions taking into consideration the present market situation and the forecasts of the global market, which in turn may result into profitable step for our clients.A competitive landscape that identifies the major competitors of the global market and their market share are further highlighted in the research report. A deliberate profiling of major competitors of the Carbon Monoxide Alarms market as well as a inclusive analysis of their current developments, core competencies, and investments in each segment are also elaborated in the research report.Browse Full Report at @The overall information of the Carbon Monoxide Alarms market provided in the report helps our client to make precise and accurate decisions in order to gain maximum profit in this cutthroat competition in the global market. The report comprises various elements such as table, figure, charts, TOCs, chapters, and so on so as to provide a crystal clear data to the client giving a brief of the market and its trends. Thus, the report provides in-depth information of the Carbon Monoxide Alarms market in terms of revenue, value, volume, region, and many more.About Us:QYResearch Group is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. QYResearch Group also carries the capability to assist you with your customized market research requirements including in-depth market surveys, primary interviews, competitive landscaping, and company profiles. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics. QYResearch Group is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651
Global Ammonia Capacity and Capital Expenditure Market is Influenced by Industry Expansion in US and Iran

Orbis Research

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Global Ammonia capacity will experience considerable growth in the next five years with increase from 228.1 MTPA in 2015 to 277.2 MTPA by 2020. Around 83 planned projects are expected to come online primarily in the US and Iran in the next five years. Dangote Group, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. and Eurochem Mineral and Chemical Co are the top three companies by capacity additions expected to come on-stream over the next five years.Browse the report:Global Ammonia industry is expected to spend around US$26.5 billion by 2020 for the upcoming projects. India, US and Iran are the top three countries by capital expenditure for projects by 2020.ScopeReport provides information and insight onHistoric and forecast global Ammonia capacity by regionAmmonia planned plants detailsGlobal Ammonia capacity by feedstockCapacity share of the major Ammonia producers in the worldGlobal Ammonia capital expenditure forecast by regionRequest a sample of the report:Reasons to buyUnderstand the key trends in the global Ammonia industryUnderstand the regional Ammonia supply scenarioIdentify opportunities in the global Ammonia industry with the help of upcoming projects and capital expenditure forecastUnderstand the current and likely future competitive scenarioBuy the report@Major points From table Of Contents:Table 1: Total Ammonia Capacity by Region (mtpa)Table 2: Ammonia Capacity Share of Top 10 Companies (%)Table 3: Ammonia Capacity of Top 10 Countries (mtpa)Table 4: Global Ammonia Capacity Share by Feedstock (%)Table 5: Total Ammonia Feedstock by Region (mtpa)Table 6: Planned Capacity Additions by Region (mtpa)Table 7: Planned Capacity Additions by Top 10 Countries (mtpa)Table 8: Planned Capacity Additions by Top 10 Companies (mtpa)Table 9: Total Capex Spending On Planned Projects by Region (US$ bil)Table 10: Total Capex Spending On Planned Projects by Top 10 Countries (US$ bil)Table 11: Global Ammonia Major Planned Plant Details - Development Stage (Study)Table 12: Global Ammonia Major Planned Plant Details - Development Stage (Announced)Table 13: Global Ammonia Major Planned Plant Details (Contd.) - Development Stage (Announced)Table 14: Global Ammonia Major Planned Plant Details - Development Stage (Engineering)Table 15: Global Ammonia Major Planned Plant Details - Development Stage (Construction)Table 16: Global Ammonia Major Planned Plant Details (Contd.) - Development Stage (Construction)Table 17: Global Ammonia Major Planned Plant Details (Contd..) - Development Stage (Construction)Table 18: Global Ammonia Major Planned Plant Details - Development Stage (Pre-Commissioning & Commissioning)About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas  75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +9164101019Email: sales@orbisresearch.com
Unique Naturally Biodegradable Food Packaging Material Launched That is fully recyclable

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Bio-on, an Italian renewable chemical developer and a pioneer in the bioplastic sector, in collaboration with University of Tampere in Finland has developed a new biodegradable material using paper and bioplastic for packaging of food. Made from a combination of paper and bioplastic, the material is a result of Minerv PHA Extrusion Coating project launched by the manufacturer at the end of last year. The innovative technology fused a biopolymer onto some paper through a special grade extrusion processExtrusion Coating (EC)while eliminating the use of film for making food packaging. The project is aimed to develop several eco-sustainable and fully biodegradable formulations that would make unique laminates by fusing paper onto them without the need of any film. To make this formulation a success, researchers at laboratories replaced the polyethylene found in current packaging with paper and biodegradable material; the mechanism resulted in the creation of highly permeable biodegradable packaging material with great functionality and high aesthetics. The researchers claims the material to be first of its kind to be created in the history of biodegradable packaging, since it is totally naturally biodegradable and can be safely recycled. As Bio-on chairman Marco Astorri puts it zealously: "Together we demonstrate that it is possible to develop new functionalities in the use of PHAs biopolymers in dozens of items."Get sample Copy of Biodegradable Packaging @The material, already tested for several applications in sectors such as automotive and biomedical, is now considered fully safe for its use in packaging of various food stuffs, including milk and fruit juice.Bio-on bioplastics are sourced from various renewable plant sources, some of which is discarded as waste, which helps to make fully naturally biodegradable packaging for various applications. The coating developed is expected to transform retain chains across food & beverage industry. Continual technological advancements and considerable investments made by key manufacturers in R&D activities would boost the market growth. As per a recent report added by Big Market Research titled Biodegradable Packaging - Global Market Outlook (2015-2022), biodegradable packaging market accounted for $4.7 billion in 2015, globally, and is estimated to register a CAGR of 17.2% from 2015 to 2020; favorable demographics and rising demand of eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging materials for various applications will foster the market growth.About UsWith the arsenal of different search reports, we help 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.Our research services ranges into different domains and penetrates in different verticals so that we can carter to diverse needs of various organization. Not wrong to quote that this is the hotspot for research needs of yours.Contact us:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesDirect: + 1-503-894-6022Toll Free: + 1-800-910-6452Fax: +1 (855) 5505975Email: help@bigmarketresearch.comWeb:Blog:
Thermal Insulation Material Market Intelligence Report Offers Growth Prospects

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Future Market Insights (FMI), in its latest report titled, Thermal Insulation Material Market - Global Industry Assessment and Forecast; 2015 - 2020, projected that the global thermal insulation material market will account for US$ 53,286.8 Mn in 2020, registering a CAGR of 4.2% between 2015 and 2020.Thermal insulation materials are used to hamper the flow of heat energy from high temperature to low temperature. Thermal insulation material is used almost in every industry in order to decrease their energy consumption, utilized to maintain desired temperature in an area. Thermal insulation materials are primarily used in construction industry. Globally buildings account for one third of the total energy consumed, of which approximately 50% is utilized in heating and cooling of the building. Construction industry mainly uses thermal insulation material to maintain ambient temperature, i.e. 1 C to 100 C.The report analyses the global thermal insulation material market in terms of value (US$ Mn) by material type, region and temperature range and provides information regarding market dynamics, value chain, competitive landscape, current trends, market estimations and forecast.Request For Report Sample:Construction sector output, manufacturing industry output, construction industry spending and urbanization trend are some of the macro-economic drivers of the market. Developed economies such as North America and Europe have formulated regulations concerning energy efficiency buildings: according to Concerted Action Energy Performance of Buildings (a joint initiative program of member states of European Union and European Commission) approximately all new buildings constructed in the member states by 2020 should comply with zero energy standards. Even emerging countries government are actively promoting the use of thermal insulation material: in 2014, Andhra Pradesh (India), adopted Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) under which commercial and public buildings in the state are expected to cut costs and slash energy usage by 40%-60% through the use of green building materials. Such regulations and initiatives are identified as underlying driving factors of the market. However there are few challenges thermal insulation industry is facing: low awareness of thermal insulation material in emerging economies and high capital cost of thermal insulation in building.From regional perspective, Asia Pacific thermal insulation material market is estimated to represent the highest growth globally in 2015. Middle East and Africa construction industry has represented substantial growth in past few years and likely to continue the trend during the forecasted period as well. New building codes implemented in MEA along with expected growing trend of construction industry is anticipated to generate demand for thermal insulation material in the region.From materials type perspective, fibreglass is extensively used in manufacturing industry closely followed by plastic foam. Fibreglass segment is estimated to register an annual growth of 4.3% in 2015.Send An Enquiry:From temperature range perspective, thermal insulation material market segment use for temperature range 1 C to 100 C is estimated to register fastest growth during the forecasted period at CAGR of 4.6%.Thermal insulation material at temperature range 160C to 50 C is majorly used in petrochemical industry for storage of cryogenic gases. Increasing demand of LNG, cryogenic gas in emerging economies such as Asia  Pacific is expected to fuel the need of thermal insulation material in the industry.Market participants covered in the report include Berkshire Hathway (Johns Manville), Rockwool International A/S, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Bayer AG, Owens Corning, BASF SE, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Dow Chemicals Company, Kingspan Group PLC and Saint Gobain S.A.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Cambodia The Cards and Payments Industry to 2021 Trends and Opportunities

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Albany, New York, January 18, 2017: Market Research Hub has recently announced the addition of a new report to it broad database titled as The Cards and Payments Industry in Cambodia: Emerging Trends and Opportunities to 2021. The study has been prepared by analyzing the global market. Timetrics 'The Report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Cambodian cards and payments industry.Request for Sample Report:It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including check payments and payment cards during the review period (20122016).The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry, and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, and transaction values and volumes during the review period and over the forecast period (20172021). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including the market shares of issuers and schemes.The report brings together Timetrics research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers details of regulatory policy and recent changes in the regulatory structure.Make an Enquiry:Scope This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Cambodian cards and payments industry. It provides current values for the Cambodian cards and payments industry for 2016, and forecast figures to 2021. It details the different demographic, economic, infrastructural and business drivers affecting the Cambodian cards and payments industry. It outlines the current regulatory framework in the industry. It details marketing strategies used by various banks and other institutions.Reasons To Buy: Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to the Cambodian cards and payments industry and each market within it. Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in the Cambodian cards and payments industry. Assess the competitive dynamics in the Cambodian cards and payments industry. Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Cambodia. Gain insights into key regulations governing the Cambodian cards and payments industry.Browse Full Info with TOC:Key Highlights:The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) launched the Fast and Secure Transfer (FAST) Payment system in July 2016. FAST Payment offers a quick, secure and efficient method of interbank transactions in local currency for commercial banks and micro deposit-taking institutions (MDIs). FAST Payment offers its services to 13 commercial banks and MDIs. Banks that have adopted this system include Acleda Bank, Cambodian Public Bank, Canadia, Advanced Bank of Asia (ABA), BIDC, Phillip and Sathapana. The NBC is developing a Shared Switch System, an integrated platform to facilitate electronic payments such as transactions at ATMs, POS terminals and online and mobile payments.Leading international schemes, including MasterCard and UnionPay International, are making their presence felt in the countrys debit card market, which was previously dominated by Visa. MasterCard is collaborating with several banks to strengthen its foothold in Cambodia; in July 2016, for instance, MasterCard established partnerships with 13 banks in Cambodia, including six foreign-owned banks and Acleda Bank, the leading debit card issuer. UnionPay International collaborated with ABA to offer the ABA UnionPay Debit Card in Cambodia, following their card issuance cooperation agreement in 2014.The emergence of mobile banking applications is likely to accelerate a shift towards alternative payments in Cambodia. In May 2016, Maybank launched a mobile banking app for customers in Cambodia, allowing them to conduct banking transactions, transfer funds and make online purchases. In the same month, ABA introduced ABA Mobile, allowing ABA customers to conduct a number of transactions using a code rather than a card, including P2P payments, cash withdrawal at ATMs, transaction and balance history checks, and utility bill payments.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:
Cognitive systems spending market will witness a massive hike in the revenues, reaching a whopping US$ 21.46 Bn by the end of 2026

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The US$ 5.49 Bn global cognitive systems spending market will witness a massive hike in the revenues, reaching a whopping US$ 21.46 Bn by the end of 2026. Over the 10-year assessment period 2016-2026, the global cognitive systems spending market will expand at a healthy CAGR of 14.6%, gaining a healthy incremental opportunity of over US$ 15 Bn. Future Market InsightsThe advent of technology has created an inevitable need for human-machine communication that increasingly compels individual users as well as enterprises to employ machine intelligence for better, facilitated, and organised work. This, being the most prominent factor driving the cognitive systems spending, Future Market Insights identifies few other key influencers associated with the growth of cognitive systems spending market assessed for the next decade.Request Free Report Sample@Cognitive technology has been undergoing constant evolution, fuelling the demand in various end-use sectors.Following developed market, developing regions are increasingly augmenting their IT spending on cognitive systems, which will be one of the predominant factors uplifting the cognitive systems spending in emerging economies.As adoption of intelligent Personal Assistants is surging, the applications of Natural Language processing technology is also likely to experience a significant rise in terms of sales revenues.In a recent market outlook titled Cognitive Systems Spending: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026, Future Market Insights throws light on all the critical factors related to current market condition and future prospects. The report offers detailed insights into all the market segments, including regional analysis.Regional analysis reflects emergence of developing marketsNorth America will continue to hold the strongest foothold in the global market with around 65% market value share in 2026. This US$ 3.5 Bn regional market is anticipated to attain a value of US$ 13.83 Bn by the end of 2026, followed by Western Europe, Latin America, and APEJ.Emerging countries are expected to witness evident growth throughout the assessed period. Latin America will demonstrate the fastest CAGR of 15%, primarily driven by the market growth in Brazil and Mexico. From around S$ 500 Mn at the beginning of the forecast, this region will reportedly reach beyond US$ 2 Bn by the end of the period. Japan and APEJ are also anticipated to expand at the respective CAGRs of 14.9% and 14.8%.Regional market driversSoaring commercialisation of predictive analytics within North America (especially the U.S.) will remain the key driver to North Americas market growth.Rapidly proliferating demand for cognitive systems in healthcare sector and substantial adoption of Natural Language processing cognitive technology are expected to be responsible for Latin Americas growth. Moreover, consistent innovation in the comprehension economy will further push the market for cognitive systems analytics in Latin America.Favourable government initiatives and increasing IT spending on cognitive systems will foster the APEJ market.Towering adoption of cognitive systems for personalized learning, coupled with growing popularity of predictive analytics will continue to accelerate the Japanese market.Segmentation analysis based on product type, technology, deployment, and applicationBy product type, services will be the largest and fastest growing segment with over US$ 12 Bn revenues estimated for 2026 end. While this segment is likely to expand at an impressive 15.1% CAGR, it will hold over 58% value share in 2026, gaining 250 BPS over the period of forecast. Software will remain the second largest segment with over US$ 5 Bn revenues in 2026, accounting for over 25% share.On the basis of technology, Natural Language processing segment is expected to continue preeminence and surpass a value of US$ 13 Bn by the end of 2026, gaining nearly 1000 BPS during the forecast period. This segment will grow at a CAGR of over 16% and capture more than 60% share of the total market revenues in 2026. Automated reasoning, followed by machine learning segment, will represent decent growth in revenues, accounting for over 20% and over 19% of the market value towards the close of 2026, respectively.Based on deployment, on-premise will remain the leading segment with over 66% market value share by the end of the assessment period, surpassing US$ 14 Bn in values. While this segment will possibly register a robust CAGR of 14.9%, public segment is also likely to witness significant expansion at a 14% CAGR over 2016-2026.By application, banking segment will attain over US$ 6 Bn revenues in 2026, contributing more than 28% share to the entire market revenues. Healthcare segment will witness the highest CAGR of 15.8%, reaching around US$ 4 Bn that will reportedly account for over 17% share in 2026 market value. Insurance will remain the third largest application segment.Companies heating up the market competitionNew product launches based on technological advancements continue to take the centre stage for key players.Competitive pricing will be the key to enhanced sales revenues and better market position over the next few years.M&A will remain one of the prominent growth strategies among leading companies.Send An Enquiry@While International Business Machines Corp (IBM) continues to rule the roost with almost 54% market revenue share, Accenture Plc., HP Inc., Microsoft, and Intel Corporation are experiencing intense competition on the global market landscape. Attivio, Wipro Limited, COGNITIVE SCALE, and IPSOFT INC. are also among the key market players partaking in the heating competition. Among these, IBM, HP, and COGNITIVE SCALE have a strong application presence in banking, healthcare, education, manufacturing, retailing, and security. Other notable players include EMC, Alteryx, SE, DtaStax, Hortonworks, Teradata, Cloudera, and Continnum Analytics.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:
Current and Projected Home Security Sensors Market size in terms of volume and value 2016-2026

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Home or residential security is among the major concerns in the present scenario. Because we cant keep vigilant watch over our assets / properties at all times, security sensors do it for us, providing 24/7 protection against anything that threatens your most important assets. The key reasons behind this is the alarming crime rates on the global basis. With regards to this, security sensors are expected to find potential opportunities in this market. The entry level of security sensors in the residential sector have been witnessing a rapid growth since the last few years.Home Security Sensor Market: Drivers and RestraintThere are several factors that can be attributed to this growth such as increase in-home burglary rates, attractive insurance policies to residents for the installation of security sensors, and growing number of smartphone and tablet users.While each of these types of sensors plays a vital role in securing our home, each fills a specific need that the others do not. In the interest of gleaning the most thorough protection of your home, it makes sense to consider incorporating a combination of the different categories of sensors, which will layer your homes safeguards and increase your overall security exponentially.Request Free Report Sample@Home Security Sensor market: SegmentationThere are a variety of security sensors in the market, but they fall into four main categories based on area of application:door and window sensorsglass break sensorsmotion sensorsboundary protection sensorsSecurity sensors by Product type are classified as:Magnetic sensorsVibration sensorsMotion sensorsPassive infrared (PIR)MicroWave (MW)Dual technologyArea reflectiveUltrasonicPhotoelectric beam sensorsHome Security Sensors: Region-wise OutlookAsia-Pacific especially China & India, Brazil in Latin America as well as Russia are anticipated to have a significant growth in global home security sensors during the forecast period due to increase in disposable income and urbanization. Europe, followed by America has the largest share of global security sensors market due to the existence of majority of suppliers.Request For TOC@Home Security Sensors: Key PlayersSome of the few key players in global home security sensors market are: Omron Corporation, Pepperl+Fuchs GmbH, Rockwell automation, Inc., Honeywell, ABB, K.A. Schmersal Gmbh & Co. KG, Baumer, ifm efector, inc., Shanghai Pubang Sensor Co., Ltd. and Hytronik Industrial Ltd.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Ambient Food Packaging Market - Key Projection on the Future of Worldwide Industry

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Ambient food packaging refers to packing a food product in pasteurised and sterilized packs to increase its shelf life. Ambient food packing has become a trend in the food packaging industry and ambient food products are preferred by majority of the consumers over others. Increasing demand for having more empty space in chill cabinets calls for the adoption of the food packaging methods that can offer a better shelf life to the product even without a refrigerator. Demand for sustainable packaging material has become a new trend in the ambient food packaging industry.Download PDF Brochure:Ambient food packaging bestows extended shelf life to the food product as compared to the usual packaging methods and, thus, enables storing the product at room temperature. Additionally, it also makes use of high barrier sheets, which assure that certain important aspects related to food storage, such as safety of food stored inside, consumer convenience, and attractive design, are taken care of. All these supporting factors have led to the increased demand for ambient food packaging among food manufacturers globally.The ambient food packaging market can be classified on the basis of types of containers used, on the basis of food, and by packaging material. On the basis of containers used, the ambient food packaging is segmented into tray, pots, lids, cups, and bowls. On the basis of food, the ambient food packaging market is segmented into ready meals, baby foods, soups and sauces, seafood, fruits and vegetables, coffee, and pet food.On the supply side, major players in the market have started offering services, such as blow moulding, injection moulding, and thermoforming, which has been leading to the additional demand for the packaging type.However, high level of processing required in case of ambient food packaging ultimately adds to the overall cost of packaging product, which poses as a potential threat for growth of the global ambient food packaging market.Main market for ambient food packaging lies in Asia Pacific, as demand for packaged food is increasing along with the growing population and rising disposable income levels of consumers in the region. The Asia Pacific market is anticipated to be followed by North America and Western Europe, as these markets account for the largest share of canned foods consumption across the globe. The Western Europe market is expected to be followed by South America, Eastern Europe, and Middle East & Africa markets. However, the global ambient food packaging market is still expected to be dominated by the emerging economies.Major players in ambient packaging market include FFP Packaging Solutions Ltd. (U.K), RPC Group (U.K), Amcor Limited (Australia), SIG Combiblog Obeikan (Switzerland), Tetra Pak (India) , Rexam (U.K), Bemis (U.S.), Mondi (South Africa), Ampac (U.S), Dupont (U.S.), Excelsior Technologies (India), KM Packaging (UK), and Marsden (US). These companies are continuously focused on inventing new packaging materials that can help prevent contamination of food products and extend their shelf life.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:
Social Media Engagement Applications Market Volume Forecast and Value Chain Analysis 2016-2026

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Social Media Engagement Applications allows different kinds of users to exchange data which can be in the form of text, image, video, audio etc. via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn etc. Because of variety of features and advantages offered by these media services, their user base have grown exponentially and is still growing.A lot of established companies have their business model based on social media applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn etc., while there are other companies who are attracting huge traffic from these social media applications which ultimately reflects as sales conversion.With the advent of smartphone and its increasing penetration among the users, mobile applications now contributes major chunk of the revenue for social media companies. Even government organizations are actively participating in social media platforms either to advertise about their works, or to provide information about a particular topic to users or for opinion polls. Increasing penetration among social media users have enabled many advertisement agencies, PR firms, mobile apps and service provider companies whose business model is based on social media engagement applications and this trend is expected to continue.Request Free Report Sample@Social Media Engagement Applications Market SegmentationOn the basis of platforms:Social Networks-applications which allow users to connect with each other via a profile or group of profiles. Most common social networking sites are Facebook, LinkedIn etc.Media Sharing- media sharing platforms allows users to upload and exchange different sorts of media such as video, pictures etc. YouTube, Instagram are the most common platforms for media sharing.Microblogging microblogging platforms allows users to exchange content in the form of comments, images, video links etc. Twitter is a famous microblogging platform.Blog Forums  blog forums allows users to exchange ideas with each other in the form of blogs and posts. Wordpress is one such famous blogging platform and there are several others.Social New - websites and their mobile apps publishing news articles or information comes under this category. Some of the famous social news platform are Digg, Reddit, etc.Others - lots of other social media platforms have come in the market such as location based services, social bookmarking, aggregators, collaboration tools, broadcasting tools etc.There are other sub segments of social media engagement applications market. Some of them are:Sub segment on the basis of device usage:Desktop - users accessing social media applications from desktopsSmartphone Web  smartphoneusers accessing social media from websites but not mobile applicationsSmartphone App - smartphoneusers accessing social media from mobile applications but not websiteTablet Web - tabletusers accessing social media from websites but not mobile applicationsTablet App - tabletusers accessing social media from mobile applications but not websitesSub segment on the basis of users:Individual  individual users using social media for personal usageCorporates - corporate entities using social media for advertisement, ad sales or other purposesGovernment Agencies - government agencies using social media platforms for advertisement or to provide public domain informationOther - lots of other users such as NGOs, communities, organizations etc.Sub segment on the basis of demography:Gender - usage of social media applications is relatively high in males than femalesAge  according to age, social media users can be segmented into age brackets such as < 15, 15-30, 30-50, 50 >Profession  by profession market can be segmented into professional and personal usersOthersSegmentation of social media engagement applications market on the basis of geography: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)JapanMiddle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, N. Africa)Request For TOC@Regional OverviewRegional usage of social media platform depends highly on regions population and accessibility of the internet and smartphone devices, which is why largest percentage of users are located in APAC regions followed by European, American and other regions. With increasing accessibility of the technology and supporting devices to poorer nations, distribution of usage of social media platforms will solely rely upon population of regions.Increasing internet usage, smartphone penetration will be the major drivers for global social media engagement application market. Other drivers which will contribute in market growth are increasing awareness among non-users, decreasing cost of broadband and data tariffs, increasing benefits offered through applications etc.Difficult to use GUIs, social and economic factors, accessibility issues will restrain the growth of social media engagement application market. Government regulation also restrict social media usage for example China has blocked social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc. and thus deprive a huge chunk of worlds population away from the benefits of social media.Major social media engagements applications are Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram etc. Business model may differ from company to company but the underlying structure of these companies is based upon usage of social media engagement applications traffic.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Tube Packaging Market is Expected to Exhibit High CAGR During the Forecast Period 2016-2024

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A tube is a hollow and cylindrical container, made up of plastic, aluminum or paperboard and is primarily used for containing viscous liquids such as ointment, toothpaste and adhesive among others. During manufacturing and filling processes, both ends of the tube are treated in a different way. There is an oval orifice on one end of the tube body, which can be closed by caps and closures. The other end is folded or sealed after addition of contents. Tube packaging containers are extruded and customized with printing, labeling, punching, slicing, crimping and other fabrications in order to create a functional and unique package.Get Sample Report Copy:Some of the key driving factors for tube packaging market are significant growth in packaging industries coupled with innovative packaging and excellent barrier properties and trending mindset of end-users towards sustainable packaging among others. Moreover, this packaging technique has a wide range of application areas in different segments of industry which increases scope of its applications. In addition, there are other geographical drivers which are also responsible for the growth of the market. However, due to presence of large number of manufacturers, the global tube packaging market is witnessing intense competition. Hence, in order to ensure proper growth in the market, major players are likely to adopt certain key strategies in the future, such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and expansions among others. Global economic meltdown and packaging raw material price volatility are two major restraints for tube packaging industry.Global tube packaging market can be broadly classified into different segments based upon materials, applications, product and geography. By material type, this market is segmented into laminated tubes, aluminium tubes, plastic tubes and others. Laminated tubes have excellent barrier property and thus will drive the global tube packaging market even further in the future. There are different application areas of tube packaging, such as cosmetics and oral care, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. The cosmetics and oral care segment is anticipated to witness huge growth in the future due to improved lifestyle globally, followed by pharmaceutical segment. In terms of product types, the market for global tube packaging is further classified into squeeze tubes, twist tubes and others. Increasing demand for convenient packaging is likely to drive the market for squeeze tubes.The global tube packaging market is significantly large in Europe and North America, majorly due to increasing per capita income and consumer spending. Currently, Europe is dominating the market in terms of revenue. Moreover, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing segment. The key factors attributed to the demand for sustainable and innovative packaging in emerging economies, such as China and India among others. Moreover, there has been remarkable transition of end-userss preference from traditional packaging to innovative packaging in parts of Middle East and Africa, which is eventually helping the market to develop even further in the future.Some of the prominent players in the market for global tube packaging are Sonoco Products Company (U.S.), Essel Propack (India), Visipak (U.S.), Huhtamaki OYJ (Finland), Amcor Limited (Australia), Albea Group(France), Montebello Packaging (Canada), Unette Corporation (U.S.) and Worldwide Packaging (U.S.) among others.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:
Earthmoving Equipment Market Aims Bigger with Technological Innovations, 2021

Earthmoving Equipment Market, Earthmoving Equipment, Earthmoving Equipments Market, Earthmoving Equipments

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On the bases of operation performed by the machine the global earthmoving equipments market can be bifurcated into excavators (compact excavator, dredging, dragline excavator, front shovel and others), loaders (skip loader and wheel loader), construction tractors and others (grader, scraper, track loader, material handler and others). Earthmoving equipments are majorly applied in the construction industry (private or government). Other major application of earthmoving equipments includes mining, digging and other heavy duty work. Construction industry is expected to maintain its dominance in the global earthmoving equipment market.TOC of this report is available upon request @Earthmoving equipment is referred to heavy equipment (heavy-duty vehicles designed specially for executing construction operation, mostly which involves earthwork operation). These heavy equipments are used in the construction industry to move large amounts of earth or to dig foundations and landscape areas. Earthmoving equipments are known with different name in different region such as heavy trucks, heavy machines, construction equipment, engineering equipment, heavy vehicles and heavy hydraulics. Earthmoving equipment operates through the mechanical advantage of a simple machine where the ratio between input force applied and force exerted is multiplied. Most earthmoving equipment uses hydraulic drives as a primary source of motion. Technically skilled worker are able to operate heavy equipment, these individuals are provided with special training before they operate any heavy equipments.Asia-Pacific has the largest market share for earthmoving equipment accounting for more than two fifth of the global earthmoving equipments market, followed by Europe and North America. China leads the global earthmoving equipments market. Asia-Pacific region is expected to maintain its dominance in the forecasted period. Europe and North America region are expected to witness average growth in the coming future. Global recession hampered the construction industries particularly in the western countries. But the industry is expected to show growth in the coming future helping the global earthmoving equipments market.Growth in the construction industry after the global recession is driving the global earthmoving equipments market. Additionally, increasing urban population demands for better dueling facilities proving growth opportunity for the construction industry, which in turn increases the demand for heavy machines including earthmoving equipments especially in the developing countries such as India and China. According to the 2009 revision of World Urbanization Prospect, the level of urbanization in the world crossed the 50% mark in 2009. According to the United Nations, urban population is expected to increase from 3.4 billion in 2009 to 6.3 billion in 2050. Also, governments and private sectors across the globe are investing in better infrastructure facilities. Construction of roads, residential buildings, healthcare centers and educational institutes is expected to increase the demand for earthmoving equipments to some extent. For infrastructure development, the U.K governments public sector investment is expected to rise by USD 4.9 billion to about USD 77.7 billion in 2013-14 over 2012-13. It is further expected to increase to about USD 83.0 billion in 2014-15.Sample of this report is available upon request @Increasing investment for improvement of infrastructure facilities in the countries governments and private sector are investing heavily in the construction industries, providing growth opportunity for the manufacturers to invest more in the global earthmoving equipment market. Some of the major players operating in the global earthmoving equipments market are Atlas Copco, Bobcat Company, Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Ingersoll Rand, CASE, New Holland and Track Marshall.Key geographies evaluated in this report are: North Americao U.So Canada Europeo France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UKo Eastern Europeo CIS APACo Chinao Indiao Japano Australiao Others Latin Americao Argentinao Brazilo OthersKey features of this report Drivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the Earthmoving Equipment market dynamics Latest innovations and key events in the industry Analysis of business strategies of the top players Earthmoving Equipment market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Container Shipping Market Adopts Innovation to Stay Competitive, 2021

Container Shipping Market, Container Shipping, Container Shippings Market, Container Shippings

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Containers are used to transport objects from one place to another. Unlike conventional shipping, container shipping uses containers of various standard sizes20 foot (6.09 m), 40 foot (12.18 m), 45 foot (13.7 m), 48 foot (14.6 m), and 53 foot (16.15 m)to load, transport, and unload goods or objects. As a result, containers can be moved by trains, ships and trucks. Most commonly and important container sizes are 20-foot and 40-foot lengths. The 20-foot container is generally referred to as a Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) and the 40-foot container is known as the Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (FEU).TOC of this report is available upon request @Containers are generally made up of aluminum and steel . The size and type built of each container comply with specifications and regulations formulated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).Shipping containers are of various types . The most important type of container is dry cargo . Dry cargo containers are often referred to as special containers. These special containers include open side, open end, open top, half-height, flat rack, refrigerated, liquid bulk, and modular. These containers are built as a same exterior lengths and widths as the standard dry cargo containers.In addition, open top containers are used for easy loading of cargo such as odd-sized goods and machineries. Flat racks are used for vehicles, boats, machineries and industrial equipment . Open side containers are used for transporting vegetables such as onions and potatoes. Tank containers are used to transport liquids such as chemicals, wine, and vegetable oils.Each container has its own unique unit number , often known as box number. Box numbers are used by crew members, ship captains, coastguards, customs officers, dock supervisors, and warehouse managers to identify the owner of a container and who is using it to ship goods, and to track the container's location across the world.The container sizes need to be standardized so that they can be stacked most efficiently. It transport one on top of the other in trains, ships, trucks and cranes at the ports can be specially fitted or built to a single size specification. Container size standardization is carried out by the ISO whose primary work is to set standard sizes for all containers .The most important step in container shipping is proper loading of containers in trucks, ships, and trains. Several government associations such as the World Shipping Council (WSC), together with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), published the Transport of Containers by Sea - Industry Guidance for Shippers and Container Stuffers. It provides specific guidelines to shipping companies to transport containers in a safe and efficient way.In terms of geography, North America dominates the global container shipping market . This is due to improved transportation services in this region. The U.S. represents the largest market for container shipping followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, Germany, the U.K., Spain, Italy, and France hold the major share of the container shipping market. Asia is expected to witness high growth rates in the next five years, as many companies are constructing manufacturing facilities in this region. The rising number of manufacturing units would result in significant rise in demand for containers. Improving transportation services are boosting growth of the container shipping market in this region. Japan, China, and India are expected to be the fastest-growing container shipping markets in Asia.Increasing demand for transportation services is a key driver of the global container shipping market. Rising number of factories and manufacturing units has fueled growth of the global container shipping market. In addition, several government associations are also boosting growth of the global container shipping market by providing specific guidelines to shipping companies.However, high shipping freight rates obstruct growth of the global container shipping market.Sample of this report is available upon request @Some of the major companies operating in the global container shipping market are China Shipping Container Lines, HANJIN, China Ocean Shipping Company, HAPAG-LLOYD, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and MAERSK.Key geographies evaluated in this report are: North Americao U.So Canada Europeo France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UKo Eastern Europeo CIS APACo Chinao Indiao Japano Australiao Others Latin Americao Argentinao Brazilo OthersKey features of this report Drivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the Container Shipping market dynamics Latest innovations and key events in the industry Analysis of business strategies of the top players Container Shipping market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Orbital Stretch Wrapper Market 2017 : LANTECH, Phoenix, Wulftec, Siat, Octopus, Arpac Group, Orion Packaging

Orbital Stretch Wrapper

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A market study based on the "Orbital Stretch Wrapper Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Orbital Stretch Wrapper Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Orbital Stretch Wrapper industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Orbital Stretch Wrapper market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research ReportLANTECHPhoenixWulftecSiatOctopusRocket IndustrialMJ Maillis GroupArpac GroupOrion PackagingJMP EngineeringThe report studies the industry for Orbital Stretch Wrapper across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Orbital Stretch Wrapper market & dynamics of demand and supply of Orbital Stretch Wrapper into consideration. The 'Orbital Stretch Wrapper' research study covers each and every aspect of the Orbital Stretch Wrapper market globally, which starts from the definition of the Orbital Stretch Wrapper industry and develops towards Orbital Stretch Wrapper market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Orbital Stretch Wrapper market is classified and analysed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Orbital Stretch Wrapper market. The geographical segmentation of the Orbital Stretch Wrapper industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Orbital Stretch Wrapper is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Orbital Stretch Wrapper market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Orbital Stretch Wrapper market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global Orbital Stretch Wrapper market 2017 is also analysed on the basis of product pricing, Orbital Stretch Wrapper production volume, data regarding demand and Orbital Stretch Wrapper supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Orbital Stretch Wrapper across the globe.About Us :Worldwide Business are a trusted brand in the research industry with capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Worldwide Business, we believe in building long term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive and Aerospace.Contact Us :Worldwide BusinessUnited States
Transformer Monitoring System Market Segments, Opportunity, Growth and Forecast By End-use Industry 2016-2026

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A transformer is an electrical equipment that helps in varying the voltage of the electric current. This stepping up and stepping down of the voltage is especially important when a safe amount of electric current is required to be supplied to the end users. In order to ensure continuous and safe transmission of electricity from the power generation plant to the end users, the transformers utilized for this purpose have to be monitored continuously in real time. This is achieved by installing a transformer monitoring system within a transformer housing. Requirement of a transformer monitoring system is especially important when faults and anomalies within the grid or circuit have to be detected before the complete breakdown of the transformer occurs. These transformer monitoring systems are especially prevalent in areas where the supply of electric power is erratic and power outages are common, thereby signifying a healthy demand for the system in the third world countries.Transformer Monitoring System Market:DynamicsThe growth of transformer monitoring system market depends on the growth of power grid network in any location. Growing energy demands have led to an increase in generation of electrical energy both from renewable and non-renewable sources. This has led to more installation of power transformers, thereby leading to a healthy growth of the transformer monitoring systems market. Ever increasing population and rise in living standards around the world have prompted the power transmission and distribution companies to extend the network grid in order to fulfil the needs of the consumers and reach every potential customers leading to further increase in installations of distributor transformers.Transformer monitoring systems are cost intensive investments that require knowledgeable and qualified personnel to fully understand and operate the system which can come across as a restraint to the growth of the market. Another restraint that can hamper the growth of the transformer monitoring system is the periodical maintenance it require to ensure smooth functioning and accurate detection of problems. In order to ensure proper functioning of the equipment, it has to precisely match the specifications of the transformer it monitors, which can also come across as a low impact restraint to the growth of transformer monitoring system.Request Free Report Sample@Transformer Monitoring System Market:SegmentationOn the basis of application,transformer monitoring system market can be segmented as:Power Generation TransformerTransmission & Distributor TransformerOthers (Electric Railway Transformer)On the basis of monitoring service, transformer monitoring system market can be segmented as:Oil and Gas LevelsCurrent fluctuationsTemperatureOthersTransformer Monitoring System Market:Regional OutlookThe Global Transformer Monitoring System Market can be divided into seven geographical regions such as Asia Pacific excluding Japan, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East & Africa. The market of transformer monitoring system in the developed regions such as North America, Western Europe and Japan may expect a slow growth owing to the maturity attained in the power demands and power grid network. China and India in the Asia Pacific region have registered higher demands in energy requirement making it an attractive prospect for the growth of the market. In addition to higher power demands, the urbanization of remote areas coupled with growth in population is another factor which can be attributed to the growth of the transformer monitoring system market. Electrification of railway lines in India is moving at a very fast pace with plans made to convert the entire railway network to run on electricity within three years, is also an attractive prospect to the growth of the market owing to more number of transformers to be laid down.Request For TOC@Transformer Monitoring System Market:ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants identified in the Transformer Monitoring System Market are;Siemens AGGeneral Electric CompanyVitzro C&CWilson Transformer CompanyHZ Electric Inc.Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbHWicor Holding AGQualitrol Company LLCABB GroupCamlin Power Ltd.MTE Meter Test Equipment AGCETT Co., Ltd.ZTZ Services InternationalFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Market Growth and Forecast 2016-2026

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Continuous Renal Replacement therapy (CRRT) is a process of extracorporeal blood purification which is intended to substitute for impaired renal function for extended period of time. Continuous Renal Replacement therapy intends at application over 24 hours a day. It is a mode of renal replacement therapy for hemodynamically unstable, fluid over loaded and catabolic septic patients. The major application of CRRT is management of acute renal failure especially in critical care and intensive care units. The acceptance of CRRT with the renal failure patients at the critical stage is increasing due to the high survival rate.Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe global continuous renal replacement therapy market is driven by the factors such as rising prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), awareness about the blood purification technique increasing the adoption rate of continuous renal replacement therapy. In addition, the increased prevalence of sepsis, rapid rise in aging population are the major factor driving the CRRT market. Clinical advantages over CRRT is resulting in the growth of CRRT market. However the need of trained ICU nurses, complexity of the therapy, elevated cost of therapy are the major restraining factors of continuous renal replacement therapy market.Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Market: SegmentationContinuous renal replacement therapy market is classified on the basis of product, modalities and geography.Request Free Report Sample@Based on product, the global continuous renal replacement therapy market is segmented into the following:CRRT systemsCRRT disposablesDialysateReplacement fluidsBased on modalities, the global continuous renal replacement therapy market is segmented into the following:Slow continuous ultrafiltration (SCUF)Continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD)Continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH)Continuous venovenous hemodiafilteration (CVVHDF)Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Market: OverviewContinuous renal replacement therapy market is estimated to be growing faster due to the ongoing researches to satisfy safety and efficacy profiles of CRRT. The broadening applications of CRRT and development of CRRT system for pediatric patients are creating opportunities for the continuous renal replacement therapy market. The continuous renal replacement therapy is broadly used for hemodynamically unstable AKI patients. However, it is widely adopted due to high survival rate of patients. The CRRT market provides flexibility to the users owing to the range of alternatives in modalities. The continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) is expected to grow faster due to the high filtrate flow which will enhance the performance in terms of removing the solute. The continuous venovenous hemodialysis is estimated to grow owing to its ability of clearance of medium sized solutes.Request For TOC@Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Market: Region-wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, the global Continuous Renal Replacement therapy market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Europe is estimated to be the largest market due to increased prevalence of AKI in the region followed by rise in aging population. Additionally, approval of CRRT machine and anti-coagulants for multiple application in Europe indicates the growth of CRRT market in the region. The emerging markets such as India and China are creating demand for CRRT due to the factors such as developing healthcare infrastructure, increasing aging population and rising indications of acute kidney injury (AKI).Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the continuous renal replacement therapy market are B. Braun Medical Inc., Baxter, Medical Components, Inc., Nikkiso Co., Ltd, Fresenius Medical Care, INFOMED SA, Medica S.p.A., Toray medical Co., Ltd , asahi kasei medical Co.,Ltd , NxStage Medical, Inc. The companies are focusing on launches, acquisition, and geographic expansion.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Tyre Inner Tubes Market Explores New Growth Opportunities by 2021

Tyre Inner Tubes Market, Tyre Inner Tubes, Tyre Inner Tube Market, Tyre Inner Tube, Inner Tube, Inner Tubes

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The global inner tube industry is dependent on raw materials such as rubber suppliers as well as the buyers which mainly include automotive manufacturers. More than half of the global rubber production goes into the manufacturing of automotive tyres. In addition, the inner tube and tyre industry serve as the largest application segment in the overall rubber industry. The Rubbers Manufacturers Association (RMA) represent the rubber industry where members of the association contribute to more than half of revenues generated in the rubber industry. The industry for inner tubes has always been dependent on the automotive industry. The degree of competition between the tyre inner tube manufacturers has been strong, specifically for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) among the tyre manufacturers. Due to the fact that automobile end users are more inclined towards purchasing replaced tyres of the same product which is originally sold on the car, tyre and inner tube manufacturers have to reluctantly reduce the prices and have to make the automobile manufacturers select their product, which leads to high bargaining power of buyers.TOC of this report is available upon request @Tyre inner tubes are the internal components of the primary tyre which are designed to sustain air pressure. Majority of the tyres which are used in motorcycles, bicycle, large vehicles such as tractors, heavy trucks, cars, and buses are designed for their application with inner tubes. These are made from impermeable materials such as synthetic, elastic, soft rubber for the purpose of avoiding air leakge and are torus shaped in nature. In addition, inner tubes which are larger in size possess the ability to be re used for other applications such as rafting and swimming. These tubes are large inflatable toruses which are manufactured for these applications while also offering a choice of decks, handles, fabric covering, colors and other various accessories, eliminating the protruding valve stem. Manufacturers such as Schrader International develop inner tubes for two wheeler vehicles which provide high performance to motorcycle tube tyres. The company provides valve vulcanization for inner tubes ensuring high quality rubber adhesion and leaks. Schrader International also provides inner tubes for other vehicles such as agricultural and industrial machinery, buses, trucks and cars.Besides automotives, tyre inner tubes are used largely in the aerospace industry. Large scale corporations such as Goodyear, Bridgestone Corporation, and Dunlop are significantly involved in the manufacturing of aircraft tyres that are eco-friendly, more intelligent, economical, safer and less noisy. They are consumed in significant quantities for various civil and military applications, where military operation hold huge demand on aircraft tyres where loads can be highly substantial with speed going more than 225 miles per hour. Companies such as Dunlop have been involved in the industry as a key player which manufactures tyres used in military aircrafts from the well known Vulcan and Spitfire to the modern F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Heavy military aircraft such as C-130, the Tornado and the Hawk, and the latest A400M. The company serves various segments of the military aviation industry such as marine corps, naval forces and air forces across the world with tyres designed to give maximum operation characteristics in the fluctuating environmental conditions as well.Sample of this report is available upon request @Bridgestone Corporation, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin, and Schrader International are some of the key players involved in the tyre inner tube industry.Key geographies evaluated in this report are: North Americao U.So Canada Europeo France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UKo Eastern Europeo CIS APACo Chinao Indiao Japano Australiao Others Latin Americao Argentinao Brazilo OthersKey features of this report Drivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the Tyre Inner Tubes market dynamics Latest innovations and key events in the industry Analysis of business strategies of the top players Tyre Inner Tubes market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Emerging Trends of Automotive Engine Degreasers Market, 2021

Engine Degreasers Market, Engine Degreasers, Automotive Engine Degreasers Market, Automotive Engine Degreasers, Engine Degreaser

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Automotive engine degreasers are used to remove grime and grease from engines. It is a blend of surfactants, emulsifiers and solvents. Choice of degreasers depends on the engine type to be cleaned and motor placement in the vehicle. Degreasers create a foamy effect on the motor, which can be easily washed with water. This process helps to remove oil and dirt from the engine parts. Automotive engine degreasers can be divided into foam or aerosol forms. The oil and dirt is removed by chemical reactions on the surface.TOC of this report is available upon request @The market for automotive engine degreasers was mainly driven by huge demand for cleaning agents for engines from automotive market. Automotive engine degreasers are used in various vehicles which include passenger and commercial vehicles. There are different types of engines in the market such as V-type engine, diesel engine, straight or inline engines and boxer or falt engines among others. The growing market for biodegradable and bio-based degreasers is likely to be major opportunity for the automotive engine degreasers market. However, health issues and regulations can be major restraint for the automotive engine degreasers market.In terms of demand, North America was the leading region in automotive degreasers market. The demand is high due to the huge demand for engine cleaning chemicals, especially from Canada and the U.S. North America was followed by Europe. The market for automotives is huge in European countries and has substantial demand for automotive engine degreasers. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be emerging market for automotive engine degreasers market and is likely to show greater demand in upcoming years owing to huge automotive market in India, Japan and China. The Rest of the World market, especially the Middle East region is likely to potential market for automotive engine degreasers in next few years.Sample of this report is available upon request @Some of the key manufacturers in the automotive engine degreasers market are 3M Company, ABRO Industries Inc., A.I.M. Chemicals Inc., BG Products Inc., BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company and Radiator Specialty Company among others.Key geographies evaluated in this report are: North Americao U.So Canada Europeo France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UKo Eastern Europeo CIS APACo Chinao Indiao Japano Australiao Others Latin Americao Argentinao Brazilo OthersKey features of this report Drivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the Automotive Engine Degreasers market dynamics Latest innovations and key events in the industry Analysis of business strategies of the top players Automotive Engine Degreasers market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Antifoaming Agent Industry 2016 Market Suppliers Analysis, Growth, Shares and Price Analysis

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Global Antifoaming Agent Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020.This report on the global Antifoaming Agent market presents an outline of the market from the perspective of key segments, forces defining markets overall development, and scope of growth on global and regional levels in the next few years. The report is a rich data repository including vast qualitative and quantitative insights into the regulatory and competitive landscapes of the global Antifoaming Agent market and key factors influencing the overall development of the market.The report presents a thorough backdrop analysis of the market, covering essential aspects such industry definitions, product specifications, and supply and demand chain, thus presenting a thorough assessment of the market. The report includes a detailed overview of the key forces shaping present state of the competitive landscape of the market with the help of a Porters fiver forces analysis. As such, the report examines the bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitutes, threat of new entrants, and level of competition.To Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @The report also outlines the regulatory landscape of the market, which plays a central role in deciding aspects such as the variety and kind of products that are approved for marketing, the manufacturing and production practices that are followed, and the decisions taken in regards to procurement of raw materials.The report also presents a detailed overview of the competitive landscape of the global Antifoaming Agent market, wherein detailed business profiles of some of the key vendors operating in the market, recent technological developments, and activities such as mergers and acquisitions that some of the markets notable players were involved in recent times. A detailed overview of the competitive strategies adopted by these players to gain a stronger foothold in the market is also included in the report.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Antifoaming Agent Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Antifoaming Agent1.2 Classification of Antifoaming Agent1.3 Applications of Antifoaming Agent1.4 Antifoaming Agent Market by Regions1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2020)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2011-2020)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2020)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2020)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2020)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2020)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Antifoaming Agent (2011-2020)1.5.1 Global Antifoaming Agent Sales, Revenue and Price (2011-2020)1.5.2 Global Antifoaming Agent Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2020)1.5.3 Global Antifoaming Agent Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2020)2 Global Antifoaming Agent Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Antifoaming Agent Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.1.2 Global Antifoaming Agent Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Antifoaming Agent (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2020)2.2.2 Global Antifoaming Agent Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2020)2.3 Global Antifoaming Agent (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Regions (2011-2020)2.3.2 Global Antifoaming Agent Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2011-2020)2.4 Global Antifoaming Agent (Volume) by Application3 North America Antifoaming Agent (Volume, Value and Sales Price3.1 North America Antifoaming Agent Sales and Value (2011-2020)3.1.1 North America Antifoaming Agent Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2020)3.1.2 North America Antifoaming Agent Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2020)3.1.3 North America Antifoaming Agent Sales Price Trend (2011-2020)3.2 North America Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 North America Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 North America Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Applications4 China Antifoaming Agent (Volume, Value and Sales Price4.1 China Antifoaming Agent Sales and Value (2011-2020)4.1.1 China Antifoaming Agent Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2020)4.1.2 China Antifoaming Agent Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2020)4.1.3 China Antifoaming Agent Sales Price Trend (2011-2020)4.2 China Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Applications5 Europe Antifoaming Agent (Volume, Value and Sales Price5.1 Europe Antifoaming Agent Sales and Value (2011-2020)5.1.1 Europe Antifoaming Agent Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2020)5.1.2 Europe Antifoaming Agent Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2020)5.1.3 Europe Antifoaming Agent Sales Price Trend (2011-2020)5.2 Europe Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Antifoaming Agent Sales and Market Share by ApplicationsFor Market Research Latest Reports Visit @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Heat Recovery Steam Generators Market Global Industry Analysis Forecast - 2024

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The global demand for heat recovery steam generators, the machines that act as a thermodynamic link between steam and gas turbines in combined-cycle power plants, has witnessed an encouraging rise in the past few years. An increasing inclination of policy makers and governments towards cleaner and optimal energy options for the generation of electricity for a continuously rising world population has led to an increased number of combined-cycle power plants globally. These considerably cleaner and more energy efficient power plants as compared to conventional power plants are the key employers of heat recovery steam generators. The rising numbers of these power plants translate into an increased demand for heat recovery steam generators.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights :This report on the global heat recovery steam generators market presents a complete analysis of the present state of the market and verifiable predictions about the way the markets growth dynamic is expected to evolve over the reports forecast period. The report also includes a thorough overview of factors such as growth drivers, trends, restraints, and regulations, expected to have a notable influence on the overall development of the market in the next few years. The report also includes an analysis of the recent developments observed in the market in terms of technology and product varieties, Porters fiver forces analysis of the competitive landscape, and detailed business profiles of some of the key vendors in the market.Heat Recovery Steam Generators Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe vast rise in demand for improved energy efficiency of power plants and the power generation process and the availability of encouraging government incentives and rebates for enhancing the energy efficiency of the same are the key factors fueling the growth of the global heat recovery steam generators market. An increasing inclination towards the use of clean power generation technologies, the thriving industrial sector, especially across developing economies such as India and China, is also driving the increased demand for heat recovery steam generators globally.However, the after-effects of recent economic slowdowns in established markets such as Europe and certain parts of North America have adversely affected the prices of natural gas, which has dampened the spirits of power generation companies wanting to foray into the field of mixed-cycle power plants to a certain extent. However, the issue is expected to have only a moderate impact on the overall growth prospects of the market in the near future. Another key challenge faced by companies in the global heat recovery steam generators market is the lack of product differentiation, which has led to intense competition in terms of product costs.Heat Recovery Steam Generators Market: Geographical and Competitive LandscapeThe report analyzes the market for heat recovery steam generators across regions such as North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. The report states that Middle East could be an opportunity area for the manufacturers of heat recovery steam generators as the region is rich in oil reserves and natural gas. Power generation through natural gas is a key component of the regions overall energy mix. As such, the demand for heat recovery steam generators is also high in the region. Regulatory policies encouraging the development of the natural gas sector and heavy investment plans are anticipated to drive the market in the region in the next few years. Iran and Saudi Arabia are expected to contribute the most to the growth of the market in the region over the next few years.Complete Report with TOC :Some of the key companies operating in the global heat recovery steam generators are Sofinter S.p.a, ALSTOM, Technology Transfer Services, Foster Wheeler AG, CMI Groupe, Hitachi, Ltd, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and Thermax Ltd.ContactTransparency Market ResearchTel: +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. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207
Trends in the Ammonium Phosphates Market 2016-2026

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Ammonium phosphates are salts of ammonium and phosphoric acid. They are produced as ortho- (solid) forms and/or polyphosphate (fluid) forms by a reaction between ammonia and phosphoric acid. The solid form is the dominant type. Ammonium phosphates are highly unstable and are usually produced in long chain molecules to increase stability. Ammonium phosphates find application in fertilizers, flame retardants, food additives and emulsifiers. Ammonium phosphates are commercially available as mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and ammonium polyphosphate. Mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) are the commonly used types.Ammonium phosphates are primarily used for fertilizer applications and account for more than three quarters of the market volume. They are extensively used as a source for nitrogen as well as phosphorus. Both these nutrients are essential for proper growth of the crops. Ammonium phosphates deliver nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient to the soil in an absorbable form for the plant roots. The increasing demand for better yield from the limited amount of arable land area to provide food for the rapidly growing world population is expected to drive the ammonium phosphates market. However, harmful effects of over fertilization on the environment as well as the health of flora and fauna are expected to hamper the market growth. Development of formulations for efficient techniques such as fertigation and drip irrigation that utilize minimal quantities of inorganic fertilizers are expected to act as prospective market opportunities for further growth.Request Free Report Sample@Ammonium Phosphates Market: Drivers and RestraintsVarious industrial application of ammonium phosphates including fire control and flame-retardant applications are increasing globally at significant growth rate. However, there is a constant debate over the harmful effects of over fertilization with inorganic fertilizers. The excessive fertilization due to pressure on farmers to enhance yield from the limited amount of land is affecting the farm soil adversely. It is causing ground water poisoning and ocean dead zones. The Gulf of Mexico ocean dead zone is a prominent example of the adverse effects of leaching of fertilizers into water bodies. Furthermore, over fertilization leaves the soil unsuitable for farming and devoid of other micronutrients. It becomes toxic for the other organisms that contribute in minute ways to add nutrition to the soil.Ammonium Phosphates Market: SegmentationThe market for ammonium phosphates can be segmented on the basis of product types into three key segments as, mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and ammonium polyphosphate. Mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) are completely used in fertilizers. Ammonium polyphosphate while being utilized mostly by fertilizer industry also goes into flame retardant formulations and food additives.Request For TOC@Ammonium Phosphates Market: Region-wise OutlookIn terms of geography, Asia Pacific is the largest consumer as well as producer of ammonium phosphate. Major agricultural economies including China, India, Pakistan and other South East Asian countries are the major consumers of fertilizers including ammonium phosphates. In North America, the U.S. is the major market. Corn and Soybean are the major crops that use inorganic fertilizers in the region. Mexico is another major market for ammonium phosphate fertilizers. Latin America is an extensive consumer of inorganic fertilizers for its large corn crops where Brazil is the largest consumer in the region followed by Argentina. While Middle East & Africa and Europe is expected to register steady growth.Ammonium Phosphates Market: Key PlayersOn global level the market is dominated by few players due to consolidation and acquisitions over the long life cycle of the fertilizer market. However, owing to the huge potential of the market it is partly fragmented with large number of local small and medium sized players who offer low cost generic formulations to the farmers. Key players in ammonium phosphates market include PotashCorp, Yara International, Mosaic Co., ICL, Haifa Chemical and Coromandel among many others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Printed Electronics Market Analysis and Value Forecast Snapshot by End-use Industry 2016-2026

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Printed electronics is a method of printing to create electrical circuits. In printed electronics method, the conductive polymers and inks are printed onto the fabrics or foils. The printed electronics is comparatively a cost effective process when compared to the traditional methods of creating transistors, capacitors and coils. It has a wide range of applications in several industries, which includes consumer goods, electronics, media and healthcare among others. Printed electronics being the latest technology, the adoption of the technology among the above-mentioned industries are high owing to its potential benefits such as flexibility, thickness and cost among others. The printed electronics market will provide lucrative opportunities for development of new products. The global market for printed electronics will register a double digit CAGR over the forecast period.Global printed Electronics Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe global printed electronics market is primarily driven by the demand for printed electronics in from the electronics industry for various electronic products such as mobile phones, LEDs among others. The need for energy efficient products with high performance and cost effective manufacturing is fostering the growth for global printed electronics market. The polymers used for printing being organic it has minimal effect on the environment and use of OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) in the automotive industry, which is also contributing to the growth of printed electronics market globally. However, some of the challenges associated with the printed electronics manufacturing such as the substrate thickness, uniformity and other materials related challenges such as the ink viscosity and printability might pose as a restraint to the market.Request Free Report Sample@Global Printed Electronics Market: Market SegmentationBased on printing materials, the global printed electronics market can be segmented into:Graphic InksElectronic inksBased on the printing technologies, the global printed electronics market can be segmented into:Conventional PrintingScreen PrintingFlexographyGravureOffsetNon-Impact PrintingInkjetThermographyBased on applications, the global printed electronics market can be segmented into:DisplayingLightingSensingTouch ScreensOLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes)Others (Electronic Paper)Based on the end-use industries, global printed electronics market can be segmented into:Consumer GoodsElectronicsAutomotiveHealthcareOthersRequest For TOC@Global Printed Electronics Market: Regional OutlookBased on the geographic regions, global printed electronics market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, APEJ will dominate the printed electronics market over the forecast period. The countries such as China, India, and South Korea will be the key contributor to the growth of printed electronics market in the region. The North America and Western Europe market for printed electronics market is followed by the APEJ market. Over the course of time the Latin America market for printed electronics is expected to pace up. However, the APEJ market for the printed electronics market will hold the largest market share by the end of forecast period with promising growth rate over the forecast period.Some of the major players identified in the global printed electronics market includes, Acreo Swedish ICT, PRINTED ELECTRONICS LTD, parc, Thinfilm, DuPont, Pragmatic Printing Limited and molex among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Automotive Air Filter Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2016-2026

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An automotive air filter is a device that is made up of fibrous materials that removes solid particulates like pollen, dust, bacteria, and mould from the intake air. A chemical type of air filter consist of a catalyst or absorbent for removing molecular contaminants like ozone or volatile organic compounds. Air filters are being used in applications where air quality is of vital importance, notably in building ventilation systems and in vehicle engines. The cabin automotive air filter is a paper-pleaded filter, which is located in the air intake from outside for the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Some of the automotive air filters are rectangular or similar in shape as that of the combustion air filter, others have a unique shape to fit the available space of outside-air intakes. The very first automaker to provide a disposable air filter in order to clean the ventilation system was Nash Motors. The combustion automotive air filter restricts particulate matter to enter into the engines cylinders, where it can cause oil contamination and mechanical wear. Nowadays, fuel injected vehicles are using a paper pleated filter element that is in a flat panel form. These filters are placed in a plastic box connected with a throttle body. Older vehicles using throttle body or carburettors fuel injection system use a cylinder air filter, which are a few inches and are between 6 to 16 inches.Global Automotive Air Filter Market: Drivers and RestrainsThe ever increasing automobile market, and particularly the cars market is the major driving factor for the growth of global automotive air filter market and specifically the cabin filter market due to the cars market. Also automobile consumers are becoming aware about the importance of air filter for purified air and staying isolated in their passenger cabin from the atmosphere dirt that leads to the booming cabin air filter aftermarket.However, the flourishing electric vehicle market is restricting the growth of intake air filter, which is specifically required in the internal combustion engines intake manifold. Thus it can slowdown the growth of global automotive air filter market.Request Free Report Sample@Global Automotive Air Filter Market: SegmentationOn the basis of type, the automotive air filter market can be segmented as:Cabin air filterIntake air filterOn the basis of filtering media, the automotive air filter market can be segmented as:SyntheticCelluloseActivated carbonParticleGlobal Automotive Air Filter Market: Region Wise OutlookThe global automotive air filter market can be divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa. Europe is the dominant region in the global automotive air filter market owing to the ever increasing automobile market in this region. Asia Pacific is the second major contributor in the automotive air filter market due to the automobile giants such as Maruti, Hero and other companies. The companies such as General Motors, Ford are having a significant contribution in the global automobile market making North America a considerable player in the global automotive air filter market. Japan is technologically advanced country in terms of automotive markets and so the technology of automotive air filter is very common in this country. Latin America and Middle East and Africa are at a nascent stage in the automotive air filter market but is anticipated to have a modest CAGR in the forecasted period.Request For TOC@Global Automotive Air Filter Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global automotive air filter market are as follows:MANN+HUMMELDonaldson Company, IncNGK INSULATORS, LTDSogefi SpAMahle International GmbHC & R Fab Media Private LimitedMelkev Machinery ImpexGlobal FiltersSimplex CorporationABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Facial Recognition Biometrics Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers 2021

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Global Facial Recognition Biometrics Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020.The report on the global Facial Recognition Biometrics market has been compiled to serve as an asset for companies wanting to make informed decisions for growth in this space, and also presents a figurative estimation of the future of the market. The report has been a result of primary and secondary research using proven market research methodologies such as Porters five forces and SWOTT analysis. The primary research formed the bulk of our research efforts along with information collected from telephonic interviews and interactions via e-mails. Secondary research involved study of company websites, annual reports, press releases, stock analysis presentations, and various international and national databases. The report provides market size in terms of US$ mn for each segment for the period from 2016 to 2021, considering the macro and micro environmental factors.To Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @For the estimation of the future lucrativeness of the global market for Facial Recognition Biometrics, the report studies various factors that are expected to positively influence the growth rate. It also analyzes the challenges expected to hinder the growth rate during the forecast period, besides highlighting the emerging trends and opportunities, which will significantly define the future scenario. The report also divides the global Facial Recognition Biometrics market into quantitative segments and studies the opportunities available in the regional markets based on geography. Growth rate for each of the product and geographical segment has been provided.The key feature of the report is the section on company profiles. Here, this report lists out some of the key players who are currently functional in the global Facial Recognition Biometrics market, providing details such as market share, product portfolio, recent developments, and strategies for the future.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.1 Definition and Specifications of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.1.1 Definition of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.1.2 Specifications of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.2 Classification of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.3 Applications of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.3.1 Banking & Finance1.3.2 Consumer Electronics1.3.3 Government1.3.4 Defense1.3.5 Commercial Security1.3.6 Residential1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.5.1 Industry Overview of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics1.7 Industry News Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Facial Recognition Biometrics Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Facial Recognition Biometrics Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Facial Recognition Biometrics Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Facial Recognition Biometrics Major Manufacturers in 20154 Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics by Regions, Types and Manufacturers4.1 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Facial Recognition Biometrics by Regions 2011-20164.2 Global and Major Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Facial Recognition Biometrics 2011-20164.3 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Facial Recognition Biometrics by Types 2011-20164.4 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Facial Recognition Biometrics by Manufacturers 2011-20165 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics by Regions, Types and Manufacturers5.1 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics by Regions 2011-20165.2 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics by Types 2011-20165.3 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Facial Recognition Biometrics by Manufacturers 2011-2016For Market Research Latest Reports Visit @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Latest News On Emergency Lights Market Global and China Research Report 2014

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Global and China Emergency Lights Industry 2014 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2014-2020.The Global and China Emergency Lights market research report is a thorough analysis of the Emergency Lights industry on the whole, while it digs deep into the most decisive and routine growth factors and restraints followed by key market opportunities. Both seasoned stakeholders and new entrants in the international Emergency Lights market can benefit from the crucial insights presented in the report and find answers to the challenges they are faced with in the current and future scenario. The market intelligence solution offered in the form of this report looks to unveil vital conclusive information and key perspectives for the interested parties to capitalize on to ensure a lasting success in their individual Emergency Lights sectors.To Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @With a meticulously interpreted growth trajectory of the Global and China Emergency Lights market for the forecast period 2014 to 2021, our adept analysts have offered a determining evaluation of the present and future market situation. Report buyers are facilitated with critical opinions about the Emergency Lights market to get to the bottom of the paradigm shift of consumer preference. In this regard, the analysts have compiled salient observations, radical data, and chief underlying aspects of the Emergency Lights market.The report endeavors to offer a 360-degree analysis of the Global and China Emergency Lights market on the back of an insightful study of the prevailing demand and supply trends, important fiscal statistics of major players sustaining in the market, and the influence of latest economic advancements on the market. Developments in each geographical region is charted using authentic historical data with a view to help gauge the future trajectory of the market across the globe.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsChapter One Emergency Lights Industry Overview1.1 Emergency Lights Definition1.2 Emergency Lights Classification and Application1.3 Emergency Lights Industry Chain Structure1.4 Emergency Lights Industry OverviewChapter Two Emergency Lights International and China Market Analysis2.1 Emergency Lights Industry International Market Analysis2.1.1 Emergency Lights International Market Development History2.1.2 Emergency Lights Product and Technology Developments2.1.3 Emergency Lights Competitive Landscape Analysis2.1.4 Emergency Lights International Key Countries Development Status2.1.5 Emergency Lights International Market Development Trend2.2 Emergency Lights Industry China Market Analysis2.2.1 Emergency Lights China Market Development History2.2.2 Emergency Lights Product and Technology Developments2.2.3 Emergency Lights Competitive Landscape Analysis2.2.4 Emergency Lights China Key Regions Development Status2.2.5 Emergency Lights China Market Development Trend2.3 Emergency Lights International and China Market Comparison AnalysisChapter Three Emergency Lights Development Environmental Analysis3.1 China Macroeconomic Environment Analysis3.1.1 China GDP Analysis3.1.2 China CPI Analysis3.2 European Economic Environmental Analysis3.3 United States Economic Environmental Analysis3.4 Japan Economic Environmental Analysis3.5 Other Regions Economic Environmental Analysis3.6 Global Economic Environmental AnalysisChapter Four Emergency Lights Development Policy and Plan4.1 Emergency Lights Industry Policy Analysis4.2 Emergency Lights Industry News Analysis4.3 Emergency Lights Industry Development TrendChapter Five Emergency Lights Manufacturing Process and Cost Structure5.1 Emergency Lights Product Specifications5.2 Emergency Lights Manufacturing Process Analysis5.3 Emergency Lights Cost Structure Analysis5.4 Emergency Lights Price Cost Gross AnalysisFor Market Research Latest Reports Visit @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Market Research on Digital Glass Military Aircraft Cockpit Systems Market 2016 and Analysis to 2026

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A digital glass cockpit, also known as electronic flight information systems (EFIS) and cockpit display system (CDS), is an aircraft cockpit that consist digital flight instrument displays, generally large LCD screens, instead of conventional analog dials and gauges. A digital glass cockpit simplifies aircraft operations and navigation by enabling the usage of several displays driven by flight management systems, that can be adjusted (multi-function display) to display flight information as needed.Advanced digital glass cockpit systems utilize LCD screens to display crucial flight information. Digital glass cockpit displays systems are based around primary flight displays (PFDs), engine indications and crew alerting system (EICAS) and multifunction displays (MFDs). This enables the replacement of mechanical flight instrument gauges with graphical representations of information from onboard and external sensors and navigation systems.The digital glass cockpits are being increasingly adopted by military and defense along with airline companies, as they eliminate the need for a flight engineer, in turn reducing costs. In recent past, this digital glass cockpit has become widely available in small aircrafts too.Request Free Report Sample@Market Overview:Digital glass cockpit systems, which were prevalent in the civil aviation sector, are being increasingly adopted among military aircraft operators, in order to add capabilities to their fleets. Along with facilitating reduction in information management workload for pilots coordinating large networks of sensors and platforms, digital glass cockpits offer advantages such as weight and power savings, enabling easier interaction with air traffic control, and enable faster training for new pilots.Market Dynamics:The cockpits of both fixed and rotary-wing military aircraft are going digital. These glass cockpits facilitate the pilot's tasks throughout the flight, especially under difficult conditions, by improving access to vital information. The global market of digital glass military aircraft cockpit systems is mainly driven by the advantages offered by these systems over traditional cockpit systems. These advantages include the enhanced accuracy and precision of automation systems, and more ergonomic display of the data. These glass cockpits also comprise feedback loops and self-checking capabilities to alert the pilot about threats before they become emergencies. Additionally, these advanced system offers checklist of issues, the pilot can utilize to troubleshoot a problem and correct it immediately.However, as the aircraft operations become increasingly dependent on digital glass cockpit systems, flight crews must be trained to deal with possible failures. In recent years, several incidents involving glass-cockpit blackout have occurred. Therefore, proper training is considered as one of the key components for reducing miss happenings of aircrafts equipped with digital glass cockpit systems.To counter these blackouts, aircrafts with digital glass cockpit systems are provided with backup analogue displays for key flight instruments including airspeed indicator and altimeter.Request For TOC@Market Segmentation:Global digital glass military aircraft cockpit systems market is mainly classified on the basis of system, end use sector and geographies.On the basis of system, global digital glass military aircraft cockpit systems market is segmented into Multi-function flight display systems, Primary flight display systems and EICAS (Engine-indicating and crew-alerting system).On the basis of end use sector, global digital glass military aircraft cockpit systems market is segmented as general aviation, commercial aviation and the defense & aerospace.On the basis of geographies, global market of BTS is segmented into 7 key regions:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeAsia Pacific Excluding JapanJapanMiddle East & AfricaPresently, North America is holds the majority share in the digital glass cockpit systems market. However, the region is expected to lose its share to Asia Pacific region during the forecast period, mainly due to falling defense expenditure in North America. In the APAC region, India, China and Japan are expected to lead the growth in the forecast period.Key Market PlayersThe major players active in the Global digital glass cockpit systems market include Honeywell Aerospace, GE Aviation, Garmin Ltd., Avidyne Corporation, MGL Avionics, Lockheed Martin, Elbit Systems Ltd., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Airbus Group SE and Rockwell Collins, Inc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Solar Street Lighting Industry 2016 Competitive Overview by Market Size, Shares, Growth Factors, Analysis & Revenues

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Global Solar Street Lighting Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020.Various factors are responsible for the high revenue growth witnessed in the global Solar Street Lighting market. However there are a few restraints as well forecast to challenge the markets trajectory. Nevertheless, through the course of the forecast period starting from 2016 to 2021, the market will continue exhibiting steady growth. The chief drivers supporting the markets expansion are studied in detail besides including an in-depth analysis of the restraints creating bottleneck for the global Solar Street Lighting market. Besides this, the profiles of some of the leading market players are included in the report, intended to provide a snapshot of the prevailing competitive landscape.To Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @For the purpose of the study, the global Solar Street Lighting market is split on the basis of diverse parameters. Using industry-leading analytical tools, the factors influencing the markets growth across all its segments are studied in detail. The report compiles exhaustive information sourced via proven research methodologies. Information thus sourced, is logically interspersed relevant graphs, statistics, infographs, and statistics. It is presented in a coherent chapter-wise format. To present a holistic overview, the report also gauges the impact of Porters five forces on the global Solar Street Lighting market. In addition, it investigates the feasibility of potential projects for the new entrants.In order to present an executive-level blueprint of the prevailing vendor landscape, the report conducts SWOT analysis on the companies profiled. This helps presenting insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the leading companies in the global Solar Street Lighting market. The analysis also provides valuable information on the opportunities and threats that these companies are likely to witness over the course of the reports forecast period. The report therefore includes valuable information intended at providing the stakeholders a better perspective about the global Solar Street Lighting market.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Solar Street Lighting Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Solar Street Lighting1.2 Classification of Solar Street Lighting1.2.1 Type 11.2.2 Type 21.2.3 Type 31.3 Applications of Solar Street Lighting1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 Solar Street Lighting Market by Regions1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Solar Street Lighting (2011-2021)1.5.1 Global Solar Street Lighting Sales, Revenue and Price (2011-2021)1.5.2 Global Solar Street Lighting Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.3 Global Solar Street Lighting Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Global Solar Street Lighting Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Solar Street Lighting Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Solar Street Lighting Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.1.2 Global Solar Street Lighting Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Solar Street Lighting (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Solar Street Lighting Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2021)2.2.2 Global Solar Street Lighting Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2021)2.3 Global Solar Street Lighting (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global Solar Street Lighting Sales and Market Share by Regions (2011-2021)2.3.2 Global Solar Street Lighting Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2011-2021)2.4 Global Solar Street Lighting (Volume) by Application3 North America Solar Street Lighting (Volume, Value and Sales Price3.1 North America Solar Street Lighting Sales and Value (2011-2021)3.1.1 North America Solar Street Lighting Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)3.1.2 North America Solar Street Lighting Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)3.1.3 North America Solar Street Lighting Sales Price Trend (2011-2021)3.2 North America Solar Street Lighting Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 North America Solar Street Lighting Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 North America Solar Street Lighting Sales and Market Share by Applications4 China Solar Street Lighting (Volume, Value and Sales Price4.1 China Solar Street Lighting Sales and Value (2011-2021)4.1.1 China Solar Street Lighting Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)4.1.2 China Solar Street Lighting Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)4.1.3 China Solar Street Lighting Sales Price Trend (2011-2021)4.2 China Solar Street Lighting Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China Solar Street Lighting Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China Solar Street Lighting Sales and Market Share by ApplicationsFor Market Research Latest Reports Visit @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Industrial Enzymes Industry 2016 Worldwide Survey by Market Applications, Solutions, SWOT Analysis, Pricing, Shares & Forecasts

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Global Industrial Enzymes Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020.The research report on the global Industrial Enzymes market studies the market in the past based on which estimates are presented for the future. The report looks into vital market indicators, trends, and opportunities that will have a bearing on the development of this market.The report begins with an outline of terms and terminologies, classifications, and applications that are standard conventions in the global Industrial Enzymes market. A glance into the industry chain structure and industry statutes that govern this industry are presented herein. Following this, operational parameters of the Industrial Enzymes market such as manufacturing processes, product catalog, and cost structures are discussed at length in this report. This, in turn, helps to understand production capacity, product pricing and profit, and demand and supply gap for new entities interested in participating in the global Industrial Enzymes market. This analysis is also indicative how operational aspects of the global Industrial Enzymes market will impact the development of the market until the end of the forecast period.To Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @The report discusses the competitive landscape of the global Industrial Enzymes market at length. The major companies that have a significant presence in this market are profiled for business attributes such as financial standing, production capacity, and SWOTs. Each of these companies is studied with reference to a timescale, in order to comprehend the changing competitive hierarchy of the global Industrial Enzymes market over the past few years.The report is compiled in a chapter-wise format for reading comprehensibility, with each chapter discussing the progression analysis of a specific aspect of the market at length.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal Industrial Enzymes Market Research Report 20161 Industrial Enzymes Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Industrial Enzymes1.2 Industrial Enzymes Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Industrial Enzymes by Type in 20151.2.2 Oxidoreductases1.2.3 Transferases1.2.4 Hydrolases1.2.5 Isomerases1.2.6 Lyases1.2.7 Ligases1.3 Industrial Enzymes Segment by Application1.3.1 Industrial Enzymes Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Food and Beverage1.3.3 Detergents1.3.4 Animal Feed1.3.5 Textile1.3.6 Pulp and Paper1.3.7 Bioenergy1.4 Industrial Enzymes Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 India Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Industrial Enzymes (2011-2021)2 Global Industrial Enzymes Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Industrial Enzymes Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Industrial Enzymes Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Industrial Enzymes Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Industrial Enzymes Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Industrial Enzymes Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Industrial Enzymes Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Industrial Enzymes Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Industrial Enzymes Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Global Industrial Enzymes Capacity and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Global Industrial Enzymes Production and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Global Industrial Enzymes Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.4 Global Industrial Enzymes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.5 North America Industrial Enzymes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.6 Europe Industrial Enzymes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.7 China Industrial Enzymes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.8 Japan Industrial Enzymes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.9 Southeast Asia Industrial Enzymes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.10 India Industrial Enzymes Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)For Market Research Latest Reports Visit @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Para Chloroaniline Market - Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024

Global Para Chloroaniline Market

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Para chloroaniline also known as 4-chloroaniline is a pale yellow solid with a very sweet odor and is one of the numerous known chloroanilines. Para chloroaniline is not manufactured from aniline as aniline has a tendency to over chlorinate. However, para chloroaniline is produced from hydrogenation of a chemical known as 4-nitrochlorobenzene, which in turn is obtained by the nitration of chlorobenzene. Para chloroaniline is insoluble in cold water; however, it is soluble in hot water. Para chloroaniline is highly incompatible with oxidizing agents, acids, acid chlorides, chloroformates and acid anhydrides. Para chloroaniline is considered a carcinogen and hence is to be handled with extreme caution.Para chloroaniline is employed in a wide range of applications  as a building block in the manufacture of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, drugs and dyestuffs. Para chloroaniline is used in the production of a variety of pesticides including chlorpthalim, anilofos, pyraclostrobin and monolinuron. Moreover, para chloroaniline is also used in the production of a few benzodiazepine drugs. Para chloroaniline is also employed as a precursor in the production of the widely used bacteriocide and antimicrobial chlorhexidine.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:Global Para Chloroaniline Market: Drivers and RestraintsPara chloroanilines insecticidal and pesticidal properties are what give it high demand in the market. Due to its carcinogenic effects and the other health hazards, a few countries do not include it in the list of authorized active substances. Traces of this chemical were also found to contaminate ground water in certain countries which in turn led to the pollution of drinking water. This also added to the disadvantages of this chemical, further lowering its market. In addition, para chloroaniline is also employed in the manufacture of dyes and dyestuffs. The driving factors of para chloroaniline in the dye market include growing demand of dyes in the textile, food, and plastic industries among others. Due to the ease of its use and good chemical binding to fibers its demand has been huge over the past few years.Countries where textile industries have been on the rise have increased the market for dyes as well. The rising demand from paints and coatings industries, textile, construction, and plastics is expected to drive the market for dyes. This in turn is expected to drive the demand for para chloroaniline during the forecast period. The carcinogenic properties of para chloroaniline coupled with the hazardous effects it has on the environment can also be considered a major restraint for this market.Global Para Chloroaniline Market: Geographical DynamicsThe major segments for this industry include Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. North America, specifically the U.S., has a huge market for this product owing to its tremendous production of genetically modified crops. Due to stringent regulations prevalent in Europe a safer alternative using para chloroaniline is yet to be introduced in this market. Asia Pacific is one of the major markets for para chloroaniline. In Asia Pacific, China, India, Indonesia etc. are expected to be the major markets for para chloroaniline in the next few years. The market for para chloroaniline is mature in North America and Europe owing to the strict regulations put forth by the government.The key companies present in the market, which manufacture para chloroaniline, include A.B. Enterprises; Panoli Intermidiates Pvt. Ltd., Frontier Chemical Company, Megha International, Premier Group of Industries, Kevin India Co., LobaChemie Pvt. Ltd., Yashashvi Rasayan Pvt. Ltd and Shanxi Weinan Juyuan Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. among other companies.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
North American Surgical Gowns Market : Impact of Existing and Emerging Market by 2020

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North America dominates the global market for surgical gowns due to large number of aging population and increasing healthcare coverage resulting in increase in surgeries. Some of the key factors that are driving the North American surgical gowns market include number of surgical procedures and increasing stringent regulations for healthcare professionals and patient safety. In addition, growing concern about patient protection and rising prevalence of infections such as hospital acquired infection and others are driving the North American surgical gowns market. However, strict regulatory requirements and unstable raw material cost are some of the major factors restraining the growth for the North American surgical apparel market. In addition, less awareness in the field is also restraining the North American surgical gowns market.A sample of this report is available upon request @The global surgical apparels market is growing at a significant rate due to increasing number of surgeries, and technological advancement in the field. Some of the surgical apparels available in the market are surgical gowns, surgical gloves, head wear, chemotherapy gowns, face masks, foot wear, surgical drapes and scrub suits. Surgical apparels provide optimal level of protection by reducing the transfer of bacteria from the skin to the surgical staff. Surgical gowns are essential as there are always microorganisms on the skin even after strict hygiene and conducting sterilization procedure. Surgical gowns protect healthcare staff from bodily fluids, blood, saline, urine and other chemicals during surgical procedure. Use of surgical gown is necessary as a precaution against spread of infection.Innovation of gowns manufactured with improved material and rise in adoption of surgical apparels are expected to offer good opportunity for the North American surgical gowns market. However, maintaining a balance between quality and cost is a challenge faced by the North American surgical gowns market. One of the latest trends that have been observed in North American surgical gowns market includes companies involved in launch new product with improved characteristics. In addition, reusable and disposable gowns are gaining popularity in the North American surgical gowns market.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the major companies operating in the North American surgical gowns market are Kimberly-Clark Health Care, Cardinal Health, Inc., Stryker, Medline Industries and DuPont Medical Fabrics.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Good Growth Opportunities in Global Automotive Garage Equipment Market Till 2026

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The global automotive garage equipment market is rapidly evolving from a traditional repair services provider to a modern computerized and electronic diagnostic solution provider. The legal regulations imposed by authorities in developed countries such as the U.S., Europe and Japan to reduce emissions and to increase passenger safety have constrained vehicle manufacturers to enhance the automotive safety technologies in vehicles. As a consequence the garages have had to constantly update their existing equipment and machinery to keep pace with the evolving technologies and to keep the vehicles in good running condition.The growth of automotive garage equipment market is relational to the growth of the global automotive industry. Additionally, automotive industry has grown steadily, owing to number of factors such as rising standard of living, ongoing development in urban and rural areas, and improvement in road infrastructure has further driven automotive garage equipment demand in the market. The automotive garage equipment market is dependent on the growing vehicle parc, sales, production, increasing average miles driven, rising spending on vehicle maintenance. This have led to grow the global market for automotive garage equipment.The automotive garage equipment market is going through high innovations and technological advancements in recent years and one of them is the automotive asymmetric and symmetric lifts. These technological advancements and innovative equipment contributes to spur the global automotive garage equipment market.Request Free Report Sample@Global Automotive Garage Equipment Market Dynamics:Drivers:Increasing vehicle production and enhanced average aftermarket spend on vehicle maintenance are the primary factors which are driving the automotive garage equipment market.A key growth driver is expected to be the automotive garage equipment kits concept wherein companies offer a complete set of equipment targeted at an application.Restraints:The most significant restraints associated increased complexity of automotive electronics architecture in vehicles.Additional training for technicians to handle advance garage equipment acting as growth restraints in the global automotive garage equipment market.Global Automotive Garage Equipment Market Segmentation:Global automotive garage equipment market is segmented on the basis of vehicle type as follows: Passenger Cars, LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle), HCV (Heavy Commercial Vehicle).Global automotive garage equipment market is segmented on the basis of garage type as follows: automobile dealerships, franchise general repairs, specialty shops, locally owned repair shops, others.Request For TOC@Global automotive garage equipment market also segmented on the basis garage equipment as follows: Mechanical handling and testing equipment, Diagnostic instrumentation, and others. Mechanical handling and testing equipment further segmented as: Brake testers, wheel aligners, wheel balancers, tire changers and others. Diagnostic instrumentation further segmented as: Engine analyzers, hand-held diagnostics, others. Others garage equipment further segmented as Battery chargers, air-conditioning service, headlamp testers, and others.Global Automotive Garage Equipment Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the global automotive garage equipment market can be divided by major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific Excluding Japan (Japan), Japan, Middle East and Africa.On the basis of region, Asia Pacific (APEJ) is expected to be the growth engine of automotive garage equipment market in the coming years. As an outcome of growth in the vehicle production which in turn is resulting in increase in demand of automotive garage equipment in Asia Pacific countries such as China, India, and South Korea. Japan, Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to grow at a steady rate over the forecast period. The North America and Europe are matured market for automotive garage equipment market.Global Automotive Garage Equipment: Market PlayersSome of the key market participants in the global automotive garage equipment market are:Arex Test Systems b.v.GETECH (Garage Equipment Technology)Boston Garage Equipment Ltd.Gemco Equipment Ltd.Tecalemit Garage Equipment Company LimitedRobert Bosch GmbHContinental Automotive GmbHLKQ CoatingsManatec Electronics Private LimitedATS-ELGIABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Etoposide Market - Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024

Global Etoposide Market

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Etoposide is a derivative of epipodophyllotoxins that are derived from Mandragora officianarum (plant). Its chemical name is 4'-demethyl-epipodophylotoxin 9-[4,6-O-(R)-ethylidene--D-glucopyranoside] and it was introduced in the market in 1970. Currently, it is utilized extensively in manufacturing drugs that help treat various human malignant diseases such as testicular cancer, lymphomas (Hodgkin, non-Hodgkin), leukemia and lung cancer. Other diseases that are treated by consumption of etoposide include Ewing sarcoma, Kaposi disease, rhabdomyosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, pediatric brain tumors, gastric cancer, Wilms tumor, multiple myeloma, hepatoma, adenocarcinoma and uterine cancer.Etoposide acts by inhibiting the activity of topoisomerase II which is responsible for uncoiling of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and thus affects the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication and repair. Etoposide is usually administered in combination with various antineoplastic drugs such as cisplatin that have different modes of action. Etoposide is administered in the patients body through oral and intravenous routes. Intravenous administration of etoposide is given under the supervision of a doctor since overdose of the same might result in malfunctioning of human body. Etoposide solution for injection is available in 5 mL vial, 25 mL vial and 50 mL vial, and the dose is 20 mg/mL. Etoposide injections are usually given to patients whose cancer condition have not improved or have worsened post radiation treatment or other medications.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:Global Etoposide Market: Major ProductsEtopophos, Toposar and Vepesid are some of the branded versions of the Etoposide. Among all these, Etopophos accounts for the largest revenue share in the total etoposide market. Rising incidence of lung cancer has been considered as one of the major factors driving the market for etoposide. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), an estimated 159,260 people with lung cancer are expected to die in the American region in 2014 that will account for approximately 27% of all cancer deaths in the same year. Also, increasing incidence of Ewing sarcoma will propel the growth of etoposide market.Global Etoposide Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe increasing number of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients across the globe will further drive the growth of etoposide market as people with AIDS are at the high risk of developing Kaposis sarcoma. It has been estimated by the World Health Organization that in 2012, around 35.3 million people were living with AIDS worldwide; of these around 1.6 million people died. AIDS also increases the risk for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin syndrome. Increasing number of patients suffering with gastric cancer will also augment the growth of etoposide market. Various epidemiological sources indicate that around 1 million people suffer from gastric cancer every year across the globe. Despite all the advantages, the growth of etoposide market might get hampered due to the side effects associated with the administration of etoposide. Difficulty in breathing or swallowing, seizures, hives, constipation, hair loss and unusual tiredness or weakness are some of the side-effects that are associated with etoposide.Global Etoposide Market: Geographical DynamicsNorth America accounted for the largest revenue share of the total etoposide market in 2012 owing to the presence of major manufacturing companies in the region along with the improving governmental initiatives for the development and manufacturing of etoposide. Asia-Pacific is expected to show highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to rising incidences of various diseases such as uterine cancer, multiple myeloma, hepatoma and lymphoma in the region. Increasing government funding for the R&D of etoposide will further drive the growth of etoposide market in the region. Major players operating in the market includes Pharmedic Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Ben Venue Laboratories, and Accord Healthcare, Inc. among other significant players.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Trends in the Molecular Spectroscopy Market 2015-2025

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Molecular spectroscopy is the qualitative and quantitative study of molecules by observing their interaction with variousfrequencies and energy. In other way, it is the study of absorption of light by molecules. It is analyzed by ultraviolet (UV) light, visible light and infrared radiations using an instrument called a spectrometer. Thermo Fisher Scientific,Agilent Technologies, Danaher Corporation, PerkinElmer, Inc., Shimadzu Corporation, JASCO International Co., Ltd. and Jeol Ltd. are some major players engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of instruments used in molecular spectroscopy study. Antaris II FT-NIR Analyzer, picoSpin 80 spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and Cary 630 FTIR Spectrometer, 4300 Handheld FTIR (Agilent Technologies) are some prominent brands available in the market.The global market for molecular spectroscopy has been segmented as follows by technology type:Color Measurement SpectroscopyInfrared SpectroscopyNear-Infrared (NIR) SpectroscopyNuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) SpectroscopyRaman SpectroscopyUltraviolet Visible (UV-Vis) SpectroscopyRequest for sample report:These technologies may be further segmented as well. For example, infrared spectroscopy may be segmented by the type of devices available on the market such as bench top IR spectroscopy, portable spectroscopy or terahertz IR spectroscopy. Similarly, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy may be categorized as continuous wave nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, fourier transform NMR and Solid-State NMR. Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy may be segmented as single-beam UV spectrometer, double-beam UV spectrometer and array based UV spectrometer.On the other hand, on the basis of application, the market has been segmented into:PharmaceuticalsBiotechnologyFood and Beverages TestingEnvironmental TestingResearch InstitutesGovernmental legislation that are compelling pharmaceutical companies to maintain very high quality of drugs and excipients during manufacturing and increasing concerns for food and beverages safety are some major factors driving the growth of molecular spectroscopy market.Governmental support by funding research related with molecular spectroscopy is also oneof the major factors driving the market growth worldwide.Technological developments in the area of molecular spectroscopy are also encouraging manufacturers to opt for this technology as it will give them competitive in terms of quality. On the other hand, high cost associated with acquiring molecular spectroscopy technology may hamper the market growth to some extent.Request for TOC:Geographically, the market for molecular spectroscopy has been segmented into four major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). North America holds the largest regional market, followed by Europe. Federal governments investments to support research in the area of medical sciences are one of the reasons driving the market growth in the region. Presence of a large number of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the region also plays a key role in propelling the market growth. Europe represents the second largest market after North America. The market in Western European region which includes countries like Germany, France, Spain and United Kingdom is relatively mature than the markets of Eastern European region. Emerging economies of countries of Eastern region will help in driving the market growth in the region due to the significantly large contract manufacturing market.India and China in particular are expected to increase the number of companies offering contract manufacturing services to the western region. It is likely to result in growing demand for various molecular spectroscopy devices, and thus will help in driving the market growth in the region. In RoW region, Brazil, Mexico, Israel and Middle East countries are the potential markets for molecular spectroscopy.This research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data and statistically-supported and industry-validated market data and projections with a suitable set of assumptions and methodology. It provides analysis and information by categories such as market segments, regions, product types and distribution channels.About us:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Robotic Vision Market Set for Rapid Growth And Trend, by 2026

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Robotic vision comprises of vision algorithm, calibration, temperature software & cameras that are used to identify and determine the position of all the objects in robot workplace. Apart from identification and navigation, robotic vision also facilitate robots to analyse, interpret, extract and characterize the image information and to make description accordingly. Robotic vision technology provides several benefits including improvement in quality, reliability, safety and productivity. Performance of robotic vision depends on the effective communication between robot system & application and control over the environment.Robotic Vision Market: Drivers and RestraintIntelligent homes are specifically designed for the ageing population, where robots are capable to assists the elderly people in day-to-day tasks. The demand for intelligent homes is continuously increasing, as the ageing population is growing with significant rate across the globe. Increase in demand for intelligent homes, government regulations about sanitation in food processing industry and rising need of precise, safe and reliable vision guided robots in different verticals are major driving factors of the robotic vision market.Request Free Report Sample@However, high initial investment and lack of global standards for robotic implementation are some of the major challenges for the robot vision market.Robotic Vision Market: SegmentationRobotic Vision market can be classified on the basis of component, application and type.On the basis of component, the market can be bifurcated into hardware and software. Hardware segment consists of camera, sensors, lightning, and optics. Camera, sensors, lightning and optics incorporate with each other in order to facilitate the collapsible free movement of robot in environment. Camera, lightning and optics are used to capture the images while sensors allows obstacle free movement of robots. Software segment is composed of object tracking and image processing software.Robotic vision has high demand in wide range of industries including food processing, automotive and aerospace for several applications. On the basis of applications, the robotic vision market is segmented into inspection & testing, material handling, manufacturing, assembling and packaging. Manufacturing and packaging are the dominating segments in the category, as the governments across the major countries maintain stringent sanitation standards in food processing & packaging industry.On the basis of type, the market can be categorised in to 3D and 2D. 3D vision is more precise and capable of providing accurate dimensional data of an object. Currently, 3D robotic vision systems are more expensive than 2D and restricted for specialised operations.Request For TOC@Segmentation on basis of Region:Robotic Vision Market is segmented into 7 key regions- North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa.Robotic Vision Market: Region-wise OutlookNorth America was the largest market of robotic vision in terms of consumption in 2015. US was the leading market in the region, as there was significant growth in rate of deployment of reliable and precise vision guided robot systems in food and manufacturing industries in 2015.By the end of year 2015, Asia Pacific was the fastest growing market for robotic vision, due to significant growth in demand for industrial robots in manufacturing and automotive industries in the region. China, South Korea and Japan were the leading regional markets in Asia Pacific.Robot vision market in Europe is driven by the metal, automotive and food & beverage industry. Germany was the largest market in the region in terms of volume consumption in 2015.Robotic Vision Market: Key PlayersOmron Adept Technologies, Inc (US),? ComauS.p.A.(Italy), MVTec Software GmbH (Germany), Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. (Canada), ABB Ltd (Switzerland), Point Grey Research, Inc. (US),Cognex Corporation (US), Matrox Electronics Systems Ltd (Canada), Keyence Corporation (Japan), IVISYS (Sweden).ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Polyamide Market - Global Industry Analysis 2023

Global Polyamide Market

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Polyamide is a polymer with versatile properties and high demand in various end user segments such as automotives, textile, electronics, machinery, packaging and coatings among others. Polyamides occur naturally in form of wool, silk among others and can be synthesized artificially. Nylon, polyamide 6 and aramid are amongst artificially made polyamides. Artificial polyamides exhibit properties such as resistance to wear, good mechanical properties, low permeability to gases and chemical resistance. Bio-based polyamides are gaining demand in market owing to its eco- friendly nature. Polyamide 6 is dominant type among polyamides in terms of revenue and consumption owing to its cost to performance factor.Polyamide Market: DriversGrowing automotive industry in developed and developing countries is expected to drive the polyamide market. Polyamides are preferred by automotive manufactures due to their high performance at low cost. Owing to current rise in raw materials prices in automotive industry, manufacturers are shifting towards polyamides for various applications such as coatings and films. The growth in automotive industry is due to the rising disposable income of consumers and increase in transportation activities across the world.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:Increasing demand from applications in electronics and coatings industry is expected to drive the market. Increase in the construction activities and rising population are major driving factors for electronics and coatings industry. Low cost of production and high performance factors such as chemical & wear resistance and insulation makes polyamide ideal choice to be used in electrical and electronic applications.Polyamide Market: OpportunitiesResearch and development in the field of bio-based and specialty polyamide for different applications is expected to provide immense opportunities for players in the near future. The manufacturers, associations and end product manufactures are investing in R&D activities. Polyamide applications in food contact & domestic products and specialty polyamides in automotive to replace metals are expected to provide opportunities for players in this market. Technology modifications such as bio-based polyamide are expected to drive the market in near future owing to eco-friendly properties. Government regulations and rising health awareness in developing countries are expected to fuel the bio-based polyamide market in the near future.Complex manufacturing process of polyamide and availability of the precursors are expected to hamper polyamide market growth. Degrading properties due to moisture absorption is another factor which may hamper market growth. Companies are developing bio-based and specialty polyamides for different applications including medical. For instance, Akrema launched specialty polyamide, Pebax, Rilsan and Rilasmid, which are of medical grade. These specialty polyamides offer advantage over other polyamides with unique specifications such as gel rating, moisture content and viscosity.Polyamide Market: Region-wise OutlookNorth America and Europe are dominating the polyamide market with growing demand from automotive and electronics industry. Major players are located in the same region with high production capacities and R&D centers. Growing demand from Asia-Pacific region and other developing countries due to increased applications of the polyamide is expected to boost the market. The Eastern and Central European countries, South East Asian and Latin American nations are expected to experience higher growth owing to increase in auto sales, rising construction activities, improving civil infrastructure by government and other events.The key players in the polyamide market are BASF SE, Honeywell International Inc. Formosa Group, Invista, Li Peng Enterprise Co., Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Radici Group, Royal DSM N.V., Solvay, Ascend Performance Materials Inc. Shenma Industrial Co. Ltd., Huntsman, Koch industries, Royal DSM N.V., Lanxess, Rhodia, Arkema and others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Real Time Location System (RTLS) Market Dynamics, Segments and Supply Demand 2015-2025

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RTLS Market OverviewReal time location system (RTLS) helps in identifying and tracking geographical location of objects and people automatically, in real time. Generally, RTLS is used within building or facility area. In RTLS system, wireless RTLS tags or badges are attached to objects or sometimes worn by people and signals transmitted from this tags are received by one fixed reference points which helps in finding the exact location of that particular tag. RTLS contains location sensors, location readers, battery powered tags, application software and network infrastructure.RTLS market share is growing rapidly because of enhanced capability of real time tracking in different business processes. Advantages of RTLS are accuracy, increased productivity and operational excellence. RTLS provide accurate tracking of desired objects which ultimately results into increase in productivity. RTLS also provides some additional benefits, such as improvement in safety and security of staff, efficient and effective logistic & supply chain operations, and smooth process operations.Request for sample report:RTLS Market DynamicsGlobal Real Time Location System (RTLS) market is expected show high growth in the near future. The factors which are driving the growth of RTLS market are increasing government initiatives, heavy investment in RTLS technology, increasing applications into various industries, and advanced features of RTLS. On the other hand, factors which are restraining the market growth are high cost involved in deployment, privacy & security concerns, and technical issues with the system. Industrial manufacturing sector is expected to provide remarkable opportunities to RTLS market during forecasted period. Market growth of RTLS is further fuelled by contribution from emerging regions such as Asia Pacific.RTLS Market SegmentationGlobal RTLS market is segmented on the basis of verticals, technologies and regions. On the basis of verticals, the market is sub-segmented into various industrial verticals, such as Logistics & transportation, industrial manufacturing and processing, healthcare, retail, government & defence, education, hospitality and others. Out of all these verticals, industrial manufacturing and processing vertical is expected to dominate throughout forecasting period.On the basis of technology, the market is sub-segmented into various wireless communication technologies such as WiFi, RFID, ultrasound, infrared and ZigBee communication. Amongst all technologies RFID technology is leading the Global RTLS market with highest market revenue. It is mainly because of enhanced features of RFID technology, such as low maintenance cost, high accuracy and long battery life as compared to other wireless communication technologies such as WiFi. However, WiFi technology also provides some benefits, such as ease of deployment which is really beneficial for organizations with existing WiFi network. Latest technologies like ZigBee, are showing high market potential because of its extended battery life and high accuracy.Request for TOC:On the basis of regions, the market is further sub-segmented into seven regions, North America, Latin America, Asia  Pacific (excluding Japan), Japan as a separate region, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Middle East and Africa. Presently, North America region is dominating the Global RTLS market with highest market share. North America RTLS market is primarily driven by increasing applications in healthcare industry and government support and initiatives. Asia  Pacific region is expected to be highest growing market for RTLS solution during forecasted period because of rising demand of WiFi and RFID technology enabled RTLS.RTLS Market: Key PlayersMajor key players in the global RTLS market are AeroScout Industrial, Zebra Technologies, TeleTracking Technologies, Sonitor Technologies, Awarepoint, Ekahau, GE Healthcare and Ubisense, Centrak, etc. Among these companies, AeroScout Industrial and Zebra Technologies are major companies in terms of market share. It is mainly because of their technologically advanced solutions, strong presence across all the geographies and extensive product portfolio. All key market players are focusing more software and application development as a part of their market growth strategy.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Non Fusion Spinal Devices Market Growth, Forecast and Value Chain 2015-2025

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Spinal implants are devices used to treat disproportion of spine, provide stability and strengthen the spine of patients. These devices are broadly segmented as fusion and non-fusion spinal devices. Non-fusion technologies into spinal surgery has improved outcomes by providing patients to retain at least some movement and flexibility in the spine.Non fusion spinal technologies and disc diagnostic devices are used for the patients who are suffering from the problem of gradual disc damage, degenerative disc disease often results in disc herniation and chronic back or neck pain.According to WHO, back pain affects people of all ages, from children to the elderly, and is a very frequent reason for medical consultations. It is difficult to estimate the incidence of back pain as the incidence of back pain is already high by early adulthood and symptoms tend to recur over time. The lifetime prevalence of non-specific (common) back pain is estimated at 60% to 70% in industrialized countries.Non Fusion Spinal Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsNon fusion spinal technologies and disc diagnostic devices global market is driven by aging population, increase in the number of obesity patient, and rise in the demand for minimally invasive surgery proceduresNon fusion spinal technologies and disc diagnostic devices market is driven by new technological advancements. The huge population afflicted from obesity and back pain problem drives the global market. However, unstable reimbursement policies act as a major barrier for this market.Request for sample report:Non Fusion Spinal Devices Market: SegmentationNon fusion spinal technologies and disc diagnostic devices market is segmented into following types:Artificial Discs ReplacementCervical Discs ReplacementLumber Discs ReplacementDynamic Stabilization DevicesInterspinous Process Decompression (IPD) DevicesPedicle Screw-Based Dynamic Stabilization SystemsAnnulus Repair DevicesNon Fusion Spinal Devices Market: OverviewWith rapid technological advancement and wide acceptance of non-fusion spinal technologies and disc diagnostic devices among patients with back pain problem, the global non fusion spinal technologies and disc diagnostic devices market is expected to grow at healthy CAGR in the forecast period (2012-2025).Request for TOC:Non Fusion Spinal Devices Market: Region-wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, global non fusion spinal technologies and disc diagnostic devices market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.North America contributes the largest market share as the degenerative disc disease affects almost 50% of the U.S. population above age 40 years. Asia pacific shows the fastest growth due to large number of population.Non Fusion Spinal Devices Market: Key PlayersSome of the key participating players in this market are Medtronic Inc., Stryker Corporation, Zimmer Holdings Inc., DePuy Synthes and others.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.About us:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
1,6 Hexanediol Market - Global Industry Analysis 2023

1,6 Hexanediol Market

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1,6 hexanediol market has witnessed high growth along with its end use markets such as polyurethane, coatings and acrylates among others over the last few years. The compound has made significant progress with the end use industries which is helped by the fact that 1,6 hexanediol can be customized in order to suit the standards and safety requirements of the end use product. 1,6 hexanediol is basically a colorless crystalline solid with high affinity towards water.The main applications of 1,6 hexanediol are in the production of polyurethanes, acrylates, coatings, adhesives, plasticizers, and unsaturated polyester resins among others. Polyurethane, acrylic and coating applications account for the lions share of the global demand. One of the primary drivers of this market is the demand generated from the emerging countries in the Asia Pacific region. China and India in particular witnessed significant growth in the demand for 1,6 hexanediol over the past few years. Majority of the demand is generated from polyurethanes, which is one of the most versatile polymers in existence in the market.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:Polyurethanes are available in the market in varied forms and find a host of end-use applications. It is available as flexible or rigid foams as well as stiff and robust elastomers and are used in a wide range of end use industries such as insulation industry, electronics industry, and construction industry among some others. The high demand for different grades of polyurethane results in the indirect demand for its upstream chemical which is 1,6 hexanediol. Research and development is highly imperative for 1,6 hexanediol market as new applications such as UV curable resins, epoxy resins system and alkalyd resins are potentially huge markets and can drive the market in the future.1,6 Hexanediol Market: Drivers and TrendsThe impending technological advancements, and development of bio based raw materials are expected to influence the growth of the 1,6 hexanediol market. However, there are a few restraints to the 1,6 hexanediol market. Storage and transportation is a major challenge for this chemically active substance. 1,6 hexanediol is highly hygroscopic in nature and measures need to be taken in order to minimize its interaction with air or moisture. Temperature of the product should be maintained between 55C and 70C at all times to optimize its utility. 1,6 hexanediol has been found to exhibit low toxicity and proper precautions need to be undertaken while handling the chemical. It causes eye irritation and diffuse opacity of cornea upon contact with eyes. Vapors or dust of 1,6 hexanediol also causes respiratory tract irritation. Proper protective garments should be worn by people handing the substance so as to minimize skin contact.1,6 Hexanediol Market: Regional InsightThe largest consumer of 1,6 hexanediol is Europe by volume as well as revenue generation. Demand from Europe is followed by Asia Pacific and North America. Asia Pacific market is expected to exhibit the swiftest growth rate owing to the increased applicability and demand from end use industries. The fact that the manufacturing hub of the world is located in this region also drives the growth in Asia Pacific. India, China, Russia, and Brazil are expected to show persistent demand in the foreseeable future.Some of the major companies who are involved in the manufacturing of 1,6 Hexanediol are BASF SE (Germany), Ube Industries (Japan), Perstop AB (Sweden), Fushun Tianfu Chemicals Co., Ltd. (China), Lanxess (Germany), and Lishui Nanming (China) among many others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Skin Replacement Market Revenue, Opportunity, Segment and Key Trends 2015-2025

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Skin is the largest organ in human body which is highly dynamic in nature. It is composed of two layers, the outer layer called epidermis and the inner layer called dermis. Its network of nerves, blood vessels and cells thus acting as a protective armor. It serves the body in diverse ways. Its of paramount importance owning to its protective functionality. The skins protective function creates a barrier for internal organs and tissues from toxins, disease-carrying microbes, heat and cold and other dangers present in the environment. It also plays a significant role in regulating the body temperature and preserving bodys fluid balance. Nerves within skin sense the presence of potentially harmful agents, such as bees, and immune cells in the skin help to fight against these malicious agents. For the aforementioned reasons, the loss of skin due to burns or trauma can cause a severe blow to the human body; leading to impairment or sometimes elimination of many vital functions which it typically performs.John F. Burke invented the first synthetic skin, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Artificial skin considered to be the Holy Grail in treating burn victims for more than hundred years till a flexible material was found. It protects against dehydration and infection, easy to produce from ordinary substance and is completely acceptable by the victims immune system. The artificial skin can be easily sterilized and usually stored at room temperature. Skin replacement represents a prospective source of advanced therapy in combating acute and chronic skin wounds. With the capability of large scale production and immediate availability for grafting, its potential for use is easy and relatively economic among the burn patients.Skin Replacement Market: Drivers & RestraintsMuch progress has been made toward the development of artificial skin replacement products. Continued research promises to bring more products to the marketplace, and each new product seems to develop a niche in the field of skin replacement. Increased life expectancy, increasing disposable income and favorable demographics are some of the key factors driving the growth of the global skin replacement market.Request for sample report:Bioengineered skin replacements are continually being developed and improved. The next generation of skin replacements will probably evolve from lessons learned from our understanding of wound repair and regeneration. Competition from low-cost substitutes, lack of clinical support are probable factors restraining the growth of the global skin replacement market.Skin Replacement Market: SegmentationThe global skin replacement market is broadly classified on the basis of product type, material, end-use industry and geographies.Based on product type, the global skin replacement market is segmented into:EpicelIntegraBased on material, the global skin replacement market is segmented into:Spider silkCollagenBased on end use industry, the global skin replacement market is segmented into:ChemicalCosmeticPharmaceuticalSkin Replacement Market: OverviewThough skin replacement is a new technology for emerging economies, but in the developed nations the same technology is in use for few decades. With increasing disposable income and rising urbanization the acceptance of skin replacements is gaining popularity. The global skin replacement market is expected to expand at a promising CAGR during the forecast period (2015-2025).Request for TOC:Skin Replacement Market: Region-wise OutlookSkin replacement market is still in its early stage of maturity. The global skin replacement market is expected to register an optimistic CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, global skin replacement market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.Skin Replacement Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market participants in global skin replacement market are Cellular Dynamics International, Cynata Therapeutics Limited, Platelet BioGenesis, Tengion, TissueGene, Inc.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.About us:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Email:sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
By Tom Westbrook SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday it was not ruling out a future underwater search for a missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet as families of those on board criticised the decision to suspend the hunt after three fruitless years. The location of Flight MH370 has become one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries since the plane, a Boeing 777, disappeared in 2014 en route to Beijing from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board. "I don't rule out a future underwater search by any stretch," Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester told reporters in Melbourne, a day after Australia, Malaysia and China called off the search in the southern Indian Ocean. The search cost about A$200 million ($150 million), mostly paid by Malaysia, and had already been extended twice. But the three countries involved have been reluctant to keep looking without new evidence about the plane's final resting place. A recommendation from investigators last month to look to the north of the 120,000 sq km (46,000 sq mile) area that has been the focus of search efforts was rejected by Australia and Malaysia as too imprecise. Chester said cost had not been the determining factor to halt the search, but he said restarting it would require "credible new information which leads to a specific location". Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday expressed "deep regret" that the plane had not been found, but reaffirmed the agreement between Malaysia, Australia and China to stop looking. Boeing did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NO CLUES Flight MH370 lost contact over the Gulf of Thailand in the early hours of March 8, 2014. Subsequent analysis of radar and satellite contacts suggested someone on board may have deliberately switched off the plane's transponder before diverting it thousands of kilometres out over the Indian Ocean. Since the crash, there have been competing theories over whether the plane was hijacked and whether it was under the control of anyone when it finally ran out of fuel. The head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which led the hunt, said authorities were confident it was not in the area that has been searched. ATSB chief commissioner Greg Hood said "residual search activity", including satellite and drift analysis would continue until the end of February. But quitting the underwater search drew a swift and angry reaction from relatives of those on board, who had called for the hunt to be expanded. Most of the passengers were from China. About 30 relatives of victims gathered at a monthly meeting with Malaysian Airlines officials in Beijing on Wednesday to protest against the end of the search. Relatives told Reuters the airline invited four representatives to go to Malaysia and discuss the decision but they had rejected the offer. Dan Shuqin, 63, whose sister was on the flight, said authorities had been "playing tricks" for three years. "Can four family members speak for all 140 family members?" she asked. Instead, the relatives called for Malaysian authorities to hold a meeting with the families in China. An airline spokeswoman said its Post Accident Office was in constant contact with family members, but did not give any further details. On Tuesday, Jiang Hui, whose mother was on board the flight, told Reuters he felt "disappointed, helpless and angry" because the search had been ended. There was also anger on social media at the news. "Didn't they say they would never end the search? What the hell happened?" wrote one user on China's Weibo service. The only confirmed traces of the plane have been three pieces of debris found washed up on the island country Mauritius, the French island Reunion and an island off Tanzania. As many as 30 other pieces of wreckage found there and on beaches in Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa are suspected to have come from the plane. ($1 = 1.3250 Australian dollars) (Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Robert Birsel)
Fatty Alcohols Market - Global Industry Analysis 2023

Fatty Alcohols Market

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The growing accessibility of raw materials such as corn, rapeseed, and soy in Indonesia, Malaysia, and China, manufacturers of fatty alcohols are focus on Asia Pacific instead of North America and Europe, states Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a research report. Manufacturers are thus motivated towards expanding their production divisions in the Asia Pacific region. Companies operating in the global fatty alcohols market can benefit from the opportunities arising from the escalating sales of beauty products and cosmetics in BRICS countries. The chief participants in the market include Wilmar International Ltd., Musim Mas Holdings, VVF L.L.C., Procter & Gamble Emery Oleochemicals, Ecogreen Oleochemicals, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad, Kao Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell plc., and Sasol Limited.The global fatty alcohols market is expected to expand at a 5.1% CAGR from 2015 to 2023. The market is projected to rise to US$5.48 bn by the end of 2023 from a valuation of US$3.52 bn in 2014.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL INDUSTRY INSIGHTS:Consumption of C11-C14 to Intensify across Several End-Use IndustriesOn the basis of volume, the C11-C14 fatty alcohols surfaced as the leading product segment in the global market for fatty alcohols. In 2014, it accounted for a share of almost 50%. It is predicted to hold on to a lead until 2023. The chief cause behind the dominance of C11-C14 fatty alcohols is its wide-ranging application. C11-C14 is also projected to lead the market based on growth until 2023 closely trailed by C15-C22 fatty alcohols owing to its growing demand from various end-use industries. Among the applications, the detergents and soaps segment headed the market in 2014 with a share of around 60%. Nevertheless, personal care is expected to emerge as the leading segment in terms of growth.Geography-wise, the market has been classified into the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Due to the rising disposable income of consumers, refining lifestyle, and rising population, the global fatty alcohols market is likely to be dominated by emerging economies in the near future. Outstanding to high consumption of fatty alcohols in India and China because of the burgeoning industrial sector, Asia Pacific has been projected to lead the market until 2023 closely trailed by North America owing implementation of stringent regulations. According to a TMR analyst, The development of the Asia Pacific fatty alcohols market can be attributed to the rising consumption of beauty products, soaps and detergents, and abundance of raw materials. The European fatty alcohols market is likely to observe significant share loss to regions such as Central and South America and Asia Pacific.Personal Care to Contribute towards Market Growth ExtensivelyThe fields of application of fatty alcohols include metal working fluids, fragrances, flavors, plasticizers, cosmetics and personal care, and soaps and detergents. The global market for fatty alcohols is projected to upsurge in a substantial rate owing to the rising consumption of fragrances, cosmetics, beauty products, and other personal care products. The growth of the petrochemical industry is also one of the chief reasons behind the progress of the global market for fatty alcohols. Yet, the market is vulnerable to the shifting prices of raw materials and surplus production in the coming years. As synthetic fatty alcohols are factory-made using petrochemicals and petrochemicals are byproducts of crude oil, the fluctuating prices of oil are likely to unfavorably impact the sales fatty alcohols. Unsold stocks are also one of the key concerns of fatty alcohols manufacturers.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Heavy Lifting and Material Handling Equipment for the Offshore Industry - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Growth Analysis Till 2020

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The increasing offshore installations have to be supported by reliable lifting and material handling services to manage operations in an efficient manner. The lifting requirements of offshore installations vary depending on the vessel type. The companies providing heavy lifting and material handling equipments to the offshore industry also build standardized blocks to cater the lifting requirements in offshore facilities. However, the offshore vessels may be designed to handle various materials and thus their lifting and material handling requirements vary in some cases. In several regions the offshore safety authorities regulate the designing of equipments which are to be utilized in the offshore facilities.Download Research Brochure PDF@The machinery regulations govern the manufacture and sale of lifting appliances which are to be used in offshore basins. The equipment providing companies have to develop safe solutions for subsea load handling in stringent weather conditions. The market for heavy lifting and material handling equipment for the offshore industry is anticipated to grow at a substantial rate in future owing to increasing requirements from offshore operators.The requirement for advanced lifting systems and increasing safety parameters of the offshore industry are the major drivers attracting investment in for heavy lifting and material handling equipment market. The offshore facilities are located in stringent weather conditions and there are several heavy lifting tasks to be performed in such facilities. The equipment providers need to design their devices keeping in mind the specific requirements of the offshore vessel and the precise task it is meant to perform. Nations such as the U.K and Norway have laid down strict design parameters for heavy lifting and material handling equipments. The manufacturing companies are investing additional amounts to design innovative solutions which would also meet the safety parameters of the operating region. However, designing effective solutions for offshore installations which have space constraints is a major factor impacting the growth of the market.The market for heavy lifting and material handling equipment for the offshore industry can be segmented based on the products available in this industry. The lifting and material handling equipments are designed to perform specific tasks, thus the solutions are designed according to the requirement of the vessel. The major product categories available in this market are offshore cranes, subsea winches, A- frames, pull-in systems, skidding and trolley systems, module handling towers and compensators. Apart from the above mentioned product categories several other equipments are designed to cater the need of the offshore industry.The increasing offshore production activities in the Latin American region will provide the major market heavy lifting and material handling equipment in the coming future. Planned expansion projects and the large offshore reserves of West Africa is one of the prospective regions for the growth of heavy lifting and material handling equipment market. The strict guidelines issued by government agencies in European nations will further attract investment in this market. The exploration companies in Asia Pacific are also increasing investment in FPSO and FLNG systems which would provide growth opportunities to heavy lifting and material handling equipment market.Some of the major companies providing services in the heavy lifting and material handling equipment business are Hyundai Heavy Industries, TTS Group ASA, AXTech AS and Konecranes.Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Future of Global Chondrosarcoma Treatment Market : 2016 - 2022

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Chondrosarcoma refers to cancer of cartilage, a flexible connective tissue found in joints between bones, the ear, the rib cage etc. According to Cancer Network Journal, chondrosarcoma contributes to almost half of the osteosarcoma cases and is the second most common type of osteosacrcoma (tumor of bones). Chondrosarcoma can start at any age but most commonly found in adults above the age of 20 years. As per the statistics of American Cancer Society, occurrence of chondrosarcoma in patients younger than 20 years is less than 5%. Chondrosarcoma mainly affects the cartilage of arms, ribs, pelvis, and scapula and rarely found in trachea, breast and other parts of the body showing presence of cartilage tissue. Chondrosarcoma patients do not show any symptoms at an early stage hence, it can only be diagnosed in the late stage of a tumor when it shows fracture and bony bump at the tumor site. Diagnosis of chondrosarcoma can be done using radiography (X-Ray), computerized tomography (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Unlike other cancers chondrosarcoma is resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy and can primarily be treated with surgery. Surgical procedures for chondrosarcoma treatment involve limb sparing operations, complete surgical ablation and amputation in certain cases.A Sample of this Report is Available Upon Request @Increasing prevalence of osteosarcoma can ultimately influence the growth of global chondrosarcoma treatment market. According to Cancer Network Journal the incidence of osteosacrcoma in the U.S. is approximately 800 cases per year. Other factors responsible for growth of global chondrosarcoma treatment market include growing prevalence of genetic diseases. However, the global chondrosarcoma treatment market is expected to experience moderate growth during the forecast period owing to limited availability of treatment options.The global chondrosarcoma treatment market has been classified on the basis of treatment type, end user and geography.Surgical treatment segment is expected to lead the global chondrosarcoma treatment market as it is the only efficient treatment option for chondrosarcoma. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can be used to avoid recurrence of the disease after the surgery. Hospital end user segment is anticipated to contribute large share in global chondrosarcoma treatment market due to requirement of advanced healthcare infrastructure for the procedure.Geographically, global chondrosarcoma treatment market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America will continue to lead the global chondrosarcoma treatment market owing to high incidence rate of the disease. In U.S., chondrosarcoma accounts for almost one third of the primary osteosarcoma cases diagnosed annually.Request to View Tables of Content @Top players in global Chondrosarcoma Treatment Market include Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., AEterna Zentaris Inc., Acorn Research Group, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated re-search, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Con-sumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs en-gagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Future of Global Liposarcoma Treatment Market 2016 - 2022

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Liposarcoma is a cancer of fat cells lying deep within the soft tissues, typically in retroperitoneum or thighs. According to WHO, liposarcoma is the most common type of sarcomas (cancer of soft tissue) and accounts for approximately 17-20% of all cases of sarcoma. However, WHO classifies liposarcoma in the rare diseases as the incidence rate of the disease is as low as 2.5 per Mn population. Liposarcoma most commonly occurs in the middle age or adults above the age of 40 and it can be well diagnosed with the help of excision biopsy. Liposarcoma can be of four types viz. well differentiated liposarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, pleomorphic liposarcoma and dedifferentiated liposarcoma. The most common drugs used for the treatment of liposarcoma include ifosfamide and doxorubicin. Ifosfamide is often prescribed in combination with uromitexan in order to prevent bladder irritation and internal bleeding. Moreover, cisplatin, vincristine, etoposide, gemcitabine, docetaxel etc. can be used to prevent the recurrence of liposarcoma.A Sample of this Report is Available Upon Request @The market for liposarcoma is highly fragmented with large number of generic manufacturers. The global market for liposarcoma treatment is expected to grow moderately over the forecast period owing to low incidence rate of the disease. Some other factors which are anticipated to influence growth of global liposarcoma treatment market include lifestyle changes, incidence of genetic disorders, growing awareness through liposarcoma genome project etc. However, high cost of the treatment can be the major restraint for the growth of global liposarcoma treatment market.Surgical therapy treatment segment is expected to account for major share in global liposarcoma treatment market as it is the choice of treatment recommended by majority of cancer specialists. Most of the physicians do not rely on chemotherapy for the liposarcoma treatment however, it can be used prior to the surgery to reduce the size of the tumor making it the second largest segment in terms of value in global liposarcoma treatment market. Radiation therapy treatment is used to avoid recurrence of the liposarcoma after surgery and contributes a minimal share in global liposarcoma treatment market.Geographically, global liposarcoma treatment market is classified into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America is anticipated to lead the global liposarcoma treatment market due to relatively greater prevalence of the disease in the region. APAC and MEA regions are expected to witness steady market growth owing to lack of awareness about the disease.Request to View Tables of Content @Some of the key players in global liposarcoma treatment market include Eli Lilly and Company, Baxter International, Bristol Laboratories Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Mylan N.V., Actavis plc.,Fresenius Kabi Ltd., Accord Healthcare Inc., Taro Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sandoz, Bedford Laboratories and others. Recently FDA approved the new indication of Halaven (eribulin) to Esai Co. Ltd. and new drug application of Yondelis (Trabectedin) from Johnson & Johnson Private Limited for use in Europe, Russia and South Korea.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated re-search, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Con-sumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs en-gagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Formaldehyde Resin Market 2017 : CIECH GROUP, Hexion, Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC, ASK Chemicals, Achema AB

Formaldehyde Resin

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A market study based on the "Formaldehyde Resin Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Formaldehyde Resin Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Formaldehyde Resin industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Formaldehyde Resin market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This Research ReportBasfGeorgia-Pacific Chemicals LLCASK ChemicalsAchema ABINDSPEC Chemical CorporationCIECH GROUPHexionThe report studies the industry for Formaldehyde Resin across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Formaldehyde Resin market & dynamics of demand and supply of Formaldehyde Resin into consideration. The 'Formaldehyde Resin' research study covers each and every aspect of the Formaldehyde Resin market globally, which starts from the definition of the Formaldehyde Resin industry and develops towards Formaldehyde Resin market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Formaldehyde Resin market is classified and analysed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Formaldehyde Resin market. The geographical segmentation of the Formaldehyde Resin industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Formaldehyde Resin is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Formaldehyde Resin market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Formaldehyde Resin market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global Formaldehyde Resin market 2017 is also analysed on the basis of product pricing, Formaldehyde Resin production volume, data regarding demand and Formaldehyde Resin supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Formaldehyde Resin across the globe.About Us :Worldwide Business are a trusted brand in the research industry with capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Worldwide Business, we believe in building long term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive and Aerospace.Contact Us :Worldwide BusinessUnited States
Drive N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone Market to Exceed US$ 985 Mn by 2020 End - PMR Report

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The global N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) market is expected to observe modest growth over a five-year forecast period, 2015-2020. Expanding at a 5.4% of CAGR during the assessed period, the global NMP market will possibly attain the revenues of US$ 985.3 Mn by 2020 end.A sample of this report is available upon request:The market for NMP in developing Asian countries will be primarily driven by increasing urbanization and industrialization, coupled with rampantly evolving infrastructure development realm. Attributed to its chemical properties, such as higher flame point and lower volatility, N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone finds various applications several end-use industries. This will remain a key factor driving the demand on a global level. Industrial applications in a sweeping range of verticals, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, petrochemical, agrochemical, paints and coatings, and industrial cleaning will also continue to drive the market for N-Methylpyrrolidone over the next few years.The flourishing consumer electronics sector is likely to generate substantial demand for NMP. With soaring demand for electronics production, the consumption of N-Methylpyrrolidone will also witness a significant hike. Moreover, increasing demand for agrochemicals is expected to elevate the revenue sales in the next few years. Another industrial sector estimated to support the growth of the global N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone market is pharmaceuticals. Growing market in Asia Pacific are expected to play a vital role in boosting the demand throughout the forecast period, eventually fostering the market for NMP globally.Stringent regulations regarding usage of N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone may remain a long-term restraint to market growth. Moreover, the market has been experiencing a rapid setback in certain verticals, such as paints and coatings, and industrial cleaning. This can also be a major limiting factor impacting the market growth by 2020 end.By application, the electronics application segment is expected to remain dominant over other segments, including agrochemicals, petrochemical processing, industrial cleaners, pharmaceuticals, paints and coatings, and others. Electronics application segment will possibly capture around 23% share of the entire market revenues in 2020, witnessing an optimistic CAGR of 6.7% during 2015-2020. Pharmaceuticals will continue to be the second largest application segment that was evaluated at US$ 122.7 Mn in 2015. This segment is anticipated to demonstrate a moderate CAGR of 6.3% by 2020 end, accounting for nearly 15% market value share.According to Persistence Market Researchs regional analysis, Asia Pacific is foreseen to remain the global leader with over 36% share of the market revenues in 2016. This growth is predominantly attributed to lower production costs in Asian countries. The second largest regional market, North America, will contribute around 30% share to the market in 2016.Request to view Table of Content:A few key market players include LyondellBasell Industries N.V., BASF SE, Ashland Inc., Abtonsmart Chemical (Group) Co. Ltd., and Shandong Qingyun Changxin Chemical Science-Tech Co., Ltd. A few other notable companies competing in the N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone marketplace are Zhejiang Realsun Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Puyang Guangming Chemicals Co., Ltd., and Balaji Amines Limited.Long-term Outlook: The global N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone market is likely to reach a value of US$ 985.3 Mn by the end of the forecast period, 2015-2020.To Buy Full Report for a Single User: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:
Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Will Reach US$12,653.4 Million in 2020

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Global healthcare cloud computing market was valued at USD 4,216.5 million in 2014 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.1% from 2014 to 2020, to reach an estimated value of USD 12,653.4 million in 2020.Request to view Sample Report @Healthcare cloud computing refers to a process which involves delivering hosted medical services to the clients. These services can be classified into majorly three types: infrastructure-as-a-service, platform-as-a-service, and software-as-a-service. A cloud can be public, private, hybrid or community in nature.Globally, the healthcare cloud computing market is witnessing significant growth due to increased government healthcare IT spending and advanced features of cloud computing services In addition, rising demand for better healthcare facilities, increasing in popularity of wireless and cloud technologies are driving the healthcare cloud computing market. However, factors such as high cost involved in the implementation of clinical information systems and lack of security and privacy of patients information restrain the global market for healthcare cloud computing market. In addition, interoperability issues negatively impact the growth of the healthcare cloud computing market. The global healthcare cloud computing market is estimated at USD 4,216.5 million in 2014 and expected to reach USD 12,653.4 million in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 20.1%.North America has the largest market for the global healthcare cloud computing market. This is due to technological advancements in the region. North American market for healthcare cloud computing is estimated at USD 1,857.5 million in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 5,757.7 million in 2020, growing at a CAGR of 20.7%. In terms of deployment model, hybrid clouds are the fastest growing segment. In terms of service model, software-as-a-service (Saas) is the largest segment of healthcare cloud computing market.Request to view Table of content @One of the latest trends that have been observed in the global healthcare cloud computing market includes increasing use of mobile devices for delivering healthcare services.Microsoft Corporation and International Business Machines Corporation are some of the leading players in the global market for healthcare cloud computing market. Some of the other major players in healthcare cloud computing market are Agfa-Gevaert N.V., CareCloud Corporation, Dell Inc, ORACLE CORPORATION, GE Healthcare and Merge Healthcare Incorporated.To Buy Full Report for a Single User @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who 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 PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Stand fans Market 2017: Midea, Dyson, Airmate, Wahson& Singfun

Stand fans

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The survey report by Market Research Store is an overview of the global Stand fans market. It covers all the recent trends including key developments in the global market in present and in future. Analyses of the global Stand fans market trends along with the projections of CAGRs (compound annual growth rates) are provided in the research report.Further, an evaluation of the history of the global market and the basic information of the global market is included in the report. A developmental perspective of the industry is also documented in the report. Competitive profiles of the key players in the industry are also discussed.Browse Complete Report with TOC @The research report provides both an assessment of recent developments in the industry along with forecasts examining the industry from the perspective of major competitors, present players and prospective end users in the Stand fans market.Forecasts are generated on the basis of region, type, product, supply, demand, and other vital factors of the global market. The research report analyzed the major factors driving the global Stand fans market in various countries with a satisfactory and manufacturing and structure of the global market. Forecasts are also provided region-wise in the research report.The research report comprises several chapters, tables, figures, graphs, and various other presentations formats so as to provide a precise overview of the market. The sequence of the report is maintained in such a way that highlights the overall flow of the global market. Recent developments in the global market are further described in the research report. The report also summarizes latest trends along with abstracts of the Stand fans market. Major competitors of the global market including commercial and non-commercial participants in the global market are also covered in the report.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Thus, the research report provides in-depth analysis covering all the major regions, competitors, and vital aspects of the Stand fans industry.About 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
Recent Top Report " Focused Ion Beam Market " Prediction 2024

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Global Focused Ion Beam Market: SnapshotOne of the leading factors promoting the growth of the global focused ion beam market currently, is the growing rate of application of ion beam systems in the wide field of sample preparation. The market is also being driven by the increasing demand for lithography using ion beams. Another driver for the global focused ion beam market is its growing scope of use in equipment used for failure analysis. However, the market is currently being restricted by the expensive nature of ion beam systems, which deters several smaller enterprises from acquiring them.The global focused ion beam market was valued at US$300.0 mn in 2015. Its revenue is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.8% and likely to reach US$528.0 mn by the end of 2024.Europea and North America R&D Efforts Strengthened with Growing FIB UsageThe global focused ion beam market has been broadly segmented into key geographic regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, The Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Europe was the leading market for focused ion beam systems usage in 2015, a factor primarily attributed to the high rate of penetration of focused ion beams in the semiconductor industry. Europe also holds a high scope of use for ion beam systems in its high concentration of research organizations, where these instruments hold use in several research and development efforts, such as the development of dual beam focused ion beam systems and the use of focused ion beams with scanning electron microscope. These advancements have allowed the proliferation of the global focused ion beam market in biological science and material science.North America has also had a high demand for ion beam systems due to the great utility of focused ion beam microscopes in material sciences. The commercial availability of focused ion beam microscopes recently has led to an eruption of research and development projects in the North American studies of material sciences. Focused ion beams are also useful in micromachining and imaging capabilities at the nanometer and micrometer scales. In 2015, over 90% of the revenue generated in the North America focused ion beam market originated from the U.S. and Canada collectively.Get More Information :LMIS and Gallium Continue Leading Use as Ion Sources in Global Focused Ion Beam MarketBy ion sources, the global focused ion beam market can be segmented into gallium, gold, iridium and then a collective segment of unique ion sources, including gas field ionization and liquid metal alloy ions. By revenue, gallium was highly common as an ion source, followed by iridium, in 2015. A lot of focused ion beam systems today are coming equipped with liquid metal ion sources (LMIS) coupled with gallium ions. This technology is widely appealing due to its long source lifespan, enhanced stability, lower melting point than other sources, and a high mass ions suitable for rapid machining.By applications, the global focused ion beam market is segmented into sample preparation, nanofabrication, and a collective group of minority applications such as biological sciences. In 2015, sample preparation accounted for the leading share in the global focused ion beam market, followed nanofabrication. Within sample preparation, focused ion beam systems are largely used for gate oxide layer verification in CMOS transistors and the preparation of semiconductor samples for investigations in transmission electron microscopes.As of 2015, the leaders in the global focused ion beam market included Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Japan), JEOL Ltd (Japan), FEI (U.S.), TESCAN (Czech Republic), Evans Analytical Group (U.S.), Raith GmbH (Germany), Carl Zeiss AG (Germany), and Fibics Incorporated (Canada).About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Mobile Payment Transaction Market Will Reach US$ 2,849,231.4 Million By 2020

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The mobile payment is an integrated system linked by various components of value chain which typically includes the merchant, the consumer, the financial institution involved and not to forget the payment gateway and the telecom network.In terms of revenue, the global mobile payment transaction market revenues valued at US$ 549,917.7 Mn in 2015 will possibly reach US$ 2,849,231.4 Mn in the year 2020.A sample of this report is available upon request @Mobile payment transaction volume will grow by a massive 41.7% during the forecast period 2015-2020. In terms of volume, the global mobile payment transaction market volume was 18,969.8 million transactions in the year 2015 and this is projected to increase by 106,001.5 million transactions by the year 2020.Persistence Market Research forecasts the global mobile payment transaction market to register a CAGR of 39.1% through 2020 and reach US$ 2.89 trillion in revenues.Even though there will be tremendous growth in mobile payment transactions market, there are many challenges that are obstructing the growth of this market. A major challenge is the slow adoption of smartphone compatible POS systems by the retailers. If taken at face value, a 41.7% volume growth looks amazing, but there is something to be concerned about. One of the major concerns is that apart from few countries, consumers havent fully accepted the concept of mobile payments, even though the facility is much more secure. However, given the inherent nature of the product, it wouldnt be long before consumers all over the world use the facilities provided by mobile payments, as per the research report of Persistence Market Research.By technology, SMS and WAP/WEB will continue to account for most of the transactions conducted worldwide. Mobile payments conducted through SMS will witness a robust CAGR of 24.5% over the forecast period. In the year 2015, the revenue from the SMS segment was US$ 238,884.3 Mn and this is going to be at the value of US$ 678,117.1 Mn by 2020 end.Mobile payments conducted through WAP/WEB will witness a CAGR of 48.0% during the forecast period. In the year 2015, the revenue from the WAP/WEB segment was US$ 164,386.1 Mn and this is going to be valued at US$ 1,725,209.6 at the end of the forecast period in the year 2020.Money transfer and merchandise purchases account for over 90% revenue share of the global mobile payment transaction market on the basis of end-use purpose. Mobile payments made for merchandise purchases will be worth US$ 323.73 Bn in 2016, up from US$ 228.32 Bn in 2015. Money transfer, the largest end-use purpose in the mobile payment transaction market, will grow by over 38% to surpass US$ 381 Bn in revenues.The market for mobile payments will continue to be robust in APEJ and Africa, as majority of people there dont own a credit card, in contrast of the situation in Europe and United States. So, consumers in APEJ and Africa are making a direct shift from using cash to using mobile payments. Growth in the mobile payments market will be particularly strong in China. This is due to the entry of major market players like Apple and Samsung in the Chinese market, making the competition more fierce and interesting.Due to a strong showing in China, the market for mobile payment will continue to grow in the Asia Pacific region and this region will be the leading market in the world in terms of volume. However, in terms of value, it is Africa that will maintain its number one position in the mobile payment transaction market. This is due to the spectacular success of M-Pesa in Kenya and this has influenced consumers and businesses in other regions of Africa to adopt the technology of mobile payments. This has boosted the market of mobile payment transaction market in Africa. Currently, Africa has nearly 32% revenue share of the global mobile payment market, and boasts of a subscriber base of over 100 million. Other than Asia Pacific and Africa, Western Europe and United States are other lucrative regions for mobile payment transaction market the world over.Request to view Table of Content @Leading players operating in the global mobile payment transaction market are PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, Google Wallet, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Alipay.To Buy Full Report for a Single User @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who 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 PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Shares of Benitec Biopharma Limited BNTC surged 62.2% after the company announced that its proposed candidate, BB-301, has received Orphan Drug Designation in the EU for the treatment of patients with ocularpharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD).



A look at Benitecs price movement in the past one year shows that the company has underperformed the Medical-Biomedical/Genetics industry. Specifically, the stock declined 23.7%, compared to the industrys 9.6% fall.





Coming back to the latest news, the designation was backed by a favorable recommendation from the European Medicines Agencys (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP).



The European Commission usually grants orphan medicinal product status in order to provide incentives to candidates that are being developed to treat, prevent or diagnose diseases or conditions affecting no more than 5 in 10,000 people in the region.



Orphan drug status in the EU provides not only a 10-year period of market exclusivity upon approval, but other benefits as well, including fee waivers, protocol assistance during the product development phase under the centralized procedure valid in all EU countries.



BB-301 is currently in preclinical development. Investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies are expected to be initiated later this year. Benitec expects to initiate a phase I/II study on BB-301 in OPMD patients in 2018.



With no approved of treatment options for OPMD, the company has significant potential in this market.



Meanwhile, Bioblast Pharma Ltd. ORPN is evaluating its own OPMD candidate, trehalose, in phase II development.

Benitec Biopharma Limited Price and Consensus

Benitec Biopharma Limited Price and Consensus | Benitec Biopharma Limited Quote

Key Picks in the Sector



Investors looking for a couple of favorably placed stocks in this industry may consider Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. SCMP and Anika Therapeutics, Inc. ANIK. Both the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Sucmapos earnings estimates were stable at $1.22 for 2016 but have increased from $1.30 to $1.74 for 2017 over the last 60 days. The company posted a positive earnings surprise in all of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 35.5%.



Anikas earnings per share estimates for 2016 and 2017 were up 3.9% and 0.5%, respectively, over the last 60 days. The company recorded a positive earnings surprise in each of the last four quarters with an average beat of 33.14%.



Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) Market Will Reach US$ 16,445.4 Million by 2026

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Adopting the business model of Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) has become a pragmatic choice for companies looking at integrating security with their business infrastructure. Furthermore, emerging technological trends related to the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-computing will continue to compel more businesses towards implementation of a Security-as-a-Service business model, which will incidentally benefit them through cost savings. Persistence Market Researchs report on the global Security-as-a-Service market titled Global Market Study on Security-as-a-Service: IT & Telecom and BFSI Industry Segments Major Adopters of Security-as-a-Service Solutions , includes a comprehensive study that has predicted the market to attain US$ 3.3 billion in value by the end of 2016. Over a ten-year forecast period of 2016-2026, the global Security-as-a-Service market is projected to expand at a staggering CAGR of 17.1%.A sample of this report is available upon request @Telecom & IT remains the largest industry for SaaS. Healthcare, Retail & Consumer Goods, and BFSI are the other prominent industries for the global SaaS market. The risks of data loss in the healthcare industry can disrupt dozens of associated businesses such as insurance reimbursement and drug development, and with it, compromise the health of millions of patients. Cloud computing is being merged in the global finance industry, but protection of electronic transactions has necessitated the need for amalgamating a Security-as-a-Service business model. By the end of the forecast period, Healthcare and BFSI industries will account for a market value share of 20.3% and 17.7% respectively, with the global IT & Telecom sector accounting for a revenue share of nearly 30%.Providing security services to large enterprises remains a lucrative revenue-generation business model for leading players. By 2026, large enterprises such as conglomerates or multinational corporations will procure about 50% share of global market value, higher than the collective revenue share of small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, companies in the global Security-as-a-Service market have transformed from being service providers, software developers, and security platform providers to managed security service providers and integrators of Security-as-a-Service for client enterprises. Some of the leading market players profiled in this report include Intel Security, Oracle Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Gemalto NV, Qualys Inc., Alert Logic Inc., Trend Micro Inc., Proofpoint Inc., Zscaler, Inc., and Okta, Inc.The Need for Subscription-based Security Keeps SurgingInterlinked businesses within a company or within multiple corporations are exposed to the threats of network breach, now that cybercrime is at large. As a countermeasure, business operations need to be integrated with security services that safeguard the companies, not just at the firewall level, but at an out-and-out networking parameter. Fusing a security-based business model in an existing and complicated corporate structure can be really formidable for companies, considering the added expenditure of developing an individual security service.Additionally, companies are not looking to further implicate their operational accountabilities by gaining a total ownership of such developed security services. Ergo, the growth of the global market for Security-as-a-Service will be primarily driven by increasing partnerships of companies with service providers offering subscription-based security. So, cost advantages of integrating a Security-as-a-Service business model will encourage more companies to upgrade security measures of their businesses.Request to view Table of Content @Cloud-based security services are proliferating the US corporate world; from budding startups to established conglomerates. North Americas robust Telecom and IT infrastructure aids the extension of its Security-as-a-Service market, which is anticipated to garner revenues worth US$ 8 billion by 2026-end. With an estimated global market revenue share of 36.4% in 2016, North Americas Security-as-a-Service market will account for nearly half of the global market by the end of 2026, growing at the fastest CAGR among all the regions. Meanwhile, the Security-as-a-Service market in Western Europe will expand gradually, generating an opportune incremental value of an estimated US$ 3,059.6 million over the forecast period. Other regions analyzed in the report include Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA).To Buy Full Report for a Single User @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) 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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who 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 PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Europes ICT Spends In Media Sector - Future Perspective To 2019

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SummaryEurope's ICT Spends in Media Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; is an exhaustive research report outlaying future perspectives of ICT project spends in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom). The report provides year on year opportunity spends value within the Media sector; split across BPO Services, Cloud Services, Enterprise Communications Services, IT Hardware, IT Services, and Software categories and further at segment levels for the period 2016 to 2019.Key FindingsEurope's ICT Spends in Media Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; report is a comprehensive outlook built using Kables extensive market research covering spends across ICT markets in Europe. The statistics within the report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment of the Technology and Media sector in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom).Kable has considered buying behavior / ICT spends across hardware, software, services, communications and staff. It acts as an essential tool for companies active across the ICT market and for new players considering entering the market; ensuring right business decision making.Synopsis"Europe's ICT Spends in Media Sector - Future Perspective to 2019" provides the readers with potential spends value on ICT within Media sector of Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom) during the period 2016 through to 2019In particular, it provides information of potential spends by individual countries for the following categories at segment level:BPO ServicesCloud ServicesEnterprise Communications ServicesIT HardwareIT ServicesSoftwareDownload sample Copy of Report atReasonsToBuyUnderstand the opportunities for ICT market in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom) Media sector and how it is set to change in future.Make effective business decisions by recognizing the opportunities within each of the core areas of ICT sectorRealign your sales initiatives by understanding the current strategic objectives of the Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom) ICT Sector.Enhance your market segmentation with detailed breakdown of opportunities within selected technology categories.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
Asia-Pacifics ICT Spends In Pharmaceuticals Sector - Future Perspective To 2019

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SummaryAsia-Pacific's ICT Spends in Pharmaceuticals Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; is an exhaustive research report outlaying future perspectives of ICT project spends in Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea). The report provides year on year opportunity spends value within the Pharmaceuticals sector; split across BPO Services, Cloud Services, Enterprise Communications Services, IT Hardware, IT Services, and Software categories and further at segment levels for the period 2016 to 2019.Key FindingsAsia-Pacific's ICT Spends in Pharmaceuticals Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; report is a comprehensive outlook built using Kables extensive market research covering spends across ICT markets in Asia-Pacific. The statistics within the report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment of the Technology and Pharmaceuticals sector in Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea).Kable has considered buying behavior / ICT spends across hardware, software, services, communications and staff. It acts as an essential tool for companies active across the ICT market and for new players considering entering the market; ensuring right business decision making.Synopsis"Asia-Pacific's ICT Spends in Pharmaceuticals Sector - Future Perspective to 2019" provides the readers with potential spends value on ICT within Pharmaceuticals sector of Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea) during the period 2016 through to 2019In particular, it provides information of potential spends by individual countries for the following categories at segment level:BPO ServicesCloud ServicesEnterprise Communications ServicesIT HardwareIT ServicesSoftwareDownload sample Copy of Report atReasonsToBuyUnderstand the opportunities for ICT market in Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea) Pharmaceuticals sector and how it is set to change in future.Make effective business decisions by recognizing the opportunities within each of the core areas of ICT sectorRealign your sales initiatives by understanding the current strategic objectives of the Asia-Pacific (Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea) ICT Sector.Enhance your market segmentation with detailed breakdown of opportunities within selected technology categories.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
MSD Telematics announces acquisition of Heuristics Info Systems

GPS Personal Tracker, GPS Vehicle Tracker

MSD Telematics Private Limited, a Gurugram based telematics solutions firm, today announced the acquisition of Heuristics Info Systems in an all cash deal. Sparrow Business Solutions LLP, a boutique corporate finance firm acted as the exclusive advisors to MSD and Heuristics on the transaction and TRA Law acted as the legal advisor on the deal.Ashmeet Singh, founder of MSD Telematics commented, This investment will fuel our ability to deliver greater value to customers by enabling us to offer complete bouquet of services. We are excited to have the Heuristics team join us in this exciting journey. Together we look forward to grow multi-fold in the next few years. Heuristics gives us the ability to now service international clientele with innovative and robust software solutions.With the tremendous growth in Transport Tech and Logistics Tech space, telematics as an industry will see fabulous growth in the years to come. Singh added.Siddharth, investor at MSD Telematics said It is time we function as business intelligence partners for the customers, helping them drive operational efficiency while reducing costs and risk. Telematics companies need to create unique positioning products that help customers grow their business. We need to educate customers about numerous applications of telematics and collaborate towards increasing penetration in the domain for a sustainable growth and benefit of all the stakeholders.Heuristics, founded in 2008 by Amit Dubey and Pradeep Rai offers Vehicle Tracking System and Mobile Application software while providing unique cost effective quality solutions to various industry segments. Following the acquisition Amit Dubey, Founder Partner Heuristics Info Systems, would be joining MSD Telematics as a board advisor.Commenting on the deal, Rohit Bhargava, partner at Sparrow Business Solutions LLP said This is probably the start of consolidation in the industry. Few large players will emerge in the next few years to take leadership positions in the USD 120 Million telematics market in India.About MSD Telematics:MSD was founded by two friends Ashmeet Singh and Siddharth in 2011. MSD focuses on telematics integration, GPS based tracking/remote asset management, mobility solution and all M2M solution based products. Company caters to various industrial verticals like logistics, transportation, schools, public distribution system etc. Telematics solution is offered under the brand name traQmatiX.MSD serves corporate and government corporations by offering customized solutions on OPEX basis and on a turn-key basis. MSD counts HPCL, State Election Commissions, State Food Corporations and Excise Departments as some of its clients.About Sparrow Business Solutions LLP:Gurugram, Delhi NCR, India based Sparrow Advisory was set up in late 2014. Sparrow Advisory serves clients in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka across sectors including Auto Components, Water Treatment, Renewables, Consumer Goods, Vacation Rentals, Fitness Industry and Data Analytics. Key service offerings include Market Entry Strategy Consulting, M&A Advisory, Representation Services, Capital Raising Advisory and other corporate finance advisory including strategic consulting, promoting cross border inter-corporate partnership.For further information, please feel free to call/write to:SCROLL MANTRAIshita Roychaudhury at +91-9971036862 or ishita.roychaudhury@scrollmantra.comSenaara Ailawadi at +91-9871808208 or senaara.ailawadi@scrollmantra.comSoftware & Hardware Solution. At traQmatiX, we support the data collection and storage of GPS Tracking and Telematics data from remote devices.B 175, Sushant Lok 1, Near Sushant Arcade, Gurugram
BRICS Nations ICT Spends In Insurance Sector - Future Perspective To 2019

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SummaryBRICS Nation's ICT Spends in Insurance Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; is an exhaustive research report outlaying future perspectives of ICT project spends in BRICS Nation (Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa). The report provides year on year opportunity spends value within the Insurance sector; split across BPO Services, Cloud Services, Enterprise Communications Services, IT Hardware, IT Services, and Software categories and further at segment levels for the period 2016 to 2019.Key FindingsBRICS Nation's ICT Spends in Insurance Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; report is a comprehensive outlook built using Kables extensive market research covering spends across ICT markets in BRICS Nation. The statistics within the report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment of the Technology and Insurance sector in BRICS Nation (Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa).Kable has considered buying behavior / ICT spends across hardware, software, services, communications and staff. It acts as an essential tool for companies active across the ICT market and for new players considering entering the market; ensuring right business decision making.Download Sample Copy of Report atSynopsis"BRICS Nation's ICT Spends in Insurance Sector - Future Perspective to 2019" provides the readers with potential spends value on ICT within Insurance sector of BRICS Nation (Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa) during the period 2016 through to 2019In particular, it provides information of potential spends by individual countries for the following categories at segment level:BPO ServicesCloud ServicesEnterprise Communications ServicesIT HardwareIT ServicesSoftwareReasonsToBuyUnderstand the opportunities for ICT market in BRICS Nation (Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa) Insurance sector and how it is set to change in future.Make effective business decisions by recognizing the opportunities within each of the core areas of ICT sectorRealign your sales initiatives by understanding the current strategic objectives of the BRICS Nation (Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa) ICT Sector.Enhance your market segmentation with detailed breakdown of opportunities within selected technology categories.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
United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Elite Projects & Gross Revenues 2016

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United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare IT Outsourcing Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Technology, Applications, Growth, Market Status, Demands, Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2016-2020.This report on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare IT Outsourcing market is a rich data repository assembled with the aim of presenting before the reader a new viewpoint on the marketas present state and estimated future growth. The report compiles vast data quantitative as well as qualitative insights into the key elements of the market. The report is intended to impart decisive data on the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare IT Outsourcing market so as to enable the reader formulate effective growth strategies, take informed decisions, and stay ahead of the competition.The report includes a discussion of the key market trends of the past and present times affecting consumer choices and having a significant influence on the overall development of the Healthcare IT Outsourcing marketas growth. A detailed analysis of the key drivers and restraints is also included in the report, along with an analytical overview of the prospective impact of these factors on the future growth prospects of the market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Through detailed analysis of historical data pertaining to current market trends and the key market elements, the report presents an accuracy-driven forecast for the Healthcare IT Outsourcing market. This forecast on the Healthcare IT Outsourcing market also includes all factors that could influence it in the near future.The report also gives a thorough overview of all the key factors that are a part of the structural foundation of the market. An overview of the regulatory scenario of the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare IT Outsourcing market has also been included in the report, wherein details pertaining to key rules, policies, regulations, and plans are discussed.The report also gives an insight into the competitive landscape of the market by providing detailed business profiles of some of the key vendors operating in the United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia Healthcare IT Outsourcing market and other relevant business details pertaining to the key players in the market.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Healthcare IT Outsourcing1.1 Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Overview1.1.1 Healthcare IT Outsourcing Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market by Type1.3.1 Provider (EHR, RCM, LIMS)1.3.2 Payer (CRM, Claims Management, Fraud Detection, Billing)1.3.3 Life Science (ERP, CTMS, CDMS)1.3.4 Operational (SCM, BPM) & Infrastructure (IMS, Cloud Computing)] & Industry1.4 Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Application 11.4.2 Application 21.4.3 Application 32 Global Healthcare IT Outsourcing Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future4 Global Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Size by Type and Application (2011-2016)4.1 Global Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Size by Type (2011-2016)4.2 Global Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Size by Application (2011-2016)4.3 Potential Application of Healthcare IT Outsourcing in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Healthcare IT Outsourcing5 United States Healthcare IT Outsourcing Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Size (2011-2016)5.2 United States Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)For Market Research Latest Reports Visit @QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.QYResearchreportsContact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States+1-518-621-2074866-997-4948USA-Canada Toll freesales@qyresearchreports.comFor Latest Press Release Visit @
Industrial Packaging Market | By Pack Types, End-Use & Geography Research Report Upto 2022 - Latest Release By DecisionDatabases

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The Industrial Packaging market research is an essential report which assists in studying and understanding the competitors, knowing prospective industry Size, Share, Trend, Growth and demand forecasts. The report thus, is a helpful guide in determining how to execute competitive strategies, focus on objective policies and strengthen global opportunities upto 2022.Get FREE Sample Copy @Industrial packaging refers to packaging of industrial products by using various packaging techniques to increase overall productivity. Packaging is done to achieve aspects like product safety, extended product storage, maintain quality of product and for other specific applications. Types of packaging are metal, plastic, fibre, paper and others. Industrial packaging involves high standards and quality packaging to meet the market demand on global level. Industrial packaging is widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, logistics, transportation food and beverages, construction, Home Appliances and other end user industries.Global industrial packaging market is segmented by pack types as drums including metal, plastic, and fibre packaging; IBCs that includes rigid and flexible packaging; sacks including paper, PE and other packaging, and pails that includes metal, plastic and other packaging. Based on end user applications, the global industrial packaging market is segmented as chemicals and pharmaceuticals, plastics and rubbers, oil and lubricants, food and beverages, agriculture and horticulture, automotives, metal products, engineering, building and construction and others.Pharmaceuticals and chemicals are significant end users driving the industrial packaging market. Sacks packaging is expected to drive the global industrial packaging market for the forecast period. Growing infrastructure and construction industry and rising demand for packaged foods & beverages are the major driving factors for the growth of global industrial packaging market. Factors holding up the industrial packaging market are stringent regulations environmental concerns over the use packaging materials in regions like Europe and America.Asia Pacific is the leading geography in global industrial packaging market followed by Europe and Latin America. Major companies of global industrial packaging market are Sealed Air Corporation, Tekni-Films, Inc., United Drug Plc, Vetter Pharma International, Aphena Pharma Solutions, Beacon Converters, Inc., Bilcare Research, Catalent Pharma Solutions and Constantia Flexibles.View More about Industrial Packaging Market Research Report @DecisionDatabases is involved in providing research reports and company profiles in the global industrial packaging market in terms of revenue and output/volume. Market drivers, opportunities and restraints are thoroughly studied which influences the market. This study is further utilized for the overall analysis of the market. The industrial packaging market is segmented based on the global applications, geographic presence, by products and ingredients. We offer an inclusive category-specific market outlook. We provide access to a comprehensive collection of companies in the industry. The companies can strategize and execute business operations through our competitor analysis. Find the global industry analysis, market size, share, growth, and trends information in our industrial packaging profiles.Major Table Of Contents:1. INTRODUCTION2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY3. MARKET ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING4. INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING MARKET ANALYSIS BY PACK TYPES5. INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING MARKET ANALYSIS BY END-USE6. INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING MARKET ANALYSIS BY REGION7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING COMPANIES8. COMPANY PROFILES OF INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING INDUSTRYOrder a Complete Industrial Packaging Market Research Report @DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web:
Global Electric Vehicle Market Growth Opportunities, Key Driven Factors, Market Scenario Forecast to 2027

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Market ScenarioThe major growth driver of Electric Vehicle Market includes growing integration of electric vehicles within the product portfolio of OEMs, collaboration of e-mobility value chain, growing infrastructure, and innovative government regulations and subsidies among others. However, high cost of electric vehicle and high charging time of vehicle are the factors which are hindering the growth of Electric Vehicle Market.SegmentsGlobal Electric Vehicle Market can be segmented as follows:Segmentation by Type: HEVs (Hybrid Electric vehicle), BEVs (Battery electric vehicle) PHEVs (Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles)Segmentation by Components: Batteries, Sub-assemblies, Automotive parts among others.Segmentation by Manufacturing Process: Raw materials, Design, Assembly, Quality control.Request a Sample Copy @Analysis also includes consumption. Import and export data for Regions North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India.Key PlayersSome of the major players in Global Electric Vehicle Market include Nissan motors (Japan), Tesla Corporation (U.S.), General motors (U.S.), Mitsubishi Motors (Japan), Volkswagen (Germany), Daimler AG (Germany), Smith electric Vehicle (U.S.), Bosch GmbH (Germany), Delphi Automotive plc.(U.K.) among othersTaste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread in 110 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Electric Vehicle Market Research Report- Global Forecast to 2027Objective of Electric Vehicle Market Study: 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 Electric Vehicle Market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To Analyze the Electric Vehicle Market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW). To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by type, applications and sub-segments. To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketRequest a TOC, Tables, and Figure @Reasons to Purchase this report:From an insight perspective, this research report has focused on various levels of analysesindustry analysis (industry trends), market share analysis of top players, supply chain analysis, and company profiles, which together comprise and discuss the basic views on the competitive landscape, emerging and high-growth segments of the Electric Vehicle Market, high-growth regions, and market drivers, restraints, and opportunitiesKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2027 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?Related ReportVirtual Reality Market Research Report- Forecast to 2027The market for Virtual Reality Market is expected to grow at XX% CAGR (2016-2027).Know more about this report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Cardiovascular Information System Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Rampant rise in incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases worldwide, is fueling demand for a system that can aid physicians in managing patients cardiovascular medical records. This cardiovascular information system is a web-based system that would allow easy report generation and distribution. The cardiovascular information system (CVIS) provides on-time access to cardiovascular electronic medical records (EMR) in images, reports, and waveforms. The prime benefit of cardiovascular information system is that the patient safety and quality of care is improved by providing healthcare experts access to individuals cardiovascular medical records. Implementation of cardiovascular information system would help hospitals eliminate duplicate entries and reduce errors. From the formulation of operational strategies to the use of multiple functionalities from multiple locations, cardiovascular information system has been immensely useful and efficient.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Cardiovascular Information System Market TaxonomyThe cardiovascular information system market can be analyzed on the basis of application as follows:Cardiac and peripheral catheterization: This involves the insertion of a catheter into the heart chamber for the diagnosis and treatment of a particular heart conditionHemodynamics monitoring: It is based on invasive measurement of cardiac output, pulmonary arterial, and venous pressuresElectrophysiology: Electrophysiology is characterized by the study of diagnosis and treatment of electrical activities of the heartEchocardiography: An echocardiogram is a test used to create images of the heart with the help of sound wavesVascular ultrasound: Vascular ultrasound is a painless and non-invasive test to create images of arteries and veins, using a high-frequency sound wavesNuclear cardiology : Nuclear cardiology involves the usage of a radioactive tracer into the bloodstream for the identification of coronary heart disease and severity of prior heart attacksOn the basis of system, the cardiovascular information system market has been segmented as follows:-CVIS-CPACSOn the basis of software delivery mode:-Cloud-On-premiseOn the basis of end users:-Hospitals-Diagnostic Laboratories-Private ClinicsCardiology picture archiving and communication systems (CPACS) are slightly different from the radiology picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), in terms that CPACS support DICOM structure reporting for echocardiography measurements that is lacking in the PACS. The CVIS system on the other hand is data driven and stores patient information in the CVIS database for patient record and data reporting.Browse Research Report At:Cardiovascular Information System Market Outlook - Growing Integration of Healthcare and IT to boost demand in Developing NationsOn the basis of geography, the global cardiovascular information system market can be segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Rest of the World (RoW). Prime factors contributing towards growth of cardiovascular information system market are increasing need to streamline the workflow and strengthen referral relationships, thereby focusing more on patient care. Furthermore, creation of a single point of access to all cardiac images helps physicians to make better treatment decisions at timely intervals. Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as a major market in the near future, mainly due to growing demand of cardiologists to produce a report from the CPACS while viewing the cardiac images, and appropriate integration of reports, images and measurements into a patients complete record. Also, increasing need to create an enterprise information management solution and need to reduce healthcare costs would also propel growth of cardiovascular information system market.Various companies provide cardiovascular information system to hospitals for a better and streamlined flow of procedures. Some of the top companies operating in the cardiovascular information system market are McKesson Corporation, Philips Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Cerner Corporation, Merge Healthcare, Agfa Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, Agfa Healthcare, Fujifilm Medical Systems, Digisonics, Inc., and Lumedx.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Coherent Market Insights303, Astral Court,Above Reliance Fresh,Near Gaikwad Petrol Pump,Aundh, Pune  411045, IndiaTel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Advertisement Blockers Market - Forecast, Demand, Outlook And Market Research Report

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Online advertising is method of marketing through the use of Internet to convey promotional messages to users and it is done in such a way that is diverts the Internet users attention. Online advertisements comes in a variety of forms including banner ads, text ads, sponsored links, sponsored stories, pictures and animations, and sometimes in the form of pop-up windows employing an auto-play of audio or video. Most of the time these advertisements are disturbing, thus annoying the end users. Moreover, these advertisements also compel user to watch full screen video, while the user is browsing to read an article. Furthermore, these ads cost users money in terms of data usage. To ensure safety and sidestep such incidences consumers are now using ad blockers.Get Sample Report Copy :Advertisement blocking is also referred as advertisement filtering. It is the removal of any undesirable advertising content in a webpage by installing an appropriate web extension/plugin. Suitable extensions are available on all key web browsers, besides they are fast and easy to install. Some of these extensions are available open-source, while rest are available in the form of commercial projects. In early days these advertisement blockers were only compatible with desktop browsers; however, with the recent rise in the use of mobile device advertisement blockers have made their way to smartphones.One of the major factors driving advertisement blockers market includes need for privacy, these advertisements are programmed to monitor users browsing activity. Most of the Internet users are not comfortable in sharing their browsing data to these anonymous publishers and hence to safeguard their privacy and to preserve user identity the advertisement blockers are becoming rapidly popular which is likely to support expansion of the market. Furthermore, a lot of irrelevant content appears through these advertisements, which users find annoying and hence it is another factor boosting the growth of this market. Additionally, to ensure security from criminal activities, advertisement blockers are in great demand. Criminals have a huge reach and through malicious software that encrypts data, they can demand for monetary returns, hence this is one of the key factors driving the market.Though advertisement blockers benefits users by reducing page load time it also results into broken links and disturbs the web browsers settings, thus affecting the entire user experience. This is one of the factors hindering the growth of ad blockers market.Advertisement blockers are threats for the online marketing companies, as advertising is the only source of revenue for them and blocking of advertisement badly affects the companys earning and often leads to loss in terms of money.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :The key players the advertisement blocker market include Eyeo GmbH, Ghostery, Inc., Adguard and uBlock Origin, and Privacy Badger (Developed by Electronic Frontier Foundation). In coming years with rising impact of machine learning technology and analytics the ad blocking quality is expected to improve.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Nephrology and Urology Devices Market Size, Share, Analysis, Report and Forecast to 2022

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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Nephrology and Urology Devices is valued at $17.28 billion in 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% to reach $28.27 billion by 2022. Rising occurrence of chronic kidney diseases, increased spending on healthcare among the emerging regions and growing aged population across the world are some of the factors favoring the market growth. Moreover, the growing awareness about the benefits of these devices such as abridged recovery and treatment time is also propelling the global market. On the other hand, the high cost linked with these devices hampers the market.Dialysis devices commanded the largest market share and BPH treatment devices are anticipated to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. Fresenius was leading the market in dialysis devices followed Baxter Corporation. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a major concern and is expected to affect around 75% of male over the age of 55, thus driving the market to grow. Regionally, Europe is presently leading the market owing to the increasing need to keep up with the infrastructural requirements in hospital in region. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a faster pace due to the promising medical tourism industry in the region. New Product launch, merger and acquisition, and research and development are the successful strategies followed by the players in the market to gain the traction.Some of the key players in global Nephrology and Urology Devices market are Nikkiso Co. Ltd., Boston Scientific, American Medical Systems, LLC, Cook Medical, Olympus Medical Systems, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Rockwell Medical Technologies Inc., Dornier MedTech, Coloplast, Terumo Corporation, Fresenius Medical Care, B Braun Group, Nipro Corporation, Baxter International Inc., NxStage Medical, Inc. and C. R. Bard, Inc.For More, Please Visit:Products Covered: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Devices Urinary Stone Treatment Prostate Cancer Urinary Incontinence Deviceso UIBulkingo UISlings Urological Endoscopes Urological Catheters Dialysis Devices Erectile Dysfunction Device Nephrostomy Pelvic Floor Repair Ureteral Access Devices Endoscopy DevicesType of Diseases Covered: Urinary Incontinence (UI) and Pelvic Organ Prolapsed (POP)o Incontinence Productso Interventional Therapies Urinary Stoneo Open Surgeryo Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy (PCNL)o Laser Lithotripsyo Extra-Corporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)o Holmium Laser Enucleation of Prostate (HOLEP)o Transurethral Radio Frequency Needle Ablation of the Prostate (TUNA)o Stenting (Prostatic Stents)o Surgery for BPHo Catheterizationo Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy of the Prostate (TUMT) Chronic Kidney Disease And Renal Failureo Hemodialysiso Kidney Transplanto Peritoneal DialysisEnd Users Covered: Hospitals and Clinics Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC) Home Other End UsersRegions 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
Oilfield Surfactants Market Size, Share, Analysis, Report and Forecast to 2022

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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Oilfield Surfactant market is accounted for $1.04 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $1.57 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2015 to 2022. Factors such as increased usage of CO2 Oil Recovery Technology, rising demand for bio-based surfactants, regulations and non-toxicity are driving the market growth. New projects and huge investment in APAC and Africa region, Utilization and Management of Industrial and Agricultural Wastes will further provide growth opportunities for the market globally. However, environmental concerns, decreasing oil prices and regulatory factors are restraining oilfield Surfactant market.Surfactants in personal care product market will see the best growth prospects. Cleaning products segment is expected to show moderate growth. Bio based surfactant segment is estimated to show prospective growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Asia-Pacific region holds the largest market share. However, North America followed by Europe is estimated to show a significant growth in the surfactant market.Some of the key players in global Oilfield Surfactant market are Air Products and Chemicals, Inc, Clariant AG, Evonik Industries AG, Henkel AG & Co. KGAA, The Dow Chemical Company, Evonik Industries AG, BASF SE, Stepan Company, P&G Chemicals, Pilot Chemical Company, Siltech Corporation, Oxiteno S.A Industria E Comercio, SABIC, Shell Chemicals, Huntsman Corporation, SI Group, Inc, AGAE Technologies, LLC.For More, Please Visit:Substrates Covered: Bio-Based/Oleo chemicalo Bio surfactant Synthetic/PetrochemicalProducts Covered: Anionic Surfactanto Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS)o Secondary Alkane Sulfonate (SAS)o Methyl Ester Sulfonates (MES)o Alpha Olefin Sulfonates (AOS) Non-Ionic Surfactanto Alkylphenol ethoxylateso Alkanolamideso Polyglucosideso Sorbitan esterso Alcohol ethoxylateso Fatty amine ethoxylateso Sucrose esters Cationic Surfactant Other Surfactantso Silicon Surfactantso Fluorinated Surfactantso Polymeric Surfactantso Amphoteric Surfactantso Association PolymersApplications Covered: Emulsifiers and Demulsifiers Lubricants Dispersants Corrosion Inhibitors Foam Control Agents Setting and Suspending Agents Biocides AcrylicEnd Users Covered: Personal Care Industry Textile Industry Soap Industry Elastomers and Plastic Industry Oilfield Chemicals Industrial and Institutional Cleaning Crop Protection Pharmaceuticals Paper and pulp Industry Paints, Coatings& Adhesives Metal & EngineeringRegions 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
Bispecific Antibodies Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Bispecific Antibodies Market OverviewBispecific antibody (BsAb) is an artificial protein that is composed of fragments of two different monoclonal antibodies and has ability to bind to two different types of antigen. Cancer immunotherapy is the most widely explored application of bispecific antibody. Lung, breast and colon cancer are the wider applications of BsAb. Bispecific antibody simultaneously binds to a cytotoxic cell and target tumor cell and destroys it. Bispecific antibodies are emerging a technologically advanced solution for dual targeting strategies within same molecule.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Due to its dual specificity, bispecific antibody can aid in redirecting T cells to tumor cells, blocking two different signaling pathways simultaneously, dual targeting of different disease mediators, and delivering payloads to targeted sites. Catumaxomab and blinatumomab are the two U.S. FDA approved bispecific antibody products, which would fuel growth of the bispecific antibodies market. Bispecific antibodies can be divided into three main classes namely, fragment, symmetric, and asymmetric antibodies. Fragment bispecific antibodies such as a nanobody DART and BiTE are currently undergoing clinical trials. Likewise, tetravalent BsAb - DVD and DAF symmetric antibodies are under research. Companies such as Sanofi S.A., Merck & Co., Inc. and Genentech, Inc. are conducting research on symmetric bispecific antibodies. BEAT, duobody, and crossmab are examples of asymmetric bispecific antibodies, which are currently being researched by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Company, and Genmab A/S.Catumaxomab  the first Bispecific antibody boost growth of the bispecific antibodies marketAs of 2015, over 60 different BsAb formats have been developed, with some making their way into the clinical trials. Bispecific antibodies market growth is increasing due to the limitation of monoclonal antibodies in drug resistance and failure to respond in treatment. Hence, the bispecific antibodies market is projected to gain significant growth traction in the near future.Catumaxomab is a rat  mouse hybrid monoclonal bispecific trifunctional antibody used to treat malignant ascites. It was developed by Fresenius Biotech and Trion Pharma. Catumaxomab was approved in Europe in 2009 and is undergoing clinical trials in the U.S. Sold under the brand name Removab, Catumaxomab is administered to patients with EpCAM-poisitve carcinoma.Browse Research Report At :North America and Europe are major regions for Bispecific antibodies marketIn Europe and North America, incidence of diseases such as lung cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer is increasing, with the regions accounting for the highest incidence rate for these diseases worldwide. Moreover, with these regions being home to major players, these are the largest bispecific antibodies market. Supportive government initiatives are further fueling growth of bispecific antibody treatment markets in North America and Europe. Increasing healthcare access and awareness in developing regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East are projected to propel demand for BsAb owing to fuel growth of the bispecific antibodies market in the near future.Increasing investments to harness the potential of highly effective BsAb Drug TherapyVarious pharmaceutical companies are actively involved in development and manufacture of bispecific antibodies. MedImmune, LLC and Abpro, collaborated in December 2016 to develop novel bispecific antibody, Ang2-VEGF, which targets angiopoietin-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor. Government funding is projected to further encourage research and development in this field.Key players involved in the Bispecific antibodies market includeSome of the key players in Bispecific antibodies market are Amgen, Inc., Bayer AG, Dow Pharmaceutical Solutions, ImmunGene, Inc., Immunocore Limited, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., and F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Coherent Market Insights303, Astral Court,Above Reliance Fresh,Near Gaikwad Petrol Pump,Aundh, Pune  411045, IndiaTel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Advanced Distributed Management System Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Forecast 2016 - 2024

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An advanced distribution management system is a software platform that facilitates the full suite of optimization and distribution management. It operates automate outage restoration and optimizes the performance of the distribution grid. Various applications of advanced distribution management system include fault location, isolation, and service restoration (FLISR), planning function, volt/VAR control, and advanced forecasting using supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system.Get Sample Report Copy :Advanced distribution management systems have emerged as a major smart grid technology innovation with the potential to combine utility distribution IT systems into a single, more efficiently managed platform. These systems function for electric utilities for numerous applications such as fault location, restoration, and isolation, conservation through voltage reduction, volt/volt-ampere reactive optimization, support for microgrids and electric vehicles and peak demand management.The advanced distributed management system market has been experiencing massive growth in the recent years due to rapid development in smart grid technology and rise in global energy demand. Government regulations mandating the deployment of advanced distributed management system to enhance the carbon efficiency and reduce the cost is expected to drive the market in near term. Additionally, increasing need for improved customer service and utility efficiency is further expected to fuel the market growth.However, lack of standard interface and interoperability issues in advanced distributed management systems is hindering the market growth. Also, inadequate financial incentives for utilities is also restraining the market growth. Infrastructural developments such as development of smart cities and integration of advanced distributed management systems with smart devices is expected to create huge opportunities for the companies operating in global advanced distributed management system market.The global advanced distributed management system market is segmented on the basis of type, end user and geography. Based on the type, the market is classified into software and services. Services is further sub segmented into consulting, system integration and support and maintenance. Among these, system integration is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Increasing demand for system integrators to install, manage and maintain various connected platforms is a major driving factor for the growth of the system integration segment. In terms of end user, the market for advanced distribution management system is segmented into industrial, commercial and residential end users.On the basis of geography, the global advanced distributed management system market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these, North America is expected to lead the advanced distributed management system market during the forecast period due to rising need for energy, increasing government regulations regarding carbon savings and increasing number of smart grid projects. Moreover, Middle East & Africa (MEA) and Latin America is expected to tender growth opportunities owing to the increasing smart grid projects and increasing energy prices.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Some of the leading companies operating in the global advanced distributed management system market with the most significant developments include Oracle Corporation, Schneider Electric SE, ABB Group, Indra Sistemas, General Electric Company, Advanced Control Systems, Siemens AG, Survalent Technology, ETAP/Operation Technology, Inc., Capgemini Consulting, S&C Electric Company, Alstom S.A. and Open Systems International, Inc.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Soil Fumigant Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Global Soil Fumigant Market: SummarySoil fumigants play a significant role in agriculture, nursery, and turf grass. Soil fumigation provides benefits to both farmers and food consumers. Fumigation is a pest control technique, wherein the land is filled with gaseous fumigants in to order to disinfect the land. Soil fumigants are applied prior to crop plantation to eliminate pests present in the soil. Soil fumigants target soil-borne pests, including nematodes, fungi, bacteria, weeds, and insects. These are used for tomato, potato, carrot, and strawberry, among various others fruits and vegetables. Fumigant, when applied to the soil, instantly converts into gas and forms a protection layer around the root. This in turn protects the crop from harmful pathogens present in the soil.Interpret a Competitive outlook Analysis Report with PDF Brochure:Fumigant products provide significant sustainable and cost-effective solutions in the agriculture industry to increase plant yields irrespective of geography. Fumigants are helpful in resolving problems caused by one or more pathogens. For instance, fumigant can control pathogens such as nutsedge (a weed) and root rot (phytophthora) in tomatoes. Commonly used fumigants are methyl bromide, chloropicrin, methyl iodide, 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), dimethyl disulfide, dazomet, metam sodium, and metam potassium. Companies operating in this segment are striving to develop different products containing different ingredients to restrict the growth of various pathogens. Major advantages of soil fumigants are protection of plants from numerous pathogens and increased crop yield. Rising demand for food across the world over the past few years has fueled demand for soil fumigants.Global Soil Fumigant Market: Trends and ProspectsThe soil fumigant market is driven by high frequency of crop diseases and growing demand for food in both developed and developing nations. Rise in per hector production to meet food demand has led to high demand for soil fumigants. The environmental protection law in the U.S. and Europe will hinder the usage of soil fumigants in the next few years. Methyl bromide is one of the most commonly used soil fumigants; however, the usage of methyl bromide was restricted owing to its ozone depletion properties. Increasing in preference for organic food will boost demand for soil fumigants. Furthermore, innovative production practices without harming crop yield will increase demand for soil fumigants globally.Global Soil Fumigant Market: Regional OutlineThe soil fumigant market in Asia Pacific is expected to witness strong growth owing to high economic growth and rising demand for food. Developing countries such as China and India would play a vital role in the soil fumigant market due to increased demand for food driven by the rising population. North America is likely to be the second-largest market, followed by Europe, due to stringent regulations on chemicals used in agriculture. Moreover, countries in Africa, South America, and the Middle East have experienced rapid economic and industrial growth in the past few years. These factors are likely to create a favorable environment for the growth of the global soil fumigant market.Global Soil Fumigant Market: Leading Companies AnalysisKey manufacturing companies operating in the soil fumigant market are Bayer CropScience AG, AMVAC Chemical Corporation, Trinity Manufacturing, Inc., Arkema, BASF SE, Chemtura Corporation, Syngenta AG, Arysta LifeScience Limited, Great Lakes Solutions, The Dow Chemical Company, and Novozymes. Companies are striving to develop innovative solutions in the soil fumigant market to meet the changing needs of growers. Therefore, the global soil fumigant market is expected to experience strong growth in the next few years.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
BuildMyGhar.com launches new website

Sourabh Bansal, Managing Director of Magicrete Building Solutions Private Limited, a leading manufacturer of AAC (Autoclave Aerated Concrete) blocks, has announced the relaunch of the website of BuildMyGhar, a sister concern of Magicrete. The online portal got launched after getting refurbished with more features and a fresh look.The online portal of BuildMyGhar has several 3D home plans that meet individual needs of home owners. There are designs starting from bachelor pads to villas and bungalows that have more than five to six bedrooms and as many bathrooms. Their customers and clients can choose from a varied range of sizes for the house as well as the price range. These 3D plans allow home buyers to have a look at the existing plans or they can even login to buildmyghar and upload their pre-approved designs. They can then get a suggestion or second opinion while getting the house built by BuildMyGhar. The professional architects and designers associated with the company would assist in such situations.The portal also features construction-ready plots across Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi-NCR. These plots have all the vital details such as size and location, so that a buyer can browse through the desired plot/land and purchase it online. Now, physically land hunting is a thing of the past, when there is an option for online purchase. Sellers can also upload the pictures and details about a site and sell it online. BuildMyGhar has a strong foothold in the said locations and is rigorously moving ahead to create a nationwide presence.BuildMyGhar has an interesting feature, which enables the home owners to view the work in progress and comment, like or share online. Like they say home building goes social.BuildMyGhar has entered the real estate market with a fresh air, as there were hardly any companies offering online home-building solutions in India. This turnkey solution provider has taken home building to another level. The idea emanated out of the need to bridge the gap between the real estate industry and the demand for raw materials such as bricks. With a huge demand for bricks alone, Sourabh Bansal did his share of research and came up with the best feasible solution i.e. manufacturing Autoclave Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks.A glance to the rootsThe parent company Magicrete manufactures AAC blocks, precast products and drymix products at their two plants located in Navsari, Gujarat and Jhajjhar, Haryana. This company is an integral part of a group of companies dealing with chemicals, textiles and real estate sector, which has an aggregate turnover of over INR 5 billion. In the fiscal year 2014-15, the revenue generated by Magicrete was INR 135 crore.Magicrete was established in 2008, which was funded by angel investors and later in March 2013 brokerage house, Motilal PE, invested INR 35 crore in this venture.Magicrete has revolutionized the AAC blocks market, making these blocks a mass-market product from being a niche market product. Sourabh bagged the contracts for low-cost housing projects in Gujarat, through the Gujarat Housing Board along with the contract for military quarters all over India.How BuildMyGhar came up?Once the company had a strong foothold in the AAC block market, they came up with this unique idea of making home building easy and stress free for the Indian homeowners. This brought about the idea for the formation of BuildMyGhar, one of the pioneers in online home building in India.A time when the real estate companies were rigorously adapting to modern technologies in construction and civil engineering, only few among them had ventured to explore this arena in house construction. BuildMyGhar has set a new benchmark bringing architects, home designs, plots and everything that is required to deliver a ready to move-in home. BuildMyGhar focuses on building prefabricated houses within 150 days, including furnishing.The pool of professionals at BuildMyGhar includes:1. Interior designers2. Project coordinator3. Architect4. Landscape designerThe interiors designers at BuildMyGhar rigorously follow the current market trends and bring the best feasible designs for the customers. Project coordinators and architects work all along to efficiently build the homes, without crossing the budget or timeline promised to the home buyers. Once the house construction is complete, landscape designers ensure that the landscape is organized perfectly in synch with the house.BuilMyGhar has been operating in the industry since a year, but the kind of work they are delivering is rapidly reaching new heights. Their prefabricated home building solutions are meant for individual home owners and gaining popularity, as the modern home owners are getting educated about online home building.101-102, Ritz Square, Ghod Dod Road, Surat, Gujarat  395002
Umbilical Market - Forecast, Demand, Outlook And Market Research Report

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Umbilical cable refers to a technology which transfers signals, consumable, or energy from one end of the cable to another. Umbilical cables consist of multiple components assembled together in a composite structure. These components include hoses, tubes, electric cables, and optic cables. In addition, various types of umbilical cables are designed according to the requirement within the application such as electrical umbilical cables with signal and power elements to connect the ends over long distance. Furthermore, some umbilical cables are used to control the operation of subsea production, processing, and injection facilities. Similarly, some umbilical cables provide electric power to control signals to and from system.Get Sample Report Copy :The Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) umbilical communication cables are widely used during the installation of subsea control systems, and operational systems. The umbilical cables are also used to monitor position and functions of subsea installations remotely from offshore platforms or onshore facilities. Similarly, umbilical cables are also used in diving applications to provide life support for the diver. Furthermore, there is a trend of customized product manufacturing as per the end-user requirement. For instance, Technip provides customized umbilical systems and cables for oil and gas industry. In addition, Umbilicals International, Inc. invested in dynamic cable manufacturing to develop high performance cable, hose, and umbilical systems in their Houston, the U.S. production facility.The umbilical cables help to cope with the increasing power needs of subsea pumping, compression, and processing equipment. The ROV umbilical cables provide efficient communication without interruptions such as weather or surface traffic. In addition, umbilical cables are more effective as compared to other communication modes such as radio communication or satellite communication. Furthermore, umbilical cables can be operated under harsh environments such as high hydraulic pressures, and turbulent waves. All these factors are expected to drive the global umbilical market over the forecast period till 2024. However, ROV cables are still in improvement phase, and high cost associated with umbilical cables is expected to restrain the large scale adoption of these cables. The umbilical cables can be used in multiple applications such as telecommunication, instrumentation, oil and energy, and other subsea applications, which are expected to provide growth opportunity to the umbilical market in near term.The umbilical market is segmented by type, by application, and by geography. By type, the umbilical market is segmented into hydraulic, electro hydraulic, electro-fiber hydraulic, and remote operated vehicle umbilical cables. Based on applications, the umbilical market is segmented into subsea, offshore, onshore, oil and gas, mining, electro-mechanical, and other. On the basis of geography, the umbilical market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. Among these regions, Europe and North America have seen significant growth in the umbilical market due to increasing subsea operation and growing manufacturing industry. For instance, Nexans installed two power umbilicals for Chevron Corporation in the Gulf of Mexico. Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa are anticipated to witness high adoption of umbilical cables due to increasing demand from oil and energy industry, and increasing power needs by various equipment such as control system, and operation systems. Further, LS Cable & System announced the development of umbilical cables for offshore engineering in Korea.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Witnessing the rapid development and increasing adoption of umbilical cables, various players have entered into the global umbilical market. The major players in this market include Nexans, Prysmian S.p.A., JDR Cable Systems Ltd, Oceaneering International, Inc., Aker Solutions ASA, Technip, Subsea 7 S.A., Parker Hannifin Corp, Actuant Corporation, Tyco Electronic Corporation, Cabling Group, Umbilicals International, Inc., Hydro Group plc, LS Cable & System, and Sound Ocean Systems, Inc.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Television Broadcasting Market - Trends and Opportunities for the Industry by 2024

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Television broadcasters are into TV broadcasting business since the inception of TV. TV industry has seen a significant transformation with the emergence of digital broadcasting and the Internet. With developing digital ecosystem worldwide, and improving penetration of Internet, online TV viewing has been increased in past decade. Although, traditional pay TV still dominates the TV broadcasting market. The transformation from analog to digital transmission is one of the prime factors fuelling the growth of television broadcasting market.Get Sample Report Copy :TV broadcasting market is segmented on the basis of content delivery method and revenue channel. On the basis of content delivery method, television broadcasting market is segmented as analog, cable, DTT, IPTV and satellite. Analog transmission technique is the conventional broadcasting method, which uses analog audio/video signals for delivery of content. Cable TV and satellite TV are the modern day content delivery techniques, which came into effect post international telecommunication union (ITU) digitization guidelines. In terms of revenue channel, TV broadcasting market is further classified as subscription fees, advertising, public revenue and others (video-on-demand (VOD), e-learning, games, internet, etc.). Revenue generated from advertisement is likely to be the key factor in development of TV broadcasting industry.To gain competitive edge, businesses from all the major segments viz. telecommunication, automotive, consumer goods often choose TV as the primary platform for marketing their products. This advertising leads to significant revenue generation and is one of the major growth driver for television broadcast industry. Further, increasing consumer base, owing to transformation from analog to digital signals is anticipated to propel the growth of TV broadcasting market. Alongside this, improving quality of media content such as introduction of 4K/UHD and full HD signals on TV platform and widening adoption of HD content is likely to fuel the growth television broadcasting market in near term. Moreover, additional TV services such as VoD, e-learning and online games, through TV is expected to complement the growth of television broadcasting market throughout the forecast period. However, shifting consumer preferences on TV viewing and rising delivery content through internet and smartphone applications is estimated to limit the growth of television broadcasting market. With world going through digital switchover, large consumer base still remain untapped with latest TV services such as VoD, e-learning etc., which offer huge market opportunities for the players involved in TV broadcasting market.On a global scale, North America is likely to dominate in terms of penetration and adoptability of modern-day television services. Further, cable and satellite content delivery models are expected to dominate this region. Furthermore, large part of the revenue is anticipated to be generated from subscription fees of the TV services. Additionally, countries from Western Europe such as the U.K., Spain, Germany and Italy is likely to dominate the growth of television broadcasting market in Europe region.However, with significant consumer base and improving broadcasting infrastructure; Asia Pacific is likely to see significant growth in coming years. By revenue channel, advertisement is likely to hold majority of market share in global TV broadcast market especially in Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa region. Furthermore, cable TV and satellite TV, contentment delivery method are expected to show significant growth during the forecast period.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Some of the key TV broadcasting groups are American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), The National Broadcasting Company (NBC), The Fox Broadcasting Company, Manila Broadcasting Company, and Aereo, Inc.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Growth Of Renewable Energy In Mining Industry Market Forecasts - 2024

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The mining industry traditionally relies on the conventional fossil based sources of energy such as diesel, oil and natural gas to fulfill the energy demand. The industry is now competing with the increased prices of the fuel which leads the operator to operate on less operating margins. The mining industry is expanding its wings into new remote locations to meet the emerging demand of the energy. Typically use of large diesel equipments on mining site resulting in a dependency on the diesel fuel. As maximum locations for mining are in remote areas making it difficult to provide grid connectivity, increasing its reliability on on-site generation.The emerging demand for the energy and volatility in the market price of conventional fuel are the main drivers for the renewable energy in mining industry. Additional cost of setting equipments for generation from renewable sources and low capacity utilization factor are the major constraints for the industry. Allocation of new mines, innovative technologies used in locating resources and rising demand for resources bring new market opportunities for the new players to invest in the market.View exclusive Global strategic Business report :Renewable Energy In Mining Industry: SegmentationThe renewable energy in mining industry can be segmented on the basis of technology used for power generation on site. Majorly solar and wind technology can be used on mining sites to provide power. Solar power can be directly converted into electricity through photovoltaic cells and concentrated solar power technique. Today photovoltaic cells provide 0.1% of the total global electricity production. Photovoltaic is a commercially reliable and viable technology with a huge potential for the long term growth across all the world regions.Photovoltaic technology is further segmented into crystalline silicone, thin film and concentrator technologies. Crystalline silicone technology contributes about 85-90% to the global market for solar. Crystalline silicone is further divided into multi-crystalline and single-crystalline. Thin film is further divided into amorphous & micromorph silicone, cooper-indium diselenide, cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium diselenide. Concentrator technology uses optical concentrator system which focuses solar radiation onto high efficiency solar cells. This technology is under development phase.Large wind farms consist of hundreds of wind turbines connected to the power transmission network. The earths surface heats and cools unequally resulting in the creation of atmospheric pressure zones that make air to flow from high pressure zone to low pressure zone. This wind is used to rotate the turbines of the large wind mills for power generation. The amount of generation depends on the velocity of the wind where the wind farm is installed. Wind turbines are majorly classified into horizontal axis and vertical axis turbines. A horizontal axis turbine has its blade rotating on the axis parallel to the ground whereas vertical axis has its blade rotating on the axis perpendicular to the ground. The cut in speed for the wind turbines is in the range of 10-16 kmph and is defined as the minimum speed at which the blades will rotate and generate usable power.Renewable Energy In Mining Industry: Region-wise OutlookIn the Asia Pacific region China and India are the major countries using above stated technologies for power generation. In the European region Germany, France and United Kingdom are the major users of the solar and wind technologies in power generation. In the North American region the United States and Canada are the major countries generating power from solar and wind.Key players in providing renewable energy in mining industry are Gamesha, E.ON, Vestas, Siemens, Iberdrola Renewables, General Electric, NextEra, Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., First Solar and Hanwha SolarOne among others.Complete Report with TOC :The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Contact90 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
Big Data in Healthcare Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Big data in healthcare market revenue is expected to grow at lucrative rate over the forecast period primarily due to increased digitalization in industrial process. Digitization is transforming industrial processes, functions, products, and services. Advent of e-commerce has resulted in a sudden spurt in data being generated by various companies. Also, with decades of research and development activities across the healthcare industry, there is a large amount of data, referred to as 'big data', piled up with host organizations. It is therefore essential to ensure optimum utilization of this data for reducing costs, providing targeted products and services, and avoiding duplication of work. Big data solution helps simplifying and analyze complex and diverse data, a task that cannot be achieved using conventional software and hardware. Moreover, such kind of data cannot be managed with trivial data management tools and methods. Various tools such as Pentaho, Hadoop, Cloudera, and MongoDB are available in the market for the same. These tools help in data cleaning, mining, and analyzing of big data. There are also various data visualization tools such as Tableau, Silk, and Chartio that help in presenting the data in a more convenient and readable form.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Big data helps healthcare companies to mitigate the risk of losing millions of dollars in revenue and profits through their conventional strategic decision making methods. Globally, big data in healthcare market scenario can be segmented on the basis of application, analytics type, delivery model, and end users.Big Data in Healthcare Market, by Analytics Type-Descriptive Analytics-Predictive Analytics-Prescriptive AnalyticsBig Data in Healthcare Market, by Application-Clinical Analytics-Financial Analytics-Operational and Administrative Analytics-Population Health AnalyticsBig Data in Healthcare Market, by Delivery Model-On-premise-On-demandBig Data in Healthcare Market, by End User-Payers-Providers-Third party care OrganizationsPharmaceutical companies, payors, and experts are using big data analytics/solutions to analyze and obtain insights about industry trends and accordingly make detailed and accurate projections about the market. Based on the insights from big data solutions, various recipients can make informed decisions to improve their products or services.Dearth of Skilled Manpower to Inhibit Growth of Big Data in HealthcareAlthough, the market is huge in the developed nations, particularly in the U.S., dearth of trained personnel for analyzing big data is projected to limit the growth of this market in North America. Moreover, factors such as decreasing profit margins, slowdown in the global economy, and lack of skilled manpower is inhibiting growth of big data implementation in the healthcare industry. Some of the other challenges for big data in healthcare include data fragmentation, security issues, and lack of standardization. Furthermore, big data solution providers need to ensure compliance with regulations laid by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). These factors are especially prevalent in developing economies of Asia Pacific and Latin America due to lack of effective healthcare infrastructure and inadequate supportive government regulations. Increasing cost pressure and lack of trained professionals dissuades healthcare providers from implementing expensive systems supporting big data solutions. However, improvement in IT infrastructure in developing economies over the near future is expected to be a major contributor for increase in demand for big data.Browse Research Report :Fragmented MarketThere are various small and global players offering big data software and services. The small regional players offer big data services at low costs, which creates a high entry barrier for global players looking to establish their footprint in emerging markets. The market is highly fragmented, with various players offering services differentiated in terms of pricing and inclusions. Some of the key companies in the global big data in healthcare market include Hewlett-Packard Co., Teradata Corporation, Opera Solutions, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Siemens Healthcare Gmbh, Mu Sigma, Splunk Inc., Cloudera, EMC, IBM, Calpont Corporation, and Oracle Corporation.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Coherent Market Insights303, Astral Court,Above Reliance Fresh,Near Gaikwad Petrol Pump,Aundh, Pune  411045, IndiaTel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
(Adds details about hedge fund)

By Tim McLaughlin

BOSTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A small Boston-area hedge fund operation on Wednesday was accused of running a Ponzi scheme that included spending investor money on liquor, luxury hotels and specialty cars, according to a complaint by the top securities regulator in Massachusetts.

Alleged victims of MC2 Capital of Cambridge, Massachusetts included an unnamed institutional investor from the Boston area that invested $2 million, according to Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin.

Galvin said he has moved to bar three MC2 Capital hedge funds and Yasuna Murakami, the man who operates them, from any securities business in the state. Galvin alleges Murakami operated the funds as Ponzi schemes while taking in about $15.3 million from at least 47 investors.

"This case represents a classic example of a shell game of moving the money from one investor to another with some left over to fatten the coffers of the money manager," Galvin said in a statement.

Galvin's complaint alleges that investors' money was used to cover expenses for luxury hotels, liquor stores, specialty cars, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and American Express, according to a statement from Galvin's office.

When summoned to testify before the enforcement section of the securities division, Murakami invoked his privilege against self-incrimination, the statement added.

Murakami was not immediately available for comment.

Galvin said Murakami started his hedge fund operations in 2007 with the MC2 Capital Partners Fund. The fund was marketed mostly to friends and family members, taking in more than $3.5 million, according to Galvin's statement.

By late 2008, however, the fund had a negative balance of about $2.4 million, triggering a margin call that wiped out investors' equity, according to Galvin. A second fund, MC2 Capital Value Partners Fund, suffered similar results.

"Murakami and the MC2 Entities actively worked to conceal these losses from investors by soliciting additional investments and providing false or misleading performance numbers," Galvin said in a statement.

Story continues

Murakami later struck a deal with Toronto-based Donville Kent Asset Management to start MC2 Capital Canadian Opportunities Fund in 2011, Galvin said. The association with Donville Kent was crucial in getting investors to put in money, including the Boston-area institutional investor.

But in May 2015, Donville Kent cut ties to the MC2 entities.

Galvin alleges Murakami misappropriated investor money from the Canadian fund and used it to pay promised returns or redemptions to investors in the other two MC2 funds.

(Reporting By Tim McLaughlin; Editing by Bernard Orr)
Igor Iankovskyi: dont ignore the path of innovations

Igor Iankovskyi

Igor Iankovskyi: Dont ignore the path of innovationsIt is amazing to witness the speed of technological expansion of todays world. The innovations became an integral part of contemporary times. They are unstoppable. The mankind doesnt resist them anymore, trying to use them for personal gains in terms of material revenue, time and cost efficiency, new opportunities for leisure and rest, health improves or even saving lives.The predictions made in 2000 became reality almost fully in 2010. The next pier of predictions, for example by Raymond Kurzweil, does not surprise anybody: their fulfillment is just the matter of time. The Earths 85% Wi-Fi coverage in 2021, self-conducting cars already in 2033, massive use of 3-D printers to produce human organs with their further transplantation as of 2031, structural changes in human body inducing its extra options in 2043  all this doesnt seem to be out of touch with reality anymore.The backgrounds and prototypes of all the above mentioned innovations already exist, undergoing constant improvements of their performance in order to be included into the life of people.Innovative approach  is the evolutionary path already chosen by the mankind. Due to the progress, the life expectancy is improving year by year. People living for 100 years are not a science fiction anymore. We make corrective eye surgeries, install highly-technological prostheses. Average life expectancy has doubled in past one hundred years, and this indicator is growing further.The innovative revolution has already happened and accepted by the mankind. Accepted it from the in-depth, it is already a part of us.Unfortunately, in Ukraine we hear only the echoes of the innovative progress that is in full march in the globalized world science community.I would like to underline two important circumstances: firstly, we dont have major problems with talented inventors and innovators. Secondly, the concept of scientific development has changed significantly in the world: not Ilon Musk, nor Bill Gates were never the scientists in the classical meaning of this word. The world is going away from the traditional rigorous concept education  university  science/innovations.Due to the modern technologies and unprecedented access to any kind of information, any talented person could become an innovator, inventor, experimentalist. The main problem of Ukrainian innovative field is the lack of cohesion with modern scientific clusters.For example, the USA and Europe are not separate scientific clusters. They all work together: due to the Internet there is no use in transferring scientists from Germany or to build new facilities. It is enough to give a grant to a person situated in Hamburg, Bristol or Silicon Valley  for mutual development of a project. And they can exchange messages almost each second. The more people are there in the cluster, the faster innovations work.Our social capitalIn fact, the technological pit Ukraine has pushed itself to, is not unique. A lot of countries have already undergone such trials. Analyzing their experience, the most representative common trait is that during hard times they all made their bet on innovations  and won!Currently we are in Middle Ages by the development level of innovative capital. The main obstacle standing on the way of Ukrainian innovators to improve the quality of life of society  is low added-value of domestic economy. In turn, this does not permit to break free from poverty. Ukraine is constantly catching up with the global changes process, while we should reassess our social capital and opportunities  the intellectual resources.Modern economies are living from the rent of the human capital. While the falling behind countries are still using the financial capital rent, being in constant search for its accumulation and reproduction.Now, we have a unique opportunity that nearly nobody is talking about out loud. Im talking about the mobilization of the intellectual resources in the hostile environment, with a real threat over our country.With the efforts of Ukrainian volunteers, it is became possible to reinstate the spiritual comfort of the army, then  to provision it with all the needed, including the repair of the old and disabled soviet appliances. While the State has been consolidating its efforts, the active part of our society was able to find and apply the innovative resources to arm Ukrainian soldiers.In lot of ways it was the initiatives of the volunteers that Ukraine was able to create modern drones during the two war years, covering the path that took decades in other countries. And now, the production of highly-technological and multi-functional drones will be covered jointly by Ukroboronprom and aircraft designer Antonov.I rest reassured, that it is the technological domination that could become the new national idea for Ukraine, that could enable us to smash any enemy that threatens our territorial integrity.The horizontally-linked societyWhy the international investor is afraid to invest money in Ukraine? Not because the lack of brains or human capital. One of the main problems is the absence of investments return guarantees and lack of the intellectual property protection. This is what enables the outflow of intellectual resources from our country.We need a solid legislative base that protects the intellectual property. Because of the lack of it we almost have no innovations. When the intellectual property is protected, nobody will have to leave the country to patent their innovations abroad. This field has to function properly in our country. And if this becomes possible, the investors will be automatically interested in our scientific cluster and integrate it into the global context.Highly discussed by the Ukrainian scientific community, a book by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty emphasizes the advantage of so called inclusive societies.In order for innovations to apply themselves in the life of society, it has to modernize itself. And the process of such modernization has to occur on the level of inclusive horizontal interconnections.The prototype of such society of horizontal connections has manifested during the Revolution of Dignity, when due to the mobilization the Ukrainians could defend their civilizational choice of the further development of their State. The building of such inclusive society is the indispensible platform for the innovations to develop themselves. Therefore, it is needed to create the basis for the protections of innovations.I am sure, that the business along with the scientific society should be the main drivers of innovations. The more active communication platforms  is the better. It is important for the social institutes to develop the innovations, because the society could articulate in the best way the current needs. Live communication on such platforms will undergo between the scientific and business communities with further inclusion of State figures.Ukraine should not ignore the path of innovations. Moreover, we have all the needed components for the successful journey on it. Those are the circumstances themselves who dictate the only exit from the current complicated situation  to find and develop our unique technological and innovative openings."Initiative for the Future"  is a Ukrainian Charity Foundation, founded by Igor Iankovskyi  a successful Ukrainian businessman, financier and philanthropist. Charities unite like-minded people in a common goal - to develop and implement educational and cultural programs in Ukraine. Activities of the organization are based on voluntary initiatives.Since its creation, the Foundation supports talented young people from all over Ukraine, contributing to the creation of a highly cultured society. The Foundation has a strong international dimension, having successfully completed a range of projects abroad: in Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom and the USA.12, Amosova Street, build. 1,Horizont Park Business Center.
Global Earthing Lightning Protection System Market Price by Analysis, Facts, Figures & Forecasts 2016

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Earthing Lightning Protection System Market Research Report 2016" to its huge collection of research reports.This research report is a highly descriptive analysis of the global Earthing Lightning Protection System market. It provides a detailed overview of the various applications and end users of the market and how the demand and supply charts are anticipated to look in the forthcoming years. It takes into account the current and historic data pertaining to the market and with the help of market experts, estimates future trends. These predictions can allow the readers to gain a coherent perspective of the global Earthing Lightning Protection System market and all its dynamics.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report presents an in-depth analysis of the industry chain structure of the global Earthing Lightning Protection System market. It includes the details and statistics regarding production along with industry policies that affect them, the efficiency of utilization of available resources, the currently available production capacities, and the degree at which they are utilized. This is followed by information regarding the import and export cycles within the market. The cost analysis of the global Earthing Lightning Protection System market forms an important part of the report. It serves as a reliable tool for both existing and new players to maximize their profit.The report also includes market analysis tools and Porters five force analysis, which are pivotal in understanding the competitive landscape of the global Earthing Lightning Protection System market. It profiles the prominent players in the market along with their latest developments, business strategies, revenue generation, and contact information. It performs the SWOT analysis that reveals the potential growth trajectory of each key player in the market. For a lucid analysis, the report has segmented the global Earthing Lightning Protection System market on the basis of several parameters including application and geography. Each segment is meticulously studied in terms of both revenue and volume.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of Contents1 Earthing Lightning Protection System Market Overview 11.1 Product Overview and Scope of Earthing Lightning Protection System 11.2 Earthing Lightning Protection System Segment by Types 21.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Earthing Lightning Protection System by Types in 2015 21.2.2 Breakdown of Earthing Lightning Protection System by Type 51.3 Earthing Lightning Protection System Segment by Applications 81.3.1 Earthing Lightning Protection System Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2015 81.3.2 Homes 91.3.3 Factories 91.3.4 Towers 101.3.5 Space Shuttle's Launch Pad 111.3.6 Solar Application 111.3.7 Oil & Gas Application 121.4 Earthing Lightning Protection System Market by Regions 131.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2021) 131.4.2 Central & Latin America Status and Prospect (2011-2021) 141.4.3 Europe & UK Status and Prospect (2011-2021) 151.4.4 Middle East Status and Prospect (2011-2021) 161.4.5 Russia Status and Prospect (2011-2021) 171.4.6 South East Asia Status and Prospect (2011-2021) 181.4.7 Australia & New Zealand Status and Prospect (2011-2021) 191.4.8 Far East (East Asia) Status and Prospect (2011-2021) 201.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Earthing Lightning Protection System (2011-2021) 212 Global Earthing Lightning Protection System Market Competition by Manufacturers 222.1 Global Earthing Lightning Protection System Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016) 222.2 Global Earthing Lightning Protection System Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016) 252.3 Global Earthing Lightning Protection System Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016) 272.4 Earthing Lightning Protection System Manufacturing Headquarters 292.5 Earthing Lightning Protection System Market Competitive Situation and Trends 30For Latest QYResearchreports Press Release Visit @QYResearchReports.com is an unimpeachable source of market research data for clients that comprise acclaimed SMEs, Chinese companies, private equity firms, and MNCs. We provide market research reports on various categories such as Energy, Chemicals, Alternative and Green Energy, Manufacturing, Machinery, Pharmaceuticals and Materials, and Glass.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United States
Leading edge updates help LCMS facilitate microlearning requirements

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The digital learning content management business solutions producer, eXact learning solutions, has announced its largest ever presence at a Learning Technologies event. Attracting over 7,500 visitors from around the world, this years show  which includes a conference, seminars and an exhibition - is being held in Londons Olympia on 1st and 2nd February 2017.In addition to exhibiting at the event  on stand E1  eXact learning solutions products will also be featured in one of the events seminars, entitled Making Microlearning a reality without ever leaving your LCMS. Taking place on 2nd February, in Theatre 2, from 12.30 to 13.00, the free-to-attend seminar is led by Bryan Eldridge, eXact learning solutions Director of Professional Services, North America.Microlearning - the learning strategy that focuses on delivering training and performance support in small, focused chunks - has been a concept for over 15 years but a key obstacle to its adoption has been confusion around how to manage it within a traditional learning management system (LMS) implementation, explained Bryan. Technology advances now mean that this confusion can be overcome  by using a modern learning content management system (LCMS).Bryans presentation includes: Strategies for using organizational learning transformation initiatives to introduce microlearning How to use common LCMS features to support role-based microlearning offerings A pedagogical framework for disambiguating between learning modalities and content chunk sizes for learning offerings A sample decision framework to determine what types of content can, or should, be delivered directly from the LCMS/Digital Repository Cases showing how xAPI (Tin Can) can play a role in maximising the value of microlearningOur biggest-ever presence at a Learning Technologies show enables us to display some new, really cool things - especially from a user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) perspective, commented Valerio Torda, eXact learning solutions Managing Director.Well also be able to show visitors to our stand some of the improvements were making to our LCMS  notably to make navigation simpler and tasks quicker, he added. Our marketing focus groups tell us that the LCMSs new, leading edge styling should prove popular - with visitors to our stand and with the LCMSs users.About eXact learning solutionseXact learning solutions is a leading business solution provider in the field of Digital Learning Content Management. Its content lifecycle care solutions include modular and interoperable tools enabling, supporting and optimizing specific processes within a Digital Learning Content ecosystem: collaborative content creation; structured and workflow-based content management, and multiple output delivery of content in any desired format, channel, device and language, with any look & feel.The eXact learning Suite comprises a fully-fledged, enterprise-wide Learning Content Management System (eXact learning LCMS), a professional template-based authoring environment, comprising an advanced, local client application and a 100% web-based tool (eXact learning Packager and Online Editor) as well as an app to manage, deliver and track learning content through iOS and Android-based mobile devices (eXact learning Mobile). The eXact learning solutions end-to-end provisioning is completed by a set of high level professional services including consulting, training and technical support in the field of Digital Learning Content Management.eXact learning solutions is a sister company of LATTANZIO Group, a holding company based in Italy which integrates knowledge-intensive business services blending management consulting, IT services, training and e-learning, market research and communication.eXact learning solutionsPiazza della Vittoria, 11/A (16121) Genoa, ItalyPhone: +39.010.81.77.500; WebPR Contact:Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, Office +44 (0)1727 860405; Email press.pr@exactls.com
Body Screening Market gains popularity due to increasing concerns about security fueled by an alarming rise in global terrorism

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Body screening is a specialized method of detecting any hidden objects within a persons clothes by creating an image of a persons naked body without any physical contact or without physically removing the clothes. Body screening is done through body scanners. Military wave technologies are used by these body scanners in order to see through the clothes of a person. Globally, this method is gaining popularity due to increasing concerns about security fueled by an alarming rise in global terrorism.The global body screening is expected a significant growth during the forecast period. This is mainly driven by a rise in drug trafficking, illegal migration, and terrorism.This method is increasingly being adopted in train stations and airports all over the globe, primarily due to rising threat of terrorism and for aviation security. Moreover, the stringent rules and policies undertaken by various governmental bodies worldwide are driving the growth of the market. For instance, the bill passed by the U.S government called S.A.F.E.R A.I.R Act makes body screening mandatory in all airports.In the face of rising instances of in-flight detonation and fight hijacking, body screening helps in improving the security framework of airports. The ability to detect a wide range of threats, including explosives, is propelling the demand for body screening. Commercial airports are also engaging in making significant investments in body screening systems to adequately address the burning issue of drug-peddling.Read Full Report:One of the major advantages of body screening is the reduced time taken to screen passengers. This gives body screening an upper hand over the conventional pat down approaches, which are both uncomfortable and time consuming. Growing interest in full body screening worldwide is spurring intensive research and development efforts to bring forth machines that are image free and result in less radiation.Despite all the advantages, full body screening is controversial, as it easily raises individual privacy issues. Critics claim it to be in violation of human rights, unreasonable, and illegal. These factors are expected to restrain the growth of the market for body screening to some extent during the forecasted period.The market is segregated on the basis of application, technology, system, and geography. By application, the global body screening market is segmented into homeland security, defense, and commercial. Homeland security is further sub-segmented into applications in seaports, airports, and security of VIPs. Defense is sub-segmented into applications in high security zones, military premises, and border crossing controls.On the basis of technology, the global body screening market is characterized as digital tape measurements, white light patterns, laser scanners, 3D body scanners, and image modeling & processing.By system, the market is segmented into X-ray systems, millimeter-wave, and backscatter.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Lastly, on the basis of geography, the global body screening market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. North America holds a significant share of the global body screening market mainly due to the strict steps taken by the U.S government with respect to body screening in airports. The growth of the body screening market in Europe is expected to be limited during the forecast period due to the ban imposed on full-body scanning in the countries of the region. On the other hand, the growth of the body screening market in emerging economies of Latin America and Asia Pacific is estimated to be significantly fast due to increasing security concerns, rise in the number of low cost carriers, expansion of the tourism industry, and booming air travel.The key players operating in the global body screening market include Westminster International Ltd. (U.K), Tek84 Engineering Group LLC (U.S), Smiths Detection (U.K), Scan-X Security Ltd. (U.K), Rapiscan Systems (U.S), Nuctech Co. Ltd. (China), L-3 Security And Detection Systems (U.S), Digital Barriers PLC (U.K), Braun And Company Limited (U.K), American Science and Engineering (U.S), and ADANI Systems (Belarus).The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Multi Echelon Inventory Optimization Market - Analysis, Growth, Trends And Market Outlook 2024

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Inventory optimization is the balancing of investments in stock-keeping units and service goals, while taking into account the volatilities of demand and supply. One of the major challenges a company faces is matching its supply to consumers demand. How efficiently a company addresses this challenge directly impacts the companys profitability. Working capital being of utmost importance for any company, it is important for companies to keep low levels of stock and sell them quickly. Supply chains today have multiple layers of suppliers and distributors.Get Sample Report Copy :With each layer adding some safety stock considering service requirements, a significant amount of working capital is involved. Multi echelon inventory optimization approach involves taking a holistic approach toward the entire supply chain and considering the impact inventories have at any given level in the supply chain. It answers where in the supply chain inventories should be placed and optimizing and updating buffer stock at all levels. By effectively modeling the entire supply chain from raw materials to manufacturing and finished goods, multi echelon inventory optimization creates what-if scenarios and explores alternate suppliers, transport links, lead times as well as locations. Levels of safety stocks and postponement strategies having lower cost implications are also verified in the process.Multi echelon inventory optimization boosts the capability of supply chain teams in achieving service goals with minimum levels of inventory. With problems such as stock outs and obsolescence also taken care of, bottom lines of companies are significantly improved irrespective whether the supply chain is local or global. The biggest driver for multi echelon inventory optimization market is the financial losses that companies can avoid using these techniques. The complexities that multi-level supply chains present and the need to efficiently allocate resources and increase profitability is further likely to fuel the growth of multi echelon inventory optimization market.Investments in inventory being largest liquid asset for any organization, taking advantage of any technique that can lower inventory investments while maintaining and ultimately improving service levels are significantly aiding profitability to the organization. However, reducing the inventory should in no way affect customer service levels. Multi echelon approach addresses this concern by keeping more stock at the outer nodes so that the customer service level is not affected, while reducing overall level of inventory. However, for this strategy to effectively work, companies should be able to forecast customer demands. Inventory optimization process is dynamic, which requires frequent evaluation. Companies need to review their network frequently and change policies accordingly. Lack of skilled resources who can understand and use inventory optimization techniques effectively are hurdles in adoption of multi echelon inventory optimization technologies.The multi echelon inventory optimization market can be broadly segmented into types of solutions and industries. The solutions include replenishment, vendor managed inventory, demand forecasting, purchase order flow management, supply chain advanced analytics, value chain collaboration, supply and retail optimization, transportation and logistics optimization and cloud services. On the basis of industries, the market can be categorized into consumer goods, electronics, food and beverages, chemical, retail, and manufacturing. Geographically, North America has a large market for multi echelon inventory optimization due to the large manufacturing sector and the penetration this technology has achieved in manufacturing and processes. With high growth in manufacturing industries in countries such as China, South Korea, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia, there is expected to be high demand for multi echelon inventory optimization solutions and services in Asia Pacific during the coming years.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :The major companies operating in this market include ToolsGroup, Logic Tools Inc., Logility, Manhattan Associates, Inc., Smart Software, Inc., Arkieva, Kinaxis, Thrive Technologies and Planning Edge Corporation.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Anti-Suicide Drugs Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Suicidal thoughts have many causative factors such as depression, no hope in life, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, or financial crisis. Moreover, suicides may be the result of side effects from drugs such as anti-depressants, an overdose of opioids. Treatment for suicidal thoughts includes psychotherapy, medications, addiction treatment, and family support. Medications include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, antipsychotic medications, and other medications for mental illness. These medications will only help to reduce the symptoms of suicidal thoughts. Addiction treatment which includes detoxification, self-help group meetings and addiction treatment programs may also help in alleviating the thoughts of suicide.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Increasing Incidences of Suicides GloballyGlobally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 800,000 people die to suicide every year. When it comes to regional analysis the scenario doesnt differ much based on the economic status of the country. Suicidal attempts are the highest in emerging nations in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe followed by the Latina America, the U.S., Australia and some European countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate, more than 9 million people in the United States reported having suicidal thoughts in 2013. The suicide rates in the country have been increasing according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, reaching a suicide rate of 12.93 per 1,000 populations in 2014.New Treatment Options under ResearchLack of an effective and focused therapy for suicidal attempts is compelling the use of alternative, less effective and unapproved therapies. Researchers are in an endeavor to find an effective therapeutic solution to this perilous condition. A recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, demonstrated the benefits of administering buprenorphine in curbing the suicidal thoughts after one week of the trial. Anti-depressants and some anti-psychotic medications take longer time to be effective in curing suicidal thoughts. The drug could become the first fast-acting anti-suicide drug in future studies also result with similar findings as in this preliminary study. Although use of opioids also carries a risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts, buprenorphine has the lowest risk amongst the drugs in this class.Another study from NeuroRx, an Israeli based life science startup found the molecule D-cycloserine and effective treatment option for depression and suicide. D-cycloserine is a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist. The drug has shown to reduce the symptoms within two hours of treatment in it Phase 2 trails. Moreover, the positive outcomes were observed to lasts for over eight weeks. The company also found that use of combination therapy which includes ketamine, D-cycloserine and one of three FDA-approved mood stabilizer is much more effective than ketamine alone which is also used by many doctors to treat acute depression. The company expects a fast track approval process for this drug from the U.S. FDA once the clinical trials are completed by the end of 2017.Browse Research Report At :There is a Dire Need for an Effective and Targeted DrugSuicide is viewed as an end stage of depression, whereas it is a distinct medical condition that needs special attention. The current market for the treatment of suicide is a subset of the drugs used to treat anxiety and depression. A fast track approval of the drug D-cycloserine will help address this unmet medical condition. A recent study carried out by the Nordic Cochrane Centre, with 70 trials involving 18,000 people found that antidepressants doubled the risk of suicide and aggressive behavior in people under the age of 18 years. Therefore, there is dire need for targeted and effective drug to treat suicides.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Coherent Market Insights303, Astral Court,Above Reliance Fresh,Near Gaikwad Petrol Pump,Aundh, Pune  411045, IndiaTel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Animal Parasiticides Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Animal parasiticides or antiparasitics are chemical substances used to eradicate parasites that infect livestock, pets, and other animals and subsequently improve animal health. Most parasiticides finished products consist of one or more active ingredients that help carry out a specific action against particular parasites. Parasiticides also comprise inert ingredients (water and alcohol) called as solvents (stabilizers, preservatives, emulgants, etc.). Animal parasiticides market size is expected to grow at a significant rate owing to increased pet adoption worldwide.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A PDF Sample :Global Animal Parasiticides Market TaxonomyThe global animal parasiticides market outlook can be classified on the basis of type of parasiticides, animal type, and end user. There are five types of parasiticides, namely ectoparasiticides, endoparasiticides, endectocides, anthelmintic, and anti-protozoans. Parasiticides used for killing external parasites in animals such as fleas, ticks, lice, fleas, and mites are termed as ectoparasiticides. Most ectoparasiticides are called pesticides, as these chemicals are also used for agriculture and hygiene purpose. Likewise, endoparasiticides are utilized to kill internal parasite such as flukes, roundworms, and tapeworms in animals. Most endoparasiticides are termed as veterinary medicines, as the active ingredients of the products are not used for agriculture and hygiene purpose. Endectocides or macrocyclic lactones are effective in both internal and external parasites. They are either natural products or chemically-modified derivatives that show strong parasiticidal efficacy in animals. On the basis of their chemical structure, endectocides are segmented into avermectins and milbemycins. Parasiticides are available in various formulations namely, liquids, tablets, injectables, sprays, spot-on, and pour-on.On the basis of animal type, the global animal parasiticides market scenario can be segmented into food producing animals (cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, and goats) and companion animals (dogs, cats and horses). On the basis of end user, the global animal parasiticides market is segmented into farms, R&D facilities, and veterinary clinics. Increasing pet adoption in the Asia Pacific region is a major driving factor fueling demand for animal parasiticides in veterinary clinics.Growing Livestock Population and Increasing Adoption of Pet Animals in the Asia Pacific Region is expected to boost growth of the animal parasiticides market size over the forecast periodGeographically, the global animal parasiticides market outlook can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East. Key factors driving growth in adoption of animal parasiticides in Europe and North America include increasing pet adoption, high number of R&D activities, increasing expenditure on animal health, and rising demand for animal-derived food products. However, Asia Pacific (India, China, Australia, Japan, and Malaysia) is expected to be the most lucrative market for animal parasiticides in future due to a number of driving factors such as increasing number of companion animals, growing livestock population, increasing expenditure on animal health, and rising awareness about animal health.Animal Parasiticides Market TrendsKey driving factors for the growth of the global animal parasiticides market include increasing awareness about animal zoonotic disease, rising number of animal population especially in developing nations of the world, increasing demand for animal-based food and animal proteins, and increasing animal research activities. Furthermore, increasing expenditure on animal health and government initiatives to protect animal health is fueling demand for animal parasiticides. However, high cost of R&D activities, new species of parasites, stringent regulatory policies for approval of animal parasiticides, and high cost of animal parasiticide products is hindering growth of the animal parasiticides market.Browse Research Report At :Market ConsolidationThere has been various consolidation activities in the global animal health industry. In just one year, 2016, Boehringer Ingelheim acquired Sanofi's animal health business, Novartis sold its animal health business to Eli Lilly and Merck Animal Health (subsidiary of Merck & Co.) acquired Valleea leading animal health product manufacturer based in Brazil. Some of the major market players operating in the global animal parasiticides market include Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer Ag, Eli Lilly And Company, Ceva Sante Animale, Novartis Ag, Merck & Co., Inc., Zoetis, Inc., Virbac Sa, and Merial.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Coherent Market Insights303, Astral Court,Above Reliance Fresh,Near Gaikwad Petrol Pump,Aundh, Pune  411045, IndiaTel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Aamir Khan Issues A Statement In Favour Of Zaira Wasim

Aamir Khan and Geeta Phogat

Her precocious acting set upon a benchmark to all the youths as she confidently portrayed the role of young Geeta Phogat in the much applauded Aamir Khan's 'Dangal.' Zaira Wasim needs no more introduction as she had already proved her potential as an actor. The girl recently met Mehbooba Mufti, the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir and was trolled for the same when she posted a photo of hers with the minister.Supporters of Zaira both from the film industry and outside it are coming in support of the actress. Her on-screen father Aamir khan issued a statement regarding the issue. His statement reads-"understand and imagine what lead her to make the statement. Zaira, I want you to know that we are all with you. The beauty is that bright, young, talented hardworking, respectful, caring and courageous kids like you are a role model for kids not only in India, but across the world. You certainly are a role model for me! May god bless you. Love. Aamir. P.S.: I appeal to everyone to now leave her alone and respect the fact that she is just a 16 yr old girl trying her best to deal with life."Meanwhile Zaira's apology letter on her Facebook wall reads, "This is an open confession/apology. I know that many people have been offended and displeased by my recent actions or by the people I have recently met. I want to apologise to all those people who I've unintentionally hurt and want them to know that I understand their sentiments, especially considering what has happened (in Kashmir) over the past six months. I hope people can also understand there are certain circumstances that emerge which one cannot control. I hope people still remember that I'm a just a 16-year-old girl and treat me accordingly. I'm sorry for what I did, but it was not a deliberate decision and I really hope people can forgive me. I am being projected as a role model for Kashmiri youth. I want to make it very clear that I do not want anyone to follow in my foot steps or even consider me a role model. I'm not proud of what I'm doing and I want everyone, especially the youth to know that there are real role models out there whether they be in this time or in our history. To even consider me as a role model would be disgracing them and their disgrace would be OUR DISGRACE! I do not wish to start an argument here, this was a just a mere confession from my end which I really wanted people to know. May Allah bless us and guide us."A leading daily quoted Zaira's second post after she deleted the apology note. The second post reads, "Regarding my last post, I have no idea why this has become such a big issue. I just wanted to make sure that I did not hurt anyone's feelings and all of a sudden it has turned into national news. Again and again, I am telling people that I have not been forced into anything by anyone. This was post was not meant against anyone, just wanted to make sure that people were not hurt by what I was doing. From media to everyone else, please don't blow this out of proportion. Neither was I forced (to apologise) nor am I against anyone. Hopefully this post just stops this once and for all."#G-1, New Udyog Mandir 2Moghul Lane, Mahim (W)Mumbai 400016India#G-1, New Udyog Mandir 2 Moghul Lane, Mahim (W)
Grid Connected PV Systems Market Segment Forecasts up to 2024

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A grid connected photovoltaic power system is a solar PV system connected to utility grid that generates electricity using solar power. A grid connected PV system comprises solar panels, a power conditioning unit, grid connection equipment, and one or many inverters. These systems can range from commercial rooftop systems and small residential units to large utility-scale solar power stations. Unlike standalone solar power equipment, grid connected systems seldom constitute any integrated battery solutions. During favorable conditions, a grid connected PV system supplies superfluous power to the utility, beyond what is required for consumption of the connected load.The global grid connected PV systems market is expected to exhibit considerable growth between 2014 and 2023. These systems render easy installation, high efficiency, and improved flexibility and reliability. Due to such intrinsic advantages that grid connected PV systems offer, their demand is poised to surge exponentially in the near future. PV systems integrated with various storage technologies, such as direct load control and battery energy, offer cost efficiency and higher reliability in terms of deriving energy from solar power. More than 40 countries worldwide are expected to install over 100 MW of new solar power photovoltaic capacity, signaling the true emergence of solar power into traditional energy generation ambit.Interpret a Competitive outlook Analysis Report with PDF Brochure :The report studies the growth trajectory likely to be exhibited by the grid connected PV systems market during the forecast period. Factors influencing the demand and supply forces in the market are analyzed in detail. The impact of the prevailing government policies and competitive pressure on the market operations is also studied in detail. The report includes exhaustive information obtained from trusted industrial sources. Insights from industry experts are also referred to for the purpose of the study.Global Grid Connected PV Systems Market: Key Opportunities and ThreatsThe utilities scale sector accounted for the largest volume of installation in 2015, and is expected to remain the leading application segment over the forecast period. In the same years, both residential and commercial sectors are likely to exhibit significant increase in installations. The technological advancements introduced to promote power generation from renewable sources are expected to offer numerous economic and environmental benefits.Grid connected PV systems are mainly installed in inverters to offer holistic power solutions. These systems are ideal to be installed in small solar energy systems deployed in the residential sector or for providing combined solutions to an industrial complex. Grid connected PV systems are user-friendly and ensure high performance at minimum expenditure.The rising interest for combining energy storage with utility scale solar PV systems to enable integration into a grid is the prime factor driving the global grid connected PV systems market. However, the entry of market players is restricted in areas with high penetration of renewable energy sources and island grids. This, in turn, challenges the grids steadiness.Global Grid Connected PV Systems Market: Region-wise OutlookEnterprises operating in the U.S. grid connected PV systems market are witnessing significantly rising demand. The U.S. is expected to account for the largest share in the global grid connected PV systems market by 2023. Additionally, the U.K. and Australia are also expected to deploy grid connected PV systems in their residential sectors on a large scale.Other nations such as Germany and Japan are also expected to encourage large-scale deployment of grid connected PV systems over the next few years.Global Grid Connected PV Systems Market: Vendor LandscapeTo present a comprehensive view on the prevailing competitive landscape, the report profiles companies such as Sunpower Corporation, KYOCERA Corporation, CODA Energy, Green Charge Networks, and others. Enterprises such as CODA Energy, Stem Inc., and Green Charge Networks offer their systems to consumers at no upfront cost, which is subsequently expected to amplify the demand from the market.Browse Report with Full TOC at :The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Contact90 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
Crude Oil Carriers Market Revenue Anticipated to Reach US$217.0 Bn by 2024

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Transparency Market Research has released a new market report titled  Crude Oil Carriers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024. According to this report, the global crude oil carriers market was valued at US$160 Bn in 2015 and is projected to reach US$217 Bn by 2023 at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2016 to 2024.Crude oil carriers are designed for the bulk transport of crude oil. Basic types of oil carriers include crude oil carriers and product carriers. Crude oil carriers transport unrefined crude oil from exploration and production facilities to crude oil refineries, while product carriers ship refined products to points close to consuming markets. Coastal tank vessel trades are functioned by crude carriers, tank barges, and product tankers. Crude oil carriers serve the West/Alaska coast crude oil trades. Crude oil carriers are generally referred to as oil tankers which transport crude oil from one location to another.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights :Crude oil carriers are designed for the bulk transportation of oil. Crude oil carrier shipping provides a convenient way of transporting bulk liquid for international seaborne trade. Transportation rates in the shipping industry are determined by time charter equivalent. Oil tankers have become an integral part of the transportation process. In terms of exports, crude oil heads across the Atlantic to Europe, reducing North Americas dependency on crude oil from other regions, such as the Middle East.The crude oil carriers market has been segmented on the basis of vessel type and region. In terms of vessel type, VLCC and ULCC together held about 63% share in 2015; a large number of VLCCs are in operation as compared to other vessels. Suezmax accounted for nearly 14% of the crude oil carriers market in 2015. Aframax accounted for nearly 21% and Panamax accounted for the rest 2% of the market.Demand for crude oil carriers majorly depends on oil product consumers, crude oil production, and refining facilities. The cargo carrying capacity of a crude oil carrier is 90%95% of its deadweight capacity, depending on the distance to the succeeding bunkering port. Long haul crude oil generates an incentive to build large-sized crude oil carriers. This is expected to lower the shipping costs through economies of scale up to the largest carrier such as ultra large crude carriers (ULCC). The international crude oil carrier fleet utilizes a classification system to establish shipping costs, standardize contract terms, and determine the capability of ships to travel to bunkering ports and through channels and certain straits. This system is known as Average Freight Rate Assessment (AFRA) system and was established by Royal Dutch Shell plc.AFRA system classifies crude oil carriers in terms of deadweight tons (DWT), a measure of a carrier's capacity to carry cargo. A classification used to describe a large portion of the international crude oil carrier fleet is Aframax. Aframax vessels refer to crude oil carriers between 80,000 and 120,000 DWT. The international demand for oil from other countries has developed considerably faster than that from Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.Complete Report with TOC :The crude oil carriers market has been segmented as follows:Crude Oil Carriers Market: By Vessel TypeVLCC/ULCCSuezmaxAframaxPanamaxContact90 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
milk hydrate

If you bought dairy products between 2003 and now, you could be eligible for up to $20 cash back from the National Milk Producers Federation as part of a $52 million class action settlement for accusations of price fixing.

To claim your cash, you should have purchased dairy products  including milk, half and half, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and cream cheese  while a resident of Arizona, California, Washington DC, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.

The products must have been purchased at a grocery store or other retailer and not directly from the producer. However, you don't need proof of purchase or residency to submit a claim. The claims period began September 2, 2016 and will end January 31, 2017 for online submissions. It takes less than a minute to submit a claim on boughtmilk.com, and after you submit, you're encouraged to share the claim form with friends, family, and social media channels.

Claims are expected to be between $10 and $20, according to the claims website, depending upon how many class members file, and will be paid after the January deadline by your choice of electronic payment, potentially including PayPal, Google Wallet, Amazon Balance, and others.

The lawsuit, which was settled in August in California, alleged that Cooperatives Working Together, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Land O'Lakes, Inc., Dairylea Cooperative Inc., and Agri-Mark, Inc.  which together produce close to 70% of the country's milk  were part of a "nationwide conspiracy to limit the production of raw farm milk by prematurely slaughtering cows, in order to illegally increase the price of milk and other fresh milk products."

According to the settlement, "Defendants deny any wrongdoing or liability for the claims alleged," and no remaining money will be returned to them.

Story continues

So head over to boughtmilk.com and claim your free milk money.

NOW WATCH: 8 great ways to earn passive income





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Air Ambulance Services Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Advancements in healthcare technology along with increasing patient inclination towards faster and efficient mode of delivery has led to rampant growth of efficient and on-the-time delivery air ambulance services market size. Air ambulance services refer to transport or evacuation facilities provided to patients in emergency situations at the accident site, home, or hospital. Air ambulances are equipped with advanced medical facilities, including devices used in emergencies, to provide immediate medical carei to the patient until he/she reaches the nearest hospital. Moreover, air ambulances have trained medical crew onboard to treat patients in emergency situations en route to the hospital. Air ambulance efficiently addresses the issue of long travel time and inadequate reach to remote areas faced in road ambulance service. Air ambulance services have thus become an essential component of the modern healthcare system.Get Free PDF Research Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Increasing use of Helicopters in Air AmbulanceThe global air ambulance services market outlook can be analyzed on the basis of type of aircraft as follows:-Helicopter-Aircraft/Airplane--Rotary winged aircraft--Fixed winged aircraft-Sea-PlanesUse of helicopters in air ambulance is increasing owing to its convenience in landing and taking-off from a smaller ground area. Moreover, helicopter enables wider reach in remote areas compared to winged aircrafts/airplanes, which require more space for landing and take-off. Companies are also making use of sea planes and corporate planes depending on the demand and patient location.Lack of Infrastructure and Inadequate Number of Aircraft in Developing Regions are Key Challenges for Growth of Air Ambulance MarketOn the basis of geography, the global air ambulance services market scenario can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Rest of the World. Developed infrastructure, defined regulatory framework and favorable reimbursement policies are some of the factors contributing to the dominance of the air ambulance services market in North America and Europe. Developing countries of Asia Pacific, Latina America and Middle East are expected to show swift growth in the demand for air ambulance services. Factors such as rapidly growing medical tourism, improving medical infrastructure, and increasing disposable income are projected to boost growth of air ambulance services market in these regions. Air ambulance service providers in India such as Aviators Air Rescue, Aeromed, Innovation Aviation Pvt Ltd, JetSetGo, Air Ambulance Aviation, and Medantas Flying Doctors are collaborating with insurance providers to make the service affordable to all. However, lack of infrastructure and inadequate number of aircraft is deterring operators to meet demand for air ambulance in the country.Faster Reach and Onboard Assistance Driving DemandSome key global air ambulance services market drivers include its ability to faster reach compared to road ambulance and onboard medical assistance. Also, air ambulance services are widely utilized on the warfront to rescue injured soldiers and provide emergency medical care to them.Favorable reimbursement policies for air ambulance services are propelling demand for air ambulance services among patients. Certain insurance providers in Canada reimburse around 80% of the total service cost of air ambulance. This reimbursement policy is applicable for patients who require immediate hospitalization. This policy, however, excludes non-emergency patients, thus increasing cost of this service for such patients. This is a major air ambulance services market restraint. Formulation of strict safety rules by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is one of the factors anticipated to reduce profit margins of air ambulance service providers, which would also hinder the growth of air ambulance services market revenue during the forecast period (20162024).Browse Research Report At :Ambulance Drones: A Fast Emerging Possible NemesisAir ambulance service is a capital intensive business, which increases entry barriers for new entrants in the market. Moreover, the advent of ambulance drones will also impact demand for air ambulance in future. The high cost of availing the air ambulance service in comparison to a cheaper ambulance drone would be restrain market growth of air ambulance to a major extent.In terms of number of players, there are various small players operating with a small fleet of planes across the globe. Some of the major players in the global air ambulance services market are Air Methods Corporation, Deccan Charters, Scandinavian Air Ambulance, Air Ambulance Specialists, Air Charter Service, and Air Methods.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Coherent Market Insights303, Astral Court,Above Reliance Fresh,Near Gaikwad Petrol Pump,Aundh, Pune  411045, IndiaTel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Deep Packet Inspection and Processing Market - Industry Shares, Market Strategies And Key Players

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Deep packet inspection (DPI) is a technology which allow network owner to analyze data packets in real-time. In DPI process, the network operator can investigate data packets beyond the basic header i.e. sender and receiver address. That means, unlike Internet protocol (IP), DPI can access the payload of the IP packets which allows network operators to control and classify, internet traffic based on the content, subscribers and applications. Thus, DPI, intelligently determines the content of a packet and retrieves information for statistical and analytical purpose. The improving internet security standards globally, is the one of the key trends influencing the growth of DPI and processing market.Get Sample Report Copy :DPI and processing market is widely segmented on the basis of component type, applications and end-use verticals. On the basis of component type, DPI and processing market is further classified as intrusion detection and prevention system, network improvement, data prevention & management and services. Services segment further include, system installation and training, maintenance, and consulting. With millions of internet connectivity achieved throughout the world, DPI and processing market is widely adopted in many applications. In terms applications, DPI and processing market is categorized as network security, network management (content optimization, billing and metering applications, load balancing and network and subscriber analysis), monitoring and interception, targeted advertising, copyright enforcement, and content regulation. Based on end-use verticals, DPI and processing market is further segmented into, telecom and IT, government, military and defense, healthcare, transport & logistics, manufacturing & retail, banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and others (education and energy).Augmenting demand for improved internet security is the key market driver in DPI and processing market. The increasing threats in the form of spam, worm and virus has resulted in strong demand of improved cyber security especially among data-sensitive institutions. According to Internet Security Threat Report published by Symantec Corporation based in Mountain View, California, the U.S. in April 2016, 430 Million new malware were diagnosed in 2015 which is 36% more than 2014. This information reveals that, malware threat is the growing significantly, which in turn is likely to proliferate the growth of deep packet inspection and processing market. Additionally, strong demand to improve network performance and reduce the capital expenses (CapEx) and operation expenses (OpEx), is further fuelling the adoption of latest DPI systems among all the business segments. DPI and processing requires robust hardware to process and retrieve information at real time processing speed. This hardware is often highly priced which make its adoption challenging in small and medium enterprises.This factor is likely to restrain the growth of DPI and processing market. Alongside this, lack of awareness of DPI and processing technology especially in economies such as China, India, Indonesia, and Brazil is expected to curb its market growth. Moreover, concerns over data privacy in the critical IP packets especially in government and defense organization is likely to suppress the market growth of DPI and processing market. With, trending internet of things for connected digital ecosystem and dramatic increase in internet service adoption through smartphones and laptops, projects a significant market opportunity for DPI and processing manufacturers/players.Globally, North America region is the likely to dominate in terms of adoption of DPI and processing technology. The early development and strict government reforms to ensure security of online data are the key factors driving the DPI and processing market in the region. However, with rising use internet services among commercial and public organizations and increasing data security threats in Asia Pacific region, this region is expected to show strong market growth in near term.Browse Market Research Report with ToC & Free Analysis :Some of the key players operating in DPI and processing market are Cisco Systems, Inc., IBM Corporation, Symantec Corporation, Intel Corporation, H-P Enterprise Company Radisys Corporation and Palo Alto Networks, Inc.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Industry Analysis Energy Efficient Windows Market Forecast - 2023

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This research study analyzes the market for energy efficient windows in terms of revenue (US$ Bn). The energy efficient windows market has been segmented on the basis of glazing type and geography. The geographical segmentation comprises four regions. For the research, 2014 has been taken as the base year, while all forecasts have been given for the period from 2015 to 2023. Market data for all the segments has been provided at the regional as well as country-specific level from 2015 to 2023. The report provides a broad competitive analysis of companies engaged in the energy efficient windows business. The report also includes the key market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities affecting the global energy efficient windows market. These market dynamics were analyzed in detail and are illustrated in the report with the help of supporting graphs and tables.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights :The report also provides a comprehensive analysis of the global energy efficient windows market with the help of Porters Five Forces model. This analysis helps in understanding the five major forces that affect the structure and profitability of the global energy efficient windows market. The forces analyzed are bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition.The high-level analysis in the report provides detailed insights into the energy efficient windows business globally. There are currently numerous drivers of the market. The most prominent drivers include increasing energy conservation policies and norms globally, and growing industrialization and commercialization, especially in developing countries.The energy efficient windows market was segmented on the basis of glazing type (double glazing and triple low-e glazing) and geography. The energy efficient windows market was analyzed across four geographies: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World (the Middle East, South America, and Africa). Regional data has been provided for each sub-segment of the energy efficient windows market. Key players in the energy efficient windows market include Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc., Marvin Windows and Doors, Inc., Milgard Manufacturing, Inc., Pella Corporation, Soft-Lite, LLC, Atrium Corporation, Andersen Corporation, JELD-WEN Inc., YKK AP Inc., and Associated Materials, LLC. The report provides an overview of these companies, followed by their financial details, business strategies, and recent developments.Energy Efficient Windows Market: By Glazing TypeDouble Glazing WindowsTriple Low-E Glazing WindowsEnergy Efficient Windows Market: By RegionNorth AmericaU.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeAsia PacificChinaRest of Asia PacificRest of the WorldContact90 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
CAR T-Cell Therapy Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024

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Immunotherapy has been the buzzword for cancer treatment over the last few years. With long impending clinical trials and research activities carried out using chimeric antigen receptor cells (CAR-T) cells, major players in the pharmaceuticals industry are expected to launch various products in 2017 and commercialize the product in the following two to three years. The idea behind introducing CAR-T cells is to specifically target and attack cancer cells and thereby, achieve higher treatment success rate. It involves adoptive cell transfer: extraction, expansion and modification of patients T-cell and then transferring back to patients body system. Sales of CAR-T-cell therapy product is expected to increase at double-digit growth rate, with major players in the organized sector expected to account for major share of the market.For Any Queries Get Solutions With A FREE PDF Sample :Car-T Cell Therapy Market DynamicsOnce commercially released, it will be a lifesaving therapy for millions of people creating major opportunities for players in the Car-T cell therapy market. Moreover, it is expected to help in treatment of children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in B cells. Introduction of the drug is expected to be especially beneficial for leukemia patients. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, over 339,000 people in the U.S., suffered from leukemia in 2012, with an estimated 1.5% of the population in the country expected to be detect with leukemia once in their lifetime. Growing prevalence rate and increasing demand for effective treatment modalities is expected to create new opportunities for market players.The Car-T cell therapy market is expected to be highly consolidated over the next few years, with the three major players accounting for major share of market revenue. The benefits of the launch of this drug is expected to benefit manufacturers, pharmacies and hospitals, and patients across value chain alike.Though the market is expected to gain significant traction over the forecast period, failing clinical trials, low success rate towards solid tumors, and cost structure in scaling up personalized medicines towards high cost to return profits are major challenges faced by the companies. CAR-T cell personalized treatment cell might require change in capacity of bioreactors of around 5 thousand liters. Moreover, it will require companies to train staff, incurring additional cost during the initial phase. Production is expected to increase significantly by 2020.Car-T Cell Therapy Market - Regional AnalysisNorth America and Europe are expected to dominate the overall CAR-T cells market throughout the forecast period. The regions are early adopters of newly-developed technologies. Moreover, demand is expected to be further propelled by large consumer base in these regions. As per estimates, North America spends an average of over 10% of the gross income on healthcare, with the large geriatric population in the region being the largest spenders. With over 80% of personalized medicine market captured by North America and Europe, the CAR-T Cell therapy is expected to achieve significant sales in these regions. Moreover, increasing popularity of personalized medicines would further propel demand for CAR T cell products in these regions.Asia Pacific is projected to emerge as a lucrative market for companies engaged in CAR-T cell therapy, although commercialization is expected only towards the latter part of the forecast period. Market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at relatively sluggish rate between 2017 and 2022. Japan is projected to be the key market in Asia Pacific for the players. However, low consumer base and low prevalence rate of cancer compared to developed region would lead to moderate growth opportunities in near future.Browse Research Report At :ongoing-insight/car-t-cell-therapy-market-global-industry-insights-trends-outlook-and-opportunity-analysis-2016-2024-1Car-T Cell Therapy Market - Competitor AnalysisJuno Therapeutics, Kite, and Novartis are currently engaged in CAR-T cell therapeutic products  commercialization of same is expected to commence in 2017.Kite is awaiting FDA-approval for its KTE-C19, with clinical trials being conducted at the National Cancer Institute. Judos JCAR015 is in phase II for ALL, while Novartis sees market opportunity with CAR-T Cell therapy, CTL019. With high remission rates, the product is expected to create exponential opportunities for the players in the Car-T cell therapy market.ABOUT USCOMPANY OVERVIEWCoherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having office at global financial capital in the U.S. Our client base includes players from across all business verticals in over 150 countries worldwide. We are uniquely positioned to help businesses around the globe deliver practical and lasting results through various recommendations about operational improvements, technologies, emerging market trends and new working methods. We offer both customized and syndicated market research reports that help our clients create visionary growth plans to provide traction to their business. We meticulously study emerging trends across various industries at both the global and regional levels to identify new opportunities for our clientele. Our global team of over 100 research analysts and freelance consultants provide market intelligence from the very molecular country level and also provide a global perspective of the market. Our team is of the most vital cog in our robust machinery that gives us the ability to deliver independent insight relying on our cognitive defusion training module.This allows for an objective and unbiased assessment of the market. We pride ourselves in my constantly striving to update our extremely in-depth understanding of the market by closely monitoring and analyzing markets, trends, and emerging best practices, across allfathomable industries under the sun. This enables us to equip our valued clientele with key decisive inputs to capitalize on lucrative growth opportunities in the market and to follow firmly position themselves on a high growth path in the future.CONTACT USCORPORATE OFFICE:Coherent Market Insights303, Astral Court,Above Reliance Fresh,Near Gaikwad Petrol Pump,Aundh, Pune  411045, IndiaTel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
New Study Reveals Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) Therapeutics Market Analysis And Forecast 2014 - 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) Therapeutics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast 2014 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Lymphoma is one of the most hazardous and life threatening type of cancer, related to lymphocytes, an important type of white blood cells. Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) is a distinct group of blood cancer, which includes large variety of lymphomas, excluding Hodgkins lymphomas. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) varies in their severity, from mild to fatal. According to a new classification of lymphomas published by WHO in 2008, the lymphomas are segmented into four different groups, instead of segregating as Hodgkins and Non-Hodgkins lymphomas. The list comprises of around 80 various types of lymphomas.The major causes of Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) include chemical interaction, such as, interaction with diphenylhydantoin, polychlorinated biphenyls and other toxic compounds, autoimmune disorders, such as, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac sprue, Sjogrens syndrome and others, medication and radiation therapy, infections, such as, H. pylori infection, HIV infection, hepatitis C viral infection, human T-cell leukemia virus, Epstein-Barr virus and others, genetic disorders such as ataxia telangiectasis syndrome, Klienfelters syndrome and others. Major symptoms of the disease includes night sweats, itchy skin, frequent high fever, breath shortness, loss of appetite and weight and painless sweating of lymph nodes present on various locations in the body.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The market of Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) is segmented on the basis of phase of the disease (severity), such as, phase I, II, III, and IV. Further, the market is segmented on the basis of types of Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL), such as, AIDS-related lymphomas, Mantel Cell lymphoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, blastic NK-cell lymphoma, T-cell leukemia, Burkitts lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia and many others. Furthermore, the market is segmented on the basis of therapeutic agents, such as, chemotherapy, stem cell therapy, radiations, novel targeted target therapy and other. A large number of therapeutic agents are used to treat Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL), such as methotrexate, bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, chlorambucil, liposomal cytarabine, nelarabine, doxorubicin hydrochloride and many others.Moreover, the market is segmented on the basis of geography, such as, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). At present, North America and Europe are the most prominent markets, owing to extensive research practices. However, Asia-Pacific and some countries in RoW region are expected to show lucrative growth in the upcoming period, owing to enhanced awareness about cancer and growing research practices.The market of Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) is driven by many promoting forces, such as, rising prevalence of Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) and other types of cancer, extensive R&D practices, rising concern of the population towards effects of Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) and rise in medical and healthcare expenditure and infrastructure. Rising prevalence of Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) is one of the most important market drivers. According to American Cancer Societys recent estimations, around 71,000 new patients are diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) in 2014, and the number of deaths is expected to be around 19,000 in 2014.Furthermore, extensive R&D practices is another important market growth factor of this market. As of now, large number of pharmaceutical companies engaged in R&D practices in order to develop innovative formulations. For instance, Rituximab SC (Roche, Inc.) is under phase III studies. On the contrary, high cost of R&D and treatment and chronic side effects are the biggest hurdles in the market growth.Some of the key players operating in Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) Therapeutics market and engaged in the development of new formulations for Non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL) include F. Hoffmann LA Roche, Inc., Amgen, Inc. ,Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis International AG, Bayer AG, Pharmacyclics, Inc., Nordic Nanovector A/S, AbbVie, Inc. and many others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends.This report provides comprehensive analysis of- Market growth drivers- Factors limiting market growth- Current market trends- Market structure- Market projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this Report- This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics- It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth- It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow- It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future- It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors- It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments- It provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Energy and Utilities Infrastructure Construction in China to 2020: Market Forecast | Now Available at Researchmoz.us

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Energy and Utilities Infrastructure Construction in China to 2020: Market Forecast" to its huge collection of research reports.'Energy and Utilities Infrastructure Construction in China to 2020: Market Forecast' contains detailed historic and forecast market value data for the energy and utilities construction industry, including a breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). The databook provides historical and forecast valuations of the industry using the construction output and value-add methods.SummaryThis report is the result of Timetrics extensive market research covering the energy and utilities construction industry in China. It contains detailed historic and forecast market value data for the energy and utilities construction industry, including a breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). 'Energy and Utilities Infrastructure Construction in China to 2020: Market Forecast' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the energy and utilities construction industry in China. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Chinese construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @ScopeOverview of the energy and utilities construction industry in China.Historic and forecast market value for the energy and utilities construction industry by construction output and value-add methods for the period 2011 through to 2020.Historic and forecast market value by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) across the energy and utilities construction industry for the period 2011 through to 2020.Reasons To BuyThis report provides you with valuable data for the energy and utilities construction industry in China.This report provides you with a breakdown of market value by type of construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition).This report enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing market values using the construction output and value add methods.This report allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given for the market.Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Germany Biopower Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares, Analysis 2016 And Forecast Outlook 2030

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Biopower in Germany, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2016 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles" to its huge collection of research reports."Biopower in Germany, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2016 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles" is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the Biopower market in Germany.The report provides an in-depth analysis on global renewable power market and global Biopower market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in Germany (includes conventional Hydro, nuclear and renewable energy sources) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details renewable power market outlook in the country (includes Wind, small hydro, biopower and renewable) and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in Germany Biopower market. A detailed coverage of energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to Biopower market development is provided in the report. The research also provides company snapshots of some of the major market participants.The report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalDatas team of industry experts.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @ScopeThe report analyses global renewable power market, global biopower (Biomass and Biogas) market, Germany power market, Germany renewable power market and Germany biopower market. The scope of the research includes -- A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption.- An overview on global renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends, generation trends and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources. The information is covered for the historical period 2006-2015 (unless specified) and forecast period 2015-2030.- Renewable power sources include wind (both onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), small hydropower (SHP), biomass, biogas and geothermal.- Detailed overview of the global biopower market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by major biopower countries in 2015 and key owners information of various regions.- Power market scenario in Germany and provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) with forecasts up to 2030.- An overview on Germany renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends (2006-2030), generation trends(2006-2030) and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources in 2015.- Detailed overview of Germany biopower market with installed capacity and generation trends and major active and upcoming biopower projects.- Deal analysis of Germany biopower market. Deals are analyzed on the basis of mergers, acquisitions, partnership, asset finance, debt offering, equity offering, private equity (PE) and venture capitalists (VC).- Key policies and regulatory framework supporting the development of renewable power sources in general and biopower in particular.- Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country.Reasons to buy- The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner.- Identify key growth and investment opportunities in Germany biopower market.- Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for wind power market.- Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential.- Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events.- Identify key partners and business development avenues.- Understand and respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects.Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Denim Jeans Market 2017- Lee Cooper, Diesel S.p.A., Calvin Klein, Armani, Levi Strauss & Co.

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Market Research Report on Denim Jeans in Global market begins with definition, application, classification, industry chain analysis, news analysis, region, revenue, forecast, demand, growth, trends and policy analysis of the market.This report studies Denim Jeans in Global market, especially in United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, India, Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil, Middle East and Africa,focuses on the top Manufacturers in each country.Download Sample Report @Covering ManufacturersPVH CorporationInditexH&MReplayMangoFrameCitizen of HumanityDenhamPull&BearTopShopVF Corp.AG JeansAmerican ApparelAmerican Eagle OutfittersUniqloParasucoCalvin KleinTrue ReligionDiesel S.p.A.DL1961 Premium DenimDolce & Gabbana SrlPaper Denim & ClothEdwinEsprit Holdings LtdFidelity DenimGapGoldsign JeansG-Star RAW C.V.GuessJ BrandJoe's JeansLee CooperLevi Strauss & Co.Lucky BrandTexwoodMavi JeansMustang Bekleidungswerke GmbH + Co., KG.Nudie Jeans CompanyArmaniPaige DenimThis report splits Global into several key Countries, with sales, revenue, market share of top 5 players in these Countries, from 2012 to 2017Split by Product Types, with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type, can be divided intoRegular FitSlim FitLoose FitAccess Full Report @Split by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Denim Jeans in each application, can be divided intoWomenMenChildrenTable of Contents2017-2022 Global Top Countries Denim Jeans Market Report1 Denim Jeans Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Denim Jeans1.2 Denim Jeans Segment by Types1.2.1 Global Sales Market Share of Denim Jeans by Types in 20151.2.2 Regular Fit1.2.3 Slim Fit1.2.4 Loose Fit1.3 Denim Jeans Segment by Applications1.3.1 Denim Jeans Consumption Market Share by Applications in 20151.3.2 Women1.3.3 Men1.3.4 Children1.4 Denim Jeans Market by Countries1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.2 Canada Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Germany Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 France Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 UK Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Italy Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Russia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.8 China Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.9 Japan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.10 India Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.11 Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.12 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.13 Australia Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.14 Brazil Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.15 Mexico Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.16 Middle East Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.17 Africa Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Denim Jeans Overview and Market Size (Value) (2012-2022)Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.Contact UsMark StoneSales ManagerPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:
Global Wood Pellets Market to Expand at 14.10% CAGR 2015-2023

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Transparency Market Research, in a report titled Wood Pellets Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023, states that the value of the global wood pellets market is projected to rise from US$6.2 bn in 2014 to US$20 bn in 2023. If these values hold true, the report states that the market will register a 14.10% CAGR therein.The report, with the help of the Porters five forces model, sheds light on the wood pellets industry chain. It evaluates the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers, the threat of substitutes and new entrants, and the rivalry among key competitors. The report also analyzes the value chain of the wood pellets market.The global wood pellets market is fueled by the rise in financial incentives provided by various federal agencies, the presence of favorable government agreements and policies, and the low cost and long-term supply of wood pellets. The fact that wood pellets offer an environmental advantage over conventional fuels also presents lucrative opportunities for players within the market. On the flip side, the release of flue gas during the storage of wood pellets is anticipated to hamper the development of the global market.Get PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights :On the basis of application, the wood pellets market is bifurcated into heating and power plants. Accounting for a massive 70% share in 2014, the heating application segment led the overall market in terms of revenue and is anticipated to retain its lead throughout the forecast period. Wood pellets are used for district, industrial, and residential heating. In 2014, power plants used almost 800,000 tons of wood pellets.The global wood pellets market is segmented on the basis of geography into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa. Led by the UK, Europe held the largest share in the overall wood pellets market in 2014. The market in this region is fueled by the significant support from the government in the form of incentives for the generation of green energy. Strict emission norms have also propelled the North America wood pellets market. The international trade of wood pellets is strongly driven by the high energy density of wood pellets and their easy availability in the developed markets of Europe and North America.Enviva LP, Wood Pellet Energy (UK) LTD., The Westervelt Company, Allance Pellet Machinery, Rentech, Inc., F.E. Wood & Sons, Enito Singpellet Pte Ltd, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Group, Andritz AG, German Pellets GmbH, Drax Group plc, Georgia Biomass, LLC, and Energex are some of the notable participants within the global wood pellets market. These players are profiled in the research report based on attributes such as company overview, business strategies, financial performance, and recent developments.Global Wood Pellets Market, by ApplicationPower PlantsHeatingContact90 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
Current and Future Industry Trends of Cigars & Cigarillos Market, 2016 - 2024

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Zion Market Research published new report on ' Cigars & Cigarillos Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 20162024' in it's databaseGlobal Cigars & Cigarillos Market: OverviewThe dried and fermented tobacco leaves are tightly rolled and bound together to form cigars and cigarillos. These are of varied sizes, thicknesses, and lengths. The cigars are burnt at the end in order to intake tobacco smoke into the mouth. The cigars and cigarillos have become more popular in young and adult people. They are now considered a status symbol. People are ready to pay more money for their varied flavors. However, celebrities became an ideal example for attracting more consumers towards cigars and cigarillos. The smoking trend is gaining popularity among young and adult women too. For instance, Snoop Dogg launched his own tobacco cigar line, a new cigar brandExecutive Branch.Request Free Sample Report @Global Cigars & Cigarillos Market: Growth FactorsLower tax on cigar and cigarillos products is expected to fuel market. In addition, consumer acceptance of cigar and cigarillos as a status symbol is further anticipated to boost the market in future. One of the major driving factors is the difference in the in the tax rate. Increasing demand for cigars and cigarillos owing to its growing popularity is anticipated to contribute to the growth of the global market. Conversely, strict government regulation over advertisement and smoking in the public places restraints the market growth.Request for TOC of Report @Global Cigars & Cigarillos Market: SegmentationThe global cigars & cigarillos market is segmented on the basis of category as little cigars, cigars, and cigarillos. Of these, cigarillos accounted for the largest category segment due to its availability at low prices. Based on types, the global market is categorized as premium and mass. Of which, premium is the leading segment in the global market. The premium category brand shows robust growth in countries such as China, the U.S., and the UAE. Further, the cigars & cigarillos market is bifurcated on the basis of flavor as fruit, mint, chocolate, and others. The mint flavor contributed for the largest market share. Fruit is expected to dominate the market in the near future.Global Cigars & Cigarillos Market: Regional AnalysisNorth America is the dominating region for cigars & cigarillos market owing to favorable growth opportunities in this region. Asia Pacific is also expected to boost the market growth due to rising popularity in the youth. Furthermore, China is emerging as a demanding region for cigars & cigarillos market. The U.S. is also an emerging market for the cigars and cigarillos having a lower tax for cigarettes compared to others. The cigars and cigarillos are not controlled by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in the U.S. Hence, this region is anticipated to witness growth in the future. Under this act, nearly 20 cigarettes and flavored cigarettes have been banned in the U.S. but are not applicable to cigars and cigarillos; this is expected to propel the global market in future.Browse detail report @Global Cigars & Cigarillos Market: Competitive PlayersThe major industries operating in the global cigars and cigarillos market include Trendsettah USA, Inc., British American Tobacco, Swisher International, Inc., Altria Group, Inc., Drew Estate LLC, Swedish Match AB, Imperial Brands, Oettinger Davidoff AG, Habanos S.A., Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S, Altadis, and Godfrey Phillips India Ltd. and Plc.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:
At A CAGR Of 3.88% Global Laser Distance Meter Industry Will Grow Steadily During The Period 2016-2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Laser Distance Meter Market 2016-2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Laser distance meter (LDM) are used in different industries such as construction and real estate. They have applications like finding out electrical wiring and furniture length in carpentry, interior designing, and carpet flooring. Professional contractors such as solar energy solution providers are widely using them for panel installation and commissioning. The demand for LDMs has grown in line with the rising requirement for construction applications such as flooring. LDMs have become an important tool for the majority of professional contractors as they help in fast and accurate measurement of floor dimensions.LDMs have seen a lot of advances in terms of accuracy, size, and weight. There are high-end LDMs like Bosch GLR 825, Fluke 424, and Leica S910 which offer additional features like angle measurement, Pythagoras function (to measure indirect dimensions when the line of sight is obscure), and camera for a 4x zoom.Technavios analysts forecast the global laser distance meter market to grow at a CAGR of 3.88% during the period 2016-2020.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global laser distance meter market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, Technavio considers the revenue generated from the total consumption of laser distance meters globally. The report does not include revenue generated from the aftermarket service of the product.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Laser Distance Meter 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 vendorsBoschHexagonStanley Black & DeckerDanaherFlir SystemsHiltiMakitaStabilaTrimpleMarket driverIncreasing number of floor plan appsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeTechnical barriers restricting outdoor measurementsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendMiniaturization of sensorsFor 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?Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Remanufactured Medical Imaging Devices Global Market Analysis Research Report 2014 - 2020 | Researchmoz

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Remanufactured Medical Imaging Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast 2014 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.According to the Food and Drug Administration, U.S., remanufacturing of medical devices is defined as the processing, conditioning, repackaging, renovating, restoring additional features/updates to finished device, which takes the scope of finished devices performance beyond its original position i.e. better than original device. As per the European Coordination Committee of the Radiological, Electrochemical and Healthcare IT Industry (COCIR), Japan Industries Association of Radiological Systems (JIRA) AND Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA), the remanufacturing of medical imaging devices consists of the following steps: equipment selection, disassembly, packing and shipment; cleaning and disinfection; remanufacturing planning; mechanical and electrical remanufacturing; final packing, shipment and reinstallation.The terms remanufacturing and refurbishing of medical devices are significantly have different meanings when applied to medical devices. According to the EU regulations, when a medical device is cleaned, repaired and updated to relevant safety standards is defined as the refurbishment of medical device. Remanufacturing of medical devices include various imaging devices such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), X-ray, interventional cardiology, ultrasound scanners. These medical imaging equipments are highly capital intensive both to use and purchase due to the involvement of advanced technology. Subsequently, this leads to the high demand for remanufactured medical devices. Remanufacturing of medical imaging devices is considered as an eco-friendly practice, as it avoids disposal and pollution burden.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Furthermore, these remanufacturing practices enabled hospitals to redirect tons of medical waste from confined landfills. Currently, most of the medical device manufacturers are marketing their remanufactured and refurbished medical devices as economical and eco-friendly devices. For an instance, Siemens healthcare company has an eco-friendly medical devices product portfolio, which comprises various remanufactured medical devices.The market for global remanufactured medical devices is expected to foresee a huge growth in coming next years. The contributing factors behind such an assessment include increasing healthcare professionals inclination towards usage of eco-friendly and economical medical devices, cost-cutting measures and broad shift towards value driven healthcare. Additionally, decline in reimbursement policies for medical imaging devices, continued dominance of remanufactured medical equipment sales and rising demand for advanced digital diagnostic imaging systems would expect to drive the market.Moreover, several attributes such as improving private insurance scenarios for these devices and need for rationalizing healthcare budgets aiding the adoption rates of these devices among the healthcare professionals and hospitals. Consequently, these factors would expect to accentuate the growth of this market. However, the risks associated with these devices and its effectiveness could pose a challenge for the growth of this market in future.Geographically, North America accounts for the largest market share of the overall remanufactured medical imaging devices market followed by the European region. The dominance of North America in this market is seen due to increased preference for remanufactured medical devices and presence of various market leaders, which allows easy penetration in the North America region. In the United States, diagnostic imaging centers and hospitals are the two leading buyers of these medical devices. The European remanufactured medical devices market follows North America due to extensive government support for the development of innovative medical devices for imaging procedures.Some of the market players operating in Remanufactured Medical Imaging Devices market include GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, Toshiba Medical Systems, TeraRecon Inc., Shimadzu Corp., Carestream Health Inc., Hologic Inc., Hitachi Medical Corp., Medison America Inc., Siemens Healthcare and others.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report include- North America- Asia Pacific- Europe- Rest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis of- Market growth drivers- Factors limiting market growth- Current market trends- Market structure- Market projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this Report- This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics- It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth- It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow- It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future- It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors- It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments- It provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Fish Processing Market revenue projected to go up by 2016 - 2024

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Zion Market Research published new report on 'Fish Processing Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 20162024' in it's databaseGlobal Fish Processing Market: OverviewThe practice associated with fish and fish products is known as fish processing. The process begins with catching of fish and continues until the finished product is reached to the consumer. This finished product is in the ready-to-eat form. It covers all aquatic organisms under fish processing. Fish processing is mainly followed to protect them from decaying. Fish is extremely perishable food product and hence it needs proper preservation method to extend its shelf life & maintain its nutritional quality. Some dried seafood such as shrimps, dried fish, dried octopus, dried oysters, and many other are gaining popularity among people. Moreover, some of the well-known fish processes used to preserve fish include surimi, curing, salting, drying, and smoking. For example, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and SNV Ghana collaborated to introduce a new fishing technology in order to provide cleaner and healthier fist to meet local as well as international standards.Request Free Sample Report @Global Fish Processing Market: Growth FactorsThis market is mainly driven by health benefits and high nutritional value of the fish and fish products. Growing health concerns and aquaculture industry are contributing for the global non-food processing application market growth. Introduction of modern techniques and motorization of fishing boats are expected to boost the global market in the near future. In addition, government support for fishing activities and technological advancement also fuel the global fish processing market.Global Fish Processing Market: SegmentationThe global fish processing market is segmented on the basis of application as non-food processing application and food processing application. Of these, non-food processing application is the fastest growing application segment in the global market owing to increasing use in the industrial applications. Non-food processing application is further sub-segmented as fertilizers, fish oil, industrial uses, fish meal, and cosmetics. Based on the category, the global market is bifurcated as preserved, frozen, and others. The global market is further divided based on equipment as curing & smoking, slaughtering, deboning, scaling, filleting, skinning, gutting, and others.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Fish Processing Market: Regional AnalysisEurope is the dominating region in the global fish processing market. It is accompanied with abundant facilities such as boats, advanced machineries, and others which is anticipated to boost the global fish processing market in future. In European countries, cold smoking and hot smoking fish preserving methods are used on large extent. Import for varieties of fish and shrimp from Asian economies will contribute to the global fish processing market growth. Portugal is the fastest growing region in the European country with augmenting demand for sardine, turbot, hake, oysters, clams, and cod. Some European countries such as Spain, Portugal, Poland, and Denmark have fishery as their main occupation and thus they majorly contribute to the GDP growth. They are leading exporters to the North American and European countries.Global Fish Processing Market: Competitive PlayersMajor players dominating the global fish processing market include Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Norway Pelagic ASA, Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL, High Liner Foods Incorporated, and Pescanova S.A. Other key players influencing the global market are Marine Harvest ASA, Thai Union Frozen Products PLC, Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd., Leroy Seafood Group ASA, and Royal Greenland A/S.Browse detail report @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:
Alcohol Ingredients Market will generate new growth opportunities by 2024

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Zion Market Research published new report on ' Alcohol Ingredients Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 20162024' in it's databaseGlobal Alcohol Ingredients Market: OverviewAlcoholic beverages are drinks that consist of a significant amount of ethanol. It is depressant in nature, whereas the low amount of alcohol may cause sociability, euphoria, and reduced anxiety. However, higher doses may cause unconsciousness and intoxication. In addition, long-term drinking can lead to alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and physical dependence. These beverages include flavors, yeast, colorants, and enzymes. They are widely accepted recreational drugs globally. Alcohol drinking is found to be important in the much social culture. However, the government in several countries monitors production, consumption, and sale of the alcohol carefully.Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: Growth FactorsIncreasing demand for alcoholic beverages across the world is anticipated to foster the global alcohol ingredients market growth in future. In addition, people are getting more addicted to alcoholic beverages, which is leading to increasing growth of the global market in the near future. Moreover, drinking alcohol has become as a status symbol; this may fuel the global alcohol ingredients market. Increasing disposal income and changing consumer habit for branded product is anticipated witness growth in future.Request For Free Sample Report @Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: SegmentationThe global alcohol ingredients market is categorized based on ingredient type as colorants, and flavors and salts. Of these, flavors and salts segment is the dominating segment in the global market. These flavors are added to the beverages in order to prevent from loss of taste throughout food processing. These flavors can be artificial or natural. Flavored alcoholic beverages such as beers, spirits, and wines are getting more popular across the world. They have become an integral part of alcoholic beverages sector. Based on beverage type, the global market is bifurcated as spirits, beer, and wine. Of these, beer is the leading beverage type segment in the global alcohol ingredients market owing to increasing demand for cider beer, beer made from fruit juice, and craft beer, which may propel the global market growth in the future.Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: Regional AnalysisEurope is the dominating region for alcohol ingredients and this demand expected to increase in the near future, due to growth in the beverages manufacturing activities. North America is considered as a mature market for alcoholic beverages, owing to increasing food and beverages industries. Companies focus in this region is to occupy other regions as well. However, beverages manufacturers are planning to penetrate into newer markets primarily in Asia Pacific. Changing consumer preferences for leading brand in the beverages in the India and China may enhance the global alcohol ingredients market.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: Competitive PlayersKey players in the global alcohol ingredients market are Treatt, Angel Yeast, Crystal Pharma, Bio Springer, D.D. Williamson, Chr. Hansen, ADM, Sensient, Dohler, Ashland, Kerry, and Synergy Flavors, and Biorigin. Other major players influencing the global market are Kothari Fermentation and Biochem, Koninklijke DSM, Suboneyo Chemicals Pharmaceuticals, and Chaitanya.Global Alcohol Ingredients Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaBrowse detail report @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:
Cheese Ingredients Market will explore robust size & growth during 2016 - 2024

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Zion Market Research published new report on 'Cheese Ingredients Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 20162024' in it's databaseGlobal Cheese Ingredients Market: OverviewCheese is considered among complex dairy products as far as the manufacturing process is concerned. The manufacturing process of cheese includes chemical, biochemical, and microbiological procedures. The entire process has different processes such as milk acidification packaging, milk coagulation, and storage. In total, there are almost 400 different varieties of cheese manufactured by using various milk sources.Global Cheese Ingredients Market: Growth FactorsThe global cheese ingredients market is anticipated to witness considerable growth in the near future. Changing lifestyles and rising adoption of expediency foods are some of the factors propelling the global cheese ingredients market. Different countries have adopted cheese ingredients so as to meet the increasing demand of changing taste patterns from end-users. This, in turn, is anticipated to boost the global cheese ingredients market in the future. The increasing application of cheese in various food products including burger and pizza is another major factor driving the growth of the global market in a positive way. Furthermore, government initiatives to increase awareness, change in eating patterns, unmet needs, lack of time for cooking, and improved economic and social stability are other factors fostering the growth of the global cheese ingredients market. Conversely, different regulations imposed on cheese ingredients usage such as a ban on the utilization of condensed milk in cheese manufacturing may hamper the global cheese ingredients market to some extent.Request For Free Sample Report @Global Cheese Ingredients Market: SegmentationThe global cheese ingredients market is segmented on the basis of cheese type, ingredient type, and regions. Based on the ingredient type, the global market is segmented as milk, additives, cultures, and enzymes. Of which, the milk segment is influencing the global market which is followed by enzymes segment. On the basis of cheese type, the cheese ingredients market is classified as natural cheese and processed cheese. Of these, processed cheese segment dominates the global market owing to low production cost and high demand from packaging manufacturers. Geographically, the global cheese ingredients market is segmented as Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Middle East & Africa.Global Cheese Ingredients Market: Regional AnalysisNorth America is anticipated to witness a significant growth in the global cheese ingredient market in future. This trend is followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. Asia Pacific is considered to be the fast growing markets for cheese ingredients market mainly owing to the emerging economies including Australia, New Zealand, China, and Japan. One of the major producers of cheese is New Zealand.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Cheese Ingredients Market: Competitive PlayersSome of the major players in the global cheese ingredients market are Fonterra Co-Operative Group Limited, Saputo Inc., CSK Food Enrichment, and E. I. du Pont De Nemours and Company. Other key players influencing the global market include Chr. Hansen Holdings A/S, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Almarai, Altura, Arla Foods, and Koninklijke Dsm N.V.Global Cheese Ingredients Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaBrowse detail report @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:
Food Diagnostics Systems Market Globally to register highest growth by 2024

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Zion Market Research published new report on ' Food Diagnostics Systems Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 20162024' in it's databaseGlobal Food Diagnostics Systems Market: OverviewThe eruption of the foodborne diseases may put a heavy burden on the healthcare sector. Food diagnostic systems are the result of growing awareness about food safety in emerging markets. These systems are designed to identify food impurities and contamination that occur during manufacturing, processing, and packaging stages. Food can be tested by using various methods such as immunomagnetic separation, microscopic biochemical identification, and antibody-based testing.Global Food Diagnostics Systems Market: Growth FactorsThe growth in the global market is mainly due to increase concerns about food quality and safety. The strict regulation set by the government on foodborne diseases prevention is anticipated to enhance the global food diagnostics systems market growth. However, increasing concerns about food safety in the consumer may also impact the global food diagnostics systems market in a positive way. Globalization of food trade is also opening gateways for the new growth opportunities across the world and is expected to propel the global food diagnostics systems market in the coming years. Moreover, emerging niche markets and their higher demand for food testing may experience potential opportunities in the global market.Request For Free Sample Report @Global Food Diagnostics Systems Market: SegmentationThe global food diagnostics systems market is classified based on the consumables, diagnostics systems, types of contaminants, and geography. The consumables segment is divided as disinfectants, test accessories, reagents, and others. Further, the diagnostics systems segment is categorized as spectrometry-based, hybridization-based, testing kits, chromatography-based, biosensors, and others. Hybridization-based food diagnostics systems segment is further sub-segmented as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microarrays, gene amplifier, and sequencers. Moreover, the chromatography-based food diagnostic systems segment is further sub-segmented as high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography. These systems are used to detect and trace any contaminants present in the food products. While handling these food diagnostics systems also offer insight regarding the nutritional content available in the food products. The types of contaminants, which are used in the testing systems for food diagnostics are moulds, Yersinia, bacillus, listeria, pathogens, shigella, fusarium, klebisiella, and novivirus. The pathogens are a dominating segment in the global food diagnostics systems market. They comprise campylobacter, Escherichia coli, salmonella, and listeria. Furthermore, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa give the geographical segmentation.Global Food Diagnostics Systems Market: Regional AnalysisNorth America is the leading market for food diagnostics systems owing to rising food contamination causing foodborne diseases. However, Asia Pacific is another region growing at a faster rate in the global food diagnostics systems market. Moreover, food diagnostics systems are expanding in this region rapidly.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Food Diagnostics Systems Market: Competitive PlayersMajor players in the global food diagnostics systems market are Beckman Coulter Inc., Randox Laboratories Ltd., Biocontrol Systems Inc., E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company, Thermofisher Scientific Inc., Perkinelmer Inc., Thermo Electron Corporation, Fermantes, and 3M Company. Other key players include Omega Diagnostic Group Plc., VWR International, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Merck Kgaa, Biomerieux SA, Danaher Corporation, Neogen Corporation, and Foss A/S.Global Food Diagnostics Systems Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaBrowse detail 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.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:
Feed Acid Market - Global Industry Analysis 2019

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Adding nutritional value to animal feeds, through the use of acids are referred as feed acids.The ingredients used in feed acids are inorganic acids, amino acids, monoanddiglycerides, antioxidants, glycerin, saccharides, probiotics and protein. The global market for feed acid was worth USD 1,162.3 million in 2012.In 2012, Europe and North America accounted for more than 60% share of the market. Europe was the biggest market for feed acids followed by North America. This dominance was driven by the ban on antibiotics used as a growth promoter in animal feed and the increasing demand for improving feed utilization. Moreover, shift in trends towards natural and organic feed additives isalso expected to bring in rich gains for the feed acids market in these regions. But in future, both these economies are expected to lose their market share. In future, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:The rise in epidemic outbreaks such as avian flu and foot-and-mouth disease has increased concern towards animal health across the globe, due to which the quality of food has become an important issue. Therefore feed acids are used widely in both the finished product and ingredient markets. Their importance is also increasing as they form a part of the daily consumption needs of animals, mainly as feed acids to help guard against feed deterioration. In addition, consumers who prefer extrinsic quality attributes of meat have increased, affecting the overall growth of the meat market. The increasing outbreak of epidemics is not only affecting the meat market, but also posing a serious threat to human health due to increasing parasite transmission.Feed acids are well known for their health benefits in the animal body, such as their capability to kill pathogenic microorganisms which causes diseases and deter the growth ofthe livestock animals. Feed acids also reduces diarrhea, improve response to antibiotic treatments and keep a microbial balance in the digestive system. Use of such feed acids have decreased epidemic outbreaks and has helped in stabilizing the meat market across the globe.The rapid development in the feed industry has directly impacted production of organic/feed acids for preservation and improving the effectiveness of the feed. The microbial production of organic acids is a promising approach for obtaining organic acids from renewable carbon sources. Microbial processes seem to be feasible; however, mass level production has not been possible through these methods. In microbial production the feed acids are produced using any of the four common production methods viz. synthesis, extraction, fermentation and enzymatic catalysts.Some of the key players of the markets profiled in this study are ADDCON GmbH, BASF SE, Perstorp AB, Kemin Industries Inc, Novus International and others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Competitive Landscape for Legionella Testing Market by Segments - 2023

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has been reported that around 8,000 to 18,000 people are suffering with Legionnaires disease in the United States each year. Among these, in adults, approximately 2 to 15% of patients with community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization and Legionellosis is considered to be the second most common cause of pneumonia that require Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. The mortality rate associated with Legionella infection patients is about 5 to 80% and it depends on certain risk factors. These risk factors are associated with the high mortality rate include age, belated antimicrobial therapy for infection and predisposing underlying conditions such as diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease and immunodeficiency. For the patients with Legionella disease, effective antimicrobial therapy is considered as the standard initial empirical treatment therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and for specific patients with nosocomial pneumonia.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:The Legionella is a rod shaped and gram-negative bacteria that can cause pneumonia (Legionnaires disease) or flu like illness (Pontiac fever). The disease caused by Legionella bacteria is termed as Legionellosis. A Legionella bacterium is a fastidious microorganism and it require special growth requirements for its survival, which include Iron presence, temperature above 68 F, L cysteine and biofilm. However, it can survive at minimal dissolved oxygen levels unlike other microorganisms and is resistant to chlorine disinfection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately about 40 different species of Legionella are present and 18 of those are infectious. Among all these species, Legionella pneumophilia bacterium can causes most of the diseases. Initially patients infected show symptoms such as headache, muscle pain, chills and high fever. Later, with the disease progression the patients show symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, severe cough and mental changes. The infections caused by Legionella bacterium are categorized in to four types like subclinical infection (infection with no disease), pneumonia (Legionnaires disease), extra pulmonary disease and non-pneumonic disease (Pontiac fever).Macrolides, quinolones, ketolides, tetracyclines and rifampin are various antibiotics used for the treatment of Legionella infection. Among these, Azithromycin is the drug of choice for treating this infection in children and for adults, certain flouroquinolones like levofloxacin and moxifloxacin are considered as the most efficient drugs. There are various diagnostic tests are available commercially in the market for the detection of Legionella bacterium in the body, which include blood tests, chest X-ray, sputum or lung tissue test and urine antigen tests.The global market for Legionella testing is expected to record significant growth rate in the near future. The growth would be observed due to advancement in immunodiagnostic technologies and automation. Additionally, growth in this industry would be fuelled by entry of new market players, growing awareness about the disease and outbreaks of the infection in the developing countries. For an instance, according to the National Health Service (NHS), it was estimated that approximately 10 to 15% of people with Legionella infection would die due to severe complications such as lungs failure, kidneys failure or septic shock. Hence, increasing prevalence of the infection would increase the demand for Legionella testing.Geographically, North America accounts for the largest share of the Legionella tests market followed by the European region. The dominance of North America in this market is majorly seen due to rising number of patients suffering from Legionella infections and presence of large number of market players in this region. European Legionella tests market follows the North America market due to extensive promotion and funding for healthcare facilities by the European government such as Germany and the U.K.Some of the major players operating in this market includes Abbott Laboratories, Becton Dickinson, Life Technology, Novartis Diagnostics, Bio-Rad, Beckman Coulter and Roche Diagnostics.Browse Full Research Report on Legionella Testing Market: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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Industrial valves Market Expected to Witness a Steady Growth by 2021

Industrial Valves Market

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Valves are vital components used in both domestic and industrial perspective. The valves particularly control the volume, pressure, rate and direction of fluids. valves are mostly used in heavy industries and are available in various kinds. The industrial valves include standard valves that offer leak-proof and low-maintenance ability. However, they are manual operated. Further, industrial valves also include automatic valves which are more efficient than standard valves.Industrial valves market is mainly driven by growing demand of petrochemical products such as paints, polymers, plastics, and fuel additives. Another major factor to drive demand for industrial valves is growing oil & gas and power application industry in Africa and Middle East regions. However, fading demand from mining industry is major restraints that could hinder the growth of the industrial valves market.Browse the full report at :Value chain analysis and Porters Five Forces Model have been presented to provide a comprehensive view of the market. These would also help understand specifics of the industry structure apart from giving an overview of degree of competitiveness. The market was segmented on the basis of type, and end-use application industry in terms of value. The market segments by end-use application industry include oil & gas, chemical, municipal, power, and others. The valve type segmentation includes market size of ball valves, globe valves, gate valves, butterfly valves, and others.The study segments the global industrial valves market on the basis of applications such as oil & gas, chemical, municipal, power and others. It provides forecasts and estimates for each application segment in terms of revenue and volume during the forecast period for each region, including countries as well. The study also analyzes market attractiveness for all applications of industrial valves with the help of the market attractiveness tool.Get Sample Research Report at :In terms of geography, global industrial valves market has been segmented into the following regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Each region has been further divided into countries that are found to be key markets for industrial valves.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for industrial valves among other regions. China and India are emerging economies that exhibits increased rate of industrialization and commercialization which is expected to trigger the growth of industrial valves demand. Middle East and Northern Africa are likely to become the second fastest growing market.Some of the key manufacturers of industrial valves market include Pentair plc, Emerson Electric Co., KITZ Corporation, AVK Holding A/S, Emerson Electric, General Electric, Cameron International, and Curtiss-Wright Corporation.This report segments the global industrial valves market as follows:Global Industrial Valves Market: Valve Type Segment AnalysisBall valveGlobe valveGate valveButterfly valveOthersGlobal Industrial Valves Market: Application Segment AnalysisOil & gasChemicalMunicipalPowerOthersGlobal Industrial Valves Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia-PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout UsSyndicate 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 includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Pressure Sensors Market  Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2014  2020

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The report covers forecast and analysis for the pressure sensors market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2014 along with a forecast from 2015 to 2020 based on revenue (USD million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the pressure sensors market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the pressure sensors market on a global level.Request Free Sample copy of Report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the pressure sensors market, we have included a detailed value chain analysis. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the pressure sensors market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein technology segments and applications segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.The study provides a decisive view on the pressure sensors market by segmenting the market based on applications. All the application segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2014 to 2020. Key technology type segmented market covered under this study includes capacitive, electromagnetic, optical, piezoresistive, resonant solid-state. Key application segments covered under this study includes automotive, consumer electronics, industrial, medical, oil & gas and others. The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil. This segmentation includes demand for Pressure Sensors based on individual applications in all the regions and countries.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @The report also includes detailed profiles of end players such as ABB Ltd, Analog Devices Inc., Delphi Automotive PLC, Emerson Process Management, Freescale Semiconductor Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Omron Corporation, Robert Bosch Gmbh, and STMicroelectronics N.V. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies and recent developments of the company.The report segments the global pressure sensors market as:Pressure Sensors Market: Technology Segment AnalysisCapacitiveElectromagneticOpticalPiezoresistiveResonant Solid-StatePressure Sensors Market: Application Segment AnalysisAutomotiveConsumer ElectronicsIndustrialMedicalOil & GasOtherPressure Sensors Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Bathroom Vanities Market Is Expected To Generate Huge Profits by 2021

Bathroom Vanities Market

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Bathroom vanities are the counter-tops that available in a wide range of materials such as glass, wood, laminate, polyethylene and others. Bathroom vanities and sink console are typically the focus of toilet style. The bathroom vanities can fit in either small or big sized bathroom. Vanity with added amenities such as pull-out drawers and intrinsic chips allow multiple usages at one platform.Get Sample Research Report at :Surging construction industry and developing sophisticated infrastructure facilities is key driving factor of global bathroom vanities market. In addition, growing demand from new housing and renovation activities due to changing lifestyle is also expected to accelerate the market growth. Shifting inclination towards recycled material is also likely to offer potential opportunities to bathroom vanities market. However, expensive bathroom designing is expected to impede the growth of the market.The global bathroom vanities market is segmented on the basis of material, application and region. Based on different material used for bathroom vanities include c stone, ceramic, glass, wood and metal. Furthermore, application segmentation includes residential and non-residential applications of bathroom vanities.The report provides a comprehensive view on the bathroom vanities 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 bathroom vanities 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.Read More@Application segments have been analyzed based on historic, present, and future trends, and the market has been estimated from 2015 to 2020 in terms of revenue (USD Million). Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand of bathroom vanities in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). The report also includes further bifurcation into major countries including U.S., Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India, and Brazil. This segmentation includes demand for bathroom vanities market based on individual application and material in all the regions and countries.Asia Pacific is a dominating region for global bathroom vanities market and it further predicted to witness significant growth owing to the emerging economies such as China and India. North America is likely to have lucrative growth for bathroom vanities market due to increasing demand for premium bathroom features during the forecasted period.Key players of the bathroom vanities market include MasterBrand Cabinets, Avanity Corporation, RSI Home Products, American Woodmark, and Foremost Group, among others.Key segments of the Global Bathroom Vanities MarketGlobal Bathroom Vanities Market: Material Segment AnalysisStoneWoodMetalCeramicGlassGlobal Bathroom Vanities Market: Application Segment AnalysisResidentialNon-ResidentialGlobal Bathroom Vanities Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia-PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout UsSyndicate 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 includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global LED Lighting Market  Industry Perspective, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast 2014  2020

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The reports provide quantitative analysis of the global LED lighting market and estimations in terms of revenue (USD Million) during the forecast period from 2015 to 2020. The study highlights key factors responsible for market growth of LED lighting market and provides restraints and challenges faced by the market. It also provides the level of impact of drivers and restraints on the market between 2015 and 2020. The market is illustrated with respect to different segments along with opportunities that are expected to arise during the forecast period.Request Free Sample copy of Report @This report provides comprehensive view of the LED lighting market to the readers. The study analyses the market in and across value chain. Study of Porters Five Forces model of the LED lighting market helps to understand the strength of the buyers and suppliers participating in the lighting market. Some additional parameters such as attractiveness analysis, wherein segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness. Market attractiveness analysis provides the information about the most attractive and least attractive market segments by application and region.The report provides detailed segmentation of the LED lighting market based on application and regional. On the basis of application segment the report has been segmented into industrial lighting, outdoor lighting and architectural lighting. 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 with in-depth TOC @The report includes detailed competitive landscape of the global LED lighting market. It includes company market share analysis, product portfolio of the major industry participants. Some of the major players in the market such as Philips Electronics N.V., Osram Opto, Cree Incorporation, Zumtobel AG, Toshiba Corporation, Digital Lumens, Inc., Cooper Industries Plc and GE lightings.This report segments the global market as follows:LED Lighting Market: Application Segment AnalysisIndustrialArchitectureOutdoorLED Lighting Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East&AfricaAbout A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Powertrain Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends Analysis Forecast For 2020

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Powertrain consists of all the main components of an automobile engine where the combustion of fuel takes place. These components include engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and final drive. Powertrain can also be defined as the sum total of all the components which is required for the vehicle to convert stored energy into kinetic energy. This kinetic energy which is produced by the powertrain enables the vehicle to move.Download Research Brochure PDF@Technologically upgraded advanced powertrain system which enables better fuel efficiency and stringent government norms for automobile are some of the factors which is driving the automotive powertrain market. Powertrain manufacturing companies are investing heavily in research and development activities to innovate more advanced powertrain systems. Companies are trying to decrease the size of engine and powertrain which are environment friendly without compromising on the performance of the vehicle. Due to reduction in the size of the vehicle the fuel efficiency of the vehicles are increasing. Now end users can run more miles by consuming the same amount of fuel. Thus encouraging the end users to upgrade their vehicles to ones with latest technology powertrain systems, thus creating more demand for automotive powertrain.Growing environmental awareness among consumers has led to the growth in demand in the powertrain market witnessing a trend towards eco-friendly and noiseless powertrains, with the automotive industry likely to expand substantially in the near future, there is an urgent need to create green powertrain technologies to reduce environmental pollution from vehicles. Additionally, companies are also keen on developing noise-free vehicles, which includes the production of more-efficient and noiseless powertrain systems.The powertrain market is capital-intensive and hence new entrants are required to make huge capital investments to enter the market. The market is consolidated with the presence of a few large and experienced players, which act as a huge barrier to new entrants. Established market players have gained reputation and possess large market shares in all the major countries across the world. Furthermore, these companies are also looking to capture untapped opportunities by expanding their global reach. Thus, the saturation in the global powertrain market and the stable presence and dominance of key players such as Magna Powertrain Ltd, Denso Corporation, Delphi Automobile LLP, Ford Motor Company, and BorgWarner, Inc. have led to low threat from new entrants. The threat from new entrants is expected to remain low during the forecast period.The powertrain market is recognized for its performance and brand value. The market is consolidated by major players such as Stackpole International, Magna Powertrain Ltd, Denso Corporation, Delphi Automotive LLP, and BorgWarner, Inc., accounting for over 50% of the overall market share. Furthermore, key players are focusing on upgrading their powertrain technology, reducing emissions, and providing better power to wheels. The competitive rivalry is expected to be unaffected by the entry of emergent players, as the major players have already acquired the majority of market shares and gained brand reputation. However, established players would have to look out for technological up gradation that might increase the competition in the market. Thus, the degree of competition is expected to remain high throughout the forecast period.The global powertrain market by geography has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World region. Europe dominated the global powertrain market, followed by Asia Pacific and North America as on 2013. Asia Pacific is the most attractive region in the global powertrain market, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% over the forecast period from 2013 to 2020. This region comprises of a vast array of markets. Japan dominates the luxury car segment, while India is a potential market in the small car, compact sedans and SUVs market and is developing gradually. The emerging business class in India and China along with the green revolution is expected to drive the powertrain market further.Some of the major players in the global powertrain market are General Motors Company (GM) (U.S.), Denso Corporation (Japan), Magma International Inc. (Canada), Valeo (France), Ford Motor Company (U.S.), Delphi Automotive PLC (U.S.), BorgWarener Automotive Powertrain Systems Corp (U.S.), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany), Hyundai Motor Company (South Korea), Continental AG (Germany).Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Insecticides Market  Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd, BASF SE, Bayer Cropscience AG, DuPont, FMC Corporation

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Global insecticides market report includes comprehensive and profound analysis on global and regional level. The report provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on market revenue (USD billion). The study includes drivers and restraints for the insecticides market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Assessment of market dynamics gives a brief thought about the drivers, restraints, and opportunities of global insecticides industry market. The study provides an extensive competitive analysis of key vendors in the market.Request Free Sample copy of Report @This report first gives a basic summary of the insecticides industry along with its comprehensive view on the insecticides market and detailed segmentation of insecticides. To recognize the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the insecticides market has also been included. This report covers a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments, and crop type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness. This report also includes profiles of major industry participants that comprise product portfolio and specifications and market shares for prominent industry participants.The study provides a decisive view on the insecticides market by segmenting the market based on product, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, methyl carbamates, organophosphates, and others. Insecticides product segments have been analyzed based on current and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021. The insecticides crop type segment includes cereals and grains, oilseeds & pulses, fruits & vegetables and others. North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are the major regions covered in this report with its further split into major countries such as United States, UK, Germany, Japan, China, and India. This segmentation includes demand for insecticides based on individual applications in all the regions.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @Apart from the complete segment analysis, the report also provides company profiles of major market vendors. The competitive profiling of these vendors includes company and financial overview, business strategies adopted by them, and their recent developments which can help in assessing competition in the market. Major companies included in this report are Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd, BASF SE, Bayer Cropscience AG, DuPont, FMC Corporation, Cheminova AS, DOW Agroscience LLC, and Syngenta AG.The report segments the global insecticides market asGlobal Insecticides Market: Product Segment AnalysisPyrethroidsNeonicotinoidsMethyl CarbamatesOrganophosphatesOthersGlobal Insecticides Market: Crop Type Segment AnalysisCereals and grainsOilseeds & pulsesFruits & vegetablesOthersGlobal Insecticides 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:
Aqua Feed Market - Global Industry Analysis 2019

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Food for fishes, which has been manufactured commercially through various industrial processes, is generally termed as aqua feed. Aqua feed is commonly available in the form of pellets which contain vital ingredients for fish administered externally. These pellets vary in size depending on the species to be fed. Additionally, properties of these feeds can be altered so that they can float on the surface of the water or sink to the bottom of the tanks where fish are reared. Furthermore, the content of various nutrients in the feed can be controlled which has led to the growth and increase in popularity for the aqua feed industry over the past few years. They are made for aquatic species such as fish, crustaceans and mollusks.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Fish cultivated on farms which feed on pests found on crops are also classified under the aqua feed market segment. Growth of the aquaculture market due to high demand for fish in food and non-food applications is one of the key factors expected to drive the demand for aqua feed during the forecast period. Furthermore, growing human consumption of fish is likely to boost the demand for aquaculture, thereby driving the demand for aqua feed. However, price volatility of raw materials such as fish oil and fish meal is anticipated to hamper the growth of the market. Rise in demand for conventional and functional aqua feed in China and Rest of Asia is expected to provide new opportunities for the growth of the market within the forecast period.Demand for aqua feeds was the highest in carps accounting for over 25% of the market share in 2012. Carps are expected to be one of the fastest growing species owing to their compatibility in less than ideal environmental conditions. Mollusks were the second largest end-users in the aqua feed industry and are expected to experience above-average growth during the forecast period owing to a rise in consumer awareness about its health benefits. Rising consumer demand for carps and crustaceans, on account of key factors such as changing food habits, changing lifestyles and rise in disposable income. Carps and crustaceans are expected to witness the highest growth within the aqua feed market over the next few years.Demand for aqua feed was highest from Asia Pacific in 2012, accounting for over 65% of the global demand, followed by Europe and North America. Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the aqua feed industry over the next few years owing to significant growth in the aquaculture industry due to certain parameters such as ease of availability of natural resources, induced conditions for aquaculture and cheap labor. Asia Pacific is likely to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period on account of a rise in demand from regional markets and favorable climatic conditions. Demand for aqua feed is expected to grow significantly from regions present in Rest of the World, on account of growing aquaculture activities in this region within the forecast period. Furthermore, favorable regulations and rules are being established by various national governments for aquaculture and its related activities, which in turn are expected to boost the global market for aqua feed over the next few years.Some of the leading aqua feed manufacturers include Alltech Inc., Aller Aqua A/S, Avanti Feeds Ltd., Beneo GmbH, BioMar A/S, Cargill Incorporated, Cermaq ASA and Dibaq Aquaculture among others. In addition, the aqua feed market is highly fragmented in nature due to the presence of several medium and small scale aqua feed manufacturers on a global as well as regional level.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Sterilization Pouches Market - Global Industry Analysis & Key Insights by 2024

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Sterilization pouches are the packaging pouches used to sterilize the medical devices and instruments by steam or Ethylene Oxide (ETO) and free from bacteria and facilitate aseptic presentation of the object. The sterilization pouches are well designed to provide the effective sterilization, safe handling and storage of all medical devices and instruments until the moment they used for respective purposes. The increasing consumption of sterilization pouches as the growing demand from healthcare industry plays a crucial role in the growth over the forecast period. The sterilization pouches are available in various shapes and sizes and styles such as heat-sealing and self-sealing styles to meet the needs of healthcare and other industries.PDF Sample For Latest Advancements and Technological breakthroughs is @The global sterilization pouches market has expected to grow at a significant CAGR as demand of the one of the major ultimate end use market (healthcare industry) is anticipated to grow over the forecast period. The sterilization pouches provides the outstanding resistance to microbial penetration over the conventional medical grade papers which boost the demand of the sterilization pouches. The demand of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) sterilization pouches is rising as they are extremely stable when exposed to sterilant gases and high energy sterilization processes, which drives the global sterilization pouches market. The superior tear strength as well as puncture resistance quality is also supporting the global sterilization pouches market in higher penetration.However, the price of the sterilization pouches is comparatively high as compared to conventional medical grade papers, which may hamper the demand of the sterilization pouches as well as the growth of the global sterilization pouches over the forecast period.The global sterilization pouches market is segmented on the basis of the product type, by sterilization method, by usability, by application and geographical region.Based on the product type, the global sterilization pouches market is segmented into:Self - sealing sterilization pouchesHeat - sealing sterilization pouchesPaper and Tyvek sterilization pouchesMultiple inner pouchesBased on the sterilization method, the global sterilization pouches market is segmented into:SteamEthylene oxide sterilization (ETO)Based on the usability type, the global sterilization pouches market is segmented into:DisposableReusableBased on the application, the global sterilization pouches market is segmented into:AgricultureFood and beveragesHealthcareVeterinaryFMCGIn terms of geography, the global sterilization pouches market has been divided into five key regions, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Middle East & Africa (MEA). The global sterilization pouches market has expected to register moderate growth over the forecast period. North America has contributed the major share to the global sterilization pouches market due to the rapidly growing demand from sectors such as healthcare, food and beverages chemicals as they need more sterilized instruments. Europe and Asia Pacific regions are also growing at a decent growth and expected to register the significance CAGR over the forecast period due to increasing awareness about sterilization and CGMP processes. MEA is at a nascent stage and expected to register a healthy growth over the forecast period.Some of the key players of the global sterilization pouches market are Cardinal Health, Steris Corporation, Getinge Group, Johnson & Johnson, 3M Company, Synergy Health, Ampac Holdings, Certol International, Crosstex and Derma Sciences. Various global companies are contributing significant growth to the global sterilization pouches market. The key players from North America and Europe has contributed a major share to the sterilization pouches market in terms of value and volume.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:
Waste to Energy Market Worldwide Growth by 2020

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The report covers forecast and analysis for the waste to energy 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 waste to energy 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 waste to energy market on a global level.Global Waste to Energy Market Set for Rapid Growth, To Reach Around USD 36.0 Billion By 2020Request Free Sample copy of Report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the waste to energy market. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the waste to energy 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.The study provides a decisive view on the waste to energy market by segmenting the market based on technology 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 technology the market is segmented into thermal and biological. 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 with in-depth TOC @The report also includes detailed profiles of end players such as Foster Wheeler A.G., C&G Environmental Protection Holdings Ltd., Veolia Environment, Suez Environment S.A., KEPPEL SEGHERS, Babcock & Wilcox Co., Xcel Energy, Covanta Energy Corporation, Constructions industrielles de la Mediterranee (CNIM), China Everbright International Limited and Waste Management Inc. 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 waste to energy market as follows:Global Waste to Energy Market: Technology Segment AnalysisThermalBiologicalGlobal Waste to Energy 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:
United Kingdoms Household Insurance: Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "United Kingdoms Household Insurance: Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Timetrics 'Household Insurance in the UK Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into UK household insurance, including:The UK household insurance business growth prospects by segment and categoryA comprehensive overview of the UK household economy and demographicsThe detailed competitive landscape in the UK household insurance marketThe various distribution channels in the UK household insurance marketDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the UK household insurance marketAnalysis of natural and man-made hazards, and their effects on the UK household insurance marketSummaryTimetrics 'Household Insurance in the UK Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides detailed analysis of the market trends, drivers and challenges in the UK household insurance business.It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, penetration, density and claims during the review period (20112015).The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape.Make an Enquiry of this report @ScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the household insurance business in the UK:It provides historical values for the UK household insurance industry for the reports 20112015 review period.It offers a detailed analysis of the key segments in the UK household insurance business, with market forecasts to 2020.It covers parameters including written premium, claims, penetration and density.Reasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic data and forecast trends related to the UK household insurance business.Gain an understanding of the UK household insurance business.Learn about the performance of market drivers, distribution channels and market dynamics.Explore key competitors in the category, and their performances.Key HighlightsAfter reaching its peak in 2011, the household insurance market registered a fourth consecutive decline in 2015.Due to a weak housing market causing a softening of demand and fierce competition among insurers, the UK experienced downward premium pricing pressure during the review period.Despite a weak economy and high flood-damage claims, household insurance remained profitable during the review period (20112015).To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @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 @
Rapid Expansion of Automotive Sector Encourages Demand from Global Ultracapacitors Market,

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The competitive landscape of the global ultracapacitors market includes companies such as Panasonic Corp., Maxwell Technologies Inc., Nesscap Co. Ltd., Yunasko, Ioxus Inc., Supreme Power Solutions Co. Ltd., CAP-XX, Vinatech Co. Ltd., Nippon Chemi-Con Corp., LS Mtron, and NEC-TOKIN Corp. The rapid growth of the energy sector, especially wind and solar energy, has proved beneficial for the growth of these market players. In the energy sector, ultracapacitors are used mainly for applications in energy harvesting, wind energy, and solar energy. In 2012, the demand for ultracapacitors for energy harvesting was the highest, followed by wind and solar. However, the automotive sector has been the key target sector for the market players as ultracapacitors are extensively employed across buses and other vehicles.High Cost of Ultracapacitors is a Major Concern among ConsumersAs the usage of ultracapacitors is still at its nascent stage, the market players are exploring the applications of ultracapacitors across various sectors and are investing significantly in research and development activities. Owing to the potential of ultracapacitors to be used as a suitable alternative for batteries, the market players enjoy a strong customer base. However, consumers are still apprehensive to make a shift from conventional batteries to ultracapacitors. The high cost of ultracapacitor is the reason behind this apprehension among consumers and the market players need to address this pricing issue at the earliest, cites a TMR analyst.Get More Information :Among the key regions in the global ultracapacitors market, Asia Pacific holds immense opportunity for the market players due to the rapid growth of sectors such as automotive, energy, military, electronics, and industrial. In 2012, Asia Pacific accounted for 35.1% of the overall market owing to the growing demand from Japan and China. On the other hand, the North America ultracapacitors market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 26.7% during the forecast period.Government Regulations to Support Growth of Global Ultracapacitors MarketThe global ultracapacitors market has witnessed increased demand due to sliding prices of components that have lowered the overall cost of ultracapacitors. Implementation of stringent regulations by governments to cut down carbon emissions especially across the developed economies in Europe and North America has significantly aided the growth of the market.Ultracapacitors offer several benefits over batteries including longer lifespan and hence, are highly preferred by consumers. There have been breakthroughs in applications of ultracapacitors across HEVs, regenerative breaking, aerospace, and micro-hybrids/stop-start systems. This has augmented the demand for ultracapacitors across various end-use sectors, TMR report states.The global ultracapacitors market is anticipated to take a leap at a CAGR of 25.2% during the period from 2013 to 2019. The market stood at a valuation of US$672.0 mn in 2012 and is anticipated to soar to US$3,120.0 mn by 2019.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Worldwide Camera Module Market to Rise at 19.7% CAGR, Ever-increasing Penetration of Smartphones Propels Market

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According to a new study published by Transparency Market Research, the global camera module market will rise at a whopping 19.7% CAGR from 2013 to 2019. This will result in the markets valuation increasing from US$12 bn in 2012 to US$43.1 bn by 2019. The title of this report is Global Camera Module Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2013 - 2019 and it is available for sale on the companys website.The global camera module market is displaying a radical change for the good, progressing with every technological advancement. The report says that the market will rise at a notable rate in the coming years due to the increasing penetration of smartphones and tablet computers, combined with the increased demand for improved pixel clarity. Smartphone users are recognizing the benefits of good phone cameras and the possibility of high-quality image capturing through them, which is bolstering growth of the camera module market. Moreover, the upsurge in the popularity of social media networks such as WhatsApp and Facebook and mobile email applications is also encouraging growth of this market.Get More Information :A camera module refers to an image sensor combined with recording electronics and an interface such as ethernet, CAMIF (camera interface), or raw low-voltage differential signaling for imaging purposes.The global market for camera modules is divided on the basis of sensor type, application, and region. By sensor type, the segments of this market are CMOS camera modules and CCD camera modules. In 2012, CMOS exhibited a clear dominance, holding a share of more than 50% in the overall market.On the basis of application, smartphone and tablet PCs, the medical industry, the automotive industry, and the security sector are the segments of this market. In 2012, smartphones held a share of more than 80% in the global market. Analysts predict that the smartphones segment will exhibit a CAGR of 21.9% for the 2013-2019 period. The incredible growth rate of the smartphones segment is attributed to the rising popularity of devices featured with both front and rear cameras.Regionally, the global market for camera modules is divided into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Asia Pacific stands as the significant market for camera modules; in 2012, the region held a share of close to 60% in the global market.The presence of top-notch camera module manufacturers in this region is the foremost reason for this. These include LG-Innotek, Foxconn, Liteon Chicony, STMicro, Primax, Sharp, Toshiba, Sunny, SEMCO, and Sharp. Players in this region operate in both domestic and international markets and extend tough competition to players from other regions. China, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, and Singapore are some of the leading countries in this regional market.The report mentions and profiles top players in the global camera module market, which are LG-Innotek, Foxconn, Primax, Fiberoptic, SEMCO, Sharp, KMOT, BYD, Liteon, STMicro, Truly, Cowell, Toshiba. Sunny, Samsung BYD, and Vista Point. These players are profiled for company overviews, investment plans, financial outlooks, and research and development status.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Jan 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for commerce secretary has indicated that a formal letter to start negotiations on NAFTA will be sent to Canada and Mexico within days of Trump's inauguration, the Globe and Mail reported.

Trump has promised to scrap entirely or re-negotiate the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the free trade accord between Mexico, the United States and Canada.

Wilbur Ross has informed Canada that rules of origin and independent dispute tribunals will be central to the talks, the Globe and Mail said, citing Canadian officials.

Canada sends 75 percent of its exports to the United States and could suffer badly if Trump follows through on promises to renegotiate NAFTA or impose an import tax.

Trump's trade team indicates the trade focus will largely be aimed at Mexico, the Globe and Mail reported, citing a senior government official.

Trump has threatened to tear up the trade agreement that underpins Mexico's export model if he cannot renegotiate its terms in his favor, battering the peso currency and fueling uncertainty over foreign investment.

Mexico is particularly exposed to any economic shock because it sends about 80 percent of its exports to the United States and has long depended on its neighbor for about half of its foreign direct investment.

Trump, who has also threatened to slap hefty tariffs or taxes on Mexican-made goods, is due to take office on Friday.

Country of origin rules govern how much foreign material a product can contain and still qualify for duty-free shipping.

(Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto)
Household Induction Cook-tops Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends Analysis For 2019

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The household induction cook-tops market refers to the global market for cook-tops, also known as hobs, which operate on the concept of induction heating/cooking. These are considered as one of the advanced technological innovations in the field of cooking. This type of cooking not only has energy efficiency benefits, but also provides health and safety benefits to users. Induction cook-tops, which are relatively new to many regions in emerging Asia-Pacific economies, are already enjoying fast adoption across consumers in Europe. The induction cook-tops market is experiencing a moderate single digit growth rate, and is expected to see gradual rise towards end of the forecast period. This is due to growing awareness and rapid urbanization in Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe regions.Download Research Brochure PDF@There are many factors driving the market growth for induction cook-tops, and the key influencer is the growing awareness and rise in disposable income. Induction cook-tops, which are currently considered as high-end consumer products, are gradually finding growing acceptance among consumers. The impact of disposable income growth is further multiplied by various macro and micro economic factors, such as rising fuel cost for conventional cook-tops (gas, electricity, and others), growing trend of modular kitchens in new houses, preference for a comfortable work environment in the kitchen, improved heat control with induction cooking, advanced technologies and their benefits towards healthy cooking, and many more.Induction cook-tops are of two types, free-standing (portable) and integrated (built-in) cook-tops. Of these, the integrated cook-tops dominated the global household induction cook-tops market in 2012, and is expected to retain its leading position by 2019, growing at a CAGR of 5.3%. Demand for built-in hobs is largely contributed from regions such as Europe and Middle East, which have large houses (floor space and dedicated kitchen space). Even the trend of joint or large families in the region has positive impact on the built-in hobs demand.For the same reasons, geographically too, Europe is the biggest market for induction cook-tops, and accounted for more than one third of the global induction cook-tops market. However, the Asia-Pacific market is the fastest growing, and forecast to account for the highest growth share of the global market for induction cook-tops. This is because of growing acceptance of induction cooking as part of lifestyle standards. Moreover, with trend of modular kitchen being promoted by real estate developers for their projects, this demand is further expected to go up in the mid to long term.As a result, leading players from the white goods industry are quickly moving into the induction cook-tops market in the Asia-Pacific region. Factors, such as high competition from domestic manufacturers in Europe, which has healthy concentration of both domestic and global manufacturers, is also driving these global players to look for opportunities in the Asia-Pacific market. Renowned players in the European market are Miele & Cie. KG, Smeg, Sub-Zero Wolf, AB Electrolux, Stoves, and many more. The popular names in the Asia Pacific market are Philips Electronics, Panasonic, Whirlpool, and others. Product innovation is observed as the key strategy followed by industry leaders, who are introducing cook-tops with multiple hot surfaces, advanced auto cook features, and more trendy designs.Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Aerospace and Military Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends Analysis For 2016 - 2024

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Global Aerospace and Military Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Market: OverviewThe aerospace and military auxiliary power unit market worldwide is expected to grow at a healthy pace in the coming years. The development of fuel cell, E-APU, and gas turbine auxiliary power units is expected to bolster the global market. Additionally, the rising opportunities for aerospace and military APU in manufacturing advanced fuel cells are estimated to supplement substantially towards the growth of the market. The research study offers a detailed analysis of the global aerospace and military APU market and throws light on the key growth prospects and potential opportunities. In addition, a comprehensive view of the key segmentation and the competitive landscape have been given in order to offer a detailed study of the global market.Download Research Brochure PDF@Global Aerospace and Military Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe global aerospace and military APU market is expected to witness substantial growth in the near future, thanks to the rising number of air travel and technological advancements in this field. In addition, the increasing fuel economy and the high growth of electric aircrafts are projected to encourage the growth of the global market throughout the forecast period. The growing popularity of the green environment and the emergence of low sound auxiliary power units are predicted to generate promising opportunities for the key players operating in the global market.On the flip side, the lack of enhanced and effective battery technologies and the cuts on defense budgets are some of the major reasons estimated to curtail the growth of the global aerospace and military APU market in the forecast period. In addition, the high voltage drops owing to the high frequency and the high cost of these units are projected to hamper the growth of the market.Global Aerospace and Military Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Market: Region-wise OutlookAmong the key geographical segments, North America and Europe are expected to lead the global aerospace and military APU market throughout the forecast period. These regions are likely to account for a massive share of the overall market, thanks to their high defense budgets. Furthermore, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East segment are projected to witness significant growth in the next few years with the rising focus of government on enhancing their defense sector.A significant rise in the terrorists activities across the globe is another reason encouraging the growth of the overall aerospace and military auxiliary power unit market in the near future. Furthermore, with the rising focus on research and development activities and the substantial contribution from the U.S., Germany, Japan, China, Russia, and France are some of the other factors expected to encourage the growth of the global market.Key Players Mentioned in the Research Report are:Some of the prominent players operating in the aerospace and military auxiliary power unit market across the globe are Falck Schmidt, Jenoptik AG, United Technologies Corporation, Kinetics Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Microturbo, The Marvin Group, Dewey Electronics Corporation, and Hamilton Sundstrand. Among these, United Technologies Corporation and Honeywell International Inc. are expected to collectively hold a key share of the global aerospace and military APU market throughout the forecast period.Browse Full Report@About Us:-Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact Us:-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Cancer Stem Cells Market Key Trends & Industry Forecast 2016 - 2020

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Transparency Market Research (TMR) presents a new market study on the development of the global stem cells market from 2014 to 2020. The report is titled Cancer Stem Cells Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014  2020 and is available for sale on the company website.The report is an in-depth analysis of trends, market growth drivers, and restraints that have a bearing on the growth of the cancer stem cells market. Using historical figures, market size projections for both revenue and volume are presented in the report. The competitive analysis of the cancer stem cells market provided in the report is useful to understand the historical hierarchy and the changing market dynamics in the regard. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) are the regional segments into which the global cancer stem cells market is divided in this report.Download Complete Healthcare Analytical Brochure:Due to the rising morbidity and mortality of cancer, research activities for the prevention and treatment of the disease are on the agenda of public health agencies in many countries around the world. Government agencies and healthcare agencies are supporting these initiatives in the form of infrastructural, human resource, and monetary aid.In this regard, stem cells and cell therapy are slated to have a significant potential for effective cancer treatment. The efficacy of cancer stem cells (CSCs) on animals has been tested with the results obtained being significantly encouraging. However, the efficacy of CSC on humans is still in the testing phase and is facing challenges due to stringent regulatory norms and ethical constraints.Cancer research studies demonstrate that cancer cells present inside a cancer patients body are not all the same. Studies suggest that within a malignant tumor or among cancerous cells that are metastasizing, the cells present are of more than one type. According to the suggestive cancer stem cell theory, among all cancerous cells, only some act as stem cells and have the potency to reproduce themselves and sustain the cancer. This is much like healthy stem cells which have the potency to renew and sustain bodily tissues and organs. In this consideration, cancer stem cells that cannot act as stem cells can also cause problems, however, these cells are not strong enough to sustain an attack on the body in the long run.In the purview of cancer stem cell treatment, cells obtained from a tumor that can reproduce are arranged to multiply in tumors as a separate population, thereby causing deterioration the existing tumor through the development of a new tumor. With advancement in cancer stem cell research, therapies that are specific for cancer of lungs, colorectal, brain, breast, and bones, among others, will improve life-quality of cancer patients and chances of longevity with the disease.North America is currently the largest market for cancer stem cells  developed research infrastructure, regulatory norms in place, availability of funds, and being home to a large number of skilled researchers and healthcare professionals are the reasons for this.Some of the major players in the business of cancer stem cells are AdnaGen Gmbh, AVIVA Biosciences Corporation, Epic Sciences Inc., Rarecells USA Inc., Advanced Cell Diagnostics Inc., Celula Inc., Fluxion Biosciences Inc. and Silicon Biosystems, S.p.A.Browse Full Research Report on Cancer Stem Cells Market: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. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Autism Disorder and Treatment Market by Types, by Therapy Treatment, by Drug Type, Industry Upcoming Trends 2017-2022

Autism Disorder and Treatment Market

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Market ScenarioAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) or a mental imbalance are both general terms for a gathering of complex issue of brain development. These problems are characterized, in shifting degrees, by problems in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behavior disorders.SegmentsGlobal Autism disorder and Treatment market has been segmented on the basis of types of treatment which comprises of Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder and others. On the basis of type of treatment which consists of neurofeedback, auditory integration training, chelation therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, facilitated communication and others. On the basis on drugs which includes SSRIs, Anti-convulsants, Stimulants  Ritalin, Anti-psychotic, Risperidone and others.Key Playerso GlaxoSmithKline plc (UK)o Pfizer Inc. (US)o Eli Lilly and Company (US)o Allergan (Ireland)o Merck & CO Inc. (US)o Consern Pharma Private Limited (India)Request a Sample Report @Regional Analysis of Autism disorder and Treatment MarketGlobally North America is the largest market for Autism disorder and Treatment. The North American market for Autism disorder and Treatment is expected to grow at a CAGR of XX% and is expected to reach at US$ XXX Million by the end of the forecasted period. This is due to growing technology in the healthcare industry which is resulting in providing new effective drugs for treatments of patients. Europe is the second-largest market for Autism disorder and Treatment which is expected to grow at a CAGR of XX%. Whereas Asia pacific is expected to be a growing market for Autism disorder and Treatment market and expected to grow at a rapid rate.Intended Audience Pharmaceutical companies Research and Development (R&D) Companies Medical Research Laboratories Academic Medical Institutes and UniversitiesBrowse Report @Americaso North Americao USo Canadao Latin AmericaEuropeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo Spaino UKo Rest of Western Europeo Eastern EuropeAsia Pacifico Chinao Indiao Japano South Koreao Rest of Asiao PacificThe Middle East& AfricaThe report for Global Autism Disorder and Treatment Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regionsRelated ReportGlobal Mhealth Market is expected to reach $ 21.71Billion by 2022;About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Neurological Disorder Drugs Market is expected to surge at a CAGR of 6.4% by 2024

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Neurological drugs are developed to treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular diseases, and others. The growing prevalence of these disorders across the European region is anticipated to drive the demand for neurological disorder drugs market in the coming few years. The research report projects that intensifying concerns about living an adjusted life have prompted several patients to seek help. According to the study, the Europe neurological disorder drugs market was valued is expected to reach a valuation of US$32.0 bn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$18.3 bn in 2015. During the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the overall market is expected to surge at a CAGR of CAGR of 6.4%.Download PDF Brochure atIncreasing Research and Development Fuels Market GrowthThe Europe neurological disorders drugs market will be fueled by the growing initiatives taken by governments of several countries to educate the masses and to develop new drugs. For instance, European Parkinson's Disease Association in Europe is offering affordable medications to patients, campaigning to raise awareness, and supporting research and development activities to drive the overall neurological disorder drugs market. The market has also seen a steady emergence of several research and development programs that are focused toward developing effective drugs that come at affordable prices. The collective rise in the spending of countries on developing neurological disorder drugs is expected to improve the markets revenue in the coming few years.On the basis of various disorders, the market caters to disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease and others. Out of all of these segments, the cerebrovascular disease held the dominant share in terms of revenue in 2015. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the cerebrovascular diseases, which can manifest as a stroke, migraine and headache is the common cause of worry for several patients. About 80% of the patients suffering from cerebrovascular diseases across EU% show these symptoms. Thus, this segment is expected to exhibit a robust growth rate in the coming few years.Germany Stands out as Highest Consumer of Neurological Disorder Drugs in EuropeIn terms of geography, the Europe neurological disorder drugs market is segmented into Germany, France, Italy, Spain, U.K., Russia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, and Rest of Europe. The research report states that Germany held a significant share in the market in 2015, closely followed by France. The regions will dominate over the forecast period due to the rising prevalence of neurological disorders and improving the awareness about the diseases due to support groups and government initiatives. Furthermore, the rising pool of geriatrics in Germany will also boost the uptake of neurological disorders drugs in the coming few years.Browse Press Release:Presently, Germany, the U.K., France, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain are the leading countries in Europe in the neurological disorder drugs market. The study indicates that Switzerland will offer several growth opportunities to the overall market as awareness about these life-altering diseases grows.The leading players operating in the Europe neurological disorders market are Merck & Co., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Bayer AG, Astra Zeneca, F-Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Novartis AG, and GlaxoSmithKline plc. Among these, Merck & Co., GlaxoSmithKline plc and Novartis AG. The research report states that the market is consolidated due to the presence of several small players in who hold significant share in the market. Most of these companies are focusing on improving their pipelines and expanding their geographical outreach to retain their dominance.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.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.
See Corporate Wellness Market in Asia Pacific Region going Higher & Stabilising by 2024 as MNCs Encourage Fitness among Employees

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The corporate wellness market in Asia Pacific is led by a slew of global and local companies, such as Central Corporate Wellness, ComPsych Corporation, Optum, Inc., JLT Australia (Recovre Group), Truworth Wellness, SOL Wellness, Sodexo, ConneXions Asia, and Bupa Wellness Pty Ltd. Transparency Market Research has observed that the number of companies venturing into this avenue has been steadily rising owing to the growing presence of MNCs in several developing countries.Obtain the Upcoming Market Analysis of Corporate Wellness in APAC Region at:The opportunity in the corporate wellness market in Asia Pacific was pegged at US$3.4 bn in 2015 and is expected to be worth US$7.4 bn by the end of 2024 at a strong CAGR of 9.0%. Geographical expansions, expansion of product portfolio, mergers and acquisitions, and investing in extensive wellness programs are some of the key growth strategies adopted by the leading players in the Asia Pacific. For instance, in March 2016, Sodexo signed a 10-year contract with Rio Tinto to expand its operations in Australia.Increase of Non-communicable Diseases Driving Need for Health and Wellness ProgramsThe prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer has increased significantly in Asia Pacific in recent years. The report has found that these diseases account for at least 8.5 million deaths in Southeast Asia each year. Employers are, as a result, driven to promote as well as maintain the health and well-being of their employees and offering corporate wellness programs and services has turned out to be the most effective method of doing so, the lead analyst states. These services not only boost productivity but also reduce overall medical costs.The corporate wellness market in Asia Pacific is also fueled by government support and initiatives, the rising number of white-collar employees, the willingness of employers to invest in wellness programs, and growing health consciousness among the population.High Cost of Implementation Restricting Widespread AdoptionImplementing corporate wellness programs in organizations is a costly affair and companies need to utilize a certain portion of their budget from the revenue generated, the author of the study comments. Services such as fitness and health risk assessment need high investments and as a result, are cut down by the companies. This restricts the growth of the corporate wellness market.In addition, the inefficient execution of corporate wellness services is a major restraint to the market and is likely to increase costs for the companies.Read the Current Market Trends of Corporate Wellness in APAC Region at:China to Lead APAC Corporate Wellness Market throughout Forecast PeriodBy type of service, the fitness segment led the overall corporate wellness market, accounting for a 38.6% share in 2015, reaching US$2,793.5 mn by 2024. The smoking cessation segment, although the smallest in terms of revenue in 2015, is anticipated to register a strong CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period. By country, China emerged as the leading revenue generator in 2015 and is projected to retain its position throughout the forecast period. India, on the other hand, is expected to expand at the fastest pace by 2024.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Expect Big Move in Healthcare IT Outsourcing Market Going Ahead as Leading Healthcare IT Outsourcing Providers to Gain from Unmet Healthcare Needs

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The significant increase in the number of healthcare IT outsourcing market service providers has deepened the competition among them in recent years. Vendors are focusing on developing their own analytical platforms for improved patient data management and quality patient care systems in order to offer customized solutions to healthcare payers as well as providers, globally, notes Transparency Market Research in a new study.Obtain the Forthcoming Market Trends of Healthcare IT Outsourcing at:Looking forward, unmet healthcare needs in emerging economies of Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa are expected to offer an opportunity-rich market to participants. As these regions boast of ample availability of skilled manpower, entering into strategic alliances with local companies will help major players to seize better shares in this market.Government Initiatives to Provide High-quality, Cost-efficient Healthcare Services Boost Demand for Healthcare IT OutsourcingOver the last decade, third-party IT outsourcing has emerged as the biggest trend in Healthcare IT. With initiatives and regulations by various governments emphasizing on making high-quality yet cost-efficient healthcare services available to people, the outsourcing of IT solutions in the healthcare industry has emerged as one of the best cost-saving practices.The assistance these outsourcing solutions provide in curbing the expenses on in-house healthcare it solutions has driven their demand exponentially and it does not look declining anytime soon, says an analyst at TMR. Riding high on this surging demand, the global market for healthcare IT outsourcing indicates towards a thriving future. However, the increasing cases of data breach and the loss of confidentiality are likely to create serious trust issues between healthcare providers and IT outsourcing solution vendors in the near future.Additionally, the high fragmentation in the medical and healthcare industry is projected to obstruct the execution of standard IT platforms across this market, limiting the operations of service providers. The cultural differences and language barriers are also anticipated to restrict the markets growth in the coming years.North America to Remain Market Leader, Asia Pacific to Report Fastest RiseIn spite of these hindrances, the worldwide market for healthcare IT outsourcing will report a tremendous rise in the coming years. According to TMRs estimations, the opportunity in this market that stood at US$34 bn in 2014 and is likely to increase at a CAGR of 6.70% during the period from 2015 to 2023 and to touch a projected valuation of US$61.2 bn by the end of the forecast period.North America emerged as the leader in 2014 with a share of more than 40% in the global market and is likely to remain dominant over the next few years. Asia Pacific, however, is projected to record the fastest rise at a CAGR of 10.50% between 2015 and 2023 among all the regional healthcare IT outsourcing markets.Healthcare providers have surfaced as the leading end user of healthcare IT outsourcing across the world. However, the demand from healthcare payers is anticipated to exceed that of the former over the forecast period.Read the Current Market Analysis of Healthcare IT Outsourcing at:Among healthcare IT outsourcing applications, healthcare administration enjoys the highest demand at present. However, due to the increasing patient pool and the growing demand for quality care services, globally, the care management application is expected to witness the fastest growth rate in the coming years.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Canada Home Healthcare Market Earnings Should Start Strong And Then Get Better, Valued to Touch US$18.94 bn by the end of 2020

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The home health care market includes a wide range of medical devices and services that are used by patients to treat, diagnose, and monitor a variety of chronic diseases. These devices and services play an important role in providing cost-effective health care to the patients. The home health care market offers lucrative business opportunities in Canada due to increased acceptance of home health care, technological advancements, and cost-effective alternatives compared to other modalities (i.e. hospital visits). Factors such as aging population and increasing number of people diagnosed with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiac disorders, and respiratory diseases are driving the growth of the home health care market in Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada estimated that three individuals out of five in Canada (aged 20 years and above) suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, mental illness, and cardiovascular diseases, and four out of five are at risk of developing chronic conditions. Moreover, several organizations, such as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities Canada, offer accreditation programs to the home care service providers to improve their home care business operation and quality of patient care, which in turn would contribute to the growth of the market. Other factors fueling the growth of the home health care market are aging population, rising government spending on home care services, and cost effectiveness However, the high cost of professional health care services and home medical devices is likely to restrain market growth.Get Future Market Analysis of Canada Home Healthcare at:This report encompasses a detailed study of various home medical devices and home health care services in Canada. Home health care devices have been segmented into diagnostic and monitoring devices, therapeutic devices, home mobility assist devices, and medical supplies. The diagnostic and monitoring devices segment includes blood glucose monitors, blood pressure monitors, sleep apnea monitors, pregnancy test kits, pulse oximeters, heart rate monitors, temperature monitors, pedometers, and coagulation monitors. The therapeutic devices segment comprises insulin delivery devices, nebulizers, ventilators and CPAP devices, IV equipment, and dialysis equipment. The home mobility assist devices segment has been further categorized into wheelchairs, cranes and crutches, and other mobility assist devices. The market size and forecast for each device type has been provided for the period from 2012 to 2020, considering 2013 as the base year. The report also provides the compound annual growth rate (% CAGR) for the forecast period from 2014 to 2020 for each segment.Based on services, the home health care market has been segmented into rehabilitation services, respiratory therapy services, tele-health and telemedicine services, infusion therapy services, and unskilled home health care services. The market size and forecast in terms of USD million for each service has been provided for the period from 2012 to 2020, considering 2013 as the base year. The report also provides the compound annual growth rate (% CAGR) for the forecast period from 2014 to 2020 for each segment.The home health care market in Canada has been segmented into four major regions: Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and Rest of Canada. The market size and forecast for each province has been estimated for the period from 2012 to 2020 in terms of revenue (USD million), considering 2013 as the base year. The report also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) during the forecast period from 2014 to 2020 for all the provinces mentioned above.The market overview section of the report discusses the market dynamics with respect to the market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This section also covers market attractiveness analysis of the home health care market in Canada. A list of recommendations for new players planning to enter the market and for existing players to enhance their market shares is also presented in the report. The report concludes with company profiles of key players operating across various segments of the market. Each company profile includes business overview, financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies, and recent developments. Some of the prominent players in the home health care market in Canada that have been profiled in the report include 3M Health Care, Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Cardinal Health, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, GE Company, Invacare Corporation, and Medtronic, Inc.Read the Present Market Status of Canada Home Healthcare at:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales Market Report 2017 (Commercial Residential Industrial Application) Commercial Residential Industrial Application

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This report studies sales (consumption) of Global Residential Smoke Detectors Market 2017, especially in United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these regions, coveringBRKHoneywellKiddeSiemensSystem SensorsUSI Electric/UniversalMircomHochiki AmericaApollo Fire DetectorsXtralisGentekRequest more information atMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Residential Smoke Detectors in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanKoreaTaiwanSplit by product Types, with sales, revenue, price and gross margin, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoIonization smoke detectorPhotoelectric smoke detectorOthersSplit by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Residential Smoke Detectors in each application, can be divided intoCommercialResidentialIndustrial ApplicationView full report atTable of ContentsGlobal Residential Smoke Detectors Sales Market Report 20171 Residential Smoke Detectors Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Residential Smoke Detectors1.2 Classification of Residential Smoke Detectors1.2.1 Ionization smoke detector1.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector1.2.3 Others1.3 Application of Residential Smoke Detectors1.3.1 Commercial1.3.2 Residential1.3.3 Industrial Application1.4 Residential Smoke Detectors Market by Regions1.4.1 United States Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Korea Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Residential Smoke Detectors (2011-2021)1.5.1 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2021)1.5.2 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2021)2 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2011-2016)2.1.2 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2011-2016)2.2 Global Residential Smoke Detectors (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.2.2 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)2.3 Global Residential Smoke Detectors (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016)2.3.2 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2011-2016)2.4 Global Residential Smoke Detectors (Volume) by Application3 United States Residential Smoke Detectors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Value (2011-2016)3.1.1 United States Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.2 United States Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)3.1.3 United States Residential Smoke Detectors Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)3.2 United States Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 United States Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Application4 China Residential Smoke Detectors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Value (2011-2016)4.1.1 China Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.2 China Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)4.1.3 China Residential Smoke Detectors Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)4.2 China Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Application5 Europe Residential Smoke Detectors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Value (2011-2016)5.1.1 Europe Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.2 Europe Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)5.1.3 Europe Residential Smoke Detectors Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)5.2 Europe Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Application6 Japan Residential Smoke Detectors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Value (2011-2016)6.1.1 Japan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.2 Japan Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)6.1.3 Japan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)6.2 Japan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers6.3 Japan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Application7 Korea Residential Smoke Detectors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)7.1 Korea Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Value (2011-2016)7.1.1 Korea Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)7.1.2 Korea Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)7.1.3 Korea Residential Smoke Detectors Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)7.2 Korea Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers7.3 Korea Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Type7.4 Korea Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Application8 Taiwan Residential Smoke Detectors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)8.1 Taiwan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Value (2011-2016)8.1.1 Taiwan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.2 Taiwan Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Growth Rate (2011-2016)8.1.3 Taiwan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales Price Trend (2011-2016)8.2 Taiwan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers8.3 Taiwan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Type8.4 Taiwan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Market Share by Application9 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Manufacturers Analysis9.1 BRK9.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.1.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.1.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.1.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.1.3 BRK Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.2 Honeywell9.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.2.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.2.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.2.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.2.3 Honeywell Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.3 Kidde9.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.3.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.3.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.3.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.3.3 Kidde Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.4 Siemens9.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.4.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.4.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.4.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.4.3 Siemens Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.5 System Sensors9.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.5.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.5.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.5.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.5.3 System Sensors Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.6 USI Electric/Universal9.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.6.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.6.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.6.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.6.3 USI Electric/Universal Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.7 Mircom9.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.7.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.7.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.7.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.7.3 Mircom Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.8 Hochiki America9.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.8.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.8.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.8.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.8.3 Hochiki America Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.9 Apollo Fire Detectors9.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.9.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.9.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.9.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.9.3 Apollo Fire Detectors Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.10 Xtralis9.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors9.10.2 Residential Smoke Detectors Product Type, Application and Specification9.10.2.1 Ionization smoke detector9.10.2.2 Photoelectric smoke detector9.10.3 Xtralis Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)9.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview9.11 Gentek10 Residential Smoke Detectors Maufacturing Cost Analysis10.1 Residential Smoke Detectors Key Raw Materials Analysis10.1.1 Key Raw Materials10.1.2 Price Trend of Key Raw Materials10.1.3 Key Suppliers of Raw Materials10.1.4 Market Concentration Rate of Raw Materials10.2 Proportion of Manufacturing Cost Structure10.2.1 Raw Materials10.2.2 Labor Cost10.2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Residential Smoke Detectors10.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Residential Smoke Detectors11 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers11.1 Residential Smoke Detectors Industrial Chain Analysis11.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing11.3 Raw Materials Sources of Residential Smoke Detectors Major Manufacturers in 201511.4 Downstream Buyers12 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders12.1 Marketing Channel12.1.1 Direct Marketing12.1.2 Indirect Marketing12.1.3 Marketing Channel Development Trend12.2 Market Positioning12.2.1 Pricing Strategy12.2.2 Brand Strategy12.2.3 Target Client12.3 Distributors/Traders List13 Market Effect Factors Analysis13.1 Technology Progress/Risk13.1.1 Substitutes Threat13.1.2 Technology Progress in Related Industry13.2 Consumer Needs/Customer Preference Change13.3 Economic/Political Environmental Change14 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Market Forecast (2016-2021)14.1 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue and Price Forecast (2016-2021)14.1.1 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.1.2 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.1.3 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Price and Trend Forecast (2016-2021)14.2 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast by Regions (2016-2021)14.2.1 United States Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.2 China Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.3 Europe Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.4 Japan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.5 Korea Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.2.6 Taiwan Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast (2016-2021)14.3 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales, Revenue and Price Forecast by Type (2016-2021)14.4 Global Residential Smoke Detectors Sales Forecast by Application (2016-2021)15 Research Findings and Conclusion16 AppendixTo Purchase this premium Report With Complete TOC at :About Us: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.Contact Us:Mr. Jay SmithSenior Manager  Client EngagementsCall: +44 20 32390-2407Follow us:Twitter:Linkedin:
Global Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Global Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022to its growing collection of premium market research reports.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.To view a detailed description and Table of Contents please visit:Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversWabash National, Schmitz Cargobull, Great Dane, CIMC, Fahrzeugwerk Bernard Krone, Utility Trailer, Hyundai Translead, Stoughton, K?gel, Manac, Liangshan Huayu, Schwarzmuller Group, Fontaine, SINOTRUK, Lamberet SAS, Hebei Shunjie, Anhui Kaile, Liangshan Huitong, FAW Siping, Xiamen XGMA.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, covers Stainless Steel Tank Aluminum TankMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Gasoline Transportation Diesel Transportation Crude Oil TransportationThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer market.Chapter 1, to describe Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer, with sales, revenue, and price of Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Oil Tank Trailer & Semi-trailer sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceTo Get Sample Copy of Report please visit @About ReportsWorldwide.comReportsWorldwide.com is a leading provider of global market intelligence reports and services. With research reports from top publishers, consulting and advisory firms, ReportsWorldwide.com offers instant online access to a growing database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, geographies and trends.Press Contact:Abigail CrastoSenior Vice President101, Arch StreetBoston, MA 02110USPhone +1 (617) 398-4994Fax +1 (617) 398-4995abigail@reportsworldwide.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2017 / Canadian Zeolite Corp. (the "Company") (CNZ.V) (CNZCF) (ZEON.F) CEO, Mr. Ray Paquette, is pleased to welcome Mr. Donald J. "Buck" Ross as an Advisor to the Company. "Mr. Ross is a highly-respected entrepreneur in the agricultural industry and we welcome his extensive experience and expertise. He is a proponent of 'green-tech' and recognizes the many benefits in introducing Canadian Zeolite's natural zeolite to growing mediums, animal feeds, and composting," stated CEO, Ray Paquette

Mr. Ross is a 4th generation farmer who lives on the family farm in Moorefield, Ontario. Their farm is approximately 1000 acres and consists of cash crops (soya beans, corn, wheat, canola, and flax) laying hens, free range turkeys, apiculture (honey bees), and wood lot management.

Ross Enterprises is a strong believer in managing environmental sustainability. Buck has planted 100,000 trees for windbreaks, and improved water quality by protecting natural wet lands and wildlife. Buck is partnered with Ducks Unlimited, the Grand River Conservation Authority, Tree Canada, and the Ministry of Natural Resources. He has been recognized and is on the honor roll of the Grand River Conservation for sustainable agriculture and water quality. He also has solar panels that generate enough green commercial energy to power approximately 400 homes.

He has developed Functional foods and nutraceuticals and technology for Omega 3 and Vitamin B12 enhanced eggs. This technology has also been used to enhance the Omega 3 content of other foods such as; turkey, chicken, pork, and beef.

Mr. Ross consults with Canadian Universities, such as the University of Waterloo, University of Guelph, and London Health Sciences, as well as Harvard, Minnesota State, and Cornell in the United States, and the College of the Bahamas.

He has also developed markets with Loblaws, Wal-Mart, Sobeys, A&P, and many smaller grocers. Ross Enterprises has exported products around the world, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, South and Central America, the Middle East, and the Bahamas.

Story continues

Mr. Ross has received many awards, such as environmental awards, soil and crop improvement association awards, the Outstanding Young Farmer Award from the Great Lakes Region in 1988 and 1989, the Ontario Land Stewardship award, the marketing award for "Production to Plate," and the Golden Egg award.

He has been a director with the Wellington-Waterloo CFDC for 10 years and also sits on Advisory Boards and Advisory Committees for the mining industry, energy and agriculture sectors, and other private and public companies.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Ray Paquette"

President & CEO

604.684.3301

www.canadianzeolite.com

1400 - 1111 West Georgia Street, Vancouver BC, V6E 4M3

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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.

SOURCE: Canadian Zeolite Corp.
Asia Pacific Methyl Tertiary-butyl Ether (MTBE) Market: Massive Methanol Production in China Most Promising Driving Factor, finds TMR :2026

Global Methyl Tertiary-butyl Ether (MTBE) Market

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The methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) market in Asia Pacific is presently dominated by key players in China. These include Sinopec Corporation, PetroChina Company Limited, Shandong Yuhuang Chemical (Group) Co., Ltd., Zibo Qixiang Petrochemical Group Ltd., and Heilongjiang Anruijia Petrochemical Co., Ltd.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :Transparency Market Research has noted that China, one of the largest producers as well as consumers of MTBE in the world, has been primarily focused on business and production expansions in order to retain its lead in the APAC market. For instance, Wanhua Chemical Group Co. Ltd.s MTBE plant in Shangdong and Huntsman Corp. and Sinopec Jinlings plant in Nanjing are two promising ventures to look forward to in 2016.Other leading companies in the APAC methyl tertiary-butyl ether market include Evonik Industries AG, PETRONAS, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., and Reliance Industries Limited.The MTBE market in Asia Pacific was valued at US$6.7 bn in 2015 and is anticipated to reach US$10.9 bn by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of 4.6% therein.Chinas 81.9% Share in APAC MTBE Market a Key Growth BoosterThe gasoline additive segment of the MTBE market accounted for a whopping 93.11% share in the APAC market in 2015, emerging as the clear leader. An increase in the demand for gasoline additives in ASEAN countries and China is expected to propel the demand for methyl tertiary-butyl ether in this segment. Gasoline additives is also projected to register significant growth over the course of the forecast period, exhibiting a CAGR of over 4.0% in terms of both revenue and volume.Accounting for an 81.9% share in the APAC MTBE market in 2015, China is forecast to continue its dominance through 2024, presenting lucrative investment opportunities to market players. Registering a 4.7% CAGR during the forecast period, China is also projected to exhibit the fastest growth in the methyl tertiary-butyl ether in Asia Pacific.The ASEAN sub-region is also likely to present a rather lucrative scenario, owing to a rise in the demand for gasoline additives.ASEAN Automotive Sector Driving Demand for Gasoline AdditivesA key factor driving gasoline blending across the Asia Pacific region, and therefore the MTBE market, is the declining prices of raw material as well as final products. This can be primarily attributed to China.China is one of the major methanol producers in the world and the country is likely to account for nearly 50% of the global methanol production in the next few years, the author of the study finds. The total methanol production in China is estimated to reach nearly 51 million tons in 2016, a trend that will potentially check the prices of downstream products, including MTBE, in the near future.Another factor boosting the market for methyl tertiary-butyl ether is a rise in the demand for gasoline additives, particularly in ASEAN.The automotive industry in the ASEAN sub-region has been witnessing an upward trend in the last few years, with the number of total vehicles in major countries rising from around 130 million in 2015 to 200 million by 2025, the lead analyst states. The significant growth of the automotive sector is likely to propel the demand for gasoline additives, thereby supporting the MTBE market during the forecast period.In contrast, the availability of a wide range of petroleum-based and non-petroleum-based substitutes and the hazardous environmental effects of methyl tertiary-butyl ether pose significant challenges to the MTBE market in Asia Pacific.This review is based on the findings of a TMR report titled Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market - Asia Pacific Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2026.This report segments the MTBE market in Asia Pacific as follows:MTBE Market  Application AnalysisGasolineIsobuteneSolvent & ExtractantOthers (MMA, etc.)MTBE Market  Country/Sub-region AnalysisAsia PacificChinaIndiaASEANTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog : http://cmfeglobalreports.blogspot.com/
Research Report Explores the Single-cell Analysis Market Single-cell Analysis Market: Overview

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The global single-cell analysis market is emerging as a space that has whetted investors interest. This is attributable to the market having surmounted numerous challenges associated with sample preparation and data analysis. Moreover, continuous and rapid developments in the field of single-cell analysis research have led to the emergence of new technologies, application areas, and consumables.The single-cell analysis market began to take shape after evidence emerged that even within small cell population, heterogeneity did exist. Prior to this, the general assumption was that cell populations were usually homogeneous. Further research in the field of single-cell analysis has today enabled biologists to learn more about gene expression profiles in individual cells. It has also helped avoid errors that would otherwise stem from life sciences experts taking averages of an entire group of cells.Gene expression measurements based on the assumption that cell populations are homogenous can be misleading and often leave out seemingly minor but important changes in single cells. Because these individual cells can sometimes differ vastly in terms of their protein levels, size, and expressed RNA transcripts, they could sometimes offer answers to breakthrough treatment in cancer research, immunology, stem cell biology, and more.The report on the global single-cell analysis market briefly tracks the markets growth from its early days to its current position. A detailed segmentation of the global single-cell analysis market has been carried out to include the various tools and consumables, types of cells, end users, and regional markets. The report provides forecasts and projections for the overall market as well as for all of its leading segments. This will help companies in the global single-cell analysis market to base their growth decisions on verifiable insights.Single-cell Analysis Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe global single-cell analysis market is expected to register a high double-digit compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) through the review period of the report. With government agencies in several developed markets taking an active interest in funding initiatives related to single-cell analysis research, the market is expected to develop a strong foundation in traditional markets such as North America and Europe. There are new opportunities emerging in the biopharmaceuticals and biologics sector, where the use of single-cell analysis can prove to be a game-changer.Companies in the global single-cell analysis market are thus recommended to focus on these emerging areas to harness the maximum revenue potential of various single-cell analysis technologies and consumables.The growth of the single-cell analysis market in major developing countries will not be entirely disappointing over the next few years. There exist numerous opportunities in China, Japan, Australia, and India that companies will benefit from. However, even as companies do so, it is expected that the high cost of single-cell analysis instruments could dampen their efforts to some degree.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:Single-cell Analysis Market: Competitive LandscapeThe mounting interest in single-cell analysis has thus led to several existing companies in the global life sciences sector to enter the single-cell analysis consumables and technologies market as well. The single-cell tools available on the market today help life sciences researchers and biologists wade through numerous workflows in all kinds of research, be it translational, clinical, or basic.Companies that have gained an early foothold in the global single-cell analysis market include: Beckman Coulter, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Merck KGaA, Fluidigm Corporation, and Illumina, Inc.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeMiddle East and AfricaLatin AmericaThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsDownload Exclusive Brochure of This Report :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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Anti-reflective Coatings Market to be Valued at over US$4.9 bn in 2020, Driven by Robust Demand from the Electronics Industry

Anti-reflective Coatings Market

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The featured report, Anti-reflective Coatings Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020, from Transparency Market Research (TMR) offers the latest insights into the global anti-reflective coatings market. According to this report, the global anti-reflective coatings market will expand at an 8.2% CAGR during the forecast period from 2014 to 2020. In 2013, the global anti-reflective coatings market was estimated at US$2.9 bn and by 2020, it is expected to be worth more than US$4.9 bn.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :The global anti-reflective coatings market will almost double in value in the next few years. Factors such as the growing demand for high light transmitting eyeglasses and lenses and growing consumption of these coatings in the electronics sector are driving the global anti-reflective coatings market. Furthermore, the expanding eyewear, flat display, and semiconductors markets are also boosting the overall anti-reflective coatings market. Players in the global anti-reflective coatings market will also benefit from the rising demand from the solar energy industry.Nevertheless, the global anti-reflective coatings market will be restrained by the lack of awareness among consumers, usability issues, and the stringent environment regulations related with raw materials.On the basis of end use, the global anti-reflective coatings market is segmented into automobiles, solar power, electronics, eyewear, and others such as telecommunication. Anti-reflective coatings are gaining popularity in these end-use industries due to their ability to enhance visibility, as they block unwanted reflections from various types of surfaces. Anti-reflective coatings are primarily used in the optical and electrical sectors to reduce glare and minimize reflection.Browse the full Anti-reflective Coatings Market for Eyewear, Electronics, Solar, Automobile and Other End-user Industries - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014-2020 report atThe eyewear sector dominated the global anti-reflective coatings market in 2013, when the sector held a share of approximately 40% in the global anti-reflective coatings market. Anti-reflective coatings are applied on a wide range of substrates such as sapphire, yttrium aluminum garnet, and quartz. Other prominent applications of anti-reflective coatings are kiosk displays, telescopes, riflescopes, video glasses, and binocular lenses. According to the report, the electronics segment will show robust growth during the forecast period due to the high demand for anti-reflective coatings from flat panels and smartphones.Region-wise, the global anti-reflective coatings market is divided into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World (the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America). The Europe anti-reflective coatings market will benefit from rising demand from the solar power and automobiles end-use sectors. In addition to this, the stable demand from the eyewear industry will also fuel the Europe anti-reflective coatings market. On the other hand, North America will witness high demand for anti-reflective coatings from the smartphone displays, lenses, and eyeglasses sectors. On the other hand, the Asia Pacific anti-reflective coatings market will benefit from the elevated demand in emerging nations such as India, China, and South Korea.The key players operating in the global anti-reflective coatings market are Rodenstock, PPG, Optical Coatings, Koninklijke, JDS Uniphase, Janos Technology, iCoat Company, Hoya, Honeywell, Essilor, and Carl Zeiss. The rising demand from consumers for the latest innovative products is in turn driving R&D in the global anti-reflective coatings market. In March 2015, a new anti-reflective coating was developed inspired by moth eyes. This technology is expected to boost the efficiency of solar cells and sharpen the view of image sensors.Key Segments of the Global Anti-Reflective Coatings MarketAnti-reflective Coatings Market - End-user AnalysisEyewearElectronicsSolarAutomobileOthers (Including telecommunication, etc.)Anti-reflective Coatings Market - Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificRest of the World (Includes Latin America, the Middle East and Africa)Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog : http://cmfeglobalreports.blogspot.com/
Global Metal and Ceramic Injection Molding Market to Reach US$3.5 Bn Fuelled by Increasing Demand from Automotive Industry :2020

Metal and Ceramic Injection Molding Market

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A market study on the global metal and ceramic injection molding market has been published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), a market intelligence and research firm. According to the research report, the global metal and ceramic injection molding market stood at US$1.6 bn in 2013 and is expected to develop at a CAGR of 11.50% during the period from 2014 to 2020.The research report, titled Metal and Ceramic Injection Molding Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020, estimates the overall value of the global metal and ceramic injection molding market to be US$3.5 bn by the end of 2020.The report states that the automotive industry was the biggest end user of metal and ceramic injection molding in 2013, occupying more than 20% of the overall market. Huge amount of investment by manufacturers in the metal and ceramic injection molding industry is significantly driving this market.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :Apart from this, analysts expect the inflow of investment in the global medical and healthcare industry to fuel the powder injection molding market during the forecast period. This subsequently is anticipated to aid the growth of the metal and ceramic injection molding market across the globe.The report also cites that the development in the electronics and defense sectors will stimulate the demand for the metal and ceramic injection molding over the forecast period.The report geographically segments the global metal and ceramic injection molding market in to North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World. Among these, the market for metal and ceramic injection molding in Asia Pacific leads the global industry. The presence of large-scale industries such as electronics and automotive in huge number is the key reason for this growth of this regional market.The market in Asia Pacific held more than 45% of the global market for metal and ceramic injection molding in 2013. The report expect this regional market to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. Other regional market such as North America and Europe are also expected to register stable growth owing to the expansion of the automotive and medical and healthcare sectors in these regions, states the research report.Browse the full Metal and Ceramic Injection Molding Market for Automotives, Aerospace, Medical and Healthcare, Industrial Machinery, Consumer Products and Other Applications - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020 report atThe report also profiles the key participants in the global market for metal and ceramic injection molding in order to provide a detailed analysis of prevalent competitive landscape. Advanced Materials Technologies Pte Ltd., CMG Technologies Ltd., ARC Group Worldwide Inc., Epson Atmix Corp., Kinetics Climax Inc., Indo-US MIM Tec Pvt. Ltd., Plansee Holding AG, Nippon Piston Ring Co Ltd., and PSM Industries are the major companies operating in the global metal and ceramic injection molding market profiled in the report.The global metal and ceramic injection molding market is segmented into:By ApplicationAutomotivesAerospaceMedical and healthcareIndustrial machineryConsumer productsOthers (Including defense, electronics, etc.)By RegionNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificRest of the World (RoW)Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog : http://cmfeglobalreports.blogspot.com/
Theranostics Market Share, Size, Growth & Forecast 2026 Illuminated by New Report Global Theranostics Market: Overview

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Theranostics is considered as a fusion of diagnostics and drug therapy. It helps in optimizing safety, effective results, and streamlining of overall drug development. The combination of advanced diagnostic tests and effective medical drugs has been given several names, such as pharmacodiagnostics, integrated medicine, Dx/Rx partnering, and companion diagnostics. Research activities in this field are contributing extensively towards the growth of the market, as this is considered as a highly emerging field and is projected to generate strong growth opportunities from regulatory bodies and the healthcare industry. This market is expected to focus on developing specific analysis in order to predict the use of the most effective drug for patients.The research report on global theranostics market offers a thorough overview, emphasizing on the promising growth opportunities and challenges in the market. The research study, with the help of analytical tools, helps in determining the latest trends and key growth prospects that are estimated to encourage the growth of the global theranostics market in the forecast period. In addition to this, the product segmentation, key applications, geographical segmentation, technological advancements, and the competitive landscape of the global market have been discussed at length in the scope of the research study.Global Theranostics Market: Drivers and RestraintsAs this field is considered to hold immense growth potential, the global theranostics market is projected to register a progressive growth rate in the next few years. The improved co-operation between diagnostics companies and drug manufacturers is one of the important reasons estimated to fuel the growth of the global theranostics market in the near future. In addition, the effective communication with physicians in order to understand theranostics penetration in the market is likely to result in commercialization in the global market.On the other hand, the regulatory timelines and cost of theranostics products are some of the primary factors anticipated to restrict the growth of the global market in the forecast period. Nonetheless, the leading companies emphasizing on the theranostics with licensed drugs are projected to play a crucial role in reaching out to a large number of pharmaceutical companies. In addition, the increasing number of strategic collaborations and partnership are projected to accelerate the growth of the overall market in the coming years.Browse Global Strategic Business Report:Global Theranostics Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global theranostics market can be categorized in terms of geography into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World. Among these regions, North America is expected to lead the global theranostics market and account for a key share throughout the forecast period. The rising incidence of serious medical conditions, such as neurological disorders and cancer and the rising awareness among patients regarding the benefits of these treatments are expected to encourage the growth of the theranostics market in North America. In addition, the availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure in the U.S. is expected to contribute extensively towards the development of the overall market.Furthermore, Europe is expected to follow North America and grow at a substantial pace throughout the forecast period. The high awareness among consumers and health providers concerning the theranostics devices is one of the important factors projected to fuel the growth of this region in the coming years. The rising focus of key players on the expansion of product portfolio and the research and development activities are projected to supplement the growth of emerging nations across the globe.Key Players Mentioned in the Research Report are:Some of the prominent players operating in the global theranostics market are National Health Service, European Medicines Evaluation Agency, Pfizer, Myriad Genetics, National Genetics Institute, Monogram Bioscience, Enterix, Food and Drug Administration, Abbott Laboratories, ViroMed Laboratories, Dickinson & Company, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Becton, Vermillion Diagnostics, Genetics & Public Policy Center, Litholink Corporation, World Health Organization, Roche, 23andMe, Prometheus, Cellestis, Oxford Immunotec, US LABS, Laboratory Corporation of America, Home Access Health, and EntroGen.The research study has offered a thorough overview of the competitive landscape of the global theranostics market. The company profiles, contact information, financial overview, SWOT analysis, and recent developments. In addition, the business policies and tactics used by these players have been highlighted in the research report to offer a clear picture of the overall market.Key Segments of the Global Theranostics MarketMajor regions analyzed under this research report are:EuropeNorth AmericaAsia PacificRest of the WorldThis report gives you access to decisive data such as:Market growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for the coming yearsKey highlights of this report:Overview of key market forces propelling and restraining market growthUp-to-date analyses of market trends and technological improvementsPin-point analyses of market competition dynamics to offer you a competitive edgeAn analysis of strategies of major competitorsAn array of graphics and SWOT analysis of major industry segmentsDetailed analyses of industry trendsA well-defined technological growth map with an impact-analysisOffers a clear understanding of the competitive landscape and key product segmentsThe report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketDownload Exclusive Brochure of This Report :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.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Offshore Mooring System Market to Reach US$1.1 bn : 2021

Global Offshore Mooring Systems Market

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A new Transparency Market Research report states that the global offshore mooring system market stood at US$0.93 bn in 2014 and is predicted to reach US$1.1 bn by 2021. It is predicted to expand at a CAGR of 3.60% from 2015 to 2021. The title of the report is Offshore Mooring Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :According to the report, the market for offshore mooring systems is propelled by the rising subsea production and exploration and the consistent introduction of technologically advanced products. In addition, factors such as the growing demand for energy and the rise in the prices of gas and oil have also stimulated the growth of the offshore mooring systems market. In addition, the lucrative high-investment areas of the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America have also impacted the market positively. On the other hand, the soaring costs involved in developing the infrastructure of offshore mooring systems may impede the growth of the market in the coming years.The report segments the market on the basis of type, application, anchorage, and geography.On the basis of type, the market for offshore mooring systems is segmented into taut leg, catenary, semi taut, spread mooring, single point mooring, and dynamic mooring. Amongst these, the segment of catenary systems is at present the most commonly used mooring system utilized in shallow waters. Conventional catenary systems, on the other hand, cannot be used in deepwater facilities.In terms of application, the market is segmented into spar platforms, tension leg platforms, semi-submersible platforms, production, storage, and offloading (FDPSO), floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels, floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessels, and others. Amongst these, FPSOs are being highly demanded owing to them being economical as compared with permanent platforms. Additionally, other benefits associated with the use of FPSOs such as quick offloading and storage are also fuelling their demand within the offshore gas and oil production industry.Browse the full Offshore Mooring Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021 report atIn terms of anchorage, the offshore mooring systems market is segmented into suction anchors, drag embedment anchors, and vertical load anchors. Amongst these, to carry on ultra-deepwater drilling, suction anchors have proven to be cost-effective and safe globally. In terms of geography, the report segments the market for offshore mooring systems into Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Amongst these, the region of Asia Pacific emerged as the prime offshore mooring systems market in 2015. This is due to the promising performance of the market in the emerging nations of Japan, Indonesia, China, and Australia.According to this report, the chief players operating in the offshore mooring systems market are MODEC Inc., SBM Offshore N.V., Delmar Systems Inc., Mampaey Offshore Industries B.V., and BW Offshore Ltd., among others.The market is segmented as below:Offshore Mooring Systems Market, by TypesCatenaryTaut LegSemi TautSingle Point mooringSpread mooringDynamic positioningOffshore Mooring Systems Market, by ApplicationTension Leg platformsSemi Submersible platformsSPAR platformsFPSOFDPSOFLNGOffshore Mooring Systems Market, by AnchorageDrag Embedment AnchorsSuction AnchorsVertical Load AnchorsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog : http://cmfeglobalreports.blogspot.com/
Wireline Services Market Revenue is Anticipated to Reach USD 33,845.2 million by 2022

Global Wireline Services Market

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Transparency Market Research has released a new market report titled Wireline Services Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2014 2022. According to this report, the global wireline services market revenue for stood at USD 18,052.1 million in 2013 and is expected to reach USD 33,845.2 by 2022 at a CAGR of 8.94% from 2014 to 2022.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :Wireline is a cabling technology used to lower measurement devices and equipment inside the well for the purpose of well intervention, logging, completion, and reservoir evaluation. The measurement tools and equipment provide real-time data from the wells which helps field engineers to control the process parameters. Wireline services can be segmented on the basis of technology into slickline and electric line. Slickline consists of a metal wire of diameters ranging from 0.108 to 0.125 inches. Electric line comes in the category of strong and heavier wirelines. The inner wire in electric line is insulated and transmits electrical power to other electric tools and equipment inside the wellbore. Companies providing wireline services offer the same in two forms: wireline fleets or wireline units mounted along with the drilling rig.Electric line services are primarily required for well logging and tube-perforating operations that require continuous evaluation through electric tools. Electric line and slickline services are different for open-hole and cased-hole well operations. Open-hole operations involve the deployment of electric tools through the electric line into a newly drilled well. Cased-hole operations involve the evaluation of the well through deployment of evaluation tools after the completion process or when the well is packed with casing. Slickline services are primarily used for recovering and placing the wellbore equipment into the well. In offshore regions, slicklines are used in the form of braided lines to lower the blowout preventer (BOP) and other supporting equipment to the surface. Slickline services accounted for nearly 70% share of the wireline services market in 2013. Slickline services are very important for maintaining the production levels of wells through logging and intervention processes.Browse the full Wireline Services Market By Application (Well Intervention, Well Logging, and Well Completion) and By Technology (Slickline and Electric Line) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2014  2022 report atThe wireline services market has also been segmented on the basis of application into well intervention, well logging, and well completion. The intervention process is an operation carried out on hydrocarbon wells for estimating the feasibility of conducting secondary recovery procedures in order to boost the production rates of the well. The well intervention operations improve performance by increasing the operational life of a mature well. The well intervention segment accounted for the lowest percentage of the total wireline services market in 2013. Well logging is primarily based on carrying out physical measurement of geophysical logs. This is done through visual inspection of a log or through electric tools lowered into the wellbore. Slicklines are preferably utilized for taking samples of a log from the wellbore for visual inspection. On the contrary, electric lines are used to get real-time data through an electric tool. Well completion mainly requires wireline services for continuous monitoring purposes. For the completion processes, there are a series of operations that require wireline services, especially to ensure safe installation. The well completion application segment accounted for nearly 65% share of the total wireline services market in 2013.In the future, the requirement of wireline services is expected to increase gradually as a result of rise in drilling activities and exploration of unconventional hydrocarbon sources across the globe.The global market for wireline services has been segmented as follows:Wireline Services Market: By ApplicationWell InterventionWell LoggingWell CompletionWireline Services Market: By TechnologySlicklineElectric LineWireline Services Market: By RegionNorth AmericaU.S.Rest of North AmericaSouth & Central AmericaBrazilRest of South & Central AmericaEuropeRussiaNorwayRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaAustraliaMalaysiaRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaNigeriaSaudi ArabiaRest of Middle East & AfricaTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog : http://cmfeglobalreports.blogspot.com/
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Linn County bills itself as the grass seed capital of the world. But the thriving grass business has been divided by a controversial genetically modified grass developed by Scotts Miracle-Gro.

(Jeff Manning/The Oregonian)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday deregulated a genetically modified grass that some Oregon farmers and dealers say threatens the state's grass seed business.

The altered grass escaped earlier field tests and has established in Jefferson and Malheur counties. Genetically modified to be resistant to the popular herbicide Roundup, the grass has defied more than a decade of the efforts by its creator, Scotts Miracle-Gro, to eradicate it.

Nevertheless, after refusing for 14 years to OK the grass, federal regulators reversed course Tuesday, ruling the seed "is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk to agricultural crops or other plants in the U.S."

"I'm disappointed the USDA deregulated this grass," said Scott Harer, of Columbia Seed in Albany and president of the Oregon Seed Council. "Does it concern me? Yes. If that weed gets to the valley, that's a real problem."

As chronicled in a recent

, Scotts' altered grass divided Oregon's grass seed industry. The Marysville, Ohio company is a prized customer buying more local seed than just about any other company. But the escape of its altered seed has raised fears of contamination.

The Willamette Valley is often referred to as the grass seed capital of the world. About 1,500 farmers are part of a billion-dollar business. Little if any of the grass seed is genetically modified. And a significant percentage is sold overseas, where many buyers refuse to buy genetically modified crops.

Grass seed farmers fear the modified seed could eventually make its way into their fields. International buyers temporarily suspended purchases of Northwest wheat in 2013 after genetically modified material was detected in their crop.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture objected to deregulation, as did their counterparts in Idaho, citing the possibility of contamination and a clause in Scotts' agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will end Scotts' lead role in ongoing eradication efforts as of September 2018.

Scotts signed a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in September 2015 agreeing to a 10-year management agreement. Scotts will continue its hands-on leadership role for the first three years but is obligated only to offer technical support in the latter seven years.

The department "is concerned that Oregon growers and landowners will incur the long-term management costs," the state said in its November 2016 submission to their federal counterparts. Scotts says it is spending about $250,000 a year to control the spread of the altered grass and succeeded in doing so.

"We stand by our objections," said Bruce Pokarney, spokesman for the Oregon department.

Jim King, spokesman for Scotts, said his company will go beyond the tenets of its deregulation agreement with the federal government if it has to. "What we've told the community there, farmers, local governments, we've made a ten-year-agreement to continue to assist in control efforts," he said.

Environmental and food safety groups also objected to deregulating the altered grass. The Center for Biological Diversity said Tuesday it continues to weigh its legal options to block Scotts' deregulation bid.

"They've given us no choice but to look at some sort of legal action," said Lori Ann Burd, a lawyer for the group.

Genetically modified grass issues will continue to plague Oregon's industry. Scotts spokesman King confirmed the company is developing modified versions of tall fescue and blue grass. It is accomplishing this genetic change using a new technique that is not regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Tall fescue is one of Oregon's specialties and the local industry's biggest seller.

King said Scotts is taking steps to protect the local industry. The modified fescue "is not being grown in Oregon, it won't be grown in Oregon," he said.

But what will happen if Scotts brings the genetically modified fescue to market, local players wonder. What's to prevent an unsuspecting consumer from buying the seed and planting it in their Linn County backyard?

"The Northwest is the biggest exporter of grass seed in the world," said Crystal Fricker, of PureSeed, a seed dealership based near Canby. Why would the grass seed industry allow that to be jeopardized?"

As for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, its only concern was whether the altered grass is a plant pest, which it is is not, said the department's Dr. Michael Firko. "We don't have authority to make decisions based on potential market threat," he said.

-- Jeff Manning

503-294-7606, jmanning@oregonian.com
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Higher education officials will lobby hard for more state funding at the 2017 Legislature.

Oregon higher education leaders stepped up the rhetoric Wednesday, saying Gov. Kate Brown's recommended budget plan for public universities would "ensure tuition increases that will make a college degree out of reach for many Oregonians."

Thirty-three public university representatives - including the presidents of each of the seven universities and faculty union leaders and student representatives at various schools - signed a letter sent to state legislative leaders and Brown on Wednesday asking for more money.

The Legislature made higher education a priority in its last regular session in 2015, increasing state support by some 26 percent. But that increase came after years of deep cuts.

"Oregon has shifted the burden of financing a college education away from the state and onto the backs of students and their families," the coalition wrote, "a fact that has many members of our communities rightly concerned."

"We want to work together with you to reverse this trend, and ensure that no Oregon student is put in a position where they graduate with a lifetime of debt."

Higher education officials are asking for $767.3 million in public support for the upcoming biennium, a $100 million increase over the amount outlined in Brown's recommended budget released Dec. 1.

"The rising cost of a college degree is a top concern of students and their families, we simply can't afford the prospect of double-digit tuition increases on any of our campuses," Rachel Grisham, President of the Associated Students of Oregon State University, said in a statement.

Universities had formally requested $943 million, a monumental increase approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission last fall.

But the request comes as Oregon's overall public university enrollment saw a slight decline this year, with gains primarily in the total number of students of color on campuses.

According to the letter sent Wednesday, students are already feeling the toll of two decades of cuts to state support. Schools cut staff and services and raised tuition to make up the difference.

Some universities are seeing stagnant or declining retention and graduation rates.

"Our students are struggling to pay for the degrees they need to get jobs," David Thaemert, faculty senate president at Oregon Institute of Technology said in a statement. "We need to work together to make sure every Oregonian is able to get a degree without taking on a lifetime of debt."

But OIT students tend to far better after graduating from the Klamath Falls-based school or its Wilsonville campus. OIT consistently touts its programs as being some of the best value in the state, in part because graduates go on to earn solid wages in specialized fields. In 2015, the school said it ranked in the top 16 percent nationally for median earnings by graduates at $50,100.

Di Saunders, a school spokeswoman, said that graduates may fare well "but they still have debt."

The $100 million request above Brown's budget is necessary to keep tuition hikes under five percent "at most universities," the letter said, while also keeping financial aid and student support services.

The Legislature convenes its session in February.



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen
You wouldn't know it from the weather in Oregon this winter, but 2016 was the hottest year on record, according to findings by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA, and it was the third year in a row that temperatures broke previous records.

In their annual State of the Climate report, NOAA noted that land and sea temperatures, averaged globally, were 1.69 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average, the highest recorded temps since the agency began keeping records in 1880.

To parse that, globally-averaged land temperature was 2.57 degrees Fahrenheit above the average for the 20th century. Those elevated temps were felt across wide swaths of the earth, from eastern Russia to the eastern United States to Central America to southeast Asia.

On the water, the globally-averaged sea surface temperature was 1.35 degrees Fahrenheit over the 20th century average and the warm up was seen from the Bering Sea, between Alaska and Russia, to the Gulf of Mexico to the Indian Ocean.

Blended land and sea-surface temperature percentiles for December 2016.

Sea ice continued its retreat as well, the report noted. In the arctic, "the estimated average annual sea ice extent in the Arctic was approximately 3.92 million square miles, the smallest annual average in the record," which has been kept for 47 years.

Closer to the South Pole, "The annual Antarctic sea ice extent was the second smallest on record, behind 1986, at 4.31 million square miles. Both the November and December 2016 extents were record small," the report said.

"[Last year] was the warmest year on record, beating 2015 by a few hundredths of a degree, and together those two years really blow away the rest of our record," Deke Arndt, chief of the monitoring group at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, told NPR.

The agency's report dropped at an auspicious time, as President-elect Donald Trump's selection to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, begins his confirmation hearings.

Pruitt has fought against federal regulations to curb greenhouse gases and defended the use of fossil fuels. For his part, Trump has, at different times, said he has an open mind about human-caused global warming and also called it a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese to hurt the economic prospects of the United States.

Arndt disagreed.

"The long-term warming is driven almost entirely by greenhouse gases," he told NPR. "We've seen a warming trend related to greenhouse gases for four, five, six decades now."

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048
By David Ignatius

WASHINGTON -- CIA Director John Brennan's biggest concern the past few years hasn't been Russian hacking, or even the wars in the Middle East, but what he calls "modernization" of the agency. In an effort to improve performance of this notoriously siloed organization, Brennan moved to fuse operations (the agency's vaunted spies) and analysis (its less glamorous but no less essential sifters of information).

To outsiders, this move may sound like a minor bureaucratic shuffle. But inside the CIA, with its fiercely guarded fiefdoms, it exploded like a grenade. The Brennan modernization triggered a mini-rebellion from some colleagues who thought he was destroying the CIA's clandestine culture. A few of the agency's senior-most spies quit in disgust.

Will Brennan's revamped structure remain in place after he leaves his post on Friday? Even as President-elect Donald Trump has likened the intelligence community to "Nazi Germany" and blasted Brennan himself as "Not good!" and a possible purveyor of "Fake News," the fate of Brennan's modernization has been a topic of intense interest in the corridors of Langley.

Brennan told me bluntly in an interview after Trump's election: "I think it would be folly -- and it would be disastrous for the agency and our national security -- if somebody came in here and said this modernization doesn't make sense, and took it apart."

Mike Pompeo, the Kansas congressman tapped to succeed Brennan, told the Senate last week that the reform's objective "makes sense," but there is "still work to do in implementation, especially streamlining decision-making processes." That was a wait-and-see answer that left Pompeo ample bureaucratic maneuvering room.

What's the right course? After interviewing several dozen CIA officers and veterans over the last several months, my conclusion is that Brennan's reforms should continue -- but only with adjustments that eventually reduce the bureaucratic layering and duplication that his overhaul unintentionally fostered.

The CIA needs to be leaner, flatter and more able to operate secretly; some of Brennan's reforms instead created a more complicated and confusing organization chart. Analysts and operations officers have different skills and career paths, and Brennan's attempt to treat them all as "intelligence officers first" risked producing a homogenized culture with a duller edge.

To understand the CIA, it helps to think of it as a fancy high school. The cool kids on campus have always been the operators. The analysts were un-cool: brainy, fussy about their independence but socially introverted. It's telling that two former senior operations officers both described Brennan's effort as "the revenge of the nerds." The CIA wasn't exactly "Mean Girls," but it was close.

Brennan was personally scarred by this culture. A flinty Irish-American, he entered the agency 37 years ago hoping to be an ops officer but moved to analysis. When he talks about the operators in their "ivory towers," the anger shows.

Brennan's reorganization created a matrix that integrated all four of the agency's main directorates: operations, analysis, science and technology, and support. The gathering points were 10 newly chartered "mission centers" that focused on geographical areas, such as the Near East or East Asia, or on topics, such as counterterrorism or counterintelligence.

But Brennan also kept the old directorates, to preserve their tradecraft expertise. And that's where confusion arose. Analysts and operators still looked to their pre-existing silos for promotion and long-term career guidance, even as their daily work was done through the mission centers.

Though the new system was "more complicated," it was "valuable," says a senior operations officer. "We consult and no longer work in isolation."

Brennan took another reorganization step that won almost universal praise. He created a new "Directorate of Digital Innovation" to adapt to a world where technology has transformed the essence of espionage.

The October 2015 launch of the mission centers and the digital directorate brought considerable angst. Returning officers didn't know where they would land. Division chiefs and deputies lost their titles. The veteran officer who heads the Modernization Task Force noted some initial problems: "It felt like there were more layers, more bureaucracy, [it was] harder to get things done," he said in an interview. Last March, the agency made 14 "course corrections" in the reorganization.

Pompeo, the new director, will arrive with broad internal support and a clean slate, and without Brennan's scar tissue. He'd be wise to leave the organization chart alone for a while and let this agency do its job. For once, thanks to Trump's reckless comments about Nazis, the CIA may even have some public sympathy.

Brennan, by stubborn force of will, may have changed the agency more than any of his predecessors. What he leaves, though, is still very much a work in progress.

David Ignatius' email address is davidignatiuswashpost.com.

(c) 2017, Washington Post Writers Group
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Defense Secretary-designate James Mattis listens on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., while testifying at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week.

(AP Photo/File)

By The Washington Post Editorial Board

Congressional testimony by Donald Trump's national security nominees last week suggested that the incoming administration would not seek to dismantle the alliances that have undergirded the West - and U.S. global leadership - since 1945. "If we did not have NATO today, we would need to create it," said defense secretary nominee James Mattis. The U.S. treaty commitment to defend its European allies, said secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson, is "inviolable."

It is still not clear, however, that Trump agrees. In an interview published by the Times of London on Monday, he recalled his claim last year that NATO was "obsolete" because it did not fight terrorism (though it does) and because many of its members did not meet its defense spending guidelines. He then went on to say that "it doesn't matter" to him whether the European Union exists, predicted more countries will leave it and placed German Chancellor Angela Merkel on par with Russian President Vladimir Putin in meriting his trust. Unsurprisingly, Moscow hailed Trump's words, while senior European leaders reacted with alarm.

Merkel played down the statements, and maybe she's right: Perhaps Trump's words - he also said "NATO is very important to me" - were haphazard and should not be taken seriously. Yet if the president-elect's intention was to undermine the transatlantic alliance, encourage the disintegration of the European Union and tear down Merkel as she begins a reelection campaign - an agenda identical to Putin's - he could hardly have been more effective.

Russia has already launched a disinformation campaign to discredit Merkel, using fake-news websites and Internet bots in the same way it targeted Hillary Clinton. Germans might be forgiven for thinking that Trump's intervention was designed to enhance that assault. He accused Merkel of making "a catastrophic mistake" by accepting desperate refugees from the Middle East and said Germany was using European integration as a vehicle for its own interests.

Trump's critiques of the European Union are shared by many Europeans. But he is wrong to suggest that the United States has no interest in the community's survival. In addition to making war between its great powers unthinkable, European integration has helped consolidate democracy and the protection of human rights in countries across the continent, from Portugal to Romania. If it broke up, more nations would drift into the corrupt, autocratic orbit of Russia.

As for NATO, Mattis was right to tell the Senate Armed Services Committee that it "is the most successful military alliance in modern world history." It has greatly magnified U.S. power and global influence, even when its members were underspending on their military forces. Without it, the West would have no effective way to contain Russian neo-imperialism.

Merkel said she will wait to see what Trump does when he is in office. It's probably naive to hope that he will modulate his rhetoric. But Americans who value their country's place in the world, including Trump's Cabinet members, should do their best to ensure that he does not act on it. Once destroyed, the West's alliances will not be easily rebuilt.

(c) 2017, The Washington Post
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Commerce Secretary-designate Wilbur Ross waits for an elevator at Trump Tower in New York in December.

(AP Photo/File)

By the editors of Bloomberg View

Even by his standards, President-elect Donald Trump's statements on trade have been stunning in their recklessness. His proposals essentially amount to the repudiation of a system that has fostered global stability and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty over the last several decades -- and if he actually intends to execute his radical agenda, there's little to stop him.

In other areas of economic policy, such as budget matters, Congress will make the crucial choices. On trade, the White House has wide discretion. The stakes could hardly be higher.

During the campaign Trump threatened to rip up existing trade pacts, withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement and put punitive tariffs on imports from Mexico and China. He's called the World Trade Organization, which promotes liberal trade and adjudicates disputes, "a disaster," and he has said the U.S. might "pull out." Congratulating Britain on its decision to quit the European Union, he says the U.K. and the U.S. can design a new trade deal -- but that it makes no difference to the U.S. whether the EU, "a vehicle for Germany," stays together or falls apart.

Trump's nominee for commerce secretary, meanwhile, appears to believe in the top-down management of trade: "We should treat ourselves as the world's biggest customer and treat nations that are selling to us as suppliers to us," Wilbur Ross told the Financial Times. The global economy, according to this thinking, is not about myriad firms competing across borders to give consumers everywhere the best products at the lowest cost; it's a zero-sum battle between two monolithic collectives: us and them.

Trump's other trade appointments aren't reassuring. Peter Navarro, named as head of the new National Trade Council, seems opposed to imports on principle. He says they subtract from economic growth, which is nonsense. The nominee for U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, brings his experience as an advocate for restrictions on imports of cars and steel -- restrictions that made U.S. consumers worse off and impeded the ability of U.S. manufacturers to compete.

Congress wouldn't be able to do much to restrain the new team's trade measures, especially in the short term. Laws authorizing existing trade agreements, as well as other statutes delegating authority to the president in times of emergency, grant the president wide powers to take unilateral action such as terminating previous commitments and imposing tariffs, quotas or other restraints. Such moves would surely face a legal challenge, but before the cases were resolved, President Trump could very well kill or cripple Nafta, the WTO and any prospect of orderly market-driven trade arrangements.

Americans have legitimate concerns over trade, jobs and living standards. But they should be addressed in the same way as the threat from automation and other kinds of technological advancement -- forces that are likely to be more disruptive in the future than trade. And the record of nations trying to resist trade and innovation speaks for itself: It leads to economic stagnation.

The right approach is to focus on competitiveness, opportunity and effective social insurance. Education reform, tax reform, deregulation, and investment in the right kind of infrastructure could raise the long-term rate of growth and spread the benefits to more workers. Trump deserves some credit for taking up some of these points. Doing more to help workers retrain and move to new jobs would also relieve the stress, as would more effective unemployment and health insurance.

If Trump follows through on trade, it won't be long before he and his supporters regret it. Declaring a trade war on the world can only lead to collapsing confidence and recession. Yet if the system of international commerce, painstakingly put together over decades, is carelessly torn down, rebuilding it won't be easy or quick -- however much a chastened Trump administration might wish to.

Mr. President-elect: Just don't do it.

(c) 2017, Bloomberg View
A federal prosecutor has filed a formal criminal information charging Marcus Mumford, Ammon Bundy's lawyer, with three misdemeanors.

It accuses Mumford of creating a disturbance by impeding or disrupting official government duties by "verbally and physically interfering with" deputy U.S. marshals in their "transportation of a person in their custody.''

The second charge is failure to comply with signs that prohibit the disruption of official government duties.

The third charge is failure to comply with the lawful direction of a federal police officer, alleging he failed to stop resisting and kicking and wouldn't place his hands behind his back as ordered.

The information replaces the initial citations against Mumford.

Marshals tackled Mumford, stunned him with a Taser and took him into custody in federal court on Oct. 27 just after a jury acquitted Bundy and six others in the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The criminal information was filed by Timothy J. Ohms, a special attorney assigned from Washington state after prosecutors and federal judges in Oregon recused themselves from the case.

Mumford and his lawyer, Michael Levine, have said they intend to vigorously challenge the charges. Levine has filed a motion, requesting the personnel files of all the marshals involved in the incident.

A pretrial hearing is set for Feb. 15.

The maximum penalty for each offense is 30 days in custody and a $5,000 fine.

A criminal case in federal court formally begins with an indictment returned by a grand jury or a criminal information. The information usually is filed in misdemeanor cases and represents a formal accusation of the alleged crime.

Mumford's lawyer earlier this month entered not guilty pleas on Mumford's behalf to the citations -- failing to comply with the lawful direction of a federal police officer and impeding or disrupting official government duties.

Deputy marshals tackled Mumford as he questioned the government's authority to continue to hold Bundy on federal charges pending in Nevada and demanded to see paperwork to back it up after the acquittal.

Mumford's lawyer Michael Levine called the arrest an "unprecedented attack on the defense bar'' during his first appearance with Mumford in court earlier this month.

According to a probable cause statement, the marshals said they moved forward to escort Bundy out of the courtroom when Mumford positioned his body to block them and began yelling in protest.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
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Ryan McBride is seeking $500,000 for the emotional distress, anger and humiliation he suffered, plus about $3,700 for lost wages, according to the suit filed in Umatilla County Circuit Court. (Oregonian File Photo)

A former officer from the Stanfield Police Department in eastern Oregon has filed a lawsuit against the city, contending he was fired in retaliation for his whistleblowing about a lieutenant's misconduct.

Ryan McBride is seeking $500,000 for the emotional distress, anger and humiliation he suffered, plus about $3,700 for lost wages, according to the suit filed in Umatilla County Circuit Court.

McBride said the chief extended his period of probation, from 12 to 18 months, shortly after he shared serious concerns he had about the on-duty behavior of his supervisor, Lt. Troy LaMonte Toombs. That included allegations of improper traffic stops and inappropriate sexual solicitations.

The city fired McBride on Oct. 26, 2015, without a termination letter or explanation why, his lawsuit said.

But in a letter to Oregon Department of Justice officials from a former colleague, Toombs placed McBride on leave after McBride showed up drunk while off duty to help a sheriff's deputy, also off duty, pull his truck out of a ditch that he had driven into after a night of drinking with McBride and another on Aug. 5, 2015. McBride was driven by someone else to the scene, his lawyer Sean Riddell said. Months later, McBride was fired.

Stanfield City Manager W. Blair Larsen said McBride was fired for failing to be forthright on the night of Aug. 5, 2015, and said his lawsuit mischaracterizes what occurred.

The Justice Department, which investigated Stanfield's four-member police force, reported last spring that the police chief and Toombs failed to properly log evidence and did shoddy work, but their lapses didn't rise to criminal misconduct.

The state, for example, found Toombs failed to document the 2015 seizure of two marijuana plants from a property and the subsequent destruction of the plants. He completed paperwork only after a complaint was raised. He also "inappropriately reported'' to a state police certification agent that he had done a full background check to hire a friend as a reserve officer when he hadn't. His "misrepresentation'' on the state form raised ethical questions, an assistant attorney general wrote to Stanfield city officials.

Gene Jorgenson, a former Stanfield officer and city councilor who was asked by the chief to do an inquiry before the state Justice Department's investigation began, recommended Toombs' termination, citing concerns about his credibility.

"In the 15 minute chat I had with him, I think that he does not always tell the truth, and tends to report the problems as not his fault,'' Jorgenson wrote, according to an exhibit attached to McBride's lawsuit. "Several times I questioned him on items that I knew were true, he told me that they didn't happen at all or happened that way. ... When I called him on this, he stated that he had not been advised of his rights and that this was illegal.''

The Stanfield city manager, though, said Jorgenson never concluded his investigation, which was done in a voluntary capacity.

McBride had reported to his police chief in May 2015 that Toombs conducted multiple traffic stops of a young woman but gave her only warnings until he saw a man in her car and then gave her citations and instructed McBride to stop the woman whenever possible, the suit says. It also alleges Toombs solicited married residents in the Stanfield and Echo area to engage in sexual acts with him and his wife.

The lawsuit alleges that the city failed to do a proper background search on Toombs before hiring him in March 2014. It contends that Toombs resigned from an earlier police job in Orofino, Idaho, after a lawsuit filed against him was settled that alleged he had assaulted a man after responding to a routine call to help resolve the man's dispute regarding his credit union account.

Toombs told the investigator hired by the city that he left the Orofino job for personal reasons, according to court documents.

Though Toombs held a supervisory position on the Stanfield police force and provided field training to McBride, Toombs never received any management or supervisory certification from Oregon's Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, the suit says.

The Stanfield city manager had the city's insurer conducted an internal review and audit of the police department after the Justice Department investigation. Both the chief and Toombs were placed on probation. On Jan.20, 2016, the chief returned to his job.

On Jan. 29, 2016, Toombs was stripped of his supervisory role and demoted to senior officer, with the understanding that after additional training and evaluations he might regain his supervisory status, Larsen said. Yet Toombs' demotion did not include a drop in pay, the city manager said.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Contraceptives Must Be Covered By Company''s Health Plan

(Photo by Tim Matsui/News/Getty Images)

Updated: 4:00 p.m.

While running for election, Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated Friday, promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.

Trump hasn't said exactly what will replace the ACA. In an interview Wednesday, he said, "We're going to have a plan that's going to be great for people." But two Oregon lawmakers aren't waiting to find out. Instead, they are introducing legislation to protect and expand reproductive healthcare for Oregonians.

House Bill 2232, which proponents are calling the Reproductive Health Equity Act, would protect free birth control and require health insurers to cover other reproductive health services, including well-woman care, prenatal care, breastfeeding support and testing for sexually transmitted infections.

HB 2232 would also cover abortions, which the Bend Bulletin reports are not currently covered by state or federal law.

Jake Sunderland, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Service, told us over the phone Wednesday that while there aren't definitive numbers, most insurers in Oregon do currently cover abortion.

Twenty-five states have laws restricting health plans that cover abortion from participating in state insurance exchanges.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, California is the only state that requires all plans "to treat abortion coverage and maternity coverage neutrally." That means that all plans must include maternity and abortion coverage.

It should be noted that both the ACA and House Bill 2232 have exemptions for "religious employers."

Sunderland said that currently, "there's a broad set of women's health benefits" that must be covered under Oregon law, though many of those allow insurers to charge copays.

Generally, he said, the more money you pay for your plan, the cheaper your copays will be.

State law, however, is superseded by federal law. Under the ACA, many types of women's preventive health care, including mammograms, contraception, prenatal care, and breastfeeding support, generally must be covered with no "cost sharing" or copay.

A press release sent out Wednesday by the Pro-Choice Coalition of Oregon said that the Reproductive Health Equity Act will ensure "that Oregonians have coverage for the full range of preventive reproductive health services at zero out-of-pocket cost."

Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha, one of the sponsors of HB 2232 along with Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, D-Gresham, told us over the phone Wednesday that this bill would mean coverage for reproductive health care with no copay for patients.

"It doesn't do a poor woman any good who has a $2000 deductible if she can't pay $400," he said.

"It would be much cheaper to provide them with education and contraception," he added, "than [to provide for] an unwanted baby."

According to the Pro-Choice Coalition of Oregon release, "a broad coalition of racial and gender justice, reproductive rights and community groups from across the state have joined forces" to introduce the bill. That coalition consists of American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Family Forward Oregon, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, Oregon Latino Health Coalition, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon and Western States Center.

Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, the second sponsor of HB 2232, told us over the phone Wednesday that with no replacement for the ACA currently available, "We want to get ahead of what may happen at the federal level."

"We've always been first in all of these issues in the state of Oregon," she added.

Oregon is one of the few states that requires pharmacies to provide on-demand birth control pills and hormonal patches and the first state to require insurers to cover a 12-month supply of birth control at a time.

The bill will go to the House first, where Monnes Anderson expects the language will be fine-tuned and questions about specifics under the bill will be answered.

"Insurance carriers will definitely be at the table," she said.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, under the ACA, the percentage of women who received free birth control pills went from 15 percent before it became law to 67 percent after.

Jimmy Radosta, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, said Wednesday that the number of abortions in Oregon has declined over the last several years and is down 15 percent between 2011 and 2014.

Radosta attributes that change to an increase in "access to preventive care, birth control and medically accurate, age-appropriate sexual health education."

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker
After a 64-hour standoff, Seaside police arrested Brian Wallin Saturday at his home, where he'd been holed up since Wednesday. Wallin, 49, was arraigned Tuesday on multiple charges of unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated animal abuse.

Wallin called police Wednesday afternoon reporting there were "shooters inside" his home. Seaside Police, Clatsop County Sheriff's deputies and Oregon State Police troopers responded and heard gunshots from inside the house. They didn't believe the shots were fired at them.

Wallin's 72-year-old mother left the house unharmed shortly thereafter.

Wallin refused to come out. Seaside police used "de-escalation" techniques in an effort to resolve things peacefully. They evacuated a couple nearby houses and tried to wait Wallin out.

The standoff finally ended Saturday morning when Wallin called 911 and said he was scared and wanted to leave the home. The dispatcher instructed him to put on his shoes and walk out with his hands visible, which he did.

Police found several weapons and the family dog shot to death inside the house. He was taken to Providence Seaside Hospital for evaluation. Sunday evening he was transported to Clatsop County Jail.

Seaside Police Chief Dave Ham said he was "extremely pleased" with the outcome. "The use of de-escalation techniques may extend the length of an incident but they are always intended to reduce confrontations with people in crisis," he said.

-- Jeff Manning

503-294-7606, jmanning@oregonian.com
KeizerHomicide.jpg

Caden Berry was found dead in a Keizer apartment Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, police said.

(Keizer Police)

A Keizer mother was arraigned Tuesday on accusations of strangling her 12-year-old son.

Charging documents in the case allege Amy M. Robertson killed Caden Berry on Jan. 13.

Police discovered the boy's body the next afternoon inside the apartment he shared with his mother. Officers were sent in response to a neighbor's call, other media have reported.

Robertson, 38, is charged with aggravated murder. She was ordered held on no bail. The court appointed at least one attorney to represent her, court records show.

Also Tuesday, the Oregon Department of Human Services issued a statement saying that his agency would convene a Critical Incident Response Team to look into Caden's death. Such reviews are required when children in the agency's care die of abuse or neglect. They are also mandatory when the child was subject of a state abuse or neglect investigation within the year leading up to their death.

The review of Caden Berry's death is not required, the agency's director, Clyde Saiki, said in the statement.

"I am making this discretionary decision in order to determine whether there are system issues that gave rise to this tragic outcome, and which may allow us to make improvements in our system,"

A probable-cause affidavit released Tuesday by the Marion County Sheriff's Office did not shed any light about what preceded Caden's strangulation.

The father of Caden's brother told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday that he and his son had made reports to the state Department of Human Services regarding Robertson in 2016.

Andrea Cantu-Schomus, a spokeswoman for the agency, said in an email that any records related to Caden or his mother are confidential.

The agency's critical incident reviews, on the other hand, are released to the public. The state began conducting such reviews in 2004.

-- Molly Young

myoung@oregonian.com

503-412-7056

@mollykyoung
Over 204,000 people have RSVP'd to Saturday's Women's March on Washington in Washington D.C., the day after Donald Trump is inaugurated as President of the United States.

"We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families," reads the mission statement of the march, "recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country."

For people who can't make it to Washington, there are plenty of sister marches happening all over Oregon. The march in Portland is expected to draw large crowds but other towns and cities will also be holding marches.

Here's a list, taken from the official Women's March on Washington website, of those sister marches here in Oregon. Scroll to the bottom for a map to see which march is closest to you.

January 21, 2017 * 11:00 AM

Ashland Public Library

410 Siskiyou Blvd

Ashland, OR 97520

January 21, 2017 * 11:30 AM

Exchange St

Exchange St and 12th St

Astoria, OR 97103

January 21, 2017 * 11:00 AM

Drake Park

901 NW Riverside Blvd

Bend, OR 97701

January 21, 2017 * 12:00 PM

Boardwalk

Broadway

Coos Bay, OR 97420

January 21, 2017 * 12:00 PM

US Federal District Court

405 E 8th Ave

Eugene, OR 97401

January 21, 2017 * 10:30 AM

Class Act Theater

509 Kingwood Dr

Florence, OR 97439

January 21, 2017 * 12:00 PM

Main St. and E. Record St.

160 Record St.

Halfway, OR 97834

January 21, 2017 * 1:00 PM

Public Parking - Imnaha Highway and N. Lake Street

200 E. Wallowa Ave

Joseph, OR 97846

January 21, 2017 * 12:00 PM

Union County Recorder

1001 4th Street

La Grande, OR 97850

January 21, 2017 * 12:00 PM

McMinnville Ballroom

325 NE 3rd St.

McMinnville, OR 97128

January 21, 2017 * 11:30 AM

City Hall

169 SW Coast Hwy

Newport, OR 97365

January 21, 2017 * 1:00 PM

Pendleton Library & City Hall

500 SW Dorion Avenue

Pendleton, OR 97801

January 21, 2017 * 12:00 PM

Tom McCall Waterfront Park

2 Southwest Naito Parkway

Portland, OR 97204

January 21, 2017 * 11:00 AM

Salem Capitol Mall

900 Court St NE

Salem, OR 97301

January 21, 2017 * 1:00 PM

Sue Elmore Park

US 101 at First Avenue

Tillamook, OR 97141

January 21, 2017 * 12:00 PM

Our Retreat

1000 Nature Avenue

Welches, OR 97067

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker
Trump's Selection For Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Testifies During Her Senate Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 17: Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the next Secretary of Education, testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill January 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. DeVos is known for her advocacy of school choice and education voucher programs and is a long-time leader of the Republican Party in Michigan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

(Chip Somodevilla)

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden on Wednesday announced his opposition to U.S. education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos. Wyden also released an audio statement, in which he criticized DeVos' performance at her confirmation heading.

DeVos' approach "flies in the fact of America's long-time, common-sense investment" in public schools, Wyden said.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon

Wyden, a Democrat, said DeVos "wavered on fundamental issues" like guns in schools, sexual assault on college campuses, rights for disabled students, harassment and discrimination.

DeVos, a billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist nominated by President-elect Donald Trump, faced tough questions from senators during her confirmation hearing Tuesday.

In answering questions, DeVos said she has no experience managing a public school system or student loan program. She demurred when asked if federally-funded public schools should abide by federal laws ensuring disabled kids access to school buildings, and on questions of allowing firearms at schools.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

gfriedman@oregonian.com; 503-221-8209
The Shanghai Stock Exchange: China may allow foreign companies to launch IPOs on its stock exchanges and issue corporate bonds (AFP Photo/PHILIPPE LOPEZ) (AFP/File)

China may allow foreign companies to launch IPOs on its stock exchanges and issue corporate bonds, the government said, after President Xi Jinping promised the world his country was committed to opening its markets.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, late Tuesday posted on its website a notice saying it had granted approval in principle for foreign companies to launch IPOs and issue corporate debt and other financing instruments to "support the widening of foreign companies' financing channels".

The announcement was the latest in a series of liberalisation pledges from China as it braces for the incoming Donald Trump administration.

Trump has repeatedly blamed China, and globalisation, for the loss of millions of US jobs, raising fears of a trade war between the world's number one and two economies.

The State Council gave no further specifics or timing on the potential IPO and debt-market reforms, saying relevant regulations must first be drawn up.

Such pronouncements can take years to become reality, and analysts said it was too early to predict when, or in what final form, any changes would be introduced.

"This IPO plan is still at a very early stage and the matching mechanisms haven't been created and implemented," said Zhang Fayu, research director for private equity firm Million Tons Capital.

"Bond issues would start very slowly with one-by-one trials to minimise the market impact."

China has moved gradually toward opening its capital markets.

In 2014, a trading link between the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges was introduced, and another was started in December between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China's other exchange.

The links give foreigners some access to China-listed shares, while also allowing Chinese firms to buy Hong Kong-traded stocks.

China's regulators have recently approved a surge of new IPOs as Chinese companies line up to raise capital, with several debuting weekly since November, compared to a usual twice-a-month rate.

Story continues

But traders have blamed the rush of new IPOs for drying up market liquidity, and the benchmark Shanghai index lost ground for five straight sessions before rebounding on Tuesday.

In a speech at the World Economic Forum at Davos on Tuesday, Xi warned against protectionism and promised China would continue to liberalise, sketching out an alternative view to Trump's.

Foreign companies and China's trading partners continue to complain about access to its markets.

China ranked 84th globally -- behind Saudi Arabia and Ukraine -- in the World Bank's ease of doing business index for 2016, and second to last in an OECD report on restrictiveness towards foreign investment.

Last month China said it would allow foreign firms to operate fully-owned subsidiaries, rather than joint ventures, in sectors including rail transportation equipment and motorcycles, and loosen a range of other restrictions.
Portland police have required patrol officers to complete four extra hours of crowd control training and canceled days off Wednesday through the weekend to prepare for Inauguration Day protests.

The training is intended to better coordinate between the mobile patrol forces and the riot gear-clad rapid response officers who have extensive training in crowd management.

Police also hope the training improves officer logistics in the field, from how to pair with a partner to put on gas masks, clean and clear out masks if they're donned too late and how to best hand off arrests to detectives for preparation for court.

"I figured it would be prudent between the last protest events after the presidential election and this Friday to put the officers through some refresher training,'' Chief Mike Marshman said Tuesday.

"Even though they've had training in the past, a lot of folks, especially on patrol haven't really experienced such large crowds. This was to help them become more comfortable because fortunately, it's not a day-to-day occurrence.''

The bureau also will extend officers shifts, from 10 hours to 12 hours, to ensure plenty of them are available if needed, Marshman said. The bureau has about 900 patrol officers and 70 rapid response officers.

Thousands of people have indicated they plan to march through the streets of downtown Portland this week as Donald Trump formally takes office as the 45th president of the United States.

Several events are planned Friday so far, including a student walkout at Portland State University starting at noon and a "Rise up and Resist Facism" rally at Pioneer Courthouse Square at 3:30 p.m. On Saturday, a "Women's March on Portland," affiliated with a national march in Washington, D.C., is expected to draw thousands of people.

"Whether it's 100 people or 10,000 people who want to protest, whatever their views are, I'm OK with that," Marshman said. "What I worry about is the fringe element, or whatever you want to call it, who wants to do destruction to the city.''

Portland drew international attention in November after a march turned into a riot on Nov. 10 when a small band of people infiltrated marchers demonstrating against the election outcome. The vandals smashed windows of Pearl Street businesses, set fires to newspaper boxes and broke windows of cars parked in a Toyota dealership lot. A man was shot during another night of protesting in an apparent argument over blocking a traffic on the Morrison Bridge.

The bureau largely has relied on its four 15- to 18-member Rapid Response Teams to block streets and entries to bridges and freeways. On several nights, officers fired tear gas and flash-bang grenades to disperse demonstrators and arrested at least 120 people in all.

The bureau is in the midst of seeking public input on its crowd control management policy. The review didn't stem from the recent protests but happened to fall at the same time, Marshman said.

As it stands now, the policy calls for upholding the constitutional rights of free speech and assembly "by applying the appropriate level of coordination, direction, guidance, and when necessary, control to protect life and property and to maintain public peace and order."

Rallies, marches, parades, leafleting are listed as protected by the First Amendment under the policy, while trespassing, destruction of property, disruption of transportation, assaults and "disturbances of the peace" aren't protected.

For marches or events that aren't sanctioned through a city permit, "The police response will be commensurate with the overall threat, if any, to public safety, life and property, and maintaining order," the policy says. That might mean redirecting demonstrators and traffic and using physical force, it says. "Decisive and appropriate actions during the initial stages of a disturbance may make the difference in effectively managing the event.''

Marshman said Mayor Ted Wheeler's chief of staff had spent several hours with him as police monitored one of the city protests after Election Night. He's talked to Wheeler and both agree on preventing protesters from blocking surrounding interstates.

A command center will be set up at the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications, so police can coordinate and monitor the protests along with transit and transportation officials.

Critical incident commanders are assigned to work each day. Teams of officers from state police, as well as the Multnomah County, Washington County and Clackamas County sheriff's offices will pitch in. If it gets extremely busy, Gresham police will help take Portland emergency calls.

"We'll make it work,'' the chief said.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Portland sidewalks remain slick and thick with ice and many park roads remain closed almost a week after the city saw the heaviest snowfall in a decade.

Portland Parks & Recreation's approximately 130 full-time maintenance employees worked to clear stairs and paths to major community centers and in high-traffic parks, but citywide closures and dangerous roads limited their access, said bureau spokesman Mark Ross.

"We have been very proactive and have prioritized measures which focus on safety," Ross wrote in an email.

Parks staff prioritized access to community centers used as emergency shelters, including the Charles Jordan Community Center in north Portland and the Mt. Scott Community Center in southeast Portland.

They are also checking storm drains in anticipation of heavy rainfall and potential flooding. Many of the drains are clogged with ice, Mayor Ted Wheeler said at a press conference Tuesday.

While the bureau has kept many park roads closed to avoid risks to park employees and the public, it has cleaned and restocked the public restrooms that stay open in the winter.

Staff are still working to clear park paths and nearby sidewalks.

"We are hopeful that the warmer temperatures and rains will help eradicate the leftover snow and ice," Ross said.

--Jessica Floum

503-221-8306

@cityhallwatch
Correction appended

Snow and ice that closed Portland-area schools for days and kept workers home created an inconvenience for some but pushed others closer to the brink of financial disaster.

"There are families out there who are living on the edge," said Judy Alley, executive director of East Portland's SnowCap, the region's largest food pantry.

Four highly publicized weather-related deaths in recent weeks prompted concern from public officials, social service agencies and the general public.

But beyond the tragic deaths are thousands of working Oregonians and senior citizens who face a chain reaction that arrived in tandem with the winter weather.

When Portland Public and other districts close, food pantries like SnowCap do, too. When roads are unsafe, public transportation is delayed. When TriMet is slower than normal, employees miss shifts, employers cut hours, and some families are left wondering how they're going to pay the bills next month.

For Alley, who has led Snowcap since 1991, the chain reaction could push some families over the edge.

She can't recall a time during her tenure when she was forced to close the pantry, which serves as a lifeline for 8,000 to 10,000 people a month, so many times in the same school year.

"If they didn't have money for anything extra this month, and then their heat bill goes up, that's going to put them behind next month," she said.

"It's just a snowballing thing."

For some, it's a life-and-death situation. "These times put vulnerable people at extreme risks," said Jeff Cogen, executive director of the nonprofit social service organization Impact NW. The agency helps 36,000 people per year and the calls from families who need help with their rent or utility bills have been surging, he said.

The confluence of weather and school-closures come at a difficult time. Nonprofits depend on generosity during the holiday season.

A decline in giving usually follows the holiday bump. "We're going to be struggling to catch up," Cogen predicted.

Brian Ferschweiler, executive director of Portland's branch of St. Vincent De Paul, said his small staff of three is maxed out. They have only many volunteers, and they have to turn away people after they hit the magic number of 20 or 25 walk-in clients.

The agency gave out $1.4 million in rent and utility assistance in 2015 in its five-county metro area, and need is not declining. The agency, one of the few that helps with rent and utilities, has people calling in for hours.

"We've had people on hold for four hours," Ferschweiler said. "I know that sounds horrible."

Next month, Ferschweiler predicted, will be worse, because that's when people will see rising heating costs hit their mailbox.

Food pantries and other social service agencies rely heavily on senior citizen volunteers to keep the operations running, and when they can't show up it's difficult for everyone.

'No cushion there'

Lynn Hager doesn't know how her family is going to pay the bills this month, and that's an uncertain position to be in.

The 35-year-old student at Portland State depends on her fiance, Aaron Newman, to provide for the family. They can make the rent on their Southwest Portland apartment, but finances are tight now, and the weather is to blame.

But Newman, a manager at a landscaping supply company, hasn't worked several days this month due to the weather. When the storm hit last Wednesday, he was still at work. The rest of the week, he lost half his wages, she said.

Newman typically brings home $2,500 a month, Hager said, and losing half that doesn't make paying the rent any easier. "There's no cushion there," she said. The family may apply for emergency grants to cover the cost.

Wilder, the couple's 4-year-old son, goes to day care at Portland State, but Hager wasn't able to get to school last Friday when PSU decided to open after closing on Wednesday and Thursday.

School closures have a hidden cost beyond students losing instructional time.

In Northeast Portland, Jenny Stine has been out of work for much of the past month because of Portland Public Schools' closures. The 46-year-old works part time as a lunch lady and educational assistant at Jason Lee Elementary, where her daughter is a third-grader. She also works for after-school programs.

All told, she's worked only five days this pay period (a sixth day was a paid holiday). Her husband, Joe Wright, works full time as a food pantry coordinator for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, but Jenny's wages help pay for utility bills and other daily needs.

But she'll be fine. She wishes she could do more to help the students who depend on free breakfast and lunch at the elementary school.

When asked what those students' parents were doing during the recent snow storms, Stine said: "Probably praying. They're waiting for school to come back."

Food bank bursting

Even the Oregon Food Bank, the nonprofit juggernaut, was briefly at the mercy of the elements.

The Northeast Portland warehouse closed for two days in the past month, more than officials could recall during the past few years combined. They canceled volunteer shifts out of concern over road conditions. Food stayed put in the warehouse.

Trucks were still able to deliver food to the Northeast Portland's 94,000-square-foot warehouse despite the snow storm. But no one was able to come pick up the food to get to hungry families.

The warehouse, which typically holds 4 million pounds of food, was bursting at the seams by Monday.

"One of our concerns is the fact that kids aren't getting the meals at school," said Myrna Jensen, the agency's spokeswoman.

On Monday, food bank chief executive Susannah Morgan stepped into her 8,500-square-foot freezer and let out of long "hoo" of amazement.

The sky-high racks of food were so full containers were spread out across the floor. That's unusual, she said.

Around the corner, an army of more than 100 volunteers furiously worked to pack up potatoes, rice and other food for delivery. Boston's "More than a Feeling" blared over the speakers as volunteers scurried around the warehouse.

Morgan said the food bank will distribute all of the food within the next few days.

"It's not feeding anyone if it's in my warehouse," she said, walking through the facility.

Call to action

The weather will eventually relent, and Judy Alley will reopen the 12,000-square-foot facility she and her staff use as home base to donate to thousands of east Multnomah County families each month.

She relies on a group of roughly 1,000 volunteers to help out the eight staffers who run the area's largest food pantry.

That volunteer base averages 75 years old, she said. "I'm not going to encourage them to come out in the ice and snow," she said.

The pantries always need more volunteers.

The persistent frigid weather forced several pantries and their volunteers to stay shuttered Tuesday because many shelters base their schedules on whether schools are open. More than 10 facilities called by The Oregonian/OregonLive remained closed.

That included the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon's emergency food pantry.

Travis Niemann, who runs the emergency center that is one of the few open on weekends, said he's already felt the support from Portlanders eager to help.

The pantry sits in the basement of a church in the Cully neighborhood and was socked in for days due to the snow.

Last Saturday, Niemann sent an email to the neighborhood association pleading for help.

When he showed up at the church, a group of about a dozen volunteers was already there, including a 10-year-old kid. People brought shovels and worked for two hours to clear sidewalks and pathways to the basement.

The stocked the room with supplies, and helped served 42 families that day.

That moment said it all.

"People want to help and they don't necessarily know how," he said.



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen

Correction: A previous version of this story included factual errors. Aaron Newman is a manager at a landscaping supply company, not a landscaper, and Jenny Stine has a daughter, not a son. The story also incorrectly stated Stine's age. She is 46.
wafertech_handout_2004.JPG

TSMC operates WaferTech, a 20-year-old chip factory in Camas. Long-sought expansion now appears very unlikely.

(File image (2004))

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. says it would require "a lot of sacrifices" to build more factories in the United States, regardless of what incentives president elect Donald Trump might offer.

TSMC is a contract manufacturer, building chips for other electronics companies. It operates one U.S. factory, the 20-year-old WaferTech facility in Camas.

TSMC designed WaferTech's 260-acre campus to accommodate multiple additional factories, called fabs in the chip industry's parlance. But WaferTech experienced a series of organizational and logistical setbacks in its early years, and additional work never materialized.

WaferTech remains one of Clark County's largest employers, though, with more than 1,000 people working at the site. And civic leaders have long harbored hopes TSMC might yet expand in Camas.

Not likely, longtime TSMC chairman Morris Chang told investors on a conference call after the company reported quarterly earnings last week.

"I do not rule it out, but I see a lot of sacrifices that we and our customers will have to make if we do that," Chang said.

TSMC has clustered its leading-edge fabs together in Taiwan to pool resources, including engineers, who commute between the facilities.

"Now if we have a plant in the U.S., we won't be able to do that anymore," Chang said. He added that TSMC has thousands of vendors nearby in Taiwan.

"These are things that we're going to lose if we set up a plant in the U.S.," he said. "And if we lose these things our customers will lose too."

TSMC has said in the past that it is unlikely to expand in the U.S., but this is its fullest public explanation of why it will not.

Elsewhere in the call, Chang praised Trump's goal of creating more jobs in the U.S., and took credit for "hundreds of thousands" of American jobs at fabless semiconductor companies who outsource their manufacturing to TSMC.

The semiconductor industry is watching the Trump administration closely, not just for his approach to trade and jobs but also for his tolerance for Chinese investment in the U.S. chip sector.

A panel commissioned by the Obama administration just issued a report warning that "a concerted push by China to reshape the market to favor their needs threatens the competitiveness of U.S. industry and the national and global benefits that an innovative U.S. industry brings."

Lattice Semiconductor, Portland's largest tech company, is currently trying to sell its business to investors in China. That transaction is under review by federal regulators, and members of Congress have asked the feds to block it.

While Chang said he embraces the report's recommendations, he said he's skeptical any U.S. administration would follow advisory recommendations, and indicated it's even less likely given the pending change in administrations.

-- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; 503-294-7699
Everyone knows the relationship between President-elect Donald Trump and the intelligence community has been fraught.

First Trump said he had no need for regular intelligence briefings because he was a "smart person." Next came his refusal to accept the intelligence community's conclusion that Russia tried to influence the U.S. election. (In a mocking tweet, he put "intelligence" in the phrase "intelligence briefing" in quotes, thus making clear he didn't believe it was an accurate descriptor.) Finally came the presidential briefing about an unverified opposition-research report that suggested Russia had compromised Trump, sending the president-elect into a tweet-rage.

Brookings Institution senior fellow Daniel Benjamin wrote last week that "Donald Trump's wild, swinging attacks against the intelligence community have been so far off the charts of traditional behavior for a president-elect that it is hard to wrap one's mind around -- and impossible not to wonder what lies behind it."

Leaving aside what might be behind Trump's criticism of U.S. intelligence, this much is undeniable: Trump's "wild, swinging attacks" are indeed far from the norm. One has to look no further than Republican icon Ronald Reagan, the popular president from 1981 to 1989. The CIA has declassified and posted online more than 200 documents relating to its interactions with Reagan, and the earliest ones -- from late 1980 -- show an incoming president who wanted a close, respectful partnership with the intelligence community. It also shows that, while he had a reputation as a rigid ideologue, Reagan was open-minded and sought wide-ranging advice.

* Peruse the CIA's "Reagan Collection"

Just days after the election, which Reagan easily won over President Jimmy Carter, the Reagan team asked the CIA about establishing "secure communications" when the president-elect was at his California ranch. The CIA responded it couldn't provide secure calls "to any where near the ranch," saying Reagan would need to come into Los Angeles. The president-elect complied, setting up shop in the city.

The CIA documents, though mostly routine paperwork, are revealing -- and offer some memorable deadpan observations.

On November 13, for example, CIA Director Stansfield Turner showed the Reagan team the presidential daily briefing "and described its function, making the point that the PDB is done to the President's specifications and we would hope to use the period between now and inauguration to determine how the President-elect would like it done. The only comment made was that a larger typeface would probably be in order." (Reagan, at 69, was then the oldest newly elected president in the country's history, and his age had been a key issue during the campaign.)

Reagan decided he wanted to start at the very beginning, with his initial intelligence briefing focusing on "a description of the organization and functions of the Community and CIA plus the [redacted word or phrase] in the attachment."

Regular meetings were held thereafter, with meetings often lasting close to two hours and usually including Vice President-elect George H.W. Bush, CIA director nominee William Casey and incoming National Security Advisor Richard Allen. Two weeks after the election, the CIA briefed Reagan and his team on the Iran-Iraq war, the "NATO-Warsaw Pact balance" and the turmoil in Poland, where Lech Walesa was leading strikes and martial law soon would be declared.

"The briefings in general went well," National Intelligence Council chairman Richard Lehman wrote in a report dated Nov. 21, 1980. "There were a number of questions, mostly from Ambassador Bush and Mr. Allen. Governor Reagan's questions went largely in the direction of 'what can we do about it?'"

Will Trump, once he's president, start asking his intelligence briefers what we can do about it? The Brookings Institution's Benjamin, for one, hopes so. "No American president," he wrote, "can succeed in foreign policy -- and by extension his term as commander-in-chief -- without a good relationship with the intelligence community."

-- Douglas Perry
In the pioneer history of Oregon, there is no more important place than Oregon City.

It was the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains, the end of the Oregon Trail, the first capital of the Oregon Territory, and a major hub for fur trading, shipbuilding, lumber and religion.

Today, Oregon City takes a back seat to bigger cities around the state - Portland, Eugene and Salem top the list - but it's not hard to find the historical threads of its pioneer past, conveniently laid out along the McLoughlin Promenade above downtown.

A 2.5-mile walk will take you up the famed Municipal Elevator, to viewpoints of Willamette Falls and to the site of the small community of Canemah, which has since been swallowed up by the city. It also takes you to the historical home of Dr. John McLoughlin, the namesake of the promenade who is widely considered the "father of Oregon."

Whether you seek deep exploration or are trying to kill time, the urban hike is a great way to tour Oregon City - and the old West history of Oregon itself.

The McLoughlin Promenade in Oregon City.

McLoughlin Promeade

Distance: 2.5 miles

Difficulty: easy

Amenities: street parking, local businesses

Park in downtown Oregon City and make your way down Main St. to 7th St., where you'll find the 130-foot tall Municipal Elevator. Ride it to the top and get a good look at downtown Oregon City, then head outside to find the McLoughlin Promenade - your trail for the day.

There's a few ways to go about doing this, so take a look at the map below and pick whatever path you like. Go left to start at the McLoughlin House, a unit of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, or go right for the main pathway to the Willamette Falls overlooks and Canemah Park. When I visited on a rainy Monday morning I went right, so I'll start you out there.

The paved pathway leads gently uphill along the bluff overlooking the Willamette River. Joggers stride along the promenade, as cars whiz by on McLoughlin Blvd. just below. Take the opportunity to examine the beautiful stonework on the railing, and soak in the view of Willamette Falls, which gets ever closer as you go. The old Blue Heron paper mill is a bit of an eyesore, but history buffs may appreciate the industrial-age facility. Either way, its days are numbered, as the city is in the midst of planning a lovely river walk in its place. (Note: A project head has emailed to say that some structures will remain.)

A bridge at the end of the promenade will take you across McLoughlin Blvd to a street-level sidewalk on the riverside. It runs for about half a mile, but just take it to the bust of Dr. John McLoughlin at a pullout viewpoint of the falls. There, cross the street and continue down until you see a power station on your left. Enter the parking lot and make your way to the back of the fenced-in station. There, you'll find a pathway that runs through a small field to the backside of Old Canemah Park.

A paved trail leads through the small forested park, where picnic tables boast excellent views of Willamette Falls. When you finish the loop, leave the way you came - through the field, behind the power station and back to the side of McLoughlin Blvd.

You can cross the street to go back the way you came, but I'd recommend turning right onto 2nd St. and making a small loop along Tumwater Dr. This leads you past the Museum of the Oregon Territory (stop in, if you have the time) and up through the parking lot of the VFW Post, an interesting-looking building you may have seen on the way up. The promenade trail meets back up in the parking lot - take it all the way back to the elevator.

The promenade continues past the municipal elevator to the McLoughlin House, but you'll have to head down to an underpass to get there. The journey is well worth it, as two beautiful manmade waterfalls greet you on a platform down a set of stairs. The tunnel leads to more stairs, which rise to the sidewalk on 7th St. Follow it around to the historic McLoughin and Barclay Houses, both of which are open seasonally (they were closed when I was there).

To finish the walk, head back through the underpass and take the long set of stairs down to the base of the Municipal Elevator. Restaurants, bars and shops await in downtown Oregon City.

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB
Trump's Selection For Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Testifies During Her Senate Confirmation Hearing

Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the next Secretary of Education, testifies during her confirmation hearing on Jan. 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. DeVos is known for her advocacy of school choice and education voucher programs and is a long-time leader of the Republican Party in Michigan.

(Chip Somodevilla/ Getty Images)

Allegations of pay-to-play politics loomed large over Hillary Clinton during the presidential campaign. But on Tuesday, it was President-elect Donald Trump's pick for education secretary that faced a question about how her campaign contributions factored into her nomination.

Vermont Sen. and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, at one point, asked Betsy DeVos if her personal donations to the Republican party landed her the nomination.

"Do you think if you were not a multimillionaire -- if your family has not made hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to the Republican Party, that you would not be sitting here today?" the senator from Vermont asked DeVos.

"I do think there would be that possibility," DeVos replied. "I have worked very hard on behalf of parents and children for the last almost 30 years, to be a voice for parents and a voice for students and to empower parents to make decisions on behalf of their children -- primarily low-income children."

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders asks Education Secretary Nominee Betsy DeVos: "Do think if you were not a multimillionaire, if you're family has not made hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to the Republican Party, that you would not be sitting here today? Watch full hearing here: http://cs.pn/2iJhTne #DeVosHearing Posted by C-SPAN on Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Allegations of pay-to-play politics plagued Clinton's campaign as her opponents honed in on the Clinton Foundation as a source of potential conflicts of interest in the months leading up to the election.

The Democratic nominee's ties to Wall Street -- most of which were presented by Trump and Republicans on the campaign trail as her paid speeches to big banking firms -- were also touted as evidence that Clinton favored monied interests over voters' concerns.

DeVos has donated hundreds of thousands to the GOP personally. And her family gave $2.7 million to the Republican party over the course of the 2016 elections, the Center for Responsive Politics reports.

DeVos has never attended a public school -- nor have any of her children -- and she has not been employed as a teacher, the Washington Post reports. The former Michigan GOP chair is also a staunch supporter of school choice initiatives, which runs counter to many Democrat ideas for the education system.

While the exchange between DeVos and Sanders has been widely shared on social media by both C-Span and several news outlets, another part of the hearing has also been making the rounds.

When Connecticut Sen. Chris Murray asked DeVos if she supported guns in public schools, she claimed it depended on the region.

"I will refer back to Sen. (Mike) Enzi and the school he was talking about in Wyoming," she said. "I think probably there -- I would imagine that there is probably a gun in the schools to protect from potential grizzlies."

--Eder Campuzano

503.221.4344

@edercampuzano

ecampuzano@oregonian.com
Good news for harried parents: Barring some dramatic change in the weather, schools will be open Wedneday in most metro-area districts.

Temperatures hovered just above freezing late Tuesday afternoon, making for more rain than ice. That prompted Portland Public Schools to cancel its late start on Wednesday and go to normal hours instead.

As of 6 p.m., Gresham-Barlow, Lake Oswego, even Reynolds, at the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge, had posted no cancellation or late opening announcements. Here's an updated list:

But with many side streets still snow- and ice-covered, some schools again announced closures or late openings on Wednesday.

Beaverton will open two hours late, as will Vancouver School district schools. Vancouver added that it could cancel school altogether Wednesday morning if road conditions warrant.

Jesuit High School said it will be opening at 10 a.m.

Corbett School, in east Multnomah County, will again be closed Wednesday.

This winter of repeated snow and long-lived cold snaps has been difficult for parents. Tuesday's closure, coming after a predicted thaw failed to materialize, was particularly painful. One Portland Public Schools parent tweeted "Now it'll be 25 days in school out of the last 74 calendar days. And 5 school days of the last 34."

-- Jeff Manning

503-294-7606, jmanning@oregonian.com
Good morning from Switzerland, where on Tuesday morning I witnessed one of the most extraordinary political speeches I've ever heard, Chinese President Xi Jinpings address to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The conference came to a standstill as heads of state and giant corporations gathered up to an hour ahead of time for the greatly anticipated speech. Xi didn't disappoint. In a veritable through-the-looking glass moment, the head of the Chinese Communist Party spoke powerfully and passionately in favor of "economic globalization." He quoted Dickens, drawing "best of times, worst of times" attention to immense wealth and yawning inequality brought on by economic growth. He sprinkled his talk with Chinese proverbs. But perhaps the most shocking moment, one that brought guffaws of surprise from Westerners seated around me, came when Xi evoked Abraham Lincoln. Speaking of "development," rather than "government," as Lincoln did at Gettysburg, Xi said economic progress must be "of the people, for the people, and by the people."

Get Data Sheet, Fortune's technology newsletter, where this essay originated.

A large Chinese delegation attended Xi's speech. And yet it was a predominantly Western audience that found itself in the unusual circumstance of being lectured to by the president of China speaking against protectionism and for protecting the earth's climate.

Xi made no mention whatever of the incoming U.S. president. But it was impossible to miss his not-so-veiled references to Donald Trump and his tweetstorm provocations since his election. "We are not jealous of others' success," Xi said, a startling message to discontented U.S. voters and their standard bearer. He declared that "no one will win a trade war," adding that locking oneself in a dark room assuredly will keep out the rain but also sunshine and fresh air.

Story continues

Deploying a variety of water metaphors, Xi termed globalization as inevitable as the tides of the ocean. Perhaps that's true. The only thing that feels inevitable now is that the ship of international relations as we've known them for seventy or so years is headed into uncharted territory.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
chuck robbins cisco CEO davos

DAVOS, Switzerland  Chuck Robbins, the CEO of Cisco, attended US President-elect Donald Trump's tech summit last month at Trump Tower.

Almost all of Silicon Valley's heavy hitters were there, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and Alphabet executive chairman Eric Schmidt.

What was discussed?

Robbins, who was on a Business Insider-led "Innovation" panel at the World Economic Forum here in Switzerland, said the group made progress in discussing diverging views on issues like trade and immigration. He also called the meeting "interactive" and said "lots of laughs" were shared.

"It was an incredibly constructive meeting," Robbins said. "And I think everyone that walked in that room put behind them whatever their political views were during the election."

He continued:

"I'll say that even the Trump team  everyone is looking forward at how we work together to solve challenges, to create jobs, and to do the things that need to be done ... We discussed issues of tax, we discussed trade, we discussed immigration, we discussed innovation and entrepreneurship, we discussed job creation, and it was a very engaging discussion. There was a lot of interactive dialogue. Lots of laughs. So it was a very constructive meeting.

"I came out, from a business perspective, very optimistic about what it might mean for global business. Because the US and the global economy are so intertwined that you can't impact them independent of each other. So I think the changes that are being contemplated will not only be good for the US but will also be good for the global economy."

donald trump tech meeting table seat chart bi graphics

With regard to immigration, many US companies take part in the H1B visa program, which allows them to apply to hire graduate-level immigrants temporarily, particularly for technical and engineering roles.

Story continues

But both Trump and his pick for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, have voiced concerns about companies "abusing" H1B visas and have suggested they're used to cut costs. The hired immigrants often require less compensation than American workers.

Robbins said the executives spoke with Trump about separating border issues from visa issues for high-skilled workers.

"There's immigration control and the border issues and then there's high-skilled immigration," he told Business Insider. "They're two different issues, and he agreed with that. I think when I talk to leaders of other countries around the world, everyone is trying to think through what their high-skilled-immigration strategy is. Because everyone is struggling to have the best and brightest working inside their borders. When you look at Silicon Valley, even 44% of the startups are started by immigrants ... The entire focus that all of us have had on diversity for the past decade has been to bring different ways of thinking because that actually spurs innovation. It generates new ideas."

Here's a link to the full interview with Robbins and the other panelists at the World Economic Forum about the future of Innovation. His comments about the Trump meeting can be seen below at the 11:30 mark and continue at the 16:40 mark.

NOW WATCH: Weed, crab legs, and a mermaid  inside the massive marijuana-mansion party thrown by Instagram's 'Marijuana Don'





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On Jan 17, we issued an updated research report on mining company, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. CLF.



Cliffs has outperformed the Zacks categorized Mining-Iron industry over the past year. The companys shares have gained around 563.7% over this period, compared with roughly 315.3% gain recorded by the industry.





Cliffs is among the worlds lowest-cost producers of iron ore. The company is boosting its mining and transportation capacity globally. Cliffs will also gain from its pellet supply contracts with its U.S. iron ore customers, which will help it to mitigate the impact of fluctuation in seaborne iron ore pricing.



Cliffs is focusing on cost management, reflected by a decline in overall cash costs for the first nine months of 2016. The companys cash costs for the U.S. operation fell roughly 6% year over year to $57.89 per long ton. Moreover, a roughly 13% year over year decline in cash cost was witnessed in its Asia Pacific operation for the period.



Moreover, Cliffs entered into multiple contracts with Minnesota Power, a utility division of ALLETE Inc., in May 2016 to purchase power in the long term. The agreement will enable Cliffs to enhance its future competitiveness and also improve its cash production costs over the long term.



Cliffs also remains focused on deleveraging its balance sheet. The companys long-term debt reduced roughly 19% year over year to $2.2 billion at the end of third-quarter 2016. The company redeemed all of its outstanding senior notes due in Jan 2018 in the third quarter, reducing its interest expense by $17 million a year. Cliffs sustained commitment to reduced debt will further lower its interest expenses.



Cliffs has also implemented a strategic capital allocation plan to ensure optimum utilization of cash. Its focus remains on providing maximum return to the shareholders by way of dividend distribution and share buybacks while maintaining its organic growth pipeline.



Cliffs should also gain from its supply deals with other companies. The company, last year, cut a 10-year iron ore pellet supply agreement with ArcelorMittal USA LLC, part of ArcelorMittal MT. The contract ensures that Cliffs will remain ArcelorMittal USAs sole outside iron ore pellet supplier until 2026.



The new contract allows Cliffs to supply up to 10 million long tons of pellets to ArcelorMittal USA. The supplied iron ore will meet the entire requirement at ArcelorMittals Indiana Harbor West and Cleveland Works steelmaking facilities, while continuing the current level of pellet supply to ArcelorMittal's Indiana Harbor East facility. The mutually beneficial agreement reinforces a strong business relation between the two companies.



The company also entered into a contract with U.S. Steel Canada to supply iron ore pellets. Based on this contract, Cliffs raised its U.S. sales volume guidance for full-year 2016 to 18 million long tons from the earlier forecast of 17.5 million long tons.



Cliffs currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Price

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Price | Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Quote

Other Stocks to Consider



Other well-placed companies in the mining space include The BHP Billiton Limited BHP and Teck Resources Limited TECK, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



BHP Billiton has an expected long-term growth of around 5.6%.



Teck Resources has an expected long-term growth of around 10.7%.



Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017



In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2017?



Who wouldn't? As of early December, the 2016 Top 10 produced 5 double-digit winners including oil and natural gas giant Pioneer Natural Resources which racked up a stellar +50% gain. The new list is painstakingly hand-picked from 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Be among the very first to see it>>



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



Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF): Free Stock Analysis Report



BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP): Free Stock Analysis Report



ArcelorMittal SA (MT): Free Stock Analysis Report



Teck Resources Ltd. (TECK): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
A member of the Association of Evangelical Gospel Assemblies (AEGA) Incorporated, has noted that people who front as men of God and collect money from others before attending to their spiritual needs are magicians.

Beware Of Magicians Fronting As Men of God

Reverend Professor Edwin N. Korley said people had gone for marine and other powers and using the Bible to charge consultation fees, selling anointing oil and other things to unsuspecting Ghanaians.Rev Korley, who is a Professor of Theology, Biblical Studies and Christian Education, was the key speaker at AEGA 2016 Ghana National Conference in Tema at the weekend hosted by the Amazing Grace Church International, on the theme:  When God Steps In, Miracles Happen.The ceremony was used to ordain 11 Ministers of God, whose feet were washed in line with the Ministry of Christ in John 13. They were also offered the Holy Communion.Ministerial and Christian workers were also commissioned and were given the appropriate credentials.Rev Korley who was speaking on miracles said: Although miracles are absolutely essential element in Christianity, people should distinguish whether it was coming from God or from the agents of the devil.The coming of Christ marked the greatest of all epochs in religious history. The revelation he brought, which centered in himself, was that for which all preceding revelations were preparatory,  he said.Rev Korley spoke against the varied election predictions by the so called Men of God, asking if the messages were coming from God why should such prophecies contradict each other?He asked the clergy to sentisise the electorate about the qualities to look for in the political parties.Rev Korley called on Ghanaians to collect the monies politicians were dishing out to influence their votes and rather vote with their conscience.Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive asked Ghanaians to ensure peaceful elections by making sure they were not influence by any politician to course mayhem.Ghana is bigger than any politician, he said.Bishop Albert A. Saah ,Territorial Bishop of AEGA who administered the ordination vows asked the ordained pastors to be servant leaders and be shepherds of the word.Bishop Samuel Sagoe- Nkansah, Vice Territorial Bishop of AEGA said 2016 was a special year as the body celebrates 40 years of its founding.He said the Association started in Ghana in 2011 now had Accra East Chapter under the Chairmanship of Rev Martin Annan and the Accra West Chapter under Rev Judanopa Jehu-Appiah.AEGA originally organised and chartered in 1976 under the name Christian Ministries- a local ministerial fellowship in Monroe, Louisiana, is a respected Association with several divisions.Currently its ministerial credential and church Ministry Division has members throughout the US and Canada.The fellowship now has membership and contacts in more than 60 countries. AEGA provides ministerial credentials for qualified applicants.The projects it carries include church planting, feeding the poor, sponsoring needy children , an annual Christmas box delivery and a dynamic medical mission and outreach.
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Dorothy Boman, of Edenville, celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday, surrounded by family and friends at the Swanton Memorial Building. For Boman, it has been a century of fond memories and family.

Ive lived in this area all my life, she said.

Bowman grew up on a farm in Tobacco Township where her relatives grew crops ranging from beans and corn to wheat and potatoes.

I had two cows I milked every morning before I went to school. When I was coming across a ditch of water (in the summer), I couldnt swim. I used to hang on to the cows tail and she would pull me across.

In time, all of her four children were born on that same farm. Now her family, who affectionately refer to her as Grandma Boman, has grown to include five generations, and most continue to live in the area. Boman also enjoys trips to Colorado and Florida to visit with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Boman says the arrival of electricity was one of the best innovations of her youth. In 1949, she had her first phone, along with a party line, and she built her house  complete with indoor plumbing  in 1958, where she resides to this day.

To keep active, Boman has remained a faithful member of the Edenville Firemens Auxiliary since 1974, helping with annual soup suppers and bake sales. She makes quilts for her family and friends, bakes bread (five loaves at a time) and granny cake, is the go-to person for important dates, attends church every Saturday night and continues to drive short outings around the area. Through it all, her family has been by her side.

A fond memory for Boman and her children was their camping trips near Waters, Michigan. They would go up for a week and can blackberries right in the woods. Sometimes they would encounter a bear or two.

Bears would pick on one side of the bush, and wed be picking on the other, her son, Leon, said.

In later years, Leon, who was a pilot, gave Boman and her mother their first aerial trip in his plane, though one flight was enough for Boman.

Through it all, the family attributes Bomans 100-year milestone to good, clean living and self-control.

I never smoke, and I never drank, Boman said.

Although no one knows what the next hundred years will bring, Boman remains optimistic, asking that todays generation just be good. Just be honest and good.
A judge has denied a motion seeking to keep the confession of a man accused in the 2015 death of a 4-month-old Midland baby from a jury.

Richard Paul Watson, 46, Mio, faces charges of homicide, first-degree child abuse and open murder in the death of infant Evelyn Legacy. He is being held without bond.

On Tuesday morning, Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Beale heard arguments on the motion, filed by Watsons attorney, Alan A. Crawford of Saginaw. Crawfords motion states his client, who suffers from a brain injury, was under the influence of prescription medication during questioning by police, therefore his confession should be tossed.

Midland County Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks presented three witnesses during the hearing  the babys mother, Sarah Legacy, Midland Police Detective Ryan Duynslager and Michigan State Police Detective First Lt. Andrew Longuski, as well as played recordings of two separate interviews.

Legacy testified she and Watson had a dating relationship and he spent the night at her Midland home a few times weekly. During those times, she had no concerns about his mental or physical ability to care for her daughter, Evelyn, and was aware he took medications.

She testified he did not seem intoxicated after he took them, and had no problems functioning normally or driving.

Brooks asked Duynslager about the two days he interviewed Watson, on Aug. 8 and Aug. 17, 2015, and the detective testified Waston used medications including hydrocodone, hydroxyzine and naproxen. On Aug. 17, Watson was interviewed at the Midland Law Enforcement Center.

Watson was free to leave at any time, Duynslager stated, adding he signed consent and Miranda warning forms.

Duynslager said Watson did not appear to be impaired during the interviews. Watson never refuted that he harmed the baby, but did say he didnt recall how he harmed her.

It was decided Watson would submit to a polygraph exam at the Saginaw Police Department. Police detectives transported Watson, who was not under arrest, from one police department to the other, stopping at Legacys home when Watson asked if he could take his medications, Duynslager testified.

Duynslager said he watched Watson take his three prescriptions, read the names off the bottles and that the dosage seemed appropriate.

At the Saginaw Police Department, Longuski conducted the polygraph examination, which Watson failed.

Longuski testified he informed Watson of the results, and Watson put his head down. From that point on, he was really remorseful, Longuski said, adding Watson said he bounced the baby on her crib mattress, as well as wrapped her in a blanket and squeezed her on an earlier occasion. He denied responsibility for her broken leg. The confession also was recorded, and was part of the audio that Brooks played in the courtroom.

The polygraph exam concluded with Longuski writing out questions and answers including a confession to the crime, to which Watson signed his initials.

Both detectives described Watsons demeanor as cooperative, cordial and friendly, and said there were no arguments, threats or promises made by investigators.

Crawford asked Duynslager about the effects of the medication, and asked if the detective was aware that Watson had taken 325 mg of Vicodin on the morning of Aug. 17 before police arrived at Legacys home. Duynslager said he did not know that, but was aware Watson was diagnosed as having PTSD, concussive disorder, traumatic brain injury and had been deemed disabled by Veterans Affairs. He was able to hold a conversation with me, Duynslager said.

In his closing argument, Crawford stated that the confession was coerced from Watson while his client was heavily medicated and not in a clear mental state.

I think its clear Mr. Watson was not operating in his right state of mind, Crawford said. There should have been certain precautions taken in this matter.

Brooks argued the medications were maintenance medications, and had no adverse effects on Watson.

In forming his opinion, Beale said there was no evidence Watson was not aware of his circumstances or what he was saying during the interviews. Beale also pointed to a history form in which Watson wrote a couple paragraphs about himself, his military service in Iraq, and various other things, showing he was cognizant.

The charges came about after a shopping trip to Canton on Aug. 8, 2015. Evelyn had been lethargic and began suffering severe respiratory problems while at IKEA, and was rushed to St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, then airlifted to C.S. Mott in Ann Arbor. She was kept on life support until Aug. 14, when her organs were retrieved for the Gift of Life program.

At C.S. Mott, doctors determined Evelyn was suffering from significant brain swelling, bleeding on the brain, multiple retinal hemorrhages in both eyes and a vitreous hemorrhage in her left eye. The baby also was found to have suffered three rib fractures and a fractured tibia, estimated to have occurred up to two weeks before the brain injuries.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has enhanced the MI-VINE (Michigan Victim Information and Notification Everyday) service with a new feature called RegistrationLink 2.0. The RegistrationLink system links offender records and cases to better track incarcerated individuals as they move from one jail facility to another. The feature allows victims to more easily follow an offender in Michigan.

RegistrationLink has provided Michigan residents with an additional layer of security when they track their offenders whereabouts within the county jail or state prison system, said Nick Lyon, director of the MDHHS. Crime victims deserve a seamless process to track an offender that has been transferred to another correctional facility and the right to know if the offender is due for parole.